The sharp crack of a branch breaking brought Jade out of her reverie.
“Blast your creature! What is it doing now? We cannot go that way!”
Marching to the debris field’s edge, Burl high-stepped over a large mound of overhanging deadfall and vanished.
“Burl!” Jade screamed. She ran to the edge of the debris mound on the heels of the druid.
Pausing on an overhang long enough to glance down, Camoe dropped over the edge, then reappeared at the far side of a narrow ledge below. He kneeled, looking down from there. “Your creature lives. He is climbing down some rubble.”
Jade slowed, choosing her route to the overhanging edge with care. There was a drop of over twice her height onto the narrow ledge the druid stood on. Beyond it, hundreds of feet of open space awaited. There wasn’t much space on the ledge so she’d have to pick her landing with care. Selecting a spot with fewer branches buried in dirt, she bent her knees, and then stepped from the overhang.
Missing the mark slightly, she landed hard, staggering to maintain her footing. A loose branch snapped under her foot, tearing a slash in her jeans. Something warm trickled down her leg. Choosing to ignore it, she joined her companion looking over the edge.
Facing the mountainside, Burl was sliding down the debris-filled ravine by gripping deadfall, rocks, even digging into the mountainside with one hand to support his dangling legs and slow his descent.
Jade marveled anew at Burl’s strength and his ingenuity in working around his inflexible legs.
Burl reached a small boulder filled ledge after a few minutes. Dropping his arms to the side, he stood immobile, gazing at the hillside.
“I suppose your creature wants us to go down there. Who is leading whom here? I do not like it,” Camoe said, starting to climb down. “This could not have been here long. Something is not right.”
“What do you mean?” Jade asked. She followed Burl’s example, using logs and half-buried branches as a makeshift ladder to work her way down to the next big ledge. After a short while, her arms and legs ached from the effort.
Camoe reached for a handhold below her, climbing down with the same expert skill with which he did nearly everything. “No talking. Concentrate on maintaining a firm grip. If you slip, you’ll take us both. I do not wish to be impaled on some of those sharper branches.”
The druid was right. Much of the jagged deadfall below was sharp enough to puncture flesh or gash a leg.
Sunlight wore into twilight with much the same repetitive action; Jade stuck with three points of contact, though it forced her companions to wait at every landing. She wasn’t about to be the one to cause an impalement. As careful as she was, there were still incidents where a rock failed to hold her weight or a branch wasn’t as strong as it looked. Each time she had to scramble for another hold to keep from falling, each one caused her to expend her dwindling energy, and left her clinging to the mountain like an insect caught in a strong wind.
In the late afternoon, she stretched to full length, reaching for a root. The rock supporting her feet tore away from the mountainside. She dangled for a moment by the root before it too pulled free. She began to slide. Frantically, she looked for something to grab, but there was nothing. Dirt and rock carried her down the slope on her hands and knees, gaining speed. Twisting, she landed on her backside in time to finish the slide with a gentle stop on the widest debris ledge they’d encountered so far. Camoe rested, while Burl stood stoically in the waning sunlight, gazing her direction, his orange eyes revealing nothing.
Camoe’s blue eyes twinkled. “Nice arrival, wish I had thought of it. But it makes a lot of clatter.”
Jade dusted off her bottom, throwing the druid a quick glare, though she’d have rather been immature and stuck her tongue out at him. “Are we near the bottom yet? I’m thirsty and I need to eat something.”
“I should think. Well over two-thirds, I would estimate,” Camoe said, passing her a flask of water. “It has been rough, but I think your friend may have helped us out by taking off this way. The Dark Road is dangerous, doubly so at the fall of darkness.”
“So you said before. What is the Dark Road?” Jade tilted her head back. She squeezed the flask, taking a long drink. Warm and tepid, the water was still refreshing. Camoe motioned for her to open her bag. She removed two meat pies along with two generous slices of the cheeses taken from the Citadel’s kitchen. Well, Burl’s kitchen, as she liked to think of it. Passing Camoe his share, she chewed her pie, waiting for him to continue.
The druid swallowed the last of his food before continuing. “We have been traveling across a plateau the size of a small continent since leaving the Dark Citadel. I doubt you have anything as large on your home world.”
“I don’t know about that. You’ve never seen the Mountain,” Jade said, nibbling on her cheese. Our greatest failed achievement, she thought.
Camoe’s eyes flickered at her comment, but he went on as if it was of no consequence. “There is something I do not believe you realize. The plateau is the Dark Citadel.”
Jade almost chocked on her pie. She grappled with the enormity of his statement. “So we’re still on the Dark Citadel after all this time? Does that mean there could be an entrance to it nearby?”
“Yes or an exit. For all I know, there is one hidden around here. But there are some things much older and far worse than the citadel nearby, and we have many days of travel left to get through the dark land of Virun after we reach the plateau’s bottom.” Camoe dusted crumbs off his leather tunic. “The Fetid Swamps and some of Brown Recluse are part of it.”
“So the Dark Road is the main thoroughfare to and from the Dark Citadel?” Jade popped the last bite of cheese in her mouth savoring its rich flavor, though she wasn’t happy with what she was hearing. The Dark Citadel’s reach was long. She’d hoped that once they escaped the caverns the worst was over. Now she wasn’t so certain.
“Yes, it extends the length of Virun. Caught on or near the road is certain death, they would know immediately we are not in service to the Great Lord. After dispatching those guards, they are pursuing us. Our best hope is they believe us still in the tunnels underneath the Citadel with no way out.”
The cheese grew bitter in her mouth. Chewing slowly, she forced it down. He mentions violence so casually, she thought. “Do we really have a chance of escaping this?” she asked quietly.
He gazed at her for a moment, his weathered face stoic. “We have been doing okay so far, but we have still got some distance to go. We had better get moving, it will be dark before long.” Pushing away from the mountain, he began the trek across the debris mound. He hesitated. “One other thing—”
“Yes?”
“You have done well, in fact, very well, so far.”
Jade sat a minute longer, watching him spring from rock to rock across the mound. Had he just given her a compliment? It certainly sounded like one, yet she must’ve not heard him right. She most definitely hadn’t done well since her arrival. The flickers had almost claimed her, not to mention the dominion wraith. Burl had twice had to carry her or she wouldn’t have made it this far.
She climbed to her feet, starting across the mound, keeping to the few grassy spots with soil underneath, following Camoe’s example. She felt much better after the short rest, and the unexpected conversation that ensued. It was nice to have the taciturn druid’s approval; she relied on him beyond what she cared to admit. Burl, too, even without a voice, was a comforting and rock-steady companion to have near her. Perhaps together, they’d make it out of Virun alive. Right now, she didn’t want anything else. She was anxious to begin the search for her sister, but to do that, they had to escape from Virun’s apparent long reach.
Camoe paused at yet another edge. Going to one knee, he studied the path of descent with care. Jade jumped to the next mound of soil.
There was just enough time to let out a yelp of surprise before the world fell out from under her.
Plummeting into darkne
ss, she slammed into frigid water.
NOT RUN BACK
Broth padded behind Crystalyn as she rounded the fire pit, making her way to the Naturists’ camp by the wagon. The camp was set away from the rest of them for reasons not given, though she suspected they wanted privacy for the mysterious contents of the crate. Something she was ready to discuss, among other things.
The Lore Mother stirred a simmering pot over a fire, not looking up from the task when Crystalyn halted opposite her. Folding her arms to her chest, Crystalyn settled in to wait, gazing around the Naturist’s orderly camp. Lore Rayna sat rigid on a log nearby, her face a thundercloud. Cudgel slathered something dark on one side of the hub of the wagon wheel while glancing surreptitiously now and then at Lore Rayna. There was trouble between natures children, it seemed.
Stirring the pot a final time, the Lore Mother removed the spoon and lifted it away from the fire, setting it on a rock to let it cool. Satisfied it would remain where she wanted it, the old woman acknowledged her presence with a glowing gaze, her hands going to her hips. “What is it?”
“What are you cooking?” Crystalyn asked. She’d get around to the significant part soon enough, besides, she did want to know what the wizened woman had made. It smelled…exotic.
The Lore mother looked abashed. “Something I should have taken the time to make once we climbed higher into these wild lands—a poultice to rub on the horses. Carnivores do not like the smell of it, though it should deter the smaller ones simply by having your young prince around.” She inclined her head toward Broth.
Sitting on his rear haunches beside her, Crystalyn smiled at Broth, sending a query laced with amusement through the link. Are your princely duties going to take you away from me?
Embarrassment tinged with…apprehension, flowed back to her. There are many females searching for me to perform my…duty. My sire has sent them after me to ensure a continuing bloodline. Please do not reveal this to anyone. Ask the Valen to refrain from naming me prince outside of your clan here, please.
Crystalyn was mildly shocked. She’d meant the question as a jest. Your secret is safe with me for now. However—
Yes, my Do’brieni?
There may come a time when I will ask you to fulfill your sire’s wish.
An image of Broth racing away from camp flowed briefly through the link.
Crystalyn sent an image of her standing in the way of his escape path with her hands on her hips.
Broth’s next image showed the Warden skidding to a halt, surprise dropping his jaw.
Crystalyn laughed.
The Lore Mother glanced at her sharply, then her glowing eyes settled on Broth, her lips pursed. Finally, she set the wooden ladle on a rock and stretched. Crystalyn heard the crack of several bones shifting into place. “Though you carry a smile, I am certain you did not seek me out to learn solely of my concoctions, my Daughter.”
Crystalyn’s amusement faded. “I want to know about the spiderbees, I mean the leechers. Will there be such creatures as dangerous that are native to Astura? I suppose I most want to know about those that are unaffected by my symbols, Mother.”
“I am afraid so. Most we know how to combat, as we did with the…spiderbees—I like your word for them better. However, a few seem impervious to any damage. Those we have learned to avoid.” The Lore Mother pulled a rag from her white dress to dab at her sweat and ash-stained face.
Lore Rayna’s face had flushed deeper throughout the conversation. “Stop your foolishness, outlander. Avoid unfamiliar creatures altogether.”
Crystalyn ignored her, as did most everyone in both camps. Lore Rayna had spouted nothing but ill remarks beginning when she’d brought the Warden into camp two days past. Perhaps, it had gotten worse with his arrival and no one had noticed it much before. Whichever the case, when Broth was close, Lore Rayna’s scathing words bit at everyone but him, for reasons known only to the big Naturist. Crystalyn was getting tired of arguing with her—so was everyone else in her little group.
The Lore Mother looked toward her pupil.
Lore Rayna looked away, kicking at the dirt under the grass.
Keeping her thoughts to herself, the Lore Mother turned back to the conversation. “For instance, let us talk about the krell. It requires steel or lead to dispatch the krell, the Flow has no effect on them. Some are Dark Creations that have destroyed their creator to gain freedom, but that is another discussion. For now, you should be aware when passing through known areas, it is advisable for a User to travel with soldiers if the User has not trained with a weapon, which most do not. The sand krell are the worst; only an infused weapon of some sort will damage one. As bad as those—while rare, are the tree dragons. Their teeth and claws are so poisonous men have died from the mere threat of being slashed by them when spotting them among their habitat, but any weapon or magic may damage them.”
“What? Are you serious?”
Cudgel let out a roaring guffaw.
The Lore Mother smiled. “No, but I did want to lighten the tone a little. The tree dragon’s poison will kill a strong man in twelve heartbeats or less, they are quite dangerous. There are many other dangers on Astura; all are region specific. For now, I shall speak only of the dangers we may encounter on our journey to the White Lands, as we make our way to Surbo.”
“That’s another thing: I know you’re concerned with me healing a while longer, but we should be moving on. I have to find my sister.”
“Yes, yes, we should get moving, to Surbo. We have to go to Surbo,” Lore Rayna said her ringing voice louder than normal.
The Lore Mother turned to Lore Rayna, a frown creasing her forehead. “Your constant interruptions are going too far, daughter. We have been over this not long ago, yet there you are doing it again. You will desist at once.”
Lore Rayna’s full lips compressed to a thin line, but she said nothing.
Cudgel’s deep voice rumbled through the cool evening air. “Why do you persist with that, Rayne? What’s the big hurry? We will get there in good time.”
Drawing a deep breath, Lore Rayna’s face looked ready to burst. “Now who is interrupting, when he should be repairing the wagon? No one permitted you to speak. You are taking too long as it is. Do not dawdle or I will do it,” she said. Her voice had gained in intensity.
Cudgel stiffened. Reaching for a gob of the black substance, he growled a reply, his words as rigid as his body. “I’m going as fast as the job allows. You can work on the other side if you think you can do better.”
“I’ll do the other side as soon as I’ve watered the horses,” Hastel called. His raspy voice came from out of the trees on the far side of camp, a stark testament to how far their words carried.
“Stop it, Rayna that is enough! We’ve spoken of this far too much as it is. I will decide when Crystalyn is travel ready. Only then will we continue our journey.” The Lore Mother’s harsh words rang through the camp.
Lore Rayna’s lips curled. “And when shall that be? Do we leave tomorrow, the next day, or the two after that? Why is it our burden the child has to fight everything that moves? Even our youngest know better than to stray too close to misted water. We have to keep moving.”
Crystalyn was angry, beyond what the situation probably merited, but she’d had it with their squabbles. “Hold on, all of you! I decide when I’m good enough to travel, no one else. We leave at first light, with or without the three of you.” Folding her arms at her waist, she glanced around the camp.
“Yes, let us leave. We have to keep moving,” Lore Rayna said.
The whole conversation made Crystalyn querulous. As her eyes fell upon the crate beside the Lore Mother’s tent, her anger grew. “As I said, we leave in the morning. Now you’re either going to tell me, the rest of us, what’s in the bloody crate, or you can pack it on your back from here on. We’re taking the wagon and horses, they’re ours.”
The camp stilled, even Lore Rayna quieted. The Lore Mother faced her in stony silence for many moments.
Crystalyn’s anger lessened, she began to wonder if she’d gone too far. Finally, the Lore Mother looked away. “I suppose it is time you knew. It is taxing keeping the Child of Dark away from it, anyway. Or do you like the challenge, Atoi?” she asked, turning toward the crate.
Atoi looked up from where she had bent over the crate. Pulling a lock pick from the keyhole, she straightened.
The Lore Mother’s long stride brought her beside Atoi before she could step back from the crate. Crystalyn hurried to Atoi’s side, Broth going with her.
Removing an iron key on a chain from her bosom and around her neck, the Lore Mother’s head swiveled between those in view. “I want everyone’s word you will not speak of what you see until I say it is safe to do so. Do we all agree on this?”
“Of course we do,” Crystalyn, said eager to get on with it. Finally, they were getting somewhere.
“Do not do it, Mother!” Lore Rayna exclaimed.
Cudgel stood up from the wagon’s hub. “Are you sure about this, Great Mother?”
“Of course, I’m not,” the Lore Mother, said. “But you cannot carry it on your shoulders the rest of the way to Surbo, strong as they may be.” Bending, she prepared to insert the key.
“It’s unlocked,” Atoi said, quietly.
The Lore Mother frowned sharply at Atoi. Without another word, she slipped the key’s chain over her head, and snapped the lock downward with a loud chink. Removing it from its hasp, she flung the hinged door against the tent.
Crystalyn gasped. Packed with wood chips, a pair of topaz crystal obelisks gleamed inside. She glared at the Lore Mother. “You had these this whole time and never told me?”
The Lore Mother shrugged. “That was the idea, dear. The fewer privy to the gate’s existence, the safer for the obelisks, they are quite valuable. This set alone would purchase a Duke’s keep and the servants’ to maintain them, along with the mercenary cost to hold a besieging border kingdom at bay.”
“Can I use them to return to my world, Mother?”
Beyond the Sapphire Gate: Epic Fantasy-Some Magic Should Remain Untouched (The Flow of Power Book 1) Page 24