Her King Of Shadows

Chapter XII.

Father and son did not talk. If talk could be called upon them. Davon had tried. He gave his best. But Boris' decision was written in stone. Nothing could have made him change his mind. But actually he didn’t have any choice. Everybody saw what happened at the celebration. Everyone witnessed the strange abilities of his daughter. And everyone will soon know that she belonged to the world od shadows and not to him anymore. If she ever was his. He entered her chambers, which became less of hers with every passing hour. Shana was busy taking down books from a shelf. Books she will not read again. Most of her clothes were already packed. It was only a matter of time before Boris would decide it was a good time to leave. Now she stopped and gazed into his eyes. She was aware of sorrow and anger in her father's grey eyes. He failed to defend his wife and daughter. And now they were both to be taken from him. Were there words with which he could explain what was expected from her? The leader in him just wanted everything to be done. But the father in him counted each second they had left. She nodded her head. It was time to say goodbye. That much she could feel. -When am I supposed to leave?-she asked. Her dark eyes made him tell the truth.

-Tonight. It is better for everyone to do this as soon as we can.-he explained. There was a bitterness to her smile. She was only a young girl but she knew what was happening. She knew what he had done.

-Why did you call him? Why did you bring him to our home?-she had a right to know. He silently sat on a chair. It seemed to him as if centuries had passed since the night in the swamp. His family was slowly going away. Everything he fought for for years was about to be destroyed.

-I was ready for anything to defend you. If I didn’t call him you would not be in this world.-he said. He didn’t want to admit it was hard for him too. She was his daughter. He loved her dearly. But now she stood there looking for answers. And she didn’t belong to him anymore. She was part of another family now. She was a stranger to him now.

-Maybe it was meant to be this way.-he heard her voice. -Maybe it was my place to fall down next to my mother long ago.-she thought loudly.

-You will listen to me!-he raised his voice. It made her stop. -I did all that I could. All that was in my power! But this enemy will not give up, Shana. If you stay here, it is only a matter of time when I will find you dead. And I cant do that! I refuse to see it. You are my daughter! All my hopes and dreams are in you! What kind of father would I be if I didn’t do everything to defend you?-he tried to explain again. Defend his decision. But he was so guilty it was impossible. Nothing could defend him. She nodded her head again even if she didn’t want to understand. But it was easier than listening to more of his words. She sat on the bed. Death was around them. Circling slowly like a bird of prey waiting for its moment. And that moment was getting closer.

-Will you allow me to say goodbye to Davon?-she changed the subject. Boris took a deep breath.

-I have sent him away. I don’t wish him to see what is happening. -He already knew her next step. Her eyes filled with tears. Davon was maybe the only one still on her side. The only voice of reason in his nightmare.

-You had to take away even that.-she noticed.

-You both have to continue with your lives separately. You are not children anymore. Sometimes we have to make difficult decisions and not let feelings come in our way. Davon understands what I am trying to do and maybe he didn’t agree, but in time he will realize it was the only way.-it was the voice of the leader now he spoke with.

Shana looked at him silently. Words didn’t make her think that this was the right path to take. He seemed as if he was just reading them from a book. His heart was not in it.

-Did you ever ask yourself what I want from all this? Did it ever occur to you that I do not wish to spend my life next to a warrior I do not know? A warrior who forced himself into my life from the first moment. A warrior who came here to take a girl he doesn’t even know. Is this the life you have prepared for me? Such a life is not much better than death.-she said what was in her heart. It was the last thing she had a right to do. Soon she will lose everything. Boris pretended not to hear her. It was always like that with him. As a child he decided to hear only what he liked.

-I want you to follow his path and his orders. Araphel is your leader now and you owe him your respect. I am sure he will show you enough justice and loyalty which you deserve. His family is powerful and strong. You will be safe.-he stood ready to leave. She wished she could stop him. To ask him not to do this. But she knew he would never listen . The decision was made. It was written in stone. He stopped at the door. Looked at her. In the first moment she had hoped he would back away. He would tell her he had a change of heart. But cold grey eyes told her her hope was gone. It was not in his nature.

-I want one thing to be clear to you , Shana. You can never return here. Doors will be forever closed for you. Araphel is your life now. And your home. I will not take you back.-he spoke as a judgment.

This time she could not stop a single tear coming down her face. On the same night, she had lost her father and her brother. She would not see them again. She nodded her head.

-You can be sure that I will never come back to you.-she whispered. Slowly she looked around, but this was not her home anymore. This room, the entire fort. It all turned into a coldness of death. She knew they had waited for her. Her luggage, with a couple of small mementos and clothes, was already sent downstairs. They have told her to dress warmly. They had a long way to go. As if in a dream. Step after step, she went down. Guards silently followed as if they had to make sure she would not try to escape at the last moment. She had spent her sixteen years of life there. And she doubted she would come back. She doubted she would see the cold walls again. Her escorts waited in the lobby. Fathers choosen warriors. She silently nodded her head, trying to finish everything fast. In front of them wasn’t Boris's daughter standing anymore. She was Araphel's chosen one. And they had to take her to him like a perfectly wrapped present.

She put a heavy coat on and sat in the car which was ready in front of the main gate. If a part of her wanted to turn and have a last look at all she was about to leave, her reason ordered her not to. Because her father would not be standing in the road looking after her. Her father had forgotten all about her a long time ago. Ever since that dark night she had sat in her mother's blood on the dirty pavement. She swallowed her tears and just looked ahead. Into fate and the sky, which became so much darker than before. She didn’t know where they were going. Father never told her at which edge of the world was Araphels home. She just felt that the journey would be a long one. She didn't even know if they would go by ship, plane or train. And the little safety she had felt around the warriors which were there was gone. After three endless hours of driving, they stopped. It seemed that Boris didn’t trust his own warriors anymore. They left her sitting in the car and just went away. Different warriors came to take their place. Their clothes were without symbols and marks. Their faces were silent and strict. Something told her these were not the kind of people who would have patience or time for her questions. There were warriors without a family. It was easy to buy them to do a simple task. Maybe they didn’t even know who she was. What was her name and where she belonged. It was better that way after all. Because the killer which haunted her all of her life was no stranger at all.

Davon was full of rage when he entered his father's study. For the first time in his life he didn’t care about rules. He returned to the fort without permission and finally realized that it was too late. His grey eyes, so much like his father, were accusing him silently.

-Where is Shana?-it was the only thing he wanted to know. Boris remained sitting at his desk not showing any remorse. He was a leader and prepared to make difficult decisions. He had no mercy or feelings. Maybe the time has come for Davon to learn more about his ways. It was time for him to grow up.

-She is gone.-he said, finishing his letter. Davon stood in front of his father asking himself if things would ever be the same like before. Was this the end of his illusion that they were a happy family?

-How could you do that? How could you send her away like that? I had a right to look into her eyes. I am her brother!-he raised his tone. Boris knew there was no need to discuss. Davon was angry. And nothing will make him calm. But he didn’t want to hear anymore accusations. Nobody but him knew how difficult his decisions were. Davon was not able to share in his burden.

-You are a warrior. And warriors do not cry after children. Warriors go from battle to battle.-he reminded him. But he waived his head. This will not be finished by lessons from the past. He heard too many of them in his young life.

-Why did you send her away when I wasn’t here? There is no honor in that!-he continued. Father looked into his eyes.

-I know your plans. But you alone are not strong enough to save her. Even myself is not enough. Not after the thing happening in the celebrations. Even if you refuse to admit it. We have lost her. Shana is not a part of this family anymore.-for him all was done.

No matter the pain in his heart, some things had to be spoken. They had to accept the reality and not live in ilussions.

- This decision was not only for you!-he refused to change his opinion. Boris ran out of patience.

-I am still her father!-he screamed. Davon could hold his gaze.

-But I am her brother. And instead of us fighting together. Instead of us keeping her here, in the only home she had ever known. You have sent her far away from us. Guards told me you have sent her with strangers. In the middle of the night, as if her destiny was to run. That is not the way we treat people we hold dear to us. Not in this way. This was Shana. This was a child which has been part of our lives since she was born. She has never stepped outside of these walls. She was never without our protection. Can you guess what kind of thoughts are running through her mind right now while she is close to warriors she doesn’t know? Whose ways are strange to her? Without a father or a brother to protect her from cruelty?-he was beside himself with rage. Boris stood up suddenly, not wanting to listen to him anymore. Because he was asking himself the very same things. And justifying his own decisions each night since she had left them. But it was too late.

-We both know what would have happened if she had stayed. We are not strong enough to protect her. Now that is on someone else.-he tried to change the subject. End this futile discussion.

-Do you think that Araphel will have more success? He is a killer. Butcher. When was the last time he saved a life?-he didn’t trust his motives. His father still looked at him.

-He saved your sister's life more times than you know. That for sure is not by accident. I was her father and her leader. I am ready to sacrifice all if that is to help her.-he didn’t show how hard for him it was to talk about it longer. The leader in him didn’t want to admit any pain. Davon looked to the side, aware that there was no answer. But it wasn’t just that. Shana deserved so much better than this.

-Will you not bring her back? Send a message so she can be returned. This is not the way it was to be done. I wanted to bring her myself to Araphels gate. To make sure she has the position she deserves.-he demanded. Boris waived his head. It wasn’t possible.

-The warriors whom I entrusted to escort her have their orders. We cant communicate with them anymore. I didn’t even wanted to know which way they would take or how long it would take them. I wanted nobody to know about our plans. I am not sure who I can trust anymore, Davon. It happened too many times that our secrets were brought to the surface.-he explained. But it wasn’t enough. He had her pale image in front of him. And the knowledge that she was surrounded by strangers. But there was nothing he could do. His father left him no choice. He made all the decisions without asking for advice. He sat in the chair disappointed. He took a couple of minutes to make him calm again. Finally, he looked at father's grey eyes.

-This is what makes us so different. You will always be a leader. Even with your own children. But I will always be her brother. I will always be there for her when she needs me.-his words showed sorrow. Boris had no answer to that. Even though they had different mothers, Davon and Shana were always close. Davon always protected her. Because he knew himself how cold and cruel this world could be. Especially when your father was a warrior such as Boris.

-Time will come when you will understand better what is needed to be a good leader. I will not always be here to make all the difficult decisions. Some of them you will have to make yourself.-he warned him. Davon waived his head. He wasn’t sure he wanted that kind of responsibility. He was a warrior. But his father's coldness always reminded him of his mother's tears.

-Why Araphel?-he asked. Boris didn’t understand the question.

-I have told you. He had saved her life.-he had enough of this conversation. But Davon knew there was more to be told. His father never acted just for one purpose. He loved hidden motives. He had lived for them.

-Are you sure that is the only reason?-he asked openly. Boris got closer to the window. He poured himself a glass of brandy from a glass bottle. Gold liquid shone in the crystal glass. That was enough time to justify his reasons. He stood next to the window as if he found it hard to explain everything. He had to go back to the past. But some things he couldn’t say, not even to Davon. He was already disappointed in him. He didn’t want to remove him from his side all together. Especially not now when he was all that he had left.

-She has some of his world inside herself. Just a weak trace of darkness which will grow stronger with time. I have noticed it since the day she was born. I have felt she belonged to the world of shadows, which her mother could never enter no matter how hard she tried. It would be difficult to have a child walking in that world, you have to trust me on that. In the past, those kinds of people would be closed in temples and called seers. But that is my fault. I have followed feelings which were wrong. I have believed that in these modern times the world of shadows was just a fairy tale. I didn’t want to hear Araphels warnings. And when I finally realized what was happening, I called for his help.-he drank the brandy and put the glass away. Davon didn’t believe his words. There were other reasons his father didn’t want to confess this moment. And maybe never.

-This story is not finished for me. I am not ready to turn my back on her and pretend I don’t have a sister anymore.-he told him of his decision. He had expected as much from a young warrior. He knew him at last.

-I want you to dedicate your time to this family. I want you to raise us from the ashes.-he said honestly. There was something in such a demand. As if he admitted his time was at its end. Now the new generation had to take over. Or was it only a trap for him to forget about Shana and leave her to her fate?