The Wrathful Mountains (20 page)

Thanks to the light of Kaiya’s magic, Tashi saw
her attacker drawing near. It kicked out with a massive leg, but she rolled to
her left, avoiding the blow. Still on the ground, she found her way to a seated
position before striking again. The pick swiped the beast’s foot from beneath
it, sending it staggering backward. Not wasting a moment, she found her feet
and lunged at the beast, bringing the pick down on top of its head. It shrunk
back, giving her the opportunity she needed. Putting all her energy into one
swing, she smashed through one leg and then the other three. It fell, wriggling
on its torso, no longer a threat.

Still lying on the floor, Kaiya’s brow glistened
with sweat. Her muscles ached, an explosion of pain in her head threatening to
break what focus she had left. It was all too much, and the fear of failure
worked its way into her mind.

The Gawr’s power was beginning to fade, she could
feel it in her bones. But her own magic was dwindling, and she would soon be
forced into submission. Both she and the Gawr had much to lose, and neither
would give up willingly.

In one last effort, she drew on the small amount of
air that remained in the cavern. The room glowed brighter as the breath escaped
the sorceress’s lungs, the pressure in her chest excruciating. The Gawr
responded with an earsplitting cry, the cavern walls crumbling and collapsing,
the ceiling raining down.

Dizzy from the lack of air and overexertion, Tashi
felt herself fading. The room spun before her eyes, the quaking ground only
adding to her disorientation. Blackness crept around the edges of her vision. The
last sight she saw was a stone beast limping its way toward her. Crumpling to
the ground, she saw no more.

Falling stones pelted Kaiya as she desperately
fought to stay conscious. As the darkness crept over her, she knew she had
failed. She could not hold the spell any longer. The Dwarf’s Heart trapped
within the mine’s walls glowed brighter, filling her final vision with images
of red, the blood of those she could not save.

A searing heat scorched her skin through the
pocket of her tunic, a new source of magic announcing itself.
Galen’s rune!
Kaiya remembered, her hand desperately reaching for the source of power. It glimmered
in the silver light, a red flame on its surface. Pulling its energy through
herself, she revitalized her magical stores and commanded the rune to obey.

A blast of wind swept through the cavern, reviving
the fallen priestess and shattering the rock beasts as they attempted to flee.
Momentarily refreshed, Kaiya marveled at the elf’s power.
He’s not much of a
sorcerer, but he’s a damn fine rune carver,
she mused. Refocusing her
energy, she renewed the spell that would seal her enemy to its fate.

A growl of displeasure sounded from the Gawr, the
image of a gigantic hand lashing out playing over in Kaiya’s mind. With a burst
of anger, the beast called down its final attack, rocking the mine at its
foundation.

Groggy and unsteady on her feet, Tashi watched as
the sorceress completed her spell. The entire cavern shook in defiance, a tremendous
growl reverberating throughout. In a flash of silver light, Tashi felt the
mine’s floor collapse, sending them plummeting deeper into the earth.

A pile of stones collapsed on Tashi, crushing the
small bones of one foot. One struck her directly in the chest, sending an
explosion of pain into her throat. Scraped and battered, she was forced to
crawl, making every effort to reach the sorceress who had landed face down on the
rocks.

Kaiya’s head struck the rocks beneath her,
knocking her unconscious. The silver light faded, her sealing spell broken.
Clutched in her hand, the rune stone faded out, its fire completely spent.

S
tumbling in the
darkness, Tashi did her best to find Kaiya among the rubble. All was silent,
the cries of distress from beneath dissipating as the ancient monster was
forced back to its slumber. The dead god had returned to its rightful place. Her
soul was now wiped clean, thanks to Kaiya. Grateful to her friend, the
priestess was determined to get to her.

Only the tiny lights put off by the glowworms
allowed Tashi to locate her companion. The sorceress did not move, but she
still drew breath. Mustering her strength, the priestess pulled her companion
along the rubble, hoping to find a way back up. Her every breath labored, the
process proved almost too much. Her own body was badly injured, a hot, wet pain
in her lungs. The exertion forced her to cough, leaving the taste of blood
heavy in her mouth.

The pair had fallen into a deep chasm, nearly a
hundred feet lower than the mine’s lowest platform. Tashi limped backward,
dragging her friend along the uneven floor, hoping for a miracle. When she
crashed into an unseen wall and stumbled backward, she realized she had found
one.

Dots of green light illuminated the wall, allowing
her to make out what she had found. Stretching out her arms, she examined the
area behind her. The debris had collapsed in a funnel shape, creating a
makeshift staircase of jumbled rock. The journey up would be awkward, but it
was a way out.

Struggling under the sorceress’s weight, Tashi
forced herself to pull harder. More coughing followed by more blood, the pain
in her chest growing more intense. It spread through her body, each breath
becoming more difficult. Ignoring the pain, she climbed higher, still dragging
Kaiya along with her. Desperately hoping her companion would wake, she wondered
how much longer she could continue to pull her. It was more than her injured
body could handle.

One final obstacle lay ahead as she neared the
mine’s platform. A gap of four feet, taller than the priestess, remained for
her to climb. Lifting Kaiya to such height would be impossible. She could not
lift the sorceress over her head.

Leaving Kaiya on the upper step, Tashi descended
and began piling smaller rocks to craft a makeshift ramp. The work was
difficult, made more so by her inability to take a full breath. Panting heavily
and aching with fatigue, she finished her task and dragged the sorceress
upward. Rolling her limp body onto the platform, Tashi reached for the ropes
and began to pull. The platform did not move. Her arms lacked the strength to
lift both women to the next level.

Removing herself from the platform, Tashi tried
again. With only Kaiya to lift, the platform began to move, though slowly. Her
eyes glistened as she strained to see her companion rising toward freedom. When
Kaiya had safely reached the second plateau, Tashi tied off the rope and lay
back, blood pouring from her mouth. Each cough forced more air from her lungs,
the blood replacing it in a steady flow.

A light appeared before Tashi’s eyes, a torch
moving toward her from the darkness. Her mouth dropped open as she realized who
had come. Annin stood before her, her eyes gleaming in the darkness.

“Sister,” Tashi whispered, reaching out her hands.

Annin took her sister’s hands in her own.

“I thought you would hate me,” Tashi whispered.

“Never,” Annin replied.

Tashi breathed a sigh of relief.

“Come with me,” Annin said. “Together we shall be
at peace in the world to come.”

“But your daughter,” Tashi protested. Someone had
to protect the girl and train her to fulfill her destiny.

“We will watch over her together,” Annin said.
Looking upward, she added, “The life you have saved will protect her as well.
And she will train her in the use of magic.”

Her heart swelling with pride, Tashi smiled. All
she could have hoped for would come to pass. Evil had been banished, and her
niece would grow to be the protector of the Ulihi. Silently she closed her eyes
and slept.

* * * * *

“I’m going down there,”
Raad said. His first attempt had been hindered by Daro, who feared a massive
cave-in would trap any miner who went down. Raad no longer cared. He couldn’t
stand by while lives were lost.

Grabbing a torch and lighting it, he motioned for
the others to follow. In truth, he cared not if they obeyed. His eyes adjusting
to the darkness, he tuned his ears to the sound of a pulley. “Hurry,” he
shouted to the others.

One by one, six dwarves fitted themselves with
ropes and were lowered to the second plateau. As they raced through the cavern,
embers falling from their torches, they encountered no resistance. The ground
no longer shook, no rocks fell from the ceiling, and no thundering could be
heard from beneath.

“There!” Raad said, pointing toward the platform.
It came to a halt as the miners approached, a single figure lay unmoving. “It’s
the sorceress,” he said, kneeling next to her. Placing his ear near her nose,
he said, “She’s breathing.” With the help of another dwarf, he pulled her from
the platform. “Get her out of here,” he said. “We’ll go and look for Tashi.”

The dwarf muscled Kaiya over his shoulder and
trotted off into the dark. The others hopped onto the platform and lowered
themselves into the deep. Stepping carefully, they made their way over fallen
rock. Raad paused when his foot connected with something unseen. Bending down,
he lowered his fading torch, the serene face of Tashi illuminated by the pale
orange light.

“Oh no,” he said as the light revealed her
injuries. Blood still trickled out the corners of her mouth, a puddle forming
beneath her. “Let’s get her to the top,” he said, his voice suddenly hoarse. He
knew she was gone.

Gently the dwarves lifted her onto the platform
and raised it to the top. Raad cradled her in his arms as he was hoisted to the
mine’s entrance. With tears in his eyes, he looked to Daro and shook his head.

“Put her down here,” Daro said quietly.

Raad laid the body on a soft patch of earth and
folded her hands across her belly. The dwarves nearby removed their hats and
bowed their heads. From the corner of his eye, Raad noticed a tall figure
running toward the scene. Word had reached Galen of Kaiya’s return.

“Where is she?” he shouted as he reached the mine.
Seeing the grim expression on Raad’s face, he feared the worst.
Not Kaiya
,
he thought, a lump rising in his throat. As he moved closer, he saw both women
lying on the ground. Immediately he went to Kaiya’s side.

“She’s alive,” Daro reassured him. “It’s the other
who didn’t make it.”

For a moment Galen felt relieved. Then he felt
guilty. He looked over at Tashi and closed his eyes.
I’m an ass,
he
thought. All he had cared about was Kaiya, but it was Tashi whose life had been
lost. Sitting back on his heels, he allowed his tears to fall, tears that Tashi
would not want. She had gone home to her sister. “Sleep in peace,” he whispered.

Kaiya stirred, a single groan escaping her throat.
Her mind reeling, she sat up. “Where’s Tashi?” she asked. Her eyes met Galen’s,
and she knew immediately. Turning her head, she looked upon her fallen
companion. “No,” she said, scrambling to her feet. Kneeling next to Tashi, she
placed both hands over the priestess’s heart, silver magic spreading over her
body. All life was gone. Kaiya was too late.

Defeated, Kaiya buried her face in her hands and
wept. Galen moved to her side and wrapped an arm around her. Squeezing her
tightly, he kissed the side of her head.

“She’s at peace,” he whispered.

“She died saving me,” Kaiya said.

“She died for her people,” Galen corrected. “This
is what she came here to do. You know it as well as I do.”

The elf was right. Kaiya’s magic had allowed her a
glimpse into Tashi’s mind. The priestess had met death with dignity, knowing
she had completed her mission. Evil would no longer haunt the Ulihi. It was the
greatest gift she could give her people. Now she would live for eternity, safe
in the arms of her beloved sister. Tashi couldn’t ask for anything more wonderful.
Her death had not been in vain.

This knowledge gave Kaiya some comfort, but still
she wept. Wrapping her arms around Galen, she allowed herself to grieve.
Together they mourned the passing of a remarkable woman, a friend to them both.

“What should we do with the body?” Daro asked, his
voice soft.

“I’m going to visit the Ulihi,” Kaiya replied.
“I’ll take her home.”

“I’ll come along,” Raad announced. “It’d be an
honor to escort Tashi back to her people.” He would personally see to it that
she was treated with respect.

“Do you think they’ll want to be friendly with us
after the death of their High Priestess?” Daro asked.

“They will,” Kaiya reassured him. “The Gawr has
been contained, and their people are safe. It will fall to them to see that it
stays that way. The miners must live in peace with the Ulihi.”

“You have my word on that,” Daro replied.

“You should rest before we leave,” Raad said.
“It’ll take a few hours to get my cart ready anyway. The bighorns need to be
fed and watered.”

Nodding, Kaiya replied, “We’ll leave at first
light.” Her head was still spinning from her ordeal, though a warm wind gently
tousled her hair. The pain in her heart spread throughout her veins with every
beat. The wind could do nothing to ease such a wound. “I hope to leave for home
after I visit the Ulihi,” she said to Galen. “Will you be coming with me?”

The elf paused for a moment. “I think I’ll stay
here awhile,” he finally said. “There’s much more I can learn about the Dwarf’s
Heart. Its magical properties are remarkable.”

“They truly are,” she replied. “Your rune saved me
down there. It gave me the strength I needed to finish the Gawr. Without that
rune, I surely would have failed.”

“All the more reason for me to finish my studies,”
the elf replied. He swallowed hard. Being apart from his dearest friend would
be difficult. “I’ll return with the next caravan heading south. Maybe after
that I’ll book passage to the Sunswept Isles.” There was much he could learn
from the elves of the isles with regard to painite.

“Now there’s a place I’d love to see,” Kaiya said,
finding her smile. The idea of sunshine and blue seas would be a welcome change
from stone and ice.

“I’d be delighted to have you with me,” he said.

“Don’t stay away too long,” she replied. “It won’t
feel like home without you.”

“Speaking of home,” he said. “Do you know if the
village still stands? Your family, and Trin, are they safe? And what of the
Vale?”

“Everyone is fine,” she replied with certainty.
“The wind has seen to it.”

Reaching out his hand, he helped her to her feet.
Still wobbly, she appreciated his help. Rest would not come easy, but
exhaustion eventually overcame her. In her dreams she saw Tashi, arm in arm
with her sister. A deep feeling of peace washed over her.

* * * * *

As Raad’s cart slowly
approached the Ulihi village, every member of the tribe paused in their chores.
Those who were inside their homes came out to see who had come. Without any
announcement, they knew that Tashi was gone. The somber expressions on the
faces of the dwarves spoke louder than any word. Most of the tribesmen hung
their heads, save for the priestesses who approached the cart.

Setting the brake, Raad tipped his hat to the
women. Kaiya hopped down from the cart and spied the doula, Annin’s baby
clutched tightly in her arms. Tears dripped from the sorceress’s eyes, her
heart aching for the child’s loss. She would know neither her mother nor her
aunt, a grave misfortune indeed.

“Tashi has died?” one priestess asked, already
knowing the answer.

Kaiya gave a single nod. “She gave her life for my
own, and for her people.”

“I’ve brought her home,” Raad said, tilting his
head toward the cart. Tashi lay lifeless, a small bouquet of yellow flowers
placed in her hands. Even in death she was beautiful, her features undiminished.

“We will honor her,” the priestess said.

“It now falls to your people to maintain hold over
the Gawr,” Kaiya said. “I will teach you how to perform the spells to keep the
rune stones active.”

“None of us have magical talent,” the priestess
admitted.

“One of you does,” she said, gesturing to the
baby.

The priestess motioned for the doula to approach. “This
child has magic?” she asked.

“She does,” Kaiya replied. “The ritual won’t need
to be performed for a dozen years,” she explained. “That will give me time to
teach her how to perform the spells. I’ll also be visiting with the king to let
him know how valuable your people are to us and all of Nōl’Deron.”

“You have been of great service to us,” the
priestess said. “It is most appreciated. I would offer you something in
return.”

“I couldn’t ask for a reward,” the sorceress
replied. Tashi had already given her life. That was far more than Kaiya felt
she deserved.

“There is a ceremony among our people. A bonding,
you might call it,” the priestess said. “This child has no mother nor aunt. The
ceremony would create a bond of sisterhood between you and her.”

Choking on her tears, Kaiya managed to say, “It
would be an honor beyond words.” Even without the ceremony, she felt a depth of
affection for the girl. In her short life, she had suffered too much loss.

The doula passed the sleeping infant to Kaiya, who
cradled her gently against her chest. Softly she kissed the girl on her
forehead, a single tear splashing on her ebony skin. The child awoke, a flash
of silver in her eyes.