A light, airy laugh reached Ayden's ears, contradicting the shock that had frozen him in his humbled position. Degus had strolled to Pax's side and, looking down her pointed, pixie-like nose, laughed at Ayden. "Well done," she said as she placed a hand on Pax's shoulder. He immediately stood rigid like a soldier and stared straight ahead, his face expressionless.
Slowly, the shock dissipated as the beast of rage took over inside Ayden. Finding strength that he should not have had, he wobbled to a stand and faced Degus. The sorceress smirked at him and then turned and walked back to her throne. She did not sit, but stood like a beautiful white statue, smiling serenely at Ayden.
"What have you done to him?" Ayden asked through dirt and blood covered teeth. His body shook from weakness and rage.
Degus chuckled, but didn't answer immediately. Instead, she looked Ayden up and down and smiled more broadly, as if amused. Then she tipped a shoulder toward her chin and with a coy voice that Ayden would've normally found pleasant, even alluring, said, "I've always loved a good surprise."
Ayden released a guttural howl as he leapt toward Degus, grabbing his sword as he did so. He didn't get far. Degus casually raised a hand as if to shoo a fly, and Ayden screamed in pain as shocks of electricity coursed through his body and he fell to the ground.
Pax's malicious glare had returned as he forced the curse upon Ayden. He writhed in pain, unable to break free. He felt as if his skin would peel from his bones as the jagged ribbons of energy rippled over him. After several seconds, each seeming as several hours, Pax ceased and became a toy soldier again, his eyes glassy.
Ayden fought to keep from losing focus as Degus' tinkling laughter insulted his ears. Why doesn't she just take it already? He forced back tears that threatened to betray his weakening will. The sorceress walked over and crouched beside him. Taking his chin in her long fingers, she tilted his face toward hers. Looking steadily into his eyes, she clicked her tongue and said, "I really was expecting greater things from you. You haven't even put up a fight."
She released Ayden and then stood, turned away, and gracefully found her way to her black throne. She sat at the edge of the seat, elegant and poised. What is she waiting for? Ayden thought as he brought himself again to his knees, and then to a shaking stand. Degus' eyes gleamed at him and at once he knew. She wants me to keep fighting. She wants to be entertained. These arenas were stages!
Ayden's brows dove toward the bridge of his nose as he clenched his jaw. He stared into Degus' eyes, not willing to be intimidated, and not willing to be her toy. He took his dragon blade, its shining silver covered with blood and dirt, and threw it at Degus' feet. "I will not entertain you!"
Degus' face clouded ever so slightly before she put on another superficial smile. "You would never have survived this long, had you not already been my entertainment. And now, you still have no choice," she stated calmly. The trolls that stood beside her suddenly came to life, raising their clubs over their heads, ready to smash Ayden to a pulp.
Ayden lunged away from the first blow and narrowly missed the second troll's weapon. The jagged club scraped against Ayden's side, tearing his cloak and gouging his skin. Weakly, he stood to face them as he grabbed Phantom from his belt. The weapon leapt from his hand and flung itself into the lake, barely causing a ripple in the glass-smooth water.
Degus gave Ayden a glaring smile. Sabina moaned as she began to regain consciousness. One of the trolls turned its attention to her and raised its club. Ayden took his last Razr dagger and flung it wildly at the troll. The blade sank into the beast's arm, causing it to turn its attention back to him.
He ran toward Degus as the trolls swung their clubs down on him. The sorceress vanished half a second before her throne was smashed to bits. Large chunks of black marble spun through the air, followed by a shower of dust and debris. Degus re-appeared beside the toy-soldier Pax and draped a forearm casually over his shoulder as she continued to watch.
Ayden backed toward the lake as the trolls lumbered toward him. He was out of weapons, save the Sword of Songs. The enchantress' words echoed in his mind to use it only for the purpose for which it was meant. But he was willing to risk it to save his life.
Water seeped through the heel of Ayden's moccasin as he stood firm at the edge of the lake. Slowly, he raised his hand and reached toward the Sword of Songs as the trolls raised their weapons.
As Ayden's fingers brushed against the sword's hilt, the lake behind him came to life. Yelling, he turned fearfully toward the water and watched in amazement as the smooth surface sprouted two huge, watery arms. The trolls didn't have time to make a sound; huge fists of swirling water engulfed the beasts, jerking them into the lake, but not before Ayden saw them again--the faces of his parents, angry and determined, as they pulled the trolls to their deaths.
The faces and watery arms were gone as quickly as they'd come. The lake became still once again, reflecting the sky and rocks around it like a tranquil mirror.
Ayden ran toward the water, but was yanked back by the invisible rope once again. He flew through the air and was forced to the ground.
The sight of his parents gave him a new sense of purpose. He had to keep fighting; he had to survive, not just for Freya and Shae Vale, but for the chance to see his parents again.
Rising to his feet, Ayden faced Degus. But Pax stood between them, the dark madness once again in his eyes. Ayden looked steadily at Pax and said urgently, "Don't do it. You know me; you don't want to hurt me!"
Giant invisible hands grasped Ayden and squeezed. He couldn't move as the pressure forced all the air from his lungs. Pax's hands mimicked what Ayden felt as a hideous lustful pleasure spread across the young man's face.
Ayden couldn't breathe. He tried to talk to Pax again, but it was no use. Then, like sweet music, Sabina's voice broke through the madness. "Pax! Stop!"
She limped over to the sorcerer, and Ayden thought he felt the slightest release from Pax's grip. Sabina didn't try to touch him, but came as close as she dared and spoke softly, "Pax, I've read your journal. Please don't be angry. I know how you feel about me. But, please, stop this craziness. Give me a chance to show you how I feel."
Pax's grip loosened slightly more, and Sabina moved to where she nearly blocked his vision from Ayden. "Please, Pax, let go. I was tempted, too. I wanted to take the sword, to find a cure with it. But I made a better choice, and you can, too."
Ayden was loose enough now to gasp precious oxygen back into his lungs. Pax was looking at Sabina, his eyes a little lighter.
"What are you doing?" Degus' voice, now powerful and terrifying, shook the air. "Be done with her and finish him!" she commanded.
Pax closed his eyes tight as he tried to force his hand to break away from the curse he had on Ayden. "Let go, Pax! You can do this. You don't have to be her slave!" Sabina screeched. Then, she released the beginning of a scream, cut short by curse from Degus, which sent Sabina to her knees. She looked imploringly up at Pax, her eyes wide and bulging as she opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came. Then, she crumpled to the ground and moved no more.
Pax's eyes flew open and, seeing Sabina white and motionless on the ground, he fought again to release Ayden. "You will NOT defy me! I gave you what you wanted most--the power of a great sorcerer!" Degus spat at Pax. Then she composed herself and, as Pax struggled, Degus taunted Ayden.
"I should tell you, your friend has been most helpful to me over the course of the past few weeks." She smiled at Pax whose body was beginning to shake as great drops of sweat poured from his face. "He doesn't know it, but," she covered Pax's ears lightly with her hands, "his uncle died at my hand."
Pax's eyes widened, new tears fell from them. "If I'd captured his apprentice, I would've drained him then, too, for what little power he had." She glared at Pax.
"But what luck!" She waved her hands in the air in gleeful fashion. "To find that he had joined the one person who could
lead me to the Elrohir's sword. As soon as he opened the stone window and was marked by its power, I could feel his energy. Well, most of the time." She glared at Ayden, her flawless face full of evil delight. "I really should thank you, Ayden Greenwillow. Without your ignorance, I could never have tracked you all quite so well. You see, it wasn't only magic that alerted me to Pax's location, but his jealousy toward you."
Ayden's heart skipped a beat. He was certain Degus felt it, for she smiled approvingly before continuing. "Negative energy is very powerful, Ayden. It can drive one to madness--or to greatness!" She caressed Pax's back and smiled at his face, which was now a light shade of burgundy. "Once that oaf Jared decided to steal the map for himself--yes, he was working for me--I knew I had to tap into Pax's energy more fiercely. The negative energy was already there, I just gave it a bit of a nudge. It was as simple as picking a ripe apple, bringing him here yesterday. You must've upset him terribly." Her lips curled as fire shot through her eyes.
Ayden fought against Pax's ever weakening spell as guilt took over his thoughts. All that time, it hadn't been just Nyxia giving them away, but Pax! But only because Ayden had treated him so poorly.
Finally able to breathe enough to speak, Ayden rasped, "Let him go. The sword has nothing to do with him."
"Ah, but you have the sword, and you are also connected to him. No, I will not release him." Turning again to Pax, Degus' face clouded and she spoke subtle but powerful foreign words. Pax's face crumpled and Ayden yelled again as the invisible hands pressed against him more forcefully. Pax's eyes were boring into Ayden's, and he knew his friend was struggling. Unable to speak again, he hoped the look in his eyes would be enough to urge his friend to fight.
Pax's face turned stark white. His body trembled so fiercely, Ayden was amazed that he could stay on his feet. Slowly, the pressure loosened as Pax fought against Degus, who stopped whispering and shouted into Pax's ear, scorning him with her strange, vicious words.
Ayden was released as he heard a sound that would haunt him for the rest of his life. As if his very soul were being ripped from his body, a blood freezing scream ripped from Pax's throat. He screamed for what seemed minutes, the sickening sound echoing through the arena. Then, he fell to his knees, his arms hanging flaccid.
Degus' face contorted with rage and, without warning, she flicked her wrist. Ayden watched as his dragon blade flew from the ground and struck Pax in the shoulder, flinging him back and pinning him to the ground.
Degus sauntered over to Pax's fallen body and raised her arm, pointing her finger as she had done when the other sorceress had fallen.
NOT THIS TIME! The adrenaline of fear and rage pumped through Ayden's body, giving him the fuel he needed to rise from the ground. As fingers of light washed over Pax's body, Ayden drew the Sword of Songs and leapt at Degus. The sorceress turned toward him fearfully. She vanished and re-appeared near her broken throne, denying Ayden's vengeance. But at least her connection to Pax had been broken.
Ayden faced Degus. The sorceress had recomposed herself and looked at the blade with fear and lust. She stared at it for a long period before speaking, causing Ayden to jump for fear she was casting another spell.
"Very clever of your ancestor, don't you think, to hide it under the very spot where the king had fallen?" she said calmly. "To think of all the years I wasted, searching all of Shae Vale, when it was right under my nose this whole time," she said before darkness dropped over her face like a black curtain, causing her beautiful features to become twisted and ugly. "You will give me the sword!"
Ayden was certain, Degus being so powerful, that he wouldn't be able to resist her. But tingling washed through his hands and up his arms as Degus' magic absorbed into the blade, protecting him. Ayden smiled back slyly, suddenly feeling much more confident. "If you want it, come take it from me!"
Like a starved wolf after meat held in a trap, Degus approached slowly, wanting desperately to have the sword, but terrified to take it. She stopped just shy of Ayden's striking distance. She gazed longingly at the sword and then loathingly into Ayden's eyes. "You will give the blade to me," she said with calm assurance.
"Yes, I imagine I will," Ayden replied, and then lunged at her with a warrior's cry. But just as the blade was about to sink into Degus' chest, she vanished again.
Before Ayden could find her, something struck the back of his head so hard, it sent him hurling to the ground. The rocky earth once again beat on him as he crashed into it, losing his grip on the sword. The power he'd been feeling fled as the sword left his touch.
Ayden fought to remain conscious as he rolled over painfully to the sound of Degus' triumphant laughter. A bloodied stone lay inches away. Degus had foregone using magic and resorted to throwing stones. The result, unfortunately, had been to her advantage.
The sorceress sauntered triumphantly to the sword. Ayden felt dizzy and defeated. Utter shame and failure seized him as Degus laughed maniacally and reached toward the Sword of Songs. Energy glowed and sparked between her fingers and the blade, sending shocking reflections off of her gleaming eyes. She looked at Ayden, smiling broadly. "Thank you, Ayden," she said. "At last, I will be able to rule this land and make it great! And you," she looked down her nose at Ayden, "shall live if you swear fealty to me. You have talent, potential. With me, you could become the greatest defender of all time--defending me."
Chapter Forty-Seven
The One Note