The sun dipped lower in the sky, stretching shadows out ahead of them. They rode away from the river a little ways, and then, with a nod to Joran, Ky’ara retreated into her magic and opened the portal in front of them. They rode forward and disappeared. The portal closed, the flash of light blending with the last gleam of the sun’s rays as it sank beneath the horizon.
* * * * *
Lauryn watched Nori with concern. The woman who earlier had trod so expertly over the terrain was stumbling through the undergrowth, swaying a little on her feet. The light was fading, making it more difficult to see, but Nori didn’t seem to have noticed, her glazed eyes focused on whatever imperceptible trail she was following.
“That’s enough for today,” Sukylar said finally, much to Lauryn’s relief. She’d been about to suggest stopping, but without him to back her up, it was unlikely she’d have been able to make Nori listen.
Sukylar put a hand on Nori’s shoulder, and to Lauryn’s surprise, the Elysian woman didn’t fight as he guided her over to a fallen log and made her sit. The woman rubbed her temples wearily, and then slowly let her chin sink to her chest as she cradled her face in her hands, eyes closed. Lauryn and Sukylar exchanged a concerned look.
“We shouldn’t build a fire, not if we want to avoid alerting Iregh to our presence,” Sukylar said, “But we should all eat something and then go to bed. I’ll take first watch...can I wake you after midnight?”
Lauryn nodded, then rummaged around in her pack for some dried meat. She brought a stick to Norika and nudged the woman to get her attention. Nori wearily lifted her head. When she saw the meat she took it from Lauryn’s outstretched hand and gave the girl an unenthusiastic smile.
“Your head hurts?” Lauryn asked, watching the woman’s eyes to gauge her level of mental clarity.
Norika grimaced. “Yes.”
“Can you follow my finger with your eyes?” Lauryn slowly moved her finger back and forth a foot or two from Nori’s face. Nori sighed and did as instructed.
“Do you mind if I feel the back of your head?” Lauryn asked, walking around to get a view of the wound.
Nori shrugged. “What good is this examination going to do? I’m following the wizard regardless of what you determine about my health.”
“It will give me an idea of whether to take anything you say seriously or not,” Lauryn replied rather caustically, gently probing the back of Nori’s head with her hands.
“Ow!” Nori winced as Lauryn’s fingers discovered the bruise on the back of her skull.
“It’s still a little swollen, but that’s to be expected considering how much movement you’ve been doing. I think you’ll be fine, if you get enough rest...just let me know if you start to experience any issues with your vision or your headache is worse when you wake up.”
Nori grunted noncommittally, but she ate the meat Lauryn had given her and then got out her bedroll and laid on her side with one arm under her head, to keep pressure off the injured part. Lauryn put her own bedroll next to the log, so she could lay with her back to it and still have a view of the injured woman, just in case. Without her worries about Norika to occupy her thoughts, she was afraid her thoughts would drift to the object of their pursuit. She wasn’t ready to deal with the pain that always came when she contemplated her father, so she fixated on Norika’s injury instead, mentally cataloguing the herbs she had seen along their path that might be of use as either pain relievers or inflammation reducers, should the need arise. Before she realized she had drifted off to sleep, Sukylar was gently shaking her arm, rousing her for her shift at watch.
* * * * *
Iregh stumbled forward blindly, banging his toe against another infernal tree root or stick and nearly falling flat on his face. Darkness had fallen before he could find a decent spot to hide for the night, and with the rebels certainly pursuing him, he didn’t want to risk just laying out in the open. Moving in the darkness had proven more difficult than he’d anticipated. He bent and felt what he’d tripped over, which turned out to be a fallen branch the length and breadth of his arm. Iregh hurled the thing against a nearby tree, then instantly regretted it as the resounding thwack echoed through the darkness. It was foolish of him to let his emotions get the best of him; doing so would only get him captured again.
He took a deep breath and calmed himself, then probed the spot in his mind where he could feel the spell suppressing his magic. It felt as firm as ever, despite his growing distance from the rebel camp. Suppressing the urge to hit the tree again, he sat against its trunk and leaned his head back, closing his eyes. He would rest as long as he could and then start again at first light. Eventually the spell would break, and when it did he intended to leave this shades-cursed forest in flames.
Chapter 18: Magic
Calistra stared into the darkness outside her tent, worrying. She never should have let Joran leave on such a hare-brained mission. Of course, she’d thought that the first time she had sent him on a spying mission at only twelve years old, and nearly every time after that up to and including when he’d gone to the capital to find A’kiina. He’d always come back. She had to trust that he could handle himself. But can he handle the Destroyer? She pushed the thought away. Ky’ara was nothing short of amazing sometimes. She and Joran had defeated Ekzhad and captured Iregh. They would find a way to defeat Il’esandra.
“Contemplating life again, my dear?” Geri asked, entering her tent without so much as a by-your-leave. Her guards had gotten too used to his frequent comings and goings, she thought idly.
“I think I’ve mentioned the need for addressing me properly,” she said irritably, “Referring to your superior as “my dear” is hardly proper.”
“Neither is kissing her,” Geri said, grinning wolfishly as he strode across the tent and took her face in his hands. She blushed and tried to protest, but the words stuck in her throat. His grin softened a bit, and she thought she detected a hint of uncertainty in his eyes as he leaned over and gently kissed her forehead. “You were thinking about Joran, I assume?” he asked, meeting her eyes almost defiantly as she tried to collect her befuddled thoughts. She nodded. He really could read her better than anyone.
“I feel so helpless...what can I possibly do to aid them from here? All we are is a minor distraction for the King, hardly the kind of serious threat the Destroyer needs to worry about.”
Geri moved away and took up his self-proclaimed thinking spot—perched on a stool next to her desk. He eyed her measuringly. “You, my dear, could never be a minor distraction.”
She gave him an exasperated look. Ever since his injury, his flirting had gone from occasionally overt to incessantly so. Not that she minded entirely, but it was distracting and it set a bad example for the other captains. How was she supposed to focus on a campaign strategy if he was always pulling her mind away to...Calistra sighed and shook her head. “Sometimes you’re brilliant, Geri.”
“Only sometimes?” he said with a look of mock outrage.
“If all I can be is a distraction, I need to be the most distracting distraction I can be.”
“...and that’s supposed to sound brilliant?” Geri looked at her sideways and then yelped when she swatted at him.
“So far I’ve been playing it safe, taking time to gather support and trying not to be too flashy with our magic...but I need to become a major distraction, make as much noise as possible so that if Ky’ara and Joran have to use magic to make it to the capital, it gets lost in the chaos of all the other magic occurring. If I keep the Destroyer's attention focused on me, maybe she won’t be prepared to face Ky’ara. ”
Geri nodded thoughtfully. “You also don’t want the King to send out an overwhelmingly large army to crush you and have your mages exhausted from creating a show.”
“True,” Calistra replied, she continued in a softer voice, “It’s a hard line to walk. We have to keep them from suspecting what Ky’ara is trying to do. And if it comes down to the destruction of the organization or the fa
te of the world…”
Geri read what was in her eyes and nodded slowly. He understood the choice she would make. He reached across the desk and rested his hand on hers, curling his fingers around it comfortingly. She looked down at their hands and then felt her gaze drawn back to his face. For once it held no teasing twinkle in his eye or wry smile on his lips. There was only an intensity about his gaze that she wasn’t used to seeing there, and yet, he also looked hesitant...vulnerable even. She leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the cheek. “Thank you Geri.”
He just smiled, a bit of his ordinary bravado creeping back into his expression. And then suddenly he was behind the desk, holding her to him, kissing her with a fierceness that sent fire racing through her bones, driving away all her worries and making her feel safe and helpless all at once. Too soon it was over. His arms relaxed their grip and he started to pull away. She looked up at him and caught a flicker of guilt in his eyes. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have…”
“No, you shouldn’t,” she whispered, and then she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him right back. She lingered just long enough to show him she meant it, and then stepped back and straightened her uniform with a quick tug, running a hand through her hair to make sure it wasn’t mussed.
“Now, if I’m going to create a light show for the King, I may as well start now. Could you be a dear and get me something to eat from the commissary? Spellcasting is hungry work.”
Geri nodded reluctantly. He took a short breath and then his teasing smile was back in place. “Speaking of light shows…”
She rolled her eyes and shooed him away with one hand while she perused the papers on her desk so she could organize them before packing them away. “Yes, yes, we all know you’re a good kisser.”
“Only good?” He asked. There was an edge of sincerity to his tone that surprised her. She put down her papers and fixed him with a pointed look.
“Gerian Dimead, you are beyond doubt the most annoying, ridiculous, cabbage-brained man I've ever met. You also happen to be thoughtful, kind, brave, endearing, and a spectacular kisser—and you know it. Now go get me something to eat!"
Geri left the tent with a grin and a wink. Calistra fought down the urge to throw her pen at him and settled with rolling her eyes instead, but she couldn’t suppress the smile that somehow kept tugging the corners of her lips upwards. Trying to pull her thoughts back to the task at hand, she murmured a few short spells—generalized protection spells with an added burst of power that would make enough noise to draw the Destroyer’s attention without seeming excessively threatening. It was enough to make her tired, and she fought the temptation to close her eyes as she pulled a sheet of paper toward her and began drafting a schedule of spell casting assignments to keep the organization’s mages busy over the next few days. With any luck, it would help Ky’ara and Joran slip past the Destroyer’s notice.
* * * * *
Iregh straightened, feeling something change within him. A shift, ever so slight, in the workings of his mind. The rebel woman’s spell was weakening. Finally! He pushed against the barrier in his mind, feeling it give a little. This time he struck it hard, hitting the mental block with a concentrated burst of thought. The barrier broke, and suddenly it felt like he could breathe again. He murmured a word under his breath and watched as a small flame flickered to life in his palm. It danced there for the briefest of moments and then went out. A smile spread across his face. It might not be much, but it was a start.
Night was swiftly falling, but Iregh pressed on for as long as he could. The more distance between him and the rebel mage, the better. The spell might not be fully gone, and he couldn’t risk it reasserting itself by morning. He was exhausted from a day of trekking through the forest. Much as he wanted to blast these trees to bits and pull himself back to the capital, he needed to rest first. Creating a shadow-path was difficult work, and a tired mind could easily make a mistake that resulted in the mage wandering for eternity. He would sleep as soon as he found a suitable hiding spot, and then first thing in the morning he was getting out of this cursed place.
* * * * *
Ky'ara and Joran exited the portal into a shadowy forest clearing. They dismounted and Joran did a preliminary check of the surroundings while Ky'ara rested against a tree. It was getting easier to connect the spaces with her mind, but it still took a lot out of her. Joran unloaded her bedroll for her and laid it out without having to be asked. She sank down onto it with a grateful sigh, meaning to just rest for a moment.
The next thing she knew, sunlight was streaming through the trees. She sat up groggily and looked around. The clearing looked pretty much the way she remembered it. The trees had grown, but there were still signs of the spell she used against the troll that had attacked her—branches that grew at odd angles from being broken, rough patches on the bark of the large trees, and a few dead stumps from the smallest trees that had snapped completely off.
She avoided trying to remember exactly where the troll had fallen. Its bones had likely been carried off by scavengers, but there were probably some smaller bits remaining beneath the undergrowth. Shaking off the pull of the memories, she took the food that Joran offered her and then helped him saddle the horses. Not much later, they set off through the trees. If everything went well, they would reach the boundaries of her property by midday. She didn’t know what to expect—it had been a year since Mier had closed up the house and left to seek refuge in Ainon Caseia. It may have been claimed by another family, but she doubted it. No one would risk the connection to someone who was wanted by the crown. Her anticipation grew with every mile of forest they passed through. They were getting close.
* * * * *
Lauryn followed Sukylar and Norika through the dense undergrowth, feeling the dew seep through her pant legs and into her boots. She tried to tread as lightly as the two adults did, but Sukylar was an experienced scout and his footsteps were so carefully placed they made only a bare whisper of sound. Norika’s were even quieter. Lauryn eyed the woman from Brume, trying to gauge whether her head wound was improving or not. Trauma to the skull was tricky, since even with no visible outside injuries there could still be significant damage to the brain. The best indications of a deeper injury were changes in personality or erratic behavior. Lauryn hadn’t known her for long enough to evaluate personality changes. By most gauges running away to chase an enemy you couldn’t possibly beat and likely wouldn’t even catch up to was erratic...but it seemed to be ordinary behavior for Nori.
Sukylar stopped suddenly, raising a hand to indicate they should be quiet. The sound of low, angry chanting filtered through the trees ahead of them. Lauryn nodded once in response to Nori’s inquiring look. That was her father’s voice. She squashed the confusion of feelings that rose within her and forced herself to focus on the present situation. The three of them inched forward and then ducked down, crouching behind a prickly shrub so they had a clear view of the enemy mage.
Iregh stood at the edge of a small clearing, only a few paces from their hiding place. As he muttered beneath his breath a black line appeared in front of him, like a rip in the air from which darkness seeped. It expanded slowly until it was big enough for the mage to step through. Norika’s eyes went wide as she realized she was about to lose her quarry. Too late, Lauryn and Sukylar realized what she was about to do. They both jumped to stop her just as Norika dove towards the now-closing portal.
Chapter 19: Returning Home
Ky’ara looked at the house by the edge of the forest, feeling an odd combination of relief and sadness. She was home, but somehow it wasn't home anymore. It would always mean something to her, of course. She'd mourned her parents during the construction of this house; spent her youth studying and practicing here; celebrated her victorious council election...and locked herself away here after her uncle's assassination. It held memories, but it was still just a house, and she was no longer the ignorant, headstrong girl who'd lived in it. Mier wasn't there, she was back in Doraic
olé with the rebellion. Joran wasn't there, he was by her side. And Taren...he had never even been here.
"It looks the same, doesn't it?" Joran said ruefully, watching her face.
Ky'ara shook her head. "It doesn't," she said softly, "it looks...smaller."
They moved on past the silent house and made their way across the field to the stables. The horses’ care and upkeep had always been paid through a special fund set up by her uncle, the hired hands coming daily to muck out the stalls and exercise the animals. That should have continued even in Mier's absence, but now the stalls and field were empty, the horses likely having been commandeered by the King for his soldiers. There was still feed to use, so Ky'ara and Joran unsaddled and brushed their horses, hanging up their tack and filling the feed and water troughs. Ky'ara bent her forehead to Angallia's for a moment.
"We've been through a lot together, haven't we girl?" She murmured. The horse nuzzled her ear and pushed past her to the feeding trough. She chuckled sadly, "You recognize home too, don't you?"
Leaving the horse was harder than she'd expected. They could've ridden to town and found someplace to tie their horses, but then the animals would be left to fend for themselves and who knows what might happen to them if Ky'ara and Joran couldn't return. Here, at least, they'd be safe. She and Joran left the stable open so the horses could roam the field, but carefully closed the gate behind them. Ky'ara worried somewhat that the horses would give away their presence, but it was unlikely that anyone would come out this far. It was a risk she was willing to take.
Walking took less time than she remembered, and before she had properly wrapped her head around the fact that she might not ever come back again, they were approaching the gates of the city.
The Druids' Legacy Page 27