Spells
Kanar’s spell is weakening. Last night, shortly after the moon dipped below the horizon, we heard a sucking, slobbering sound somewhere off to the north. It wasn’t coming from within the woods. It was high. Real high. And it lingered for a while before fading away. We’ve heard it four times since then. Always north, and always closer. Cutter ventured out of our camp shortly after sunrise and when he returned his face was ashen and streaked in places with what appeared to be burn marks. Minor. Like a mild sunburn. That’s when we discovered the spell was fading. Cutter had gone to its edge to analyse the wind, and that’s where he got burned. He said that Gerridian had loosened a powerful tracker spell. It was sweeping the land in a left-right-left pattern and when it passed over him, the energy from its ‘eye’ burned his skin.
It didn’t see him, though. Nor did he think it detected Kanar’s shield. But the very fact he’d been burned meant our cover was weakening. Kanar didn’t appear too bothered by that. I was. So was Armbranch. When we quizzed Kanar about it, he told us not to worry. All spells shrank, and we should reach the horseshoe mountains long before we were exposed.
I’d like to believe him. Honestly. But there’s something so strong and energetic about that sucking sound that makes me feel more like a fly hiding behind a curtain while someone beats the curtain with a swat. Our spell doesn’t need to weaken. All that thing needs is to hit the right spot. Then Gerridian will loosen everything he has on us.
If nothing else, the forest is getting denser. This allows us to move quicker. I figure we made maybe five or six miles today and Sara wants to push on into the night. Good idea. I’d happily push on until tomorrow and beyond if my muscles let me. Bit my thighs are aching, and my calves and ankles feel especially weak. The terrain is too rough. I only hope we don’t have any accidents in the dark.
Daidogan doesn’t want to sleep, either. O’Heir told me earlier he had to order her to bed this morning because she looked so tired. She’d been up for two days straight, prowling around the house and gardens trying to spot the shadow. She sees it as an early warning system. She figures the shadow will somehow know the correct time to attempt a return through the gateway. That’s when it’ll come closer. In turn, that should indicate to us that something might be about to happen here.
It’s such a great idea I’m surprised nobody else (especially me) thought of it before now. There’s only one problem. The laptop is my main defence here –at least against the Basilod. If I keep it on at all times waiting for Daidogan’s signal, the battery will never last.
Same old shit. Nothing ever runs smoothly.
Categories: Fake Empire
Comments Off
« Within the spell | Home | Drool of a monster »
