Medice Ceres

Chapter 36

A singular dark cone that rose skyward from the valley floor began to dominate the western horizon. Clouds of steam billowed up from the serrated top, drifting to the south. A jagged frozen sea of dark rock surrounded it on all sides.

"See that volcano in the distance, my little one?" Eira nodded as Waithe pointed ahead. "That be Mount Grimmur where we hope to find the spellbook we seek. Old tales tell of a great dragon spirit that lives there. Sometimes it would roar and spit fire to warn all to stay away." Eira's eyes grew wide. Waithe chuckled. "Fear not, my magic girl. It just be a fanciful story. Still, we should be careful."

At Waithe's request, Ceres concealed her head with the hood of her cloak. As the road continued to descend into the valley, they began to meet more people. Most passed with hardly a notice, others with a nod of greeting. Nobody realized the weight of purpose that this band of travelers carried.

Ceres sang a silly butterfly song to the little girl who shared her saddle. Eira grinned as she copied the waving hand motions in time with the song. Ceres' hand butterflies would float and swirl, then swoop down to land on the little girl with a tickle, all to the giggling delight of Eira. Numerous real butterflies seemed to share the game, flittering around the flowering vines that lined the road.

Waithe's happy mood turned grim as a group of black-uniformed soldiers rounded the rocky hill ahead of them. An officer led a squad of a dozen men on horseback. A dusty cloud hung in the still air behind them.

Waithe motioned with his hand. "Move to the side of the road. And Ceres, turn your head so that they will not see your face. We will let them pass." He positioned himself between Ceres and the road.

The blonde bearded young officer who led the squad scowled at Waithe as he approached. Waithe dipped his head down, hoping that the officer would interpret as a sign of respect. He did not want to give the soldiers any reason for scrutiny. Ceres drew Eira into her arms.

A pulsing green light appeared above Ceres and Eira. Ceres whispered. "Nay Eira, tell Phy to go away!"

Waithe's heart began to race, but it was too late. The officer held his hand high to stop the procession while he glared at the floating Life Spirit.

The officer came close to Waithe on horseback. "What business have you here?"

"We would visit relatives in Welde, Lieutenant. This strange light... it seems to follow us for some reason."

The Lieutenant narrowed his eyes. Waithe thought it unlikely that the officer would simply accept that explanation, so he dropped his right arm down near the handle of the long knife at his waist.

The officer turned his gaze toward Ceres. "You there, woman! Show your face."

Ceres slowly turned her bowed head to the Lieutenant. She cast her eyes up to his, then quickly darted them back down.

The officer pointed. "The hood, pull it back."

Ceres gulped as she slid the hood off her head. Her face grew pale and her lower lip quivered slightly. The mark of the Order stood out on her neck.

A vile smirk came to the Lieutenant's face. "So, the Medice witch herself. She comes to us."

As the Lieutenant's eyes remained on Ceres, Waithe bent down to grab the officer's left foot, yanked it out of the stirrup, and lifted it high. The Lieutenant tumbled out of his saddle and landed hard on the rocky path while his right foot remained tangled in its stirrup. Waithe slapped the officer's horse on its hindquarters, causing it to lurch ahead, dragging the cursing officer down the dusty road with it.

Waithe pulled his sword out from the scabbard attached to his saddlebags in a single fluid motion. He yelled, "Alden, fall back to the rocks."

Alden pulled Ceres' horses in front of a formation of black volcanic rocks that jutted up from atop a small hill, forming a semi-circular wall. Waithe followed, flashing his sword above him.