by Lana Axe
Racing the setting sun, they pressed on at a fast pace. Landmarks became scarce, the landscape becoming barren, save for the ever-present rocks and snow. Luckily the surface was relatively smooth, allowing them to move faster than expected.
When the sun finally moved behind the mountain, only a pinkish glow remained to light the way. Raad grumbled, “I hope one of you can see in the dark.”
“Lend me your staff,” Kaiya said to Tashi.
Tashi handed it over, one eyebrow raised high. The dwarf must be tiring if she needed a stick to lean on.
Waving a hand over the top of the staff, a silver-pink glow came over the ornamental goat skull. Lifting it high, she said, “This will light the way.”
“How?” Tashi asked, not understanding what she had witnessed. “How are you doing that?”
“I’m pulling the leftover light from the sunset and channeling it into the staff,” the sorceress explained. “When the sun is gone, I’ll use the moon’s light. Don’t worry, it won’t actually burn the staff.” It was a simple spell that Kaiya used often for a variety of different purposes. Pulling light and heat were one of the first lessons a sorceress learned when she began her studies. For anyone magically inclined, it came easiest of any spell.
“Amazing,” Tashi commented, still marveling at the light emitted by her own staff. “May I?” she asked, reaching for it.
“Of course,” Kaiya said, passing it back to her.
Tashi inspected the glowing skull, its eyes projecting the path ahead. “Can you teach me?” she wondered.
“I’m not sure,” Kaiya answered. She could perceive no magic in Tashi, but that didn’t mean it was impossible. However, Kaiya had never tried to teach someone a spell, whether they were born with magic or not. Without formal training herself, she had never encountered other students. She simply didn’t know if someone born without magic could ever be able to channel it.
Galen saved her the trouble. “This type of spell uses inborn magic,” he explained. “Those who can cast it usually figure it out early on, sometimes to their surprise.”
“What do you mean?” Tashi asked.
“Take me, for example. All elves can cast a few spells, this one included. But I am no sorcerer, and I have no talent for magic. That doesn’t mean I can’t learn, but someone who is trained can perform far-more-intense spells.”
“Does that mean I can or I can’t learn?” Tashi didn’t understand the elf’s meaning.
“You’d have to be tested,” he replied. “But if you have no natural ability, you’ll probably never learn elemental magic. If you weren’t born with a magical store, you can’t grow one.” He paused a moment. “Though I have read of creatures such as dragons imbuing their powers upon others. Maybe it’s not impossible. And, of course, there are other forms of magic that don’t require a magical store. Those spells require intense training.”
Never having encountered a dragon, Tashi knew receiving its blessing was an impossibility for her. She hadn’t shown any special abilities as a child, so it was unlikely she could learn Kaiya’s style of magic. The elements would no more obey her than the gods. It was another shortcoming, but one she could live with. She was no better or worse than she had been. In Kaiya she had found a magical ally, and that would have to be enough.
Raising the staff high, Tashi lit the way ahead. “We are close,” she announced. Straight ahead was a cliffside, blocking their path to the mines. Pausing before it, she said, “Now we climb.”
“With one arm?” Raad asked. The cliff was not terribly high, but in his injured state, it would be impossible for him to climb it. There were four handholds he would need to grasp as he ascended, and letting go of one to grasp the next would mean plummeting back to the bottom.
Standing next to the cliff, Galen saw an easy solution. “I’ll go up first and pull you,” he said. The cliff was only two feet above his head. Once he reached the top, he would still have enough leverage to pull the dwarf, provided he was able to stand on the lowest ledge.
Grasping the uppermost handhold, the elf easily pulled himself to the top. Kneeling down, he extended an arm to his companions below. Kaiya and Tashi moved in to brace Raad, easing him onto the lower footholds. Holding his breath, Raad grasped the elf’s arm while the women pushed from below. Before he could panic, he was back on solid ground. He nodded his thanks to the elf.
Galen offered a hand to the ladies as well, pulling each of them to the safety of the plateau. Satisfied with a job well done, he readjusted his pack and dusted the snow from his knees.
“Pretty handy to have someone like you around,” Raad said, grinning.
“Glad I could help,” the elf replied.
From this vantage point, the travelers could clearly make out the ocean in the distance. Lit by moonlight, its shining surface sparkled before them. Massive blocks of ice moved up and down as if they drew breath, rocked by the rolling waves beneath them. Birds called in the distance, singing a tribute to the night sky.
“The breathing ice,” Tashi said. “Ulihi hunters sometimes travel here to hunt seals, though not as much as when I was a child. Goats are more plentiful and closer to home.”
“The view alone is worth the travel,” Galen said, his eyes filled with wonder.
Strange sounds in the distance drew their attention away from the sea, their ears straining to make out the noise.
“Voices,” Tashi whispered, wondering who might be near.
“Echoes,” Raad corrected. “That’ll be the miners.”
Sure enough, the mining camp became visible as they moved atop the next hill. Ahead of them in the darkness, lanterns shone, and dark figures moved about.
“Home sweet home,” the miner said, relieved to be back.
“No,” Kaiya said. “That’s no mining camp.”
Chapter 10
“Of course it’s a mining camp,” Raad countered. “This is where we’ve been trying to get to.”
Kaiya gaped as she looked ahead at the camp before her. “This is a city,” she said. The camp stretched on for miles, going far beyond her line of sight. Far larger than the village near her farm, this was the largest mining operation she had ever seen.
Its existence gave credence to Tashi’s words about dwarves encroaching on her tribal lands. All the remaining Ulihi could fit easily into a quarter of this city. The priestess had accused the dwarves of greed, and judging by the size of this encampment, the statement seemed to ring true. At least in this instance, it looked as if they’d taken more than they needed. Every home was constructed of wood and stone, not the temporary tent dwellings that normally went along with mining life. Clearly the dwarves planned to stay permanently, which meant more settlements popping up between here and Kaiya’s village weren’t out of the question. Shortening supply lines would save them money, and that could spell trouble for the Ulihi. They might soon be losing more hunting ground.
“We might as well get settled,” Raad said. “Foreman Daro always goes to bed early, so you won’t be meeting with him tonight. He’ll be up at dawn, though, so you won’t have to wait much longer.”
Kaiya sighed and ground her teeth. She was anxious to find out exactly why Daro had summoned her. There was more to the story than Raad had revealed, and she was impatient to learn the missing parts. “Maybe I should wake him,” she said. “He did ask you to fetch me.”
“Let the man rest,” Raad said, waving a dismissive hand. “We can enjoy ourselves at one of the taverns.”
“One of?” Galen asked.
“We have six,” Raad replied, grinning.
Tashi shook her head. “Why do you need so many?”
“We’ve got a large operation going on here, in case you hadn’t noticed,” he replied. “There’s lots of mouths to feed and water.”
Uninterested in revelry, Kaiya asked, “Does this place have an inn?”
“Nope,” Raad replied, “but you can have a spot in the bunkhouse. It’s meant for temporary workers, but it’s e
mpty this time of year. You’ll have a little privacy.”
Resigning herself to an uncomfortable night, Kaiya said, “Lead the way.”
Motioning for the others to follow, Raad led them into the mining camp. They passed by two taverns, filled to the brim with sloshed miners. The ones who were still partly sober took notice of the travelers, mainly Tashi and Galen. They stood out in this place, even in the dark.
Emboldened by a few drinks, one man stepped in Tashi’s path and placed a hand on her beaded collar. “What have we got here?” he asked, his gaze tracing the lines of her figure.
“This is the woman who will break your hand if you don’t keep it off her,” Tashi warned, her features stern.
The dwarf withdrew his hand and wiped it against his chest. “Fiery, aren’t you,” he commented.
“Get back to your drink,” Raad demanded, stepping between Tashi and the dwarf.
The man peered around Raad, considering whether he wanted to obey. One look at Kaiya, and he decided he’d best go back inside. Without another word, he disappeared into the tavern crowd.
“What did you do to him?” Raad asked.
“Not a thing,” Kaiya replied, a crooked smile on her lips. A flash of silver in her eyes was all it had taken to scare the inebriated miner. Dwarves rarely encountered any sort of magic, so having it stand in front of them could be rather intimidating.
As they continued through the city, Kaiya made note of a small school. “There are children here?” she asked.
“Yes, ma’am,” Raad replied. Seeing her confusion, he added, “You can’t expect men to live way up here without bringing their families along.”
Raising a family this far from dwarf civilization seemed strange to her. Shrugging it off, she decided it was no stranger than her own upbringing. Never having fit in with the other children, she had chosen to separate herself from them. At least these kids had each other.
Crossing a narrow alleyway, Kaiya glimpsed the movement of a cat, its eyes shining in the dim light. The back of her throat tingled, a salty taste filling her mouth. Tilting her head, she sniffed at the wind.
“Barracks are to your left,” Raad announced, pointing. “Door’s unlocked, so help yourself.”
“There’s magic here,” the sorceress announced, her head lifted high. “This way,” she said, following the scent.
The others followed, curious to discover the source. Drawing more energy into Tashi’s staff, Kaiya illuminated the darkness surrounding them. She moved away from the city, where no lamps were burning.
“Where are you going?” Raad wondered. Traveling outside the camp at night was unsafe, but there was little chance he could change the sorceress’s mind. Especially with only one usable arm, he couldn’t hope to force her back toward safety. “There are wild beasts in these mountains, you know,” he said, attempting to warn her.
Not listening, Kaiya continued to follow the scent burning in her nostrils. “Here,” she said, stopping near a pile of rubble. It stretched on for several feet, loose rocks combined with packed ice. A faint trail remained visible where the stones had slid to their current position.
“What happened here?” Tashi asked. Placing her foot against the fallen stones, a shiver ran through her body. Was this the magic Kaiya spoke of?
Kneeling on tired knees, Kaiya ran her fingers over the rubble, a silver light trailing behind them. “These are the remains of an avalanche,” she announced. A nearly undetectable energy remained, causing her fingers to tingle.
“So what?” Raad asked. “This part didn’t do any damage. It’s the debris closer to the mine that caused the most harm.”
“I understand that,” she replied, her patience wearing thin. “This may have done no damage, but there is magic behind it.”
“What does that mean?” Tashi wondered. “Is that the cause of any avalanche?” This discovery had her questioning what she had believed was a natural occurrence.
Lowering herself, Kaiya laid her head sideways upon the rocks, the searing cold finding its way through her cheek and into her throat. Behind it was a distinct presence—unseen, unheard. A sensation of falling through the earth flashed in her mind, prompting her to pull away from the rocks. Sitting up with a jolt, she said, “This was not the work of nature. Not at all.”
The fine hairs on the back of Tashi’s neck stood up, a shiver racing along her spine. What have I done? From the corner of her eye, she thought she saw a shadow move. When none of the others acknowledged it, she questioned whether it was her imagination.
“Who caused it, then?” Galen asked. Only an earth mage of incredible power could summon an avalanche. Unless there were darker forces at work—ancient ones.
Tashi looked away, avoiding eye contact with any of her companions. Kaiya made note of her action but did not draw attention to it. Her revelation had clearly unnerved the priestess.
She knows more than she’s saying, Kaiya suspected. But how is that possible? Tashi had no magical talents, Kaiya was certain of it. This work was far too complicated for a mere mortal. What Kaiya sensed in the rubble was a force unknown, one of tremendous strength. This was only the beginning of what it could do.
“There is great danger here,” the sorceress said. “This avalanche was intentional, and the being who caused it is angry.” To Raad, she asked, “Is there any plan in place for evacuation of the camps?”
He stammered over his words. “You’ll have to speak to the foreman about that,” he finally managed to say. Mines normally had an emergency evacuation plan for the miners, but for a camp this size full of women and children, he wasn’t sure.
Looking back to the rocks, she said, “Maybe it won’t come to that.” There was still more to investigate, and she had yet to set foot inside the mine. Her vision showed her deep within the mountain as well as at its summit. “Tashi, do your people have any tales of magical beings who can cause rockslides or earthquakes?”
The priestess searched her memory but found nothing. “I have not heard such a tale,” she replied. Glancing up toward the stars, she said, “The mountain is angry.” Feeling smaller than ever before, she wanted to run into the night and hide herself. Eyes stared through her in the darkness—knowing eyes.
“Who angered it?” Galen asked.
Tashi looked away, her fingers trembling as she crossed her arms and squeezed them to her body. She couldn’t tell them the truth. What would they do if they knew she had awakened this evil?
“If it gets angrier and the tremors get worse, then all dwarven lands might be in danger,” Galen pointed out. “It could even reach the Vale.” Nestled at the base of the Wrathful Mountains, the home of his people could be the next victim of rockslides, should this being decide to intensify its attacks.
“It’s the miners’ fault,” Tashi spat, attempting to assuage her guilt. “They dug too deep and angered the mountain’s heart.” It was as good an explanation as any. With no magic of her own, how could she have summoned this evil? I don’t have that power, she tried to convince herself. Though she wanted to believe that, she could not. She had seen the shadows and felt the dark presence. She was to blame.
“Now hold on there,” Raad said, waving his finger. “You can’t blame us for this.”
“It isn’t the mountain that’s angry,” Kaiya said. Her tone softened as she observed the priestess’s discomfort. “It’s something else, maybe something that’s a part of the mountain itself.” She couldn’t be sure at this point. For one brief instant, she sensed the presence again, but it disappeared too quickly for any spell to take effect. Whatever it was, it was nearer now than before.
Rubbing her eyes, Kaiya tried to shake off her fatigue. “I guess it’s time we get some sleep,” she said, her mind too clouded to concentrate.
“Time for some ale,” Raad replied. “You up for a trip to the tavern, Mr. Elf?”
“Sounds great,” Galen replied.
“I’ll come as well,” Kaiya said, to the surprise of her male companions.
“I’ll never get to sleep without a drink.”
“I thought you were against drinking,” Raad said.
“I’m not against it,” she corrected him. “What I’m against is drinking to the point of acting like an idiot, and I don’t think one should drink at every opportunity. I just need enough to help me get a little sleep tonight.” Without it, she feared her mind would never stop pondering over the magic in the rubble. She needed rest if she was going to function the next day.
“Come along then,” the miner said cheerfully. “You too?” he asked Tashi.
“No,” she replied. “I’d like to sleep now.”
“Suit yourself,” he said.
Her head held low, Tashi made her way down the path to the barracks Raad had pointed out. No one was inside, only silence. Choosing a bed near the wall, she climbed into it and drew the blankets up to her chin.
Since the death of her sister, she had not slept through a night. Her sleep was constantly disrupted by visions and strange noises, and the memory of death. A wave of pain traveled through her body, every muscle screaming with fatigue. She wished she’d thought to bring a sleep tonic. This strange place would offer little rest.
Nearly drifting off to sleep, the sound of an infant crying startled her back awake. Looking around the unfamiliar room, she reminded herself that her niece was not here. She was in the care of the doula, and she was safe. Tashi had to believe the girl was all right. But she had left her behind, so how could she be sure? The thought weighed heavily on her mind.
Closing her eyes, she lay back and steadied her breathing. Her sister’s face gazed down at her from somewhere high above. Tashi could see the outline of a scowl on the young woman’s lips. “Are you angry with me?” she whispered to the darkness.
The vision said nothing.
“You are ashamed of me for running away,” Tashi said, sobbing. “I could not stay. It was too dangerous for our people.”
Her sister remained silent.
“I might do some good here,” Tashi said, hoping to convince her. “Maybe this sorceress can find a way to save our children and ensure our future.”
