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    Running From The Immortals
    Running From The Immortals
    Running From The Immortals
    Ebook266 pages4 hours

    Running From The Immortals

    By Meyari McFarland

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    About this ebook

    Trapped by the blood magic that tied him to his mother, Juraj knew escape was impossible. Elder Danek controlled Nadezda, their town, everyone he saw and touched.

    But a forced engagement to a woman who loathed Juraj pushed him to run.

    It wasn't enough to escape town. To save himself from magical enslavement, Juraj had to save the entire world, no matter what the cost may be.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMDR Publishing
    Release dateOct 30, 2015
    ISBN9781311906922
    Running From The Immortals
    Author

    Meyari McFarland

    Meyari McFarland has been telling stories since she was a small child. Her stories range from SF and Fantasy adventures to Romances but they always feature strong characters who do what they think is right no matter what gets in their way. Her series range from Space Opera Romance in the Drath series to Epic Fantasy in the Mages of Tindiere world. Other series include Matriarchies of Muirin, the Clockwork Rift Steampunk mysteries, and the Tales of Unification urban fantasy stories, plus many more. You can find all of her work on MDR Publishing's website at www.MDR-Publishing.com.

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      Book preview

      Running From The Immortals - Meyari McFarland

      Running From The Immortals

      By Meyari McFarland

      Other Books by Meyari McFarland:

      Matriarchies of Muirin:

      Tales from the Dana Clanhouse

      Repair and Rebuild

      Storm Over Archaelaos

      Coming Together

      Facing the Storm

      Fitting In

      Mages of Tindiere:

      Artifacts of Awareness

      Transplant of War

      City of the Dead

      Debts to Recover:

      The Nature of Beasts

      The Manor Verse:

      A New Path

      Following the Trail

      Crafting Home

      Finding a Way

      Copyright ©2015 by Mary Raichle

      Cover Image © Ducu59us | Dreamstime.com - An Islamic Sunset Background Photo

      All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

      Requests for permission to make copies of any part of the work should be emailed to me_ya_ri@yahoo.com

      This book is also available in ebook format from all major retailers.

      Dedication:

      This story is dedicated first and always to my husband for standing by me as I figure this writing thing out, second to my parents for always encouraging me to follow my dreams, LeAnn for helping me polish my stories before I release them, and finally and forever to my readers. I wouldn't be here without all of you!

      Table of Contents

      1. Escape

      2. Sudden Rain

      3. Flight

      4. Foreign Lord

      5. Attacked

      6. Commission

      7. Binding

      8. Quote

      9. Caravan

      10. Sold

      11. Discovered

      12. Free Night

      13. The Wastes

      14. Stolen Moments

      15. Heart of Magic

      16. Festival Night

      17. Midnight Request

      18. Midwinter Night

      19. Returning to the Keep

      20. Sanctuary

      21. Meeting the Parents

      22. Return

      23. Family

      Artifacts of Awareness

      Afterword

      1. Escape

      Juraj whispered desperate prayers to Haraldr and Inina as he pulled on the new vest his mother had embroidered for him. The holy arrows of Haraldr and Inina's sacred cup vibrated with malicious magic, scratching at his carefully maintained shields. It filled his senses with the sound of Elder Danek's voice praising his mother Nadezda for being such a good girl, but word felt more like slave in his head. He could almost smell Elder Danek in the air, his bitter blend of tea like a cloud around him.

      The vest was distracting enough, threat enough, that Juraj could barely listen to Nadezda as she hummed and puttered around the house. It was terribly dangerous not to pay attention to her, given how often Elder Danek possessed her. Years of practice had taught Juraj the best ways to hide the magic that coiled within him. He always had to be careful to use a mere fraction of his power. Any large magics attracted Elder Danek's attention, which would doom Juraj, as it had each of his brothers.

      Seventeen repetitions of the prayers finally quieted Elder Danek's magic enough that he trusted himself to interact with the rest of his family. They were barely there mentally. Their deep brown skin and dark hair seemed colorless, their expressions distant and eyes blank. The only one with any life today was his mother. It probably meant that Elder Danek's attention was elsewhere. Juraj hoped so; he was so much safer when that happened.

      That looks so good on you, dear, Nadezda said, coming over with her hands outstretched. The bright sunshine coming through the window turned Nadezda's dark brown hands a warmer shade than normal, adding to the white streaks in her dark hair.

      Thank you, Juraj said. He sidestepped and slipped out of Nadezda's grasping range. Personally, he thought that the vest was thoroughly gaudy and far more appropriate to a wedding than a Harvest Festival, but arguing with her was never a good idea.

      Disagreement brought out the glow of Elder Danek's magic in her eyes, made her expression shift into one that was completely unlike her. Arguing with her was part of why his brothers Kilian, Radomir and Otokar had ended up married to women that they could barely tolerate. The rest was blood slavery magic stealing their ability to disagree. Nadezda's tendency to all but become Elder Danek when disagreed with was terrifying to behold.

      Uncle Raj had speculated that Elder Danek was breeding bloodlines like they bred cattle and horses for the farm. That made sense to Juraj, but he doubted that Otokar would ever father children with his wife; no matter how often Nadezda demanded grandchildren from him. There was little likelihood of their being in the same room long enough to conceive children. They were far more likely to fight than to interact civilly, even when Elder Danek's magic glowed through them; it was obvious to Juraj that the level of control needed to ensure enthusiastic obedience sapped Elder Danek's ability to control all his slaves completely.

      It's going to be so lovely, Nadezda sighed once Juraj finished tying on his boots and brushing out his shoulder-length, dark brown hair. The scruff on his chin could wait. You'll be so happy with her, dear.

      Excuse me? Juraj said after a moment of shocked silence. He stepped back, away from his mother's reaching hands as if they were red-hot. What are you talking about, Mother?

      Your hand fasting, of course, Nadezda said, as if he was being utterly silly. We're celebrating your hand fasting at the festival today. You and Anja will be so happy, I'm sure of it. Everything will be perfect.

      "Anja? Juraj gasped. Are you out of your mind? I can't stand that loathsome bitch!"

      As soon as he said it Juraj regretted opening his mouth. The only way that he'd stayed free this long was pretending to be powerless, stupid and easily led. The many spells he'd mastered helped, but never standing out did far more to protect him. Everyone in town who tried to act and live independently ended up being enslaved or destroyed. It was a truth of life that Juraj had learned very young and confirmed with Kennet, Anja's little brother, Juraj's first and only lover.

      Nadezda and his father Bohran looked at him as though he had suddenly grown a second head, like a biviper. From their expressions, this was something that had been in the planning for ages, though Juraj hadn't heard a thing about it. Frankly if he had he would have pitched a screaming fit despite the dangers of expressing himself. Anja was six years older than him, a good twenty stone heavier and loathed him as much as he loathed her.

      Granted, most of that likely had to do with her younger brother having been made an outlaw due to Juraj and their attempts to block Elder Danek when they were younger. He didn't dare think about Kennet right now. Thinking about Kennet either distracted him with memories of their doomed relationship or inspired the sort of stupid rage that made Juraj say and do things that risked his freedom. He couldn't afford any mistakes right now. This had to be Elder Danek finally deciding to take Juraj as his blood slave, despite his supposed lack of magic. Or maybe he'd finally betrayed himself and Danek knew just what Juraj could do.

      There was a glow around Nadezda's hands as she gestured towards him. Her fingers arched strangely, holding poses that he knew from Uncle Raj's secret training. Years ago, Uncle Raj had taught Juraj many protective prayers and subtle spells during visits to the Temple of the Spider Mountain.

      Even though Nadezda was anything but a mage, Juraj felt something tug against his heart as Elder Danek's magic pulled against the blood he shared with his mother. The tug was seductive, pulling at his heart, at his mind, making him forget the secrets he'd kept since he was a small child. Worse, it made him forget the litany of prayers that protected him. He gulped, desperately resuming the prayers, to just realizing that Nadezda's glowing hands had nearly encircled his wrist.

      Juraj jerked backwards, escaping those traitorous hands again as his brothers stared at him and his father fidgeted by the back door. Nadezda stared at him in surprise for a moment, then her expression slid into a mirror of Elder Danek when he was dangerously irritated. She put her hands on her hips and stomped one foot as if she was a little girl. The combination made the hair stand up on his arms.

      Juraj, you're eighteen years old, Nadezda said. Stop being so immature! It's time that you took a wife. Goodness knows that Anja needs a husband. She may be a widow, but her store and its money make up for that. It's a good match that will do well for you and your future children.

      I wouldn't marry that bloated bitch if my life depended on it! Juraj snarled. I won't marry her today. I won't marry her tomorrow. I won't marry her in a year, ten years or a thousand years!

      Juraj regretted his outburst immediately, just barely stopping himself before accusing Nadezda of being Elder Danek’s puppet. Those who spoke of Danek's power died. Kennet had escaped death only to be exiled under a death sentence if he ever returned to the Empire. Juraj knew that Elder Danek still had people searching for Kennet so that he could be 'properly' exterminated. He pushed the brighter days before Kennet's banishment away. Juraj couldn't afford to focus on anything but Nadezda right now.

      Nadezda's expression went entirely blank for a moment before her eyes began to glow as her hands had been before. Their rich brown faded into a yellow glow that made Juraj's stomach clench. Her lip curled up on the right side in exactly the way that Elder Danek's did when he was infuriated. The magic tugging against his blood surged; Juraj staggered back another step. His mother followed him, hands out as she angrily hissed incantations at a level that Juraj had never dared. The spell wrapped around Juraj, sapping his will and making it hard to move, hard to think. Juraj found it hard to even breathe. His heart felt as though it had to fight to beat inside his chest.

      You'll do as you're told, boy, Nadezda said in a voice too deep and entirely too masculine as she grabbed for his arm again.

      Never! Juraj shouted in a thready tone full of the anger and fear he felt. He pulled on both emotions, fury at Elder Danek's control over his family and the fear that he would never escape.

      He struck out at his mother's arm with all the strength built growing up on a farm chopping wood and carrying water. The bones in Nadezda's arm snapped. Bohran and Kilian's reactions took several seconds to rise through Elder Danek's control before they gasped in shock. Nadezda didn't react to it at first, still reaching towards him with her arm at a strange angle, blood dripping, torn flesh swelling rapidly where he'd struck her. Once she looked down she gasped and then collapsed to her knees, her eyes suddenly normal and expression pained. The pull and surge of Elder Danek's magic faded just long enough for Juraj to whisper his shield spells again, then it was back, channeled through his father and three brothers.

      Juraj! Kilian gasped. His eyes glowing brightly. Are you out of your mind?

      Juraj stumbled backwards, still whispering the prayer-spells that protected him. The spell dragged at him, making it so hard to move. His father Bohran had never been as good focus for Elder Danek as Nadezda, but Danek's magic still glowed through Bohran's hands as he grasped Nadezda's arm and bound it with his fine white scarf. The bleeding slowed, and Nadezda's gasps faded into tiny whimpers more appropriate to a little girl than a grown woman.

      Kilian grabbed for Juraj as he scrambled backwards, farther away from his mother and father. When Killian tried to grab Juraj again, Juraj hit him hard enough to knock him into Radomir and Otokar. They fell in a heap, reaching for where Juraj should have been instead of where he actually was. It took a moment for their awareness to surface enough that they could untangle themselves and stand. As they struggled with each other, Juraj tore at the new vest, ripping it apart at the shoulders. Nadezda flinched away it when Juraj threw it at her. It landed in the small pool of blood that had formed by her knees.

      Doomed. He was doomed. Juraj could see it. All three of his brothers stood in unison, expressions horrifying in their blankness. They turned to look at Bohran and the still-whimpering Nadezda. Bohran's eyes glowed, not as brightly as Nadezda's had, but still brightly enough that Juraj whispered his prayer-spells as quickly as he could.

      Magic that swept through the house, feeling as though nets had been cast on top of Juraj and then nailed to the floor. He gasped; his throat closing up as Elder Danek's magic stole his ability to move.

      I'm taking your mother in to the healer, Bohran snapped at Juraj. He looked about, and nodded once as if satisfied by the spells holding Juraj in place. The glow of Danek's magic faded from his eyes. Once we're back we're going to have a very long talk about this Juraj. That was entirely uncalled for. We're just looking out for you.

      Danek's magic faded out of his family entirely, leaving him faced with appalled expressions and people who weren't sure what had really just happened.

      Come on, Mother, Otokar said as he helped her up. Radomir and I will carry you to the wagon.

      She whimpered more loudly as they made a basket out of their arms and scooped her up. Kilian ran outside, clutching his side as if Juraj might have broken ribs. Bohran glared and followed the boys and Nadezda, the look on his face promising far more than just a long talk.

      Uncle Raj had speculated once that Elder Danek adjusted his blood slave's memories as necessary. No one man could control so many without some sort of trick to ensure that they did what they were supposed to do while his attention is elsewhere. He didn't know what his family would remember from this confrontation but he was sure it wouldn't match Juraj's memories of it.

      Juraj waited until he saw them ride off in the family wagon, and then waited longer still, long enough for them to ride down the lane, out onto the road and then around the copse of trees at the corner that hid them from the town. The spell holding him in place was just a spell, Juraj told himself before chanting an ancient prayer for deliverance from evil his grandma had taught him. Juraj could feel it affecting Elder Danek's spell. Once he'd finished it, Juraj shoved magically against the smothering spell wrapped around him like wet strands of tangle grass trying to drag him down and stumbled free. He gasped for breath, running to his dresser.

      Clothes, clothes, I need clothes, Juraj hissed as he ransacked the drawers for the new socks Nadezda had knit last week, and then his sturdiest shirt and work pants. Skinning out of his going-to-town clothes and into his normal work clothes seemed to take forever. His father would have to drive carefully to make sure that they didn't jar Nadezda's arm. He would. Besides, there was no way that he'd leave Nadezda's side until he was sure that her arm would be all right. She was one of Elder Danek's favorite blood slaves. Elder Danek would insist on treating her arm himself to make sure that his best tool wasn't permanently damaged. Juraj shook, the mental reassurances not reassuring him at all.

      Food was next, simple jerky from the kitchen cabinet, some apples and a few big potatoes flung into one of the packs kept by the back door. His water bottle was by the door as well so he tied that to the pack he'd so frantically filled. His good boots were left behind but the new soles on his work books were strong. They'd do quite well for running away. Juraj grabbed his oiled-canvas coat, the long one that reached to his calves, and the wide-brimmed rain hat that Kilian always said made him look like a scarecrow.

      Money, Juraj whispered, wincing as he felt the tug of Elder Danek's magic pulling against his soul as soon as he spoke. It felt like getting caught in a flooding river, power and malice trying to suck him under into the current of Elder Danek's absolute control.

      Silence. Uncle Raj had always claimed that it was harder for Elder Danek to find him if he was silent. If Juraj just didn't speak then he might be able to get away. The less that Elder Danek had to latch onto, the better Juraj's chances were -- not that they'd ever be very good.

      Elder Danek's magic put the sound of Nadezda screaming in his ears. His brothers' voices were shouting and Bohran pleaded desperately with Juraj to just give in for their sakes. Bohran's voice in Juraj's mind said that it was so much better when you gave in. Juraj bit his lip to keep from screaming. Drawing the charm for the Great Hunter Haraldr over and over against his thigh, mentally reciting prayers pushed the noise away once more. The magic still tugged against Juraj's blood, but the pull was much less immediate.

      As against his blood faded, Juraj lurched to the mantle over the fire and opened the little carved box where he'd carefully saved up a small stack of coins from odd jobs done in town and up at the Temple for his uncle. His bride-price. It was his contribution to his parent's efforts to find him a wife eventually.

      To his surprise, there weren't as many coins as there should be, as there had been last week. It sent white-hot rage through Juraj that clouded his mind as badly as anything Elder Danek could do to him. The torn and bloody vest was probably one place where his carefully horded money had gone. He'd bet that the festivities in town were partially paid for by Juraj's money as well. It went against all tradition that the bride price should be spent on festivities when it was supposed to go for a new home for his future bride but so did forcing a young man into a marriage with a woman he loathed. So many things had gone wrong in town as Elder Danek slowly enslaved the population of their town.

      He fished the coins out, taking every last one of them. There was nothing left for him here. Elder Danek's magic swept around the room again, making Juraj swallow a whine of agony as his blood began to burn in his veins. Juraj staggered over to the vest, ripping several of the dangling ribbons off and taking the bottom button. It was so hard to thread one of the ribbons through the button, but after a moment of sweating, trembling pain he managed it.

      Juraj silently prayed as he carefully knotted the ribbons and button together in a protection charm Uncle Raj had taught him. Blessed Inina, grant me security and safety from that which hunts me. Great Hunter Haraldr, chase away the darkness that pursues me and give me your shield as I escape to Inina's arms as you once did.

      Once the little knotted charm was done, Juraj tied it into his hair, using the tails of the knot to pull his hair back away from his face. The pain and burning faded, though it didn't leave completely.

      Juraj repeated the prayer. Every repetition of the prayer imbued the charm with more power. After six repetitions he could breathe again, though his head spun. There had to be something more that he could do to protect himself, some other spell his that would work. Juraj couldn't think of anything at the moment, too frantic to escape to remember everything his uncle and grandmother had taught him over the years.

      Juraj looked around the home that was no longer his. He knew every inch of the farmhouse. That stool was the one that he'd made with Bohran. The quilt over the rocker was one that his grandmother had made before she'd died last year. Even the rug on the floor was braided from scraps of clothes that he'd worn out as a small child after getting them as hand-me-downs from his brothers. Still, everything there was a trap designed to keep him here where Elder Danek could latch onto his soul and drain the magic that Juraj had hidden all his life.

      No, there wasn't anything left for him here.

      2: Sudden Rain

      Rain dappled Takeo’s forehead. He looked up towards the grey clouds overhead, snorting. Over the last couple of hours of the morning they'd thickened, darkened. Takeo hadn't noticed while organizing bamboo for the scaffolding to protect the site's neighboring buildings. But it looked like they were finally being hit with the rain that had held off all summer. They'd all hoped for at least another day before the rain began.

      No such luck came from Pensri's blessed hands today. It looked like the rain would continue for hours, turning the earth on the worksite to mud. There was no chance that it wouldn’t.

      The cliffs the supported Edge City loomed around him, cut and braced, supported by a hundred thousand retaining walls surmounted by thousands of buildings large and small. Streets cut between them as they wound downwards towards the bay like trickles of water gathering into a stream

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