by Brindi Quinn
“WH-”
I started a cry, but luckily, the ‘someone’ was there to muffle it with their palm. I’d been in this situation before. Several times.
Nyte?
He turned me around and held a finger to his lips before releasing his hold on my mouth. Then he looked at the open flap, lifted his brows, and tilted his head at the farthest tent. I nodded, and he took his hand in mine. The mist rain continued to fall around us as we stole away together to the tent’s refuge. We were two bandits on the prowl, in danger of being caught by a Daem and Magir partnering that had no intention of sharing their secrets.
Wet and confused, we exchanged only unspoken questions. Neither of us had answers, so unspoken exchange was good enough. For the thousandth time, a new mystery had been thrown in my face, but this time, I had someone to share in my oblivion.
Chapter 7: The Crossing
Nyte and I decided that the best tactic for getting the information out of Ardette would be for me to approach him when he was behaving in a manner least smug. Like that would happen anytime soon. At least I could be glad that Ardette was secretly on board with finding another way out of this whole mess, even if he wasn’t showing it.
“Yes, let’s just continue into suicide, shall we? A foolhardy plan if I’ve ever seen one. You continue to amaze me, my cherry, with your persistent and blatant defiance of the prophecy.”
“The least honorable thing, if you ask me, would be for Elfy there to outrun his duty. Completely irresponsible that one is.”
“Don’t worry, my cherry, I’ll care for you after your boy’s gone. Oh, but wait. I’ve an even tastier idea. Why not start now? Save ourselves the trouble of those awkward beginnings of courtship. Hm? No? How disappointing.”
It was hard, but I ignored him, continually reminding myself that it was all a façade to cover the fact that he actually cared for his rival’s wellbeing.
Still, Ardette. You make it hard, don’t you? You play an excellent villain.
From the geyser, we’d hopped into the buggy and headed deeper into Nor. The best case scenario usually never happened, but this time, luck was on our side. As it turned out, the geyser had been the thing blocking Nyte’s perception, and once we were around it, he was back to detection duty at full force. There was, however, a not-so-delightful side effect of making it beyond the dome. On the other side, the mist intensified, and along with it, on overpowering feeling of Feirgh’s sadness. Almost immediately, Rend and Nyte were forced to cast their red barrier around the party.
The barrier was much stronger than the one Rend had previously cast on her own, attributed to the fact that Nyte was now the ‘most powerful Elf alive’. It took him a few tries to keep it solid, but after practice, it was as shielding as intended. Even so, its reach stretched only far enough to cover half of the buggy. Thus, we were all confined to a relatively small space. It was a circumstance that drove Kantú crazy, though Ardette was enjoying it to an annoying extent.
“Splendid. Now we’ll have to cuddle, won’t we?”
Nope, that smugness wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Another inconvenience caused by this, was that Nyte and Rend had to sit virtually back-to-back in order to share the spell’s power. If they drifted too far apart, the spell would be split into two and weaken. Therefore, any hopes of showing Nyte affection or conversing privately with him were cast into the mist. It was something that only brought Ardette more glee.
Stupid Ardette.
I’d lost track of how many times he’d offered his lap to me.
“Yo-ho, guys! Someone want to take over for me? Getting a little munchie back here!” Trib still hadn’t been relieved of her pilot’s duty.
Grotts and Scardo shrugged to each other. It was made clear by their exchange that Scardo wasn’t at all interested in the proposition – he’d been clingy toward me ever since my wandering stunt – but Grotts seemed secretly excited at the thought of commanding the vessel.
“Sure, Trib!” called the massive man. Then to Scardo, “I’ll take this one, alrigh’?”
“Oh? Are you quite sure?” asked Scardo, but he didn’t put up much of a fight.
The two Crystairians exchanged places, and it was Trib’s turn to be bombarded with sleazy invitations from Ardette.
“Hello there, lovely.”
“No thank you, Mr. Ardetto, sir!”
Sir? At least I’d finally get a break.
From there on, the ride was mostly uneventful. A day passed. And then another. By the third, we were all as stir crazy as Kantú.
“Heavens!” cried Rend during what I assumed was the afternoon of day three. The usually-rigid Elf was slumped against her cousin’s back – as she’d been for quite some time now. This abnormal ‘slump’ was attributed to the fact that the two of them had been constantly holding the dual spell with no rest for days. They were finally growing ragged. “How long did this journey take you to complete the last time, Sape?!”
Trib cracked her knuckles and contemplated.
“We were on foot,” she said. “So . . . oh, I don’t know. A week or two? The mist was A LOT thinner then, though. And it wasn’t really depressing or anything either. Probably because there weren’t any Feirgh around!”
She was still just as loud as she’d been at our first encounter. Rend’s response, however, was even louder, despite how tired she must’ve been.
“A WEEK OR TWO?! Certainly you cannot be serious!”
Why we’d never discussed an estimated time of arrival before was beyond me, but the thought of spending any longer in the buggy was an unwelcome thought indeed.
“I do not understand!” continued Rend, fighting to keep her head up. “Why have we yet to encounter a Feirgh? Their sorrow floods the mist beyond this barrier, yet we have not sighted one! It does not make sense!”
From over his shoulder, Nyte issued a tired command. “Calm yourself, Cousin. Do not waste your energy so carelessly. You know that it is vital for you to conserve your strength.” But his head, too, was bobbing.
“Are there no more geysers in which for us to make camp?” said Rend, and she was only slightly calmer. “I would assume the pilot to know that much at least!”
Trib answered, “You know, I’m not real sure! I thought we should have hit one yesterday, but it seems like we were a little off course!”
“Creator! You must be joking! How are we to know, therefore, that we are not simply going in circles?!”
“Because,” answered Nyte quietly, pulling his bobbing head up, “the cries are getting louder. Are they not, Darch?”
That was news to me.
“Really? You can hear them even through the barrier? So we’re definitely still going the right way?” I looked to Darch for verification and he nodded. “Then why haven’t we encountered a Feirgh yet, Darch?” I asked. “Do you know? I’m not complaining or anything, I just can’t believe our luck’s been that good.”
“Hm.” Darch made a face that read, ‘I-know-something-but-I-really-don’t-want-to-share-because-you’re-probably-not-going-to-like-it’. So I’d been right. Our luck wasn’t that good. As it would turn out, our luck was actually pretty bad.
Twiddling his thumbs, the Magir stared into his lap and said nothing.
That was troubling.
“DARCH?!” roared Grotts. “If ya know something, fer Pete’s sake, spit it on out, would ya?!”
Darch refused to look up. “Well . . .”
“Darch?” I prodded, growing anxious.
“Nyte,” he said at last, “correct me if I’m wrong, but not only have the distant cries grown louder, they’ve also grown more . . . hm.”
“More what?!” urged Scardo, eyes bulging slightly.
Darch bit his lip. “Tormented.”
“T-t-tormented?!” cried Kantú. Shivering, she snuggled into Grotts’ side. It had become her last place of refuge since being confined to the buggy.
“Nyte?” I pressed. “Is that true?”
&nbs
p; He looked to Darch and then gave one concerned nod.
Ardette shook his head in disbelief. Then, faking a smile, he clapped a few sarcastic claps that were echoless within the eerie bubble. “Wow,” he said, continuing to applaud “What a pair you two are. Why, how kind of you to share your findings with the rest of us. Isn’t that right, my pit? Wasn’t that generous of them?”
I, too, was annoyed with the both of them, but I was too preoccupied to offer any sort of reprimand because in my head, I was forming a conclusion. And what a terrible conclusion it was.
“No.” I groaned. Loudly. “Don’t tell me. Please, Darch, don’t tell me it’s . . .”
Darch wrinkled his face. “Afraid so.”
“But why didn’t you tell us!? We need a PLAN for something like that!”
“W-what is it, Aura?!” Kantú’s voice was muffled by Grotts’ burly arm. By this time, Scardo had also connected the dots, and along with his understanding came a dreadful melting of his face. It elongated before our eyes in a terrible, messy frown.
“The Feirgh are conglomerating!” he sobbed, hunching forward into a tired pile that was almost as pathetic as the sleepless Rend’s.
“WHAT?!” cried Kantú. “OH NO! That’s terrib-! Wait . . .” She unburied her face enough to sniff the air. “What does that mean?”
“It means they’re formin’ a great big group an’ most likely waitin’ fer us.”
“EEK!” Kantú was gone again in a flash.
“Oh, cripes,” said Trib calmly. “Here we go again.”
Rend glared at her. “Are you not concerned? Unless you have some hidden power – which, lest I remind you, is impossible – we do not stand a chance against them!”
“Okay, you really need to settle. You’re nearly worn out as it is, and getting all up in arms isn’t going to help the situation at all. Ground?”
“ENOUGH WITH THE CREATOR DAMNED ‘GROUND’!” Releasing the last bit of her strength, Rend slouched forward into a scowling heap. I worried the spell would fall with her, but she held strong to it, even though she’d lost all other energy.
“Hey, now,” said Trib. “Rudeness really isn’t necessary. And for your information, I might not have a ‘hidden power’, but I do believe that these two here,” – she pointed her thumbs at Darch and Nyte – “have a ‘secret plan’ or something? They wouldn’t let their two most important people just be thrown into a mass of killer mistwalkers without having anything in mind, right?”
“Two most important people?” said Kantú, again peeking out only enough to get her question answered.
Darch looped his arm around Ardette’s bicep and nestled his face against it lovingly like some sort of pet.
“Ugh.” Ardette rolled his eyes. “Get off.”
“Uhhh . . .” Really? I grinned. Huh. “Anyways,” I said, immediately replacing the grin with a furrow, “is that true? Do you guys have a plan?”
“We sure do!” Darch smiled. “You’re gonna sing!”
“What?! That’s your plan?” Ardette threw his admirer aside forcefully. “Damn it, Darch! I always knew you were an idiot, but-”
“Ardetto!” Darch frowned and resumed his hold. “Let me finish!”
“This had better be good, or you’re going overboard.”
“Oh, it’s more than good! Trust me. It’s great!”
Ardette sighed. “On with it.”
“Okey dokey! Well, we’re assuming that the Feirgh are gathered at the point of crossing. We were thinking that Aura could pull from Nyte’s power-”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” This time, I was the one to react. I jumped from my seat. “Waaaaait a second. If you think I’m using the pendant, you’re completely delusional!”
“We do not have a choice, Aura,” said Nyte, straightening up. “We need a song that will provide a path through the Feirgh and quickly divert Lusafael from our trail.”
“But how can we be sure he’ll fall for it again? He had to have realized that last time was a trick! And besides, you hardly have enough strength left to stand, let alone enough to let me suck your spirit!”
There was no way I was going to drain him again. Not a chance.
Nyte reached for my hand. “I know that it is not ideal, but you must consider what is at stake, Aura. There is no other way. It is either this or retreat. Do not fear. If you use my power to isolate the song in another direction, I am certain that it will work again. Lusafael wants you more than anything. Therefore, he will not be able to resist the lead. It is true that he will think it trick, but that does not change the fact that he will be unable to tell where you are. Together we can split the song apart and push it far. We will be hidden in the midst of confusion.”
“Okay, fine. There’s a small chance it’ll work. But I’m still not doing it! I’m still not going to use the emulator pendant! You’ve no power to spare anyway, Nyte!”
“This time, it will not just be me.”
“What do you mean it ‘won’t just be you’?”
“We are not positive that it will work, but we do have a plan. However, we will need the Daem’s cooperation if we hope to survive.”
“What?” Ardette cocked a brow. “ME? Hmph. This should be interesting.”
~
“URGH!” Clutching his ears, Nyte doubled over yet again.
“NYTE!” I was next to him, kneeling – my hands firmly planted over his. It was torment to see him like this. The cries of the mist had become unbearable for him. And Darch too. The buggy’s pace was slow, just barely a glide. We’d been forced to decelerate on account of our detector’s condition. Even so, Nyte held the barrier around us.
“Trib!” I yelled. “I don’t know how much longer he can take this!”
“We’re almost there! I’m sure of it!”
“I do hope you’re right!” cried Scardo. He was behind Rend, supporting her tired frame.
“I’m so sure, kids! Just hold tight a little longer!”
We held tight a little longer. And then a lot longer. Darch was whimpering with his face buried in Ardette’s shirt.
“Hear that, Darch? She says just a tad longer. Not that she’s been right about much . . . but I digress. Let’s just hope for the best, shall we?”
I was proud of the Daem. He was being surprisingly supportive of his suffering friend and had even refrained from cocky remarks since hearing ‘the plan’ a day earlier.
The plan.
The last time we’d had one, it’d gone off-kilter because of him . . . because of his secret plottings, but in the end it had all worked out. Would we be so fortunate this time?
More time passed, and I concentrated on trying to soothe Nyte’s ears. There was really nothing I could do, but I stayed at his side, cradling his head and humming internally.
Be with him, Creator.
The mist continued to float by until, at long last, when it seemed like we’d all be driven insane, Trib cried out a triumphant,
“Ahoy!”
“Please tell me that means we’re there,” I said. But I was already becoming apprehensive at the thought of what was waiting ahead for us.
“Yup!” Trib pulled down on one of the strings. “According to the map, any moment now, we’ll-”
But she didn’t need to finish the statement. At that very moment, the buggy bumped into something. Something solid. Something massive.
“What’s that?!” I yelled, jolting. “Where are we?!”
“The point of crossing,” said Trib. She hopped down from her post. “And that means we’ve all got to get ready! Mr. Ardetto?”
“Uh. I think I won’t, after all.”
“Ardette!” scolded Kantú.
“Fine, fine. How disgusting. Never thought I’d see the day where I’d have to enter him again.” Ardette glared scathingly down at Nyte.
“You – and – I – as – well,” huffed Nyte.
Scardo shook his head. “It would be wise to keep your strength, Nyte.” He sniffed at Ardette. “Please, try
to refrain from provoking him.”
“Chop, chop, everybody! Focus, please! If you hadn’t noticed, we’re HERE!” Trib ran about the buggy, ordering commands and tugging at people’s cloaks.
“Wait a minute,” said Grotts. “But if we’re here, then where’re the Feirgh?”
“Up there, I’d assume!” Trib pointed up to the top of the massive thing we’d just bumped into.
“And, er, just what is that?” Grotts was already starting to carry out his role like a professional even though he was most likely just as confused and unsure as the rest of us. “Mind sharin’? Before things get, ya know, intense?”
Intense? That was an understatement.
“It’s the rising,” explained Trib, urgency in her voice. “At the top is a plateau that stretches the entirety of Nor. It’s like a bridge to the other side . . . . But that doesn’t matter right now! You guys ready?” She snapped in Scardo’s face. “Hey! Lollygaggers!”
“Yup!” said Grotts, pulling Darch from Ardette’s lap.
Scardo, who was now helping an exhausted Rend to her feet, frowned at the snap before nodding. Free from Darch, Ardette moved to begin helping Nyte to his feet. Trib grabbed Nyte’s arm and assisted in the lift. Even Kantú was moving into position, but I was still just rooted in place – the only person failing at performing their part of the plan. That apprehension had gotten the best of me.
What if it didn’t work? What if I drained Nyte for nothing? What if-
“Cherry pit! Concentrate, would you?! Your role in all of this is slightly important!” When he saw my paralyzed state, Ardette stopped to put a hand on my cheek. “You’ll be fine. We’ll all be fine.”
They were just words, but they were reassuring enough to put me in motion.
“R-right,” I said. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry.” He tapped my cheek in a gentle slap. “Just be quick!”
I nodded, grasping at determination. Here went nothing . . . I guessed.