aIall feel bad if we do it and they sideswipe us with a flanking attack we ran voluntarily into,a Terian said.

aIall feel worse if we die of old age while waiting for their attack,a Curatio said, aand for me, thatas saying something.a aJaanda,a Cyrus said, aI suspect youare about to have to find out if these things can be mesmerized.a aI was planning to try,a the enchanter said. aFailing that, perhaps I can take charge of a few and disturb their formation to start things off?a aCan a spell even reach them out there?a Terian asked.

aFor most, it would be impossible,a Jaanda said, closing his eyes and raising a hand. aFor me, it is merely another day.a A glow wrapped his fingers, a greenish-blue hue that encompassed him, and his eyes snapped open. aOh. My. Oh, gods. This is a they are not mindless beasts. Not at all.a Jaandaas eyes widened and the enchanter let out a long, gasping exhale that clouded the air in front of him. aThis a unfathomable a they a ahhhh aa His eyes rolled back in his head, he shuddered and shook in the saddle as Cyrus ran between the horses that separated them while the animals began to snort, shuffling back and forth on their hooves. The sounds of the horses took on an eerie quality, being the only noise audible other than the crackling voice of the flailing enchanter.

Cyrus reached Jaandaas side and grabbed him by the robes, jarring the dark elf. His eyes snapped open and looked down at Cyrus, wide, the enchanteras usually unflappable calm gone. His breaths came in deep, rattling bursts, as though he were cold and winded, ragged in his breathing as his thin shoulders rose and fell in poor time. His eyes locked on Cyrus and they were wild, filled with undefinable emotion, as though the enchanteras mind were overwhelmed.

aJaanda?a Cyrus asked, dragging the dark elfas eyes to him. Cyrus could see the bloodshot element to them, the red, strained look that they carried. aAre you all right?a aYes,a Jaanda breathed, aand no. Not all right at all. Theyare a you would not believe what they are.a He reached down and clutched Cyrusas shoulder. aWho they are.a Jaanda pushed off, balancing back on his horse and moving away from Cyrus. aThey are not fools. They are not beasts. And they are not mindless.a aWho are they?a Cyrus asked, spellbound by the enchanteras seeming breakdown.

aNot now,a Jaanda breathed. aNot now a I cannot even explain it, not now.a aWhy not?a Terian interrupted, and the dark knightas eyes and voice burned with impatience. aWhatas got you so addled?a aAddled?a Jaanda asked with a laugh, a loud, high, demented one. aYou donat know. Of course you donat, you couldnat. And it doesnat matter right now, anyway, because we have to run.a The crazed amusement fled his face and he looked Cyrus straight in the eye. aWe have to run, we have to leave now. We might stand a chance if we hurry, if we fly back to the pass.a aWhat the blazes is going on here, Jaanda?a Cyrus asked. aWhat are you talking about? What are these things? What is wrong with you?a aI saw,a Jaanda whispered. aI looked into the mind of one of them when I charmed him and I sawa"what they are. Who they were. What theyave been through. And I know,a he said hoarsely, aI know. And something else, tooa"a He looked away, stunned, frightened, back to the hill where they waited, still, staring down at the expedition.

aThat more of them are cominga"enough to destroy us all. And theyall be here in moments.a

Chapter 33.

aStart moving,a Cyrus said in a tone of low dread. aEverybody start heading back the way we came.a No one moved, and Cyrus felt the pressure building internally, and it exploded out of him in a shout. aWhat are you waiting for? He told us theyare coming, MOVE!a With that, some of the Syloreans broke ranks and began a run up the hill from whence they had come, a few of the reluctant Sanctuary members following just behind. Curatio hesitated, as did Longwell, and Cyrus waved them in the direction of the hill as he tried to find Windrider in the chaos that was breaking around them. aThis isnat a moment to stand here and die, get moving!a aNot leaving you here until youare saddled and going, sir,a Longwell said, and Curatio nodded as well. Terian, too, lurked with them, along with Mendicant. aThis isnat a time to be leaving anybody behind.a Cyrus watched the others who had dismounted with him, climbing up into their saddles, and he looked for Windrider. Cyrus was surrounded, the Syloreans breaking around him, cutting him off from the direction he knew the horse had run. He heard a familiar whinny from behind the line of retreating Sylorean horses, but to cross them now would mean trampling, injury, unintentional death. He waited until the last of them stampeded past, and Windrider thundered to him. He slung a foot in the stirrup and jumped, sliding onto the saddle as his horse took off, trying to lead the way for the others.

aTheyare moving now,a Longwell shouted.

Cyrus turned to see it was true, that the beasts on the hilla"the scourge, as head come to think of thema"were coming down in great numbers. aJaanda looks to have been right,a Cyrus said. aThey got some reinforcements.a A flood of them came as Cyrus and the others galloped, hugging the trail and following the Syloreans ahead of them as they hurried their way back toward the pass. The creatures of the scourge were behind him, Cyrus saw, waiting for trouble to descend, but it seemed as though they were losing them. The creatures, unable to keep up with the speed of the horses, were falling back as Cyrus and the others were pressing ahead.

Cyrus kept to the rear of the column, a little distance between him and the others in front of him. He felt a sudden cold, clammy chill run over his body but ignored it, continuing to hold tight to Windrideras reins as the horse raced along, fast enough to keep up with those in front of him but keeping an eye on the enemies coming from behind.

aCyrus,a Terianas voice came from beside him, low, hushed, barely audible over the hoofbeats. Cyrus turned and the dark knight was there, riding next to him, the nearest person ahead of him by at least ten feet. Behind Terian, to Cyrusas left, another swarm of the scourge was emerging from the woodline a few hundred feet behind the dark knight. Cyrus made to exclaim, already pointing, but Terian said, aI know. I saw them coming. We can outrun them on horseback. But I need to tell you something.a aWhat?a Cyrus asked, and he realized that he was sweating, an unusual feeling for such a cool day. His mouth was dry, papery, as though someone had poured sand into it, and his voice came out scratchy, so low he could barely hear it himself.

aYouave been afflicted with a curse,a Terian said as Cyrus felt at his throat, trying to discern the nature of his own malady. aYouall feel the fever in a moment, and the seering pain will start shortly thereafter. You may scream,a Terian said, eyes cold, abut because of your throat, no oneas going to hear you. I want you to know that this isnat personal, not really.a Cyrus stared at him blankly, disbelieving, as Terian continued. aYou killed my father on that bridge in Termina, and for a dark elf, that means vengeance. It has to be taken. I swore a vow and performed a soul sacrifice to become who I am, and I canat just let it go, not that easily. I do want to thank you, though,a Terian said, drawing his sword. aI doubt I would have ever gotten this back if you hadnat brought it to me.a Terianas eyes flicked forward, and his sword darted out and hit Windrider across the neck.

The geyser of blood from the horse hit Cyrus in the face, a slap of wetness so quick and brutal that he didnat even realize it had happened until it had. The next strike was even more brutal as Terian slapped him across the face with the dull edge of the blade. Windrider was already falling, skidding in the dirt and Cyrus felt himself lift off upon impact, cartwheeling end over end in the dirt and grass, his head hitting, then dull impacts along his shoulders and back as he rolled. The horseas weight settled on his leg and he felt the bone break, but the pain was muted, somewhere far in the back of his head, beyond the pain in his face, his body, and the desire to just sleep.

Cyrus coughed, and he felt the warm blood flow out of his mouth, onto the ground, turning the dirt red. He watched the little grains of sand float inside it. He felt something else, then, too, something around hima"grey flesh, grey faces, horrible teeth, pointed and vicious, a bloody, disgusting spectacle that lingered in front of him, snapping at him, at his face, even as his vision faded into nothingness and he felt nothingnessa"save for the pointed, far off sensation of his flesh being torn by a thousand hungry mouths.

Chapter 34.

aGET OFF!a A shriek echoed through Cyrusas ears as a chill sensation returned to his limbs and he saw a flash of movement in front of his now-opening eyes. Aisling moved above him, her blades a dance of motion as she cut through three of the scourge beasts and kicked another so hard it flew through the air and into its fellows. Cyrus felt blood dripping out of his armor but realized his skin was intact, his flesh renewed, and looked up to see Curatio, far in the distance, beyond a solid wall of the scourge, a hundred of them separating him from the healer and the others. He jumped to his feet in a well-practiced move and his blade was already out.

Cyrus heard the familiar whinny behind him and saw Windrider lift up and kick, stomping three of the creatures to death with rapidity, then back away from them to form a tight circle with Cyrus and Aisling. A wave of flame was burning through the flank of the scourge, the wall of beasts separating Cyrus and Aisling from the rest of the Sanctuary force.

aThere seem to be an awful lot of them,a Cyrus said, clutching Praelior and raking a circle around him, killing a half-dozen of the creatures as they began to surge in on all sides. aNot sure we can fight this many.a aJust you and I against the world?a Aisling asked with a hint of amusement. aI pity the world.a Windrider whinnied, drawing Cyrusas attention to his neck, where stains of blood remained on his hide. aAll right,a Aisling conceded, aus four.a She turned her head and attacked three of the beasts that came at her, her daggers a blur of motion, and there was a shriek as her horse was pulled to the ground, the creatures swarming over it, tearing it apart while Cyrus and Aisling fought off their advance. aUs three,a she amended. aBut theyall pay for that. That was the best horse Iave ever stolen.a Cyrus flicked Praelior out in a defensive line around him as three of the scourge jumped at him, and he cleaved them neatly in two before taking the heads off two more that came at him. aRemind me to remonstrate you for thieving later.a aI might forget,a she said with a smirk. aIave never been much for sermons, especially from a man whose life I just saved. That was some damnably clumsy riding on your part. Whyad you pick now to fall off your horse?a aThat was no accident,a Cyrus said. aTerian cut Windrideras throat and cursed me.a aWhat?a she cried as one of the scourge leapt for her. Cyrus swung his sword and clipped the beast, sending it to the ground in a heap. They stood side by side, Windrider behind them, still stomping in a frenzy, keeping the creatures from pulling him down as they had Aislingas horse. Cyrus watched the hooves land on another one of the scourge and cringed at the sight of its skull caving in, no blood oozing from it, instead a thick, black liquid puddled underneath the unmoving creature. aWhy would he do something like that?a aYou remember that sword you brought me? From that dark knight I killed on the bridge in Termina?a Cyrusas gauntlet caught the bite of a scourge, and he twisted it, breaking the creatureas teeth as he jammed his sword down its throat then threw the corpse away.

aYeah? Oh. Oh! OH! That was his father? The dark knight?a aApparently.a aOh, wow.a Aisling slung her blades in a perfect arc, catching another one of the beasts as it attacked her. Her dagger ended up buried in its head, and her hand moved like lightning, catching it with three more thrusts along the neck and flank as it dropped. aWhoops.a aThat doesnat quite cover it.a aItall have to do until we get out of here.a Aislingas back bumped against his, and Cyrus felt her push against him as the circle around them tightened. Cyrus looked to the side and saw Curatio and the others falling back, the numbers overwhelming them. Mendicant cast another spell, and a fireball flew toward them as Cyrus ducked out of instinct. It flew past and landed in a thick knot of scourge, exploding and sending bodies and limbs flying in all directions.

aWhat the hell was that?a Aisling cried. aIs that goblin trying to add us to the corpse pile?a aNo,a Cyrus said and pointed to where the fireball had impacted, alook!a He pointed, and only a few feeta"and twenty or so scourge awaya"Mendicant had cleared a path for them. Beyond was open ground to the west, heading toward a mountain in the distance, but it was a long ways off, with plenty of room to outrun the scourgea"

aWindrider,a Cyrus said, but the horse was already kicking and bucking, making his way toward the open ground. aWeall only have a moment here,a Cyrus said to Aisling, ayou need to get on the horse first.a aFine,a she said tightly and was gone, already slipping into the saddle, abut get your sweet ass moving, will you?a aI will,a he said, and tensed himself. With a deep breath that lasted only a second, he let out a bellowing warcry that echoed through the mountain pass and charged forward, blade in motion, clearing the way for Windrider and Aisling to pass. His sword moved with the fluid grace he had come to expect after so many battles with it at his side. The scourge seemed to move slowly, unable to keep up with his speed but overwhelming in numbers. His blade found target after target, casting the bodies aside, damaged or dead. He kept going, heard the horse at his back, until he cut the last of them down and broke free to open ground and he felt Windrider thunder along beside him. He hoisted himself up, sliding onto the back of the horse behind Aisling and they galloped away, thousands of the creatures following in their wake.

Chapter 35.

The mass of the scourge moved in a fluid line, not interfering much with each other as they ran, more slowly, behind Windrider as he carried Cyrus and Aisling toward the top of the hill. Far, far behind them, Cyrus could see the line of the Sanctuary formation falling back, Terian watching him from a far distance, along with Curatio. aThey donat know that Terian tried to kill me, do they?a aI donat think so,a Aisling said, aunless one of them was paying more attention than I was, and I doubt it because I was the first one to start back for you.a aThen heas with them now,a Cyrus said. aHopefully he doesnat have any righteous vengeance head like to inflict on anyone else.a aIt seems to me,a Aisling said, the wind blowing her white hair into his face, aheas known for quite some time that you killed his father. Iave seen him carrying that blade since before we left Sanctuary. So why did he wait until now to strike you down?a aI donat think he did,a Cyrus said. aHe let Partus kill me before, at Harrowas Crossing.a aBut he must have known youad get resurrected,a she said, her hands clutching the reins, holding on tight as they continued forward. aHe canat have thought that would kill you.a aI donat know what heas thinking,a Cyrus said. aMaybe he didnat want to get caught and waited for a moment he thought he could get away with it.a Aisling seemed to think about that. aHe very nearly did; this was the perfect time. No one could have recovered your body from that onslaught, not with the numbers we were against.a Cyrus waited a beat before he answered her. aYou did.a She kept facing away from him, looking straight ahead, the wind brushing past both of them as he realized for the first time that his hands were snug on her hips. aIam no one,a she said. aAt least to you I have been.a They reached the top of the hill and Windrider went on, west, toward the mountains in the distance. The mountain to the south of them was high, and a series of cliffs and gullies was visible to block them from passage. aCanat go south, canat go north because these little bastards are pretty heavy thataway a same with east, since we just came from that direction.a aWest it is,a Cyrus said, and Windrider galloped on, not waiting for any other word on the matter. They plunged into a copse of withered pines as the land slumped down, and Cyrus kept an eye on the ground above them on the hill. It remained empty for quite some time, until finally he saw the first of the scourge crest it, a mile or so behind them. aTheyare pursuing,a he said. aNot very quickly, but they are coming for us.a aThatas of some consolation,a she said, abecause Iam not planning to stop to let them catch up anytime soon. And I doubt your horse is going to stop for water until he has to, unless I miss my guess.a A breathy snort greeted her words. aClever one, arenat you?a They continued downward, along a loping plateau, still moving toward a mountain in the distance. aIam hoping thereas a pass somewhere around here,a Cyrus said, aand maybe we can move ourselves around this mountain and join up with the expedition as they head south.a He shook his head. aI daresay theyave shown the envoys enough evidence to bring armies back to help combat this threat.a aWhat is it with you and the word adaresaya?a Aisling asked. aYou say it all the time. aI daresaya this and aI daresaya that. What does it even mean?a aItas just a way of saying, aI think.aa aThen why donat you just say aI thinka?a She looked back at him, a little smile showing.

aBecause Iam being pretentious,a Cyrus said. aAnd you should allow me a little pretention in my life.a He felt a dark humor settle over him. aAfter all, Iave been betrayed by a good friend recently, as well as by two women I cared for.a aIall allow you just about anything you want,a Aisling said. aIt matters not to me, I was just curious what it meant.a She waited a moment further before she spoke again. aAnd it was aloved,a not acared for,a if you want to be accurate about it, Mr. Pretentious.a She leaned her head forward, bowing it slightly. aYou loved them, both of them, whether you want to admit it or not.a Cyrus swallowed, hard, felt the pain rise in his throat, the bile that told him she was right. aYes,a he whispered. aI did. But at least they didnat try to kill me, as my friend just did.a aRough year,a she said. aPerhaps itas the company you keep.a aI was beginning to think maybe it was me.a The skies began to darken after midday. Clouds rolled in and a light snow began to fall scant hours later. The woods became thicker, and the snow blew with the wind, causing Cyrus to remove his helm in order to see. They kept going, but had long since lost sight of the horde behind them. The last hilltop that Cyrus had sighted them from was now hours behind them, and visibility was so poor that even when they reached a high vantage point they could see only a little ways.

aI donat see them,a Aisling said, staring behind them. aWhen we find water, we should stop briefly before we continue.a aAgreed,a Cyrus said.

They continued until past nightfall, and came out of the woods in a dark encroachment of rocks, leading a steep, impassable embankment. Windrider let loose a quiet whinny upon approaching it, scaring Cyrus for the implications.

aIt would appear that our journey west is at an end,a Aisling said. aAnd if we go south, I suspect that this ravine is the same one that kept us from making for the pass south earlier. Any suggestions?a aNorth or east,a Cyrus said. aWe know for fact that theyare east, so the only alternative is north.a aThe problem with that idea,a she groused, ais that we suspect that theyare north as well.a aGo with whatas suspected or whatas known?a Cyrus asked. aI know which I pick.a aNot fair. Not sound, either. Itas a choice between certain death and uncertain death, and I want to pick aneither.aa His smile disappeared. aThen you probably should have retreated with the others and left me behind.a The snow came down harder now, blowing in their faces as they headed north, across the hills. They crested another rise and Cyrus looked east, and in the distance, he wondered if the village that they had seen from the pass that morning was nearby, if it was somewhere out there, teeming with the scourge. aDo they eat people?a he wondered aloud.

aMorbid thought,a Aisling said. aBut I canat say I havenat had it myself. It seemed as though Jaanda had something on them, had figured something out that he wanted to tell us, but the whole lot of them stopped it.a She held her breath for a moment. aCanat pretend Iam not curious about what that was about.a aNor I,a Cyrus said. aThis snow is getting worse.a aItas not even sticking to the ground,a Aisling complained, abut itas turning everything to mud.a Windrider made a noise that sounded to Cyrusas ears like assent. aThis is going to slow us.a aI know Windrider can handle a long ride,a Cyrus said, abut itas been months of walking, hell, almost a whole month now with only a day or two here or there for a break. This hard escape canat have been easy on him.a The horse was stoic but turned his head to favor them with one eye.

aWhat are you suggesting?a Aisling said, the coolness in her voice just covering the dread beneath.

aIam suggesting that if we keep heading north in this, weare likely to blunder into the enemy. Iam suggesting that we find somewhere that looks safe to hole up for the night, and we take it.a He blinked the snow flurries out of his eyes. aWe try and sleep in shifts, so as not to be surprised if these things track us like bloodhounds do.a aI donat love the sound of that,a Aisling said. aResting while weare being hunted seems like a bad idea.a aAnd getting lost and falling in a ravine or having Windrider die from exhaustion seems like a better one?a Cyrus looked around. aWe donat even have any oats for him to eat, since the wizards are all gone and weare isolated on our own.a aPerhaps some field grass?a Aisling suggested. aHe could try and find it under the layers of mud.a aWe need a rest,a Cyrus said. aNot so much for us as for him.a He let out a breath. aMaybe a little for us.a aI canat imagine the conditions under which Iad feel I could rest right now,a Aisling said, and Cyrus felt the tension in her, pressed as he was against her back. aBut Iad imagine that some reprieve is better than none. And,a she grudgingly admitted, ayouare right about seeing ahead. Weare more likely to stumble over the edge of a cliff in this mess than to be able to see clear forward on a decent path.a aRight,a Cyrus said. aThereas likely a place where that ravine shallows, and we might be able to cross it to get to the flatter ground on the other side, but weall miss it if we keep going in this.a He looked back behind them. aAlso, weare leaving tracks right now. It might be best to find a place to lie low, so we can give them a chance to cover over.a He shrugged. aNot that these things are trackers, but you can never be too careful when youare surrounded by the enemy.a They kept on for a while longer, as the terrain got rockier. They came upon another sheer cliff face, having wandered to a point where the ground rose to the east forcing them along a path parallel to the ravine. They went along, now boxed in by a cliff face on one side and a ravine on the other, forced along a steadily inclining grade, the ground carrying them upward almost against their will.

aI donat like this,a Aisling said, so low that Cyrus almost missed it.

aWhatas that?a aBeing trapped,a she said, pointing to the face of the rock to their right. aItas too sheer. If they come at us from behind we have to run ahead blindly, we canat even swerve right or left.a aStory of my life,a Cyrus said, and when she shot him a confused look, he went on, aRunning blindly.a aAh,a she said with a nod, aI thought you meant not being able to swerve left or right.a He thought about it for a moment. aThat too, actually.a The skies were a deep grey, laced with swirls of clouds that stretched to either end of the horizon, punctuated by light streaming through the gaps between formations. The gaps between the clouds started to darken as the sun set. The cold air blew through Cyrusas armor and he felt it all the way through, even over the sense of weary tension that had him in its grasp.

Aislingas breathing was something he could feel even through his armor, and the tension was noticeable from her as well. Her shoulders were upright, and when Windrider would occasionally take a jarring step, Cyrus felt her go taut in his grasp. He tried not to wrap his arms around her waist, but every now and again he was left with no choice as he leaned, sitting as he was off the saddle. Her hair blew in his face constantly, the white mane possessed of a smell that reminded him of herbs, for some reason, as though she had some sort of greenery in it even now.

The howling of the wind was the only thing that surrounded them, blowing past, dampening all other sound. The canyon channeled it toward them, and Cyrus felt the razor claws of it, so shocking for a summeras day, and he reached to the saddlebags for his cloak, tucking it around himself and Aisling as best he could. He heard her murmur her thanks as he drew closer to her, the night air gradually growing colder and colder.

aUp there,a Aisling murmured, and her finger came up to point. aThereas something against the cliff face.a They drew closer and Cyrus saw it too. It was wooden, carved, and set up on small pillars, though broken and crumbling. aAn old mine?a Cyrus asked.

aLooks like,a she answered as they came upon it. It was square, two posts on either side and a lintel over the top, a beam to keep the roof from collapsing. It jutted only a little out of the rock, just enough to be noticeable if someone was traveling along the ravine.

Cyrus carefully dismounted and ducked into the entrance. The cave was dark, and his eyes couldnat adjust to the low light.

aYou blind fool,a Aisling said, appearing at his side. aHere.a She pulled something out of a pack on her belt, and grabbed an old discarded stick out of the ground at their side. She ripped the sleeve under her armor, pulling a layer of cloth out and wrapping the old branch with it. When she was done she opened the small container she had pulled from her pack, then ran it along the blade of her knife. Sparks came, and the cloth caught, the stick becoming a torch, burning brightly and lighting the cave.

It turned ahead of them, twisting off to their right. Cyrus heard Windrider snort behind him, then felt the horse put his face on the back of Cyrusas head and push him forward. aYou know,a Cyrus said, looking back at him, aevery day Iam with you, you become less a horse and more of a comic sidekick, I hope you realize.a Windrider whickered and shuffled off beside Aisling, who idly stroked his face as they stared into the darkness ahead of them, contemplating it.

aIf we donat look around and make sure the cave is secure,a he said, staring into the distance, aweare probably not going to have a lot of luck sleeping tonight.a aAgreed,a she said. aYou first.a He sighed, and drew his sword. aA comic sidekick for a horse and a skittish ranger as a traveling companion, miles from a friendly face, surrounded by savage creatures that want to eat us alive.a He frowned. aWhy does this always happen to me?a aYou wanted to be an adventurer,a Aisling said, with a little snap, anow you are. And oh, what an adventure weare having today, eh?a Cyrus prowled forward, sword in hand, Aisling and Windrider behind him. Three branches of the main chamber turned into dead ends, and a fourth led to a narrow passage. When Cyrus thrust the torch into it to shed some light, it stretched through a narrow gap in the rock that was only just large enough for him to squeeze into.

aI think weare okay,a he said, athough I suspect weall be in some manner of trouble if the light from our fire or the smoke is seen outside.a They walked back to the entrance, and as they approached the mouth of the cave, Cyrus realized that was no concern. Outside, the snow fluttered down in heavy waves, and had begun to stick to the ground and the rock face opposite them.

aMidsummer snow storm?a Aisling asked. aPerhaps the gods are with us after all.a aThe Luukessians say the gods do not know these lands,a Cyrus said. aAnd I doubt the God of Storms is much of a fan of our work anyway.a aSpeak for yourself,a Aisling said, doing a little pirouette that caught Cyrusas attention. aEveryoneas a fan of my work.a aOh?a Cyrus asked dryly. aDo you do a great deal of public exhibition of that sort of thing?a She shrugged airily. aOnly when I have a partner I really want to work with. Otherwise I tend to perform in privatea"and on privatesa"a aOkay,a Cyrus said, brushing past her, ayouave found the edge of my comfort zone again.a He took the torch and gathered a few more pieces of wood, setting them in a small pile further into the cave, just out of sight of the entrance. aLetas make a fire, then maybe we can take turns getting some rest.a He looked to the mouth of the cave. aSeems like this will be far enough back to avoid any suspicion or anyone seeing the light of our fire.a aYou know,a she hunched next to him as he worked to start the fire, amost men might find themselves grateful if theyad had their life saved by a beautiful, mischievous, young womana"flexible in all the right ways, if you catch my drifta"and might find some way to repay her for such a kindness, perhaps in a way she had long been asking for.a Cyrus stopped what he was doing, and a piece of wood slipped out of his hand and almost put out the kindling he had been trying to start. aNow? Weare surrounded by enemies, in the middle of their territory,a he waved at the walls around him as though they were under open sky, aand now you come back to propositioning me?a He sighed.

aIs it really such a bad thing?a She was hushed, deflated, all the air out of her.

aNo, itas not. And if you had done so almost anytime in the last thirty daysa"at the right moment, at leasta"I would have given in to you without question.a She brightened as he said it. aBut.a He watched her pause, uncertain again. aI would have been using you,a he said. aYou were right; I was in love with Vara. Completely, utterly, soul-consumingly, if thatas even a word. I wanted her more than anything, and when she cast me out of her graces, I moved to Cattrine.a He felt a grimace. aWhen she hurt me, it was only after she had a accustomed me again to something I hadnat realized I had been missing. Itas left me a somewhat confused, full of sensation and emotion and urges that I honestly thought I had well and truly suppressed.a He looked back toward the little fire, placed a few small sticks onto it and watched it begin to catch.

aBut itas not suppressed anymore, is it?a She eased next to him, took a small piece of tinder and put it on the burgeoning flame. aYouare loosed, and you feel it now, the blood in your veins, and aa Her hand reached down, under his armor, through the gap in the chainmail, and he felt her warm touch on his side, on his skin, and somehow it lit a fire of its own in him. aYouare not cold to me like you were before.a aIam not,a he admitted. aI was in love. I had no room in my mind, my heart, for anyone but her. But then I started to feel something for another woman, and it changed things. She changed things,a he corrected. aBut sheas gone now, and Iam empty, Aisling, empty all the way to the bottom of me. Whatever is left is only desire, thereas no emotion behind it.a He looked into her eyes, warning her with everything he had. Turn back, understand how burned up I am inside, how cut up and bled out, thereas no feeling left, nothing for you a aI want it,a she said quickly, urgently, and she kissed him on the lips, a kiss he did not return. aI donat care how empty it is, I want it. Iave wanted it all along.a She kissed him again.

aI feel nothing,a he said, stopping her. aThereas nothing in me, now. Whatever I had, the two of them took. Itas not faira"not to you, anywaya"a aIall decide whatas fair for me,a she said, kissing him again, pushing herself into his arms. aIall decide whatas good for me, what I want.a aThis aa Cyrus kissed her, felt her kiss back, let her hands run over him, taking his armor off, aa this is all you get, you realize? No emotion, no heart, just a the physical. Itas all I have left.a His armor dropped off, piece by piece, and her dark blue hands ran across his pale, hairy chest. She tugged him closer, letting her leather armor slip off over her head, exposing herself to him and pushing close. He could see the contrast now, the dark navy skin against his winter white; the night and day, the difference between her and the other women. aI want it,a she said again, and she helped him out of his pants. aI want it. To hell with the rest.a The fire had taken on a life of its own and burned, quietly, a slow roar next to them while the snow and wind howled outside the cave, and the warmth within took on a life of its own.

Chapter 36.

Cyrus awoke to a long beam of light reaching across the dirt floor of the cave. He started to sit up and realized there was something on his arm; after a moment he acclimated to his surroundings and remembered why Aisling was lying across his body, her hair tickling his shoulder and her soft, steady breathing rising and falling against him. A forceful whinny behind him caused him to look over at Windrider, who glared at him accusingly. aI have no oats,a he said. aMaybe some grass.a A snort from the horse caused Aisling to stir, then sit up, allowing his arm to be free.

aGood morning,a she said, blinking the sleep from her eyes. She pushed the stray strands of white hair off her face, tucking them behind her in a ponytail that she made by tying her hair with a string. aDid you sleep well?a she asked with a mischievous grin.

aI did,a Cyrus said, trying to keep his expression carefully neutral, even as she let the blanket fall away from her chest, and the cold air became obvious. aWhich is surprising, given that weare in a somewhat sticky predicament.a aMmm,a she said, stretching. aWere you talking about our escape and flight from the scourge or what happened last night?a She lay back across his chest for a moment, teasing him with a gentle bite to the ribs that caused him to jerk in surprise. She sat back up and laughed, looking at him with undisguised mirth. aStill so sensitive. Weall work on that.a aYou sure?a Cyrus asked. aI mean, what I said last night stands aa aI heard you then,a she said coolly. aIam a big girl. I told you what I wanted all along, and if what you want from me is just the thrilling realm of a physical relationship,a she swung a leg over him, climbed on top and straddled him over the blanket, athen I promise, I can thrill you more than those other ladies could.a aOh?a Cyrus said, leaning back on his arms. aAs much as Iad love to test that assumption this morning, itas going to have to wait. We need to get moving.a aCouldnat it wait just a little while?a she asked, teasing one of his chest hairs by twirling it on her finger. aIt wouldnat take long at all a at least for me. You might take a little longer, based on what Iave seen so far.a Her face split with a wicked grin, her eyes shining even in the light of the faded fire, burnt down to embers.

aLater,a Cyrus said, and indicated for her to move. aIam not immune to your charms, but I am possessed of a sense of self-preservation, and we have no idea how many of those things are out there nor where they are. We need to start hoofing it.a He looked to Windrider. aLiterally, in your case.a They dressed quietly, Cyrus eating some bread from his saddlebag, giving some to Aisling, and then feeding the rest to a semi-appreciative Windrider, who still seemed to be glaring at him. Once they were done, Cyrus started toward the entrance to the cave but felt a subtle tug on his arm. He looked back to see Aisling, shaking her head at him. aLet me look,a she said. aYouare absolutely terrible at any kind of stealth. Youall give us away if theyare out there.a He shrugged and stood back, extending his arm toward the entrance in invitation. Aisling crept to the side of the cave, hugged it, and seemed to blend into the shadows. He could see her move, slightly, every now and again, but only because he knew she was there and where to look. She crept to the entrance of the cave over the course of five minutes and looked out, avoiding the sunlight that was coming in. After a minute, she turned and slipped back toward him, taking another couple minutes to make it over to him.

aNope,a she said, her voice hushed athis is bad.a aBad? Bad how?a aTheyare out there,a she said. aAbout eighty, by my count, in a line, moving through the ravine below us, just over the ledge that goes past our cave. If we go out, theyall see us. We need to wait.a aI donat love that idea. What if they circle around and come check this place out? Itas not as though the entrance is well hidden.a aAgreed,a she said. aI was thinking a how about the narrow passage at the back of the cave? It might lead to another exit.a aAnd it might lead to us getting trapped in a tight space when they overrun us,a Cyrus said. aPlus, Windrider is gonna have a hell of a time fitting through there.a aSo youad rather go the way that we know includes scouts for the enemy?a She shrugged expansively, her white hair highlighted by the darkness. aHave it your way.a aNo,a Cyrus said. aThe other option is that we can sit here and wait for them. They may just pass by. Or,a he said with more of a smile, awe could fight. Though Iam not exactly sanguine about our odds, especially without a healer. Eighty of them is a lot, and I wouldnat be surprised if there were more.a aSo we wait?a She had her arms folded, looking at him with a sly expression, waiting to see what he said.

aHell, no. Iam terrible at waiting.a He sighed. aTo the narrow passage. We can at least take a look around.a Despite a slight argument from Windrider in the form of resisting Cyrusas attempts to pull him along gently by the reins, the horse did give in and follow. Aisling slipped into the narrow passage first, having to make little accommodation to enter, given her slight figure and short stature. aYou want to go next?a Cyrus asked Windrider, who just stared at him. aFine. Iall do it.a He slid in, having to turn sideways to avoid an edge of rock that jutted out, but once past it, he found he could walk comfortably. Windrider followed, stepping over the obstruction, but the wide-bodied horseas progress was slow, taking time and brushing against the walls of the passage. When it began to widen again, Cyrus checked and found a few places where the jagged rocks had broken the horseas hide. aSorry,a Cyrus said, patting Windrideras neck. aBut it looks superficial.a aCyrus,a Aisling hissed at him, a low noise that caught his attention. He trudged along the widening path of the cave, and realized for the first time that there was light ahead of them, coming from around a corner. Aisling was against the wall, he finally realized, blending with the shadows. He saw a dark blue hand beckon him forward, and he left Windrideras reins behind, creeping up behind her. When he got close, she grasped him firmly, pushing him slowly against the wall, her arm across his chest. She held a single finger up to her mouth, then slid out from cover and inched around the corner.

Cyrus edged up and looked around. Ahead was a slight drop, some form of embankment. He frowned; the horse would have some difficulty getting down that. He froze and caught his breath. Aisling was creeping ahead, and something was moving below. Two somethings, he realized, with grey, pallid flesh, and jagged teeth, rounded heads. A long, thick tongue came out of one of their mouths as it appeared to say something to the scourge next to it, a high, throaty screech from deep within that sounded like nothing Cyrus had ever heard before.

Aisling jumped off the embankment just then, as Cyrus drew his sword, ready to join her. She hit both the creatures moments after reaching the ground, daggers sliding into the base of their necks, and both went limp without so much as a sound, falling from all fours to flat on the ground, overlarge tongues spread out on the dirt. Aisling looked back and beckoned him forward, and he grasped Windrideras reins and began to gingerly make his way ahead. aAis,a he whispered, aif thereas two, thereas morea"maybe we should turn around.a She either didnat hear him or ignored him, going forward more quickly than he could stealthily catch her. He followed, cursing her silently the entire time, watching every step, the low light from ahead the only illumination since Aisling had put out their torch after they emerged from the narrow passage. The light grew brighter as they went around another corner, and Cyrus found himself on the edge of a large chamber, an enormous, roughly circular room that had a sequence of stones that leveled down to the floor, a few feet below the cave opening that Cyrus stood upon. Aisling had already descended, her feet moving so quietly that Cyrus couldnat have heard them even if he hadnat been awestruck by the sight before him.

In the center of the chamber was something very familiar; a portal, of exactly the same kind that dotted the landscape of Arkaria. Ovoid, standing lengthwise above the ground, like a door turned sideways, it was massive enough for ten people to walk through shoulder to shoulder, even if they were Cyrusas size. His jaw fell open, and he stared at it; it glowed, the source of the light he had wondered at. Beyond it was another exit, a wider one, much larger than the tunnels they had just come from.

aAis,a Cyrus said, keeping his voice low even though he saw no sign of the scourge, awe need to get out of here. What if there are more?a She halted, but only after she had crossed the thirty or so steps to reach the portal. She ran a hand along the edge of it, as though she were feeling the runes carved along the side to make certain it was real. aWhere do you think this leads?a A dark glow came from within the portal, something like mist with light shining through it; like clouds with the sun behind them. aI donat know,a Cyrus said, aevery time Iave gone through one of these things when itas active like this, Iave ended up in the realm of one of the gods.a aMight be worth a look, donat you think?a She looked at him, vaguely mischievous, and he suddenly found her deeply annoying.

aNo,a he said, ait isnat. We have somewhere else to be getting to, in case you forgot. There are enemies all around usa"a aYes, they have this valley pretty well sewn shut at this point,a she said, letting her fingers trace the lines of one of the runes. What do you suppose our odds are of managing to slip through and get away from the hordes of these scourge that fill this place?a aTheyare good if we face them on open grounda"a Cyrus began.

aTheyare bad, because weare outnumbered by a ridiculous amount and if we lose Windrider, weare done.a She smiled again. aNow we have another option. Virtually certain death out there, or the possibility of death in here.a She gestured to the portal with a hand extending out to it, as though it were something she were revealing to him for the first time. aI know which one I pick.a aWe only go to the realms of gods when we know theyare not home,a Cyrus said, his voice rising. aIf this leads into one of those places, itas virtual suicide.a aSo is going out there,a Aisling said, and the smile faded from her face. aTheyare hunting us and they will find us sooner or later if we stay out there. I know a hunter when I see one and those things are tracking us down. Theyall come, and theyall overwhelm us and weall die a horrible death out here where no one will ever find our bodies.a She looked back to the portal. aIf itas down to that or being smashed by a god, I know which one I choose.a Before he could react, she turned, took one step away and looked back at him. aI guess youall just have to decide whether youare willing to jump in front of a godas hand for me.a Her smile twisted into something else, something sad, and she stepped into the portal and disappeared behind the misty light.

Chapter 37.

Cyrus followed her only a moment later, after a pause and a curse, and he yanked Windrideras reins to lead the horse through the portal. He felt the air distort as he stepped through, the world seeming to upend and twist around him, light blinding him, until his feet settled on solid ground and he bumped into something ahead of him, and realized it was Aisling.

aWhy does this look so familiar?a she asked, and Cyrus looked around the room they stood in.

It was a massive chamber that drew off into the distance, a room longer than it was wide, with torches burning in sconces on all the walls. Cyrus could smell something, a faint dustiness, and display cases lined every wall, while others sat in the middle of the floor. A tingle ran through Cyrus as he stepped forward, pushing Aisling behind him. aBecause weave been here before.a He looked around again, saw the balcony in the distance with the stairs leading up to either side of it, and felt a shudder. aThis is Mortusas treasure room.a He took a step forward and laid his hand on one of the pedestals. aWeare in the Realm of Death.a aNice to see they left the lamps on for us,a Aisling said as she stepped up to join him. aBut wasnat this place filled with howling death when last we were here? Spirits of the damned, loosed upon the demise of their master?a aYes, thatas truea"a Cyrus said, and stopped. There was a faint rattle, something clicking slowly against something else, as the torchlight flickered around them as though stirred by a wind he couldnat feel.

aWhat?a Aisling asked, then froze at attention, listening. aOh, gods.a The rattle got louder, and a howling torrent of fury burst through the door at the top of the balcony. Souls, the damned, the trapped remnants of the God of Deathas collection filled the air around them, a tornado of spirits, circling lower and lower.

aTime to move,a Cyrus said, scooping up Aisling in one arm and pulling her back to the portal. Windrider was already turned and galloping through. Cyrus followed, letting the world distort around him as he stepped inside, and a moment later found himself back in the cave, in the circular chamber, and it was still empty. aThat was lovely. If you ever leave me to jump into idiocy like that again, Iall let you die.a aYou should really save that kind of sweet nothing for pillow talk, darling.a Aislingas ears perked up and she turned, backing away from the portal as flickers of light flashed from within it. aCan those things follow us here?a aI daresay weare about to find out.a aOh,a she said sarcastically, ais that what you think?a They backed away from the portal as shapes started to coalesce in the light, black shadows, and something began to emerge. A horrific screeching preceded it, as though something had taken to tormenting an animal and refused to let it go. The first shape came through the portal and a shock of horror ran through Cyrus from top to bottom; claws and a four-legged appearance became obvious first, then the rounded head and vicious teeth, followed by the black, glassy eyes that had no feeling behind them. It skittered out, one of the scourge, followed immediately by more.

aThatasa"a Aisling said, her voice jerking to get the words out, aa"the souls of the damned, from the Realm of Death, they turned intoa"is thata"how is that possible?a aTheyare taking physical form.a Cyrusas voice was a low growl, and it came from a part of his throat that wanted to scream, something he never did. aThey canat come through as spirits, so theyare taking form, and aa He turned, and saw others coming through the big entrance. aWeall never make it out through the narrow passage.a He tightened his grip on Praelior. aCharge the big tunnela"NOW!a His last word came as a shout and he ran, sword swinging as he did so, his blade striking out as his legs pumped, chewing up the ground between him and the opening that seemed to lead out of the cavern.

The first of the scourge looked as though it was slithering toward him. He struck with his sword before it had time to react. More followed, countless, and he struck at them, too, using the speed Praelior granted him to stay a step ahead, clearing the tunnel, which although larger than the narrow passage, was only a few feet wide. They came at him a few at a time, but he moved on, driven, emotion bubbling over as he swung his sword. Daylight was ahead, and he kept on toward ita"

They broke out into the sunlight and Cyrusas eyes fought to adjust to the brightness. The sky was clouded over, but still somewhere above the sun shone, behind a cloud, and he tried not to blink from it as he sliced through three more scourge. He could smell rotting flesh, it filled his nose and the still air around him, even as the cold and the snow were obvious, the ground covered with white for miles all around. He looked down from the abutment he was on, a craggy trail of rocks, and below was a path leading to a village, teeming with the scourge, thousands of them, making the thirty or so he had cut through in the flight from the cavern look like a miniscule number by comparison.

aCome on!a he heard Aisling shout, and he turned after striking a few more down to see her already on Windrideras back. The horse lunged forward and Cyrus jumped, catching a foot in a stirrup as Windrider passed and jerking himself onto the horse through sheer rote practice. They galloped down the hill and through the center of the town as the streets began to fill with the monsters, streaming out of buildings. As they rode by an open door, Cyrus could see bodies inside, a cloth dress that had been dull grey, stained now with blood and horror.

Windrider did not spare the speed as he ran, carrying them along the path out of town, galloping along a snowy road toward the pass they had come through only the day before. They did not meet any resistance, and the horse kept up the speed for as long as possible, until they were beyond the valley and into the pass, leaving behind everything that they had seen save for the horror which they carried with them in their minds.

Chapter 38.

They found mountain springs and places for Windrider to graze after they cleared the snowy valley, and they stopped occasionally, long enough for Cyrus to rest and tend to his horse, which he did mechanically, at best. After a dayas ride wherein they had barely exchanged a word, Aisling said to Cyrus, aLet me do it,a and took care of Windrider herself before they retired for the night.

Cyrus lay down on the bedroll, the only one they had. His thoughts had been a swirling fury all day during the ride, racing so fast that he could scarcely even grasp them. He ate only a little, finding he had no appetite, and when Aisling came to join him on the bedroll, curiously, he found something he did have an appetite for, but he did that mechanically as well, though she did not seem to notice. She fell asleep immediately thereafter, and to his surprise, he did as well.

They arose early, before dawn, and were riding again minutes later, following the path south. The horseas hoofprints left a deep impression in the thin snow that coated the ground, and Cyrus felt every one of them resonate through him. His mind was stirred, unclear, but the same thought kept bubbling to the surface over and over again. This is my fault. This is all my fault.

After another day and night, another perfunctory evening spent with Aisling, who either did not notice or did not care that Cyrus was vacant and unable to look at her with his eyes open whilst they were together on the bedroll, he still found himself able to go through at least the motions there. It was a curious thing: he couldnat seem to think straight, couldnat manage more than a few bites of bread until he was starving, but she moaned in pleasure at his touch and enjoyed his company for as long as it lasted, but it left him even more hollow, empty inside, and lost in thought.

On the third day they arose and dressed in silence once more. She did not seem to feel any need to bring conversation out of him, but let her body speak, and he drank in the sweaty stickiness of her, and he found he didnat care. Something primal urged him on, gave him solace with her, allowed him to put aside all the thoughts that drew him down and silenced him during the day.

On the fourth day they reached lower ground and at a high point they looked out over the greener fields, where the snow had not fallen this far south, and saw a caravan ahead.

aThatas them,a Aisling said. aTheyare moving at a decent speed, about a half dayas ride ahead. We can probably catch them by nightfall tomorrow if we hurry.a aLetas hurry, then,a Cyrus said, the void in him now filling with something else, a gut-deep thought of satisfaction at a confrontation that loomed large ahead of him like the mountains that filled the horizon. aIave got some talking to do when we get there. Weall need to keep to cover so they donat see our approach.a Cyrusas voice hardened. aI donat want Terian to know weare coming.a They spent another night alone under the stars, Windrider keeping silent vigil for their nightas watch, while beneath the blanket on the bedroll other things occurred that sent the horse shying away into a thicket beyond their camp. They rode the next day again in silence and Cyrus tried to focus his thoughts on keeping to the path, on avoiding being seen by the column ahead. They kept to the trees as often as possible, moving openly only when there was no high ground ahead that they might be seen from. When nightfall came they took a break. Cyrus laid the bedroll on the ground. Aisling came to him, and when they were done they rolled it up again by silent accord and continued the ride, heading onward toward campfires they could see just over the horizon.

The wind was more subtle here but still carried a bite that left Cyrusas armor icy cold. The night had come down around them like a black shroud pulled over oneas eyes, and the chill left Cyrus with a sense like ice melting on his tongue. Howls of distant wolves in the mountains brought to Cyrusas mind the image of lonely hunters, separated from their pack, and brought Terian to the forefront of his thoughts again. Soon.

They reached the camp around midnight. Sentries called out, two warriors of Sanctuary whom Cyrus knew in passing, and when he rode into the light, the shock on their faces was sweet to him. He admonished them to be quiet, gave over the reins to Windrider to one of them, and was pointed in the direction of a small figure when he asked his question. Cyrus crept along, not half so stealthily as Aisling, to one of the nearby fires, and found the sleeping figure he was looking for. When he reached down, it stirred, then sat up, eyes widening at the sight of him.