The Frozen Wasteland

by Candy Crum

  While the bear had been soothed by Cathillian's magic, he was still a wild animal and couldn't be trusted, not without more training and soothing. After what the dark druids had done to him, using their magic to overwhelm, distract, and dominate him, Cathillian was surprised he’d been able to calm him at all.

  Everyone jumped as Celine dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around the bear’s neck, snuggling into his thick fur. The bear grumbled, but didn't growl. In fact, he didn't do much of anything.

  "Sorry, lad," Samuel said. "But I think the girl has bigger balls than ye do."

  "Hey!" Cathillian feigned offense in his expression.

  Samuel laughed. "I heard you screaming like a little girl over there when he came after you. Look at him now."

  Cathillian shrugged, lifting his hands out to the sides. "Well, I calmed him down for her."

  "I'm glad everyone is safe and the jokes have started," Elysia said, "but there are a lot of things to address here. First, why are you back? I'm happy to see you—you have no idea just how happy I am—but why are you back? Second, where is Arryn?"

  Cathillian sighed, all humor leaving him. "Unfortunately, we need to talk."

  A weak groan came from the far right. Everyone looked at Jenna, who was stirring on the ground. She'd been the only one to survive.

  "Yeah, there are some things I need to tell you, too."

  CHAPTER SIX

  Although everyone was anxious to get started, they decided to deal with Jenna and get back to the tribe before talking things out. They all agreed that Jenna should not be told anything about what was happening in Arcadia, and that she should go back in chains and stay that way.

  After they arrived, they tied Jenna to a tree just outside the village and put several guards on her. Cathillian made sure to let them know she was capable of much more with dark nature magic than she had ever been with pure nature magic. Once that had been settled, they made their way back to find Nika waiting for them.

  Cathillian, Samuel, and Celine took turns filling Elysia and the Chieftain in on everything that had happened in Arcadia since they'd been gone. Cathillian was relatively sure his mother was on the verge of exploding, but he was proud of her for holding it together.

  "I can't believe this!" Elysia exclaimed, standing and pacing back and forth. "I can't believe them, and I can't believe you. You should've told me sooner. They don't know who they're fucking with. I'll take our strongest men and reduce that city to nothing but rubble. That bitch will regret ever even speaking to Arryn."

  "Now that's what I'm talking about!" Samuel cheered.

  The Chieftain grunted. "Now, daughter—and rearick—think rationally. You know Arryn. She's a fighter. I highly doubt she succumbed to whatever fate those women had planned for her. You know that we are on the brink of war here as well. We can't afford to lose any men."

  "Yeah," Cathillian agreed. "Plus, the whole city isn't at fault. It's just those two women, the Dean and her mystic partner. The rest of the city is innocent. Whatever hatred they hold for Arryn is because of the mystic’s abilities. It was Arryn's goal to save the city, so destroying it would destroy Arryn."

  "This sounds like something that would be better suited for the Schatten," Nika offered.

  The Schatten were the shadow warriors of the druid community. Their magic was strong, but their skills in fighting and subtlety were superior to all others. If something needed to be done quietly, the Schatten were the ones to get it done.

  Elysia sighed, sitting down and doing her best to relax. "You're right, but I just can't stand the thought of her being out there. We don't know if she is alone. We don't know if she's tied up somewhere. We don't know if she's being tortured. What about using Echo to find her?"

  Cathillian nodded. "Echo has already searched the south for any sign of Arryn, but obviously, she came up empty. There is a lot more ground to cover in the north than in the south, though, so we're starting there next. It's more likely Talia took her north anyway."

  Elysia was pleased with the plan to send Echo on another search. "Good. We'll start today. I want Echo to fly out soon. I'm going to put together a team and find out where the dark druids are hiding, and see if I can find out what their plan is."

  "I suppose that just leaves Jenna. What should we do with her?" the Chieftain asked.

  "After what she did to me, I'd say killing her would be quite fun. However, we need whatever information we can get out of her, though I'm betting it won’t be very much," Cathillian replied. He knew she would never betray her brother, no matter how much it benefited her to do so.

  "The question is, do we keep this from her parents? I worry that if they know she's here, they'll do something stupid," Elysia said.

  Nika shook her head. "Don’t tell them. I know Jenna well, and her parents aren't too far behind her in the deception department. I have no doubt they feel guilt, but I personally think it's nothing compared to their love for their children. If given the chance, they would do whatever it took to save their daughter."

  The Chieftain stood, his eyes momentarily wandering in the direction where Jenna was being held, though he couldn't see her from their location. "For now, this stays between us. We need to learn more before we risk anything else happening."

  "And for the love of all things nature, stay out of her reach," Cathillian warned. "Her death-touch is no joke. She has a lot more magic now than she did before."

  Nika laughed. "Maybe if she would've spent more time practicing instead of worrying about Arryn, she would've been better at nature magic. Her obsession hindered her and eventually drove her to darkness."

  "All that aside," the Chieftain said, "we now know where we need to begin. Cathillian, you should go talk to Echo. Make sure she's well rested and able to make a long trip. After all, you just got back from Arcadia, and that is quite a long flight. Nika, I would like you to speak to the ones guarding Jenna. Explain to them the sensitivity of the duty, and how important it is that they keep their mouths shut. Also, relay Cathillian's message. If her dark magic is that strong, we don't want her touching anyone."

  ***

  It took a couple days to recover from her ram hunt, but it had paid off greatly. Not only was she able to stay warmer by using the skin, she had also been able to craft two daggers, having enough magic now to transform the rock into steel.

  She'd also grown more raspberries, and had enough to last her for a week, as well as the meat she'd gotten from the kill. Minus fires to keep warm and cook the meat, she wouldn't have to use magic anymore.

  That left her with the ability to practice something new. Something she prayed would get her out of there.

  Talia was from the north, so there was no doubt in Arryn's mind that if she made her way down from this mountain Talia would have spies watching for her in all directions, ready to take her and finish the job or deliver her to Talia. It was a risk she didn't want to take.

  Arryn jumped a few times, loosening up her arms as she did. She took a few deep breaths and let them out, thinking to herself how much she wouldn't miss the burn of the cold air in her lungs when she got down to sea level.

  Her rabbit friend sat on the sidelines, nose twitching as always, his little eyes focused on her. "Today's the day!" Arryn told him. "I'm gonna do it. I will make this happen."

  The rabbit didn't respond, only continued to sit there and watch.

  "You're a terrible conversationalist."

  Arryn steadied herself, her eyes turning black as she began to concentrate on her magic. She'd never tried to teleport—she'd never been formally taught—but she had seen it done and felt the magic that was involved. She had faith that she could re-create it if she worked hard enough.

  Just don't go far and you'll be fine, she thought to herself. You can do this. You can do this, and you can get back to Arcadia. You can kill that bitch and end the suffering in the city. Just focus.

  Arryn focused on the magic swelling around her, slowly allowing it to surround every i
nch of her. She stared at a flat area about twenty feet away, concentrating on that spot in hopes that she might land there.

  Taking another deep breath, she tightened her hold on the magic, drawing it to herself. The magic slammed against her, throwing her back several feet, but teleporting her nowhere.

  "Gah! Fuck!" she yelled as she rolled onto her back and grabbed her knee. It had slammed hard onto the snow and the hidden rock beneath, tearing a small hole in her pants as well as in the flesh that lay beneath.

  She sat there for a few more moments, hissing in pain before standing again.

  Looking over, she saw that the rabbit had covered his little eyes with his paws. "Oh, shut up, you overgrown cotton ball. You might not actually have the ability to laugh, but I can sense it from over here."

  Arryn limped back to her original spot. Her knee was throbbing, but she refused to expend the magic required to heal it. She didn't plan to use magic for anything that wasn't necessary.

  Taking a few extra deep breaths, Arryn decided to try again. As soon as she had the magic wrapped around her, she pulled it in tightly again, this time making sure there was equal pressure on all areas.

  She assumed she hadn’t had good contact on one side or another, allowing the magic to push her back instead of carrying her where she needed to go. Of course, she had no idea how the mechanics worked; all she had were guesses.

  Once again, the magic slammed into her, but this time her vision went black before she slammed into the ground. She grunted and rolled onto her back once more, wincing in pain.

  "This would be so much easier with a teacher. I've never heard of anyone being launched into a wall or down the street when they learned how to teleport."

  Then again, not many people are actually strong enough to try it.

  She sat up and looked at her surroundings. Not only had she moved much farther, she'd landed in the spot she'd aimed for. At that moment, she realized she hadn't actually seen the journey. Everything had been black. Her eyes darted to her furry friend, who was staring at her with great interest.

  "Did you see it? Did I do it?" she asked.

  He squeaked at her. She pushed just enough magic to allow her to see flashes of what the rabbit had seen. It wasn't much since there was no real bond, but she did see the moment she’d disappeared entirely.

  Arryn jumped up, pain all but forgotten. "Yes!" she shouted, raising her hands to the sky in triumph. "I did it! It hurt like hell, but I did it!"

  Laughing from excitement and realizing she more than likely looked like a crazy person right then, Arryn made her way back over to her original spot. She felt energized, delighted by the fact that her tries weren't expending very much magic. Or perhaps her magic was getting stronger because she had no choice but to use it to exhaustion, rest, and begin again.

  To her, being stuck on this mountain was equivalent to the training she'd seen the warriors go through in the forest. Train all day until collapsing, rest, wake up and do it again. Eventually, the body got used to it and grew stronger. She'd been told magic was the same, but she'd never had the ability to test the theory before.

  It was possible she now had more magic than what she had come here with.

  Arryn swung her arms a little bit, once again loosening herself up. Her eyes turned black as she called the magic for a third time.

  I'm coming for you, Talia. Possibly, very soon.

  ***

  Celine stared down at the throwing knives in her hand, assessing their weight. During the earlier battle with the dark druids, she'd thrown one with surprising accuracy and hit one of them in the thigh. It hadn’t been a killing throw, but it had struck him, allowing Samuel to overpower him and take him down.

  One of the warriors had been kind enough to show her to the Versuch pit so she could practice throwing at the targets set up just outside the barriers. She lifted the knife, pulling it back over her shoulder as Samuel had taught her to do, and loosed it. The blade struck the lowest part of the target, right where the crotch would have been had it been a man.

  "Damn, lass," Samuel said as he approached. "That's enough right there ta make a man kill himself fer ye."

  Celine laughed. "Well, what fun would it be to just end it so soon?"

  Samuel chuckled. "Remind me never ta piss ye off."

  Had it been anyone else, she wouldn't have wanted them around while she was practicing, but Samuel had been the one to teach her in the first place, so she didn't mind. She selected another blade from her left hand, pulled it back over her shoulder, and threw it hard. This time, the blade landed a little higher, around bellybutton height.

  "Very nice," Samuel said. "Remember ta release in respect ta the height of the person yer throwin’ at. I think yer releasing just a bit too late, resultin’ in a lower throw. But that’s good if yer attackin’ someone like me."

  She laughed and nodded. "Okay, I'll try to release a little sooner."

  Samuel went to her right side and gently wrapped his hand around her wrist. He stood behind her as he eyed the target. Lifting her arm, he told her, "I'm just a little shorter than ye, so I'm not sure if this is right, but try releasin’ right about here. See how that suits ye."

  She swallowed hard, smiling nervously before nodding again. She found herself feeling a little more sensitive to him than usual. Ever since the night he had first shown her how to throw a knife, she'd noticed there was a bit more to him than the rough exterior all rearick exhibited. He was a good man, and a gentle man. He was also a little more than a decade older than her.

  Samuel had a similar nervous smile on his own face as he backed away, his eyes quickly finding the ground. "Anyway, let's see how that works."

  Celine took the final throwing knife in her right hand, lifted it over her shoulder, and threw, making sure to release where Samuel had instructed her to. The blade stuck hard into the target, striking close to where the left shoulder would be.

  "I did it!" she exclaimed, a large smile spreading across her lips.

  "Aye, ye did! Now, go get yer knives and do it again."

  Still smiling, her eyes met his. He seemed genuinely happy, even excited for her. Before she could stop herself, it came tumbling out. "Why aren't you married, Samuel?" The moment the words left her mouth, her eyes widened. "I'm sorry. That's really personal."

  Samuel waved a hand in the air. "Na, it's fine. It is personal, and I don't much care for talkin’ about it most days, or even thinkin’ about it, but I suppose it couldn't hurt to tell ye."

  She quickly went to fetch her knives and came back. "Really, you don't have to say anything if you don't want to. I shouldn't have asked. It's just… Everyone else thinks you're just a rough rearick. You fight with the rest of them, and you're damn good at it, but you're also surprisingly gentle and supportive. I've learned a lot from you in the short amount of time we've known each other. Just seems a guy like you would have someone in his life."

  He nodded, his eyes focused on the ground as he shifted his weight to his left foot and absentmindedly kicked at a rock. "Well, I appreciate that. Unfortunately, I'm not so sure that life is in the stars for me anymore. I had a wife and a daughter. The girl was just like me, only a hell of a lot cuter." They both laughed at that.

  Celine was cautious as she proceeded. "May I ask what happened?"

  He sighed and nodded, giving her a slight smile as he extended his hand. "I'm not much fer heartfelt conversations, lass. Hand me those knives. Maybe I'll teach ye ta throw better and distract meself while I talk."

  She smiled and handed over the throwing knives, taking a step back. Samuel tossed one in the air a few times, catching it by its sharp tip every time. Then, he focused on the target, sizing it up as he prepared himself.

  "Her name was Alyssa, my little girl. My wife's name was Beth." Tossing the knife one last time, he caught it by the tip, lifted it over his shoulder, and threw. The blade struck hard and dead center in the target, right where the heart would be. "My little girl loved ta go fishin’ and
huntin’ with ‘er pop, so I took ‘er every time I went out. I was even teachin’ ‘er how ta throw a knife, just like I'm teachin’ you."

  He paused for a moment and stared at the blade he now held in his right hand. Then he looked at the target and prepared to throw again as he began talking once more.

  "My wife was as feisty as they came. That's why I liked ‘er. She was a fighter, and liked ta learn. She let me raise my little girl the same way. Unfortunately fer us, some battles just can't be won." There was a pause as a grimace crossed his face, his features showing anger. "I was on a delivery to Arcadia. That rat bastard Adrien had increased his order, so I was gonna be gone longer this time. My wife took my daughter on a hunting trip, expectin’ ta be back the same day. The remnant had other plans."

  Celine's hand lifted her mouth to cover the small gasp she couldn’t help but let out. She felt terrible for having asked him, but honored that he had found it in his heart to tell her his story.

  "I'm so sorry to hear that," Celine stated, "although sorry doesn't even begin to cut it."

  He launched another knife, the blade hitting the target right next to the first. "No worries, lass. Nothing can bring ‘em back, and no words can replace ‘em. But with a heart as big as yers is, I know just how much ye mean those words. Thank ye. Honestly, that's the first time I've spoke of it since just after it happened. In the end, that was why I joined the battle for Arcadia. I was a straggler comin’ in toward the end and it damn near killed me, but as far as I was concerned, my family died because Adrien was a selfish prick."

  "Fighting for the city was like avenging your family. It was a way of coping for you," Celine guessed.

  He smiled. "I didn't deal the killin’ blow—I didn't even get ta see it—but I sure as hell heard what happened to ‘im. That girl Hannah did a good enough job fer me. I'll take that, and let my family's memory rest in peace. Past that, I just carry on every day. I know my little girl wouldn’t want her pop pushin’ the world away and actin’ like an old grump." He laughed. "Well, no more ‘n usual, anyway."