The Dark-Eyed Shaman (The Dark Amulet Book 3)

Book summary

After Sasha and Jayhan's rescue, King Gavin becomes aware of an impending invasion in Carrador. Sasharia and her older brother, Jondarion, return to Highkington, but their murderous aunt, Toriana, who wiped out the rest of their family, is determined to eliminate them and protect her throne. As they journey to Kimora, Sasha's hope rests on her amulet to break her aunt's magical binding and confront Toriana. With her powers yet undeveloped, the task seems insurmountable even with her companions' help. Yet, Sasha, the true High Shaman and amulet bearer, is humanity's only hope against Toriana and the impending Kimoran invasion.

Excerpt from The Dark-Eyed Shaman (The Dark Amulet Book 3)

Chapter 1

Gavin, King of Carrador, sat at his desk in his favourite sitting room looking out into his garden, but not seeing the sunlight sparkling on the lake or the reeds swaying gently in the morning breeze that hid the swans’ nest.

Instead he was seeing in his mind’s eye a small dark-eyed girl, full of life and joy, holding hard to her recently acquired happiness, and trusting in Sheldrake, Maud, Jon and him to guide her and keep her safe as she grew into womanhood and trained for her future role as Queen of Kimora.

He sighed and ran both hands back and forth through his carefully brushed hair, destroying the painstaking work of his dresser. Then he thumped his hands down on his desk and rose, deciding to walk off some of his nervous energy on the path around the lake.

He stepped out into the soft morning light and immediately felt his tension lessen, but not by much.

No news.

On the first day, a messenger had brought back reports that Jon, Sergeant Reece, and a crack team of specialist troopers were on the trail of the abductors along an obscure trail in the southern part of the Great Forest. Trouble was, there were no facilities for keeping carrier pigeons along that trail and the squad was too small to carry pigeons or to keep sending men back with messages. So how was he to get further news? He sighed. He would just have to grit his teeth and wait.

Gavin walked across the lawn and around the lake to the spot in the reeds where he could see through to the black swans’ nest. He spent some time watching one swan sitting on the untidy pile of sticks while the other swan emerged from the reeds to clamber up to join its mate. He wondered if they had eggs incubating and then thought that Sasha would love it if they did. He gave another sigh and turned away.

Just as he headed back towards the rear of the palace, he caught sight of a small falcon spearing into view above the palace. As it glided overhead, and landed in a nearby tree, he could see it was a peregrine falcon. He was entranced to see it. Raptors of any size were rare visitors to his garden. He admired its soft cream, finely barred underbelly, its dark grey wings, and its sharp curved yellow beak. The intelligence in its eyes was disturbing. He watched it as it took off again, soaring twice around the garden before plummeting into the long reeds somewhere near the swans’ nest. Perhaps it had spotted a mouse.

Gavin watched the reeds, waiting for it to fly out when instead, he heard a muttered oath followed by the appearance of Lady Maud as she pushed aside some reeds and stepped out onto the lawn, not twenty yards from him, dressed in her leggings and a jerkin.

When she saw the king, she sank into a low curtsy while he tried to stop gawking at her. She straightened and approached him, smiling.

Gavin frowned quizzically, the morning light catching a twinkle in his blue eyes. “Good morning, Lady Maud. This is an unexpected pleasure. Last I heard you were heading into the Great Forest south of some inn on Park Lane in search of your son.”

“Good morning, Your Majesty. Yes, that is indeed where I have been. But this seems to be a week for revealing secrets.” Her smile broadened. “So now you know mine.”

Gavin blinked. “I do? I’m not sure what I just saw… or didn’t see, actually.”

“I am a shape-shifter, Sire. I flew in as that peregrine falcon you saw. And since I have revealed that information to your little squad of troopers and to Jon, it seems only fair that you know too.”

“Thank you,” he said dryly. Then his mind computed the rest of what she had said, and his eyes widened in hope. “So you people who travelled from the Inn intercepted them, did you? Have you found Sasha and Jayhan?”

“Yes, we have them safe.”

Gavin let out a long breath of relief. He stepped forward and grasped both of Maud’s forearms. “Truly? That is great news.” His eyes glistened in an uncharacteristic show of emotion. He generally worked on being carefully modulated in his response. When he realized he was holding onto Maud, he let go and stepped back, waving his hand. “Sorry. Sorry, I’m just so relieved.”

Maud hesitated a moment then stepped forward and engulfed him in one of her warm hugs. “We all are. It has been a hard few days, hasn’t it?”

She felt Gavin’s head nodding against the side of her head. After a few moments, she let him go and stood back smiling at him. She went to say something more, but he raised his hand and managed to get out, “Just a minute.” After a few moments, he cleared his throat to say, “Come inside and sit down while we talk. I’ll ring for tea while you tell me everything that has happened.”

“Thank you, I would like that very much,” she looked down at herself, “although I am not exactly dressed for court.” As they turned towards the palace, she tucked her hand into his arm, “I have just flown eighty miles and must, with your permission of course, return as soon as possible.”

Gavin raised his eyebrows but said nothing further until he had rung the bell for tea. They settled themselves in comfortable chairs when Josie, Gavin’s steward, knocked and entered, giving a slight curtsy.

Then she raised her eyebrows at Maud but managed to ignore her strange mode of dress. All visitors to the king in his living room, even if they were residing within the palace, which she knew Maud was not currently, were ushered in by Josie personally. “Where did you come from?”

Maud smiled at her, quite uncowed by her severe visage, which had most people running for cover. “I came in through the garden.”

Josie transferred her gaze to the king, a frown gathering. “Our security is not doing well, Your Majesty. I thought we had just overhauled it after… hmm… recent events.”

“Thank you for your concern, Josie. I will take note of it. Now, could you please procure morning tea for us. Something substantial, I think?” Gavin glanced at Maud who nodded confirmation.

Josie hesitated at the door and looked back at Maud, knowing she shouldn’t interrupt unless invited, but unable to help herself. “Please. Any news?”

Maud smiled warmly at her. “They are safe. I have come to tell Gavin.”

Josie breathed out and turned quickly so they wouldn’t see the tears that sprang to her eyes.

As soon as the door closed behind her, Gavin leaned forward. “She has done so well. From what I understand, she instigated the search and made sure the news of the abduction was conveyed to all of us it concerned. So tell me. Who was behind the abduction? Was it Kimorans? Who rescued them and how?”

Maud let out a breath that was almost a whistle. “Oh my goodness. So many questions and so much you need to know before you can even understand the answers. Briefly, yes, it was the Kimorans behind the abductions. As to who found and rescued them…” She smiled, “It was a joint effort between Jon, Reece, Trevor and the troopers, Tarkyn, a little wood sorcerer called Midnight, Stefan, a small group of woodfolk from Eskuzor and the woodfolk of the Great Forest, two Kimoran refugee shamans, Sheldrake and of course, myself in guises as peregrine falcon, osprey, and bloodhound at various times. But above all, the children themselves.”

Gavin leaned back, his eyes wide. “Well, as I live and breathe. I would not have expected it to be so complicated.”

Josie reappeared at this moment with two servants trailing behind her.

“Ah, Josie, thank you,” Gavin watched her directing the servants to lay out savoury and sweet platters, a large coffee pot, a tea pot, and two cups. “This may take some time, Josie. Please cancel any appointments I have this morning.”

“Could I suggest for the rest of today at least, and possibly tomorrow?” Maud interposed.

The king frowned and thought for a moment. “Very well. Josie, cancel all of today’s meetings, and I’ll decide about tomorrow when I have heard more.” He saw the restrained curiosity on Josie’s face and gave a short laugh. “I will tell you what I can when I can. Maud hasn’t finished telling me yet. But you may inform people that the children have been found and are safe and sound.”

Josie gave a small curtsy. “Thank you, Sire.” She frowned at the servants. “Come on you two. Haven’t you finished yet?”

The two footmen placed the last two platters of sandwiches, cakes, small pies, meats, cheeses, and fruit on the table. One of them caught Maud’s eye as he straightened and gave her a little smile of fellow feeling before bowing and retiring with his companion.

By the time she had answered Gavin’s many questions, Maud took more than two hours and three pots of coffee to relate the events of Jayhan and Sasha’s rescue. As she recounted them, she realized that the children had actually escaped by themselves, had then been rescued by the two shamans, been found by herself as a bloodhound, then defended by Jon and the troopers. After that, they had all been rescued by Midnight and his shield and finally, by the intervention of Tarkyn and the woodfolk.

“But we now have a full company of Kimoran soldiers under guard,” concluded Maud, “and we can’t do more until we have clear direction from you.” She gave a mischievous little smile. “And we thought you might like to meet the woodfolk and survey the situation yourself before reaching a decision.” She became more serious. “And I think it would be helpful to confer with Jon, Lady Arquin from Kimora, and High Lord Tarkyn… and the woodfolk about our next steps. Sheldrake and I, your chief advisors, will also be there.”

Gavin frowned. “But it will take days to reach this place you’ve described. My retinue and a squad of Royal Guardsmen could carry some provisions for you people, but meanwhile, these woodfolk would have to feed many mouths. It seems too much of an imposition on them.”

“No, Sire. I believe we could get you there in about three hours’ time, but without guards or a retinue.” She smiled. “And you already have a squad of loyal troopers at the campsite on The Way Through.”

Gavin was not convinced. “What about these woodfolk though? Can we trust them?” He tried not to widen his eyes as Maud took yet another little bacon roll.

Maud grinned as she caught his look. “When did you last travel eighty miles in less than two hours under your own steam? It makes me very hungry.”

Gavin threw his hands up. “Sorry. I suppose it would. I have no idea how that would feel.”

“And whether you agree to join us or not, I must fly back shortly to tell them what you have decided.”

Gavin gave a short laugh. “Then be careful. Your stomach dragging along the ground could slow you up somewhat.”

Maud managed to swallow her little snack before she spluttered with laughter. “Oh dear. You’re probably right. I’d better stop.”

“So tell me how you propose to transport me to this meeting. I don’t suppose you can turn yourself into a dragon and I could ride you there?” he asked hopefully.

An arrested look came into Maud’s eyes. “You know, I’ve never thought of that. Mind you, I think I can only change into real animals, but it does bear thinking about.” She gave her head a little shake and refocused on Gavin. “No. I have enlisted Lord Tarkyn’s help to translocate you there, if you are willing.”

For a long moment, Gavin just stared at her. Then he held his hand up. “Wait. I need time to think.”

Ten long minutes passed as he stared out into his garden. He thought through his current obligations in Highkington and decided he could ask his sister to stand in for him for a few days. Then he thought through whether it was his interest or his duty that was urging him to go, trying to work out which weighed more heavily with him and whether it actually mattered which it was. From there, his mind turned to the matter of his personal safety. He would only have a small squad to guard him among people from two other countries, including a full company of Kimoran soldiers, albeit secured, and an unknown number of these woodfolk whose loyalties and intentions were uncertain… not to mention placing himself in the hands of a foreign head of state, about whom he had limited personal knowledge.

On the other hand, Sheldrake and Maud, to whom he would turn for guidance anyway, were recommending that he go, and they would be there with him. He gave a little mental shrug. And, let’s face it, I would be very disappointed at this point if I didn’t grasp this opportunity to see what it was like to translocate and to meet these woodfolk that Lord Tarkyn has told me about. Perhaps interest aligns with duty in this case.

Gavin brought the focus of his eyes out of the garden and back to Maud’s face. He took a deep breath then gave one of his very rare boyish grins. “I’ll do it.”

Maud’s face lit up. “That’s wonderful, Sire. Now. You will have to dress in practical clothes for camping and wear a heavy coat ready for the evening. I believe you can take a small satchel strung over your shoulder or perhaps a very small backpack, but not much. It is difficult for Tarkyn to translocate another person, so luggage would be a step too far.” Seeing Gavin’s startled look, she smiled kindly. “Don’t worry. The people there can provide everything you need.”

“Hmph.” His eyes lit with amusement. “Josie is not going to like this. I almost feel like sneaking away without telling her and just leaving her a note.” He gave his head a little shake. “No, I couldn’t do that, especially after the children’s abduction. She rose to the occasion magnificently, but I could see she was shaken. She tried to hide it beneath that fearsome exterior of hers, but you saw her. Her eyes were damp when she left us.” He took a little breath. “Very well. How do we do this?”

“Tarkyn’s translocation ability is a resummoning spell. It takes him to the place that something was created. So I will take a piece of foliage from your garden, back to Tarkyn, which he can use to translocate to here. He will bring with him a piece of foliage from near the campsite that he can then use to translocate back. Both times, his spell will take him to the place at which the foliage was created.”