The Call of Ancient Light

by Ben Wolf

  Magnus pulled them apart and eyed Axel. “Channel your anger into finding the thief. He is already on the run, so he has a head start on us. Do you remember what the Wolf paw prints look like?”

  Calum nodded, but Axel just kept glaring at him.

  “Axel.” Magnus jerked him. “Do you remember what the—”

  “Yes.” Axel’s jaw tensed. “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “I think, perhaps, that we may have fallen victim to another Wolf. Let us see what we can find. Grab a stick from the fire and use it to light your way. Look around.”

  Within a minute, they found the footprints and started to follow them.

  “Shouldn’t someone stay with the rest of the supplies at the camp?” Calum asked. “That bag isn’t the only thing of value we had.”

  “No, but it was most of the value,” Axel grumbled.

  “Stop it. Calum is only as accountable as either you or me, Axel. We could have divided the coins or taken further precautions to prevent something like this, but we did not.” Magnus turned to Calum. “You are right that you should stay at the camp. Axel and I will search for the thief.”

  Axel shook his head. “He just let our gold get stolen, and now you want him guarding everything else?”

  “He is still recovering from his injuries, so he is not as mobile as you are. Quit arguing, bring your torch and your sword, and follow me,” Magnus said. “Calum, stay at the camp until we get back.”

  To Calum’s dismay, Magnus and Axel returned an hour after sunrise with nothing to show for their search.

  Axel slammed his sword down on the ground and glared at Calum. “I hope you at least had the good sense to start breakfast.”

  “Come get some stew.” Calum tossed him a pewter bowl. It would take much more than a bowl of stew to appease Axel, but it was a start. “You didn’t find him, I take it?”

  “He must have realized we were following him. The trail circled back over itself and branched into four different directions. I could not tell where it began and where it ended.” Magnus reached for a bowl of his own and sat down next to Calum. “I knew we had to get back, so I called it off.”

  Even now, after traveling with him for so long, Calum still marveled at Magnus’s size.

  “I’m really sorry,” he said.

  Magnus shook his head and filled his bowl from the small pot Calum had perched over the fire. “Wolves are skilled thieves. They are quick, and they can all but disappear in darkness. I doubt I would have done any better than you.”

  Calum knew Magnus was just trying to make him feel better. “If you say so. Recently I’ve felt like the weak link in this group.”

  Axel walked over and ladled some stew into his bowl. “That’s because you are the weak link.”

  Magnus sprung to his feet and knocked the bowl from Axel’s hand in one quick motion, splattering stew on the ground.

  Axel, wide-eyed, dropped the ladle.

  Then Magnus grabbed Axel by the throat and lifted him clear off his feet, all while still holding his own bowl of stew in his other hand, even as Axel thrashed and struggled to get free.

  Calum gawked at the sight. “Magnus, what are you—”

  “Do not ever say anything like that again. Calum is the soul of this group. Without him, I would have gone my own way a long time ago and left you to fend for yourself.”

  Axel squirmed against Magnus’s grip and clenched his arm with both hands.

  “Calum is our leader, without question. I may have said otherwise, but I was wrong. Either you will begin to treat him with the respect he deserves, or you will leave the group. Crystal?”

  Axel sputtered and managed to reply, “Clear.”

  Calum stifled a smile. He didn’t like being at odds with Axel, but Magnus standing up for him felt good. Great, even.

  Magnus dropped him, and Axel’s boots hit the dirt. Once he sat back down, Magnus resumed eating his breakfast.

  Axel rubbed his throat, coughed, picked up his bowl, then slumped against a tree several feet from the others with his arms folded.

  “You didn’t have to do that, Magnus,” Calum said.

  Magnus swallowed a large gulp of stew and turned his focus to Calum. “Did you hear what I just said to Axel?”

  Calum glanced at Axel, who didn’t make eye contact with him. “Yes.”

  “Everything I said was true. You are this group’s leader and its soul, regardless of what I have said in the past. Without you, both Axel and I would be dead by now. You alone have seen visions of Lumen, and you alone have been called to free him. We are following you. We need you here, mistakes or otherwise.”

  Calum stared at the fire, digesting Magnus’s words. Even if it was all true, the thief had left them in a tight spot. “But what are we going to do about the coin?”

  “We can find another village. There are plenty of bandits in these mountains. Maybe they have wronged others whom we can help.” Magnus gazed into the woods. “Or we could try to pick up the thief’s trail and follow him until we catch up, but that may never happen.”

  “We could probably chase him forever, but we need to keep heading toward the valley,” Calum said. “These dreams of Lumen aren’t going away. Each time I dream of him, I sense more and more urgency for us to free him.”

  “Perhaps if we stop at one of the villages south of Pike’s Garrison before Kanarah City we could hire out for some manual labor. We could—”

  “No.” Axel looked up. “I’m not going back to that life.”

  “I do not recall asking your opinion.” Magnus turned his reptilian gaze toward him.

  “Easy, Magnus,” Calum said.

  Magnus hissed a sigh. “It would only be for a few days at the mo—”

  “I said no.” Axel’s voice hardened.

  “I’m with Axel on this one,” Calum said. “I don’t want to go back to manual labor unless I have no other choice. Eight years in a quarry was long enough.”

  Magnus hissed again but nodded. “Then what do you suggest we do?”

  Calum glanced between them and stood to his feet. “After you guys finish eating, we’ll pack up and head west toward the edge of the range. We’ll keep trying to find a way down, farther south along the range. If we can’t find anything, we go to Kanarah City and cross over Trader’s Pass.”

  Magnus glanced at Axel, then downed the rest of his stew. “I will start packing, then.”

  Brilliant light filled Calum’s vision, and Lumen appeared once again.

  Another night, another dream.

  “Go to the Arcanum,” Lumen said in his all-pervading voice. “Time is short. Set me free, and I will bring justice to those who have done you and your friends harm.”

  Lumen had been watching them? Was he referring to what had happened to Calum’s parents, or something else entirely?

  “How do you know all of this?” Calum asked.

  “I see many things,” Lumen replied. “My power is burgeoning. Free me, and I will defeat the King, claim my rightful throne, and grant you the desires of your heart.”

  The living map snapped into view, and a grand city came into view. Towering gray walls surrounded it, and within its walls people bustled throughout its streets and buildings.

  “What is this place?” Calum asked. “Is it Solace?”

  “No,” Lumen replied. “Solace is a far greater city. This is Kanarah City. Here you will find the entrance to Trader’s Pass.”

  Calum nodded.

  “Time is short, Calum.” Lumen repeated. “You must reach Trader’s Pass soon. I have chosen you to free me, and when you do, I will glorify you above all others.” The living map swirled and evaporated into the light that outlined Lumen’s powerful form. “Go forth. Find the Arcanum, and learn the secret to releasing me.”

  Lumen and his light spiraled into the blackness of Calum’s dreams once again.

  “I don’t think we have a choice.” Calum rubbed his sore neck and straightened his back. “It’s been a
week. Lumen told me we were supposed to go down to Kanarah City. We’ve already searched almost the entire edge of the range, and we still haven’t found a way down. Kanarah City is the easiest way get to Trader’s Pass, and then we can cross over to find the Arcanum.”

  Magnus shook his head. “We are certain to encounter trouble. I know it.”

  Axel rolled his eyes. “Look, if you ever wanna get across the valley, that’s the way we need to go.”

  “Since when are you so willing to make the trip?” Magnus asked. “Or provide a useful opinion about… well, anything?”

  “Didn’t say I was, but I’m sick of wandering the woods without a reason to be here. I’m sick of rationing our food. I’d rather get to Kanarah City and try our luck there.”

  Calum smirked. Since Magnus’s confrontation with Axel, they seemed to have reconciled their differences and meshed into more of a team, and Axel had grown much more cooperative. Hopefully, he’d stay that way.

  “Besides, if Calum’s having dreams about Kanarah City, then maybe we are supposed to go there,” Axel said.

  Calum’s smirk widened into a smile. “Axel is right, Magnus. We need to get out of here and make better progress in reaching the Arcanum. There just isn’t a safe way down to the valley from here or anywhere along the range.”

  Magnus huffed. “Then lead the way.”

  “Regret that you made me the leader yet?” Calum elbowed Magnus’s armored ribs. He didn’t even flinch.

  “Moderately, yes.”

  Calum led them east through the woods for the next few hours until they reached a small clearing. Sunlight emblazoned the tall green-and-gold grass from above, and the entire color range of autumn leaves swirled in the wind.

  About ten steps into the clearing, Magnus grabbed Calum’s shoulder. “Stop.”

  Calum knew what that meant, and his blood tingled in anticipation. “What do you hear?”

  “We are not alone. Axel, get over here.”

  Axel plodded over and scanned the tree line. “I don’t see anything.”

  “They are not in the trees.” Then, cryptically, Magnus added, “We have walked into a trap.”

  Dark forms rose from the tall grass all around them. First five, then ten. By the time all of them stood up, Calum counted twenty men surrounding them, all brandishing gleaming weapons.

  Calum, Axel, and Magnus drew their swords.

  This was bad.

  Calum was still learning about strategy and tactics from Magnus, but he didn’t have to be an expert to know that three fighters, surrounded by twenty in an open field with no cover and no chance of escape, had little chance of surviving, much less winning.

  Yep. Definitely bad.

  One of the men, clad in dark-red armor, sauntered toward them. He stroked his curly black beard with his left hand, and in his right, he gripped a shining sword with a slight curve at the end of its red blade. A long burgundy cape with a black lining hung from his shoulders.

  Definitely not one of the King’s soldiers.

  He pointed a finger at Calum. “You killed my cousin.”

  Calum held his sword at the ready but glanced at Magnus and Axel. “Who are you?”

  “My name is Tyburon, leader of the Southern Snake Brotherhood. You killed my cousin.”

  “Bandits and assassins,” Magnus hissed.

  Calum swallowed the lump in his throat. “Who was your cousin?”

  “His name was Norm. He led the Northern Snake Brotherhood.” Tyburon’s gaze hardened, and Calum immediately recognized a resemblance to Norm.

  Tyburon could have passed for a taller, thinner version of his cousin, but the way he carried himself suggested he was far more dangerous.

  “You broke into his hideout and killed him along with most of his men.”

  Most of his men? Calum’s eyes widened.

  Tyburon tilted his head. “Thought you killed everyone, didn’t you?”

  Magnus and Calum glanced at each other.

  “Nicolai, come here.” Without shifting his gaze from Calum, Tyburon motioned with his left hand.

  One of the men walked over. He wore dark-green armor and held what appeared to be an oversized meat cleaver in his left hand. The man removed his helmet, revealing curly black hair and dark eyes.

  Calum had knocked him out in the kitchen at the bandits’ hideout.

  “You see,” Tyburon patted Nicolai’s armored shoulder, “Nicolai escaped through the back door before you three could finish him off, although it came at the cost of a nasty bump on his head. He came straight to me and told me what had happened, and we’ve been tracking the three of you ever since.”

  “What do you intend to do?” Magnus stood between Tyburon and Calum.

  Tyburon smiled. “I’m here with twenty armed men, and you’re asking what I intend to do?”

  Calum pushed past Magnus. “Your cousin and his bandits preyed on innocent villagers, people who barely had enough to get by without suffering extra loss from your cousin’s men.”

  “Hence the term ‘bandits,’ mmm?” Tyburon shrugged. “It’s a living. Not a noble one, but a living nonetheless. In this age, everyone has to look out for themselves and their families. Now I’m looking out for mine.”

  “Killing us won’t bring your cousin back,” Calum said, now well within striking range of Tyburon.

  “No, it won’t,” Tyburon said as Nicolai put his helmet back on. “But it will make me happy, and it will serve as a warning that anyone who dares to oppose the Brotherhood will meet the same fate.”

  Tyburon lashed his red-bladed sword at Calum, but Magnus jerked Calum back just in time. Magnus counterattacked with his own blade. Tyburon blocked the blow, but it forced him back a step.

  They stood at odds, opposing each other but not approaching.

  All Calum could think of was how fast Tyburon’s blow had come at him. If Magnus hadn’t yanked him out of the way…

  Calum concluded that unlike Norm, Tyburon was a skilled and ruthless fighter. He probably had to be in order to maintain his authority over a bunch of murderous, thieving bandits. And he was fast—deadly so.

  When Nicolai started forward, Tyburon put his hand against Nicolai’s chest to keep him from advancing. “Not yet, Nicolai. You’ll get your chance soon enough. Fall back in line with the others… and close the noose.”

  As the bandits backed away, Magnus said, “Let me handle Tyburon.”

  Calum nodded. “What are we gonna do?”

  Magnus pulled Axel closer to them. “Put your backs against mine. Stay nearby. We are going to fight.”

  Axel nodded. “You’d better believe we’re gonna fight.”

  “Let them come to you. Let them do the work,” Magnus muttered so only they could hear him. “When they get close enough to strike, then strike, but not before then. Do not let them get any of us from behind. And most importantly, when I yell ‘switch,’ rotate one quarter turn to your left and take down whoever ends up in front of you.”

  “Will that even work?” Disbelief lined Axel’s voice.

  “It is worth a try. It will catch them off guard, but it will only work once.”

  “Alright,” Axel said. “Let’s do this.”

  As the bandits closed in around them, Tyburon yelled, “Save the little one for me. He killed Norm. He’s mine.”

  Great. So much for avoiding Tyburon.

  Six of the bandits, not including Tyburon or Nicolai, drew in closer, almost within the range that Magnus had referenced. Some of them wore mismatched armor, mostly on their chests and arms, and some of them wore robes or animal skins instead. Each of them wore a confident snarl.

  Calum wanted to peek over his shoulder at Axel and Magnus, but he didn’t. He kept his eyes focused on the two bandits in front of him.

  One of them stepped within range.

  Calum lunged forward and swung his sword in a broad swipe at the bandit’s exposed left ankle, but the bandit jumped back just in time to avoid getting hit.

  �
�You telegraphed your swing, Calum,” Magnus hissed at him from behind. “I cannot even see you, and I knew what you intended to do. Conceal your intentions before you move. Let him do the work for you.”

  The first bandit stepped within range again. This time Calum waited.

  The second bandit sprang forward and jabbed at him with a spear. Calum parried, then he ducked under the first bandit’s sword. The clanging of weapons sounded behind him as Magnus and Axel engaged their foes, too.

  Another spear jab just missed Calum’s arm. He batted the spear toward the first bandit, and it stalled his next attack. Calum rolled under his next swipe and cut him down at his knees. The first bandit dropped, screaming.

  The second bandit thrust his spear at Calum’s face. Reflex jerked Calum’s sword upward, deflecting the attack, but he’d wandered away from his friends.

  He stumbled back closer to Magnus and Axel and waited for the next attack to come. He traded several swings and swipes with the spear bandit, but he couldn’t get close enough to do any damage. The spear had the length advantage, and no matter what Calum did, he couldn’t get past it.

  “Switch!” Magnus roared.

  Calum took three quick steps to his left and intercepted a haphazard axe meant for Axel. The bandit’s axe skidded off Calum’s incoming sword, but Calum’s return swing caught the bandit just under his ribs.

  If the bandit had been wearing armor, it would’ve saved him, but instead he wore only animal skins and fabric. He sputtered then dropped to the ground.

  Calum stole a glance back in time to see Magnus wrench the spear away from the spear bandit he’d been fighting. Weaponless, the bandit turned and tried to flee, but Magnus hurled the spear at him. It skewered through the bandit’s back, and he went down.

  “Fall back,” Tyburon hollered. “Fall back now.”

  Only two of the original six bandits had survived. They retreated back into their circle, now four men thinner than before.

  “No more child’s play. This time we all go in at the same time.” Tyburon pointed his sword at Calum. “But the boy is still mine.”

  “Then come and get me.” It sounded fierce and confident when Calum said it. Whether he actually felt either of those things was a different matter.