The Marenon Chronicles Collection

Chapter Twenty





Damon sat quietly as he waited for the others to arrive. The only sound that could be heard was the light tapping of his feet on the stone floor. He tried to calm his mind, but his thoughts of doubt would not be quieted. Their attempt to decimate the Dunarians at Jekyll Rock had failed.

With his right index finger, he traced the outline of the tattoo on the underside of his left wrist. The dragon marking declared who he was. It assured his mind that he was where he was supposed to be.

He couldn’t help but smile at the irony of the marking. The dragons that had been used by the Stühocs were all dead accept for one. When Marcus arrived in Mudavé with an unconscious Silas Ainsley, the dragon took off, never to be seen again. It wasn’t much of a loss, but Damon wondered if it was some sort of sign; something that said it was time to take flight.

Now, all that remained of the seven Sleepers were Marcus and himself. Only a week ago it had looked like the Stühocs were winning the war – that their victory was certain – but now the odds didn’t seem to fall in anyone’s favor. Flying away sounded like a good plan at this point.

There had been reports of a huge army of Humans and Erellens marching to Mudavé, but scouts had not come back with specific numbers.

The door on the other side of the room opened slowly and the dark, gray-skinned Stühoc king, Anithistor, walked through silently. Hroth followed behind him, slumped over and frail-looking. His cloak covered his face in shadow, and Damon felt like he could easily knock the Possessor over with barely a shove.

He shook his head, trying to erase the thoughts. He never knew when Hroth would be looking into his mind.

Anithistor stood on the other side of the room, watching Damon with intense black eyes.

“They come tomorrow,” he said.

“I thought they might,” Damon replied.

“You are ready then?”

“The task you have appointed to me is simple,” Damon answered him.

“Hroth tells me you have some conflicted feelings.”

Why did you tell him this?

Because it is true, Hroth voiced in his mind. You can’t tell me you don’t have doubts.

“I assure you, there is no conflict within me.”

Don’t lie to Anithistor.

“Do you feel that the dreams were successful? Does Silas believe that he will meet his father near the Red Gate?

“I don’t presume to know the boy’s thoughts. I at least know that he was more receptive of me the second time.”

“I hope you are right,” Anithistor said. “Hroth’s ability to see into the boy’s mind diminished once he obtained the powers of the Gatekeeper, but if you are confident, then we will proceed with the current plan.”

“What if he’s too powerful?” Damon asked. “What if he is able to defeat us all?”

“His power is derived from the medallions and he has to destroy them. Ultimately, his goal is to destroy himself, even if he hasn’t figured that out yet.” He let out a short laugh.

All of them turned their heads when the door opened again and Marcus came through. The man looked tired and disheveled. None of them spoke as they waited for him to give his report.

“We were right. They will march on Mudavé tomorrow.”

“Their numbers?” Anithistor asked.

“Eight to ten thousand,” Marcus said. “They consist of Humans and Erellens, but they do not outnumber us.”

“Very good,” Anithistor said. “Our troops are already on alert, and will be waiting for them. Tomorrow, you will be in charge of the Sphere,” he told Marcus.

“What? Why?”

“I need someone there that I can trust.”

“That’s the first thing they are going to try and destroy,” Marcus argued.

“Which is exactly why I want you there. You are smart, a good commander. I will get the Sphere started for you whenever the battle begins, but then you are in charge of it. You will command it.”

Marcus said nothing, but Damon knew it wasn’t out of grateful acceptance. Marcus was angry, but he knew that arguing with Anithistor could be a fatal mistake for him. The king was coming to a point where he no longer needed the Sleepers, and that was a dangerous place for the two of them to be. Damon wasn’t worried too much for his own safety. He still had something that none of the other Sleepers ever had; a quality that Hroth and Anithistor had thought to be invaluable. All of them just might get the chance to find out tomorrow.

“Have we ruled out a preemptive attack on their camps?” Damon asked.

Marcus shook his head. “Any approaching army would be seen from miles away. They have sarians patrolling their skies.”

“It’s no matter,” Anithistor said. “We want the battle to occur near the Sphere. We want to be as close to the walls of Mudavé as possible. Tomorrow, both of you will need to keep your minds clear. Hroth will be in his tower, telling you everything he sees, encouraging you along the way.” He looked at Damon. “Reminding you of who you are now. Not who you used to be.”

Tomorrow is the biggest day of your life, Hroth told him.

Maybe so. But it could also be my last.

The same goes for all of us.

Not you, Damon thought. You will be locked safely away in your tower.

None of us are safe.