The Shadowed Land

by Ryan W. Mueller

  The battle at the center of the deck remained chaotic. Berig could hardly tell friend from foe. He kept his eyes on the battle as he moved behind the captain's cabin, which stood above the rest of the deck. When he peered through one of the windows, he didn't see Darius within.

  Keeping out of sight, he made his way to the door, and then he ducked inside. The captain's cabin looked untouched.

  He'd hoped he might find someone hiding in here, but the room was empty. He peered out of one of the cabin's windows, watching the battle on deck. It was still too dark for him to tell who anyone was, but he couldn't do anything else. If he got involved in this battle, he'd end up dead. He wasn't meant for battle, even with a sword in his hands.

  But fate had other plans.

  One of the pirates raced by the window while Berig was peering through it. The pirate's eyes widened when he saw Berig, and then the man raced through the door. Berig pulled out his sword as the pirate charged toward him.

  The pirate moved with alarming speed, but Berig was quicker, ducking to the side moments before the man would have stabbed him through the chest. Berig spun around, slashing at the pirate with his word, and the man flinched away. A narrow escape.

  The man charged again. Acting on instinct, Berig ducked, and the pirate's sword passed where his neck would have been. The attack left Berig's attacker off-balance, and Berig took advantage, slamming against his opponent with all the speed he could muster.

  They both hit the ground hard. The pirate's sword clattered to the floor. He reached for it, but Berig held him off, surprising himself with his strength. They wrestled for the sword. The man was much larger, but Berig held his own. Life on the streets had taught him a few lessons.

  They delivered a flurry of blows at one another. Each blow made Berig's head hurt worse, but he ignored the pain. Blood flowed from his nose. It felt as if one blow cracked a rib.

  Berig's strength wasn't enough. The pirate thrust him aside, and they both clambered back to their feet. Wavering on his legs, Berig blocked his opponent's path. Just as the pirate tried to lunge past Berig, he scooped the sword off the floor. Holding two swords felt foolish, but it was enough to deter the man, who turned and fled.

  Heart pounding, Berig leaned against the wall. He wanted to rest but knew he couldn't. Surely the pirate would return with reinforcements. Wiping blood from his chin, Berig stepped through the door. The battle still raged on the ship's deck.

  Berig wanted to help, wanted to find his friends, but fear had tightened its grip upon him. He wished he could close his eyes and pretend the world didn't exist.

  After a few deep breaths, he made his way toward the battle. He wasn't going to find his friends if he hid from the battle. Besides, death couldn't be any worse than life without his friends. Or at least that was what Berig told himself.

  "Berig!"

  Danica was racing toward him.

  "Thank God!" he said. "You're all right."

  She had tears in her eyes. "I can't find Aric."

  "I couldn't find him either," Berig said. "He wasn't in the cabin." He glanced toward the battle. "Is Lara in the middle of the fighting?"

  "I don't know. I haven't seen her for a while."

  "We need to get away from the fighting," Berig said. Now that he'd found one of his friends, he knew his first instincts had been right. He and Danica could not be part of this battle. They lacked the skill and would end up dead.

  "There she is!" One of the pirates was pointing right at Danica.

  Berig and Danica took off together, but the pirates were close behind. Too close. Berig and Danica reached the back of the ship, and there was nowhere else to go. Berig's heart pounded a mighty drumbeat.

  "Come with us," said one of the pirates, "and we'll leave you in peace." He stared at Danica.

  Danica's eyes were wide. "I don't understand. Why do you want me?"

  Horrible images flashed behind Berig's eyes. He wasn't the only person who could see how attractive Danica was. Did these pirates intend to rape her? He couldn't let that happen.

  But now five pirates had surrounded them. Berig's sword felt useless.

  "I can't let you rape her," he said, surprising himself with his boldness.

  "That isn't what we intend," said one of the pirates. He had a strange accent. "Our captain has his orders. We're only following them. If your captain here had agreed to give her over immediately, none of this bloodshed would've been necessary."

  Danica's voice sounded small. "I-I still don't understand. Why would you want me?"

  "I don't know," said the same pirate. "Just come with us. Please."

  Danica glanced at Berig, her face pale in the moonlight. "If I can keep anyone else from dying, I have to do it." She met the pirate's gaze. "I will come with you. Now end this attack."

  The man took her by the arm, but not too roughly. "We will."

  Berig couldn't let Danica go with these men, but all he had was a sword, and even a skilled swordsman would struggle against these odds. With a heavy heart, Berig watched the pirates lead Danica away. He stood at the back of the ship, leaning against the railing and trying to understand what had happened.

  Over the next few minutes, the battle ceased, and the pirates returned to their ship. In the aftermath, Berig walked the deck, feeling as if he were stuck in a nightmare. Dead sailors lay all over the deck, their blood staining the boards.

  Some of the men groaned feebly. Berig didn't know what to do for them, didn't know how to help anyone. He felt sick to his stomach, and his head pounded worse than ever.

  "Berig!" It was Lara.

  He rushed toward her, and they caught each other in a firm embrace.

  "I was sure you were dead," Lara said. She had a few cuts on her arms, and blood had soaked much of her clothing. When she saw Berig's concern, she said, "Most of it isn't mine."

  Berig wished he could have felt relieved. "You seen Aric anywhere?"

  "No, I thought he'd be with you."

  Berig felt a sudden rush of tears. "No one's seen him. What if he's dead? What if we've gone through all this for nothing?"

  "Did they really take Danica?"

  "Yeah," Berig said, barely able to speak. "I-I don't know why."

  "I'm gonna help you find Aric. Let's head back to your cabin."

  Berig had no idea how Lara could remain so calm as they returned to the ladder leading below deck. They descended into the chaos. The smoke had grown thicker, the fires brighter. Keeping their heads low, they navigated the debris-clogged corridor.

  By the time they reached Berig's cabin, he feared he'd suffocate. They searched inside but found no sign of Aric.

  "Where could he have gone?" Berig asked, feeling the crushing weight of fear upon his chest. That, combined with the smoke, made it almost impossible to breathe.

  Lara moved to the hole at the side of the cabin.

  "You see him down there?" Berig asked.

  "No, I can't see much of anything."

  "We've gotta find him," Berig said, tears streaming down his face. He'd already lost Danica. He couldn't lose Aric too.

  A feeble voice came from the corridor. "Help."

  Berig's heart leapt, and he raced out of the cabin. To his left, much of the ship had come crashing down upon the corridor. He hadn't even considered going that direction when he'd first woken. But there it was—a hand poking out through the debris.

  Berig fell to his knees beside rubble. "Aric, is that you?"

  "Please, Berig, get me out of here."

  "Come on, Lara!" Berig shouted. "We've gotta clear this debris."

  They worked together, moving the pile of splintered wood as fast as they could. They couldn't go too quickly, though, or they might bring more of the ship crashing down upon them. It was a slow and terrifying process. More than once, an avalanche of debris erased much of the progress they'd made, but that didn't stop them.

  At last, they cleared enough wood for Aric to move the rest himself. He crawled out from the wrec
kage of the ship, covered in cuts and bruises. Though he staggered, he got to his feet readily enough, brushing dust and debris from his clothing.

  "It's a miracle," he said. "Don't think I broke anything." Then his knees collapsed, and he had a coughing fit.

  Berig knelt beside him. "You all right?"

  "The smoke's getting to me. We need to get out of here."

  Berig and Lara supported Aric as they pushed through the smoky corridor. The fires raged hotter than ever, nearly blocking their path. Every few seconds, the ship groaned, and Berig was sure everything would come crashing down.

  But the corridor remained intact. For now.

  By the time they reached the ladder, Berig was sure he'd pass out. His lungs couldn't get enough air. Aric climbed the ladder first, helped by Berig and Lara, who followed close behind. When they reached the deck, they all collapsed.

  The battle was over.

  Chapter 55: A Deadly Path

  Kara's party reached the edge of the mountains, where Diana directed them to a narrow pass. She stopped and looked back at them. "This is the safest path we'll find, but that doesn't mean it's safe by any means. We can expect monsters."

  "What kind of monsters?" Kara asked

  "You don't want to know."

  They started through the pass, which sloped gradually upward. For the first few hours, nothing threatened, though Kara could have sworn she heard distant movement. In the mist, it was impossible to see much of anything.

  Tobias, Josef, and Diana led the party through the pass. As far as Kara was concerned, she'd rather stay back with Aren. Neither of them trusted Josef, and Diana had a cold personality.

  Aren gazed into the distance, as if he could see through the mist. "Just think. On the other side of these mountains, we'll be in Krinir's territory." His expression tightened. "I'll find a way to make him pay."

  Kara put a hand on his shoulder. "I know how strongly you feel about this, but you have to know you don't stand much of a chance against him."

  "I know." Aren sighed and took a few silent steps. "Maybe I am insane. Maybe I should give this up. Lena and Alia are dead. Millersville is destroyed. I can't undo his deeds."

  "I've seen what a desire for vengeance can do to somebody," Kara said. "It makes you unable to see the foolishness of your own actions."

  "I don't even know if I want revenge anymore. Now, I feel more numb than anything. All this traveling has given me a lot of time to think." He wrapped an arm around Kara's shoulders. "I've realized something important. I'm doing all this for you."

  Kara looked into his eyes. "Thank you."

  "I care about you. I want to see you get back home. That's more important than a foolish desire for vengeance." He chewed on his lower lip. "In fact, I think I might come with you. I don't know exactly what I feel, but I think I might love you."

  Kara didn't know what to say to that. She did have feelings for Aren, but professing her love was terrifying. "I think I might share those same feelings."

  "I know it's hard," Aren said. "We've been through so much. After a while, you don't feel human anymore." He shook his head. "But maybe that's the best reason to fall in love. Even in the midst of all this hardship, we've gotta hold on to our humanity."

  "I can't disagree with that," Kara said, and before she knew it, their lips had locked. The kiss was awkward and hesitant at first, but then Kara lost herself. She pushed Aren against the rocky wall, and they remained together, embracing each other and kissing.

  Tobias cleared his throat. "Is it really the time for that?"

  Kara and Aren broke apart. With a smile, Aren said, "Maybe not, but I don't regret it."

  "Neither do I," Kara said.

  She'd kissed men before, but there was something more to this kiss, something special. Feeling happier than she had in a long time, she looked into Aren's eyes. He returned her gaze with a broad smile, as if inviting her to kiss him again.

  But Tobias was right. They had to remain aware of their surroundings. No telling when a monster might show up.

  For the next few hours, they walked through the gray mist. The farther they traveled, the more Kara felt trapped. If a monster did threaten them, they'd have nowhere to run. The pass was maybe twenty feet wide, and sheer cliffs towered on both sides. It was enough to make anyone feel small and insignificant.

  Occasionally, they passed caves, but Diana warned them away. The worst monsters lurked in these caves.

  Something growled deep within the mist. Kara froze, peering into the distance, but she couldn't see anything. Her heart hammered. Another growl sounded from up above, then another, and another. The entire party glanced up, but then more growls came from behind them and from in front of them.

  "What the hell is growling like that?" Aren asked.

  "I have no idea," Diana said.

  A shadow stirred in the mist ahead of them. Diana blasted it with fire from her staff, and it let out a horrible, ear-piercing shriek. The sound made Kara feel like throwing up. Her legs threatened to buckle, and her vision blurred.

  "Don't do that again!" Josef shouted.

  Diana glared at him, looking unsteady on her feet. "Then what the hell are we supposed to do?"

  "Let me think," Josef said. "Your magic isn't powerful enough."

  The growls became louder as the monsters closed in. Kara looked ahead. Something enormous was visible through the mist. Looked back. Saw the same thing. Her heart felt as if it would burst out of her chest.

  The shadow from behind launched itself at Kara. She raised her sword, but she wasn't quick enough. It landed atop her, knocking the wind out of her and pinning her to the ground. She struggled beneath it, trying to get her sword out.

  The monster looked like a giant lizard. Red spikes ran along its back, and it tried to gouge her with its claws and pierce her with its long fangs. But she held it back long enough for Aren to tackle it to the side.

  She struggled to her feet while Aren wrestled with the lizard. She wanted to stab it, but she wasn't sure she could without hurting Aren.

  Aren's staff clattered to the ground. He reached for it, but the lizard jumped atop him. Kara charged it, holding out her sword, but when she tried to plunge her sword through its thick skin, it felt as if her sword had hit a stone wall.

  "Do something!" Kara shouted to Diana, Tobias and Josef.

  "He's too close," Josef said. "Anything we do to the lizard will also hurt him."

  Tobias stepped forward, however, and pointed a finger at the monster. A shard of ice burst from his fingertips, striking the lizard in the side. As soon as it hit, Kara felt a crushing wave of hopelessness. The ice bounced off, just like her sword.

  Kara had to take matters into her own hands. She joined Aren and the lizard and tried to wrestle it away from him. It was too large, though, and with every passing second, those fangs came closer to Aren.

  Heart pounding, Kara tried to stab it again and again, but every sword thrust bounced off its tough skin. Then she had a sudden idea. She wrapped her arms around the lizard's neck. It thrashed, but she held strong, wrestling its head away from Aren.

  "Stab it in the eye," she said, knowing she had only a few more seconds.

  Aren had a dagger in his hand. He thrust the dagger upward, piercing the lizard's eye. It let out that same horrible shriek as before, and Aren convulsed on the rocky ground. When he fell still, Kara's heart climbed into her throat. He couldn't die like this.

  She felt dizzy, her vision blurry. For a moment, she thought she'd pass out.

  The lizard continued shrieking, the sound stabbing into every inch of Kara's body. She trembled violently. Her vision darkened. All she could hear was the shrieking. Her thoughts became a confused mess, and a strange calm overtook her.

  This sound was going to kill her. There was no way around it.

  "Kara!"

  She continued fading toward nothingness.

  "Kara!"

  Dying felt more peaceful than she'd thought it would.


  "Kara, please come back to us."

  Her eyes came open, but she couldn't focus on the world around her. The air felt brutally cold. She was shaking more fiercely than ever. Gradually, the world became clearer. Tobias stood over her, his expression troubled.

  "Kara, can you hear me?" he asked.

  Her mouth didn't want to move. Her throat felt dry. At last, she croaked out a feeble response. "I—what happened—where's Aren—is he all right?"

  "How do you feel?" Tobias asked.

  Her voice became stronger. "I asked about Aren. Is he alive?"

  "I'm not sure what condition he's in," Diana said from a few feet away. "He was closest to the monster when it shrieked. He still has a pulse, but he won't respond to anything I do."

  Kara crawled across the rocky ground, lacking the strength to stand. She reached Aren's side and pressed her ear to his chest. There was a heartbeat, but it was faint. She brushed her hand across his face, praying he'd wake up. He didn't respond.

  "No, Aren. Please don't die on me." She struggled against tears. "I love you. There I said it. Now you're supposed to wake up."

  No response.

  "Aren, didn't you hear me? I love you."

  He didn't stir, didn't make a sound.

  "Wake up!" she shouted, tears streaming down her face. "Please, wake up."

  "He isn't going to wake up," Josef said. "I've read about this creature. Its shriek is fatal to anyone that close to it. It's only a matter of time until he dies." He took a step closer and moved his hand as if he were going to put it on her shoulder. "I'm sorry."

  For the first time, she thought she heard true sympathy in Josef's voice. It wasn't enough to make her trust him, but at least he was still human, deep down.

  "You're a sorcerer," Kara said. "Can't you do something for him?"

  "I'm not a healer," Josef said. "Neither is Tobias. There's nothing we can do."

  Kara lay atop Aren, wishing she could change things, wishing the world could stop existing around her. She couldn't lose Aren like this, not when she'd finally realized how she felt about him. Maybe there was something she could do, some miracle she could conjure, but she had no magic, and miracles were in short supply these days.