Heir of Shandara (Book 4) (15 page)

“Who came to our aid during the battle?” Verona asked.

Aaron glanced to his side and gave a single nod to Thraw, who had stayed silent, cloaked in plain sight at his side. The short hair along his body changed color from matching the ground to a sleek black figure. The others gasped at Thraw’s sudden appearance.

“A maul-cat,” Tanneth hissed.

“Only partially so, Hythariam,” Thraw said.

Thraw’s dark features were more feline in shape, with rows of pointed teeth framed within a powerful head. The corded muscles rippled as if the maul-cat was about to spring. The Hythariam around them took a step back, aiming their weapons at the maul-cat.

Aaron held up his hands. “Lower your weapons. His name is Thraw. He helped us against the Zekara.”

Gavril’s gaze bored in Thraw’s direction. “Aaron, you don’t know what this is. This is a creature from Hytharia.”

Thraw’s green eyes narrowed as they swept those around him. “If any of you were my target, then you would already be dead.”

“Thraw helped me escape Hytharia when Halcylon left me for dead,” Aaron said.

“More likely you were a means to its own ends,” Gavril said.

Thraw blew out a loud breath through his snout, making more than one Hythariam twitch. “It was mutually beneficial.”

“I invited Thraw to come. He took out three heavily armed Zekara,” Aaron said.

Gavril shifted his gaze from Thraw to Aaron. “This creature is not your friend.”

“Why don’t you tell them about me then, Hythariam? Tell them what you’ve done to my kind,” Thraw said.

“I’ve done nothing to your kind,” Gavril said, and shifted his gaze to address the rest of them. “The creature before you was created in a lab with traits of a Hythariam and a maul-cat. The maul-cats were an apex predator on Hytharia. They can easily blend in with their surroundings and can kill with lethal efficiency. That was before some of my race began experimenting on them. They sought to use the maul-cats’ capabilities to their own ends. However, they couldn’t be trained even if the cubs were taken at birth. It was then that our scientist sought to enhance them. Merging with the Hythariam added to their intelligence. They were able to imprint targets upon their minds, and the maul-cats would be sent out.”

Aaron looked at Thraw, and the maul-cat met his gaze evenly. There was intelligence and cunning behind the creature’s eyes, but Thraw had helped him. It was one of the clearest memories he had of being held captive upon Hytharia.

“They were used as assassins?” Aaron asked.

“Yes,” Gavril said. “I’ve never seen one alive. I’ve only seen the aftermath of the destruction they cause. They were used to infiltrate enemy installations to take our key targets. The facilities where the maul-cats were created had been destroyed before we ever found the portal to Safanar.”

“You keep saying created,” Verona said. “Do they not, you know, get together and have a few cubs?”

Aaron felt his lips curve into a small smile and shook his head. “It sounds like they were created in a lab.”

Thraw stretched out his front legs, extending sizable dark metallic claws that protruded from his paws. As he pulled his legs back, the claws retracted.

“It sounds like the scientist did more than combine the traits of one species with that of another,” Aaron said.

“They were enhanced,” Gavril said.

Aaron sensed the unease from the Hythariam soldiers that were part of the group, and Thraw’s challenging stare didn’t make them any more at ease.

“You said they were used as assassins. Do you know anything more about them?” Aaron asked.

“Yes, they were. This is the part I’m least familiar with,” Gavril admitted. “Somehow, the maul-cat hybrids were imprinted with a target, and once imprinted they would stop at nothing to achieve their goals.”

Aaron glanced at Thraw. “Who is your target?”

Thraw regarded him for a moment. “General Morag Halcylon.”

“Halcylon is your target?” Aaron asked, and the maul-cat nodded.

“That’s just it, Aaron. You can’t trust anything the maul-cat is telling you. It was created to deceive. Lying isn’t beyond its capacity,” Gavril said.

Thraw let out a low growl.

“Everyone here has the capacity to deceive,” Aaron said, and turned back to Thraw. “Why did you save me on Hytharia?”

“Mutually beneficial,” Thraw said.

Aaron’s gaze hardened. “I mean before that. You were watching me.”

“You resisted Halcylon. You could have killed him yourself but didn’t. I was newly released from my tank and didn’t seize the opportunity,” Thraw said.

“Released? You mean someone let you out?” Aaron asked.

Thraw nodded his large head.

“Maul-cats were too dangerous to keep conscious without an imprint. There was a risk of having them turn against their captors,” Gavril said.

“Still,” Aaron said, “someone set him free, and if they imprinted Thraw to target Halcylon, that means there are those among the Zekara that could be allies.”

“The enemy of my enemy is my friend,” Verona said.

“Do you know who set you free?” Aaron asked.

Thraw shook his head.

Aaron cocked his head to the side. “Why come to my aid?”

“As I said, human, it was mutually beneficial.”

“You will call me by my name, or I will revert to calling you maul-cat, is that understood?”

Thraw studied Aaron for a moment and nodded.

“I don’t mean on Hytharia. I meant here on this day,” Aaron said.

Thraw’s gaze softened slightly as he glanced away from Aaron for a moment. “Halcylon is too well protected.”

“You think that I could get you close enough to Halcylon to kill him?” Aaron asked.

Thraw didn’t say anything in reply, but the answer was clearly stated in his eyes.

Aaron glanced at the others and lingered for a moment on Bayen, who appeared slightly alarmed.

Gavril cleared his throat. “They are usually forbidden from trading their lives for their targets, but it’s not unheard of if the target has a high enough priority. That’s one thing I know about the imprint process. After they successfully meet their objective, they return to whoever set them free.”

Aaron glanced back at Thraw. “Is that right? What will you do if Halcylon is killed?”

“I don’t know. That part of the imprint is not revealed until the objective is met,” Thraw said.

“Well, since Thraw was released upon Hytharia, there is little chance of his returning there. Do you think anyone back at Hathenwood would know about this?” Aaron asked.

Gavril shook his head. “This was purely a military program. I’m sure we could learn a great deal from—Thraw, but that would require cooperation.”

Thraw bared his teeth at the hologram.

“Thank you, but I don’t think that will happen,” Aaron said.

“We’ll start sending out evacuation groups to the surrounding areas. I urge you to move quickly. Halcylon will press his advantage now that part of his capabilities has been revealed,” Gavril said.

Aaron nodded. “We’ll see you at Rexel,” he said.

The holo display winked out, and Aaron told the others to be ready to move out soon. Verona and Tanneth joined him. A few moments later, Marek joined them as well. Thraw hadn’t moved and had remained so still that you could barely see him breathe.

Aaron turned back to the maul-cat and rubbed his chin, gathering his thoughts. “I need to know if I can trust you.”

“We have the same goals, hu—Aaron. We both wish to kill Halcylon,” Thraw said.

“Thraw, I give you my word that no one here will try to harm you while you’re with us, but I expect the same from you. Can you agree to that?” Aaron asked.

“Agreed,” Thraw said, and then his snout crinkled as he sniffed the air.

Aaron noticed Bayen standing close by and watched him with a raised brow. Bayen then walked over of his own accord.

“This one smells… off,” Thraw said.

Aaron narrowed his gaze, wanting to ask the maul-cat what he meant. A hazy memory pushed its way into his mind from his time as the Zekara’s prisoner and Thraw saying the same thing about him. His instincts told him that they needed the mysterious youth. “What can I do for you, Bayen?”

“The prince doesn’t understand what he will face when the Zekaran attack. If the people won’t listen, then they should be forced to leave,” Bayen said.

“We’ve already been through this,” Aaron said.

“Nothing is gained by half measures. Each person we save is one less we have to fight,” Bayen said.

“My uncle has the better way, my young friend,” Verona said. “We cannot force people into our protection.”

“You just don’t get it. If they’re not with us, then they’re against us whether they realize it or not. The Zekara are not honor bound. Their rules of engagement are quite clear,” Bayen said.

Aaron stared at Bayen for a moment. The young man’s cold blue eyes seemed so familiar. Bayen’s mouth was drawn down as if he was constantly clenching his teeth.
What happened to you that made you so… ruthless?
Aaron wondered.

“We’re not going to do this,” Aaron said.

“Do what?” Bayen asked. “Speak the truth? Anyone who gets left behind will die,” Bayen said, his raised voice drawing attention from the nearby soldiers.

Aaron kept his temper in check and took a breath. “I fear for those who will get left behind, but Prince Cyrus’s orders stand. We will help people retreat to the safety of the city. Unless you have a better suggestion or something you wish to share with the rest of us?” Aaron asked.
 

Bayen stood there for a moment, glaring at Aaron, then turned and stomped away. A moment later, Aaron noticed that Thraw was missing. Aaron glanced in the direction that Bayen headed and saw the faint outline of the maul-cat creeping along the edges of the forest. Thraw turned his head, and his green eyes calmly returned Aaron’s gaze. Aaron realized that the maul-cat had let him see him so that he knew where he was going.

“We know the Zekara are heading for Rexel. Let’s make their road more interesting for them,” Aaron said.

“How?” Tanneth asked.

“That’s what I would like for you to work on, but I’m worried that our comms devices are being monitored. I want us to limit their use for a time,” Aaron said.

Tanneth shook his head. “They cannot decode our messages.”

“Are you absolutely sure about that? Let’s consider for a moment that they could. We could use that knowledge as we coordinate. Know what I mean?” Aaron asked.

Tanneth spared a glance at Verona, who nodded.
 

“I thought you said you weren’t part of the military where you come from?” Tanneth asked.

“I’m not,” Aaron said.

“My friend, you have an absolutely devious mind,” Verona said.

Aaron looked in the direction that Bayen stormed off to.

“What is it, my friend?”

Aaron shook his head and turned back to Verona. “What if Bayen is right? We’re trying to fight this war with our integrity intact. Halcylon has no such issues.”

Verona pursed his lips together. “It’s because of our honor that people follow us. It’s why the Alenzar’seth were so revered throughout the lands.”

“I understand that, but still, Verona. What if Bayen is right? An army of Forsaken could fracture the alliance we’ve built with the Free Nations Army. Just when we’re coming together. According to Sarah, nations that haven’t been anything but enemies are actually on speaking terms in an attempt to work together. If this turns into a war for survival, I’m afraid it will drive us apart,” Aaron said.

“And we’ll be playing right into Halcylon’s hands,” Verona added.

“Exactly,” Aaron said.
 

A shadow raced across the grass toward the opposite side of the clearing, snatching their attention. Across from them, the sun reflected off the emerald hide of a Dragon. The Dragon was nowhere near the size of the Eldarin, but the raw power of its gaze was enough to steal the breath from the most stalwart of warriors.

A soft gasp escaped Aaron’s lips, and he felt a probing along his senses. His last encounter with Dragons had been during the battle with the High King. The Dragons had been drawn to the battle because of the Ryakul presence.

Aaron drew in the energy and leaped across the field toward the Dragon. He landed softly, using the particles in the air to slow his descent. A blast of air blew from the creature’s nose. Verona landed a few paces behind him, and the Dragon growled deep within its throat. Aaron held up his hands and bowed his head. Verona stayed where he was.

I would speak with the one marked by fate. We of the old world honor the sacred pact with Ferasdiam’s blessing.

Aaron heard the Dragon’s deep voice inside his head.
You honor me,
Aaron replied.

Battle is imminent; why have you not called upon the oaths sworn as part of the pact?
the Dragon asked.

I’m afraid that further battle will see the end of your kind,
Aaron said. Holding the energy, he felt the powerful emotions pouring off the Dragon. The very same reflected in the majestic creature’s wild eyes, which bored into him. Aaron dropped his chin to his chest, breaking eye contact.