Trials Read online

  Trials

  Skyborn, volume 2

  Hannah Parker

  Published by Hannah Parker, 2020.

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  First printing edition, 2020.

  Copyright © 2020 Hannah Parker.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter One

  The early morning mist flowed down from the hillside like small streams between the jagged crags that adorned the landscape. I stared at the ceiling, the wooden knots and splinters my only numbness against the burning sensation still stinging my eyes. How long has it been since I stopped crying? Since I laid there, unrested, with no more tears to shed.

  Once the flames died down, we made haste to gather our fallen comrades but, Kiyne was nowhere to be found. We searched all night, and well into the early hours - I wouldn’t let them give up But, when the sun finally took its place high in the sky, and I saw nothing more than empty fields before me, I knew it was too late. Kiyne was gone.

  The Marauders had left without much more of a fuss but, to where we didn’t know. We didn’t dare to follow, and even they had taken their dead with them when they fled. Arden said it was the threat of Dragon fire that deterred their advances but, I didn’t believe him. If the Arcanon and their Dragons were so fearsome than the Marauders wouldn’t have attacked us at all, and yet, they followed us here, and they held their ground to fight us whether we would’ve unleashed the Dragons upon them or not.

  I turned the gem over and over in my pocket, feeling its smooth surface brush lightly against my fingertips. If only I’d been faster to put up my barrier, perhaps then Kiyne would still be with us.

  “Hey,” Mara’s voice interjected through my train of thought. Caution and an odd sense of fear seemed to hang on her tone, “you hungry?”

  I sat up in my bed, my stomach growling in response to her question. The mere thought of food had escaped me for so long, no wonder my body could answer before I did. I’d hardly eaten since the battle, choosing rather, to isolate myself in my regret.

  Mara pushed the door open slowly, her grey eyes peering in before her body squeezed through the narrow opening a bit.

  “You don’t have to be so sneaky,” I laughed. “I’m awake.”

  Her hips made quick work in thrusting the door open the remainder of the way as she pulled through a tray of foods with her; meats, cheeses, breads, and even warm cider. She’d definitely been hard at work to even find me such a variety, likely in hopes something would pique my interest.

  “How are we feeling today?” she asked warmly, taking a seat at my bedside and sliding the tray of food onto the makeshift table.

  “Better, I guess.”

  Mara gave me a half-smile, “I brought some treats,” she said. “Cured lonfri isn’t easy to find around here.”

  I scanned over the tray, spotting the slab of lonfri and plucking it up excitedly. Lonfri had been my favourite food since I was a little girl; a rare mix of wild rabbit and deer cooked down, mixed together, and smoked with an assortment of herbs and salts that made it both tangy and sweet. I took a large bite, my stomach screaming at the sustenance it was about to obtain, and my mouth salivating at the very idea of eating a full meal again.

  “Well, that’s a good sign,” Mara snickered.

  I scarfed down the rest of the cured meat, devouring the whole slab in a few quick bites. The rest of the food seemed appetizing but, I didn’t want to push my luck. After not eating for so long, I really didn’t want to test the boundaries of my stomach.

  “Lord Arden has news,” Mara added, her tone becoming stern and serious yet, confident, as I was more familiar with.

  “Oh?” I asked, taking a large gulp of the warm cider. Pear, with a hint of clove and cedar; it warmed me both inside and out, like some sort of strange healing concoction.

  “He says they’ve been tracking the Marauders’ location. A wounded soldier fell behind, leaving an easy enough blood trail for them to follow. He’s looking for volunteers to scout their locale.”

  “I’ll go,” I said without hesitation. If there was any way I could take down those Marauders for what they did to Kiyne, I was up for it.

  Mara grinned, “let’s go talk to him first, okay?”

  I nodded in agreement but, the fire within me began to boil once more.

  The villagers seemed to have returned mostly to normal, save for the few new hands that had to move and carry supplies. Even Graven had been recruited to help move a bundle of lumber from the edge of the mountains and down for our new barricades; his tail easily managed the weight, one after another, and he almost seemed to enjoy the work.

  “Lord Arden,” Mara interrupted as we approached.

  He turned to face us, the voices growing quiet behind him. I felt their eyes upon me, the feelings of despair, dread, and irritation that my mere presence brought upon their lives in only a few short weeks. I tried to dismiss it, keeping my eyes focused on the map sprawled across a rock surface, reminiscent of the one Mara had shown myself and Kiyne before our venture into the Ethereal.

  “You’re alive then,” Arden commented rather harshly, his stature turning to tower over me completely.

  “I heard you’re looking for volunteers to scout the Marauder location,” I stated calmly, wasting no time.

  The Arcanon whispered amongst themselves, briefly calling Arden’s gaze from me before they were humbled.

  “I am,” he remarked, “but you’re not one of them.”

  I felt the heat rise in my chest, “why not?!”

  “You’re untrained, reckless, and inconsistent at best. You could make things difficult for us, or blow our cover completely.”

  My fingertips began to tingle, a strange orange glow igniting beneath my skin before the heat surmounted. Small sparks flickered from my nailbeds, falling to the ground before causing any damage and fizzling out against the morning dew.

  “Alina,” Mara whispered, drawing my attention.

  I looked down to see the sparks, curling my fingers into balled fists yet, still, they glowed. I felt the heat in my body rising, my cheeks throbbing as if embarrassed but, it was stronger, and much more powerful.

  Arden took hold of my arm, his grip strong but, not hurtful. “See, Alina!? This is why!”

  The small sparks and orange hue had grown into the same flames from the firewall I’d created only days before. My body was engulfed in it, just as my heart was engulfed with rage.

  I could feel Arden’s magic, the strange ability he had to manipulate emotions and change them into whatever he wished. My mind was still ripe with anger at being told to stay put and be left behind. The Marauders had to be stopped, and what good was I going to do here? Till a field? Absolutely not! I gritted my teeth, trying to fight Arden’s power, but my body was becoming calm against my will, my aura weakening, replaced by a fierce blue hue before finally fading away.

  “Odaer will expect you, and your rage,” he commented, finally letting go of my arm.

  I felt an eerie sense of serenity fall over me despite my fight. The tranquility that Arden had emitted had consumed me, holding me against any will of my own.

&nbs
p; “Why would he attack? Why him?” Mara commented, turning my attention.

  She was right. Who was Odaer, and why was it such a big ordeal that he led the attack on the village?

  Arden returned to the map, shaking his head, “I don’t know. I don’t even know how he’s lived this long, and out of my sight.”

  “Who is he?” I asked.

  “One of the first Skyborn,” Arden replied. “A man who should’ve died long ago, even with his power.”

  Chapter Two

  I knew my lineage well enough; that Odaer was Skyborn, and that his gift was passed down to my mother, and then me, so how was he still alive? And how had he managed to survive all these years in secret?

  “I thought all Skyborn were dead?” I questioned.

  “Those who had made the sacrifice, yes, but Odaer remained,” Arden responded.

  Arden passed around the map a few times, his hand once more clutching his chin as he did when he took deeply to thought. He paused, his hands fanning over the map as his blue aura once more emitted itself, falling from his body and onto the map below. Strange symbols and land masses began to appear, just as Mara had shown us before with the Ethereal realm but, this map was much larger.

  “Do you remember the Forgotten Plains, Mara?”

  Mara stepped forward, looking over the map with her father.

  “I remember the stories but, isn’t it merely a fantasy?”

  “Much more than that,” Arden replied.

  My eyes widened, looking over the vast continents that spread across the map both above and below our own realm. I’d seen the Ethereal before, and I could identify its location with the mass of trees that sat upon it but, here, there was much more.

  “The other Skyborns reside there,” Arden began, “if they can aid Alina, then perhaps we can make short work of this war before it gets out of hand.”

  “I thought the other Skyborns were dead?” I interrupted.

  “Yes but, that does not mean they are gone entirely. They are simply bound to another realm,” Arden explained.

  Mara scanned the map before looking up, “how do we get there?”

  “Take the Dragon,” Arden responded, pointing toward Graven. “His bond with Alina should be strong enough to pass the barriers into the Further.”

  “The Further?” I asked.

  “The world after death. Where many beings go once their time here, or in the Ethereal, has ended,” Mara replied. “Though I thought it was just a story, to make us feel better when loved ones passed on.”

  Arden gave Mara a harsh glance, “You are to take Alina to the Forgotten Plains, to meet with the other Gem-Bearers, and nowhere else.”

  His instructions seemed clear yet, the harshness seemed unfit and I couldn’t quite place why.

  Mara sneered but, nodded in agreement.

  “The Further is no mere other realm like the Ethereal. If you become lost or stay too long, it may take hold and claim you. Do not let its ghosts deter your path,” Arden cautioned.

  “Come on,” Mara said, turning away.

  I moved to follow, Arden grasping at my arm one last time, “keep an eye on her,” he whispered. “This will prove to be a difficult trial for both of you.”

  I could see the fear in his eyes as he finally released his grip. He was afraid, not for me, but for his daughter.

  I took long, quick strides to catch up to Mara, her steps clearly hastened in frustration rather than purpose.

  “Gather your things, and meet me by the pikes,” she said without even turning to face me, “one hour.”

  I stopped at my small hut, watching as she stomped away. What in Arden’s words got under her skin? She was always so strong and collected, what could have irritated her so badly to make her short with everyone else around her?

  I wasted no time collecting my things and throwing them back into my satchel. I didn’t want to keep Mara waiting, especially in a foul mood. My clothes and belongings really hadn’t gotten much of a chance to be strewn about anyways; what with the battle and my emotional defeat taking up most of my time. I grabbed my small axe as it leaned against the bedpost, taking a moment to look it over and remember my training with Kiyne. He’d been so patient, yet so ruthless. Was he in the Further now? Perhaps I’d get to see him again.

  I stood by the pikes, staring at the sharpened edges as they’d grown in number since the few we’d laid before the attack. The village was taking every precaution now that the Marauders had found their location, even in the fog. They were no longer safe beneath the natural veil, and they had to be prepared for another attack, when, not if, it came.

  “Alina,” a voice echoed in my mind.

  “Graven,” I replied, turning to see him striding my way.

  “Going on another adventure it seems,” he huffed.

  “To the Further. Have you ever been?”

  “Can’t say that I have but, I’ve heard its stories.”

  “Lord Arden says it is the place beyond. Where many go after they die.”

  “Yes,” Graven replied, “But, it is not the only place.”

  “There’s elsewhere?”

  “Of course. Just as there is good and evil in this world, so is there in other worlds.”

  “There are other locations besides the Further?”

  “Yes, Alina, and in time, you will become familiar with them too.”

  My heart sank; what if Kiyne wasn’t in the Further, and was in one of the other places? The dark places. What if his death on the battlefield meant he went somewhere for the evils of this world? I couldn’t bear the thought, and I fought to shake it from my mind.

  “Ready?” Mara’s voice called out.

  Her bow was strapped to her back alongside her quiver but, she had no bag at her side, save only for the small hip pouch she was accustomed to. What good was a bow going to be against ghosts?

  “We better get going, it’s a long trip,” she reminded.

  I looked at her inquisitively.

  She pointed over the mountains, “into the horizon and beyond the sky,” she said with a rather melodic tone.

  I couldn’t help but feel for Ove and Keldi as they watched us take flight to the Forgotten Plains. Though I couldn’t feel Graven’s own thoughts or feelings on the matter, I knew they were similar to my own. With the Arcanon preoccupied with the Marauder hunt, it was only fitting we left some sort of protection behind for the villagers.

  The day had already begun to fade from us but, I was far too distracted by the view to notice. As we soared over the mountains, the mist began to dwindle and I could spot the snowy peaks as they poked through the cloud cover. Pale white glittered against the rays of a hidden sun, the fragile visage of snow one that would cling to my memories whenever I closed my eyes. We got snow in the lower regions but it was often dirty, slushy, and discoloured when met with the wagons and a warm breeze. Though many children still played with it, it was nothing like the purity that spanned before us.

  I felt a light tap on my shoulder, turning to see Mara in front of me pointing to our left. Graven swooped down lower, gliding slightly toward her direction and that’s when I spotted them – Winglings; small reptilian-like birds, all grouped together and floating along the breeze like falling leaves. Of course, the moment they noticed Graven, it was all over. Their flock quickly squawked, their formation splitting up as they dipped down into the clouds for safety. We all couldn’t help but giggle a bit. I guess they couldn’t speak Dragon.

  As our journey continued, I could feel my energy waning. I’d spent so long binding up my emotions, my frustrations, that any little sleep I’d gotten didn’t leave me feeling rested. It was as if my yawn had the same power as roaring thunder as I felt both Mara and Graven glance back at me.

  “Shall we find a spot to camp for the night then?” Graven suggested.

  I yawned again, “that sounds like a good idea. Mara?”

  “We should be approaching the Osfilian fields shortly. We can land there and make camp
along the rocky ridges of Mount Yeris,” she replied.

  It was settled then, camp for the night and resume our journey in the morning. By then, I hoped, I would be well-rested and ready for more.

  Chapter Three

  The sound of hoofbeats stirred me from my slumber. I’d only managed a wink or two, at long last, and now, even that, had been taken from me. I shifted my body, the length of chain whining at even the twitch of my fingertip. If the pain didn’t take me, the exhaustion from moving these bulky restraints around would. At least he’d left me alone after a few days. When he realized I’d given him no information about the stone, or Alina, he lost interest.

  I remember the night of our battle when we finally stood to face them. I could hear Mara screaming for me to move back but, that meant more targets for his Warhammer. I felt her eye move and her bow lower as she called to Alina to raise the barrier. I tried to push back but, he was too skilled, too strong. If I’d hesitated, even for a second, he’d have killed me and went straight for her. I couldn’t let that happen.

  The last thing I saw was the plate mail along his upper arm as his elbow came down upon my temple, knocking me out cold. Would I be left to die? Would I just be thrown into the fire? I couldn’t recall. My mind had gone black, and when I awoke, I was here.

  The Marauders had taken up refuge in an old fortress known as Ingar’s Hall; a place that once stood as a fearsome beacon to the world with its tall iron gates and black-stone walls. The armies housed here were bred for a single purpose – killing, and they were good at it.

  But everything changed when the Arcanon came. The skilled murderers of Ingar’s Hall were easily outmatched by Dragon fire and fierce magic. Even their iron arrows could not hold up against the hail of an icy barrage from a single Arcanon. Once the hall was taken, it was left for ruin, with both Ingar and his descendants leaving it to rot as nothing more than a relic of the old world.

  How long the Marauders had been holding up inside its skeletal remains I couldn’t tell. They seemed to have an abundance of supplies gathered from what I could see from my position. Torches kept the corridors well-lit but, the dungeons had flooded out long ago, so it was no use to them, for either supply or prisoners, such as myself.