The Rise of Isaac, Books 1-3, page 50
Oliver caught Anna's eye across the pool. She looked at him hopefully and he nodded, lowering himself back into the warm water.
Hector allowed them almost two hours in the pool before he exited the water. "Okay. That's enough time. We should get moving." He grabbed his pack and disappeared into one of the many crevices around the chamber to change.
They all followed suit and Rogan and Quinn lent a hand drying everyone with magic, though all the hunters but Chip chose to dry themselves without it.
Dressed in warm trousers and a t-shirt, Oliver placed his coat in his pack for the time being then shouldered the bag. Rogan restored the magical weightlessness to people's bags as it had begun to wear off.
Hector returned to the cave, his damp hair hanging in threads around his face. He ran a hand through it, pushing it out of his eyes. The large hunting knife swung on his hip as he approached them. "Fun's over. Move out."
He led them out of the cave, leaving the intense humidity of the room behind though it still remained warm beyond it.
The tunnel they exited through was narrow at first then opened out into a massive chamber full of passages that led toward a thousand different paths. The ceiling was so high it disappeared into darkness and the walls glimmered with moisture in the half light.
"Which one?" Anna asked aloud and her voice echoed around the cavern.
"This way," Hector said, crossing towards a tunnel that looked identical to those beside it.
A growling noise stopped their group dead. Hector swiftly retrieved the hunting knife at his hip and Oliver heard the clink of weapons around him as the other hunters armed themselves.
"What is it?" May hissed.
"Shh," Hector said, pressing a finger to his lips as he looked back at her.
Fire came to life in Rogan's hands as he gazed ahead of them, his jaw set. Quinn took to his side, readying to defend the group.
A warwolf burst from a cave above them, falling on top of Hannah and bringing her to the ground. Rogan sent a carefully aimed fireball at the white, scaly beast and it rolled off of Hannah with a yelp of pain. It charged away into one of the caves then three more appeared, their reflective, yellow eyes glaring at them from separate tunnels.
They all formed a tight circle. Oliver was pressed to the middle next to May who was holding her dagger up. Mimicking her, he reached for the blade at his hip and prepared to fight.
The warwolves surrounded them then four more joined them from the tunnels. Their lips turned up on their lizard-like faces, baring yellow fangs.
Quinn swung her arm in a circle, sending a swirling ring of violet fire around them and the beasts reared away in fear. The hunters hurried away from the magic so they stumbled and crashed into each other.
"STOP. NO MAGIC!" Hector roared, shielding his eyes from the fire.
"Why not?" Quinn asked, sounding outraged.
Oliver bumped against May as Hector pressed back into the group.
Quinn dropped her hands as she turned to look at him. The fire died and a warwolf took the opportunity to jump at Marley. He caught the beast with his bare hands and flung it from him. It screamed as it impacted with the stone floor and bolted with its tail between its legs.
"We can handle it," Hector growled.
Quinn ignored him and readied her palms once more.
Four warwolves barrelled through the group, breaking their formation apart.
Oliver swung around and found himself separated from everyone apart from Anna. A warwolf raced toward them, its legs moving in a blur as it gained speed and lunged for Anna. Forgetting the dagger, Oliver kicked out at it, connecting with the animal's jaw so it lost its balance.
Anna grabbed his hand and he almost lost his footing as she dragged him away from the warwolf as it regained its feet. They fled as the creature pursued them, snapping and snarling close behind.
Oliver glanced back over his shoulder and his vision was suddenly filled with a wide mouth of sharp teeth as the warwolf sailed through the air towards him.
"Look out!" Anna screamed just as Oliver reacted.
He span around just before the wolf collided with him, knocking him to the floor. Its body was icy to touch and its skin was covered in hard scales with sharp edges that nicked at his bare arms.
Oliver forced his arm against the creature's neck as its head leered down over him, snapping its sharp teeth together. He shoved it away as hard as he could, clenching his jaw from the effort. He grunted as he pushed it away for a brief second.
For a heartbeat he was back training with Drake in Galice. Oliver stabbed upwards with the dagger just like he had with the wooden rod. But this time his weapon didn't bend against the animal's side. The warwolf let out an ear-piercing screech then charged away, disappearing into one of the tunnels.
Anna hurried over to help Oliver to his feet but he was already up by the time she reached him. Her bronze eyes were wide as she went to say something, clutching his arms.
"Stay together!" Havid called from across the room.
Oliver grabbed Anna's wrist and they hurried back to the centre of the chamber to regroup.
The warwolves had all returned to the tunnels, the sounds of furious howls echoing around them.
"There's so many of them," Larkin said, his eyes flicking from tunnel to tunnel as he raised the dagger in his hand.
"This must be their den," Billy said, lifting his knife higher. "Dammit Hector why did you bring us down here?"
"This is the quickest way to the pass," Hector retorted.
"I'd rather slower than deadlier. You've killed us all," Billy hissed.
"Shut up, Billy," Hannah snapped. "We can handle a few warwolves."
Billy scowled at her but said no more.
The beasts had become unnervingly quiet.
"I think they've gone," Havid said hesitantly.
"Not a chance," Hector said, gritting his teeth. "Let's move. Before they regroup." He pointed his knife in the direction of their course.
Oliver followed the others down the tunnel, running as fast as his legs would carry him. Eventually, a pinprick of light ahead told them they were almost through the caves. Oliver willed his legs on, picking up the pace until they reached the opening.
They exited into a wide valley that tapered at one end. A frozen river weaved through it, stretching across its entire width. The sun was low in the sky, burning red through the heavy, grey clouds.
They all doubled over, pressing their hands to their knees as they caught their breath. Rogan and Quinn healed themselves from the exhaustion then did the same for their friends. The hunters refused their offer and started walking away from the tunnel.
"This is the start of the Nosic Pass. We'll camp at the other end of this valley. We'll have to walk on the river so put your studs on," Hector said to them, sipping at a canteen filled with water.
Hannah opened her pack and passed metal studs around to go on their boots.
Marley stretched laboriously. "That got the blood flowin'."
Only a few laughed, Oliver included.
"This is your damn fault, Hector," Billy snapped, folding his arms across his thin chest.
Hector approached him and stared down at the small man. "Afraid of a few warwolves, are you? You have no idea what we're heading towards you fool. Go back to Galice if you can't handle that because you'll be dead before you can say groll up in those caves," he said, his voice rough and gravelly. He pulled out a cigarette and put it in the side of his mouth, lighting it with a fierce strike of a match.
"Let it go Billy boy," Marley said, balling up some snow and lobbing it at him to break the tension.
"Hey, gerroff!" Billy snapped as the snow hit him in the ear. "I can handle myself, Hector. You think you're such a big man," he said to Hector's back as he walked away. "You're barely more than a teen you jumped up git. Who do you think you are bossing us around? We were hunting back when you were still suckling from your mother's teat."
Hector stopped walking. His arm twitched towards the large knife that he had returned to his hip. He turned and looked back at Billy, taking the cigarette out of his mouth and discarding it in the snow. "Don't you talk to me like that, Billy Tork."
"I'll talk to you however I like. You think you're so brave and strong, much too good to spend time with the rest of us hunters, aren't you?"
Hector eyed him with a dangerous expression then turned away. "That's enough. Move," he commanded, continuing down into the valley.
Billy shook his head and shared a look with the other hunters.
"Cheery chap, ain't he?" Marley said to them.
"Damn rude is what he is," Billy said, adjusting the bag on his shoulders.
May frowned, gazing after Hector. "Is he alright?"
"Yeah. He's just a little highly strung, he's always been a bit of a loner it's probably doing his head in spendin' this much time with other people," Marley said as they walked down into the valley.
"Don't you hunt together?" Oliver asked.
"Nope. I hunt with this lot but not Hector. He hunts alone. And I tell you, he's the finest damn hunter that ever was. I dunno how he does it. The Queen sent him to get that stone off the groll, did you know?"
"I wouldn't say he's the finest," Billy said then strutted off ahead of them.
"The scrivenstone, right?" Oliver said to Marley, recalling the name.
"That's the one. Queeny sent Hector alone to get the damn thing. I reckon she wanted him dead for some reason but Hector went and actually did it."
"Why would she want him dead?"
"I dunno, I get these hunches see? Hector here he's a bit of maverick and that means he ain't all that loyal to the Queen Bee. He does what she asks him mind but it's on his terms, you catch my drift?"
"Who's that? Hector?" Hannah asked, joining in.
Marley nodded.
"Oh, I don't think so. I reckon Queen Lacine's got Hector doing private work for her. Like top secret stuff, you know?" Hannah said, an excited look entering her blue eyes.
"Who'd you hear that off of? Chip?" Marley rolled his eyes.
"No, I saw him. The Queen had a private meeting with Dead Xen and Hector. That's it. Just them three. What's that about?" Hannah asked, looking enthralled.
"What do you mean you saw him?" Marley asked curiously.
"As in, I saw Hector go into the Queen's trophy room and when he opened the door I saw Commander Xen and her majesty standin' there and that was all. No one else," Hannah said triumphantly.
"That doesn't prove nuffin," Havid muscled in.
Hannah shrugged, jutting her strong chin out stubbornly.
"I saw them go off together the other night at the feast," Oliver revealed.
"See, I told you lot," Hannah said, clapping Oliver on the back.
"Probably just asking him to go save the prince though," Marley said thoughtfully. "Hector ain't best pleased Queeny sent him up this way again."
They had reached the edge of the frozen river and Hector was a few feet out on to it, testing the strength.
"Seems alright, come on," Hector said, beckoning them to follow.
Oliver paused and retrieved the coat from his bag, the heat from running having thoroughly abandoned him. The others took his cue, wrapping back up in their layers.
Oliver stepped out onto the river and the ice cracked where his studs dug in. He took a couple of slow steps as he got his balance. It was difficult to move but he started to get the hang of it after a few feet.
"Fan out. Don't put too much weight in one area," Hector called back.
"Easier for some," Marley said, the ice shaking threateningly with every step he took.
They all laughed nervously and continued on in silence. Oliver looked back at May and Anna who were holding hands as they walked. Anna looked up and grinned at him. His stomach lurched and he looked away from her so his gaze fell on Rogan and Quinn who were also supporting each other.
Larkin was surprisingly good at walking across the lake, ahead of even the hunters. "This is my strength, right here. I don't do heights but apparently frozen lakes work for me!" Larkin shouted back to them as he practically jogged across the lake with his arms stretched wide on either side of him for balance.
"You look ridiculous though!" Rogan called back to him, laughing.
"You're just jealous!" Larkin's voice sailed back to them.
After a while, snow began to fall and it brought a curtain of darkness over the valley, distinguishing the red sunlight. Quinn and Rogan cast more hovering balls of white light ahead of them to guide the way. Oliver kept his eye on the one just in front of him, finding it helped him keep his balance.
They eventually reached the end of the valley and Hector began climbing a steep bank. One by one they followed suit. Oliver dug his studs in and used them to propel himself upwards, clawing at the snow.
At the top was an overhanging rock that gave shelter from the flurry.
Havid set about building a fire and Marley found a few logs for them to sit on around it. Billy began throwing ingredients into a large pan, boiling them down into a broth.
Oliver shared a log with Anna who sat close beside him.
After they had eaten, Marley pulled out a bottle of something brown and took a swig of it. He passed it to Hannah who sipped then passed it to Hector. He held it out for Rogan to take without drinking it.
"I wouldn't drink that crap. Who knows what he's put in it?" Hector said, raising his eyebrows at Marley.
Rogan sniffed the liquid, shrugged and took a swig. His face scrunched up for a moment as he swallowed it then passed it on. Oliver tried it. At first it burned like liquid fire but then the heat sank into his bones and warmed him to the brim. "What is it?"
"I call it Flame. It's my very own recipe," Marley said with a grin.
"And what's in that recipe?" Quinn asked, eyeing the bottle with suspicion.
"Many, many things," Marley said, swiping the bottle from May and swigging it down.
"Like what?" Anna asked, clearly suppressing a smile.
"I don't remember," Marley said then laughed so hard it vibrated in Oliver's ears.
Hector shook his head and his mouth curved up slightly at the corners.
"No way. Did you actually just, smile?" Quinn said in exaggerated shock to Hector. "It's been known to happen," Hector said, the tiniest hint of a smile growing a little larger.
Quinn laughed.
Billy excused himself to go to bed as Marley broke into song. His voice was surprisingly soft and deep and the rumble of it lulled them all until Anna almost fell off the log. Oliver gripped her back and, when she sat up, he kept his arm there.
Hector stood, stretched his back then popped a cigarette in the corner of his mouth. He took a stick from the fire and lit it with the flaming end. "I'll take first watch. You okay to do the early watch, Hannah?"
She nodded, blinking heavily and nudged Chip who was sleeping against her arm. "Come on. Go to bed."
"I'm so tired," Anna said through a yawn.
"Want me to set up your bed for you?" Oliver offered.
She smiled. "You don't have to do that."
"I want to," he said, getting to his feet.
The rest of the group took his cue to get some rest. Havid passed them out roll mats and Rogan used magic to restore the hunters mattresses to perfect condition. All bar Hector's who took his and laid it down on the ground several feet away from them.
"I don't think we'll need tents tonight under this outcrop," Havid said, looking up at the rocky overhang.
"Na, the fire should keep us warm for a while and I can't be bothered with setting 'em up anyway," Hannah said, pulling her mousy-brown hair out of the braids so it fell in a cascade around her shoulders.
Oliver picked up two roll mats and furs which were still plump from magic and Anna followed him across the space. "Where would you like to sleep, madam?" he said grandly.
"Next to you," she said, grinning.
Oliver's blood ran hot and he nodded stiffly. She giggled as he placed the mats down beside each other and laid furs across both.
Anna took her boots off and sat down on one of the cushy mattresses. Oliver sat on the other, sighing as he did the same. He opened his pack and retrieved fresh clothes, pulling the layers off from his top half and quickly changing into some fresh clothes as the cold bit his skin. He turned and spotted Anna looking at him. He raised an eyebrow and she flushed scarlet. "Sorry," she mumbled.
He laughed.
May and Quinn came over. "Wanna hold up furs for each other so we can get changed?" Quinn asked Anna.
Anna nodded and walked off into the shadows with them, holding a bundle of clothes and a fur blanket. Oliver expelled a long yawn as he watched her disappear into the darkness.
He changed the rest of his clothes, shivering in the freezing air then climbed under his fur blanket and the warmth of the magic in the bedding enveloped him. The fresh clothes were dry and soft against his skin.
Anna returned a while later and climbed into her bed. She rolled over so they were facing each other and Oliver reached a hand out to brush her hair behind her ear.
"That's nice," she said, sighing comfortingly.
He continued to run his hand through her hair until she fell asleep. Peace washed over him as tiredness crept in and he soon passed into oblivion.
***
"ATTACK ATTACK! WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!" Hannah's voice exploded through Oliver's dreams.
He was on his feet in seconds. His vision blurred from a flash of purple fire and men colliding.
"What's happening?" Anna asked in alarm as she got to her feet.
Oliver saw Marley stab his knife through the stomach of a man dressed in uniform. A soldier's uniform. His gut wrenched in panic.
Dead Xen was there.
24
Parting
Two Months Ago
William hummed happily to himself as he dressed. The day had finally arrived that he would leave for Arideen. He couldn't believe the time had come already. In just another week he would be meeting Isaac at Vale's Gateway.
He took the bag from beside his bed that had been ready and waiting for months.
