As Cerah and Slurr rejoined Parnasus, they were surprised to see Beru run to meet them. “I am going too!” he shouted. “If my sister is in danger, then I wish to be there to help protect her. Slurr, do not turn me away!”
“Never, brother,” Slurr replied. “We are family. Parnasus, surely Beru has the right to help shield his flesh from this threat.”
“Of course, he does. We are nearly ready to leave. Beru, walk beside me. I would be honored to have you near. But wait! We cannot send you off unarmed. If you are to be part of your sister’s protective detachment you must have a weapon.” Parnasus left them briefly and returned to his cottage. He soon reappeared, holding a stalwart-looking sword. Handing it to Beru he said, “It carries no magic, which considering your unfavorable opinion of our craft, may not disappoint you greatly. But it is a keen blade, and it has shed Silestran blood before. It belonged to my son.”
“Elder, you have never spoken of having a family, apart from your mother! I did not realize you had either wife or children,” Cerah said, unable to mask her surprise.
“Alas,” said the First-Elder sadly, “I no longer have either. My wife, Sereez, passed to the Next Plane many centuries ago, when both she and her dragon were overcome by molten lava while trying to rescue a human who had been cut off by the flow from an eruption of Mount Egaria on the continent of Jenoobia. Later, my son, Tellan, perished in the Stygian War. Indeed, it was the same Kelsum who spotted this threat that brought his sword back to me. He told me that Tellan had died a valiant death, slaying three Silestra before being cut down. The news of his valor did not lessen my heartache. I did not tell you, Cerah, but I recognized his match-mate, Purda, among the riderless. He is a valiant red.”
No one said anything for several minutes, although Slurr did put a hand on the First-Elder’s shoulder. Finally, Parnasus said, “It is ancient history, though the grief is ever fresh. At any rate, young Beru, it is your sword now, and it has a fine pedigree. Wear it with pride, and do not hesitate to use it in defense of the Chosen One.”
Beru nodded solemnly and tied the weapon around his waist. Once Parnasus was satisfied that he had it securely affixed, he smiled. “We can do no more here,” the First-Elder said. “Let us make for refuge.” They left the village and began the long walk to the Western Forest.
Chapter 4
The Treachery of Zenk
“This makes me think of when our journey began,” said Beru. “The three of us walking through the forest with Kern.”
“Well, we have a lengthy trek ahead of us, but not as long as your trip from Kamara to Palmantra. We’ll be there late tonight,” Parnasus said.
“Tress, you can’t stop and sniff every single plant we walk by,” Cerah said to the queen, who paused frequently to do just that. “We have a great distance to cover, and not much time to do it in.”
“Don’t scold. There are just so many fascinating flavors! A squarant marked this tree trunk earlier today,” Tressida replied.
“Yes, there are many of those mischievous varmints in this part of the forest,” Cerah said, referring to the two-foot-long rodents with a propensity for digging shallow pits and covering them over with leaves and branches. She had stepped in more than one during her training in the Western Forest with Kern.
“Parnasus, how remote is Opatta’s Retreat?” asked Slurr.
“Very,” said the First-Elder. “There is at least ten miles of vegetation in any direction. Twenty to the south of it. The only other place I would feel safe sending you would have been to the top of Quarada, but it is far too cold to stay there for any length of time unless you are deep in Onesperus, and alas you and Beru are not permitted to enter there.”
“Of course,” Slurr said. “I’m sure the Retreat will be safe enough. If you think it is.” He didn’t want to express doubt in Parnasus’s judgment, but it was clear to Cerah that her husband was not completely satisfied that she would be well enough hidden.
The old wizard, too, sensed his uneasiness. “I will not try to deceive you, Slurr. There is no place on Melsa that is absolutely safe, if indeed Silestra have found their way here. But Opatta’s Retreat is, as I told you earlier, known to only a handful. It is not easy to stumble upon; you have to know where to look for it. Furthermore, I’ve told no one but Kelsum, whom I trust implicitly, that we are headed there. The others were merely told to make ready your provisions. They know not our destination. I feel confident that you will be able to keep her out of the Silestra’s reach until we can track them down and rid our shores of their fell presence.”
They had been walking for several hours, and the sun was beginning to set. The air grew cool as the sky darkened. At a small spring they stopped and had a light meal. Tressida drank from the flowing water, then excused herself. She informed Cerah that she was going to find something to eat and wandered off. Before they were ready to continue she had returned, reporting that squarant tasted far better than they smelled.
As the night progressed they continued to follow Parnasus through the forest. He had lit his staff and Cerah had done the same to her podstaff.
“When did you learn to do that?” Beru asked her when she had tapped it on the ground and it had illuminated.
“This is simple magic, big brother.”
“Whatever you say. Still kind of creeps me out that you can do all these things.”
“Don’t worry. I promise I will never turn you into a gattlebug!”
“You can turn people into bugs?” gasped Beru.
“I’m kidding! Would you relax?”
“Cerah, you are many things, but funny is not one of them!”
Slurr had noticed early on that they were following no trail, and he made sure that they left no evidence of where they had passed. The ground was covered with overgrowth, so they made no footprints, or claw prints in Tressida’s case. They broke no branches as they passed. That Parnasus knew the way in the dense forest was impressive. Slurr knew he would never have known where to go. Hopefully that means those monsters will be unable to follow, he thought.
The canopy of the forest was too thick for them to see the sky, but Cerah could tell that they had been walking for a very long time and knew that it must be late. She was getting tired but was not about to say anything. The Chosen One isn’t supposed to whine, she told herself.
“No,” said Tressida in response to her thoughts, “that wouldn’t inspire much confidence.”
“Hush, you,” she mentally chided the golden dragon, caressing her golden back as the queen trotted alongside her.
After another hour, Parnasus said, “It is just up ahead.”
The news was welcomed by everyone. A moment later, the small cottage came into view. They approached from the eastern side of the building. No windows or doors were visible.
“Are the portals enchanted?” Cerah asked, remembering how Harrow’s Hall had no visible means of egress until Parnasus had cast the spell to reveal the door.
The First-Elder smiled. “No, dear Cerah. They’re merely on the other side of the cottage.”
Cerah blushed, feeling foolish. She was glad that the relative darkness hid her red cheeks. They walked around the building and found the door. Parnasus said, “We do, however, have to speak the pass-phrase in order for the door to open. It is ‘repose.’ Opatta made it so to represent that the purpose of this place was to seek rest. I wonder if he knew it would one day provide sanctuary as well. Slurr and Beru, the pass-phrase contains its own magic. It will work for you as well as for Cerah.”
They walked inside and found the interior was sparsely furnished. Two mattresses lay on the floor, and a few chairs were spread about the single room. “There is a fireplace, obviously,” said Parnasus, “but do not light a fire. Ever. The smoke could give your location away.”
“Of course,” said Slurr. “It is not so cold that we’d need one.”
“You have provisions enough to last the three of you a week. If we have not rooted out the Silestra by then I will r
eturn and bring you more. Cerah, keep Tressida near you at all times. When she hunts make sure she does not venture far afield. And instruct her to keep her kills clean. The Silestra can smell blood from a great distance.”
“She is wise, Elder. She will not do anything that would endanger me.”
“I know that. But for all her wisdom, she is still young. Just keep an eye on her.”
“I will,” Cerah promised.
“Very well. I am heading back now. I admonish you all once again to be diligent at all times. I do not expect anyone or anything will come upon you in this remote place, but it is vital that you remember just how insidious these dark creatures are. If they have indeed come, they’ve done so for one reason only: to destroy the Chosen One. By placing you here, I have done all I can to keep you safe. The rest is in your own capable hands. Indeed, I will cast additional concealment spells as I return to the village, but the bare truth is that it is up to you now. All of you.”
“Elder, must you return tonight? Shouldn’t you rest and return in the morning?” Cerah asked.
“I cannot tarry. It will be afternoon by the time I return to the Elders’ Village, and I can afford to waste no time in beginning the hunt. Every wizard on Melsa will seek out these beasts. Every dragon will track them. We will not rest until the threat is removed.”
“Beru, Tressida, and I will keep Cerah safe. And she is herself a force to be reckoned with,” said Slurr, offering his hand to Parnasus. The old wizard grasped the lad’s outstretched hand and pulled him in to embrace him.
“I trust that you will not let anything happen to our Prize. Be well, all of you, until I return to fetch you.” With hugs all around, the First-Elder bid them farewell and vanished into the night.
The three young people looked at one another for a moment. “I guess I’ll be the one to say it,” Slurr announced. “I’m exhausted. It’s pretty bad that a thousand-year-old man can run me into the ground, but that’s exactly what he did!”
Cerah flopped down on the larger of the two mattresses. “Whew!” she gasped. “I wasn’t going to complain. The Elder is trying to save my life, but by the Under Plane, he nearly killed me himself!”
“Oh, it wasn’t that bad,” said Beru. Cerah and Slurr looked at him in disbelief. After a moment, the older Passel broke into a broad smile. “No, I’m kidding. I could sleep for a week!”
“What about you, my queen?” Cerah asked aloud. “Are you ready for rest?” Tressida did not answer. She had already curled up in a corner and was sound asleep.
Slurr laughed. “You and Beru get to bed,” he said. “I’m going to keep watch until morning. I’m tired, but I will not be able to sleep anyway.”
Cerah sat up and looked at her husband. “I know better than to bother telling you to just rely on Parnasus’s occultation spells. Promise me that you’ll rest in the morning for a while.”
“I will. After Beru has rested he can keep watch.”
“Very well, Lug. Kiss me goodnight.” Slurr bent down and pressed his lips hard against Cerah’s. From the corner, Tressida let out a contented moan. Even when sleeping she could feel her match-mate’s pleasure. They all laughed at the queen and settled in for the remainder of their first night in hiding.
Zenk had not gone to his home on the northern edge of the Elders’ Village, choosing instead to slink off to the shore while Parnasus led the human vermin into the forest. How our First-Elder could have ever allowed himself to be fooled by that girl I cannot fathom! he thought. It is a disgrace. It seems that it must fall to me to keep the wizard race and the sacred isle of Melsa pure.
He headed to the waterfront, assuming that if the Silestra had indeed come to kill the girl, and if that simpleton Kelsum was correct in his observation that they were somehow traveling beneath the waves, then perhaps if he searched along the shoreline he might find them. And if he did, he would lead them into the Western Forest. He would take them to the hidden cottage that he himself had found one day by following none other than Parnasus’s beloved student, Kern. The First-Elder had shown Kern the Retreat as a reward for some paltry achievement or another. Zenk had been worthy of such approval, but Parnasus had never given it. So he trailed Kern and found the hidden cottage. He had been there many times since, planning the day when he would assume the role of First-Elder, by whatever means he could. The plan had never developed very far, but neither had he abandoned it.
Now he saw what might be his golden opportunity. Perhaps if he could find the Silestra and lead them to Cerah it would put the wheels in motion that would propel him to leadership. He had been walking for many hours, thinking all the while of the Council of Elders with himself at its head, and was now at a remote and forbidding area of coastline. Night had fallen, almost without him noticing. Twisted driftwood littered the beach, looking ominous in the twilight. The wind blew cold off the water as he walked. How wonderful it will be when that old fool Parnasus looks to the First-Elder’s seat and sees me sitting there!
So intent was he on his fantasy that he heard nothing and saw nothing approach him until he felt the blade touch his throat. “Do not move, maggot,” said a horrible voice in his ear. The Silestran’s breath smelled like rotting flesh. As he stood there, feeling the razor-sharp blade press against him, he saw three of the towering beasts rise from the water and walk to where the first held him. Zenk shuddered in spite of himself. Here were the creatures he was seeking. But now that he’d found them, or rather they had found him, the sight of them made his blood run cold.
“Where is the girl?” asked one of the monsters. The venom in his voice made it clear to Zenk that his own fate rested squarely upon his answer to the question.
“I know where she is,” he said, his voice cracking. “I will take you there. Don’t kill me. I will lead you to her.”
Another of the vile beings stepped forward and grabbed Zenk by his robes, lifting him a full three feet off the ground, bringing the wizard’s face level with his own. “You would betray your Chosen One?” it hissed.
“She is not my Chosen One. She is nothing to me. I wish her gone. I wish her dead. I can take you to where she has been hidden away, but we must be cautious. I will take you a different way than the way Parnasus went.”
“PARNASUS!” said another Silestran in its retched, broken voice. The mention of the First-Elder’s name obviously infuriated the monsters. Zenk smiled.
“Yes, the wizard who helped bind your master. The death of the girl will cause him great suffering. It may even be too much for him to bear. At the very least it will weaken him. Perhaps I can deliver him to you as well.”
The Silestran released Zenk, allowing him to fall in a heap at his feet. “Take us to the girl. We will see about the other when she has been destroyed.”
Zenk stood. In the darkness, it was difficult to make out the faces of the Silestra, especially since all of them wore hooded cloaks. Their fangs, however, were quite visible. “We must get away from the coast as quickly as possible. Once they hide the girl they will be looking for you. There are no villages between here and the Western Forest, but we will have to cross several miles of open land before we reach its edge.”
The Silestra turned to face one another and began to speak in a language that Zenk did not understand, though it was fearsome to hear nonetheless. Finally, the one that had originally threatened him said, “Your puny wizard steps will be a hindrance to us. But we require your knowledge of the girl’s whereabouts. You will climb upon my back and tell us the way to go.”
The thought of riding a Silestran was nothing that Zenk wished to do, but he was clearly in no position to suggest any alternative course of action. As he approached the beast’s back, another grabbed and hoisted him until he could place his arms around the creature’s neck. As he did, a third Silestran tightly bound his hands with coarse rope. “No tricks, vermin!” it said.
His absolute terror at actually being in the company of these vile creatures was shuttering his mind. He had let them bind h
im. He could think of no subtle magic which might improve his situation. This had been his plan, hatched in his perverse brain the moment he heard Parnasus and the humans talking. Yet now that it was a reality, he understood that he had not fully thought through the consequences. Clinging to the notion that his cooperation might yet save him, Zenk indicated the direction in which they needed to go, and they took off running at a pace that amazed the wizard.
Zenk knew that Parnasus would lead the humans from the south into the forest, so he took the Silestra far to its northeastern border. He instructed the beast to slow their rate of travel once they were in the trees.
“It will not do to risk an encounter with Parnasus. If we keep this pace we will come to the Retreat around sunrise. I think it best if you wait until the next night to attack. The girl is not alone, but if you attack at night there will most likely be only one human keeping watch.”
The Silestra conversed in their awful tongue, then said to him, “Do not presume to advise us. We will decide when we strike.” Yet in spite of their rejection of his dissuasion, they slowed their stride. Apparently, they did not want to face the First-Elder until they had accomplished their primary directive.
As they continued through the forest, Zenk’s mind raced. Silestra were, for their long history on Quadar, still largely an unknown quantity. Besides their incredible stealth, and their affinity for the flesh of their enemies, not much was known about their ways. He doubted that they would shower him with gratitude for leading them to the girl. Indeed, it would probably be in his best interest to disappear while they were engaged in killing the humans. As they trudged on through the wood, he found his reason returning to him. He was relatively sure that, once he was disentangled from around the Silestran’s neck, he would be able to outwit them. After all, hadn’t Kern been able to cast a spell of confusion over their simple minds and cause them to kill one another in the Stygian war? Kern, who was not worthy to polish Zenk’s staff? So what if he’d indicated that he’d lead them to Parnasus. Even as he had suggested it, he knew it was not likely to happen. Still, their hatred for the First-Elder burned as brightly as did his own. Planting the thought of his murder in their minds could only help him. Let them worry about the details themselves! All Zenk really cared about right now was the humans. He pictured the Silestra ripping them limb from limb, devouring the girl and her muscle-bound husband. Chosen One indeed! Chosen to be these monsters’ breakfast! He smiled to himself as the beasts headed deeper and deeper into the Western Forest.
Many Hidden Rooms Page 6