304) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 68 — The least likely Plan

The hourglass was running low when Grok woke everyone up. After coming inside from the snow, changing their clothes and preparing their packs, she’d lit some incense and, despite their racing minds, everyone had found themselves slipping into blissful, untroubled sleep. But now she was bustling them all awake and giving them mugs of tea.

“I have a few things to show you all.” She looked very different, her hair pulled back in a tight bun, her body covered in copper-coloured armour gleaming in the dim pink light from outside, with a heavy purple cloak clasped around her neck.

“Today, we are going to do the impossible, and when the doubts arise, remind yourself, we HAVE to do the impossible. All of our lives, mine included now, depend on it.” Her eyes burned with an inner light. “This IS going to work.”

A small metal vial floated toward each of them. “Take this; keep it handy. If you get seriously injured, drink it. The whole thing. Never just part, you have to commit yourself fully to wanting to Heal in order for it to work properly.” She caught Devona’s skeptical look. “The Flux depends on commitment, Devona; you likely know that better than any of us.”

Devona looked away, feeling exposed. What does she know? How much does she see? But there was no time. She accepted her vial, tucking it into a belt-pouch.

Grok nodded approvingly. “Keep them safe. Each one of those vials is a second life.”

She gave Dominic and Gorb one ceramic canister each, the size of a canteen. “When you need to, throw these at something hard enough so they’ll smash. But, make sure it’s far away from you.” She spread her arms apart, making an exploding noise. “They make a fine mess, believe me.”

She gave Melkorn a tiny crystal vial, instructing him to be extra-careful.

Kohra quickly intercepted it. “Here, I'll hold that for you.” Melkorn grinned, letting her snatch it right out of his hand. She held it up to the light to get a closer look. The liquid was beautiful, a rich purple.

“Drink this right before we attack, Melkorn. It will make your skin much stronger, like armour.” The big man clapped her on the back heartily. Dominic started forward, expecting to have to catch her but she barely moved, solid as a rock.

“Thanks Miss Grok!” he said, bouncing on his feet with excitement.

“It'll only last an hour or so. So don't use it until just before battle, okay?”

Melkorn grinned, like always.

Kohra nodded. “Got it.”

“That,” (Grok pointed to a shield standing by the front door), “is an Earthborn secret. It's practically indestructible, and this breastplate (she tapped at her chest) is of the same metal. But it's pretty heavy. You’ve got to be strong.” She smiled. “If anything happens to me, I want you to take them.”

Kohra interrupted, “Stop this, Grok! We don’t —” but Grok shushed her immediately. 

“Kohra, you said it yourself. A single arrow could end any one of us. If I’m the one, I want what I have to be of use to you. I certainly don't want to die. I want many more nights sitting around a fire, making music with friends. But this is war, and I have resources. If I fall in battle, you take them, you use them, and you win.”

Kohra merely nodded, awed.

Opening the folds of her cloak, Grok revealed a belt on which were sheathed a whole collection of Wands. Everyone gaped.

“Most of these will only work once, maybe twice more. The ones on this side,” (there were four) “are for a single enemy. And the ones on this side,” (there were three) “cover a whole area, so be extra careful if you end up using them. They don’t discriminate friend from foe.”

She tapped at an additional sheath, strapped to one leg like a boot dagger. “This one here? Creates a wall of impenetrable force. It lasts about an hour at the most, but it will stop practically anything.”

She tapped at a thin scabbard on her other leg. “And this, this is my beauty, a treasure passed down by my family, my own Inheritance I guess you could say. It is terribly powerful. It can turn anyone, anything, to dust. Instantly. As far as I know, it can only be used once. It’s extremely old, from before even the Lost Age, I was told, and it’s more like a machine than anything you might call ‘magical’. It’s got four buttons on the handle, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, from top to bottom, and then a large button, which fires it. First, you need to type in a code: 31415. Ok? 31415. Only that code makes it work, so don’t forget it.” She winked at Kohra. “And please, aim carefully.”

After such a display of firepower, even Kohra found herself thinking they might actually pull it off. She glanced around at the others, their eyes shining with confidence and courage, emboldened by this larger-than-life Mountain Lady and her magic arsenal.

* * * * *

As the final sands trickled out of the hourglass, Dominic took Melkorn into the back of the cabin, and the others got ready to leave, standing in front of the Archer Captain, waiting for the moment time re-started. They needed to trick her, and to do so, they needed to trick Melkorn, for the big man simply didn’t have the guile for a con job.

The last grains of sand tumbled through the narrow centre, and instantly, the woman twitched, groaning. “Owww!” As her vision cleared she saw Devona, crouched in front of her looking angry.

“Just keep quiet, cooperate, and you’ll be fine,” Devona growled.

The Archer Captain nodded, trying to be brave, to not to show any fear. Her face stung where the dark-haired girl had kicked her.

A moment later, Dominic and Melkorn could be heard from somewhere in the back of the cabin.

Suddenly, Melkorn exclaimed loudly, “Melkorn’s friends are in Annuvin!”

As they came into the front room, Dom scolded him. “Shut UP, Melkorn!”

Melkorn looked mortified, hanging his head. “I, I'm sorry, Dominic, I’m sorry, I didn't mean to, I didn't....”

“It's okay, Melkorn, forget it. Just, stop talking already!”

He felt terrible for tricking his soft-hearted friend like this. But their lives depended on the Archer Captain believing their fake plan. The best part was, the fake plan was far more believable than what they were actually about to do.

“Take me with you!” the Archer Captain pleaded as Dominic checked her bonds, making sure they were secure. “I hate Graxia; I couldn't escape without being killed, but you've given me a chance! Let me come with you! I promise you my allegiance. I can help you!”

Lenny turned to the others. “C’mon everyone. Maybe we should let her? Give her a chance?” Kohra stared at Lenny like she was nuts. Lenny seemed completely serious, but you never could tell with Lenny. She did love to give people second chances; maybe because so few people ever gave her one.

Everyone shook their heads emphatically.

Lenny knelt in front of the bound woman. “I'm sorry,” she said with genuine feeling. “We don't like to leave you like this, but you'll be rescued soon. We just can't trust you.”

The tightly bound woman sighed heavily, eyes downcast. “I understand. I do. I just wish…. I wish my life had turned out differently.”

Spontaneously, Lenny hugged her, much to everyone's surprise. “I wish that too. Well, goodbye.” Then she turned away, feeling that, just maybe, they were doing the wrong thing. Lenny believed that everybody was redeemable.

They left the Archer Captain trussed up in the cabin, everyone feeling a little guilty. But not too guilty. Dominic took her bow, a beautiful weapon of impeccable craftsmanship. “Consider this penance for trying to kill us all,” he growled, taking her arrows as well.

Grok quickly went to Sea and Sky’s barn, thankful that she was getting this chance after all, and explained to them what they needed to do: protect the stallion and follow it back to Annuvin.

Meanwhile, Reilly dashed over to the stallion’s stall. “You’re free, Horsey! You’re free from your Master forever! So you run, Horsey. Run and run and run and until you get to Coraanyan’s. You understand? You’re free!” This was, of course, all in “Horsey language”. The stallion clearly understood because no sooner had she finished than he bolted, galloping through the snow towards the Fallen Klliik statue, and his life of freedom. Sea and Sky followed moments later, leaving an unmistakable trail.

Kohra wondered if it was believable enough, just three sets of tracks. She thought to mention it but then let it pass. The huge blue oxen-creatures were very large after all; maybe Graxia would think they'd all managed to pile on. It was plausible.

Grok paused a moment, gazing after the tracks. But the time for goodbyes and nostalgia was over. Now they had to hide. Luckily, they’d covered the ground all around the cabin in tracks during their time-stopped cavorting in the snow. Dominic quickly led them to the outer edge of the tracks, then nodded to Lenny, who brought out the Wand of Secret Camping.

“This better work,” she muttered. “Come on, Old Man McKiller, don’t let us down.”

Pointing the Wand at the unblemished snow in front of them, she concentrated. Nothing seemed to happen but, sure enough, as Dominic stepped into the area she had “hidden,” he disappeared. He didn’t even leave tracks. Quickly, everyone followed. Lenny activated the Wand three more times at the far edge of the hidden area, allowing them to travel a good hundred feet or so from the clearing, so that they were well off the main path, huddled against a rocky outcropping.

They arranged themselves defensively, as well as they could. Melkorn, Gorb and Grok stood in front, with Dominic off to the side, Reilly at the back, with the other three girls side-by-side, prepared to create their Arc if it came down to a fight.

Kohra felt terribly exposed, huddled together in plain sight, depending completely on this untested Wand to hide them from what would be certain death.

But there was little time to worry, for within minutes, the advance scouts of Graxia’s army came into view. When they had stopped time, the army had only been a few minutes away.

“Quiet now,” Dominic murmured, although he didn’t need to remind anyone.

The scouts passed by quickly, eyes scanning the terrain for an ambush, then excitedly pointing at the tracks leading away from the cabin. As they passed, a mere coconut’s throw away, Kohra felt her stomach clench in fear. One of them had looked right at her, she could’ve sworn, but his eyes passed over like there was nothing but snow and rock. Her knees shook uncontrollably as she willed herself not to panic. Just stay calm, Kohra; just stay calm.

Reilly tugged on her sleeve. Kohra bent down, slowly, noiselessly. Reilly put her mouth right up to Kohra’s ear. “I have to pee,” she whispered, wiggling her legs back and forth.

“You can’t,” Kohra whispered back. “You were supposed to go before we left!”

“I forgot!” Reilly protested, wiggling her whole body in frustration.

But a moment later, Graxia main force came into view, and Reilly froze, heart in her throat, the need to pee already forgotten. They marched in tight formation, row after row, eerily silent except the clanking of armour and crunching of heavy boots in the snow.

Reilly buried her head in her arms so she wouldn't watch. Kohra put an arm around her, but she was just as terrified.

They traveled in a diamond shape, the outside comprised of heavily armoured foot-soldiers. Inside, a group of twelve archers with long-bows surrounded two women. One was Graxia, still looking quite singed from their previous encounter. The other, they didn't recognize; she was fully wrapped in an inky black cloak and walked right on top of the snow, like she was weightless. Kohra's mouth went dry. A sorcerer. Not a pretend wanna-be wizard like she was. A real sorcerer. If she saw through their illusion; if this didn’t....

Graxia’s cold eyes were fixed on Grok’s cabin.

Silently, the soldiers broke formation, surrounding the cabin. At a signal from Graxia, they busted down the door and stormed inside. Reilly immediately dropped her pants and peed in the snow, right where she was standing. Nobody even noticed.

A minute later, the Archer Captain emerged, rubbing her wrists and gesturing wildly toward the Fallen Klliik pass. Graxia listened carefully, then examined the tracks while her soldiers made sure nobody was hiding in the barn or other buildings.

“Light ‘em up!” she yelled. Promptly, her soldiers lit torches and threw them into the buildings. As flames licked up the walls and black smoke poured out of the windows, her army double-timed it after the getaway tracks, heading for the Fallen Klliik pass.

Kohra stole a look at Grok, but she wasn’t even watching her home burn. She was staring at the receding soldiers. The moment they were out of sight, she sprang into action, commanding, “Let's move! We have to get to that tunnel first!” And that was it. Not a tear shed, not a moment of hesitation. Kohra marvelled at her strength. Grok must have dearly loved this place, her beautiful home, her animals, all her treasures gathered over gods-knew-how-long. But right now, right at that moment, they had a tunnel to collapse, and every second counted.

Dominic and Grok took the lead, setting as fast a pace as Melkorn would be able to follow. Kohra and Lenny were right behind them, listening as they strategized.

“I counted 67 soldiers, not including the archers and scouts”, Dominic was saying. “Heavily armoured, which is probably why they were so slow to get here.”

Grok nodded, her eyebrows knitted in thought. “So based on your estimates of the cavern forces, they've got maybe a dozen guards, tops, left behind?”

Dominic nodded. “Sounds about right.”

“There was a Sorcerer as well,” Grok added. “The one in the cloak, beside Graxia.”

“Also, an invisible person,” Lenny interjected.

“What?” Grok and Dominic exclaimed simultaneously, turning around momentarily to look at her.

Lenny shrugged. “Didn't you notice? Following behind Graxia, maybe 30 feet back. You could see the snow floofs as they walked.”

Dominic whistled. “You're really something, you know.”

Lenny responded, “Yeeeeet!” and raised her arms in what she called her “goblin pose.” Lenny typically did things like that when she found herself the centre of attention. Dominic laughed, in spite of their circumstances. Kohra, watching from behind, smiled. She loved these people. Even in the midst of a suicide mission, they found humour in little moments.

“Okay, we were right,” Grok commented as they hiked. “She brought most of her forces to catch you.” She grinned. “I love it when a plan comes together.”

* * * * *

A large force of Kobolds watched from their cliffs. This must be more activity than they had seen in a long time, Kohra thought. It momentarily occurred to her how strange it was that she wasn't even afraid of them anymore. Somehow, when fighting a war, other threats to your life, like carnivorous dog-lizard-people, are just kind of accepted.

They stopped partway into the canyon, a fair distance from the no-longer-secret entrance. It was possible, they had reasoned, that Graxia would have set guards there, although Grok thought it far more likely that any troops she kept back would be in the cavern itself, not way out here in the cold, too far from the stronghold to communicate or get reinforcements.

In any case, they couldn't take any chances.

“Squirrelly time,” Melkorn said to Reilly, giving her a hug. He seemed to have finally figured out that they were the same. 

Reilly shrank, morphing into Squirrelly. The whole process was fast, taking only a couple of seconds. It was astonishing to watch, and Grok's eyes widened predictably. “Always wanted to see a Druid do that,” she grinned. 

Melkorn grinned back, like always, proclaiming with pride, “Squirrelly is my friend!”

“Be careful, Reilly,” Kohra whispered, watching the little squirrel scamper off toward the secret tunnel, jumping from shadow to shadow, an infinitesimal speck in the mountains.

A few minutes later, she was back. Lenny bent down, said “Sorry Reilly, you know what I gotta do,” and slapped her repeatedly across her little furry face until, bleary-eyed and woozy, she grew back into Reilly.

She drank some water, holding onto Melkorn for support. “There's nobody there; no traps; nothing.”

Grok nodded. “Good. She's focusing her remaining forces in the cavern.”

“Which is going to make getting into the cavern fun! Wheeeee!” Lenny laughed sardonically.

“At least we get out of the cold,” Devona grumbled, shivering. “I hate these mountains! If we get back…. No, WHEN we get back home, I'm heading to the beach and never setting foot in bloody mountains again!”

* * * * *

In the little room with the snake carcasses, Grok stopped, turned around, and brought out a tiny brass horn, which floated to her lips. “Stand back everyone,” she instructed, pointing the horn directly into the hole.

“Wait!” Reilly shouted, pointing at the burnt snake remains. “Can we bury them?”

It was a strangely sweet moment. They stood in a semi-circle around the hole. Gorb said a few words about the Light, giving the snakes' tortured souls a blessing in death, wishing them freedom and peace. Dominic jumped back down through the hole, reaching up while Reilly handed the bodies down to him, wrapped in a piece of her own cloak. He lay them among the bones, closing his eyes for a moment and remaining still, like he was giving them his own blessing, which indeed he was. Melkorn hauled him back up when he was done, and everyone tossed a handful of dirt from above. Then, they stood back.

“Farther,” Grok urged. “I cannot predict exactly what this is going to do.”

She aimed the horn carefully, directly into the hole, and blew. It emitted the strangest sound, especially for such a tiny instrument, a deep, loud rumbling, like an avalanche. A moment later, an avalanche was exactly what happened, a river of rocks and dirt and small boulders pouring out of the horn, quickly filling the cave. Grok jumped backwards, the avalanche filling the little room below, until it stopped, right at her feet. Coughing, she brushed herself off. “Well, that was quite…something.” It was the first time they had known her to be at a loss for words.

Everyone burst into quiet celebration, jumping up and down, high-fiving, hugging, Melkorn picking each person right up and spinning them around. They had done it! They had escaped the army! Most of it anyway.

Kohra felt, for a moment, hopeful.