by B. A. Scott
“You always wanted to go,” said Kaven.
“What?” asked Gabrel.
“She told us that,” Kaven said.
“You remember that?” Kade asked.
“I remember a lot of things you said,” Kaven dared to open old wounds.
“Kaven,” Gabrel said.
“Well yes, I do wish to drink from their Fountain,” Kade avoided delving into the past.
“It sounds to me,” said Gabrel, “like one of us—either Kaven or I—will be without our teacher once we all go our separate ways. Our lessons in Avenalora helped a lot, but we need to learn as much as we can before we get to Benevar.”
“Well then, we mustn’t waste any time,” said Kade.
High upon a ledge that jutted out from the canyon’s cliff side, a Fated One peered over a large, jagged rock, and observed Gabrel, Kaven, Kade and Ayden from a distance.
“Seddus!” the Fated said in the Erygian tongue to another behind it. “Look there!”
“What is it, Forn?” the other asked as it joined its winged companion at the rock.
“Travelers in the pass!” Forn pointed to the group.
“Only four?” asked Seddus. “Why do they travel without protection?”
“Perhaps they can protect themselves,” Forn offered an explanation. “Perhaps there is a wielder among them. Or maybe the rest of their company met a bitter end at the hands of our brethren, and they are all that survived.”
“They risk much traveling through the pass,” said Seddus. “They must be part of some crucial errand or purpose.”
“Should we dispose of them?” asked Forn.
“Better if we captured them, and forced some information from their tongues. But if they boast weapons, we may not be able to seize them on our own.”
“So what do we do?”
“Fly to the regiment, Forn,” said Seddus. “Tell them of these travelers. Return with reinforcements. I will track them and mark my passage.”
Just then, a bolt of lightning raced from the overcast sky, and struck Seddus where he stood. Rock, dirt and even the Fated Forn blasted against the cliff side as Seddus’s corpse sizzled under the continuous stream of Fury. When the bolt vanished, both of the Fated’s bodies toppled over the ledge, and fell to the canyon floor.
Kade’s glowing eyes moved quickly from the bodies to the high canyon walls. She was prepared to cast another bolt of Fury at any creature that dared to show itself. But no more could be seen upon the cliff side, and all was silent, save for the last echoings of her thunderous blast.
“How did you know those things were up there?!” Gabrel exclaimed.
“I caught sight of a wing,” said Kade.
“We have to keep moving,” Ayden urgently pressed the others, who could not look away from the Fated carcasses. “Now, please!?”
“Stick close to the canyon walls,” Kade told the group. “We should never have left ourselves so exposed.”
“We should never have taken this road in the first place,” Kaven spoke with resentment in his tone.
“It’s the fastest way to Estimus, Kaven,” Kade snapped back. “We had to.”
The group hastened to one side of the canyon, and quickened their step, anxious to pass through the Fadenward Mountains as swiftly as possible.
Chapter 5: Journey to the Port
“Are we ready, then?” Dareic asked Treäbu, just outside the gates to the Temple Fortress. Twenty Skael’adar escorts stood ready to travel to the port of Skaelwood.
“Yes,” answered Treäbu. “We’re just waiting on Ralian now.”
“There he is,” said Vega, nodding to the gates. The Skaelar Sage approached Dareic with an unsettling expression.
“The warriors and I will escort you to the port, but no further,” said Ralian. “You will sail to Kallenshar without us.”
“Is everything alright?” Vega asked, considering the look on Ralian’s face. “You look troubled, Ralian.”
“The Skael’akron and I have come to a decision,” said the Sage. “A decision you might not like.” His eyes met Dareic’s.
“And what’s that?” asked Dareic. He looked over the Sage’s shoulder, and saw two Skaelar escorting Vexen through the gates. “What’s that thing doing here?” he asked.
“She’s going with you, Dareic,” said the Sage.
“You’re funny,” Dareic said. Then, his eyes widened with disbelief when he realized the Sage wasn’t joking. “Are you—you’re serious?” he asked. “Have you lost your bloody mind? There’s no way I’m gonna let that demon come with us. What the hell are you thinking?!”
“I’m thinking about what she can do for us, Dareic,” said the Sage. “Were we to keep her in Skaelwood, sure, we could press her for information. But there are those here—much like yourself—that would rather torture her senseless than treat her with compassion.”
“Fine by me,” Dareic stated.
“But what if,” Ralian continued, dismissing the remark, “by some stroke of chance, she speaks truly? What if Lord Daro fathered a daughter who does not share his wickedness? If Vexen indeed bears no ill will toward us, she might become sympathetic to our cause whilst traveling with you. We need to earn her trust, ambassador. In order to do that, we must first demonstrate our trust in her.”
“I have no ‘trust in her,’” said Dareic. “And you trust too easily, Ralian. Is there not a shred of doubt in you that that thing over there just might, in fact, be evil?”
Ralian paused. “There is,” he admitted. “But imprisonment and torture is not the answer—not for this one, anyway. My hopes are that you’ll discover her true nature by less barbaric means on the open sea.”
“Where she could very well sabotage our mission,” Dareic said. “Add the fact that she can wield magic, and that makes her all the more dangerous! I know I’ve done some pretty daft things in the past, but this,” he shook his head, “this is just lunacy. Taking her out of prison was bad enough. Do you have any idea of the danger you’d be putting us in? I mean, Treäbu, is it just me, or does this sound absolutely mental?!”
“I’m not one to challenge the decisions of the Skael’akron,” Treäbu made his point quickly. “But, in truth, I’d rather not travel with her. The fact remains that she is Daro’s daughter.”
“You see?” Dareic told the Sage. “It’s not just me.”
“Both of you must remember, a daughter cannot choose her father,” Ralian spoke.
“No,” said Dareic, “but his blood runs through her veins. I cannot believe she’s different. She is one of them.”
“If you refuse to open your eyes to the possibility, then that’s your failing, Dareic,” said the Sage.
“Is that right?” Dareic asked, nodding heatedly. “In that case, I refuse.”
“What?” asked Ralian.
“I refuse your company. I’m the one going to Kallenshar, not you. I don’t have to pander to this insanity. This is my mission, and I’ll carry it out as I see fit.”
“Don’t be a fool, Dareic!” Ralian scolded him. “Traveling alone will only get you killed.”
“Traveling with Vexen Alakai will get me killed!” Dareic retorted, pointing to Vexen. “And probably faster. I’ll take my chances on my own.”
“Dareic,” Treäbu said, “don’t do this.”
“Why not? It feels a lot more reasonable than latching one of Daro’s demons to my arm.”
“What has happened to you?” Ralian asked, looking at Dareic as though he had never seen him before.
“What are you talking about?” asked Dareic.
“You used to be so different. Now, all I see in you is bitterness and hate. What happened?”
“Caleton happened,” Dareic said coldly.
“Do not let grief harden your heart,” Ralian began.
“I don’t expect you to understand,” Dareic cut him off. “But just think, what if it had been Skaelwood? What if it was your city? Your people? Your father?”
“I know
you’ve suffered,” Vega said in a comforting tone. “And you have every reason to suspect Daro’s daughter of the same treachery wrought by her demon brethren. But the Skael’akron are wise, ambassador. They would not have come to this decision lightly. Please reconsider. Don’t do this alone.”
“Just think, Dareic,” said Ralian. “Imagine what the Incinian King will think when you go before him, and there, by your side, is a Skaelar, an Aerolus and Daro’s daughter.”
Dareic eyed the Sage. After a long pause, he spoke.
“I’m telling you this now,” he said. “If that thing gives me one reason—just one reason to think it’s spying or plotting against us—I’ll kill it.”
Ralian made a single slow nod of his head, understanding Dareic’s terms for Vexen’s passage. At that moment, Vexen, flanked by two Skaelar, and hooded in a deep green cloak, approached the Sage.
“Hello,” Vexen said.
“Hello,” the Sage responded. “Are you ready to travel?”
“Yes. But are you certain you want me to go with you? I see no reason—”
“I’m quite certain,” Ralian spoke confidently. “I believe your company is essential to the ambassador’s success.”
Vexen looked to Dareic, who stood silently, refusing to look her in the eye. Even Treäbu and Vega appeared greatly uncomfortable with her presence.
“It seems not everyone thinks the same,” said Vexen.
“You’ve got your father’s dark history working against you, my dear,” said the Sage. “That’s no secret.”
“I know,” Vexen spoke softly.
“Come now,” said Ralian. “We must be off.”
With that, Dareic, Treäbu, Vega, Ralian, Vexen and their Skael’adar escort departed Skaelwood, and began their journey to the port. The day was gray and cool, and a light drizzle moistened the travelers’ skin.
As he ran, Dareic continually glanced at Vexen, observing her with a wary eye. He half expected her to break formation, and dart into the trees at any moment. But any attempt at escape, ultimately, seemed out of place to him. She’d already nestled herself into Ralian’s good graces—right where she wanted to be. Now, she’d travel to the Incinians with a Caladen ambassador, and overhear all of his dealings with the Incinian King. When she’d gathered all the crippling information she’d come for, she’d return to her father a heroine—a courageous spy who infiltrated the enemy and learned their most crucial plans.
Dareic spat at the thought of it.
After two hours of running, rain fell upon the travelers, through the towering trees overhead.
Dareic glanced suspiciously over to Vexen yet again. But before he could think on mistrusting her any further, a storm of thick, black arrows rained down from the high branches.
Six of the Skaelar around Dareic fell to the forest floor with grunts of death as the arrows struck them down like daggers from the sky.
“Find cover!” yelled the Sage. Immediately, he and the remaining Skael’adar scattered from the road, into the trees. Treäbu pulled Dareic under the protection of a large, fallen trunk.
Just then, several Primen and Fated Ones leapt down to the forest floor, drawing spears and blades of dark metal. Vexen, standing behind a tree with the Sage, quickly lowered her head, and pulled her hood forward, hiding her face from the demons.
“There are only a few,” Dareic said, reaching for his bow. “We can take them.”
“No,” said Treäbu. “Their archers are still in the trees. They’re trying to draw us out.”
“Well, what are we supposed to do then?” Dareic asked. Treäbu reached up, and placed his fingertips on the trunk’s bark. In a matter of moments, his skin adopted the tree’s color and texture.
“Stay here, and don’t make a sound,” said the Skaelar as he crept slowly out from under the tree.
“Stay here?” Dareic asked defiantly. “Horse shite, I’m coming with—”
“Just stay down and shut up!” Treäbu whispered the order. Dareic recoiled reluctantly as Treäbu leapt silently to the trunk of the nearest tree, and clung to it by his claws. When Dareic looked to Treäbu again, he could barely distinguish his Skaelar friend from the tree’s bark.
Treäbu and the other Skael’adar quietly ascended the towering trees in their camouflaged states. Dareic watched as the Primen and Fated on the forest floor scoured their surroundings. One spear-wielding Primen drew nearer to him, stepping in cautious circles.
If that thing gets any closer, Dareic thought to himself, never mind keeping still. I’m gonna shoot it in the heart. He smoothly drew an arrow from his quiver, and nocked it.
For a moment, all was still. The skies grew darker, the rain fell heavier, and a distant booming of thunder echoed across the land.
“I must leave you now, my dear,” Ralian whispered to Vexen. “Stay here, and stay low.” Then, the Sage took a deep breath, and sprang from behind the tree. He raced to the road, cutting down Primen and Fated, whilst casting shields to block himself from another downpour of arrows from above.
When all the demons on the forest floor engaged him, Ralian summoned Verdure, and slammed his fist to the ground. At once, what looked to Dareic like a crown of thirty wooden spears erupted violently from the rain-dampened earth around the Sage, instantly skewering the unsuspecting creatures. Ralian then conjured a growth of vines beneath his feet that swelled and twisted into a mighty stalk. With a swift upward motion of his arm, the pillar of vines rose into the air, taking him high above the forest floor.
“Good glory!” Dareic exclaimed as he watched the Sage rise atop the giant stalk. Ralian ascended, still blocking arrows that sought to claim his life, until finally, he stood level with the demon archers.
At the same time, Treäbu stepped out upon a high, thick branch, and crept up behind a Fated One, who was aiming an arrow straight at Ralian’s head. As Treäbu’s scent entered its nose, the Fated sniffed the air suspiciously. But before it could turn and confront the Skaelar, Treäbu’s blade cut the demon’s throat.
All throughout the trees, the other Skael’adar swiftly engaged their hidden attackers. Meanwhile, upon the giant stalk, Ralian wielded Verdure, piercing Fated and Primen with sharp branches, and summoning vines to strangle their necks.
Dareic watched as the demons fell like rain from the treetops. Suddenly, the body of a slain Primen fell upon the trunk above him with a thunderous impact. Its wounded head hung just inches from Dareic’s eyes, barely connected to its body by a thin, sinewy strand of black skin.
“Whoa!” Dareic yelled, tumbling backward at the sight of the frightening beast.
Several yards away, Vexen leapt aside to dodge a falling Primen herself. She landed on the ground half a second before the demon crashed to the forest floor beside her with a crunch of metal and bone. Vexen started to push herself up, but stopped when something caught her eye in the foliage before her.
Through the shrubs and branches, she managed to spot a Fated One, not attacking, but observing the ambush from a safe distance. The moment the Fated’s eyes fell upon her, Vexen realized that her hood had fallen back, leaving her face exposed.
Their gazes locked. Vexen’s eyes filled with sheer terror. The Fated seemed, at first, confused. But then, when it recognized her, the demon bore possibly the most hideous expression Vexen had ever seen. It roared at her, then turned on the spot, and darted into the dark of the forest.
“No!” Vexen yelled, leaping to her feet.
Dareic surveyed the mayhem around him with alert eyes, ready to unleash his nocked arrow upon any fallen demon that dared to still draw breath. But his attention quickly turned to Vexen, when he saw her dashing into the forest.
“Hey! Get back here!” Dareic yelled, scrambling out from under the trunk. He pursued Vexen through the pouring rain, sprinting and cursing. When he caught sight of her, Dareic quickly went to one knee, aimed his arrow and fired.
Vexen felt the arrow whiz past her cheek, and saw it strike a tree just in front of her. She race
d on, thinking only of catching the Fated before her, who flapped its wings as it ran, and left the forest floor. The forest was so thick, however, that the Fated had great difficulty ascending amidst the bountiful branches, thick, draping vines, and intertwining limbs.
It’s too fast. I’ll never catch it, Vexen thought to herself. If only I had a weapon! But she did have a weapon, she realized.
As Vexen ran, she recalled what it felt like to experience the spirisortium. The memories flashed through her mind—memories of every thought, sensation and detail. Then, to her astonishment, magic filled her, almost effortlessly, and her eyes glowed like white-hot orbs.
Suddenly, several vines sprang from the forest floor, and wrapped themselves around her ankles. Vexen lost concentration, released her magic, and crashed to the ground, screaming as the Fated One broke through the canopy above, making its escape.
Dareic pounced on Vexen, his eyes aglow. He straddled her, and used Verdure to summon vines that bound her wrists to the ground. Then, he drew an arrow, and aimed it at Vexen’s face, its tip just grazing her forehead.
“No!” Vexen yelled. “Stop! Please! It’s getting away!”
“Shut it!” Dareic roared. “You thought you could escape, eh? You thought you could run when no one was looking? I knew the Sage was wrong about you.”
“No, it’s not what it looks like!” Vexen protested. “Please! I wasn’t trying to—”
“Shut your mouth!” Dareic yelled.
Ralian, Treäbu, Vega, and several Skael’adar appeared, all with blackened blood splattered across their bodies.
“Dammit, Dareic, I told you to stay put!” Treäbu scolded him. “You could’ve gotten—” he froze upon seeing Vexen pinned to the ground.
“What are you doing, ambassador?” Ralian asked fearfully, appreciating the intensity of the situation. “Get off of her at once!”
“No, Ralian,” said Dareic. “Guess who was trying to make her escape? This ends now. I’ll not take any more chances with the safety of my mission.”
“Are you implying that she had something to do with the attack?” asked Ralian.
“That wasn’t just an attack,” said Dareic. “It was a diversion. The second we were distracted, Vexen, here, bolted into the trees.”