The Shadowed Land

by Ryan W. Mueller

  She didn't respond. Panic clutched at Rik's chest, and he shook Nadia a few times. Still, she didn't stir. Dammit, Nadia! You're still alive. There's still hope.

  He forced more water down her throat. What else could he do?

  Struggling against tears, he lay on the ground beside her. His shield allowed both of them to breathe fresher air. Maybe she'd wake up once she cleared the worst air from her lungs.

  Rik waited. Minutes passed, but they felt like hours. The mountain rumbled ominously, and geysers sprayed far across the chamber. He prayed that none of those geysers would threaten them, though that seemed the kind of sick thing the world would do to him.

  He'd always known going on adventures would be dangerous, but sometimes he felt the world had decided to torment him. What had he done to earn such treatment?

  Nadia's eyes came open, and she gasped sharply., Groaning, she looked up at Rik. Her voice came out as a feeble croak. "Water, Rik. Water."

  Rik put the canteen to her lips, and she swallowed the water too fast. She doubled over in a coughing fit, then took another drink, a little more carefully. At last, she set the canteen down. She looked pale and weak, but she struggled to her feet.

  "What are we doing waiting around here?" she said, starting to walk.

  "You were close to death. Don't you think you should rest awhile?" He rose and followed her. "Not to mention, shouldn't you be happy to see me?"

  "Of course I'm happy to see you, but we have a mission. Any second we spend resting is a second when Markus might die. I feel fine now, so let's go."

  The way she wavered on her feet told Rik she was lying, but he'd never win an argument against her. Holding a shield around the two of them, he followed her across the rocky bridge. Soon they reached the other side, where a small landing led to a narrow passage.

  "You ever feel like you have no idea where you're going?" he asked.

  Nadia held out her compass. "We're still heading north."

  Rik wanted to rest, but Nadia entered the passage without hesitation. He followed, dropping the shield and lighting his staff. Here in the passage, the air wasn't quite so foul. In fact, it felt almost fresh. Fresher than anything he'd breathed in a long time.

  "I think we're almost to the exit," he said, hope surging through his chest.

  Soon they no longer needed his staff's light. They followed the passage uphill, toward natural light, and emerged on the northern slope of the mountain. The sun was low on the horizon, bathing the slopes in orange. In the distance was a small city.

  Nadia pointed toward it. "That's Andersonville. We'll rest awhile there."

  "How long were we in the mountains?"

  "I have no idea. In those caves, I lost all track of time."

  "I know what you mean."

  They started down the slope, and Nadia glanced about warily, stopping every few steps as if she were afraid someone might hear them.

  Rik placed a hand on her shoulder. "You okay?"

  "We're still on the mountain. What if the dragon shows up?"

  "Yeah, I didn't think about that." Now he started looking for the dragon. Every time he dislodged a rock, he cringed. Once, he thought he heard a distant flapping of wings, but then it faded away. Maybe it had been his imagination. Yes, it had to be. The dragon was nowhere near them. If only he could make himself believe that.

  They made their way down the slope, following switchback trails. Again and again, Rik thought he heard the dragon flying around. When they were about halfway down the mountain, the flapping of wings was louder than ever. He looked back.

  And saw the dragon.

  Night had fallen, so he could barely see it, but there was no doubt. It flew toward them with tremendous speed, flapping its wings and roaring. Fire sprayed from its mouth, casting a beautiful orange glow against the night sky. It flew lower and lower, closing in on them.

  "Dammit," Rik said. "What do we do now?"

  Nadia looked pale in the moonlight. "I have no idea."

  The dragon swooped lower. Nadia aimed her bow and narrowed her eyes in concentration. How could she hope to hit a target moving so swiftly? She was a good archer, but she wasn't that good. They had to find somewhere to hide.

  Rik glanced around, but there were no caves in sight. So he did the only thing he could; he pointed his staff at the dragon. It felt foolish, though. The dragon was too far away for any of his spells to reach it, and even if it did attack them, it could move out of range in an instant.

  Nadia continued to aim her shot, though, as if none of these thoughts were running through her head. Rik could only stand there on trembling legs.

  The dragon came closer and closer. Rik ducked behind a rock as if that could protect him from its fire. He cast a shield, but he had the feeling it wouldn't be strong enough. Though he still didn't understand the magic, he knew instinctively that Nadia's arrows would pass through the shield.

  The dragon swooped lower, and Nadia let an arrow fly. It missed by a wide margin. She aimed another shot. How could she do this so calmly?

  The dragon flew erratically, dodging shot after shot. It unleashed fire upon them. The heat became intense, but Rik's shield blocked the worst of it. Still, he was sweating, and blisters formed on his skin.

  "Nadia, I don't mean to rush you or anything, but I can't hold the shield much longer."

  She didn't even turn to face him, for she was focused on her shot. Another arrow left her bow. This time, it struck the dragon but bounced off its scales.

  "You sure we shouldn't hide?" Rik asked.

  "Hide where? There's nothing but rocks all around us."

  "Well, I can hope, can't I?"

  Nadia concentrated on her next sheet. Again, she struck the dragon's scales. The look in her eyes had grown wild and panicked. Rik wanted to curl up in a ball and wait for the inevitable. It was a strange feeling. He knew he was going to die now, but that didn't bother him. Even knowing the outcome, he would make the same decision again.

  He never could have left Markus to die. "Are you aiming for its heart?"

  "Yes. I've even hit the spot I wanted, but its scales are too thick."

  "Then what can we do?"

  Nadia ducked behind the rock and leaned against Rik. "I have no idea."

  "How reassuring."

  "How can you joke in a situation like this?" she asked.

  "I don't know. It's just the way I am."

  The dragon swooped down toward them again, launching another wave of fire. Rik put all his will into the shield, and the flames dissipated before striking them. Undeterred, the dragon sent another wave of fire, but this one looked weaker, dying after a few seconds.

  "I think we just might have a chance," Rik said. "The dragon's out of fire."

  "But it can still kill us a thousand other ways."

  "I know, but this is our best chance. Let's see if we can escape." Rik glanced down the mountain, noting that they had perhaps a few hundred feet to go before they reached the flat plain beyond. There had to be a barrier somewhere around there.

  Rik and Nadia started down the mountain, taking cover behind rocks whenever the dragon flew too close. It would fly near them and then soar far away. Whenever it gave them some distance, they raced down the slope.

  The plain beyond the mountain grew closer and closer. Rik's body ached from all the recent exertion, but he ignored the pain. Just a little farther . . .

  The dragon let out a mighty roar. Rik glanced back to see it swooping down toward them with determination. It opened its mouth wide, but no fire came out. It was thirty feet away. Twenty. Ten. Rik pointed his staff at the dragon's mouth and let loose a surge of lightning. It struck the dragon in the roof of the mouth, and the dragon recoiled, shrieking with rage.

  Rik and Nadia took off at a sprint. The dragon stayed back for a few seconds, but then the flapping of its wings became almost deafening. The wind from its movement nearly knocked Rik and Nadia off their feet. Its spiked tail slammed against Nadia.

  S
he went flying, passing over the safe part of the mountain path, soaring perhaps ten feet above the ground. She hit the slope hard, then tumbled forward, screaming out in pain.

  When she came to rest, she was at the bottom of the slope. Rik hastened to catch up, but before he could, the dragon took one last chance to attack him. He sent another surge of lightning into its mouth, but the dragon only came with more determination. It stood still in front of him, its mouth yawning wide. Rik had no idea how he could come out alive this time.

  The dragon reared back as if something painful had struck it.

  "Rik, run!" Nadia shouted from down the slope.

  Rik took off, hopping from rock to rock. The dragon let out a horrible roar, and he cringed, expecting it to kill him, but then he reached the grassy plain beyond the mountain.

  "There's a barrier," Nadia said breathlessly. "We're safe."

  Nadia was sitting on the ground, her expression contorted in pain.

  "What's wrong?" Rik asked.

  Nadia was breathing hard. "My right leg is broken, and I think I cracked a few ribs."

  "Can you walk?"

  She stood and put weight on the leg. Immediately, she screamed and hit the ground.

  Rik settled down beside her. "Don't worry. You'll be fine. We're almost to Andersonville."

  She avoided his gaze.

  "How'd you manage to hit the dragon's mouth with an arrow?" he asked.

  "I don't know," she said through tears. "I just aimed and hoped. I let my instincts guide me."

  "Then I'm glad you have such good instincts."

  Tears streamed down her face. Rik understood those tears. Yes, they were tears of pain, but they were also more than that. She had to know that she couldn't make the rest of this journey with a broken leg. Saving Markus would be out of her hands.

  Instead, it would fall to Rik.

  Part III

  Of Shadows and Clans

  Chapter 23: Prisoners

  Berig marched alongside the other prisoners Clan Seagull had taken. Danica walked at his side with none of her usual cheer. She looked at the ground, shaking her head, tears in her eyes. Berig wanted to reach out and comfort her, but he doubted their captors would allow that.

  He kept glancing around, hoping he'd see Clan Mountain Eagle coming to their rescue. Had Aric and Klint survived? If so, were they looking for Berig and Danica?

  The captives remained silent. Even most of the children didn't cry out. Any who did earned blows with the flat of a clansman's blade.

  The march felt as if it went on forever. Most of the clansmen road horses, though some remained on foot, keeping watch over the prisoners. At one point, a woman tried to break free with her children. She earned herself a blade through the chest. The children were warned that they'd get the same if they tried to escape again.

  Berig glanced back at the mountains, wondering if he'd made the right decision. Life hadn't been great in the Empire, but he'd never faced a situation this bleak.

  Danica looked paler than he'd ever seen her, and he could imagine why. Surely these clansmen intended to take advantage of her.

  Was this the state of the rest of the world? Was Warrick such an evil man if he protected them from people like these clansmen? Then again, Imperial Guards were known to take liberties with the law. Evil was evil whether you lived in a society of laws or a land without them.

  That night, they were finally allowed to rest. Some of the clansmen offered them meager amounts of food and water. Berig still felt hungry and thirsty afterward.

  Throughout the day, there'd been no signs of a coming rescue. Was Berig going to spend the rest of his life as a prisoner of this clan? Or would they kill him once they realized he was of no real use? Maybe that would be a kinder fate.

  He leaned close to Danica. "How're you holding up?"

  "I've been better." She glanced around the campsite. "But we'll make it through this. We always do. Aric and Klint will find us. You'll see."

  Despite her bold words, Berig could hear the defeat in her voice. This wasn’t the same Danica he'd first met. Had their adventure finally broken her spirit? He hoped it hadn't because that optimistic spirit was the best part of Danica. Without it, she wouldn't be the same person.

  "Yes, they’ll find us," Berig said. He wished he could believe it.

  * * * * *

  Klint and Aric sat inside a tent, accompanied by Darek and other warriors of Clan Mountain Eagle. They'd been discussing their plans for a while now, and Klint was tired of it. Why did they have to take so damned long? Berig and Danica were in danger.

  Klint was surprised that he'd become so attached to them. After his sister's death, he'd shunned most human contact, preferring to operate alone. He'd made himself a lot of money, but he hadn't made a life for himself. Only now did he realize that he needed other people.

  "Clan Seagull likes to make their prisoners participate in cruel games," Darek said. "These games usually take place at night."

  "What kind of games are we talking about?" Klint asked.

  "Fights to the death against each other. Fights against monsters."

  "And what happens if you win these fights?" Klint asked.

  "Then you're free to go," Darek said. "But few people ever win against the monsters, and they only allow one victor overall."

  One victor. Berig and Danica would never emerge as that one victor. Klint shared a glance with Aric and knew he was thinking the same. Aric ran a hand through his reddish beard, looking as weary as Klint had ever seen him.

  "And when will they hold these fights?" Klint asked.

  "They'll be tonight. They don't like waiting."

  "Tonight!" Klint said. "Then we've gotta get moving now."

  "Now that I've assembled the warriors, we'll set out," Darek said. He rose, pulled aside the tent flap, and stepped outside. Klint followed, glancing up at the sky. It was still morning, but would they make it to the Clan Seagull settlement in time?

  * * * * *

  It was late afternoon when Berig and the other captives reached the large settlement. Dozens of tents stretched as far as Berig could see, but the warriors didn't lead their captives toward these tents. Instead, they forced Berig and the others into a large pit located toward the center of the settlement. Guards patrolled around the pit.

  "What're you gonna do with us?" Berig asked.

  "You're gonna provide us entertainment," said one of the guards. "Now shut up."

  Berig settled down on the muddy ground next to Danica. "I don't like the sound of that."

  "You can't give up," Danica said. This time, her optimism sounded only a little forced. Still, he wondered if he'd ever see the same Danica he'd first met. Back then, she'd just emerged from the flames in Crayden. She'd had every reason to lose her spirit, but she hadn't.

  Had she reached her breaking point? Berig knew he'd reached his years and years ago. He'd dwelled on the negative side of everything for as long as he could remember. He didn't want to see Danica going down the same path.

  They waited in the pit for hours. Eventually, the sun set, and then the guards came for them. The guards led all the prisoners out of the pit and across the settlement. They passed tent after tent, eventually reaching a place more directly in the center of the settlement. Here, hundreds of people had assembled around another pit.

  Inside this pit was a creature that looked like a bull. But it stood on two feet, and its horns and claws were shaped like long swords. Berig shuddered.

  "Are they going to make us fight that?" Danica asked, pale in the moonlight.

  The clan chief strode to the edge of the pit and faced the spectators. "And now we shall begin tonight's entertainment. Who wants to see some Mountain Eagle blood?"

  Cheers rose all around, and Berig felt sick to his stomach. How could people cheer at the prospect of other people suffering horrible deaths?

  "Bring forward the first combatant," said the clan chief. A couple of the guards stepped forward, leading a boy of perhap
s thirteen between them. All the older warriors had either escaped from the battle or been killed.

  The guards pushed the boy into the pit, a drop of about eight feet, then tossed a sword down to him. The boy struggled to his feet, grasping for the sword. As soon as the bull saw him, it charged toward him, moving with surprising speed on its two legs.

  The boy raised his sword in defense, but there was no point. With one swipe of a sword-like claw, the bull sliced his body in half. The crowd cheered as the boy collapsed in a bloody heap. Then it all began again with another boy who was maybe a year older.

  This boy died as well, though he lasted a little longer. Berig's captors sent prisoner after prisoner down to fight the bull. At times, it stood on four legs like a normal bull, but when it attacked, it stood on two, using its claws with bloody efficiency.

  After about twenty deaths, the clan chief ordered a stop to this spectacle. "This is boring," he said. "We need better entertainment. Kill the beast."

  Clansmen let arrows fly. After about thirty arrows, the bull stopped moving. Guards stepped down into the pit to clear all the bodies. Once they were finished, the clan chief turned to his people and said, "Now we shall see these cowards fight to the death."

  Berig felt sicker than ever. What if the clan chief selected him? Though he had once considered having Amar killed, he never could have gone through with that plan. Killing someone wasn't part of his nature.

  "Who shall we see in our first fight?" asked the clan chief. "How about the outsiders?"

  No. This couldn't be happening.

  "Grab them," said the clan chief. Guards hauled Berig and Danica to their feet. Berig dug his feet into the ground, earning himself a blow to the head. He felt as if his head had been split in half, and he vomited at the edge of the pit.

  The guards tossed Berig and Danica into the pit. Dizzy, Berig got to his feet. Swords lay on the ground nearby, but Berig had no intention of grabbing one.

  He gazed into Danica's eyes. "I can't do it. I can't fight you."