Chapter 35
Istrain to see through the black fog until she is completely engulfed. Turning, I see Ash still trying to get his arms free from the ropes. I rise to my feet and cross the stream, where I pluck an arrow out of the strange man’s chest and use it to saw off the ropes that bind my hands. I’m thankful the rezurc ran off after the Fallen woman set the ground on fire. The flame is just beginning to die down, and my first thought is that it leads to Jewel’s true realm. I pick my way back to Timber and Ash and realize Timber is unconscious. A solider must have hit him before they abruptly left with Jewel in tow.
Ash peers into my eyes and I nod. “We’re going after her.” I cut Ash free of the ropes, and as we start to pick up Timber, I realize what’s happening. I recognize the stiff limbs, open eyes and blank stare, a swirling haze within their depths. He’s receiving an Elder’s magic.
“Damn it!” I curse. “Don’t touch him. He is receiving an Elder’s powers. We must wait until this passes. If we try to move him, it could put his life in danger.”
“Whose powers is he receiving?” Ash asks.
A memory surges forward of a Healer who walks with the rezurc and destroys black powder. “I assume from the man over there.” I point to the one who I now know saved the rezurc race.
Ash nods and goes in search of a healing root to wave off the nausea for Timber when he wakes. As he forages, I spend the time thinking through the events of the past few hours. Somehow, King Gus was able to move his entire army from the North side of our kingdom to here within a day’s time. My men would have been exhausted, but his fought well… too well. He is exceptionally powerful – no, it’s not power, it must be magic – but I don’t understand how. We don’t have that kind of magic in our realm. How did he come by it?
When Ash returns, I try to find out what he knows. “Ash, have you seen magic like King Gus’s on any of your journeys to find the stone?”
He ponders my question for a moment before answering. “The only true magic I know of is from the Fairy Realm, but I’ve never been to that place. I never wanted to risk getting stuck there.”
“Do you know what that woman was?” I question, needing confirmation about what I saw.
Ash releases a shuddering breath. “The only ones I know who can wield fire are Fallen. Don’t your Elder’s memories show you that?”
“When receiving the memories and knowledge, it comes at a snail’s pace,” I reply carefully, unwilling to share Jewel’s secret. “Believe it or not, I haven’t had them very long, and they don’t exactly come with an owner’s manual. We’ll wait until Timber is up and well before we head out.”
Ash comes up to me and places a comforting hand on my shoulder. “We’ll get her back.