Elodi could not take her eyes off the storm clouds looming behind the treetops of the North Forest. While they had retreated from the skies over Roth’s Doom, the snowstorms had not abated in the north. She glanced to the trees, then back to the gloom above to check they had not moved, fearing they would roll back over Ormsk to avenge their master’s defeat. She turned to Toryn riding beside her and noticed his attention also laid to the north. ‘Scouts report much of Lunn lies beneath thick snow and the marshes of Lumreek are frozen.’
Toryn shivered. ‘Then it seems the warlocks are keen to keep a Norgog presence in the region.’ He nodded to the mud-clogged road. ‘It may have thawed quickly, but this will soon freeze over if those icy gales resume.’
Elodi twisted to look over her shoulder. ‘And if the warlocks yet maintain their hold over the elements, it suggests the Amayans have failed to avenge Amyra.’ She slumped back into her saddle. ‘While many in the realms will rejoice as news of our… victory travels south, you and I know this does not end here.’ She glanced behind and lowered her voice. ‘I’m exhausted, Toryn. My body cries out for rest, and my eyes yearn to look upon Calerdorn’s towers once more.’ Her jaw clenched. ‘Is it too much to ask that I wake after a long, restful night’s sleep and not find an aide standing beside my bed bearing bad news? I want to look those under my command in the eye and not dread them dying in their hundreds from the decisions I have to make.’ She let out a long sigh. ‘I want to breathe air not tainted by the stench of death. I just want to…’ Elodi looked away as a tear ran down her cheek.
Toryn leaned over and took her hand. ‘You, above all others have earned a rest, Elodi. Borrund is not far. And no one would deny you a few days peace and quiet.’
Elodi’s eyes flashed. ‘A few days! I need a whole…’ Her shoulders sagged. ‘I’m sorry. I did not mean to snap.’
He tried to smile. ‘I can’t blame you. A few days? It’s me who should apologize. That may have come across as a little… insensitive.’
Elodi peered ahead, hoping to see Borrund’s famed bell tower, but many leagues still lay between them and a warm bed. She yawned. ‘If I had a whole month, I still don’t know if I would have the strength to face the slaughter of another battle. When I opened my eyes this morning…’ she stifled a sob, ‘do you know what my first thought was? As I looked at the raindrops running down the roof of my tent, I wished I could’ve rolled over and not wake until this was all over.’
Toryn went to speak, but Elodi held up her hand. ‘The thought of facing another day was torture. It took all my effort to throw off my blanket and pick up my sword.’ She jabbed her finger to the north. ‘And look. They mock us still. They taunt us. And would death bring relief? If they command the elements, do they command the afterlife? But… no, I don’t think they would grant us the release of death.’ Her hands clenched the reins. ‘I doubt it, Toryn. They’ll have other plans for the likes of you and I, should they take us alive.’
Elodi rode on in silence but continued to observe the clouds in the north. But when she looked down at the muddy road, all she could see was Aldorman lying face down in the grime of the battle. Sadly, he was not alone. Elodi muttered to herself. ‘So many dead… so many fine people lost in the mud.’
After several minutes of listening to the horses’ hooves slushing through the thaw, Toryn broke the silence. ‘I know how you feel, Elodi, but we cannot let our enemy get into our heads. We now have twice the number of Amayans on our side. Nyomae learns more of Draegelan’s ways, and you have just halved the dark ranks able to ride against us. Surely, we can take some hope from that. Not all goes against us.’
Elodi whispered. ‘I wish I had your confidence, Toryn.’ She thumbed over her shoulder. ‘But we don’t know if the Amayans have survived, Nyomae lies in a deep sleep, and I’m certain our enemy can rebuild their armies faster than we ever could.’ She eyed the North Forest as the Borrund Road turned and came within a few hundred paces of its border. The cobwebs fluttered in the breeze, blowing out like tattered curtains by an open window. She shuddered. ‘I hope the Nym remain true to their word and rid that place of the spiders. I don’t have the heart to send in another force to destroy the nests.’
Toryn’s skin crawled at the sight of the webs still clinging to the trees. He straightened. ‘Yet you wouldn’t find any who’d refuse should you ask. You are held in high esteem, Elodi. You’ve earned their respect and trust. But I trust the Nym will keep their promise. They saw the harm the aralaks inflicted upon the forest. They won’t tolerate them over-running the place.’
Elodi looked back to the line of wagons bearing the badly injured, and trailing behind them, the sorry sight of the walking wounded. ‘I do hope so.’ She winced. ‘We’re terribly exposed strung out along this road. Imagine the casualties even a dozen of those vile creatures would wreak upon us. Our lines must look very tempting to a hungry spider. To them, we’re a good source of food, food that has little strength to fight back.’ She patted Sea Mist’s neck. ‘And I doubt even Misty has the legs to outrun a ravenous aralak. Our horses are in desperate need of warm stalls and nourishment.’
Toryn nodded at Shepra trotting alongside his horse. ‘The same for my faithful hound here. She’s had her fair share of spiders’ poison. It’s a wonder she survived, but how much more of those foul fluids could she take? She’s saved my life at least twice.’
‘At least?’
‘Amyndra told me Shepra fought bravely at Roth’s Doom. I wasn’t aware of her for most of the time, but she had my back. It looks as if’ — Shepra whimpered — ‘ah, she’s limping.’ Toryn slid from his saddle, lifted the dog, and placed her on his horse. He climbed up behind and lifted her paw. ‘She’s wounded.’ He stroked her back. ‘You must forgive me, lass. I hadn’t noticed.’
Elodi reached across and patted Shepra. ‘The poor thing has suffered in silence.’ She winced as she examined the injured paw. ‘She deserves the attention of a healer as much as any soldier.’
‘Then I hope Borrund’s healers are both plentiful and skilled.’ He glanced to the wagons.
Elodi noted his concern. ‘Elrik is strong. A blacksmith I believe. I’m sure he and Lorek will soon recover.’
‘I do hope so. They’ve proved to be excellent fighters. But too many would struggle to wield a weapon any time soon. It’s going to take at least—’ Toryn clutched his stomach. ‘Something’s… changed.’ He twisted in his saddle to look about them.
Elodi went for her sword. ‘Are we under attack?’
‘No… it’s not that. It’s difficult to say… this is going to sound a little strange, but I can't feel the mountains.’
‘Pardon? You mean you can usually feel them?’
Toryn frowned. ‘I suppose so… yes. It wasn’t until just now that I realized I can. They’ve always been there. The Kolossos are the backbone of this land. Although I could barely see the top of Caranach from my village, they seemed ever-present. And even later when in Archonholm, I could still sense them.’ He turned to the west. ‘But just now, it felt like they had gone. I feel empty… yes, that’s the word.’
Elodi reached over and placed her hand on his forehead. ‘Are you… feeling alright? You could be coming down with a fever.’
‘I’m as good as can be expected.’ He continued to check the grasslands. ‘Do you feel anything? Something odd… different perhaps?’
She let out a long sigh. ‘I’ve felt something different for weeks. But at this moment, I’m exhausted. I’m not certain I’d notice Ormoroth if he crept up behind us.’
Toryn’s hand rested on his bow. ‘I hope it’s not a forewarning of an attack. We’re in no state to meet even a small force.’
Elodi’s eyes wandered back to the forest. ‘Then we’ll all welcome the sight of Borrund’s sturdy barricade.’
