by Jeff Inlo
"What's the best way to handle this?" Ryson wondered aloud.
The guard looked back to the city border. The number of curious bystanders was growing. He wasn't sure what the delver wanted with Enin, but he acknowledged the wizard was the best suited to handle the situation.
"I'd like to get you to a safe place," the guard stated. "You're causing too much commotion out here in the open. Did you have a place in mind?"
"I was going to head right to Enin's home. I've been there before."
"Then you know that might not be the best place to go. You're going to attract a big crowd and there are some narrow streets between here and there with quite a few open markets as well. Too many people at this time of day. We also need to find a place that can accommodate your friend's size."
"Would you escort us to the Church of Godson, please?" Dzeb requested as he continued to pet the contented horse.
"That's not a bad idea," the soldier allowed. "You alright with that?"
Ryson was fine with the idea and nodded in agreement.
"Alright," the soldier stated and then reviewed the surrounding grounds. "This is what I'd like to do. I'm going to lead you around that hill to my left. That's going to take us out of the view of the crowd. Then, I'm going to pick up the pace a bit. I know you can keep up," the soldier acknowledged as he looked to Ryson, but then turned to Dzeb, "but how about you?"
"I will try to maintain any pace you set," Dzeb announced with all humility.
"I don't think you have to worry about him," Ryson added. "They are surprisingly fast and their long stride allows them to cover a lot of ground in a hurry."
"Great. Then I'll lead you down a side path I know. We're still going to attract attention, but not as much. I'll get you to the church, get you inside, and then I'll send word to Enin."
"Thank you very much."
"Not a problem. Okay, let's go."
The soldier pulled on the reigns and led his somewhat reluctant mount toward the hill. The horse did not wish to leave the cliff behemoth, but when the animal saw the giant follow, it perked up noticeably. The horse seemed more than pleased to be leading the cliff behemoth. In fact, the animal appeared downright proud.
They moved quickly. The soldier looked back only once. When he noted the speed and agility of the behemoth, he lost any worry of outpacing the giant. He nudged his horse to a quick step and entered the city out of sight of the initial crowd.
Others within Connel, however, quickly took note of the giant. They could not have missed him. Curious onlookers tried to follow, but by the time they recovered from their original surprise, the small group of travelers had weaved their way out of sight. Only a few citizens managed to keep up, but they found the pace and path difficult to maintain.
The guard moved through alleys wide enough to handle Dzeb's massive frame but deserted enough to avoid growing attention. He steered them away from all street markets and public squares, and he maintained a swift pace to lose all followers.
Other guards on patrol quickly observed the continuing disturbance. They moved in to address the mammoth form rushing through Connel's streets. After brief calls to the lead soldier, they accepted the short explanation without debate. They even assisted in diverting any growing crowds. Rather than detaining or even delaying the group, the escorting soldiers allowed for even faster travel through the city.
While making such progress and gaining the assistance of the soldiers, Ryson believed the decision to bring Linda to Connel was the correct one. The only other choice was Burbon, and though he would have liked to bring Linda home, parading a cliff behemoth through the controlled streets might have raised other problems.
He was actually surprised the soldiers of Connel were so accommodating and willing to assist without obtaining approval from superiors. He knew Burbon's guards would have been much more reluctant to permit such a disturbance. He wondered if they would have allowed Dzeb to pass through the town gate without checking with Sy, but that was not a concern in Connel, and Ryson dismissed such thoughts in order to focus on the well-being of his wife.
Much sooner than Ryson hoped possible, they had reached the tall steps of the Church of Godson. The soldier stopped at the base, but ensured the delver and cliff behemoth would reach the door.
"You going to be alright from here?" the soldier asked.
"It'll be fine," Ryson assured the guard. "I know them, and they view cliff behemoths as kind of a blessing. We've been here before."
"You know I've already asked other guards to get word to Enin. I'm going to the nearest post. I'm going to make sure they increase patrols around the church to keep any gawkers from creating a problem."
"Thanks again."
"Just get inside as quick as possible," the guard requested.
His horse gave one last look to Dzeb and whinnied a final farewell before following the soldier's urges to move on. The behemoth offered a bow of his head and another broad smile to the departing animal.
"Such magnificent servants of Godson," the giant noted and then followed Ryson up the remaining steps and through the door of the church.
Ryson quickly explained the situation to a few followers and the Reader Rachael. He was pleased but not surprised to hear they would assist in any way possible. They placed Linda in a comfortable chair in the main seating area for the congregation. The stone building contained an interior that was large enough to easily accommodate Dzeb's size, as if it were built with the understanding that a cliff behemoth was apt to enter at any time.
Ryson checked first on Linda. She showed no further signs of hostility and remained uncaring to her situation and her surroundings. The delver found such an attitude as unimaginable, but hopefully he would get answers when Enin arrived. While he waited, he decided to address his curiosity regarding other matters.
"Why are you here?" Ryson asked of the cliff behemoth.
"You, and Godson, guided us here," Dzeb remarked as if the answer was obvious.
"No, sorry, I didn't mean why are you in Connel. What brought you into the forest? I found your tracks. You came out of the north. I assume from the mountains?"
"Yes."
"Well, why?"
"To help your Linda."
"But how did you know she needed help?"
"How did you?"
"Because she's been acting strange," a slightly frustrated Ryson replied, "and I knew she ran off into the forest. I couldn't find her at home and asked the guards. How could you have possibly known she was out in the forest?"
"It is Godson's will she be protected," Dzeb answered with total candor and an acceptance of the situation based on pure faith.
It might have been sincere, but the answer lacked substance for the delver.
"That doesn't answer the question"
"Yes, it does."
Ryson tried to make the connection between his question and Dzeb's answer. He couldn't. All he could imagine was that Dzeb received some kind of divine communication, but how the giant might have received that message defied his understanding. Needing to know, he pressed for greater detail.
"So what happened, did you get some kind of message from above? Was there a voice from the sky, a bolt of lightning, did an angel whisper in your ear?"
Dzeb shook his head and laughed lightly.
"I understand you are a delver and you want answers," the giant allowed, "but some things defy explanation."
"So you're not going to tell me?"
"I have told you."
Ryson held back a groan but admitted an honest annoyance with the behemoth's reply.
"I hate it when you do this."
"Do not make room in your heart for hate," the behemoth advised.
"Okay, bad choice of words, but I still don't understand it. Linda just takes off, which is a surprise to everyone, and yet you show up in the forest right when she needs you. We haven't seen you in some time. It's obviously not a coincidence. You didn't go to Burbon. You were clearly following her as if you
knew right where to find her. All I'm asking is how did you know to go looking for her in the forest?"
"What does an apple taste like?" Dzeb asked.
Ryson was stunned by the question.
"Excuse me?"
"You have eaten apples before, yes?"
"Of course, but..."
"What do they taste like?"
"They taste like apples, some are sweet, some are sour. What's this..."
"Aren't some berries sweet and others tart?"
"Yeah," Ryson allowed, but he still couldn't imagine what the giant was talking about.
"Do berries taste like apples?"
"No, berries taste like berries and apples taste like apples."
"But you still haven't explained to me what an apple tastes like."
Ryson began to understand where Dzeb was headed but needed to confirm it.
"So you're trying to make a point about how you can't explain how you knew to go into the forest?"
"I'm trying to show you how some things are difficult to explain. An apple tastes like an apple because it does. I knew to go into the forest because it was Godson's will. I can't explain what it's like to know His will. I didn't hear some voice from the clouds, I didn't get struck by lighting, and I didn't hear whispers from angels. I know because I just do... just as you know what an apple tastes like when you eat one."
Ryson almost debated the contention further, but he saw the large oak doors swing open. Enin entered the church with Holli and Jure by his side.
Enin was about to greet those assembled when his gaze fell harshly upon Linda. He held out his arms to keep Jure and Holli from moving forward and issued an immediate warning.
"Will you all please move away from Linda!"
Everyone gathered in the church hesitated. Ryson would not leave his wife and Dzeb held fast to his belief that Linda required his protection. Even the members of the church, those that knew Enin's vast power, chose to defy the request. They were reluctant to step away from the woman that had been brought into their care.
"I understand your hesitancy," Enin allowed, "but I must insist."
"What are you talking about?!" Ryson demanded. "I'm not leaving my wife."
"I'm not asking you to leave her, but a safe distance is necessary."
"Why?"
"There are arasaps inside of her. Now please, for your safety and hers, just take a few steps back."
Ryson and Dzeb would still not heed the wizard's warning.
"What?!" the delver cried.
He turned to look upon his wife. She sat still and quiet, looking down at her hands with no apparent concern for the wizard or his accusation. Ryson thought there might have been something wrong with her, but he never imagined what Enin professed.
"What are you talking about?"
"Ryson, please. She's in no immediate danger, but you might be. You are much too close to her."
"I'm not walking away from her!"
"There is no danger to me," Dzeb added as if to reinforce the choice Ryson had just made. "My charge is to keep her safe, and so I shall until she is better."
"I see," Enin acknowledged.
The wizard knew if he could not persuade the mighty cliff behemoth to take precautions, it would be useless to ask the delver to step away. He did insist the members of the church move to the side of the large room. Once they reluctantly agreed and allowed a clear path between Linda and those who just arrived, Enin consulted with Jure.
"Do you sense them?"
"Four of them," Jure responded in the affirmative, "but I don't understand."
"I don't, either!" Ryson implored. "How can something be inside of her? Are you saying she's possessed?"
"Infiltrated would be a better description. Do you know what an arasap is?" Enin asked of the delver.
"Vaguely," the delver admitted with growing frustration and alarm. "I read about them in the legends. They're like jelly monsters. They feed on magic."
"A common misconception. They are not made of jelly, and they do not feed on magic. They feed on spell residue."
"Magic... spells... what's the difference?! She's immune to magic!"
"I know, but you are not. That's why I believe you are in greater danger than Linda. I know you won't step away, but at least allow me to deal with this."
"You can help her?" Ryson hoped.
"I have to understand it first," Enin explained. "Now, please, give me a moment."
Enin looked ever deeper into Linda, but her immunity to magic made seeing the arasaps extremely difficult. Still, he could sense them and their unyielding hunger. They were a great danger to unsuspecting magic casters and the wizard knew enough of their abilities to comprehend some of the situation, but not the full scope.
"You are correct, Jure," Enin declared to the elder wizard. "There are definitely four within her. It's strange, though. I would have guessed they would have been more difficult to isolate as separate entities, but somehow they are each very unique in a fashion I cannot fathom."
"I know," Jure agreed. "It's almost as if they're four completely different species, but I always thought arasaps were nearly identical in nature."
"They have been in the past."
"Maybe that explains why they're inside her," Jure offered. "Maybe she provides them a unique feeding experience."
"They shouldn't be able to feed off of her at all," Enin stated. "They should be starving inside of her, and yet, all four seem exceedingly strong. That's why we can sense them despite Linda's immunity."
"Can we get them out?"
"I'm trying to figure a way," Enin admitted, "but I'm at a total loss. A spell would be useless. Linda serves as a total barrier to magic. I can't grab them. Can you?"
Jure shook his head.
"No, I can sense their unique impulses, but I can't touch them. They're beyond my grasp."
Enin turned to Holli.
"Can you sense them at all?"
"No," the elf revealed. "She is like a solid wall to me."
Ryson noted the contradiction and questioned the original theory.
"Maybe she's right. Maybe they aren't inside of her. Holli could always sense dark creatures. Maybe you two are sensing something else, something that's making Linda act so strange."
With that, Enin recalled Ryson's previous trip to Connel and the delver's concerns about Linda's state of mind.
"No, Ryson, we are not mistaken. There are definitely arasaps inside of Linda. Holli can't feel them because she is attuned to the magical presence of dark creatures. That presence is blocked by Linda's immunity. Jure and I can feel the arasaps on a different level. We do not simply sense the creature. We grasp the very presence of foreign entities and their energy."
"Can you help her at all?"
Enin remained silent, but only for a moment. He did not want to crush the delver's hopes, but he had to be truthful.
"At the moment, I'm at a loss. Linda makes the perfect sanctuary for the creatures. Her immunity to magic places a wall between them and anything we hope to accomplish. I believe the best thing to do is wait them out. They will eventually starve inside of her and they will be forced to come out and feed. It may take a while, but they cannot stay in her indefinitely."
Jure saw the dejected look in the delver and decided to offer an idea that was sparked by Enin's description of the situation.
"Maybe we can coax them out," the elder wizard proposed.
"Coax?" Enin asked with guarded interest. "In what way?"
"It's like you said, they're behind a wall, but that should work both ways. It's not just a defensive barrier, it's an obstruction as well. They can't get to any magic. That means they can't feed on anything. They also shouldn't even be able to sense us."
"Go on."
"My magic can't penetrate Linda, but if I press it against her, the arasaps should sense any spell residue that breaks away."
"Yes, I see."
"One or two, hopefully all of them, will seize on it and follow the tra
il out of her and back to me. If I drop my defenses, they shouldn't be able to resist the opportunity, but they won't know you're here until it's too late. Think about it. There's nothing inside of her for them and there has to be a mountain to feed on inside of me."
Enin followed the plan through to its ultimate conclusion.
"And once they are outside of Linda, I can deal with them appropriately. You would never be in any danger. Very good."
"You think it can work?" Ryson asked with newfound hope.
"I don't see why it wouldn't," Enin acknowledged. "It's like I said before, arasaps don't feed on magic, they feed on spell remnants. Magic in itself is pure, but the caster places his or her intentions within the energy to mold it into a spell. When the spell expires or is reflected, the intentions don't simply evaporate. Some of it falls away from the freed magic, but a small portion remains within the caster. It's like a memory, but it resides in the magical core, not in the mind."
"That feeds them?" the delver asked, bewildered by the concept.
"They are not creatures of this land," Enin reminded the delver. "They do not eat like you might imagine."
While Enin explained the situation, Jure considered the best way to entice the arasaps. He could not simply pour a small portion of his magic into Linda, for she was immune, and it would never pass into her. He believed the best way was to concentrate on the arasaps themselves. He could not link to them directly, but he could direct his magic toward their presence.
He thought of a simple wind spell, a violet based incantation focused on the flowing properties of a small breeze. He could not cast the spell on Linda, but rather on himself. He would become the source of the gentle breeze, and he could then direct it at the arasaps while keeping the flow connected back to his magical core. The magic would deflect away from Linda, and as it did, the intentions of his spell would break away. It would be enough to get the arasaps' attention.
At the same time, he would intentionally lower his natural defenses. He could use the magic to create access tunnels back to his own magical center. It would be like putting up a 'welcome' sign to any parasite that fed on magic or spell residue.
