Leading Arkon out of the cell, she moved stealthily through the mound. The women were still eating. No one noticed anything. As they stepped out into the early rays of the morning sun, they nearly ran into another woman was walking briskly towards the entrance. They moved out of the way, and she walked inside, completely oblivious to their presence.
Zo walked to the jungle and maintained the two spells until they were well into the protection of the trees. As they reached the tree where she’d left Leo, Zo dropped the invisibility spell, her mind still pre-occupied with the illusion she intended to maintain until they were far away from the mounds.
Seeing them, Leo slipped down the tree and ran to hug Arkon. The commander looked surprised at the sudden display of affection. He ruffled the boy’s thick straight hair.
“There, there. Don’t worry. I’m fine. How did you two find me?”
“He found you. Apparently he has visions.” Zo hefted her pack, her mind still on the second
spell.
“Visions?” Arkon looked at the boy who placed his hand on the medallion he wore around his neck, and blushed.
“We need to get out,” Zo muttered and strode off in the general direction of the mountain.
Perhaps he understood her need to concentrate on the other spell, because Arkon ceased his questioning and instead picked the other two packs. He handed one to Leo, and they both followed her.
She’d walked the entire night and now the spell was draining her remaining energy. And yet, Zo realized the need to be as far away from these women as was possible. Without any rest, they walked for a long time.
Suddenly, a prick of pain pierced her mind as the illusion she was maintaining shattered with a sharp snap. Zo stumbled on a tree root that protruded from the soil. Arkon gripped her arm, preventing a fall.
She breathed deeply, sweat beading on her forehead. “They know you’re gone.”
Arkon’s anxious gaze settled on her face. “Are you alright?”
Zo wiped the sweat off with the sleeve of her gown. Maintaining the illusion had taken its toll on her strength. Her muscles quivered as she breathed steadily, trying to regroup her energy.
“Someone must have gone in and touched you,” she said. “That would break the illusion.”
“We’ve come long way from their lair. Perhaps we should rest.” A note of worry crept in Arkon’s voice as he took in her shaking hands and sallow color.
Zo shook her head. With a belief born out of instinct, she knew the women would follow them. They probably knew the forest like the back of their hands since they dwelled here. It was important to get away before the chase began.
“We’ll walk,” she said. “We should make the best of the daylight. We can stop later for rest.”
They marched on for a long time, heading in the direction of the mountain. It took them a considerable time to determine the direction they needed to take. Finally, near evening, they reached the clearing from where the mountain was just a stone’s throw away. After setting up camp, they ate a hot meal. The shadows under the trees lengthened and darkened. Night came into the forest on quick feet.
“They are still after us,” Zo told him in a low whisper. Leo was already settled into his blanket, exhausted by the day’s events. “I am sure of it.”
“They took me by surprise,” Arkon replied, a grim note in his voice. “One of them chained me, and I was unable to move. Next time they will not catch me unaware."
So their chains weren't only able to bind magic, but could also be used against non-magic people. This was an important piece of information. Zo filed it away for future use.
"We should keep watch," Zo said.
"I’ll stay up first.” Arkon offered.
Zo lay down, worry still gnawing at her. It seemed they escaped from one trouble only to run into another. Once again, they were being pursued, and somehow she felt these stalkers were more dangerous than the mages she’d dealt with earlier.
There was so much to do, and they had little time and hardly any resources or energy. It as if the goddess was truly testing her determination to win back the lives of her brother and sister. Zo was unwavering in her commitment. She would persist. No matter what the cost to her, she would save her family. Right now, all she needed was a little sleep – and despite the apprehensions still lodged deep within her soul, her eyes closed as her body craved the rest it needed.
Chapter Fourteen
Early the next morning, Zo, Arkon and Leo peered out from the shadows of the trees and stared at the colossal mountain that blocked their path. Zo craned her head to look up at the peak but this time of the day it was hidden in swirling clouds. Half-way up the mountain, she could make out the edge of a ledge or what could be the plateau.
The goddess had perhaps taken mercy on them because they were at the exact spot from where they would have to start climbing. Zo pointed at a narrow path that meandered its way up until it hid from view in the thick foliage.
Hope fluttered in her heart. By nightfall, she would hold the precious flower of rosem in her hand.
A narrow strip of stones and gravel, fifteen feet wide, separated the mountain from the forest.
Leo yawned as he stood by her side. Zo spared a glance for the young boy, and pity stirred in her heart. This was no life for a young child. They had set a punishing pace since yesterday, and despite a night’s sleep, they were all tired. She wished she had found a safe place to leave him, but now, given the last incident with the akachimas, he would have to stay with them.
They walked out of the forest, heading for the path that would lead them up the mountain. A slight noise distracted Zo. Pivoting, she threw up her shield. Three knives that were hurling towards her stopped in mid-air and collapsed on the ground.
The akachimas surrounded them. The women stood in a semi-circle, some of them holding chains in their hands while others had knives. Zo counted thirteen. They all wore identical green robes with a belt tied around their waist. Silver sharp knives hung from their belts. Despite the fact that she had rested for half the night, Zo knew the women posed a big problem. Their magical chains could render her powerless in a moment, and the knives gleamed lethally.
“What do you want?” said Zo, hoping to negotiate her way out of this tricky situation.
One of the women took two brisk steps forward. She pointed at Arkon. “That man is ours.”
Zo watched as Arkon took an instinctive step back, his revulsion for the women clear on his face. They must have told him what they intended to do with him while he was their captive.
“You can’t have him,” she declared.
“Don’t pick a fight with us, mage,” said the woman. “No matter how powerful you’re, there are more of us, and you won’t leave the woods alive.” Her expression softened. “My name is Sylvia. I’m the chief of my tribe, and I promise you safe passage. We’ll just take your man, and leave you and the boy.”
Zo raised her hands, palms up, and thin streaks of blue fire sparkled and shimmered as they floated in the air, and formed a circle over her head. “You’ll get nothing. Go away and leave us alone.”
“Don’t be silly, mage. Is your life worth that of any man?” The woman’s eyes remained fixed on the fire. “You’ve power and talent. Why waste it on a mere human?”
“He’s my friend, and he’s worth more than the thirteen of you.” Zo didn’t want to initiate a fight. There were too many of them. Arkon and her might be able to take on seven or eight of them out but all it needed was one knife through Leo or Arkon’s heart to end the battle.
She strengthened the magical shield around her companions. It would not save them indefinitely, but would provide some protection from the knives.
The woman raised her hand. Thirteen knives hurtled towards her, followed by thirteen more in the time it took for Zo to blink her eyes. The shimmering circles of fire floating in the air widened as she muttered an incantation. The fire spread high and low to form a protective ring that stopped the
knives, making them fall on the grass, blackened with smoke.
As she readied for the next attack, Zo worried. How many knives did the women have? And how long could she protect everyone? Clearly, to the women, she was a threat because they hadn’t even bothered to attack Arkon or Leo. Possibly, they wanted the boy too, instead of just Arkon.
Arkon stepped closer to her. The unmistakable metallic click of the sword rang in the clearing as he pulled it out of its sheath. From behind the protective blue glimmering barrier of his shield, he gazed at the determined women who surrounded them.
They were at an impasse. Neither could Zo maintain a shield indefinitely nor could she continue her journey until they gave her safe passage. They could not harm her or her companions until she ran out of energy to maintain the shields. She would either have to kill them, or hide behind the shield until they gave up.
Since it didn’t look as if the women would walk away from the inevitable battle, Zo decided to take matters in her own hands. With an expert flick of her hands, she sent more blue fire flying towards them. The women ducked. The fire passed over them easily, but already gusts of wind were hurtling towards them. Two women were swept off their feet and flew into the forest, their screams echoing in the silent terrain.
Eleven knives flew towards them but the shields stopped the attack.
“I don’t want to kill you all,” Zo told the chief. “Don’t test my patience.”
“Don’t underestimate our resolve,” said the woman, no indication of fear on her face. She didn’t turn to search for her two companions. “We’ll stay here as long as it takes for your magic to run out or one of us chains you.”
“They are not bluffing,” said Arkon from the corner of his mouth. He held his sword at the ready, knees bent as he stared at the women.
“No, they are not,” Zo replied.
“We’ll have to kill them,” he said. “All of them. There is no other choice.”
Taking a step forward, Leo held Zo’s hand and stood next to her. “They are not nice,” he whispered.
Zo squeezed his hand. “No. They are not, but don’t worry, nothing will happen to you.” She saw Sylvia’s gaze shift from Arkon to Leo. Her eyes widened. She frowned. Motioning one of her companions forward, she whispered something to the woman, her eyes still on Leo. They stared at the boy, a strange expression on their faces.
It was almost…reverence, Zo realized. Instinctively, she pushed the boy back and stepped in front to hide him from their prying eyes. All the women took a step forward.
One hand raised in warning, Zo gestured for them to stop.
“We’ve decided to give you and the man safe passage,” said Sylvia.
“All of us,” Zo demanded.
“We’ll take the boy.”
Did they intend to use the child? Surely they couldn’t be so depraved? Zo growled, her lips peeled back as anger burned deep inside her. Could these women be such lustful monsters?
“Like hell you will,” Arkon growled and raised his sword as if he wished to thrust it inside the woman’s chest.
“Not for that reason. We don’t use children.” The scornful expression on Sylvia’s face showed she was telling the truth. “Ours is a noble cause. We serve the goddess.”
“By using men and boys for your sexual pleasures?” Zo snorted. Surely, the women didn’t believe this crap?
Anger erupted in the leader’s eyes. “We are guardians of prophets, a sacred task that was entrusted to us centuries ago. To fulfill this, we have forsaken an ordinary life, the comfort of family, sons…” she said.
“There are no more prophets.”
“There was one.” A gleam appeared in the woman’s eyes. “He was the greatest who ever lived, but king Vindha took him away. So many of us died trying to protect him but we couldn’t save him. Even after he was gone, we didn’t give up hope. It was his prediction that a new prophet will come, wearing a sign of the old one, and it will once more fall upon us to write his sacred prophecies.”
“What’s the use of this nonsensical gibberish? Prophecies don’t tell what will be,” Zo scorned. She didn’t place much faith in prophecies. It was a temperamental magic at best. Unpredictable and unreliable, it offered little to its believers. From whatever she had read of prophecies, they were always ambiguous and vague. “The future you see today can be changed by an act of will. Nothing’s carved in stone.”
“You’re a fool, mage. The prophecies tell us what can be and sometimes what will be. It was foretold that our numbers will dwindle until one day a prophet arrives once more to take us into his fold. He will give us glory and power. He will predict the greatest and most wonderful happenings of our time, and beyond.”
“Did a prophecy tell you how you will die?” Zo sent a lightning bolt careening towards the woman. She ducked and the bolt dissolved harmlessly. “You’re only alive because I haven’t decided to kill you yet. Don’t force my hand.”
“Give us the boy.”
Tired of the insane conversation, Zo raised her hands. She didn’t want to kill the women, but if they didn’t deviate from their crazy scheme to kidnap Leo, she wouldn’t hesitate to blow them to cinders.
“Wait! Don’t you realize this boy is a prophet? He needs to be trained in his gift, taught how to use it. He needs us…” another akachima spoke, her eyes fixed unwaveringly on Leo. Zo dropped her hands. “A Prophet?” She shared a perplexed glance with Arkon. “He did tell me about the women when I was trying to find you?” she whispered.
“And he always knew where to find us,” said Arkon. “And the ekeme knew he had magic.”
The two of them stared at each other, unnerved by this discovery.
“I don’t want to stay with them,” said Leo, his voice tremulous. He touched Zo’s arm. “Don’t leave me with them. I want to stay with you.”
“We’ll take good care of him. Our lives will be devoted to his every wish,” said Sylvia. She was trembling with excitement.
Zo stared into the crazed woman’s eyes. “No matter what you do for him, he won’t have the freedom to move away from you. He’ll always be your prisoner. Will you let him experience a happy childhood, a carefree life or the choice to have a family? A wife? Children?”
“Prophets are not ordinary mages. They do not have the liberty to indulge in mundane matters and become distracted from the purpose of their existence.”
“And you feel you have the right to decide the purpose of his life?”
“We’ll protect him with our lives,” Sylvia screamed. The noise reverberated in the quietness of the clearing. “We’ll sacrifice our lives for him should the need arise.”
“And in return for that dedication, you ask him to become a slave to your demands. I don’t think so.” Zo shook her head, cool determination lending an icy edge to her voice. “Even if he’s a prophet, we’re not leaving him at your mercy.”
Sylvia took a threatening step forward. She pointed at Leo with one slender hand. “That boy’s no ordinary mortal. He is the next prophet. He is ours.”
Arkon stepped in front of Zo and Leo.“I don’t think there’s any point in continuing this argument.
Let’s just get it over with.” He tightened his grip on his sword.
He was right, Zo realized. The women had dedicated their lives to this cause. They would not give up their claim on Leo whom they believed was a prophet. She could do nothing to change their mind. So why waste time? No matter how hard she tried to reason with their leader, this was a battle they would not be able to avoid.
Whatever the outcome, they were committed to protecting Leo and gaining entrance to the mountain.
“Let it begin,” she said.
The women ran towards them, hurling knives at Arkon and her. Zo flicked the knives aside as her whirlwind flew into one akachima, flinging her half-way across the clearing. The whirlwind twirled around, splitting into two and took two more akachimas in a furious windy grip. Balls of fire erupted from her hands, setting fire to two wom
en who rolled on the pebbly ground, their screams echoing in the clearing as they beat the flames with their bare hands. A knife whistled past Zo's ears. She ducked and sent a fire bolt whipping towards her target. Another woman issued a scream as she attempted to beat the flames off her shoulder.
An akachima got close enough to whip her chain. Zo barely managed to jump clear. She could not afford to let them bind her power, no matter how temporary the effect lasted. She flicked her hand and two of the knives that had fallen on the floor cleaved through the air and hit the woman in her chest. Spinning around, Zo delivered a blast of flame to another woman who was trying to
chain her. Her hair on fire, the akachima ran into the forest, her screams reverberating through the forest long after she disappeared.
Beside her, Arkon was using his sword to deflect the barrage of knives. His shield was still holding, although Zo detected several holes where the knives had found their target. Luckily he wasn’t hurt – as yet. She muttered an incantation and a few rocks levitated off the ground, flying forward at a terrible speed towards two of the women who were targeting Arkon. The rocks hit them hard and sent them sprawling on the ground.
Zo took stock of the situation. Three women stood firm. Three battled with her whirlwinds, trying to get free from the spinning webs of wind without much success. Sylvia had her hands on Leo’s wrist. She was trying to drag him away but the boy was hitting and punching with all his might. Zo sent a blast of fire towards her, and she jumped clear. Leo ran to Zo. Another set of knives flew towards her. She flicked them aside and directed her whirlwinds towards the remaining enemies. One of them flipped sideward, escaping the whirlwind’s wrath. The other was trapped within its stormy coils.
The Demon Mages (The Power of Three Book 1) Page 17