by C. Gold
Only then was she able to pause and take in her surroundings. The tunnel exit came out at the end of the canyon where the river began to widen. Following the river away from the canyon, the land smoothed out into a flat plane littered with sparse vegetation and boulders. There was no significant source of cover as far as she could see. Amira’s face heated as she realized she was standing there, stark naked, where anyone could see her. Radcliff! She snapped her head to look upstream and sighed with relief when she saw Radcliff’s bare back and his intense focus on his own cleansing. At least he hadn’t seen her… yet.
Speaking of people seeing... she scanned the top of the plateau but saw nothing suspicious. Still, it was only a matter of time before the men chasing them would finish their battle—either the cave dwellers or the men with horses would come after them. And she did not want to be caught in this open area by either group. Her eyes landed on the muddy pile of clothing and she shuddered with revulsion. There was no way she’d put those filthy things on before she got them clean. If they were attacked, she’d fight just as well, perhaps better, naked.
Her mind made up, Amira waded ashore and searched the bank for large stones. When she was satisfied, she began pounding her clothes, taking a savage enjoyment in smooshing grubs and rinsing their remains in the water. Payback can be a real killer.
It was a real battle putting on soaking wet leathers and braiding wet, tangled hair. Amira was wiped out when she finally won that war. Shivering, she gathered up the wet packs and opened them. Satisfied their contents remained dry, she slung them over her shoulders and grabbed the staff. It was well past time to leave.
The wizard was sitting cross legged on the bank with the girl in his lap and he was braiding her hair. How could someone with no memory know so many random things like hair braiding or using breezes in caves to find exits? The man was a mystery that’s for sure.
“You about done?” she asked.
“Just about,” he replied. The girl tensed up but Radcliff gave her a soothing pat. “She won’t hurt you,” he reassured.
Amira ignored the girl’s response even though it rankled. “There’s no cover around here. Our only hope is to move quickly.” She glanced pointedly at the child.
“It will be ok. I’ll carry her.” He smiled at the girl. “Let’s go for a ride.” Radcliff’s eyes sparkled with excitement as he gripped her around the waist and lifted her onto his back. He held onto her legs as he stood—the motion graceful and smooth—and faced Amira. “Ready when you are.”
Amira frowned with concern. “Are you strong enough to carry her?”
“I’ll be fine, let’s go.”
Amira doubted he could carry her for long but she set a grueling pace anyway. If the wizard thought he would be fine, who was she to say otherwise?
They had only been traveling a few minutes when the girl began singing. It was a happy sounding song sung in a language Amira hadn’t heard before. The words flowed like a burbling stream over rocks on a sunny day. It didn’t take long for Radcliff to hum along. While Amira didn’t join in, she couldn’t help a small smile as her feet joined the rhythm.
The girl had gone through several songs before Amira thought to look back. She was pleasantly surprised at the distance they’d traveled. The plateau was now a small feature in the landscape. Feeling safe enough, Amira called for a halt so they could have a late afternoon meal. Her empty stomach complained that it was well past time it had something to fill it and she wasn’t sure when the girl last ate anything.
The wizard gently let the girl down and found a smooth rock to sit on. With his arms resting on his legs, he looked exhausted and sweaty. It was a surprisingly hot day for autumn so she wasn’t surprised. Looking closer at Radcliff, she noticed his nose and forehead were fiery red. She collected a fistful of dirt and used a few drops of water to turn it to mud, chuckling to herself at the irony of cleaning up only to get muddy again. She walked over to Radcliff with her hand filled with the paste.
“Your face is burning, let me put this on.”
The child scampered away.
Amira called out, “Don’t go too far.” Then she dipped her fingers in the goop and smeared it over Radcliff’s face.
“How are you doing?” she asked.
“I’m fine,” the wizard replied, brushing off her concern.
She wondered if he’d admit it if he wasn’t. Probably not. Seeing the child at a distance, she decided to address her other concern.
“If those men come after us, I want you to head south to the forest and hide there. I’ll hold them off as long as I can.”
“You expect me to leave you alone to fight while I run like a coward?”
“Yes. It is vital you stay alive. I think those men want you dead.”
He grabbed her wrists. “I’m not leaving you to die.” He shook her gently. “You are just as important as I am.”
She could see he was going to be stubborn about this and didn’t know how to explain so it would make sense. Instead, she decided to appeal to his attachment to the girl. “What about the girl? They might harm her if you don’t get her into the forest and hide.”
The wizard growled and stood, breaking their contact. “That’s not fair,” he said while pacing. Then he stopped and sighed in capitulation. “Fine. I’ll take her to safety and return to help you.”
Amira knew better than to argue further. She brushed the drying mud off her hands and gathered her things. “Time we headed out.” The sooner they arrived at the forest, the better. Perhaps they could even avoid the issue altogether. Wouldn’t that be a pleasant surprise?
Chapter 9
People of the Shae
Amira finally stopped their party to rest when it became clear the wizard and the girl could go no further. It was a good enough place to stop with a scattering of large boulders to hide them from casual view, and they were within rock throwing distance of the forest that would hide them. As they ate an early evening meal, she kept a watchful eye to the north but saw no signs of pursuit. They had managed to put enough distance behind them that she could just barely make out the top of the plateau that they had fled from. It was unlikely anyone would set out after them before morning so she began to relax.
Amira absently fingered her clothes looking for creepy crawlies before she realized what she was doing. While snakes were her number one fear after being bit by one as a child, that insect laden mud tunnel came a close second. Before she could rehash the episode yet again, Amira jumped up and grabbed the water pouch. After taking a long drink, she stared south at the forest and a new batch of worries washed over her. So much for feeling relaxed.
The famous Shae grassland was a peculiar combination of the rich, arid land, and an overabundance of magic that let the Shae grass grow as tall as most trees and thicker than a man’s arm. But unlike trees, they shot straight up from the soil with no branches or forks and had the same diameter from base to tip. At the very top, delicate leaves unfurled to form a dense canopy that was said to absorb water directly from the air and magically funnel it through the plant. In areas where the magic pulsed strongest, they were clustered so tightly together they were impassable, which made travel through the forest more like navigating a maze.
The wildlife had also been altered by the upwelling of magic, making predators more deadly than normal with extra abilities like fire breathing or even spatial displacement. If that didn’t pour frigid water over the prospective explorer, the possibility of running into one of the forest tribes would surely do it. Despite being absorbed into the empire long ago, they despised outsiders. Amira had heard stories about how travelers were stripped of all their possessions and dumped outside Shae territory as a warning against trespassing. Still, it was the fastest way south and the best way to escape any pursuers. Her chest tightened with growing stress but at least now she wasn’t scratching herself raw.
A joyful giggle sliced right into Amira’s thoughts and added a layer of annoyance on top of everything el
se. She turned back to the camp and watched as the girl chatted non-stop to Radcliff about something. She was still clinging to the wizard like he was her long lost father. Hard to reconcile this scene with the one Amira still had of the silent, scared, filthy child who refused to budge from her hiding spot despite Amira’s best efforts at coaxing. Then the wizard stepped in and within two minutes had her in his arms. And now they acted like family. Unbelievable. Amira finished off the dried meat strip and tried not to be jealous. Or guilty. Enough already! Amira huffed. The vision showed the wizard saving their world. She refused to feel bad about placing his safety first, even if it meant she’d have left behind an innocent child.
“Time to put out the fire and get some sleep,” Amira snapped out while kicking dirt over the flame. It’d be dark soon and the light would be seen despite the boulders thrusting up around them.
The girl looked at her with scared round eyes and whimpered.
“Shh, it’s ok little one. You’re safe now.” Radcliff patted the girl’s back in an attempt to reassure her.
Amira ground her teeth while rummaging in one of the packs. She refused to be bothered by the girl’s reaction. “Here, catch,” she said as she tossed Radcliff a blanket roll. “You’ll have to share.” Since I’m sure the girl won’t go near me.
With a graceful, cat-like motion, Radcliff caught the roll one-handed without disturbing the child.
Amira couldn’t help but be impressed. The wizard’s health was rapidly improving even if he still looked like a walking skeleton. He was even able to carry the girl across most of the distance while only needing a few brief stops to rest. It’s clear he’s drawing heavily upon his magic. Amira already knew Radcliff was powerful. To become the emperor’s general at such a young age was unprecedented. Then there were the stories of his terrible acts. Even if exaggerated, what he did was beyond most mages’ abilities. Now here he was using magic without even knowing he had any—that should be impossible. Imagine what he’ll be like when he regains his memory. Amira rubbed her suddenly cold arms. Would he be cooperative or destroy everyone? Destroy her?
She set her blanket on the ground across from the wizard and slipped inside, letting the warmth seep into her chilled bones. The spelled runes etched around the edges of the bedroll let it retain body heat and repel moisture. Too bad they didn’t soften rocky ground. Once she finally found a less uncomfortable position, she tried to sleep but her mind kept churning about Radcliff and then it sidetracked to the girl. “I don’t get why the kid is so afraid of me,” she mumbled.
“It’s the staff,” Radcliff replied.
“What?” She didn’t even realize the wizard was still awake, or that she spoke loud enough for him to hear her.
“Nalani said the woman used it to capture her.”
“Nalani?”
“That’s the girl’s name.”
“Oh.” Amira felt ashamed at not knowing something as simple as her name. “I killed the Prime. She’s the one who had the staff.” Maybe knowing that would make the girl feel more comfortable.
“Ah, I’ll tell her tomorrow when she wakes.”
The statement caught Amira off guard and she could barely swallow past the sudden lump in her throat. With all the non-stop running around since sunrise, there hadn’t been time for questions or explanations concerning his memory. Please don’t ask. Don’t make me tell you. “We should get some sleep, it will be a long day tomorrow.” She rushed the words out, hoping he took the hint.
“Right then. Good night… you know, I don’t believe I know your name.”
“It’s Amira.” She watched as a flurry of emotions crossed the wizard’s face too fast for her to identify. Then his brow furrowed in concentration and his eyes grew turbulent, like a growing spring storm, as they filled with questions. Quickly, before he could put them to words, she called out, “Goodnight Radcliff,” and turned her back to him. Even with her eyes shut she could sense the unasked questions hanging in the air like lightning poised to strike. The image of him wracked with pain as he forced the oath haunted her and she knew right now she didn’t have the heart to tell him he would forget everything the little girl told him. Somehow tonight it seemed overly cruel. It’s always been cruel. I just never thought of him as a person until now.
She lay in silent misery while pretending to sleep. If only she could fall asleep to avoid the self-loathing thoughts circling around her like a vicious predator. Slash and run, they left her shredded and bleeding.
You left him to starve.
I didn’t know.
You didn’t care.
He’s been tortured for a thousand years.
He deserved to be punished.
Not like this.
When the wizard finally relaxed into sleep, Amira wiped her wet cheeks and sat up to watch over the camp. There was no way she’d be able to sleep now. Despite her anguish, she fell into a half-sleep where fiery eyes chased her through a dark void, coming closer, reaching out, about to touch.
She jolted awake, her heart racing and sweat dripping out of every pore. Rubbing her bleary eyes, she looked across the fire pit. Everyone else was soundly asleep. All safe. Amira sucked in a few ragged gulps of air and stood, trying to walk off the dread that clung to her, weighing her down. Was that just a dream? Her gut warned that it might be something more. The rising sun lit the horizon yet it failed to cheer. Was she being stalked by that thing she saw in the cave? Or am I just scaring myself? She plucked the staff off the ground and began warming up. Falling into the familiar rhythm of slaying imaginary foes, her mind finally emptied and her confidence slowly returned.
Thus, she was alert and armed when she sensed a presence. While turning a slow circle she didn’t see anything at first but felt the subtle wrongness that came from using magic. Cursing her own lack of useful magical abilities, she scanned the surroundings again. There! A shimmering shadow at the corner of her eye. Even staring straight on, she could barely make out the shape of a person standing there.
When her gaze lingered in the same spot long enough, the shape stepped forward into the light. Tall and thin, the boy puffed out his chest and scowled. He was wearing only a simple loincloth, and a dagger strapped to his thigh. Covered head to toe in black and ochre stripes, it was a wonder she spotted him at all in the shadows.
The boy gave her and the camp a dismissive glance before speaking in heavily accented Common. “You’ve stepped onto our lands. You must turn back.” He punctuated the threat by grasping the dagger’s hilt.
“We are being chased by those who would kill us,” she countered. “I seek safe passage through your lands so I can reach the mountain.” Amira really meant Caladon, the heart of the empire, but most people called it the mountain in reference to its most prominent feature—a gigantic extinct volcano that could be seen thrusting up in the air even after two weeks of travel away from it. Several thousand years ago when Emperor Caladon won the final bloody battle that forged the empire, he sent an entire army of workers to the ancient volcano and carved out an impregnable fortress that has served as the seat of government ever since. It was also home to the councilors and where they had to go if they hoped to reverse the memory spell.
The boy didn’t say anything but Amira could practically see a thundercloud forming over his head. She had observed the correct protocols for seeking aid but wasn’t sure if the nomads still honored the forms. The boy hovered between violence and uncertainty. Amira tightened the grip on her staff and prepared for the worst. The boy blinked once, twice, then vanished right before her eyes. Dang, wish I had that ability.
Certain that he’d left the vicinity and gone for help, she dug through Radcliff’s bag for the journal. Once she verified that the sun had truly risen, Amira ran over to him and shook him. “Get up,” she urged when he didn’t wake up right away. He yawned and looked up but before he could do more than smile, she shoved the book in his hands. “Here, read this. We may have need of your magic soon.” After coaxing a pitiful fire
from the charred remains of last night’s meager wood supply, she dove into her own pack to grab the battered tin kettle and two dented cups. Filling the kettle with water, she placed it in the fire and dug around for the food. When the girl stirred, she handed her a lukewarm cup of tea and a strip of dried meat. The girl snatched both then leaped behind Radcliff before devouring it like someone would steal it at any moment. Amira sighed. The girl still didn’t trust her.
Radcliff chose that moment to cut in. “It says I shouldn’t trust you but why should I trust this?”
“I watched you write it.”
“So you knew me before I lost my memory?”
Hopeful eyes burned into Amira’s skin. “No,” she barked and glared at him, praying he’d stop with the questions.
He frowned and cleared his throat. “Why was I punished?”
Apparently the wizard was glare-proof today. Amira stifled a growl. “That’s not important. Just keep reading. I doubt we have much time. You can eat when you’re done.” She jumped up and dropped the other cup of tea and a meat strip next to him. She refused to look at him, knowing he was going to ask again. To cut off any further conversation, she walked to the edge of their camp and began a patrol, making sure to keep the boulders between them.
It wasn’t even an hour before Radcliff called out, “Someone’s coming.”
Amira rushed back to the campsite and began packing. “Quick, stuff your journal in your bag,” she whispered so the girl wouldn’t hear. “Don’t let them see it.”
“Surely they will search our bags,” he whispered back.
His breath tickled her ear and sent unwelcome shivers down her spine. Not now! She slammed the final bed roll on top of the journal and buckled up the pack before replying. “They will but they can’t read old Aedon. It’s a dead language that only scholars study. I bet none of the council knows it.” Then she gasped as realization struck. “That’s why you still know it—they couldn’t remove what they didn’t think of.”