Guardians of the Light (Book One of The Nebril Riverland Chronicles)

  Chapter 22

  It was four days travel from Lock Up to the Beyjerones Caves and all of it through the same flat grassland. This was better, however, as it seemed the Orlogs did not like this type of terrain; probably not enough places to hide. We hadn't seen or heard any evidence of them since the howling at Lock Up. So we now felt safe enough to stop the wagon for longer periods during the day. We still travelled at night, however, and slept in shifts, just in case.

  I spent the first day huddled in a ball in the corner of the wagon, gripping my head in an attempt to control the pain. At some point the wagon stopped and Jalya brewed me some facion bark tea to put me out of my misery for the night. The second day was also spent huddled in a ball in the corner of the wagon, but this time due to sheer exhaustion and depression and just plain old not wanting to face anyone. By the third day, however, I was ready to rejoin life and basked in the social circle of my companions.

  By the time I made my way to the front of the wagon and looked out at our surroundings, the Beyjerones Caves were already in view. Huge rocky cliffs jutted out of the grass and stretched into the sky. And beyond that was the infamous Malhadron Mountain, its peak covered in snow. If I'd been impressed by the size of Lock Up, I was absolutely flabbergasted by the sheer enormity of the mountain. It was a good thing that we'd be flying to the top, because I couldn't have imagined walking it.

  Wagna was getting stronger every day and by the morning of the fourth day, he was able to climb down from the wagon and take a walk to the river with me and go fishing. It was a good thing too, as I still was no expert at the task, and he had to guide me through it once again. Reyla and Kahj were also fishing a little downriver, as were Jalya and Oches, though it looked like they were playing around more than anything else. Isrelda served as our lookout, perched on top of the wagon, where he could see anything coming for miles. Though it was still chilly, it was a beautiful clear day and the sun beat down on our heads as we sat by the glistening water. For the first time in a long time, life actually felt good.

  "Wagna," I said, getting ready to ask the question that had been burning in my mind for several days. "What did it feel like when the Orlog drained you?"

  Wagna shuddered. "Not good I can tell you that."

  "I'm sure it didn't. But what did it feel like?"

  "Well, I was asleep when it first came up to me. I was having this dream that my wagon was making this clicking and grinding sound, and then I woke up and there was this thing standing over me....ugliest thing you ever saw. So my first inclination, of course, was to move away from it, but I couldn't move....my limbs wouldn't do what I told them to....nothing would do what I told it to." He stopped and swallowed hard.

  "I could feel it there, in my head, you know. It was the creepiest thing." He cast his line back into the water and stared at the grassy shore on the other side of the river for a moment, before continuing.

  "Then it reached out with its...I don't know what....its hands, I guess they were. A long and painful process it seemed to be for it; woulda had plenty of time to get away had I been able to move. It attached its fingers around the sides of my face, they just kind of suctioned there and then things got a whole lot worse.

  "It....I don't know how to describe it.....it kind of pulled something from me. I could feel something being sucked from me, pulled from the fiber of my being, like it was detaching from each and every tiny section of my body, very nauseating experience. I think I would have thrown up if I could have moved at all. Then I just felt everything tighten up: my muscles, my bones even, stiff like a board." He held his arms out straight as if to demonstrate, like I could ever forget what he looked like at that moment. It would be etched in my mind forever, deliberately tucked away, only to resurface during nightmares and long lonely nights.

  "And that's when I blacked out; that's all I can remember. The next thing I recall is waking up in the wagon, because of that damned howling." Wagna turned and looked at me gravely. "Emmy, trust me, you never want one of those things to get a hold on you. Promise me you'll do whatever is in your power to keep yourself safe out here. I know you've got an army of protectors around you now, but you're wily....you always find a way to get into trouble."

  "I know," I said, staring at my boot. "I promise you I'll do whatever's in my power, but it doesn't seem like I have much power over anything these days. It's like I have no control sometimes, you know."

  "I know," he sighed. "Believe me, I know. My brother....he tried, I saw how hard he tried....but he couldn't control it...there was nothing he could do." He stared out over the serene water.

  "You'll find him someday, Wagna."

  He nodded sadly, not seeming to believe me. I wasn't sure I believed it either, but what else could I say? I watched Jalya and Oches far down the river. They had stopped running around and now sat together on a rock. It seemed to me that they were getting too far away from the group, but I got the feeling that they wanted to be alone. A hard thing to do in a small wagon full of seven people.

  "What's going on with them?" I asked.

  Wagna followed my gaze along the water. "Don't ask me; she's your friend. Doesn't she talk to you about these things?"

  "I don't think she wants to this time. She's afraid I'll lecture her. She falls in love about eighty-five times a year."

  "Well, they've been doing a lot of talking and looking at each other; that's all I know. I try to stay out of these things...better for my sanity." Suddenly Wagna's face lit up. "Look at that, Emmy; I got one. Come on help me pull it in. Still feeling a little weak."

  I reached over and together we tugged the line, revealing a good sized fish. It flopped on the rock as Wagna pulled the hook from its mouth. I felt bad for it, as it lay there struggling for life, but I was so hungry that I couldn't help but be excited.

  Wagna stood up slowly and called out to the others. "Hey, boys and girl, lunch time!" He held up the fish with glee and turned to Isrelda "Who's the old man now?" he laughed. I smiled, happy to see him getting back to his old self. Isrelda rubbed his hands together in anticipation and began untying the bundles of long grass we had drying on the roof, so we could start a fire.

  We had a wonderful meal by the water and then had to be on our way. It saddened me to leave, as it was such a pretty spot, but we were determined to get to the Beyjerones’ caves by the end of the day. According to the Lumeai, the Beyjerones were incredibly strong and had a formidable army, so we would be completely safe in their caves. I hoped that was the truth, because all I could think about was being able to get a full night's sleep that night.

  The day's journey seemed endless, with nothing to see but grass and the caves up ahead getting ever so slightly bigger with each hour that passed. By the time we passed the outskirts of Warshar's Village at the foot of the caves and started climbing around the first of the rocks, the sun was beginning to set. The path became narrow and bumpy, twisting tightly around each rocky outcropping. The three brothers got out and walked next to the wagon to give the horses some relief during their climb. I felt sorry for Shilly and Vella, but consoled myself with the fact that they'd be getting a good rest when we got there.

  Jalya and I hovered by the opening at the front of the wagon, finally able to take in some interesting scenery. The brown rocks jutted out in all kinds of interesting formations, their contours sculpting the pathway ahead. They reached into the sky like protective walls, their smooth folds only occasionally interrupted by small plants and patches of brush. Looking way up, I could see little pathways running between the rocks, separating them into sections, almost like walled streets. It was there, Wagna told us, that the Beyjerones lived.

  By the time we emerged from the walls that surrounded us, the pathway had become so small that our wagon barely fit through. We squeezed out into a clearing covered in short scrubby grass. The last rays of sun were almost blocked off by the rocks that towered over us on the left side. The flat land extended for a while to the right then appeared to drop of
f into nothing. Craning my head around the side of the wagon allowed me to see the Nebril River far down at the bottom. It gave me a nervous feeling. If the horses were to pull us too far in that direction, there would be nothing stopping us from plummeting to the bottom, and finding our death in the water. I'd just managed to escape that last week; I did not want to give it a second try.

  I decided not to look that way anymore and focus instead on what was looming in front of me. Malhadron Mountain, its glistening peak ablaze with the red light of the setting sun, was an incredible sight to behold. It dominated the sky in front of us, cutting off any view of the other side. As early as tomorrow, I could be on top of that thing...I couldn't believe it. Two weeks ago, I wouldn't have believed that I would ever be seeing a place like this. All that time I had spent staring with awe at the mountain next to our village and here was something that completely put our little mountain to shame. I couldn't stop looking at it.

  I was snapped out of my daze by Oches and Reyla having an argument next to the wagon about which way to go. I looked to the left, the direction in which they were wildly gesturing, and realized that there were two pathways that led back into the rock. Oches seemed to believe that the closest one led up to the caves, but Reyla insisted that we should take the one a little further down. Isrelda brought the horses to a stop so he could join the debate.

  "Both pathways lead up there," Wagna said. "I told Isrelda, but those stubborn boys out there don't seem to believe it." He sighed and leaned his head back against the side of the wagon. "We're losing light. I'd really prefer to get there before dark."

  The argument outside of the wagon escalated. Though they were speaking in their own language, I could hear the heated tones. Then finally, Reyla turned and stomped off in the direction of the caves.

  Wagna rolled his eyes. "Where's that fool going now?" He crawled to the front. "Isrelda, what the hell is he doing?"

  "He don't believe you, Wagna," Isrelda laughed. "He say the first pathway blocked off by rocks. Oches say the second pathway blocked. He going to check it out. Don't want to have to back the horses and wagon all the way out."

  We watched Reyla stride quickly across the clearing toward the second path and disappear inside. We waited and waited, but he did not come back out.

  "Reyla!" Kahj bellowed, but heard no response. "Arrgh. He'd better not be in trouble. I'll go check on him."

  He began to walk across the grass, but before he got very far, Reyla came running back out. The look of terror on his face was perceptible even from our little opening in the wagon.

  "Go, go!" he cried, waving his arms. "Get in the wagon. Go..." And then he stopped yelling, stopped running, just stopped in mid-stride. The momentum kept him going long enough to topple over and slide on the grass, and then he just lay there on the ground in a curious running position. Then I heard what he was running from.... click, drag, grind.....click, drag, grind....my stomach lurched.

  "Kahj!" Oches yelled, but the big man kept running in the direction of his brother. "Kahj, you can't...it's too late."

  But Kahj continued on, almost reaching Reyla before suffering the same fate. He fell to the ground in a sickening thud just as the disgusting thing emerged from the darkness of the pathway. Oches stood next to the wagon, rocking back and forth, clearly torn as to whether or not he should help his brothers.

  "Oches!" Jalya screamed. "Get up here! Get in the wagon!"

  But Oches still stood mesmerized, staring at Reyla and Kahj lying in the grass with the Orlog closing in on them....click, drag, grind....click, drag, grind....the sound echoed off the rocks and rang in my ears. The creature slowly hobbled over to where the two men lay. Wagna let loose a string of curse words next to my ear that would have made Reverend Grell blush. Then I noticed more movement from the pathway, along with more of that sickening noise. There was another one! It pulled itself from the blackness with the same laboured gait as its companion.

  "Oches!" Jalya screamed again.

  "Oches!" Isrelda said sternly, then yelled something that I could not understand. He leaned out of the wagon, grabbed his son's arm and tried to pull him up.

  At that moment Oches snapped out of his stupor and turned to climb up next to Isrelda. However, it seemed that all of the shouting had captured the attention of the second Orlog and Oches had barely gotten aboard before collapsing motionless in the seat. He lay across Isrelda with his boots hanging over the side, and one hand falling on Shilly's rump. I thought the sudden movement might startle the horses into a run, but when I looked up I saw that they were staring in the direction of the Orlogs, heads unnaturally still. My blood ran cold; there was nothing we could do now except hope that their wizened bodies couldn't climb up into the wagon.

  But Oches! His feet dangled down well over the side of the wagon. Even if the Orlog couldn't climb up, surely it could reach his feet. Jalya seemed to realize this fact at the same time as I did and rushed forward. She leaned over the bench to tug at his lifeless body. Isrelda could no longer pull him up, as he also sat paralyzed in the front seat, head turned toward Oches. I was about to move forward to help Jalya, when a strange and decidedly unpleasant feeling overtook me. It was feeling that I remembered all too well....one that had haunted my memories since the last time I'd experienced it. Only at the last minute, when I felt the poking around inside my head, digging into the edges of my thoughts, only then did it occur to me what I was supposed to be doing....clearing my mind.

  But it was too late; it was already inside, twisting around in the confines of my head, numbing my mind with a strange tingling sensation. The sensation spread downward causing my body to stiffen slightly, and then I noticed I couldn't lift my arms. I stood on my knees, unable to move a muscle, no longer even able to scan the area with my eyes. I could only look straight ahead at Jalya who appeared to be similarly afflicted. She arched strangely over the backrest of the bench, fingers embedded in the leather of Oches' vest. I tried to speak, and though I could push the air out to do so, I couldn't move my mouth or my tongue or get my vocal chords to make a sound. Waves of panic washed over me again and again, and being unable to move made me panic even more.

  The worst part now was that I could no longer see the Orlogs; I could only hear them. They snorted and grunted in pain and seemed to mumble at each other. It sounded as though one was coming closer. I could hear its footfalls thumping and dragging across the grass. I tried in vain to clear my mind, to banish all the thoughts that resided there, but found that I couldn't possibly do it. The creature's thoughts were twisted around my own, like the fingers of tightly clasped hands. It squeezed, yet did not cause a physical pain, only an uncomfortable pressure. I heard it coming closer still, the clicking of its joints assaulting my ears; the unquenchable desire to wince was overwhelming.

  And then, after a few long and agonizing minutes, it was there, bumping up against the wagon with its grotesque head. I could see it now in my periphery, its uneven eyes wandering over our stiff bodies, its tongue slathering over its fat protruding lips. Its breath came in short gasps and it sat down on its haunches for a moment and leaned its lumpy head against the front wheel.

  I stared at it as best as I could from my less than optimal position. What the hell was it? It looked like nothing I'd ever seen before, yet somehow, it also seemed strangely familiar. Its breathing slowed and became more regular, though it seemed to sob slightly and I wondered if it was crying. It rubbed its clubbed hands against its drooping eyelids and sniffled. What was it that was causing it so much pain?

  Eventually, the creature seemed to recover some energy and stood up once again. Then it grabbed onto the side of the wagon with its gnarled limbs and, with one painful, grinding motion, stood up on its hind legs. It howled pitifully and clenched its teeth, its breath coming from between them in slobbering huffs. I could barely breathe as I waited to see what it would do next. All it had to do was hoist its back legs up and it would be in the wagon. Even though every movement seemed so painful fo
r it, I couldn't eliminate the possibility that climbing aboard was still within its ability.

  It did not, however, make any motion to do so. Instead it reached out with one feeble arm and touched Oches' boot. It pressed its fingers into the leather, then clawed against it in what appeared to be anger. It shuffled its body over a little and propped itself against the wagon, then lifted both arms to grab at the boot. It seemed to be trying to pull them off, but it was futile. Its twisted hands could not get a grip. It banged its head against the boots in such sad frustration that I almost felt sorry for it. Why would such a deformed creature exist? What was its purpose? From the little I'd seen of the Orlogs, their entire lives seemed to be spent in misery. What was the point?

  It dropped back down to the ground again, howling and sobbing. "Damned boots," it cried. "Damned boots!"

  If I had been able to move at that moment, I think that I would have jumped out of my skin. It talked! How could it talk? That meant it was some kind of intelligent creature like the Lumeai or the Beyjerones. But those clans had existed for thousands of years. Why then had no one ever seen an Orlog before?

  Suddenly a shrill noise pierced the air, and it was torture to not be able to look out and see what it was. So I swallowed and breathed hard, the two motions that I could still carry out, and waited to see what would happen. There was much commotion coming from the left, much of which involved the screaming of the Orlog. The other one, who still lay in the grass next to the wagon, perked up and looked in that direction. It then made a vain attempt to stand quickly, but fell back down and floundered in the grass.

  Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw something swoop in from the left and land next to the creature. From what I had heard and seen, I knew it had to be a Beyjerone. It was enormous, with the size and build of a large man, but the wings, hair and ears of a bat. Its wings fanned out so wide across, that I thought they might envelope and crush the wagon. But it showed no interest in us. It grabbed at the Orlog with its clawed feet in an attempt to gather it into its muscled limbs. The Orlog, for all of its lack of mobility, put up a pretty good struggle, and attempted to roll under the wagon to get away. But before its stiff body could undertake the motion, the manbat slapped it violently with one outstretched wing, sending it flying across the clearing with an anguished scream.

  It strode over to the creature's limp body, its broad shoulders swaying back and forth with each powerful step. It bent over for a minute and then flew away with the Orlog in its arms. Another Beyjerone flew in behind it, carrying the other Orlog.

  And then there was relief; I could move again. We all slumped forward, not realizing for a second that we could now use our muscles. I fell on my hands and clenched my teeth against the incredible surge of nausea that overtook me. I was able to sit up just in time to see the Beyjerones glide over the edge of the clearing and drop the Orlogs into the river below. I heard their shrieking fade as they fell.

  My companions were breathing hard around me, as they too recovered from the effects of the mind bend. Jalya staggered in her half standing position and looked like she might fall over, so I leaned forward to help her. However, the motion made me dizzy and I just sort of fell forward and she collapsed on top of me, knocking us both to the wagon's floor.

  "Oh crap....are you okay?" she gasped, flailing about in her struggle to get off me.

  "I think so," I moaned. I looked around to make sure everyone else was alright as well. Wagna was still leaning against the side of the wagon, with his head bent back against the canvas covering. He breathed deeply, his eyes focused on the roof and beads of sweat streaming down the sides of his face, despite the cold. Isrelda leaned against the backrest of the bench in a similar state. I realized that I also felt hot and sweaty and threw my shawl off before trying to move again. I looked up and noticed Oches attempting to crawl over the back of the bench, so he could help Jalya to her feet. I turned to see that Reyla and Kahj were still lying motionless in the field.

  "Everybody okay here?" Oches asked as he gently sat Jalya down next to me.

  We all nodded or grunted some affirmation toward him, but we barely had a chance to respond before he leapt from the side of the wagon and ran in the direction of his brothers. I sat up and watched him, concerned that he might get dizzy and fall, but he managed to make it there still on his feet.

  Slowly the fogginess in my head started to clear and I turned to look at Jalya. "Wow, that was really bad," I said. "I really didn't think it would feel that bad."

  Wagna laughed softly. "I'll bet you girls thought I was exaggerating or just being a silly old man." He pointed a trembling finger at us. "We're just lucky that thing didn't get a hold of us. Then you'd know a bad feeling."

  Just then, the beating of wings through the air signalled the Beyjerones' return. One landed in front of our wagon and the other glided over to the three men on the grass. The one closest to us swaggered over, muscles bulging on his stocky legs. As he folded his wings, I noticed some kind of marking on the right one; it almost looked as if it had been burned there. His steel gray eyes scanned the wagon, stopping on each one of us in turn. He looked so menacing that I began to think that the Lumeai had been remiss in sending us here.

  Wagna crawled to the front of the wagon to greet the giant bat. "Good evening," he said "We are on our way to see General Sanjarus. We have urgent business with him."

  The bat eyed him suspiciously. "How do you know the General?"

  "I've known him for many years. We met when we were much younger. He's helped me out before. My name's Wagna Freeds."

  "I've heard the name," the bat mused, "but I've never seen you before."

  "Well, of course you haven't. The last time I was here you were probably a child...not even born yet, perhaps."

  "Torchuk," Isrelda said as he stood up from his seat.

  "Isrelda," the bat said, with an expression that barely changed. "I didn't recognize you. What are you doing here...in a wagon no less?"

  "It's a long story and one I would prefer to tell everyone here at once if you don't mind. We need the General's help. You see we have a bei clu with us."

  The bat thought about it for an instant. At close range his expressions seemed curiously human. "Only one? There's not much point going for the Lamorian rock with only one bei clu. You need a pair."

  "Well, we know that," Wagna said impatiently. "We know where her bei clu va is, but we need your help to get to him."

  Just as he finished his sentence, the other Beyjerone flew over with Reyla cradled in his arms. He hovered over the wagon and Jalya and I scrambled out of the way when we saw that he meant to lower him inside. He arched his enormous wings over the wagon, allowing himself to land softly on the front bench. He then reached over and placed Reyla's body inside. He bore the same marking on his wing as Torchuk, plus two others. He was a little smaller, though just as well muscled, and he had a much kinder look to him.

  He turned briefly and addressed his comrade. "Torchuk, go get the other man. I'll deal with the humans." He turned back toward us with a smile.

  "Hello, Isrelda. I see your sons have been giving you some trouble."

  "No more than usual," Isrelda said, as his eyes scanned Reyla's stiff body. "The Orlogs now up here too, I see."

  "Yes, we've had a few. I have to say, it must be a hard climb for them." He turned to face Wagna. "Good to see you, Wagna. Haven't seen the two of you together in quite some time."

  "Well, desperate times call for desperate measures," Wagna grinned as he looked at Isrelda. "How have you been Vandalaharis?"

  "Very well. Are you here to see my father?"

  "Absolutely," said Wagna. "But that one over there has been giving us a hard time."

  "Oh, Torchuk's new to our army. Doesn't know who's a threat and who isn't. Though the way things are going these days, we have to be suspicious of everyone." Vandalaharis jumped out of the way as Torchuk returned and placed Kahj in the wagon. Oches ran up quickly behind him.

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; Isrelda turned toward us as he wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. "Too much weight in here now," he mused. "Wagna you feel strong enough to take the reins? I get out and walk with Oches. The girls too."

  "I think I can handle it," Wagna said, and heaved his body over the backrest and into the front seat. As I climbed down from the wagon, I stared at Reyla and Kahj and the stiff expressions of terror on their faces, and another wave of nausea washed over me. I took a few deep breaths and looked the other way, clutching the side of the wagon to keep myself upright as I followed Jalya to the ground.

  Vandalaharis stared at the sun as the fiery red orb began to dip down behind the horizon. "Well, we'd better go if we want to get you to the caves before dark. I'll lead you there and Torchuk will go ahead and announce your arrival."

  Wagna slapped the reins so the horses would follow Vandalaharis, as he led us over to the first pathway. He glanced briefly over his shoulder at the two men in the back of the wagon.

  "Sheesh," he said. "I sure hope I didn't look as bad as all that." He then turned his attention to the manbat walking ahead of us. "Tell me, Vandalaharis, both paths lead to the caves, do they not? It's been such a long time that I don't remember."

  "Aaah, they did at one time, but there was a rock slide last winter which blocked off the far pathway there. We can't use it until we finish clearing out the rocks."

  Oches smiled smugly. "Wait till I tell Reyla," he said.

  We plunged into the darkness of the path and I was thankful that night hadn't fallen yet. As it was, we could barely make out Vandalaharis' outline as he walked ahead of us. I folded my trembling hand around Jalya's and realized I still wasn't completely over the ordeal we had just been through. I pushed forward, however, on my wobbly legs, taking advantage of the growing darkness to hide my tears.