Chapter 8:
I came to with the sounds of low voices nearby, feeling as if I were floating in water. Swaying back and forth. I realized I was in a hammock, and it was moving with the ship. The ship!
I shot upright, looking around frantically. Eir sat on a stool beside me, giving me a soft smile.
"The fight is over."
A breath of relief left me but as her expression shifted to sorrow, I knew that more than one person had died. If I hadn't passed out... If I'd been able to stay conscious, would I have been able to help them?
She shook her head, as if hearing my thoughts. "No." Her hands covered mine, which were fisted in the blanket covering my lap. "You could not have helped those people. Nothing you did would have made a difference. You must understand that."
I looked away, pulling my hands free. "You don't know that. I didn't get the chance."
The voices stopped, and Lohse poked her head around the wall, grinning. "You're up!"
I gave her a smile. "I am."
"Okay, so..." She trailed off as she walked into the room, approaching me, her hands waving in the air. "We're in the Hall of Echoes, actually. Mals did that. To get away from Dallis and her sycophants." A pause. "So, yeah. That's where we're currently at with everything."
The... Hall of Echoes?
She laughed, answering my unspoken question. "She's half demon. So, she can do a lot of crap like this." Her expression darkened. "Ah, yeah. There's also the matter of Alexandar going missing. We think Dallis somehow got him."
I tapped into the bond between me and Englo, summoning her back. She appeared, carefully winding her way through the space to me. Resting her head on my lap as she sat next to Eir. She looked at me with a sad expression, one that I'm sure I mirrored.
"Hey." The mage chided. "What's got you so down?"
"Where is everyone?" I asked quietly.
"The others? They're around."
I fisted my hands around the sheet again. "Lohse."
At my tone, her countenance shifted. "Beast, Fane, the Red Prince, Sebille, Ifan, Malady, Gareth, that Tarquin guy from Dallis' room are all safe."
Tears sprang to my eyes. Everyone else was dead. Everyone else was gone. I leaned over the side opposite the three of them and threw up. In the middle of that, I began to feel faint, and I started to pitch forward. Arms grabbing me about the waist was the last thing I was aware of before I lost consciousness again.
I opened my eyes to find myself laying on hard stone. Slowly sitting up, I realized I was in the area I'd met Rhalic.
I felt like I was forgetting something. Something important. But try as I might, I couldn't recall anything. I couldn't recall anything. Outside of who I was, I had no recollection of anything. And even then, I knew there were things I was missing about myself. The pieces I had weren't fitting together.
Cautiously, I went to the edge, trying to get a lay of the land, and I spied a tree. With people hanging from it. Fear spiked in my chest, and I raced down the path toward them. I couldn't say why, but I felt that they were people I knew. People I should be concerned for.
Crossing the bridge that created itself as I walked, I realized I only recognized one- Rhalic. The human god. Which meant the others were probably gods, as well. But that also meant they were not who I'd been worried about- not that I knew who they were to begin with.
Source pooled beneath them in puddles, and I touched one, the liquid absorbing into my skin. Into my body. I felt reenergized. Finally able to focus now, I studied the people closely. They were being held by tendrils of the tree behind them, a curse around each of them. Painstakingly, I went around, blessing them all. By the end, I was back to being exhausted. Curious, I touched another pool. Again, energy flowed through me.
I'd never come across liquid Source before. It was very interesting, to say the least. Pulling out several empty vials, I filled them with it. Seven of them, the two I'd absorbed already back. I was sure they would come in handy at some point.
Turning my attention to Rhalic, I approached him. There wasn't anything I could do to get him down- or the others, either- but I wanted to speak with him.
"Are we the first? The others- do they hang still upon the tree?" He started writhing about, trying to break free. When it was clear it was a pointless endeavor, he went limp. "You must make haste. I am bound, but not defeated. Not yet..."
"What-"
"This is not the work of fate. It is the work of the Void. It will come for our people. It will destroy us all." His expression shifted, becoming eager. "You are my chosen: Now you must become the champion of our kind. The champion of humanity. I have survived our enemies. You must do more than that." A shake of his head. "There is a great deal more you must learn yet. You have unleashed some of the powers locked within you, but there is a great well of possibility still untapped. You cannot stop until you ascend to the highest heights of your power." A hiss, now. "You cannot stop until you become Divine."
My eyes widened. I couldn't bring myself to speak.
He froze, clearly listening for something. "I hear the Void. I hear it calling. I hear it laughing. It... it is coming." His words reminded me of the dwarven mines papers from Lord of the Ring, and I swallowed hard. "It is here. If it finds you here... if it finds you..."
A soundless scream left me as I felt something icy hot shoot through my heart. Falling to my knees, I clutched at my chest. My voice was gone, the pain was so much. Too much. I couldn't think. I couldn't breathe.
The next thing I knew, I was back on the ship, on one of the inner decks. The pain receded slowly, leaving me altogether at the same time Ifan rushed into the room, gaze finding me. I must've looked a sight, because his eyes widened, and he was at my side a moment later.
"You're safe. It's okay." He chanted. "Just breathe. You're safe. You're okay."
I felt as if my lungs weren't inflating the right way, belatedly realizing I was having a panic attack. I tucked my head between my knees, the top of my head pressing against the wood under me. He rubbed my back until I finally sat up again. Which was when I saw all the blood. It was all over me- my shirt, my pants, my hands, my arms.
"What... Where did this come from?" I asked, confused.
"Looks like you clawed at your chest." He said quietly.
The pain. I must've done that while I was trying to make the pain stop. I took the time to heal it, the action only leaving me more drained. Source pool or no, I was exhausted from the whole ordeal.
"Did... Did you go through it, too?"
"We all did."
I was glad I didn't have to elaborate, but also saddened that they'd all experienced it.
"Is everyone okay?" I looked at him, chewing my lip.
He nodded. "Yeah, everyone's fine."
A sigh of relief left me. "That's good. I'm glad."
He pressed a kiss against my temple before helping me to my feet.
"We're almost to Driftwood." He said as we moved toward the top deck. "We should be there soon."
"I'm not sure if I'll be glad to see it or not." I admitted.
"I doubt they'll know what happened to us. We didn't about you."
It was said to reassure me, I'm sure, but it only made me sad. I reached out and grasped his hand, interlacing our fingers. He shot me a curious look, and I smiled slightly at him.
"I'm sorry that you didn't know. I can't imagine what that must've been like."
His expression turned pained as he looked away. "It wasn't fun."
Englo butted against the backs of my legs, and I almost collapsed, but Ifan caught me, giving my wolf a raised eyebrow.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't see you there." She said, voice sickeningly sweet.
"I see your wolf doesn't have the same objections to lying that you do." He chuckled, squeezing me tighter against him.
I sighed against his chest. "Yeah, she definitely doesn't mind it."
"And I think you're a fool for believing the spirits." She huffed.
"Spirits?"
Before I could reply, she laughed. "Yes! When she was really little, the spirits that were drawn to her told her that lying hurt people. And she doesn't like hurting people, so she vowed to never tell a lie." I watched as she rolled her eyes. "They also said that about stealing, so don't expect her to do that, either."
He laughed again, louder this time. I narrowed my eyes at the both of them.
"Thank you so much for laughing at me."
Grinning, he turned my face to his and kissed me lightly. "Don't be mad." Letting me go, he took my hand. "Come on, the others are waiting for you."
"Us, you mean?"
"They're more concerned about you than me. Trust me."
"If you say so." I frowned, wondering why that would be.
"Look! There she is!" Lohse shouted, spying us.
"See?" He squeezed my hand. "I told you."
She bounced over, throwing her arms around me and pulling me from the Wolf's grasp.
"I'm so glad you're alright, chief. I was worried, when you took so long to show up."
"I'm here now." I patted her back, and she released me. I took in a huge gulp of air.
"Come on! We're almost at Driftwood!" She exclaimed, grabbing my arm and dragging me off.
She chattered on about how we were going to moor a mile or so out from the shore and take the little boat in. While they all were talking, I released my hold on Englo's summon, feeling her energy shrink until it was only a little spark in my chest. She wouldn't be able to fit on that small thing, and I didn't want to leave her here.
I covered my mouth as we got closer, the stench of rotting fish making me want to vomit again. Only, I knew it would be dry heaving, because I hadn't eaten since the last time I'd thrown up. Still. I didn't want to start. The others were so much stronger than I was- they weren't having any difficulties regarding this situation. I felt more than a little pathetic.
They looked around, while I stayed put, breathing as little and as shallowly as I could manage.
"You look a little green." The mage said, concerned, when she spotted me having not moved.
"Hoc me odisse." I moaned, my stomach lurching.
Sprinting ahead, trying to get away from the smell, I put a hand against one of the trees, leaning against it as I threw up stomach acid.
"I hate this." Between bouts.
A whisper- no, several whispers- reached me, and I bolted upright as they grew louder.
"Guys!" I whisper-shouted. "Voidwoken are here!"
They closed ranks around me, just in time for the voices to turn into screams. I clutched my head, willing my eyes to stay open. Willing my focus to be on the others. I needed to be present, regardless of the pain.
The creatures fell easily, no match for our numbers since there were only four of them, with no injuries on our side. I let out a breath of relief when it was over.
"Are you hurt, lass?" Beast asked as they looked to me.
I waved my hands in the air. "I'm alright! Don't worry about me."
"Right, then. As much as I would like to stay here- Oh, wait. I don't." The Red Prince grumbled. "Can we get into the town, already?"
We made our way down the dirt path, coming across a little boy that was crying out for his mom. Without thinking, I rushed toward him.
"Is something wrong? Where's your mom?" I asked.
He turned to me, tears streaming down his cheeks. "Please! You have to help her!" The others caught up. "There was a... a fight. Some dwarves attacked some magisters, and there were Sourcerers, too. And then the bugs came. Those Void things. They... killed everyone, and my ma got 'em to chase her, and she went across the bridge, and then she raised the bridge and, and, and she told me to run, and now she's stuck over there with them!"
I turned to my friends. "We have to-"
Sebille cut me off, uncharacteristically gently for her. "There is no way across. The bridge is up."
A plan formed in my mind, and I nodded firmly to myself. Without a word, I ran to the side of the bridge and dove into the water below, swimming to the little dock and pulling myself out of the water.
"Are you crazy?!" Lohse screamed, the lot of them staring at me incredulously.
I ran up the stairs, letting myself into the house, and found his mom. "How do you lower the bridge?"
She froze, blinking at me. "What-"
"My friends can take care of the voidwoken, but we have to lower the bridge first."
"Did you... swim across?"
I was starting to get frustrated. "If you won't tell me, I'll figure it out myself."
When I reached the other door, she jumped into action.
"Wait! I'll go with you."
She followed me out, before leading me to the lever that would lower it. I pulled it down, though she protested, because she wasn't sure where her son was.
"I'll keep him safe." I promised her.
They all rushed across, with several glares directed at me, and I grabbed the boy's arm, holding him firmly in my grasp. His mother nodded to me and, with one last, lingering glance at her son, she went to help the others fight the voidwoken.
He tried to fight me, but I held fast, going so far as to summon Englo to stand in front of him, effectively pinning him between us. With that taken care of, I focused on the fighting, forming a couple of walls to help. The whole thing only lasted about fifteen minutes, if I had to guess, and the mother ran up to us. We released the boy, and they collided in a tight embrace.
"You..." Ifan growled softly when he reached me, a promise of punishment on his face.
"You could have died!" Lohse scowled, shaking her hands at me as if she was wringing my neck.
"Eira." Fane sounded like a disappointed parent.
Sebille and the Red Prince just gave me looks, and I was very sure I didn't want to hear what they wanted to say.
Beast shook his head, a rueful smile on his face. "You're a menace, lass."
He seemed to be the only one to find amusement in the situation, and I was thankful for that, at least.
"I'm not sorry." I held my head high, even though I was crumbling inside under their gazes. Even though my voice shook against my will. "They needed help."
"We could have come up with a different plan." Sebille frowned. "You did not give us the option."
"Ah. For that, I am sorry." I conceded, smiling apologetically.
"Thank you, so much." The mother's voice broke through our conversation.
I smiled brightly at her. "I'm glad we could help."
They bid us goodbye, and we watched as they walked away. We continued on our way to the town, only to come across downed carriages and dead bodies. I stopped in my tracks as the dwarves and magisters all looked to me. They knew I could see them.
"Lass?" Beast sounded as if he were down a long tunnel.
I walked toward one of them, which happened to be right next to the live dwarf. Who swung out her blade and nicked my arm, but I paid her no notice.
The one in front of me spoke of Lohar, that he would want to know what happened. Another chimed in, saying that the Sourcerers had caused this. More and more of them spoke up, their voices a cacophony of demands for justice and for me to tell Lohar what happened.
Closing my eyes, I focused on the hum of my companions talking, willing the voices of the dead to fade to the background.
"She won't speak." Lohse scowled.
"I can make her." Sebille said, taking a step toward the woman.
I held up a hand. "You don't have to. The dwarves were helping Sourcerers, and the magisters caught wind. They attacked, and the voidwoken followed shortly after the fight began." I motioned to the space around us. "They- the dwarves- want us to tell Lohar."
"What happened to the Sourcerers?" Ifan asked.
I shook my head. "They don't know."
"I need to see Lohar, anyway." Beast cracked his knuckles.
My eyebrows shot up, but he gave me a reassuring smile.
"Relax, lass. I'm not gonna kill him."
Somehow, I doubted that very much.