Merrick still sat at the table, staring into the crackling flames. He had not moved or spoken since Cade walked out to find what his father had left for him. Roland had begun pacing, and Gwen was busying herself in the kitchen.
Merrick had seen this day coming for a long time. When he made the pact with Aidan, he knew that he would have to lie to Cade every day of his life until he came into his powers. He watched as the boy grew, and the beginnings of his powers came in subtle ways. Cade’s ability to sense things was far beyond anyone else’s, and when he brought Zaka home, Merrick saw a companionship between them that he had only seen between channelers and animals.
A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. He turned in his chair, and saw Roland moving towards the door. His son worked the latch and swung the door inward, allowing a cold draft to sweep into the home. In the doorway stood a tall, thin man wearing a heavy black cloak. His hair was shorn to the scalp, and his face was pale and skull-like. The stranger’s silver eyes were cold and humorless, and Merrick felt a pang of recognition when their gazes met.
“Who are you?” Roland asked the stranger.
“Silas,” Merrick said, before the stranger could reply. “I will never forget those eyes.”
A frigid smile played across Silas’s narrow lips, and he inclined his head to Merrick slightly.
“Glad to be remembered amongst the enemy,” he said.
Merrick stood from his chair, and faced Silas, trying to hide the limp in his right leg.
“Why are you here?”
“I think you know why I am here, Merrick.”
“Enlighten me.”
“May I come in? It seems rude to leave your door open like this.”
“You are fine where you are. Answer my question.”
Silas shrugged indifferently.
“Oddly enough, you mentioned eyes that could not be forgotten, and that is exactly what brought me here. Apparently, a channeler with unforgettable green eyes was in Quill Market recently, and I am here to collect him.”
Merrick’s blood turned to ice. Aidan and Cade shared the emerald green eyes that were unique to their family line.
“What do you want with him?” Roland interjected.
“That is none of your concern, boy. Just hand him over, and we can be on our way,” Silas replied.
“He is not yours to take,” Merrick stated, a hard edge in his voice.
“The twenty men I have waiting outside will happily kill everyone in this quaint little town and burn it to the ground.”
Roland backed up a few steps from the door, but Merrick saw that it wasn’t in fear. He was positioning himself closer to his weapons, which sat on a table near the Kitchen doorway.
“You wouldn’t dare,” Roland said.
“I would kill every man, woman, and child in this region to acquire that channeler.” Silas replied.
“You? Not the coward I remember from so long ago.” Merrick said, hoping to strike a nerve.
He saw something flash in Silas’s eyes, but no emotion crossed his sallow face.
“Times have changed. Where is he?”
“He is not here. He left before nightfall and we don’t know where he went.”
Silas narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Merrick, but he did not flinch.
“Surely you can do better than that.”
“I could, but for filth like you, I won’t even try.”
That elicited the reaction Merrick had been hoping for. He saw the jaw muscles tense and nostrils flare on Silas’s face. He was sure that the channeler was going to lash out when a man’s voice called out from beyond the doorway. Silas turned, and Merrick saw a burly form clad in black leather armor walk up to the doorway.
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“One of the men in the stables said that two women were sighted going into the forest shortly after the caravan’s arrival. They match the description, my lord,” the man said to Silas.
Silas nodded, and motioned for the man to stay put. He rotated back to face Merrick.
“You and your family will come with me, peacefully, or I will follow through on my promise from before.”
“You’re bleedin’ nuts. We ain’t goin’ with you!” Roland exclaimed.
Before anyone could respond, another black clad man moved in from the kitchen with a knife to Gwen’s throat.
“I will not harm anyone in this town if you come. I will slaughter them all, and kill your family in front of you, if you refuse.”
Merrick looked from Silas to Gwen to Roland. He had no choice. He would not have the deaths of so many on his soul. Roland looked at him pleadingly to fight, but he shook his head at his son. He knew that this was a fight they could not survive. His gaze returned to Silas.
“I have your word, that no one will be harmed?” he asked.
“I swear that I will abide by my word,” Silas replied.
Merrick nodded. Silas stepped aside, and two men entered, clad in black armor. Roland was still poised for an attack, and the soldier that approached him, had his hand on the hilt of his sword.
“Son, trust me. Stand down.” Merrick said.
“This is wrong! Who the fuck do you think you are?” Roland yelled at Silas.
“Roland!” Merrick said forcefully, grabbing his son’s attention. “This is not the time to disobey me. I will not place the lives of others in danger. Trust me, and do as you are told.”
Roland stared back at Merrick, and he could feel the anger in his son’s gaze. He wanted to fight back as well, but this was a battle they could not win right now.
Merrick held out his hands, and one of the soldiers walked over and shackled him. He watched as Gwen was shackled, and the soldier holding her at knifepoint finally let her go. Roland was in a standoff with the soldier who initially approached him, and neither was backing down. He saw Gwen move slowly from the kitchen to Roland’s side, and gripped his arm with her shackled hands. She spoke softly to him, but Merrick could not make out her words. The look on the young man’s face never changed, but he finally held out his wrists to be shackled.
The soldiers began to push them out the door, but Merrick stood his ground.
“The cloaks by the door,” he said.
The soldiers looked to Silas, who was still standing near the doorway. He nodded, and then moved out of the doorway. A soldier took the cloaks down from their pegs, and brought them to Merrick, Roland and Gwen. Merrick pulled his on, and watched as Roland and Gwen did the same. They were pushed out the door into the snow, and Silas began walking towards the center of town. Merrick walked stiffly, his right leg aching from the cold, and he hoped that they did not have a long way to go.
As they walked back into the main part of town, he noticed that no lights were on in any of the houses and no people in sight. It was still relatively early, but the town was deathly silent and still. As they continued to walk, he noticed something had disturbed the snow ahead. As they neared, he recognized the bright red sheen of blood on snow. His steps slowed, but before he could divert to look closer, the tip of a sword was placed against his spine.
“Keep walking,” a voice behind him said.
He ground his teeth together, knowing that he had made a mistake. They entered the small town square, and one of the wagons had been pulled out of the stable. Silas was striding towards a group of soldiers holding torches. Merrick was brought to a halt next to the wagon, but his eyes never left Silas and the men with torches. Silas spoke quietly to them out of earshot, and then they all went different ways. Silas turned and walked over towards the wagon. He stopped several feet away, and Merrick noticed that the remaining soldiers now had their weapons drawn. He saw flames begin to dance along the buildings around them, and he could do nothing to stop it.
“You gave your word. You swore that no one would be harmed!” he bellowed, his anger and grief mingling to form an emotional torrent inside of him.
Silas’s face was cut with a vicious smile, and he wagged a long bony finger at Merrick.
“I said I would not hurt or kill anyone, and I have not,” Silas said calmly. “My men, on the other hand, killed everyone in this little town before I knocked on your door.”
“You fuckin’ bastard!” Roland screamed, as he lunged at Silas.
A soldier stepped in and cracked him in the temple with the pommel of his sword, knocking him down into the snow. A blade was suddenly at Merrick’s throat, and a glance let him know that one was also pressed to Gwen’s. The soldier who had struck Roland placed his foot on the young man’s broad back, and placed the tip of the sword against his neck. Silas walked closer, and stood in front of Merrick. Their eyes met, and he felt the sudden urge to snap the cowardly channeler’s neck.
“These people were useless to me,” Silas said. “You and your family still serve a purpose. Perhaps after I have the boy, I will keep you as slaves.”
“I would rather kill them, and then slit my own throat,” Merrick replied.
“Perhaps you may,” Silas responded, turning away. “Load them up. We have a long ride ahead.”
Merrick watched as a half-conscious Roland was hefted out of the snow by two soldiers, and then tossed into the wagon. The blades were removed from his and Gwen’s throats, and they were pushed up into the wagon. A flap was lowered down over the back opening, and tightly secured, leaving them in chilly darkness. He heard Roland groan, and felt Gwen moving close to him. He took her hand in his and sat down against the wall. His wife cuddled close to him, and he held her as tightly as he could with his hands shackled.
“What are we going to do?” Gwen whispered.
“Stay strong,” he whispered back. “And hope Cade doesn’t come runnin’ after us like some damn fool.”
“We all know that ain’t gonna happen,” Roland said blearily.
Merrick didn’t respond. He leaned his head against the wood and hoped that those women that he heard Silas and his man talking about could help Cade survive the path ahead.