“We need to keep moving,” she said. “The ponies are rested now. We still have a few hours of light left.”
“We can’t convince you to stay here forever?” Warsgra asked.
She gave him a regretful smile. “Yes, you probably could, but we all know there are bigger things resting on our shoulders. Every day that passes might be bringing us closer to war. We need to think of our people.”
He pushed his hand through his hair, which was still wet and straggly at the ends. “Of course.”
They finished attaching the water pouches to the ponies’ packs and gathered up the rest of their belongings. They were down to the final rations of food now, but though it wasn’t luxurious, it would be enough to get them the rest of the way. Dela didn’t know what they’d do on the journey back, but she figured they’d work that out once they knew their next steps.
“Are you ready, Ghost?” she said to the pony, stroking his velvet-soft nose. “This next part is going to be tough.”
The pony whinnied as though he understood her, and she gave him a final pat, before pulling herself up on his broad back. Her stomach churned with nerves, a tight knot of anticipation. She glanced at the men around her, each of them strong in their own way, and prayed to the Gods she wouldn’t let them down.
They left the sanctuary and shade of the pools behind them. Dela led the way, Ghost picking between the scrubland and increasingly rocky terrain. She’d grown used to the faint aroma of sulfur on the air when they’d been at the pool, but as they covered more miles, the stench grew stronger.
Dela’s mood was brighter now they had refilled the water pouches, and they’d refreshed themselves in the pool. The warm water had even soothed away some of the aches and pains that had been plaguing her ever since she’d set out from Anthoinia. She’d grown used to being on Ghost’s back, and even took comfort in the rocking, rolling motion of his body beneath her. The others seemed happier, too, telling stories of different journeys they’d been on, or funny tales from back home. It was good that they’d had this small respite. She had the feeling they were going to need every ounce of strength over the next few days.
After the lushness of the oasis, the land they traveled now felt even harsher. Ahead, the summits of the fire mountains, which led to the Valley of the Dragons, dominated the landscape. The ground grew noticeably warm, even through the soles of their boots, and the brown dirt began to turn black.
“We’re going to need to stop soon,” Warsgra called over his shoulder. “Night will fall within the hour.”
Dela gritted her teeth in frustration. Being able to see the fire mountains made her want to keep going, but she couldn’t ask the others to walk through the night. Though they’d taken some respite at the oasis, they still had a distance to travel, and they’d make better time rested.
She took in the expanse of nothingness. “Where should we stop?”
“I can’t see it making much difference where we decide,” said Orergon.
Vehel looked around, as though something might just appear. “This is as good a spot as any.”
Normally, they’d have chosen something that offered natural shelter—a small copse of trees, or an outcropping of rock—anything to make them feel protected from one side or the other. If they didn’t have that, they’d at least have camped out near a river for water and food. But out here there was only desolate waste. They had no choice but to simply pick a spot and set up for the night.
Dela slid down off Ghost’s back and put her hands on her hips. The sun had dipped low in the sky, sending a red glow over the land. She stared across it, toward the place they were headed. It felt as though they’d been traveling forever, but even though the scenery had changed, the fire mountains never appeared to get any closer.
She let out a sigh and turned to the pony’s pack to take out what they needed for the night.
“What’s wrong?” Warsgra asked. He glanced over at her as he did the same, working the canvas shelter out from his own pony’s bags.
“It just seems like we’re never going to get there. We keep going and going and going, but Drusga never feels like it’s getting any closer.”
Vehel came to stand beside her, looking out across the landscape with her. “I know what you mean, but there’s nothing between us and the fire mountains now. Tomorrow, we’ll have to see that we’re getting there.”
She nodded and released a heavy breath through her nostrils. “I hope you’re right.”
They finished unpacking what they needed for the night. The canvas and wooden poles they used as a shelter only offered the impression of security. It wasn’t needed for warmth, and the likelihood of rain was slim to none.
“Do we even need to light a fire?” she said. “It’s so hot anyway, and it’s not as though we have any fresh meat or fish that needs to be cooked.”
“Even if we did,” said Orergon, “we could probably cook it just by putting it on one of those rocks.”
“Aye, it’s certainly hot enough,” Warsgra agreed. “But we don’t know what kinds of creatures live out here. A fire might keep them away.”
Dela lifted her eyebrows. “I’m not sure anything that lives out here is going to be scared of a little fire, but I guess it’s best not to take the risk.”
Trouble was, there weren’t many trees out here either, and wood was in short supply. Scavenging around, they found moss clinging to the sides of some large rocks, and a fibrous, silvery-green plant which grew in spiky leaves from a bulb in the ground. None of these things would burn for very long, but the group gathered what they could, trying not to prick their fingers on the sharp leaves of the plant.
With the fire crackling, they took their seats around it and divided up the food. They were down to basic rations of stale bread and cheese now. The luxurious food of the Faes’ meal felt like a long time ago, and Dela’s mouth watered at the memory of the succulent fruits they’d eaten, the sweet tartness of the flesh, and the juice dribbling down her chin.
“Do any of you wonder if this whole thing is crazy?” she blurted.
Warsgra chuckled. “It is a little crazy.”
She touched the ring at her throat. “I know, but I mean, what if we get there and discover this was all some trick created by the Fae? We don’t know that he didn’t somehow enchant the ring so Orergon burned his fingers on it. The Fae have no reason to help us. I doubt they even like us.”
Orergon shrugged. “They seemed pretty friendly back at the village.”
She sighed and rubbed both hands over her face. “Maybe, but it still might have been some kind of ploy to trick us.”
“To do what?” Orergon insisted.
“I don’t know. Just leave them alone, I guess.”
Vehel spoke up. “I believe what Nimbus told us. He seemed sincere. I don’t believe he’s sent us off on a wild goose chase.”
Dela chewed her lower lip. “I don’t know if I’m going to be relieved or furious if we get to Drusga and discover this was no more than a crazy story.”
Warsgra fixed her with his green gaze, looking at her from beneath his bushy eyebrows. “Whatever happens, we’ll be there for you.”
Oregron nodded in agreement. “Yes, we’ll be there for you.”
The fire crackled, the final remnants of the foliage they’d collected burning out.
And the last of the sun dipped beneath the horizon, casting them into darkness.
Chapter 29
Warsgra
Each day had started to feel the same as the last.
They packed up the remains of their camp and mounted their rides. Warsgra had been annoyed at having to ride the pony at first, but he’d become surprisingly fond of Giant.
He glanced over at Dela riding Ghost beside him. That was someone else he’d also become surprisingly fond of. He’d never for a moment thought he’d have feelings for a human—in fact, feelings in general were foreign to him—yet he found himself worrying about what they’d discover when they reached Drus
ga. He didn’t want her to be disappointed, but he also worried about what lay ahead if the Fae had been telling the truth. He’d lived a simple life so far, and he realized supporting Dela in this quest would mean he’d be diving into the politics of four different races. Did he have the sort of mind that would be able to understand such things? Even if he didn’t, he would still be Dela’s strength, if she said she needed him. He would protect her with his body and his axe. Though if she had a dragon, it might end up being Dela who did the protecting.
The journey felt relentless. It was an onward trudge, with nothing to break it up. The ponies walked with their heads hung. Though they took regular breaks to give them water, the supply wasn’t endless, and they’d eventually have to prioritize themselves before their mounts. The lack of foliage didn’t help either, as there was little for them to graze upon.
The sun reached the highest point in the sky and began to descend again.
Dela suddenly let out a growl of frustration.
He narrowed his eyes at her as they rode, side by side. “What’s wrong?”
Her lips pressed together, her nostrils flared. “How many miles have we traveled since leaving the pools? Twenty? Thirty?”
He nodded. “Yes, at least.”
She gestured ahead. “So why aren’t the fire mountains getting any closer? The scenery around us is changing, but the fire mountains look exactly the same.”
He exchanged a glance with Orergon, who also nodded to say he agreed with her.
“Could it be some kind of mirage?” the Moerian suggested.
Warsgra’s frown deepened. “You mean being able to see the fire mountains could be a trick of the eye?”
Sudden panic flitted across Dela’s face. “Are we even heading in the right direction?”
“Yes,” he reassured her. “I’m sure we are. North is north. Nothing can change that.”
“Then why aren’t the fire mountains getting any closer?”
“Maybe they are,” Vehel said. “They just don’t look like they are.”
Warsgra scowled at him. “That doesn’t make any sense.”
“I’m not sure what I mean, but I wonder if it’s a way of keeping people away. Some kind of magic to make people think they’re nowhere near and make them give up, when actually, they’re closer than they think.”
Dela’s eyes widened. “You think this is magic?”
The Elvish prince nodded. “I think it could be. Before we left the Fae village, I asked Nimbus how long it would take for us to reach Drusga, and he told me that depended on us. I thought he was talking about how fast we were able to move, but now I wonder if it’s something else.”
“Like what?” she asked.
“I’m not sure. Maybe we’re just not looking at things right.”
Warsgra shook his head. “That’s nonsense. There’s only one way to look at things.”
“No, there isn’t,” Vehel replied. “When you see the reflection of the mountains in the stillness of a lake, you still see them, don’t you? You might not be looking directly at them, but you can still see them.”
Lines appeared across Dela’s brow. “You think we need to not look at them directly?”
“I’m not sure. I’m just thinking out loud.”
Warsgra didn’t like things like this. He liked things to be exactly as they should be. “No. We just need to cover more miles. Distance is distance.”
With that, he kicked his heels into Giant’s belly. “Yah!” he yelled, pushing the pony into a gallop.
Giant took a moment to get going, but then fell into a steady canter, his sturdy legs covering ground, kicking up dust behind them. The pounding of the pony’s hooves against the dirt was joined by several others, as his traveling companions followed suit and joined him. They’d all had enough now. They just wanted to get there and figure out what they needed to do next, and having a bunch of damned rocks playing mind tricks on them wasn’t helping matters.
Soon, both his own breathing and that of Giant’s became labored, snorting hard against the hot air. Not wanting to run the pony to the point of collapse, he pulled Giant to a halt and jumped down from his back.
Warsgra stared into the distance. “What, by the Gods …?”
He locked his hand in his long hair and shook his head in disbelief. They’d covered more miles, but the mountains looked exactly the same. Dela was right in her frustrations. This had to be some kind of magic.
The others galloped up beside him and also pulled their rides to a stop. They climbed off to join him.
Vehel shook his head, his eyes narrowing. “So, nothing has changed.”
“We’re just not getting any closer,” Dela cried, her eyes shiny with frustration. “It doesn’t matter how far we go. We might as well turn back, or we’ll end up killing ourselves trying to reach them.”
Vehel shook his head. “No, it’s some kind of trick.”
“Can’t you use your magic to reveal it?” Orergon asked.
His teeth dug into his lower lip. “I have no idea where to start.”
Vehel’s words about seeing a reflection in a lake played through his mind. He wasn’t the kind to normally think on such things, but it was worth a try.
He lifted the huge blade of his axe, and turned so his back was to the direction they’d been heading. The others had all dismounted, and crowded around him, their bodies pressed in close. He was taller than each of them, and lifted his axe blade high, allowing the others to see.
They staggered back with cries of surprise.
Beside him, Dela gasped.
The tall slopes of the fire mountain that lead to Drusga was right there, towering over them, only a matter of a few miles away. They were looking at a reflection, but as they turned around they discovered the blackened sides of the fire mountain only a matter of a few miles away.
Vehel shook his head in wonder. “Viewing the fire mountain through Warsgra’s axe must have broken the illusion.”
Warsgra exchanged glances with his companions. They’d believed they still had a long way to go, but that was incorrect.
They’d already arrived.
Chapter 30
Dela
Dela’s stomach flipped with nerves.
She’d thought she had more time, but all of a sudden, they were already here. All they had to do was climb a part of the fire mountain to reach the opposite side and look down onto the valley beyond. Then she would learn the truth of what she was.
She exchanged a nervous smile with the others. “I guess we should keep moving, then?”
Warsgra nodded. “Aye. Let’s do this.”
They mounted the ponies for the final part of their journey.
Her breathing grew shallow with nerves, but also because the stink of sulfur grew strong enough for her to want to cover her nose. Now that they were so close, she could see smoke rising from the surface of the volcano.
Had the magic been created by the volcano itself, or was something else responsible? The dragons, perhaps? Her heart lifted with hope. Was it possible that the same magic that made them think Drusgra was almost unreachable was the same magic that had kept the secret that dragons still lived for so long?
“Be careful, the ground is getting boggy,” Orergon called.
He was right. Patches appeared between the rocky crags, soft ground that looked solid at first, until it was stepped upon and vanished to reveal liquid beneath. The ponies began to stumble, placing their footing on ground they thought to be solid, but then suddenly wasn’t.
“We need to continue on foot,” Dela said. “One of the ponies is going to end up with a broken leg, if we’re not careful.”
They all did as she suggested, sliding from their backs and leading them forward with the rope harnesses.
The areas of bog started to spread, becoming larger than the areas of rock. As they climbed, picking their way around the loose areas, the smoke in the air increased, and the remaining air grew thin. Dela found her lungs tightening in
protest, and she coughed often, covering her mouth with the back of her hand. The others were coughing, too, and she hoped the air quality wasn’t going to get much worse. The route they followed was taking them higher, but they wouldn’t need to go right to the summit of the fire mountain. Sweat poured down her back and ran from her hairline. The heat continued to increase, and she could see the ponies starting to struggle, too.
“Come on, Ghost,” she encouraged her pony. “You can do it.” The pony snorted in response, but his breathing was labored, and guilt speared through her. “We should have left them at the pools,” she called to the others. “I don’t know how much more of this they can take.”
“We can’t go back now,” Warsgra replied. “We have to keep going.”
She nodded and coughed again, her throat burning. Her chest felt tight, too, as though she couldn’t draw enough air into her lungs, but she didn’t know if it was from the smoke or the altitude.
How much farther would it be? The smoke from the fire mountain made it impossible to see the ridge, but she knew it was there. Her mind went to the dragons again. How could anything survive in such an alien, inhospitable landscape?
At some point, Warsgra had overtaken her, and now he came to a halt. “We have a problem.”
“What’s wrong?”
“We’ve run out of solid ground. There’s only boggy ground ahead, as far as I can see.”
Her heart sank. “No, there must be another way around.”
Warsgra shook his big, shaggy head. “Not that I can see.”
She glanced behind them, desperate. “What if we go back and retrace our steps? Maybe we can find another route.”
“We only have another hour or so of light,” Orergon said. “If we go back now, we’ll never make it to the ridge on time.”
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