The Coming Of Shadows (The Shadow Tide Book 1) Read online

  “Let me tell you a story. Let’s begin with a mouse; you see if you have any cracks in your home a mouse will find that crack and get in. Now if you’re wondering why I’m telling you this, well let’s just say I felt like a mouse for almost a hundred years.

  “You see Idris, Richard, your friend and fellow Guiden lived in that hut in the swamps for eight hundred years. He sat there watching my kind wander lonely and leaderless, trapped in that cage you and those damn Watchers created.

  “But like all things, nothing is forever. Richard never knew but he felt something was wrong, he felt me. I watched and waited for that one small crack to open up in his magical ward around his hut. I waited for the perfect time and, I got it.

  “Yes Idris, once that crack happened I made my way in. Richard was unaware of me and I walked straight in on him. A single small cut to the arm, and he suffered, and suffered. Once he died I felt a rush of energy, I felt power come across me, and I felt….free!”

  Idris felt the pain growing stronger and he felt his life fading.

  Oberon looked at him, his eyes turning more and more sinister. “His death opened the door,” he said as Idris saw two more figures appear behind Oberon, both clad in black, gray faced, and orange eyes.

  “Your King was the perfect catch. He is strong, but his inner self was perfect. Perfect for me and now whether he knows it or not he is more powerful than any of you. Your death Idris will break the prison forever and King Jayden will have an army that will be unstoppable. Those that oppose us will die a horrific death, but those who join us will live a life of prosperity.”

  Idris reached down in his soul, “evil bastard, you lost once and you will lose again,” he told Oberon.

  “Not this time.” Oberon stood and looked down on Idris. “Goodbye…Guiden.” He swung his sword. Idris saw it coming and then nothing.

  XLVII

  Easterway was destroyed. Outside in the courtyard the Carporia soldiers had been lined up and all were on their knees under guard by the Crimson Guard. Jayden made his way with Oberon around the carnage that lay in the yard.

  “Where is Candrin?” he asked looking around. No one answered him. “Where?” he yelled.

  A young solider stepped forward and went to one knee. “Your Majesty, he was killed in battle. Some of the men say the man who killed him was not a soldier of Easterway but someone more like an assassin. They say he left his comrades behind in battle and ran to Lord Candrin.” Jayden felt furious. He looked at Oberon. “Send troops to find his body and find this assassin. Soldier,” he commanded, “tell your comrades that anyone who brings me the head of Lord Candrin’s killer will be rewarded greatly.”

  The solider obeyed and went back to his post watching the prisoners. “Take me to them,” he told Oberon. They began walking up the stairs leading into the estate.

  They came into the main entrance hall where house servants along with Allan Southerlin and Lady Mariella were all on their knees with hands bound behind their back. In front of them the body of Idris laid, his neck severed.

  He felt a wave a joy come across him as he looked at Idris’ body. “Lady Mariella do you acknowledge the crimes you have been accused of?” He asked her looking at her flushed face.

  She was still beautiful. Even in pain she was the most beautiful of any. Her pain made her strong. “No,” she said sobbing. “Dominic will destroy you.”

  “Faith in your husband who is now in prison for his crimes? I have all of you,” he said, looking at Allan Southerlin. “How strong is Duke Aiden Carlye’s military?” He knew Allan’s father was the head of Aiden’s military and if anyone knew he would know.

  “Wait a month and you will know. Do you think that your actions tonight will go unheard in Denoi? No, they won’t, Your Majesty. You have called down hell on you and when it comes, you will know that hell exists on Earth.”

  The King was cocky. “No, your faith in your people will be your undoing. You see, if Aiden intends on marching south he will have a hard time doing it.” Jayden told him.

  “No, Jayden, they won’t,” he said smirking. “Just wait and see.”

  Jayden balled his fist and hit him. How dare he insult me? “Take him away; make sure he receives the worst pain he has ever felt until his tells us everything we want to know.” Jayden ordered.

  Allan was lifted by two guards, “Enjoy your reign; it has already been too long,” he said as he was escorted out of the hall by the guards.

  Jayden looked back at Mariella. So beautiful. “My Lady, please spare your brother pain and see your husband soon. If you know anything, tell me.” He knelt down to look into her eyes. “Admit your crimes, and tell me what I need to know.” He commanded, hatred filling his voice.

  “Never. You are a monster and like the monsters of the past, you will die.” She spit in his face. “Go to hell.”

  “Bitch!” he Jayden yelled as his right hand raised and with a fluent swing hit her left jaw. Her face was soft and beautiful but she insulted him. Anger had taken him, “get her up.” He yelled.

  Two guards lifted her. “You have just cost your husband everything. Take her to the palace, and find her a place to stay until I arrive.” He walked away toward the stairs leading up to the balcony. House Carlye is done, he thought as he walked away.

  XLVIII

  Walyn had to hurry. Some of the Crimson Army was still inside the Esterway Estate as he navigated through the burned halls. He knew if he were to find anything it would be in the chambers of Idris. He knew the man had a secret and he wanted proof of that secret. He scanned each room, quickly but carefully looking for anything out of place.

  Room by room he trekked through until he came across a room in the guest wing. The chambers had been used recently but what caught his eye was an open chest at the foot of the bed.

  Inside he saw the glimmering white robes and lavish armor worn only by the Guiden. Quickly falling to his knees he reached in the chest and found something, a large leather bound book.

  Opening it he knew he found something that the librarians would kill for, it was a journal, written in language of the Guiden. Thumbing through the pages he stopped on a page that caught his eye.

  Another one. Tonight I saw an artist painting, rich vibrant colors almost life like, and on his canvas I saw; Brothers, born in the shadows of ice covered mountains, there past covered in blood. The eldest to the right, on his left arm a woman, fierce but no warrior blood covering her hands; a man born of the shadows himself, hooded and dark, great power in his hands and finally another woman, hardened with death and blood and in her reins a great harry beast, fierce and unyielding

  The younger brother to the left, on his right a man, wise and battled hardened, the look of pain and revenge in his eyes; another younger, lost within himself seeking revenge.

  These are my dreams; I see them every night.

  He had found something special. He knew that this had to be written by the hand of one of the last Guiden. He read the passage over and over, slowly taking in the words. “These aren’t dreams.” He whispered. “These are the things to come.”

  He heard soldiers coming through the halls. He placed the book back in the trunk and closed it. Lifting it he grunted under its weight. I have to get out of here.

  XLIX

  It had been several hours since the battle ended and the halls of the estate were trashed. Dead bodies littered the floors, not only those of soldiers but those of servants to. The estate had been pillaged and parts of it were on fire, the smell of burning flesh filled the air.

  Jayden had come and taken at least one hundred prisoners, maybe more, when he left the estate earlier. Ash had walked around looking for survivors, anyone hiding, and anyone who might have avoided capture. But his search had been in vain.

  He walked surveying each body carefully for life, but there was none. What kind of horror is this? He thought as he looked at the body of a young serving girl, slain on the floor.

  The more he searched, the heavie
r his heart became. He knew that the massacre that had happened here would cause outrage throughout the kingdom and that war would come fast and furious. It would be devastating to everyone and then he saw the body.

  He looked at him, hoping his eyes were betraying him, but this was no trick. Idris lay on the floor before him, the man whose contract he hadn’t taken, the man targeted by a madman. Idris was dead. The Last Guiden, dead.

  He felt a cool breeze behind him. He turned quickly and engaged his spring blades on his arms sending the blades out over the top of his hand. In front of him a man stood holding his hands up.

  He was in elaborate robes standing there. “Who are you? Where did you come from?” he asked the man quickly. “Easy. My name is Jarrell and I know who you are, Ash,” Jarrell said lowering his hands to his sides. “Please, I am not your enemy but your friend. I am unarmed,” he said showing his hands.

  A man dressed like this here? How? “What do you want?” Ash asked, engaging the spring and bringing the knives back under his sleeves.

  “I think you have been looking for this, and me doing this is breaking our sacred rules but you need this now more than ever.” Jarrell said pulling a pendant from his cloak. “Do you recognize it?”

  It was the same pendant Ash had been searching for his whole life, the pendant of the Watchers. It was the one thing that could unite a true member of the Order with his founders, the Watchers.

  Jarrell came closer to him and dropped the pendant in his hand.

  “Is it real?” Ash asked him.

  “Yes, now take this.” Jarrell lunged at him, grabbing his head. Ash went to engage his blades and then he went limp.

  He felt himself falling, through blackness and then he landed. His feet hit the ground and when he did he vomited. He was in a strange place, a dark nothingness, just a light shining on him. “Hello.” He heard his voice echo through the darkness and then pain hit his head and he fell to his knees. He tried to grab it but the pain was worse now than ever.

  He started to see things, He saw Dominic, a prison, Jayden, a burning Carlye flag, he saw the halls of the palace then a strange wall; a magical ward? Where was he? What was he seeing? What was this? He saw himself watching Lord Candrin. He saw Idris sitting with King Liam. He saw Jayden crying over his father’s death. He saw Dominic in his father’s tomb. He saw Dominic’s wedding. He saw... everything. And like that, the pain was gone.

  He was back in the Easterway halls, Jarrell standing beside him. “And now you are whole.” Jarrell said as mist started to cover him.

  “Wait.” Ash said looking at him. “What was that?” he asked.

  “The things I have seen, they will become clear in time,” Jarrell said.

  “You’re a Watcher,” Ash said looking at him.

  “Yes. Ash, the man you seek; Oberon, if you wish to defeat him, you will use that pendant to find me before you fight him.

  Oberon is not just any man, he is a Shadow Being, a very old and powerful one and now with Idris’ death the prison is broken and the rest are free to come back into this world. Ash you are now a key in this war, find your allies and your enemies, but stay clear of Oberon. Until the time is right, be patient. I will return in time, but for now I must go.” He was gone.

  He should have known. Oberon was a Shadow. The enemies of old had indeed returned, the enemies his Order was created to destroy.

  Ash turned to leave and for the first time since he was a child he felt tears come into his eyes. Falling to his knees he felt a sensation of sadness, and then anger came across him “OBERON!” he shouted into the destroyed halls. “I WILL…. kill you!” he said fighting back his tears. He felt broken and alone, the wound from the musket ball that struck his arm was weeping blood and pain shortly came with it.

  He was broken, inside his pocket he found a small glass container with a crude cork in its top. Opium, he though as he pulled the cork. The liquid was a hard swallow but in minuets he wouldn’t feel his pain, he wouldn’t anything.

  L

  Aiden had received the letter three days ago. He didn’t know who this Ash was, or even if he could be trusted but he could trust Jacob, his father’s oldest friend.

  “He says the Estate fell in under an hour, they were over run.” Aiden said to Jacob

  “He also states that your brother was sent on a fool’s errand and is now a prisoner at Sunvale. Betrayed by his own men.” Jacob added.

  “And your own Jacob, Allan and Mariella?”

  “Yes Your Grace.” Jacob said bowing his head and looking at the floor. Aiden could tell he was fighting to hold back his tears. He should let them go, he thought to himself.

  “Do you think we can trust this Ash person?” He asked Jacob.

  Jacob looked up at him, he could tell that the man’s feeling were conflicting. “Your Grace, I don’t know, but for now he is all we have. If we are to do this you need to rally them, you are their leader.” He stated looking out of the window.

  “Let’s do it then, together.” Aiden said as he rose from his seat and made his way to the door with Jacob behind him.

  Making his way outside he saw a sight in the castle’s courtyard that he had never seen before. The crowd was so large that common people stood on the walls not only to see, but hear as he spoke.

  Stepping onto the steps he heard the crowd erupt in applause and cheers. They were united from all reaches of his territory, commoners armed with makeshift pikes and farmers on their farm steeds with below par muskets.

  Raising his hands, the cheering stopped and an eerie silence fell over the crowd.

  “Before his death King Liam deeded the newly constructed Easterway Estate to my brother Dominic.” He said as the crowd once again erupted in cheers and applause.

  “But!” he said loudly raising his hands again, “our new King, Jayden has decreed that my brother has broken the law and has imprisoned him in Sunvale.”

  Boo’s and shouts of “NO’S” came from the crowd.

  “And that’s not all. He has also attacked our estate with his military and took as prisoners Allan Southerlin and Mariella Carlye, the son and daughter of Jacob Southerlin, my master of arms and friend of my father!”

  “Those our own, they are our people and we never leave our people. Brothers, sisters listen to me. This may not end well for us all but, we will do right by our captured brothers and sister.

  “I ask all of our men at arms, remember your training and believe in your hearts because now is the time to use it. I ask those who are able and willing, join us. Join us as we avenge the attack on our SOVEREIGN GROUND!” He yelled as the crowd once again erupted in applause.

  “We ride tonight, and meet just south here to evaluate our force and then…” He paused, all eyes were on him and all ears waited for his next response.

  “We ride south, across the river to Sunvale!” the crowd erupted but he kept speaking, louder and louder until he was yelling over the crowd.

  “We will liberate my brother along with those who support him in House Wakefield. With them we will grow our force and then we will turn west and march to Darencross too liberate my brother’s wife and her brother!” the crowd didn’t stop.

  “And then we will look our lunatic King in the face and by words or by gunpowder we will correct his wrongs.”

  He raised his hand in a fist as applause and cheers started to be overshadowed by the sounds of musket fire. He started down the steps to his waiting steed and mounted with Jacob Southerlin on his own steed beside him “Commander Southerlin, sound the march and raise the banners.” He ordered Jacob Southerlin.

  Jacob blew into a long horn. As its deep, long howl rang over the crowd, you could hear the voices of unit commanders yelling, “RAISE THE BANNERS!”

  Aiden watched as the crowd began to part for him and he slowly started to ride. Reaching into his pouch he pulled his large hat, a large green feather stuck in it.

  As he rode he watched the banners of House Carlye slowly start to rise throughou
t the crowd, and for the first time since the Shadow War they all had red streamers topping them, the red streamers of war.

  His steed slowly marched him through the crowd, he pulled his rapier and pointed to the south as his cavalry fell in behind him and behind them the rest of his army.

  They were trained soldiers and those who volunteered to fight. He had no idea which of the southern houses would rally against him, for now all he knew that House Carlye was alone in the coming war.

  “FOR OURS WE MARCH!” the host of House Carlye chanted as they exited through the gates of Denoi and turned south.

  “Marching orders Your Grace?” Jacob asked as he rode his horse beside him. Aiden starred at the sparsely timbered land around him. I will return, either alive or dead, he through as they rode.

  “Send a small detachment ahead. I want scouts at the lake before the main host arrives, and send two trusted men to Anoch, catch a ship and get to Derencross.” He told Jacob.

  The crowd continued to chant as he looked behind at the massive host still continuing to form. “What orders shall I give the men to the capital Your Grace?” Jacob asked him. “Find this Ash person, and bring him to me.” He ordered him.

  Jacob turned his horse and rode toward the rear of the host. They seemed to go on forever, thousands of them ready to fight and possibly die for three people. Am I doing the right thing Father? He silently asked, knowing his father couldn’t tell him.

  Only time would tell but they were strong, stronger than any southern house and they would fight until the end. War was coming and he knew it, but behind him he had not only his army, but his family. Fifty thousand strong.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  First off to my wife April, I know the endless nights of lying in bed and listening to keyboard pecks probably drove you crazy but I'm done, for now.