by Jenny McKane
She took it and swallowed. It was bitter.
“Everard is torn, isn’t he?” Aysus said suddenly. “I can feel the tension within him. I think he does not want to be on this journey with you all.”
Avalon smiled. “Everard is a good friend,” she said. “He is just going through a hard time, that is all.”
“He is resentful,” said Aysus. “But he loves you, Avalon. However, I do not think he is fond of Skyresh. I would watch him.”
Avalon felt her blood run cold. “What do you mean?”
Aysus slowly walked up to her. “I mean, he hates him, and he thinks that Skyresh is standing between the two of you. Resentment can grow and fester like a wound if it is not dealt with properly. Your journey is at risk.”
Avalon stared at the old man. “We just need to get to my father,” she said lightly. “Everard can manage that, I am sure.” Her heart was beating wildly. She felt again the almost irresistible impulse to tell the Storyteller the truth, followed swiftly by resistance to the idea.
Aysus seemed trustworthy. He was a Stromel, a healer and a Storyteller. He led a troop of performers who—at great personal risk—showed legends and folk tales to the people. She knew that Skyresh was ready to trust him and would have told all of them the truth of their mission tonight.
Why didn’t she feel the same way? She had trusted Mother Oda, almost instinctively, despite having never met her before.
Aysus smiled. “Yes. Your father. Well, you should get some sleep then and recuperate. You cannot continue your journey until your shoulder is better.” He paused, gazing at her levelly.
She looked away. “Thank you, Aysus. You have been a great help.” She paused then looked straight at him. “It was most fortuitous that you happened upon us right at that moment after the creature had attacked.”
He smiled. “The Goddess must have been guiding us to you,” he said.
“Yes,” she replied slowly. “She must have been. Well, good night then.”
“Good night, Avalon,” he said and turned and left the tent.
Avalon blew out the candle and crawled into the sleeping roll. The draught he had given her was starting to take effect. She could feel it seeping through her veins. The pain in her shoulder lessened, and her eyelids started to droop.
Suddenly, the face that had appeared to her in the sand storm filled her mind. It swooped down on her, like a bird in flight. She instinctively tried to move, but it was as if she was paralyzed. She couldn’t move, at all; she couldn’t even lift a finger. All that she could do was watch it getting closer. It opened its mouth, as if to devour her…
But then, she saw the wolf, sitting to the side. Crouching down, as if about to lunge. Hansa. Her beautiful guardian wolf, who had been injured. The wolf leapt into the air towards the face, and it suddenly dissolved into dust.
Her mind went black.
***
Everard picked up a stick and prodded the fire. He turned to Avalon, who was eating breakfast.
“How are you feeling?” he asked. “Is your shoulder mending?”
Avalon put down the bowl. “It is mending quickly,” she said. She pulled down the top of her tunic, so that Everard could see. He gasped.
It was true. The bandage had been removed, and there was barely a mark left on her shoulder.
“That is impossible,” he breathed. “I saw it with my own eyes. It was a deep wound, Avalon. How has it healed completely in a few days? Injuries like that take weeks to heal.”
Avalon shook her head. “I don’t know,” she said. “Perhaps because the creature who made the wound was not normal? Maybe the bites of such creatures heal quicker than the bites of regular animals.”
Everard looked doubtful. “Its teeth were as sharp as a regular animal,” he said. “If not sharper. No, it is something that has been given to you, Avalon. Your healer practices magic.”
Avalon nodded. “I have thought so, too,” she said. “But regardless, it means that we are ready to resume our journey. I am ready. Are you?”
Everard sighed then nodded. “I will stay by your side,” he said slowly. He stared at her, his dark eyes filled with longing.
Avalon reached out and took his hand. She felt a jolt of connection with him, but also the shadows that filled his soul.
“What’s going on?”
They looked up. Skyresh stood there, his blue eyes narrowed.
“I was just saying that I am healed,” said Avalon quickly. “It is time, Skyresh. Time to continue. Besides my injury, we are all rested now. Perhaps these people may be kind enough to give us some food and water for our journey.”
Skyresh squatted down next to them. “Yes, I knew you were better,” he said. “I agree. We must move on. We have already lost too much time.”
Avalon noticed Aysus approaching them. His long robe swirled in the sand around him, and his long grey hair flowed in the wind. When he was almost to them, he stopped.
“You are leaving,” he said.
Skyresh nodded. “Yes, Storyteller. It is time for us to leave. We thank you for your great kindness in tending Avalon’s injury and letting us all stay. We owe you a debt.”
Aysus smiled. “The journey is long and rough,” he said slowly. “But you already know that.” He stared at Skyresh, his eyes boring into his. “I think that you will need a guide. I am willing to take you where you need to go, and I will not ask any questions of what you are doing.”
Skyresh turned to the others. “It would be good to have a guide,” he said slowly. “Aysus has travelled this route many times.”
Avalon frowned. “I don’t know,” she said. She looked at Aysus. “Surely, you desire to get home? You have already travelled far into the Outlying Zone and wish to leave. We do not want to put you and your people out.”
Aysus nodded. “Yes, we are weary,” he agreed. “I would not ask the others. They can return to Agnoria as planned. It is only I who offer my services to you, and I do so willingly and with great joy.”
Skyresh looked at Avalon. “I think we should accept Aysus’s kind offer,” he said. “We were at risk of dying out there, Avalon. Even if you hadn’t been attacked by the creature, we were all so weary. With a guide who knows the terrain, we can make better time.”
Avalon was silent. Then she turned to Everard. “What do you think?”
Everard gazed at the Storyteller. “I think that if this man can get us to our destination quicker, it will be good for us. I have no objections.”
Avalon hesitated, staring into the fire. It would mean telling the Storyteller that their destination was The Tower. He would want to know why they desired to go there – the story she had concocted about visiting her father would be exposed for a lie. Mother Oda had told them all that no one lived in The Tower except the Black Witch.
Skyresh turned to her. “My instinct says that this would be a good decision.” His blue eyes looked at her imploringly.
“Well, then.” She stood up and approached Aysus. “You will accompany us, but we need to leave soon. We have already been delayed too long.”
Aysus nodded. “I will inform the others,” he said, smiling. “And then we shall all start packing up. They will want to head off straight away, as well.” He hesitated then reached out a hand to her. “You shall not regret this, Avalon. I mean to be of service to you in any way that I can.” He turned and left.
Avalon sat back down. She felt uneasy. “I hope that we have made the right decision.”
Skyresh stared at her. “Aysus is on our side,” he whispered. “He is a loyal Stromel, seeking to undermine the Jarle in his own way, with his performances. I know that he suspects more than we have told him, Avalon. He already senses that you are special. You should trust him.”
Avalon nodded. “If you say so. Mother Oda said that your instincts are good.”
“They are,” said Skyresh. “He will be an asset, I just know it. Besides, he has helped us so much already. He has healed your wound. Why would he have let us
stay with them and helped you recover if he was not sympathetic towards us? He and his people could have kept going and not stopped.”
Avalon nodded again. That was true. Perhaps she was just being overly cautious.
But then, she remembered the face she had seen in the sand. It had appeared to her again, the night before, and Hansa had been there to scare it off once more. Where was the wolf? Was she recovered from her wound? Why was she suddenly appearing in her mind so vividly?
She took a deep breath. The decision was made now. Aysus was accompanying them, and she must trust him. She tried to shake off the feeling of foreboding; the face that kept appearing in her mind. She was probably still tired and overthinking everything.
“Let us start packing,” she said.
***
Avalon walked out of the tent and froze. Her heart started to thud.
There were two men, talking to Aysus. They wore the black uniform of the Grey Guards. She could see their horses in the distance.
What were they doing here? This was not good. She looked around, searching for Skyresh and Everard. She couldn’t see them anywhere, but they could walk out at any moment. How would they explain themselves to the guardians?
Should she flee back into the tent? But that would draw their attention to her. As she was hesitating, they looked over and saw her.
Her heart was beating wildly. Aysus smiled and led them over to her.
“May I introduce one of our troop?” he said, staring at her. “This is Ines. She is an actor.”
Avalon smiled at the two guardians. She held her breath.
One of the men frowned, staring at her. “You look familiar,” he said slowly. “Have we met before? I swear that I know your face from somewhere.”
Avalon shook her head. “I do not think so, guardian.”
The man kept staring at her then shook his head. “Strange,” he said. He turned back to Aysus. “Why have you stayed so long here? According to our records, you should be further toward the boundary by now.”
Aysus smiled. “We were attacked,” he said. “A strange creature wounded one of our troop, but we are packing up now and ready to depart.”
The man nodded. “You should not be lighting fires,” he said. “It draws the creatures. Do you require an escort?”
Aysus shook his head. “We are fine,” he soothed. “We will be more careful. You may leave us now.” He stared at the two men, his eyes boring into theirs.
“We may leave you now,” they repeated, staring at him.
Avalon’s eyes widened. What was wrong with them? They seemed to be entranced in some way. She could see the pupils in their eyes dilate suddenly. She shivered.
They walked away without another word. She and Aysus turned, watching them mount their horses and ride off.
Avalon turned to the Storyteller. “What did you do to them?” she whispered.
Aysus smiled. “Nothing,” he said. “Why did you think that I did?”
Avalon stared at him. “Why did you lie for us?”
“So many questions,” said Aysus, shaking his head. “They are gone and will not bother us again. We do not need to worry anymore. Are you ready to depart?”
Avalon nodded. “I am packed.”
“Good.” Aysus looked at the tent she had been staying in. “We will take it down now. The others are keen to get going, too.” He walked away.
Avalon stared after him. Who was this Aysus? He seemed to have power that she could not explain. She had never seen anyone convince guardians so quickly and easily that all was well. If she didn’t know any better, she could have sworn he had used a spell on them.
But why would he not tell her if he had? Perhaps he was testing her. She had not been honest with him. If she was, maybe he would reveal who he really was, too. Because one thing she knew for sure: he was not just a Storyteller, or a regular healer. He was something more.
***
The tents and supplies were packed into the wagon. They were all ready to depart.
“Are you ready?” Skyresh said, turning to Avalon and Everard. “Because we need to get going now.”
He had been very alarmed when she had told him about the Grey Guards. He simply couldn’t believe that Aysus had convinced them so easily that all was well, and he believed that they would be watching them.
“We will have to sneak away from the others,” he had whispered to her. “Otherwise, they will see that we haven’t gone with them.” She had agreed. Skyresh had gone to talk to Aysus about it.
They farewelled the troop, and then they picked up their bags. They were planning to crawl into a sand dune and lie low until the others departed. Then, they would set out in the opposite direction. Hopefully, if they were being watched, the guardians would see the wagon depart and head off, assuming that they were with them.
Aysus had not questioned them when Skyresh had informed him of their plan. He had simply nodded in agreement. He knows, thought Avalon. He knows that we are not authorized to travel in the Outlying Zone. Why else would he have lied to the guardians? He could have told them the truth – that he and his troop had just stumbled on them and aided them. That the three strangers were travelling to visit Avalon’s father…but he hadn’t.
Again, she felt uneasiness stirring within her.
The four of them crouched in the sand dune. Avalon could hear the wagon, creaking through the sand and the people heading off. When enough time had passed, they got up and started walking in the opposite direction.
Avalon gazed back for a moment. She could see the wagon and the people in the distance, And then it was like a swirl of sand suddenly rose up, obscuring them. She blinked, and when next she looked, they had disappeared.
As if the desert had swallowed them. As if they had been just a mirage, which had shimmered away.
“Avalon?” Skyresh was staring at her. “Are you alright?”
She nodded slowly. Aysus was staring at her, but she refused to look at him. She couldn’t look at him. Fear rose in her, threatening to overwhelm her. What had just happened?
And then, they heard it. A slow, mournful howl, rising into the air around them.
Chapter Nine
Avalon stared up, craning her neck in wonder. She had never seen anything quite like it before.
Before her was a fortress made entirely of gold. It shimmered and glinted in the harsh desert sunlight. Turrets twisted into the sky, seeming to pierce the blue. She slowly let out the breath that she didn’t even realize that she had been holding.
She had spotted it on the horizon from a great distance away. At the start, she had just seen flashes of gold; the sun refracting off its surface, as she discovered later. She had stopped, shaking her head to clear it. Was this another magical apparition, like the ones that they had all been experiencing in the desert? Would it suddenly dissolve into nothing when she turned back to look at it?
But it hadn’t disappeared. Instead, it had grown larger, as they got closer to it. They had all stopped, gazing at it in wonder.
“What is it?” she had whispered, tightening the veil around her head.
Aysus had speared his staff into the sand. “It is a Jarle fortress,” he said, his eyes squinting in the bright sunlight. “You see them from time to time in the Outer Limits.”
Skyresh laughed harshly. “Typical,” he had said. “They build fortresses of gold while the people starve in Agnoria.”
Aysus nodded. “Yes, they like to indulge their wealth.” He turned to them all. “Do you want to look inside? We could approach it and ask permission.”
Avalon blanched. “I do not think so,” she said quickly. “There is no time. We have lost so much of it already, and we are late getting to our destination.”
Skyresh sighed, staring at her. “I think that we need to be honest with Aysus,” he said slowly.
Avalon stared at him, alarmed. Everard frowned, too.
“Friends,” said Aysus, raising his staff. “I know that there is more to your
journey than you have told me. I have realized that you did not feel comfortable telling me, and I respect that. We all must be wary in these hard times.”
He gazed at Avalon. “Your father isn’t stationed in the Interior, is he? You do not journey to visit him there, do you?”
Avalon shook her head, her heart beating wildly. It seemed that it was too late. Aysus already suspected, and Skyresh was eager to tell him. She hadn’t wanted to. She hadn’t even wanted him accompanying them at all. Although he had made their travel easier already, she had to admit.
He knew shortcuts through the desert; he had already saved them a lot of time. He also knew more about the vegetation that grew here, more places to dig for water and forage for food. He had been patient and steadfast, letting them rest when they needed to, but always encouraging them to press on. He seemed to not suffer from weariness himself; he had the energy of a much younger man.
“I am used to this environment,” he had said when Everard had remarked on his energy. “I have travelled here many times. While not a desert dweller myself, I understand the landscape.”
He also appeared to not need much sleep. He was always volunteering for watch at night. One night, when Avalon had awoken and stumbled to get some water, she had seen him wide awake in his sleeping roll, staring at the sky.
On the surface, he had proven himself. And now, they were about to entrust him with details of their mission. She stared at Skyresh and nodded.
“We do not journey to visit anyone,” Skyresh said, staring at the old man. “The only true part of what we have told you is that we need to get to The Interior. Tell me, Aysus, have you heard of The Tower?”
Aysus stared at him. “I know of it,” he said slowly. “It is out of bounds. Anyone who goes near it is severely punished.”
Skyresh frowned. “Do you know why? What is held within it?”
Aysus sighed. “They say that it is the seat of all their power,” he replied. “A powerful witch weaves spells within it. There are legends about it.” He paused, studying Skyresh carefully. “You mean to breach The Tower?”
