CIRCLE OF SHADOWS Part 1: Shadow Chaser
† 32 - road to feesh †

A dull throb resounds loudly within his skull, echoing with each small step that he takes forwards. White agony flares along his strained muscles and lancing pricks of pain tear in tense nerves.

Grimacing as he follows silently behind Gawayn, Galen clamps his jaws tightly together as a burning sensation flares across his stretched back muscles, lancing pain deep into his skull.

Breathing heavily he looks down at Siril lying limply within the bier, his head rocking restlessly side to side.

With a soft grumble he tears his eyes away, takes a steadying breath as another wave of heat washes over his shoulders and looks around him, surveying the surrounding countryside.

Galen blinks rapidly, his eyes dry and scratchy from the red dust, which even the slightest eddy of wind lifts easily up from the road.

Grass fields stretches out into the distance, an endless sea of yellow, sun dried stalks, bending and weaving in the cool breeze blowing from the mountains far into the north.

Turning his eyes towards the front, he looks over the tops of his companion’s heads, amazed at the hulking shadow completely filling the horizon.

The mountains shooting into the sky, fills the horizon in a mass of grey rock. Several peaks standing so high into the blue sky, that they are covered with thick banks of grey-white clouds, with only sharp white points intermittently peeking over the top of the clouds.

Valleys and crevices slash deeply amongst the craggy slopes and rocky buttresses become increasingly clearer each day, as the road winds closer to the mountains.

Intermittent flashes of light catches the eye. Water, trickling down the grey rock, lies in dark blotches across the slopes, glittering in the midday sun.

Galen squints against the glare and swallows a lump past the dust lining his throat, awed to silence by the sheer size of the mountains. A sense of uneasiness creeps through him, an inexplicable dampening of his spirit, the closer they move to this manifestation of ancient power.

He looks away quickly as a cold shiver runs down his spine, the small hairs on his arms standing straight up.

This close to the mountains the ominous feeling that has been lurking in the shadows of his mind has crept into his spirit, filling his mind with a sense of malignant evil lurking close by.

He shrugs as he tries to rid himself of the gloomy feeling that has settled over him and grunts irritably as he adjusts his grip on the bier’s handles.

Virian’s soft voice drifts down the line towards him and he strains to catch every word.

‘We will make camp at Ashar Lake tonight. It should not be more than half a day’s walk further.’

Galen shakes his head, thinking of the four days since they had left the village and the fight behind. They would have reached Ashar late yesterday if it had not been for the bier that had suddenly fallen apart.

It had taken almost the whole afternoon to find adequate material to repair it, causing them to loose most of the day’s remaining light to travel on with.

Sighing resignedly, Galen begins to mentally count the meagre rations they have left: Four or five pouches of the porridge satchels, a few roots and bulbs found growing close to their last campsite, a handful of nuts, some strips of dried rabbit.

Frowning, Galen adjusts his grip on the bier, the wooden handles beginning to chafe his palms.

Siril groans as the slight jolt rouses him, and looks at Galen, eyes rheumy, a glimmer of a smile on his thin lips. Galen glances back at the pale face looking at him, shakes his head sadly and says softly.

‘Poor old man. Hope you will be alright.’

Dust drifts into the sky as a sudden breeze blows from ahead, tickling Galen’s nose. Unable to wipe with his arm he sneezes loudly, the bier rattling and shaking violently from the convulsion.

Flailing wildly, Siril nearly tumbling out of the unstable

bier, Galen regains control and still the bier’s swinging.

Turning his head slightly, Galen manages to rub his nose on his shoulder, easing the tickle slightly.

Sniffling loudly and his eyes watering, Galen looks meekly at Siril as he mouths a silent apology.

Smiling kindly up at Galen as he gives a small shake of his head, Siril lays his head back and closes his eyes, his chest lifting and falling in a steady, if strained, rhythm.

Galen looks up and into Gawayn’s eyes, a look of contempt flitting across them momentarily before Gawayn looks away, turning the back of his head on Galen once more.

Astonished at the malice Gawayn has shown towards him, Galen stays silent and utterly morbid, trundles on, the bier swinging listlessly between him and Gawayn.

Dust tickles deep within his nose, and forcing a sneeze down Galen looks towards the mountains again, his thoughts milling endlessly.

Why does he view me with such hate? What have I done to deserve his contempt?

Galen looks at Gawayn, eyes narrowing as he regards the green clad protector.

The late midday sun catches a wild array of gleaming metals spread across Gawayn’s clothes: a hilt sticking out from a sheath, ornately decorated with copper and bronze fittings. A dark leather belt, traces of iron wiring intricately wound

within the dark brown hide.

Gawayn’s dark green cloak covers his broad back, bulky shoulder muscles strained tight from the weighty bier behind him, his forearms browned and muscled.

Lips quirking into a lopsided grin, Galen shakes his head then looks past Gawayn to the rest of the party silently walking ahead.

‘Oh well. We will have to see what you have up your sleeves some other time then, my friend. I for one do not trust you, even if the others do.’

Galen flicks another surly glance at the man walking in front of him then resigns himself to his hefty burden in silence.

Mountains looming in the distance, getting closer with each footfall on the dusty road, the party approaches a ridge of elm, ash and oak, spearing towards the road from the east.

A faint glimmer of sparkling light, seen glittering animatedly amongst the branches at intervals, draw Virian’s eyes forwards.

A small smile plays at the corner of her lips and she begins to walk a little quicker, the promise of water and rest near at hand, bolstering her resolve and shoring up her flagging resources.

‘Finally!’

She breathes heavily through her lips, a sheen of sweat

glistening across her brow as her hurried steps carry her forwards.

Glancing over her shoulder at her companions following behind she smiles and says loudly so all of them can hear her clearly.

‘We are almost there!’

Pointing towards the distant trees, she smiles broadly as her infectious smile spreads through the depressed bunch. The day’s walking had been hard on all of them. The unexpected late summer heat had been intense and with Siril being incapacitated, the trek more difficult.

‘We will make camp on the other side of that copse of trees.’ Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ (ꜰind)ɴʘvel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Talli nods her head happily at her sister’s glowing smile and then moves forwards to join her in the lead.

Virian looks at Talli walking next to her voice cracking from thirst as she whispers softly.

‘Do you think father will be better soon?’

Talli flicks a nervous glance at Virian then focuses her attention on the winding road leading towards the shimmering lake.

‘I am sure that if he rests and takes it a little bit easier he would regain his vitality.’

Talli mouths the words stiffly, biting on her lip to stifle a sob creeping up from her throat.

‘I m sure he will be too. But you do realise that he will have to stay behind in Feesh if he wants to get better.’

Talli nods her head in silent agreement, fearful of speaking in case she should burst out crying.

‘And it might be best if you stay behind too, Tal.’

Gasping loud Talli swings around and stares at Virian, mouth agape and eyes wide.

‘It will be best, Tal. He needs you to help him get well. Without aid he will surely not recover. You do understand this?’

Snapping her mouth shut Talli looks away, a small tear running down her dusty cheek, and she wipes it away silently.

Virian speaks suddenly, breaking the tense silence hanging between them.

‘I never thought he would use his powers in such a dangerous manner. The backlash springing from such a disruption must have been immense.’

Talli shakes her head sullenly as Virian continues.

‘It is even harder to imagine that he would loose control over the flow like that. For one, he has always been the one with the steadiest control over the flow and he was never one to recklessly disobey the rules.’

Virian clamps her mouth shut, suddenly not trusting her voice enough to continue speaking. Looking ahead to the mountains in the distance, her eyes wandering down towards the lake she mumbles quietly.

’He is going to need your help, Talli. Yours and mine and...

and everyone else’s in this group! Each of us will have a part to play.’

Ignoring her, Talli keeps silent as they walk towards the distant forest and the small lake. Her heart beats wildly in her chest in anticipation of the promise of cool water and shade lying in the distance.

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