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  Hidden passage? The Six must have a hand in this. Either way, it didn’t matter. “If it’s hidden, then we can’t use a Door to get directly there. However, I should be able to shorten how long you’ll need to run.”

  “Proceed.” Her tone started to irritate him. Couldn’t she at least try to be friendly?

  “I can open a Door to the foothills where the Trellham Mountains meet the Spine of Khron. That is the closest distinctive landmark I know to where you say Northhelm lies. After that, we’ll have to run the rest of the way.”

  “That would certainly be a good start.”

  Did he hear a hint of approval?

  “The second way I can hasten our journey is more localized.” He waited for her to comment, but she remained silent. “Where the ground ahead is free of obstacles, I can pull us forward as you run. Essentially, I’m using the split second between steps to pull us both forward. The effect can be a bit disconcerting, and the longer the distance, the greater the disorientation. If you feel up to it, I can employ the technique between here and the pass.” Even at her speed, he had enough distance to practice.

  “Proceed.”

  By the Six! If she said “proceed” again, he’d . . . He resisted the urge to dig his heels into her flanks.

  “I need to know how this feels before agreeing to it on the rest of the trip.”

  “Agreed.” He gauged the distance between them and their destination. “I’ll warn you before I cast the spell. The effect is hard to explain, but to me it feels as if the land rushes past me for a moment, and then it’s normal. I’ll be sure to leave us enough room so that we don’t run into the mountain.”

  “Do I reduce my pace?”

  “There’s no need for that. I’ll leave enough room for you to keep running.” If this small “pull” worked, he hoped to make much longer ones once they reached the northern slopes.

  Making use of his proximity to Haven, he drew on the stored energy in the Sources to power his spell. He fixed his eyes on a place at the edge of the plains. “Be ready. I’m going to employ the spell now.” By force of will, Farrell used the energy to “pull” them to a point closer to the end of Gharaha. “Honorus’s light!”

  “Is something wrong, Wizard? That seemed to work quite well. I felt no ill effects but did notice the land rush around us as you warned.”

  “That was not the normal effect, Nerti. We went much faster than I expected, though I did nothing different to warrant such an increase.” He didn’t like it when a spell went other than as planned, but he had no time to delve into the mystery. Nerti kept running toward the end of Gharaha. He pointed to his right. “Make for the small indentation in the mountain to the left of the standing outcrop of rock.”

  Nerti adjusted her path while Farrell concentrated on the Door. Unlike opening a Door from nothing, he could activate a permanent Door with a mental command. Once open, the Door would take them to any place he could visualize. He concentrated on the image of a wooded glade and sent his command. As soon as they hurtled through the Door, a thick warmth and the overpowering smell of pine assailed his senses.

  He searched the horizon, hoping for a clear view through the many obstacles.

  “It’s too dangerous to use the spell with this many trees in our way. The risk of crashing into one is too great.”

  “Do not apologize, Wizard. Your skills have brought us more than a third of the way to our destination. Use your spell whenever you can, and we will be there in short order.”

  This time, he knew he heard a note of respect in her voice. Now he felt a twinge of guilt at his earlier thought. Maybe the trip wouldn’t be so bad after all.

  “Keep alert for soldiers,” he said.

  “Are we not in Pelipan?”

  “We are, but stay alert anyway. I dislike King Heldin and don’t trust him.” He cast his senses wide, making certain no one had observed them exiting the Door.

  “Heldin is no friend of Meglar. We have nothing to fear from him or his people.”

  Finding nothing, Farrell relaxed a bit. “As you say, but years ago, while a student of Grand Master Heminaltose, I met Heldin. My master disliked and distrusted him, and I’ve never found any reason to disagree. Best we avoid any contact with his people.”

  If Nerti had a different opinion, she did not comment. Between her speed and his spells, they crossed Pelipan and moved into what was once Respital by midmorning.

  The sun had just passed its zenith when Farrell brought them out of the longest pull of the ride so far. A curdling sensation hit his gut, strengthening with each step forward. Something felt very wrong in this area. Nerti slowed to a stop.

  “We near Northhelm.” Her voice held a pain he could understand. “Meglar’s forces have been through here. I can tell you feel it as well.”

  “Aye. His troops leave a foul residue wherever they pass. Can you tell me what lies ahead so I can devise a plan of action?”

  Without a word, Nerti pushed her thoughts into his mind, allowing him to “see” the land ahead as she remembered it. Unlike Haven, Northhelm was built inside the last mountain before the pass. Meglar’s army would be able to surround her home on three sides. No one said getting to the front gate would be easy.

  He scoured the image she gave him. Perhaps the geography could work in their favor. Unlike Gharaha, the valley before Northhelm rolled up and down in a series of hills, with numerous rock formations thrusting up in random places. The southernmost hills extended several hundred yards beyond the break in the mountains. At least the pass could only be approached from the east.

  The path wound its way up and down the hills and around smooth, sheer rocks that limited the threat as much as they boxed them in. Essentially, they’d be running through an oversized cattle chute. But it also prevented an attack from above. Once in the valley, they’d turn north and follow the winding path to the gate.

  And of course, Meglar’s army stood between them and Northhelm.

  “Those who live in Northhelm would have defended the entrance with their lives if Lenore had not told us to keep to the mountain until She sent help.” Nerti moved again, showing no signs she’d been running for nearly three days straight. “Even the peregrines were ordered to stay inside.”

  Ferrell had never met a peregrine, but, like unicorns, he’d read about them. Raptors about the size of a horse, they possessed the agility of a hawk.

  “How is it that this passage north and Northhelm have never been discovered until now? Respital is, or was, just south of here. Northhelm should have been discovered centuries ago.”

  “The city and the pass were hidden.”

  “Hidden?” He knew how stupid he sounded repeating everything. “Who could hide an entire mountain?”

  It felt as though Nerti laughed in his mind. “It was the wizard Beatrice.”

  “My master, Heminaltose, studied for a time under an ancient wizard named Beatrice almost a thousand years ago.” It had to be the same wizard. “He only studied with her a few years before she died.”

  “When Heminaltose studied with Beatrice, she was about to celebrate her two thousandth year. She did this when she was very young.”

  If a young Beatrice cast the spell, then . . . “Your home has been hidden for more than three millennia?”

  “That would be accurate.”

  “To have lasted three thousand years is an amazing piece of magic.” Now he wished he had the chance to study it. “How did Meglar find you?”

  “Some of our warriors rode to the aid of Respital.” Nerti didn’t sound as though she approved. “One who was gravely wounded was inadvertently left behind and captured.”

  Farrell kept alert as they rode. “When survivors from Respital arrived at Haven, they spoke of a company of mercenaries who impossibly held back Meglar’s Chamdon long enough for the main army to retreat. After the battle, they disappeared, and no one knew what happened to them.”

  “Before Meglar attempted to turn the fallen warrior into a Chamdon, he
stripped her mind of all useful information, including the location of Northhelm.”

  “Armed with her knowledge, he was able to pierce Beatrice’s

  spells.”

  “Precisely.”

  A frightening image forced its way into his mind. “What happened to the captured Muchari?”

  “After he obtained the needed information, Meglar attempted to turn her into a Chamdon. When he turned his foul magic on her, her wounds did not heal as he hoped. Instead, it hastened her death, but not before Meglar saw what great strength a Muchari had when converted to one of his foul creatures.”

  Now it started to make sense. “Which explains why Lenore ordered everyone to stay inside the mountain.”

  “Correct.”

  A breeze moaned softly as it passed, and the churning in his gut returned, wringing harder. Lingering here would not get them to Northhelm. Using all the new facts, he considered their options.

  “I believe I can get us close to the mouth of the pass before we need to fight our way through. It’s just a question of how close we can get before there are so many soldiers we can’t avoid bumping into them.”

  “Then what?” Skepticism oozed from her question.

  Now that he wanted to hear “proceed,” she wouldn’t say it. He almost laughed, but their situation required he be serious. “I have a few ideas, but it will depend on how much magic we encounter. I sense some large magics at work, but it’s hard to pin down what they are and who’s casting them. There are definitely two or more different spells at work. I can feel the different textures. I assume one is the defensive shield created by your people and the other is Meglar’s wizards attempting to breach it.

  “The biggest problem we’ll face, aside from an army of Chamdon, will be if they try to block our way instead of attacking us. It’s harder to beat down a well-made shield than it is to deflect attacks.”

  “That is well and good.” Nerti slowed to a walk. “Shall we proceed?”

  His lips quirked into a brief smile. “Before we go, I need to make sure you can handle what I’m going to try. I’ve employed this before, but always with many riders, never with one.”

  “Wizard, I shall fulfill my duties so long as you handle yours.” She sounded annoyed. “What is it you propose?”

  Pushing aside any concerns for her pride, he retrieved one of his shorter staffs. “When I engage this spell, it will project our image multiple times. These images will be made of energy. They will protect us from attack, magic, sword, and arrow, even from a Chamdon. The more images, the shorter the spell will last. I think five will be the optimum number in our case. That will provide enough protection but should not overtax you. Once activated, I’ll link them to you, and they’ll move with us. It will feel as if you are dragging something. I don’t believe it will be too heavy. If it is, let me know.”

  “I will do what needs to be done.” Her confidence, while admirable, left him wondering if she really understood what he’d said. He’d soon find out.

  “Very well, Nerti. I’ll make us undetectable; then we can be off. When we meet with physical resistance, I’ll unleash the spell. Then you need to immediately head for the entrance to your home.”

  Farrell reached into one of his endless pockets and withdrew two silver bracelets. He placed one against his left wrist, and the apparently seamless band separated to slip around his arm. The same happened when he put the mate to his right wrist. Next, he reached over his shoulder for his staff. Released, it returned to its original length of two yards.

  Farrell twirled the staff over his head in a blur of motion, focusing on the spell that would cloak them. When he stopped moving it, he held the staff in his left hand, directly in front of him, keeping it parallel to the ground. “Okay, Nerti, my spell is in place.”

  Silently the unicorn leapt forward and accelerated quickly to full speed in a few strides. He sat, staff extended before him, keeping as still as possible as they sped across the barren ground toward the entrance to Northhelm.

  Sentries stood watch, perched at the top of the ridgeline directly above them. None of them seemed to notice the pair. Neither did the few human guards they passed on the ground. So far, his spell worked.

  Every step closer to the gap brought an ever-growing contingent of enemy soldiers. Nerti slowed her pace to avoid running into them. Focused on the spell to keep them invisible, Farrell barely noticed the Chamdon sniffing the air.

  In sight of the entrance, he could see formations of Meglar’s army filing into the valley. Nerti slowed even more. “Perhaps we should engage your shadows. It is too hard to make any speed trying to avoid them.”

  “Agreed.” He made sure the short staff had enough power, but before he activated the spell, a loud roar boomed from his left. Two Chamdon closed in on them, sniffing as they came.

  “Your spell has been breached, Wizard!” The force of her voice nearly broke his concentration. Nerti lurched forward, not waiting for him to respond. “Activate the shadows now.”

  Balls of green wizard’s fire erupted toward the closing enemies as he aimed his staff at the charging creatures. The force of impact sent a shower of flesh, blood, and armor flying backward.

  Roused to the alert, the rest of Meglar’s army scurried in all directions. Unable to locate the source of the attack, the mindless creatures hacked at anything that moved, including each other. Human handlers struggled to maintain order while Farrell continued his attack.

  The more chaos, the better.

  Releasing the invisibility spell, Farrell placed the short staff against Nerti’s back. Five red energy shadows sprang up and surrounded them in a wedge of magical protection.

  Despite the added drag of their new shield, Nerti increased her speed. She galloped directly for the gap into the valley where the bulk of Meglar’s forces had assembled.

  Charging into the teeth of the enemy, he and Nerti became the focus of dozens of Chamdon attacks. Their outer protection melted swords, burned clothing, and charred the flesh of those it encountered. The first magical assault didn’t come until they reached the mouth of the gap. Farrell’s protection swept these attacks aside as Nerti continued to run full out.

  Bearing down, the pair and their escort cleaved a path as they made for the entrance to Northhelm. When they broke through the ranks of what Farrell assumed to be the rear guard, he detected a shield wall directly ahead.

  “Wizard, I sense magic ahead.”

  “I’m on it, Nerti.” He placed his staff on his back and the rain of wizard’s fire ceased. He dug into his endless pockets and withdrew a small leather pouch. Swiftly he emptied the contents, a fine gray powder, into his left hand. Cupping the powder, he moved his hand as far right as he could before sweeping it right to left, palm upraised. The powder flew forward, creating a fog-like appearance and outpacing Nerti’s rapid gallop.

  Several hundred yards ahead, the fine grains of gray dust swirled upward and blanketed the wall of energy. Behind the shield, two black-robed men stood still, chanting furiously.

  “Amateurs,” he muttered. “Nerti, make for the center of the mist. I’ll have it down in a moment.”

  At the edge of his mind, he detected something from his companion.

  “Wizard, with all the noise, stop using your mouth and speak into my mind.” Her curt tone felt like his master scolding him.

  “Sorry . . . Sorry, I forget you can hear me.” Slightly embarrassed, he returned his focus to the fight.

  The swirling dust coagulated around several bright points dotted randomly in the wall. The spots grew in intensity and size as Nerti drew closer. “Wizard, you need to do something before we collide with their shield.”

  “Just make for the wall. I know what I’m doing.” Even mentally, his words came out in a hiss as he focused on his spell.

  Nerti dipped her horn, as did the five red energy copies, preparing for impact. Farrell whipped his staff around, aiming it at the wall.

  Chanting faster, his adversaries lo
oked panicked as the red wedge rushed toward them. Just before Nerti struck the wall, Farrell let out a yell as the tip of his staff pulsed white.

  Like thin ice, the wall shattered. Pieces of brittle shield fell from the sky for hundreds of yards on either side. Two of the bright dots that’d gorged on the energy from the shield wall zoomed forward, striking the dazed wizards. The pair flew backward thirty feet. Farrell sent the other balls whizzing toward dense clusters of Chamdon converging on him and Nerti.

  Nerti ran past the smoldering corpses. “Well done, young one.” The voice held more than a hint of approval.

  “Thank you.” He tried to avoid the temptation of making his tone sound like, “Told you so!” “Can you slow your pace a bit? I’m not sure I’ll have sufficient time to work the magic needed to take down another shield at this speed.”

  “I can, Wizard.”

  Another shield flared before they made much headway. If she noticed the new barrier, Nerti didn’t announce it to him.

  He pulled a large metal wand from his pocket. A thin circle, approximately twelve inches in diameter, topped the slightly thicker metal handle. Placing the circle in front of his face, he opened his mouth and screamed. Despite yelling as loud as he could, no sound passed his lips. For three heartbeats, he maintained the position before closing his mouth.

  He almost spoke, but at the last moment reached out mentally for his partner. “I’m about to unleash a very loud noise. Can you block out all sound, or would you prefer I add you to my protection?”

  “I believe I can, but if the noise will disable me, please add me to your protection.”

  Rather than answer, he waved his free hand over Nerti’s head. His lips moved, but nothing came out. After the third pass, he stopped and held aloft the scepter. Instantly, a piercing screech filled the valley.

  Meglar’s army immediately clutched at their ears in agony. Most of the soldiers and wizards dropped to the ground. A few remained standing but lurched and reeled with the effects of the spell. Only the more powerful wizards remained unaffected.

  Luckily, one of the wizards creating the shield had inadequate protection. While two of the black-robed wizards stood unaffected, the third lay writhing on the ground. A small grin crossed Farrell’s face. Just enough disruption for his purposes.