“Better?” Samira asked, casting a quick glance over her crystals. She could feel Samira poking and prodding her barriers, testing for weakness.
“Yes, better,” Kirheen said, wishing she could melt into the walls and away from everyone’s concerned stares.
“What was that just now?” Mirin asked.
“It would seem fear and excitement are our worst enemies, Seeker,” Samira replied. “The wrong dose of either, and that corruption comes pouring out.”
Mirin straightened. “You shouldn’t just be walking free, not until we know more about what it is, what is does.”
Samira glanced to the Seeker, dark eyes glimmering with malice. “We’re no more of a threat than you are, Seeker, so watch your words. We can keep this under control, and I expect you to have the same level of control over your tongue.”
Mirin scoffed, her power flaring. They both stood poised, ready to strike. Lillana casually stepped between them and cleared her throat. “If you’re both done posturing, can we move on?”
Insults momentarily set aside, they continued through the tunnels, Tomias leading the way. He’d grabbed the torch and the warm light filled the tunnels, illuminating craggy walls covered in slimy green moss. His steps were slow and cautious. “Anything I should know about since I’m leading the way and all?”
“The path should be safe,” Lillana replied. “The soldier that scouted made no mention of any hazards.”
The scout’s words were only partially true. The ground beneath their feet was slick and damp, and on more than one occasion Kirheen had to reach out a hand to steady herself. The feel of moss giving way beneath her fingertips sent shivers up her spine. Memories of the cave leading out of Sanctuary were dredged from the depths and pushed to the forefront of her mind. She wiped her hand against her shirt, fully expecting to see a familiar corruption working its way up her arm.
The further down the path they went, the more the walls seemed to press in close. Kirheen could feel them brushing against her shoulders, the rough stones catching on her shirt. When the walls gave way to an airy cove, her whole body relaxed.
The slippery footing that had plagued them through the tunnel was replaced by weathered docks, wood creaking beneath their hurried steps. The docks jutted out over swirling water, the sound of waves rushing in and out of the cove sounding like thunder as it reverberated off the cave walls. Massive natural pillars of stone jutted out of the sea far ahead, partially masking the entrance. And in front of them, expertly navigated to the docks, was their ship.
A man stood at the end of the docks, arms crossed over his wide chest. His skin was golden and sun kissed, his dark curls pulled back away from his face. He grinned as they approached. “You see this, Samira,” he shouted, jutting a thumb over his shoulder towards the ship. “This is why I’m the captain!”
Samira raised a brow. “I’ll be impressed when you get us back out of here,” she replied, taunting him with every word. “Thank you, Barog. I hate to have asked this of you, but you know how it goes.”
“I know what there is to lose. Besides, it’s keeping my men on their toes. Don’t need them getting complacent.” The man looked over Garild, appraising him with care. “Glad to see she didn’t get you killed in there.”
“Oh, she tried,” Garild said, playfully glaring at Samira as he spoke.
She glared back. “Shut it. You’re still alive.”
“So, who have you brought with you?” Barog asked. His eyes lingered on the Seeker, his grin melting into a frown.
Samira looked over her shoulder. “We’ll have plenty of time for introductions when we’re on the ship. Now shoo.”
“Care to at least explain the masked woman? She looks an awful lot like a Seeker.”
“She is a Seeker.”
“Not on my ship,” Barog growled, his hands balling into fists.
“Play nice,” Samira cautioned. “Please.”
Mirin stood silent, her hands clasped behind her back, standing as far away from the group as space would permit. If Barog was displeased having her there, it paled in comparison to the disappointment Mirin herself seemed to feel at having to tag along.
“Garild will be staying in Val’shar,” Samira explained to the captain, diverting his attention away from Mirin. “Have they made their decision yet?”
Barog shrugged. “Like they’d tell me.”
A familiar face peered over the edge of the ship, bright blue eyes widening. A small yelp escaped Isa and then she was rushing down the plank, a whirlwind of dark curls and excitement, bag slung over her shoulder. She came to a stop next to Garild, regarding him warmly. Her gaze swept across the group, coming to rest on Kirheen. The warmth in her eyes faded, replaced by a weary caution, but she smiled all the same, a mask hiding feelings Kirheen knew had to be lurking underneath.
She wanted to approach, to apologize, but what good were words for what she’d done, the hurt she’d caused? Her stomach soured and she looked towards the water, contemplating jumping in and letting the waves take her. To her surprise, Isa spoke. “It was you,” she said in awe. “You have the crystals, just like Samira...”
Kirheen raised a hand to her chest, self-consciously running her palm across the rough expanse. “I do,” she said. And the burden. “It’s…good to see you, Isa. I’m glad you’re well. Are you staying?”
Isa nodded. “I am,” she confirmed. Her eyes flicked to Garild and she smiled shyly, her cheeks turning pink. They stood close, shoulders almost touching. Kirheen raised a brow, unable to keep her mouth shut. She nudged her power against Garild’s mind.
“Oh? And what is this I’m seeing?”
“Shut up,” he growled, shooting her a glare that demanded her silence.
She smirked, turning her attention to another figure approaching from the ship. Her heart plummeted as Trista strode towards them. It had been quite some time since she’d seen Trista, even longer since she’d been able to call her a friend. Much like Isa, Kirheen was well aware the healer blamed her for the death of Fenir. Trista’s shattered heart had changed her from friend and confidant to a mere stranger. She wielded those shattered pieces like a blade, and Kirheen kept away, fearful of being cut.
Trista looked from person to person, checking for injuries. When her gaze turned to Tomias, she stopped, sadness dulling her eyes. She glanced away quickly, but not quick enough to hide the hurt lurking within, the pain she’d shoved down deep. “They don’t appear hurt,” she said. “I guess you get to continue living, Samira.”
“I told you I’d keep him safe.”
“And you did.”
“What do you plan on doing, healer?”
“I’m…staying. On the ship. I have a feeling my skill set will be needed here,” she said. Behind her, Barog grinned from ear to ear.
Garild looked alarmed. “You’re…staying? Trista, you’ve been so sick!”
“Someone took a moments respite from being a nuisance to find me a suitable cure for my sea sickness. I think I’ll have an easier time now that I’m not trying to rid my body of its innards.”
“Well, then it’s settled,” Samira said, clapping her hands together. “Now let’s get moving.”
“Don’t go acting like you’re the captain now,” Barog warned. “You’re all part of my crew, like it or not. Now let’s get moving!”
“It sounded more motivational when Samira said it,” Tomias jutted in.
“Ha! And just who do you think you are, what with your white hair and handsome face?” Barog motioned him forward. Tomias slunk towards him cautiously, stopping a few steps away.
“Tomias, at your service, Captain.”
Barog shot forward, slinging an arm around Tomias’ neck and steering him towards the ship. “Come along. There are rules you’ll need to understand as my fellow man on this ship. First, about the ladies…”
Tomias guffawed, pointing a finger over his shoulder towards Kirheen. “With all respect, Captain, that one is mine. Keep your eyes away, I
know she’s pretty.”
“All women love me, boy. It is no fault of my own if she falls for me on this journey.”
Samira let out a long, drawn out sigh. “This is going to be a long trip.”
“I don’t envy you,” Isa said. “Have fun!”
“Is it too late for me to change my mind?” Trista groaned.
Through the shared laughter, Kirheen’s heart burned, a fire fueled by fear and uncertainty. She was leaving her homeland behind, leaving her friends to fight a battle that they might not be able to win. She’d have to trust in them, to trust that when she returned there would be a home left to come back to.
CHAPTER 19
“It’s unnerving to watch,” Isa whispered, her tone almost reverent as she looked beyond the barrier. Garild was watching it too, his eyes glued to the corruption. It had condensed into a sphere at the center of the room, hovering several feet off the ground, swirling in slow hypnotic waves.
The longer he watched it, the more it seemed to change. It was so different from when he’d first laid eyes on it. Now that he’d been able to distance himself from the fear of it, from the tainted image of it in his head, he could see it wasn’t just the dark, oozing, tar-like substance he’d imagined it to be.
Looking at it now, he could see subtle shifts in color and a faint glimmer as it turned. It was like looking at the night sky swirling past, hundreds of stars streaking across the dark surface. In a strange way, it was almost beautiful. He’d always imagined it as some impenetrable void that devoured the light and corrupted it. Now it was like looking into another world, and each revolution of the sphere drew him further and further into the abyss.
“Garild?”
“What? I’m sorry,” he apologized, her delicate voice dragging him back to reality. He shook out his limbs and stamped his feet, feeling flooding back into his body. How long was I staring? “Isa, have you looked at it?”
She raised a brow. “I’ve been looking at it.”
“I know you’ve been looking, but have you actually looked. Closer. It just looks different now. The longer I stare at it, the more it seems to change. I was so afraid of it before, but now… Just look. Without fear. Don’t think of the Darkness.”
Isa turned back to the floating sphere, squinting as she studied it. Time ticked by, seconds stretching into minutes as she surveyed the corruption, her face a mask of confusion. And then something changed, her lips parting, eyes widening in awe. “Stars.”
“What?”
“It looks…like stars. How did we not notice this before?”
“I think we were so caught up in how it should look that we missed how it actually looks. I just wish we knew what it did, what it was for.”
Isa frowned. “It’s all connected somehow. Kirheen, Samira, Elfrind, the corruption. We have the answer right in front of us, it’s just a shame that answer is likely to kill us.”
“Maybe I should just hop in there with it and see what it does.”
Her eyes flashed to him, bright with annoyance, her frown deepening. “That is not what I meant. I just hate not knowing. What are we missing?”
“I don’t like it either.” Garild studied the barrier, a shimmering blue field of light that reminded him of the crystalline waters of Sharmir. The Seekers holding the barrier were silent, their eyes closed, all focus going towards keeping their power steady. “I wonder if we tried to touch it, not physically, but with our minds,” he mused, the idea springing to life before he’d found rational soil to plant it in.
Isa tilted her head. “That sounds dangerous.” Her eyes flicked towards the corruption. “What do you hope to accomplish putting yourself in danger like that?”
“Anything but nothing. We need to know what it is, what it does. If I can slip past the barrier and just poke it a bit, maybe we can learn more about it. It might not even work, but it seems worth a shot.”
Isa chewed her lip, glancing over her shoulder at the queen. “Should we get permission before trying this little experiment? If something goes wrong, we’ll be putting people at risk.”
One of the Seekers sighed loudly, startling them. He cracked open an eye, the same crystal blue as the barrier. “I’m not deaf, you know. I can still hear you.”
Garild flushed. “I’m sorry, we shouldn’t be talking while you’re trying to concentrate.”
The Seeker shrugged. “This? This is nothing. I can do this all day. But if you’re going to stand there and talk about things far more interesting than maintaining this barrier and not include me in the conversation, we’re going to have problems.”
It wasn’t the scolding he’d been expecting, the Seekers interest catching him off guard. “Well, uh, what do you think?” he asked, testing the waters. If he could get their interest, there was a chance they’d let him go through with his experiment.
The Seeker opened his other eye and looked to the corruption beyond the barrier. In the pale blue light, youth could be seen fading, lines of worry creasing brow and cheeks, the corners of his bright eyes. “All this waiting isn’t doing us any favors,” he said. “We’ve got enough control here to allow you to slip through. Poke it, I say. See what it does. The more we know, the better off we are. Regardless of the outcome, it’s not getting past us.”
The female Seeker at his side groaned. “Darik, are you volunteering me for something dangerous without my consent?”
“Only the best for you, Neela,” he grinned.
“Of course. It’s not the worst plan I’ve ever heard, though if Darik is agreeing to it, it has the potential to go very, very wrong. Still, you want to go poking the bear, be my guest. I’m a bit shocked Darik hasn’t already tried it himself.”
“I’ve been considering it. I can’t help myself. I get bored.”
Neela looked back over her shoulder, dark hair clinging to her mask. “Just don’t expect us to save you. We’ve got a barrier to keep up,” she said, her words aimed at Garild.
“I suppose that’s where I come in,” Isa sighed. She danced from foot to foot, her bottom lip abused by the nervous nibbling of her teeth. Garild gripped her arm, turning her towards him so they were face to face.
“Isa, if you aren’t okay with this, just say so. I won’t do it if you think it’s a bad idea. I just think it might be worth the risk.”
She shook her head. “No, you’re right. It is worth knowing. I just don’t know if it’s worth risking you. What if something goes wrong like it did with that stone back in Sharmir? Your mind could have been shattered. I don’t want to… never mind. It doesn’t matter.”
Garild stepped closer, closing the gap between them. Isa tilted her head up, her eyes wide. “Isa, it matters to me. Just tell me.”
An escaped breath slipped past her lips, tickling his face. Her nervous energy hummed beneath his fingertips, like the gentle flitting of butterflies sweeping across his skin. The smooth, pale skin of her cheeks was changing color, a blush creeping across her face. “I don’t want to lose you,” she whispered, her eyes not leaving his.
He leaned forward, bringing his head down towards her. She moved, her body pressing closer, chin rising slowly. All he had to do was pull her closer and their lips would meet.
“How come you never look at me like that?” Neela chided, her head tilted towards Darik.
Garild took in a sharp breath, the moment shattering, jagged shards of his disappointment scattering around his feet. He cleared his throat and took a step back, snatching his wandering thoughts and turning them back to the situation at hand. Isa took an additional step, nervously swept her hair behind her ear, and looked anywhere but at Garild.
Darik frowned. “Neela, you ruined it! Word of advice - you two just need to kiss and get it over with. You’ll feel much better.”
“Thank you for your most valuable advice,” Garild muttered, heat flooding his cheeks. He couldn’t bring himself to look at Isa, afraid to see his own embarrassment mirrored on her beautiful face. “Well, shall we see what we’re up agai
nst, Isa?”
“Go ahead,” she managed to squeak, her words directed at the floor. Her nervous shuffling had resumed. “I’ll be here if things go wrong.”
“Give the word and we’ll open up a spot so you can slip through,” Darik said. “Just please warn us if your brain starts to melt out of your ears, all right?”
“Uh, yeah. Got it. Well, here we go.” Garild closed his eyes, turning his focus inwards. His mind was in shambles, a jumbled mess of words and feelings that were still overwhelming him. Raven curls and bright blue eyes. The shape of her lips. “Damn it,” he growled. “I need to sit. I can’t focus.”
Not thinking of the attention it might draw, Garild settled cross-legged on the floor. He forced himself to focus on his breathing, the sound as he drew air into his lungs, the slight puff as he released it through his mouth.
In. Out. In. Out.
He envisioned his mind as a house. Messy, cluttered. His thoughts were books, strewn to every corner, spines and pages mangled. Dust had settled on the tables, on the windowsills. Cobwebs clung to long forgotten corners, ashen threads glowing in the moonlight spilling through the windows.
Bending down, he reached for one of the scattered books, feeling a sorrowful ache in his chest as both of his hands came into view. His mind still refused to fuse with reality, to merge what was with what had once been. He pulled at his power, forced his mind to change, to adapt. His right hand faded, a blurry form that was there one moment and gone the next. Better, he thought to himself.
One by one, he collected the tattered books scattered across the floor, setting them gently on a nearby shelf. The smell of aged parchment soothed his senses, calming his mind, filling him with warmth, with a feeling of safety. He set to work clearing away cobwebs and wiping the furniture clear of dust. Without the layers of grime, he could see the familiar glow of wraith wood, and suddenly he was back in Sanctuary, in a home he’d shared so briefly with Kirheen. No. Not this way.
The Allseer Trilogy Page 76