“Don’t hide anything from him. He will know if you are lying or being obtuse on purpose.”
“Oh, is that a Draki special ability?” She looked closely at him.
“Why do you ask? Do you want to know if I can sense when you are lying?”
She stood taller and frowned at him. “I don’t lie.”
“Good. I hate liars.”
“What about you, Femror? Do you lie?”
Femror clenched his jaw and avoided her gaze. If it were his choice, he’d never lie, but he would do it if the king commanded, if he believed it served a greater cause. He could lie to Lochiana right now and say he never lied. And yet, somehow, lying to her felt like one of the greatest offenses in the world.
“Yes, I do.”
Chapter 14
The sun had just appeared on the horizon, a big ball of swirling energy. Gary used a periscope to check if the coast was clear up above. That was another gadget Samiah had only seen in a depository. Once outside, it didn’t take long for them to see the heat emanate from the rocky ground in lazy waves. She glanced briefly toward the pile of charred bodies and a shudder went through her. Her gaze turned upward, scanning the sky for any lost wraith. It was mercifully clear, and she let out a relieved sigh. Not even the scavenger banshees dared to be present, like they knew not to feast on what remained of those poor Morians.
She was glad Gary's home was underground and perfectly hidden. Without a host they could see, the wraiths had obviously left in search of others. She shouldn't be grateful for that—it meant other people would fall prey to them—but the feeling stayed nonetheless. Is it wrong to be happy we weren’t attacked last night?
"The wild antlers’ sanctuary is beyond that hill ahead." Gary's speech was slightly slurred, and he walked funny.
Malachiax and Ianox chuckled behind Samiah like two silly youngsters. Ianox's ankle looked much better after Gary took care of it the night before, but she suspected it wouldn't make a difference in his current state. Razor's Blood affected each person differently, but it seemed Samiah was the only one who still remembered she was an adult. This is going to be a very long trip. Samiah had been afraid Mal's headache would flare up thanks to the powerful mixture, but he didn't appear to be in any pain. One less evil to worry about.
The uphill trek wasn't bad, but thanks to the liquid fire coursing through her veins and the warm orange sun above, she could feel sweat dripping down her back, her shirt sticking to it. The sanctuary sat on the valley below and looked like a mirage. The wide, aquamarine-colored lake was surrounded by luscious naigon grass, a stark contrast to the bare landscape surrounding them. From that far, the magnificent beasts looked peaceful enough, munching on the grass. The raw power they emitted could not be denied, though. Wild antlers were taller than a man, their body wide, overdeveloped muscles barely hidden under their coarse fur. Antlers sprang from their pasterns and fetlocks, looking like little twisted thorns. Massive horns erupted from their heads in perfect spiral loops ending in a sharp tip. They were a variation of white and gray, and in the open plane of the desert, they would be hard to see.
They continued their trek down, but that side of the hill was much steeper. Loose gravel made the descent slippery and noisy. Samiah reached the base first and noticed the herd had stopped grazing and watched them warily. She was not an expert on wildlife, but with bodies tense and ears flat, they seemed to have taken a defensive stance. Not good. She wanted to reach for her metal rod but was afraid the action would be perceived as a threat. If those animals decided they were a menace, they would attack without mercy.
She seemed to be the only one aware of their precarious situation, the men continuing to guffaw as if they were on a field trip. Samiah turned to tell them to be silent when it happened. Gary and Malachiax were coming down the hill too fast when Gary lost his footing on a loose rock. He fell and the momentum made him roll down the hill, taking Mal with him. She watched in horror as they rolled together in a blur of limbs, stopping just a few paces from the herd.
The biggest beast in the group let out a terrifying roar and prepared to charge.
"Mal, watch out!"
Malachiax and Gary were too stunned by the fall to try to protect themselves. Ianox stopped next to her, his palms pressed to his cheeks and his eyes wide. She grabbed his shirt and pulled him closer.
“Do something.”
“I-I don’t know how.”
“What do you mean you don’t know how?” she said through clenched teeth.
He whimpered and closed his eyes. She couldn’t believe he was having a panic attack now. She shook him hard.
“Don’t you dare lose your mind now. I won’t allow it. Stop cowering and use your gift already.”
The leader of the herd charged, and Samiah shoved Ianox out of her way. She grabbed her weapon and let out an enraged scream as she ran toward the devil on four legs. Malachiax had managed to scoot out of the way, dragging Gary with him, but the beast was no longer interested in them as he perceived Samiah to be the biggest menace. He came her way fast, and she had no hope to survive the impact. She thought about her babies and asked them for forgiveness.
When they were a few paces from collision, the animal suddenly stopped. Samiah was coming fast, so it took her a couple of steps to completely halt. Her arms remained ready to swing the metal rod if needed. She was so close to the wild antler that she could feel its warm breath as it huffed air out through his huge nostrils and mouth.
She heard Malachiax congratulate Ianox for his good work, but she didn’t dare break eye contact with the monster in front of her. A moment later, Malachiax pulled her away, making her lower her arms in the process. Her pulse rang in her ears, and her heart beat so fast she was afraid it would crack her rib cage.
“That was close,” Ianox said, and Samiah spun around to glare at him. He raised his hands as a peace offering. “I’m sorry. I don’t know how to work under pressure.”
“Well, you’d better learn fast,” she snapped.
His face closed off, and his lips turned into a thin line. She didn’t care that she had bruised his ego. She had almost died thanks to his shortcomings. Coddling him wasn’t going to help anyone.
“How does this talking to animals thing work, exactly? I’m afraid I’ve never met anyone with your ability.” Gary’s speech was surprisingly clear all of a sudden.
“It’s not like talking because they can’t really talk. I can feel their moods, and I can steer their will to benefit me.” Ianox approached the leader and touched the animal’s horn without fear.
“That’s fantastic,” Samiah said. “Can we get going already? We've wasted too much time, and we’ve barely started.”
“Sami, be nice.” Malachiax strapped her makeshift sword on her back again, and she folded her arms. Why am I the bad guy now? she thought bitterly. Ianox was the one who had almost killed them all.
“I’m afraid we all need another dose of Razor’s Blood. My mind feels too sharp. It must have been the excitement.” Gary pulled a bottle from his pack and distributed everyone’s dose.
Samiah drank hers in one gulp, hating the burning sensation in her throat and the bitter taste in her mouth. She couldn’t believe people actually drank it for fun.
Gary singled out the animals he felt would have more stamina and be the fastest. Ianox wanted to claim the leader for himself but Gary told him that if he did so, the herd would be lost and probably perish in the desert. Begrudgingly, Ianox agreed to pick another ride.
Samiah mounted her antler with Mal’s help and tried to ignore the heavy scent emanating from the animal. The creature was too wide and no matter what she did, she couldn’t find a comfortable position. She held on to its towering horns and stared ahead. All she could see were endless white plateaus that disappeared in sandy clouds. Her vision blurred for a moment, though she didn’t know if was because of the heat or her intoxicated state. She prayed to all the Sacred Powers that they would be able to hold on to their mounts an
d not fall and break their necks.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them again, her focus was a bit sharper. She glanced at Ianox, who seemed as uncomfortable as she felt. His face was flushed, and Samiah wondered if he would be able to keep the beasts under control.
“How strong is your hold on the animals?” she asked.
“I’m good. Don’t worry about it.” His tone was clipped, and he didn't bother to glance her way. Of course he would be angry with her for calling attention to his mistakes.
Malachiax steered his mount close to Samiah’s. “Stop goading him, Sami. We don’t need this kind of antagonistic atmosphere. We need to stick together.”
She held her tongue, hoping that putting their trust in Ianox's abilities wouldn't turn out to be a costly mistake.
Chapter 15
They rode hard during the day, only stopping to relieve themselves and eat. The wild antlers had incredible endurance and could go on for long periods of time at a brisk pace. Ianox’s control of them hadn’t wavered, not even when fatigue took over or when he was too inebriated to know his own name. His gift was strong, but it still didn't put Samiah’s mind at ease.
They stayed away from any main roads or cities, not knowing if the wraiths had reached that far or not. There wasn’t much talk while they rode, and when they huddled together for the night, Samiah only traded quiet whispers with Malachiax while she was wrapped in his arms. She needed his strength and optimism to keep going. He was certain they would find a way to stop this brutal invasion before it was too late, but doubts still lingered. How do you fight an enemy you can’t touch?
Every night, Ianox was the first to fall asleep. The effort to keep control of four wild animals drained all of his energy. On their third night, she caught Gary playing with a weird-looking apparatus. It was hard to see in the dark, but it looked like a metal box with a shutter on the front. Gary sensed Samiah’s stare and looked up.
"What's that?" she asked.
"This is an old recorder." He touched the object with reverence. "It was Trenianx’s biggest treasure. I couldn't leave it behind."
"Does it still work?" Malachiax asked.
"Yes. I've been recording our trip. I'm not sure yet how I'm going to transfer the film to a crystal table."
Somehow, his trivial concern made Samiah’s heart lighter. It was like there was no doubt in his mind they would reach Argamania. Gary put the device away and lay down on the hard ground. He sighed and covered his eyes with his arm. His aura showed Samiah that sadness alone wasn't the cause of his burden. It had to do with his secret. Whatever he was keeping from them, it was eating him away.
The straightest way to Argor was to cut through the dry and hot wasteland. They had packed as much water as they could carry but the Razor’s Blood had taken up a lot of space in their bags. By the fourth day, they were down to one measly bottle of water to share among themselves. Samiah was also concerned about their mounts. They hadn’t had any water since they left. Gary guaranteed they could go for days without drinking, but she thought that was borderline animal cruelty. On the fifth day, Samiah finally noticed a change in the landscape and her heart began to hope again. The harsh, rocky whiteness gave way to luscious green, blue, and purple vegetation. Scattered ancient trees popped up here and there, until there were so many they formed an almost impenetrable green wall ahead of them.
“This must be the edge of Alios Forest,” Malachiax pointed out.
“Then we’re in Lorexian.” Gary looked at an old parchment he’d explained was an atlas of Arcadia.
Samiah had seen an atlas before through a protective glass at the Royal Depository in the Argamanx Castle. The paper in Gary’s hands had yellow stains, and she couldn’t guess how old it was. There was a strange sheen to it, not common on paper, and she wondered if some kind of preservative coating had been applied to it. Paper made of natural organic matter didn’t last long, and by the looks of it, this particular atlas had been in constant use. She should be thanking the peculiarities of Gary’s late cousin because if it weren’t for his eccentricity, they couldn’t have hoped to make it to Argor. It was scary how they relied so much on their technology.
Gary frowned and pursed his lips before he spoke, distress lacing his words. “There is a small town just on the other side of this forest, and unfortunately, going around it would cost us time we don’t have.”
Samiah’s heart squeezed inside her chest, and her mouth turned dry. She knew that completely avoiding civilization would be impossible, but they still had a long way to go before they reached Argamania.
“Let’s hope for the best. We’re far from Mora. Maybe this city still stands,” Malachiax said with more conviction than she felt at the moment.
“I’m not going in there,” Ianox said suddenly, and they all turned to look at him. He had already backed his mount up a couple of steps.
“Into the forest?” Malachiax asked.
“It is said that those who go into Alios Forest either go mad or never return.”
Samiah locked eyes with Malachiax, and with only that single glance, he pleaded with her not to engage in an argument with Ianox. She bit her tongue and kept quiet.
“Those are legends and not based on any truth. I thought you were a man of science,” Malachiax said.
Ianox simply shook his head and closed his eyes. “There’s where the lizard demons are said to live.”
“Lizard demons?” Samiah couldn’t hold her tongue any longer. Malachiax cut her a warning glance, earning a shrug from her in response.
Gary cleared his throat before he spoke. “No, you are mistaking it with Arion Forest.”
She frowned at her companion. She’d never heard of Arion Forest before.
“Are you sure?” Ianox asked, almost begging it to be so.
“Yes. Trust me. I wouldn’t want to enter Arion Forest either. Alios is safe.”
Samiah was lost in the conversation, and her patience was already wearing thin. Without waiting for a decision to be made, she kicked her mount’s hides and urged the beast into the forest.
Malachiax followed her right away, and then she heard the sound of Gary’s and Ianox’s beasts close behind. She slowed her pace so she could ride alongside Gary.
“What was that all about?” she whispered so Ianox couldn’t hear her.
“Is Ianox originally from Argor?” Gary asked suddenly.
His question caught Samiah off guard. “I thought so, but I’m not completely sure, to be honest. We aren’t close. Why?”
The young Jackurian clenched his jaw and frowned. “I just had a thought.” He paused and shook his head. “It’s of no consequence.”
It was her turn to grind her teeth. Gary couldn’t simply hint at something and not follow through. What kind of torture was that? If it concerned Ianox, one more reason for Gary to voice his thoughts out loud. Samiah already didn’t trust Ianox, and if there was something they should be concerned about regarding his odd behavior, they needed to know. She was about to insist on the matter when the small hairs on her neck rose and the feeling they were being observed took hold. Her spine went taut as her eyes scanned their surroundings. Her ears strained for any sound that didn’t belong to nature. Nothing seemed out of place; no hidden figures were behind the larger-than-life trees that made Alios Forest famous.
She tried to dispel the feeling of foreboding, but the tall ancient trees with their wide trunks were smothering her. Their crowns stood so far off the ground, she couldn’t discern the shape of the leaves in the lowest branches. They completely blocked out the sun, enveloping them in a greenish gloom. They maneuvered around gigantic roots that looked more like fallen logs blocking their path. The ground was covered with dark green wild moss that created a soft carpet under their mounts' hooves. Little critters and animals skittered out of their way, and the anxiety wrapped around Samiah’s heart eased off. She took it as a good sign that the wildlife was still behaving as it should.
Ma
ybe this small town has not fallen yet, Samiah thought, trying to hold on to hope. But as the forest began to thin out and the sky was visible again, her heart sank. Rising smoke tainted an otherwise unblemished sky. Their rides stopped of their own accord, as if they could sense in their very cores the wrongness ahead of them.
The forest ended at the beginning of a downhill path. They had left the flatness behind, and Samiah could see the town spread before them on an uneven landscape—little mounds dotted with colorful houses and old, translucent brick roads. All of the dwellings looked devoid of life, and the source of the smoke lay hidden behind a hill. They had seen the exact same phenomenon in Morang.
“I think we should take another shot of Razor’s Blood,” Ianox said.
Samiah could still feel the effects of the last shot she had taken. She shook her head. Gary peered at her, his outstretched hand holding her dosage of the beverage.
“It hasn’t been long enough since our last dose. Someone has to maintain a clear head, and it’s better if it’s me.”
“Sami, it’s too risky,” Malachiax countered, but she wouldn’t be swayed.
“I was able to fight that wraith on my own. I can do it again if necessary. Razor’s Blood might protect you from possession, but it won’t help in case you need to fight against a frenzied mob.”
“Then I should be the one abstaining from my dose.”
“No!” she shouted, then berated herself for her lack of control. Giving away their location wasn’t in the plan. “Mal, I can’t lose you to those things,” she said in a much lower tone.
Malachiax opened his mouth to counter her argument, but Gary interrupted him. “Samiah is right. You'll do much more damage if you become possessed. With her in control, she can at least guide us so we won’t do something stupid.”
Knowing he wouldn’t win this fight, Malachiax drank his share of Razor’s Blood. His gaze never left Samiah’s as he gulped down his shield against their unknown enemy. She knew relinquishing the protector role to her wasn’t something he did with a light heart; he would hate every second of it, and she loved him for it. But losing him to those beings wasn’t an option.
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