Secrets and Guardians: Devious Intentions by H. Chambers (summer beach reads txt) 📖

hanging from his belt. Inside were three smaller pouches and inside each of these were three small orbs. He had intended to use them all but because of Ami he only took out one of the small pouches. Emptying its contents into the palm of his hand, he stretched out his arm. Each orb began to pulsate. Penn lowered his arm and the three orbs gently drifted upwards. They stopped a couple of feet above his head. Penn ran to the back room and down the stone stairs, the entrance sealing itself behind him. The orbs began to spin in a tight circle, faster and faster. The battering ram finished its task, soldiers began spilling into the room. Some saw the ring of light, it made no difference. The orbs imploded into each other. For a split second nothing happened. The power of the explosion blew out all the shuttered windows. Those entering the library were blown back out through the doors. The force was such that those waiting just outside were killed by the dead bodies hurtling out of the building.

Kilgor watched the library begin to collapse. The roof first, then the stone walls started toppling.

'Let’s get out of here,' Kilgor said to those around him. 'We'll make camp outside in the fields. Have some men check the surrounding area, if they've used tunnels they shouldn't be hard to find.'

The explosion had unnerved Kilgor. He hated anything he considered 'unnatural' and exploding buildings came well within 'unnatural'. He had a bad feeling in his guts. They should feel like victors but something was wrong and where were the riders and the Nefkins?

Kerdred heard the explosion, but having just caught a glimpse of Rona up ahead, had other things on his mind. How could he have been so afraid of such an old decrepit crone? Signalling silently to his men, they halted. It was easy to catch up to her.

'Hag, face me!' snarled Kerdred.

He wanted to see fear in her eyes, he would enjoy killing her slowly, taking pleasure in each agonising torture. Rona stopped and turned to face Kerdred. There was no fear, she looked straight at him, a smile crossing her face. Noise from behind made Kerdred turn quickly, sword ready. His men were slumped on the ground. Annoyed that he would not be able to risk taking his time he stepped forward and sank his sword into Rona’s stomach.

'No!' came a shout from deeper in the forest.

Kerdred looked past Rona and saw a boy about fourteen years old. He was tall with long matted unruly hair and wearing animal skins. There was no doubting whose son he was; an abomination, a boy born of a witch. He would deal with the boy next. Leaning over Rona, Kerdred wanted to see the pain in her face, he was surprised to see her smiling.

'You had twins,' she said.

Shade stared at her from behind Kerdred. Using both hands Shade brought the thin blade down hard, just below his armour, straight into his spine. Confused by the sudden pain, Kerdred tried to react, to stand up. As the top part of his body moved his legs gave way. Falling sideways he just had time to see Shade bringing a club down onto the side of his head.

Rona reached a hand up to Shade, 'I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you,' she whispered.

Shade took Rona’s hand and knelt next to her. Rona’s hand relaxed, Shade closed her eyes, tears running down her face.

Killing Kerdred had been all Shade had thought about for so long, now it didn't seem enough. She looked across at Kerdred, he was still alive. She had known exactly where to strike. Having paralysed his lower body she had intended to make him watch while she drove his own sword through his heart. Shade's anger began to subside. A tired, desolate emptiness crept over her. Rona's words began to sink in; twins. She gazed over at the boy, who was staring back at her. Her son, her son who looked like Kerdred.

Gadolin watched Shade, Kerdred’s sword in her hand. Slumping her shoulders and dropping the sword she began to walk towards her son. Looking down at Kerdred he wondered at Shade’s decision to let him live. The man would never walk again. Rona had told him of the years she had tormented Kerdred, how Shade had hardened his heart. Gadolin didn’t agree with Shade, vengeance would have been served by his death. By letting him live she risked destroying his very soul and that Gadolin thought was wrong. The problem Gadolin had was that he couldn’t show mercy either. Gadolin had never killed anyone or at least he didn’t think so. He had rendered many unconscious and scared many half to death, but never knowingly took a life.

Jumping down from the tree he gently lifted Rona’s body. Igmy came and stood next to him, his face etched with sadness.

'What do we do now?' asked Igmy as he watched Shade walk with her son deeper into the forest.

'I guess we are not needed anymore,' said Gadolin looking kindly at Igmy. 'I was thinking of going to talk to Olesia, maybe time to move on.'

'Rona asked me if I wanted to see how things ended. It’s not exactly happy ever after, but it never is, is it,' said Igmy. 'Can I come with you, when you 'move on', I’d like that,' added Igmy feeling slightly better when he realised it would mean he would see Rona again soon.

Gadolin smiled, 'Let’s find somewhere nice to bury Rona’s body first and then we’ll both go to see Olesia'.

'Olesia,' Igmy repeated. 'What’s she like, is she really a thousand years old?'

'Yes and very wise. I know, we should visit some of the others on the way.'

'Others?'

'Olesia isn’t the only ancient oak tree in the forest,' laughed Gadolin. 'I think the closest one is Brindle, he’s even older than Olesia. He’s a bit forgetful but funny, well he thinks he’s funny!'

Gadolin and Igmy continued their conversation as they started walking.

Kerdred opened his eyes. Unable to move himself from his position lying helplessly on the ground he watched them leave; his expression blank.