Some days are full of rain.
Some lives are full of happiness,
the rest are full of pain.
Poops let out a confused yelp, while Vanx finished tying his pants. Vanx could feel the terror inside his four-legged friend, but he couldn’t even draw his blade until the belt was buckled. The huge cavern lizard wasn’t liking his light spell, and Vanx had little trouble getting into a favorable position. It was impossible, after all, for the lizard to attack him while Poops was stretching its bug catcher.
Poops was yelping now, as the thing made to flee with its catch. Vanx felt just how hard it was squeezing his pup through their familial link. He saw the lizard’s claw push back hard enough to cause Poops to slide toward those nasty teeth.
Vanx rolled forward and swung his sword. With one deft hack, he severed the lizard’s tongue. The end of the tongue that had hold of Poops didn’t let go, though. And the dog ran away, back to the re-raised stone door, wiggling, shaking, and writhing as he went. The sticky thing eventually unwrapped itself from him and twisted on the floor, like some beheaded snake refusing to accept death. Poops barked and darted in at it, making sure it wasn’t going to attack him anymore.
Vanx felt all of this through their familiar link, and he had to laugh. The tongueless lizard had already retreated from his magical light and its newfound pain. It had fled for good, he was certain. Vanx thought it funny that the dog didn’t grasp that he was grabbed by the lizard, not just the piece of tongue now lying on the ground.
There were no unexpected skeletal warriors or hungry ogres waiting. There were no dwarves here, either. Just an empty mine shaft. Even the depictions Vanx had been looking at on the way in were gone. The whole thing had been an illusion.
He didn’t think the trickster who had constructed the amazing illusionary conditions was all that funny, but he had more respect for that kind of creatively used wizardry than any he’d ever encountered. He also wondered what might have happened if he’d attacked one of the lyna. Only an old sailor would know that harming a lyna was the worst luck one could give himself. It was said that harming a lyna was ten times the bad luck for thrice as long as the bad luck that comes from breaking mirrored glass.
Vanx thought about the Mirror of Portent before it had been shattered. It hadn’t been his mirror then, so the bad luck hadn’t followed him; it had followed Aserica Rime.
Vanx wasn’t sure he believed in luck, but he wasn’t going to break one of the oldest codes of the sea just to get a gem.
The wizard who’d made the place was wise in the ways of the sea too, that was certain.
Even though the sun was starting to set, the light of day was welcome, and the fresh air felt wonderful blowing past them as they exited the mine shaft.
Then they were off their feet, Vanx’s stomach was in his throat, and his heart was pounding through his chest. Poops was so startled and trying, without success, to get his feet planted on solid ground, that he couldn’t even muster a bark. The entire world outside the wooden-framed opening went twisting and spinning all around them.
Vanx squeezed his eyes shut and called for Pyra. He then took a deep breath, realizing they’d been scooped up in a net.
Warded by a trickster.
This wasn’t funny, for Vanx was getting rope-burned in places he would never want near a rope. Poor Poops didn’t understand what was happening, even though Vanx was trying to explain and calm him.
Vanx was surprised when the rocks and earth on one side of the shored opening started to shake and shimmer. He was shocked when a head leaned forward from the hill, then an arm and a shoulder pulled free.
An elemental? Vanx wondered. Then another one tore his whole upper half from the opposite hillside.
Vanx didn’t have time to ponder the things long, for they both tore themselves completely away from the ground and were now coming for the net.
Vanx looked up and saw that there was a heavy wooden arm, like that of a catapult, jutting out of the hill above them. The net they were snared in was pulled tight up to it. There was little Vanx could do, until he shifted himself around. He’d let go of his sword, and it had fallen through. When he craned his neck to its limits, he could see it. He still had his knife, however.
One of the earth-and-rock-formed creatures pushed the net, and it swung gently toward the other earthy creature. To Vanx’s surprise, it didn’t smash them, but simply pushed them back to its twin.
This went on for a few moments. Vanx sighed with relief. These creatures were like a pair of children pushing a dangling tether back and forth for fun. But then Vanx noticed they were pushing harder and harder with each turn. It didn’t matter, though, because he was finally getting through the ropes with his dagger.
When he and Poops went through, he didn’t anticipate such a long fall. They impacted the ground harder than Vanx expected, and Poops yelped as the breath was emptied from him, and a few of his ribs snapped.
Vanx didn’t land much better, but he was left aware enough to crawl straight to his whining familiar, grabbing his sword along the way.
He cast a healing on the dog, and then rolled over, hoping to see the two creatures standing before the empty net, but they weren’t. They were reaching down for their two stunned escapees. One of them was making a noise, like a deep, thumping alarm.
There was little Vanx could do but keep his sword from getting caught in the noisy elemental’s grasp. It would cut him apart if the thing squeezed. Thankfully, he was able to get it and an arm clear. He looked for Poops, who had been healed enough to scamper out of the way. The other silent magical-formed earth monster turned and bent down, trying to corral the faster dog.
When it couldn’t, it kicked Poops, and the pup went skidding down the hillside, his tumble quickly turning into a roll.
Vanx tried to teleport away, but couldn’t. He didn’t want to be pulped to death as Gallarael had been, but he felt the thing’s grip tightening. He tried to cut it with his blade, but only succeeded in dulling the ancient steel. He tried everything he could think of until all he could do was scream.
Chapter Sixteen
They traveled far, for many years,
on their faithful quest.
But when they found their precious prize,
it was just an empty chest.
Pyra’s roar filled Vanx with hope, and the thing that had kicked Poops down the mountainside exploded in a dusty cloud around a crumbling heap. The staticky feel of raw dragon magic prickled his skin.
The sound of the dragon and her spell was deafening, and the smell of brimstone and sulfur filled the air. Vanx saw the dragon then. She was swooping in to save him, even though they were still in dwarven territory.
The earth monster’s grasp squeezed even harder, and Vanx started to black out, but another, smaller, blast from Pyra tore through the thing’s biceps, and he was falling again.
He had the sense to cast a teleportation spell immediately, before any of the stone falling with him could crush him. Then he was out of control, half-tumbling, half-running down the steep hill toward the stilled form of his injured familiar.
He didn’t care that the rocky ground tore his pants and his shin flesh as he slid to a halt. He’d had to cast two healings on the dog already, and it was getting harder and harder to mend the pup, but this time his spell wasn’t needed. Pyra had not only healed the dog, she’d cushioned his impact. He was as still as stone because the dragon’s magic had left him in a blissful state. As soon as Vanx touched him, Poops sat up and licked his face, then immediately started licking the blood and dirt from Vanx’s leg wounds.
Pyra landed a few strides downhill, which made it easy for her to meet Vanx’s gaze. Vanx gave a nod of thanks to the great fire queen for saving his familiar, and then let out a long, slow sigh.
Hurrys, she hissed. Let us leave this foul place before the dwarves arrive.
Just then, Vanx heard a distant horn sounding, and some rattling steel from not too far away. He slapp
ed his leg, and Poops hopped into his lap. Then they appeared in almost the exact same position they’d been sitting in, but between Pyra’s warm scales. The dragon looked back to make sure they were situated, then took two jarring strides before lifting into flight.
How do I destroy the stone? Vanx asked the dragon.
With a certainss dwarven hammerss. Came her reply.
How do I get this hammer? he asked, wondering why the wizard hadn’t mentioned this part.
It is in my lair, Pyra said. But when we return through the Octron with it, he will be waiting for us.
I’ll not have to wait so long to have that emerald, came a booming ethereal voice. I’ll just take it now.
Vanx looked back and above them, and saw the huge, blue-glowing Paragon jackass and a trio of his pruned wyrm-riding wizards.
The sky changed then, and the Paragon was no longer in it. Pyra was flying toward the Octron tower and seemed to know what she was doing, so Vanx held onto Poops, and made sure he had the stone buttoned in his pocket. He wondered if they were leaving Chelda, Zeezle and Kelse to a doomed fate, and how they could come back and survive the welcome.
We are returning to destroy the stone at the altar, said Pyra as the dragon activated the tower on her own, and from a distance. The sky opened up, just like it had when the Paragon had first brought his army to Zyth. Pyra flew right into the space, which was less of a spiraling twirl and more of a moment lost in time.
Vanx felt great relief when they appeared over the dark water beside the Sea Spire. He only wished they were flying north instead of east.
Something about the salty air he was taking in, and the feel of being on his own side of the world, was refreshing. In those moments of mindlessness, he had an idea that changed everything.
He also realized he still had the Hoar Witch’s crystal at his neck, and from here it would work. He squeezed it hard and called out to General Moonsy, who responded with such relief that it broke his heart.
Is Chelda with you? she asked a third time.
She and Zeezle are the Paragon’s prisoners. Vanx had to wipe a tear from his eyes as he shared his thoughts with her. As soon as we get what we are after, we are going back to save them. Round up any Zythian, elven, or Royal Order spellcasters you can find, and meet us on Dragon Isle near Pyra’s lair.
Then, sending his thoughts to the dragon alone: It knows we have the stone, so we must assume it knows what we intend to do with it when we return, Vanx voiced. It will be waiting on us, too.
Yesss, Pyra hissed. Thisss iss true.
I have an idea. Vanx knew his voice betrayed that he hadn’t worked out the finer details yet. Maybe there is a way to avoid the big blue bastard altogether. Take us to the hammer. There will be Zythian wizards and elves coming soon, to lend themselves to our cause. Isn’t there a tower closer to the Trigon citadel than the one we just left? Vanx asked.
Yess, Pyra responded again. Buts there willss be a Trigon force waitings there, too.
Good. Vanx’s thought this time was as full of as much confidence as it was enthusiasm. I think my idea will work just fine.
Tellss us this idea, Pyra implored.
Vanx looked in the distance and saw the island. He understood then why she never teleported there. Seeing the small land mass grow on the horizon, and feeling the power of the wind around them, the depth of the sea beneath, was too awesome a thing to behold.
Vanx wondered how it felt for Pyra to know she was the supreme predator, the sole ruler of the dragon-filled, volcanic island.
It is tiresome, she answered what Vanx thought was a private questioning of the situation. Now tellss uss thiss plan.
Why don’t you just read it from my mind, as you do my questions? Vanx smarted.
Because what iss in your head isss snot a plan.
Vanx wanted to argue that, but he couldn’t. His idea hinged on the ability of others. He only hoped they could do their part.
Chapter Seventeen
She told him that she loved him.
She told him that she cared.
She told him she was all his,
but then she disappeared.
Chelda was stripped naked and thrown in a large space nearly half filled with other naked women. They were filthy, and some of them so thin as to be on the brink of death. Chelda stood there looking at them, and wondered why they were all looking right back at her in such an odd manner.
The crowd of women slowly parted. Behind them was a central fire pit, built into the giant bird cage. It was just a bowl of burning liquid, but it was emitting a steady amount of heat. All around the blaze were the rotting torsos of human women. Among a clearing that was closer to the fire, a handful of healthier-looking females lazed around like a pack of overfed wolves. They eyed her as if she were meat, and it was then that Chelda saw what was cooking on the spit. It was a girl’s leg, foot and all.
One of these, a big-boned, milk-pale woman with feral eyes and dried blood smeared all over her face, took a bite out of the half-cooked human calf she was holding as if it were a turkey leg, and snarled at Chelda.
There were only five of them she had to worry about, Chelda decided. The others were dullards.
She found it odd that she was wondering why the fargin’ dazed shits couldn’t take off the silver-dipped Heart Tree strand Moonsy had wrapped around her left wrist, rather than the battle about to commence before her. She was glad it was still there, though, because she wasn’t feeling all that sick now, and the idea that it wouldn’t come off fortified her will to survive.
She wished she had her sword. It would make what was about to come that much easier to finish, but at least she had the element of surprise. She dropped her gaze, as if she were afraid, and eyed the ill-made hatchets the cannibals had been using to dismember their meat.
There were three of them, made from sharpened pelvic bones, tied with strands of dried gut to larger thigh bones. There was also a long metal dagger, but it was lying near the rest of the butchered limbs and buttocks they were currently slicing up to cook.
Only two of the meat-eaters were close enough to use their axes, so Chelda darted up and kicked the one that had snarled at her right in the side of the head with her heel, then darted for the third axe.
She caved in the unsuspecting cannibal’s cheek when she struck with her foot, and she ended up diving to get her hand on the axe handle, but not before one of the weaponless women dove on her legs and took a bite of her bare thigh.
Chelda hit her in the top of the head with the fist that was clenched around the bone axe’s handle. The woman let go and just looked at Chelda, as if all the sense had been knocked out of her. Chelda pushed her up and away with a heaving kick, then rolled back to her feet, ducking just in time to avoid a dull bone blade.
The bite on her leg hurt like all the fargin’ hells, and the bitch who’d done it would rather face the Lanch himself than Chelda’s burning wrath. Using the thigh bone she was holding, she pounded the chest of the overextended wench in front of her. She then turned and made an overhead chop into the neck of the woman who had bitten her.
She used her foot to end the next bloody-faced cannibal’s rushing attack by sidestepping at the last moment and kicking her in the side of the knee. The whole leg joint snapped inward, and the woman was left screaming on the filthy floor.
Any other confrontation was avoided, for the one screaming and flopping around, went on doing so for a good long while. The others slowly backed away or tried to avoid Chelda’s gaze, while discreetly watching from a distance.
Chelda kicked the noisy wench in the head, but only to get her away from the fire bowl. She hated the smell of burning hair. She had eaten part of a human before, though, and the idea of it didn’t bother her all that much. She’d been working a caravan that got iced over out in the tundra. They only killed him because he raped a girl, and they only ate him because they ran out of stores.
Men are animals, women are sly, deviant creatures, and neither are
ever to be trusted, she heard her father’s voice say in her head. She trusted Vanx and Moonsy, though. But Vanx was only half human, and Moonsy wasn’t human at all. Zeezle was a male. He was all male, but he wasn’t human, either. He was a full-blooded Zythian, so he didn’t count.
Chelda wasn’t sure she could just eat a human female, but she was hungry. Her people were mountaineers, and it had happened hundreds of times, out in the freezing wilderness. To her culture, the eating of human flesh was taboo only if it was for pleasure.
It took her a moment to study the grisly scene, while a savory smell akin to that of fresh, cooking pork made her salivate.
She was concerned that these women weren’t really women. Maybe they’d been raised wild, or had some madness, like cattle get.
“You speak?” she called at one of them, who was trying to decide if facing the huge gargan woman was worth getting her skull split.
“I eat.” The words came out slurred, and then there was a blue twinkle deep in her eye.
Looking at the pile of dead human forms, Chelda saw more than one open-eyed head that had the telltale blue scorched eyes of a Trigon slave. These bloody-faced, crazed bitches had been eating meat from the dazed. It was tainted, and now so were they.
Chelda supposed the others understood she was the top head basher now. At least she was until she could escape, or Vanx or Zeezle came for her. She had no doubt at all that one of them would. She felt certain Vanx was alive, and if the portent she’d seen in the mirror she’d accidentally dropped came true, then she would need her strength when the dragon got there.
It was with that thought in her head that she turned the spit, checked to see if the meat on it was tainted with the daze or not, and started piling up all the thicker-looking thigh bones she could find. She didn’t want to get hit in the back of the head with one of them.
She could only hope Zeezle and Kelse were faring as well.
Pyra, she knew from her last glance into the Mirror of Portent, had gotten away and found Vanx. The problem with that mirror, for her, had always been that without Vanx’s foul powder, you couldn’t tell how far into the future you were seeing.
The Far Side of Creation (The Legend of Vanx Malic Book 7) Page 7