Her muscles ached. The damp moisture of rain wasn’t helping. The cut on her shoulder had finally begun healing again, and although she couldn’t see them, the abrasions on her face had scabbed. She scooted closer to the heat. The fire hissed at the rain’s intrusion but warmed her body, and her damp clothes began to steam. She didn’t think even the Rugians would be out in weather like this. Unbraiding her hair, she let it fall around her shoulders in loose, damp waves. She ran her fingers through the dark strands and then braided it again.
“Finding anything good out there to eat?”
Melior blew out his nose.
Exhaustion weighed down her limbs. Ilythra removed the last of the dried apples and fed them one at a time to the horse while she munched on an oatcake. She closed her eyes. Green mists flitted across the backs of her closed lids.
With a sigh, she stepped into Teann. The world expanded. Joy surged with the energy of the storm. She raced along with its winds, dipped into valleys, soared over mountains. The storm held winter and summer in its breath. She acknowledged a larger pattern, a give-and-take that couldn’t be seen, only felt. The winds ebbed and flowed like the tide. Where they were silent in one place, they roared in another. It was a dance to a larger harmony, one she couldn’t hear in its entirety.
These raging winds had begun as a whisper far to the north and gained strength as they moved across the land. Now they raced south, where warmer currents would calm their pace. But their very movement set other winds racing, and so it began again.
She pulled back, focusing on the land around her. Ilydearta sang with her voice. In the distance, Crioch joined the refrain, but its melody was distorted. And again, clear notes sounded—Ealois’s song, the third stone. The one held by the Siobani. It must be. She’d heard it before. It reminded her of the patter of a gentle rain.
Close. I’m close.
She wasn’t alone. Her heart thudded. She reached out in Teann, searching the life around her. Anger radiated from not too far away. Rugians. She opened her eyes and peered into the deluge. All she could see was cascading silver water. Maybe it was another traveler. But the anger had been intense and edged in fear. Her instincts said Rugians. They were out there. The next part of the gauntlet. She stared at her dirty hands. She was bruised, wounded and beaten up and tired. So tired. Tears misted her eyes. Angrily, she brushed them away.
There would be no shelter out there. Nowhere to hide, no friendly barkeep or even a queen. She was close to the Siobani. She knew it. She just hoped the legendary people were closer than the Rugians and she could find them in time. She didn’t know how much more fight she had in her.
* * *
Bredych walked down the hallway. Cassia had recovered from her injuries and the subsequent punishment for her actions. He’d been told she was awake again and thought she might need a visit from an old friend. There had still been no word about Ilythra, but it was early yet. He turned the corner, and something shiny on the floor caught his eye. He bent down to retrieve it. A small metal coin with a single hole drilled in the top. He turned it over in his hands. Why did the object look familiar?
He tightened his fist around it as realization dawned. Erhard had shown him the coins once a long time ago. He’d given them to Aclan when the prince was a small boy to teach him about money. The king had laughed and said Aclan kept one or two on him at all times as a good-luck charm. Aclan had been in the hallway.
“Well, it didn’t bring you luck this time, Prince.” What had Aclan been doing up near Cassia’s room? Had he seen the maid? Bredych pocketed the coin and nodded to the guard. The door opened. Cassia lay immobile on the bed.
Bredych walked in and sat in the chair. The stench in the room was notable. He’d make this quick. “So, you’ve had company.”
The shape moved.
“I know you’re awake, just as I know our young prince has paid you a visit. Do you forget who I am already?” He chuckled. “I don’t mind reminding you. But you might want to answer me now.”
“He wanted to know if I knew anything about Ilythra.” Her voice was scratchy from little use, but fear radiated through the words.
So the prince was asking about Ilythra. “And?”
“I told him that his father lied to him his entire life, and that I was the rightful ruler of Greton.” Her voice waved slightly.
Bredych laughed. Oh, how he’d have liked to be there to watch the prince’s expression. “Did he believe you?”
Cassia paused. “What does it matter?”
“Because I asked you.” He infused his voice with steel.
“I think he did.” Cassia coughed, a deep, hollow sound. The chains binding her to the bed rattled.
Interesting. So the next logical place the prince would go would be to his father. And what would the prince do with the information? Bredych rose. “Is that all you told him?”
Cassia’s voice was full of scorn. “Prince Aclan is an idiot and only interested in himself. That’s all.”
Bredych nodded. “Do I need to remind you what will happen if you lie to me?”
“No.” The fear was back in place. Good.
Bredych made his way toward the door. The prince needed closer watching.
* * *
Ilythra reined in Melior and studied the landscape behind her. Near the horizon, a flock of birds rose into the darkening sky. The Rugians. They were catching up. Melior’s sides heaved with effort and sweat darkened his coat. Her head swam. Exhaustion chased her as surely as the Rugians. She couldn’t stop to rest until she knew they were stopping too. At the pace they were going, they’d catch up with her by nightfall. Fear shivered over her body. If they caught her, she wouldn’t be able to fight them.
“Maybe they don’t love their horses.” Ilythra reached down to pat the stallion’s neck.
The stallion shook his head but with less energy than she liked. After the rainstorm, she’d left their shelter before the sun appeared. It was the last real rest they’d had in the past four days. A few nights, when they’d been on higher ground, she’d seen the glow of the Rugian campfire in the distance. She’d slept fitfully that night, afraid the Rugians would wake before her and she’d open her eyes to a sword against her neck. Once smoke had trickled into the blue sky, but that was the only real evidence she’d seen of her pursuers. It didn’t make their presence any less real. Pressure, like a strong wind, pushed her from behind, trickled down her neck and kept her from any hope of rest.
So she’d sped on across the plains as fast as Melior could take her. She’d rationed their food, but the queen’s provisions were almost gone and her pursuers didn’t allow her any time to hunt or set traps. That was where the Rugians had an advantage. One could hunt while the others tracked her.
She’d eaten most of her meals on Melior’s back. And water was getting scarce. She’d crossed a series of interconnecting streams shortly after leaving the forests and swum one larger river, but in the days since the rainstorm, water had become more and more rare. Even the wildflowers that had covered the land were starting to fade.
The land rose on a gentle incline and seemed to disappear into the blue heavens. Would they ever find the chasm? Or was there another set of Rugians ahead as well as behind?
Ilythra sighed and a deep ache radiated through her torso. She ignored it the best she could. “Come on, Mel. That’s enough of a rest. Maybe the Rugians will get tired tonight and sleep for a while so we can get some rest too.”
* * *
A thin line of green ran between the blue sky and the yellowing grasses ahead. Ilythra blinked, afraid she’d imagined it. It was still there, becoming clearer when she squinted. She slowed Melior to a walk. The horse complied easily, proof of how tired he was. She examined the land behind her. A faint trace of dust gave the Rugians’ position away. They were closer than they’d been the day befo
re.
She’d lost track of how much ground they’d covered or even how many days since leaving the forest. It had begun to seem as though she and Melior had been racing across the plains forever.
Mohan, I hope you’re having better luck.
Melior whinnied. He was thirsty. She was too. She dismounted with a soft grunt. There was precious little in her water skin but she fished out the bowl from her medicine pouch and filled it with water for the stallion. He slowly lowered his muzzle into the bowl as though he knew he shouldn’t spill it. When he was done, she took a swig from the water skin. The moisture melted the dust from her mouth. She was tempted to finish it but put the skin away. Two oatcakes remained in her pack. If they didn’t find food soon, she’d have to eat grass with the horse.
She peered again at the line of green. “I think that’s it, Mel. I really do.” It had to be the chasm. It was her only hope.
Chapter Nineteen
Ilythra almost couldn’t believe her eyes. After dismounting, she edged to the canyon’s lip. Rock, hued in breathtaking shades from gray to crimson, plummeted to dizzying depths and sheltered a silver ribbon running along the canyon floor. Elation at reaching her destination plummeted. She’d been so focused on getting to the chasm, she hadn’t considered the next step. Getting to the other side. The rock wall of the opposite side stretched into the sky with a faint line of spiky green that indicated trees. She glanced toward the silver river. It was almost impossible to judge distance, but it was a long way down.
“This is a chasm, alright. But how to get across?” She stared at the trees on the other side. That was what she’d seen the day before and had watched grow larger all day. But now, when she was staring right at it, her destination still seemed unattainable. She stared at the golden plains behind her and felt the first threads of panic. They were coming. At any moment, hoofbeats would thunder in the distance and then it would be too late.
Scanning the cliff face on her side of the canyon, Ilythra searched for a way down. It was almost sheer, with a few outcroppings here and there. Descent seemed impossible, at least without a strong rope, and that wouldn’t work for Melior. “Well, this doesn’t do us any good.”
Ilythra darted another glance over her shoulder. The air crackled. She had stopped. The Rugians had not. She scanned east and west along the canyon. Maybe there was a path. Melior trailing behind, she walked west, scanning the drop-off below her. The sun began to set and she still hadn’t found any way down. She swallowed. It wouldn’t take long for the Rugians to catch up.
“Damn. We have to find a way across.” A way. Exhaustion had slowed her thinking processes. She grasped Ilydearta. “You found a way to create a landslide. Find a way across this chasm.” But it was different. The landslide would have happened eventually. It was a natural occurrence. This seemed impossible. Ilydearta warmed in her hand. Blue light flashed through her closed fingers. She blinked. It had done that only twice before. She stared at the line of green on the other side of the chasm. Was someone watching? She was almost certain. Was it a Siobani? Would they show her the way down? Was that why the stone had blazed for a moment?
Taking a deep breath, she examined the canyon wall and blinked in disbelief. Surprise and shock washed over her body. A narrow path zigzagged down the rock wall. At times it seemed to disappear but then it would reappear again farther down. Did it go all the way to the bottom? She walked a distance to change her angle. Rock outcroppings hid most of the path from view. In fact, if a person didn’t know what to look for, and the sun was in the wrong position, someone could miss it entirely. No matter the angle, she couldn’t see where the path ended.
She glanced behind her and then to Melior. The path wasn’t made for a horse, but she couldn’t leave him on this side. “If you are a Siobani stallion, as Mohan seemed to think you were, then you’ve already made this journey, right?”
The horse stared at her.
She remembered traders telling her their horses were not made for the Zorcani Mountains. They used goats to carry their goods. This path made those mountains look like a gentle hill. “We don’t have much choice.” At any moment, she might have to face Rugians. She preferred to avoid that in her current condition.
With a silent prayer of thanks and for safekeeping, she started down the steep path. Melior balked for a moment and then followed her.
Rocks loosened under Melior’s hooves as he slowly made his way down the incline behind her. Ilythra trailed one hand on the face of the canyon to avoid looking over the edge. It was a long way down. In places, the trail evened out to a gentler slope and she risked a slow, if painful, jog.
The sun continued to set, dividing the opposite side of the canyon at a diagonal. Part of it shone with brilliant oranges and red and the other in cool blues and grays. The air grew colder as they traveled deeper into the canyon. Ilythra almost reached to touch the rock on the other side. It looked warm. She rubbed her gritty eyes instead. At times, she thought she could make out a path on the other side, but it was hard to tell for sure.
She listened for the telltale sound of hooves above, but the world in the canyon was quiet, save for the wind’s gentle moaning and the distant roar of the river. Ilythra pushed through her weariness to keep up a steady pace. She did not want to journey the road in the dark. But then, neither would the Rugians. If they found it. She had almost missed it in the light of day. Would have, if Ilydearta hadn’t shown it to her. The Rugians wouldn’t find it at night. They might even think she’d gone east or west. It might give her a day. Allow her to rest for a while.
Melior’s hooves lost traction and the horse slid toward her, his eyes wild with fright. Ilythra grasped his halter with both hands. Her ribs screamed in protest and her feet began to slide down the slope. She could almost see the two of them tangled at the bottom of the ravine in a heap of rocks, hooves and limbs. Then Melior’s hooves found purchase and slowed his rapid descent.
Ilythra bent over with her hands on her knees, trying not to breathe too deeply but struggling for air. Her heart thumped against her sore ribs. She chuckled. It was either that or cry. Her list of injuries was daunting. She was hungry, thirsty and exhausted. Her body shook, not just from cold, but from the strain she’d been under. The temptation to sit down and rest was strong. If she tried, she didn’t think she could stack the odds any more against herself. She risked a peek over the edge of the path. The river glowed a deep sapphire blue as it flowed between the rock walls. She was closer to the bottom than she thought. Water. Her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth. She could almost imagine the cool, refreshing feel of water on her tongue.
She stood upright. Thanks to their near miss, Melior was ahead of her on the path, making his way slowly down. She moved away from the edge and put one foot in front of the other.
As they journeyed closer to the canyon floor, the path sloped more gently. Ilythra peered over the edge and breathed a sigh of relief. There was about a wheel of land between the river and the wall on both sides. Enough space for her and Melior to rest and give them access to fresh water. She wouldn’t have to swim or start the journey up the other side without resting first. She had a feeling that would be more than she or Melior could take.
The canyon floor was shadowed, but in the distance, the fading sun played on the moving waters, creating a dazzling light. The water’s roar was distant but increased her thirst to the point that it consumed her thoughts.
The light faded but the song of the river grew louder. They had to be close. The temperature plummeted as the last of the sun’s warmth disappeared from the canyon. Ilythra kept her hand on the wall. The drop wasn’t as steep as before, but they were still high enough that a wrong step could kill them. Melior neighed. When she stepped onto sand, Ilythra collapsed, her legs shaking.
Splashing sounded nearby. Melior was in the water.
“Not too much, you’ll get a
bellyache.” Ilythra crawled to the water’s edge and cupped a handful of the cool liquid, bringing it to her mouth. It was ambrosia. She had to make herself follow her own advice.
She rolled onto her back. Cold from the sand seeped through her damp clothes and chilled her flesh, but she sank into the ground, grateful to be still. The sky was a ribbon of black, sprinkled with white lights, above them. The stars blinked to some hidden rhythm and a night bird cried out, its call echoing off the rock walls. She couldn’t see the other side of the canyon, and with the water’s roar, it was impossible to hear if the Rugians were heading down the path or not.
Slowly, muscle by muscle, she made herself rise from the sand, replenish her water skin and make her way toward the shelter of the cliff face. In the dark, she couldn’t find kindling to make a fire but it was probably for the best. A fire would be a beacon, drawing the Rugians to her position. She leaned against the rough rock wall and ate the second-to-the-last oatcake. Her stomach rumbled for more. She filled it with water. Melior nosed around the rocks a distance away, looking for any grass.
“Tell me if you find anything.” She wrapped her cloak around her and burrowed into the coarse sand. As a child, she’d slept on the beach often, falling asleep to the ocean’s song. It had been warm then. She couldn’t quite remember what it felt like to be warm. The melody of this water was different but comforting all the same. If the Rugians came, they’d find her asleep, but she was too tired to care. She let exhaustion claim her.
* * *
Warmth radiated through her body, surged down her limbs, tingled in her fingers and toes. In the distance the waters raged. She opened her eyes. Pale, swirling colors surged through the air, caressing her skin. She blinked, and the landscape solidified. The ocean spread out before her in shifting blues and greens. She stood on sand and knew if she turned around, the dune sheltering her house on the island would be behind her. She felt someone approach but didn’t reach for her sword. For some reason, the peace seemed odd.
Journey of Wisdom Page 15