Cobalt Crown - Book One

17 Touch

     Astor and Viir walked through Kinsweyr.

     "I don't see what's so complicated about it, 'e lives in the woods, we just get a guide and go out and find 'im."

     "He's a ranger, he lives in isolation, Viir. We'll need more than a guide. You need a ranger to find a ranger."

     Viir shook his head. "I don't fink he'll be that 'ard to find. Way I see it, 'e needs fire to stay warm, so we look at dusk for the smoke. Easy."

     "Forgive me if I don't fully trust that idea. He's crafty enough to escape all manner of beasts, I figure that includes marauders and poachers who would see him as a threat."

     "Well we're not a threat, now are we?" Viir said. "Course, I guess he wouldn't know that at first glance."

     Astor gave him a look out of the corner of his eye. Viir was experienced, but not traditionally educated. Astor had been tutored by one of the best sorcerers in the kingdom to be extremely sharp. Viir almost expected him to have ideas that were more thought-out than his own.

     "A'right," Viir continued. "That just leaves one big problem: who do we get to guide us? If it takes a ranger to find one, and there's only the one in the area, who's going to 'elp us find 'im?"

     Astor, for all his education, couldn't think of who would have the skillset.

     "I don't know," Astor said flatly. "I've been trying to find a way to solve that issue. Perhaps Dorun can help us again."

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     The pair arrived at Dorun's shop to find a plaque on the door. Viir read it aloud.

     "Will return on Windsday, see Quinlan for medical needs in my stead. Signed, Dorun."

     Astor looked in through the large front window. Racks of medicinal herbs stood in the middle of the room. Utensils were neatly placed on the wall and on a desk to the side. He didn't really know what he was looking for. Something, anything that would tell them something more. They had to find the ranger of Kinsweyr. They had to find its Seeker.

     The sun was making its way to its zenith and the streets were mostly empty. Most people were working. Kinsweyr held a moderate population, but it was built to be larger than its occupants needed so the knights would have no trouble going through the city at this hour. They had to find this Quinlan, maybe she knew where Dorun had gone.

     They had asked around and found the home of Quinlan. Upon knocking, however, they received no answer. Viir shrugged and they left, unsure of where to go.

     They had walked towards the center of the city. With nothing left to do, they had determined to find a place for drinks. It was early, but they had a feeling that for the right price, they would be served at any time of day. Viir stepped in a puddle, inadvertently wetting the leg of his trousers. The water immediately seeped through and chilled his leg.

     "Bollocks," Viir cursed. "Nuffin' is bloody going right today."

     Astor sighed. "We can't give up. There has to be someone who can he-"

     Astor saw something at the top of the central clock tower. No, not something. Someone.

     "That can't be," He muttered to himself.

     He focused his aura on his eyes and closed them. He felt his vision shift. When he opened his eyes, his heart sank. Atop the tower he saw a bright orange aura. A great flame, wildly flaring and rising into the sky. Then it began to fall.

     "No!" He cried, and began to run.

     "What?" said Viir. He then saw Kyrael falling, and ran towards her behind his prince.

     Astor's heart was racing. He knew he had to focus. He didn't have time to think, but he had to try. He suddenly felt the aural power flowing to where it needed to be. It bubbled to the surface of his skin. His sense of touch lit up with magical energy. He was running as fast as he could, but with small bursts from his feet, he used his aura with each step to push himself faster. Faster. Faster.

     He got to the base of the tower well before Viir, and moved his aura from his legs to his hands. He reached up. As far as he could, as quickly as he could project his aura. He felt it reach her, and suddenly her weight was upon him. All at once, and all across his body, plus the force from the fall. With all his will he tried to stop her. She wasn't very far away from him now, and he didn't have a lot of space in which to stop her descent.

     Then from somewhere, he felt more force. He looked up and saw her reaching out to him, and she fell slower. Even with the extra strength from his aura sustaining him, he couldn't take the force, and fell to a knee. He had done all he could.

     They slammed together, and Astor fell to the cobblestones, Kyrael on top of him.

     The pain was incredible. His entire body was racked with it from the impact, and he immediately lost all ability to focus on his aura. He reached within and felt a different well of power surge with energy. His hand lit up with light and power. He held it aloft, feeling the strain of lifting just one limb.

     He touched Kyrael on her arm. The pain he was feeling was immense, and he reflected it to heal her. He reached for the well again, but nothing came.

     His energy was spent. He could barely move. Every labored breath brought more pain into his chest. He saw Viir enter his vision as Kyrael slowly opened her eyes. Suddenly everything was heavy, his sight blurry. He smiled. Then all went black as he lost consciousness.