The airy grasslands of the northern Chuttle Range were sporadically marked by large vertical rock formations, towering over the landscape. Sometimes in clusters, but more often individual, the upside down cone-shaped black rocks stood out against the green and gold colors of the tall grass. The rocky thin points reached hundreds of yards into the sky while the bases bulged out to a meager dozen yards across.
Ignoring the odd scenery, Avanda spent most of her time with Bryus as he taught her the magical properties of weeds, roots, insects, stones, and anything else they could get their hands on. Each passing day she became more knowledgeable about spell casting and its few limitations.
As she listened to his explanation of how the legs of some insects can be used as a primer for illusions, she noticed odd stitching in the collar of his shirt. “What’s that in your tunic?” she asked, interrupting his lecture as she pointed to the stitching.
Bryus recoiled slightly and covered them with his hand. “Nothing.”
“Well, it’s obviously something. What is it?”
Bryus traced the odd thread with his fingers. “It’s a memory.”
Avanda leaned in closer. “They are hairs sewn into your clothes.”
“Yes. My wife’s hair.” He traced the one on his left side. “And a lock of my daughters.” His hand trembled while touching the one on his right. “This is all I have left of them.”
His sadness infected her as well. “I’m sorry to hear that. Is there no way to help save them?”
“I don’t know where they are being held.” A small tear filled one of Bryus’ eyes.
Avanda looked up into the sad man’s face. “I’ll help you find them. I promise.”
He quickly wiped his eye and sat up straight, slightly embarrassed that he allowed himself to show any emotions. “Thank you, Avanda. I may just take you up on that someday.”
Smiling, she reached over and gave him a warm hug before returning to listening to his lecture.
Thorik watched as the girl he had become enchanted with was now drifting away. No longer was she clinging to him and wanting to hold his hand. Instead, she seemed happier around the Alchemist who had something to teach her.
Unexpectedly, Thorik had begun to miss her touch. He found himself spending several hours a day looking back over his shoulder to make sure she was still there. A flicker of panic ran through his chest each time she wasn’t in view. These usually only lasted a few minutes, only to find Bryus and Avanda had fallen behind while digging up worms or chasing grasshoppers.
Santorray walked up front with Thorik to scout their path. “She is not in danger.”
“Who?” the Num replied in the most innocent way he could muster.
Santorray snorted out a chuckle. “You’ve been bitten and the poison will always be in your veins.”
“Poison? What are you talking about?”
“Sec, I can see the way you look at Avanda. You’ve been compromised.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t lie to me. You’re not good at it.”
Thorik looked back again, past Brimmelle and Grewen, at Avanda as she laughed after turning a pebble into a frog. “We’re good friends who have been through a lot together. Of course we’re going to be concerned for one another.”
“Now you’re lying to yourself.”
“Okay, so let’s say you’re right, which I’m not saying you are.” Thorik was absolutely serious. “How does that compromise me?”
“It compromises your mission. Having loved ones always does.”
“I disagree. It makes you stronger to fight for them.”
“Agreed.” Santorray noticed Thorik’s surprised reaction. “However, if it came down to choosing between completing your mission or saving someone you care about, which do you select?”
There was no Hesitation from Thorik. “If it were between a loved one and a goal to accomplish, it is an easy answer. I would choose the loved one.”
“And that is how your mission has been compromised.”
“It doesn’t have to be that way. We can do both.”
“Perhaps. But most great successes require you to give up something equally valuable to you.” Santorray scanned the horizon for life. Several Chuttlebeasts roamed in the distance. “If it came down to you saving your grandmother or Avanda, who would it be?”
“I don’t like this game,” Thorik said flatly.
“Sometimes life places you in circumstances where these situations occur.”
“It would be different if you asked me if it was between my own freedom and a loved one.”
“Really?” Santorray scuffed. “And you would be so quick to surrender your freedom in order to save another?”
“Of course, wouldn’t you?”
“Thorik, I have had my freedom taken from me. You have no idea what you’re committing to.”
“Yes I do. The other option would haunt me for the rest of my life. I could never be happy again knowing that I allowed someone to die when I could have saved them is such a way.”
Without warning, an explosion erupted a dozen yards behind them. Smoke billowed up from around Bryus, leaving a gray charcoal color over his entire body. His incorrectly attached wooden arm had fouled up yet another spell. His hair smoldered and one eyebrow was now completely burnt off. Bryus was looking in worse shape than ever.
Laughing at the spectacle, Avanda handed him a cloth to wipe his face clean.
Santorray watched for a response from the local Chuttlebeasts from the blast. As he expected, the explosion caused them to start a stampede. “Pick up the pace. We need to leave these fields before we are trampled and become permanent residents.”
Chapter 31
Cucurrian River
Essence of Gluic Page 40