Allison said nothing, but leaned her petite frame down and extended her arms beyond her large breasts toward the three wrestling on the floor. Monica expected Allison to grab the man's arms or maybe yank him by the hair, but instead Allison strung a necklace around Monica's neck. It looked identical to the one Allison wore, which consisted of a string of oddly-shaped white stones, distinct against her tanned skin and, on the sides, beneath her shoulder length hair.
The action took Monica by surprise. "What the hell are you doing?" She didn't want to let go of the grip she had on the man's arm, which she'd managed to pull back just a little, but Allison's actions baffled her and she knew something must be terribly wrong with her. Just as Monica looked up into Allison's eyes for some explanation of why she was doing what she was, Monica felt a sharp strange pulse emanate from the necklace. The force cascaded into her neck and then expanded throughout her entire body. She felt her hands loosen from the man's arms. A second later, though she wanted to scream or tear the necklace from her neck, she felt her will slipping away. Though she didn't want to do so, she pulled away from the man and Sydney and stood beside Allison. She wanted to speak, but couldn't. She glanced down toward the necklace. It glowed a dark violet.
At her feet, Sydney and the man continued to struggle. Monica wanted desperately to help her friend, but she couldn't, nor could she speak. She saw everything, but felt nothing except the anguish in her mind at losing control of her own actions.
Ms. Thompson's voice brought terror into Monica's mind, but she could only stand quietly in stillness as the sorcerer professor said, "Well done, Allison. Now, put this one on the other. I'll need her too."
Monica watched as Ms. Thompson held out a second necklace. Allison took it from her and knelt to place it around Sydney's neck.
Chapter 10
It was dark and cold, but we were ready to survive the rest of the night thanks to a warm fire and a crude shelter we managed to cobble together from driftwood used for the frame and an adequate layer of leaves, reeds, and other vegetation we put on as a roof, keeping much of the cold night air at bay. Our collective body heat would help a great deal, and we decided to make sure the boy stayed warm, planning to put him between Alara and Nithia. Under different circumstances, I might've resented him securing that spot, but overcoming the elements took precedence, and ensuring we did all we could for him put my mind at ease a little.
Thankfully, sitting a good while beside the large fire we made on the beach mostly dried our clothes—though mine less so, since I spent less time there, instead handling the work of making our shelter.
Tara had offered to craft a bow drill to start the fire, a skill she said she learned at an early age thanks to her time with Cormac on hunts, but Alara told her there was no need. It turned out, even though she'd lost the Staff of Carnera she'd received from her mother, Alara still possessed an ability to perform magic, though not to the degree the staff gave her. But the task was evidently a small one for her. It took her a handful of seconds to produce a tiny flame in the palm of her hand. I had to look closely just to see it, but it was all that was needed to ignite the kindling Tara had gathered.
Talking by the fire before time to bed down, we settled on an early start the next morning. We weren't quite sure where we'd landed, but we thought it best to move inland, at least for a little while, to see if more hospitable terrain could be found. Nithia and Tara were confident if we could find some woods, food wouldn't be a problem, or at least not a life-threatening one.
Despite our S.S. Minnow going down in the storm, and our Skipper with it, I knew we'd make it, if only because I couldn't accept something happening to my Ginger, Mary Ann, and...no, not Mrs. Howell. Ginger two? Anyway, there was no way we were going to die on that beach.
Wait. Does that make me Gilligan? No. That's the boy, I guess. So, who am I, then?
"Den?" Alara had walked behind me as I'd been looking at the sea, using Gilligan's Island as a distraction. I'd been on my way back to the fire after putting on one more layer to the roof of our shelter and stopped to once again assess the storm, which looked like it wouldn't come ashore.
I turned to her and decided neither Ginger nor Mary Ann even came close to her beauty. "How are you doing?"
"I'm alright," she said. "I mean..."
I didn't have to guess why she didn't finish her sentence. None of us were alright, but at least we were alive. And mostly uninjured.
"We'll make it," I said, even though I had no idea how, or where we were going next. I also wasn't sure where I wanted to go—to face Kurg or just to find someplace safe where we could stay and give up the whole save the world thing. But I put my arm around her and told her again, "We'll make it." Part of me thought if she believed it then I could too. The thought reminded me what we had together. "Tomorrow. Things will look better after we get some sleep."
She smiled at me, then leaned over and kissed me on my cheek before taking my hand to guide me back to the fire to join the others.
~
The cold of the morning woke us up, but it wasn't as extreme as it had been the night before. The fire had mostly burned out, but we wouldn't need it further. We decided to waste little time in our makeshift campsite, knowing the sooner we headed inland the better. We needed to find a road or a path, or some sign of which direction we might find a settlement or a town.
Food wasn't as urgent a concern as we thought it was going to be, thanks to the many crabs out on the beach in the morning. In my time around so many college students back in Austin, I'd heard one or two horror stories of someone trying to get rid of crabs—something I never had to deal with, thankfully. But these crabs I was glad to have.
We gathered quite a few and cooked them over the coals from our mostly burned out fire and ate well. When we'd had our fill, we gathered more of them and cook them too, but then shoved them into the one pack we had. They'd be our dinner if we were unable to find the Fektals, or any settlement, or to forage or hunt successfully by then.
Not knowing where we were relative to the Fektals' rumored environs weighed on my mind, as I'm sure it did for everyone else. The possibility of running into people or whatever else who served the Dark Lord weighed even heavier on my mind. Still, remaining on the beach was no option. So, we chose a direction away from the sea and started walki'ng. As I looked at my three women and the boy, I wondered how, without my sword, I might protect them all against whatever might come.
Chapter 11
Tara walked past Nithia and Ray, who had stayed close to each other since the group left the beach. Alara and Den walked ahead, and Tara settled into a pace that kept her alone in the wide gap between the two pairs. She knew leaving Yedia had been the only choice, and she hadn't been the one to suggest it or even push for it, but she still felt responsible for all of them being there now, in a distant land without weapons for protection against whoever or whatever they might encounter.
If we reach a forest, I'll try to make another bow. She felt slightly hopeful at the thought, but then realized she lacked a bowstring.
I could find an animal. Make it from the gut lining. I'll need a spear to kill it. Never done that, though.
She sighed, frustrated at how many things needed to go right just to get back to the capabilities she had before.
Venison would be good. I hate crabs.
Morning was giving way to the mid-day sun, and Tara felt thankful to have more warmth on her freckled skin. She abandoned thinking about her plan to get another bow, instead enjoying the pleasant change the day brought, a welcome contrast to the cold night on the beach.
She heard Nithia and Ray getting closer behind her, so she walked a little faster, admitting to herself that the reason she'd been thinking about making a bow, and then about the sun on her arms, was largely to keep her mind off a realization she had earlier. She had been avoiding the idea she'd had that morning, that the trouble she found in Yedia caused this now orphaned boy to end up in an unfamiliar and certainly dang
erous land across the sea. The guilt filled her stomach despite her also being a victim of what happened in Yedia.
She recalled in painful detail what she'd seen the night before, the murder.
I should've done something to save her.
Shaking her head, Tara acknowledged it had been too late to stop the attack. She had been too far away and had witnessed only the very moment it happened. Had she been there earlier, she told herself, and close enough to intervene, she might've been killed too.
Ray chuckled, still walking beside Nithia ten feet or so behind Tara, which jarred her back to the present moment. Tara hadn't heard what had been said to make the boy laugh, but she liked hearing him do so. She glanced back over her shoulder, and saw Ray looking up at Nithia and smiling.
He's here, but it could've been worse for him.
She decided from that moment forward, she'd do whatever she needed to do to keep Ray safe until he had a new place to call home.
But, I lost Cormac because he was doing the same for me.
She hoped she didn't have to make the same sacrifice, but she wasn't going to let the boy down.
And Den, he does the same for me.
She nodded slightly as she continued to walk by herself between the other four.
I will do that for him and the boy.
She looked at Den's strong back as he walked a ways in front of her.
But he's able to look out for himself. Ray is just a boy. He needs a big sister.
Satisfied that Ray was for now in good hands with Nithia, Tara quickened her pace to catch up with Den and Alara. Taking a position at Den's free side and matching their stride, she said, "We don't know what's out there. We should get some sort of weapons before we find out."
Alara held in front of her the tall walking stick she'd been using. "Why do you think I took this from the beach?"
"Right." Tara realized, though the sturdy piece of driftwood wasn't magical, Alara had the skill to inflict significant pain with it.
Den made a fist, raising it for Tara to see. "I agree with you, but until then, this will have to do."
Tara looked at Den's powerful arm and how his clenched fist resembled a hefty rock, then she glanced at her much smaller hands and felt inadequate, which was a feeling she wasn't used to feeling.
Den, perhaps seeing a tell on her face that gave her feelings away, said, "You're the fastest among us, and I know you have the skill. Maybe you could scout ahead for us now and then, if the terrain calls for it."
Tara was taken aback by Den's suggestion, not because she didn't like the idea, or felt afraid, but because she was surprised he still had the confidence in her to do such a thing. She knew how much he cared for her. He wouldn't want any harm to come to me, she thought.
But he trusts me to do this.
"Yes," Tara said. "I can do that."
Den gently bumped her shoulder with his upper arm. "Thanks, Tara. Just be careful when you do. Try not to let anyone see you...until we know whether they're friendly."
"Obviously." Tara had answered Den without looking him in the eyes, trying to make him think his admonition had been totally unnecessary, but she liked that he'd shown concern for her. She kept her eyes forward for several more seconds, expecting Den to say something else, but he didn't. Finally, she turned to him again. "So, you think I should..."
Den smiled at her, then looked at the path before them. So, she did too. They were walking across a wide plain, half dry grass, half dirt and rocks. They'd been heading up a gentle slope for the last minute and several hills filled the horizon in front of them. Den nodded toward the elevated terrain. "Why don't you take a look."
Tara smiled, enjoying the task being left to her. "I will. Maybe from one of the hilltops we'll be able to see an actual road, or at least some woods where we might be able to find some food. I'm not crazy about crab."
"Sounds good," Den said. "Keep a lookout for a stream or a pond too. Fishy taste, I enjoy, but crabs I could do without." He grinned, which confused Tara until he winked.
She grinned too. "I'll see what's ahead. I was hoping to hunt down a good piece of meat, but who knows, maybe there'll be fish for you tonight too."
Alara leaned forward to look at Den and Tara, then shook her head. "You two are failing at subtlety, I hope you know."
Tara wasn't quite sure how to answer her. Alara appeared a little peeved at the innuendo, which Tara didn't expect. She decided to leave her and Den before Alara had a chance to say anything else. "I'll circle back to you before too long. Off to take a look." She shifted into a fast jog toward the hills ahead.
"Save some fish for me too," Alara called out to her.
Tara didn't look back to see if Alara wore a smile or a scowl.
I guess I'll find out later.
Despite how long they'd already walked, jogging toward the hills felt good to Tara. She'd always had a restless streak and moving more freely put her mind at ease. When she reached the base of one of the hills, she sped up rather than slow as most would do on an incline. Nearing the top, her mind shifted into that mode she loved to experience—focus, clarity, confidence. She had a purpose, and Den had known she was the right one for the task. She knew it too.
Just as she came to the crest of the hill, she slowed and lowered herself, then came to a stop, crouching so that only a sliver of her head peaked above the hill. She scanned the terrain on the other side. It was flat, more patchy dry grass and dirt extended from the center to the left as far as she could see, but ahead, only slightly to the right, maybe a quarter mile in the distance, a forest!
Yes! Finally!
She wanted to call back to the others and let them know what she'd found, but she hesitated when a glimmer from just inside the tree line caught her eye.
Is that?
She squinted and shaded her eyes from the sun. The glimmer had vanished. She wondered if she'd imagined it. But her experience in hunting told her to remain still and quiet, and wait. She watched the area just inside the woods, while listening to make sure Den and the others hadn't come too close yet.
A moment stretched to several moments, but she kept her eyes fixed on the place she where she thought she'd seen something. She wanted to look back to see how close Den and the others were now, but she dared not look away from the woods. Instead, she listened, waiting to hear a hint of conversation or of footsteps from the others. She knew that by the time she could hear her companions, she'd need to back down from the hill—without being seen by who or whatever might be in the woods—and tell Den, Alara, Nithia, and Ray to stop their approach.
If there is someone or something down there, it'd be best to keep our presence a secret until we know if there's a danger or not.
She watched and waited.
Come on. Show yourself.
Glancing to either side, she looked for a way down to the woods that would let her remain hidden, but such a path didn't exist.
She blinked several times, refreshing her eyes, hoping she might be able to see just a little more clearly into the thick shade of the trees.
There!
Something just inside the tree line reflected back at her. She felt the wind at her back and guessed such a wind had moved the canopy of leaves and branches a quarter mile away, letting in more daylight—confirming her suspicion.
Now certain of the exact location she needed to look inside the edge of the woods, she tried to make out any outline of a figure. She wished for the wind to blow the trees harder as she watched for any movement below the canopy, where the reflection occurred.
Den's laughter rose to her ears. Slinking back a little, she then turned to see how close her companions were.
Den waved to her. He and Alara approached. They'd reach her soon.
Tara thrust her hand out toward them, trying to convey the seriousness and urgency of her command for them to stop.
Den waved at her again, this time exaggerating the gesture. Alara waved too. Nithia and Ray were close behind them.
The sword appeared to be fastened to the side of the great black beast, no doubt with a strap or metal loop. The rider, wearing clothes as dark as the thick hair of his mount, held the reins in one hand. Tara's heart skipped again as she watched his other arm apparently signaling for others inside the woods to come out.
Without taking her eyes off the Dark Rider, Tara thrust her hand behind her, meaning to again tell Den and the others to stop their approach. She could hear Alara chuckling now.
Shut up!
She wanted to see who or how many came out of the woods to join the Dark Rider.
One, even with a sword, they might be able to handle, she thought. But she knew if there were more of them, avoiding detection might be the only hope for her and her companions to survive.
Fearing Den and the others were about to come up behind her and give away their position to the Dark Rider, Tara glanced back. Den had his arm out in front of Alara, stopping her. He was looking at Tara, and she could see from his expression that he understood she had seen something and that she was alarmed. She nodded to him and turned around to watch the Dark Rider and the trees behind him.
Oh, no.
Three more black beasts walked out from the woods, each carrying a man—if they could be called that—dressed like the first. She saw a glimmer from the side of one of the mounts. She assumed every one of the riders had a weapon. Not that they'd need it, she thought, remembering the knife-like teeth of the beasts and their mighty clawed paws. She desperately wanted her bow, so she could deal with them like she had back in Darguna. But she didn't have it, and she knew without Den's sword and Alara's magic staff, fighting the Dark Riders would be suicide.
Deep Into Destiny Page 9