The Shadowed Land

by Ryan W. Mueller

  Berig's hands could no longer hold onto the sword. He fell and hit the ground with a jarring thud. Dazed and trembling, he got to his feet.

  Aric kneeled beside him. "You all right?"

  "Fine. Just a little exhausted."

  Klint looked at Berig with a rare smile. "Good job."

  Throughout the battle, the crowd's cheers had faded into the background. Now the crowd's silence felt almost deafening. Berig had no idea if the clan chief would hold to his word. The customs of this world still seemed bizarre.

  "Congratulations," said the clan chief. "That was well-fought."

  Klint gazed up at him. "Are you gonna stand by your word and release us?"

  "Of course. Among our people, promises are not freely given."

  "You're still a bastard," Klint said. "This kind of thing is beyond cruel."

  "Only to those who don't understand our ways."

  "Then I don't ever care to understand them," Klint said.

  Some of the clansmen lowered a rope ladder into the pit. Berig, Danica, Aric, and Klint climbed this rope ladder. Berig's entire body was shaking. No matter what the clan chief had said, Berig didn't trust these people. He glanced about warily as he reached the ground above.

  "You're free to go," said the clan chief. "But I never want to see you again."

  Klint chuckled. "Believe me, the feeling's mutual."

  Chapter 25: Danger in the Mountains

  Kara and her party continued through the mountains, keeping an eye on the Sunset Army. Whenever the mist cleared, they saw thousands of soldiers marching on Sierra City. Though Aren had revealed his true motives behind this journey, Kara had the feeling he still wanted to get to Sierra City in time to warn them.

  Her pain had faded due to Alia’s magnificent healing abilities. By now, Kara felt almost as if she'd never been injured in the first place.

  The mist had thickened again. Animals growled and shrieked in the distance. No matter how much Aren reassured Kara, she shuddered every time she heard one of these sounds. She peered through the mist but could see only the strange shadows the mist cast upon the mountains.

  After hours of walking, they settled down to rest and eat. Their food supplies were dwindling, and hunger had become Kara's constant companion.

  "We could sure use some of those monsters right now," Devin said. The former Millersville guard hadn't spoken much as they'd traveled, and Kara wondered if he felt as out of place among the trackers as she did.

  "I don't know about that," Alia said. "I'd rather not have to heal anyone else." She glanced at Kara with a smile.

  Kara felt her face flush. "I'll try not to get hurt so much. All right?"

  "I'm only giving you trouble," Alia said.

  Kara returned Alia's smile, finding that she liked these people. They were much kinder than she'd expected, and they retained a sense of humor despite the hardships they'd endured. She could learn a lot from them.

  A piercing shriek sounded perhaps thirty feet up the slope. Kara's stomach lurched, and she shot to her feet, drawing her sword. The rest of the party held their weapons ready. The shriek sounded again, closer.

  Kara's legs trembled. Heavy steps approached, accompanied by the shifting of rocks. She leaned close to Aren. "What do you think it is?"

  "No idea."

  A shadow moved within the mist, looking at least fifteen feet tall. It stopped, as if assessing the party, then let out another piercing shriek. A chorus of similar shrieks responded, perhaps a dozen, all coming from different directions.

  Kara swiveled to face each shriek, feeling as if she couldn't move fast enough. Her sword felt small and useless in her hand.

  The beasts, maybe fifteen of them, emerged from the mist. They'd formed a circle around the party and were closing in, hunger in their eyes. The beasts were manlike in shape and covered with matted brown fur. Their hands and feet ended in claws as long and sharp as daggers. Two long teeth protruded from each mouth.

  "What the hell are these?" Kara shouted.

  Aren glanced frantically around their campsite. "I still have no idea. There's a reason you don't leave the road when you cross these mountains."

  The beasts stared at the party as if planning their next move, but once they decided to attack, their movements were swift. They all closed in on the party at once, forming a tightening circle that Kara and the others couldn't escape.

  Standing in the center of that circle, Aren and Lena launched bursts of fire and surges of lightning. The beasts growled and shrieked but were undeterred.

  Devin was shooting arrows at them. He was a decent archer, but not as good as Nadia. Alia joined him in this, launching arrow after arrow and proving she was more than a healer. She struck three of the creatures in the eye, and they fell.

  Spells glowed yellow and orange in the mist. The creatures shrieked again and again, and Kara stood there with no idea of what she could do. She was good with a sword, but she couldn't fight such large creatures in close combat.

  She had to take a chance. One of the creatures plowed through a barrage of arrows and spells, heading toward her.

  She raised her sword and slashed at the beast's swinging arm, scoring a deep gash. It growled, staggering back a few steps, and she advanced on it, trying to plunge her sword through its chest. But a swipe of the creature's arm sent her flying.

  She hit the ground hard, and her sword clattered against the rocks a few feet away, heading toward a nearby precipice.

  Shouts and screams and growls came from all around, but all she could focus on was her sword, which had nearly tumbled off the mountain. She crawled toward it.

  The sword slipped off the slope, but she reached out, grabbing it at the last moment. With a sudden surge of adrenaline, she hopped to her feet, but now one of the monsters had backed her against the precipice.

  "I need help over here!" she shouted, but the others were surely too busy to save her. She planted her feet firmly. The beast swung an arm at her. She ducked the blow and thrust her sword at its groin area. The sword sank into flesh, and the creature pulled back, hopping about in pain. It let out the fiercest growl she'd ever heard, so loud it was almost deafening. Then it pulled its arm back, preparing to strike her.

  The air around her glowed a bright yellow, a surge of lighting struck the creature, and it toppled to the side, giving her a chance to get around it. She caught a brief glimpse of Aren charging the creature and launching more spells.

  The beasts still prowled in the depths of the mist, shrieking and howling. Somewhere, Lena must have been launching spells.

  An arrow whizzed by Kara's ear, and she ducked instinctively. A shriek came from behind her. One of the monsters had taken the arrow in its eye.

  But how many were left? The mist made everything hard to see, and she felt as if it were choking her. Panic coursed through her. Her thoughts had become scattered.

  There was movement in the corner of her vision. She turned, but not quickly enough. A heavy blow caught her across the chest, and she felt the sharp crack and searing pain of her ribs breaking. When she hit the ground, she couldn't move, couldn't do anything.

  The beast stepped out of the mist, standing tall over her. She tried to move, but her body refused. As if in slow motion, the beast's dagger-like claws came down right toward her heart. In a strange way, she accepted her death. At least she wouldn't be stuck here any longer.

  But then an arrow struck this monster in the eye. The eyes were large, yes, but it was still an impressive feat. The creature recoiled, trying to pull the arrow free.

  Finally, Kara could move again. She got to her feet gingerly, pain exploding through her ribs. Breathing was a struggle as she staggered across the rocky landscape.

  The battle had become a lot quieter. Was that a sign that they were winning?

  The mist continued to glow with the light of spells, but the battle only registered dimly in Kara's mind. She felt cold, and she still couldn't take a breath without sending piercing pain through
her chest. With a shudder, she realized she must have punctured a lung.

  She collapsed and coughed up blood. The world spun around her, and she closed her eyes, hoping the sensation would go away.

  She felt useless. In a place like the Shadowed Land, what could she do? She was good with a sword, but she had little skill with the bow, and none with magic. Why did Aren think she stood any chance of escaping the Shadowed Land? At this rate, she'd be lucky to live another hour. Death would be a relief.

  The sounds of battle gradually died down, but she barely noticed. The world was growing colder and colder, and she kept coughing up blood.

  She was startled, sometime later, when she felt a hand on her chest.

  "Don't die on me," Alia said.

  Kara tried to speak, but it was hard enough just breathing.

  "Don't speak," Alia said. "You've punctured a lung. Just sit still and let me work on you. I've healed punctured longs before. You're going to survive, Kara."

  Kara's thoughts were drifting. How many times would Alia have to save her from certain death? What would she do without Alia by her side? She had no idea how common healers were in the Shadowed Land, and she needed a healer. Badly.

  She was useless here. Pathetic.

  As Alia pressed her hands against Kara's chest, the pain faded. Soon Kara's breathing returned to normal, and she looked up at Alia through watery eyes. "Thank you."

  Alia let out a low laugh. "How many times do I have to save you?"

  "Hopefully this was the last time." Kara tried to sit up, but weakness washed over her, and she collapsed. "How long until I feel all right again?"

  "Give it a few minutes. You're still recovering. Getting healed so many times can be hard on your body. It's almost as if your body recognizes that healing magic is unnatural."

  "How is everyone?" Kara asked.

  "Aren and Lena are fine. Devin is dead."

  "Did you try to save him?"

  Alia ran a hand through her brown hair. "Healing has its limits. You can save someone who's on the brink of death, but once they've died, there's nothing you can do. Dead is dead."

  Kara hadn't known Devin all that well, but she still felt hollow at the thought that he was dead. Still, nothing could top the loss of her father, of the young man Tomas whom she'd grown to like as more than a friend. All dead in Crayden.

  Why did Kara want to get back home so badly? There was nothing but heartbreak there. True, she had Nadia and Aric, or at least she hoped she would. They were both setting out on dangerous quests that would take them far from her. Even if she returned, would she ever see them again?

  No. She couldn't think like that. She had to get out of this Shadowed Land. It didn't matter what she’d return to.

  After perhaps an hour of rest, she and the party set out again in a somber mood. Her ribs felt healed now, and her breathing had returned to normal. No one spoke much. The others had all known Devin quite well. They said he was a good man, an honorable man—not always so easy to find in the Shadowed Land.

  Kara could feel their loss, but she felt strangely numb. She'd been through too much recently, and it felt as if her mind would never process all of it.

  The mist remained thick, and Kara's heart hammered every time she heard a distant sound. From time to time, they checked on the progress of the Sunset Army. It looked as massive and intimidating as ever.

  Days passed, though it was impossible to tell beneath the unchanging sky. Only a few small monsters approached them, and the party handled them with ease.

  Kara still felt useless, however. She'd spent so much time training in swordplay, but now it felt as if all those lessons had accomplished nothing. Sure, she could hold her own in a one-on-one duel with a human opponent, but in any other kind of battle, she stood no chance.

  "I feel like I'm a burden," she said as they ate some roasted monster meat. It didn't taste good, but it was the only food they had.

  "You are not a burden," Aren said. "You are a human being in need of help."

  Kara barked a laugh. "Sounds about the same to me."

  "I agreed to get you to Sierra City," Aren said, "and that's what I'm gonna do."

  Lena bent closer to the fire. "Are you slowing us down? Yes. But I've come to understand that we have no chance of getting to Sierra City in time to help them." She shook her head. "I'm sorry I was so hard on you before. I didn't realize you've suffered too."

  Kara felt sick, and she didn't think it was due to the monster meat. "Is there any chance we'll make it to Sierra City before the army does?"

  "They'll probably get there first," Alia said, "but they'll surely take a little time to organize and launch their attack. After that, there'll be a siege."

  "I know a secret way into the city," Lena said. "So even if it is under siege, we can get inside." She chuckled without humor. "Guess growing up on the streets has its benefits."

  Kara wished she could understand Lena. As a member of the Order, Kara had often helped those less fortunate under Warrick's rule, but though she'd empathized with them, she'd never truly understood their plight. Her life had always been comfortable.

  Now it was anything but comfortable.

  She was about to infiltrate a city under siege. She'd only ever read about sieges. For so long, her life had been simple. She'd had a specific role to play. Working for the Order and running her father's inn were the only things she'd ever dreamed of doing.

  But she had to get into this city. She would never run her father's inn—just thinking about it brought tears to her eyes—but she could still return and help the Order. She could still reunite with Nadia, Aric, and Ander. But first she had to get out of the Shadowed Land.

  With newfound determination, she marched the last few hours toward Sierra City. When the party came within view of the city, the Sunset Army was already camped outside the walls.

  Aren's gaze was anxious. "All right, Lena, where's this secret path into the city?"

  "Follow me." Lena didn't look back at the others, and they followed without question, staying a fair distance from the city, and from the army. The soldiers had circled the city, but they remained outside of bow range. Sierra City's own soldiers looked small on top of the walls.

  Kara tried not to think about what was going to happen, but all she could imagine was a repeat of Crayden. She'd lost so much in that fire.

  The terrain around Sierra City was steep and rocky and almost impossible to navigate without twisting an ankle. The party moved slowly, keeping silent. They weren't all that close to the soldiers, but any sound could carry down the slope and toward the city in the valley.

  Kara's chest tightened every time someone dislodged a rock. Once, an entire boulder came crashing down, and she was sure the soldiers would investigate.

  "They'll probably think it's a monster," Aren whispered. "Keep moving."

  But as they traveled along a narrow path, climbing higher over treacherous terrain, Kara heard voices from down in the valley, then footsteps growing closer. No one said anything, but she could sense their fear, a terrifying mirror of her own.

  The mist shifted, revealing a small valley filled with orange-clad soldiers. There was nowhere to hide, and if the footsteps behind them were any indication, they couldn't turn back. Kara glanced frantically from side to side.

  "We can't fight so many," Aren said.

  Alia looked pale. "But where can we go?"

  Lena scanned the path ahead, then the path behind. From each direction, soldiers were approaching, as if they'd heard that boulder tumbling down the mountain.

  At last, Lena's gaze settled on the slope to their right. "We have to go down."

  Kara's stomach lurched. "How can we go down the mountain?"

  "You got a better plan?" Lena asked sharply.

  Kara shook her head. No one looked happy about the plan, but it was the best they had. They slowly made their way down the steep slope. It was just possible to stay on their feet, but each step sent rocks clattering down the
slope. A rockslide could happen at any moment.

  Kara took deep breaths as they descended. She'd never been an anxious person, nor had she ever feared heights, but this was more terrifying than anything, perhaps even more terrifying than Crayden. Back then, she'd had little time to think about what was happening. Now she felt as if every little move could lead to her death.

  Step by step, they descended. The Sunset Army had reached the spot where the party had begun their descent. However, the soldiers remained up there. She couldn't blame them. Who'd want to climb down a slope like this in heavy armor?

  "You're not gonna make it anywhere," a soldier called out.

  Kara's legs trembled. She was so unsteady that she felt as if the ground were shaking. Then she heard the low rumble and glanced up the slope. Some of the soldiers held magical staffs, which they were using to shift the rocks at the top of the slope.

  An enormous rockslide was building, heading directly toward the party.

  Chapter 26: The Secret Passage

  Kara tried to hold on as the rockslide hit, but it was a futile effort. A large boulder crashed into her, knocking her away from the rocks she'd been clinging to. Screams came from beside her.

  The rockslide carried her down the slope. She scraped her arms against the jagged rocks, slammed her elbows and knees against the slope. The pain barely registered, though. Panic had taken over as she groped blindly for something to hold onto.

  As she tumbled, she covered her head with her hands. Each impact sent a blast of pain through her. She could already feel blood flowing from a gash on her head.

  The rockslide continued to gather strength. There was no way she could fight it. Every time she tried to grab a rock, it broke away and joined the rockslide.

  By now, she'd lost track of the others. She tumbled again, bashing her arms and legs against the jagged rocks, and now she faced downward. When she saw the precipitous drop up ahead, her stomach clenched. The rockslide looked as if it might carry most of the party to a flat area beside that drop, but Alia was heading straight toward it.