In a few big steps, the monster reached them. Alana kept sending spells at it, but it ignored her, reaching down for Markus instead. He had his sword ready. If it grabbed him, it would regret it.
The monster's hand closed around him, but he kept his sword at the right angle, plunging it through the monster's skin. It growled and dropped Markus, who landed on his injured ankle. Pain flared, but he ignored it, getting back to his feet.
The beast was shaking its hand. Now it lifted a foot, preparing to crush Markus. Yes, he could stab it again, but it would be too late. He closed his eyes, waiting for the crushing weight.
* * * * *
Nadia had her shot, but she had to do it quickly. She took a deep breath, then let the arrow fly. The monster, raising its foot above Markus, was moving very little. She prayed that her arrow would find its target, and shuddered to think what might happen if it didn't.
The arrow hit the creature, and it turned then, its foot coming down right next to Markus as it began stomping in her direction. Damn. How was she going to hit its heart now?
Out of her peripheral vision, she caught movement. She turned to her right to see someone racing toward her. The other of the two people had begun launching spells at the monster again, the air glowing in shades of orange and yellow. It took a while, but that person did get the monster to turn again.
"Need some arrows?" said the man racing toward her.
She recognized that voice. "Garet?"
"No time to explain." Garet handed her the arrows.
With the monster now focusing its attention on Rik, she had another chance. She nocked an arrow and aimed her shot, allowing her instincts to guide her. The arrow flew toward its target. She hadn't even thought about where she was aiming it, or about how the beast might move. Nothing but instinct.
The arrow hit where she'd wanted. The monster growled, wavered on its feet, then crashed against the ground with a tremendous thud.
She turned to Garet. "Do you think it's dead?"
"I don't know. We should make sure."
They raced toward the monster, but Markus, injured ankle and all, beat them to it. He climbed onto its back, found the spot where her arrow had struck, and plunged his sword through its back. It writhed at first, then fell still and silent.
"I can't believe it," Markus said as Nadia approached. "We actually killed that thing."
Nadia helped him down from the monster's back. "That's not the only thing you won't believe. Take a look over there." She pointed to their right, where Rik stood.
Markus's eyes went wide. "Rik? Is it really you?"
Rik grinned. "Who else would it be, you idiot?"
They raced toward each other, then came together in a tight embrace. Nadia struggled to keep from crying. She couldn't imagine how Markus must feel right now.
The rest of the group moved closer to Markus and Rik. They all stared at one another, shaking their heads. At last, Nadia said, "I think it's time for an explanation."
Rik pulled away from Markus. "Well, after falling in the water, I hit my head on a rock. When I woke up, I was on the bank, and the light really hurt my head, so I went into the forest. Garet came in, too, and found me there."
"You idiot," Markus said, glaring at Rik. "If you'd stayed on the shore, we would've found you. Do you know how long I went grieving over your death?"
"Sorry, but you don't exactly think clearly after hitting your head like that. You'd have made the same choice." He shook his head. "Let's not fight. I'm glad to see you again, Markus. I thought I was gonna go crazy in that forest."
"We all did," Alana said. "I never want to go back there."
"Amen to that," Rik said.
Footsteps sounded behind Nadia, and she turned. A small group of Bradenton residents approached, weapons in hand. At first, Nadia thought they meant to attack the party, but then she realized they were being cautious, worried about the monster.
One man stepped forward. "Is it dead?"
"Yes, it's dead," Nadia said. "An arrow and sword through the heart."
"How can we ever repay what you've done for us?" the man said, eyes wide. "For so many years, we've lived in fear of that monster, never going outside at night. You don't realize the freedom you've given us. Thank you. Do you need anything?"
"We need a place to stay," Nadia said, her face warm. Sweat drenched her light traveling clothes. "I'm sorry, but we don't intend to stay here long."
"It doesn't matter how long you stay. You will always be our heroes."
* * * * *
Darien had a headache. Once again, he'd been watching the present through the Webs of Fate even though he'd known he couldn't change it. He'd helped Nadia, Markus, and Rik through the forest, providing timely flashes of light to eliminate the monsters, but they'd dealt with the final monster on their own.
In most of his readings of the Webs, that battle didn't take place, but every little decision had a huge impact on the future. Darien had tried to control as much as possible.
It wasn't always easy.
At least they'd made it to Bradenton. Now it was time to prepare for their arrival. Like the destruction of Crayden, this encounter between them was one of those strong threads. Without it, his plans would fall apart. He had to be careful about the way he handled it.
He couldn't let them know how much he'd been controlling their lives.
Everything they'd done played right into his hands.
Part III
Breaking the Chains
Chapter 55: A Time for Difficult Choices
When Berig's vision stopped swirling, he stood on a grassy plain before a giant stone wall and an open gate flanked by two guards.
"What business do you have in Mountainside?" said one of the guards. His posture was stern, but his tone was not unfriendly. "It strikes me as odd that you just teleported here."
Klint stepped forward. "I can vouch for them."
"You sure, Klint?" the guard asked. "We must be cautious, you know."
"They ain't Imperial spies. They're gonna help the Order."
"Can we take your word for it?" asked the other guard. "It's no secret that you look out for yourself first and the Order second."
Klint bit his lower lip. "Is Cyrus here in the city?"
"I believe so," said the first guard. He turned to his companion. "Go and find Cyrus."
"Yes, sir." The second guard strode through the open gate.
"Don't even think of trying anything," said the remaining guard. "There are more of us waiting inside the gate. You won't get through unless we permit it."
"I understand," Ander said. "You must be cautious."
The wait felt as though it took forever.
"I don't understand all this caution," Berig said. "Klint, didn't you say that Mountainside isn't really run by the Order? Shouldn't they let us in without all this?"
"Well, the city government still does what they can to protect the Order," Klint said. "They can't take the risk of allowing Imperial spies entrance." He smiled. "Don't worry. Cyrus will vouch for us."
The guard returned a while later, standing with a man who had long silvery blond hair. The man strode forward, examining them with a frown.
"Good afternoon, Cyrus," Klint said.
Cyrus turned his piercing gaze to Klint. "I see you have nothing for us today."
"Well, some issues came up," Klint said. "I think I'm gonna be out of business for a while. Maybe permanently. I was hoping I could take that secret path outta the empire."
Secret path? Was he saying it was possible to cross the mountains?
"It sounds like there's an interesting story here," Cyrus said, but something in his tone indicated that he already knew their story somehow. "Who are the others?"
Ander stepped forward. "We're with the Order, from Crayden. My name is Ander. With me are Aric, Berig, Talia, and Danica," he added, gesturing to each in turn.
Cyrus's expression relaxed. "Lord Ander, if I'm not mistaken. I've heard of you. You'
ve done a lot of good things for the Order." He turned his gaze to Aric. "Are you feeling all right?"
Aric looked unsteady on his feet. "I got bitten by a lizard in the Black Swamp. Someone who was in our party at the time managed to heal some of it, but I'm feeling weaker every day. Right now, it's taking everything I have just to stay on my feet."
"Let's get you into the city," Cyrus said, his expression suddenly grave. "I'm afraid it's been too long since you were bitten. I have some healing skill, but it might not be enough."
Berig felt sick. All this time, he'd thought they could heal Aric's illness once they got to Mountainside. As they entered the city, Danica stood close to Aric, supporting him. He tried to hide his weakness, but it was more obvious than ever.
On the other side of the gate stood clean cobblestone streets and sturdy stone buildings, all arranged in neat rectangles. People were going about their business in the bright afternoon sunlight, looking more cheerful than the people anywhere else in the empire.
"What do you think of Mountainside?" Cyrus asked as he led them through the streets. People greeted him in passing but didn't act as though he were anyone important. Strange. Berig figured they'd be more in awe of a sorcerer.
"It all looks like the nice parts of other cities," Berig said.
"We are quite a bit more prosperous here," Cyrus said. "We have a strong spirit of community, of the people doing their part in helping out those who are less fortunate. Not like Warrick's government, which only helps the less fortunate in theory. Most of the taxes you pay end up in the hands of government officials, or go to make Imperia better."
"Yeah, I know how that is," Berig said. "I grew up on the streets in Bradenton. I don't care what Warrick says. He doesn't lift a hand to help the poor."
"Not unless they support him," Talia said.
Cyrus led the party to a large stone building in the center of the city. "This is the headquarters of the Order here. The only place in the entire empire where we can operate in the open. You'll find beds and bathing chambers." He smiled. "I think you could use both after such a long journey."
"Thank you for trusting us," Ander said.
Cyrus led them through the halls of the building and into a room containing many beds, only a few of which were occupied. "As I said, I know of you, Lord Ander. Also, through reading the Webs of Fate, I've seen that you all are to play vital roles in our history."
"What do you mean by Webs of Fate?" Berig asked.
"That's the way one reads the future. The future is like an intricate web, where everything depends on something else. The web seems inclined to favor some futures more strongly than others, and in these futures, you may play a big role. I can't control what decisions you make. Nor can the Webs of Fate. But I can tell you that certain outcomes are better than others. Some paths in the Webs, though not very many, even predict Warrick's defeat."
"That reminds me," Ander said, "do you know of Nadia's quest?"
"Yes, I do. I recently lent her some assistance in the Oasis Outpost. She, Markus, and Rik all made it across the plains. I can't tell you if their plan will succeed, but they stand the best chance of ending the threat in the near future." He paused. "And so do you, Lord Ander."
"What do you mean?"
The party had begun choosing beds, unloading their things while they listened to the conversation. The other Order members, sitting toward the back of the room, didn't appear to be paying attention. Berig took a seat on a soft bed near a window, relieving his aching feet.
"It is not yet time to go down that route," Cyrus said. "Should Nadia fail in her quest, the duty to stop Warrick may fall to you."
"What about the rest of us?" Aric asked, sitting on a bed with his back against the stone wall, his face pale.
"I see many paths," Cyrus said. "Your path may diverge from Ander's. Of course, all decisions are up to you. I can merely guide you toward what I think are the best outcomes." He stepped toward Aric's bed. "Now let me see if I can heal you."
Cyrus closed his eyes, placed a hand on Aric's chest, and stood there silently for at least a minute. Berig and the rest of the party watched with apprehension.
When Cyrus opened his eyes, he shook his head and backed a few steps away. "I've done all I can, Aric. For now, we'll have to wait and see. We should know in a few weeks if you'll recover. If you show no signs of improvement, you'll have to go to Luminia."
Aric's eyes widened. "Luminia? But that's outside the Empire."
"There's a way out of the Empire nearby," Cyrus said, "though you'll have to elude the Imperial Guards first."
"Let's hope I recover, then," Aric said.
* * * * *
On the day following the monster's defeat, the people of Bradenton held a feast in honor of Markus and the others, who'd been staying at a local inn owned by a man named Liam. That morning, while waiting for the feast, Markus ate a small breakfast. He still couldn't believe that he'd struck the killing blow—with Nadia's help, of course. It was strange being a hero.
Rik sat beside Markus, eating in unusual silence. After the initial joy of seeing each other alive had passed, every moment between them had become awkward.
Markus broke the tense silence. "You okay, Rik?"
Rik shook his head, looking down at his half-eaten plate of food. "I don't know. This quest has been rough. I used to think adventure was something great, that being a hero was something I really wanted. Now I'm not so sure. I feel like I've aged twenty years."
Alana settled down on the stool next to them. "We all have. Rik, it's normal to doubt these kinds of things. I understand how you feel, but we could really use your aid."
"I know," Rik said, "and that's what makes it so damned hard. I was there in Crayden, too. I remember how it was, what Warrick did. I want to come with you. I want to help, but I'm just not sure how much more of this I can take. Haven't you noticed? No one else has come close to death as often as me on this quest. My luck can't last forever. I don't wanna die."
"None of us do." Alana put a hand on his shoulder. "But that's what being a hero really is. You have to be willing to give up your life for a noble cause. No one ever said it was easy. In fact, it's probably the hardest thing you could ask a person to do."
Garet took a seat on the stool to Markus's right. "But it's something you've gotta do. You gotta ask yourself this question. Can you live with the thought that we might die because you don't come with us? Is that fear stronger than your fear of death?"
"I-I don't know. I'm just sick of this. I've always thought I'd rather just leave the Empire. It's easier than killing an immortal sorcerer."
Markus had resolved to see this through, but he had the same doubts and worries. It wasn't long ago, after all, that his deepest desire had been to leave the Empire and Warrick behind, to start a new life somewhere that he didn't feel so trapped. To live in freedom.
But that would mean leaving the people of the Empire to Warrick's tyranny. Seeking only his own freedom was a selfish act, far from heroic. Back before this all started, he knew he would have made that decision. Now that they had a chance, he had to try.
Even if it killed him.
"I'll understand if you don't want to come," he said to Rik. "I know how hard this must be. You don't have the personal stake Nadia and I do. You didn't sign up to be a hero. Maybe you wanted some adventure, and I think you've had enough of that now."
"Amen to that," Rik said.
"You don't have to decide right now," Markus said. "We're gonna rest a few days first." Let's just hope that isn't too long. There's no telling what Warrick might already know.
The feast that evening was large and magnificent. It took place outside, at the western edge of the city where everyone could see the monster. The townspeople hadn't decided what they were going to do about the monster. No one wanted to eat it, and they couldn't move it easily. They'd probably burn it.
Markus ate ravenously, enjoying a well-cooked meal after so long on the road. He and the rest
of the party were seated at the high lord's table as honored guests. Throughout the feast, nearly every person from Bradenton came to thank them. Even many of the city's Imperial Guards had appeared at the feast, ignoring their duties for one night.
Markus and the others were careful not to discuss their plans, saying only that they didn't intend to stay long.
After the feast, they returned to the inn, completely exhausted. For the second night in a row, Markus fell asleep as soon as his head hit the feather pillow. When he woke the next morning, he went downstairs even though his stomach felt full to bursting.
Nadia and Garet were already awake, sitting in the common room but not eating. Another man sat there with them—Captain Young of the Bradenton town guard, if Markus remembered correctly. The man had a short, reddish-brown beard. Markus nodded to him and took a seat.
"I heard you've met a man named Berig," the guard captain said. "How's he doing?"
Markus thought a moment. "The last I knew, he was joining a party to go to Mountainside and help out the Order. I don't even know if he's alive now. Of course, he really shouldn't be. None of us should, not after Crayden. You've heard about what happened, haven't you?"
The captain's mouth became a thin line. "Yes, Warrick himself told us. People like me who weren't sure about joining the Order before have all joined it now. Maybe it'll get us killed, but I didn't believe for a second any of the lies Warrick told us."
"So we can trust you, then?" Markus said.
"Well, as much as you can trust anyone."
Markus shrugged. "If you're a friend of Berig's, I think I can trust you. Berig might not be the most upstanding person around, but he's a good guy at heart."
"That sounds about right," the captain said. "I hope he's found some peace now with the Order. God knows he needs the structure and stability. I'm glad he found a way out of Bradenton, even if it does mean he's in violation of the law." He fell silent a moment. "So do you really think this spell of yours can kill Warrick? Nadia told me about it before you came down."
World in Chains- The Complete Series Page 47
