Exodus: The Windwalker Archive: Book 3 (Legends of Agora) (17 page)

The cry of a silver hawk split the silence that followed, and Talon hurried to scoop up Akerri. She was dead weight in his arms as he took her up and ran to the rail, seeing that Brightwing was coming low alongside the ship. Talon timed the jump and leapt out over the ocean. He hit the saddle at a bad angle and gripped the saddle horn with his free hand, steadying them as Brightwing took to the sky.

The dark elf influence on Volnoss is a double-edged sword. Some say that the dark elf was attracted there because of what I had done, others say that it is good that I intervened when I did, for the dark elves had their eyes on the island all along. We do not know if he was a rogue or a scout, but his presence on the island is alarming to say the least.

-Azzeal, Keeper of the Windwalker Archive

During the frantic fight, Talon hadn’t noticed that Freedom and Redemption had plowed through the blockade and laid waste to the harbor. They now sailed west, away from the island, having done their job. Both ships trailed thick smoke, but so too did they both keep sailing.

Talon steered Brightwing toward Freedom, watching Akerri closely as she twitched and shook violently. Her eyes lolled, turning from her natural blue to bright red and back again. She spoke in strange tongues, and more than once began attacking Talon.

Brightwing landed and Talon cried out for someone to help. Akerri was foaming at the mouth and clawing at herself with her one remaining hand. Crag was there suddenly, reaching up with his big hands and taking Akerri in his arms. She tried, but she could not fight against such awesome strength.

Talon glanced around, searching for the princess.

“Where is Zilena?” he asked, seeing Argath hurrying toward him.

“She has not returned. None of them have,” said the captain, looking to Akerri with concern. “The dark elf, is he dead?”

“I don’t know.”

“We’d better get her below, have Demoore look at her.”

Crag hurried to the stairs, and Talon followed close behind. Demoore was already tending to many injured Skomm, but when he saw Talon come in, he hurried to finish what he was doing and gestured to an empty cot.

“What happened?” he asked Talon as Crag laid her down.

“A dark elf put some kind of spell on her,” said Talon.

Demoore’s eyes widened, and he looked to Akerri with newfound interest. “I can take care of that arm, but I can’t do anything about the spell.”

Talon tied down Akerri’s arms and legs, and put a soft towel beneath her head to stop her from banging it on the table.

“She going to be alright?” Crag asked Talon, looking concerned.

“I don’t know, Crag.”

“We’re going to have to cauterize the stump to stop the bleeding,” said Demoore, reaching for the hot iron.

“No!” said Talon. “Zilena can help. I’ve see what elven magic can do.”

“The princess hasn’t returned. We’ve got to do something now before she bleeds to death.”

Akerri had stopped flailing about and now lay on the table wide-eyed as though dead. Her chest moving with quick, shallow breaths was the only indication that she was alive.

Talon glanced at the doorway, wishing that Zilena was with them now.

Where are you?
He tried to call to her mind, but no voice answered him.

“Fine,” Talon finally told him. “Do what you’ve got to do.”

“Hold her arm,” said Demoore, taking the cup-shaped and glowing iron out of the fire.

Talon did as he was told. He couldn’t watch, however, and stared through teary eyes into Akerri’s foggy ones as he stroked her head lovingly.

The sizzle of flesh caused Talon’s tears to spill, and he told her he was sorry over and over. Demoore cleaned the wound and applied a thick salve before wrapping it up in clean white bandages.

“Do you think she’ll be alright?” Talon asked the healer.

“As long as an infection doesn’t set in, she will live. I can’t speak for her mind.”

“Have you ever seen anything like this?”

“Once, back on Volnoss. The witch doctors called it a possession. Man with Krellr demons in him.”

“What did they do? Did he survive?”

Demoore lowered his gaze and shook his head.

“She’ll be alright, Talon,” said Crag. “You just gotta pray to Thodin. He’ll help her.”

“Thanks Crag, but I don’t think Thodin is going to answer my prayers.”

“Well…I’ll pray to him. Maybe he’ll answer mine.”

“I’d appreciate that, Crag,” said Talon.

“I’ve others to tend to,” said Demoore. “Tell me if her temperature rises.”

“Thanks for everything, Demoore,” said Talon.

When they were alone behind the drawn curtain, Talon leaned in and spoke softly to Akerri.

“Can you hear me? It’s Talon. I’ve finally found you. You’re safe now. Fylkin will never touch you again. Akerri?”

She remained staring at the ceiling with those red-tinted smoky eyes. Talon stroked her face, telling her over and over that he loved her.

He thought of Chief, who had disappeared after taking a blast from the dark elf. Chief had been forced back to the spirit world before from damage and survived, and Talon hoped that with some rest he would be alright.

“Talon,” came Argath’s voice.

“Has Zilena returned?” Talon asked, hurrying from the bed.

“Han just brought her in, they’re bringing her down now,” said Argath.

Talon ran to the door and looked down the hall. General Ford and Haze were carrying an unconscious Zilena toward him.

“Make way!” yelled Haze.

Talon let them pass and followed them into the room, trying to get a better look at the princess.

“Put her over there next to the red-haired girl,” said Demoore. He bent to listen to her breathing as Talon shouldered past Haze and Argath.

“What happened? Did she kill the dark elf?” Talon asked.

“She got him alright,” said Han proudly. “But she paid dearly.”

Talon noticed the blood on the general’s hands and moved to Zilena’s side. Her eyes blinked lazily, and her dry, cracked lips made words but no sound.

“What is it?” said Talon, leaning in closer.

Zilena touched her lips with bloody fingers.

“Water, she wants water.”

Han gently cradled her head and tipped it up as Demoore put a cup to her parched lips. She sipped the water and coughed weakly. As her head was laid back down, she glanced over at Akerri before turning a small smile on Talon.

“You found her,” said Zilena in a near whisper.

“Thanks to you,” said Talon.

Demoore pressed a cloth to her abdomen and waved everyone away. “I’ve got work to do. So if you’re not helping, get out.”

“She can heal herself,” said Talon, looking from Demoore to Zilena. She only shook her head.

“She’s got nothing left,” said Han. “Damned lucky she survived the blast that killed the dark elf. I’ve never seen such a thing.”

“Is there anything I can do?” Talon asked her.

She smiled weakly at him and whispered. “Free…your…people.”

Han led him out of the sick room, and Talon noticed that Argath stayed behind.

“We’ve got your girl back,” said Han, stopping in the hall. “Now is the time for you to hold up your end of the bargain.”

“I can’t leave Akerri,” said Talon.

“I feel for you, lad,” said Han, glancing back into the room at Zilena. “Trust me, I do. But there’s nothing you can do that the healers cannot. The Timber Wolf Vald have just suffered a great defeat at the hands of the Skomm. The people will see the chief as weak. Now is the time to strike.”

Talon knew that he was right, but he couldn’t stand the thought of leaving Akerri like that. She needed him right now.

Han saw the struggle on his face and laid a hand on his shoulder. “Son, being a man means doing what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, whether or not you like it. Your people need you.”

“You’re right,” said Talon. “Let me tell her goodbye before we set out.”

“Take your time. I’ll prepare the hawks.”

Talon watched him go and turned back to the sick room. When he was again at Akerri’s side, he pulled back the curtain and took her good hand in his. He broke down then, overcome by emotion and the stress of battle.

“I’ve just found you, and already I must say goodbye. I do not know if I will ever return, but if I do, I’m going to marry you, Akerri Brightwing, and together we will build a new home for the Skomm. I promise.”

Talon kissed her forehead and turned away from her before he lost the nerve.

I told Beorn that Talon would one day return, and asked the bear to watch over him as he once had. The mauling to death of the Vaka on the mine road before Talon’s escape was not my doing. Beorn took a liking to Talon early on, and took it upon himself to kill the Vaka.

Azzeal, Keeper of the Windwalker Archive

Talon set out with the hawk riders shortly after dawn. Flick’s silver hawk had been killed during Zilena’s fight with the dark elf, and so he rode with Ash as before. Talon had offered his condolences for Flick’s loss, but the young man only nodded a thanks. He looked as if he might burst if he tried to speak.

Han had informed Talon that they would need a base of sorts for the mission, since it entailed infiltrating Timber Wolf Village and locating Kreal before the challenge could be made.

Talon knew of the perfect spot—Beorn’s Cave.

The silver hawks had once again turned their feathers gray as the dark clouds hanging over the region, which offered them the advantage of hiding their shadows. The bird’s camouflage worked well, but they could do nothing about their shadows that flew across the ground.

They reached the coast and were soon flying over the mines where Talon had toiled for so many months. He saw the workers there below, still locked in their eternal march up the spiraling ridge of the mines.

Talon’s blood boiled.

He had been on edge since leaving Freedom, and returning to Volnoss affected him in ways that he hadn’t expected. He felt anger, but also sorrow, and the old shame that had haunted him his entire life. Talon hated the island, he hated the Vald, but most of all, in this place, he hated the world for allowing such injustice to exist.

Beyond the mines lay the winding northern road. Talon veered right before the fields of white buffalo and continued on past another mine that was long abandoned, leading the riders toward the highest point on Volnoss.

Beorn’s Cave sat on a ridge halfway up the face of the small mountain, and just as Talon remembered, it was flanked by tall winding rows of ivy, yet the mouth to the cave stood open and dark. The cave entrance was too small for the silver hawks, and so they were left on the wide ridge, their feathers having turned to the many hues of the surrounding gray stone.

“This be a fine little mountain,” said Ash, hooking his thumbs in his belt and leaning back to admire the stone.

“Not too loud,” said Talon. “I’m not sure if the bear still lives here.”

“Bear?” said Han, peeking into the dark entrance.

“Yeah. Don’t worry, he’s nice. Just follow my lead.”

“Haze, watch the hawks,” said Han.

Talon led the group into the cave and through the tunnel beyond. He held a torch before him, though he was not afraid in this place. Even when a low growl echoed through the narrow tunnel, Talon continued on.

“Beorn? Beorn, it’s me. Talon. I’m Azzeal’s friend. Remember Azzeal?”

The growl sounded again, though it was not as menacing as before.

The tunnel ended, and Talon pushed through the darkness and came out into the wide main chamber. Beorn was standing upright on two feet on the left side of the cave, and Talon looked him in the eye.

“Hello, Beorn. Do you remember me? You killed a Vaka who attacked me on the road from the mine. We’re friends.”

The bear watched each man as they slowly came in behind Talon.

“These are my friends,” he told the bear, taking a step forward.

Beorn dropped down from his stance and walked over to him. Talon stopped and waited, unafraid, holding out his hand.

The bear was as big as Talon remembered, fully twelve feet tall when standing upright in the cave. Even on all fours he was taller than Talon.

“Don’t be afraid,” Talon told the others over his shoulder.

Beorn sniffed Talon’s face and then licked his cheek, and proceeded to sit back on his haunches. If it was possible for a bear to smile, that is just what he did.

“Do you mind sharing your cave for a little while? I’ve got unfinished business with the Vald,” Talon asked.

Surprisingly, Beorn gave an exaggerated nod—something that Talon assumed Azzeal had taught him.

“Thank you,” said Talon. He turned to the others and spread his arms wide. “How’s this for a base of operations?”

“This will do,” said Han, unable to hide his grin.

They got a fire going and brought in supplies from their saddle bags. Beorn made himself comfortable beside the fire and slept as they went about making camp inside the wide cave. Azzeal’s stone table and chairs remained undisturbed in the right corner, and the men set about dining on rations while they formulated a plan.

Talon had thought instantly of Majhree upon arrival. If there was anyone he wanted with Akerri until he returned, it was her.

“Before I speak with my father, I’ve got to see an old friend,” he told Han.

“Who?”

“Her name is Majhree. She’s the healer who took care of me while I was here.”

“What does she have to do with the mission?” the general asked.

“Nothing but my peace of mind. I would have her brought to Freedom to look over Akerri for me. She was like a mother to her. If there is anyone—”

“This is not part of the agreement. The king promised that we would help you get Akerri. We have done our part. Now you must fulfill your end of the bargain.”

“Part of the bargain was also to help free the Skomm once my father and I had killed the chief. She will be the first to be freed. Call it good faith.”

“You find this woman, and you bring her here,” said Han. “Then you enlist your father’s help. No more bargains.”

“Understood,” said Talon.

“Have you thought how you might sway his decision?”

Talon hadn’t thought of Kreal much. Indeed, he had been avoiding the subject.

“I’ll figure it out,” he said.

“If he refused you because he thought you weak, a show of strength may be the only way to convince him. You may very well have to fight your father,” said Han.

Talon instinctively flexed his fist, feeling the familiar form of Kyrr between his fingers. “If it comes to that, then I will do it,” he said with as much confidence as he could muster.

Han studied him for a while before changing the subject. “What about Chief?” he said, nodding towards Talon’s pocket.

Talon had been avoiding that as well.

“I haven’t tried to summon him yet.”

“What do you mean?”

“He was forced back to the spirit world by a blast from the dark elf. I think he took too much damage. It fatigued him instantly. I’m not sure if…I’m not sure if he’s alive.”

“Has that ever happened before?”

Talon thought of the fight with McGillus and Grimald. “Yes, it has happened before, but not like this.”

“Well,” said Han. “I guess there’s only one way to find out.”

Talon sighed, reluctant to attempt to summon Chief so soon. He had let him rest for nearly a full day, but wasn’t sure if it was enough. It seemed he had no choice, for if he was going to sneak into Timber Wolf Village, he would rather do it with Chief watching his back.

He found the figurine deep in his pocket and held it out before him. With one last steadying breath, he called to Chief and watched the trinket anxiously.

It sparked, and a thin wisp of smoke snaked upward—that had never happened before.

“Come to me, Chief!” he said again, louder.

Again the figurine sparked, but then it began to glow soft blue. Smoke lazily poured out and swirled around him, and to his relief, Chief stood before him, panting happily.

“Thank the gods. I thought I’d lost you!” said Talon.

Chief danced two circles and sat on his haunches. Then something perked his interest. His ears shot to attention and he sniffed at the air. When he saw Beorn, he didn’t bark, but rather, he cocked his head to the side curiously.

Beorn had been watching him, and now sat up on his haunches. Chief barked and happily padded over to the giant grizzly.

“They look like they’re best friends,” said Han with a laugh.

“They’ve met before. Seems like such a long time ago.”

“Well, it looks like he’s alright. This calls for a drink,” said Han. He poured some rum into the cap of his flask and handed it to Talon. “To Chief,” he said.

“To Chief.”

Talon accepted another drink to settle his nerves. Now that he knew Chief was alright, he had one less thing to worry about. Next he focused his attention on getting to Majhree without being seen.