Author's Note:
New semester ahead, going to be a good time. There's one more arc before the finale, so buckle up! Thanks for reading.
-Tangent
Night had long since fallen when his candle finally guttered and went out, extinguished at long last. With a groan, Nicholas Pendragon rubbed his palms together, blinking blearily in the dim light.
How long was I out? The prince rose from his chair, custom-made by the castle's carpenter, and surveyed his study. He winced at the absolute chaos that greeted him. There were leftover trays from his hasty meals, accompanied by empty flasks and beakers of al shapes and sizes. Many of them had leftover residue from his experiments still within, now dried and crusted to the bottom. And his books, once so neat and orderly, were now piled everywhere, with leaves of paper sticking out between.
"I was wondering if you were still alive." His brother said dryly, pushing open the door. Uthar was wearing his nightclothes, accompanied by the usual sword at his belt. No doubt two of his knights were waiting in the hallway. "Have you even slept, Nic?"
"Just was." He grumbled, looking for another candle amidst the chaos.
"I meant in your bed, for an appropriate amount of time." Nicholas ignored the remark, wedging another candle into the holder he had used since he was a child. Apparently, his father had made it himself, melting down scrap metal.
For not the first time, he shuddered slightly at the thought of the former king and queen, trapped underneath a layer of ice. Despite his terrible behavior in the past, both he and Uthar loved their parents dearly. His brother sighed and stepped forward into the room.
"You and I are the same. I haven't been sleeping much, either."
"Feels easier to work at night." The second prince agreed. "I've finished my research, though."
"And?" Uthar seemed tense, like he was ready to pounce.
"Ava will live. Whatever Gavin did, it saved her and removed the curse, which shouldn't really be possible. I wanted to question him, but..."
"...Neither of them are in any fit state to answer questions. Rye and Emma told you what they could, right?" Uthar finished his sentence for him, and Nicholas nodded.
"She might have unanticipated side effects that we haven't seen yet, but she'll be able to move and fight. Still, her body will always be weaker than before. It might be best to-"
"That's up to her." Uthar said firmly, and Nichola rolled his eyes.
"Nobody listens to their doctor anymore. Are Ean and Iya sleeping too?"
"They just went to bed. Sounds like they found a lead on this North Wind. He said he'd get everyone together tomorrow and discuss it." Nicholas exhaled slowly, moving across the room to seize a book.
"Nic... You need sleep. Seriously." Uthar said firmly. "They're all alive. No need to beat yourself up over it."
"No need?" He hissed, temper flaring. "There is every need, Uthar! I'm already at my limit with these vaccines, and now one of us might not be able to fight ever again. If I would have just gone with them-"
"We needed you here." Uthar said, his own voice rising slightly, but not enough to let the guards outside hear. "If we can't prevent sicknesses from setting in over winter, thousands will die."
"You think I don't know that?" Nicholas retorted. "And if we lose to the Snow Queen, we all die anyways. Seems I have not much choice in the matter. I..." He stopped suddenly, and his body slumped. "Sorry, Uthar. I didn't mean that."
"I know." Uthar clapped him on the shoulder, gently prying him away from the worktable. "You've been working on being a better person, and it shows. Let the other healers figure out how to mass-produce this thing, okay? You've done enough, for now."
He led him out of the study and into his bedchambers, where Nicholas flopped down upon the bed. It was alluringly soft, and he was asleep before his mind could even muster a retort.
When he awoke, it was much later than the usual time, and the sun was peeking through his closed curtains. One of the head maids, Philonoe, was emerging from his study, pushing a cart piled high with all the refuse from his long vigil. Her gray hair was shoulder-length, and she was only a few years older than the prince. She had served him for years, and he felt comfortable enough around her to rise and greet her.
"Morning, Philo. Sorry about the mess in there." She raised an eyebrow at him.
"Strange enough day, Prince, without you apologizing for something." He rolled his eyes and moved towards his closet, intent on getting dressed. Philo had endured his irritating attitude for years, and so it had come as a bit of a shock to the poor girl to have the prince turn over a new leaf. He had seen her peering at him several times, as if unsure of his true intentions.
When he had washed and dressed in another set of work clothes, he tidied up his room before moving to the study.
Weird, how I'm noticing the messes I always leave behind. Makes me wonder just how unbearable I used to be.
"I can help, Your Highness." Philo had reappeared, looking anxious. No doubt she had been wondering if the lack of sleep had made him grumpy.
"It's my mess." Nicholas said quietly, but she moved forward to help him sort through the clutter anyways. Her movements were graceful, and her figure was... well, that was beside the point.
Shut up, me. You're still delirious from the past week.
"I'm not a prince any more, strictly speaking." He said, in an effort to break the silence. Philo glanced at him from where she was piling up used beakers, evidently intent on throwing them away. "You don't have to address me by my title."
"But... Your Highness insisted on it, when I first began my duties."
"Yeah, well, I've said a lot of stupid things in my life. You don't have to follow them." He muttered, feeling the burn of embarrassment on his face. Most of his books had come from his personal library, and so he set them in a neat stack to be returned when he had a moment.
"Nicholas?" A familiar voice called out for him.
"In here." He called, and Philo stiffened. She was not used to receiving visitors in such a casual manners, but Nicholas figured his friends were owed the right. A moment later, Jack poked his head around the door.
"Man, you look terrible. Did you get any sleep?" His eyes slid over to Philo, who offered a polite smile from her position in the corner of the study.
"I did, actually. Any updates?"
"They're awake, but still not feeling well. Appetites normal, no bleeding or other severe symptoms." The teenager rattled off a list, and Nicholas took a moment to be impressed despite himself. He had begun tutoring Jack on the basics of healing, per his request, but none of them had expected the boy to be such a fast learner.
He is one of us. That makes him exceptional.
"Good, but remember to present yourself professionally." He said grudgingly, and Jack grinned at him.
"Says you. Smells like dirt in here. You showered all week?" Philo let out a squeak, but Nicholas merely hefted a beaker in his hand.
"You've got ten seconds before I throw this at your head." The thief laughed, but his eyes flicked over to the maid once again.
"Is she-"
"Don't worry about it." Nicholas said, before Philo could apologize or flee the room. "I promise it's fine." He wasn't sure if he was addressing Jack or Philo, but the intent seemed to be the same.
"Oh. Cool with me, then. Anyway, Ean says we'll meet for an early dinner with Uthar and Ella, to discuss what they found. Nuha's book should also be done tomorrow, hopefully."
"I'll come around to check on Gavin and Ava after I clean this up." Nicholas said, nodding slightly. "Let me know if anything changes."
"You got it." There was the sound of receding footsteps, and then silence. Philo fidgeted, evidently uncomfortable.
"I'm sorry if-" He cut her off with a raised hand, trying to smile reassuringly. Unfortunately, it probably looked more like a grimace.
Damn, how do they do it?
"It's fine. Word gets around on the grapevine anyways, and my family knows you can be trusted." The lines of worry on her face seemed to fade, leaving her looking much younger and beautiful and-
"Anyways, it's okay." He mumbled, sorting the last of the books. "Could I ask you to take these back to the library? I've got to check on some things."
"Of course, Your Hi- Nicholas." She amended. "And, if I may..."
"Hm?" He said, turning to look at her. Her face was slightly flushed, but the maid spoke regardless, not meeting his eyes.
"I think it's a good thing you've done, with these vaccines. I thought, maybe you didn't think that." Her voice was high pitched, but Philo finished the sentence resolutely, staring him directly in the face now. "I know that the citizens thought... I mean, about you..."
There was a strange sensation, somewhere right behind his ribcage. Nicholas inadvertently took a step back, feeling a burning heat that crept slowly up his neck and into his face.
"I... uh..." He stuttered, trying to find words that didn't exist. At last, with no other options left to him, he made for the door, leaving the woman standing in the study, dumbfounded.
"I have to go. Sorry." Nicholas blurted out, and exited his suite of rooms. He waited just a little longer, until there was nobody else in sight, and the prince broke into a run.
What is wrong with me?
Behind him, Philonoe was asking herself the exact same question.
Iya knew something was wrong before she walked through the door. It was the air, or perhaps the very castle itself, that was warning her to be careful. Still, she hadn't dealt with every threat by balking from a challenge, and so the elf pushed the door open gently and moved into the room.
Ava was awake, her eyes moving around the room as if keeping an eye on each object, to make sure it did not attack. At the sight of the elf, her lips stretched into a weary smile.
"Feeling any better?" Iya asked, setting her staff against one of the wooden cabinets that adorned the wall.
"Honestly? It comes and goes. Sometimes, I feel that I could get up, but then the energy leaves me, and my body seems to give up. How's Gavin?" It was always the first thing she asked. The warlock was still healing his own wounds, although they were not as severe as Ava's. The main damage to his body had been his left arm, which had mysteriously acquired a new coating of horrific burns. Neither Ava nor Gavin had said anything about the fight with the warlock, and so the party was left to work with the testimony of Emma and Rye.
As if summoned by the thought, Emma peeked into the room, saw Iya, and entered.
"Gavin is fine. Nic says his arm needs a day or two, and no intense magic for a while, but he'll live." Ava sighed with something that sounded like relief.
"Good. Tell him I don't blame him for what happened. I know that's the reason he hasn't come to see me."
"I think he just needs some time. But if you'd like, I can drag him down here." Emma offered, and the three women chuckled.
"I'll bear it in mind." Ava said, moving to a sitting position and looking at the pair of them. "We'll see if I'm up to coming with you to find this North Wind. When do we leave?"
"Ean thinks the end of the week would be best. The Snow Queen probably knows what happened, so she'll think we need time to recuperate. If we strike early, we can gain the element of surprise."
"I still don't know how we're supposed to win against air." Emma said. "But I guess you two have some tricks up your sleeves as usual."
"That would be telling." Iya gave her a small smile. "But that's not why I came in here. Can I see your arm, Ava?" Confused, the ex-pirate extended her hand, which the elf seized.
Let's see what's going on. It wasn't something she had done before, or even something she knew was possible. Still, constantly speaking to the new spirit that inhabited the phoenix song had yielded many secrets, including one that she hoped would help. With a conscious effort, Iya extended a small portion of her song magic out into Ava's body. She stiffened, but did not speak. Emma watched with interest, not wanting to interrupt.
It was a curious sensation, feeling the rhythm of someone else's heart beating alongside yours. Her tendril of song moved towards Ava's chest, feeling for the source of the discomfort she had sensed.
"The curse really is gone..." she murmured. "But the damage remains. It's the nerves themselves that have been destroyed."
"That would explain the weakness." Ava said. "Do you think it will get better?"
"I wish I had Nicholas's medical knowledge, but I don't know if any magic can regrow things that have been lost permanently."
Still, why not give it a try? Iya set the little piece of magic in Ava's wrist, causing the affected area to glow, as if illuminated by a fire from within. The phoenix song regenerated itself constantly, so why couldn't it heal someone a little bit at a time?
"That feels weird." Ava murmured, holding up her hand for inspection. The glow faded away, and Iya detached her magic from Ava. Immediately, a wave of dizziness washed over her, and she clapped a hand to her forehead to ward it off.
"Iya!" Emma said, jumping to her feet, but the elf waved her off.
"I'm fine. Doing something like that was just... a very different process."
"Still, how did you do that? My understanding was that magic required the source to be connected for the spell to linger." Emma looked curious, her eyes still fixed on Ava's wrist.
"It does, but... this is something new." Iya had already informed the others about the new power she had received in Brightwood Forest. The elf thought she had begun to understand it, but apparently her skill only scratched the surface of what was possible. "Does it feel any better, Ava?"
"A little... Do you think we could go for a walk?"
A few minutes later, the trio had set off through the hallways. Emma was supporting Ava with one arm, but the older woman had a surprising amount of strength for one who had been near death a few days prior. They wound their way out into the gardens, where Ava let out a deep sigh as she settled onto a bench.
"The air in the castle just doesn't feel the same, you know?" Wordlessly, Iya and Emma sat on either side of her. The gardens were still blooming, despite the advancing seasons, although the weather was colder than usual.
Something has changed about her. She seems... content.
"I never thought the end of my sailing career would come now." Ava said wistfully after a while, gazing up at the clear sky. "With my injuries, I'm not sure I could steer the ship for any length of time."
"Maybe we'll find a way to cure you completely, after the war is over." Emma said softly. "You can't give up hope, Ava."
"Oh, I'm not. I just... feel that this is it, you know? I've been a pirate for over a decade, but I think it might be time to hang up my captain's hat, once and for all. After the war is over, of course." Iya knew where she was coming from. It was tough having your whole life uprooted, but having to confront it just the same.
"And Gavin?" She asked with a teasing smile. "Where does he fit in?" Ava coughed, looking slightly embarrassed.
"We'll see if I can make room for him." Her face turned serious once more, and she laid a hand on each of their shoulders. "But that's beside the point. I need a favor, you two." Iya said nothing, content to let Ava speak her mind.
"I still want to come with you. To Shaenlir." Emma smiled slightly, as if she had expected this.
"Even with your injuries?"
"Even so. I need to finish this myself, or I'll never truly be healed." She looked at Iya, asking her a silent question. "You know this is true, Iya."
"I am... loath to place you in any more danger, but it would be wrong of us to deny you your place now." The elf said. "If it is what you wish, I'll convince the others."
"Yeah, do you really think that we'd just leave you high and dry?" Emma leaned over and gave Ava a hug. It spoke volumes of their friendship that the other woman did not push her away, but merely accepted the gesture with an eye roll. Despite this, she seemed suddenly vulnerable, as though her emotions could not be contained.
"I... Thank you. Both of you. I promise I won't slow us down."
"We've still got some time." Iya promised. "All we can do is keep working at it."
They sat in the garden for a little while longer, until the breeze picked up, and they decided it was no longer beneficial for Ava to be outdoors. With a grumble, she allowed them to escort her back into the castle.
The dinner that night was a more subdued one, but still immensely enjoyable. For the first time in at least a week, the entire party was in the same place. Uthar and Ella treated them generously, as usual, and Iya smiled slightly from her position next to Ean.
They had gotten to the point where they did not need to speak to communicate. A few glances or gestures were all she needed to pick up on what her mate was thinking. And some of the looks he gave her... well, they still made her blush from time to time.
It's like our own family. Iya knew Ean was thinking the same thing, because he turned to smile at her, nodding slightly towards the end of the table, where Jack was currently trying to steal something off of Rye's plate. The ranger had taken mock offense, and the two were now dueling with their knives.
"Honestly, you two." Iya sighed. "We're eating with the royal couple." The phrase caused Uthar to drop his fork, while Ella merely giggled.
"I think we could all use a little livening up from time." Rye won the fight, and promptly took Jack's bread in celebration, while the thief looked on in dismay. Further down the table, Gavin and Nicholas, of all people, were having a quieter, more intense conversation about something. Neither of them looked angry, which was a relief, but Iya couldn't help but wonder about the topic.
I'm sure we'll know if it pertains to us. Ava was present as well, and eating with more than her usual gusto. The fact that she was alright had instilled some life back into the others.
"To business, then?" Uthar asked once dessert had been served, courtesy of his butlers. The others fell silent, watching Ean intently. Iya laughed internally as even Uthar and Ella leaned forward, waiting for the news.
He's so important, but he doesn't even know it. They all look up to him.
"It's been an eventful few weeks, but we've got some leads. I spoke to Mr. Abrams, and he says he's finished Nuha's book. It just needs time to dry, and the writing should take effect. How are the plans for the weapon coming along, Uthar?" He was referring, of course, to the manuscripts they had retrieved from Eredar.
"My scientists tell me they should have the rest of the documents deciphered this week. They've already begun gathering what materials have been listed thus far. The estimated time of completion for the weapon is a few weeks."
"Are you sure we'll be able to gather all the materials?" Gavin asked, his voice slightly hoarse. "I've been in there, and some of the items seem pretty advanced. I'm not even sure what some of them are for."
"We'll have to make do." Ella said simply. "If it truly is based on prophecy, then the design should be attainable with our current technology. But please, continue, Ean."
"Thank you." The elf nodded to the pair sitting at the head of the table. "This warlock, Matthias, was one of two forces that the Snow Queen enlisted. The North Wind, however, has no need to fight us directly. It merely brings winter early, which limits the time we have to prepare." He laid a piece of paper on the table, a map that showed most of the mainland.
Iya knew where he was going to point, as they had enlisted Candar's help to scout the area. Ean poked a finger at a forest that bordered the northern edge of the mainland, at the base of the mountains that surrounded Shaenlir.
"This area is called White Pass. Not sure why, since there's nothing beyond it but the ocean. But it's here that the weather seem to originate. There's plenty of places for a wind spirit to hide up there."
"And you think this is where we'll find the North Wind?" Emma asked, fingering the pommel of her sword, which was leaning against her chair. Iya leaned forward.
"That's what we thought, so we went to take a look yesterday. I detected large energy outputs whenever the weather got worse, originating from somewhere beyond the forest."
"And when Candar sent scouts," Ean finished. "They were attacked by something. None of them came back." The mood around the table seemed to darken.
"So, when do we go?" Jack asked finally.
"We leave tomorrow. If the North Wind is as powerful as I think, we'll need all of us." Her mate turned to face Ava, and he saw the question in her eyes.
"Do you want to come with us?" Iya felt a surge of respect for the other elf, seeing how he had left the choice up to the other woman.
"I want to come." Ava said, looking determinedly around the table. "I already told you how Iya's magic helped me. Perhaps I can still be of use, and if not, I'll stay out of the way. Anybody opposed to that?" Her eyes met everyone else's, but nobody disagreed.
"We'll be happy to have you." Ean assured her, addressing the room at large. "Be sure to wear warm clothes, everyone. Tomorrow is going to be cold."
Isn't that the truth.
The sun had barely risen the next morning when the party assembled near the entrance to the castle. Each of them were wearing their armor over a set of thicker clothes. Only Ean and Iya were dressed normally, having extra protections against the weather.
"I thought you said you weren't used to snow." Jack said, spinning his sheathed dagger lightly through the air. Beregond had landed in the courtyard, and so they didn't need to walk through the entire city.
"It never snowed in the Vale until we left." Ean said. "The beast spirits keep me warm, I guess. And Iya's song magic warms her up."
"Lucky."
Beregond snorted happily when he saw Iya and Ean. He liked the others, but the elves shared a special connection with the dragon that went beyond carrying them to other places. Gavin had reported that the dragon had been struck by a spell, but it had not left any lasting damage.
"Ready to go?" Ean asked her quietly as the others boarded, strapping themselves to the saddle as usual. "Your powers haven't been acting up?"
"I never act up." The phoenix spoke amusedly into her mind.
"It's still a lot, seeing all the energies, but I'll be okay." Her mate smiled crookedly, and Iya's heart skipped a beat.
"I just worry, sometimes." He moved over to speak with Uthar and Ella, who were standing nearby. When Ean had finished, he joined her on the saddle, and Beregond leapt up into the clear sky.
It was evident that another storm was brewing as they flew north. Dark clouds could be seen on the horizon, and the air grew steadily colder. Below, Iya began to see signs of snow, creeping their way southward.
I know people don't fear storms, but these ones feel... wrong. Like someone is driving them, which I suppose is entirely true.
They flew past Candar and continued north. Finally, Beregond soared over a hill, and Iya could see a thick line on the horizon, like somebody had smudged the boundaries between earth and sky.
"Certainly lives up to its name!" Rye called. White Pass was, indeed, obscured by snow and ice no matter where she looked. The forest pushed up against a mountain to the south, which hung over the trees like an enormous sentinel, watching and waiting.
"Fly overhead, Beregond." Ean said, patting the dragon. "Maybe we'll see-"
The dragon crashed into something, and the entire party was flung forward, kept in the saddle by the leather straps. The air had suddenly come alive, and Iya felt it clawing at her, seeking to push her back forcibly. It was shockingly cold, and then she heard the others crying in pain as sharp shards of ice struck their bare skin. The gale shrieked and howled, and Beregond let out a roar as the rush of air knocked him sideways, away from the forest.
Instinctively, Iya reached out with her magic, following the current of air. It was coming from somewhere within the forest, close to where it met the mountains. For a moment, she felt a presence stir as she touched it, but Beregond was too out of control, and her concentration broke.
"We need to land!" She shouted to Ean, who was clinging to the dragon's neck as he attempted to escape the overpowering winds. "The North Wind won't let us get any closer to it!" He nodded and leaned forward, speaking gently to Beregond, who belched fire and dove for the ground. Thankfully, the malevolent wind did not follow, and they soared over the plains, landing in a pile of snow with a thud. Beregond's head flopped wearily to the ground, and he snorted as Iya moved forward to stroke his nose.
"You did great. Rest for a little bit, okay?" The other dismounted as Nicholas waved a hand, healing the small cuts most of them had received from the ice.
"It's s-s-so cold." Jack said, brushing snow from his hair. "I almost wish there were monsters to fight."
"You'll probably get your wish." Ava said darkly. "Ean, do we know anything about the forest?"
"Well, I wasn't planning to walk through it." The elf responded, unbuckling his own pack and leaping down the ground. "And the answer is no, not really. Candar always stayed away from here, for reasons they did not disclose to me."
"Great." Gavin murmured, summoning a small fire into his hand. "Well, I can keep us from freezing to death, but I'm afraid I can't do much else at the moment." Iya turned to face the line of tall, dark trees, her eyes narrowed.
"Don't worry about that. I can handle the rest." She lowered her mental barriers, and the phoenix cawed as it burst into being, showering the others with golden sparks. The rest of the party backed up hastily, save for Ean, who merely smiled and nodded to the creature. The majestic bird swooped in a circle and landed on Iya's shoulder, tucking itself into the hood of her robes.
"It is good to see nature once again. I had forgotten how the seasons change."
"Will you help us fight the North Wind?" She asked, and the phoenix gazed at her for a moment, as if thinking.
"I shall. But you must remember, the power comes from within you."
Iya smiled slightly and turned to the others, gesturing towards the woods.
"Shall we?"
It was the distinct lack of monsters that had Ean so tense as he walked, striding from tree to tree. A pile of snow fell onto his shoulder, and the elf brushed it off, hardly feeling the chill. Iya's phoenix was heating up the entire area, making it easier to move through areas that had been covered by ice. From time to time, a fierce wind would rip through the forest, bending trees and whipping the snow into a flurry of crystals. So far, he had been able to brunt the gales so that the rest of the party would be unharmed, by utilizing the behemoth's form.
A whistling sound drifted through the trees, and Ean instinctively shifted, drawing on Erik's latent abilities. The others moved behind him as the North Wind struck again, hissing angrily as the behemoth's bulk blunted the force of his blow. The elf thought he could hear a voice somewhere behind the wind, but it faded away seconds later.
"Everyone okay?" The others nodded, shaking the loose snow from their outer layers. He noted that Gavin helped Ava remove the snow from her jacket as well, and that she elbowed him in the ribs with a half-smile on her lips.
"We're getting closer." Iya mused, pointing ahead to where the trees were thinning out. "The attacks come more and more frequently." They pressed onward, and now Ean could see some sort of shimmering substance ahead, past the tree line.
When they emerged into the light of the sun, the party found themselves on a small bluff, overlooking the rest of the forest as it wound towards the Shaenlir mountains. The reason for the lack of trees was evident: several stumps jutted upwards from the ground. Further ahead, Ean could see a vast, frozen lake that stretched out to the northwest, bordered by trees and rocks on all sides. He supposed the body of water was fed by the northern oceans.
Rye knelt to touch the tree stumps, frowning.
"How odd. Look at this." The ranger brushed more snow away from the fallen trees. "These stumps weren't cut by people." He was quite correct. Instead of clean cuts, the stump ended in jagged points that reminded Ean of teeth. It was as though the wood had been ripped apart, and not in a clean way.
"Big tree for something to knock down." Gavin commented, gazing around at the scenery. "That stump is at least three feet thick."
"The same thing happened to these ones." Emma called from further down the ridge. "No idea what caused it, though."
"The North Wind could have done it." Jack said, although his tone implied he didn't believe his own theory.
"No, these are bite marks." Rye looked grim. "I suppose we know why these woods aren't exactly populated now."
"You'd think we'd have seen an animal that big by now." Nicholas muttered. "Could they be hiding?"
If it weren't for his senses, Ean would have died. In truth, it was partially luck that the massive white wolf attacked him first. The animal exploded from what seemed to be thin air, jaws stretched hungrily, but the elf was already twisting, summoning Edward's strength to launch the creature over the edge of the bluff. It howled and landed with a dull thud, more surprised than harmed.
"Ean!"
"I'm fine!" He called, leaping back to his feet and peering over the edge of the drop. The wolf was gone. "Where did it go?"
"I'm not sure, but it looks like there's a lot more than one." Rye said, drawing an arrow from his quiver. The elves turned, and he saw a dozen or so wolves emerging from the trees, eyes gleaming with cruel intelligence. Some were entirely gray, while the rest had coats of dull scarlet fur. Jack cursed quietly.
"How did they sneak up on us?" Nicholas looked apprehensive, backing up slowly.
"More importantly, do we fight?" Ava asked, drawing her own sword. "Not exactly the best place."
"Not here, we don't." Ean said, coming to a decision. "We make for the lake shore. Rye, figure out how to get down that cliff. Iya and I will delay them if they attack." To his credit, the ranger immediately slung his bow over his shoulder and moved to the edge of the bluff, seizing a coil of rope from his back.
"I'll send you down first, Emma. Secure the bottom for the rest of us."
While the others worked, Ean and Iya took a few steps forward, facing the pack of wolves. They had stopped advancing, as if waiting for something. Several of them bared their teeth, spit dripping onto the snow.
"I don't see the white one." Iya murmured. "The leader, maybe?" There was a creaking sound, and the elf knew without looking that another person had gone down the rope. Somewhere close, a wolf howled angrily, and its followers bounded forward, jaws splayed in preparation for the feast they knew would come.
Ean danced to one side as the first beast lunged, lashing out with both claws at the wolf's head. To his astonishment, the claws glanced to one idea, and the grey fur sparked like metal. He tried again, but the result was the same, and the elf was forced to leap backwards as a second wolf lunged for his throat.
With a quick effort, he transformed into the hulking form of the cyclops. Edward growled angrily, and the pair of them charged into the midst of the pack, massive fists swinging in all directions. He caught a glimpse of Iya facing off against two other wolves, her staff gleaming with a brilliant fire, and then the wolves were upon him.
For a moment, it appeared as though he had the upper hand. He kicked one wolf into a tree, seized another by the tail, and used it as a club to beat at the remaining six or seven monsters. And yet, the wolves merely got back to their feet, showing no signs of injury or fatigue, attacking Ean from all sides. He felt a flash of pain as he was bitten in the thigh, and again as another beast clawed at his ribs. Iya let out a wordless cry, and a fireball blossomed between him and the pack. Ean immediately shifted into the form of the werebear, letting Vincent guide him as he bounded towards his mate. Iya leapt onto his back, and they plunged off the precipice.
When they landed, Ean's back leg buckled beneath him, and he nearly fell before he could transform back into an elf.
"What kept you?" Rye demanded, firing an arrow at the first wolf that peered over the crest of the cliff the elves had leapt from. They seemed oddly hesitant to approach, but Ean could not focus with the pain in his leg and chest. Iya knelt next to him, and he felt, more than saw, Nicholas casting a spell. His injuries closed, and the pain subsided to a dull ache.
"Ean, are you-"
"Fine." He rasped, slowly rising to his feet. "They'll be coming down eventually. We need to get to the lake." The frozen body of water was still several hundred yards away, and the elf began moving towards it. The others ran with him, their breath steaming in the air. The elf heard more howling all around them, but he forced it from his mind, keeping his gaze forward.
At last, they reached the edge of the lake, and the party spun around. The wolves had doubled in number now, and were emerging from the edge of the forest to the south.
"They can't be hurt by weapons." Ean told the others. "My powers do nothing to them." He looked at Iya, who had seen the same thing he had. "But your fire burned them. Do you think it would kill them?"
"I think so, but... Should we? They're not monsters." He knew the feeling. It certainly wasn't his preference to kill the animals in the forest for protecting their homes, but the North Wind needed to be dealt with. So far, the only path forward that Ean could see involved getting rid of the wolves.
"Pack behavior." Vincent spoke directly into his mind. "The leader guides the pack. Deal with him, and the others may leave."
"The white wolf." Ean said after a moment, looking around at the others. "It's the leader. It should be leading the others from somewhere nearby."
"Yeah, but in case you haven't noticed..." Jack gestured at the snowy landscape. "It's kind of hard to find a white wolf in all of this." The plan formed fully in Ean's mind, and he grinned.
"I'll lure it out. This is what I need the rest of you to do." It took him barely a minute to run through the plan, and others assented. The wolves were closer now, approaching more cautiously than before. "Get to your positions, then." They scattered, and Ean felt the soft pressure of a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't do anything rash." Iya pleaded. "I like it better when you're not hurt." He gave her a warm smile and a gentle push, sending her to the place that the plan detailed. The wolves were now trotting through the valley that precluded the lake, snarling and yipping gleefully. From their perspectives, their prey had nowhere to run.
Time to show them how wrong they are. Calmly, Ean began running towards the pack of wolves. For a moment, he feared his ruse would not work, but then the elf saw the first wolves hesitate. They backed up several feet as he approached, and his senses picked up a feeling of anticipation.
So that's how it is... Since the white wolf attacked me, they're leaving me for it to kill. So if I can block the way, the plan can still work.
Ean cleared his throat slightly, the sound echoing in the silence of the snow-covered forest.
"We are not your prey!" He called to the pack of wolves, which was now almost fifty in numbers. His ears detected faint rustling in the bushes, and a flicker of motion appeared at the edge of his vision. The others were almost in place. "I do not wish to fight you. We merely want to defeat the spirit that lurks within this forest. Let us pass."
The assembled beasts scratched the ground and bared their fangs, but did not attack. Something moved behind them, and the white wolf pushed its way through tits subordinates, grey eyes glaring coldly at Ean. The intelligence in the orbs was almost shocking, and he felt as though it had understood every word he had said.
"Will you let us pass?" He asked again, staring directly at the leader of the pack. "Or must we fight?" The wolf bared its teeth and began moving forward. Ean smiled sadly, flicking his own claws out. The metal tips gleamed dully in the sunlight, and the white wolf snarled at the reflected light. The rest of the pack took a step or two forward.
"Now!" Ean shouted, and he was answered by two thunderous blasts. Rye had fired explosive arrows into either side of the valley, causing the cliffs of rock and snow to come crashing down upon the wolves. Gavin aided him with bursts of magic, while Emma and Ava guarded them from any attacks.
Something flew by Ean's head, and Jack's knife struck the leader of the pack squarely in the eye. It recoiled, and in that same motion, Ean lunged. He had never done it before, but the elf knew, somehow, that he could do it now. His arms shifted to that of the cyclops, while his feet became the claws of the griffin. Half a second later, he dealt a thundering blow to the wolf's head, staggering it, and pinned it down with his clawed feet.
Iya came striding forward, the phoenix cawing softly on her shoulder. The rest of the wolves were already digging themselves out, but it would be too late for them. She gestured at the trapped creature beneath Ean, and spoke a single word:
"Burn." The phoenix screeched, and the hottest fire Ean had ever seen rose up to consume the wolf. It burned, even as he held it to the ground, but the flames did not touch him. The monster dissolved into dust, and Iya ended the spell, looking spent.
"I'm sorry." He murmured to the former corpse. "You fought well. Be at rest."
The others rejoined them in the valley, looking similarly worn out. At last, the wolves dug themselves free of the snow, only to see the ashes of their leader strewn across scorched ground. For a moment, Ean feared that the pack would attack anyways, but the tallest left among them growled softly at several wolves that were inching forwards. The group of monsters turned and trotted away, tails swishing in the cold air. He did not dare to breathe until they had vanished around the end of the valley.
"Are they really gone?" Jack asked, retrieving his knife.
"They won't come back." Ean said softly, turning to face the frozen lake. "They need time to mourn." Pushing the sadness down, he gestured to the north. "Come on. It's time to finish this."
"This blows." Nicholas grumbled from next to her, and Ava frowned.
"Suck it up, Nic. What has all this training been for, if you can't hack it?" The prince started, staring at the pirate like she had three heads.
"I wasn't... Never mind." They were trudging along the edge of the frozen lake, searching for the source of the wind. Iya was convinced that it lay somewhere along the lake, and so they had begun to search. So far, the party had found nothing except cold, dead earth. "Any injuries reopen?" Nicholas asked a few seconds later, evidently eager to divert the flow of conversation.
"I'm fine." She said softly, her gaze moving over to Gavin's back. The warlock was keeping up with the rest of them fairly easily, despite being magically exhausted.
I wonder how long it will be until he regains his strength. To tell the truth, the night from a few days ago had been replaying itself over and over again inside her mind. She had fought her hardest, but it hadn't been good enough.
I... died. Or I almost did, but something brought me back. I remember seeing those scenes from my childhood, but beyond that... nothing. Still, she had a pretty good feeling that Gavin had been the one who had called out to her. Ava's hand twitched, remembering the sight of the warlock kneeling next to her, crying his eyes out. There had been no time to talk to him since. She had needed time to heal, to think.
"I know this sounds stupid," Nicholas said quietly. "But I'm pretty sure he'd like someone to talk to." It was her turn to stare now, and the prince rolled his eyes at the dumbfounded expression on her face. "What? It's my job to prescribe the best healing methods for my patients." Ava hesitated, feeling increasingly foolish.
"Still, I don't know if-" There was a sudden impact behind her right knee, and she stumbled, nearly falling headlong into a snowbank. She had time for a brief cry, which caused the others to turn and stare and Nicholas knelt next to her. The prince opened his mouth, but Gavin was already there, reaching down to seize Ava by the arm.
"You alright?" He asked hoarsely, and she could only nod as the warlock pulled her back onto her feet. He was close, much too close for comfort, but Gavin backed away a moment later, looking concerned. "Tripped on a rock?"
I'm going to kill him. I'm going to take my sword and- Nicholas was already gone, having moved up the path to talk to Jack. She supposed it was a wise move, considering it took him out of her reach for the moment.
"...Something like that." She grumbled, signaling to Ean that they could keep going. "How are you holding up?" Gavin laughed, and the emotion sent a cloud of frozen breath spiraling away from his face.
"Physically? I'm fine. Doing my best not to think about the other stuff."
"Easier said than done." Ava retorted, stepping over a frost-covered bush. "But... yeah. Me too." She felt Gavin's gaze on the side of her face, but she didn't want to look over. What if he was angry, or crying again?
Finally, it became too much to bear, and she turned her head just enough to see the face of the man next to her. Gavin was no longer staring at her, but his face was set with an unbelievable amount of determination. For a moment, Ava felt as though she had never been hurt at all, and a strange energy rushed through every inch of her body.
"Gavin, listen to me for a moment?"
"...Sure." Quietly, so that the others could not hear, she told him everything. The fight with the warlock, her injuries, and even the memories of her family. It hurt less than she had expected, like a dull blow rather than a sharp pain. Ahead of them, the others kept moving, searching for the North Wind, but Ava was not paying attention to them.
"That warlock was killed?" He asked after a long silence, staring straight ahead.
"Yes. The sultan's soldiers managed to slay him."
"I'm glad." Gavin's voice was strained. "Or else I would have tracked him down myself. I... And to think I said those things to you..."
"Stop." Ava said at once, whacking him on the arm with her gauntlet. "I already forgave you for that. Remember what I told you when you came back to the castle?"
I said he was a good man. Maybe even the best I've ever known. Rye and Ean give off the impression of a hero, but it would be untrue to say that they have overcome more in their lives than Gavin. Maybe that's why I... No, never mind that.
"I remember. It's been running through my mind a lot, recently." Gavin professed, smiling slightly. "And it really did help. Thank you. When this war is over... I think I'll be done with exploring for a while."
"Really?"
"Just for a little bit, but yeah. I think there's some friends I'd like to see every now and then." And now Gavin smiled properly, and his expression raised the temperature by at least ten degrees. Ava gave him one of her own rare smiles, content to merely walk next to the man who had saved her life.
I'll miss this. The adventures, the others... and Gavin, too.
And then, they rounded the corner to see the others stopped a few yards in front of them. There, against the cliff that bordered the lake, was a large, gaping hole in the rock. The cave extended downwards and out of sight, and every so often a gust of wind seemed to emerge angrily from the crevice, like a breath.
"Is this it?" Ean asked Iya, and the elf nodded.
"The North Wind is inside."
If he made it out alive, Gavin was going to light the largest fire he could manage, and sit next to it until he melted. The warlock could not quite remember how it felt to be warm, despite the being of primordial fire that flitted from space to space, providing light and heat. Iya was watching it intently, no doubt seeing the lines of energy she had mentioned to them earlier. Gavin had wanted to ask so many questions, but then he had been injured, and the chill of the caverns was robbing his ability to speak without shivering.
A point in the North Wind's favor: Its work was some of the most beautiful he had ever seen. They were walking through a series of frozen caves, so massive that an army could have marched through without effort. Ice coated everything, causing light to bounce of the walls in a dazzling array of sparkles. It was so natural, so obviously wild that Gavin had to remind himself of what lay ahead.
This was made by a monster. Every so often, Iya would send her phoenix ahead to melt the ice, which inevitably caught the attention of their angry host. Moments later, a wind would come howling through the caves like the roar of a god, forcing them back. Gavin swore he heard a malevolent voice, calling for their gruesome deaths from out of the gales, and based on their reactions, the others did too.
"So... any ideas... on what to do when we find it?" Jack asked, shivering violently as he walked, feet crunching on shards of ice. "I'd rather not become another decoration of this cave."
"I try my fire." Iya said, showing none of the chill that she had to have been feeling. "And Gavin, you have the bottle?"
"Yeah. Thrain said it could it trap the North Wind, provided we can force it into the bottle."
"Oh, this'll be easy, then." Nicholas muttered from behind him, eliciting a chuckle from Emma and Rye. Iya sent her phoenix ahead once more, and the others instinctively ducked behind pillars of ice and stone. When the air was still once more, Gavin resumed the long, arduous process of warming himself up by walking. His left arm twitched, like the fire was trying to emerge, but the warlock forced it down.
"No. I will need you for the battle. Be patient." With a hiss and a grumble, the magic settled down, dissipating throughout his limbs.
After what felt like an eternity, Iya held up a hand, looking suddenly tense.
"It's ahead of us, around the bend. I can melt the ice, but I doubt it will do anything other than attack." Gavin moved forward to stand next to the pair of elves, both of whom had their weapons ready. The phoenix cawed softly as it circled the party, and he felt the temperature begin to rise.
"Everybody else, stay back and try not to die." Ean said, grinning despite the situation. "Nicholas, if you could manage a barrier, that would be great. Gavin, be ready with the bottle." The others took several steps back, leaving Iya room to cast a spell. The elf gripped her staff tightly and closed her eyes, lips moving as if speaking to an unseen observer.
On the surface, it seemed that nothing was happening. And yet, Gavin could see the storm of magical energy beginning to swirl around Iya, like the eye of a hurricane. It mingled freely with his own magic, as if greeting an old friend, without malice or judgement. The phoenix let out a screech, and its feather began to glow white hot. The ice in front of them began to melt, and steam filled the cavern as Iya spoke in a thunderous voice.
"Burn, Eternal Fire." For a moment, all Gavin could see was a blinding golden light, and all he could hear was the roar of magic, like a thunderbolt falling from the sky. The mist dispersed, revealing a new, larger passage through the earth.
"Come on!" Ean shouted, and the party sprinted forward, Iya and Gavin in the lead. The ice had been completely dissolved, leaving only charred, gray rock behind. A moment later, they rounded the bend and entered the largest cave Gavin had ever seen. It was easily the size of the throne room in Thais, and much, much taller. Everything was covered in ice and snow, making it hard to look around without being blinded.
The cavern was roughly cylindrical, with the ceiling at least hundred feet above them. The walls were dotted with massive crystals and cave entrance, no doubt for the North Wind to send its power through. A raised platform rested in the center of the cavern, a massive piece of black and silver rock that seemed to anchor the rest of the room to the earth.
"So, you came." The words seemed to rush through his ears, as if it were only by chance that the warlock heard them at all. He couldn't assign a gender to the chorus of hissing, rasping voice, nor a pitch. It was merely present, as if the sounds were born and died within the span of a heartbeat. "Ishtar assured me you would."
And then, Gavin saw it, hovering in the air over the center of the room. The North Wind was a mass of swirling air currents, each one sending out bursts of freezing cold. There were several appendages made of ice within the gigantic form, along with a crudely shaped face.
It made a body for itself. The thought was horrifying, and he could see that the same idea had occurred to the others. What passed for arms fanned out to either side as the spirit came closer, descending to see the ones who had intruded upon its domain. And the face... Gavin shuddered, not wanting to look at it. It was made from ice, but with a lopsided mouth, different eyes, and an empty, flat expression. Internally, the warlock viewed it as though someone who had never seen a human had tried to model themselves after one, only to fail miserably.
"Did you say Ishtar?" Iya said at last, clutching her staff and glaring up at the monster. The North Wind chuckled, a grim sound that seemed to devour hope.
"I know many things, elf. For example, that you have dealt with my compatriot."
"Matthias?" Gavin said, before he could stop himself. His magic surged in response to the emotions, and his left arm began to glow. "You knew him too, then?"
"An ignorant man, drunk on his own power. Only I am suited to serve our queen, only I could do the thing she wishes! Who else could accelerate the seasons, cause the hopes of man to slip away?"
"Then you know why we've come." Ean said, flicking his claws out. The spirit cackled madly, spinning at a dizzying speed.
"Of course I do! You wish to stop me, banish me, take away my freedom. I will not allow it." The voice was much more menacing now, and the spirit came even closer. "You must die for coming here. Ishtar demands it."
Iya flicked her wrist, and the phoenix shot upwards, hovering in the air above her head. The North Wind seemed to recoil slightly, but it did not back down.
"You are mistaken." She said softly, and unleashed a torrent of fire upon the rogue spirit. The North Wind was blasted backwards, limbs flailing, and Iya charged, fire surging up around her like a miniature sun.
"Insolence!" A blast of wind struck Gavin in the chest like a hammer, smashing him into the wall. Pain exploded somewhere in his ribs, but there was no time to think about it as the angry specter came barreling across the cavern. He leapt aside as one massive arm struck at him, his magic instinctively rising to the front of his mind.
"Melt the ice!" Sapphire flames lashed out from his left arm, disintegrating the frozen limb, but it regenerated a moment later.
"Get back!" Iya shouted, and a second burst of fire forced their enemy against the far wall.
"What is this? What manner of fire do you wield?" Iya didn't answer, but merely hurled a wave of energy at the monster, who deflected it with a burst of air. The others were still struggling to get to their feet from where they had been tossed, but what use could their weapons be? Ava caught his eye as Gavin made to run towards her.
"Help Iya!" The woman shouted, diving to one side as an icicle shot past her head. "Before it's too late!" Gavin swore softly, turned, and charged towards the Northern Wind. Iya was still battling it, matching the frenzied bursts of ice, wind, and water that swirled around the cavern with phoenix fire. Each time she struck, the North Wind howled in pain, but the spirit did not seem to be slowing down.
For the first time, the warlock fully appreciated the gap between Iya and himself. She was not only keeping the spirit away from the others, but her magic was also heating up the entire cavern, preventing them from being frozen in an instant.
Still, she can't do it forever. At the rate she's consuming energy...
Gavin saw his opportunity and stepped in, melting two icy limbs that struck at him. He ended up next to Iya, who was panting heavily from the strain. Her forehead was bleeding from a long cut, but she maintained her magical shield, protecting Gavin from the worst of the storm.
"Beautiful weather!" He called as he sent a howling mass of fire directly into the North Wind's face." "Any ideas?"
"We need to tire it out! Even the best storms can't last forever!"
"I have raged for an eternity!" bellowed their opponent. "You are no match for me!"
Quite frankly, Gavin knew he was correct. They were being pushed by the relentless gales, towards the center of the room, while the North Wind seemed to grow stronger with every blow it struck. He managed to deflect the next three attacks, but the fourth sent him flying backwards. His body skidded a dozen yards in the ice and Gavin coughed, doing his best not to black out.
"Oh, no, you don't." Energy surged through him, and the warlock felt his wounds mend. Nicholas was kneeling next to him, as were the others. Ava pulled him up, and he turned to see Iya still battling the North Wind. Ean was doing his best to help, but he could do little more than evade the monstrous limbs.
"We've got to do something." Emma snarled, her sword shaking slightly. "Iya can't keep that up." Gavin's eyes darted over to Ava, and the realization struck him almost as hard as the North Wind had. He had healed her, hadn't he? What else could the fire do.
"I have an idea." He said after a moment. "But you won't like it."
Iya grimaced as another shard of ice cut her side, and she blasted the offending limb into a cloud of mist. The North Wind was still swirling around her, intent on tearing her apart.
"You will die first, elf! Ishtar has more hate for you than any of the others. And once you are dead, they will suffer from an eternity of cold and pain.
"Enough" She howled, trying to force the monster back, but it was like trying to move a mountain. Her vision kept blurring, switching between normal sight and seeing the lines of energy covered everything. The North Wind had them too, but she couldn't create an opening to attack them.
The next attack knocked her over, but Iya snarled and thrust both hands out, letting the fiery song burst out in a wave. None of her other abilities had any effect on the creature, and so she had continued to hurl attacks of pure energy at the spirit's form.
I need something different, something better. But what can I do? All at once, her concentration wavered, and a wave of the most intense cold she had ever felt washed over her. Iya fell to one knee, her flames sputtering, feeling the chill creep up her limbs.
"You could not hope to defeat me." The North Wind whispered gently, hovering above her. "Your power is great, but I am far older and stronger than you. This is only natural."
A massive, icy fist descended, and Iya flung up the last of her magic in a shield. But no impact came, and she looked up to see that the North Wind had recoiled in agony, watching as one of its arms crumbled to dust. A second later, another of Rye's arrows came zipping overhead, but it didn't gleam dully like they usually did. Instead, the arrow was covered in a brilliant blue fire that she knew all too well.
"Gavin?" She breathed. And now Ean was there, guiding her away from the wind spirit, who was twisting and writhing in confusion. It was clearly trying to reform its limbs, but the ice merely turned to sludge, leaking onto the floor. It tried several more times, but to no avail.
"Enough of this!" It roared, lashing out, but Emma and Ava were already next to her, swords coated in same unnatural flames. Their swords bit through the gale of wind, dispersing it, and the two women charged, followed by Jack and Rye. Gavin and Nicholas came last, grinning fiercely.
"Come on!" Rye shouted, firing more arrows. "Let's finish it off!" The rest of the party converged on the North Wind, stabbing, shooting, and blasting it every time it tried to attack. Gales of winds blasted in every direction, but they were weaker now, and Iya felt a thrill of hope.
"We need one more attack!" Ean called to her. "Can you do it?" The cold faded away, replaced with a burning heat, and Iya smiled.
"I can do it." With an effort, she cast her mind out over the entire cavern, searching for energy. It was everywhere, nestled in the ice, whirling through air, and she called on it, commanding it to answer her call. Somewhere within her, she heard the phoenix speak:
"At last, you comprehend. All energy is connected, Iya. Magic, life, song... all different beats of the same heart."
"I don't understand it yet." She admitted, seeing the phoenix fluttering around the forest in her mind. "But I need to use it now. We don't have the luxury of time anymore, and I must confront Ishtar soon."
"Power is not the way forward. That, you must determine yourself."
Iya opened her eyes, and for a moment, everything seemed to stand still. Her friends, the North Wind, the cavern, even the forest above seemed to be absolutely motionless. Her spell would have be powerful, but she would also have to shield the others. Could she manage it?
"Only one way to know." She laughed softly, and pointed her staff at the North Wind. "I'll call this... Meteor Song." All of the energy she had seized had gathered on the roof of the cavern, and at her command, it rained down upon the North Wind in a hellish storm. The monster tried to fight back, but she melted its limbs, one by one. The winds scattered, the ice cracked, and the crude mask dissolved into thin air. The others were knocked backwards by the force of the blow, but her shields held, and they were not hurt. The shockwave blasted outward, and the cavern shook, obscuring her vision in a haze of icy dust.
When she awoke, Ean was hovering over her, looking worried. She touched his hand reassuringly, and the elf smiled at her before lifting her to her feet.
"We're okay. You did it."
"I had some help." She said, moving forward slowly. The North Wind was now a tiny ripple in the air, floating aimlessly in any direction. As the party converged on it, it seemed to shrink into the ground.
"You... you cannot kill me. I will merely be reborn!"
"Oh, we don't need to kill you." Iya said. "It turns out that someone else would like to see you." The spirit seemed to understand, and it began to shake violently.
"You cannot do this! Ishtar will not-"
Gavin screwed the lid back onto the bottle, cutting off the North Wind mid-sentence. For a moment, the party stared at it, in the middle of the ruined cavern. And then, like someone had flipped a switch, all the ice in the cave began to dissolve, vanishing as though it had never been. After a few seconds, it had vanished, leaving them standing on solid rock.
"If I ever have to see snow again," Jack said, flopping down onto the ground. "It will be too soon for me."
"How did you do it?" Iya asked Gavin as the party sat down, exhausted from the battle. Rye began lighting a fire to cook, and the warmth washed over her like a gentle breeze. "With your magic, I mean." Nearby, the jar containing the evil spirit rattled and shook, the air inside swirling angrily.
"My fire is... not normal. It was a gift from the witch we met in Happily Ever After, but I haven't really been able to understand it. At least, I didn't before. But it turns out that the blue fire does a lot more than destroy. It was created to protect... to heal." Ava shifted slightly, and Iya thought she understood.
He used the fire to save Ava's life.
"Well, it certainly saved us." Rye chuckled. "We'll have to try that again, if we can."
"It might be too dangerous." Gavin said, still looking apprehensive. "But... I don't want to waste this gift, either."
They ate in companionable silence, while Nicholas checked them all over for injuries. At least, he did until Ava shoved him away and told him to sit down, which the prince obeyed meekly.
Ean shifted next to her, his thigh pressing into hers, and his eyes roamed the cavern.
"One step closer." He murmured softly as the others prepared for the trek back to the surface.
"One step closer." She whispered back, kissing him softly on the cheek.
Their return to Thais, and the resulting news that the North Wind had been captured, seemed to spark a fire in the citizens. Everywhere he went, seen or unseen, Ean saw the inhabitants of the city celebrating. Some were more exuberant, lighting off small fireworks or spreading the news through the streets, while others merely walked with a light step and smile on their face. The city guards reported that morale was higher among the troops as well. Indeed, from his view in the sky, the city seemed to be alive and thriving.
It's better that they don't know how much there is to do. With an effort of will, Ean shifted back into his elven form, landing on the outer wall of the castle. The sentries on duty saluted him as he passed between them, descending the tower stairs. Halfway to the bottom, he collided with a frantic-looking guard.
"Sir Ean!" The man panted, straightening up to salute him. "Apologies, but you are needed in the research laboratory."
"Me? What for?"
"They didn't say. Come, it's this way." The elf followed the night through the winding corridors, descending deeper into the castle than he had ever been. They finally stopped at an unmarked door, and the soldier on duty waved him in.
Inside was one of the strangest room Ean had ever seen. It was rectangular, but all the objects taking up the walls and floor made it look oddly distorted. There were piles of metal and parts to one side, along with some equipment he didn't understand. Next to them was a large terrarium, in which were growing strange plants. There were about a hundred other things to see, but he was broken from his reverie by the appearance of Gavin, who seemed more used to the clutter.
"Good, you're here. Come on, the others are already in the meeting room."
"What is this place?" Ean asked, and the warlock grinned.
"They're too organized for my tastes, but this is the research lab." They wove their way around piles of unknown items, squeezing through a door you couldn't see from the entrance. Inside, Ean saw the rest of the party sitting around a large oaken table, looking worried. Uthar and Ella were there too, along with three or four people he did not know.
They must be deciphering the plans. Have we had a breakthrough?
"Ah, thank you, Gavin." Uthar said. "Please, sit down, Ean. We've called you here to discuss something written in these weapon plans." He nodded to one of the researchers, who stood, adjusting his glasses nervously.
"Ah, yes... Thank you, Your Highness. We have established all of the materials need to build the weapon, and it is entirely feasible. Construction will begin soon, and the weapon will be finished in several weeks. By our estimates, this will give us a further two weeks to march to Shaenlir and attack, before winter sets in."
"What does the weapon do?" Emma asked curiously, leaning forward to survey the speaker. Ean felt one of the spirits stir in the back of his mind, but he pushed it away for the moment.
"We are not exactly sure, but it will destroy the barrier around the city so that we can attack. However, there is the matter of controlling it..." The man looked suddenly more nervous. "According to the documents, it cannot be piloted by humans. We will need... squirrels." Silence fell. Ean glanced at Iya, who looked equally stunned.
"Squirrels." Nicholas said finally. "As in the animal."
"Uh... yes, Prince." The man nodded once, lapsing back into thought.
"To be honest, that's not the weirdest thing we've encountered so far." Ava said at last, trying to break the silence. "What kind of squirrel?"
"The dimensions cite a squirrel nearly as large as a man. These did exist a long time ago, but..."
"Let me guess, there's none left." Jack said. "Son of a-"
"-Let's assume they are alive, somewhere." Rye cut the younger boy off, frowning thoughtfully. "Where would we find one?"
"I'm afraid I do not know. Surely they must all be dead by now."
Dead. The word resonated through Ean's mind, and his head was suddenly split with pain. He yelped, causing the others to look towards him. It felt as though the spirits had been corrupted once again, but that was impossible... wasn't it?
"Ean!" Iya had seized his hand, but he couldn't concentrate enough to look at her. From the gasps in the room, he knew his eyes had begun to glow red once more.
No! I have to fight! I have to-
He was no longer in the room. Iya had vanished, as had everything else around him. Instead, he was standing under a cloudy sky, gazing up at the moon. In the distance, he could see mountains rising from the earth like golems, dark and forbidding.
Ean lowered his gaze to his surroundings. He was standing in a clearing, ringed by trees that had perished centuries ago. They were old and withered, but still held leaves of a dark crimson. Every so often, one fluttering to the ground, carpeting the hard earth of the forest floor. There were buildings around him too, ruins of what must have been a village at one point. Shadows flickered across the edge of his vision here and there, but he refused to look. It wasn't real, after all.
"Welcome, Ean. Finally, I can speak to you alone." He tried to whip around, but his body seemed frail and slow, as though he had aged fifty years. Eventually, his eyes fell upon a figure, standing a few yards away in the dead grass. He knew this man, had seen every part of his life until his inevitable death.
"Horace." The man simply nodded. He was wearing a simple white shirt and black pants, accompanied by a black travelling cloak. His eyes were closed, but the mouth moved, as if of its own will.
"It is I. You've seen my visions?"
"I have. I know what happened to the village. The witch cursed each of you, but I've set them free."
"Ah, yes... Vincent, Amari, Edward, Cigne, Erik, and Violet. All of my failures, in one place. Have you treated them well?"
"To the best of my ability." Horace shifted, his face still unnaturally still. A locket gleamed dully on his chest, and Ean remembered.
"You found it? That necklace, I mean. The one you sent away. I saw the vision, but..."
"Yes. I did find it. It took me a while, but the amulet answers to me, now." Ean subtly took a step back. Something was deeply wrong here, but what?
"What does it do? He finally asked. "What did the witch want it for?" In response, Horace opened his eyes, and Ean instinctively stepped back. They were crimson, with nothing but the color of blood to stain them.
"She wanted its ability... With it, her victory would have been assured. Instead, she had to turn to that foolish queen of ice."
"Ishtar? What do you mean?" Horace chuckled.
"As always, you mortals see only the surface of things." He straightened up quite suddenly, and his form began to change. The skin grew taut and white, showing the muscles that bulged underneath. Wings the color of onyx sprouted from the mage's back. But worst of all were the fangs that gleamed in the once-human mouth, shiny and terrifying.
"The vampire." Ean breathed. His body was screaming at him to run, but he knew it would be useless. "You're the last spirit."
"No." Horace said, and his voice had become so much colder. "I am the first spirit. The others cannot exist without me. Your powers cannot exist without me."
"Then why do this to them?" Ean shouted, suddenly furious. "Why not protect them, instead of sending them all over the Land of Man?"
He was hit so fast, his mind barely had time to register the movement before he was on the ground, retching.
"Don't you dare tell me what to do. You have no idea what-" Horace stopped, and Ean gazed up at him through a haze of pain. "Right, right. The message." A gloved hand descended upon Ean's shoulder and wrenched him upwards. "I cannot harm you yet, Ean Okho. It is forbidden, and that is the only thing saving you right now."
"Coward." Ean spat, but the vampire merely smiled.
"We'll see. Now, about those squirrels you need... Oh, I know." The monster laughed cruelly as he hoisted Ean higher into the air, holding him by the collar. "I've been following your every step. I killed all of those little beasts decades ago. I'm afraid there's no more in the Land of Man." Something about the way he said the last sentence made Ean shudder. "Only one place you could reach in time to find them."
"No." Ean whispered. "I won't come to you."
"You will, or all of you will die." Ean's vision was beginning to fade, and the vampire dropped him. Distantly, he could hear a chorus of voices calling out to him, as if searching for a lost child. "They really do care about you, huh? I'll be waiting for you, Ean. It's time for us to put an end to this story."
The scenery faded, and Ean heard a series of running footsteps.
"Ean!" Vincent circled around him in his werebear form, looking tense. "Where did he go? Where's... where's Horace?"
"Gone." He whispered, staring blankly down at his own hands.
"Did he hurt you?" Edward rumbled, and the elf shook his head.
"Wanted to... talk. I tried to make him see reason, but he's too far gone for that. The power has corrupted him."
"That damned amulet." Cigni swore softly. "If I had known-"
"None of us did." Violet piped up, her voice cutting through the haze in Ean's mind. "But we can help him now, right?"
"I just don't know." Ean said. "I need to wake up now, though. Can you send me back?" The others nodded, and the vision shattered.
For a moment, all he could feel was the throbbing pain in his head. Ean groaned and rolled over. He didn't remember being on the floor, nor the fact that his head was on something much softer than stone. A finger touched his forehead gently.
"Iya." He rasped, and she hummed quietly. "I'm okay." The elf opened his eyes to see her face hovering above his own. He was resting on her lap, held up from the stone floor by her legs. Ean sat up a little more quickly than normal, face burning, but accepted the water that she handed him silently.
"Another vision?" She asked.
"Yeah. How long was I out?"
"Just ten minutes. The others were pretty scared, but I explained it as best I could."
"Thank you." He said, reaching over to kiss her on the forehead. "For not freaking out with the rest of them."
"Oh, I was." Iya said, eyes narrowing. "I just keep it bottled up. Besides, the spirits reassured me you weren't in real danger after the initial vision had passed." Ean was on his feet now. It felt as though he had been dragged across a rocky slope, and his throat was sore where Horace had grabbed him.
"I need to tell the others." He said after a moment of peaceful silence. "I know where we're going next." Iya nodded and followed him towards the door. The others were still debating what to do when the elves entered, prompting a quick termination of the conversation.
"I'm fine." The words left his mouth, and Ean realized how absurd they sounded. "I am now, at least."
"Are those visions... normal?" Ella asked, slightly paler than normal. "There was screaming, and those crimson lights..."
"They're rare." Ean told her. "Trust me, I don't want them either. But listen, I know what we have to do."
"About the squirrels?" Ava asked, and he nodded.
"I... saw a place where we can find them. They all died centuries ago, but there is one place where they might live on. It's a very slim chance, but I think it's the only one we have."
"Then we'll take it." Rye said at once. "We're not scared."
"I am." Ean said softly, and the others looked taken aback. "I am terrified beyond belief, but this is the only way. The squirrels died, but some of their souls might have remained behind. They wouldn't stay here, but they couldn't pass over to Aveyond either." Gavin seemed to realize it before the others, and the warlock shot from his chair, looking wild.
"You can't mean-"
"Yes, I do. If we want to find a squirrel, there's only one place we can search. We need to go to the Land of the Dead."