The Descendants Book One: The Broken Scroll (35 page)

“That is smart.  I wouldn’t imagine you’d last long without us,” Egan said drily. 

“
I will not argue with that.”

Davin and Egan sparred heavily that night.  Egan had set up numerous scenarios for Davin to react to.  Several of them involved Davin using his fighting skills and Driocht magic in rapid succession.  Davin fought Egan with one arm while the other performed the magic.  Egan explained the way to use Driocht as a secondary attack and as a shield for defense.  Both Davin struggled with.  It wasn’t easy to do.  One had to divide their attention between the two while not losing focus on either end.  To lose this focus would mean death. 

“Your sword and each Driocht orb have their various strengths.  You must learn when to exploit them,” Egan told him as he tested Davin’s limits. 

Egan was pleased none the less.  He commended Davin for his efforts when they were done. 

By the time the fighting was done, Davin was sweaty and tired.  But he wanted to continue despite this.  In two days they would have to face something that might require all of his and Egan’s skills. 

As they walked back to camp, Egan questioned Davin.  “Are you still bothered by the other night?” 

Davin hadn’t been anywhere near that line of thought.  It took him a minute to remember what Egan was talking about.  “No, I haven’t thought about it since.  I’m not worrying about it.”

Egan
looked relieved. 

***

Egan continued to lead them farther up into the mountains over the next couple days.  Their pace was getting harder to keep now that the snow was getting deeper.  But Egan managed to keep everyone going smoothly until dusk.  They still had plenty of food reserves which helped with their motivation.  Finding the will to continue on was hard enough.  Davin thanked the Ancients that Kayleigh had packed well. 

Caves that looked very similar to the one that he and Egan had stayed in before loomed ahead.  Davin wasn’t sure how he felt about being here again.  It meant that the Chasm woul
d only be another day’s journey. 

“These look a little more hospitable than what we have been dealing with the last few nights,” Kayleigh spoke up.
 

“They are,” Egan confirmed.  “At least we will have one pleasant rest before facing what the High Passes hold.”

They closed in on the entrance of one the dark caves in front of them.  Egan had Davin light the fire orb for them to see inside.  This cave was even smaller than the last one Davin had stayed in, but it would still fit all four of them comfortably. 

After eating and warming by the fire for about an hour, Davin decided to head outside.  In the hour since they had arrived the temperature seemed to have dropped considerably further.  He pulled his multiple cloaks around him tighter.

He had barely sat down when a voice spoke to him, the voice of the Lord of Trial.

“Davin, come.” 

Davin watched as a smoky substance begin to move away from the cave in slow, controlled manner.  He obeyed and slowly climbed up the slope to meet the Lord of Trials.  The figure waited for him patiently to find the correct footing and finish his ascent.  It was a slow process.  And by the end Davin began to wonder why it was so important for him to be up there. 

Finally, Davin stood only a few feet from it.  He looked up at where the face would have been on a normal man. 

“Do you have the answer to your last test that I seek?” the Lord of Trials asked. 

Davin’s heart sank.  He hadn’
t really thought about it in a while.  Other things had transpired since then that were consuming him. 

“What is it that you want me to say?” Davin asked, a little frustrated at the lack of direction. 

“Has your answer changed since you were last tested?”

“No,” Davin said firmly, hoping that he would earn favor with the figure for holding strong to his words and being honest.

There was an awkward, long silence just as there had been last time it had doled out his judgment. 

“F
ail.  If you do not find the answer during our next meeting, you will be stripped of your abilities.  I will test you again in three days.”  Davin could hardly see him, but he still felt the presence of the Lord of Trial there. 

Why is this happening
!?” Davin cried.  “I don’t understand.  Why-,”

Out of the darkness came the voice, “You do not have the attributes that are wo
rthy of your ancestors.”   

A fury came over Davin that he hadn’t felt in a
while.  “What of the Corrupt Ones?  Are you saying that they were worthy?  They turned against their own race!” 

The shadow was still for a long moment.  “No man, Ancient or otherwise, is born with evil in their hearts…three days.”  And with that he disappeared in a wisp of smoke, the same as his arrival. 

Davin’s mouth dropped open. That couldn’t be possible.  “No!” he yelled out.  “You can’t do this!” 

He climbed back down the slope as fast as he could and ran back to the cave.  His mind was racing.  This couldn’t be happening now of all times.  All of his training would be for nothing if his
abilities were taken from him.  Reaching into his travel pack, he pulled out the Fire orb.  It shimmered lightly in the moonlight.  He attempted to work the Driocht magic.  Nothing happened.  He tried again, but still nothing.  He couldn’t concentrate no matter what he did.  In his frustration, he threw the orb in the direction of the slope he’d just come down.  He knew he have to go chase it down later, but for now he didn’t care.  This was outrageous. 

And what had that last past meant?
He didn’t want to think about it right now. 

Just then, in the distance he saw a figure moving away from their cave at quite a clip.  He couldn’t make out who it was in the darkness, but it wasn’t as tall as Egan and didn’t have long hair so had to have been Teague.  What was he doing running away like that? 

Davin trotted after him, trying to keep quiet so Teague wouldn’t hear him.  Teague continued back the direction they’d traversed earlier that day, his pace only hastening more. 

Davin made note of where he was at short intervals so he could find his way back.  He wasn’t in the mood to chase the boy halfway across the mountains. 

Teague stood for a moment, looking like he was trying to catch his breath.  Davin waited for something else to happen.  When nothing else did, he inched closer.  His rustling must have spooked Teague.  A sword was drawn.  Its crisp silver sheen reflected the moonlight brightly on the spot where he stood.  Davin could make out the blue hilt and recognized the sword as Egan’s.  Davin had seen enough.  It was time for Teague to explain. 

Teague was facing the other way when Davin came close enough to speak without yelling.  “Where are you going?” Davin asked, irritably.  

Teague shivered.  He obviously had not been prepared to encounter anyone.  Davin stared at him with a look of hatred.  He didn’t hate the boy, but he also wasn’t fond of him right now. 
Teague chose the wrong night to get on my bad side. 

Teague raised his finger, shakily, looking as if he was mustering the courage to stand up to Davin.  “You-you can’t make me go back.  I don’t want to face them.”

“Face who,” Davin asked, and then it dawned on him, “those spirits in the mountains?”

“Y-yes, and my father,” he sputtered.  The King hadn’t even been on Davin’s mind. 

“Teague, you don’t have a choice.  You have to face him eventually.  He has gone mad.  You understand what must happen.” 

“I don’t have to go,” Teague shot back, gaining more confidence now.  “You and Egan have powers that will make him cower.  He will be helpless against you.”

Davin turned away, his temper flaring like a great fanged boar.  He felt like punching Teague in the face again, but refrained.  “You tried running before and it didn’t do you much good.  With us you at least have a purpose and protection.  Where will you go?”

Teague shrugged, obviously not expecting that question.  “Across the sea, to Isolanan, Montagone, or Vieliseen, where I won’t have to face these things.” 

“Your father will not stop with this kingdom.  If he gains the power of my people, nowhere in the world will be safe, you know this.”  Davin paused.  “But if you decide to still run, you will probably die, and never deserve the title you were born to.”

“
I never said I deserved it,” Teague said, with unexpected anger. 

“But you could change that, if you stay with us.” 
 

As Davin watched, Teague’s face became filled with a terrible sadness.  There was a fear and a shame that suddenly swallowed him whole.  His mouth opened several times but no words came out.  Dropped the sword, he sat down, placing his face in his hands and trembling. 

“You do what you want.  I’ll be sure to inform the others of your cowardice if you don’t come back.  Egan’s sword stays though.”  He scooped out the sword and twirled it around in his hands for a few moments, thinking.  Fighting against his anger he also said, “You may have my bow and quiver if you actually decide to run away.” 

Davin took the bow out of his pack and the quiver off his back.  He watched Teague as he placed it on the ground next to him.  Teague did not move once.  There was no more he could do.  It was up to Teague now. 

Ten minutes later he had reached the cave again.  He was still in a bad mood, but the walk had calmed his fury.  Entering the cave, he saw Egan lying by the fire.  He was sipping out of a canteen and lost in a small book entitled
The Great Wonders of the Known World: From Bottomless Pits to Deadly Swamp Mazes
.  Kayleigh was resting.  She opened them as Davin approached.  Egan put down the book and stared at Davin. 

“I refuse to believe it,” Davin fumbled ou
t.  “The Lord of Trials said he would take my powers.”

Kayleigh gasped and covered her mouth with her hand.  Egan sat up straight, looking grim. 

“Do not fret too much.  This will not be permanent, but the sooner you pass this trial the better off we’ll be.  When did he say you would be tested next?”  Egan remained calm despite the gravity of the issue.

“Three days,” Davin said quickly.

“We will most likely face the Auki before that.  I suggest that, in the meantime, you find the answer it wants.  Your delay is only going to make our task harder.”

Davin wanted to scream out that he wasn’t purposefully trying to sabotage their plans.  He hadn’t asked for anyone to test him. 

“How am I supposed to know what it wants?  It’s too vague.  Will you help me?” Davin pleaded. 

For a moment it looked as if Egan was going to give.  “The Lord of Trial would know that you had help.  You still have to discover this on your own.”  Egan turned back to his book, concluding the conversation. 

He stomped out of the cave, not really mad at Egan, but mad at the situation he’d been placed in. 
Our group’s survival could be resting on me passing this test.

He hadn’t even realized he’d drifted off to sleep until he awoke suddenly by a hand on his shoulder.  Kayleigh peered down at him.  He could make out her soft, piercing eyes and long wavy hair even in the dark.  It seemed only a short time had passed, but his hands and feet were numb. 

“I didn’t mean to wake you.  Were you planning on sleeping out here tonight?” she asked skeptically. 

“I wasn’t going to, no,” Davin answered, his heart speeding up.  She looked like she had more to say.  He waited for her, feeling still grumpy and impatient from earlier. 

“I admit, I somewhat enjoy this place.” 

Davin til
ted his head and smirked at her.  “Can’t say I exactly feel the same.  Especially knowing what may be ahead.” 

She put her hand up in defense.  “Trust me, I’m scared too.  But it kind of makes you feel alive, doesn’t it?  Being out here in the wilderness, doing this dangerous task.” 

“You find this exciting?”

“
Why not?  It’s definitely better than just sitting in my father’s house reading all the time.”

Davin laughed despite his poor mood.  “You are a strange girl.”

She grew silent, her face appearing at once distraught and pained.  But it disappeared quickly enough that was hard to tell if it had really happened.  She gave him a great big grin in its place. 

He decided to change the subject.
“I caught Teague running away.” 

She stopped in her tracks and faced Davin again, nodding slightly.  “So that is where he went,” she whispered to herself.  “He came back, but didn’t say anything about it.” 

“Can’t say I haven’t wanted to leave myself,” Davin said wryly.  She glared at him with a look that felt awkwardly long to Davin.  Her dress shifted in a sudden breeze, showing Davin more of her legs than he ever seen.  He blushed, but she didn’t seem to notice. 

“Everyone has to find their own motivation to do what they need to, especially,” she said as she left.   

Davin couldn’t believe how true that was.  He may have selfish reasons to keep on this dangerous journey, but at least he was here.  And selfish reasons or not, he was helping the people of the kingdom just the same.  Wasn’t he?  If they managed to take Deverell’s life would it not be a benefit to this land, regardless if the O’Hara continued searching for the scroll?