5. Elian

Elian

The sun was beginning to set behind thick clouds. Soon, the demons would be out again. Elian wasn't ready to face the monsters that wrought havoc every time darkness fell. He shivered against the damp breeze and thought back to three days ago, when he and Lou Cadwell had come to the graveyard too late. The Hunter, Rembrandt Smith, had forced Owen to open the Gate. Now Owen, Colt, and Rem had all passed through the portal to the Unseen Vale, and here Elian was in a bleak, abandoned guard post in the northern wastes of Vanhelm, waiting…

Elian put his head in his hands and sighed. He wasn't quite sure what he was waiting for. Perhaps a miracle, or hope that someone from Luthien would come. By now, his assistant Rhielle would have reached the city, and reinforcements would have been sent to the Gate.

He had to cling to that hope.

Elian hadn't been prepared for what had come through the Gate. He couldn't have fathomed the wicked monsters that broke free from some netherworld. Those creatures were slowly making their way north. They were unlike the shadow graugs or Horggs or other strange nymphs that had already been in the graveyard. The Legion had speculated long ago that such beings had slipped through the cracks of the Gate somehow, perhaps as spirits that eventually manifested as something physical. But since the Gate had fully opened, there was no telling if many of the spirits and beasts coming through it had already gotten to Acren's region.

After Lou had died from Rem's firearm, and Brom's companion had suffered a fatal wound to her neck, Elian fled with Brom and one of the remaining Hunters who had survived the Horgg attack. The man helped tend to Brom's wound and carried him on his horse, Tuck, but they didn't get far before they had to take shelter at the guard post outside the graveyard. Since they had arrived two days ago, Brom had tried his best to recuperate, but the man wasn't doing well. He had broken out in fever and refused to eat.

When they had first come upon the guard post, Elian had been relieved, but it was short-lived when he discovered the five guards stationed there dead inside. Not from the monsters that had come from the Vale but from something else. His suspicion lay with the Hunters led by Rem. When Elian questioned the Hunter, Seth, who fled the graveyard with him and Brom, the man never answered whether his leader had killed the Legion soldiers or not.

The news was dire. Rem had been planning to use Owen to open the Gate, and he had already had a plan in place to ensure he got there without trouble from outside sources. The Legion always had eyes on the graveyard, but with the soldiers dead, there was no one to report the Gate opening to Luthien. Elian had to get that information to the city as soon as he could.

The rickety post had held up against the dangerous beasts that came out at night roaming the land for food, but when they came too close, Elian and Seth had to go out and fight them off. Some of them took the form of apparitions that floated aimlessly. They weren't as physically dangerous that Elian knew of, yet, but whatever they were, they had spooked Tuck, and his horse had run off in the night and never returned.

This made Elian's heart ache. He hoped his horse was still alive, but he was doubtful.

Inside the post, Brom slept. Outside, Seth scoured the perimeter. Elian had tried to tend to Brom's wound as best as he could, but it had been difficult with their limited resources. The nearby well had come in handy, but keeping the fire going was proving difficult.

There was no use waiting for anyone to come out from the Gate, Elian had concluded, as monsters swarmed the area now. They would be better off making their way back to Luthien to bring news of the events to the Legion. But Brom was in no condition to travel without a horse.

Elian thought about leaving Brom and moving on alone. He didn't trust Seth, but they could work together to ensure their safety. But no, he wouldn't leave Brom behind. He had sworn an oath to protect the people of Milarc and Avathon. If he abandoned Brom, he would be breaking that oath, and he would be doing the Legion and Brom a disservice. The man was a criminal, but he didn't deserve to be left here, injured, with dangerous creatures emerging from the Gate and swarming the area. Not to mention any other creatures that had possibly left the graveyard, such as the Horgg. Elian hadn't seen the giant since it took out most of Rem's men. Most of the creatures of the graveyard seemed to have fled, which Elian found unsettling.

"Those beasts will be out soon," came Seth's voice from nearby. "We may not be able to last another night."

Elian looked over at him. He was young, blue-eyed and blond, with a dirty face that looked as if it hadn't been washed in months. Elian and Brom looked the same, though. Dirty and exhausted. Seth had not only aided Brom, he had shared ample information with Elian as to what Rem had been planning. Though he'd taken part in the acts set into motion by Quinnby Kingsland and Rem, Seth admitted he hadn't liked Rem's plight with Owen from the beginning. Rem had abandoned Seth and the other Hunters to chase a demented plan, and now he was gone.

"We don't have a choice," Elian replied.

"We can leave, Wielder. You have a Core. You can aid us out of this hellhole and back into Acren." Seth's words came out in a hiss.

"I can't leave Brom alone. I would think you'd understand, considering the man you served has just abandoned you. How would you feel if you were the one injured instead?"

"I don't care! I only helped the poor bloke because I needed that Core of yours to aid us out." Seth spat on the ground before he peered around.

There was an edge of malice in this Hunter's eyes that Elian had to watch out for. The man could stab him in his sleep and take his Core at any time.

"Right…" Elian took a step back. "Let me think this over, then. Perhaps pack a few things." He made his way slowly to the door, keeping his eye on Seth, who glared at him as if he was plotting something.

As Elian came inside the post, he closed and locked the door, then let out a tremulous breath. He felt for the Core in the pouch hanging from his belt, comforted by holding his hand around the sphere, but only because he knew it was a weapon that could vanquish the beasts outside, or Seth…

A small pot of stew bubbled over the fire, and on the pallet before the fire, Brom lay on his side, staring at something on the floor. The man looked absolutely lost and broken, his dark hair greasy and his beard scraggly beneath bloodshot eyes. He'd lost three people dear to him, one of them dead and the other two in some other realm. Elian winced, as he understood the pain of losing people he loved.

He rubbed his jaw gently, as it ached from the wound there. It still wasn't completely healed from when Gilda had used her steel knuckles on him in Covehaven. Now, he couldn't help but be amazed that she'd been so bold as to attack a Core Wielder.

Elian had tried to talk to Brom a few times, but the man only uttered a few words before he turned away. But now he needed to explain to him that the Hunter lurking outside may possibly kill them both, take their weapons and food, and run.

"How are you feeling?" Elian asked him.

When Brom only stared ahead, his blue eyes glossing over, Elian crouched down and looked at this broken man, keeping his voice low as he said, "The beasts multiply every day. We won't be able to defend ourselves here for much longer. The Hunter wants to leave, but you are in no shape to travel."

Brom took in a sharp breath, then his dry, cracked lips opened, and he whispered, "He will kill us."

"Possibly." Elian's jaw tightened. "He may want my Core to make it out of here. There's no one besides us out here for miles, surrounded by beasts. He could do whatever he wants and get away with it."

"Then leave me," Brom said, his voice raspy.

Elian shook his head. "No. I won't leave you here, because it goes against my creed. I will wait here with you until reinforcements arrive." There was no telling when or if they would, but Elian needed to believe that they would. They had to .

Brom's eyes flitted to him, and he scowled. It was the first time he'd shown an ounce of emotion beyond staring silently at nothing. He raised up on his elbow, breathing heavily.

"You were going to kill Owen," he said. "A kind-hearted young man who wanted nothing more than to live in peace." He winced and grunted as he shifted. "Then you tracked him down, all the way from Milarc to Avathon, to finish the job. I don't want to hear… how waiting here with me goes along with your damn creed. More likely, you're still here because you're afraid to be out there alone with those monsters."

Elian had dedicated his life to ensuring that no Shadowborn would open the Gate. He'd endured the death of Rose, a young Shadowborn child who had been in his charge, who had trusted him. He had chased Owen for months, killing Hunters who stood in his way. Yet, Owen had opened the Gate anyway…

He swallowed hard and looked away, thinking about all he had lost along the path of the Core Wielder. After the death of his mother, sickness took his father's legs, and Elian had taken up the Core to keep him and his brother Harlan alive. His father hated him for becoming a Wielder, as he despised the Legion, and Harlan took his father's stance as well.

Elian was used to being hated. It didn't bother him. Or so he thought. Either way, he had to keep Brom safe.

Finally, Elian looked toward the door and said, "Right now, we need to put aside our differences. It's the only way we'll survive."

Brom let out a breathy laugh. "And if my companions come walking out of that Gate, then what? Will you arrest them, or will you use their help until you no longer need them, and kill Owen? "

"There is no point in killing Owen now. What happened is done."

"But you came here for that exact reason, to kill him." Brom sat up more now, a bit of fire in his eyes. "And I cannot allow that to happen."

"I swear to you, I will not kill Owen."

"I don't trust Wielders," Brom spat. "You put Owen through your monstrous ritual, but look what happened anyway. It was always beyond the Legion's control. You failed ."

A surge of heat flushed through Elian's body, making his blood boil. He stood quickly to his feet and turned around so he didn't say something regrettable.

Yes, Brom was right. He had failed. He had mulled the fact over in his mind for days, ever since he saw Owen open the Gate. What he didn't want to admit to anyone was that he had every intention of killing Owen, but when he got to the graveyard, he couldn't do it. He knew Lou wouldn't hesitate, but Elian found he could not be responsible for the death of another Shadowborn.

His heart constricted as Rose's screams echoed in his mind, and he closed his eyes.

After taking a deep breath, Elian turned back to Brom and said, "I won't kill Owen. I never intended to. It's why I hesitated in Covehaven, and why I took my time trying to find him in Avathon. It's why I came with only one comrade to the Gate, and why, even after he opened it, I couldn't do it." He glanced at Brom, who stared at him curiously, waiting. "I couldn't kill him because… I know, in my heart and mind, that it was wrong."

The look on Brom's pale face was a mixture of surprise and doubt. But before either of them could speak, someone screamed outside. Elian immediately ran to the door and rushed outs. The evening was dimming, and silence hung in the air.

Elian panted roughly as he searched for Seth. He drew out his Core as he walked around the building, his heart pounding. The Hunter was nowhere to be found, but on the ground lay the man's crossbow. Elian glanced down at it, frozen as he tightened his hand on his Core.

When he heard something grunting in the distance, he glanced up. He took a few steps forward to see a trail of blood in the dirt. Then he saw Seth, lying on his stomach several feet away. Elian's eyes widened, his heart dropping at the sight of the man reaching out for him, his mouth open but not making a sound.

Then Seth disappeared into the brush as he was slowly dragged away by something that growled possessively.

Elian stumbled backward, tripping over the crossbow, and scrambled back to the guard post. He tore the door open and came inside before bolting it behind him.

By now, Brom had managed to sit up, and he held a knife in his hand.

Elian panted and looked at him. "The Hunter is gone."

Brom glanced at the window, where Elian could hear something scratching along the house. They would be victims next if they couldn't manage to fight these monsters off in the night.

But right when it sounded like more beasts were stalking around the building, the ground suddenly rumbled violently, shaking everything around them. Dishes fell and shattered on the floor, and hanging pots fell with a clatter. The pot over the fire tossed back and forth, spilling stew out onto the flames.

Elian and Brom glanced at each other nervously before Elian rushed to the window. This quake was much stronger than the one that had happened when the Gate first opened, and it seemed to echo a strange noise, like a droning groan, before the ground finally stilled.