Akiri: The Scepter of Xarbaal Read online

  “You and that cursed beast of yours. Do you know how much it hurt when he dropped me?”

  “Hagrik?”

  “Of course,” he replied. “And I say again, you are pathetic.”

  Akiri sniffed and sat back down. “And how exactly am I pathetic, demon?”

  Kyra was still on her guard, placing her body protectively between Akiri and the specter that was Hagrik.

  “You survived King Zemel’s madness. You have your freedom. And what do you do with it? You just sit there and brood.”

  “I am not brooding,” he retorted hotly, even though he knew full well that he had been. “Why are you here? Have you come to gloat?”

  “I was hoping that you might now have seen the error of your choice.”

  Akiri smirked. “Indeed I have, demon. Though not in the way you might think.”

  There was a brief pause while Hagrik considered this. “I do not see the Scepter with you,” he remarked, his voice suddenly thin and rasping. “What have you done with it?”

  “Nothing. I honestly have no idea what has become of it.”

  “What?” The glow began to pulse rapidly. “You mean you threw it away?”

  “Not at all.” He reached over to pat Kyra affectionately on the haunches. “My good friend here has taken care of it for me.”

  “You gave the Scepter of Xarbaal to the dragon? For what purpose?”

  “You were right that it cannot be wielded by mortals. And yet I still will not hand it over to the gods. So I told Kyra to hide it away where only she could find it.”

  “You fool! You cannot give such a thing to a mindless beast. Have her retrieve it at once.”

  Akiri’s tone turned hard and his eyes cold. “She is not mindless. She has hidden it away, and that is the end of the matter.”

  “No. You’re right. It is you who are mindless.”

  After a few moments, the glow dimmed and ceased pulsing. The rasping edge to Hagrik’s voice was also now gone. “I spoke in haste. Forgive my harsh words. Give me the Scepter, Akiri. I know you are lost. You need direction – a reason to go on. I can give you this. You have spent your life in service to something greater than yourself. Now you have nothing. I can fill the void in your heart.”

  “If you think I would serve the gods, you are mistaken,” he said, his contempt clear. “You have nothing I desire.”

  “Do not be so certain. My master is powerful beyond anything you can understand. All the things you could ever want are yours for the asking. Wealth. Power. A kingdom of your own, if you so wish it.”

  Akiri regarded the spirit for a time. A purpose. That was the only thing he desired. Could this demon really provide him with one? He looked over to Kyra. As she met his gaze, three simple but compelling words from her echoed in his mind.

  You are Akiri.

  In that moment, he understood clearly what he must do.

  “The only thing I want from you is your absence,” he told Hagrik.

  Decision made, he nodded to Kyra. The young dragon needed no second bidding. With fangs bared and talons outstretched, she leapt straight at the shimmering specter. A pained cry of terror emitted from somewhere within its light. A second later, it vanished completely.

  Akiri smiled at his only companion. “Well done.”

  Kyra shook her head and gave a deep, catlike purr.

  Later, after finishing his meal, Akiri lay down to rest. He would sleep untroubled tonight; it would be the first time in many weeks. He did need a purpose. But it would not come as a gift from the gods, or kings, or demon spirits. He would need to seek it out on his own. The world was vast and filled with mysteries waiting to be solved. He would carve out a place for himself. Let the world tremble at his coming. And let the heavens burn if they must.

  He was no longer the commander of the Dul’Buhar. But that didn’t matter. Kyra was right.

  He was Akiri. And that was enough.

  THE END