The Eternal Darkness (4 page)

“Would you have preferred that I let them kill me and do who knows what to you and Anale?” Jake asked.

“Of course not,” she said.  She gripped his hand tighter.  “I’m not as concerned about those men as I am for you.  I don’t believe that you can use evil methods without a spiritual price, even if you believe it is for the good.  I love you and don’t want to see you harmed.”  She paused for a moment.  “You frightened me when you began to kick Orth, who was defenseless.  I have never seen you act like that, even when we fought against the demons.”

“I’m sorry, Hailyn,” Jake said, pulling her hand to his lips.  “When I absorbed their energy, I also pulled in some part of their emotions.  I could feel their fear and anger.  It built up in me and I let it get away from me in the end.”

“Another reason to avoid doing it again,” she replied.

“Let’s try to not get captured again, so I won’t have to,” he said lightly, trying to ease her mind.

“I agree,” she laughed softly.  Still holding hands, they rode on in silence.

After several hours of travel, they came across another forest road.  With a glance at Hailyn, who nodded, Jake turned onto the road, heading east, and took the lead.  Recalling what happened earlier, he drew his sword as he rode and embraced his power.  His aura shone brightly, the presence of the Guardian’s sword increasing his might.  With his power lighting the road, he picked up the pace.

They rode through the night.  As the sun began to lighten the sky in front of them, another road intersected theirs, heading southeast.  This one appeared to be better traveled than the one that they were on.  They stopped and moved off the road a little way, allowing the horses to rest.  They pulled out some rations and ate while they discussed what they would do.

“We could stop here and find a sheltered area to sleep, but I would rather continue on,” Jake stated.  “We can ride more slowly, but I would feel more comfortable if we got some more distance between us and those robbers.  Just in case they decide to follow us.”

“How are you feeling, Anale?” Hailyn asked.  “Do you think you can continue on?”

“I agree with Jake,” she replied quietly.  “I want to keep moving.”

“Then we will continue on,” Hailyn said.  She turned back to Jake.  “I think we should take the southeast road.  It seems a better choice if we want come across a village or other people.”

“I agree,” Jake said.  He looked over at the sword in Hailyn’s hands.  “We should wrap that up in a blanket, so it doesn’t draw more attention.”

After they fed and watered the horses, Jake wrapped the sword in a blanket, cutting off its light, and tied it off against his saddle, and then they continued on.  The sun rose, brightening the sky, but thin gray clouds blocked most of the light.  The temperature stayed cold and a strong wind blew up from the south.  Jake led, with one hand clutching the reins and his cloak to try to keep the wind out while keeping his sword out and ready.  The girls followed right behind him, riding close together.

They did not see anyone else the entire day.  In the late afternoon, with the clouds turning darker and rain threatening, the wooded hills came to an end and the plains spread out in front of them.  The thick green and brown grass of the plains waved and rolled in the wind.  The open ground was a relief after the time under the trees.  They spurred the horses on and rode at a moderate gallop.

As dusk was beginning to stretch across the plains, they spotted the farm.  A narrow dirt road branched off of the main road.  A mile or so down that road, there was a large wooden building, shaped like a barn, and a couple of smaller buildings next to it.  There were a few trees rising up next to the buildings.

“We should see if someone there can assist us,” Hailyn said.  “We could all use some warm food and maybe a roof over our heads.  It is likely to rain tonight.”

Jake nodded and turned down the road.  As they drew nearer, he saw that the large building was indeed a barn.  He saw several fences near the barn, some with cattle in them.  When he turned into the short entryway of the farm, the barn was directly ahead, across a large open dirt square.  A smaller shed was set off to the left of that square.

The farmhouse was near the road, closest to Jake.  It was a solid wooden structure.  It had a small porch at the front, with a thick wooden door set between two small windows.  Warm golden light spilled from those windows.

A couple of dogs came running from the side of the house, barking loudly.  They stopped several feet away, but continued to bark.

The door of the farmhouse swung open and a man stepped out, followed by a woman.  The man was tall and slim, middle-aged, with a bald head and bushy eyebrows.  He wore a thick linen shirt, with leather pants and boots.  He seemed cautious as he watched Jake approach, but not belligerent, even though he held a sword in his hand.

The woman, dressed in a plain blouse and skirt, appeared to be around the same age as the man.  She was full-figured, with long brown hair pulled back, and a kind, motherly face.  She gave the girls a welcoming smile, which turned into a tight frown when she gazed at Jake.

“Hello, strangers,” the man said.  “Is there something you are seeking?”

“A place to sleep, out of the rain,” Hailyn said as she climbed down from her horse.  “I am Hailyn, a cleric of the One.”  She suddenly shone with her power.  “My companions and I have traveled far and long. We would be grateful for shelter for a night.  We can pay you for your trouble and I can provide healing if you need it.”

“Your presence would honor us,” the woman said kindly.  “Please bring the girl and come inside.  We have an extra room you can use and I can draw you a hot bath.”  She looked over at Jake and her expression lost its kindness.  “Your guard can sleep in the barn.  I will send Jyman out with some food for him.”

In the doorway behind the woman, a girl a little older than Anale stepped out.  She was pretty, with brown hair and wide brown eyes.  Her dress emphasized her rather buxom figure.  She gave Jake a smile until the woman saw it.

“Get Hern’s room made up for our guests, Denna,” the woman said firmly to the girl.

The girl looked like she was going to refuse for a moment.  Her eyes took on a rebellious gleam, but the man spoke up before she said anything.  “You heard your mother, girl. Go,” the man said, a hint of steel in his voice.

“Yes, Father,” she said and went back into the house.

“I will help-,” the man said, looking at Jake as he waited for an answer.

“Jake, sir,” he replied.

“My name is Jyman and this is my wife, Cerese,” the man told him.

“I will help Jake settle the horses in the barn,” Jyman said as he turned to his wife.

“Of course,” Cerese replied.  She beckoned to Hailyn and Anale. “Come inside, girls, and get warm.”

Jyman led Jake to the barn and helped him unsaddle the horses.  “I apologize for the accommodations,” he said after he showed Jake the hayloft where he could sleep.  “If you travel with a cleric, I’m sure that you have to be an honorable man.”

“You have to forgive my wife,” he said with a chuckle.  “I’m afraid that you remind her of another young man with a sword who showed up seeking shelter.  He was polite, with a ready smile and easy-going manner.  He stayed on for a while, working the farm; I liked him.  That was until my wife caught him in the hayloft with Denna.  I had to run him off then.”

“You don’t have to worry about that with me, sir,” Jake said quickly.

“Given who you are traveling with, I reckon I don’t,” Jyman stated.  “But since I have to live with my wife, you will have to make do out here.  I will make sure you get some hot food tonight.”  With a nod, he headed back to the house.

Jake settled in, pulling a blanket from his saddlebags and pushing the hay into a comfortable pile.  He took off his armor and boots, keeping the sword next to him, and lay back on his makeshift bed.  He drifted off, dozing lightly.

He awoke with a start when he heard his name.  Moving over to the short ladder that connected the loft to the rest of the barn, he saw Hailyn standing at the bottom with a plate of food.  He reached down to take the plate, and then moved aside as Hailyn climbed up and sat down next to him.

The food smelled delicious after days of rations.  While he began to eat, Hailyn spoke.

“I talked with Cerese,” she said.  “She and Jyman agreed to allow Anale to stay here until their nephews arrive to help with the final cattle drive.  Anale has some family west of the capital, so Cerese and Anale will go with them, as the drive will pass close by the city.”

After a brief pause, she continued, “Also, there is an army garrison about a day or so ride south.  I think we should head there and use our letters.  We can request an escort to the border near the Keep.  That way, we can stay at any garrison we pass by to give us some extra protection and shelter.  What do you think?”

“Sounds great to me,” Jake replied.  “The quicker we can get the sword to Tomaris, the better I will feel.”

After Jake finished eating, they lay down in the hay, holding each other, kissing, and talking quietly.  It was the first time in days that they were alone and they lost track of time.  They were kissing passionately when Cerese’s voice came from the barn door, “Sister Hailyn, you should come back to the house.  I have your bath drawn and it is beginning to rain.”

With a slight giggle and a quick final kiss, Hailyn stood and brushed the hay from her clothes.  She grabbed the plate and went down the ladder, saying something to Cerese that Jake did not quite hear.

Jake moved to the edge of the loft and glanced down to see Cerese, smiling, holding an extra cloak over Hailyn’s head as they started to leave the barn.  Before he could move back, Cerese glanced up at the loft.  The smile dropped from her face when she saw him there with hay in his hair.  She glared at him for a moment, and then they were gone.

He went back to his pile and shifted it around until he was comfortable.  With the sound of the rain pattering off the roof, Jake quickly fell into a deep sleep.  He had dreams of the sword, but none were disturbing.

He woke early the next morning, feeling refreshed, when Jyman came to the barn and brought him some food.  After he ate, they fed and saddled the horses.  Jake left the packhorse with Jyman for Anale to use.

Once the horses were ready, Jyman had Jake lead them to the house.  The smell of wet grass and mud filled the air.  The sky was still cloudy, but it appeared that the rain had passed.

At the porch, Jake and Hailyn said goodbye to Anale.  Anale hugged them both, and then retreated to stand next to Denna, who put an arm around her shoulders as she cried.  With a final thanks to Jyman and Cerese for their hospitality, they mounted their horses and rode off in the pale morning light, heading south towards the garrison.

C
HAPTER
T
HREE

Sunlight streamed through the tall windows on the far side of the royal chamber as Keria waited impatiently for the ceremony to start.  Unable to sit still, she rose from her chair and began to slowly pace back and forth.  She felt constrained; her heavy coronation robes seemed to weigh her down.  As she gazed around the room, the familiar confines were strangely empty to her.  It was, she realized, because she had spent most of her time in the room with her father.

The two vacant chairs on the other side of the room tugged at her heart.  It was the king and queen’s chairs.  She ruefully remembered playing in this room as a girl, her parents sitting in those chairs watching her.  She also recalled her father sitting alone in his chair after her mother died.  He had tried to be so strong for her after that, but she knew the loss of her mother had taken something out of him.  Thinking of her father made her sad, but she stilled the grief before it could overwhelm her. 
I have to be strong today
, she thought as she considered what lied ahead.

As she paced back and forth, trying to shake off her melancholy, more memories intruded.  A vision of the first time she could remember being in this room drifted across her mind.  She had been a small child, only four years old.  It was the day when her father had become king.  She had not completely understood what was happening at the time, only knowing that her grandfather was no longer king.  Smiling slightly to herself, she recalled the boredom and frustration of having to stand still for what seemed an interminable amount of time while the ceremony and speeches dragged on.  Only her mother’s gentle grip on her arm had kept her from running off to find something more interesting to do.

Forcing herself to push down those memories, she brought her focus back to the present.  While she had been ruling as Queen since her father had died, the official coronation ceremony had been delayed while the palace and city recovered from the fighting.  At Commander Helgrant’s insistence, she had sent riders with orders recalling the Royal Guard to the city, but it had taken days for most of the Guardsmen to return. Meanwhile, the soldiers and clerics had spent that time scouring the city, both above ground and in the sewers, rooting out any holdouts of Lord Marcellas’ men and ensuring that no demons were hiding, waiting to strike.

Assured that the fighting was indeed done, the nobles had slowly returned and pledged to support her.  Lord Genela, who had been displaced at her father’s side when Lord Marcellas arrived, quickly sought to regain that closeness to the throne.  He was a constant presence in the palace, always appearing whenever she left her quarters.  She had never really liked the man, even though he had seemed to get along with her father, but palace politics now required her to suffer his presence.

Jonas, after he recovered from his battle in the dungeons, had made himself available to her as she adjusted to the reality of ruling.  He had gently pointed out that Genela wielded great influence with the other nobles.  “To offend him before the nobles confirm you as Queen would be unwise,” he had said.

She knew that Genela could have set off a political crisis if he chose to oppose her as Queen.  To secure her throne and ensure that the nobles supported her, she smiled and politely listened to him as he offered his opinion on what he thought she should or should not do.