2
It was an awful journey and any other man would have long since frozen to death or starved upon the way, but ever did the small party press onwards through raging blizzards, freezing temperatures, and scant rations. On clear days, Helve would vanish as was his wont, returning at dusk to huddle beside their meager fire, never saying where he had been or why. He said nothing more to them than he had at the first about the Council, their fate, or his own tragedy, and said nothing more than absolutely necessary about anything else than their journey required. He glowered at them in silent fury when their spirits remained buoyant despite the horrid conditions, their uncertain destiny, and his continued ire. But at last the interminable journey came to an end, at no place in particular, at least that Baye could discern. For snowy plains ran off in every direction to the horizon, broken only by great upthrustings of rock that dotted the endless plain like so many half buried bones.
Helve stood before them, triumphant, and suddenly melted into a great white hawk that circled once with a piercing cry and then vanished into the distance. The trio exchanged an astonished look but stood as still as the rocky crags about them, awaiting whatever was to come. Some hours passed and as the sun stood at its peak, the thud of many hooves and a great snuffling and snorting announced the advent of some great mass of arctic beasts. A herd of musk oxen soon hemmed in the three, great horns and keen eyes focused inward. Helve hovered on the outskirts, still a hawk in form, but suddenly he became a small dragon in midair, swooping in to pick Jace from his saddle and depositing him ungently atop one of the great rocky projections. He darted back just as quickly, landing in the center of the group, a man once more.
Said he with a grand gesture, “how does it feel to have one of your young ones stolen, imperiled, and likely never to be seen again?”
Baye shook his head with a frown, “what are you, what have we to do with any of this?”
Helve said with a sneer, “we are the Akoni and you are on trial for kidnapping.”
Baye gaped and Adan’s eyes went wide, said Baye at last, “you had best explain.”
Helve said with a smirk, “of course you are too simple to understand any of this, but I shall do my best to explain. I will use small words to enhance your comprehension. We are a race of shape-shifters, native to these frozen wastes, our usual guise is that of what you mortals call the Snow Falcon. Some of your Kings take great pleasure in the art of falconry and think our children the birds best suited to their tastes. My son was stolen in just such a manner and lost forever in the southlands. You will be held accountable for his loss and your entire race might well suffer for it.”
Baye shook his head, “how can we be held accountable for such a grievous crime when we are neither the perpetrators nor knew anything of your race? We would happily seek your missing child and find those who are truly guilty, but how can they be held accountable when they thought it a mere bird they had stolen? You must make your race known to mankind if this practice is to stop.”
The greatest of the musk oxen declared grudgingly, “he speaks sense, but we cannot allow our people to become known to yours lest disaster result. If this is the price we must pay to maintain our secret, then so be it, but I fear we cannot allow you to return to the southlands and betray us.”
Helve burst out, “then no one is to be held accountable for this grievous insult? The race of men will continue to prey upon us? How can such a filthy kindred be allowed to continue upon the face of the earth? This is why I tried to take matters into my own hands, for I knew the Council would not give me justice!”
The great ox turned a perplexed eye upon Baye, “what does he mean?”
Baye said grimly, “he tried to trick a green dragon into studying the intricacies of the dark arts, but the creature wisely discerned that such arcane studies were not within his purview.”
The hairy ruminant shuddered, “that would have been disaster indeed!” He turned a grim eye upon Helve, “you are an utter fool! We shall deal with you in due course, now fetch back that other so we may put this matter permanently to rest.” He said gravely to Baye, “you and yours must perish, for I will not allow you to return to your people in possession of such a secret.” Baye bowed his head gravely as Helve took wing to retrieve the missing Jace, muttering darkly as he went.
Helve threw the boy to the ground atop the rocky spire, said he as he perched upon the edge, ready to take wing, “let us see if your friends can salvage your life.” He laughed darkly, “or even their own.” He vanished over the edge as Jace stood, a bitter wind howling morosely about him; he smiled grimly, knowing he would soon freeze atop this stony tower if it were not for his uncanny nature. This thought had barely registered in his mind before the light within him stirred, consuming him utterly. Suddenly he was somewhere far warmer, wetter, and utterly dark. He blinked in astonishment, knowing he stood in a swampy woodland somewhere in the far south of the world on an overcast night. He crouched down in the surrounding vegetation when he caught a flicker of movement out of the corner of his eye.
He saw a silent form, apparently a sleeping man, off to one side of the small clearing with a dying fire in its midst. A shadow wavered in and out of perception, as if it hovered on the verge of two realities, one foot in the mortal world and the other in some other realm beyond human comprehension. Jace’s hand strayed to his sword hilt, but he knew this foe was not meant for him. It stooped over the sleeping form Jace now recognized as Hawk, the boy cried out in his sleep but did not waken, but began thrashing as if he struggled valiantly in some dark dream. Suddenly he was on his feet, crying as one in fear of his life yet knowing his foe must be overcome at any cost. Hawk drew his sword and charged another shadowy form that loomed out of the darkness, running the startled man through the heart. They collapsed together into the shrubbery, Hawk finally coming awake only to scream in horror at the unmoving form of Scamp beneath him. His head snapped up and he glanced about the clearing in panic, as if seeking some place to run or hide from this atrocious accident.
Then he saw it, the vengeful shadow had become a dancing, bobbing, glowing sphere that mesmerized and soothed the horrified youth, like a tiny star strayed out of the heavens to act as guide to this forsaken soul. He stood as one in a trance, leaving his sword and murdered mentor forgotten behind him and followed the will-o-the-wisp into the depths of the night dark swamp. Jace knelt beside Scamp, pulling the sword from his chest and sending a pulse of light into his prone form; he squawked in surprise before vanishing in a brilliant flash. The boy then stood and followed after Hawk and the wisp. They had not gone far and Hawk was again in his right mind, though he would have given anything to be out of it permanently.
The wisp had led him into the treacherous mire wherein he now struggled vainly as the bog patiently engulfed him while the wisp danced above in mocking circles, chortling, “what will come of you now foolish, foolish one? Your Master has forsaken you, you are not good enough, never will be! Ha! All that awaits you is death, and then the Abyss, for there can be but one place for murderers and failures!”
Hawk cried in dismay, “no! It was a mistake, a horrible mistake!”
The wisp scorned, “what does it matter? You are lost, forsaken, condemned!”
Hawk wept, “no, it cannot be!”
The wisp said in mockery, “oh but it is, it is the awful truth and even you know it, but my master is merciful where yours will cast aside the broken and the failure. Would you remain true to such a one? Come, cast yourself upon my master’s mercy! Am I not a being of light and splendor! Such power could be yours as well.”
Hawk said in despair as the mire squelched around his neck, “a being of light indeed! You are nothing but hatred in a shining garment and your master a liar through and through. Perhaps it is best that this fen consume me utterly but I will never throw myself on your master’s false mercies.”
Jace appeared out of the darkness and the wisp fled into the night with a sn
arl of fury and terror, knowing this wretched intruder could destroy him and would undoubtedly ruin his carefully crafted plans for the miserable creature even now vanishing forever beneath the mire. Jace smiled triumphantly as the thing fled but his countenance grew grave as he looked upon his stricken friend, said he, “come, this is no place to linger.”
Hawk said quietly, “leave me, it is for the best. You do not know what I have wrought.”
Jace shook his head, “I saw and know you are no killer, now come, it is not for you to decide your own fate when rescue is at hand. The Master has not forsaken you neither should you forsake Him!”
Hawk smiled grimly, “very well.” With one last effort he thrust his hand out of the mire and took that offered by Jace. The moment their hands touched, the light consumed them both. Hawk stood blinking in astonishment, for the sun was on the rise as they stood on a small ridge overlooking Astoria. He turned to Jace in wonder and resignation, said he, “I suppose I must face the Lady’s justice? Dare I ask what has happened this night?”
Jace smiled slightly, “you will know the full tale soon enough, and as for the Lady, she will know what she must in due course, but first you must await your fate in the dungeons.”
Hawk blanched but nodded dully, “so be it.” His shoulders slumped in dejection as sobs wracked his being at what he had done, at the thought of never seeing Scamp again, at least this side of eternity.
Jace clapped him on the back, “there is no need for tears, my friend. Nothing is as it seems. Let the day reveal what it will but you have nothing to fear nor reason to weep.”
Hawk stared at him with astonished but hopeful eyes, somehow knowing the day’s wonders had only just begun. Together they turned towards the city and whatever awaited them there. They passed silently into the wakening city and into the castle proper, drawing questioning looks from their comrades but no awkward queries. Jaire stood before the door leading down into the cellblock, he nodded a greeting to Jace and let the pair pass without a word. Hawk frowned at the silent exchange but allowed himself to be led below. The room was empty save for themselves. He found a chair and two ancient books awaiting him in the cell. His frown deepened, “what is going on here?”
Jace shook his head but smiled enigmatically, “that I cannot tell you, but you will know soon enough. I recommend you do a little reading while you wait. Farewell!”
Hawk cried out, “but wait!” But Jace was already ascending the stairs.
Jace stopped to exchange a few quiet words with Jaire, said he, “there will be seven of us?”
Jaire glanced about to make sure they were alone and then replied, “nay lad, one of us is about to retire.” At Jace’s concerned frown, Jaire continued with a slight smile, “the swordmaster has grown weary of this service, but before you go bemoaning his decision, remember he has been at this nearly as long as I have and that is a very long time, especially to a mortal man. You’ll understand in a few centuries. Go say your farewells and then return to your friends.” Jace was silent in astonishment, but made the proper courtesies before hastening off to do as he was bidden.
He found the swordmaster in his accustomed place in the practice yard. The grizzled old man smiled warmly at the lad as they exchanged a few words, but soon the first class of the day was ambling in and they were forced to make their farewells. Said the swordmaster in parting, “you lads will do quite well, and I’ll see you again soon enough.” He grinned impishly, “now get ye gone!” He took a feigned swing at the boy with the wooden sword he was holding and Jace smiled broadly as he fled, nearly trampling Scamp as he came round the corner.
Said Scamp in dismay, “I must see the Lady immediately. She needs to find Hawk a mentor who won’t get him killed! It is a dangerous thing to apprentice with the likes of us and have no part in the Shadow.”
Jace grinned, “I wouldn’t worry about that. You’ll find your missing apprentice biding his time in the dungeon. I think your concerns will shortly be moot.” Scamp gaped openly but Jace continued, “would you mind? I need to get back to Baye and Adan somewhere in the far north.” Scamp nodded dully, still overwrought by the day’s revelations, as he placed a hand on Jace’s chest and banished him with a pulse of light.
Jace came to himself atop the rocky outcropping with the wind still howling like a forsaken soul about him. Helve landed suddenly, taking the form of a ravening wolf, said he in grim anticipation, “the dragon won’t indulge in blood magic nor the Council see justice done, so I must do it myself. Your blood will suffice and they will all rue the day they denied me vengeance.” He lunged at Jace’s throat but a great shriek rent the air as another Akoni dove out of the lowering clouds that now covered the sky.
Screeched the second, “traitor! You know such is forbidden, even to us! You will call down destruction upon us all unless you pay for your crimes.” Suddenly a great red dragon perched awkwardly atop the rocky edifice and took Helve in one clawed hand and the stricken Jace in the other. He dropped them both next to Baye and the others before facing the great ox, said he in revulsion, “he was about to indulge in blood magic and thus destroy us all!”
The great ox shook his shaggy head gravely, “do you deny it?”
Helve snarled, “I deny nothing, I only regret I was not fast enough. I suppose you will doom me to die with these wretched mortals? Well, at least I shall sit in judgment over them, that is if such benighted creatures truly have immortal souls.”
Bay said grimly, “I would look to my own soul first and fear the judgment thereof!”
Helve scoffed, “I am content and the Master shall greet me as a long lost son, for are not the Akoni the pinnacle of creation? You lesser souls can be nothing to that! What need have I of redemption?” He turned to the great dragon, “have done with it then!” The beast turned to the ox, who nodded gravely as the other Akoni withdrew, then fire consumed them all.