Taylon (15 page)

He stopped for a moment, conserving energy for the
next few steps, when he happened to look up. Through the dense
foliage, a structure loomed.
A house?
Taylon’s pulse
quickened with the hopeful prospect of water and food only a few
feet away.

Need pushed him forward, but his soldier’s instinct
warned him about possible threats. It was more like a soft nagging
he ignored as he hobbled toward the door. On the porch, Taylon
rested hands upon his knees. His throat cried out as his stomach
echoed the rumble. He did not see the goblin skeleton off to the
side of the porch, or other signs he should stay away.

Knock…Knock….

His hand fell limply while he waited, hoping that
someone would be home. As he went to knock once more, the door
opened. Taylon fell forward, exhausted. He caught himself partially
and rolled to his back. He tried to focus his eyes, and only made
out dark skin…a woman. He passed out.

***

She had woken to the morning sun warming her face. As
her eyes opened, she reminded herself she was in a tree. Warren sat
with his back to her.

“Morning.”

“You should go.”

“Where are we going?”

“
You
should go.” The debate started from
there.

“You are coming with me. There is no question about
that.” Kara spent the next half hour trying to convince the brownie
to travel with her. It was hard to persuade a creature when he
didn’t argue back. Warren’s method of arguing was silence.

Kara used the emotional pull, anger, bribery,
kindness. None of it worked on Warren. She had only one more trick
left, but was reluctant to use it.

“We need to get something to eat. The market may have
something good.” But again, the brownie said nothing. Kara was
getting a little frustrated.

“Okay, I’ll go, but I have no idea where I am or
where I am going. So you will at least need to help me out.” She
thought this would work, but Warren again seemed not to hear.

Enough of this!
She reached out and took the
brownie. Warren was surprised, but didn’t have much time to react
as Kara’s dress engulfed him. Kara didn’t stop there. She quickly
climbed down. Once on the ground, she picked a direction and
ran.

Warren’s muffled cries barely reached Kara’s ears as
he bounced around. She ran as much as her body would allow before
she took a rest. Her reasoning was that she needed to get as far
away from Warren’s once future home as possible.

As she came to a stop, Kara could make sense out of
some of Warren’s ranting.

“…let me be! What do you think you are doing?”

“Wow…that’s the most…emotion…I have ever…gotten out
of you.” She breathed heavily, having not run like that for quite
awhile. As a matter of fact, she hadn’t run like that since…. Her
thoughts flashed back to a burning house and her father crying
out.

Warren righted himself and poked his head out of her
pocket. “I demand that you take me back.”

“Shut up!” Kara yelled, as the memory broke. A rush
of emotions flooded him. Warren watched her face as she fought to
keep the tears away. He respectfully remained silent. Kara didn’t
say anything for five minutes.

“So, which way?” she finally said, her tone still
irritated.

“Back to….”

“That’s not happening. Which way?” It was Warren’s
turn to be silent. Eventually, he pointed to the west. Kara
followed his direction and started walking. Why hadn’t she thought
about kidnapping sooner?

***

Fret and Jesset had been sent out to find Gantha.
Ra’na finally agreed that Hambone could come with her on the search
for Snow. Neither search party had a destination in mind when they
set off. Ra’na started to track Snow, but her trail only led a few
feet. Her best guess was the rabbit headed to the marketplace.

The other group began their search for Gantha from
Snow’s house. Spirit Ynob was probably excited because that meant
Fret could get the books. Fret could care less about the books. His
main concern remained his sanity. Was the wizard really visible to
him, or was it a figment of his imagination?

During the forest hike, Fret remained silent. Jesset
tried to chat with him, but the boy’s answers were short and closed
off. The old man caught Fret whispering under his breath a few
times, and stopped to ask him what was up.

“I’m good.”

“Something’s up with you.” Jesset eyed Fret
suspiciously. Fret did not make eye contact and kept moving
forward.

They reached the side of the house. From the outside,
the damage didn’t look that bad. From the smell, anyone could tell
there had been a fire. Fret quickly circled the house, trying to
find the front door. Fret could feel Jesset watching him walk
away.

“Where are the books, boy?” Ynob asked when they had
come around to the front.

“I don’t know…they should be right here,” he
whispered, as he peered about frantically.

“Well, I don’t see any books.” Ynob walked through
Fret as he scanned the area. It felt like a cold shower suddenly
passed over him.

“Don’t do that!” Fret shivered in disgust.

“Great job, boy. Those were priceless books!”

Fret held his tongue, as he looked around the side
where the window had become a doorway. Bones were scattered where
the forest began. He stooped to glance at them before backing
away.

“Not Gantha,” the wizard said from behind him. Fret
turned around.

“How…do you know?” Out of the corner of his eye, he
caught Jesset’s approach.

The wizard answered back. “The leg bones are too big.
Plus, the tattered clothing left by that bush over there.” But Fret
wasn’t listening. Jesset came forward, staring at Fret
intently.

“So out with it. What’s going on?” Jesset demanded.
Ynob turned.

“To him, I bet, you look like you have gone crazy
talking to yourself.” The wizard let out a chuckle.

“Shut up.”

“Um, excuse me, Fret, but I will not be quiet.”
Jesset’s tone held anger.

Fret looked embarrassed and didn’t stop to think.
“No, no not you…um…” But the words were out and he had no idea what
to say next.

Jesset’s ire faded as he looked around. “Who else is
here?”

“Go on. Tell him. This will be great.” Ynob again
spilled a laugh. Fret turned his head to yell an insult, but his
instincts cautioned him. Jesset caught the movement.

Both Mordock and the boy looked at each other. Fret
couldn’t hold Jesset’s gaze longer than a few moments. He looked
anywhere but at the old man. His hand fidgeted as well.

“So?”

“We need to find the wizard’s books.” It was the
first though that came to him.

“The books?”

“Um…yeah.” His mind raced for something clever to
say, but nothing came.

Jesset took in the information. “And why?”

“Because he wants them, and maybe we can bring him
back and get this stupid ring off my finger!” It all came out in a
flood.

A bird chirped in the distance. It was Ynob who spoke
first. “There is no bringing me back. At least not alive, in my
body.” Fret slowly turned to look at the spirit.

“You can see him? Like a ghost?” Jesset said, which
surprised Fret. The Mordock saw the expression and explained.
“Remember I am a Mordock. It was rumored that some of our clan
could see and talk to spirits. The tales told remind me of how you
are acting.”

Fret really didn’t know what to say and for once, the
wizard was silent too.

“I started seeing him last night…in the kitchen.”

“So that explains how you were acting. I thought it
was strange.”

He nodded. “Ynob was going around the house trying to
see if anyone would react to his presence. I did.”

Jesset looked around. “Is he here now?”

“Of course I am, you dolt,” the magician piped up.
Fret did his best to ignore him.

“Um…yes. He is very annoying.”

“You would be too, if you were dead!”

The Mordock came forward, put his hand on the boy’s
shoulder. “I’m sorry for your burden.”

“Ah. Insults from both sides. I can see that I was
loved.” The wizard threw his hands up in the air.

Fret shook his head. “Try not to make him mad. I’m
the only one that can hear him. Can we just look for the books? I
threw them out last night so they shouldn’t have burned up.”

“Why does he want them now?” Jesset asked as he
searched the ground.

“Because they are mine!” Ynob exclaimed standing
right next to Jesset. Fret held his head in his hands.

But before Fret could reply, someone came running at
them.

“Thank goodness you came back!” Gantha ran and
ensnared Fret in a hug. The two almost fell to the ground. “Are the
rest safe?”

Jesset came forward. “Um…yes. Where have you
been?”

Gantha broke from the boy. His clothes were dirty and
disheveled. His hair looked singed in places. “That doesn’t matter
right now. The humans…they’re marching. Toward Aladedas.”

Everyone, including Ynob looked at the councilman,
eyes wide in shock.

“That’s where Ra’na and Hambone were headed!” Fret
said as the recognition of the familiar city’s name clicked in
place. And without a second thought, Jesset, Fret, and Gantha took
off in the direction of the market.

Ynob watched them go before yelling out, “What about
my books?”

Chapter Fifteen

Nonk used the spyglass to look upon the vast market.
He had climbed a huge tree to get a better view. It was a huge
place, almost as large as the castle courtyard. Aladedas was not
the typical military target; it was not a place that would easily
fold under the weight of the human army.

The march through the woods had been difficult. Not
many trails or roads wound through the forest, so the large army
carved their trail. Even though they were still a mile out from the
market, this wouldn’t be a surprise attack.

A few market goers stumbled upon the soldiers and
were immediately slaughtered. Some creatures must have heard the
approaching army and fled, or went to warn the merchants and
patrons. Nonk really did not care either way. He was ready for
battle.

He took one more look before descending the tree.

Nonk.

What?
He looked around searching for who
called to him. Surely, none of the soldiers would call him by any
name, other than captain. Nonk had made an example of a man last
night who had disrespected him in that manner. The captain had hung
his disembodied head from the first tree in the Territories for all
the soldiers to see as they marched by.

Nonk. Come.

Again, the voice came. Was this some sort of trick?
He checked in all directions, and whirled again looking like a dog
chasing its tail. No one was in sight, except for a few soldiers
about seventy feet away.

Nonk! Your Queen commands you!

He raised his hands to his head. The voice ripped
through him, not loud but harsh, grating, tearing him from the
inside out. It took him a moment to recover. Soldiers were coming
to his position, concerned. He waved them away as he made a path to
go find the queen.

Euphoria’s carriage could not make it through the
woods. She chose a large black mare to ride with her tigers out in
front. Nonk found it tied to a nearby tree. The queen was looking
distantly into the forest.

Figaro growled, but let the captain pass.

Captain Nonk, so good of you to come.
Her
voice sounded different. Beside her lay several piles of clothes
and armor, none of them her own.

“Your majesty?” He hoped his voice would be firm;
instead, weakness threaded through his tone.

There is a…presence nearby. Something powerful….

“The market is only….”

You fool! Much more powerful than some simpleton’s
peddler’s market!
Euphoria yelled. She turned toward him.

Nonk held back a gasp, but shock was evident on his
face.

Euphoria smiled, the wrinkles becoming deeper.
What? Am I not beautiful?
She extended a hand as she
approached the captain. Nonk took a step back, before holding his
ground.

“What…?” But he could not find the words to express
his question. How do you ask your queen why she looks so old?

I want that power. Attack the market. I believe
the power will come.
Every word made her face appear hideous,
like that of the elderly, ravaged by disease. Nonk wanted to be
away from her, free from the sight of her. But he knew his place,
and knew the punishment she dealt for those stepping outside their
bounds.

“Yes, right away.” Nonk tripped over Daisy as he bid
a hasty retreat. The tiger growled fiercely with an echoing roar
from Figaro, but both tigers stayed n

ear their mistress. Quickly, the captain got to his
feet. For the first time in his life, Nonk could claim to have felt
true fear.

***

Da’Lynn fell back in the ranks as she felt a new
presence. Something strong, powerful was in this land—and it was
with the human army. At first she did not notice her essence fade,
her skin become old. It wasn’t until a page commented, asking her
what was wrong, did she realize. She quickly made a meal of the
page, but her visage did not restore itself.

Putting up her shawl, she did her best to camouflage
the changes.

She hungered for the power. It was nowhere near as
intense as what was contained in the Palace of Nine, but it would
definitely suffice until Da’Lynn was able to claim
that
magic.

Katrena.
She had been calling out as they came
closer to the market, hoping the elf would return. Da’Lynn trusted
no one else in this army. It would be too risky to bring someone
else into the fold, tell them her true secret.

“Madam Da’Lynn?”