“Lore Rayna, no!” the Lore Mother exclaimed.
Sureen pounded her staff on the ground. “Crystalyn has spoken. Are you going to abide by her declaration and speak freely?”
Durandas and the Lore Mother exchanged a look, and then both bent at the waist, slightly. “Ask what you will, but know that time slips from us faster than even the Surbon Codex hinted at,” Durandas said.
Crystalyn was glad for an “ask what you will” response, though his cryptic words had her curious, something he no doubt intended. “What do you mean?”
“This being Kara Laurel chased, we have known of it. Or rather, we knew of the possibility of something rising stronger than anything Astura had yet contended with, the codices simply referred to it as the corruption in the south. Only after you and your family’s arrival last spring have dark hints of it became greater than abstract references inside a scroll.”
Crystalyn’s annoyance flared back. “What are you getting at?”
“The Green Writhe believes your sister woke it when she passed close to it while fleeing the Dark Citadel.”
“Why? What would this thing want with her?”
“If only we knew, dear,” the Lore Mother interjected. “Our best scholars have pored over the slim passages in all three codices though only conjecture has come from it. Recently, the monks of Brown Recluse claim to have deciphered some of the idioms written into a copy of the Virun Codex about the threat.”
Crystalyn had heard plenty for now. “Then it has become even more imperative we find Jade. I’m not going to wait to discover what that thing wants. Once she’s safe, I’ll deal with it.” Crystalyn looked up at the big woman next to her. “Prepare the refugees to travel on their own. Gather only your best warriors, we leave tonight.”
“Yes, mistress,” Lore Rayna said.
“Wait!” Durandas protested. “My man has assured me his band was only three bells behind the regiment two bells ago.”
“What man?” Crystalyn asked more harshly than she intended. “Didn’t you just say we had no time?”
“Camoe Shadoe and his best druids are nearing them. Jade will be rescued as soon as the regiment halts for the night.”
Crystalyn was relieved. Camoe had protected Jade like a daughter not long ago. But her irritation with Durandas was still there. “Why didn’t you mention Camoe in the first place?”
Durandas’ looked away. “I was not aware you had met him.”
“I haven’t. Nevertheless, my sister has and thinks highly of him. Where will he bring her?”
“To Brown Recluse, it is the closest safe place from the Vale.”
“Then we go meet them halfway to Brown Recluse if we must. My order still stands, Lore Rayna. We leave tonight, only now we’ll bring the refugees with us,” Crystalyn commanded. She quashed the urge to yell at everyone to get going. Moving such a large group at night would be tricky, but she was determined to see her sister safe and by her side where she belonged. Hang in there, Jade. Your big sister is coming.
Crystalyn would rescue her sister by gathering the help to accomplish it. Even if she had to heal every refugee still fit to fight.
PALE BLUE
Serpent Gorge flowed true to the name, and Jade grew lethargic from following it back and forth before the first hour had passed. The soldier they’d overheard speculating about where General Karnas would lead them next couldn’t have guessed more wrong and more right. As soon as he’d returned from his three-hour solo outing, the general had led them to the gorge. Something the belligerent soldier had not thought Karnas would do.
Now Jade could see how one could lose one’s mind to the gorge’s winding ways. Though the general had cut past the longest curves in favor of a straight run, they’d lost hours—most of the day—going this way. The whole ride made no sense.
Jade wouldn’t complain though. The longer it kept them from arriving at the Dark Citadel, the better it was for her. The place gave her the shivers whenever a stray memory happened to crop up. Memories of when she had been alone in an enemy fortress the size of a plateau. The flickers and the dominion wraith there had come close to consuming her soul before Crystalyn had found her.
Today was different. She wasn’t alone. Her dad was with her. Casting a furtive glance his direction as he rode beside her, Jade marveled anew at the strength he possessed, how easily he handled the big warhorse, and the great sword strapped to his back. Gone was the wheezing and pale skin of congestive heart failure. Her dad was in better shape than she’d ever known, and he’d promised her an escape soon.
Staying alert with the infernal twisting route of Serpent Gorge as a guide was taxing, but she’d manage somehow. Her dad, her freedom, and perhaps her life depended upon it.
Slowing from a gallop to a trot, General Karnas rode down a short embankment and onto a narrow grassy area between a steep ravine and a rocky tributary. Halting, he signaled for a dismount.
“Serpent Falls is the last clean water before Bracken Lake,” Captain Bozlun bellowed. “Water and graze your mounts for one bell, fill your flasks. We ride through the night.”
Her dad led her horse past the captain, stopping a few horse lengths from the two men before dismounting. He held her horse as she put her feet on the ground. Jade was happy to do so, glad to feel the cushion of the green grass growing underfoot, likely the last for a while.
Those of the regiment riding behind them thumped past, coming to a halt in a line stringing toward the Even Flow River and Serpent Falls. The river’s current flowed noticeably faster as it vanished over the fall, the roar of it reaching her ears even from where she stood. Jade wondered how long a drop the river plunged, but she didn’t wish to walk past so many soldiers working with their horses to find out.
Lifting her warhorse’s front leg, her dad inspected its hoof as he spoke quietly, the reins of his horse secured to a wrist. “There is a ferry crossing coming up soon, we make our move as we start loading upon it. Do exactly as I tell you, don’t hesitate a moment.”
Jade seized her horse by the halter as she patted it affectionately on its soft jaw. Slipping her hand under the bridle, she stayed close enough to hear his words.
Dropping the leg, her dad moved to the other side and repeated the procedure. “Stay alert; I’ll have to take the four who carry crossbows out first.”
Too terrified to speak, Jade nodded though he couldn’t see her. Violence was bad enough; however, premeditated vehemence made her stomach flutter from the first thought.
Checking all four hooves, her father untied the reins of his horse from his wrist one-handed, handed them to her, and then bent to inspect a front hoof.
General Karnas strode toward them, stopping to watch her dad as he rubbed his thumbs along the hoof feeling for signs of an embedded object or cracking of the hoof. Leaving without saying a word, the general tromped to Captain Bozlun.
Her father set the horse’s leg on the ground and straightened to his full height. “What was that about?”
Jade stroked the big horse’s glossy black close-cropped mane. “I don’t think he feels well, he seemed a little gray.”
“Perhaps he is. That may work to our advantage at some point. Right now, we should let our mounts graze. We’re going to need them.”
Going toward his men, Captain Bozlun strode past. Chewing on a green stalk of something, he eyed them with distrust but kept his silence, which suited her; the less any of these men knew of her, the better.
Jade led her horse to a clump of grass. The horse lowered its long neck and clamped on bunches of the yellow-green stalks with its strong teeth and versatile lips, tearing it close to the ground and then chomping happily away. Jade gave it another pat on the jowl and then looked around.
Some of the soldiers had their horses’ legs raised, though not all were going as well as her father’s inspection had. Three men dropped a hoof quickly or risked agitating the horse further. One man sat on the ground holding his stom
ach as he gasped for breath. He was lucky. A backward kick from a powerful haunch could kill a man instantly.
Captain Bozlun strode along the line of soldiers, bellowing at the soldier on the ground. Behind him, light blue and translucent, something winged arose from the edge of Serpent Falls.
“Da… um, excuse me. What is that?” Jade asked, pointing. Two others joined the winged creature, the size of a large bird. Spider-like legs hung from the bottom of an oval body.
Glancing where she pointed, her dad let go of his horse’s hoof and straightened. “Bozlun! Behind you!” he shouted.
Lovely and alien, the lead creature zipped to a soldier woman, its wings a blur. The woman had drawn her sword, slashing as soon as it came within range, but it passed through, having no effect. The creature’s forelegs gripped the woman’s shoulders as the rear of its body curved toward her and then impaled her deep into her thigh as if she wore no armor. The translucent stinger filled with red liquid. The woman screamed and then stilled.
“Leechers! Recall your training!” Bozlun shouted.
Jade screamed. Swarms of the creatures arose from below the falls.
Her dad was at her side. “Mount up, Jade, hurry!” Grabbing her by the waist, he flung her onto the saddle. Jade tightened her grip on the reins as he pulled the horse around. “Go the direction your horse is pointed, top speed. I’ll catch you,” he shouted, slapping her horse on the rump. Her horse leapt into a gallop, racing headlong toward a deep ravine. Several glances behind made Jade wish she hadn’t looked. The woman hung limp in midair, the many legs of the creature gripping her by the shoulders as it lifted her weight with ease.
Thundering past General Karnas, the great warhorse charged into the ravine. Forgetting to grip with her legs, Jade rose from the saddle. The stirrups caught on her toes and slammed her back into her seat. Pain vibrated through her pelvis, but she pressed her knees tight and held on, concentrating on the narrow path ahead. Somehow, the big horse had found an animal trail. Gripping the pommel, Jade leaned back and gave the black gelding free rein, trusting in its footing though she struggled to stay seated, the jostling growing in duration and frequency.
Following a cliff edge of dirt and flat rocks, the trail angled steeply downward away from the lake below the fall. Notably smaller on the opposite side, the bottom of the ravine came into view. Where the gulch emptied into Serpent Falls, as it became a fall of its own, motion caught her eye. A pair of the translucent creatures flew into the mouth of the gorge.
Though it put her downhill, Jade lay forward, hunching low in the saddle and hanging on with everything she had. A stumble and a fall now would kill her, yet better that than letting the bloodsucking creatures impale her.
Arriving at the bottom, the warhorse slowed, leapt across a rushing stream, and clopped up the other side, lunging forward. Leaping uphill, it strained its powerful equine muscles. Jade could barely hold on, her arms and back jarring violently with each powerful thrust. Though only a dozen leaps topped them out, Jade’s grip grew watery, her hands numb, as they leapt upon a plain of yellowed brush and dusty ground, racing toward Bracken Lake.
A quick look told her all she needed. Their wings a blur, all three creatures angled toward them, flying at an incredible rate in a tight formation. A clinical description of Crystalyn speaking of her frightening encounter with the creatures flashed through her memory. Jade tried to turn the horse away and add distance between the spiderbees, but her fingers refused to let go of the pommel while her arms refused to raise the reins. Fright mingled with despair, it was going to be close. Jade rode on.
“Jade, can you hear me?”
Jade flinched. Her sister’s urgent voice rang in her mind, echoing down from somewhere above. She looked up. Only blue sky met her stare. “Crystalyn? Where are you?” she asked aloud.
“Coming to get you, tell me where to come.”
Glancing over her shoulder, Jade lowered her head, matching her dark horse. She willed it to go faster. The spiderbees had gained upon them. “I don’t know where we are; spiderbees are after us. We’re galloping toward a dark lake.”
“Bracken Lake?” a new voice said, permeating her mind with warmth. Surprised, she nearly lost her grip on the pommel. The voice had sounded like her mom’s had. But it couldn’t be; her mom was gone, missing a long time ago.
“Who’s us?” Crystalyn asked.
“Dad! Dad is with me, and he’s changed, Crystalyn, he’s strong! We’ve escaped from the soldiers, and once he kills the spiderbees, we’ll meet you in Brown Recluse. You don’t need to come get me.”
The voice that sounded like her mom spoke. “The contacting is closing!”
Crystalyn’s voice in her mind rose with frustration. “No! Jade, make certain Dad uses wood against the spiderbees, it’s the—”
“Are you there?” The silence of her own thoughts reverberated through her mind. Briefly, Jade wondered why the contacting had closed and then decided she couldn’t worry about it. She had her hands full with staying on the big warhorse.
Ahead, the first vestiges of Bracken Lake sprang into view. Incredibly, the warhorse picked up speed, all four legs tapping the ground at precise intervals for maximum speed. Forcing her terrified muscles into action, Jade bent her knees and raised her rear slightly out of the saddle, letting the stirrups handle the shock she flowed into the ride. Though death flew toward her and raced beside her, she felt exhilarated. The horse gave all it had, and so would she.
Bracken Lake loomed larger on the horizon; a wooden pier came into view. With its great lungs bellowing heavily, the warhorse responded to her gentle pull on the right rein and adjusted their headlong flight toward it minutely. Jade dared not look to the side. Not yet.
Sounding like a zip cycle back on Terra, the drone of wings overrode the labored breathing and hooves thumping the ground of the warhorse. Jade looked. The original three had nearly caught them. Worse, behind them, the sky had spotted with azure; dozens more were on the way.
The warhorse’s front hooves clopped upon the dock, slowing at the halfway point. Tied to the end of the dock, a flat-bottomed ferry floated languidly on gentle waves. For the first time, Jade wondered what she would do when she reached it.
Two ferrymen leapt from the boat and ran toward her. Pulling on the reins, she slid the black gelding to a halt before crashing into them and running out of pier.
As he ran past, the tallest man yelled in her direction, “Here, take this!” and tossed a coil of rope to her.
Jade caught the rope, swung her leg over the mount’s broad back, and dropped to the pier. Turning around, she dropped the reins, her fingers slack.
The three creatures flew onto the pier, slowing to bend oblong bodies and position stingers forward. Behind them, seen eerily opaque through the wings and body, her father raced. Clouding the sky at an angle to overtake him, the swarm drew closer, the drone of it growing in volume.
On silent wings now, the three bee-like creatures separated. Two singled out a ferryman, and one flew for her.
The tallest ferryman waited, standing with his side to the creature, with the rope held coiled at his chest.
Jade was transfixed, viewing the scene through the body of the creature flying for her. Spider-like, its four front legs rising in anticipation, the bee creature glided at the man. When the creature was a horse’s length away from him, the man whipped his arm forward, releasing the coil. The tip struck the creature, popping it with a wet-sounding splotch. A small puddle fell to the pier and dissolved into a puff of white steam. The man spun toward her. “Use the rope!”
Forelegs raised and stinger readied, a spiderbee glided in for a landing on her shoulders. Jade swung the coil of rope, swatting it away. Popping wetly, the creature splashed her face and hands with a blue gel that slid to the dock and dissipated on the wood. Both men flashed a brief smile and then turned to face the opposite end of the pier.
A great ball of pale blue made the sky b
ehind her dad murky. Though the flyers had failed to intercept him, the swarm had gained.
Galloping onto the pier, her father urged the great warhorse on, pulling on the reins the moment before reaching her and throwing himself from the saddle before the horse fully stopped. He ran to her. “Are you hurt?” he asked.
Jade hugged him. “I’m okay.”
Returning the hug briefly, he shouldered her arms loose. Turning, he pushed her behind him, reaching to draw his sword.
Jade gripped his hand, stopping him at half draw. “I don’t think that works against them, take this,” she said, flinging the rope over his shoulder.
“There are too many!” the shorter ferryman shouted. Sprinting up to her, he grabbed her hand and pulled as his companion ran past. “We have to run for the ferry, our nets are there!”
Jade removed her hand, glancing at her father.
Slipping the rope from the ferryman’s hand, her father walked away from her, away from the ferry. “Go, I’ll hold them off. Run!” he shouted.
Jade ran, looking back.
The pale blue ball descended toward him, separating into dozens of creatures, each stinger held at the ready as they dropped from the sky. There are too many! Her steps faltered, but she was at the ferry.
Jade jumped onto the boat beside the shorter ferryman. “Help Jarl untangle the net, hurry!” he yelled.
Tugging on a pile of rope at the bow, the taller ferryman, Jarl, worked at spreading it apart.
With her and the shorter ferryman’s help, the net unrolled quickly across the deck. As the short man clipped the net to rings on the decking set in a circular pattern, Jarl squirmed under it and raised a short pole, slipping it into a tightly bored hole. “Under here, miss!” Jarl shouted.
Crawling under and sitting beside him, Jarl handed her a pole slightly shorter than the one holding the net. Jade took it and fearfully checked on her father.
Both ropes a blur, her father spun them in a tight overlapping ball, whipping them around him like blades on a hover engine, as he moved toward the ferry in leaps, his feet barely touching the deck. Falling from the sky like giant drops of blue rain with greater frequency, the pale creatures burst into white mist, surrounding him with a white haze.
Beyond the Dark Gate Page 21