“Not a clue. The only time I ever saw her was last night before she left.”
“Oh well. She probably slept in the woods.”Jeremy said shaking his head.“I would have after yesterday.”Jeremy’s voice lowered as he planed ahead.“I’ll give her a few more hours before I go looking for her.”
“Good. While you wait, I’ll get some sleep.”Zeeve stated in a gruff voice. With that he toppled onto his back and, like one of those dolls that opened and closed their eyes, his eyes shut before he even hit the blankets. He was approaching the gates to Dreamland when Jeremy closed the door after he left.
Jeremy returned to his own room and changed into some work clothes. His father expected to see him in the shop. After snatching a berry muffin from behind his mother’s back, Jeremy hurried outside. He heard his mother’s scold just as the door shut. With the shutting of the door he was safe…for now anyway. His mother would get him later.
The Carpenter shop was on the south side of town. Jeremy nodded respectful greetings to the early risers of Plarn. Upon reaching the shop, his father set him to work carving chair legs on a foot driven lathe. After that he was to assemble the chairs. His father would then inspect them. If they passed his inspection, Jeremy then had to sand and stain them.
Using the lathe required Jeremy to concentrate on the depth of the blade and the speed which the wood was turned. Unfortunately, he found that he lacked concentration. Jeremy paused in his work often to peer at the woods. Why did he have a nagging feeling that something was not right? It was not an evil feeling, just a suspicion that life wasn’t as it should be. He hadn’t seen Terana yet. That in itself didn’t mean much, but shouldn’t she be back now? Around midmorning, his father let him take a break. As soon as he was released Jeremy was walking out the door. His destination was the thicket room. Terana was likely there, or near there, drawing.
Jeremy’s path led him past the Seedman barn. Kadrean watched him briefly. He was only vaguely curious to see were the lad was going. Soon Jeremy passed out of his sight after putting a building between them. He had been heading in the direction of the woods beyond the fields. Kade turned back to his horse, Tivieis.
“I wonder where he is off too.”Kadrean wondered to Tivieis. Tivi looked at him with a watery eye. In answer to Kad’s question the horse blew through his nose.“I don’t know either.”Kadrean confided to the horse. Tivieis nickered. Kadrean turned back to the task of running a stiff bristled brush though the gilding’s hair. He hummed as he worked. This time was a quiet time to be with his old friend.
“Morning Kadrean.”A voice greeted from behind him. Kadrean started and turned to see who had snuck up on him. With his cane before him, Liam smiled a satisfied smile.“Sorry, did I startle you?”
“Yes.”Kadrean replied dryly.“Why do you have your cane? Is the leg bothering you?”He added with growing concern.
“No, the leg is fine.”Liam said, raising a placating hand.
“Then why…?”
“Because, Kadrean.”Liam interrupted with a tired smile.“People will see the miracle you have given me as something unnatural and therefore something to panic over. On a personal note, I did not want them to ruin my joy.”Liam’s smile brightened.“Besides, it is amusing to laugh at their pitying faces and gossiping. It’s a win-win situation; they get to think I am weirder then usual and I get to imagine their faces when I show them that I am healed.”
“If you say so.”Kadrean said, turning back to Tivi.
Liam kept smiling cheerfully.“So have you heard from Zeeve?”
“No.”Kadrean responded, brushing the gilding’s neck. Suddenly a vice-like grip attached itself to his arm. “What the…?”He saw and felt the fingers spasm painfully into his arm.
“Ride!”Kadrean turned to see Liam no longer looking like the man he knew. Liam was paler and his eyes were glazed over.“Ride!”He repeated. His voice seemed to come from a distance. It sounded hoarse and painful.
“Are you alright?”Kadrean asked, concerned. Liam might disturb him from time to time, but he found that he rather liked the man.
“Who gives a damn about me?!”Liam’s grip on his arm intensified. His milk covered eyes glared at him.“You must leave! You must go. Go back the way you have come. The one you seek lies that way. Go. They are naive of the world and no longer are they protected.”Liam seemed consumed with his need to command Kadrean to do whatever this task was.“Take the small one and ride!”Liam shoved away from Kadrean, stumbling. He backed into the wall; his hands clutched it, like roots of a tree clutching the earth for support. Liam blinked; his eyes were their normal shade. He looked miserable.“Don’t stare at me, Kadrean.”His voice was weary.“Just do what I told you to do.”Liam pushed himself from the wall and made his stumbling way to the exit.
“Are you okay Liam?”Kadrean had to be sure.
Liam didn’t even look back.“Just go, stranger. I’ll meet you by the road where it meets the forest.”Liam paused for a second.“Oh, and when you call Zeeve, make sure he leaves his crystal in Jeremy’s room.”With that Liam disappeared from sight as he turned outside the barn.
Kadrean stared after him in shock. Liam was a Seer. He had just seen a Seeing. Such people were rare. At Razyan’s Keep there were a few. They weren’t prophets, they couldn’t see that far ahead, but they could see what would happen in the near future. Kadrean had no doubt that what Liam said was true. So Kadrean quickly saddled Tivi. Then he headed to the house and snatched up his belongings. He put his saddle bags on the saddle. Then he sat down near his horse.
“Tivi, make sure no one sees me.”He instructed. He wasn’t sure if the horse understood him or not. He liked to believe Tivi did understand. Even if the horse didn’t, it made Kadrean feel better. He didn’t relish the idea of hearing someone scream upon seeing his cloud of magic. These people didn’t know he was a wizard and there was no telling of how they would react. Granted, Liam treated him just fine, but one had to admit, Liam wasn’t a normal person here.
Kadrean leaned his head back and sang softly. Purplish light shrouded him. He sent a small trickle of it through the wood of the barn. It traveled along the edge of the path leading from house to barn. Like a mist, it rose from the ground and made itself one with the wood of the house. Kadrean’s senses became one with the wood. He could sense everything where his magic touched, even the spider that journeyed to the corner. He could watch Lila and her mother Lily knitting together by the hearth if he wanted to, but he didn’t. His magic rose up, through the wall to the roof. Upon the shingles it separated itself from the house. He bounced it from house to house. It reminded him of a bee going from flower to flower.
Finally it settled on a house that Kadrean could sense the sleeping moleci. Trickling like water through the tiniest of cracks, his conscious magic slipped into the house. It drifted though the ceiling into the room where Zeeve was. Kadrean had to make contact with Zeeve to talk to him, so he let his magic drop down onto Zeeve.
Zeeve? Zeeve! Wake up!
Zeeve groaned. Like a nagging butterfly, Kadrean’s spell slowly roused Zeeve.“What is it Kadrean?”Zeeve murmured, rubbing his eyes.
We need to go. Liam is a Seer. He told me to fetch you and go back the way I came into the valley. He told me that he would be waiting for us by the woods. He also said that we would find the one that we seek.
“Terana?”Zeeve perked up.
I would think. Although I’m not sure.
“Why didn’t you wake me up sooner?”Zeeve demanded.
How? You sleep like a rock. Zeeve grunted as he stood up on the bed. He grabbed Razyan’s bag and started toward the edge of the bed. Oh ,Zeeve?
“What?”
Liam also wanted you to leave your crystal in Jeremy’s room.
”Why?”Zeeve sounded disgusted.
I don’t know. Maybe so Jeremy could contact us incase Terana shows up at home. With that thought in mind, Zeeve flung the bag over the edge of the bed. That was probably a mistake. Kadrean stated.
No one is there. Kadrean informed him.
“So I can see.”The moleci replied. He then scurried across the way to Jeremy’s room. Luckily, Jeremy had not bothered to close his door all the way. Inside Zeeve took out a small peridot crystal.“Could you put this up there?”he asked Kadrean’s magic, gesturing to the side table. Kadrean’s magic concentrated around the crystal and lifted it to where the moleci wanted it.“Hopefully he’ll see it.”Zeeve muttered. After that, Kadrean followed Zeeve out of the house, helping here and there. It was amazing how quickly a person Zeeve’s size could travel. As Zeeve dashed from place to place until he reached the barn, Kadrean woke himself up. He was slightly tired, but he was anxious to get going.
“Ready?”He asked Zeeve. Zeeve was panting. At least he wasn’t that tired. Kadrean reflected wryly.
Zeeve nodded. Kadrean picked him up and put him into a saddle bag. Gripping Tivieis’s mane, he hauled himself into the saddle. Flicking the reigns stimulated the horse to walk out of the barn. Without an explanation to anyone, Kadrean kicked Tivieis into a swift canner. Tivieis’s hoofs thudded against the dirt of the road as they raced past startled townspeople. At the fringe of the forest they saw Liam with several bags of supplies. Kadrean dismounted and the two men loaded up Tivieis. They then continued on foot at a fast pace to meet whoever they were to meet.
***
The Valley of Plarn was like an oblong bowl. Plarn itself was near the eastern part of the valley, sitting on one of the mountains’feet. Above it were the fields in which livestock lived. Around most of the town were the planting fields. The rest of the valley was woodland; thick woodland. Cutting through it was the seldom used road that led to the outside world. Few of the townspeople used it. The road meandered from the south western part of Plarn, along the foot of the mountains, then through the pass that led to the world beyond. Terana and Russy were making their way to it. After Terana met up with Russy, the two had traveled a little ways and then stopped for the night. This morning they had continued
Terana had never felt this excited or this scared in her life. The thought of the unknown world was intimidating. The closer they got to the pass, the more Terana imagined it to be a maw ready to crush her. At times, she wanted to turn back, but her adventurous heart would hear none of it. To turn meekly back was cowardly. She was committed now; with every step it became even more impossible. Besides, no one wanted her back there.
Russy walked beside her like a tame dog. His attentive ears scanned the forest for any sound. Once, without warning, he vanished into the undergrowth to reappear with a rabbit in his jaws. He looked very pleased with himself. Some of the rabbit meat replaced what she had eaten of the chicken. Russy had the rest.
Music of a nearby stream bubbled and clamored for Terana’s attention. Her canteen was half empty. It would be a good idea to fill it again. She smiled. It would also be nice to wash her face. Terana tapped Russy’s shoulder and followed the stream’s music. Kneeling on its mossy banks, Terana washed her face. The water had a very eye opening quality. Being a mountain stream in late spring gave it its refreshing nip.
A cold feeling that had nothing to do with a refreshing mountain stream washed over her. She got that prickle along her neck that warned her she was being watched. Really watched. Watched with hungry eyes. The woods had a deathly quiet to it. This did not help squander the vulnerable feeling Terana was suffering from. Beside her, Russy trembled. She deftly filled her canteen, trying to look like she noticed nothing. Just maybe that would keep her from being noticed. But the more she tried the more she could not do it. The eyes seemed to be everywhere.
A breathless cry; unearthly to its core came from the forest depths. It was hard to describe; like a mixture between an eagles’scream and wind whistling under an eave. Terana could scarcely breathe, much less keep from shaking. She would have nightmares tonight, if she lived that long. Her fingers sought Russy’s thick coat. His fur was like an anchor for her. She felt him sink to his belly in fear. He whimpered. She had never heard him truly whimper before. It made her even more terrified. What could make the top, natural predator of the Valley quaver with fear? A greater predator, perhaps?
Seconds stretched into hours. Night seemed to invade upon noon. Her eye caught movement out of its corner. A shadow seemed to slide from shade to shade. She felt vulnerable in this open space. It felt that at any moment, the monster was going to attack. Russy was quivering beneath her palm. Terana knew subconsciously that they were probably going to die if they stayed where they were, but she couldn’t move. Fear had frozen her blood and made her muscles useless. She was stuck. Swallowing, she glanced at Russy. He didn’t seem any better off than she was, but if she could get him going he had a chance. Russy could run faster and farther then she could ever hope to.
Terana began pushing at him. Moaning, Russy looked at her.“Go! Get out of here!”She hissed at him. Russy groaned.“I’m serious, get out of here!”She pushed him harder. Something seemed to snap in Russy. He growled at her. Russy never growled at her.
Their watcher shrieked triumphantly. They could hear it moving toward them. Terana thought she could see it just inside the trees. It seemed to like the shadows. Probably waiting for the most opportune moment to strike. Her thoughts whispered. What a thought. The waiting for something to happen was wrecking havoc on Terana’s nerves. Apparently she wasn’t the only one to be suffering from a fit of crawlies. A mouse squeaked its terror. There was another terrified squeak that was cut off too soon. That was it. Terana shoved at Russy, knocking him over onto his side.
Snarling, Russy rolled to his feet and glared at her. His eyes declared his refusal to leave her. Butting her with his head, he knocked her over. Before she could get back up he was standing protectively over her. He growled menacingly at the shadow in the trees. It watched them for a few moments before it faded away.
The forest was how it was before the strange incident. Terana and Russy glanced at each other wonderingly. Terana pushed Russy off of her. He complied distractedly. Sniffing, he headed toward the brush as Terana gathered her scattered wits. Breathing deeply, she let her senses tell her whatever they could. To her good heath, the woods sounded and acted like a normal wood again. With her heart returning to normal, Terana couldn’t help but wonder if her sanity was going. The incident felt like nothing more than a dream.
“Was I dreaming?”She asked Russy as he trotted over. Russy met her gaze with his amber one.
“Then how did I feel it?” She heard a faint voice in her head. Her eyes widened. Did she just hear Russy? No. That was impossible. Impossible, animals did not talk. Not the way humans did. It was impossible. Then what was that answer? A small part of her mind asked. Probably just what I imagined him to say.The rest of her mind answered logically. She took that answer to heart. Of course Russy couldn’t talk.
Russy blinked and turned away.
Terana sighed, looking about the forest.“Whatever it was, I never want to feel that way again.”She got to her feet slowly. Her muscles were still weak from their terror.“I think we should continue moving.”Terana put action to words and started to walk in the general direction of the road. Russy yipped and followed.“Thank you for staying with me.”Terana whispered softly, stroking his ears. Russy glanced up at her then licked her hand before jumping ahead.
The innocently murmuring stream was left behind as they covered ground. After a few hills and ravines they came to a great stone imbedded in the hill. A shelf of rock jutted over head at its top. Littering the forest floor before it were victims of erosion. Terana stopped and stared at it. It felt that at
any moment it was going to fall away from its bed and crush her. Russy clambered over the fallen victim rocks to sniff at the cliff's sandy base. Terana sat away from the rock against a tree. She took out some cooked rabbit. She nibbled at it as she watched Russy. He lifted his head. His nose was filled with the smell of cooked rabbit. Nimbly, he leapt over the fallen rocks toward her. He looked at her expectantly. Appropriately, she tore a hunk of meat off her portion and gave it to him. He snatched it up happily. Smiling at him, Terana stood back up. After another bite of her portion, she gave the rest to him. This he took happily too.
Understanding her intentions, Russy sprang back along their chosen course. Smiling after him, Terana started to follow. Briefly she glanced back and froze. Something glittered in the rock. Terana walked toward it, entranced. It was a silver star with a black stone in its center. Curious, Terana reached for it, but before her hand could touch it, it vanished. Terana gazed blankly at the cliff for a moment before she shook her head. Rubbing a finger over the bridge of her nose she considered the possibility that she was going mad. First the unseen horror, now this. Going mad was a distinct possibility, right?
A loud bark startled her. Terana turned to see that Russy had come back. He gazed up at her with an annoyed expression that asked if she was coming or not.“I’m coming.”She told him. This time when he led she truly did follow him. Her mind kept picturing that silver star. Why was she seeing things?
Soon the forest fell away on either side of her. They had finally made it to the road. Before her was the pass: the gate to the future. Staring at it, Terana felt that she had a knife to her throat. She had to really choose if she was leaving or not. Instinctively she knew if she took one step outside the valley that she would not turn back. This was her last chance to change her mind. Russy yipped beside her. She glanced down at him. His expressive eyes asked if they were to go on or not.
The Ways of Mages: Starfire Page 11