Heir of Shandara (Book 4) (14 page)

Khoiron nodded. “They can still be killed.”

“Yes,” Isaac said. “They must have the bodies burned. According to the Hythariam, it’s the best way to contain the virus.”

Khoiron ran his hand along his craggy cheek in thought and shook his head. “We need to warn people, but at the same time this could spread chaos and discord among them. Opportunists could use this as an excuse to take out their enemy.”

Sarah nodded. “That is the reason why I wanted you involved. I want you to work with Isaac and Nolan to help secure not only this city, but the smaller surrounding kingdoms as well.”

Khoiron frowned in thought for a moment. “The new captain commander of the city. Wise choice in putting him there.”

“Part of me wants to spread the word about the Forsaken to everyone and trust that people will use good sense. At the same time, I know that doing so may cause more harm than good,” Sarah said.

“What would you have us do?” Khoiron asked.

“To start with, I want you to leverage your network of agents. Tell them the truth and how best to deal with the virus,” Sarah said.

“That’s a good start, but they will need support. It sounds like this virus could get out of control quickly,” Khoiron said.

“Agreed,” Sarah said. “We’ll send support. Soldiers where we can. Soldiers dressed as civilians where we can’t, and I will engage the leaders of the smaller kingdoms. They can cascade the knowledge about the virus as they see fit. At the same time, I want your agents to report any sightings of the Forsaken.”

“This will take time—” Khoiron started.

“This begins now,” Sarah said. “We can’t afford to delay. Use the former Elitesmen here under Isaac’s command. We have some comms devices that can be used. Train your agents in their basic use.”

“You’ll need to have someone show me their basic use, my Lady,” Khoiron said, his craggy face lifted in a smile.

“I will have one of my men show you,” Isaac said. “I can assign some of my people to help, but I will need more than half for our task, your Grace.”

General Khoiron glanced between the two of them. “I had assumed that the Forsaken is what brought you back to Khamearra. Am I wrong?”

“It’s part of the reason. I’m here to help hunt down my brother,” Sarah said.

Khoiron’s eyebrows drew up. “He’s returned to the city?”

Isaac frowned. “We’re not sure.”

“What do you mean, you’re not sure? Amorak had Rordan training with the Elitesmen. Surely you can track him down with them,” Khoiron said.

“It’s not that simple,” Sarah said. “Rordan was given some type of amulet that augments his powers.”

“Who gave him the amulet?” Khoiron asked.

“We believe the amulet was left for him by Mactar,” Sarah answered.

“Curses,” Khoiron swore. “I always told your father he was too indulgent with that man. Was this amulet similar to the apprentice amulets that Gerric used to force on the Elitesmen?”

Isaac frowned. “For a general, you seem to know an awful lot about Elitesmen practices, but to answer your question. Yes, it’s similar.”

“It’s my business to know the inner workings of sects like the Elite Order,” Khoiron said.

“Why did you ask if it was similar to apprentice amulets?” Sarah asked.

“Something I heard Mactar say—hint at really. Something about young men who sought power were the easiest to bend to your will,” Khoiron said.

Something tugged at the edges of Sarah’s thoughts, but she couldn’t quite pin it down. “Mactar was full of secrets, and since Rordan may have gotten his amulet from Mactar, then it’s safe to assume that it came with strings attached. Mactar didn’t share power unless he could use it as a way to control you. He tried a number of ways to ensnare me into his schemes, so it’s not too far a leap to believe that he did the same with my half brothers as well.”

“So the amulet augments Rordan’s powers, and with Mactar dead and gone, there is no one left to control him,” Khoiron said.

“It’s more complicated than that. Rordan is not simply more powerful, more adept at using the energy. To tap into the energy around us requires a strong mind. That’s why the Safanarion Order forbade the use of apprentice amulets,” Isaac said.

“A strong mind?” Khoiron asked.

Isaac smiled. “Something you don’t know? Yes, being open to manipulate the energy around us taps into the very foundations of the soul. The soul can be old. Without a strong sense of self, one could fall under the influences of souls past.”

“So you see, General, we’re facing more than my brother. The users of such amulets become drunk on power and addicted to its use,” Sarah said.

“Can’t you just take the amulet from him?” Khoiron asked.

“We need to find him first. I last saw Rordan here at the palace. This was before the battle at Rexel. Rordan was slipping then. Changing into something else almost entirely,” Sarah said, her thoughts beginning to race. “Tarimus!”

Isaac and Khoiron exchanged glances.
 

“Colind’s son. What about him?” Isaac asked.

Sarah felt the pang of Colind’s loss. The Lord Guardian of the Safanarion Order had traded his life to rid the world of Mactar. She missed the old man and hoped he was finally at peace. “Tarimus was under Mactar’s control since before the fall of Shandara. What if Mactar started the same process with Rordan, only he wasn’t able to finish it because he is dead?”

Khoiron nodded. “A means to control. The idea has merit, your Grace.”

Isaac frowned. “It is a good idea. We searched Mactar’s chambers here at the palace but didn’t find anything.”

Sarah shook her head. “No, he wouldn’t keep it here. Mactar would have kept it at his castle.”

“But Garret reported that Colind destroyed the castle,” Isaac said.

“That’s true, but it couldn’t hurt to look around. We can still keep looking for Rordan here, but I want to take a look around at the ruins of Mactar’s castle,” Sarah said, her mind made up. She needed to finish this business of stopping her brother quickly so she could focus on the Zekara with the others.

“Your Grace, I will take my leave of you and set about the task that you’ve given me,” Khoiron said, and left the offices of the High Queen.

“Shall we, my Lady?” Isaac asked.

“No contingent of soldiers to bring with us?” Sarah asked.

Isaac chuckled. “Oh, they’re just outside your office. You see, I figured you’d want to head off as soon as possible. So I keep a ready force charged with protecting you while you’re here that can leave at a moment’s notice.”

Sarah nodded, resigned to the fact that her days of charging off alone may very well have been behind her. The price of becoming the High Queen.
 

C
HAPTER
13

SHARED BURDENS

After coming through the portal, Aaron and the others checked themselves for injuries. Luckily, none of them had any bites from the Forsaken.
It was something at least
, Aaron thought. Despite their careful planning, it appeared that the Zekara were ready for them. Aaron shook his head, clenching his teeth. They might have surprised the Zekara, but the surprise was twofold with the FNA being blindsided once again.

Aaron glanced north and could almost make out the Watchtower of Elden Hold. He had sent word to evacuate the old watchtower. Tanneth had made the report to Gavril, who was in Rexel.

“Prince Cyrus has been informed, but he wants to speak with you,” Tanneth said, and activated the portable holo display. After a few moments, the head and shoulders of Prince Cyrus, ruler of the Waylands, looked up at them. Rexel was the capital city of the Waylands and had allied with Shandara against the High King. Cyrus had been his grandfather’s friend before he had fled to Earth with Aaron’s mother.
 

Gavril joined them. Although Gavril was Hythariam, he didn’t have the golden eyes that dominated their race. Instead, he had green eyes that clearly showed their distinction on the holo display. Gavril was formerly of the Hythariam military before they fled to Safanar.

“I didn’t think the Zekara would have so many of the Forsaken with them,” Aaron said.

“How is it that we couldn’t see them?” Verona asked.

Bayen, who was off to the side, appeared as if he were about to speak but at the last second decided not to.

Strange,
Aaron thought.

“It’s called a cloaking net,” Tanneth said.

“You’ve seen them before?” Aaron asked.

Tanneth shook his head. “No, like you, this is the first time. Gavril informed me what it was. We don’t have anything like that at Hathenwood or Shandara. The power requirements are extremely high. Essentially, they are projecting the known image of the area in front of them through the use of the drones.”

“They must have known we were coming,” Verona said.

“I think they guessed we would attack at some point along the way,” Aaron said. “We knew this would be a fight going in, but the Forsaken are something else entirely. It looked like they had hundreds of them. We need to clear the people out between here and Rexel.”

“All the people?” Verona asked.

“Yes,” Aaron answered.

“That’s a tall order, my friend.”

“We don’t have a choice, and neither do they. If they stay, then they will fall victim to the Zekara and be turned into one of the Forsaken,” Aaron said.

“Is there no other way?” Prince Cyrus asked.

Aaron shook his head. “I don’t think anyone could hide from the Zekara for very long. They would need to get more than a few miles away. Having them on the open road or fleeing through the surrounding forests would leave them exposed.”

“You may not have noticed, my friend,” Verona began. “Rexellians are a stubborn lot. Many will be reluctant to leave their homes undefended.”

Aaron was silent for a moment, his face growing grim as his gaze took in those around him. A part of him couldn’t believe what he was about to say, but what choice did they have? “If they won’t leave their homes, then we should consider forcing them to. We don’t have a choice. If they stay, the Zekara will turn them into the Forsaken, and we will be facing them at Rexel.”

An uneasy silence sank in on them, but Aaron saw a flicker of understanding among the Hythariam in their ranks.

“You can’t be serious. I won’t have my people rounded up like a herd of cattle,” Prince Cyrus said.

“I’m not saying that we show up and take people out of their homes,” Aaron said. “Tell them of the danger. They will listen to reason.”

“If there is one thing I’ve learned from being a ruler of my own kingdom for over thirty years it’s that a mob will never listen to reason. If I were to do as you suggest and force people from their homes, then there will be blood in the streets,” Cyrus said.

Aaron’s eyes darted around. He certainly didn’t want that type of blood on his hands, but how could he protect the people if they didn’t listen to reason? “We can warn them then and let them decide for themselves.”

“That I agree with wholeheartedly,” Cyrus said.

“Uncle,” Verona said, “Aaron is right. I’ve seen the Forsaken firsthand. If the people don’t quit their homes and seek refuge in the city, then they will most certainly die, along with their families.”

“You speak the truth,” Gavril said. “Like Aaron, you have the purest of intentions, but this is a slippery slope. I agree with the prince. We warn them of the danger and tell the people where we think they will be safest, but the decision of whether they yield to such advice is entirely up to them.”

Aaron felt his stomach clench, remembering the sight of the Forsaken throwing themselves against the barrier. They were mindless and singular of purpose. It was a fate he wouldn’t wish upon anyone. After a moment, he recognized the wisdom in the words being spoken. Forcing them from their homes, that was the way of the High King. They were on a slippery slope indeed.

“You’re right. I apologize for making the suggestion,” Aaron said.

“It’s all right. You’ve seen firsthand the danger we will be facing. It’s enough to affect all of us,” Gavril said.

Bayen mumbled something under his breath. Aaron couldn’t hear what he said, but he could have sworn it was something about half measures.