Disclaimer: See previous chapters
Author's Note: This is a new Chapter 10. PLEASE READ OR YOU MAY BE LOST LATER ON! As always, reviews welcome, love you guys who already have! Have fun reading!
Waiting
Silently the three white-cloaked forms glided down the murky hallway, ethereal ghosts patrolling the night. The shadows shrank from them as if from the coming of the dawn. One walked in front of the others, head held high, though his weariness showed in his heavy tread.
Suddenly, a black shape separated itself from the darkness and blocked their path. The leader's back stiffened slightly in surprise.
"Does she live?" the hulking figure rumbled.
The gnome healer was silent for a moment. "Yes." he replied finally, and Allanon instantly detected the doubt in his voice.
"How serious is her condition?" the Druid asked quickly.
"I will hide nothing from you, Allanon. She is on the knife's edge, hanging between life and death. We have done all we can," he motioned to his companions behind him. There was a note of resignation in his voice. "Only the dawn can reveal whether it was enough."
The moonless night cloaked the forest in an inky blanket, stifling all sound beneath it. In the small village of Storlock, all the huts were darkened and still, except for one. A single window emitted a pale yellow light onto the dirt path, flickering as the candle flame danced to the mournful tune of the wistful breeze.
Within the room, four girls sat a silent vigil over their friend. In the bed around which they had gathered, a fifth girl lay sleeping, white sheets drawn up to her chin. Her face was ghostly pale, framed by long brown hair that seemed much darker than usual against the whitish pallor of her skin. Her breathing was slow and rattled.
Only minutes before, the white-clad Stoors had finished their ministrations and departed for the night. They had worked for hours in the room, allowing none but healers inside. Sarah, Elissa, and Amanda had anxiously waited outside for news of their friend. Adrienne had joined them after spending an hour allowing her own wounds to be tended. Allanon had not appeared even once.
Now they all sat, waiting for that sign of life, the stir of hand or eyelid that would tell them Erin was going to be alright. Each person was occupied with their own thoughts and worries. Elissa sat near Erin's right side, her head in her hands as she reasoned out all the ways her friend's current condition was her own fault. Amanda was attempting and failing to be optimistic, unable to picture Erin doing anything other than fighting or laying here in her unconscious slumber. Sarah dragged memories of Erin from the corners of her mind, reliving all the joys and sorrows they had been through together and wishing she were back in those times. Adrienne sat off in a corner trying to sort out her own emotions, her thoughts whirling about her mind like leaves in a hurricane. She was furious at Allanon and Erin for dragging her into this, confused because she did not understand any of what had happened or was going to happen, and annoyed because there was nothing she could do to answer those questions that she burned to know. She felt as if she were a child in a blizzard, lost and helpless. Adrienne was a person who liked being in charge of events, but right at this moment the situation was a far cry from being controlled by anyone except Allanon. And since the Druid was no where to be seen, she had not been able to discuss matters with him and share her concerns. That left her unsettled and crabby, and she feared she might cross the line and say things she would later regret.
Suddenly the peace of their thoughts was broken as the door creaked open. The black-cloaked form of Allanon slipped in, and he glanced quickly at Erin. Seeing that she still slept, he motioned for the others to follow him and moved back into the hallway. The Druid led them outside into the chilly night, where they could discuss matters without fear of awakening their injured friend.
The four girls turned to face him. His voice was a near-whisper. "The Stoors spoke with me of Erin's condition. She is on the edge of life and death. If she lives through the night, her chances of surviving will improve greatly. You needn't all stay at her side throughout the night. It would be more prudent if you rested, for we are all in need of sleep. We have a long journey ahead of us, and must be prepared to leave at any moment. I have made arrangements for horses and supplies. As soon as Erin is well enough to ride, we will leave." He looked at them to make sure they understood.
"Now wait just a second. We've come a long way since this afternoon, and seen things that challenge everything we were ever taught about reality. Before today, I thought that creatures like that Skull Bearer were just stories, and yet I was attacked by one. And now I am going on some journey I know very little about, without anyone ever asking my opinion on the whole matter. Is there something wrong with this? I think we all deserve a bit of an explanation here." Adrienne demanded. The events and emotions of the day had finally exploded inside her, and she could not help the angry tone she used.
Allanon sighed, and looked thoughtfully at each one of them in turn. "That is a tale for another day, when we have enough time for me to explain it fully. I will answer your questions then. For now, let us go to our beds and sleep." he replied firmly.
Through her sorrow and exhaustion-numbed mind, Adrienne considered the wisdom of the Druid's words. She found that she could barely form a coherent thought, and so was inclined to agree with him. "I suppose that would be best. Tomorrow, then. Good night, Allanon." she said with a yawn.
"Good night." And with that, Allanon turned and went down the steps, turning towards his own room. His tall black form was soon difficult to pick out of the shadows as he glided among them with practiced ease.
The others turned as if to go inside. Adrienne stepped out from under the porch overhang and took one last look at the tiny stars glistening above her, sighing deeply to think that Erin may never see them again. Suddenly the tiny stars winked out, as if a large shadow had passed in front of them. Adrienne shrank back against the building, trying to place the awning between her and the sky. Her heart began to pound, her ears ringing with fear. Her hands trembled, and goose bumps spread over every inch of her flesh. Every fiber of her body willed her to run, but her legs were unable to obey the frantic command. The others were similarly paralyzed, their pure terror freezing them in their tracks. Allanon, who was halfway to his lodging, flattened himself on the ground, spreading his cloak over himself until he blended indistinguishably into the shadows.
The creature's hair-raising cry rang out over the silent village, sending shudders down everyone's spine. It was a sound filled with hatred, anger, and pure evil. None could fully suppress the fear that call evoked.
For half a minute the creature circled overhead, though to the companions below it seemed an eternity. Finally it passed on into the north, leaving behind four badly shaken girls. They all sagged in relief as the strong grip of terror loosened, shoulders drooping and legs trembling with the sudden loss of adrenaline.
Allanon rose and came back to them, a grave expression on his face. "The shadow has passed for now, but it is a great danger to our mission. We will have to depart the moment Erin is able to ride." he said ominously.
"Was that a…Skull Bearer?" asked Elissa in a small, quavering tone.
"Yes." Allanon confirmed her fears. "We can only hope that it did not discover our presence here. For now, there is no more we can do except prepare for our journey, not until Erin is at least partially healed." The Druid sighed wearily. "Once again, I bid you good night." Then he turned and strode towards his lodging.
Elissa quickly opened the door and went back inside. Adrienne, Sarah, and Amanda followed. All four sighed in relief when the night and its terrors were shut away behind the oaken panel. They all found that the stress of the evening had worn them down. Finally Adrienne spoke. "Allanon is right about one thing: we all need our sleep. How about we take turns at Erin's bedside?" The others nodded, and Elissa yawned. They were all exhausted from the eventful day.
"Ya'll go to sleep. I'll stay with Erin. I don't think I could sleep right now anyways." said Amanda.
"All right, but wake me when you get tired. You need your rest as much as any of us." replied Adrienne as the others began to trudge back towards their rooms. She followed them, turning into a room right next to Erin's, where she collapsed onto the bed without even undressing. She was asleep before her head hit the pillow.
Amanda slowly opened the door to Erin's room, trying to avoid the noise of the creaking hinges. She didn't want to wake Erin up if she could help it. She sat down in a small chair next to the bed, and took Erin's limp, clammy hand in her own. Absentmindedly, her gaze wandered to the window, as she awaited the coming of the dawn.
* * *
Amanda was still absorbed in the midnight scenery when Adrienne cracked open the door and quietly stepped in. Amanda shook her head to indicate that Erin's condition had not changed. "You can go on to bed now, Amanda. I'll watch Erin. I've rested enough, and you look like you're ready to fall asleep where you sit. Besides, we don't have to get up for school tomorrow morning, so you can sleep in." Adrienne whispered with a smile.
Amanda nodded wordlessly and rose, swaying with exhaustion as she unsteadily shuffled out of the room. Adrienne slid heavily into the chair, sighing with frustration and anger. Everything was going in a different direction, like a flock of birds startled off a lake, and the total lack of control over even her own welfare unsettled and aggravated her. Taking a few deep breaths, she tried to clear her mind so she could reason the situation through logically.
She decided to start by recollecting exactly what had occurred the previous afternoon. Ever since that afternoon, when Erin had appeared at the door of Adrienne's German class, Adrienne's life had taken a very frightening turn. She was now being hunted by these terrifying Skull Bearers, and one of her dearest friends lay on the bed before her, possibly never to wake again. After the last appearance of the Skull Bearers, Allanon had seemed especially worried and anxious, and Adrienne knew he probably meant to depart as quickly as possible once Erin was able to travel.
Which brought Adrienne to her present predicament. She felt as if she were falling through a dark abyss, grasping for some semblance of stability in the world about her and finding none. She knew virtually nothing about this journey that it seemed she was to be included in. It wasn't that she didn't want to go on an adventure like she had always dreamed of, but she would have liked to make the choice herself, with a good idea of what she was getting into. That was certainly a necessity she was missing, Adrienne decided. Where would this journey take them, how long would they be gone, and how the heck were they supposed to survive with absolutely no knowledge of self-defense, no supplies, and no money to get supplies? Allanon would probably take care of it, but personally Adrienne wanted a bit of a say in the whole matter.
Truth be told, the little company depended on Allanon for just about everything right now, and that made Adrienne nervous. He was the only person who knew where they were, where they were going, and most importantly, how they were going to get there safely. If something were to happen to Allanon, it would not bode well for them. While Erin most likely knew some of what was going on, Adrienne had a feeling that even she didn't have all the answers.
At that very moment, the creaking sound of the opening door interrupted her contemplation. Adrienne turned slowly, still caught up in her musings, coming face to face with the object of her thoughts. Allanon paid her merely a glance at first, studying Erin's still form, before sinking into a nearby chair. "I see that Erin still sleeps soundly. Has she awakened yet?" he rumbled softly.
"No." Adrienne's answer was short, laced with anger. There was a heavy silence that stretched for minutes as they were each occupied by their private thoughts. Finally Adrienne took a deep breath. "Allanon, I want to know exactly what is going on here. I know some about what has happened today, but I believe that, in blindly following you and any plans you had previously conjured, I deserve an explanation of what is to happen in the future. Now. Not at an undetermined later date. Now." she demanded.
The Druid's dark eyes moved slowly to meet her own, his small smile mocking her anger and frustration. "I had planned to discuss this with all of you sometime during our stay here. However, if you really must have it now, I will tell you."
The gentle but undisguised rebuke slightly mollified Adrienne, but she still refused to back down. "Please do. I am dying of suspense." she replied sarcastically.
Allanon chuckled. "Perhaps the best way to explain this to you is first to ask you a question. How do you see this situation?"
"Well…" Adrienne paused, gathering her thoughts. She certainly hadn't been expecting the Druid to ask her that. "I have read a little, and I know of the Skull Bearers. I have also learned of their master, the Warlock Lord, and the only weapon that can destroy him, the Sword of Shannara. I know of everything that has occurred in your world up to the end of the Second War of the Races. But all of this happened in your world, the Four Lands. How could it possibly have ended up here? And not just that. I may understand in general what we are up against here, but I definitely know nothing of our current situation with regard to the Warlock Lord. What kind of army has he organized? How soon could he launch an attack on my world? And what are we going to do about it?" she repeated her earlier demand.
Allanon studied her intently for a moment before replying. "I cannot answer all of your questions. Even I myself do not know how the Warlock Lord came into your world. I barely understand my own appearance here. However, I can tell you that the he is nowhere near ready to assault your world. His army is not strong enough. He did not arrive here with a full army, certainly not one of the scope needed to conquer this land. I have noticed that mankind here has become very advanced. The swords and axes of the Four Lands may not be enough to surmount your own weapons." He paused again, looking to Adrienne for confirmation.
"I don't pretend to know a whole lot about modern weapons or anything, but we have definitely advanced beyond swords and axes. We have guns now, to say the least." Adrienne replied, realizing now how culturally hindered Allanon would be in her world. He knew nothing of the power and destruction machine guns and tanks could wreak on an army, was not the least bit familiar with biological warfare, and had never even heard of nuclear bombs. As far as she knew, no one had ever conceived of flying in Allanon's world, much less the fighter warplanes of today.
"Guns?" Allanon's brow knit in confusion as he tried to imagine what they could be. "What might these weapons be?"
"They are a type of weapon that…shoots little round pieces of metal called bullets at very high speeds, so fast that you really can't even see them. Just one can kill instantly, can do much worse damage than an arrow or a dart. And we have guns today called machine guns that are even deadlier, that shoot dozens of bullets at a time and can completely destroy the front lines of an enemy charge. In addition to guns, we have other weapons that kill even more people, even more quickly. I won't try to describe them; I know almost nothing of them." Adrienne finally replied, her face showing clearly her dislike of the topic.
Allanon seemed to blanch a little. He was beginning to understand just how easily the race of mankind in this world could annihilate themselves. Just like the Old World, he thought with a mental jolt. Adrienne seemed to read his mind, saying "I have read of the Great Wars of your world, and the almost total annihilation of Man that resulted. I have, at times, thought just how possible that was in my world, how close we were to being able to bring about such mass destruction. We could, you know. It's scary sometimes." The Druid was quite unsettled at the fact she had nearly read his mind, something he prided himself on being able to do to others, but had never really experienced himself, so he said nothing for a moment. That gave Adrienne the opportunity to ask one last question.
"All of this talk about weapons brings me to another matter: the Sword of Shannara. Do you have it? Or do you at least know where it is? And who is to wield it against the Warlock Lord?"
Allanon shook his head wearily. "I do not have the Sword in my possession right now, nor do I know where it is in this world. As for who must take it up against Brona, that will have to be one of the twins." He said no more on the matter, but continued with Adrienne's earlier questions.
"With regard to the future, my plans were to travel north and west from Storlock. The Stoors will supply us with provisions and horses. You need not worry further on the subject." the Druid said in a tone that left no doubt he did not wish to continue speaking. Adrienne conveniently ignored this and asked another question.
"I used to take horseback riding lessons, but I am pretty sure no one else has. And yet you are expecting us to do this journey on horseback?" she said incredulously.
"I suppose you will just have to teach them." replied Allanon with a smile.