The Pool And The Pedestal (Book 2)

by Daniel McHugh

  “There on the cliff!” exclaimed Granu.

  Kael’s sharp eyes focused on the cliff once more. Another figure stood in almost the exact location from which the Windrider leapt. Kael’s sight bore in on the figure.

  “Cefiz!” gasped the boy.

  “His back is to the river and he has a crossbow raised in defense!” stated Eidyn.

  The Windrider continued in a long slow circle out and above the cliff.

  Cefiz was surprised the Ulrog waited this long. Finally, a Hackle exposed too much of himself beyond the protection of the boulders and the Zodrian shot. The bolt found the proper target, but before the Guardsman could reload, the remaining Ulrog shoved their comrade’s body aside and lumbered foward.

  Ten yards gave Cefiz no time to reload the weapon so he discarded it and drew his sabers. With luck he still might take one or two with him. The Guardsman raised his blades and faced the charging Ulrog.

  “He has discarded the crossbow.” growled Granu. “He turns to his steel.”

  Kael looked back to the cliff. As if in response to Granu’s comment the moonlight caught the edges of Cefiz’s sabers and they flashed to the group below.

  “If he faces a full pack,” said Ader slowly. “They will make short work of him.”

  The soaring black figure rounded and hurtled toward the Guardsman.

  “She is moving on him!” shouted Kael. “He doesn’t see her!”

  Cefiz struggled with confusion. The pack halted, seemingly unsure about their decision to rush him. Suddenly, powerful arms enveloped Cefiz from behind, pivoting him toward the cliff’s edge. The Windrider stood with her feet barely resting on the smooth, granite surface.

  “Embrace me!” she barked.

  Cefiz quickly complied as the Ulrog pack howled in rage and rushed toward the pair.

  “Don’t look down and don’t struggle” said the assassin firmly. “Look into my eyes if you find comfort there, for if you panic we are both lost.”

  Cefiz sucked in a deep breath and tried to steady himself. He forced his body to become limp in the assassin’s embrace and he gained confidence from her eyes. The Windrider lightly pulled the Guardian over the cliff’s edge and they dropped from the sight of the enraged Ulrog.

  Kael felt helpless watching the assassin turn and streak down toward his friend standing on the cliff. The pair hung on the edge of the cliff for a moment, then the Windrider spun on her heels and they plunged over the precipice.

  The wind ripped past Cefiz’s ears as he stared into the eyes of the Windrider. The finely spun silk of her wings bowed under the strain of the pair’s weight. Cefiz knew they were descending rapidly. Together they were too much weight for the silk to hold.

  The assassin struggled to hold the wings of the suit out and filled with air. Cefiz clung desperately to the beautiful young woman, his arms wrapped tightly around her chest and his feet dangling beneath him.

  “Guardsman, we are in for a hard landing!” snarled the girl through clenched teeth. “ I cannot guarantee that we make the far edge of the rapids.”

  Cefiz simply nodded his acknowledgment and readied himself.

  The group aligned along the river’s edge stood gaping in wonder. The assassin could have dropped Cefiz to his death, yet held him tightly and battled to slow the pair’s free fall. Eidyn lowered his bow.

  “She is catching every current she can, but their weight is too much. They’ll be dashed upon the rocks.” cried the Elf prince over the din of the waterway .

  The black bird swerved and dodged in the air currents above, some hundred yards upriver from Kael. The pair were still at the height of a full grown oak when Kael heard a loud snap and the silken black wings collapsed under the stress of the pair’s weight. Cefiz and the Borz plummeted toward the rocks below.

  A moment before impact, the assassin tore a small black bag from beneath her cape and tossed it into the air behind her. A silken dome burst open above the pair. It swallowed a last breath of air. Their speed abated slightly and they slammed into the surging water below.

  The pair disappeared from view beneath the churning maelstrom. A moment later they broke from the frigid waters twenty yards downstream, gasping for air. The surging water propelled them downriver, slamming them off boulders and pulling them beneath its waves.

  The entire group along the shore mobilized immediately. Granu turned to the grove and quickly searched the trees. In three great strides the Keltaran reached a tall, spindly pine and bent low, grabbing it by the trunk. The giant grunted and strained as he ripped upward on the tree.

  Kael dashed into the camp as Eidyn dropped from the small ledge above the river onto the boulders below. Cefiz and the Borz were moving rapidly downstream.

  Kael crashed back through the thickets in time to see Cefiz bounced off a large rounded hump at mid river. The boy dashed toward the river and tossed a length of rope to Eidyn waiting below.

  The Windrider struggled desperately in the freezing water. Its current was too strong for her and she disappeared once more beneath the black surface. Cefiz’s arms flailed and he fought hard to reach the girl. The pair were only a short distance apart, struggling nearly thirty yards upstream from Eidyn.

  The river shoved the Guardsman toward another large boulder, but Cefiz pumped his arms furiously, driving his body toward where he had last seen the girl. Eidyn tied the length of rope around a short stout piece of driftwood. The Elf prince grabbed the rope and slowly began swinging the driftwood back and forth as it dangled beneath his hand. On the third swing of the pendulum, Eidyn launched the driftwood upstream. The heavy piece of timber splashed into the water then bobbed to the surface as the wild current forced it downstream. In an instant, the driftwood passed on the Northern side of a huge boulder sitting mid river. The rope in Eidyn’s hands went taught and locked against the edge of the boulder’s surface.

  The Windrider broke through the water and gagged for air. Cefiz’s head spun in shock. Somehow he managed to overshoot his target. The girl was upstream from the Zodrian.

  A rough patch of boulders lay ten yards before Eidyn’s outstretched rope. The Guardsman kicked hard and pushed himself toward the flailing girl. He quickly cradled her in his arms and used his body to shield her as the pair slammed into the jagged boulders. Cefiz careened off the first and spun wildly into the next pair. Kael could hear the screams of the lieutenant over the roar of the river as his body beat against the rocks.

  Granu leapt beside Eidyn. The giant hefted the pine over his right shoulder. His huge left hand came to his mouth and he bellowed into the wind.

  “Cefiz! Look for the rope!”

  Eidyn waved wildly, motioning toward the rope in the river. Cefiz swung from the last boulder and his head barely remained above water. The current shot the pair to the right of the boulder and the Guardsman flailed at the rope as it slapped off the surface of the river. As Cefiz passed beneath the rope his hand shot out and snatched it from the air.

  The pair came to a halt within the charging current. Eidyn lurched forward, nearly falling into the rapids himself, but Granu quickly wrapped an arm around the Elf prince. Water pulsed and surged around Cefiz and the girl as the princes tugged on the rope and slowly hauled them toward shore. Kael dropped to the rocks below and moved toward the water’s edge.

  The Windrider lay on top of Cefiz. Her arms wrapped tightly about his neck. The lieutenant’s back faced the water and his arm lay outstretched awkwardly above his head. Each tug on the rope dragged the Zodrian against submerged rock and debris.

  The pair were finally pulled within two yards of the broken shore. Eidyn struggled to maintain a grip on the rope and Granu lifted the pine and held it out to Cefiz.

  “Grab hold, Cefiz!” boomed the giant over the torrent.

  “The girl first!” gasped the Guardsman as his head once again disappeared beneath the river’s surge.

  Granu frowned and pushed the pine toward the wide-eyed Windrider. The young woman released one hand from about
the lieutenant’s neck and latched onto the pine. Cefiz’s head bobbed to the surface. Granu quickly ripped in on the tree and lifted the girl to the shore. Kael moved in, stumbling on the slime covered rocks, and wrapped his arms about the girl, steadying her.

  Immediately, the giant threw one end of the pine back toward the Zodrian. Cefiz’s eyes were heavy and the current buffeted his body. The Zodrian threw a limp arm around the pine and was dragged to the shore, where Eidyn and Granu hauled him to the rocks.

  CHAPTER 20: LIFE DEBT

  The Windrider stood clutching her hands to her chest and shivering in Kael's arms. Her dark hair lay matted across her face. The black wings of her suit were tattered and dripping against her sides. Slowly the beautiful young woman looked up into Kael’s eyes. Shock flashed across her face. Her body tensed, then convulsed in a spasm of chills. Her hands moved from beneath her chin toward her sides.

  Granu lunged upon the young woman, knocking Kael aside and enfolding her in his powerful grasp.

  “We must get them to the fire!” growled the giant. “Kael, help Prince Eidyn.”

  The giant threw an arm over the ledge above, then threw his body up onto the granite slab hauling the girl with him. Kael ran to the Elf’s side. Cefiz had lost consciousness. The Guardsman’s skin looked pale and his breathing labored.

  “We will find an easier time of it slightly downstream. The ledge is not so high there.” shouted Eidyn grabbing the Zodrian beneath the shoulders. “Grab his feet.”

  Kael complied with the Elf’s request and after a short struggle the pair were hefting the Guardsman through the thickets and into the camp. With each step Cefiz moaned and mumbled to himself. The Windrider sat wrapped in blankets next to the now roaring fire and Granu stood over her. Vieri’s eyes followed the lieutenant as the boys carried him to the fire. Teeg heated water in a small skillet.

  “Bring him next to the fire and strip away his wet clothes.” called Ader from the edge of the grove.

  The Seraph wandered the edge of the firelight searching the ground. Momentarily, he halted and bent over, plucking leaves from a small vine wrapped around the thistle.

  Eidyn and Kael stripped Cefiz of his clothes and wrapped him in several wool blankets. The old man returned to the fireside and quickly ground the leaves in the palms of his hands. He dropped the leaves in the bubbling water and the camp filled with a pungent odor. Teeg grabbed a mug and dipped it into the steaming water. The Elf pulled it free and held it toward the girl.

  The Windrider’s eyes narrowed and she glanced from the mug to the skillet then to the Elf. Teeg’s face remained impassive as he calmly held the cup out to the girl.

  “Oh drink it girl!” snarled Ader. “If I wanted you dead I certainly wouldn’t resort to poisoning you!”

  The Windrider glanced at the Seraph then gingerly lifted the cup from the Elf’s hands. She sniffed the contents and her face contorted in disgust.

  “Bactric vine.” said Ader. “It smells like the demon, but it will warm you from head to toe and kill some of your pain.”

  The assassin glanced at the old man, looked into the mug, then quaffed the entire concoction.

  “Thank you.” mumbled the Borz.

  “No, thank you, daughter of the sands.” replied Ader.

  The Windrider held the mug toward Teeg and looked questioningly at the Seraph. Teeg smiled and quickly refilled the mug.

  “You didn’t have to save Cefiz.” continued Ader. “But you endangered yourself to help the Guardsman escape.”

  “Cefiz.” whispered the girl as she looked to the still form of the lieutenant.

  “That is his name.” said Ader.

  The Borz snapped from thought and looked up at Ader.

  “I owed the Zodrian a life debt.” stated the Windrider as she tried to control her shivering. “He allowed me to flee the Ulrog on the cliff above.”

  “Well.” laughed Ader. “He didn’t owe you very long.”

  “I don’t like to be indebted to those bound to the Deceiver.” scowled the Borz.

  Ader raised an eyebrow and exchanged a look with Teeg.

  “Yes, well we’ll talk about that momentarily.” said Ader. “First I must tend to your charge.”

  Ader knelt beside Cefiz and inspected the lieutenant. The Seraph pressed his hands to the Zodrian’s sides and Cefiz groaned in pain.

  “Careful that you don’t cause more damage than that you wish to assess!” snapped the Windrider sitting forward.

  Ader looked up and smiled.

  “Trust me Windrider. I’m quite capable.”

  “Vieri.” mumbled the Borz softly.

  Teeg spun and looked at the young lady huddled in blankets below him.

  “Pardon, my dear.” said Teeg kindly.

  “Vieri!” said the girl firmly. “My name is Vieri!”

  Teeg smiled a toothy grin that quickly fell as his mind regarded the new information.

  “Vieri Shan?” questioned the old Elf. “Daughter of Rada Shan?”

  “Yes!” snapped the girl defiantly.

  The Elf looked up and Kael saw the familiar gaze that told him Teeg was working something out in his head. The boy didn’t care. He huddled in close to his friend. The amount of swelling and discoloration around Cefiz’s face shocked him. The cook lay wrapped tightly in blankets next to a roaring fire, but his body periodically convulsed with shivers. His eyes remained tightly closed.

  “I believe our wayward friend has done a good deal of damage to himself.” said Ader looking to the group. “He may have cracked several ribs and taken a few serious blows to the head.”

  Vieri stood and moved toward the Guardsman. Granu stayed close.

  “Will he die?” demanded the girl as she bent over the shivering Guardsman.

  Granu hovered over her looking down at Cefiz. The Guardsman’s eyes slowly drew open. They focused weakly on Vieri and for a moment and Cefiz calmed.

  “Do you still offer those eyes as comfort?” murmured the Guardsman.

  Vieri glanced to the men around her then leaned in close.

  “I do.”

  Cefiz smiled then broke into a spasm of coughing. Blood trickled past his lips and his eyes began to close. At the last moment they drifted to the left and the Guardsman became aware of the huge Keltaran hovering over the girl. His eyes shot open and panic spread across his face.

  “Granu....” hacked the Guardsman. “She ..... the Windrider...”

  Cefiz tried desperately to sit up. He winced in pain and coughed uncontrollably. Granu nudged the girl aside and grabbed Cefiz, easing him back down.

  “Rest Zodrian.” rumbled the giant. “You will add to your injury.”

  Cefiz’s hand shot from beneath the blankets and locked on his friend’s forearm.

  “She’s not in league with the Ulrog.” wheezed Cefiz.

  Granu laid the Guardsman back down.

  “Rest. All is fine.” said Granu.

  Cefiz lay back down and his eyes closed. Granu stood and eyed the girl behind him.

  “I hope for your sake what he says is true.” growled Granu.

  Vieri narrowed her eyes.

  “Truth! What do you know of truth Keltaran!?” said the girl standing tall beside the giant. “I’m not convinced of anything this night.”

  The Keltaran snarled and with one giant step he stood menacingly over the Windrider, his broad shoulders eclipsing all from her view.

  “In the Hold, you tried to put a crossbow bolt in the boy as he stood unarmed!” boomed the giant as one hand swept toward Kael. “And a few moments later, you fired at my back as I fled from you. Don’t think that your actions here tonight absolve you of past sins, Windrider! My disabled comrade may see you free from transgression, but not I. As far as I’m concerned, you are my prisoner.”

  The Windrider cautiously backed away as her cold hands slipped within her robes.

  “Don’t fool yourself, girl!” snapped Granu moving forward. “Healthy you are no match for me let alone bruise
d and frozen.”

  “That will be enough, Prince Granu.” said Ader stepping forward. “Vieri Shan is the furthest thing from a prisoner amongst us.”

  The giant and the girl both stared at the Seraph in surprise. Granu turned on Ader.

  “She must be questioned!” protested the Keltaran. “We must find out what her people intend!”

  “On the contrary, Granu.” smiled Ader. “It is not we who must question, but she.”

  Once again the giant and the girl could not hide their confusion.

  “We accomplish nothing by forcing information from the girl.” continued Ader. “First, she is a Borz Windrider. When captured the Windrider assassins choose death over betrayal. Second, she is not beyond misleading us in order to hide the truth. In the end whatever she did reveal to us could never be trusted. Therefore, it is imperative that we ask her to question all that she has seen and heard. All that she is about to see and hear. Only with her cooperation will we come to the truth.”

  “There is nothing you can tell me that will convince me to betray my people.” said the girl firmly.

  “I do not ask you to betray your people.” said Ader. “Just that you listen and think. Perhaps we should begin with introductions. We know you, but I doubt you know all of us.”

  The girl shook her head to indicate her ignorance.

  “The great mountain hovering over you is Granu, disowned prince of the Keltaran people and Abbot of the Monastery of Awoi.” said Ader.

  The girl narrowed suspicious eyes at the Keltaran and the giant scowled and turned from her, moving toward the edge of the firelight.

  “Well, that went splendidly. We can move on.” smiled Ader. “The younger Elf clutching the blade at his side is Prince Eidyn of the Grey Elves.”

  Eidyn’s hand quickly released his blade and moved to his side. He cautiously bowed, never taking his eyes from the young woman.

  “The older is Lord Teeg, trusted advisor to the court of Leinor and Ertwin of Luxlor.”