James Islington - The Shadow Of What Was Lost

The blood drained from Fessi’s face, and she looked away. "Then… you did the right thing, Erran. I wish you’d told us, but… you did the right thing," she said softly.

Kol hesitated, then put a muscular arm around Fessi, nodding his silent agreement.

"So why tell us now?" the big man asked.

Erran bit his lip, glancing at Asha.

"Elocien was killed, Kol. About an hour or so ago," said Asha gently.

Kol looked at her, shocked, and he took a moment to respond. "What happened?"

"The Blind fooled us into leaving the Shields, and…." Asha trailed off as she thought about that moment, remembered how Elocien had jumped in front of Wirr. How the duke had pleaded with his son not to save him, so that the Tenets could be changed.

Erran saw her expression, and gazed at the ground. "He was wounded," he finished. "The details don’t matter."

Asha stared at Erran, uncertain how to feel. She’d put her trust in Elocien. She’d liked the man.

"You sent Torin to Caladel," she said suddenly, feeling sick.

Erran nodded. “It was right near the start, before I got full control. Elocien would have killed him, eventually. There was so much rage and fear when he looked at his son… sometimes I could barely manage it. So I had to send him away.”

Asha swallowed. Wirr had been so happy, so proud to discover how much his father had changed. "Torin must never know."

Erran opened his mouth to reply, but somebody else spoke first.

"Augurs," murmured a voice from the doorway. "So it’s true, then."

Asha spun.

Scyner stood at the entrance to the Lockroom, his stance casual as he leaned against the doorframe. It was impossible to know how long he’d been there; the door had been broken by Kol’s blow and none of them had thought to try and close off the room anyway, so concerned had they been for Erran’s wellbeing.

“Scyner,” said Asha, confused. “What are you doing here?”

"Following you. Seeing if Teran’s babbling held any truth," said the Shadow. He rubbed his forehead. "Honestly, the Shadraehin and I thought he was making it up, trying to find a reason for us to spare his life. I suppose we owe him an apology."

There was a shocked silence.

"What does the Shadraehin want now?" asked Asha, her voice flat and hard.

Scyner sighed, seating himself on the nearby couch. "So businesslike," he said sadly. "The Shadraehin was actually very happy with the Vessels, Ashalia. That was always her goal. But I knew there was something more to you. The fact you were left alive in Caladel, and then the way Aelrith reacted to you…." He shrugged. "I thought you might have something more to offer. And, it seems, you do." He indicated the Augurs with a lazy smile.

In the corner, Kol snorted. "You cannot think we are going to help you."

Scyner raised an eyebrow. "Then you don’t mind if I let the king know what’s been going on with his brother these past few years, then?"

"You’re very confident we’ll give you that opportunity," said Kol. "Or even let you leave this room."

Scyner leaned forward. "Try to stop me, and I will kill you."

Kol laughed humourlessly. "You think you can kill three Augurs?"

Scyner smiled at him.

"I killed twelve in one night, once," he said. "And they were far more accomplished than you."

There was dead silence as Asha and the others processed Scyner’s words.

Suddenly Kol stiffened. He stared around the room, his eyes widening, face draining of blood as recognition spread across his features.

"Fates," he murmured to himself, a strangled sound. He turned to the others, gaze lingering on Fessi for a long moment.

"Run," he said, voice catching.

Asha realised what was happening a split second too late.

"Kol, no! Wait!" she screamed, moving to grab at him.

With a roar, Kol leapt at Scyner.

The next few seconds passed in slow motion. Scyner was on his feet before Kol had crossed half the distance between them, a blade in his hand. He stepped forward to meet Kol’s charge, his arms blurring as he stabbed him once, twice, three times in the chest, the blows cold and clinical despite the incredible speed at which they were delivered.

Fessi vanished from beside Asha, only to reappear behind Scyner, evidently intent on subduing him. But Scyner twisted faster than Asha could follow; his hand lashed out and caught the black-haired girl squarely in the face. Her body spun around from the force of the blow, and she crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

Erran struggled forward furiously but Asha grabbed him, able to restrain him in his weakened state. Then she shifted a little, stretching out her hand and letting what little Essence she had left in her Reserve flow into her ring.

Scyner made a casual gesture in her direction.

Asha slowly lowered her hand again, trying not to let it shake. The energy building up in the ring had just… vanished.

"Disappointing," growled Scyner as he surveyed the carnage in the room. "It did not have to be this way." He walked towards the door, then paused.

"Aelrith is dead, Ashalia. He knew that was going to happen as soon as he saw you," he said quietly. "But I spoke to him that day, before he left. He wanted to kill you, but couldn’t. Do you know why?"

Asha shook her head mutely.

"He said it was because Aarkein Devaed wanted you alive," said Scyner. "You’ve been marked by him, and none of his creatures can touch you." He stared at her for a long moment. "I wonder why that is."

Asha felt the blood drain from her face. It couldn’t be true, and yet… there was something about Scyner’s tone. An arrogance that said he wouldn’t be bothered telling her a lie.

Scyner glanced down to where Fessi lay as the girl began to stir, then turned to leave. "One more thing. The Shadraehin thinks your King Andras is being Controlled, much like the duke was." He nodded towards Erran. "I don’t particularly like the idea of the Blind running the city, so please get him to figure out by whom. The last thing we want is for the king to suddenly announce we’re surrendering." He tapped at his teeth with a fingernail, gazing at Erran thoughtfully. "You’ll hear from me again soon. Hopefully under more civil circumstances, next time."

He disappeared out the doorway, his footsteps echoing down the hallway as Asha and Erran rushed to Kol’s side. The big man was still breathing, but his breath bubbled whenever he exhaled, and the look of pain on his face told Asha he didn’t have much time.

In the corner, Fessi was stirring. She raised her head groggily.

"What…." She saw Kol, and gave a cry of dismay. She was kneeling beside him in an instant.

Kol looked up at his friends, eyes tight with pain. "He was an Augur," he coughed, body spasming. "An El-cursed pre-war Augur."

"Be quiet, Kol. You need to rest," whispered Fessi. She looked around and Asha knew she was searching for a large enough source of Essence, but there were none. Fessi pressed her hands desperately against Kol’s chest, but he just shook his head, giving a rasping, hacking laugh. Blood seeped from wounds everywhere, and it began to dribble from the corners of his mouth too.

“I don’t think you have enough hands, Fess,” he said in amusement.

His eyes glazed over, and his enormous chest became still.

Fessi just knelt there, head bowed over him, her long hair hanging onto his chest. Silent sobs wracked her body; dazed, Asha knelt by her side, putting an arm around her shoulder.

Then Asha, too, had tears trickling down her cheeks. It couldn’t be true. Kol was too big, too strong to die. He would wake up, and later they would all laugh at what a scare he had given them.

Erran carefully knelt opposite the girls, expression stunned, eyes glistening. Gently, he lifted Fessi’s hands from Kol’s bloodied chest, then drew the large man’s eyelids closed.