Cathadeus_Book One of the Walking Gates

by Jeff J. Peters

  “Ahh,” he sighed.

  One of the elves commented something in their native tongue, and the others all laughed and nodded in agreement.

  “Baehrin here thinks Kael should’ve given the pipe leaf to the dwarf two days ago,” Laefin whispered. “He says it would’ve made for a much more peaceful walk.”

  * * *

  The sun dipped below the western horizon as they followed Kael and the elven patrol north out of Almon-Tel. Braxton looked back one final time at the eagle aerie, knowing it could be the last he’d ever see of those magnificent birds or the suspended elven village. Within seconds, the dense oaks closed in about them, blocking his view of the outpost and replacing it with the slow, endless sway of the forest.

  He looked forward, barely catching a glimpse of Laefin ahead of him, when the floor gave way and he fell into darkness. Something touched him, like a whisper brushing against his skin, intensifying his fear. His body went rigid, and he flailed about in the void, his mind yelling of an impending foe.

  Then the blackness vanished, driven away by a brilliant light. Serene stood moving her head, signaling for him to follow. He realized he was no longer falling, and he rushed toward her, returning to the forest, Serene and the void having disappeared.

  Kael and the elves watched calmly. Phinlera stumbled past, turning this way and that, before recognizing she was free. They glanced at each other and then at the elves.

  “The dwarf is having trouble.” The sound of the Blademaster’s voice helped Braxton regain his senses.

  “I’ll help,” Jenphinlin offered, heading back in the direction they’d come. It was then that he realized what had happened.

  They’d passed through the feil.

  Chapter 28

  Braxton knelt by a little stream coming down from a granite rock face when he heard it—the horrifically loud roar of some giant creature right behind him. He froze. The sound chilled his body, and the hairs on the back of his neck stood rigid. It was so close. How could it have gotten there without him hearing or sensing something? He could feel the creature towering over him, an enormous upright presence that seemed to have materialized from the mountain itself, its rasping breath penetrating the early morning air. The Unicorn Blade lay on the wet grass, inches from his right hand. He glanced at the weapon, but knew he’d never make it—the creature would kill him the moment he moved.

  Wait, Serene said, banishing his fear. She hadn’t spoken to him in several days, and her clear voice calmed him now.

  They’d left the forest two days earlier, the ground rising steadily and the soft woodland earth giving way to a rockier floor. Large granite outcroppings, silhouetted against the darkening sky, had appeared between the thinning trees, a powerful testament to the end of the elven kingdom and their entrance into the Dragon’s Spine. They’d stopped briefly at the base of a jagged spire when Ruskin had come over.

  “Time to go,” the dwarf said casually. He had felt Ruskin watching him as Brax shouldered his pack and readied to leave. But when he’d turned back, it was Ruskin who had gone, disappearing into the night and the surrounding limbs of the Dragon’s Spine.

  For a long time, he wondered why the old badger had left without saying goodbye.

  “He never was one for long farewells,” Phinlera reminded him. But Brax felt disappointed at their friend’s sudden departure, as if a part of him had somehow been lost to the Spine. There was so much he’d wanted to say to him, so much to thank him for, but he knew the dwarf preferred it this way.

  They’d continued to climb the southern edge of the mountain without Ruskin, the patrol stopping for longer periods and Kael increasing Brax’s training, often late into the night. Phinlera spent more time with Jenphinlin, eager to unlock the secrets of Shelindûhin. Even Serene had withdrawn, telling Braxton that upcoming events needed “looking into.” And so he began to feel strangely alone, as though entering the Spine had stripped him of those he’d held closest. Perhaps that was why he’d wanted to get away that morning, to think, leaving in the early predawn hour to wander along the banks of the little stream. Kael and most of the elves had gone, wanting to investigate something the Blademaster said lay behind them. It was easy then for Brax to slip past the lone sentry, using a combination of the spirit magic and his elven cloak to pass unseen. He’d followed the water for several miles, deep in thought, until he came to the spring’s source near the base of a rock wall. He’d just finished drinking when the creature had appeared, announcing itself with its penetrating roar.

  It stood right behind him now. Braxton lay unmoving, barely daring to breathe, his face mere inches from the mountain stream. Time seemed to slow, and he could hear the animal’s uneven breath.

  But he waited.

  A snarling cry broke the silence as something burst from the bushes on the far side of the river and smashed into the creature, jolting Braxton into action.

  Run! Serene’s voice echoed in his mind. He grabbed the Unicorn Blade and bolted.

  A painful yelp silenced the growling from whatever newcomer had distracted the giant beast. The monstrous creature let out another terrifying roar. Moments later it pursued him, crashing through the mountain forest like some unstoppable mass, snapping everything in its path. Whatever had helped Brax get away was gone—beaten off, he guessed, by this stronger foe.

  Now it was after him.

  He ran, the creature’s approach emphasized by the shuddering earth beneath his feet. It was running on four legs, he realized, with giant thundering paws that propelled it forward. Brax suddenly recognized that he wasn’t going to make it. He’d strayed too far from the elven camp.

  Then something appeared off to his left, barely noticeable in his peripheral vision. A man, it seemed, running with him, keeping pace with his own frantic strides, but angling toward him as well. He could barely see the other’s movements, disappearing at times among the trees and sporadic boulders, only to reappear moments later, closer to Brax. They continued running before the other man disappeared entirely, swallowed up by the underbrush. And with him, Braxton’s hopes vanished.

  An enormous arm wrapped itself around him, as if the forest itself had come alive and stretched out one huge limb to seize him. He braced himself for the pain he knew would come, lifted off his feet and watching the floor fall away. For a moment, he couldn’t move, lost in a dream, a nightmare, until panic screamed at his senses, and he struggled to get free. But whatever held him had him in a vicelike grip. He looked up, expecting to see some grotesque visage of the enormous beast that had pursued him.

  Sotchek held him under one arm, running as though the fiery breath of a dragon pursued them. The skilled hunter moved effortlessly among the rocks and trees, jumping across small gullies and leaping from fallen trunks or larger boulders protruding from the mountainous floor. All the while, he carried Braxton like an empty sack. In his other hand, he deftly swung his ax, swiping at branches or cutting down saplings as he ran, clearing the path ahead.

  The giant creature pursued them, enraged now by Sotchek’s appearance and the escape of its quarry. Gradually it began to fall away, as Sotchek’s extraordinary strength and swiftness of foot outpaced their adversary through the terrain that slowed their larger opponent. After what seemed like hours, Sotchek hurled his ax and yelled out a terrible cry that echoed back against the rocks. He pushed off a cliff, the two of them flying out over a ravine. Sotchek’s legs flailed beneath them until they landed heavily on the ground of the elven camp, knocking the breath from Brax.

  A flurry of sounds broke the air as arrows loosened by the elven warriors whizzed past them. Another roar echoed behind him, and Braxton turned to see the creature that had pursued them. It resembled an enormous bear, but with gray shale-like plates for skin, as though the mountain itself had come alive. The hard surface of its body was covered with patchy clumps of gray or black fur, and its head appeared to be a giant boulder broken away from the Spine. A huge maw covered most of its face, revealing rows of razor-
sharp teeth that protruded outward like daggers. It stood on its hind legs, towering above Sotchek and the elves, with enormous granite-like arms extending toward them. The claws at the ends of its paws sliced through the neighboring trees with ease, shredding them like twigs.

  Braxton’s companions moved about gracefully, almost performing a strange dance with the rock-bear, carefully avoiding its massive swipes as they took turns nicking its sides or shooting arrows into its exposed flesh. Dozens of trickles of blood already ran down the creature’s body, draining its life from wherever its opponents had found their mark.

  Jenphinlin pulled Braxton to the opposite side of the clearing, hiding him with Phinlera in a clump of nearby trees. Laefin stood above them in the upper branches of a tall pine, eye level with the creature, firing an endless barrage of arrows into its face or down its open maw. The young elf moved effortlessly among the branches, releasing an endless assault upon their foe. Occasionally he’d find an opening between the plates of the beast’s granite skin and sent a barbed shaft deep into its shoulder or under its exposed neck. Each time, the monster howled and jolted in response, turning to face the wound, clearly unaccustomed to anything penetrating its thick hide.

  It was Kael and Sotchek, though, who were causing it the most pain, opening large rips of flesh in its underbelly whenever it reared up, or cutting away chunks of its fur to expose the flesh into which the elves fired their projectiles. Kael signaled to his son, and two arrows protruded from the creature’s left eye. It roared a terrible sound and dropped to its front feet. Instantly the Blademaster was on its back, running down its spine to its enormous head. The bear tried to fling off the intruder, but the elf deftly avoided each attempt. He turned his sword down, grabbed the handle with both hands, and thrust his entire weapon deep into the back of the animal’s neck. It rose up onto its hind legs, allowing the Blademaster to easily drop to his feet. Then, with one final long and mournful groan, it crashed to the floor.

  For a moment, nobody moved.

  Kael extended Sotchek his hand. “We are in your debt for saving our young friend’s life.”

  Sotchek looked at the Blademaster for a moment, then clasped his outstretched arm.

  “I guessed it was you following behind.” The elf smiled lightly. “It’s been a long time, my friend.”

  “I thought this one might need more protecting.” Sotchek glanced at Brax. “Trouble seems to follow him wherever he goes, and today it has cost me dearly.”

  Braxton didn’t understand what he meant, but thanked Sotchek all the same. “I’m glad you appeared when you did, or I’d probably be dead.”

  “Yes, you would be,” the big man agreed. “A full-grown shale bear is no easy opponent, not even for one with your unique abilities.”

  They gathered their belongings and retrieved what arrows they could from the creature. Sotchek suddenly got up, looked north, and ran back into the trees. He returned a moment later carrying an enormous black wolf in his arms. The animal hung limp, its frame mangled and its breathing irregular. He laid it on the ground and ran his hands over its body, feeling its broken bones and wiping away the blood. Sotchek opened a small pouch at his side and poured some liquid into a few of the open wounds. The wolf whined and bared its teeth.

  “Come, Brax.” Jenphinlin ran over to kneel beside the mountain man. “Place your hands on its heart, and one here at the base of its spine.” She placed both of hers on the animal’s head. “Now, raise your energy and pour it into the parts you’re touching—quickly, for there’s little time left.”

  Braxton closed his eyes and summoned the full strength of the spirit magic, calling upon Serene to help guide him and heal the wolf’s wounds, asking that the favor be returned for saving his life.

  She responded, overshadowing his presence with her larger form, blending together. Then Brax saw more than felt her energy flow through him and into the animal, filling it with a deep inner glow—like the light his master projected. His own body grew lighter, but he remained focused on Sotchek’s companion. He could see what Serene intended with her energy and then felt the animal’s body react to those impressions. Its wounds healed beneath his touch, the bones mending, re-fusing where the powerful blows of the shale bear had split them apart. When they’d finished, he sat back, perspiring. His master’s presence withdrew, and a wondrous river of spirit magic coursed through him.

  He looked up. Sotchek and the elves were watching.

  “You are truly a Chosen of the Elhunarie,” Kael said, and the others agreed.

  Sotchek nodded. “You are full of surprises, my young friend, and I am in your debt.”

  His giant friend leaned forward and stroked the sides of the wolf. The animal lay still, taking deep breaths, then sat up slowly and licked Sotchek’s face. The big man smiled in spite of himself and rubbed his companion’s dark fur.

  “It’s the least I could do for all your help,” Brax said, regaining his own breath. “If not for you, I wouldn’t have even made it to Arbor Loren.”

  Chapter 29

  They traveled east along the southern edge of the Dragon’s Spine for several days. Sotchek and his wolf went with them, spending most of their time away with Tayloren, the elven scout, or occasionally reporting back to Kael. Braxton longed to talk with his big friend, but he never stayed long enough and spoke only with the Blademaster.

  Travel was slow in the mountains. Their path continued toward the jagged peaks and the ground turned to rock. Snow lingered in patches behind giant boulders or deep within shadows of sunken ravines, untouched by the sun’s arc across the Breaker Dunes. The evenings were cold, and Braxton huddled with Phinlera to stay warm, with the elves permitting only a small cooking fire.

  A week after leaving Almon-Fey, Braxton awoke well before sunrise. The camp was packed, and both Sotchek and Tayloren had returned.

  “What’s going on?” he asked Laefin, as the elf wakened Phinlera.

  “We’ve reached the Neck of the Spine, and there’s a large group of Mins stationed in the old ruins. We may need to fight our way past to reach the Dragon’s Head.”

  Braxton’s stomach lurched. His inevitable encounter with the Mins had finally arrived. The memory of the attack on his mom flashed through his mind, and he shivered. Taking a deep breath, he tried to steady his nerves.

  It is all right, child, Serene said, as if answering his unvoiced call. Whatever happens, know that I am proud of your coming this far. Today, though, we will triumph.

  Thank you, he replied quietly. I’m grateful you’re with me.

  She didn’t respond, but he could feel her overlying presence calming him, and he breathed in the cool mountain air.

  “We’re going to split up,” Kael announced, as Brax and Phin ate a cold breakfast. “Sotchek and the others will attack the Mins and hold them as long as possible. With the advantage of surprise, they should be successful. You two and Jenphinlin will follow me around the base of the ruins and down onto the road that winds south along the ridge. It will take us most of the day running, but we should reach the Dragon’s Head by nightfall. Once there, Jenphinlin will open the Gate and bring through our army.”

  The Blademaster spoke confidently, signaling that the decision was not open for discussion.

  They gathered their packs and followed Kael. Sotchek and the elves headed north, deeper into the spine, their elven cloaks concealing them the moment they left camp. Laefin was the last to go. He looked back at Brax and gave a quick smile. Braxton raised a hand in farewell, hoping he’d see the young archer again soon. He’d enjoyed the friendship they were developing and silently wished him well. All the while, Phinlera jostled about excitedly, occasionally rocking back and forth on her feet.

  “Would you stop that?” he snapped.

  “Sorry, I can’t help it. I’m so excited to try out the Leaf.”

  Braxton wished he could say the same. His nerves were strained, and he wondered if he’d have the strength to face their enemy. The memory of that Min sm
iling wickedly at him kept resurfacing over and over in his mind, despite his efforts to banish it.

  “Come,” Kael said, drawing their attention. “From here on out, we don’t speak. I’ll communicate my intentions by signaling. Watch for my actions, and do as I say without question. Do you understand?”

  They nodded.

  The Blademaster turned and led them on.

  I’ll connect with you if needed. Jenphinlin’s voice flashed through Braxton’s mind, causing him to jump at her unexpected intrusion. She smiled as she passed by him, following after Kael.

  * * *

  The sun had risen far to the east when they came in sight of the old ruins. Large stone buildings, once intricately carved but now weathering away, appeared from among the rocks, cut from the mountain itself. Most were in some form of decay, with portions of their walls scattered about the partially overgrown cobblestone roads or doorways standing where no rooms remained. Giant columns rose in several places, the domed ceilings they once supported crumbling away on the vine-covered floor. Flowers grew prolifically around the perimeter, extending deep into the open courtyards of what Braxton envisioned must have been a grand city long ago. The wall that had once protected the settlement lay leveled, creating a flat walkway among the natural rock.

  Kael signaled for them to stop, and Braxton and Phinlera froze, pulling their cloaks about them to hide their presence. A large, seven-foot tall Min appeared from one of the broken outer buildings and stepped up onto the collapsed wall. His bull-like face was covered in thick, black hair, and a pair of large pointed teeth curved upward from his rectangular snout. Short, thick horns, one of which had a broken end, extended from above his brow like the bones of some long-dead animal bleached by the sun. His small eyes, though, showed cunning, and he carried a large ax over one shoulder, exaggerating the creature’s already intimidating appearance as he patrolled the wall.