Lady of Poison_ The Priests - Bruce R. Cordell [29]
Both she and the Oslander were already dressed appropriately for such movement. Neither openly carried anything reflective. Both wore colors designed to blend into the foliage in an attempt to obscure their silhouettes. A body's outline, or even just the head and shoulders, are silhouettes that draw an intelligent eye; even if a watcher can't identify what it sees immediately, the eye is unconsciously drawn, and recognition eventually percolates into consciousness. Camouflage helped.
The trees ahead of her were obviously not right. She held her right hand up and made a fist, a sign for Gunggari to pause. Taking a moment, she scanned the area, noticing the blighted trees and a gray, unhealthy looking fungus growing over trees, leaves-though there were few enough of those-and the ground. Beyond those she could make out a clear circular space bordered by weathered stones. She was seeing the edge of the Mucklestones.
Normally, the ring of trees surrounding the stones reached their branches out above the hollow bowl, entirely protecting it from the sky's open gaze. But the surrounding trees, fungus-wounded and dying, had lost most of their leaves, and the sky was easily visible above.
Just as the nearby trees were host to the life-sapping fungus, the very stones that gave the place their name were scarred with innumerable patches of growth, staining them with gray slime and obscuring the nature runes etched into the stone.
There, too, was Briartan. Elowen gave out a gasp before she could rein in her reaction. Her old friend was staked to one of the Mucklestones, spread-eagle, an iron spike driven through the palms of both hands. His head lolled down on his chest, and he didn't move. His left leg was missing, amputated. Blood stains spattered his clothing.
"Briartan!" whispered Elowen, unable to stop herself.
Something else moved within the bowl. Many somethings, but from her current position, the recessed nature of the bowl hid what moved, or how many potential foes lurked within.
Defiant, Elowen moved. She motioned for Gunggari to accompany her but didn't wait to see what action the Oslander would take. All her attention was on Briartan. She needed to see if he was still alive, despite his awful state.
Defying her stealthcraft, she darted up to Briartan. The druid was staked up on an exterior face of one of the great stones. She reached up and felt for a pulse on the man's neck. A slight staccato beat, but it was, oh, so faint.
"We've been spotted," hissed Gunggari.
She glanced into the bowl. Gunggari was right.
***
Marrec didn't know what to do with Ash, he realized too late. He debated leaving her back with Ususi, but according to Elowen, the woman was a skilled mage, and they could use her talents against the Blightlord, if indeed Gameliel was found in the center of the Mucklestones. Besides, he doubted Ususi would hang back-she was out for Gameliel's blood.
Gunggari's dizheri blared forth, penetrating clearly even through the thick forest growth. It was a call for aid.
Marrec realized the time for worrying was over. He whipped Henri's lead around the bole of the nearest tree and tied it with a loose knot. He had tied Elowen and Gunggari's horses on the same bole when they had departed. Ash sat her mount without comment.
He fixed the girl with a look and said, "Ash, stay here. We'll be back. You'll be all right."
The girl looked at him, unconcerned. Now that he had seen her defend herself against the uthraki, some of the anxiety he felt about escorting such a small child into danger was reduced.
Ususi used the time Marrec was dealing with Ash to charge ahead on her horse, heading toward the dizheri's call. Marrec cursed and spurred his own horse in pursuit.
Marrec goaded his steed to the maximum pace it was willing to take through the forest, which was too fast for his own comfort, he realized only after the fact. Tree trunks and low branches whizzed by, and a jump over a fallen log almost sent