Song of the Sword

by K.L. Bauman

Ayden grabbed his sword and took a step forward. "Pax!" He yelled his friend's name, but his voice was somehow silenced. Ayden attempted to look at Pax, but the light was too intense, and he had to turn away. Da'ewyn was shielding her eyes while attempting to move forward. She wasn't making any progress. After what seemed like an eternity, a loud bang sounded as a forceful rush of air blasted everyone to the ground.

  Ayden jumped up as fast as he could, catching his breath after the sudden gust of wind. He turned back to where Pax had been standing. In the center of a circle of flattened grass lay the boy's body. In the cup of his limp palm rested the smooth, oval stone.

  Ayden ran to him and dove on his knees next to his friend's body. Placing his fingers on Pax's neck, he checked for a pulse.

  "Is he dead?" Da'ewyn asked as she knelt on the opposite side of Pax's body.

  Sighing with relief, he answered, "No, just unconscious." He looked around, suddenly uncomfortable. "If we take the valley, we aren't that far from Lostar. We need to get Pax to the inn."

  "Are you insane? We traveled through the forest to keep from being trailed. We can't just waltz out into the open; especially after what just happened. Someone is sure to have seen that!" Da'ewyn exclaimed.

  "I know, but-" Ayden stopped short as Pax moaned and rolled to his side. The back of his shirt was torn completely off, and something was etched on his skin.

  Da'ewyn shoved Pax on to his face to get a better look. "Hey! Be careful!" Ayden scolded. But he forgot his anger as curiosity took over.

  "It's a map," the princess stated. She looked at Ayden with suspicion. "Has this always been here?"

  "I have no idea. I don't make a habit of staring at another guy's bare back!" He knew he was being overly defensive, but this new development was unnerving. What did it mean?

  He looked sternly into Da'ewyn's eyes. "Like I said, we need to get him out of here."

  "Fine; but not through the valley. Pick him up and follow me."

  The princess stood abruptly and strode purposefully toward the trees. "Well, you coming?" she asked when Ayden didn't follow.

  Sighing, Ayden first took the stone that had fallen from Pax's hand and put it in his pocket. He'd study it later for clues. Maybe something about it could tell them what had just happened. He doubted Pax would be coherent enough any time soon to tell them anything. He slung his unconscious friend across his shoulder like a sack of feed and followed his guide into the forest.

  When they finally reached Lostar that night, Ayden was exhausted. Pax wasn't heavy-until a person had to carry his dead weight for hours on end. Da'ewyn was against the idea of staying at the inn and, after she and Ayden quarreled for a good half hour, she decided to stay just outside the village and keep her eyes open for danger. "Suit yourself. While we're enjoying hot baths and soft beds, you'll be rolling around on the rough dirt again," Ayden said temptingly. It seemed for a moment that she might give in and come with them, but at the last minute walked away in a huff.

  Pax finally woke up enough for Ayden to lead him into the village. The young sorcerer seemed even more exhausted than Ayden, and he didn't know what was going on or where he was.

  The plump woman at the inn was all too happy to accommodate Ayden and Pax. Ayden was still somewhat of a hero there from when he had helped remove Skeezicks from the village. The inn-keeper gave them separate suites--the best in the inn. Ayden thanked her, enjoying the extra attention. He could get used to this lifestyle. He ordered a ton of food to Pax's room. His friend attacked the dinner like he hadn't eaten his entire life, then promptly fell into a deep sleep.

  Well, won't be getting any answers from him tonight, Ayden thought. He went to his room and sat on the bed. Jynx had finally reappeared after not showing himself all day. The cat curled into Ayden's lap as he studied the stone.

  It didn't seem like anything special. Some faint writing was on it, but he couldn't make it out. Frustrated, he shoved it back in his pocket. He hoped Freya would be able to read it. Maybe Pax would remember what happened to him after a good night's sleep. Ayden decided to let it go for the moment, and took a long, hot bath.

  With clean bodies and bellies full of good food, Ayden and Jynx rested comfortably on the soft bed. He closed his eyes and listened contentedly to the cat licking his fur while rumbling purring filled the room. This had been, by far, the strangest mission he'd been on. It would've been easier if Da'ewyn hadn't shown up. Although, if it weren't for her, they probably wouldn't have found the stone as soon as they did. Ayden smiled to himself at the thought of her sleeping the bushes as he drifted into a contented sleep.

  The sound of gushing water played at Ayden's ears. It sounded freakishly like the river had entered his room. He must be dreaming, though, because the river was a quarter of a mile away. Heaviness pressed against his chest, and he thought Jynx had curled up and fallen asleep there. But, when he attempted to sit up or open his eyes, he found that he could do neither. His heart beat against the pressure as he was now certain water was lapping against his bare arms. The deafening roar of rushing water pounded in his ears. Someone must've bound and blindfolded him and thrown him to the river!

  Panicking, Ayden tried to wriggle or scream for help. He was sure someone was pressing against his chest with a heavy boot, waiting for him to drown. He felt no ropes around his arms and legs, but they were somehow paralyzed.

  The water grew deeper, crawling up his legs and over his chest. He took rapid breaths and tried once again to scream, but no sound left him. The icy fingers of the river gripped his face and covered his ears until all he could hear was the frantic drumming of his own heart. His chest compressed, and he felt the air pushing from his lungs. This was the end; it would all be over soon!

  Then, a muffled scream joined the drumming of his heart. At first, Ayden thought he had finally found his own voice. The weight lifted from his chest and he sat bolt upright, opening his eyes and gasping for breath.

  He was nowhere near the river. In fact, he was still in his room at the inn; Da'ewyn was fighting with something as she screamed with rage. Jynx was hunched in the corner, his hair standing on end and his eyes wide with fear as he hissed at Da'ewyn and her opponent.

  Ayden leapt out of bed and grabbed his sword. His mind was still foggy and his muscles felt stiff from the icy water--even though there had never really been any water. His eyes squinted in the darkness, attempting to get a good look at the creature that the Veela battled. It was half her size, but was just as quick and made no sound whatsoever. It seemed to have no particular shape, but sent a sharp chill through Ayden as it slithered from one spot to the next like an elusive shadow.

  "Ayden, quick, light a lamp! Light a lamp!" Da'ewyn screamed behind her shoulder as she thrust an arrow in the center of the shadowy creature. Her action had no effect on it whatsoever. Ayden stood frozen in shock.

  "Curse it, Ayden! Light a lamp NOW!" Da'ewyn screeched. Finally, Ayden came to his senses. It was at this point that he couldn't have cared less if electrical wiring and such would begin to pollute Shae Vale--flipping a switch would've been much easier than lighting a stupid oil lamp with his shaking hands. He somehow managed to get it going and turned just in time to see the shadow slithering away from the light.

  "What--was that?" he asked, trying to keep himself from shivering. He still felt chilled from the non-existent icy water and that creepy shadow-thing. "Was it a doon?"

  Da'ewyn turned, breathing hard from her physical activity. "No. A hag," she said.

  Ayden's stomach lurched as if he had just been dropped from a ten story building. There had been a time when Ayden would've laughed, thinking that Da'ewyn was simply describing a hideously ugly woman or even a witch. But Freya had taught him what a hag really was--an evil shadow dweller that sat on a person's chest while they slept, causing paralysis and using that person's worst fears to cause horrible nightmares and severe anxiety, even to the point of d
eath.

  "If I hadn't seen the signs and known it was here, it could've stayed with you long enough and?" Da'ewyn's sentence trailed off as she looked intently into Ayden's eyes. She didn't have to finish her sentence. Ayden knew if she hadn't shown up, he probably would've drowned in his fears.

  "How did you know it was here?" he asked after several minutes of silence.

  "The fog." Da'ewyn gazed eerily toward the darkened window.

  "Fog is common by a river at night. What made you think anything of it?" Ayden asked.

  Da'ewyn glared at him, "Stupid human!" she mumbled. Then she grabbed Ayden's arm and forced him to the window. Opening it, she leaned through and pointed into the darkness. A light gray fog, highlighted by a mostly concealed full moon, slithered over the ground, making the scene creepier than usual.

  "What am I supposed to be looking at?" Ayden asked, fighting off a shiver.

  Da'ewyn sighed impatiently and pointed toward the ground directly below them. Finally, Ayden noticed it. The fog there was different. Instead of floating lazily and aimlessly along, it seemed to have a more solid form and was definitely moving purposefully from one spot to the next.

  "It's still hunting," Da'ewyn whispered with her eyes wide and muscles tensed. The hairs on Ayden's arms and neck prickled as he watched the form move from one spot to the next until it suddenly dove noiselessly through the closed window of the room directly beneath them.

  It took a moment for what Ayden had just seen to sink in. Then, with panic gripping his chest, he looked at Da'ewyn and yelled, "PAX!"

  The pair raced out into the hallway and down the stairs as fast as their legs would allow. They reached Pax's door and attempted to open it, only to find it locked. Ayden pounded his fist against the wood, yelling to his friend to wake up. He became more frantic as Pax's horrified scream pierced through the door.

  "The window!" Da'ewyn shouted and they both shot down the hall and out the door.

  It seemed like they'd run ten miles in slow motion before they finally reached Pax's window. Without thinking, Ayden leapt; the impact of his body shattered the glass. He fell dramatically into Pax's dark room. Ignoring sharp bits of broken glass digging into his skin, Ayden ran to the table beside Pax's bed. In his haste to help his friend, he'd broken the lamp. If only he'd paid attention to Pax's words when he lit his palm to read!

  The dark shadowy blob sat silently on Pax's chest. Ayden took his sword and thrust it in the middle of the figure. The hag leapt up, but remained unharmed. Just as Ayden was wondering how he was going to defeat this thing without any light, the fog parted enough to reveal the light of the full moon. After the darkness, the pale moonlight seemed almost blinding and the shadowy form of the hag dissolved before their eyes.

  Ayden turned his attention to Pax who was beginning to wake. He was trembling against a cold sweat. "Wh-wh-wh?" He attempted to speak.

  "It's okay, Pax. Don't try to talk. You're safe now," Ayden said soothingly, even though he was still trembling himself. Da'ewyn grabbed an extra blanket out of the closet and gently wrapped it around Pax's shaking form. She smiled as she looked directly into his eyes and the color seemed to instantly seep back into his pale face. His shivering subsided as his cheeks flushed.

  Da'ewyn stood and turned to Ayden. "We can't stay here. Hags don't work without reward. Whoever sent it knows that we have something valuable. It'll be back if we try to stay any longer."

  Ayden's mind raced as he felt frantically in his pocket. He sighed with relief when his trembling fingers touched the smooth, rounded edges of the stone. He gazed at Pax, wondering about the map on his back. Had someone seen the bright light from the stone and followed them here? And if so, who? Did they know about this strange map?

  "Pax, do you remember anything from when the stone burst into light? Do you know anything about the map on your back?" Ayden asked.

  "W-What? What m-map?" He leapt up and attempted to run to the mirror, stepping on broken glass with his bare feet. Yowling in pain, he fell back onto the bed.

  "We don't have time for this right now. We need to go!" Da'ewyn growled. Neither Ayden nor Pax argued further.

  After attending Pax's cut feet, the three companions hastily gathered their stuff. The commotion from fighting with the hag had woken the innkeeper and several people cautiously peered through cracked doors. Ayden tried to explain briefly what had happened and held out what little gold he had left to pay for the broken window and messed up rooms. The plump woman's face was pale and her eyes wide as she asked warily, "So, is it gone then?"

  Ayden glanced over to Da'ewyn before answering, "Yes, it's gone."

  "So you've saved us again! The rooms are on the house; don't worry about the window, I'll take care of it." Ayden felt guilty as the innkeeper beamed at him. He hadn't saved anyone from anything and he wasn't entirely certain that the hag wouldn't return to the inn. He left a few bits of gold at the front desk when the keeper wasn't looking.

  As the group left Lostar, Da'ewyn said, "Maybe we shouldn't go back by the usual path."

  For once, Ayden agreed with her. Over the next few days, Da'ewyn alternated between walking with the boys and going into the trees and out of sight--she could sometimes get a better look at their surroundings if she wasn't so close. Ayden kept his senses alert, his muscles taught and ready for action.

  And, even though he was dying to know what Pax had experienced with the stone, no one spoke as they walked. They ate cold meals for fear of alerting anyone to their position by lighting a fire. Thankfully they made the rest of their journey without incident.

  The same couldn't be said for when they reached the gateway. A flurry of activity was happening near the waterfall; an army of fae folk had built a small home out of wood and vines. Volos paced back and forth in front of the natural house, stopping every so often to rub his head and sigh. Ayden was immediately nervous; Volos hadn't even noticed them approaching.

  "What's going on?" he asked his mentor, who nearly leapt out of his pants, startled at hearing Ayden's voice.

  Guilt washed over Volos' features and he struggled to get the words out. "It's Freya. She's badly injured. I don't even know if she'll survive."

  Chapter Sixteen

  Uncertainty