Reciprocity : Volume 1 of The Fledgegate Cycle
Page 25
The group traveled for hours in the dark of the forest, though progress was slow. Glem was regaining his strength and stamina at an impressive rate, and soon began walking without the support of Rues. Alyra also regained consciousness shortly after they began heading north, but her illness and injuries kept her from walking on her own. Kiiryas stoically trudged ahead mutely carrying her limp form, and Alyra apologized for her weakness every time she awoke.
Glem called a halt to the group five miles out of Eshly.
The first pink and purple hues of sunrise were beginning to appear on the horizon, and it was obvious to Glem that Kiiryas could go no further, burdened by Alyra as he was.
A small depression in the landscape, surrounded by a dense ring of trees, could be seen just ahead and would make a perfect place to stop and sleep for a few hours.
“We can rest here for a time, if everyone is in agreement?” Glem proposed. There were no dissenters and several smiles.
Kiiryas set Alyra down on a comfortable-looking moss-covered spot on the ground. Rues quickly flopped down beside her and fell asleep. Glem chuckled at the sight, as he leaned back against a tree. Someone would have to take the first watch, and it would be unfair to ask Kiiryas to do it considering he had been carrying Alyra for miles.
He closed his eyes for just a second to compose himself.
Hours later, Glem came to in an instant.
He surveyed the area around him, noting the position of Rues, Kiiryas, and Alyra on the ground, then quickly took in the rest of his surroundings. He was horrified that he had fallen asleep and not even set watch, knowing that the Hasdingium army could be looking for them.
A quiet laugh brought Glem’s attention to Kiiryas.
“You fell asleep so quickly, I was worried that you had died. I’ve been resting, but not sleeping. No unnatural sounds have occurred around us. You needed the rest as badly as anyone, so don’t worry about it.”
Glem sighed with relief. “Seems unfair, you did all of the heavy lifting last night.”
“Heavy lifting? Did you just call me fat, Grandpa?” Alyra asked meekly from her spot on the ground.
Glem rushed to her side, overjoyed. Even Kiiryas was surprised by her consciousness and Glem’s quick movement.
“You are awake! How do you feel? I’ve been so worried, child.”
“I’m sore, and my head still aches. My body feels...different.”
“Well, Glem did call you fat,” Rues chuckled as she turned over to look at everyone. “I guess we are getting up now?”
“You three are getting up,” Kiiryas grunted. “I’m finally going to get a few hours of sleep. If that is ok with you, Glem?”
“It is indeed, Kiiryas. Thank you again for all that you have done. We would likely not have survived had it not been for you. Yes, sleep now. We will get back on the road once you have rested.” Glem turned to the girls and motioned for them to quietly follow him out of the ring of trees.
Epilogue
The old, balding man made his way toward the throne room clutching a scroll tied with ribbon. The semi-precious stone floors echoed with his every hurried step, and the man fought to keep his breathing under control. An arched doorway stood closed in front of him at the end of the hallway, and as he reached the entrance to the throne room, he reached out and lightly tapped the door with his fingernail, careful not to be too loud. It would be a mistake to disturb the woman inside.
A moment later, the door was opened by a guard, and after a moment of nervous hesitation, the messenger stepped inside. The news he carried concerned the Fledgegate mission.
If the news were to be bad, he could be killed out of rage.
The woman sitting on the crystal throne looked upon the messenger with an unreadable stare. She wore a luxurious silk gown adorned with diamonds and golden thread, and her auburn hair spilled over her shoulders, framing her face with gentle curls. Her crown hung off of the arm of the throne.
Without saying a word, the man dropped to his knees at the required distance from the throne and pushed his forehead into the floor. He waited like this for an entire hour.
Finally, the queen acknowledged his arrival.
“What?”
The man spoke without rising from the floor.
“Hazk has reported in from Fledgegate, my liege.”
“Rise and read it to me.”
“Yes, My Queen.”
The man pushed up off the ground yet stayed kneeling. He carefully unfurled the scroll and read its contents to the Queen.
“The Fledgegate portal was guarded by a small contingent of guards when I arrived. They were easily dealt with. I quickly made my way to Hasdingium and began the training of their mages. Their aptitude for magic was as expected.
“Once the army was ready, we made our way north, the fighting ability of the men being tested at a few small villages along the way. They performed reasonably well for animals.
“As we moved north, a small force was destroyed by Laterian scouts a few days outside the city of Eshly.
“They had been killed with magic, and it was stronger than I had ever expected to see. My first thought was it had been a fairly large group of fire mages traveling together, but the tracks around the scene did not match up with that theory. My final conclusion was that it had been one man.
“When we took the city of Eshly, I encountered the fire user, the one who had killed the scouting party. He was a fit, gray-bearded man in his later middle years. We fought, and his powers surprised me. They were not up to my level, for sure, but still stronger than should be possible this early in the Gatecycle. I defeated the man, but he was able to escape.
“There were at least two others who had some control over their powers, but they have not developed to the level of the old man. It is my belief that they have made their way to the capital. I am hopeful that these outliers are not indicative of the level of fighters we will find when we arrive.
“We will solidify our position here in Eshly, then march on to the capital.”
Report complete, he rolled the scroll back up and tied it off neatly and precisely with the ribbon. The Queen motioned to one of the guards, and he took the scroll and handed it to her. She looked down at the messenger and debated ending his life for no other reason but to keep up appearances, but she decided to let him live. The crease on his forehead from the tiled floor amused her, and the tile imprint had spared his life.
“Leave us.”
The man bowed back to the floor, then stood and slowly backed out of the chamber.
“Send a message to the General,” the Queen demanded of her guard. “We’ve received a report from Hazk. The Fledgelings are developing powers faster than anticipated. Shorten the timeline. Prepare to assemble your army.”
The End
RECIPROCITY
VOLUME 1 OF THE FLEDGEGATE CYCLE