First Comes The One Who Wanders

by Lynette S. Jones

  “Leilas,” he cried out when he spotted her. “You’re just in time. What do you say to some sport while my students catch their breath?”

  “I’m afraid these days my weapon of choice is the battleaxe, not the broadsword.”

  “Then we’ll show the technique of sword to axe combat,” said Erion, not to be deterred. “Wolf, fetch a practice axe.” A young man with silver-brown hair and light brown eyes ran off in the direction of the weapons rack. Leilas shrugged in acquiescence and removed her cloak, handing it to one of the students to hold. A buzz went through the students as they realized she was a woman.

  Accepting the practice weapon from Wolf with a bow, she stepped into the circle and assumed a fighting stance. She’d done this a thousand times with Solein, although she’d never come to enjoy it. Even in practice, the darkness was always nearby.

  The gong sounded and she stepped forward, her axe poised defensively. They stood facing each other for several moments then Erion burst into action. Leilas countered his moves, finding his rhythm, adapting hers to his. She didn’t think about the moves, practice had made them second nature. Her only thought was the rhythm of the fight, the balance of parry and thrust, of swing and block.

  She didn’t know how long they fought. She stopped only when she heard the gong sound as if in the distance. Erion pointed his weapon to the ground and bowed. Leilas did likewise. The students burst into cheering and clapping.

  “It’s an honor to fight with a master of such caliber,” said Erion. “You truly are a woman of many hidden talents.”

  “That is great praise coming from you, Erion.” Leilas handed the axe back to Wolf and accepted her cloak from him. “I need to speak with you Erion, when you finish here.” Bowing again, Leilas left the practice yards and went to clear her mind of the darkness.

  Erion found her in a private courtyard sitting in front of a fountain, letting the trickling water calm her spirit. “The armies gather in the Southern Plains,” she began when Erion sat next to her. “The battle against the Dredracians will begin within the month.” Leilas turned to look at him. “My path does not lie in the direction of Kyris. It lies in the direction of the sea. I must go on a quest from which I’m not certain I’ll return.”

  “I’ve always suspected there was such a journey in your future,” said Erion.

  “I won’t ask you to go with me. But I’d be honored if you choose to accompany me.”

  “If you and Joshuas go, I go,” replied Erion.

  “At my request, Master Manchu has released Joshuas from his promise. His path lies with the Chodra.”

  “And mine lies with you,” said Erion.

  “I was hoping you’d say that,” said Leilas, smiling. “I’m weary of traveling alone.”

  “And the loneliness is worse if you believe it will be your last journey.”

  “Especially then,” agreed Leilas, sadly. Wiping an errant tear from her eye, she got down to the business at hand. “We need to leave as soon as you are able to go.”

  “And where would we be going, my lady?”

  “to the Chasm of Ceryk, naturally. But we have a few places we must visit along the way.”

  Erion’s eyes narrowed a bit at her less than direct answer. “So, what you’re saying is, we’re going adventuring, somewhere dangerous. In the meanwhile, our forces will battle the Dredracians in what looks to be a hopeless battle for the light forces. Eventually, hopefully sooner than later, we’re going to confront Rengailai in his own stronghold at the Chasm of Ceryk and hopefully put an end to the war there.”

  “That’s one of the things I like about you Erion, your ability to reduce an issue to its essential elements. We might not end the war completely, but we’ll turn the tide if we’re successful.”

  “You learned this is what you must do in the Crystal Caves? This plan was revealed in the Book of Sylph?

  “Yes it was written by Sylph.”

  “How does this story end?”

  “With stories written of Leilas and Erion, brave and true of heart.”

  “But will we be alive to hear them?” asked Erion to himself.

  “They will be stories worthy of the telling,” said Leilas, not answering his question.

  CHAPTER 18

  “She doesn’t expect to return,” said Erion to Joshuas. “Won’t you at least say goodbye.”

  “I can’t,” replied Joshuas, polishing the sword with more zeal than was needed. “I won’t.”

  “She won’t understand that it’s because you care too much, my friend. She’ll see it only as rejection.”

  “I can’t help how she interprets it,” replied Joshuas. “That’s her choice.”

  “You are stubborn, Joshuas Greyanson. But as you crafters say. It’s for you to choose. I only hope you can live with your choice.”

  “Goodbye my friend. Keep her safe.” Joshuas took the hand that Erion offered. “Keep yourself safe, as well.”

  “I’ll see you again when I return,” said Erion as he turned and left the armory where he’d found Joshuas.

  Leilas was waiting for him in the street. She’d told Erion that Joshuas wouldn’t talk to her. She wasn’t sure what she would have said to him if he had talked to her. What was there left to say? He’d avoided her since she’d told him of her feelings for him. She’d respected his wishes and left him alone. Erion hadn’t been as willing to leave it at that. For a brief moment, Leilas had hoped that Joshuas would walk out the door with Erion and tell her he loved her and that he’d be waiting for her when she returned. When Erion walked out alone, she told herself she’d known that he wouldn’t come.

  “Are we ready?” She asked, as Erion jumped easily on the back of the horse she was holding for him.

  “I’m looking forward to seeing the sea again,” said Erion, turning his mount toward the west, avoiding the subject of Joshuas.

  “I’m looking forward to seeing the sea.” Leilas didn’t turn to look back. If she were meant to be with Joshuas, they would meet again.

  They took the mountain road toward Dirth. From there, they planned to continue on to Backwater Cove. Leilas was not looking forward to visiting her hometown again. It was no longer home and it was quickly becoming a haven for the Dredracians. She had to wonder how the masters of Sky were surviving in such a hostile environment. But then, she knew that they would survive. It was part of the balance, no matter how out of kilter it was at present.

  When they crossed the stream and turned toward Dirth, they pulled up in surprise. The city was surrounded by encampments of thousands of Dredracians. They’d heard the armies were still moving from Crogmanland. It appeared their rumors were dated.

  “We can’t go barging in there,” said Leilas, at last.

  “It wouldn’t be the smartest thing we’ve ever done,” agreed Erion.

  “Where did they all come from?” asked Leilas, amazed at the sheer number of soldiers she saw.

  “They’re all spawn of Dredrac, the Dark Lord,” snarled Erion, his hand clenching and unclenching. “They come from under rocks and out of whatever dark place they can find.”

  “I suppose Reyoro Dell isn’t any safer,” said Leilas, still looking over the sea of dark creatures.

  “I wouldn’t think so,” replied Erion.

  Climbing off her horse, Leilas took her map out of her tunic and spread it on the ground. “That leaves toward Andresia and Far Reef.” She pointed the way on the map.

  “It adds several days to our trip and it’s through Jayram’s stronghold,” said Erion.

  “We won’t go all the way to Andresia and if you have a better idea–”

  “I would certainly mention it now,” finished Erion. “The Northern Province it is.” He turned his horse around and started back the way they came.

  Leilas expected there to be patrols on the roads, but they didn’t run into any as they rode along the same trail she’d traveled with Joshuas and her family not so very long ago. They passed the cave and kept going north, rather
than turning east.

  This land was ruled by the brother of the man her father had sent Catalaina to marry. He was as evil as Catalaina’s husband and would stand against the Jovanulum in the battle to come.

  She’d heard her sister had survived the dark swirling cloud, though many had died in the attack. One of the casualties being Catalaina’s husband. Once again, Leilas wished that she’d been able to dispel the veil of evil that had descended on Magnus Crog, but it hadn’t been within her power to save the city. If she had been able to intervene, then Magnus Crog would also be part of the throng fighting against the Jovanulum. Now, she didn’t know if that would be true. She had no idea what had become of the people who’d survived and on which side of this conflict they belonged. She wondered if she would live to know the answer to that question.

  It was nearing dark when Erion held his hand up in silent warning. Leilas couldn’t see or hear anything, but she knew Erion’s elven senses were far keener than hers. They left the road and tied the horses in a sheltered gully. Then moving away from the animals, they hid themselves in a thicket. It wasn’t long before Leilas heard guttural voices calling to one another. Not a hundred feet from them a gaunt appeared from behind a tree, then disappeared behind another. Three more followed him through the woods. They weren’t the masters she’d seen in Crysalis. In fact, these weren’t crafters at all, just guards on their nightly rounds. Still, their presence evoked fear as they approached. The fear receded when they passed. Leilas prayed they didn’t stray too near the horses. The animals wouldn’t have the sense to be still.

  She felt them returning before she saw them. Her hand instinctively went to her axe. Erion shook his head and he stayed still and silent. Everything in Leilas told her to jump up and fight, but she trusted Erion and stayed hidden in the bushes. He stayed still for what seemed like an eternity after the gaunts passed them again on their way back. Finally, he began to crawl out of the bushes. Leilas followed close behind. “Why didn’t we just take care of them?” she asked, as they went to retrieve the horses.

  “Why should we fight, when we can avoid the danger?” replied Erion, mounting his horse and gathering the reins of the pack horse. “Secondly, they were expected back to report. If they didn’t show up, we would have had a hundred searching these woods instead of a dozen.” Erion didn’t lead them back to the road, but through the trees. “It appears Dirth isn’t the only city to have encampments of Dredracians. I fear we may have to try to sneak through the enemy if we want to get to the sea. These gaunts are children of Rengailai himself. There is no good in them. They spread fear and destruction wherever they go.”

  “I’ve seen some of them before, although the ones I saw were crafters, masters of the School of Land. They are leading seven divisions of Dredracians.”

  “That would be a formidable army by itself, especially with crafter gaunts,” replied Erion, falling silent. “I hadn’t heard that there were any gaunts that were crafters.”

  They stopped at the end of a crag that hung over the beginning of the Northern Plains. Here, too, were dozens of encampments dotting the landscape. Soldiers patrolled on foot as well as horseback. The entrance to the mountain road was guarded by two rock giants brandishing clubs as thick as tree trunks. Backing down off the outcropping, Leilas sat down on a fallen log to think. She hadn’t expected it would be easy to get to the sea, since she knew Dredracians were coming from Crogmanland. But she hadn’t considered it would be next to impossible.

  “Through the forest, over the top of the mountains,” said Erion. “It’s a bit tricky, but I think you can do it. Then there is a twenty-mile stretch of grassland, where we might have to make a run for it, before we reach the rocks that bound the sea. Then we work our way down the coast until we find a ship that will take us across to Crogmanland.”

  “You make it sound so easy,” said Leilas, laughing softly. “What are we waiting for?”

  Erion took up the leads of his horses. “No riding this leg of the journey.” Leilas readied her animals and they began moving quietly along the edge of the cliff. There was something resembling a deer path that Erion seemed to be following. Only a thin line of trees hid them from the view of the enemies below. They traveled this path all night. When the morning began to lighten into dawn, Erion found a good hiding spot and they stopped to rest.

  Leilas took the first watch. Climbing to a hidden spot near the edge, she watched as the camps below awakened. There was a great deal of activity, but nothing that resembled packing and leaving. Sets of guards rotated on an hourly basis. A group set out to patrol the forest as she was getting ready to awaken Erion. Filling him in on what was happening, Leilas took his spot on the blanket and quickly fell into a restless sleep.

  She was standing near the Chasm of Ceryk, a staff in her hand. Rengailai stood on the opposite side of the split he’d created in Preterlandis. The voices of the lost souls were so loud she couldn’t think. Rengailai’s laughter was driving her to rage.

  It was almost a relief when Erion finally awakened her. The sun was setting. They ate a cold meal of bread and cheese, packed the horses and when darkness enveloped them, they started on their way.

  “The patrols don’t come up the mountains this far. Our only danger is that someone from below sees us.”

  “Or that we fall off this cliff,” added Leilas, doing her best to watch her footing in the dark.

  “I wasn’t particularly worried about that,” replied Erion, laughter in his voice.

  They reached the peak of the mountain as the sun rose. There were no trees to hide them, so they made do with a shallow shelter under an outcropping rock. The spot was hidden from below by rocks as well as from above. They passed the day half-resting, half-watching until darkness fell again. By the time morning came again, they’d reached the foot of the mountain and the beginning of a narrow strip of grassland that stretched between the mountains and the rocks that bounded the sea. There didn’t appear to be any troops stationed here.

  “With luck we should be able to cross this open space tonight and be safely hidden in the rocks by morning,” said Erion, finding a grove of trees for them to hide in for the day.

  Although there were no troops patrolling this area, it wasn’t long before they spotted the hawks circling. Leilas could feel the power probing the grassland through their eyes from where they were hiding.

  “They’ll have night birds out watching tonight. They won’t leave this strip unguarded,” remarked Erion.

  “We have no choice but to try and cross. How far away do you think they are?”

  “Not far enough. We may have a fight on our hands. If they’re following their usual pattern, there will be about twenty soldiers and two crafters.”

  “Hardly a fair fight,” said Leilas. “Between you and me, they don’t stand a chance.”

  Erion threw back his head and laughed. “That was exactly what I was thinking.”

  When the dusk had deepened into darkness, they urged their horses out of the trees and into a brisk run. They wouldn’t be able to run them all night, but they would get as great a lead as they could. After an hour of running they slowed to a walk to rest the horses. They’d been riding almost three hours when they heard the screech of an owl raising the alarm. It wouldn’t be long and soldiers would be in pursuit. They urged their horses on as fast as they dared.

  Two owls stayed above them, occasionally screeching out. Reining his horse to a stop, Erion took his bow and shot two arrows into the air. The Dredracians spies fell to the ground. “That should buy us a little extra time,” Erion said, putting his bow away. “The owls won’t be able to tell them our position.”

  “I could cast a spell to hide us,” offered Leilas.

  “The crafters would sense that right away. We’re better off to try and outrun them.”

  They continued on across the grassland without stopping. It wasn’t long until Erion pointed out a small cloud of dust rising. “There they are.” Leilas looked harder. Still,
all she could see was a small cloud of dust. “They were farther away than I suspected. We might make the rocks after all.” Pushing the horses, they bore down on the rocks that rose up at the edge of the grassland.

  Leilas knew that even if they made the rocks, they wouldn’t be safe. They’d already been spotted. These soldiers would pursue them until they caught and killed them, or were killed.

  When they reached the beginnings of the rocky terrain the soldiers were close enough that the crafters were beginning to chant. Leilas quickly threw a spell of protection around Erion and herself then began a spell of unbinding. The crafters stopped their chanting and cast a spell of protection of their own. Leilas didn’t let that deter her. Speaking the words of the spell in her mind, she sent her thoughts out as she had in Crysalis. The spell seeped through the ring of protection and caught the dark crafters by surprise. The soldiers looked in terror as their crafters melted before their eyes. The shield melted away with the crafters. Surprised at how much energy it had taken to cast the spell, Leilas summoned up her failing energy and cast the only spell she was still capable of weaving over such a large group of soldiers, a spell of forgetfulness. Erion had already found a hiding spot. Leilas joined him. The soldiers looked around, puzzled as to why they were so far from their camp. She could hear them call to each other to mount up and head back to their base before their superiors found them missing. Then, she sank into unconsciousness, her energy drained.

  She woke to find Erion teasing beer down her throat. Wondering where he’d found the brew or where he’d been hiding it, she drank it down greedily before attempting to sit.

  “You’ve been holding out on me,” she teased weakly. “This would have tasted fine in the mornings.”

  “I’ve traveled with crafters before,” replied Erion, finding some hard bread for her to eat. “These are the emergency supplies.”

  “We are a troublesome lot,” said Leilas, closing her eyes as the fatigue washed over her. “Are we out of danger?”