Sand had forced its way between her closed eyelids. It coated every part of her body, her clothes, her hair. On the verge of passing out, she prayed that God would see them through this.
The sandstorm didn't relent.
Chapter 49: The River
Just when Nadia thought she was going to succumb, the sand stopped striking her. Exhausted, she struggled to her feet. Alana stood with her staff raised into the air, and an invisible shield had formed around them, deflecting the sand.
"Why didn't you think of that sooner?" Rik demanded.
Alana's voice sounded strained. "I did, but it was hard to get the spell to work."
"Can I do the same thing?" Rik asked.
"It's just a fire shield. It apparently stops sand as well as arrows."
The rest of the group had gotten to their feet, brushing sand from their skin and clothes. Rik raised his staff. At first, some sand penetrated the shield, but soon his added strength kept all the sand from striking the party.
Nadia didn't know how long the wind howled and the sand blew, but eventually the sky cleared, and the stiff gale weakened to a gentle breeze. Drenched in sweat, Rik and Alana let the shield fall, and then they collapsed.
Markus put a hand on Rik's shoulder. "You okay?"
"I'll be fine. That was just really exhausting."
Alana nodded her agreement as she got to her feet. After a brief rest, the party started marching again. Hopefully they wouldn't need Rik and Alana's magic any time soon.
In the wake of the sandstorm, the sun burned intensely against the orange sand. The air shimmered in the distance as Nadia trudged ahead miserably, coated in sand.
They walked through the scorching day, crossing sand dunes that became more and more like mountains. Nadia's feet ached, but she ignored the pain. Even Rik kept his complaints to a minimum. Maybe he was reclaiming the old Rik.
At night, the air cooled, and they rested beneath a clear sky. Alana could now summon water again, but she lacked the strength to stand up to another sandstorm.
"I have the feeling we're almost across the desert," Markus said.
Rik gave him a look. "What gives you that feeling?"
"I don't know. It just feels right, you know."
"Well, we better be close," Rik said. "I can't stop another sandstorm."
"I think Markus is right," Garet said. "From what Cyrus has said, the desert isn't that large. It's more the dangers that cause problems."
Rik looked down at the sand. "Let's hope so."
"At least we haven't seen any monsters on this side of the canyon," Markus said.
Rik glared at him. "Do you have to say that? Someone might be listening."
"No one's listening," Nadia said. "Not even Warrick is omniscient."
"Yeah, maybe," Rik said, but he was frowning.
They continued their westward trek the next morning, climbing dune after dune. Nadia tried to ignore the sweat dripping into her eyes, the weariness of her legs. Late that afternoon, they came to a dune as tall as a small mountain.
"I don't wanna climb that," Rik said, brushing sweat from his red hair.
Garet gave him a sharp look. "And what would you do instead? Sit here and die?"
"Well, no."
"Then stop complaining," Garet said. "We all feel the same way."
Rik turned away, and they climbed the dune in silence. At each step, the sand shifted, threatening to send them sliding down the dune. They occasionally had to climb on their hands and feet, for the dune had become so steep. Nadia forced herself not to look down.
Just before sunset, panting with exhaustion, they reached the top of the dune. In the evening sunlight, Nadia could see the distant mountains forming the western edge of the Empire. Closer to them, beyond a few more dunes, stood the Forest of Darkness. In between, there was a small area of the first vegetation they'd seen in ages.
She fell to her knees. "Thank God!"
"I don't know if I'd say that," Rik said. "Now we've gotta go through the forest."
"It's another step accomplished," Alana said. "We need to keep our hopes up."
Nadia got back to her feet. "We should get to that river before nightfall."
"Good idea," Garet said. "Then we can rest."
They crossed the last few dunes, pushing through exhaustion. When they reached the green vegetation by the river, the air cooled and became more humid. The river rushed by with a steady roar unlike anything Nadia had ever heard. Those waters churned so rapidly they looked impossible to cross. She could swim, but not that well.
"Can we really make an ice bridge across that?" Rik asked.
Alana held up her staff. "I hope so."
"An ice bridge?" Markus said. "Sounds kinda dangerous."
"It's the best option we have," Alana said.
Garet held up a hand to end the argument. "We'll worry about that tomorrow. For now, let's get a fire started."
They took wood from the nearby trees, started a fire, and ate from their dwindling stores. Night fell, but the air didn't take on the same chill as it had in the desert.
Nadia sat close to Markus. Since that kiss by the canyon, she'd gone to sleep nestled up against him, letting him hold her in his strong arms. She felt like kissing him again, but not in front of everyone else. In fact, she felt like more than kissing.
After their meal, she said, "Markus, would you like to come with me into the woods?"
Rik gave them a sly grin. "Hmm, that doesn't sound suspicious at all."
"We're just going to look for more wood for the fire," Nadia said, her face warm.
"That's not all you plan on doing," Rik said.
Nadia ignored him. "So are you coming, Markus?
"Sure," he said, hopping to his feet. They marched off into the woods, the light of the campsite fading behind them, leaving nothing but moonlight. Nadia put her arm around Markus, and he put his around her.
Once they'd gone far enough that they could no longer hear the fireside chatter, Nadia motioned for Markus to sit beside her on the soft ground. Alive with passion, she rested her head against his chest. Neither of them smelled good, but that didn't matter.
He brushed a hand through her tangled brown hair, gently. She looked up into his blue eyes, her heart pounding a sudden drumbeat. They kissed—softly at first, then with more passion. It felt strange, even awkward, but she liked it. Liked him.
She lay atop him, kissing him with all her desire, listening to the mighty roaring of the river. Though she felt hesitant about the next step, she worried she'd never have another chance.
He looked up at her with a frown. "You sure about this?"
"I have some herbs to keep me from getting pregnant." She pulled away from Markus and dug the herbs out of a pocket. "What better chance will we ever have? From everything I've read and heard, the Forest of Darkness is much more dangerous than anywhere we've been. I want you. You want me. It's been obvious for a while now. Let's make this night count. It could be our last."
"You're right."
She chewed and swallowed the herbs. They tasted bitter, and it was a struggle to get them down. Then she and Markus disrobed, tossing their filthy clothes to the side. His muscles stood out, and she felt suddenly self-conscious about her own muscular body. Most men seemed to dislike muscular women.
"You look beautiful," Markus said.
"Do you really think so?"
"Yes, I do."
With a sudden rush of passion, she took him to the ground.
Afterward, they put their clothes back on. It had been a strange experience—awkward at first, but more pleasurable as it went on. They'd both been fearful that their companions might walk in on them, but no one had.
"That was very nice," Nadia said, not sure what to say as she shuffled her feet against the leaf-strewn ground.
"Yeah," Markus said. "It was."
Arm-in-arm, they made their way back to the campsite. The others sat around the campfire, talking quietly, their words drowned out by th
e river. When Nadia and Markus stepped into view, Rik gave them a knowing look.
"So where's that wood you were gonna find?" he asked.
Nadia's face burned. "Oh, we didn't find any."
Garet chuckled. "With all these trees, I find that hard to believe."
"As do I," Jakob said with a grin. "How was it? Your first time?"
"That's none of your business," Nadia said, a little annoyed. Sex was nothing to be embarrassed about, but she didn't want everyone to know.
"I was only asking," Jakob said.
"I guess it isn't a secret," Markus said. "I don't know. It was awkward, I suppose, then good."
Rik looked on with a grin, a nice change from his recent attitude. "What, Markus, you can't even make love properly?"
"At least I've done it," Markus said, casting Rik a half-serious glare. Everyone else laughed, and Rik's face turned almost as red as his hair.
Nadia and Markus settled down around the campfire, sitting close together. She felt safe when she was close to his strong body. It was a foolish notion, but one she felt nonetheless. She shuddered to think that nothing would keep them safe in the forest.
With that thought, she drifted off to restless sleep.
The next morning, they rose shortly after the sun, ate a small breakfast, then prepared to cross the river. By now, Alana and Rik had recovered from their exhaustion.
The water thundered past, churning in great rapids capped by white foam. The river itself looked nearly a mile wide, and on its other side was the forest's unnatural darkness, hanging over the trees like a black curtain.
"Kinda turns your insides to water," Rik said, pointing at it.
"At least everyone can see this darkness," Markus said.
Garet held up a hand. "Let's not worry about that right now. We need to focus on the immediate task." He turned to Alana. "You ready?"
Alana placed the tip of her staff against the water. She closed her eyes, and a thin patch of ice appeared. Markus and Rik turned pale. Alana and Jakob looked as though they'd seen their deaths.
Nadia had thought they might be able to put some sand on the ice bridge and make it less slippery, but water splashed over the bridge. It would wash away any sand.
"I've never seen so much water," Alana said.
"I don't like it at all," Jakob said. "There's gotta be another way." He narrowed his eyes, looking at the ice bridge. "I've never experienced ice. What is it?"
Nadia's stomach twisted. She hadn't considered how sheltered the people of the Oasis Outpost had been. After a deep breath, she said, "Well, it's quite slippery, but if you slide across it on your feet and don't try to walk, you should be fine. I hope."
"I'm just terrified about falling in," Alana said, holding her staff to the beginning of the ice bridge. "No one from the Oasis Outpost has learned to swim."
"Then let's hope we don't have to," Garet said. "I'm probably the only great swimmer here."
"Rik and I have swum in creeks," Markus said, "but nothing like this."
"I've been in some rivers," Nadia said, silently cursing herself for this hole in her training. She should have known she'd need to be a great swimmer to kill Warrick.
"This isn't just any river," Garet said. "Let's pray" He stepped to the edge of the river. "The longer we wait, the more difficult it'll be to muster the courage. I'll take the lead and show everyone it's safe." He put a hand on Alana's shoulder. "You'll have to stay in the back while we cross."
She nodded, face pale. Garet began crossing the bridge first, moving to the edge of what Alana had frozen. Jakob, Markus, and Rik followed.
Nadia stepped onto the bridge, feeling immediately as though she would slide off. The bridge was just long enough for them to stand in a single line, and just wide enough for them not to slide off the edge.
Slowly, amidst the thundering roar, they crossed the ice bridge. More than once, someone nearly slipped. They didn't talk, didn't look at one another as they focused on putting one foot in front of the other in a careful, deliberate motion. Nadia's heart threatened to burst out of her chest, and her legs trembled as she struggled for stability on the ice.
A quarter of the way across the bridge. Her heart pounded more fiercely. A third. She had to take deep breaths, had to think about anything but the fast-moving water.
Halfway across, Rik let out a sudden yelp. His left foot slipped, and he tried in vain to grab the slippery bridge. Nadia knew he would fall off before he did, and she could do nothing about it.
As he slipped off the bridge, he screamed, groping blindly and finding nothing to hold. Nadia fell to her knees and reached out toward Rik, who tried to grab her hand, but the water swept him away.
"We have to save him!" Markus said. "I'm going in there."
"No, you're not," Garet said sharply. "I'm the best swimmer. If anyone can save him, it's me. If you can't find us, go on into the forest alone. You have a mission."
Garet dived off the bridge.
* * * * *
Down, down, down. Rik struggled against the current, trying to force his head above the water. From time to time, he got a breath, but then the next wave would crash over him, dragging him under. He never could get enough air, and he felt as if his lungs might explode.
The current carried him inexorably downriver. No matter how violently he flailed his arms and legs, he could not fight the current.
It felt like watching the executioner raise his axe again. This time, however, there would be no reprieve. Not even Cyrus could stop the river from drowning Rik.
He'd been stupid to go on this quest. He had no personal stake, no reason to join in this insanity. Not that it mattered now. The cold water would be his grave. Even with his eyes open, the world seemed unnaturally dark. Farther and farther down he went, the surface a distant memory. He longed to take that breath that would end his life.
Would it hurt to drown?
He pushed with his arms, using all the strength he had left. He had to reach the surface, had to. He didn't want to die. Not here. Not like this. He was going to die doing something heroic, not slipping of an ice bridge.
With renewed strength, he pushed harder and harder. The water around him lightened, but the pressure in his lungs had become unbearable. His head seemed as if it would explode. He felt weak, powerless, as the river carried him farther downstream.
At last, mercifully, his head shot above the water. He took a glorious breath before the current plunged him back beneath.
But then he surfaced once more. The river had become shallower here, so shallow he could almost touch the bottom. However, large rocks crowded the water. At the speed the river was carrying him, he feared striking those rocks.
As soon as the thought crossed his mind, he slammed into one and felt as though one of his ribs had cracked. Each breath felt like torture, and fighting the current became harder.
He flailed his arms uselessly, grimacing with every shooting pain. The swirling current twisted him around. He knew he was going to hit his head on a rock, but there was nothing he could do about it. A moment of excruciating pain, then he blacked out.
* * * * *
Markus hadn't moved. Instead, he had fallen to his knees, struggling against tears. He should have gone after Rik instead of leaving that task to Garet.
"We have to move," Jakob said. "Garet will find a way to save Rik, but that won't matter if we don't reach the other side ourselves."
"He's right," Alana said from the rear of the line. "I can only keep this going so long."
Nadia placed a hand on Markus's shoulder. "Please, Markus. I'm worried about Rik too, but I'd prefer to get off this bridge. We can't risk anyone else falling in."
Markus shook his head. "I've never understood how everyone else can always be so calm in these situations, always think so rationally. I can't do it. I just can't." A wave of panic hit him, and tears formed in his eyes.
Did it even matter if they went on without Rik?
Yes, he told himself, getti
ng carefully to his feet. It did matter. He took a few deep breaths, then said, "You're right. Let's get to the other side."
Fighting against panic, he made the slow journey across the rest of the bridge. There were another few near slips, but they did reach the other side. Markus had never thought he'd feel so relieved to be standing on a muddy river bank next to a forest of unnatural darkness.
"We need to go downriver and find them," he said, moving despite his trembling legs. The others followed as he set a quick pace, slogging across the muddy ground. After a while, they moved far enough from the river that they stood on firm grass. Markus kept looking at the river, praying that he'd see Rik, and fearing that he'd lose his friend forever.
This reminded him too much of seeing that sword sticking through Rik's gut. Would there be a healing fruit this time?
They walked for hours, far beyond the time Markus thought reasonable. Early that afternoon, he fell to his knees, overcome with emotion. Of all the ways to lose Rik, this had never crossed his mind. It seemed so pointless.
Nadia knelt next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I-I'm sorry."
"You think they could've gone farther?" he asked, his throat sticking.
"I don't think so," Jakob said. "I'm sorry, Markus, but Garet told us we'd have to go on even if we didn't find them. We've seen now that they aren't alive. Or at least they probably aren't."
Markus rounded on him. "Then we can't give up hope, not when there's a chance."
"It's a very small chance," Jakob said. "They'd have been in the river a long time."
"Too long," Alana said.
As much as it pained Markus, he knew they were right. Trying not to cry, not to sit there and never move again, he turned to the rest of the party. "All right. Let's go into the forest."
Those seven words were the toughest he'd ever uttered.
The others nodded, and they turned to walk beneath the dark canopy.
* * * * *
Darien was not happy. He leaned on the wooden table where he read the Webs of Fate, massaging his temples and praying, though he wasn't praying to anyone in particular. Why should he care what God thought? If He even existed, he had left this world in the hands of Lionar, Krinir, and Rador.
World in Chains- The Complete Series Page 42