Nardus moved closer. The ropes secured a large cat around its throat.
“Theyn!”
The two men looked Nardus’s way. Blood spattered their faces. Nardus froze when he spotted a third man approaching Theyn from the side of the road. The man carried a sledgehammer over his shoulder.
What is he doing?
The man stopped in front of Theyn’s head and raised the sledgehammer above his head. Nardus’s heart thundered in his ears. He ran toward Theyn and the three men, but he knew he wouldn’t reach her in time to save her.
The man looked up at Nardus as the sledgehammer arced downward. Rage filled the man’s eyes, and he roared with fury.
“Stop!” screamed Nardus, lurching to a halt.
An arc of golden light shot down the road, expanding outward as it traveled. The event ceased just as quickly as it had begun, in just a fraction of a second. Nardus stood there in shock, the tingle of mezhik fresh on his skin. His mind couldn’t comprehend what had just happened.
So many things begged for his attention all at once. It left him breathless and his feet rooted to the road. The man with the sledgehammer stood hunched over, the head of his sledgehammer just inches from Theyn’s head. But the man didn’t flinch. In fact, nothing did. Trees stood stoic along the road, not a leaf twitching. A piece of parchment hung in the air to Nardus’s left, a fixture upon a wall.
Nardus stepped cautiously toward the suspended parchment and poked at it. It moved with his force but stayed wherever he put it. “My God…”
Nardus circled, his gaze searching for the source of such mezhik, but nothing and no one moved no matter where he looked. He didn’t understand what could’ve caused such an event and why it didn’t affect him, but he had little time to think about it.
He turned and stared at Theyn. She lay with her back to him. He took a step forward and stopped. His heart pounded in his chest so hard he could scarcely think. His hands trembled and his legs quaked, but he forced himself to take another step.
“Enough of this,” he growled.
Nardus rushed forward and knelt next to Theyn. The ropes were impossibly tight around her neck, one above and the other below her silver collar. With a few moves, he made quick work of the simple knots and tossed the ropes aside. He pulled Theyn’s head from underneath the sledgehammer and pulled back the fur were the ropes had been. The skin was crimson with broken blood vessels, but he found no abrasions.
He gathered himself and reached out with his mind. “Theyn, wake up.”
When he did, Theyn sprung to her feet and rounded on him. She crouched back, ready to pounce. A low growl escaped through her wicked teeth. Nardus rose and took several steps backward, distancing himself from her. Theyn stalked forward, her golden eyes locked onto his. Or did they eye his throat? He couldn’t quite tell. Either way, he knew he had made a mistake waking her up.
Theyn lunged, and Nardus dove to the side, grunting as he drove his right shoulder into the solid road. Theyn tumbled several times, but it didn’t stop her. She sprung back on her feet and stalked toward him once more. Nardus crawled backward with his elbows. Theyn lunged again, and Nardus rolled once more, but she caught his right shoulder with her claws. Pain erupted through his shoulder, and fresh blood peppered the air. He swallowed a yelp and rolled twice more, but he had no chance of escaping her.
Theyn pounced on top of him with crushing weight, her right paw poised to take a swipe at his neck. She did, and Nardus screamed. Theyn flew backward and tumbled across the road. She slumped to the ground and didn’t move. A gash ran above her left eye, red with blood.
What in Ef Demd Dhä was that?
Nardus rose to his feet and crept toward Theyn, his left hand holding his right shoulder. Theyn’s eyes fluttered open for just a moment, and then she fell limp.
Nardus squatted next to Theyn and lifted her head in his hands. She didn’t stir. He parted her eyelids, but her eyes didn’t move or dilate.
She’s out cold.
He sat back and took a deep breath. Nothing in the last ten minutes made any sense. He searched the roads and buildings again with his eyes, unsure of what he thought he might find. No one lurked in the shadows as far as he could tell, but someone must’ve. They’d saved Theyn’s life and his, so why didn’t they come forward?
“Hello?” His voice sounded ragged. No one answered, but what had he expected?
Nardus bent over and kissed the wound over Theyn’s eye. He stroked the side of her face and spoke to her through his mind. “You’re such a beautiful creature.”
Memories of the night she came to him at Joriah’s house, nearly transfigured, flooded his mind. Her soft fur rubbed against his skin, and she’d purred like a kitten. That night had changed him. Changed the way he saw her and felt about her.
“Where am I?”
Theyn’s voice in his head startled Nardus, jolting his eyes open. He didn’t remember closing them. She stared up at him, the animalistic rage from before extinguished. He smiled and stroked her head. “We’re in West Hotah, somewhere off of Baker Road. When we left Nasduron we got separated. You came here when I went back to Galondu Castle, so I came here to find you.”
Theyn rose on all fours and shook her head. She looked around, but her gaze stopped on the woman lying in a pool of blood. “Did… Did I do that?” She and Nardus both looked down at her paws. Blood caked the fur.
“I didn’t see what happened to her, but I’d guess it was probably you based on everything that was happening.”
Theyn’s eyes glistened. “I can’t keep doing this, Nardus. I can’t live this way.”
Nardus grabbed her chin and looked her in the eye. “This wasn’t your fault, Theyn. You weren’t yourself when this happened, and you know it.”
“How can you sit there and say that? Look around. I’m a monster.”
“No, you aren’t, and don’t ever say that again. If anything, this is all my fault. I never should’ve left you, and I never will again.”
“Your shoulder—”
“Don’t worry about it, it’s barely more than a scratch.” Nardus stood.
Theyn looked around. “Why is everything frozen?”
Nardus shrugged. “I’m not sure. Someone saved us both.”
“I still don’t understand. Why did you come back for me?”
“You know why, Theyn.” He glared at her for a moment, but her beautiful eyes softened him. “You knew before I did. I’m in love with you. I refuse to spend another day without you.”
“So what we do now?”
“We head for Joriah’s. There’s something you need to see before we head back to Galondu Castle.” He looked back at the dead woman. “And we need to get as far away from this as possible.”
Theyn nodded. “Follow me, I know a shortcut.”
† † †
People stood like statues in the roads and shops for several blocks before Nardus and Theyn reached an area where life flowed freely again. Questions about the event filled Nardus’s head. Had these people just awoken, or had they ever been frozen at all? How long would the others stay frozen, or did they move freely now as well? Did the ones notice the others? Had anyone other than him and Theyn noticed?
Theyn’s voice entered his head and disrupted his thoughts. “Keep your feet moving. We’re almost there.”
Nardus hadn’t even noticed he’d stopped. For the moment, he needed to shove those questions to the back of his mind and contemplate them when no other lives hung in the balance. Gnaud needed him, and so did Theyn. Perhaps even Berggren.
Ten minutes later, Nardus and Theyn walked through Joriah’s red front door. Moments later, Joriah appeared in a whirlwind of red fury.
“How do you do that?” asked Nardus. “We literally just walked through the door.”
“Yes, you did—” Joriah winked at him. “—but a wizard never reveals his secrets.”
Joriah’s gaze moved to Theyn, and his smile faded
. He took several steps backward as he reached into his pocket. Nardus quickly moved in front of Theyn. “There’s no need for that. Theyn is herself again, albeit in the form of a cat.”
Joriah frowned, the lines in his forehead deepening. “How?”
Nardus shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t know. Somehow, I’m able to connect with her and bring her back when she’s fallen into her madness.” Skepticism painted Joriah’s face. Nardus moved to the side and presented Theyn to Joriah. “See for yourself. Talk with her through your mind.”
“Mindspeak with her?” Joriah stood up straight, his eyebrows arched high above his eyes. “You’ve done this?”
Nardus crossed his arms and brooded. “You doubt that I have?”
“You realize that only wizards and sorceresses have that ability, do you not?”
“That’s a lie. I’m no wizard, and I wield no mezhik.” Nardus spat on the floor and cringed. “Sorry about that. I know it’s a bad habit.” He bent down and wiped up the spit with his hand. “I swear I’m trying to break it.”
“See that you do,” said Joriah.
Nardus stood. “Dragons can mindspeak as well.”
“I’m sure you’re right, along with a few other mezhik creatures and beings.” Joriah turned his attention back to Theyn. “Now, give me a moment to speak with her.”
“Knock yourself out.” Nardus walked over to one of the chairs that sat in front of the fireplace and sat down. Nothing remained on the hearth other than grey ash and a few chunks of charcoaled wood. Nardus rested his eyes as his mind drifted to thoughts of the beast in the basement.
How is Theyn going to react when she sees him?
He supposed it didn’t matter. She needed to know and would find out one way or another. He preferred keeping no secrets from her.
“What did you need to show me?” asked Theyn in his mind.
Nardus opened his eyes. Theyn sat in front of him. Watched him. But for how long? Sleep must’ve snuck up on him. “Give me a minute,” he said to her with his mind.
Joriah sat in the chair next to him, his hand over his mouth as he stifled a yawn. “Mind if I take a look at that shoulder of yours? You don’t want those wounds getting infected.”
“I’d be lying if I told you I felt anything at all.” Nardus rubbed his shoulder with his thumb but felt no wound underneath his bloody, shredded shirt. He frowned. “That’s curious.”
Joriah rose from his chair and examined Nardus’s shoulder. “Curious, indeed. You don’t even have a scratch.”
“Huh. Come to think of it, I do remember it tingling a bit on the way back here. Didn’t really think much of it at the time.”
Joriah grinned. “Like it or not, you’re a wizard.”
“Damn you, Joriah. Quit accusing me of such foul things. I swear to you, I’m no wizard.” Nardus lifted his sleeves and showed Joriah his wrists. “Look!”
Joriah hardly glanced at them. “If you say so.”
Nardus stood and eyed Joriah. “We must leave soon, but there’s two things you need to do first.”
Joriah straightened the red cape draped over his left shoulder. “And those things are?”
“First, you need to remove Theyn’s stupid collar.”
Joriah opened his palm, and the collar slid right through Theyn’s neck and into his hand. Nardus gasped and Joriah smiled wickedly. “And the second?”
“Show Theyn what’s in your basement.”
Joriah’s smile turned into a scowl in an instant. “There’s nothing down there for her to see.”
Nardus poked Joriah in the chest with his finger. “It’s not a request.”
“You don’t know how she’ll react. The situation could turn deadly in a moment. Are you prepared for that?”
“Say the word, and I’ll gut him,” said Theyn in Nardus’s head.
“There’s no need for violence, Theyn.” Nardus stroked Theyn’s head. “Joriah’s just about to do what I’ve asked of him.” He looked at Joriah. “Aren’t you?”
Joriah glared at him for several moments and then sighed loudly. “As you wish, but I refuse to take any responsibility for what might happen.”
“Not asking you to. Now open the floor.”
Joriah flicked his wrist toward the center of the floor, and the floor opened up, revealing the stairs down to the basement. The three of them descended the stairs and headed straight to the room in the far corner.
Joriah unlocked the door and stepped aside. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Nardus opened the door and led Theyn into the dark room. Joriah snapped his fingers, and the room brightened. Theyn sniffed the air and backed away from the cage.
She looked up at Nardus, her eyes narrowed. “What is that?” she asked in Nardus’s mind.
“That’s… your father. Berggren.”
A low growl escaped from Theyn’s throat. “Wake him.”
Nardus turned to Joriah, who still stood outside the room. “Theyn wants you to wake him up.”
“Very well, but I fear nothing remains of his mind.” Joriah stepped into the room. “Step back from the cage as far as you can get. Iceberg has a long reach.”
Nardus and Theyn moved back against the wall. Joriah teleported inside the cage, touched Berggren’s shoulder and mumbled something Nardus didn’t understand, and then teleported back outside of the room’s doorway. Berggren stirred, stretched, and then roared. He rolled off the bed, grabbed it with one hand, and threw it against the bars. It felt like the impact shook the whole room, and the thunderous clang rang in Nardus’s ears.
Berggren rammed the bars with his shoulder and roared. Madness swirled in his eyes. He rammed the bars repeatedly, and Nardus swore they bent a little more with each hit.
Theyn backed away. “That isn’t my father,” she said in Nardus’s head. “Is that how I become when I can’t remember myself?” Her fear nearly crushed Nardus.
“Don’t even think about it, Theyn. It will do you no good.” Nardus took a step toward the cage. Berggren rammed the bars again and then reached through them, swiping at Nardus like a bear. Nardus stepped closer, just a few inches out of Berggren’s reach.
“I’m here to help,” said Nardus.
Berggren roared again and shook the cage. Nardus reached out to him with his mind, hoping to find some semblance of the Berggren he knew, but the only thing he found was a madness that he knew all too well—one he’d carried with himself for so long.
I know your pain.
Nardus opened his mind and allowed the madness to tether itself to him. He drew it into himself, tendril by maddening tendril, until nothing remained within Berggren’s mind. He severed the link, and Berggren collapsed to the floor.
Madness drove Nardus to his knees, and he wailed with the pain of loss and the fury of hatred. He grabbed the sides of his head and dug his fingers into his skull.
“You will not control me again!” he screamed.
A light, dim at first but brightening quickly, entered his mind. In that light he found solace. Warmth. A love like none he’d ever felt before. Through that light came the face of an angel. White hair, camel skin, and yellow eyes.
Theyn.
The light exploded in his mind, driving away the darkness and the madness. Nothing remained but her presence. He opened his eyes as tears streamed down his cheeks. Theyn licked his face and nuzzled his chin. Nardus wrapped his arms around her neck and held her for what felt like an eternity, lost inside the moment and never wanting it to end. But as with everything, it couldn’t last forever.
Nardus released Theyn and wiped the tears from his eyes. He stood on shaky legs and held fast to one of the cage bars.
Berggren lay on the floor inside the cage, his chest heaving. Tears wet his cheeks. He sat up and stared at Nardus. “You’ve got a lot of nerve showing your face.”
Nardus exhaled a breath he didn’t realize he’d held. “It’s good to have you back, Iceberg.”
<
br /> “Only my friends call me that.” Berggren rolled onto his hands and knees and then stood. He approached Nardus, but Nardus didn’t back away.
“I’m aware of that.”
Berggren reached through the bars and proffered his hand. Nardus hesitated for only a moment before taking it. Berggren pulled him against the bars and wrapped his other arm around Nardus. “It’s always good to have another friend.”
Theyn’s mind entered Nardus’s. “Tell him I said hello.”
“Theyn says hello.” Nardus could barely get the words out with Berggren squeezing him so tight.
Joriah moved past Nardus and unlocked the cage. “Not a wizard,” he chuckled.
Not a wizard… Am I? Disgusted by the notion, he nearly spat in Berggren’s face. Never.
Berggren released Nardus and threw his arms around Joriah. “Thanks for not giving up on me.”
Joriah coughed and wheezed. “Afraid I did, my friend. This was all Nardus’s idea.”
“Even so,” said Berggren. “I appreciate it.” He released Joriah and Theyn pounced on him, knocking him back a few steps. She wrapped her front paws around his neck. Tears streaked Berggren’s face again. “Theyn, my beautiful daughter. I thought I’d lost you.”
Nardus smiled and walked out of the room, his heart fuller than it had been in a long time. By the time he reached the stairs, reality set in. He and Theyn needed to get back to Galondu Castle. Gnaud’s life and Nasduron depended on it.
He reached out to Theyn with his mind. “We must go.”
Three thunderous bangs sounded from upstairs. “Joriah Treyfus, I am Sgt. Pike, of the City Guard. We’re on good authority that you’re harboring a murderer and his large cat. Open this door at once, or we’ll be forced to break it down!”
Damn!
Chapter Twenty
Rakzar paced through the living area and kitchen in Alderan’s house. “The little dryte is late, and she’s wasting my time. I should just leave without her.”
Urza patted the floor next to her. “Come sit down, and stop being so pretentious. A few extra minutes will make little difference. Besides, I’m sure she’s preparing for the journey.”
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