Page 6 of Return of the Darkness (The Lost Kingdom Saga #3)

Soren

U ncertainty gnawed at the heavy weight on Soren’s chest, uncertainty of how she should feel and act.

To her left stood Sadira and Caellum, a pair bound only because Soren had saved him on the battlefield.

Yet Soren was confused by her actions. Why had she saved him?

Something about the memories of Sadira with Caellum had triggered Soren to act—to rescue him.

Yet she eventually did as Caligh asked, separating Elisara and Kazaar, and freeing the path for Caligh to kill Vala’s commander.

Before her, Tajana was trapped between Osiris and Arik on the battlefield—one of her oldest friends, bound by chains.

Friend . Soren frowned. Tajana had been a friend, and yet Soren unknowingly sent her away to become a monstrosity.

The slumped, defeated woman was not the fighter Soren knew.

A stabbing pain pierced Soren’s heart as she questioned what else Caligh had done—or could do—to her.

Why would he hurt someone he knew was Soren’s friend?

It was not only Tajana. Another old friend, Talia, was dead too.

Grief swam amongst her other feelings, but the weight of the unknown overpowered everything else as she watched Caligh.

While her headache had stopped, Soren still recalled odd flashes of memories.

There was something detached about them, like she was watching them unfold behind iron bars.

She remembered none of them. It was like her mind was trying to tell her something, but what?

All she could focus on was her next steps.

The battle had two possible outcomes, and she was uncertain about her place in either.

Should Caligh win, would he grant Soren her kingdom?

Or would he cast her aside, disappointed in her efforts?

If the rulers won and defeated Caligh, what did she have then?

Caligh promised Soren the Garridon throne.

She was entitled to it, but if Caligh died, who would praise her efforts or stand by her side?

Would Sadira ever forgive her? Why did Soren care?

Scanning the sands, Soren’s mind whirred as she decided what to do.

A flash of white fur crossed the edge of Sadira’s treeline.

Varna was ready and waiting should Soren need her, which meant the rest of the pack was scattered amongst the trees.

Baelyn and Tapesh flanked Soren, tucking their sable bodies close to her side.

Though Soren had commanded them to join the others, they were unusually reluctant, and Soren lacked the energy to make them leave.

At the very least, they would be there for her, no matter what happened next.

A different tree tarnished her vision—the large oak tree on Doltas Island. Two young blonde girls ran circles around it. Soren closed her eyes and shook her head. The same memory kept returning, but she could not decipher its meaning or focus.

A flurry of movement began to her left. The rulers were moving.

Farid launched into the sky as the Novisian army began their march, their collective footfall echoing on the hard-packed sand.

Soren was momentarily mesmerised by his uniqueness as sparks fell from his wings, raining in his wake.

He soared towards the clash of copper soldiers and shadows.

Nyzaia and Elisara strode forward, allowing Novisia’s army to consume and hide them as they made for the moat.

The shadow attached to Elisara’s side appeared to be scouting ahead on her behalf.

They were going after Caligh. A ringing filled Soren’s ears as she searched for the man who had guided her from childhood.

Her heart thundered in her chest as she whirled in all directions.

Still, she had little understanding of what she was doing or fate’s path.

All she knew for certain was she needed answers.

She needed his reassurance that no matter what happened, she would be okay.

Soren followed the path forged by Caellum and his army towards the eastern treeline, ensuring it appeared like she was on Novisia’s side.

She made a show of focusing on the safety of Garridon’s soldiers and people.

Caellum’s people , reminded her mind. Soren glared at Caellum’s back as he led the moving army with Sir Cain at his side.

He glanced at the treeline, where Sadira was perched in the canopy.

Caligh’s victory or defeat hardly mattered when Soren had still failed.

Caellum lived. Killing Garridon’s king was Caligh’s first request, and she had not even managed that.

Should that be my priority? Caellum appeared distracted by his army and betrothed.

Perhaps he would not see Soren coming . She needed to know what Caligh wished for her to do.

Focused on seeking his guidance and approval, she scanned the battlefield until finding him, her Lord of Night.

Grinning, Caligh stood amid the warring copper and shadow armies.

His black cloak fluttered around him, blending with the shadows he wielded, making it difficult to ascertain where the shadows began, and he ended.

His shadows differed from Elisara’s. Caligh’s darkness was unceasing, promising nightmares and torture, a stain on your soul, as it wrapped around you and pulled your bones so tight they broke in seconds.

They called to Soren, as if recognising her allegiance and dedication.

Yet Elisara’s army was also dark—there was no denying it.

Her eyes, as vengeful as the shadows themselves, shifted with the sword in her hand.

A light smokiness appeared, like there was some good within, clinging to the possibility of redemption rather than death.

Although they took the lives of copper soldiers, they did so swiftly and quietly, as if placing them in an eternal slumber.

Caligh’s shadows twisted around the members of Elisara’s army, attempting to halt them.

Frowning, he planted his feet firmer in the sand.

His shadows sharpened into threads and began stabbing at the army, trying to dissipate them.

He pierced through one, obliterating the shadow into pieces and watching it fade.

The shadow acting as Elisara’s scout halted, peering back at his queen, who remained hidden among the soldiers.

Soren could just make out her stumble as Nyzaia reached forward, gripping her arm.

Caligh’s smirk showed he had seen it too.

A moment later, shadows drifted from Elisara again, until pieces of the fallen soldier reformed and ran back into battle. He cannot kill them. Can anything?

Caligh had only defeated one, and not permanently, yet hundreds swarmed the copper army, forming a protective ring around him, Osiris, Arik, and Tajana.

Tajana. She locked eyes with Soren, a silent plea for help as she stumbled under the weight of her new wings.

Soren looked back at Caellum. His death could wait.

Soren would rather protect the Lord of Night.

She threw herself into the centre of battle, trying to reach him and Tajana, her only loyal friend.

Whistling lowly, Soren summoned the rest of her pack.

The wolves stalked from the trees as Garridon’s arrows flew overhead.

They halted and lowered their heads, raising their hackles as they searched for an entry point into the battle.

Baelyn and Tapesh still flanked Soren, while Octavia, Serene, and Varna formed a triangular formation with the pack leader up front.

Soren looked for Seiko and found his deep grey fur behind her, protecting their pack from the rear.

Together, they continued through the clearing path.

Larelle stood on a raised dune beside Alvan and a handful of soldiers, creating the path ahead.

As Novisia’s soldiers approached the moat, Larelle pulled at the lapping water, allowing Sadira to create a bridge of vines between both sides.

The soldiers filtered over in pairs, no more than ten at a time, but enough to tackle the copper soldiers circling the shadows in their attempts to reach the Novisian army.

A woman screamed, and Soren whipped her head towards the sound.

Elisara doubled over in pain while Nyzaia held her upright.

At least fifty shadows fled from her at once to rejoin the fight.

Soren looked at Caligh. The first soldier he took down had simply been a test. Practice.

His shadows now skilfully and confidently threaded through multiple of Elisara’s soldiers at once, taking them down in one fell swoop.

In doing so, more copper soldiers were free to make for the moat where Novisia’s army resided.

A flash of light captured Soren’s attention as Farid flew towards Nyzaia and Elisara.

The surrounding army retreated to give Farid the space he needed to land.

Though it was not long before he was air bound again, this time carrying Elisara into the thick of the battle towards Caligh.

Elisara’s shadowed guard was by her side in seconds as they landed, readying to battle any approaching copper soldiers.

He backed away when Farid returned with Nyzaia.

Soren looked at Caligh. They were close. They might succeed.