“That leaves the east and our old enemy from the dark times. The blood wolves,” Karina’s voice shook. She took a sip from her glass and looked Ossian in the eye.
“You said you can shape shift to wolf form?”
Ossian nodded. “Just once so far, no twice,” he said, recalling being strung up and surrounded by the wraiths in the tower. He remembered his shadow side shifting then.
A silence opened up between them. Into that space grew the germ of an idea. Ossian felt a sense of excitement and foreboding. He moved uncomfortably on his chair.
“What if I could contact the blood wolves and run with them? I could explain, build a bridge of trust. Together you would be stronger, allies, able to resist what may come better. I think we have a common enemy. The Shiffante intend to conquer all the lands, all of time. I’m sure this purple sky you speak of is their work. I know they can control the seasons, I’ve seen it with my own eyes. The sky, clouds and poison rain, it all makes sense.”
Karina looked at Ossian, something unfamiliar warmed her heart. It was the small flame of hope.
~
Firewing flew tirelessly. The skies were her home. The initial rush of the flight had abated for Carutha. She was tiring, hanging on to Firewing’s back. Not to mention the cold and hunger. She dug deep and squinted her eyes against the wind. She tried to learn as much as she could about the landscape beneath but gave up after a while. The ground everywhere looked blasted and wasted. Dead.
Something terrible had befallen this land. It had obviously once been beautiful and rich. She could see vast mountain ranges and rivers extending far inland. The sea to her left reached the horizon. There were other towns and settlements far below but they were all laid waste just like the city she had found herself in. A deep sadness filled her heart. These people had reached a sorrowful end. She wondered how it had happened.
Firewing let out a cry of delight. Carutha looked ahead and saw another winged figure in flight, similar in shape and form to Firewing. The figure came closer and Carutha saw it was a young male. He fell in beside them and they glided on the thermals beginning a slow circular descent against the setting sun to an island below.
The island rose up to greet them. It lay planted in the ocean like a pearl in a crown. Light sparkled and danced off the water surrounding it, forming a twinkling necklace. Carutha’s heart skipped a beat. The island was verdant, covered in trees and plant life. Its soil was untainted by the destruction that afflicted the mainland. Something special had survived here and was thriving.
“Hold tight there,” called Firewing. With that, the pair banked and swooped down at speed through the canopy of trees. Greenery flashed past Carutha in a blur. She closed her eyes and held on tight. Then a gentle impact and the rustle of Firewing’s feathers. She opened her eyes and found they had landed and were on the forest floor. Gone was Firewing’s plumage. Her male companion too had reverted to flightless form.
“Come, follow us lady,” Firewing said, then paused. “What is your name?”
“My name is Carutha, I’m not from here. Thank you for saving my skin back there. That was a close call.”
Firewing’s face remained expressionless. She looked at her companion and shrugged.
“We’ve been waiting for you, we knew you would come; Silverwing said so.”
With that, she turned and began walking through the trees into the final rays of the day’s light.
Carutha rubbed her aching arms and shoulders and stretched her aching back. Then she followed the other two through the forest. The leaves were alive with the evening light, brimming with luminescence. Birds filled the air with song and for a moment, everything was as it should be.
They walked for a good twenty minutes then joined a trail. It became a path and they descended. They were approaching the centre of the island. Finally, they arrived at a huge clearing with a circular lake its centrepiece. The water was vivid blue and its surface resembled crystal.
It was not the lake that took Carutha’s attention however. It was what was in the lake or rather what was on the lake that took her by surprise. There, at its centre knelt a small girl, dressed in a white dress. She had silver hair that fell about her face, framing her open features. The child was on her knees gazing into the crystal waters. Lights shone and sparkled from below in various places around the lake. The girl’s eyes followed the shimmering as if she was reading hidden messages carried in the depths.
The girl looked up and smiled. She stood and walked across the water towards them.
“Welcome Carutha, I’m so glad you’ve joined us here. We have much to talk about. I know you have the Shard. Do not worry, the Shiffante will not find us here, for this land is long dead. They are only interested in conquering the living lands. First you must eat and rest, you will have questions. There will be answers but in good time. Firewing will show you to your room where you can wash and change. We will meet again this evening when you are refreshed.”
With that, the girl turned and walked back out into the centre of the lake. She resumed her kneeling position and gazed at the dancing lights below the crystal surface.
Carutha was too tired to argue. She simply nodded and followed Firewing. Her male companion left them and walked back in the direction they had come.
“You were lucky to meet Silverwing in between streams. She would not normally break her concentration for such a short encounter. It will be good to catch up with her this evening. I’ve not seen my sister myself for many days. I was searching for you in the lost lands.”
They arrived at the far side of the lake and Firewing showed Carutha to a room cut into the face of a low bluff of rock. Carutha stepped into the room and was surprised to see a proper bed with clean linen sheets and cushions. There was also a side room with hot water bubbling up from thermal vents in a low pool.
“You can wash and rest here, there are other facilities next door and food to be had also. I will let you find your way. You are free to do what you wish but I would advise that you rest as this evening may be a long one.” Firewing gave an enigmatic smile and then took her leave.
Chapter 23
The Plan
Q’uaina stepped forwards raising her bow.
“Don’t move,” she said through gritted teeth.
A shadow hovered five paces behind the Beekeeper. She darted sideways a few paces to change her line of fire. Then with a fluid motion she loosed her arrow and had another drawn in a heartbeat. The shadow convulsed and let out a startled cry. Another appeared to its left and one more to the right.
Q’uaina loosed her second arrow and shouted at the Beekeeper.
“Run, they’re flanking us. They’re coming up from the ground.” She turned and started to flee but saw other shapes approaching through the trees. A trap, she cursed their luck. Their enemies had been thorough.
The Beekeeper had not followed her but instead had turned to face the shadowy figures. Q’uaina went to him and they stood back to back. She continued to loose her arrows but without the desired effect; every target she struck vanished only to be replaced by two more. She put away her bow and drew her short sword preparing for close quarters fighting.
She could feel the Beekeeper’s back against hers. He was humming something. The sound held a deep resonance and soon filled her ears. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a cloud gather and the humming intensified. She tensed for a strike as one of the shadow figures approached her, its ruined face at last visible. It reached for her, spitting and clawing at her face with its broken nails.
She struck out at where the thing’s heart should have been. Her blade entered its body. It felt as if she had thrust her sword into a husk, she met little resistance. The thing’s breath spilled over her, reeking of corruption and decay. Q’uaina felt another of the creatures grab her and she pushed hard against them both. Her arms grew incredibly cold, intense fatigue flooding her body. They were draining her of strength and warmth.
The Beekeeper’s
humming intensified and Q’uaina became aware of numerous shrieks from all around them. The two creatures holding her loosened their grip and staggered back. A swarm of bees surrounded her from head to toe, moving as one with her. The swarm grew to a cloud. The bees covered her like armour. She heard more shouts from behind and felt the Beekeeper fighting off his assailants. She felt her strength return at last and was able to beat back those creatures crowding around her.
“Use the bees, use them,” the Beekeeper shouted.
Q’uaina did not know what to do; so instead she fought with all the fervour she could muster. The bees did a remarkable thing. They covered her in a protective swarm and whenever she made for a target, they surrounded it delivering thousands of angry stings. Her enemies soon retreated and fled through the forest and back into the ground. After a few more minutes, they were alone. Slowly, birdsong began to filter down once more from the canopy above.
“This ground is cursed, we need to leave here before they come back,” the Beekeeper said. “Follow me.”
The bees coalesced into a swarm behind them. Q’uaina followed the Beekeeper as he strode through the forest. They marched on in silence for the best part of an hour. The bees had vanished. Finally, he stopped beside a stream.
“We should be safe here, those creatures were planted to guard the tower only. We shall not be returning there.”
“What happened to you? To the tower?” Q’uaina asked.
“Let’s stop, we’ll rest a few minutes,” the Beekeeper said and sat on a nearby fallen tree. Q’uaina joined him.
“You were that owl. You tried to warn us last night.”
The Beekeeper nodded. “They came in great numbers a few days ago, the ruin is an illusion designed to draw you in. They have used enchantments. Only the drow and undead can do these things. They have never worked together before. This is a new kind of evil, something to be feared.
“They’ve stirred up a viper’s nest in taking on the Shiffante; drawn attention to our Erthe. We are now caught up in a war between two forces. The Shiffante and the drow-vampire alliance,” he shifted uncomfortably. “Agathe, why have they taken her? Tell me what’s happened so that I can better understand our enemy.”
Q’uaina told the Beekeeper everything that had passed since they had parted company. He was intrigued to learn of the Aerithryl Shard.
“A talisman from the ancient world no doubt. The ancients had a way with time and Erthe energy. They used a variant of magic no longer available to us. It is said their knowledge carried them to the stars.”
Q’uaina looked at the Beekeeper, incredulous. Everyone knew the only way to take your place among the stars was when your time had come to join the ancestors. These ancients had access to the stars? What was the Beekeeper saying? She decided to hold her peace.
He continued. “So we think Carutha has the Shard. We do not know where she ended up after your escape. The fact they are still searching means they’ve not caught her yet. This gives us hope. We need to give her time to figure out what to do. We may well be a sideshow but we’re an important one. If we can tie up the enemy, distract them, take their eyes away from Carutha she will stand a better chance.”
“Agathe won’t talk will she?”
“Everyone talks sooner or later… they have methods,” the Beekeeper said. “We need to keep moving.” The Beekeeper rose and turned to leave.
“How are we going to free Agathe?” Q’uaina asked.
“Agathe can escape if her hands are free, she can shift to her winged form from what you say. I’m hoping our enemies don’t realise this. I need to create a diversion so you can free Agathe. We’ll have to see where they have stopped and build our plan around what we find there.
Q’uaina thought furiously. She knew she could be stealthy when she wanted to, but Agathe was likely to be heavily guarded. She could not imagine how she would penetrate an enemy camp, especially one guarded by those creatures she had encountered in the forest. Unless the Beekeeper had something up his sleeve. She looked at him forging ahead. He did not seem old, in fact, he seemed ageless.
The Beekeeper was locked in his own inner world whilst still focusing on tracking the enemy. This was too easy. It was as if they were being led, as if the vampire and drow wanted to be found. He stopped as the germ of an idea began to form.
~
Styr returned the following day and brought bad news from the south. The Red Flags were at each other’s throats; a virtual civil war had broken out. Chaos and blood letting had taken over their land. It would be suicide for Karina to bring her people into that maelstrom. East it was then. She summoned Ossian and they met once again, this time with her two lieutenants; Ickthar and Styr.
“So it’s settled then, you’ll enter blood wolf territory, make contact and try to form an alliance.”
“An understanding might be a better word,” Ossian declared.
Styr objected. “I don’t like it my Queen, these are blood wolves. They have killed our folk before, torn the flesh from their faces, taken our children. How can we enter into an alliance with them? They are our sworn enemy.”
“Styr, I know your family have been directly affected by the blood wolves in the past. I know they killed your younger brother when he was six, and that your mother never fully recovered from this. I know these things; I carry these things in my heart too. It is part of who we are, part of Clan Horse, part of where we come from, our history.
“But I’m trying to build a future for our people. A future where we can be at peace and our families and our children can live in safety. If this means forging links with the blood wolves then so be it. However, at the first sign of treachery you have my word Styr, we will come down hard on them.”
Styr looked down at his feet, took a deep breath and then nodded. “Yes, my Queen I understand. I will follow you to Thrall and back if I have to.”
“When will we depart for the steppes my Queen?” Ickthar asked.
“As soon as Ossian is ready you can escort him. I’ll stay here with our people. There are at least five thousand souls in this camp, and another ten thousand in our other two camps further behind. We’ll give Ossian two moons to achieve his goal. After that, if we’ve not heard from him we’ll start moving to the steppes. We cannot afford to wait any longer, as winter will come soon after that. And who knows where the poison sky will be by then?
“Ickthar, you will take a few men and escort Ossian to the steppes. There he is free to enter the wolf domain and make contact. After that it is the will of the gods.”
They looked at each other. Ossian nodded and felt his pulse quicken. His shadow side was to be released and soon. He had come a long way from his adolescent right of passage. He felt old and worn beyond his young years. He had one fear, which he left unspoken. What if the temptation was too great and he remained in his wolf form and ran with the blood wolves permanently? That would have to be dealt with if and when it arose.
Days passed and Ossian built himself up for his ordeal. He ate well and exercised, running by day and night. He could feel his shadow side flicker just below the surface, it knew it was to be called upon and soon. The morning of his final day arrived. Karina came to him, wishing him strength and success. They parted and he left camp with Ickthar and a few chosen men.
Ossian felt strong. He carried doubts about his mission, which he tried to suppress. So many things could go wrong. The wolves might not accept him, may attack or even kill him. He buried his uncertainties and allowed Karina’s men to lead him to the borderlands.
His thoughts were with his friends. It had only been five days since he had been separated from them and yet it seemed an age. He worried about their safety and thought often of Agathe. Her blood had quickened much like his. She understood what it was to shift; a mixture of pleasure and pain. His heart ached when he thought of her. He missed her. Badly. He shut that feeling out, as that way would drain his confidence. He needed to be strong for her, for all of them. Once the Shiffant
e had been defeated then he would search for Agathe, he would find her again.
Two days after leaving the settlement their party reached the borderlands. Ossian could see the change in the land; the sweep of the soft grasslands opened to the higher more rugged steppes. Barren, wild. Hunting country.
“We’ll escort you to the interior,” Ickthar declared.
“Thank you but no Ickthar, I must take my leave here,” Ossian replied. Ossian had learned much of the Horse Clan ways through Ickthar and they had grown close. He would be sorry to see his friend leave, however being alone suited him and would help to achieve his new identity. He had to be convincing in his new role; a lone hunter. He knew he needed to make his first kill to send a message to the blood wolves in a language they would understand.
Ickthar nodded. “Goodbye my friend, stay safe. I hope we meet again perhaps in two moons or less if that’s what it takes.”
Ossian embraced Ickthar, bade farewell to the others in the party, and thanked them for their protection. He watched as they rode back to the west, their shapes becoming small on the horizon. It was late in the day, they would be across the borderlands and back in the grasslands within a couple of hours.
He had been watching the night sky and knew it was just a few days until the moon was full. He would make his move tonight. There was no reason to delay. He was ready.
Chapter 24
Silverwing
Carutha’s dream unfolded. She stood before her father, Silurian. He spoke but she could not hear his voice. Instead, she saw a series of images. Stark and alarming.
She saw herself borne aloft by Firewing and her sisters. The Aerithryl Shard set atop a long staff was in her hand. Strange runes adorned the staff. They glowed with anger and raw, untamed Erthe energy. She had a connection with the staff and Shard. She was a conduit for the Erthe itself. The mother needed to take back her life force from the Shiffante. The Erthe alone was the ruler of the seasons and the skies. The balance had to be restored. The Shiffante needed to learn their place.
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