The Descendants Book One: The Broken Scroll Read online

  The Descendants: Book One

  The Broken Scroll

  By:

  Kurt W. Smith

  Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1 The Power of the Few

  Chapter 2 Dreams and Announcements

  Chapter 3 Secrets in the Forest

  Chapter 4 The Wanderer

  Chapter 5 The Army Arrives

  Chapter 6 Alliance of Two

  Chapter 7 The Ancients’ War

  Chapter 8 Unexpected Visitors

  Chapter 9 An Old Friend and a Captive

  Chapter 10 An Evening of Disillusionment

  Chapter 11 The Skills of An Ancient

  Chapter 12 The Lost Driocht Scroll

  Chapter 13 A Hasty Departure

  Chapter 14 The Learner’s Trials

  Chapter 15 Intertwined Paths

  Chapter 16 A King’s Ailment

  Chapter 17 The Girl in the Slums

  Chapter 18 The Company of Fugitives

  Chapter 19 The Union of Consciousness

  Chapter 20 The Guardians of the High Passes

  Chapter 21 The Lady of the Lake

  Chapter 22 A Fateful Decision

  Chapter 23 The Madness Spreads

  Chapter 24 The Former Grand Soldiers

  Chapter 25 The Seeds of Dissent

  Chapter 26 A Mother’s Gift

  Chapter 27 The March Begins

  Chapter 28 The Ruins of Omela

  Chapter 29 Beneath the City

  Chapter 30 The Race to the Throne Room

  Chapter 31 The Unforeseen Deception

  Chapter 32 As Thunder Cracks

  Prologue – Five Years Earlier

  The hallway of the great castle was dim, not quite dim enough to require candlelight just yet, but it held a sort of growing darkness, the kind that appears at twilight without announcement.

  The middle-aged prince stood near the door of his father’s chamber, waiting and sweating. The door remained closed for the time being. His father, the current king, had no idea he was on the other side. But he would know soon.

  For a few more moments, the prince was alone in the hallway. Then footsteps sounded from far away. The prince cocked his head, listening. They increased in volume until a second man stood next to the first.

  “Good news, we have the Scholar now in captivity,” said the second man, dressed in a soldier’s garb. “The information he has will prove useful. We can begin our search soon.”

  The prince took a deep breath. “Only one thing remains.”

  “Yes.” The soldier looked at the chamber door for the first time. I hope you are ready.”

  The prince opened his mouth and clamped it down again in resolve. “I am…if this is the only way.”

  “You know that it is. The king does not want the same things we want. And I could do little to sway him. It has to be done this way.”

  “We have been planning this moment for so long, First Captain.”

  “Yes, and now there can be no hesitation.” The soldier stared at the prince. “You deserve this land. Take it. We will never have our way while he lives.”

  The prince nodded and stepped forward. He opened the door in front of him and saw the king standing over the hearth, warming himself and reading.

  “Son, what brings you to my chambers-,”

  “Quiet, father. And this will be quick.”

  The prince sprang forward and pulled forth a knife and thrust it into the king’s abdomen.

  The king raised his hands, but it was too late. As he fell, the knife could be seen protruding from his body, red staining his bedclothes.

  The prince gawked for a moment at his dying father, but then was pulled from the chamber by the rough hands of his companion.

  When they were back in the hallway, the second man, who was the commander of the army, spoke. He was unable to contain a smile. “And now our reign begins. We will do great things together.”

  Chapter 1 The Power of the Few

  A crisp, biting wind blew as soldiers of the Grand Talamaraon Army arrived at the town of Daust with their prisoners. The people of Daust were prepared for the harsh winter that was rapidly approaching, but somehow the air seemed colder tonight. Perhaps it was a message from the Ancients that harder times lay ahead.

  “Wait here, while I fetch the governor,” First Captain Deverell said to his middle ranking soldiers as they, and the prisoners, stopped at the town gates.

  “Sir, shouldn’t we wait for the governor’s approval?” the soldier nearest Deverell asked.

  First Captain Deverell moved toward the soldier. He stopped and stood silently. His hand fell down at his side and returned with a small knife in its grasp.

  Waving it in front of the soldier’s face in a lazy motion, he frowned. “What was it that you were saying, First Tenant?”

  The man noticeably shook before his superior, but made great effort to hold strong. “Sir, I was just saying”-

  Deverell swiped him across the cheek with his knife in one swift movement. It left a small line that bled lightly. The soldier made no noise and closed his eyes, swallowing the pain.

  “I did not ask for your opinion, Dom,” Deverell replied coldly. The soldier stiffened and gave a sharp nod, offended and embarrassed.

  Egan of nowhere watched this from afar as he stood in line with the rest of the prisoners, taking in the unnecessary display of authority.

  An arrogant military leader, Egan thought, smiling ever so slightly. I could stop him, even with these chains on me. But it’s too soon.

  The voice of Governor Gradis sounded within the city gate. “When you are quite finished playing may we speak, First Captain Deverell?”

  Deverell cocked his head sideways and then straight again, popping his neck and frowning.

  As he stalked toward Governor Gradis, he smiled weakly, as if unimpressed. Or perhaps he was mad that the governor was addressing him so haughtily.

  The governors had all seen a quick rise to power, first as acting as advisors to the King, and then rising to their current positions. The price had been creating men who were greedy with their power and influence. But surely Deverell had supported and dealt with their nuisance because it meant more direct control over the people.

  And this added control was well worth it to him. The First Captain had made that clear in the short time Egan been one of his prisoners.

  “Amazing who the king considers capable of commanding our army,” Gradis said as he sauntered closer. “A bit young for such a responsibility, even at nearly thirty years of age. But I trust you are loyal and brave. If that is enough for the King, then it will be enough for me. Welcome to Daust, First Captain.”

  A breath of silence interrupted the proceedings. Neither man moved for a moment. Had this taken place in the presence of the king, they would have been punished for their lack of respect toward one another. But in this place the lack of the open palm slap to their left chest and arm shake would go unnoticed.

  Egan continued to watch, his interest in these two men growing with every word and gesture they shared.

  “Of course, Governor, I’ve being looking forward to seeing you again,” said Deverell, feigning respect and doing his best to hide boredom. “Are you enjoying your new post?”

  A thinner, frailer man Governor Gradis could not have been, complete with beady eyes and grey skin. His gaunt appearance was off-putting, making him seem nothing more than a skeleton in clothing.

  “It goes well enough here.” Gradis answered. “However, I am not fond of the Guild Leaders being appointed to advise the king in mine and my fellow governors’ place.”

  Deverell moti
oned for his men to start bringing the prisoners into the town.

  “Can you not see why?” he asked, stepping into stride with the governor as they started walking.

  “Enlighten me. I do not have the luxury of regular audiences with the king anymore.”

  “Well, it is quite simple. Government prying further into the lives of its people is never accepted well. He had to give them something. The Noble Guilds represent nearly every profession in the kingdom and in turn most of its people.”

  “Yes. I suppose that is acceptable.”

  Deverell’s grip on his sword tightened. Egan took this as a sign that Deverell felt the governor was overstepping his bounds. “It had better be, governor. It is the king’s decision.”

  The people of Daust began to leave their homes to look at the parade of people marching into town. Since Daust was a major thoroughfare for travel, the inhabitants of Daust had seen more than their fair share of the King’s army through the years. They were used to travelers staying over in their town. These captives were not merely travelers, however.

  A butcher, who had waited patiently in his porch, finally spoke out, “What is the meaning of this? Some of this town actually sleeps at night.”

  Governor Gradis rolled his eyes and spoke in a warning tone. “This doesn’t concern you Zandt. Hold your tongue tonight.”

  “I will not be silent, what is the meaning of this ruckus?”

  “Be quiet, man, or I shall hang you from the rafters of your shop!” the young First Captain shouted. Zandt, who was shocked by Deverell’s order, stood quietly and watched the scene unfold.

  Both Gradis and Deverell turned back to face one another.

  Gradis had carried himself up to this point with an air of superiority, in an attempt to intimidate the man in front of him. It hadn’t worked so far. First Captain Deverell was a tall, broad man. Muscle exuded from every inch of him. He stood a full six inches taller than the governor.

  “Thank you for your hospitality,” Deverell said with a coldness that overrode his words. “I trust you have made sufficient accommodations for my men?”

  “For a short time. The people here have been commanded to give you access to whatever you may need while you stay. All you need is at your disposal.”

  Egan paid close attention to the conversations wherever they went. It wasn’t the first time that First Captain Deverell’s army had brought prisoners into this particular town, merely the circumstances had changed. King O’Hara’s public campaign was to rid the known world of miscreants and criminals. He was busy sending his army to the farthest reaches of the kingdom to achieve these goals. Currently they were on their way back to the capital, where the prisoners would be jailed.

  Not all of them. He could have fought, certainly. But allowing himself to be caught had worked to his advantage. He’d learned much in his short time in captivity.

  “Your arrangements are acceptable. We trust you will allow us to tend to our business now. Good evening to you,” Deverell ended bluntly.

  Gradis turned and began to walk away, but hesitated after a few short steps and turned around. Deverell watched him. Egan knew what was happening. It had something to do with the real reason why the army was traipsing the countryside looking for criminals of all types. But the answer still eluded him.

  “First Captain,” he started, “I do have one question for you. I was wondering if you have found anything of particular interest yet.”

  “I’m not quite sure what you mean, why don’t you try being less cryptic?” he answered.

  “Don’t be an imbecile. You know good and well what I am referring to.”

  “Do I?” said Deverell, staring into the distance with a blank look in his eye. He cocked his head sideways, heard another pop, and then straightened it.

  “I am quite certain.”

  Deverell did not appear to be in a gaming mood. And he had to fear that those interested and educated enough would figure what the army was really up to.

  “In this city, I am in charge. You have no authority over me here,” Gradis said nastily, pointing to the fifty some odd men in chains behind First Captain Deverell. “We both know what is in store for them when they reach the capital. King O’Hara isn’t as forgiving as his father was.”

  “I do believe you are mistaken as to where the authority falls here,” Deverell said in a warning tone. “And even if you did command my respect, O’Hara would take my side. I am not without my own influence on the king.”

  Gradis inched closer to Deverell. “Tell me or you and your men will not be resting here tonight.”

  “Now is not the time for this, governor.” He grabbed Gradis’ arm with force and squeezed. “For your best interest, I suggest you leave this matter alone.”

  “Get your hand off of me,” Gradis said through clenched teeth.

  Egan let out a frustrated sigh. Great, both of them are hot heads. This won’t end well.

  Facing the collection of weary prisoners, Gradis addressed them. “Line up, all of you, or you will not be fed tonight.”

  At Gradis’ words they sprang upright and formed a single line. The chill from the wind made it nearly impossible to stand in one place. Most of the prisoners were shivering, but they did their best not to move. Egan had to admit that it was cold tonight, but he had a thicker skin than the average man.

  “Another oversight on your part, governor,” Deverell shouted, his voice raised for the first time. “These men are not within your authority either.”

  Gradis raised his arms into the air, palms out. In one was a reddish-orange ball of flawless, glass-like material, only a couple of inches in diameter. The inside of the ball held a foggy liquid substance. “If you won’t show me, I will find him myself.”

  “Where did you find a Driocht orb?”

  “It is not relevant, First Captain.”

  “You,” Gradis said to Egan.

  Egan looked up at him quickly and stared. His face was dirty, unshaven, and rough. He wore tattered, old clothing and had a ratted mess of hair. Although, despite his disheveled appearance, anyone could see he was extremely muscular and a not entirely unhandsome.

  “Yes, sir,” he answered, his voice low and gravelly.

  “What is your name?” Gradis asked.

  “Egan, sir.”

  “Come with me,” he grabbed Egan’s arm and dragged him to the front of the line where Governor Gradis was waiting.

  Driocht orb. This changes things.

  The orb began to glow when the governor was within a few feet the prisoner. Gradis’ grin widened. Gradis stared Egan up and down and then looked at the First Captain with bewilderment.

  “So you have found one them?”

  “We caught him just outside one of the abandon towers in the Blind Desert,” said Deverell. “He said he was looking for a woman he was traveling with, though he seemed barely coherent at the time.”

  “Did you find anything there?” Gradis asked Deverell, his chest beginning to heave with nervous energy.

  “We did an extensive search of the area and found this.”

  Deverell reached into a pack on one of the horses and pulled out a small sphere. This one was light green and it was of the same flawless glass-like material. Both were only a few inches in diameter.

  Gradis looked at Egan, “How did you find Driocht orbs? Surely you know that they are very rare and valuable as collector items. Few have ever come across them.”

  “I’ve never seen that before in my life. I don’t know what it is.”

  The first part is true, at least.

  “You are lying. Why should we believe you?”

  “Look at me,” Egan gestured at himself, “I have nothing. I figured a life in prison and a meal in my stomach was better than nothing.”

  “Pitiful,” Gradis said.

  He began pacing back and forth. The wind howled around them as if intentionally masking their conversation from the townsfolk. If Egan was who the Gradis thought he was, the king wo
uld be most pleased.

  The governor spoke again, “I will ask you this once and I expect a truthful answer. Are you or are you not a Descendant?”

  “You would like to know, wouldn’t you?”

  “Don’t play with me. He held up the glass sphere. “If this orb glows in your presence than you are connected to them. So tell me the truth. Are you one of them?”

  I am tired of this man already.

  “No idea what you’re talking about. And I would not tell you if I did.”

  Gradis sneered and looked murderous. “I think we should have a special punishment for this one.”

  “Whatever you say,” Egan growled.

  Gradis held the dark red, dimly glowing sphere out at arm’s length until it almost touched Egan’s chest. The sphere began to glow brighter until it lit up the majority of the town square.

  “You would be wise to do nothing else,” the First Captain shouted, now sounding nervous. “Clearly you do not understand the power he has with that orb.”

  Gradis drew a surprised breath. “So you admit it now, Deverell. He isn’t a normal man.” Gradis turned back to the prisoner. “You are surely overreacting, though. I want to see what he can do,” Gradis spoke, shaking with excitement.

  They both looked at Egan, whose face was strained as he was pulled against his restraints.

  This had better work.

  “Yes, show us.” He laughed at Egan mockingly. “You are one of them, aren’t you? This is most excellent.”

  Deverell drew his sword and placed it raised it to Gradis’ throat. The governor drew a sharp breath and stiffened, the laughter dying from his face. “Stop this or I will take your life.”

  Egan looked up at the governor with a grimace, his face turning redder as the seconds past.

  And then he spoke with a confident calmness. “You should have listened to the First Captain.”

  “You don’t scare me. I know how this power works.” Gradis held the orb up to his face and the glow of it made his thin face become ghostly.

  “I wouldn’t give him a reason to hurt you, governor. You don’t know what kind of abilities he may have,” Deverell said.

  “What do you know about it?” Gradis snapped, and then turned back to Egan.