Maerad, Hem, Saliman, and Cadvan hid themselves in the shadows of the trees on the edge of the forest. Irc, who had finally decided to show up, was guiding them to the weak spot he had noticed earlier.
The night was fair; a small breeze swept over them as they sneaked along the forest edge. The Iron Tower seemed so much further away when they were at the camp. It was getting bigger and bigger by the minute. To fast. Maerad thought nervously. She felt something in the air; something dark, something evil. Everyone felt it, but it attacked Maerad first.
Maerad's heart constricted. She couldn't breathe. Her hands flew to her neck as she struggled to the ground. Something was squeezing her; twisting the life out of her with their power. She forced her head up and saw a hull standing before them, his mangled face curling into an evil smile as he strangled Maerad.
Cadvan yelled and sent a bolt of white flame towards the hull. It was very weak; the hull brushed it away, like a fly. Maerad's vision was blurring. She had to do something. She tried to resist the Hull's charm, but it was like a snake, coiling tighter every time she took in a breath.
"Cadvan! Forget about Ceredin! Maerad will die if you don't focus !" Hem hissed at Cadvan.
Cadvan nodded. He gathered his power. Saliman, Cadvan, and Hem all shot a blast of white flame at the Hull. He stumbled back for a second. Maerad took advantage of that second of hesitation and broke his charm. She gathered her power and angrily threw up her hands and enveloped the Hull in white flames. An ear-piercing screech filled Maerad's ears as the Hull turned into a pile of dusty bones.
Maerad clutched her head, stumbling towards Hem. Her face was still blue, from her lack of air. Her head ached. But she could not afford to faint. She had a job to do. Hem caught her as she tripped over her feet.
"Maerad are you okay?" Hem asked, laying her down on the ground.
Maerad rubbed her head. "My head really hurts. I thought he was going to make it explode."
Saliman and Cadvan were kneeling over Maerad. She glanced at Cadvan, and saw not sorrow, but fear in his eyes. Hem looked at Cadvan. His head was turned away from everyone, clearly embarrassed by his weak attempt to kill the hull. Hem stood up and put his hand on Cadvan's shoulder. Maerad was surprised to see that Hem was just as tall as Cadvan. He had grown so much since she first saw him, scared and confused under a bed in a Pilanel caravan.
"I'm so sorry I got angry with you Cadvan. That was very mean for me to ask you to forget her like that," Hem said apologetically.
"No, Hem. I needed to hear that. It helped me heal something that was left broken a long time ago," Cadvan replied. "Maerad, I am sorry for what happened earlier," Cadvan said, taking her hand and helping her up.
Maerad struggled to her feet. She stumbled, but Cadvan caught her.
"You are forgiven, but we must continue. We have to get to the Iron Tower," Maerad told him, she wanted to say more to him, how she loved him, but that would have to wait.
"But you're hurt. You can barely stand," Hem said, lifting Maerad's arm and putting it around his own shoulder. Cadvan did the same with the other arm. The two men were so tall; Maerad was lifted off her feet.
Maerad kicked them both in the leg and they immediately put her down. She jabbed her finger in Cadvan's chest.
"You know I hate to be carried," she scowled at them both and walked stubbornly forward, falling all over the place.
Cadvan and Hem exchanged a humorous glance, both rubbing their legs. Saliman rolled his eyes and put his arm out to Maerad.
"Then you shall be guided ," He said, smiling at her. Maerad gratefully accepted his steadying arm.
"Sharma will have detected our magery. We must be must be much more careful," Cadvan warned, his hand on Hem's shoulder as they walked.
"Where did that Hull come from anyway?" Maerad asked, her gaze drifting towards the forest.
"I heard it first. It came from the Iron Tower. I think it is safe to travel in the safety of the forest. We can handle wers," Cadvan told them.
Maerad looked towards the horizon. The sun had just finished setting, leaving the group surrounded with unforgiving darkness. They headed into the cover of the trees.