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"SIRE, LOOK!" CAIDE shouted.
Reining in, Justan rode back to where Caide pointed. Shadowmen were spreading out upon the hillside, their darkness staining the green grass as though it were disappearing altogether. The shouts of fighting reached their ears. Spurring his horse forward, he raced back to where he had stood arguing moments ago.
He was surprised to find the old women had returned with Aiden and the small group was actually holding off the shadows quite well when he arrived. How could this be? They appeared to be unarmed.
Aiden threw what looked like a ball of fire into the crowd of shadows before them, taking out three at one time.
"Incredible," Justan said under his breath. Turning to his men, he yelled, “To their aid!”
His men charged in to join the fight, and Justan followed them into battle, slashing the dark figures with his sword as he rode through them toward Merrilyn. At the center of the fray, he pushed against his horse with his knees, urging him forward. The stallion pawed at the sky and then his hooves came crashing down on two shadowmen who screamed and then disappeared. Slowly, this way, he made progress, inching toward Merrilyn.
The closer he moved, the better he could see what it was that Aiden was doing. From afar it looked like magic, but now he saw that Aiden worked with one of the sisters to create the balls of flame. She appeared to be dipping balls of yarn into a bucket of oil and setting them alight with the torches before Aiden scooped them up with a shovel and threw them into the crowd of shadows that were slowly advancing toward them.
The soldiers were now fighting hand to hand among the sea of shadows that had swarmed them from the hillside above. Next to them, three of the sisters swung crude torches, clubbing the shadowmen, burning a few and chasing them back along the hillside.
Merrilyn stood at the back, healing the soldiers in the heart of the battle. Justan noticed that she whispered constantly as she concentrated on her target, and he was grateful once again for her ability. If only he could reach her side. He would feel better if she were being defended while she healed. Though they hadn’t seen the wizard, his army suggested he was nearby. This had Justan’s blood pounding in his ears as he steadily moved closer to his target.
He had almost reached her when the air above the cliffs behind her shimmered and darkened. Then, like a funnel cloud dropping out of the sky, the wizard appeared on a slab of rock behind her, whirling out of his black cape to grin down on Merrilyn.
"Merri, behind you!" Justan shouted.
****
MERRILYN TURNED IN time to find his face hovering victoriously a few feet above her own. Her eyes widened and his grin seemed to spread as he watched the fear on her face. Merrilyn had no weapon and although her healing ability was helpful to the others in battle, it would do her little good to protect herself from the wizard.
Looking up to the sky, she began speaking to Loian and hoped he could hear her over the shouts of battle and the screams of the dying shadows.
"Help me fight for you!"
As the words died on her lips, the blue stone of the amulet began to glow. The wizard raised his arms and cast a shadow over her that was darker than the darkest night, but she wasn't looking at it. For, at that moment, her amulet began to ring, loud and clear—a sound that was like the long peal of an enormous bell. Brilliant light exploded from the center of the amulet, dissolving the darkness that threatened to envelope her.
The wizard was stunned, pushed backward by the light Merrilyn wore around her neck. He struggled to keep upright on the slab of stone, his arms flailing as his feet slipped and skidded across its uneven surface. Merrilyn took a step toward him, and the beam of light moved with her, pushing the wizard over the ledge.
Merrilyn ran forward to peer down at him from the edge of the stone and as she did so, realized that Justan was running with her. The wizard lay upside down, his weight resting on his shoulders and his neck turned at a painful angle. He screamed when the light from Merrilyn's amulet hit him, and as he lay there writhing in pain, Justan scrambled down the slope toward him while Merrilyn watched from above. Justan roared as he reached the man and grabbed the front of his cloak with both fists.
"Where is my brother?" the prince demanded.
Duggan moaned, trying to hide his face from the light with his hands.
Justan shook the man and yelled again. "Tell me you fool! Where is he?"
Merrilyn covered the amulet with her hand to keep the light contained, hoping that would help to make the man talk.
"He is in my master's lair, but you are too late!" Duggan’s eyes began to lose focus, and Justan shook him again.
"What do you mean? Why are we too late?"
"My master comes for you. The darkness is coming." His eyes rolled back in his head.
“Wake up! Wake up!” Justan shook him, but the man’s head lulled to one side.
Merrilyn slid down to stand beside him. Placing a hand over his where it gripped the wizard’s cloak, she turned pleading eyes to his face. “I think he’s dead, Justan. He broke his neck when he fell.”
“Well, heal him, then. Without him, we still don’t know where my brother is!”
Merrilyn shook her head sadly. “I can’t. I’m sorry. I can’t heal the dead.”
Justan turned away from her with a sneer and let the dead man fall with a thump to the grass. Merrilyn saw once again the now-familiar way he began clenching and unclenching his fists. Raising her eyes to his face, she longed to soften the angry set of his jaw with her fingertips, but she was sure he wouldn't have accepted her caress.
Instead, she reached out a tentative hand to touch his, running her fingertips along the edge of his hand. He relaxed his tight grip enough to take her fingers into his grasp, then to her surprise, pulled her roughly to his side. Justan slid his arm around her waist and leaned toward her, resting his head against the top of hers. She couldn't contain the sigh of relief that escaped as she settled against him.
"I don't think this is over, Merrilyn."
"No," she said in sad agreement. "The battle has just begun."
****
INSTEAD OF GOING BACK to the inn, Justan went with Merrilyn to the cottage. Not wanting to overburden his hostesses, he sent all but Caide back into the village so that they could eat and get some rest. Caide insisted he be allowed to stand guard outside, and Justan was happy to grant his request.
The sisters were preparing dinner for their distinguished guests as they all talked excitedly over the events of the afternoon.
“That business with the flaming balls of yarn was genius,” Justan said with a shake of his head.
“Beatny and I came up with that one,” said Aiden, beaming. “I had guessed that light might be the best weapon against an army of darkness.”
Justan grinned, nodding. “That was our thought, too. We had an opportunity to test our theory a few nights ago when the wizard appeared in our camp. I had the men ready for them with swords dipped in oil and set ablaze. Much more effective.”
Merrilyn listened with wide eyes. “What an adventure you’ve had!”
Justan laughed. “You don’t know the half of it. But then, I’m not the only one who’s had an adventure. I ran into a few friends of yours in Strafeloch and they seemed all too eager to brag on you.”
“The innkeeper, Dermot, and Frenigan? Oh, Justan, I wish you could have been there. They were simply wonderful to us.”
“I gathered. Listening to their stories, I could picture you there. I bet you were happy to be able to help them.”
She nodded her head rapidly and for a moment, his smile faded. He missed the way her curls used to bounce when she did that. Taking a sip of tea to hide his emotion, he noticed Aiden watching him through narrowed eyes, his lips curled in amusement.
The sisters carried in dinner, showing off each dish to the prince before setting it in the center of the table. There was a roasted mutton with fresh herbs, crispy loaves of bread smeared with thick butter, the longest green beans he had ever seen, and bright orange sweet potatoes drizzled in honey.
“Ladies, this looks delicious. As good as anything I’ve ever been served in the palace of Nomar.”
The sisters giggled and twittered behind their hands, blushing. Justan carved up the roast and groaned in appreciation over the first bite, bringing on another round of giggles.
“Tell me how you two ended up enjoying such fabulous hospitality,” he said, gesturing between Merrilyn and Aiden.
Beatny leaned forward over her plate. “Your Merrilyn healed me, sire, on the road to our village.”
“Did she now? Please, do tell me more,” he said, slanting his gaze sideways at Merrilyn and giving her a wink.
Merrilyn rolled her eyes, turning back to her dinner plate to avoid his gaze.
“Well, I was not myself for ten years, Your Highness. I roamed about muttering to myself and slept out in the forest as often as I was at home. Filthy and confused, I was a true sight to behold, I’m sure, and a real burden to my family.”
“Oh, no, Beatny, of course you weren’t,” said Honey, patting her hand.
“But, Merrilyn healed you?”
“Yes, Your Highness. I was walking along the road outside the village gates when Merrilyn and Aiden came riding up. Merrilyn healed me right there. So, of course I dragged her home with me to show my sisters. And all the while, poor Aiden is following along, trying to keep up.” Beatny laughed and Aiden joined her.
“It wasn’t easy, what with the entire village trying to squeeze me out.”
“Well, I for one am grateful that Aiden was there. What a loyal friend. Can you imagine what would have happened if Merrilyn had been alone when those two bandits lurched out of the woods like that?”
Justan’s silverware hit his plate with a clatter. “What? What bandits?”
“Two ruffians who’d been stealing horses and raiding farms around Norwulf. They attacked Merrilyn and Aiden in their camp outside of town,” said Maggie with a scowl.
“But Aiden defended her and captured the bandits, didn’t you Aiden?” Addy turned adoring eyes toward Aiden.
Aiden coughed, choking on his dinner. He pounded his chest with a fist, avoiding Justan’s gaze. The sisters all began to fuss over him, but he waved them off. Merrilyn did not intervene, glancing nervously toward Justan.
“You’re right,” said Justan, his face impassive. “It seems we owe Aiden a debt of gratitude.”
He raised his glass and all eyes swiveled his direction.
“To Aiden, for protecting our lady Merrilyn, the Alaith.” Inclining his head toward Aiden, he then drained his goblet.
“To Aiden,” the sisters agreed, raising their glasses.
The meal was delicious, and though they had meant to sit and rejoice over their victory, it seemed they were all weighed down by an unspoken burden. Forcing smiles and polite conversation at first, they soon gave up all pretense and fell into discussing the wizard and his foreboding words at the end of battle.
"Who is his master, do you think?" Justan asked.
“Keardun,” Merrilyn whispered.
“Who’s Keardun?” asked Aiden.
The sisters glanced at one another in silence. Addy slanted her eyes toward Maggie then jerked her head toward Aiden. Taking a deep breath, Maggie leaned forward to explain in a hushed voice.
“Keardun is the ancient enemy of Loian, god of light. Stories tell about Keardun ruling the darkness of night, haunting the shadows to cause fear and panic in the world. If he is the enemy, he will not be so easily defeated as the small army of shadows you saw today.”
“Well, I suppose if Loian represents light, it stands to reason that his enemy would be darkness,” said Aiden, with a nod.
Justan stood and raised his glass in a toast. "To the servants of Loian. May they find victory in battle and defeat all enemies of Loian."
"Hear, hear!" Aiden said, raising his glass as well. Everyone at the table laughed nervously and drank with Justan, hoping his words would prove true.
****
AS THE TABLE WAS CLEARED for tea, Maggie took Merrilyn aside and showed her the tunic, vest, and boots they had made for Aiden. "I believe you can bless his armor for battle. I have heard of it being done, and it is said that a prayer of blessing from the Alaith will protect the soldier and can even heal some of his wounds."
Merrilyn touched the leather, thinking hard about this. "Well, I suppose it won't hurt to try, will it?"
Taking the armor in her hands, she spread them out upon the wooden chest in the corner of the room. She kneeled over the leather and prayed, blessing it with the power to heal and asking it to protect the wearer that he might withstand the blows of war. When she finished, she gathered the armor and turned to find Aiden watching her silently from the table. He accepted them with a solemn smile then kissed her hand before she walked away.
"What did you do with that man's cloak?" Justan asked Merrilyn.
She tapped her fore finger to her bottom lip. "I think we put it on the bed in the back room with our packs."
She turned and marched down the hall to the room in question and found the cloak there where she had said it would be. Bringing it back with her, she turned it over in her hands carefully.
"Look at these markings on the sleeves. I wonder if this is a special cloak—you know, like my amulet."
Maggie and Honey came across the room to look at the cloak. “I’ve never seen such markings before,” said Maggie.
Honey shook her head with a frown. “No, they aren’t the same as the amulet. I wonder what they can mean?”
Merrilyn held the cloak in front of her and shook it out so that she could get a better look at the back of the cloak.
"Whoa! Do that again," Aiden cried.
“Why? What happened?”
“Just do it again. I thought I saw something.”
Merrilyn obliged, and they all gasped.
"You all saw that, right?" Aiden asked the group, pointing to the cloak as he spoke.
Beatny sat in the corner, her eyes wide and her mouth covered with one trembling hand. Honey whispered something to Maggie. Justan frowned, rubbing the back of his neck as he stared at the cloak in Merrilyn’s hands.
"What? What is it?" asked Merrilyn.
"Well, it looked like... it looked as though it had something inside it ... when you shook it like that, I mean."
Merrilyn opened the front of the cloak, running a hand over the smooth fabric inside, and shook her head. "I don't understand. What could be inside it?"
"Well, it looked like..." he couldn't think of the words to explain so he looked to the others to help him out. Maggie and Honey shook their heads and Beatny shrugged.
Finally Justan had an idea. "Why don't you sit down and I'll shake it for you so that you can see what we mean."
"Okay." She handed him the cloak and took a seat beside Aiden at the table.
Justan gripped the cloak by the shoulders and gave it a good shake. The inside of the cloak came to life, the dark inner layer swirling as though a mist floated in its depths.
"Oh, my!" Merrilyn’s hands flew to her face as she exclaimed in surprise.
"You see? See what we mean? There just isn't a way to explain it. What do you suppose it means?" Aiden asked.
Justan hung the cloak on a peg in the wall. "Well, we know he was a wizard, so I suppose it could be magic."
Merrilyn nodded. "I think you are right, Justan, but how? I mean, what does it do?"
"I think I have the answer," said Justan with a grim expression.
"What?" Aiden and Merrilyn said at once.
"Well, each time I have seen him, he appeared out of nowhere. What if this cloak helps him to do just that?"
Silence filled the room again as they considered this possibility.
"But how does it work?" Beatny asked.
"Well, there's one way to find out," Aiden said. "One of us should try it on."
"No!" Merrilyn shouted, grabbing his sleeve. "No, he was a servant of the darkness. What if it is connected with his master, Keardun?"
Aiden shook himself loose from her grip. "Well, there is no way of knowing that without using it, is there? Besides, what if it isn't? Think of how we could use that to our advantage. He certainly did!"
She sighed. "I suppose you are right. I just don't think we should risk it. Let us just hold onto it for a while longer. Perhaps it will prove useful somehow, but let’s not risk ourselves just for the sake of curiosity."
She waited until Aiden and Justan both nodded their agreement, then folded the cloak and put it safely away in her pack. Its secret would just have to wait for another day.
As the sisters began cleaning the dishes, Merrilyn noticed Justan step outside. She hesitated, watching the door in indecision.
Aiden's voice interrupted her thoughts. "I can’t believe he was so rude to you earlier. One of us should really set him straight."
She smiled at his brotherly protection. "I know, Aiden. You're right—I should really go explain it to him again. Maybe his perspective has shifted a little now. Don't worry about me. Get some sleep."
He frowned. “You sure? I don’t mind being the one to—“
She patted him on the shoulder and stepped out into the night.
Justan didn't even turn as she came through the door. He stood with his arms crossed against his chest staring up at the moon. She wondered if he would be angry that she had interrupted his solitude. She didn't have to wait long to find out.
"I thought I had lost you." His voice was quiet and still in a way that worried Merrilyn almost as much as his anger.
"How could you ever lose me, Justan?" Her answer was soft, but his jaw clenched making her regret her words. She wondered what she could have said to cause him anger—or was it pain?
"I know that I never had you to lose," he said finally, his voice controlled and even, "but I couldn't imagine a life without you, Merrilyn. For me there would just be no purpose."
She heard the sharp gasp of her breath as he whispered into the night.
"After you fought the wizard by the pool...I thought my heart would break when I saw you lying there on the ground. But when I had to send you away, it was so much worse. Each day, I carried the consequence of my choices. I worried that I would never see you again. I worried that you would be attacked on the road to Nomar. I worried... I feared you would die. How desperately I ached for someone to tell me you were alive."
He paused to take a shuddering breath. "Merrilyn, you don't know the guilt I felt after I sent you back to Nomar. I constantly agonized over whether or not I had made the right choice for you. Never have I so longed to be by your side, but then when I realized—when I learned what the enemy was after... Merri, I just couldn't..."
His shoulders shook and she rushed to put her arms around his neck in a tight hug. What could she say to reassure him? What would make this pain lessen for him? She was here, she was safe. Why was he still carrying such a burden of guilt?
Releasing her grip on his neck, she looked up at him and he gazed down at her face. Suddenly, all words left her. Here before her was the heartbreaking dream that had plagued her sleep. Here was his face, so beautiful and precious, yet so full of pain and sadness—and all because of her.
Merrilyn reached up to touch his jawline with her fingertips. He closed his eyes as hers filled with sadness and regret. What should she say to this man, her friend, her greatest treasure?
She sighed, leaning into him, and was rewarded with his arms sliding around her waist. He held her tightly against his chest and Merrilyn smiled into his shoulder, enjoying the feel of his arms around her. They stood there for a very long while in silence.
"Why did you leave with Aiden?" Justan whispered.
She hardly breathed, but he pulled her away to stare down into her face.
"Why didn't you wait for me, Merrilyn?"
She couldn't meet his gaze, it was so full of heartache. "Justan, I already told you. Loian asked us to go into the mountains. We couldn't wait. I didn't even know Aiden was coming."
She shook her head to emphasize the point, only then glancing up to plead with her eyes. "I thought I had left secretly enough that no one would be able to follow me, but Loian sent him to find me. I swear, we never planned to deceive you, Justan."
Tears had filled her eyes now, and he relaxed his stern expression some at the sincerity of her words. She had never been one to lie, least of all to him. He sighed and pulled her closer.
After another stretch of silence, she whispered hesitantly, "Justan?"
"Yes, Merri?"
"I'm sorry. For leaving without you, I mean."
He sighed again and stroked her hair. His arms tightened around her for just a moment and then he kissed the top of her hair lightly.
"Do you forgive me, Justan?" she whispered in a very small voice.
He sighed. "Yes, I forgive you, Merrilyn." He was silent for a while, still holding her, and she showed no desire to move from his embrace.
"Merrilyn?"
"Yes?"
"Don't ever leave me again."
She smiled through her tears, still not looking up at him.
"I promise," she whispered, and they both prayed that it was the truth.