The Last Falcon: Book 1 of the Cael Stone

by Colleen Ruttan

CHAPTER 15

  The passage beyond the gate wound to the right and opened into a large cave. Except for a narrow ledge, which ran along the left wall and disappeared behind two massive rocks at the mouth of the cave, the entire space was filled with lake water. Halfway along the ledge, sticking up out of the water and secured by only the tiniest thread of rope, was the wooden hull of an old rowboat — the rest of the boat submerged.

  Adena went pale. "What if we need that to get across the lake?"

  Erynn set her candle down and went to the boat. A large hole in the floorboards was just barely visible in the murky water. A hole that didn't look like it had arrived there by accident. "Hopefully we don't."

  "I guess it's been a while since they sent anyone down here to check on it."

  Erynn turned to the rocks at the mouth of the cave, eager to get out of the darkness and into the sun. "Let's go see what's outside. See if there is another way out of here."

  The ledge narrowed as it passed around the rocks, but it lead them outside and from there wound sharply left and disappeared into the trees and bushes along the edge of the lake. High above, the outer walls of Caraden Castle rose up from the dark and jagged cliffs on which it sat. To the south, past the high rock and trees, lay the numerous distant cottages that marked the outskirts of the village. To the north, the lake continued on for miles along the edge of the mountains, and on the far side, an open field stretched west at least a hundred yards to the trees.

  "Looks like there might be a path around the lake," Adena said, sounding a little relieved.

  Erynn heard her, but her eyes were still on that field on the far side. "We need to get to those trees. They'll give us some cover as we head south."

  "You don't want to go through the village? Like we originally planned?"

  Erynn shook her head. "It's too open between here and the village. If Holden has figured out how we escaped, we might just run into him on our way there. I think we should cut across the wood to the road down to Farglen and follow it to South Crossing. Maybe stop and buy horses in Farglen. Food, too."

  "Cut across the wood? Do you think that's safe?"

  "What do you mean?"

  "What about the elves?"

  Erynn realized she hadn't thought about the elves, and for a moment it threw her off and she wondered if going through the forest was the right choice. Like every child growing up in Valentia, she had heard the stories of people going missing in the deep forests where the elves were either known or rumored to live, or being attacked for merely stepping into their lands — as well as all the stories of man's battles with them long-ago. Before the uneasy silence of the last several hundred years. She had never seen an elf before and had hoped she might on their trip to Galia two years earlier, passing as close as they did to the forests surrounding the mountains of Hale, but she had had both her father and Jared with her at that time, and Jared was good with a sword. Now it was just her and Adena, and they didn't have any weapons at all. As she gazed back across the lake, she wondered if cutting across the forest was the best choice. But then she remembered, too, how her father had felt about all the stories and the things he had told her about the elves, and she knew she had to trust in him and brush those fears aside.

  "I don't think there are any elves this close to Caraden," she said. "At least not any more. And if there are, there aren't many. We're too far north."

  Adena didn't exactly look convinced. "My uncle disappeared in the Bryan Forest. Everyone thinks the elves got him."

  Erynn remembered Jared saying something about his uncle on their way to Galia. She also remembered that it set her father off on a rather long lecture about the elves and how he didn't believe half of the things that were said about them. Or the dwarves for that matter, even though he did admit that much less was known about them these days as they tended to stay deep within the mountains and were no longer being rounded up and used as slaves as they had in the past. Or if it was still happening, it certainly wasn't something people talked about.

  "The Bryan Forest is farther south of here," she said. "And besides, my father saw some elves there once. They were sitting up in the trees along the edge of the Ring Road. He said they watched him pass by, but that was about it. He used to say if we just left them alone — and the dwarves — they'd probably leave us alone, too." She paused. "He was actually on his way to Highcastle that time."

  "But he didn't go in the forest? And it's still possible there might be elves?"

  Erynn didn't want to argue. They didn't have the time. "We don't have another choice, Adena. We can't go south from here. And right now I'd rather risk running into elves than running into Lord Caden." She turned away from the lake, hitched up her pack, and started down the path.

  Adena continued scanning the trees, then turned and followed after her. "I guess they might not expect us to go that way. To head west instead of trying to make for North Falls. But what about the guards on the wall? What if they see us cross the field?"

  That was the part Erynn was most worried about. If the guards did see them cross and alerted Marik, it wouldn't take riders long to catch up. They could wait until dark, when the guards were less likely to see them, but if Holden had figured out how they escaped, he would probably order Marik down the tunnel after them — and send riders around to the lake. They couldn't afford to wait. "We just better hope they don't."

  Adena said nothing more and they continued walking, making their way along the path and around the edge of the lake as quickly as they could. But it wasn't an easy journey. The trees and brush grew thick in places, making it difficult to even find the path, and in others large rocks jutted up in their way and they had to climb over them. Twice they found the path flooded and had to slip off their shoes and wade across — which Adena did not enjoy at all and slowed them down considerably. Splintered arrows lay everywhere along the open spaces, as well as bits of armor and clothing and old swords — and even worse, the weathered bones of numerous long dead invaders.

  At the sight of one skull, gazing up at her from it's resting place between two rocks, Erynn paused to glance up at the castle walls, wondering what it must have been like to be stuck down here, trying to reach the cave in a heavy rain full of arrows. She also wondered how many soldiers were up on the wall right now, gazing out across the lake. Or even down at the water's edge.

  "Think they've seen us?" Adena asked, pausing next to her for a breath.

  "If they have, we'll soon find out."

  "Maybe Marik hasn't alerted the men on the wall yet. Maybe he's still looking for you inside the castle."

  Erynn doubted it. Holden's deal with the Galians was too important. "He'll make sure his men know. I don't think he'd risk it."

  "Then we'll have to run fast," Adena said, and she moved past Erynn to take the lead for a while.

  Erynn glanced over at the lake, wondering if they even stood a chance. But then she returned her attention to the path and continued walking. They had come this far already. She was just going to hope their journey was not over yet.

  As they rounded the far side of the lake, the path grew wider and more open and they were able to walk faster. Soon Erynn noticed that strange rushing sound in her ears again, followed shortly after by a dull ache spreading out across her brow. She wished they had something to eat, assuming once more that this was some symptom of her being both hungry and exhausted, but as much as she tried to ignore the noise and the ache and just press on, they both grew worse.

  When they finally reached the field, they sat down in the bushes by the side of the lake for a rest — trying to gather as much energy as they could for their sprint to the trees.

  "Are you ready?" Adena asked.

  Erynn wasn't, but she nodded anyway and pulled herself up into a crouch, clutching her pack tightly to her chest so it wouldn't slow her down. She was just about to spring out into the field, when a terrifying scream ripped through the air.

  Krystalix was flying high along the castle w
alls above them, his golden scales sparkling in the morning sun. He banked slightly to follow the walls east, and as he did turned his head and gazed right down the cliffs to the path near the lake.

  Adena gasped. "He saw us!"

  Erynn ducked back down. Krystalix raised his head and screamed again. Then he was gone — out of sight over the castle walls.

  "What do we do now?" Adena asked.

  Erynn barely heard her, too busy searching the sky for his return. The rushing in her ears was growing louder, the ache in her head pounding. She wanted nothing more than to run, to get across the field to the trees, but was suddenly terrified of running out into the open. She remembered what the dragon did to Lord Caden's men that day. How he had snatched them from their saddles and ripped them apart right in front of her. But then, slowly, other memories came back, too. The entries she had read in the history book on Krystalix. The dark-haired woman by the river, with her hand on his nose. The king's words in the pantry. And then she knew why the dragon was there. "He's come to help us."

  Adena looked at her like she was crazy. "Help? How?"

  Erynn knew she was right. She could feel it. "I'm a Daughter of Maegan, remember? He's been trying to drive the Galians out of Alyria ever since they arrived. The king thinks it's because of me. That Krystalix somehow knows why they're here and is trying to help me. Lord Caden even said so in his letter. Naedra warned him the dragon might attack."

  "You think he'll attack them if they try to come after us?"

  Krystalix screamed, but this time he sounded farther away, on the far side of the castle.

  "Maybe," Erynn said. She glanced back across the field. A voice inside her was screaming at her to run. To get to the trees as fast as she could. And that she didn't have much time. "Or maybe he's trying to draw their attention. So they don't see us cross."

  Adena raised a brow. "That would definitely help."

  Erynn raised herself up again, clutching her pack. "We need to go. Now."

  Adena signaled she was ready, and together they sprinted out from the bushes and raced across the field as fast as their legs would carry them. It was early yet, the grass still damp with dew and a little slippery; worn in places and taller in others. Erynn stumbled once, her pack slipping down her arm, but she quickly righted herself and kept going. Then the sack of coins started slamming against her hip, making an annoying noise, but she just ignored it and ran faster.

  By the time they reached the trees, she was out of breath and her throat raw. She pulled up, Adena close behind, and glanced back at the castle. Krystalix was flying low over the outer ward, smoke rising from what appeared to be the stables behind the keep. Movement could just barely be seen on the outer walls, but it was impossible to tell if any of the guards had seen them cross the field.

  "I think you were right," Adena said. "He was trying to distract them."

  "We better not wait around to find out if he succeeded," Erynn said. She took one last look at the castle that had been her home for the last two years, and the dragon flying overhead. Then she picked up her pack and turned away — heading deeper into the forest.