Spell Fade

by J. Daniel Layfield

  “I’m not sure this is the best course of action,” Alain said with some concern.

  “Relax,” Aliet said. “He’s doing fine.” Logan dove from under the next table just as it was clobbered by another club, and managed to get a stab in on the other ogre’s side.

  “If this is about the comment I made about your father,” Logan said as he dodged another swing, “remember that I did apologize!” He tripped over a piece of a chair and one of the ogres grabbed for his leg. He stabbed hard into the flesh of its hand and rolled under another table.

  “Let us at least see what we’re working with,” Dartan reasoned. “We know each other, but have no idea if we can trust him to have our backs.”

  “If he can slay a fifty foot, fire breathing dragon, then these two should be no problem at all,” Aliet argued.

  “I assure you,” Logan said, “the experience is quite different.” He again dove to the side as another table was splintered, but this time ogre two was waiting on the move. Logan was scooped up even as he managed to plunge his sword deep into the beast’s thigh.

  “I’m gonna squeeze you until your head pops right off,” Ogre Two spat into Logan’s face, and began to make good on the promise.

  “Well, I’m satisfied,” Dartan said with some alarm.

  “Me too,” Aliet nodded. She raised her voice to be heard, “That’s enough! Put him down now and be on your way!”

  Both ogres laughed. “Did you hear that?” Ogre One asked.

  “Sounds like someone else wants a hug,” Ogre Two said, and gave Logan another squeeze. He could no longer draw breath to scream, and the edges of his vision were going dark. Ogre One laughed again and turned towards Aliet.

  “Come and get it,” she taunted, pulling her sword from her side. Dartan put a hand on his hilt, but stopped when Aliet let loose a long, shrill whistle. Dartan dropped his hand, and backed away from her as fast as possible. He just hoped it was fast enough.

  The next few seconds almost seemed to happen as freeze frames in between blinks for Dartan. He saw Marcus at the top of the stairs. Blink. Aliet leapt straight for Ogre One, who looked more than a little surprised by the move. Blink. Marcus was down the stairs, although Dartan was unsure whether or not he had actually touched any of them on the way down, and halfway to Ogre Two. Blink. Aliet plunged her sword into Ogre One’s left eye and swung around his neck to the back of his head. Blink. Ogre Two now had a stump spewing black blood into the air where its arm had once been. Logan lay in a heap at the monster’s feet, and Marcus had the point of his sword at the back of its neck. Blink. Both ogres were fleeing for their lives from the tavern, leaving a trail of thick, black muck behind them.

  There was a cough from Logan, and he rolled over onto his back. His voice was strained, but still sounded strong. “Did I pass?”

  Chapter Ten

  The snow was nearly calf-deep, and the wind kept pushing him back, as if trying to keep him from his destination. It wasn’t until he reached the mouth of the valley that the wind abruptly died, and the snow thinned. He threw the hood back from his face and surveyed the valley.

  Jarel had not been to the Gateway in quite some time, and the piercing squeal that infiltrated one’s every thought always surprised him. Countering the protective barrier was simple enough, but he had to step back to be able to cast the spell.

  “There had better be a good reason for this,” he grumbled, drawing close to the columns marking the boundary of the portal.

  “There is.” The voice came from all around him, and nowhere at all. He forced a small smile as he dropped to his knees, and faced the blackened landscape on the other side of the portal.

  “Of course there is,” Jarel said. “Otherwise you would not have sent for me.”

  “Precisely.”

  “I am here. Why did you send for me?”

  “The wizard has acquired a slayer.”

  “There are no more slayers,” Jarel answered quickly.

  “Some would say the same of dragons, but we both know the folly there. No, they still exist. Most are weak though, with sleeping talents buried deep from disuse.”

  “So, what’s the problem?”

  “This one is not weak. We lost track of him once he came to full power, but we have learned he has now joined with the wizard.”

  “And you want me to take care of him.” It was almost a relief. A simple request with a simple answer. A rare occurrence when dealing with dragons.

  “We want to know why.” The simple request still eluded him after all.

  “Why what?”

  “Why did he seek the slayer? He has nothing to offer, unless the wizard has discovered our involvement.”

  Jarel lowered his head for a moment, then looked back into the barren wasteland. “One of my men got a little over zealous. He used one of the scales, which must have made Alain suspicious.” Only silence answered him. “My man has been dealt with. It won’t happen again.”

  “No matter. Our advantage of surprise is now gone.”

  “Shall I take care of the slayer then?” Again there was only silence, and Jarel simply stared forward, waiting for an answer.

  “No. One slayer does not concern us, now that we know the wizard is aware of our involvement.”

  Discounting even a single slayer was a mistake. Jarel knew one was more than enough to disrupt their plans. “Are you sure? I already have plans in place to slow their progress, and it would be simple enough to focus it on the slayer.”

  “Impede them if you must, but it should not be more than an inconvenience. Since the wizard suspects our involvement now, he may lead us to the very artifacts we have been seeking.”

  “And the heir?”

  “Once we find out where the wizard is sending him, he belongs to you. We trust you know what we require from him at month’s end.”

  Jarel nodded, then stood. “I will take my leave of you then. I assure you, my men will not lose track of the wizard’s group.”

  “See they don’t. Let us know as soon as you discover for what purpose he has gathered them.” Jarel gave a final nod, then turned, and began the walk back.

  Dragons! They were worse than wizards. Their arrogance was going to get them all killed, or worse. He had no idea why he trusted them, until a small scratching on his chest reminded him. His own dragon talisman. He pressed it into his skin, hating the hold, but unwilling to release the power.

  The bitter wind cut across his face, reminding him he had Roal’s actions to thank for sparking this meeting. Perhaps he had been too lenient on him after all. Then again, it may have been the very thing that forced Alain into finally retrieving the artifacts they had searched for so long. Reward or punishment, then? He smiled, either way he would soon be back in his castle, while Roal would be on the road for some time still to come. Punishment it was then.

  Chapter Eleven

  Alain was surprised to hear they were being followed, but he didn’t doubt Logan. “If you’re finished evaluating my slayer,” Alain said, “then I will find out what I can about your shadow.” Dartan and Aliet glanced at one another, then gave Alain a slight nod. “You need to continue on to the Carpa Mountains as soon as possible. Marcus, do you know of Varlain Pass?” Marcus nodded. “Head towards it and I will join you tomorrow.”

  “There are no paths leading directly to it,” Marcus said.

  “Just take the Old North Road for now,” Alain said, “and I’ll guide you once you must leave it.” Marcus grunted. With one last glance at Dartan, Alain disappeared.

  “If anyone needs me,” Marcus said, stepping over Logan, “I’ll be upstairs. Packing for one more.” Aliet and Dartan exchanged another look as Marcus headed up the stairs. Logan let out a groan as he brought himself up to a sitting position.

  “I’m going to go help Marcus,” Aliet decided while avoiding eye contact with Logan.

  “And I’m going to check on Josie,” Dartan said, quickly turning to head out the door.

  Logan looked bo
th ways, then pulled himself up onto the nearest undamaged chair. “And I’m going to have another drink,” he announced while rubbing his now swollen eye.

  * * *

  “We’re going to need some more supplies,” Marcus said as Aliet opened the door. “You’ll need to sell the horse,” he added, and she began to shake her head. “She won’t make it in the mountains. It’s better to leave her here.”

  Aliet slowly nodded her head as she wiped a tear from her eye. “She’s not my horse. It’s Dartan’s decision.”

  “Just tell him it’s your idea and I’m sure he’ll agree.”

  “I’ll see what I can do, but this isn’t what I came up here to talk to you about.”

  “So, talk,” Marcus said, returning to packing.

  “What do you think of Logan?”

  Marcus simply shrugged, without even a pause in his sorting. “The wizard trusts him.”

  “But what about you?” she pressed. “Do you trust him?”

  Marcus did stop then. He turned to Aliet. “I don’t know him,” he emphasized, then turned back to his piles of supplies. “But, he’s a slayer, and he deserves a chance if for no other reason.”

  “Sure,” Aliet moved next to him, sorting things into the four piles he had started. “He says he’s a slayer, but who’s even heard of one in centuries?”

  “The wizard sought him out,” Marcus began resorting items Aliet was idly placing. “Not the other way around.”

  “I suppose you’re right,” she grudgingly agreed. “But does being a slayer really make him worthy of our trust?”

  Marcus stopped and looked Aliet in the eye. “Do you know who made up the very first Royal Guard?” Aliet shook her head. “Slayers. And if the royal family trusted them, then that should be good enough for us.” He grabbed the few things she clutched in her hands, and added, “Now go take care of the horse. I want to leave in an hour. Not only do we need to stay ahead of whoever is following us, but those ogres will likely be looking for revenge.”

  “You mean One-Eye and Stumpy?” Aliet laughed. “I’m sure we can handle a rematch with those two.”

  “Those were northern ogres. They didn’t come this far south just to kill a man for sleeping with their half-sister. They may be fiercely loyal and protective within their familial clans, but they hate half-breeds.” He shook his head. “No, they targeted him for another reason, and they didn’t come alone.” Aliet’s eyes widened. “More than two in the tavern would have been noticed, but they travel in packs. The others must be camped just outside town, and if they don’t know what happened to their brothers yet, they soon will.”

  * * *

  “How much do you think we’ll have to give him to take her?” Dartan was considering Aliet’s idea of selling Josie to Harold. Josie nipped at his ear again to show what she thought of his attempt at humor.

  “He’s just kidding, girl,” Aliet soothed her with a pat on the neck. “Now let’s go see if we can find you a new owner.” Josie nuzzled against Aliet and let herself be led towards the stables, taking one last swipe at Dartan’s face with her tail.

  True to his word, Marcus had them ready to leave within the hour. Marcus offered to carry the pack for a still bruised and swollen Logan, which raised eyebrows on both Aliet and Dartan. “It’s not as bad as it looks,” Logan insisted. “Besides, I refuse to start a journey with strangers and not carry my fair share.” Marcus merely shrugged and handed over the pack of supplies.

  Marcus did not immediately head towards the Old North Road. Instead he first lead them west, on what was little more than a small game trail, to a nearby stream. They walked single file, and once they reached the water, Marcus marched them straight into it. He led them first upstream nearly half a kilometer, then back downstream a full kilometer before exiting where he found a hard-packed, rocky bank.

  They trudged completely off trail, pushing through thick underbrush, while trying to remain in single file. Marcus occasionally looked back, checking their progress, and Dartan swore he had never seen Marcus smile so much before.

  “He’s really in to this, isn’t he,” Dartan whispered to Aliet.

  “You have no idea,” she mumbled.

  “Well, I’m glad someone is enjoying themselves,” Logan said from the back.

  “Shh!” Marcus scolded from the front. They were silent until they finally reached the Old North Road, nearly three hours later.

  “That should throw them off for a while,” Marcus said with some satisfaction. The other three hoped this would result in a short rest, but without the distraction of navigating through the forest, Marcus pushed them to go faster.

  It was quickly obvious to Dartan the reason this was called the ‘Old’ road was not because of its age, but because it was no longer the popular choice for travelers bound north. The grass under their feet seemed to be conspiring with the encroaching tree line to eventually swallow what he would now describe more as a trail than a road. The few travelers they did encounter offered little more than a passing glance or nod. This appeared to be the path travelled by those who didn’t want to be seen.

  With little else to look at, and apparently no break coming, Dartan found himself watching the mountains creep closer with every step north they took. It did not have the intended effect of making the time pass any faster. As Dartan realized they would be travelling like this for several more days, he began to actually look forward to Alain’s return tomorrow. Surely he would be able to get either training or answers out of the wizard, and he would settle for either one at this point.

  The sun was low in the evening sky before Marcus grudgingly began looking for a place to stop for the night. After passing up several suitable spots, and nearly at the point of mutiny by his group, Marcus finally announced, “We’re stopping here.” He pointed towards the left side of the path, past a line of trees. “There’s a clearing over there, hidden from the road. Gather some firewood and I’ll see if I can find dinner.” Dartan’s stomach heartily agreed, but Marcus had already disappeared into the dense woods on their right.

  By the time Marcus returned, darkness and the chill of night had begun to overtake everything outside the circle of light their fire provided. The pheasant and rabbit he provided succeeded in quieting Dartan’s stomach, and before long they were all sitting warm and satisfied around the fire. It was Logan who broke the silence.

  “Do you think they’ll be able to follow us?” he asked. “The ogres, I mean,” he clarified while absently rubbing his aching abdomen.

  Marcus shrugged. “They aren’t fast, and their tracking skills are below average.” Logan started to look relieved, until Marcus added, “But they’re relentless. They won’t stop to rest or sleep until they either find us or die.”

  They each sat silently staring into the crackling fire, wondering now what fate they may yet meet. Would they be crushed under an ogre’s club, be captured by the Northern force, or simply succumb to the elements around them? They were all plausible possibilities, and none were appealing. Again, it was Logan who spoke.

  “How long do you think it will take us to get to the pass?” he asked Marcus.

  “I hope for all our sakes we’re not going all the way there,” Marcus replied.

  “Why?”

  Marcus eyed him for a moment. He’d actually been enjoying the quiet and he was trying to impress that upon Logan. “There’s a reason no paths lead to it.”

  “Really?” Logan pressed, oblivious to the warning look. “Why’s that?”

  Aliet leaned in, mesmerized. She had spent enough nights sitting in silence across from Marcus to know when he didn’t want to talk. She had also not missed Marcus’s ‘we’re done here’ look that Logan couldn’t seem to interpret. She had never seen it fail to deliver the message. Until now.

  Even Marcus seemed a little offput. He put down the rabbit leg he had been absently gnawing and leaned back against the log behind him, silently regarding the half-smiling Logan.

  “Come over here,�
�� Marcus said with a small wave. Logan didn’t hesitate, moving from the far side of the fire, and planting himself in between Marcus and Aliet. Unable to contain her curiosity, Aliet leaned in closer.

  “Now,” Marcus said, “lean back, like me.” Logan propped against the same log, folded his hands over his chest, and looked out into the night sky, exactly as Marcus. Unconsciously, Aliet mimicked the motion, still uncertain what exactly was happening. The moon had appeared in the sky, and the gloom of the still distant mountains was visible over the treetops. Marcus pointed towards them.

  “Do you see that valley between the two tallest peaks?”

  “Yes,” Logan said, easily spotting the deep cut in the mountain range.

  “That valley is Varlain Pass. Named for the first person to attempt crossing it, the pass is geographically the easiest spot on the mountains to use as a reference point. On either side of it are the two passes used by anyone wishing to cross the mountains alive.”

  “What makes it so dangerous?”

  “Besides the altitude?” Marcus shrugged. “No one knows.”

  “What about Varlain?” Logan suggested. “Surely he provided some detail.”

  Marcus shook his head as he leaned up and stood. “The pass was named in his memory. He died trying to cross it.” He tossed the rabbit bones into the fire, then announced, “I’m off to bed. Don’t be too far behind or you’ll feel it tomorrow.” He moved to the far side of the fire, laid down, and began snoring almost immediately.

  Aliet leaned close to Logan and whispered, “I think he likes you.”

  “Well, I’m a likeable guy.”

  “I’m going to gather some more firewood,” Dartan announced, feeling somewhat nauseated.

  Aliet noted the large pile of wood they still had, but said only, “Don’t go too far.” He simply nodded at her and headed into the darkness.

  Logan cleared his throat and leaned a little closer to Aliet. “I’m afraid we may have gotten off to a bad start.”

  “Really?” she replied with raised eyebrows.