Mal had woken from the dream sweat dripping down her spine and a feeling of dread; Délíntra was making a move, and Mal had the sudden urge that she needed to be very far away from here or everything would be lost.
Tossing off the blankets and standing up, she was pleasantly surprised that the room was warm. She could feel the magic around her holding steady as she kept the room warm. The thought that she had finally been able to keep the spell going while sleeping brought a smile to her lips for the briefest moment until she remembered the dread and foreboding her vision had given her. Try as much as she wanted; she could feel the details of the dream fading.
Getting dressed, she left her room and started walking through the deserted corridors; While it was late, she thought one of the priestesses that served the oracle would be about in the common room.
Unfortunately, when she entered, it was dark, and the thin mountain air was bitterly cold. The wind howled outside while one of the window shutters flapped in the wind, tugging the fur cloak a little tighter; she closed the shutter as she headed to the massive cavern that was the oracles lair.
Entering the cavern, Mal was glad to see that the oracle was awake. As she had not been sure how she would wake a sleeping dragon, and again, the smell of sulphur assaulted her nose.
“So you had the same dream?.” Rumbled the deep voice of the golden dragon, her large eyes swirling with magic and mystery.
“The details have escaped me, but the dread that I felt when I woke was real and very rememberable,” said Mal in a slightly frustrated tone. Now that she had spent several months working close to the oracle, she felt awe more than fear when in the presence of the dragon. Her name was completely unpronounceable by humans, so everyone just called her Oracle.
“You are growing into your powers, Malderia,” responded the Oracle in her deep rumbling voice, “You are getting better; remember when you first arrived, you couldn’t remember that you had even had a dream. Now you can hold some of the knowledge after you wake.”
“Was it the same for you when you were learning?”
“No,” chortled the dragon, the light rumbling laughter bouncing off the walls of the cavern and reverberating around Mal, “Dragon magic is natural to us; of course, I had to learn how it worked, but it was all more natural for us.”
Sighing, she sat down on the stone bench beside the Oracle.
“So, what can you tell me about the dream?” Asked Mal.
“Malderia, I’m afraid that your time here is at an end. Dark forces are moving to block you from reclaiming the rest of the artefacts. Like us, they don’t seem to be aware of where they are but rather the locations of people that might help you find them. It’s those people you must save,” intoned the oracle.
They spent the next couple of hours talking over every piece of information that the oracle knew. With Mal trying to memorise as much as possible, the lessons that she had learnt of the preceding months made the process easier, but she still fretted that she would forget something. It wasn’t until one of the priestesses arrived that Mal realised that the dawn had come.
The oracle watched Mal stand up, ready to head back to her room and pack. “Remember, the Black Watch must not know what you are up to; without the Black Watch to guard him, the Prince will surely die, and if he or you die, then it is all for nought.”
Mal spent the next few hours trying to get ready for the journey ahead of her. A knock at the door announced a visitor, and when Mal opened the door, she saw her friend Salistra holding a food tray. The smell of the honey porridge caused her stomach to tumble, betraying the fact that she hadn’t eaten since supper last night, and it was now nearly midday.
“Mal, I brought you something to break your fast,” smiled the priestess, “The oracle has informed me that you will be leaving us; I wanted to say that I have grown fond of you, and I wish you well on your journey. I have been allowed to take you part of the way, but I just wanted to take this time to speak with you.”
Seeing her friend looking around the room for a location to put the tray of food, Mal went over to a small table full of books and cleared the space for her. Looking at the books and with a sigh that spoke volumes that she couldn’t take them all with her. Now, after months of learning and studying, she could read well and found she enjoyed it.
An hour later, she had finally packed everything she could carry and looked longingly at the small pile of belongings she couldn’t take. Stepping into the corridor, she closed the door to what she thought of as her room for probably the last time and headed towards the tunnels.
When Mal arrived at the entrance to the tunnels, she saw her friend waiting for her. Salistra smiled a toothy grin when she looked up, and she saw her friend. “Well, my friend, the time has come for us to part for a time.” She said, embracing Mal.
“Yes, Salistra, I will miss our time together,” replied Mal breaking the hug and wiping a tear from her eye. “Don’t; if I start to cry, I won’t stop.”
“Then let us be off its a several hours hard travel to the nearest exit unless you can fly, of course,” she said, gesturing towards a tunnel that would take her to the lair of the dragon and to the vast entrance that the dragon used when she flew in and out.
Mal had stood as close to the edge of that sheer drop as she could. Mal always prided in her ability to stand on the ledge above her village. The height of the mountain dwarfed everything Mal knew.
Sighing, she hitched her backpack to her shoulder and headed off down the tunnel, following her friend. Soon they had left the rough artificial tunnels around the Oracles sanctum and were in the more natural tunnels. The tunnels got more rough though the path they followed had long ago been carved to allow better access.
Compared to the tunnels Mal had first travelled to reach the Oracles safety the one she now walked was more like a road dug into the mountain, yes it weaved in all directions but it was clear from obstructions and they travelled fast enough.
As they walked in silence, Mal was glad her friend had decided to travel part of the way with her. She wasn’t looking forward to finally parting ways. When she had left her friends behind with the dwarves, she had no time to fret or miss them until she had arrived at the Oracles sanctum.
This time all she could think of was that soon she would be having to say her goodbyes to a good friend, probably for the last time. As they walked she idly thought about her time when she had first arrived. Salistra had helped Mal settle into life in the sanctum, especially since she had missed her friends when she had first arrived.
Realising that Salistra had been speaking to her, Mal apologised “Sorry Salistra, was just remembering when I first arrived and you made me feel so welcome. Leaving my friends here will be hard for me.”
“I know what you mean, you are the first human our people have met, I don’t think you will ever comprehend the impact you have had on our order or me for that matter,” smiled Salistra patting Mal on her back with her taloned hand.
They walked on in silence after that, each thinking about the difference each had made to their lives in such a short time. A faint waft of air that stirred Mal’s hair, the coldness of the mountain air announced that they were getting closer to the tunnel exit. The fresh air put a bounce in their step and an unseen force to their march, As if the natural air was some exotic thing and if they didn’t hurry they would lose it.
Stepping out of the tunnel on to a small dirt path that led off to the right down a thin path. A sheer drop to the side with fear-inducing vertigo caused both of them to involuntarily step back into the tunnel before sticking their heads out while holding the sides of the tunnel.
A large grins spread over Salistra and Mal’s faces as they both almost giggled with a nervous energy that the sudden shock o the drop had induced in them.
“Well Malderia, here is where I have to leave you now,” said Salistra hugging Mal close in a tight embrace.
“I’ll miss you, my friend, Maybe someday I’ll be lucky enough to come back and visit,” replied Mal hugging her friend close.
They held each other for a moment before Salistra broke the hug and said, “You’ll have to go soon you’ll only have a few hours of daylight to get far enough down the mountain to be safe for the night.”
With a deep sigh, Mal responded, “You are right of course, I’ll miss you, be safe on your return to the sanctum.” Giving her friend one last hug before picking up her bag and stepping out onto the narrow path and walking away.
The path was too narrow to allow her to look back and see if her friend had been watching or not and by the time it got wide enough, the entrance to the tunnels couldn’t be seen at all. Every step brought back thoughts of home and her family in the mountains, memories of hunting in the mountains and of walking steep paths like the one she was on abound.
As the sun started to drop towards the tops of distant mountains Mal quickened her step trying to get off the path and to somewhere she would be able to camp for the night. The sun was just touching the tips of the mountains when the path widened to an area the width that a horse and cart could transverse.
Looking around for somewhere she could camp for the night she spotted were two slabs of stone caused a natural windbreak on the path. Scavenging around for sticks and twigs she gathered enough wood that should help keep her warm for the night.
Setting the sticks and twigs and some moss together she spent the last of the light trying to light her makeshift fire. No sooner had she it lit than the flames took to the dry tinder and she had a warm fire in front of her.
Suddenly barking out a laugh at her stupidity she calmed her breathing and cast her spell of warmth. Causing a bubble of air around her to heat up and hold at a comfortable temperature.
“Well I’ll be glad of the light and besides its good to keep old skills,” she thought to herself with a chuckle as she tucked into some provisions her friend Salistra had packed for her journey. Laying down she fell asleep on the side of the mountain, dreaming of home and family.
The cold mountain air woke her as a gust of wind swirled around her when her spell failed. Sitting up with a shiver, Mal was glad of the fire smouldering away at her feet. Throwing the last of her wood onto the fire while looking at the sky. She estimated that it would be another hour until dawn. Sitting up and taking a deep breath to centre herself she willed herself into the state so that she could travel the threads and check on her friends. She was slightly disappointed that no thread linked her to Salistra she often wondered if it was because Salistra wasn’t human. As the only people that she had these links to where other humans.
Travelling down the threads was easy now, what with all the practice she had over the last few months. So often had she travelled the threads that she was now able to tell which thread led to which person. She was glad to see that all of the threads stayed together, interweaving between each other like the threads of a rope. Her head was almost dizzy from the twists and turns of each thread.
This one would lead her to Prince Salistar; as she sped down the thread, she could feel his presence growing stronger. Pulsing with life the thread almost dragged her along, now threatening to sweep her away. She had to resist the natural pull that would merge her being with his. Each time she travelled this thread, she would have to battle not to lose herself in the dreams of her Prince.
As she approached the camp, she thought she noticed a dark cloud directly above the tents. As she approached the cloud faded from view as if part of a dream. She had expected the Prince to be in the main pavilion asleep and was surprised to see that he was up and standing near others of the band. One of which had a golden thread attached and Mal knew that Balink stood beside the Prince holding onto someone she didn’t know.
Unable to hear what they were talking about she put her spectral hand on the shoulder of the Prince and whispered in his ear. She had found that when touching the Prince she could hear and speak with him via thoughts alone. Allowing them to be separate but connected at the same time.
“Whats happened?” she imparted.
“Drunken fight my love, Talis drew his dagger and tried to kill Maliki. I’ll have to flog him for it how are you this morning?” Thought the Prince to her. His mood-brightening at her mental touch the longing to hold her in his arms.
The Prince and the Blackguard were camped five leagues north from Princetown and were making slow going. Over the last few months, they had many skirmishes with sizeable forces. Mal, although many leagues away at the time, had poured energy down threads almost too thin to even exist, causing her to fall into deep periods of sleep until she recovered. She had cried when threads had disappeared in her grasp like trying to hold water watching the golden thread breakup and flow through her fingers.
“I am well, I wish I could be there with you and the men, your numbers seem to have increased,” she responded, shielding as much of her thoughts from him as best as she could. He must not find out that she was travelling alone as he would be liable to send half the regiment to escort her.
The oracle had warned her that she must proceed to the palace herself and take passage to Alturia a country many weeks by sea to the north and east. The Prince must not be told of her mission or all would be lost.
“We have picked up Lord Julas and two hundred men yesterday and more due to arrive over the next few days, we will be moving out within the hour and should make our way to the city of Carse on the east coast of the lake by the time we need to make camp. With any luck, we will be within the walls of the city tonight.”
As she broke the connection with him a flood of his longing for her washed over her and she felt embarrassed about lying to him. At the minute their paths were diverging, and that was fine she knew that it would take both of them to defeat Délíntra and this was a sacrifice she was going o have to make to save the world.
Snapping back into her own body was effortless now and felt normal. Casting her infravision spell so that she could see well in the pre-dawn-dusk, she tidied up the camp and started down the track.
The original journey from Kurik to Darseholt had taken nearly a week. Mal hoped that going downhill would speed up the return journey. Especially since she was walking this time and the previous time she had been on horseback with the Guard.
Mal found that she was glad to be out and walking around the Sanctum had been a reasonable size but you couldn’t go for a long walk. The first day of travel had consisted of heading downhill until she had reached the tree line. The top of the mountain was now lost in the clouds far above.
When Mal had entered the tree line, she had noticed the tracks of forest and woodland animals, a deer had been chased by a wolf and two cubs. She had silently wished them well on their hunt as she had moved steadily downwards.
When night fell she camped in the crook of an old tree that had fallen and had a great view of the terrain that she would be following over the next few days. She cooked the two rabbits that she had caught over her small campfire. The little fat that was on the rabbits dripped into the flames with hissed and little popping sounds of the fat exploding in the heat.
After a full day of travelling over rough mountain terrain, Mal couldn’t believe how sore and tired her legs were. Sitting and studying every day for the past few months had allowed her muscles to grow lax. The soothing sounds of the fire cracking and popping were starting to lull her to sleep.
Shaking herself to wake up, Mal got up and moved around the camp while she waited for the rabbits to finish she scanned the vista before her. The evening sun’s light glinted off a river that headed towards Kurik.
Once the rabbits were cooked she ate them quickly, trying not to burn her fingers or mouth on the hot morsel. Casting her warmth spell she lay down and drifted off to sleep allowing the crackle of the fire to lull her off to sleep.
A fat drop of rain hitting her squarely in the face woke her and seeing a large band of rain moving across the valley towards her. She sighed and quickly stowed her camp gear before it would be soaked through.
That day and the next was miserable as the rain didn’t let up and she trudged through the muddy path that she followed, She had slipped several times and was mud from head to toe. That night the rain stopped and the sky was clear of a single cloud. When she had finished setting up her camp on the side of a huge hill. She could see the light from a city many miles further south.
“Well, Mal,” she said to herself as she turned away and went back to the small fire that was drying her clothes “Looks like you have another couple days travel ahead of you.”
The morning sun that woke her was warm and comforting, a good omen for the day she felt. Sure enough, she hit an old road that was free of mud and started making good time.
The next day she heard the slow meandering noise of a wagon behind her. Looking for somewhere to hide and seeing nothing but rolling pasture, not even a tree to hide in. She unwrapped her bow from its protective leather wrap and strung it then continued up the road.
As the wagon came into view, she could see that it was an old man sitting on the bench of the wagon which was being pulled by a mule that looks as old as time itself. After several minutes the wagon drew level with Mal and slowed to match her stride.
“Morn.” said the old man with a toothy grin. The floppy straw hat he wore had little practical use as far as Mal could see. It wouldn’t hold out the rain at all and one good sneeze and it looked like it would fall apart.
“Good morn to you.” replied Mal feeling no threat from the old man.
“Kurik?.”, he responded.
The question hung in the air for a moment, eventually, Mal responded “Yes.”
“Two days walk, lift?.”, came the reply.
Stopping in mid-stride, Mal turned to look the old man, mule and wagon over before nodding her head slightly Mal replied, “Yes, thank you.”
Stopping the wagon the old man patted the seat beside him. “Come on up, and threw ya bag in the back.”.
Now that he spoke longer sentences Mal heard a country twang to his speech. Stowing her bow and belonging behind her she saw that the wagon had sacks of coal in the back.
By the time night had fallen, they had barely spoken more than a handful of times. It seemed that the old man liked his peace and quiet. As the light in the sky has started to deepen Mal had started looking for somewhere to camp but couldn’t see any. Which wouldn’t have mattered much, as the old man didn’t look like he was going to stop the wagon anyway.
“Will we camp for the night?.”, asked Mal.
“Nah, only a couple of hours left.” he replied guesting on up the road ahead of them with the whip.
Indeed two hours later in pitch darkness, they arrived at the city gates.
"Markus, Open de gate." he hollered.
A minute later, the creak of the gate opening announced movement and two guards stepped out into the night, one holding a torch.
“Uncle Theo, how fares you, didn’t think you were coming this week as you weren’t here two days ago, was going to come and check on you tomorrow.” Said the man with the torch.
“Wheel broke, Markus.”
As Markus stepped forward and the light from the torch reached them he took a good look at Mal sitting on the seat beside his uncle.
“You.” re lucky uncle I was just getting off shift, and about to head home, Sarah will have dinner on, your friend is welcome too.” He said inclining his head towards Mal.
“My thanks, but I wouldn’t like to impose, I’ll just take a room in an inn.” replied Mal genuinely grateful for the invite.
“The cattlemen are in and most inns in the city are full, you might get lucky and find a room somewhere, but I doubt it.”, replied Markus.
“In that case, thank you I would appreciate it.”, replied Mal.
After the gate had closed behind them, Markus clasped hands with the two guards left on duty and jumped up onto the wagon and sat down on one of the sacks of coal.
Leaving Theo to steered the wagon through the streets. Markus spoke to Mal, “So where did you meet my uncle?.”
“I met him this morning on the road to Darseholt.”, replied Mal
At the mention of Darseholt, both Markus and Theo looked confused.
“You know the dwarven city in the mountains?.” replied Mal.
“Dwarves are a myth,” barked Theo with a laugh, “Next you’ll be telling me you dined with the Dwarves King”
“Argued would be a better description,” muttered Mal at the same time as Markus said “Uncle, I saw a band of them come through here almost three months ago with the Black Guard. They were only three or four foot high but looked like they would be good in a fight”
Theo stopped the wagon at a wooden gate. Which Markus jumped down and quickly opened. Once in-side Theo started to unhitched the mule.
“Anything I can do to help Theo?.” Asked Mal.
“Nah, not a fing, go an in with Markus.” he replied.
Grabbing her belongings, Mal stepped around the back of the wagon to see a young woman standing in the doorway watching Mal approach.
“Welcome miss, Markus says you arrived late with Uncle Theo and need a room, we have a spare since our eldest son joined that black band and ran off to get himself killed.” She replied the worry in her voice spoke volumes.
Mal felt a sliver of coldness go down her back at the woman’s words.
“Please call me Mal.”
“I’m Marie”
“Come in the fire is on and dinner is ready an hour ago” she said playfully slapping her husband on the shoulder.
Mal entered the small house and was gestured to a stool by the fire. Bowls of hot stew were handed around and Mal devoured the meal in no time.
“Thank you,” she said getting up and taking her bowl over to the wash bucket and giving it a quick wash before setting it to dry.
Returning to her stool by the fire, she sat down and looked at the woman that sat across from her, Seeing Mal looking at her she gave a small nod and a smile.
“What was the name of your son?.” Asked Mal.
“Marakel, though why he would run off to war I don’t know,” replied the woman.
Taking a deep breath, Mal sought out the golden threads, selecting the one that would lead to Barthel. She sped down the thread in a flash. As she approached, she noticed several things firstly, that same darkness seemed to hang over them and disappear as she approached and secondly that they had recently been in a battle and a flash of worry for her men. Following the thread, she saw Barthel striding about the camp.
Placing a hand on his shoulder she spoke the command into his mind, “Barthel, report.”
“We were attacked by a small band of goblins an hour ago, we took minimal casualties in the fight, two dead, ten with minor injuries, nothing major.” He thought back to her.
“Was Marakel one of the dead?.” she inquired.
“Marakel, No he’s fine, it was two recruits from Princetown. Why do you ask?”
“I’m with his parents and want to give them some information on him”
“He’s doing well, a good head on his shoulders and fitting into the guard well. I think we might make an officer out of him in a few years. Where are you?”
“I’m where I need to be, Don’t tell the Salistar that we have spoken.” she commanded, remembering that it was important that he not know.
“Of course Commander what ever you wish.” replied Barthel before feeling her presence departing.
Opening her eyes, she looked into the eyes of Marie and seeing the look of worry on her face, Theo’s and Markus expressions matched Maries. Thinking that she was worried about her son, she said “It’s ok, he’s settling into life in the guard well. Barthel thinks he would make a good officer and let me tell you thats high praise coming from him.”
“What do you mean he’s ok?.” Asked Marie, both relieved and anxious on hearing news of her son. After all how could this stranger know anything of her son.
Taking a deep breath, “While my name is Mal, I am also the Watch Commander of the Black Guard that your son has apparently joined.”
Stunned silence met her words. Dropping a curtsy Marie stammered, “My Lady, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to give any offence earlier, when I complained of my son joining your guards.”
“No offence taken Marie and I told you please call me Mal.”
“If you don’t mind me asking My… I mean Mal, how do you know my son is safe?.”
“I have some magic that allows me to communicate with members of the band across great distances,” she replied.
“My Lady, if you don’t mind me saying you should have said I would have happily taken you up to the keep, and you would have been offered proper lodging, not our sons old dusty bed.”
“To be honest, I didn’t think go it, six months ago I was just a girl that lived in a village in the mountains, I helped Lord Turok and Prince Salistar and was promoted to the rank of lady. I’m just like you so you see the bed in your spare room is perfect for me and please my friends call me Mal.”
“Well Mal, you have my thanks for the news of our son, you are welcome in our home any time you have need,” said Marie formally.
Standing up and embracing Marie, “My thanks, Marie”
The rest of the evening was devoted to Mal hearing all of the news of the kingdom and making plans for the moro. Most she ready knew Prince Salistar kept her up to date with news.