THE LIGHT OF A'LEST

CHAPTER 24

Kara landed with a thud that sent a lancing pain up her elbow and into her arm. She grabbed the wound and began rubbing it. The world was a wash of white that blurred her vision. The air, however, hummed with the familiar sounds of terrestrial life. Two more thuds arrived shortly after. Straining to regain her senses, she reached out with her hands and grabbed something solid. The wood that greeted her fingers had sharp edges and perfect angles—a sure sign of being shaped by the hands of men. Droplets of water sprayed her hands and face as the world bobbed up and down. Keko and Zander were moaning beside her as she forced a bout of sickness away. "Let's never do that again," Keko said.

     "Agreed," Zander seconded and rolled onto his side.

     "We're on a boat," Kara added, surveying their surroundings through half-shut eyes. "Wonderful," she scoffed.

     Keko sat up and glanced at the aft of their tiny ship. It wasn't large. Barely big enough for the three of them. More of a skiff, with well-worn oarlocks and a puddle of water pooled at their feet. The ice-covered mountains of the Steps dominated the landscape behind them, and they were growing smaller by the second. "There are no oars," he said.

     Brushing her hair behind one ear, Kara noticed tiny rainbow- colored fish thrashing about, desperate to reach the ponding water at her feet. There were, however, no oars. The sudden panic of being helplessly adrift brought back memories of her dream. Looking into the water, she caught a glimpse of her reflection. She couldn't help but smile. She looked a mess. Her unruly hair knotted into a mesh of tangles. Her travel clothes soiled and tattered. But she wasn't alone. She thought back to the girl she had been before all this. That girl would probably not recognize the woman she had become. She couldn't help but chuckle at the thought.

     "And what are you so happy about?" Zander asked. 

     "Nothing," she replied. "We made it."

     Keko looked at her, a grin slowly forming on his face. He slapped Zander on the back. "Aye, we did."

     Keko felt a rush of air behind him. His dark hair ruffled, then parted. The grin he sported disappeared in an instant and was replaced by a look of sheer terror. He yelped and thrashed and began clutching at his back. He felt soft but rigid feathers, he realized, and then forced himself to relax. He suppressed the urge to hiss as the needle-like stab wounds of Pebble's talons punctured deep into his shoulder.

     "Pebble!" they screamed in unison. Zander burst into laughter at the sight of the chief-in-waiting screaming and flailing about.

     Keko regarded him with a stern but flimsy look. "Not a word!" he added.

     Zander stopped laughing.

     "Ahh!" Kara squealed and threw her arms out in a mocking fashion. A good impression if she were any sort of judge.

     Pebble left the one they called Keko's shoulder and flew to the prow of the ship. He eyed the trio coldly. He didn't understand their joke, so he waited until their laughter faded. "CAAWW!" he screamed, his bill opening and snapping shut. To Keko, it looked as if the bird were scolding them for their moment of reprieve. Their sparkling eyes and grinning faces faded as the crow's words echoed through their minds. "Tia has fallen!"

     A sick feeling overwhelmed Keko as he sat back against the side of the rough-hewn boat. "We are too late then," he added, releasing a heavy breath.

     Pebble continued, "There aren't enough boats!" He squawked and flapped his wings wildly. "The fire line failed. Nedal has destroyed the village. His fires rage. Many trying to escape. Many drownings. Not enough boats! Not enough boats!"