The Descendants Book One: The Broken Scroll (40 page)

“I will go to Swift River alone,” Davin said, with a note of finality in his tone. 

The others looked at him.  He held strong as their gazes bore into him.  Looking at all of them in turn, he realized they were waiting for him to continue.  His eyes finally stopped on Egan.  “It is not out of defiance and anger I choose this.  I must go.  It was a promise I made and I will keep it, whether you like
it or not.  I know that doing this is the right thing.” 

Egan did not argue, only nodded and said, “What of the scroll?  Will you abandon me to complete it on my own?”

Davin shook his head.  “No.  I will find you again when my own task is complete.”

“And what if she is alone in Swift River?” Egan asked.

“She won’t be.”  Somehow, he knew this truth.  He
believed
it. 

Egan didn’t speak for a long moment.
No one else said anything either, and the air remained heavy during the silence. 

“Very well, Davin, I will come with you.  I sense that this certainty in you is well founded.  Let’s just hope that Niahm hasn’t been waiting too long.”  Egan smiled
. 

Didn’t expect that one. 

Completing the scroll was important to him too.  He wanted to find out if he had other family out there.  And he wanted to beat O’Hara to them. 

But Roland had waited long enough…this kingdom had waited long enough. 

He wanted it to be done with it. 

Egan laid his head back against the stone again and closed his eyes.  Davin looked at the other the two.  Teague was staring off at the cave exit and Kayleigh was staring right at him.  He turned away as quickly as he noticed, his face growing hot.  There was the admiration in her
gaze.  That much he could tell. 

I wish she would stop looking at me like that. 

Feeling foolish, he looked back and smiled at her, trying to act causal.  She nodded at him slowly.
Davin felt himself blushing as his insides melted.  He forced himself to become distracted by thoughts of home.

Chapter 23 The Madness Spreads

Whe
n they settled in a night later underneath one of the great black oaks, Davin still wasn’t sure how he was going to go about his teaching.  He looked over at Kayleigh to try and get inspired.  It didn’t work.  Nothing came to him. 

I don’t want to look like a fumbling idiot in front of her. 

The later it became, the more restless Davin was.  There was still no sign of the Lord of Trial either.  It had been five days since their last meeting. 

As he started to walk away Egan said, “Where are you going?”

“To practice.”

Before Egan could respond he was out of sight, beyond the ring of firelight that pierced the darkness.  It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the faint light of the moon.  When it had, he continued away from the campsite.  After he was a far enough distance away not to be heard, he stopped.  Pulling out his sword, he began swinging it in one of several different forms Egan had taught him.  He favored its quick, short strokes, ranging from all directions.  It only required a one handed grip so one didn’t lose the speed advantage.  It was what he had used against the soldiers in Liam’s home.  It had served him well, so he vowed to remember it above all the others. 

He had just placed his sword back in its scabbard when he heard the familiar grave voice on the air.  “Do you have the answer I seek?” it said. 

Davin grew excited.  “Yes, Lord of Trials.  I have an answer that will be fit for you.”

“Good,” it said, and the shadow began to materialize into the smoky human form Davin had seen before. 

Once it had finished, the deep, male voice spoke again, “Then tell me, Son of Old, what path
do you choose?  Will you seek the greater path of your ancestors?”

Davin told him about the revelation he had experienced with the Lady of the Lake.  He explained his stance up to the point of his understanding.  Not wanting to go another night failing his test, he kept talking until every relevant thought in his mind over the past weeks was revealed.  After he was done his throat was raw and his heart pounding. 

There was a short pause.  “You have grown much in a short time.  You have passed the tests laid out by your ancestors and therefore will shall keep the Ancients power.  I will test you no more.  Let it be known that cleverer minds than your own have gone mad under these examinations.  You have done well to pass so quickly.”

“I have been instructed of this, Lord of Trials,” Davin said, confidently. 

“Then you know of the beginnings of our fallen brethren,” it replied.  “Never must you look to their ways for strength, lest you fall prey to it.  They must never gain power again.”

Davin stared at the smoky shadow, unsure of what it meant.

“How could they gain power, aren’t the Corrupt One’s long dead, sealed away for all time?” 

“Banishment and death are two different things.”

Davin tilted his head.  “Do you know something we don’t about them?”

The Lord of Trials began to fade into nothingness.  “I only know that which my purpose is.  Do not fall to their ways.  Farewell, Davin.” 

“I would never”- he started to say, but the shadow had vanished before he could finish the sentence.  Did he actually think Davin would fall to the Forbidden Forms and then lead a new army of Corrupt Ones?  That was ridiculous.  He didn’t even know what the Forbidden Forms were.  And neither did Egan, he’d wager.  Even more so, if any did know that mysterious magic, there was not a high likeliness that there were enough Descendants still alive to form an army. 

The other worries drifted from his mind.  Another matter was at hand.  Excitedly, he pulled the new brownish-tinged Driocht orb out of his supply pack.  It glowed brightly as it touched his hand.  Unable to restrain himself any longer, he reached for the dark matter within the orb and gathered its power within himself.  Deciding to let the orb do whatever it felt, he kept his mind clear. 

Thrusting his hand outward in a rapid movement, he called upon the earth.  Nothing happened at first.  But then a small patch of ground began to shake in front of him, as if he had ignited a miniature earthquake where he stood.  Struggling to keep his balance, he kept the magic going.  In the same place where the ground had been trembling, tiny cracks emerged.  They grew up with such speed that it looked as if the earth was going to cave in.  Worrying, he formed a command in his head.  In another second, he raised his hand upward and the ground obeyed. 

A column of dirt and grass began to rumble up into the air.  Davin jumped back in surprised.  The column stopped ten feet up as he felt the extent of his power reached.  The ground around the three foot diameter column clumped itself in a circle, noticeably disturbed from the rising mass.  Davin walked cautiously over to it, placing his hand on his work.  It was solid and unmovable. 

“Incredible,” he said under his breath. 

It had only taken a matter of seconds, but it had been louder than he’d expected.  The others were sure to have heard it and Egan was sure to rail him for making such noise.  There might be spies about.  It didn’t matter, though.  He didn’t care.  A grin crossed his
face he was unable to contain.  The passing of his final test and his impressive manipulation of the earth had put in him an excellent mood. 

Davin trudged back through the falling snow to the campsite.  Egan would be most pleased with him. 

Returning within range of the orange and yellow firelight, he opened his pack and pulled some mountain berries out of it.  Looking around, he saw Egan was lost inside the book he had been reading several nights ago.  Kayleigh and Teague and fallen asleep.  Davin didn’t blame them, Egan had run them hard.  And without the endurance of the Ancients, they were likely to be exhausted. 

“Well?” said Egan, not even glancing up at Davin.  This lack of concern was puzzling. 

“Nothing to worry about.  I have to admit.  I am relieved.”

Egan nodded, smiling slightly, but kept his face planted in his book. 

“I would expect you to be…I am too,” he said, tonelessly. 

“Thank you,” Davin replied, not sure what was happening.  Why was he acting so nonchalant?  He considered letting it go for the night, but it didn’t make sense.  Egan was so disappointed when he had failed before.  Why did he not care now?

Letting his curiosity overtake him he said, “Why are you acting this way, Egan?  Weren’t you worried at all if I would prevail?” 

To Davin’s surprise, Egan glanced up at Davin as if seeing him for the first time since he returned that night.  Then the look of surprise faded and he spoke with more emphasis this time. 

“Yes, of course I am Davin.  Well done.”  He paused and started on a new topic, seeming more like himself.  “We have more likeliness of succeeding in our tasks now that you have nothing else to be distracted by.  I want you to train Kayleigh in sword play for several hours every night until we reach Swift River.  When that time comes, I will take her as my student.  Will you do this?”

“I will,” said Davin, still wondering about Egan’s previous attitude toward him.  He let it go as he resumed his eating and Egan returned to his book.  He would not let anything ruin the pleas
ant mood he was in. 

If he wants me not to be distracted, he chose the wrong task for me. 

***

Every night Davin and Kayleigh retreated away from the campsite for the training sessions.  During the days, while they traveled, Teague was asked to g
ive them a detailed layout of Talamaraon City.  He spent hours telling them about the various districts, the soldiers’ patrol zones, and the amount of traffic on the streets.  It was amazing how well he could describe the city, just from his memory. When Teague’s descriptions finally made it to the castle in which he lived, another level of detail was added.  He told them he could have drawn them a map, had they had parchment and ink.

Davin’s brain ached each night from the information he was made to process.  He had tried to keep all of what Teague had told them straight and what he was teaching Kayleigh.  Even for an Ancient
, it was tough. 

Once he started the lesson
s with Kayleigh, his initial anxiety ebbed away and he was lost in his instruction.  She was accepting of anything he told her, even when he fumbled over what to do or say next. 

They had spent several hours a night on the basic strikes and blocks, as well as a few helpful phrases to keep in mind in swordplay.  Kayleigh was beginning to express her boredom.  She memorized each new subject quickly, claiming that an aspiring Scholar had to have an excellent memory.  She had mastered the theory and was already a sharp student at the basics.  Davin was hesitant to move forward to more advanced lessons, though, for fear of hurting her. 

“There is no way you can possibly be serious about this,” Davin blurted out before his brain could stop him.  “You’re not ready to spar with me.”

She looked at him, unblinking.  “Isn’t it only up to me to decide if I can handle it, Davin?”  Her voice was firm but not angry. 

Davin faltered.  “I suppose so, but I don’t understand how you will know what to do when.  You have not even finished learning the basics.  I would destroy you.”  Amused, she raised her eyebrows.  “I mean,” he amended, “if we were fighting for real I would destroy you…” his voice trailed off.  Scratching his neck awkwardly, he turned away. 

Kayleigh raised her sword and got into one of the starting positions Davin had taugh
t her.  “Try me.” 

Davin stared at her for a minute, then shook his head and stifled a laugh.  But it was a serious matter.  And he had to quickly bring himself back to reality. 

“I can’t fight you like this,” he said. 

She sighed deeply.  “You can control your skills and strength, can you not?”  Davin nodded, feeling sheepish under her scrutiny.  “Then do that.  We don’t have time to focus on the details.  I will learn fastest by trial and error and real fighting.  Do not worry if I am harmed.  I will be aware that you did not intend to hurt me and none of my wounds will be bad enough to have permanent damage.”

You can’t know that, woman. 

She was more confident than he was about causing her only minimal harm.  And he didn’t want to cause her any harm at all.  But she was right; they had to move things forward quickly. 

“Alright, I will do it,” he said, finally.

She readied herself for the fight
.  “I am a stronger woman than you think, Davin.  But,” she paused, “I can appreciate you looking out for my safety.  It…it is very sweet.”  Davin could feel his cheeks going bright red.  She saved him the trouble of responding by taking a swing at him.  “So stop it.” 

“Y-yes,” he answered, completely taken aback by her change in attitude.  It took him a minute to recover.  “I will make sure I don’t worry about hurting you then.”