CIRCLE OF SHADOWS Part 1: Shadow Chaser
† 17 - rescue †

Darkness lies thick, stars blocked by a blanket of grey clouds skittering across the night sky. The village lies silent, the outskirts of the small village smothered in an immutable black, a narrow creek flowing past nearby splashing noisily through the silent night. Dim lanterns hang from the eaves of several roofs, casting solitary pools of light across the stamped gravel pathways scattered amongst the cabins, stone glimmering faintly through the darkness. Crossing the initial protective barrier more consuming and harder than Virian had anticipated, wasting precious time, Virian finally manages to lure the solitary tree-guard down from his perch and into the open by faking a sprained ankle. Lying immobile and pretending to be in pain, Virian waits anxiously as the guard moves closer, her body tensing as the rustle of his feet sounds behind her head. Turning her head, Virian looks u pat the guard and as he leans in closer to inspect her. A well-aimed stone flies through the air, the large pebble thrown by Galen, slamming into the guard’s temple and knocking him unconscious immediately, his limp body crumbling to the grass next to Virian. With a silent prayer and a soft sight of relief Virian pushes up from the ground, kneeling next to the immobile guard as she feels his throat for a pulse, holding her breath and visibly relaxing once she locates the dull thud in the hollow of his throat. Casting an instinctive feeler outwards as she stands, she feels for the magic wrought barrier, smiling up at Galen as he moves closer.

‘The alarm has not been raised. The barrier remains open and the village remains silent.’

Her thought roil as she thinks back on their mad rush to reach the village after their hasty planning session and she can barely contain the smile spreading across her face as she turns to face Galen, standing unbound a hands breadth from her in the dark.

‘This is exhilarating!’ her breath races as she wipes her hands down her front, nervous at the close proximity of the man she has taken prisoner.

Galen looks at her sharply, raising one finger to his mouth and holding it over his lips in silent rebuke. Virian’s face begins to burn and she turns away, her smile dropping away.

Finally free from his bindings, Galen finds himself more at ease and filled with a spirit of camaraderie, a sense of purpose flooding through his otherwise jumbled mind. He motions to Virian to follow and they ease their way through the last line of trees. Marvelling at the ease with which Galen soundlessly moves forwards, Virian follows closely behind him, crawling hand over foot, each soundless step bringing them closer to the outer perimeters of the sleepy village. Throwing a bandaged hand in the air, Galen motions towards a cabin standing nearest to the edge of the trees, the grey wood panelled side walls covered in thick shadows. Angling towards the back of the grey cabin, they hunker breathlessly together, shoulders rubbing imperceptibly against one another as they rest.

Wheet whee-eeet!

The cry of a lone owl out hunting echoes through the village, piercing the night loudly as it circles overhead. Virian looks at Galen, eyes wide, fear of discovery displayed in her face, her eyes flick from left to right. Galen reaches out and lays his hand on her trembling arm to ease her tight nerves and reassure her with the silent gesture.

She looks over, a shy smile as she mouths a silent thank you and points her finger to a cabin to the left of their position, fifty yards behind the second row of cabins fronting the gravel pathway.

Putting her mouth close to Galen’s ear, she whispers softly, her breath a soft caress of cinnamon air sending a tingle of excitement down Galen’s spine. ‘That’s my father’s cabin over there, the second one to the right of the brown thatch.’

Galen surveys the area lying between them and the cabin; Pools of light cast on the ground by the lanterns, creates bright coronas of light, diminishing the totality of darkness between them and their destination. The soft grey edges where the light starts to fade crisscrossing across the pathway.

‘What kind of protection will they have put on your father?’ he whispers back without looking at her, his voice thick as he speaks past the lump in his throat.

Virian sits in silence as she considers, her head shaking as she weighs the options. ‘They would have put an Enclosing spell on them, both to keep them from getting out and to keep them from accessing the flow. Also, some kind of warning spell, most likely a combination of sound and light, to act as alarm and deterrent.’

Head shaking she looks fretfully into Galen’s stern face, her eyes raking over his a faint quiver of doubt entering her voice. ‘It would be strong if more than one elder formed it, but I doubt they would have gone that far. Most likely, it would only have been Beril as the other Elders would not want to go that route against another Elder without ascertaining the seriousness or validity of the threat.’

Looking at her distraught face partly illuminated in the soft glow from the lights ahead, Galen sees the uncertainty and concern written within it and nods his head in understanding before speaking.

‘We might as well get on with this then. Are you sure you want to go ahead with this? If we should fail...’

Virian looks at him, lips scrunched together her fists clenching and unclenching by her side.

‘We do not have a choice, we have too!’, her voice dropping lower ’I have too!’

With a resigned nod, Galen stands up, looks at Virian and says before walking off into the darkness. ‘Just do as exactly as we planned. Give me a few minutes to get into position before doing anything.’

A faint whisper drifts on the night air to where she crouches as he disappears from sight, the darkness swallowing him completely.

‘Be careful.’

‘You too.’

She whispers softly into the darkness, positioning herself comfortably on the ground next to the cabin, her legs folded beneath her as she settles for the wait. Her minds races as she seeks to steady her mind, the darkness pressing in on her as the cold wood pushes against her back.

What if he leaves? Runs of and leaves me here?

I should never have trusted him! No man can be trusted.

I am going to sit here and wait for him till morning and then what? Disaster!

Oh Father! What have I done!

Forcing calm into her mind, Virian takes a deep breath and shakes her head to disperse the negative thoughts crowding in from the darkness. Breathing steadily, each breath deeper than the previous one she eases her mind into a trance. Her body and mind stills as she approaches the river of power flowing deep within her.

Reaching tenderly into the flow within and around her, she focuses her trained mind, centering and opening herself to the power that lies silently waiting. Opening the door that allows her to call upon her powers in an instant if needed.

Sensing the familiar tingle in the air around her, she recalls the drifting strands, collecting the flows of power dancing through the air and pooling it within her core, patiently waiting for the signal to release her will and use the power to grant her wish.

Moving silently through the gathered shadows, darkness enveloping him in a cloak somehow familiar and well known, Galen slips ghostly around the

edge of the village, heading to the sound of the creek gurgling up ahead.

‘Why am I doing this?’ he berates himself angrily as he moves forward, inching closer and closer to the flowing water.

Sinking to his belly he lies in the cool grass growing tall along the creek bed, his view of the village completely unobstructed.

’These people must really have faith in their security

barrier, not a guard or sentry in sight.’

Shaking his head in disbelieve he slides down the steep

embankment and land ankle deep in the swift flowing current.

Sploosh!

Cringing inwardly, he crosses the water swiftly, each footstep sloshing loudly to his ears. Afraid of someone hearing the noise and coming to investigate, he tries to hurry across quickly, slipping over a submerged rock and falls to his knees, water splashing up wildly around him. Heaving, slightly out of breath, he stumbles on, slipping and tripping on the slick moss covered rocks.

As he reaches the opposite bank, he scrambles roughly up, digging viciously into the soft mud wit his nails and fingers, pulling himself heavily up the slippery slope. With a desperate lunge he launches himself over the edge and falls flat on his belly on the soft grass, panting tiredly, pants completely soaked up to his knees.

With a groan he pushes himself up with his elbows and glances around him. Relief flows through his shuddering body as he senses no movement or alarm.

Creeping softly forward he inches towards the cabins, focussed solely on the cabin identified as Virian’s fathers’.

Calming his ragged breathing he slides into a crouch behind the cabin.

‘So far so good!’ he congratulates himself happily, peeking

around the corner to where Virian silently waits.

Slowly moving along the side of the cabin he creeps towards

one of the hanging lanterns. Glancing nervously around as he reaches up and unhooks the lantern and then cautiously lowers it down.

Arching his arm sideways behind him he measures the distance to the furthest cabin he could reach from his position, and throws the lantern as hard as he can manage towards the chosen grey panelled cabin.

Flying through the darkness, a spiralling arch of light swerving crookedly through the air, the lantern plummets swiftly towards the ground.

Clang! Whhossssshh!

The flung lantern careens from the thatched roof, bounces once and breaks loudly into small pieces of glass and copper. Flames explode wildly across the roof , swerving along the course of the spilled lamp oil, flames bursting high into the dark sky throwing the surroundings into stark orange contrast.

Suppressing a wild whoop of joy, Galen swings around and rushes to the back of the cabin, pausing before the back door.

Fervently hoping that Virian has fulfilled her end of the plan, he kicks the grey door hard.

Thud! Ce-raashhh!

Swinging wildly on its hinges the door smashes into a table on the other side, sagging sadly on a busted doorframe.

Swallowing the lump down his choked up throat, Galen strides into the dark interior of the cabin.

Focussing her senses into a sharp blade, Virian sits quietly and awaits the signal. Sweat run down the nape of her neck, along the contours of her spine, sending a shiver of anxiety over her tightly strung body.

‘Hurry up Galen!’ thinking to herself she shuffles nervously, almost loosing her finely held control over the power pooled within her.

Pushing her building fear aside, she calms her frayed nerves forcefully and refocuses her mind.

Glazed eyes peer at the cabins across from her, but she can not discern any movement in the shadows between them.

An owl hoots softly in the distance, a faint rustle of wings flapping almost soundless, gliding on the currents of the dark sky.

A flicker catches her eye, a slight movement of black on black. The shadow detaches itself from the surrounding blackness and moves towards the lighted lantern.

Looking closely Virian notices the coppery fleshed hand, bandaged tightly, reach into the light and slowly lift the lantern from the hook.

A faint gasp escapes over her lips as the lantern swings sideways, momentum causing it to flicker wildly.

The hand steadies and the flame burns solidly once more.

Releasing her breath Virian sits back down, making her body

comfortable as she reaches out with her mind.

‘I’m ready.’ she mouths quietly through the dark to her accomplice.

The lantern arcs silently through the air, a flaming arrow flying rapidly across the pathway. A brilliant flash of light explodes into the night as the flames engulf the dried thatch of the roof.

Taking a deep breath Virian focuses her mind and launches her attack.

The air ripples faintly around her still body, the pressure building thickly in the air as she loosens the wound up power of the flow inside her.

Faint crackles of light cascade across her vision as her will connect the barrier around the cabin ahead.

Straining against the powerful spell, sweat coursing across her narrow face, Virian lurches to her knees, her hands gripping the ground beside her, knuckles white against the dark gravel.

A brilliant blue flash explode around the cabin as she forces through, the Enclosing spell collapsing rapidly in on itself, power releasing into the air viciously.

Fearing a severe backlash, Virian disconnects herself quickly from the convergence of power and sinks to the ground, her

head spinning wildly.

Jumping up she runs into the darkness, crashing blindly into

the forest.

‘I hope he succeeds.’

Doubt creeps into her thoughts and she crashes to a standstill, whips her body savagely around and she heads back towards the village. Galen’s voice echoes madly in her mind.

‘Stick to the plan. No matter what! Meet us at the planned rendezvous point.’

Forcing her legs to stop moving she lurches to a standstill, looks around in silent anguish and heads back into the dense woodland.

‘Please be there!’ her voice rips harshly from her throat as she bites back a violent sob.

Disorientated by the sudden pressure inside the cabin, Galen stumbles against a thick wooden table, bruising his hip against a sharp corner.

Rushing hastily, he crosses the kitchen and runs through the opened door on the opposite side.

Ka-thud!

Limbs flailing wildly, Galen collapses to the floor breath whooshing from his lungs.

‘Ung...!’

A young girl’s voice groans smothered from underneath him.

‘Are you Talli?’

Galen asks quickly, anxious to get out of the village.

‘Yes.’ The answer soft, distrust thickening her voice to a husky breath.

‘Who are you? What are you doing in our house?’

‘Your sister Virian sent me, she is waiting outside. We have come to save you and you father.’

His words tumble in quick succession as he grabs Talli by the wrist and proceeds to pull her up roughly from the floor.

‘Virian?! So that is how you got through the spell.’

Face scrunched up in concentration, Talli surveys Galen’s shadowed face.

‘Talli!’ the reedy voice echoes from down the hall,’ what is going on in there? I felt a ripple in the flow.’

‘Quick Father! Virian has come to save us!’

Talli yells loudly down the dark hallway, her voice cracking harshly in excitement.

‘Wh...what? Virian?! Here?’

Siril stammers, confusion written all over his face as he moves swiftly down the hallway and stops next to an elated Talli.

Screams echo in from outside, high pitched voices yelling in anger.

‘We have to go now!’

Urging them nervously on, Galen pushes both towards the half open doorway, the darkness outside occasionally lightened by the crackling flames on the other side.

Pausing briefly at the door, Galen peeks around the corner of the doorframe and surveys the surrounding area.

Bright lights dance beyond the cabin where the inferno rages on, shadows moving lazily around as the flames flare into the sky. Seeing nobody close by Galen turns and motions with his bandaged hand to Talli and Siril, before dashing through the kitchen door and heading off into the darkness.

Rushing along blindly for a couple of yards, air burning through his lungs, he hears the silent patter of feet not far behind him.

‘Good! They are following.’ He whispers softly to himself, stumbling from exertion, his body tiring rapidly.

Crashing into the dark undergrowth Galen slows his headlong flight and turns around. Two shadowed figures enter the forest not far behind him and he breathes a small sigh of relief.

Hands on his hips he bends over and gasps feebly for a few breaths, head reeling dizzily from the adrenaline slowly dissipating.

‘Where do we go now? Where is Virian?’

Siril panicky grabs Galen’s bandaged hands in a tight grip, squeezing the wounds hard in uncontrolled anxiety.

Muttering a curse under his breath, Galen rips his hand from

Siril’s clenching fist and stands up straight.

Hand shaking slightly he points further into the forest.

’She should not be too far in that direction. We decided to

meet up a little way beyond the barrier.’ Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ Find ɴøᴠel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Nodding his head, Siril idly pulls on his beard, suspiciously eyeing Galen’s darkened face.

‘Have we met before?’

Galen starts and replies hesitantly.

’I doubt that. I was shipwrecked not too long ago and before that I... I...’

Stuttering to an unsure halt Galen frowns at the old face staring at him.

‘I am not too sure where I was before then. I seem to have trouble recollecting things.’

Feeling slightly uncomfortable under Siril’s inquisitive eyes trained on his face he turns and moves off into the forest.

‘We had better hurry. We do not want to be caught inside the barrier.’

Galen’s clipped voice fades as he starts to walk away, the two rescued standing alone in the dark.

‘Yes. You are correct.’

Reluctantly Siril agrees, and looks warningly towards Talli, before turning around and following Galen’s retreating back.

‘Come along Talli! We had best be off.’

‘Yes Father’

Talli glances behind her at the flames licking into the night sky, figures milling before the cabin, anxiously trying to douse the spreading flames.

A light breeze stirs through the bushes and leaves rock back and forth on the branches above her.

The flames flare brightly for a second, the breeze feeding the frenzy of heat. Suddenly an arch of flame twists into the air, leaping wildly to the next thatched roof, inflaming the dried thatch in a rush of orange and yellow crackles.

Gasping at the fiery destruction, her hand placed over her gaping mouth in shock, Talli turns and follows after Siril.

The screams and yells from the villagers fade into the distance as they push deeper into the forest, leaving the destruction rapidly behind. The orange glow spreading into the dark night sky as the flames spread wildly through the village, blaze driven by the breeze blowing steadily through the air.

Sᴇarch the FindNovel.net website on G𝘰𝘰gle to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.