“How do we know which is which? If that one was good, or if it was not?”
“We don’t. Not at this distance, anyway. We would only be able to see how it behaved towards us should it find us. I am not risking being found by an enemy Amassa out here.”
Rionan sniffed at the air, scanning around them. The sky had again fallen silent, the gentle sound of wing beats no longer audible.
“Come,” Rionan ushered. “Let’s keep moving.”
***************
Rionan and Alianna made their way through the mountain pass. Rionan explained that they were descending down to the farthest reach of the Western territory, to an area of the mountains that was tucked away from the sight of passing aerial patrols. Occasionally, Rionan would stop, studying tracks on the ground that Alianna herself could not see.
They seemed to be moving towards fog, which Rionan did not comment on, and did not deter him.
“What should I expect when we arrive?” Alianna asked, leaning against the surrounding stone as Rionan again studied the ground. He stood slowly, beckoning her onwards. Alianna was not sure how long they had been walking. Her steps were growing weary. She was acutely aware that they did not have food or water with them, so would need to find this before they bedded down for the night – ifthey could find suitable shelter, or somewhere that Rionan felt that they’d be safe. She looked to Rionan, who did not seem to be tiring.
“Truthfully, I am not sure,” Rionan’s eyes were hard. The fog around them was thin enough that she could see his expression, which was drawn, his eyes hard with concern.
Alianna tried to remind herself that the silence of the mountains should be comforting – a sign that nothing was following them, or circling overhead.
“We will need to find somewhere to camp soon,” acknowledged Rionan. He looked to Alianna, and although she had not admitted it, he seemed to know that she was in dire need of water. “There are limited water sources in these mountains, but we will find some. If you tire, I will carry you.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, reaching for his hand. Rionan grasped her own tightly, his skin warm. His touch was reassuring amongst the dense night.
Alianna had lost track of how long she and Rionan had been walking before he froze, his eyes on the rocky walls that now pressed in on either side of them. The pathway had narrowed considerably, and they were just able to walk side by side, their shoulders brushing against each other as they went. The fog had thickened, and the path ahead was difficult for Aliana to make out. Rionan had continued holding her hand, leading the way through the pass. The damp air was leaving a light coating of water across Alianna’s skin. Her face was clammy, throat tight as she ignored the overwhelming need to search her bag for water that she knew she had not been sensible enough to pack.
“What is it?” she asked quietly, as Rionan reached two fingers towards the rock face. He traced his fingers downwards – what he had seen, Alianna was unsure. He drew his fingers back, bringing them to his nose and inhaling softly.
“Ulreah,” he replied. His voice was gravelly, and Alianna could only just hear the word he had said. She recalled that Ulreah was the name of one of the members of his forces. One of his friends. “Dried blood on the wall, a few days old. Come.”
Rionan pulled her down the pass now, his pace quickening into a half-jog. She was certain that Rionan was moving more slowly than he was otherwise able to, aware that she might struggle to keep up in hertired state. As the fog continued to build around them, Rionan came to a sudden stop. Alianna’s feet skidded on the loose gravel beneath them, whilst Rionan stilled like a predator who had caught up with prey.
“Here,” he motioned, unhooking the bag containing the stone from over his shoulder and passing it to Alianna. She had almost forgotten that he’d been carrying it. “Hold this. Stay flat against the rock face. Wait here.”
Alianna did as she was asked, extending her arms out and taking hold of the bag. She hugged it close, flattening herself as close to the wall behind her as she could, trying her best to still her breathing. Rionan turned and cautiously waded into the fog, out of sight.
There was a sudden bright flash, like a fork of lightning shooting towards them, and she heard Rionan curse as it shot by her, missing her by a matter of inches. It hit the walls of the pass about twelve foot from where they had been, and the rock face split with a splintering crack. Overhead, the sky boomed with the sound of thunder.
“Ulreah, you ass!” came Rionan’s voice through the fog. “It’s me!”
Alianna heard the sound of voices echoing in the near distance, followed by hurried footsteps. The fog began to clear quickly, dissipating on a wind that she could not feel.
“Rionan?” came a deep male voice. “Rionan! You are a sight for sore eyes, my friend. Is this a dream, or have you actually returned?”
“This is no dream, Thallax. I’m here, and I am sorry that it took me as long as it did. It’s good to see you.”
Alianna resisted the urge to peer around the corner, staying where she had been instructed. She heard the sounds of palms thumping backs, as if Rionan and his friend had pulledeach other in to a firm embrace. She recalled him telling her of somebody called Thallax, a Xanthian who had the ability to rally armies with ease.
“Ulreah’s snare worked beautifully. He nearly fried me on the spot. In any other circumstances, I’d be furious, but if I’ve just had to side-step a bolt of lightning that would have caused my chest to explode, I’ll assume that he made it?”
“He made it, Rionan. Took some nasty hits. The healers got to him quickly once he arrived here. He has a few new scars, but no other lasting damage. We wouldn’t have got so many out if it wasn’t forhim. Brave bastard is stubborn. Held the front for as long as he could. Took out a third of the incoming enemy forces in the process, too.”
“Of course he did.” Alianna could sense the smile in Rionan’s voice as he spoke. “Go ahead to the camp, please, Thallax. Tell Ulreah to reset the snare. I’ll be with you in a few moments.”
Rionan appeared around the corner, his footsteps inaudible as he moved with feline grace. He had a faint smile on his face.
“Come, Ali. I have some friends I would like you to meet.”
Rionan explained to Alianna what had happened as she waited behind. Ulreah, his Stormbringer, is gifted with the power of storms and lightning. He had set what Rionan called a snare in the pass, which would go off should anyone try to enter the camp area. The snare, Rionan had said, worked in the same way that a human snare would, but with storm magic as opposed to physically binding the captured individual. The bolt, which he had avoided, was powered to seriously maim or kill anyone that it struck.
