She felt the ground give way, but had no time to react before she fell into the deep, stagnant water. Kicking her way to the surface, she gulped for air and struggled back to solid ground. Calling for her friends again, she was met with silence. When she looked down the trail, they were nowhere to be seen.
Pushing back at the rising panic, she started at a trot down the trail. She was halfway across the marsh when she spotted them ahead. They were continuing on as if nothing were wrong. She had no doubt something in the valley had bewitched them and that someone wanted her to be alone. Her thoughts fixed on Kreel then dismissed him. This power was different, less potent and more evil. Gripping her axe tightly, she continued, waiting for the attack she knew would come.
She’d expected the attack to be by air. The bony hand around her ankle took her by surprise and pulled her into the water before she could react. A dozen water ghouls flocked around her, trying to keep her from gaining the surface and the much-needed oxygen. As she struggled, she cast a spell of protection with her hands. She saw one of the ghouls also move his hands in some type of spell. Panic almost overcame her as she realized these were not typical undead, they were crafters who had somehow been killed and bound to this marsh. She began hacking as best she could with her axe. She needed to escape before she became the next victim. Using the last of her air, she cast a spell that pushed the enemy away. Then she kicked to the surface. She’d almost reached solid ground when she felt a hand around her ankle. Swinging her axe awkwardly, she chopped down through bone and climbed up the shallow embankment. The hand was still clutching her ankle. She kicked it off in revulsion. Though she’d gained solid ground, she hadn’t gained safety. Two dozen hands were grasping at the embankment. Skulls, covered with sickly, pale skin, stretched tautly over the bones then appeared. Leilas contemplated standing and fighting, then turned and ran.
Miraculously, the trail that had been so elusive was now clearly visible. This time when she called to her friends, they turned and looked in surprise at her predicament. They rushed back and Leilas turned just in time to meet the first of the undead following her. Garabaldi didn’t wait. He stepped forward, waved his hands as he chanted. As quickly as the ghouls had come upon her, they fell to the ground and were sucked in by the swamp. Leilas bent over, trying to catch her breath. “I thought I was never going to get your attention. Couldn’t you see how far behind I’d fallen?”
“You were right here with us, until that last moment,” replied Kai. Erion and Garabaldi nodded in agreement.
Leilas ran her hand through her wet hair, wearily. She’d expected them to say as much. “Let’s get out of this place.”
“Perhaps you should fall in behind Kai,” said Erion, “just in case.”
Leilas nodded in agreement. Maybe it would be harder for the evil here to separate her from them if she were surrounded. They began to climb up out of the marshy valley as the sun began to set. There had been no more encounters with anyone or anything that wanted to stop them. Leilas had almost convinced herself that she’d just accidentally stumbled into an old trap left by someone long since dead or gone.
They made camp at the top of the hill in a small sheltered clearing. Leilas and Garabaldi went in search of water while Erion and Kai went in search of wood and food. “I don’t think there is a drop of fresh water on this island,” complained Garabaldi, after they’d been looking for over an hour.
“I’m beginning to agree with you. Let’s just find some water and we can purify it.”
“Exactly what I was thinking,” said Garabaldi.
They’d come across several unacceptable water sources on their way. Turning toward camp, they stopped at one of the shallow ponds and began the spell that would purify the water. Leilas thought she saw something in the shadows when she turned to go. But when she looked closer, nothing was there. Trying to shake off the feeling that she was being watched, Leilas followed Garabaldi back to camp.
After they’d eaten, Leilas explained what had happened in the marsh. The others just shook their heads in amazement. “It must have been very powerful magic to affect elves and crafters,” said Erion. “But we’ve run into this before.”
“Magic this strong, perhaps,” said Leilas. “But not this magik. The power doesn’t feel familiar to me.”
“I’m afraid I can be of little help there,” said Garabaldi. “Since I didn’t even know I was being enchanted.”
Leilas felt a little niggle of doubt at Garabaldi’s words, but did her best to quash it. This dark crafter had never given her a reason to distrust him. “We’ll have to be more cautious,” said Kai, decisively. “But now, you two should try and sleep. We have another long day tomorrow.”
Leilas nodded and lay back against her pack. Garabaldi curled up in his cloak and was soon asleep. It took Leilas longer to find sleep, her mind working on the puzzle of who could know they were here and be trying to stop them. Eventually, her fatigue won out and she slipped into a dreamless sleep.
The smell of tea woke her in the morning, as well as eggs. She thought that perhaps she was still dreaming, until she looked to see Kai cooking eggs over the fire.
“How did you manage eggs?” asked Leilas, coming fully awake and stepping over to the fire. Kai handed her a plateful of eggs and a tin cup full of something that smelled suspiciously like tea.
“There are hens laying all around. I don’t know if there are people around who keep them, or if they are wild. But I took some of the eggs.”
“They are wonderful,” said Leilas, around a mouthful. “Is this tea?”
“Something similar we make in Nereid. My people are not as fond of it as yours are. Since I found some of the leaves, I thought you might enjoy it.”
“And you were right,” said Leilas, sipping at the warm brew. Kai smiled and began to eat, too. Garabaldi had been foraging his own food since they’d arrived. He’d complained if he had to eat another meal of light creatures’ food, he might just kill himself, or someone else. He came back to camp with something that looked vile and began to chomp away contentedly.
“It’s actually quite good,” he told Leilas, as she wrinkled her nose at his breakfast. “Would you like to try some?”
“And ruin this wonderful breakfast Kai made for me? I don’t think so,” replied Leilas with a shiver.
“You’ve no idea what you are missing.” Garabaldi waved the disgusting pile under her nose.
“Thank the Creator for small blessings,” said Leilas, with a laugh. “I tried something you said was delicious once. Never again.”
“Your loss, my gain,” replied Garabaldi, spooning some of the vile smelling concoction in his mouth.
Leilas was still enjoying the memory of breakfast when she spotted the dark swirling cloud. It was moving across the water toward their island. Dredrac had been the one to conjure this cloud in the Forest of Furlin. Was he the one behind it now? Why was he sending it here? She thought of the shadow she’d seen last night and wondered if it had anything to do with the cloud appearing. Remembering Erion’s response to the cloud, she tightened her jaw. This was another attempt to separate them. Already, she could hear the moaning and howling of the disembodied souls. How did she stop this cloud from descending on her friends and driving them mad?
She thought about the Echoes and Neothera and what she’d done to remain sane while she was in those dark places. When she had the thoughts and feelings well in mind, she floated them out to the minds of her friends. She was a little worried about Erion and Kai’s natural resistance to her mind probe. But patiently, she sent the thoughts like breezes toward them.
The cloud was swirling closer. Still, she sent the calming thoughts into the minds of her friends. She heard Kai whimper in pain as the cloud started to swirl overhead. She pushed her thoughts at the sea elf again. Again, Kai whimpered in pain. Obviously, she needed something different for Kai. Thinking frantically as the cloud began to descend, she tried to think of what would keep a sea elf calm. Then she smiled.
She took the image of Kreel rolling lazily along the Silver Seal and sent it into Kai’s mind along with her other thoughts. She heard Kai sigh then felt her become calmer.
Now it became a game of waiting. Who could hold out the longest? Leilas was fairly certain she would lose this battle. Still, she had to hang on until there was nothing left inside herself to give. If her friends died because she didn’t give her all, she’d never forgive herself.
The swirling descended until it was twisting and turning all around them. Leilas could feel the presence of the one controlling the horde of hopeless and lost creatures captured in this cloud. The presence was probing and searching for anyone who was being driven mad by the anguish of those captured souls. Leilas continued to send the calming thoughts to her friends. She felt the energy leave her when some of those in the clouds began to pick up on her thoughts. Then they, too, grew calmer.
Her abdomen began to feel as though it were on fire. She did her best to ignore the pain and continue to send her thoughts out. There was no doubt in her mind this was the end. Still, she kept sending the messages.
As quickly as the cloud had appeared, it dissipated. Leilas collapsed to the ground and began clawing at her stomach. Within a few seconds she had the pieces of the staff away from her skin and on the ground. They were still giving off an unearthly glow and were too hot to touch. Leilas examined her stomach and gasped at the burns she’d received. The outline of each piece was seared into her flesh.
Erion was the first to reach her side. She slumped to the ground and found herself unable to move. “My lady,” whispered Erion softly, his eyes taking in her burned flesh. “It’ll be all right, Leilas. Just stay with us.” He picked her up and they began to run toward some old ruins that had appeared when they crested the last hill. They weren’t much protection, but they were better than the scrub grass and rocks.
“We’ll need some salve made from willowwick root,” Erion said to Kai. She nodded, her face grim, and went to search for the rare plant. Garabaldi busied himself making a fire and purifying more water. There was little else he could do for a light crafter who’d been injured by crafter magic.
“It’s still burning,” whispered Leilas, as Erion set her down near a crumbling wall.
“Hurry with that water, gnome,” snarled Erion, his concern making his voice rough.
“Working as fast as I can,” replied Garabaldi, having to start the incantation again because of the interruption.
Erion took what water was left in his water skin and poured it into a bowl. Then taking one of the strips of cloth from around the faint glowing staff pieces, he soaked it in the water and began bathing Leilas’ burns. Clenching her fists, Leilas tried not to squirm in pain while Erion worked. She wasn’t the naive crafter she was when she’d received her bites from the dark crafters. She knew these burns could take a long time to heal, if they ever did.
She had to marvel at what happened just a few minutes before. Unbidden, at least not consciously bidden, the power she’d been unable to access from the pieces of the staff burst forth to stop the dark crafter who’d been controlling those doomed souls. Had something she’d done triggered the staff, even though it wasn’t complete? Or had something or someone else been controlling its power? Did the fact that the staff reacted mean that the last piece was nearby?
Closing her eyes, she tried not to pass out from the pain. Erion continued to bathe her wounds and Garabaldi continued to purify the water. As hard as she tried to stay awake, Leilas still slipped into semi-consciousness. She was faintly aware of Kai’s return and Erion smearing something on her stomach. It was dark when she woke again. Her clothes were drenched in sweat and she desperately needed a drink. Struggling to a sitting position, she gritted her teeth against the pain as she reached for her water skin. Garabaldi was sleeping nearby. Erion and Kai didn’t appear to be around. The night was quiet. The stars were twinkling in the sky. Even though everything seemed peaceful, Leilas knew that this wasn’t the case. She could feel the turmoil in the air. Somewhere, there was a great conflict. Barat came unbidden to her mind. Smoke hung heavily in the city. The valley surrounding the walls was swarming with dark creatures. Strangely, the forest seemed to be alight, yet not. Leilas said a prayer for those brave people who were holding the last fortress of light in Solea, wishing she could be there to help. As much as she longed to be at Joshuas’ side and to help Brenth as he crept though the forest to attack from the rear, she knew her place was here on this forsaken island.
Draining her water skin, she lay down and went back to sleep. She had no idea how long she’d been drifting in and out of consciousness. When her fever finally broke, she woke to find Kai sitting near her, her bow lying across her knees. She was looking out across the flat land that surrounded the ruins.
“Where are we?” croaked Leilas, her throat dry and scratchy. She reached for her water skin, only to find it empty. Kai stood and filled a cup from the pot near the fire and brought it to her.
“It’s a place called Leonis,” said Kai, as she handed her the cup. “The last refuge of kings, according to the legend.”
“Which kings?” asked Leilas.
“Narrod, the king of the sea elves of Minodan and his sons. They were kinsmen once, but they chose to break away from Nereid. They left and drifted south. For many years they occupied these islands. Then they were gone. No one knows where they went or why they left.”
“That must have been sad for your people,” said Leilas, gently.
“They were lost to us long before they disappeared,” said Kai, sadly. “King Narrod chose to follow the dark magic.”
“Light and dark. It is the way of Preterlandis.”
“Still, it’s hard to lose those who’ve been with you from the beginning,” said Kai. “To lose those who played in the foam and rode the dolphin by your side.”
“Perhaps they’ll return one day,” said Leilas.
“It wouldn’t matter if they did,” replied Kai. “They’re lost to us. These ruins are all that is left of their city,” said Kai. “I’m one of the few of my people who have been here and seen the loss.”
“You bear many burdens on your shoulders Kai, daughter of Kalin. More than you should’ve had to bear. I’m sorry for that, but I’m glad I’ve had the opportunity to travel with you and learn to know you.”
“It’s been my honor, as well as my duty, Chidra. I’ll have to admit, it was a burden in the beginning. But I’m glad to have been of service to you and to Sylph.”
Leilas smiled then lay back against her pack. “How long have we been here?” The last she remembered was her visions of Barat. The feeling of unrest had faded. She had to wonder how Barat faired in the battle that had taken place.
“A few days. It’s been quiet, no more swirling clouds or water ghouls. If I hadn’t seen those things for myself, I could almost believe they were just imagination.”
“How far are we from the cove?”
“A day’s journey. Erion’s gone to scout ahead. He’s hoping to avoid any more unpleasantness.”
“Where is Garabaldi?” Leilas began to look around for the dark crafter. Then she began to search for the pieces of the crafter’s staff. She found the pieces wrapped in the strips of cloth, tucked inside her cape.
“He’s getting more water. If it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t have any water. There is no fresh water anywhere close.”
Leilas nodded, feeling ashamed of her momentary doubt about the dark crafter. Then she closed her eyes. She was beginning to tire and could use some food and rest. As if reading her mind, Kai rose, ladled something out of a pot over the fire into a bowl and brought it to Leilas. “Erion said you’d need food when you woke, so I made some rabbit stew.”
“It smells wonderful,” said Leilas, taking the bowl and shoveling it into her mouth ravenously. Halfway through the second bowl, she slowed down. She could already feel her strength returning. Garabaldi returned with a large bucket of water as Leilas finished her meal.
“I see our patient has finally come back to life,” said the gnome, setting the water by the fire.
“Not too much the worse for wear,” said Leilas. She pulled up her tunic and looked at her stomach. Three angry red sores were still imprinted on her pale flesh.
“I’m afraid you’ll always carry the scars from those,” said Garabaldi, “since they were inflicted by crafters.”
“What exactly happened when that cloud came over us?” asked Leilas.
“I’m not really sure,” replied Garabaldi. “Obviously, the staff reacted to the situation. I’d always believed that all four pieces were needed before the power in the staff could be used.”
“I thought perhaps we were close enough to the fourth piece,” suggested Leilas.
“I believed the staff needed to be joined.”
“So did I,” admitted Leilas. “The pieces have never shown any sign of power before this.”
“It’s an interesting puzzle,” said Garabaldi. “One I haven’t quite solved.”
“Nor have I,” said Leilas. “I should be well enough to travel in the morning, if Erion has returned.” Leilas turned to speak to Kai.
“He should be back before morning,” said Kai, taking Leilas’ bowl, as Leilas closed her eyes.
“Good. We need to finish this journey,” she said, and then was asleep.
She saw fleeting pictures of the battle at Barat in her sleep. But she couldn’t see enough of the picture to be able to guess the outcome. Awaking with a sense of frustration, she looked around for Erion. He was sitting near the fire, looking tired. Leilas couldn’t remember seeing him show signs of weariness or fatigue before, except when they were fighting the dark magic in the forest of Crogmanland. Pushing back the guilt she felt at leading him out here into the middle of nowhere, she went to sit next to him.
“It’s good to see you up and about again, my lady,” he said, as she reached for the pot of the tea.
First Comes The One Who Wanders Page 60