Vir stared right up to the moment Rudvik shed his last tear and passed from this world to the next.
Then he screamed. His vision turned red as primal fury overcame him. Blinded by thoughts of revenge, his body moved on its own, charging the knight.
The knight looked up in surprise, still trying to dislodge his weapon.
Then an unseen force held Vir back. Unyielding. Like a wall.
Someone shouted at him. He knew that voice. Maiya?
Vir jolted back to his senses to find Maiya desperately clutching his clothes, knees on the ground, doing everything she could to stop him.
“What are you going to do?” she wailed, tears flowing out of her eyes. “Y-you want Uncle’s sacrifice to be in vain? Get a grip!”
Hot shame coursed through Vir’s veins. He’d lost control of himself at the most crucial moment, nearly getting both of them killed.
He glared at the chal who’d killed his father—still fussing over the weapon clutched within Rudvik’s hands—and burned the man’s face into his memory. Then he took a great breath and locked his emotions away, somewhere deep within him.
Now was not the time for guilt. Or grief. Or remorse.
To survive, he would have to act. And so, he did.
Vir grabbed Maiya’s wrist. “We run.”
9THE GHOST OF GODSHOLLOW
Terror fueled Vir’s breaths. Blood surged through his legs.
Together with Maiya, he tore through the Godshollow faster than he ever had. Gone were any thoughts of exhaustion. What remained was a deep-seated desire to live. To survive.
Barking, Neel leaped to intercept a bandy that had pounced upon his master. Vir didn’t even have the luxury to turn around and stop. He just ran. Vir had no idea where he was going, or even what direction he was headed, but that didn’t matter. He just had to gain as much distance from that knight as possible.
“Vir. Vir!” Maiya yelled.
He finally looked back. Five bandies had beset Neel. He was fighting for his life.
Vir’s heart clenched. He hesitated. To turn back meant throwing himself into danger. To flee meant abandoning his precious friend.
The answer was obvious. He turned back. What use was surviving if he couldn’t live with himself after?
Neel occupied the bandies’ attention, giving Vir and Maiya the element of surprise.
Hold on, Neel. We’re coming!
Vir grasped his knife with both hands, intending to plunge the blade into the unprotected back of one of the bandies.
But the beast had sharp instincts. The bandy turned away at the last moment and Vir’s blade grazed the beast, drawing blood but doing no actual damage.
Arooo! an enemy bandy whimpered. Maiya’s blade had struck true, sinking into her target.
With the attacking bandies temporarily distracted, Neel leaped through their encirclement, taking his spot beside Vir and Maiya. The blood-soaked bandy did not look well. Slash marks covered the beast and one of his eyelids was glued shut. The poor animal whimpered, gasping for breath.
Vir took stock of the situation. The bandy Maiya had hit was down, but not out. The other four were in top condition. And not far behind was the real threat: the knight. If he fled now, the bandies would just catch up again. He couldn’t risk Neel anymore than he already had.
The only option was to put the four bandies out of commission, then flee with Maiya. That might give them a chance to avoid the knight. Maybe they could hunker down and wait for him to leave. But all routes to success hinged on eliminating the bandies.
His thoughts were cut short by two bandies who leaped at him simultaneously. Vir ducked and guarded with his left arm, while he stabbed the incoming bandy with his right.
This time, guided by the gibberish voices in his head, his knife pierced the animal’s soft underbelly, scoring a deep wound. The left bandy gouged his guarding arm, blinding him with pain. The right bandy crashed into him, disarming him and sending him tumbling to the ground. His back collided with a rock and the world went black.
When Vir came to, his body throbbed all over and it was suddenly hard to move.
This is bad, he thought hazily, noticing that his hands had been bound.
Slowly, he pieced together what might have happened. Maiya was missing, along with the bandies. He was alone in the woods.
Did the knight tie me up, then chase after Maiya while I was out?
“Maiya!” he yelled. No response.
Vir searched around and located his knife, hidden under some leaves. He’d never have seen it if he hadn’t seen where it fell. Shimmying over to it, he propped it up with his feet and worked as fast as he could manage, sawing the rope against the rusted blade. Agonizingly, the fibers broke one by one. The entire time, scenes of Maiya being skewered by the knight played out in his head. Freeing himself, he retrieved the knife and made his way through the forest, shouting Maiya’s name despite the danger. The knight was surely nearby. Announcing his position like this was a terrible idea. Problem was, he could barely walk straight, let alone track Maiya’s trail. He had no choice. Getting separated was the worst thing that could’ve happened to them.
Everyone who was dear to him was being plucked away by the goddess of death. He’d been unable to save Rudvik. Would Maiya and Neel perish, too? Barking cut through the thick trees. Neel!
Looking toward the source of the sound, he saw a flash of red nearby. Red hair. Maiya, hiding under an enormous Godhollow root.
She was well-concealed, but the hunting bandies had found her.
Thank Yuma, he breathed. Maiya was ten paces away, fighting off several bandies, and the knight was nowhere in sight.
The knight must’ve set out looking for her after he tied me up!
Vir tried to piece together the chain of events. It must have taken the knight some time to tie him up. Neel must have distracted the bandies, giving Maiya a chance to escape and hide. The knight had to be nearby, searching for her. He would not be far behind.
His relief was short-lived. When he saw what Maiya was up against, the blood in his face drained.
They’re going to kill her!
Maiya raised her knife in defense. A pair of bandies leaped into the air, their hungry eyes locked onto her throat.
Vir sprinted. But he was too far. He wasn’t going to make it.
No. NO! I refuse to accept that! Maiya!
Something. He needed something. His skills were insufficient. He needed to improve his combat skills, but not gradually. Now!
In desperation, Vir reached out with his will. With his soul. Begging for the means to save his dearest friend.
And something answered.
The world faded away. The trees disappeared, and the bandies’ barks muted. He was no longer in the Godshollow. He now stood in a blighted realm where ash fell eternally. His arms were gangly long things, and sickly gray.
He was no longer Ekavir. Random memories flooded into him. A vast underground city. Scenes of battle. His anger flared: The gall of those Gargans. Invading Jallak Kallol on the eve of my coronation? The Iksana will not stand for this! Only death awaits those who defy the Akh Nara.
Vir didn’t recognize the names. The memories made no sense to him.
Along with the memories came a torrent of emotions The smug satisfaction of conquering one’s foes. The overwhelming confidence of one who had fought a thousand battles and won them all.
He was no longer Ekavir. He was Ekanai. The Reaper.