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  After a quick lunch they mounted the canyon wall again, using a small trail to get up close to the forest. Down in the canyon itself they would have reached its deepest trench, where a stubborn portion of last season’s rain carpeted the dip with soft dried out mud cakes. Hence their reluctance to leave such obvious tracks they decided to travel topside once more.

  As was usual it was Lidayel who first showed signs of fatigue, his breathing hard and his stride losing posture.

  ‘How are you holding up?’ asked Cid.

  The Summoner gave Cid a smile, his face brave despite being pale and strained.

  ‘Better than you might think.’

  They made camp early that night, the sun to keep its fiery eye on the landscape for an hour more. Brunick occupied himself at the forest edge, chopping some firewood, while Vanapha and Alex went in deeper to hunt. Cid stared out at the world, the canyon’s complexion soft and orange as all came to rest.

 

  The forest was darker, the last of the daylight filtering weakly into the glades.

  Alex followed Vanapha like a shadow, the Valkyrie’s steps swift through the forest trails, appreciating her silent footfalls. Yet moving as they did Alex found it impossible to track anything. Vanapha however could probably sense something up ahead. Alex didn’t say anything, but he was sullied by the affair. The Valkyrie’s abilities were to be respected, but it cast a tall shadow over Alex’s more traditional approach to tracking and archery.

  Vanapha suddenly stopped, Alex halting right beside her.

  ‘On to something?’ asked Alex.

  ‘It’s more difficult to sight in here than you’d think, but I’ll have us a target soon,’ said Vanapha, her eyes peering into the reaches of the forest.

  Alex nodded.

  ‘Why have you been looking at me like that?’ shot Vanapha.

  ‘Looking?’ asked Alex in surprise.

  ‘I can’t see everything, but I’ll always notice when someone is watching me,’ said Vanapha.

  ‘Hmm, guess it’s obvious really. You’re a woman and well… we don’t get to see much of your types in a battlefield,’ said Alex, trying to swing his embarrassment into humour. ‘Do I make you uncomfortable?’

  ‘Men ogle at me wherever I go, I'm always aware of it. You just look at me… different, why is that?’

  Alex shrugged. ‘I’m a scout and a sharpshooter, I observe things more intensely. I guess it means I’ve got your back, you know, since your sisters are gone and all,’ he said, struggling to hide his uneasiness.

  Vanapha ignored the remark and held up her finger to her lips, proceeding in a slow stride, and entering a dense corridor of trees as her sight alerted her of a target ahead.

  Alex indicated to her quietly that he was going to veer to the right, actually determined to kill the prey himself. Detaching from Vanapha he realized he didn’t even know what kind of animal she’d seen. Alone now he ambled semi-circles around the trees as he moved closer, lifting his legs high to accommodate the protruding Biridian roots and then softly inserting his footing into niches of soft dirt, avoiding the crunch of forest debris. All the while his practiced eye scanned the forest floor, searching for the slightest indication of recent passage. Every few paces he would peer a deep straight line through the aisle of trees, standing still as he sought for signs of motion.

  His hunter’s mind jumped and closed out everything else as he saw the buck, eager to get in close. He was rather certain this was the animal Vanapha sighted. Anxiously he hunkered, steadying himself and pulled swiftly. He had a clear shot, the buck grazing ignorantly a mere thirty yards away, its muzzle tucked in long strands of Sirrilar grass.

  The arrow hit out of nowhere, striking on the side, instantly penetrating the lung. Alex released the tension on his string as the buck collapsed just after half a second’s attempt at escaping the wound. It was precisely the shot Alex would have made; only he still had his arrow. He walked forward, arriving at the animal the same time as Vanapha.

  ‘Great shot,’ supplied Alex, not sure whether there was any point in complementing the Valkyrie’s supernatural skill.

  Alex hunched, removing the arrow and handing his bow to Vanapha so that he could shoulder the animal. With their dinner across Alex’s shoulders they walked to camp, the forest gloom intensifying.

  ‘What was that about having my back?’ asked Vanapha.

  ‘Well, I know you can take care of yourself, but it helps to have some cover in the thick of battle,’ said Alex.

  ‘I appreciate your intention, but your efforts will be better spent on protecting your friends. My Sights keep me safe, I don’t need cover, not really,’ said Vanapha, her pace quickening as they sought to escape the pitch black that was settling in the woods.

  Alex, somewhat left behind, looked hard at Vanapha as she walked ahead.

  ‘Oh yes you do…’ murmured Alex under his breath, barely able to believe that only yesterday he had his bow trained on this woman.

 

  Lidayel helped Brunick bring the wood to the campsite and they only waited minutes more for Alex and Vanapha to return with a buck, Alex bearing the creature across his shoulders. Cid had no doubt that Vanapha’s ability had sped the hunt considerably.

  Brunick took what looked like quiet pride as he built a rather pointlessly big castle of wood. He then, as Cid knew he would, assigned Alex to the flint and tinder.

  ‘Allow me,’ said Lidayel. Alex halting his efforts as Lidayel approached.

  Like a man sure of himself, Lidayel crushed something invisible in his right fist and then immediately directed his palm at the pile of wood.

  A globule of fire escaped his hand, darting right into the hollow of the wood. There was instant puff of smoke from the cavities and the fire emerged like a fissure, quickly enveloping every inch of kindling.

  ‘Real fire this time?’ asked Alex with a grin.

  Lidayel nodded, the smile on his face speaking of a man who was no longer lost.

  ‘You’ve gained control,’ said Cid in cheerful recognition.

  ‘More than that, with Claire’s help both my powers and memories are returning. It will only be a matter of time before I am my full self again.’

  ‘Hell yeah! Now we can march right up to Stelinger, punch him in the face, and ask him what in Greathir’s name he thinks he’s doing!’ said Brunick, punctuating his statement with a fist into his palm.

  ‘My powers will take awhile Brunick, but rest assured we’ll have someone answer for this mess soon enough,’ said Lidayel, stretching out his arms at the fire.

  It was then as though Lidayel was puppeteering the fire, his hands’ subtle gestures moulding and sculpting the flames. The fire grew higher and then higher again, and for a moment Cid thought Lidayel was losing control. Lidayel brought his hands together at his chest and then motioned them like he was savouring the touch of silk.

  The towering flame looked defiant to the Summoner’s inclination, but then slowly submitted as Lidayel’s power proceeded to shape its every outline. Like Alex had seen with the false fire, Lidayel now crafted a spectacular figure out of the blaze. Its features grew more obvious with every passing moment until they were all staring at a woman, encapsulated in the reds and yellows of the fire, the coals and embers forming the finer details.

  Cid saw a look of bliss on Lidayel’s face.

  ‘Is this…?’

  ‘Yes, this is my wife, her name is Yarea,’ said Lidayel, holding the fiery phantom in place.

  According to the figure Yarea was a petite woman, even more so than Elmira thought Cid. She had an open face and hair not even at shoulder length, with a slight stylish curl. She was in any case, a pretty damsel, as long as one were to trust this image Lidayel conjured.

  Brunick whistled. ‘Gee, I guess you Summoner types can woo any kind of woman with your tricks.’

  Lidayel laughed, more out of happiness of the moment than at Brunick’s comment. ‘Remember that she is a Summoner also Bru
nick, she has tricks of her own.’

  Lidayel closed his eyes. Brunick started to say something but Cid hushed him, as he realized what the man was trying to do.

  The party sat quietly and watched. To them it looked as though the Summoner was just relaxing. Lidayel’s mind however reached out far and wide, transcending its bodily confines. He could not envision sights like the Valkyrie could, rather, his magical sensitivity allowed him to pick up on anything with great energy or power. In theory, Yarea would be easy to track down.

  He opened his eyes in frustration. ‘I might be getting something, but it’s nothing definitive and I have no inkling where it might come from.’

  ‘Let me help,’ said Vanapha, having thought about this. Without waiting for consent she reached out, touching Lidayel’s temple with two fingers.

  For the second time Lidayel felt the eerie connection with a Valkyrie. Instead of trying to break through his memories though Lidayel was flooded with visions of the surrounding landscape. They grew so big and wide that he quickly became disoriented.

  I’m seeing the world without eyes.

  ‘Focus now,’ said Vanapha aloud, her voice alien to Lidayel’s newfound perspective.

  Taking heed, he tried to pick up on the trail of magic again. He found it, pulsing to the west. As though Vanapha knew she focused her Farsight in that direction. Lidayel’s power combined with the Valkyrie’s Farsight proved efficient and their shared vision sped on its prey like they were looking from the eyes of an eagle.

  They found their target; to the north-west in the Drimdyar pass travelled a large group of bandits and it was clear to both Lidayel and Vanapha that the tied up woman with them was no common girl, her presence shining with magic.

  They withdrew, the both of them somewhat flustered at the new combination of powers.

  ‘We found her,’ announced Vanapha.

  Lidayel gathered himself. ‘She was drugged though; her mind and powers were faint and confused. I understand now. The bandits know full well she is a powerful mage. She would have killed them all by now if they didn’t keep her sedated.’

  ‘Well at least now you know. It’ll be much simpler to save her from Durandal than Northgarde right?’ said Brunick.

  ‘There is a problem though. Those bandits are clearly shrewd, if they know she is a mage they might still sell her off to Arumcas, she’ll fetch a much better price that way,’ said Cid.

  ‘I will find her though; they will not kill her. And whosoever be her captor will pay a price far worse than any weapon can inflict.’

  ‘Do you intend to stay with us then Summoner?’ asked Alex.

  ‘With my powers returning I can attempt to fight past all the Durandal sentries in the Drimdyar pass. It would however probably cost either my life or Yarea’s. I guess fate wants us to remain intact a while longer. You see, should Lanston win at Jacanta the Ghost pass will be cleared, and will be a much safer and subtler route to travel afterwards.’

  Cid was thoughtful for a moment before he asked, ‘how strong are you in comparison to Arumcas? Will you be a match for him should the two of you meet in battle?’

  Lidayel released his magical hold on the flames, the embers sinking and returning to what a campfire should look like.

  ‘I do not know, but I’d say he’s still much stronger than any Summoner the Kingdom has ever associated with, even stronger than Grandmaster Tabacher of Asheva. I say this for the simple reason that he is far older than any other Summoner I know and he has, to the best of my knowledge, never been made to forget.’

  ‘And he has been practicing his arts relentlessly for over a century,’ said Cid.

  ‘There is that,’ said Lidayel.

  ‘Is there any chance he could have corrupted Stelinger, you know, like some kind of new spell that makes him look like he’s still in control?’ suggested Alex.

  Lidayel shook his head. ‘No, Arumcas likes his closest servants to maintain their brain faculties for the simple reason that being sentient is so much more effective than being manipulated. As is the case with the Shadow Priests, their working minds allow them to excel in magic where Fallen cannot.’

  ‘Tis the reason the Fallen are often a clumsy enemy,’ said Vanapha.

  ‘Not when you face them head-on and they have the numbers,’ said Brunick.

  ‘And what they lack in coordination they make up with relentlessness; pain and fatigue is a notion wasted on them,’ said Cid.

  ‘I would say that if Stelinger is working under the command of Arumcas then it is by his own choice,’ said Lidayel conclusively.

  ‘That is, he thinks it’s his own choice,’ said Vanapha.

  Lidayel nodded. ‘Arumcas, even without his magicks, has shown himself to be a master manipulator as we’ve seen with the Reavers; they seem to be bred and nurtured to follow his will blindly.’

  ‘It all leaves a bad taste in my mouth though. I’d never thought Lanston would suffer a disgrace like this. I didn’t even think Stelinger would ever do something like this,’ said Brunick, disgust showing in his face.

  ‘Yet we should all remember that there is a slight chance that Stelinger is not at fault here, maybe not deliberately anyway,’ said Cid.

  He was met with incredulous stares from everyone and Brunick actually gave a cynical bark.

  ‘Why are you defending him? He hates you even more than you hate him,’ said Alex.

  ‘I’m defending Commander Bennam…’ said Cid, suddenly struck by Bennam’s death; it was strange though that he struggled to convince himself that the old Commander’s actions had any merit at all. ‘Bennam would not have chosen Stelinger if he didn’t think he would be a great Commander.’

  ‘Well I have long since made peace with the idea that Bennam screwed up on this one Cid. He should’ve made you Commander whether Stelinger is a traitor or not.’

  Cid sighed. ‘If we cannot succeed at Jacanta, then… well, you guys should be fine. As for me, if I cannot win this war then I would rather die in it.’

  ‘Don’t talk horseshit Cid, you’re better than going pitiful on all of us,’ said Brunick.

  ‘You’re our captain and all of us have a stake in this. You just keep at leading and we’ll put this war away in no time,’ said Alex, throwing some stones to seem casual. ‘And seriously, the Teritua story is getting old, I can’t wait to see how this one turns out!’

  Cid chuckled.

  The campfire had been reduced to a mound of coals. They cut a few prime pieces of meat from the buck and let it grill on their makeshift rotisserie. No spices and no salt tonight, so the meat was bland. Yet as always it was a solid meal and that went a far way to keep up the travellers' strength. It wasn’t long after eating that they all settled down for the night, as the fire also withered into nothingness.

  Chapter 33

  One of the Masons

  Cid woke, his eyes sore and dried from the canyon winds. The sound of rocks crunching under boots made him snap upright with his sabre coming out. He rarely slept without it anymore.

  ‘Easy, it’s only me,’ said Vanapha in response to the lick of steel as it left its sheath near her ankle.

  Cid noticed her hair was wet and tied up, her scent surprisingly perfumy.

  Cid grunted, putting the sabre away and rubbing at his eyes. ‘Early riser are you?’

  ‘Actually, there’s a spring just down the trail and I never pass up a chance to clean up. You should try it every now and then,’ said Vanapha mockingly.

  Cid blushed and smiled. Being in war didn’t allow one much hygienic outings and right now Cid and company were as grimy as they were likely to get without participating in bloodshed.

  He looked at the other men, sprayed out and sleeping obstinately. Even Lidayel, who had seemed well groomed at first, was looking ragged and unkempt, oil build-up evident in his long strands of hair. With the presence of a lady, albeit she a warrior, and seeing how the other men looked, Cid was inclined to agree.

  ‘Hmm, I think we all mig
ht take your suggestion seriously,’ said Cid, rising.

  Cid took out his simple cloth cloak, intending to dry himself with it. He set off alone down the trail without pause, suddenly yearning for the water.

  It was the second hour of the morning, Cid monitoring the sun thoughtfully.

  ‘Much better,’ announced Alex as he joined them back at the campsite, still shaking his hair dry with his fingers.

  ‘Brunick?’ asked Lidayel.

  ‘Still scrubbing away, he has a lot to wash,’ said Alex laughingly.

  Cid was standing with his back to them, turning to the horizon to the north.

  ‘Two days until we reach Jacanta,’ said Cid loudly.

  ‘We’ll hit the Basin before that. The army is at least a day behind; we should be able to scout out the situation thoroughly before the battle,’ said Alex, who was starting to pack his things.

  ‘The army is likely to send out their own scouts far out today though, seeing that my sisters and I did not return to report,’ said Vanapha.

  ‘You’re right, but we shouldn’t have much trouble avoiding them,’ said Cid.

  ‘I wonder if Stelinger ever considered-’

  ‘Brunick!’ interrupted Vanapha in alarm.

  Cid whipped around on the spot, but saw no sign of the man.

  Vanapha was already on the trot, her bow in her hands, escaping their enclosure of rocky fences like a bounding hare to ignore the lethargy of the trail.

  ‘Come on, Brunick is still at the spring, Vanapha has seen something!’ Lidayel supplied.

  Cid hurried to follow, grabbing his spear and finding himself running on Alex’s heels. By the time they made it onto the trail he could see Vanapha far ahead of them, sprinting towards the waters. Twenty paces later Cid could see what Vanapha had seen.

  Brunick, half dressed, was already outside the pool. His figure though was tensed and poised, dark shapes closing in on him.

  Shadowlings!

  Brunick had the mind to take his axe along, yet the sight could not be more horrifying as Cid knew that Brunick alone had no chance against that many of them.

  Brunick was buying time though, manoeuvring himself all around the pool edge, his eyes squinting for any sign of movement from the shadows. They did not entertain a fair fight, streaking suddenly from nowhere, in a whirl of black smokes like a cloak, daggers flashing, and Brunick could but turn in a defensive effort, the creature already gone the other way before he could offer any riposte.