by Millie Burns
‘Yes, Ravyn, he is General Joff, the leader of your army. Used to be your sword tutor, I believe.’
‘Oh, but he looks so much older. I didn’t recognize him. The smile has left his eyes.’
‘Well you look a bit different now too. When will you arrive?’
‘We should reach the snowline midday tomorrow, and then it will take a day of hiking, maybe more to reach the village.’
‘Good, good. I will have Joff send men to meet you and escort you in.’
‘Connor, I did something the other day I shouldn’t have done. I tried cutting through the Darkness. I created a sword of Light,’ she paused pushing back the fearsome images trying to find purchase in her mind. ‘It was horrible. I almost lost the Light; I was petrified. But, I saw Zelera’s defenses. I saw a wall, fire, water, and a dust devil the likes of which I’ve never seen before.’
Connor’s bushy brows rose in amazement, a sword of Light. It was such a simple solution. He sighed; he was getting old. ‘Ravyn, that was very clever, but you are still too inexperienced to try anything like that again. What if you’d been trapped in the Darkness? Zelera would have your soul and all hope would be lost. Promise me you won’t try anything like that again,’ he ordered.
‘I promise,’ she whispered.
‘Good. Now, enough of that. Joff confirmed these defenses, and the Light has shown me you will pass these defenses with ease. The problem for you will be the confrontation with Zelera. I cannot foresee what she will barrage you with; I only know you must hold steady to the Light. I fear a grievous choice will lie before you. Read your mother’s book again; keep it fresh in your mind.’
‘But, Connor, that book doesn’t tell me how to work the Light; it just gives me general guidelines to follow.’
‘That is the how the Light works. We fashion it by following the guidelines. We use the Light for good, in service of others. By fashioning a sword of Light, you came up with something new to me, and that’s a hard thing to do with a man of my years. Read the book again.’
‘Oh, all right. I’m taking Blade for a walk; he needs the exercise. I’ll study the book this evening before I go to sleep.’
‘I’ll see you tomorrow, Ravyn. Until then may the Light fill you and guide you.’
Connor’s eyes sparked back to the here and now, and without skipping a beat, he addressed Joff, “Ravyn and Blade will reach the snowline mid-day tomorrow. Send a few men with horses to meet her.”
The General pushed away from the table, heading out the door, shouting out orders to his men.
Blade hovered near Ravyn watching for signs of distress. She looked peaceful, eyes lost in some other place. All of a sudden, she was looking into his eyes, smiling. She held out her hand. “Ready for a walk?”
She noticed worry lines creasing his brow. “Blade, don’t start in on me. Connor already made me promise to keep to the straight and narrow. I just told him we were coming. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you what I was doing.”
The lines eased, and he stood, taking her hands and pulling her to her feet. “I just couldn’t stand the thought of losing you again, Rav.”
Locking fingers, they walked hand in hand into the woods, exploring the world around them. They delighted in the cool breeze, the serenading birdsong, the warm sun kissing their cheeks, and each other’s company.
Zelera caught her reflection in the mirror. She was looking haggard. She’d been beautiful once, in an austere untouchable way. Now her violet eyes were rimmed in red and puffy from lack of sleep. She ran bony fingers across the fine lines etched into her porcelain skin. Her greasy hair lay dead against her face. Her clothes hung on a skeletal frame. Looking past her reflection in the mirror, she dismissed her loss of beauty as trivial. Lareina and Bryant flooded her vision, awaiting their ultimate doom.
Zelera pulled on a rope, summoning her General. She stalked the floor like a caged panther, frothing at the mouth. She snagged the tasseled rope, yanking it again in frustration.
Moments later, Zilge appeared, or what used to be the General. A monstrous head with sharp fangs and beady snakelike eyes sat where a human face used to be. His torso was twice his human size. Club-like hands sprouted from his scaly limbs, sharp talon fingernails glinted in the candlelight.
“You rang, your highness-s-s-s,” he hissed.
“That’s why you’re here,” she snapped. “Ravyn is coming down the mountain; go capture her. I want her alive understand! I don’t care what you do to the young man with her. No, on second thought, I want him alive too. He seems to mean a lot to her. I want her to watch me tear him apart, limb by limb. Then I want her to watch her parents disappear into the Darkness forever. I want that little witch to suffer,” she snarled through gritted teeth.
“Yesssss,” he hissed, “Ssssuffer, sssssuffer.” Zilge started to turn away, then stopped. "Your highnessss, her powerssss?"
Zelera tossed him a dark stone encased in pewter. “Bind this amulet to her; it will lock away her power.”
"Thanksss," he bowed low, head near the floor.
“Go,” she screamed, “out of my sight! You are a hideous beast.”
Zilge straightened, shooting Zelera a venomous glance before slithering out the door.
Chapter 16
Ravyn and Blade sat around a cheery campfire eating fresh roasted hare and drinking tea. The wolves listened to them sing songs from their childhood, and then Kialgyn told them the wolves’ history. Ravyn sighed and excused herself, returning to the crackling fire with the pages she’d copied from her mother’s book.
A sullen pout touched her lips, “I have to read this now. Connor ordered me to review it again. Thank you for a wonderful evening. I feel more like my old self again.”
Kialgyn ordered two wolves to stand watch. He then curled up beside Ravyn dozing off, his ears ever alert. Blade retrieved his sword. He sat beside her, running a sharpening stone down the length of the blade, creating a rhythmic grinding sound.
The stars twinkled above, and a near full moon rose into the sky. Ravyn delved into the papers before her, searching for meaning in the written words.
“The book says the Light surrounds every living thing,” she said aloud. “That means it’s around you too, Blade.”
Blade looked up from his work. “Everyone knows that, Rav. It’s the first thing we learn in school.” Then he recited, “The Light surrounds every living thing. It is a part of every species, to varying degree. It is lost if you let the Darkness in, allowing it to block the Light from your life.”
Ravyn rolled her eyes, “Don’t you see what that means? You have an aura too, and maybe someday you can learn to scry, and we’ll never lose each other again.”
“When this is all over, you and Connor can try teaching me. But, I am not gifted like you.”
“No, not like me. But the Light surrounds you too, and that means you have at least a small trace of the gift. My father said he had no gift. But I recall him doing small things, like snuffing out my candle when I was awake in bed reading instead of sleeping. I wonder,” she paused looking at Blade, focusing at the edges of his features. She gasped, “Your aura is almost the same color as mine, sapphire and amethyst. That’s interesting. I wonder if wolves have auras.” She focused on Kialgyn sleeping beside her, again staring at the edges, a thread of smoky topaz and turquoise emerged, and she smelt warm damp earth. “Wow, they do. I’ve never looked at things this way before, it’s so simple, I never realized.” She ran her fingers across her lips as she closed her eyes in thought.
Searching her memory, she pulled up the day in the carriage when her family was heading to the ship. Her parents sat side by side across from her. Focusing at the edges of their faces, sparkling crimson and gold threads erupted from them both, twining together in an intricate pattern. She gasped in surprise and delight.
“Blade, I was just remembering my parents, and I could see that they share the same color pattern. Both of them are ruby and gold. Like us, they have different shades, b
ut their auras blend together in a delicate intricate design.”
Blade admired her sparkling eyes, bright with excitement. “Someday you’ll have to teach me to see what you see, Rav. I can see by the look on your face it’s something special. But for now, aren’t you supposed to be reading? Connor said you should study the book.”
“Killjoy,” she said in mock anger, fighting hard to suppress her smile. “All right, back to the book, though I think it’s a waste of my time.”
Ravyn scoured the pages for the key to mastering the Light, but it all seemed so ambiguous. ‘The Light can never be obliterated by the dark, only suppressed. No one can take the Light from you, unless you allow it. If you believe in the Light, all things are possible. Shaping the Light to form and purpose requires strength of character and will. Limits to what can be accomplished are placed by the practitioner himself.’ The words blurred on the page, and Ravyn’s eyes felt gritty. The papers skittered from her hands as she slumped against the sleeping wolf at her side.
Finished with cleaning and sharpening his sword, Blade retrieved a fur to cover Ravyn. Kialgyn raised his head as Blade approached. “Let her lie where she is; she is at peace. And,” he added, “I take comfort in her presence.”
Blade curled up beside her, covering them both with the fur. Looking at the moon, he knew the end of their journey neared. He sent a silent plea to the Light to surround and protect the one he loved.
A cold nose against her cheek woke Ravyn. The sky was soft and radiant in the predawn. “The sun is ready to start the day,” Kialgyn growled. “We should be off. Eat, take care of business, and wake the Blade.”
Ravyn roused Blade, and they took turns going into the woods to freshen up. Breakfast consisted of jerky and pine nuts that they’d gathered on their walk the previous day. They strapped the wolves into their harnesses and then climbed into their cozy fur seats, exhilarating in the chill air as the sled shushed through the snowy drifts.
Soon the snow began softening, and the sled became embedded in deep slushy snow. Frustrated by their slow progress, Ravyn threw caution to the wind. Gathering the Light surrounding her, she imagined a chill breeze sweeping down the mountain. An icy blast of wind erupted in front of them. It roared down the mountain, freezing the path with a thick crust of ice. The sled shot off down the path, its runners grating into the ice.
“That was a nice bit of work,” Blade congratulated Ravyn with a big grin. “We’ll be hiking in no time and be back with Connor and Joff before you know it.”
Smiling, Ravyn dreamed of hot food and a warm bath. “This leg of the journey is almost through,” she agreed. Ravyn contemplated the challenges lying before her. She could climb the wall with Blade’s help, the dragon skin should protect her from the fire, she could use the feather to face the swirling vortex, and she could swim a moat. She would face Zelera, and the Light would see her to victory. She felt it in her bones. “Yes, it’s almost over,” she cried to the wind.
The snow gave way to solid ground. The wolves came to a halt. General Joff’s men were nowhere in sight, but they’d made good time, reaching the snowline well before noon. “We will walk from here, Kialgyn,” she said, unfastening the leathers of his harness. “General Joff is sending men to meet us; we’ll meet them on the trail.”
Kialgyn and the other wolves began snarling, deep and angry. They bared their sharp teeth, and their fur bristled. “Quickly, unharness us,” he barked.
Ravyn and Blade unfastened the wolves. They sprang into a defensive circle around the sled, a low growl rumbling from their throats.
“What is it, Kialgyn?” Blade cried.
“What comes is man, and not man. Can you not feel the Darkness?”
The woods were silent. Opening herself up to the woods, Ravyn nearly fell over from the stench of rot and decay. Fear gripped her in a vise.
Monstrous forms leapt out from the trees. Club-like hands arced through the air, flailing their axes and swords. The creatures before them showed no resemblance to man. They were over large. Some had scaly reptilian skin; others had hairy bodies and sharp fangs. The only thing similar about any of them was the Darkness that saturated them. The stench of evil emanated from the horde causing Ravyn to shrink back. She was paralyzed as memories of her aural trip threatened to overwhelm her again.
The wolves attacked the invaders lightning quick, their forms a blurring gray. Blade leapt forward sword ringing as it left the scabbard, slicing in great arcs at the rush of oncoming foe. The once quiet forest was drowning in snarling, grunting, and the clanging of steel on steel.
Blade’s sword danced through his enemies. He darted this way and that and flicked his wrist at just the right moment dropping a hulking beast to the ground. A large axe whizzed past Blade’s ear as he ducked avoiding its path. The wolf behind him took the force of the blow and fell to the ground mid-leap. Red droplets sprayed the trees. Ravyn absorbed every detail as if it were in slow motion. She couldn’t lose them, she couldn’t lose him. “No,” she screamed breaking through her fear. She threw her arms wide, her eyes wild with righteous anger. Power leapt from her fingertips throwing the monstrous forms into the hard ground as if they were little dolls. The blast stunned the creatures, and the wolves sprang in, viciously tearing at jugular veins. Blade’s sword sliced through rotten flesh, ichor splashing the ground. The creatures lay slain. Two wolves lay dead as well, the Light gone from them forever.
Blade hobbled to Ravyn, sword trailing through the gore on the ground.
“Blade, you’re wounded,” Ravyn cried as she watched blood ooze down his pant leg.
“Only a scratch. A wolf knocked me out of the way when I would’ve received a deadly blow.” He limped to the form of a still body lying on the ground. Throwing his body over that of the wolf, he wept. “He died saving me.”
Kialgyn nuzzled Blade. “He returns to the Light. He died with honor protecting his kin. You and Ravyn are part of this pack.”
The largest monster man moaned, catching Ravyn’s attention. She cautiously edged toward the lizard-like form.
“Please, Princess, bring me to the Light. I do not wish to die in Darkness-s-s-s,” he hissed. He reached a scaly hand toward her in pleading.
“I cannot give you the Light. You must find where it is hidden inside you and accept it.”
A slow smile spread across the hideous features, and with his last breath General Zilge whispered, “Forgive me.” A pewter amulet fell from his fingers. Ravyn crushed it beneath her heel.
“The blessing of the Light upon you,” Ravyn said softly as his large golden eyes closed for the final time.
The thundering of horses hooves drew Ravyn’s attention to the trail. Four men on horses skittered to a halt kicking up a cloud of dirt. They eyed the wolves and the slain monsters that littered the blood-soaked ground.
A tall blonde man with a moustache climbed off his horse. With a bowed head, he walked to Ravyn and fell to his knees. The other three followed his lead, lifting their eyes to glance at her face.
Ravyn stepped back, uncomfortable with the attention, “Get up off the ground,” she pleaded. “That’s unnecessary. Who are you, and who sent you?”
The tall blonde stood, “I am Captain Greves. General Joff sent us. We heard the battle; we feared we were too late. I am so glad to find you all safe.”
Kialgyn slunk around the men sniffing them. “He speaks the truth; he is surrounded by the Light,” growled Kialgyn.
“Tell your wolf friends we mean you no harm.” Captain Greves stood still, hands out before him with palms up, head lowered.
“He knows,” Blade answered. “Let us say our good-byes, and then you can lead us to Connor and General Joff.”
The men stood at ease, watching in amazement as Ravyn and Blade growled and yipped softly with the wolves.
“We come with you,” Kialgyn growled softly. “We will stand against the Darkness with you.”
Ravyn hugged Kialgyn fiercely. “I cannot let you do that. The bat
tle that will be waged is for men.”
“But these are not men you fight, and our teeth and claws kill them as well as a sword. Look around you for the proof.”
“You have no armor to protect you, and the pack needs you to lead. Kialgyn, please, I don’t want to lose any of you.” Tears glimmered in her eyes.
“We will not slink back to the pack with our tails between our legs. We will go and fight!” He howled, and the other wolves joined in chorus. “We smell the stench of Darkness before you humans, we can prevent ambushes.”
Ravyn sighed, “But…”
“You control your destiny, Ravyn, and I control that of the pack,” he growled brooking no argument.
Ravyn looked to Blade who shrugged. “Very well, but I will see to some body armor for you, something that will help turn aside a blade or arrow. And, you need to be able to communicate with humans. I will give you human voice since you understand human speech.” Ravyn felt the power flowing through her, and she twisted the light in such a delicate way, blessing the wolves with human speech.
“I believe that worked,” Kialgyn growled.
The captain and his men stared, mouths agape.
“Well, I guess that’s settled. We should be off,” Ravyn turned to the stunned men.
Captain Greves shook himself. “I brought two horses,” he said motioning for the soldiers to hand him the leads to the two stallions. “Shall we ride? We should reach the inn around supper time if we ride hard.”
Ravyn grabbed a bit of jerky from her pack and popped it in her mouth. “Let me eat a bit, and we’ll go. I must keep my energy up should Zelera have any other traps waiting.” They watched her delve into the packs, rummaging for food.
“M’lady, I have a honey cake in my pack, if that would please you,” Captain Greves said holding out a sticky confection.
Ravyn’s eyes sparkled in the afternoon light. “That would please me very much. Have you one for Blade as well?”