BDS: Chapter Twenty-Two

Mordán looked around him in caution as he walked down the dirt path leading from the Sul Fire River back to his country home. The glow of dawn created a thin line across the horizon. The lilac leaves of nearby trees blew gently in the breeze, creating a soft rustling sound. Despite the peaceful setting of nature, a flight of tension suddenly filled the air as Mordán passed between two lanterns at the edge of his large, well-kept lawn.

He halted.

"Mordán we have you surrounded, so you are to surrender and come with us," Jabari said from behind him.

Mordán turned slowly to find Jabari standing in the middle of the lawn. He surveyed the rest of the area with a glance, noting Shamira at the outer edge. He raised an eyebrow. "Surrounded by who, exactly?"

"You are to accompany us," answered Jabari.

"Did you believe it would be that easy, Master Jabari?" Mordán ran his finger across the edge of a thin silver bracelet around his right wrist. A metal door hidden beneath the grass near the front porch of his home slowly rose and several Vaznaun emerged in their expanded size. "Surely you didn't think I would be here alone?"

The Vaznaun thundered across the lawn at Jabari and Shamira. The two pulled their gladaés from the sheaths and quickly lowered their stance.

Do you remember where Master Tarak said their weaknesses were? Jabari asked Shamira.

She nodded.

Jalena stood from where she was crouched on the roof of Mordán's home. She jumped and landed between Mordán and the front steps of his home, her gladaé before her.

"Master Jalena," Mordán said simply. "I realize the day stars are about to rise, but it is still a little early for morning tea. I do have a different treat for you though." He gestured with his head to his front door.

Marcile appeared in the doorway behind them, a glazed look in his eyes.

"Marcile," Jalena said in surprise.

Mordán laughed. "Malik really should keep a tighter leash on his students with a star witch on the loose."

Marcile looked at Jalena with a blank expression and stretched out his hand. The silver ring around his left, middle finger began to glow blue and released metal spikes that spiraled toward her.

She teleported away from Mordán. "Marcile? We are the light warriors—your allies."

"He can't hear you," offered Mordán. "Courtesy of Akila."

Jabari and Shamira, both breathing heavily, removed their gladaés from the upper ribs of the Vaznaun as they dropped to the ground. Jabari shook his head. "It's like fighting a boulder." He teleported as the second Vaznaun charged.

Shamira slid across the damp grass on her knees, running her blade across the back of the other Vaznaun's heel. The Vaznaun cried out and dropped. She teleported as he swung a long electrical rod at her head and reappeared to the side of him, ramming her gladaé into his ribs.

Marcile grabbed the rune hanging from his neck as a bright light shone through the symbol engraved on it. He disappeared and reappeared, separating the three warriors from Mordán.

He is under a spell, Jalena said to the others. She lowered her stance. I am uncertain of his power, but any student of Malik's should not be underestimated. I will go for Mordán and leave him for the two of you.

Marcile's expression did not change as he observed the three warriors running at him with their gladaés before them. He stepped forward and mumbled a spell. His eyes lit up briefly in blue light and flaming spikes of fire spewed from the ground like geysers across the lawn.

Surprise reflected on Shamira's face as she dodged the fire. I didn't even sense it!

Jalena leaped high over Marcile and stretched a leg back to kick him forward. She gasped in surprise as a blue blade of light suddenly shot up from beneath her and pierced the shin of her outstretched leg.

Marcile held the end of glowing blade in one hand behind him, which had expanded from the band around his finger.

Jalena shifted her jump to the side and landed on her uninjured leg.

Jalena! Shamira exclaimed.

I'm okay, but I see now why Malik chose him as an apprentice.

Marcile's blade disappeared into the ring again and then reappeared as he spun to strike Jalena.

He is masking his energy by magic, so reading his movements through Relasu will not work, she said as her eyes lit up. She blocked his attack and turned at the waist to deliver a palm strike to his chest. Marcile slid back several feet but kept his stance. He advanced again as Jalena bolted to Mordán, who had quickly retreated to the front steps of his home.

Jabari and Shamira appeared before Marcile, blocking him from reaching Jalena. Without pause, Marcile's ring turned into three piercing blades of light extending to the trio.

The warriors disappeared in a flash again.

Mordán threw a laugh over his shoulder. "Have fun, Marcile." He turned back to find Jalena staring at him, her eyes alight, having teleported directly in front of him. His smile disappeared.

"Is something funny, Mordán?" she said quietly.

He jumped back off the porch to create distance between them. He cocked his head as he studied Jalena in the dawning light. "Well, I certainly see the appeal the citizens speak of."

Jalena responded by pointing her gladaé at Mordán's throat, her eyes narrowed as she moved to him once more. "You are to come with me without resistance, Mordán."

Mordán smiled. "Ah, but master, where is the fun in that?"

Behind them, Marcile's ring had changed into a multitude of thin, blue light rays that danced around him. The rays struck out at Jabari and Shamira like snakes. The two paced around Marcile, both already sporting several wounds from the piercing light.

He is getting tired, Jabari said to Shamira. Be ready.

Marcile tossed an orange stone down before him and muttered another spell. Instantly, flames ignited from the stone and encircled him. The circle of flames turned into bullets of fire that shot out in every direction.

Jalena's eyes widened as she noted the fire flying at her and Mordán. She grabbed Mordán's wrist with her open hand and yanked him forward. With his free hand, Mordán slapped a suppression bind around her wrist. He yelled in pain as Marcile's fire bullets hit his back but kept a firm grasp on Jalena's forearm.

Jalena's hold on his arm weakened as the magic in the suppression bind took effect. The light in her eyes dimmed.

He grabbed her neck as she dropped her gladaé, revealing a glowing red bind around his own wrist that instantly unwound and wrapped around Jalena's neck.

Mordán yanked her forward by the bind as it fastened and sealed, his face inches from hers. "These binds now detect and match a warrior's power," he whispered. "Courtesy," he raised his eyebrows, "of Akila." He smirked. The corner of his lips lifted in satisfaction. "I guess it will be you coming with me without a fight instead."

Jalena closed her eyes and exhaled.

Mordán's eyes widened as the suppression bind around her wrist and neck began to disintegrate. She opened her eyes. The violet in her irises blended with the blue-white light that ignited through her as she opened her Reserve.

Mordán squinted against the light as he watched the violet diamond-encrusted spiral form on her forehead. "That doesn't work on me," she whispered fiercely. She broke his hold and stood.

Suddenly, two large blocks of blue light swarmed Marcile as he launched another attack.

Marcile yelled out in pain as his attacks rebounded and slammed into him.

Gyan emerged at full speed from a group of nearby trees outlining the edge of the yard, his eyes focused solely on Jalena.

Gyan! No! Shamira yelled as Marcile dropped to the ground.

Gyan didn't seem to hear. He flew past the two in a blur.

The shields around Marcile disappeared. He lifted a shaking arm in the air, pointing his ring in Gyan's direction. The blue glow around it transformed and shot a large dagger through the air.

Gyan continued to run without a backward glance. As Marcile's dagger neared him, he leaped and twisted. Blue light spiraled around him as he grabbed the hilt of the dagger and launched it further with enormous force before his feet hit the ground. The dagger spiraled across the yard and slammed into the side of Mordán's neck.

Jalena stepped back in alarm as Mordán's eyes widened. He grabbed at his throat and stumbled sideways.

Gyan instantly appeared in front of him. He grabbed Mordán by his shirt and yanked him forward. "Get away from my girl."

Mordán gasped again as blood poured from his wound.

Gyan released his hold without care. With a hard stare, he watched the ruler of Kraundor fall backward to the ground.

Mordan's body stilled as the last of his life energy left him.

Jalena, having just closed her Reserve, approached Gyan carefully. What are you doing here, Gyan?

Gyan ignored her. He watched Jabari cautiously as the master knelt over Marcile's unconscious frame. Shamira stood nearby, her narrowed eyes on Gyan and Jalena.

Let's go, Gyan said to Jalena as he yanked the dagger from Mordán's neck and stepped over his body. Stay behind me. It may not be over yet.

Jalena did not speak as she followed Gyan to the other warriors. He is unstable, she told them. She reached into the side pocket of a sheath fastened around her thigh and pulled out a round gold stone with a single rune on the front.