Gift of the Shaper, page 36
"We will use the Hammer of the Worldforge," the Binder had answered. "It will be the instrument of His undoing and the only way that He will atone for what He has done."
The Shaper nodded. She placed the Hammer on the ground, its handle facing the sky. "Then it is settled. Here shall He be bound until one of His own blood returns to take His place."
"So be it," the Binder had answered. The sadness in Her voice had carried across the millennia, reaching out from the moment She had willed the world into existence until the moment Her spirit was snuffed out by the Hammer that She had helped create.
It was never supposed to be this way.
No.
It was never supposed to be this way.
Chapter 55
Kienar
Tennech
"Back!" shouted Caladan Durakas. "Push them back!" His words scraped across his throat as they crossed the point of shouting and into screaming; his tone reeked of desperation. Ducking as an arrow flew past him, he did his best to keep his footing while he hacked and swung his sword at the advancing Legion.
"It's not working," Duna parried. She was holding her right shoulder as she continued swinging, in an attempt to staunch the bleeding. The broken end of an arrow was jutting out, and the look on her face said that the pain was starting to register.
The two of them had watched the Legion, possessed of some madness, breaking into their ranks without fear or hesitation. Behind them they caught flashes of what looked like a man blasting in and out of existence, cutting down Valurian and Thurian alike, only to disappear as if he were never there.
"Then push harder!" Still mounted on his war horse, Calathet, General Tennech was shouting commands to his armies. He would see this through to the bitter end, he swore, no matter how many bodies they had to stake their victory on. "Abandon the flank!" he yelled. "The front line must hold!"
But he knew that it would not matter in the end. The clashing forces, the bloody confrontation that was misting the forest floor red—none of it mattered, not a bit of it, if D'kane succeeded. They could lose every man that called Gal'dorok home and still come out on top, so long as the Master Khyth came through.
At least that's what he had been repeating to himself as he slashed ferociously at an oncoming Athrani. But when he looked up again to refocus his strategic center, the unyielding mantra that ran through his mind suddenly came to a halt when he saw the spear that caught Sera in the chest, tearing her off her horse and pinning her to the ground. His face went white as the blood drained away, and he found himself riding toward her, oblivious to the needs of his slowly shrinking army.
Duna
"Your own general abandons you! He has given in to death!" Durakas fumed as he watched Tennech charge off, and Duna was certain that the Dagger of Derenar had given up or gone mad.
The thundering of boulders hummed and pounded as the Khyth around them wove their Breaking through the air, taking advantage of the weakened state of their Athrani counterparts. But to see the general storm off like that—certainly not in his character—they began to hesitate. Even Duna was uncertain as she fended off more and more of the Legion. Their number seemed endless, and the arrows from the Kienari above were unrelenting.
Maybe Durakas was right. Maybe Tennech had seen the futility of it all and had chosen the quickest route to death.
With his sudden departure, his army had become like a snake with its head freshly severed, thrashing about madly with no purpose or threat. Even the war-hungry Thurians seemed to be teetering off balance.
But that was not what made up her mind to flee. Not the spears and swords of the Athrani, not the looming and silent threat of the Kienari. Not even the rows of dead that now lined the forest floor.
No, it was when Durakas caught an arrow in the skull, tossing him unceremoniously off his horse and onto the ground below, that Duna finally caught her wits and called for the retreat. The general could rot in the Otherworld for all she cared, and she was not intent on beating him there.
"Fall back!" she commanded. "Fall back to Gal'dorok!" Her cries were echoed by the Captains of the Fist.
The Breaker can wait, she fumed. He would have to. He's been there this long, she thought, and, by the Breaker, he can stand to wait some more.
Chapter 56
Naknamu
Thornton
Falling.
Faster, falling. Tumbling. There was no air to breathe, but somehow Thornton knew he was choking.
A woman's voice. He couldn't make out the words.
Miera? Had she made it through?
He sputtered back to life.
Beside him lay the unconscious body of Yasha, who looked to him like the Khyth that he knew, her skin cracked and blistered, charred with power. Behind him, the silver arch that guarded the Otherworld glowed hot. What had Miera said? What had she done? His head was cloudy, but he moved through the fog to find her words.
Use the Hammer, she said.
With his head free of the ever-present pounding, he felt relief wash over him like a tide as he traced his fingers back and forth over the smooth grooves of a wooden handle. The grain was familiar to him and gave him a sense of comfort amidst the chaos. It had come back to him, though he had no memory of just how or when.
"Get up," said the voice. Thornton looked up to see the dark eyes of a Kienari staring back at him.
He jumped. "Ynara," he said, startled.
"Once," she replied, "but now I am much more. I am the Binder now, as my mother was before me."
Confused, Thornton closed his eyes tightly to try and understand what she could possibly mean, but before he could come up with an answer, he remembered Miera's words.
"The Hammer," he started. "She said . . ."
"She said we have to seal her in," Ynara answered. "I know. I have always known." Regret seeped from her words like puss. "Yet knowing does not make it any easier." She reached out a hand. "Here. Give it to me."
Thornton did as she asked, standing back as she grasped it just below the night-black head. Taking it in her long fingers, she raised it up as the Hammer, from base to tip, began to glow.
"What are you doing?" Thornton asked.
"What the Shaper wishes," was Ynara's reply. A burst of light streamed forth from the tip, splitting into waves that shot out in separate directions, solidifying, becoming chains. Ynara, the Binder, stood firm as the chains took their place over the portal once again, sealing it shut.
Thornton looked at the portal, lifeless and still, and again to the Kienari. "What did you do?" he asked.
The Binder blinked her huge black eyelids. "I have closed the way to Otherworld. It was the only way to ensure that the Breaker remains trapped."
"But if the Breaker is trapped," Thornton said, digesting the words. "Then Miera is trapped too."
Ynara put a spindly hand on his shoulder. "She chose this fate, young one. It was her decision and the only way to stop him. She knew what would happen if He was set free and chose to leave a world where that never happens."
Thornton's jaw hung open. He was trying to comprehend a world without Miera.
Ynara seemed to sense this and tried to offer him some comfort. "The Shaper had Her reasons for doing what She did," she said. "And though she is gone from this world, she is not dead."
"She might as well be if we can't get to her."
Thornton looked again at the portal, then to his hammer, while his heart sunk in his chest. There must be a way to get her back, he said to himself. And if there is, I will find it.
The sounds of retreat shook the foundation of Naknamu as the charging Athrani Legion drove off the last of the Khyth invaders.
The voice of Endar rung out in celebration, dwarfing the shouts of his men. "Watch them go, boys," he shouted, "with their tails between their legs. I told you they bleed like us!"
The Legion cheered in response.
"Come," Ynara said, "help me move her." The two of them picked up the heavy and unconscious body of Yasha, making their way through the maze of roots and soil. "Your part is not yet finished."
"What?" Thornton sputtered. "Where are we going?"
"To Ellenos, where you and your sister will be safe," she answered.
"Sister?" Thornton said. "I don't have a . . . "
Thornton looked at the young Khyth in the darkness that slept below Naknamu, with thousands of questions flying through his head about the girl with the hair like fire. The road back to Ellenos would be long, and he was still trying to wrap his head around how he wound up inside the ancient tree.
But as they walked toward the surface, he realized that their meeting had not been one of chance; it was intentional and it was designed.
And, with everything that had happened in the span of these few short days, he knew one thing for sure: it was just the beginning.
EPILOGUE
Tennech stood above the dunes, looking out over the Wastes.
Beside him, on the back of Calathet, the body of Sera somehow still clung to life. Her breathing was shallow and her pulse weak, but she was alive. The wounds that she had sustained at the battle for the Tree had nearly killed her, and would certainly have killed a human, but she was never one to give up easily. Death rattled in her throat as she breathed, a mixture of blood and saliva that threatened to snuff out the fire inside.
But she was alive.
He still had that much.
He had come far in the days since the battle, traveling by night and avoiding the major roads for fear that he should be discovered. When D'kane had failed to emerge from the Otherworld and, instead, the young blacksmith had come out in his place, he knew they had lost. No amount of pleading with Yetz would spare his life, he knew. He was as good as dead if he ever set foot inside Khala Val'ur again.
As good as dead, that is, unless he had an army to back him up.
He looked back at Hullis and Dhrostain, seated atop their Gwarái, and nodded.
Making his way past the shifting sands of the Wastes of Khulakorum, General Tennech spurred his mount onward, toward the burning dunes of Khadje Kholam and into the very heart of the Wastes, where the Tribes of the Sun dreamed.
APPENDIX
Glossary of Derms
Aidren: A young Athrani half-eye imprisoned in the cell next to Olson and Dailus.
Aldis Tennech: A human general of Khala Val'ur. He commands all the armies of Gal'dorok.
Aldryd: An aged Athrani residing in Annoch, where he holds the title of Keeper. He resides in the Temple of the Shaper.
Annoch: The capital city of Derenar, it is also called The City of the Forge and is home to Athrani and humans alike. Inside its walls lies the Temple of the Shaper. A person from Annoch is called an Annochian.
Athrani: A people who worship the Shaper of Ages and are known for their power to transmute matter, called Shaping. Their distinctive multicolored eyes allow them to be easily distinguished from humans.
Athrani Legion: A collection of soldiers who march under the banner of Ellenos, comprised of mostly Athrani and half-eyes.
Anvil of the Worldforge: Used by the Shaper of Ages, along with the Hammer of the Worldforge, to create the world. It can be found in the Temple of the Shaper in Annoch.
Binder of Worlds: One of the creators of the world, along with the Shaper of Ages and the Breaker of the Dawn. She is the guardian of the two worlds and helped to imprison the Breaker in His chains.
Breaker of the Dawn: One of the creators of the world, along with the Shaper of Ages and the Binder of Worlds. He was imprisoned by the Shaper ages ago and continues to be a thorn in Her side. His followers, the Hand of the Black Dawn, seek to free Him from his prison in the Otherworld.
Breaking (power): Gifted by the Breaker and wielded by Khyth. It allows the user to move or reshape matter, but not to change its form. It is able to be learned by anyone and is not limited to those born of Khyth blood. (See also The Breaking).
The Breaking: A ritual undergone by Khyth apprentices that serves to increase their ability to wield the power of the Otherworld. The ritual is often fatal, scarring the Khyth for life and leaving their skin looking burnt and cracked.
Caladan Durakas: Commander of the Fist of Ghal Thurái.
Cavan Hullis: A captain from Ghal Thurái known for his gift for strategy.
Chovathi: A race of sub-surface-dwelling creatures who formerly inhabited Ghal Thurái. They are pale and carnivorous and can only be killed by removing the head.
Dailus: An Athrani half-eye from Ellenos who meets and befriends Olson Woods.
Derenar: A large region encompassing many human and Athrani cities. It is bordered to the east by the region of Gal'dorok and to the south by the Wastes of Khulakorum.
D'kane: An ambitious Master Khyth of the Breaking who resides in Khala Val'ur. He is presumed by all to take the title of High Khyth when his master, Yetz, falls out of power.
Duna Cullain: Second-in-command of the Fist of Ghal Thurái. She is subordinate to Commander Caladan Durakas.
Ellenos: Also called the First City. It is home to the Athrani and is their capital city and seat of their government. A person from Ellenos is called an Ellenian.
Elyasha: Also called "Yasha" by her friends, she is a Khyth apprentice serving under D'kane.
Endar: An Athrani half-eye who ascended to the rank of Commander of the Athrani Legion.
Farryn Dhrostain: A short, fierce captain from Ghal Thurái.
Farstepper: A rare breed of humans possessing the ability to move from one point to another by traveling through the Otherworld. They come from beyond the Wastes of Khulakorum and are known for their skills as warriors and assassins.
Fist of Ghal Thurái: A greatly feared and respected army out of Ghal Thurái, led by Caladan Durakas. Alternatively referred to as the Fist of Ghal Thurái, the Fist of Thurái, or simply the Fist.
Gal'behem: The mountain range that surrounds Khala Val'ur in Gal'dorok. Its name means "the great serpent."
Gal'dorok: A large region encompassing many human and Khyth cities. It is bordered on the east by the Tashkar sea, to the west by the region of Derenar, and to the south by the Wastes of Khulakorum. Its name means "great pinnacle."
Ghaja Rus: A man from G'hen who deals in slave trade.
Ghal Thurái: Also called the Mouth of the Deep, it is a Khyth city built into a mountain. A person from Ghal Thurái is called a Thurian.
G'hen: A city that borders the Wastes of Khulakorum. Its people are known for their dark skin. A person from G'hen is called a G'henni.
Gwarái: An ancient beast created by the Breaker of the Dawn in order to hunt down the Athrani. They feed on the blood of Shapers and can be used to absorb their powers. They were hunted to extinction during the Shaping War.
Half-eye: A derogatory title given to one born to an Athrani father and human mother. One of their eyes appears human, while the other appears Athrani (with a second ring of color behind the first). They are capable of Shaping.
Hammer of the Worldforge: An ancient artifact that the Shaper of Ages used to create the world, along with the Anvil of the Worldforge. Collectively they are referred to as the Pieces of the Worldforge.
Hand of the Black Dawn: The name of those who serve the Breaker of the Dawn and seek to free Him. They are led by Khyth, but humans are drawn to them as well. They operate primarily out of Khala Val'ur.
Highglade: A village to the east of Lusk, whose claim to fame is Olson Woods, a blacksmith of great renown. A person from Highglade is called a Highglader.
Jinda Yhun: Captain of the Guard of Annoch. He is a Farstepper from beyond the Wastes.
Kethras: a Kienari male, brother to Ynara and son of the Mother.
Keeper: A title given to an Athrani who is charged with the protection of the Temple of the Shaper found in their city. There is one Keeper for every temple, and there is typically one temple in any given city where Athrani are found.
Khala Val'ur: Also called the Sunken City, it is the capital city of the Khyth, as well as the capital city of Gal'dorok.
Khyth (title): One who has undergone the ritual of the Breaking in order to gain access to the power of the Otherworld. Above this title exists Master Khyth and High Khyth.
Khyth (people): A people who worship the Breaker of the Dawn and are known for their power to move and manipulate matter, called Breaking. Their eyes resemble smoke and are inherited by their offspring.
Kienar: A small forest near the Talvin Forest that is home to the Kienari.
Kienari: Creatures of stealth and mystery who are much taller than humans, that call the forest of Kienar home. They are often described as cat-like, with their fine black fur and tails. Their night vision is exceptional and uses heat rather than light to locate their prey. They are master marksmen and feel at home in the trees.
Lash'Kargá: A southeastern city of Gal'Dorok that sits on the edge of the Wastes of Khulakorum. It is nicknamed Death's Edge.
Lusk: A human town on the edge of the Talvin forest that has recently become a hub of trade in Derenar.
Miera Mi'an: A young woman from Highglade who has known Thornton since they were young. She never knew her mother and was raised by her father.
Mordha: A G'henni woman who is part of the city guard of Annoch. She is second-in-command to Jinda Yhun.
the Mother: Often called the First Kienari, she is mother to Kethras and Ynara (see Kienari).
Olson Woods: A highly skilled blacksmith from Highglade and father to Thornton Woods.
The Otherworld: An ethereal place of power that exists parallel to—and beyond—this world. It is where the Breaker of the Dawn is imprisoned and from where the Athrani and Khyth draw their power.
Pieces of the Worldforge: The Hammer of the Worldforge and the Anvil of the Worldforge. Both of these were used by the Shaper of Ages when creating the world.
Seralith Edos: An Athrani woman from Ellenos who left the Athrani city for Khala Val'ur. She serves under General Aldis Tennech.
Shaper of Ages: One of the creators of the world, along with the Breaker of the Dawn and the Binder of Worlds. She gave up Her power to the Athrani so they might defend themselves against the Khyth, who were empowered by the Breaker.
