by Jay Lynn
“It shall be done. Safe journey to you both.”
“Thanks.”
The men shook hands before Alec walked back towards Isabelle. She quickly shifted her attention to their horse, making a show of straightening the bridle.
“Ready?” the sorcerer questioned.
Isabelle put on a brave smile. “As I’ll ever be.”
Alec swung up into the saddle of the restless stallion then held out his hand. Isabelle stared at him blankly.
“Sorry, we don’t have many horses to spare and yours need to rest,” Rin apologized as he watched her hesitate.
Isabelle pulled herself together. “It’s fine,” she muttered wrapping her fingers around the warrior’s strong calloused hand.
It never occurred to her they would be sharing the same horse. Arms snaking around his narrow waist, she could feel her cheeks warming. Why is my heart racing? Isabelle shook herself. It would be unwise to allow herself to grow feelings beyond friendship for the warrior. Alec’s heart already belonged to another. Even so, Isabelle found herself enjoying the experience of having him close just the same.
Rin and Sean rode with them as they descended the mountain and made their way towards the village. The journey was mostly silent until Isabelle loosened her iron grip and began chatting to her more receptive company. As darkness swallowed up the sun’s brilliant luster, the riders slowed their pace. Tugging on the reins, Alec crawled to a halt. Eyes scanning the shadowed tree line, he nodded to the others.
“This will do.”
To the right, the river bent in a sharp curve then disappeared back into the woods. Alec gestured towards the landmark.
“We’ll meet you here two mornings hence. Thanks for your help.”
Rin dipped his head. “Anything for friends of Lord Kegan. He looks out for us more than our own kingdom does.”
Taking hold of Alec’s arm, Isabelle slid down off the horse. Stepping back, she gave him room to dismount, then watched as he handed the reins to Rin.
“Stay safe,” he told them spinning the horses in the other direction.
Riding off, Rin and Sean were all too soon nothing but specks in the distance. Adjusting his sword, Alec started walking with Isabelle following close to his side. He strode down the side of the road for a good twenty minutes prior to shifting into the brush.
Isabelle did her best to copy every step the warrior took. One arm clamped over her bag, she ducked beneath a branch Alec held to the side. It was slow moving through the underbrush. Every snap of a twig or scuff of her boot seemed to echo in the sorceress’s own ears. As the light faded more aggressively around them, it became increasingly difficult to see.
Alec gripped his own satchel to keep it from swinging as he searched for the easiest route to take through the trees. A faint glow across the road instantly stilled his movements. Gently tapping Isabelle’s shoulder, he pointed to the outline of the fire.
She nodded, then waited for his next instructions.
She’s learning quickly, he thought pleasantly. It was almost strange for Isabelle not to be asking a thousand questions.
Crouching down across from the sentry post, Alec’s dark eyes intently scanned the area. The shadowed figures of four men could be seen in the low fire light. A screen of leaves and moss blocked their left side, which faced out towards the road. If they had stayed on the path, it would have been nearly impossible to spot their enemy. Most likely, the soldiers would have found them first. The glint of chainmail and light armor rid any thoughts of their company being hunters camping in the forest.
After studying them for some time, Alec drew back. Traveling deeper into the woods he looked for a place for them to camp. It was completely dark now, and neither Isabelle nor Alec possessed the right training to stumble around in the starlight. Dawn and dusk would be their greatest allies.
Satisfied they were far enough away from both the sentry and the village, Alec signaled for Isabelle to help him set up camp. They found a rock enclosure which would offer them some protection from the elements. A fire was out of the question, but luckily the night air was still warm. First casting an energy spell to repel unwanted company, Isabelle then added the shielding enchantment she heard Malcolm use at the East Circle.
“Ahhh,” she drawled elatedly. “It feels so good to be able to talk, and the best part is—no one can hear us.”
He flashed her a half smile. “Neat trick. Where’d you learn it?”
Isabelle hesitated. Spying on your teacher. “At the academy.”
He nodded, tossing her an apple before cutting them both off a piece of salted pork.
“So…do you think we’re going to find The Pure here?”
Alec didn’t answer right away. “Hard to say. Someone is here.”
Isabelle’s eyes dropped, her grip tightening on her food. Nodding to herself, she forced a grin. “Well, then we best find out what they’re up to.”
“Agreed.”
Early the next morning, as the first rays were breaking through, Alec stood in the upper branches of a thick tree while Isabelle dozed below. She only drifted off a few hours prior. Even with using her bag as a pillow, the sorceress had difficulty falling asleep on the hard ground wrapped up in only a thin cloak.
Scanning their surroundings, Alec better studied the village’s location. To the west, the rocky, slanted sides of the valley walls made it difficult to sneak around from the rear. The river cut off access from the north, leaving the southeast the most logical route. However, it would mean sneaking past the sentry. Heading east to go around them would take far too much of their precious time.
Climbing down the ancient tree, Alec approached his sleeping companion. Leaning in, he gently shook her.
“Isabelle, time to rise.”
The warrior was rewarded with a sudden punch to the jaw.
“Get off me!” came a snapped, sleepy reply.
Sitting up, Isabelle rubbed her face. A confused frown marred her features as she looked at Alec through partially open slits. Staring at him, Isabelle blinked several times. Then, her gaze widened considerably.
“Oh my stars—Alec are you okay? I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
“It’s alright,” he assured her, holding up his hands to stem her apology. The punch hadn’t really hurt. It was her reaction which took him by surprise. “I’m fine, just remind me not to wake you again. Did something happen when you were training with Jerric?”
Isabelle looked away. “Only too many students with too little control,” she said coldly. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
That’s a first. “We better get moving,” Alec told her putting the strap of his satchel over his head.
Isabelle tilted her head to the side.
“We need to sneak past the sentry to the other side of the village. Once daylight hits, we won’t stand a chance.”
“So darkness is our only friend?”
Alec nodded.
Isabelle stood and straightened her clothing. “Lead the way.”
Only a faint light painted the sky as the sorceress dispelled their barriers. Alec took the front, smoothly guiding them through the brush as they rounded the village with a wide birth. It was a difficult balance keeping distance from both their future destination and the sentry they already identified.
Isabelle’s breath caught in her throat as she nearly ran into Alec’s stiff form. Peering around him, she froze as she saw a man returning to his tent. It seemed they had come upon another sentry. He appeared to be hiding behind camouflage similar to what the soldiers were using the night before. Backtracking somewhat, they inched their way around the camp. The higher the sun rose, the more every sound seemed to make Isabelle flinch.
Having successfully made it to the southern side of the village, part of Alec wanted to continue on with his mission. Alec glanced back at Isabelle. He might be able to get closer in the coming daylight, but she certainly couldn’t. It would be too great of a risk.
Instea
d, the warrior searched for a place for them to wait out the day. Down near a creek Alec came upon some fallen trees. Quietly summoning an earth spell, he dug out a den beneath the trunks and covered it up behind them. From the outside, the area appeared unchanged, hiding their presence.
“So what, pray tell, is the plan?” Isabelle whispered, leaning against the solid earthen wall.
Alec stretched out his legs. “We wait. When the sun starts to set, we’ll sneak into the village.”
“Arrgh,” Isabelle softly moaned. “I hate waiting. Can’t we look around a little?”
Alec tilted his head, raising a brow.
“Fine. I’ll stay here and try to be patient.”
Laughing with a short huff, the warrior closed his eyes. He spent most of the night on watch. It was time for him to get some rest.
“Wake me if you see any scouts,” he mumbled.
Chapter 2
As streaks of red, orange and pink painted the skyline, Alec and Isabelle crept from their makeshift den. They journeyed back towards the village, taking extra care should the sentries have moved during the day.
One hand holding his bag in place, Alec slowed his pace as they neared the village outskirts. No wall surrounded the perimeter. The farthest huts were empty, left abandoned as a couple of animals claimed them for their own. A few guards were spread out along the edge. Fires came to life as the light faded from the sky.
Pausing, Alec’s eyes tracked them quietly. Three soldiers were stationed to the left around the blaze with another three farther along on the right. The men lingered by the embers, never seeming to venture more than a few feet. The spots were spread out enough to leave a dark shaded gap in their line.
Smoothly blending in with the growing shadows, Alec inched closer. He stopped beside the next row of huts. A short stone wall jutted out from the one side, giving the two wizards the perfect cover. Peering into the village, Alec’s eyes narrowed dangerously. Throngs of people milled about the streets. Soldiers lined the roads, were gathered outside huts and lounged beside the central well. Everywhere he looked, Alec spied the mark of The Pure. And that wasn’t all.
Men clad in chains were working in the forge or carrying crates up and down the streets. Women dressed in tattered rags chopped wood or stood hunched over kettles as they cooked the soldiers’ evening meal.
From somewhere within, a woman screamed in terror.
Palm smacking the wall, Isabelle tried to rise.
Alec clamped a hand on her shoulder to still her movements. Jaw clenched, he slowly shook his head.
Damn it.
There was nothing they could do for them now. Whether Zerrokian slaves, or captured peasants, the two sorcerers couldn’t defeat an entire army in order to liberate them. Completing their mission would offer the most aid. Alec knew King Titus wouldn’t ignore their distress. Forcing his attention elsewhere, Alec’s gaze traveled over the soldiers. He estimated about five hundred were currently in the village. The sage then shifted his focus to the forge.
The clang of metal rang out in a constant melody. Near the closest fire, a man lifted a piece of steel for a soldier’s inspection.
Alec’s brows furrowed. It was a sword.
With a jerk of his head, the soldier ordered the man to toss the scalding blade into a wide trough of water.
Keeping his head down, Alec rounded the back of the hut and moved closer. Isabelle remained back in the shadows while he better studied the armory.
Four pools of water were brimming with weapons. Men stood on the other side, removing the cooling metal to add the finishing components. Afterwards, the completed swords were stored in crates.
The warrior’s eyes traveled over the numerous boxes. There were dozens of them, enough to strike Malyndor without anyone being the wiser.
We have to inform the king.
Sliding back, Alec rejoined his partner. They retreated into the woods, leaving the outskirt of the village. The light was quickly waning, but Alec was still able to see fairly well. In another hour, it would be completely dark.
As they headed towards their makeshift den, the sound of soft mumbled voices reached their ears. A narrow road ran alongside the settlement. The sorcerers needed to pass the trail to travel deeper into the forest. With the voices quickly approaching, Alec stepped back to hide in the trees until the coast was clear.
Head down and shoulders hunched, Isabelle flew by.
Alec reached out, trying to catch her, but missed. “Isabelle, wait,” he called out in a hushed tone.
Spinning around, she peered back at him with a startled frown. The quick, jerked movement caused her to catch her foot on an imbedded rock. The next thing she knew, a shriek passed her lips as Isabelle crashed onto the ground.
Alec raced to her side as the soldiers hastened towards them from down the road. There was no chance of sneaking by them now. Damn it.
“Don’t panic,” he whispered to Isabelle as he helped her to her feet. “Evening good sirs,” Alec began calmly as the soldiers crawled to a halt. “Sorry for the disturbance, my sister’s a little clumsy.”
Placing a hand on her upper back, he gently pushed her into a bow as he bobbed his head.
Eyeing them carefully, the men gradually released their grips on their swords.
“What are you doing here?” a stout man with a thick dark beard questioned.
“We have a campsite about a mile up the path.”
The man’s brows lowered. “Our scouts didn’t report seeing anyone in the area.”
“Not surprised. We only use it when traveling to Woodcrest to see family,” Alec told them with a little shrug.
A hand on Isabelle’s back, he slowly walked forward to go around them.
The squad leader’s eyes looked over the length of the travelers. “Where are you from?”
“Roskos,” Alec replied evenly, offering nothing more. These men were taking too keen of an interest in them.
“Where is that?”
“Up in the mountains.”
The two sorcerers were almost even with the soldiers.
“Why don’t you stay in the village? The woods are no place for a pretty girl.”
Crap. “Thanks, but we don’t have the money for an inn. Besides, we’ll be gone by first light. Family’s expecting us tomorrow.”
The man held out his sheathed blade, blocking their path. “I insist.”
“We’re not looking for trouble, sir,” Alec informed him in a dark tone.
Eyes locked upon each other, the two men stood frozen.
Chin lowered, Isabelle’s gaze darted between them. This isn’t good. These soldiers aren’t going to let us go. Why am I so bad at being undercover?
In a flash, the man drew his sword.
Alec pushed Isabelle behind him, unsheathing his own weapon as the other men did the same.
“Run!” he commanded.
Twisting on her heel, Isabelle took off in the opposite direction as Alec engaged their enemies. His blade sliced through the first man like melting butter. Five men were left standing before his red stained blade.
One sounded a horn while the others attacked. Two soldiers in the front simultaneously struck with long sweeping cuts.
Springing off the ground, Alec spun in the air, passing directly between the blades. The moment he landed, he kicked the next soldier in the chest, then parried a blow from the fourth man. Twisting in a circle, the sorcerer knocked their blades away.
The fifth man charged forward, locking his sword with Alec’s. Eyes narrowing to slits, he released a deep growl.
Bringing his knee up, Alec struck him in the side. Pulling back, he freed his blade just in time to face the next round of attacks.
Behind him, Isabelle hadn’t gotten very far. Moving in from the other side, another squad of soldiers appeared. The sorceress skidded to a stop as she eyed them wearily. A hand went to her belt. The thin blade she wore was more or less useless for her to use against these foes.
I gue
ss I have no choice.
Keeping the knife in its sheath, Isabelle held her hands out in front of her.
“Surgeon, blast,” she calmly stated, summoning an energy spell.
The pulse knocked her enemies off their feet. Several arrows flew from the canopy.
Isabelle dodged the strikes, watching with wide eyes as they landed where she had been. Heart racing, she scanned the tree line. Calling up an air spell, the sorceress blasted the area with a powerful gust.
Further down the road, Alec spotted the men lying on the ground near his partner rise menacingly. Distracted by the archers, she didn’t see the threat.
The soldiers however, were not the biggest danger to the sorceress. The section of forest they were currently in was close to a steep rocky hillside. The vibrations of her energy blast loosened some of the rock, causing a small land slide which was heading straight for her.
Throwing the man he was fighting off, Alec tightened his grip upon his blade and brought it down with such force that it broke both of their swords. Summoning his own energy spell, the sorcerer swiped his hand in an arch, stunning the remaining soldiers around him. Using the residual energy, he quickly closed the distance between Isabelle and himself.
As the rocks crashed towards her, Isabelle raised her arms to shield her face.
Appearing by her side, Alec wrapped his arms around her, pulling Isabelle out of harm’s way as his momentum launched them forward. They rolled onto the ground, sliding into the trunk of a tree. Turning her away from the rubble, Alec shielded his partner as the mounds of rock tumbled onto the forest road and sprayed the area with a blanket of dust.
When it stopped, Alec released her. Tugging Isabelle quickly to her feet he urged, “Let’s go.”
Once again Alec saved her life, but not without price.
Catching sight of a soldier coming from his blind side, Alec started to turn around and engage him. Two more pounced on him first, taking him to the ground.
Isabelle started to call up a spell when a third man cracked the metal butt of his weapon on the back of Alec’s skull, knocking him out cold.
