Curse of the Shadowmage - Mark Anthony [81]
"Oh. I was afraid you would say that."
"It looks as though this K'shar is just arriving in Soubar," Cormik said. He turned to Jewel. "What do say we arrange a few interesting diversions for him, make certain that he doesn't leave town quickly?"
"A wonderful idea, love," Jewel purred. "I have a few ideas you might find interesting…"
Despite her new worries, Mari managed to smile. It was clear that the rotund crime lord and the older, sultry masterthief were going to make an effective-and deadly-duo.
"Let's go find Caledan," she said.
Morhion, Ferret, and Kellen followed her out of the tent, into the deepening night.
*****
Hooves clattering against loose scree, Mista scrambled the last few feet out of the rocky defile and onto a windswept ridge. Caledan pulled gently on the reins bringing her to a halt.
"There it is, Mista," he said quietly. "The High Moor."
The mare snorted softly. A vast wasteland stretched before them, marching toward the distant horizon in endless gray waves. Pale mist pooled in low hollows, and here and there jagged spurs of rock thrust upward toward the leaden sky like beckoning fingers. A few wind-twisted plants clung precariously to the barren landscape, but there was no sign of anything moving. The High Moor was a dying land. How appropriate that somewhere in its heart should be a dead kingdom. Ebenfar.
Caledan nudged Mista into a canter across the damp moor. Almost unconsciously, he lifted a hand to grip the star-shaped medallion resting against his heart. Despite the chill air, the dull silvery metal was curiously warm. It had been strangely easy to take the medallion from the treasure chamber in Soubar. No-it had not been strange after all, for the Shadowstar had wanted to be found. The door to the treasure chamber had responded willingly to Caledan's shadow magic, and the medallion had nearly leapt into his hand.
In the instant he hung the medallion around his neck, he had understood his destiny. He was to journey to Ebenfar, to the ancient kingdom of the Shadowking. He sensed that the medallion had the power to whisk him instantly there but did not wish to do this. The journey itself was important. The other still needed time to grow. And grow it would. Soon, all that would be left of him III be the shadowking within, and he would leave behind the man Caledan forever.
"I have to hold on, Mista." he whispered hoarsely, gripping her mane tightly in clenched fingers. "I cannot forget who I am. I must not."
For a moment, thoughts of those he loved drifted into his mind. Were the companions following him? Would they understand the signs he had been leaving for them? Quickly he forced his friends from his mind. It was a mistake to think about them. Now that he had the Shadowstar, the other slept less and less, and he had to keep his one fragile hope concealed. "If there is any hope at all," he murmured. Suddenly the Shadowstar twitched against his chest, sending a hot, dizzying wave coursing through his body. Caledan brought Mista to a halt. Gripping the medallion, he squeezed his eyes shut. Yes, he could feel the dark ones. They were close now. The shadevari. Ever since his journey had begun, Caledan had sensed the dark presence following him. As soon as he gained the Shadowstar, his senses had grown remarkably keen, and he had discerned the true nature of the creatures pursuing him. They were shadevari, three of the ancient, malevolent beings banished beyond the Circle of the World by the god Azuth-beings who, he now realized were somehow inextricably linked with the shadow magic.
An idea occurred to him. "We don't want the shadevari to find me too easily, do we, Mista?" he said with a harsh laugh. "That wouldn't be any fun for them. Maybe there's a way to make my trail a little harder to follow."
Mista gave a snort.
"Just watch," Caledan replied.
He gripped the Shadowstar more tightly and hummed a dissonant tune under his breath. Mista pranced skittishly as a patch of shadow near her hooves swirled expanded. Like dark serpents, a dozen sinuous forms sprang from the patch of shadow.