The Ways of Mages: Starfire (30 page)

Kairevasigh was nodding just as Duncan and Trevor walked in.

***

Pershara- Riverdale

Sergeant
T’
Serol scratched his stomach as he gazed at the old stone Monastery of Riverdale. He nodded his head in thought. It was true; people did
n’
t build things like the monastery anymore. The simple elegance was gentle on the eyes. Especially compared to the blocky construction of the edifices the king had commissioned just outside of Tharahsa,
T’
Sero
l’
s own home city. Yep, it was a shame that the monk warriors who called the Monastery home had turned against the king. From what
T’
Serol had seen of them, they had been gentle folk. The kind that one would dearly want to have as friends. Kind of like their home, simple in need, strong as stone, with an elegant nature that was a natural part of their baring. What one may assume to be a weakness proved to be a Monastic Knigh
t’
s strengt
h…
. But, alas, the world had decided to drift in a different direction. A direction where they had to be enemies.
T’
Serol was a man bound by his oaths, be they to a good king or not. But stil
l
…

The
sergeantsat down on the chair just outside his tent. Now when had he become so philosophical? He was a soldier not a philosopher who gave himself jelly brains trying to figure out th
e‘
might have bee
n’
s or an understanding of the way of the world. He was a sergeant of the Kin
g’
s Guard who just happened to appreciate architecture.

What
Sergeant
T’
Serol did not appreciate were the three shadows that slipped past him and into the monastery.

Arathin-On the road west of Ronrend, Marlhema

It rained.

Steadily.

And life was miserable. The drizzle had started as soon as the companions left the Kee
p’
s Inn. Blaano seemed to have sensed the coming weather. He made sure that they were outfitted well. Terana silently thanked his thoughtfulness as she snuggled further under her hood. Kadrean had informed Liam and herself that the cloaks were magicked to resist water. He also recommended that Liam wear gloves and a normal cloak underneath the spelled one. Blaano had apologized for not having any conventional water resistant cloaks. Liam had waved the apologies away. He had only chuckled and said that he would be warmer and thus more cozy then the rest of them.

Blaano had also seen to it that they were well fed. Terana thought wistfully back to that hardy breakfas
t…
Eggs, ham, fresh baked bread with jam and butter, warm goats milk, and hot honeyed scones. Too bad that had been half a week ag
o
…

The going had been slow originally, but now it was slow and depressing. Rain was great when one was inside. Fine to dance in for a short time. But it was downright trying on the open, muddy road.

Slowly, it seemed in all the monotony, the purple smudge Kadrean had named the Vermillion got nearer. Then suddenly it jumped to right before them. And before it wound another great road, or mud path thanks to the rain. Kadrean called it the Vermair. He also said that it crawled along the Vermillion mountains from Razya
n’
s Keep all the way to the Timeless Sea.

They made their way north along this great mud path as the day wore on. Tivieis was having a hard time with the mud, so they decided to walk alongside the road in the grass. It helped a little. Liam smiled at Terana when she looked back to see how he was doing. She blinked, for a smile was the last thing she expected to see. Seeing her confusion, Liam smiled all the more. It made her feel like he was laughing at her, which made her grimmer then the gray, drizzling clouds.

“
Oh, no need to reflect the weather, Terana
.”
Liam told her in his dreamy voice.

“
And why not
?
”

“
It makes it darker
.”
He replied with another smile.

“
Why are you smiling
?”
She finally asked.              

“
Because I can. Because I am alive. Because I can tromp in the rainy mud without my leg bothering me
.
”

Terana blinked at him, and then flushed. She had
n’
t considered that his leg would have bothered him. She had forgotten that it had ever been worst off. Ashamed by her grim mood, she hung back so she could walk beside Liam and apologize. She also wanted to know if he needed any help. At which point he laughed.

“
The only thing you could help me with is to smile and lighten the day
.”
He chucklingly informed her. And Terana tried to do just that as the group continued marching on. They told each other jokes, chuckled at the antics of certain biddies at home, and share opinions as to what they had seen so far of the wide world outside of Plarn. Terana found herself rather enjoying the day and did
n’
t notice the miles going by. Before she knew it, evening was crouching over the sky.  

“
Where are we camping tonight, Kade
?”
Zeeve asked, a wary note in his voice.

Kadrean paused, peering toward the distance ahead
.“
I was thinking we could stay with your people
.
”

“
I was afraid you would say tha
t
…
”
Zeeve sighed
.“
Ca
n’
t we jus
t…
you kno
w…
go on
?
”

Giving Zeeve a level look, Kadrean answered
.“
You know it is a dead man who attempts the Passes when he is tired and soaked with rain
.
”

Zeeve sighed again
.“
Fine
.
”

“
Why do
n’
t you want to see your people, Zeeve
?”
Terana asked, confused by the undercurrents
.“
Wo
n’
t they be happy to see you
?
”

Zeeve laughed
.“
Oh yes! They would be happy to see me! A little too happy
.”
The last he muttered.

“
I do
n’
t understand
.”
Terana glanced at Kadrean
.“
And you have
n’
t told me yet why Blaano kept referring to Zeeve a
s“
your majesty
.
”

“
Yo
u’
ll soon find out, Terana
.”
Kadrean replied

“
Too soon
.”
Zeeve added.

Kadrean soon led them away from the Vermair. Slowly they wove through the foot hills of the Vermillion. The rain clouds made it night sooner than it would have been. The only light they soon had was the small purple flame Kadrean held in his hand. Terana was rather glad that it was
n’
t affected by the wet. Eventually Kadrean stopped, peering down a rather steep slope. He looked ahead, then down again. Sighing he turned back toward them.

“
I do
n’
t think we will make it safely down that
.
”

“
Ca
n’
t you do something magical to make it safe
?”
Terana asked.

Kadrean shook his head sadly
.“I’
m afraid my abilities are limited to the arts of healing and light
.”
Teran
a’
s shoulders sagged. It looked like they would be sleeping on the ground in the muck. Again
.“
Terana
.”
She looked up to see Kadrea
n’
s thoughtful expression
.“
Perhap
s…
perhaps you could do something
?
”

Terana blinked at him
.“
Me? But I do
n’
t know how to use magic.
I’
ve never used it before
.
”

“
Yes you have
.”
Zeeve corrected from between Tiv
i’
s ears
.“
The hole in the thicket that you crawled through, is that ever too small
?
”

“
Well, sometimes it seems too tight, but once I get past a certain part it opens up
.
”

“
Does it
?”
Zeeve asked
.“
When you are struggling a little, do you eve
r…
I do
n’
t kno
w…
wish that it was just a little wider? That it would let you pass
?
”

Terana glanced at him
.“
Who would
n’
t when you are stuck
?
”

“
What about the rocks around the twin terrors
?”
Zeeve asked quickly
.“
They exploded, did
n’
t they
?
”

“
Yes, bu
t
…”

“
What were you thinking at the time
?
”

“
I was angry, if you must know. I only wanted them to leave me alone
.
”

“
What are you getting at, Zeeve
?”
Kadrean asked.

“
When she feels high emotion or is wanting somethin
g…
that seems to be when her magic works
.
”

Terana shook her head
.“
No. I have been wanting many things, Zeeve. But I did
n’
t get them
.
”

“
Why do
n’
t you just give it a try? Please? Just try and perhaps we do
n’
t have to sit out here in the rain
.
”

Terana studied his pleading expression
.“
I thought you did
n’
t want to see your people
.
”

“
Right now, I do
n’
t care. I want to be dry and I want to eat some good food. They will have that
.
”

Terana turned to Liam
.“
Should I try
?
”

Liam shrugged
.“
Why not
?
”

Terana looked at Kadrean
.“
What should I do? Stare at the hill and wish it dry
?
”

“
Or try walking down it
.”
He suggested.
 “
That might give more emotion to channel the magic
.
”

Sighing and thinking this was
n’
t going to work, Terana walked to the edge of the hill. A violet tinted sheen glittered off the wet grasses. Taking a slow step, Terana started climbing down. Her feet slid a little but not terribly. The humans in the party could make it down, but she was
n’
t sure about Tivi. Russy, on the other hand, walked beside her. After a few more steps, the hill got drastically steeper. Terana stopped. The incline was almost vertical. As it was Terana was already spreading herself close to the ground to keep her balance.

“
How did you expect to get Tivi down here?
!”
She called back up
.“
I
t’
s practically a cliff
!
”

She heard Kadrean and Zeeve holding a conference. She could hear snippets of it over the wind and rain.

“
Do yo
u…
n
o…
perhaps w
e…
off too soo
n…
I thin
k…
Terana! Come bac
k
…
”
The rest of what Kadrean was about to say was covered by a rumbling sound. Russy was growling and whining intermittently.

“
Russy? What is it
?”
Terana asked.

Russy met her eyes
.“
Run
!
”
The wolf turned and raced back up the hill, his feet sliding now and then. It was then that Terana became aware of the vibrations under her. Alarmed, Terana started to follow Russ
y’
s example. It was too late; the earth was already shifting beneath her. Terana scrambled toward her companions. As she did, she shouted for them to move back. She heard Russy barking. His calls helped to guide her toward them.

Fear kicked her limps racing to claw her way up the hill. The earth continued to move under her and she soon found herself going faster backwards then forwards.  Swearing, she shouted at the earth to stop. The earth only moved faster. Terana cried out as she felt herself being dragged under. There was a sickening sensation as she and the earth pitched down the steep part of the hill. Panic knew no bounds.

She did
n’
t want to die.

Screaming only filled her mouth with dirt. Terana tried to claw back to the surface of the flowing earth. The problem was, she no longer knew which way that was.  The roar of the earth was deafening. Insanely, her mind wonder if being buried alive was this much fun.
Fun?
She thought in disbelief.
I’
m going to die in a mudslide and I can only wonder if being buried alive is fun?!