Ruin Mist Chronicles Bundle

by Robert Stanek

  As light returned to his eyes, Valam was unsure how long he had been lost or if he had been lost at all. He opened his eyes, and he was still seated where he had been; Teren, Mikhal, Danyel’, and the others were all still there. “How long have I been gone?”

  “The length is not the key, it is the knowledge. Now, do you understand?”

  “Yes, I remember, but why did I forget, and how did I—I was dead.”

  “You were and you weren’t. As is this, that was but a crossing, a possibility that is now passed, but now you have the answers, and what will you do with them?”

  “I, I—do not know.”

  “I will give you time. In your heart, you will know what to do, and you will do it, but heed this. That which you think is occurring usually is not, and that which you do not expect probably is. Do not regard her falsely, for she does not hold you thus. She did only what she considered just, and perhaps it was. Now that you have seen the many lines, you know what your fate would have been at each turning. But now you are beyond the turnings, and I can show you no more.”

  “I saw myself die more than once. How can this be?”

  “As I have stated, this was your past. Yes, you would have perished if you had stayed in the kingdom, and—”

  “Then what I saw is real.”

  “Perhaps, but possibly it is only what could have been if you had been there. I cannot say, but you must consider it in your heart of hearts and act accordingly.”

  “And the second time?”

  “Yes, another possibility, but do not dwell thus on the past. Move forward and decide; this is why we have returned. Why I have given you counsel. You must know all paths and decide for yourself which to take.”

  “Why do you help me? And why, Teren, did you allow me to come here? I still do not understand.”

  Teren paused and let the other speak first. “I help you because I must; there is no other reason.”

  “You must?”

  “Prince Valam, I also do what I feel is right and just for my people.”

  “It is all right, Brother Teren, you do not need to justify yourself in his eyes; he does understand if he will only consider. I wish not to say more, but I will add this: a gift is not always free; it often has its costs, and now the balance is brought back in check.”

  Valam began to speak, but he was cut short and bade to be silent. “‘Why are Danyel’ and Mikhal here, you think. Consider your own thoughts. Your path is with them, not the others. Alas, I have said too much; you must go.”

  “Go?”

  “Yes, but only from this chamber. Return with all haste to Leklorall and ask of the queen your questions. Ask her of the sword as well. Awaken now and remember.” Her last words carried much more than simple litany. As with everything she had said to him, mingled with it were a mixture a feelings and deep emotion that would take Valam some time to sort out if he could do it at all.

  Valam watched her as she walked away, and just before she entered an adjacent corridor to disappear from sight, she glanced back at him and said again stronger and with more urgency, “Awaken now and remember.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Adrina was missing. The camp spun with excited activity. Shchander and his men were sent to search the woods in the immediate vicinity while Nijal and Amir set to finding Adrina’s tracks. Noman and Xith were quick to collapse into sudden but friendly argument. They didn’t discover until much later that one of Shchander’s men was also missing.

  By afternoon, troubled eyes stared desperately to Xith and Noman who were still arguing. Xith soon turned to Shchander with many questions, to which Shchander could respond honestly. Shalimar was a man to be trusted, and he held no ill in his heart. Xith turned to Nijal, regarding his nervousness and asked, “Did she say anything to you, anything at all that you counted odd?”

  Nijal was slow to speak, but he did. “That night, I had an odd—no, it was nothing.”

  “Speak, man,” said Noman commanding Nijal to bring words to his lips. “All things have significance.”

  “The night Adrina woke screaming, when I coaxed her to return to the carriage. I watched her. I saw her eyes as she lay there. She was afraid, very afraid. For hours I kept watch, hoping she would drift off to sleep, but she never did. I am not sure, but sometime during the time I was there I had a dream. I may have closed my eyes for five minutes or for several hours, I am not sure. When I awoke, her eyes were upon me as if she knew the dream I dreamt. She asked me again if we could go outside, and this time I did so without hesitation.”

  “The dream, what was it?” asked Xith intrigued.

  “A voice,” replied Nijal.

  “A voice?”

  As Nijal began, his voice quivered and his hands twitched nervously. “After that, I did not want to be near her. It was a very strange thing. It is my fault. I should have been with her, not Shalimar.”

  “Nijal, stop babbling. Go back to the dream. Tell me about the voice.”

  “The voice?”

  “Yes, the voice, tell me about it. Nothing can hurt you. Close your eyes and tell us about the dream and the voice.”

  Nijal closed his eyes, and all became silent around him as the others waited for him to speak. Nijal still was hesitant; he thought it best to let his dream be lost. “I was surrounded by darkness, so much darkness, and he was there. He came out of the darkness, which seemed to follow him, and after a time, I could see, as if my eyes focused. Black flames licked the air, streaming from dark coffers. He was seated on an ebony throne. He bade Adrina to give him the child, but she would not—” Nijal’s voice faded off, and he broke down into sudden sobs.

  Xith looked to Noman, who returned his concern. “Nijal, listen closely, who are they that Adrina spoke of?”

  “The shadows, they spoke to her—and the dragons, they spoke to her.”

  “When?” demanded Noman, looming over Nijal.

  Nijal cowered down to his knees, “Once out of the blackness, they asked her to follow them.”

  “And you did not tell us? What were you thinking, Nijal, son of Geoffrey?” yelled Shchander angrily, cursing Nijal the only way he knew how.

  “Wait, do not be harsh with him. I can see it on his face; he only now remembers. He did not know himself until he spoke the words. Is that not so?” stated Noman, his tone now very kind and understanding.

  “Yes,” replied Nijal honestly. He said nothing of Tnavres, the tiny dragon Adrina harbored, though later he would be unable to explain what held his tongue.

  Noman began to speak again, but he stopped, and then turned, his eyes wild with surprise and relief. “Amir, Shalimar—Adrina?”

  “I found them,” said Amir, “and you won’t believe this, only about a half hour walk from here. Gathering flowers, the truth be known.”

  “White flowers growing along a peaceful stream; it was so serene there,” said Adrina.

  “Flowers?” demanded Xith, losing his temper briefly.

  “Yes, beautiful white flowers. I picked some for you,” said Adrina, offering Xith a bouquet, and as he accepted them, staring into her eyes of pure innocence, he forgave her and said nothing further on the subject. Noman started to object, but as she handed him a grouping of flowers, he held back, only chastising softly, telling her never to go off alone again, to which she responded that she hadn’t gone off alone.

  All thoughts of dark shadows were cast aside, and soon they were moving rapidly along the trail, trying to make up some of the lost time. Only one significant change had occurred, and it was that now only Amir and Nijal would ride with Adrina and keep watch over her. No one chastised Shalimar, as he had already punished himself and repented wholly for his mistake, which had been an honest one.

  Noman saw Adrina in a new light from then on. She had the gift of persuasion, there could be no doubt. She knew how to get what she wanted. Shalimar was no fool. He had been led astray and by what Noman suspected could only be the guiles of the Voice—a thing that would be most troubling
if it were true.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Gray skies hovered overhead as night came, and the group stopped. Midori counted her blessings, for they had made good progress this day, and it had passed without incident. She cheered up but not until long after she lay down to sleep and well after her shift at watch. Sleep finally came to her just as she considered the possibility that maybe, just maybe, she was at a crossing, a time when there could be two who were first to the Mother. She recalled despondently the fact that not long ago she had been only the fourth to the Mother; and even with Jasmine and Catrin’s demise there was another who by all accounts should have progressed to the highest position before her.

  It was Calyin who awoke Midori some hours later by shaking her softly. Calyin had held the final watch and she awoke her sister before waking the others. “We must talk,” Calyin said quietly, pointing to a place away from the others.

  Midori nodded and followed Calyin into the darkness.

  “The men are divided,” Calyin whispered when they were a safe distance away from the camp. “My lord husband wishes to escape to the north. Geoffrey and the captain wish to rouse the garrisons of High Road and Solntse, then return to Imtal. They say Great Kingdom has not fallen, that only Imtal has fallen. What does the Mother tell you?”

  Midori wanted to tell Calyin that the Mother told her she was not the true first and that the Mother was so distant from her that it seemed she was alone. Those things were not exactly the truth, however, and she held her tongue saying instead what was safest. “Imtal has fallen, the Kingdom lives on.”

  “What of the Great Houses? What of the garrisons? Can you sense anything?”

  “She senses,” said Lord Serant approaching out of the darkness, “the great change is upon us.”

  “My lord husband,” Calyin said formerly turning to face Edwar Serant.

  “You speak now behind my back?” he asked her.

  Calyin lowered her eyes momentarily, then looked directly at him. “She is my sister. We are Alders, despite what she thinks. We do not run and hide.”

  Lord Serant spat openly. “You think I run willingly? You are my wife. You who should know me better than any.”

  “My lord husband, I never met to imply cowardice. I seek only answers. The Delinna I once knew was strong and resolute. Even in the face of our father, she stood to her convictions.”

  Lord Serant beaded his eyes and said louder than the previous whispers, “Are you saying I lack conviction?”

  Midori thrust herself between the two. “I am right here,” she said. “Don’t speak of me as if I am lost. I made my choices and I have no regrets.”

  Calyin whirled around to face Midori. “Shall we then get it all out in the open?” Her voice was full of venom as she spoke. “I hated you for what you did. I hated you for your choices. But I respected you for your choices as well. You had only to speak his name and father would have had him swinging from the rope. It would have satisfied all, would it not have?”

  “No,” said Midori emphatically, tears in her eyes. “It would not have satisfied anything. Don’t you see that it was about power? He couldn’t have cared less about honor and the word bond of our father.”

  “He?” cut in Lord Serant.

  The strong words had by now roused Geoffrey Solntse and Captain Ansh Brodst. Both were standing not far off. “They speak of King Jarom,” said Captain Brodst knowingly.

  “Stay out of this,” said Midori and Calyin at the same time. Calyin added, “You’ve done quite enough already.”

  “Just what’s that supposed to mean?” asked Midori. “Ansh could no more have held back than I could have.”

  Afraid the two sisters were about to come to blows, Lord Serant gripped Calyin’s wrists. “We must return to the road.”

  Calyin held firm. “No, not until we’ve said what must be said.”

  “Agreed,” Midori said, returning her sister’s glare.

  “Say it,” demanded Calyin. “Say that father was wrong. Say that you were wrong. Say that you are an Alder by blood and by blood you hold.”

  “I will say no such thing, Calyin. You will never know how hard it was for me to walk away. To leave Imtal. To leave all that I knew. To leave him. You may think the Priestesses of the Mother are beyond the affairs of the Kingdoms and hold true to none, but this is not so. Our duty, our first duty, is to the peoples of Ruin Mist. I did what I must because the Mother showed me the paths. Marrying Jarom Tyr’anth would have only hastened the path of destruction. Surely you know this—you must know this.”

  Calyin was trembling. Serant released his grip on her wrists and embraced her. “Enough,” he said. “You are sisters by blood, and by blood you hold. I can see it if you do not. We must return to the road now or all will be lost.”

  Like thieves in the night, they began anew. Lord Serant assumed the lead and Geoffrey took the rear. Captain Brodst rode beside Midori and Calyin. Several hours of veiled sky remained before dawn and they were going to put this time to good use. Until just before first light, they maintained the road, and shortly afterwards they moved far to its outskirts.

  The land had gentle, gradual slopes going downhill. In the distance they could now see the ridges that marked the Borderlands, and beyond them the snow-capped mountains of the north. Geoffrey knew this region the best as it was within the area patrolled by his fellows. In his youth, he had been on many patrols in this area himself. The closest garrison of the kingdom lay where the borders of the Barrens, the Borderlands, and the Great Kingdom met; and now they had just moved beyond its grasp.

  They still thought it queer that they should attempt to avoid the very ones who should by all means be their confederates, but they would still follow caution and hope it was folly when they reached Solntse. As afternoon came upon them, they saw several patrols pass along the road at a distance, and an ever-increasing amount of traffic. This was not odd at all. They saw groups of wagons, riders, and even people on foot. Sometimes the passersby traveled in mixed groups but always they had some sort of armed company with them, usually an escort of two to three men heavily equipped, who probably required higher fees than would the rogues who could have found them.

  An attack by outlaws was now Lord Serant’s primary concern also, for they had not much to offer in the way of monetary gain. They stayed close together with eyes constantly on guard and hands always at the ready. Serant gave heavy consideration to moving beyond the kingdom borders and into the borderlands. He didn’t believe all the tales he had heard about the place; but if so many believed them, it would surely be a good place to be. The rain that had held off in previous days found them at first morning light as a drizzle but it quickly turned into a downpour. They sought cover or, possibly, to outrun it. Unbeknownst to them as they raced to escape the storm, their course turned northerly; and before they knew it, the land had turned to rock and crag. However, they did not stop, nor did they heed their own instincts.

  Lightning crackled in the air around them, sending sparks of energy through the air, and growing ever nearer. Their steeds turned of their own accord as the brilliant bolts struck within a few feet of horse and rider, and all the riders could do was to hold on and pray they could maintain their mounts. The sound of thunder suddenly swallowed all sound, and a split second later a flash lit the sky to their immediate left. Midori fell on the hard rock as her horse reared.

  As she fell to the ground, she rolled away from the horse’s feet, which were seeking unintentionally to stomp her life away. Both Lord Serant and Captain Brodst saw her fall, but only the captain could turn his mount around to offer her a quick hand. The reins stung as they bit into his hand, but he did not release his right grip. He grasped her arm at the elbow and was able to pull her to safety.

  Midori rubbed the sore spot on her head only for a moment before she locked both arms around Brodst’s waist. She wasn’t going to fall again if she could help it. She searched for her horse, but it was now long gone, lost among the ridges an
d the many turns in the path. A spot of white caught her eye; it almost looked as if a clear area lay in front of them, but she wasn’t quite sure.

  Suddenly, they broke past the clouds, the rain stopped, the lightning receded, and the setting sun filled their field of vision. Captain Brodst reined his horse to a sudden halt. Directly in front of him, the path fell away into a very steep downward slope. As he gazed, he saw that they were on the very edge of an enormous valley—more a ravine than a valley. As he looked, he changed his mind. It was definitely a canyon, narrow and deep, winding like a great serpent through the rock.

  “Downward—” whispered Midori.

  Geoffrey didn’t like the looks of the place; his choice was to wait until the storms passed and turn back toward Solntse. “We must go to the garrison; only then will we know.”

  Captain Brodst had heard Midori’s faint murmur. She had whispered almost directly into his ear. He gave weight to both Geoffrey’s and Midori’s words. “I say we follow Geoffrey to Solntse,” stated Brodst.

  “I say,” started Serant, “that we continue along our current path and see where it takes us.”

  Calyin was the only one who had not spoken her mind, and the other four turned toward her to hear her opinion. She wasn’t as quick to make a judgment as the others and she returned Midori’s wry look to her. Midori thanked Captain Brodst and dismounted.

  “I believe we should continue; there is much at hand that we do not understand, and it is best to follow when led, to see where the path takes us.”

  “Three to two,” spoke Geoffrey sadly. He shrugged his shoulders, shedding the sense of foreboding he perceived, and urged his mount onward at a cautious pace. After Midori mounted behind Calyin, the rest followed his lead; and as they journeyed down into the depths of the canyon, the darkness of night seemed to come immediately over them or at least its shadows did. The sky overhead was still a washed-out blue.