Island Shifters: Book 01 - An Oath of the Blood (28 page)

Rogan and Airron were already present in the Mage’s sitting room along with Bajan, who Kiernan was relieved to see was safely back from his hunt. She immediately greeted her friends and put a possessive arm over Bajan’s back. Captains Nash and Franck were there as well, huddled around a table covered with maps and conversing softly. Both knelt with left fist on the floor when she entered.

The King’s back was to the door, and he was pouring himself a glass of wine. He did not turn around.

A soldier from the Iserlohn Army, presumably one of the guards from the holding cells when Titus was murdered, was standing before someone lying on a sofa and covered with a blanket. Kiernan gasped quietly when the guard turned to kneel to her and revealed Galen Starr. The vitality and youth of just hours ago had vanished, leaving a face gaunt and ancient and that seemed to be sinking in upon itself. It was frightening to see.

“Please rise,” she said to the Captains and the guard.

“Come closer, Princess,” croaked the Mage. “Guardsman Vance was just describing the events surrounding the death of the young Cyman. I must warn you, it is very disturbing.” He waved his hand weakly toward the guard, prompting him to continue his story.

The uneasy guard cleared his throat. “After it was discovered that the King did not order the interrogation or execution of the Cyman prisoner, we searched for Guardsman Penske to get answers. We searched for hours until one of the servants went to retrieve supplies from one of the wine cellars.” The guardsman gulped audibly. “We found Penske there in a corner of the cellar. He…. I am not quite sure how to put it. His body was shrunken as if all of the air and fluids were sucked out of his body.”

Airron gasped in disbelief. “He was bodyshifted?” Shifting a human form was unconditionally forbidden in Pyraan and its practice rejected outright by any moral and reasoned human being. It was just not done. Not ever.

The Mage nodded. “Yes. I viewed the body myself and can confirm that he was. He also had his throat cut.” The two Captains drew closer to the conversation and were now listening intently. Bajan rubbed protectively against Kiernan.

Beck shook his head. “But, Mage, Airron is the only bodyshifter left in Massa, and I can assure you he did not kill this guard.” Airron looked sick.

Galen again waved a weak hand. “I do not think Airron was responsible, Beck, but what of the other shifter with you?”

Kiernan spoke up. “Rory? He is a harmless fireshifter with not much magic to command. It could not be him.”

“When was the last time you saw him?” asked the Mage.

Rogan thought about it. “We have not seen him since dinner.”

Suddenly, the Mage coughed and began to hack and wheeze violently into a handkerchief. Just as Kiernan started forward to try to help, the coughing fit subsided and Galen straightened himself on the sofa, breathing heavily.

“It appears we have a rogue bodyshifter here in the castle who has managed to kill two people,” Galen managed weakly.

Comprehension flooded through Kiernan. “Are you suggesting that it could be a shifter who never went to Pyraan?”

“It is possible,” wheezed the Mage.

The King spoke up for the first time. “You may go now Vance.”

The guardsman immediately bowed and headed for the door, looking relieved to be away from the focus of attention.

All business, the King addressed Colbie Nash and asked him to acquaint the shifters with the Massan maps on the table. The Captain nodded and motioned them over. “How familiar are any of you with the geography of Massa?”

“Only what we have learned at the Academy,” replied Rogan.

Captain Nash pointed a finger down at the table and drew their gazes to a point on the map south of Nysa. “You will leave tomorrow at dawn and travel by horse to Iserport. Midway, is the small town of Janis where you can get off the road to spend the night at an inn and get a decent meal. Once in Iserport, you will take the ferry to Deeport and travel the Koda River to Kondor to meet with King Rik and the Dwarves. You will be provided with traveling papers to verify the truth of your words.” He pointed back to the map. “After delivering your message to the Dwarves, head northeast to Sarphia and King Jerund. According to Mage Starr, your pendants will lead you to Callyn-Rhe from there.”

“Easy enough,” said Airron.

“No, Airron, it will not be easy,” said Galen from the couch. “Come closer. There are several things I need to caution you about. First, your presence will not be welcome as you travel the countryside. The people of Massa are very leery of shifters and even other races for that matter. Free travel between lands is very infrequent, so there is no telling how they may react. You must do whatever you have to do to protect yourselves and your mission.”

The shifters nodded uneasily. “Second, even with the map of the pendants, Callyn-Rhe will be difficult to reach. That you all survived the destruction of Pyraan is the only miracle we can count on in the days ahead. Your ingenuity and strength alone are what will enable you to prevail.”

He paused to catch his breath. Kiernan thought he was going to launch into another fit, but he did not and a servant rushed over to give him water, which he gulped greedily and then continued. “Third, there is quite a bit of prophecy written about this time, but one concerns me more than the others and specifically relates to the quest for Callyn-Rhe.” Galen glanced surreptitiously at the King. “It reveals the fate of the seekers of the power.”

“Go on,” pressed Beck.

“The foretelling claims that during the journey…. one will be betrayed, one will be lost, one will be gravely injured, and one will die.”

The room was completely silent for several moments and then the King stalked over to Galen, eyes blazing. “If you were not already dying, Starr, I would kill you myself,” and he stormed from the room.

“I am truly sorry,” said the Mage, looking even more fragile after the King’s avowal. He looked at each of them with watery eyes. “I did not think it was wise to hide the truth from you. Do you still accept this undertaking? Even after hearing those prophetic words?”

Kiernan felt like her knees were about to buckle, but she resisted the urge to reach out and cling to Beck. It was unthinkable to imagine a life without one of her friends in it. Without Beck in it. It could even be her life that was to be forfeit. Even so, she did not have to consult with the others when she said, “As you know, Mage, we have no choice. Your blood oath demands that we continue if there is any hope to save the people of this island.”

Galen nodded as though expecting those very words. “If you will all excuse me, I would like a few words alone with young Beck.”

As everybody began to file out of the room, Rogan stepped over to the sofa. “Pardon, Mage, for the imposition, but I was wondering what you can tell me of my parents.”

Galen coughed. “I wish I could give you what you seek, fireshifter, but the truth is that I never knew them. I only met them one time, very briefly, on the day of your birth.”

Beck patted Rogan lightly on the back in compassion and watched the dejected Dwarf nod this thanks to Galen and walk out.

“Why did you just lie to him?” asked Beck, when the door closed behind his friend. Ever since Beck had known him, Rogan had been desperate to find out the truth about his family. And, just as long, Beck had always secretly worried that the truth would never live up to the fantasies Rogan conjured over the years.

Animation crept into the newly wrinkled face. “Very perceptive, I am impressed.”

“Can you answer the question?” Beck persisted, knowing through pure instinct that the Mage was holding information back.

Galen shrugged his thin shoulders. “He already knows the truth. The loss of his parents was a very traumatic event for him, so he has blocked it out of his mind. But, he will remember, when he is ready.”

Galen began to wheeze, and Beck knelt beside his bed. “Can I get you more water?”

“No, I am fine.” With trembling hands, he reached under the blanket thrown over him and produced a book that he held out to Beck.

“What is it?”

“A very valuable item. It is called The Protetor and it protects within its bindings the only written record of Mage teachings. It is bespelled and only you can read its contents. Anybody else who opens the book will see only blank pages. Guard it well, Beck, it is a powerful magical tool and one that is essential to your quest. The Protetor contains every spell, charm, incantation, and curse known to me. It is all yours. If Massa prevails in this battle, Beck, the people of Massa will need the wisdom of a Mage to guide them.”

He took the book from the pale outstretched fingers and examined the cover. It was small, black and non-descript, with no writing on the front or spine. He looked at the Mage in confusion. “Why me?”

Beck noticed a glint flare in Galen’s eyes. “Because you are my great, great…,” the Mage paused, “too many greats to list…. grandson.”

For some reason, Beck did not question the validity of Galen’s revelation. “On my mother’s side or my father’s side?”

“Mother. You are both direct descendants of the Starr lineage.”

Beck thought back to the discussion he had with his mother before Ravener’s destruction of Pyraan. Whatever her reasons for not telling him then of his ancestry, Beck did not hold it against her. She did what she did out of love for him and nothing else. “Is that why I have been named
Savitar
? Because I am your descendent?”

“Yes. Just like Kiernan, you are pureblood.”

“What of the others?”

Galen was fading quickly, but managed to continue. “All of the new
Savitars
are descendants of the original
Savitars
. The power of the blood oath runs deeper in you four than in any other shifter. Your strength comes from your patrician blood. Kiernan is a descendant of Garret Kenley. Rogan from Regan Rojin, and Airron from his mother’s side by Arias Sarphia. Garret, Regan, and Arias were at my side in the defeat of Adrian Ravener. Sadly, they did not survive the encounter. Our progeny will have the unfortunate honor to rid this land of him once again.”

Beck twirled the small book in his hand, contemplating all that he heard.

“I cannot take this, Mage.”

“You must, Beck.” His voice was getting softer and harder to hear. “You must also promise me that you will carry The Protetor with you until this is over.” A long-fingered hand reached out to grab him with surprising strength. “Promise me!”

“But, I will never be a Mage. I am a shifter. It is who I am.”

“Learn from my mistakes, Beck!” implored the dying man. “Take the knowledge from this book and start over. Create a world where magic is to be used for good again. Where shifters can come out of hiding! The wisdom of a Mage is essential to the safety of the island.”

“I do not know if I am strong enough,” he admitted.

“You must be,” he said, and Beck had to lean in close to hear his next words. “You are the only one who is.”

The Mage produced one last weak cough and then his head slumped to the side. After six hundred years of walking the earth, Galen Starr was dead.

Beck lifted his head when a pitiful roar rose up from outside of Galen’s rooms. Scrambling to his feet, he ran out into the corridor, shoving The Protetor into his pocket as he went. Looking around wildly, he saw Kiernan kneeling on the ground with her arms around Bajan’s neck. The Draca was lying still on the ground, a line of blood from his nose staining his beautiful white coat.