The Descendants Book One: The Broken Scroll Read online

  Seconds later he plopped down into his bed and drifted into weary sleep. At first, his dreams were silly. Roland and Niahm were doing a jig around his cabin. Soldiers were burying his body as he stared back at them. This slowly shifted, however, and shortly he realized he was as aware of the events around him as if awake.

  There were bright, elegant buildings standing before him. They weren’t modern, but old structures from long ago. There was oddness and a grace in their design, abstract yet beautiful. Every building Davin had ever seen consisted of sharp corners and a rectangular frame. These were perfectly rounded off at every corner and bulged wildly like puffy clouds at various intervals, not conforming to the laws of gravity that dictated how normal structures stood. Their walls were unfamiliar to him as well, not giving the appearance of brick, wood, or even stone. They glowed off-white and looked so smooth and fine they could have been made from silk.

  There was some sort of familiarity about the location. The light that radiated off everything calmed him. It was almost holy. He realized what the light was. It was the same pure light from the clearing in the Ancient Forest.

  He stepped further toward the light and saw that this place was more like a city. The light and the buildings of all shapes and sizes went on for leagues in every direction. Hard stone walkways, with intricately carved swirling designs, stretched out like a spider web from one building to the next all the way out to the far reaches of the clearing. Somehow the people who lived in this place even managed to create walkways and bridges in the air without the use of supports. They too glowed softly.

  Candles and torches had no place here. The holy light sat in the air, spread throughout the place in tiny balls like fireflies. It illuminated all. The holy light existed in everything and was everything.

  Looking to the edge of the city, he saw thick trees lining it. He knew where he was. This was the clearing he had been to hundreds of times, only a thousand years earlier. The familiarity of the holy light and thickness of the forest around the city gave it away. Why was he here in his dreams though? There had to be a purpose.

  Finally, Davin finished admiring the spectacle before him and saw them. He was not alone. Living human beings were moving amongst the structures. They all traveled in small groups of five or six and never with any sort of haste. The ones that weren’t walking around could be seen eating at great stone tables or meditating quietly. None of them noticed him.

  Davin traveled further into the mysterious place, still wondering when someone would turn their attention to the stranger in their midst.

  He was stopped in his tracks at last when he spied another large group of these people in a sort of practice grounds. He stood in disbelief of what he saw. Some of them were commanding fire, light, water, and other elements from completely within their bodies. Others fought with blades at a speed Davin could hardly comprehend.

  And yet another group was perhaps the most incredible of all. Davin had to move closer to confirm what he saw. Two members of the group stood face to face, each with a small vile of liquid in their hands. One of them would drink the liquid and collapse to the ground, unmoving. The other would confirm his death to the others. There was no emotional response, as if this was routine. At once, the living one would place his hand on the chest of his friend. Seconds passed as the holy light transferred to the dead man and he rose, completely healed and fully alive.

  That confirms it, this is just a dream, nothing more, Davin thought.

  Several new figures began to traverse out from behind the building next to him. The holy light radiated from them as well. Robs covered their feet. This gave the illusion that they were floating. For all Davin knew, they could have been.

  One of the women turned and saw him. Davin suddenly grew afraid. This was the first person to pay him any mind. With their powers, he feared what she might do to him. He slid behind the closest building, hoping she wouldn’t come to investigate.

  The texture of the building was pillow-like. It seemed to mold to his touch, unlike anything he’d ever experienced.

  Davin tensed as the woman came around the corner to find him.

  “Davin,” she called. His words caught in his throat. He couldn’t answer.

  She continued, “Do not be afraid, Davin. I am glad you came. Though, I know you are troubled. Why did you hide from me, Son of Old?”

  “You can see me?”

  “Yes,” she confirmed, without hesitation.

  Davin’s eyes widened with realization. She was the one who called to him in his dreams. She also spoke the phrase that the Wanderer had said, except he had understood it this time. Davin found his voice.

  “Why have you been talking to me in my sleep?” he blurted out.

  “I have been trying to tell you what you are, but you have pushed me away.”

  “How can that be?” Davin asked confused, “How can I control what happens in my dreams?”

  She smiled in such a gentle way that it disarmed him. “You can. That is why you haven’t been here before now. Last night, when you met that man, you wanted to know more about your ancestry. Thus, you allowed me back into your mind. Now you are here.”

  Davin stared at her. She was the first one of these people he’d observed closely. He noticed she was very beautiful. Blonde curls of hair cascaded off her head like waterfalls billowing downward. Her eyes were a deep, dark blue and her skin flawless.

  “So then what am I?”

  She looked deep into his eyes. “You are one of very few left in this world. You are a Descendent of a race of people who existed in the beginning of time. They were called Ancients. This forest was their home. As you can see, it was beautiful once.”

  “Why am I just hearing about this now? Why didn’t my parents tell me sooner?” Davin queried.

  She did not hesitate. It was like she had been waiting to say this for a long time. Her words flowed out of her with the power and smoothness of a polished sword. She had been waiting for him and no one else.

  “One can only know when they are at the age of Awakening. It is the age of seventeen. The age you just became. Your powers have come forth have they not?”

  “Yes,” Davin nodded, not wanting to interrupt. Then he thought of his parents and became anxious.

  “So then do you know what happened to my parents? Were they Descendants too?”

  She shook her head sadly. “Of course, but I can tell you no more than that. I am only the lingering soul of a woman that existed long ago. I know only enough to tell you who you are and very little else. I am sorry.”

  “What does that mean exactly?”

  She again didn’t hesitate to answer. “Our people discovered a way to become eternal, but not in a complete sense, only to convey messages to future descendants. Very few could actually achieve this power. It took great discipline and much solitude. We who did this gave up a large portion of our lives to obtain it. My knowledge is limited to these few things I am telling you.”

  Davin frowned. He hoped she would be more informative. His temper flared shortly, and he did his best to quell it. Shouldn’t she have infinite knowledge if she has existed all this time? When he said nothing, she continued. This time it was with more urgency.

  “You must know that you have power beyond any normal man. You will need to develop your gifts and become strong. There are not many of you left. Your world will need you before the end.”

  Davin grunted. This was ridiculous. There was no way he was going to get involved in something like a conflict in the land.

  “What end? What exactly is happening here?” Davin exclaimed.

  “Things are set in motion in your world right now that will endanger the Descendants that are left. There are those who have the power to oppose your kind. If these events are not stopped, the entire world could be in danger.”

  Davin couldn’t deny the seriousness of this statement, but he still had trouble believing it. It did sound quite outrageous. He shook his head in defiance.


  “Why do I have to do anything? Didn’t you say that there are others like me? Let them handle it.” He taunted her purposefully.

  For the first time she looked sad. “No one can force you to do anything, Davin. However, I feel that you will find yourself in the culmination of these events one way or another.”

  “That sounds like the same thing to me. How can I decide for myself if it is inevitable?”

  “You will have a choice; there is no doubt of that.” She paused, half turning to see the other Ancients. “I must go. Goodbye, Davin, Son of Old.”

  “Wait! Can’t you tell me what these events are? You must know.”

  She shook her head again in a slow fluid motion. “I can merely sense the danger to our people. Nothing more. Goodbye.”

  She turned and slowly made her way back to where the others. Davin stood speechless. He had more questions but knew she would be no more help.

  As he watched her rejoin the other Ancients, the scene dissolved and he awoke in his cabin.

  It was still dark. The moonlight, presently, danced on the walls as it shone through the trees outside. This made Davin feel like he was still dreaming, though he knew he wasn’t now.

  He cursed to himself and slammed his fist down on the edge of the bed, grimacing as it started to ache.

  He was wide awake now. Thinking of nothing else to do he got up and walked outside. He stomped a few feet away from his cabin and folded onto his knees in the grass.

  ”I don’t want this!” he shouted into the night. The echo of his voiced reverberated into the hills beyond. He sat on the grass and let his mind sort itself out.

  So he was an Ancient, or at least the Descendant of one.

  What about my parents? He thought. Surely they had the same abilities, which would have improved their chances of surviving.

  This dream woman seemed to think that there was something stirring in this world that would require him to act. If there was something threatening the existence of his kind or the world, what was he going to do about it?

  He finally decided that he would wait it out. It was like the woman had said about his future. If she was right, then his fate would find him soon enough.

  ***

  The sunlight was scattering through the trees around Davin’s cabin. He was still lying in the grass, squinting in the morning light. He was definitely glad it was morning. Things made a lot more sense when one wasn’t drowsy.

  A loud, low-pitched horn sounded in the distance. It must have waked him when it sounded the first time. There was nothing that made that sound in Lemirre. It had to be the army.

  In a few short minutes Davin dressed and started down toward town himself.

  As Lemirre came into view he saw no sign of the army yet, but there was the scent of anxiety in the air. The town was bustling as always, but today it was with nervous energy. Several people ran into him as he strolled down the central street of town. Everyone was preparing for the visit, trying to get all of their morning shopping done before the army appeared. People ran all over the street in disorderly fashion with all sorts of goods in their hands.

  He finally found a path through the pandemonium to Roland’s shop. He saw through the window that Roland was hard at work inside.

  “Roland, don’t kill yourself trying to finish this. Just tell the First Captain it was an impossible task,” Davin asked as he rounded the doorway.

  Roland stopped working and looked at Davin, obviously thinking hard about his words. He had definitely struggled with the decision.

  “You’d better be right about this,” said Roland firmly. Straightening up and smiling he continued, “Now, are you going to behave yourself for the army?”

  Davin snorted in amusement. “Is anyone? I thought this town didn’t care about all that.”

  Roland gestured to the mild chaos outside his shop. “You wouldn’t know the way they’re carrying on out there.”

  “We talk big,” Davin agreed, “but when it comes down to it everyone is just as afraid as the other. You and I both know this town would never make a stand against anything.”

  “Well, the sooner the army moves out, the sooner we can move on, right?”

  “Exactly,” Davin replied. If only he truly believed that were true. The Ancient in his dream had said there would be conflict ahead. He had to tell Roland now about what he had heard. He didn’t know how many chances he was going have after this conversation.

  “Roland…” he started after a few long moments.

  Davin didn’t get the words out. The low horn sounded again. This time it was much closer. In fact it sounded like it was right outside. Davin stepped out and looked. His mouth dropped.

  The army was marching up the central street in rows of ten. They were clad in bright, shimmering silver armor. Blue accents ran along the forehead of the helmet. The armor of shoulders, waistline, and calves all held similar blue accents. They in were perfect unison and ran about ten rows deep. It looked as if only one half regiment had come.

  Roland joined Davin outside. He examined the army for a moment. “There aren’t enough soldiers here for even a Dous Captain to be commanding, much less the First Captain himself. Odd, isn’t it?”

  “What do you bet it has something to do with those soldiers we saw in the forest?”

  Roland nodded.

  People were now stopping to watch the parade of soldiers. They formed along both sides of the street and spilled over into adjoining streets. Davin and Roland joined the crowds. Just when Davin began to wonder when the line would stop, he heard an unseen man call out.

  “Halt!” a voice sounded, smooth and high. There was tightness in it that commanded authority.

  The townsfolk had now created a half circle around the army. The crowd extended down the street on both sides of the soldiers, everyone cramming to get as close to the scene as possible.

  The First Captain definitely was a man with a powerful presence, despite being young in years. Raising his hands in a sort of greeting, he addressed the crowd.

  “Good day to you all. I am First Captain Cygnus Deverell, Commander of the Grand Army. We come here en route to Slainte. This is merely a stopover in which we are to resupply with new equipment and rations. As long you don’t get in the way of our business, you have nothing to fear.”

  He paused as if looking around to make sure his words were sinking in.

  He continued, “Now, since you were not appointed a governor, where is the elected official of Lemirre?”

  Several people in the crowded street exchanged glances with one another. No one seemed bold enough to speak up. First Captain Deverell chuckled softly to himself, amused by the response that he had received.

  “First Tenant, Thomas, will you fetch the man known as Tralton? I don’t have time for this,” Deverell grumbled impatiently.

  Before the First Tenant could answer, Edmund Tralton stepped out of his home. It was located only a short distance from where the First Captain stood. Deverell spotted the elected lord of Lemirre coming towards him and acknowledged him with a nod. He smiled kindly, but his eyes remained cold.

  Everyone knew Tralton to be a cheery old man. And most seemed intrigued by how he would take the First Captain’s unfriendly demeanor.

  “My lord, Deverell, “he began,” it’s good to see you again.” Tralton reached out to shake the man’s hand. When Deverell didn’t oblige, he pulled his hand back quickly, apparently unfazed. The man was too aloof most of the time to really be bothered anyway.

  Tralton continued when Deverell said nothing. “Perhaps you don’t remember me, sir. We met once at the Capital. I was a guest lecturer at the Acadeems. You were training new recruits. It was some time ago now that I think about it. Must have been-“

  “That will do, Lord Tralton, “Deverell cut him off.

  “Um, right, of course, sir,” Tralton fumbled. Deverell’s interruption left him at a loss for what to say next.

  Deverell broke the silence. “Where is your black
smith? One of my Dous Captains issued him an order of equipment some time ago. I have his name here.” Deverell consulted a slip of parchment that he had pulled out of a side pouch. Before he could say the name, Tralton offered it himself.

  “Ah, yes, sir, you must mean Roland,” Tralton answered quickly, gaining his peppiness back, “this way, this way.”

  Deverell gritted his teeth for a moment behind Tralton, clearly irritated about having been preempted. Tralton turned back and Deverell fell into step behind him.

  The two men left the circle of people gathered around the army. Everyone watched them as they left.

  Davin noticed Roland was no longer with him. He took special interest in this and was slightly worried. Having seen this Deverell in person now, he was beginning to doubt the man had a forgiving manner. Prack may have been right for once. Deverell didn’t seem like the kind of man who would take excuses well.

  Davin slipped through the crowd, trying to keep up with Deverell and Tralton. He kept some distance between himself and the other two, even though he didn’t think they would have noticed him following. There were still several people rushing to see the soldiers.

  As they reached Roland’s shop a minute later, he slipped hastily under the window and listened began to listen to the voices coming from inside.

  Deverell was speaking, “-and you didn’t find it important enough to finish an order for the army on time?”

  “No, sir…I mean yes, sir. I did. You must understand, it was a large order,” Roland shook nervously.

  “We gave you plenty of notice.”

  “I’m sorry, sir. I could have it for you by tonight if you would allow me. I will not rest until I’m finished.”

  Davin crawled forward to the doorway and peeked in. He could see Roland cowering slightly behind his work bench. Deverell had turned his back to him.

  “Why should I give you another chance? You have failed me on this task.”

  Roland shuddered. “What do you plan to do to me? I will not fail you again, sir. I promise you.”

  Deverell turned sharply back around and smacked him hard on the cheek. Roland made no indication of pain, but his head stayed turned to the side.