The Shadow Watch by S. A. Klopfenstein

Author:S. A. Klopfenstein [Klopfenstein, S. A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Guardian Grey Publishing
Published: 2018-05-14T22:00:00+00:00

Part VIII

The Slave’s Blade

The Great Soltayne was chosen by the sun goddess, Arayeva. The chieftain who was chosen became like a god in the eyes of the people of the Steppe, with unquestionable influence and power. The chieftains of the twelve tribes vied ruthlessly to become the Chosen of Arayeva. Anyone who stood in their way gambled with death.

—from Dawn of the Third World

21

Get up, Sky Blood!”

A jarring kick to his ribs startled Kale from sleep. His senses were on high alert. In his dream, his brother had nearly died, and he had been overwhelmed by the darkness surrounding Ren’s mind. Kale shot up, hands reaching for the attacker. But the Ilya woman was too quick. She snatched his wrist and twisted ruthlessly.

“All right, all right,” said Kale. “Sorenyi!”

Ashi let go of his arm with a shove. Kale cradled his wrist. She had nearly broken it. Kale was not the strongest Watcher, but he could usually hold his own in a man-to-man fight. This Ilya woman was something else altogether.

“Get dressed. My prince has need of you.”

Kale stretched out his strained wrist, then rose to his feet. At last, he thought.

It had been over a month of waiting for the Yan Avii to complete their arduous mourning rituals for the Great Soltayne, over a month of living beneath the city in the secret Den of the Ilya under Ashi’s vigilant watch. She was the lone woman in a man’s world, and it did not make her pleasant. She always seemed to be out to prove her worth. The host of assassins in the Den changed each day, coming and going from the gloomy tunnels at all hours of the day, but each day, the Ilya woman remained.

Kale had not seen Salla since the prince had revealed his plans to use Kale’s and Kirra’s gifts to ensure his place as the next Great Soltayne. Though Salla, by inheritance, took his father’s place as soltayne of the Burodai tribe, the leader of all the tribesmen was chosen by lots, and the honor had never before passed to the son of the previous Great Soltayne. Salla would need more than the help of fate, or Arayeva, to gain the throne. He needed Watcher magic.

Salla had remained in the world above, performing his princely duty in the palace, and in the short time they’d spent together, Kale had been unable to discern Salla’s true schemes. Salla was practiced in the art of protecting his mind, and Kale had been too preoccupied with thoughts of Kirra.

Though Kirra was part of Salla’s plan, Kale had not seen her. He had not sensed her since the day he’d arrived in the Red City. This fact drove him nearly mad, but as long as Kirra was in Salla’s hands, Kale was forced to comply with Ashi’s brusque nature.

“Dress quickly,” said Ashi, holding out a set of clothes. “We must be to the palace before evening prayer.”

Kale took the bundle of clothes, but Ashi remained where she stood, arms crossed over her chest.

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