37. All Answers Can Be Found in Books
All Answers Can Be Found in Books
Kaiden
Kaiden’s fingers tightened around the hilt of his blade.
A low whistle escaped the leader as he raised his hands. “Easy now,” he said. He took a step back and his men followed. “We started on the wrong foot,” the leader smirked with a dramatic bow. “We meant no disrespect, Prince.”
The vein in his arm pulsed from the weight of his sword. “Aradia.”
She had frozen in place, staring at the decapitated spy, and jerked at the mention of her name. In a trance, she slipped behind him, peeping out to watch what would occur. Only then, did he lower his sword.
“Leave, before I change my mind,” Kaiden said.
The leader stilled at his order, anger simmered off him. He whistled sharply and the spies retreated.
“Run, run, little man,” Cahira taunted.
Rhydar growled and barked at their backs with a deadly laugh.
Kaiden nodded to his left where he knew Jasper was waiting for his order. Like a wraith, he snuck away into the shadows to follow the spies.
“Rhydar,” Kaiden called. “I want you and Fintan to find out what’s going on in the mountains.”
Rhydar nodded, already leaping onto his horse.
He turned to Cahira. “Find out who is loyal to Arkan and who can be bought within the city council.”
“We can’t leave the bodies,” Aradia whispered hoarsely.
“I’ll take care of it,” he said.
What he would give to relive last night’s tryst instead of the grim morning the gods bestowed on them.
“Take her,” he said to Cahira.
Cahira placed a hand on her hip. “And what will you be doing?”
“The Silver Paradox have chosen their side. This was our father’s first move.
We have more enemies here than allies. I’ll pay Varinis a visit and hope to the gods he has not sided with our father.
When the last toll of the black tower rings we need to be back here.
” Kaiden looked at the inner circle. “Stay safe and watch each other.” He glared at Cahira in a silent warning.
A quietness settled between them all before they moved to execute his orders, leaving Kaiden standing alone.
He looked up at the darkened sky and sighed.
Clouds covered the sun. Smoke tendrils danced like snakes in the air.
They were running out of time. This close to the entrance of the Veil cast the entire city in an increasing darkness as Ukoron’s powers grew just beyond the mountains.
There were too many questions and not enough answers. The first muffled toll of the bell rang. Instead of taking time to dispose of the dead spies, he left them as a warning and a feast for any creatures hiding within the shadows.
Randale, without a doubt, was the worst kingdom in Peraynia.
The city was built amid the crisp snow peaks of a silver taiga.
The infamous mountains loomed beyond. Caves and mines were carved out of the rocky terrain.
Kaiden imagined the land’s pain as each explosion or pick dug deeper into its depths.
The once busy road leading toward the city council was barely detectable beneath layers of mud and gravel.
The inky clouds were seen above the mountain peaks, hiding the monstrosity locked away.
The only animals who made their home in the city were scavenger creatures.
Rats the size of his boots scurried to and fro.
A loneliness you could not overcome sunk into one’s very soul here.
Life had not just come to a halt since the Veil was created, it had completely disappeared. Another explosion shook the ground beneath his feet. The broken shutters of homes and old merchant carts in the street rocked back and forth.
Kaiden reached out, steadying himself on a rickety beam of an empty shack. His heart beat like the ticking of a wounded clock. He coughed the smoke from his lungs and trudged on.
There was no telling how long he ambled through the empty streets before he reached ancient double doors carved from the very mountain behind the city.
The bibliotheca of Randale was rich in history and in the care of the Aariv family.
Cobwebs draped across the entrance. A clear message the doors had not been opened in months, possibly years.
Kaiden pushed on the stone but it remained in place.
He leaned with his shoulder. Nothing. The glint of a window caught his eye.
“Sorry, ole girl, but I need to get in here.” He patted the stones before raising his elbow to the window.
With a quick glance around the empty town, he shattered the window with his elbow, breaking apart the sharp glass from the frame. He squeezed through and landed in the library with a quiet thud. He mentally checked off the list of answers needed to be found.
The Priestesses of Qualan. The Ring of Kings. The Great Rise. Ukoron and the Veil.
His ring pulsed and flames flickered into an orb in his palm, lighting the great entrance.
Although the braziers were stone cold, lanterns hung at the end of each bookshelf still holding oil to his surprise.
Long drapes were drawn across the high windows, leaving the room stuffy.
He angled two fingers near the wick of a lantern and the flame snapped to life, illuminating rows of corridors filled with dusty scrolls and worn books with fragile spines.
This job would have been much more fitted for Fintan.
He enjoyed spending hours in his family’s library poring over history and adding skills to his already full mind.
But Kaiden wanted to find the truth himself.
He stepped forward and lit each lantern through the hallways.
A few beetles and roaches scattered from the light beginning to illuminate the library.
The air smelled of pinewood, dusty papers and dried ink. Once, scholars and priests would have been bent over their work, copying and reviving the words of old texts to ensure knowledge was saved. Now, there was a sad emptiness which matched the rest of the city.
Kaiden brushed off the eerie feeling the city exuded and moved on. He slowly walked down each row, searching for the answers he needed. Row after row, he added to the armful of scrolls and books. A small nook in the back drew his attention.
He spread the scrolls and books across the table.
The surrounding kingdoms and their history were displayed on the small table.
Zenobia, Vidrena, Randale, Gail, and Arkan.
A glass bottle of dried ink rested on top of a scroll.
He formed a tiny orb of fire to hover over the ink until it was liquid before mixing it back to life with a feathered quill.
He ran a finger across the maps to each temple built eons ago to honor the old gods and goddesses.
In Zenobia, they worshipped Decimus, god of the sea.
The high kingdom had long branched off, claiming the abandoned castles in the Isle of Voroxus, after the battle of Ontridge.
The bloody war between Arkan and Zenobia lasted six full moons and left King Zekial with no choice but to leave Peraynia and retreat into the isles, renouncing the claims to his land.
Thus expanding Arkan’s borders and reach of power.
In Vidrena, they worshipped Cybelle, the goddess of life.
From the seed sown in the ground bringing crops and food to the birth of a newborn, human or animal.
All, in a way, gave thanks to her. Randale prayed to Keres, god of the skies, protector and watchman from above; ensuring justice and the law was upheld.
Most believed Keres had cursed Randale and turned his face from their great kingdom since they became allies with Arkan twenty years prior.
Whether it be from their own will or by force, Randale had tipped the war in Arkan’s favor as their new ally. From that day forward, the city had become a cesspool of danger and injustice.
Gail, of course, gave thanks to Eos, goddess of the dawn; who brought about the newborn day to remind us the darkest night must yield and flee before the light. It made sense why Aradia found refuge behind their vast borders.
Kaiden’s mind wandered to her. He hoped she survived Cahira. He rubbed his fingers together, remembering the feel of her skin. His tunic still held the faintest hint of her warm scent when the wind blew against him.
He shook his head. Now was not the time to lose focus.
Arkan worshipped the dark twins, Moliath and Morana, god of death and goddess of war. They were two sides of the same coin. As were their descendants who ruled with their father who sat on an obsidian throne.
The tingling feeling of being watched made the hair on his arms raise. He glanced around, a small frown tugged at his lips. The library was quiet. The bell tolled three times, making him jump and drop the quill. He reached for his sword across his back, reassuring his own safety.
He returned his attention back to the table.
A black stain on one of the scrolls captured his attention.
He lifted the map and saw smudged scribbles underneath the stain labeled as The Veil.
His gaze sharpened as the black clouds drawn just behind Randale came to life on the page.
Moving and rumbling with lighting and power.
Words were scribbled underneath the tiny portrait of doom.
From Darkness and Death born a plague on this earth,
Protect all that is dear and keep to your hearth.
For only the light can eradicate the dark,
To the ends of this earth, you must search for the mark.
One must have the courage of the gods and the strength of love,
For there is no greater source than that from above.
Beware the threat that looms from within,
Where Chaos is invited, Ukoron shall win.
A forbearing gloom crept through him as he read the words again.
“Pretty morbid, huh?” Jasper’s voice was like a whisper behind his shoulder.
“Gods below!” Kaiden jerked his shoulder and swung. His fist collided with Jasper’s open hand.
“Easy.” Jasper caught his hand. A slow smirk lifted the corner of his lips.