Retracing their steps, they continued eastward, the scenery familiar, having only passed through the evening before. The uneven ground made walking difficult, tripping over protruding chunks of snow along the surface. Occasional inclines in elevation caused Edric to stumble, slipping over the slick coating of ice, struggling to maintain balance while tightening his grip on the litter which carried Gadiel. Edric’s arms ached from the weight. For days they had moved non-stop, the only reprieve from the burden of Gadiel’s body having been during their brief moments of rest for food or at night when it was time to sleep. Still, he bore the task well. He gave no complaints, accepting the torture as part of the responsibility he undertook when he insisted on coming here with Callum. A part of him felt guilty, in a way. He had to wonder if things would have turned out the same if he had chosen to stay behind in Tanispa. Deep down he knew his presence altered little. Ewei would have sought to find a way to get the Vor’shai out of Ethrysta even if Edric wasn’t there. Whatever his plans were, Callum was in his way. At least this way Edric could be there to make sure someone was watching over Callum the same way he looked after everyone else.
Callum remained at Edric’s side throughout the morning, saying little after his victory over Ewei. Edric wanted to congratulate him. To tell him how impressed he was with the skill Callum exhibited. Replaying the scene in his mind he couldn’t get over the shock at seeing his friend fight so well with his off hand. In all their years of training together, he had no recollection of witnessing Callum utilize his left hand during a spar. Another perfect example of why he was overqualified for the position of General.
“How is your arm?” he asked, keeping the conversation casual, light.
Absently Callum let his left hand slide over the makeshift sling, seeming to only just remember it was there. “It remains attached. I suppose I cannot ask for much more than that.”
“No, I suppose not.” Edric thought to laugh at the remark, unsure if it would be appropriate given their current circumstances. Jokes felt out of place. Especially when he knew Callum suffered, despite his attempts to conceal the pain and heartache which plagued him. “I never knew you could fight with your left hand…”
“That is intentional,” Callum nodded. “My father insisted I learn to fight with equal skill on either side. The trick is to not let your enemy become aware of your ability to do so.”
“To create an element of surprise when they think they have an advantage?”
“Precisely.” Slowly, Callum let his hand fall away from his broken arm, heaving a sigh as his eyes trailed down to the ground at his feet. “It was foolish of me to have drawn my blade on Ewei. If the situation is not explained properly to Chief Okivra, it will hinder the friendship we held with him upon our initial arrival to Ethrysta.”
“You did what you thought was right. Ewei should have known better than to come between you and your soldiers. He would have done the same if in your position. Possibly worse.”
“That’s exactly where my guilt lies,” he frowned. “I wasn’t only thinking about my men. I was thinking about how much of our time he has wasted when we could have been fighting the Avaern and getting back to Tanispa. I let my emotions get the better of me when I thought of how long I have already left Aiva alone.” With a grimace he brought his hand up to his forehead, rubbing the tips of his fingers over the skin, deep in thought. “Because of me, these men have turned on their leader. When I served in the naval units, such behavior – inciting mutiny – was traitorous. How do you think Chief Okivra will feel once he learns of my deeds?”
“I think you chastise yourself for no reason.” Lips pressed together tightly Edric stared down at the handles gripped in his hands, wishing he could release his hold for only a moment to console his friend, but he knew he couldn’t. Sahra wouldn’t be able to support the weight on her own. “Look at all of the allegations placed against Ewei. You have every reason to question his authority. A possible falsification of orders, refusing to return to the village… taking advantage of your lieutenant.” At his words he could see Sahra’s head twitch slightly, tilting to one side, listening. He chuckled to himself, unsure exactly why he found her eavesdropping so amusing. “There is a significant list which acts in your favor and even some of the Ovatai men support you. I hope you can at least take solace in that fact.”
Forcing a smile Callum tried to hold the expression, failing miserably, the corners of his mouth quickly dipping into a deep frown. “Ewei has some accusations which he could retaliate with as well and I’m not certain we would be able to deny them all. You know what I speak of.”
Edric shifted uncomfortably, clearing his throat. Sahra was listening. He didn’t want her becoming aware of the secret kept between him and Callum. She had proven herself a less than trustworthy ear when it came to matters of a sensitive nature… and this was the most sensitive detail, placing their already precarious friendship with the Ovatai at risk. “Nonsense,” he replied, grateful for the steadiness of his tone despite the way his insides trembled. “Nothing happened,” he tipped his head toward Sahra in quiet communication with Callum, drawing his attention to her prying. “He can talk all he wants, but nothing can be proven. We have no need to worry ourselves.”
“Yes, of course,” Callum mumbled, letting the conversation drift into silence. If Sahra was able to hear what they spoke of, there was no way to know who else had their ears strained to pick up the private conversation. They couldn’t let anyone start to wonder at the truth behind Ewei’s accusations against Edric where Neomi was concerned. They had enough to worry about when they returned to Nahedu.
Up ahead Enapo came to a sudden halt, lifting his hand to motion for everyone to stop. Curious by the unexpected delay Edric peered around Sahra’s shoulders in hopes of seeing what had come to Enapo’s attention, feeling the handles in his hands weighted down by Gadiel’s body shifting, straining to sit up. There on the ground at Enapo’s feet lay a body, spatters of blood sprinkled over the otherwise pristine white surface of the snow. Interest piqued, Callum moved forward to Enapo’s side to examine the figure. It was motionless. The amount of blood was enough to make it obvious that the body was no longer living. Edric’s concern was in who it was and how the person had come to be a corpse along a path they had only just traversed less than a day before.
Unable to suppress his growing curiosity Edric muttered a quiet command to Sahra, lowering Gadiel onto the ground, relieved to be free of the weight. Without hesitation he covered the distance between him and Enapo, bracing himself for the gruesome sight. A mass of white hair fanned around the face of a man staring lifelessly up at the sky. It was the only indication to tell what race the man was, his face covered in blood while his midsection appeared to have been impaled by something, nearly tearing him in two.
“Veswar,” Enapo muttered under his breath, prodding the corpse with the tip of his boot. Edric watched him, a wave of bile filling his throat, making it difficult to speak the questions swimming in his head. Veswar? Was that a name?
“Is that the identity of the man lying before us, or do you refer to whatever caused his untimely demise?” Callum’s inquiry took the words from Edric’s mouth. He was grateful for it. Callum was better accustomed to the gore of battle. It was easier for him to maintain composure when faced with something so macabre.
Enapo didn’t seem to mind the question, pausing briefly to sniff the air, cautious. “The veswar is what we call the beast which is capable of this type of wound. They keep further north, however. It is uncommon for them to travel this far south.” Bending his knees Enapo squatted closer to the ground, wiping a smear of blood from the face of the corpse. “Paok was in our hunting party when we left Nahedu. When Neomi departed to track the Avaern, he was transferred to her command. They passed through here recently. The blood is fresh.”
Inside Edric’s chest, his heart skipped a beat, both from excitement at the thought of being so close to Neomi while at the same time frightened at the poss
ibility of her having been attacked by the beast Enapo spoke of. If it was anything like the boeikath, it was enough to send chills down his spine to think of facing it in combat. The creatures of Ethrysta were nothing like the animals he was accustomed to in the Tanispan forests. He couldn’t think of anything back home which would be capable of the devastation visible on the fallen warrior.
Sounds of weapons being drawn echoed through the area, the Ovatai on guard in case of an attack. For the first time since they departed that morning Edric let his gaze sweep across the path they traveled, taking in every detail with greater clarity, noticing the tiny nuances which had changed from when they were last there. From where he stood he could see another figure lying on the ground, not far from the first, red spatters soaked into the surface of the snow. Quickly he made his way to where the lifeless form stared emptily up at him, relieved to discover it wasn’t Neomi. He wanted to have faith in the fact that she was a skilled fighter but he couldn’t get past the gruesome image of the bodies, their flesh torn, ripped through by some incredible force that he couldn’t deny even Neomi was capable of falling victim to. This creature… the veswar… seemed a menacing beast. One he prayed they never encounter.
A feeling of unease created a pit in his stomach. Something wasn’t right. In the corners of his mind he knew something terrible had happened here. He didn’t need to see the veswar to know it was more than just the beast at work here. In a group the size of Neomi’s, there was no explanation for how two Ovatai warriors, skilled in the art of combat, could have fallen to a single creature, regardless of size and strength. They had enough arrows between them to lay the beast out before it had a chance to take two lives. Unless there had been more than one veswar, but Enapo had voiced the rarity of seeing them in these parts. For there to have been two – or more – seemed a peculiar occurrence. It didn’t make sense. But then again, neither did the strange behavior of the boeikath.
In the distance Edric thought he heard something. A voice. It rang through the air, insistent, filled with concern. His head lifted to find the source, his legs moving him toward it before he became consciously aware of what he was doing. Moinie. He recognized the sharpness of her tone. Her slender figure could be seen, covering the distance at a hasty pace, waving her arms to get their attention.
The closer she came, the more Edric took note of her disheveled appearance, the fabric of her coat and pants ripped and torn, tinted with flecks of red, limping along the uneven ground. Her attention was diverted from Edric, taking note of Enapo standing over the corpse at Callum’s side, her shouts growing louder at the sight of them. “Enapo!” she called, gasping for breath as she stumbled over to them, Callum’s uninjured arm reaching out to catch her, in fear that she might fall. “I cannot find her. You must help me!”
“Calm yourself, Moinie,” Enapo extended a steady hand, relieving Moinie’s weight from Callum. “Who can you not find?”
“Neomi was with us… I lost her when the blizzard started…”
“Blizzard?” Edric questioned, hurrying to get closer, the sinking feeling in his stomach building until it was almost unbearable. There had been no blizzard. And the bodies were too fresh for it to have passed through so soon before they arrived.
Seeming to notice Edric for the first time Moinie focused her eyes on him, slipping from Enapo’s grasp to stand before him. “We suspected it to be the Avaern, but it was never seen. The wind came upon us the same as it did in Isavo only this time it brought with it the veswar, hidden within the concealment of the snow. Edric, you must help me find her. I have searched everywhere and have found no trace among the bodies.”
He took only a mild comfort in hearing that Neomi hadn’t been found with the corpses. That fact was no reassurance of her survival, however. His blood ran cold at the lurid possibilities of the fate that might have befallen her. “Where did you last see her?” he asked, insistent, holding onto her arms tightly to keep her from walking away. He didn’t care how it looked to the others. “How far from here were you when the beasts attacked?”
“Maybe half a mile… but the corpses are scattered further than that. The strength of the wind during the storm has deadened her scent. The only thing on the air is the lingering stench of the Avaern, and the veswar.”
“Spread out!” Enapo shouted, waving the rest of the warriors forward into the open expanse of land surrounding them. They gave no hesitation in following his orders. The only one left standing there was Ewei, his jaw clenched, staring at Moinie there in Edric’s grasp. Reminded of his mistake, Edric let his hands fall away. He was making his concern too obvious. To the Ovatai he was still a stranger in their midst. There was no reason for him to be so attached to one of their warriors, the way he appeared over Neomi.
Edric didn’t wait for further direction from Enapo or Callum. All he could think about was finding Neomi. He needed to know that she was safe.
It wasn’t until he had separated himself from the others that he realized just how hard of a task they undertook in searching for a single woman, her clothing white, blending in with the landscape, increasing the difficulty of spotting her from any distance. But he refused to give up. There had to be some sign. Some indication of where she had gone. To his dismay, there was nothing. The wind from the blizzard had covered any tracks that might have been left behind, concealing the footprints to leave the surface of the snow unblemished. Without the use of the energy, he had little to work with in locating her. His eyes just weren’t enough.
“Edric.” The voice reached his ears, faint, strained, filled with obvious pain. Confused by the sound he turned to face where it came from. Blinking in surprise Edric moved forward at the sight of Gadiel standing there, offering his shoulder to help support the weight of Gadiel’s injured ankle.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Edric gasped. Gadiel was in no condition to be on his feet, let alone walking. Unnecessary use of the broken bone would only hinder the healing process… and they needed him to get better without complications. He was one of the best fighters in the unit. To lose him would make their task harder than it already was. “Let’s get you back so you can lie down. Callum will have a few choice words if he finds you gone.”
“I will hear whatever words he has for me… later. Edric, I found something which merits further investigation, but I can’t do it on my own. Help me back to where our packs are and I can direct us from there.”
“Investigation? Does this have something to do with Neomi?”
“Possibly. If I’m correct, then we need to move quickly. Please.”
He didn’t need to hear further pleading. Wrapping Gadiel’s arm around his shoulder Edric guided him along the slippery ground, cringing at every sharp intake of air he heard in his ear from Gadiel’s pain-filled steps. He couldn’t imagine how much Gadiel suffered in that moment. If there had been anything Edric could do to ease the discomfort, he would have done so without question, but there was nothing. Gadiel had brought this on himself by choosing to stand. But if it helped to find Neomi, Edric would owe him dearly for the effort.
When they reached the location where they first had come into contact with Moinie, Gadiel began to motion Edric to the north. As they drew nearer to a pile of fallen snow and ice, Edric thought hard over the way the path had looked when they first passed through the day before, finding the debris out of place. There had been something else there. An outcropping of sorts, created from packed snow which formed a high incline, like a wall of ice spanning several feet. Part of the formation remained intact while the far side of it had crumbled. A glint of something in the sunlight caught his eye. Bending forward he reached for the object buried in the snow, lifting it carefully with his fingertips while his other hand remained outstretched toward Gadiel to keep him from falling. The polished surface of a gold ring attached to a broken chain reflected the sun’s rays back at him, sparking images in his mind of where he had seen the object before. The wedding band around Neomi’s neck.
>
“Oh, gods…” Frantic, he let go of Gadiel, rushing toward the collapsed snow. There was no way to know if Neomi was there without somehow utilizing the energy to seek her – or to manually remove every chunk of ice from where it had fallen to search the underlying area. Neither option was sufficient. He knew all too well the dangers of using the magic here. And there wasn’t enough time to dig through the snow.
Falling to his knees he began to search the outer layers of the debris for some sign that might lead him to Neomi’s location. If she was there, it seemed like there would be something. A drop of blood. A fragment of clothing. He was vaguely aware of Gadiel at his side again, hobbling along the edge toward the back. With a grunt he dropped to the ground, hands extended toward the snow, palms flattened, eyes closed. What is he doing? Edric watched him, horrified at the thought of him risking the use of their magic. Gadiel knew the consequences of doing so. It was foolish of him to even consider.
“Gadiel, don’t!” It was too late. The soft green light had already wrapped around Gadiel’s hands, seeping into the snow. His body jerked slightly, retracting his hands quickly as the light faded away, opening his eyes groggily to point at the ground.
“Here,” he murmured, weaving drunkenly, barely managing to catch his balance against a large icy boulder to his right. “I sense something here.”
“Gadiel, what were you thinking? Are you alright?”
“Don’t worry about me. Dig.”
Torn between his friend and the possibility of finding Neomi, Edric gritted his teeth, forcing himself to turn away from Gadiel to face the pile of snow in front of him. Gadiel had sensed something. It breathed hope into Edric’s sinking spirit. If there was enough for Gadiel to pinpoint her life essence, it meant she had to be alive. He refused to believe any different.
The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Three: Crown of Ice Page 63