Spell Fade (12 page)

“He’s really in to this, isn’t he,” Dartan whispered to Aliet.

“You have no idea,” she mumbled.

“Well, I’m glad someone is enjoying themselves,” Logan said from the back.

“Shh!” Marcus scolded from the front. They were silent until they finally reached the Old North Road, nearly three hours later.

“That should throw them off for a while,” Marcus said with some satisfaction. The other three hoped this would result in a short rest, but without the distraction of navigating through the forest, Marcus pushed them to go faster.

It was quickly obvious to Dartan the reason this was called the ‘Old’ road was not because of its age, but because it was no longer the popular choice for travelers bound north. The grass under their feet seemed to be conspiring with the encroaching tree line to eventually swallow what he would now describe more as a trail than a road. The few travelers they did encounter offered little more than a passing glance or nod. This appeared to be the path travelled by those who didn’t want to be seen.

With little else to look at, and apparently no break coming, Dartan found himself watching the mountains creep closer with every step north they took. It did not have the intended effect of making the time pass any faster. As Dartan realized they would be travelling like this for several more days, he began to actually look forward to Alain’s return tomorrow. Surely he would be able to get either training or answers out of the wizard, and he would settle for either one at this point.

The sun was low in the evening sky before Marcus grudgingly began looking for a place to stop for the night. After passing up several suitable spots, and nearly at the point of mutiny by his group, Marcus finally announced, “We’re stopping here.” He pointed towards the left side of the path, past a line of trees. “There’s a clearing over there, hidden from the road. Gather some firewood and I’ll see if I can find dinner.” Dartan’s stomach heartily agreed, but Marcus had already disappeared into the dense woods on their right.

By the time Marcus returned, darkness and the chill of night had begun to overtake everything outside the circle of light their fire provided. The pheasant and rabbit he provided succeeded in quieting Dartan’s stomach, and before long they were all sitting warm and satisfied around the fire. It was Logan who broke the silence.

“Do you think they’ll be able to follow us?” he asked. “The ogres, I mean,” he clarified while absently rubbing his aching abdomen.

Marcus shrugged. “They aren’t fast, and their tracking skills are below average.” Logan started to look relieved, until Marcus added, “But they’re relentless. They won’t stop to rest or sleep until they either find us or die.”

They each sat silently staring into the crackling fire, wondering now what fate they may yet meet. Would they be crushed under an ogre’s club, be captured by the Northern force, or simply succumb to the elements around them? They were all plausible possibilities, and none were appealing. Again, it was Logan who spoke.

“How long do you think it will take us to get to the pass?” he asked Marcus.

“I hope for all our sakes we’re not going all the way there,” Marcus replied.

“Why?”

Marcus eyed him for a moment. He’d actually been enjoying the quiet and he was trying to impress that upon Logan. “There’s a reason no paths lead to it.”

“Really?” Logan pressed, oblivious to the warning look. “Why’s that?”

Aliet leaned in, mesmerized. She had spent enough nights sitting in silence across from Marcus to know when he didn’t want to talk. She had also not missed Marcus’s ‘we’re done here’ look that Logan couldn’t seem to interpret. She had never seen it fail to deliver the message. Until now.

Even Marcus seemed a little offput. He put down the rabbit leg he had been absently gnawing and leaned back against the log behind him, silently regarding the half-smiling Logan.

“Come over here,” Marcus said with a small wave. Logan didn’t hesitate, moving from the far side of the fire, and planting himself in between Marcus and Aliet. Unable to contain her curiosity, Aliet leaned in closer.

“Now,” Marcus said, “lean back, like me.” Logan propped against the same log, folded his hands over his chest, and looked out into the night sky, exactly as Marcus. Unconsciously, Aliet mimicked the motion, still uncertain what exactly was happening. The moon had appeared in the sky, and the gloom of the still distant mountains was visible over the treetops. Marcus pointed towards them.

“Do you see that valley between the two tallest peaks?”

“Yes,” Logan said, easily spotting the deep cut in the mountain range.

“That valley is Varlain Pass. Named for the first person to attempt crossing it, the pass is geographically the easiest spot on the mountains to use as a reference point. On either side of it are the two passes used by anyone wishing to cross the mountains alive.”

“What makes it so dangerous?”

“Besides the altitude?” Marcus shrugged. “No one knows.”

“What about Varlain?” Logan suggested. “Surely he provided some detail.”

Marcus shook his head as he leaned up and stood. “The pass was named in his memory. He died trying to cross it.” He tossed the rabbit bones into the fire, then announced, “I’m off to bed. Don’t be too far behind or you’ll feel it tomorrow.” He moved to the far side of the fire, laid down, and began snoring almost immediately.

Aliet leaned close to Logan and whispered, “I think he likes you.”

“Well, I’m a likeable guy.”

“I’m going to gather some more firewood,” Dartan announced, feeling somewhat nauseated.

Aliet noted the large pile of wood they still had, but said only, “Don’t go too far.” He simply nodded at her and headed into the darkness.

Logan cleared his throat and leaned a little closer to Aliet. “I’m afraid we may have gotten off to a bad start.”

“Really?” she replied with raised eyebrows.

“Really.” He stood and bowed. “Logan Peter Wettin, tenth generation dragonslayer, Guardian of the Gate, and Protector of the Key, at your service.” He extended his hand at the end of his introduction.

Aliet did not stand but gave a slight nod of her head and took his hand as she replied, “Aliet.”

“Pleased to meet you.” Logan gave the back of her hand a small kiss, then sat back down.

“So, ‘Guardian of the Gate and Protector of the Key’, what does all that mean?”

“I have no idea,” Logan admitted with a laugh, which Aliet echoed. “I used to hear my dad say it, so as I got older, I started using it too.” He leaned closer and added from the side of his mouth, “Plus it really seems to impress the ladies.” He leaned back and gave her a look. “Although, none of them have ever bothered to ask about it, before now.”

Aliet rolled her eyes. “But you are a dragonslayer, right?”

“Absolutely,” he said without hesitation. He leaned back against the log again, and smiled as he stared up into the night sky. “At least as much as one can be considered a ‘slayer’ of something that hasn’t been seen in centuries.”

Aliet laughed. “So, what makes you so special?”

He turned his grin to her and sat back up. “I’ll assume what you really mean is what makes slayers so special, and not me, as a person.”

“Good assumption,” she affirmed with a nod.

“I’ll give you the short version,” he said, leaning back, his hands behind his head. “The talent passes from father to son, and typically only develops in one son, which has led to many family tragedies, but we’ll skip those. Let’s just say, most slayer families only had one son, either by design … or otherwise.”

“That’s barbaric!”

“Agreed. Luckily for those opposed to barbarism, within a couple of generations after the defeat of the dragon army, our talents grew out of favor. In short, no one cared. The knowledge was not passed on, leaving the talent to wither from disuse.”

Aliet’s brow furrowed. “Without dragons, how can you even be sure you have the talent, much less practice it?”

Logan looked at her with squinted eyes. “You do want the short version, right?” She stared at him, uncertain. “Go ahead and nod your pretty little head, dear. We don’t want to get stuck on this point all night.”

She frowned, but complied with a defeated, “Continue.”

Logan drew a long breath and continued, “Suffice it to say, if the knowledge of how to use the talent is taught by someone who has themselves been instructed, then it can be passed on to the next generation.” He paused and looked at Aliet.

“You could have just said that,” she mumbled.

Logan continued as if he had not heard her. “But you asked what makes us special. The simple answer is that we had the uncanny ability to kill dragons without ending up dead ourselves.”

“But how?” Aliet asked. Then, more to the point, “And how does your ability fit in with whatever the wizard has planned?”

Logan’s mouth dropped open in mocked surprise. “You’re not interested in me at all, are you? You’re just using me to figure out what you can about the wizard and his plans.” She rolled her eyes at him. “Yeah, you’re right,” he said with a wave of his hand. “I’ve never objected to being used by a beautiful woman before, so why start now?” She smiled then, and added her own wide-eyed, open mouth, mock shocked look.

“Mind you,” Logan continued, “I’ve never actually experienced it. From what I’ve been told, we can sense them, or their magic more specifically. It’s like being able to read their minds, to know what their next move is, even as they are deciding it.”

“Do you have any magic of your own? Something you can use against them?”

“No. No magical abilities to speak of.” He lowered his voice and added, “We prefer to keep things physical.” Aliet simply shook her head.

Logan smiled and continued, “I am actually a little special, even as slayers go.”

“Of course you are.”

“No, really.” He sat up as he explained. “I can sense both kinds of magic.”

Aliet’s brow crinkled again. “Both kinds?”

“Dragon and wizard,” he further explained.

Aliet still looked confused. “You mean, you can tell what a wizard is thinking?”

“No,” he shook his head. “They’re very different sensations. A wizard
uses
magic, but dragons
are
magical. Everything about them practically oozes magic.” He paused for a moment, then added, “With a wizard it’s more of just an awareness magic is being used.”

“And that’s how you knew we were being followed by a wizard?”

“Precisely. Although, I haven’t felt anything today, so they’re probably using more traditional tracking methods.”

Aliet chewed her bottom lip for a moment. “And Dartan,” she asked tentatively. “Have you sensed anything from him?”

The smile dropped from Logan’s face, and for the first time that night, he moved away from her. “Your boyfriend? Yeah, I felt something alright.”

“Oh, he’s not … ”

Logan held up a hand to stop her. “I don’t know what you think of him, but he has some strong feelings for you.” Aliet’s cheeks flushed and she lowered her eyes. “If Alain hadn’t stepped between us at the tavern, they would most likely still be cleaning bits of me off the walls.”

“I don’t understand.” She looked back up at him, shaking her head.

“He’s dangerous, Aliet. He’s got more power than I’ve ever felt, but there’s no control.”

“He would never … ”

Again, he stopped her. “We both know there’s enough firewood here to last two nights, and he does too. The only reason I’m still sitting here with you is because I don’t feel a fireball being aimed at my head.”

Aliet looked over her shoulder into the darkness. “Can you feel him out there?”

“Not at all.”

“But you’re sure he’s a wizard?”

“Definitely.”

Aliet leaned back, a small smile on her face. Logan tilted his head, “You almost look relieved.”

“I am,” she answered without hesitation. “And Dartan would be too.”

Logan merely shook his head. “Well, I’ll be relieved when Alain returns to take control of his apprentice.”

“Is he really that dangerous?” Aliet was unconvinced, having known Dartan most of her life. “How can you say that when you don’t know anything about him?”

Logan simply stared at her for a moment, then ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “He can make anything he desires happen, and there’s nothing either of us can do to stop him. You have no idea what corruption that kind of power can cause without the proper guidance. Frankly, Alain is being irresponsible and putting everyone around Dartan in unnecessary danger by neglecting his duties as master.”

“Bold words. Aren’t you worried Alain might be listening?”

“That would require magic.”

Aliet was beginning to see how this might be a useful talent after all. That made her wonder. “Does Alain know?”

“About my extra talent?” He shook his head. “No, I don’t think so. It’s not exactly the kind of thing you want everyone to know.”

“I suppose not,” Aliet agreed. “So, that must mean he needs you for your abilities as a slayer.”

“I was thinking it might be my charm and quick wit, but you’re probably right.”

“But the dragons are all gone, so how do your talents help the wizard?” They were both silent, each thinking, but Aliet found her thoughts turning back to Dartan. Why had he stormed off so abruptly? Wasn’t he interested in trying to figure out what the wizard wanted with them? How could he be so childish? And what exactly were her feelings for him? Logan interrupted her thoughts.

“Barring the unlikely and terrifying possibility of their return, I can only think of one other thing. Dragon parts.”

“Parts?”

“Sure. Scales, claws, teeth – parts.”

“What about them?”

“Rumor mostly. Stories my father told, passed down to him. Stories about being able to use the magic retained within them.”

“And you would be able to sense them?”

“Possibly,” he said with a shrug. “Although, I never have before. Which means there’s damn few of them, or they might have to be used for me to feel them.”

Aliet was nodding her head. She was making some progress. “If that’s why you’re here, then the next question is does Alain want to use these parts, or stop someone else from using them?”