“Indeed it is,” remarked Chiron.
Gewey placed his hands on Theopolou's shoulders. “Iam in your debt, and I promise that Kaylia will be safe.”
“I have no doubt of that,” replied the elf.“We will await your return.”
Linis and Gewey raced off in pursuit of Kaylia.
Chapter Thirty-One
Linis took the lead as they raced across the bridge andback down the forest path. When they reached the end, Linis came to ahalt.
“They went north through the woods from here,”said Linis. “Some on foot, some on horseback. We must hurry. Ifthey are smart, they will split up soon.”
Gewey noticed something on the ground from the corner ofhis eye. It was a tiny white flower. The same that Kaylia wore in herhair for the bonding ceremony.
“This was hers,” said Gewey.
“Then perhaps we are in luck,” said Linis,hopefully. “If this was indeed left by Kaylia, then it shouldmake finding her easy. Of course, her captors may be using it tothrow us off their trail. Can you tell if she is conscious?”
Gewey reached out to Kaylia, but with no better resultthan before. “No. I only know she lives. Still, nothing morethan that.” He brought the flower close and smelled the sweetfragrance. “But I feel that she dropped this for me to find.”
“Good,” said Linis. “Then our chancesare greatly improved. Still, we must be careful.” Theycontinued for several hours, running as fast they could withoutrisking missing a sign. Gewey allowed the flowrush through him and soon it was Linis that lagged behind. Severaltimes Gewey tried to hear their quarry but to no avail. He had noidea how far behind they were, and each step caused him greateranxiety. By mid-afternoon, Gewey became frantic.
They paused to check the trail. “Why haven't wecaught them?” demanded Gewey.
“I do not know.” Linis shook his head. “Ihave never seen such a large group move so swiftly.”
Gewey sensed something approach. Something foul. Linissensed it a moment later.
“Vrykol,” Linis whispered.
They both drew their weapons and fixed their eyes on theforest ahead. As it approached, the air chilled and the woods becamesilent. From behind a thick pine, the Vrykol appeared, cloaked in along black robe. It was taller and straighter than the ones they hadfaced outside the Temple of Valshara, though it moved with the sameterrifying speed. It stopped short, fifty feet away, and drew a longsword. Its face was hidden in the shadow of its hood, and Gewey couldhear the hiss of its breath.
“This one is mine,” thundered Gewey.
Just as he took a step forward, the Vrykol burst intoflames. A blinding light flashed, knocking Gewey off his feet. Thendarkness.
When he regained his senses he opened his eyes, butthere was only blackness.
Blind, he thought. Hestruggled to stand but something was wrong. He couldn't feel hislimbs. He shouted for Linis and was relieved to hear his own voice.But Linis didn't answer.
“Linis cannot hear you, boy,” came a voicefrom the darkness.
Gewey recognized it at once. He had heard it oncebefore… the night his adventures first began. “That's right,”said the voice. “I am here. You know me, don't you?”
“What do you want?” demanded Gewey. “Whyhave you brought me here? Wherever here is.”
The Dark Knight laughed softly. “Where you are isnot important. As for why… I think you know.”
“Why can't I see you?” asked Gewey,straining to pierce the blackness.
“Do you want to see me?” he asked, amused.
“No,” replied Gewey. “I don't. We willsee each other soon enough.”
“Indeed we will, little God. But until then Iwould make you an offer.” The Dark Knight's voice grew deep andmenacing.
“I am not interested in anything you have to say,”said Gewey.
“I have gone to a great deal of trouble bringingyou here,” he said. “I will not release you until I havesaid what I have to say. You willhear me.”
“You cannot hold me forever,” argued Gewey.“I am not the naive boy you tried to trick the last timeyou spoke to me.”
“No?” he mocked. “If that fool of ahalf-man hadn't filled your head with lies and convinced you to flee,you might see things differently. You continue to challenge me, yetyou still do not understand that I am not your enemy.”
This time it was Gewey's turn to laugh. “Is thatso? How many people have you sent to kill me? How many more willcome? You're a liar. You're nothing more than a deceiver with asword. Release me now.”
“I have sent none to kill you,” he replied.“I have only wished for you to join me. Those I have sent coulddo you no lasting harm. If you used your mind, you would see that.You cannot stop me, regardless of what you have been told by anyone.And once my labors are competed, you will be the last of your kind.Though I do despise the Gods, I do not see you as one of them. Don'tyou see what we could accomplish if you joined me? ”
“Accomplish? You mean destroy, don't you? Youthink that I don't see what you mean to do to the elves?”
“I mean the elves no harm. Why should I? They cango about hiding from the world until the stars fade, for all I care.They do not concern me.”
“Again a lie,” said Gewey. “If theydon't concern you then why attack them?”
“I have not attacked the elves,” he said.“Though I hear they attack each other.”
Gewey thought on this for a moment. What if Angraalreally wasn't responsible for the attack? He would have drawn theminto a war based on a lie. “You expect me to believe that?”
“I expect you to do what you know you must,”he replied. “And that will lead you to me.”
“That it will,” said Gewey. “But itwill be on my terms, not yours.”
The Dark Knight let out a deep, thundering laugh. “Thatis where you are wrong. You will come to me now… before you areable to do more harm. The half-man and his son are on their way hereas we speak. They think to rescue his wife. They will fail. And myVrykol have taken your elf mate from her captors.” The airstirred. “As you can see, I have all that you hold dear in myhands. And though it would pain me, I will flay them alive if youcontinue to oppose me. You may be willing to sacrifice Starfinder,but I doubt you would be so willing to allow your dearest Kaylia tosuffer.”
Fear struck Gewey's heart. “If you harm her…”
“You will do what?” he boomed. “Killme? I think not. You will do as you are told, or the ones you lovewill suffer for yourlack of wisdom.”
The darkness pressed in. Gewey thought back to thatfirst night, back in Sharpstone. This time Lee would not be coming.
“Gewey?” It was the voice of Linis.
The darkness faded as light from the waning day creptin. “Gewey?” Linis repeated.
Gewey groaned as he tried to sit up. “Stay still,”said Linis.
Gewey ignored him and forced himself up. “There isno time. We must catch up with Kaylia.” He tried to reach outto her but couldn't focus his mind. “What happened?”
“The Vrykol just burst into flames,” Linisanswered, shaking his head. “Then you fell. Other than that, Idon't know.”
Gewey struggled to his feet. “How long was I out?”
“Less than a minute,” replied Linis.“There's nothing left of the Vrykol.” He pointed to asmoldering pile of ashes several yards away. “Tell me what yousaw.”
Gewey gathered his wits and recounted what happened.
“If the elves are in league with the Vrykol, itwould explain why they move with such speed,” said Linis.
“Unless the Dark One is telling the truth,”Gewey offered. “What if Angraal had nothing to dowith this?”
“I doubt that,” said Linis. “But evenso, it changes nothing. Even if what you were told is true, hisarmies will march across the land very soon, and I do not believe hewill just leave us in peace.”
Gewey reached out again. This time he touched Kaylia'smind… though only for a moment. “She still lives.” Hechecked his pack and unsheathed his sword. “I'm ready. And Iwill get her back.”His eyes narrowed as he drew in the flowuntil the ground shook.