Soul Seeker (The World of Lasniniar Book 1) (45 page)

“It’s madness!” Barlo threw his hands up in the air. “Do you have any idea how many of our people will be killed?”

“We have to lure them into battle. They must believe we will do anything to stop them from reaching their goal. Yes, many will die, but fewer than if they meet the dark army head on, or if Saviadro reaches his goal. The fate of Lasniniar is at stake. We can’t hold back now. Not when we’re so close.”

“That type of tactic will work initially with the element of surprise,” Golalfia said, “but I must remind you, they have four Forsworn Ones with them. When they realize what we are doing, they will crush us.”

“I only need them to buy us some time. We will rest today and set out tonight.” Iarion was pleased with his solution.

“We?” Barlo frowned.

“You’ve insisted on staying with me for this long,” Iarion shrugged. “I’ve just given up arguing.”

“And where are ‘we’ going?” Barlo gave him a wary look.

“To Melaquenya. We must reunite the Quenya before Saviadro arrives. As you said, there are only three of us. We will slip past the dark army while they are distracted by the attacks from our own forces. If you come along, that is.” Iarion gave his friend a wry smile.

“Of course I’m coming along! I didn’t come this far to let you get yourself killed on the last leg. But are you sure you want to do this? It’s going to be very dangerous.”

“More dangerous than walking willingly into the dark lands? Besides, it’s not much of a decision for me. This is something that must be done, and I am the one who needs to do it. I’ve spent my entire existence searching for answers, Barlo. I haven’t come this far to give up now.”

“Well, I can see you’ve made up your mind.” Barlo sighed. “I guess we’ll be heading out at nightfall.”

Iarion laid a hand on his friend’s shoulder and gave him a grateful look. “Thank you.”

“I must counsel you against this course of action, but I can see you will not be dissuaded.” Golalfia spoke, reminding the two friends that she was still there. “Go rest and replenish your supplies. Take whatever you need. I will speak with the
Sintadain
scout.”

“Thank you, my lady.” Iarion bowed.

Golalfia gave him a wistful smile. “I am glad that you have returned to us, Iarion. I only wish your visit were longer.”

As he and Barlo turned to leave, the dwarf gave him a knowing smirk. Iarion stifled a groan.

“Like an uncle, my arse!” Barlo blurted as soon as it was safe.

“What is the matter with all these women? I’m not even doing anything!” Iarion only spoke loud enough for Barlo to hear.

“I told you, you’re a tragic hero in their eyes.”

“Well this has to stop!” Iarion could barely contain his frustration.

“You can’t mind it that much,” Barlo said. “I saw those children at the Wild Elf village. It can’t be that bad. Just sleep with her and be done with it.”

“She’s heir to my own lord and lady!” Iarion said in a strangled voice.

“Again, that didn’t stop you in the Fey Wood.”

“That was different. The rules are different there.” Iarion considered. “Perhaps I should stop bathing. Wear a nasty, uncured fur or something. That would keep them away.”

“…And attract hordes of goblin women and who knows what else! Not to mention, you would also be traveling alone. There’s no way I’m walking downwind of that.” Even Sinstari wrinkled his nose at Barlo’s words. Iarion sighed.

“I’m sorry, my friend.” Barlo gave him a pat on the back. “I’m afraid it’s just a burden you’ll have to bear.”

Iarion’s fierce look did nothing to prevent Barlo from bursting into laughter.

–
Chapter Forty-Six –

In the Dark

The air was crisp and cool as Golaron rode beside Silvaranwyn. It was good to be riding Vanyar again. One of the dwarves from Dwarfhaven had returned his mount to Belierumar before marching into battle with Lord Eranander.

The journey south was quiet. There was no sign of the Fallen One’s army, other than the blighted patches of land they had left behind. The grassland surrounding Belierumar was churned up for leagues. In many places, the grass and plants had withered and died after falling under the shadow of a passing Forsworn One. The dark army made no effort to hide their trail as they traveled. It galled Golaron to see his homeland so wounded. It would take years for the evil taint to fade.

Silvaranwyn gave him a sympathetic look, as though reading his thoughts. He was still unaccustomed to her changed appearance. Although she had lost her golden light, she was still beautiful in a grim way. It was as though the layers of delicate beauty had been stripped away to reveal the shining steel that lay underneath. The only person Golaron knew who could possibly match her will was his sister. Even then, he had a feeling Silvaranwyn was the stronger of the two.

Linwyn rode at the head of the procession with the other generals and Lysandir. Even Galfidar was riding a white pony that had been found for him at Belierumar. The size of their army forced them to travel slowly. It often felt to Golaron as though they were merely crawling toward their goal. It took them an entire day to reach the Narrow Pass.

There was no living sign of Saviadro’s army, or the warriors of Belierumar and their allies. Only scattered corpses marked their passage. Vultures feasted on their dead flesh. The rotting stench of it filled the air.

Sometimes the body was still recognizable as a dark creature or one of the Free Races. It wrenched Golaron’s heart every time he saw one of his own people, a dwarf, or an elf being ripped apart by the carrion birds. The allies of Belierumar had not given up the pass without a struggle. Silvaranwyn’s face was wan and pale as she rode past, her mouth set in a firm line.

Knowing they could be walking into a trap, Linwyn sent three elves led by Falan to scout ahead while the rest of the army set up camp for the night. Once their tent was up, Golaron and Silvaranwyn went inside with the others they shared it with. They ate a meal of cold rations in silence. In addition to the language barrier, it seemed no one wanted to talk about what might have happened to the army they were trying to find.

The reality of the war they had all committed to was starting to sink in. The dwarves of Dwarfwatch and elves the Fey Wood were far from home. Many of them had never been this far south. They were beginning to realize many, if not all of them, might die without seeing their home or loved ones again. It was a bitter reality. In a way, Golaron felt fortunate the two people he cared about most were with him, although he wished he could keep them from harm.

Once everyone had finished eating, they curled up on their bedrolls to sleep. It was going to be another long day tomorrow. Golaron snuffed the tent’s lanterns and lay in his spot next to Silvaranwyn. He reached out to find her trembling. He doubted it was from the cold. Wordlessly, he curled up next to her, putting his arm around her and stroking her hair in an effort to soothe her.

“I keep seeing them,” she whispered. “All those bodies. What if we find the rest of the army and they are all like that?”

Golaron wanted to remind her she could always turn back and stay at Belierumar until this was all over, but he knew what her answer would be. She was just overwhelmed.

“What does your heart tell you?” he asked instead.

For a moment, Silvaranwyn stilled. Then her trembling began anew. “Oh Golaron, I want to believe they are all still alive and we will win, but I do not know anymore. My connection to the Quenya has almost faded completely.” Even in the dark, Golaron could see a glistening tear sliding down her cheek.

Golaron wished he could understand what she was feeling the way another elf could, but he was only a mortal man. He had no magic or special powers. So he did the only thing he could do: He told her what she needed to hear.

“It’s all right.” He wiped the tear from her face. “We will find them. Then we will be a force to be reckoned with. This is an alliance that hasn’t been seen since the Age of Shadow. Lysandir has returned to us, and Iarion is out there somewhere with the Stariquenya. We will succeed.”

Silvaranwyn snuggled against him. Her trembling eased. “Thank you,” she whispered. She fell asleep in his arms.

Golaron woke with stiff muscles the next morning. He opened his eyes to find Silvaranwyn still lying beside him. He had stayed in the same position all night. She was already awake, watching him, and lying still so as not to disturb him.

She gave him a small smile. “Good morning.”

Golaron smiled back. He never wanted to move. When they were lying together like this, he could almost forget everything else. Then a sharp cramp in his leg brought him back to reality. With great reluctance, he rolled away from Silvaranwyn and stretched. She sat up, running her fingers through her long, darkening hair before starting to gather her things.

“Where is everyone?” Golaron asked with a frown once he realized they were the only two people left in the tent.

“They are all having breakfast. The scouts came back and the pass is clear. We are to move out as soon as everyone is packed.”

This news got Golaron moving. He quickly packed his things and went outside with Silvaranwyn for some breakfast. The morning air was cool. He could see his breath. If the unusual weather got much colder, there would be frost soon.

He and Silvaranwyn joined the others to eat some of the food that had been brought by wagon from Belierumar. It wasn’t much, but it was better than the dried rations they had been living on.

Golaron was impressed by how quickly everyone worked together to dismantle the camp and get moving. With such a large group, it should have taken longer, but everyone was curious to know the fate of their allies.

A quiet tension spread through the army as they began to move south through the Narrow Pass. Many seemed to suspect the empty pass was a trap. It was the perfect place for an ambush. As he rode in front of Silvaranwyn with the Jagged Mountains rising on both sides, Golaron strained to hear or see any signs of the enemy. The rocky trail held no clues. What had become of Belierumar’s army?

As the day wore on, the tension became almost unbearable. Golaron wasn’t the only one looking over his shoulder at every sound. They had to go through the pass in single file, and it took almost all day for the army to get clear. Every time a bird flew overhead, elves, dwarves, and men would look up with their weapons raised, expecting a Forsworn One. But no attack came.

When Traitor’s Road finally emerged from the mountains to the open grassland of the Adar Daran, Golaron forced his tense muscles to relax. He could see Mar Arin in the distance to the west. Numarin’s tower still looked empty since Lysandir had sealed it. It felt as though it had happened years ago.

While they waited for the rest of the army to clear the pass, Linwyn sent the scouts out once more. They returned, reporting a large army, camped not far to the south. The open grassland made it impossible for them to get close enough to get any details without being spotted.

The sun was beginning to set. The other army lay directly in their path. Linwyn would have to make a decision concerning their next course of action soon. She turned in her saddle and gestured for Golaron to join her. Golaron gave his horse a nudge and rode up to the front of the line.

“What do you think?” she asked him.

“Haven’t you asked the other generals?” Golaron said.

“They are both in foreign territory. They have decided to cede to my judgment.”

“And Lysandir?”

“He is nowhere to be found. I have sent runners to look for him. No one has seen him.”

Golaron frowned. Why would the Learnéd One go missing at a time like this? He had given Lysandir’s loyalty no further thought since he had helped them escape Mar Valion, but now Golaron wondered.

“Well, we still haven’t found any sign of the rest of our missing army,” he said. “Either this army is them, or they are the ones who killed them.”

“Normally I would not want to reveal our position so soon, especially when we know how much larger the dark army is, but I don’t think we have much choice. By dawn in this open area, we will be visible for leagues in every direction.”

“So you want to engage them.”

“We’ve taken it fairly easy. I think we have the wind for it. If we’re going to do it, rather than sitting here and waiting for them to come to us, we need to do it tonight under the cover of darkness. I also think we need a good skirmish to remind everyone why we came, and to avenge our fallen comrades.” Linwyn chewed her lip. “Besides, we came to help Iarion by taking a stand. We might as well start now.”

“That sounds like solid reasoning.” Golaron shrugged. He could tell Linwyn had already made up her mind.

“Thank you. I just needed to talk it out with someone. I will give the orders.” Golaron nodded and headed back to his place beside Silvaranwyn.

Linwyn waited for it to be fully dark before moving out. The army had emerged from the Narrow Pass and was anxious to see what they were facing. A nervous energy went through the ranks as elves, dwarves, and men gripped their weapons in sweaty palms. Many were likely coming to the realization they might not live to see the dawn, but no one fled. When Linwyn gave the silent order to move out, everyone obeyed without hesitation. They knew why they were there and what the outcome of this war could mean.