When Worlds Collide - Chapter 5 - Nightwinds

Despite Sara's inability to use the gold to hire a guide, the money proved quite helpful. Traveling solely at night due to Luciana's vampirism was not a pleasant thought. Sara bought a heavy wool cape and gloves which would protect the girl from the sun, so they could make some distance during the day. She also purchased a new bow and some arrows for Fariet, as she wanted to assure he had the best weaponry on their journey. For herself, she found a small bola and a rope with a claw hook. Not nearly as sophisticated as her bola and grappling back home, but she hoped it would suffice.

  After tearful goodbyes at Fariet's uncle's, the trio headed to the edge of the village. The Great Forest lay ahead of them, stretching miles, through several provinces. It would take them most of the way to the Temple.

  "The first leg of the journey shouldn't be too difficult," the elf said, pulling a small map from his bag. "However, things can get perilous quickly. We should be able to stop and rest overnight in Cantella. After that, we'll be moving into the Nightwinds and it will be quite scary."

  The group started their journey, traveling several hours at a brisk pace. The forest was dense and only hazy light could stream through, so Luciana was able to lower her hood and admire the scenery. As much as she had loved Gale City, she was beginning to remember Loreithia and all of the things she adored about it.

  The ground in front of them darkened in shadow and a whooshing sound could be heard overhead. Luciana suddenly felt excited, though she wasn't sure why.

  Fariet glanced up and noticed the tree tops rustling. "Dragons," he whispered.

  "Dragons?" Sara gasped and looked up at the sky. There was a break in the trees and she could see something circling above. "There's dragons here?"

  "Yes," the elf answered. He pulled her from the main path, closer to the trees. "If we don't bother it, it shouldn't hurt us."

  The thought of large fire-breathing reptiles did not appeal to Sara and she found herself protectively grabbing Luciana's arms. But the child wasn't afraid at all. Instead, she darted forward in the hopes of getting a better look.

  From the tree tops, the shadow dove down, bursting through the leaves and shooting towards them. Sara screamed, falling to the ground. Fariet followed. However, the small girl squealed in delight.

  "Luciana, no!"

  The dragon circled above for a moment before it landed in front of them. It was the size of a small dog. As it found its footing on the path, it pulled in its wings and laid its head down before the girl.

  It's like it's bowing, Sara thought.

  Fariet rose, a smile cornering his lips. "It's her familiar."

  Luciana approached the dragon, rubbing its snout.

  "I don't understand," Sara said.

  "Luciana is from a race which descended from dragons. Dragon Mages are given a familiar to guard them."

  The beast looked at Sara, its eyes squinting in a welcoming gesture.

  "Go on, he likes you," Luciana said with a giggle. "Pet him."

  Sara ran her fingers over the glistening scales. "I'm petting a dragon," she said in disbelief.

  "His name is Taelos and he will accompany us."

  "It's rather small for a dragon."

  Luciana looked at the creature, nodded, then turned back to Sara. "Taelos says that he is a special dragon who is here to protect me. Because he's my personal guard, this is his size so that he may travel easily by my side. He does have the ability to grow smaller, should he need to be hidden."

  Sara cocked her head. "Did he tell you that?"

  She nodded.

  "Magic," Fariet said with a smile. "Well, tiny dragon or not, I must say I feel better about this journey knowing he'll be around."

  Sara readily agreed.

*          *          *          *          *

  Cantella was a town much bigger than Elekville. It was filled with shops and pubs and inns. It was connected to a small river, so there were shipping yards, boat makers, and other commerce. Since it was the last city before entering the ominous Nightwinds, it was a popular place for people to stop and rest before starting their long journey into the darkness.

  The gold was quickly dwindling, so the group decided on a modest inn on the outskirts of town.

  "I'm hungry," Luciana said.

  Sara nodded. "There are animals here. Will that suffice?"

  "For now." Animal blood was not as satisfying as human, but Luciana could sustain herself for short periods on it. "I must go out and hunt tonight, then."

  That worried Sara. "I don't want you getting hurt."

  The girl squeezed her hand. "I've done this before. I'll be okay. Taelos will be with me."

  Fariet moved to her side. "It'll be okay. We need to get some additional supplies for our journey." Her stomach made a loud sound and the elf chuckled. "And then we can head to the pub and get some supper ourselves."

  "All right," she agreed. Glancing down, she waved her finger at the tiny dragon. "You better take good care of her."

  Blinking twice, the dragon gave a single nod then turned to follow his mistress into the forest.

  "Let's go," Fariet said, taking her arm.

*          *          *          *          *

  The adventurers managed to get a few additional supplies and then ended up at the Crimson Goblet, one of the more inexpensive pubs in town. When they entered, Sara glanced around at the variety of patrons. Most looked like they hadn't bathed in months, and a good deal of them smelled like it, too.

  Fariet took the liberty of ordering a sausage dish for them both, as well as goblets of a sparkling berry juice. Despite the less than high-class atmosphere, the two enjoyed their supper and talked of their lives and the differences in their worlds.

  A short, balding man staggered from one of the rooms in the back. He plopped down into a chair at the table next to them and started to leer. "Well, look at this. A couple of qwetarks."

  Fariet tensed at the word, glancing sideways at the man. "Ignore him," he whispered to Sara.

  It was obvious the man was drunk, so Sara did her best to do as Fariet instructed. The man, however, was not deterred. "Seriously, is she so much better to lay with than your own kind, boy? Cross-breeders should be bound and thrown into the sea."

  Clenching his fists, Fariet exhaled slowly.

  From the context of what he was saying, Sara understood. It was sad that Loreithia suffered from the same prejudices as Earth. Turning towards the man, she hoped to defuse the situation. "Sir, I would appreciate it if you would stop heckling me and my brother. We would just like to have our dinner in peace."

  The man burst out into laughter. "Brother and sister? So your parents were qwetarks."

  "Don't you dare insult my parents," Fariet roared, rising from chair.

  "Oh, really?" the man droned, standing himself. "And what are you going to do about it? Filthy cross-breeders!"

  In a fluid motion, Fariet punched the man. While the elf was skilled with a bow and arrow, fisticuffs was not one of his strong points. He only managed to graze the man's chin and nearly fell over in the process.

  With a roar of laughter, the drunken man pulled back his own fist, connecting with Fariet's jaw, throwing his backwards. The man then turned to Sara, hHis mouth spread into a wide smile. "Your brother is weak, girl. How about you?"

  Sara's hand cocked back, her fist flying forward with force. A crack sounded through the pub, so loud it caused many of the patrons to groan. The man crashed into the table, falling to the floor, unconscious.

  The room was dead quiet, all eyes on the scene. Sara turned to the crowd of ruffians and hooligans. "All right, anyone else want to start some trouble with us?"

  With incoherent mumbles, the gawkers returned to their meals.

  A tall, skinny man appeared from the kitchen, surveying the scene. He stopped in front of Sara and motioned to the drunkard on the floor. "All right, enough fun. Why don't you gather him up and get out of here."

  "What?"

  The cook grimaced. "You take them down, you take them out. House rules. You want to start a fight, then you're responsible for the clean-up."

  "But we didn't start it," Sara argued.

  "C'mon, Dorian. Time to go home." Grabbing the man's arm, the cook lifted him up and thrust him towards them. With a snort, he returned to the kitchen.

  Sara sighed. Things were definitely different in Loreithia than they were in Gale City. She motioned to Fariet. "Let's get Mister Bigot here home."

  As they dragged the man along, Dorian suddenly lurched back, sneering at them. "Get away from me, half-breeds. I don't need help."

  Despite her dislike of the man, Sara realized he wasn't in a condition to get home on his own. "That's not true. You'll fall down and hurt yourself or something. Now, c'mon, stop fighting us."

  "Get away from me!" the man cried, a burst of light coming from his hands, flinging them both back.

  Once again the room fell into silence, but it was different this time. The drunken man sobered quickly, staring in disbelief at his palms.

  "Dorian," another man spoke. "Your powers."

  Fariet had seen enough mages in his time to recognize the man as one. He stepped back, pulling Sara with him.

  The man wasn't angry. In fact, he looked scared. He turned to the elf and woman, tears rimming his eyes. "I have to go with you."

  Sara eyebrows furrowed. She realized he wasn't simply talking about them assisting him home.

*          *          *          *          *

  It was a few hours before dawn when the group gathered their things and headed out of the Inn. Dorian was waiting outside, a horse and cart beside him.

  After the incident at the pub, the drunken man had taken them to his home. He had introduced himself as Dorian Gian. Over spiced tea, he told them the tale of how he had been a mage as a young man and how he had used his magic to rob and pillage. The elders had been so disapproving of his actions that they punished him. His powers were removed and he was told they would not be restored until the day they were needed for a noble purpose. The elders had warned Dorian that when the day came, if he refused to take on the honorable quest, he would lose his magic forever. The man then went on to tell them how over twenty years had passed without any signs of his powers, and he had become fearful they would never return.

  "That is, until I met you in the pub," he sobbed. "I am shameful how I acted. But I will do whatever I can to help the princess."

  Luciana was agreeable to having the man join their party. She was even more excited at the prospect of having a horse and carriage. Sara and Fariet didn't much like the idea, as they felt it would draw attention to the group. But Dorian was insistent he would not leave without his beloved horse, and Luciana was excited to be able to ride out of the sunlight.

  Gathering their gear together, they headed out on the second leg of their journey.

*          *          *          *          *

  The Nightwinds were an ominous place. At the edge of Cantella, it started out as a normal forest. However, as one traveled deeper in, the "night" became apparent. The sky darkened and daylight faded. In the thick of it, the team would be traveling in total darkness as the forest steeped into an eternal night. That worried Sara, as she was already feared they were being followed and the thought of limited visibility frightened her. Yet, traveling in the darkness consoled Luciana, as she realized she would be able to move about without the restriction of heavy cloak or the covered wagon.

  Since they were still within the normal part of the forest, the sun set as usual and the group decided to make camp and start up again a few hours before dawn. At Fariet's insistence, the females were sleeping inside the wagon with the men just outside, near the fire. The elf crawled into the small space to check on them. Sara was leaned back against the side, her eyes half slit. Luciana held the woman's wrist to her mouth, feeding eagerly. The scene disturbed the elf, even though he knew it was necessary. It amazed him that Sara would give herself so willingly for the princess's sake.

  When the girl caught sight of him, she blushed and pushed away. "I was just finishing."

  Sara looked weak and it concerned Fariet. "Are you all right?"

  "She only took a little," she said with a small smile. "I just need something to drink and rest. I'll be fine."

  The elf pulled the leather water bag from his belt and held it to her lips, watching as she drank deeply. She then curled up in a ball. Fariet placed a large sheepskin blanket over her. "You rest. I'll watch over Luciana for now."

  The woman had barely nodded in answer before her eyes descended and she was asleep.

  Placing his finger to his lips, the elf led the girl out of the wagon.

  While Dorian had been cordial at the start of his journey, he soon became reserved. Spending so many years without his magic, he was rusty and that bothered him. So, he spent most of his time alone, practicing. From what Fariet could gather, the man had some sort of ice spell, a shield spell, and a healing spell. He also claimed to know an enchantment that would freeze time, but he couldn't remember half of the words and had given up trying.

 As the elf and the princess approached, they could hear the mage honing his magic once again.

  "Oura, astro." There was a glow around his hand, but it moved no further.

  "Well, if you want to protect your fingers, you've done it," Fariet said with a laugh.

  Dorian grimaced. "I can't seem to get it right."

  "What about oura, oustra," Luciana said, focusing her attention on a pretty rock on the ground. She picked it up to study it.

  The man scowled. "I don't think that will work at all." Shifting his weight to one side, he raised his hands. "Oura, oustra." The glow burned brighter, fanning out to cover him, the elf, and the princess.

  "Amazing!" Fariet said. Luciana clapped.

  The glow faded.

  "What happened?"

  "I can't maintain the enchantment. My powers are still weak. I need to keep trying." He turned to the girl. "How did you know that?"

  Thing is, Luciana didn't know, it just seemed right. It was like back at the Gale Home, when she had been playing with the children. "Crala crustrae," she whispered. The rock in her hand began to float in the air, hovering. She then closed her eyes. "Nustia!" The stone shot forward, embedding into one of the nearby trees.

  "Princess," Fariet gasped. "That's amazing. I didn't know you knew magic."

  Luciana thought about that for a moment. Magic? She had vague recollections of listening to mages when she was a baby, but she couldn't remember anything more.

  Dorian looked bothered being upstaged by the girl. He grumbled and laid down the ground. "I'm getting some sleep. Wake me when we have to leave."

  The reaction hurt Luciana and she looked down at the ground. She didn't want the man to be mad at her.

  "It's all right, princess," Fariet said, placing his arm around her. "He's just old and mean."

  The girl shook her head. "I wish I knew things. I wish I knew who I was and what it all meant. So many strange things happened in Gale, and now they are happening here. I just want to be with Sara. I don't want to go back."

  "But you must," the man urged. "For all of us."

  Luciana was quiet for a long time and Fariet began to worry. He tried to think of something to say, but everything sounded trite. How could one tell a child that she would have to face the devil and expect her to be okay with it?

  "Here," he said, pulling something from his belt. It was a small dagger — one his father had given him when he was a young boy. "I want you to have this. We will be here to protect you, but should you find yourself in danger, it will be at your side."

  Luciana stared at the gold handle and silver blade. It fit in her hand perfectly. Slipping it into its small sheath, she pressed a kiss to the elf's cheek. "Thank you, Fariet."

  Linking his hands behind his head, the elf leaned back against the wagon wheel. "Back where you came from, on Earth, did Sara have a suitor?"

  "Suitor?"

  "Yes. Someone she was with...a man who she would spend time with."

  "A boyfriend?" Luciana giggled at the man's confused look. "That is what they call it in that world."

  "We all have friends who are boys," Fariet said.

  "On Earth, that means a boy who you hold hands with and kiss."

  The elf blushed. "I see. Ah, well, yes...did she have one?"

  Luciana shook her head. "No, I don't think so. She was always with us at the Home or helping her brother. Why do you ask?"

  He smiled and shook his head. "No matter. I was just wondering. You really should go into the wagon and get some sleep."

  The elf's demeanor perplexed her, but she didn't argue. Giving him a hug, Luciana climbed into the wagon.

  "I'm scared," she whispered.

  Sara's eyes opened and she stroked the girl's cheek. "Why?"

  "I don't want to see him."

  "I won't let your father hurt you. Now don't worry and try to relax, okay?"

  The princess snuggled close to the woman. A moment later they were fast asleep.

*          *          *          *          *

  Sara shivered as she walked along. They had hung lanterns on the outside of the carriage to provide light, but it was still eerie in the deep forest. You couldn't see more than a few dozen feet ahead and a variety of strange noises sounded from all sides. She could only imagine the terrible beasts hidden within the trees.

  Dorian moved to her side. "We have to worry about bandits. There are many that operate in these woods."

  Tensing, Sara looked at the carriage. As much as it provided shelter, it made them a large moving target. Fariet had taken to guarding the rear and she glanced back to assure he was all right.

  Luciana peeked out from the wagon. "Taelos smells something." The tiny dragon flew from the covered enclosure, darting ahead. He stopped at a patch of trees nearby.

  Pulling her bola from her belt, Sara peered into the murkiness ahead. She could definitely make out a figure in the deep shadows. "All right, come out!"

  A moan came from the area and a man staggered forward. He was tall and muscular, with hard chiseled features and dark black hair tied back into a ponytail. His clothing was torn and his head was bleeding. He held his right arm which hung limply by his side. "I mean you no harm," he said, before collapsing onto the ground.

  Sara rushed to his side, followed by Dorian and Fariet. "Let's bring him to the wagon."

  Fariet shook his head. "We don't know him," he whispered into her ear.

  "It's all right, boy," the man moaned. "I am Rogan. I'm an adventurer. I was headed to the Black Hills in search of an orc's nest to raid. My team was overtaken by bandits. The men were killed and the women taken as slaves. I survived by remaining very still—they thought I was dead. However, I have been trapped in this accursed darkness for two days, wandering in the hopes I would find someone to help me."

  Sara examined the man's head. "This is an ugly gash. We really need to take care of it."

  As she tried to help him up, he screamed out. "Ah, my arm!"

  Rogan was wearing a heavy leather overcoat which made it impossible for her to inspect the injury. "It's probably broken. Dorian, you know a healing spell. Can you mend him?"

  The mage grimaced. "I'm not very good, but I shall try."

  Luciana had finally found the courage to approach the group, but she hid behind Fariet.

  Chanting loudly, the mage placed his hands on the man's arm. His fingertips began to glow and Rogan screamed out in pain. A moment later, Dorian withdrew his hands.

  "Amazing," Rogan smiled, flexing his fingers. "I can move it."

  "Fix his head," Luciana said. She didn't like to see the man injured, and much less liked the temptation of seeing the blood.

  Dorian repeated the spell, his fingers glowing. Nothing happened this time. "I think I used up all of my power."

  "It's no matter." Sara helped the man up. "Let's make camp here for a few hours and tend to our guest."

*          *          *          *          *

  The group of five moved through the forest. Despite Fariet's apprehensions, Sara argued they simply couldn't leave the stranger in the dark of the woods. They agreed he would accompany them until they could find a place where he would be safe. However, since the man was quite strong and skilled with a sword, Sara hoped he might join them on their quest.

  Rogan had different ideas.

  "No way," he said, firmly. "I'm an adventurer. I seek riches and the thrill of the fight, not escorting some little girl to the Temple."

  "I'm sure there will be plenty of gold as a reward once we get there," Sara said. "As for adventure, I'm fearful our way has been too easy. We're bound to run into trouble sooner or later and your skills would be most helpful."

  "Un-uh," he said with a shake of the head. "I've had enough being overtaken by bandits. If you'll take to the next town, that will be fine."

  Sara was disappointed, but Fariet was glad. He didn't like the thought of another member to have to keep track of, particularly when they were getting into such dangerous territory.

  The team traveled on the rest of the night in near silence. It almost seemed impossible, but as they traveled deeper into the Nightwinds, the blackness became more oppressive. It seemed to reach out, trying to suffocate them.

  Sara shuddered. "We must be on our guard."

  The darkness scared Luciana and she chose to stay inside the wagon. She pulled Lancelot from her bag and held the stuffed bear close. Taelos lay at her feet, his own eyes apprehensive.

  "You don't seem like you're from around here," Rogan finally said, gesturing to the ring on Sara's finger. It had been a gift from her brother. "What land do you come from?"

  "The land of Gale," Fariet said. "It is a distance from here."

  Rogan grimaced. "I asked the lady."

  "She's from Earth," Luciana piped, jumping from the wagon. She wanted to be helpful. "It is a faraway place with great buildings and machines. She is a hero there."

  Sara blushed, holding her finger to her lips.

  "A hero," Rogan smiled. "You don't seem the type, lady. But then again, I've often seen beautiful women turn ferocious in a fight."

  Trying not to get embarrassed, she changed the subject. "And where are you from, Rogan? You say you seek adventure. But where do you call home?"

  As the man was about to answer, Dorian, who was leading the team, raised his hand. "I hear something."

  The group stopped, listening. There was absolutely no sound and the quietness sent chills down their spines. Three fiery arrows shot from the darkness, embedding into the wagon and setting the canvas cover ablaze. A crossbow bolt came from the other direction, hitting the horse in the neck.

  "Bandits!" Fariet screamed.

  More arrows came, striking around them. The horse was flailing on the ground and the wagon was in flames. Sara looked around in desperation. "Over there!" She grabbed Luciana's hand and pulled her to a large group of bushes nearby. Taelos flew in beside her. "You have to stay here. No matter what happens, you must hide. We can't have them take you." She glared at the small dragon. "Don't leave her side!"

  Luciana was terrified. She didn't want Sara to go. However, in the distance, men dressed in black were coming out of the forest. Rogan had pulled out his sword and Fariet was readying his bow. Gasping in fear, Luciana grabbed her dagger and held it to her chest.

  Sara rushed back to the fight, twirling her bola above her head. There were four bandits, each dressed in black with masks covering their faces. Taking aim, she managed to hit one in the head, knocking him unconscious.

  Dorian started to chant and light shot from his hands. A beam created a block of ice around one of the bandit's feet. Fariet was quick, finishing the man with a bolt to the chest.

  Rogan was amazing. As another thief came from the forest, he took on the remaining three single-handed. It was difficult for either Sara or Fariet to get another shot, but the adventurer hardly needed it. Sword clanking, a smile on his lip, the rogue took down the bandits. Sara marvelled that she was watching a medieval Black Torrent.

  "The gear!" Fariet ran to the wagon, salvaging most of their belongings. However, the vehicle and animal were beyond saving.

  "My horse," Dorian said, tears in his eyes.

  Seeing the coast was clear, Luciana rushed out of the bushes. "What shall we do now?" she sobbed, looking at the downed animal and burnt wood of their wagon.

  Pulling the girl into her arms, Sara fought back the tears herself. They weren't even half way on their journey and she knew more trials were ahead.

  Rogan approached the woman. "Is the girl hurt?" he asked, concern in his voice.

  "She's fine, thank you." Rising, she stared at the man. "You are a great warrior. I wish you would reconsider joining us."

  The man looked down, guilt in his face. "Wind Hallow is a few miles ahead. We can rest there and discuss matters then."