A Land in Shadow

by Daniel Whitman

  Not missing a beat, Margaret’s demonic arm shot forward, freezing the powerful wave of water into an impenetrable wall of ice. The undead abomination desperately tried to hold back the oncoming surge, but a layer of ice had frozen beneath it. All it could do was roar as the mighty wall of ice washed it from the pass and into the jagged ravine below.

  With one, final roar, the giant plummeted into the dark ravine, and crashed into the hard stone far below.

  The giant was dead.

  Margaret collapsed from exhaustion, her injuries overcoming her blood lust. Her vision went black, and she knew no more.

  ♦♦♦

  Margaret awoke to the warm caress of water rushing across her body. The back of her skull fit itself back together, and her torn hands regenerated with iron knuckles. Her eyes shot open, finding Nalgene crouched atop her, his face grim. Her energy rejuvenated, Margaret sat up and began to thank the gnome, but he was already gone, bolting over to SmibSmob.

  Shaking her head, Margaret vaguely remembered the titanic display of shadowy energy, but she could not hope to fully appreciate its grandeur. She had only seen the mere edge of the darkness, and not the heart of the void. Even still, that was enough to make her somber.

  Standing, she moved through the pass, collecting the bodies of the others and bringing them to Nalgene to heal. Her heart was heavy, and she thought back to Fasto, and the one, simple line he had said to her those few days ago.

  “Fasto help friend.”

  She glanced down at the limp orc in her arms, and she felt more than a stab of anguish.

  Nalgene cast his healing tide of water across each of the companions, stitching their wounds back together and reigniting the fire within their eyes. Yet as Margaret watched, she could not help but think that one of these times the gnome’s magic would not be enough.

  As the companions were recovering from their injuries, Margaret moved over to the cliff on the west side of the path and peered down into the murky depths below, trying to spot the broken corpse of the giant. But the ravine was too deep, and so she saw only darkness. She held out her demonic arm, studying its twisting, black muscles, and her ruby eyes gleamed dangerously.

  Her thoughts were interrupted by the talking of the others behind her, who had recovered and were more than eager to finally reach the end of the winding mountain pass. She turned to them, a devilish grin across her face. They tried to talk to her, but she ignored them, still lost in the rippling cords of her arm.

  Perhaps her power did have its uses.

  Chapter 10

  Nalgene gazed upon Margaret, who was now healed. A small grin peaked on his rough lips, and a shimmer of newfound respect could be seen buried deep within his eyes. There was no doubt in his mind — it was the orc’s creative use of her demonic powers that had allowed the companions to prevail against the mighty undead giant.

  Margaret's black arm still brought chills to Nalgene, and not just because of the bone-piercing cold it emitted.

  Durned thing ain’t natural.

  But even still, as Margaret had proven, her powers did have their uses.

  Nalgene shook his head, and turned away from Margaret, who was lost in the dark corruption of her arm. He had more important priorities to worry about, such as SmibSmob. Anxious, Nalgene rushed over to his brother, who looked more a shriveled corpse than a living, breathing gnome.

  “Are ye alright, me brother?” Nalgene grumbled, his voice dripping with worry.

  Nalgene knew of the constant struggle SmibSmob faced against his dark powers, an endless battle over control of the poor gnome’s mind. Yet Nalgene always told himself that his brother was winning that dreadful conflict, that SmibSmob was able to control the insatiable darkness within. But now Nalgene had to face the truth. In all his time with his brother, he had never once seen him this violated. Of course, there were times when SmibSmob had accepted his power in order to fight. But this was something entirely different. SmibSmob had lost. SmibSmob had succumbed to his demons, and it shook Nalgene to his core. Even the surge of emotion he felt when SmibSmob struck him paled in comparison to the utter horror that now consumed Nalgene.

  SmibSmob looked up to him, his once-shining blue eyes now hollow sockets of exhaustion.

  “I … yes,” SmibSmob managed to say in a thin voice. “I … I don’t know. It all just overwhelmed me.”

  Nalgene studied his brother for a long moment, before putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “As long as yer alright,” he said gently. “I be here for ye, and as long as I be here, there ain’t nothin' that can be stoppin' us.”

  The words sounded hollow in Nalgene’s ears, but he did not know what else he could say. SmibSmob nodded and straightened himself up as best as he could. Nalgene believed in him, and SmibSmob would hate to disappoint.

  Nalgene smiled. He would keep telling himself his lie. SmibSmob could triumph over his dark power. He had too. Yet even as Nalgene’s hope rekindled, he could not shake the image of a corrupted SmibSmob floating high above the mountain pass amid a swirling void of shadow. The very sun seemed to retreat as his brother’s unholy fury unleashed itself upon the rotting giant. Nalgene remembered the agonizing gnawing at his mind and soul, as if his brother was actively devouring all life around him. And SmibSmob’s eyes — two shadowy abysses of purple that had lost every fragment of the gnome deep within.

  Bloody hell. Don’t ye be losin' yerself on me yet, me brother. Yer all I got. We be startin' this bloody journey together, and I be meanin' to finish it together.

  Nalgene turned away from his brother, eager to distract his mind. Around him, the other companions were more than ready to finish their trek through the mountain pass. Fasto had rushed up to Margaret, and was desperately trying to talk to her, and, surprisingly, the stubborn she-orc was listening. Andromeda paced back-and-forth, her tail slashing like a vicious whip, and her eyes flaring with impatience. Ro merely studied the gnome brothers, a blended mix of sympathy and empathy swirling across his face.

  “What do ye say, ye durned dragon,” Nalgene called out to Ro. “I think we best be leavin' these bloody mountains.”

  “Mmmm, I like the sound of that,” Andromeda purred while stalking up to stand next to Ro, her tail still twitching vigorously.

  Ro shook his head, Andromeda’s voice snapping him out of his trance, and he nodded to the gnome. “I couldn’t agree more,” he said.

  “Then lead the way, will ye?” Nalgene said. “That’s what ye like doin', eh?”

  Ro chuckled softly, and without hesitation, he started down the mountain pass, Andromeda following closely behind.

  Nalgene turned to the two orcs. “Are ye two dolts comin'?” he shouted. “By leavin', I be meanin' now.”

  Fasto nodded his head with excitement, while Margaret sent him a cold glare.

  Nalgene turned back to SmibSmob, a gentleness returning to his gruff voice. “C’mon, me brother, let’s be gettin' outta here.”

  SmibSmob looked to him, his face beaming with true appreciation and his dark eyes twinkling with a newfound light. It was a face that Nalgene vowed never to forget.

  The companions continued their journey through the treacherous mountain pass. The sheer, gray faces of the mountains passed by like grim bystanders to a solemn funeral. The cold sun rose overhead, and plummeted far to the west, swallowed by the jagged peaks far before it reached the distant horizon. As they finished their trek through the mountains, the surrounding world seemed to rest in an eerie silence. There were no other thunderous quakes, or towering giants. Everything was still, dead, and the companions could not be more grateful for it. On the morning of their fifth day in the pass, the companions finally reached the end.

  As they exited the mountain pass, it was as if a weight had been lifted from their shoulders. Eyes sparkled with rekindled hope, and feet stepped lighter upon the bleak ground. Nalgene was more grateful for the change in scenery.

  Rolling foothills stretched in front companions, a vast lake waiting at the
end. A dark mist clung to the surface of the water, creating an impenetrable wall of fog that even the blusteriest weather would have trouble dislodging. Nalgene shivered at the sight of the great lake, yet he did not know why. Behind them the mountains reached high into the sky, looming over the backs of the companions like shadowy assassins, ready to pounce at a moment's notice. Far to the east rested a great darkness, and it seemed as if the entirety of the Shadow was flowing forth from that great void.

  “Do you think that’s the lake?” Ro asked quietly. It seemed wrong to disturb the unnatural silence enveloping them.

  “Eh?” Nalgene grunted, not caching the draconian's meaning. The more he studied the misty lake, the more certain he felt that they should not go anywhere near it. It just seemed … wrong. “That definitely be a lake, no arguin' that.”

  “Oh, another brilliant observation,” Margaret shot. Yet her insult was undercut by a gentle intrigue in her voice.

  “Through the mountain pass and to the shores of a great lake,” Ro mumbled to no one in particular. “That’s what he said, right?”

  “What in the bloody hell are ye talkin' about?” Nalgene asked. Of course, now he knew what the annoying draconian was talking about. He just did not want to accept it.

  Durned dragon. No, durned Osann.

  “Mmmm, what are we waiting for?” Andromeda said, stepping forward, her gaze lost in deep thoughts. “This is where the Captain said to meet, at the shore of a great lake.” She turned to them. “Let’s go, shall we?”

  Nalgene’s rage flickered to life at the mention of the Captain. He did not care what kind of heroic sacrifice he underwent. That did not stop Nalgene from seeing the truth. He was a liar, a traitor.

  “Nah, I don’t be thinkin' this is the lake,” Nalgene growled, unable to keep his simmering fury out of his voice.

  No one else seemed to hear him, or care.

  “Fasto go see friend!” Fasto exclaimed, stepping forward to match Andromeda. Nalgene wished he could sink a punch into the orc’s annoying face.

  “Do you think he will be waiting?” Ro wondered aloud.

  “Eh, did ye all lose yer bloody minds?” Nalgene shouted, exploding at their continued blind faith in the Captain. His gnarled fists clenched at his side. “Ye all saw what he was facin'. Ye all know what it can do. That bloody traitor be dead, and we be better off fer it. So I be sayin' it’s the wrong lake, and I be sayin' we be goin' elsewhere.”

  The companions stared at him a for a long moment, but Nalgene stood firm against their hard gazes.

  “How many times have we discussed this?” Ro asked, breaking the tense silence.

  “Way too many times,” Margaret snorted.

  “We have to try,” Ro continued, ignoring the orc’s snarky remark. “He’s the only hope we have. We are lost in this grim land.”

  “Well I don’t be needin' his bloody hope,” Nalgene growled. He felt like he was talking in circles. The draconian was right — how many times had they argued over the Captain? Why were they so blind to his side? He knew what he saw.

  Bloody Osann.

  There was only sympathy in Ro’s eyes, and Nalgene felt as if he were a scolded child.

  “That be the wrong lake,” Nalgene repeated, his voice as steadfast as the mighty mountains behind them.

  Ro started to argue, but he was cut off by the frail voice of SmibSmob. “Brother, please, there is no point in arguing,” he said. “We are wasting time.”

  “Eh?” Nalgene turned. But no matter how deep his rage burned, he could not bring himself to argue with his dear brother.

  “We are going to the lake,” SmibSmob said, leaving little room for argument in his stern voice.

  Nalgene opened his mouth to protest, but no words came forth. One look at his frail brother, and the memories of the dark devastation upon the mountain pass, was enough to silence him.

  “Fine, we be goin' to the bloody lake,” Nalgene grunted. “And if some durned creature of the deep swallows us up, then that be the last time ye all listen to that hairy arse of a traitor.” The disgruntled gnome turned to Ro. “Don’t be thinkin' this is yer victory, ye durned dragon,” he shouted, before stomping down the foothills.

  Sighing, the companions started off after him.

  The companions wove their way through the rolling foothills, not a single sign of movement disturbing their travels. Shriveled bushes and the decayed corpses of once-proud trees dotted the land about them, but none of the companions took any notice. They had seen too much darkness and atrophy to be concerned about the loss of a few trees. The gray sky above them began rolling with black clouds, and a heavy mist began seeping from the land, much like the dreadful blanket covering the lake. As they approached, Nalgene could not shake the feeling that they should not go near those black waters. Some prick at the back of his mind, some forgotten memory, warned him away, yet still he stomped towards the barren shores, much to his displeasure.

  Bloody hell.

  As darkness began to claw its way up into the wasteland, the companions searched for a place to brave the endless night. Yet there was no shelter — just empty hills and shriveled shrubs. There would be no hiding from the Shadow this night. And so, the companions pushed on, until their legs would carry them no more. They would reach the shore in the morning, and there, hopefully, they would reunite with the Captain.

  As Nalgene lay upon the cold and unforgiving ground, he studied the boiling blackness above him. This was the wrong lake. This lake was wrong. They should not go.

  Bloody hell. Durned dragon and his blind faith. Pretty words don’t be callin' for belief. I be knowin' what I saw. And what about that dolt that Fasto killed? Was that not enough to open their bloody eyes?

  Nalgene wanted to lash out, to strike something. But he kept it inside. This dark world cared little for the problems of a single, lost gnome. Frustrated, Nalgene felt as if he were a pawn in a great game of chess, and there was nothing he could do about it.

  “Pullin' us like puppets …” Nalgene muttered. But no one heard, and no one cared. Not even his dear brother stirred from his sleep. Defeated, Nalgene finally succumbed to the determined clutches of exhaustion.

  ♦♦♦

  The gnome looked around. Nothing. Pure emptiness. He tried to move, but his body would not obey his commands. He wanted to call out, but his mouth had been sealed shut. Nothing. Around him, the empty void began to swirl, and flickers of movement darted about at the edges of the gnome’s vision. Something. But as quickly as the disturbances had come, they disappeared, leaving the gnome stranded in the eternal blackness.

  And then he was falling.

  With a booming thud, the gnome landed upon the hard ground, in an impact that surely would have shattered his legs — yet he felt no pain. He was in a desolate forest, surrounded by vile, clawing trees. A menacing, red orb floated in the black sky, casting a bloody light across the lands. The gnome looked around. He seemed alone. Yet he knew he was not. Something tugged at the back of his blue cloak, and he whipped around, his hands clenched in front of him.

  Nothing.

  And still the red orb shone, its damning light relentless upon the shriveled land below.

  Eerie whispers began to surround the gnome, teasing him with their silent calls. Another shadow clawed at the back of his flowing cloak, and the gnome whipped around, only to be met with the same barren forest. He was not alone. Before he could stop, the gnome was running, but what from he could only imagine. The skeletal trees darted past, raking at him with their bloody branches. The gnome felt the branches slice into his body, felt the sharp sticks tear into his flesh. Yet still he ran. Thick blood ran down his face, its deep color only matched by the infernal orb floating above.

  Roaring in denial, the gnome braved a glance behind him, anxious to get a glimpse of his mysterious pursuer. Another gnome, draped in a robe of shadow, bolted after him, a desperate plea for help plastered on his frail face. A sudden, heart-wrenching pain tore through the gnome, and he f
elt as if his very soul was being torn from his body. Yet still he ran, for that was all he could do. Blood oozed from his many gruesome gashes, weighing him down in a thickening pool of blood. A gray root burst from the ground. The gnome tried to dodge it, but it was too late. The blood was too heavy.

  And so, he tripped, and fell into … nothing.

  The void boiled around him. Something.

  The gnome plunged into a dark lake and sank deep below the churning waves. He looked up, and desperately tried to swim for the distant surface, but still he kept falling, sinking into the murky abyss. He should have been able to swim. Water was his to command, yet this liquid shadow paid little heed to the gnome’s wishes. And so, he sank. No matter how vigorously the gnome kicked out, the thick water pressed in, suffocating him. The gnome closed his eyes, defeated. The black water rushed into his body, filling his lungs like tar. His body pounded in pain, desperately trying to push out the invading water. But it was no use. He was drowning. The light at the surface was long gone. Only the darkness remained. Nothing.

  The gnome opened his eyes, only to find himself sprawled at the shore of a great lake. He coughed, and a surge of black blood spewed from his mouth. The gnome shivered violently, an icy chill penetrating his soaked body. He coughed again, and more black blood was expelled from the depths of his lungs. The gnome looked to the waves of the lake, trying to find some solace in their gentle rhythm. He coughed yet again, releasing another round of blood. He tried to sit up, but his body would not obey, he was too weak, too cold. As he watched the crashing waves of the lake, two piercing red eyes appeared in the murky depths. A harrowing horror filled the gnome, and he desperately clawed at the bloody sand beneath him, anxious to escape the ominous eyes. But he could not escape the terror of the tides. The sand gripped at him, pulling him down, filling his lungs, and smothering any hope the gnome may have had. And still the two eyes drove into him.