Legacy

Even with the horrors of battle still fresh in their minds and their bodies still numb from the experience, the group had no choice but to return to their journey mere hours after the final blow had been dealt. Every bed in the castle was needed for the wounded, and the strong smell of blood made Deerborne castle no place for them.

With Avery having been taken in the battle, Archer volunteered his services to the group for the remainder of their journey. The things Shadow Kahn had said to James left him sure that the trio would be in dire need of his assistance.

The new objective was clear to James. He was to find the man called Shadow Kahn and prevent him from unleashing his fury upon anyone else. But James had more than that as reason for wanting to find that man. He wanted badly to know why Shadow Kahn wanted him and why such a horrific creature could seem so familiar to him.

Aiko and Archer were walking at a sizable distance behind James and Jaycee. They knew their companions were in no mood to contribute to any conversations after what had happened to one of their dearest friends, so they would speak only amongst themselves.

“Why didn’t we spend the night in the castle?” asked Aiko. “Why couldn’t we have waited until tomorrow to leave?”

“Because we needed to set out to find the man who killed the king as soon as possible,” replied Archer. “We’ve sent out every available soldier we have.”

“So why are you traveling with us? Shouldn’t you be with your comrades?”

“Because it wouldn’t be safe at a time like this for the three of you to be traveling on your own. I heard what that man said to James. I don’t think you’ve seen the last of him. And James seems eager for another meeting.”

“Then why aren’t there more soldiers than just you joining us?”

“Because our numbers have been diminished because of the battle,” said Archer. “We lost a lot of good men and many more are far too injured to travel. We’ll most likely have to call the instructors from the academy into service. If you don’t mind me asking, why aren’t you taking the loss of your friend as hard as the others?”

“Because I didn’t really know him that well,” replied Aiko. “I don’t really know any of them that well. Besides, I’ve lost enough family and friends to war to know that crying about it isn’t gonna change anything. No amount of tears can bring them back, so why waste the effort? The truth is, I’m only joining them because they owe me money.”

“They owe you money? For what?”

“For saving their lives,” replied Aiko.

“Why would you charge someone for saving their life?”

“Don’t judge me,” said Aiko, doing her best to not let her anger dictate the volume of her voice. “You don’t know how hard it is to survive out here on your own. We can’t all be polished little soldiers in some king’s army. I don’t regret a thing that I do.”

“But James saved you from that thing. Doesn’t that make them even? Or is there some other reason why you’re traveling with them?”

“Well, my life was never in any real danger,” replied Aiko.

“You looked pretty frightened of that jester to me. I don’t think you were prepared to defend yourself after it presented that sword.”

“I can already tell . . . you and I are not going to get along.”

An awkward silence then ensued.

“So, what kind of name is Archer?” asked Aiko. “You are your name. Was that by design? Would you still be a soldier if your parents had named you Baker?”

“You certainly like to point out people’s names, don’t you?” asked Archer. “How about yours? What kind of name is Aiko?”

“It means child of love. Any more questions?”

“You’re right. We aren’t going to get along.”

“So, where do we go from here?” Jaycee asked Archer. When she turned around, it was evident by how red her eyes were that Jaycee had been crying.

“Well, there’s really no way of telling where that man might have gone,” replied Archer. “So I can’t really give a definitive answer.”

“Then how do we decide what to do next?” asked Aiko.

“You know, in times of great tribulation, such as these, the king would seek guidance from the Novas.”

“The Novas? What are you talking about?”

“They’re the holy leaders of our kingdom,” answered Jaycee.

“I thought the king was your leader.”

“The Novas have guided our kingdom for centuries,” said Archer. “Nothing significant can be done unless they give their blessing. From signing treaties to executing prisoners, the Novas have the final say in everything the kingdom does.”

“For centuries?” gasped Aiko. “They must be really old.”

“Eventually new Novas succeed the old ones,” explained Archer. “At least, that’s what people assume. I couldn’t tell you if these Novas are the same Novas that have been leading us for the past five hundred years or not.”

“Have you ever met them?” asked Aiko.

“No. Only the king is allowed an audience with the Novas.”

James came to a stop, prompting the others to do the same. “Then they’ll have to make an exception for us,” he said.

The sky was suffocating behind black clouds that blocked the moon from the town of Dorsett. It was a place that held very little significance to most, but was of great importance to some. Its inhabitants consisted mostly of farmers and merchants, so at such a late hour, none of them had reason to still be awake.

With a sleeping town in the background, Shadow Kahn and Sage stood atop a small hill on the outskirts. And upon that hill sat a tree, a tree whose limbs were twisted and charred black as night. Its form resembled a creature of many arms reaching vainly for the sky.

“Let us hope that things turn out better than the last time I was here,” said Shadow Kahn, who was speaking more to himself than to Sage. “To think there was once a part of me that was afraid of this place. But that feeling has since passed.”

Sage refused to make eye contact with his master. For what was about to happen would be done despite his earlier protest.

“This is where they buried me,” said Shadow Kahn. “After all I did for them. This was how they showed their gratitude. Disposing of me in such a way, as if I was some kind of beast. Still, this was quite the fitting final act of degradation.”

The shouts of the angered townspeople still echoed so vividly in Shadow Kahn’s mind that it seemed as if they were once again surrounding him. This brought back the rage. Shadow Kahn held back as best he could by clenching his hands into fists. “They will pay. They will all pay for what they did to us. Not a single one of them will be left standing. All who played a part in our demise will suffer for what they did.”

With each word Shadow Kahn spoke, the look on Sage’s face grew darker. For he feared his relationship with his master was soon to change.

“They saw me as a beast,” said Shadow Kahn, focused intently on the patch of earth before the tree. “If only those fools knew what a beast really was. They would never forget the true meaning of the word.”

An arm covered in rotted flesh then thrust from the ground.