Splintered Fate (31 page)

“
He killed Earmon.”

Lana’s head jerked towards Kirill at the name
of her fathers Aorra. “How?”

“
Aorra’s are in a small way
similar but still different then what Madonians can create, like
that blade you just held. But they differ in that Aorra’s are truly
alive. They are souls that bind with our own and our subconscious
creates them. Normally when a Madonian creates something they need
to hold on to it, to anchor it to the world. Think about it, the
concentration required for you to hold a blade you create. But our
Aorra’s stand on their own, effortless to their Madonian. That’s
because in a way they are their own entity. They are threaded
together by our strength combined with their own. My father has
found a way to undo those threads.”

Lana could only stare at Kirill,
unable to speak. For some reason she believed him, yet had no
reason to. There was something about him, he reminded her more now
of the boy she used to know as a child instead of the monster he
had grown up to be. Despite everything, she trusted his
words.

“
Lana, he can turn an Aorra to
dust.”

“
If he was this powerful he would
control all the Lands by now.” She said, shaking her head, not
wanting to believe him. If what he was telling her was true it
would cost a lot more lives to take out Arkhip than Lana had
thought, she wasn't even sure if it would be possible.

“
His strength has a limit. He
cannot fight everyone at once. Your Rami friend is capable of
sharing his strength with you, I saw it. Well Arkhip can take
strength from a Rami in their death. I have seen him do it, and
before you and your friend I used to think that his was the only
way it was possible.”

“
How does he do it?”

“
He has to be close to them, which
is why he likes to kill in close quarters. In the moments of a
Rami’s death they release energy and Arkhip knows how to draw the
energy to himself. Which is why this war is so good for him. After
it ends he may have enough power to take out the few Madonians that
can challenge him.”

“
Why are you telling me this? Why
are you even here?”

“
I want to help you.”

“
Help?” Her eyes
narrowed.

“
Help kill Arkhip.”

“
You said I would die trying.”
Could he really be serious about wanting to kill his own
father?

“
If you planned on doing it alone,
you would. I could be a great asset.”

Lana scoffed at that. After all
this time, the countless attempts she had tried to get Kirill to
see things her way and failed, now he wanted to help. Now that she
no longer wanted anything to do with him. “How will you be able to
help? Why are you doing this? Why should I even trust a thing you
say?”

“
For years Arkhip has lied to me,
he used me. He controlled me and I could not break that control
until I learned of how truly dark his soul is. I thought he loved
me… I have done things… Things that I regret. I have hurt many
people. You were one of the few friends I had as a child, a true
friend. You are the only one in my life who had ever showed me true
kindness, even if it were when we were children. I do not know if
you would ever be able to accept me as a friend again. But, I can
at least help you in this. You have no reason to trust me, I know,
but I hope that you can try.”

Lana stared at the stonewall behind Kirill.
Maintaining eye contact with Kirill Dukran, trying to see whether
he seemed honest or not with every word he said was wearing on her.
She had to look away, to peel her eyes from his steel
hold.

After a moment Lana turned and
walked out of the room, without a word or look in his direction.
Kirill let her leave without a single plea for his life or safety,
without a single question of what was to happen to him here in
Alogrin. He asked for nothing for himself, and Lana didn’t
understand it. How a man like him could forfeit his power and
security, forfeit his sword, blindly be lead into a city, only to
then answer her questions without once even asking his own. This
was not something she ever thought him capable of.

Shutting the door, Lana locked it
behind her and walked past the guard that was posted by Kirill’s
comfortable cell. She walked down the hall and turned the corner,
stopping once out of sight to regain composure. Her hands were
trembling.

Ardin neared her. She turned to
her Aorra, knelt down and hugged him. With a touch she let him in,
sharing with him what had gone on with Kirill while Ardin helped
sooth her. He was a breath of air, her anchor.

You believe
him?
Ardin asked when Lana finally
released him from her grip.

She sighed, staring at her gray eyed
wolf.

I don’t know…

Chapter

Sixteen

The next week went by without any
more surprises. Lana had not gone back to see Kirill again. She
didn't want to. However, the persistent heaviness of his presence
in Alogrin never left her. It dimmed the light she had felt while
in this great city and she hated him for it.

As time went on Lana had grown
increasing frustrated by the Alogrins slow response to her request
for assistance. They had not agreed to help nor had they ruled out
the possibility of it, leaving Lana clutching to hope that they
would eventually support her. In the mean time her frustration of
Alogrins sloth like decision making forced her to begin thinking of
trying to get help elsewhere.

When Lana was young she was taught
at Ucu. There she was taught by instructors who seemed to have a
limitless knowledge. They knew of her lands, of the people, of
history, of Madonian and Rami strengths and weaknesses. With such
vast knowledge, Lana began thinking that perhaps the instructors
could be of assistance in taking down Arkhip Dukran. At first she
only discussed it with Ardin. Once she decided that this was indeed
something she wanted to try she went to Kaiden.

Thankfully Kaiden was eager to
join her on this venture. They both had good experiences at Ucu and
it was, after all, the place they had first met. None of this would
have been happening without the school on the little
moon.

Lana and Kaiden had decided that
they would try and go to the bridge, a temple on their land that is
linked to the moon planet. The bridge could only be opened once a
moon cycle. This was when the small moon lined up perfectly between
the large moon and their planet. There was a window of several
minutes that someone could be transported to and from Ucu, in two
back-to-back days. The first day was always used to return current
students and the second was to bring in the new ones. But now that
war had begun, the instructors would not permit new students to
enter the bridge and go the school.

With no children being taken to
Ucu during this moon cycle, Lana hoped that the instructors would
at least allow them entrance, if for but a few minutes. She was
desperate for their help, surely they would see the benefit in
assisting her in taking down Arkhip.

Lana did not ask for the council’s
assistance in this matter for they did not know of the Ucu
Instructors like she and Kaiden did. The only thing Lana wanted the
Alogrinian council to help her with was the fight against Arkhip’s
growing control of the lands. That is how Alogrin could
help.

The journey to the bridge would be
done with Kaiden, it was not something Alogrin had to be troubled
with. Those in Alogrin lived in their own safe bubble and
doubtfully knew much about the instructors on the moon. They
certainly never sent their young ones there. However, there was one
evening Lana decided to ask Zorin for his opinion.

Zorin believed that the
Instructors were not of their lands and thus have no right to
meddle in Madonian or Rami business. That when the Instructors
first came they seemed to know more of the powers within Madonian
and Rami people than the people themselves even knew. Zorin’s
ancestors were the first to set up a treaty with the Instructors so
they could train the children for one moon cycle. The instructors
had promised to never meddle in the business of the
lands.

After the Great War the
instructors set up a decree that they would not take children if
war were to break out. This was their way to try and promote peace
amongst the people of the lands. Even though the instructors had
many rules to keep themselves from being overly involved in the
business of the lands, Zorin was certain of their meddling. He
believed that they could not be trusted and more harm than good
would come from Lana’s visit.

After learning of Zorin’s distaste for the
Instructors, Lana kept her plans between Ardin, Kaiden, and herself
or so she assumed.

“
So what are your plans for the
future, young Casteel?” Donn asked when he released her from his
warm embrace.

“
Just trying to get help for a
future for the Rami and Madonians, same as it has been.”

“
Is that so?” Donn asked, raising
a white eyebrow.

“
Lana!!” Nadina called out as she
and Alex ran to her. They were all meeting by the warm spring this
morning. Lana had promised them that she would spend the entire day
with them.

“
Yes, it is so.” Lana said to
Donn, answering his questioning before turning to the approaching
children. Lana tensed for the embrace as Nadina and Alex ran into
her from each side. Wrapping her arms around the children, she
clutched them to her tightly before releasing them.

“
Hey guys!” She smiled at the two
beaming faces.

“
Well okay. But remember, some
shouldn’t be trusted.” Donn replied to Lana, lowly over her
shoulder.

Lana gave Donn a sideways gaze. “What do you
know?” She asked in wonder.

Donn stood nearby with a mischievous grin
underneath his white beard. He shrugged and then Nadina and Alex
pulled Lana’s attention away.

“
Where is Kaiden?” Alex asked,
eager to see the Rami who was now in a way a mentor. The two had
grown incredibly close during their time in Alogrin. Kaiden was the
one who helped Alex see the potential in his gifts and taught him
how to use it for something he enjoyed. Becoming the best archer
was Alex’s new dream and he had Kaiden to thank for it.

“
I’m not sure, I told him we were
going to meet here this morning. He will probably be here soon.”
Lana replied with a warm smile. “What would you guys like to do in
the mean time?”

“
Can we go swimming?” Alex asked,
squinting through the sunlight.

“
How about this. First a little
game and then swimming after.”

“
What’s the game?” Alex
suspiciously inquired, folding his arms in front of him.

“
Say the three of us went on a
dangerous journey together and on this journey I injured my leg
with a break. I need to rest a while. You two go find whatever you
can to help in this small bit of woods here. It can be something
for my injury or food. Bring it back and we can go over if it is
truly safe to eat or how it can be used and so on.”

“
Okay!” Alex and Nadina spoke in
unison. They both enjoyed puzzles and that is what this was, a type
of puzzle, but one with practical use.

“
Oh and Nadina, where is Nila?”
Lana asked.

“
She is hunting rabbit! One day
she hopes to be equal to Ardin’s rabbit hunting skills.” Nadina
enthusiastically replied.

“
Okay good. She can’t help you in
this. Just the two of you, okay?”

“
Why?”

“
You may not always have your
Aorra to help, and in that case it’s good if you can do this
without the use of her aid. Now, ready, set, go!” The kids began
running into the small wooded area. “But don’t take too long!” Lana
called out as the children disappeared behind the trees.

“
These aren’t wild woods. They
won’t find much of use in there.” Donn said to Lana while watching
his grandkids vanish into the small wooded area.

“
It’s still practice.” Lana
replied with a shrug before narrowing her eyes on the old man.
“What is it that you think I am planning on doing, Donn?” Lana
asked, referring to the conversation they were beginning to have
before Alex and Nadina had arrived.

“
What would I know?” Donn
answered.

“
Stop being coy with
me.”

“
Coy, me? Nooo.”

“
Yes, coy.” Lana said teasingly,
while Donn smiled a sly smile.

“
I have my suspicions on what you
may have planned... So I urge you to be careful and be wise. Not
everyone who helped you and taught in your past is truly here to
help. Some who seem to be out for your best interests are actually
only out for their own.”

“
You’re speaking of the
Instructors?”

“
You saying my suspicions are
true?”

Lana stared at Donn with a small
smile while shaking her head. “You are not the most straightforward
man, Donn.”

“
It is true. I have my
ways.”