Children of the Sun and Moon (22 page)

“The council be
thinkin’ it time ye all left. Eric be a bit too much fer em after
the burnin’.”

“I thought they
might feel that way. Very well, let them know as soon as the twins
are able to travel we will leave.” Then he turned and headed
quickly to his room.

Grund made his
way to Urlick’s chamber. As head of the council, he figured this
would be the person to go and tell. When he arrived, Grund
hesitated before knocking. It bothered him that the council was
just throwing this group out on their own. Sighing, he knocked and
when it was answered moved into the room.

“The wizard
said they be leavin’ once the twins be well enough.”

Urlick
grimaced. “Me thinks they should be leavin’ now.”

Grund was
stunned by the forcefulness of his statement. “The humans still be
weak. Sendin’ them out now be their death.”

“That not be me
problem. It be theirs. This be the wishes o the council.”

The last
statement was to let Grund know there was no one he could go to for
help on this. “If it be the council’s wish, then I be leavin’ with
em.”

Urlick jumped
out of his seat. “You be goin’ when the council be forbiddin’
it?”

“It be me
choice.”

“Then ye be
banished,” said Urlick smugly, not at all concerned he would never
see this dwarf again.

“That be me
choice too.” Grund left the stunned council leader to his thoughts
and headed back to Gillock.

“We be findin'
horses in Tress, don't ye worry,” said Grund. He had just informed
Gillock of the council’s order, and the wizard had gone into a most
colourful rant.

“But how can
they be so utterly cruel? Those poor children have been through
quite an ordeal and to just throw them out is horrible.”

“I not be
knowin’ what the council be thinkin’. All I be knowin’ is that I be
comin’ with ye. Now, we can go through the mountain. It be quicker
than goin’ around. The council will not be carin’ which way we be
goin’. But they be carin’ when we be goin’ so we best be gettin’
everyone ready.”

Gillock sat
down on his bed exasperated. He knew he wouldn’t be able to sway
the council’s decision, so instead he just set about planning the
rest of the journey.

The company was
ready to move out within two hours, much to the delight of the
council. Grund felt even more offended when not one dwarf came out
to bid them good journey. Something was wrong with his village, and
he was glad to be leaving it. The twins were placed in wagons
pulled by oxmifs. They were curious little creatures that resembled
the ox of the above world, only a third of the size. It was a rough
way to travel, but they were both still too weak to walk.

Grund and
Drundle, who had joined up with them as they left the village, led
the way. The route they were taking was rough, but it would bring
them out near a small dwarf fishing town. Behind them followed the
wagons, then Gillock and Adora were next. Behind them were the
goblin’s followed by the elves. Without a word, they began their
trek through the mountain.

Koral and Eric,
with the help of Gillock, were fast asleep for the first day of
their journey. When they awoke, most of their strength had returned
so they both decided to walk. The road was unusual, like nothing
they had ever experienced. Gillock made sure the way was lit by
magical means, which he felt was much more effective than torches.
All the twins could do was marvel at the wonders they were
seeing.

The village of
Xamblers may have been an awesome sight for them, but the caverns
they came into were extraordinary. Sometimes their way was nothing
more than a trail on the side of an immense cliff. Many times the
twins stopped to marvel at the depths.

“How deep is
this gorge?” asked Eric.

Grund smiled,
having heard the question nearly a hundred times already on this
trip. “This one I not be knowin’, prince. Me thinkin’ it's been
round longer than Gillock.” Then he snickered at Gillock’s obvious
scowling face.

“What Grund
means to say, is that some mining areas were done by dwarves in
times past. Some of these go very far down, so do try and stay away
from the edges.”

Eric moved back
at Gillock’s request, but was still curious. “I see other tunnels
across the way. Where do those lead?”

“I not be
knowin’ some o them,” said Grund.

“Rumour has it,
some of them were trading routes to the Eastern Lands,” commented
Glavlin, his elven ears hearing the entire conversation.

“Wes heards
rumours toos,” said Nak. “Bads thingses thats ways.”

Eric stared off
into the distance. He heard the remainder of the conversation, but
the only thing which stuck in his head was, Eastern Lands.

“Someday I
would like to travel to the Eastern Lands,” he said, not realizing
he had spoken aloud. No one commented on it though and everyone
moved off further down the road.

On the fourth
day of their travels, they arrived outside. Everyone, save the
dwarves, was glad to be out in the fresh air again. Since evening
was fast approaching, they needed to get organized.

“We be campin’
here tonight,” said Drundle once everyone was out of the tunnel and
into the makeshift campsite. “Tomorrow we be goin’ down and gettin’
supplies n' horses from Tress,” she finished, pointing to the small
village off in the distance.

“How far away
is it?” asked Koral.

“Only half a
day’s walk,” responded Darly, coming up from behind. “From there it
is only two days ride to Keenley.”

“I thought this
was the quick way around,” stated Eric, obviously annoyed.

“It is if you
want to be supplied and unharmed the entire way,” was Mekken’s
response.

Eric was going
to comment, but thought against it and instead grabbed some things
and began setting up the camp.

Adora moved
closer to Gillock, so she would not be heard speaking to him.
“Things are going quickly and the twins are not ready. Maybe they
should be told about Keenley. They have not ever experienced it and
I am not sure how they will react.”

Gillock leaned
down as if picking something up. “They have been told, but I don't
think they believe. This is going to be the hardest part of our
journey. As for their training, I think they are ready. Their trips
into the unconscious world have boosted their powers. I have shown
them how to create the mist. They achieved it perfectly on their
first try.”

Adora gasped.
“They should not have been able to do that yet. What does this
mean?”

“I don't know,”
he answered truthfully. “All I do know is that we need to be
worried. They are becoming very powerful, very quickly, and it
could cause problems.”

“What type of
problems?” she asked, worry creeping into her voice.

“With power
this strong anyone or thing possessing magic may be able to sense
them. It could very well give away our position, as they do not
know how to hide it yet. I'm afraid our journey is going to get
more difficult, not easier.”

Adora moved
off, not wanting to question him anymore. She was afraid of what
she might get as an answer.

Glavlin, Darly,
and Mekken exchanged glances. Their ears had heard the entire
conversation between wizard and gypsy. None of them understood what
had transpired between them, but they were now all worried. Not
just because of the twins power, but because two of them had
thought she was in league with either the Order or Malena. The
other elf, of course, had been doing everything possible to make it
look that way. Now Moray had another task; setting the camp against
Gillock so suspicions would still fall on Adora. Malena would not
like him doing it, seeing how she had told him to help in any way
he could, but Moray did not care. Soon he would have no need for
the foolish queen. Smiling, he moved off into the distance to make
his report to Malena, carefully leaving out the fact he was about
to cause chaos within the camp.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Lakin awoke
with a start. Unsure as to what had awakened him, he slowly sat up.
Looking around the room, he did not sense or see anything out of
the ordinary, and then the feeling came again. It was such a
powerful sensation it almost knocked him back in the bed. He turned
to make sure Brin was still asleep. He saw her chest slowly rising
so he knew she was in a deep sleep. Lakin quickly dressed and
headed into his study.

Again, the
powerful wave struck him and this time it nearly knocked him to the
floor. It was then he understood what it was. The last wave had a
consciousness attached to it, and it was one he recognized.
Actually, it was two. The twins had come into their power. Lakin
felt they were definitely going to be a match for their sister. He
sat in his chair, and smiled to himself. This one family possessed
enormous power, and his smile faded with the thought. One family
should not have this much power. The idea was disturbing him
greatly. Lakin was positive he had destroyed all strong magical
lines, leaving him the most powerful. Obviously, he had been wrong,
and the only thing he could think of was that Gillock must have had
something to do with it. Gillock would be the only wizard powerful
enough to hide something like this from him. Another wave struck,
but this one was weak. “The twins may have come into their power,”
he said to himself, “but they still do not know how to use it.”

“And this is a
good thing?” came a voice from the doorway.

Lakin turned
with a start. He had not heard Vernia and wondered how long she had
been there. “What are you doing awake?” he asked.

Vernia moved
into the study. “I felt the power as well. The twins are becoming
stronger.”

“Yes and quite
quickly.” Lakin saw the look in her eyes and realized she was here
for a reason.

Vernia moved
closer to Lakin. “I wish to discuss the goblin prisoner we received
from Malena. Are we going to do anything with him or may I have him
destroyed?”

Lakin was not
expecting this. He had assumed she was going to ridicule him about
his current relationship with Brin. “I was thinking of letting him
find his friends. It may prove advantageous to have him back with
the group.”

“Shall I
perform a spell on him to make him our eyes and ears?”

Lakin smiled.
Vernia was most definitely the smartest witch he knew. It somewhat
saddened him to no longer have her as his bedmate, but times
change. He was going to have to find another way to use her.

“Yes, and soon.
I am sure the twins are near Keenley. Make sure their friend is
found, but not in perfect condition.”

The last part
of his statement made Vernia’s skin crawl. “As you wish,” she said,
bowing. Then she turned and left the wizard to his thoughts.

Vernia felt
Lakin’s eyes on her until she turned out of the room, and it gave
her a chill. Although his new relationship had upset her at first,
she was now glad of it. If Brin had not happened along, she may
never have realized their entire relationship had been a lie. For
many years, she fancied herself in love with the wizard, but now
she knew the truth. A spell was all it had been, and it bothered
her to know that she never once suspected it. All those times she
disagreed with Lakin’s plans, only to never say anything. Mindless
and gutless was how he liked her to be, but no longer. Now she
found him disgusting and pathetic. It did amuse her when he would
mutter the spell under his breath, trying to recapture what he had
lost. Sometimes she would pretend it had partially taken her, but
never completely. The fact she had placed a spell of her own around
herself made her smile. It was something he would never think of,
not from one of his Magima. They were all loyal and dim-witted.
None would ever fight his control or question his rule. None except
Vernia.

Vernia arrived
at her destination with a smile on her face. The guard at the door
assumed it meant she was about to torture the creature within.

“Lakin has
ordered me to take the prisoner. He’s to be released.”

The guard did
not even try to hide his disappointment. “Too bad. I was hoping to
hear more of his screams.”

It took all of
her willpower not to melt the despicable guard to the wall where he
stood. “Don't worry, he's not to be released healthy,” she
said.

The guard
smiled, but it soon faded when she disappeared with the goblin.
Upset, he slammed the door and headed for his quarters.

Vernia waited
until she was positive the guard was not coming back before
becoming visible again. The goblin sat quiet, and was quite curious
as to what was happening.

“We do not have
much time, goblin, so listen carefully. I’m to send you back to
your friends, but there is a catch. I must put a tracking spell on
you so the Order will know where you and your friends are. You must
tell Gillock I have done this, but warn him to do nothing right
now. Tell him he will know when the time is right to dispel
it.”

Dilmek nodded,
not wanting to say anything in case it was not what she wanted to
hear.

“Good, now I’m
going to transport you somewhere close to where we think they are.
We know they are heading to Keenley so you may want to wait for
them on the outskirts.”

She stepped
away from the goblin and began to chant. Knowing Lakin would want
the goblin to be slightly injured, she had the spell burn him a bit
once he arrived at his destination. When he had disappeared from
her sight, Vernia headed back to her quarters. Lakin would most
likely be calling on her later in the day so she needed to rest
now.

Lakin waited
until he was sure Vernia was no longer nearby to activate his
mirror. He hadn’t spoken to Malena for quite some time and didn’t
want her to become suspicious.