The Blade of Kenai

Part 1: Chapter 4

      Kenai bent over in pain clutching his bare arm, his sleeve was long gone. Devin and Kazdyn ran to him, following him as he sunk to the ground gripping his arm as tightly as he could.
      "What the hell just happened?" Devin looked at Kenai with an expression he didn't know could belong to him. He's scared. Kazdyn grabbed his shoulders and looked at him with more panic than he had ever seen on anyone's face. He watched as Kazdyn's eyes lowered to his arm. His eyes widened, his jaw dropped, and began to stutter before clamping his mouth shut.
      "Kenai you have to tell us. We couldn't see anything. All we could hear was that voice." Kenai furrowed his eyebrows together with perplexion. Why couldn't they see him? Finally, Kenai was able to open his mouth and slowly form the words he needed.
      "It was a Demon." He sucked in a short breath, the pain in his forearm seething and red-hot. He looked up to see Devin and Kazdyn looking at each other with panic. "He took Daithe, he said he was taking her to the 'Surface World'." The more he replayed the encounter in his mind, the more puzzlement he felt.
      Kenai rarely cried, but at that moment he let the ache in the back of his throat release and threw himself into Kazdyn's arms. He sobbed, harder than he ever had before. Why didn't I shoot earlier? Why did I miss? Why did I let him take Daithe?" The final question to himself caused him to choke on his cries. Kazdyn held him and whispered quiet reassurances. To not blame himself. That it would be okay. But Kenai knew that none of those things were true.
      When it felt like he was out of tears, Kenai pushed himself off of Kazdyn and turned his attention back to his arm. Kazdyn reached down to touch it but Kenai pulled it back quickly with his other arm.
      "Don't touch it, I think it's cursed." He finally looked over at Devin, who was clearly lost in his own train of thought. He could see the rage burning behind his eyes. He looked over at Kenai and turned stiff.
      "We need to tell Headmaster Soren." He concluded. Kazdyn and Kenai looked at each other and shared the same concern. How do you tell a father that his daughter was stolen and most likely murdered?
      Kenai stood himself back up and looked at the sun that had begun to peak up over the edge of the clouds. People would be awake and outside within the next hour. Kenai gave a final sniff before holding his good arms hand out to      Kazdyn, and then Devin to help them get to their feet.
      They walked back to the academy swiftly, aware that every moment they spent not taking real action was a better chance of Daithe not returning.
      Kazdyn pounded on the door of Daithe's home with urgency, the sun had barely come up and Soren was surely still asleep. The sound of feet rushing down the stairs, Kenai breathed a sigh of relief. Kazdyn continued to pound his fist against the door, unaware that Soren was getting closer. The sound of a bolt unlocking was quick, and Kazdyn nearly punched Soren as he appeared on the other side of the door.
      Soren moved his head to dodge Kazdyn's fist and looked at him with wide eyes.
      "What's going on?" Worry glazed over his face as he took in the boys standing in front of him. "What happened?"
      Kazdyn looked at Kenai with an expectant look on his face. Of course, I'm the one who has to tell him. Haven't I been through enough already? He exchanged one last pleading look at Kazdyn before he turned to face Soren when it was clear he wasn't going to save him this time.
      "Last night a very powerful Demon came to Elhein, and he took Daithe." Kenai watched as Soren's expression faltered, his jaw clenched as his adams apple bobbed in his throat. Kenai struggled to continue with the report but couldn't deny Soren of the truth.
      "I tried to stop him, but I couldn't" Kenai's voice cracked and he had to pause before continuing. "He claimed that he was taking Daithe to the 'Surface', I don't know if she is alive." Kenai lifted his arm to his chest, holding it in front of Soren. He kept his voice as steady as he could. "He did this to my arm. I don't know what will happen to me." He looked up at Soren whose eyes were filling with tears for the loss of his only daughter. He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand before looking back at Kenai.
      "Please, come inside." Soren opened the door wider and gestured to the boys to enter the house. They entered single file and stood awkwardly against the wall before Soren told them to take a seat on the cushioned couch.
Soren heaved a long sigh and closed his eyes before beginning his speech.
      "I know the Demon who took her." Kenai, Kazdyn, and Deving exchanged worried glances at each other, unsure of what Soren was going to say. Kenai pursed his lips together as Soren continued.
      "My family line has kept many secrets about the past. Along with passing these secrets down for generations, we were entrusted with a sword." Soren looked over at the fireplace across from them where an empty hilt rested over it, a sword that must have occupied it lay on the ground completely shattered. Soren took a deep gulp, clearly holding back tears.
      "A Demon was imprisoned inside of the sword. His soul was trapped for over 300 years." Kenai was filled with fear at the word 'was'.
      "He is very powerful and capable of destroying entire cities much larger than our own." Kenai's heart started beating faster. But we're the only ones. Nothing exists under the clouds. Devin beat him to say it out loud.
      "What do you mean other cities?" Soren bit his lip, and Kenai heard the unsteadiness in his voice as he answered the question.
      "I knew this day would come. Whether in my time or much further into the future, it is a secret that should not have been kept." Kazdyn was gripping the couch cushion between him and Kenai, his knuckles white.
      "There is another land under the clouds. A very dangerous surface filled with Demons of every kind, when the Goddess disappeared from our village she returned to the surface. She wanted to give her last all to end the Demon race. She did not succeed. And so, our village has remained high above the chaos and hidden from the Demons that inhabit the world under the clouds." Silence filled the room as they processed the new information they had been given.
      "Okay but who is the Demon? What makes him so powerful?" Devin broke the silence with the exact question Kenai knew they were all thinking. Soren glanced back down at the shattered sword and pulled his tired eyes off it before answering.
      "His name is Zolhorn. I don't know how he escaped, but I am taking the entire fault for this. Please don't blame yourselves." It was directed at all of them, but Soren only looked Kenai in the eyes as the words came out of his mouth.
      Kenai collapsed onto the couch, leaning against the backrest. He gripped his forearm, aware again of the inflicted injury. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. All eyes in the room moved to him and he fought the burn in the back of his throat that was begging to be released.
"Kenai could see him." Devin reminded the room. "Me and Kazdyn could only hear his voice." Soren gave a short gasp that somehow seemed full of hope. Kenai lifted his head to see Soren gazing deep into his eyes, his pale blue eyes becoming brighter, somehow making himself smile in a time of sadness and regret.
"Is that true?" Soren leaned forward, greedy for a response. He gave a short nod of approval.
      "Yeah, I could see Zolhorn." Images of his pale skin and icy smile flashed across his mind, making him shutter. For what seemed the millionth time that night the question echoed inside of him. Why am I the only one who can? He turned his head to look at Kazdyn and Devin who seemed just as confused as he was.
"Kenai, you're the only one in the village who has this ability. I thought that the skill died long before either of us existed." Kenai couldn't decide which emotion he should be feeling about this revelation. He was grateful that he had been able to see the Demon that took Daithe, but he was also terrified of the fact that only he could see them. They could torment him in ways that no one else could be.
Kenai looked up from his lap, where his cursed arm rested. Soren was looking at him with a serious expression, almost all of his remorse wiped away and replaced with hope.
      "Kenai." He began shakily. "This is a lot to ask, more than I've asked for from anyone," Kenai's chest tightened and he understood before the words left Soren's mouth.   
"You are the only one that has a chance of bringing her home."
     Kenai's jaw dropped with shock. The responsibility of the task sat down on his shoulders, making him feel guilty for wanting to object. He took a deep breath and tried to keep himself from turning to Kazdyn to receive guidance for the right answer to give Soren. After moving past his fears he remembered the thought he'd had when he saw Daithe thrown over Zolhorn's shoulder. I will do anything to get her back.
      "I will go after her." His voice was full of determination and he sat up straight. He almost gave a promise of bringing her home safely, but he realized it was a promise he likely wouldn't be able to keep. Kazdyn stood up from his spot on the couch and looked at Kenai, pointing his finger angrily down at him with each of his words.
      "You are NOT going to do this." Kenai was taken aback, having never experienced this emotion from Kazdyn. He turned around to face Soren as Devin stood up at the same time.
      "Please don't take him away from me." Kazdyn pleaded, choking on his breath. Devin stepped forward and looked down at Soren, who lowered his head to the ground in shame.
      "I'll go," Devin said shakily, looking back at Kenai who was still sitting with his hand gripping his arm tightly, trying to lessen the pain. "I've been training the longest and have the most experience. I can do it." Soren looked up at him sadly.
      "I'm sorry to say this, but you have no chance against Zolhorn. He is a crafty Demon and could take down even the strongest of knights if they cannot see him." Devin clenched his fists by his side in anger before he loosened them and looked back down at the ground.
      "Kenai you can't go. Please." Kazdyn looked at Kenai with earnest eyes before turning back to Soren. "Daithe most likely isn't alive. You can't send him on a meaningless mission just to give yourself the peace that you tried." His words left the room in silence. Kenai stood to join the rest of the group and took a step forward next to Kazdyn, putting his right hand on his shoulder.
      "Kazdyn, I need to go." Denial washed over Kazdyn's face, not wanting to believe or accept that he couldn't stop Kenai. "I want to go." Kenai continued. "I have a feeling this curse can't be lifted, and it may kill me." He looked at Soren and lifted his chin. "I will spend however much time I have left looking for Daithe." Kazdyn reached his hands up to his face in frustration and sadness.
      "Can I go with him at least?" Kazdyn looked back at Soren awaiting the answer to his solution.
      "If anyone is going with Kenai it's going to be me." Devin began to argue, and under the stress of the situation, it became very easy to become wrapped in it.
      "Please calm down." Soren stood and stepped between the 2 hostile boys. "I'm afraid that I cannot let anyone accompany him. Elhein cannot afford to lose any more of its members. Over time our numbers have become smaller and I fear for the future of our town if we are to stagger any further in our people." Devin had finally snapped and marched towards the door, slamming it hard behind him.
bKenai, Kazdyn, and Soren were left, each with very different emotions boiling inside of them.
      "Please Kenai." Kazdyn attempted one last time. Kenai was unsure of how to respond, and without realizing the words tumbled out of his mouth.
      "I love her. I can't not try." At first, sympathy filled Kazdyn's eyes, which melted quickly into understanding.
      "Okay." Kazdyn whispered. They locked eyes, and without warning Kazdyn pulled Kenai into a desperate embrace. Kenai quickly lifted his cursed arm out of the way and held it in the air as he buried his face in the crook between Kazdyn's neck and his shoulder. They stayed like that for a long time until they remembered that someone else was in the room with them.
      Kenai looked up to find Soren watching them with teary eyes, fidgeting with the rings on his fingers. He looked ashamed.
      "I want to do this," Kenai reassured him, looking directly into his eyes. Soren nodded as if to convince himself he wasn't forcing Kenai into something he didn't want to do.
Soren glanced back at Kenai's purple-splotched arm, remembering the serious injury that needed to be tended to.
      "Kazdyn please take him to Pella, I will pack everything Kenai needs while Pella helps him. I pray to the Goddess there is a cure." Kazdyn and Kenai both gave short nods and walked across the room to the front door. Kazdyn opened the door and Kenai walked through, stepping into the bright outside.