by Chad Corrie
Dugan hoisted Gilban by his waist up to Alara. He then gave Vinder a lift before turning back to Rowan. “Bring Cadrissa.”
“I think you’ll find she can take care of herself,” said Gilban.
“Die!” Cadrissa screeched from inside the pit. The simple huts where many of the lizardmen had fled suddenly burst into flame. The eruption of the tiny shacks sent smoldering pieces of thatch and lizardmen into the air. The night became alight with the intense blaze, smothered with the heat, and sundered by the screams. The buildings burned fiercely, as did the lizardmen who had been hiding inside. The stench of burned flesh mingled with the aroma of choking smoke that further darkened the night sky.
Cadrissa shuffled to Rowan’s side as if moving in a dream. Her footfalls were weak and misplaced, causing her to stumble and lose her balance. Rowan cleared the distance and caught her before she fell.
“We need to find our weapons and get out of here,” said Alara, watching Dugan scale the pit in one graceful motion.
“Let’s just hope they weren’t in any of those huts,” said Vinder.
“Can you walk?” Rowan asked, noticing Cadrissa’s eyes were green once more. The old superstitions of his people reemerged, forcing him to suppress the urge to run her through right then and there. They needed her help, not only with their escape but for the rest of the mission. And she was a human in need. That meant he was obligated to provide what aid he could.
“Yes.” Cadrissa shivered in his arms, her face pale and sickly. “What happened?”
“Later.” Rowan helped her out of the pit and toward the others. Behind him, the lizardmen’s village burned to the ground.
They ran into the thickening jungle, attempting to distance themselves from the growing inferno. The night was full of confusion and shadow. The village, and most of what surrounded it, had transformed into a monstrous bonfire, spitting sparks into the sky. Thankfully, the screams of the dying faded as the group stumbled through the chaos.
Vinder had managed to retrieve their weapons with the aid of Alara, who also gathered what she could of their supplies, distributing them as they ran. But while she had her sword, she hadn’t located her bow or quiver. And neither of them had found Cadrissa’s backpack . . . nor the precious scrolls and books inside.
Cadrissa was vaguely aware of her missing pack, and the hungry flames behind them had her fearing the worst. But such thoughts and concerns were jumbled with plenty of others as the night rambled on like some turbulent sea, splashing new awareness of her situation with every heartbeat.
Dugan and Rowan took the lead, directing the others through the tangled trees and vines. Cadrissa lurched along behind them like a drunk. Her mind whirled and her feet felt as though they were wrapped in lead weights. She still had no idea how she’d ended up running for her life. Worse still, she felt a deep throbbing in her head. The headache was so intense it clouded her vision, blurring the jungle into a big, dark green blob. But thankfully it was already loosening its grip. As the pain faded from her skull, she thought she heard a distant, frost-laced voice scratch at the corner of memory.
Soon we shall meet, it whispered before trailing into nothingness. She was reminded of her troubling dream a few nights earlier. She still couldn’t recall what it was about but had a feeling the voice and what just happened were somehow connected.
The lizardmen didn’t pursue them. If any survived the vicious attack, they’d scrambled for their lives in the opposite direction. That, she supposed, was a good thing. She didn’t feel like taking on any more challenges. As they pressed on, small pools of water began forming beneath their feet. The smell of wet, decaying wood emanated from the soil as they ran.
“We’re running back into the marshes,” said Alara. The soft soil slowly sucked their feet deeper into the mossy ground. Slowed by the terrain and the deepening night, they stopped to catch their breath.
“Where are we going?” Vinder grunted. “We lost our direction in that mad dash.”
“Do you know where we are?” Cadrissa asked Gilban. Her vision was better and she could at last think clearly again.
Gilban closed his eyes and stroked the Eye of Fate hanging from his necklace. Though he’d run with them, being dragged along by Alara for all of it, he didn’t seem as worn out as Cadrissa and the others. Instead of heavy breathing, his lips mumbled a prayer.
“We are safe for now,” he finally answered.
“Safe, but without direction,” Vinder huffed. “I don’t want to die here, so someone pick a direction and let’s get moving again before any more of those things find us.”
As he spoke, Cadrissa noticed Rowan staring off into the distance. She tried seeing what might have caught his eye, but there was nothing but the night-washed landscape. Letting the matter pass, she adjusted her thoughts back to the others.
“So where would you have us go?” Alara peered down at Vinder.
“I didn’t say I wanted to choose, just that someone should . . . like maybe the leader of this outfit.”
Alara’s soft gray face grew hard for a moment.
It was then that Rowan spoke up. “I think I know where we are.”
“How?” asked Dugan.
Rowan didn’t answer at first, as if his attention and mind drifted through the night air.
“Rowan?” Alara’s questioning tone brought him back to the present.
“Wha—”
“You said you thought you knew where we were?” Alara asked slowly, while Cadrissa examined the knight more closely.
“Yes.” Rowan shifted under the scrutiny of so many gazes. “Something looks familiar here. I think we can get back to the path if we travel through the marsh in this direction.”
“How can it look familiar when you’ve never been here before?” asked Vinder.
“I don’t know. It just seems familiar . . . like I know just how far we are from where we’re supposed to be.” Rowan’s eyes again grew dreamy as he stared off into the jungle.
“Really?” Vinder crossed his arms, axe in hand and ready for anything.
“You have a better idea?” Dugan asked the dwarf.
No one dared reply.
“I’m sure I know the way,” Rowan continued.
“He will lead us to the right path,” Gilban interjected. “I’ve foreseen it.”
“Have you now?” Vinder chortled.
“Feel free to stay here if you like.” Cadrissa was feeling better from the brief rest. “But Gilban hasn’t been wrong yet.”
“Just seems too convenient is all,” said Vinder. “But I trust Gilban before I do the lad.” He sheathed his axe.
“And it’s better than running aimlessly through the night,” she added.
“I just want to survive this trip,” said Vinder.
“We all do,” Dugan said, stepping toward the knight. “And that means we follow Rowan.”
Vinder shrugged. “I don’t really care who leads, just so long as I get out of here and I get paid. Personally, I think this heat and humidity is getting to everyone. First it was Cadrissa with the lizardmen, and now this sudden epiphany with Rowan.”
“Yeah. What happened back there?” Dugan asked her.
“What do you mean?” Cold fear swirled in her gut at the question.
“Back at the pit with the lizardmen.”
“Pit?” She grew even more concerned as she tried laying hold of a memory that wasn’t there.
“Now isn’t the time for discussion,” said Gilban. “We must be on our way.”
“Agreed.” Vinder nodded. “But how are we going to complete this mission without our supplies and equipment? We’ve just got our weapons, and maybe a handful of rations. No more food or water, mounts, or anything but the clothes and armor on our backs.”
“He has a point,” said Dugan.
“It will all work out.” Gilban seemed hurried, almost agitated in his speech and manner, which only served to give extra weight to the priest’s words.
“The sit
uation isn’t going to improve if we rest for the night or try to retrace our steps,” said Alara. “We’d still be out of gear and supplies. We have to make do with what we have. We’re better off just following Rowan—if he says he knows the way—than trying to find another. If Gilban says it’ll be okay, then I believe it will be—if we get moving.”
“So then let’s get moving.” Rowan’s words shoved them into action.
Chapter 23
Hail, Queen of Valkoria, to you we bend our knee.
Long may you watch over us with your great care,
Safe from all harm and every snare.
May you give us strength to do your will,
Until your purpose we at last fulfill.
—A Paninian hymn
Morning came with little conversation. The group devoured their meager rations while watching rainbow-colored birds flutter overhead, searching out their own breakfasts. Their songs blended with the melodious choir that began at dawn while marsh rats scurried back and forth among the underbrush, rustling leaves and splashing water. These were joined by all manner of insects, much to everyone’s annoyance.
Cadrissa rubbed her temple, watching Rowan as he stood apart from the group. He continually peered off into the distance. Whether he was lost in thought or fixed on something she couldn’t see, she wasn’t sure. “I still can’t believe I did all that casting just one spell,” she murmured. “I don’t remember any of it.”
Vinder had filled her in on what took place the night before, but he might as well have told her about another person altogether. All she was able to recall was the dizziness, followed by Rowan shaking her awake and seeing the village burning. There was something about a fire . . . She’d been tied to a post, hadn’t she?
“Well, you did,” Vinder replied. “And it was definitely unexpected.”
“For both of us.” Cadrissa made a halfhearted attempt to smooth out her ruined robes. She didn’t think they’d be worth saving when this was all over. “I don’t plan on making it a habit.”
She felt better than she probably looked and there was still the slight headache, but she could live with it. As long as she was able to keep herself from blacking out or whatever it was she’d done, she’d be content. She’d no desire to dwell on the swirling fears in the back of her mind. She’d enough to deal with as it was. Her energy and thoughts were better spent on the present.
“I hope not,” said Vinder. “We have enough on our plate as it is.” He indicated Rowan with a nod.
“He got us away from those lizardmen,” she offered.
“But now we’re lost. And might even be going in circles.”
“You think you can do better?”
“I just wonder why he was ever allowed to lead us in the first place.”
“A leader is defined by their followers,” Gilban said, finding his way into the conversation. “You could have gone your own way.” She’d almost forgotten he was there until he spoke. He’d lost his walking stick in the previous evening’s chaos, which she assumed only made things more challenging.
“Fat chance there,” Vinder huffed. “I just don’t want to get any more lost than we already are.”
“And who says we’re lost?”
Vinder winced at the seer’s question. “Don’t you ever talk like a normal person?” he said. “You said it was going to be okay.”
“I did.”
“Then what’s going on?” he continued. “I thought we were headed to the jungle?”
“We are.” Alara stood and stretched her back.
“Well, this looks—and smells—like the marshes.” Vinder swatted a mosquito on his cheek. Cadrissa did the same. She found herself doing so more as a reflex now than anything else. She wouldn’t be surprised if she even did it in her sleep.
“He has a point.” Dugan was still seated, eating the last of a dry loaf of bread. Like Vinder, he’d kept his armor on through the night. Rowan had done the same. She couldn’t imagine how uncomfortable it was. The extra sweating alone made her happy she had only her robes.
“Thank you.” Vinder nodded.
“Well, if I still had my backpack I might have been able to read up on some things, maybe even have found a better way forward. But someone went and left it behind in the flames.” She tempered the anger in her words, but the better she felt the angrier she grew over what she’d lost.
“You thought I purposely left it behind?” Vinder was insulted at the accusation.
“Did you?”
“I was kind of rushed at the time.” His words were measured. “There was only so much I could grab, and it wasn’t all in one neat pile either. I took what was important and at hand.”
“Well, those scrolls and books were important.”
“You know Alara was helping too,” he huffed. “You going to blame her too?” This caught the attention of Alara, who clearly didn’t like the way the conversation was going.
“I’m simply stating a fact,” she continued. “And if anything happens later I could have helped avoid—”
“We’ll be fine.” Alara finally jumped into the discussion. “What’s important is we don’t start—”
“Now that it’s daylight, I’m even more certain the way can be found,” said Rowan, intruding into both the camp and the discussion with an oblivious smile.
“I thought I heard that last night.” Vinder gnawed on his last piece of hardened bread, clearly thankful for the change of topic.
“We’re getting close.” Rowan ignored the dour dwarf, focusing on Alara instead. “I can feel it.”
“Close to what?” she asked. Rowan paused, his focus centered on Alara, who was clearly growing uncomfortable with the continued silence. And she wasn’t the only one.
“You feeling okay?” Alara asked, returning Rowan to his senses.
“I’m fine.”
“Then you want to tell me what’s going on? You told us you knew where you were—”
“And you have nothing to fear,” he was quick to reply. “I’m confident I’m being led the right way.”
“Led?” Alara raised her eyebrow. “I thought you said you knew the way?”
“I do—or I will.” Rowan shifted his focus back to whatever had previously commanded his attention. “I just need a moment to get my bearings.”
“That’s not all you’re missing.” Vinder’s comment earned a cold stare from Alara.
“Finish getting ready,” she said. “Once Rowan’s set, we’ll start walking again.”
“You sure you want to do that?” Vinder slowly stood.
“I trust Gilban’s judgment, which means we’re following Rowan.”
“It’s going to be torture without the horses.” Cadrissa did her best to work out the tiny kinks in her back and neck. She’d slept more awkwardly than she would have liked, but at least she had gotten some rest. The others keeping watch hadn’t fared as well.
“We’ll survive,” Alara countered. “We’d have had to walk for part of the journey anyway.”
“It’s not just that, but the return trip as well.” She sighed. “It’ll take us quite a while to get back.”
“One thing at a time.”
“Well, the sooner we get going, the sooner we can get back.” Vinder made the last adjustments to his person and peered heavenward with a hand over his brow. “And that sun isn’t going to be any help once it gets higher.”
“Rheminas’ blessing, my eye.” Cadrissa saw Dugan tense out of the corner of her eye while she finished her preparations.
Rowan slogged through the soggy path as the hours passed, but he scarcely acknowledged them. He hardly noticed the others trailing behind him as the day faded into late afternoon. He was overwhelmed with the extreme need to reach his divinely appointed destination. He walked as though in a trance, his eyes constantly focused on the ghostly image of Panthora—he’d no doubt the faint image of the Nordic woman was her—always remaining just out of reach, leading him onward.
Come . . .
Come . . . The feminine voice filled his head.
He couldn’t help but obey the command. He’d first seen the vision the night before, beckoning him to follow. It struck him at once with its similarity to the dream he’d had back in the Broken Oar. He was sure it wasn’t mere coincidence but something guiding him to the ruins and the hidden knowledge therein.
She appeared as a transparent woman crafted of glowing white light. In every way the perfection of Nordic beauty: the most splendid of women he’d ever hope to see in his lifetime. She wore her hair to her shoulders and was dressed in a long-sleeved tunic, a pair of pants, and tall boots. Her eyes, though, were what had caught and helped him the most. Bright and strong, they also radiated a welcoming love he found himself hard pressed to ignore.
Just as in the dream, he had a compulsion to trudge onward where she called. He’d become so enraptured with the experience he gave scarce consideration to anything else around him. There was only his goddess and her beckoning command. And so it had been for hours now, though to him it seemed only moments. And it would have continued if Alara’s hand hadn’t found his shoulder, breaking his trance.
“Are you sure you know the way?” He was startled by the voice, becoming suddenly aware of the oppressive environment once again.
“I-I know the way, yes.” His gaze trailed from the elf, returning to his transparent guide.
“You just seem a bit . . . distracted.” Alara eyed him cautiously. “And maybe a little bit . . . unsure of things.”
“So you don’t trust me anymore?” Rowan snapped. Alara withdrew her hand as if she’d been bitten by a snake.
“Is that what you all think?” He spun around, facing the others. “Don’t you trust me, either?” He went from Dugan to Cadrissa, clearly seeing their reservations. “I’d expected as much from the elves and the dwarf, but not you two.”
“We’re not the ones who said he knew the way.” Vinder was going to say more but Alara beat him to it.