After a good night’s sleep, Selwyn and his friends resupplied and readied themselves to leave the comfort and safety of the walled city.
“I wish you luck on your journey.” The mayor walked them to the gate.
“Thank you, with luck we’ll be back in no time,” Osric said shaking his hand.
“And don’t worry about your steeds; they’ll be well cared for.” They had left their horses, but Rowena insisted that Ril’dar be let outside the city. He wasn’t used to being locked away like the horses were, and he would only cause problems.
“Keep an eye out for our friends,” Tiernan reminded him.
“They will be treated just as well as you have been,” the mayor assured them.
They left the gate and were ready to face the perils of The Swamp of Sorrows and Cracked Earth Forest. After riding all this time walking was going to be hard to get used to. Not being able to read while on horseback was just one thing they would have to deal with, and being able to see what was around them wasn’t as easy without being high up on a steed. Their movement was much slower as well.
“Looks like you’re going to get to use that staff of yours as a walking stick,” Tiernan pointed out to Rowena.
“Just as well, it’s always good to have a weapon handy.”
“Absolutely right,” Osric agreed.
“I hope this swamp doesn’t have as many snakes as William implied.”
“William was one man. If the swamp is overrun with snakes, we should be able to keep them at bay,” Selwyn assured her.
“Even if we can’t, you and Culfang should be able to use magic to chase them away,” Rylan added cheerfully.
“I don’t think I’ll be ready to cast anything like that.” She was skeptical about her own power.
“Even if you can’t cast a spell, you still have that deck,” Selwyn reminded her.
“That’s true, but I don’t want to keep relying on it. I want to be able to do magic on my own.” Rowena loved the deck that Lenwë had given her, but knowing how spells worked and what she could do was what she really wanted.
“That is good to know. Most humans would have taken the easy route.” Culfang was a little more impressed with her every day.
“I think we need to get there before we worry about how many snakes there might be,” Tiernan said.
They walked on until they came to the edge of the swamp and there were a couple of hours of daylight left in the sky.
“What are we going to do?” Osric asked Selwyn. It was another leadership decision that he would have to make.
“We stay here tonight and leave at first light,” he said with authority.
“So we’re going to waste what light we have left?” Rylan asked.
“No. We’re going to venture in to get a better idea of what we’ll be up against tomorrow,” Selwyn answered.
“Everyone, or do you want some of us to stay and set up camp?” Osric knew he shouldn’t be coaching the boy but thought it was the best way to get him to make a decision.
“Half and half; Rylan and Tiernan will go with me and you three can set up camp.” Rowena gave him an icy glare. He was only trying to spare her having to get wet and muddy before she had to.
“As you wish, majesty,” was her chilly response. He started to go to her, but Tiernan stopped him.
“Give her time,” he advised in a low voice.
“I just want to explain.” Tiernan grabbed him and pulled him toward the swamp.
Rylan came up on the other side of him. “He’s right. Let her cool off.”
They entered the swamp and were attacked by swarms of biting insects, but they didn’t find a path. They went further in and found the snakes William had told them about. There were snakes of all types seeming to cover every inch of the swamp. There were snakes hanging from trees, in the water, on the rocks and on what little dry land there was. It wasn’t going to be easy to make their way through; already their feet were being sucked down by the mud. They made very little progress and were already getting tired. When they made it back to camp they were caked with mud up to their knees.
“Well, what do you think?” Osric asked.
“It’s going to be slow. We didn’t get far but there were definitely a lot of snakes.”
“And a lot of mud,” Rylan pulled off his boots and emptied them.
“Don’t forget the bugs.” Tiernan was scratching his bites. “Is there something you can make to keep the bugs away?” Tiernan was looking to Culfang for an answer.
“I believe I can make an ointment that will keep them at bay.”
“Can you make an ointment that will keep the snakes away as well?” Rowena asked.
“I cannot do that, but I think I might be able to weave a spell that will repel them.”
“That’s just as good in my book,” Tiernan was now taking off his boots and dumping out their contents.
“I’d like to help you make the ointment.” Rowena wanted to learn everything she could.
While Culfang and Rowena went off to find the plants, they needed, Selwyn, Rylan and Tiernan did their best to get cleaned up. The mud was sticky and clung tenaciously. If a short time in the swamp made it this difficult to get clean, they couldn’t imagine what a few days of it would be like.
Morning came and they all slathered on the dreadful smelling concoction Culfang had whipped up.
“Oh, what’s in this,” Tiernan was holding the ointment as far away from himself as he could.
“Flowers, herbs, grasses and some moss, nothing that will hurt you.” Culfang couldn’t understand what he was complaining about. He was asked to make something to keep the bugs away, and that’s what he did.
“I’m not sure the smell will be worth it.” Rylan had a sour look on his face.
“Use it or don’t use it, but we need to get going.” Selwyn gathered the last of his equipment and started walking to the swamp.
“Alright, I’m using it.” Rylan didn’t know how long he would be able to stand the smell, but he would do his best to leave it on.
Culfang cast his spell to repel the snakes, and they were off and sloshing. The bugs swarmed around them but didn’t land on or bite them. The snakes parted as they approached, leaving a wide path.
“You are definitely going to have to teach me that one,” Rowena said, appreciating the safety the spell offered.
They waded through mud most of the morning but by noon they were in murky water that rose above their waist.
“This may be spring time, but this water is still very cold,” Tiernan complained.
“Suck it up!” Osric was just as miserable, but he didn’t need to hear it from the others.
It was well past noon before the water level began to lower. They were still in water up to their knees, but it was easier to walk. Still, it was as William had said; no dry land. They knew that William had taken many days to make it through, but he was also a prisoner of the witch. If what the mayor had told them was true, then they should be out in a couple of days. Of course, he also said there was a path that led through the swamp. If there was a path, they still hadn’t found it. Night drew near, and they continued to trudge through the mire.
“Are we going to continue into the night?” Rowena sounded weary.
“I don’t think we have a choice.” Rylan sounded as weary as his sister.
“Or until we find dry ground.” Tiernan was hopeful.
“I don’t think dry ground is anywhere within this swamp,” Selwyn said skeptically.
“I think we will find stable land before midnight.” Culfang was just trying to give them a little hope and keep them going.
“Can we stop at the next tree we see? I’d like to rest for a bit, and it would be nice to have something to lean on,” Rowena said.
“Wait a minute, I just thought of something.” Selwyn came to a stop facing of Rowena. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but your boots have powers, do they not? Doesn’t one of those powers let you walk in the air as if you’re walking up stairs?” She hung her head in shame.
“I’ve been so busy learning spells that I didn’t think of the magic on my boots.”
“Not only could you have been walking out of the water, but you could have been scouting from high above as well?” Rylan said incredulously.
“Yes, I’m sorry, alright. I’ll see if I can find that path the mayor told us about, okay?” She shot Rylan an icy glare before stepping out of the water and up into the air.
“What made you think of that anyway?” Tiernan asked in a low voice.
“When she mentioned leaning on a tree it made me think; I could transform into a lion and climb a tree to get out of the water for a while, that sparked the thought about her boots. She doesn’t need a tree to climb; she can just climb into the air.”
“Sound reasoning,” Tiernan was impressed with Selwyn; he seemed to be growing up right in front of his eyes. He, like Selwyn, didn’t have any brothers or sisters, but he was beginning to think of Selwyn as a little brother, as well as Rylan. He had spent a lot of time with the both of them since they journeyed together back to Seahold.
They continued to trudge through the swamp while Rowena was gone from sight. The mud sucked at their boots, threatening to pull them off. Fatigue was setting in; the cold water continued to sap their strength and still there was no relief in sight. The frogs were beginning to sing their evening songs before Rowena returned to them just after sunset.
“I have good news.” She was cheerful.
“I was hoping you would say that,” Rylan said through his misery.
“I found the path.”
“I sense a ‘but’ in there.” Osric knew it was too good to be true.
“But you’ll have to travel for many more hours before reaching it.”
“I don’t think I can make it one more hour, let alone many more.” Rylan sounded defeated.
“Buck up, you’re of royal descent; you can outlast just about anyone if you put your mind to it.” Osric knew what to say to his former pupil to get him motivated.
“I hope your right, because I’d hate to die in this place.”
“Is there dry land on this path?” Selwyn asked. “I’d like to get some rest tonight.”
“There is but it isn’t very wide, if you were to roll over in your sleep you would end up in the water.”
“I really don’t care at the moment, just lead us to the path, and we’ll take things from there,” Rylan said through his misery.
“Follow me.”
“I don’t suppose you could give us a little light?” Tiernan asked Culfang.
“I believe I can, but I do not know what might be attracted to it.” Culfang had been quiet for some time, and they were beginning to worry about him.
“I’ll do it; I can light the end of my staff. Since I’ll be in the air it should make it easier for you to see further around you, and I should be able to see if anything comes your way.” Rowena sounded pleased with herself.
“I think that’s a very good idea,” Osric praised.
They moved off to the southeast with the mud and their sodden clothes dragging them down. Their fatigue was growing worse. Several hours went by when the swamp suddenly fell silent. Everyone stopped where they were. Rowena looked all around and didn’t see anything that would cause the frogs and insects to cease their nightly choir.
Rowena screamed as she was abruptly knocked down. She plummeted to the ground, where she landed with a thud. The light went out from her staff. Darkness came crashing in on them. Selwyn’s first instinct was to yell out her name, but he restrained himself. He didn’t want to compromise their position any more than it already was. They stood stock still listening for what had attacked Rowena. Minutes ticked by that felt like hours and still silence loomed. Selwyn risked voicing a thought.
“I think it was attracted to the light.” He spoke in a low voice but in the silence, it sounded to him like a shout. Another minute went by before there was a reply.
“I believe you may be correct,” Culfang acknowledged. A moment later the frogs and the insects gave a tentative low noise, slowly they resumed their normal volume.
“What do we do now?” Rylan asked.
“I’m going to Rowena.” Selwyn kept his eyes on the position where she fell.
“I mean, what are we going to do to see where we’re going?” Rylan asked as he heard Selwyn sloshing toward his sister.
“I think I can help there.” Culfang sent forth three balls of light. One light was brighter than the other two, this one he sent higher than the others.
Selwyn found Rowena on her back where she had impacted the mud. She was breathing but didn’t respond to his touch. Selwyn pulled her up out of the mud as best he could and held her to him. When he held a hand to her head, he felt a large bump on the back.
“I think she’ll be alright. She was knocked out, but it doesn’t seem too bad. If she doesn’t wake soon I’ll heal her.” He was trying to reassure Rylan, who was walking up with a look of concern etched on his face.
“This is a good place to take a break,” Rylan said as he plopped down in the mud beside them.
Culfang continued to search the sky for what had attacked Rowena. The brightest light he had in the highest position suddenly went dark.
“What happened? Did you see anything?” Osric asked Culfang from close by.
“I did not.” He sent another ball of light where the other had been. In a short time, it too went out.
“I think it has something to do with how high the light is. When you had two down here with us neither one went out,” Tiernan observed.
“You may be correct.” He brought two more balls of light into being and sent them forward in the direction they were traveling. He stopped one about twenty feet away and the next another thirty feet from there. He raised them both at the same time and stopped them at a height just above the trees. It didn’t take long for them to both be snuffed out. The third ball of light remained unaffected.
“Alright we have our answer, get her up and let’s get going,” Osric commanded.
“Give me a moment to bring her around.” Selwyn concentrated on healing Rowena, and she was soon awake. Culfang sent forth two more balls of light ahead them but was keeping them low.
“What happened?” Rowena was looking up into Selwyn’s face unsure of why he was holding her.
“You were knocked out of the air and landed pretty hard. I just healed you, so we can get moving again.” He helped her to her feet and held onto her until she was steady on her feet.
“You don’t think it was the witch do you?” Rowena asked from her wobbly legs.
“It could be that she has a shield that prevents magic from working above the treetops. That way travelers are forced to walk through the swamp,” Culfang speculated.
“That would make sense. It’s always best to control your enemies whenever you can,” Osric said in agreeance. “And if you can wear them out in the process all the better.”
“Wore out I am, how much further until we reach the path?” Rylan asked.
“I’m not sure, but we won’t get there any faster with you complaining every few minutes,” Tiernan growled.
Before long, they left the mud and waded back into murky water. It actually made it a little easier to walk. Of course, there was the occasional root that would grab at their feet and trip them up, but all in all, they were making better time. Before they knew it, the few hours that had remained were behind them, and the path loomed ahead.
“I finally see some relief in the near future,” Rylan said when the rise of the path came into view.
“Only if we aren’t attacked,” Osric chimed in.
“Always looking to the positive side of every situation,” Tiernan said cheerfully.
Once they managed to pull themselves out of the water, and onto the dry path, they had to decide who would take watch, and how long that watch would be. None of them wanted to take first watch, but they settled on Osric and Culfang on first. They would then wake Tiernan and Rowena in three hours, then Selwyn and Rylan after that.
“Do you think we could build a small fire? I’m frozen to the bone.” Rowena’s teeth were audibly chattering.
“I’m not sure we can find anything dry enough to light.” Tiernan looked around the path.
“If you can bring me some wood, even wet, I think I can get it dry enough to ignite,” Culfang told them while he was looking for a spot to sit. They did manage to get a small fire going, but it only gave enough warmth to make them wish it were bigger, still it was better than nothing.
“I think we should get some rest,” Osric suggested.
It wasn’t an easy rest. The path was only wide enough for them to lie on their backs with their arms folded on their chest. There were rocks, and roots, and other things that didn’t make for a very comfortable bed. But they were all exhausted, and it didn’t take long before sleep took them. When they were awakened for their shift, it seemed like they had just drifted off. But any sleep was a blessing after such a difficult trek through the swamp.
Once they were rested, they started off down the narrow strip of dry land. Their muscles were sore, and it felt as if there were enormous weights strapped to the legs. It took a lot of effort to take each step, but they were determined to keep moving.
The path led them deeper into the swamp. It seemed as if the trees on the side of the path were getting closer, and denser. The moss that hung from the branches swayed, and moved as if blown by a breeze, but there was no wind. It reached out for them; it beckoned them to come closer. Culfang determined there was no threat, but it was still unnerving.
“Have you noticed the absents of any large predators?” Tiernan asked Osric.
“I have. There doesn’t seem to be any crocodiles, or alligators.”
“Why does that matter? I would think that would be a good thing, one less thing to have to worry about, right?” Rylan did what anything else to worry about.
“Not really, it likely means there’s an even bigger predator lurking around.” Tiernan didn’t want to scare them any more than he already had, so he didn’t tell them it was likely zombies. They are flesh eaters, and they were in a witch’s domain.
“I didn’t need to hear that.” Rowena let out a whine of dismay.
“I think we need to worry less about that and more about getting out of this swamp.” Selwyn didn’t want to waste what little energy they had.
“I think silence would be a good idea as well.” Culfang felt the same as Selwyn about conserving energy.
They continued to follow the path, and the snakes continued to flee from them, and the insects still weren’t biting. Their way forward seemed to be clear, and they were making good time. There was an occasional gap in the raised path that they had to jump over, but nothing they couldn’t handle. Until, that is, they came to a clearing with a hut standing to one side. They had stumbled onto the witch’s home.