Call of Descent
Chapter Fourteen

Themorning broke, leaving the two of them still impeded by the dark. Malik was thefirst to wake, his biological clock so in tune with early morning that he didnot even need the sun to tell him that it was time to wake up. He lit thenearest lantern and set about packing things away that he had forgotten tocollect the night before. Reniko slept on unaware of his actions, exhaustedbeyond anything she had ever felt before.

Shewoke not much later reluctantly, but upon seeing Malik fully awake she toobecame alert.

“Sorry,I was trying to let you sleep longer. You seemed very tired.”

Renikonodded as she stretched. “Not quite used to all of this hard traveling yet.”

Maliklooked at her quizzically. “You’ll have to tell me about your home some time.”

“Maybe,but right now, being reminded of it kind of stings.”

“Ifound you some more clothing. I noticed yesterday that your clothes took quitea beating on your trip to Rownie and since we are heading into the mountains upnorth I thought it would be best if you had some warmth.”

Renikoglanced beside her bedroll and sure enough new clothes were laid out neatly.One bundle was tied with twine, ready to be packed away for later use, and theother was laid out ready to be worn. She noted that the chemise was a deepforest green this time with the over tunic a muted emerald green the trim ofwhich bore a silvery thread that seemed to grow from one point like a vine. Itwas thick with quarter sleeves and very long. The hose was brown leather, notunlike the ones she wore now, but in a more sound condition.

Malikcleared his throat and hefted his saddlebags over his shoulder. “Well, I willleave you to get dressed. Just come into the storage room when you’re done.Marnie has cooked us a small feast before we set off.”

“Thanks.What do I owe for all the goods that I have taken from Abus and Marnie?”

“Don’tworry, I’ve settled our debts.”

“Iearned quite a lot of money working with Milla at the temple. You don’t need tocarry my debt, Malik.”

“Nodoubt, next time I’ll leave it up to you.”

“Thankyou for everything.” Malik nodded and closed the door tightly behind him.

WhenReniko finished dressing and had repacked her things she headed into thestorage room where the smell of warm food wafted. Malik was already engrossedin the meal and Reniko followed suit, more than ready to break her fast.

Abussaid no farewell to them as they left. Malik mentioned to Reniko that he haddealings with the Rük and that because of the stir they caused last night, hewas under more scrutiny than ever. As a result, the two of them left quietlythrough a back entrance that left them near the edge of town. Hiding amongstthe dense crowd of people, hoping that the Rük would pay them no mind, Renikoand Malik finally made it to the sanctuary of the surrounding hills.

Theyfound Blaze not far from the town, grazing on the sprouting grass. When heheard the two of them coming he looked up and walked keenly to his master. AsMalik proceeded to secure his provisions onto Blaze’s back Reniko called outsoftly into the hills, walking further away from town and closer to the denseunderbrush that skirted the area.

“Penumbra,it’s me Reniko, are you nearby?” She was answered quickly by the sound ofmovement and a black shadow emerged from a thick patch of brambles.

Dideverything go all right back in town? I thought you would be gone for anothercouple of days.

“Imet an old –” Reniko paused and looked back toward Malik who had stoppedsecuring his things to Blaze and now stood staring intently at Penumbra, eyesablaze with awe. “He saved my life when I first came here. His name is Malik.”

Penumbramet Malik’s gaze, his eyes piercing Malik like his entire mind was exposed. Malikhad never felt more uncomfortable in his life. It seemed so strange to hearReniko talking to this creature, even stranger that she seemed to be the onlyone to hear what he was saying. His gaze faltered after a while and he turnedfrom the unicorn’s stare to meet Reniko’s gaze instead.

“Hesays it’s a pleasure to meet you. He also says that you may have won my trustbut his will not be so easy to win, though the care you take in handling Blazedoes please him,” Reniko said, uneasy being the interpreter.

Maliktook another look at the unicorn and looked back at Reniko. “He seemsfriendly,” he spoke sarcastically and began adjusting the weight of the packson Blaze.

“Iwouldn’t be so testy, Malik, I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Penumbra kill aRük.”

Maliknodded. “I’ll remember that.” Malik lifted himself onto Blaze’s back, mildlyannoyed by this new companion. Just when I thought there could be nothingworse than the company of a Teoko, I replace myself in the company of one of themost reclusive species on Vespen. How did she ever become friends with thisPenumbra?

“Isaved his life,” Reniko said startling Malik out of his thoughts. Her commentsmatched his thoughts so well he thought for a moment she had reached into hishead and sifted through his very thoughts. “I mean you were wondering about howwe met right. I didn’t really give you an explanation back at the inn. I wantedto make sure Penumbra was okay with me telling you more of the details. I meanit is his family’s life on the line, not mine.”

“I’venever known unicorns to befriend anyone that was not of their kind.”

Iowe a debt, a unique case I assure you. Malik heard thevoice ringing in his head. Reniko looked puzzled.

“DidPenumbra say something to you?” she asked. She was now seated on Penumbra’sbare back. Malik set Blaze in motion and Penumbra followed close behind.

“Doesit always feel that unnerving when he talks to you?” Malik asked in answer toher question.

Renikolaughed, “I always found it as a sort of comfort. Penumbra said that you shouldn’tget used to it.”

“Whatis that supposed to mean?” Malik asked flashing his head back to meet theunicorn’s gaze.

Renikoshrugged. “I didn’t get an explanation.”

Maliksighed and faced forward again. This is going to be a very long trip.

Itwasn’t until midday that conversation again started up. By this time Rownie hadfaded into the distance and all they could hear were the waves of Radalean Lakecrashing against the nearby shore. Penumbra had added no further comment sincethe morning and Reniko was growing uneasy with the silence that surrounded thegroup.

“Doyou think that assassin of yours is following us?” Reniko asked, breaking thesilence.

“I’vebeen keeping a sharp eye. No sign of anyone yet. Penumbra would probably bemore sensitive to that sort of thing though, best to ask him,” Malik responded,less testy and with more respect than she had heard earlier that day.

“Pen?”Reniko asked.

Weseem to be the only travelers for many miles in either direction. I’ll keepalert.He spoke to Reniko.

“Nothingthen,” Malik said. The silence again descended.

“I’mnot fond of this at all,” Reniko finally blurted. She urged Penumbra to catchup with Blaze and the two creatures strode side by side, making it so Renikowas within arms-reach of Malik.

“I’msorry,” Malik muttered.

“Wellthe only way you can fix it is to talk to me.”

“Firstthings first, I want to apologize to Penumbra, for my rash behaviour thismorning.”

“You’reforgiven,” Reniko spoke and Malik accepted this humbly.

“I’mnot used to mouthy creatures.”

“Italways seemed to me that you and Orric were always having at it.”

“That’sdifferent.”

“Really,how so?” Reniko cocked her eyebrow teasingly at Malik.

“He’smy mentor of sorts. I’ve lived with him since I was very little.”

Renikofell silent again. “I understand. So tell me about yourself. I’ve told you somuch about my life and I know nothing of yours. What is it you do Malik?”

“WhatI do?” Malik looked thoughtful, “no one has ever really asked me that before. Iguess you could say I rally the resistance. Try and make it so that everyone inthe Rük resistance knows there are others out there, keep them organized andinformed.”

“Iguess that makes you their leader of sorts.”

“No,nothing like that. Each faction has their own leader. I’m just the diplomat, Iguess.”

“Howlong?”

“Aroundfour years now, ever since I found out there were more people on Vespen besidesmy home town that were not taking the Rük rule sitting down. It’s just a lotless open in the rest of the world. Right now we are organizing training campsso that those in the resistance can learn to handle weapons in a fashion,though it’s been tough acquiring not only the weapons but people with skillenough to teach the rest of us how to use them. Humans have lost not only theart of wielding blades but also making them and it makes everything difficult.”

“Yourhome town, are they open about their dislike with the Rük?”

“Yes,I’m from Tordaskar.”

“Arethey not actively helping the rest of Vespen fight against the Rük? Surely theytrain in weapons there?”

“Theyare rather secluded, reclusive. They don’t venture out from behind Ocean’sWall. The Teoko there are the only ones who know anything recent about the restof Vespen, though that’s because they can come and go from Tordaskar as theyplease. And no, our records of weaponry were destroyed a long time ago, by whomwe do not know.”

“Howdid you manage to leave Tordaskar?"

“Ileft with Orric. I was banished from Tordaskar. I can’t go back, wouldn’t wantto if I could. All they do is hide. Hide behind Ocean’s Wall, hide behind theirtraditions. They’ve given up on the rest of Vespen when really they should beVespen’s hope.”

“I’mglad.”

“Glad?Glad of what?”

“I’mglad you left Tordaskar. I’m glad you’re helping the rest of the humans on Vespen,and glad you’re helping me.”

“OnceI found out what was happening out here, I couldn’t turn my back on it. I havethe power to do something and I will not throw it aside.”

“Sowhat do you plan on doing now?”

“I’mgoing to replace the truth, the truth of Vespen’s past, the truth about the Rük,the truth about… everything.”

“Yousaid something along those lines in Rownie.”

“Theystill hold true.”

Renikonodded and sighed. Malik looked at her with concern. Reniko just smiled back athim. “You have so much conviction, so much passion.”

“Youare the same.”

Renikoshook her head. “All I want to do is go home. There’s not much conviction inthat.”

“I’veseen it in you Reniko, when those Rük held you captive, when you threw awaythat sword –”

“Let’stalk about something else. This is getting dangerously close to my comfortzone,” Reniko said smiling, holding back feelings that Malik could see flashingacross her eyes.

Renikobroke the conversation, shattered it as she recalled her own past. Much likeMalik she didn’t feel like talking about it. Her reasons were far differentfrom his, however. While he wanted nothing but to forget the place he wasbanished from, Reniko wanted nothing but to get back to the place of hermemories and the thought of talking about things she was hoping to get back tomade her emotionally unstable.

“Whereis Orric anyway?”

“Orric?He had some business elsewhere. We thought it would be better if we split up,hoping to lose our pursuer. Not only did it not work, but I’ve also beeninformed that Orric is now caught up in something with the rest of his kin. Idon’t really know the details though. Hopefully he comes back soon. We couldsure use his help right now.”

“We’lljust have to fend for ourselves until then. I think we’ll be all right, Malik.Cheer up.”

Maliklooked at Reniko who was now sitting tall on Penumbra her eyes gleamingmischievously. “You confuse me.”

“Iseem to confuse a lot of people. Come on, let’s pick up the pace. We have along journey ahead of us and if we go any slower that assassin will have notrouble replaceing us at all.” With this comment Penumbra shot off. Blaze followedsuit without a word from Malik since the horse hated seeing another animal inthe lead.

Nearthe end of their first day the road they were following turned from neatly keptto overgrown until it was nothing more than a cramped trail. It looked like ithad been unused for many years and their traveling pace decreased with theincrease of weeds.

“Isthis the only path to Mistfall?” Reniko asked as she watched the overgrowntrail unfold before her.

“Asfar as I know. When the Rük took over Rownie, the roads were not kept up andtravelers from Rownie to Mistfall decreased for many reasons. Mistfall doesn’tget many visitors from the rest of Edonal Eclith. They are a boating community,they communicate with Porsshash and Radalean more frequently than Rownie.Rownie’s ports are all closed off, so basically the Rük tried to isolateMistfall though no one really knows why.”

“Haveyou ever been to Mistfall before?”

“Once,with Orric, we flew there, I saw this trail as we flew overhead. It’s alsooccupied by Rük, though not as overrun as Rownie.”

“They’reeverywhere.”

“Ourpunishment for our sins, if you believe the temples.”

“Anddo you?”

“I’mnot sure anymore. I did a long time ago, but now –”

“Lookingfor the truth, right?”

Maliknodded.

“WellReflaydun has to have some of the answers you seek,” Reniko said stretching herlimbs as they rode forward.

“That’swhat I’m hoping,” Malik said and he too began to stretch his tired muscles. “Ithink it’s about time we made camp for the evening.”

“Ihave no objections to that,” Reniko said as she scanned the area for a suitablecampsite. Within the hour they had made a small cooking fire and were preparingthemselves for the night to come.

Thatnight Reniko slept soundly carried into her dreams by the rhythmic breathing ofPenumbra. Malik slept with less ease, still worried about the assassin he knewwould not be far behind them.

Kruoksat uneasily on her horse. She had left Rownie only hours before, hoping thatshe had not lost too much ground. She had underestimated the girl. She knewthat the girl had killed some Rük of lower ranks but the speed she displayedwas incredible and something that Kruok would not underestimate a second time.It had been bad timing on her part, bad luck. Those noisy patrolmen had fallensilent at the wrong moment and that girl, that human had heard the poison dart.Heard it! The mere thought of hearing its passage made Kruok cringe in disgust.She would not have believed it was possible had she not seen the girl do justthat. The human had perfect timing, had plucked the deadly needle from the airlike it hadn’t been moving at all and, of all things, had looked directly toits source; looked at Kruok herself. Luckily Kruok had had the sense todisappear the moment she saw that girl pluck her plan from the air.

Ithad taken her all night to replace out even a scrap of information about wherethat boy and that wretched girl had gone. By the time she had finally picked upon their trail, wringing the information from that fat human male, they hadleft Rownie, headed in one of two directions, Porsshash or Mistfall. Aroundnoon she saw horse tracks heading up the road to Mistfall and had followedsuit. Back on the trail of her prey she now had time to think about what to doabout the human female. She needs to be taken swiftly, and first. I will notbe beaten, not by a mere human.