Avandor's Gift

It took two days for us to repair the damage to Lishpa’s ship. We set sail thereafter without any more delays. True to their word, the changelings Noran and Nivraél led the other sailors into the open water and away from Envladane. Lishpa chose to remain with me.

We were now seven days at sea and as tumultuous as my last journey was, this one was oppositely calm. No storms raged, no beasts attacked. The waves were sometimes so still that it seemed that we sailed upon the surface of a sky-glazed mirror.

The water is not right. Observed Greyshanks to me one night.

It troubles me as well. I said as I looked at the reflection of the moon, which was like a silver eye staring back at me.

I should have made you go back to Gé Addar with the others. Your cub must be in want of your company and guidance. I said after sometime had passed. I sensed an air of melancholy emanating from her thoughts and I tried to guess at its source.

I am exactly where I should be. My cub has been weaned and isn’t in much need of me. What I cannot give, his sire shall provide. She replied in clipped tones, meaning that she no longer wished to prolong the argument. I obliged and together we continued in our individual brooding.

Two days later we were on land. Nivraél docked in a cosy cove brimmed by the pine wood forest. From here he said we were only two days away from Talithá.

Two days, the last time I was here, it took me two days to get to Talithá as well. I looked about me eagerly to see if I recognised a single a landmark. I then stopped. The last time I was here, I was blind.

I have failed them. From the day I left this place, I haven’t returned. It is no wonder a revolt brews here. How can I face a people I abandoned for so long? I said making my thoughts known to Greyshanks.

You sent ambassadors that communicated between here and Indué. You also spoke often with the spirit of the Great wolf.

He told me that I should come back, but I didn’t listen. He stopped speaking to me a few months ago. I should have found it strange, but my attention was being pulled in so many directions that I didn’t even notice. How could I have been so inattentive? Surely I haven’t treated everyone this way?

You were often deep in your sorrow and silence. It was expected among your subjects. I detected a hidden melancholy behind her words as my neglect hurt deeper than she let on.

I am sorry.

It matters not anymore. You are here now. We will right the wrongs and ensure that mistakes of the past do not repeat themselves in the future.

Yes. I said as I became more pensive.

“This is wild land. Nature itself wants to bar us from our destination.” grumbled Lishpa mostly to himself, as he stopped to remove another thorn that was stuck in his hand. The undergrowth of the forest was thick and every so often we would have to carve our path out with our swords.

My mind was so engrossed by chopping that I paid little attention to anything else, so much so that I was surprised when Greyshanks’ consciousness brushed against mine.

Evander, do you smell that? She stopped suddenly with her nose in the air and both her ears swivelling from side to side.

“Smell what?” I asked. Lishpa and the two changelings stopped their cutting and looked back at us.

Smoke, something is burning.

“Something is always burning here, Llyn Morir.” The volcano had suddenly gone dormant, but the smell of sulphur and ash still permeated the air.

No! That is not it! She said swivelling her head to the left.

“I smell it too.” said Noran who also started moving to the left.

A flash of orange burned behind my eyelids as I felt the heat coming from an inferno so great that it singed the hair on my face and melted my skin until it formed bubbles all though it was still dozens of feet away.

“Noran no!” I shouted at him. “Lishpa you are weaker than all of us, get on to Greyshanks’ back now.”

“What?” he turned sounding alarmed.

“Now!” I said with an air of command that he dared not disobey.

Evander? Questioned Grey and I let my vision flow over to her. She no longer hesitated and allowed Lishpa on her back.

”What is it Grey Mage?” said Nivraél.

“A fire, great fire heading our way. We need to run or we will be devoured.” I said. A flash of concern was etched on both faces of the changelings.

“Where should we go? Back to the sea?” asked Lishpa who was now settled on Grey’s back.

“No, the sea is too far away and it is not our friend.” said Noran.

There was a sudden crackle coming from the distance, followed by a cacophony of caws. We looked up and for a moment the sky was blotted out by hundreds of wingers.

“How far are we from the pool?” I asked.

“The Pool of Contentment?” asked Noran.

“Yes,” I said.

“It is about two miles that way.” He said pointing in the opposite direction from which a thick cloud of smoke now issued.

“Let’s go then.” I said turning to leave.

“But the pool...” he started.

“Drown or burn?” I said harshly. There was a sudden explosion that came from behind us which punctuated my assertion. Deer, boars and other wild animals suddenly burst around us in a maddening confusion of movement.

He still was hesitant and looked at Nivraél for advice. Another explosion sounded behind us and I looked up in time to see a flaming ball hurdling towards us.

“Noran! Run!” The burning log tore off the crowns of a nearby canopy and sent us scattering for cover.

“The pool, the pool!” I said waving everyone forward and I encountered no resistance this time.

Grey with her incredible speed was bounding ahead of us. The changelings and I weren’t to be outdone however, as the magic suffusing our blood gave us the stamina and speed needed to pound along the forest floor.

As fast as we were, the inferno matched us. The angry flames formed a formidable wall eating away at the vegetation, leaving nothing in its wake.

I swerved left avoiding hundreds of flying missiles as a sapling exploded. I rubbed my cheek as the flying embers showered down burning small holes in my skin.

I was not sure how much longer I could keep up this pace. The smoke was strangling my lungs and my eyes watered from the noxious fumes surrounding me. My hip hurt from where it had been struck by the spear and blood had started soaking through the bandages.

I looked over at Nivraél and Noran, who were also slowing. I cringed slightly as I saw a tree topple along their path, separating them. I was concerned as Noran disappeared behind the burning trunk, but was instantly relieved as I saw him bursting forward, rejoining Nivraél.

I felt another pull acting strongly up on my consciousness. Finally. The pool was nearby and calling.

I saw Greyshanks in the distance. She was struggling as she held Lishpa’s cloak in her mouth pulling him back. The forest floor suddenly ended and opened up to the mouth of a precipice.

Grey what are you doing?

His mind isn’t his own, the water seems to be affecting him.

Grey was a wild animal the pool didn’t have the same effect on her as it did us.

Let him go and jump. I said still running towards them.

What?

Do it Grey! She complied immediately. Lishpa of his own accord threw himself over the cliff. Noran and Nivraél emerged from the trees and within seconds were also airborne.

“Grey jump!” I said. The wall of fire was only a couple of feet behind us now and I felt the skin on my back sting. She still hesitated. I rushed past I grabbed hold of her thick mane her pulling her along.

The sky around us exploded in a titian wall of heat and ash. The pool amplified its siren call as we hurdled ungracefully towards its crystalline depths.

Drown or burn had been my ultimatum. I had escaped the burning, now I hoped to Avandor that I didn’t drown.