Summoner 6

by Eric Vall

  “Ms. Hamner,” Orenn called out to her, but she didn’t stop. A frown pulled at his lips before he turned and bowed to Gallahar Kenefick. “Thank you, General.” He straightened, and then he jogged to catch up to Arwyn.

  “Good luck here,” I told him, and the General offered me his hand. I took it graciously, and then was pulled into a loose hug.

  “Take care of her,” he whispered, and I found myself chuckling.

  “Of course, sir,” I replied, then stepped aside for him to hug his daughter.

  Gallahar nearly scooped her up into his arms, and Nia’s feet kicked lightly as she hugged her father as tight as she possibly could.

  It made me miss Maelor. I hoped he was doing alright, and that I’d get to see him again soon.

  After Gallahar set Nia on the ground again, he took a step back.

  “Bring those boys home,” he told us. “This is going to be a long fight, and we want to come out with as many of our people as we can.”

  I wasn’t sure I liked what he was implying, but I nodded all the same. I was going to make sure my friends made it back in one piece.

  With that, Nia and I jogged past him to catch up with Arwyn and Orenn and find our horses.

  Once again, we were on our own on a new adventure, but this time, it was personal.

  Chapter 6

  As Gallahar had said, we found the horses behind the rubble of the place of worship, and we rode them to the guard at the northernmost gate. Getting to the gate, however, was an experience I wish I’d never had. Bodies and debris were everywhere, and there was no clear path around anything. In fact, it looked as though the remaining military hadn’t gotten this far out from the center of the Enclave. Everything looked as though it had just happened, only with less smoke and the absolutely rancid stench of death rotting in the streets.

  I thought the smell of the Shadowscape was disgusting, but this was so much worse.

  We put on our masks as though we were entering through the rift gate, which helped ease the potency of the smell, but just barely. I could breathe without gagging, but that wasn’t saying much. It still made my stomach churn, and as insensitive as it may have sounded, I couldn’t be happier to leave.

  Our horses trotted amongst the debris, and we navigated it as best as we could, but every so often there was a loud crunch or snap, and it sent chills down my spine. I didn’t want to think about what we’d stepped on. The last thing anyone needed was the guilt of having put a hoofprint in the side of someone’s dead skull.

  The ride to the guardhouse was a quiet one despite the bustling of Hartmire citizens and military amongst the wreckage. Mages had charmed lanterns to levitate alongside them as they sifted through the wood and concrete. Every few feet we would catch a glimpse of someone in mourning as they uncovered another body, or found an heirloom that had magically survived the carnage.

  I didn’t think anyone would recognize us since it was so late, and we had taken care to drape ourselves in hooded grey cloaks so we didn’t look at all distinguishable. We just looked like ordinary travelers on horses, yet every time we passed by a military officer, they pointedly looked at Nia and bowed their heads. She in kind returned the gesture, but no words were ever exchanged. Did they know it was her under the coat? Maybe they were only being courteous. That seemed innocent enough. I was probably overthinking it.

  I was surprised at how many people were still working into the night. The saying ‘there’s nothing like a tragedy to bring people together,’ though morbid and rather dark, always seemed to ring true. People forgot to look at skin color or class. All they were able to see was someone in need, or someone who cared enough to help them.

  Mistral wasn’t without its prejudices, and it had certainly seen its share of destruction, especially in recent days, but there was always hope. It gave me strength just to watch them work and grieve together over mutual losses. It was a show of support for their fellow man, and it was a symbol of power we had over the monsters that plagued the Shadowscape. We were better than them. We would win this war, even if the monsters burned it all to the ground.

  When we reached the iron wrought gates at the guardhouse, two guards stepped out in front of us. Panic flashed through me, and I chanced a glance at Orenn, who also looked concerned. General Kenefick had told us there wouldn’t be any issues, and they’d just let us through. Why were they stopping us?

  “Where are you off to?” one guard asked. She was smaller in stature compared to the other guard beside her, but her voice was strong and powerful despite its high pitch.

  “General Gallahar Kenefick sent us to grab supplies from other Enclaves,” Nia informed them without hesitation. “We were told there wouldn’t be any problems at the gate.”

  “Oh, yes, well … ” the girl trailed off as she turned and faced away from us suddenly.

  “We aren’t here to stop you,” the other guard spoke up. This one was a man with a low, rumbling voice.

  “Then why stand in our way?” Arwyn asked firmly as a frown marred her face.

  “I’m sorry,” the male guard apologized, and then he bowed his head. “We just wanted to thank you.”

  The group of us faltered.

  “Thank us?” I clarified.

  “I … we both lost friends and family during the attack,” he explained, and I could see the grief behind his exhausted eyes. “It’s been hard for both of us, not being able to help, so we wanted to thank you for going to fetch us supplies and help us rebuild our home.”

  “Of course,” Orenn answered for us, and the girls and I barely managed a nod. “We should be going, though. The sooner we get the supplies, the sooner we can bring them back.”

  The guards stepped aside then and saluted us as we trotted past the open gate.

  “Ride safe!” the female guard called, but we were already galloping into the night.

  Once we were far enough away and the gates were closed behind us, Nia took charge. She rode to the front of our pack and motioned for us to follow wordlessly.

  I was a little surprised Arwyn didn’t take up the lead, but this wasn’t a regular response squad mission. Nothing about this fell under the word “regular.” Where there had once been a student teacher respect before between Arwyn and Nia now existed a mutual camaraderie.

  Half a day’s ride, Nia had said. That’s how long it would take to get to the edge of the Narufey Forest. If we rode through the night, we would get there at dawn.

  “Nia, are you sure you know where you’re going?” I called up to her.

  “Positive!” she called back. “Nayveth and I used to ride past it all the time when we were kids.”

  “Nayveth?” I mimicked.

  She didn’t answer me, but she didn’t need to. I recalled one of our conversations early on in our friendship when she revealed she had two brothers and two sisters, including Nehra.

  “Where is he now, during all of this?” Arywn asked Nia.

  “He took our mother to the ocean,” Nia told her.

  “The ocean?” Orenn galloped up next to her on his horse. “Balvaan?”

  “Not quite.” Nia shook her head. “There’s a river that runs through the middle of the forest and leads to the ocean. He has a home there. It isn’t very close by, but I do know if you follow the river, it will eventually lead you to his house.”

  “Living the nomad life?” Orenn chuckled.

  “He did his time and gave his service to the military. He is still doing his research, though what that consists of these days is beyond my realm of knowledge,” Nia explained. “He’s always been fond of aquatic life, but we don’t talk often anymore. His interests may have shifted since we last spoke.”

  “You don’t get along well?” I questioned as I rode up on the other side of Arwyn.

  “We get on fine.” Nia shrugged, “but he’s never been one to talk much, not since his accident.”

  I wanted to ask, but I didn’t want to sound insensitive either. It wasn’t any of my business.


  A moment passed, and then Nia broke the silence.

  “You don’t want to know?” She kept her eyes forward as she giggled.

  “Of course I do!” I defended, then backed off again. “What I mean is, I don’t want to be rude, but … ”

  “It’s alright.” Nia shook her head with a slight smile. “He’s a rare kind of mage. He’s a water elementalist, but he was also blessed with the gift of speaking to aquatic animals.”

  I faltered as I stared at her blankly.

  “So, he can talk to fish?” I asked tentatively.

  “Pick your jaw up,” Arwyn teased. “You’re likely to catch fish with how agape your mouth is.”

  I reeled myself back up and shook my head. “Sorry, I just … fish?”

  “It does sound rather amusing when you think about it on the surface,” Nia smiled, “but it’s more than just fish. He can also communicate with dolphins, sharks, whales … ”

  “Like a summoner?” Orenn asked.

  We all shot a look over to him. There was a beat of silence before Nia nodded slowly.

  “Yes, that is actually a very good comparison,” she concluded. “While it isn’t so much in a traditional sense, his ability can produce similar outcomes with specialized training.”

  A summoner, huh? The more I thought about it, the more I was curious and excited. I hoped I got to meet Nayveth one day. He seemed like an interesting guy.

  “So, what happened during his accident?” I asked cautiously.

  “He was young,” Nia started. “He couldn’t have been blamed for what happened, but he and Nehra were playing outside in the rain. Nehra had always been a bit of a tease, and she pushed Nayveth too far. He got upset and turned the rain into needles.”

  “Goodness,” Arwyn gasped.

  “That’s how we discovered he was a mage,” Nia laughed a little. “It’s quite humorous now, but at the time it wasn’t so funny. My brother was never quite the same after that, even though none of us were really hurt.”

  “You have another brother, too, right?” I questioned, now completely obsessed with knowing more about Nia’s family.

  “I do,” she confirmed, but there was something off about her tone. “His name is … was … ”

  Just like that, the conversation shifted. She didn’t need to finish her sentence. We all knew how it was going to end.

  “Nia, I’m so-- “

  “Napoli,” she cut me off as she raised her chin defiantly, like she refused to be cowed by grief. “He and I never much saw eye to eye, not like Nayveth and I, but the two of them were close.”

  “How?” Arwyn asked, and she reached over to place her hand over Nia’s.

  “He was in the front line of defense in Hartmire,” Nia explained, and the line of her jaw was as hard as stone. “He was trying to save a little girl in the path of the belial.”

  I froze. My stomach dropped, and I resisted the sudden urge to vomit. I felt the crystal where the purple beast was encased hum at my side, like it knew we were talking about it. I had the murderer of my lover’s brother in my bag, and there was nothing quite as sobering as that.

  What was more was the realization that the officers within the walls of Hartmire absolutely recognized Nia. They knew who she was, and they were offering her their condolences for the loss of her brother the only way they knew how without giving away that they knew she was still in the Enclave.

  “Gryff?” Orenn’s voice grabbed my attention.

  When I looked up, three pairs of eyes watched me with concern. I sighed deeply and locked eyes with Nia.

  “I’m so sorry,” I mumbled.

  “I’ve had my time to grieve,” Nia told me with a shake of her head. “I know a few days doesn’t seem like much, but I’m more than capable to be here. Besides, sitting and crying isn’t an option. The best thing I can do is this: saving our friends.”

  “I wasn’t going to question you.” I looked forward and dropped the subject. If Nia said she’d had enough time, then I wasn’t going to push her. I felt for her, though. Things continued to pile up on her, and eventually she was going to break. I would just have to do my part and keep her together the best I could, and if I couldn’t, I’d be there to hold all of her pieces when she crumbled.

  Everything fell quiet again, and I couldn’t bring myself to start anymore conversations. Instead, I let my mind wander as we rode through the darkness. I let the light nighttime breeze that accompanied the latter half of summer wisp over my skin, and I focused on the sound of grass crunching as we rode through the open fields. Despite the horror and destruction behind us, the sky going forward was clear. I could see nearly every star in the sky. It was beautiful to look at.

  What was more beautiful was watching Arwyn’s crimson hair bounce and flow in the wind, a stark contrast in bold and vibrant color against the almost perfect black sky overhead. Arwyn was what someone would get if they mixed beauty, brawn, and brains in a single vessel. She was commanding, but also full of heart.

  My eyes then drifted over to Nia, who rode alongside her. There wasn’t as drastic of a contrast as Arwyn’s hair to the night sky, but rather, Nia looked as though she belonged to the night. Her ashen hair glittered like moonlight amongst the stars, and her pale, flawless skin gave her an ethereal glow.

  Two absolute goddesses, and they were both for me to love.

  The next time anyone spoke, there were traces of sunlight starting to illuminate the sky. The stars began to disappear one by one, and the line of trees that edged the Narufey Forest finally came into view.

  “There it is,” Nia said with a distant smile on her face.

  I thought maybe she was remembering something from her childhood, and I was happy that beneath the pain she kept buried, she found a true reason to smile.

  “What’s your plan for when we get in there?” Arwyn asked her.

  “We’ll take the horses in as far as we can go,” Nia said. “We don’t have much to go on once we’re inside, so I think it’s best for us to stay close and not stray too far off the path.”

  “Once the trees become too thick, though, we’ll have to leave the horses and go by foot,” Orenn chimed in. “I’m not thrilled about leaving our only mode of transportation behind, but we won’t be able to maneuver them through after a certain point.”

  “I’ve only ever heard of how dense the trees are here.” Arwyn shook her head. “Do you really think it’s so bad?”

  “Like I said, we’ll take them in as far as we can, but if bringing them in any further means causing them harm and injury, then we’re leaving them behind,” Nia affirmed.

  Arwyn and I exchanged glances and nodded.

  “Sounds good to me.” I grinned.

  The sun had only half crested over the horizon when we reached the edge and made our first track into the trees. No sooner had we fully stepped within the forest did the air start to feel off.

  “Does anyone else feel that?” I asked slowly as I skimmed over the perimeter. The further we went into the Narufey Forest, the stronger the feeling became.

  “I do feel something,” Orenn added, and he frowned as he looked around, too. “What is that?”

  “It’s ominous,” Nia commented, and then she halted her horse, “yet at the same time, it brings me a sense of peace. How is that possible?”

  The rest of us halted our horses as well, and we stopped to visually absorb the scenery around us.

  I was glad we did. The forest was dark despite the sun that had already started its ascent into the sky. Little lightning bugs flitted about our heads and all around us, and flowers and vegetation seemed to have a bioluminescent glow to them. The trees were cracked with blue laced into the bark, as though they were bleeding. I reached over and touched the nearest tree. To my shock, the blue was solid. It was simply part of the chemical makeup within the tree itself. Bright yellow vines also hung from the branches. Some of them were coated in drapes of shimmering moss, but the real eyecatcher were the bulbous pods that see
med to be suspended in midair.

  I watched as Orenn warily poked at one of the red ones nearby. As soon as his skin came near it, the pod glowed brighter. When he took it away, it dimmed again, though it was still vibrant in its own right.

  The breeze seemed to flow differently in Narufey as well. It was soft, like silk on my skin, and it seemed to hum. It was different than the song I’d heard repetitively in Bathi and again in the Shadowscape, but it held the same otherworldly feel to it, like this place didn’t quite belong in the world of humans.

  “Wow … ” I trailed off, caught in the wonder.

  “It’s amazing!” Nia exclaimed. Her giddiness was contagious, and we all got lost in this new place.

  “I can see how it’s easy to get lost in here,” Arwyn commented, enamoured.

  “It’s the perfect place for a cipher,” I realized aloud.

  We stood for a few more moments and let ourselves take in the beauty of such a place existing in our world. It was a mystery how it had remained so clean, seemingly untouched by the hands of man throughout the years. If it were anything like Tietra, though, only those who possessed magic abilities could see it. To everyone else, it could look like any regular forest, or maybe it simply didn’t exist at all.

  “We should keep moving,” Orenn reasoned, though he was in just as much awe as the rest of us.

  “Yeah,” I agreed slowly, and then I took the lead so I could be the first to see what other marvels laid ahead.

  The others fell in line behind me as we trotted through the trees. There was a bit of a trail lit by bright red and white mushrooms, but if Varleth and Braden were missing, it was more likely they weren’t on the trail anymore. Still, I made a mental note that there was such a trail. Never knew when information like that would come in handy.

  As we continued through the forest, though, there was less and less sky to be seen. The tops of the trees were too tall, and I was reminded of the thicket between Tietra and Wildren. The plants and flowers were still just as vibrant, though, if not more so the darker it became and the deeper into the Narufey we got.