Techromancy Scrolls: Adept (23 page)

Beth looked at me then exhaled. “Do not undersell yourself Laney. You've given me things to ponder here.” Then she looked down at her tunic again and asked, “Teach me to sew sometime?” I nodded once and she offered her arm and we grasped forearms to seal the deal.

The smile Celeste gave me, when we mounted up to continue our journey to the towering mountains which we could now see above the treeline, had me blushing for the next mile. She never said a word, but she had me smiling for some stupid reason as we scanned the forest.

I had been noting various heavily traveled trails off the highway and even a dirt road or two as the forest thinned a little. I stopped at the back of the caravan to look down one of those roads during one of our rotations. My brow furrowed when I tried to think of what villages were down that way.

I wasn't as familiar with all the towns in Flatlash as in Wexbury, so maybe a village I didn't know of was off the spoke of the Ring there. I smiled at myself, I knew all twenty-three village names in Wexbury.

Brenda and Bex held back with me a moment, following my gaze. Brenda cocked an eyebrow in question. I shrugged and said, “I've been noticing these small unmarked roads and trails and was wondering where they led.”

She grinned and said, “Mountain Gypsy roads. We are entering their domain.” I looked back down the road again and at her. She rolled her eyes and pointed as she said, “See the deep ruts from wagons heavier than any wagon of the realms? And the cloven hoof prints? Oxen, not horses. Pound for pound they are much more powerful than horses and can pull those houses on wheels the Gypsies have.”

I smiled at that, I hadn't even paid attention to the tracks. I said, “Oh.” Then we hurried to catch back up with the group. I asked, “Do you think we'll meet any Gypsies? I've only seen them when they carnival at the keep in summer.”

Bex nodded. “It is hard to avoid them in the mountains. It is their domain and the realms have no sway nor say over them. It was after all, their land before Highland showed up and divvied it up.”

I found that exciting. Mother had made sure I could speak Mountain Gypsy when she gave me lessons. Welsh is the only language she did not teach me since she says virtually nobody speaks it anymore. Corrick taught me Outsider, which had some Welsh in it. Maybe I could talk with the Gypsies if we met any on our journey.

It was just getting to be dusk when we broke into a clearing on a rise, and I saw rising out of the Earth, possibly the most spectacular and awe-inspiring view I had ever witnessed. The Whispering Walls towered into the clouds. My breath caught at the majestic sight. Maybe God was real, what else could have created such beauty in a world that was almost destroyed? I had seen the mountains in the distance many times but had never seen them from a vantage point at their base. I felt humbled and small.

Celeste's leg brushed against mine as she sidled over to me. She said in that low tone she got when she appreciated something I had done. “You'll need to breathe at some time Laney.” I looked at her and realized my lungs were burning. I had been holding my breath. I grinned and exhaled and gulped in another breath. Then she almost purred, “You're holding up the caravan, let's get moving so others can appreciate the view too.”

Shit! I had stopped the entire group. I blushed and tried to make myself even smaller on my mammoth mount and urged him on. Celeste's low chuckle got me grinning for reasons I didn't know. I took one last glance at the snow-capped peaks and then sat taller as I realized that I, Laney Herder, was going to travel through the Whispering Walls. What an exciting adventure this was turning out to be!

We stopped at the foot of the mountains by a rocky outcropping that gave us a good vantage point and a defensible position. Celeste gave a soldier's salute toward the mountains and I followed her gaze. I could see a man on horseback a ridge over from us. How had my Lady even seen him? He wore the colorful garb of a Gypsy and his horse had a bright blanket draped over it. He gave a cocky flourish of a hand and bowed in acknowledgment. Then he leaned lazily on his saddle on an arm to watch us.

I looked at her and she said, “Mountain Gypsy lookout. He's been shadowing us half a horizon away since we crested the rise at the base of the mountains.”

I narrowed my eyes in mock warning at her. “You need to teach me how you do that. How you can find anyone who is watching us?”

She winked and teased, “If you teach me how to sew as well.” I squinted an eye to see if she were teasing then crinkled my nose and pulled off a leather gauntlet and spit in my hand, offering it to her. “Done.”

She did the same and clasped my hand as she grinned. “Done.”

As we ate, Scot recounted the tale of how a ferocious mountain lion stole a buck away from Lord Peter and causing him to miss his target. He ended with, “And when pressed as to how it had occurred, Pete insists he missed on purpose because he would never steal from the mouth of another.” Everyone chuckled and I blushed.

Bex turned to him and prompted, “I thought he missed because Laney knocked his arm away.” Which got boisterous laughter from the group. Kristof clapped him on the back.

I said into the biscuit I was eating, “They tease me and Peter.” He looked from Scot then me then to Pete, who had a toothy grin as he ate. Then all the cogs and gears in his head connected and a smile crept upon his lips. I had to grin. For someone who was so brainy, some things just escaped his grasp.

I stood when I had cleaned my tin plate and stretched as I looked out over the mountains, Verna joined me. “Wondrous isn't it?” I nodded. She clasped my shoulder then went to rejoin her husband but paused. I followed her gaze as she called out, “Celeste.”

I saw the Gypsy lookout on the other ridge looking our way, and he was holding a spyglass in front of himself in a prompting motion. Celeste stepped beside me then asked, “Laney?” I looked at her and she dipped her eyes to my pouch.

Oh, yes. I pulled out my spyglass and handed it to her then the man looked through his to our north. She followed suit then lowered the glass and bowed her head to the man. He waved it off then went back to his aloof vigilance.

She handed the spyglass to Verna, who searched for a moment then said, “Two.”

Celeste leaned over her with a hand on her back and nodded. “They must have joined up. I wonder how the west shadow knew we went this way unless he never lost sight of us when we turned to the mountains.”

I looked at the women, and Verna handed me the spyglass she pointed. I scanned a rise to the north and passed something orange and panned back to it. It was a tiny campfire, so small I would have missed it. There were two dark shadows moving around it. The two ghosts? Then I had a thought. “How do we know it is them?”

My Lady explained, “That is a perfect elevated location to see our camp. They will be able to see where we go in the morning and follow easily.” I nodded and shivered. The wind was biting. She saw this and was suddenly stuffing my spyglass into my pouch and wrapping me in her riding cloak. “You're freezing Laney. Let's get you back to the heaters.”

I nodded but would rather just soak in her heat like this. I noted we were starting to get a bit rank. I'd have to sneak away to give myself a sponge bath the next day.

She took last watch that night so she could keep me warm. I hugged the arm she had around my waist as I slept.

I again awoke to her hand over my mouth. The world was lit up by a crackling amber light, my heart was racing as the nightmare receded and I gained control of myself, bringing my power back under control. Though I still felt the last of the terror ebbing away, I had to smile at Celeste deftly catching the two tin plates and a dagger that were orbiting my head like a halo.

She let me get my wits about me, then I scrunched my head and crinkled my nose as I whispered, “Sorry.” She just shook her head and cupped my cheek. I closed my eyes and leaned into the heat.

Then she whispered, “My turn for watch, I'll be back at sunrise.” I shook my head and stood with her, bringing a blanket. We relieved an archer who I believe was named Samuel.

She took her position where she could watch the shadow camp, and the approach to ours, and I snuggled in on the ground with my head in her lap. She absently ran a hand through my tangled hair as her eagle eyes scanned the perimeter. I loved it when she did that.

I tried to stay alert and started to doze when the first hints of orange tinted the sky to the east. Celeste looked down at me and gave a silly face that made me have to contain a snicker. She tickled me to my feet. I couldn't get away fast enough, I'm extremely ticklish. She stood and stretched and said, “Let's wake up the camp, but first...” She held out her hand expectantly. I pulled out my spyglass and she took a look at our shadows breaking their own camp.

I asked as we walked back down to the others who were already starting to rise on their own. “So is all this people watching people watching people par for the course?”

She seemed to ponder it a bit. “For the most part, though all realms are allies, we still keep an eye on other knights in our territory. I wouldn't be surprised if some Flatlash are out there now in that people watching game. But it is done out of prudence not out of suspicion. And never would another realm attempt to kill someone from another realm's traveling caravan.”

She nudged her head back the way we came. “Those are most likely spies for the rogues that are amassing down Far Reach way. Given that we know at least one of the shadows is a Rogue magic user himself, that makes it all the more likely they work for this Raneth or Poe.” I nodded at the logic.

I gave her an apologetic look as we roused the ones who hadn't already awoken. “Sorry for asking so many silly questions.”

I stood up straight then turned and bowed as Duke Fredrick spoke from behind me. Stretching as he stepped out of the tent. “There are no silly questions. Nobody will fault you for seeking knowledge.” My hand absently went to my shoulder where my scars began and Celeste placed a hand on mine to stop me. Fredrick added, “And you ask the exact right questions if you are to one day be a Knight of Wexbury.” He held the tent flap open and the Duchess stepped out, looking as perfect as ever, not a hair out of place. I bowed again.

We packed everything away as the porters prepared simple fare. “Last of the eggs,” Darin said aloud. “So eat up.” After eating and relieving, ourselves in the woods, we mounted up and continued into the towering mountains.

Sir Randolph, who I don't think had spoken a single word on the entire journey started singing, ‘Bonnie Lass of Solomon’. We all chimed in on the merry tune.

It was getting close to midday after climbing peaks, just to drop into lush valleys which would make beautiful backdrops for paintings. Bowyn cantered up to Celeste and I. “I'll scout the next ridge for our midday meal.”

Celeste nodded. “Take two and get us some fresh game? I do not look forward to the dried and smoked meats.”

He nodded and called out “Samuel and...” He looked around then grinned at me. “...Laney, with me.” He winked at Celeste. “The Penny Lady here seems to be the camp's good luck charm, maybe we'll score a buck this time.” Everyone in earshot heard that and chuckled. They were never going to let Peter and me live that down.

Celeste crinkled her nose at me in goodbye and I surprised Bowyn by kicking Goliath into motion and giving him all the rein he wanted as we charged off down the road. I heard chuckling behind me as he and Samuel pushed to catch up.

Bowyn pulled up beside me and playfully pushed my shoulder and I shot the men a grin. We rode hard for a half hour, our eyes peeled for anything. I noted a Gypsy on another ridge. I couldn't tell if it was the same man or if they had sentries sprinkled throughout the Whispering Walls.

We dismounted on a ridge with a decent clearing and a ravine below on one side, giving us natural defense. I looked down and swallowed, it must have been five or six hundred feet down. Like a great crack in the Earth.

We set out a rope line between two trees and lashed the leads to it, giving the horses plenty of line to graze. I cupped a hand and poured water from my canteen into it to let Goliath drink his fill. The greedy gut emptied my canteen. I scrubbed his ears and shook my head at him.

Bowyn nodded at me when he saw me take out my spyglass. I scanned behind us and I could sporadically make out between breaks in the trees, our caravan slowly making its way through the forest toward us.

I turned slowly around trying to pick out any other movement or anything out of the ordinary. Besides the Gypsy, who was the same man as before, I saw nothing. I shook my head and Bowyn said, “Grand. Then let's find lunch.”

We all went into the forest on foot. I followed the men then saw something and placed a hand on Samuel's shoulder. He looked at me and I picked up a stone and nudged my head toward some underbrush. He slowly pulled an arrow from his quiver and nocked it, drawing back on the string then he nodded and I tossed the stone. Pheasants exploded from the underbrush. A large male went down and Samuel drew fast and took a female out of the air.

Sir Bowyn retrieved them and returned the arrows to Samuel. “Great shot Sam.” Then he grinned at me. “You really are a good luck charm.” We spent another fifteen minutes and wound up with a large jack rabbit and a squirrel before we started heading back to the horses. I blushed in embarrassment, as all I carried out for Sam was the squirrel. Bowyn carried the good meats.

As we set the game on a rock beside the cliff, I suddenly spun around as my eyesight sharpened and the world bloomed in color. Someone was using magic right there! I yelled, “Rogue!” as I dove in front of Bowyn, drawing my sword and jamming it into the ground as I let my power flow into it, causing a river of power to go to ground as we were hit by a powerful blast of raw energy.

I screamed as I channeled the burning magics through me and my sword into the Earth. It was the only magic defense Celeste had taught me so far. I was able to shield Bowyn, who instantly had his sword and parrying blade drawn. Every cell in my body was on fire.

Samuel caught the edge of the blast but was able to loose an arrow before he stumbled back. I dove at him and grabbed his arm as he went over the cliff. I held on with both hands for dear life as I heard swords clanging behind us as Samuel's weight was slowly pulling me over with him. I just needed to hang on for a moment longer. I could hear grunts from our attacker as Bowyn pressed the attack so that the man didn't have time to gather his energies again.

I was spreading my body out on the ground to create more drag as Samuel shook his head at me and said, “Let go Laney or you'll fall with me.”

I shook my head and hissed, “No.” I pulled my energy to me and tried to push back against the drag, we slowed a little. I heard a gurgled cry of a man run through with a blade. Then Bowyn yelling, “Laney hold on!” Just as we went over the edge, dragging anything loose that was made of metal with us.

I don't know why, but the analytical side of my mind noted that Samuel didn't make a sound as we fell and were pulled apart. He was brave to the end. I, on the other hand, was not so calm. I really didn't want to die. But nobody does. I didn't want to disappoint Celeste, I had to try something. I “Oof”ed as I bounced off an outcropping. It may have hurt, but I couldn't feel anything with all the adrenaline pumping through my veins and sheer terror in my mind.

I exploded into a sparking amber energy trail and I reached out for something, anything. I could feel the metal in my gear, even the metal from our gear on our horses above. I could actually taste my fear, it had an acrid taste. And I could taste... the iron in the red rock face I tumbled past!

I mentally pulled with all my might at the iron I had already passed. Letting it drag at me, slowing my fall, but not enough. I reached inside and screamed with the effort and yanked at that iron as I passed. Rocks and debris were pulled from the cliff face and I slammed into it with the magical draw. My whole body was vibrating from the contact as I slid down the irregular cliff face. It slowed me down as the drag of the strings of amber I could actually see coming from me stretched and snapped over and over.

I was down to the speed of a dead run when I hit a rock near the bottom, hard. The wind was knocked out of me and I bounced off and lost the hold on my magic, there was a new pain in my chest. I had just thought I had failed when I hit the ground on my back a couple feet later.

I couldn't breathe and my vision was fading out when I saw my own sword hurling down upon me. With the last of my strength, I lifted my hand and pushed with anything I had left in me and the blade diverted course just the tiniest amount and sank into the ground right beside my face. I turned my head to look at it, and the last thing I saw was Samuel's broken body maybe ten feet from me when the world went black.