“Yes,” she replied, wiping her eyes. “Though I know Gewey loves me, I still fear that she will convince him that she is the better choice.” She lowered her eyes. “I should not despair, but the loss of our bond is driving me mad. If not for Nehrutu, I....”
“Gewey is your husband,” Selena interrupted, “to use the human term. He is not hers, and never will be. What I know of Gewey tells me that his heart is true. More importantly, that heart belongs to you. If you feel that learning these powers will benefit you, then by all means do so. But if you think you must compete for his love, please think again.”
She shook her head, laughing, then squeezed Kaylia’s hand fondly. “You are the one he chose. And you chose him. That is all you need to care about. And I assure you that when he returns, nothing will have changed between you.”
Kaylia smiled. “Thank you. Your words have lifted my spirits.”
The sounds of songs and laughter drifted in from the camp.
“Speaking of spirits,” Selena remarked, “it seems as if the very first elf-human alliance is going better than expected.”
“So it would seem,” Kaylia agreed. “Though I wonder about the wisdom of wine and song on the eve of battle.”
“I think it may bring the two peoples closer,” said Selena. “Better to have an aching head and good allies than suspicions and mistrust.”
Kaylia thought on this for a moment, then rose to her feet. “Perhaps we should join them.” She held out her hand and helped Selena to her feet.
The chilly night was warmed by dozens of fires. The smell of meat and wine filled the air, mingling perfectly with the songs and laughter. By the time the meal was served, Kaylia stood in amazement at the sight of two armies – elf and human – laughing as if the Great War had never happened. Her heart filled with hope. And though her thoughts were ever on Gewey, she knew somehow that all would be well.
Chapter 15
The orange sky that came with the dawn brought with it an eerie glow that washed across the sand. Gewey thought it beautiful in a way that must be appreciated firsthand. Kaylia was the only person who would ever be capable of understanding what it looked like through his eyes - he could never describe it properly in words. Just then his heart ached from the emptiness he felt without her voice inside him.
“Keep your thoughts here and now,” scolded Aaliyah.
Pali stirred and stretched. “I see neither of you slept.” He reached into his pack, retrieved some jerky and flatbread, and shared it with Gewey and Aaliyah.
Something caught Gewey's eye; a figure was approaching from the direction of the Black Oasis. As it neared he could see that it was a human woman. Her dark blond hair was tangled and matted, and her tattered clothes were covered with dust and grime. She stumbled through the sands as if near to exhaustion until she was only a few yards away. Gewey and the others stood, but did not approach her.
“Who are you?” the woman asked weakly. She didn't meet their eyes, instead staring submissively at the ground. Cuts and bruises on her face and arms told of abuse. “Why are you here?”
“A slave,” whispered Pali. In a louder voice, he then asked: “Who is your master?”
“Why are you here?” she repeated.
“You need not fear us,” said Aaliyah. “If you wish, we shall protect you.”
Pali nodded approvingly. “Come forward.”
She didn't move. “Please. Why are you here?”
Gewey could see the fear in the woman's eyes. He took a step forward, but she jumped back, wrapping her arms around herself.
“Slavers do this to them.” Pali's face burned with fury and disgust. “They destroy their will, and torture them until they are nothing resembling what they once were.” He looked hard at Aaliyah. “This is why we protect the humans.” He turned to the woman. “Look at her. She is so afraid, she refuses to accept our offer of help. She fears what will happen to her if she tries to escape. I've seen this before - far too many times.”
“Is this true?” Aaliyah asked the woman. “Will you not let us help you?”
Tears welled in the woman's eyes “Please. I must obey my master. He wants to know why you're here.” She anxiously gripped the sides of her long tan skirt. Her light blue blouse was caked with thick patches of dried blood and filth.
“Who is your master?” asked Gewey.
The woman shook her head nervously. “Please.”
“Tell your master that our business is our own, and none of his affair,” said Pali.
The woman bowed and scurried away.
“Poor wretch,” Pali muttered sadly. “It seems we are expected. What do you suggest?”
“We have little choice,” said Aaliyah. “We must continue. They may expect us, but I doubt they are prepared for us.”
They watched the slave return to the Oasis, making a note of the point where she entered. Once she had disappeared, they cautiously followed. Gewey reached out, but his senses were deflected. The look on Aaliyah's face told him that she was faring no better.
As they neared, the blackness of the Oasis changed; enormous deep green and thick gray vines were now visible. Slick, round leaves beaded with the dense humidity hung low, some touching the moss-covered ground. Vines and thorns twisted their way through the branches, wrapping themselves from tree to tree in a never-ending web. Tiny blue flowers dotted the vines and low branches, their colors so deep and rich that one had to strain to notice them as they blended with the leaves. Each flower was cradled by a nest of black berries no larger than the tip of a child’s finger. High above the canopy, flocks of jet black birds, the like of which Gewey had never seen before, darted and swirled, landing in the tree-tops for just a moment before taking flight again.
The air was full of clinging moisture. It was in stark contrast to the arid desert, and the scent of rotting foliage left a foul taste in Gewey’s mouth. They checked the point where they had seen the slave woman enter, but could see no trail or path. Pali slowly scanned the area, then with a satisfied smile, pushed his hand against a patch of brambles. It swung back as if on hinges. Gewey could make out a narrow trail that disappeared into the blackness.
“I will lead,” said Aaliyah.
Gewey could feel her drawing in the flow and reaching out. Soon, her face began twisting in frustration; moments later she drew both of her daggers. The trail was very narrow, making both Gewey's sword and Pali's scimitar all but useless at present. He pulled out his own small dagger and continued following Aaliyah into the dense gloom of the Black Oasis.
Though Aaliyah was only a few feet ahead, even with his heightened senses he could still barely see her. Thankfully, the trail for the time being was straight and even. The ground was covered in thick moss that felt nearly as deep and difficult to walk on as the desert sand. The impenetrable trees and vines compounded the darkness, making it impossible to see more than a few inches on either side. Even the humidity was getting worse. Already his clothes were soaked and his hair hung limp. The few sounds to be heard were the drops of dew and creaking of trees, plus the occasional rustle of some small animal scuttling through the undergrowth.
Aaliyah stopped short, her back stiff and straight. “Something lurks,” she whispered. The sound of her voice barely reached Gewey.
“What is it?” he asked.
“I do not know,” she replied. “But I can feel something watching us.”
Gewey looked around. He couldn't imagine from where someone might be able to spy on them. The foliage was far too thick for a man or even an elf to pass through. He closed his eyes, breathing deeply. Then, just like an itch in the small of his back where he couldn't reach, it was there – a presence - watching. It reminded him of when he was in the Spirit Hills with Dina.
“Some say, the Black Oasis is alive,” remarked Pali. “And though I do not possess your skills, I too feel something odd.”
They continued for another half mile. Both Gewey and Aaliyah's frustrations grew as their senses faded; neither coul
d now sense anything beyond a few feet ahead, regardless of how much of the flow they allowed to pass through them. Then they smelled it – smoke. Foul smoke. Ahead they could see the trees thin and open into a small clearing. The closer they came, the more apparent it was that this was not a natural clearing. No, this had been carved out by hand. The perimeter smoldered, and in some spots small fires still burned. The moss on the ground had been trampled flat, while at the far side the ongoing trail had been sheered wider. Gewey and Pali put away their daggers and drew their swords.
“Whoever was here has clearly fled,” said Pali.
“Yes,” agreed Aaliyah. “But why?”
“I don't know,” said Pali. “But I'd wager we'll find out.”
Gewey listened for signs of people, but as before, his senses reflected back on him. “Well, whoever they are, there's only one way they could have gone.”
“Don't be so sure,” said Pali. “If they can survive this place, they may well have learned its secrets.”
Aaliyah nodded in agreement before cautiously moving across the clearing. The smoke lingered just above the ground, reeking like rotting earth mingling with decaying flesh. Gewey nearly vomited. As they neared the ongoing trail he spotted a dark lump spread across it a few yards further along. At first he couldn’t tell what it was, but then a cold chill ran through him when the blood-spattered face of the slave girl came into view.
“Monsters,” he fumed.
“Indeed,” said Pali.
They dragged the body into the clearing and covered her with a blanket.
“We must continue,” said Aaliyah.
Gewey nodded and said a silent prayer for the poor creature.
The ground on the trail ahead had been stripped of all life, leaving only tightly packed black earth. The trees and vines on either side had been hacked away, making it wide enough for them to walk abreast.
Aaliyah slowed their pace to a near crawl, then after about twenty yards, stopped altogether. She knelt down and examined a cut vine on the side of the trail. The second she touched it she quickly withdrew her hand and shot to her feet.
“I think I understand,” she whispered. “And if I am correct, the mystery has deepened.”
“Correct about what?” asked Gewey.
“The Black Oasis is alive,” she replied darkly.
“How do you mean?” Gewey bent down and looked at the vine. It pulsed and throbbed like an open wound.
“I mean that the presence we sensed was not those who reside here,” she explained. “It was the Oasis itself.” Her face tensed. “And whatever has cut it away like this must be strong enough to resist its wrath. This place is powerful - and angry.” She turned to Pali. “You say that none who have ventured here have ever returned?”
“Not that I know of,” he affirmed. “But then I know of no elf who has ever dared the Black Oasis. At least, none that have in my lifetime.”
“If whoever is here is so strong, why did they flee?” asked Gewey.
“Perhaps they didn't,” said Pali.
Aaliyah nodded in agreement. “I think you are right. I think we are being allowed to go deeper inside.”
“Maybe we should go back to the clearing,” Gewey suggested.
“I do not think that would help,” said Aaliyah. “We can only go forward, or leave this place.”
“Assuming we would be allowed to leave,” muttered Pali.
They continued cautiously for another half mile. Ahead, a dense haze now obscured their vision. Gewey reached out with the flow in an attempt to move the fog aside, but with no effect. Aaliyah tried as well, with the same lack of success.
As they entered the mist, Gewey immediately felt a presence wrap its spirit around him, pressing in on his mind. He was only just able to repel it and stumbled, gasping from the effort. Aaliyah placed one hand on his shoulder and wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead.
He held out his hand to steady himself. “I'm fine.” He looked into Aaliyah's eyes. “Did it try to reach you as well?”
“No,” she replied softly. “What did it feel like?”
Gewey thought about the first time Lee had entered his mind. “It was as if someone wanted to force its way inside me. I was barely able to keep it out.”
Aaliyah furled her brow. “It is good you had the strength. Though it could be useful to know what is out there.”
“Should I allow it in?” asked Gewey. The idea worried him.
“No,” she replied. “The risk is too great. But let me know if it happens again.”
At the start, the denseness of the fog only allowed them to see two or three feet ahead, and the air around them felt several degrees colder. However, to Gewey's great relief, after a few hundred yards it began to thin, though the chill remained even after the fog had cleared completely. The light that crept in from the widening of the trail now allowed Gewey to see the true color of the Oasis. In contrast to the dark, foreboding green of the exterior, the leaves here were a rich vibrant mixture of green, pale blue, and delicate lines of bright yellow. The trunks were smooth and without blemish, as if polished by skilled hands. Even the vines and brambles were less sinister in appearance, flowing in an elegant weave of life and symmetry.
Further ahead they could now see a narrow black stone archway the height of two men. Symbols of the nine gods had been carved across the face and inlaid with pure gold. Just beyond the archway, the ground had been paved with smooth red marble, veined in green and blue and polished to a mirror shine. The moment they passed beneath the arch, the forest on either side melted away like wax in a fire. In its place was a series of white marble columns the same height as the archway, all of them connected to each other by small arches of blood-red volcanic glass. To the left and right of these columns the ground had been transformed to a meadow of soft turf scattered with tiny yellow and purple flowers. This colorful area extended for more than one hundred feet before the dense trees and vines once again reclaimed the terrain.
The sun beamed down, illuminating the glass arches and sending tiny rays of red light shooting out in every direction. At the end of the path stood a forty-foot pyramid of polished bronze. The sides were smooth as glass, and the top was crowned with a blue crystal. At its base, a shallow arched corridor of black marble led to a silver door with the nine gods etched in a circle at its center.
“What is this place?” gasped Pali.
“It is a temple built to house the tools of the gods,” explained Aaliyah. “I have read of its existence, but had never thought I would see it for myself.”
Gewey shifted uneasily. “We still haven't seen whoever is in here, and it looks as if this is as far as we can go. So where are they?”
“Perhaps they await us beyond the door,” suggested Pali.
“Then I suppose there's only one thing to do,” said Gewey. He strode down the path toward the door and turned the small silver knob. Aaliyah and Pali stood, weapons drawn, just behind him.
The door opened without a sound. Just inside, a narrow passage led to a stone staircase leading down into the earth. The walls were covered with bronze plates that gave off a faint light similar to the glowing globes of the elves. As Gewey moved on the glow became brighter, extending all the way down the walls of the staircase. They descended for about thirty feet to another long hall before being faced with a dull gray stone wall.
“A dead end?” asked Pali.
Aaliyah examined it carefully. The stone was rough and uneven, in stark contrast to everything else there, and tiny quartz crystals were embedded throughout. She reached out and gently ran her index finger over the stone, then pressed her palm flat against it. She stood there silent and still for a full minute.
“There must be another way,” said Gewey.
“Did you see one?” asked Aaliyah, irritably.
Gewey reached over her shoulder and touched the wall. Instantly, there was a bright flash of white light. When it was gone, so was the wall. In its place was another silver door. Al
l three of them stood in amazement.
Aaliyah reached for the door, but Gewey grabbed her wrist. “Don't.”
“What is it?” she asked.
Gewey put his back to the door. “It is meant for me only. I can’t say how I know this, I just do.” He placed his hand against the door, feeling the cold metal. The pulse of the flow was everywhere, calling to him. “Don't you feel it?”
Aaliyah touched his shoulder and let her spirit flow toward his. She could feel the power calling to Gewey. But it was different. It was not the abstract raw power she molded to her will. This had form and consciousness. His eyes shot wide as she snatched back her hand. “It knows you.”
“Yes,” Gewey affirmed. “I don't understand how, but it does. I can almost hear its thoughts.”
“Hear whose thoughts?” asked Pali.
“The temple,” Gewey replied. “It speaks to me. From here I must go alone. It won't allow you to enter.”
Aaliyah took Gewey's hand. “Are you certain?”
Gewey smiled and nodded. “Yes. Don't worry. I don't sense the anger of the Oasis. But I do know that I must go on alone.”
Aaliyah squeezed his hand and stepped back. “We will await you here.”
Gewey turned and placed his hand on the doorknob. But the moment his fingers touched the metal, everything was plunged into darkness. Then came a great rumbling sound, as if the very earth was being shattered all around him. Aaliyah, Pali, and the hallway all vanished. For a moment, he was struck by fear and panic as the rumbling grew into a roar and a powerful wind rose up. It swirled around in a tempest, lifting him skyward. He let out a scream as he struggled vainly against the force. Then, as quickly as the wind had come, it disappeared again. He was beginning to fall back down. Faster and faster he fell. Unable to see through the darkness below, all he could do was grit his teeth and brace himself for the terrible crushing impact that he felt sure was to come. But the impact never arrived. Instead, amazingly, his feet landed gently onto soft ground. Gewey knelt down, expecting to touch grass, but was shocked to find what felt like polished marble. He pressed down with his finger. The surface gave way, sinking in, then reforming once he withdrew.
The Godling Chronicles : Bundle - Books 1-3 Page 80
