Spellcasters

Chapter 19

Maylis gasped for air as she struggled to keep her head above water. Swept round a sharp foamy bend, all sense of direction was knocked out of her as she collided with a rock. Blindly, she clung to it and winced as the pain of the impact spread across her chest. Panic stabbed at her when she broke the surface. Leon was nowhere to be seen.

Not too far ahead, a tree overhung the river. It looked too high up to reach but Maylis couldn't see any other choice. Her hands were slipping from the mossy surface of the rock. Taking a deep breath, she let go and reached for the branch, grabbing it with all the strength she had left. With splinters in her hands, she pulled herself up the sodden bank, shivering like her bones were made of ice.

No. She couldn't sleep. She had to find Leon. He had to be okay.

She struggled to her feet, using the tree to support her weight, and followed the river downstream until the pain in her shoulder sent shock waves throughout her entire body and brought her to a halt. As she stared out across the rapids, the air was knocked from her. She shouted Leon's name but the noise of rushing water was deafening.

She took in a deep breath. Sitting in the mud wasn't going to help anybody. She headed back along the riverbank, slipping as she pushed through the overgrowth. Big leafy ferns, dripping with rain slapped into her face. It wasn't long before she heard angry voices and the sound of someone hacking through plants with their sword.

"Kaleb?" she shouted, squinting through the greenery.

"Watch it," cried Benemez. "You'll lose a limb."

Maylis backed up and waited for Benemez to carve out a path. As soon as it was clear, Kaleb jumped through, a huge smile on his face.

"I knew you'd be okay," he said. "No thanks to Leon and his stupid idea."

"Don't!" shouted Benemez. "You were the one who failed us. Not him!"

"No-one's to blame," said Maylis. "Lower your bloody sword."

"He's right though," said Kaleb quietly. "I'm the reason we're walking to Victorfall in the first place. I'm the one who can't control their powers."

Benemez pushed past him and stared down the river. Maylis wished there was something she could say to bring him hope, but she could think of nothing. She leant against a nearby tree and closed her eyes, trying to block out the pain but distant drumming made her open them again. Benemez and Kaleb glanced about too. The drum beats became heavier, louder and closer.

"It sounds like-" Benemez shook his head. "It can't be."

A hoard of people marched along the road opposite them, almost ethereal in the way they swept through the forest as if they knew every rock and twig by heart. Bat-like, their black webbed cloaks caught the wind, like they were about to swoop on their prey.

"What is this?" said Maylis. "I thought the witch hunters were all gone." She looked to Benemez as if he would have the answers, but he looked just as surprised as she did..

"We used to play the same rhythm," he said just above a whisper. "It was said to ward away bad spirits. I thought our group were the last." There was a yearning in his eyes that Maylis didn't like. He waved at them. Several looked in their direction but the woman leading them did not notice.

"What are you doing?" said Kaleb. "They'll kill you, or worse."

"Let's get out of here." Maylis headed for the overgrowth where they could easily hide but Benemez did not follow them. She motioned him with her hand, but he kept staring until the witch hunters were so close, there was no hiding. The hoard looked to one another before drawing their swords.