Champion in Flight

  CHAMPION IN FLIGHT

  Book 2 of THE CHAMPION TRILOGY

  By Tyrean Martinson

  Published by Tyrean Martinson with Wings of Light Publishing

  At Smashwords

  Copyright © 2014 Tyrean Martinson

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN: 9780988993365

  This book is available at most online retailers.

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Cover Art by Stephanie Glover

  Copyright © 2014 Stephanie Glover

  Dedicated to my family and my Savior, Jesus.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1 (Clara)

  Chapter 2 (Clara)

  Chapter 3 (Clara)

  Chapter 4 (Clara)

  Chapter 5 (Clara)

  Chapter 6 (Liam)

  Chapter 7 (Liam)

  Chapter 8 (Liam)

  Chapter 9 (Perren)

  Chapter 10 (Kalidess)

  Chapter 11 (Clara)

  Chapter 12 (Clara)

  Chapter 13 (Clara)

  Chapter 14 (Liam)

  Chapter 15 (Liam)

  Chapter 16 (Liam)

  Chapter 17 (Liam)

  Chapter 18 (Clara)

  Chapter 19 (Liam)

  Chapter 20 (Perren)

  Chapter 21 (Clara)

  Chapter 22 (Stelia)

  Chapter 23 (Kalidess)

  Chapter 24 (Liam)

  Chapter 25 (Stelia)

  Chapter 26 (Stelia)

  Chapter 27 (Clara)

  Chapter 28 (Clara)

  Chapter 29 (Perren)

  Chapter 30 (Clara)

  Chapter 31 (Liam)

  Chapter 32 (Clara)

  Champion in the Darkness, book 1 of The Champion Trilogy

  Excerpt from Champion in the Darkness

  Coming Soon: Champion’s Destiny

  About the Author

  Other books by Tyrean Martinson

  Many Thanks

  Chapter 1 (Clara)

  With her hand on the hilt of her broken sword, Clara stood up from the small desk in the scroll room. She didn’t know what had jolted her away from the texts, but her eyes ached and she felt the sudden need for movement.

  The sound of falling paper from the outer chamber, followed by a scraping footstep, put her instantly on alert. She moved her hand to the handle of one of her throwing knives. She should be alone this afternoon. Sometimes Shepherd Jordan worked silently near her, but he was involved in a Triune Council meeting with King William.

  Clara pulled the knife from its sheath, and waited.

  A shadowy figure crossed the doorway, blocking the outer lamplight. Dousing the lamp next to her, Clara plunged the room into darkness. Before she could make out details, the figure slipped into the room.

  “Who are you?” Clara asked, stepping to her left after she spoke, trying to keep her movement silent.

  She heard no response. Cautiously, she crept her way towards the open doorway.

  The shushing sound of metal on metal to her right gave Clara a target. Was this strange person an assassin? What if it was someone playing a prank on her? She held the knife ready, and stepped sideways.

  Light gleamed off a slim metal surface, her only warning of a sword-blade slicing towards her.

  Clara leapt to her left, ducked, and rolled towards the doorway.

  No longer silent, her opponent moved forward with a heavy footstep.

  Clara threw her knife.

  A gargled cry, followed by the clattering of the sword, told her that her knife had found its mark.

  “Someone, help!” she shouted.

  The outer scroll room was dimly lit, and she kept her eyes on the area where her would be-assassin had fallen.

  Running feet and questioning voices came down the hallway. She turned slightly to see two Shepherds run to the doorway of the room.

  “What is it?” the younger one asked.

  “Someone attacked me in the inner chamber,” Clara explained. “I think I hit him, but I need to make sure. Stay there. Whoever it is may still be a danger to us.”

  Frightened and pale, the second Shepherd said, “I’ll go get another Sword Guard.” He took off at a run, back the way he had come.

  “He lived in the ancient city below while Kalidess ruled over Skycliff, so he’s terrified of another invasion,” said the other Shepherd.

  Clara nodded, thinking of the hours she spent in the tunnels below the city when the Drinaii had taken the Triune Halls, and then moved slowly towards the assassin. She stayed low, and kept her weight centered. Clara swung her shield from her back and drew out her broken sword. She had stopped thinking of it first in the event of a fight. The jagged edge of the white blade still gave light. Unlike the dull blade of Master Crall who had lost his faith in the Lord entirely, her sword still shone. But she needed to fix it, to find a way to heal it, because a Champion without the true sword of power didn’t seem like much of a Champion at all. She knew the Lord had plans for her, and she knew that they included finding the Healing Caves for her sword.

  The broken sword cast light over a male figure dressed all in black crumpled by the desk where she had been studying. Blood poured out of a knife wound in the center of the man’s chest, and he lay still.

  Clara still exercised caution, kicking the figure’s foot with her own before she leaned over him. In one swift motion, she unmasked him. He was dead.

  As she studied him to figure out if she had seen him before, she noticed the scroll she had been studying was crumpled in one of his hands. She pried his fingers apart, and saw he had succeeded in tearing it, but she could still read the ancient script by placing the halves together. Before she had heard the assassin, this scroll had held her attention for nearly an hour. The clues for finding the Healing Caves in this scroll matched the map she had of the Canyonlands. She had nearly everything she needed to leave now. If only -

  “Was he after the scroll or after you, Champion?” the Shepherd asked.

  “I don’t know,” she said, rocking back on her heels. She hadn’t thought that the Drinaii could be after anything other than her death, but if he were after the scroll and Kalidess had sent him, that would mean that her quest was in more danger than she had realized.

  The Shepherd cleared his throat. “We’ve been studying scrolls of history, to understand the background of the Dark Sisterhood and the Drinaii, how they came to be together, and how they operate, so the Shepherds can be of assistance to those who fight against them, and from my understanding, it is said they mark their members, as well as their slaves. Should we check him for the mark?”

  Clara nodded and pushed up the assassin’s sleeve until she saw the familiar burn that marked all of Kalidess’ personal minions.

  The Shepherd inspected it. “It is much like the one that King Alexandros has on his arm, except this looks raw and red while Alexandros’ scar is pale under all the burn scars on his body. The one on the Drinaii prisoner is much the same, except a pinkish color. I wonder if it fades if Kalidess will still be able to call him to her side.”

  “I hope we don’t have to find out the hard way,” said Clara. Gazing at the dead man for a moment, she said, “Kalidess’ reach inside Septily is far too great. I wish Jennar was being kept in the Forrester Prison and not in the Justice Center in Skycliff.” She stood up, and walked over to her desk again. “Would it be all right if I took these scrolls to my chamber overnight? I know it is irregular for any ancient scroll to be taken from this chamber, but I must have this information.”

  “Champion, you have leeway here, as you do all over the Triune Halls on the Triune Council’s orders,” said the Shepherd. “By the way, my name is Hamneth. I trained under your father, and I am sorry for your loss. He was a good man, a great Shepherd, and we all miss him.”

  Clara swallowed back the sudden tightness in her throat. “Thank you, Hamneth,” she said quietly.

  Finally, two Sword Guards came into the scroll room followed by the other Shepherd and a Lawgiver.

  “He has the mark?” the Lawgiver asked, noticing the man’s bared wrist instantly.

  “Yes,” Clara said. “Kalidess grows too bold again.”

  “Her reach has been here since the take-over. Every time we find one of her minions, another seems to sprout up. They are like weeds, but we didn’t think she would be so bold as to attack our Champion, especially here in the Triune Halls,” said Burley, a Sword Guard and scout whom Clara recognized. “We will have to double our guard on King William and Lady Salene.”

  “Lady Salene is a capable sword master,” said Clara, “sworn to protect William with her life.”

  “She can’t be with him every moment of the day and night, and we must guard our leaders,” stated Burley. “In fact, I have requested three times that you, Champion, be put under protective guard, and although my requests have been denied, there are guards in the dorm halls, specifically on duty to watch over you. Your hours in the scroll chambers will no longer be alone.”

  “I don’t need –

  “You are the Champion, Clara, and Septily needs you alive. You are a symbol of hope.”

  “I understand what you’re saying, Burley, but I can’t be the Champion if I’m treated like a fragile glass vase.”

  “You don’t s
ee us interrupting your training sessions, to stop Stelia and Dantor from hitting you with practice weapons, do you?” Burley said, with a small smile.

  “No,” Clara conceded.

  “And this man could have killed you,” said Burley, pointing to the body.

  “He didn’t,” said Clara, “I heard him.”

  “But we all know –“

  Burley stopped himself, and then stepped away from the others, and waved at Clara to follow him.

  Chapter 2 (Clara)

  Clara walked with Burley into the main library room which stretched up three levels as high as the cathedral room behind it. She thought over how much Burley had changed since he had first come to Skycliff. Taller and broader than most men, his gentle demeanor had once bordered on shyness but now he held an air of command from a year of unexpected leadership. Burley had held his ground in the battle with Kalidess and the Drinaii, and was seen as a hero. Now, as a Sword Guard Captain, he expected others to follow his lead.

  Burley spoke quietly now, keeping his voice low. “Stelia has mentioned that you get a mite distracted when you’re after information about the healing caves, Champion, and although your blade still carries the Lord’s power, it is not whole.”

  “I’m still capable of fighting.” She paused, and focused her faith in the Lord so that her sword’s glow lit up the main library, “and, this is not without power, even broken as it is.”

  Burley took a small step back from her, squinting his eyes. “Champion, I apologize, but the Triune Council and the Allied Council grow concerned for your safety. I am not the only Sword Guard whom has petitioned for extra guards around you for safekeeping, and it isn’t that we don’t think that you’re capable of caring for yourself.” He held up his hands in a placatory gesture. “I saw what happened at the crowning ceremony last year. You took care of the threat against King William admirably. However, I feel, and many others feel, it would be safer if you had someone to guard your back, and many of us would be honored to take such a position.”

  Clara didn’t know what to say to this. She knew that Burley meant well. He always meant well. But she felt the need to heal her sword mounting every day. The call to do something felt like a constant companion. She had to confront Kalidess, but how? She wished, as she had many times, that she had chased Kalidess down after the battle. The last thing she wanted was an honor guard, slowing down her quest even more. Given the way King William had tried to treat her as a symbol so many times this last year, she felt surprised he hadn’t given in to their requests.

  She knew she had to say something to Burley about his hope to give her an honor guard, and she thought over her words carefully before speaking. “Although I don’t wish to have someone watching over me day or night, I understand your concern. Thank you for thinking of my safety, Burley.”

  “I’m glad you understand, Champion.”

  The other Sword Guard came out and said, “Burley, we need to speak to Stelia. She might know this Drinaii, and she might be able to give us some insight into-”

  “No, no, Master Stelia’s been over all she knows already,” Burley said. “That prisoner we have, Jennar, will tell us what we need to know.”

  Clara felt thankful that Burley had stood up for Stelia. Even as a fully recognized member of the Sword Council and an Honor Guard for King William, Stelia still had to deal with suspicion from Septilians, even members of the Sword Guard, because of her background as a former Drinaii Captain. Maybe she could help draw attention away from Stelia. “The burn mark looked fresh and raw, so the direct order came from Kalidess within the last hour or so. That kind of sorcery is unfortunately easy to track.”

  “We need to speak to the council about this now,” said Burley. He turned to the other sword guard, “Hart, take care of the body, and go speak to the prisoner.”

  “Of course, Burley,” said Hart. He turned away to do as Burley asked.

  “Champion, I expect you’ll want to give the report of the actual attack?” asked Burley.

  Speaking to the Triune Council was the last thing Clara wanted to do, but she knew she had to give her version, especially if she hoped to avoid being put under guard. “Of course,” she said, and she followed Burley out of the vast library and into the center hall that led from one section of the Triune Halls to the others.

  The Triune Hall buildings throughout Septily, and even in the other known countries of Aramatir, were all structured in relatively the same way. Three main halls were built like spokes around a center hall that circled the Worship Cathedral and library. The middle hall held classrooms, offices, and living quarters for the Shepherds and Shepherd Apprentices. The Lawgivers Hall branched out to the right of the Shepherd Hall and held classrooms, offices, a courtroom, and living quarters for the Lawgivers and Lawgiver Apprentices. The Sword hall branched out to the left and held classrooms, training rooms, the Crystal Sword Chamber where the blades of power were usually received by Sword Master Apprentices, and living quarters for Masters, Master Apprentices, and Sword students. Not all of those who belonged to the Triune Halls lived there, but anyone who needed a place had one.

  Underneath the Triune Hall in Skycliff, the capital of Septily, ancient halls and training rooms of the First City of Skycliff were still used by all three orders, but some areas were filled with rubble or water. The best places were directly under the Triune Halls, but only Masters and their apprentices were allowed down there regularly. Before the Drinaii had attacked their city a year ago, Clara had never explored the ancient tunnels, and although she had received her blade of power in an ancient crystal, she didn’t ever want to go back.

  Musty scrolls in the library had gained her interest, but she really didn’t like to be stuck inside and definitely not underground. She had tried to find the chamber again, in the hopes of healing her sword, but she and her guide had gotten turned around and been unable to find even the Green Hall, the ancient throne room of the first King of Septily, King Wilstorm. In her prayers, she had felt called towards the Healing Caves, so she felt sure that she needed to seek those for her sword. Perhaps tonight, she would speak to the Triune Council of it again.

  In the Triune Council Chamber, a small room near the front entrance to the Triune Halls, Shepherd Jordan, Lawgiver Gerdun, and Sword Master Theran waited for them.

  As Burley gave his report, Clara watched the three men’s reactions. Shepherd Jordan, with his long, white hair and calm demeanor, listened with interest and some slight concern marked by a small wrinkle in his brow and the way his lips seems pressed together. His staff of power rested against the wall behind his chair, within easy reach. His hands were folded in front of him, and his pen rested in its inkwell. Out of all the Shepherds, Jordan was Clara’s favorite, not because he currently held the position of lead Shepherd but because his gentleness and love had touched her whole life, and he had comforted her many times after her losses last year.

  Lawgiver Gerdun, with his dark bushy hair cut above his ears and his heavy jowls, had a stern look on his face, but then he seemed to always have that stern look and Clara didn’t know him well. He was hard for her to read. His dark eyes didn’t give anything away. He leaned forward in his seat, with one hand on his pen, and the other flat on his papers, tapping his fingers slightly as Burley spoke.

  In contrast to his two counter-parts, Sword Master Theran looked as though he might stand at any moment, sitting with an upright posture and his hand touching the hilt of his sword. He wore full armor, except for his helmet which sat on the desk before him, and his shield which leaned against the table side. After the attack last year, Master Theran had ordered all of the Sword Hall to stay in armor and have their weapons ready at all times. He held himself to the same standard as everyone within the Sword Hall, and seemed extra alert whenever a report like Burley’s was given.

  When Burley finished his report, he saluted the Triune Council and Clara, and then left.

  Clara gave her own report, giving every detail she could remember, and then she waited, knowing from the extra crease in Shepherd Jordan’s forehead, and the frown on Master Theran’s face that they were concerned.