by Aaron Thomas
Chapter 13 - Into Darkness
Bowie woke to the sound of someone chopping wood. He looked about but couldn’t seem to shake the blinding morning sun. He rubbed his eyes and felt himself already sweating in the humid air. His back hurt because of an annoying rock that was under his blanket. No matter how he moved or tried to even the ground, he couldn’t find it.
Finally, his eyes adjusted to the light and Bowie saw Auburn sitting against a tree with her arms crossed, sleeping. Her face was red and puffy like she had been crying all night long. He was curious what the wizard said to her.
When he rolled over, he saw the fire wizard chopping away at a dead tree. Bowie stretched his arms and walked over to him.
“Allow me?” Bowie asked, gesturing his hand toward the axe.
The wizard inclined his head in thanks and handed the axe over. He went to sit by the still-smoldering coals. With imbued strength, Bowie made quick work of the log and chopped another for good measure. Auburn had a good sized stack of wood that would probably keep the fire going through the next day.
Dorian handed Bowie a bowl of mush with a boiled egg, “As soon as you are done eating, we need to be on our way. Most of the creatures are active at night. If you are to go in and come out before nightfall, we need to get started.”
Bowie shoveled the pasty gruel in and swallowed the slimy substance before his gag reflex started his stomach to lurch. He covered his mouth and closed his eyes trying to hold down the tasteless spoonful. His gagging caused Dorian to laugh and Auburn to stir. Before long she was laughing as well. Bowie started to regain control of his stomach and kicked over the bowl of gruel.
When he turned back to look at Auburn, he noticed a rider on the road. He pointed, and the man atop the horse gave a wave in return. Auburn turned around and immediately ran to a bowl and started filling it with water.
“Who is it?” Bowie asked.
“It’s Bastion, did you not see his clothes?” Auburn said, splashing water on her face.
Bowie turned back and squinted to see the shimmering blue and green clothes reflecting the sunlight. He wondered why he hadn't seen it the first time.
“I thought I told you he couldn’t come along,” Bowie said as he went to start putting his pack together.
Auburn stood in front of Bowie, blocking him from gathering his items, “I did not bring him, he followed us. You said nothing about him traveling separately and in the same direction of us. Besides, I think he can help us.”
“Help us? How in the world could a man with a lute help us win a war? What is he going to do to Atmos’ army, sing them to sleep?” Bowie said, using his shoulder to nudge Auburn out of the way.
“He’s a storyteller,” Auburn said, almost yelling.
“Oh, so he’s going to tell them bedtime stories?” Bowie replied with a sarcastic laugh.
Auburn slapped Bowie across the face, “Will you shut up and listen to me?”
Bowie stood with water forming in his eye as he fought off the instinct to slap her back. His face stung; he could still feel where her individual fingers had struck. She had slapped him with imbued strength, and if his own body hadn’t been imbued, she would have broken something.
He looked directly into Auburn’s eyes trying to find the words in his rage, again she was crying.
“I am sorry, but I am trying to help you, you stubborn man,” She yelled through her tears. “So far, rumors and whispers have traveled the elemental realms about a man with a bow that killed thousands, saved a realm from an attack, and defied a king. What if those rumors weren’t rumors anymore? What if those stories came from someone who was there, who saw everything unfold.”
“Your legend would be fed and increased at your bravery. Soldiers, veterans and new recruits would flock to Leviathan to not only fight beside you but to simply look at you with their own eyes,” Auburn was pleading for him to listen to her words.
The more she spoke, the more the rage melted from Bowie. He didn’t say a word but continued to stare at her.
“You know that when this war begins Atmos will not only be after the throne but your head on a pike. I cannot protect you from all of them, so we need more men. Bastion can help us get those men with his stories,” Auburn said while breathing hard as if trying to catch her breath from a run.
Bowie, although still mad, saw reason in her thoughts and wish he had taken the time to listen earlier. He wasn’t going to give in and let her know that, so he stepped within mere inches from her face.
“I’m not telling him stories, and if he asks me, I’ll kill him. If he interferes with me or the tasks that I have to perform, I’ll kill him. If he is too slow to keep up with a couple wielders, well, he will fall behind,” Bowie said.
Auburn gave a nod of her head, and Bowie went back to packing his bag. Then the thought struck him, he quickly grabbed Auburn by the back of the neck and pulled her to his lips. She only resisted a bit before her body started to relax. He felt her hands start to reach around him and he released his grip.
“That was for slapping me,” Bowie said.
He pulled his bow out of its leather binding and shoved two dry sets of strings in his pack before marching off to the swamps entrance. When he neared what he would say was a dramatic increase in foliage, he heard someone following. Using the wind magic, he saw it was Auburn taking large stomping strides to catch up. He turned just in time to see her hand before he felt the pain bloom in his face.
He righted himself, and she grabbed the back of his neck forcing him to kiss her. Being this close, he could smell lilac in her clothes. Her warm lips pressed hard into him. Her grasp was unrelenting as he tried to back away. She tasted like nothing he had ever tasted before and wondered why he hadn’t noticed that the first time. He gave up fighting her and decided to enjoy the kiss.
When she pulled away she looked down at his chest, “Don’t you stay in there too long. I may think of another reason to slap you soon.”
He watched her walk away, and no matter how much he searched his brain he couldn’t find a witty comment. Dorian gave Bowie a smile and hobbled over carrying his staff.
“Best try and forget the moment, you are going to need your wits about you in there. String that bow, you won’t have time if the creatures are hungry,” Dorian said, patting Bowie on the shoulder.
Bowie backed up so he could watch Auburn walk away. She confused him more and more every day. Instead of upsetting her, he had apparently done exactly as she wanted. Bastion was waving like a fool as he approached the camp. He really hoped that Bastion wasn’t part of her plan to make him jealous.
Bowie pivoted on his heel and found himself at the swamp’s treeline. He’d heard that the ground here was covered in water, but as far as he could see in the dark, it was covered with grass and moss. The wizard seemed to have no problem as he limped his way along the darkened path.
The path was only wide enough for one man to enter, no carts or ridden animals ventured here. The only light that could be seen was the light from the sun behind Bowie. The canopy of the trees far above his head only let a sporadic beam of light through. When it did, he saw the grotesque tree roots sticking out of the water as if the ground had been washed away from underneath. Long tendrils of moss hung down from branches to block most of what Bowie could see. He took an arrow from his quiver and held it ready.
“People live here?” Bowie asked quietly.
The wizard stopped limping forward, “The swamp is dangerous, but it protects us from the more dangerous world.”
Bowie came abreast of the wizard when he ran into his outstretched hand. Bowie looked down and saw the ground moving. The wizard turned up his palm and filled it with flame. What Bowie had thought was the swamp floor moving was lily pads resting atop the water.
“I warned you, archer. The longer we wait to cross the water the more the creatures will be on us. They feel its movements and can smell us from far away once we enter,” Dorian said as he used his free hand to tuck hi
s staff under his arm. He pulled up the length of his robe and Bowie saw a scar running from his ankle to his knee.
“You get that from one of the creatures?” Bowie asked.
Dorian tapped a finger on the side of his nose, “They are like giant lizards with a long jaw stock full of jagged teeth. You will not see any of that when they bite into you and pull you under. If you are watchful, you will see their eyes just above the water's surface.”
The fire wizard waved the flame in front of him from one side to the other in a large sweeping arch. Stopping midway he pointed, “You see there, their eyes glow in the light. We are already hunted. It’s probably because you smell of lilac. No lilacs grow here.”
Bowie watched as the beast's eyes slowly crept across the water’s surface. He stepped back and squatted low on the bank trying to see what was churning the water behind the eyes. Dorian must have noticed him straining to see because he touched his flame to moss hanging in the tree. The swamps features were revealed in a blaze of dead flaming ropes. That’s when Bowie saw the creature in its fullness.
The beast had turned at the sight of the fire and scurried across a small island. It was massive, stretching longer than a horse, with a scaled armored body and a mouth bigger than Bowie’s head. Teeth poked out of the mouth as it swayed a tail thicker than his thigh. Bowie stood and pulled his bow to full strength, but a hand rested upon the arrow.
“If it attacks, you may kill it, but for now it guards my home. I will show you the way,” Dorian said, fishing a hand into his satchel.
When his hand cleared the satchel, Bowie could see a small bead just like the one Ria had given him. It was attached to a string that the wizard deftly tied around his neck and dropped it down his shirt. As Bowie looked back out to the water exposed roots from the trees began to bend like snakes. They formed a platform much like a dock hovering a foot above the water.
The wizard waved Bowie forward out onto the earthly platform. Bowie carefully followed the path laid out in front of him. He kept his eyes on the roots, fearful that a creature would reach in between them to yank him in.
Twice while traversing the root foot holds he slipped and reached a hand out to a tree. By the time he pulled his hand back, it was already covered with spiders that were traveling their own path along the tree. Distracting him were snakes and frogs that jumped in the water as he got close.
“Wait a moment,” Dorian said from behind him.
Bowie turned to see the wizard trying to limp along the roots. They recoiled behind the wizard, back to their original shape beneath the water. Instead of a hand, Dorian used his walking staff to steady himself on the roots.
“It is very taxing to make the roots bend and travel them at the same time. The last time I was here, Ria was with me. She did most of the work,” He said, trying to catch his breath.
“Ria taught me as well. She is the one who gave me my earth imbuement. Let me restore you,” Bowie said, reaching a hand towards the man.
Dorian recoiled, “You trust me enough to give me strength?”
Bowie thought it over for a moment before answering. The man did have an advantage over him. They were alone in a swamp that the man knew the only path of. He had the ability to leave Bowie to traverse the water with unseen horrors below its surface. The man would only need to use a push to knock him in the water or move another direction when Bowie wasn’t looking.
Bowie reached his hand out and filled him with energy. Bowie watched as the wizard stood a bit straighter and his heavy breathing calmed.
“I followed you here, Dorian. I don’t know the way back or forwards. I also don’t have the ability to move the roots of the trees the way you do. Auburn maybe, but not me. You also have the only light, and I don’t see much chance of me making one in this moist place,” Bowie said, squeezing the water from a bit of moss hanging down.
“Very well. A businessman, indeed,” The wizard said.
“It’s simple supply and demand,” Bowie retorted before taking a step forward.
His foot slipped, sending his leg into the water. The root he had intended to stand on kept him falling further by colliding with his groin. He let out a yell as Dorian thrust his arm under Bowie’s. As swiftly as his foot went into the water, it was pulled free. Bowie remained in pain despite the quick rescue.
Bowie, still bent over at the waist, watched as a scaled tail sank back below the water where his foot had been.
With a heavy hand on his back, Dorian spoke, “He’s been following us for the last three hours. Another slip like that and you have a limp like me at the very least.”
Trying to brush off the near life-threatening event, he gave a small chuckle. “How do you know it’s a he, it’s usually the women that chase me?”
Dorian gave a smirk, “I’ve never stopped one to ask, but if you want to jump in I will wait.”
“No, thanks. I wouldn’t want to hold you up. Shall we continue?”
Dorian simply held a hand out to the root pathway. Bowie thought that perhaps there were more roots now than there had been a few moments ago. He wouldn’t need to mind his step now that the path was a bit more filled. Even with more secure footing, it didn’t deter his eyes from looking at the water’s surface.
Before long, Bowie’s foot landed on a soggy piece of grassland. He recoiled as if it were something foreign and then laughed at his own ridiculousness. He then licked his lips and reluctantly stepped onto the lush green grass. As soon as he was off the root pathway, Dorian passed him and hobbled through the largest patch of land Bowie had seen since he entered the swamp.
“Welcome to Myoria, my home,” Dorian said, waving his hand around.
“You just live in the middle of a swamp?” Bowie asked.
Dorian gave a small chuckle and continued his limped pace. As they weaved their way in and out of moss-blanketed trees, a town began to reveal itself. First, moss-covered homes and small fenced in areas with cattle. Then, some two-story homes, blacksmiths, and a bakery. The farther in they walked, the grander the buildings hidden beneath the trees. Even the pathways were covered in smooth stones. The sunlight even seemed to break through the canopy enough to give the light of day to the town.
Kids ran in and out of the path, playing and giggling. The air smelled rich with grains and flowers. Bowie looked around for any sign of a wizard and realized that Dorian was the only one wearing a robe. The men all wore trousers, and the women were all in dresses. He felt like he was in any other village, aside from the looming moss-covered trees above his head.
“I guess this is a more appropriate time to say it; welcome to Myoria. This one is my home,” Dorian said, moving up a path. “If you give me a moment, I will change and take you right to the mayor.”
“You have a mayor?” Bowie asked, following him.
“Yes, doesn’t every town?”
Bowie nodded and took a seat on a low stone wall. Closing his eyes, he looked around using the earth and wind magic. Everywhere he looked he could see magic, but it was as if it was coming from the stones themselves. The soil in the planters was being fed by a small stone in the bottom. The wind was being moved across the coals at the blacksmith by a small stone inside the chimney. The wizards were using magic in a completely different way than he had been shown.
He was abruptly woken out of his stupor by a tap on the shoulder.
“Ready to meet the mayor?”
He had changed into the clothes of a noble in a vibrant deep blue. He now carried a polished cane with a golden knob on top and had a necklace to match. Still, he wore no weapons of any kind. Of course, in a town like this, there would be no need for a physical weapon.
“Yes, let’s meet this mayor so I can get back to camp,” Bowie said, hopping off the wall.
“I am sorry, Master Crescent. I took too long getting you here, and I don’t think you will be able to make it back before nightfall. Even with our most skilled wizards, the swamp would be hard to traverse at night,” Dorian said, leading Bo
wie deeper into the town.
Bowie nodded his head in understanding, continuing to take in as much of the town as he could. As they moved deeper, they walked beside a mass of people all heading in the same direction.
Bowie noticed that he could no longer see the edge of the town. No matter which way he looked the rows upon rows of houses stood with little interruption except the occasional tree.
Finally, Dorian stopped at a large wood building with two doors that had a carved picture of wizards battling. The wood was highly polished and incredibly well kept for being an exterior door. Bowie watched as person after person filed into the building. The door swung on its hinges without so much of a creak. He wondered if there were other places in the world with this craftsmanship.
“Come along,” Dorian said, waving Bowie forward. “Follow me, and I will introduce you.”
Bowie kept close on Dorian’s heel as they entered the large building. It was only three stories high but was wide and long. Once inside Bowie could see the building’s pillars were made from the same trees outside. Even at the back of the room, chairs were filled with people of all ages. The upper levels had been removed to allow for seating on the main level so more observers could watch whatever proceedings happened here.
Bowie lingered a bit to look up as they passed a pillar, then ran to catch up to Dorian, “The trees. They hide you from wind wizards passing above?”
Dorian smiled, “They have kept us safe and hidden for many years.”
Bowie looked up again at the next one as they neared a raised pedestal at what Bowie would call the focal point of the building. Five chairs sat on a raised platform, four filled and one remained empty. Empty until Dorian took his seat next to the center chair. Bowie stopped short as a hush fell over the crowd. Dorian whispered into the ear of the man in the center chair.
