Amidst The Rising Shadows (Book 3) (31 page)

Rordan watched as his father closed his eyes for a moment and felt the waves of energy coming from him in staggering proportions. Elite Grand Master Gerric stumbled over to them. He had a trickle of blood running down his neck from a shallow wound behind his ear. Khoiron came up the hill, leading a company of soldiers with some breaking off to methodically search the area in teams.
 

The High King opened his eyes and called for a report from the general.

“This was a coward’s attack. Explosions have been set off throughout the upper and lower camps. I don’t have a confirmed number, but marking where the smoke is rising they looked to have targeted us pretty well.” Khoiron said.

“Which means we have spies among us,” the High King said.

Rordan noticed an Elitesmen walking along the next row of tents leading a group of soldiers.

“Elitesman,” Rordan called as he came to the other line of tents.

The Elitesman stopped and turned around, but the group of soldiers kept going.

“Your Grace,” he said and bowed his head.

“Do you know if the other camps have been attacked?” Rordan asked.

“Apologies, your Grace, but I don’t know,” the Elitesman said, glancing up at the group of soldiers.

Rordan nodded for him to carry on and returned to his father.

“The attack goes as planned—“

“Shouldn’t we assess the damage before moving on with the attack?” Rodman asked, looking to Khoiron for support.

“I would advise patience, your Grace,” Khoiron said.

“This cowardly act is an attempt to put us off balance, and it will not work. We leave now,” the High King said.

Rordan took one last glance at the city behind him and left to join the Elitesmen.

***

“We’re overdue as it is. Who was that?” Verona asked.
 

“That was Prince Rordan,” Rohnek answered. “He didn’t suspect anything, but I thought we had more time on the timer.”

Verona shrugged his shoulders. “Let’s catch up to the others. Their armies are assembling, which means they are about to attack.”

Aaron looked up as Verona and Rohnek caught up to them. Making their way through the camp had been easier than they originally expected, but they could not have made their way to the command tents without the former Elitesmen. Elitesmen authority was unquestioned in Khamearra. He kept glancing at the massing army and knowing there were other camps just like this fed the growing fear that they simply didn’t have enough soldiers. Verona relayed their brief meeting with Rordan, and Aaron’s gaze fixed upon where they had come from, knowing that the High King wouldn’t be far from his only living son.

“This isn’t the time,” Sarah said, “He’s too strong here. When you face him it must be with an army at your back.”

Aaron frowned, “If we could take out the focusing crystals we could gain more time. Time enough to prepare--”

“They are too well guarded, my love.”

“Not for me they’re not,” Aaron said clenching his teeth and then whispered, “So many people are going to die, Sarah. If I could prevent that I would.”

Sarah reached out, taking his hand in her own, “I know you would, and more importantly everyone else serving in the Free Nations Army knows it too. It’s why they will fight.”

Aaron nodded saying nothing, but in his mind he was still judging the distance to where he suspected the High King was, but when he looked up they were gone.

“It’s time,” Tanneth said quietly. He engaged the Keystone Accelerator and opened a portal back to Rexel.

They filed through the portal. Rohnek paused in front for a moment, tilting his head. He spun around, drawing his sword, and raced past Verona. At first it appeared as if he was swinging his sword at the empty air, but then Aaron heard the kiss of steel on steel.

“Keep going,” Aaron shouted and dashed ahead to catch up.

“You betray us, brother,” an Elitesman said, releasing his shroud that had kept them from seeing them.

“You betray yourselves,” Rohnek said, lashing out with his sword maneuvering around the two Elitesmen.

“The penalty for treason against the Order is death, and you will die alone,” the Elitesman said.

Aaron brought his staff down, and the Elitesman crumpled to the ground. Rohnek took advantage of the distraction to sweep the other Elitesman off his feet, but paused with his sword at his throat.

The Elitesman on the ground cursed, “Mercy is for the weak, brother, and you will find none here.” The Elitesmen tried to roll away, but Rohnek’s blade bit into his neck.

“They won’t change,” Rohnek said, cleaning the blood off his blade.

“Some of them won’t,” Aaron agreed, “But some will.”

The camp around them plunged into silence, and Aaron felt the faint stirring of energy crawl along his skin. There was a massive bubble of energy growing near the center of the High King’s army. The flaring brilliance stretched out, engulfing everything in its path. Tanneth shouted for them to hurry, that the portal wouldn’t stay open. The rest of them went through the portal until only Tanneth and Aaron remained.
 

This is it,
Aaron thought to himself. They stepped through the portal and emerged upon the quiet fields of the FNA camps outside of Rexel. Aaron scanned the horizon, expecting the High King’s army to appear at any moment. The sky was full of airships hovering along the borders of the city and FNA camps alike. The others glanced around at the sky for a moment, and then Verona tore off his Khamearrian soldier’s uniform.

“Don’t want to be mistaken for the enemy now, do we?” Verona grinned as he put his regular clothes back on from his pack.

They all quickly changed their clothing, and the comms devices began chiming at once. Tanneth answered.

“The High King’s army is attacking,” Iranus said.

“We’re in Rexel, and the army isn’t here,” Aaron replied.

“Not there. They are in Shandara.”

Aaron felt his gut clench as if he had been kicked. They had sent the women and children along with those who couldn’t fight to Shandara, believing that the High King would focus on Rexel.

“Roselyn is in Shandara,” Verona gasped.

“We’re going,” Aaron said.

“We can't use the Accelerator until it charges,” Tanneth said.

“We can use the crystals,” Sarah said and tossed one to Aaron.

Aaron caught it. “Tanneth, you and Sarik head back. We need you in the flyers.” He almost said in case the Zekara chose this moment to show themselves, but they had enough to deal with without worrying about the whether Halcylon would attack or not.

Tanneth withdrew two rods from his pack and handed one to Sarik. Two foot pads opened up at the ends, and they stepped on. In a moment they rose into the air and were racing to the field where the flyers were kept.

Those who remained closed in around Aaron and Sarah, each putting a hand upon the shoulder of the person in front of them until they were all linked. The FNA would be sending soldiers to Shandara at any moment. With a nod to Sarah they engaged the travel crystals, and the group disappeared.

They emerged in Shandara in the Dragon Hall. The sun was shining, casting its warm glow upon the city. Aaron hadn’t been to Shandara since he had brought down the barrier between Safanar to Hytharia. Then the city had been a place of twilight, where the deathly shadows held the land by the throat. It had been months since he had been here, and without the Drake and the Ryakul around, the land was slowly starting to heal.

They raced through the city amid the soldiers heading toward Shandara’s walls. Aaron drew in the energy and launched himself into the air and landed atop of a taller building. He was followed by Sarah and Verona. The former Elitesmen crested the top with ease. Braden came last, pulling himself over the edge. Aaron was relieved to see the gaping holes in Shandara’s pristine walls had been repaired.

“They’ve been fortifying the city since you’ve been gone,” Sarah said.

“That’s good. At least now we know we have a chance,” Aaron said.

Battle drums could be heard in the distance. Aaron glanced at the others and launched into the air, speeding toward the walls. The others followed as best they could, and only Sarah was able to keep up with him. Aaron reached back sensing the energy in the others and urged more speed from them. Verona immediately started to break away from the others, quickly followed by Braden. Rohnek and Zedya remained closed off to him. They crested the walls, seeing groups of FNA soldiers spread out. Some of the FNA carried Hythariam weapons and were spaced out among those armed with bows. Nearest them was a group of Hythariam clustered around a large mounted gun. Aaron scanned along the walls and saw others spaced out along the massive walls of Shandara.

“We found them and other weapons hidden throughout the city,” Verona said.

“And they work?” Aaron asked.

“We’re about to find out, my friend.”

Sarah turned toward them, “Iranus was trying to clear a path to the command center, but it has been buried in an area of the city still under rubble. He said they needed you in particular to open it for them.”

Aaron nodded and stepped closer to the edge to get a better look at the Khamearrian army spread out. They were just out of bow range, but Aaron was certain they weren’t out of range of the Hythariam weapons. The Khamearrian line stretched far, and Aaron couldn’t begin to guess at how many soldiers were out there. They was little movement, and the soldiers appeared smallish from their vantage point.
 

Aaron narrowed his gaze, scanning down below. “I don’t see any Elitesmen.”

Sarah frowned, her eyes darting back and forth, searching. A bright light flickered behind them from the streets below. A portal opened, and more soldiers of the Free Nations Army poured through. Aaron noticed similar portals being opened throughout the city below. Squad captains spread the word to hold their fire until the High King’s army advanced.

A seed of doubt took root in Aaron’s gut. Everything about this felt wrong. He scanned the sky, searching for any sign of Ryakuls, but there was none.

“This is a trap,” Aaron said.

“What do you mean?” Sarah asked.

“How else do you explain the lack of Elitesmen presence and no Ryakuls? Prior to Lorric all of the High King’s attacks included the Elitesmen, which were instrumental in taking the smaller kingdoms. Yet here the Khamearrian army stands, and they do nothing. It’s like they’re waiting for something.”
 

Aaron brought his comms device, “Gavril, I think this is a trap. The High King wants us to divide our forces. Stop sending soldiers to Shandara.”

“How can you be sure?” Gavril asked.

“The army here is just waiting, and there appears to be no Elitesmen in sight. What would the High King hope to gain by attacking Shandara? Even if he had to guess he would know that the bulk of the FNA is in Rexel...” Aaron’s eyes widened, “They’re coming for you at Rexel.”

The comms device went silent. Aaron called Gavril’s name, but no reply came. Aaron let out a frustrated breath, his mind racing. Verona tried using his comms device.

“Captain,” Aaron called. The FNA captain came over to them. “I want you to start shooting at the High King’s army.”

The captain frowned, “We have orders to hold fire unless they start attacking.”

“This is a diversionary force sent here to draw us out of Rexel. Right now they are out of bow range, but my guess is that they don’t realize that you can still get to them,” Aaron said.

The captain’s eyes widened, “But with our forces divided... I will give the order,” he said and left.

“What do we do?” Verona asked.

Aaron glanced at the city behind them and then back to beyond the walls. The FNA armed with Hythariam weapons fired on the High King’s army. Screams echoed from down below, and the soldiers scattered, trying in vain to take cover from the golden bolts.

What could they do? They needed to defend the city, but the High King would bring the bulk of his forces to Rexel. He glanced at Braden, whose cold eyes dared him to ask him to stay behind.

Sarah placed her hand on his arm, “You can’t be everywhere, and we are needed elsewhere. Trust that the soldiers here can hold the city. We must go.”

Aaron swore and grabbed a clump of his hair on top of his head, despising himself for not being able to stand with the FNA to defend Shandara, but Sarah was right. If the High King committed himself to destroying Rexel and the heart of the Free Nations Army, then that is where he was needed most.

Aaron turned to Braden.

"My place is at your side," Braden said.

"A Warden of the De'anjard defends the helpless."

Braden glared at him, but continued the oath, “Through cunning and strength."

“Stands the watch,” Aaron continued.

“Protect that which matters most.”

“Honor those of the shield,” Aaron said.

“Stand as one...sacrifice for the many,” Braden finished.

“The Warden’s Oath is meant to guide the De’anjard. Be a shield to these people here. Sarah is right, I can’t be everywhere at once. I need you to hold this city. Shandara is more than the Alenzar’seth,” Aaron said, holding out his hand.