With lightning reflexes, the young mage moved, catching her up in his arms and cushioning her fall. Together, they collapsed in the middle of the road.
Rekho retreated, breaking the spell, his disembodied spirit joining once again with his physical body.
The magical energy in the crystal winked out. Exhausted, Rekho lifted a hand, massaging his temples. Withholding his temporal form from the transference spell was always taxing. But it couldn’t be helped; he had to remain unseen. He reached for the crystal, now depleted, and it crumbled like dust beneath his fingertips.
The crystal would have lasted longer had he not manipulated it improperly. Bending the magical energy to fit his needs had destroyed its delicate essence. It was his last until Jost returned. Deep in the Forest of Nott, in the Caverns of Endless Time, the crystal thrived and multiplied. Like an organism feeding and growing off of the land itself. The crystal was in abundance there. The trick was getting in and out of the Caverns in one piece.
**********
What Rekho could not know was that Jost had located the crystals and was preparing to transport them back. But many denizens of an underworld so dark and rank with evil were set to guard these caverns. Taking the crystals was like ripping pieces of their very life-forces from them.
A figure rose up behind the priest, silent and deadly. It watched as he loaded his pack full of the life-giving crystals. When the man turned, he came face-to-face with one of the guardians of the crystals. Part human and part animal, the creature lifted its red eyes, flattened the ears that sat atop its head and let out a cry so terrible that it froze Jost in place and he dropped the pack he carried.
With a trembling hand, Jost reached for the stout mace that hung at his belt. He was not a novice to battle, which was why he was chosen for this particular task; however this otherworldly creature would be unnerving to even the most seasoned of men. Its long body was humanoid, covered with patches of skin and sparse hair. The other patches were the muscles that should have been on the inside. It glistened from ooze that constantly ran from every inch of its abominable body. The face was human; however it sported animalistic ears and a slightly elongated snout. Set within the snout was a wide mouth revealing two rows of razor-sharp teeth. Its cries were decidedly feral. It stood before Jost snarling and ready to protect what belonged to it.
“Yenoh lend me strength,” muttered Jost as he pulled the mace forward. The weapon glowed with an aura of godly magic. Jost felt the power of his god flow through him and into the weapon as he brought it above his head. The thing charged.
Just as the creature slammed into him, Jost brought down his mace on its head. Howling in pain, for the gods’ power lent strength to the priest’s arm, the creature lunged straight for his throat. Snapping teeth found the soft flesh of his neck. Again, the mace found a mark on the beast’s head. The two, locked together, rolled away from the wall and the crystals spilled from the bag.
In only moments, the snarling beast stepped away from the man. Jost’s unseeing eyes stared. Circling, the creature licked its lips free of blood and gave special caution not to go near the weapon that lay in the lifeless hand. Making its way around to where the crystals lay scattered, it picked one up. It held the crystal lovingly and gently, and then placed it among the others on the cavern wall. The wall seemed to absorb the crystal. It took only moments to replace all the crystals and when he was done, the beast turned back to the man on the floor.
It howled. Three times the long, mournful cry sounded and echoed throughout the caverns. Others beasts emerged from the blackness and gathered around the dead priest on the ground. They made short work on the body and when they finally stepped away from the spot, the only thing left was the glowing mace that none of them could touch.
**********
She knew that voice! Where did that come from? As Mey opened her eyes, trying to push herself up, she realized that strong arms held her.
“Don’t move.” The command was firm.
Looking around, things swam back into focus and she concentrated on just being able to see. “Wh-what…?” she managed to croak out, but her throat was hot and dry. It felt like she had swallowed a mouth full of dirt. She took in a deep breath and let it out very slowly.
Three faces loomed above her and she recognized all of them. The looks of fear on Thom’s, Bob’s and Durlag’s faces confirmed that something had happened.
“I’m fine,” she finally said. “Just let me up.”
“No, not yet.” Thom insisted. “Mey, that was…are you burned?”
“Burned?” She was a bit confused at that question.
“You…you…were covered in fire,” he said, adding quietly, “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Lass, there were flames all around ye! Like they came from inside ye and then just ate ye all up!” Durlag looked very frightened. Mey remembered the story he had told them. She felt a little guilty.
“I’m sorry.” The statement was aimed at Durlag because she truly felt sorry that she had brought such fears back to him. His face changed and what she saw there now was more akin to worry.
“Ye’re alright, then?” he asked.
“Yes,” she answered. She struggled in Thom’s grasp. “Just let me go, now. I need to stand and get my bearings.”
Bob stepped back and offered a hand. He had not said a word during all this but his eyes told her this was not the first time he had seen such a sight.
Thom was hesitant and his arms tightened slightly about her. “You’re sure? You can stand?”
“I am fine!” she snapped. Twisting her head around to look at him, she was shocked at his look of sheer terror. He was intently focused on her. “I am fine,” she whispered to him, more gently than before. She even managed a smile. What? Why was she trying to reassure him? He was the one who started all of this in first place! But the need to calm him far outweighed any anger she was feeling.
His arms loosened and she started up. Her limbs were shaky and she was unsteady but Thom was quick to support her and once she made it halfway, Bob took her hand and steadied her.
She saw Elerbee had stayed back, near the horses, his eyes wide. She managed a smile in his direction. He didn’t move.
“Well, what are we waiting for?” she said to them. “Let’s go. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover.”
Coming to her side, Thom said, “Mey, don’t you think you should take it easy for a bit? Rest some before we continue on?” The look of concern had not left his face.
“No, why? I’m fine. We’re on a time table, are we not?”
“Well, yes, but…”
“Then, let’s go.” She picked her pack up, dusted it off and set to readying herself. Bob was close behind her. The others slowly followed suit, picked up their gear and continued at a somewhat slower pace.
As they walked, Mey slowly began feeling more like herself. She breathed in the fresh scents of the world around her. They were on a dirt road that connected the farms with one another. The lands were flat and the grasses grew to knee height. The road hadn’t been traveled recently, given the debris and over-growth that littered it. Most of the farm houses they passed had been abandoned. If they followed it, this road would take them straight into the next populated town.
Until the noises returned, she hadn’t noticed the eerie quiet. Small insects buzzed around them and birds cried above in the skies. Reflecting on what had just transpired, those noises were conspicuously missing until just now. Mey peered up into the sky, squinting against the brightness of the sun.
Glancing at her uncle, she took in his mood and tried to figure out what it meant. He didn’t seem worried about what had happened – he didn’t worry about much. He had been the only one who was not shocked and disgusted.
The dragon blood, she was sure, had almost consumed her that time. She couldn’t dwell on what she had almost done to those around her. It was too frightening for her to think on. But she had calmed and controlled it. Told it to ret
reat and it had obeyed. All she really recalled was the soothing feeling and images of the time she spent in the elven land with her father and uncle. If she could control it, then she could possibly stop it, right? She wasn’t ready for this yet and couldn’t say if she ever would be.
Looking at the eastern sky, she noticed the dark clouds that were massing in the distance. They were far away, but the look of them was threatening.
“What does it mean?” she said aloud.
Her uncle answered her question. “I do not know. But I feel that it does not bode well for any of us.”
NINE
Once the group reached a spot near the last settlement, they called a halt. The growing darkness in the east troubled both Mey and Bob. They brought it to everyone’s attention over the scant dinner they had pieced together; each one contributing something of what they had left.
“I do not know what it means,” Bob was saying, “but the feeling I get when I gaze upon it is very unpleasant.”
“Yes,” Mey agreed. She could feel the unease of the entire group. “I think we should set a double watch tonight. Then be off from here as early as possible.”
Thom set down his plate. “We still have to cross the Dahrst Hills and that will take at least another week to reach. Once we cross the Hills into Sorga we can stock up and prepare to enter the Barren Lands.” He paused and looked at no one in particular. “Crossing the Dahrst Hills will be rough going.”
“Aye,” Durlag chimed in. “The Hills be haunted. Haunted by the thousands of soldiers, who, under the command of Borgan Dahrst, lost their lives protecting their homeland.” He took a long draw from his flask. “Heh,” he tittered nervously before he added, “But who’s believin’ in ghost stories! Not meself!”
All the others eyed him. Swallowing hard, Elerbee nodded. No one wanted to voice their opposition to the ghosts that were said to live in the Dahrst Hills.
“We’ll figure a way through,” Thom said as he stood. “I’ll take morning watch.” He left the rest to work out details of the remaining watch hours. Mey watched him go. He pulled something from a pouch at his hip and disappeared into a copse of trees. Tempted to follow, she stood.
“Where do you think you’ll be goin’ now, lass?” Durlag asked. “Yerself must take a watch! Which one’s for you?”
“Put me anywhere,” she said absently and waved him off. “I just need to go check something…” Words trailing, she absently walked in the same direction Thom had taken.
“Hrumph,” Durlag said to her back. “Let her have the middle watch! That’ll show her to pay attention when it’s needed!”
His words did not register, however. She was more intent on finding what the wizard was up to. He always radiated magical energy but whatever he took from his pouch was stronger than his normal aura.
**********
He was chanting when she found him. A spell! Mey watched silently from the shadows. A faint memory of her father assailed her. She’d heard these words before, had she not? Silent as the wind that passed through the branches of the trees, she crept forward. However, he must have been in a state of heightened awareness. His back stiffened and he slowly began to turn.
Mey thought about quickly hiding but her curiosity got the better of her. She stood, in the open, ready for him to berate her for the interruption.
It caught her off guard when he turned to her with a smile, one that lit up his eyes and made her feel like he was truly glad to see her. His eyes are so blue. And after that one thought, everything else seemed inconsequential.
“You’re following me?” He seemed more amused than angry.
“Well…sort of, yes.” She stammered. “Actually, I was following whatever that is in your hand, there. It’s magic.” She spared another look at those amazing eyes, careful not to linger, lest they pull her in where she could not escape.
He glanced down. “Oh, yes. A farthen-crystal. I had intended to communicate with the Circle.”
“Farthen-crystal,” she repeated. “I remember my father having these.”
“Your father?” That seemed to take him off-guard.
“Yes,” she said. “He dabbled in the magical arts, you know.”
“Dabbled!” Surprise was the only word she had for what she saw on his fine features.
Confusion threatened to overtake this moment. But she wouldn’t let that happen. She changed the subject. “What is it that you will tell your wizards? That I am more and more unstable with each passing day? That we are no closer to retrieving the Heartstone of the Idylic than we were when we started?” She felt smug and powerful to hang this information over his head.
“What? No, I was only…keeping them aware…of my whereabouts.” He was definitely hiding something. This whole time she had felt that he was not telling her the entire truth and now she intended to find out what it was.
Pointing an accusing finger at his chest, she said, “You have kept your secrets too long. It ends now.”
He didn’t budge. “I will not be bullied into revealing anything.” His icy stare pinned her in place. She swallowed hard. She was expecting him to at least show some fear of her. Now she didn’t know what to do. That had been her plan; the whole thing. He stepped in closer. She could smell his unique scent of bitter herbs and sweet flowers. It made her head swim and she lost focus. What now?
“I will keep any secrets I see fit to keep. My task here is to make sure you are safe.” Did his voice just break? He cleared his throat.
She stepped closer. “So, is that what I am? A task?” She softened her voice and held on to her emotions for dear life. “I thought we were becoming friends.”
“Mey…” he began, a cross between an invitation and a warning. Something melted behind his frosty blue eyes.
The way he said her name, the way he smelled, it was too much. She couldn’t hold it together anymore. Mey closed the distance between them. Without hesitation, she pressed her lips to his.
Thom’s body went rigid, his hands coming up in a firm grasp on her shoulders. He inhaled deeply. Surely he didn’t mean to deny her? Though his lips were awkward and unyielding against hers, Mey knew he had to feel something. She hadn’t mistaken the stolen glances; his possessive glare while Elerbee had examined her leg.
Desperation urged her closer. Just when she thought he wouldn’t relent, his hands loosened, tension easing from his grasp. His thumbs, warm and smooth, traced a small circle over her collarbone. Heat infused her limbs; pooled low in her belly. His lips molded against hers as his hands found their way down her spine, resting at the small of her back. Pulling her closer with the slightest movement, Thom matched her enthusiasm, making her gasp as her body pressed closer to his.
Gods, he tastes as wonderful as he smells! Mey felt as though they had tumbled and floated in emptiness, just she and Thom. Tiny prickling electrical shocks hit her every nerve. All she knew was this moment; this sensation that she never wanted to end. Her arms moved of their own volition, twining around his neck, pulling his body closer. A low, primitive groan stirred in Thom’s throat. His hands pressed harder against her back, his lips firm and demanding. Mey curled her fingers in the collar of his tunic, desperate to anchor herself.
Then something changed. He started to pull away. Mey wanted to scream. Oh, no! Don’t end this.
Thom moved his hands back to her shoulders, pushing her back to arms length. His breathing was fast, labored. “I…can’t…” He shook his head, swallowed.
“Why?” Her own breath was coming in short gasps. “We both want this, don’t we?” She moved closer. “Since the first touch. Tell me, Thom. Tell me you didn’t!”
He lifted trembling fingers to his brow. “I…I don’t know, Mey…of course I did!” The statement shocked her. She had indeed expected him to protest. His eyes were shut against his feelings. “But, Mey, this is only the dragon blood taking over. It has heightened all your senses. Even this one. It strips away all reason. One of us has to keep a level head!” He sounded mor
e as if he were pleading with her.
As he opened his eyes, she could see his agony in making this decision. It angered her even more. He was rejecting her! Men didn’t normally reject her and this took her by surprise. Especially since she knew he wanted this as much, if not more, than she did. She stepped back.
“Fine.” She bit the word off. Another step back. She could feel anger creeping in way too fast. She tried to push it away. Even through her anger, she didn’t want to hurt him. Quickly, she turned. If she didn’t get away from him now, she wasn’t sure if she would be able to control the emotions.
She heard voices as she hurried through the camp and past everyone there. Her intent was to get far enough away that she could let go of these feelings without hurting anyone. She wanted to scream! How could he? She had revealed herself to him on a most personal level and he had thrown that back at her like it didn’t matter. She was so sure of his intent. He was as easy to read as an open book. Carrying everything in his eyes; eyes so frosty blue that they chilled her even as she thought of them.
She walked faster, almost at a jog. Stop it! Focus. Stopping under a great oak tree, she leaned against it and slid down. Her hands fell next to her and she felt the roots of the tree. She grabbed on for dear life for it felt as though she was sinking. The harder and more desperately she held on, the more stable she felt. Tears that had threatened for so long finally spilled over and she let them run, unchecked, down her cheeks. She missed Garrin desperately; and her father. She had never missed her father so much as she did at this moment. She wanted someone she could trust that would let her tears soak their shoulder and they would remain silent while she emptied all the poisonous feelings.
“Meylaran.” Her full name. Looking at her uncle, another flood of emotions came. He looked so much like her father.
Reborn (The Dragons of Cantor Book 1) Page 8
