To Hold Back The Dark - Chapter Two
It took an hour to arrive at Emeralde, and even though David felt a surge of relief at getting there quickly, he couldn't help but wish that they had been able to push harder and gotten further in the same amount of time. His relief at being in Emeralde was quickly dashed when they learned that the only blacksmith in town was already in the process of completely shoeing one horse and had another customer waiting.
"Maybe we should wait until the next town?", he suggested.
Corin shook his head as he dismounted, "Thunder's already starting to limp and the next town isn't until after we get to Trayille. I'll have to wait. You guys go on ahead. I'll catch up to you later."
David grinned as he and everyone else except Allanah dismounted, "No way, friend. If you stay, we all stay. We could use the rest anyway."
"And food!", Michael suggested.
"We just ate."
"That was an hour ago! It's worn off by now."
David loudly sighed, "I suppose that we could purchase a few supplies while waiting. Corin, how much will this cost?"
"Three silver pieces per shoe.", Michael happily informed him.
"I asked Corin.", came David's icy reply.
"But the sign says "Three silver pieces per shoe", you're half Elf, you can certainly read that!"
David glared at Michael, contemplating murder, or at least a good beating.
"Uh, David, I think that three silver pieces sounds very reasonable.", Corin offered.
"Well, we only have ten, so there won't be much bought. And we'll still need money for when we get across the border."
Michael smiled, "I have money."
"I knew you stole something!", David exploded, "How much?"
Michael grinned, "Enough. No more, no less. Anybody want to go shopping?"
"I am definitely going! There is no way that I'd let you loose in this unsuspecting town! God only knows what you'd try to steal!", David declared.
"Worse than an old mother hen!", Michael muttered.
David's eyes narrowed, "What did you say?"
"Are you ready to go then?"
"That's not what you said! You said I was worse than an old mother hen!"
"I did not!"
"Did too! I heard you!"
"Well, if you heard me, then why did you ask me what I said? Huh?"
Before David could reply with words or fists, Rhea stepped forward and grabbed his arm, then grabbed Michael's hand. The two had no choice but to go with her as she headed for the merchants area. She called back to Corin and Allanah, "We'll be back soon!"
As soon as they were out of earshot, Corin and Allanah began laughing. It had taken nearly all their control not to laugh out loud at the two men as they argued. They disagreed nearly all of the time, more as a matter of principle than from antagonism or anger and their disagreements were always centered around trivial things. They nearly always agreed on the important matters and Michael had no trouble deferring to David's orders or specific wants when they were in the middle of a job. The trouble usually occurred because sometimes, Michael's ideas of what was truly important were not the same as David's, or the rest of the law abiding world's.
Corin looked up at his sister, still smiling, "So, are you going to stay on that horse all day? Or do you plan to keep me company?"
"Will you be okay here alone?"
"Sure. Why?"
"I want to go back and keep an eye on the road. I feel awfully uneasy."
"Me too. I thought that maybe I was just reacting to David's tension."
"David gets a little paranoid sometimes."
"So I've noticed. Well, you go on back now. I can watch all the horses. We'll come to get you when we're ready."
"Okay.", she looked over at the smith, who was only on the second shoe of the first horse, "I wish he'd hurry up."
"So do I. Hell, we'll be out of here and home before you know it."
"I certainly hope so."
She turned her horse around and headed back the way they had come. Coming into town, they had passed a grove of trees and she now headed for those. The town and the grove seemed like an island in the huge plain that surrounded them. The grove was dense, yet emerald-hued grasses spread out from the trees and towards the high amber grass of the plains. She let her horse go and climbing the largest tree, found a perch for herself.
Looking back the way they had come, she a five mile or so clear view across the plain until the road and grass blurred into each other. The grass wasn't tall enough to obscure any riders, so Allanah wasn't worried about whether or not she could see a patrol coming after them. Looking to the north, she saw a Caravan pulling into the Caravan Grove on the outskirts of town. From the banners on the wagons, she was able to identify it as being the Hutheir Caravan, one which Corin and she had ridden guard for a few years back. They had fond memories of the year they had spent with that Caravan, traveling across Marille and Sierra before heading back to Trayille. After that successful first year working as Caravan guards, they had signed on with a few other Caravans, until they had finally taken a job with the King.
Looking towards the town, she could see the brightly colored houses and banners and above them, the Azure Mountains, bright blue in the distance. Trayille's border began at the foot of those mountains, and for now, Trayille meant safety for them. Or, rather, they would be safe from any of the patrols from Aluntaa. But before then, they still had to cross many miles of open plain and there they would be visible for miles to anyone or anything watching from land or air. She longingly watched the snow-white clouds as they massed at the top of the mountain range and then parted; some to glide gently towards the plain and the others to float west towards the sea. The Great Sea. Just thinking its name brought to her mind the soothing sound of waves crashing onto the shore, the glorious sight of sea-gulls pouncing upon its blue-green waters, and the ever present smell of renewal in the air. Even though Allanah had been born in the Elven Mountains, she had come to love the sea as a child when her parents made regular trips to Tralik, the harbor capital of Trayille. Later, she had found herself in a blissful heaven when she was surrounded by the sea while studying magic on the Amber Isle. With a resigned and tired sigh, she turned her attention back to the bleak eastern sky and the desolate stretch of road which they had just traversed.
The town of Emeralde lay in the exact middle of the Desolate Plain, physically isolated from the rest of the Kingdom of Marille, but the people of Emeralde felt far from isolated. Located where all of the roads of Marille met before uniting into the one that led into Trayille, the town thrived. As a result of the merchant caravans and government envoys which passed through continually, the latest gossips of all the kingdoms were interspersed in everyday conversation, and the latest goods were always sampled here first. Emeralde was a bright and cheery town, the houses and streets adorned with the truest hues available. Clothing ranged from the rich amber-browns of the Plains hunters to the pastels of the town women. In winter, the colors were like glittering jewels against the soft white backdrop of the snow covered plain. Emeralde sparkled year round and not many left the town, except for those who felt the pull of magic and went to Dari to study healing or The Amber Isle to study the other magical arts. There were also the few who felt the freedom of caravan life tugging at their hearts. Not many people settled in Emeralde either, except for those who wanted to be merchants and vendors, for business was always good in Emeralde.
One such settler was Emil Naythor, a former Caravaner who was originally from Trayille. It had been thirty years since his thirteen year old eyes had first fallen in love with Emeralde and then with his beloved Teria. His family had let him stay and now he was the most popular food vendor in town, running his food stand by day and his tavern at night. Travelers from all over would stay at his place and many times the poorest travelers would find themselves seated beside the highest ranking diplomats at supper. While passing through, his family would always stay with him and not at the Caravan Grove as was the custom of the Caravaners. He was accepted and loved by both the town folk and the Caravaners, and he was happy with his lot. The only blot on his happiness this year was his ever increasing worry for the rest of his family.
The Naythor's, being born in Trayille, spent every winter home. So far this autumn, his family had not yet passed through on the journey west. None of the other Caravans heading into Trayille had seen the Naythor, nor did any Caravans bring messages to him from them. Within a month, the snows would start and the passes would be risky. Those not back in their home kingdoms by the first snow would spend the winter elsewhere, a condition that not many of them minded too much. The Naythor family though, had too many ties to Trayille to even consider spending the winter in Emeralde, despite Emil presence. His fears were not lessened any by the fact that one of his daughters, Emilia, was now on the Caravan. Still, he tried his best to hide his fears from his family. He strived to continue on with his life just as if his family would arrive safely just as they did every autumn. He baked his pies, breads and pastries, and sold out of the same stand that he had been selling out of for every day for the fast 29 years. From behind his counter he saw all people from all walks of life: politicians, soldiers, housewives, nobility, and magic users of all types. Thus, he showed no particular interest when three dusty travelers paused in front of his booth, their senses taking in all the delights that his food offered. He smiled warmly at them, and with a sweep of his arm, offered all his wares.
"Is there anything here which might interest you, good gentles?"
The female stepped forward and closely scrutinized his counter, giving him ample opportunity to observe her and her male companions. Her black hair and racial features were like those to the man to her right; they were most definitely family. The other man, despite his Elven features, was no full Elf, for his hair was brown and not the white-blonde or blue-black of the Elves. His eyes though, deep gold, were definitely Elven. The trio all carried swords and weapons, and were clearly soldiers or mercenaries of some type.
Rhea looked up at him, "How much for your traveling bread?"
"Three loaves for two silver pieces."
She nodded, "I'll take three loaves then. And how much for your meat pies?"
"These are two silver pieces each, and this one," he indicated the most succulent one, "is four silver pieces. It is made from an old family recipe."
"Well, no offense to the family, but four seems a bit high. We'll take two of your others, though."
"Rhea, wait," Michael said, "We don't need any pies for the journey."
"We can eat them here."
"It's a waste of money."
David groaned, "I don't believe you! You were the one who moaned and groaned about starving to death and now you say that you don't want any food!"
"I still want food! I just don't want to throw my money away buying overpriced food, that's all! Charging double for one stupid little pie is ridiculous!"
"Your money! Where do you get the idea that it's your money!"
Rhea leaned over the counter, ignoring the two as they continued to argue, "Just the two, please. I apologize for the scene they're making. I think we're all just tired from our travels."
"I understand." He wrapped the bread and she promptly handed the package to the one called David, who took it and continued to argue with the other young man, not even noticing that he was holding it. Emil then gave her the two pies and her change.
"Thank you for your business."
They had just started to head back towards the smithy when a young man ran up to the stall, "Father, come quick! Emilia has come in with the Hutheir Caravan!"
"What? Why is she with them?
"They wouldn't say! They just asked that you come quick!"
Leaving his stall wide open, Emil raced away with his son. The merchant in the next stall waved him on, "I'll watch your booth. Go!"
"Sounds serious," Rhea murmured.
"It's best that we avoid it. It's not our troubles."
She stopped and turned to face Michael, "What is wrong with you? You had no reason to be so rude back there and now you act so, so... well, you just aren't acting nice at all!"
"I just want to get out of here. I feel so creepy and uneasy."
"You feel that way too?", David asked. For the past thirty minutes, he had been experiencing a growing sense of dread, but he had put it down to the fact that he was worried about getting home.
Michael nodded, "Something is not right somewhere. Let's hurry back to the smithy."
When they got there, neither Allanah or Corin were in sight, although all of the horses except Allanah's were there. The smith saw them and approached.
"Your Elven friend headed to the Caravan Grove. The Hutheir Caravan came in and needed healers, so he went. He asked that you follow."
"Thank you. Uh, did you get to his horse?", David asked as he mounted his own.
"I did and at no charge. I never charge healers."
"Then we doubly thank you." They rode out and were met by Allanah outside of the Grove.
"What's going on?", Rhea asked as they dismounted.
"The Hutheir Caravan was attacked about two hours east of here. They were following a different route than the one they usually take and they found the ruins of the Naythor Caravan. They found Emilia Naythor there unconscious."
"She was the only one there?", David asked as they walked into the Grove.
"The only one alive. Kaythan Hutheir will tell us all the details. He's their leader. Come on."
She led them to one of the finer looking house-wagons, where a man in his early 40's sat on the steps, his arm in a blood-stained sling.
"Kaythan, this is David Windwillow. You can tell us your story now."
"I'd prefer to wait until Emil Naythor can join us, since this involves his family."
"We can wait."
They didn't have to wait long. Emil quickly satisfied himself as to his daughters overall well-being and then left her to the ministrations of her mother. He nodded in greeting to Kaythan and the others and seemed a little surprised at seeing his most recent customers there also.
Kaythan began, "When we left Macrille, we were all set to follow our usual route west along the main road to here. When we reached Loksic, the Mayor advised us to take the older and longer northern road, since there was a fever raging here. The northern road arcs up and then comes back down right at where Trayille, Marille and meet, totally avoiding Emeralde and the pass." Everyone nodded, knowing which road he meant. "After a few days on the road, I began to get a bit suspicious, since I didn't see any other Caravans, only a few fresh Caravan tracks. I was feeling more than a bit uneasy about the entire journey by then, so I had guards posted and riding ahead. Early this morning we came across what was left of the Naythor Caravan. I'm sorry Emil.", he looked up at his friend with sadness."
Emil nodded, "Please go on."
Kaythan shuddered as he remembered the scene and he struggled to put into words what he had seen. "The wagons were burned out shells. There were a few scattered bodies about, guards, I think; they still had weapons in their hands. The bodies were unrecognizable. It was obvious to me that they had been taken by surprise since the wagons were in traveling formation and not in the protective circle used at night, or when danger is present. We found Emilia about a hundred yards away from the road, huddled between some rocks and a lot of thick growth. She was bruised and unconscious, but alive. She was the only living thing present there. Even the horses were gone. We searched, but we couldn't find a trace of the others."
"There were no footprints?"
Kaythan looked David straight into the eyes, "There was nothing.", his voice was flat, "We brought Emilia back to our Caravan and I decided to cut across the plain and head here. There was no way that I was going to stay on that god-forsaken road. The ground was untouched. Not a scorch mark anywhere", he paused, "We were nearly here when we were attacked."
"Did you get a good look at your attackers?", Michael asked.
"We didn't get any look. One moment the sun was there, the next, it was pitch black. I've never seen it so dark before. And the fear! I have never in my life felt so afraid!", he shuddered once more.
"Magic will do that.", Allanah whispered.
Kaythan nodded, "No doubt it was magic, as you say. Our attackers came at us through the darkness. I assume they were clothed in black, although, even had they been dressed in pure gold, I wouldn't have noticed. Even if I could have seen more than a foot in front of me, I was too afraid to notice. They might have been human, Elves, or monsters for that matter. The only thing that saved us was the fact that all of us were already on edge and on guard. I ordered our wagons to drive ahead as fast as they could and I guess that the darkness or whatever it was, had a range, for we eventually rode out of the black. I didn't let the wagons stop for awhile for fear of another attack. Our losses were few. Two men were killed and four of my people are missing. Whether they were taken or left dead upon the ground, I don't know. I couldn't risk the lives of those in the Caravan to turn around and go back to look.", he shut his eyes tight to hold back the tears, "One of the missing is my eldest son, Kaylun. We only had a few people with serious injuries, so we bound their wounds as best we could and headed here, where we knew we could find healers." He looked from face to face, seeing the effect his story had on all that were assembled there, a number that now included the Mayor as well as some diplomats who were on their way to Marille's capitol, Amberan.
David was silent, as was everyone else. Allanah now knew why she had been feeling so uneasy. Magic of that magnitude would be hard for a magic user not to feel, and would even effect those with no magical talents. From the look's on everyone's faces, she knew that all of her company had felt the disturbance., "David, this is pretty serious.", she kept her voice low.
"No shit! I need to think for a little while.", he turned and left the camp, the Mayor and diplomats close on his heels.
"I understand how he feels," Kaythan said, "I, too, am at a loss over what has to be done. Loksic has to be stopped from sending other Caravans or travelers down that road."
"There are only four more Caravans left to come through,", Emil spoke up, "I've been keeping track of them all."
"Emil, I truly am sorry for the loss of your family."
"As I am for yours, Kaythan. However, I am equally sad for the loss of previous Caravans."
Kaythan nodded, then turned to Allanah, "Allanah, would it be possible to get an escort into Trayille? I am assuming of course that that's where you and your friends are heading.", when she nodded, he continued, "My people and I are a little shaky right now and would appreciate your presence."
"I think that could be arranged. We were planning to head to Trayille as soon as possible."
"The faster out of here, the better."
Emil approached his old friend, "Kaythan, could Emilia travel with you? She's expressed a fear of being anywhere in the plain right now. I think she'd feel safer away from here."
"Of course. Emilia could never be a burden to us."
"David returned alone. "The Mayor is sending several armed riders down to Loksic to find out just what the Hell the Mayor down there is up to and the diplomats are heading out now to Ameran to let High King Richard know what's going on. Telepathic messages are also being sent to Tralik."
Allanah cleared her throat, "David, Kaythan has asked if we could escort them into Trayille. Now, before you say no, hear this: They want to get out of Marille as fast as possible, and they won't hinder us in any way."
"You talk as if you know this Caravan."
"I do. Corin and I worked for them once. They're good people."
David looked at her determined face and nodded to Kaythan, "How fast can you be ready to leave?"
Kaythan stood, "I'll give the order to move out now."
"I'll go to gather some provisions for you all. You may need more than you have.", Emil said. He looked at Rhea and Michael, "That includes my special meat pie.", he walked away.
David looked around for Corin, "Is Corin still busy?"
"The few that were injured, were injured pretty bad. I really wish that we could go out there to where it happened! There is a chance that Michael and I could find something!", Allanah exclaimed.
Michael nodded in agreement. David looked at them both with concern. The last thing he want to do was to break up the party, but he also knew that any report the two could make would be valuable to King Mark and High King Richard. He made his decision.
"Saddle up and go. We'll wait tonight at the mouth of the Merchant's Pass. If you aren't there by noon tomorrow, then we'll continue to Tralik without you. You better make it there."
"We will."
"Here, you'll need food.", Rhea handed Michael her pack with the bread and some other food which she had purchased that day.
"Tell Corin that I'll be careful and not to worry. I'll see him in Trayille."
"We will."
They walked out of the grove and the two mounted their horses., "Oh, almost forgot," she reached up to her collar and undid the Brooch of Arvada. "Here.", She held it out toward David. It glowed as never before.
"Just what is the magic of this jewel?", he asked.
"Protection and guidance."
"Then you keep it. We won't need it until we get to Tralik anyway."
She grinned and repinned it, "We'll see you soon."
"Of course you will! Now get going!"
David and Rhea watched them ride away in the direction that the Caravan had come from. David was not surprised to see as much worry in Rhea's eyes as he knew there was in his.
"Let's go check on Corin."
"They will be okay, won't they, David?"
"They have to be, Rhea. They have to be."
Michael and Allanah traveled for about an hour in silence, each thinking about what definitely lay ahead and what could possibly be out there. They were also frantically reviewing any spells that could help them in case of attack, and spells that would enable them to find clues in the Naythor wreckage. Michael could manipulate the elements, which was at times very effective, for elements were involved in nearly everything to some extent or another. Allanah manipulated matter, and to an extent, non-matter, such as magic itself. Spell detection spells, such as the one she had used earlier at the warehouse, was one such use of that talent."
"Are you scared?", Michael's voice was soft, but in the silence, it came to her like a shout.
"I'm scared to death. I don't like the idea of magic being used on such a large scale! And who knows for what purpose? Where are the people from the Naythor Caravan? How involved is the Mayor of Loksic? Who is doing this? I don't like it when I have so many questions and so few answers!"
"Me either. Still, our purpose out here is to find as many answers as we can. You can bet money that we'll be back this way later with the others."
"We will if King Mark has anything to say about it, and he will! Well, let's find out as much as we can now, that way there won't be as many surprises for us later."
They rode on.
It was after thirty minutes of hard riding when they reached the site where the Naythor Caravan had been attacked. They had passed the place where the Hutheir's were attacked and they had taken the time to look for bodies, dead or alive, but there were none to be found. The people who were missing had met the same fate as those of the Naythor Caravan, whatever that was. The Naythor Caravan looked dark and forbidding in its charred loneliness. Off of the road lay the graves where Kaythan had ordered his men to bury what dead they had found. Allanah and Michael weren't much interested in the dead though, it was the living they were hunting. They rode around the wagons slowly, inspecting each with care, and met each other back at the head of the Caravan. It was more than obvious they had been taken by surprise, for the wagons were stretched out in a long line and the brakes hadn't even been applied to the wheels. Now, the wheels themselves were fragile remains.
Michael cleared his throat, "Well, I suppose that we should get down and have a closer look."
"I suppose."
Neither moved to dismount.
"This is silly!", Allanah exclaimed, "We'll fully trained in magic! We have nothing to fear from this!", she indicated the wreckage.
Michael nodded, "You're right. Let's do it!", he swing down from the saddle and she followed suit.
As soon as Allanah touched one of the wagons, she was jolted by the strong magical residue that permeated the vehicle. Michael had felt it also and they looked at each other in alarm. Magic that strong took more than one normal magic user, or else it was created by one being with more talent than they could ever dream.
She felt frightened by the magic, "Michael, I really don't want to stay here much longer. Let's see if there's a trail we can follow."
"Good idea.", they walked around a bit, looking for signs on the ground of the host that had done the damage., "Allanah, look!"
Allanah looked in the direction that Michael indicated and saw an approaching Caravan. "That's the Farachuk Caravan! Michael, we've got to warn them!"
They rode at breakneck speed for the head wagon.