Then, as if from far away, he heard the sound of a child’s laughter. First, only one, then another and another, until he heard dozens and dozens of mirthful voices all laughing at once. Not in a clamor of incoherent sound, but in the purest of harmony. Gentle at first, they grew louder and stronger until the sound surrounded him with magnificent wonder. In between each sweet voice, the tinkling of tiny bells increased the harmony. A wave of joy washed over him, causing his heart to swell with unmeasured happiness. It was as though bliss were tangible; a treasure one could possess.
He looked back down at his body holding Aaliyah's. He looked the same, but her body was surrounded by a million tiny points of light twinkling and swirling in rhythm with the laughter. The light moved closer and closer together until they began to take form. At first it wasn't clear, then slowly he realized it was the figure of Aaliyah. She glowed and shimmered with the light of a thousand stars. Her face beamed at him as she drifted away from her body.
Gewey reached out. It was then he felt a burning on his breast. He looked to see the specter of the medallion Gerath had given him that still hung around his neck. Heat upon heat burned into his spiritual flesh, until he thought he could no longer bear it. He tried to scream, but no sound came from his lips. He could see Aaliyah drifting farther away, above him. Her spirit was fading. He called to her. She stopped. Right then he understood.
He concentrated on the sound of the laughter. In moments it took physical form. It appeared as a shimmering mist that surrounded everything. It was everywhere. Gewey could not believe he had never seen this before. He knew this was the spirit of the flow. The very soul of the earth.
He reached out to Aaliyah's spirit and shepherded it back into her body. He drifted back into his own, as the laughter grew distant, then went silent. He looked down at Aaliyah. Almost imperceptibly her chest move up and down as life returned. He reach out to her, and this time met no resistance. The poison was gone. He allowed his energy to flow into her, slowly at first, then more and more, until he could feel her strength returning.
“That is enough, Gewey.”
Her voice shocked him back into reality. She was smiling up at him, eyes closed, gently stroking his arm.
“How do you feel?” he asked, brushing her hair away from her face.
“Thanks to you, I feel alive,” she replied. “But weary. I should rest until morning, I think.” She squeezed him tight then slipped back onto the desert sands and nestled her head in the blanket. “You felt it, didn't you?” she whispered. “The spirit of the earth.”
“Yes,” said Gewey. “It was beautiful. Like nothing I could have ever imagined.”
“I wish I could have seen it.” She sighed, and fell into a deep, restful sleep.
Gewey watched over her until the dawn broke, keeping the chill night air around them warm. When she awoke, the sun was just peeking over the horizon. She looked at him and scowled.
“You have not slept,” she scolded, though not convincingly.
Gewey took out a piece of flatbread and his flask, and gave it to her. “I'm fine. I've lived with less sleep before. And after a swifter pace.” He recalled his journey from Valshara to the house of Theopolou.
“Still, what you did for me could not have been easy,” she countered.
“Actually, it was.” He tore off a piece of bread. “Though I'm not sure I could do it again.” He remembered the medallion and reached to his breast. It was gone. “It was the gift of Gerath that showed me how.”
Aaliyah touched his chest where the medallion once hung. “Such a sacrifice.”
Gewey smiled. “I don't need it anymore. The power that was in it, is now inside me. I can feel it.”
“How does it feel?”
He shrugged. “It's hard to explain. It’s not much different than when I touch the spirit of another person, only much more intense. It lacks the negative emotion and uncertainty of the mortal spirit. When your spirit left your body, I could see you join with it…in a way. Do you remember?”
“No,” she said, sadly. “I truly wish I did. I remember fading, as if falling asleep. Then waking up in your arms. I knew you had found a way to save me.”
This brought a smile to Gewey’s lips. Aaliyah jumped to her feet, listening intensely. Immediately, Gewey heard it, too. The sound of footfalls barely audible in the sand, even to Gewey's heightened senses, were just about to crest a nearby dune.
“An elf,” Aaliyah whispered.
“Better than the Soufis,” said Gewey, relieved.
Then, at the top of the dune, Weila appeared.
“Perhaps not,” said Aaliyah.
As Weila descended the dune, Gewey could see the intensity in her expression.
“Where is my son?” she asked, before she was even half way down.
Gewey opened his mouth to speak, but Aaliyah cut him off.
“He fell in the Black Oasis,” she said lowering her head.
Weila's hand slid to the knife on her belt, and hovered just above it. “He was not to enter that evil place. You swore an oath!”
Aaliyah told her about the wolves, and his reason for going.
Weila spun around, clenching her fists. “Did he die well?”
“He died bravely, expelling the evil from the Black Oasis,” said Aaliyah, in a reverent tone. “Because of his courage, your people need not fear entering that place ever again. It is there his spirit rests, kept safe by the life force that dwells within.”
“And how do you know this?” she asked, her voice wavering. “Did you see it?”
Aaliyah told her of their battle with the Vrykol, and what their spirit had told them. “He is safe. This I swear.”
“You swear nothing,” she spat angrily. “You swore to protect my son, and yet his body is rotting in the jungle of the Black Oasis. Keep your oaths to yourself.”
“It's not her fault,” said Gewey. “It's mine. I was unable to protect him. I tried, but I couldn't reach him in time.”
She sneered at Gewey. “Arrogant human. What could you have done? A weak member of a weak race who…” her words trailed off. She closed her tear-filled eyes. “I am sorry. I should not have said that. I did not mean it.”
“No need to apologize,” said Gewey. “I understand your pain. I have lost those close to me as well.”
“Unless you have lost a child, you cannot understand.” Her tears fell onto the sand. “I do not know how to bear such pain.” She rocked back and forth and wept.
“You could journey to the Black Oasis,” said Aaliyah softly, once Weila’s sobs lessened. “You can see for yourself where his spirit resides. Now that the evil is gone, it is safe.”
Weila wiped her eyes. “I may, in time. But for now, I must ignore my pain and do what I came here to do. You are to accompany me to see the Amal Molidova. She has sent me to retrieve you.”
“I am sorry,” said Aaliyah. “But we are in need of haste. Our people await us.”
“You will not leave the desert unless she allows it,” said Weila, coldly. “Your presence is not an option. The Soufis are gathering in vast numbers, and she will see what role you have played in this.”
“We have nothing to do with it,” Gewey protested.
“Perhaps,” said Weila. “That will be for Lyrial to decide. Do not try to run. You will be cut down before you reach the shore.” She motioned for them to follow. “And don't think your powers will save you. I know what you did to the Soufis, Aaliyah. Their burned corpses are a testament to what you are capable of.”
Gewey started to correct her, but a stern glance from Aaliyah silenced him.
“We will comply,” said Aaliyah. “How far must we travel?”
“It is an eight-day journey,” Weila replied. “But we will get there much faster.”
“How,” asked Gewey. The idea of more than two weeks’ delay did not sit well.
“You shall see.” Weila headed west. Gewey and Aaliyah looked at each other then followed.
The heat of the day was nearly unbearable. Aaliyah thought it best not to use the power of the flow to cool the air. Weila was in pain at the loss of Pali, and she didn't want to make matters worse by offending her beliefs.
By midday, they had nearly exhausted their water. Weila had not even opened her flask and her pace had steadily increased. A few hours later, they saw a small rock formation at the base of a large dune. As they neared they could make out an opening, just big enough for a single person to pass through.
