The Marenon Chronicles Collection

Chapter Seventeen





The night wind blew at Julian’s long hair, whipping it like a horse at full speed. The tears that had stung his eyes did not stay on his cheeks for long as Eden soared through the brisk, pre-dawn air at full speed. Morgan is dead. It was all Julian could think. I killed my brother. Julian couldn’t comprehend all of the implications that went with the death of his brother. There would be a new, probably corrupt, power to rise as the Humans’ leader. Holden would suspect what happened and would try to find a way to bring Julian down. And Julian was now alone.

The mother he never knew was still gone. His father had been gone for several years. And now, his brother was dead. There had never been much comfort in knowing that his brother was alive and well, but it had meant that Julian was not completely alone. He had always hoped that his brother would see the error of his ways and come to the side of light. But tonight had shown Julian that the side of light was grayer than he would have previously thought. Why was Ward Holden working against the Dunarians? What angle was Spencer playing, and why were the Stühocs working with Humans? What could they be planning? Spencer had told Maroke to be readying his troops, but for what? Who were they going to attack, the Erellens? Even Maroke would not be so brave, or stupid. There was no way that they had that sort of power. Unless they did possess the power and the Dunarians just didn’t know it, then all of Marenon was in a lot of trouble.

Julian clutched the medallion in his cloak as more hot tears rolled down his cheeks. Next to the medallion he felt the sealed envelope. What was Morgan thinking? How could any written apology erase the evil he had done? Julian couldn’t bring himself to read it, but neither could he destroy it. He knew that if he simply threw it out now, he would regret his decision, but the thought of reading the tyrant’s point of view on the death of his father, and the way that he brought the kingdom to ruin was sickening. Even in his last words his brother had tried to defend himself. The coward.

As Julian began to think of what lay ahead of him in the coming days, he considered what he had to do. He wondered if Alric Thirsk’s team would be able to handle the mission ahead of them. If everything went as planned, then they would have the medallion within twenty-four hours. He wiped his face, tired. He had been up the entire night and was running on fumes now. When the incident happened with his brother, Julian knew he had to get out of the Human capitol. The city would be going mad, and news of the king’s death would spread quickly across Marenon. Those in the inner circles would know what happened to the king. However, most would think that in a drunken daze, Morgan tumbled over the balcony to his death, which, in a way, was sort of true. Julian shook his head. Marenon will be ripping at the seams in the coming days, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.

There would be no time for sleep in the coming night either. Julian would go to Jekyll Rock to give his report and be on his way to just outside of Timugo to meet with Alric and pick up the next medallion. Julian wondered how many days his own instructor had seen like this. Kaden. Kaden! What would be done about Kaden? He was trapped and caged like an animal in Mudavé with no chance of escape. His heart grieved for his friend and mentor, but what could be done? The only person that Julian knew he could trust on the Dunarian Council was Nalani. He didn’t know who else might have been keeping company with Holden. There was no way he could take a chance with anyone else. Perhaps he and Nalani would figure out a way to get Kaden back, but he knew now was not the time to focus on his imprisoned mentor. The future of the Dunarians was at stake and trying to rescue Kaden could not be his focus yet.

As the sun peeked just over the horizon, Julian flashed his green-jeweled wristband to the guard sitting at his post five miles north of Jekyll Rock. He quickly wiped his face and temporarily shook off any sort of emotional weight he might have been carrying. After soaring past, he touched the jewel again and thought about Nalani’s face and within moments the wristband was signaling her that someone needed to talk. There was no response at first, but after a few moments her face appeared in the jewel of the band. He had woken her, but she didn’t seem to mind.

She expressed her happiness to see him and he instructed her to meet him at the top of the east tower. Within a few minutes he flew past the closer towers and over the cityscape. The early morning sun gleamed bright onto the tower as he headed toward it. Eden dropped low and dove straight in, finally slowing her speed to a stop when she reached her comfortable stall at the end of the loft. As Julian dismounted, he saw a robed figure in the corner who he thought was Nalani at first glance, but the form emerged into the light exposing the figure’s face. Ward Holden had been waiting for him.

“Julian,” Holden said. “I trust the mission was successful?”

“Why are you here?” Julian asked, instinctively turning to close the medallion off from the traitor.

“I figured you would be coming in early and I wanted to meet you as soon as possible.”

“Is that so?” Julian was not prepared to face Holden so quickly. He knew he had to play dumb. There was no way Holden could have discovered that Julian witnessed the group conversation within the castle walls. For all Holden knew, Julian was as loyal to him as he had ever been. It took everything within him not to lash out and call Holden what he really was. Playing ignorant was all that gave Julian the upper hand.

“What of the medallion?” Holden asked.

Julian shook his head. “It was a suicide mission. I was able to steal the key off of Spencer early in the day, but when I finally got into the castle there were guards everywhere. I was nearly caught several times.”

A curious look came across Holden’s face. He stared at Julian seemingly not knowing what to say. “So, the medallion?”

“I couldn’t even get close to my brother’s chamber,” Julian answered.

Holden stood there now fixed on some inanimate object on the ground. Julian could tell he was trying to choose his words carefully.

“If we’re going to get the medallion from Morgan, we’re going to have to find another way. Sneaking into the castle was just too dangerous. It was almost as if they were expecting me.” Julian shrugged. “Spencer probably guessed correctly that I had stolen his key.”

Holden nodded. “We’ll figure something else out. It’s a shame you didn’t get it, though.”

Julian nodded. “I know. Alric Thirsk and his crew will surely pull through for us. When I get back from meeting with them we’ll sit down and decide what to do next.”

“And that’s tonight?”

Julian nodded. “I’m going to attempt to sleep some before I leave.”

As he spoke, the entrance to the tower opened. Thankfully, Julian thought. It was Nalani, dressed in a warm, green cloak. She had not been awake for long. Julian walked to her and hugged her tightly. Holden stood, gripped in thought.

“How did it go?” she asked.

Julian held her close, hating the fact that their leader was standing there plotting some sort of way to get rid of Julian since his first attempt had failed.

“Not good,” Julian whispered. “I’ll tell you more later.” Julian took one more look back and saw Holden still staring at the ground, deep in thought. For now, Julian had the upper hand, but Holden would soon connect the dots, if he hadn’t already done so, and Julian would need to be ready. As Julian and Nalani walked through the door, Holden called out to him.

“Julian!”

He stuck his head through the archway. “Yes?”

“What entrance did you use to get into the castle?”

Julian’s heart dropped into his stomach. Holden was testing him. If Julian told Holden of the underground passage, he may assume that the conversation was overheard. But Julian did not know whether the other locations were under close surveillance. There was no way to know, so he decided to keep it as vague as possible.

“Through one of the south entrances,” Julian said. “Why do you ask?”

“Which south entrance?” Holden probed.

Julian shrugged. “I don’t really know how to tell you that. There are several. What do you want me to say, the one next to the painting of the knight? I don’t know, Holden.” Julian knew he was talking too much for his own good and so he stopped abruptly.

Holden raised an eyebrow. “Just curious,” he said. “Go, get some rest. You’ll need your strength for the night to come.”

Julian hoped there was no double meaning to Holden’s words. With a nod, he walked down the stairs and out of the tower with Nalani, clutching the medallion inside his cloak the entire way to his room.

When they reached the room, Julian walked to the basin and splashed fresh water on his face. Nalani patiently sat on the edge of the bed watching him as he calmed himself. She could tell something was wrong.

Julian grabbed both sides of the basin and looked into the mirror. His tired eyes were sunken in dark circles. Stubble covered his face. He knew he looked rough. “I’m sorry I woke you,” he said not turning from the mirror. “I just felt I needed to see you.”

“I would be up soon anyway,” she said, smiling.

Julian wondered several times on the flight whether he should tell Nalani that Holden had betrayed the Dunarians. He wasn’t sure whether her knowing such information would put her in more danger. He had decided that when it came down to it, the best thing would be to tell her, for her to be on her guard.

He turned and faced her. “Holden’s in league with the Stühocs.”

Nalani stood abruptly, a look of horror etched across her face. “What? How could that be?”

“I saw Holden in a meeting with Spencer and the Stühoc Maroke. They are all working together to get access to the medallions.” He told her what was said in the meeting and how Maroke was told to begin preparing the troops for some sort of battle. He also told her of Kaden’s capture and that Silas’ fate was unknown.

“But if Spencer had the medallion then why would Holden send you on the pointless mission?” she asked.

“To get me killed,” he answered. “I have a feeling that Holden is targeting anyone who isn’t loyal to him, one by one. It’s no secret that Holden and I have never really gotten along. I would be the first to try and take him down. He knows I wouldn’t follow him down the road he’s taking.”

“What about the others?”

“I don’t know,” Julian said. “That’s why it’s important that we keep this between us. We don’t know who is secretly with Holden, so we have to pretend like I saw nothing.”

Nalani sat back down on the bed with a stare of disbelief stuck to her face. “How could he do this?”

“That’s not all,” Julian continued. “Morgan is dead.”

Nalani’s eyes shot to Julian, wide with disbelief.

“It was an accident,” Julian lied. “We fought and he charged me and fell off the balcony.”

He told her that Morgan had been drunk and that hopefully it would be the prevailing notion that Morgan died in an accident.

He failed to mention, with purpose, the letter that Morgan had left with him. He knew Nalani would expect him to read it then and there and Julian wasn’t sure if he wanted to read it at all.

He showed Nalani the medallion and he knew she understood the weight of what was happening. She had been in this as long as he had.

“Something big is coming, isn’t it?”

Julian nodded. “I’m afraid so.”

“What about Garland Ainsley?”

Julian’s eyebrows furrowed. He hadn’t even thought of the old newcomer, much less of how he might play into the situation. “I really don’t know,” Julian admitted. “He is either really convenient or completely inconvenient for Holden’s plans. I guess we’ll soon see which.”

They talked for a while about what might lay ahead and they both agreed that they had to keep on their toes and look over their shoulder every now and then. Nalani rested her arms around Julian’s waist and laid her head on his shoulder blade. He closed his eyes, feeling her warm breath on his back. He remembered Nalani’s words from the other day when she told him that she would give him an answer about his marriage proposal. As much as he wanted the answer, now was not the time to ask her again. They were all in danger and Julian did not want his mind plagued by Holden’s betrayal when he brought up the subject again. His thoughts eventually drifted back to what needed to be done next.

Garland’s involvement carried no meaning unless Silas Ainsley was to be found soon. Julian never cared much for Erellen lore, but if the Meshulan that the Erellens prophesied of was truly there, then Silas would be of some definite interest. Heroic tales and exaggerations surrounded the stories of Silas and Garland Ainsley. No person was truly sure of what happened in those last few hours before Garland and the tiny baby he held during a battle disappeared.

Julian couldn’t imagine. It was said that Garland, or Barton Teague as he was known at the time, had rescued a baby that had been hunted by the Stühocs. It was rumored that the baby was the only Human to be born in Marenon. The father had been Garland’s son Will, but the mother was an Erellen. Such a union between Erellen and Human had been prophesied more than a thousand years before. The boy had been fought over because the prophecy had stated that such a union would bring about the Meshulan, which was the Erellen word for deliverer. The only problem was that it never stated whom he would deliver. It was assumed by many that if the prophecy was legitimate then the Meshulan would deliver those he was more loyal to. Therefore, all races and people wanted the boy for themselves. Those who raised the boy could lay claim to his loyalties in the hope that he would recue them from the oppression of the Stühocs that had plagued Marenon for so long. The group with the Meshulan would be the one with the power. As the various groups debated their right to this Human, battles and skirmishes raged throughout the land.

Then one day, in the midst of battle, Garland and the baby disappeared. They went back to Earth, though no one understood how. Now the man who had disappeared seventeen years before was staying somewhere in the same castle he had left behind.

Julian felt foolish about how he had treated the founding father of the Dunarians, but he still held firm to the position that no person should come in and try to take over The Reckoning, even if Garland did start it. He knew at some point Garland would become more involved and would be given more power. There was no denying that this would happen. Julian simply hoped that time would not come soon, so that he could finish his own part of the job without interference. But maybe it didn’t matter so much since Holden’s corruption had already hindered his position. Now Julian didn’t know whether he could even trust Garland. As far as Julian knew, there was no possibility that Garland could have been behind this plot with Holden after all these years. Garland had been the main player against the Stühocs. It was the reason for the start of the Dunarians in the first place. However, he did seem to come out of nowhere. Just when the Dunarians were beginning to act, there was Garland Ainsley, ready to serve. Either way, Julian trusted only himself and Nalani. There was no time to trust anyone else.

With a quick kiss, Nalani left with a promise to see him off before he left to meet with Alric Thirsk. Julian attempted to sleep, but rest was impossible. He tossed and turned until midday, his dreams filled with the threat of his own death and the image of his brother falling from the balcony. He woke again with a start and decided that there was no use in trying to rest his mind. He would get no repose until his mission was finished. It was time to leave.

Julian washed, dressed and prepared all the items he would need for the quick journey. He placed the medallion in his fresh cloak and pulled out his brother’s sealed envelope. He stared at it for a long moment contemplating whether he should open it or not. What could his brother possibly want to say to him? He felt sick every time he thought about reading Morgan’s words. He shook his head and set the envelope on the table next to the basin.

He made his way down the corridor from his room hoping beyond all hope to avoid anyone on the council, especially Holden. Nalani would be at the top of the tower where the sarians were kept. He climbed the east stairwell, more tired than he wanted to be. He did not want another night without sleep, but he feared sleep would not come even if he had the chance to take it. He opened the large wooden door not only to see Nalani waiting for him, but another person Julian wasn’t expecting at all. Garland Ainsley. Julian stood motionless, taken by surprise.

“Hello, Julian,” Garland said, smiling.

Julian nodded. “Hi.” He looked at Nalani quizzically. She shrugged, out of Garland’s view.

“Heading off are you?”

“That’s right.” Julian walked closer to where Eden stood ready and waiting to go on their newest journey.

“I was wondering if I might accompany you,” Garland said, walking closer to Julian. “There has been no news of Kaden or my grandson, so I am forced to sit here and wait. Frankly, it’s driving me crazy. Holden suggested that I accompany you.”

“Did he?” Julian said mounting Eden. “I’m afraid that’s out of the question. I need to do this alone and I don’t need anyone around to mess it up.”

“There’s hardly anything I could do to mess this up,” Garland said. “Aren’t you just meeting them and exchanging money for the medallion?” He grinned widely, scratching the back of his head. “Besides, it might be nice to have some backup in case things get ugly. I assure you, I’ve still got it,” he said, patting the sword at his side.

Julian knew this had to be some sort of setup. Why would Holden have Garland of all people come with him on this part of the mission? Was it to spy, or to get his hands on the other medallion? Julian couldn’t determine whether Garland was playing into the hands of Holden or if he was blatantly on Holden’s side. Either way, he was going to prove troublesome. If Julian refused, there may be suspicion, even though there was plenty of mistrust anyway.

“How’d you find your old sarian and get him back to Jekyll Rock after so many years?” Julian asked.

Garland’s look was that of gratefulness as he turned to his faithful bird. “After a Human and a sarian have spent enough time with each other, they are never truly separated until one of them dies. Skarret and I have been through a lot together.” He sighed, turning back to Julian. “When I got back to Marenon the second time, Skarret felt my presence. He found me.”

Julian thought about the old man’s words. He had never thought that way about Eden. He appreciated the beast and knew she would always fight for him, but to know that there was a much deeper bond was assuring.

Finally, Julian nodded. “Saddle up.”

Garland smiled, satisfied. “Skarret won’t take a saddle, but I thought you’d see it my way.” He walked over to a sarian in the far corner that had not been ridden in years, and had been strangely absent since its master’s disappearance. An empty stall had kept the other sarians company over the years, a reminder that Garland Ainsley was gone, but would return.

“Before this week, it had been so long since I’d seen Skarret!” The animal nipped at his owner affectionately, ready to take flight once again.

While Garland mounted the bird, Nalani touched Julian’s leg. Looking up she said, “I’m going with you.”

“I can’t let you,” Julian said. “If he’s going out there to try something I don’t want you to be in the middle of it.”

“I can take care of myself, Julian. If he makes a move, you have a much better chance of getting out alive with me there than if you go it alone. Besides, I don’t want to be cooped up here now that Holden has taken the other side. Wouldn’t you rather have me near you?” she smiled coyly as she gazed into his eyes.

Julian considered this, but he also had concerns about what her presence would mean. With Holden bent on getting rid of Julian he didn’t want the old man to get any ideas with Nalani. She could easily be used to make Julian surrender to Holden’s will. Julian would never forgive himself if anything were to happen to her.

“I’m not helpless, Julian,” she snapped. “I’ve worked my way to this position just as you have. I’m not asking you. I’m going.”

He reluctantly nodded his approval, but she had already walked briskly over to her own sarian, Fury.

“Where’s she going?” Garland asked, Skarret walking under him down the middle of the loft toward Julian.

“She’s coming with us,” Julian said with a firm finality.

Garland nodded. “Well, the more the better, I say.”

“Do you now?” Julian smirked.

Garland gave Julian a wry smile letting him know he wasn’t impressed with his sarcastic tone.

Within a minute they were all flying out toward Timugo where Julian and Alric had set up their meeting place. Alric better have that medallion, Julian thought.