Chronicles of Den'dra: A Land Torn: Ancient Powers Awaken (18 page)

“
How do you know what is inside this dispatch?” Brounn was still examining the dispatch.

“
Some of them you can open a little and see some of what is inside but others have the edges folded over the writing before it gets folded for sealing and you can’t read those. Sometimes you can hold them up to the light and make out what they say if the parchment is thin enough. I couldn’t read this one but the chancellor gave me this one and as I was leaving I overheard him tell the other courier that the Asgare wasn’t going to be hiding in the Draeld for long with half a garrison hunting him.”

“
Hmm, we will have to hurry if we want this one to arrive ahead of the other courier.” Brounn thought for a minute.

“
Don’t worry about the other courier. His horse is probably lame by now from the nail I put in its hoof and there aren’t any replacements on his route. You actually want this delivered?” Enthack queried.

“
As you said, there is no way around this. What can be done is change where the soldiers will be looking.” Brounn handed the dispatch back.

“
How are you going to do that?” Enthack was a little puzzled.

“
You are going to do it. Don’t worry about your neck. It should remain attached to your head but you need to do exactly as I tell you. First you need to go to the cobbler near the square in the center of town. The one with the old sign out front. Not the one with the new sign. Tell him that you need a toy made for an old friend. He will know I sent you. Tell him that you need a copy of a signet ring made from a seal. Show him yours and the dispatch. When he has what he needs then go south by way of the Vaulwar road and stop in Alerad. Tell the innkeeper of the Red Steed the shadows are alive and that the Gargoyle says a man with green eyes and black hair was seen with a blond blue eyed lad going north. When he writes the letter deliver it to the commander in The Forks. That should send the soldiers to the west instead of the south. There is nothing over there but dragons so it shouldn’t do any harm.”

“
Old Morbur works for you too?” Enthack had listened to the plan with surprised expression and asked when Brounn had finished.

“
He sends me letters every now and then. A few years ago he asked me what to do after he had been approached as an informant for the chancellor. I told him to accept. I get a copy of everything he sends to the chancellor.” Brounn sat back

“
Thanks for trusting me. I will do exactly what you told me to.” Enthack stood up and prepared to leave.

“
I don’t trust you yet. Trust has to be earned. It isn’t inherited. I shouldn’t need to warn you that the Asgare has escaped armies in the past and is more than capable of hunting you down and eliminating you should you betray him. By the way don’t come back here again. Soldiers aren’t seen often in this part of town. If you need to contact me let the cobbler know. He should have a seal available for you next time you pass through Warton. Bring him as many seals from the other informants and commanders as you can.”

“
Do you have a back door that I can leave by?” Enthack didn’t seem ruffled by the threat.

“
Second plank to the right of the cabinet will let you out into an alley by the street next to this. Brounn watched Enthack leave before getting to his feet. He hoped that the young man was as intelligent as he seemed. The nail in the other horse hoof was a stroke of genius if executed properly. Enthack needed as much of a lead as possible if he was going to be able to succeed. The evening was just falling when he felt the familiar tickling at the edge of his consciousness that meant Emeck was trying to make contact. The lad had talent but hadn’t developed skill yet so the communication was one way only and Brounn was fairly shouting the message in his mind before the sensation departed.

Chapter Fifteen

“
Draceros, I'm sorry to have to tell you this. Nyet and I have taken a liking to you but...” Peren paused as he searched for the right words.

“
If that is a problem I can stay away from Nyet.” Cero interrupted the awkward pause.

“
That is not what I mean. It’s just that...”

“
That the rest of Skelceri doesn’t like me being here. I understand. I'm a stranger and they aren’t used to strangers.” Cero felt a pit forming in his stomach. He had enjoyed the relative safety that the village provided but had always been unnerved by the suspicious glances he met on almost every face.

“
I really am sorry. If I had a say in the matter then you would be welcome to stay. The council of elders called a meeting yesterday.” Peren’s expression showed that he was indeed feeling badly about the whole affair.

“
I know that I am a stranger and all but what exactly what are they worried about?” Cero was intimidated by these people and couldn’t imagine what they might have to fear by his presence.

“
It’s complicated. One reason was that when we first sensed you it was like a beacon for any of our kind. They are afraid that somehow you might betray us to the King if it happens again. Another was what was happening before you woke. I don’t know exactly how to describe it. You spoke in the old tongue and wandered. Not physically. We could sense your energy sometimes in your body and other times somewhere else. Somewhat like what we shadow walkers do but you were doing it during the day. Then there is the fact that no shadow walker can come within a few feet of you without being returned to their body. On top of that there have been several groups of soldiers who have been ranging through the Draeld wilderness searching. We even believe that there is one or two people who have been able to hide themselves from our shadows. Campsites with fires are found without any people. The council is inclined to fear things that they can’t explain so they want you to leave.” Peren finished his explanation with a sad smile.

“
I don’t remember any of it. I wish I knew what I am so I could control it then I wouldn’t be a danger. Do you have any idea where I should go? I'm hunted everywhere north of the swamps.” Cero contemplated his options.

“
There are the outlands. They are usually isolated from most events in the Braebach.” Cero knew what Peren was talking about. The outlands was a strip of coastal land east of the Garoche Mountains that was not good for more than grazing livestock. Several small fishing communities dotted the coast. As long as they paid their taxes they weren’t often touched by the events of the Midlands.

“
How should I get there?” Cero had heard horror stories about the dangers met in the Badlands and the Sand Sea.

“
There really are only two ways to get to the outlands from here. The maps that I have seen indicate that the easiest way would be to go around the north end of the Garoche Mountains but that isn’t really an option for you. The other two options are to skirt the mountains at the Badland’s northern edge or to follow the coast around the Sand Sea. Neither option is a good option. The first route is infested with dangerous land and bandits. The other one has little to offer in the way of drinkable water. You would need to carry a half dozen water skins and stock up at every fresh water source you come across. To tell the truth, I wouldn’t advise either one.”

“
I think I would rather avoid running into anyone. How many people might I run across by following the coast?” Cero recalled his several unhappy meetings throughout his flight.

“
I have heard that the only people that are likely to be seen are occasional fishing vessels. Everything in the Sand Sea will either sting, bite or perforate you so people tend to avoid the region. There are a couple springs that drain into the ocean that can be used for water along the way. You will have to pass through the main part of the swamps that way though.” Peren furrowed his brow as he thought about the dangers presented.

“
I think I will go around the Sand Sea. I can leave tomorrow morning if that is alright.” Cero resigned himself to what he had been expecting for the last few days since waking up.

“
I wish you the best of fortune and pray that the shadows will always be kind to you.”

*****

With the new light of the morning Cero left Skelceri behind him. Peren had provided him with a sturdy pack and all the water skins that could be spared. On top of this Cero had been equipped with a hunting knife, an old hunting bow with a couple dozen arrows and enough food to last for weeks if carefully consumed. Cero was now better equipped than before he had lost his possessions when he had been captured by the trackers. The pack was decidedly heavier for the additions but Cero was glad for the kindness that he had been shown.

There were no trails besides those forged by wild animals once the outlying village garden plots were passed. Tricks that Cero had learned years ago of telling direction along with his own keen sense of direction kept him headed southward through the trackless wastes. The drier patch of ground that the village was built on was soon left behind and replaced by the swamp proper.

The smells of rotting vegetation and stagnant water grew stronger as Cero threaded his way past the muddy patches. Here and there the mud was supplemented by pools of dark water. The green flat meadows that Peren had warned about could be seen on occasion. Most of them looked innocent enough but others had holes in the vegetation that betrayed the dark waters beneath.

In one spot Cero had seen a deer approaching one of these spots. It sharp hooves had pierced the edge until the deer had been knee deep before it began nibbling on the green mat. Cero had an arrow notched with the intention of acquiring some extra food when what he had taken for a log suddenly lashed out and twisted around the startled deer. Himself startled by the sudden movement Cero’s arrow had been released prematurely and buried itself in the giant snake. The python writhed and twisted around the deer before they both sank through the mat leaving a hole not unlike those Cero had seen in the other ponds.

Cero shivered at the idea that a snake could become so large and took extra care to avoid any more of these ponds. Sometimes it was difficult to avoid the ponds and on approach he saw on more than one occasion several serpents undulating towards the far side of the pools. Cero was unable to comprehend the behavior. Once he found a snake sunning itself on a rock. When he was no more than a dozen feet away the snake had suddenly slipped off the rock and slithered away in the opposite direction. Cero assumed that the fearsome creatures that had been described were little more than timid animals that fled the approach of man.

Still not all made sense. There were too many coincidences. Cero recalled how the first the wolves had fled and the hounds had refused to approach. The shadow walkers described a feeling of fear and pain when they had tried to approach. Now the deadly serpents seemed to fear his presence also. Perhaps, he thought to himself, his power was that of defense from dangerous creatures. Not that it mattered much. It did allow Cero to proceed with a degree of confidence and now that he thought about it, he couldn’t recall ever having been attacked by an animal. The life of a popper had placed him in many situations where he should have suffered the wrath of angry animals however none had done more than bark.

At the end of the first day Cero had covered miles of the Draeld. Now there was more swamp muck than dry land. The trail often sank into the mud and required him to backtrack and find another dry path. It was getting dark when Cero discovered a small rise that was dry enough to sleep. A tree that had once lived on the rise provided enough tinder for a small fire. Warmed by the fire and munching on a piece of cheese Cero relaxed and started getting drowsy. Sleep was forgotten momentarily when he detected movement out of the corner of his eye.

Cero glanced up and saw one of the shadows standing on the edge of the circle of light that the fire cast. He calmed himself after a moment and the shadow cautiously approached. He was fairly sure that it was Peren checking up on him. This was confirmed when the shadow moved between the fire and a large flat rock. The shadow cast was oddly like the map of the swamp that they had studied the previous evening. It looked like an image of the map as seen through the distortion of moving water but it was recognizable. Cero saw a brighter spot on the map that was somewhere halfway between Skelceri and the southern edge of the Draeld. The river that Cero was heading towards was briefly highlighted before the image disappeared along with the shadow.

From what Cero had been told, Peren must have been at the extremes of his limits in order to maintain the projection. Working in groups the shadow walkers could roam the majority of the Draeld but alone they were far more limited.

When Cero awoke in the morning the swamps were blanketed with a thick fog that restricted vision to only a few feet. He coaxed the embers in the fire back to life and waited for the fog to burn away. Peren had said that it usually didn’t last past noonday during this time of the year. If it had been winter then it was more likely to go weeks without seeing the sun. Peren’s prediction came true after a couple hours and the fog lifted enough to permit travel. A haze obscured everything but the sun’s position in the sky but Cero had enough of his bearings to move out again.

Today Cero had to watch out for the patches of quicksand like mud that would prove a slow inescapable end if encountered. It became increasingly difficult to keep to dry land and in spots the stagnant water was refreshed by sluggish streams. After a few hours of navigating this Cero realized that he had to be nearing one of the tributaries of the river that he was planning on following to the coast. When evening again caught Cero he stood on the banks of a dead stream at its confluence with a wide but shallow sluggish river.

Peren’s warning concerning the dangers of drinking the water were not difficult to heed. The smells of death and decay clung to the water and made breathing the air nauseating. Sleep that night was fitful and interjected with dreams of snakes, muck and putrid water.

Morning was again obscured by fog but now that Cero had found the river there was no need to wait for the fog to lift. With a long stick in hand he was able to find solid ground and on several occasion was able to vault the small tributaries. This practice ended in catastrophe when the pole snapped and dropped Cero in the middle of the stream. He was soaked to the bone by the time he managed to claw his way out of the stinking water. With his clothes wet and his pack weight approximately double he began evaluating the extent of the damage. Most everything was accounted for but the food was in part destroyed. The bread was soggy with the inedible water but the cheese was protected by a layer of hard wax. The dried meat was a loss. There were several pouches of a concoction that the Skelceri villagers made that seemed untouched. It consisted of dried meat ground to a powder with various dried herbs and mixed with oil and grease into a thick past. It had an odd flavor but a small amount of the concoction could take the place of a meal and if properly stored lasted indefinitely. Cero rejoiced on finding that one of its properties was being waterproof.

Wringing the majority of the water out of his pack and clothes Cero tossed a piece of the soggy bread in the river. A large fish of some sort appeared momentarily before swallowing the chunk of bread. Cero on further thought decided to keep the rest of the bread for fishing later. Wrapping the salvaged food back in the oil skin he replaced it in his pack. The wet bread that could be salvaged for fishing was wrapped in an old rag a tied to the outside of the pack. Water still squished inside Cero’s boots before the sole came loose on one and he was reduced to relying on old calluses from previous barefoot summers.

The going was slowed by the larger tributaries that joined the river and required that Cero travel upstream a distance and find a shallow safe spot to ford them. One of these streams was fresh enough that it could almost be classified as clean. Cero took the opportunity to bathe himself of the muck from his prior swim. Feeling refreshed Cero made a couple more miles before the sun sank into the haze that seemed to be perpetual in these parts. His feet were bruised and cut and his skin raw in spots from being chaffed by rough wet clothes.

Before he made camp Cero decided to try his hand at fishing in order to supplement his food stocks. It took some experimentation and alterations to an arrow before Cero managed to catch anything. He at last succeeded by carving a notch behind the arrowhead acquiring a barb effect. Twine was attached to the altered arrow and a piece of the ruined bread was tossed on the water a few feet off shore. It took a few tries before Cero perfected his technique enough to shoot the fish as it swallowed the bait. At last hauling the t he retreated from the river to a stand of scrub and brush that hid the light from a small fire. The fish was not enormous but once deboned and gutted it was enough for a modest meal.

Cero’s stomach was content but every other part of him was sore but in the end exhaustion won out and sleep prevailed. It was not a dreamless sleep however. The dream was strangely surreal but real at the same time. There was a small fire with two individuals huddled beside it in familiar rocky terrain. At first Cero couldn’t see the faces but one glanced up and began looking around. It was a youth with black hair but eyes that in the inconsistent light shifted between the color of deep water and the sky just as dusk darkens the blue to near black. Lips moved soundlessly and the other man looked up. Cero was shocked to recognize his father cleanly shaven and dressed in clean well-fitting clothes. Cero’s attention was drawn from the two people one a stranger but familiar at the same time and the other a familiar face in an unfamiliar environment to a glint of light on the man’s lap. A long thin ornately crafted sword with a slight curve along its length flashed with the flickering flames. To Cero’s vision it seemed to flash with a light unrelated to that of the fire. He could feel it resonating with a hidden power. Cero wanted to investigate the mysterious sword further when he felt a distracting pressure building in his mind. Tearing his attention away from the intriguing sword Cero noticed the youth standing with his eyes closed and forefingers pressed to his temples the very image of intense concentration. The blue eyes flashed open and in an instant Cero was sitting upright in his campsite alone.