They returned to the crevice carrying portions of the beast, to find that Elena had made a little platform for the meat to be laid upon, out of the most even sticks of wood. Immosey was kneeling on the ground, holding a small dagger she had found amongst the items Milgorry had taken from the camp of the fallen. She had a pile of sticks each about the thickness of her little finger and she was attempting to sharpen the ends of these into points. Milgorry and Louisa placed the meat on Elena’s platform and then Milgorry walked over to watch Immosey. He knelt beside her and placed his hands over hers, guiding the dagger along the stick. Immosey bit her lip determinedly as she worked and Milgorry released his grip and sat back to watch again. She continued tenaciously with the dagger for a while and then triumphantly held up the very roughly pointed stick.
‘Good,’ Milgorry encouragingly. She glanced up at him and noticed he was suppressing a smile.
‘Go on then!’ she said, handing him the dagger. Milgorry took the dagger and with swift and precise strokes he quickly shaped the end of the stick into a smooth, sharp point. He placed the stick to one side and picked up another. This time he completed the process slowly, letting Immosey see how he moved the dagger along the stick and the angle of the dagger against the wood. He handed the dagger back to Immosey and sat back again to watch. The girl labored at her task until each stick was reasonably sharp. She eventually stood in satisfaction, looking pleased with her progress. Milgorry took the little bundle to the fire where Elena and Louisa began skewering pieces of meat for cooking. Milgorry and Louisa ate little, but continued to cook small pieces of meat for Elena and Immosey until the girls could eat no more. Louisa buried the remaining meat in the snow outside the crevice and returned to the fire.
‘I think we should stay here again tonight and then move on in the morning,’ she said looking from the two girls to Milgorry. ‘If there’s meat left over, can we take it with us?’
‘Yes. It won’t be difficult to keep it cold. A little more sleep and some more meat will strengthen us,’ he agreed.
‘Strengthen us, is what you mean,’ said Immosey, looking down.
‘Yes Immy, that is what I mean,’ said Milgorry. ‘But you can stop thinking what you are thinking, little sister. Your lives are of great value. Those who are loved are not a burden.’
‘You need to sleep now. Tomorrow we have to start walking again,’ said Louisa.
The two girls moved to their little bed, and they lay looking up to where the edges of the rocky crevice met to form their ‘roof’. Immosey lay quite still, thinking of their parents and their home in Cullen Ringo. She wondered what her life would be like when she returned. She knew things would never be the same. She considered how meaningless her life had been before. Now if there was anything she could do to help her sister return to Kelian, she would do it. She felt like she had learnt more in the last two weeks than she had ever learnt before, and she knew that if she ever had her own children, she would show them much more of the world around them than she had been exposed to. She could feel Louisa acknowledging her thoughts and she sensed her sister’s agreement.
Elena was trying hard not to think of Kelian. Each time her thoughts turned to him over the past weeks, which was more often than not, she desperately buried her emotions, lest they overwhelm her. This became more and more difficult as time passed. Before they escaped, she had all but succumbed to her belief that she would never see him again, sinking into an endless cycle of depression and hopelessness. Now hope had been renewed. She remembered the first time he kissed her. They were sitting together on the edge of the square fountain in the courtyard. She wasn’t expecting to be kissed and she sat in stunned silence for so long, staring up at Kelian that he murmured an apology and began to move away from her. Elena managed to overcome her surprise before he had gone too far and she grabbed him and pulled his face back down towards hers. He fell against her and the two of them toppled into the fountain. She remembered her mother’s face when the dripping pair returned to the mansion. Her father had caught her kissing the Prince in a little alcove in a hallway, still dripping with water. He reprimanded her, until he saw whose arms were wrapped around his daughter, and then he stood in shock with his mouth open as the Prince tried to explain how he felt about Elena. And she remembered the fury on Kelian’s face, the very first day they met, when he found Rayne harassing her and he had slammed him through a stained glass door. She could clearly remember the faces of the visiting nobles watching him lying amongst a pile of smashed glass with the irate Prince standing over him. Her thoughts turned serious again as she remembered the attack on the barge. She knew Kelian would be searching for her and she wondered if the fallen would find him and if they did, whether they would kill him. She filled with panic at this thought and her heart began to pound. Her eyes prickled with tears as she battled to push her feelings away. Milgorry turned and she glanced at him, determinedly blinking away tears and sealing her agonizing emotions away as tightly as she could.
Milgorry shook his head. ‘No,’ he said firmly. ‘I won’t let you do that. You can’t hide from your own feelings, Elena. You love your Prince and he’s worthy of your tears. Open your heart. You have to let your tears go. You’re human and you were given tears for a reason. It’s not right to trap your anxiety forever in your heart. One day you’ll be Queen, and what Queen will you be? Hard and cold, with your feelings trapped and concealed within? Or will you be a Queen who can stand beside her King in kindness and understanding? Now, open your heart,’ he ordered.
‘I can’t.’ Her face was contorted now and tears were spilling down her face. ‘Please…’ Her voice was barely a whisper. ‘Help me.’
‘Give me your hand, little Queen,’ he said, kneeling beside her and looking deeply into her eyes. Tears began to pour in earnest and her body shook as she felt Milgorry reach within her and open her heart. Every emotion, every worry and every fear seemed to flow within her. She felt exposed, knowing there was nothing within her pain filled heart that Milgorry could not clearly see. Her whole life, her whole being, seemed to be laid out before him. She cried for a long time, holding tightly onto Milgorry’s hand as her mind drifted. When her crying eased she could feel a strange warm comfort spilling into her heart and with the warmth came a feeling of restfulness. She looked up at Milgorry in surprise and he smiled at her. She quickly hugged him and then lay back on her blanket.
‘You’ll sleep a lot better now,’ said Milgorry as he flipped the blanket over her.
‘Yes, I think I will. Thank you,’ Elena said gratefully, no longer embarrassed by her maudlin behavior.
Chapter 22
Sheldon’s Quest
Each man wore a piece of spare clothing tied over his head. The intensity of the sun surprised Kelian until he remembered that the month had turned and it was spring, though the exact date eluded him. He was quickly coming to appreciate why so many perished along this path. The sun made the black sand intolerably hot even this early in the season, and the dry air sucked every bit of moisture from his mouth. The wind was vicious and sand was incessantly blown into their faces. There were huge areas where the black sand became very soft and they were forced to trudge through ankle deep. Landmarks became few and far between and eventually there was no foliage and no shelter. By mid-morning every exposed piece of skin was sunburned and Kelian felt like his lips were going to shatter if he moved them. He was just about to suggest they stop to rest when the ground collapsed beneath his feet. David was walking close beside him and the two men gave a shout of shock as they were suddenly buried up to their chests in the scorching black sand. Kelian knew immediately that had he been travelling alone, there was no possible way he could have freed himself from the blistering sand, which had effectively immobilized him.
By the time the others managed to free them, their bodies were incredibly hot and their skin was burned. Kelian felt ill and his head started to ache. Timbul offered to carry him on his back, but Kelian imagined the embarrassment of being c
arried would have been far worse than his burns and illness.
They came to a place where there was an unusually large boulder, one of the few breaks in the otherwise flat terrain. There was a little shade remaining on the western side of the boulder so they rested for a while with their backs against the rock, and each took a single mouthful of water from Kelian’s water bag.
‘How much further to water?’ Kelian asked William.
‘At least two more hours, Highness.’
They remained in the patch of shade until the sun rose higher and there was no longer any point in staying. Kelian stood, and without comment each man shouldered his pack and walked back to the rough track. It was hours after midday when they arrived at the place where William suggested there should be a small spring. The black sand gave way to a gradual incline of dark rocks. There were a few straggly trees part way up the slope and a few patches of rough grass. It was obvious that until recently there had been water here. Araas pointed out where the water should have sprung from the rocks and Kelian could see a place where he suspected the water might normally pool before trickling down the slope and being consumed by the dry air. He sat back against the rocks, feeling defeated. He wondered what Elena would think. Would she think he had not bothered to come after her? Maybe she was already dead. His heart quailed at this horrible thought.
‘I don’t think she’s dead, Highness,’ said Timbul. Kelian turned to look at him. Timbul had barely said a word since Jaralina’s death. ‘The fallen would not wish to start a war with the humans.’
‘You mean a war to which the guardians might come uninvited,’ Kelian clarified.
‘Yes, that’s precisely the type of war I mean,’ Timbul agreed. ‘Killing the Prince’s betrothed might just-’ He stopped speaking and considered the nearby rocks, as if looking for someone, and then he glanced at Araas, who examined the terrain curiously, then shrugged and sat down beside Kelian.
‘So, no water,’ said Kelian, waving towards the dry rocks where William was trying to gouge a hole with short dagger. His throat was parched. Each man had taken a second small sip from his water bag and it was now completely dry. ‘William?’
William came down from the rocks and sat. ‘There’s no more water along this path for more than a day’s travel. I’ll see if I can find any other springs in this area. If these rocks are dry perhaps the water is running elsewhere.’
‘I don’t think this spring dried naturally,’ said Araas. ‘I’m beginning to wonder if the fallen have destroyed every source of water across the Quest. I’ll search with you.’ The two moved south of the pathway and soon disappeared amongst the rocky terrain.
They returned an hour later and Kelian could tell immediately that their search had been unsuccessful. William sat down glumly beside the Prince. ‘Not a drop of water anywhere and I think there’s a dust storm coming. If you wish, I can scout north of the path?’
‘No. The Tabuls would know the minute we took one step north. I was the one who convinced the King to sign a law ensuring the independence of the Tabuls and prohibiting any digression north of this path. It wouldn’t send a good message were they to find my dead body in a place I persuaded the King we didn’t need to be. We either look even further south, or we continue ahead on this path and look for water as we go.’
Araas leapt to his feet and stared into the bushes and then turned to see if anyone was missing.
‘I’ve had an impression for some time that we’re being observed and Timbul sensed someone watching earlier. Not fallen.’
‘Tabuls?’ asked Kelian.
‘Probably. We haven’t moved north of the path so they’re unlikely to harm us, but we would be foolish to disregard the caution, at least until we’re desperate,’ said Alexander. He sat with Borgulnay, David and Gilgarry who were passing out food.
‘I’ve heard the Tabuls are just as proficient as the Daoine Maithe when it comes to concealing their thoughts and emotions,’ said David.
Araas nodded in agreement. ‘They are also far superior in tracking and concealment. If they don’t wish to be found, then they are not found. They’re a remarkable people, living contentedly in such a harsh land.’
‘Highness,’ said Borgulnay, standing. ‘We’re rested and we have to keep moving. I suggest we go south through these rocks and search anywhere Araas and William haven’t searched. There’s no way we can march another day on the black sand with the sun beating down on our backs, to try to get to somewhere where the fallen are sure to have destroyed the water. We won’t endure, and I don’t imagine Tim and Araas want to carry us all when we begin to faint from the heat.’
‘The fallen have much to answer for,’ said Kelian angrily. ‘We’ll try further south.’
‘There is water to the south,’ said a quiet voice.
Kelian leapt up. Standing five paces from him was a small, wiry man. His dark skinned body was clothed only in a waistcloth the color of the surrounding sand. His chest showed the very old ritualistic scars of his initiation into manhood and there were several feathers twisted into his grizzled hair. The only item the man carried was a long barbed spear. In a flash, Borgulnay, Gilgarry, Alexander and David surrounded the man with swords drawn.
‘No!’ No one could possibly have missed Araas’ and Timbul’s unified mental shout, but none of the soldiers lowered their weapons. The man didn’t move, but remained staring impassively past the soldiers to Kelian.
‘He won’t harm you,’ said Araas. Kelian raised his hand and the soldiers lowered their weapons, watching like vultures as the man moved closer to Kelian.
‘Prince Kelian of Castle,’ the man stated.
‘Yes. Can I help you?’
‘I am Olwid. My name means ‘tracker’. I am an elder of my tribe. And you have already helped my people, Prince Kelian.’ Kelian glanced to the north wondering if the man referred to his influence in declaring all land north of the path part of the free land of Tabulum. Timbul nodded slightly. The little man didn’t miss the exchange.
‘Yes. Seldom now do any invade our land. We remain a free people.’ He looked at Timbul and Araas, smiling slightly. ‘You are very perceptive. I would have thought there were none who could hear my heart.’
‘We only caught the slightest hint of your presence, Tracker. Even then, I wondered if we were mistaken,’ Timbul admitted.
‘Guardian, your grief and despair pierce my heart like a spear. We know what causes your soul to cry out in anguish. We rarely venture so far east, but there have been many fallen taking the human path of recent days, and we wish to know why.’ He stopped and hung his head before Timbul. ‘If we could have stopped this atrocity we would have done so. I was with four of my people, but we didn’t fully comprehend until it was too late. I am sorry, guardian. It’s an unspeakable crime to kill a woman or a child.’
Timbul looked wonderingly at the little man. ‘They might have killed you all, and then they would have killed Jaralina anyway.’
Olwid turned back to Kelian. ‘Why does the Prince of Alkira travel so far from his own city?’
‘The fallen have taken my Lady Elena and her sisters Immosey and Louisa. We think they’re taking them to Weema. And we think Nandul is in Weema.’
‘Nandul! Olwid spat out the name like a curse. ‘He certainly does have much to answer for. Women and children are ours to protect. Their lives are sacred.’
‘Until I met Elena, I may not have fully understood. But now…Elena is innocent,’ said Kelian, his heart filling with desperation as he thought of her in the hands of the fallen. ‘She’s strong minded and highly intelligent, but not strong enough physically to defend herself against the fallen. And the youngest girl is just as clever as her older sisters, but she’s practically still a child. And Louisa has already lost her birth parents.’ He saw Timbul glance uneasily at Araas and wondered momentarily what the guardians weren’t sharing.
‘So, you must find your Lady. That is no easy task. The land is well guarded,’ Olwid observed. ‘Yo
u will get into Nyinaku. You might wander where you wish. Don’t expect to get out.’
‘If we don’t find some water, there’s little chance we will even pass the Wasteland,’ said Kelian.
‘The fallen drew the water from the ground as they passed. I saw the mists rise into the air. The water will return, but not in time to keep you alive.’ He hesitated and then glanced at Timbul. ‘I will not allow you to die. This one,’ he gestured towards Timbul, ‘wishes to die. And I don’t mean he wishes to be returned, as they say.’ He was silent for a long moment as he watched Timbul’s expressionless face. ‘I will take you to the water. The storm will not blow this way. Follow me.’
At first they followed Olwid over the very same area Araas and William had searched, but Olwid continued south-west. Kelian could see why they had stopped searching. The rocks and sparse vegetation ended abruptly and ahead, stretching south as far as the eye could see, was flat black sand. This didn’t deter Olwid, who marched forward as though he could already see water in the distance. Heat rose from the ground and Kelian felt his face scorching. He wondered what would happen were he to faint and without having to look, he knew Araas was now watching him. ‘I’m fine,’ he thought, disgusted by his own fatigue and knowing how embarrassed he would be to fall. ‘No, actually I’m not fine,’ he mentally contradicted himself. Araas quickly moved up beside him.
‘Kelian, you were buried up to your chest in hot sand, and now you are travelling across this wasteland with four trained soldiers, a Tabul who has spent his whole life here, and a trader who passes this way regularly.’
The Fallen (Book 1) Page 21
