Veiled Shadows (The Age of Alandria: Book Two) (31 page)

“What?” Finn hesitated, unsure she was in her right mind, but when she raised her head and looked him directly in the eyes, her command solid when she said it again, he nodded. Rising to run back in the cave, he looked to Chel with apprehension. “Keep an eye on her.”

Chel leaned down to try to hear what Kaeleigh was whispering. “Is he alive?”

“Yes, not sure to what degree, but he is breathing. You saved him,” Chel confirmed, but with concern added, “but Kaeleigh, at what cost to you? I mean, I get it. I do, but are you really all right?”

She was barely able to hear her whispered response. “Yeah... tired... so very tired.” Then Kaeleigh collapsed further to the ground, unconscious, just as Daegan took a deep breath, gasping for life as he jolted up.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

“KAELEIGH!” Daegan shouted as he inhaled for breath like a drowning man coming up for air. Seeing her drop to the ground and Chel’s panicked reaction as she tried to wake Kaeleigh up tightened something in his chest. “Is she...?” Daegan couldn’t even finish his sentence, afraid for what the answer would be. He had come to set her and her friends free; he couldn’t handle one more innocent dying because of him.

Chel shook her head and he could see the slight rise and fall of her chest even though it seemed shallow. He reached over to her and gently brushed some of her hair off her face, tucking it behind her ear. “Stubborn, foolish girl,” he said, exasperated. But Chel didn’t miss the subtle look of pride that twinkled in his eyes before he turned back into the warrior she had come to expect.

“What about you?” Chel asked tentatively, hoping all that just happened wasn’t for nothing. “Are you still... attached?”

Rolling his shoulders and closing his eyes, possibly trying to feel something, he smiled. Daegan, fierce, strong warrior, actually smiled. Chel wished Kaeleigh could have seen it. He had a beautiful warm smile that faded as quickly as it appeared. He cleared his throat then answered, “She’s gone.” That’s all he said as he nodded and got up. Apparently, it was time to move again, but Chel just sat with Kaeleigh next to her, watching him intently.

“We need to get out of here. Maleina will feel the separation and begin the hunt.” Daegan scanned the area surrounding them as if deciding their path, stopping to gaze at the tree line just next to the mountain. He stretched his arms for a second, testing the one out, before he reached down to gather Kaeleigh in his arms and started to walk towards the forest.

“Where are you going?” Chel huffed as she jumped up after them.

Daegan nodded toward the trees. “We need to get her to the trees. Protection has been offered while we get further away.”

Was he talking about the trees?
For all Chel knew he was. “We have to wait for Finn!”

“We don’t have time to wait. He can find us, we won’t be that far ahead,” he replied flatly then strode determinedly toward the tree line, not even looking back to see if she followed. He knew she would.

Chel stood in her spot for a moment of indecision as she looked toward Daegan and where he was carrying a limp Kaeleigh and then back at the prison, willing Finn to hurry. Hands on her hips, she relented, jogging to catch up to Daegan with one glance back.

Exiting as if on cue, Finn stuck his head out warily before sneaking out with an older man with silver, waist-length hair and a slight limp leaning on Finn, whose shoulders bore his weight. Even though the man had been in there for quite some time, his strength seemed to have remained, or he was quickly regaining it. Chel ran back to help Finn against his whispered shouts for her to keep running and to turn back around. She got under the man’s other arm and when his weight seemed to balance out they were able to move faster.

Angry shouts and muffled cries in the distance carried the threat of pursuit not far behind them from the stronghold. They were on their way. Not just a few guards, but what sounded like a fleet of warriors, were closing in on them as they hobbled as fast as they could toward the trees. Chel hesitated for the briefest of moments before crossing the tree line. There was a dangerous, ominous, even dark energy buzzing amidst the old trees.

The old man noted her hesitation and the feelings for the trees himself as he lowered his head out of reverence but not his eyes. His eyes were watching, scanning from side to side. He whispered with caution, “It’s safer in here than waiting to find out what Maleina is capable of.”

They stepped over the line, feeling the faint buzz of an energy barrier. Chel noted how, like Finn, he had talked about the trees like they were more than just trees.

Finn paled, but also looked around with an expression of awe mixed with fear. “I have only heard of their power, but as legends. I never thought I would get to experience a hunting grove.”

“What’s a hunting...” But as Chel was about to finish her question, she watched Daegan lower Kaeleigh down onto a bed of moss and small greenery growing on a raised rock. He stayed kneeling, his head bowed. Chel never thought she would have seen that kind of humility and reverence coming from him, but then she saw
her
.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

She was beyond beautiful. Otherworldly, even beyond this world. Not just in her physical appearance, but the powerful energy emanating from her was so intense they could barely stand in her presence. Apparently noting their discomfort, she reined some of the energy back to her. Shoulders relaxed and breathing resumed.

Walking, although more accurately described as gliding; one with the effects of the wind, to stand before Daegan, she gazed at him intently. “Our protection can not hold them long, this you know. I offer it to you, though, is this the boon you would ask of me?” she said almost with a knowing glint in her eyes.

“If you would allow it,” he said quietly but strongly, keeping his head lowered. “I must seek a healer for her and need time to get her to the safety of the Ehsmia.” Slowly, he raised his eyes to the woman before him. “She freed me from the one to whom I was bound. I owe her my servitude... my life.”

Lifting his chin with her long graceful but almost twig-like fingers, she spoke first in an indecipherable language then softly for them all to understand. “I do not think she freed you for you to be bound to her, whether by choice or not, for a debt to be repaid.”

Daegan nodded, subconsciously aware of the others approaching quietly behind him. “I still need to get her the healing she needs and deserves.” With knowing eyes, she then turned her gaze onto the others acknowledging for the first time their presence.

The old man dropped to his knees, unashamed. “Please, she’s...” Choking on his words with oddly placed emotion as he didn’t even know her, he seemed to change the direction of his words. “She freed me as well from a dark hopelessness. I never thought I would know freedom again. We need her.
You
need her.” He seemed to speak more boldly now, looking the ethereal woman in the eyes. “
You
know it is truth.”

With knowing eyes that she bored into his very soul, she nodded curtly. Gone was the gentleness as her power began to flare once again. “Will
you
grant me a boon, in exchange?” She tilted her head, studying him, as they were locked into their own negotiations.

He bowed his head, about to say something, but was interrupted. “No! You do not know what you surrender to her. I know a healer, we can get her there,” Daegan whispered harshly as he glared back at the man behind him. The man returned his glare with one of his own. Something conspired between the two of them in a heated stare-down ending with a curt nod on both ends. Finn and Chel looked on, fearful to draw the eyes of any of the other powerful beings or warriors.

“It is done,” the man said, bowing before the woman whose appearance seemed to be taking on a new skin, a skin of nature. If you looked at her right, there was a shimmery essence setting upon the top of her skin that crackled and swirled and seemed to sway with the movements of the trees. Chel gasped as she saw the woman changing, shimmering before her. With an arrogant air about her, the woman cocked her eyebrow at Chel and gave her a smirk and a flash of energy as her appearance morphed instantly before her with hair long, wavy, unruly curls of shades of browns and greens and even fiery reds. Long, branch-like limbs and twig-like appendages. Clothing of quilted leaves wrapped sensually about her body, her skin now carrying the appearance of bark, but with the softness of skin. It was
her
—the Dryad priestess of the forests, Andreinna.

She inclined her head as she pulled his hand in hers, running her twiggy finger across his palm, instantly dripping with liquid crimson. Then doing the unthinkable, she leaned over and ran her tongue over his hand, taking in part of his essence. Unsurprised, the man just stared at her. In mock imitation of his earlier words, she said, “It is done.” He nodded and bowed then moved back from her.

Moving toward Daegan and Kaeleigh, she laid her hand upon Kaeleigh’s head and closed her eyes. She moved the length of Kaeleigh’s still body lying on the stone. Her hand hovered over different areas, restoring her energy source. Pausing over her core: “She is still blocked. Powerful magic has been here.” She smirked at no one present with them. “I know it. Hmm, know it well. Clever.” She seemed to be talking to herself more than explaining anything to them. Quickly she removed her hand and stepped back.

Looking to Daegan she spoke, “I have done what is in my power to do. She will be fine, recovered, but her magic is still incomplete. She must unbind herself.” Boring her eyes deeper into him she smirked again. “You must take her to where your journey began. There is where she will find her other half.”

Just like that, she turned her back to move toward the tree. Chel could see for the briefest second, a shimmering mark on the back of her right shoulder similar to her own, but in the shape of a tree. The priestess turned around to give a slight bow of her head to them all as she stepped back into the base of a large tree where her appearance altered as she began blending into the tree—not just blending with the tree, but actually becoming one
with
the tree. Then she was gone and the energy around them snapped them back into the reality and urgency of the moment. It had been as if time had held still and now sped forward to catch them up.

“We must go!” Daegan all but shouted as he picked up Kaeleigh and moved without another word to anyone. They followed.

They heard shouts and branches breaking as the warriors hacked their way through the wall that the trees had formed to slow them down. Thinking she’d just about gone crazy, Chel actually saw some of the trees move to block an opening where a smaller tree had been struck down. She cringed with each hacking sound, realizing that the trees were sacrificing themselves to give them a head start. Others were spearing some of their pursuers with sharp branches. She would never look at another tree the same again.

“You better have a good idea about where we’re going!” Finn growled at Daegan. Daegan had returned Finn’s knives and they were now drawn and ready for trouble at any turn. All Finn wanted to do was rip Kaeleigh out of Daegan’s arms. But he didn’t know where they were going and he had to trust Daegan wouldn’t lead them into more trouble after he’d just rescued them. Still, he had his weapons ready for whatever or whoever the next threat might be. He spared a glance behind him to ensure that both Chel and the old man were still running with them.

The old man was looking stronger and healthier with each passing moment. Something about this man troubled Finn. There was something so familiar about him—something in his aura he felt like he should know, but couldn’t put his finger on it. It bothered Finn, putting him on even greater edge. He didn’t anticipate trouble from him, especially after he had bargained for Kaeleigh with the Dryad, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.

“Almost there!” Daegan huffed as he took a sharp turn heading into an abnormally dark corner of the forest leading toward an equally dark part of the Ga’raldrath Mountains.

Gasping, Finn came up right alongside Daegan, tugging on his arm. “No! You can’t take her that way!” Finn was seething with anger now.

Chel and the man caught up to them, breathing heavily but not interrupting the exchange.

“We don’t have a choice. This is the way,” Daegan said matter-of-factly, but not without some hint of concern.

“She is not strong enough to make it through.”

“It will take too long to go another route,” Daegan countered, staring Finn down.

“She’s not strong enough!” Finn spat, now blocking the path with a knife raised in each hand.

“She has to be!” Daegan pushed around Finn, calling his bluff. Stopping right at Finn’s side, Daegan bored his eyes into his as he lowered his voice. “Shouldn’t you of all people believe in her?” Seeing what he was looking for in Finn’s eyes as his pupils dilated, Daegan sneered at him and barreled past him, leaving Finn enraged, silently at war with himself, clenching his fists at his sides and flaring his nostrils... Daegan was right.

“Finn?” Chel asked as she approached him with trepidation. No response. “Finn!” Chel shouted in his face, gaining his attention. “Where are we going? What’s happening?”

“We’re taking the Way of Adbertos,” he said, taking a deep breath then hanging his head, defeated.

The old man just stared ahead toward the darkness. Looking confused, Chel asked, “What is the Way of Adbertos?”

“Quite literally, it’s the Way of Sacrifice,” the old man answered. “No one knows what kind of sacrifice they must make as they enter. Each is required to give something if they are seeking something in return, as is the way of nature. It’s an ancient belief, but it’s rumored to be true and the
Way
is guarded.”

“Kaeleigh is not even conscious. How can she give a sacrifice?”

“That, I believe, is Finn’s concern.” The old man looked at her kindly but with saddened eyes. “Hopefully the sacrifice she made earlier for Daegan without her knowing it will still linger on her essence that they will be satisfied with.”