Shadow of the Unicorn

Shadow: Chapter 1

An excited whicker drew Baye's attention back to the present. It had been nearly eighty years since Jace had vanished and he had been musing on when and if the boy would return, wondering what the lad would think to find his sister the new Lady of Astoria. Baye's smile deepened as the source of the sound burst out of the vibrant spring growth that engulfed the forest around them. Jace's unicorn stood before them, dancing and snorting in excitement, urging them both to follow. Baye immediately assented and the two unicorns took off with all their native speed. A few moments later, they were standing on the far edge of a clearing, gazing down into a deep but narrow gully at the base of a great tree.

Baye eyed the unicorn amusedly, "you want me to climb down there."

The creature snorted the obvious answer, Baye shrugged, and began the descent. Lying amidst the ferns and moss, lay the remains of a human skeleton, half buried in the soft soil, gnawed by rodents and further weathered by wind and water, little remained but a gaping skull in which a rodent had once nested, a shattered rib cage, and a femur that bore an impressive callus testifying that it had once been broken.

Baye smiled eagerly, "so this is where you have been hiding yourself."

The unicorn whinnied excitedly from above as he laid a firm hand upon the crushed chest. Light engulfed the skeletal remains and immediately Jace lay on his back in the bottom of the gully staring up at Baye in pure joy. He took the offered hand and was soon on his feet. He gazed at his onetime mentor and said, "that was dreadful."

Baye clapped him on the back and said, "it always is, but there is no way around it if you want to become a full Shadow."

Jace grinned sheepishly, "I did not say it was not worthwhile, I just said it was unpleasant."

Baye laughed, "it is good to have you back lad, I have missed you."

Jace frowned, "it could not have been more than a few days, a month at most."

Baye said soberly, "nay lad, it has been eighty years."

Jace gaped, "eighty years!"

Baye nodded and urged the lad to climb out of the ditch, wishing to continue their conversation in a more sensible location. As the boy climbed, Baye continued, "Adan was gone for eight years and Hawk for twenty three, but now we are again at our full strength." Baye climbed up himself and paused while the lad exchanged greetings with his unicorn. Continued he once the pair had quieted, "your mother died nearly thirty years ago." He grimaced, "I explained to her as best I could and she seemed to understand, or was at least content to know you'd meet again one day beyond time."

Jace nodded sadly, "thank you, I know it could not have been easy." He grinned impishly, "how has Briane taken it?"

Baye tried to hide his smile, "exactly as you would expect; she is also the new Lady of Astoria."

Jace nearly fell back into the ditch as he exclaimed, "what?!"

Baye laughed, "that's about how I thought you would take it, come, we aren't far from Astoria and you can see for yourself." They mounted up and were soon on their way, Jace still reeling from all the revelations in the last few minutes. Baye gave him some time to absorb what had already been revealed, before continuing, "there are a few things you need to know about your new position."

Jace eyed him keenly, "I am no longer considered an apprentice then?"

Baye shook his head, "neither of the Brethren nor of the Shadow, you are a full member of both now lad." He grinned, "even if it means doing exactly as your sister tells you." Jace rolled his eyes but Baye continued, "you once saw me rid the world of the carcass of a dead lurker; you can now do the same. You can use the light within yourself to move, change, or destroy certain objects. You will also find walls and other physical barriers no obstacle now, just will yourself through them and you can pass like sunshine through an open window. You can also hide from casual sight if you so wish. Obviously you'll need to practice these new skills but they will be quite useful now that you must venture forth alone."