“I’m sorry,” Fret murmured to Snow as he, too, left her to be alone. It was after that when things began to get weird.
While sitting at the kitchen table, he saw Ynob walk by the window. Fret choked on his mead.
“What?” Jesset asked concerned. But by the time his coughing fit had subsided, Fret had chalked it up to being tired.
Hambone and Ra’na had turned in for the night. Sleep soon claimed Ginger and Jesset. Their eyes drooped as they sat with Fret at the table. No one spoke, which just encouraged sleep.
Ginger finally stood and bid them goodnight. Both men watched her leave, still charmed by her. As Fret turned back to his cup, Ynob occupied her chair.
“Ahh!” A quick yell, as Fret pushed back from the table. When his eyes looked again, Ginger’s chair was empty.
Jesset stood concerned. “Maybe you should get to bed too.” Fret nodded and made his way to his room. As he entered, Ynob sat on his bed bouncing. The boy quickly turned to run, but ended up smacking into Jesset.
“Ynob…” was all Fret could say as he pointed back to his room. Jesset grabbed the boy in an embrace.
“I know. Death is a hard thing. Get some sleep. It will be better in the morning.” The old man released him. Fret watched him disappear down the hall.
Slowly the boy approached his room and peeked inside. No wizard. A sigh escaped him. He caught movement in the hall. Ynob stood next to him. Fret ran into his room, slamming the door, and found his dark corner.
Now, he rocked back and forth. He was sure Ynob or something was still in the room with him.
“Resurrection….”
“You mean the prophecy?” Fret had come out of his shell shock slowly, but he wasn’t ready to turn around yet.
“That’s the only thing I can figure. Because I am resurrected…in a sense.”
Fret finally built up the courage to turn and look. The wizard stood behind him. On a closer glance though, it wasn’t actually a solid Ynob. He was transparent, almost see-through. A spirit, ghost.
He reached out to touch the wizard, but his hand simply passed through the robes.
“Hey! I believe that is considered rude in my current state.”
“Oh…um sorry.” Fret began to unfold himself from his tight ball. The fright and shock of the matter was wearing off now. He seemed to accept the fact that he was talking to a dead man.
Ynob sat on the bed, but the hand-stitched quilt spread neatly over the expanse didn’t wrinkle. The bed didn’t creak. The wizard stared at his hands.
Fret stood and joined him on the bed. “Can the others see you?”
“No, which is disappointing, because I am stuck with you.”
He didn’t know what to say. The wizard maintained his rude demeanor.
“I tried to get Snow’s attention first, but she didn’t react and soon fell into slumber on my corpse. Ra’na and Hambone were fast asleep, but after seeing that I was only able to startle you and not the old man or the satyr, my guess is that it is only you.”
“But why?” Fret said extending his hands outward in a gesture. The wizard’s eyes widened and one ghost hand reached out to grab Fret’s. It passed through, and Fret jerked away. “What…!”
“Why are you wearing that ring?” Anger coursed through the wizard’s voice as he tried to grab once more. Fret jumped off the bed.
“I had to put it on. You wanted me to save the books. And then I had to save you!” Fret cried out defensively.
“You did a fine job of that!” Ynob stood and gestured at himself. “Where are the books?”
“I don’t know! I woke up here after collapsing on you.” The frustration crept through him as the wizard’s tone became irate.
“First, I lose my ring, then my books, and then my life. Thank you, little boy!” Ynob threw his hands up in the air and walked away. Fret watched him try to storm off. The wizard tried to reach for the doorknob twice before realizing the hopelessness of it. He walked straight through the door.
“Wait…where are you going?” Forgetting others were sleeping, Fret ran and opened the door. The wizard was nowhere. The house was quiet. He thought about going to search for Ynob, but realized he didn’t think himself crazy for believing in ghosts.
He stood there for a good five minutes thinking. Was it all just an illusion? Maybe it was because he was too tired. In the end, that was what Fret concluded. He practically fell into bed and quickly drifted off to sleep.
“Wake up, little boy!”
Fret jolted out of sleep. Sunlight filled the room. Next to him stood the wizard.
The shock of seeing Ynob rocketed him to a sitting position. Something clicked, as he remembered the previous evening.
“Great to see you up. Did you sleep well? That’s good. Oh, by the way, Snow is gone!” He yelled the last words at him.
“Wha…who da…?” Even though his mind was awake, his body still was shaking off the slumber.
“That’s just great. My hero, the bumbling idiot!” Ynob crossed his arms and turned away.
It took a moment for Fret to reply. “You know, for a spirit or ghost…you are very loud!” Fret did his best to mimic the magic user’s tone. Ynob did not appreciate it.
His hand came to his forehead before speaking. “I just told you that Snow was gone, and your first thought is to insult me! I am so happy that out of everyone present, I get the moron to talk to.”
The boy wanted to grumble, complain, but the wizard’s words about Snow hit home. “Snow? Where did she go?”
Ynob was ready with a retort but changed his mind as he saw Fret’s was genuine concern. “My guess is she ran off to kill the elves that killed me.”
“Oh crap!” Fret got to his feet, but before he got to the door Ra’na burst in.
“Snow is gone!”
“I know.”
This made Ra’na pause. “What do you mean you know?”
This made Fret pause. What was he going to tell her? Should he say he was talking to Ynob who died last night? Something told him that wouldn’t be the greatest idea.
“Snow? I thought you said…Gantha.”
Ra’na looked at the boy with an interesting expression. “Get to the kitchen. We have to decide what to do,” and she was gone in a flash.
Ynob still stood next to Fret, his hands on his hips. “See, I told you.”
Fret ignored him, as he straightened his clothes.
The kitchen was already full and rowdy. Ginger was busy cooking up food—some kind of meat and eggs. Fret’s stomach rumbled. Jesset sat at the table, while Ra’na and Hambone argued.
“You can’t go off by yourself! Those rebels almost killed you in the first place. Plus the human army is still out there!”
“I know what I am doing. I can hold my own. I am an Opi’Chi.” Ra’na held her ground.
Fret made his way in, and sat down without acknowledgement. Ynob stood beside him, invisible to everyone else.
“Even though I don’t care for elves, if anyone can find Snow, Ra’na can,” Ynob said, making Fret look behind him.
Jesset caught the reaction. “You okay?”
Fret just nodded.
Ginger banged a pot. When she had everyone’s attention, she spoke. “No one is going anywhere without a decent morning meal. I know I just met you, but I’m not turning out anyone until they are properly fed. After that, you can decide who’s going to kill who.”
Chapter Fourteen
He felt like crap. The night in the tree had not been a restful one. His leg still stung from the bite, and his muscles ached. Taylon waited until the sun was past the horizon, just to be absolutely sure the wolves had gone. Every time he woke last night, there was a wolf below him, saliva dripping between its sharp fangs as it paced back and forth. But as dawn broke, the creatures retreated.
Taylon made his way down the path he had ran the previous night, and found his horse’s carcass. Insects were swarming what still clung to the bones. He found the saddle chewed up as well
. Close by was the cleaned skeleton of the wolf he had killed, his sword still driven through its head. Even in death, the beast was amazing. After a moment of staring at the skeleton, Taylon recovered his sword.
His life had changed so much in less than a day. Taylon rubbed his forehead trying to relieve the mental anguish. It was then that his stomach growled.
How was he to make it through the day without food as he traveled through this strange forest? And what good would he be to the girl or the wizard if he found them? His only strategy was to follow the path and hope it took him somewhere friendly.
But as Taylon walked, the forest became creepy and dark. The vegetation changed from a light forest green to a dark, ominous stale brown color. Soon the trail looked forbidding too, as rocks and tree roots crept into it. But the ex-captain trudged through. Fatigue started to set in, and each step became labored. His head drooped, fixed a few inches before his feet, instead of straight ahead.
He stopped for a moment, conserving energy for the next few steps, when he happened to look up. Through the dense foliage, a structure loomed. A house? Taylon’s pulse quickened with the hopeful prospect of water and food only a few feet away.
Need pushed him forward, but his soldier’s instinct warned him about possible threats. It was more like a soft nagging he ignored as he hobbled toward the door. On the porch, Taylon rested hands upon his knees. His throat cried out as his stomach echoed the rumble. He did not see the goblin skeleton off to the side of the porch, or other signs he should stay away.
Knock…Knock….
His hand fell limply while he waited, hoping that someone would be home. As he went to knock once more, the door opened. Taylon fell forward, exhausted. He caught himself partially and rolled to his back. He tried to focus his eyes, and only made out dark skin…a woman. He passed out.
***
She had woken to the morning sun warming her face. As her eyes opened, she reminded herself she was in a tree. Warren sat with his back to her.
“Morning.”
“You should go.”
“Where are we going?”
“You should go.” The debate started from there.
“You are coming with me. There is no question about that.” Kara spent the next half hour trying to convince the brownie to travel with her. It was hard to persuade a creature when he didn’t argue back. Warren’s method of arguing was silence.
Kara used the emotional pull, anger, bribery, kindness. None of it worked on Warren. She had only one more trick left, but was reluctant to use it.
“We need to get something to eat. The market may have something good.” But again, the brownie said nothing. Kara was getting a little frustrated.
“Okay, I’ll go, but I have no idea where I am or where I am going. So you will at least need to help me out.” She thought this would work, but Warren again seemed not to hear.
Enough of this! She reached out and took the brownie. Warren was surprised, but didn’t have much time to react as Kara’s dress engulfed him. Kara didn’t stop there. She quickly climbed down. Once on the ground, she picked a direction and ran.
Warren’s muffled cries barely reached Kara’s ears as he bounced around. She ran as much as her body would allow before she took a rest. Her reasoning was that she needed to get as far away from Warren’s once future home as possible.
As she came to a stop, Kara could make sense out of some of Warren’s ranting.
“…let me be! What do you think you are doing?”
“Wow…that’s the most…emotion…I have ever…gotten out of you.” She breathed heavily, having not run like that for quite awhile. As a matter of fact, she hadn’t run like that since…. Her thoughts flashed back to a burning house and her father crying out.
Warren righted himself and poked his head out of her pocket. “I demand that you take me back.”
“Shut up!” Kara yelled, as the memory broke. A rush of emotions flooded him. Warren watched her face as she fought to keep the tears away. He respectfully remained silent. Kara didn’t say anything for five minutes.
“So, which way?” she finally said, her tone still irritated.
“Back to….”
“That’s not happening. Which way?” It was Warren’s turn to be silent. Eventually, he pointed to the west. Kara followed his direction and started walking. Why hadn’t she thought about kidnapping sooner?
***
Fret and Jesset had been sent out to find Gantha. Ra’na finally agreed that Hambone could come with her on the search for Snow. Neither search party had a destination in mind when they set off. Ra’na started to track Snow, but her trail only led a few feet. Her best guess was the rabbit headed to the marketplace.
The other group began their search for Gantha from Snow’s house. Spirit Ynob was probably excited because that meant Fret could get the books. Fret could care less about the books. His main concern remained his sanity. Was the wizard really visible to him, or was it a figment of his imagination?
During the forest hike, Fret remained silent. Jesset tried to chat with him, but the boy’s answers were short and closed off. The old man caught Fret whispering under his breath a few times, and stopped to ask him what was up.
“I’m good.”
“Something’s up with you.” Jesset eyed Fret suspiciously. Fret did not make eye contact and kept moving forward.
They reached the side of the house. From the outside, the damage didn’t look that bad. From the smell, anyone could tell there had been a fire. Fret quickly circled the house, trying to find the front door. Fret could feel Jesset watching him walk away.
“Where are the books, boy?” Ynob asked when they had come around to the front.
“I don’t know…they should be right here,” he whispered, as he peered about frantically.
“Well, I don’t see any books.” Ynob walked through Fret as he scanned the area. It felt like a cold shower suddenly passed over him.
“Don’t do that!” Fret shivered in disgust.
“Great job, boy. Those were priceless books!”
Fret held his tongue, as he looked around the side where the window had become a doorway. Bones were scattered where the forest began. He stooped to glance at them before backing away.
“Not Gantha,” the wizard said from behind him. Fret turned around.
“How…do you know?” Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Jesset’s approach.
The wizard answered back. “The leg bones are too big. Plus, the tattered clothing left by that bush over there.” But Fret wasn’t listening. Jesset came forward, staring at Fret intently.
“So out with it. What’s going on?” Jesset demanded. Ynob turned.
“To him, I bet, you look like you have gone crazy talking to yourself.” The wizard let out a chuckle.
“Shut up.”
“Um, excuse me, Fret, but I will not be quiet.” Jesset’s tone held anger.
Fret looked embarrassed and didn’t stop to think. “No, no not you…um…” But the words were out and he had no idea what to say next.
Jesset’s ire faded as he looked around. “Who else is here?”
“Go on. Tell him. This will be great.” Ynob again spilled a laugh. Fret turned his head to yell an insult, but his instincts cautioned him. Jesset caught the movement.
Both Mordock and the boy looked at each other. Fret couldn’t hold Jesset’s gaze longer than a few moments. He looked anywhere but at the old man. His hand fidgeted as well.
“So?”
“We need to find the wizard’s books.” It was the first though that came to him.
“The books?”
“Um…yeah.” His mind raced for something clever to say, but nothing came.
Jesset took in the information. “And why?”
“Because he wants them, and maybe we can bring him back and get this stupid ring off my finger!” It all came out in a flood.
A bird chirped in the distance. It was Ynob who spoke first. “There is no bring
ing me back. At least not alive, in my body.” Fret slowly turned to look at the spirit.
“You can see him? Like a ghost?” Jesset said, which surprised Fret. The Mordock saw the expression and explained. “Remember I am a Mordock. It was rumored that some of our clan could see and talk to spirits. The tales told remind me of how you are acting.”
Fret really didn’t know what to say and for once, the wizard was silent too.
“I started seeing him last night…in the kitchen.”
“So that explains how you were acting. I thought it was strange.”
He nodded. “Ynob was going around the house trying to see if anyone would react to his presence. I did.”
Jesset looked around. “Is he here now?”
“Of course I am, you dolt,” the magician piped up. Fret did his best to ignore him.
“Um…yes. He is very annoying.”
“You would be too, if you were dead!”
The Mordock came forward, put his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “I’m sorry for your burden.”
“Ah. Insults from both sides. I can see that I was loved.” The wizard threw his hands up in the air.
Fret shook his head. “Try not to make him mad. I’m the only one that can hear him. Can we just look for the books? I threw them out last night so they shouldn’t have burned up.”
“Why does he want them now?” Jesset asked as he searched the ground.
“Because they are mine!” Ynob exclaimed standing right next to Jesset. Fret held his head in his hands.
But before Fret could reply, someone came running at them.
“Thank goodness you came back!” Gantha ran and ensnared Fret in a hug. The two almost fell to the ground. “Are the rest safe?”
Jesset came forward. “Um…yes. Where have you been?”
Gantha broke from the boy. His clothes were dirty and disheveled. His hair looked singed in places. “That doesn’t matter right now. The humans…they’re marching. Toward Aladedas.”
Everyone, including Ynob looked at the councilman, eyes wide in shock.
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