by Hylton, PT
Not exactly the heroic entrance she’d been going for.
She sprang to her feet and started to run around the stone wall, but it was already changing, morphing back into a boulder.
“Screw this,” she said. She reached out and touched the rock, now the shape of a flattened oval ten feet wide. Grabbing the edge of the rock, she channeled her magic, then lifted the massive object which now weighed no more than her sword.
She turned to the Tall Grass Raiders gawking at her. “You’re runners, aren’t you? Run!”
The runners took off for the trees where Elliot and the archers were waiting.
The Stone Shapers stared at Abbey in surprise, too, but she knew they’d soon regain their composure. She had to end this.
She clutched the rock, holding it above the guards for just a moment. Then she let it go.
The stone immediately returned to its natural weight and crashed down on top of them.
Their cries of pain and surprise rang in Abbey’s ears as she turned and sprinted back toward Elliot and the Tall Grass Raiders.
* * *
“This is really the reward?” Abbey asked.
Elliot smiled. “It really is. You put in the hard work, so you get to experience the payoff.”
They were headed south toward another inland village. Their raid earlier that day had been a failure; they’d been unsuccessful at stealing the tribute of dried fish meant for the inland Stone Shapers.
But they’d all escaped with their lives, and that was victory enough.
A portion of those who’d gone on the raid were now being given the opportunity to accompany Elliot to deliver the dried fish they’d stolen a few days ago to a hungry village.
Seemed like an odd reward to Abbey, but she was along for the ride.
“So, you going to tell me about those strange powers of yours?” Elliot asked her.
She was riding in the front of the wagon with him. Dustin, Syd, and a few Tall Grass Raiders sat in back with the bags of dried fish.
There was one more person Elliot had insisted go along with them: Gideon. The Stone Shaper wore a dour expression. They’d made him leave his black sash back at Baer Gigur so no one would know he was a Stone Shaper.
Abbey smiled. “Not much to tell. It’s just something I can do.”
“Huh,” he said. “And your Storm Caller? I suppose calling a wind without any seawater in sight is just something he can do?”
“I suppose it is, Mr. Curious.”
Elliot chuckled. “I’m not trying to pry. Just not something you see every day. Or ever.”
Abbey wanted to change the subject. She was only just wrapping her mind around the concept of the Etheric, and she wasn’t ready to discuss it with this near-stranger. “Maybe we should talk about those guards hiding in the storehouse. How’d they know you were going to be there?”
A shadow crossed Elliot’s face. “That is an excellent question. My guess is that we just got careless. They must have stationed extra guards in the storehouses of every village in the area. We should have struck somewhere farther away.” He glanced toward the Stone Shaper in the back of the wagon. When he spoke again, he did so in a quiet voice. “The only thing that makes me question that theory is, it seems like they’d coordinate that kind of thing with Gideon. He’s the one who's been hunting us for a year.”
Abbey considered that. “I get the feeling Magnus and Gideon aren’t exactly best buddies. Like maybe Magnus sent Gideon on the hunt to get him out of his hair. Gideon mentioned he hasn’t had the support he needs.”
“Oh, was that his excuse?”
Abbey laughed. Elliot was overconfident, in a way she found charming. Not like Olaf, who just assumed he was better than everyone. More like her father. They were men who knew they could handle themselves in tough situations.
Elliot stared down the road. “We’re almost there. It’s just around this next curve.”
“I take it you’ve brought these people food before?”
He nodded. “We figured we could either help many villages a little or help a few villages a lot. We chose the latter. This village in particular has been struggling to feed its people.”
“I don’t understand. The ocean is what, like fifty miles east of here? Couldn’t they just move to the coast and fish?”
“Not with Magnus in charge. He’s worried about too many people living on the coast. They’d outnumber his Stone Shapers. So he tells them they can’t relocate, and he sends his guards on a regular basis to make sure they don’t.”
“And they just obey him? I’d be on the first wagon for the coast the moment those guards turned their backs.”
“Then your family would pay the price.” Elliot’s voice was filled with sorrow. “These people are in a really bad situation here. There are no easy answers. That’s why we decided to take action. We were tired of watching people suffer.”
Up ahead, she saw a man standing at the edge of the road. He seemed like some kind of lookout, but he wasn’t wearing the black sash of the Stone Shapers.
When he spotted the wagon, his eyes widened. Then he turned and took off running down the road in the opposite direction.
Abbey grabbed the hilt of her sword. “We’ve been spotted!”
Elliot let out a loud laugh. “Would you relax? Man, you’ve been fighting too long. He’s not our enemy. He’s going to tell his friends the good news that we’re here.”
The Raider leader was quickly proven correct. As they rounded the curve and entered the small village, the man was running through the street, knocking on doors. Even from the wagon, Abbey could hear his excited voice. “They’re here! Elliot’s here!”
Elliot pulled the wagon to the side of the road and everyone climbed out. Syd helped Gideon out of the wagon since his hands were bound.
It wasn’t long before the villagers began crowding around Elliot and the other Tall Grass Raiders. One look at them confirmed that the villagers were underfed. It was especially obvious among the children.
Abbey felt a twinge of worry. With all these villagers and so little food, would a fight break out?
But she soon realized that the villagers weren’t clamoring for the food at all. They were genuinely excited to talk to Elliot and his friends. And when the time to hand out the food arrived, the villagers were methodical about making sure everyone got their fair share.
They stayed in the village until sundown, talking with the people, helping them with odd jobs, and playing games with the children. Abbey learned a fun game that involved hiding in the woods on the edge of town and attempting to sneak to a tree designated “goal” without being spotted by the other team.
Since she was a foot taller than most of the children she got caught every time, but the children’s laughter gave them away just as often.
The villagers offered them dinner, but of course they refused. They weren’t going to use up these people’s meager resources.
When it was time to leave, the process took nearly twenty minutes. Every man, woman and child in the village wanted to give each member of their group a hug or a hearty handshake before they left.
Syd clapped Elliot on the back before they got on the wagon. “You’ve done well, big brother. I would have loved you no matter what, but it’s good to see you’re not the monster the Stone Shapers claim.”
“Well, that’s good to hear.” Elliot turned to Gideon. “Do you understand why I wanted you to see this?”
There was a long pause.
“Yes, I understand.” The Stone Shaper’s voice was heavy, and he didn’t meet Elliot’s eyes. He sat down in the back of the wagon and closed his eyes.
Elliot turned to Abbey. “How about you? Do you understand why this trip is a reward now?”
She considered how to answer the question. In truth, she couldn’t think of a single afternoon that had been more fulfilling. There was a grim joy in battle, in defeating evil and crushing one’s enemies. But seeing the children’s glee and the gratitude on th
eir parents’ faces was a whole new experience.
And yet, it somehow made the fire to avenge the wrong burn even more brightly inside her.
She looked at Elliot. “I do understand. I understand that we have to do more for these people.”
Chapter Twelve
“Thank the seas you’re back, boss,” Clemens said as Abbey climbed out of the wagon. “I think the raiders are about to kill Olaf.”
Abbey sighed. She’d hoped to have some time to think before she met with Elliot and his friends again, but it looked like that was not going to happen. “What did he do?”
“It’s not one thing. More like everything. First he told them why their houses were built wrong. Then he told them he could devise a more effective raiding method. Last I saw, he was off showing their archers the proper way to hold a bow.”
Abbey shook her head. “Point me to him.”
She found Olaf near the edge of Baer Gigur in a stand of trees. He was speaking with someone, but in the dim light of the torches she couldn’t see who.
“So then I looked up and saw Dahlia on a ship docked across from us. I knew if she set sail, we’d all be in real trouble. I couldn’t let her escape and get back to the Barskall fleet. For a moment, I was stumped.”
A female voice answered, surprise in her voice. “You? Stumped?”
“Yeah, but just for a moment. Then I remembered Abbey could reduce her own weight, so I told Dustin to give her an updraft, and I told Abbey to fly over to the ship and grab Dahlia. She seemed a little nervous, but I told her I’d be over to help in a minute. And that was when I first had the idea of Dustin and Viktor using their powers together against the Barskall fleet.”
Abbey cleared her throat. “Is that how it happened?”
Olaf spun around in surprise. “Err, yeah, pretty much.” He subtly nodded toward the woman standing in the shadows and mouthed, be cool.
The woman stepped out into the torchlight, and Abbey recognized her from the raid. “Hekla! Getting to know Olaf, I see.”
Hekla nodded. “I’d like to get to know him better. He says so many dumb things, but he has a pretty face.”
Abbey stifled a laugh. There were a lot of things she’d call Olaf, but pretty wasn’t one of them.
Olaf tilted his head, clearly considering whether Hekla’s statement was a compliment or an insult. After a moment, he shrugged. “You know what? I’ll take it.”
“Okay, well, you two kids have fun.” Abbey turned and walked back toward the rest of her friends.
Syd looked relieved when she saw her. “There you are. Elliot wants to discuss something with us. Apparently you gave him an idea.”
A few minutes later, Syd, Dustin, Abbey, Elliot, and Sigmund were once again gathered in Elliot’s home.
Hekla was the last to arrive. She looked flushed and a little annoyed. “I was having a nice conversation with the pretty man.”
“That’ll have to wait.” Elliot turned to Abbey. “I’ve been thinking about what you said, and you’re right.”
Abbey searched her memory, wondering what the hell she’d said that might have caused further thought. She remembered telling him that she liked his bow, but that probably wasn’t what he was referring to.
“You told me we needed to do more to help the starving villages, and you’re right,” Elliot said. “I think we need to attack a larger city and raid their food supplies.”
Sigmund and Hekla stared at him, mouths agape.
“Wait, so when the hot girl says it, it’s a good idea?” Sigmund asked.
“No, it’s not that. Besides, I’m not talking about Ammaas. Something smaller. Near the coast.”
Hekla scratched at her chin. “How about Nuur? It’s on the coast, and it’s mostly Stone Shapers. They pushed out the fisher folk.”
Sigmund nodded. “They live like kings and queens while the people in the villages starve. When do you think we should do this?”
Elliot thought a moment. “As soon as we can safely plan it. Three or four days should be plenty. If I’m right, we’ll get more food from this raid than from all the others we’ve done altogether.”
Abbey felt herself getting caught up in the idea. She imagined the looks on those village children’s faces when they saw a wagon overflowing with food pull up.
“Raiding a city full of Stone Shapers is going to be different than raiding a tiny village with four guards,” she said. “It won’t be easy.”
Elliot flashed her a smile. “Nothing worthwhile ever is.”
Syd held up a hand. “Okay, let’s all just hold on a minute. You’re forgetting a crucial detail. Chief Magnus put us on a deadline. We only have three days left to get back to The Foggy Day.”
Abbey’s stomach turned. Somehow she’d managed to push the deadline out of her mind, but Syd was right. If they didn’t figure out what they were going to do soon, her father and her shipmates would be killed.
Of course, they might be killed even if she did figure things out.
Dustin scratched his chin. “We have to find a way to get the ship past the pillars and out of the harbor. If we got into open water, there’s no way they could catch us.”
“Yes,” Syd said, “but they’re not going to let us leave peacefully as long as the Tall Grass Raiders are free.”
Hekla frowned at Syd. “What would you have us do? Should we turn ourselves over to Chief Magnus so you and your friends can go home safely?”
“No, that’s not what I’m saying. I want us to work the problem. There’s a way out of this. We just need to find it.”
“Wonderful,” Sigmund said. “When you figure out a solution that will free your friends from the Stone Shapers, alleviate hunger in the villages of Gren, and pardon us for our so-called crimes, you let me know. In the meantime, we are planning a raid.”
Syd leaned toward the man, an angry snarl on her face. “What I’d like is for you to work the problem. If you want to spend time talking about how impossible things are, I’m sure you can find someone to grumble at outside. If you’re going to stay in here, you are going to help us look for a solution.”
Sigmund glared back at her, and their eyes locked in a tension-filled, angry stare. Then Sigmund burst out laughing. “Very good! You’re just like your brother. You’re both pigheaded and far too serious.”
Syd raised an eyebrow, then turned to Elliot.
Her brother just shrugged. “What can I say? He likes to test new people.”
Syd shook her head, but she cracked a smile.
A knock at the door interrupted them.
“Come!” Elliot shouted.
The door opened, and a Tall Grass Raider came in. His face was pale, and he was panting. Fannar was standing behind him, seax drawn. He pushed past the other man.
“What is it?” Elliot asked, concern evident in his voice.
“It’s that damn Stone Shaper,” Fannar said. “He’s escaped.”
* * *
Elliot stormed out of his house and into the torch-lit night. A group was gathered in the center of the homes.
“What the hell happened?” he asked.
The Tall Grass Raiders all looked at each other.
“We’re not sure,” one of them said.
Elliot stared at them, incredulous. “You’re not sure? You damned well better figure it out.”
“He had a stone,” Clemens said. “He shifted the damn thing into a blade and cut himself free.”
Elliot wheeled on him. “And how do you know that?”
“Because he tried to stab me with it. Thankfully Olaf tackled him before he could land the blow.”
Olaf smiled. “Did you expect any less?”
“Huh,” Abbey said. “You had him down? How’d he get away?”
The smiled faded from Olaf’s face. “He’s more slippery than he looks.”
Elliot cursed quietly. “I don’t understand. Where’d he pick up a rock? This place is clean.”
The Tall Grass Raiders were silent.
&n
bsp; “Say it,” Elliot ordered.
One of them cleared his throat. “We think he must have brought it back from the village.”
“Sonofabitch. I thought we checked him. Not well enough, apparently.” He sighed. “All right, pair up and spread out. We have to find this bastard. If we don’t, we’re done in Baer Gigur. If you see him, start screaming your damned head off and the rest of us will come running.”
Abbey turned to Dustin. “Pair up with me?”
Dustin grinned. “Naturally.”
They grabbed torches and headed south, the direction Gideon most likely would have gone. There was nothing to the north but more wilderness. They followed a small animal track, moving quickly, hoping to catch Gideon before he got too far.
As they ran, Abbey turned to Dustin. “Man, you’re in better shape than you used to be. Remember when you could barely make it up that mountain with Syd and me?”
“Don’t remind me. Hanging out with you is pretty much its own workout.”
“What are you talking about? I’m a pleasure to hang out with. Everyone says so.”
Dustin’s breath was getting heavy now. “I won’t disagree. I’m just saying that every time we go somewhere together, we end up either running away from someone or running at them.”
“Usually both,” Abbey added.
Beneath the easy banter, Abbey could tell Dustin was just as concerned as she was. It was their fault Gideon had come to Baer Gigur. He would never have found it without Fannar’s translation of the name.
And now he’d escaped.
Elliot was right. If Gideon made it to a Stone Shaper city, Baer Gigur was done. He’d bring an army of Stone Shapers back to the camp with him. Elliot and his friends would have to find somewhere new to live, or they’d face capture.
Abbey silently cursed herself for being so lax with Gideon. Just because they’d spent a few days with him and he’d been a pleasant traveling companion, she’d assumed the best in him. Granted, they’d kept him restrained just in case, but deep inside she’d assumed they’d be able to win him over.
