“In centuries long past the keepers trusted your kind. They studied us and our ways, always writing in their books. Many promises were made, but your people are always warring. The wizards were turned against each other until only a few remained. They consolidated their power and refused to share it with the world. What promises can you make that we can trust? How can you know that history will not repeat itself? You are but one wizard, but you can be one of us. You can use your power to protect the keepers, to push back the humans, to stop the regression of the forest.”
“I can do that as a human too,” Zollin said. “Let me see what may be done to protect the forest. Not just by me, but I can take your needs to our people. I can protect you.”
“You offer so much with no assurance that your words are more than empty air. Keeping you here is the only sure way.”
“No!” Zollin said. “There is always another way.”
“We will keep you here,” the creature said. “You will join us or join the imp as our prisoner.”
The trees moved aside and a thick glob of what looked like tree sap was hurled into the clearing. It was dark, and at first Zollin thought that the glob was an attempt to attack him, but as it moved closer he could see something struggling inside the glob.
“She has no power over the blood of keepers,” the dryad said.
At almost that same instant Zollin saw the being trapped inside the glob burst into flames. The sappy substance liquefied around her, but she couldn’t break free from it. It was like quicksand, and the more Brianna struggled, the deeper she sank into the viscous sap.
“Brianna!” Zollin shouted.
He rushed forward and touched the sap. His hand stuck to the gelatinous substance and when he tried to pull it away, the sap clung to him, stretching in a thick string from his hand to the glob. Zollin heard what sounded like wind ruffling the forest leaves and realized it was the dryads. They were laughing at him as he played directly into their plan.
His response was automatic, letting his conscious mind delve into his magic and thrusting his magic straight into the glob. It essentially was sap, but there was a magical element to it as well. The dryad had called it the blood of Keepers, which Zollin understood now to be literally the sap out of the dryads. They could handle it, manipulate it, even move it around, but Zollin couldn’t break free of it with strength alone.
He also knew that fire didn’t seem to affect it, so he tried a different tack. His magic was based in his will. Whatever he imagined he could do, happened. He could heal a wound because he understood enough anatomy and how the human body worked to imagine anything broken or diseased to be made right. It wasn’t enough to think of a broken arm being healed, he had to be able to imagine the bone mending, the torn flesh coming back together, the severed veins reforming, and the skin sealing back up. Likewise, he couldn’t just imagine the glob growing cold. He had to understand that even the gelatinous, sappy blob was at its most basic level, a unique type of matter. And all matter was made of certain elements bonded together, always moving in harmony, almost like an army marching together. If the minuscule bits of matter moved faster, they heated up, but if the slowed down, they cooled off.
Zollin imagined the matter slowing down, and almost immediately he felt the air near the blob cooling. The string of sap that held him to the larger mass cooled considerably, and his skin began to ache as if he were holding a snowball.
Then he tugged and the bond broke. Bits of sap fell like shattered glass. The trees roared in anger, but Zollin conjured a ring of fire around himself and the glob of Keeper sap. He kept feeding his magic into the sap, cooling it more and more. He could see the look of panic on Brianna’s face through the opaque substance turning to wonder. The dryads shouted angrily and a dead branch came flying through the ring of fire, almost hitting Zollin, who had to duck to avoid the projectile. Instead of hitting him, it hit the sap, breaking off a large chunk that fell to the ground like a block of ice.
Zollin snatched up the wood, sent his magic into it so that it burst into flames on one end, and hurled the stick back out of the ring of fire. This time the shouts turned to horrified squeals. Zollin guessed the glob of sap was nearly frozen solid and he levitated it up into the air several feet over his head. The magic was flowing through him like a raging inferno, and he could feel sharp, stabbing pains that started in his stomach and radiated out through his whole body. He knew he couldn’t keep up the magic much longer, but he also knew he didn’t need to.
He let the glob drop, and when it hit the ground it shattered. Brianna sprang up, free at last of the horrible trap she’d been caught in, and her body erupted into flames. Zollin’s ring of fire vanished and he sank to his knees, but Brianna stood by him, ready to set the forest on fire at the slightest provocation.
“Wait,” Zollin said. “Don’t burn them.”
“Why not?” Brianna said.
“They shouldn’t have hurt you, but we don’t need to destroy them.”
When Zollin finally looked up after catching his breath, the clearing was much larger. Most of the dryads had fled. It was really no surprise, Zollin thought. Brianna’s powers represented their greatest fear. A fire could wipe them out with no way for the dryads to halt the flames.
“You are free, wizard.” The Dryad who had been speaking to Zollin was still standing nearby. He was so still it was hard to comprehend that the woodland creature was anything more than a common tree. “But do not forget your promise.”
“I won’t,” Zollin said.
The dryad turned and lumbered away as Zollin got slowly to his feet. His head felt light and his stomach was rumbling. His legs trembled, but he did his best not to look weak.
“What promise?” Brianna said.
“I told them I would speak to King Hausey, ruler of Yelsia, and urge him to protect the forest.”
“We should burn the evil place to the ground,” she said angrily.
“They shouldn’t have taken you, but they were only trying to protect themselves. The Torr’s consolidation of magic put them in a suspended state. They only want to ensure that it doesn’t happen again.”
“If they want your help, someone should tell them taking your wife isn’t the best way to do it.”
“I think we made that much clear,” Zollin said. “I need your help with the dwarves.”
“What’s wrong with the dwarves?”
***
Zollin explained what he’d found in the dwarf caverns as they made their way back through the woods toward their camp. As he talked, Brianna found her mind wandering. When she'd awakened inside the blob of sap, she'd been in a little bubble, but the substance was the perfect prison for her. When she tried to use her fiery power to escape the thick, tacky sap had liquefied, quickly filling the bubble and catching her almost like a fly in honey. She knew that if she continued trying to escape, the substance would overwhelm her and she would suffocate or worse yet, drown in the liquefied sap.
It had been a horrifying ordeal, and yet now that it was over, she only felt even more strongly that she needed space from Zollin. He had saved her, that was true enough, but his rescue only made her feel helpless and weak. Being with Zollin used to make her feel safe and strong. Now, even in his weakened state, he still managed to save her life and that fact made her angry. She knew it was stupid to think he'd planned the episode, but he had kept her from harming the strange, treelike creatures. She couldn't fathom why he would do that. Now every tree they passed, every branch they ducked under or log the they stepped over seemed threatening to her.
She needed space. She was losing herself in his shadow, and even though she felt guilty for having such odd feelings, she couldn't pretend she didn't feel them. What was worse, her respect for Zollin was slipping away. His calm nature in the face of any danger, his unwavering sense of morality, and especially his quickness to forgive their enemies, was chipping away at her affection for him.
If she didn't go, she couldn't imagine what
their relationship might devolve into. The last thing she wanted was to be like her mother, always striving for something more. Her mother had used her children and manipulated her father, doling out her affection only when they pleased her. Brianna couldn't stand the thought of being like that. She wanted to be her own person, and she wanted to love Zollin with a passion that was unquenchable. But in the back of her mind was the fact that she had also loved Prince Willam. She had not chosen the prince over Zollin, but given the opportunity she had allowed herself to be swept away in the passion of the moment. The memory of her infidelity only made her need for something to change with Zollin even more intense. She didn't want to be faced with a similar decision, only to fail herself and the man she had chosen to marry all over again.
Her mind was made up. She had to go, but having made the decision, she only felt more guilty and she was glad it was dark. The darkness hid her face, hid her shame that she was going to leave Zollin behind. She didn't know what her future held, but she knew that in a few months she might not be able to do anything but take care of herself and the baby. That thought terrified her more than dying. She didn't want to resent her child, for whom she already felt such incredible affection that she would sacrifice herself in an instant to keep it safe. And yet, she feared her feelings for their child would wane, just as her feelings for Zollin had.
What kind of person leaves her husband when she’s pregnant with his child? She didn't like the answers that popped up in her mind, or the feelings that seemed to fester like open wounds. But ultimately, only the freedom of going her own way, making her own decisions, and living the life she wanted could heal her heart. She hated leaving Zollin when he was obviously so weak, but she couldn't stay. She had to go, and it had to be tonight.
***
Zollin had to stop and rest a few times during the short trip. He hadn’t been so exhausted from using his magic since his battle with the witch. He wanted nothing more than a warm meal and a soft bed, but he knew that neither were in his future. He couldn’t rest while the dwarves were in danger. He had to know they were safe.
When they reached the camp, Zollin dropped onto the blanket beside the large saddle bags and pulled out a canteen. His throat felt like old leather, and gulping the warm water provided welcome relief from the magical discomfort that had bothered him ever since he’d fought to free Brianna. His inner source of power was a fiery furnace, its power raging inside him, barely contained by his magical barricade. The water refreshed him, but he still felt weak.
“What’s wrong?” Brianna asked.
“Nothing. I just need to eat.”
“You haven’t looked this weak since we first went to Brighton’s Gate. That seems like another lifetime.”
“It was,” Zollin said, stuffing some dried meat into his mouth. “Freezing that blob of sap completely wore me out.”
“Maybe we should wait until morning and get some rest.”
“No,” Zollin said. “I’ll be fine. Can you communicate with the dragons and tell them what we plan to do?”
“What are we planning to do?” Brianna asked.
“Find the dwarves,” Zollin said, after washing the meat down with another gulp of water. “If they’re in trouble, we have to help them.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
“What are you driving at, Brianna? I feel like you’re hinting about things, but I’m not getting the message.”
“Well look at you,” Brianna said. “You’re pale, weak, exhausted—how do you propose to help anyone else when you can’t even catch your breath?”
Zollin realized suddenly that they were having a discussion about their relationship, not just helping the dwarves. Brianna seemed cold, distant, almost angry with him.
“I saved you,” he said quietly.
“Yes, but it nearly killed you.”
“No it didn’t, I’m fine. What is this really about Brianna?”
“Nothing,” she said.
“Don’t do that. Don’t pretend everything is fine. You’ve been distant lately, and now you’re acting like I’ve done something wrong.”
“Why does everything have to mean something to you, Zollin? There’s no deeper meaning. I’m just stating the fact that you’re not who you used to be.”
“Is this coming from the fact that you were captured or is this really how you feel?”
“Look, I love you Zollin. But I feel like I’m suffocating lately. You may be content to grow old in our cottage, tinkering in your workshop but I want to see the world.”
“Isn’t that why we’re here?” Zollin said. “I thought you were happy in the Valley.”
“I’m not saying I wasn’t happy.”
“You said you were suffocating.”
“Please stop yelling at me.”
“I’m not yelling,” Zollin said, lowering his voice. “I just don’t know where all this is coming from. Is it because you’re pregnant?”
The look she gave him was so intense he could almost feel the heat boiling off of her. She turned her back on him and then sent a plume of flame boiling up the mountainside. There was very little vegetation on the hillside, but the patchy grass withered, and a few scraggly bushes continued to burn after she relaxed.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“I’m taking my frustration out on the mountain instead of on you.”
“I’m not made of glass, Brianna. I can handle a disagreement but you’ve got to talk to me.”
“I don’t want to talk to you. I don’t want to hear you, or see you right now. I just want to be left alone.”
“What about helping the dwarves?” Zollin said.
“Being in a confined space with you right now isn’t a very good idea.”
“So, what? You’re just going to stay here and wait for me?”
“No,” Brianna said, her voice trembling. “I’m not waiting for you any more, Zollin. I’m through waiting for you.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“It means I’m leaving. I won’t spend another night in these woods.”
Zollin stood up, fear ringing in his ears like a giant bell. He wasn’t sure exactly what was happening. He had no idea that Brianna wasn’t happy. He understood that she had been through a harrowing ordeal with the Dryads, but she had been through worse and never reacted so strongly.
“So you’re leaving the woods or leaving me?” he asked slowly.
“I don’t know,” Brianna said.
She still had her back to him and he wasn’t sure what to do. He wanted to go to her, but she didn’t seem approachable.
“Go then,” he said softly, trying not to sound bitter. “I won’t hold you back. Go, do whatever it is you need to do. I’ll miss you, and no matter what, I love you. I’ll never stop hoping that you come back to me.”
“Don’t do that,” she said, still not facing him. “Don’t make me sound like I’m the bad guy.”
“I didn’t mean to.”
“I know who I am now, Zollin. I’m not just a girl following you from Tranaugh Shire. I’m powerful and I won’t ever be content to hide away in the mountains forever.”
“I never meant for you to,” Zollin said.
“I made mistakes, but that doesn’t give you the right to dictate what our lives will be.”
“No, it doesn’t,” he said. “I’m sorry. Where will you go?”
“I’m going south,” she said. “I want to find out what happened to Bartoom.”
“Will you come back?”
“Yes, someday.”
“All right,” Zollin said, and only the sense of unreality kept him from falling to his knees and begging her to stay. He couldn’t believe she was actually going to leave him. “What about the baby?”
“I don’t know,” Brianna said.
“Come on… we’ve got to think this through.”
“No, Zollin. I can’t think things through. I can’t do the responsible thing right now. I’m goin
g to be a mother. I’m going to have to make responsible choices for our child’s sake for the rest of my life. Right now I just need to feel my way through this.”
“And what if you get into trouble again?” Zollin said.
“That’s a chance I have to take.”
Chapter 15
Zollin didn't wait to watch Brianna go. The truth was, he didn't want her to see him break down, and he knew he would. He gathered a small bag of food and a canteen of water, then returned to the entrance to the caverns of the dwarves. He was exhausted, but staying busy kept him from having to deal with the fact that Brianna was leaving him.
Crawling back down the tunnel seemed less difficult the second time, even though he had to shove the pack of food in front of him as he went. When he finally reached the large open cavern where the snake creature's body lay twisted upon itself, he stood up and slung the pack of food onto his back, but not before taking out a fist-sized loaf of hard bread. He ripped off small chunks of bread and ate them as he searched for the dwarves.
Using magic drained his physical strength, so he rummaged through some of the debris left in the caverns until he found a suitable piece of wood to use as a torch. Finding wood among the dwarves’ belongings wasn't easy, since they preferred stone for everything from furniture to tools, but eventually he found what was either a walking stick or a club—Zollin wasn't sure which. He also found a burlap sack, which he tore into strips and tied around the end of his torch.
It only took a second to kindle the new torch. Zollin imagined it burning, visualized the torch catching flame, and pushed the thought out toward the stick. He felt the rush of heat like hot wind stream through his body. At times, even simple spells like conjuring magic were taxing. But he still had the bread, and eating always gave him strength.
Once he had the torch burning, he felt confident moving into the tunnels. He knew there was a possibility that other horrid creatures awaited him in the caverns. He had fought huge spiders that were attacking the dwarves before the Witch's War. And he had seen the huge fire worms that swam in the molten rock deep beneath the mountains. Anything could be hiding in the darkness, but the thought of horrible monsters didn't frighten him as much as the possibility that he could get lost in the caverns. If he failed to find the dwarves, he might not find his way out of the labyrinth of passageways, tunnels, and caverns. The network of underground dwellings stretched all the way back to the upper range of the northern highlands. In fact, he'd passed through many such dwellings when he and Brianna had hunted Bartoom. She had left him and gone with the dragon then, so perhaps she would return again, just as she had before.
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