“Stop wasting time on me,” Luke groans, reaching out to dip his hand into the water. He licks a few drops off his fingers, but the taste is painfully sour. “Looks like the Barghest caused this place to rot. She must be a life absorber and that is why she’s so strong. Damn thing is practically a walking temple now. So get going and put an end to this.”
“You’re too weak to leave alone,” Delvin insists while placing his waterskin next to the half-elf. The shove to his shoulder barely has the strength to move him away, but the action causes him to step back out of respect. “We’re already missing three champions for this challenge. How are we supposed to get through this without our friends?”
“Because you two will find a way,” the forest tracker answers, forcing himself to sit up. He runs his thumb along his Feast Ring, the symbols clear enough to show it has regained its full charge. “Besides, the only temple we’ve seen where all of us would have been needed is Aintaranurh. We defeated that challenge with only four of us. Part of our path is to keep going no matter what. Maybe this will prepare us for the end when not all of us are standing. Now get moving before I let the Sword Dragon out and kick you two across this plateau.”
“That’s not funny, little brother,” Nyx mutters while a chuckle slips out of her mouth. She gives Luke a kiss on the forehead, delivering a spell to mask him from predators. “Okay, maybe a bit. This shield will keep you safe. Stay on the grass unless you feel strong enough to come after us. I don’t want to have to rescue you again.”
“That was Timoran.”
“I’ve still saved your butt more than anyone else.”
“Then do it again and beat this thing.”
Another earthquake rocks the plateau as Nyx and Delvin walk further into the lifeless landscape. They can spot where rivers used to be, the dry beds cracked and filled with rotting fish bones. Faint signs of a forest can be seen, but the trees have long since been reduced to random scraps of bark and patches of barely visible stumps. Many of these areas have open pits that are filled with the skeletal remains of whatever beasts once lived here. There are no bite marks on the bones, which leads the champions to believe that the Barghest digested everything on the plateau and spit up the remains. Only a two-horned species of beetle has been left alive, the insects flitting about in search of food and releasing a noxious smell. Several times, Nyx and Delvin come across the dust-covered roots of the towering tree that they spy in the distance. The plant is much larger than the one used by the Order and it reminds the pair of an oak instead of the jungle flora found below.
When a more violent quake knocks the adventurers off their feet, they roll into one of the riverbeds and find that the dusty ground becomes damp for a second. Curious about what is underneath the cracked earth, Delvin draws his blade and stabs into the soil. After an inch of the weapon sinks into the earth, a churning force wrenches it from his hands. The bastard sword topples over and several drops of water can be seen on the tip, which the warrior carefully wipes onto his fingers. Tasting the liquid, he is surprised to find that it is crisp and pure, unlike the fouled river that led to the waterfall.
“Ever wonder why the place was called Binhadar Falls when there’s only one?” Delvin asks as he sheathes his weapon. Placing his hand on the ground, he reaches out with his aura to sense what little life is left on the plateau. “There must have been more waterfalls before this place died. Now most of the rivers are locked underground with only one way out. I think the entire mountain has been hollowed out by the rapids. I sense some fish in there too. This means we have a chance at fully reviving the plateau.”
“That does seem to be how these temples go,” Nyx points out while staring at the soft blue sky. She sees a few early stars along the darker horizon and wonders if it is safe to be out in the open once night falls. “I don’t see any place to head for except the tree. We should get moving now before the sun . . . where is the sun?”
“Well it has to be somewhere since we’ve got plenty of light,” the warrior replies, scanning the sky for the blazing orb. His attention is snared by a white dome that is sitting between them and the giant oak, the object not having been there a second ago. “Forget the sun. Do you see that strange hill?”
“There’s nothing but flat land here.”
“It looks a little fuzzy.”
“Guess you’re taking the lead then.”
“So you don’t see it.”
“No, which means it’s important and waiting for you. Start walking, Cunningham.”
Delvin keeps his hand on his weapon while he crosses the desolate landscape, Nyx staying a few steps behind him. A shiver runs along both of their spines when they stumble over a large vertebra that is sticking out of the earth. Unable to clearly see the bones, the channeler reaches out to take her companion’s hand and let him guide her. She can see the discomfort on Delvin’s face, but refuses to release her grip since she has no idea what they are walking into. It is not until Nyx receives an unexpected charge from his aura that her eyes pierce the ancient barrier and she observes the macabre landmark.
What they originally thought was a hill is actually an ivory tortoise shell that has retained a single patch of its original green and yellow pattern. The remains are as big as Rhundar with enough holes for the deceased creature to have had six massive legs. Smaller mounds around the sides show where the kneecaps have been covered by dirt and rotting grass. A wide opening at the front has seven skeletal necks that run along the ground, their associated skulls hidden beneath the earth. As they get closer, Delvin can see tiny streams of water running up the bones and into the darkness of the shell. A gust of wind bursts from the body and the champion swears he smells freshly cut grass. Putting his hand to his brow to block the sun that has appeared directly above the carcass, the warrior peers at a single flower that has grown at the top of the shell. It changes color every time he tries to focus on its delicate petals, so he gives up and takes another step toward the dead creature.
The earth cracks and falls away as the skeletal necks and skulls break free of their rocky tombs. Nyx and Delvin leap for the shell and clamber onto the lip above the central opening, the pair readying their weapons when the massive creature faces them. Emerald eyes shine in the dark sockets while the beast yawns, half of its heads brandishing sharp teeth and the others revealing flat ones. Leaning over their perch, the champions see a large lake of swirling water that tries to escape before the ground repairs itself. Several geysers reach the sky and fall back down to give the revived creature its first drink in years. Once the water has been cut off, the heads loom over Delvin and Nyx to examine the tiny adventurers. Every movement the two champions make is followed by the creature, its curious shifting causing its bones to clack against each other.
“I am the Akota,” the central head states while the others hiss and grunt in agreement. One of the flat-toothed skulls leans in to take a long sniff of Delvin, nodding to the speaker when it is satisfied with the inspection. “You are the champion, young man. I am the guardian who owes you an apology for failing. The Barghest infected me and used my power to drain most of the plateau’s energy. Only the Tree of Creation and Undrasi remain, but I am not certain of their current condition.”
“If it makes you feel better, the Barghest corrupted me too,” Delvin replies, sliding off the shell and turning to help Nyx down. He does his best to meet the guardian’s confused gazes, but his guilt causes him to turn away. “She manipulated me into hurting the Feykin. Now two entire cities have been wiped out along with countless innocents. Not to mention the living who will continue to suffer due to my actions. Guess a failed champion having a failed guardian makes sense.”
“Great first impression you’re making,” Nyx mutters when she sees all seven heads of the Akota slump in shame. Walking in a small circle, she gently pats each of the skulls on their mottled snouts. “I’m the champion of Helgard. Are you able to help us reach the tests? It doesn’t look like you can move, so we’d even be happ
y if you could point us in the right direction. This place is pretty big and I’d rather not get lost.”
The guardian flexes its buried legs and lifts an inch out of the ground, landing back down with a rolling thud. “I can take you to the Tree of Creation. Undrasi is hidden within its branches and that is where you will find the great test. Yet the male must be purified to pass through the entrance unscathed. I am afraid that the Birthing Land no longer has the energy to do that on its own. You will have to enter my shell and traverse a maze reserved for those who need to be purged of their corruption.”
“It’s not corruption, but-” Delvin starts to say.
“Did you say the Birthing Land?” Nyx asks, interrupting the warrior. The channeler is oblivious to the pained expression on her companion’s face, her excitement getting the best of her. “This is where the early gods created life. Nobody really knows how, but everything was born on this land. Strange that it’s been sitting here this whole time. I’m surprised not many people have climbed up the cliffs or flown above the clouds to explore. Then again, the Barghest made it up here and we see how that went.”
“The mountainside is supposed to be covered by waterfalls and the only way to reach the top is to climb. The exception to this rule are those specially chosen by the gods,” the Akota explains as it tries to stand again. It wavers on its thick legs for a minute before settling down, the ensuing quake being caused by the underground water instead of the crashing creature. “Flying will only show you clear sky and thick jungle that goes forever. Still many have made it to the plateau, but only a few have been told that this is the Birthing Land. Those who mean this place no harm were returned to the world below while those with evil in their hearts were destroyed. In fact, the first of the Rhundar Feykin reached here long ago and founded the city to protect this place. The Barghest is the first to reach here so easily and do such extensive damage, but I assume it was chosen in some way. Everything happens for a reason. Whether by destiny or free will, events occur and we can only survive them. Now climb inside and be purified.”
Nyx takes Delvin by the arm and watches as the neck hole of the guardian’s shell becomes a shimmering portal. With a chorus of hisses and grunts, the Akota raises its body a third time and lifts the champions on one of its necks. They are about to take a step when the Compass Key hums and rockets forward, its unbreakable chain still around the channeler’s neck. Losing her grip on Delvin, Nyx is yanked into the doorway and the warrior immediately dives after her. A tear appears in the entrance and the portal collapses, sealing the pair inside the enormous guardian’s bleached shell. The plateau shakes as the Akota slowly turns around and walks toward the distant tree, its boney joints creaking with every step.
*****
“You get the feeling we’ve been tricked?” Delvin asks, rubbing his face after colliding with an invisible wall. Turning in a circle, he looks for anything within the white expanse that they have been wandering for what must be several hours. “After all, we never ran into any of the other guardians this quickly. One was corrupted and the other two were sealed, which left us with other guides or on our own. What if this Undrasi is the real guardian and the Akota is in league with the Barghest?”
“Fortunatos met us at the entrance of Aintaranurh. Though he did have a really nasty ghost infestation in the basement,” Nyx replies while trying to run her hand along the side of what she assumes is a tunnel. She feels her fingers push into a space, but is unable to squeeze into the narrow crevice. “The point of this thing is for you to be purified. So use your power to find a way out. Take the Compass Key too since this is your temple.”
The warrior begrudgingly accepts the relic, but refuses to put it around his neck when he sees the welt beneath his companion’s ebony hair. “I told you before that my powers aren’t working in here. It must be exhaustion or part of the test. Maybe this is a riddle and walking backwards is the answer. That would symbolize rewinding time to recover my purity.”
“Do you mean walk backwards in the direction we’re supposed to go or go back the way we came?”
“I think I meant the second idea.”
“You do that and I’ll try the other way.”
The champions stand with Nyx facing Delvin’s back and they try to move at the same pace, the half-elf having to stretch further to match the warrior’s longer strides. She is the first to hit an obstacle, but the wall is only as high as her knees. The channeler tumbles over the low barrier and hooks her legs to avoid falling into an abyss that appears beneath her. Nyx refuses to panic as she tries to pull herself up, but she is not strong enough to get within reach of the invisible wall. When she attempts a strength enhancement spell, the shadowy hole sucks the crimson energy off her body. A distant thud tells her that Delvin’s idea has failed and she patiently waits for him to come to her aid. Her eyebrow twitches when she hears the warrior bang into another wall and crash to the ground.
“Are you okay, Nyx?” Delvin asks while he taps on the new barrier with his sword. He feels around only to find that he is in a dead end, which traps him a few inches from the half-elf’s curled legs. “I’m boxed in. Use your magic to lift yourself out of there. This damn maze changes itself once we leave an area.”
“I noticed. Really should have worn pants instead of this skirt because I feel like I’m slipping. Not sure how Sari functions in these things,” Nyx replies, attempting a wind spell that is devoured by the abyss. Curious and desperate, she tries to see through the illusion and finds that nothing changes. “I’m hanging over a pit that absorbs magic. The thing is real too. How do I keep finding these aura eating traps? Try using your shield to get to me.”
“But I’m already here,” the warrior replies, his fingers running along the winged stag symbol. Knowing that the channeler has very little time, he shrugs and closes his eyes to imagine that they are far away. “This thing is only supposed to guide me in a general direction, but I’ll give it a shot. I want to come home.”
To Delvin’s surprise, energy coats his body and he instinctively knows the path to reach Nyx. He runs into an invisible doorway while keeping an eye on his friend’s legs. Sensing a strange rise in the floor ahead, the warrior vaults over a small wall and narrowly skirts another abyss. His heart stutters when he loses sight of Nyx after making a sharp turn and finding that another barrier is somehow blocking his view. After several minutes pass without her returning, Delvin breaks into a sprint and uses his shield to cushion himself every time he goes around a bend too fast or runs into an obstacle. Diving under a low ceiling and crawling through a tight tunnel, he finally comes out below the channeler. By the look on Nyx’s face, he can tell she has no idea he is on the other side of the abyss. The swirling shadow is a dark window between them, which makes the warrior wonder if it exists to hurt or harm them.
“Can you see my hand?” Delvin asks as he stretches his arm. His fingers wiggle in the air where the young woman could easily grab them. “I’m on the other side of the abyss. The plan is to pull you through to where I am. I’ll be using my power to connect us, so you won’t get lost or vanish or whatever happens when you go into the portal. Not that you seem to be able to hear me. I really hope this works.”
Leaning out of the tunnel, the warrior senses that there is no ground beneath them. He grips the inner lip of the entrance before grabbing Nyx’s arm and pulling with all of his strength. With a yelp of surprise, the channeler slips free of the low wall and closes her eyes as she plunges into the abyss. A burst of vertigo and fear hits both of the champions before the half-elf is extracted from a hole that appears above Delvin’s head. He nearly falls out of the tunnel, but musters enough strength to haul himself and his friend to safety. The pair remain gasping on the floor, Nyx awkwardly sprawled on top of the brown-haired warrior.
“Don’t stand or you’ll hit your head,” Delvin warns as he gently rolls his companion to the side. Holding the Compass Key over his face, he curiously taps at the amber orb and sets off a spark. “
What if Zohara did something that cuts me off from this? She was created by Stephen, so that could have been another way to beat us in case her ritual failed.”
“Well, that bastard did get a final shot in on me before he died. I wouldn’t be surprised if he got you too,” Nyx replies, massaging her sore neck. Seeing the question in her companion’s eyes, the half-elf blushes and cautiously gets to her knees. “Not important right now. We need to figure out a way to traverse a maze that we can’t see and is always changing. The new wrinkle is that it isn’t only a horizontal path. The exit could be at the bottom or top of the shell.”
“There could also be false exits that put us somewhere else on the plateau,” the warrior suggests while crawling to the edge of the tunnel. He puts the Compass Key around his neck, but the relic remains silent. “One of the others would have been able to find a way through this maze. We’re probably the worst two to be in here. I can track an army, but this is beyond my ability. Do you have a spell that will help?”
“Nothing has worked so far.”
“But you always manage to punch your way through.”
“I’m not blowing a hole in the Akota’s side.”
“Why not?”
“Because we’re inside him and he might take offense.”
Delvin scratches his chin and slumps against the wall, the sensation of being on the edge of a cliff making him nervous. “I should have thought of that. My mind isn’t working the way it used to. There’s a lot of doubt and fear in there.”
Charms of the Feykin Page 32
