When Goslin woke, he saw Emeryn sitting by the fire. A bowl of cold venison sat on the ground before her. Emeryn was gently, almost reverently, caressing the ground with her outstretched fingers. She was the only one awake.
“Good morning,” she said without looking up.
Goslin went to sit next to her. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I’ve lost an arm.” She ran her fingers across the smoothness where her left arm used to be. “It’s surreal. Almost feels like I still have it. Thought it was all a bad dream at first.” She nodded down to the bowl. “Can’t even eat.”
“You were very brave,” Goslin said, putting a hand on her shoulder. “I’ll help you.” He grabbed the bowl, scooped some of the venison and held it up for her. She raised an eyebrow.
“No shame in accepting help, dear Emeryn.” Her eyes glittered as she gazed into his, and then she closed her lips around the spoon. They sat in silence while she ate.
When the bowl was empty, she said, “I feel so—” She stopped, her eyes welling with tears. She looked small and frail where she sat hunched over on the ground.
Goslin threw his arms around her shoulders and hugged her close to him. Her breath hitched against his cheek. He breathed deep. She smelled like roses despite spending days on the road without a proper bath.
“It’ll be okay. You’ll be okay. You do not need to go through this alone.” He gathered all the courage he could muster. “I’ll be by your side for as long as you’ll let me.” Goslin felt Emeryn’s wet tears against his own cheek as he pressed in close. He turned to face her, her green eyes shimmering. “Emeryn, I—"
“Morning!” Kax shouted from the other side of the fire. Emeryn pushed back against Goslin and stood. She wobbled slightly, still ungainly from the loss of one of her arms.
Goslin held out a hand to steady her, but she shook her head slightly. He sighed. Whatever moment that had lingered between them had passed. “Morning, Kax.”
“Em, you’re up,” Heylien said.
“I’m up. What’s left of me.”
“Don’t talk like that. You’ll be fine. Geomancy only requires your feet, remember?”
She chuckled and looked down at her boots. “A little cold for that now.”
“You’ll be okay,” Heylien repeated, echoing Goslin’s earlier words. He looked between her and Goslin with a ghost of a smile on his lips.
She nodded. “I’ll be fine.” Emeryn looked around at their small camp. “What happened when I was out of it? Where’s the old man? The servants?”
“Goslin sent the rest away. Didn’t want to endanger them any longer. Not sure where Heradion went.”
“He left,” Sarien said, sitting up in his roll and stretching. “Late last night.”
“Good,” Lana said, hugging her knees to her chest. “Never trust a pyromancer.”
“You need to get over it, Lana,” Hart said, a little gruffly, as he stood and stretched. “It was one pyromancer during a tournament, no one was seriously injured.”
“He got me,” Kax said.
“That wasn’t the first time one of them tried to hurt my friends,” Lana spat, narrowing her eyes. “It’s for good reason that I don’t trust them. Good thing our Sarien here isn’t one or—” She made a sharp slicing motion with her hand.
“What do you mean?” Goslin asked.
“A lawless pyromancer was contracted by one of my father’s rivals when I was a kid. She, the pyromancer I mean, set fire to our villa while we slept. My family escaped in time, but several servants died. As did our cat, Meowsers.”
“That’s horrible,” Emeryn said.
“I wasn’t old enough to remember most of it, but I can still smell the stench of flesh burning. My father’s rival is at the bottom of the sea now, but we never got the pyromancer. I hope to track her down one day.”
“What is her name?” Heylien asked.
“Mia.”
Everyone fell silent, then Sarien cleared his throat. “You asked about Heradion. He told me a little about what I can do with my powers, and I think he knows my father.” Sarien spent the next few minutes recounting what Heradion had told him.
Goslin sat back in surprise. He had never heard of these powers before. The only ones that have ever manifested in Maydian involved the four elements: fire, wind, water, and earth. Also, healing, which was somehow related to water. But, what Sarien was telling them was something different altogether.
“Kax,” Hart said, standing. “I’m not comfortable with you and that sword.”
Kax looked up at the much taller Hart. “I’m not giving it up.”
“Don’t make me—“ Hart began.
Kax drew out the obsidian blade. “What? Make you…what? You even asked Sarien for one of your own, didn’t you?”
Hart looked around at the others. “I didn’t know.”
“Enough!” Goslin yelled. “What’s done is done!”
“There’s a luison in my spear,” Sarien mumbled. “It pushed the bandit out, or the monster killed him.” Goslin saw Emeryn flinch.
“I’m sure you’ll figure out what to do about it,” Goslin said. “There’s nothing we can do about the luison now or the bandit. Let’s just leave it.” Goslin paused before continuing, “I don’t understand the other one, the white flame? What do you mean, wayfaring?”
Sarien shrugged helplessly. “Heradion wasn’t exactly open with what he knows, but it has something to do with traveling between places and even worlds.”
“Worlds as in more than one?” Heylien asked.
“That’s how I understood it,” Sarien answered. “There’s also this sort of reverberance or resonance with my power sometimes, like when Daisy appeared. I’ve felt it before.”
“What do you mean?” Goslin asked.
Sarien replied, “I don’t know. Was up all night thinking about it, and I have a theory.”
“Let’s hear it,” Tomford said. He looked more rested, almost back to his old self, except puffiness around his reddened eyes. Goslin expected it may take a long while until his friend recovered from the loss of his mentor.
“Gates.”
“Gates?” Kax and Hart asked in unison.
“Yes,” Sarien said. “Or openings. Holes. Rips. The power makes me feel and connect with these openings, because they lead to other places. Worlds.”
All the others sat in stunned silence. The crackling of the fire and rustling of leaves from the nearby trees were the only sounds Goslin heard.
“Do you think we could pass through one?” Kax said, breaking the silence.
“Don’t be an idiot,” Lana said. “Even if we could, why would we want to?”
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“To get away from this one, obviously. Think of the adventures we could have!” Kax said eagerly.
“So, you’re saying Daisy is from another world?” Hart asked, scratching behind the dog’s ear. Daisy thumped his tail against the ground.
“Yes,” Sarien said. “And those monsters, the luisons. I didn’t feel that strange sensation, like with Daisy, but I think that’s because we weren’t close to the gate they came from.”
“Well, I have never seen or heard about anything resembling those creatures,” Heylien said. “Even if I didn’t see them myself.”
Kax shuddered. “You shouldn’t be sorry about that.”
“No,” Goslin said. “I have never heard of anything like them, either.”
“You could be right, Sarien,” Tomford said.
“This all sounds ridiculous, but I can’t think of a better explanation,” Emeryn agreed.
“And you’re saying you can make one of these gates?” Goslin asked.
Sarien nodded. “From what he told me, I think so, maybe. They’re a part of me, or what’s inside me.”
“Perhaps you shouldn’t open one,” Kax said. “What if more of those monsters spill out? With the pyromancer gone, we’d have a tough time dealing with them.”
Goslin flattened his lips. Kax was being kind. If Heradion hadn’t shown up, they’d all be dead.
“There have been reports about strange things happening all around Eldsprak. Perhaps these gates are the reason,” Goslin said, thinking back to his father’s letter. “But why would they be appearing now? Does this mean that there is someone else with your power?”
“I believe so, from what Heradion was saying. Or there was. Maybe my father knows,” Sarien said. “Sounds like he’s involved in this somehow.”
Kax nodded solemnly. “Da knows best.”
“This means that whatever is in Primie Woods could be like those creatures, and not just more bandits,” Heylien said, as if thinking out loud.
“We better be careful then,” Goslin said. “Em, are you able to ride?”
She nodded. “I’m ready to get out of here.”
Goslin was relieved to see that Emeryn’s spirits had improved since earlier that morning. She even told jokes that made Kax blush brightly, lifting everyone’s sullen mood.
Tomford also laughed, though his face was still peaked from exhaustion. He drove the wagon, which allowed him more time to rest. Goslin couldn’t stop looking back at his friend and watched with dismayed wonder as Tomford cut himself with a knife and healed the wound over and over with an intense grin on his face. Sometimes he even laughed aloud to himself, a joyous sound of discovery.
Heylien continued to ask travelers they met on the road if they came from Primie Woods, but no one did. This information, or lack thereof, seemed to bother him.
When they found the road that led deep into Primie Woods, the group dismounted and gathered by the side of the road. The path stretched ahead of them, disappearing in the shadows of the trees. Quite a few people traveled into the woods, but Goslin was disturbed to note that no one walked or rode in the opposite direction.
“What do you think it means?” Goslin asked Heylien as they watched the backs of people continuing on ahead of them.
Heylien shook his head. “I don’t know, but I don’t like it.”
“They can’t all be dying in there, do you think?” Kax asked.
Goslin sighed. “Should we stop them?”
“How would we? Do you want to stay here and guard it?” Lana asked from where she sat on the ground, testing the edge of her daggers. “They’d just go around you.”
“You’re right,” Goslin conceded. “Let’s hurry. It’s not noon quite yet. Do you think we can make the village before nightfall, Heylien?”
The archer squinted up toward the sun. “From what I heard, it’ll be close.”
“Let’s hurry along then. I don’t want us caught out camping in the woods tonight,” Goslin said. Whatever hid among the trees spooked him, though he wouldn’t voice his concerns out loud. There was no need to frighten the others.
Also, Goslin was looking forward to a hot bath. Even with vigorous scrubbing in the stream the night before, he still felt like he was covered in filth. His skin itched when he thought about it, and he couldn’t entirely push the memories of his childhood away. The outhouse. He could still smell the sour stench of urine and feces and hear his brothers’ laughter echoing over his screams.
“A moment, please.” Everyone looked around before realizing it was Lien, Tomford’s instructor, who spoke from up at the wagon. Goslin had forgotten that the man was still with them. “I’m leaving.” The short man eyed the road that led into the woods. “You are cursed. I will not be among those dead you leave in your wake. I’ll continue on to Kleotram from here, instead.” He jumped down from the wagon with his pack slung over one shoulder.
Tomford looked down after him. “But I already paid you.”
“I will return the coin,” Lien said, rummaging through his belongings.
“No need,” Tomford said, holding up a hand. “I’m just disappointed.”
Lien brought his palms together in front of his chest and bowed in farewell before returning down the road they came.
Kax cleared his throat. “What do we do about the wagon?”
“Gather your gear and some supplies,” Goslin said. “We’ll leave it here. We’ll move faster without it.”
A downtrodden farmer passed by, pulling a hand-drawn cart. “You want a free wagon and horse?” Kax asked, startling the farmer.
They rode off before the farmer had a chance to reply. Goslin glanced over his shoulder and saw the farmer gently stroking the horse’s neck. Hopefully, the man would find good use for it.
Goslin and the others passed several travelers on the road. Most of them were farmers carrying grain, potatoes, or other spoils they were hoping to sell to villages along the road. With fall approaching, it was time to stock up for the winter. Goslin knew that the farmers must be desperate to be traveling with their wares so late in the season. He made a point to stop and purchase some supplies from those they passed.
Dusk crept closer as they made their way through the forest. Birds that chirped and tweeted during the day fell silent when the shadows grew longer. They’d long since passed those traveling by foot, cart, or wagon, and Goslin had a sense of being very small among the tall trees. He couldn’t help but glance left and right, into the woods, as the eight of them kept on toward the village, trying to beat the dark.
Goslin wasn’t the only one nervous, he caught several of the others glancing around them as well. He had the strange sensation that they were being watched.
Goslin blew out a breath he wasn’t aware he was holding when they spotted the village.
Sarien spoke up, breaking the silence. “There is something out there, I can feel it.”
“A gate?” Goslin asked.
“If I’m right about how my powers work, then yes. It’s faint, deep into the forest.”
It soon became apparent to Goslin that something was wrong in the small collection of houses along the road that made up the unnamed village. Every window was boarded shut, all doors firmly closed, as they rode by.
“Do you think they all left?” Goslin asked. No one answered. Emeryn rode a little closer to him.
The only sources of light were those they carried. Lana held up a lamp. Kax, Hart, and Goslin carried torches.
Hart dismounted, walked up to the door closest to him and banged on it with the back of his fist. The sound of his knocking faded away. Then, they heard something…a whimper.
“It came from inside!” Emeryn yelled, her voice tight.
“Are you injured in there?” Goslin asked through the door. When no reply came, he ordered Hart to break it down. Hart smiled and drew his sword from its sheath.
The door shuddered, shaking the whole house, as Hart landed his first swing. A second swing splintered the wood. By the third, someone inside yelled a muffled “Stop!”
Goslin held up a hand and Hart waited. He leaned closer to the door. “We are here to help. Please open the door.”
It took the man a moment to get it open, and it swung on screeching hinges to reveal utter darkness inside. A weary man of Sarien’s father’s age stepped out. He was clean-shaven and bald with thick eyebrows that almost touched in the middle.
“You should leave,” the man said looking warily at the woods before turning his gaze on Goslin.
“What is your name, my good man?” Goslin asked.
The man stared for a moment as if not comprehending the question, then relented. “I’m Larsen.”
“Larsen,” Goslin said. “We have been sent to liberate you from whatever ails this village. Please tell us what is wrong.”
Larsen peered past them into the forest. “It’s out there. Always watching.”
“What is?” Lana asked.
“We want to help you,” Emeryn added. Kax had also dismounted and was leaning against the house, seemingly without a care in the world. Heylien was nowhere to be seen. Goslin swallowed a curse. He should have told Heylien to stay close. They didn’t know what was waiting for them in the woods and Heylien was foolhardy enough to try to scout out the creature first. He trusted the man and his skill, but there was something about the eerie stillness that made Goslin’s skin crawl.
“I thought Fyrie sent those fools from yesterday. You should talk to Rowan,” Larsen said. “The mayor.” With some gentle coaxing from Emeryn, the man agreed to leave the safety of his house to show them the way to the mayor’s.
From the look of his simple house, the leader of their village didn’t live any differently from the ones he oversaw. His house was much the same as Larsen’s. They were constructed out of brick with sloping roofs, each with two floors, two windows at the front, and a wooden door.
Geomancer built, Goslin thought. Like created from a mold. He’d seen houses built like this before, but never thought he’d find some in a village as remote as this one. He wasn’t quite in the right mindset to appreciate their simplicity and efficiency, not with the silent forest surrounding them. Not even the insects buzzed. It was unnatural.
The mayor required even more coaxing to answer his door. Not even the sound of Larsen’s voice put him at ease.
When Hart threatened to break down the door, the mayor relented. He was a short young man, not much older than Goslin, with long black hair that curled in waves, almost like a woman’s. His high cheekbones and small nose only added to his androgyny.
“I’m Rowan,” he said, once Goslin introduced himself and the others. Rowan glanced around and sniffed the air. “You should come inside.”
Larsen scurried back to his own house as they entered.
Rowan ushered them all in and locked the door behind them. Goslin was surprised to see the young man lower a thick plank of wood across the doorframe, barricading them in, before he rushed off to light a single lantern. He turned it down low, casting only enough light for Goslin to make out Rowan’s nervous shadow.
When he caught Goslin’s puzzled expression, Rowan only said, “It’ll know we’re here if it sees the light.”
Goslin cleared his throat. “What is happening here? Your man, Larsen, spoke of others sent from the king?”
“A troop came here a few months ago, but they never returned from the forest. Yesterday, two pyromancers arrived with about ten royal soldiers. They entered the forest but have not yet returned. Now here you are. You should just leave us to our fate.”
“And what fate is that?”
Rowan looked at each of them in turn before answering, “The trickster beast.”