"It is time for lunch. We should stop," said Renevos.
Hemlock turned to Tored. "Tored, the wizards are asking to stop to eat."
Tored seemed to regard the concept as unfavorable, but he did not voice his opinion. He called to the Tanna Varrans to stop.
As Hemlock ate her dried cattle meat and rice, she noted again that their group was sitting in four groups: the Tanna Varrans of the Taros family, the Tanna Varrans of the Umra family, the wizards led by Renevos, and her and Tored. They also walked in these groups, and Hemlock knew that none of the three largest groups had much of a fondness for any of the others.
Tored, who sat beside her, ate little. She had seen him eat a small piece of bread given to him by Faud, but that was it. In fact, Hemlock noticed that none of the Tanna Varrans ate very much.
Turning back to Tored, Hemlock saw him regarding her. "We usually only eat twice a day," he said.
Something about sitting with Tored awakened a memory in Hemlock’s mind. She used to sit with Safreon and have small conversations like she was having now. She felt simultaneous feelings of intense melancholy and appreciation for Tored’s company.
Hemlock noticed Renevos slowly rise from the group of wizards and walk toward them. The old wizard nodded perfunctorily and then seated himself beside them.
“Did you warn them about magic?” asked Renevos.
“Yes, she did. We are forbidden to use magic because of the chaotic nature of the lands that immediately surround the City. My warriors have been informed,” said Tored.
“Well, you make sure they heed that warning. I remember when I was a younger man; we were on a journey south when some fool cast a small spell to lighten his pack. None of us noticed it, and we were taken off guard when we were attacked. Strange tendrils rose from the ground itself and lashed out as us. They grabbed two wizards and suffocated them before we could form up a defense. Don’t underestimate the danger of the chaos magic here.”
“We won’t, Renevos,” said Hemlock.
“What is the origin of this magic?” asked Tored, as he chewed on another small piece of bread.
Hemlock shrugged. Renevos appeared to be deep in thought, and then responded. “Some say that the Imperial magic that lingers in the City has displaced the natural chaos magic in these perimeter lands, and concentrated its power.”
This piqued Hemlock’s interest. “How much Imperial magic is still around?”
Renevos shifted uncomfortably and looked downward. “These matters are best discussed in the Tower.”
Hemlock shrugged and smiled at Tored, who acknowledged her jest with a small grin.
Hemlock turned her attention back toward Renevos and was startled to see him looking at her with an intense glare.
“We wizards once ran at the forefront, and the City followed in our wake. We must have faltered. And now you have taken our place. We now follow in your wake. I don’t like it, but I respect you and your power. Therefore I follow you. But I don’t respect the common folk of the City,” said Renevos, his hoarse voice rising to a passionate volume.
“I never agreed with giving them potions. Why should we give them something which their stature has not earned? We will make them softer and weaker than they already are. They will come to depend on us like lecherous worms. We needed to let them use magic, and we needed the best of them to fill out our ranks. I think Zaringer made a mistake in trying to suppress all non-Guild magic.
But I don’t support giving magic secrets away, either. They are something that should be earned, and with that difficulty should come a sense of responsibility. This free distribution of magic that you are leading will backfire, Hemlock. Just you wait!”
Hemlock sighed audibly. “I appreciate your opinion, Renevos. You need not concern yourself with these matters now—at least until we return to the City. I’m actually trying to get my mind off of the City on this journey.”
Renevos rose and walked off, muttering: “Such are the whims of the young. No time for wise words from their elders.”
After Renevos had left earshot, Tored spoke. “Well, he’s a dour one. But perhaps there is some wisdom in his words?”
Hemlock sighed again in response, and did not answer.
Tored rose and shouldered his backpack. The other Tanna Varrans followed his lead, and did the same; the wizards followed suit. Soon, the walkers resumed their journey west.
They walked for several hours without incident. The terrain began to undulate with soft hills interspersed with small conifer forests.
Around that time it was noticed that a flock of birds began to wheel over the group. Initially they flew at some altitude, but then they began to glide lower and pass closer. They were white birds with pronounced beaks and stubby, awkward looking bodies. But, despite their shape, they were fast and powerful flyers.
The distinctive call of the birds, which resembled a person's laugh, began to trouble the Tanna Varrans.
"Hemlock, what of these birds that fly overhead? They concern the men, who say that they are a bad omen," said Tored.
"They're called Laughing Warblers. They are thought to be good luck in the City. But I've never seen so many at once," replied Hemlock.
As minutes turned into an hour and the birds remained overhead, Hemlock could see the strain on the faces of the Tanna Varrans as they looked upwards nervously, and took to grumbling amongst themselves.
"Tored, why do you think the birds are bad luck?"
"In our land, when birds follow overhead, we think that evil spirits are tracking our movements. Also these birds are white like many of the evil birds in our land. And their laugh sounds like it mocks us."
That laughing sound is getting on my nerves, too.
"Remember," she reminded Tored, "don't use magic here."
"It is true that in our land we would take flight to scatter the birds. But we remember your warning."
"Perhaps you should remind your men?"
Tored's jaw thrust out. "These are Tanna Varran warriors! No reminder should be necessary."
Hemlock was not so sure, but she yielded to Tored's dismissive tone, and did not ask again.
Mere minutes later, Hemlock watched in disbelief as Faud, the Tanna Varran youth that had been accosting her throughout the trip, launched into the air powerfully, and scattered the birds overhead.
A friend of Taros Sundar quickly took to the air after Faud with an impressive burst of power. But Umra Vyle looked determined to upstage him, and launched a few seconds later—easily exceeding the power of the first two flyers. Both men grabbed Faud roughly, and the trio descended back to the ground rapidly.
As they landed, Umra Vyle struck Faud hard across the face, knocking the slender youth to the ground with a splatter of blood.
Members of the Taros and Umra clan gathered around the scene in an instant, and Hemlock feared that a general melee was about to break out.
Tored arrived on the scene, and shouldered his way between Umra Vyle and Taros Sundar, who were shoving each other and arguing.
Tored’s voice rose above the throng. “Cease this disorder immediately!”
The Tanna Varrans were silent to a man.
“Faud! You are an impulsive fool for using magic here despite the warnings. You have shamed our tribe! Umra Vyle! You have struck Faud without consulting me first. You are not the leader of this band. I am!”
Tored’s angry gaze alternated between Faud and Umra Vyle. “Both of these actions were foolish, and bring dishonor to us. Because Faud has been dishonored by Umra Vyle, he will not be punished any further.”
Umra Vyle exploded in rage. “He should be flogged!”
“No! Umra Vyle, you and Swarth Taros also used magic to go after Faud. You two should be punished. Vyle, you also struck Faud, and that should warrant further punishment.”
At these words, many voices from the Umra clan broke out in anger.
“Silence!” shouted Tored again.
Again, all were silent.
“I will not furt
her dishonor our tribe by inflicting more punishment at this time. This matter is closed.”
Angry voices broke out from both clans at this pronouncement. Tored ignored them and strode ahead, alone.
Hemlock rushed ahead to catch him. As she passed the group of Tanna Varrans, she heard the sarcastic voice of Taros Sundar call out. “Umra Vyle has once again proven his prowess at jousting with birds and fools!” Muted laughter rang out from the Taros clan in response to the remark.
She reached Tored a moment later. "What was that all about? And stop! We have to prepare to defend ourselves from the chaos magic," Hemlock said.
"Hemlock, I apologize for that foolishness. Apparently Faud is a bigger fool than I realized. He will face trial once we arrive back at Tor Varnos. I will organize the men in a defensive formation."
Tored again quieted the Tanna Varrans and organized them into clustered squads. Renevos walked in the center, ringed by the First Circle wizards. Sensing that Tored wanted to be alone for a time, Hemlock walked with the wizards.
Hemlock wanted to ask Renevos questions about what danger they might now face from the chaos magic, but decided against it for fear of making noise and breaking the peace of the fragile truce that Tored had imposed on the two Tanna Varran clans.
An hour passed without incident, and Hemlock decided to move closer to Renevos so that she could talk to him without shouting.
“Nothing has happened. Do you think we’ve been lucky and avoided the danger?”
Renevos still looked nervous, but less so than before. “Possibly. In my experience, the attacks from the chaos magic are usually nearly immediate.”
Hemlock overheard the Tanna Varrans to her left talking softly amongst themselves.
“Look, a rainbow!” said one.
“It is a good omen,” said another.
Seeing the rainbow, Hemlock felt her spirits rise with the Tanna Varrans. She looked back to Renevos, but his expression was unchanged.
Hemlock dropped back to walk with Tored, who was walking in the rear of the group by himself. As she did so, she found herself thinking back to her dream of the strange man in the tricorne hat who had severed her connection with the spirit that she had been aiding. She could see that Tored was still simmering from the recent lack of discipline in his unit. But she felt a sudden need to unburden herself by telling him about the dream.
“Did you see the rainbow?” she asked.
“Of course. It pleases me little after what has happened,” he replied.
“Well, it seems like Faud’s mistake may not cost any lives. That has to please you.”
“I will take heart in that at the end of our journey—not during.”
“Tored, I know you’re upset, but I want to talk to you about something. It’s important.”
Tored cleared his throat softly, and then replied in a more supportive voice. “All right.”
“Something happened to me on the morning that you arrived. That’s why I was delayed prior to meeting with you.”
“Go on.”
“I had decided to nap the prior afternoon. After I fell asleep, I had a dream. It was one of my special dreams where I am called by a spirit from another world and asked to help them. I answered their call. This made me sleep for many hours. That’s why I was late for your meeting.”
“Our mystics say that time passes more slowly in other worlds. Perhaps that’s why you slept so late.”
Why hasn’t he ever mentioned this to me before?
“What else do they say about my dreams?”
“Nothing specifically, but they think that you sleep so long because of the slower passage of time in the other places that you reach out to.”
“Interesting. I guess that would make a weird sort of sense. But listen: something unusual happened to me at the end of this dream. In the few times that I’ve aided spirits in this way, I’ve always been able to help them confront their problems and survive them. I don’t think I did that this time. I think the spirit I was helping was defeated.”
“Really? I suppose it’s possible, although I’ve never seen someone with your type of power before. Is it possible that there is one greater than you?”
“I…I don’t know. I saw a man dressed in a tricorne hat and ancient looking clothes. His eyes glowed like he was a monster. He carried something.”
Hemlock paused, not wanting to mention aloud the thing that he carried.
“What did he carry?” asked Tored.
“The same thing that we seek on this journey—the same type of wand that Safreon wielded and that I destroyed after defeating Falignus.”
The two walked on in silence for several minutes. Hemlock was anxious to hear Tored’s reaction, but her hopes for some advice were not immediately met.
“What happened next?”
“He used the wand on the woman I was helping. But as he did so, I became conscious of his mind for a moment. And he sensed me, too. Then he drove me away, and my link was broken.”
“Have you discussed this with Gwineval?”
“No, you’re the first one I’ve confided in.”
“Why? I’m no wizard. It seems to me that Gwineval would give far better advice on a matter such as this.”
“He might know more about lore and things like that, but you can give me a gut reaction. That has value, too. And I didn’t want Gwineval to insist on me staying in the City for another moment.”
“Hemlock, if there is a being out there wielding a wand such as you speak of, then you have to consider that he may be returning to the City.”
“I know. I thought of that.”
“Then why did you leave?”
Hemlock felt like a vulnerable part of her psyche had just been invaded by someone she trusted. She experienced strong feelings of guilt that she had carefully locked away in her mind.
But I had to get away from those wizards and those blasted responsibilities!
“Tored, do you think the tricorne man will return before I get back to the City?”
“No, I don’t—but I can’t be sure. Remember how we just discussed that time passes more slowly in other worlds? If this man was on another world when you fought him, then chances are that it will take him some time, in our terms, to arrive.”
Thank the light!
“I hope you are right. And I feel that you are right. I think that’s why I felt all right leaving the City. I would never desert my friends and family—but I really needed to get away.”
“Hemlock, it may take some time—maybe years—but this man with the glowing eyes will surely arrive eventually. You must prepare for him. And you have to tell Gwineval so that he can help you.”
Hemlock felt better, and she was pleased that she had decided to tell Tored.
“Tored, I’m sure I don’t even need to ask—but can you keep this between us?”
Tored turned and placed his hand on her shoulder. “Of course, but please heed my advice and tell Gwineval when you get back.”
They walked for another hour before being confronted with some rough terrain. The ground sloped downwards from horizon to horizon. Toward the middle of this depression, a hill of significant size rose before them. Some force had carved several narrow passes that proceeded through the hill’s bulk in some proximity to one another, but separated by height and large columns of rock. An imposing looking stretch of rocky marsh flanked the hill on both sides, teeming with barbed plants and deep pools of stagnant water.
The group paused to discuss their next move. Tored and Renevos joined Hemlock at the front of the band, and surveyed the terrain.
“I remember this pass, “said Renevos, “the paths are narrow. One or two men will fit abreast at most. The marshes on either side stretch for several miles in each direction.”
“We came this way when we journeyed to the City. This area…well, it was not here,” said Tored.
“Hmm… Such things are possible in this land. The chaos energy in the area is thought to trigger it,” said Re
nevos.
Tored looked back and forth, surveying the land from horizon to horizon. He scowled, and then shrugged.
“We’d be vulnerable in those passes, but I would like to get back to Tor Varnos as soon as possible to prevent further argument between the Umra and Taros tribes.” said Tored.
“It seems like a waste of time to go around. It’s been hours since Faud used his wings. Nothing has happened,” said Hemlock.
“I do remember passing through here without incident—but that was many years ago,” said Renevos.
Tored turned and looked back at the rest of the group. His disapproving gaze alternated between Taros Sundar and Umra Vyle, who stood many yards behind, but regarded at the three in front with some curiosity.
“I say we go through,” said Tored.
“Fine, should we go through in a long file?” asked Hemlock.
“We’d be just as vulnerable in the passes that way as if we split up. And if there is danger in there, it would take us longer to pass through. My suggestion is to split the group and dash through as quickly as we can,” said Tored.
“Fine with me,” said Hemlock.
Renevos seemed indifferent, so Tored gave the instructions to the group.
“We will split into squads and each squad will take one of the passes. We do not believe there is any danger here, but our goal is to get through as quickly as possible. Do not delay.”
Hemlock rejoined the party of wizards, and they approached the pass that was nearest to them. It split off in a bend ahead, and they were unable to see beyond a wall of rock covered with a layer of long green tendrils of plant life.
Hemlock looked to her left and saw Umra Vyle and a group of his clan entering another pass that was close to hers.
The young warrior met her gaze with a look of quiet defiance.
I’m not your enemy, but, fine, be that way. Hemlock looked away without changing her facial expression. I won’t give you the satisfaction of scowling.
As she walked, Hemlock felt a strange feeling of peace within the confines of the pass. Only the uncertain steps of Renevos ahead of her interrupted her reverie. The older man had trouble, at times, as he was forced to climb over rocky obstacles.
Hemlock noticed something unusual then. The rainbow which had graced the sky for several hours now seemed to be descending right into the hill to her left. It was an amazing sight, and didn’t concern her until she heard an odd sound followed by a bestial roar and the shouts of voices from that direction. She recognized Umra Vyle’s voice among the din of shouts.
Hemlock And The Dead God's Legacy (Book 2) Page 7
