Page 86 of Storms & Sacrifice
“You should...leave—”
“Nope. Still not an option. Try again.” I don’t even let him finish his stupid thought.
“But they—”
“David is right, Captain.”Glad someone agrees with me. “They are looking for you both, which means we must keep you out of their hands.”
There’s no more arguing after that, though I can justfeelKhazak’s grumpy face glaring at the back of my head. We try to keep moving at our current speed, but once the poison kicks in, we have to slow down considerably. Orim and I move to either side of Khazak to help him, arms over our shoulders, a feat made even more difficult by the fact that I still can’t see shitout here.
We’re still moving north, at least I think so because of all the hills we’re starting to climb. I’m not sure what our plan is. We’re just trying to get as far away from them as we can. Just when I think we might be in the clear, Orim’s steps stutter, and for just a second, he freezes.
“They are following us.” He tries to pick upthe pace.
“What?! How?!” Even with better eyesight and hearing, we should’ve put a good amount of distance betweenus by now.
“I do not...oh no. My compass stone,” he realizesin horror.
“Fuck, what do we do? Toss it?” I can’t even see where I’d throw itright now.
“It is too late. They are already too close.” He sounds torn on something. “You must keep moving while I lead them away.”
“What? No, that’s as bad as—”
“They are getting closer, David. There is no time.” I feel more of Khazak’s weight drop on me as Orim steps away fromus. “Go.”
“Orim, you can’t—”
“Go!” he whisper-shouts, and then he’s gone.Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck.
I want to chase after him and stop him, but I don’t want whatever he does here for us to be in vain. So, I push on and tell myself he’ll be okay, that he can handle himself. But I’m still not sure where I’m going or what my plan is. Khazak can barely walk, his movements slow, and I can feel his breathing getting labored. I’m still going north, but the hills are starting to kill me.
Then the sky rumbles.
Fuck.It’s hard enough being out here in the dark, but if it starts to rain, I’ll be completely blind. Not to mention how much harder it will be for Khazak to move in mud. Now I need to find shelter. Like a cave.
A CAVE!The ruins! I can take us to the temple ruins! We’re already headed in that direction, and that would make a great place to hide out from the rain and wait until it’s safe. I smile widely in the dark at my stroke of genius, feeling recharged. The trees are already starting to thin out, so I know we’re getting close. A distant flash of lightning illuminates the mountain range ahead of us, and I can see where the temple’salcove is.
I breathe a sigh of relief when the cave entrance comes into (a very dark) view. Just in time. There’s more thunder as we enter, and I walk us down the long hallway, figuring we’ll be safe in the bigger room at the end. I can just hear that piercing noise in my head again when I feel Khazak start to struggle against me, and I panic that it has something to do with the poison.
“Are you okay?” I try to walk us faster; I can put him down once we’re inthe room.
“David...” he wheezes out, “why was...the cave...open?”
I freeze at Khazak’s words, then look back to the entrance, barely visible in the darkness. I didn’t even notice. Where were the boulders? Where was theillusion?
Who’s already in here?
I’m stuck in place, unsure of whether to keep moving forward or turn back and take our chances in the coming storm. I look back and forth three or four times before something makes the choice for me. Down the hall, the entrance to the temple begins glowing orange as the torches in the room behind it are lit. Robed figures appear in the doorway, slowly approaching us.
Nope!
I turn us right around and start hoofing it back down the way we came in: the forest it is. Just as I turn, lightning cracks through the sky once more, and in the flash of light, I see more hooded figures at the exit, already coming toward us. We’re trapped. Pulling Khazak close, I can do nothing but wait for the bastards to finally catch us. But like hell if I’m gonna make this easy on them. Leaning Khazak against the wall, I prepare myself for a fight, pulling outmy sword.
“What do we have here?” The first person in robes to exit the room finally reaches us, a familiar voice echoing from under his hood. “You seem to be unable to stop sticking your nose where it does not belong, human.”
“Fuck you.” I grip my sword handle tightly, daring him to move closer.
“Now now, none of that.” The other people in robes gather around him tightly, each drawing their own weapons and caging us in. “I would hate to cause any more death tonight than is necessary.”
