Chapter 11 Samanya
“Listen, you can have her and even him,” Dustan pointed to Teyh, “and you can have the blade but I have to go get rid of Faizah first, if that’s alright with you.”
“I don’t think that’s going to happen.” The figure replied, staring at Dustan.
“Why?” Teyh asked, trying to get more out of the strange man.
“Because I am going to kill him.”
“What gives you the right? He slaughtered my family!” Dustan yelled.
“He is my father, and he killed my mother.” The figure replied, removing his hood.
“Well I do not think that you can argue with that Dustan.” Said Teyh.
Dustan spun around, pulling his sword from its sheath, “You stay out of this.” He hissed.
Well this isn’t accomplishing anything!
“Okay, I don’t see this going anywhere soon. So why don’t we all just settle down and talk this over like civilized people.” Said Ari.
“Why don’t we all put down our weapons and talk all this over at breakfast.” Teyh said his back felt like someone had set it on fire.
Dustan sighed, and sheathed his sword. The figure stood there for what seemed like hours; finally he released his hold on Ari and placed his dagger back in its sheath.
Ari looked up at her captor, “Now that we are acting more civilized,” she smiled brightly, “I think that we would all like to know your name.”
“Samanya.” He replied quickly
Chapter 12 Caught
Mosi ran through the tunnels, the young boy had fallen asleep in his arms. They had been traveling through the passageway for almost an hour, and Mosi’s arms were tiring.
Finally they reached the end of the hidden tunnel. A black marble wall seemed to block their way; Mosi placed the boy down and pushed three slabs in slightly. Opening the hidden door, golden streams of light lit up the tunnel. Mosi handed the boy a small cloak and a basket filled with a few days’ worth of food, and a map of the surrounding area.
“If you follow the directions I gave you all will be well.” Mosi said, fastening the cloak onto the boy.
“Thank you Mosi.”
“Don’t mention it, Feyh.” Mosi replied, giving the young boy a hug.
Feyh released Mosi and hurried off towards the mountains. When Mosi could no longer see Feyh he sealed the secret door and headed back towards the castle when…
~~~
Samanya held Dustan against the tree, his hand firmly around his throat. Dustan grabbed his spare knife from its hiding place and swiftly cut Samanya’s right cheek. But he did not release Dustan after a thousand years of fighting and searching nothing could make him release his grasp.
Ari and Teyh had their swords drawn the minute he had pushed Dustan against the tree. Teyh ran up to them, holding his sword to Samanya’s back. Samanya took out his dagger with his left hand and threw it behind him. The blade landed firmly on the edge of Teyh’s boot, just in front of his toe.
“You missed Samanya, let him go.”
“No I always hit my mark.” He replied darkly.
Ari walked over sheathing her sword, “Listen this is not going to help anyone if you two keep fighting!” Samanya glanced at her before returning to Dustan. “We all want the same thing so why don’t we work together? Because I do not care how confident the two of you are but none of you can kill Faizah by yourselves.”
Samanya glared at Ari, she was right he could not defeat his father on his own…he needed them and they needed him.
~~~
“Soroush.” Mosi tried to conceal his emotions, his heart pounded like a drum in his chest he was almost certain Soroush could hear it.
Soroush grabbed Mosi and dragged him back towards the castle. He had an unhealthy feeling about this…
~~~
Gasparina entered he father’s chambers, he was waiting for her. Candles were lit all around the room, barely giving off enough light to see the dark lord.
“Father, you wanted to see me.” Gasparina said, holding back her fears it had been far too long since she had seen Mosi.
Faizah poured some black tea into a cup before responding. “Yes…yes I did.” He motioned toward one of the dark corners of the room, it lit up immediately revealing…
Chapter 13 Desert
Mosi! No…
Gasparina tried desperately to conceal her terror, her heart seemed to drop down to stomach. Soroush held his dagger to Mosi’s back, pushing him forward beside Faizah. The dark lord smiled slightly, Gasparina knew this would not end well.
“Where did you find him?” Gasparina asked, keeping her emotions intact and hidden away.
“In the old tunnels that lead out to the mountains.” Soroush replied, watching Gasparina closely.
Gasparina tried to look surprised, “What shall you have me do with him?”
Faizah picked up his tea, “Kill him.” Faizah took a sip of his tea.
“You would have me kill my only servant just for walking down an old passageway?” Gasparina responded strongly.
Mosi looked back and forth between the dark lord and Gasparina, if there was any way of getting him out of this situation it was her.
Faizah set his tea down, he looked at his daughter.
“I have rules in this castle and I expect them to be followed.” He stared at Mosi, his eyes turned black. “And when they are not followed I expect consequences to follow.”
“Then what will you have me do father?”
“Lock him up in chamber 2 and meet me there tonight.”
“Yes father.” Gasparina looked over at Mosi he seemed relieved but she knew that although he was not going to die he was going to wish he had…
~~~
Soroush led Mosi down the endless staircase towards the dungeons. Soroush was barely visible, his dark skin blended in perfectly with the black marble that made up most of the castle. They finally reached the stairs leading down to the dungeon.
A foul odor surrounded them along with the darkness, the torch was almost useless and Mosi felt like his heart was about to jump out of his chest. After this was finished he knew that death would have seemed like the better choice.
~~~
Samanya pushed his gray mare into a canter, they had been traveling for only an hour. Dustan lead them through the remainder of the forest, Ari rode next to him and Teyh was just behind her.
They were taking the long way through the forest, the shorter path was filled with unsavory creatures and they could not afford another wounded or a delay of that sort.
Samanya had not spoken much since they had left and neither had Dustan. He did not trust anyone, but he had to find a way to get the blade and kill his father, but he could not do this alone.
~~~
Ari had tried to read Samanya’s mind but his barriers were seemingly impossible to break. She spurred Zyrian up beside Dustan.
“Dustan I have tried dozens of times and I cannot get anything out of him.” Dustan looked straight ahead, acting as if he had not even heard her.
Finally he responded, “He is Faizah’s son how can we trust him?”
Ari looked down at Zyrian, they did not know anything about him but yet she trusted him for some reason.
“Dustan the truth is we can’t. We do not know anything about him, but I cannot help but trust him for some reason.”
Dustan was shocked, how could she trust him?
“Ari he kidnapped you and held a knife to your throat, how can you of all people trust him?” Dustan hissed, trying to keep his voice down.
“Dustan I was with him for a while before you and Teyh showed up. He had already retrieved all the information that he needed to get to you, to get the blade.” She looked straight into his blue eyes. “He had no need of me, he could have killed me. He could have killed all of us. But he did not.”
She made sense he had had plenty of opportunities to get rid of them and take the blade but he did not. He had tried once but since then he had not even spoken a word.
“I think way down he knows that he needs us, and whether you admit it or not you know that we need him.”
Dustan continued to look straight ahead, he pulled Jheuri to a stop. Ari, Teyh did the same, Samanya continued forward, he stopped noticing that the others were not following him.
“Come on, why did y’all stop?” he asked annoyed.
Dustan looked ahead the land was covered in sand and no plant life was visible for miles. He returned his gaze to Samanya. “Because we need to make sure that we have enough water to survive out there!” He said, how could Samanya be so clueless.
Samanya smiled, “Dustan I know what I am doing. Trust me, I have gone through this place hundreds of times, literally.”
Teyh looked at Samanya, “Hundreds of times? Come on you are kidding.”
Samanya’s smile disappeared, “At least once a year since I was fifteen so I have done this nine hundred eighty-five times. So I think I know what I am doing.”
“Nine hundred eighty-five times? Did I hear that right?” Teyh asked shocked, Samanya laughed. Dustan and Ari were speechless.
How can he be that old?
“That’s not possible.” Said Ari, Samanya certainly did not look that old he looked younger than Dustan.
“Oh it’s possible when your father is not human.” Samanya smiled, the confusion and shock on their faces was priceless.
“Faizah is not human?” Dustan asked.
“Oh he is human he just has special…capabilities.” Samanya looked down, “My sister and I just inherited the one ability.”
“So you can only die if you are stabbed with the blade like your father?” Ari asked concerned.
“No…I can be killed like any of you.” He stared at Ari, her green eyes searched his, and strange feelings welled up inside him. Feelings he had bottled up and hidden away a long time ago. “So now that you know more about me can we please move on?"
“Lead the way.” Dustan said.
Chapter 14 True Feelings
Gasparina walked down the spiraling staircase leading down to the dungeons. Faizah walked beside her, his cup still in his hand. They made their way down the staircase and took a left down the hall with the torture chambers. Screams echoed through the passageway, on their left was chamber 2.
Faizah opened the door with his mind. Gasparina stepped into the dark chamber two chairs were up against the wall on the left facing Mosi. He was tied up by his hand on the ceiling, his wrists were swollen from being hung for so long, and he managed to smile when he saw her. Soroush stood behind him; all of his tools were laid out on a small table in the corner.
Faizah sat down and motioned for Gasparina to do the same. She sat in the chair and stared at Mosi.
I am sorry…I am so sorry.
Soroush picked up one of his favorite tools, a whip covered in glass with five hooks at the end. He got into position, Faizah gave the order. Mosi closed his eyes…
~~~
Feyh walked up the mountain. It would soon be dark outside and the food that Mosi had given him was wearing thin. He had to make it though he had to reach the top; he had to find him…
~~~
Faizah lifted his hand, ordering Soroush to stop. Soroush placed the whip down and exited the chamber. Faizah looked over at his daughter; she had strained to keep from showing her true feelings but to avail, he had seen it in her eyes. It was a dangerous thing, a strong one maybe but easily severed. No he would not break it now, it was too early and it could easily work to his advantage. He left without saying a word.
Gasparina ran up to Mosi and unchained his wrists. He was covered with blood. Chunks of his flesh had been torn from his body, he was close to death. Tears streamed down Gasparina’s face.
“I…I am so sorry. I…I…” Mosi creased her face gently.
“I know…my love…I know.” He tried to smile, wincing from the pain it caused him.
Gasparina called in two servants; they covered Mosi’s wounds with a white cloth and carefully picked him up. Gasparina lead them up the winding staircase and through the halls of the castle. They passed many servants who winced when they saw Mosi some even walked faster.
Finally they reached her courters. The two servants placed Mosi on Gasparina’s bed and left. Her chambers were nothing like the rest of the castle, the walls were a light shade of blue and everything was trimmed in gold.
Gasparina sat down beside Mosi; she took a wet towel and started to clean his wounds. His clothes were soaked in blood, his once golden hair was coated with dry blood and the light in his eyes was barely visible. Soroush had made sure that he had come close to death.
