The Silver Crown

Chapter 15

Caleb

I open my eyes and stand up quickly. Valus is already standing, pacing along the side of the wide ice table. I spin on my heel and walk briskly to the cave entrance. I've spent the last two days either sleeping or marveling at my surroundings. Queen Vilincia and her people have been very kind and the wolves were magnificent, but being told that Tyron and the Sage Council are in danger and that I have to leave Kylee on top of a mountain hasn't endeared me to them or the icy dragon who rules them.

"If we're going, we might as well move quickly." I tell Valus. "I don't want to hang around longer than I have to." I turn and see Valus pull the small stone vial out of his robes. His staff is slung onto his back with a set of straps. I realize that my own weapons will get in the way of our journey. I quickly remove my bow and quiver and set it aside. My sword is strapped over my back similarly to Valus's staff.

"I have only ever used magic for experimental or training purposes. That and the small practical and medical applications that I have performed on this adventure. But an accomplishment of this magnitude..." He trails off, the fear in his eyes evident. I sigh, realizing how daunting the task at hand is, for both of us.

"It's not going to be easy, but it's something we have to do." I encourage. "For Kylee, for Andrus, for all of Lindolosun. Andrus only has a small military force, without warning they have no chance." I don't say that even with warning, the chances of victory are slim. Valus's expression hardens to one of sheer determination.

"Then let us do our utmost." He nods and opens the vial. A pungent scent wafts out. Without pausing, Valus throws his head back and empties the bottle. He coughs and shakes himself, breathing hard. Blinking rapidly, he turns back to me. "A powerful mixture," he wheezes then coughs again and regains his composure. "Let's go."

I nod and snap open my shields.

Even with Valus's icy road, the going is much rougher than I would have liked. We break out of the Northern Mountains in a short time, travelling along the eastern side of the Jagged Claws, but not long after the mountain terrain leveled out, the forests began.

The Indalor forest extends far beyond the boundaries of the nation itself, filling most of the northeast quadrant of Lindolosun. Outside of Indalor's borders, the forest is a haven for a multitude of monsters and animals. The undergrowth is so thick in the deeper reaches, that only the smallest and most agile of creatures can push through. To avoid this, I try to stay on the edges of the forest, weaving through the trees in as straight of course as possible. Valus's hand remains steadily extended over the back of my head, pale blue light extending from it, laying down a thin layer of ice only a few yards ahead of my front wheels.

My legs and arms begin to burn within an hour of travel, occasionally, I find myself heading towards a blockade or dead end of some kind, usually fallen trees or boulders, and I'll have to veer to the side suddenly. As this happens, my back feels like it's going to snap under the strain. Valus is thin, but he is much larger and heavier than Kylee. The thought seems to make him even heavier.

I'm about ready to collapse when we fly out of the trees into the gully that surrounds the little town of Cilac. It's the only settlement far enough west to be in our path and its presence means that we are nearing the end of our journey.

I remember Kylee's worried smile after my fight with the lumberjack. I think back to Phoebe's ringing laugh, silent for so long. The pain and loss of her memory stab me anew and I drive forward, willing myself to see this through.