Into the Wastelands: Book Four of the Restoration Series

by Williams, Christopher

  “What is that?” Heather asked.

  “It’s very hard to tell at this distance, but I think it could be sorcery,” Dagan said after a minute.

  Heather started in surprise and then glanced to Agminion, who only shrugged. “Why do you think that?” she asked Dagan.

  Dagan took a deep breath, “We’re out here in the middle of nowhere, but something woke me tonight. It was a feeling. I got up and that’s when Mikela came down from the hill. Apparently,” he waved his hand at the lights, “this had just started.”

  “You felt them?” Heather asked.

  “I’m not sure,” Dagan answered with a rueful smile, “perhaps.”

  “And you,” Heather asked of Agminion. “Did you feel anything?”

  Agminion didn’t answer immediately. Finally he shook his head. “I did not.” He paused looking uncomfortable, like he didn’t want to say the next words, “But I have to admit that Dagan is stronger than I am. He can feel sorcery being used at greater distances than I can.”

  Nodding, Heather turned to Atock, “How far away do you think it is?”

  Looking out to the north, Atock considered. “Two days, maybe three,” he answered.

  Heather judged the distances for herself and had to agree with Atock’s assessment. She looked back to Dagan, “And you think that’s sorcery?”

  “Well,” Dagan began slowly. He seemed to be searching for the best way to explain, “Sort of. I believe I felt sorcery, but I don’t think the lights we’re seeing now are sorcery. That’s not anything I know how to do. My guess is that they have a magician with them.”

  Sorcerers and magicians, Heather thought, both here at the same time we are. It seemed rather unlikely that it was just coincidence.

  They lay there for another half an hour watching the lights to the north. Finally the lights and fires stopped, but they continued to lie there, staring out to the north in silence. Each of them wondering what the lights could mean.

  “I think the show’s over,” Dagan said after almost another half an hour. He sat up and turned around so that he faced back down the slope of the hill. “I’m going to bed. If anything else happens, wake me.” With that, he began sliding down the steep slope.

  “It’s not a bad idea,” Heather said, looking around at the others. “Why don’t all of you go get some sleep?” She nodded to Mikela, “You too. It’s probably time for my watch to begin anyway.”

  Mikela smiled thankfully at Heather as she and the other two returned to camp.

  All alone now, Heather continued to watch the northern sky. All the serenity and peace that she had been feeling was gone. Worry was beginning to seriously set in on her. Perhaps her group was simply too far from the main Faerum cities for the curse to affect them. Could the lightning and fire tonight have been some other group tripping a millennia old trap?

  Slowly an hour or so passed and still Heather lay there, looking out to the north. Nothing else unusual could be seen. Lying in the soft grass, with all the surrounding night sounds, was very relaxing. Her eyelids seemed unusually heavy and they were just about to close when Heather sat up with a start. She took a deep breath and stretched her neck. “That was close,” she muttered to herself. It had been years since she had fallen asleep while on watch. She was the leader and the thought of one of the others finding her asleep was almost too much to bear.

  Turning around, she began to slide down the steep hill but froze. At the bottom of the hill, grinning up at her, was Enton.

  “I thought you were asleep,” he said.

  “No,” Heather answered after just a brief pause, “just tired.” After a moment of consideration she decided that she really couldn’t stay at the top of the hill forever and so she began sliding down. She stopped just short of the bottom, watching Enton warily. “Why are you here?”

  Enton looked confounded by the question. “Uh, well, I thought that perhaps we should talk.”

  Sighing, Heather nodded. “You’re probably right.” It was true that they needed to talk, but she really wasn’t ready for this. “I’m sorry about last night,” she began, “I don’t know what came over me.”

  Her statement was apparently not what Enton had been expecting and he looked even more confused than normal. “Well, I’m not sorry about last night,” he said, “I rather enjoyed it.”

  Heather closed her eyes and took a deep breath, hating to have to agree with Enton. “It wasn’t unpleasant,” she finally managed to say, without opening her eyes. “But that’s not the point. We can’t be doing things like that.”

  “And why is that?” Enton asked. His confused looks were gone and now he just looked sullen.

  “Because I’m in command. It would be totally inappropriate for me and you to,” she trailed off, not knowing what words to use.

  “Maybe,” Enton agreed, “but it was also wrong for Murleen and Flare and they didn’t let that stop them.” Murleen had been an original member of their Guardian squad who had died at the battle of Fort Mul-Dune.

  “Yes, but they thought they were going to die.”

  “We could die tomorrow,” Enton said. “I think you’re being foolish.”

  Anger began swelling within her and Heather took a deep steadying breath. “Perhaps, but I think it’s the right decision.”

  Silence lasted for several heartbeats before Enton nodded his head. “As you wish.” He turned to go, but halted as Heather called after him.

  “Enton,” she waited until he had turned back around before continuing, “I would appreciate it we could keep from letting this affect our group.

  After a moment he nodded, and then he grinned. “Even though it may have gotten me into trouble last night, I will go back to thinking of you just like Atock.” Still grinning, he turned and walked back towards camp.

  Heather watched him walk away, not entirely pleased with the way the conversation had gone. It was true that he had agreed to her wishes, but just because she didn’t want to kiss him didn’t mean that she wanted him to start treating her like one of the men.

  The night passed rather slowly. Nothing else exciting happened on Heather’s watch and she was relieved by Aaron, who in turn was relieved by Enton.

  The next morning, Heather woke to the sounds of someone stirring a fire.

  Atock was preparing breakfast and he noticed her watching him. He smiled at her, “Morning,” he said. He was holding the last of their bread. It was hard and definitely getting moldy. Atock spent several moments picking off the moldy pieces and then he stuck a stick through the bread and began holding it over the fire, apparently hoping toasting it would soften it enough to make it edible.

  Despite still being exhausted, Heather forced herself to sit up. Her whole body ached and she began stretching, trying to loosen her muscles up. She glanced around the camp. It was early still, the sun was not really up and the sky was still a deep gray. It was still cool and a thin fog hung over the ground. Dagan, Agminion, and Mikela were already up and packing away their blankets. Aaron was awake, but like her, he had only managed to sit up on his bedding. He was looking around through blurry eyes, his hair sticking out at all different angles. Heather grinned before she realized that she must look as bad. She glanced around one more time and then frowned. Enton wasn’t there.

  “Where’s Enton?” she asked.

  Atock looked up from the fire. “He’s on watch, probably just hasn’t realized what time it is.”

  “Hard to miss the sun coming up,” Heather said, pushing herself to her feet. “And I’ve never known him to miss a meal.” Ignoring the ache in her legs, she walked over to the nearest of the small hills and quickly climbed to its top. Standing at the summit gave her an excellent view of the large field and there was no sign of Enton anywhere. It was possible that he was walking amongst the hills and hidden from view, but it seemed rather unlikely.

  Just then a thought occurred to her. Surely this isn’t about our conversation last night! He’s not that much a fool! Sill, a feeling sense
of worry was growing in her.

  She quickly slid back down the hill and returned to their camp.

  “See him?” Atock asked.

  “No,” Heather answered causing Atock to look up. The first real signs of concern began to show on his face as well.

  “See who?” Mikela asked. The others were also watching, they had missed the earlier conversation.

  “Enton,” Heather asked. “I could not see him from the top of the hill.” She paused for a moment, trying to determine the best way to proceed. “I think I’ll look to the north, back near where we watched the lights last night.” She hadn’t even take two steps that way, when Dagan interrupted her.

  “No need,” the old sorcerer said, “I can sense him to the east.” He looked like he was about to say more, but he paused. His expression changing to one of concern. “He’s in pain.”

  At his words, Atock dropped the bread in the fire and grabbed his swords. Aaron climbed to his feet and buckled on his sword belt. As one the group followed the two sorcerers out of the camp and they wound their way through the hills.

  Dagan led them to the eastern side of the field, almost back into the woods. He stopped before the very last hill. This particular hill looked different. While all the others were covered in green grass, this hill looked burnt and singed. The scorching didn’t look all that new, perhaps it had been caused by a lightning strike within the last week. They walked all the way around the hill and stopped on the far side. Dagan stared at the hill in surprise.

  “Well,” Heather asked, “where is he?”

  Dagan started and turned. “I believe he’s inside the hill.”

  “I’m sorry,” Mikela said, “did you say inside the hill.”

  Nodding, Dagan made to climb the hill, but stopped as Heather spoke.

  “Uh, no,” Heather said, “why don’t you stay down here?” She then turned to Atock and simply nodded up the hill.

  Atock didn’t need any additional encouragement but charged the hill and gained the summit in moments. Actually, he stopped just short of the summit as the top of the hill was a huge hole. He peered down into the darkness but could make out little. “Enton?” he called out hesitantly.

  “Atock! I’m down here.” Enton’s voice called from the depths of the darkness. “It’s too high for me to climb out. We need a rope.”

  “Hold on,” Atock said. He then turned to the others at the bottom of the hill. “We need a rope. He fell into a hole and he can’t climb out.”

  While Aaron went to fetch the rope, Heather, Mikela, and Dagan climbed the steep slope and arranged themselves all around the hole. They were forced to lie on their bellies and hang their heads out over the opening.

  “Il-lum,” Mikela said, causing a small ball of light to form in the air beside her. With just a thought she sent the ball down into the darkness.

  The light lit up the small cavern and to their immense relief, Enton was standing directly under the opening. He was staring up at them, but he was holding his left arm against his chest.

  “Are you hurt?” Heather asked, breathing in deep at the sight of Enton standing. Dagan’s statement that Enton was in pain had sent a thrill of worry through her. She was sure that she would have felt the same for either Atock or Aaron.

  In response, Enton held up his left arm and straightened it out in front of him. He grimaced in pain as he moved the arm. “It’s not broken but I think I may have sprained it.”

  “Quit messing with it, fool.” Atock called out. “Don’t move it until we get you out of there and can look at it.”

  Enton slowly lowered the arm back to his chest. “I’ve had worse. Thank the gods it wasn’t my right arm or I wouldn’t be able to fight.”

  “Enton,” Dagan said in a quiet voice, “what is all that stuff around you?”

  Heather hadn’t even noticed Enton’s surroundings until Dagan spoke. She had been too interested in Enton’s health.

  Enton dropped his gaze and looked around. “I think it’s a crypt of some kind.”

  Heather had first assumed that Enton was in a naturally formed fissure or cavern of the rock, but now that she looked, she could see that the walls were too perfect and smooth for it to be natural. The room that Enton was in was round, maybe twenty feet in diameter, with small niches cut every foot or so in the rock of the wall. Each niche was piled high with what looked like bones. A raised slab of stone, maybe a foot high, ran all along the base of the wall. The slab was also covered in bones and other unrecognizable things. The floor was littered with what appeared to be garbage.

  Dagan shook his head, “It’s a barrow.”

  “You know what this is?” Heather asked. She, like the others, were looking at Dagan in surprise.

  Nodding, Dagan leaned farther out so as to get a better look. “Barrows were once quite common. It’s a mound raised over a grave, or in this case, multiple graves.” He slid back from the edge a bit, “There’s carving all along the top of the wall and I believe it’s Faerum.”

  Heather leaned in, as did Mikela and Cassandra, to get a better view. Indeed, there was fancy scrollwork carved out of the stone of the wall.

  “Enton, did you take anything?” Dagan asked casually.

  “No,” Enton said, “I was in total darkness, but now, with Mikela’s light, I can see better.” He looked around and pointed to several spots. “Couple of things down here might be worth taking. Looks like some of this stuff might be gold.”

  “Don’t touch it!” Dagan said quickly, causing everyone to jump.

  Enton yanked his hand away from something glittering in one of the small niches. “Why not?” he asked, looking up through the opening overhead, a grin spreading across his face. “You don’t believe in curses, do you?”

  “Don’t be a fool,” Dagan snapped. “I never seen anything to suggest that curses actually exist.” Enton turned back to the niche and Dagan continued talking. “However, I do believe in magic and this stuff could very well have a magic spell on it in case someone tries to steal it. I suggest you take my word on this.”

  Enton glanced back upwards and then turned longingly back to the niches.

  “Let it go,” Heather said.

  Sighing deeply, Enton turned his back on the niche and looked up through the opening. “How about getting me out of this damn hole then?”

  As if summoned by Enton’s gripes, Aaron came running up with a long length of rope. Atock tied the end of the rope into a loop and dropped it in. Atock spent several moments searching the edge of the hole until he found a spot that seemed fairly stable. He leaned over and looked in to see Enton already standing with his foot in the loop. Atock and Aaron then began pulling the rope and Enton was slowly lifted free of the barrow.

  “How did you get down there?” Heather demanded, as Mikela checked out Enton’s sore arm.

  “Well, I was on watch so I was wandering around. I happen to notice that hill looked like it had been burned and I guessed that maybe lightning had struck it, and I climbed up to take a look.” He grimaced, “The roof was weak and collapsed under my weight.”

  “And you didn’t take anything?” Dagan asked just from Heather’s right. “Anything at all?”

  Shaking his head, Enton said, “No. I already told you that I couldn’t see anything until you got here and then you told me not to even touch anything.” He looked wistfully back at the barrow, “Pity.”

  “He’s fine,” Mikela said, giving up on her examination of his arm. “Probably just a sprain.”

  Heather clapped her hands together, making several people jump. “All right then, let’s see to breakfast and then get a move on. We’ve already wasted enough time as it is.”

  They headed back to their camp, and Heather found herself walking alongside Enton. “Glad you didn’t get hurt.”

  Enton smiled at her, “I just wish I could have plundered that place.”

  Sighing, Heather turned to Enton, “ I thought you might have left us.”

  “Left us?”
Enton repeated confused. “Why?”

  “Well,” Heather began. She paused to look around and make sure the others couldn’t hear. “I was afraid that our conversation last night might have made you,” she trailed off watching him.

  He grinned, “You thought I left because you don’t want to kiss me?”

  Something about the grin on Enton’s face just infuriated her and Heather took a deep breath to keep from showing it. “Never know, it might have been the best kiss you ever had.”

  That just caused Enton’s grin to get bigger, “Might have been, but it wasn’t.”

  Heather’s eyes widened in surprise and anger and she increased her pace, leaving Enton behind. As she walked, she could hear the oaf chuckling.

  Chapter 17

  After a hurried breakfast, they broke camp and headed north. Heather once again took the lead and she put Enton on rear guard. She wanted him as far from her as possible. She didn’t think the others noticed her acting differently towards Enton, but they were all just glad to have found Enton safe and reasonably sound.

  They made good time although they did have to head a bit to the east to avoid a bog. The bog was a low lying area that held a bunch of water, sort of like a swamp. They spent the rest of the day skirting the marsh, stopping at lunch around midday.

  Heather was still irritated with Enton, but had been thinking about the situation the whole morning. He was like a little boy that just couldn’t stop himself from pulling the little girls’ pigtails. As long as she continued to show him that he was getting to her, then he would continue.

  Lunch was a horrible mix of boiled colla and dried fruit. Enton dipped some of the colla out and held it out to Heather, “Want some?”

  Smiling, Heather nodded. “Yes, thank you.” Reaching out she took gods-awful mixture.

  Enton blinked. Her reaction most definitely was not what he had been expecting.

  Ignoring the oversized bastard, Heather begin eating the colla. Glancing up she caught Mikela’s eye. Mikela was looking from her to Enton, a look of serious thought on her face. “Uh-oh,” Heather muttered. The last thing she wanted was the group to start gossiping.