Abuud: the One-Eyed God (40 page)

Nervously, Arik removed his hands from the rope-vine. He settled a little lower, but the strap held. Arik reached up and grabbed Tedi's wrist. His mind flooded with relief and joy as he felt a pulse.

"He is alive," shouted Arik.

Arik studied the vines supporting Tedi. Some of them had been ripped free from higher up and were not adding anything to the support of the body. He ignored them and concentrated on the vines that were supporting Tedi. He narrowed his concentration to three vines that held the weight of the body. Arik drew his knife from his belt. With one hand gripping Tedi's arm tightly, Arik cut through one of the three vines. Tedi's body lurched downward half a pace.

Arik exhaled his held breath and sheathed his knife. He let go of Tedi and grabbed the rope-vine with both hands. He inched the strap closer to the body and then gently let go of the rope-vine again. Now he was close enough and at the same level with the body to do what he had come to do.

Arik grabbed Tedi with both hands and pulled. One of the remaining support vines slid out from under Tedi and Arik felt the full weight of his friend. The rope-vine sagged another pace towards the ground and Arik worried that it might snap. He wrapped one arm around Tedi and held him tightly as his other hand slipped a loop from the harness over Tedi's head. He worked the loop downward over Tedi's body and then pulled the arms free of the loop so that the rope ended up under Tedi's arms.

Hesitantly, Arik let go of Tedi. The body settled slightly, but the loop held it. Swiftly, Arik passed the other strands of the harness around Tedi's body and tied them tightly. When Tedi was secured, Arik grabbed the rope-vine with one hand and drew his knife with the other. He sliced through the strap looped over the rope-vine and felt the tremendous strain as the full weight of Tedi and himself was transferred to his one arm. He sheathed the knife and grabbed the rope-vine with both hands.

Sweat poured off Arik's body as he turned around and began to make his way back to the tree Wylan was waiting in. Several agonizing minutes later, Wylan reached out and grabbed Tedi. Wylan hauled his two friends into the tree and Arik gasped with relief when he was able to let go of the rope-vine.

"I do not want to have to do that again," gasped Arik as his body shook with exhaustion. "I had doubts as to whether we both would plummet downward."

"Catch your breath," advised Wylan. "We are not going anywhere tonight. All we have to do is get Tedi down to the ground and then we can check him out. I think we all need sleep, and it is too dark to go anywhere."

"I agree," nodded Arik.

"Where am I?" groaned Tedi.

"In a tree," Wylan said joyously. "It is about time you spoke to us. How do you feel?"

Tedi's arms tried to move, but Arik had secured them with the harness. "I feel lousy," moaned Tedi. "Like I was beat with the wooden ends of spears."

"Pretty accurate," grinned Arik. "It was vines though and not spears. Next time you decide to leave, at least say goodbye first. You know how I hate looking after you."

"I know," Tedi grinned weakly. "Thanks for coming after me."

"We couldn't leave you," chuckled Arik. "It was your turn to cook tonight."

Wylan laughed at the friendly banter and realized how close his two friends really were. "Remain still and we will get you down out of this tree," he said.

Wylan guided Arik down the tree as Tedi blocked Arik's vision. Within moments the three boys were on the ground. Arik wrapped his arms around Tedi and Wylan sliced through the harness to separate them. Arik gently placed Tedi on the ground. Wylan immediately started examining Tedi's body to see if anything was broken.

"Where does it hurt most?" Wylan asked Tedi.

"Other than my back?" retorted Tedi. "My pride I guess. Now we will have to climb back up the mountain. I am sorry Arik."

Wylan looked over at Arik and saw the heir's eyes shut. "He is already asleep," he said. "I cannot believe he had the strength to get you down from there. I suspect he will be out for a long time. He must be exhausted."

Tedi didn't answer, and Wylan looked at him and saw that he was also sleeping. Wylan smiled as he shrugged and went to sleep himself.

When Wylan's eyes opened, dim light pervaded the jungle. Arik was kneeling over Tedi. Wylan watched as Arik rose and walked out of the campsite. He thought about calling to Arik, but decided that the heir might want some time alone after the harrowing events of the previous day. Wylan rose and stretched. He grabbed a bite to eat and was just about to examine Tedi's back when Tedi woke.

"How do you feel this morning?" Wylan asked.

"Not bad considering what happened," Tedi replied sleepily. "How did I manage to survive?"

"Vines slowed you down," informed Wylan. "You ended up suspended high in the air. It was as if you had been caught in a net. You were very fortunate. Arik and I thought you were surely dead."

"I remember being tied to Arik in a tree," Tedi said as he rubbed his eyes. "What was that all about?"

"I tied a vine between two trees," explained Wylan. "Arik went out on the vine and tied you into a harness that he had made. You woke up just as Arik brought you back to the tree. You can still see the vines above you."

Tedi rose and stretched. He gazed up at the vines and shook his head.

"Take off your tunic and let me see your back," ordered Wylan.

Tedi dutifully complied and removed his tunic. Wylan examined the marks on Tedi's back. Some of the marks were slightly red, but others were severe abrasions. Wylan gently touched one bruise and Tedi yelped.

"Sorry," said Wylan. "I carry some ointment with me that will help with the bruises. Do you hurt anywhere else?"

"My body is sore all over," frowned Tedi, "but nothing feels broken. Put some of that ointment on my back."

Wylan rummaged through his pack and found the ointment. He smeared some of it over the worst bruises while Tedi twitched with each touch of Wylan's hand.

"Where is Arik?" asked Tedi as he cautiously put his tunic back on.

"I think he went for a walk," offered Wylan. "He was kneeling over you when I woke up and then he departed. I did not want to disturb him."

"Let's get our belongings and go after him," suggested Tedi. "I worry when he goes off to brood by himself."

Wylan picked up his belongings as well as Arik's and followed Tedi. Tedi stared at the ground to pick up Arik's track and then followed it. They found Arik sitting on the edge of the cliff staring out to sea.

"What was that about saying goodbye before leaving?" chuckled Tedi.

"Sorry," Arik said without emotion. "I needed time to think."

"Well, now that you have had time to think," questioned Tedi, "shouldn't we be off climbing the mountain? I have caused us to lose enough time already."

"No," Arik declared. "We are not going back up the mountain. We are going home."

"We can't go home," protested Tedi. "We haven't found the statue of Abuud yet."

"Nor will we," responded Arik. "We are on an island filled with cannibals and ogres. The mountain is threatening to blow its top, and the creatures that live here are scared to death. They might eat us or stampede us in their flight. Our only way home is an old scow that almost didn't make it here. There is no sense to this mission. We are going home."

Tedi stood gaping at the back of Arik's head as the heir sat on the edge of the cliff.

"What about the statue of Abuud?" inquired Wylan. "You need that to get the Diamond of Edona. Don't you?"

"No," Arik forcefully declared as he rose.

Tedi saw the trace of dried tears on his friend's face as Arik rose, and a lump formed in his throat.

"This is about me, isn't it?" croaked Tedi. "It is because I let a spider scare me off the mountain."

"Yes," faltered Arik. "I mean no. It is about all of you who have been putting your lives at risk to see me seated on some stupid throne. Tagaret is not worth the life of any of you. I will not put any of you at risk anymore. We are going home."

Tedi walked over and hugged Arik. "I signed onto this adventure with open eyes," Tedi said as he held the heir. "I gave my pledge to see it through to the end, and that is what I intend to do. You are the only person in the world who can assume the throne and defeat Sarac. If I have to die ten times over to see you on that stupid throne, then so be it. I am not quitting and going home, and neither are you."

"But I cannot keep asking people to die for me," objected Arik as Tedi released the embrace. "It is one thing to put myself in jeopardy, but I have no right to do that to others."

Tedi fell to one knee before Arik and pressed his right fist to his chest. Wylan immediately dropped what he was carrying and knelt next to Tedi.

"You have no need to ask, Sire", Tedi declared seriously. "It is my greatest pleasure to serve you. I cannot think of anything that would be a greater joy in my life."

"Stop making a joke of this," scowled Arik. "I am serious."

In response, Wylan repeated Tedi's pledge. Then Wylan added, "These words are not said in jest, Arik. The world is a terrible place to live in under the Dark One. Had I not had the fortune of meeting you, I would still be striving to make this a better world. Whether it be destroying Dark Riders, or working toward the demise of Azmet and his fanatics, I have already decided to devote my life to making things better. Allow me to do this in your service."

"He is right," declared Tedi. "I could still be in Lorgo. I would still be thieving and tending to a drunken father. Yes, it is true that our lives are constantly in danger, but haven't they always been? Did our mothers or fathers have the chance to live in peace without seeking trouble on their own? We can either be victims of evil, or we can fight to destroy evil. I intend to fight. Like Wylan, I desire to do that in your service."

"Please stand up," responded Arik as such shows of devotion still made him feel uncomfortable. "I could not ask for better friends than you two. It all seems so futile at times, though. I do not think I could stand losing you, but you are right about fighting evil. I could not go back to the innocent and carefree life of a fisherman after what I have seen of the world. I, too, have a burning desire to make things better for all of the people."

"Then we are going forward in the search for the statue of Abuud?" Wylan asked eagerly.

"We are going forward with the search," Arik smiled, "but if either of you die on me, I will have your bodies flogged by the palace guard."

"At least you won't throw me in a dungeon with burrowers," laughed Tedi.

The three boys laughed heartily, and the tension of the previous day seemed to evaporate like the morning mist.

"Let's follow the edge of the island to the mountain," suggested Arik. "Maybe we will stumble across a better place to scale the heights."

Tedi cheerfully led the way along the cliff edge. It took them a quarter of an hour to reach the foot of the mountain. They gazed upward, searching for any sign of a path or crevice, as Tedi led them along the base of the mountain. Tedi swerved to avoid a large rock, but Wylan's eyes were still fixed on the mountain heights. Wylan tripped on the rock and tumbled to the ground. He tried grabbing for a small bush to avoid the fall, but the bush ripped out of the ground and fell with him. Remembering the talk they had just had, Wylan flushed with embarrassment as he rose. He tossed the frail bush away and scampered after Tedi. He had not gone more than a dozen paces before Arik shouted for a halt. Wylan's face was red, and he frowned as he turned. Tedi marched past Wylan and stood before Arik.

"What is the problem?" inquired Tedi.

"Look at this," Arik pointed. "These are steps."

Tedi started pulling the frail bushes out of the ground. Arik and Wylan also started clearing the steps. When they managed to clear a path through the bushes, Arik led the way up the steps. They halted before a large stone archway, its wooden door long ago turned to dust. Words were chiseled into the stone above the doorway.

"Tomb of the King?" read Arik. "Who would bury a king on this island?"

"I don't understand it," frowned Kalina. "Perhaps it is senility, but I believe that he still has some magical ability. He sensed my mind probe easily enough."

"And he didn't particularly care for it," noted Garth. "I know he offered to let you stay, but I do feel better camping a short ways away from them."

"Do you think Niki or Tanya know?" questioned Kalina.

"Tanya knows many things that she does not reveal," frowned Garth. "Sometimes that bothers me."

"Now you know how I feel sometimes," chuckled Kalina. "You are not one to idly talk of things either."

"A valid point," nodded Garth. "I was going to object by saying that our safety depends on secrecy, but the same may be true for Tanya. I guess I just like to know everything, and it frustrates me when I know information is being held back."

The conversation died abruptly as Tanya sauntered into the campsite.

"There is really no need for you two to camp separately," declared Tanya. "Uncle Boris is no longer angry."

"Who is he, Tanya?" asked Kalina.

"What do you mean?" retorted Tanya. "He is Master Khatama."

"We can read the sign on his wagon," Garth responded dryly. "What we really want to know is who he is."

"You are still upset?" queried Tanya as she looked at Kalina. "I don't like the two of you feuding with Uncle Boris. Why can't we all just get along?"

"We are not feuding, Tanya," smiled Kalina. "I have great respect for that man. The problem is that he did not recognize us, and that worries me. You are the only person we know that might have some insight regarding him. Sit, please."

"Alright," Tanya responded suspiciously as she sat down. "I have been with Uncle Boris for as long as I can remember. I had never seen the two of you before. So I find it difficult to believe that you have met him recently."

"Not recently," Kalina agreed. "It was before the Collapse, but I still believe that it is impossible for him to forget us. Unless something has changed in him."