Nicholas Raven and the Wizards' Web (The Complete Epic Fantasy)

by Thomas J. Prestopnik

  Nicholas crinkled his face, certain that that was impossible. “How? There were only ten of us in King Justin’s chamber when we took our oath. The doors were closed and guarded from the outside. Who else could have known?”

  “Maybe we’re fretting over nothing,” he replied. “But as a precaution, I’m going to sit up for an hour or two. I’m far from sleepy now, and as dawn is still hours away, I can get enough rest when I close my eyes again later.”

  “All right,” Nicholas said. “But promise to wake me before you go back to sleep so I can watch for a while, too. I mean, as long as we’re being cautious…”

  But their vigil in the darkness proved either unnecessary or very effective as there were no further disturbances during the night. When Leo awoke refreshed the following gray morning and commented that Hobin and Nicholas both looked less than ready to march, Nicholas explained what had happened the previous night.

  “Then I had spoken to you,” Leo said, trying to recall his words. “I thought I dreamed that you and Hobin were talking to each other by the fire. What’d I talk about?”

  “Apples, of course,” Nicholas replied with a laugh.

  Later, Hobin scouted about the area as soon as there was sufficient light. And though he found no individuals to go with the voices, he did find suspicious signs that maybe others had been about, including disturbances in the leafy ground covering and freshly crushed undergrowth in spots, all in areas that his group had not traversed. Yet he detected no trail he could follow at any length nor had the time to search for one.

  “If others are tracking us, they’re clever enough to remain hidden. But we can’t spare the daylight to seek them out. We must move on,” Hobin insisted.

  They continued their trek after a hasty breakfast, at the moment fearing a change in the weather more than anything else. The graying skies had been accompanied by a dampening air that chilled them to the bone as they started out on their second day of hiking. Their ghostly breaths rose and leisurely lingered in the cold and clammy atmosphere. The gray, monotonous hours blended into one another, forming a colorless blot of time that epitomized their expedition for the remainder of that day and all the next, wringing any traces of enthusiasm out of their spirits and conversation.

  It wasn’t until the following day that the air began to dry and the clouds started to break, allowing glorious patches of blue sky and splashes of sunshine to entertain them from above. Though the air still harbored late autumn’s cold bite, the vexing dampness and persistent melancholy had dissipated to the delight of all.

  They made camp before twilight as the reddish glow of the sun gently soaked through the trees in the southwest. The sky above was crisp and clean. There had been no further disturbances to their sleep since that first incident three nights ago which gave them hope that maybe they were reading more into the episode than was really there. The trio enjoyed hot stew with biscuits and apples as they sat near the fire, pleased to have concluded their fourth day of traveling.

  “We’re making excellent time,” Hobin remarked before taking a gulp from his water skin and wiping his lips upon a coat sleeve. “At the rate we’re going, we should see the shores of Beetle Lake tomorrow and the woody slopes of Gray Hawk Mountain standing beside it. It’ll be a welcome change of scenery from this endless parade of trees.”

  “I look forward to it,” Leo said. “And I’m eager to climb Gray Hawk, too.”

  “That’s one of the smaller mountains in the Dunn Hills region, but it still affords a wonderful view as there aren’t many trees near its stony top,” Hobin explained. “We’ve been gradually climbing in elevation over the last day. When we reach the actual mountain tomorrow, it’ll be a quick three hour hike or so to the summit. It’s one of the more pleasant climbs I’ve made. A few of the higher peaks might take me all day to reach the top, but all the views are spectacular.”

  “A quick three hours?” Nicholas asked skeptically. “Isn’t that an unneeded delay?”

  “But the fun will be worth it!” Hobin’s laughter shattered the gathering stillness of twilight. “Besides, when are you ever going to be in these parts again? You should add at least one climb to your list of accomplishments. When we make the final hike to Wolf Lake, we’ll pass between the last two easternmost peaks of the Five Brothers but won’t have the time to scale either of them. They’re much higher and more challenging.”

  “Since you’re the guide, I’ll leave the particulars to you, Hobin. After all, Leo and I want our money’s worth,” Nicholas quipped.

  “I’ll try not to disappoint,” he said. “Now I think I’ll turn in early tonight and catch up on some sleep. Tend to the fire as long as you want. We’ll leave after sunup.”

  With that, Hobin grabbed a rolled up pelt from his pack and tossed it on the ground just inside the glow of the fire. He lay down upon it, covering himself with a heavy blanket. Soon he was fast asleep, snoring occasionally in the deepening night.

  “I’m not very tired,” Nicholas said. He got up from a large, flat stone he had been sitting upon and added a few sticks to the fire. “If you want to turn in, go ahead, Leo. I’ll sit here and think for a bit while I stoke the flames.”

  “Not yet,” Leo commented matter-of-factly, noting the tension and unease in Nicholas’ face in the steady glow. He sat against a nearby tree and stretched his legs, warming his boots by the fire. When Nicholas returned to his seat, Leo could tell that his friend had much on his mind yet sensed his unwillingness to talk about it.

  “Want anything else to eat?” Nicholas asked. “The stew is gone, but there’s still a biscuit sitting out.”

  “Save it for tomorrow. One of us will appreciate it after climbing up Gray Hawk.”

  “I suppose,” he said, staring at the snapping flames while trying to find order in their erratic nature.

  Leo glanced at him, noting the faraway look in his eyes. He had an idea of what his friend was thinking about now and over the past few days, deciding to broach the subject as Nicholas seemed unwilling to do so himself. He folded his arms and rested his head against the tree, staring off into the darkness beyond the dancing tips of the bonfire.

  “Do you think I should go around the Cashua Forest on the way back? After all, going through it alone might mean the death of me,” Leo softly said. “Or perhaps I could convince Hobin to guide me through the woods. We’ll have enough money left to pay him. I can find my way back to Morrenwood easily enough once I’m on the other side.” He massaged his chin, feigning deep thought. “Then again, Hobin might want to travel with me all the way to the Blue Citadel. There he’d have a chance to show King Justin some of his maps and maybe earn a temporary job in the royal library. There are probably several parts of the kingdom that need to be mapped out as meticulously as Hobin has done with the Dunn Hills.” He turned to his friend. “What do you think?”

  Nicholas shifted his gaze from the flames and stared at Leo, half listening to what he had been saying. “What are you talking about? Why would you be going through the Cashua alone, Leo? And did you say something about hiring Hobin to return with us?”

  Leo smiled in the darkness. “You heard what I said, Nicholas. I just want your honest opinion. Think I can make it back to Morrenwood on my own, or should I ask Hobin to tag along? For a fee, of course.”

  Nicholas felt his blood run warm as if caught in a lie, surprised to hear such talk from Leo. “Why are you asking ridiculous questions? Do you think I’m going to fall off a cliff before this mission is over, or maybe drown in Beetle Lake when we get there?” His words sounded strained. “Why wouldn’t I accompany you back to Morrenwood?”

  Leo looked at him with heartfelt support. “Because you’ll be making your way to the Trillium Sea to search for Ivy. That’s why.”

  Nicholas tried to look surprised, grateful that it was dark enough so he could at least pretend to appear so. He felt somewhat foolish to actually hear one of his deepest thoughts spoken out loud, wondering if Leo assumed it was a ridi
culous and impractical notion as well. Nicholas kept silent for a moment, uncomfortably searching for the right words to explain himself.

  “I suppose I should ask you where you came up with that silly idea,” he finally said, continuing to stare at the fire. “But who am I kidding? That’s all I’ve been thinking about these past few weeks on the road.”

  “What road?” Leo joked. “Anyway, I could tell that you’ve had something on your mind for a while, walking around all moody and preoccupied. And the few times you tried to broach the subject, you only skirted about the edges before changing the topic which made me even more suspicious.”

  “Not very subtle, was I.”

  “Not really,” Leo said. “When I saw you trace your finger over the map on Hobin’s table–along the river that leads from Wolf Lake to the Trillium Sea–well, it doesn’t take a wizard’s mind to put it all together.”

  “I suppose not.” Nicholas turned to him, relieved to finally open up. “Whenever I tried to mention this to you, I always found an excuse to back out. I felt that if I left this mission halfway through, it would be abandoning both my duty and my friend–not to mention breaking my oath.”

  Leo smirked. “You wouldn’t really be breaking your oath, Nicholas, since we only swore to keep the mission a secret unless it proved successful. We didn’t swear to see it through to the end under any and all circumstances. And since we gave Hobin the details, I don’t think we have to worry about not breaking that particular oath anymore.”

  “It was out of necessity,” Nicholas reminded him. “He wouldn’t have agreed to be our guide otherwise.”

  “I know.”

  Nicholas grew silent again, composing his thoughts before speaking. “So just how foolhardy do you think I would be to try to find her? Ivy’s been gone a long time. She was forced on that boat forty days ago this very night,” he softly said, his voice nearly choking as the sound of lapping sea waves echoed in his memory. “I can still see her face as she struggled with those men in the boat. I was so close to her, though I don’t know how I would have saved her with only a dagger in hand. But I’m glad I tried.” He stared into Leo’s eyes, his determination evident. “And I need to try again.”

  Leo nodded. “I know. But where would you go? How would you find her?”

  Nicholas shrugged helplessly as he tossed a few twigs into the fire. “I’ve no idea. First I’d have to find a way to the Northern Isles. And then after that? There’d be a lot of improvising, I guess.”

  “That’s not much of a plan.”

  “I know, but it’s all I have.” He tried to lighten the mood. “Since there are ships sailing from the Isles to the mouth of the Lorren River filled with troops and supplies, they eventually must sail back to get more. Maybe I can sign on for a job as a deckhand or a cook’s helper,” he said. “I figure that would be easier than stowing away. Don’t know how I’d accomplish that though.”

  “Well, it’s a plan,” Leo replied, unconvinced about its viability. “And let’s say you make it to the Northern Isles. What then? How would you even find out who has Ivy or where they took her? And what makes you think you’d have the freedom to wander around the Isles after signing on with a vessel? I hear life is awfully strict over there. You’re told how to live and where you can go. You’re not really in charge of your own existence. That’s one of the last places in the world I’d want to visit.”

  “But that’s where Ivy is, so what other choice do I have?”

  “I suppose none–if it’s what you really intend to do.”

  “It is,” Nicholas said. “And as crazy as my idea sounds, I have to try at least once. For her sake anyway. I owe her that much.”

  Leo nodded, knowing that Nicholas’ decision was already cast in stone. “Then I won’t try and stop you by reason or by force.”

  “Not that you could either way,” Nicholas said, grinning. “Anyway, it’ll put my mind at ease if Hobin agrees to guide you back through the Cashua Forest. A person with his skills should know how to tackle any outdoors obstacle, including one he hasn’t encountered before.”

  “He will and he does,” Hobin called out groggily from beneath the blanket covering his face. “Now if you gentlemen wouldn’t mind finishing your conversation jackrabbit-fast, we can discuss the particulars in the morning. I’d like a full night’s sleep.”

  “Sorry, Hobin,” Leo said. “We’ll turn in shortly.”

  “Good!” he muttered before drifting off once again.

  Nicholas lowered his voice to just above a whisper, a hint of amusement upon his face. “That was easy enough, recruiting you an expert guide for back home. The key will be in safe hands.”

  “But who will guide you, Nicholas, to where you’re going?”

  “I guess I’m on my own again,” he said, accepting his fate with an air of nonchalance. “And since the first leg of my journey will simply be following a river to the Trillium Sea, how could I possibly foul that up?”

  “It’s what’ll happen afterward that worries me,” Leo said, anxiously resigning himself to his friend’s decision. “But like Hobin said, we’ll discuss the particulars in the morning. Perhaps we’ll dream up a better plan for you to find your way to the Isles.”

  “That’s the attitude!” Nicholas said, standing up to dig out the sleeping gear from his pack. “Maybe in the light of day my idea won’t sound so farfetched.”

  “Maybe,” Leo replied, unable to suppress a good-natured snicker. “But I doubt it.”

  CHAPTER 53

  On Gray Hawk Mountain

  They awoke the next day to a cold, colorless morning. After a quick breakfast, they loaded their gear upon tired shoulders and moved on, all anxiously awaiting the view of Beetle Lake they assumed was only a few hours away. Nicholas decided not to bring up the subject of searching for Ivy until they had a few more miles under their belts and more food in their stomachs. The matter could wait until after the sun burned off the thin layer of clouds and the misty tendrils of fog nuzzling the tree trunks like slinking cats.

  They made swift and steady progress. Their heavy footfalls snapped twigs and rustled dry and decomposing leaves that had fallen over the past few weeks. Eventually the sky cleared and warm streaks of sunlight shot through the collage of trees, lending a tint of cheerful color to the monotonous backdrop of greens and browns that dominated the landscape.

  When they were about to stop for a midmorning break where the woods had thinned out, Nicholas was delighted to see a rise of trees looming in the distance to the northeast. Hobin verified that that was Gray Hawk Mountain. When they stopped to rest, he showed them on the map how far they had traveled over the last five days.

  “We’ll approach the eastern tip of Beetle Lake first before climbing the mountain,” Hobin said. “There are a few small settlements along that end of the water where we can purchase provisions and be on our way.”

  “No time for a hot meal?” Leo asked longingly. “Or even a mug of ale? To sit on a real chair for a while would be a treat.”

  “Sorry,” Hobin said. “I want to start hiking up Gray Hawk as soon as possible while the daylight lasts.”

  Leo sighed. “I didn’t expect so, but I thought I’d ask.”

  “Oh, lounging on these cold, hard rocks is equal to any comfortable chair by a fireside,” Nicholas said with mock seriousness. “And who needs ale when you can drink the purest, lung-freezing stream water a person could desire?”

  “Not to mention the root-stuffed, dirt mattresses we’ve been using day after day. Some of the finest this side of the Trent Hills, I hear,” Leo added facetiously.

  Hobin smiled at their antics as he readied his pack for the next leg of the hike, assuming that his two charges were rather enjoying the adventure in spite of its hardships. As he carefully folded up his map and placed it in a side pouch of his backpack, a few small items spilled out onto the ground, including a small, flat stone about the size of a tiny plum with a bluish color and faint traces of a silvery hue whi
ch sparkled in direct sunlight. After Hobin replaced all the other items in his pack, he picked up the stone and slipped it in his front coat pocket and gently patted it.

  “Do you like to collect stones?” Nicholas asked upon observing the small act. “That one looked rather colorful.”

  “Hmmm?” He looked up, distracted from a distant thought.

  “The stone,” Nicholas said, pointing at Hobin’s coat pocket. “You collect them?”

  “No. Just this one.” He fished out the stone and tossed it to Nicholas to examine. “Sometimes I carry it with me. Other times it’s in my pack. But I always have it whenever I’m traveling through the Dunn Hills. It brings me good luck.”

  “We’ll take all the luck we can get,” Leo said.

  “It’s beautiful,” Nicholas remarked as the smooth stone faintly glimmered in the afternoon sunshine. He handed it back to Hobin, noting a faraway look in his eyes. “Where’d you find it?”

  “On the shore of Lake Lily,” he wistfully replied as he placed it back in his pocket. “We found it lying next to another stone nearly identical to it.”

  “We?” Nicholas asked, his curiosity piqued.

  Hobin nodded. “It was over twenty years ago when I lived along the lake for several months one year–from Mid Spring to Old Autumn. It was a glorious time. I was around your age. We had the finest stretch of weather on the lake which is quite unusual in these parts. But weather eventually changes, right?” He patted his coat pocket again. “The stone is a reminder of better times. That’s all.”

  “Where’s the matching stone?” Leo casually asked as he readied his own pack.

  “Someone else has it,” Hobin said, hoisting his pack upon his shoulders. A slight smile spread across his face when he looked up and noted that Nicholas and Leo were eagerly awaiting a reply. He let a stream of air escape out the corner of his mouth. “Her name was Emma,” he said, before turning around and leading the way to Gray Hawk Mountain. “And no, I’m not going to tell you all about her. We have a journey to finish,” he called to them without looking back. “So put those boots to work, men, and get a move on!”