The Shards (18 page)

Chapter Nineteen

“Are you alright?” Cairn called to Robyn from about ten yards away. He was once again crouched over Filaree’s prone and motionless body.

“Yes,” Robyn replied. “I need only a few moments to regain my strength,” he said, though he looked far weaker than he claimed.

“When you are ready, it would be helpful if you could come over here,” Cairn said apprehensively.

Davmiran walked to Cairn and Filaree, and squatted down beside them. Without speaking, he lifted the woman’s hand and pressed it between his own.

“She has been stricken by the Dark Lord’s power,” he said almost at once. “I sense it in her blood. We must purge her of this or she will die,” he said as calmly as if he was telling them that she had a slight cold.

“What are you waiting for then?” Cairn implored. “Can you do it, Dav?”

“I do not know,” he answered. “But I will try.”

“Robyn? Perhaps you should help us out here if you can,” Cairn urged.

“I still need some more time, I am afraid,” he replied, his voice frail. “I am too weak to be of much use just now,” he said with his eyes only half open.

“How much time does she have?” Cairn asked the boy, who was already humming oddly.

“Yes, it is grave,” Dav said. “The power is spreading like a virus in her bloodstream. If it reaches her heart before I can stop it, she will surely perish.”

Calyx, who was standing guard behind Cairn, growled, though not in an angry tone, but the others were too preoccupied with what they were doing to notice him. Cairn watched Filaree and Davmiran as closely as he would a viper poised before him, ready to strike, and Robyn had slumped to the ground and sat there with his head lolling upon his shoulders. Davmiran’s eyes were tightly closed, trance-like. They did not even notice as the two strange women hastened over and kneeled down beside them.

“Fetch Dahlia,” the dark skinned one said. “Make haste, Rose,” she urged. “We have no time to waste.” The younger girl turned and sped off.

Cairn snapped his head around and stared at Emmeline. She smiled back reassuringly, and he was immediately put at ease. She laid her hand upon his, and he relaxed even further.

“Welcome to Parth,” she whispered. “Would that it were under better circumstances. The Tower is secure, but it seems no longer to be safe as in the ages past,” she lamented. “My name is Emmeline,” she said, squeezing his hand affectionately.

Cairn looked at her quizzically but he did not speak. He was far more worried about Filaree than he ever imagined he could be. His heart pounded with each passing moment that she lay senseless before them. Calyx nuzzled the small woman who stood beside him and she laughed in response. The Moulant seemed to have taken to her immediately and that served to further put Cairn at ease.

“The boy seems to know what he is doing,” Emmeline said as she stared at Davmiran. “Has he had much training? He is quite young still.”

“It comes naturally to him,” Cairn replied, though his eyes were once again upon Filaree and Davmiran. “Can you help?”

“Me?” she asked as if the question was a very odd one. “I am not the best of our healers. But one of the other sisters has found her calling in this area. She will be here momentarily.”

Even as they spoke, a middle aged woman came running from the other side of the wall behind which they were crouched. Cairn could see her head bobbing up and down as she sped toward them and he watched her brown braid rising and falling in the air as she moved. In seconds, she was beside Emmeline and she wasted no time. She stooped down next to the boy, placed her left hand upon his and she put her right palm on Filaree’s forehead. With her eyes tightly shut, she began to hum in a high pitch. As if that was a cue, Davmiran followed her lead and he too was soon humming again, now in harmony with the sister.

In the meanwhile, Rose too had returned carrying a flask of kala sap and another of Lalas tea, the smell of which was unmistakable. She bent down next to Robyn and offered it to him. The Chosen took the syrupy kala first with a smile, and drank some of it. He then greedily poured the tea into his mouth and drank greedily until the container was empty.

“Thank you, sister,” he said, his voice already sharper and more steady than before. “That has helped me beyond measure.”

Rose bowed her head in acknowledgment and blushed.

Davmiran and Dahlia swayed slightly in harmony with the sounds, and within an instant, a white light began to spread around Filaree emanating from where the sister’s hand lay upon her. It grew in size rather quickly at first, and then it seemed to stall and hover silently for a moment or two. Suddenly, another zephyr of spinning light formed above her feet and rapidly swathed her entire body, consuming the original light in its greater intensity. It did not take long before the stricken warrior was barely visible beneath the shimmering blanket of luminosity. The brightness encircled her like a multicolored cocoon, and it sparked and crackled as it wove a healing web around her. Just as quickly, she began to stir. Her fingers moved involuntarily and her knees rose up slightly. Her body convulsed, rising and falling with her movements.

“Assist them,” Robyn instructed Cairn. “She could hurt herself if she is not restrained,” he said painstakingly as he was still not fully recovered. “The poison is being drawn out from her veins.”

Cairn rushed to her side and as gently as possible pressed his weight against her, though the upheavals were growing more violent and difficult to still. He had to lay almost across her entire prone body in order to keep her from thrashing around. The light flowed over him as well as he lay, pressing down upon her, and it relaxed him immeasurably as he fought to keep her from further injury.

Dahlia shuddered from head to toe and Dav swooned beside her, blacking out, or so it appeared to those watching. Filaree shrieked that put the fear of the First in the others, and just as quickly opened her eyes. The thrashing about stopped and she looked around suspiciously at first, seeing the strange sisters gathered beside her. She then noticed Cairn atop her and she shoved him hard.

“Is this really necessary?” she asked him, as a slender smile crossed her lips.

Cairn sat up abruptly and turned as red as a ripened beet.

“It is good to have you back, my Lady,” he said, regaining his composure. “But if you are not careful, I will ask Calyx to replace me the next time my services are requested,” the scholar laughed with relief.

“Would you do that for me?” she asked the Moulant who stood protectively nearby.

Calyx bellowed affectionately and stood up as tall as he could, dwarfing everyone else.

Davmiran and Dahlia also opened their eyes and seemed back to normal, though fatigue and surprise showed upon both of their faces.

“How did you weave that healing blanket?” Davmiran asked the sister.

“I thought you were the one who did it. I was simply adding what power I could to the mesh,” she replied, rather stunned at the boy’s question.

“No, it was not my doing.” Turning to Robyn, he asked, “Was it you?”

“No, it was not me either, though I would love to take credit for it. It was a beautiful casting, full of the earth power,” he replied.

Emmeline crouched still in the background beside Rose and Robyn. She let her gaze fall to the ground and said nothing.

“Sister?” Robyn inquired of her. “How did you do that?” he asked, realizing suddenly who was responsible for the event.

Emmeline was reluctant to lift her head and answer the Chosen, though shyness was never a component of her character.

“I have been practicing of late,” she replied. “I did not think that I would be strong enough. These things are new to us all here in Parth.”

“The method was quite unique. There is much power here and you drew upon it well,” Robyn complimented her. “Have the other sisters developed their skills as well as you two have?” he inquired.

“We have all been studying hard and practicing even harder. Some have the gift while others seem unable to discover it yet,” Emmeline explained.

The expression upon Rose’s face grew sad and the sister fidgeted uncomfortably. Emmeline noticed her discomfort, and she reached out her hand to console her.

“Though it is new to us all, it comes more easily to some,” she said.

“For many, the path to discovery is like walking through a maze. Not all who enter reach the end at the same time,” Robyn replied. “It is indeed a gift notwithstanding, but as with all gifts, it creates an obligation too. In some cases, a gift can become a burden. Tread carefully, sister,” he warned.

“Thank you for the advice,” Emmeline said with a nod of her head. “It is still so new to us that we have yet to understand the responsibilities that come with the power. We have embraced the study wholeheartedly, and we have adopted our new purpose humbly. We have much to learn. Perhaps you may be of assistance to the sisters during your stay in Pardi?” she asked, and her pale grey eyes sparkled against her dark skin.

“It would be my pleasure, sister, though I have other pressing responsibilities as well,” he replied, and he dipped his chin in Dav’s direction. “Perchance we can assist one another?”

Emmeline bowed humbly. “It would be an honor, Robyn dar Tamarand,” she responded, flattered by his charm and magnanimity.

“We should all return to the Tower now. Though we are safe behind the shield, I am sure you are all tired and weary from your travels. You can refresh yourselves and we can discuss the future,” she said, no longer shy.

“The future,” Robyn echoed. “Yes, we can discuss the future.”

Filaree had risen slowly from the ground, as had the others who had gathered around her. She thanked each of the people who had helped her; Cairn with an affectionate squeeze; Calyx by standing upon her toes and kissing him on his fixity chin; Davmiran she hugged warmly; while Dahlia she shook hands with rather formally but respectfully. She saved her gratitude for Emmeline until last. The older woman projected an unassuming aura that she took to immediately. In fact she reminded her of her mother in more ways than one; her humble attitude coupled with a noble demeanor, her silent strength and her underlying confidence all mirrored Queen Esta’s character.

“I am thankful that you have been ‘practicing’, as you so stated a moment ago. I do not know what would have become of me had you not been present in my hour of need.”

“Do not thank me, my Lady,” Emmeline said. “We are all merely dust swept away by the same wind. Those who can, must assist whenever and wherever they touch down.”

“I thank you nonetheless,” Filaree replied. “Gratitude need not be excluded simply because we all face the same peril. I acknowledge your effort and commend your skill.”

“Luck, perhaps. Skill? I am merely a novice. You have a true master in your entourage,” she said, deferring to Robyn. “We all hope to learn under his tutelage.”

“Are we welcome here then?” Robyn joked, and they all laughed a hearty laugh. “The barrier you have constructed around the tower seems quite impenetrable. It would tax even my skill, I imagine, if we needed to break through it in order to escape.”

“No need to think of escape. You are most welcome! You may remain here as long as need requires you to,” Emmeline replied.

“The sisters have somehow managed to unearth some manuals that have aided us immeasurably in understanding all that is occurring. Perchance you will peruse them yourself when you find the time,” Dahlia added.

“Yes, by all means,” Emmeline concurred. “We have only just touched their surface.”

“I welcome the opportunity, sisters. Cairn?” he addressed his companion. “Did you hear what the women said? After all, you are the most studious of the group.”

Cairn poked his finger in and out of the barrier, much like a small child who had been handed a new and mesmerizing toy. It was pliable and it stretched in response to his prodding. He turned abruptly when his name was mentioned, and once again, the usually somber scholar blushed deeply.

“No. I am sorry. I did not. I was quite fascinated with this wall here,” he replied. “It is amazing! Is it meant to keep you in or the enemy out?”

“We are unsure,” Emmeline replied, thinking to herself how fortunate it was that Tamara and Angeline departed before the shield manifested itself.

“Did you not erect it in defense?” Dav inquired.

“We did not erect it at all,” Dahlia answered.

“No, it was not of our making, my son,” Emmeline continued. “We thought at first that it arose in response to something from without, yet there was no apparent threat at the time. Now we see that our suspicions were correct. We certainly are grateful for it now. But it was a product of the earth, not the sisters of Parth.”

Robyn looked upon it with renewed interest after Emmeline spoke and Davmiran cocked his head in consternation.

“Whatever its source,” Filaree proclaimed, “I am happy to be behind it now.”

“Aye to that!” Cairn agreed. “We have been running for long enough. It is time for us to settle in and get on with our charge.”

“Your purpose and ours may yet coincide,” Emmeline replied. “It is good to have you all here. Shall we proceed to the Tower?” Emmeline asked them, extending her arm toward the imposing stone building in the distance.

Chapter Twenty

Tomas walked down the narrow stone path in total darkness. He required no illumination to find his way back to his friends in the cavern below. The ring hung heavily around his neck, and a comforting warmth emanated from it, spreading throughout his entire body. He reached into his shirt and grasped it with his fingers. It was ice-cold to the touch, despite the heat that it seemed to generate all around it.

It must come from somewhere within it
, he speculated.
The warmth is real. I feel it on my skin, but the object itself is freezing!

Tomas continued down the dark corridor until he reached a V shaped juncture. Without hesitating, he followed the left most fork and descended a narrow, winding passage. He could see where he was going irrespective of the blackness. Even with his eyes closed, the path he needed to follow was obvious to him. He proceeded without bumping into the hard, cold walls and without tripping upon the loose rocks that littered the floor of the cave, until he found himself near the chamber within which his friends still lingered.

During the time that Tomas had been gone, Elion, Esta, Preston and Stephanie took turns reassuring one another that he was safe. They were all so intricately bound together emotionally and in other ways as well that they seemed even to share the fears and the doubts which first surfaced in one of the group and migrated to another and another in turn.

“I know in my heart that he will return to us,” Stephanie said as they sat around a small fire and shared a meal of mushrooms once again.

“I hope he does so soon,” Preston replied. “I don’t know how many more days I can eat these things,” he commented, trying to lighten the gloomy atmosphere.

“Thank the First for them!” Esta remarked. “We would have had to have left here by now if it was not for them.”

“He would still find us no matter where we were,” Stephanie asserted. “Anyway Preston, how can you be concerned about food when Tomas is missing?”

“It is depressing enough in here already, Steph, without me adding to it. I meant no harm,” he apologized, and the girl smiled understanding back at him.

Elion sat with his head in his hands beside the others, but he did not join in the conversation. He appeared to be lost in reverie, though by his expression, the memories or thoughts he contemplated could not have been fond ones. They had all grown accustomed to the dim illumination provided by the phosphorescent particles that lay abundantly in the crevices and cracks of the walls and floors, and it was easy now to see each other despite the semi-darkness.

“What troubles you?” Esta asked the young elf.

He had been contemplative and quiet for most of the day now, and though Elion was never as lively and quick to enter into conversation as Preston, he was always affable and polite. Elion raised his head and stared into the darkness before him.

“Until now, I too have been confident that Tomas would return to us within a matter of minutes. Now that the minutes have turned into hours, I am not so sure,” he admitted.

“What has changed?” Preston asked surprised. His confidence had not yet wavered. “Why? It really has not been that long since we discovered him missing. We all know that he is a very independent person. He always does things on the spur of the moment, inspired by things I do not even understand.”

“Exactly,” Queen Esta agreed. “He is quite whimsical in his own way. For him to wander off without a word is not all that surprising.”

“What is disturbing you, Elion?” Stephanie asked, her intuition piquing her curiosity and infecting her own mood. “What exactly is bothering you now?”

“I cannot tell you for certain. But since this morning I have had this odd feeling that we are not alone here,” he admitted. “In fact, since we arrived here, I have sensed another presence, but I was too concerned with other things to focus on it. Since Tomas disappeared, this issue has prayed upon my mind much more, as you can all imagine.”

“I know that your sensibilities are far more attuned than any of ours to such things,” Esta remarked. “Is it anything specific that has triggered your concern?”

“No evidence, if that is what you mean by specific. I have seen no one nor have I heard anything. But I cannot help but feel that there are others present in this mountain.”

“Could Tomas have known that? Do you think he went to find them?” Stephanie asked. “I think that you know more than you are telling us, Elion,” she said. She grew more concerned by the moment.

“Was he spirited away whilst he lay unconscious? Is that what you think?” Preston asked alarmed. “Do you know something we do not know?”

“Taken from us as I took his brother outside of Pardatha?” Elion asked, addressing his first question.

“Yes, exactly,” the young dwarf replied.

“No, I do not believe anyone or anything has either kidnapped him or taken him against his will. And I have this sense that he was awake and in control of his faculties when he departed.”

They all sat perplexed and bewildered. It was disconcerting enough when they first discovered Tomas missing, but to now discover that Elion harbored suspicions that the premises were inhabited by creatures other than the five of them was even more disquieting. Elion appeared to be deep in thought, and he hung his head pensively.

“I have not told any of you this yet for fear of disturbing you unnecessarily,” he said, breaking the silence. “Since there was nothing we could have done with the knowledge that would have helped us or Tomas, I have kept it to myself since we arrived here.”

“Speak, Elion,” Esta urged. “What is it you wish to tell us?”

They all leaned in closely in order to hear what he was going to reveal.

“The seconds before Tomas collapsed just prior to when I carried him in here, he said something to me,” Elion related. He raised his head and looked first at Esta and then at Preston and finally he rested his eyes upon Stephanie’s young face. “He exclaimed that he had been betrayed,” Elion announced.

Esta swayed. “Betrayed? Who by? Was he referring to one of us?” she replied, shocked at the implication,

“Never!” Stephanie exclaimed, shaking her head back and forth. “That’s impossible!”

“It cannot be!” Preston reiterated, taken aback by the thought.

“No,” Elion said. “Twas none of us, my friends,” Elion replied quickly to their concern. “Though I cannot say which would have been worse.”

“Who then?” Preston demanded.

“I find it hard even now to say it,” Elion said, and he stared down at the floor.

“Please do not make us suffer any longer. Tell us,” Stephanie beseeched him. “Why would anyone other than the Dark Lord or one of his kind want to hurt Tomas?” she asked astounded.

“It is difficult to say this,” Elion stumbled.

The eyes of the other others were glued on Elion’s face, and they waited in silence now as he gathered the strength to speak. His anguish was almost tangible.

“Ormachon!” he uttered quietly and quickly.

They all gasped simultaneously and shook their heads in denial.

“You must have heard him wrong!” Esta exclaimed. “That is inconceivable!”

“He is his Chosen, his bond-mate! There is no way this can be true!” Preston agreed.

“I will not believe that!” Stephanie said, and she hugged herself tightly with both her arms while she shook back and forth vigorously.

“But it is what he said nonetheless,” Elion insisted. “I heard it myself the moment before he fell unconscious. If I was not absolutely sure, I would never make this assertion.”

“I am frightened,” Stephanie said suddenly. Preston put his arm around her comfortingly.

“What could this mean?” Esta asked. “There must be some other explanation. A Lalas would not do such a thing.”

“I have spent the past few days asking myself that question too, my Lady,” Elion said, and he bent his head.

“Is there any chance you are mistaken, Elion?” Preston asked. “Could it be that you misheard his words?”

“I wish that were the case,” the elf replied sadly. “But I unfortunately am quite sure of what he said. I heard the words as clearly as if I said them myself.”

“Is the presence you sense here an evil one?” Esta asked, returning to Elion’s initial concern momentarily. “I feel suddenly quite insecure,” she admitted, looking warily around.

“No, Esta. It does not feel so to me,” he reassured her. “I do not think we are in any danger from it. The feeling is quite powerful though.”

“I am beside myself!” Stephanie admitted. “What is happening to our world? This is so awful.” She wept softly.

“We must renew our search for Tomas,” Esta declared as she stood up and began to pace across the stone floor. “The poor boy!”

“Betrayed by his own tree,” Preston repeated to himself. “How horrible! No wonder he would not awaken. How could he face such a situation?”

“For us all, it is a dismal thought,” Elion said. “For us all, Preston.”

“I will not believe it until I speak with Tomas once again,” Stephanie proclaimed. “There will be some other explanation. You will see,” she said to them all.

“I hope so,” Esta replied from somewhere in the darkness. “By the First, I truly hope so.”

Elion was poking at the fire and attempting to keep it alive without having to rise at that moment and retrieve more wood for it. Preston sat there with his arm tightly around Stephanie’s shoulders, simply shaking his head back and forth, and Queen Esta paced and paced.

“I cannot stand here any longer,” Esta announced. “Preston? You are adept at navigating this sanctuary. We must find him immediately! We have not come this far just to give up now. We cannot sit here any longer waiting for him to return. He could be in danger. How awful he must feel!”

“You are right, my Lady!” Preston replied. “We must begin to search at the least. I feel so for him. He must be so sad!”

“And frightened!” Stephanie added. “Tomas is courageous, and he has suffered so much already. But I know him, and this must have been devastating to him. I cannot bear the thought of him wandering these caverns alone with this knowledge. Elion, I wish you had told us before.” Elion hung his head woefully.

“Alas, so do I now. I thought only to save you all from worry. It was a mistake and I apologize for it.”

“I did not mean to criticize,” Stephanie said quickly. “It would have made no difference really. You were only being kind.”

“From now on, I will not presume so,” Elion replied.

“Suffer no regrets, Elion!” Esta insisted. “Your motives were honorable. Besides, it would not have changed things for us had we known sooner. It would have caused us all only more anguish. We would not have guarded him any more closely than we did. He would have slipped away nonetheless.”

“She is right, of course,” Stephanie said sheepishly. “I spoke too soon, Elion. It was selfish of me to say that. I am just worried, that is all.”

“But you are correct regardless. I had no right to withhold this from the group,” Elion said downcast.

“We are wasting time. What is done, is done!” Preston interrupted, though with no bitterness in his tone. “We must find him as soon as we can. If he is despondent and frightened, he could wander anywhere. He needs us now more than ever!”

“There are three passages that lead out from this chamber,” Esta said. “One would return us to the place through which we entered, and the other two head deeper into the mountain. How do we choose which to pursue?”

“Do you think he went to find Ormachon?” Stephanie asked.

“That was my first thought too,” Preston said.

“It would have been mine as well, if I did not sense some other presence here,” Elion said. “I am sure Tomas felt it also.”

“He must have! His sensitivities are so acute. He must have gone to find out what it is. But which tunnel would he have chosen?” Esta asked.

Preston walked to one of the openings, the floor of which inclined upward slightly. His eyes were already accustomed to the semi-darkness, and a dwarfs eyes were far more suited to seeing in the dim light to begin with. He got down on all fours and began to sift through the powdery, sparkling fragments which lay upon the surface, slowly making his way toward the passage, when all of a sudden the others heard him gasp loudly and they rushed to the source of the noise.

Elion drew his dagger, as did Esta, and Stephanie raised her arms protectively in front of her, brandishing a stick that she lifted from a pile next to the fire.

“Tomas!” Preston exclaimed, his voice infused with both surprise and relief.

Tomas walked into the room with his friends, and they rushed to embrace him. Stephanie wept with joy, Preston pounded him on the back, Esta stood behind him smoothing his hair as if she were his mother, while Elion stood by smiling.

“Why did you do that Tomas?” Stephanie asked as if she was angry at him, though relief was clearly motivating her. “You could have told us you were going somewhere. No one would have stopped you.”

“Are you all right?” Preston asked. “What happened?”

Tomas seemed relaxed and untroubled, and his mood surprised them all. After what Elion had related, each of them expected that when they finally did find each other again he would be despondent and uneasy, if not totally anguished. But he was smiling and casual, as if he had gone for a simple morning stroll.

“Yes, I am fine,” he replied. “I thought not about what I was doing at first. It was as if I was in a trance. By the time I was aware of what was happening, it was too late to return and advise you all,” he explained. “I am sorry for causing so much concern.”

“What is more important,” Esta began, “…is that you are all right. Elion informed us of your revelation,” she announced.

The boy’s eyes opened wide before he hung his head for a moment, but he quickly lifted it again and looked at Esta’s face

“Be not concerned, your highness. I have come to grips with it,” he replied.

“What are you talking about?” Stephanie burst out. “How could you possibly come to grips with something like that? You must be devastated!” she continued, and immediately regretted her impetuousness once again. She covered her pretty mouth with her hand as if she had said something terrible.