by Brandon Mull
“We have to try,” Rachel agreed firmly.
“Maybe you’re smart,” Ferrin mused.
“Why?” Jason asked.
“Well, if you had submitted too easily, Maldor might have lost respect for you.”
“That was a close one,” Rachel said. “We really crave his respect.”
“You think you’re joking. His respect may keep you alive. It’s your only hope.”
Jason sighed. “We’re running out of daylight.”
“You won’t get far,” Ferrin predicted sadly. “Maldor’s servants will fall upon you within a day. You’ll resist, but it will be a fruitless exercise. Be smart enough to accept the inevitable. Nobody can blame you for that. Otherwise, no matter what you do, you’ll shortly be killed or captured.”
“None of your business anymore,” Rachel said.
“I’ll always take an interest,” Ferrin asserted. “Where are you going?”
“Like we would tell you!” Jason huffed.
“Do you know where you’re going?”
Jason shrugged.
“Let me warn you. To the northwest the mountains become impassable. North and east of here lie the Sunken Lands. You need serious provisions if you’re headed that way. It’s swampland. There’s little drinkable water. South lies Trensicourt. Stay away from there. You’ll find scattered towns to the west. The westward wilderness holds certain perils, but a person could lose pursuers there, and you will find plenty of bubblefruit if you keep both eyes open.”
Ferrin opened a pouch, removing two silver pellets and two gold ones.
“I don’t want your money,” Jason said.
“Why not? I’m just returning a gift I didn’t deserve. This may be my last chance to help you. I am headed far away.”
Jason took the pellets.
“Take this crossbow too.” Ferrin held it out to Rachel.
She shouldered the weapon.
“Sure you don’t want to accept the invitation to the Eternal Feast?” Ferrin asked Jason. “I can probably exert some influence, get Rachel invited as well.”
“I don’t think so,” Jason said.
“I recommend it,” Ferrin urged. “I’ve been there. Harthenham isn’t a ruse. The reward is real. This isn’t your fight. Maldor might lose some respect for you if you quit, but at Harthenham that won’t matter.”
“We should get going,” Rachel said.
Ferrin held her gaze before responding. “Look, final offer: Jason, accept the invitation to the feast. I’ll take you there now, and I’ll guarantee Rachel gets invited too. They’ll call off the hunt. You won’t have to face Maldor, or anyone. Meanwhile I’ll try to find how you two can get back to the Beyond. I have reason to believe Maldor knows a way. He would never tell me, but I have a knack for digging up information. When I figure it out, I’ll come get you and send you home.”
Jason hesitated. He glanced at Rachel, who appeared thoughtful as well. The offer was tempting. A big part of what he had originally wanted was a way home. What if he could lounge in paradise until a way home was provided?
“You don’t want manglers and conscriptors to drag you off to prison,” Ferrin said. “That is going to happen before long if you walk away. I’m throwing you a lifeline. The scattered resisters who oppose Maldor won’t be able to help you get home. Be smart. This is a better offer than I would make for anyone.”
“I don’t trust you,” Rachel said.
“I’ll follow through,” Ferrin pledged, placing a hand over his heart. “I lied to earn your trust, but have I ever let you down? I’ve stood by you. Rachel, I know you want to see your parents. Don’t skip your only chance to get home.”
Rachel snapped. “Of course I want to see my parents!” Tears sprang to her eyes. “You can’t imagine how close we are! You have no clue. But Jason is right. If we might be able to save this world, how can we walk away? Too many people around here have given up! Galloran said heroes sacrifice for causes; they do the things that others hide from. I may not be some great hero, but I won’t hide from this. I could never live with myself.”
“Me neither,” Jason said, glad she was holding firm.
Ferrin shook his head. He picked up a rock and skipped it across Whitelake. He looked torn. When he spoke, he sounded sincere. “I might be able to understand this choice if you had any chance of succeeding. But you don’t. I am telling you the truth. You will be dead or captured by tomorrow. The invitation to Harthenham will be revoked. It only remains valid if you come in voluntarily.”
“No deal,” Jason maintained.
Ferrin nodded. “Suit yourselves. I will convey a favorable report to Maldor. I’m striking off to the south. I won’t be communicating with your pursuers. You should probably go into town for provisions, but be quick. Do not sleep there. Safe journey.”
“You’re a jerk,” Jason said.
“Don’t,” Rachel murmured. “Things are bad enough.”
“He’s right,” Ferrin said. “I deserve to lose your respect and your trust. I’m not happy with how this is ending. I’ll always consider you my friends. Enough words; you need to move out. I won’t be following. Forget about me. Hurry. I’d love it if you surprised me and got away.” He turned and started walking.
Jason and Rachel watched the displacer make his way toward the south side of the lake for a moment; then they turned and headed east, toward the town. Scrambling down the eastern slope, they moved fast enough to make Jason nervous about falling.
“What did you learn on the island?” Jason asked as they descended.
“The fifth syllable,” she replied. She told him the syllable and what she had learned from Malar about the location of the other two.
“The Sunken Lands,” Jason repeated. “According to Ferrin we’ll need lots of fresh water.”
“Thanks for being brave back there,” Rachel said.
“You were pretty brave yourself. Sounds like you have great parents. It must be hard to walk away from a chance to see them.”
She shrugged and looked away, her lower lip quivering. “Yeah. I miss them. And I’m sure they’re worried about me. We do everything together. You have a close family too, right?”
“Sort of,” Jason said. “My parents are good people. I’m sure they’re worried about me. I have an older sister and brother. We all love each other, but they’ve always been closer with each other than with me. I’ve never totally fit in. The house got really quiet after my siblings left, unless I was butting heads with my folks. Honestly, I sometimes wonder if my parents meant to have me. My brother and sister both have these fat baby books full of photos and stuff. Mine is empty.”
“I’m sure that doesn’t mean anything,” Rachel said. “Parents would be more into documenting their first kids.”
Jason shrugged. “My dad is really into my brother, seeing him get into dental school. Mom has always been obsessed with my sister. The two of them love shopping together. My sister is the oldest. She married an endodontist. I’m the youngest by like ten years. When my siblings were home, at dinner I mainly listened. I think my parents try to be interested in me, but it always feels like they’re straining. Dad doesn’t even try with certain things, like baseball.”
“I’ve always kind of wished I had siblings,” Rachel said.
“Me too,” Jason replied. “It isn’t their fault. The age gap is too big. And our interests are really different. My brother is into school and debate. No sports. My sister is practically my aunt. I’m thankful for my parents. They take care of me. But we don’t really know each other, not like you’ve described with your parents. I sort of do what I want. Even when they try to ground me, I just argue until I wear them out.”
Rachel chuckled. “When my parents punish me, it sticks. But I don’t get in trouble much.”
“I’m going to get you home,” Jason said seriously. “I promise. We’ll escape whoever is chasing us, and we’ll somehow finish this quest, and we’ll go home, no matter what Ferrin thinks.”
/> Rachel offered a small nod.
Jason could see the town of Whitelake in the distance, situated beyond the southeast base of the conical mount. The town would be dangerous. Despite his professions to the contrary, Ferrin might have guessed they would end up there, and he could have gotten word out. Enemies might be waiting. But in town they could buy horses, which might make all the difference as they tried to flee. He checked his knife.
“Keep that crossbow ready,” Jason advised Rachel.
“I’ll keep it under my cloak,” she replied. “It’ll be ready.”
Whitelake was a dusty outpost full of burly men in rugged clothing. Many wore animal skins. Most had facial hair. The largest buildings were arranged along a central road, and scattered cabins, shacks, and lean-tos stood in haphazard clusters off the main street.
Jason avoided eye contact with other men, and they generally did the same. He found a store. An old man sat out front on a sawed-off log segment, whittling. Curled shavings lay scattered at his feet. Jason and Rachel entered the store. In one corner hung several water containers. He bought a pair of large, hairy water skins. They would be burdensome when full, so he decided he would wait to fill them until he had a horse.
He hung back to see what other men bought. Rachel waited at his side, keeping her head down. Many purchased a heavy flatbread they called gutplug. Dried meat was also purchased in considerable quantities. Jason purchased a good deal of the dense bread and some meat.
A crowd was forming in a corner, with a pair of brawny men at the center.
Jason hurried Rachel out of the store and walked up the street before they could get caught up in whatever trouble was brewing. Now they needed a pair of quality horses.
“Excuse me,” said a voice from behind.
Jason turned. Before him stood a short man who once had only one arm.
Jason reached into his cloak and gripped the hilt of his poniard.
Tad held up a hand. “You are in no danger from me here. I’ve come to bargain with you.”
Jason kept hold of the knife and placed his thumb over the hidden trigger.
“Save your breath,” Jason said, taking a slow step away from the man. “We’re not coming with you.”
“I don’t expect you to,” Tad replied. “Apprehending you in town would cause a scene. We would rather handle this discreetly. I’m here to save everyone time. You are welcome to take my horse, if you wish to flee. We would prefer to apprehend you away from town. Naturally, if you want to save yourselves the trouble, you can accompany me now.”
“Where’s your horse?” Jason asked. “Does it have a wooden leg or something?”
“It’s a good mount,” Tad assured him. “It will carry both of you. Take it and go, if you please. Whatever you choose, you won’t escape.”
“What if I we take you hostage?” Jason asked.
“Getting ruthless? That man over there is the law in this town.”
Jason glanced to his left and saw a big man leaning against a pole, examining his fingernails. He wore a heavy sword.
“I told him to keep an eye on me,” Tad explained. “If you want to attack me unprovoked, have at it. But I’m really not worth the trouble. I’m the least of your problems now.”
Jason glanced around, scanning the parade of faces moving up and down the street.
Tad chuckled. “The others aren’t here with us. But they’re watching. To lose them now, you would need wings.”
“Does your horse have wings?” Rachel asked.
“Sorry.”
“Let’s see it,” Jason said.
Tad shrugged. “Be my guest. It’s the brown one tethered over there.”
Jason peered at the horse. It stood beside a few others, and looked healthy. Jason narrowed his gaze at Tad. The short man stared back evenly, one eye brown, the other blue.
“So we can just leave?”
“Sure. You won’t get far, but I was instructed to offer the option.”
“What do you think?” Jason asked Rachel.
“I think we need two horses,” she replied.
“They only gave me the one,” Tad apologized. “You have money?”
“Plenty,” Jason said.
Tad turned to the big lawman. “Know any horses for sale in town?” he called. “Good ones.”
“I have an exceptional horse,” the man replied. “Not for sale, though.”
“Everything has a price,” Tad replied.
“Okay, stranger,” the lawman said, walking toward them. “What if I said two hundred drooma?”
Tad looked at Jason. “Can you cover that?”
Jason nodded. “What’s he look like?”
“He is a she,” the lawman said. “Intelligent and reliable. She’s the black one near your friend’s mount.”
“Look okay?” Jason asked Rachel.
“Looks fine to me,” she replied. “We need to hurry.”
Jason fished out two gold pellets. “Can we take her now?”
“For two hundred?” the lawman snickered. “Be my guest.”
“See you later,” Jason said to Tad, turning and walking toward the horse.
“Count on it,” Tad called after him.
Jason was relieved he had learned something about horsemanship. He managed to mount the brown horse and guide it down the street without much awkwardness. Rachel handled her mare like a pro. They rode out of town to the south, then curled around to head east. He scanned the surrounding prairie, searching for prying eyes marking his progress. His gaze repeatedly returned to the top of the conical mountain—anyone watching from that towering vantage point would have easily noted their little change of direction.
Rachel cantered beside him. “Think we have a chance?” she asked.
“I don’t think they would give us horses if they thought we could escape,” Jason replied. “I’m just not sure what else to do. Maybe they’re counting on us making bad moves, or being lousy horsemen. Maybe we can surprise them. If we can make it to the forest, we’ll be harder to spot. Keep that orantium ready.”
The country around the town was covered in wild grass, and they made smooth progress for some time. Beyond the expansive sward, to the east and north, ranks of forested hills awaited.
Jason weighed their options. Perhaps they could dismount and let their horses loose. If they did it carefully, their pursuers might follow the hoofprints. He and Rachel could hide until after sunset, then sneak into the forest on foot. Of course, if their enemies were watching, or if they caught on to the ruse, the chase could end quickly. It was probably best to take their chances on horseback.
The sun was sinking. Jason kept a sharp lookout, but he viewed nothing across the surrounding terrain to arouse his suspicions, although the occasional scurry of a rabbit or squirrel made him start.
At a wide, shallow creek Jason and Rachel paused to let their horses drink and filled their furry new skins. They remounted and walked the horses across water-polished pebbles to the far side and up the shallow embankment.
Not far ahead arose the outliers of the forested hills. Sparse oak trees stood here and there about the sward, casting monstrous shadows as the sun plunged. Off to the left towered the bulk of an oklinder bush. Jason toyed briefly with the idea of concealing themselves in the huge mass of foliage, risking thorns and wasps rather than facing their pursuers. Of course, their enemies would probably track them there, then surround them and light the oklinder on fire.
At that moment from out of the massive bush sprang a gray horse bearing an armored rider. The bush was less than a mile away to the north, and the horse was dashing toward Jason at a terrific pace, churning up clods of earth from the ground.
“Jason!” Rachel cried.
“I see him.” He kicked his horse, veering southward, and saw another, more distant horseman closing from that direction. In the west, the way they had just come, a third rider had materialized, made into a silhouette by the setting sun.
Where had they come from?
He had been alert! Only the east appeared free of riders, so he urged his horse in that direction, yelling, “Yah!” like he imagined a cowboy would. He snapped the reins and nudged the steed’s flanks with his heels.
Jason and Rachel sped eastward, their horses galloping wildly. Jason leaned forward, close to the brown neck, and rocked his hips in time with the horse’s pounding gait.
As they raced along, the sun dipped below the western horizon, and shadows became muted in the softer light. Flecks of lather began to appear on the coat of Jason’s horse.
Their pursuers herded them eastward. The riders had all drawn to within a hundred yards: one directly to their left, another to their right, and the third behind. When Jason tried to alter his course, they would draw in close, weapons flashing, forcing him to continue eastward or face confrontation.
Ahead gaped the mouth of a steep-walled ravine. He could feel his horse flagging. The other horses were bigger and more muscular than his mount, powerful animals that did not seem to tire. The men to either side wore similar armor. One clutched a battle-ax; the other held a spear.
Jason and Rachel rode into the mouth of the ravine. It was clearly a trap, but the walls were too steep for their horses to possibly climb. The horsemen at either side fell back to join the third trailing rider. Jason spurred his mount onward, noticing how the foam was thickening on the overtaxed steed.
Rounding a bend in the ravine, Jason learned where the horsemen were driving them. A fourth horseman stood in the middle of the ravine, flanked by three bizarre creatures. The horseman held a drawn bow in his hands.
“Rein in and dismount,” the soldier commanded. He wore dark armor like the others.
Jason pulled on the reins, and his horse stopped, sides heaving. Rachel drew up beside him. They shared a worried glance. Jason heard the other horsemen trotting up behind them.
The horseman had his bow aimed at Jason. “I am Stanus, an imperial servant, and I demand your immediate and unconditional surrender.”
Jason gazed at the creatures flanking Stanus. They stood upright like tall men, covered in rounded shell-like armor that curved up over their heads. Shiny black compound eyes stared out from the barbed masks protecting their faces. Hooks and spikes protruded from their armored bodies in all directions. Each creature had four arms bristling with cruel blades of varying length and shape. Various grinders and graters covered their torsos. Jason could tell the manglers were aptly named.