Chapter 94: Racing to the Gateway

Chapter 94: Racing to the Gateway

When Gandash made the decision for the High Seers to make a break for the Gateway, the Unsighted troops didnt seem very surprised. Of course, the fact that they were conditioned to follow orders made that something of a foregone conclusion.

Teucer took the news with a taciturn nod of his head, as if hed expected it to happen.

Kishar wept. Katayoun put an arm around her shoulder and whispered to her softly. The two eventually left the cave to talk in private.

Ningsummunu took the news the worst.

Are you fucking kidding me? he said. I stood by your side, Gandash. I voted with you when Jad was leading his insurrection. And this is the thanks I get? Abandoned and left to die?

Were not abandoning you, Ning, Gandash said. Were going to get help.

Ningsummunu looked away. Thats exactly what Jad said.

Xerxes had to admit that Ningsummunu was right. No matter what explanation was given, and no matter how they layered their logic, Gandash was now doing exactly what Jad had pushed so hard for.

Gandash tried to mask his frustration but failed as he said, Ning, Ill never forget your loyalty. And I promise you that extracting you from Jehannemid is going to be my top priority once I reach the Gateway. Even if I have to violate orders, I will come back and get you.

Not likely. Gandash, you play things by the book. Even this decision, to abandon the rest of us to the monsters, isnt a rules violation. As the captain, you have every right to make this choice. So dont try to tell me that youll throw away your career just to come back for a cripple and a few Unsighted soldiers. He heaved himself onto his feet, put his crutch under his arm, and hobbled to the cave entrance.

Gandash opened his mouth, then closed it.

Youre right, Ning, Xerxes said. Gandash does care about his career. But Im different. If the Sin-Amuhhu Combined Armed Forces dont immediately send an army to get you, then fuck em. Ill come back for you. You have my word.

Frowning, Ningsummunu looked at him, then nodded. That, I believe. Then he walked out.

Gandash didnt say anything else after that.

There wasnt much to do in terms of preparation. Gandash transferred ownership of the holding bracelet to Kishar. There was enough food inside to keep the remnants of Black Jackal alive for at least two weeks, possibly more depending on how their hunting and foraging efforts went.

There didnt seem any advantage to traveling at night over daytime. Some Abhorrent seemed nocturnal, others not so much. Besides, being Sighted didnt provide any boost to mundane vision. If anything, nighttime travel could be more dangerous.

Shortly after dawn, the High Seers left the caves and went to the plateau. Teucer and Kishar came to see them off. Words of farewell were exchanged, and though the two Seers did their best to come across as supportive and encouraging, they seemed defeated and hopeless.

The High Seers left with no fanfare. Xerxes led the way, followed by Katayoun and Gandash, with Kashtiliash bringing up the rear. He set as fast a pace as possible, while simultaneously keeping an eye out for flying Abhorrent. Or any Abhorrent for that matter. Though there were no paths, the vegetation and rocks werent so thick as to obstruct easy movement. It took about thirty minutes to reach the foothills. It was there, in what had once been a lush forest but was now a quasi-wasteland, that they saw the first traces of Abhorrent.

It was a variation on the type that looked like a rhino, except with feathers and eye stalks. Xerxes saw it from a distance, and signaled to the others to stop moving. They melted behind half-destroyed trees and stopped moving.

The Abhorrent was at least a hundred cubits away. Was it close enough to sense them?

The High Seers remained stock still as they waited in silence.

The Abhorrent ambled on, but even after, they stayed in place for a time just to be safe.

It was wounded but not dead.

He glanced to the side and saw Kashtiliash standing over the corpse of a smaller wolf. A big one had his entire forearm in its jaws and was trying to yank him to the ground. There wasnt time to help.

Gandash and Katayoun stood shoulder to shoulder against the trunk of the tree.

More wolves were gathering.

Xerxes eviscerated the throat of the small wolf hed been fighting, then spun out of the way of another large one. Counter-attacked. Dodged.

He looked up at the newcomers. There were seven of them. Five small, two big.

Gandy, we need you! he yelled.

On it, Gandash replied, and he began casting a spell.

Xerxes didnt wait for the outcome. He took the fight to the wolves. This wasnt a duel, it was a fight for life, so he tried to make every blow a deadly one. He beheaded a small wolf. Paralyzed another small one by severing its spine just below the neck. It wasnt dead, but he didnt care. He stabbed one of the large ones as it lunged at him.

A bellow from Kashtiliash caught his attention. He looked over to see the bearded mage on the ground with a big wolf on top of him.

Shit. But there was no way for Xerxes to jump to help him.

He had no idea what Gandash or Katayoun were doing.

More wolves came.

Everything turned into a blur of blood, pain, and desperation.

His sword became heavy. Heavier than anything hed ever lifted. His shoulders ached. His back screamed at him. But he kept fighting.

Eventually, he couldnt lift the weapon much past his waist. He lurched forward and stabbed into a wolfs mouth. It growled, tried to paw at him, then went still. He desperately tried to pull the sword back out, but failed. He yanked at it. Heaved. It was stuck. He let go, and the sword dropped to the ground, still buried in the creature.

He looked around.

The wolves were all dead. The stream flowed with black blood, intermixed with occasional streaks of red.

Ignoring his sword, he turned to look at the tree. Gandash slumped against it. Katayoun stood next to him holding a short sword, panting.

Kash? he croaked. He scanned the area. Kash?

There, Katayoun said, pointing. She threw the sword to the ground and started walking.

Xerxes spotted the bearded mage on the bank of the stream, surrounded by wolf corpses. He lay face down, and he wasnt breathing.