The power of destiny the.., p.22
The Power of Destiny (The Force of Magic Book 3), page 22
"And what then? Before you spoke of your distaste for the throne."
"My interests have changed. Now, I've obtained what I long sought. I have no need to return to my former home. I'll stay here. This place speaks to me."
The phrasing was odd, but it matched his countenance.
"I've served the Overlord and the Dominion with my whole life. I'm loyal to that cause. If it is yours, we may work together. I never knew you sought the throne or to rule."
"Not to rule, Slade, but power. Magical power from another age. I've sought it my whole life, and it's finally mine!" With a wave of his hand, the altar before him came apart. Invisible hands pulled the stones, and they flew through the air. Slade found himself stepping back and the men behind him were already at the door. The stones flew up towards the ceiling and thundered down, landing on the pool of blood to form a new shape. It was a symbol, but Slade didn't recognize it.
"How?"
"The magic is mine now. It lives within me, and no one will stand against me and live."
Slade stared up at him. Karven's face was a mask of hatred and darkness. In the light of the torches, he didn't look like a man, but more like a demon. When he realized Karven was looking for a response, not knowing what to say, Slade fell to his knees and bowed his head, not trusting his eyes to betray the truth of his feelings.
Chapter fifty-seven
Free at Last
I will say to the prisoners,
‘Come out in freedom,’ and to those in darkness,
‘Come into the light.’
The Book of Isaiah 49:9
Trace
The surface of the tower sped by, despite Trace's efforts to slow his descent using his hands and feet. Cries from below rang out, exclamations of surprise from the unknown people behind the torches.
Not one of my better ideas. A lone thought passing through his head, just before he slammed into the ground. His left leg hit first, and he felt and heard the crunch of the bones cracking. Trace grimaced, but forced himself to roll over and scoot back against the tower. He ignored the pain while he reached for his knife.
"Trace, is that you?"
The voice was familiar, but as he looked in its direction, the person held the torch out in front of them, obscuring his view of its holder.
"Gads, Trace! What were you thinking?"
The torch came near and Mavis' friendly face appeared in its light. He handed the torch to someone else and knelt beside Trace, looking at his leg.
Trace moved his other leg and twisted his body. Despite the pain, he felt fortunate he'd come out of his jump with only a single broken leg. As Mavis touched it, a fresh bolt of pain caused him to wince.
"There wasn't a door out of there. It seemed like a good enough solution at the time."
Mavis shook his head and called back behind him, "Get me two straight boards and some leather to bind them together!" Turning back to Trace, Mavis asked, "What happened to the ladies who were with you? I heard you were in a fight with some soldiers and someone said you disappeared from the square."
"Perin and I entered the tower. I'm not sure you'd believe me if I told you what happened after that. Mavis, our other friend, Lana, fell to the soldiers." Looking around, Trace tried to locate where it might have happened. "Did anyone find her body? I would like to see her properly buried."
"A lot's happened since you left the Dragon's Breath. Forces came from Serta and Riverbend. Those soldiers you fought are all dead or prisoners. The Fringe is in charge of Olmsheld now. I'm sorry, but we didn't find anyone after you disappeared. There was something, though. Something remarkable."
Trace gave a questioning look, and Mavis turned to point away to the left. As Trace followed his finger across the square, he could make out a large, irregular shadow in the moonlight. "What's that?"
"Out of nowhere, this tree grew. It appeared all at once. A few people who saw it said they saw it grow to its full height in a matter of moments. Right there in the square, with roots that dug down deep through the hard packed earth and cobblestones. It looks like it was always there, but yesterday there was nothing."
"Lana…" Trace's voice trailed off as he remembered their friend. The woman who saved them more than once. Who sacrificed her life for them the day before.
"Lana, that's the other lady's name who was with Perin and you, wasn't it?" Mavis asked.
The return of a man bearing the things to tend to his leg interrupted Trace's answer. Already, Trace could feel the bones healing. As Mavis reached out again to make sure the bones were straight, the pain was there, but it wasn't as sharp as a moment ago. In a short time, Mavis bound up the splint and stood, reaching out his hand towards Trace. "Do you want to see if you can stand?"
Coming to his feet, two other men approached. One of them looked vaguely familiar.
"It's healing, Mavis. I think it'll be well soon."
"Remarkable. I knew there was something odd about the three of you. Maybe that can explain how you got into that tower?"
The smaller of the two men held out his hand to Trace. "We met in Serta. Do you remember? My name is Tez."
Tez, Freta's friend.
"Yes, I remember. How are things there?"
"Serta is free again, and we came to Olmsheld to do the same."
The other man, who was tall and dark, with a moustache that curled on the ends, held out his hand after Trace shook Tez's. "You don't know me, but we have mutual friends. My name is Puntah, and I came from Riverbend. The Fringe has taken over there as well. I bring greetings from Sanj, Jan and Lolly."
"They're…alive?" Trace couldn't help as an astonished smile of pure joy spread across his face.
"They were when I saw them. They left with some other forces to free the prisoners at Darkholm Keep."
At the mention of the Keep, Trace felt a weight of grief from the memory. "When I left there, a great army surrounded it. I'm so glad to hear my friends were well, but I hope they didn't travel into a trap."
Puntah gave his hand a firm squeeze before releasing it. "Well, you know Sanj is too clever for that and commander Shaw was with them. I'd bet my life on them coming back with the prisoners or getting reinforcements if they need it. As for the army, it seems like the south is clearing out. We've no reports of substantial troops for days. There was little resistance in any of the towns we've freed. Tez told me about the army you defeated north of Serta."
At the mention of this, Trace couldn't help but look at the silent shadow of the tree in the square. "That wasn't us. We were fortunate to survive after being caught there. If it wasn't for our friend, we wouldn't have made it out."
"However it happened, it's fortunate for us. The Dominion is falling apart and Sanj told us the Guild might not be much better." Puntah looked at Trace for confirmation.
"Maybe. Karven, who leads the Guild, wasn't there and Brant was in command of that army. You bring much good news, but we should still be wary of our foe. The Dominion has been in power for too long."
Puntah nodded and returned a grim smile. "Too long indeed, and we intend to see it end. Every day, dozens more are joining our ranks. We've even had a few soldiers offer to help. Soon, we march north to see what's left of the Dominion."
"Do you think that's wise? Surely there are still significant forces out there? At Dontain, if nowhere else."
"Our scouts say the army you faced at Darkholm Keep is the only one left within the borders of the empire. Small garrisons stationed in several towns are still scattered about, but nothing significant. If we strike now, the momentum is swinging in our favor. We plan to act before other forces can be recalled from the west. In two days' time, we march north to gather at the crest of the Dragonback Mountains, and then on to Dontain."
A thought came back to him then. Marda's words carried on a memory. "Now you have the opportunity to free all soldiers." Could this be what she was talking about?
Chapter fifty-eight
Dreams and Visions
He speaks in dreams,
in visions of the night,
when deep sleep falls on people
as they lie in their beds.
The Book of Job 33:15
Perin
"But what good is showing me this place if you won't allow me to leave? You know you can't stop me. I can leave right now and float up to the surface." With a thought, Perin did just that. Her feet left the ground and in an instant, she was floating at eye level with the dragon.
And what of your quest? Will you find your way back here with your friend? The lake is deep and dark and we're far underground.
Perin held Haerth's gaze and stared deep into his eyes, searching for his intent. "Why did you bring me here, Haerth?"
Smoke poured out of his nostrils with a brief flicker of flame.
I…I'm tired, surface girl. My service has been oh so long, and I'm tired of being alone. I don't know if it's possible for it to end and for magic to enter the world again, but there's something inside me that wishes it could be true.
Perin slowly lowered back to the cavern floor and turned to go towards the spire. She heard the movement of the massive claws behind her as they dug into the rock beneath them. Approaching the bowl once again, the pool of liquid still glowed with an ethereal light, though it was more still than it was before. A shining reflection looked back up at her, like a girl from another world. Perhaps a world better than this one.
On instinct, Perin reached out and extended the tip of one finger towards the surface, bringing it to meet that of her reflection. She hesitated, hovering her hand just above the Elixir. Haerth came up beside her, watching Perin in silence. She looked up at him for some sign, but the dragon only stood, staring back at her.
The pool drew her attention, and something in her reflection frightened her. She looked older and more severe, like looking at the woman she would become, but only after a lifetime of more hardships. Perin blinked, and the image changed. This time she was smiling with a joy she couldn't remember. Perin couldn't help but smile back.
She looked back up at Haerth. "I can't imagine being alone for so long. Most days, I just want to go home to my family. I would never have made it this far without my friends. How long have you been alone, Haerth?"
With a sigh, the dragon sent his response. Too long. So long that it's hard to remember what it's like to live with others. Without the magic, I might have died long ago. Maybe that's what I seek, a release not only from this service, but from this life.
His fearsome face loomed over the spire, and Perin found herself reaching out to him. Her other hand could just barely reach the bottom of his chin. It was warm and hard. "Marda told Trace we could free magic and though I don't know her well, she's the wisest person I've ever met. Many of the things she told us have already come true. I don't know how to do it, but I believe it's possible. If I can help you, I will. Will you help me?"
The dragon lowered his head, pushing his skin into her hand. His remarkable eyes closed and a vision appeared in her head.
Clouds were rushing by, and then they burst through an opening. Below, there were a series of mountain peaks covered in snow. They were far above them, high above all the land. In a rush, they were now descending rapidly towards one of the peaks. Within seconds, a broad shelf emerged below. In the vision, she flew down until they landed on the shelf and Perin could see a cave cut into the side of the mountain. As she watched, the view turned until Perin saw a stunning view from the edge of the cliff. Looking out, there were smaller peaks and in the distance the green of the land. Fields and forests, rivers and lakes. It was breath-taking. She was trying to take it all in when it started to fade. Her vision cleared, and she saw Haerth open his eyes to look into hers again.
I would see my home again. Just one more time, and then I would happily pass from this world. If you can truly end my service, I am with you.
Perin traced her finger on Haerth's rough red chin and released him. Bracing her hand on the edge of the bowl, she looked back into the Elixir. The reflection now was just herself. The same as she imagined herself to be. Reaching out again, she touched the surface. The liquid was wet, tingly, and warm. There was resistance and it surprised her to find a pressure pushing back on her. Her finger felt the surface, but couldn't quite break it.
Perin pushed, but found it unyielding. Slowly, she extended the rest of her fingers until her hand was spread out across the surface of the liquid. The tingly feeling extended until her entire hand felt it, not just the part making contact with the surface. Perin closed her eyes and felt for the power of her magic. It was there, but when she willed it to come so she might dip her hand deeper into the Elixir, something unexpected happened, like never before.
Flashes of light in her head, interspersed by windows into another world. It was like looking into a house as you rode by on your horse as fast as it would go. Nothing was clear, but she recognized some things she knew.
The broken wall of Darkholm Keep.
Trace standing with people she didn't recognize under the tower in Olmsheld.
Sanj and Yola marching behind a long trail of others.
A dark mountain under a stormy sky.
The wizard, Karven, on a throne of stone.
Trace and Yola, in a battle to the death with someone.
Haerth flying high above a rising sun.
There were many other places and people, appearing and gone so quickly it was difficult to grasp what she saw.
Finally, there was an image of Marda. This one hung in the air before her. She was in front of her fire, stirring something in her great black pot. Marda turned to face her and seemed to be saying something, but there was no sound. In the vision, Perin saw her own hand reaching out towards Marda. Her hand was there, in Marda's cabin.
Marda released her spoon and took a step towards her. She reached out her hand and Perin felt it in her own, as sure as it was the day they first met. Words passed into her head not as sounds, but as thoughts. Marda's thoughts were her own. Perin felt worry, then comfort, then peace. With a last squeeze of her hand, Marda let her go and she was rushing back through all the images, seeing them again in reverse order. The last image was of Haerth, standing above her in a crystal cave, the last thing she remembered before she collapsed to the floor.
Chapter fifty-nine
Gathering Forces
Those who plant in tears
will harvest with shouts of joy.
The Book of Psalms 126:5
Trace
Every day more volunteers streamed into Olmsheld. Tez and Puntah were organizing them and training them. From what Trace understood, the plan was to march north towards Dontain. They hoped to avoid battle, but Puntah believed a show of force would give them leverage to demand freedom.
Trace didn't know what they would find there, but he joined them in their desire to avoid a fight. The men and women he'd seen were willing, but far from a fighting force. Sure, most of the men previously served in the army, but it was obvious for most of them that was a long time ago.
"You look troubled, Trace."
He looked up to see Mavis watching him. Trace sat in his regular post the last two days, at a bench on the other side of the square from the tower. If Perin came floating out of that tower, he wanted to be there to meet her.
"Do you ever wonder if you made the right choice?"
Mavis sat beside him, his grizzled face curling into a smile. "I try to avoid it. When you've lived as long as I have, you learn the danger of regret. Best to move on and look ahead. Tomorrow has enough trouble for itself without carrying the weight of the past. Puntah says they plan to leave in the morning. Are you going with them?"
"What do you think of this plan, Mavis?"
"A year ago or before, I would have thought them all fools, but something's different. It's hard to put your finger on it, but you should have seen those soldiers when our men stood up to them. They had no fight. They didn't want any part of it. Now, is that the same everywhere, and most importantly, in Dontain? I don't think we can know for sure. My fear is this is too much, too soon. I know they've been able to free Serta, Olmsheld and, from what they say, Riverbend. Dontain is the center of the Dominion's power."
"I want this all to be over. I wish Tantem was here. He always seemed so confident. If I knew everything was going to come out okay in the end, I'd feel a lot better about it."
Mavis slapped his knee. "Now that's just the world we live in, my boy. We live our lives. We take chances. Sometimes that involves risk, even serious risk. We can't know the outcome before it happens, but still we have to press on. This is a path you have before you. Do you go north with the Fringe or hang around waiting here for something to happen? One of these choices is the right one. I could give you my opinion, which isn't worth much, but I can also tell just by looking at you that you aren't a man who lives his life waiting around for it to happen to him."
A large group of travelers entered the square. Trace opened his mouth to say something else to Mavis, but instead hopped up and started walking towards the group.
"Lemmy! What are you doing here?"
Amidst the group of a couple of dozen was Lemmy's familiar face. She smiled at Trace when she saw him walking towards her. "Trace, so good to see you again. Is Perin with you?" She must have caught the expression that crossed his face because she immediately followed up with, "Oh no, has something happened?"
"We should talk. Are you here to join up with Tez and the others?"
"Yes, I talked it over with Freta. I knew I wouldn't rest if there was something I could do to help. Not after what happened to my Sam. Another group left, and I decided to join them. Where's Tez?"
"They're organizing people into groups north of the city."
Lemmy turned back to a man in their group and Trace realized they'd all stopped and were watching her interaction with Trace. "You heard him. Tez is to the north. Drath, can you take everyone up to meet him and tell Tez I'll be along later?"
"My interests have changed. Now, I've obtained what I long sought. I have no need to return to my former home. I'll stay here. This place speaks to me."
The phrasing was odd, but it matched his countenance.
"I've served the Overlord and the Dominion with my whole life. I'm loyal to that cause. If it is yours, we may work together. I never knew you sought the throne or to rule."
"Not to rule, Slade, but power. Magical power from another age. I've sought it my whole life, and it's finally mine!" With a wave of his hand, the altar before him came apart. Invisible hands pulled the stones, and they flew through the air. Slade found himself stepping back and the men behind him were already at the door. The stones flew up towards the ceiling and thundered down, landing on the pool of blood to form a new shape. It was a symbol, but Slade didn't recognize it.
"How?"
"The magic is mine now. It lives within me, and no one will stand against me and live."
Slade stared up at him. Karven's face was a mask of hatred and darkness. In the light of the torches, he didn't look like a man, but more like a demon. When he realized Karven was looking for a response, not knowing what to say, Slade fell to his knees and bowed his head, not trusting his eyes to betray the truth of his feelings.
Chapter fifty-seven
Free at Last
I will say to the prisoners,
‘Come out in freedom,’ and to those in darkness,
‘Come into the light.’
The Book of Isaiah 49:9
Trace
The surface of the tower sped by, despite Trace's efforts to slow his descent using his hands and feet. Cries from below rang out, exclamations of surprise from the unknown people behind the torches.
Not one of my better ideas. A lone thought passing through his head, just before he slammed into the ground. His left leg hit first, and he felt and heard the crunch of the bones cracking. Trace grimaced, but forced himself to roll over and scoot back against the tower. He ignored the pain while he reached for his knife.
"Trace, is that you?"
The voice was familiar, but as he looked in its direction, the person held the torch out in front of them, obscuring his view of its holder.
"Gads, Trace! What were you thinking?"
The torch came near and Mavis' friendly face appeared in its light. He handed the torch to someone else and knelt beside Trace, looking at his leg.
Trace moved his other leg and twisted his body. Despite the pain, he felt fortunate he'd come out of his jump with only a single broken leg. As Mavis touched it, a fresh bolt of pain caused him to wince.
"There wasn't a door out of there. It seemed like a good enough solution at the time."
Mavis shook his head and called back behind him, "Get me two straight boards and some leather to bind them together!" Turning back to Trace, Mavis asked, "What happened to the ladies who were with you? I heard you were in a fight with some soldiers and someone said you disappeared from the square."
"Perin and I entered the tower. I'm not sure you'd believe me if I told you what happened after that. Mavis, our other friend, Lana, fell to the soldiers." Looking around, Trace tried to locate where it might have happened. "Did anyone find her body? I would like to see her properly buried."
"A lot's happened since you left the Dragon's Breath. Forces came from Serta and Riverbend. Those soldiers you fought are all dead or prisoners. The Fringe is in charge of Olmsheld now. I'm sorry, but we didn't find anyone after you disappeared. There was something, though. Something remarkable."
Trace gave a questioning look, and Mavis turned to point away to the left. As Trace followed his finger across the square, he could make out a large, irregular shadow in the moonlight. "What's that?"
"Out of nowhere, this tree grew. It appeared all at once. A few people who saw it said they saw it grow to its full height in a matter of moments. Right there in the square, with roots that dug down deep through the hard packed earth and cobblestones. It looks like it was always there, but yesterday there was nothing."
"Lana…" Trace's voice trailed off as he remembered their friend. The woman who saved them more than once. Who sacrificed her life for them the day before.
"Lana, that's the other lady's name who was with Perin and you, wasn't it?" Mavis asked.
The return of a man bearing the things to tend to his leg interrupted Trace's answer. Already, Trace could feel the bones healing. As Mavis reached out again to make sure the bones were straight, the pain was there, but it wasn't as sharp as a moment ago. In a short time, Mavis bound up the splint and stood, reaching out his hand towards Trace. "Do you want to see if you can stand?"
Coming to his feet, two other men approached. One of them looked vaguely familiar.
"It's healing, Mavis. I think it'll be well soon."
"Remarkable. I knew there was something odd about the three of you. Maybe that can explain how you got into that tower?"
The smaller of the two men held out his hand to Trace. "We met in Serta. Do you remember? My name is Tez."
Tez, Freta's friend.
"Yes, I remember. How are things there?"
"Serta is free again, and we came to Olmsheld to do the same."
The other man, who was tall and dark, with a moustache that curled on the ends, held out his hand after Trace shook Tez's. "You don't know me, but we have mutual friends. My name is Puntah, and I came from Riverbend. The Fringe has taken over there as well. I bring greetings from Sanj, Jan and Lolly."
"They're…alive?" Trace couldn't help as an astonished smile of pure joy spread across his face.
"They were when I saw them. They left with some other forces to free the prisoners at Darkholm Keep."
At the mention of the Keep, Trace felt a weight of grief from the memory. "When I left there, a great army surrounded it. I'm so glad to hear my friends were well, but I hope they didn't travel into a trap."
Puntah gave his hand a firm squeeze before releasing it. "Well, you know Sanj is too clever for that and commander Shaw was with them. I'd bet my life on them coming back with the prisoners or getting reinforcements if they need it. As for the army, it seems like the south is clearing out. We've no reports of substantial troops for days. There was little resistance in any of the towns we've freed. Tez told me about the army you defeated north of Serta."
At the mention of this, Trace couldn't help but look at the silent shadow of the tree in the square. "That wasn't us. We were fortunate to survive after being caught there. If it wasn't for our friend, we wouldn't have made it out."
"However it happened, it's fortunate for us. The Dominion is falling apart and Sanj told us the Guild might not be much better." Puntah looked at Trace for confirmation.
"Maybe. Karven, who leads the Guild, wasn't there and Brant was in command of that army. You bring much good news, but we should still be wary of our foe. The Dominion has been in power for too long."
Puntah nodded and returned a grim smile. "Too long indeed, and we intend to see it end. Every day, dozens more are joining our ranks. We've even had a few soldiers offer to help. Soon, we march north to see what's left of the Dominion."
"Do you think that's wise? Surely there are still significant forces out there? At Dontain, if nowhere else."
"Our scouts say the army you faced at Darkholm Keep is the only one left within the borders of the empire. Small garrisons stationed in several towns are still scattered about, but nothing significant. If we strike now, the momentum is swinging in our favor. We plan to act before other forces can be recalled from the west. In two days' time, we march north to gather at the crest of the Dragonback Mountains, and then on to Dontain."
A thought came back to him then. Marda's words carried on a memory. "Now you have the opportunity to free all soldiers." Could this be what she was talking about?
Chapter fifty-eight
Dreams and Visions
He speaks in dreams,
in visions of the night,
when deep sleep falls on people
as they lie in their beds.
The Book of Job 33:15
Perin
"But what good is showing me this place if you won't allow me to leave? You know you can't stop me. I can leave right now and float up to the surface." With a thought, Perin did just that. Her feet left the ground and in an instant, she was floating at eye level with the dragon.
And what of your quest? Will you find your way back here with your friend? The lake is deep and dark and we're far underground.
Perin held Haerth's gaze and stared deep into his eyes, searching for his intent. "Why did you bring me here, Haerth?"
Smoke poured out of his nostrils with a brief flicker of flame.
I…I'm tired, surface girl. My service has been oh so long, and I'm tired of being alone. I don't know if it's possible for it to end and for magic to enter the world again, but there's something inside me that wishes it could be true.
Perin slowly lowered back to the cavern floor and turned to go towards the spire. She heard the movement of the massive claws behind her as they dug into the rock beneath them. Approaching the bowl once again, the pool of liquid still glowed with an ethereal light, though it was more still than it was before. A shining reflection looked back up at her, like a girl from another world. Perhaps a world better than this one.
On instinct, Perin reached out and extended the tip of one finger towards the surface, bringing it to meet that of her reflection. She hesitated, hovering her hand just above the Elixir. Haerth came up beside her, watching Perin in silence. She looked up at him for some sign, but the dragon only stood, staring back at her.
The pool drew her attention, and something in her reflection frightened her. She looked older and more severe, like looking at the woman she would become, but only after a lifetime of more hardships. Perin blinked, and the image changed. This time she was smiling with a joy she couldn't remember. Perin couldn't help but smile back.
She looked back up at Haerth. "I can't imagine being alone for so long. Most days, I just want to go home to my family. I would never have made it this far without my friends. How long have you been alone, Haerth?"
With a sigh, the dragon sent his response. Too long. So long that it's hard to remember what it's like to live with others. Without the magic, I might have died long ago. Maybe that's what I seek, a release not only from this service, but from this life.
His fearsome face loomed over the spire, and Perin found herself reaching out to him. Her other hand could just barely reach the bottom of his chin. It was warm and hard. "Marda told Trace we could free magic and though I don't know her well, she's the wisest person I've ever met. Many of the things she told us have already come true. I don't know how to do it, but I believe it's possible. If I can help you, I will. Will you help me?"
The dragon lowered his head, pushing his skin into her hand. His remarkable eyes closed and a vision appeared in her head.
Clouds were rushing by, and then they burst through an opening. Below, there were a series of mountain peaks covered in snow. They were far above them, high above all the land. In a rush, they were now descending rapidly towards one of the peaks. Within seconds, a broad shelf emerged below. In the vision, she flew down until they landed on the shelf and Perin could see a cave cut into the side of the mountain. As she watched, the view turned until Perin saw a stunning view from the edge of the cliff. Looking out, there were smaller peaks and in the distance the green of the land. Fields and forests, rivers and lakes. It was breath-taking. She was trying to take it all in when it started to fade. Her vision cleared, and she saw Haerth open his eyes to look into hers again.
I would see my home again. Just one more time, and then I would happily pass from this world. If you can truly end my service, I am with you.
Perin traced her finger on Haerth's rough red chin and released him. Bracing her hand on the edge of the bowl, she looked back into the Elixir. The reflection now was just herself. The same as she imagined herself to be. Reaching out again, she touched the surface. The liquid was wet, tingly, and warm. There was resistance and it surprised her to find a pressure pushing back on her. Her finger felt the surface, but couldn't quite break it.
Perin pushed, but found it unyielding. Slowly, she extended the rest of her fingers until her hand was spread out across the surface of the liquid. The tingly feeling extended until her entire hand felt it, not just the part making contact with the surface. Perin closed her eyes and felt for the power of her magic. It was there, but when she willed it to come so she might dip her hand deeper into the Elixir, something unexpected happened, like never before.
Flashes of light in her head, interspersed by windows into another world. It was like looking into a house as you rode by on your horse as fast as it would go. Nothing was clear, but she recognized some things she knew.
The broken wall of Darkholm Keep.
Trace standing with people she didn't recognize under the tower in Olmsheld.
Sanj and Yola marching behind a long trail of others.
A dark mountain under a stormy sky.
The wizard, Karven, on a throne of stone.
Trace and Yola, in a battle to the death with someone.
Haerth flying high above a rising sun.
There were many other places and people, appearing and gone so quickly it was difficult to grasp what she saw.
Finally, there was an image of Marda. This one hung in the air before her. She was in front of her fire, stirring something in her great black pot. Marda turned to face her and seemed to be saying something, but there was no sound. In the vision, Perin saw her own hand reaching out towards Marda. Her hand was there, in Marda's cabin.
Marda released her spoon and took a step towards her. She reached out her hand and Perin felt it in her own, as sure as it was the day they first met. Words passed into her head not as sounds, but as thoughts. Marda's thoughts were her own. Perin felt worry, then comfort, then peace. With a last squeeze of her hand, Marda let her go and she was rushing back through all the images, seeing them again in reverse order. The last image was of Haerth, standing above her in a crystal cave, the last thing she remembered before she collapsed to the floor.
Chapter fifty-nine
Gathering Forces
Those who plant in tears
will harvest with shouts of joy.
The Book of Psalms 126:5
Trace
Every day more volunteers streamed into Olmsheld. Tez and Puntah were organizing them and training them. From what Trace understood, the plan was to march north towards Dontain. They hoped to avoid battle, but Puntah believed a show of force would give them leverage to demand freedom.
Trace didn't know what they would find there, but he joined them in their desire to avoid a fight. The men and women he'd seen were willing, but far from a fighting force. Sure, most of the men previously served in the army, but it was obvious for most of them that was a long time ago.
"You look troubled, Trace."
He looked up to see Mavis watching him. Trace sat in his regular post the last two days, at a bench on the other side of the square from the tower. If Perin came floating out of that tower, he wanted to be there to meet her.
"Do you ever wonder if you made the right choice?"
Mavis sat beside him, his grizzled face curling into a smile. "I try to avoid it. When you've lived as long as I have, you learn the danger of regret. Best to move on and look ahead. Tomorrow has enough trouble for itself without carrying the weight of the past. Puntah says they plan to leave in the morning. Are you going with them?"
"What do you think of this plan, Mavis?"
"A year ago or before, I would have thought them all fools, but something's different. It's hard to put your finger on it, but you should have seen those soldiers when our men stood up to them. They had no fight. They didn't want any part of it. Now, is that the same everywhere, and most importantly, in Dontain? I don't think we can know for sure. My fear is this is too much, too soon. I know they've been able to free Serta, Olmsheld and, from what they say, Riverbend. Dontain is the center of the Dominion's power."
"I want this all to be over. I wish Tantem was here. He always seemed so confident. If I knew everything was going to come out okay in the end, I'd feel a lot better about it."
Mavis slapped his knee. "Now that's just the world we live in, my boy. We live our lives. We take chances. Sometimes that involves risk, even serious risk. We can't know the outcome before it happens, but still we have to press on. This is a path you have before you. Do you go north with the Fringe or hang around waiting here for something to happen? One of these choices is the right one. I could give you my opinion, which isn't worth much, but I can also tell just by looking at you that you aren't a man who lives his life waiting around for it to happen to him."
A large group of travelers entered the square. Trace opened his mouth to say something else to Mavis, but instead hopped up and started walking towards the group.
"Lemmy! What are you doing here?"
Amidst the group of a couple of dozen was Lemmy's familiar face. She smiled at Trace when she saw him walking towards her. "Trace, so good to see you again. Is Perin with you?" She must have caught the expression that crossed his face because she immediately followed up with, "Oh no, has something happened?"
"We should talk. Are you here to join up with Tez and the others?"
"Yes, I talked it over with Freta. I knew I wouldn't rest if there was something I could do to help. Not after what happened to my Sam. Another group left, and I decided to join them. Where's Tez?"
"They're organizing people into groups north of the city."
Lemmy turned back to a man in their group and Trace realized they'd all stopped and were watching her interaction with Trace. "You heard him. Tez is to the north. Drath, can you take everyone up to meet him and tell Tez I'll be along later?"
