Faith Of The Dragon Tamer (Book 2) (33 page)

“It was decided we would find Ren and close him. Then we would close others with magic, unless the One could find some way to block the spirits’ entrance.”

Ren closed his eyes. Ista would claim the needles would block the spirits’ entrance. Maker of Fates, she had everything planned. He had underestimated the extent of Ista’s hold. Ren glanced at Nigel. The Black Knight met his gaze. Their war with the Druids was only beginning.

“The Druids on the ship, picked by none other than Feher himself, would go to Zier and take the spirits that may escape the Eye.”

Ren met Morrus’ gaze. Druids had always hungered for the power. They wanted to obtain the Quy for their own. But Ista knew only those with the Quy could augment a spirit’s power. She had promised the Druids something that would never come to pass.

“Marinus, the Drek, was very concerned about the threat. He’s of the old line of Druids, those who keep to themselves, strive for a higher awareness, and interfere in the Lands only when they see a greater good. There’s a New Order of Druids who want to obtain more power. These Druids claim it’s our divine right to guide those of the lesser castes and lead them to a higher realm in their next life. The New Order believe all people have been corrupted for they worship things of the world and not things that will bring a greater good. The New Order preach drink needs to be outlawed, women need to be subdued to the old ways, and harsh restrictions need to be implemented.

“These New Order Druids want to shut everyone away from desires and vices. These are the Druids the Black Knight fought.”

“It would make a boring world if everyone’s vices were gone,” Neki said, mumbling under his breath.

Morrus turned to Nigel. “Marinus only gained power a few years ago. He wasn’t the Drek who ordered the outrage you stilled, but the former Drek, Kasim, was an avid follower of the New Order. He was very charismatic and turned many, if not most, to his views. Feher and Avalon are two of his followers.”

Morrus turned back to Ren. “I thought I was seeking you to end a threat. I know you don’t agree with closings, but Druids are needed. We’ve stifled many evil things and that’s ultimately what we try to do – stifle something before it turns sour.”

Galvin stiffened. “Before it has a chance to prove it may not turn sour.”

“Yes,” Morrus said, “before it can prove good or evil. That’s something Druids seek forgiveness for after a closing. Or I should say, some of us.”

Nigel exchanged glances with Galvin. Ren caught the look. They had witnessed the prayer session after his closing.

Morrus continued. “Not all Druids feel the same way. Those who don’t attend the prayer session feel all closings are needed and deserved.”

“Feher and Avalon,” Nigel said.

“Yes, the New Order. And Feher is a powerful High Priest. He has continued to preach the teachings of Kasim. Marinus tolerates Feher because Marinus knows he’s old and will soon die.” Nigel glanced at Ren. Morrus saw the truth of that glance and heaved a sigh. “Kasim had no child and named Avalon as his scion, but Avalon was too young to succeed him. The responsibility fell to Marinus, Avalon’s father. Marinus was a good leader. He instilled the old laws back into some of the Druids.”

“So what will happen now that Avalon is in power?” Galvin asked.

“They’ll try to eradicate magic after obtaining it for themselves. When they put me on the boat I overheard conversations. Feher and the One tricked Marinus. He thought Ren’s closing was for the good of the Lands, not for control of the Lands.”

“What do you mean by ‘control of the Lands?’” Nigel asked.

Morrus shifted uncomfortably. “Druids were going to become a necessity since the spirit vacuity had been breached. They would be needed in every town, in every province, and in every kingdom. They would begin a new ruling class. They would become a residing judge of all laws passed, all commerce conducted, and all decrees given. The Druids would keep the Lands under tight control. The wizard claimed this was the future he had foreseen.”

Ren leaned back on his heels, trying to piece Ista’s scheme together. “Why would Ista promise the Druids power? It doesn’t make any sense.”

Nigel chuckled beside him. “Yes, it does. It makes perfect sense. ‘Make your enemies indebted to you,’ my father always said. A happy enemy is a friend. Ista wanted to use the Druids. She would make them her watchdogs. They would close any who may oppose her.”

Ren turned to Morrus. “On the boat, the wizard didn’t fear the Druids. Why?”

“He was blocked.”

Ren sank back against the mast. “You’re right, Nigel. She already knows how to keep the Druids from closing her followers. Somehow, the needles block them. Those who oppose her, those without the needles, would be closed by the Druid overlords.”

“Morrus,” Galvin said, “you said Feher was the one who wanted this to come about. Why wasn’t he on the Druid ship bound for Zier?”

Morrus’ lips twisted in a sneer. “Feher will, no doubt, arrive sooner than we do. Feher and a few attendants planned to depart on a much smaller vessel this morning. The High Priest of the Druid cultus is revered. He isn’t allowed to leave the island, but this time Feher made an exception. Feher sent the sacrifice to the Druidonian so he could sail safely in the opposite direction to the mainland.”

“And Druids sacrifice Druid women to the Druidonian to appease it?” Nigel asked.

“Yes.”

“There were no women on the ship, Morrus,” Ren said.

Morrus paled and he chafed his hands before him. “The few Druid women remaining cannot be sacrificed.”

Ren waited in silence. Morrus was about to reveal something sacred. The look in his eyes was that of a frightened animal, an animal that had been rescued from wolves but was now in a foreign land, being questioned to betray his history. Although Ren knew Morrus was relieved the choice was finally before him, the Druid’s eyes still held the fear of the wolves.

When Morrus spoke, his voice was soft. “I’ve never even seen one. Feher is in charge of them. Rumor holds only a dozen or so remain. They are bred, nothing more.”

Nigel cleared his throat. “How was the sacrifice of women justified?”

“Blemishes. Ugliness. Our teachings say the women who remain are only with us to bring across the worthy, and all worthy will be born in the Druid way.”

The wind picked up. It made a hollow lapping sound as it lashed the sail. The crinkle of Nigel’s leather sent shivers down Ren’s spine. He didn’t know if he wanted to hear any more.

Nigel leaned closer. “Druid way?”

“I don’t know how they do it.” Morrus’ said with a sigh. “But the women birth Druids who are dual-sexed. Druids believe their dual nature is godlike. It’s a sign they’ll congeal to form a god at death.”

“Then why do they need the women?”

“Dual-sexed Druids can only impregnate. They cannot bear children. At times, Druids are born with one sex. If they are born women and found good enough, they are bred. If they are born women and are marred in some way, they are sacrificed. If they are born male they are killed immediately. There’s no use for male Druids. They are unable to bear children, and they will be unable to reach the higher realm.”

“You?” Ren asked.

Morrus hung his head. “Yes. My father hid me from them. He was the Drek before Kasim took power. At that time the women were under the Drek’s charge. He fell in love with my mother. I lived until my teens unnoticed by others. I was to rise to Drek status. I studied everything I could, learned everything I could so I could do what my father wouldn’t and change the Druid ways. But one day I was stripped before the council. I had begun to broaden, my voice deepen. I tried to conceal it for as long as I could but there was only so much I could do.

“Kasim killed my father for his lie. My sentence was to live among them, as LoDrek. There were many times I wished they would just kill me. I was shunned and scorned by everyone. My words weren’t listened to so I learned not to speak. Then I came for you. It was the first time I had ever been in command.”

“They sent you because you were expendable,” Galvin said.

“Correct.”

Neki’s brow furrowed. “Then why Avalon?”

“Avalon needed to do something for the Druid good before he could rise to LoDrek status,” Morrus said, picking at a loose thread on his tunic.

Galvin put a hand on Morrus’ shoulder, his deep voice soft and comforting. “You aren’t a Druid. You’ve broken from their ways since birth. That’s why you felt the way you did about Ren. The New Order would have killed him. The Old Order would have questioned Feher’s intent, but they too would have followed the High Priest. You broke, and you broke at the first opportunity the Maker provided.”

Morrus smiled at Galvin. “I would like to think that, I truly would, but I’m a Druid. I didn’t begin questioning Druids because I disbelieved their teachings, but because I feared death without higher attainment. Do I break from the Druids because it’s right? Or do I break from the Druids to cling to a hope that’s futile?”

“Look inside you,” Nigel said gently. “The answer lies within. No one can tell you who you are. You know who you are. You know right from wrong. You just have to be strong enough to grasp it.”

Morrus nodded, a small smile spreading across his face. “Thank you.”

Nigel cleared his throat. His soothing tone vanished like a fleeting wind. “Feher did something to the true wizard. Do you know what it might be?”

Morrus frowned. “Let me see him.”

Ren helped Morrus rise to his feet and walk to the wizard. Morrus felt the wizard’s forehead and checked for a pulse. After a time he turned to Ren, clearly confused.

“I’ve never seen anything like it, but I don’t think Feher could have caused this. If I’ve your permission, I’ll enter his mind and see what I can.”

Nigel tensed, but Ren nodded for Morrus to continue. Morrus turned to the wizard and closed his eyes. After a short time he opened them, bewilderment scrawled in every feature.

“His power is there, everything is there that I can see. Wait. Did Feher use a bottle?”

Galvin and Nigel exchanged glances. Nigel nodded.

Morrus turned grave. “The wizard used magic trapped in bottles. That was how he gave our horses their speed. He broke bottles beneath them. Feher had some bottles as well.”

Ren turned away. “Wizards don’t need magic trapped in bottles. It wasn’t the power of the Druids that did this to him. It was Ista.”

After they landed on shore and made Zorc a stretcher, it was getting dark. The work was cumbersome, but soon they were on their way to Grauss’ hideaway, Ren carrying sinking hopes.

Zorc was dangerously thin, and his pulse was weak. Ren was uncertain the wizard would last the short distance they had to travel.

The road they were on would lead them to the Sierras near Grauss’ home. The farther they went the denser the trees became, but for the first time the forest didn’t bring Ren comfort. Instead the trees looked like demons sent to ensnare his hopes.

A light rain began to fall, but they continued on, each intent on traveling until well in the night. The air was cooling. Soon the nights would begin to drop to near freezing, especially in the high country, and they would have to purchase additional clothing to keep warm.

A horse cantered up beside him. Ren turned to see Neki pointing to the stars.

The night was clear, the moons full, and Ren found his constellation easily. A white mist now surrounded his star, as it should be, but two of the outlying stars were disappearing.

The cold seemed to deepen around him.

Chris and Aaron were dying.

Ren jumped off his horse. He had to find “Hate” or the union would not be formed.

He unsheathed his sword and looked at the incomplete hate stone. His heart pounded so hard he didn’t hear the voice beside him. Only when he felt a hand on his shoulder did he turn and look into the Black Knight’s eyes.

Nigel’s brow creased in concern. He took off one black glove and raised his hand to feel Ren’s forehead.

The symbol of hate was burned in Nigel’s palm.

Ren caught his wrist. “You must give me your hate.”

Nigel stared at Ren with questioning eyes.

“I’ve no time to explain. You’re the third. You’ll make it complete.”

“The synergy, Nigel,” Neki said, stepping forward and pointing to the stars. “If you don’t the darkness will take over the Lands. Without you Ren can’t do what he must.”

Nigel’s blue eyes flickered in the dim light. “No, Ren is in control of the darkness, not I.”

“I need three to help me,” Ren said. “Without you, I’ll fail.”

“I can’t. Hate’s the only thing that keeps them alive.”

“Who?”

Nigel closed his eyes. “Sherri and Megglan. I can’t see them otherwise. I forget their features. Only when I become enraged with their deaths do I see them.”

Ren tightened his grip on Nigel’s wrist. “Nigel, you must, or the world is lost.”

Nigel shook his head. Ren glanced back at the stars. The two points had almost faded from vision. Chris and Aaron had been in the dream world for some time. Unlike Markum, they couldn’t live there indefinitely.

He turned to Nigel once more, not wanting to do what he was about to do but knowing he must.

“So you condemn your brother to die.”

Nigel clenched his fists. “No.”

“His children.”

“No.”

“That’s what you do if you refuse to give me your hate.”

Ren hoped he hadn’t made a fatal error, but he didn’t know what else to do. They had no time. Chris and Aaron had no time.

Nigel gazed at him like a man sick with a fever. “How do I give it?”

“I don’t know,” Ren said. “But we have to try.”

Ren stepped back and impaled the ground with his sword. The love and pain stones glimmered in the darkness. The sable stone was dull, placid. Nigel reached out with his gloved hand. Ren stopped him. “No, your left, the one with the brand.”

Nigel nodded and clamped his bare hand over the hilt of the sword. The hate stone began to glow. Nigel’s face contorted. He fell to his knees. The scream he emitted came from the depths of the earth. It sounded as if he were being torn in two.