The Last Refuge

by L. A. Blackburn

  “Yes, yes, you have your chuckle at my expense my dear. You’ve earned it.” He said as he squeezed water out of his cloak. Elhan came through with Agabus in tow but neither looked pleased with their swim.

  “We must make a raft and be down-river by nightfall. The water is treacherous enough during the day and I certainly wouldn’t venture it at night,” Elhan said.

  There was no shortage of fallen trees on their side of the river as storms had loosened sections of the earth from above, sending trees of all sizes tumbling to the riverbank below. Elhan made quick work of trimming them down and quickly bound several medium size trees together for a makeshift raft that he pushed into the water. The current was strong, cold and wild as Elhan fought it to keep the raft from running downstream without them.

  “I’ve never been down this section of the great Arnon in a raft before,” Elhan shouted over the sound of rushing water.

  Just then, two enormous trees floating in the river collided, sending shards and torn branches flying in their direction. Several slivers of wood bounced off the rocks near the crew, giving them an ominous sense of respect for the river.

  “Neither have I,” Isha replied as she eyed the water with cautious suspicion. “Without a guide, this is suicide.”

  “I’ve gone before, many times in my youth,” Agabus said.

  The party was stunned for a moment as they looked at the old man who stood smiling slyly as water from the billowing spray dripped from his beard.

  “My I ask eldar, how you came to that adventure,” Dodie stammered.

  “It was long ago and that is why I didn’t volunteer immediately. However, contrary to popular belief, I was not always this old and not always an eldar. We shall probably be killed anyway. And since no river-man in his right mind would attempt this feat with a makeshift raft, I’m all you have. Nevertheless, with Elyon watching us, it may be possible. There are two particular hazards on this part of the Arnon. They are called, ‘The Hammer’ and ‘The Cauldron.’ Both are risky, so I advise you to listen to my instructions carefully,” Agabus said, as Isha eyed him with a new admiration.

  “Eldar, we are at your service,” Elhan said.

  They boarded the raft carrying long tree-limbs fashioned into paddles and a long flat piece of wood for a rudder to use for steering. Agabus sat himself at the back to helm as the others seated themselves around the sides. Each arming themselves with makeshift paddles cut from scavenged tree limbs nearby.

  “There will be no time for idle thoughts as everyone must push with their paddle to avoid obstacles. Master Dodie will take position in the center with the provisions in order to center the load,” Agabus said.

  Dodie didn’t like this reference to his weight but took his place without complaint.

  “When we near a hazard, I will call out commands which you must obey without hesitation. From this moment forward, my voice is the one to focus on. Agreed,” Agabus said.

  They all nodded. Agabus put the rudder into the water and gave the order to shove off. The current wrapped greedy swirls around the small raft like a tiger grabs its prey, pulling it in with a force that shook the riders for a moment. Waves rushed up the sides, soaking the wood, making it dangerously slippery as the crude vessel bobbed up and down in the waves, dipping from one torrent to the next. Agabus struggled with the rudder but managed to keep the raft in the smoother flow. The eldar swayed for a moment as though he might fall. Isha started toward him but was quickly halted by his upraised hand and shaking head.

  “Stay put, I’m fine. Back to your post and watch the rocks,” Agabus called.

  Dodie leaned over the side of the raft to be sick but an unexpected jolt almost bounced him into the river. Elhan grabbed him by his cloak just in time, pulling him back onto the raft. The walls of the gorge slowly grew shorter the further they advanced down the Arnon and on both side of the gorge large pieces of rock broke loose, falling long distances to the water below. Thankfully, the company was far enough from the banks that none of the fragments reached their tiny craft. Even so, the larger pieces caused some motion in the river that made it all the more difficult to steer. Elhan eyed Agabus with worried glances as the old Eldar held fast to the helm. Water splashed his face and beard, causing his cloths to weigh him down, but the old tomewright never flinched. After an hour, the turbulence of the water became more consistent.

  Suddenly, Agabus’ gaze shot toward the rim of the cliff as he leaned hard to the right on the rudder. The sudden movement jolted the raft in midstream giving the riders a jolt. Isha followed his gaze to a section of the cliff the size of several houses. It shook and rumbled like thunder, breaking loose to plunge in the water. The impact was deafening as the mountain of earth hit the river, sending spray and massive waves surging toward the group. She paddled furiously and called a warning to the others, but it was too late.

  “Hold fast,” shouted Agabus as the waves pushed the vessel, sending it spinning toward the far wall out of control.

  Dodie wrapped a lifeline in his grip as the rush of water slammed into their small craft, sending them hurdling toward the opposite side of the gorge. The company pushed their paddles against the wall to avoid impact, but the raft slammed again and again into the rocks with each successive wave. Agabus’ endurance at the helm, and the groups tireless rowing, kept their small vessel in one piece. Suddenly, another boom echoed overhead as a large piece of rock broke away from the opposite side. They struggled with their paddles to quicken the pace, but Agabus knew it was not enough. The water jumped as a massive boulder struck the river making the water level rise dangerously high, delivering yet another giant wave to smash them from behind. The torrent swept them into its greedy clutches turning them end-over-end under the water scrapping them on the bottom of the riverbed. When the water surge ended, the raft broke the surface as its riders slowly crawled back aboard and tried to catch their breath. This part of the Arnon flowed smooth and calm as the party lay still as death for quite some time. A half-hour passed before Isha awakened with a start. She looked around to find Agabus still at the helm although he appeared unconscious. His hands were badly bruised and bleeding and a terrible wound stood out on his right brow. The lower half of Dodie’s body dangled in the water, but oddly enough, the Tractmaster smiled as though in the grip of a wonderful dream. Elhan’s hands were bleeding from rope cuts, but he continued trying what was left of the raft into place in spite of the pain. With some encouragement, Agabus awoke, but refused to be checked for injuries and silently mourned the loss of the supplies. Dodie appeared angry as a wet cat when he awoke. He’d had been dreaming of a grand feast of meats and puddings with drinks, dancing and the like.

  The river appeared calm, giving Agabus a moment to speak to the party.

  “That was “The Hammer,”’ Agabus said. “But the worst is yet to come when we come to, ‘The Cauldron.’ We must tie what remains of the raft together, or we won’t make it.”

  “I can’t imagine something worse than that,” Dodie said.

  “You won’t have to,” said Agabus. “Here it is.”

  Dodie looked down the river toward a large area where the Arnon branched into several smaller streams and tributaries. The sudden separation of the Arnon added to the pulling of the water in so many directions, making a large dark whirling eddy in the center of the separation. Mist from the pool rose into the air like steam as the water churned and bubbled. Dodie quickly understood how this hazard earned its name.

  “Everyone, row for your lives since no craft that has ever entered ‘The Cauldron.’ has ever been seen again,” said Agabus. “Our only chance is to catch the current and swing to the far side but we must get there before the flow has us in its power.”

  The companions pulled heavily on their paddles, but could already feel the greedy pulling of an undercurrent as the churning of the water grew louder.

  “Harder,” yelled Agabus. “You must row harder.”

  Exhausted from the first ordeal, the companion
s rowed as hard as they may, but the small craft began to drift into the deadly current against their efforts. Elhan suddenly took all rope he could glean from the raft, connecting them to construct one long strand. Then Warden attempted to anchor the raft by throwing a noose at a fallen tree. On one attempt, he snagged a low-lying bough, only to have the limb break off and fall into the water. Isha, Dodie and Agabus could no longer fight the current with what strength they had left. The raft slipped into stronger currents as spray began swirling around in the air making it difficult to see. Using a piece of bark for a hook, Elhan threw for the bank again with one mighty heave catching some driftwood branches that lay on the bank. He then pulled on the rope hand-over-hand but the rope knots began to slip.

  “The rope is too wet,” Elhan yelled to Agabus. “It will not hold.”

  “It will hold,” Agabus said as he left his post at the rudder. “It will because it must.”

  Agabus placed a hand on the rope and bowed his head. Elhan could see the old man’s lips moving, the rope began to grow strangely warm, steam rose from each coil and the knots stopped slipping as Elhan steadily pulled the raft toward the bank. Without warning, there was a sudden snap but not from the rope. The sound came from the raft itself as the logs separated and drifted in all directions, dunking everyone into the mighty Arnon River. Elhan quickly wrapped the rope around one arm and caught Dodie with the other. Quick as he could, the Tractwright reached out for Agabus and Isha but only gained with her hand from the attempt. She saw Agabus go down into the water but did not see him come up again. A moment later, she saw his robed arm draped over a floating limb, but he was barely keeping his bearded face above water. He was only a few feet away. So, holding tightly to Dodie’s hand, she called to Agabus.

  “Eldar, reach for my hand,” she called as she stretched out for him to grasp.

  “I can’t – my arm is broken,” he returned. “Leave me. Your reward is waiting for you. I left instructions.”

  “Damn the reward,” she yelled. “Reach to me.”

  His stalwart bravery and commitment stirred a heartfelt respect within her. He no longer appeared old and feeble in her eyes, but forced her to consider that many people are more than they appear to be.

  Immediately, the circular current snatched him away, whipping him out of reach for a rotation around the whirlpool.

  “Isha, I can’t hold the rope much longer. I need your help to pull us in,” Elhan said.

  “I’m going for Agabus,” she said, but as she attempted her rescue, Dodie refused to let go of her.

  “No child, don’t,” Dodie said.

  “Let me go or I’ll tear your arm off,” she warned.

  Dodie only shook his head and his eyes told the story she already knew. Agabus had drifted too far beyond their reach now. The eldar took something from his robe, and then, with a smile, tumbled in the waters and vanished. Isha cursed at the sight and pulled her empty hand back to her.

  “I’m slipping,” Elhan yelled.

  She quickly worked her way to the rope and began pulling. The loss of the eldar awoke a new strength within her. Without warning, the knots near her grip gave way and the rope set them adrift. Isha grabbed Dodie and began swimming for the bank, but the swirling current threw them toward the left section in the Arnon. Elhan used the rest of the rope to quickly pull himself ashore and, taking up the slack, threw it to them with all his strength but without success. Isha heard him call out something but the rush of the water was to loud and the task of keeping Dodie from drowning took most of her strength. The warden watched helplessly as the Arnon tributary took them away, then, he was alone.

  Sixteen

  “Marking The Back…”

  “Wake…wake up…” Conner taunted with a series of progressively harder slaps to Nathan’s face. The young seer peered through swollen eyelids to find he’d been moved to a prison. He’d heard enough stories to know that this may be the last place he ever sees.

  “Give him an another lash,” he said. “Maybe that will rouse him.”

  Two guards hurled whips of steel and hide across Nathan’s motionless back with no results other than trickles of blood dripping to the floor.

  “This one is almost done, my lord. I’ve seen it before,” one of the soldiers said.

  “Did he say anything interesting?” asked Conner.

  “No, my lord. However, he kept muttering something about a visitor,” said the soldier.

  At this, Conner’s interest peaked as a hint of worry crossed his arrogant brow.

  “What exactly did he say?”

  “It was nonsensical. Something about a visit from the Queen,” replied the soldier. “He does appear to be part Mag Mellian.”

  “Don’t you think I can see that? Did I ask you opinion, idiot?” said Conner backhanding the guard across the face. “The Eldritch stay to themselves and I pay them quite enough coin to keep it that way. Now, if you want to keep your head on your filthy shoulders, inform my visitors that I am ready for our meeting.”

  “And take this trash back to its cell,” Conner said.

  He liked to punish his prisoners himself. It gave a personal touch to his work – and he did so much enjoy his work. He also liked the fact that it struck terror in the members of his Fianna, and he knew they would serve him without hesitation because they understood the penalty for disloyalty. This session with Nathan brought him no particular results but the exercise gave him a small amount of cruel satisfaction. Nathan was stronger than he had first thought. Conner was used to his prisoners cracking quickly but with Nathan’s refusal to speak, he had an opportunity to try new things. Perhaps he was telling the truth about the journal, perhaps not. It mattered little to him since the youth must be executed anyway. The former abbot was hideously calculating, and that one fact kept him alive for many years. For that reason, he didn’t like uncalculated factors in his plans and Nathan stood out as just such a factor. He dismissed the report that Nathan brought someone back from death, but found it odd since the source had been very reliable in the past. Conner scratched his bearded chin for a moment as they dragged Nathan’s unconscious form down the hallway.

  “I’ll see you soon,” Conner chuckled. “Clean him up. I want him fresh for our next session.”

  “Yes, my Regfennid,” the soldier clumsily bowed as he exited.

  Every one of Nathan’s senses screeched with agony and when he was awake, he longed to be unconscious again. The cold fingers of nothingness were all that dampened the pain of his body, but the sting in his heart felt worse. The next time he went in for Conner’s torture, he would tell him anything he wanted to know. Voices rang in his head calling him a traitor, raining judgment on him and with each accusation. He felt himself slipping into the thick blackness of despair. He was dying, but was too stubborn to die just yet. Nathan told them nothing, but truthfully, he knew very little. Several times, he thought he saw a light above his head, a voice speaking to him, but he couldn’t make it out. Then, as suddenly as it came, the light began to fade and cold darkness grabbed at his senses once again. How long had he been there after the forest – a day, a week? Time had no meaning. Just before he dropped into the blackness, he thought he heard a familiar voice.

  Conner entered his lavish private study with a flair all his own. He fancied himself a handsome, fetching man to the ladies, but most of the women in his sphere of influence knew of his cruel vindictive nature and honored him out of caution more than respect. Still, there were others.

  “Ecthra, get some wine and food ready, my guests have arrived,” Conner ordered.

  Behind him walked the beautiful black-haired girl from Nathan’s chamber arrayed in rich robes. Behind her strolled the White Venger who captured Nathan in the forest. He eyed her with an unsettling stare that made her blood run cold so she was glad for the opportunity to briefly leave the room.

  “Where is my payment,” the corrupt White Venger demanded as Conner took a seat behind a large oak table.

  “A
s usual, you are getting ahead of yourself, Ahaziz,” said Conner. “You were paid to bring the book and the person carrying it. You have performed only part of the service.”

  “He didn’t have it,” he said. “You said he’d have the book with him.”

  “I’m paying you for the boy and the book. So, why should I pay you in full for such incompetent work,” Conner quipped.

  “White Vengers always finish their missions – you know that,” he said angrily.

  “But you’re not a Venger anymore since you were cast from the order. Correct?” scoffed Conner.

  “I should kill you where you sit,” Ahaziz said with a few added curses.

  Conner quickly puts out his hand. “Now, now… just stating a fact. Perhaps there can be a compromise. Since you have done half the commission, I will present half the wage,” Conner said.

  “That’s a start,” Ahaziz said.

  “I see,” Conner retorted, “And you best remember the next time you think about threatening me, the White Branch wishes you dead and so a well placed piece of information could make your life very short. Also, as long as that demon is inside of you, you can’t touch me.”

  Ahaziz simply smirked.

  “Perhaps a demonstration is in order,” Conner said gravely.

  Casually, he fixed his eyes upon Ahaziz and began muttering something over-and-over under his breath. Ahaziz’s eyes began to bulge as he fell to his knees. The ex-Venger’s arms twisted in convulsions as his body began shaking uncontrollably.

  “Enough,” begged Ahaziz. “You’ve made your point.”

  Conner smiled and stopped his incantation, releasing the Venger from his grip.

  “I don’t know exactly what would happen if I tore the demon from you, but one thing you should consider in the future. I put the demon in you and I can take it out,” warned Conner. “Now, follow my plan and I’ll destroy the White Venger Branch as you wish.”