by David Wind
Areenna’s eyes flicked to Laira, who knew about Mikaal, and back to Akassia. Will you trust me?
Akassia blinked. I will.
I will explain all, after. Rid him of the potion and I will lower his block.
When Akassia nodded, Areenna said to Noslen. “Take your men and stand by the entry, look not back at us regardless of what you hear.”
Without the slightest pause, Noslen dipped his head and said, “My Lady,” and with his men strode to the entry where they spread out evenly and stood facing the crystal.
When the Sixes were set, Areenna sent an asking to Charka and Gaalrie. Charka shifted from where he stood next to Hero and moved to them. He lowered himself to the ground by Mikaal’s feet and laid his head across Mikaal’s legs. Gaalrie gave vent to a low whistling cry and hopped next to Areenna. Lowering herself, she pressed along Mikaal’s side, resting her head atop Areenna’s hand, the one covering Mikaal’s heart.
When Akassia seemed caught by the strangeness of seeing the kraal on the ground next to Mikaal, Areenna reached across and touched her shoulder lightly.
The young Princess shook her head. “Join with me.”
CHAPTER 34
Enaid grabbed Roth’s shoulder. “Hold.”
Roth followed her command and with a raised arm, halted the others. Behind him, the remains of his force were thirty strong. The rest of the Nevaens were far behind.
“What do you see?” he asked Enaid.
“Areenna and Mikaal are safe for now, but he is still under the control of the potion. The Master and his exiles wait above. It is not clear. But…” She closed her eyes and shook her head. “There is danger.” She worked out the warning until she understood. “From here, this pathway is between the sides of the mountain.” Her eyes flicked back and forth over the trail ahead. “The sides rise high and it narrows. I sense much danger ahead.” She pointed to where the path tapered and the rock sides rose above the pathway.
Roth followed the direction of her finger and saw, in the growing light of the day, how this part of the trail was ravine-like, cut through the mountain by years of water running down the surface. It was a perfect place for an ambush. “I see it. What choice is there?”
“Caution… not choice, Solomon. There is no need to charge blindly upward. We must find another route.”
He shrugged. “How?”
Reaching down, she stroked Irii’s head. The Gorlon had not moved from her side since the start of the fighting, except to defend her and take down an enemy. She knelt, pressed her head to his soft coat, and asked her aoutem to seek a way.
The gorlon jumped to the rock closest to their left, its huge claws digging into the hard ground. She moved slowly, cautiously, and made it another twenty feet before she slipped, caught herself and returned to push against Enaid’s thigh.
“We wait,” Enaid said, running her hand along Irii’s head.
Roth signaled everyone to rest. While he studied the ridge of the mountain’s lower crest, Timon came over to him. He did not speak; he just stood next to Roth, one hand on Roth’s shoulder. Roth glanced at the Master Boatsman.
He went back to sudying the trail, which was not quite the width of two people and the mountain’s slope. A moment later, he said, “The choice is made for us. There is no other way but this trail.”
<><><>
Twenty minutes after they’d begun, the three women remained kneeling around Mikaal. The energy created by them had centered within Akassia, whose hands stayed on Mikaal’s head. The soft yellow healing energy had grown into a golden aura, surrounding his head and her hands and pulsing alternately with deeper and lighter colors in rhythm with the beat of his heart beneath Areenna’s hand.
Joined with Akassia, Areenna experienced everything flowing from Akassia’s hands and head while Akassia worked to break through the potion’s blocking power.
From somewhere close, there was a hovering at the edge of Areenna’s mind. She separated a part of herself from Akassia and sought it out. When she touched the sensation, she stiffened at first before cautiously opening herself to it.
Her perception was of an entity almost but not familiar. She chased it and froze; the true realization of who it was, striking her hard. White, the color of snow, and an underlying calmness, rolled through her mind. She exhaled slowly, her knowledge becoming a certainty. Without words, without thoughts, she knew what to do.
Accepting the gentle waves washing to her, she drew in the presence of the Master locked within the crystal and released Akassia’s shoulder. She raised her arm, her hand open, and the staff flew into her palm. She placed the staff atop Mikaal’s body, from his chin to his thighs, and again settled her hand on Akassia’s shoulder.
The yellow glow expanded, wavered, and turned into a white clinging mist. The white shifted, flowed and enveloped each of the women surrounding Mikaal. The three glowed white, and soon the white mist covered Gaalrie and Charka.
Now, she told Akassia.
Akassia was not gentle this time. She collected the healing power within the core of her body, growing it and raising it and like a sculptor forming a work of art, created a weapon of healing. Then, she released it against the potion the way an arrow shot at an enemy. The healing, a shimmering silver perfectly formed lance, struck the block around Mikaal’s mind. The lance shattered into a thousand pieces and each small splinter of power entered his bloodstream. Mikaal’s body arched. Every muscle tightened, twisting his limbs madly. Every being surrounding Mikaal reacted the same. Their bodies stiffened, twisted, and froze and a blinding explosion of color and light burst within the cavern. When the outburst ended, the only light in the cavern came from the low-glowing nightmoss.
Akassia fell backwards, unconscious. Laira was bent over, breathing is harsh gasps, while Areenna held herself together, her hand still on Mikaal’s chest, as she fought to calm herself. The two aoutems were steady. Charka’s head on Mikaal’s legs had not moved and Gaalrie continued to press against Areenna’s hand.
“See to Akassia,” Areenna said to Laira, who responded with a quick nod.
She looked at Mikaal and saw him blink. Seconds later, awareness returned to his eyes. Areenna’s tears welled and a single drop spilled onto his cheek where it splattered and rolled off. Bending, she kissed him for several long seconds.
“What happened?” Mikaal asked in a dry and husky voice.
Areenna gave vent to a relieved half laugh at the sound of his voice. “What do you remember?”
Mikaal’s brows furrowed. He shook his head. He started to speak but could not get the words out. Water…
Areenna went to their supplies, pulled a full skein from the pile, and brought it to him. After he drank, he said, “I remember smelling the stink from the ghazi piling on top of me. Then everything went black and something tried to invade my mind. I fought it.”
Areenna sighed. “That was yesterday. Much has happened. I will explain later. Can you stand?”
He tried to move and grabbed at his head, as bolts of pain ripped through him. “My head,” he whispered.
“It will pass,” she said. “The… the Dark Master gave you a potion. The headache is from that.” She straightened herself and took his hands in hers to help him sit up.
Once his head was up, the pain receded. He tried to shift and realized something was pressing down on his legs. It was Charka. As soon as his eyes met his aoutem’s, a flow of warmth ran through him and the pain faded further. Charka pushed his moist snout into Mikaal’s face. “I’m fine,” he told him. “Let me up.”
Charka clumsily righted his large body. Mikaal followed and when he stood, he stretched, but froze when he saw Laira working on Akassia, and Trebor leaning unconscious against a wall. “How…” What happened?”
Before she could respond, his eyes went distant and he stiffened. He shook his head. “They are outside, waiting.”
He turned and saw Noslen and his men still facing the crystal entry wall. What happened after they took me?
Rather than explain, Areenna drew him into her mind and let him discover the answer for himself. It took but a short time for the flashing scenes of her memory to play out.
When it finished, he reached out and took her hands in his. How many times must you save me?
How many times must you get yourself into trouble?
His mouth half open. A second later he laughed. “Point taken, Princess.”
“He is unharmed?” asked Akassia, as she gained her feet with Laira’s help.
Turning to Akassia he said, “I am unharmed. You released me?” When Akassia nodded, he smiled at her. “Thank you for that and for helping Areenna.”
Next to Akassia, Laira held her aoutem. The ret was wrapped around her forearm, its head pressed to her skin, its tail wrapped around her wrist. Mikaal went to her and gave a slight head bow. “And you as well, Laira.”
She replied with a nod. Then he turned to the Six. “Noslen,” he called.
The captain of the Sixes turned and, seeing Mikaal standing, smiled broadly. “Welcome back, My Prince.”
“How many are there?”
Noslen shrugged. “They are exiles, not ghazi. There are many—more than we can handle alone.”
“How come you are here? My father?”
Noslen nodded. “We came with him on one of their ships. King Roth took the main body, attacked the Master and the ghazis, and sent me after you.”
“And now?”
Noslen shrugged. “We are trapped here. When the time is right, when you are ready, we fight.”
Mikaal studied Noslen, traced the lines of his rugged face and slowly nodded. “Fight we will. And fight as they have never seen before. I promise you that.”
Noslen’s response was a broad grin.
Mikaal turned back to Areenna and the others. Trebor was finally awake and Akassia helped him to his feet. Mikaal walked to Areenna. We will have to fight our way out.
We will. First, there is more for you to do. But…
The doubt filling her last word caught him short. What?
Areenna glanced at the Sixes quickly and then at the two crystal boxes suspended near them. After they took you, I… Join with me.
They merged and Mikaal’s mind filled with visions of what had happened since his capture. It took another minute for him to absorb Areenna’s tale.
“Ailish,” he whispered.
Ailish told me you are the one who has to free the Master.
Mikaal’s eye locked on the floating crystal coffin. Ailish? Free him? How can he still live?
He does. Ailish has said so, but only you can do this. I cannot.
You worry Noslen and the others will know about me if I do so?
Areenna nodded but spoke not, either aloud or silently.
Mikaal studied the crystal boxes and the staff, which again floated between them. He glanced to Noslen, who stood watching everything. He thought about when Trebor had seen him do magic, and of Neleh’s knowledge of his abilities. Laira already knew about him from the Island. What he was certain of, was how hard it would be to hide his powers in the fight soon to come. Everyone will know, eventually; in this, I think we have no choice.
“Then it will be best to prepare him,” Areenna said aloud.
When Mikaal walked to Noslen, Areenna watched carefully. She was unsure of what the captain’s reaction would be, but she was ready to do whatever might be necessary and so she watched his every step.
When he drew Noslen aside and whispered in the captain’s ear, every muscle in her body tensed. She watched Noslen’s reaction closely. Noslen’s face stiffened, his shoulders arched back and heat surged within her. She held back, waiting while Mikaal spoke. Then Mikaal turned his back to her, blocking her sight of Noslen. Noslen back-stepped, startled. Mikaal spoke again, and slowly, Noslen’s shoulders settled and the lines of tension eased from his face.
Mikaal stopped talking and grasped Noslen’s shoulders with both hands. When Mikaal released him, he said something else and Noslen nodded in response. Mikaal turned and came back to her.
“And?”
Mikaal gave her a half smile. “His first response was to ask if my head was injured because he could not believe I believed what I was saying.”
“And?” she repeated.
“I built fire in my hands.”
“Shock him, did you?”
Mikaal nodded. “He is strong of mind and loyal beyond doubt. No matter what he feels, what he believes, he accepted.”
“The others?” she asked, seeing Noslen now talking with the other men.
“They are Sixes. They will do what Noslen says.”
“Then it is time. We cannot stay here forever and if what Ailish told me is true, we must get this Master to the Island.” How is your strength?
I will manage. He took her hand and walked them to the suspended crystal containers. The one in which Ailish floated was clear as glass; the Master box was cloudy and barely showed the twisted outline of the ancient Master.
Lead me, he asked Areenna.
She joined with Mikaal but did not draw him to her; rather, she went into his mind and carefully showed him the next step. He lifted one hand and placed it on the crystal box. He grasped the staff with his other hand. Areenna put one hand on Ailish’s container and one on Mikaal’s shoulder.
When she touched him, the staff flared orange-red and the box holding the Master came alive with color. A burst of colors twisted through the box, individual streaks separated and flowed faster with each passing second until the box glowed with an ethereal life of its own. A half-minute later the colors swirled, faded quickly, and the crystal cleared.
Areenna and Mikaal took in the long black hair, the grayish brown skin, and the robes covering the Master’s body. A strange sensation arose, followed by the soothing sound of music, more so than of thought. Within the soundless music, came the knowledge of what Mikaal must do next.
Mikaal’s hand tightened around the staff. He drew it toward himself and as the staff moved, a white mist issued from it. The mist snaked along his arm like tendrils of fog, staying close to his skin, moving along his body until it covered him in white.
Carefully, he placed the staff against the crystal. When it touched the box, the white mist drifted from his skin and surrounded the box. Soon the mist reached into the crystal, covering the Master.
The knowledge of the next step seemed to come from the staff itself. Mikaal stepped back, raised the staff and slammed it against the crystal. The box shattered; pieces of crystal flew everywhere. Then, the Master stood before them, his eyes open and staring.
“Hurry,” he whispered and collapsed.
CHAPTER 35
Roth looked over his shoulder to Enaid. “Are there any women with birds?”
Enaid shook her head. While unusual for not one aoutem to be a bird, it had happened. She surveyed the resting Nevaens and the women of power. Lying next to one was a white rantor. It was smaller than most, only the size of a large gorlon, but she’d seen it during the fighting. It had handled itself with precision.
“A rantor can climb this,” she said to Roth, “and a white one will blend with the snow.” Without waiting for a response, Enaid went to the woman, crouched by her side and spoke. When Enaid finished speaking, she, the other woman and the rantor came toward him.
“What service is needed, Highness, of myself and Salis?” the woman asked.
“We need a scout, one who can climb the side of the mountain unseen and gain us the information of what waits above.”
“I am Nasus of Kashold. I serve my Queen, Kali, as advisor,” she said in introduction. “My rantor, Salis, can do what you seek. He is sure-footed on all terrain.”
“Thank you, Nasus, for your service,” Roth said formally, bowing slightly to the woman. “We must learn what awaits on the ridge above. Both Enaid and I suspect ambush before we can reach the ridge. There is no other way to get there, except by this narrow trail.”
Instead of s
peaking, Nasus took a knee and drew her aoutem close. She pressed her head to its head and pushed an asking. The rantor drew back, raised a huge paw and placed it on her shoulder. Its turquoise eyes locked with Nasus’s and a moment later, the big cat turned and started up the mountainside. It did not appear to move fast, yet it ate distance with each clawed step.
“We will know shortly, My Lord.”
“Your aoutem is a powerful hunter?”
Nasus’s smile lit her face. “Like no other, Salis is. He makes up in ferocity and cunning what he lacks in size.”
“Have him stay atop when we go. You stay close to Enaid. When it is time, she will give you word. Have your rantor take out as many of the enemy as he can while we fight from below.”
“It shall be done,” Nasus said simply, despite the worry that flashed across her eyes.
Roth nodded, thinking, it has to be.
<><><>
Mikaal dropped to the Master’s side and lifted him by the shoulders. His eyelids were open, but his eyes had rolled back and only the whites showed. “Areenna, help him.”
Having remained frozen to the spot since the crystal box had disintegrated, leaving the Master standing before Mikaal, Areenna broke free of her trance and took a step toward Mikaal. She froze when another power took control of her body. No, this is not for you. She must do it, said Ailish from within her crystal box, as Mikaal, who is a man of power, was the only one who could release him from the crystal, only she can heal him.
Then Areenna was free of Ailish’s presence. She turned and said, “Akassia, this healing is for you. He is the one whom the Eight sent you to heal. Quickly.”
Startled, Akassia reluctantly dropped Trebor’s hand. She came over to where Mikaal held the ancient Master and knelt at his side, but her eyes never left Areenna. “I know so little of healing,” she whispered, her self-doubt much too evident in her eyes.