Hemlock And The Dead God's Legacy (Book 2) (22 page)

“So we will
immigrate to this City of yours?” asked Cassandra.

“Yes, it’s your only choice, I think,” replied Hemlock.

Cassandra paused, and then smiled. “Then it must be so.”

“There’s a lake in the center of the City where you can go until I return.  It’s not like this place, but I think it will be suitable.”

“It sounds perfect; don’t you think so, Faruk?”

“Indeed, it does
,” said Faruk.

“Then we must prepare the
longships,” said Cassandra.  “Tonight we will hold a festival to celebrate our good fortune.”  She pointed toward Hemlock.  “Those of you who are inclined are invited to join us.  The trip will take a lot of energy, so we will gorge ourselves tonight.”

“What did you mean by preparing your boats?” asked Hemlock.

“We would like to leave before you enter the cave for fear that you will anger the spirit and your battle will spill out into the Vale.  We will plan to leave tomorrow in our longships.  Though there is no water, we will sail above the ground.”

“Al
l right.  I guess that will work.  We will send some wizards with you to ensure that the Tanna Varrans keep their word to give you safe passage.  The Tanna Varrans will escort you across their land.  But know that their land is haunted by restless spirits.  They are dangerous at night.  Will you be able to protect yourselves?”

Cassandra smiled
. “What better protection can there be than setting these spirits to rest in contentment?”

“Fine.  It’s decided then.”

Once the meeting was over, Hemlock, Tored, Renevos and Otticus hiked across the Vale to get a glimpse of the cave that they planned to enter the following morning.

“It looks unassuming enough,” observed Renevos
as he stood at the mouth of the cave.

“
Wait, I see tracks,” said Tored.  “I think I recognize them.  They look like Oruk tracks.”

“What is an
Oruk?” asked Hemlock.

“
Oruk are large, wiry brutes with shriveled skin that is as tough as brittle stone.  They live underground, keep to themselves and are very rare.”

“Well
, that doesn’t sound like anything to worry about,” said Hemlock.

“I’d normally agree, but it’s extremely unusual to see them near the surface,” said Tored.

“So what does it mean?” asked Otticus.

“Maybe nothing.  But it is unusual.
  Even more so because there are multiple tracks here.  It looks like it’s a group that passed here recently.  Oruk are usually solitary and very territorial.  This troubles me.  Oruk are fearsome foes when roused.”

The group returned to camp in an uncertain mood.

Tored stopped them just as they approached the fire, where the smell of roast mutton wafted from spits over the fire.

“If these
Oruk are travelling together, then there is a good chance they may be different here than outside the vale.  We had best be prepared in case they are hostile,” he said.

Tored then looked at his spear and Hemlock’s
sabres.  “These weapons are a poor choice for fighting Oruk.  And the enchantments they bear against spirits would be useless.”  He pointed to the broadsword that Otticus carried.  “That would seem to be a better choice for this expedition.  Otticus, do your wizards have any heavy weapons they can spare?”

Otticus looked reflective for a moment
. “Let me check.  It may help our cause if I could offer your weapons in exchange.  We don’t carry many spares.”

“I’ll
also ask Acron Gallus.  He has an interest in the success of our mission,” said Hemlock.

“A good idea,” said Tored, “His men will carry a few war axes for just such an encounter.  See if he will give them up.”

Acron Gallus grudgingly gave Hemlock one of the heavy war axes his party had with them, and Otticus returned with a broad sword and a longer sword.

It was agreed that Tored would take the war axe
, and Hemlock took the long sword, though it felt somewhat unwieldy to her since she had fought exclusively with the much lighter sabres.  Renevos was given the final broad sword, though he seemed disinclined to use it.

Hemlock found a few old tree stumps in the clearing and used them as makeshift practice dummies.  The ponderously heavy sword impaired her speed and she soon became frustrated.

I must learn to control these bursts of strength I get.

She thought that maybe the strength was triggered by anger, so she
tried to channel the anger she felt about her poor form with the heavy blade, but it didn’t seem to help.  And she unwillingly began to think of the vision of the black dragon again, which disturbed her.

She
calmed herself and then considered the moments when she had experienced the surges of strength and speed.  It had happened when she had dueled with the leaders of the Badger Guild.  It had happened again when she had fought the first witch.  And it had happened again recently when she had thrown the heavy iron grate.

Those were all
frantic situations with real danger.  Maybe I can’t do this at will.  But I need to try!

She steadied herself and focused on the importance of getting familiar with the long sword.  She thought about her quest to recover the Wand, and the evil magic she was convinced it emanated.  As she concentrated, her body began to tingle.  She had the odd and unmistakable sensation that she was drawing from a hidden reservoir of power as a thrill of energy ran up and down her body.

She took her second hand off the long sword and hefted it easily with one hand.  She spun and struck the nearby tree. The blade bit deeply into the wood.  She yanked it out easily, sending splinters into the air as the blade withdrew.  Next she leapt six feet into the air, grasped the sword hilt with both of her hands, lifted it over her head, and struck down on the tree trunk as she descended.  Her blade split the wood from the top all the way down to the ground, and one side of the trunk fell with a sound of splintering wood and a heavy thud.

“Wow,” said Otticus, who had been watching at a distance.
  “I’m glad I’m on her side.”

“Aye,” nodded Renevos.

Tored grunted and nodded.

Hemlock’s cheeks colored.  She hadn’t meant to put on a show.  Most people in the camp had seen what she had done.  She noticed
Acron Gallus turning away and muttering to the other Tanna Varrans.

She sheathed the long sword
in the scabbard she now wore on her back, and walked toward the vale.

Dusk was giving way to evening as she descended along the path, leaving the camp behind her.  She feared that she might see
Faruk on the path, but as she rounded the bend where he had been waiting for her in the night, he wasn’t there.  She was relieved, although her body still yearned for him.

She remembered when he had asked her whether there was another person in her life.

Why did I say yes?  Falignus could be dead.
She immediately realized that she didn’t believe that at all.  She had a strong feeling that he was still alive.

As she considered the ramifications of that realization, she became aware
of drumming and music coming from the vale.

She continued to descend and was surprised to see none of the bathing pools were occupied, and all of the graceful boats were moored at the shore.  She didn’t see a single soul, but soon high-spirited voices could be heard
, interspersed with the melodious tunes that emanated from somewhere in the vale.

Hemlock reached the floor of the vale
. A vast celebration was taking place about one hundred yards to her right, along the side of the rocky cliff that rose from the mountains.  A ring of tall, elegant poles topped with lanterns enclosed the revelers.  Weaves of bright flowers were hung between each of the lantern poles.  The flowers seemed to shimmer, and Hemlock sensed indulgent magical energy emanating from them.

Within the flowery perimeter, two rings of revelers danced
, with bottles in hand, around Cassandra and Faruk, who stood with their arms raised.  As the latter two stood, the same faint shimmering glow seemed to surround them.

Outside of the ring of dancers, pairs and groups of people were coupling with an intensity and wild abandon that shocked Hemlock.  Their passions seemed to ebb and flow with the melody that surrounded them, and the glow around Cassandra and
Faruk seemed to vary accordingly.

             
Hemlock felt a sudden passion, and she looked at the perfect form of Faruk as he danced and shouted with joy.  She had never felt such an intense need for a physical release as she did now.  But the experience of this heretofore private sensation in the proximity of so many other people made her very uncomfortable.

She returned to the nearby path and
climbed back toward the camp. She was relieved when the drum beats and music faded from hearing.

What did I just see?

Cassandra had mentioned something about a festival to gather energy for the journey to the City, but Hemlock hadn’t realized that it would be anything like what she had witnessed.

She knew that public behavior like that would be frowned upon in the City.

I’ll have to speak to Cassandra in the morning.

As she neared the camp
, she heard footsteps in front of her.  Next she saw Otticus come around the bend in the path, walking down toward the vale.

“Go back to camp, Otticus,” she said.

“I’m just restless.  I thought I’d go swim down there,” he replied.

“Not tonight. Go back to camp.”

The young wizard looked crestfallen, but he obeyed Hemlock.

I wonder if he had some idea what he’d be getting into down there.
  Maybe I should have let him.  But we need him for the mission.  Can’t risk him losing focus.

…

At dawn the next morning, the group rose and descended into the vale again.

The revelers were already boarded onto the two largest boats.  Cassandra and
Faruk stood at the foot of the path, waiting.

The wizards went toward the boats under the direction of Renevos.  Only
he and Otticus remained with Hemlock and Tored.  Acron Gallus and the Tanna Varrans waited impatiently.

After pleasantries were exchanged, Hemlock asked Cassandra to step aside with her.

“Listen, I wandered down here last night and I saw your festival,” Hemlock said.

“You did?  You should have joined us.  I know
Faruk is interested in you.  Do not take that for granted.  The pleasure of his company cannot be underestimated.”

“Uh, it wasn’t really my style, if you understand.  Things are different in the City.  People don’t engage in that behavior out in the open like that.  There are children there, for one.”

“Children!  How I’ve missed being around children!” cried Cassandra.

She hugged Hemlock.  Hemlock had never smelled anything as beautiful as the subtle bouquet of perfumes that emanated from Cassandra’s hair.

“What I’m saying is that you can’t have festivals like that in the City out of doors.  Can you make tents or something?”

“Of course— I
understand your concern about discretion.  But there is one thing: we need water for our boats, Hemlock."

"You can't survive without water?"

"No."

"
Well, you'll have to go to Lake Hemisphere then. You're going to be right at the center of the City. You'll have to be very careful not to cause any kind of stir when you get there. I may not be back for several days. If you cause any disturbance before then, you will either be banished or worse. Do you understand?"

Cassandra smiled warmly
. “I understand.  Things will be different there.  We’ll be sensitive and we’ll adapt.  Don’t worry!”

Hemlock was actually starting to worr
y quite a bit.
But I’ll be back to the City soon enough.  Maybe even before Cassandra if we’re lucky.
Hemlock smiled in return and shook Cassandra’s hands.

They returned to the rest of the group.  The
escorting wizards were in position in the boats.

“Farewell!” cried Cassandra as
she and Faruk each boarded one of the delicate vessels.

A great chorus of song rang out over the vale as Cassandra and
Faruk took position at the fore of each boat.  Next, they raised their arms. The boats lifted slowly into the air until they were about six feet over the water.

The sails on each boat were hoisted, and the boats sailed forward
, toward the path into the mountains.  They seemed to be propelled by a breeze that Hemlock and her group couldn’t perceive.

The Tanna Varrans looked discomfited as the boats passed beside them.  But they fell in behind the boats and walked warily.

As the boats neared the path, they split into single file and rose into the mountains.  Soon they passed from view along with the Tanna Varrans, and finally even the distant singing faded away.