Halfstone: A Tale of the Narathlands (16 page)

Kaal was silent at his side, staring out into the distance as
Télia had been.

“Are you all right?” Aldrick asked.

Kaal nodded faintly.

Jon came to them.

“It is time to move on,” he said. There was a tone of softness and
understanding in his voice. “We should reach Old Capital Road by noon.”

“That is where you leave us,” Aldrick said cheerlessly.

“Yes. I must reach Galdrem and assist the Synod.”

Télia turned and faced Jon head on.

“Jon, why?” she asked forcefully. “Why was the staff so
important?”

Jon looked down.

“I…” he began. “I need it.”

“So you would risk all of our lives for it?”

“No.” Jon looked up at her earnestly. “No, there was little risk.
I offered Aldrick the opportunity to further realise his wielding abilities.
Without his competence, all of us are doomed. There is little doubt of that.”

Télia glared at him then rode away.

Aldrick repeated Jon’s words in his head.

“You wanted me to further realise my abilities?” he asked.

Jon nodded. “I did not foresee your temper besting you the way it
did, but yes, I wanted you to practise wielding under pressure and danger. You
were outstanding.”

Aldrick didn’t feel like he had done anything outstanding. In
fact, wielding had been fairly effortless in those moments. Perhaps that was
exactly what Jon had wanted. It could only be a good thing—wielding was
beginning to feel more natural. He was more in touch with his storm, more
confident in himself. Taking life was not something he wanted to ever feel
natural, though. He hoped never to have to do it again, but knew well that he
would. It was why he was here.

11

BLACKBED

The grass was no longer green. Instead, it was pale yellow and
dry. In many places none grew at all and the surface of the earth was left dry
and cracked. The borders of Old Capital Road were difficult to distinguish.
Only the faint and infrequent marks of carriage wheels hinted at its path.
Clearly the road had received little traffic in recent years. Aldrick supposed
this was because few were comfortable treading so close to the Blackbed Plains.
He could sense them looming just beyond a ridgeline to the northeast. Over the
ridge, an eerie silence seeped that boded evil.

“Your path lies that way,” told Jon, pointing in that exact
direction. He was sitting on his mare, facing them, soon to go his own way. It
had been only hours since they encountered the thieving pirates and Aldrick
wished for more time with him before continuing into more treacherous
territory.

“Surely we need not all venture into Blackbed,” said Aru. “Four of
us following one young wielder on a doubtful expedition to find an elusive
stone seems rather rash. I propose you have company on your journey to Galdrem,
Jon.”

Aldrick found himself agreeing with her. “Yes, I don’t need all of
you following me around.” He looked at Jon. “You should have your own protection.”

“Perhaps,” Jon said tentatively.

“So who is it to be?” asked Sinin.

Aru turned to him. “You,” she stated.

Sinin raised his eyebrows. “Me? Why me?”

“Télia and Kaal belong at Aldrick’s side. That is clear. I have
wandered through those cursed plains before. I even stepped foot into Fort
Blackbed many years ago. I can offer them invaluable guidance. You are the one
remaining with great skill in combat. You will prove an asset to Jon.”

Sinin appeared downcast. “What of my contract? I am bound to serve
as aera to Al.”

“Given the circumstances I think you ought not to worry about
that.”

“She is right, Sinin. You should go with Jon,” agreed Télia.
“Return home.”

Sinin heaved a sigh. “Very well.” He trotted to Jon’s side. “It
looks as though we ride together, friend.”

“So be it.” Jon turned and trotted a short way, distancing himself
from the others, then beckoned to Aldrick.

Aldrick went, uncertainty gripping his stomach.

Jon looked upon him warmly. “My boy, this is where we go our
separate ways. You are in good hands. I wish you the very best and hope to see
you again very soon.”

He found no comfort in these words. “Jon, what if I cannot find
the Halfstone? What if I cannot find a way?”

Jon was silent for a moment, and then he spoke gravely. “If you
cannot find the stone you must run, Aldrick. Take those you hold dear under
your wing and flee from these lands. I would not have you face the wrath of
Malath without the advantage the stone offers at hand. It is crucial. Your odds
without it are but fleeting and infinitesimal.”

“But I could still help,” Aldrick insisted. “There is more to
worry about than Malath. There is a dragon. Everyone able to fight must fight
if there is to be any hope—”

“No!” cried Jon. “Promise me you will not venture on without the
stone… promise me, Aldrick!” There was a wild fear in his eyes.

Aldrick’s kneejerk reaction was frustration. Jon would not make
decisions for him! Yet he knew there was little point in arguing. He sighed. “I
promise.”

Jon’s face lightened.

“Good,” he said cheerily. “Now, I must be going. Remember your
training, Aldrick. Remember all you have learnt and don’t hesitate to practise
wielding when opportunity arises… and don’t ever let your guard down.”

Aldrick nodded. “Farewell, Jon.”

Jon hailed Sinin and raised a parting hand to the others. When
Sinin was at his side they set off together.

“I’ll see you lot soon,” Sinin shouted over his shoulder.

Aldrick and the others watched the two galloping away. Their
figures shimmered behind an ocean of heat waves before finally melting into the
horizon.

“There is no need to linger,” said Aru, turning away. “Let us be
off.”

With her at the lead, they began to journey up the ridge and in
short time were looking upon the vast barren land of the Blackbed Plains. Aldrick
recalled Jon’s words ‘You will know that place when you see it’. The land was
empty and dark. Vast areas of the ground were covered in some kind of deep
black moss, or perhaps it was brittle grass, he couldn’t tell. Whatever the
plant was, it shrouded the earth like mats of starless night sky. It was almost
as though all light that touched it was devoured. Aru, seemingly undaunted, did
not hesitate before continuing down a steady slope to its outer reaches.

“Do not be stupid and try touching this stuff,” she cautioned. “It
is very poisonous. You need not fear for your mounts. Their hooves are tough.”

“Well this place is just lovely,” remarked Kaal sarcastically. He
pointed to a random area of the blackness. “I can see it now. My house will be
there. My children will have a play area out the back. The cattle will graze
the nearby vegetation.”

Aldrick and Télia chuckled heartily.

They picked up their pace. Aru retained the lead, never looking
back. For hours they rode across the deathly darkness. They came upon some
raised plateau-like formations on which the plant did not grow but wove between
these without pausing. It wasn’t until Télia called out to Aru after sundown
that they finally drew to a halt.

“We must rest the horses,” she insisted.

Aru turned, her lip twisted. “Very well, but do not dismount.”

Télia let out a gasp of exasperation. “We could at least stretch
our legs.”

“No. It is possible ka-zchen are close by. They will be drawn to Aldrick’s
storm. We must remain mounted and aware. We will travel for much of the night.
In fact, now would be a good time to check that your weapons are at the ready.”

Télia crossed her arms. “When shall we rest then?”

“If you must, ride with your eyes closed,” snapped Aru. “Just pray
you do not suddenly feel a ka-zchen’s fangs around your chest.”

Télia looked liverish but said nothing. They were idle only
minutes, using the time to eat and to drink fresh water that they had taken
from the River Jewel earlier in the day. Aldrick had dried meats that Sinin
gave him after looting the pirate’s supplies but was somewhat opposed to the
idea of eating a dead man’s meal.

When they made way, they travelled at a slower pace. The western
horizon steadily dimmed and they were soon between two blankets of darkness.
Fortunately, the clouds were thin and a near full-faced Solemn had crept over
the eastern horizon. The moon’s pale light was just enough for them to
distinguish one another’s figures. Lighting torches wasn’t an option—it would
surrender their position to anyone or anything within a hundred leagues.

They continued on in silence. The only sound to be heard was the
steady drumming of horses’ hooves upon the venomous terrain. With so little to
see or hear, it almost felt as though they were drifting through nothingness—a
vacant dreamscape. It was weird and disconcerting.

Judging by the position of Solemn, it was around midnight when Aru
finally signalled for them to stop. They were alongside another small plateau.

“We will rest here for a while upon the rock,” she said. “The fort
is not far away. If we stray too close in the dark we risk alerting ka-zchen
guardians. Any that are there will withdraw before dawn.”

Aldrick squinted ahead of them. He could barely make out the faint
silhouette of a mountain in the distance. The fort was there, somewhere. As his
eyes adjusted to the distance he was certain he glimpsed a twinkling speck of
light.

“Someone’s there!”

“It is to be expected,” Aru said nonchalantly. “Malath would not
have left the fort unoccupied. This was never going to be a simple matter of walking
in and out again. For all we know, there is a warding enchantment placed over
it.”

Aldrick recalled Jon’s use of the word ‘enchantment’ when he had
told of the Shard of Heart’s Storm’s holding chamber.

“How exactly do warding enchantments work?” he asked.

“Quite simply—they are warding walls, only the wielder’s storm is
sustained within the orb on their staff rather than by way of their tireless
focus.”

“Wait, so…” He stopped, sensing Aru’s apathy for questions. She
was not a willing teacher, as Jon was.

“I will sleep first,” she said, dismounting onto the rock. “Télia,
take first guard.”

Télia said nothing. She tetchily pulled her crossbow from her
saddlebag and took up position a short distance away.

Aldrick, Kaal and Aru were soon lying upon the flat surface of the
rock. It was painfully solid, even with what bedding they had brought. Sleep
was elusive. Aldrick’s mind dwelled on many bizarre and disturbing things, not
allowing him any peace.

After no less than two hours of discomfort, he heard Aru rise and
tell Télia to get some rest. She came and quietly settled herself beside him.
Another hour slowly passed. Although Télia did not stir, Aldrick knew she was
not sleeping; her heart beat rapidly. She likely anticipated their arrival at
the fort. He feared for her. No doubt they would soon confront powerful evil.
He wanted her to be safe. It was his responsibility to protect her, as much as
it was hers to protect him. He could wield. He could shield her, fight for her.
He would!

In the dark he felt her warm hand meet his. She tightened her
delicate fingers around it and held firmly. Cool shivers washed through his
body, dissolving all thought of the trials ahead. This was where he belonged—right
here with her. Butterflies fluttered beneath his chest. He swallowed as quietly
as he could, then softly stroked her hand with his thumb. Immediately, he felt
foolish for his thumb was trembling. It was like he was sixteen again. Come on,
Aldrick. Pull yourself together.

Their hands did not part for some time. He wished that they were
alone together, in another place, under lighter circumstances, but would they
ever have met had it not been for the reasons they did? No, probably not. This
unfinished journey was the only one in which their paths crossed.

Aru had been sitting at the edge of the rock facing the direction
of the fort, listening for any disturbance in the enveloping shadows.

“It is time for us to go,” she said, rising to her feet all of a
sudden.

Aldrick lifted his head and saw the first hint of dawn in the
east. Télia withdrew her hand and stood up. She said nothing. He noticed the
shape of her crossbow in her other hand. She had been on guard the whole time.

Kaal stirred. “Hell, can we not wait ‘til sunup?”

“No,” said Aru firmly, refastening gear to her saddle.

The others grudgingly followed suit and they were soon on their
way, steadily approaching the solitary mountain. It jutted from the plains with
multiple weather-worn peaks stabbing at the sky. Roughly halfway up its sharp
incline, the entrance to Fort Blackbed was marked by a stone watchtower, crowned
by a square, castle-like battlement. At its base, a crumbling wall ran a short
way before ending. From there, a slender path wound, to-and-fro, down to the
plains below.

When the dark slopes of the mountain almost blocked all sky from view,
Aru raised a hand.

“Télia and I shall go on from here,” she said stiffly. “Aldrick,
you and Kaal will stay and await our return.”

“What if there is a warding enchantment cast over it?” Aldrick
asked.

“With any luck there won’t be. If there is, well, we will just
have to hope you can help us pierce it.”

Aru didn’t sound at all optimistic about the outcome of the latter
circumstance. Clearly she held little confidence in his wielding ability. That
was fair enough. After all, why would she?

Télia was eying him.

“Hopefully this won’t take us long,” she said. “If we gain
entrance we will make the path as clear for you as we can.”

Aldrick clenched Tame’s reins in frustration. “Do you not remember
me calling for willing companions on this journey, not bodyguards?”

“Don’t whinge,” Aru said curtly. “We are being sensible. Please be
the same.”

Télia continued to look at Aldrick. A faint smile grew on her
face.

“I’ll see you soon,” she whispered.

“Télia!” he blurted as she turned to leave. She looked back at him
calmly. “… Be safe.”

She beamed. “I will, Aldrick.”

While he watched them riding away, Aldrick felt useless. Télia was
venturing into harm’s way and he was told to remain put and do nothing!

“Looks like us two can relax for a while,” Kaal said, yawning
heavily.

He didn’t reply. His eyes were now fixed on the watchtower,
surveying for movement. If he saw anything he would not stay idle.