Enaya: Solace of Time (6 page)

Chapter 9

Across the Ridge

After being greeted by dozens of beautiful women, Nile found himself standing in the Great Hall. He was staring at a picture of the ocean and a ship being pulled into a thunderstorm. He touched the painting, feeling every crack of dry paint that kissed his fingers. His fingers glided across the texture. He stopped his index finger above the sail, rubbed it in circles, and then lowered his hand. He stepped back.

There was beauty in the dark picture. It said more than
danger.
It spoke
passion.
There was an inspirational jolt of magic that struck his spine, pulling him into the atmosphere with a happiness that he could not explain, almost like he wanted to immediately do something.

Nile was so drawn into the picture that he did not hear the door open and close down the hall, or maybe he did and just forgot to acknowledge it. He even ignored the footsteps.

Leo met him. “Roland told me to wait out here.”

Nile stared at the painting.

“Roland told me to wait out here,” Leo repeated.

Nile turned to Leo, then to the painting. “Oh, Leo. Look at this painting. Tell me what you see?”

“A ship being pulled in by a storm,” he said.

“That’s not what I see at all,” Nile replied. “Look at it again.”

Leo stared at the painting. “Nope, the same thing. Why? What do you see?”

“Passion,” Nile mumbled. “I see the story of us being thrown into something wonderful, our dream of being knights. Don’t you get it, Leo? We are the ship. And this world we are in now is the thunderstorm. One day we may be as great as Alexander Whitman.”

It made perfect sense.
Nile glanced back at the painting, feeling inspired. He was living the dream he had constructed around his imagination since he could walk and talk. It was even his brother’s dream.

Nile turned from the painting. “What did Roland say?”

“To wait out here, but a slew of his best knights are in there with them. I overheard them saying that the Lucian Empire was moving. I also heard them call for the aid of the wizards.”

Nile’s eyes widened. “Wizards?”

“Yes,” Leo replied. “The wizards. They have not responded.”

“Why would they?” Nile asked. “They only help those in dire need. After the Magic Wars there is no way they would help . . .” He held his train of thought as the doors opened and Roland and seven knights marched down the hall.

Nile stepped out of the way.

Roland stared at Nile intently as he passed him, almost as if he knew a secret about him. He then snarled in the other direction. “Follow me.”

Nile and Leo fell in behind the knights. They marched out of the Great Hall and onto the bailey. Stone pathways built by hand lay before each of Roland’s steps and spiraled around, meeting in the center, only to greet a bench and a pedestal with two birds bathing in it.

Roland turned toward the knights. “The Tavera Kingdom should have been here by now.”

One of the knights stepped forward. He had a long brown beard. “Do you wonder that they met the Lucian Empire on the way?”

“Tavera is coming north. The Lucian Empire is heading from the west. They would merge onto the same road unless Tavera went across the mountain, which would be too dangerous. If Tavera left five days ago they should have arrived by now,” Roland explained, resting his hands on his hips.

“Would you like me to take a few of our good men and horses to see if we can spot them?” asked the bearded knight.

“No,” Roland said. “Nile and I will go.”

Nile swallowed.

“We will ride a few miles out across the mountain and circle back around. Hopefully we run into good news.”

“Are you sure?” Nile asked.

Roland laughed. “Yes, and besides, we have a lot to talk about.”

Nile broke from the group, glancing at Leo. Leo shrugged. Nile followed Roland down a stone staircase and through an alley that led out at the ports. The ships towered over all the townspeople and the knights that were still tying the ships into the port. Nile passed a father holding his child, pointing at the ship.

“We will head south across the mountain for a few miles. Turn around and travel back. We want to be within a few hours’ ride from here. Too far and we risk our lives.”

“If we don’t see either one of them?”

Roland stopped and turned to Nile. “We will.” There was fire under his breath.

They walked again, this time up a ramp leading them to the ship. They stumbled across the deck as the knights were carrying off cargo. They went into the horse’s bay.

“Pick one,” Roland said, grabbing a saddle off a post. He turned and threw it onto a black horse, tying it around the belly, then the reins across the snout. He climbed up; Nile was still tying his saddle.

Roland rolled his eyes. He leaned forward and rested on his horse, smiling as he did. “Do you need help?”

“No,” Nile said, pulling the saddle tightly. He climbed up on the horse.

“The reins?” Roland asked.

Nile grabbed for them but got a handful of hair instead. The horse neighed and Nile lowered his head, embarrassed. He got off the horse and grabbed the reins that were resting on the post. He pulled them over the snout of the horse and then jumped on it, pulling the reins tightly to get the horse to turn around.

“Are you ready?” Roland asked, sitting up straight.

Nile shook his head.

Roland spurred his horse, and the horse abruptly exploded out of the stables and onto the deck. Roland stopped and turned around to wait for Nile.

“Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!” Nile yelled, as his horse walked up the ramp and onto the deck. “That a girl.”

“I need you to keep up,” Roland said.

“I can’t,” Nile said, pulling on the reins.

Roland’s horse stammered back to Nile. Roland lined his horse up with Nile and then drove his spur into the horse. The horse reared up, neighed, and then charged off the deck. Roland then drove his spur into his horse and charged off.

Roland gained enough speed to jump in front of Nile, which was a good thing since Nile was about to run into a fruit market. The horse lost focus and followed Roland under arched streets and out into the open field of Sienna.

Nothing but vast walls of green blocked their path. The forest was as full as the book of life. They rode into it, and as they did, Nile glanced up to see birds fill the sky and fly outward, almost racing with the horses. They came across a long fence that was damaged due to weather. Vines and flowers covered the fence and there was evidence of an old stone walkway. There must have been a house that once sat there.

Roland pointed to his left. Nile almost missed it. He pulled the reins. The horses stampeded up the knoll, over the broken fence, and started up the ridge across the Rabellank Mountains.

Roland stopped abruptly. His horse snarled and snorted as Roland peered over the orange valley. A small stream snaked out into the forest from whence they came. Across from them was another ridge. That would be the mountains that the Tavera Kingdom would cross. Roland scoped the landscape, then turned back to Nile.

“Nothing,” Roland said.

Beyond Nile, the towers of the Walsh castle could be seen. Roland’s eyes followed the tip of the tower down to the trees that blocked the rest of the castle. He then turned around on his horse to see if anyone was coming from around the canyon.

Nothing.

Roland jumped off his horse and continued to look around. He grabbed the reins in one hand and patted the horse with his other. “The first thing I learned as a knight was beginning to parry. You will value everything in your line of duty. I really became fond of my skills. You’ll find that all you can trust is yourself in some situations. This is one of those moments.”

Nile tightened his grip around the reins.

“Would you ever trespass into another man’s heart?” Roland asked, running his hand down the horse’s rib.

Nile gulped. “No.”

“One thing your father taught me was to protect everything that is rightfully yours. He hated that he could not protect you and your family.”

Nile’s grip grew tighter.

“Do you know what I’m talking about?” Roland asked, turning slowly to Nile, staring him in the eyes.

“N-no,” Nile hesitated.

Roland released the reins and charged over to Nile. He extended an arm, grabbed Nile by his breastplate, and pulled him down to the ground. Nile hit with a hard thump, nearly knocking the wind out of him. Roland pulled Nile closer to his face.

“I know you know about Enaya,” Roland spat on him.

“All I know is what I saw,” Nile said, panicking that Roland might hit him. He closed his eyes, grabbed Roland’s wrists, and tried to push him off.

Roland punched Nile, his fist guiding Nile’s head into the ground. Roland brought back his hand and Nile’s lip was bleeding. “Enaya! Why? What did you see?”

“Large towers and dragons, I guess. I saw a world where people use these dragons to fly,” Nile said.

Roland punched Nile again.

Nile pushed Roland off him and rolled around in the dirt. He grabbed his face, moaning in pain. He spat blood into his hand then onto the rocks that his face rested upon.

Roland rushed over to Nile, bringing his fist above his head. Nile squirmed and covered his body. Roland hovered his fist above Nile, breathing hard. He slowly lowered his fist and extended a hand.

“How many times did you use it?”

“Several,” Nile replied.

Nile glanced at Roland’s hand, hesitant to grab it or not.

Roland held his hand for a second longer, but Nile still did not reach for it. Roland dropped his hand and walked back to his horse. He grabbed the reins and leaned against the horse, trying to catch his breath.

Nile slowly got up. “That thing, Enaya,” Nile said, “that magical gem. Why is it so important?”

Roland stood up straight, staring at Nile. “It can awaken Seraph.It is bound to his spirit.”

“I didn’t know any of that.”

“I met Seraph face to face. Do you know how?” Roland asked.

“No.”

“After the Magic Wars, Seraph was chained at the Forbidden Islands. I was sailing from the Eastern Realm when a storm hit. We reached the closest island, the Devil’s Peak. That’s what they call the island he is on, but I didn’t know.”

Nile listened closely, sweating with fear.

“We were stranded for days, so I surveyed the land. I walked around the island and there, desolate, was a temple. I didn’t know this at the time, but I started to panic. I became scared, Nile. I could hardly stand or walk, but I continued forward because there was something in the temple drawing me near. Something dark.”

Nile twitched.

“And I walked in. Something called my name. It was a whisper at first, but as I got closer, it got louder. Then, as I cleared the main hall and walked between pillars, there was a room. I slowly walked in it, and chained by a thousand chains was Seraph.”

Nile’s stomach knotted up. The rumors of Roland were true.

“My eyes met his, and for a moment I became still. The fear is so overwhelming. It was almost like he knew my whole life. He knew me—whispered to me and called me by my name.”

“Then what happened?” Nile asked.

“Nothing,” Roland said. “Nothing at all. After a moment, I was able to move. The fear began to settle down, and I left that place for good, but I saw him. That’s why this is important, Nile. That’s why we must protect Walsh Kingdom. If the Lucian Empire expands, then Seraph gets stronger. Every time Enaya is used, Seraph gets stronger.”

“How many Enaya elements are there?”

“Seven,” Roland said. “Time, water, earth, magic, wind, fire, and ice, but when they are all connected together, they form the greatest element of all—life. The power to live forever.”

“What did Seraph look like?” Nile asked.

Roland gulped. “Like . . . misery.”

A loud horn echoed through the land. A sound so horrifying that Nile and Roland jumped. Roland got on his horse and rode over a clearing with rocks and the remains of a burnt campfire. Roland’s horse neighed and trotted closer to the edge of the cliff. The great knight froze.

Nile got onto his horse. “What do you see?”

“The enemy,” Roland replied with sheer confidence.

Nile guided his horse closer to the edge and gazed down in the valley. There was the Lucian Empire.

They marched as if they were one big giant shadow, but three horses were in front. Tall black flags stretched above the tall dark shadow of marching creatures. The flags bore the Lucian Empire symbol, a red
S.
Then, in the middle of the formation, were giant spiders, and soldiers riding on the spiders.

Nile shivered.

“Arachnoids,” Roland mumbled. “Quietly, we must go back to Walsh and warn them.”

Chapter 10

Eight Hairy Legs

Nile and Roland rode into Walsh as hard and as fast as they could. Leaves spiraled into the wind behind them. The gates opened and the horses rode in, pulling to a stop at the stables. Several of Woodlands knights were waiting to take the reins. Roland jumped off the horse and Nile slowly followed.

“They are here,” Roland said.

“Tavera or Lucian?” asked a knight with a brown mustache.

“Lucian,” Roland replied. “Warn King Loren.”

Roland led Nile and a group of the knights into the castle. They marched down the Great Hall, where Leo was sitting on a bench. Nile glanced at him and signaled for him to follow. Roland pushed open two arched doors; the king was waiting inside.

“They’re here,” Roland said.

The king looked at him in alarm.

“The Lucian Empire,” Roland said. “They’re here.”

The king stood to his feet. “Ready the cannons.”

***

Nile was outside at the ports as the Woodland knights were rolling cannons off the ships. He was confused as to what he should be doing. So was Leo. Leo was shaking and very ghastly looking in his face. Nile placed his helmet on, and then looked at Leo. Leo did the same.

“Are you all right?” Nile asked.

Leo shook his head. “No. I’m nervous.”

Nile looked up at the castle. There were two large walls, spreading from the east to the west, tucking the kingdom inside the mountain. Beyond those walls, Nile could not see what was going on, but the knights standing on the walls could. Roland was on the walls.

“They’re here,” screamed a knight.

Roland looked down at the court, watching the knights stand in formation and load their bows with handmade arrows. They pointed to the sky. Nile and Leo ran behind the knights and stared up at the wall of the castle.

Seconds turned into minutes.

“Fire!” Roland screamed.

Hundreds of arrows filled the skies, and then disappeared beyond the wall.

There were loud demonic moans and growls that came from the other side. Nile almost fell to his knees. Leo pulled out his sword. Nile did the same. The roars got louder and louder as if hell was about to burst through the wall.

Then, within a burst of smoke and fire, one of the walls exploded. The knights flew into the sky, landing on the bailey. One had landed in front of Nile, smacking his head with a metal
ka-thump
.

“Look,” Leo said nervously.

A large black shadow filled within the smoke. Two long hairy legs came through first. Each leg stood twelve feet high. Nile tightened his grip on his sword. Leo stepped behind him.

The knights loaded more arrows and fired into the smoke, yet nothing happened. The shadow became bigger, and once it stepped through the smoke, Nile squirmed at the sight. It was one of the arachnoids. It towered in size and was horrible to look at it. All eight eyes pierced through the knights. Its fangs flickered in and out as if it was starving. Sitting on top were two hideous reptilian creatures—Ard’Ols. They were wrapped in chains, covered in slime, and smelled of rotten flesh. They reached for their swords.

The spider crawled slowly over several of the knights. It raised its front legs high into the air and lifted its upper body. Nile knew that whenever a spider lifted its body it was ready to attack. It was obvious that some of the knights did not know this, for one grabbed his sword and struck at the spider, missing by inches. The spider lunged forward, wrapped the man up in its legs, and brought the knight to its mouth.

Nile cringed when fangs sunk into the armor, sounding like binding metal. The knight squirmed and screamed, then dropped his sword. The spider arched back again, the two Ard’Ols snarling and laughing as it did, then dropped the knight. Blood oozed from the two punctured marks.

Nile glanced at Leo. “Here we go!”

He charged at the spider and swung his sword. The spider moved its legs up, dodging the swing, and then lunged forward, knocking Nile down. It crawled over Nile, lowered itself and hissed. The fangs oozed with blood.

Nile could feel his heart beating through his chest and hitting his armor. He was sweating in fear. His left hand was moving around on the ground, feeling for his sword, but then he remembered he was right-handed, so he felt around for it again. The spider brought its two front legs on top of Nile’s chest, pressing down.

A wave of arrows hit the spider. It turned, hopping, and started toward the knights. The two creatures on it were swinging their blades at incoming attacks. An arrow caught one of the creatures in the head, knocking it down. The other snarled and snorted, snot leaking over its upper lip. An arrow caught him in the chest, and then another in the head.

The spider charged over the knights, forcing them to scatter. Nile got to his feet, grabbing his sword. He rushed to the spider and stabbed his blade into its rear. The spider screamed out and turned around. It lunged forward and grabbed Nile, bringing him to its fangs.

“Take that!” Leo shouted, stabbing the spider in the side.

The spider dropped Nile and turned to Leo.

A wall of arrows hit the spider head on. It crawled a few steps. Leo backed away in a hurry and the spider fell. Blood dripped from every wound. Nile took off his helmet, sweat sticking his hair to his head, and he breathed hard.

Leo also took off his helmet and threw it to the ground. He squirmed. “I hate spiders.”

There were several growls coming from the wall. Then, dozens of Ard’Ols ran in, their black blades swaying over their bodies. The knights engaged, but Nile and Leo fell behind them, unsure of what to expect.

Knights and Ard’Ols fell to the ground. Nile gripped his sword and ran toward them. A blade swung at him from the side, but he reacted in time to block it and then kicked the Ard’Ol away. Nile slashed at the Ard’Ol, but it was quicker than anticipated and it blocked his blade. It roared and then jumped back. Nile swung again, slipping on loose rock, and dropped his sword to the ground. The Ard’Ol moved to the side and slashed at Nile, cutting a black streak into his arm. Nile gasped, acknowledging that he didn’t feel pain. He rolled to his back, grabbed his sword, and pushed the steel forward into the gut of the creature.

The blood from the Ard’Ol was putrid. His father talked about the smell and believed it was because they were crafted from the magic of the planets instead of the moon. The moon was so pure, so innocent, but the magic of the planets was so much darker and more disturbing. An Ard’Ol did not have a soul. They couldn’t feel emotions, they couldn’t love, they could even go years without food, because every cell in their body was made up of magic, and the blood dripping above Nile’s upper lip reminded him of that.

Nile pulled the sword out of the Ard’Ol and rolled to the side as it fell to the ground. He got to his feet and wiped the clumpy substance from his lip. He gagged. He could taste his stomach acid in the back of his throat.

He gagged again.

He fell to his knees and threw up. It was probably a good thing. He had been so nervous about this battle and with what Roland had confronted him about, he’d almost forgotten why he was here.

Then Nile jumped as two hands were forced under his armpits. Leo pulled him up and they stumbled out of the way of a falling tower. The stone crumbled onto the bridge, separating them from the army of Ard’Ols. A cloud of dust piled around the debris, blinding their sights.

“Here,” Leo mumbled, pulling Nile along the bridge and down a set of stone stairs. They came up on another bridge, beneath the one above. They assumed the bridge went into the castle since it ended at an overlook of the ocean and began beyond two steel gates.

Nile coughed.

“Are you well?”

Nile shook his head.

Crash!

Part of the upper bridge collapsed onto the lower bridge. Cracks stretched from the pile to Nile and Leo’s feet.

“This bridge won’t hold forever,” Nile said, leaning over the edge and staring into the water. “It isn’t a far jump.”

Nile glanced back at Leo, but something black caught his attention. It was two long legs—hairy legs—stretching from the bridge above them. The legs felt their way to underneath the top bridge. They extended and then a black body followed. An arachnoid. It stared at Leo and Nile, then took a few steps forward, all eight legs moving in motion. A bite from one of these would kill a human instantly.

Leo quivered, but managed to grip his sword.

Nile picked his sword up and held it firmly. Spiders never bothered him as much as they did Leo. Nile was used to spiders actually. When he was younger, his father took him into the Vermallian Forest and there were spiders the size of pigs, but then Nile saw the large arachnoid fall and flip in midair, landing on the bridge with them. It charged after them, and Nile’s bones felt as if a hundred spiders were crawling over them. He squirmed.

The arachnoid could sense fear shivering down Leo’s spine. It lunged forward, pushing Leo over the bridge. Leo threw his arms forward frantically and grabbed the edge of the scratchy stone. He screamed and looked down; his sword shimmered in the sunlight as it hit the water below.

“Hold on!” Nile screamed, running at the arachnoid. He thrust his sword into its side.

It howled and turned to Nile, slowly walking forward. Its fangs were wet with saliva. It lunged forward but Nile fell, allowing the spider to topple over him. Nile got to his feet, bringing up his sword, cutting off its two right hind legs.

Nile then jammed his sword into the rear of the spider, twisted, and pulled out. The spider howled again, but slowly fell forward and over the edge. Its six remaining legs crinkled close to its body as it splashed into the water.

Nile rushed to Leo. He dropped his sword and fell to his knees, grabbing Leo’s arms. He pulled up and Leo used his legs against the stone to give him a boost.

“Thanks,” Leo said.

Nile was out of breath. “Don’t mention it.”

Leo was breathing hard too. “If I were a girl, I’d kiss you.”

Nile chuckled.

There was a loud explosion that roared through the kingdom, reminding Nile of the battle overhead. They looked around and saw a staircase sculpted into the side of the mountain. They ran toward it. Chunks of stone fell before them, crashing through the bridge and into the ocean. Nile came to a stop and looked down. He could see the rocks and the stone poking up out of the ocean below. Nile jumped across the gap and started up the staircase.