‘He has time yet. As long as we do the hunting he’ll keep moving and it won’t do us any good to get closer and closer to the Lanston warcamp. We have to be smart about this. He is commanded to kill us, so he will come to us invariably as long as he feels as though he has the edge. He was unwilling to take us on now because he would have died. He’ll wait until he can isolate or separate us before attacking!’ said Vanapha.
‘So what do we do now?’ asked Brunick, Alex hearing a distress in the man’s voice he had never heard before.
‘We’ll stay mobile; we are in the heartland of enemies now, both of those we have in Lanston and the Fallen. I suggest we still move to the east side of the Basin, there are lots of hiding places at the base of Hashur and might be more suited for our attempt to corner Cid.’
Lidayel agreed, ‘Don’t worry soldiers; if we can constrain him somehow I will be able to heal his mind.’
Brunick breathed heavily, the shock of the moment clearly weighing on him.
‘But you said nobody has survived the healing process yet.’
‘Cid is still very fresh Brunick, if I can save anyone, it’d be him,’ said Lidayel reassuringly.
‘Okay let’s go then, come on big guy, we’ll have Cid back to normal soon enough,’ said Alex, patting Brunick on the back.
The party set forth grimly, leaving the narrows.
Chapter 40
Icy Skies
Elmira had grown accustomed to this living through the clouds, sure she would be hard-pressed to revert back to any other form of travel, save for that which could provide shelter and cushions. Unawares she stared ahead over Olexion’s shoulder at a vortex of clouds growing exponentially from itself, the colours of blue and grey misleading to appropriate distance and the threat of the storm.
The first drops soaked right through Elmira’s hair, truly cold against her scalp and skin. The next drops came stronger and for a few seconds the rains nicked hard at her face. Olexion released the reins of his Volj and gestured widely. Elmira felt the rain suddenly cease on her body, the growing downpour then weltering against the strengthened bubble, its enhancement timely enough for them to be spared of hail, the ice pellets cracking on the barrier. Elmira shivered; the air has cooled down, the winds whipping up.
The land grew in shadow. The storm it seemed had been intent on not being heralded in any way. Elmira wanted to ask Olexion on it, but as a gust of wind blew them off course she knew that any torrential experience was tenfold more intense up here than on the ground.
Olexion signalled for the other Rangers to stay close, Elmira feeling better at it all as the other Volje lined up on either side to form a wedge.
‘It is no normal storm my lady, and I’d wager this land has never seen the likes of it before!’ said Olexion, his voice surprisingly clear thanks to his barrier.
‘Is it magic?’ asked Elmira.
‘Yes. My suspicion would fall upon a Summoner above anything else. Even a dozen of the greatest magi cannot create such a feat!’
‘You think it to be the Summoners that might’ve made contact with Cid?’ asked Elmira hopefully.
‘It is what I hope for my lady, for the only reason that could warrant creating such a tempest would be altering the landscape and stalling what may come to pass.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Some miles ahead of us lies the Basin of Alparack, aptly named-’ thunder cracked, interrupting Olexion, Elmira gasping and squeezing the man tight in fear.
‘As I was saying, aptly named, for its potential to gather waters could easily see it form a lake. In its dried state it would be a battlefield favouring the masses, filled with water it would halt marching armies,’ said Olexion.
‘You’ve been here before then?’ asked Elmira
‘Many times I’d admit, you might be glad to know that we have a shelter on Mount Hashur, we may as well stay there while we survey the area in the days to come.’
Elmira looked up; seeing giant clouds exploding to become seemingly glassy dust, pulsing in all directions much faster than they were flying. As the Volje flew the barriers smashed mesmerizing trails through the hail. The lightning grew fiercer, the gusts colder and playing the Volje in directions unintended. Olexion quietly shook his head, murmuring. He signalled to his comrades and they banked, quickly turning around completely.
‘We’re fleeing?’ asked Elmira teasingly, although feeling grateful for the change of mind.
‘It is not my nature to brave that which will surely kill us my lady,’ said Olexion, ‘we’ll go back to where the storm diminishes and camp for the night. In time we will find the Summoners and any who may travel with them.’
‘It’s all still a good sign right?’
‘Yes my lady, we are close now, by tomorrow we will have something to look for.’
Chapter 41
Oldeloft
The Basin was becoming a death trap. At Jacanta point to the north laid one of the greatest Fallen armies ever assembled, waiting to swallow whole the ignorant Lanston army marching in the narrows still. All the while scouts of both Lanston and the Fallen manoeuvred into the Basin as the two forces approached ever closer.
Alex maintained that the scouts used by Lanston were probably lackeys of Stelinger, his own chosen band of traitors who would supply the army with false information.
Vanapha became the leader of the group for now due to her Sights. She would, as if by some instinct, warn the party to hide anytime they were about to be discovered, saving them from having to fight men they would rather not.
Worse even than the scouts all around was Cid. He was hounding them, stalking the party like an animal. Vanapha was more aware of this than the others and she knew the only way to avoid disaster for now was to stick together as closely as possible.
Twice they made close contact with Cid, the Colonel almost catching them off guard. Being together however Cid did not dare attack, rather slipping away again when he realized the odds were still against him. The Valkyrie could see the whole affair eating away at Brunick and Alex; their friend and leader had become a Fallen, that which they must war against.
Vanapha only hoped they could save Cid before his instincts were broken; for when that happens, Cid would attack without restraint, regardless of the odds, and the party would have to kill him to stop him.
Brunick monitored the sun through the sky, noting that it had been exactly a day since Cid’s conversion. The small trek from the west to the east of the Basin had taken much out of the party, if just mentally. They were already among the folds of the east, using dense rock constellations at the base of Mount Hashur to hide. Last night had been the worst yet. They took turns watching for danger, none of them really getting to sleep.
The day became tedious and after Lidayel’s feat of power it was as though the sun sought to repent by burning mercilessly, sapping strength from all. At the moment they enjoyed the shade of some considerable sized boulders they chanced upon, clustered and stacked peculiarly. Vanapha though would not have them stay still for long, urging the men to get moving again.
They barely abandoned the cover when Vanapha saw something coming in fast, startling her Farsight with sudden alarm.
‘Take cover!’ she ushered.
The men scrambled to hide away and followed Vanapha’s gaze; she was looking into the sky. Five colossal bird shapes sped overhead in the backdrop of the sun. Their interest in the area was clear as they banked as a unit, as though circling the area in search of prey.
‘Those are Rangers!’ shouted Brunick in careless realization, ‘we have to get them down here! We have to let them know we’re here!’
‘Volje,’ whispered Vanapha by herself, realizing they were indeed mounted as Brunick suggested. ‘Lidayel, get over here!’
The Summoner complied.
‘Get their attention,’ said Vanapha.
‘Are you sure that is wise? We do not know why they are here, they might not be friendly,’ said Lidayel.
‘We have to risk it,’ said Vanapha.
Lidayel seemed to have raised resistance only by careful habit and held his hand up to the sky without further question. A fiery globe shot into the air, gaining height with magnificent speed. At its peak, far up in the sky, Lidayel focused and the globe flared as a bright red colour. The Rangers immediately noticed it, steering their Volje to the sight overhead.
Down below Lidayel spread his arms and his magicks bathed his hands in the same red display, making him all the more visible even in daylight. The Rangers purposefully searched the ground and spotted the Summoner. There was no hesitation.
Fearsomely the Volje descended in circular patterns, sounding great eagle cries along the way. They could not know their intent, but the diving beasts seemed life threatening in any instance. Only at the last did the Volje show passiveness, gliding widely to coordinate their touchdown. The party stood aside, opening as much space as possible for the Rangers to land on the barren patches among the rocks. They came down in great billow of wind, dust swept up and thrown aside.
The Rangers dismounted immediately, looking overtly alert and suspicious with their swords drawn. They might’ve been ready to negotiate with those calling their attention, but were nevertheless vigilant. It was Elmira though that leapt frantically and broke the tension as she gave Brunick a big hug.
Olexion and his men straightened, sheathing their swords slowly.
It was the strangest thing. Brunick and Alex could not believe seeing Elmira here of all places, while Vanapha and Lidayel were certain to guess that this was the woman they heard Cid talk so much about.
What would she be doing here? they’d thought.
Olexion in turn had never seen such a bizarre gathering; Brunick a documented Mason, Lidayel a Summoner Olexion knew personally when memory served, and a Valkyrie woman without a doubt judging by dress and bearing.
What’s going on here?
‘Where is Cid!?’ asked Elmira, suddenly aware he wasn’t present.
Brunick sighed, marvelling at the odds of the person showing up who he would never be able to look in the eyes if something happened to Cid.
‘He’s okay Elm, he’s alive but…’ started Brunick diplomatically.
An uncomfortable silence ensued.
Olexion interrupted Brunick’s difficulty shamelessly.
‘Lieutenant Brunick, I am Olexion, First among the Rangers, I'm certain that we can answer many of each other’s questions.’
Brunick took the man’s hand. ‘It’s good to see you and your men Ranger. This may all look very strange to you and we’ll be glad to explain to anyone who is still reasonable within the Kingdom,’ said Brunick, a tired relief coming onto his face.
‘You sound like a man burdened,’ said Olexion.
‘Ha, you have no idea,’ said Alex in kind, sounding more cynical than he had intended.
‘Excuse the lack of formalities Ranger, but we have been battered by the sun, quite hungry and somewhat sleep deprived,’ said Vanapha.
‘Very well, we have a way station hidden up in Hashur just above us. It’s called Oldeloft, and serves well as a refuge of ours. We were actually just heading there when you signalled us. Let’s go make ourselves comfortable there and we’ll talk at length. We can all fly double-’
‘Forget it, I’ll climb if I have to, you won’t catch me dead on one of those things,’ said Brunick, nudging his head toward the Volje.
Olexion pursed his lips. ‘Fine, there is a trail that leads up to it, I’ll walk you there,’ Olexion turned to his men. ‘Survey the area; I want to know exactly what’s going on down here. Meet us at Oldeloft at sundown.’
The Volje took flight, Olexion’s own Volj trained to on without him.
‘Come along then, it’s a stiff walk up, but it’ll be worth it.’
They followed the Ranger, lining up behind his steps.
‘Great job Brunick, you just foiled my one chance to ride on a Volj,’ said Alex in quiet anger.
‘You can count on joyrides some other time,’ answered Brunick, annoyed.
Elmira fell in stride with Brunick, a great worry on her face.
‘Brunick, where is Cid?’ she asked quietly, though making it clear that she wasn’t letting the matter wait.
Brunick was intent on sitting down and speaking coherently with the Olexion, but he could no longer not tell Elmira the truth.
‘The Priests got to him Elm, he is a fallen,’ Brunick said grimly, unable to meet her eyes despite his best efforts.
Elmira’s horror was complete as she came to a halt, her features taut with shock. Brunick turned to her, holding her gently on her arms with his massive hands.
‘Don’t worry!’ he whispered forcefully, ‘we found this Summoner, his name is Lidayel! Elm! He can cure Fallen! And we know where Cid is!’
Brunick could not tell whether Elmira had heard anything for she was outright whimpering and he was sure she’d fall to her knees if he weren’t supporting her arms.
Lidayel approached, standing close to get Elmira’s attention.
‘My lady, I am Lidayel. It is as Brunick says, if we can get to Cid I will be able to heal his mind,’ he reassured.
‘Cid is a fallen?’ asked Olexion in alarm, as he too had evidently stopped to listen in.
Brunick nodded over his shoulder. ‘Let’s get to that Oldeloft of yours. I’ll explain all you’d like to know and probably a bunch of stuff you won’t.’
For the first in a long time the companions enjoyed what could be remotely called civilization. On the shoulder of Mount Hashur, hiding in the shadow of its peak, was an old grey-stone house. It was well hidden out of sight from anything down below and all could appreciate how only the Rangers with their Volje might find it.
Like Olexion warned the mountain trail had been punishing pressing uphill. Alex was in unvoiced wonder as he recognized an unassuming road winding up the mountain cone, there only for those who knew of it. Coming up to the shoulder, Oldeloft’s hold revealed itself as a secret of the land, something one would simply not see on a map.
The building had an asymmetrical number of rooms wrapped around a central corridor, with an impressive veranda at the front and a fire pit at the back. A single dead tree stood at the front near the veranda, its figure withered to a fragile ash complexion. A separate block of simple holdings stood aside to shelter the Volje.
The dwelling was big enough to house another ten men if it needed, and was outfitted in a way that suggested it could be utilized for long durations. In all, the way station was well stocked, yet scantly furnished.
It did have some comforts, mostly concentrated in the lounge, where Olexion and Brunick spoke quietly. The two men sat across each other, speaking over a dusty coffee table. Their voices interchanged with a quiet array of questions and answers, the stories told supplementing each other. Elmira sat to their left on an old green couch, somewhat calmed now, yet not uttering a word. She was detached, only showing attention whenever Cid’s name was mentioned.
Vanapha was exploring the house and Alex had discovered a hammock hanging from the veranda’s roof which he had fallen asleep in. Lidayel was having a look at the house’s books in the very next room. Armed with a thick leather bound tome the Summoner returned to the lounge, laying himself down in a reed framed recliner.
‘Hmm, we’ll have to save Cid, he’s too valuable to let slip to the Fallen,’ said Olexion, concluding.
‘We’ll be glad to have your help, we ourselves wont dedicate our time to anything else until we have Cid back,’ said Brunick.
Olexion nodded, ‘do you have a plan yet? From what you’ve told me it might be very difficult to approach this man.’
‘Yes, there will be nothing simple in this, even magicks won’t help much because of that Hethellean spear of his. That’s the least of our worries though.’
‘I’m listening,’ said Olexion.
‘Even as a Fallen Cid isn’t reckless, with his instincts still being intact and
all. He retreats the moment he realizes he’s fighting the odds, so we’ll need to advance with subtlety,’ said Brunick.
‘I agree, it might be best if you and the Summoner can approach him alone, while the rest of us hides away and watch to offer support should the need arise.’
‘If I can just get that spear out his hands, then he can’t harm me anymore. That’s easier said than done though,’ said Brunick.
‘And our Summoner friend, he will have to make direct contact?’ asked Olexion.
Brunick grunted, ‘that’s how the magicks work apparently, guess it’s not much different from healing a wound.’
‘Yes, proximity is always an issue in magic,’ stated Olexion.
Lidayel sat up straight from his chair on the far side of the room.
‘I’d like to point out that just like healing wounds take time, so will this. Brunick, you will have to hold him down while I work,’ he voiced.
Brunick nodded.
‘It sounds like a reasonable plan. I’ll be sure to help if things get messy. Have you any notion on where he might be?’ asked Olexion.
‘Vanapha is a skilled Star·Seer. She’ll use her Farsight to track him down.’
‘It is settled then, rest now, you’ll need your strength and wits. By dusk hour we’ll set out and find him. We will heal him then,’ said Olexion to Elmira more than anyone else.
Elmira did nothing more than nod.
Vanapha welcomed the rest, though she was never one to sit still, nor afraid for solitude. She scoured Oldeloft’s supplies, finding a good array of weapons, equipment, medicine and trinkets. All the while the issue of Cid came back to her. She reminded herself that they were going to save him soon, that Lidayel would heal him, but it did little to settle her nerves. She was disturbed by how quickly she had come to care for him.
Seeking to preoccupy herself Vanapha tried to garner herself some new arrows from the Oldeloft’s collection, as her own quiver was running dry. This was a bit more difficult as most of the arrows stockpiled here were made for shorter bows than hers. In enclosed spaces like this her Sights were always a bit awkward, nonetheless as she searched manually she kept simultaneous efforts to scour the house mentally. She regretted it somewhat as she saw the other members of her party.
Remnant Pages Spearhead Page 32
