Severance

by Fergal F. Nally

  “What was the answer?” the guardian demanded.

  Carutha held her ground. “The letter h.”

  The guardian paused, thinking, then nodded her head. Then she did something unexpected. She stood aside and bowed gesturing to the open door.

  “Fairly won, passage is yours,” she said withdrawing her sword.

  Carutha, heart in her mouth stepped towards the beckoning entrance.

  As she neared the door, the guardian approached holding something in her gloved hand. She opened her fist giving the object to Carutha.

  “You will need this in your journey.”

  Carutha knew instantly. This was the Aerithryl Shard! She had found it. Her heart soared as she took it from the guardian. This alone would turn the tide of the war. She held the lynchpin in her hand. She nodded at the guardian then stepped through the open portal.

  ~

  Ossian coughed once, then twice. Then he vomited blood. His sickness came from deep within. He felt violated; a taint ran deep in his veins. The wraiths had used poison to make his body deceive his friends; under its influence, his body had appeared dead. He knew his wolf spirit was close, then he felt the spirit return to him and the sudden rush of rapid healing that followed. The last vestige of the poison was purged from his system.

  He looked down, screaming in agony as his broken leg twisted and bones grated. He felt the wild healing claim him and the strength of his wolf spirit run through him. He closed his eyes against the white-hot pain and passed out.

  ~

  Q’uaina and Agathe found Carutha’s robe on the stone floor deep under the tower. The hairs on the back of Q’uaina’s neck stood on end as she held the garment. She saw an intense flash and then a series of images flooded into her mind from her second sight. She saw Carutha receiving the Shard from the guardian.

  “She has it Agathe, Carutha has the Shard. She came this way. We must follow her.”

  The rest of the room lay empty. A wooden door surrounded by swirling blue glyphs stood in the far wall.

  “We need to be cautious, Q’uaina,” Agathe whispered.

  “I’m finished with being cautious, I’ve had enough. I just want everything to be how it was, before all this madness took over. I want to go home,” desperation filled her voice.

  She pulled the door open and walked through. The glyphs glowed intensely. Agathe followed, tension clearly etched across her face.

  They fell through the floor. A rushing, followed by a blinding light, followed by darkness.

  “Are you alright Agathe?”

  “I’m here, unhurt I think. What about you?”

  “Yes fine, my eyes are adjusting to the dark. Don’t move until we can see each other.”

  Q’uaina steadied her breathing, allowing her vision to become accustomed to the dimness. After a while she picked out pin pricks of light above her. Her senses returned one by one. She became aware of stars overhead, leaves beneath her and a soft breeze on her face. The sighing of wind through trees soon followed.

  “We’re in a forest,” Agathe declared.

  From over to their left a soft rustling came. A snout, a shape. A badger broke cover and bustled across the ground, a short distance away.

  “These woods feel familiar, they have the scent of home,” Q’uaina spoke softly.

  “That door was a portal. The last thing you said was you wanted to go home,” Agathe said.

  Q’uaina shuddered. They had to keep their focus. Their party had been split. They had escaped their pursuers for the moment. She looked up, clouds parted revealing mother moon. It provided enough light for Q’uaina to make a decision.

  “Let’s walk these woods, I need to clear my head. We may find a place to shelter for the night.”

  With that, they set off through the trees. An owl hooted forlornly somewhere far above their heads.

  Sometime later, they came to a gap in the trees. On the far side, they could make out shapes. They looked at each other and then carefully crossed the clearing. What they saw did not surprise Q’uaina.

  “Beehives!” Agathe declared. “Father’s beehives!” A smile blossomed across her face. “Father, he’ll know what to do…”

  With that, she started running through the trees towards the white tower she knew would be waiting for her.

  Chapter 20

  Clan Horse

  Ossian awoke to a world of pain. He opened his eyes and gritted his teeth against the onslaught. He looked at his leg; it was deeply bruised but no longer misshapen. He knew that significant healing had taken place and that the bones had knitted together.

  He stood up carefully and took in his surroundings. He found himself in open grassland. As far as the eye could see lush, tall grasses swayed in the wind. This was an unfamiliar place. How had he been brought here? The last he remembered was the wraiths in the tower breaking his bones and sucking the warmth from his body. He shuddered. He had been left to die, abandoned in this new wilderness.

  Ossian began to walk. A fierce thirst assailed him. He thought of the others, Q’uaina, Carutha, Agathe. Where were they? What fate had befallen them? All he could do was to keep moving, keep his head down and stay alive. If the gods willed it their paths would cross again.

  The grass murmured soothingly as he passed through it; whispering secrets carried on the wind. It brushed against his skin like a lover’s caress. His thirst intensified. High clouds scudded across a vivid blue sky. If only he had a horse.

  Minutes became hours. The sun traversed the heavens and evening approached. A chill came to the air and his breath misted before him. Then he found it; a small stream bubbling through the grassland. He knelt down and drank deeply of the sweet liquid. His body rejoiced. Life flooded back to his weary limbs. He curled up as best he could and took shelter from the wind in the deepest grass. He fell into a troubled sleep.

  Night approached the dawn. The grasses stirred, but not from the wind. Shadows gathered around Ossian and waited, watching him closely.

  Ossian awoke with a shudder just as light started to dust the horizon. Something felt wrong. He was cold, stiff and hungry. Then he noticed the trampled earth nearby and tensed, crouching low. He started to crawl away when a voice rang out.

  “Stop stranger, stay where we can see you,” the voice was gruff, firm.

  Ossian froze, thinking quickly. He cursed himself; he should have taken precautions. What could he have done? He made a decision and stood up slowly.

  “Who are you and what do you want of me?”

  Rustling and thumping on the ground was his only reply. Then a figure on horseback followed by six others came forwards. He was surrounded. One of them came closer and lent forwards.

  “My name is Veran of Clan Horse, son of Verik, King of the Hirrandi. What are you doing in our territory? You don’t have any business here.”

  Ossian could not see the rider clearly; the rising sun was shining directly into his eyes. He decided he had nothing to lose and spoke in a calm voice.

  “I am Ossian of Clan Bear. I’m a long way from home and I’m lost. My enemies chased me here, left me for dead. My friends are also lost, we’ve been separated. I would seek sanctuary from you until I come up with a way of rejoining my companions.”

  Veran snorted. “That’s some story. I’ve never heard of Clan Bear. Prove your words.”

  Ossian grimaced then lifted his tunic sleeve to reveal the clan markings on his upper arm. The riders drew closer examining his skin.

  “He speaks the truth Veran, it is the mark of the bear,” another rider spoke.

  Veran grunted, then spat. “Your words concern me. You mentioned enemies. They are here also? Where are they?”

  Ossian knew he could not tell his whole story here in this place but he knew he had to gain the riders’ trust.

  “My enemies lie far behind and I hope I have escaped them. Besides, I know they hunt for my companions more than me. I want to return to my friends to help them but first I need to find them, which might
not be so easy. I’ll be happy to tell you more, but it’s cold and I’ve not eaten for some time…”

  Veran thought for a while then made his decision. “You will come with us, our camp is half a day’s ride from here. We’ll eat first and then ride. You can tell us the rest of your story later.”

  Ossian was given food and drink by Veran’s men. They did not relax their guard. Instead, they seemed tense and made a point of setting up a perimeter watch for the short time they were stopped. Soon they were off and heading towards their camp. Ossian shared a horse with one of Veran’s men.

  The vantage point on horseback gave Ossian a better view of the country as they passed through. In the distance, on the horizon he could see the sky was dark, a bruised purplish colour. He felt an unease grow within.

  “Why is the sky like that?” he asked the rider.

  The man tensed and answered. “The sky has turned against us these last four moons. Our crops have failed and our water has a taint, we’ve had to move our families to the borders to get away from the dark sky. But it follows us. We were scouting ahead for our next move when we found you. The news you bring of your enemies does not bode well for either of us. There is change on the wind and it’s not good.”

  Ossian immediately thought of the Shiffante and Carutha’s words that they would not rest until they held sway over all the dimensions. His heart grew cold.

  They continued in silence for the rest of the morning. The flat grasslands changed to gently undulating hills. In the distance, Ossian saw smoke and then a settlement. As they grew near, he could make out people. One of the riders produced a horn and blew a long, shrill note announcing their arrival.

  Cries of welcome greeted them. Dogs barked and clans’ folk ran towards them. They entered the camp and soon a crowd had gathered around their horses. An array of voices called out.

  “What news Veran?”

  “Are the borderlands safe?”

  “Do the blood wolves remain?”

  This last question caught Ossian’s attention. He looked at the crowd and saw it came from an older man with unseeing eyes and cruel scars across his face. Then he was gone as they pressed through the throng.

  They came to a clear area at the centre of the settlement. To one side lay a large hide tent. Veran dismounted in a cloud of dust and disappeared into the tent. They waited a few minutes and then a woman stepped out of the tent. She was tall and wore a dark tunic with soft leather leggings. Her blond hair was tied back in severe braids with leather thongs. Her eyes flashed dangerously as she took in Ossian.

  She spoke to the people gathered around. “Everyone, go back to your business, Veran has been gone many days. We need to catch up. The others will be back from the south in the next day or two as well. I will bring the latest news to you this evening, once I have heard Veran’s words,” with that, she turned and re-entered the tent.

  Ossian was taken to his rider’s tent. The man’s name was Ickthar and he introduced Ossian to his wife, Celene and their baby son Anther. Ossian was given water, bread, cheese and some cloudberries by Celene, which he ate gratefully. After his meal, he lay down on the sleep mat provided and fell asleep instantly.

  ~

  “He carries the mark of the bear?” Karina spoke.

  “Yes, my Queen,” Veran replied.

  He had given his report to Karina from his time in the borderlands. He and his riders had spent the last ten days scouting ahead to the east of their homeland. These were lands not familiar to them, lands beset with risk and danger. They had come across signs of blood wolves but had not encountered any. Once they had found a fresh kill and felt they were being watched but the hunter or hunters chose not to reveal themselves.

  “So the blood wolves still roam the steppes. That’s something we may have to accept if the tainted sky chases us out of our homeland. Unless Styr brings more favourable news from the south.”

  Karina drew close to Ickthar. “What do you make of this stranger, Ossian? Do you think he speaks the truth?”

  “He’s hiding something, my Queen. There is more yet to hear from him. He said he would speak once we returned to camp.”

  “Bring him to me, I will talk with him alone.”

  ~

  Carutha stepped through the blue shimmering portal. Her blood ran cold. The robe slipped from her shoulders and was blown back into the room behind. She was swept up into a maelstrom of colour. She did not feel fear, she felt numb and heard the voice of her father somewhere deep within.

  Face the fear; face the frontier, for it is you my daughter and you alone that can wreak vengeance for our people. Bring death and pain to the Shiffante. Lay waste to them and all they stand for…I will be here in your heart whenever you need me. Strength and loyalty my beloved one.

  Carutha shuddered and blinked. The colours had abated. She stood in a bare room, alone. Windowless. A door stared at her. She went to it and opened it slowly. A strange sight met her eyes.

  Weak daylight seeped into a large rectangular room. Broken glass lay on the floor everywhere. She saw row upon row of empty shelving. She heard the low moan of wind somewhere outside. It was cold and her breath frosted the air.

  She took a few steps forwards holding her short sword at the ready. Her feet made an alarming crackling on the glass. She continued and came to the front of the room, which lay open to the outside. Her mind did not understand what it saw. There were buildings but they were joined and boxlike. Perfect straight lines with empty spaces where windows once had been. Grass and weeds, together with trees and bushes broke through the ground. She saw the earth was paved and covered in a smooth hard material. Faded markings covered some sections of the surface.

  “Mother of my spirit, what place is this?” she breathed.

  A rustling came from her right. She crouched low and tensed, ready to spring. A flash of colour and then a pair of twinkling eyes. A baby fawn stepped out from nearby bushes, followed soon after by its mother. It stared at her for a long moment and then took a step nearer. The hind paid her no attention and started grazing.

  Carutha let the fawn approach and lowered her blade. Overhead she heard birdsong. Sun tried valiantly to reach them through the canyon of buildings. There was a great age to this ruined, forgotten place. The fawn stepped over the broken road surface and reached Carutha. It sniffed the air and stood looking directly at her.

  She was perplexed. Animals did not behave in this way in her world. She reached out slowly and the fawn again sniffed and then licked her hand. She stroked its neck and flank; it pressed its body close to hers. She could feel its heartbeat, strong and sure.

  “Where am I little one? What place is this?”

  Just then, the hind jerked her head up and tensed, her ears swivelling. She let out a startled cry and sprang towards her fawn. Together, as one they bolted away and down a side street.

  Chapter 21

  Firewing

  Carutha instinctively backed away. Something was coming, hunting the deer. This she could understand. They were down wind. She crossed the street away from the direction the deer had taken and hid in the shadows amongst the ruined buildings.

  They did not take long. A rotting stench filled the air. Waves of nausea gripped Carutha’s stomach. She looked down at her hands, they were shaking. The temperature dropped dramatically and she shivered. Then she saw them.

  From out of the undergrowth across the street burst a series of shapes. Ragged and quick. A pack of misshapen beasts, some with human features others not. They wore no clothing, instead their bodies were covered in fur and in places, thick bony plates. Most of them possessed long sinewy tails, which lashed at the air like whips. They let out low growling sounds.

  Carutha froze. One of the group came towards her, smelling the air almost delicately. Its tongue flicked in and out of its ragged mouth. Carutha’s heart raced. She started to back away but met the resistance of the wall behind her. Her foot stepped on a small fragment of broken glass. It snapped.

/>   A blood-curdling scream tore at the air. The largest of the group swished its tail in an agitated manner and used it like a whip to gather the others. It leapt forwards and dashed down the side street having picked up the deer scent. The pack followed as one. The beast yards from Carutha spat at her position in the shadows. Then it tore its eyes from her hiding place, its flanks quivering with excitement. It dashed after the others and was gone.

  Carutha let out a low sob and fell to her knees. She steadied her breathing and her heart, overcoming her fear. She regained her composure. Once she was sure all the beasts were gone, she broke her cover and fled in the opposite direction.

  She ran, ducking and diving through the shadows. All around her lay strange, gutted buildings made of material she did not recognise. Faded pictures of people in strange clothes looked down at her from above. Like ghosts, they stared at her with unseeing eyes. In the street she saw abandoned metallic boxes with wheels. She imagined them as long dead carriages. Why had these people not used horses?

  A wide square opened up before her. There was more light here. Dominating the space was a tall tower with a pointed roof. Its skeletal structure was visible in places where masonry had long ago fallen away. She stopped and took stock. If she could find her way to the top of the tower, she could see above the other buildings and maybe find a way out of this dead, phantom city.

  She crossed the square and came across a wrecked metallic box with broad wings and faded glyphs painted on its side. She noticed shadows of people and children captured on some of the stonework. How could a person die but leave their shadow trapped on stone?

  One day people may return here she mused. She had arrived at the tower, which rose uncompromisingly against the blue sky above. Flocks of birds swarmed around its heights. A nesting site no doubt. She looked behind her at the scene of devastation, then entered the building searching for a way up.