Page 157 of A Tower of Half-Truths
“Oh,” Alain said, lowering his head. “I’d…never considered that.”
“In fact, one such adventurer stayed here a few days before you arrived,” Benard said, scratching his beard. Aside from his facial hair and a smattering of fine lines, he was the spitting image of his younger brother. “Come to think, he didn’t stop through here on the way back. Hope he’s all right.”
A patron from across the room signaled Benard, who excused himself with a bow of his head.
Neldren pushed his empty plate aside, brandished his map, spread it across the table.
“The temple is somewhere around here,” he said, jabbing a section of the map that depicted the pine forest on the village’s outskirts. “I did some scouting yesterday afternoon. It’s the same as it was five years ago: all wild land, no roads. Good news is, we won’t run into any more highwaymen. Bad news is, it won’t be the easiest hike. But, so long as we keep a decent pace, it’ll only take an hour or so.”
Mavery gave Alain a sidelong glance.
“I can manage it,” he said.
“Then hurry up and eat,” Neldren said. “Let’s head out before the day gets away from us.”
After breakfast, Neldren led the group eastward, out of the village and into the surrounding forest. At first, there was a semblance of a path: a thin strip of dead, flattened grass that snaked between the tall pines. But that soon became lost among the wild grasses and brambles. This was nothing like the cultivated trail in Weywode Forest. Despite what Alain had said, it was evident that he hadn’t yet fully recovered, and that the hike was taking more of a toll on him than he wanted to let on. He clung to his staff as he picked his way across the forest floor. At least his transmutated satchel wasn’t weighing him down.
Though Neldren and Ellice were determined to forge ahead, Mavery didn’t mind falling in step with Alain’s sluggish pace. Her muscles were still pleasantly sore from last night—and earlier thatmorning. Besides, since their trip to Weywode Forest, she’d been eager to return to the wilderness. The crisp air and gentle breeze left her refreshed, her arcana humming pleasantly. Yet, even that couldn’t keep her from thinking of what awaited them at the end of this hike. She took Alain’s hand, gave it a firm squeeze.
“Everything will be fine,” he said. “My satchel is filled with every scrap of research I’ve gathered over the years, and then some. We couldn’t be more prepared for this.”
“You say that now,” Neldren called from several yards ahead. “Just wait until you see it in person.”
The next time Neldren spoke, it was to estimate that they were a mile from where he’d first encountered the temple. Raw arcana lingered in the air, a faint but steady pulse, like the field music of an army they were advancing upon. Even from this distance, it was enough to leave a dull ache behind Mavery’s eyes. She dropped Alain’s hand and rubbed her temples.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“I’m fine.”
She squeezed her eyes shut as she continued to walk, then swore under her breath when she stubbed her toe on something in the underbrush. But the throbbing in her head quickly drowned out that pain. Through her half-closed eyes, she noticed Alain watching on with concern.
“Really, I’m fine,” she said. “Let’s keep going.”
She tried to instead focus on the rustling of the wind through the tree branches, the steady rhythm of their footsteps, the intermittent thud of Alain’s staff. But with every step that brought them closer to the temple, the magic grew more oppressive. It was worse than she remembered. They had to be much closer than she’d gotten during her first excursion through these woods.
Before long, mist lingered in the air and her pace slowed to a crawl. A bit further, and that mist became a dense fog, white-hot pain ripped through her skull. She dropped her pack at her feet,then leaned against the closest tree.
“It’s beginning to affect me, too,” Alain whispered as he rubbed her shoulders. “Should I fetch the anti-Sensing potion?”
“Not yet,” she gasped. “Only one dose.”
“Mavery, you don’t need to suffer like this.”
“I know. But need…to see…temple first.”
He sighed. “All right. When youareready to take it, just say the word.”
She nodded. Though she appreciated his concern, it did little to quell the pounding inside her head. She continued to lean against the trunk, breathing deeply. She closed her eyes as she attempted to ground herself, focusing on the tenderness of Alain’s touch, the rough bark beneath her fingertips, the chill of the forest air, the scent of pine laced with it…
She pushed herself away from the tree and snatched up her pack. But a new wave of arcana hit her like a wintry gale, piercing her skin and leaving shards of ice embedded in her bones. Alain caught her before she crumpled to the ground.
“Gods, this magic,” he gasped. “I’ve never felt anything quite like it.”
You’re telling me, she thought, as speaking required too much effort.
Alain offered her his staff, and she clung to it as he helped her to her feet. With one of his arms around her shoulders, they pressed onward.
A few minutes later, Ellice, too, gasped and clutched her head. Neldren, however, continued on as though this were a perfectly normal forest, untouched by powerful ancient magic. Mavery had always judged him for being so weakly attuned to magic that wasn’t his own. For once, she envied him.
