Chapter Two The Shadow That spoke
1457 Words
Hello, brother."
The voice came from behind Kaelen.
He turned so quickly that his shoulder struck one of the stone pillars. His eyes searched the chamber, but there was nobody standing behind him.
Only the shadow.
It remained upright, separated from his body, with its dark head tilted slightly to one side.
Kaelen raised his father's sword.
"Stay away from me!"
The shadow did not move.
Instead, it slowly lowered its hand.
Elira stepped between them.
"Do not speak to it, Kaelen."
He looked at her.
"Why does it keep calling me brother?"
"Because it wants you to believe that you know it."
"Is that not my shadow?"
"No."
Kaelen stared at her in disbelief.
"Then what is it?"
Elira's lips parted, but before she could answer, the shadow laughed.
It was a strange sound, like someone whispering through a wall.
"She still lies to you."
Elira raised her hand. The seven black markings appeared again, spreading across her wrist.
"Silence!"
The shadow's smile disappeared.
For a moment, the entire chamber became still.
Then the Mourning Blade began to shake violently.
The silver patterns along its surface turned red.
Kaelen felt a sharp pain in his chest.
He dropped to one knee.
"Mother!"
Elira rushed towards him.
"Don't look at the sword!"
But it was too late.
The weapon began showing him things.
He saw a battlefield beneath a blood-red sky. Thousands of soldiers stood in endless rows, their swords raised towards a black castle.
He saw a woman holding a newborn child.
He saw seven figures surrounding a massive stone.
And he saw a man kneeling before an enormous throne, begging for something to be returned.
Then everything disappeared.
Kaelen gasped.
"What was that?"
Elira helped him stand.
"You saw a memory."
"Whose memory?"
She looked towards the sword.
"Yours."
Kaelen pulled his arm away.
"Stop saying things you refuse to explain!"
His voice echoed through the chamber.
For a moment, Elira looked hurt.
Then a loud crash sounded above them.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
The dead had reached their house.
Elira looked towards the staircase.
"We have to go."
"What about the sword?"
"Leave it."
"But—"
"Kaelen, listen to me. That weapon is not a gift. It is a prison."
The shadow suddenly moved.
It stepped towards them.
Elira turned, raising both hands.
A circle of black fire appeared beneath the shadow's feet.
The creature stopped.
"You cannot hold me forever," it whispered.
Elira's expression hardened.
"I only need to hold you long enough."
The shadow looked at Kaelen.
"Ask her what happened the night you were born."
Kaelen turned towards his mother.
"What happened?"
"Don't listen."
"Mother, what happened?"
Elira closed her eyes.
The shadow laughed again.
"Ask her why there were two heartbeats."
Before Kaelen could speak, the black fire rose around the shadow. Its body stretched across the chamber wall, twisting like smoke caught in a storm.
Then it vanished.
The Mourning Blade dropped onto the altar.
Silence returned.
Kaelen stared at the empty space.
"Is it gone?"
"For now."
Elira grabbed the lantern.
"Come. We cannot stay here."
They climbed the stairs and emerged into the kitchen.
The house was no longer quiet.
Footsteps moved across the floor above them. Something dragged a heavy object through the sitting room.
Elira placed one finger against her lips.
Kaelen tightened his grip on his sword.
A low voice came from the other side of the kitchen door.
"Search every room."
Another voice answered.
"The woman is here. I can smell her magic."
Elira's face changed.
She slowly placed the lantern on the table.
"Who are they?" Kaelen whispered.
"People who should have remained forgotten."
A heavy object struck the kitchen door.
Kaelen stepped forward.
Elira caught his shoulder.
"Do not fight unless I tell you."
The door burst open.
Two men entered.
They wore dark leather armour, silver masks and long swords. Their faces were hidden, but strange symbols had been carved into their weapons.
The first man looked at Elira.
"Lady Elira. The Emperor sends his greetings."
Elira stood still.
"Tell your Emperor he is not welcome."
The second man laughed.
"We were not sent for you."
His masked face turned towards Kaelen.
"We have come for the boy."
Kaelen raised his sword.
"Come and get me."
The first man drew his weapon.
"Brave. Just like his father."
He rushed forward.
Kaelen barely managed to block the attack. The impact sent pain through his wrists, forcing him backwards.
The stranger was fast.
Too fast.
He struck again, aiming for Kaelen's neck.
Kaelen ducked and swung his sword towards the man's side. The blade scraped against his armour, producing a shower of sparks.
The stranger kicked him in the stomach.
Kaelen crashed into the wooden table.
"Kaelen!" Elira shouted.
The second masked man moved towards her.
She raised her hand.
A black symbol appeared in the air.
The man's sword suddenly turned against him, twisting violently in his grip. Before he could release it, the weapon drove itself into his shoulder.
He screamed.
Elira moved her fingers.
The sword pulled itself out and flew across the room, striking the wall.
Meanwhile, the first attacker approached Kaelen.
"You are wasting your strength, boy."
Kaelen struggled to stand.
The stranger lifted his sword.
"Your blood belongs to the Emperor."
Kaelen saw the blade coming.
He raised his own weapon, but his arms were too weak.
Then something strange happened.
His shadow stretched across the floor.
It moved faster than the attacker.
A dark hand wrapped around the man's ankle.
He fell heavily, striking his head against the stone floor.
Kaelen stared.
The shadow returned beneath his feet.
Elira looked at him in horror.
"Not again."
The second attacker pulled himself away from the wall and reached for a small black object attached to his belt.
Elira noticed.
"Kaelen, get down!"
A flash of white light filled the kitchen.
The windows shattered.
When Kaelen opened his eyes, the two attackers were gone.
Only their swords remained on the floor.
Elira leaned against the wall, breathing heavily.
Kaelen slowly stood.
"Mother, my shadow saved me."
She looked at him.
"No. It used you."
"What is the difference?"
Elira did not answer.
Outside, the village was burning.
They left through the back door and entered a narrow alley. Smoke covered the streets, and the cries of frightened villagers filled the night.
Kaelen saw a little girl sitting beside a broken cart. Her clothes were covered in dust, and she was holding a wooden doll.
He stopped.
"Mother, we have to help her."
Elira looked at the girl.
For a moment, her expression softened.
Then she looked towards the northern road.
"We cannot save everyone tonight."
Kaelen walked towards the child anyway.
"Where are your parents?"
The girl looked up.
"They went to find my brother."
"Where is your brother?"
She pointed towards the village square.
Kaelen looked in that direction.
A group of dead soldiers was marching through the streets.
Among them walked the man wearing his father's face.
The creature stopped.
Its white eyes turned towards Kaelen.
Even from a distance, Kaelen could hear its voice.
"Come home, my son."
Elira grabbed Kaelen and pulled him behind the broken cart.
"Don't look at it."
"Why does it keep calling me that?"
"Because it wants something from you."
"What?"
Elira looked into his eyes.
"The same thing the Emperor wants."
Before Kaelen could ask another question, a deep horn sounded from the eastern side of the village.
Elira turned.
A horse stood at the end of the alley. Its rider wore a long grey cloak and carried a sword across his back.
He looked old, with silver hair and a scar running from his forehead to his jaw.
His eyes settled on Kaelen.
"Elira," he called. "You are late."
Elira exhaled.
"Thorne."
The old warrior looked towards the burning village.
"Save your explanations for later. We have very little time."
Kaelen stepped forward.
"Who are you?"
The man looked at him.
"Thorne Blackvein."
He studied Kaelen's face for a moment.
Then his expression changed.
"So," he whispered. "The boy without a shadow has finally found one."
Kaelen felt a chill run down his spine.
Thorne turned his horse.
"Get on. Both of you."
Elira climbed onto the horse first and reached down for Kaelen.
As he placed his foot in the stirrup, a voice whispered inside his head.
Do not trust him.
Kaelen looked towards the burning village.
On the roof of a nearby house, his shadow stood watching.
It raised one hand.
Then it pointed at Thorne.
Kaelen climbed onto the horse.
And as they rode into the darkness, he began to wonder whether escaping the dead was only the beginning of his troubles.
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