Stranded Mage (17 page)

His conscience still raw and his side hurting Thad closed his eyes. The sun was no longer in the sky so Thad was sure it was still the same day as the battle though he was not sure if they were back in the forest or past the Rane border.

The next time Thad woke he was being gently shaken. As his eyes began to focus Thad noticed Tuck, Reeve, and Parson kneeling next to his bedroll. “We need to get moving,” Reeve said bluntly.

“Did something happen?” Thad asked as he quickly began gathering up his gear.

“Nothing really but the longer we wait here the more likely something will,” Reeve said in his trademark cold tone.

Thad had to agree. It was never a good idea to hang around near a battlefield. Nodding his agreement to Reeve, Thad packed up the last of his possessions into his pack and slung it over his shoulder. The pack hit his side hard sending tendrils of pain shooting through his body.

Though he hurt, it was easy to tell by looking around he was not the one in the worst shape. Once everyone was packed and ready they moved out albeit slowly.

They stayed off the road but kept it near with a scout always watching for any sign of the Brotherhood. Thad had no clue how far the capital was or even if they were going in the right direction. He just hoped that if he followed the major trade roads it would lead to the capital or to a small town or farm to get directions.

Tuck, as well as many of the other elves, started to lag behind as the day drew on but each passing moment Thad started to feel better. Letting his hand slide to his wound he tested it with his fingertips. It was still a little raw but for the most part the pain was gone. “Is this your doing?” Thad asked his staff.

Would you rather I left it alone? I know it wasn’t a bad wound but I got tired of you whining about it pulling as you walked.

“I wasn’t whining,” Thad protested.

Not out loud but in your mind all I’ve had to listen to for the past few miles is your bickering. After a while I stopped feeling sorry for you and started feeling sorry for myself.

“Sorry about that,” Thad said jokingly.

The next few days passed without incident. During the day they traveled quietly without anyone talking. At night Thad often spent time with Tuck or Parson though little was said.

Everyone in the camp had been subdued as of late. Thad could almost feel the tension hanging in the air. It was as if death was hanging above them like the axe of a headsman and they were all waiting for it to descend.

Thad didn’t like the atmosphere of the camp but there was little he could do to change it. No matter the heavy feelings that everyone held they continued to march forward.

After the third day Thad feared that the dire mood would continue forever. Then that night something happened that left Thad speechless.

It was near sundown when everyone spirits suddenly started to flair. It was hard for Thad to pinpoint when the change occurred, to him seemed to be instantaneous. One moment everyone seemed to be quietly settling in for the night then Thad started to hear a beat rising up from the camp. At first it was just a few elves pounding sticks against the ground. Every second that passed more and more of the elves joined in the merriment and soon it sounded as if the earth itself was beating along with the elves makeshift drums.

More than a little bewildered Thad looked for Tuck and found him slapping his wooden practice sword against a stump. Thad called for his friend but Tuck didn’t seem to hear him. Moving around to stand in front of Tuck, Thad said his name again but still his friend didn’t look up. Getting irritated Thad yelled.

As if coming out of a trance Tuck looked up at Thad and smiled. “What is going on?” Thad asked, his voice slightly panicked.

“It’s the pull of the full moon,” Tuck said slightly dazed. “Every creature in nature feels it and celebrates it in their own way; wolves howl, trees bask, deer prance, and elves regale themselves in merriment.”

Looking around Thad couldn’t argue with it. Every elf within sight was either dancing or banging on something. Thad wanted to warn them of the dangers of such a display so deep into enemy lands, but with the effort to even get Tuck’s attention he doubted it would do any good.

Knowing he couldn’t stop it Thad decided to join in. He didn’t know how to dance nor could he hold a beat so Thad did the only thing he had skill with, magic. Calling his staff to his hand Thad raised it high above his head. “Want to give off a little show for our friends?” Thad asked his staff. “Make sure not to overdo it. No reason to draw more attention than we already have.”

I don’t think it’s a great idea but I don’t see what harm it could do.

Blue, green, and red balls of light rose before they split then split again. Soon the entire camp was covered in multicolored festive lights. The thumping and dancing went on late into the night, but it finally started to wind down a few hours before moonset.

As the sun came up over the horizon the next morning Thad was woken without mercy. Without complaint Thad prepared for the day’s march though he felt the weariness of the previous night’s merriment down to his bones.

As tired as he was Thad was happy to see that the feeling of despair had been lifted from the elves. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could have taken the overwhelming feeling of depression. A few hours sleep was more than worth it to have the pressure lightened.

As they marched Thad moved up beside Reeve. The normally cold elf had a noticeably lighter step this morning and Thad could almost swear the elf had the barest hint of a smile on his face. “You seem in a much better mood today,” Thad said teasingly.

Reeve tried to give Thad a cold look but his eyes betrayed his true mood. “No elf can deny the call of the full moon,” He replied gruffly. “I noticed the lights you added to the occasion. I must say it was a nice touch.”

Thad laughed and gave the assassin a warm smile. “I figured if I couldn’t sleep I might as well get in on some of the fun.”

“I hope you enjoyed yourself,” Reeve said. “It will be quite some times before another moon graces the sky.”

“While I enjoyed last night, I don’t think it would be wise to do it again.” Thad tried to keep his voice calm, fearing that the elf might take the statement as an affront to his culture.

To his surprise Reeve looked at Thad and winked. “I agree with you wholeheartedly. If there had been an army nearby last night we would have been slaughtered without a fight. Even knowing this, we elves cannot help ourselves when such a beautiful moon appears in the sky. The moon calls to us, it is like our blood is on fire,” Reeve replied in explanation.

Shortly after the noon break one of the scouts reported suspicious activity along the road. Eight riders were moving off and on the road as if they were searching for something. Thuraman couldn’t feel any of the brotherhood’s swords among the group but their actions told who they were as surely as the swords would have.

Hoping not to draw any unwanted attention the large band of elves moved farther from the road and continued on their way. It seemed that their activities from the night before had not gone unnoticed.

As night settled Thad made an extra pass around the camp inspecting the shields to make sure they were strong. A few of the stones were weaker but they had more than enough strength to last a few more nights before he had to change them out for a new set.

Content that the shields would hold through the night Thad settled down on his own pallet for some much needed sleep. With the commotion the night before and the suspicious men on the road Thad could not shake the feeling that something was amiss. He tried to tell himself that it was only his nerves but so far everything had seemed to go too smoothly. His mind might have been anxious but his body was exhausted and it was not long before sleep took him.

In his dreams Thad once again found himself standing in the murky darkness he had begun to know all too well. Thad looked around for Maria knowing that she would appear as she always had.

Within a few moments Thad spied the young princess. Her armor was replaced by a gown of deep scarlet that matched her flaming hair well. Though she was dressed in her courts best she still wore a thin sword strapped to her side. Maria gave him a questioning look. “The hardness is still in your eyes but at least you don’t look like a lost child anymore,” Maria said harshly.

“It wasn’t that long ago that you were the lost child quivering behind me,” Thad replied sarcastically.

Mara gave him a withering glair then laughed lightly. “That was a lifetime ago Thad,” Maria said sadly. “I have missed your banter, but I don’t remember you having such a witty tongue. Is that something you picked up on the road or have you just hid it from me.”

“I never hid anything for you,” Thad replied, shaking his head. “I just figured I spent enough time bowing before others.”

Maria walked over and raised her hand. For a moment Thad though she was going to slap him but she embraced him instead. “About time you grew a backbone. A woman never really appreciates a man who she can push around all the time.”

Thad went to reply but he was forcefully jerked from the darkness of the dream. Other times it had been a gradual thing but not this time it was as if he was being ripped apart.

Thad woke with a startled scream grasping his chest. As his mind cleared his ears picked up the sound of the high pitched scream from the shields letting them know they had been breached. Thad jumped from his bed his hands seeking his weapons.

Every elf in camp knew what the sound signaled and all of them were drawing swords preparing to fight. From what he could see and the lack of any sound other than the alarm Thad was sure no one had engaged in battle yet.

As soon as his mind was clear Thad went in search for Reeve or Parson. Thad didn’t have to look hard to find Parson near the border of the camp talking to one of his scouts. “Who breached the shield?” Thad asked keeping his voice as low as possible.

“My men have found a handful of Brotherhood scouts in the woods after the sound of the alarm,” Parson said quietly. “My men were able to kill four and capture a fifth. We were just discussing wither to bring him to question or to send him to the next world.”

“We could use some information,” Thad said, after only giving it a moment’s thought.

“As you wish. I will have him brought to you,” Parson replied. “The rest of my men are scouting ahead but no matter what they find, we best be ready to move.”

Thad had to agree with Parson. Staying here when they knew Brotherhood scouts had spotted them would be past reckless. “Have everyone get ready to march. We leave as soon as I finish asking our visitor a few questions.”

Thad returned to his own bedroll and proceeded to gather all his gear. It wouldn’t do to have the rest of the group waiting on him.

Not long after the last of his gear was stowed, Parson and Reeve brought the Brotherhood hostage to him. Thad was surprised that the scout was female and young enough to barely be out of girlhood. Thad tried to push his desire to help the girl out of his mind.

“I won’t tell you anything demon spawn,” the scout shouted, as she was thrown down before Thad.

Taking a deep breath Thad pulled his knife from his boot. “You will tell us, alive or dead, you will tell,” Thad said, placing the blade against the girl’s throat. “Now how many soldiers do you have fielded and where are they?”

The soldier clenched her jaw and gave him a defiant look. When she remained silent Thad let the blade of his knife run down her arm cutting a shallow line. The soldier grunted as a small trickle of blood started dripping from her fingertips.

Thad could feel his stomach churning. It was one thing to kill someone. It was something else to torture them. He had little practice and even less desire for such a thing.

Thad felt a tap on his shoulder. “May I have a quick word with you?” Reeve asked in a demanding tone.

“I think it would be best if I talked to our friend,” Reeve said as soon as they were a short distance away from the others. “There is no shame to be found here. It is a dark task to cause others pain.” Thad didn’t answer but nodded his head.

Thad didn’t want to watch Reeve question the soldier. When the first scream echoed though the camp Thad’s stomach heaved and his supper from the night before was lost to the ground. Wiping his mouth Thad moved away from the camp and took a seat on the ground placing his head between his legs.

The screams still reached his ears but they didn’t carry the same weight as they had before. With each scream it felt as if someone had struck him in the chest. Thad wasn’t sure how long it had lasted, time seemed to drag on, but when the camp finally grew eerily quiet he knew that the soldier’s torment was at its end.

It was not the first time Thad had seen blood but the sight of it on Reeve's hands that night glistening black in the moonlight haunted Thad. “We’re in luck my friend,” Reeve said, almost joyfully. “We see to have come to Rane at a good time. Most the soldiers have been in Farlan the past few years and their numbers have been stretched thin. They are trying to pull their soldiers together but if we move fast we should be able to reach the capital long before they can send a large force to counter us.”

“That is good to know,” Thad replied, doing his best to keep the few contents left in his stomach in place. “Did you find out how far and which direction it is to the capital?”