-The Summoned-
Thalla
The Light Plane: Hash-en pass
"Please..." Thalla said again, looking back
down to the dirt as though she expected no reply. "please."
she whispered.
At once, almost before he realized what he was doing,
he ran to her side. "Of course I'll help you! Come this way."
he declared, taking her hand.
"I- I can't leave this pass..." she protested lightly,
stopping Asa in his tracks. "There is a stone... in the other room...
it prevents my escape" she said, nearly whispering.
Reluctantly releasing her hand, Asa began to move
toward the tunnel.
"Wait-" Thalla said "take this...." quickly
she picked up a small rod, appearing like a double-sided trident, and offered
it to Asa. "You can remove the stone with it. And... thank
you." She looked back down as Asa took the rod.
Quickly Asa ran back into the tunnel that had led
him to this pass. He had traveled only a few yards when he cursed
his lack of thought- the tunnel was as dark as it ever was and he had no
source of illumination. He began to feel his way along the side of
the tunnel when he realized that he was able to see the outline of the
tunnel. Glancing down, he saw the rod shedding a pale yellow light.
Not stopping to wonder why, he sped his pace down the tunnel, which now
seemed much shorter than before. Again he found himself in Sol Yin
pass, facing the pedestal. Bringing the glowing yellow rod up, he
swept it toward the rock. The center of the pedestal directly below
the stone threw a white bolt of energy that collided with the rod, the
force of the collision nearly tearing it from his hand. He brought
the rod up again, and quickly spun it toward the rock again. The
same bolt of energy attacked, but this time the inertia of the rod won
out and knocked the stone off of the pedestal, sending it flying.
Asa scrambled to retrieve the fallen stone, holding it in his free hand
as he looked back down the tunnel to Hash'en pass. He glimpsed a
white form approaching steadily. As he studied it, fear suddenly
overcame him, paralyzed him, as though a power beyond anything that he
had ever known was making its way toward him, unstoppable, and it would
destroy all in its wake. Then the illusion was gone, and Thalla stood
before him, an expression of hapiness on her face.
"Thank you!" she said. "Oh thank you... I
do not even know your name!"
"I am Asa Brown." Asa said, holding the rod
out to her. "I believe this belongs to you...."
"Oh!" Thalla looked suprised as she took the rod.
"I had nearly forgotten. Thank you again, Asa. You... are a
summoner?"
"Yes, I am.... How did you know?" Asa asked,
somewhat disturbed by her insight.
"This is a summoner's rod... and I've had it enchanted
so that only summoners can wield it. And you did an excellent job...
how can I ever repay you?"
Asa shook his head. "It is not neccessary
to-"
Thalla interrupted him abruptly "Of course!
Asa-" she put her hands on his shoulder, putting the rod down beside her.
"I owe you my freedom, and my life. When in danger, you can call
on me. I am yours to command as long as I live."
Asa stood in complete shock. This woman had
just given him permission to summon her, something that nobody had ever
done in his entire lifetime. The only things he could summon before
were the elementals, because they didn't complain. Now, this woman-
Thalla- had just allowed him to bring her to his call whenever he desired.
It was staggering, and he could not find a reply.
"I- I have to go. I was on a journey
before I was captured." Thalla said reluctantly. "I must be leaving...
remember, whenever you need aid... call for me."
She whirled and walked down the tunnel, gone before
Asa could gather his wits enough to say anything.
"So there you are!" A voice accused loudly.
Asa spun and saw Jamie standing in the tunnel that she had first taken.
"Daydreaming? That's not a very good excuse. Get over here,
and get yourself a torch! Are you going to stumble around in the
dark?" She sighed loudly.
Asa shook himself out of his trance and walked over
to Jamie, putting down his pack and taking a torch out, lighting it on
Jamie's. "I'm sorry" he apologized to her. "My torch went out...
I thought it would be a good idea not to move, otherwise I would get lost."
"Well, that's the first good idea you've had in
this entire trip! Come on, it's getting late."
After fifteen minutes of traveling, the two reached
another wide area in the tunnel, where Elayna was standing. She regarded
the two impassively and fell into step behind Jamie as they continued on.
"Don't do that again." Elayna said to Asa,
not bothering to look back at him. "You ought to carry something
to start a fire. That way you wouldn't get stuck in the dark."
"I do carry something to start a fire. Except
it was too dark for me to find it." Asa said dryly. The party
lapsed into silence as the voyage continued.
Asa continued to walk, tired from the events of the
day and having no idea what time it was. Eventually, the cavern brightened
and the three slowed their pace as each took a moment to realize what had
happened. They were outside.
Elayna was the first to show a reaction, sprinting
over the rock in the direction of a poorly constructed hut.
"Elayna, no!" Jamie yelled, sprinting after
her. Asa, having no idea what was going on, took off after Jamie
but was not in as good shape, and was carrying a very heavy pack and therefore
had no hope of catching up. Jamie, on the other hand, quickly closed
the gap between herself and Elayna, picking her up off the ground a few
feet from the hut. Elayna writhed frantically.
"Put me down! Put me down!!! He's in
there!" Elayna objected, tears streaking down her face. Asa
caught up to the two, winded, and looked at the hut again. It was
not poorly constructed, as he had first thought, but appeared to have been
the target of a tornado or fire or some other natural disaster. Jamie
turned, pulling Elayna with her as she moved away from the hut.
"Hold her." Jamie commanded Asa, thrusting
the struggling child into his arms. Jamie darted into the hut while
Asa struggled against Elayna.
"Let me go!" Elayna screamed. Asa held on to her
as best he could, suprised at her strength. Suddenly, Elayna began
speaking in some language that Asa couldn't understand. Asa found
his strength leave him unexplainedly, releasing Elayna despite his futile
attempts to hold her. Elayna sprinted ahead into the hut.
Jamie was bent over the body of Robert Craft, holding
his wrist, feeling for the slightest sign of life. After these injuries,
no doubt caused by the same insectile monster they had fought later, she
was fairly certain that he was dead. She sighed, holding back tears
for this man, who had been her friend... and more. She could grieve
later. Right now she had to appear strong for Elayna. The child
knew, of that Jamie was certain, but the least Jamie could do was to see
to it that Elayna never had to see the body. As Jamie stood up and
turned to exit the hut, that hope was shattered.
Elayna stood for only a moment in complete shock,
and then screamed.
Back - Home - Next
This page hosted by 
Get your own Free Home Page