by Sam Ferguson
The ghost nodded. “There were many who came before you, but humans and elves are easy to fool. Most failed to find the shrine in the first place. Those who did find it were mostly trapped by the magical staircase to nowhere. The few who got past that illusion were unable to find the door to the inner chamber. But, when you spoke of Reshem, I knew you were the one that the master had spoken of. You will do great things, I am sure of it.”
“Great, now he’s really going to have a swollen head,” Jason complained.
“I’m sorry,” Jonathan began. “We should have stayed behind and fought with you against that monster.”
Yaen shook his ghostly head. “No, I told you to run because there was nothing you could have done to help. You would have perished, and the master’s bow along with you. It is better this way. The final demon is dead, and I am now at peace. Now, I must go to the gates of Bifrost and tell the others what has transpired. Forgive me, but I must leave.”
“Wait, I–” Jonathan was unable to finish his sentence before Yaen’s ghost disappeared.
“Reshem?” Ziegler asked.
“That’s the name for the stranger who took Miranda,” Jonathan replied.
“Interesting,” Ziegler said with a nod of his head. “Come on, it’s likely to be dark before we reach the top unless we hurry, and we still have a decent way to go before we reach Shuldern. Afterward, we can plan on going to Tyrwyn.”
“What’s there?” Jason asked.
“It’s an elven city in the forest. The mountains of Shuldern would be difficult to cross to get to the north and track down the gnome, but the way opens up north of Tyrwyn. It will be the last city I know of where we can buy food and other supplies before going into the uncharted forest. With any luck, it will be the same path the gnome took with the crystal.”
The three of them began the steep hike back up to the top of the canyon, finding a new route that got them up without needing to backtrack or climb cliff faces. Just as Ziegler had predicted, the sun was nearly set by the time they reached the top. When they finally reached their stash of equipment several hours later they pitched camp and promptly went to sleep, planning to skirt the southern end of the crater the following day.
CHAPTER 5
It took them three days of traveling before they arrived at the mountains of Shuldern. Fortunately there had been no further demons, nymphs, or other creatures to harass them along the way. Still, finding the actual entrance to the kingdom of the dwarves was proving to be much more difficult than any of them had thought. They had searched the base of two mountains before they set up camp and decided to make dinner.
“We’ll resume our search tomorrow,” Ziegler had said before tromping back down the hillside. He and Jason had been prepared to eat from their dried meats again, but Jonathan had other ideas. He set out, skirting along the trees until he was able to track and slay a deer for their supper. In truth, Jonathan was just looking for an excuse to try out Lysander’s bow, but the others didn’t argue with him when he offered to go hunting. The young archer was more than a little underwhelmed by the actual bow. Unlike Kigabané, there was no magical power that helped him aim the weapon. The arrows didn’t explode or shoot fire as he had hoped. For being the bow of a son of Icadion, it was rather normal. Jonathan was tempted to whack the bow across a tree and test whether it was as unbreakable as Reshem had said, but he figured that was not something he should risk. If it did break, then he would once again be without a bow, and Jason would never let him hear the end of it this time.
So, he turned his attention to the slain deer. He cleaned it quickly and brought it back to camp with a bright smile on his face. Ziegler had been properly impressed, and even Jason had praised Jonathan’s success, though he did promptly grab him by the head and check for “swelling” immediately afterward.
Since Jonathan had done the hunting, Jason built the fire and then kept watch while Ziegler cooked the meat. Once it was finished, Ziegler dished Jonathan first, then Jason, and finally himself. The three of them, having not had a proper meal in several days, ate voraciously. None of them spoke. There was only the sound of ripping meat and happy, satisfied chewing.
After they had finished, Ziegler packed the rest of the meat and then moved it downwind and hoisted it into the branches of a tall pine tree. Jonathan watched him, out of boredom more than anything else. He knew a bear hang when he saw one as much as any other farm kid from Holstead.
Jason built up the fire and then built several smaller ones in a circle around the camp. Jonathan turned to watch his brother, but he didn’t offer to help. Instead he listened to the cracking logs and watched the sparks pop out from the wood. There was something about the camp that night that relieved him of a lot of his more serious thoughts. For once, he wasn’t lying in bed thinking about Miranda. He was just enjoying being in the moment, watching his brother and contented with a full belly.
After the perimeter fires were set, Jason came over to Jonathan and sat next to him.
“Good deer,” Jason said.
Jonathan nodded. “It was a lucky find.”
“I realize I have been a bit more… aggressive with the jokes lately,” Jason put in.
Jonathan shot him a sidelong glance, half-waiting for the sarcasm to come next.
“No, I mean it,” Jason said with a shake of his head. “I guess this is just, different.”
“Different?” Jonathan asked.
Jason nodded. “I saw a lot of people die in the Quags. Not just Bear, but a lot of the Ghosts of the Quags died while I was with them,” he said. “Still, it was never as bad as this. This was supposed to be simpler, or at least I suppose that’s what I thought,” Jason said. “But we have lost almost everyone. We don’t know if Raven is alive. Miranda has been taken by some wizard who plays with people’s fates, Moose and Bull are dead. Ruben too. It’s just the three of us now.”
Jonathan nodded and looked to the large fire nearby. “We’ll manage,” he said confidently. “We have the bow now, and we know who our enemy is. He got away last time, but we’ll find him.”
“The bow will help the gnome know that we are friends right?” Ziegler asked.
Jonathan nodded, recalling what Reshem had told him. “Yes, the bow will serve as a token to show that we’re the good guys.”
“I don’t suppose I could convince you to go home?” Jason asked.
Jonathan shook his head. “You and me together until this thing is done,” he said.
Jason nodded. “After this one, I think I’m done.”
Jonathan backhanded his brother in the chest. “Oh please! The pride and joy of Holstead is going to hang up his hat and settle down? No more adventures for the Haymaker brothers?”
“No, no more adventures,” Jason sighed. “If I am lucky enough to live through this and see Annabell again, then I am going to stay in Holstead for the rest of my life. I have seen enough of the world beyond. It’s brutal and disgusting and corrupt. Why should I venture out into that when I have someone who will love me and give me a family to raise? What’s the point?”
Jonathan cocked his head to the side and stared incredulously at his brother. “You’re serious aren’t you?”
Jason nodded. “As serious as a plow horse with a lame leg.”
“But…” Jonathan let his words die before he spoke them. He couldn’t wrap his mind around what his brother was saying. Sure, he was about to get married, but did that really have to mean that he would be done with any and all other adventures? What about him? Who was going to watch his back? After all, when they finished with the crystal and finding Raven, he still had to find Miranda. Would Jason abandon Jonathan in his time of need?
“You should stay too,” Jason said as he nudged Jonathan’s arm. “You could stay with me after I’m married, or you could have a bigger space to yourself back with Pa and Memaw.”
“I won’t be staying,” Jonathan said quickly.
Jason went quiet for a while and the two stared at the flames
rather than look at each other. “Going to train as an officer then as the king wanted?” Jason asked after a while.
Jonathan grabbed at a rock nearby and threw it toward the fire. “I don’t know, but I can’t leave Miranda at the hands of Reshem.”
Jason shrugged. “I don’t see why not,” he commented. “You said he told you that she would be stuck in that thing for one hundred years. Doesn’t seem like there is any reason you should consider it possible to see her again. You won’t be alive by then. Besides, if that crazy old elf seemed to know Reshem enough that it helped him give you the bow, then perhaps you should trust Reshem more. It just isn’t your fate.”
“That’s easy for you to say, your marriage is already arranged.
“We’ve talked about this already,” Jason said. “Things change.”
“What are you two talking about?” Ziegler asked as he came back into camp.
“Jonathan’s pining over Miranda again,” Jason said as he pushed up to his feet. “Rather pathetic, actually,” he added as he looked down at Jonathan. He had his friendly smile on his face, but it didn’t soften the words this time.
“Says the man who is too afraid to leave Holstead again,” Jonathan quipped.
“That’s about enough of that, both of you,” Ziegler said harshly. His tone, followed quickly by his stern glare, was enough to shut them both up. “Now listen, you’re both young, which means you’re a bit more hot-tempered and quick to lash out, but we are not about to start that foolishness now. Not after everything we have seen and done. Got it?”
“Yes sir,” Jason said quickly.
Jonathan offered a silent nod. It wasn’t that he was pining over Miranda though, not anymore. He still had feelings for her, but what kept him thinking about her was the sense of owing her allegiance. He had promised to help her, and so far he had failed to deliver on that promise. He had to find Raven, and then he had to try and find Miranda. After that? He looked at his feet and then he turned and stared out away from the camp. Jonathan knew he would never be able to sit still for long. Perhaps he would take up a post as an officer, perhaps not. He wasn’t sure about that, but he did know that he wouldn’t stay in Holstead forever. He didn’t like to think of leaving Jason behind. The two of them had grown up talking about adventures and conquering the trolls. They had play-acted it out hundreds, thousands of times even, but now it appeared that Jason no longer had the same itch to explore. Jonathan would have to do that on his own.
“I’ll take first watch. Sounds like you both could use the sleep.” Ziegler pointed to a spot on the other side of the central camp fire. “Jason, you take your bedroll over there. No more talking. Go to sleep.”
Jonathan relaxed into his bedroll and turned to face away from the fire. Of course Ziegler was right, they were under a tremendous amount of pressure. Jonathan knew that Jason had been trying to relieve that very pressure by confiding in him. Perhaps he should have been more receptive, but it wasn’t in Jonathan’s nature to give up so easily. He had braved the quags to find Jason. He had been quick to help Miranda on this quest to find her father. Jason should have known how insulting it would be to stay in Holstead while Jonathan was planning to find Miranda and bring her back.
He couldn’t imagine Ziegler just giving up on her. So why should Jason be allowed to?
Jonathan listened to the crackling fire for some time before he heard footsteps coming toward him. Ziegler’s boots came into view as the large man walked around to where Jonathan could see him and then sat down.
“I know you aren’t sleeping, so give me your attention,” Ziegler said softly.
Jonathan pushed himself up to a sitting position.
“Your brother has seen a lot of things. I know you have too, so don’t think I am diminishing that. It’s just that people can only stomach war for so long. The killing and the death, it starts to cling to their souls and drag them down. Some can’t handle it. Your brother is no coward. If you don’t know that already, then take it from me. He was one of the best to ever serve under my command. Everyone respected him. He saved Moose’s life once, did you know that?”
Jonathan shook his head.
“No I didn’t expect that you would. It’s true though. Jason saved Moose by beating a troll to death with his bare fists. It was a gruesome thing, but it was what the moment required. Something else you should consider, Jonathan, is that your brother not only fought in the war, but he was captured. None of us know what manner of unpleasantries your brother suffered at the hands of his troll captors. He has never told me the details, but based on what we have seen of the trolls, I would bet it wasn’t anything we would like to think about.” Ziegler looked to the ground as he reached up with a hand to rub the side of his face. “The thing is, war is not some glorious thing like you read about in books or hear in the songs of bards. It’s nasty. It’s foul. It will kill you in ways you never even knew you could die. I have seen men lose their minds, their hearts, their religion, and a million other things I could list. It changes them. Those who don’t die carry with them the burden of those who did. It isn’t something I can explain.”
“I understand,” Jonathan said. “I still carry Sami and Rourke with me.”
Ziegler nodded. “You were lucky,” he said. “You weren’t in the thick of the war as long as most others. Better than that, you actually found your happy ending.” Ziegler nodded to Jason. “You found him and you rescued him. That is an accomplishment in and of itself.” Ziegler sighed and folded his hands in his lap. “I guess what I’m getting at is that if your brother has a chance for peace, you should let him have it. He earned it.”
“But Miranda is still out there,” Jonathan said.
“And I will go with you to find her if you like, but you leave your brother out of it.”
Jonathan balked. He opened his mouth, but Ziegler held up a hand.
“Let him go home and get married,” Ziegler said. “Now get some sleep.”
Ziegler left without another word.
Jonathan settled back down and thought about what Captain Ziegler had said. It didn’t take long before the young warrior knew that Ziegler was correct. Jonathan had seen enough war to know what else might be out there, lurking in the shadows. Jason had been in the swamps longer than he had, that was for sure. Furthermore, as Ziegler had reminded him, Jason had been captured by the trolls. Besides all of that, Reshem was revered as a good guardian of the world. Why would Jason ever suspect that Reshem had anything but honorable intentions when he took Miranda?
It was then that he realized once again that his brother was no coward. Quite the contrary. He was literally facing down the things he hated most, and he was doing so by choice. No one had coerced him to come along and risk his life. He did it for his friends. In the morning, Jonathan would owe his brother an apology.
Those were his last thoughts before he drifted off to sleep.
When he woke, he found himself not on the ground where he had been, but on a bed, albeit a short one. He startled out of it and jumped up to his feet.
“Calm down,” Jason said reassuringly. “We’re all right.”
“Where are we?” Jonathan asked.
“We are in Shuldern,” Ziegler said. “As much as it pains me to say it, they got the drop on me.” He was fiddling with something in his left hand. He held it up for Jonathan to see. “A sleep dart,” he said casually. “One of the little buggers hit me in the neck. I suspect they drugged the two of you as well.”
Jonathan looked around and saw that they were not in a bedroom. They were in a cell. Three stone walls, no window, and bars for the fourth wall. Three beds had been dragged into the cell, but otherwise there was no furniture to speak of.
“There’s a bucket in the far corner if you need to take care of your morning business,” Ziegler said.
“This is…” Jonathan’s vision started to fade and close in on him, so he sat back down on the bed.
“Here, little brother, put your head down and just bre
athe. It’ll wear off pretty quickly,” Jason said as he moved in and steadied Jonathan. “One of the dwarves was just here a few minutes ago. He said we’ll be out in a bit.”
“We’re in a cell,” Jonathan replied.
“We’ve been in tighter spots,” Ziegler cut in. “Don’t worry about it.”
Jonathan took in a few breaths and his vision came back to him just as Jason said it would. He rubbed his eyes and then as he pulled his hands away he realized his fingers were three times the size they normally were, and his hands were a bright purple color. “What happened to my hands?” Jonathan said.
“Forget your hands, you should see your eyes and cheeks,” Jason said with a smirk.
“Jason, that wasn’t necessary,” Ziegler admonished.
“What’s wrong with my eyes?” Jonathan asked.
“Well, it’s kind of like you have two black eyes, except they’re red and puffy. Your cheeks are spotted red and purple. It’s kind of cute, actually.”
Jonathan looked at Jason’s hands. Jason, realizing where Jonathan was looking, held his hands up and wiggled his fingers.
“Nope, I’m fine, so is Captain Ziegler,” Jason said.
“Enough,” Ziegler said briskly as he backhanded Jason. The large man knelt down before Jonathan and inspected the young archer’s hands and eyes. “You had a bad reaction to the sedative they used on us, but they assured me it will go away in time.”
“How long?” Jonathan asked.
“What difference does it make?” Jason prodded. “Swollen hands to go with your swollen head, at least now your body matches your ego.”
“I said enough,” Ziegler hissed.
Jason stiffened and dropped his smile immediately. “Sorry sir,” he said.
“Maybe hours, maybe a couple days, but it will go back to normal,” Ziegler promised.
Jonathan nodded and then looked around and realized that their weapons and backpacks were gone.
“My bow,” Jonathan said. “They took my bow!”