Melody of War 16

The sky overhead began to take on a blue hue as the Great Bird Sol came into view in the eastern sky. From up high in the Stormroot Mountains the Great Bird was not visible beyond the peaks that rose up around the trails, gullies, and valleys that were formed by them and it might as well have still been night within. For Chain however it was already late but she allowed Varen to continue sleeping as she set about dismissing her ritual barrier.

“That should do it, though I expected it to be colder.”

The cool breeze that reached Chain as she dismissed her barrier was not chilling at all and did little to dull the warmth captured within the valley that the mountain road cut through. Away from the road and tucked away in a raised pit of sorts Chain only had one view of the road in the valley and the mountainside beyond it that was coated in deep green grass in nearly its entirety. Further down the mountain side the impenetrable fog that had slowed Varen’s ascent awaited all who dared to think to descend from the mountains.

“At least it’ll keep anyone from following us I hope. Just in case though we shouldn’t linger much longer, though first a spell if I’m going to make this trip on my own two feet.”

Snapping the fingers of her left hand Chain summoned a sphere of light within as the distinctive ringing sound of the motion rang out in the morning air. The sound woke Varen from his slumber and he groggily rose, rubbing his eyes as he did. Stifling a yawn he turned his attention towards Chain as the maid began her incantation.

“~ Upending force from the lawlessness of the Seventh Well, spill to my call ~
~ As you would twist rest from exhaustion so I upend fatigue and waking ~
~ Res Jr’ny ~

The sphere of light twisted in Chain’s hand and suddenly shattered into butterflies that shed their wings and climbed into the nothingness beyond where they appeared. The left behind wings were caught in the morning breeze and slammed into Chain disappearing as though diving into a lake. As she writhed from the effects of the spell Varen rose to his feet with concern.

“That didn’t look good. Are you all right Chain.”

“I’m fine. Though if you want me to stay that way we better not waste any time and get going.”

“Shouldn’t we eat first at least?”

“I just cast a spell from the Seventh Well that assures me that resting will have any affect except what I cast the spell to do.”

“That didn’t make a whole lot of sense.”

“Of course not. Just like yesterday though it would be a waste trying to explain it to you but just so you get it into that thick head of yours the Seventh Well is the Well of Chaos. Drawing magic for spells from that well is naturally dangerous. The only rules the spell follows are those I set for myself. If I break my own rules I leave myself susceptible to the chaos of the energies I’ve drawn upon.”

“Why would you do something so dangerous?!”

Varen was not as slow on the uptake as Chain would leave people to believe and he could not hide his shock at the risk she took in casting such dangerous magic. Chain simply sighed and shook her head.

“I’ve been casting spells that draw on the Seventh Well since we left Highroot.”

“What?!”

“That spell when we fled the city that let us see in the dark was also using the power of the Seventh Well. Though it’s pretty easy not to mess up the rules of that spell it’s still possible.”

It was Varen’s turn to feel exasperated and he pinched the bridge of his nose as he tried to calm himself.

“So you’re just always this crazy?”

“No. Not really. Until I met Elliot on the Brass Line I didn’t have much reason to practice casting spells that draw on the Seventh Well.”

“So then this is our fault?”

Varen lowered his arms and looked upon Chain with guilt in his eye and irritated the maid. Grabbing at her left temple Chain groaned in exasperation.

“There isn’t any fault with anyone. It’s just I was inspired by Elliot’s verse to develop a new spell so I’ve been practicing is all. But right now if I don’t do something tiring my spell is going to backfire so let’s pick up camp and get moving.”

“Wait a minute. Don’t tell me you just cast a dangerous spell just to avoid sleeping in the sling?”

“What if I did?”

Chain flashed Varen a mischievous smile and the tall soldier’s mouth fell agape in disbelief.

“I can’t believe you.”

“It’s still good practice for me regardless. Now let’s go!”

Chain wasted no further time entertaining Varen and went about gathering up their camping supplies and storing what did not fit into Varen’s pack into her cape which she summoned as she they worked. Growing more energized the more she exerted herself Chain and Varen were able to finish up quickly and soon returned to the road following it deeper into the mountains. Watching them from atop a nearby cliff Kyte frowned with disappointment.

“You’ve gotten careless Chainmaid. Or am I wrong and you’ve noticed me which is the real reason that you cast such an intriguing spell.”

Looking down at where Chain and Varen had made camp the night before Kyte noted that there were no signs of human passage. As Chain’s ritual barrier provided heat for its occupants there was no reason for them to have made a fire which made it that much easier to cover her tracks.

“I’m inclined to give you the benefit of the doubt in this case though Chainmaid. If I hadn’t beaten you to the end of the fog and waited for signs of passage I would have never seen your cloaking spell run out. Still though, who is that man you’re travelling with? He’s too tall to be from the Northern Kingdoms and his skin is too dark and yellow to be from anywhere else I know of. According to the reports even the eastern Hero is fair skinned and golden haired besides. Oh~ now my blood is starting to itch. I have to know what type of game it is I’m tracking and just how good it is in a fight for you to trust it with your life in that odd sleeping bag. Maybe just a little scuffle will be alright. Besides, we’re heading for the same place after all so I’m sure I’ll have the opportunity.”

Copyright © 2018 Joshua D Tarwater