The Shadowed Land

by Ryan W. Mueller

  "We're right at the northern end of Clan Blue Fish territory," Lara said. "The pass to the east of here is the easiest route through the mountains."

  Klint narrowed his eyes. "It sounds like you're about to tell us there's a problem."

  "That’s because there is a problem. A major problem. Clan Blue Fish guards the pass." She ran a hand through her black hair. "Well, that's not entirely accurate. They've found some way to make a monster do it instead."

  "What kind of monster this time?" Klint asked.

  "I've heard it described as a three-headed dragon."

  "There's gotta be another way through the mountains," Klint said.

  Danica squinted toward the mountains. "I don't understand. Why would they block the pass?"

  "To keep the Kingdom of Seaside out," Lara said. "If Seaside had their way, they would conquer all of the Clanlands. But they can't get an army through any other path. You'll see once we get closer to the mountains. They're so steep you might as well call them cliffs."

  "Then how did this pass come to be?" Aric asked.

  Lara frowned. "Magic, perhaps. That's the best answer I have."

  "Let me get this straight," Klint said. "Our only hope of crossing these mountains is to go up against this three-headed dragon. One head breathing fire is bad enough. But three?"

  Lara shifted her stance. "Actually, one of its heads breaths fire, another breathes ice, and the third breathes lightning."

  "Even better," Klint said. "Did you have to wait so long tell us?"

  "I knew you'd want to turn back if I told you," Lara said.

  Aric looked at the mountains. "I don't think we can face a creature like that. Klint is the only one of us who can do anything against it. No, we'll have to go south." He turned to Lara. "There is a way around the mountains to the south, isn't there?"

  "There is, but we'll be going through the heart of Clan Blue Fish. The narrow strip of land south of the mountains is well-guarded. It will also add a week to our journey. Are you sure you can last long enough? Everyone can see it. You're getting weaker every day."

  "Don't worry about me," Aric said.

  "Not gonna happen," Berig said. "The only reason we're out here is to cure you."

  "And I thank you all for sticking by me. Now I'm asking you to trust me. I can make it another week. I don't want everyone to die on my behalf. We can't reason with a dragon. We can only end up as dinner. Humans are different. Maybe we can make them listen to us. It's better than certain death."

  "I suppose you're right," Lara said. "I was hoping we might find a way to elude the dragon, but I can't think of any sound strategy." She shook her head. "But I don't know what will happen when we run across Clan Blue Fish. We've avoided them for years because they were so brutal to us the last time we fought."

  "Who wants to go through the mountain pass?" Aric asked, and nobody raised a hand, not even Lara. "All right. Who wants to take our chances with Clan Blue Fish?"

  Berig, Klint, Danica, and Aric all raised their hands. Lara did not.

  When they all looked at her, she said, "I don't care for either option."

  "Neither do I," Klint said. "But we've gotta get out of these Clanlands."

  They started to the south, skirting the edge of the mountains and keeping an eye out for danger. Lara steered them well away from Clan Blue Fish settlements. Once, they heard a Clan Blue Fish patrol in the forest nearby, but the patrol passed without incident.

  After a few uneventful days, they reached the edge of the forest. Beyond the forest, the land stretched into the distance, covered with long grass.

  "There's no hiding out here," Lara said.

  "Guess we'll find out what the clan thinks of us," Klint said. "Can't say I'm looking forward to it." His gaze became sullen as he stared to the south.

  Through the day, they encountered no one, and shortly after nightfall, Berig heard something that sounded like water. A lot of water. It made a rhythmic sound.

  "What's that sound?" Berig asked.

  Lara's eyes lit up with amusement. "You've never seen the ocean, have you?"

  "None of us have," Aric said. "I've read about it in books, but I never thought I'd see it."

  Lara started walking. "Follow me."

  They trailed after her, and soon they reached the edge of a cliff. Far below, moonlight reflected off the most water Berig had ever seen. It came together in giant waves, which crashed against the base of the cliff in a continual rhythm. It was beautiful. And terrifying.

  Berig felt queasy. "Does that water ever end?"

  "There are other continents," Aric said. "Or so I've read."

  "They do exist," Lara said. "Some of the clans have traded with them in the past, though there isn't much contact these days. No one trusts the clans anymore."

  "With good reason," Klint said with a dark look in his eyes. He turned away, shaking his head and muttering under his breath.

  They settled down by the ocean. At first, the sound of the waves bothered Berig, but eventually it became soothing, and he enjoyed the best night's sleep he'd had in a long time. The next morning, they set out toward the east.

  "We're going to come across a Blue Fish settlement and their army," Lara said. "We need to be prepared."

  Klint rolled his eyes. "Oh, and how do you propose we do that? I might have this magical staff, but I'm pretty sure I can't stand against an entire army. Either they decide to kill us or they don't."

  Danica turned to Klint. "I don't like the way you've changed."

  "Do you think I give a damn what you think?"

  Danica looked hurt. "You used to."

  "Well, I don't anymore. I'm sick of all this traveling. Sick of monsters. Sick of people trying to kill us all the time. And then you have to start talking to me with that relentlessly positive attitude of yours. It makes me want to vomit."

  "I'm sorry it's been rough on you." Danica put a hand on Klint's shoulder.

  He brushed her hand away, forcefully. For a moment, it looked as if he'd shove her, but then he took a step away. "I don't want your reassurances. I don't want you to touch me. Just leave me alone."

  Berig advanced on Klint. "Don't talk to Danica like that. You're upset about everything. I understand that. Believe me, I understand it better than anyone here. But there's no reason to take your frustrations out on us."

  Klint avoided Berig's gaze. "Look. I'm sorry if I'm not meeting your expectations. But did you expect me to enjoy this? There's a reason I've always worked alone. Life is easier if you don't form attachments to anyone."

  "Are you saying you've come to care about us?" Aric asked.

  "Back when this all started, I was just looking for a place to hide in Mountainside. But I guess I felt some obligation to Berig. He did save my life, after all, back in Varner City. Still, I tried to keep my distance." He shook his head. "But it's hard to spend so much time with people and not care about them, and that's what makes this so damned hard. I don't want to abandon you. I really don't. But I'm not meant for this kind of quest. I'm not meant to help people. Anyone who gets involved with me is going to end up dead sooner or later. Just like my sister."

  "Is that why you have this attitude?" Berig asked. "You're worried that you're going to get us hurt, or even killed?"

  Aric chuckled. "We can manage that just fine without your help."

  Klint's lips twitched in a smile. "Can't argue with that."

  "I'll understand if you don't want to come with us the rest of the way," Aric said. "You've done so much for us already. You've more than repaid your debt to us."

  "And that's what bothers me," Klint said. "I've never been that kind of person. It's always been about the money for me. I hate to say it, but I've killed people, decent people, just so I could get away with crimes and make myself more money. You're all good people. You'd never do anything like that. I don't deserve to be part of what you're doing. I don't deserve the friendship of people like you."

  "I'm sorry you feel that way," Danica s
aid. This time, she didn't put a hand on his shoulder. "But you've changed as a person. You've become a better person. You have to forgive yourself for the person you used to be."

  Klint turned away. "I wish it was that easy."

  He fell silent, and no one spoke as they traveled. That afternoon, they reached a settlement that filled the small gap between the mountains and the sea. Here, buildings of wood and stone stood along haphazard streets. People milled about, dressed in the simple working clothes most of the clans wore. To Berig's surprise, the men didn't wear braided beards. Some even walked the streets without noticeable weapons. They looked almost respectable.

  When the party reached the edge of town, the Clan Blue Fish guards greeted them. "Welcome, travelers," said the guard on the right, a young man with no beard. "What brings you to Cliffside?"

  Berig whispered in Lara's ear. "This isn't the welcome I expected."

  "I know," she said. "This is strange."

  "We're just passing through," Aric said to the guard. "On our way to Seaside."

  "Travelers are welcome here," said the other guard, a slightly older man with a short beard. "Just make sure you stay out of trouble. You should keep your weapons sheathed at all times. Don't want to make anyone nervous."

  Aric nodded. "Don't worry. We won't make any trouble."

  "There's a new inn toward the center of town," said the same guard. "Can't miss it."

  "Is this still Clan Blue Fish?" Lara asked.

  "In some ways, yes," said the younger guard. "Many of the people here were originally members of Clan Blue Fish, but we've since decided we'd rather live like the people of Seaside. One day, the clan chief might challenge us, but for now, we've been left in peace, free to find our own way of life."

  "Do you still keep the Seaside army out?" Lara asked.

  "They haven't been around for a while. I think they've given up."

  Lara took in everything with wide eyes. "This isn't what I expected."

  "That seems to happen all too often these days," Klint said.

  As they made their way toward that inn, Berig wondered what other surprises their adventure had prepared for them.

  Chapter 51: A Dangerous New Companion

  By the time Kara's party reached Green City, her ribs felt better. They'd encountered a few monsters along the way, but nothing Tobias and Aren couldn't handle. Twice, they'd hidden from the Sunset Army. Once, they'd encountered bandits.

  The mist was thinner than usual today, so they caught their first glimpse of Green City from perhaps a mile away. Kara realized how the city had earned its name. Where the rest of the Shadowed Land was barren and rocky, Green City was covered in grass and plants. Trees stood along its cobblestone streets. The city looked beautiful, undamaged.

  "How'd they manage this?" she asked.

  "Sorcery," Tobias said. "A lot of sorcery."

  Kara felt an overwhelming sense of awe. "How powerful are these people?"

  "More powerful than me, I’m afraid."

  "Let's head into the city," Aren said. He'd been quiet these last few days, and Kara had given him his space. She understood how it felt to mourn loved ones.

  Then there were all the people she might lose. Ander, Aric, and Nadia could all be dead by now, victims of the ruins of Woodsville. Kara had no idea how much time had passed since she'd entered the Shadowed Land. With no sun to mark the hour, she could only determine time's passage by how often they ate and slept.

  They started down the hill toward the city, following the warded road. At the bottom, they reached the edge of the city, where people walked the cobblestone streets, looking relaxed and happy. Kara hadn't seen much of that here in the Shadowed Land.

  "Is the Sunset Empire really so bad?" she asked Tobias. "Look at what they've done here."

  Tobias kept his voice low. "Like any people, they have both their good and bad sides. Perhaps their goals are not so evil, but their methods are. Just look at what they did to Millersville. I don't care what your goal is. What they did was unacceptable."

  "I still don't understand why they did it," Kara said. "I assume it was on Krinir's orders. But why does he want to rule the Shadowed Land? What does he gain from it?"

  "It's part of his nature," Tobias said as they reached the edge of the city. "He's the Destroyer. In order to destroy the world most effectively, he needs to rule the world. Once, he could control his nature and destroy more judiciously. Now I don't think he cares anymore, or perhaps he has other motives. I'm not sure."

  Aren's face was a mask of anger. "I don't care what his motives are. I will make him pay."

  Kara placed a hand on his shoulder. "I don't like this change in you. You're not supposed to be an angry person. I can tell."

  He pulled away from her touch. "Millersville wasn't supposed to be destroyed either. You can't tell me you can ignore what they did."

  "No, I can't, but I still don't think you can accomplish anything."

  "I'll find a way. I have to."

  "But first we're going to get Kara home," Tobias said.

  "Yes, of course." But Aren's response sounded distant and forced. Kara worried that he would abandon them, seeking his vengeance. She'd seen that same kind of determination in Nadia. Like her, Aren could only go so long without fulfilling his desire.

  They passed countless people, walking beneath the blue magical light of streetlamps. Those lamps even provided some warmth. Though the Shadowed Land wasn't all that cold, the mist always made Kara shiver. To her surprise, there was no mist here in the city.

  "What exactly are we doing here?" she asked.

  "Looking for an old friend of mine," Tobias said. "His name's Josef. He's also a sorcerer. He knows a lot about Krinir, and he might be able to help us."

  "You sure we can trust him?" Kara asked.

  Tobias hesitated. "Well, he's more of a supporter of Krinir than I am, but that doesn't make him a bad person. If he can help us, he will."

  That wasn't a convincing argument, but if Kara wanted to get home, she needed this sorcerer's help. She had to trust that Tobias had judged his old friend's character accurately.

  They traveled toward the center of the city, where the streets were even more crowded. Horse-drawn carts rattled along the cobblestone streets. At the center of the city was an open-air market. Tobias had money, so they acquired food here.

  Food in hand, they found a stone bench at the edge of a park. The place had walking trails and stone benches. The magical lamps overhead warmed the air. Here, there were even birds and insects. Kara felt as if she'd returned home.

  But she hadn't. This was all the product of evil sorcery.

  They ate beneath a towering tree. Dozens of people passed them on the nearby walking path, sparing only a glance or two for them. In a city of so many people, Tobias explained, it was impossible to know everybody. They wouldn't arouse any suspicion, even in their tattered travel clothing. Kara wasn't so sure about that, but she figured Tobias knew what he was doing.

  After they finished eating, Tobias led them to a giant building surrounded by a sprawling green lawn. A massive stone fence encircled the property, and two guards flanked the fence's only gate.

  "What business do you have at the Academy?" demanded one of the guards.

  "We're here to see Josef," Tobias said. "My name's Tobias, and I'm an old friend of his. Could you kindly relay this message to him?"

  One of the guards turned and walked toward the building.

  "Don't even think of trying anything," said the other guard. He gestured broadly toward the yard. "There are more of us in there. If you do anything suspicious, we'll kill you."

  Tobias gave him a smile. "We intend nothing of the sort."

  "Good."

  They waited for the guard to return. When he did, he was accompanied by a dark-haired man with a neatly trimmed beard. The man looked about forty. As he approached, he offered a wide smile to Tobias. "It's nice to see you again, old friend."

  "Likewise," Tobias said, a
little stiffly.

  "What brings you here?" Josef asked. "We haven't seen each other in years."

  "I'd prefer to discuss that in private."

  "Then follow me. Your friends, too."

  Though Kara had a few reservations, she followed Tobias and Josef toward the large stone building. Giant blue lamps cast their magical light upon everything, and Kara could almost imagine these lamps were the sky back home. Almost.

  Josef led them into the building. The corridor within was bright and welcoming, with polished stone floors and walls. Red runners of carpet stretched along the floor. Inside, the magical lamps provided golden light instead of blue, warming the look of the place.

  The corridors were crowded with people, most dressed in robes of varying colors. Josef explained that each color corresponded to a different class level at the Academy.

  Kara felt curious despite her reservations. "Do you teach magic here?"

  "Among other things," Josef said. "Magic is a big part of what we teach, but we believe in educating people in a variety of subjects. Unfortunately, we can't teach true sorcery. Only those of us who were exiled have any talent for sorcery." He pushed through a door, and they all followed as he took a seat behind a desk and motioned for them to settle down in chairs across from him. "All right. What did you want to talk to me about?"

  "We need to find Krinir," Tobias said.

  Josef's eyes widened. "Now that's an interesting request."

  "He's my only chance of getting home," Kara said. "I'm not from the Shadowed Land."

  Josef leaned against his polished wooden desk. "Well, it isn't the only way, but it is the most reliable."

  "Are you talking about the Nexus?" Kara asked.

  "Yes, but I imagine Tobias has told you the dangers of using the Nexus. It might take you back to your world, but it might also send you to another world, or simply to another part of the Shadowed Land. There are many worlds and just as many parts of the Shadowed Land, so you have a nearly zero chance of getting home."

  "Are you sure our odds would be any better with Krinir?" Kara asked. "I mean, if he can send us back, why doesn't he leave the Shadowed Land himself?"