Zantalth: The magic is returning

by Gary Burfield-Wallis

  Tallia felt a little disappointed. She was curious to look down into wide chasm to see if it is as they said, bottomless. Poriya shielded his eyes from the sun as he looked left then right along the crack, trying to spot something and work out which direction they should go. With the ground on either side of the rock being so completely featureless it was impossible to know exactly where they were along its vast length.

  After a few moments, Poriya said “Got it. This way.” He began walking left parallel to the crack.

  “Got what?” Jeb asked.

  “Look along the crack. Can you see the bridge?”

  Jeb stared hard but could not make out anything except the sky, rock, and the crack. “Errr nope, can’t see it.”

  Poriya laughed. “Yeah it’s a funny thing until you have seen it close up it seems impossible to see from a distance. Weird.”

  They walked for ages, and still, Jeb or Tallia couldn’t see the bridge that Poriya could. They were less than a hundred arms lengths away before they saw it. Two shiny black stone pillars standing each side of the crack, each one at least the height of 10 men. Tallia and Jeb were surprised by it and baffled as to how they could not see such large pillars until they were so close.

  From the top of each pillar extended a rope across to its twin on the opposite side of the crack. The rope looked old and worn but had a silvery sheen to it and seemed to sparkle ever so slightly as they stared at it. From the two ropes crossing the crack, many thinner ropes hung down to hold two more thick ropes. Across these lower ropes planks of wood had been tied to it making a pathway over the crack. The planks of wood looked old and worn, some appeared to be rotting and would break under the weight of even the lightest person, plunging them down into the infinite depths of the crack.

  On the left pillar the words “BRIDGE OF SOULS” was engraved in the black rock. “Why is it called Bridge of Souls?” Tallia asked.

  “It is believed that the spirits of the dead who have lost loved ones to the crack come and stand on the bridge in the hopeless eternal wait for their loved ones souls to come out of the crack. But seeing as the crack is infinitely deep, it seems pointless to me as they will never be coming back,” Poriya shrugged.

  They walked between the giant pillars, towards the edge of the crack and the first wooden plank to step out over the crack.

  “And just where do you think you are going?” said a voice just behind them.

  They all turned around startled to see a tall, thin man dressed from head to toe in a patchwork of bright reds, greens, yellows, and blues. He had a tall hat on his head that bent over slightly with a round silver bell on the top which tinkled as he cocked his head to one side. On his feet, he had long pointed shoes with a bell on each pointed tip.

  Poriya’s shoulders dropped as did his face as he realised who this man was.

  The mans face lit up, and a big grin spread across his face. “Well hello, Poriya. Come to pay your dues?”

  Poriya let out a low groan.

  “So, Poriya which one is it to be? Or have you brought me a choice?”

  “Neither, Synape,” Poriya answered. “I am on a special mission from a priest to deliver these two to the elders. So you can forget our agreement this time.”

  Synape‘s grin dropped quickly, and his face turned to one of anger before he vanished before their eyes.

  From behind them, a loud deep voice boomed “I don’t care about your mission. I want my payment.”

  They all spun round to see an ogre standing on the bridge blocking their path. It was twice as tall as Poriya and wide as the bridge. It’s dark, slimy looking green skin covering bulging muscles and it’s ugly face looked angry as it scowled at Poriya.

  Tallia wondered what the Ogre meant by payment.

  I suppose I could give it Jeb, Poriya thought.

  “No,” shouted Tallia at him. “You leave Jeb alone.”

  Poriya looked at her in surprise at first then shame as he suddenly remembered she could hear his thoughts. “Shut up,” he hissed not wanting Synape to notice Tallia, but it was too late. Synape looked more closely at the little girl glaring at Poriya.

  “What do we have here?” Synape said. He bent forward so his face came close to hers and he breathed in deeply through his dripping nostrils. His head was much bigger than Tallia’s, and it filled her vision as did the sudden fear that filled her very being.

  Synape could actually smell her fear, and he rather liked it. If the ogres face, the form he currently had adopted, was able to smile it would have done.

  Tallia pushed her fear to one side and tried to think what to do. It was difficult with the large ugly face so close to hers. Jeb was frozen in terror, he wanted to step back and draw his bow, but his body just refused to move.

  Tallia concentrated and looked into his eyes and clumsily tried to read his thoughts. Synape felt this and pulled back sharply. The shape of the Ogre suddenly changed into a dark black smoke that swirled around Tallia before closing in on her and covering her from head to foot.

  Jeb looked in terror at Poriya and screamed at him “Do something.”

  Poriya hung his head and said quietly. “There is nothing that can be done. Synape is too powerful.”

  Tallia couldn’t breathe, the smoke wrapped around her held her tight and refused to allow her to move even a little. It felt as if the smoke was not only around her but inside her body and her head. She began to panic which quickly turned to the most terrible fear she had ever felt. She refused to let the fear take her and from somewhere deep inside a rage exploded into her whole being.

  As if a great wind coming from Tallia herself suddenly blew the smoke was blown in every direction. Poriya and Jeb were blown off their feet and Poriya only just managed to stop himself falling over the edge into the crack.

  Less than two days walk away in the castle of the Elders Elder Ruwyn was sleeping in his favourite chair by his south-facing window. He woke suddenly to find himself on his back with his chair overturned backward. It was fortunate that his chair had a high back and plenty of padding to make his landing soft and no harm was done to him. He laid still for a few moments dazed and wondered how he had ended up this way. He let out a loud scream and his aide came running in to see what was wrong.

  “W-w-what happened?” asked the dazed and confused elder.

  “I don’t know elder. I heard you scream and found you like this,” the aide answered as he helped the elder to his feet and righted his chair.

  The elder flopped back down in his chair and said, “No you fool how did I end up on the floor.”

  “I don’t know elder. Maybe you had some sort of turn.”

  “Don’t be stupid man. I am the youngest here. You don’t see the other elders fitting and twitching.”

  “No elder, of course not. Maybe you just had an excitable dream.”

  “You’re a fool man. I am not a dog that twitches and runs in its sleep. Get out of my sight.”

  “Yes, elder, my apologies elder.”

  “And when you’re out of my sight, get me a drink.”

  The aide smiled to himself and said “yes elder” as he left the room.

  The other strange thing happened deep in the heart of the castle library. An ancient book that no one had even given a passing glance to in longer than the oldest elder has been alive silently slid out of its dusty shelf and fell to the floor in a cloud of dust. The only witness to this was a very old spider who had made her web in the corner of the bookshelf. Oh dear, she thought, it’s all going to start soon.

  Poriya and Jeb stared at Tallia who just stood there very still looking across the bridge with a blank expression on her face. “T-T-T-Tallia?” Jeb said. “Are you okay?”

  Tallia slowly turned her head and looked from Jeb to Poriya still laying on the floor. “What was that?”

  Poriya got up off the floor. “That was Synape the shapeshifter who guards the bridge. What did you do?”

  “I don’t know. I couldn’t breathe or move, an
d then I got angry with it. Not like ever before though. Really, really angry and scared. Then suddenly it was gone.”

  “Did you kill it?” Jeb asked as he got up.

  “I don’t know. I didn’t mean to.”

  “Poriya did she kill it?”

  “I don’t know. I didn’t think it was possible,” he replied as he looked around with a very worried look on his face. “I hope you have. Otherwise, it’s going to turn very nasty, and that’s something we don’t want.”

  They all heard the tinkle of a bell and turned to see that Synape was again in the form of a man dressed as a court jester. “Well, well, well, aren’t you the powerful little witch?”

  “She’s not a ACCHHH” Jeb grabbed his throat as if he was being strangled.

  “You can be quiet,” Synape snapped.

  Tallia’s face hardened and said, “leave him alone.”

  A brief moment of fear crossed the shapeshifters face, and Jeb took a gasp of air as his strangled hold was released.

  Synape looked angry. “You can cross once for free and take your little lap dog with you.” Looking at Jeb. “But I want what I am owed from him.” And he glared at Poriya.

  “And what does he owe you?” Tallia asked.

  Before Synape could answer Poriya said, “Tallia you take Jeb across the bridge, and I will settle up with Synape.”

  Synape grinned. “Don’t want her to know what you owe a? Interesting.”

  “What does he owe you?” Tallia asked.

  Synape stepped back and held up his hands. “Not for me to say.”

  Tallia looked at Poriya. “Well?”

  “Leave it Tallia, just go over the bridge.”

  Tallia considered him for a moment then said, “Either you can tell me or I will just read your thoughts.”

  Synape began jumping up and down in glee at this exchange. “Ooo nothing can be hidden from little Witchy Poo.”

  Jeb opened his mouth to say something then quickly shut it again.

  “Tallia, please don’t,” Jeb said.

  “Tell me.”

  Poriya hung his head in shame. “The last time I traveled through here I had nothing to pay with so made a bargain. The next time I wanted to cross the bridge I had to bring it a soul.”

  Tallia was shocked that he had made such a terrible bargain. Synape was mesmerised by what was happening and sat down on the ground cross-legged to watch.

  “How could you?” Tallia asked.

  Poriya just shrugged.

  “You knew this all the way here but didn’t tell us. What did you think was going to happen?”

  “I was hoping we would cross unchallenged but if not I was going to offer my own soul to allow you to cross.”

  Tallia felt a pull on her heart as he said this and just stared at him speechless for several moments. She turned to look at Synape sat on the floor looking back and forth between the two of them with a wide grin spread across his face. “You’re enjoying this aren't you?”

  Synape nodded his head vigorously making the little bell on his had tinkle. “Best entertainment I have had in many years.”

  “Good, Then you can take that as your payment.”

  Synape‘s face dropped. “I haven’t agreed to that, no, no, I want my soul.”

  Tallia glared at him, and he appeared to shrink back a little from her.

  “I can’t go back on a bargain, oh no, I just can’t,” Synape said.

  Tallia was not sure what to say so continued to glare at him and tried to start to look angry.

  “I could put it off, until next time, BUT only this once. Next time I must have what is owed.”

  Tallia continued to glare at him for a moment and then said, “Okay it’s a deal. We will cross now altogether but next time Poriya wants to cross he will have to pay you what you're owed. Agreed?”

  “Humph, yes.” And Synape promptly vanished.

  “Come on quickly let’s get across before he changes his mind,” Poriya said.

  Poriya led them out onto the bridge. “Take it slowly and make sure you have a good grip with at least one hand at all times. Any of these boards can suddenly give way at any moment.”

  The boards of the bridge were evenly spaced with gaps the width of the boards between them. Tallia was the first to step out taking hold of the ropes hanging down on both sides she gingerly placed a foot in the middle of the first board.

  “No, on the sides,” Poriya said.

  Tallia moved her foot over to the edge of the board and slowly let her weight ease onto it.

  “Why on the sides?” Jeb asked from behind.

  “When you want to break a stick it’s easier in the middle than at the end,” Poriya answered.

  Talia moved her other foot forward onto the next board and placed it on the next board and eased half her weight onto it. She moved one hand forward onto the next rope and took a good hold before moving to the next.

  Slowly she edged her way out onto the bridge towards Poriya.

  “Keep at least five boards between each person,” Poriya instructed.

  Jeb watched closely at how Tallia was doing it and when there was enough gap he to began his slow walk out onto the bridge.

  It was slow going at first, but Jeb and Tallia soon began to get into a rhythm and progress improved a little.

  As Tallia’s confidence grew, she was able to focus less on walking and more on her surroundings. She looked down between the boards at the vast unending blackness. She suddenly felt a little dizzy and nauseous. All the muscles in her body tensed and froze as her mind whirled. She knew she should look away but couldn’t her eyes locked on the emptiness below her feet.

  “Tallia?” Poriya said.

  She didn’t move.

  “Tallia?” Poriya said again but still no response from her.

  “TALLIA.” He shouted.

  She looked up suddenly having her trance broken. He smiled and said, “Don’t look down.”

  “Yeah, I know that now, thanks.”

  Poriya grinned and turned to carry on. Jeb’s confidence was also growing, but now he forced himself on focusing on not looking through the gaps in the boards.

  Halfway over the bridge Jeb was tiring of trying not to look down and so began to look more forward at Tallia more and more. His feet started to move more inwards towards the centre of the boards. There was a loud crack as a board broke and the foot he just put all his weight on gave way and his foot plunged down through the hole.

  He screamed out as he fell suddenly. Tallia and Poriya turned in panic at hearing this behind them.

  Jeb had a firm hold with both hands, and he hung on his stretched arms still screaming in wild panic.

  “JEB, STOP,” shouted Poriya in an angry voice.

  Jeb immediately stopped screaming and looked up.

  “Pull one leg up onto the board in front of you and pull yourself up onto it with your arms.”

  Jeb lifted a foot up onto the board and tried to pull himself up. He found it difficult and he strained as he tried but couldn’t bend his arms.

  “I can’t,” he said and started to panic again.

  “Yes you can,” Poriya told him.

  He tried again but still could not lift his weight. Tears started to roll down his face as he tried again.

  “Jeb,” Tallia said softly. “You can do it, you know you can, just ignore everything around you, ignore where you are and pull your body up. You are my big strong hero, and I need you.”

  Jeb looked up at Tallia who was smiling softly at him as she said this. As he focused on her pretty face, he pulled himself up with his arms and onto the board in front.

  “See I told you, you could.”

  Jeb smiled at her.

  They all heard the tinkle of a bell above them and looked up to see Synape holding onto the ropes above them. “Nearly, nearly, next time maybe,” he taunted.

  “Did you do that?” Tallia accused him.

  Synape feigned at having his feelings being hurt and sai
d. “Oh no, no, no, not me. Your lapdog was getting lazy in watching what he was doing. He got careless.”

  “It’s true Tallia,” Jeb said. “Sorry.”

  Tallia looked back up at Synape and said “Don’t forget we have a bargain. You better keep to it.”

  Synape grinned. “A bargain yes oh yes. I never go back on a bargain.” His face dropped and looked serious. “Nor do I ever forget.” And he vanished.

  They slowed their progress down a little for the rest of the bridge, and finally, they each stepped onto the hard shiny black rock on the other side.

  Chapter IX

  Poriya looked towards the sun that was well on the way down towards the horizon. “Damn, that took too long it’s going to be dark by the time we get off this rock.

  “Is it not dangerous to walk at night?” Jeb asked.

  “Not on this rock, I just don’t fancy trying to make camp on it.”

  “Tallia? Back there on the bridge when I fell. Did you help pull me up with, you know, your thingy?”

  “No Jeb, that was all you. I knew you were strong enough.”

  “Oh right.”

  “You just needed reminding.”

  “Well thanks anyway.”

  As they walked the sun dropped lower and lower in the sky until it eventually disappeared behind the horizon and the stars shone brightly. Without being able to see very far ahead, it seemed to take much longer to reach the end of the rock, and the grass edge appeared quite suddenly.

  They walked a short way onto the soft grass and quickly made camp not bothering with a fire being too dark to go finding fallen branches to burn. Poriya could see that both Jeb and Tallia were exhausted and offered to take first watch.

  “Poriya? How old are you?” Tallia asked.

  “Old enough for you not to ask,” Poriya answered.

  After a short silence, Tallia asked, “Are you married?”

  “Nope.”

  “Do you have a girlfriend then?”

  Poriya fixed her with a stare and said, “None of your business.”

  Tallia pouted and laid down to sleep.

  “How come you know Merek?” she asked without looking at him.