Novels2Search
Second Tier Sorcery
Chapter 67: Run for cover

Chapter 67: Run for cover

Chapter 67

"Arbor, this is Oak; Rowan is in full sun. I see a thunderstorm on the horizon, but I'm missing my cloak. Hail stones are falling, and a fog has rolled in. You're going to want to call the kids in. We're already soaked, and I'm worried the forest is catching fire," Cid had been up about ten minutes, long enough to get a potion down.

"This is Arbor; you should come in from the rain. The storm sounds bad. Acknowledged Rowan, glad they're in the full light of day. You're missing your cloak?" Came a strangely distorted voice from the crystal.

"I've lost it, for good," Cid gripped the crystal and shook, shutting his eyes tight.

"Doors open, and the fire is warm. Get here when you can and try to stay dry. Watch for sinkholes. We'll check in with our friends." Riley cocked her head at the strangely cryptic speech.

"Oak, out," Cid replied.

The crystal dimmed as he rubbed at his jaw.

"You've got one hell of an uppercut, son. How long was I down?" He asked before sagging against the tree behind him.

"About twenty minutes, maybe more. Are you going to make me do it again?" Tobias let his hand fall loosely to the hilt of his sword.

"No, son, no, and for what it's worth, I'm sorry," Cid replied, looking down at the dirt.

"It doesn't mean spit. You want to make amends, get us to Ranger Central. We've got bigger problems than your grief right now," Tobias lectured.

"Can we all just reduce the testosterone in here by 20%, please? It's been a shit day, and we still need to move. You stop being a psycho," Riley lifted a paw accusingly towards Cid.

"And you quit being a bastard," Riley thrust her paw at Tobias, drumming angrily, "We might be all each other has, and I'm two steps past worthless right now."

"Riley, you aren't worthless," Tobias' words popped with anger.

"Right now, I kinda am. I can't cast, but I'm working on it. A lot is going on in my head right now and I'd like to just hang around and fall apart, but I put it before the committee that we run like hell for safety. It's a species thing to not want to get eaten."

"What's testosterone?" Cid asked as Tobias shrugged.

"It's a Rileyism. If you were meant to understand, she'd explain it."

"I'm right here, you know!" She protested.

"Like I could miss you?" Tobias chuckled and knelt to pet her ears back.

"You don't need your magic to be worth something to me,"

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

Riley pressed up close to his chest, "Thank you, I love you too, ass."

Cid's hand was shaking again as he watched in quiet agony.

"Ok, you're in command, Ranger," Cid dug into his rucksack and pulled out a weathered and battered patch of vellum.

Rolling it out revealed a map that, to Riley's vision, glowed brown at its edges.

"We're here, see the blue marker? It follows this stone," Cid pulled a small rock from his rucksack and handed it to Tobias, "Ranger Central is up here. I'd wager we could be there by the morning if we push it hard today."

Tobias looked up through the thick canopy and found the sun, "We got underway about 10 bells, and it's getting towards high sun now..."

Rubbing at his chin, he looked down at the map, "Yeah, morning, if you can run."

"I'm heartbroken. I'm not dead," Cid stood and brushed off his pants in emphasis.

"Riley, do you have space for extra gear? The lighter we are, the faster we can travel," Tobias asked, snapping to business.

Riley pulled at her interface. "I've got nineteen slots open."

Cid emptied out his rucksack, handing his dimensional bag to Riley. Holding her paws out, it vanished away as a prompt flared to life.

You have stored a dimensional bag within your dimensional space, holes within holes! Your storage has been augmented by fifteen slots. Be warned, this power has a limit, and you can equip no more bags at your current level.

"I've got space!" She cried, hopping over to the small pile, vanishing it away.

"At least I'm good as a beast of burden," She said, keeping it to herself.

"Alright," Tobias referenced the map, "We move north by northwest over that mountain, then turn east. From there, we'll cut a straight line to central."

"That's going to slow us down by a few hours," Cid cautioned.

"It might, but I want to spend as much time under the forest canopy as possible. Once we get over that saddle, it should thicken up again, by what I'm seeing here." He surmised from the map.

"Aye, it does; Ranger Central is in a hidden valley surrounded by four peaks. You're worried about the hawk?" Cid asked.

"More than anything else. We don't know the full extent of its capabilities, but I've seen enough. The thick canopy should diminish their ability to spot us from the air. Even if it doesn't, that should prevent her from hitting us in a surprise attack. We take no chances and maximize our advantages," Tobias said.

"Agreed, so what are we standing around for? Zorna, come!" Cid's eyes went wide as he realized what he had done, leaning against a tree, catching his breath before looking back towards Timbergarde.

"Cid, I'm counting on you here," Tobias cautioned.

"I know, I've just not been without her these last 23 years. It's hard to think she isn't there, but I can feel her missing," He tapped a spot over his left breast. "It feels like someone cut the heart out of me."

Tobias set his hand on Cid's shoulder in support, "We'll have time to talk about this, but for now, set the pace."

Cid nodded in agreement before taking off in a well-paced run, with Riley and Tobias following closely behind.

The morning wore on, and the forest thinned with the air as they climbed, finally breaking out onto a ridge line. Far in the distance to their southwest the tower of Timbergarde rose up like a mountain in its own right.

Tobias stared up towards a fierce azure sky while they rested beneath a rocking outcropping.

"No black specks," He announced.

"No cry either," Riley said, catching her breath.

"We're well past high sun, and there's no sign of pursuit. We should be clear to push on. Do you still want to cut east?" Cid asked.

Tobias narrowed his eyes as he looked back, "I'm convinced we aren't being tailed. Riley?"

"I haven't heard or seen anything either, and the only thing I smell is you two." She replied.

"Well, then let's go direct. We're well off the roads," Tobias agreed, taking a deep breath before beginning the jog again.