Crais(46)

“Who the hell is this Chuck Norris they keep referring to?” I heard Josian ask Lallielle. “He has to be a Walker with these skills.”

Lucy and I both dissolved into fits of laughter.

“Doesn’t this remind you a little of Crais?” Fury interrupted us. She was standing with Dune a short distance away.

“Yes, according to the elders this is how our world seemed to die; a slow leaching of the green and nutrients,” he said. “Crais bit by bit succumbed to the heat of our suns.”

Dune stared out into the distance as he pulled Fury closer in a protective manner.

“The main difference here is that unnatural forces have caused this level of destruction and death. Not a natural weather evolution like Crais.” Josian’s lips curled. “This is pure manipulation and overflow of negative energy.”

“Do we really have to head into that dead land?” Talina looked pale, her lips pressed together tightly.

“In a minute. I’m waiting for Lanthorne to return,” Josian said, giving us a reprieve.

Lanthorne was one of his trusted Doreen Reds.

I examined the mountains again. There seemed to be a main peak, which had a circumference of at least five miles at the base, framed by two smaller mountains on either side. I was distracted as a figure stepped out of the shadows below the mountains, his red hair standing out in dramatic contrast to the monochromatic background. Lanthorne made his way to us in a matter of seconds, moving at Walker super-speed.

He formally greeted his Princeps with the Walker handshake, before speaking rapidly in a heavy accent. “The men are waiting near the entrance. We encountered a type of barrier halfway along that we have not been able to penetrate. At this stage we have no idea what awaits us beyond that.”

“Well, let’s find out together,” Josian said, taking the first step toward the darkness.

I hesitated, sucking in a few deep breaths. I could taste the dust and death in the air. Don’t ask me exactly what that tasted like, but it wasn’t pleasant. Ever since I’d had that dream of the dark mountains, the ominous feeling regarding this place had only grown stronger. The imbalance here was impossible to ignore now. It was too widespread.

The dead plants crumbled under my boots as we strode across the plane, black ash covering us as we carved a path through. Since we’d initially stood about a mile out of the main entrance, it took us ten minutes to cross the distance. If the Walkers were impatient with this slow pace it never showed on their features.

Everyone fell silent as we closed in on the entrance: a large black hole in the side of the mountain. We paused at the edge of the darkness, waiting for our eyes to adjust. In the dull lighting I noticed that the strain on Lucy’s face had increased. Her left hand cradled her forehead as her thumb rubbed back and forth. Her eyes squinted and a permanent grimace adorned her features.

“Are you okay?” I asked again in a low voice.

She laughed, the sound harsh and grating. “We shouldn’t be here, Abbs. Very bad things are going to happen.”

“What have you seen?” Josian snapped out.

Lucy opened one eye wide enough to send a glare in his direction. “I haven’t seen anything yet, nothing but the same random images.” She shook her head. “It’s more the feelings I have, and they’re only intensifying as we move closer. Something is both drawing us in and warning us away.”

I wondered if it was the Bracentine drawing me toward it. My heart rate accelerated as I sensed its cold power. It was here somewhere, buried under millions of tons of rock. The ache to have Brace back increased along with the fear and panic. What was I going to do if this plan didn’t work? Could I really risk everyone to save him? No, I had to believe I wouldn’t trade our happiness at the detriment of others but what really drew me to the Bracentine’s offer was how non-violent and simple it seemed. My reasoning made it easy to ignore that small part of me, deep down, that protested my choice.

As we stepped over the threshold between the outside and the inner sanctum of the mountain a shudder ran through our group.

“There is some type of field or electro-magnetic force on this doorway,” Lanthorne explained.

“I’d say that it’s a warning system for intruders,” Josian said. As we moved further inside the darkness closed in on us so he sent out a small energy light, illuminating our surroundings. “Stay alert and keep eyes out for anything strange, including odd shadows.”

Seriously?

Everything looked like odd shadows, especially with just one small light ball reflecting off the surfaces. Josian led the way, one of his hands tangled with Lallielle’s. Talina, Lucy and I moved closer together and followed them with Fury and Dune right behind us. Lanthorne was at the back providing protection. As we moved along the wide entrance started to narrow. Eventually the Walkers and Dune had to crouch so as not to hit their heads on the stone ceiling. The trail continued into the mountain.