The Black Morass

by Gerald Lambert

  As if the baby had heard its father, Zadí felt one of the increasingly common and more noticeable flutterings within her womb press into Var's side.

  "There's your answer," she said with a giggle. "Did you feel that?"

  "Yes!" Var exclaimed. "How amazing!" He moved his large hand to her belly and rested it there. Another faint movement reached for him. He grinned before kissing Zadí's

  forehead.

  "I'm grateful your pregnancy didn't make you seasick again. I was really worried."

  "Thank you, Var. I was a little worried too, but I guess I finally found my sea legs. Maybe the baby somehow helped."

  "Maybe. I can't wait until this summer when it will be born. Around Keeta's birthday, right?"

  "That's right."

  "I want a daughter," Var declared. "Who looks just like you."

  "But with your eyes," Zadí stipulated. "They're so beautiful."

  "Thank you, Izzie, but she would need to have your eyes. They're even prettier."

  "How about a combination. Goldflecked green or something."

  "Fine," Var agreed with a laugh. "And we could call her Izzie."

  "But that's my name," Zadí teasingly protested.

  Var chuckled again. "I'm sure we'll come up with something. Today is special for another reason."

  "Yes. Our fivemonth anniversary."

  Var nodded. "Aren't you proud I remembered?"

  "Well done, sweetheart," Zadí praised.

  "But I did more than remember. I have something for you."

  Zadí's face lit up. "Really! What?"

  "This," Var answered, reaching into his pocket for the gift. He pulled out a long chain with a pendant on the end, which he placed on her open palm.

  Zadí examined the necklace, loving the simple beauty of the gold chain and heartshaped pendant. This she held closer to her face as understanding dawned on her. "A locket!"

  "That's right. Open it."

  She quickly obeyed, opening the locket to discover only one tiny picture within. It portrayed her and Var dancing on the ship with a lovely sunset in the background. Her face was

  turned to the side and resting against his chest, while his was down at an angle, his cheek pressed to the top of her head.

  "How beautiful," Zadí admired. "Did Brom help you with this?"

  "Yes. I thought it might be appropriate. Dancing has always been our special thing, and you've told me how you love the sunsets on the ocean."

  Zadí looked at his face as tears filled her eyes. "Thank you, sweetheart. I love it. We can put a fairth of the baby in the other half after it's born."

  "I like that idea," Var approved. When Zadí hid a yawn behind her hand, he smiled and added, "Sorry, sweetie. I'll let you get to sleep."

  "Wrap me up tight when you have to take over at the wheel," Zadí requested. "Though now that the weather is warming and the baby growing, I'm not nearly as cold as I used to

  be."

  "I'll tuck you right in," Var promised. "Like I always do. And I'll be back before you wake up."

  "Mmm," Zadí happily mumbled. "Sounds good. Love you, Var." She turned her face up as he leaned down so he would kiss her lips, then she snuggled back into his shoulder and fell

  asleep listening to his heart

  Weeks after Tenga crashed to the earth, he still had not sufficiently replenished his stones to feel comfortable restarting his chase. He drained of life every small insect, reptile, or

  critter he happened across and ate their corpses to stay alive, but such scanty contributions did not add up to the amount of energy required to sustain his swift traveling pace. Even

  the meager magical effort of drawing off the earth and living creatures or lighting a fire to cook the flesh and stay warm exacted a toll on Tenga's reserves, and it felt as if he took

  a step back for every two steps forward.

  Acutely frustrated by his foolish lack of foresight, Tenga modified his plans and decided to return straight to Vroengard from this accursed desert. There he would enjoy hot meals

  prepared by Lena and warm beds and clean clothes.

  By now the nine youth might have made it back to their ship. And while Tenga would soon have enough energy to travel to them, would he have enough to magically duel with

  them? He knew from Trianna's spying that three were elves who could presumably still use magic. Tenga didn't want to risk an encounter where he was outnumbered with no

  energy reserves to draw from.

  Yes, he would revisit Vroengard long enough to recover and replenish all of his stones with Bid'Daum's Eldunarí. And then he would determine what to do about the children. In little

  over a month, the two eldest Ra'zac would metamorphose into Lethrblaka. Perhaps they would take part in his plan. But if the youth were sailing on the ocean, neither the Ra'zac

  nor the Lethrblaka would do Tenga any good. He was familiar with their deathly fear of water.

  Would the children really return to their ship? Tenga was disturbed to realize that he had simply believed they would head to Vroengard.

  But how could they? he wondered. Do they know Lena is there? They no longer have her ring to guide them, though they may remember the direction of the ring's previous pull and

  assume it was leading them to Vroengard. I must be getting soft to feel so apprehensive about—threatened, even—by nine young children.

  Or Trianna may have revealed the location of my sanctuary. We always did share the same sense of invincibility, and she might have felt that doing so would be harmless. Which it would have been. Even if she did, it is of little consequence. If the young people truly do journey to Vroengard, I shall simply let them get within a day of the island and then leave with Lena. After all they have put me through, I will delight in teasing them in this manner. And after that, they will never again have a hope of finding Lena.

  Tenga cackled selfindulgently and viciously sucked the life from a small spider that sped across his path, funneling its life force into his gemstone and plucking the arachnid off the

  ground by one curled leg. He dropped it into his mouth with a dramatic flourish, as if downing a rare delicacy, and cackled once again. Muttering and stumbling, Tenga continued his

  unsteady westward march across the wasteland.

  Lena hardly knew what to think when over a month passed and Tenga did not return from his trip to Ilirea. Dozens of various possibilities played through her mind. Her favorite was

  the scenario where the Shade had failed to stop her friends and Tenga was so furious that he challenged her to a duel, during which they killed one another off.

  Lena realized such thinking was probably wishful, but she didn't know if or when she might expect her captor back. She spent a great deal of time in the Vault of Souls, enjoying the

  Caretakers and Swiftpaw's company. They were far better than a hundred vile, hostile magicians, though these rarely interacted with Lena.

  If Bid'Daum was ever aware during her visits, he and Lena simply tried to ignore one another. Neither could verbally speak of their contract while the other three were present, and

  the dragon seemed to despise the elves' glowing praise of him, which they thought was wholly deserved. Lena thought otherwise.

  She saw that the first furious words she had screamed at the dragon before he finally awakened were fairly accurate descriptions—apathetic, selfish. But not stupid. No, not that.

  Bid'Daum was anything but stupid.

  On one particular day while in the Vault of Souls, Lena learned what the elves had done—with Bid'Daum's help—to ensure that Tenga couldn't take her away from Vroengard.

  "We have magically bound you to this island," Iduna informed. "With many different types of spells, somewhat similar to wards, but only in that they will prevent a certain outcome

  from befalling you. We have layered the enchantments so that Tenga will not easily be able to reverse them right when he becomes aware of them. We hope that if he does try to
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  leave with you, it will be in a moment of desperation."

  "And when he cannot," Nёya continued, "we hope he will be forced to focus on other matters rather than undoing our spells."

  "Thank you," Lena said. "I don't think I would have thought of something like that, but it's probably the best method. Then you don't have to directly stand against Tenga. Would you

  be able to use Bid'Daum's strength if it ever came to that?"

  "Bid'Daum has explained that when he does not prevent someone from borrowing his vitality—as has always been the case with Tenga—he is in a state where any magician around

  could do the same. In other words, he cannot selectively help one magician while blocking another. So in that situation, if we were able to rely on Bid'Daum, so too would Tenga."

  "Which means that he also won't be able to help Brom if they make it here," Lena immediately deduced. "I suppose it does seem fairer that it will be magician against magician. If

  either one could draw off Bid'Daum's strength to the exclusion of the other, neither would stand a chance. I just hope Tenga doesn't try something bad before then. If they even make it. I don't know how they would know for sure that I'm here."

  Lena sighed gloomily then went on, "But that's something I wanted to talk to you about today. Tenga has been away for seven weeks. Something had to have happened to him, but I

  can't possibly guess what. Anyway, maybe he's not coming back. Perhaps we should try to escape from the island. If Bid'Daum could help you, don't you think we would have a

  decent chance?"

  The elves thoughtfully considered this for a moment. The werecat form of Swiftpaw then unexpectedly exclaimed, Speaking of Tenga, I do believe he is approaching through the

  tunnel!

  Lena sprang up in surprise. "Are you sure?" she demanded, casting about for a hiding place.

  Yes! Swiftpaw cried. Hurry, find somewhere to hide!

  There wasn't anywhere. The crevices in the walls were too small, and there were no ledges on the sheer drop to the molten lake below. So Lena did the only thing she could think

  of. She dashed behind Bid'Daum's Eldunarí, praying Tenga wasn't searching for her and would exhibit the same level of imperceptiveness he had during the other visits he had made

  to check on the Vault's inhabitants, of which the elves had told her.

  Swiftpaw likewise retreated to her usual hideout, and before long Lena heard the scuffling sounds indicating Tenga's arrival.

  His breathing sounded labored, and Lena thought the muffled thump that next reached her ears might have been Tenga collapsing to the stone floor.

  Is he hurt? Lena wondered. Exhausted?

  Silence reigned for a very long while, during which Lena's curiosity and apprehension increased. Finally she heard Tenga begin muttering to himself, though she could not

  understand his words.

  Then, abruptly, Bid'Daum's Eldunarí vanished and Lena found herself standing directly across the resultant vast space from Tenga. He might not have noticed had Lena not gasped in

  surprise and alarm. But her vocalization caught his attention and he looked over in consternation.

  Lena was shocked by his appearance. He was thin as a skeleton and filthy as a wallowing swine. His beard was matted with mud and fragments of plant life, his robes tattered and

  also caked with grime.

  "I was just going to find you," Tenga said. "I'm glad I don't have to search. Though my energy reservoirs are now fully replenished, thanks to Bid'Daum, I had no desire to . . ." He

  trailed off as comprehension dawned on him. "But what are you doing down here?"

  Lena opened her mouth but had no ready response, so she reclosed it and remained quiet.

  Tenga began a slow march toward her. "You have been down here," he stated, the previous calm gradually giving way. "Doing what? No, no, let me guess. Helping the elves. Am I

  right? Of course I am! How else could they have survived? On apples and raspberries alone! And my suspicions were correct! You were gathering the fruit for reasons other than to make me fine treats! Bah! I was too trusting, too lenient. And I am growing soft! To think that such a deception has been happening right under my nose for how many months now?

  Seven! How easily I might have learned the truth had I but verified their claims with my mind. But I never suspected anyone would try to thwart me! Why would anyone attempt

  such madness when I have him? Bid'Daum! Nothing, no one, can stand against me and prevail!"

  Tenga reached Lena and seized her arm in a surprisingly strong grip, considering his skeletal fingers.

  "Come with me, young lady," he barked. "We are leaving Vroengard once and for all. Would you like to know why? Never mind, never mind. I shall simply show you once we get

  outside."

  He dragged Lena out of the Vault of Souls and flew her through a canyon to land on one of Aras Thelduin's peaks. The fire mountains were lush and verdant in the humid spring

  weather, and the beautiful greenery provided an ironic contrast to Tenga's black rage, which was so vehement that Lena was almost sure she could see it.

  "There!" Tenga cried.

  Lena followed the direction he pointed his finger and gasped again. Will and Var's ship was just visible on the horizon. They had survived! And they had come! How close they were!

  "Will," she whispered, her eyes brimming.

  "You will never see your beloved Will again," Tenga remarked in a tone of cold finality. "For we are leaving and he no longer has your precious ring to guide him."

  Tenga had never released her arm, which was aching from his crushing grasp, and he now jerked on Lena while once again leaping up, intending to take flight in his usual way. But

  Lena remained firmly on the plush carpet of green moss, and Tenga floated a good twenty feet away before realizing that she was not with him.

  The elves' spells! They had worked! Lena wasn't leaving Vroengard, and Will would be here within a matter of days!

  Then Tenga was back by her side. "What is this?" he demanded. "Come with me!"

  He again tried to leave with Lena in tow, and again he failed.

  "What is going on!" Tenga fairly screamed, his fury redoubling. "Why won't you come with me? What trickery is at work?"

  Lena said nothing, keeping her eyes glued on the ship as if she could see Will standing at the helm. Will, I'm waiting! she cried out in her mind. You came for me!

  Then Tenga slapped her face to get her attention and Lena turned to him, clutching her cheek as new tears of pain stung her eyes.

  "Answer me, girl!" Tenga shouted. "What is going on?"

  Lena shrugged. "The elves bound me to Vroengard."

  "Did they now?" Tenga seethed. "You want to stay here? FINE!" He bellowed the last so loud, spittle flying from his rank mouth, that Lena cringed back and covered her ears.

  Tenga flew her back to the Vault of Souls and reentered, dragging her as awkwardly as possible. Lena stumbled in her efforts to stay up with him. When they reached the

  underground cavern, Tenga shoved her into the wall. Using magic to control her limbs, he stretched her arms straight out and slightly above her head while simultaneously bending

  her knees so she wasn't standing fully upright nor kneeling all the way down.

  Magical lashes erupted from the stone behind Lena, snaking around her wrists, upper arms, and neck so she couldn't raise or lower her body at all. Her legs were already trembling

  in the semisquatting position.

  "If you so dearly want to be bound," Tenga raged, "then I'll bind you here, spiteful wretch! And I will take these two away with me and do the same with them on the other side of

  Vroengard so they will be unable to return the favor of helping you stay alive. Maybe you will starve to death like that worthless werecat!"

  Lena's eyes filled with tears of pain and desperation, and Tenga twittered mirthlessly. "A just punishment for your ongoing pretense. And your
friends will also experience the

  fullness of Tenga's wrath! No more miscalculations for old Tenga. I will kill them all using Bid'Daum's strength and bring their bloated bodies down to join you after they wash

  ashore. Perhaps you and Will shall end up together after all."

  He chuckled delightedly at his morbid suggestion and turned toward the Caretakers. "Come, you two," he said, almost cheerfully now. "Off we go! I have a new home for you. I do

  so hope you enjoy it." The elven sisters disappeared from before Lena's eyes just as Bid'Daum had, and she knew Tenga had magically stored them along with the Eldunarí. Without

  a backward glance, Tenga disappeared into the gloom of the tunnel.

  Will concluded the last line of his entry and snapped his journal shut as a satisfied grin spread across his face.

  I've done it, honey, he thought to Lena. I know my true name. And now, no matter where Tenga has you on that island, I will be able to come right to you. Almost there, Lena. Hang

  on.

  Will's journal entries were much like his thoughts these days. He always wrote them as if they were letters to Lena, just as he usually thought things as if she could hear. For their

  entire sevenmonth quest, Will had written regular updates in the handsome leather volume Lena had given him on their sixteenth birthday. When they found her, he wanted her to

  know that through everything his thoughts had never been far from her. Because they never had been.

  Will arose from the small table in the captain's cabin. He often went there to rest when it was Var's turn at the wheel. Unless it was nighttime of course because then at least Zadí

  would be sleeping in the bed. But both she and Var were out on the deck.

  Prior to writing, Will had forced himself to relax, and he had managed to doze off for a time. Right after dinner, Will would take the next shift at the helm. And if their luck held,

  they would reach Vroengard in less than two days.

  Brom entered the cabin without knocking. "Will," he directly began, "I've been mentally examining the inhabitants of Vroengard to help me determine what to expect once we get

  there. Just now I heard this." Brom stopped speaking aloud but played a message in Will's mind.