vibrated with the pulse of his charged heart and the heat fevered inside.
He noticed the movement of his enemies and his determination returned. He wouldn’t rest until they were all dead. Wielding his sword, the fire rose again. One chanter fled into the shadows, searching for consolation. Another drummer threw down her drum, and grabbed a rock and lunged at Talis. He dodged and cut her down. The vial of her body spilled opened and spewed ash. The remaining enemies fled into the darkness.
Fire raged everywhere.
Talis glanced around. His friends had come out of their trances. Mara looked tired, as if she hadn’t slept in days. Lenora and Nuella cringed next to Rikar and Nikulo, staring at Talis as if he was some kind of a monster. Lenora’s father, the blademaster, and the sorceress were all gone. What had happened to them? The huts blazed and the green fire went cold. The silent bones seemed to cry out.
“Where’s your father?” Talis said to Lenora.
“They killed him.” Tears spilled down her cheeks. “Father is gone, consumed by the fire. Mordellia and Javar tried to stop them…but they were slain.”
Talis gazed at bones and bowed his head. “We have to leave this evil place.”
They collected their gear and found their horses. Talis mounted his horse and stared east. A beam of moonlight sliced through the trees. There was still hope; they still had a chance. He rode slowly, but the forest stalked him from every shadow.
17. AURELLIA
After a long ride through the forest, they setup camp along a broad river with burly boulders dotting the beach. A heavy mist blanketed the party in dew. Talis huddled next to the fire, trying to release a chill that refused to leave his body since casting the fire spell. He glanced over at Lenora, sitting on the other side of the fire, her eyes puffy and red from crying. She was holding her sister tight, shivering, staring into the fire as if seeing a monster.
“I’m worried about them,” Mara whispered.
Talis nodded. “I can’t imagine how they feel.”
“I know the feeling well,” Rikar said, his voice choked and bitter. “It’s like having your stomach torn out.” He sighed a long time, scraping the ground with his dagger. “When father died I swore I’d get revenge on his enemies-”
“And who might that be?” Talis said, bristling at Rikar’s words.
“Start at the top, House Storm.” Rikar twirled his dagger. “But fear not, son of House Storm, revenge can wait. Father beckons me from the Underworld.”
“The Underworld? Only the dead visit the land of the dead.”
Rikar chuckled, as if entertained by a secret joke. “You know little, young Master Storm. There is a way, you know. This was spoken many times in legend.”
“The hero’s journey to the Underworld, past the Titans of the deep and the mountain of fire.”
“This is all true, I’ve seen it in a vision.” Rikar threw a stick into the fire. “I’ve seen my father also…his agony…the Grim March. I will rescue him.”
“You’re going the wrong way,” Mara said. “The Underworld is beneath us.”
Rikar shook his head. “No, quite the opposite. We’re going in exactly the right way. The entrance to the Underworld in on that island.”
“How do you know this?” Nikulo said, suddenly alert.
“There are many things I know that you don’t. Enough of this talk. I’m tired.” Rikar pulled a wolf skin over himself and turned away.
The group fell silent. Talis closed his eyes, thinking about Rikar. The time he’d caught Rikar praying to the shrine of Zagros. His words in the desert. When Rikar had called his master. Aurellia. Who was this Aurellia? Talis was determined to find out…
After everyone was asleep, he glanced at Rikar. He seemed asleep as well, but for some reason Talis could feel he was awake, alert, waiting. The wind stirred, a moist wind, blowing from the east. Rikar shifted slightly, and Talis closed his eyes, observing with his ears. He could hear Rikar rising slowly, creeping from camp.
Seconds later, Talis opened his eyes and spotted Rikar stalking along the river. Shadows danced and the moons reflected off the rippling water. Talis followed, trying to stay quiet, and past a bend in the river he glimpsed a dark figure along the shore. Rikar approached the figure and Talis felt a chill run down his spine. He stalked along the forest’s edge, trying to get closer.
Rikar bowed low to the figure. Talis crept closer, until he could hear what they were saying.
“Obedient boy, you’ve served me well. Is all according to plan?”
Talis held his breath. The figure was Aurellia, the one who’d saved them from the necromancers in the desert. In the moonlight, Talis could see one side of his hideous, wrinkled face beneath a black cape.
“It is.” Rikar frowned. “Some complications…but nothing to stand in the way.”
“Complications?”
Talis listened to Rikar tell the story of the assault at the huts. Rikar did his best to change the story to paint his own actions (or lack of action) in the best light.
“This friend of yours…Talis Storm. He could prove useful. Could he be swayed in our direction?”
Rikar paused for a moment, as if unsure how to proceed. “Talis has different aims-he longs only to save his city.”
“As he should.” Aurellia chuckled. The wind changed, gusting up for a moment, striking Talis’s back.
Aurellia stiffened, like a hound catching a scent. He turned towards Talis, pits of blackness blazing at him.
“You were followed…by your friend.”
Talis dropped, feeling electricity crawling along his back. It was too late. Rikar strode towards him, lifting his hands. Aurellia sauntered over as well, his cloak shuffling along the ground.
“You should have stayed at camp…” Rikar pulled his shoulders back.
“A guest…how quaint. I would have come prepared.” Aurellia clasped his hands together, as if trying to solve a puzzle. “Now I could look at this two ways: one, a curious boy, loyal to his friend, concerned for his safety…out here in the wilds. Two, a traitorous boy, spying on a friend, sworn to some foul task. Now which is it?”
Talis stepped out of the shadows and bowed his head to Aurellia. “Curiosity… And I should offer thanks, for saving us in the desert.”
“Most polite…impressive. You are quite welcome.” Aurellia harrumphed. “A master must protect his loyal apprentices. But enough of history, why are you here now?”
“I should ask the same thing of you and Rikar.”
“And insolent. If you wish to preserve the use of your legs, please contain yourself.” Aurellia raised a long, crooked finger. “Let’s just say, behind the curtain of life, there is a grand struggle. Kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall. Treacherous plans by the rich and ruthless. Everything you see on the outside is not what it seems.”
Rikar grinned. “The master today, is the slave tomorrow-”
“Refrain!” Aurellia glared at Rikar. He paused, then strode close to Talis. “I am old, as old as recorded time.” Talis could smell the sick stench of mold wafting from his mouth and wanted to vomit. “Many of this world call me master. You have a choice, young Talis, a choice that will decide your future. You can be patient and assume there is a valid explanation behind this secret meeting, or you can act rashly. The latter would be…a mistake.”
A mistake. More like it would cost him his life. He had no choice…
“Apologies for my intrusion.” Talis bowed. “I will take my leave.” As he walked away, he could hear Aurellia whispering to Rikar.
Before Talis reached camp, Rikar jogged up to him, breathless.
“Wait…before you-”
“Who is he? Have you been feeding him information all along?” Talis gripped his sword hilt.
Rikar backed away, pressing his palms out. “This conversation is going in the wrong direction. If you try to fight me, you’ll lose. That sword will do you no good.”
