Five Corners: The Marked Ones

by Cathi Shaw

  "Where are you going?" she asked trying to hide her disappointment from him.

  "I'm concerned that none of the parties we sent out have returned. I'm taking a small scouting party outside Séreméla to see what we can learn." He smiled at her. "I'll only be gone a week or so. And Bellasiel has informed me that you are now well enough to explore the gardens on your own."

  Despite the good news from her healer, Mina felt a stab of alarm. What if whatever was hunting them found Meldiron? The wards protected him while he was within Séreméla but leaving it was dangerous.

  "I'm the best guarded Elder in Séreméla," he assured Mina when she shared her concerns with him. "If anyone should be able to go abroad safely, it is I. There will be a party of guards with me. I will be fine."

  Still she watched him leave that afternoon with a sense of heavy foreboding.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Kiara and Caedmon prepared to leave the cave late in the morning. Caedmon reasoned that they should make a start on the journey before another winter storm had the chance to move in and strand them indefinitely.

  As she exited, Kiara stood on the lip of the cave and gazed at the bright, clean landscape. Now that the storm had lifted she could see the pile of snow three hundred meters below them where the mountain had buried the entrance to the other cave. Where her sister was trapped.

  With a sinking heart, Kiara had to admit that Caedmon was right. It would be impossible to dig their siblings out from under that mess.

  "We'd be best to assume that they made it to the tunnel and are on their way to Séreméla through the mountain, rather than over it," Caedmon noted. "Try to focus on them having an easier time than we are going to face. We'd better start on our own journey."

  He turned back to their cave and grabbed the pack, putting it onto his back. The loss of Kiara's supplies meant they had to share the little food and water that was in Caedmon's pack and the sleeping roll was the only source of warmth they possessed. Kiara was grateful that she'd been out in the storm at least. It ensured that she’d been wearing her winter traveling clothes when her supplies were buried. Without the fur-lined coat, hat and gloves, she would already be dead.

  Caedmon handed her a chunk of cheese and a dry roll. "Eat now. We'll find more food on the way." Kiara nodded glumly and began to eat even though she doubted there would be any sources of cheese and bread on this journey. She knew she could hunt but she wondered how many creatures they would come upon when they were so far up in the mountains in the dead of winter.

  Caedmon saw her expression. "Let's look on the bright side," he said encouragingly. "We'll be able to make better time now. Both you and I are strong and can move faster than either Teague or Thia. I had my doubts as to how much of the mountain climbing your little sister would have been able to handle anyway."

  Kiara nodded. He was right. With just the two of them they should be able to make good time. It was not much, but it was something.

  They set off shortly after that and began climbing at a brisk pace. It was hard work, uphill and through the deep new snow but Kiara was enjoying the flush it brought to her cheeks and the pounding to her heart. It made it easier to ignore the bitter cold and her worry over Thia.

  They agreed not to stop for a mid-day break, as they had nothing to eat anyway but to use that time to continue climbing.

  Towards late afternoon, Caedmon began looking for shelter but they weren't as lucky as the previous night. This high up the mountain there weren't the caves that were found on the lower slopes. It was just snow and ice as far as the eye could see.

  "Can we climb through the night?" Kiara asked, looking up at the sky. "It's a full moon tonight."

  But Caedmon shook his head. "Even with the full moon, we'll be coming to the crevices soon. Those are too dangerous to navigate after dark." He paused. "Besides we are going to need our strength. Even at this pace, it will take us ten days to get through the mountains provided we don't run into any more problems."

  Kiara nodded. He was right again. She was reminded that Caedmon was an expert when it came to these mountains. It was better they rest while they could.

  Caedmon was more gifted than she was at finding shelter in places where it appeared that there wasn't any to be found. "One of the rewards of training as a soldier," he said when Kiara commented on it.

  "One of them?" she couldn’t help asking.

  "The other is learning to sleep anywhere."

  They laughed and then Caedmon went to find wood for a fire while Kiara started hunting.

  She was lucky and caught a winter hare. She brought it back and they cooked it over the fire Caedmon had started. It wasn't much food, the meat stringy and tough, but it sated their hunger for the night.

  Without talking about it, they automatically shared the sleeping roll that night. The air was bitterly cold this high on the mountain and Kiara was grateful for Caedmon's strong arms wrapped around her, chasing the worse of the cold away. She slept soundly despite the sleeping arrangements.

  Three days later, they reached the summit of the mountain. Kiara was hoping the mountain would begin to slope downward after that but instead they were facing a huge glacier field. Kiara stared at it in dismay.

  Caedmon came to stand beside her and survey their next day's path.

  "This field is treacherous," he told her quietly.

  Kiara looked at him quickly in surprise. "You've been here before?"

  He nodded. "Several times. We came here for training. We lost eighteen careless trainees in the two weeks we were here."

  Kiara held her tongue but she was shocked. What kind of army took its trainees to ice fields where they were sure to lose the inexperienced in their ranks? She wondered, not for the first time, about Caedmon's upbringing. He'd joined the army as a child, how old had he been when he'd come to the ice fields and watched his fellow soldiers die?

  She remembered once again how easily he'd killed the invader at the inn that night. She studied the harsh, handsome features of the man at her side. He was a puzzle of sorts. The type of man who cried over the loss of his brother, who wrapped her gently in his arms each night and who could snap a man's neck without a second thought.

  Something told Kiara not to ask too many questions about Caedmon's childhood. So she just nodded and followed him back to their makeshift camp.

  "Tomorrow will be the start of a very difficult crossing," he told her. "Crossing the glacier field is always fraught with danger but this time of year it has the added element of the weather."

  Kiara looked at him questioningly.

  "We did training in the spring long after the winter storms had left." He pointed to the field below them. "If a storm blows up while we are on the field, it will be a miracle if we survive."

  Kiara looked at the wide field of ice and shivered.

  "What is the likelihood of a storm?" she couldn’t stop herself from asking.

  Caedmon looked at her grimly. "Almost certain."

  Kiara turned to the small fire, irritation pricking at her nerves. "So do you have any suggestions for getting across the field safely then?"

  Caedmon nodded. "We go as fast as we safely can."

  ****

  Despite the need for haste, Caedmon warned Kiara that the ice field was dangerous for another reason. It was interconnected with thousands of crevices. One misstep and one could find oneself at the bottom of a three hundred meter drop. Very dead.

  With that in mind, Caedmon insisted on tying them together with his rope.

  "Well, that works in theory if I stumbled into a crevice," she noted drily. "But what happens if you fall in?"

  "Then we're both dead," he stated grimly, tightening the rope at his waist. Then he surprised her by smiling. “But don’t worry, Kiara, I won’t fall.” And he winked as he turned to start the climb down to the ice field.

  Kiara moodily followed him down the slope. She hoped Caedmon was as gifted at avoiding crevices as he was at finding shelter.

 
As they started across the field, Caedmon taught her how to sense the crevices before she stepped in them. It was exhausting work, not just because of the physical endurance it took to walk into the howling icy wind all day but because one couldn't let one’s concentration wander. One misstep and she'd find herself dead.

  They were halfway across the first third of the field, when they came to a huge crevice. At least 5 meters across, there was no way to gauge its depth. They stopped and looked down.

  "Ideas?" Kiara asked him grimly.

  Caedmon looked first left and then right. There was no clear end in sight in either direction. There was no point in exploring either way; this crevice seemed to have cut the glacier in half. And to add to the worry, the sky was darkening with the threat of their first winter storm on the field.

  "Can you jump it?" Caedmon asked suddenly.

  Kiara laughed, thinking he was kidding. Then she saw the blank expression on his face. "You can't be serious," she said flatly, a sinking sensation in her stomach telling her that he definitely was.

  He didn't smile. He looked at her steadily, his dark eyes grim. "So you can't?"

  "You are serious?" She gauged the distance to the far side. Then answered bluntly, "No. Can you?"

  He considered. "I think I might be able to"

  She glared at him. Of course, he thought he might be able to. Her old competitive nature kicked in. "Do you want me to try?" she asked, her pride smarting.

  Without waiting for an answer from him, she took a running leap and then she was falling, falling, falling down through jagged ice until the rope around her waist jerked her to halt, slicing into her skin. She grunted in pain, she didn't even want imagine the damage she'd just done to her middle.

  "Kiara?" Caedmon called down, his voice raw with worry.

  She took a deep breath, pushing the burning pain around her waist away. "I'm fine." She forced herself to call up to him. "Just hanging around," she added bitterly groaning at the raw ache that was radiating from where the rope was secured.

  Caedmon's relieved laughter echoed down the crevice.

  "Stop laughing and pull me up, you stupid oaf," she said grumpily, and then looked down.

  The icy drop seemed to go on forever. Kiara gulped, not wanting to think about what would have happened to her had the rope not been securely tied around her middle. Despite the pain, she gave a silent word of thanks for Caedmon's ability to tie knots as well as his other skills.

  She was about to look back up when a strange flickering light lower in the crevice caught her eye. It was about 3 meters below her on the opposite ice wall. What was it? She had a sudden urgent desire to see where the light was coming from.

  She felt the rope begin to tighten around her waist as Caedmon prepared to pull her up.

  "Caedmon wait!" she called in panic. She had to see where that light was coming from.

  "What?" he called down, concern clear in the voice.

  "There's something down here," she called to him. "Can you lower me a couple of meters?"

  "Kiara, those clouds don't look too welcoming. We need to get moving," he said impatiently.

  "Please Caedmon. Trust me."

  She heard him grumbling above her but then she began to be lowered.

  As she came closer to the light, Kiara looked ahead of her in stunned silence.

  Unbelievably, there was an underground road visible through an opening in the ice. Was it possible that she, like Teague, had found an alternate route through the mountain?

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Celeste was not in the room when Thia awoke from her dreamwalk with Teague. She sat up and looked over at Teague hoping he would magically open his eyes but he was as still and quiet as when she'd first fallen asleep.

  Thia watched him for a few minutes, taking in his profile and the way the soft brown curls fell over his forehead. In sleep he looked young but she missed the animation that came with his waking state. It would be ironic indeed if the only way she would see his waking state would be in the dream world. Her oldest friend outside of her sisters and they might be trapped in their dream friendship forever, so soon after they'd found one another in the waking world. Sadness washed over Thia as she considered it.

  You found him. Celeste's voice entered her consciousness.

  Thia turned automatically but Celeste wasn't in the room yet. A few moments later she glided in.

  Thia nodded to her. "He found me," she admitted.

  Celeste shook her head at Thia. No, more of that communication. You are new to this kind and you need to learn to be proficient at it. We will only communicate this way from now on. Do you understand?

  Thia nodded.

  Good. Part of our communication is not just unspoken words but feelings and senses. You felt that when you first woke, didn't you?

  Thia remembered the feelings that had threatened to overcome her when she had awoken in the cave.

  Once you learn this language, you will find the old way of communication limiting.

  Thia wasn't sure about that. She didn't know how she felt about someone being able to change her mood. It felt too much like an invasion of her mind.

  “It feels manipulative,” she said aloud.

  Celeste shook her head. “No, it’s not like that – we can’t alter one another’s moods or feelings. We can only emphasize the emotions that accompany our own words.”

  Let me demonstrate, Celeste said.

  Suddenly Thia was bathed in a sensation of joy and happiness. You made contact. Celeste smiled. That is more than we expected on the first attempt.

  Thia nodded. She could see how this could be a superior form of communication but it still felt too controlling to her. Then she focused on what Celeste had said.

  "You mean -" Thia stopped at the look of reproof on Celeste's face.

  You mean you didn't think we'd even make contact?

  Celeste tilted her head. We had our doubts. You are clearly closer linked that we originally anticipated. Did Teague have any idea as to why he is in the state he is in?

  Thia nodded. Yes, he said it's a spell. She explained the theory behind the spell as Teague had described it to her.

  Dark emotions oozed from Celeste. The fools. They do not understand what they are facing at all?

  Seeing the confusion and fear on Thia's face she softened her expression and sent out soothing thoughts.

  Teague will return to consciousness, she assured Thia. It will just take time. And while we wait for him, you can learn our ways.

  Thia was worried. What about my sister in Séreméla? she asked.

  I’m sorry, Thia, I have no way of knowing how she is but the Elders are gifted healers and Séreméla is a special place. She will have the best chance of healing there.

  I just wonder if I will ever see my family again. I feel like I’ve lost everything.

  I sense you will get there but while you are here let us teach you as much as we can.

  ****

  Thia continued the dreamwalks with Teague. She’d moved into the sickroom and slept there at night so she could be near him. She always hoped that when she woke Teague would as well but he continued in his comatose state. The more they met the more frustrated he became.

  I just want to wake up. I feel completely powerless knowing that I'm lying in a bed somewhere while so much is happening, he admitted to her one night.

  Try to be patient, Thia soothed him, sending out the calming feeling as Celeste had often done with her, experimenting to see if it would work in the Dreamscape.

  Teague face changed. What are you doing? he asked, his expression intrigued.

  Thia smiled. Celeste is teaching me this form of communication, she admitted shyly. In addition to sending verbal messages, they use it as a way to express feelings and thoughts. They can even send visual messages back and forth.

  Teague stood up and began pacing impatiently. Another thing you'll be more advanced at than I, he said with a grimace as he turned back to where she w
as sitting on the riverbank. I've never had the chance to actually practice with anyone. Caedmon never responded when I used it on him. You were the only one who ever did. It's just killing me knowing that I'm lying here missing out on a complete dialogue. And from what you're saying a more advanced way of using this form of communication.

  Thia reached up, grabbing his hand and tugging him until he sat down beside her. Relax, Teague, Celeste believes that you will wake soon.

  They were silent for a few moments, just sitting together.

  Have they made any progress at all? he finally asked in irritation.

  No visible progress but she thinks these meetings can only help, Thia admitted truthfully.

  He nodded but didn't look convinced.

  ****

  I am curious as to why you never touch Teague? Celeste asked her one day. It is clear that you long to do so, yet you always pull back as though you will be burnt. Why is that, Thia?

  Thia sighed. She explained to Celeste what happened when she touched Teague.

  Celeste listened intently. Does this happen in your dreamwalks as well?

  No, the first time it happened, I didn't realize what it was.

  Celeste watched her closely. And do you have an idea as to what it is now?

  Thia shook her head. But it isn’t just with me. Teague says no one has ever been able to touch him.

  Celeste looked thoughtful but then changed the topic to the harvesting techniques of The People, as they called themselves. Thia had been spending most of her days, the times when she wasn't dreamwalking with Teague, learning about The People's way of life below ground.

  She was amazing by what she discovered. They had adapted their entire life to their existence below ground. There were underground gardens with the most interesting vegetation grown in them. Iridescent fungi and mushrooms, grasses that grew in the underground pools, and small plants that were edible and needed no sunlight to grow. Thia never imagined such a place could exist.