Echoes Of A Gloried Past (Book 2) (34 page)

Darven narrowed his gaze. “What do you mean? Not the only Hythariam.”

“You know the Hythariam first appeared on our world about eighty years ago?” Mactar asked, and when Darven nodded he continued, “Things were very different then.”

“Hold on a minute,” Darven interrupted. “Are you saying that you were there when the Hythariam first came to Safanar?”

“Not exactly,” Mactar answered. “I was among the first members of the Safanarion Order.”

“The Safanarion Order!” Darven gasped.

Mactar watched the barrage of thoughts play through Darven’s face. “It is true I assure you. Although we didn’t call ourselves that in the beginning, and the only person to remember is Colind.”

“But that would mean you are over a hundred years old,” Darven sputtered.

“There are ways to slow down aging,” Mactar replied mildly.

“Yeah but … ” Darven began.

“Let’s not get caught up in my age,” Mactar said. “Just trust in the fact that I was there when the Hythariam first came to our world. I was witness to the barrier when it first came to being. The Hythariam possess powerful knowledge of undreamed potential with a vast array of weapons and soldiers. Most believe the Drake to be demon spawn, but nothing could be further from the truth. The Drake is quite literally not of this world.”

“What world is it from then?” Darven asked.

Mactar’s gaze grew distant. “What world indeed,” came his faint reply. 

“Do you know why the barrier went up in the first place?” Darven asked.

“Not entirely,” he lied. “There was some type of falling out with the Hythariam. I don’t know how the Alenzar’seth created the barrier, but that is not why I’m telling you this.”

“Fine,” Darven said. “Keep going.”

“I suspect that the Ryakuls have something to do with the Hythariam,” Mactar said. “I always have, but have never had anything to prove the claim. Regardless, if the Drake can somehow control the Ryakul then I want to observe how it's done and if possible, take that control for myself.”

Darven nodded. “I see, but what do you plan to do with the Ryakuls if you are able to control them? I doubt the Drake will sit idly by while you take away something that up until now, was solely within its dominion.”

“The Drake will only attack if it perceives us as standing between its main objective,” Mactar said.

“Which is?” Darven asked.

“The annihilation of the Alenzar’seth,” Mactar replied, keeping his own bitterness from his voice. 

“Just so I’m clear on what we’re doing,” Darven continued. “We’re to sneak into the Den of the Ryakuls and observe how the Drake controls them?”

“That about sums it up,” Mactar replied and felt a small chill sleek across the back of his neck.

Darven’s frown deepened as he stared off to the east. “I wonder how the Ryakul’s numbers have grown so much of late.”

Mactar schooled his features. “An excellent question, and truth be told, they are not of Safanar either.”

“How do you know this?” Darven asked, but was answered by Mactar’s contemptible silence.

“He fills your head with half truths,”
a raspy voice whispered.

Darven drew his sword and scanned the area, poised to attack anything that would dare threaten them. 

Mactar seized the energy around them, giving in to his reaction to Tarimus’s voice.

“I heard it that time,” Darven said. “Come out, Tarimus.”

They were greeted with a faint raspy laugh that despite himself had sent shivers down his spine. Tarimus was back in phase with the world and yet remained so aloof.

“Your master will betray you Elitesmen,”
Tarimus taunted.

Mactar cast out around him quickly finding where Tarimus hid, but he was gone in an instant.

“Show yourself!” Darven shouted. “How does he move around so fast?”

Mactar felt Darven draw the energy into himself and charge off into the trees quicker than any normal person could see. He aligned the energy within him allowing his solid form to dissipate, stretching so that he appeared like smoke. The essence of Mactar rose to the tree line and followed his Elitesman apprentice.

Darven charged off seeking the demon spawn Tarimus. The Grand Master of the Elite had awarded him the rank of Adept because he was so gifted in his ability to use the energy around them. The rank, much like the Order, held little in the way of keeping him within the confines of its practices. It was no mere happenstance that he alone was able to break free of the Elitesmen Order and survive in recent memory. He moved quickly striking out on a path very few could discern, let alone follow. He gained on Tarimus, who moved in and out of phase dotting the path before him. Darven discerned the pattern of his movements and seized the travel crystal, merging his energy with its own and surged ahead predicting where Tarimus would reappear.

He collided with the specter as they both transitioned back into phase.

Darven had his sword out before him, with its single edge catching fleeting glints of the fading moonlight.

Tarimus slowly rose to his feet and pulled back the hood of his cloak, revealing pasty white skin stretched over a completely bald head. Eyes of inky blackness regarded him.

“All right, Elitesman,” Tarimus said, drawing his dark blade that hissed free of its sheath. He brought both his hands up, holding the blade ready with his feet planted shoulder width apart. Tarimus brandished his dark blade slicing the air around him. Then held it ready behind him as he beckoned with his other hand.

Darven poised on one leg, angling the sword over his head in observance of the ancient sword forms. For the span of seconds, they stood unmoving embracing the stillness around them, then Darven charged. Their blades met, ringing out in dawn’s early light beginning their deadly dance. The two masters moved through the field, each testing the other's strengths, and assessing any weaknesses.

“You are very good,” Tarimus said, breaking off the attack. “But you can never stand against the Alenzar’seth.”

Darven swung his sword again, and Tarimus easily danced away. 

“Elitesman, you don’t even know when you are outclassed. Trust in that you will meet your end by the Alenzar’seth’s hand. He knows you were there that night.”

“Let him come,” Darven said and remembered throwing the dagger that took the life of Aaron’s mother. Killing was nothing new to him and many had come seeking vengeance. None had succeeded.

“I give you this message. The master you serve will betray you as he has done to all the others that stood at his side.”

Darven dashed forward, seeking to cut through Tarimus’s twisted face, but his sword only sliced through the air as Tarimus melted away before his eyes. He cast out with his senses, but he was alone.

After a few moments, Mactar appeared behind him.

“Darven, Tarimus seeks to drive us apart. He is bent on vengeance. I’m the one he wants.”

Darven sheathed his sword. “Then why all the games? Why not just strike out? He had the element of surprise.”

Mactar was silent for a moment. “Tarimus was my prisoner for many years. I know what he wants. He desires to see his victims squirm putting them off balance so by the time he strikes they are so frozen with fear that they cannot fight.”

Darven glanced around them. A blanket of mist covered the ground with the approaching dawn. 

“What else did he say?” Mactar asked.

Darven looked pointedly at Mactar, tilting his head to the side. “He said you would betray me.”

Mactar’s lips curved into a sardonic grin. “You see, he seeks to put us off balance.”

“I have no illusions when it comes to your intentions,” Darven said. “I am here because you find me useful and I follow because of the knowledge you have.”

 “Then we know where we both stand then,” Mactar replied. “Come. We head to Shandara,” he said, walking away.

Darven caught up to him easily. “About that. Travel crystals will only get us so far. They don’t work in the actual city of Shandara.”

“You are correct, but we don’t need to get to the city,” Mactar said. “Not this time at least. The Drake is not in the city, but somewhere in the northern mountain ranges. And the travel crystals do work in Shandara, but they are dangerous to use there. We can’t blindly use the crystals to travel there, but we could travel there by sight.”

“You mean to travel to a place within our field of vision,” Darven said.

“Precisely,” Mactar answered and held up his hand. “I know we would drain the crystal, but as I have said we can skirt around the borders of Shandara and gain the knowledge we seek.”

Darven nodded. “Let's go then, but there is one thing that does bother me.”

“What’s that?” Mactar asked.

“How does Tarimus keep finding you?”

“That is another excellent question,” Mactar said. “When I figure it out I’ll be sure to let you know.”

Darven lips curved into a half grin and nodded. They each brought out their travel crystals and headed north.

C
HAPTER
21

THE ELDARIN'S PLEA

THE cloaked Flyer class SPT silently eased away from the city, much to the ignorance of its inhabitants. Captain Nolan had seen them off and vowed to Aaron that he would do his best to keep the peace. Aaron wished him well and meant it. The De’anjard presence in Khamearra had proven to be something quite special and he hoped to return to them in the future. He rolled his shoulders, loosening them, and sagged into the cushioned seat of the Hythariam Flyer that changed its contours to match his body. Aaron sucked in a deep breath and exhaled while stifling a yawn.

“When was the last time you slept?” Roselyn asked.

Aaron raised his head slowly. "Probably the same time that you did.”

“You need rest,” Roselyn said. “We all do.”

She was right. This journey was catching up with them all and he could see the same bone weary exhaustion mirrored throughout the Flyer. He turned back to Roselyn, whose golden eyes never left his, and nodded.

“Probably best to just agree with her,” Verona whispered when Roselyn moved just outside of earshot.

“I am tired,” Aaron said, feeling his shoulders slump further with the admission. “But we’re so close. Each moment we delay … ”

“I know, my friend. I know,” Verona said, almost dozing. “Wasn’t it you who told us on the deck of the Raven to take a moment to center yourself. Well this is your moment. Recover your strength. Even working with the energy as we do takes its toll upon us and is not a substitute for actual rest. You won’t be any good to Sarah when we find her if you can’t think straight.”

Aaron smiled tiredly and felt his eyes droop a little. "Glad you were paying attention.” He looked back at Verona. "You said when, not if … Thanks.”

Verona snorted. "I guess I did. My friend, I’ve never lost faith in you. You will find a way through this of that I am convinced. And I will stand at your side watching your back as you do.”

He nodded at Verona sat back and let his eyes close. Aaron settled his head back and released the breath he had been holding, allowing his mind to relax. He slipped into a dull, dreamless sleep. 

A low-level alarm pulled him out of his slumber. He pushed his eyelids open and noticed that the others were all sleeping, save for the Hythariam, who were huddled at the front of the Flyer. Aaron wiped the sleep from his eyes and unbuckled himself from the seat. He had no idea how long he slept, but was sure it couldn’t have been that long. He heard the Hythariam speaking in hushed tones as he came up and Tanneth silenced the alarm.

“What is it?” Aaron asked.

Gavril glanced back at him. "Proximity alarm. You’re not going to believe this but we have two dragons flying on either side of us.”

Aaron looked at the screen which was slightly opaque signifying they were still in stealth. The medallion began to grow cool upon his chest. Just as Gavril had said, there were two enormous dragons flying on either side of the Hythariam craft dwarfing it in size. The dragons were larger than the one that he and Verona had met when he had first came to Safanar.

“Can you come out of stealth? They know we’re here,” Aaron said.

“Are you sure?” Tanneth said, and Gavril nodded to him after glancing at Aaron.

“What’s happening?” Verona asked, joining them and then looked down at the screen. His eyes widened at the sight of the dragons and his eyes darted immediately to Aaron.

“What do you think they want?” Gavril asked.

“Me, I think,” Aaron said.

“Doesn’t everyone,” Verona grinned.

Both dragons had golden hides, but each had their own unique blend of colors with one gravitating more toward greens and the other, blues. The dragon with the bluish hues flew in front of them with a powerful flap of its wings. Aaron focused himself and his perceptions sharpened, seeing the shafts of energy gleaming from the two dragons.

“Do you see that?” Tanneth asked, pointing to one of the charts that sprang up on screen. “That's the energy reading from the dragon. I’ve never seen so much come from any life form before.”

“We should follow them,” Aaron said.

The dragon changed course turning slightly and Tanneth followed easily. Once the dragon was satisfied they were following, it tucked in its wings and streaked ahead of them. Tanneth increased the flyer’s velocity to catch up. The dragon spun in the air dodging past some tall trees and Tanneth performed the same aerial stunt matching the dragon. The contest continued for a few moments and a mountain range began to loom closer to them. The Flyer hugged the earth and the treetops zipped passed them and despite not feeling any of the inertia they should have been feeling flying at these speeds, Aaron held onto the seat in front of him just the same.

“They’re so fast,” Sarik said, joining them. “I’ve never seen a dragon fly like that. He is not even flapping his wings.”

Aaron reached out with this senses and felt the same presence he had felt at the arena. “These are the Eldarin.”

Gavril eyed him for a moment, his brows raised in silent questioning.