Call of Descent
Chapter Twenty-Nine

Renikoshuffled along behind Malik as they pushed their way through the snowstorm. Asthey traveled, the air began to thin and Reniko began to yawn as her body triedto gather as much oxygen as it could. She was sore and tired, but otherwisequite comfortable on their trip through the mountain pass. Malik on the otherhand was not faring well at all. As Reniko watched him move up the path sherealized that their progress was slowing and the puffs of air escaping fromMalik’s mouth were laboured. His body shook with the cold and his steps weremisplaced. Reniko hurried up the slope and joined Malik’s side now worriedabout her companion.

“Malikare you alright?” she asked as she wrapped her arm around him for support, heleaned into her eagerly, his body shuddering under the warmth she brought.

“I’llbe fine,” he lied, “it’s just cold.”

“Likehell you’ll be fine,” Reniko interjected. “I think your wounds were more severethan you led me to believe. We have to stop.” Reniko began scanning thesurrounding cliffs, looking for the familiar black that would indicate asheltered cave. She spotted one not far away and steered Malik toward it.

Hetried to protest, but as the storm blew on, his attempts became feeble, hisbody losing energy to the cold wind. They made it to the cave just as the stormpicked up in intensity and their path was whited out. Reniko set Malik gentlyonto the icy floor and began pulling out her and Malik’s bedding. When she hadit arranged on the floor, she helped Malik to it. He slumped into the growingwarmth of the blankets his body shaking with cold.

“Wecan’t stop here,” Malik muttered his eyes already closing to sleep.

“I’drather we make it to our destination alive than not at all,” Reniko said. “I’mgoing to get some fire wood. Until then try to get some rest.” Malik wasalready not listening having passed out the moment Reniko had spoken. Leavingthe now unconscious figure, Reniko went back out into the blinding white inhopes of replaceing something that would keep the chill away from Malik.

Renikoreturned as the storm slowed to a stop. Her footsteps echoing in the empty icecavern woke Malik from his uneasy sleep. Reniko went over to him and touchedher hand to his forehead. He opened his eyes to her touch and looked into herworried eyes.

“Idon’t think you have a fever, yet. I couldn’t replace anything to light a firewith, but I think I found something just as good. Do you think you’re up for asmall walk?” she asked.

“Ithink I could manage,” Malik said as he threw back the piles of blankets andbegan shivering as the cold hit his body. Reniko led him up a small incline,when they reached the top it was a surprise to see steam rising into the air.Below was a large pool where a natural onsen had formed. The murky water belowlooked rather unpleasant, but Reniko pulled Malik down toward it.

“Trustme on this, not only will it help with the cold, but the minerals in the waterwill help heal your wounds as well. Don’t be put off by the smell,” Reniko saidas the smell wafted up to Malik making him grimace. It smelled like blood,metallic but without the sharp sweet smell that human blood harboured.

Oncethey had made their way to the edge of the pool Malik already felt better, theheated air around the pool made Malik stop shivering. Reniko stood in front ofMalik a small smile on her face. Malik’s cloak was on the ground before herealized what Reniko was doing.

“Ican undress myself, thank-you,” Malik said brushing away Reniko’s hands as sheundid the lace on his shirt.

Renikoflushed and turned to the pool. “There’s a natural barrier that separates thepool, if you stay on that side,” she said pointing to the right, “I’ll stay onthe other.” She turned around just as Malik removed his shirt and she gasped.Malik’s shoulders and torso were covered in bandages all of which were soakedwith fresh blood.

“OhMalik, why didn’t you say anything. You’re losing way too much blood.” Sherushed to his side as he started removing the bandages.

“It’snot as bad as you think, the dry air up here just split the skin again that’sall,” Malik said and looked again up at Reniko, “do you mind?”

Renikogave a smirk and turned her back to Malik. “Not at all,” she replied and Malikhad the discomfort of watching her disrobe before he too had the common senseto turn his back to her. He stood immobile until he heard the displacement ofwater behind him as Reniko slid into the murky water. Catching a swift glancebehind him making sure his bold companion was completely submerged he toostepped into the water. The sudden heat after the freezing chill stung Malik’sbody like fire and he recoiled from the initial shock. He looked at Reniko andwondered how she had slid into the hot water so easily. Brushing the thoughtaside, he stepped back into the water and slid in, the heat making the woundson his body throb.

“Feelany better?” Reniko asked a while later as she sat on the other side of therock ledge that separated them.

Malikmade a wordless reply, a simple “uh huh” causing Reniko to chuckle in response.

“Ididn’t think something that smelled this repulsive could feel so good,” he saida few minutes later.

The onlyresponse Malik received was that of dripping water from behind him. As heturned his head to look over the shelf he felt strong hands grab his head andturn it forward.

“Reniko,what are you doing?” he asked incredulously his face flushing as he tried toscramble away from the rock ledge.

“Holdstill, I want to take a look at your wounds. Don’t worry I can’t see anything,”she said as she released his head and let her hand fall to the torn flesh onhis shoulder. Malik endured her probing hands, felling rather uncomfortablewith Reniko’s naked body so close by to his own.

“Itdoesn’t look too deep. I think he was going more for pain than mortal wound.It’s healing well, if it would stop cracking from the dry air up here.”

“Icould have told you that,” Malik said. Reniko’s hands slid away from Malik’sshoulder causing his skin to tingle. He heard her as she splashed back into thewater on the other side of the wall and began to relax once again.

“Whydo you hide so much from me Malik? Am I that uncomfortable to be around,”Reniko asked suddenly.

Thequestion startled Malik. Why did he hide so much from her? I want to protectyou, he thought, but could not bring the words to voice. A thunderous soundand a shadow passing overhead left the question unanswered. Reniko and Malikboth stood up out of the water and gazed overhead. Malik caught a glimpse ofsun shining on blue scales and called out to it.

“Orric?Is that you?” When he heard the noise pause and saw it turn, he knew he hadguessed correctly. Forgetting the situation he was in he turned to face Reniko,who as well turned to face him and they both stood in shock before falling intothe water below.

“Sorry,”they both called at the same time. Reniko was the first to laugh followedclosely by Malik. Orric’s head appeared on the ledge above and he stared downat the two humans in the murky pool below wondering what had gotten into them.

“Thisisn’t a pleasure trip,” Orric said as the two humans continued laughing below.“What on Vespen inspired you to make a trip to the hot springs?” This sent thetwo humans into another bout of laughter and Orric was made to wait for anexplanation on the cliff side high above.

Thelaughter did not linger long, once the three of them had exchanged stories theysat in a sombre silence. After Reniko and Malik had dressed, the two of themhad climbed onto Orric to examine the extent of the damage that Jekkah hadinflicted upon him.

“Whatcould make your own brother do this to you?” Reniko asked as she applied asalve from her backpack to the wounds around Orric’s wings.

“Iask that question every day of my life. I do not know the thoughts thatinspired my brother so. I only know that with his help the Rük are not farbehind us. I just hope I delayed them long enough for us to get away.”

“Wemust be quite disturbing to the Rük for them to have called Jekkah to thehunt,” Malik observed.

“Thatdoesn’t make me feel any better I’m afraid,” Reniko replied handing Malik thejar of salve. He took it from her outstretched hand and began applying it thewounds he was tending.

“Howlong before you can fly again?” Malik asked.

“Idon’t know. Hopefully not long, if we can make it to Mountain Side I thinkthere are some medical supplies there that will do the trick.

“Howfast can we make it to Mountain Side?” Reniko asked.

“Tomorrow,I hope.”

“Let’spray that Jekkah and Orborok aren’t there to greet us,” Malik said. The groupfell into silence at this comment, all of them being helpless to do anythingabout it.

“We’lldeal with that when it comes, if it comes to that,” Reniko said.

“Webetter leave soon. If the Rük are so close behind, I’d rather not waste ourtime here. Meet us back at the path Orric, we have to grab our things from thecave below,” Malik said as he jumped down from Orric followed closely byReniko.

“I’lltake a look around while you do that, to make sure we’re still a safe distancein front of them,” Orric said as he stood up and leapt to a nearby ledge.

“Comeon,” Malik said, gesturing for Reniko to follow him.

Thethree of them met again a half an hour later. Reniko secured the packs toOrric’s leg and climbed on top of him. This time Malik rode point. Reniko hadarranged it this way afraid that he would lapse into a fever or chills. Pullingdown her goggles, she braced herself for the initial jolt of motion. In secondsOrric had leaped onto a high ledge and was scrambling up the cliff face, hisclaws replaceing holds no human hands could. Reniko could feel the air thinningaround her, and could feel her body adjusting to the uncomfortably thin air.She watched Malik steadily for any signs of ill health and was comforted toreplace that he was handling the altitude well. As time went on and Reniko couldno longer endure the jolting motion that Orric incurred she felt the walls in hermind ease enough to accompany the motion that was so familiar to Orric. Orricfelt her presence immediately.

“Areyou all right Reniko, I feel you in my head,” Orric spoke causing Reniko towake from her drowsy state. She looked around and saw that Malik was slouchedin the space between Orric’s bony spine sleeping.

“Sorry,I was uncomfortable,” Reniko said.

“I’mglad that I can give you comfort, do not be afraid, just be careful,” Orricresponded.

“I’lltry,” she said yawning. Slipping into the same position that Malik was in, shelet her lids drop and her breathing became shallow as she slipped into sleep.Orric was left to the lonesome echo of his movements through the mountains, hisonly comfort was that Reniko was opening up again, and was willing to sharefeelings with him. It was all he needed to give him the energy to keep moving.

Renikowoke when she realized that Orric had stopped moving. As she sat up, sherealized that both her companions were sleeping now and that they were in alarge cavern. She could hear water echoing, as it dripped into a pool somewherein the distance. The smell in the cave was of life. Although it was abandoned,she knew that recently beings had inhabited this cavern. They had reachedMountain Side.

Afaint glow could be seen in the corners of the caverns, a source of light theTeoko had created that had yet to fade and die. It lit the room with thecosiness of firelight but without the warmth. As she glanced around the cavernthey were in, she saw the devastation that the Rük had wreaked on this smallcity. The city was strewn with rubble, pillars broken and contents of roomsscattered on the floor. Everything that was left in the city was either ruinedor of no use to the Rük, the sight disgusted her and saddened her at the sametime. All those lives destroyed, for nothing.

Althoughshe was sure that Orric had secured the place before he had fallen asleep, shewas adamant to join her companions in their slumber. They needed a lookoutsince there was no telling now how far the Rük were behind them. And theyalready know we’ll be heading here. Heading away from the interior of thecavern toward the entrance, she located a well hidden sentry point and settledherself into it for the rest of the long night to come. I’m the only one notinjured, and that is because I’m the only one they want. The thought sent awave of guilt coursing through her. To think that all her friends’ pain was herdoing was unbearable. But if I leave them now, I’ll only be causing themmore pain. Who would protect them? Who would stop the Rük from hunting them?With a resigned sigh, she focused on the settings moons, hoping that nothingwould interrupt the tranquility of the night.

Reniko’shopes were fulfilled, for the silence of the night did not go unbroken,however, as dawn broke, she could hear the shuffling steps of someone climbingto the heights of the cavern entrance. Reniko, who had been half asleep, becamefully alert. Withdrawing Imako from its sheath she climbed down from hervantage point and hid in an alcove near the entrance. As the steps came closerto her hiding spot she was surprised to hear only one set. They were light onthe ground and sounded halted and jerky, like the bearer was wounded. Unsurenow to whom these footsteps belonged to, she tried to take a look around thecorner, however, she was unable to do so without exposing her position. Insteadshe waited until the footsteps came close to where she stood and thrust Imakoout into the air before the intruder. Her action was accompanied by a startledcry that was clearly female. As Reniko stepped around the corner, still holdingthe sword before the figure’s throat she saw the dishevelled form of Rimcastanding before her, tears in her eyes.

“Rimca,my word, what happened to you?” Reniko said as she dropped Imako’s tip to thefloor.

“Thankthe maker you’re here. I didn’t know… I was scared you wouldn’t be here,” herwords trailed off into sobs as she collapsed into Reniko’s arms. Reniko wasstunned. Rimca looked terrible, her clothes were torn and patches of driedblood covered her arms and legs from wounds not properly taken care of. Herclothing was stained and muddy from travel and her hair was matted with leavesand mud as well.

Theterrified scream that had risen from Rimca had woken both Orric and Malik whowere asleep deeper in the cavern and they had rushed to the entrance expectingthe worst. They both halted behind Reniko confused by the sight of the ravagedRimca.

“Rimca,by the goddess what happened? How did you get here?” Malik said steppingforward and touching Rimca’s shaking frame. Malik’s words seemed to awakensomething in Rimca and she leaped from Reniko’s arms to stand on her own.

“Malik,I… I’m so glad I found you. I knew you would be coming here, but I was afraid Iwas going to miss you,” Rimca said as she fought to hide the tears thatthreatened to spill from her eyes.

“Comeon, there are supplies in the city that we can use to help clean you up, youcan tell us everything when you’re feeling better,” Malik said wrapping his armaround Rimca and guiding her further into the tunnel. Reniko watched them untilthey turned a corner and were hidden from view. As she put Imako back in itssheath, she noticed that Orric was still by her side.

“I’llstay here and keep watch, Lyss, go help Malik take care of Rimca,” Orric saidas he settled himself on the ground near the entrance. Reniko nodded and tookoff in the direction that Malik had headed.

Theyall sat around a small fire that Malik had lit. Rimca was now bandaged and clothedand was busy sipping a hot cup of tea. Now more comfortable, they began torelate their adventures since having parted in Mistfall. Rimca was the first tostart having already heard rumors about Malik and Reniko.

“Iwas in Porsshash when I heard news from Deressy, captain of the Pollas, thatyou had reached the Mistfall caverns safely six days before. This was after Ihad talked with Orric and sent him your way. After I had news of you I leftPorsshash and was on my way home,” Rimca glanced at Malik and pausedmomentarily. The two shared a private glance and Reniko could only discern thatthe two of them had talked about this once before. Back in Mistfall, Malikhad said she was defying her place. Were they talking about her going home?Reniko let the thoughts pass as Rimca continued her recount.

“I took a boat to Radalean and when I reachedthere I still had no news of what had become of you. I was worried, but Ifigured you could take care of yourselves, besides I was in a rush to get home.

“Ileft Radalean on Jia and we bypassed Crosshatch, going along game trails untilI reached the road to the A’barra Mountains. I came here to see the damage andcollect the supplies I needed and I headed out. About three days ago I ran intoa group of Rük on their way to Crosshatch. They also had the first news I hadheard about you two since Porsshash. They said that Reniko had been capturedand was being held in Crosshatch. I was on my way back toward Crosshatch whenthe Rük caught up with me and overtook me,” Rimca paused again and shuddered.Reniko could only imagine the horrors that the Rük had inflicted upon her andshe felt nothing but pity for the Le’a’to. She put a reassuring hand over topof Rimca’s and the Le’a’to looked up at her with shock.

“You’resafe now, you don’t have to tell us what happened,” Reniko said.

“Butwe’re not safe, that’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. I escaped from theRük, but not until after I had heard that you two had escaped from Orborok. Ihad to come warn you. You can’t stay here. They mean to trap you here. AndJekkah… Jekkah’s here and that means the skies are no longer safe.”

“We’llleave, right now.” Reniko said as she began to gather up her things, “Orric canyou fly?” she called out to the blue Teoko.

“Wellenough,” he called back.

“Forthree?”

“We’dbetter hope so, because there’s no time to replace out. Hurry,” Orric shouted.

“ButJekkah,” Rimca shouted as Malik pulled her to her feet and rushed her to thecavern entrance.

“Don’tworry about Jekkah, we’ve already run into him,” Malik said as he followedReniko toward Orric. When they reached him, they scrambled hurriedly onto hisback glancing down the mountain path that led to the city entrance and replaceingthe path clogged with hundreds of Rük.

“Move,”Reniko shouted as she secured herself to Orric. Rimca and Malik jumped up ontoOrric’s back sharing the same seat. Malik quickly tied the safety line aroundboth him and Rimca just as Orric took to the air. It was a rough start withOrric’s wings still sore from Jekkah’s attack and the added weight to his back,so it was with great difficulty that he cleared the group of Rük and the rainof poisoned darts they sent in his direction. Orric scanned the skies lookingfor the familiar yellow glint of Jekkah’s hide and was relieved to see thatalthough the party of Rük Rimca had had the misfortune of encountering hadfound them, Orborok, Jekkah and the others were still nowhere in sight.

Oncethey were a safe distance away from the Rük army, the whole group began torelax. Rimca was the first to speak.

“Um,you wouldn’t mind taking me home would you?” she asked.

Maliksmiled. “What do you think Orric, should we make a detour to Corbasin and dropoff the Lady Rimca?”

“It’son the way Rimca, we would be honored to take you there,” Orric replied.

Renikosat silent. Lady? Did Malik just call her Lady Rimca? The honorificnever meant anything to Reniko, but here on Vespen it was different.

Rimcawas the first to become aware of Reniko’s silence. “Is something troubling you,Reniko?” she asked.

“Noit’s nothing, I’ve just never heard Malik say that before,” Reniko said.

“Saywhat?” Malik asked.

“LadyRimca.”

Rimcaflushed a little and laughed. “It’s nothing, Reniko, my family owns some landsin Corbasin City and we share lineage with the royals in Corbasin, distantcousins to the King. Malik just likes to tease me. I’m really just a farm girlwith a title.” Malik grinned at Reniko and Rimca pinched him. As the two ofthem squabbled and teased one another, Reniko felt strange. She suddenly becameaware of how close Rimca and Malik were sitting, tied together at the waist, itmade Reniko uncomfortable and even a little, jealous? Why should I bejealous? She turned her attention away from her two companions and staredinto the wind, confused by what she was feeling. I’m going home. Why do Ifeel jealous?