Page 4 of Return of the Darkness
“They were freed from this sword,” she said, turning the black stone in her hands. It hummed at her touch as she stroked it with tenderness. The smoky wisps inside the blade followed the warmth of her fingertips. Sadira frowned. Did that mean Osiris and Arik were once dead and trapped within the sword? And was Caligh powerful enough to free them from it, returning them to their bodies? “I can feel them, a connection. It is like the sword wants me to take them both back,” Elisara murmured, frowning. “They escaped long ago.” Elisara whispered, her ear tilted towards the sword, as though it was feeding her secrets and instructions.
“But how did Caligh free them? If we know, then perhaps we can free the souls inside of it now,” said Sadira. Pain bloomed in her heart for those who had their lives taken in this battle for doing only as Caligh controlled. Elisara’s head whipped to Sadira.
“Why would we free them?” The darkness in Elisara’s eyes pinned Sadira in place. While her voice was softer, there was still an echo in it from when Sitara had spoken through her. “They cannot be killed; they are an unstoppable army. We stand here having a discussion while they fight on our behalf. If we did not have them, our armies would be slaughtered.”
Sadira jolted back at the ease with which Elisara spoke of thesouls, used for her own bidding. How would she feel if Kazaar was used in such a manner? Or members of her own family? Sadira thought of her own parents and grandparents being manipulated to kill, and her stomach turned.
“We need to give them back their lives at some point,” Caellum said, lifting his chin. Sadira wondered if he thought of his family, too. Elisara narrowed her eyes.
“We need to focus on avenging Kazaar and finding Sonos,” Elisara said, raising her voice.
“I’m not even going to ask what this has to do with Sonos right now.” Nyzaia reached for Elisara, but the Queen of Vala stepped away from her friend’s hand. Nyzaia did not cower under her stare. “But I will avenge Kazaar with you. Together.” She gripped Elisara’s forearm. For a moment, it appeared as though colour returned to Elisara’s eyes, but it was gone in a blink. She nodded at Nyzaia.
“This one seems rather intent on reaching you, Elisara,” Alvan said. He gently pulled Larelle’s hand, forcing her to take a step back. Safe beside Caellum, Sadira watched, intrigued, as the single shadow figure walked up the low dune towards Elisara. It was odd. The silhouette moved like a man, and the shape of its legs and broad shoulders could be easily distinguished in the shadows. He moved the same as all the other shadowed soldiers, but with more intent, like he had a purpose related to the queen. His shape and movements appeared almost real. From so close, Sadira could not tell if he was made of shadows or simply coated in them. But despite the reality flitting back and forth in the dark wisps, he left no footprints in the sand and shifted no grains as he approached. Soundlessly, he knelt before Elisara and bowed his head. What remained of his life before the Sword of Souls took him? Was he one of the copper soldiers killed by an imbued weapon only recently? Was he trapped in the sword while Osiris was freed? Or had this man of darkness been encased in this sword for far longer? None of the questions would answer whyhe appeared so loyal to Elisara. Caligh said he had waited centuries for this moment. Was the man who appeared to pledge his allegiance to Elisara when shadows flickered towards her hand, just as old?
With a nod from Elisara, the man of darkness rose. He towered above the queen, prompting her to look up at him. She stared, like she was trying to discern his eyes within the wisps. She tilted her head and nodded again. Standing to attention, the man moved to Elisara’s side, guarding her.
“Caligh is almost done with letting us think we have won,” Elisara said.
“He can speak?” Nyzaia asked, scanning the shadow with apprehension. Elisara shook her head, turning the onyx sword over in her hand.
“It is more like a sense, an innate knowing.” Nyzaia and Farid shared a look. Was it similar to their tie to one another? “We will need the armies momentarily,” Elisara said to Larelle. Nerida’s queen chewed her lip, glancing back at the Novisian army and then the flurry of battle ahead. Elisara tapped her foot, waiting. Finally, Larelle sighed.
“Do we have a plan I should relay to the commanders?” she asked. Elisara flinched at the word.Commander.
“Soon, Caligh will try to control my army. He won’t be able to force them to do his bidding, but he will create distance between them and him. We need the armies focused on reaching him, a distraction, so Nyzaia and I can approach from a different angle.”
Larelle nodded at Elisara’s plan.
“Caligh seems unconcerned about the army and your power. What if this is simply a trap?” asked Caellum.
“I do not care,” Elisara said bluntly.
“Wecare,” said Caellum, glancing at the other rulers. “Vala can’t afford to lose a queen right now, even if it is in the name of avenging someone we all respected.” Elisara’s determined expression wavered for a moment. “You are asking your people to follow an army that closely resembles Caligh’s abilities. How can they trustthem?”
“They can be trusted,” Elisara snapped. “I can feel them. They do only as I ask.”
“But—”
“Follow us or not, but I am going ahead with this plan,” Elisara snapped at Caellum before looking at Larelle. The Queen of Nerida paused, glancing between Elisara and Caellum. She sighed and offered Caellum an apologetic smile.
“Alvan and I will discuss with the commanders.” Larelle turned with Alvan, but before she could step forward, Elisara called to her again.
“Hurry, Larelle. This is merely a game to him. He will not delay his executions for much longer,” Elisara said.
“What can I do?” Farid asked, spanning his wings. The flames on the feathers cast a glow across the group beneath the darkened clouds, flaring under the falling rain. The shadow beside Elisara stepped back from Farid, as though wary of the flames. Elisara frowned at the shadow before addressing Farid.
“Can you patrol the skies? Take out soldiers as and when you can but primarily focus on covering Nyzaia and I.” Elisara glanced at her friend, whose face was stoic. Nyzaia stood with her shoulders pushed back, twirling her daggers absent-mindedly. She scanned the army, ready for her mission. “If it looks like the plan is failing, get Nyzaia out of there.”
“Excuse me?” Nyzaia snapped her head to Elisara, crossing her arms. “I’ll decide what kind of threats I can and cannot face.”
Elisara stared at her and whispered, “I won’t lose someone else” before turning back to face the battle. Sadira’s heart splintered at Elisara’s pain. Nyzaia opened her mouth to speak but closed it before looking at her feet.
“We need to get you somewhere else,” Caellum said, his voice hushed in Sadira’s ear. She turned to look up at him, her hands gravitating to his waist. His hair had darkened from the now slowing rainfall, sticking it to his forehead. He cupped Sadira’s face, hiseyes brimming with concern.
“You heard Elisara. We do not have time,” Sadira said, her hands cold against the metal of his breastplate.
“Do not be foolish, sister. You cannot wield a sword,” said Soren, standing nearby with her arms crossed. Her wolves had returned to her from wherever they had lingered, with all six gathered around her feet. She watched Tajana and Caligh.
