Brian Anderson - Shadow of the Gods

She pointed to a guard’s uniform and sword, piled next to the door. “Quickly. Change into this.”

Lee beamed, and donned the uniform. “Are you ready?”

Penelope smiled a sad smile, and kissed Lee once more. “I cannot go with you.”

“What do you mean,” he exclaimed. “Of course, you can. They will not stop us. If I have to, I will cut my way through every soldier in Angraal.”

Penelope grasped her stomach and doubled over. Lee rushed to her side and helped her as she slid to the floor.

“What is wrong?” His voice was desperate.

“I am saving you the only way I can,” she said, weakly. “I told you. I belong to the king now. He has enslaved my spirit. I could only resist him for a short time. But it will be long enough…” She winced in pain, then reached inside her robe, and pulled out a small, empty vial.

“Please, no!” he sobbed. He recognized the faint odor of venil root. “Not this way!”

“It was the only way I would not betray you,” she explained, softly. “I could not bear you falling under the same curse that now possesses me. The Reborn King is more powerful than you can imagine. He must be stopped. His plans go far beyond the coming war. He wants to watch the world burn. And once he has conquered all, he will destroy the earth….and heaven along with it. Nothing will remain.” She tried to push Lee away, but he held her fast. “Now go. Jacob has been spotted three miles south of the garrison. Find him before they do. Please, save our son.” Her eyes closed and with one last gasp, and she went limp.

Tears fell freely as he pulled her close. Then, as if an echo in his mind, came the words save our son. He laid her gently on the floor and kissed her lips. “Goodbye, my love.” He took one final look and wiped his eyes. Dark sadness began to boil into blinding rage.

He open the door to his cell. Two guards lay dead, just outside, one wearing nothing but his underclothes. He dragged the bodies inside the cell and closed the door. Lee thought about the layout of the garrison. He hoped the uniform would be enough to allow him to pass through unnoticed. That must have been why Penelope cleaned his face, he thought. She must have known all along. The memory stabbed at him, harshly. No. He must push aside despair for now. He recalled how he had been brought there. They had not blindfolded him until after he was in chains. Their mistake.

He made his way through the stone corridors of the keep until he reached the main hall leading to the front entrance. His muscles tensed as two guards walked by, but to his relief they didn't even bother to look at him. The bureaucrats had left their desks for the evening, so the path to the door was open.

Hoping it was night, he opened the door and stepped into the yard. Torches burned around the perimeter and along the slate path leading to the gatehouse. The frigid night air swept under his clothes. He shivered for a split second, then walked at a steady pace toward the gate. Two guards were at the gatehouse, but they scarcely noticed his passing.

The road south was empty. He looked north to Kratis. It glowed on the background of the night sky, its towers looming ominously. The thought of the Dark Knight being so close redoubled his rage, but he forced it down and headed south. Once out of eyesight of the garrison, he left the road, darting in and out from behind trees and brushes, and stopping every few yards to listen for signs of Jacob. Just as Penelope had said, after three miles, he heard him.

Lee crept silently until he was only a few yards away from a felled tree. Jacob crouched behind it ready to spring.

“Jacob,” whispered Lee. “Come out.”

Jacob stayed perfectly still. Lee called out again. This time he cautiously climbed over the tree and walked to where his father waited. Lee embraced his son.

“How did you escape?” asked Jacob.

The pain of Penelope's death cut deep once again. “We must flee.”

“What about mother?” he pressed.

Before Lee could respond, he heard several men approaching from the road. He spun around, but heard more men coming from the other direction.

“Don't try to run,” called the voice of Captain Lanmore. “There is no escape.”

Lee and Jacob drew their swords.

“Come closer if you long for death,” called Lee.

The men halted their approach.

“There is no need for this,” shouted Lanmore, from a few yards away. “My master wishes you returned to him unharmed. You and your son.”

“If I return to your master, it will be to end his life,” roared Lee.

Lanmore laughed. “Even your dear wife knew that was impossible. Why do you think she helped you escape?”

Jacob shot Lee an accusing glance.

“And for that she paid with her life,” Lee replied, with hatred spewing from his lips. “My wife lay dead because of your master’s evil. Do you think I will simply return with you? You’re a bigger fool than I thought.”

“Do you really think the Reborn King would allow such a noble lady to die?” he asked. “She could not escape his grasp so easily. No, Lord Nal'Thain. Your wife still lives.”

“You lie!” he shouted. “I saw her die. I held her in my arms.”

“I'm sure you did. But the king is powerful. Those whom he wishes to live will live.” He took a step forward, and sheathed his sword. “He knew she would help you escape, and he knew she would try to take her own life to ensure that she could not betray you. Ask yourself this. How did you escape so easily? How did you walk straight through the front gate? He knew you would try to find your son. Should we have tried to capture him, he would have resisted, and the King does not want his blood. Return with me now and you can be with your family again.”

“When I run, you follow,” Lee whispered to Jacob.

“But mother-” he protested.

“Your mother is dead,” he snapped. “And you will not follow her.”

Lee burst into a dead run southeast. Jacob was on his heels. He passed the soldiers just as they realized he was there. They gave chase, but Lee and Jacob were too fast and soon they disappeared into the darkness.

The soldiers returned to Captain Lanmore, scraped, bruised, and out of breath. He ordered them to return to the garrison. He paused and stared into the shadows of the forest. He felt a presence just behind him. Its raw power nearly sent him falling to his knees, but he dare not turn around.

“Such a pity.” said a voice. It was almost a whisper, yet it carried a power that made the sound seem to take physical form.

“Forgive me, Master,” he said. Fear pierced his heart. “They escaped. My men weren't fast enough.”

“If I wanted them captured I would have sent the Vrykol.” It sounded amused. “But it matters not. I already have foreseen the fate of Lee Starfinder.”

The presence vanished. Lanmore fell to the ground and wept.

Gewey stared over the bow of the ship. Aaliyah had continued with his training, but as they drew closer to their destination, he noticed that she would frequently lose focus. After a week she had taken to sleeping on deck. Gewey had offered to give her the room, but she told him that she preferred to sleep under the stars, and enjoy the scent of ocean air.

He had tried on several occasions to speak with her, hoping to lift her spirits, but she would withdraw even further. By the time the ship rounded the Tarvansia Peninsula, Aaliyah informed him that he would be spending his remaining time studying with Drasalisia, the navigator. Gewey tried to object but she would not be swayed, and seemed relieved when the navigator reluctantly agreed.

From the onset of the lessons, he realized that Drasalisia intended to be a strict task-master. The first day, he joined her at the bow of the ship. She looked at him sideways, then handed him a small cup of water. She had him sit cross-legged on the deck, a few feet behind her.