Rise of Legends (The Kin of Kings Book 2) (13 page)

“We’re going inside?” Annah asked in a shrill voice full of fear.

Jackrie shushed her. “Yes, but we’ll return to this tunnel and continue through the Fjallejon Pathway once Basen finds a place where he can create a portal. There’s likely to be one atop this mountain because of the battle that occurred here.”

Basen had figured he’d known everything there was to know about these mountains, but never had he heard anything about a passageway from the Fjallejon Pathway to the mountain peaks. In fact, it was a common belief that there was no way of reaching one from the other.

He wondered about this hidden passageway as he shined light upon the walls and searched for cracks large enough to fit in. He figured humans had built it or commanded Fjallejons to build it, for the Fjallejons themselves had no reason to go down to the pathway. When men and women first came to Ovira, they began building a civilization for themselves in Kyrro. As they explored the surrounding land, they eventually came to the mountains where the Fjallejons had made their home thousands of years ago. Because the settlers had little interest in the mountains, a peace agreement was quickly reached.

Over the years, the Fjallejons witnessed many changes of leadership in Kyrro, from the first Takary to what now hopefully would be the last Takary to ever take the crown.

When Tenred was formed north of the Fjallejon Mountains, the peace between Kyrro and the Fjallejons remained but with an addendum that the Fjallejons would watch the pathway through the mountains and report any activity to the king of Kyrro. The Fjallejons agreed but only in exchange for protection, in case soldiers from Tenred tried to take the mountains.

“What do the Fjallejons know of the recent takeover?” Basen asked Jackrie.

“Whatever Tauwin’s men told them, which was probably whatever was most likely to get the Fjallejons to allow them to station men on and in the mountain without resistance. Must’ve been lies.”

Cleve shushed them. He had taken to watching the exit of their tunnel while Peter stayed at the entrance. “People are coming,” he whispered.

“How many?” Jackrie asked.

“I don’t know. Annah, come.”

She scurried over, then extended her hand. “A lot,” she whispered back, her voice quivering. “Twenty or more.”

“I found it!” Alabell exclaimed.

Cleve and Annah ran over to her as Jackrie called for Peter. Their entire party met at the entrance to the passageway, which Basen saw was hidden by a lopsided boulder sticking out from the wall of the tunnel.

“Basen, go first,” Jackrie said. “Use your light. I’ll be last.”

He had to crawl to fit in the entrance, then immediately needed to squeeze around a sharp turn. Soon it opened enough for his shoulders to straighten. There became more space between the ceiling and the ground as he went, allowing him to go from his knees to his feet. He still had to crouch, however, and it seemed that he would have to remain that way as he came to a stairway.

Illuminating it from the light of his wand gave him a quick shiver. It curved as it rose, allowing complete darkness to lurk around the bend and in crevices made by its uneven walls. Cobwebs lined the ceiling, and the stone steps were caked with dust.

There was only room for one at a time. He turned back and offered his hand to Alabell, who clasped it firmly while reaching back to grab Annah’s hand.

“Move quickly,” Jackrie called from behind them.

Basen steadily climbed the stairs, hoping there was nothing waiting to surprise him around each turn.

“Faster,” Jackrie urged, her voice echoing past him.
Faster…faster.
“They must’ve seen the bodies, and now they’re looking for us.”

Looking for us…looking for us.

He began to run up two stairs at a time.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

It dawned on Effie that no one had spoken for an hour or maybe more. It was difficult to judge the time while she constantly exerted effort to direct bastial energy through her wand for light. Raywhite Forest had always been eerie at night, yet this was the first time she’d been forced to walk through it.

Reela took her hand, possibly sensing her fear. “There’s no one around us, Eff.”

“Good.”

“Keep quiet,” Liaison Wilfre hissed.

Reela sighed.

Effie wondered why Tauwin didn’t have his soldiers attack the Academy. She wanted to believe it was because thousands of her allies were in Trentyre, ready to take back Oakshen or the capital as soon as Tauwin moved his men, but that didn’t seem likely. Steffen guessed Tauwin was waiting for something, and Effie knew her smart friend to often be right about matters like this. She was thankful that he was there with her and Reela. He’d gotten good with the bow in the last year, though Effie hoped he wouldn’t have to use it.

It seemed wrong to think of their enemies as Tauwin’s men. He was just about the same age as she was, and from what she’d learned from Alabell, Tauwin didn’t seem like the kind of man to lead an army. His feet would never fill Terren’s shoes.

It was about ten miles to Trentyre from the Academy, so there was no time for rest if they were to make it there before daylight. But during the second hour, Effie found it difficult to keep their path lit.

“Wilfre, can—”

“Quiet!” he interrupted.

She took an annoyed breath, then whispered, “Can you use the lamp?”

“I didn’t bring a lamp,” he said tersely.

“You were supposed to bring a lamp.”

“Don’t tell me what I’m supposed to do.
You
are supposed to light our path so no one has to worry about carrying a lamp for ten miles. We’re already carrying two bird cages.”

Wilfre made it easy to forget that he was their leader. Conversing with him felt like walking through mud.

“Something’s coming closer,” Reela whispered and pointed to their right.

Effie aimed her wand and held back a scream as a massive bear emerged from the darkness. She lost her focus, and her light went out.

She drew in energy for a fireball as Steffen hurried to aim an arrow, but Reela jumped in front of them and extended her arms.

“It’s not aggressive.”

The bear made a gravelly moan, sounding like it was in pain.

“Just kill it!” Wilfre said, fear heavy in his voice.

“It’s
not
aggressive!” Reela said more firmly this time. “That must be why I didn’t sense it earlier. I was trying to pick up signs of intelligent beings or creatures that might attack, but there’s something strange about this bear.” She took a couple steps toward it.

“Just leave it, then!” Wilfre said through his teeth.

The bear groaned again, then huffed loudly. Reela didn’t startle as she continued closer. “Come here. We’re friendly, too.” She spoke to it as if it were a dog, and just like a dog it ran toward Reela excitedly.

Steffen grabbed Effie in what seemed to be a reflex, pulling her to his side. She tripped over something, but he caught her as he called for Reela to move, too. Wilfre had gone the other way and screamed in what sounded to be pain, not that Effie understood it. Reela cowered, for the bear looked as if it wanted to leap into her arms.

“Stop!” Reela pushed out her hands. The bear tried to stop but tumbled over itself and skidded across the wet grass. Reela dove out of its path.

As Reela got back on her feet, the bear walked over to her. She stood rigid as it nuzzled her with its nose.

“What’s wrong with it?” Effie asked.

“
He
wants companionship.” Reela sounded puzzled, so Effie figured she wasn’t going to get much more of an answer than that.

“My back is bleeding!” Wilfre complained in a panicked voice. He showed his bloodstained hand to them. “Look! I need treatment.”

“First we need to move,” Steffen said. “We just made a lot of noise.”

Everyone seemed to silently agree as they gathered themselves and made sure they had their bags. Steffen picked up the two bird cages and led everyone from their current spot. The bear followed Reela like an obedient pet.

“Did you do something to make him act this way?” Steffen asked her.

“No, but someone else must have.” She patted the bear, and it groaned in delight. It swung its head into her, knocking her over. Startled, Effie drew her wand, while Steffen reached for his bow. But Reela’s laughter stopped them.

“Relax,” she said as she noticed their weapons. “He’s just excited. Whoever altered his mind to make him this way was the source of his affection. I believe he thinks I’m that person.”

“Here’s far enough.” Wilfre hastily unbuttoned his shirt. “Look at my wound, Steffen. I might need the caregelow.”

“I’m sure you don’t. Everyone’s too eager to ask for the caregelow these days. That’s the downside to having such a powerful substance. No one wants to settle for anything less.” Steffen positioned himself at Wilfre’s bare back. “What did you fall on?”

“I don’t know.”

Effie aimed light onto the gash as Steffen poured water down Wilfre’s back, clearing some of the blood so he could get a good look.

“You’ll be fine,” Steffen said with certainty. “It was probably a rock or a root. Just let me clean and bandage it.”

Reela put her hand on the bear’s head. “The spell’s strong. It could last for a month, maybe even be permanent. The psychic who did this is as powerful as my brother.”

“Sanya,” Effie muttered through gritted teeth.

“That would make sense,” Steffen agreed as he poured some sort of potion onto Wilfre’s back, causing the man to hiss. “She probably came this way when she fled from the Academy.”

“So what are we going to do about the bear?” Effie asked.

Reela came toward them, but everyone backed away as the bear followed her. She looked behind her, then turned back to them with a laugh. “I’m certain he won’t attack any of us.”

“Even so,” Steffen said, “his noise could alert Tauwin’s men if we come close enough to them. Can you send him away Reela?”

“I might be able to make him leave temporarily by enticing him with the thought that there’s food out there, but he’ll look for me again after a short time.”

“Can’t you scare him?” Effie asked.

“If I make him afraid of me, he might attack instead of run. In fact, he might attack us if I try to undo the spell at all. As soon as I used psyche on him, he thought I was Sanya. I can maintain his affection easily enough, but I don’t think I can make him stop following without attacking us.”

With his back bandaged, Wilfre eased into his shirt. “Then just kill him.”

“You can’t be serious,” Effie said in disbelief.

“Effie, I agree with him.” Steffen spoke flatly, then calmly dabbed his hands with a cloth.

Effie turned to Reela, who would certainly take her side. “There must be some other option, right?”

“Unfortunately, I don’t think there is,” Reela said.

Effie was incredulous. How could she be the only one against the idea?

Wilfre nodded at Steffen. “Go ahead, then.”

Steffen readied his bow and took an arrow from the quiver on his belt.

“Just wait!” Effie put herself in front of the bear. It sniffed around her shoulder and neck, tickling her, though she was in no mood to laugh. “All of you are so quick to take a life!”

“What else can we do?” Steffen asked indifferently.

“He’s hungry, Eff,” Reela said, “yet we don’t have food to feed him. I don’t know what will happen if the pains in his stomach outweigh his affection.”

“Sanya has done enough damage,” Effie argued. “We can’t just kill this bear because of her, not when we have the choice to let him live.”

Reela opened her long arms and enveloped Effie in a hug. She knew Reela wouldn’t use psyche to change her mind, so she let herself become supple against Reela’s warm body as she relaxed.

“I miss him so much,” Effie admitted, knowing full well why Reela felt the need to embrace her.

“I do, too.”

The bear whimpered, possibly sympathetic to Reela’s sadness.

Just then, Wilfre screamed and fell forward. Effie and Reela jumped apart to find an arrow sticking out of Wilfre’s shoulder. Another one zipped past Effie’s face and sunk into the bear’s side. He roared and thrashed.

“This way!” Steffen called and ran while half dragging, half carrying Wilfre. Before Effie had moved two steps, a third arrow came out of nowhere and found a home in Wilfre’s leg. He shrieked as he fell out of Steffen’s arms, but the chemist got him right back up.

Steffen made it about two steps before Wilfre slipped out of his grasp again. “You need to help me move you!” Steffen yelled at the man.

Figuring more arrows were coming, Effie ducked just before she felt one whizz over her head.

Must be Tauwin’s men,
she realized
.

She ran as fast as she could to catch up with Steffen, who had left Wilfre lying flat on his stomach.

“Help me!” Wilfre yelled after them, but Effie knew she was too small to carry him anywhere.