*****
Benji was making good time. He worried sleeping in would cost him a day, but soon enough Thana’s mountain loomed ahead of him. The conical monolith was haloed by heavy gray clouds. Sunshine tried to break through the rain, and lent a silver shimmering light to the current drizzle. It was ethereal. Very appropriate, Benji thought, for the home of a Necromancer.
The patchy showers of this morning finally became a steady downpour of light rain during the early afternoon. It made hiking a slippery and treacherous endeavor, but Benji tried to keep a brisk pace regardless. He wished he had a hat or a poncho. The water pelting his face made it difficult to see and it was hard enough keeping his footing without accidently stepping into a gulley. His shoes were already caked with mud and rock. It made his feet feel heavy.
On top of that, Benji’s legs were still sore. With each step, he felt muscles and tendons pulling against each other abrasively. When he started out in the late morning, every movement was accompanied by stinging pain, but gradually the pain dulled to discomfort. He was used to it now, but remained grateful nothing unexpected occurred. Benji wasn’t sure he could outrun anything today.
It was three o’clock. Benji walked over a steep ridge that separated the second and third mountains. There was brief dip in the landscape before the last mountain climbed towards the sky. This was a good place to stop, eat, and check the map. He had to move fast if he still wanted to make it by sunset, though. Thana’s hut was halfway to the peak and on the far side of the rocky mass in front of him.
Benji found a relatively dry spot to sit on a fallen log. He dug out a granola bar and a bottle of water. The food was gone quickly and Benji’s stomach still growled. He wanted to conserve, but he also needed energy for the last leg of this trip. He compromised with himself and added a handful of cereal to his meal. At least he was being good about conserving his water. He should have plenty left if he and his mother made a swift journey back to the farm.
After eating, Benji sifted through his tattered backpack and took out his map of Black Rock. He traced his path and approximated his current location. The tiny dot marking Thana’s residence on the mountain appeared to be on the opposite slope. Benji would have to start climbing higher, too, which would be more difficult. Rock climbing wasn’t his strong suit. A straight line put his destination only three or four miles away, but Benji figured it might actually be twice that since he had to zigzag his way across the terrain.
He put the map away and slung his ruined backpack over his shoulder. He scraped off some of the debris stuck to his boots before setting out again. Benji hoped the rain would let up. It would be more difficult to get his bearings once he was actually on the mountain, but the sun would be a useful compass, since his other one was commandeered by the fairies.