Heartrender, p.9
Heartrender, page 9
Lyle gestured to the side, signaling that he would take the tents on the right before he disappeared between the scarlet fabric.
My steps slowed as I searched through the night. I tiptoed toward the closed ebony door when something shoved me from behind. With a cry, I fell forward, landing face first into the dirt. Spitting out the earth, I readied to bounce back up when two pale hooves shuffled on the ground before me, kicking more dirt into my face. Frantically, I rolled away and jumped up.
In the dark of night, the pale horse glowed like a bad omen. It had looked big before but seeing it up close made me feel smaller than a mouse. It was at least the size of one of the smaller tents, if not bigger.
Whinnying, the horse tossed its head back and forth, its pale mane gleaming against the midnight sky. The steed cantered around me, taunting me. I focused on its transparent body, trying not to blink. Its protruding bones clicked against one another with each step.
A surge of golden light spiraled from a smaller tent to the right. Nex screeched and darted away. Lurching forward, I grabbed my alme and sprinted back toward the main tent. When I turned around, Nex stood at the edge of the circle of tents, sucking the golden light into its mouth.
“It was a good try, Romen,” Lyle said, coming beside me. His alme was illuminated bright white. Like Magister Dyle’s light, Nex left it alone. “But your power isn’t right for this job.”
Romen grumbled under his breath as he appeared from behind the smaller tent, his gloves still glowing gold.
I studied the white torches surrounding the tents and then focused on Lyle’s white alme. A Magister’s light scared the Nex, but we needed to defeat it.
Before I could think any further, the horse divided, morphing from one horse into two.
Goosebumps rose on my arms, and I took a step back. What was happening? I gripped my alme tight, trying to fight the fear rising inside of me. Eman had chosen me to do this.
“Do you believe you can do this?” Eman’s words rushed through my mind as the horse of death continued to multiply in front of me. “Do you truly believe you can do this? Unite the Twelve Magisters against Ophidian?”
My pulse quickened as the horses continued to multiply, whinnying and cantering around us. Lyle flanked my right side, Romen my left. The pale horses reared back, pushing us in different directions. When we dodged left, a horse was there, blocking us in. As we jerked to the right, they whinnied and nipped at the air, forcing us between them. Before we could think of escape, they had surrounded us.
“I don’t know if I can do this,” I whispered, narrowly escaping the snapping jaw of one of the horses. My arms trembled as I gripped my alme. “Eman always guided me on what to do. Now he’s gone and my heart is broken. All of my power … gone.”
“It’s your brokenness that makes you strong,” Romen commented over his shoulder before ducking. “Eman knew that. Your faith in him gave you strength and it’ll still strengthen you now.”
The horses closed in, nipping at my limbs. Suddenly, Lyle wailed as a group of Nexes separated him from us. The shrilling sound of his life, his soul, being drained from his being rose my terror to new heights.
“Lyle!” I cried.
Grasping my alme in both hands, I poured all my power into my weapon. The surge of cool power flowing through my veins alighted the rod, transforming it back into the white weapon.
I had been broken when I faced Ophidian the first time, and Eman helped me believe in myself. I had been broken when I faced Ophidian the second time, and Eman helped me believe in myself. And now that my heart was broken, while facing Nex, the horse of death, I knew Eman would somehow still help me. If I believed I could do this, if I believed in myself, if I kept my faith, then I knew I wouldn’t fail.
Another snap clicked behind my eyes, and I knew two more pieces of my heart had mended together.
A few more pieces surged together, and although I knew my heart was still broken, I had enough power to defeat Nex. My heart released a thunderous pulse, and the horses devouring Lyle’s soul reared back. As I twisted my hands around my alme, the familiar chilling power flooded my veins with strength. I couldn’t help but grin as the blades extracted from each end. My bright-orange glow coated the entire alme, causing the group of Nex to flee between the crimson tents.
Darkness pulled at the edges of my bright light, trying to snuff it out. But it couldn’t. The power Eman had granted me was too bright, too pure for death to steal it. Though it was the same color as regular flame, this light was given to me by Eman and couldn’t be extinguished.
I helped Lyle stand, and my chest tightened at his pale, sweaty face. But after a cough or two, his coloring returned.
“Stay with Romen,” I commanded before facing the horde of horses.
The Nexes waited for me to attack—except for one. Not intimidated by my weapon, one horse charged before rearing on its hind legs to trample me. Dodging, I plunged my alme into the heart of the monster. Just like I hoped, the glowing blade didn’t slice through the creature but pierced the horse’s pale side.
The Nex reared back again, unleashing a piercing cry. It whipped its head back before retreating. Crouching down, I readied my stance to strike again. No blood seeped from the injury. Instead, the hole I inflicted caved in on itself, sucking the entirety of the horse within until nothing remained.
The group of Nexes panicked, galloping through the tents with fury. A smile came to my lips as I remembered what the elderly man had said. Faith was a light that would never die.
Holding my alme above my head, I twirled the rod between my hands, creating a circle of light. Just like the light I saw my mother wield. It was bright and vibrant, full of life.
I kept the image of my mother in my mind as I willed my strength into my circulating alme. Rings of blinding orange light escaped from the twirls, each one pouring out onto the shadowed Land of Julal.
As the orange light soared across the darkness, an earsplitting neigh erupted from between the tents, and I knew the light had hit one of the Nexes. All around, each horse warped into a dark hole, closing in on itself with a loud crack. Spinning my wrists faster, I shot out more rings, destroying each of the Nexes one by one.
As the horses fell, the pink light of a new dawn rose and the darkness cloaking Julal began to shatter.
I risked another glance to see only a few Nexes left. They made a break for the black door, still firmly planted between the tents. Grasping my alme, I bolted after them. They wouldn’t escape. If they got out, there was no telling what havoc they might unleash on the other Lands. The only way to stop them for good was to destroy the black door of death.
My arms throbbed as I caught up to the first retreating horse and sliced into its side. I did the same to the next. I now only had one prey left.
A new energy bounded through my bones as I chased after the final Nex. It stopped before the open black door and faced me. Behind it, the yellow sun rose, pulling apart the shadows. Tucking my alme close, I waited for the creature to attack when it bowed its head in surrender. Before I could blink, the rising sun beamed its rays upon the pale horse, vaporizing it to nothing.
Instantly, the black door snapped shut, and I didn’t give it a chance to disappear. Rearing back, I shoved my blade through the keyhole, flushing out the darkness with my orange light, fueled by the hope that, somehow, my mother was still alive.
The door screeched and wailed like the Nexes, then disintegrated into ash. I took a step back as a warm breeze blew by, whisking the ash into the wind.
“Nicely done,” Romen said, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he sheathed his blades.
“Thanks for the save,” Lyle added, brushing the dirt from his arms.
Taking in a few breaths to calm the racing pieces of my heart, I closed my eyes and let the sun dance over my skin. I twirled around, feeling the morning air hug me with its warmth, almost as if my mother were saying, “Well done.”
Quiet chatter tittered behind me, and I turned to see the tents releasing groups of people into the new light.
Some cowered, unsure of the brightness above, but a small child bolted out in front. The young boy spun in the morning sun as I had, laughing as he jumped up and down.
Grinning, Lyle and I joined him like we were children once again. Soon the entire village of people followed, dancing and laughing in the welcoming light.
“I owe you my deepest gratitude, Bellata,” Magister Dyle said, planting his forehead to the ground as we gathered inside the central tent.
Many of the villagers that had once refused Magister Dyle’s help now sat among him, giving their gratitude and apologies to Lyle, Romen, and me, as well.
“There’s no need for that,” I said, fidgeting with the fraying edge of my tunic.
Magister Dyle stood, the sleeves of his red cloak swishing as he clapped his hands. His warriors from before appeared with large platters of fruits and meats.
“If you won’t accept my gratitude, you must accept this feast we made in your honor.”
Before I could respond, Romen and Lyle stepped beside me and said, “We accept.” They glanced at each other with grins and simultaneously sat before the grandiose display.
Shaking my head, I laughed and joined them.
Vast amounts of succulent lamb and duck with crisp bread were brought before us. Romen and Lyle wasted no time in fully accepting Julal’s bounty as they dove into a large platter of cured meats and various cheeses.
As I nibbled on a piece of cheese, I turned to Magister Dyle, who had seated himself next to me. Now that everything had settled, I wanted to know what had happened with Silas and Dacenda. And Magister Dyle was the only one with answers.
“Magister Dyle,” I began, keeping my focus on the grapes rolling across my plate. “Can someone who isn’t a Magister connect minds?” The Magister glanced at me over his golden goblet. “I think I saw Silas before, but I don’t think it was a Magister that connected me to him. Dacenda mentioned that she connected Silas’s and my minds. But how could she do that?”
Magister Dyle placed his goblet down. “I figured that’s what happened to you when you passed out. I didn’t think the Bellata would faint at something trivial like the horse of death.” A grin pulled at the corner of his thin lips as he offered me a plate of figs. “Silas’s tests are unique to him alone, so it’s difficult to explain how the connections work. Based on which Magister was his guide, he or she could easily lend power to bring other minds into Silas’s.” He placed a few figs on his plate.
I pinched the dried fruit between my fingers, my mind whirling with possibilities. “Can you do it?” Magister Dyle paused, a piece of bread halfway to his mouth. “Can you connect me to Silas for just a moment?”
The Magister laid the bread down with a sigh. “Outside forces are not supposed to interfere. But since you have done so much for Julal, I cannot say no.”
After giving Lyle and Romen a quick excuse, Magister Dyle led me outside where a warm evening breeze swirled gently across my face. Now that Nex was gone, the atmosphere around Julal stood tranquil. As we entered a smaller tent behind the central tent, plumes of yellow incense enveloped my face. I coughed at the lemony scent, causing Magister Dyle to chuckle. After waving the smoke out of my face, I was able to see a thin, green mat sprawled out on the floor. Magister Dyle motioned for me to lie down.
“I can only give you a moment,” he explained, his thin brows furrowed in concentration as he gathered white light on his palms. “Only Asenav, Dimitte, and I are able to do this, so I am happy to be of assistance.”
My stomach lurched as I peered up at him. Dimitte. That was James’s Magister name. Had he, somehow, guided Silas before passing on?
Magister Dyle compressed the light between his palms, forming a glowing sphere. After whispering a few words, he shot the light at my forehead. I scrunched my shoulders, expecting the power to hurt, but instead a wave of drowsiness overcame me, forcing my lids closed.
“You have only a few moments,” Magister Dyle explained, his voice fading. “Complete your task quickly, or your mind will be lost to darkness forever.”
When I opened my eyes again, I saw a bright-white door. I lifted the latch, and the door swung open wide. And there, on the other side, stood Silas.
CHAPTER 11
SILAS
The unending abyss wrapped around Silas as he plunged deeper and deeper into darkness. Every inch of him turned numb. The bitter cold of Dacenda’s words replayed over and over in his head: the damage is already done. She was right. How could Addie ever forgive him after everything she had seen?
Nausea twisted his gut as his head smacked against the smooth ground. Shadows wrapped around his arms, gently lifting him to a standing position as a bright light flashed before him. His body tensing, Silas shielded his face. Was Dacenda back to finish him off? His shoulders dropped. His spirit was just about shattered. He wasn’t sure he could handle another beating like that.
A white door appeared and opened, a figure sprinting through it.
“Silas!” Addie shouted.
Silas’s chest tightened before his arms hung limp at his sides. Was Addie here to condemn him? Slowly, he lifted his head to find Addie ten paces before him.
“Addie,” he breathed, taking in her windswept hair and leather armor. “Are you really here?”
“Yes,” she said hastily. “But I don’t have time to explain. Silas, this is the real me, and I know what happened with Dacenda.” She paused to swallow. “Though I hated watching it, I know we didn’t know each other then.” Addie looked down and fumbled with the edge of her blue tunic as if trying to find the right words. “I know I haven’t always made the best choices, and there are a lot of things I wish I could go back and change. But even through all that, Eman still guided me. Even when I didn’t believe in him, he still found me in the darkness and showed me the light.”
Silas’s thoughts scrambled as he tried to understand what Addie was saying. How could she forgive him so easily?
Addie chewed on her lip. “What I’m trying to say is, who you were, the mistakes you made, it’s in the past. I’ve already forgiven you. But you do need to forgive yourself. I saw the torment on your face when you watched the memory. It still haunts you. If you don’t forgive yourself, you’ll never move on from this, and Dacenda will always have power over you.”
Silas’s jaw unhinged. It felt like she was speaking to his very soul, cleansing it of the bitter hatred he had for himself.
A warm, powerful energy wrapped around him, invigorating his soul and spirit.
“I don’t deserve your kindness,” he replied quietly.
Addie smirked. “Too bad. I’m giving it to you.”
A smile came to Silas’s lips as he strode forward, his arms aching to wrap around her. But as he reached out, a white door snaked out from behind Addie. Vines of light wrapped around her wrists and ankles.
“Addie!” he screamed, lunging forward.
“It’s okay, Silas,” she replied, her face calm. “My time is up. Please don’t forget what I said. We all love you and believe in you.”
The white tendrils reeled back, pulling Addie through the door. And just like that, she was gone. The light door sealed shut before sinking into the shadows.
“I’m proud of you,” James said from the right and Silas jumped a mile high. James chuckled. “I’m sorry, Silas, but I already had my farewell with Addie. I didn’t want to take up any more space in her mind, so I stayed hidden.” He rubbed a hand over his chin and laughed again. “Though I am impressed she convinced Dyle to open a portal to see you. She really loves you.”
“What?” Silas asked, still trying to comprehend that Addie had come into his tests. “What do you mean your farewell? Where are you going?”
“This was my last request to Eman before he left—to allow me enough time to help you overcome your regrets.”
Silas ran his hands through his hair, his mind churning with all the information. “What do you mean ‘before Eman left’?”
James placed a hand on his shoulder. “You’ve done well, Silas. Better than I ever dreamed you would.”
“James, I don’t understand. Where are you going?”
The Magister turned and started toward a golden light shining in the distance. Nana stood at the end, waiting. James glanced back at Silas.
“Never forget that love is a gift for those who are strong enough to accept it.”
“James,” Silas started but stopped upon seeing his peaceful smile.
James shuffled forward, his body turning translucent as he reached Nana. Nana held out her hand, and James took it before the couple faded into the light.
“James,” Silas whispered.
A strange emptiness lingered as Silas scrubbed his face with his hands. Did that mean Nana and James were …
An orange light flickered, surrounding Silas in a subtle warmth. A cloak comprised of bright-tangerine light shrouded his shoulders and arms. As the light solidified, Silas ran his fingers across the smooth fabric, recognizing the power emanating from the cloth. Addie. It was almost as if he could feel her arms around him, her love and forgiveness strengthening his broken soul.
As he laid his palm on the feathery cloth, Silas also sensed Eman. The gentleness, sternness, and steady kindness Eman always provided. The only reason Addie could love and forgive him so easily was because Eman had already done so for her.
Adjusting the cloak across his shoulders, Silas realized the torment he once held felt lighter. After everything, Eman and Addie still stood by him, and he refused to let them down.
As he turned to find where he was, a new figure clothed in blue appeared before him.
“Come, young Rexus, your next test is underway.”
Silas recognized that voice. Asenav, the wise Magister from Valde who told them about Eman’s former friendship with Ophidian. At least he was in the company of someone familiar and far better than Dacenda.
