Laila moved to the shore of the lake. The moon was rising over the eastern mountains, reflected perfectly in the surface of the lake. Icarus stood next to her, waiting patiently. The rest of this was up to her. She held the staff, and she was the only one who could call up the power of Grimmere.
"It's time, child. If Grimmere will answer our need, it will do so now. Go on." He motioned toward the clear waters just before her.
Pulling confidence from the staff and taking a deep breath, she stepped forward, her feet entering the cold water. She pushed forward, through the cold, calling up warmth from her staff as she moved deeper into the lake. She was not sure what compelled her into the waters, a memory of the summit rock and a whisper in her mind that seemed to emanate from her staff. She remembered Icarus's tale of the elementals. The Volos, the ancient elementals of earth, had been forced to retreat back into the stone. Was it possible that they spoke to her now? Through the earth itself, guiding her?
She stopped when she was waist deep in the waters. She shivered slightly at the cold but held tightly to her staff and gripped it in both of her hands, outstretched in front of her. The staff erupted in earthlight as she called out her power. For a moment she was stunned; she had only been trying to call a small amount of light forth, now the staff lit up the night like another star, shining across the lake and onto the shore. Something in the staff was reacting to the waters of the lake.
At first, Laila fought the flow of her power. She could feel the warmth and light interacting with the waters of Grimmere, and she tried to direct it, control it. The flow fought against her, struggled toward something else, some other expression. She continued to struggle and felt the light from her staff dimming, the water retreating.
"No, no, no," Laila whispered, still struggling against the flow of her power.
Icarus's voice cut through the chill night air. "Do not fight it, child. Grimmere knows how to use your strength better than you do."
Laila glanced back, saw Icarus standing on the shore. As soon as her mind was distracted from her struggle, her staff burst into full light again. She could feel the staff directing her power into the lake. This time she let go of her control, let the staff and the water take her where they needed. The earthlight from the staff spooled into the waters, shining on the smooth stones and sand beneath Laila's feet.
Suddenly the light from the staff leapt into the water, like some creature rising from the depths of the lake. The water heaved and roiled in front of Laila. She held tightly to the staff, but the turbulent water was not centered around her. It spun in front of her, whipping up a spiral of water that plunged down to the floor of the lake. Once it reached the lakebed, the earth at the bottom rose up along the spinning waters, up into the air above the whirlpool. It hung there, as though waiting for something.
"Keep your need in your mind, Laila. Grimmere will respond!" Icarus shouted over the thrashing water.
Laila refocused, remembering the hurt she had felt in the summit rock, wordlessly asking the waters what could cause such pain. What am I to do? she thought.
The earth and water whirling in front of her shifted, moved, and began to take shape. It coalesced into the form of a person. In the wavering image, the person stood, a towering presence, and looked down on Laila. This was the form of her enemy. As she continued to watch, the material formed into flames behind the figure, which grew larger until they engulfed the specter entirely. Laila could not tell whether the image was being consumed by the flames or was composed of them.
Laila watched speechlessly as the sand shifted again. Behind the flaming form another shape came together; this individual was darker and even more menacing. The darker figure raised its hands and the one in flames moved like a marionette, turning and spinning to the dark hand’s movements. After a moment, a third person emerged, this time in front of the flaming puppet. The flaming image raised its hands, still manipulated by the larger, darker creature. Laila immediately recognized this vision. It was Torin! As the puppet of flames danced to the dark being’s motions, Torin too moved to the manipulations of the flames.
More shapes began to coalesce in front of Torin. Faces that she did not recognize mixed with some she did. The people of Terus. She saw Selene, Dio, Gareth; they all had looks of fear and pain on their faces. The last to emerge were those of her parents. She had never seen the emotions that played across their faces now. It was something more than the others, as though Torin’s machinations were affecting them in a wholly different way. Her father’s face carried a burden of pain, but it was her mother’s face that pierced Laila’s heart. Her mother looked broken, as though something fundamental had been stripped from her.
Laila could not have articulated how she could interpret what she was seeing, but she knew without a doubt that what she saw was true. Torin was hurting the people she cared about; he was destroying the only way of life she had ever known!
With no warning, the roiling water and earth collapsed back into the lake. The light dissipated, and Laila was left standing silently in the water, watching the lake work its way back to calm. The image of Torin's face stood out in her mind. That was the face of her enemy. She did not know what the other figures represented, but she did know Torin. Her purpose appeared clear to her now.
She slowly climbed out of the water and returned to Icarus.
"You saw?" she asked as he wrapped her cloak around her, shielding her wet clothes from the cold night air.
"I did. We can't be too brash, however. I know you saw Torin. But he was only one part of something much larger. We don't know what it meant at this point."
Laila spun on Icarus. "I know what it meant! I have to stop him, whatever he's doing! He's going to bring an end to the Confederacy!"
"You don't know that, Laila," Icarus answered, calm.
"I know enough. You have been telling me that I'm the Magusari, that it's my purpose to rebalance the world. And now, this." She waved her hand back at the lake. "Torin is my enemy. The other images we can decipher later. I have to stop Torin!"
Icarus lowered his head, conceding. "Very well, Magusari."
"Don't do that," she said, trying to calm her own voice now. "I trust your opinion, but this is important. Torin could be hurting not only Terus, but my family. And we still don't know what's happened to Connor. I have to stop it. We need to go back to Terus."
"They won't accept you there, you know?" Icarus said, pointedly looking at the staff in her hands.
Laila looked at the staff herself, and then brought forth warmth as her body dried out. "I know. I renounced my Citizenship. But I have to know what's happening. And I have to help my family. Please understand, Icarus. I'll go without you if I have to."
Icarus smiled at the young girl. "I know you would, child. And I will come with you."
"Thank you."
Icarus placed a hand on her shoulder, and they both walked back up to the hut. Laila took a seat in front of the blazing fire, trying to dry out her robes. She could feel the drive of her purpose now. Torin had been revealed, and it was time she sought him out. She eventually drifted off to sleep with the images from the lake floating through her mind. Torin's most prominently, but the other two figures she had seen hung in the background, watching and waiting.
Fifteen
Decisions
The Magus and Laila decided they would wait another day for Connor to return. If he did not surface by then, they would have to hope to find him on the road, or they would have to venture to Ester themselves. After eating a small breakfast, Laila left the hut to walk along the shores of the lake. Having recovered from her ordeal on the mountain, she now felt stronger and more confident. The vision that Grimmere had given her gave her focus, and not a small degree of hope. She now had a reason to return to her home.
Icarus had been right. She would likely not be welcome, but she needed to return to make sure that her mother and father were safe from Torin's manipulations—and to confront Torin. The vision had been v
ague, as Icarus had pointed out. But the fact that her enemy was Torin had not been vague. Right now she was not concerned with the other, larger figures in her vision. In her mind, it was even possible that confronting Torin would lead her to the others.
Plans and possibilities rolled through her mind as she walked. Looking out over the lake in the daylight, she found she had a new respect for its portent waters. Since her struggle up the mountain, she had felt more connected to all that surrounded her, saw the world in a different light. Trees seemed more alive, the earth beneath her feet felt deep and strong, even the waters of the lake had a clearer hue. She held her staff tightly and soaked in the sensations. She found the boulder where she had faced Icarus's phantom creature and climbed on top, hanging her legs over the far side over the waters, her staff across her knees.
She sat for a time, letting her mind wander as she watched the fish swim underneath her in the clear waters. The sun rose up above the mountains, banishing the small wisps of clouds in the sky and shone down on her, warming the cool mountain air. As it did, she felt the need to move. She had done too much sitting the week prior to her climb up the mountain. Now was the time for action, but Icarus had insisted that they wait for Connor, and despite her need to do something, she agreed. She was worried about Connor as well. She hoped that he would show up today, and then she would at least know that he was safe.
She finally stood and climbed off the boulder. She decided that she would climb to the shelf where the tunnel was. It would give her something to do, and she could meet Connor if he came through. Making for the path that led out of the valley of Grimmere, she began the slow climb.
After an hour, she was out of the tree line and could see the bottom of the shelf as the path switched back and forth toward the entrance. Before she reached the shelf, a figure emerged onto her same path. Even as far below the shelf as she was, she could see that it was Connor; his dark clothes and particular gait gave him away. Laila unconsciously increased her pace, relief washing over her at the sight of the young man. There was no hurry to his steps, so Laila took that as a sign that he was not in any immediate danger. He spotted her and waved, hurrying his own pace.
He was still a few hundred feet from her when another sound echoed from above them on the shelf. A growling sound. Fear struck her as she looked up toward the entrance of the cave. Two red figures appeared at the edge, sniffing the air and looking down into the valley. Laila could not see them clearly from this distance, but she was sure they were Manders. Spotting Connor on the path, one of them raised its snout and let out a deep, howl that echoed through the valley.
Connor turned at the sound, and Laila began running toward him. Seeing the creatures behind and above him on the path, he turned and bolted toward Laila. They met in moments, nearly crashing into each other in their haste.
"How?" Laila gasped, catching her breath.
"I don't know!" Connor answered. "I... I didn't hear anything in the tunnel. They must have... I don't know—" He turned, grabbing Laila's shoulders, glancing once at the stone staff in her hands but not asking the question that crossed his eyes. He began running.
"Where's Icarus?" he asked.
The Manders howled again and the two of them glanced back to see not two, but four of the red creatures sprinting off the shelf toward them.
"At the— hut…I think," Laila panted as they ran down the path, trying to keep their footing on the steep ground.
They tore down the path, taking the switchbacks as quickly as possible, Connor often leaping over the corners to gain more ground. Every few minutes they would glance back up the mountain, and each time the Manders were getting closer and closer. Their one saving grace was that the creatures also had to take the switchbacks, slowing them down marginally.
"We need to get to the trees," Laila said breathlessly.
Connor nodded, picking up his pace. Laila tried to match him, but she had to pull at her staff to keep her strength up.
Finally they tore into the tree line, leaves and needles crunching beneath them. The Manders were on the last switchback. Once they made the turn, they would have a straight shot into the trees and at the two of them.
"Icarus!" Laila shouted as loud as she could. They were still at least a mile from the lake, but she hoped that her voice would carry through the valley to him.
Connor pulled her through the trees, glancing up periodically as if looking for something. A guttural howl sounded behind them, and Laila risked a glance back. The fire-wolves were in the tree line, only a hundred yards behind them.
"Connor!" she shouted, pointing back.
Finally making his decision, Connor stopped in front of a large pine tree.
"Up the tree!" he demanded, lowering himself to one knee and clasping his hands together.
The lowest branches were too high for either of them to grab alone; only one of them could scramble up into the higher branches.
"No!" Laila said. "I won't leave you."
"Not a time for discussion. You don't have a choice!"
The Manders were closing in. The spines on their backs were raised, and Laila could feel the heat of their gaze.
Grasping her staff, Laila stared at Connor determinedly. "Yes, I do."
She pulled power through her staff into her, filling with confidence and strength. She spun toward the Manders as the first one reached them, swinging her staff high as it launched itself toward her. She caught the creature in the jaw, knocking it from the air with a loud thud. It slid across the ground several feet before slamming into a tree.
The second creature caught her before she could react, however, slamming into her and knocking her to the ground. She used her staff to push its snapping jaws away from her, her earth-enhanced strength keeping it at bay.
Connor's face glowed blue as the Sword materialized in his hands. He brought it up defensively as the other two Manders approached. They slowed at the sight of his weapon and moved to either side of him.
Laila threw the Mander off of her to one side and tried to regain her footing. Before she could resume her stance, one of the creatures flanking Connor turned and snapped toward her. She brought her staff up again, barely catching the Mander's crimson teeth on the stone.
Connor was ready this time. He struck out with his blue blade, stabbing through the creature's side. He felt the weapon slide home, but before he could pull it free, the creature burst into flames. Laila screamed as the flames singed her arms and legs, and Connor cried out as the fire burned his hands. With a desperate movement, Laila kicked at the burning fire-wolf, pushing it off of her.
She surged to her feet, anger and now pain coursing through her. The earth slithered up her legs and arms, coating them, diffusing the pain. Connor stumbled back from the creature's body, his Sword gone.
The first creature had finally recovered, and it was stalking toward Laila. She stood against the first two, but she did not see the fourth creature as it launched itself toward Connor from behind. The young man was able to turn in time to keep the fire-wolf from latching onto his neck, but the force of the leap knocked him off his feet.
Laila reached out with her power and swallowed all three creatures’ legs into the ground. It was the only thing she could think of. The Manders struggled against the earth and Laila felt her power waning. She could not hold all three at once. She did not have that kind of strength.
"Connor!" she snapped. "I can't...hold long. Go!"
Connor was scrambling away from the creature in front of him, his burned hands scraping along the valley floor.
"No," he said. "If you won't leave, neither will I."
One of the Manders in front of Laila pulled a claw free, breaking out of Laila's hold on the ground. She reached deep into the earth through her staff. She felt strength flow into her. Releasing her hold on the creatures, she readied herself, saving herself for their attack.
She saw the blue of Connor's Sword appear in his hands again, despite his injury. The Manders stalked towa
rd them, testing their freedom momentarily.
They all leaped at once. Connor's Sword caught one through the neck, and it burst into flames. Laila brought her staff down on the skull of another, trying to leap out of the way before it too burst into fire. But the third got through, and it snapped onto Laila's arm. She felt the earth coating her arm flex and give way under the creature's burning teeth. Pain shot through her arm as the fire-wolf clamped down, trying to sever her hand.
Laila shouted against the pain, trying to pry her arm free. A flash of blue swung out and caught the last Mander through the chest. This time they were both ready and jumped away as the flames roared around the dead creature.
Pain forgotten, at least for the moment, Laila and Connor scrambled backwards, away from the growing flames. The dry needles of autumn coated the ground and quickly kindled the fires higher, licking at the tall trees.
They sat, staring at the rising fire. The four bodies burned brightly, torching the ground beneath them in moments. Pain finally brought Laila back to herself. The earth slid off her body, leaving a deep wound on her upper arm: four puncture marks that looked as if they had been cauterized instantly. She tried not to think about what would have happened had she not been in the embrace of her power.
Looking over at Connor, she saw him cradling his hands in his lap, staring at the flames. She sat up on her knees and checked his hands quickly. They were burned, but not badly. The flames continued to rise in front of them, spreading to more trees and dancing up into their branches.
"We need to go. Now!" Laila shouted. She did not mean to shout, but she was still too wound up from the attack.
Connor nodded dumbly, still staring at the flames. Laila grabbed him by the shoulders and tried to haul him to his feet. Finally responding, Connor stood, gently pushing her away.
"I'm alright."
Laila motioned toward the lake and they both took off at a trot, distancing themselves from the blaze. They reached the lake shortly and continued toward the hut. Before they reached the Magus’s home, they saw Icarus climbing up the slight hill near the shore of the lake, staring past them into the woods as the fire grew.
Bones of the Earth (The Equilibrium Cycle Book 1) Page 23