Chapter 5 Part 10

Armegon and Marlena talked quietly as they traveled along the road leading to Allentown. Losing three of their friends, and getting separated from the other five was beginning to worry them greatly.

"Were we at home, we could have simply teleported or at the very least flown anywhere in the world we wanted," Marlena was reflecting. "Now we must travel by cart and oxen."

"We did well to get this," Armegon reminded her. "It was a stroke of luck that that plant you saved was a medicinal herb and worth enough money for us to purchase this transport. I didn't want to carry Seymore the rest of the way."

Marlena looked up at the clear sky. The twin suns gave the sky a bluegreen hue. There were no clouds to be seen, but she knew how easily weather could change in open prairie lands. "Do you think the others are all right?" she asked.

"I certainly hope so," Armegon replied. "Otherwise we may be in for a lot of trouble. We have already lost three."

"That is three too many," Marlena commented bitterly.

"Agreed. But up until now we haven't lost any skills that can't be covered by someone else. They rode on for a few moments in silence as they thought on their situation.

"How much farther must we go," Marlena asked.

"We are supposed to meet at Allentown," Armegon informed her. "When the others arrive we will determine what to do then."

"What if the others are dead as well."

Armegon thought for a moment. "The chances are that at least one of them will survive. When we are reunited we will decide."

"And if none of them survive?"

"We know that we don't have much time," Armegon reminded. "We will wait as long as we can then we will move on." He glanced over his shoulder. "If for no reason other than to get Seymore home so that we can remove the curse of the undead from him."

"When we get home, I think I will settle down." Marlena closed her eyes and tilted her head back so that her hair tumbled down her back. "Perhaps I will get married and have a child that will survive."

Armegon forced himself to smile. He watched her as she went on talking about a cabin in the woods. He wondered if she would ever remember her former life.

Idle conversation filled their afternoon as they rode onward. Near the end of the day they crossed a small stream of water and decided to make camp. Marlena stewed roots and gathered nuts and berries for an evening meal. Armegon spent two hours trying to catch some meat, but only succeeded in getting sprayed by a skunk. Marlena laughed long and hard as she mixed a salve to remove the smell.

She awoke the next day to the smell of cooked meat. Armegon must have gotten lucky she told herself, but when she crawled out from under her blanket, it was not Armegon at the fire.

"Good morning my dear."

"Tyson!" Marlena's joy awakened Armegon from a deep sleep. But as soon as he too registered Tyson's presence, he was wide awake.

"How did you get here?" Marlena asked. "We thought you were captured."

"I almost was," Tyson replied gravely. "After that cave in, when I realized Seymore's body was gone, I assumed you had it. I did not even have time to wonder which way to go before I was attacked by more soldiers from the rear. Fortunately I had time to duck down one of the side tunnels and the thing eventually merged with the one the others were in. Keeneye recognized my tracks and located me."

"Well, where are they then?" Marlena asked impatiently.

Tyson lowered his gaze. "They are all gone," he said. "We were jumped in the mine by a lich and three vampires."

Marlena sat down on the ground. Tears welled up into her eyes.

"Without Armegon or Avery to protect us against the undead we had to fight it out." He tossed some wood onto the fire. "Ultrecht was the first to fall. He was taken by surprise, his defenses stripped by a lich and his life drained by a vampire. He was dead before we even knew what had hit us."

"A lightning bolt took out Keeneye before he could even draw his bow. Norwind died with his hands around the lich's neck, taken out by a vampire."

"And Samson?" Marlena asked.

"Samson and I stood back to back. They closed in and Libra began to scream for blood. I had to get away from him before he killed me in battle lust." He turned the spit that was roasting a rabbit.

"I supported him as best as I could, and managed to draw the lich off in a duel of spells. I didn't kill him but he did retreat. By the time I got back, they were all dead."

Armegon stood in silence. Marlena could only say "No," in weak denial of what she was being told.

Armegon finally broke his silence. "We are thankful that you survived. We had thought you were captured."

"I almost was. When the cave in started I couldn't follow you through, and so I was cut off. Then more soldiers came and I escaped by ducking down one of the side tunnels."

He stirred at the fire with a stick. "Trying to elude the wights, I got lost for a while. Eventually, by some stroke of luck the passage I was in merged with the one the others were in. They found me not long after that. We pressed on until we were attacked about two hours from the mountain's exit on the western side."

That morning was spent weeping and soul searching. The hope and self confidence that was once their trademark had been faded by despair and defeat. It was replaced by the heavy depression as each of them tried to accept the loss of their comrades. Tyson had related the story over and over at their request. Each time the listeners listened in vain for some sign that somehow some way one or more of the others could still be alive.

Tyson also listened as Armegon gave an account of their own adventures. He listened with passive interest about the ship, and the storm. He paid close attention to Avery's fate, and the death of Marlena's child.

He was pleased that Armegon and Marlena were buying his story. It had been far easier than he would have expected. Then again the death of Avery would be taking a serious toll on Armegon's spirit. And Avery's absence was a bonus as well. He would have been the first person to see through the lie if any of them did.

On the other hand, telling Blackheart of Avery's death would be good for his position. They would be suspicious at first, because of the last time he had been reported killed. But this time the word came from the horse's mouth.

About noon they loaded their wagon and made on down the road. There was little spoken except to verify the plan to move on to Allentown. Tyson rode in the back of the wagon leaning against the crate which he had inspected while they had slept and discovered it contained Seymore's body frozen in time.

He reflected on his mission. There was an ambush awaiting them at Allentown, and his task was to lead his friends into the trap. Tyson maintained his false front of despair almost as well as the others' sincere ones.

He even had several occasions on the two week last part of the journey to Allentown to throw off any hint of suspicion. On one occasion he and Armegon fought off a band of brigands and on another they were attacked in the middle of the night by a rabid animal. So deep was its madness that even Marlena's druidic powers were useless.

The vast majority of their encounters, though were merchants and pilgrims, who always had something to sell. Once or twice, the passing merchants had an object of oddity which interested Armegon enough to purchase it.

Allentown heralded itself in the form of an increasing number of tents and encampments. As they approached the city the tents gave way to cottages and shops. Slowly a structured street system and even a crude sewage removal system was evident.

The trio was quite taken in by the size of this city. Even after hours of traveling down a main thoroughfare, they had not reached the center of the metropolis.

"Why are we here," Marlena asked distantly. She was wrapped in a blanket as if trying to keep warm. She had not been very cheerful since learning of the others' demise.

"To locate the Well of Time," Armegon answered. "The Oracle told us some information, but like all oracles everywhere, the information was incomplete and somewhat misleading. Heineken said that there was a University here."

"Any city this size has got to have a library or perhaps even an institution of higher learning," Tyson suggested. "If so maybe we can find what we need there."

"Can't it wait?" Marlena said as she brushed absently at her traveling cloak.

"Bed and breakfast?" Armegon asked her.

"Well we have been on the road for a couple of weeks."

"The lady could use a rest, Armegon," Tyson added. "And you could use a bath." He grinned as he wrinkled his nose.

Armegon frowned slightly. "Me? Stink? I beg to differ!"

"Would you two stop," Marlena said exasperately. "You are as bad as Scarlet and Seymore are." She paused and then she corrected herself sans humor: "Were."

Armegon gave in. "Fine we will get lodgings for the night, but while there is still some daylight I want to find the library." He passed the purse to the woman. "It is all we have left, so spend it wisely."

"I have a little left over," Tyson reached into his shoulder pouch and withdrew a few small gems. "You take that and I will find us some fresh supplies," Tyson volunteered.

"And I," Marlena added, "will wash your clothes." For emphasis she held aloft Armegon's spare trousers and pinched her nose closed with the other hand."

Armegon stared for a moment. "That bad?"