The air was instantly sucked from Cerana’s lungs as the noose tightened around her neck, her whole body twitching and convulsing as she feebly fought to free herself. Dangling by only her neck, the noose continued to tighten as darkness quickly descended on her. The rope crushed against her throat, suffocating her, and her eyeballs felt as though they would pop right out of her skull any second.
Darkness swiftly descended on her. Then a blinding flash of pure white light instantly stopped all the pain.
CHAPTER 36 – Stay With Me
The guards fumbled around on the ground, unable to see. Any weapons they held lay scattered on the ground following the flash, and they frantically searched the dry earth trying to find their steel.
Each man was frantically trying to fathom what had happened and why they were suddenly without vision. One guard rose from the ground and crawled in apparent total darkness; his left hand outstretched and waving, groping, searching for anything in his way. His hand jerked back in fear as he touched another guard, and they both yelped. Men crawled like ants in the dry earth, screaming and yelling, unable to comprehend what had happened.
Past the blind, crawling men she hurried, holding out her right arm and uttering the words “Morgenth dartonis shalidra es astelath!” A beam of pure energy shot from her open palm. Tiny white dots like night-time stars swirled around in a cloud of blue mist, enveloping the stricken prisoners that dangled by their necks from the gallows.
Some were already lifeless and swinging gently from their nooses, but some still had life in them - she could sense it as well as see it. She prayed she was not too late to save the one she sought. She may well have arrived too late, but any later and they would all be dead.
Once safely in the blue mists, the prisoners that still clung onto life were no longer supported by their constricting ropes. Instead, the energy of her spell braced them in mid-air, instantly relieving the choking nooses. She advanced towards them, her hand outstretched and holding the twinkling mass of power in place. Through her magic, she kept those alive who had survived the few seconds of being hung. There was nothing she could do for the ones already dead from the noose, that was beyond her powers.
Closer to the prisoners she strode, until she was within distance for her next spell to work. She was weakening fast from the effort of her enveloping mists, and knew she did not have long before the energy broke, and they all died. Sweat dripped from her temples, and she grimaced with pain and exertion.
“Istar jestoben es karillia!” she cried, holding her left hand aloft and forming a spear with her outstretched fingers. A purple beam of light extended from her fingers before straightening, and she waved the beam across the row of hanging prisoners, just underneath the gallows. The powerful spell severed the ropes that suspended their necks from the wooden shaft.
With the prisoners free of the nooses and hovering in mid-air, she retracted the cutting beam and used her now free hand to strengthen her spell that protected them. She moved her hands in unison away from the gallows, and the blue mist moved with her. The occupants - protected by her magic – moved with it. She eased the fog to the ground before releasing the spell, and the prisoners fell, slumping to the earth in a clanking of chains and thuds.
She almost fell herself, weak from her spellcasting. But she still had to hurry: the crawling guards would soon recover their vision from the first spell she had cast on them. She did not even know if her target was still alive. Time was running out.
Forcing herself to continue, she walked over to the pile of lifeless-looking bodies on the ground. She sensed that most were dead already as she could only pick up a few life forces. But soon, she found the one she sought, lying face down in the earth. She knew this was the one - she was sure of it - so she pulled her effortlessly away from the other prisoners and turned her over to face her.
Cerana’s eyes were closed, her body limp.
She was still gagged and chained, the severed noose tightly constricted around her neck. But the spellcaster recognised her immediately from their brief encounter at the basin in the forest.
“Stay with me,” she said softly, removing the noose from Cerana’s neck and the gag from her mouth. She felt Cerana’s life force slipping away, so she placed her hand on her forehead, closing her eyes.
“Valhern istra manatis,” she whispered.
A few seconds later, Cerana awoke, gasping for air and coughing violently.
The girl smiled and looked to the skies. “Thank you,” she muttered. She had saved her just in time.
Cerana recovered quickly and looked her saviour in the eyes. “You?” she said, instantly recognising the striking young woman from the woodland oasis. “What…what happened?”
“I’ll explain everything later. For now, we have to get out of here.”
Cerana was scooped up in the girl’s arms and carried away, still chained. They walked away from the guards - who still scrabbled blindly in the dirt - until they found cover in the form of some large rocks and a smattering of trees. Cerana was placed down on the ground, still a little groggy from the effects of the spell.
“What happened?” she asked again. “How did you -”
“Let’s worry about that later,” the caster interjected. “We must get to safety. The guards will come looking when they realise you are missing.”
“Who are you?”
“My name is Coviche, Cerana Proudstone. There is much we need to discuss. But for now, let’s get you out of these chains.” Coviche smiled at Cerana, her dazzling blue eyes wide and soothing. She placed her fingers between wrist and manacle, and with a swift motion, the irons snapped off effortlessly. Cerana’s jaw dropped. Coviche repeated for her other wrist and ankles, and within seconds a pile of chains lay broken on the ground.
Cerana massaged her sore wrists, incredulous at what she had just seen. “How did you do that?” she asked. “I was hanged, yet I live. I remember the light…” her voice trailed off as she recalled the phenomenon.
“Yes, that was me,” Coviche admitted. “I had to save you, Cerana Proudstone.”
“Why?”
“I do not yet know. But I knew I had to. Our paths are now somehow entwined.”
“What do you mean?” The way the mysterious beauty talked was odd, Cerana thought. Yet she had been saved, and for that, she was eternally grateful. Coviche rose to her full height, Cerana marvelling at her grace and elegance.
“Come,” Coviche said. “I will explain, but we need to leave now.” She lifted a weakened Cerana from the ground and walked with her down a small hill to a river. From being hooded on the journey, Cerana was not sure where they were at present. She suspected this must be a branch of the Shaderaga River which flowed north of the city of Southstorm.
They followed the river north, continually looking back to make sure they were not being followed. They heard shouting from behind them, and Coviche quickened her pace.
“They have recovered,” she said, somewhat nervously. “We must hurry.”
Although she was still walking, the long legs of Coviche’s near-seven foot frame strode far quicker than Cerana could keep up with by walking. The shorter, still-weary woman had to jog to remain close to her. She wondered how far they must travel on foot.
“Where are we going?” Cerana asked, short of breath already. “I need to get back to my sisters.”
“No, you don’t,” Coviche ominously replied. “Come.”
Cerana suddenly halted. “Right, that’s it. I’m not going another step until you give me some answers!”
“We are here. We will talk whilst we ride.”
“Ride? How?” The only thing around besides the river was a tall, thin tree.
“Observe.” Coviche waved her arm in an arc, and from behind the narrow tree, a beautiful, pure white stallion appeared. Cerana was stunned once more; the majestic beast somehow appeared to come from within the tree.
The graceful creature gleamed white from mane to tail, and to Cerana he seeme
d to have a glow around him like a halo. He was around half as big again as any horse Cerana had ever seen, but with a seven-foot rider, she supposed he needed to be.
Coviche lifted Cerana off the ground as if she were a doll and placed her gently on the animal’s back. She then gracefully sprang up and landed behind Cerana, who noticed there was no bridle gear on the magnificent horse. The stallion bolted away without any word from his mistress.
Cerana soon realised he knew exactly where to go. They sped up the river, through a small wood and into a clearing where the Mallam Mountains came into view once more.
They moved with a speed Cerana did not know a horse was capable of. Within a matter of minutes, they had darted across the plains in front of the mountains and were speeding through woods – the same woods Cerana believed she recognised as where she had first met this enigmatic woman.
Sure enough, they soon reached the oasis clearing with the stunning views of the emerald green lake and enormous waterfall. Cerana stared in awe once more. The scene was no less magnificent the second time as the first.
“We are here,” said Coviche, lifting Cerana off the stallion’s back and placing her on the ground before dismounting herself.
“And where is here, exactly?” Cerana asked.
Coviche whispered something to the stallion, and he ran off into the woods.
“Home,” she replied. “Come.”
Coviche unexpectedly darted past Cerana before she could blink, and gently wrapped her arms around her. With Cerana held tightly in her grasp, Coviche ran to the edge of the cliff and jumped.
CHAPTER 37 – A Plausible Theory
Cerana screamed as they fell through the sky, the two women’s long hair waving upwards as they hurtled to the lake below. But as they rapidly approached the water and Cerana braced herself for what she was sure was to be certain death from such a height, they began to float, drifting through the air like a feather.
Cerana could breathe once more, and despite her sensory overload of fear, confusion and bewilderment, she could not help but admire the area surrounding her. The exotic trees, golden sandy beaches, emerald green lake and towering cliff faces seemed as surreal to her now as they did when she first witnessed them, albeit from a much greater height. But how in hell am I floating?!
They drifted down to the edge of the waterfall, landing on a ledge about twenty feet above where the cascading water crashed into the lake below. Cerana could feel the spray from the water like fine rain on her skin. As Coviche released her, Cerana’s legs buckled, and she fell to her knees, breathless.
“How did you do that?” she asked, perplexed yet again. “Who are you? And what do you want with me?”
Coviche smiled that delightful smile and helped Cerana to her unsteady feet. “Come, Cerana Proudstone,” Coviche said, and led her to the very end of the ledge as it disappeared into the waterfall. “Do not be afraid.” Coviche released her hand and simply walked through the waterfall, vanishing into the gushing waters.
“Hey! Wait! Where are you going?” Cerana called, hesitating before the waterfall.
“Come!” came the reply from behind the water. Cerana hesitated again before taking a step closer.
“What the fuck am I doing?” she muttered. Cerana took a deep breath and walked into the waterfall. But instead of getting a soaking, she emerged on the other side of the water, completely untouched from the falls. Puzzled, she looked around and quizzically touched her skin and clothes, expecting dampness but feeling dry. Coviche stood in front of her.
“Welcome to my home, Cerana Proudstone. My magic has allowed you entry where others would not be permitted.”
“Home?”
“Yes. Follow me. Trust me.”
Cerana had only seen this girl twice, and both times had witnessed things that she just could not explain. Magic, she had said. Magic was the only way of even beginning to explain what she had seen. If she had not witnessed these events with her own eyes, she would not have believed them. But despite her apprehension and fear, she found that she did trust this mysterious, magical, enigmatic woman. Coviche gave off an unseen aura that made Cerana feel safe with her, and inexplicably it made her trust her with her life. It was a most peculiar feeling.
“I do trust you,” Cerana said. “Though I cannot explain why.”
Coviche smiled and led them through a narrow gap they could both barely fit through. They moved into an enclosed passageway that was lit with flaming torches; their shadows casting long, dark apparitions on the walls. Just a short way down they walked, and Cerana realised they must be now underneath the woods she had travelled through: a secret subterranean dwelling that was known only to its occupant.
The passageway then ended and gave way to a gigantic, underground cave, and not for the first time recently, Cerana was left open-mouthed as she stepped into the opening. The room was vast - endless walls of rock to her left and right, and was so high she could barely make out the top. A small stream ran through the cave, and a narrow fissure in the ceiling allowed daylight to radiate through, illuminating the floor with sweeping beams of light.
The rest of the cave was lit with a beautiful blue hue, that Cerana realised was made by thousands, probably millions, of tiny sparkling orbs that adorned the cave walls all around her. She stared agape at the sight of the enchanting room, scarcely able to believe what she was seeing. Again.
“Do you like my home?” Coviche asked.
“I….how….what….” Cerana did not know what to say.
Coviche laughed. “We have much to discuss, Cerana Proudstone. I am sure you have many questions.”
“I do….”
“And I will do my best to answer them. But I have questions of my own. I risked much to save you.”
“What do you mean?” Cerana asked. “I know nothing, and I believe you owe me a few answers, what with everything I have seen recently.” She was quickly becoming impatient.
“I understand it may be much for you to take in, Cerana Proudstone,”
“Just Cerana, please.”
“As you wish.”
“When we first met, you mentioned something of Esteri, and now she has vanished. What do you know?” Cerana was done with the riddles - she wanted answers.
“Only that she has been taken. I know not why.” Coviche walked to a table near the rockface that Cerana had not noticed before. It was laden with food and bottles. “Wine?” she asked.
“No. Thank you. Taken where?”
“A tower in the mountains.” Coviche poured herself a goblet from the wine bottle and sipped. “A powerful mage has her, Cerana Proudstone.”
“A mage?” Cerana new little of magics but she did recognise the name referenced to a magic-wielder. “Why?”
“That I do not know, as I say. Although there must be a good reason, it would not have been by chance.” Coviche was walking backwards and forwards, deep in thought.
“Someone was snooping around our house recently,” Cerana recalled. “Esteri saw them in the window, but they got away before I could do anything. It must be them. I knew it! If only I –“
“That was me,” Coviche admitted.
“What?!” Cerana was incredulous. “Why?”
“Does the name Civilus Blackwood mean anything to you?” Coviche asked, without answering Cerana’s question.
“No, should it?”
“I was hoping it might,” the blonde beauty said. “I have been tracking Blackwood for weeks, but he is clever. He works for the mage. I discovered recently that he was searching for a girl - a girl who he believed was ‘the key to everything’. I knew not what that meant, but when I also found out that Barnesbay village was the likely source, I conducted my searches there. However, I found there to be nothing overly special about Esteri that the mage would desire.”
“Why did you warn me that Esteri would need me, when we first met? If you thought her to be a target, why did you not warn us, or help us?” Nothing was making sense to Cerana, and her head
was beginning to swim. She was also angry - the thought that this woman could well have prevented Esteri from being taken made her blood boil.
“Because although I could sense she was in some sort of danger, I could not tell what. And at the time, I could not see the link. But a link, there must certainly be. I see that now.”
Cerana paced up and down, clasping her hands behind her head and massaging her neck. She tried to make some sense of things, but it was not working. “This is so confusing,” she said, totally perplexed. “Why is she in so much danger?”
“What skills does she have that a mage may make use of?”
“I have no idea!”
“There must be something. Think.”
Cerana hated to say this, but Esteri had very little in the way of skills. “I cannot think, she is just an ordinary girl. She has always stayed at home, cooked and cleaned. Until she got ill, she was -”
“Ill?” Coviche’s head quickly turned to Cerana, interrupting her. “What is wrong with her?” she asked excitedly.
“She has a disease called ephylaxon,” Cerana explained.
“Ephylaxon? The kiss from a dragon?” Coviche clearly knew of it. Her saucer-like eyes widened even further.
“Yes, she contracted it not long since.”
“Are you certain?”
“An apothecary diagnosed it, but I had never heard of it before. But I trusted him.”
Coviche paced even quicker. “Surely it cannot be,” she muttered.
“What is it?” Cerana asked, hopefully.
“Do you know what causes ephylaxon, Cerana Proudstone?”
“Not really, just that it is something to do with a dragon.”
“It is indeed,” Coviche confirmed. “It can only be caught from a dragon, or so I thought.”
“Yeah, that’s what’s we couldn’t understand.” Cerana tried to remember everything that Alleran told her about the disease, but so much had happened recently, she was struggling to recall details.
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