Carutha embraced S’acryx’s spirit energy and together they searched for the undercurrent, the faint pulse that would lead them to the spirit army they sought. The trail was elusive, like footsteps vanishing in falling snow. A shadow, a whisper, a murmur and then it was gone. They widened their net and had a little more success but still no definitive contact. Then Carutha tried something new.
She drew upon her memories of Silverwing’s world and the once men she had seen in the ruined city. The undead she had seen in the towns and villages on the approach to the White Spine range also returned to her mind’s eye. She harnessed their feeling, their memory and projected it out into the Blood Fields. There was an instant reaction, an echo of her thoughts responded to her.
Chapter 35
Insanity
Shadows and murmurings grew. The torment they carried was overwhelming. Part of Carutha felt like running away. There was a vast number of lost spirits. They came to her in ones and twos, some as amorphous clouds, others as disembodied faces. Transparent, hollow, none of the spirits had a voice; they occupied the space all around Carutha as far as the eye could see. She did not realise there were so many lost souls. She was touched. Endless forgotten remnants of people.
Then her eyes alighted upon the children. Lost children’s spirits; like monochrome versions of their real selves. Children’s faces hovered in the air before her. The atmosphere was dull, threatening, accusing.
Carutha spoke to the gathered masses. “My beloved. My lost ones. My spirit army. I have summoned you to fight a good fight. To bring light to the darkness, to bring life to this dead world. To allow your spirits to rest in peace. Join me in our struggle against the Shiffante and end your eternity of abandonment here. It is because of the Shiffante harvesting your souls that you have ended up here, locked in banishment, denied your rightful eternal peace amongst your ancestors. Fight the Shiffante with me in these last days and earn your place back in the Erthe’s heart. She will welcome you home to your true resting place with open arms. You will find stillness, you will find peace at long last.”
The masses in front of her surged at her words like a great ocean. Limitless, as one they came forwards and joined with Carutha. She had found her army. She was ready. The dream of a healed Erthe without the Shiffante was alive, palpable.
~
Ossian had thought they were lost but again and again Agathe showed them the way. At last, the storm abated, they were exhausted but managed to set up camp outside the whispering caves.
Ossian poked around the cave entrance. “There’s been a major collapse within. It looks recent too. You say your father is somewhere behind all that rubble?”
Agathe stood beside their camp fire. Her shapely form silhouetted by the flames. A lump came to Ossian’s throat; she was a beautiful woman. “Yes, my father is somewhere under this ground. The message sent to me by the drow speaks of his death. But I don’t believe it for one moment. Father always taught me to keep one eye on an escape route at all times, under any situation. He would not have ignored his own advice. He just utilised his back up plan. He may be in the darkness but he’s not dead.”
Ossian nodded and pondered Agathe’s words. He hoped for all their sakes that the Beekeeper was alive and that Agathe was right. A part of him wondered however how anyone could survive such a rock fall deep underground. A horrible way to go he thought, he would always want the wind upon his face and his time of passing in the open air above ground.
They ate their evening meal. Again, Veran had provided and they feasted on rabbit and berries washed down by fresh spring water. A routine had developed surrounding their evenings. They would speak in hushed tones around the fire, exchanging stories and musing on the day’s events. Ossian would take the first watch, then Veran and lastly Agathe.
When the conversation around the camp fire reached a hiatus Ossian stood. “I’m going for a run before we turn in for the night. I know we’ve reached our destination but I don’t trust this place. I want to scout our surroundings. I may even come across some game.”
“Be careful my love,” Agathe whispered in his ear.
“We’ll await your return,” Veran added.
Ossian retreated to the shadows. Shape shifting always made him self-conscious. He did not feel ready to change form in front of Agathe. He sighed and looked up at the stars and let the old fever, embedded in his blood, boil up to the surface. It took him in a wave of energy. Joints popped, bones lengthened, skin grew thick coarse hair. Sights and sounds changed, his perception enhanced. He could not help himself; he looked up at mother moon and let out a low, plaintive howl. The sound spread out from him and haunted the trees.
He returned to the camp and looked at Agathe and Veran. They simply nodded and waved him on. He turned around, ran to the trees, and became part of the forest. His blood pumped around his body, muscles toned and ready. He followed his snout and several scents beckoned him. Most of the smells were familiar but one was different. Strange. Exotic. Ossian made his choice and followed its invitation.
He bounded through the trees at great speed; the scent slowly became stronger, fresher. After twenty minutes he slowed considerably as he was now almost on top of it. His movements became stealthy and measured as he stalked the source. He blended perfectly into the forest’s differing hues and was effectively invisible to the human eye.
Drow eyes watched him approach. A smile spread across S’Jukdara’s face. This was a stroke of good fortune. He had managed to split their party already without even trying. Dealing with one was going to be infinitely easier than dealing with three at the same time. The old familiar hunting rush flooded through his blood. He licked his lips and prepared his trickery.
Ossian saw a lone figure reclining against a tree, apparently asleep. The exotic scent came from this figure. Ossian immediately sensed danger and became wary. He stopped and waited. Nothing happened. He wanted to circle and flank the shape and see what lay behind. He was about to turn to the right when a low sound came from the figure. Humming. Ossian was transfixed.
The sound held his attention and as it grew louder so he became more fascinated by it. It seemed to speak to him, becoming warm and inviting. It reminded him of home and hearth. Of family and security. He was bewitched by the spell. It drew him in.
S’Jukdara smiled as Ossian broke cover. An impressive specimen, he thought. He continued to weave the sound around the wolf, targeting him and sending layer upon layer of soothing, familiar images reflecting Ossian’s own memories. The net was tightening, just a few seconds more, and the wolf’s life would be his. The drow clutched a wicked looking, curved blade concealed beneath his cape. The blade was made of dark steel and had been imbued with dire enchantments. This would be easy.
Ossian stepped across the glade. Moonlight filtered down through the trees, he presented a ghostly figure. He was almost upon the reclining form when he heard the unmistakable sound of arrows in flight. Two arrows flashed through the air and struck the humming figure. They both hit their mark, one protruding from the drow’s heart the other from his neck. Both fatal shots.
The humming stopped. The spell was broken. Ossian came to his senses and his head snapped around. A familiar form stepped out to his left and another on his right.
“We need to stick together,” Agathe spoke softly. “That drow nearly took my Ossian from me.”
Veran spat and spoke. “Let’s see what the bastard was planning. Cover me just in case.” He approached the drow and kicked the body. The form slid over revealing the steel blade underneath glinting dully in the moonlight. Veran kicked the sword away and released another arrow into the drow’s skull. “For good measure,” he said turning to the others.
Agathe took a step closer. “We need to burn the body, others of its kind will be attracted to this spot unless we do so.”
“I agree, let’s get on with it then.” Veran dragged the dead drow to a larger clearing away from the forest and began to collect fallen branches from ne
arby.
Ossian shape shifted back to human form and helped his friends. They worked in silence. Soon they had a respectable wood pyre built and they lit the tinder underneath. The flames bit and took hold. The fire consumed the drow’s prone form. They had to retreat a safe distance as the heat was so intense. S’Jukdara’s bones made popping sounds in the white-hot conflagration.
Ossian turned to his two companions. “I don’t know what to say. Thank you Agathe, Veran for saving my life. It was stupid of me to take off alone. I guess I’ve gotten used to doing things on my own.”
They stared at the cleansing flames for a while. They had killed the drow. What of the vampire? Questions filled their minds. Ossian thought of Q’uaina and wondered where she was. Veran’s thoughts were with his family.
Agathe broke the silence. “Come let’s return to the whispering caves. Our business there is not done. This fire may attract who knows what undesirable things.”
Ossian nodded. They left the clearing and headed back to the cave entrance. It started raining heavily again. They wrapped their cloaks tightly around themselves; Ossian wearing the drow’s rich cloak.
Veran’s face was lined in concentration. “I’ve been thinking about your father and the cave system. Where does all the water go?”
Agathe looked at him and smiled. “Yes, the same thought occurred to me exactly.”
Ossian looked puzzled. “What do you mean?”
Agathe stopped and looked at him. “Well, look at all this rain. The nearest river is at least three miles away. So where does the water from this valley drain to? Where is this valley’s river?”
Ossian frowned. “It doesn’t…” he started. His face then changed. “Of course! The river isn’t overground it’s underground. Are you saying what I’m thinking?”
Agathe nodded. “That father could have escaped the collapsed passageway by going further into the cave system, finding the watercourse and following it out.”
Ossian whistled. “That would be something. With all the rain here of late the water levels underground could be dangerously high.”
“My father knows how to handle himself. I’m confident he’ll find a way out. Come daylight we need to search and see if any rivers or watercourses leave the rock further down this valley. We may stand a chance of finding him.” Agathe’s face was hopeful.
Ossian kept his peace not wanting to say anything disheartening. They arrived back at their camp and prepared for the night. Ossian took first watch and contemplated recent events. He was glad Karina had sent Veran with him. Veran had proved an indispensable ally. Their friendship had deepened and he would do anything for his friend. They were like brothers.
The stars overhead slowly became obscured by low cloud. Ossian could feel a change in the air. He drew his cloak tightly around him and shivered. He decided to go for a walk around the camp to stretch his legs and generate some warmth. He leant over and threw another log on the fire. The sleeping figures of Agathe and Veran did not move.
Something had changed. He froze. All his senses were alert. He could not place what was wrong. Then…there it was again. A bird calling off to the south perimeter of the camp. He waited. A few seconds later another bird call to the north of the camp. Then silence. It was night and these were not birds. He bent quickly and woke Agathe and Veran with whispered, urgent words.
“Wake up, we’re not alone. Something is nearing our camp.”
Agathe’s eyes snapped open and she was up with weapons ready in a heartbeat. Veran too was up and armed. The rain fell steadily. Ossian kicked dirt onto the fire and its embers dimmed. They retreated to the cave entrance as it gave them some measure of concealment and protected their backs.
They waited staring out into the rain. The bird calls had stopped. After five minutes, Ossian began to wonder if he had imagined the whole thing. Then a figure stepped out into the camp from the tree line opposite.
Ossian held up his hand to the others. “Don’t fire,” he whispered.
The figure stood there for a few moments. Then raised a hand and made a waving motion. Six other silhouettes materialised out of the tree line. They were surrounded.
The figure spoke. “We come in peace. I know you are here. Please show yourselves.”
Ossian could not make out any detail of the speaker, just a blurred shadow in the rain. Something was familiar about the voice however. He was tense, like a coiled spring.
Chapter 36
Serendipity
“Q’uaina? Is that you?” Agathe’s voice rang out.
“Agathe? Agathe, yes it’s me!” The figure answered, raising a hand to stay the others who had entered the clearing.
Ossian intervened. “Q’uaina? Step forwards, only you so that we can see. There has been too much trickery this night.”
The figure took four steps across the clearing with arms outstretched. Agathe let out a cry of joy and sprinted across to her friend.
“Q’uaina, Q’uaina it is you!” Agathe embraced her.
Ossian approached, a wide grin on his face. He hugged the two women. “Where have you been? How did you find us?”
“It’s a long story. Suffice to say that fire you lit to burn the drow’s remains attracted our attention. The rest was easy, you left a good trail back to this camp that my friends the light walkers could track, even by night. They have exceptional talents.”
Q’uaina introduced Illiana and the rest of the light walkers to Agathe and Veran.
“It’s good to meet with you again Ossian,” Illiana declared. “I was wondering what had befallen you when I met Q’uaina on her own.”
“Come, we’ll not get much sleep tonight. Let’s stoke the fire, sit and tell our tales. I can make some hot tea,” Ossian suggested.
Illiana made a flourish. “We have cheese and bread to share, it’ll be a feast!”
The others laughed. Soon they were all gathered about the renewed fire, the rain forgotten. Voices and laughter filled the air. Each one listened and told their story. New pieces of information were revealed and digested. The rain stopped and the sky began to lighten. A breeze rustled through the treetops.
Agathe prodded the fire with a stick. “We are all reunited. Except for Carutha.”
Ossian stared at the fire. “I wonder how she fares. She is our last hope. It seems just yesterday she was with us and at the same time it seems so long ago.”
“She’s truly on her own now, there’s nothing else we can do,” Q’uaina added. “Our thoughts are with her, she is in our hearts, she’s not forgotten.”
The dawn chorus started, and a few of the group stood and started stretching their stiff limbs.
“Well then, there are now more of us to widen the search for the Beekeeper. We should get moving,” Illiana offered.
They split up into groups of two and started above the entrance to the caves. They spread out in all directions and followed the land down. The valley was wide, its main river three miles away. Soon it became obvious which direction they needed to take in order to reach the river. They concentrated their efforts on rocky outcrops and breaks in the forest.
Agathe’s voice rang out in the trees. “Over here. I may have something.”
Everyone gathered around her. She stood beside a small spring, welling up from the rock below. “If we fan out above this level and search in a line we may find other openings in the rock. It’s a long shot but worth a try.”
They did as she suggested and spread out across the hillside. Slowly, they started to cover the ground and traversed up the hillside.
A shout went up from the left flank, followed by a torrent of cursing. “My foot’s stuck! Can’t get it out,” one of Illiana’s men called.
They converged on his location and saw his predicament. The heather had concealed a small hole in the rock. They quickly freed the trapped man and examined the ground closely. Their inspection revealed that the whole area was in fact a giant boulder field overgrown with thick moss and heather.
&n
bsp; They followed the pockmarked landscape further up the hillside being careful not to fall into similar holes. Another cry came from Ossian, this time on the right flank.
“Here! Over here.”
Ossian was bent over peering into a large black hole that delved at an angle into the ground.
Agathe reached him first. “This looks promising, it’s the best opening we’ve found so far. I’m going in there.”
“Wait, let’s think this through. Look at that space, there’s barely enough room to crawl through. You don’t know what’s down there. It doesn’t look safe. How will we be able to communicate once you have gone in?” Q’uaina reasoned.
“I have to try. It’s my father. I have to see…”
Q’uaina nodded putting her arm around Agathe. “I know. Listen. I have an idea. I can shape change to my butterfly form and can easily negotiate that tight space. My vision is good in the dark too, so me going in there is going to be a lot safer than you.”
Agathe started to protest but then nodded, her face belying her mixed emotions. “Yes you’re right Q’uaina. I’m grateful. We’ll wait here for your return.”
It was decided that Illiana and her light walkers would continue their search further on up the hill. Ossian and Agathe would stay beside the opening after Q’uaina went in.
Agathe embraced Q’uaina. “Go find him, I know he’s down there.”
“I’ll do my best,” Q’uaina said simply. When she was ready, she changed form becoming a striking red and green butterfly. She felt the old familiar thrill of freedom as she adopted her new body. She took to the wing and fluttered into the opening. She sensed a slight up draught from below and followed its course. She descended into the darkness and was lost to sight from above.
Severance Page 22