Storm of Souls (Book 2 of The Tempest Series)

Chapter 8

Jian

The chocolate of his eyes glistened in the light that pierced through the window as he stared out and at the battle taking place at the gates of Jotenhall. Silently, he wondered whether he had taught the Lords of north enough to survive against the demons of the east. Jian was already all too aware of their skills in combat and how dangerous the armies were for there was reasons for why he had arrived at the south. Reasons he didn't wish to think of, nor did he wish to discuss them.

"Jian," said a young, familiar voice as she appeared at the doorway of his chambers. Calmly, he turned to face the young Lady of the north, his gaze meeting the smoky blue eyes that studied him.

"Yes, Lady Maria?" Replied the monk.

"Is it true? Was Nina sent away? Is that why she hasn't been to tell me stories?" She asked, her innocent eyes glistening brightly in the dim light.

"Yes,"

"Why was she sent away? Mother won't tell me,"

"Her Lord father had her return to Spiders Keep in order to ensure her safety should Jotenhall fall," said Jian, his voice didn't once waver nor betray his unusual composure.

"Should Jotenhall fall?" She repeated his words in the form of a question as her eyes welled with tears of fear; causing him to immediately regret his words. He had forgotten her young age until the moment he saw her blink away the tears and return to holding the composure of a brave and powerful woman of the north.

"Do not worry yourself, Jotenhall shall not fall," said Jian, the composure of his voice changing to hold a warm, comforting tone.

"I know," she said sternly as she approached him with a powerful look in her eyes unlike anything he had ever believed to be possible of a child so young, "Wulfric will not allow our home to fall," she continued. Maria took her place beside Jian and looked out at the dark skies above her home, "Wulfric is strong and you taught him to be stronger, he will stop them,"

"And what of your brother, Lord Eyvind?"

"From the day of Wulfric's birth, people spoke of his strength. They say that he was born destined to fight on the field of battle," said Lady Maria, "Eyvind is a good leader, but he wasn't born for this like Wulfric was,"

"Have faith in both of your brothers, they are both skilled in combat even if it isn't equal,"

"We have you here too," Maria continued as though Jian hadn't spoken, "I saw your trial by combat and I would hope that you would protect us,"

"I swore my life to your house my Lady,"

"And I would hope that you would honour your oath,"

"You will make a fine Lady of the north one day, Lady Maria. You are a woman of strong words," muttered Jian when he heard the quiet footsteps appear behind them. Swiftly, he span around to face whomever it was that had entered his chambers when he saw the cloaked figure shimmer in its movements, hidden by the shadows.

Mercenary scum, thought the young monk as he glanced to Maria, silently fearing for her safety.

"What is it?" Asked the young girl as she noticed his composure harden.

"Nothing that you need concern yourself with," said Jian, "just stay close to me, for now,"

"Why?"

"You needn't know,"

"Tell me," she insisted firmly, her voice holding the same thunderous authority that her fathers held.

"Did Nina ever tell you stories of the Temples of Night and Shadows?" Asked Jian as he crouched.

"No," she muttered as she watched his movement, urgency and caution clear in her youthful gaze.

"They are the opposite of my order. They sell the swords and services to whomever shall pay. They have no morals and they hide in the shadows, a skill said to have been taught to the first by the sirens,"

"What does this-"

"I believe that there was one in this room just now, I heard him," said Jian, interrupting Maria's sentence.

"But I didn't see or hear anything,"

"You wouldn't. You're not trained to do so," said the monk as he stood as glanced around the room, looking for any changes when he noticed the bracelet that appeared all too familiar. The bracelet that Nina had gripped tightly ever since the death of her friend.

"Train me," said Lady Maria, her voice firm and commanding; catching Jian off guard and causing him to spin on the balls of his feet to face her.

"Train you?"

"I want to learn the ways of your order,"

"I cannot, you are a Lady and not a monk,"

"Would it matter?" Asked the girl, and Jian paused for a moment as he realised that his words meant nothing. The Order of Light accepted all children from highborns to the working class. They had never turned one away, what right did he have to refuse her?

"You must understand that you must train every day, pray to the creator of life every evening and meditate. You will go through pains far worse than you could ever imagine, deal with injuries worse than what you have seen upon Wulfric,"

"I understand," said Maria, "but it would mean that I can protect my house and my family,"

The young Monk of Light couldn't help but admire her determination and inner strength. She held courage far beyond those he had seen the Order accept into their doors and he wondered what those of the Temple would say if they knew of such a thing. The Order forbid teaching outsiders their ways and yet, here he was with a child with the will to learn rather than being given to the order by her parents.

In that moment, he saw it in her eyes, the hope of a child along with the determination of a woman that was far beyond her years. Finally, he spoke,

"I will train you," said Jian, "but you cannot tell anyone of this. Not even your brothers, do you understand this?"

"I understand,"

"No one can know, for you are now an initiate and the ways of our Order is secretive. You must swear that you will not speak of what you learn nor will you teach it to another unless they have been accepted into the Temple,"

"I swear,"