Melody of War 15

The fog seemed to persist without end but Varen trudged onward with drawn sword in one hand and compass in the other. Each step was made meaningfully though there was an obvious air of anxiousness around the soldier as he would occasionally stop to look around. When nothing appeared out of the persistent and unnatural fog he would turn his attention again to the compass and the overgrown cobbled road underfoot. Minutes turned into hours and the fog grew darker as the light towers of Nest Cliff were left far behind. As the exhaustion of a persistent uphill climb began to seep into Varen’s muscles he sheathed his sword and proceeded to use it as a walking stick. And still he climbed with no sense of time or place with only the quickly fading road and compass to keep him on his path.

“This is starting to get ridiculous. I know what the inn keep said collaborated with what Chain and Lord Elliot said but this is getting ridiculous. Maybe I shouldn’t complain though since I haven’t seen any monsters or soldiers either.”

Varen permitted himself a sigh and was joined by the sound of a hawk cry on the still air.

“A hawk? And that was from ahead I think.”

Encouraged by the sound of the bird of prey Varen upped his pace to a slight jog before breaking into an outright run as he heard another cry. Even as he ran the fog did not break in front of him and as he began to hold his run for minutes that soon passed by a dozen he began to grit his teeth as he strained to keep the elevated pace up instead of slowing to a properly paced run. Checking the compass as he ran Varen again heard the hawk cry and found the motivation to press on at such a brisk pace and then…

*Gasp!*

“Finally!”

Bursting free of the fog at last Varen let out a joyful noise as he was struck by a powerful wind that blew away the fog revealing a grassy knoll between the cliffs of the mountains he climbed. Beyond traces of the road underfoot there was no sign of civilization anywhere but Varen did not care as he looked up into the western sky to see the Great Bird Sol just above the mountain peaks. Laughter rose up out of Varen and he fell to his knees with relief and joy.

“I hope you don’t plan on stopping already.”

“Chain!”

The sound of the maid’s voice questioning him from the sling on his back reminded Varen that he was not alone and with a smile he rose to his feet again.

“No, considering I’m totally exposed here that wouldn’t be a good idea. But with the mountains totally surrounding us now we won’t have much more daylight to work with.”

“In that case let me out of here so I can make sure you don’t do something idiotic and choose a horrible camp site.”

“Come on, give me some credit here.”

Though Varen naturally complained about Chain’s lack of trust in his ability he did not deny the maid her request to be freed of the sleeping sling. Once she was freed Chain stood and stretched relishing her returned freedom.

“That feels great! I can’t wait until I get Elliot to Raptoria so I never have to sleep in one of those things again.”

“I’m just surprised that you woke up as soon as I finally escaped the fog.”

Looking back from whence he came Varen eyed the wall of fog that awaited any who would try to descend back down the road to Nest Cliff and frowned at its suspicious nature. Chain placed her hands on the back of her head and joined Varen in observing the unnatural fog but promptly blew it off with a smile as she addressed her traveling companion’s comment.

“Admittedly that sleeping potion wasn’t strong enough to keep me out for so long so I had to cast a little spell or two here or there to make things work.”

“Really? No wait, forget I asked. Magic isn’t really my specialty so I doubt I’d understand.”

“Considering I was drawing on the Seventh Well to make sure no one could detect my spells explaining it to an idiot like you would be a waste of breath anyway.”

“Would it now? Maybe you’re just a bad teacher.”

“I’m pretty good at teaching pain though.”

The smile that Chain offered Varen sent a chill down his spine and he quickly lost the irritated look he had for one of genuine discomfort. He had no doubt that she was being truthful as he recalled seeing her in battle against the Bandit King and his men when they were attacked a five-day ago on the Brass Line. With a sigh he forced himself to regain his composure and to change the subject.

“We really shouldn’t waste any more time here. Lord Sol will only be visible from here for a short while longer and we need to make camp before then.”

“Well lead on. I already said I’d help you not pick a bad spot so let’s go.”

Exasperation painted itself across Varen’s face at Chain’s words but he only allowed himself to sigh again in complaint. Not wanting to give Chain any further fuel to pick on him with Varen did not linger on his sigh and returned his attention to the traces of road that had brought them so far into the mountains. Hopeful that the road would soon lead him to the gondolas to Misthead Varen focused more on the road than finding a place to make camp. Chain let Varen lead on so blindly for a time with her hands behind her head but as the sky began to change color and the boughs of the Builders’ Tree beyond became clearer from the shadows of the towering peaks of the Stormroot Mountains her patience gave out.

“So are we going to make camp or are you trying to get us to Misthead in one night?”

“Hey I’m looking alright.”

“Somehow I doubt that. If you were you would have already suggested any number of overhangs to camp under that I would have had to point out wouldn’t work for one reason or another.”

“You know, if you think I’m such an incompetent idiot why don’t you just find a place to make camp yourself.”

“I think I’ll do just that.”

With a smile and Varen’s permission to seek out a good camping spot Chain set off to do just that leaving the soldier on his own. Varen started to grow uncomfortable as night started to settle in and Chain did not return to his side.

“What was I thinking? I’m honor bound to repay her for saving my life and I just send her off on her own in the middle of nowhere with the sun sinking. Damnit. Chain, where are you?!”

Calling into the mountain air Varen’s voice echoed through the cliffs and canyons. When there was no reply he fought to keep his panic at bay before cupping his hands around his mouth to call out again. He took a deep breath and promptly lost it as Chain struck him irritably in the back of the head. Clutching at where his head now throbbed Varen looked back to see the maid land from having to jump to so strike him and received an irritated look.

“Are you an idiot? It’s practically night and my concealment spell ended when I woke up yet here you are shouting for everything out here to here you.”

“Am I an idiot? -!”

Varen cut himself short as he realized he did not have grounds to argue since he had just been berating himself for his decision but a moment before. With yet another sigh that day Varen straitened up and changed the subject.

“So did you find a good campsite?”

“Of course. I’ve already got it set up so come on. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover tomorrow so you’ll need your sleep.”

Copyright © 2018 Joshua D Tarwater