Shades of Darkness: Chapter Three by Iris Amergin
"You're sure you'll be okay?" Lachesis asked as she finished saddling her horse.
"I did fend for myself pretty well before I met up with y'all, y'know," said Sylvia, shifting Lynn from one arm to the other. "I'll be fine. Quit worryin'."
"You didn't have children then."
"I'll manage," Sylvia said firmly. "You're supposed to be headin' for Lenster, not babysittin' me."
Lachesis bit back another argument and nodded. "You're right. I guess this is it, then."
"Guess so."
They stood and stared at each other for a long moment, awkward silence hanging in the air. Finally Lachesis spoke again. "Well, no use dragging it out. Goodbye, Sylvia. Take care of yourself."
"I will." Sylvia smiled. "Good luck out there."
"Thank you. I've got a feeling I'm going to need it." Lachesis nodded to Sylvia and mounted her horse. Without further ado, she flicked the reins and started off.
She's left.
Eh? asked Cuan, startled.
Lachesis just left Darna, Eltoshan replied. Which you might've noticed if you hadn't been falling asleep up there.
I was not falling asleep, said Cuan indignantly. I was...thinking.
Sure you were. Eltoshan preened his feathers. You always snore when you're thinking, then?
I wasn't-- Cuan stopped. Is that even possible? Do birds snore? He noticed the gleam in Eltoshan's eyes and realized his friend was making fun of him. Hmph...you're enjoying this, aren't you?
I haven't had anyone to talk to for a year. Of course I'm enjoying this--not that I'd have wished it on you, but it's nice to have some company for a change.
Cuan decided to steer the conversation back to the original topic. If she's left, what does that mean to us?
I think we're heading in now that she's gone. I suppose he didn't want to run into her, so we've been waiting--
Eltoshan was proven correct when Elvidner motioned to Sudra and stood up. "We're leaving." He glanced at Eltoshan. "You, however, aren't coming with me yet."
Cuan made a questionable cawing sound.
"I don't want to attract attention," the necromancer growled. "Come find me when it's dark. OFF!" He swept a hand at Cuan, who fell from his shoulder and landed on the ground, cawing in protest.
Eltoshan managed not to laugh too loudly at Cuan. You okay?
Oh, shut up.
Eltoshan watched as Elvidner left. Really, why would I want to do that? We've got all day to ourselves out here, and he won't be watching over our shoulders. If we're ever going to come up with a plan to get out of this mess, now's the time.
You aren't thinking big, are you? Cuan snorted. I'm not seeing how we can get ourselves out of this when we're stuck being birds.
It just means we have to be a little more creative, said Eltoshan. Yes, obviously we can't sneak up and knife him in the middle of the night, but that doesn't mean we can't find a way out of this. It's a pity we don't have some way of speaking to Lachesis. I'm sure we could pull something off with her help...lure him into some kind of trap.
Cuan looked at his friend incredulously. I can't believe I'm hearing you say this.
Why not?
It's just so...unlike you. What happened to that crazy sense of honor that got you killed?
Eltoshan shook his head. This is different.
Oh, do tell.
Are you saying, if you knew he was planning to do this to Ethlin, you wouldn't do everything you could to stop it?
Cuan said nothing. Eltoshan continued, Look, I've been around this guy for a year. He's crazy, and if he gets the chance to snare anyone else, he'll snap at it. Or weren't you wondering why he went to Darna?
You're saying you know?
Yes. Lachesis left alone, but when she first arrived in Darna, she was with that Blagi girl.
A chill ran down Cuan's spine. He's going after all of us, isn't he?
Makes sense, doesn't it? Why would he stop with Hezul and Noba when he can add a few more to his...collection?
But if that's the case, why isn't he following Sigurd to Barhara? Half the people with Sigurd are descended from one Crusader or another.
Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe he figures he can't get there in time, or it'd be too risky to get ahold of the bodies. Or maybe... Eltoshan stopped. I really hope I'm wrong about this.
About what?
Maybe he doesn't need Sigurd.
Why wouldn't he?
Sigurd has a son now, right?
Cuan swore. The slippery bastard...next time I see him I'm pecking his eyes out.
You wouldn't make it two feet before he stopped you. He's got some nasty control tricks you haven't seen yet.
How do you know?
Cuan, Cuan, Cuan...do you really think I decided to just behave myself when he first got me? Eltoshan shook his head again. I thought you knew me better than that.
Fine, said Cuan. I'm getting the point. But we still have to do something.
I never said we weren't going to do something, Eltoshan said patiently. But we're going to have to be subtle about it. I don't think we can take him out alone--not when we're stuck like this, anyway. We need help.
Great. And where will we be finding it?
I think our best bet is finding a way to contact Lachesis. But I don't know how we can manage that.
Think fast, snapped Cuan. Unless you're wanting Narga knows who joining us here...
But for all the time they had to think, neither Cuan nor Eltoshan had come up with anything by nightfall. They had only the barest rudiments of a plan--get Lachesis's help and lure Elvidner into a trap. Neither of them could imagine how they might accomplish it.
I miss having resources, Cuan grumbled.
We'll figure something out, Eltoshan replied, none too confidently.
How reassuring.
Oh, shut up. It's getting dark. We'd better head in.
Already?
Do you want to find out what he'll do if we're late?
Not really. Cuan shook his head. But, there's still the problem of...ah...getting there.
Oh, for--
Elto! You're not helping! Cuan snapped.
Eltoshan sighed. Forget being a crow. He should've turned you into a chicken.
Cuan glared at him, but didn't respond.
Okay, fine. So you're not going to fly...you could...I don't know. Hop?
The look in Cuan's eyes said rather plainly what he thought of that idea.
Dammit, what do you expect me to do about it? said Eltoshan. You're the one with a problem. You do something about it.
Cuan bit back a sarcastic reply and turned towards the city. Flapping his wings, he rose about two feet in the air, then quickly descended and hopped forward a few steps, where he repeated the process.
Eltoshan sighed. You're going to take all night to get there at that rate.
If you're having a better idea, now's the time, Cuan said without looking back. He continued his strange hop-skip towards Darna. Shaking his head, Eltoshan followed.