“I’ll be fine, as long as we huddle closer together for warmth.” Torhan smiled at her.
“I should keep my furs to myself.” She smiled back.
“And let me freeze?”
“I’m not the one who left his stuff behind.”
“I’ll buy you dinner the next time we eat.”
“I’m holding you to that.”
Torhan removed the ring and placed it near the fire, and then sat down again. “That fortune teller was right about some of the cards.”
“Really? Which ones?”
“I think the one with the gravestone and burnt tree meant Fefantor, and the one of the mouth and pair of eyes was about the spirits in the crypt.”
“You might be right, but don’t forget most fortune tellers just make up stuff in order to get your money.” Katara opened her backpack and took out some food.
Torhan opened his pack. “Look at what I found.” He proudly stated and handed a gem to her.
Katara’s eyes lit up. “It’s beautiful.” She simply said and held it to the light of the fire. By the way the light reflected in the stone, she could tell it was worth a small fortune. “Can I have it?”
“Sure, I have another. Here take this ring.”
“You don’t want it either?”
Torhan shook his head.
The black onyx stone was flawless, and the silver band had strange markings etched around the circumference. “I wonder if it’s magical.” She put it on and waited. When nothing happened, she frowned and took it off. “Well at least it will fetch a nice price.” She said and slipped it into her pouch.
Torhan took out Tole’s amulet and the stone. Immediately, the rock glowed in response to being near the amulet, and like an attraction born of desire, he could feel them pulling closer to each other. He positioned the stone inside one of the five slots, and it locked into place by itself. Surprising them both,
“Are you going to put it on?” She asked.
He nodded and did so.
At first nothing happened then he found himself drifting upwards, high above their camp. He looked down and saw himself and Katara sitting together on the log and quickly realized that he wasn’t physically floating in the air, but his mind was projecting that he was. He turned his gaze upward again and hovered there, looking far out into the distance and then suddenly; he thought about Jacko and took flight. He flew through the air at unheard of speeds until he arrived inside of a forest, which looked strangely familiar to him. He came upon two people tied to a tree facing each other. The person on his left had his head down and appeared to be unconscious. He looked to be the same build as Jacko. Torhan moved closer, and his worst fears were confirmed; it was him. The other person on his right was a tall, thin man, with a long beard, wearing dark-green robes soaked in blood. Torhan figured by the way he was dressed it was either a classmate or possibly a teacher.
He waited for something to happen and a short time later it did, when three figures, escorted by a dozen boarmen, entered the area. One was from the fox race; another was from the goat race, and the last was a human. All were armed and dressed in different manners of occupations.
They walked over to their prisoners, checked their restraints, and then spoke to one another. Torhan realized that he must be invisible to them and moved closer to eavesdrop. To his surprise, he was unable to hear them as well. They spoke for some time until finally the goatman walked over and slapped Jacko in the face until he stirred, and then the human took his place.
He began asking him questions, and Torhan could tell his friend was replying adamantly. The human pointed to Jacko’s classmate, and his companions laughed. More words were exchanged between the captors, and the fox creature took out a handgun-crossbow and showed it to the others. The human grabbed the gun and presented it to Jacko. After a brief exchange of words, the human backhanded him in the face and then mouthed something to the fox, who left with the boarmen. Jacko taunted his captors further, and this time; the goatman exchanged words with him and raised his pike in a throwing way. Torhan couldn’t understand what his friend was trying to accomplish until his classmate, now free of his bonds, killed the goatman and then fell on the human, striking him with several powerful blows. After he was dead, Jacko was freed of his restraints and sent on his way. The scene ended, and Torhan was whisked away back to the campfire.
“Are you okay?” Katara asked staring at Jacko’s blank facial expression.
“How long was I away?” He replied blinking a few times.
“Away? You were here the entire time. What happened?”
Torhan was about to answer, when a trickle of blood suddenly ran down from his nose, and he swayed back and forth. Katara steadied him and wiped the blood away with a piece of cloth.
“Are you alright?” She asked.
“I don’t feel good. I’m really tired.”
Katara cleared a small area and then escorted her friend over and wrapped him snugly in her furs.
“Better?” She asked.
“Thanks.”
“Can you tell me what you experienced?”
He nodded and told her what he saw in the vision.
“Do you think your friend is alright?” She asked when he was through.
“I think so. I’m pretty sure the events happened a few weeks ago before I left Redden.”
“How do you know that?”
“He was going for a promotion, and the other person looked like a teacher. I’m really tired.”
“I’ll be over there.” She said and returned to the log.
Katara gazed into the crackling fire and thought about her life and the man who slept a few feet away. He was a good person with the ability to make her feel safe. She wondered if she could ever love once again after the way her last lover had treated her. The physical and mental abuse he caused was so bad that she vowed if anyone did that again to her, they would find themselves a cripple or worse.
Her thoughts changed to her family and how she missed them, especially her father who died many years ago. He was not only her father, but her mentor and biggest supporter. Her yearning to see him again, or just to relive a day in the past, gave her the idea to try Tole’s amulet. Maybe it could do that for her, after all, Torhan believed he was reliving the past when he’d used it.
She took out the amulet, studied the relic and then began tracing her fingers over the item. She wanted to have an experience like Torhan did and placed it around her neck and thought hard about her father. At first, nothing happened, and then suddenly; she was lifted high above the camp. The sensation of floating in the air felt so real to her; she actually believed she was flying. She looked around and saw the lights from the town of Snowdrift several miles away. She thought about her father again, and suddenly she was sailing through the air until she arrived at her childhood home.
The place, as always, was warm and inviting in the spring, with the flowers in full bloom and the vines creeping their way up and down the sides of the cottage. She was a bit puzzled as to why she did not hear birds chirping, the sounds that bugs make while mating or the fact that she couldn’t smell anything either.
While pondering this abnormality, the front door opened and her father dressed in field clothes and carrying a small scythe in one hand and a bucket in the other, came walking out. He stopped and turned around, as if someone called to him from within the cottage, and then mouthed something back and smiled just as a little girl, with long curly, blonde, hair and worker clothes, ran and jumped into his arms.
Katara realized right away it was her as a child, and it brought tears to her eyes. The hug between father and daughter lasted for a long time and after a short exchange of words, they walked off toward the fields with grown-up Katara following. Younger Katara and her father stopped when they reached the wheat fields and after a brief exchange of words, she moved out of the way so that her father could work. His technique was effortless as he used the scythe to cut through the wheat stalks.
&nbs
p; After mowing down a few yards, he stopped to speak with his daughter. They smiled and laughed, and then younger Katara ran over and hugged him again. Older Katara’s heart filled with love and happiness, and she smiled and said silent words telling her father that she loved him very dearly. The simple, yet, enjoyable scene played on until the day turned into dusk, and her father gathered the crops and walked back to the cottage.
In the next instant, the vision was over, and she awoke with a start. She found herself still sitting upright on the log and felt a trickle of blood running down from her nose and into her mouth. A small headache, fatigue, and a feeling of being bone weary followed a few seconds later. After wiping away the blood and removing the amulet, she got up, lay down next to Torhan and wrapped herself in the same furs he was using. He stirred briefly, but did not wake, and after she was situated, she fell asleep within minutes.
They woke up shortly after daybreak to the sound of the birds chirping in nearby trees. Both were feeling fine after their ordeals and hungry. While they were eating, Katara shared her experiences with him and Torhan, although happy for her, didn’t like the idea that she used it without him watching over her. She acknowledged his discomfort and agreed not to do that again without him.
“I am starting to understand why this amulet was so important to Tole.” Torhan stated.
“How so?”
“If this stone allows you to see the past, I think the others might enable you to foresee the future.”
“You might be right and if you are, then this is one powerful relic and should be locked away or destroyed.”
“I think Priest Piersum and Molech are the others responsible for Shoel’s death.”
“I think so too, but we need to be sure. I don’t want to accuse the priest if we don’t know for sure.”
“We’ll question him after we wake Sybil.”
“We need to be careful. We’re dealing with another priest, and we don’t want the townspeople turning on us.” Torhan paused. “So I think if he is involved, then we sneak him out, bring him to Shoel and let him deal with him.”
“How do you want to do that? If anyone sees us then they’ll grow suspicious.”
“We’ll visit him tonight.”
“Sounds like a plan; let’s hope it works, because I’d really hate to be wanted in two towns.”
They finished eating, collected their belongings, and walked back to Snowdrift at a slower than normal pace. Along the way, they rehearsed their plan and arrived at the town just as the sun was setting. When nightfall was upon them, they had drawn their hoods tightly around their heads and used the pathway behind the houses until they arrived at Priest Piersum’s house. After checking the front to make sure no one saw them, they knocked on the door.
A few minutes later, the door swung open and Priest Piersum was standing there with a surprised look on his face. “My friends, you’ve returned.” He said smiling.
Torhan could tell his smile was a fake one.
“Please come in you must be cold.” Piersum said and led them to the dining room table. “Would you like some tea?”
“That would be great.” Katara answered for the both of them.
“You have to tell me everything.” Piersum said as he was pouring the tea.
“We found Tole and you were right he was a bit crazed. We convinced him to help our cause, and after he led us to a crypt, we retrieved the amulet.”
Priest Piersum’s facial expression changed. “Just like that? It was that easy?”
“You sound surprised.” Katara said.
“I just thought it would’ve been dangerous.”
“We’re not saying it wasn’t, but we’ll keep the details to ourselves.”
“Where’s the amulet of REM?”
Katara took it out and showed it to him.
The priest’s eyes lit up. “Can I hold it?”
She handed it to him.
“I’d never thought that I would see this day. Hopefully, it will work.” Piersum stated.
“Now what?” Torhan asked.
“Someone needs to wear it and enter her mind.”
“How does it work?”
“I’m not sure.” Priest Piersum flatly said.
“Do you want to use it?” Katara asked Piersum.
“Sadly, I can't. My beliefs do not permit me to wear such a device.” He handed the amulet back to her.
“Are you ready?” Katara said to Torhan.
He stood up and said. “Let’s go save a child.”
They followed the priest to Sybil’s room. Piersum sat down in a chair directly across from the bed, while Katara and Torhan knelt beside the bed.
They exchanged looks. “I’ll do it.” Katara said.
“Are you sure about this?”
She nodded and placed the amulet around her neck.
“If something goes wrong, I’ll remove the amulet. Okay?”
“Make sure you do.” She said and turned her attention toward Sybil and began concentrating on helping her.
At first, nothing happened, and then all at once; the amulet glowed; the room began to spin and darken, and the feeling of everything closing in on her began.
In a blink of an eye, Katara found herself standing alone in an open field. Everything from the sky to the flowers and trees were bathed in dull grayness. Just ahead there was a small Keep surrounded by many trees. She walked toward the building, and by the time she was halfway there, lightning ripped across the sky, and thunder boomed loudly. Instinctively, she looked around and when she turned back toward the Keep, a demon-like creature of medium size was standing a few yards away from her. Its sudden appearance startled her.
“What are you doing in my domain?” The monster hissed and waved its elongated arms at her.
“I’m here for Sybil.” She answered.
The creature cocked its head from side to side. “She is in my care now, so leave.” He said grinning.
Katara went to grab her mace and realized that she was weaponless.
“I SAID LEAVE.” The creature barked.
The being terrified her. She was about to back up, when a voice whispered in her mind and told her to stay put. Finding the courage she did and said. “I’m not leaving while you are still here.”
The creature raised his arms, waved them in a pattern, and from out of thin air, daggers, too many to count, appeared and were pointed directly at her. He hissed and sent them. The same voice, whispered the word “shield”. Katara thought of one and an invisible force field rose up and deflected the daggers away.
Frustrated, the creature conjured up a small swirling whirlwind and sent that at her. The voice whispered the word “redirect” and when she thought of pushing it away, the wind tunnel was cast aside.
“You will fail.” The demon said and disappeared.
With the amulet protecting her, Katara felt as though she could save the child and continued. The closer she got to the building; the more lightning lit up the landscape and thunder rumbled overhead. As she neared the open gates, a child’s scream erupted from somewhere ahead. She was pretty sure it was a trap, but didn’t care and ran toward the castle with grit and determination. After passing through the gates, she entered the courtyard and stopped to look around.
The interior of the courtyard was void of windows and doors and the only thing accessible was a flight of stairs hugging the left side of the building, leading up and disappearing around the back. Screams, even more shrilling then the last, sounded from the top of the stairs. Enraged, Katara ran toward the noise, and just as she was about to step on the first step, vines shot up from the dry earth and quickly wrapped snugly around her legs and immobilized her. She reached down trying to remove the vines, but they were wound so tightly around her limbs; she was unable to get her fingers in between them.
Preoccupied, she did not notice the demon-like creature slinking down the stairs and holding a child’s hand until they were standing a few steps away. It was fascinated with her strug
gling against her bonds. Katara looked up at them and knew right away that the child was Sybil.
“What are you doing here miss?” Sybil asked.
“Sybil, I’m here to save you from him.”
“Save me? I don’t know what you mean. He’s my friend.”
“Let her go whatever you are.” Katara said directly to the creature.
The creature’s eyes never left Katara’s. “Let her go? I’m here to protect her against beings like you.” The demon looked down at the girl. “Sybil do you remember what I said. Evil monsters can appear in many different shapes and sizes, including nice old ladies or small boys. Do you remember?”
The child nodded.
“Sybil he is the one who is here to harm you. He keeps you locked away in that prison.” Katara said, still struggling with the vines.
The demon smirked, thus irritating Katara further. “Prison? Sybil tell her why you like being here.” The creature said.
“My guardian lets me play all day, and I get to eat anything I want. I don’t have to do yucky chores.”
“Sybil he is not your guardian. He has you trapped here. Don’t you remember playing with other children and your mom and dad?”
“Children are mean to me, and my mommy and daddy make me do things that I don’t like to do. He lets me play.”
“That’s right Sybil. I’m your best friend, and I would never hurt you.” The creature delightfully said. “After she leaves, we’ll go inside and play, and you can eat all the candy you want. Now tell her to leave.” The demon said with glowing eyes.
Sybil looked at Katara. “I want to play miss, so please leave.”
The demon grinned from ear to ear.
Katara tried again to move, but was unable to do so.
“We’ll be going now. I hope you enjoy your… accommodations.” The creature said, relishing in contentment. He waved his left hand and created a swirling tunnel of wind that began swirling around Katara, in case she got free, and left with Sybil.
A Demon's Quest the Beginning of the End the Trilogy Box Set Page 75
