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Lotari and Jerin galloped up to the front line of Alburnium warriors. The numbers amazed Lotari. Even if some towns had backed out, men, women, and creatures spread across the basin like a field of wildflowers in spring.
Unfortunately, this wasn’t spring. The late autumn winds blowing off the mountain cliffs prickled the bare skin of his arms. Looming above, the mountain fortress hid behind a thick fog that permeated the sky. Storm clouds? The darkening sky made it hard for him to know for sure.
“There’s Marcel,” Jerin pointed from atop his palomino. They both put on a burst of speed, closing the distance. They wanted to let the General know their troops had arrived.
Marcel’s face brightened when he spotted them approaching. “You’ve made it. Wonderful! And just in time. Soon as we find the Light Bearers, we’ll begin our approach to the front gates.
Why weren’t Alyra and Tarek already there? Lotari looked around and was about to reach for his journal, but Jerin had beat him and was already scribbling out a note.
“I’m surprised they’re not here,” Jerin signed his name. The letters glowed momentarily before he closed the book, but kept it in his hand. “How will we get in without Tarek to blast down the gates?”
Marcel tugged at his goatee, his brows furrowed as he watched a group of Elderads in a heated discussion. Riyah stood in the middle of them, gesturing toward the mountain, then the front gate.
Lotari pointed toward the group. “Any idea what’s going on, General?”
He shook his head and urged his mount to move to the outer edge. Jerin followed with Lotari right behind him.
“We will approach the gate and wait,” Riyah instructed. “I have a feeling they’ll come to us. Once the gate is open, we will make our way in.”
“But,” Jerin interjected, “The longer we wait—”
Amici cut off his words, “The wall between worlds is already being breached. There is nothing we can do to stop that from happening. What we can do is remain here and wait for the enemy to engage. Or capture them as they run for their lives. When that happens, we will be ready for them.”
“But sir,” Jerin countered, surprising Lotari with his brashness. “No disrespect intended. If we have an Illuminate who can turn that gate into dust, why not—”
“We do not, Jerin of Yarholm,” Riyah stated. “The Illuminates have left. They are not here with us.”
Lotari’s breath caught. Alyra and Tarek left? But to where? He glanced up at the mountain and knew. Deep down he knew exactly where Alyra had gone. Of course, Tarek would be right beside her.
“We can’t wait!” Lotari insisted, stomping his hooves. “We mustn’t. She’ll head for the castle and try to stop Darnel. We need to be in the city to help her.” His voice broke. “We can’t allow her to face him alone.”
Riyah moved forward, his arms crossed over his chest. “You think I’d allow Alyra to go alone, Lotari of the River Woods? She is exactly where she is supposed to be. And we are exactly where we are supposed to be, as well. You may leave and try to enter the city on your own, but take care. We are the barrier of protection Shaydon has provided for you. Venture on at your own peril.”
* * * *
The trek back over the mountain took Ethan and Dez double the time it did to reach Katrina. Each bump caused her to cry out in pain. He feared she had more than just a cut to her head. He hoped Issah would arrive soon.
The night had nearly passed by the time they reached the secret dale. Brie had a roaring fire going where she was busy cooking up a couple of fish and boiling a pot of herbs and wild vegetables. But where had she found the pot? He’d left his cooking gear back in the lake valley.
A quiver sat propped against a tree behind her. They’d left Stitch’s weapons, too. His chest ached from their excursion, but also excitement. Had Stitch broken the enchantment? Was he back?
“Where did you get all this?” Ethan asked as he and Dez gently set Katrina’s litter on the ground beside the fire.
Brie was up and at her mistress’ side. “Poor dear. Poor, poor dear. Thank Shaydon you are alive. That beast will soon have what’s coming when Issah gets his hands on him. I hope the prince throttles him a good one!”
Ethan fell to his knees beside the rambling woman. “What are you going on about? And how did Stitch’s pack and quiver get here? My pot? I left that behind, too.”
“Everything is here. And your sister left her Healer’s kit. I told them what happened to my Miss. She left nearly everything because we didn’t know how bad the poor girl was hurt.” Brie pushed back Katrina’s long black hair from her face. “Oh, she’s beat up good. I can’t imagine how she survived. Bless Shaydon. He does protect his own, doesn’t he?”
“Indeed,” DezPierre answered as he ambled over to the fire and took over preparing the meal. “The trees helped, too. They knew she was important, indeed.”
Ethan held up his hands. “Wait. I don’t understand. Brie, I need you to tell me exactly what happened. How did my belongings get here? Did my centaur friend show up?” Dare he hope?
Brows furrowing, Brie shook her head. “No, but Issah did. Aren’t you listening? He came with your sister and my son. They’re both Light Bearers, and both are serving King Shaydon. I knew he was, but never dreamed that girl was, too.” Her smile nearly split her face in half. “My boy looked better than I’ve ever seen him. Confident. Powerful. And they were both ready to go stop Darnel. They left with Issah a short time ago.”
Ethan was up and gathering his gear, including Stitch’s quiver.
Brie hopped up and yanked it off his shoulder. “Oh no you don’t, Mister! Your sister asked me to keep you here. I need help taking care of that girl, and I need you—”
“Dez will help. He’s very skillful and will do whatever you need.” He tried to yank the quiver back, but she was pretty strong.
“No. I’m not gonna let you. You stay here. We’re safe here!”
“I’m not hiding while my sister walks into danger. She’s not a fighter. You don’t understand—”
“I don’t need to. Issah is with them. You’ll stay here like you’re supposed to.” She backed away from him, clutching the quiver to her chest.
Ethan would not be told what to do. Not by her. Of course, Alyra would insist he stay here. She was always trying to protect others while she walked blindly into danger. Like she did when going to meet the Gran Doyen on her own, or facing that raging beast in Wilderland. Just like his sister to step out in front of everyone else. She probably had been planning for months how she’d get to Darnel first.
But wait... Issah was with her.
So he supports her insane plan?
“Do you think they’ll reach Darnel before he unleashes those—”
“Those what? All I know is they’re going to the castle to stop him. You’re supposed to stay here and help me. That’s all I know.”
Maybe it was better that Brie didn’t know about the demons Darnel intended to unleash. No sense in sending her into a panic. He was panicked enough for all of them.
Ethan turned away from her, his gaze on the narrow entrance to the vale. He couldn’t just sit here while his sister faced such unspeakable danger.
Katrina gave out a whimper. Dez was at her side, his twiggish hand pressed to her forehead. “She burns, Master Ethan. Look in Miss’s Healer pouch. I’m sure she has some dried fruit or at least some leaves we can use to brew a tea.”
Ethan’s heart split in half. Of course, he also couldn’t leave Katrina like this, either. He wasn’t a Healer, but everyone who graduated from the Academy knew basic skills. So many of them ended up in dangerous territories and knowing how to fix wounds or injuries was necessary.
“Let’s see what she left us.” Ethan returned to Katrina. “But soon as we’ve tended to her injuries, I’m leaving, and nobody can stop me.”
He glared at Brie who still clutched Stitch’s quiver. The woman glared back, then turned and marched toward the pond. With a mighty swing, she hurled the arrow and quiver into the middle of the pond. “Well you won’t be leaving with that now will you?”
DezPierre handed Ethan a pouch that smelled like it was packed with sweet apples. “I think, perhaps, Master Ethan, you’ve met your match. She means what she says, sir. If you still plan to challenge her, we may need to hold back a few of those fruit slices for you.” He glanced at the glowering woman and then back to Ethan. “I fears she’ll knock you on your face if you try to leave, sir. DezPierre will not defend you. He doesn’t care to end up as kindling for her fire. No sir, indeed.”
* * * *
Tarek took the ancient tunnels, ones he’d never even shared with Alyra. The passages had never taken him outside of the mountain, so he’d brushed them off as useless. Because nobody ever used them, they were also covered in webs and inhabited by creatures that liked the darkness.
Alyra made a disgusted noise each time she ran into another web. Once she screamed when a spider landed on her shoulder. He couldn’t blame her, the thing was the size of his hand.
Issah gently removed it, then placed his finger to his mouth, reminding them of the need to remain quiet.
After they’d made their sixth turn into yet another pitch black passageway, he felt a tug on his sleeve.
Alyra whispered, “I don’t remember any of this. Why can’t we try sneaking through the kitchen?”
“What do you think will happen if people spot Issah walking through the castle?” He shot a blast of fire down the narrow shaft, burning away most of the webs and hopefully chasing away any nasties. “Not to mention what they’d do if they saw us together?”
“Doubt anyone will recognize Issah. But you’re right about us being recognized. Did you notice that once we left the dale, he now looks like a normal traveler?” She glanced over her shoulder. “How do you suppose he does that?”
From behind them, Issah chuckled then answered in a quiet voice, “By sheer will, Daughter. Now please remain quiet. There are things lurking in the darkness we do not wish to disturb.”
Tarek felt her move closer to him. His free hand went around her. “Just be ready to throw up a shield, love. If you do that, I can take care of anything that tries to harm us.”
The tunnel eventually leveled out before opening into a wide chamber. Alyra sent up a couple balls of light. There were intricate carvings all along the smooth walls. Several archways opened around the room. A couple were blocked by hastily made doors, now nothing more than rotting wood. The open passages revealed stairs, some heading upward, others down.
“Issah, what is this place? Do you know?” Alyra asked while Tarek continued across the room.
“It was once a portal room, but they no longer work. The barred entryways once went to various cities around Alburnium. They’ve not been in use for nearly two hundred years.”
“But... I thought only you or a Logorian could open a portal.”
“That is true. Now. Long ago, many people traveled across the land by portals. That was before the separation started. That, my children, is another story for another time. Let us follow Tarek. He knows exactly where we need to go.” Issah placed his hand on Alyra’s shoulder as they walked.
Tarek waited for them to catch up. He knew from Alyra’s chattiness she was frightened out of her wits about what they were doing. Good thing Issah was a patient ruler. To think, Tarek didn’t even think ruler and patient, let alone, kind were words that would ever go together. But with Issah, they did.
“Sir, I only explored these tunnels a couple of times.” Tarek looked through the archway that opened to an upward staircase. “I know where this one ends up, but...” He blew out a long breath. The dank passages were stifling enough, but this portion he dreaded. “My guess is you already know. You warned us against disturbing things that hide in the dark. Well, this leg of tunnels always had a distinct feeling of... I’m not even sure how to describe it.”
“Debasement,” Issah answered. “Your lungs most likely labored to breathe because of the contamination of this part of the mountain. You probably felt as if you might lose your mind from the voices whispering threats. If you closed your eyes, you might see—”
“Monsters with red eyes and sharp claws.” Alyra finished.
“Exactly.” Issah’s arm went around her as he pulled her closer to his side and rested his cheek on her web-covered head. “Darsiderus has thinned the barrier between our world and theirs considerably here. And with each passing year of his reign, that barrier continues to weaken. That is why the land is dying. Why the air and water taste foul.”
That explained so much. He watched the fear clouding the face of his intended. A pain pierced his chest. Her nightmares, were they still clouded with the monsters she described? Did she suffer the memory of them more because she’d been the one forced to help Darnel open those doors?
Tarek gripped the stick he used as a light so tight in his hand, the rough bark bit into his palm. “Issah, is there a chance of reversing what’s been done? Or will this land always be cursed, and the barrier remain weak here?”
Issah placed a hand on his shoulder. “We always have hope, Son. Let us continue. Time is running short. Even now I feel the trembling. He knows my army is here. He may also know we are coming for him. Let us hope he hasn’t set any traps to delay our progress.”
Pointing toward the stairs, he added, “Onward, brave warrior. Remember you are endowed with the light of Shaydon. Any escaped eidolons we might meet along the way will fear that light. Do not forget who and what you are, my children.”
