Into the Stone Land (20 page)

A plan already set in his mind, Tall walked east until he came to the creek. Here was the tricky part. He needed to move with care, cross the creek, and make his way to the far wall of the channel. With the wall at his side and, he hoped, brush cover around him, he should have a clearer vantage point to spy on the camp.

The creek presented a challenge. It was much wider than before. He could wade across it, but that would be slow, make more noise than he was comfortable with, and leave him soaking wet. He took a cleansing breath, closed his eyes, and listened to what trees and wind wanted to tell him. He took in the pungent earthy smells around him.

He found calm, opened his eyes. He launched into a run, with his staff propped out in front of him. On the third step, he planted his staff, used the leverage to lift himself up.

It seemed he must surely fall back to earth. He pressed down and sprang away, pulling his staff with him.

He landed softly by allowing himself to drop forward. An instant later he was off, sprinting into deep cover, his staff at his side.

Once he reached the wall, Tall followed it until he reached the mouth of the channel. He was cautious as he moved, because his thoughts were swirling with unanswered questions, most about his fellows. Were they still following the plan? If so, were they moving into place as they should be? Since he was early, how long would it be before they were prepared to move in? Where was Avea? He struggled to remember everything she said to him that day, what Alkin said about his gift being tainted.

Soon he was peering out of bushy foliage, spying on Lady Hravic's camp. The expanse between was flat and mostly empty, so he had a good view. There were two fires, not one. A large central fire for the camp. A smaller watch fire.

The watch fire was closer than he was comfortable with, as was the figure who paced behind it. A guard or sentry, Tall thought worriedly, before fixing on the main camp.

Several tents were set around the main fire; all were opposite the fire from him. Four figures were gathered around the fire. Their voices carried but were unintelligible at this distance. He couldn't be sure, but he thought one might be Lady Hravic. The other figures were much larger and armored.

One of the tents must have been a mess tent. He saw people going in occasionally, coming out carrying what must have been plates of food. Those emerging from the tent were gathered in several clusters. Oddly though, they stayed away from the ones around the fire. This meant something, Tall didn't know what.

Other things were out of place as well. Tall wasn't sure what until he saw someone walk from the tent into the darkness and then angle toward the watch fire. He imagined many reasons for the odd path. He thought of concealed pits, booby traps.

The soldier approached, gave the sentry a plate of food. An argument ensued. It was loud enough for Tall to hear.

“How much more of this must we suffer?” The sentry said.

“I keep telling you,” the other said, “as much as needs be. Not all are the Prefect's allies. When the time comes, Heliop, you'll know, and then I will be Prefect, and you, my second. Remember, we are the ones with the wizard's prize, and his reward will be ours.”

“You'd best be right about this, Andros. If we're wrong about this, our heads on pikes—”

“—at the least.”

Andros and Heliop spoke no more, but something unspoken passed between them as Heliop ate. It was the care and personal attendance that told Tall these two were related in some way. Brothers, perhaps.

Tall stayed put, tried to figure out how to use what he'd learned to his advantage. There wasn't much alternative. It wasn't like he dared to try backing away and sneaking off in another direction.

While he waited, he heard shouts from the camp. The shouting brought Andros and Heliop to the camp. Tall used the opportunity to pull back, almost certain the attack was beginning.

Something strange happened in the span between one breath and another. His fear came out as anger. The anger settled over him like a kind of second sight. He felt rather than saw the one lurking in wait. He ducked what he thought was a blow, weaved away from grasping hands as he brought his staff around. His blow should have struck resoundingly. Instead, it was caught in a waiting hand.

Tall tried to pull his staff free. It was his one advantage over his attacker. But he couldn't break it free of the other's grip.

Tall felt a hand coming at him, reacted by falling backward. It was too late though and he knew it. Struggle as he might, he couldn't work away the hand plied suddenly to his mouth. He cursed himself for not crying out earlier. Somehow he knew that even if there was no one to come to his aid, it would have been better.

An arm moved around Tall's chest, up under his arms from behind. He was dragged backward. He fought wildly to twist and spin away. He felt the other's grip loosen, and tried to will himself to freedom.

It was a short-lived freedom. Flat on his back, Tall found the specter straddling him, using legs to pin his arms back. The hand was still on his mouth, even as the other leaned forward and Tall's heart raced.

“Stop struggling,” the voice whispering in his ear said. “Calm yourself. Do not scream.”

Tall stayed his struggle, though his hands remained clenched.

“I mean it,” the voice said. “No sound. No movement. Nothing. Understand?”

Tall tried to nod his head. The press of the hand on his face prevented it.

“You walk in two worlds,” the voice said. “See me, Tall, as I am.”

Tall closed his eyes, opened them. Darkness, but understanding as well. “Avea?” he said. “Something has gone terribly wrong. Hasn't it?”

“It has,” the other said. “They are no longer three, as you know.”

Avea helped Tall stand. In the darkness he could not see her, but knew her voice. He hugged her fiercely. “You don't know how glad I am it is you.”

“Or I, you,” Avea said, hugging him back. “It is just as well you don't listen to instruction as you should, but you've now put yourself in danger I wanted to keep you away from.”

Tall glared. “You weren't going to come back for me?”

“I was not,” Avea said plainly. “We've some small time before the others engage. They, like us, will assess first. We must follow when they strike, without delay.”

“All the shouting's not because of them?”

“No, it isn't. A brawl, perhaps. The wizard's men fight each other as much as any other. It is the one constant to count on.”

Tall took account of himself, picked up his staff. “What will we do now? Did you hear them talk about the wizard's prize?”

“I did. Their prize is Ray.”

“Ray, is here?”

“Yes, he is. From the look of it, Lady Hravic met the squad transporting Ray here. I was about to move into position when a second squad arrived. No one seemed happy about this. I saw why immediately—Prefect Jravac. That is her by the fire, there, discussing something with the one-armed man. He is the Prefect.”

“Braddick?” Tall asked, staring into the distance, his voice touched with awe as he'd missed this before.

Avea walked a tight circle, pulling Tall with her. “You know this one?”

“He commands the wizard's army.”

“Indeed he does,” Avea said. “He is the worst of them. I don't understand why he's here. It's troubling.”

Tall told Avea everything he knew of Braddick. What Deanna said about Braddick. How Braddick went to Stone Desert in search of something the day before Tall himself left Adalayia. How Tall saw Braddick in his dreams.

Tall held back one thing. He didn't want to tell her about the dream of himself being killed by Braddick, but he did. “In my dreams,” he said quietly, “Braddick kills me.”

Tall realized he was shaking. What he left unsaid was that he hoped the death dream was not this night's portent, for that would mean these were his last moments, and everything he'd gone through to get here was for nothing.

“None of us can change our fate,” Avea said. “But forewarned is forearmed.”

Tall wrapped his arms around himself. Avea's hand on his shoulder was reassuring. It gave him the courage to look within himself for the resolve he needed. “If I die,” he said, “Will you make sure Ray returns to my village? He must, you know this, or there can be no hope for my people.”

Avea took a step back, removed her hand. “Enough talk of death and dying,” she said. “We've much else to think about.”

Tall took a step forward. A break in the canopy allowed more starlight to filter through. It was enough to see Avea's face fully. “Promise,” he repeated.

Her expression solemn, Avea said, “I promise, Tall, if you'll make me a promise.”

“Anything.”

Avea looked fixedly at Tall. “As hasty as Ray to rush in, but I'll take what I can get. The promise is this… Promise me that you'll free them no matter the cost.”

“Free them?”

“The tree singers. Kerry, Ekatarin, the rest. Promise me, no matter the cost?”

Tall swallowed hard. “Me? How? I have no—”

“Promise?”

“I promise,” Tall said. “No matter the cost.”

“Good.” Avea returned her hand to Tall's shoulder. “Then we have much to talk about, and precious little time left.”

Avea spoke quickly, telling Tall what he must do. She finished, saying, “Remember, the eye turns one way while the hands reach otherwise. This night, no matter what, you and I are one of the hands. When the assault begins, we move quickly for the tent on the right. It's where they're holding Ray. Deanna is there as well. Are you with me so far?”

Tall nodded.

“I'll be at your side as we go, but you're not to stop for anything. Your objective takes priority, even over my life. Grandin has told your brood to harry our enemies but only as a feint. We did not foresee the soldiers, but if the beasts do as told they should survive. I beg your forgiveness if it turns out otherwise. Lastly, this is for you. Blue water. Drink it, if you have the need.”

Tall waited quietly for Avea's next move, his heart pounding suddenly in his ears. He realized he was grinding his teeth in frustration. The trap meant for Lady Hravic may instead be a trap for them.

Avea gripped his shoulder. Tall crawled after her, staff in hand. Soon he was at the edge of the undergrowth, staring across the deep bowl to Lady Hravic's camp. Avea said, “Speak not a word from this point forward. When the time comes, reach out and find Ray's light. Let it guide you. Remember, I'm expendable. You are not. I count on you to liberate Ray.”

Avea and Tall emerged from the trees. They crept out into the flat expanse. When Avea decided it was safe, they ran toward the watch fire. She was bent over at a half crawl and using quick, small steps. Tall stayed at her side.

Just before Avea was highlighted by the fire's light, she stopped and dropped to the ground. Then she crawled forward with strange sudden bursts of movement in between moments of stillness. At one point, she rolled over onto her back before springing back into motion.

Movement on the far side of the camp caught Tall's attention. He saw a figure emerge from the shadows, followed by two others. All three were separated from most of the camp by the tents. As if on cue, Avea launched into an all out sprint. Tall followed, his staff ready in his hand. The camp came alive with shouting and men rushing out of their tents.

The rush of wind that signaled Rhyliath's arrival came from on high. Rhyliath struck the campfire directly. His great claws, plowing into the timbers, cast out an inferno, and out of the ash and fire emerged Alkin, his sword flashing in his hand.

More shouts of alarm and panic followed, as did the fighting. Alkin was a marvel, as was Rhyliath, who rent and tore his way through the camp. Grandin and his men appeared in the midst of the fighting.

Terrified screams told Tall where his brood stalked those who tried to flee. Tall stayed close to Avea. He moved as she moved. The camp was alive with fire and blood.

The huge figure of one-armed Braddick blocked his way. Tall tried to dodge the fist and sword pommel that sought to bash in the side of his head but couldn't. The blow struck. The side of his face exploded with pain. For a moment, everything seemed frozen in time, then he went down.

He felt the impact with the ground, though it was distant to the sudden disorientation and ringing in his left ear. Braddick's boot. It was coming down at his face. Terrified, Tall rolled on his side, brought his staff around. The staff connected with Braddick's shin, a resounding thwack. Even before he pushed off the ground, even before he could block the next blow, Avea was there, her sword moving like it was alive in her hand.

“Go,” Avea hissed, and Tall listened, leaving her to face Braddick's fury. But once he was on his feet, he realized escape from the madness around him wouldn't be so simple. He was dizzy and men were fighting in every direction he looked. Rhyliath was a terror, his wings buffeting, his claws flashing, his jaws ripping and crushing. In the middle of it was Alkin, moving as if he and Rhyliath performed a kind of dance that only they understood. Grandin and his were fighting, holding back several times their number, and there unexpectedly amongst them were Tall's beasts—all save Lady and Lucky, who waited to aid his escape.

Escape. The word echoed in his mind. He knew he had to get out of there. He caught a flash of movement out of the corner of his right eye, brought his staff up in time to deflect a blow. He ducked another blow, spun around, brought his staff down to slap across the other's exposed back.

Panic began to set in. He couldn't stay in the fight. Flight was essential, but he was supposed to do something. It was the reason he was here. Avea's words played in his thoughts. “Reach out and find Ray's light,” she was telling him.

Blocking out the rest of the world, he reached out. He hoped his fear would drive the sight as it had before and he was right. The world before him transformed. He saw, but not enough.