Kamen Ode stared at the three frightened faces looking back at him and grunted in dismay. The anger on his face was evident. His strong hands grasped the wooden door tight enough to split it.
“Which of you is the Seer?” the big man growled.
Kandish shook her head. “We are not Seers.”
“You’re the witch?”
Kandish shook her head and looked away. Kamen Ode didn’t press it further.
Instead he grunted and swung the door back against the wagon so hard that it ripped it free from the hinges and slammed onto the street. “I was told this wagon had a Seer. I am to escort her out of this dump alive.”
Kandish shook her head. “We are not Seers. We were kidnapped and brought here to be sold.”
“We would appreciate you letting us out,” Tane added. His face was still hard, not trusting the big man yet, keeping a step in front of Qenn for protection.
Kamen snorted. “I am only here for the Seers.”
Kamen Ode stepped away from the door and motioned with his head for them to exit the wagon. They did so without hesitation, first Kandish, then Tane, and Qenn followed. They stayed together staring at the lifeless form of their captor in the street.
“Don’t pity him.” Kamen said. “He would’ve killed you all and not thought twice about it. He got what was coming to him.”
A few blocks down the alley a mess of people came running. Screaming and shouting all the way, running like death itself was chasing them. Kamen Ode stood ready for an assault, the three next to him moved in close together. As the crowd swept by, words were gathered in their jumbled voices, sheer terror was seen in their eyes, killer and thief alike were sent scattering.
“They’re coming!” their panicked voices shrieked, gathering more people with them as they ran.
“Takers,” Kamen spit.
“They found us,” gasped Qenn.
“You?” Kamen Ode looked questionably to Qenn.
Screams broke out a block away and the four turned to see a group of black cloaked Takers heading straight for them, moving fast. Red eyes glowed in the faceless cowls sending waves of panic shooting through Qenn’s body. He barely felt the hand grasping his side as Kamen Ode tossed his lithe form into the wagon.
“Get in!”
Kamen helped Kandish in as well, and Tane jumped in on his own, then ran to the reins and got the horses speeding away just as clawed hands swiped for the wagon’s doorway and the three inside screamed in response.
Inside the wagon, the three could see red eyes in pursuit as they sped down the alley, flying past buildings and through intersections, bouncing and sliding with the wagon’s rough movements. They could hear Kamen Ode out front cursing for the horses to move faster, screaming at people to get clear, barking orders continuously.
The wagon turned sharp, the change sent the three skidding into the side wall, held there for a second as it seemed the wagon would flip from the momentum, as they watched out the back door the views of a tight alley, dark and empty. The wagon pressed on for a few minutes before coming to a sudden halt that again left them skidding into the front wall.
“Out! Let’s go!”
Kamen Ode was at the back of the wagon before it fully stopped, hustling his charges out, then sending the horses and wagon rambling away without them. Kamen led them quickly off the alley and into an abandoned ale house that sat on the corner of a block that had no other buildings close to it. They followed without question.
Inside the building, Kamen rushed to the windows, ordering them to do the same, carefully checking out the street-life, watching for anything following. They each did as they were told, watching the streets on each side of the ale house. A few dim lights shined from down the block on the main street, but nothing lit the alley behind. A few drunkards were seen wandering the street, but other than that it was quiet. It remained so for several long minutes before Kamen Ode began talking.
“Your wagon was supposed to hold a Seer that I’ve been looking for.” His voice remained low, but hard nonetheless. The group listened, none of them looking away from their posts. “I am Kamen Ode. Who are you?”
The brothers hesitated. Kandish replied. “I am Kandish. Tane and Qenn are brothers.”
“Thank you for rescuing us.” Tane replied.
“What do you know of the demons? You said they found you? Why would they be chasing you?” grunted Kamen.
“We’re not sure why they are following us. We came here for help.”
Kamen Ode laughed. “Wherever you were before, was ten times safer than here.”
“Why do you rescue Seers?” Qenn asked. “Why do you risk your own life against Takers?”
Kamen Ode growled. “Because I know what they are. I’ve seen what they can do, and I know that they use Seers. They hunt them. Herd them off to the north and change them. I’ve seen Seers take their own lives because they knew what was coming.”
“You fight them.” Qenn was astounded.
Kandish said, “Only magic can defeat them.”
Kamen Ode kept his face towards the window. “I don’t know of a magic that could save any of us. I fight because it’s all I can do.”
The room went quiet then, each of thinking of their own encounters with Takers and the events that had led them to Skadar Port. Each faced out a window, seeing nothing unusual for the town, no sign of Takers. After several long minutes, Qenn questioned his brother about what they should do next. Neither had a game plan.
“Listen, things are quiet now,” Kamen interrupted their silence, “and I have some people to meet up with. I’ll be returning in a few hours. You can stay here and think things through if you’d like. I’d offer you to come with me, but it’s dangerous where I’m going, and it’d be better for us all if I went alone. You’ll be safe here.”
Without waiting for a response, Kamen Ode walked out of the abandoned ale house and disappeared in the night.
“He’s a strong man,” Kandish said. “He may be the help you two are looking for.”
Qenn turned away from his post to look at the redhead and was surprised to find her staring at him. It caught him off guard and he nervously turned away.
Tane turned to Qenn. “What we know of Kamen Ode is that he’s against our enemies. What he’s doing, fighting them, is what we should be doing for mother. Qenn, I’d like to believe that this is why we came to Skadar Port. Kamen Ode is our reason.”
Qenn nodded. “We should wait for his return.”
Tane and Qenn exchanged a sorrowful look. They nodded; an unspeakable agreement. They had found a purpose. Kamen Ode would return and they would discuss joining the fight against the Takers. Having a purpose made them feel slightly better; it gave them direction.
“I would like to wait with you,” Kandish asked. She smiled at Qenn, hoping to keep his attention this time. “I could be of some assistance to you, elf.”
Qenn smiled in return, his heart pounding. He hadn’t considered her staying, but was happy to hear that she wanted to. He stared at her luminous eyes as Tane replied something to her and didn’t look away until Tane’s hand gripped his shoulder. He turned to see Tane offering him a chunk of bread. He took it eagerly, wandering away from the window to eat next to Kandish and Tane.
“We should sleep. We can take turns at watch.” Tane announced, finishing his bread, breaking off a piece of dried meat to hand to each of them. “I’ll stay awake now.”
“No. You two sleep.” Kandish said, finishing her food. “I am not tired at all. And you two have been through a lot in the past day.”
“Are you sure, Kandish?” Qenn asked.
“Please.” Kandish motioned for them to sleep.
“Fair enough. Wake me in a few hours.” Tane walked over to the center of the room and laid down, falling asleep almost instantly.
“If there’s any—” Qenn began, but Kandish cut him short.
“Don’t worry, elf. If there’s trouble, it will be handled before it disturbs your beauty sleep.”
<
br /> “Hey!” Qenn snapped back, but the smile Kandish offered made him loose himself completely. He laughed.
“Sleep, Qenn. I’ll watch over you.”
Kandish turned away as Qenn walked over to sleep next to Tane. She stared out into the main street, her eyes sweeping the road carefully before moving on to another window to do the same.
Qenn lay on the floor next to his brother with his eyes shut and his smile broad. He had liked the way Kandish had chided him. He could hear the soft thud of her boots move from one end of the room to the other. He listened to her moving, the thought of her presence was peaceful to him. Nonetheless, sleep didn’t come easily.
Kandish was leaning in a window that faced the dark alley behind the alehouse, looking deep into the night for anything moving, listening sharp for anything approaching. It had been nearly an hour since Kamen Ode had left them. She thought of him momentarily, of his purpose, of his absolute devotion to his cause. She hadn’t met anyone else like him before, and the stories she’d heard about him seemed to be true. She had heard tales of his brute size and strength, of his defiance against cruelty, and the tales of those who tried to stand against him and what happened to them. All of it could be true, she thought. But her opinion of him stayed the same: he was a great leader and a hero to those who still believed in one.
She looked over to the two brothers laying on the floor then, noticing how different they were, not in looks alone, but in everything. Even in sleep they were different. She noticed Qenn still tossing and turning, while his brother remained quietly still.
Kandish smiled. Qenn could use some looking after.
Kandish was walking away from her window, thinking of passing by the brothers to check in on them too, when the voice spoke to her again.
-Child-
She froze in stride. It had been a week since the voice spoke to her. It had always come and gone quickly, giving her bits and pieces of information, revealing to her some truths and some insights as to what was taking place within her, giving her direction as a mother would, comforting her when no one else could.
-You are close. Come to me now-
Kandish closed her eyes and whispered. “Where?”
-Come. You’ll see-
Kandish spoke again out loud, knowing that she didn’t have to. “I can’t leave now.”
-Do not be afraid, child. One is coming for them who will protect them-
Kandish thought she was speaking of Kamen Ode returning. Still, she hesitated.
-Child, there is not much time. Come-
Kandish stood over Qenn and Tane. If she left now and something happened to them, she wouldn’t be able to live with herself. She would have to wait.
-Come-
As she stood over Qenn, his eyes opened. He sat upright before she could stop him. His face flushed with concern, his eyes full of curiosity. She quickly knelt down beside him, placing a finger over her lips.
“Is everything okay?”
Kandish nodded. “Go back to sleep.”
“I never fell asleep.” Qenn sighed and stood to his feet. “You want to try?”
-Come, child-
Kandish thought for a moment, realizing that she was going to leave, thinking now was the best time. “Listen, I have to leave for a time. Kamen will be back shortly.”
“What?” Qenn stood to his feet, Kandish rising with him. “Where are you going?”
“I have to meet somebody. I’ll be back when I can.”
Kandish turned towards the door. Qenn followed.
“Are you sure this can’t wait until morning?”
Kandish reached for the door handle, turning back to Qenn. “I’ve put it off for too long already, Qenn. Don’t worry. I can take care of myself.”
Qenn opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
“Don’t leave without me, Qenn.” Her look was serious. She left.
Qenn stared in disbelief, then moved to a window where he could watch her. He saw her skirting the side of the building to the corner, then crossing the street, disappearing into the night. He stood there for a few minutes, his thoughts still of her and what she said.
Realizing that he was on watch now, he moved to the other windows in a rotation of a minute or so. He didn’t like being up alone, and he had no idea when Kamen or Kandish would return. He looked back to his sleeping brother and wished that he had found sleep as well.
Kandish had crept away from the main streets and walked in the cover of the alley’s darkness. Her eyes never stayed fixed in one direction for too long, knowing what that might cost her, and her feet moved with a purpose even if she wasn’t entirely certain of where she was going.
The voice had spoken to her on a few times since she had departed Qenn about an hour ago now, and Kandish was getting anxious for it to return again. She was in the part of Skadar Port where the voice had told her to go, but everything there looked the same. She stopped next to a long abandoned building and wished for further direction. And then it came.
-Child-
Kandish turned behind her to the building. She could see the ashes of a fire, maybe two days old.
-Yes, child. Come. Quickly now-
Kandish looked for a way into the building and once she found a door, she didn’t hesitate to enter. The building was dark. She moved slowly, relying on her senses, knowing that if she strayed too far the voice would gather her back.
The walls were bare, some were nothing more than rotting supports. The floor was dusty and moldy and there was no sign of life. She pressed on further, passing adjoining rooms and empty halls, trying to remain quiet in her approach. She passed through a double-door entrance into a very large room where several barrels were. As she looked in to them, she could see that they had been used for burning wood, for heat or for cooking, she thought.
-Here-
She saw no one. The room was empty.
Kandish moved the length of the room and discovered nothing. No rooms, no doors, no one. She thought about calling out loud, but knew that was too risky. As far as she knew, she had made it in without anyone knowing.
-You’re here, child. Look down-
Kandish did so. Nothing. She traced the floor beam to the center of the room and saw a section of the floor cut in a square with an iron handle. Her heart pounded. She grasped the handle firm, pulling up the secret door with an audible groan. The door swung up and a black hole opened before her. She bent down and placed her head near the floor.
“Hello?” She was surprised when no one spoke back. “Is anyone down there?”
-Child, I need you. Come-
Kandish swallowed hard. She looked around the empty room before jumping down into the blackness. She struck ground quickly, standing up, her head almost rubbing on the floor above. But she couldn’t see anything. She could hear some heavy breathing and some movements off to her side.
“I mean you no harm,” she whispered. When nothing came back, she moved towards the sounds. Seconds later she tripped, falling into the cool dirt floor. Her hands met another’s instantly.
-They are coming, child. We must leave-
Kandish ran her hands up the arms and found a face that was gagged and blindfolded. She removed them both, then helping the form stand, moving towards the floor door. She had found the Seer.
“I will get you out of here,” she promised.
Kandish jumped and pulled herself out of the hole. She reached down and took the Seer’s hands and pulled her out.
“Thank you, child.” The old woman smiled, her face was dirty, her clothes in tatters.
Kandish nodded. “Let’s get out of here.”
But Kandish saw the smile on the Seer’s face disappear. “They are here, child.”
Kandish turned just as two men entered the room. They were both tall and gruff, with eyes that revealed that they had never been shown what love was—angry thieves coming home to find someone stealing their gold. Kandish stepped in front of the Seer.
“Lea
ve, now!”
“You’ve just made a fatal mistake,” one man growled, pulling a chain from the wall. His partner picked up a board and together they walked for Kandish.
“Do not be afraid, child.” The Seer urged her softly. “Use it.”
Kandish felt her stomach turn in knots. She had no weapons. Save for the one she did not want to use. As the two men drew closer, with the Seer calmly urging for her to do what was needed, trying to ease the pain of the decision, Kandish gave in.
“Stay behind me!” Kandish yelled to the Seer, then dropped to a protective stance. As the men closed in on them, moving quickly, Kandish closed her eyes and threw out her hands in open palms.
Instantly her hands flared in a bright light that flew into the men, sending them flying into the far wall. They dropped to the floor in a pile of broken bones and bleeding wounds. They drew no breath.
Kandish was shivering. She rose and turned to the Seer with a sour look. “I am sorry. I had to.”
“Child, you are what you are. You need to let go of your fear and step into the role you must play now.”
The Seer opened her arms and Kandish embraced her, wrapping her arms around her and crying freely. “I know your suffering, child. I know your label. But you must not give in to those who would sway your course. You are not a monster. You are special.”
Kandish broke away from the Seer. “You know? You know what I have done?”
The Seer nodded. “That is why I called to you. Your importance is greater than you realize.”
But Kandish was shaking her head. “I killed him. I destroyed him before he had a chance to stop me. I am a monster. A killer!”
“Labels, child. Only labels. Let it go.”
“They chased me out of my home. They hunted me, to punish me, to kill me.” Kandish was crying so hard that her words were almost undecipherable. “I hate what I did, you know? I hate it when I have to use it, because I’m not in control. It just takes over me. I’m helpless.”
The Seer placed her hands over Kandish’s in a comforting fashion. “Time will allow you to have control, to get used to the magic. But you have very little time. That is why it is so important for you to let go of what you think of yourself and become what it is that you are destined to be. The past is gone; you do not want it back. Live for now, child. Life is now.”
Kandish slowed her crying, the Seer’s words taking root. It is so hard to let go of all that you know, of all the damage done to you and believe in yourself, Kandish thought. So hard. But the Seer was right. Deep inside, she knew the labels were wrongly cast. She wasn’t a monster. She had been living with the guilt for so many years it would be hard to just let it go.
“Child, I need you. I must tell you more of the times to come.” The Seer’s tone became more aggressive, less comforting. Her eyes fixed into a darkened glare. “I need you to listen and understand what I have to tell you.”
Kandish nodded. She wiped her tears on her sleeve. “I am ready.”
“We need to get out of this city,” the old woman said. “Takers are everywhere. It is not safe anymore for us Seers. And there are so few of us left. Times are changing. A dark war is coming. Takers will overrun the land and the few that will stand against them will not succeed. Another approach is necessary for the sake of life as we know it.”
Kandish was stunned. “Well, I’m not going to let anything happen to you. I’ve got friends waiting for us. We’re going to help you escape.”
“No.”
The Seer moved in close and began to speak of the things to come in the next few days. Kandish’s eyes held a look of worry that never went away. For several long minutes the Seer talked, and when she was finished, she made Kandish nod that she understood. After doing so, the old woman smiled.
“You will do well, child. We must leave now.”
Kandish took the woman’s hand and led her away, working out of the building the same way she had come in. As they exited the building, she paused at the street, looking all around for anyone. But the night was silent.
“Child, as we walk, let me tell you how you are going to kill me.”
Together, they walked away.
CHAPTER ELEVEN