“I’ve got the kids covered in the wagon.” I paused. “Lasha’s dead.”
She flinched at that, eyed the crowd one last time and gave them her back as she walked toward us. Ava always liked to flaunt her power. “How?” she asked before giving Dekar and Ira a nod.
“Another long story.” It wasn’t the time or place.
“I’m sorry.”
I nodded. “What are you doing here?”
That question jolted her. “Gods, yes! I got distracted when I walked into this. We have to get out of here now! I don’t care where, but it needs to be far away.”
“No argument from me,” said Ira.
Dekar grunted in agreement. “That was our plan before the mob came along.”
I jumped as a giant burst of light from far off in the distance brightened like a hundred setting suns, bathing the land in a hue of red and orange. A towering cloud rose from the ground in the direction of Hol, widening as it ascended. A deafening roar that could only be described as the loudest thunder imaginable echoed, changing in pitch to a high shrill at the end. A warm, heavy breeze blew against my face as the shrill reached its crescendo.
“What in the-” I started only to be cut off by the moaning and wailing of everyone around me, including the horses.
The townspeople were on the ground, some convulsing. Ira and Dekar had fallen over in their seats, grunting and whimpering in pain. Ava had hit the dirt, limbs shaking like she was caught in a seizure.
I looked down to Zadok and Myra. “Are you both all right?”
“Yeah,” said Myra. “Mostly just a sudden headache. But also warm and something like a tickling sensation across my skin.”
“Me too,” said Zadok.
“Sorcery,” I muttered as if a curse.
“What?” asked Zadok.
“That eruption was tied to a large amount of sorcery. You and your sister must have some level of resistance like I do to not be affected like the townspeople.”
“You mean we could fight sorcery?” asked Zadok, eyes wide.
I could only imagine the thoughts running through his head. Probably imagining himself fighting some evil wizard from his fairy tales. “We can talk about it later. Help Ira and Dekar by keeping a hand on them. Your resistance will also draw out sorcery from others. I’ll see to Ava.”
I jumped down and touched her forehead. It felt like fire, but then began to cool as I came in contact with her skin. I left my hand there and the shaking subsided slightly. Her eyes flicked open.
I checked on the townsfolk. They were all in bad shape, which from my point of view was a good thing. I didn’t need them trying to attack us now.
The faintest whisper came from below. I looked down and shushed Ava as she struggled to speak. “Just rest. We’re safe for now. Whatever you want to tell me can wait.”
She shook her head and swallowed. “I was trying to warn you about this,” she said in a low voice. “This is why I wanted you to leave.”
I frowned. “You mean you know what that was?”
She gave a faint nod. “The end of the world.”
CHAPTER 17
I always assumed that if the world ended, it would be immediate and filled with crazy visuals. Most people would be tortured and burned while a select few were whisked away to whatever afterlife ended up being the true one amongst the hundreds of religions in the world. All life would end in a matter of moments and those unlucky enough to see it happen would be kicking themselves for choosing the wrong god or gods to have paid homage to during their meaningless lives.
I wasn’t even close.
For a few short moments after Ava told me the distant eruption had been the end of the world, I thought I had been right. People writhed and moaned in pain. The hellish vision of dark clouds in the distance and the evening sky changing to hues rarely seen in the hour before a sunset seemed to only validate Ava’s proclamation.
No one around me was lifted up to some majestic afterlife, but that could be easily explained. Maybe no one around here had the correct god or faith.
I dismissed my natural inclinations, realizing quickly that as bad as things appeared in that moment, the progression of this possible disaster would probably take longer to develop than I expected it might. I reassessed what was going on with a clearer mind. The darkest clouds seemed to stay in place over the site of the explosion. I couldn’t be certain from this far away, but they didn’t appear to be spreading. At least not yet.
I swore.
The explosion had occurred in the direction of Hol. I remembered the conversation I had with Balak about the Geneshan artifact, and I suspected the Council of High Mages did exactly what they said they wouldn’t do and used it.
One more reason not to like them.
Ava had passed out. Though the shakes had lessened, her breathing remained erratic and her skin felt warmer than it should have. I kept a hand on her temple as I glanced over my shoulder to Myra and Zadok who tended to Ira and Dekar. My two friends had mostly come out of their stupor. I couldn’t say the same for the townspeople. We were certainly safe from an attack at the moment.
I raised my voice above their moans. “Dekar. Ira. Talk to me.”
“We’re doing better,” said Dekar.
Ira leaned over and retched near the front wagon wheel. “I’m all right now, Ty.”
“Do either of you have enough strength to get us out of here?”
“I can manage,” said Dekar.
“Me too,” said Ira.
“I don’t think that’s going to happen, Pa,” Zadok said.
I turned my gaze to him. “Why not?”
Myra gestured to the horses. “That’s why.”
As if on cue, one of the mounts unsteady on her feet, slammed into the other. Both careened to the ground, snapping one of the harnesses and rocking the wagon in the process. We wouldn’t be using them or probably any other animals anytime soon.
“Can everyone walk?” I asked.
Everyone but Ava nodded.
“Good. We gotta get Ava somewhere to recuperate. You two could also use the rest,” I said, nodding to Ira and Dekar as they swayed on their feet.
“What about going back to our camp in the forest?” asked Zadok.
“That’s a couple miles away, son. Without the wagon, only me, you, and your sister have the strength right now to do that kind of walking. And that’s with me carrying your Aunt the whole way. I don’t even know if it’s safe to move her that much.” I glanced back at the sky where the eruption originated. Clouds swirled and lightning pulsed. It wasn’t getting any better. “Besides, no telling if that’s done. Getting indoors is probably the best move to make right now.”
“And if there’s trouble again?” asked Ira. He pointed toward the townspeople. Some tried to right themselves, but most didn’t have the energy to bother and lay helplessly on the ground.
“I’ll figure something out. Based on the way everyone’s acting, we got some time before that’s a problem.” A man cried out. “I doubt they got much fight left in them right now anyway. Grab what food and supplies you can manage. Meet me at the Hemlock Inn. It’s across the street from the theater. The kids know where to find it.”
I bent down and slid an arm under Ava’s shoulders, the other under her legs. With a grunt, I scooped her up, trying not to jostle her more than necessary.
Zadok helped Ira out the wagon, allowing the soldier to use his shoulder to steady himself.
Though I tried not to think about it, seeing my sister in her current state, long limbs swaying without resistance, scared me more than her prophetic statement about the world’s impending destruction.
I started walking toward the afflicted townspeople. The moans of pain had died down to dull groans. Two people managed to sit up. One had the strength to lift his head and meet my stare. I doubt he knew who he was looking at as his eyes rolled around in his head. He blinked rapidly trying to focus.
I maneuvered my way back onto Main Street. More people lay on the ground, dazed and hurting. I ignored them and made my way toward the inn.