The Curse of Credesar, Part 1
Page 27
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The next day was warm, beams of sunlight shining down through the tree branches. They ate a quick breakfast and then were escorted from the village by the shaman, his priests, and a large company of warriors. Theodus retrieved Kelden's items from his hiding spot, and they were set to go.
Ten warriors armed with spears joined Kelden and his friends, and with no further ceremony, the shaman bid them farewell and returned to his village. Dameon took the ten warriors aside and spoke to them while Thayan and Theodus looked on with open disgust. Kelden struggled with the idea that they hadn't really escaped the Galds if a band of warriors was coming with them.
Even though Theodus and Dameon were both groggy from head wounds, the pace was steady for a while. But Thayan eventually took to complaining and finally refused to journey with the Galds altogether. It was as if he'd been fighting a battle within himself that he'd finally lost. "Either they leave, or I do," he said, sitting down in the road defiantly. "It's bad enough traveling with..." He stopped short of mentioning Kelden.
The ten warriors, still bearing red ink around their eyes and mouths, stood with puffed-out chests and gazed at Thayan with contempt, as if they understood his words. Thayan glared back. "Animals!" he muttered.
Patiently Dameon explained why they did in fact need the Galds, but Thayan shrugged it off. "That's all nonsense," Thayan said. "The Galds just want to go with us to see what they can gain. They're still playing tricks on us. The shaman stuck that cord in Kelden's neck to fool us. His visions were nothing but a lie."
"The mention of this mind soothe device," said Dameon, "doesn't seem to be a trick. Remember, the Galds don't know what technology is actually used for. Besides, why should you care where we go or what we do?"
"I don't care," said Thayan. "I'm just trying to survive. And I was hoping you would teach me a thing or two, since my lessons at Valganleer are done with forever."
"I'll teach you many things," said Dameon. "And your chances of survival in this land are much greater with us than alone--even with the Galds as company. Especially with the Galds as company."
"There are places I can go," Thayan said with forced confidence. "Underground cities, small towns. Survival on my own isn't impossible."
"True," said Dameon. "But don't you relish the challenges and possibilities that lay before us? No path is safe in this land, but at least if we stay together we have a chance to do something worthwhile, to learn and grow. Your future is full of potential. Don't waste it living in some underground pit slaving away just so you can patch a hole in your trousers or eat some stale food. Is that how you want to live?"
Thayan's face looked troubled. "I suppose I'll stay the course for now. But don't expect me to trust these grey devils, or do anything to save them if they run into trouble. They need to just stay out of my way."
"We're supposed to protect them, Thayan," said Kelden. "They're the key to defeating the worms." His own words sounded foolish to him--almost laughable. Did he really believe what he was saying?
"Oh, please!" Thayan spat. "You believe that nonsense? Look at you. There's some horrible thing inside of you. Can you even trust your own judgment? Nothing good came from our stay in that village. You turned into a monster, and then got your brain scrambled by some huge piece of old world technology."
Kelden didn't answer. He swallowed and gazed at the ground, feeling hideous beyond words. Thayan's gaze held so much judgment and malice that Kelden couldn't help but feel like a monster.
"I trust Kelden's feelings on this matter," said Theodus. "My master knows what he saw, Thayan. I don't like the Galds either. And I'm certainly not fond of straying from our original quest. But if there is a chance that all this craziness is true, we simply must take it. I've always felt the Galds had potential of some sort." Theodus looked away, unable to hide the doubt in his eyes.
"I already said I'll go along with it," said Thayan. "But I'm not sleeping anywhere near those devils or...or you, Kelden--not until you get rid of that fiend inside you for good. I'm not sure I can trust anyone in this group."
"You can trust me," said Theodus, extending his hand. "You proved your courage in risking your life for my master."
Thayan hesitated, his dark hair hanging partially over his face and obscuring his expression. Then he shook Theodus' hand. "And I trust you, Theodus. But you're the only one I trust, and the only one I respect." His sullen eyes met Dameon's.
Dameon smiled. "Yes, I've not yet earned your respect or faith. But I will, in due time. True, we seem like a company of fools falling for Gald tricks. To anyone else, we might even appear mad. But bear in mind that I have the wisdom and power of a seer. Where I walk, destiny follows. The events in the Gald village speak of tremendous possibility. A shadow of change has fallen upon this land."
"We'll see," Thayan muttered. "You're not much of a seer anymore. I think you're just crazy. You latch onto something and you think it's the right thing to do. Like blowing up Valganleer Tower. What happened to that idea?"
Dameon frowned. "What makes you think I've forgotten that? If this mind soothe device actually exists and can restore intelligence to the Galds, they would be a powerful threat to the seers. My goal could be accomplished without having to kill innocents."
"Are you gaining a conscience?" Thayan sneered.
Dameon glowered at him. "I'm a man of conscience, boy. And don't you forget it! But I've also been shut away in a cave for a hundred years."
"Is that why your judgment is so poor?" said Thayan.
Dameon grabbed Thayan, yanked him into the air, and shook him viciously. "My judgment is fine, you little wretch! And if you question it again, I'll snap your neck!" Dameon's eyes blazed with fury. He began choking Thayan.
Thayan's eyes widened and he tried to fight back, but he was no match for the giant former seer. Kelden grabbed Dameon's arm and tried to pull him off, but Dameon's muscles were locked in place and unmovable. Theodus yanked on the other arm, but even the Dar fiend couldn't loosen Dameon's grip. Finally a Gald warrior joined Theodus and together they pulled Dameon off of Thayan. The other Galds grinned.
Thayan fell down, clutching his throat and wheezing. "What did you do that for? You...you tried to kill me!"
Dameon's face burned crimson with rage and embarrassment. "Next time you question my judgment, boy, I will kill you."
Kelden sighed and shook his head. He exchanged a look with Theodus. "What a fine bunch we are," he said. He nearly laughed at the absurdity of it all. "What are we doing, Theodus? Where are we going?"
"To get that mind soothe thing the Galds want," said Theodus. He gazed at Kelden with a matter-of-fact expression.
"Am I being led astray by the Galds and their old world technology?" said Kelden. "Have I fallen victim to something I've been warned against my whole life? And what about Credesar? What should we do?"
Theodus shrugged. "You're my master. Where you lead, I follow. I must assume you know what you're doing."
Kelden grimaced. "Enough with that, Theodus. I want a straight answer from you. What do you think of my decision to do what...you know...what my vision told me to do? Should I stick with it?"
"Very well," said Theodus. "I think you're being a fool and have chosen a path that leads to ruin. But otherwise you know exactly what you're doing."