The Trials Of Ashbarn ( Book 5) (16 page)

The
creature lunged at its helpless victim. Eric grinned, then stepped backward through a shimmering doorway. It snapped shut right before a hook exploded across the space, yellow sparkles spraying the area before fading out. A second golden line split the air on the other side of the platform, then snapped open into a shimmering doorway. Eric charged through, sword in hand, but slammed into something that might as well have been a stone wall.

The
intelligent beast had reacted perfectly to the trick. It had galloped to the other side of the platform in anticipation of this very maneuver, as it knew the Gate Keeper would have to reappear somewhere nearby. It guessed right!

W
inded from the unexpected impact, Eric now found himself trapped in a bear hug. He struggled desperately as the life was being crushed out of him. Two bony hooks dug into his back. His vision began to blur. All he could see were those pearl-like, perfect teeth smiling down on him. He didn’t have enough air left to cry out. Spark slipped from his weakened grip and fell to the ground, the flames instantly gone.
I’m sorry, Jade. I won’t make it back after all. I guess it was all just a dream
.

Thump thump
... He could feel blood pulsing in his ears.
Thump thump
... His life flashed before him. A lifetime’s worth of memories blurred into a series of colorful images. He heard Jade’s voice.

I’ve searched for you my whole life, Gate Keeper
.

Thump thump
...

There are kings that don’t have your qualities
.

Thump thump
...

It was as if she were right here with him
, willing to forfeit her life and die with him. He could feel her hands pressing on the side of his head. She turned him, forcing him to look at her, placing her forehead flush against his.
Don’t you dare give up
! Eric’s eyelids fired open. He gasped for air, hung there helplessly, his body crushing under the intense pressure. Blood ran freely down his back from two deeply embedded claws.

Rage coursed through his
veins. There was no air in his lungs, yet he managed to scream a long, primal wail that startled the beast who was sure his prey was already finished. Eric roared again, his savage howl echoing into the night. He drove his head forward with all his might. His forehead cracked against those perfect teeth. He drove his head in again...again...again. Fragments of broken white enamel fell to the ground. The stunned creature loosened its grip. Eric struggled free, then crawled along the ground to retrieve his sword.

His
broken body was on fire, but he couldn’t stop now. Greedily gulping down air, he raised his blade high. Angry flames erupted from it once more. Like a savage animal, Eric rushed the beast. He swung his fine, jeweled weapon the way a farmer swings an axe. No swordsmanship. No techniques. Just blind rage and intent to kill.

He hacked at the stunned creature
’s already wounded leg, severing the thick limb. The beast let out a high-pitched shriek before crumpling to the ground. The stump spewed dark, oily blood across the stone. Eric leaped onto its chest, hacking away blindly. Putrid yellow steam rose into the air while his scorching blade sizzled with alien blood.

With
muscles burning and fatigue setting in, Eric’s blind frenzy began to play itself out. He moved slower and slower with each swing. With a final chop, he removed the beast’s head from its already lifeless body. Eric grabbed the large head and held it up towards the sky, his breathing heavy and raspy. With a roar, he threw it over the side of the platform, then watched it disappeare into the blackness without a sound.

He
dropped to his knees, exhausted. Blood ran down his face from deep cuts on his forehead where bits of teeth were deeply embedded. His back was severely wounded, sporting puncture holes that burned with each labored breath. He remained on his knees, feeling dazed...alone.

* * *

Wara turned away from her white pearl and looked at Kelus. “Resourceful, I’ll give him that. I’m not sure if any have even made it to the second test, yet alone the third.”

Kelus smiled at Wara. “You sound surprised. I think you’ll find him
to be much more than resourceful before the trials are over.”

She didn’t return his grin, only went back to focusing on her pearl.
“We shall see soon enough.”

Ilirra sat tall on the edge of her golden throne. Behind her hung a large green banner with a golden star at its center. The flag of Taron. A symbol of hope. A representation of freedom, righteousness, and integrity to those who came here in search of a new life. And Queen Ilirra herself had always strived to provide for the people. She herself had been often viewed as a righteous symbol for the city of Taron. But today, everything felt different. If the recent news were true, how could this great city ever be viewed the same?

“Are you certain
, Berkeni?” Ilirra asked, her face its usual calm mask of serenity. “Is there any possibility you’re making a mistake? Once I’ve committed to the preparations of war, there will be no turning back.”

Berkeni’s
voice cracked when he spoke. “I’m certain, my lady. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. The crytons have gathered in force, and now march on Taron as we speak.”

Ili
rra stood, swiping her hands down her red silk dress with lacy green embroidery at the neckline and shoulders. She drifted across the red and green carpet with all the elegance and grace of a queen, then picked up a silver goblet full of wine from one of the servants holding a tray. She threw her head back, draining the goblet in one swallow, then leaned back against a thick, golden pillar. Her emotionless blank stare looked to be a thousand miles away. “And what part does our
ally
Shantis play in all this?”

“My lady,”
Addel added quickly. “It doesn’t appear she is in power anymore. In truth, we don’t know where she is. We suspect someone else leads the crytons on this march, but we can’t be certain at this point.”

The sudden
cold gaze that fell on Addel could freeze fire. Those frozen green eyes belonged on a corpse, not their beloved queen. “Then go now, and do not return to me until you
are
certain, at which point you will both provide me with a full report.”

“Yes
, my lady,” said Berkeni, trying to answer for Addel, who seemed quite shaken all of a sudden. “But in order to assemble a proper report, we will need some time. We must discover who’s truly in command now, discover their motives as well as—”

“You have one day,” the Queen replied flatly. Without pause
, she turned to Azek. All the while he had been staring straight ahead with his hands at his sides. He turned to meet her icy gaze. “I need you to ready the men. If this is a misunderstanding, then all the better. But in the meantime, we must prepare for the worst. Taron’s defenses cannot be left to chance.”

“But my lady,” he replied
with a quick nod. “Whether or not the threat is real remains irrelevant at this time. We must not incite panic. Rumors of impending war will only further damage your standing with the people.” Despite the sudden awkwardness in the room, Azek kept his posture upon broaching the delicate subject most avoided at all costs. But he knew it needed to be addressed.

Ilirra looked thoughtful, as if silently weighing her options
. “Agreed,” she said at last. Both Berkeni and Addel let out the breaths they were holding. “Be as vague in detail as possible while preparing your men. Reinforce to them that this is more or less a drill. But keep them sharp. Even under sworn oath of silence, men tend to leak information. The only way we can stop that completely is to offer them none. Understood?”

“Yes
, my lady.” Azek spun on his heels and marched from the room. Addel and Berkeni each gave a slight nod before following his lead.

Once she
was alone, Ilirra dropped back into her throne and threw both hands over her face.
The crytons have turned on me. The people have lost faith in their Queen. I no longer possess the resources to protect the Gate Keeper...or even my own daughter! By the gods, I can take no more..
.

Alone,
she wept silently.

* * *

Amoshi slashed away at the dense brush with his machete, then stomped down the stubborn stalks, allowing Jacob to follow. He had been slashing away for hours but still had made very little progress. “How could they have possibly gone this way?” Jacob complained, trying to push back a thorny branch clinging to his cheek. “How could they manage to get through brush this thick?”

Amoshi
slashed another substantial branch then stomped it down under his boot. He let out a breath, wiping sweat from his brow. “They’re not delicate humans like you and I. It doesn’t appear all these bushes and vines would even slow them down.” He bent low, running his hand along the ground, then up a patch of bent grass. “See, they slide right through without any problems.” He thumbed a broken thorn hanging off a vine. “I’m guessing they’re either covered with fur, or have a very thick hide. The must possess some way to protect themselves against this rough terrain.” Amoshi stomped on a spot of dirt repeatedly, then pointed down for Jacob to look. “You see that?”

“Sure, more of those
same paw prints.”

“Notice anything different this time?” Jacob
just shrugged. “These prints are much deeper than the others. Also, they’re right next to each other as opposed to stepping with one paw, then the other. In other words, they can jump...high. That must be how they are clearing most of this brush.” Amoshi looked up, gazing at the canopy of green leaves above them. “For all we know, they can swing through the trees as well. We can’t be certain of anything until we find them.”

Jacob looked puzzled, scratching
his head thoughtfully. “But if Athel is with them, well, she can’t jump like that.” He kicked a bush, sending leaves fluttering around. “She has no fur or thick hide to protect herself from this. None of this explains—”

“Jacob,”
Amoshi interrupted gently. “The last time we saw Athel, she was in the midst of a...change. The Aken-Duri is an extremely rare and complicated thing. And as far as we know, there is still no cure. Jacob, you have to accept the possibility that...Athel is no longer the person we remember. And she may not recognize you either.”

Jacob stared
down at his feet for a time. What could he say? There was plenty of truth in Amoshi’s words. He needed to accept the possibility that she was no longer the same person he remembered. Even if they found her, the girl he loved might truly be gone forever. He angrily kicked the same bush again. “Let’s just keep moving, alright?”

Amoshi nodded, then continued to
swing away, carving them a path. He understood where Jacob was coming from. Even the slightest shred of hope was more than enough.

* * *

There came a light rapping on the door. “Jade, are you in there? Jade?” Nima repeated before rapping on the door a second time. Jade ignored her while lying on her back, sunk deep into a swinging hammock. She continued to stare at the ceiling just as she had done for hours now.

“I know you’re in there. I’m coming in.”
The sliding door snapped open and Nima entered. Jade didn’t even acknowledge her. With one foot planted on the floor, she just kept swinging lightly. “Are you just going to lie there all day doing nothing?” said Nima.

“If it pleases me.” Jade
’s words were not angry or defiant, just empty, void of any emotion.

“This doesn’t
help him, you know.”

“Nothing I do can help him,” Jade mumbled, more to
herself. “Those are the rules, lest the spirits strike us both dead, correct?” she hissed.

Nima didn’t respond
. Instead, she moved over to the other side of the room, her back to Jade. She could hear the light creaking while Jade kept on swinging. Nima pulled an apple from the fruit basket sitting on a small table. She took a big bite, crunching away while finding some strange interest in the walls. Her back still to Jade, she patiently took another big bite. “I hear he passed the first trial,” she mumbled softly, her mouth still full of apple. The creaking stopped. Nima took yet another bite. “We believe he may be the first to have gotten this far,” she said, crunching away casually, as if they were engaged in idle gossip.

“Why,” Jade swallowed the lump building in her throat, “why didn’t you
tell me?” She sat up, eyes wide.

“Because you chose to lie
here like a worthless stone instead of assisting him in other ways.”

“What other ways? Every minute that passes, the man I love is in dange
r, and there is nothing I can do!”

“
In this, you are not alone, Jade.” Nima sighed, tossing the apple aside. “The man I love has also put himself at risk. He is out there as we speak, aiding Jacob in a fool’s quest, and not because he wanted to. He’s doing it because I asked him. And make no mistake, Jade, I would do the same for him in a heartbeat.”

She walked up to Jade, kneeling down to look her in the eye
while she sat in the hammock. “Our men are in danger, and now it’s our turn to do something. Eric must walk this road alone, but when he returns—” she placed her hands on Jade’s knees, “and you must have faith that he
will
return—you will retake your rightful place as the Guardian to the true Shantie Rhoe. When the time comes, you must become a human weapon, one that is feared by Eric’s enemies. And yes, that includes the Crimson Empire.”

Jade ho
pped out of the hammock. “You are correct,” she said, sounding ashamed. “Lying here worrying about the things I can’t control doesn’t help Eric; or anyone else for that matter. He’ll find a way. He always finds a way. And when he returns—”

“
When Eric returns, he will find a woman far stronger than the one he left behind. I warn you, he
will
be changed. But so will you. Come now, follow me. We resume your training immediately.”

They
left the hut and walked out into the street. “Do you remember how to find my favorite hiding spot?” asked Nima. Jade nodded. “Good. Go now, and I’ll meet you there shortly. I just need to gather a few things first.” The two separated. Jade hurried off to their private cove at the edge of the forest, while Nima headed back to her home. But when Nima turned the corner leading to her door, there was someone waiting for her.

“I knew you would show up
sooner or later,” said the plump woman. Heavyset, with far too large a nose, she stood with her hands on her hips, tapping her foot.

“Iwa,” said Nima
dryly with a slight nod of her head. “It’s been too long.”

“Where is he?”
asked the heavyset woman while she scratched at her shoulder. “He hasn’t been back to his home for quite a while. And I
know
you know where he is.” The angry woman wore a long, black dress that was far too tight, and a red cloth wrapped around her gray-streaked black hair. She continued tapping her foot impatiently while scratching away at some itch she just couldn’t seem to satisfy.

“It’s good to see you too,” said Nima with a roll of her eyes.
“I can only assume you’re speaking of Amoshi, since you seem to follow the poor man closer than a shadow.”

“And why shouldn’t I?”
Iwa protested, puffing out her ample breasts like a strutting peacock. Her eyes narrowed. “After all, he has been promised to me. Someone needs to look after him. He is a man, after all. And like any other man, he can’t be trusted to stay out of trouble on his own. Now, I ask you again: Where is he?”

Nim
a sighed. “Well, I’m sorry you seem to have lost your pet. You might want to try tying him up next time. Or maybe a cage. I hear they do wonders for keeping animals in place.” This time Nima’s eyes narrowed. “Or maybe he has more important things to do than to be your slave.”

Iwa’s face turned red
; her flabby cheeks jiggled with rage. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to. The entire village knows. Do you think I don’t see the way you look at him? You ogle him like a piece of meat. Well, luckily, he’s been too naive to even notice your less than subtle advances. Let me remind you for the last time. He belongs to me! Feel free to keep crawling around on your belly like a snake, lurking and waiting, trying to steal him from me the first chance you get. But it will never happen!”

Iwa
slowly approached Nima, the corners of her lips turned up in a dark grin. Nearly a head shorter, she had to stand on her toes to get close enough to whisper in Nima’s ear, “The truth is, despite our vast differences, I pity you. Amoshi and I will soon be married, no matter your protests. Which leaves you with only one foreseeable future.” She paused, forcing Nima to feel her heavy breathing in her ear. “You will grow old...and then die...alone.” Grinning, Iwa turned and left without another word.

Nima found herself
grateful Iwa never looked back. She didn’t want her to see her lip quivering, or the moisture filling her eyes.
What does that cruel little snake of a woman know, anyway
? But no matter how much she tried to ignore Iwa’s cruel words, Nima knew she was correct. Amoshi could never be hers. The day would come when Iwa and Amoshi would be married, and all Nima could do was watch the love of her life be handed off to someone else.
I know he can never be mine, but he deserves better than that..
.
that
...

She tried to shake
away the horrible experience as she went inside.
My focus must be here and now.
She hurried over to an old brown trunk and flung it open. Inside were several bags sorted by color, and a few smaller boxes. There were yellow, red, blue, green, and white bags.