Forging the Darksword - Margaret Weis [101]
Sunlight. It was the only thing that could have penetrated the darkness of fear and pain that was closing over Saryon. They had escaped! Fresh air blew on his face, giving him added strength. With a final burst of energy that came from somewhere unknown inside him, the catalyst made a lunge for the opening he could see now, shining brightly at the end of the tunnel.
What would he do once he was outside? Would the faeries follow them into the forest? Pursue them, hunt them down, drag them back? Saryon didn’t know and he didn’t care. If he could just feel the sun on his face, grass beneath his feet, see sheltering trees spread their boughs above him—everything would be all right. He knew it.
Victory and exultation flooding through him, Saryon reached the end of the tunnel, burst out into the sunlight …
… and nearly fell off the edge of a sheer cliff.
Grabbing hold of the catalyst, Simkin dragged Saryon away from the end of the ledge, stumbling backward into a rock wall. Saryon sank to his knees, at first too exhausted and confused to comprehend what had happened. When the dizziness cleared and he was able to look around, he saw that he and Simkin were perched on a small ledge of rock that extended out from the tunnel about ten feet before it ended in a drop of a hundred feet or more straight down into a heavily wooded river canyon.
His body aching, his hope dashed as effectively as if it had leaped off the rock edge and tumbled to the ground below, Saryon could do nothing but look at Simkin, too exhausted even to speak.
“This is rather unexpected,” the young man admitted, stroking his beard as he stared down into the tops of the trees below. “I know!” he said suddenly. “Damn! I should have taken a right at the second fork instead of a left. I always make that mistake.”
Saryon closed his eyes. “Go ahead and save yourself,” he said. “You have Life enough to float down on the wind currents.”
“And leave you behind? No, no, old fellow,” Simkin said. He floated over to stand before the catalyst, still weaving slightly from the effects of the wine. “Couldn’t think of abandon … doning you. Like a … a father to me ….”
“Don’t start crying!” Saryon snapped.
“No, sorry.” Simkin choked and wiped his nose. “We’re not done for yet, if you have a bit more strength left?” He peered at the catalyst hopefully.
“I don’t know.” Saryon shook his head. He wasn’t certain he had strength enough to even keep breathing.
“It’s this sort of talent I’ve got,” Simkin said persuasively. “I can change myself into inanimate objects.”
Saryon stared at him, uncomprehending. “That’s crazy,” he said finally. “I know the mathematical calculations involved. It’d take six catalysts, with full strength, to give you enough Life—”
He heard the shouts behind him then, mingled with harsh, raucous laughter as the faeries realized their prey was trapped.
“No!” Simkin said eagerly. “I said, it’s my talent. I can do it at will, with just my own force generally. Now, I’m a bit flagged and somewhat muddled from the wine, so if you could help …”
“I don’t—”
“Quickly, man!” Simkin cried, grabbing hold of Saryon and pulling him to his feet.
Too spent to argue, not caring anyway, Saryon opened the conduit and expended his last energy. Magic flowed through him like blood from an open vein and then he was empty, drained. He had no more to give, not having the strength required to draw in any more from the world around him. The shouts grew louder and louder. They’d be here soon. Perhaps he should just jump, he thought, and stared dreamily out over the ledge.
He pictured himself falling through the air, the ground leaping up to meet him, his body crashing onto sharp rocks, smashing, breaking ….
Feeling his stomach clench, Saryon backed up precipitously … and walked right into a tree. Whirling, he looked at the tree in amazement. It hadn’t been there before. The ledge had been bare ….
“Up! Climb up!” the tree said in a muffled voice.
Staring in wonder, Saryon reached out a trembling hand to touch the tree’s rough bark. “Simkin?”
“There’s no time to waste! Hide