The Descendants Book One: The Broken Scroll (41 page)

She grunted and rolled her eyes.  “It’s about time.” 

The next two hours they spent exchanging blows, starting slower and then gradually speeding up.  What Kayleigh lacked in physical strength, she made up for in spirit and her sharp memory.  Davin was beyond impressed with the way she could make a mistake, take note of it, and then never let it rise again.  He still landed some sharp blows that left her bruised and lightly cut, but, on the whole, she didn’t allow him too many opportunities. 

For the first couple of rounds, when striking her accidentally, he made the mistake of rushing over to see if she was fine.  This foolish move was how he had received his share of cuts and bruises.  She did not take too kindly to him coddling her, and he quickly learned not to do so. 

When it had become late into the night, she finally stopped him.  “I am too tired to carry on more tonight,” she said.  She panted heavily as she bent over and put her hands on her knees. 

Davin noticed he too was panting, but not as severely.  And he certainly wasn’t exhausted.  He thanked his ancestors for that.  “I am impressed with how much you have learned in these few nights.  I honestly didn’t expect the lessons to go this smoothly.”

She shrugged.  “What can I say?  I am gifted, I suppose.”

“I see you’re the kind of person that doesn’t let success make you arrogant.” 

***

The next day the travelers left the foothills behind.  It was no secret that they welcomed the departure.  They proceeded into the yellow grasslands and flat expanse in front of them.  The few rolling knolls that were interspersed in the tall grass of the landscape hardly warranted mentioning, though the change from mountain scenery that Davin was so used to never ceased to be refreshing. 

Early in the day, Egan fell back beside Davin.  Davin knew he had something important to say otherwise he wouldn’t have bothered him.

“Swift River should be directly to our east from this point,” Egan told Davin.

Davin noticed that Egan didn’t seem nearly as excited as he was to be meeting up with Niahm.  He pushed the thought aside, though, because Egan knew this was what needed to happen, even if it meant a fight they couldn’t win. 

“As soon as we can reach a town to sell us provisions and a pooka to ease the journey, we should.  Our minds and bodies ought to be fit for whatever duties may be required when we get to Swift River.”

Egan nodded, agreeing with Davin.  “And we should keep our ears open for information about the army and O’Hara’s plans.  It would allow us to avoid their attention as much as possible, which will be necessary if
we are to infiltrate Talamaraon City.” 

“Thank you, Egan,” Davin said, “for coming with me.  I honest
ly did not think myself a good enough a fighter, with Driocht or otherwise, to succeed on my own.” 

Egan put his hand on Davin’s
shoulder and squeezed.  “I would not have agreed if it weren’t for your conviction and heart.  They have much changed since I met you.  You truly believe we can succeed, and that is where I falter.” 

“Why didn’t you tell me you had doubts before?”

“You know as well as I, my doubts were last thing you needed to hear.” 

Davin nodded.  “True.” 

Davin felt no need to speak anymore on the matter.  They both understood one another completely. 

“I haven’t quite gained my bearings since we left the mountains.  Where is the nearest village?” Davin asked, changing the subject. 

Without looking around Egan said, “We should be coming up on a small plains village called Habok.  It is a two day’s ride west to Cruud and a three or so day’s ride east to Swift River.”

Davin looked at him curiously.  Egan seemed to be straining his ears to hear something.  Davin did the same.  After a moment he heard it too.  There was clanking of metal on metal and it reverberated over the plains. 

“I think I hear something in the distance.  What is it?” Kayleigh asked, looking around her in confusion. 

“It is the army…at least some of it,” Teague interjected.  “I recognize their sound from leagues away; it is has to be at least two full regimens on the march.” 

“We cannot take that many men on our own, even with our powers,” Egan told them all, but kept his eyes fixed on Davin.  “We must stay out of sight.” 

Without another word Egan took off in the direction of the clamoring.  He sprinted up a large knoll and reached the top, obviously wanting a good look at the regimen
t of soldiers. 

Davin didn’t waste another second.  He shot a quick glance at Teague and Kayleigh and took off as well.  He could hear their hurried footsteps behind him, trying to keep up. 

When he reached the top the sight overwhelmed him at first.  He stretched out with his vision to get a clearer picture.  A couple hundred men lay in front of him, which meant more than one regimen.  Their silver and midnight blue armor gleamed in the late morning sunlight.  They marched in perfect unison and headed due south.  Davin was just able to make out the copy of the scroll hanging at each one’s side.
 

“Where do you think they march to?” Teague said.  Davin eyed him, already knowing the truth. 

Kayleigh was the one to answer.  “Is it not obvious?  They must be heading in the mountains.  They’re after the scroll piece we just claimed.”

“What do you bet they have been given our power as well?  If they don’t go mad first, they will die in the High Passes,” Davin said, heavily. 

Egan shook his head, disagreeing.  “O’Hara wouldn’t risk that number of men on something with where they all might die, would he?”  Davin figured this actually made more sense so he didn’t argue the point. 

Kayleigh spoke up, though, “I’m not so sure about that.  They don’t seem too co
ncerned with who they send to their death.” 

The four of them watched soldiers march for several minutes.  During that time one of the soldiers in the second regimen fell out of step in his march.  He stumbled along for a few feet, trying not to collapse to the ground.  A
Dous
Captain caught this happening and pulled the Lowman out of the ranks.  As if knowing what was coming, the soldier dropped to his knees in front of the
Dous
Captain.  Another soldier was summoned, this one of a middle rank of First Tenant.  There was a short conversation.  The First Tenant pulled forth his bow, knocked an arrow and fired at the Lowman’s chest from only feet away.  The soldier dropped dead as the arrow pierced his heart. 

“That’s Deverell’s doing, that is,” said Egan.  “I won’t watch this anymore.” 

He began walk away.  Seeing that the others weren’t following, he called to them.  “Come; let’s leave these fools to their doom.  If it is the High Passes they wander into, the Auki will not rest until they are all dead.” 

Davin had trouble tearing his eyes away.  How was he ever going to storm into the King’s chamber, confront Deverell and survive?  Those soldiers were only a small percentage of the numbers O’Hara had at his disposal.  And what they had just seen was a good example of Deverell being willing to do whatever it took to keep the fear alive and people in line.  Davin only hoped that t
hey could sneak into the capital city without being detected.  If it came down to a battle, he and his fighters would be obliterated.  This thought scared him. 

Finally tearing himself away from marching soldiers, he turned and joined the others again. 
I am no different from those men.  I knowingly head to face my death as well.  But like these men I do what I must, what is required of me.
 
The soldiers do what they do because O’Hara and Deverell command it.  It is their duty; just as using my gifts to stop those men have become mine.

It was only a matter of time.  He could convince the others to change their plans and face O’Hara and Deverell at a later time, but it would only be delaying the inevitable.  No.  His mind was made up.  He would carry out his plan or die trying. 

***

Late that night the village of Habok came into view.  In the dark they could only make out the lights and the silhouettes of the buildings.  From a distance the lights resembled a small group of fireflies, frozen in mid-flight.  There didn’t seem to be much to the village.  Davin counted about a two dozen small homes encircling a handful of larger buildings situated close together.  The town seemed only a hair bigger than Cruud, but smaller towns were all that made up the Golden Plains so this didn’t surprise them.   

As they drew closer to the village, Davin could make out loud voices from the village yelling into the night.  Through the darkness, black outlines of people could be seen running back and forth between buildings.  Their shouts were unintelligible but it was clear that something wasn’t right.  And then Davin saw what everyone seemed to be trying to keep away from.    Every now and then other moving outlines crept between the buildings.  These bodies were fast and frantic, switching directions on a whim.  The movement was erratic but there was also a sort of stagger to their step, as if they were sick and this sickness impaired their movements. 

Davin looked at Egan and the others.  All of four of their expressions were uneasy.  This did not seem normal by any means. 

Davin stretched out with his hearing and thought he heard the clashing of weapons and the sickening rip of limbs.

Silhouettes of people fighting the sickly folk off became clearer the closer they came to the scene. 

Egan tensed and pulled his silver sword from its scabbard at his belt.  Davin followed Egan’s lead with the weapon he had taken from the soldier at Liam’s home.  It had served him well enough up until this point, but it would not last, not if he eventually had to fight a long battle.   

“Stay farther behind us, you two,” Egan said to Teague and Kayleigh.  “At least until we know what is going on.” 

“I can fight if need be,” said Teague, affronted.  “I have been trained by the very army we stand against.” 

“I will not stand back either,” Kayleigh interjected.  “This does not look like something the Grand Army has a hand in.  It seems to
be a town dispute.”

Egan did not say anything for a few minutes.  All the while the village grew nearer to t
hem as they walked. 

Davin started to ask if Egan was going to respond to her when Egan said, “Have it your way, my lady.  But still I ask you not to wander away from us.”

She put her hands on her hips.  “Do you not know me at all by now?  These things don’t scare me, so just as a general rule, remember to put any preconceived notions about woman you have aside when speaking to me.” 

“I’m sorry.  I forgot who I was talking to.  It won’t happen again,” said Egan, raising his hands in surrender. 

The four of them walked cautiously past the first couple of homes.  Immediately they were rushed by scared villagers.  Several men and women pulled up in front of them, their eyes quickly falling to Davin and Egan’s swords.  This seemed to give them hope that Davin and Egan could help them, because they began to plead desperately.  Davin tried to back away awkwardly while Egan tried to calm them. 

As Egan began to raise his voice in attempt to quiet them, another voice, deep and resonating, rose above group.  “Leave the strangers be, friends.  They are not here to solve our problems.”

Slowly, the group dissipated from around Davin and Egan, allowing them to see who the speaker was.  He was a tall man with well-made clothes and broad shoulders.  Manliness seemed to radiate off his body.  His golden hair was straight and fell just passed his soldiers.  He looked young, but his calm, secure attitude and scarred skin said that he had experienced much.  He smiled at the four of them faintly. 

“I apologize for my abruptness but we have a situation.  Allow me to be quick.  My name is Druce and I am the leader of this village. Unofficially, I am the governor, considering the real one chose banishment.  I see you carry weapons. 
Can you fight?” 

But he didn’t have to wait for an answer because suddenly a large group of
the mad soldiers bombarded the impromptu meeting. 

Several of the group of people standing there with Druce scattered away. 

The rest spun around to face the possessed soldiers.  Their uniforms were tattered and ripped, hair disheveled, faces pale and lifeless, and large scars covered their bodies.  It looked like they had scratched at themselves fiercely.  And their eyes were severely blood-shot and wild.  They staggered with a familiarity of someone who had swallowed too much mead in one sitting.

“Back, you monsters,” said Druce, pulling a large bow up over his head and fitting it with an arrow.  He pointed it in the direction of the men and fired.  One of them fell. 

Egan raised his sword as several converged on him.  Davin rushed forward to Egan’s aid as two of the soldiers reached him.  With a couple of rapid swipes across their chests, the soldiers were dead before they realized what was happening.  Egan handily disarmed another by cutting off his sword hand and then impaled him in the gut.  Druce and his comrade fired two more arrows at the soldiers.  The arrows pierced their skulls and they too fell. 

Driocht wasn’t even necessary.  These unnatural soldiers had lost some of their fighting skills.  In the matter of a minute, only one remained present.