Darkness Falling: Soldiers and Slaves (26 page)

Slowly, the prince turned to face his new adversary. Brosen was unarmed, having lost his own gun in his struggle with the strange woman. It didn't matter, he would rip Xander's throat out with his teeth if necessary.

“Would you like to play too, little boy?” Xander howled as he whirled, swinging the blade wildly around his body, his eyes clouded by dark mist.

Brosen charged at him unthinking. Xander raised his sword, a mad smirk splitting his face. Brosen was vaguely aware of White Energy blasts landing against his body, but somehow he was deflecting them harmlessly into flashes of light.

“Brosen, stop!” A familiar voice called to him, but it was too late.

Xander cut at the air. Brosen rolled to side, feeling the tip of blade slice through the sleeve of his coat.

“Xander, you must stop! He must be returned alive to Sa'Toret-Ekar to stand trial!” an old man pleaded.

It was enough of a distraction to turn the prince's attention away from his enraged opponent. Brosen leapt at him, jumping higher than he knew he was capable of, when at the same moment the woman came flying through the air to out flank him. She slammed into him, knocking him off course.

They rolled through the snow, dazed by the force of the impact.

“You!” Brosen snarled, staggering his feet.

She punched him square in the jaw, using far less energy and greater precision than he could muster. Moving with speed she was able to dodge his returning blows. A tiny dagger appeared between the fingers of her fist as she swung. He jumped back, the small blade barely missing his face. Brosen was surprised to bump into the white haired man who caught him by his arms, holding him in place. The woman rushed in, holding her dagger for a clean strike.

“No,” the man hissed. “Garinsith wants him alive.”

Brosen felt his limbs being encircled by energy, holding him in place.

“If he wants me alive doesn't he want Impyra alive?” Brosen glared unflinching into the woman's glowing silver eyes.

“Too late for that,” she smirked, glancing toward the falls.

No
.

He refused to believe it, and struggled against his captors. The Enforcers reappeared, White Energy trained on him, although he could see in their eyes they doubted the effectiveness of their weapons.

“You know, old man,” Xander was saying. “I don't need you anymore. This little toy you've given me is still hungry. Maybe you'll make a nice little snack.”

Xander swung the sword up, pointing the tip at the old man's chest.

“First you, then the woman thief, and then all of your little friends” he twisted the blade, admiring how it didn’t shine in the light. “After that, I could easily take on the world.  The day is won.”

“Listen to me,” the old man's voice was tense. “He must stand trial. It's the only way to prove the Empire is strong enough to subdue threats from within.”

“I don't care about that,” Xander shrugged. “No one will defy me when I am Emperor.”

From out of nowhere, another Enforcer came running across the snow. He barreled full force into the prince's left flank, catching him off guard. Xander shouted, surprised, as he stumbled and fell. The sword flew out of his hands, flipping beneath the gray sky, before it vanished into a snowdrift.

Brosen twisted against the invisible bonds that held him, but the woman held the dagger to his throat. She grinned menacingly.

“Why help Xander when he threatens to kill you?” he asked her.

“This has nothing to do with that little prick.” She said sweetly. “Soon you’ll belong to us.”

Xander was scrambling to find the sword, but the old man had his own tricks. Hand raised, he lifted the thing with his energy, hovering it high in the air and out of reach. Pointing his free hand at Xander the prince froze in place.

“Energy user!” the prince shouted, spitting blood onto the snow.

“Of course, you fool,” the old man snapped. “And don't think you've learned a great secret. Your father knows, and your grandfather knew.”

Brosen watched a strange transformation overcome the prince. Hunched in sudden exhaustion, his eyes began to clear. He turned his attention to the Enforcer who had tackled him.

“I knew you'd turn out to be a traitor,” he hissed. “Take him into custody.”

The Enforcers exchanged glances. For a moment Brosen thought they weren’t going to comply, but after their momentary hesitation they silently followed orders. Brosen watched as the man was strapped into handcuffs. The figure was oddly familiar. As the snow was brushed away he realized it was Treve.

“You will both be executed.” Xander spat. “Mark my words; this is only a brief reprieve.”

The intensity of the power that surrounded him was waning. He stumbled toward the EOV, panting and swaying until he finally leaned heavily on the door frame. Brosen was reminded of when Impyra had used too much energy.

Impyra.

“Move,” the white haired man snarled, pushing him forward.

There was a change in the energy holding him, allowing him to move his legs enough for a slow gait. Brosen looked back at the falls. She couldn't be dead. Everything had happened so quickly, but deep down he believed she was alive.

The soldiers hoisted him into the back of the EOV and soon after Treve followed. It was disorienting to see his partner again so unexpectedly. Treve smiled at him weakly.

“Sorry I didn't understand before,” Treve said as the EOV began to roll through the snow.

Brosen stared at him, not knowing what to think.

“Who are all these people? What happened?”

Treve sighed, “Mutilators. Some sort of Enforcers from somewhere else. But, I'm more interested in what happened to you.”  

Looking out at the falling snow, Brosen didn't know where to begin.

“She fell from Empire Tower and lived,” was all he could think to say.

“Yeah.”

“She fell over Doonrok's Fall, she's alive.”

Treve didn't respond. Brosen didn't expect him to believe. How could he? He hadn't known her.

“This isn't over,” he said.

* * *

Garinsith held the sword in his lap, wrapping it in a heavy protective ward. Until he could safely conceal it from Xander they would not be safe. He knew putting the Seeker into a weapon would be a risk. Even had it been any other object it could easily destroy a life. Entrusting it to Xander had been the real mistake. He’d never thought the prince was capable of such darkness.

The magic of the Seeker itself, however; had worked even better than he anticipated. Surly this was what the prophecy spoke of; a power great enough to defy the strength of Syerset.

With the Balance lost the future was uncertain, if Impyra had been the Balance at all. He was beginning to doubt his own conclusions. Deller-Brenth would not allow a champion to be so easily destroyed.

Only time would tell, and if Garinsith had anything, it was time.

AFTERWARD

Thank you for reading my debut novel, Darkness Falling: Soldiers and Slaves. Part two of the series, Darkness Falling: Shadow of the Seeker, will be available beginning Spring 2016. Hopefully you’ll join me! You can also follow me on Twitter @RRWillica and on Facebook at R. R.Willica Books.