“For what?”
“For bringing you into all this. For slapping you. For everything.”
“Krystelle, none of what’s happened is your fault any more than it is mine. If anything, we can blame Sterling Lex. I’ve been thinking about it and I am sure he sent that storm to stop us. As for the slap…” he rubbed his jawline. “I’d sure appreciate it if you didn’t do that again.”
She laughed, wiping one last tear from her eye. “I am sorry for that.”
“Water under the bridge. Now let’s find out if we can get this thing open.” He crouched down next to the trunk and worked on the straps.
“I do not think that will work Sebastian. It is a wizard’s trunk and I’m sure Gerhard put safeguards on it.”
The spark from the case knocked him back into the sand. One look at the surprise on his face and Krystelle’s laughter started again. “I told you so,” she said.
Grimacing, he rubbed his arm where the jolt had hit him. “It’s not funny. That hurt!” His protestation set her to laughing even harder. He stood, nudging the trunk with his foot, then kicked it harder. He was rewarded with another spark, bigger this time, hitting his leg and sending him sprawling back down in the sand. Laughing hard, tears formed in Krystelle’s eyes again. Wiping her eyes, she brought her laughter back under control.
Still chuckling, she forced out her appreciation, “Thank you for that, Sebastian. I needed a good laugh.” Realizing how ridiculous he must look, he chuckled with her. That sent her right back. The two spent a long moment there in the sand, laughing together.
After a time, Krystelle calmed. “We’ve a long day ahead of us and a lot to do.” She was back to her serious self again. She was a tough one, Sebastian had to give her that. Nothing ever seemed to phase her for long.
“Right,” he said. “We need to find a source of fresh water, shelter, and food.”
“Then we can figure out where we are, and how to get to Cale Uriasz from here,” Krystelle added. “The Wizards must be informed about Sterling Lex. His power must be growing for him to have been able to reach us this far out to sea.”
Leaving the trunk there in the shelter of the rock formation, Krystelle and Sebastian followed a trickle of water inland, searching for the source, or at least something they could drink from. Sebastian used his driftwood staff to push back the underbrush and forge a path for them as they traced the meandering rivulet. A fair way from the beach, they emerged into a clearing. Water cascaded down a rock cliff face into a pool on the far side of the clearing.
Sebastian took in the positioning of the waterfall. “See that on the far side? There’s a natural cave there that should stay dry. This would make a good place for a camp while we decide what to do.”
Krystelle was not sure she agreed. “Are we not too far from the beach here? What if a ship passes by?”
“There’s water here, and shelter. We don’t yet know where we are, or what manner of beasts lurk in this forest. We will be safer here. At least we will once the sun goes down.”
“That takes care of water and shelter. What about food?”
“We can gather plants, fruits, and nuts and I’ll set out snares. With luck, we won’t be here for long. I’ll get started on collecting food. You go back down to the beach and gather up scraps of wood and rope and whatever else we can use.”
“Use for what?”
“Some I’ll use to set the snares. With the rest, we’ll build ourselves a raft to get to Cale Uriasz.”
That first night, Krystelle and Sebastian huddled next to a small fire built outside the entrance of their cave. Making a meager dinner of nuts and berries Sebastian had gathered, their stomachs grumbled in complaint.
“I hope my snares catch something more substantial tomorrow,” said Sebastian.
Krystelle shrugged, “This will do for now. Was there any sign of rabbit or other game?”
“No rabbit. The only thing I noticed was a pack of large rats. Not very appetizing, I’m afraid.”
Krystelle did not respond and he could sense she was not much interested in talking. She had grown more and more subdued as the evening progressed and he was not sure why.
Under different circumstances, Sebastian would have been grateful to have time alone with Krystelle. The tropic air and sun agreed with her, giving her complexion a healthy glow. Flickering light from the fire danced across her face. She unbraided her hair, combing it out as best she could and now she had pulled the natural curls forward over one shoulder. Wanting to say something to her to break the silence, he struggled to find the right words. Her reaction to Cyrillus’ death had surprised him and, even now, she seemed weighed down.
It occurred to him she had just discovered her father’s death not long before and the captain’s demise in the storm would have reminded her of that fact. That was a feeling he could relate to, but it did not make it any easier to find the words to say to her, so he sat a while longer next to her, letting his presence speak for itself.
After a time, she rested her head on his shoulder, sighing. Warmth rushed through Sebastian at her touch. He wanted to put his arm around her, but recognized that it was not the time. Instead, he allowed the silence to continue to marinate as the fire burned down. When she pulled away, he felt a pang of regret, wondering if he had missed an opportunity.
#
Cenric stood with Sterling Lex atop the tower in the northeast corner of Cinaeth. Grey clouds hung heavy in the sky above them, and a cold wind blew in from the sea. The sorcerer observed his pupil as Cenric practiced the most recent incantation Lex had revealed to him. The boy’s pronunciation was nearly flawless, if rushed. This particular spell had to be practiced far above the ground. Were they near the ground and something went awry the boy might be drawn down into the earth itself. In their time together Cenric had shown an uncanny knack for controlling the fundamental elements to a degree Sterling Lex had not seen since before the Ban took effect. Cenric was proving to be a better tool than Sterling Lex had expected.
“How did I do?” the boy had reached the end of the spell and turned toward Sterling Lex. An iron chain draped around Cenric’s neck suspending the red Dragonstone on his chest. For a moment, Sterling Lex felt an urge to rip the stone away and claim its power for himself. But no, that could prove disastrous.
Forcing down the urge, he focused his attention on the threads connecting him to Cenric’s mind. “Continue your practice. With time and use, each spell will become second nature. They must become so for you to have full command of them. Have you been communing and meditating with the stone?” said Sterling Lex.
Cenric nodded, “Every day for at least an hour. Just as you told me.”
“And?”
“This morning while I was in the middle of the meditation I felt something strange. I don’t know what it was exactly, but I know I felt something.” The boy had a tendency to prattle on.
“Close your eyes and think back. Put yourself back into the state of meditation. What was it you felt?”
Cenric did as instructed, “A…presence. From inside the stone.”
“Good. Keep your eyes shut. What you felt was the spirit of the stone.” That was true, in a sense. It just was not the whole story. “What of the name? Did you hear the name?”
Scrunching his face in concentration, Cenric cocked his head to one side as if listening. He stayed frozen that way for several minutes before his eyes popped open. “Cadeyrn Seaghda!” he said at last.
Sterling Lex felt the release of power through their link when the boy said that name. A name the dark wizard had not heard in full since the Dragon Wars and dared not utter himself. In that moment, an explosion of light from far above Cinaeth cascaded into an explosion of shooting stars. Sterling Lex jerked his head up in surprise. Few could manage a Summoning, yet this untaught boy managed it simply by tapping the power of the Stone. Making note of the path of the shooting stars, he saw that every one headed out toward Uriasz and the barbarian shores beyond.
<
br /> Cenric stared at the stars, his eyes wide. “What was that? It felt so good inside when I said the whole name and it felt like an explosion coming out of me. Then I looked up and saw all those stars! Did I do that?”
Watching the last of the shooting stars disappear over the horizon, Sterling Lex ignored Cenric’s questioning. “That is enough for now, Cenric.”
Leading the boy down the dark staircase to the base of the tower, Sterling Lex pulsed energy through the link connecting him to the boy to prepare him for the next phase of his training. Their footfalls echoed up and down the stone stairwell; Lex’s deep and heavy as he trudged down, the boy was light and more sporadic. Halfway down they encountered the wizard Radomil coming up to them. Cenric flinched at the sight of the dark wizard, his memories of their first encounter still raw.
“Did you…” began Radomil.
Sterling Lex held up a hand to stop the dark wizard. “Follow us,” he said, continuing down the stairwell, now with both Radomil and Cenric in tow. Reaching his study, the sorcerer waved his hand at two hard-backed chairs for his companions. Remaining standing, Sterling Lex made his way to the shelving on the far side of the room. Gesturing at the books there, he spoke. “Over time, I have amassed a great collection of magical tomes and volumes. Each one devoted to understanding and knowledge. I have read them all. There is one work that has eluded me. The Chronicles. I would have it and the time is ripe to claim the one book denied me all these years. With the death of the Arch-mage, Uriasz is weak, and those at the Cale are not yet aware.” He paused, turning back to stare at Cenric and Radomil. “I believe the time is near when we can strike at the heart of Uriasz. Cenric, return to your room and continue your meditations on the stone, I have something to discuss with Radomil here.”
Waiting until the boy had left, closing the door behind him, Sterling Lex turned to Radomil, “You saw the sign and you know what it means?” Radomil nodded for Sterling Lex to continue. “It was the boy that made the Summoning.”
Radomil half turned toward the door where the boy had disappeared. “You mean he has gained control of the stone?”
“He has, but he does not know it yet.”
“And he can summon the dragon?”
“We will know tomorrow if he can. If that proves to be the case, then you will travel with him to and use his power to attack Cale Uriasz and recover the Chronicles.”
“You are not coming to the Cale with us?”
“No, I must return to Naevean. My influence with the king is growing. With his support and possession of the Chronicles, nothing can stop us.” He chose not to tell the dark wizard the other reason he would not be going. Sterling Lex had no intention of going against the wizards at Cale Uriasz himself unless he could be certain of victory. Sending the boy was a gamble and should the boy’s abilities with the Dragonstone prove insufficient to overcome Uriasz, Sterling Lex had other plans in place to achieve his end goals.
“And if the boy’s friends are there?”
“You must focus on the Chronicles. Nothing can deter you from your purpose in retrieving them. If it comes down to a confrontation with Sebastian Pwyll do what you must to escape, even if that means you must sacrifice the boy.”
#
For three days, Krystelle and Sebastian labored to build a raft strong enough to carry them from their little island to Cale Uriasz. Waking with the dawn in their secluded cave just off the beach, the two fell into a routine that began each morning with Sebastian checking and resetting his traps. He would then venture down to the waterline where their little craft was taking shape. Krystelle spent the first part of each day collecting fresh fruits and nuts for their breakfast and then continued to comb further and further up the beach for bits and scraps they could use in their construction.
Things came to a head for Krystelle late in the afternoon their third day on the beach. Tightening a line to hold the next piece of their makeshift craft together, she crashed backward when the rope broke. Sitting in the sand for a moment she looked at the little raft. Lunging toward it, she grabbed the pieces she had been working on and hurled them into the surf.
“Krystelle!” Sebastian cried, rushing to collect what she had tossed away.
“Damn this island!”
“What is wrong with you?” he said, pulling the piece of wreckage to safety from tides.
“Can you not feel it?” Krystelle sat back down in the sand.
“Feel what?”
“Everything we do turns against us. We must get to Uriasz and yet we are stuck here on this forsaken little island!” She kicked at the sand beneath her, “We are running out of time!”
“It could be a lot worse.”
She gave him a scathing look, “Worse than being stranded on an island when we have important business to attend to?”
He refused to wither under that gaze. “Yes, worse than that. We could be dead. We could be without food or water, or supplies to build ourselves a way of escape. As it is, we have ample resources to keep us alive for some time. At least until we can finish this raft.”
“Yes, but even if we can get off this island there is nothing to say we will be able to find Cale Uriasz.”
“I’ve been thinking about that and I have an idea. That last day on the ship I overheard the Captain talking to his mate that we were only about another day from the Cale. Even with the storm, we must be close and the winds are still blowing in the right direction. If we can find enough sailcloth, we will be able to let the winds carry us right into port.”
“That is risky, Sebastian. If we miss the Cale, there is not another place to make landfall until we reach Grueniarch. Even if our supplies lasted that long that is not a shore I care to visit.”
Even growing up in his little town, Sebastian had heard the tales of Grueniarch. It was supposed to be a wild place, without the rule of a king or the protection of the wizards. Warrior tribes roamed that rocky country and even in Taleros he heard tales of stray seafarers washed up on its shores never to be heard from again. Nevertheless, he was convinced he could guide them to Cale Uriasz. He knew he could do it and it was the kind of knowing that had never failed him before. It was also not something he was comfortable explaining.
He tried another tack. “This is not like you, Krystelle,” he said. “I have never heard you talk like this. You are the one always telling me that a way will be made for us. That I need to have faith. That I need to stand up for what I know to be true and press on. Are we in trouble here? Yes, of course we are. I’d not try to deny that. But we will reach Uriasz. We have to. And I need you and your strength to find it. I am doing all I know to do, which is build us a way off this island. If you know a better way, then speak your mind. But don’t you DARE give up on me now!”
She blinked as the onslaught washed over her. “You are right,” she said once Sebastian had wound down. “I was beginning to despair.” She reached her hand out. “Will you forgive me?” He pulled her to her feet in answer and the two turned back to their work. However, Krystelle couldn’t shake the feeling they were running out of time.
Returning to their camp that evening, Sebastian recovered a trio of the large rodents that populated their forest in abundance from his snares. He skinned them with the expertise of one who had grown up around such tasks while Krystelle looked on in disgust. “Rats again?”
“Oh put your nose down m’lady. It’s a fair sight better than the alternative.”
“If you say so!”
Within a few moments, he had the meat roasting over his crackling fire, the juices trickling down and making the flames jump up to kiss the meat. They made quick work of their meal, supplemented by a pair of the green fruits endemic to their part of the jungle. Once finished eating, Sebastian turned back to worrying over Gerhard’s trunk.
“Still no luck getting that open?” Krystelle asked from her repose on the far side of the fire.
“Hmmm?” all his attention focused on the case.
“Gerhard’s trunk
. Any progress?” she repeated.
“Oh. No. Nothing yet. I’m not ready to give up though. There may well be something inside that will help us.” He had spent every evening after their meal trying to open the trunk. So far, he had not been able to so much as make the latch quiver.
He sat back to consider the trunk, leaning against the stone wall behind him. There had to be a way. If only he could remember the incantation Gerhard had used to open it back on the Gull. Unfortunately the raging storm had drowned out the old wizard’s spell, leaving Sebastian with no real idea of how to get it open. The second night he had tried creating a picture in his mind of the straps opening like he had done with the fire on the boat, but consciously trying to make the vision appear had only resulted in another spark arcing out from the trunk. He hated to admit it, but he was out of ideas.
Peering out above the dark forest the expanse of stars above took his breath away for a moment. At home, he had never thought about the night sky and in all his travels he had always been too exhausted by the end of the day to spend any time stargazing. It was beautiful. Thousands—no millions—of stars, each its own pinpoint of light hung in the sky above him. It was dizzying in its magnitude.
He settled back, just staring and taking it all in. Bathing himself in the immensity of the night sky, he lost track of time. Periodically, one would lose its place in the expanse and come rocketing down to the earth, leaving a red streak to mark its passage. After a time, Sebastian dozed. Losing track of what was real and what was dream, he…drifted.
One of the bright dots zig-zagged across his field of vision. There was no red streak like the shooting stars. It continued to burn, traversing the sky first one way then another. Back and forth it flew and Sebastian clawed his way back to consciousness. The light was getting closer now.
“Krystelle!” he hissed. “Wake up.”
“What?” she brushed a stray lock of hair back from her face.
“Something’s coming. Look there, in the sky.”
Drowsily, she squinted toward where he pointed. With effort, she focused on the speck of light and sat straight upright, fully awake now. “What in the world is that?”
Eligium- The Complete Series Page 23