Protesting roars filled the air, the dhara grew more restless with every step forward. Even Erres could no longer urge the creatures forward. To take them any further would be a detriment. Only hours passed since the band woke and set out, but as Erres said, it wasn't long at all before they neared a foreboding destination. Rock had begun to scatter among sand, and even though there was still enough to make for a hard surface to walk upon, it not too long they would be traveling upon dunes.
“Gather the armaments and armor of your choice; consume the remaining rations if you’re hungry and ensure we have the necessary magic prepared.” Erres turned, pulling crates from the back of the dhara, rummaging through them. He pulled from them a whetstone and dagger, beginning to sharpen it as the others began their own searching. Farra tugged on her mail-shirt beneath her tunic, adjusting it to better fit her tails. She glanced over the mage's shoulders while he rummaged through a particular crate Farra knew to hold the dagger she practiced with. He turned around with a smirk, feeling the presence of the feirin hanging over his shoulder, procuring a large knife stashed in a leathery scabbard.
“Looking for this?” He smiled and handed the weapon off to Farra, turning back to continue searching. After Farra took a moment to examine the dagger, unsheathing and examining the sharpness, she re-sheathed it to observed the numerous arcane trinkets and oddities the mage sifted through. Parts of creatures, herbs, scrolls, and most of all, ink. Most inks were black given the lack of light, but Farra was able to perceive some marking upon each, likely to label what each might be.
“Farra go over to Kaladin and ask him what the elemental originations are for the triangulation rune.” Her ears twitched, unable to comprehend the meaning of what the mage said, but committing each word to memory. She turned back, continuing to observe the other soldiers as her feet carried her across softening ground, toward Kaladin. She caught Gare's eye, whom sat atop a crate, eating. “Make sure you're not hungry, going into danger distracted is a mistake.” She smiled back, using both her hands to catch a tuber Gare tossed her way, taking a moment to stop and bite into it as she continued on. The feirin did not feel hungry, but at the same time she was wary of how long they may be traveling for without food or rest again.
The tallest member amongst them remained hunched over a crate, his hand holding his chin as if in deep thought. “Truly we have brought a touch too many supplies. In the mind of Erres it must be better safe than sorry I suppose.” He muttered under his breath, some vials clinking against one another when Farra neared.
“Kaladin, what is the elemental origination for the triangulation rune?” He turned, furrowing his brow and inspecting Farra for a moment, matching the words he had just heard to the individual. ‘Teilve must have request it,' he thought to himself. “Take these, one for yourself, four for the others. It is a dust we regularly use to rouse the dormant enchantments whether they are upon scroll, surface, or blade. The origination is both water and earth conjoined with sky, for it is water that flows through land, paving it how it please. It is earth that forms the frame for which we travel upon. Then it is through the sky, back to the Oracle, upon which we will spirited away. Utilizing the blood of the iliomat as a medium will suffice.” Farra blinked, nodding her head and taking the sacks of dust, attempting to recount Kaladin's words to herself as she stepped back to head over to the mage, the bags of dust she held weighing on her. She found their weight to be heavy compared to the dagger or even the sword she tried to hold prior to resting. And so on the path back to Teilve, she opt to drop a bag off for each member.
Erres took the dagger from her belt, unsheathing and examining its edge. “Drop the bag here and return after you finished those deliveries.” He scraped the dagger across a whetstone possessing the slightest of glimmers. Farra very much liked the dagger how it was, but she found no reason to contest the lord's words. She nodded, turning and meandering to a Verrika apart from the group, who was absorbed with sweeping flourishes and skillful maneuvers.
Farra's eyes twinkled, admiring the grace and finesse with which she seemed to glide across the ground. Despite her wearing greaves, each of her steps made not so much as a sound. Rather than practice, it felt like a performance for Farra. The rapier in Verrika's hand would elicit a faint faded-blue glow only when her motions sped. A reverberating icy whisper traveled along with that blue glimmer, the cold more inviting to Farra than what was becoming of the darkness. At last Verrika’s stance and movement became lax, turning to Farra. Despite her face being covered by a silver helmet, Verrika's glee from having Farra as an audience was unmistakable, and despite her words surely being distorted to some degree by the helmet, to feirin's ears they came clear.
“...Farra, hello Farra.” A gauntlet rested on Farra's shoulders before she blinked.
“Ah, sorry. I was distracted. I came to give you this, Kaladin told me to.”
The knight opened a gauntlet, taking a single sack and securing it to her belt. “Many thanks, continue on.” Verrika turned back, stepping back out from Farra’s proximity and continuing her exercises.
Farra's encounter with Gare was remarkably short compared to either of the previous two. He turned his head, holding out a hand once identifying the sacks Farra held. Without a word, only a nod from each party, she set it down in his palm. She stepped back to watch Gare now digging through the a crate that was of an elongated length, dwarfing the other crates in terms of length, but not height. From it he heaved an axe with a haft more than twice Farra's height. The head was wide with an impressive outward-spanning arch. A protruding spike adorned the top of the axe, as if continuing the handle a bit further, possibly serving as a means to impale if a situation called for it. Toward the back of the axe the metal darkened, emblazoned with several markings that Farra had similarly seen on both Erres' blade and Verrika's rapier. The short sword with which Gare chose to train Farra remained in a scabbard attached to Gare's waist. All along Gare’s belt Farra saw numerous other weapons, of sizes similar to her dagger. The only object that was not an armament was the sizable brown pouch Farra had given him.
She turned away, the load in her arms much lighter after dropping off three of the four sacks, the fifth given to her was secured to her waist by means of a hook.
“Your name is Teilve?” She inquired quietly, walking up behind the mage who had seem to come no further in deciding how to organize the number of trinkets he was bringing. “Ah. Did Kaladin tell you? It is not my real name, but one taken as a mage.” Under his cowl there was a smile, his hands reaching to relieve Farra of another pouch. “Does that mean then Kaladin has a different name as well?” He shook his head, returning to sorting small, glimmering beads engraved with the markings of Farra observed many times prior. “Kaladin is of demonkin. Even if by most accounts he would qualify to be a mage, he is in fact not. Not to suggest demonkin can’t become mages, they just tend to naturally possess traits that others would confuse for that of a mage. With enough bad luck, you may see the differences between us soon. But I understand it can be quite confusing to anyone not particularly privy to our ways.” Teilve chuckled. “Oh that's right, what did he say?”
Farra halted for a moment, then trying to piece together the number of words Kaladin uttered. “Water and earth, conjoined with sky...because water flows and earth is the land. Then we travel through the air?” Her voice drifted into uncertainty, looking to Teilve for some measure of confirmation. “Was that all?” He looked back to the crate of goods, reaching for certain inks. Farra mustered her voice once again in a hushed and embarrassed voice. “I forgot many of his words, though now I recall, he said something about iliomat blood.” Teilve's movements quickened like someone piecing together the rest of a puzzle. “Yes yes, iliomat blood, that all makes sense. I apologize Farra. When he speaks, Kaladin can be quite long-winded. But that is something that sets us apart already. I wouldn't have the patience for recounting every detail necessary, even when mages sometimes need to. Take this.” He smirked turning and handing her a purplish herb. “Eat it to sedate yourself if necessary, you see in the lands beyond ours, some things can become quite unnerving. We've found it to be rather helpful to have this herbs on hand to keep our wits about us.”
The feirin swallowed, “Sedate? And what kind of things.” Teilve chuckled again, “Sedate means to calm your senses. Things are strange horrors that sometimes lack a common description of any creature or otherwise we regularly come across. Or even harrowing dreams that can occur outside Belthemot's dominion. Speaking of which, how did you sleep?” Farra remembered Verrika and Erres both asking the question when she first woke, she had not come to think much of it, and neither elaborated on the matter further. “As sound as I have since arriving at the quarry. Is there something more to it?”
“Interesting, I think elaborating on it now would be the proper time if any, though it might make you a bit paranoid. Within our lands and company the very aura of Belthemot repels nightmares so common in the darkness. As one ventures outside lands of Belthemot’s dominion further and further, we've found some soldiers begin to ramble and unnerve, even some of us have had...peculiar dreams. Still, we've come to approach it with the idea that if you commit yourself to our protector, his favor will be an aegis for you in kind. Whatever malevolent forces reside in this world, it seems to prefer picking at lone individuals and staying away from the influence of our god. When you explained your time as a lone child at your tribe, it was a very impressive survival instinct in you, staying out of the darkness when you could.”
Farra slipped the purple herb into a pocket of her tunic, taking to heart every word Teilve uttered. “Would this mean there is some evil god in the darkness?” The mage handed her another clump of herbs, one more purple, but the others of varying colors. “The red suppresses pain, the yellow provides a bit of energy if you are hungry, and blue will provide the slightest amount of healing. Don't rely on them, knowing when you're feeling pain or discomfort your body trying to tell you something after all. And hunger will eventually get to you even if you try to stuff yourself with the yellow ones. And to answer your question, it's not impossible. Finding out something like that could be part of the reason were out here with Lord Erres.”
“And the other reasons?”
“To test you of course, and find whatever is beyond these sands.” Teilve stored numerous objects within his robes, an additional bag wrapped over his shoulder that he began to stuff with herbs, vials, and more trinkets. He smiled again toward Farra, speaking hushed, “Farra, the fact Lord Erres has brought you out here with us, given the danger, in place of what could be another soldier should inspire a bit of confidence in you. I know not how the others feel, though we can all guess Verrika's thoughts, but what little Erres has spoke of your gift for prediction I feel is remarkable. Whether it be you not wanting to return to being a slave or you wishing to show your worth, settle those thoughts for now and simply focus on what is ahead.”
The solemn words crept into Farra's ears, Teilve had been the most grandiose and joking member of the band to this point, and so hearing these words made the hairs on Farra's tails and ears crawl ever so slightly. “I need to return to Erres for my dagger.” She remembered, nodding at Teilve with neither speaking a word more. The mage rose to his feet, standing tall before looking in Verrika's direction and calling out, “Maybe you should eat again after all that dancing.”
Farra hurried with a light step around the side of a dhara, finding Erres situated behind, twisting the dagger about to examine every side, giving one edge two long scrapes against the whetstone. “Did you choose this dagger because you trained with it?” Erres spoke without turning around, dipping the dagger into a crude bowl containing some liquid. He took care to not scrape any edge of the dagger along the bowl, instead twisting and shifting the bowl around, eventually turning It down to dump the liquid down along the blade, letting it seep down to the shaft before wiping the substance away with a cloth. She spoke to the lord with a murmur. “Maybe. It felt the most comfortable for me.” His hand reached into the sack Farra earlier delivered, pulling out a generous lump of dust and trickling it along the blades edges. A soft purple glow began to emanate. “Then in that case your decision cannot be faulted. Keep the dagger sheathed unless you need to defend yourself, though I doubt it would happen, the dagger may betray our position from the light. This enchantment will simply ensure the dagger's fine edge is kept longer. It's the only weapon you have, it would be troublesome to find it useless.”
The lord rose, a faint red hew glowing out of his blackened armor, he picked up the same blade Farra saw him with at the quarry, not nearly the size of Gare's axe, but far out-sizing any other weapon beyond it. “Farra, we won't be counting on your ability in its entirety. Given the time we've been together, even if we knew you had a great mastery over it then our communication would prove troublesome. When we are in the desert, we will be silent unless an order needs be given or happening needs communicating. You however, are to call left flank, right flank, below, behind, front, along with one of our names if you see anything approach.” With every direction said, the lord pointed with his fingers, to ensure no misunderstanding of directions. “Keep your words brief, a single moment in combat often decides the outcome. Should your ability extend the way we might expect it, then it could help avoid a grievous injury. I'm sure the coward Teilve is, he already gave you a purple herb. Do not hesitate to imbiber it if you think it may help your concentration. Pride can be the downfall of any warrior.” Erres glanced back into the crates, then reaching and unraveling the rope from around the dhara before speaking aloud for the entire group to hear. “Set the dhara free, finalize what you wish to bring, leave what we cannot and lay it over an entrapment.”
“Yes my lord.” All four affirmed the order, Farra standing at Erres side in awe as they rushed about, not running but with a pace that vindicated the lord's choice in a guard. In less than a minute, the dhara were free of any restraints. The crates were gathered and left sitting atop numerous pieces of symbol-inscribed parchment.
“What will happen to the dhara?” Farra looked the direction of the creatures, traveling directly opposite of the desert. “They are resilient creatures that once lived in the darkness. They will find their way back to one of our outposts, knowing it is a reliable place for food.”
The two turned to the desert, the wind was silent, but the lack of noise made the darkness all the more foreboding. While the rocky plain was shrouded in shadows with the occasional formation protruding and mountains discernible by the outline of moonlight, ahead was a blackness whose only outline was rising dunes.
“Farra will be centered between us. Teilve and Kaladin in the rear. Verrika left flank. Gare right flank. I will stay in the van.” All affirmed the order, including Farra with a quieter voice. They stepped forward, and in less than a hundred steps the softening gravel beneath them disappeared, each step became heavier as the sand provided a softer footing.
Erres tread forward onto the shadowy dunes. Following not far behind was Farra with the rest of the soldiers forming a winged formation around her, Gare and Verrika a bit farther from the group than the rest.
An ominous yet gentle wind set in. Dust scattered about Farra's knees. The shoes and trousers Verrika chose for Farra did well to shelter against the blowing sands. Even when the soft sand gave way to every one of Farra's steps, the feirin's feet were light enough to avoid a heavy imprint into the ground before taking another step. The bottoms had a certain looseness allowing Farra to freely shift as if not wearing any leggings at all while still providing protection. Verrika had told her that though many of the soldiers wear what seems to be excessive and uncomfortable armor, they in fact wore the amount each individual warrior felt necessary without being too compromising of comfort or movement. The knight stressed that regardless of the scenario or task, while movement had its obvious advantages, if one lacked focus due to improper or weighty attire it would give way to uncharacteristic openings.
Farra kept her eyes forward with a sharp gaze. Through her mind the steps of the soldiers she had come to regard as friends flowed. Their motions, from periodic coughs or their heads turning to twitching movements in some manner, all were within Farra's mind. She constantly observed their impending actions. But Farra took care not to stress her mind by considering the minuscule details or what these small maneuvers might lead to. It was a more tiring ordeal than she was accustom to, but the occasion invigorated and demanded every bit of her focus.
Coming to perceive the immediate future was her only gift that set her apart from anyone else she felt; but even then its uses had seem so limited until now. Her tribe saw no purpose in it, no reason to consider it a compensation for her lack of magical talent. She lacked any sort of method or means to simply 'turn it off', and so over her thirteen years of life, for as long as she could remember, her mind became familiar and comfortable with the mental processing. But at this moment she was utilizing it unlike she ever had previously. She was taking care to observe, not her friends small movements, but the possibility of attack, and how she should react if attack happened. The direction it would come from, what she would say, how her body would react as well. She lacked the strength to make use of her ability herself, but it occurred to her that Erres intended for them united, to utilize her sight.
A cloud of worry filled her mind. ‘What if I fail to tell them what is happening. What if it isn't enough? What if my sight fails?’ She swallowed, clutching at her tunic and focusing back ahead. Erres explained the directions for this reason, to bridge a lack of communication the group may have with Farra. If they had spent a longer time together, becoming familiar with and use to each others actions, then perhaps Farra could provide better guidance. But this simply wasn't the case. They were vesting their trust in her by willing to bring her into the midst of danger when instead, they could have brought another capable and trained soldier when their lives seemed to be at stake as well. She had no choice but to trust in their abilities as well, though she had little idea of what they were.
By this time since waking, they had been crossing the desert longer than the rocky plains. The silence was devouring. Erres would at times reach for the handle of the blade secured to his back, seeming as if he expected an attack at any moment. Verrika would glance Farra's direction with a nod. Despite a lack of any threat presenting itself, the quiet and focus of each soldier both stressed and encouraged Farra to be vigilant. Time could feel no slower for the feirin in this unfamiliar danger, reminding her of shying away from the dark when residing alone. It was at this same moment she felt the darkness carry a faint whisper, an unrecognizable and indiscernible whisper that sent a chill through her body. She hastily slept her hand into a pocket of her tunic, fingers brushing and beginning to curl around one of the purple herbs given to her. Instead, she pulled her hand from her pocket holding nothing, pausing for a moment to take a deep breath and calm her senses. Her tails batted up and down. All but Erres stopped and looked to her.
Verrika called, “My lord, please halt for a moment to let Farra...”
Farra's ears perked, glimpsing something within her sight as Erres turned from slightly ahead of the group, at the same time as Verrika was speaking to grab his attention, and the rest of the soldiers had a brief moment of relief from walking.
Its nature, form, and shape, Farra's mind put together as many details as it could. It matched the description of a monster Teilve and Erres had described in shape, but the features felt different.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
The feirin screamed. “Verrika, left flank.” Farra cut the knight's words short. Without any hesitation, Verrika turned, drawing her rapier and dashing back.
“It's some kind of worm.” Farra continued, before silencing herself to focus on the movements around her. The sands churned. From them a large worm-like monster with a toothed maw surged forth from the ground with a piercing screech. Connected to its gaping mouth were four claw like-mandibles, sharp to a point. Verrika felt Farra's distance close behind her, the maw closing in. The knight reached a silver gauntlet into the sack, flinging forth dust followed by a swift stab of her rapier just as the mandibles would reach her. The blade shined a brilliant light blue, and from it a blockade of cold and hard ice emerged outward from the rapier, halting the worm's drive and encasing each of the four claws in a connected brick of ice. The worm tried to push forward, then retract back. Its mandibles squirmed the smallest amount within the prison. The moment afforded each soldier a closer look at the creature, Teilve and Erres both rearing their heads with apparent disgust. Verrika stepped aside, pulling her rapier from the ice extending from it.
“Step aside,” Gare spoke curt. He found a gap between Farra's position and the creature, rushing forward. Farra shuddered, fazed by the horrendous monster before glimpsing the result of Gare's actions. “Wait. Don't cut it—move back now Gare after you've cut it.” She conveyed her words in a panic, but in sync with every one of Gare's actions. In the midst of leaping on top of the ice prison, bringing down his axe on the worm, he succeeded in halting its momentum to where it only delivered a light wound to the top. His eyes squinted in examining the cut for the briefest moment, then dodging to the side and avoiding a flailing clawed tentacle that emerged from the flesh. “What do we do then?” Gare swung his axe sideways, slicing the tentacle off before stepping off the ice. The remains of the fleshy appendage dissolved into its frame, while the cut tentacle writhing on the ground melted into the form of a worm with a clawed mouth.
“We flee. Fighting this and whatever else lies in these sands isn't what were here for.” Erres motioned the soldiers forward, Farra shivering before Teilve reached into her pocket, forcing her to imbiber a purple herb. “Your ability is something. Though I cannot imagine how hardened your mind must be to see things when they don't turn out well.” Farra's body steadied, managing to swallow as every soldier was able to look at the flesh monstrosity. Teilve walked closer to the small wriggling worm.
“Allow me a moment to test on this disgusting thing Lord Erres.”
“Then make it quick, we have no business lingering here.” Erres turned, continuing toward a rising dune. Farra walked at the urging of Verrika, the feirin keeping her head back and observing Teilve muttering something. Farra knew what she was going to witness in those next few moments. From the head of Teilve's staff spewed forth a cone of fire, spilling onto the smaller worm and incinerating it. The mage turned, picking his step up to catch up with the walking group. “Fire seems to work well.”
“How long will the ice keep?” Erres glanced to Verrika to address her, turning back forward to focus on what might lie ahead. “Long enough, it is a question of whether we can make enough distance for it forget about us, it didn't seem to budge from it any significant amount.”
Kaladin spoke. “That is if it is a creature that forgets. Forgive me if I remember incorrectly my lord, but that worm, aside from shape, seems nothing in the likeness of which you and Teilve discussed.”
“Then it was put here by someone?” Verrika replied,
“Pick up our pace. There is nothing to say that it was not a wild monster transformed by the darkness or some other twisted manner.” Erres drew his blade, holding the large sword in one hand.
As they descended the dune, each looked at the vast darkness lying before them.
“Farra, how are you feeling?” Erres turned down to her.
“Fine I believe. That worm was terrifying.”
“Make us aware of impending danger just as you did before, we will handle the rest, anything more will strain yourself unnecessarily. We will hold a quicker pace for the time being, to distance ourselves between us and that worm. There's no point in rushing lest we fatigue ourselves or wander into a trap, there may be more ahead, and we know not when this desert ends.”
They walked with a stride down the dune, resuming the formation they maintained before, albeit closer this time. The feeling of urgency carried in Farra, the encounter with the nightmarish worm and the prospect of there being more. The darkness crept, even though her friends were close by, she felt an eerie whisper like the one from before.
“Please, talk. A bit.” Farra said with a curtness similar to Gare's.
Verrika glanced in her direction, looking back to the left.
“I'll allow it.” Erres affirmed her request. “Do not drop your guard.”
Teilve unabashedly took the opportunity. “That thing was of nightmarish origin. You all saw it as much as I did. The way its skin was like a flesh wall, scales similar to what we expected of a worm were along some of its length.”
Verrika blinked in her helmet, dropping her head for a moment, “Teilve, when Farra asked us to talk, I don't think she meant about the encounter we just had.”
“Anything is fine. Just don't be silent.” Farra cut in, a shiver in her voice. “I'm hearing these strange whispers when it's too quiet.”
“I'm glad you pointed that out, I hear them too. I think something doesn't want us to be here.” Teilve rummaged through his bag, pulling scrolls and beginning to tuck them into various openings tucked within his robe. “Does anyone else hear them?”
Verrika and Gare both shook their head, Erres responding with a curt ‘no’.
Kaladin spoke in the same manner as always. “I do as well, though I have taken to blocking them out, they seem to serve no purpose other than irritate and intimidate.”
“Then two people proficient in the magics and the feirin. I would say someone or something has a penchant for things magical, but Farra has no such capabilities.” The mage turned, speaking to Kaladin.
“If that is your vein of thinking, then perhaps Farra's sight is enough to attract the interest of such an individual. Or perhaps it could be because she is young.”
“Now that you mention that, there's just too many possibilities with Farra, but Gare, Verrika, and Lord Erres not hearing anything while we do certainly suggests something.”
“Yes. Would you associate the appearance of that monster with the whispers Teilve?”
“There's all sorts of things in the unknown darkness, I wouldn't necessarily count it as such, but the timing is a bit inconspicuous. Suppose it was. Who went and turned a worm into that, or raised that thing? What kind of magic would that even be?”
“Perhaps Lord Valen would have knowledge to share with us in this regard. Farra's capability is undoubtedly a boon as well. Though Lord Erres anticipated the advantage of knowing a burrowing creature’s direction of attack, having a walking stick when blind is an even greater blessing.”
Teilve nodded. The wind died when Gare drew his axe. “Feels like every time something changes we ought to be ready. Maybe one of you should pay attention to those whispers, see if it's giving anything away.”
“Easy to say for someone who-”
A shriek echoed from underneath the sands in front of them.
“How kind to make its presence known.” Erres, clutching his blade held the shaft with both hands. “Kaladin, enchant.” The demon obliged, holding the metal staff forward and filling the edge of Erres' blade with a crimson glow. Each rune engraved along the blade began to shine a maddening red in the dark, mixed with one faint blue rune. “Belthemot, bestow your children with your might.” Erres screamed. Faint red winds enveloped all five soldiers as the lord's war cry filled the darkness. The whispers vanished from Farra's mind. Her eyes widened when a worm, bigger than the last surged forward and out of the sand, preparing to consume Erres in one dive. Verrika dashed to the feirin's side, pulling her from the way of any sort of collateral the knight believed would result. With a swing of his blade, Erres let loose a raging cyclone of crimson flame. His blade cut through and tore two mandibles from the worm. The ferocity of his swing and fire halted the worm's movement, it collapsing to the ground as nightmarish sights began to unfold. Flesh after piece of flesh attempted to peel away and become its own, but the flames continued to envelop and wrap the worm.
“The shriek may have been a cry to others. We will run now, be ready to execute the teleportation spell should the need arise.”
“We cannot run nearly as fast as you or Verrika, Lord Erres.” Teilve shrugged, beginning to run forward, taking hold of Farra's hand and pulling her along. “Show me why you’re a soldier Farra.” Teilve smiled under his robe, turning and examining the horizons when Verrika and Erres quickly caught up along side them.
“I will keep the left, Verrika press ahead, and Gare hold the right. Teilve and Kaladin are responsible for Farra. She will communicate what needs be as possible.” Verrika nodded and blitzed forward past the side of the burning worm.
“If you cannot run, tell me and I will carry you.” Kaladin spoke to Farra as they began a rush behind Verrika alongside Teilve. Gare kept in pace along their right while Erres glided along their left with ease.
The high-pitched shrieking of the worms filled the air again, deafening for the moment they persisted. Farra overcame her sensitivity to the noise. “One left flank, two ahead.” She had little time to think or convey what she saw, names would have to be forgotten for the moment, she felt smaller worms rushing to them in larger numbers. Verrika filled her hand with dust, finding the worms as they rose from the ground, scattering it on their flesh and mandibles, freezing them with a flourish of her rapier then continuing forward. Farra watched in amazement, from the corner of her eye a brilliant crimson flame beginning to burn. She had subtly doubted the capabilities of each of these soldiers, but began to understand why Erres was a lord and these others were his trusted court.
“Three right flank. One left flank.” Another crimson glow filled the corner of her eye, while Gare swept with his axe through the worms. Their flesh rolled forth, attempted to claw at the armored man, scratching against his chestplate to no avail. With a second swipe of his axe he hacked the flesh from their bodies to a state where it was no longer a threat. The flesh remnants of the worms began to crawl toward each other, congealing together.
“Let's not stick around to find out what happens shall we?” Teilve turned his head back forward and ran alongside Kaladin and Farra, pacing his breath between words.
“if you go too far... I can't see as quickly.” Farra yelled with an exhausted breath. She lacked the training for this sort of running, and between rushing and trying to be mindful of the actions of each soldier and the way the very sands shifted, her mind tired. She reached into her pouch, pulling from it a yellow herb, trying to bite into it while she ran.
“You need only say you are tired Farra.” Kaladin swept the feirin from her feet, seating her on his shoulders. “Though I practice magics, a demon such as myself is of fine physical physique. Running like this, though I can only move so fast, bears less fatigue than it would others.” Kaladin spoke without a trace of effort, as if he had been resting the entire time. But it was true as he said, despite this, his pace was much slower than that of Verrika or Erres. From the perch, Farra felt her focus return, no longer having to be concerned with the physical stress, instead focusing on her mind. But despite all her focus, there was perfect quiet within the sands. She became worried, perhaps they were coming en mass all at once. Or perhaps her ability had begun to falter from all the stress.
The thought of how far they had crossed the desert entered her mind, how long would they have to continue like this. She pushed the thought aside, but as she did the hairs of her tail stood, Kaladin jerked from feeling the twitch in her movements.
“What is the matter?”
“Beneath us.” Farra stammered aloud. The three soldiers turned. “Behind you all as well.” Kaladin and Teilve had already begun to move, the mage throwing a scroll at the ground beneath them and the other caster reciting an incantation. Farra felt a knot in her stomach, Her vision of everything within both eyes and mind blurred as the surroundings jerked. She had been instantly turned the other direction, or so she felt. She fell from Kaladin’s shoulders, kneeling over on the ground, puking as she tried to look about in tears. Where they once stood, a worm, exceeding the size any other previous rose from the ground. A behemoth, large enough in size to have devoured the mages and Farra all at once. Teilve smiled as it let loose a screeching cry, from within its flesh a red glow emanating. He turned back to Farra, handing her a red herb. “We had considered this possibility long before, our apologies for subjecting you to the discomforting magic that is short-range teleportation. It has very limited uses, as you may be able to tell why.” Teilve knelt over, dripping sweat from his face. Though Kaladin stood tall, the jerk in movements pushed him to take deeper breaths. “Such an accursed magic.”
The worm obstructed their vision of both Erres and Verrika. They turned to Gare who finally had resorted to the engravings along his axe, and from it a blackened-gold back half of the axe formed. He swung it without relent, slashing at worm after worm with his double-sided axe. The enchantment was not of fire, and so the worms momentum would stop, and they would launch again at the man in an attempt to bite into him, only to be met by surprisingly quick successive swings of the axe.
“You have to burn them you fool.” Teilve pounded the sand before standing to his feet, pulling another scroll and spilling dust across it. A long sword conjured purely of flame rose from the scroll. Teilve thrust it Gare's direction at a worm in such a fashion that showed a lack of finesse. The long sword nonetheless struck into the length of a worm, in a perfect position for Gare to draw and use.
They turned back to the giant worm that had sat still as a pillar erect in the air, it finally let forth another screech, beginning to reel itself back into the ground. “Easy as they might be to burn, there's just too many, we need to depart at once, especially before that big one returns.” Teilve brushed his robe. Kaladin picked up Farra as she remained curled over the ground, sweating and gathering herself. Verrika came into view as the worm buried back into the ground, ice and fire ornamented the sands.
“I made a misstep. I apologize.” Verrika walked, a deep gash lie on her gauntlet, signs of her forearm being pierced. “I still can use my rapier, let's not dwell on this.” She stepped forward, Gare coming back closer as the long sword dispelled.
“Where's Erres?” Gare let out a grunt, feeling the dissipating flames singe his armor and hand.
“Over yonder. He found something.” Verrika pointed with her arm, the fifth of them pulling together and headed to a Erres who stood tall, looking out at something. It was when they neared they immediately stopped, discovering the gaping abyss Erres was staring into stretching as far wide as the eye could see. The sand ended, barely hardening into a cliff.
“We head home, prepare the teleportation ritual.”
Farra looked on with dismay, the prospect of another teleportation, this time long-distance as opposed to short from what she understood. Still, the idea of being out of danger was far more enticing, enough to shake her discomfort away. Kaladin and Teilve delve into the vials of liquid they brought, beginning to mix it with half the dust Kaladin had saved. Teilve spilt dust across a scroll, creating a makeshift platform of earth on the sand upon which they could work. A circle was inscribed with blood, followed by numerous runes. Varying trinkets were placed upon the circle, removed at different times once symbols were complete.
“From below.” Farra muttered. Excluding Farra, the soldiers scattered from the cliff side and from atop the thin platform of stone. In an effort to dodge the worm. Farra scrambled over the ground, unable to move her legs quick enough. Verrika turned back, dashing forward as the ground sank, the platform of earth along with it.. She grabbed Farra's hand with her capable arm, attempting to pull her from the maw before it consumed the both of them. As she reached back with her pierced arm, one of the mandibles sliced through her gauntlet, cutting the knight’s arm. Farra looked in horror, attempting to balance her feelings with what her mind was seeing. Her body was frozen as they dropped toward the grinding maw, but her mind and instinct told her what needed to be done.
When Verrika's arm was being cut, Farra reached for her dagger, slicing the pouch of dust that had been full to this point, spilling the contents inside the gaping mouth. She let go of the dagger dropping it into the consuming darkness, reaching for Verrika's rapier as they descended and taking hold. The rapier felt light to the touch, it was no harder for Farra to wield than her own dagger. She focused her mind, swiping it as they fell. The dust scattered all about them. The air glowed a brilliant blue as ice extended forth in every direction, impaling all around and freezing the flesh of the worm. The ritual circle it devoured had accelerated its unmaking, the dust scattered all the way down, causing a gradual freeze all along the worm's innards. The worm could not retract into the ground, instead it crumbled limp along the sands, Farra and Verrika tumbling within its maw. They were covered in blood, fluids, and ice, nearly being clawed by monstrous teeth. Erres jetted forward, seeing the ice formed all around, beginning to hack at the teeth in his way. Gare and Teilve both followed swiftly. Teilve reached, pulling a Farra, shrinking away in horror covered in viscous fluids while holding the rapier. Her eyes shriveling with a terrified gaze. Erres dropped his blade outside of the maw and ventured in, wrapping his arms around Verrika and pulling her from it.
“I-I'm sorry.” Farra whispered to Teilve, shaking and curling on the sands. He shook his head, turning and throwing numerous different trinkets he had held onto until now. He crumbled a scroll, throwing it inside the maw, holding his stave up high and setting a fireball forth. It erupted, melting away the ice, but before the worm could make anymore movements from its injured and defrosting wounds, before the flesh could reform or split, its entirety caught ablaze. “Grab her.” Teilve turned to Gare. Erres had already set out with Verrika's arm wrapped around him toward Kaladin who stood toward where the circle once was, new sand already replacing where the earthen platform once stood.
Gare carried Farra, behind them another blaze lit the darkness, searing over the flesh of the worm, burning all along the sands.
“Kaladin, is there any way to complete the teleportation?”
“With uncertain ground, I fear not. I fear that if we fail it once more we will be doomed here given our limited supplies.” He shuffled through a bag, pulling from it more vials then pointing to the dust at Erres' side. “With what remaining dust we have left, and we will likely need all of it for the ritual; there is still the issue of proper footing.”
“Can you or Teilve not just procure another platform with your energies?”
“That we would have been wise enough to bring a second scroll. But even then there is the method of simply setting sand aflame. But I fear neither of those protect us against the possibility of the ground they lie on once again becoming undone. Even a single shift or mistake in the ink may doom us."
Verrika rose her head with a smile, her eyes conveying an intense agony. “Where's my rapier?”
“Here.” Gare handed the blade to her, pristine and shining despite the predicament she and Farra emerged from.
Verrika pointed the rapier toward the cliffside where they stood over when Erres interrupted. “You can't, your body is in no shape for using your own magical energies.”
“Shh...it has to be done. This rapier is affixed to me. I am just a knight after all. You are our Lord and future of the War Faction, Erres.” Her body shimmered and the rapier glowed once more. A perfect circle of flat ice materialized, floating off the cliff’s side. Verrika slumped over on her rapier, pulling her helmet off and tossing it to the side. Her breathing grew heavier with each moment the circle maintained itself.
Kaladin spoke before beginning to etch the symbols, stepping onto the platform. “Verrika, though you are in no condition, I fear I must ask that you suppress your magics to the perfect amount to not emanate from the platform and only within and below ice. If they spill onto the runes and activate them prematurely, then the effort will be in vain.”
She nodded, blood dripping from her lips. Kaladin began to inscribe the circle and runes upon the ground, Teilve joining the inscribing with a grave look after returning from incinerating the worm. Verrika spoke, seeing the shivering Farra and her comrades all with dismal expressions across their faces. “Besides Lord Erres, you know this girl Farra, she's quite something. I bet Valen would take a liking to her.” Farra's terror subsided, her nerves calming as she came to understand the situation, seeing the blood flow from Verrika's mouth. All remained silent, allowing Verrika to speak as she pleased. “To die in service to you Lord Erres, that is the greatest pride for me. So please, continue that dream of yours.” Her lips shut, hand clenching around the rapier. Teilve and Kaladin nodded to one another, all of them felt a gaze on them from a distant place, somewhere inside an arcane sanctum. They stepped inside the fluorescent lines of the circle, Erres pulling Verrika inside to ensure she would be caught in the spell, the rapier remaining behind lodged within and sustaining the ice. The lines of the circle glowed in a brilliant white light, the darkness of the sands faded, and everything within the circle disappeared.