Legend of the Ravenstone (17 page)

Kariayla looked at him, her brow furrowed. “Protection. That’s what Hawkwing told us.”

“Or is there some other reason?” he mused. “And say you were to use your wings to fly above this expanse... Would your safety be jeopardized?”

“I don’t want to try,” she admitted.

“You take seriously the story you were told,” he said, a hint of disappointment in his voice.

“I can’t imagine he would lie to us about this danger,” Kariayla said. “There would be no cause.”

“Except that I am certain he is hiding something from us,” Arcturus said under his breath.

Jinx walked in front of them, leading the reluctant imp by the hand. “See, Ruby? You gotta stay on the path. That’s where we’ll be safe.” As soon as he reached the threshold of the path, she planted her feet and would budge no further.

Jinx tugged on her arm. “We haveta go in. There ain’t another way.”

“No, there isn’t,” Hawkwing said. “We should start, though, if we want to make the first stop before dark.”

“How many times you gone through here?” Jinx asked.

“Many,” Hawkwing said, looking back at him. “I’ve never encountered trouble, but I’m not one to tempt fate, either.” He did not hesitate as he crossed the threshold. Kariayla and Arcturus followed him, and Jinx tailed them with Ruby on his shoulders.

Sound did not carry as they walked. Their footfalls were silent, and when they spoke, their voices seemed trapped. They physically felt as confined, for the path was only wide enough to allow them to walk single-file. For the first couple hours, their senses were on edge—waiting for the unlikely to happen. On and on they walked with no variation in their sight. Footsteps dragged, shoulders drooped.

“Boring plains,” Jinx mumbled. “Plain plains. Boring, plain, plains.”

“It is monotonous, isn’t it?” Kariayla asked over her shoulder.

“Mountains?”

“No. Monotonous. There’s no change.”

“Nope. Just grass. Lotsa grass.” He smiled suddenly. “You should sing a song.”

“Er...what kind of song?”

“I dunno. A walking kinda song. One that’s not mountainous.”

Kariayla smiled. “I know one about golden fields.”

“This ain’t no golden field, but that’s alright.”

She started to sing, softly and sweetly, and though her words often became lost amidst the smothering grasses, the sound of her voice was enough to improve everyone’s spirits. When she had finished, she completed a second tune. By then, their attention had turned to the change in lighting, for the sun was descending upon the horizon.

“We ain’t at the next stop,” Jinx voiced his concern, and Ruby clutched at him tighter.

“We should be there soon,” Hawkwing assured him.

“Maybe we can move faster,” the thief suggested, and Arcturus grunted. Their pace did quicken a little, but the shadows were swift to fall, and they were amazed just how dark their world had become. Dark and still utterly silent, without even a cricket or a toad trill.

“I can’t see my own feet,” Jinx said. “We gotta stop soon, right?”

“Soon,” Hawkwing said.

“What’s this resting place look like? I mean, is it—”

“We’re here,” the tracker said, and they filed into a circular opening, at the center of which stood another stone marker. This one had two notches, but it also had a lid. Hawkwing slid the piece away and dipped his hand into the marker. He sprinkled the contents around the stone, and it ignited in blue flame.

“Magic,” Jinx murmured, and he and Ruby watched the flames as though entranced.

“Wizard’s Fire,” Arcturus said. “How clever. But it will offer light without heat. How are we to cook our meal?”

“I’m afraid our next few meals will be cold ones,” Hawkwing said. “And there will be nothing to hunt.” He began apportioning some of their provisions.

“I will make certain that William compensate us with a grand feast,” Arcturus announced, though he seemed to take the most comfort from the thought.

“So this Wizard Bill knew we were gonna be in danger?” Jinx asked, passing his finger through the flames.

“First, we are not in any danger,” Arcturus said, already packing his pipe. “Second, I am certain he knew exactly what we would encounter on our journey to see him.”

“Ya know what I wish?” Jinx asked. “I wish we’d meet a demon. Not the ones Hawkwing talked about, but the White Demon.”

“James—”

“Yeah, I know he was caught.” Jinx flicked the dirt with his knife. “Still wish I could meet him. You guys got to see him.”

“Trust me when I say that what little we saw was unimpressive.”

“It was kind of small,” Kariayla added.

“’Course it was. It can change its size,” Jinx said. He stretched his arms above his head. “It can be taller than Hawkwing or as small as Ruby.” He patted the imp’s head.

“And you attest he can turn people to ash,” Arcturus said, humoring him. “What other marvels can the White Demon achieve?”

Jinx narrowed his eyes. “You’re just trying to make fun of me.”

“I am legitimately curious. If our guide can tell a tale of demons, one good tale should deserve another.”

“I guess if you put it that way...” Jinx looked at Hawkwing and shrugged. “Way I hear it, the Demon comes from the Land of Shadow. In the Land of Shadow, there’s monsters, and dragons, and all kinds of evil beasts with dark powers and magic. Ruby—ow! Get off.” He tried to unhook her little fingers from his arm. “It’s not that scary.”

“The Land of Shadow,” Arcturus reminded.

“Yeah. Well, the Prophet wants to punish the rich folks for being so greedy. So he finds a book with spells, and he reads one that opens the door to the Land of Shadow. He goes in and sees all the terrible monsters, and he’s starting to get scared, but then he finds one that’s in trouble. It’s the White Demon, and it was being chased by some big, ugly dragons. It asks the Prophet to hide it, and the Prophet agrees to protect it if it would help him.

“So the Demon agrees, and the Prophet takes it back to our world. The Demon keeps its promise by helping the Prophet steal from the rich folks. It can spit fire, ride lightning, and fly with its huge white wings. It’s got sharp teeth, glowing eyes, and great big claws on its hands and feet—”

“A fierce creature of Shadow,” Arcturus summarized.

“Yeah.”

“Allow me to pose this question: how do you know the White Demon is not evil?”

“’Cuz it’s not,” Jinx said, folding his arms. “It helps the Prophet and his thieves, and the Prophet’s not evil.”

“Shadow itself is not evil,” Hawkwing said quietly. “Just as the Light is not necessarily good. Order and life can only be balanced by chaos and death. One cannot exist without the other.”

“I find these two opposing forces an archaic notion,” Arcturus said. He yawned and laid down. “In Mystland, there are few who acknowledge, let alone study, magic of Light or Shadow. Even the great elemental mages have all but vanished, leaving wizards and their cantalere.”

“How does magic disappear?” Kariayla asked. Everyone looked at her, and she blushed. “Why are there no mages? What happened to Light and to Shadow?”

Arcturus rubbed his chin. “That is a very good question, my dear. Though I do not have a definite answer, I believe that such forces evolve. The mages’ ability to wield the elements has changed to favor the wizards, who are magical generalists. The old magics are primitive and no longer applicable to our world.”

“I disagree,” Hawkwing said. “I think we have lost our connection to such power. We have forgotten the most basic forms of magic, and there will come a time when we will need them once more.”

“Now why should that be true?” Arcturus asked, sitting up. “Time favors change so that we better adapt to our world. My people are such an example. The Great Welling bestowed upon us abilities that we use to this day.”

“The Cataclysm had many effects upon our world,” Hawkwing said, gathering the unused supplies. “The results may have been arbitrary. Had the Torrgarrans been the victims of the great struggle, they would have the same abilities of which the Markanturians boast. It was, however, the combination of Light and Shadow that imprisoned Ocranthos.”

Arcturus shook his head. “You confuse myth with fact. There was no conflict of demi-gods. That story was created to explain the upwelling of magic. Arbitrary or not, my people are known for their abilities to heal through the blood. They have created a name for themselves because of their success. Tell me, master tracker, of what the Falquirians are reputed. Until your acquaintance, I have never met one.”

Hawkwing had turned away from the fire, his gaze distant. When he spoke, his voice was barely audible. “That for which we are known is better left to obscurity. You will not find another like me, but it is not because the old magic has failed.”

“You are hard-pressed to argue,” Arcturus said, triumphant. He lay back again. “Such discussions I have missed since I left Markanturos.”

Kariayla and Jinx exchanged a glance. “Dunno what any of that was about,” the thief said. “Don’t really care, either.”

“Hawkwing,” Kariayla said, sensing something was wrong. “Is everything all right?” she asked.

“Yes,” he said. “Though you should get your rest. We have a distance to cover tomorrow. I will take the first watch.”

S
nap.

Kariayla spun at the sound. Jinx walked casually behind her, pulling at the dried stalks along the path. “Ya know, Ruby,” he said to the imp on his shoulders, “I’m thinkin’ Arcturus is right. There ain’t nuthin’ dangerous ‘bout this place.” He broke off another stalk and tossed it to the ground. “This is the most boringest place in all of Secramore.”

“Jinx, I don’t think you should do that,” Kariayla said.

“Do what?” he asked.

She gestured to the grass.

He looked at her, humorless. “Really? It’s just old grass.” He broke off another piece and tossed it over his shoulder. It landed in Ruby’s hair instead. “Ya gotta relax. We’ve been walking for hours, and I’m still on the path. We’re all safe, though it’s not like somethin’s gonna happen anyway.”

“How do you know?” Kariayla asked.

“’Cuz it was just a story. Hawkwing likes to tell stories.”

“Maybe he had a reason for this one,” she returned.

He stared at her. “Kinda surprised at you. I thought you’d take Arcturus’s side on this.”

She blinked. “His ‘side’?”

“Well, you guys are friends, right? We didn’t meet Hawkwing ‘til later. He’s a good guy and all, but he’s just here to lead us, right?”

Kariayla’s brow furrowed. “Friends can have differing opinions.”

Jinx grabbed a handful of grass and tugged on it, some of the blades coming free in his grasp. “Yeah, but you listen to everything Hawkwing says. Even I know some stories are for kids. You shouldn’t believe ‘em all.”

She could feel her cheeks begin to burn. “I do not believe everything I hear, Jinx.”

He shrugged.

“And I’d like it if you stopped pulling the grass.”

“Fine.”

She turned back around, agitated.
Maybe we’re all irritable because of this place. I will be glad when we’re through the Plains.
The sound of brittle vegetation breaking behind her made her bite her lip.

“Arcturus,” she said, walking faster so that she could tug on the Markanturian’s cloak.

“Yes, my dear,” came the weary voice.

“Does Hawkwing know if we are close to the second marker?”

“If we are, he has not indicated as much,” Arcturus said testily. “Is something the matter?”

Not yet
. She thought of Jinx and frowned.
Arcturus will see nothing wrong with his actions—not if he doesn’t believe in the demons.
“I...I was just curious if we were close.”

“We are all curious,” the Markanturian said with a sigh. He slowed to a stop, and Kariayla nearly ran into him.

“What’s going on?” Jinx asked.

“Nothing,” Arcturus said. “Nothing at all.” He dabbed his brow with a handkerchief. “And because there is nothing ‘going on,’ I am taking this moment to catch my breath.”

“What about Hawkwing?” Kariayla asked, craning to see ahead of the obstructing Markanturian. Instead, she heard a noise behind her; Jinx was watching her with a wry smile.

“I am certain our tracker is perceptive enough to notice we have stopped. I am confident he will wait for us. This is, after all, a narrow path with only one destination.” He leaned heavily on his staff and took a deep breath.

“I...just didn’t know if we should lose sight of him,” she said.

“Kariayla, do calm down,” Arcturus said. “There is no cause for agitation. We are in the middle of a desolate path. I, for one, am weary and famished.”

“Me too,” Jinx said. “And Ruby.”

“These blatant oversights in our guide’s consideration will award him with mutiny,” Arcturus said. “Or at the very least, we deserve a moment to breathe. Apparently Falquirians have no such necessity.” His stomach growled loudly enough for them all to hear.

Kariayla nodded and waited anxiously while costrels were opened and long drinks were taken. More long drinks were taken, and then there was a series of sighs. Then stiff joints were rubbed, there was some grunting and groaning, and more drinks were taken. Finally, Arcturus straightened. “Are we ready?” he asked.

~*~

H
awkwing looked down the trail, waiting for his group to appear. With sounds muffled amongst the grasses, he had not heard them stop. He reasoned that they could not be far behind, and eventually they would have to catch up to him. He might turn back and find them, but in his absence, they might walk a little faster. The second marker would appear before sunset...if his group did not delay too long.

He looked at Snowfire and sighed. “They doubt me,” he said, and the hawk cocked its head at him. “I left them to travel the Freelands, and the price is their trust. I made my choice, and I hope it had been the right one. Bill will want to know about the ambush.”

A shadow passed overhead, and Hawkwing looked skyward to see...nothing. Snowfire ruffled her feathers. “You see how I fool myself into thinking I am still on watch. Those days are over, but I can’t let them go.” He shook his head. “This one could be significant, though. The Priagent, the Demon, the Prophet...the death of a noble. There is something amiss.”