Chapter 19

 

Hot, he was so hot.  Cade opened his eyes to shadows dancing on the rock ceiling above him.  A small fire was burning, the smoke layering the ceiling of the cave in black soot.  He loosed his right hand slowly from around Magus’ hilt.

 

“I thought you would sleep forever Wardex,” the woman’s voice came from across the fire.

 

 Cade groaned and tried to push himself up.  “Razar,” he bit.

 

 "Unharmed as far as I can tell,” the voice said.  “I carried it in after you.” 

 

 Cade’s eyes searched the cave.

 

 “The hound is gone,” the Shifter’s voice said again.  The red haired woman he knew so well now moved around the fire to kneel at his side.

 

 “Once it awoke,” she said.  “It wouldn’t let me near you.  It examined you, then turned, gave me a snarl, and ran from the cave.  I suppose it believed you dead and rather than share this cave with me, ran away.”

 

 Cade snorted.  “Razar doesn’t run away.”

 

 The Shifter shrugged.  “As you say.”

 

 Cade chaffed at her smug look.  “He has gone for help.”

 

 One red eye brow arched.  “As you say.”

 

 Cade scowled.  “You know nothing of my people Shifter!  Do not project your races inferiorities on my own.”

 

 “You are a race of dogs?” The Shifter said.

 

 Cade growled.  “You intentionally bate me.  Why?”

 

 The petite red head shrugged her shoulders.  “You are arrogant Wardex.  To my shame, I can not seem to stop myself.”

 

 Cade stared hard.

 

 “My bag,” Cade said.  “The pouch from my back.  Where is it?”

 

 The Shifter lifted it in front of him.

 

 Cade coughed blood.  “Inside.  There is a white paste wrapped in green leaves, open it.”

 

 “You have lost too much blood Wardex.  Even now I hear the blood in your lungs drowning you.  No salve will help.”  The Shifter started to toss the sack.

 

 “Hold,” Cade said with a groan of pain.  “For someone so certain I am part of prophecy you are quick to dismiss my life.”  He took the pack from her hands.

 

 The Shifter shook her head and rose.  “Do as you will.”

 

 Cade opened the leaves wiping a generous amount of white paste on his tongue.  He lay back and after a few moments rose again to apply the white salve to every scratch and tare in his skin.  By the time the last of the wounds were tended he was tired but already feeling stronger.

 

 The Shifter came back around the fire attempting to look closely at his wounds.  He waived her away.

 

“How is it your strength is returning?”  She asked suspiciously.

 

 Cade gave her a hard look.  “The salve.”

 

 The Shifter frowned.  “There is no herb, no concoction known to man or beast that can heal wounds the like of yours without magic.”

 

 Cade cocked his dark brow and placed the now empty leaves back into his pack.  He laid Magus across his lap wiping it down with a piece of his tattered shirt.

 

 “How is it I came to be in this cave,” Cade asked.

 

 “I brought you here,” the Shifter said and sat down facing him across the fire.  “After saving your life.”

 

 Cade’s hands slowed on the blade, he gave her a long look and curt nod.  “You have my gratitude.”

 

 It was the Shifters turn to snort.

 

 Cade cocked an eyebrow.  “Is there something else you want?”

 

 The Shifter smiled.

 

 “Speak it.” Cade said.

 

 “Your promise,” she said.  “Your promise once I meet with your elders, no matter their conclusion, you will come back to the Gray Mountains with me.”

 

 Cade let out a long sigh.  Some races believed if another saved a life, they owned that life for a span of time.  Wardex did not hold to such notions.  But Cade intended on going to the Gray Mountains to check on his brother Loghan anyway.  He smiled.

 

 “Should the Alai not find you false I will accompany you back to the Gray Mountains.”  Cade said.

 

 The Shifter’s eyes narrowed.  “This is no trick?”

 

 Cade’s eyes narrowed  “I have given my word.”

 

 The Shifter gave a curt nod.

 

 Cade resumed cleaning Magus.  “How is it we came to this cave unscathed?  There were hundreds of gargon.”

 

 The Shifter nodded obvious concern on her features.  “They are the first to make it past the Gray Mountains in 2000 years.  That indicates my people are sorely pressed.”

 

 Cade continued rubbing Magus with the cloth.

 

 “Once I knew them to be gargon I shifted into one.  While you ran with your hound toward the cave, I attacked covertly from the air.  I killed several but gave up my zeal when I saw they were not attacking as one, as is their way.  They were pushing you toward the cave instead of keeping you from it.”

 

 Cade listened.

 

 “I saw the leader when you did.  Since gargon travel in flocks and have but one leader I was unsure how to defeat it.”

 

 Cade nodded.  “I have never seen a gargon until today in anything but dreams.”

 

 “Dreams?”  The shifter asked.

 

 Cade looked up from his ministrations.  “Aye dreams.”

 

 The Shifter scoffed.  “Dreams would not show you how to defeat a gargon.  They have but one weakness, their wings.  And from the way you battled, you knew the exact strike zone to fell them.  Do not expect me to believe this knowledge came from dreams.”

 

 Cade didn’t answer. 

 

 The Shifter studied his face.  “Dreams?”

 

 Cade nodded slowly.  “It is part of the Wardex gift.  When a new dark species is birthed, we dream of it, what it looks like and how we might battle it.”

 

 The Shifter’s eyes widened.  “You dream of shifters?”

 

 Cade smirked.  “Occasionally.”

 

 "You think you know our weaknesses?” The shifter chaffed.

 

 Cade smiled.

 

 The shifter crossed her arms over her chest.  “Arrogance.”

 

 Cade shrugged.  “You have yet to tell me how we came here unscathed.”

 

 The shifter considered not telling Cade anything.  She sighed and dropped her arms.  “The beasts would devour me if I shifted into anything other than a gargon.  I needed to shift into something they would not challenge, but held a place of respect within their ranks.  I couldn’t just shift into a gargon leader.”

 

 Cade frowned.  “Why?”

 

 The Shifter shrugged.  “Gargon leaders are each kings of a sort.  They do not ever tolerate other leaders in their midst.  If I were to approach a gargon leader as a leader he would attack me and his flock with him.”

 

 Cade looked puzzled.

 

 The Shifter smiled.  “Ah, so your dreams speak only of how to battle the dark races, not of their cultures?  Hmmmm, perhaps I have found a weakness in the Wardex.”

 

 Cade shook his head.  “You need not look far for weaknesses among my people.  We are human.  It is our strengths you should concern yourself with.  One of which is discovering false hoods.”

 

 The Shifter rolled her eyes.  “Shall we not digress into that again?”  She sighed.  “I needed to shift into something which wouldn’t cause the flock to attack, or the leader.  I was in all honesty not expecting you to live through my dilemma.”

 

 Cade snorted.

 

 “But alas it came to me.  While in the Gray Mountains on patrol I often saw many gargon leaders trying to attract mates.  The male leaders have human type heads as do the female, but only the males are flock leaders.  The females are loners, only coming around the leader males to mate then going off alone to have and tend their young.  Once I saw a young Wardex eaten by a pair of gargon.  The gargon’s preferred method of eating human flesh is while the heart still beats.  So the male often employs the method of smothering until his prey loses consciousness.  I believe you are familiar with it?”

 

 Cade growled low.

 

 The Shifter smiled and continued.  “A male will smother his prey and then lay it prone for the female during mating season.   She then peels the flesh away in large sections.  Devouring first flesh, then appendages and finally the heart.”

 

 “So you posed as a potential mate?”  Cade finished.

 

 The Shifter nodded.  “Yes.  Though it is not mating time, I reasoned the leader would not consider it being in a new land.  The need to mate is so strong in the male leaders they are blinded by it.  I approached the leader as a mate, he laid you out prone before me, and then I stuck my talons through his eyes.”

 

 “Why did his flock not attack?”  Cade asked.

 

 The Shifter shrugged.  “The flock seems attached by invisible strings to the leader.  Once those strings are severed by death they become disoriented and frantic, often ripping each other to pieces.

 

 The few who escape find a new flock, and new leader to serve.”

 

 Cade absorbed it all.  Be it all lies or all truth, in the end was knowledge useful to the Wardex.

 

 The Shifter watched closely.  “This flock was a bit unusual for gargon,” she said.  “Instead of going into an immediate frenzy, they watched me carry you and the hound into the cave.  Then as one, they collected their dead, lifted into the air and flew away.  Had I shifted into any other beast after my kill, I am sure they would have attacked.  There is more here than a flock of gargon.  This flock was orderly, disciplined, obedient.  All things gargon are not once they are freed from a leader.”

 

“I must rest” Cade said laying back on the hard dirt and closing his eyes.

 

 

 The shifter stood.  “Does the paste heal you or take away your pain?”

 

 Cade opened one eye inquisitively.

 

 The Shifter’s face held no emotion.  “I must know how much game to hunt.  If you are to die before I return I will not expend the energy.”

 

 Cade closed his eye.  “The salve does both.  It will hold until Razar retrieves the healers from my clan.”

 

 The woman nodded, shifted to the white leopard and left the cave on soft paws.

 

 

Chapter 20

 

Mikael watched the shifter leave the cave.  He was humming a song of healing into the air surrounding Cade when Gainrel flew through the entrance.

 

 Gainrel added his voice to the healing hum.  They continued for many minutes until Cade was resting peacefully, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm.

 

 “What news of the counsel?” Mikael asked.

 

 Gainrel’s black eyes did not waver.  “War.”

 

 Mikael took a deep breath.  “War?”

 

 Gainrel stroked his beard.  “I am convinced the woman in Chenille was in habited by a dargon.”

 

 Mikael shook his head.  “Dargon are too proud to pose as imps.  Why the false hood?”

 

 Gainrel sighed.  “It is assumed the Woetress is quietly attempting to strategically place her generals.  The merchant is the most wealthy man in Chenille, second only in power to the Mayor.”

 

 “Then why not possess the merchant directly?”  Mikael asked.

 

 “The merchant’s spirit echo would not allow an easy possession.  He would fight  and the dargon would have a terrible time controlling him.  The woman he possessed was a witch with power of her own.  She was able to enhance her natural scent a significant degree.  In effect, she was able to control any man with his uncontrollable desire for her.”

 

 Mikael grimaced.  “Then the merchant was planning to make her a mistress?”

 

 Gainrel nodded.  “It never progressed to that.  The dargon was too corrupt to allow the witch any power over his puppet.”

 

 “So the Woetress is sending her generals to inhabit influential humans who will submit or to inhabit those who surround them?”

 

 Gainrel sighed.  “We believe this to be so.”

 

 Mikael eye’s flashed.  “How can we possibly stop this invasion?  We guard the Wardex, not the general human population.  How are these dargon getting out of Agoniture?  What of the Legna on the gates?”

 

 Gainrel put a large hand on Mikael’s shoulder.  “The gates stand.  But the prophecy is coming to term.  The walls of Agoniture will rupture and spew forth the Woetress and her hordes.”

 

 Mikael’s head hung low.  “What of our Wardex?”

 

 Gainrel looked at the large man sleeping at his feet.  “To win a war against evil Mikael, one must look to duty.  You must not waiver, you must not err.  This one,” he waived his arm over Cade, “is strong in the prophecy of the light.”

 

 Mikael looked from Cade to his teacher.

 

 “How is it he has come to be in this condition?”  Gainrel asked.

 

 Mikael’s eyes didn’t leave Gainrel’s.  “Gargon.”

 

 Gainrel’s sharp intake of breath comforted Mikael as no words could.  He expected a dressing down for allowing Cade to be injured.  However, knowing the gargon could illicit such a response from so knowledgeable a Legna gave him a small measure of peace.

 

 “The shifter saved his life,” Mikael said.  “Though I can not read her spirit echo,  I know not whether she is friend or foe.”

 

 “It is always so with shifters,” Gainrel said absently while staring at Cade.  “They do not radiate a spirit echo as most other living things.  When the Just Creator was creating the shifters, he allowed the Woetress to participate.  Then after a time he allowed her to create them on her own.  Once into her rebellion, she copied his work but purposely added a flawed nature.  Once the two lines began mating it was impossible to guess which was of the light and which of the dark.”

 

 “And so it is with this one.  Though she claims her people fight the dark races and keep them from coming back across the Gray Mountains.  She secured a promise from Cade.  It involves him escorting her back to the mountains.”  Mikael said.  “I do not yet trust her.”

 

 “You must be vigilant Mikael.  There are two very distinct prophecies.  This human plays a significant role in the light.  Every member of the dark races, mortal and immortal alike, are his enemy.  They long for his death.  The law is very specific about what we may and may not do for our Wardex.  The mortal races are not generally our territory.  The dreams give them the insight to defeat the dark mortals.  We must be vigilant against the immortals.”  Gainrel breathed and stroked his beard.    “We must discern if this flock was scouting or if it came specifically for your human.”

 

 Mikael shook his head.  “The gargon were unusual.  They collected their dead once the leader was killed.  They flew off in formation, not as one would expect after the death of a leader.”

 

 

 Gainrel’s white eyebrows rose.  “Stealth.  Gargon are not known for stealth.  They devour and leave a wide track of destruction in their wake.  I must think on this, and what it means in the scheme of war.”

 

 Mikael nodded.  “The shifter hunts.  The hound went to Cade’s clan.  Several will arrive for him in two risings.”

 

 Gainrel smiled.  “That is well.”  He bent over the Wardex and closed his eyes inhaling deeply.  In one deep breath Gainrel knew every scratch, every pain riddling Cade’s body.  “He is healing.”

 

 Mikael gave a curt nod.

 

 Gainrel stood and looked at Mikael from the corner of his eye.  “His healing seems almost supernatural."

 

 Mikael stiffened.

 

 

 “But that could not be as you are the only one here with the ability,” Gainrel sighed.   “And you know we are not to lay hands of healing without seeking approval from the counsel.”

 

 Mikael said nothing.

 

 “It is good then I bring word to you now.  We must use our every ability to see this human’s place in prophecy is fulfilled without revealing ourselves in the process.”

 

  Mikael smiled.

 

 “Your healing song must be getting stronger.”  Gainrel offered.

 

 Mikael turned and met Gainrel’s eyes.  “I will not let Cade perish under my care.”

 

 Gainrel laughed but quickly became somber.  “That is good Mikael, as the council forbids it.”

"