Chapter 1

Twenty One years later

Southern Sandori Forest

Brom stood beneath the giant limbs of a baraq tree; what was left of its large broad leaves offered a cool respite from the oppressive summer heat. The weather had become increasingly unstable throughout the years, and now the summers in the forest were unforgiving. Brom’s tanned skin was a testament to the sun's unrelenting heat.

The sweat on Brom's brow quickly evaporated in the heat, the few drops that persisted found their way to his eyes. Blinking to stop the sting, Brom waited for his opponent to show itself. He'd set a trap and now he waited for the graekull to come within killing range. The Dueninians had pushed the graekull towards the Kai army and they had managed to defeat all of the hellish creatures, and now only this one remained.

News of the attack came early yesterday from the Kai scouts along the border with D’Ugald; their reanik horns had echoed an eerie warning throughout the forest. They had hunted the beast all night. Delsin and the regular army had joined in once they had cornered the beast along the southern slopes.

He was exhausted from hours of fighting Moraug’s minions, blood seeped from the many wounds he had sustained battling the beast. The one on his leg throbbed with the beat of his heart; his pants were soaked black with blood. It hurt like hell but he knew this wound was nothing compared to some others that he had sustained in his years of fighting. He was thankful that he’d gotten out with his life once again. Many of his brethren could not offer such thanks, for they had fallen to the razor sharp claws, while many more were wounded and unable to continue. Now only Brom and a few others remained to fight off the last of the attackers.

He stood with his back against the rough bark of the tree, the smell of burned flesh floated in the air indicating that the graekull was close. He heard the crunch of dry leaves from just on the other side of a baraq tree.

He scanned the tress to make certain the others were in position. He had set himself as the bait to draw the beast out into the open and now his trap was ready to be sprung. The time was ripe so Brom called to Valhrick, his Ghai. With a tensing of muscles, Brom suddenly had no control of his body, however, after years of experience his control quickly returned. His body, under the Ghai’s control, melded into the background, taking on the characteristics of the baraq tree. His skin no longer appeared human, but rather it resembled the vertical bark found on the giant trees, his skin now so dark a brown it appeared black. His clothing as well as the two swords sheathed on his back made the same transformation as his body.

The change was so complete if any one were to look; all they would see would be the black bark of the baraq. As with all Kai warriors he had the ability to transform his body once he mastered his bond with his Ghai.

He drew a sword from the sheath that was strapped across his back. With the sword held firmly in a tight grip he waited for the demon to approach. The sword was invisible to the monster, for the glint of the blade’s steal was cloaked by Brom’s connection to Valhrick.

He did not have to wait long for the graekull to appear. Brom raised his sword as his opponent came around the trunk of the baraq. Standing a head above his own six foot three inch height the beast was massive; arms much longer than a human’s were attached to broad muscular shoulders and were tipped with razor sharp claws. It had no need for a weapon. Its claws were enough to bring down even the most skilled of warriors.

Its face appeared as if it had been smashed in, there was not a nose to speak of other than a shallow orifice. The mouth filled with pointed teeth that were too large to fit so they stuck out like daggers through meat. Its fleshy lips were pulled back in a snarl, drool hung from the jowls, much like that of a Rodanian hound.

The greenish-black skin was as tough as aged leather, but in places it was so badly burned that portions of bone and sinew showed where the skin had shriveled and pulled away from the body. The creatures hide was difficult to pierce with a regular sword, for that reason the Kai honed their weapons to razor sharpness. A Kai warrior’s sword could slice through a graekull's skin like a hot knife through butter.

The graekull wore death like a shroud as it stepped onto a patch of green grass that had struggled to sprout in the water drained land, the earth beneath the creature's clawed feet turned black with death. The claws poisonous, any human not under the protection of the Ghai would die a slow death if struck by the graekull’s claws. Brom, having been wounded by it claws knew how painful it was to have them rip through flesh; he thanked the gods now for Valhrick.

The dead eyes of the beast were like that of a spider, black orbs constantly searching for movement. Now it searched for any remaining Kai warriors.

Brom's eyes scanned the treetops for the bowmen that were scattered about waiting for just the right moment when they would let their arrows fly. Brom, alone on the ground, stood with his back against the rough bark of the tree, not making a sound. Although the graekull could not see Brom, he could still hear and smell him.

The graekull caught his scent on the wind and started toward Brom's position.

Twenty feet, Brom's hand tightened around the hilt of his sword. He could hear the wheezy growl of the graekull as it came closer.

Ten feet, the beast stepped into a pool of sunlight, when suddenly a movement in the trees caught its attention; he turned from Brom and headed toward the movement. Brom glanced up and there in the trees was his cousin, perched on a limb. He’d lost his connection with the spirit world, again.

Not thinking, Brom swore.

The graekull turned towards Brom once again, scanning the shadows for movement, advancing on his location. Just a little closer, he thought as the graekull stepped out of the shadows.

"Loose!" Brom yelled the command he and Conal had decided upon when they set the trap for the beast.

A stream of arrows shot from the trees piercing the tough flesh of its back. One of the arrows protruded from its shoulder, thick black blood spurted from the wound spraying Brom across the face.

Letting out a guttural yell, the graekull turned to face his attackers. But there was nobody there for the beast to attack, in confusion it turned in a circle seeking the origins of the arrows. All the while, it desperately groped at the arrows protruding from its back and neck. Finding the shaft of the arrow that had gone through its shoulder the graekull ripped it from its body, tossing it to the ground.

The arrow attack distracted the beast enough to allow Brom to move in for the kill. But as Brom released his Ghai the beast turned just as he raised his sword for the killing blow.

Enraged the beast swung its long arm around towards Brom. Dodging the claws Brom ducked and rolled into a standing position behind the beast. The momentum of its arm swung the beast around to face Brom. As the graekull’s arm tensed for another swing, claws outstretched like a cat about to pounce, Brom thrust his sword into the graekull’s rib cage, putrid air rushed from the wound as the creature shrieked in pain.

Wounded, the graekull fell to its knees, but was still a dangerous threat until it lay dead. Brom backed away from the demon, careful of its long reach. Regaining its strength the graekull came up on one knee watching Brom as it slowly stood. Muscles tightening it lunged for Brom. Brom turned and swiveled past the sweeping claw and brought his sword down in a wide arc severing the head of his foe.

The graekull’s body collapsed into the dirt as the head rolled to a stop at Brom’s feet, the eyes staring up at its executioner.

Unsettled, Brom stepped back from the body lowering his sword. Suddenly the corpse of the graekull sunk into itself and disintegrated leaving a black mark where it once lay upon the earth.

“It is over,” Brom's chest heaved with exertion as he gave the all clear.

The forest came alive when the camouflaged Kai bowmen revealed themselves and descended from the treetops. They too had called to their Kai spirits, concealing themselves in the limbs and leaves of the massive trees. There were twelve in all including his young cousin, Gavin. He had not been happy when he had seen him arrive with the other more experienced archers. He'd ordered him back to the keep, but before Gavin could leave, the warning call had gone out that the graekull were attacking.

He turned to Conal, the commander of the bowmen and his closest friend, "Take six of your archers and scout the woods, there may be more of Moraug's beast roaming the forest. Send Reily back to the keep if you spot more of the graekulls."

"Do you want me to include Gavin in the six?" Conal asked knowing what Brom’s answered would be. Conal had urged Brom to allow Gavin to train as an archer. He’d been impressed by Gavin’s ease of aim and his ability to draw the bowstring that took an experienced archer to use. He’d given up and gave his permission when Delsin had thrown his cousin out of the stables. Delsin was the commander of the horsemen and had a strict regime that apparently Gavin could not follow. His cousin seemed to be bouncing from one unit to another unable to find the right place for himself.

"No, take only the most experienced. Gavin is still too inexperienced to keep hidden; I would not want him to give your positions away again if there are more beasts in the forest."

Brom did not mince words when it came to fighting Moraug's army. If he hurt his cousin with his remarks, so be it. Hopefully, it would make him work harder to master his own Ghai. Gavin had been putting off his training to woo a young Dueninian maiden from Audun. He glanced at Gavin for a brief moment and saw his face redden with embarrassment.

"Very well," Conal said pointing to the six that would scout for graekull in the forest.

Five of the remaining six ascended to the treetops, he watched as they melted into the background disappearing from view.

Gavin stood in the clearing his face still red, but Brom could tell it was no longer from embarrassment, but with anger his brown eyes shooting daggers at him. At sixteen Gavin stood just short of 6 feet and had a temper to go with that height as well. All Kai’Varians were large and his cousin was no exception.

"Why do you not let me join the others?" Gavin's obvious displeasure showed in the lines of his face, "I could have gone. You know I am getting better control over my Ghai. Conal was impressed by my abilities with the bow."

"Your performance today proves you a liar,” Brom turned from Gavin to survey the battle scene, “You endangered not only yourself, but also others of your unit. What would you have done had I not killed the beast; do you think arrows would bring him down?”Gavin’s silence told Brom that was exactly what he thought. “You had better think again Gavin.”

Letting out a sigh he turned back to Gavin, "You spend too much time wooing that Dueninian maiden to pay much attention to your training.

Gavin, you must dedicate yourself to mastering your Ghai. If you do not, you will be killed by one of those monsters, and then I will have to explain to your father why I let you go into battle not fully trained. Do you think knowing how to shoot an arrow is all you will need in battle?”

“No.”

“Your Ghai is your best defense against the graekulls. You bonded quickly with Jarl; you must now train to hone your skills. He is there to help you, yet you choose to ignore your bond. You are still young, so I’ll give you another chance. Besides, this mission is too dangerous for an ima." Brom knew Gavin hated when his hero cousin called him a baby.

Gavin’s head shot up from where it had been staring at the ground during his Brom’s lecture, his face still red from embarrassment, “I am not an ima!”

“Then stop acting like one, you are to be Clan Master one day, start acting like it.” Brom returned still upset at how close the future king had come to the battle.

Gavin glared at Brom then nodded, “I will try to be better, perhaps if you train me. Conal is good, but he does not have your abilities.” His face lit up at the idea of his warrior cousin training him. “I’ll not go back to Delsin. He singles me out because I am your cousin, he cares not that I am his prince. The other horsemen are relentless in their teasing, saying you go easy on me because I am to be king.”

"That is why I moved you to the archers. I thought Conal would be able to whip you into shape.” Giving his cousin a hard slap on the back, Brom said. “But I will think on what you have said.” Brom didn’t hold much confidence that Gavin would measure up to his rigorous standards for new recruits. “Come, I feel like a vasser boar that just wallowed in a mudbog, let’s go to the lake so that I can wash the filth of graekull from my body."