by Kay L. Ling
“Raenihel is speaking to them?”
“He’ll have to because I refused,” Tyla whispered fiercely. “He wants me to be there in case they have questions he can’t answer, but he’s heard the explanation twice and he’ll be fine on his own.”
Arenia glanced about to see if Raenihel was looking their way. “I’m going for a walk, and I’m not coming back until the briefing is over. Bring Eemie and come with me. If Raenihel can’t find you, he’ll have to manage alone.”
“Good idea. Give me a few minutes to find Lant. He’s watching Eemie now.”
Tyla stayed outside all afternoon, and instead of eating in the dining room as usual, she got food from the kitchen and made the family a simple meal in their suite. She was just congratulating herself on avoiding Raenihel when she heard someone pounding on the door. She opened it to find a red-faced Raenihel who, without waiting to be asked in, marched past her.
“I looked for you everywhere! You knew I needed you!”
“Do come in,” she muttered dryly and shut the door behind him. If he noticed her sarcasm he didn’t show it.
Lant, who had been putting Eemie to bed, came in from the bedroom and said cheerfully, “Raenihel. Have a seat. How did things go with Mierek?”
Raenihel took a seat on the couch, and Tyla and Lant sat in chairs across from him.
“They were relieved to hear of a possible solution. Things are getting worse over there.”
“More earthquakes?” Tyla asked.
“Earthquakes, landslides, trees uprooted. Do you remember hearing about a statue?”
Tyla nodded. “The team thought it was a memorial.”
“It was. It’s in pieces now.”
Tyla and Lant exchanged worried glances.
“At the rate the repelling force is expanding, it won’t be long before it’s impossible to get anywhere near the barrier, and we don’t know how distance impacts our gems’ effectiveness.” Raenihel drew a deep breath, as if gathering courage for what he was about to say. “Mierek says a new Amulet Team must leave immediately, with Tyla in command.”
Lant grabbed Tyla’s hand, nearly crushing it. “Out of the question! It’s too dangerous.”
Tyla was grateful for his intervention. It was utter madness to leave without proper preparation. Gnomes with gem powers had received little or no training, and they hadn’t even tried the artifact gems. But she understood Mierek’s concern. With every passing day, the barrier would become further out of reach.
“We must put everyone’s good before our own,” Raenihel said, hands trembling. “I’m going, even though I’m terrified.”
“You all need training if you hope to succeed,” Lant protested.
“Lant is right,” Tyla said in her most reasonable tone. “You’ll need to practice with the gems and get used to working as a team. You’ll be combining your powers through the Focal Gem, and you’ve never done anything like that. Can a few more days really matter?”
“They said it can’t wait. We must trust their judgement.”
Lant looked at Tyla, an unspoken communication passing between them. No one wanted this responsibility, yet someone had to go.
Lant looked toward the bedroom where their youngone was sleeping. “If the team practiced first, I might let Tyla go—assuming she’s willing.”
Tyla sighed. “If anything short of our future and our youngone’s future were at stake, I wouldn’t consider it. But I know how important this is.”
Raenihel frowned slightly and seemed to be considering something. “According to Kaff, the team practiced while on the road. Couldn’t we do the same?”
“How many days’ drive is it?” Lant asked.
Tyla thought a moment. “They left Tuesday morning and arrived the following Tuesday afternoon. But they stopped to explore Last Hope, and they lost a day when Parcune was captured. Without those delays, I think they could have made it in four or five days.”
“I think so too,” Raenihel said. “Which is still a long time when the situation grows more critical with each passing day.”
“But it does no good to arrive a day or two sooner if you fail from lack of training,” Lant argued.
“And it’s not just a matter of failing,” Tyla said. “A senseless blunder could make matters worse.”
“Or get you all killed,” Lant added. “Then where would we be?”
That argument finally hit home. Raenihel murmured, “Hmmm. Yes. Good point.”
Tyla folded her arms. “It’s easy for Mierek to command us to risk our lives. They don’t care how many of us die. They only care about themselves.”
“Can they do anything to help from their side?” Lant asked.
“I don’t believe so,” Raenihel said.
“I don’t think so either,” Tyla agreed. “We’re using Fair Lands gems and the artifact gems, and there’s nothing they can do to help with that.”
Lant said, “We bear all the risk but have the most to gain. If we’re successful, we stop the instability, break through the barrier, and all of Ahmonell is ours. What do they get? A recovering wasteland, a fortress, historic ruins, and a few mines.”
“We’re their lost descendants. That should count for something,” Tyla said.
“I’m sure it does,” Raenihel agreed, “but it means more to us. We’re the ones who have been isolated—deprived of everything they take for granted.” He stood and said wearily, “I’ll leave you to talk things over. As it stands now, we plan to leave first thing Tuesday morning. That means we have a little over a day to decide who is going and get provisions ready.”
As soon as Raenihel was gone, Lant said, “They’re not going to postpone the trip no matter what we say. Raenihel thinks the team can get by with training on the road and Mierek will agree.”
“I feel obligated to go.”
“They need you,” Lant said heavily. “Especially since no one from the original team is going. No human gem masters. Not even Kaff. He looked at her, eyes narrowing as if something had just occurred to him. “Kaff is an idiot, but he’s familiar with the artifact gems. Maybe—”
“Forget it!” Tyla cut him off before he could say it.
“It’s impossible anyway. He’s no use to you as a bird, and Elias won’t change him back.”
“Even if Elias had been tempted to before, he wouldn’t do it now after being told to stay out of our affairs.”
Lant gave a humorless laugh. “The fact that I’d even consider asking that traitor to go shows how desperate we are.”
They both fell silent. After a minute Tyla said, “I think some of my gem study group will go if I do.”
“I’ll volunteer to drive. I couldn’t stay behind, not knowing whether you were safe.”
Tyla brightened at the thought. She didn’t want Lant in danger, but it would be a relief to have him with her. They would need more drivers. How many others would volunteer? Parcune might. On the other hand, he might decide to stay and work in the communications room so he could keep Elias up to date.
“Arenia can watch Eemie or our parents could take her,” Lant said. “Let’s sleep on it and see how we feel tomorrow.”
“I’m not sure I’ll be able to sleep.” Tyla rose slowly, feeling as if she’d walked for hours. “I’m going to check on Eemie.”
As she looked down on her sleeping youngone, Tyla got a lump in her throat. If something happened to her and Lant, what would become of Eemie?
Chapter 33
Early Tuesday morning, the Amulet Team gathered for breakfast. When Tyla entered the dining room with Lant, she saw the clan leaders and elders had claimed every chair and were already eating. Other team members, including the drivers, ate while standing.
A table along one wall held urns of raaka, platters of orelia eggs and sausage, and loaves of bread. Quiet conversations and the clink of forks and knives echoed from the walls.
Bazzik, the Frentian clan leader, rose when he saw Tyla and Lant. He was one of the younger clan leaders,
a perpetually cheerful fellow of about forty and a descendant of the gnome who had originally owned S’s spell book.
“I’m nearly finished. Take my chair, Tyla. I’ll be sitting the rest of the day.”
Tyla didn’t feel right about making a clan leader stand to eat but Lant said, “Thank you; that’s very kind of you,” and steered her to the vacant chair. “I’ll make you up a plate.”
Lant was seldom so solicitous. Maybe this mission made him realize they shouldn’t take each other for granted. She looked down the length of the table. The only gnomes she knew well enough to speak to were Morodin, Kerosten, and Vegmir, and they were at the other end, absorbed in conversation. The gnomes on either side of her nodded politely and went back to eating. Where was Raenihel?
“Has Raenihel been in?” she asked the gray-haired gnome on her right.
“Briefly,” he said, looking amused. “He had just started to eat when a messenger came in asking him to . . . er . . . quell a disturbance in the dungeon.”
Tyla stiffened. Kaff was the only prisoner. “Ohhhh,” she said in a tone freighted with meaning. She could tell by her companion’s expression he’d heard all about Raenihel’s unfortunate nephew.
Lant slid a plate of eggs and sausage in front of her and went to get food for himself.
Tyla stared distractedly at her breakfast. What had happened in the dungeon? Knowing Kaff, he’d thrown a tantrum when he heard the team was leaving. He was somewhat of a coward, but he would face danger for a chance at fame and glory. But there wasn’t a chance that the elders would let him go.
Tyla had started to eat when Raenihel came in, avoiding everyone’s eyes. Conversations faltered, and several clan leaders exchanged knowing glances.
Raenihel went straight to the serving table, filled a plate, and left the room. Conversations resumed as soon as he was gone. Must be everyone had heard the gossip.
One by one, elders and clan leaders finished eating and left to complete last-minute preparations.
Tyla drank the last of her raaka and looked around. Lant was gone. He was probably outside loading carts. Parcune might be there too, and she needed to talk to him before she left.
When she stepped outside, the sky was brightening but the air was still cold. Six carts stood in the driveway, and breghlin and gnomes were busy loading them.
She spotted Parcune. He was on the back of a cart, stowing sacks as others handed them up. She went over and tried to catch his eye.
“I’m almost done. Be right with you.” He called down to her.
She waited patiently, rubbing her arms to chase away the chill. She should have put on a coat.
Parcune climbed down, and his helpers went off to load one of the other carts. He dusted his hands on his pants. “Dangerous or not, it will be an historic trip and I’d like to go, but I can do more good here.”
She kept her voice low. “When was the last time you spoke with Elias?”
“Yesterday. He sends his best wishes.” Taking a furtive glance around, he added, “I told him what you said about Franklin going separately with Ben and Tina Ann and meeting up with NE3.”
“Franklin hadn’t told him?”
“Not yet, but I imagine he planned to.”
Tyla heard voices and looked behind her. A few clan leaders, shouldering bedrolls.
Parcune said hastily, “Mierek is monitoring the barrier on their side, and we’ll get a daily report. If things get a lot worse, I don’t care what Mierek says, I’ll tell Elias and Jules you need their help.”
Tyla wet her lips. “Thank you. I hope that won’t be necessary.”
“Be careful. Earthquakes, windstorms, landslides—we didn’t have any of that before.”
“We’ll be careful,” she assured him, trying not to picture the team sitting in a circle on the ground, using the Focal Gem during an earthquake.
“Tyla!”
She turned. Lant was coming toward her with a sack of supplies over his shoulder and her jacket in his other hand. Her heart lifted at the sight of him. Whatever perils they faced, they would face them together.
It was the first time Tyla had been any distance from home, and under other circumstances she would have enjoyed the novelty of a trip into unfamiliar territory, but she was too tense to fully appreciate the scenery. She was in the lead cart with Lant, Raenihel, two elders, and three members of her gem study group, and she couldn’t help worrying about being ill prepared. They planned to pass the artifact gems from cart to cart so everyone could practice, but her group, who would be using the Fair Lands gems, would do most of their practicing at the end of the day. She couldn’t imagine practicing anomalous reactions in a moving cart.
Most of the clan leaders were as old as Raenihel, and though spry for their age, she wasn’t sure how they would endure the long drive, much less the dangers of the barrier zone.
Her thoughts flitted uncomfortably between what she had left behind and what lay ahead. Eemie would cry when she realized Ma and Da were gone. The precocious toddler loved Aunt Arenia, but no one could replace a child’s parents. Arenia would take Eemie to the library and try to get some work done while keeping an eye on her. Lant had made carved wooden animals, gnomes, and even a cart with rolling wheels.
Tyla found the constant clanking and clattering of cooking pots, tools, and camping gear annoying. Each of the six carts held food and supplies as well as occupants. She suspected there wasn’t a dedicated supply cart this time because it was safer to divide the food and supplies among the carts.
They had been driving through predominantly forested land, but now they were passing through rolling hills covered in field grasses and wildflowers, and that brightened her mood. Around her, some of her teammates commented on the flowers, which were still a novelty after the years of droughts and blights. One of the elders pointed to a holedigger whose head had emerged from the weeds. Many animals native to this land had become extinct, eaten by S’s monsters, but ones like the holediggers had managed to survive.
After a few hours, the carts stopped briefly so everyone could relieve themselves and the maraku could rest. Tyla mingled with teammates who had been riding in other carts, and while they were all tired and dusty, they seemed to be enjoying the adventure.
Late morning, they stopped to eat—basic fare that was simple and filling: bread, cheese, and a bit of dried meat. The next stop wouldn’t be until afternoon, and Tyla already felt as if she had been riding all day.
By the afternoon stop, her muscles were stiff and sore, and she was tired of riding, even though the swiftly changing scenery had kept her entertained. In some places, everything was healthy and green. In other places, the soil was dry, and hardly anything grew. She had seen diseased forests that were slow to heal from S’s blights, and healthier woodlands full of curious plants and trees.
This rest period would be all too brief. She walked a bit to stretch her legs, picking a few flowers along the way. What was Eemie doing right now? Was she playing with the little wooden cart Lant had made her? Was Arenia telling her that Ma and Da were taking a journey on a cart that looked just like hers? Tyla smiled at the thought.
All too soon, Lant and the other drivers were calling for everyone to get back into the carts. Tyla returned reluctantly, groaning at the thought of riding until sunset.
When they finally stopped for the day, her whole body felt numb, and her legs were uncooperative. She had used gems for strength and stamina and healing gems to lessen her aches and pains, but she was still uncomfortable. The older folks surely felt the discomforts of travel even more than she did.
They wouldn’t need to set up tents since they were spending the night in the forest and could sleep inside trees. They would only use tents when they had to camp on barren land. Tyla was glad to be spared that chore. She was far too exhausted to put up a tent.
After dinner, they held gem practice. Tyla and her group used turquoise and aventurine while the clan leaders and elders used the artifact gems and other n
ative gemstones. The rose-colored gem powered itself with their energy, and they were already tired, so she was surprised that they managed to produce the anomalous reaction. They probably should have tried a second time, but everyone pleaded exhaustion. One try would have to be enough for today. They called it a night and went their separate ways.
Lant chose a tree for them to sleep in, and it was nice to finally be alone with him.
She dreaded three more days of bone-jarring travel. Once they reached the barrier zone, they must do their best to stop the earthquakes and windstorms . . . and break through the barrier. Hopefully, rebooting the Amulet would accomplish both. Countless lives depended on them.
Tina Ann’s words circled in Tyla’s head. The unstable Amulet endangered everyone, gnomes and breghlin alike. Where was Tina Ann now? She was glad they were following—Franklin, Ben, and Tina Ann. If worst came to worst, they would send for help. But could help arrive in time?
Rising early and driving until sunset with few breaks was hard on the team, but harder on the maraku. The sturdy beasts typically pulled carts of produce, ore, or corrustone and were used to long hours, but not as long as this. Every evening, when the team stopped to camp, the maraku huffed and snorted impatiently, waiting for the drivers to turn them loose to graze.
So far, the weather had been ideal: enough clouds to provide relief from the sun, light breezes, and no rain except for a brief downpour on the second night. Tyla was grateful for good weather. Jules had told about riding for hours, huddling under a tarred canvas, and she hoped to be spared that experience.
Friday afternoon, when the team reached Corrustown, a cheer went up from all six carts. They had arrived a day sooner than the original Amulet Team. Tyla found it hard to believe that Corrustown had ever been a thriving community. The devastation saddened her even though she’d been expecting it.
A row of dilapidated stone-and-timber buildings stood along the main road. Farther back, through the trees, she could glimpse other buildings with partial walls. According to Parcune, most of those were little more than stone cellars, and trees, thorny bushes, and weeds had swallowed up the roads that led to them.
