The Descendants Book One: The Broken Scroll (48 page)

When they arrived at the inn, Niahm spoke.  “Sleep restful, my friends.”

As she turned to leave Davin said, “Where are you staying?” 

“Most of our people took up residence with willing citizens here in Swift River.  We did not want to draw attention to ourselves by flooding the inns, in case the army came through.”

Davin bid her good night and then joined the others retreating to an inn.  The rooms were small, with one short bed and a large open window that looked out across a small square.  There was also a lone wooden chair and desk to the far corner of the room. 

As he began to rummage through his packs, he realized that he wasn’t tired.  It was frustrating to feel exhausted from lack of sleep during the day, but unable to sleep at night.  He hoped this wasn’t going to be a continuing trend, and finally resolved himself to believe it was only because of the events of late. 

Time ticked by slowly.  It caused him to fall into a sort of trance-like state as he sat in the wooden chair and stared out the window into the night.  Somewhere between sleeping and waking, he found himself thinking he had imagined a soft knock on the door.  But when it continued, he forced his body out the stupor and went to answer it.  Niahm stood on the other side. 

“I hope did not disturb a welcome sleep for you,” she said in a voice just above a whisper. 

“No, it’s fine,” Davin said.  “What’s wrong?” She stepped through the threshold and crossed to the window, holding something in her hand.  Davin recognized them to be two small strips of parchment. 

“I didn’t mean to come in the middle of the night like this, but I may not get another chance to show you,” she said.  “I couldn’t handle you not knowing about this,” she pointed at the parchment in her hand, “if something happens to either of us at Talamaraon City.” 

“Don’t speak like that,” Davin said, involuntarily.  He didn’t want to think about that idea.  “What is that?”  He nodded at the items in her hands. 

She cleared her throat and gestured for him to sit in the chair.  He did.  She took a seat on the edge of the bed. 

“I told you how the army burned Lemirre after you left, and how they found your home and burned it too.”  Davin nodded.  “When I returned to Lemirre to give everyone your message, I also returned to the ashes of your house to see if I could retrieve anything useful.  Instead, I found something I did not expect.” 

She handed them to Davin.  The first was a letter written from a mother to her son.  He scanned it to see who it was addressed to.  He looked quickly back up at Niahm. 

“It’s from my mother,” he said, his breath catching in his throat.  She nodded and he read it to himself. 

To my dearest son,

I fear that my time with you is drawing short.  I may be gone before long.  I cannot explain.  It is merely a feeling.  I am leaving you this letter in case something does happen to me.  I want you to know that I will always love you. 

It saddens me that you never knew your father.  He was a good man that would have loved you as I did, had he seen you born.  I always regretted never speaking of him.  When the earthquake that killed many of our kin occurred, he was one that sacrificed his own life to save others.  He will be honored in death.

The earthquake I speak of scattered those of us that survived it.  Leaving the Driocht-created sanctuary sent us back out into the world at different locations. This was part of its magic.  I knew the legend of an ancient scroll of our ancestors that could bring the Descendants back together and decided to search for it based on the knowledge I had.  The quest led me to reuniting with another Descendant lost from our sanctuary on the shores of this la
nd.  A Scholar of Ancient Lore took me and the other Descendant in.  He befriended us, but I never spoke to them about the scroll.   

I will not go in
to the circumstances of how and why I left them except to say that I began to grow wary of their intentions for helping me.  The event that had scattered our people left me shaken.  Some evil was stirring in the world and I didn’t know who I could trust.  So I set out on my own, to find the rest of the scroll. 

Being that I was with child when I left, I first decided to find a safe place to raise you.  That place was Lemirre.  Shortly after your birth I departed to search for the scroll.  You were left in the care of Roland and Niahm, two people whom I trusted dearly and owe much.  However, when I returned I spoke not even to them of the reason for my journey. 

The gift that is with this letter will be an asset to you when you are older.  It is a piece of the ancient scroll I spent many years looking for, and finally recovered.  I managed to retrieve it from beneath the sandy dunes of the north of Talamaraon, hidden by our ancestors’ power in a secret place.  I feel that you will need all the help you can find soon, if my fears about our current danger are true.  The complete scroll will be a guide to others like you.  If this evil I feel comes in your lifetime you must make a stand when the time calls for it.  We may yet see you again, in a world better than before.  You must succeed, and I know you will.  Our hearts are with you. 

Lilia

Tears had filled Davin eyes.  He wiped them away quickly, but new ones replaced the ones that had just gone.  For that short moment, his mother felt alive and next to him again.  All of his memories of his mother rushed at him like a tidal wave.  He let the emotion wash over him and embraced it, since he couldn’t seem to force it away. 

He pushed the other revelation about his mother, Egan, and Liam aside for the moment.  He wanted to savor his mother’s words while he could. 

A trickle of hope flared in his chest.  “She could still be alive,” he said, more to himself than to Niahm.  She mistook it for conversation. 

“I know,” she said, solemnly.  “Do you understand what that letter means?  There is much said that escapes me.”

Davin nodded.  This letter meant many things, not the least of which was information about his father.  What had she never told Davin about his father?  And why did she keep the scroll secret from him if it had been so important?  At least he knew why she wanted him to stay in Lemirre. 

“Yes, and I will tell you…in a minute.” 

As the emotions began to leave him at last, he remembered the other parchment. Certain of what he would see, he unfolded the other parchment hastily.  It was what he had figured from the letter, a missing piece of the Driocht scroll.  That left only one remaining to be found. 

Davin sat up straight, forced his body fully awake, and then faced Niahm.  . 

Chapter 27 The March Begins

Davin awoke Egan first, just as the first rays of sunlight began to penetrate the sky.  He showed his fellow Descendant the letter. 

Egan remain emotionless as he read it.  But when he was done he handed it back to Davin and said with excitement.  “This is excellent, Davin.  It really is. Your mother has saved us much trouble.” 

“I know.  And she was with Liam and you.  That pregnant woman who worked with both of you was my mother.  You knew her.”

“But my memory of that time is bad, remember?  I have a vague idea of her, but that is all.  And we know I’m not your father either, which is a bit of a relief.”

Davin felt that it was too.  It would have been an awkward reunion, considering how long they’d known each other as companions at this point.  But his mother had explained that mystery too.  His father wasn’t the man standing in front of him.  He had died trying to make sure others survived, possibly even Egan.  Davin was happy to know him only in that way. 

“At least I know more about their lives.  And we both know what happened after she left you and Liam.  I feel more closure than I could have hoped for.  I am picking up where she left off.  In a strange way, it makes me feel as if she’s still here.  Is that ridiculous?”

“No.” 

***

The others soon roused.  Druce and Aiden needed to hear a quick version of what the Driocht scroll was, so Egan relayed it as they packed.

The town buzzed with activity as people readied to leave.  Men saddled and packed their horses and pookas with weapons and food and tents.  The blacksmiths had worked through the night in preparation for an earlier departure.  Wives and young children helped their fathers and older siblings, including female siblings, load their animals. 

Within the hour, most were outside the city gates.  Davin watched as Niahm and Governor Seamus exited the gate, riding out with several other people.  The group that had begun to assemble was conversing timidly.  Niahm and the governor broke off from the crowd when they spotted Davin and his friends. 

He wasted no breath on formalities.  “I’ve been told of this scroll by Niahm.  O’Hara has one of the four pieces, you say?” he said to everyone.

“Yes,” Egan replied, “and we have two now, thanks to Davin’s mother.”  The governor stared at Davin for a short time.  Davin knew what he was thinking.  He wanted to see the proof. 

“Here,” said Davin, reaching into a pack and pulling out the letter.  “Read it.”  He handed it and the two scroll pieces to Governor Seamus. 

Druce filled in the silence while the letter was being read, looking toward the northwest.  “The army has been combing that desert for some time now, even since we were in the service.  I always wondered why our missions tended to take us there more often than not.  I know now.”

“They were there the night I was captured as well.  It did seem odd that such a large force was wandering the emptiness of the desert,” said Egan, musing on the topic as well.  

“That explains why they never found it.  My mother found it first,” Davin replied, a hint of pride in his voice. 

“So then the only one that remains to be found is somewhere in one of the other kingdoms, if the transcripts are correct,” said Kayleigh.  “We have no more idea where to look than the king does.  Do you think it could be in Isolanan?  All of the other pieces were hidden here and that land is the closest to ours.”

“That would make the most sense, but it is impossible to tell,” Egan said, frowning.  “It could be anywhere.” 

Druce interjected.  “There should be no need to find the last piece if we succeed at the Capital, except for your own curiosity.”  He looked around. 

Having fully absorbed what he could from the letter and the two pieces of the scroll, the governor spoke up.  “I would agree, but one must wonder what Davin’s mother worried about so much.  She felt that the future of the world was in some grave peril, beyond merely our king.  And this scroll was the answer to the problem.” 

“Our p
urpose in finding other Descendants is more than just about making sure O’Hara doesn’t find them first,” Egan explained.  “I believe this turmoil is happening now because a new era is upon us.  There was a time when the Ancients ruled
with
men.  I wish to see that to happen again.  Maybe this is the future they sought, one where Descendants of the Ancients helped lead and keep peace.” 

“
Or they simply foresaw the King’s madness,” said Druce, as if they were missing an obvious truth.  “It is quite apparent in the letter.”  

“It could be that simple,” the governor agreed, handing the parchment back to Davin. 

“When this conflict is done, we will search for the last piece without the fear that O’Hara will beat us to it,” said Niahm.  “I will wish to be present this time.” 

Druce threw as quick glance at Aiden, who nodded firmly.  “Aiden and I should like to join you as well.  This future you seek affects us
all.”  He paused.  “I feel that for the time being, though, we should concentrate on the matter at hand.” 

The others all agreed. 

Egan turned to their numbers gathering a short distance away.  “Three hundred and fifty strong,” he said, changing topics. 

Druce grunted, not entirely impressed.  “Not
even close to enough for organized battle on the fields, but within the city walls and against an army that we don’t want to expect us, we have some chance.” 

“I can lead us nearly to the throne room before anyone, friend or foe, will ever see our faces,” said Teague.  “There are tunnels leading all over Eire that few know.  My father may not expect us to come that way.” 

“Yes,” Egan said, “and if Druce would be willing to lend us more of his expertise on the army’s strategy we will have quite an advantage.” 

“Who do you wish to accompany you to the throne room?” Druce asked, unexpectedly. 

“No one,” said Davin, “we don’t know what power O’Hara and Deverell have gained; you’ve seen what they have done to their soldiers.  Only Egan and I will face them.  If they have our power, than even we may be in trouble.  You should stay with the people, keep their morale up.”  

“I agree,” said Egan.  “Druce and Aiden will guard the entrance to the castle with a small group, so Davin, Teague, and I can enter the castle without much distraction.  Do you agree?” 

“That is the best plan,” Druce agreed, but didn’t look happy about it.  “I also suggest we send a small force on to hide on the roof tops once within the city.  In case there is an ambush waiting for us, we have a backup plan.  Might I suggest Kayleigh take this charge?”   

He smiled at her politely.  She seemed taken aback by the duty.  Her faced turned serious.  “Me?  I am not fit to lead.  I am an aspiring Scholar, not a commander of battle.”