Ariel hadn’t stirred or made any noise. Joshuas laid his ear against her chest to ascertain if her heart was still beating and checked to make certain she was still breathing. When he was satisfied she was still stable, he set her by the door. Then closing his eyes, he calmed his thoughts and did his best to listen to the voices. He needed a name. The intensity of the voices rose at his actions. Slowly, out of the noise, a name began to sound.
Rising from the floor, Joshuas picked up his unconscious cargo and stood before the door. Squaring his shoulders, he spoke. “Trion,” he said, loudly and clearly. He heard the telltale click and pushed on the door. Smiling grimly, he headed for the back wall. Laying Ariel down where he could keep an eye on her, he looked through the opening in the wall. This crafter was laid out in the same manner as Ariel had been. Taking out his knife, Joshuas began the tedious task of tearing down the wall. Halfway through the task, it occurred to him there must be some kind of entrance to these cells if the ghouls came to feed the prisoners. He didn’t stop to figure the puzzle out this time. Continuing to dismantle the wall, he soon was standing next to the healer.
Pulling the arrow out of Trion’s chest, he slipped it into his quiver, then stood back and waited. The remarkable thing about healers, whether they were crafters or not, was that they could heal themselves, given the proper circumstances. Joshuas hoped that pulling the arrow out was all that was needed to allow Trion to begin healing. It was rare to be both a crafter and a true healer, but it did happen. If he believed the mural, this crafter was also a great healer.
Once Trion was back, then perhaps they could bring the others back. From the reliefs, it appeared as though these ten crafters could be great leaders in their fight against the Dredracians. Joshuas didn’t know how long it might take for Trion to awaken. He made himself comfortable, his sword on his knees, and tried to rest while he waited.
It was hard to hear over the voices in his mind, but he sat up when he thought he heard feet shuffling against the floor. The pitch of the voices grew higher and more intense. Joshuas was on his feet, sword at the ready. The ghouls attacked silently and fiercely. Joshuas was hard pressed to keep them at bay. They pulled back and regrouped after the first rush. Several lay dead on the floor. Joshuas stood at the ready, waiting for the next attack. There were more ghouls here than he could kill, before they wounded or killed him. But he would take as many as he could with him.
The ghouls began the second attack, but many of them ran off in differing directions away from the fight. Joshuas had to wonder what they were planning, but he didn’t have much time to pursue the matter. This attack didn’t end until all the ghouls lay dead at his feet. He was bleeding profusely from several deep gashes. He quickly said a spell to ward off the paralyzing effects of a wound inflicted by a ghoul. He wasn’t certain any had managed to scratch or bite him, but he wasn’t going to take any chances. Turning in a full circle, he waited for the next attack. The ghouls who ran away after the initial attack were still out there. Joshuas had a bad feeling about what they might be doing when they didn’t return. But he needed to sit down and tend to his wounds while they were affording him the opportunity. Cutting some strips off his cloak, he wrapped the worst of the cuts. Then he found some food and washed it down with the beer. He knew he’d need to rest to truly recover, but he was afraid the ghouls might attack again while he slept.
After a few moments of rest, he crawled over to check on Ariel and Trion. They seemed to have been left alone during the conflict. Trion’s color was beginning to return. Ariel was still unconscious, but stable.
Joshuas was beginning to worry about why the ghouls hadn’t returned. He’d invaded their territory, released their prisoners and killed several of their group. What was more important than taking care of this threat to their prison?
“The arrows, you idiot,” Joshuas said out loud. They had gone after the arrows. Once they had them, they’d be gone. Struggling to his feet, Joshuas started after the ghouls. But he was too late. Every door he came to was open. The cell, where the crafter lay, was ajar and the arrow removed. Joshuas had only managed to secure two of the arrows made by Rengailai.
Disgusted with his stupidity, Joshuas started back for Trion’s cell. When he returned, he slumped to the floor. He wasn’t sure how this arrow business worked. Could two arrows kill all the masters, if he didn’t lose them? Or did the writing on the shaft of the arrow dedicate that arrow to a certain master? He couldn’t read the writing on the shafts. It was written in runes that he hadn’t run across before.
He could always try to track the ghouls, although the likelihood of finding them was small. If he did go, what would happen to these crafters? Joshuas banged his head against the wall in frustration. He knew he wouldn’t leave until he was certain these crafters were safe. Knowing now, that he wouldn’t encounter any more ghouls, Joshuas wrapped his cloak tightly around his body and dozed.
“My lady,” a voice called out in anguish. Joshuas opened his eyes to see Trion kneeling next to Ariel’s limp form. “What have they done to you?” He reached out and touched her wounds, assessing them. Then he placed his hand on her chest and began to chant. Joshuas could feel the power of the old words spoken by this healer. He lay back against the wall and closed his eyes, knowing Ariel was in capable hands.
He awoke to the sound of chanting, but this time Trion was tending to his wounds. “I’ll be fine in a couple of days,” Joshuas protested. “There are others who need your help more than me.”
“It will take but a moment longer,” said Trion, not moving. “Then we’ll see to the others.” His song was soon done and he rose to his feet. “I’m Trion, King’s healer. This is Ariel, Solein’s Warrior. Are you from Solea?” He asked taking in Joshuas’ apparel.
“I’m Joshuas Greyanson, Sky crafter,” replied Joshuas, rising to his feet. “King’s healer? Which king?”
“There is only one king,” replied Trion.
“King Ley?” asked Joshuas, wondering how long these people had been imprisoned here.
“King Lehric,” said Trion, giving him an assessing stare. “I thought you said you were from Solea.”
“King Lehric is king over Solea?”
“All of Preterlandis, but he resides in Solea,” replied Trion, looking at Joshuas as if he were crazy. The golden lady at his side had the same expression on her face.
“You’ll have to forgive me,” said Joshuas. “We lost a great deal of knowledge during the Crafter Wars. My history wasn’t the best even before the wars.” Joshuas laughed at himself. “I haven’t heard of your King Lehric. But perhaps some of the elves remember him.”
“Crafter Wars?” asked Ariel. “The balance would be destroyed if the crafters went to war.”
“That was averted by Greyan. But much was lost because of the treaty he authored.
“The destruction of the balance couldn’t be averted by a treaty,” remarked Ariel, exchanging a glance with Trion. Both of them frowned.
“But this is a discussion for another time, I think,” said Trion. “You said there were others who needed my help.” The red-headed healer waited for Joshuas to lead the way.
Joshuas led them to the main chamber hall. Ariel and Trion both stopped and cocked their heads. The voices had been such a constant over the last days, it hadn’t occurred to him these two might have trouble dealing with them. Actually, he doubted these two had trouble with much of anything.
“Such poor souls,” said Ariel, sadly. “Why don’t you help them to their rest?”
Joshuas marveled at these people who could understand the voices in the Echoes, who lived long before the Crafter’s War. “I’m not the person for that job, my lady,” he replied. “I’m but a warrior.”
“Surely even a warrior can hear these people’s pleas,” she said.
Joshuas shook his head. “Very few can understand these lost souls.”
Ariel raised her eyebrows, but said nothing. “It’s not so easy to help these souls, my lady,�
�� said Trion. He paused for a moment as if listening. “But perhaps someone will come to give them rest.”
Ariel turned to Trion. “If we can’t save them, then let’s find those we can help.”
Joshuas led them to the first open door and into the open cell. Trion stepped up to the table where the crafter lay and placed his hand on the man’s chest. Closing his eyes, he stood silent for several minutes then shook his head. “He’s gone. There is nothing left to do but sing the death song for him.”
“We’ll do that for him,” said Joshuas. “But let’s see if any of the others can be saved.”
Each cell they visited was the same. All the crafters were beyond saving. Perhaps the arrows had something to do with keeping them alive as well as the ghouls tending them. Knowing he was losing valuable time, nonetheless, Joshuas helped move the bodies to one of the central chambers and lay them side-by-side.
There was no wood in the Echoes, but there was lamp oil and torches. As they lit the pyre, Trion began to sing. Ariel joined in, then Joshuas. The voices in the Echoes quieted as they sang. “We’ll come back to honor you,” Ariel said to the voices when they had finished, “when we know how to help you find peace.”
“Now what, Joshuas Greyanson?” asked Trion, rising wearily from the floor. “I believe we must rely on you for guidance, for now.”
“I’ve been sent to recover the arrows that brought these crafters to this fate.” Joshuas pointed to the smoldering pyre. “It’s vital to the existence of the Jovanulum in Solea.” He pulled the two arrows from his quiver. “I recovered only two. Yours.”
Then there are eight to be found?” asked Ariel. “What has happened to them?”
“The ghouls have them,” said Joshuas. “I must follow them.”
“We must,” said Ariel. “Since you chose to save us, rather than go after the ghouls when you realized they took the arrows.”
“I could do no less,” replied Joshuas. “But I’ll accept your offer. There are a hundred main chambers, plus cells like the ones we’ve already investigated. And who knows what we’ll find in the hallways that lead to the cells.”
“Then let’s begin,” said Trion. “We need some weapons.”
“Your weapons were in your cells,” replied Joshuas. “I don’t think Rengailai thought anyone would ever find you, much less rescue you.”
“I’m beginning to think he was very close to correct,” said Ariel. They went back to the cells and retrieved the old weapons. Then Ariel studied the tracks carefully. “They went this way,” she said at last and started through the Echoes main chambers heading south. The three moved quickly, stopping only occasionally to check the faint trail left by the ghouls. The further they moved into the Echoes, the newer the trail seemed to be. The trail suddenly veered to the right and ended mysteriously at a wall.
The voices in Joshuas’ head rose to a frenzied pitch. Ariel and Trion appeared to be listening and comprehending what the voices were saying. “There’s a door here,” said Ariel. Joshuas began searching. “Can’t they tell you how to open it?” He asked as he moved his fingers over the wall.
“It’s not like we’re having a conversation,” retorted Ariel. “More like disjointed words.”
“Yeah, I got that too. But all I understood were your names.”
“They’re speaking in the common tongue,” said Ariel. “But perhaps it’s changed over time,” she added as an afterthought.
Joshuas thought he felt a small indentation and placed the tip of his knife in it. Wiggling it around, he finally felt the mechanism trip. Stepping back, he watched as the portion of wall swung inward. They found themselves looking into a pitch-black hallway that seemed to be of a cruder construction than the main chamber of the Echoes.
Joshuas stepped through first, torch in hand. Trion followed, then Ariel. The footing was rough and their progress slowed. This passageway went east of the main hallway for almost a mile before it opened up into a room. The room made Joshuas shudder. In it were the remains of many hundreds of people, victims of the ghouls. They had found their hole. Sliding his sword from its sheath quietly, Joshuas moved into the room. As soon as the three were in the room, ghouls rushed from the openings leading into the room. Facing outward and standing back to back, the three crafters began fighting for their lives. They were outnumbered, but were far better fighters and were holding their own against the guards of Rengailai’s prison. As he fended off attackers, Joshuas began to speak a spell. Then yelling to the others to drop to the ground he spoke the final words. Flames flew out from his hands and encompassed the enemy. Their screams echoed in the room, then the room fell silent and they were alone.
“Well done,” said Ariel, looking around. “Let’s hope that’s all of them.”
“I’m guessing this is the direction we need to go,” said Joshuas, starting toward the door to the right.
“Let’s separate,” suggested Trion. “That way we can cover more ground. We will meet back here in an hour.”
Joshuas didn’t like the idea, but he had to agree it was probably the best idea. “I believe we need to find all eight arrows. Be careful and I’ll see you in an hour.”
Ariel went straight ahead and Trion took the door on the left. Joshuas took the door to the right. Unlike the main chambers of the Echoes, these chambers were eerily quiet. No voices invaded his head. Although it was a relief to have the voices gone, Joshuas wasn’t certain this quiet was any better. He moved forward, sword in hand.
The room he entered appeared to be some kind of prison chamber. Chains swung on the walls with human remains hanging from them. The bodies were in varying states of decay. The sickly smell of decomposition almost overwhelmed him. Covering his nose and mouth, he began searching the room.
It seemed odd that there were no instruments of torture in this prison room. Then it occurred to him what it really was and he was almost sick. These were the remains of the people the ghouls had been using as food. Looking closely at the bodies, he could see gouges and teeth marks. As he was studying the gruesome sight, he noticed something odd about one of the bodies. It had been slashed from neck to abdomen, after the person had been dead for some time. It was a jagged cut, as if inflicted by the hands of the ghouls.
Quelling his revulsion, he took his knife and began to investigate the wound. His knife hit against something that wasn’t flesh or bone. Taking a breath, he opened the rotting flesh and peered inside. There, hidden from most eyes, were the arrows, or at least several of the arrows. Reaching into the body, he pulled the arrows from the oozing flesh.
Swallowing to keep from vomiting, he wiped the arrows on the tattered rags covering the body. When he’d finished, he pulled at the chains to loosen them from the wall, but they were securely attached. Clenching his teeth in determination, he cut the hands from the bodies hanging there and placed all the bodies in a pile. Then he set fire to the bodies as he began to sing.
When he returned to the first chamber, he could hear Ariel and Trion singing. So, he hadn’t been the only one to find the ghouls’ spoils. While he waited for the others, he pulled what was left of the ghouls into the second room and started a funeral pyre for them. The smoke was beginning to be too thick to tolerate when Ariel and Trion appeared, each carrying arrows. They both grunted their approval of his treatment of the ghouls. They would probably insist they stop on the way out and send the others off properly.
Leaving the fire burning, they returned to the main chamber. Pooling the arrows together, they looked with satisfaction at ten black, carved shafts with black barbs attached at the top. “One for each eye of the gaunt masters,” said Joshuas, placing the arrows in his quiver.
“For each eye?” asked Ariel, as they retraced their steps back toward the main entrance of the Echoes.
“Right eye, to be exact,” said Joshuas. “According to Cephom, they don’t have hearts, not that you can find.”
“These gaunts are threatening Preterlandis?” asked Ariel.
“They
are,” replied Joshuas, seriously. “As we speak, they threaten to overrun Barat.”
“That’s a city in Solea?” asked Trion.
“I need to get back there as quickly as I can. But first,” said Joshuas, nodding his head at Trion’s question. “I need to get the two of you to the masters of Sky.”
“I would prefer to go and fight for Solea,” said Ariel.
“And I’m sure you will, before all is said and done,” replied Joshuas. “But first, we’ll talk with the council.”
“I’ll go talk to them,” she said. “But I’m Solein’s Warrior and I do his bidding. I’m not bound by your council or by this treaty you’ve told us Greyan imposed.”
“It’s all I ask,” replied Joshuas.
Ariel bowed her head in acquiescence. The voices had begun to harangue them again once they’d entered the main chambers of the Echoes. Joshuas took a deep breath, steeled himself against the insidious attack and headed in the direction of Dirthstone Manor.
They encountered only the lost souls as they walked through the Echoes. As he suspected, Trion insisted they stop and send the undead to their graves properly. But when they returned to the cell where they’d left the bodies, they were gone. Joshuas glanced around uneasily, his hand on his sword, but there was no sign of their enemy.
“I imagine they’ll come again when the time is right to fight again,” said Trion. “I’d have liked to have sent them to their rest.”
“We can’t help all those who choose evil,” remarked Ariel. It seemed to be a familiar conversation between the two, as if they’d spoken these same words often in the past.
As they climbed the broken stairs into the lower passages of Dirthstone Manor, they left the voices pleading and wailing endlessly behind. Joshuas led them to the door behind the tapestry and stepped into the hallway that led to the council chamber. He didn’t see or hear anyone, so he signaled for the others to follow. The three moved quickly through the passages heading for the ruined East tower.
The guard appeared without warning. Joshuas reached for his sword, but Ariel had run him through before his sword cleared his sheath. Unfortunately, he was only the first of a squad moving through the hall. Joshuas and Ariel were soon in the thick of a fierce battle, their swords finding flesh with almost every blow. The skirmish was over almost as soon as it began. Soldiers lay strewn around their feet.
First Comes The One Who Wanders Page 48
