Trial by Obsidian Read online

  Trial by Obsidian

  Naomi Kelly

  Copyright © 2019 Naomi Kelly

  All rights reserved

  To Jacinta, who received many a late-night message about grammar and spelling. Without you, my story would never have made it to the pages.

  To Richard, to put it simply, without you there would be no story to tell.

  One

  As Sleepy Hill crept into view, I found myself forgetting to breathe. For most, this abandoned dune was nothing more than a black lump of rock where local legends of gods were born, but for me it was salvation. The promise of hope it held took my breath away every year, however this time it was different. It was the first year I had to make the voyage alone and the deafening silence reminded me that I was surrounded by both solitude and danger in equal measure.

  My brother, Adonis, had been too weak to accompany me on the annual journey. He had been reluctant to let me go, but we both knew it had to be done. We had held off on my departure for a few weeks to give him time to recuperate and although he had recovered enough to not need my constant care, he was still too exhausted.

  Now it was further into the autumn and closer to the Harvest Festival meaning even more risk. The north would have a higher number of visitors than usual as the Chambers prepared for their feast, and this year was a momentous one. It marked the fifteen-year anniversary since the end of the war between the southern lands of Deshure and the northern lands of Sinlara, but the relationship between the districts was far from peaceful.

  “Peaceful or not, here I come,” I muttered sarcastically to myself as I brushed dried moss and dirt from my pants. This proved to be a futile task as I immediately ducked back into the dense undergrowth. I had to reach the foothill by nightfall, and even though every fibre of my being wanted to set up camp right here and just stop moving for a few hours, I knew I couldn’t. I was not safe here and had to keep pushing forward. Albeit, I never felt safe anywhere anymore.

  Hours later I emerged through the grove with my arms and face covered in grazes from coarse scrubs and ferns. My muscles ached; my head throbbed. I had shortened the length of the journey by a full day. To do so I had been pushing myself to sleep less, eat on the go and jog where possible but I was paying for it now. I could barely stand without hunger cramps causing me to double over but craning my neck up to see the dark jagged rocks illuminated by the moon, I knew it was all worth it.

  Although this destination was no safer than the last, I felt a sense of home here and started to pull my knitted blanket from my satchel. I found some spongy moss on a relatively flat piece of land and it seemed as good a bed as any. I flattened the blanket and sat looking up at the night sky, giving silent thanks that it was warm enough not require more coverage. If I had waited until even later in the season, I would have required a fire which could have drawn much-unwanted attention from any passing Sinlaran's.

  My stomach grumbled once more and sent me digging in my satchel for something more sustainable than wild berries. I retrieved the small rations of cured meat and bread that was mostly beyond its best, along with a parcel wrapped in old parchment I didn’t remember packing.

  A scrap of loose paper that held the message “Don’t be an idiot” scrawled in my brothers’ hand landed in my lap.

  Even in despair, Adonis had the ability to make me roll my eyes. I untied the bounded twine to find a chunk of goat’s cheese and some honey covered almonds inside. I choked on a lump of emotion as I thought about how hard he must have worked to buy my favourite snacks. He told me he was only renting farm tools and there was no need for me to accompany him to the market a few days prior to my leaving. Even though he was two years my junior, he had always looked after me, but now it was my turn to look after him.

  I nibbled on some of the sweetened nuts before settling down for the night. I swallowed my fears as best as I could. Fretting about Adonis or the journey back home was a waste of energy I did not have. I bunched my bag up as a pillow and pulled my cloak near to my face as if to be invisible.

  * * * *

  I slept more soundly than I had anticipated, waking only when the sun was high in the sky. I sat up quickly when I remembered my vulnerable state. I gathered my tools and swiftly started making my way up the slope in front of me.

  The base of the volcano was covered with green foliage that had shallow roots and cleared away easily when tugged. I started digging at the rough exterior, chipping over and over again with my short-handled chisel.

  As the dull rock started to give way to the glossy black crystal beneath, I could feel my palms start to tingle. This is what called me so far away from home, and what I needed to carry on. Obsidian.

  I quickly started to dig chunks of the precious crystal and fill the pockets of my cloak and satchel with various sized cuts of the gem. Some were as large as my fist and others as small as my thumbnail, but all were vital. An outbreak of influenza over the winter months had exhausted last year’s haul leaving me with almost nothing to heal my brother.

  My connection to the power within me finally dwindled when I used my last crystal trying to ensure he was healthy enough to survive my absence. However, I knew I couldn't make up for his absence. There was no way I could carry the load the two of us would have managed, but if I could tide us over for the forthcoming winter that was a start. I was straining to fasten the worn leather tie when I heard a loud rustle come from behind me.

  I crouched low and studied the grove where I could see movement. A few seconds later a large stag burst into the clearing with his antlers draped in vines and ivy. The contrast of bright sunlight compared the shadow he just emerged from seemed to startle him as he immediately stopped cantering. Even from this distance I could see his flared nostrils and laboured breath. His momentarily reprieve was shattered by the shrill call of a trumpet.

  We both started running instantly, the stag taking off to the left and me heading for a line of trees to my right. The deafening drumming of galloping hooves followed almost instantly. The high-pitched ring from the trumpet suddenly stopped and was replaced with indistinctive shouts and calls. I was close to the tree line when a sharp, burning pain hit my left shoulder.

  A guttural cry escaped my lips as I collided with the uneven ground and rolled. My right hand instinctively flew up to the back of my shoulder where I felt a dull, cold tip protruding through my skin. My hand came away covered in vibrant red blood. I forced myself to look up to see a long, thin arrow so deeply embedded in me that the feathered end almost touched my skin.

  Within seconds the hunters arrived and dismounted. A dozen men surrounded me, wearing smoky grey clothing that had the emblem of a red three-tower turret on their chests. They weren't just hunters. They were Chamber guards.

  “I think we found something better to hunt, Gamma Douward!”, a smug voice called as he grabbed me by the scruff and forced me onto my knees. Another man grasped my narrow wrists with one of his hands and used the other to squeeze my throat.

  A large man on a dappled horse slowly came into view and the guards moved out of his way. His face remained neutral, but his eyes light up when he saw my khaki and beige clothing. It was meant to keep me camouflaged but against the sea of charcoal garments in front of me, it was impossible to blend in.

  “Now what’s a Southerner doing scurrying around up here for? Like a rat searching for crumbs,” he said playfully, causing a few of his men to laugh.

  “Were you trying to steal our deer for yourself? Hunting without permission is a serious offence for a local, let alone a rat.” He spat causing me to flinch. The movement sent a new paroxysm of pain through my left side. “The punishment could be anything from three years imprisonment to-”

  “I don’t think she was hunting,
Douward,” a blond man interrupted. Douward immediately swivelled in his saddle, ready to turn his wrath onto this man instead.

  He hung his head and held his hands up apologetically. “Sorry Gamma. I just noticed she isn’t carrying a bow and doesn’t seem to be armed with any weapons,” he offered. Douward slowly pulled his warning glance away from the man and settled it back on me.

  “What was she doing then Delta Edvan?” he asked. The blond man moved forward, stepping away from the circle of men and closer to me. Without hesitation, he kicked my satchel that lay strewn on the grass. I braced for their reaction as a cascade of black crystals flowed on the ground.

  Edvan looked away quickly as if he were afraid to lay his eyes on them, and Douward just looked disgusted. Some of the men seemed confused but whispers of “magician” and “siphoning” spread quickly, along with muttered curses I would prefer not to have heard.

  “Do you want me to end her, Gamma?” asked the guard behind me, who tightened his grip around my neck. My throat burned as he slowly crushed my windpipe. I always had a gut feeling when I was growing up that I would die young. There had always been this nagging knot in the pit of my stomach that told me I wouldn’t have a long life. I assumed that some infected wound or starvation would end me, not asphyxiation.

  As the outside world sounded more muffled like being underwater, I made peace with the fact that I had kept Adonis alive. I had protected him for the last twelve years without our parents and raised him into a resilient young man. If he could survive the coming weeks and months without me to heal him, then he didn't need me anymore and maybe that’s why my time had come. At least he wasn’t here to see me die.

  “Enough,” Douward sighed, “She’s no use if we kill her here. We’ll bring her back with us and interrogate her to find out if there are others that we can get a hold of. Then Alpha Karnes and the Chamber can decide what to do with her. Besides I was meant to bring back something spectacular for the feast.”

  He stood in his stirrups and signalled further down the field. The guard loosened his grip and I erupted into convulsions of coughing and heaved for air. My lungs clutched at short, sharp breaths and my vision pulsed from my pounding heartbeat. Maybe I wouldn’t die just yet. If I could just reach my pocket...

  From the treeline came another guard on foot, leading two horses that pulled a wooden crate. He halted the horses by the ring of men and quickly began removing the side panel, allowing me to see inside. A golden doe lay there dead, an arrow in her chest and a large slit in her jugular. Her hooves had been bound together with a rope which was now stained with blood like the rest of the wagon floor.

  “Your carriage awaits,” Douward smirked, “Bind her like the other beast. Check her for weapons and crystals before locking her in.”

  Guards scrambled over each other to carry out the Gamma's commands. I was quickly stripped of my meagre belongings, including my boots and cloak. My ankles and wrists were immobilised. My pockets turned inside out, and the lining of my shirt ripped to ensure I wasn’t in possession of Obsidian.

  Once they were satisfied, I was thrown feet first into the crate, landing with a thud on top of the dead deer. The wooden panel was clicked into place, and the horses ordered to move on.

  I closed my eyes and remained still for a long time. A few hours passed, and the men finally stopped their chanting. The moon replaced the sun making the inside of the crate darker, colder and somehow even worse than before.

  Using the slits of moonlight through the panels, I inspected the rope that bound my wrists. I twisted my hands in different direction circles until it started to slowly loosen. It was a basic knot, more suitable for tethering a flag than restraining a magician. The guards had been overly eager to impress their Gamma with speed rather than skill. The rope gave way and I could finally flex my stiff fingers again.

  I dragged myself onto my knees and shuffled closer to the deer. I gently pulled down her eyelid to hide her foggy silver stare. I ran my palm down from her withers until I felt the arrow below her ribs. Wrapping my right hand around it, I looked away and tugged hard. It came away damp with congealed blood and slightly bent, but it was not barded. Good. I could pull my arrow out instead of pushing it through.

  I wrapped my left arm around my neck and used it to pull the skin above my shoulder taut. I groaned. It already hurt, and I had barely started. I slipped my right arm under my left and felt the feathered tip. I pulled lightly but nothing happened. I tried again, a little harder this time, but only managed to tear off some feather fluff. I didn’t have a good enough grasp. Creeping my fingertips further down and stretching my arms as much as I could, I eventually felt smooth pine. I wanted to do this slowly so I could take breaks if the pain got too intense, but I knew I couldn’t keep this grip for long. I buried my mouth into my left elbow to muffle my cries and then yanked. My flesh released its hold and the arrow bounced on the floor of the cart.

  The adrenaline wore off instantly, leaving only exhaustion and pain in its place. I slumped against the panel behind me and stretched out my bare feet, trying my best not to kick my dead travelling companion.

  I imagined the gentle sway of the wagon were warm waves against my imaginary boat, and this small fantasy offered enough comfort to allow me to slumber.

  Two

  The ground beneath my feet felt unsteady. Like a new-born foal, I was clumsy, stiff and unsure of my surroundings. Unlike a foal however, I wasn’t part of a larger herd to protect me.

  I was easy prey, stumbling my way forward to the predators who hunted me.

  Edvan avoided all eye contact and conversation as we made our way through the grey streets, filled with grey uniforms. Both buildings and citizens of Sinlara were obedient to the Chambers, which was now in front of me. I had never seen the centuries-old structure but recognised it from the crest branded on their soldiers’ uniforms. Three separate turrets stabbed the skies above. Although the Chamber was half the size of Sleepy Hill, it instilled double the amount of awe and fear in me.

  He made short work of the long steps, taking them two at a time as he hauled me along in tow.

  The guards on duty took one look at me, moved aside and opened the large wooden door without speaking. The hinges cried under the weight of the oak, which had grabbed the attention of the crowd awaiting inside.

  A long table along the back of the room was filled with various Chamber members whose stares burnt my skin as I approached. In the centre of the table was the Alpha of the Chambers, Karnes and his wife Mara. To their left sat Gamma Douward who looked both disgusted and delighted to see me again.

  An older man dressed in a different style uniform brought forward a chair and seated me. He ran his hand through my curls, separating my hair in two at the nape of my neck. He thumbed my skin lightly causing me to shiver uncomfortably.

  “What are you doing?” It was the first time I had spoken in days. My voice wobbled and cracked.

  “My name is Teriam. I'm the doctor. I’ll be administrating an injection into your nervous system that slows down your adrenaline reaction. This serum makes it harder for you to come up with lies,” he slowly pushed the needle into my skin. “It is the kindest way to get the truth out of you.”

  The liquid felt like sticky tree sap in my veins as it flowed through me. Teriam lightly squeezed my shoulders, fixed my hair and walked back to his seat at the end of the top table. Once satisfied that I was secured and drugged, Edvan stepped away and nodded to the Alpha.

  “Thank you, nephew. You may take your seat,” The Alpha's voice echoed around the hall. Edvan made his way past the other Chamber members and sat at the end of the top table near a dark-haired man. Had he sat beside another nephew of the Alpha?

  The lineage of the Sinlara Chamber family was something of a mystery to people from Deshure. The only knowledge of family lines we had was hearsay. Their secrecy was their greatest strength against enemies. Against people like me.

  “State your name girl,” Mara said as she
eyeballed my bare feet. I fought the urge to curl my toes and hid away.

  “Juniper. Juniper Obsidian.”

  I was glad my voice didn’t falter again. In fact, it had passed through my lips with such ease it was almost as if I hadn't said it at all. The Truth Serum had.

  “Obsidian eh? I thought we dealt with all of them Gamma Douward?” Karnes asked without breaking his gaze from me. Douward moved forward in his seat and propped both elbows on the table.

  “I thought I had too, Alpha. Apparently, there remained a rat in hiding,” Douward smirked his nickname for me. “What are you parent’s names?”

  “Ebon and Vana Obsidian.” A wave of sorrow flooded me. I haven’t spoken their names in an age and saying them here felt like I was spilling a secret or breaking a promise.

  “Ah yes. The farmer and the baker. I remember exterminating them on their way back from the market. I can see where you get the curls from,” Douward sighed. My heart dove into the acid of my stomach. I lurched forward, collapsing onto the ground with the chair landing on top of me.

  “You bastard!” I screamed as I tried to drag myself closer to him. Within seconds Teriam had rushed by my side and hauled the chair upright. He stood behind me, holding my shoulders and chair in his large palms.

  “Don’t be an idiot,” He whispered to me, as cries for my execution poured out from various Chamber members. Don’t be an idiot. My mind race back to the note I read on Sleepy Hill.

  Adonis! Although I didn't have Obsidian, I tried to construct a mental barrier around my memories of him, the same way I would shield myself when using my magic. I buried his face deep into the back of my mind where the truth serum couldn’t find him.

  “Oh, don’t feel too special,” Douward lightly laughed and continued, “At the base of my blade I made many an orphan. The only difference is they were only orphans for a few minutes before they died too. See, my men and I eradicated the Topaz and Emerald clans in one day-”