As if reading his thoughts, evening fell. It wasn’t until the shadows shifted that Idrithar called for a stop. They collapsed on the ground, forming a circle. Some learned against trees, catching their breath. Their faces were little more than thin shadows as they looked at each other. Wekin was half-asleep when Idrithar called him. “Wekin, tell us your tale.”
Yawning as he sat up, he rubbed his eyes before he began his exaggerated tale. When he finished, he sat back with pride.
Idrithar gave Wekin a nod of respect. “You did well Wekin, in spite of the dreadful things that were going to happen to you. You have proved yourself a true White Steed.”
Wekin turned to Yamier, his eyes shining. “Did you hear that?”
Zhane threw back his head and chuckled. “Oh, Wekin.”
Idrithar lifted a hand. “About the Rakhai.”
Eliesmore froze. He closed his eyes, and there it was: the cold shadow of fear sliding into his heart again. He dreaded the words Idrithar was about to speak, yet he needed to know.
“The Rakhai left Daygone a week ago.”
“How do you know?” Eliesmore gasped.
“At first we felt it,” Zhane explained. “There was a cloud of darkness following us.”
“They have new horses.” Glashar shuddered. “Giant stallions. They won’t be easy to kill.”
Arldrine crossed her arms; her brow was furrowed.
“If our suspicions are correct, they will reach the Torsilo Quarts today,” Idrithar concluded.
“No.” Eliesmore groaned, closing his eyes.
“Eliesmore.” Optimistic touched his arm. “Are you okay?”
Eliesmore opened his eyes as if waking from a nightmare. “I will be.” He addressed his next question to Idrithar. “Should we run on now?”
“No.” Idrithar shook his head. “We are exhausted. A good night’s sleep will do everyone a lot of good. Rest and regain your strength. We have seven days of running ahead of us.”
Eliesmore lay back and put his head down, even as he heard Idrithar calling for the night watchers. He closed his eyes, and everything faded.
48
Arldrine
Arldrine rose as the company settled down to sleep. Yamier and Wekin were already unconscious. They were back to back; likely dreaming of bacon.
“Arldrine,” Ellagine whispered her name. She reached out a hand, motioning to an empty place by her side.
“One moment,” Arldrine called to her. She and Ellagine were close like Zhane and Dathiem. They met years ago when Ellagine entered the woods of Truemonix for the first time. They had been quite young: Ellagine was only seventeen, and Arldrine was eighteen. “Idrithar, a word in a private?” She brushed the fog of gloom from her mind.
“Zhane.” Idrithar beckoned. “Join us.”
They moved through the trees, just out of earshot of the company. Arldrine took a deep breath, reminding herself to listen before making assumptions. There was a logical reason for each action Idrithar took. “You set Wekin up,” she snapped, her voice cold. “Why did you let him get captured?”
If Idrithar was surprised at her accusation, he did not show it. “I did not set him up; you could see how far he was from us. It would have been folly to risk a battle with the Horse Lords. However, it did give us an opportunity.” He moved closer to Arldrine, dropping his voice. “Zhane and I have been in consternation over the actions of the Rakhai, and Wekin’s capture gave us a chance to test our suspicious. Tell me: did you hear wind of the Rakhai as you ran with Eliesmore and Optimistic? Think.”
“No.” Arldrine shifted her eyes from Zhane to Idrithar. “It was peaceful. It was silent, almost dull.”
“It is because they aren’t chasing them; they are chasing us.” Idrithar spread his hands, gesturing toward their sleeping companions. “We are their target, not Eliesmore. Not Optimistic.”
Arldrine crossed her arms, and her eyes darkened. “That cannot be right,” she argued. “When Ellagine, Eliesmore, Optimistic, and I traveled to the fortress, they hunted us. They attacked us and wounded Eliesmore. They are coming for him.” She nodded, trying to believe her words, although she knew Idrithar was right.
“Perhaps.” Idrithar held up a finger, as he always did when proving a point. “Perhaps they mean for him to complete this quest and dissolve the Green Stone. A game is afoot. Zhane, have you told her what Dathiem conveyed to you?”
Zhane stepped forward; his eyes were guarded. “Dathiem believes the Iaens are attempting to brainwash Eliesmore. Once he dissolves the Green Stone, they want to use him for their own desires.”
“You believe this?” Arldrine glared at him, angry with him for thinking ill of the Iaen and annoyed at him for ignoring her.
“No,” Zhane disagreed, holding up a hand. “No. Ellagine, Glashar, and Visra are our friends. We will do them no harm. Dathiem does have a valid argument. When Eliesmore dissolves the Green Stone, we must be on guard; it is the moment when the Changers will strike us hard. We must be ready.”
Arldrine gave Idrithar and Zhane a steely look. “We will be ready.” Her tone was cold. “We will have Eliesmore. We will win.”
“At what cost?” Idrithar’s words prevented her from walking away. “You know this. You have seen the balance that sways in the deep. If Eliesmore dissolves the Green Stone, he will be like the immortals. A choice will rise before him, and he will have to choose whose desires he will answer to: those of the mortals or the immortals. It has always been this way: mortals versus immortals. You know the rumors about the Blended Ones. Beware. Lest they drive us into folly and death. Beware.”
“Idrithar, I respect you but not for what you have done to Wekin. He may have his freedom now, but you could have cost him his life. Gambling with fate is for the immortals, not for a Wise One like you.”
“This is why I tell you this, Arldrine of Truemonix, so that you may be aware of the turning of events. This has been a hard conversation for you to have, yet you retain your true self. You are not easily swayed by others’ decisions. I can only hope that Eliesmore will be as strong as you when it comes to his choice.”
Arldrine nodded. “Idrithar. Zhane.” She turned and strode away. As she walked toward Ellagine, she found her hands shaking, whether it was in fear or anger, she was not sure.
49
Zhane
A few days later, a shadow crossed in front of the company as they moved into the forest. Zhane lifted his head; the air seemed closer and denser. Glashar called down from a treetop. “Ìal iál, the Rakhai are out there.”
“The Rakhai will not enter the woods,” Zhane assured the Green Company, “given the unsteady ground.” They walked single file through the forest with holes. Idrithar took the lead, tapping the ground with his staff.
“We should press on.” Idrithar coaxed a light from his fingertips.
Zhane listened to the crackle of power as they moved. At times, he could almost taste the burnt flavors. While he admired Idrithar’s abilities, he found himself relieved he did not carry the same burden. Arldrine’s words drifted back to him. He narrowed his eyes, and he let his dark gaze flicker in her direction. She walked with the young Crons, spending most of her time with Optimistic and Ellagine. She would not look at him, leaving him questioning whether she was still angry at him for allowing Idrithar to manipulate Wekin. The situation had arisen unexpectedly, and he had failed to act as he should. They were White Steeds. Life and the protection of all should be their motive, not Idrithar’s desire to leave those who were lost behind.
Night closed around them as they continued deeper into the forest. Screams and cries echoed in the distance, causing them to jump and shiver. The Rakhai were attacking hapless victims who failed to hide and who failed to stay indoors. Zhane found his hand drifting again to his sword hilt, even though he knew they were safe in the forest. He wanted to act. The endless traveling frayed his nerves. He needed a fight, a battle, or anything to let loose his pent-up rage. The injustice of it all was that he cou
ldn’t save everyone. The cries begged him for protection, yet he could not save them all.
Midnight passed, bringing the inky black fingers of the night to steal their sight. Zhane felt the oppression in the air begin to lift and fade.
Ellagine spoke first. “They have gone.”
“They must have realized they cannot get to us until we leave the forest,” Glashar added from where she stood beside Dathiem.
Zhane could see their shapes: a tall Tider besides a petite Falidrain.
“They will be waiting at the Jaded Sea.” Visra sniggered as if she were happy to give them bad news.
Ellagine whispered to her in Iaen, silencing her imprudence.
They climbed a hill, and at the top, Idrithar tapped the ground with his staff, and with a crash, a mass of leaves collapsed, creating an abysmal pit. Idrithar motioned for the rest of the Company to come up around it. He shined his staff over the blackness. “Marwumps live under here in the marshswamps. To fall is to enter the underground domain, and no one who goes under escapes. We must be careful and always be on watch against their designs.”
“All this seems to be about is being careful and staying out of dangerous business.” Wekin sighed.
Idrithar ignored him. “Come. I know a place where there is firmer footage. This is not the first time I have come through these woods.”
“Nor the second. We know this place well,” Zhane added, recalling the many adventures he and Idrithar shared.
Idrithar led them over hills until they came to a flat plane in a clearing of trees. He walked around the clearing, step by step, before announcing, “It is safe. We rest here.”
They shuffled into the clearing, dropping into huddled bumps on the ground. “I’ll take first watch,” Glashar volunteered.
“Wake me when day breaks,” Zhane called.
He threw himself down, using his pack as a pillow as he tugged the hood of his cloak over his eyes. Just before he drifted off, he smelled mushrooms.
The sunlight woke him before Glashar did. The light threaded through the thick boughs of the forest where it could, warming his face with rays of light. He opened his eyes, watching and listening as he always did. He placed a hand on the ground to feel the rhythm of life. The wood was silent, save for his companions. They created soft snores and light breathing. As stealthy as a wild cat in the prairie, he stood, leaning his back against the bark of a redwood tree. Placing his palm on it, he waited for the heart of the tree to come alive and give him a sign of life. There was nothing.
“Zhane?” Glashar whispered.
“I’ll keep watch; get some rest,” he answered, knowing sleep would not come for her. Idrains were uncanny with their lack of sleep and lack of birth. They were discovered naked, curled in the leaves of giant flowers, and full-grown. They came alive as if out of hibernation and roamed the forests, playing with their inherent powers while dancing through nature. Since they never experienced the cycle of life all mortals went through, relating to the Idrains was difficult. They had nothing in common. The Green People were different. Zhane’s gaze shifted to Ellagine. She slept. Although she carried the blood of the mortals, she came from a line of warriors and heroes. She had a family line to be proud of. He could not say the same for himself.
His eyes caught a flicker. Without turning his head, he moved his eyes. Glashar pulled her golden hair over her shoulder, kissing Dathiem’s arm before she leaned into his chest. His arm dropped. His fingers curled around her buttocks as he drew her closer. She whispered something and tilted her face toward his. He shook his head, closing his eyes before he could see her crestfallen look. Zhane adverted his gaze, letting it drop on Arldrine. He knew he could not fault Dathiem for allowing Glashar to distract him. If Arldrine ever looked at him with half the desire and attention Glashar gave to Dathiem, he would not refuse. There seemed to be a barrier between them. Every time he tried to break it, she pushed him further away. He’d hoped one day her dark almond eyes would not regard him with reservation, and she’d allow herself to become unbound in his arms. He gripped his sword hilt, needing to work out his aggravations. His eyes drifted to Eliesmore, who jumped when their gazed met.
“Eliesmore, we still have a few hours left," Zhane suggested.
Eliesmore shrugged. "I can't sleep any longer."
“Ready for a lesson?” Zhane drew his sword, watching the tracings on the blade glimmer.
“Yes, I need to practice.” Eliesmore leaped up with eagerness and drew his sword.
Zhane felt himself relax as he began to instruct. He reminded Eliesmore how to hold his sword and taught him how to parry and thrust. He spent time going over the best places to strike different parts of the body: some to wound, some to incapacitate the opponent, and some to kill. Eliesmore soaked it in. He nodded as he thought through each movement, understanding the urgency and the need.
“Good.” Zhane finally halted. “We’ll make an excellent warrior of you yet.” He sheathed his sword and stretched his arms, soaking in the after burn of using his muscles.
“Zhane?” Eliesmore plopped down cross-legged and reached for his pack. “Will you tell me about your adventures? How did you come to the fortress?"
Zhane grew still, organizing his thoughts as he considered his life. He recalled a time when the world was beyond hope and no one thought the One would come. He’d assumed he would be part of another generation of White Steeds, shifting through fabled days and waiting for the One.
“It is a long tale,” he warned Eliesmore. How could he explain the events of years past in a way that Eliesmore would understand? “I grew up in the west with Dathiem. We spent most of our childhood fighting to survive until ten years ago when we made the journey to the fortress of the White Steeds. There I met Uglar, who was the leader of the White Steeds then. He was old and had seen many years. Idrithar was his assistant. Back then, the fortress overflowed with White Steeds.” Zhane curled his hand into a fist and thumped his heart. “Many are gone. Idrithar, Dathiem, and I became close friends. We are like-minded in our awareness of the Black Steeds and what we need to do to protect others from their violence.
“It was Uglar himself who taught me to advance my skills as a warrior. Since I have no powers, I took up the bow and arrow, the sword, the spear, knives, and anything I could use. Idrithar has innate abilities; he only took up the sword. While Dathiem is a healer, he was already a skilled with the bow and arrow.
“Idrithar, being a Cron and a Seeker, desired to travel. He wanted to know the world for himself, firsthand. He wanted to walk the paths of the mountains and find hidden paths. Eventually, he was determined to leave the fortress, and I went with him. The two of us embarked on foot—it was Idrithar’s idea. He said we could learn the lay of the land better that way. Our way was slow because of it. We stopped to examine everything. We learned the landmarks; we found the hidden paths, plants, and animals. We traveled up Sanga San into the Sandg Sizge Hills and around them, taking care not to go anywhere near Daygone. We traveled through the Torsilo Quarts, eluding the castle. Once we finished exploring the Torsilo Quarts, we took a boat and sailed out to the South Isles.
“We had a fair journey in Oceantic and were rewarded by the beauty of the South Isles. I remember the sand, the wind, the bright colors, and the exotic trees. The South Isles are too close to Daygone; Black Steeds swarmed the islands with their boats. After a small battle, Idrithar and I found it necessary to leave. We sailed off again and landed in Monoxie in the west. From there, we traveled the grasslands to Castle Range, also called the Constel Heights. Idrithar and I, having heard ‘Song’ all our lives, were looking forward to the coming of the One, your coming, because Magdela the Monrage was indeed dead, so we knew the time would be soon. We traveled to see the fountain of Idrain, the water where the Green Stone is to be dissolved. Instead, we found an enormous castle, the largest I have ever seen, it is fiercely guarded by Black Steeds. Knowing it could be the end, we took our chances and snuck into the castle. It was hard to
get in then, and I suppose it will be harder now. For two days, we were lost in the castle before we stumbled upon the fountain. Though now it seems so long ago, we measured and counted every step of the way so we know how to reach it again.” Zhane stopped as he thought about their time in the stronghold.
“From the Constel Heights, once we escaped the castle, we went down to Werivment, where we enjoyed a time of rest away from the Black Steeds. Then we crossed Werivment and went on to the Cascade Mountain Range." Zhane paused and smiled. “Two years later, we passed through Shimla on our way back to the fortress. It was there we met Ellagine for the first time. It was a great honor to be among the Iaen. We stayed for two weeks before returning to the fortress, leaving an invitation for Ellagine to visit because she seemed curious about us.
“We dwelt at the fortress for a year, compiling our knowledge. During that time, Ellagine and Visra came for a visit and began to teach us Iaen. I wanted to go back out in the world again because I knew there were many places we had not yet discovered. This time, Dathiem agreed to come with Idrithar and me. Before we could set out, Arldrine came to the fortress.” Zhane smiled. “We delayed our journey for another month before setting a course through the Land of Lock, Locherenixzes. We lost no time in crossing the Jaded Sea and continued our travels through the west. After a year of many adventures that were mostly in the Cascade Mountains, we crossed the Jaded Sea and entered Truemonix. We took a route through the Sandg Sizge Hills to Sanga San. This was about four and a half years since I had first come to the fortress. The three of us were traveling when we heard a terrible noise and a lot of commotion. We hurried forward to find…” Zhane paused for a moment. “To find the Black Steeds destroying Optimistic’s home. He alone escaped, and so we took him, along with the Green Stone, back to the fortress. Soon after we arrived, there arose a dispute about the Black Steeds and White Steeds, and many of our friends left to join the Black Steeds. The very next year, Glashar came, and she did not stay long. In fact, three months later, she and Ellagine returned to the forest of Shimla. After that, Dathiem, Optimistic, and I went out together and found Wekin and Yamier.
The Complete Four Worlds Series Page 91