WeatherMaker Hearts Desire Prologue

‘I’ve killed many people in my life’ William explained, ‘but never before have I felt life ebb away beneath my very fingers.’

‘You’re a scary man you know that?’ Adam said.

‘What was I supposed to do?’ William snarled. ‘She left me. I could not live with the heartache, and I could not let her live knowing she was with someone else.’

‘You should have just let it go’ Adam told him calmly.

‘No’ William sighed. ‘I couldn’t.’

‘You shouldn’t hang onto the past’ Bill said from the doorway of the tent.

He had been absent for the longest time, and William had begun to worry. But now here he stood.

‘Bill’ William sighed with relief. ‘You’re alive!’

‘You bet’ Bill laughed stepping into the tent.

‘I thought for a moment that the beast had had you.’

‘Not me’ Bill said sitting heavily on the edge of William’s bed. ‘I’m tough.’

‘Do you mind?’ William spoke to Adam. ‘I want to talk to Bill alone.’

‘Sure’ Adam nodded, rising. He left the tent.

William spoke to Bill now.

‘Bill….how have you been?’

In the confusion of the aftermath of the fight, it took them far too long to realise something was wrong. But when Shawn returned to them after going back down the mountainside to the ships to check on Annabel, he returned in a panic.

‘She’s gone!’ he cried to Arlen. ‘Annabel’s gone!’

Arlen rose from his seat, speaking to Shawn.

‘Are you sure she hasn’t…’

‘No’ Shawn shouted back, grabbing Arlen’s shoulders and shaking him. ‘The few soldiers we left there to guard her are dead!’ he faltered then, as more thoughts began to process in his mind. ‘Oh gods…’ he said. ‘That’s why the king left so quickly……he doesn’t care about us…he only wanted her….’

He let go of Arlen, wandering a few steps away, and going completely pale.

‘Gods…’ he said again. ‘I let this happen...’

‘Shawn’ Arlen said sternly. ‘Stop for a minute. Let’s think about this...’

Whatever he said after that, Shawn didn’t hear him, so caught up was he in the fear and panic of losing her.

‘Anna…’ he whispered to himself beginning to tremble. ‘I’m going to find her’ Shawn spoke loudly now.

‘No’ Arlen said.

‘What do you mean no?’ Shawn demanded rounding on him. ‘Why not?’

‘You’re rushing into this too fast’ Arlen reasoned. ‘You’ll put yourself in danger. Talut is going to kill the king. Annabel will be safe.’

‘Why hasn’t he already left yet?’

‘Calm down’ Arlen told him, raising a hand. ‘It’s no small task what he’s about to do. I’m sure there’s some level of preparation involved.’

‘It’s not good enough’ Shawn glowered. ’Every minute Annabel is gone…..what could be happening to her right now? She could be suffering. In pain…’

He paused.

‘I’ve got to go’ he said, turning on his heel and marching away.

‘Shawn’ Arlen raised his voice following him. ‘Stay where you are!’

‘I don’t take orders from you’ he shot back without pausing. ‘I have to save her. I’ll do it alone if I have you.’

‘You could die!’

‘I WOULD RISK THAT FOR HER!’ Shawn called back turning to face him again.

Arlen halted.

Shawn glared furiously at him; then began to walk away again.

’Shawn! Stop!’

Shawn didn’t listen, but continued to make his way towards the horses, many of which were still saddled.

Arlen started towards Shawn before he could reach them, grabbing him from behind to try to stop him. Shawn immediately threw his head back, smacking Arlen in the nose.

He turned to face him as Arlen stumbled back.

Shawn stood there, shoulders hunched, legs apart, waiting, for what Arlen would do next.

Arlen lowered his hands from his bleeding nose, straightening up.

Arlen strode towards him; unsure of what he would do Shawn attacked him first.

Shawn grabbed him by the wrist and swung his elbow, striking Arlen hard across the face, then back again, with the bony tip. Arlen stumbled back, falling to his knees and holding himself, fighting to stay conscious.

He lifted his head towards Shawn again, upper lip curling in anger.

Arlen rose to his feet gingerly, shaking his head to clear his mind, and moved forwards again. Lunging towards him and striking Shawn several times in the chest, pushing him back, finishing off with a blow to the head. Shawn staggered, but recovered quickly, spinning around and grabbing Arlen’s wrist as he made a move for him again. Holding his wrist and pulling Arlen toward him as he struck out, kicking him with the base of his boot in his waist below Arlen’s ribs. Arlen staggered back, holding himself double over, his head still swimming from when Shawn had hit him first.

Arlen gritted his teeth, persistent. He moved quickly again, grabbing Shawn as he went to strike him, sweeping his leg behind Shawn’s, knocking him off balance and throwing him to the floor. Arlen knelt on his chest and punched him hard in the face; Shawn was only able to free himself by slashing up at Arlen with a knife he had hidden up his sleeve, rising again as Arlen drew back. Arlen was quickly able to disarm him before swinging a fist at him again. With one hand Shawn diverted this blow, with the other hand he struck Arlen hard in the abdomen, using his own body weight against him and throwing him to the floor. Kicking him once hard in the side and balling his fist, using his body weight to strike down at Arlen again in the abdomen as hard as he could.

Shawn pulled back as Arlen held himself, moaning in agony and unable to fight any longer.

‘Enough’ he gasped. ’Enough...

Shawn straightened and stormed off, heading again towards the saddled horses. He mounted one of the steeds, pausing only briefly to glance down at Arlen as he sat up gingerly. Other men from nearby who had seen the fight, approached to see if he was alright. Shawn kicked his horse hard and rode swiftly away.

‘Are you alright?’ one man said to Arlen as he lay on his side. ‘What happened?’

‘I’m fine…’ Arlen gasped. ‘I’ll be fine…’

Arlen accepted the soldiers help as he put an arm around him and lifted Arlen to his feet. Arlen staggering again, leaning heavily on the soldier for support and grasping his head. He straightened, moaning as his body pained him.

‘What happened here?’ the soldier asked him.

‘Nothing’ Arlen said through gritted teeth. ‘Not much….’

He groaned again, holding himself.

‘I’ll be fine’ he whispered, taking his arm back from the soldier who supported him.

‘Perhaps you should see a healer?’ the soldier suggested.

‘No’ Arlen shook his head, standing tall now. ‘I’ve lived through much worse. I’ll be fine.’

Talut left them shortly after, setting out to kill the king once he had prepared all he needed.

He vanished into the night to complete his task. Back at the camp, the others waited.

‘Why don’t we go after them?’ Adam suggested to Arlen after a time.

‘No’ Arlen droned. ‘There is nothing we can do that Talut won’t do himself. If anything we’d just get in the way.’

‘But Shawn…’

‘No’ Arlen said quietly. ‘We cannot help him.’

Adam watched Arlen closely. His face was cut and swollen and bruised, and there were numerous other bruises over his body, hidden from view beneath his clothes, the wounds he had sustained from his fight with Shawn. But although they hurt him, Arlen hid the pain. It was nothing he wasn’t used to.

Adam cursed under his breath, gritting his teeth.

‘What is it Adam’ Arlen asked him not looking at him.

‘Where is Tristan?’ he muttered in response under his breath. ‘He’s been gone for ages….he wasn’t amongst the dead last time we were attacked, and he hasn’t met us here.’ He glanced away before looking back again. ‘Where on earth is he? It’s awfully suspicious if you ask me.’

‘I’m sure you’re right’ Arlen nodded bleakly. ‘I very much doubt he is dead. Planning something behind our backs most likely, I’m sure we will see him again sometime.’

Shawn rode the distance to the capital without rest. By the time he arrived at the palace, his horse was exhausted and near ready to collapse.

He tied the creature up nearby, somewhere hidden where it would not be seen. He watched the place for hours, walking back and forth, trying to find the best place to enter.

After a time he saw a small tunnel protruding from the rocks at the back of the palace. It was narrow and dingy, a small river running nearby.

He approached through this way, sneaking down the quiet corridor beneath the rocks. He had found the right place. This was the exit from the jails.

He clung in the shadows for hours, feeling horribly exposed as he listened to the murmurs of guards nearby, and with nowhere to hide, he stayed crouched where he was, until the voices moved off.

The corridors were long, and there were many different paths winding and twisting and turning, there were so many places guards could emerge from and catch him.

Shawn put the thought from his mind. He proceeded, coming behind an armed guard who stood with his back to him. Shawn hid for many minutes behind a corner, before stepping out, having not heard another sound for a long while.

‘I have a crossbow aimed at your back’ he spoke in a low voice. The guard immediately tensed. ‘If you move, turn around or make any noise I’ll kill you.’ He waited for a moment. ‘Where are the others?’ he asked quietly. ‘You can speak.’

‘They come and go’ the guard answered shortly, not daring to turn. ‘There’s no one here at the moment.’

‘Where is the black haired woman that was brought here recently?’

‘Are you her lover?’ the guard asked with a sneer in his voice.

‘Piss me off’ Shawn answered quickly, ‘and I kill you. Where is she?’

‘End of the corridor on the right.’

Shawn approached him slowly.

‘Where are the keys to the cells?’

The guard hesitated, glancing down at himself.

Shawn made a lunge for him, the two fought; Shawn struggled against the burly armoured man, managing to subdue him long enough to plunge his knife downwards through the guard’s shoulder between the armour. Jerking the knife back as the unfortunate guard crumpled beneath him.

He snatched the keys from the dead man, and was just dragging his body back to hide it, when another guard rounded the corner.

They both froze in shock at the sight of one another.

Then the guard drew his sword, starting towards him. Shawn raised his knife. They fought, but in the close quarters of the narrow tunnel, the guard was at a disadvantage, and Shawn was able to beat him back, driving the knife into the man’s armpit between his armour. But not before he felt the tip of the sword sink into him, and back out again.

Shawn pushed the guard back, letting go of the knife that remained in the body of the guard as he fell.

Shawn leant against the wall behind him, holding his side, feeling suddenly afraid.

He dared to look down at himself, sobbing in frustration.

He was bleeding.

Shawn straightened up, forcing himself onwards. He bent down to pick up the fallen keys, making his way back down the corridor and towards the cells.

He headed to the end of the corridor, towards the door on the right. As he went by several other doors, he passed other figures that were imprisoned. Having been alerted by the sound of fighting, they stood at their doors, peering through the little barred windows towards him.

Shawn counted seven faces. Seven Weather Makers imprisoned here besides Annabel.

Shawn passed them, and reached the door at the end of the corridor.

‘Anna’ Shawn hissed.

‘Shawn?’ came the response immediately.

Annabel’s face appeared.

‘What are you doing here?’ she asked him incredulous.

Shawn grimaced in pain, gritting his teeth; hand pressed to his side.

‘I came for you’ he gasped. ‘I couldn’t leave you.’

‘I thought you had forgotten about me.’

‘No’ Shawn whispered back to her, touching her face through the bars. ‘I could never….’ He glanced down the corridor, before lifting the keys.

‘What about the others?’ Annabel asked him when the door was open.

‘I can’t save them’ Shawn told her firmly. ‘I’m sorry….I just….they know I’m here…’

‘Shawn?’ Annabel asked him, worry laced her tone. ‘What’s wrong?’

‘Nothing I’m fine’ he answered abruptly. ‘Now come on, we have to hurry.’

He followed her down the corridor, but couldn’t keep up.

‘Which way?’ she asked him when they reached the end of the corridor which split in two.

‘Left’ Shawn whispered, following after her and trying his best to straighten.

Annabel walked swiftly down the corridor, rounding a corner but immediately stepping back.

They waited there for the voices of the guards around the corner to fade away. Behind Annabel, Shawn leant against the wall for support. He was beginning to pale now; he could feel the warm touch of the blood running from the wound and down his leg.

Annabel looked back at him wide-eyed.

‘Shawn?’

His knees buckled, and he slid down the wall, hunched over.

‘Shawn’ Annabel hissed in a whisper. ‘What happened?’

She moved his hand away forcefully as he held himself, to see what was wrong.

‘You’re hurt…’ she stammered drawing back at the sight of blood.

Shawn didn’t answer.

‘This is my fault’ she panicked. ‘I’m so sorry.’

‘No’ Shawn told her. ‘It was my choice to come….I couldn’t leave you…’

‘Shawn…’

‘I couldn’t leave you’ he repeated.

There were tears in his eyes.

They escaped the prison.

Their progress was slow, Shawn walked with his arm slung around Annabel, and she did her best to support him. But when they reached the outside world again, it wasn’t far along the road they had walked when Shawn collapsed.

‘Shawn!’ Annabel cried in horror.

‘I’ll be fine’ Shawn said, his voice shaking, and skin ever growing paler still. ‘I’ll be fine…’

‘Please don’t die’ Annabel begged him. ‘Please….I love you…’

He met her eyes.

‘Anna’ Shawn whispered to her, reaching out to touch her face, his body quivering as if he were freezing. ‘Tell…tell my family….’

But they were the last words he ever spoke. As Annabel held him in her arms, caressing his face with a shaking hand, she saw that he was already dead.

She bowed her head over his, as the realisation was slowly sinking in.

’No Shawn…’ she whispered to him as she began to cry. ‘Please don’t leave me….’

She looked down at him, hand beneath his chin, turning his head up to face hers. But he saw nothing.

’No……….oh gods no….this can’t be happening.’ She leant forward, sobbing into his chest, falling back on her heels, holding his dead weight in both her arms.

She screamed, pulling at his hair and clothes, bawling hysterically as she rocked him back and forth.

‘I love you Shawn’ she said over and over again. ‘I love you….I love you so much…’

Tears streamed down her red cheeks as she cried.

‘…Why? Why do you have to leave me? Why do things have to end this way…?’

There were sounds coming from down the road they had walked, in the direction of the palace, and the prisons.

The guards had heard her, and were coming her way.

Annabel lowered her head again, kissing Shawn’s forehead, before laying him gently down upon the earth.

‘Goodbye….’ she whispered, backing away from him, ‘…my love….’

She strode back down the path, towards the guards that approached her now.

They saw her.

Annabel threw her hands out, the trees on the road either side coming to life and flailing around.

The only thing that could describe what followed was a bloodbath, as Annabel proceeded to rip apart every man she saw, limb from limb, and splay their guts and bloodied remains upon the forest floor.

But more kept coming, flooding from the palace beyond sight. When she began to tire, she retreated into the woods, creating a great wall between herself and her pursuers. A tangled mass of weeds and thorns and trees and ivy, and by the time the guards managed to find a way around, she was long gone.

‘Hey’ one guard spoke to the other when it was all over. ‘Look at this.’

They approached the body of a man, the only one in sight that had not been mangled beyond recognition. He was a handsome man in his early thirties, pale; the stab wound that had ended his life clearly visible now. The blood had smeared his clothes.

‘I wonder who he is’ said the other guard leaning forwards.

Annabel would wander the next few weeks alone. She began the long trek to the home Shawn one lived, to deliver the news, passing her own home along the way.

When she reached Shawn’s village, she found his family home.

An older woman answered the door, a woman whose name was Alice.

Annabel took a deep breath, and explained herself.

Alice fell to her knees, crying into her hands.

By the time Annabel returned to her own family, many days after that, she was weak from hunger, exhausted, hair greasy and mud and filth covering her boots and dress.

Her father working outside in the field saw her, staring in utter shock and disbelief. He called inside the house for his wife to come out. Her parents ran to her, embracing her, neither could believe she had returned to them after all this time.

Annabel collapsed in their arms, sobbing hysterically.

Her father lifted her in his arms, and carried her home.