Descent Into Darkness (Book 2) Page 21

  -An unstoppable amount of energy rushing into him until his body couldn't hold anymore and he exploded;

  -The Plague working on his body at an accelerated rate, rotting off his skin and corrupting his mind, turning him into a horrible monster...

  Every thought made him want to leave before he reached that fog. What was he trying to find anyway? Power? Knowledge? Healing is my trade, Ean reminded himself. If he had any sense left, he'd jump out of the wagon and run back to Rottwealth. Why should he let curiosity potentially end his life, or worse, change him into something resembling Zin's old master?

  Curiosity was the force behind him stealing the book in the first place. It was what drove him to experiment with the runes he had found between the pages and summon Zin, then later Azalea. After all this time, as he trekked toward the Deadlands, he wondered if this insatiable curiosity would finally lead him to his doom.

  Zin and Azalea.

  Ean trusted them more than most of the humans he had ever met. An imp and a Yulari. Both still hid things from him, he was almost positive of that, but they had shown more loyalty than most humans in his life. Was it that he gave them their freedom from the Abyss that elicited their loyalty, or was he growing on them just as much as they had grown on him? He hoped it was the latter, at least for Azalea. Zin, he trusted with his life. As much as he had liked to blame the imp anytime they both got in trouble, more often than not it was Ean that had gotten them in trouble in the first place. Well, Zin had said that he should be alright, so--

  A blow that felt like a hammer the size of a wagon nearly knocked him out of the back of the wagon. Azalea grabbed him as he began to roll over the back, saving him from a painful tumble to the ground.

  Her face had gone pale and she was shaking slightly as she wrapped her arms around her body. Ean tried to ask her what happened, but another invisible hammer seemed to strike his very being. Then the blows began to fall like rain. He tried to move to Azalea's side, tried to call out, but all he seemed to control was his vision. Everything was taking on a purplish hue, as if someone had placed a thin curtain over his eyes...

  Not a curtain. It was the fog.

  They had passed into the Deadlands.

  "THIS IS HORRIBLE," AZALEA whimpered, holding herself tighter. "I didn't think I would be able to feel the Plague. It's like someone filled my mouth and stomach with bile."

  Ean wished that was all he was feeling at the moment. What had started out as hammer blows, now felt like drills boring into his bones...as if the Plague was trying to eat its way to his very core. Was this what everyone felt or was it only unique to him?

  "Azalea... I..." The pain made it practically impossible to string words together. "Too much...can't..."

  A vicious blow doubled him over. He fought the darkness with every ounce of willpower he could muster. If he passed out, there was no telling what might happen. The Plague might overwhelm him. But it was becoming a more and more difficult battle as the Plague seemed to suck the energy right out of him while at the same time trying to drill into his body. He needed more strength to hold the plague off.

  Strength.

  Without another thought, he opened himself to his connection with the Abyss.

  The energy flooded into him, filling him to the brink in an instant. His shirt scarcely contained the glow of the tattoos covering his right hand and arm, a strong outline blazed through the bland brown of his clothes. The power felt good, like soaking in a hot bath on a cold night. It had been a while since he had opened up to the Abyss, and he had almost forgotten what a rush it was to have all of that energy inside of him.

  Just as quickly as the energy filled him, the pain was gone. The pressure was still there, trying to squeeze in on him like a hoard of ants, but he no longer felt like it was trying to pierce his entire body. He lifted his head and the resistance made him feel like he was underwater. It was uncomfortable and strange, but it was much more preferable.

  Looking over at Azalea, she seemed to be adjusting too, although not as well. The illusion she adopted still looked healthy, but the way she was holding her body made it seem like she was about to be sick up in the wagon. Her body still shook, her arms trembling as she pulled her knees against her body. Her eyes were locked on Ean, though. Was that concern painted across her face?

  "You seem to be doing better," she said, her expression quickly changing to that of annoyance. Had Ean imagined the concern? "I feel like I've digested a month's worth of mud."

  "For a moment there, I felt like I was going to die."

  "You looked like it, too. Why the sudden turn-around?"

  Shrugging, which again felt weird against the pressure pushing down on him, Ean inched closer to Azalea. "I needed strength not to pass out, so I took in as much energy from the Abyss as I could. That stopped the pain, but I guess I have to hold onto it for as long as we're here to keep the pain out."

  It was the Yulari's turn to shrug. "So?"

  "I'm just not comfortable with having the power inside me more than necessary. It's...strange"

  Letting out a small laugh that seemed somewhat forced, Azalea scooted her way the rest of the distance between them and leaned her head on his shoulder. She smelled nice, like the sweet Javaran flowers that people used to freshen up their homes. Ean wondered if that was natural or just another part of her illusion.

  "You should embrace your power, Ean." Although Azalea seemed to relax against him, her voice was still strained. "Enjoy the power you can control."

  "Let's talk about something else. Something pleasant or funny."

  "Alright. You're a funny boy, Ean," she said, adjusting her head slightly on his shoulder. "Even without my charms, most men would be very interested in the illusion of the girl I appear to be. Not you, though. I can only taste the barest hint of lust coming off of you."

  "What? I don't feel that way..."

  Giggling, which was something he had never heard her do before, she entwined one of her arms in his. "I said it was just a tiny amount, you prude. Relax."

  "Oh, well, ok then. I'm probably not attracted to you, because I know what you really are."

  "Oh."

  Ean was the farthest thing from an expert in women, but even he couldn't miss the hurt in that one word. "I mean, I know we are just partners, I guess. Companions. I wasn't implying what you really are isn't attractive."

  His stuttering words were met with another laugh and she pulled herself closer. "Just shut up, you silly boy. I feel too sick to talk anyway. Let me take a nap. Hopefully I can sleep the rest of the trip to this village. Maybe by then my body will have adjusted to whatever it is that infects this part of the world.

  "Alright."

  With Azalea cozying up against him, Ean turned his attention to what lay outside of the wagon. The fog still hung thick in the air, hiding the rest of the world from his view. But as the wagons rumbled on, the fog lessened, allowing him to see a small distance into the haze. What lay outside the wagon could have been a completely different world.

  The ground itself was mostly dirt, black dirt like what was left after a fire had ravaged the ground. Random patches of grass grew, but it was thicker than normal grass and was a dark blue instead of green. Off to either side of the wagon he would occasionally glimpse at what looked like tree branches sticking through the fog, although he never caught site of the actual tree trunk. The branches seemed weird, bare of any leaves natutal for this time of year, and the bark was a dark purplish color. It was eerily quiet as well, the sounds of the wagons the only thing he could hear. There was no wind, no chirping of birds. It was as if the wagons were the only things moving in the world.

  Nothing new came into view as the wagons trudged along, even after the fog had thinned even more. Ean spent the rest of the morning thinking about what other oddities this land could hold. The pressure of the Plague continued to press down on him, but at the most it was a minor annoyance. Azalea also accomplished her goal, staying asleep on his shoulder and only occasion
ally shifting around against him. He envied her. Sleep would have been a welcome relief, but he didn't even close his eyes as they rolled along. The power rushing through him might be protecting him from the Plague, but he didn't trust it. Didn't trust his unconscious self with it either.

  After what seemed like an eternity, the wagons began to slow. Azalea stirred and opened her eyes but kept her head on his shoulder.

  "Are we there?"

  "I think so," Ean said, smiling at the small splotch of drool that dampened his shirt. "We're slowing down at least."

  "Good, I want to get up and move around. Hopefully that will help my stomach settle."

  Pulling her arm out from around his, Azalea climbed to her feet...and almost fell over again when the wagon came to a sudden stop. Glancing out the back, Ean saw that they had come to rest on a barren patch of earth. Even more interesting was now that the fog was thinned, he could see a dirt road he hadn't noticed before. He had almost forgotten they were supposedly going to a civilized area with how badly the Plague had affected him. Seeing something as common as a road made the Deadlands less intimidating to him.

  "Well, come on already," Azalea said, pushing him out of the way so she could start to climb out. "I told you I would stick by you but that doesn't mean I'm going to sit around in this wagon when there is so much fear and dread floating around just outside."

  Azalea got out first and offered Ean a hand. He accepted it, and when he tried to step over the side, he stumbled out into her arms.

  "Sorry. The pressure is messing with my balance."

  She rolled her eyes and pushed him away with a grunt. Using the wagon for balance, he moved around from the back of the wagon and got his first look at the village of Ulundkin.

  Past the patch of land where the wagons were all now sitting was a village of a few dozen houses, most two stories and made of a blackish stone. They were spaced out at random, with large spots of beaten down grass all around them. A road paved with the same stone as the houses ran right down the middle, although very few buildings actually sat on the road. To the west of town, the mountains ran north and south, the climbing peaks the only thing that seemed untouched by the Plague.

  Directly attached to the wagon area was a large building that stood out amongst the rest, three times as large as any of the other buildings and made of the same material. A single set of large wooden doors sat in the middle of the wall facing the wagons with a lone man standing in front of it. In sharp contrast to the black stones of the building, the man dressed all in red guarded the double doors.

  All of the members of the caravan were making their way towards an opening in the middle of the wagons. Meganan was standing on a small box looking around impatiently while some of the wagon leaders waved everyone closer. By the time Ean and Azalea reached the clearing, nearly everyone was gathered around Meganan.

  "Welcome to Ulundkin," the older man shouted, and immediately the crowd grew silent. "Those of you who have made this trip before already know what I'm about to say, but this doesn't make my words any less important. For those that have made the trip for the first time, heed my words."

  "The Ciantar family has been trading with the people of Ulundkin for over a decade, both by the blessing of our patron deity, Drenks, and by our relationship with the good citizens that live here. To keep up our excellent relationship, there are a few rules set forth by the Mayor that must be followed. Understand that I take these rules extremely seriously, and breaking any of them will lead to a forfeit of wages from any of my employees. For those not under my employ, you will be punished based on the rules of the village, which can include time spent in their jail. Such a punishment combined with the Plague would probably lead to you becoming a permanent citizen in the Deadlands."

  The tall man grew quiet for a few moments as he let that thought set in. The crowd remained silent. Looking around and seeming content with what he saw, Meganan continued.

  "The rules are as follows, and I list them in terms of importance and strictness in punishment:

  "One: no one is to go near the path leading into the mountains and the mine. Trespassing there is punishable by death, regardless of whether you are an employee or not."

  Again he allowed his words to settle into the crowd before continuing.

  "Two: those with free time are permitted on the main road and may stop in the general store or The Shade Inn if they are open. It should go without saying, though, that you should refrain from buying anything here, especially food or drink."

  "Three: most citizens of this town feel uncomfortable with their appearance when compared to our own. If you do come in contact with anyone here, it is considered impolite to focus on their 'differences.' Please refrain from staring, pointing, and especially making any comments. Remember, we are their guests."

  "With that being said, Loaders and Handlers, you are to get right to work transferring the goods into the warehouse." He gestured to the large buildings behind him. "Everyone else is free to their own devices. Again, remember the rules."

  Giving one last look over the entire crowd, Meganan stepped down from the box and started making his way towards the warehouse. The rest of the crowd quickly dispersed as well, many of them with jobs to do. Ean glanced around until he saw the familiar wide frame of Iacane and the mostly bald head of Sadiek. Motioning Azalea with his head, they both made their way over to the two men.

  "A VERY INTIMIDATING SPEECH," Sadiek said as he and the rest of his fellow travelers approached. "I did not know things were so serious here."

  "Well, what did you expect?" Iacane was looking about with a frown, his hands clenching and unclenching nervously. "Of course the people here do not want too much interaction with us. They probably feel embarrassed with pieces of them falling off or missing."

  "Iacane," Sadiek said, sighing loudly. "That is exactly the type of talk we have been warned against. You don't want to insult these poor people."

  "Do you see any of them around?"

  "No, but I've read that the Plague gives them slightly heightened senses. For all we know they could be on the other side of the village and hear you talking like a fool."

  The comment earned a "hhrrrummph" from Iacane but the man nodded in agreement. "Well, I hope that they don't all stay in hiding while we are here. Otherwise the whole trip will have been a waste for me. Now if you will excuse me."

  As soon as the rotund man left, Sadiek rounded on Ean.

  "And where were you last night?" The frustration in his voice was clear. "I came by your tent twice and you weren't there. I thought we had an agreement."

  "Oh yes, well..." Ean mumbled, avoiding the man's gaze.

  "I'm sorry, I don't think we've met," Azalea jumped in, extending a hand towards the man. "I'm Azalea, Ean's sister."

  His angry gaze instantly softened when it fell on Azalea's pretty face.

  "Pleasure to meet you, finally. My name is Sadiek."

  It was barely noticeable, but a bit of confusion flashed across her eyes as they shook hands. When she spoke, it was with all of her usual charm.

  "Will you be accompanying us as we look around, Sadiek?"

  "Yes, that would be lovely."

  "Excellent, then, if you gentlemen would be so kind as to escort me into town?" Hooking both of her arms, she waited until Sadiek entwined one of his arms around hers as Ean took the other one. Then all three of them made their way out of the group of wagons and onto the main street.

  "So," Sadiek said as they started slowly walking up the street, "if you don't mind me asking, why did you want to make the trip with your brother?"

  "To look after Ean, of course." Azalea's eyes were darting around, taking in everything as they walked down the street. "He has a knack for getting himself into trouble. Plus, I need to make sure he follows through with the task at hand."

  "And what is the task at hand?"

  "Find the lair of the man that caused the Plague, poke around a bit. Get into some trouble. I'm here to make sure he
doesn't chicken out." She let out a laugh, which quickly faded as she caught Sadiek's cold stare.

  "I am only kidding, of course," she said quickly. Sadiek ignored her, however, and turned his attention to Ean.

  "Is this true? Are you really looking for the Plague-bringer's old lair? When you told me you knew some of the language from the Abyss, I thought that your connection to it was more of a curiosity than anything else. But if you are actually trying to find the lair of the monster behind the Plague..."

  "Ean?" Azalea cut in. "What does this man know?" She slowly released her hold on Sadiek, but Ean didn't like the way she was eyeing the man up.

  "It's ok, Azalea. He found me talking to Zin. At that point there was no way to keep MY secret any longer." He hoped she caught the emphasis he put on the word 'my'.

  "That stupid, little imp," Azalea growled, but stopped eyeing Sadiek. "The fool is more trouble than he is worth." She poked a finger none too lightly into Sadiek's chest.

  "Since Ean is foolish enough to trust someone he's just met, I suppose I have to accept it. But you make sure you understand that I meant what I said about protecting my brother. If I even think that you could put him in danger..."

  The Yulari trailed off as she looked at the older man. Sadiek was angled toward Azalea as they continued to walk, so Ean couldn't tell what he looked like at that moment, but something made her shrink back from the old man. Ean began to tense.

  "Listen here...girl." Sadiek's voice was as cold as the Chill season. When Ean finally caught a glimpse of the old man's face, the expression he found there was a barely controlled rage. "You will never threaten me again, and more importantly, you will not touch me either. Do I make myself clear?"

  Azalea stood up straight and returned his stare with one of her own.

  "If you think I'm going to let some human try and intimidate me..."

  Moving quickly, Ean stepped in-between the two before they came to blows. He made sure not to touch Sadiek as he did so.

  "That's enough," he said, his attention more on Azalea. "We don't need to do anything stupid here, like fight. I'm sure we can calm down and just forget--"