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Invading Will

Chapter 17

By: D. C. Henry ("Ahndeleck")

Everyone ran. Some people ran towards the collapsed building, other ran away from it. Other ran away from other people, still more chased after them. Matthew followed Raogothcar, but slaves pushed and jostled in his way. After he dodged someone running in front of him, Matthew caught a glimpse of Deanna's blond hair next to Raogothcar.

He fought forward, but his whole body tingled like it was asleep. He hadn't meant to pour so much of himself into the building, but at least it let them all escape. His mind tingled with fear, as he lost the fight to keep up with Deanna. He might not escape, he'd be caught for sure.

"Matthew," Thomas slipped an arm around his back, "Come on, we've got to get to the woods."

"Thomas, thank you."

"Don't mention it, come on. Just keep moving."

Thomas pushed him forward, but the progress felt like he was running in thick mud. When they crossed into a field, their progress was slower. Plants tangled in their path and wooden fences became nearly impassible barriers. At the third fence, Thomas pushed him over the fence.

The ground came on him fast. The blow didn't hurt nearly as badly as he thought it would. His vision turned to stars, suddenly the world looked just like he felt.

"Why did you do that? Oh I'm dizzy."

"Its easier to throw you," Thomas knelt down and pushed Matthew to his feet, "and to pick you up. Or we could climb each one and let the guards catch us."

"Just throw me."

"That's what I thought."

Thomas threw him one more time. The second landing hurt much more than the first. His limbs still felt tired, but the tingling feeling started to subside. Thomas pushed him further as he groaned towards the tree line.

Behind them the shouts of confusion, anger, and orders barked back and forth calmed. Thomas let him drop behind a bush and crouched next to him. They both watched as the gates to the city closed, surrounded by heavily armed guards. Matthew turned over and laid on his back. They escaped, they had really escaped.

"We shouldn't stop here Matthew."

"I need to rest. I did a little too much back in there."

"I know, but those guards are going to search these trees pretty quick. We need to get further away before we stop."

"I really hate you." Matthew fought his legs till he came out standing, "I really, really hate you."

"You can hate me when we're safe. I think Deanna and Raogothcar went in to the woods down this way, let's see if we can catch them."

"Should be easy, Raogothcar's doing worse than I am."

"I don't doubt that."

As they ran west around trees and bushes, the light dimmed in the woods. As they rustled through the leaves, the numbness in his body slowly drained away into an ache, but he could finally support himself. He would sleep well whenever they found a place to sleep.

Soon, Matthew could hear other rustling ahead of them. Bushes and vines blocked his vision, but he knew Deanna and Raogothcar were ahead of them.

"Stop dragon," Deanna said in the distance, "someone's coming."

"It's just us," Thomas shouted, "don't throw anything."

"Do you have the druid?"

"Yes, I'm here." Matthew said as he pushed aside a sapling.

"Good," Deanna crossed her arms as they approached her. "Let's go northwest from here for a while and then make a camp. The further we can get from Fort Blister the better."

"Traveling at night won't be easy Deanna." Thomas said, "It'll be dark soon, and we're in a forest, and there's four of us."

"I can help with the light." Matthew said.

"You're in no condition to do that." Deanna crossed her arms, "You're already in bad condition, we don't want you passed out from over casting."

"I don't feel that bad actually, just tired. I think I can do a little more."

"What about Fort Blister though?" Thomas said, "They're sure to send hounds after us."

"And how are they going to track us over all the other slaves and prisoners?"

"By him" Thomas pointed towards Raogothcar, "Dragon's blood is a little more distinct than any of our scents. And when they track him to here, the hounds'll know our scents as well. We'll have to out run them."

"I think I can fix that too." Matthew leaned on a tree to get off his feet some, "Just give me some time to rest and I'll try, um, something."

"Just don't make a tree."

"I won't Deanna."

He sat with his back to the young tree. He closed his eyes and could feel the faint pulse of the tree behind him. It felt more like home, and much welcome after the city. He heard Raogothcar rustle until he lay and panted on the ground. As he let his breath catch up with him and his aches rest, Matthew listened to the other two.

"Alright, Thomas, how are we going to get back to Freeraven? Do you think we can go back around Fort Blister on the south and get to James Walk?"

"I don't think that's going to work Deanna. Either the captain's already gone back to Longdock, or Torland's seized the ship. We might have to go around the Sea of Melodies."

"We don't have time for that. Torland's going to move fast now that we're free."

"Maybe we could try to find a boat in Lussor?"

"How would we find a boat? We're fugitives, Southlanders, and we have no money."

"If you don't want to walk all around a whole sea, that's your other option Deanna. The rest of the coasts are still wild."

"The dragon could fly the message to Alan. He could get there much sooner than any of us."

"He's in no condition to fly." Matthew opened his eyes, "He'll heal fast, but flying is out for a couple of days. They bruised his shoulder, and the strain of flying on that would tear the muscles I think."

"How soon until he-"

"I don't want to fly." Raogothcar wailed half asleep, "Not right now, it hurts too much."

"I told you. He's in no condition to fly."

"Then we'll wait until he is."

Matthew closed his eyes and settled back into the tree's embrace. He pictured the trees around him in his mind's eye, focusing on the faint glow of magic within each one. He let his vision wander, slowly at first, until he flew through bushes and trees. Soon the plants changed to only small ones, rows and rows of them. Then the plants stopped altogether, and he felt the dry lifeless magic in stacked stones used for walls. Within he could see the forms of men, horses, and dogs. Soon Fort Blister would start their hunt for them.

"We're going to have to leave." Matthew mumbled

"Yes, we'll have to keep moving in a moment."

"No, I mean now. They're getting hunting parties together."

"How can you tell that?"

"I can see them."

Deanna narrowed her eyes at him for a breath.

"Alright, what else can you tell me?"

"Men on horse back, hounds, and lots of them."

"You said you could fix that, how? Can you erase the trail?"

Matthew sighed. No one knew how druids worked. They always thought every druid could do absolutely anything. This certainly was a reason they all lived out in the woods, away from the constant questions.

"No, but I can make the trail stop here. Get me some of those honey suckle over there, handful for each of us. Oh, get three handfuls for Raogothcar. I'll need some water too."

Thomas turned and started gathering small bits of the honey suckle. Deanna looked around her slowly, then glared down at him. He didn't like how much she glared, but she had a rough day.

"We don't have any water, and there isn't any here."

"Try over there." Matthew handed her his water skin, "There's a stream over that way a little ways."

"Did you see that as well?"

"No, but I can smell it."

"You can smell water?"

"The mud, moss, all sorts of things that mean water, I'm used to finding water like that."

Deanna looked at him with that same piercing stare. She was definitely judging him, but he didn't care. He didn't want Fort Blister to find any of them, especially him. She could stare and judge all she wanted. She trusted others like a lone wolf, a powerful, vicious, wolf.

Deanna turned and stalked towards the stream. Matthew studied Thomas as he cut the flowers with his knife. Thomas worked for Deanna, but was definitely different than her. He thought highly of his leader though. To go through so much and risk their lives to rescue her told how much he believed in her.

Thomas piled the cuttings close to the tree Matthew sat against. Deanna returned with the skin filled and held it out, dripping and cold. They wouldn't need anything else, just a little more time.

"Alright," Matthew began squeezing the flowers into the water skin, "we'll smell like the honeysuckle for the rest of the night. I hope you three like the smell, but either way it'll keep the hounds off our trail."

The concentration necessary was more difficult, but he felt the force and power within him necessary to do what he needed. The moment he reached out with his mind into the water, the sudden blow from a headache nearly broke his concentration. Through the pain he was able to build just the right condition to spread the oils through the rest of the water.

"There. Just take the water and rub it all over yourself. It'll spread a little and then those hounds won't be able to find us."

"So," Thomas looked doubtful, "we're all going to smell like flowers?"

"I could have done a dead rat. There's one over there you know."

"Flowers are good. I like flowers. Raogothcar, do you like flowers?"

The dragon growled to himself but didn't move from where he lay. Matthew passed the oils to Thomas next. While the other two rubbed the oil in, Matthew closed his eyes and tried to focus him mind tighter. He still had another batch to make, and then to make a wisp. It wouldn't be pleasant.

Making the oils for Raogothcar became much more painful. He had to stop half way through the process. It felt as if his head had been sliced and pulled in three different directions. He sat back against the tree while the other two covered Raogothcar. When Deanna pressed the oil near a wound, he growled again. He didn't envy the dragon's plight.

"Alright, now what?" Deanna asked.

"Well, it'll be dark soon, so how about some light. Then we can go on our way."

"What do you need now?"

"Just a staff, stick, or branch."

"Here" Deanna knelt and held out a small stick.

"I could use something a little larger than a twig."

Deanna dropped the stick and sighed. Thomas handed him a branch from a nearby bush. Matthew smiled as he took it.

"That'll work."

A trickle of dread filled him as he closed his eyes and reached gingerly with his mind. The branch was alive, that would help. He pushed his thought into the branch and immediately felt the thunderous roar of pain in his head and down his back. Like a thrown rope, his mind returned to him, collapsing in his head. He heard his own cry of pain, but it sounded muffled.

"Matthew, are you alright?" Thomas bent over him.

"Yes, I just went too fast. I won't do anymore after this one I think. I've done far too much today." He smiled at them both, "Its the most growing I've done in a single day I think."

"You've done more magic than most mages I've ever seen Matthew. Without it I doubt we'd be here. Take your time."

He started the process again, this time much slower. The pain seared in his mind, but it was unavoidable. This time he was ready for it and carefully coaxed the branch to change enough to glow. When he finished, he opened his eyes to the cheerful golden glow of the branch in his hands.

"I've never seen anything quite like it." Thomas shook his head, "Just look at that, a plant that glows like a fire."

"That's one of the first things a druid learns to do, other than commune of course."

"Good," Deanna nodded towards the darkening woods, "Let's go. The further the better. I don't want to be near this place when the hounds get here."

After they pushed the dragon back to his feet, they wandered slowly through the woods. It didn't take long before all the light seemed to disappear other than what Matthew held in his hand, and the chance small break in the leaves. Within minutes a small tingling sensation returned to his body. It was painful, but small enough not to keep him from walking, or having anyone throw him over anything.

Their pace through the woods was slow. Raogothcar limped slowly through the bushes and around trees. Deanna and Thomas both looked as tired as he felt. They would have to find some place to rest soon, none of them would be able to go on much further. Deanna might be able to, she seemed to be unstoppable, mostly.

Matthew pushed through a line of bushes and stepped into an open clearing. Above them the stars winked their applause down at them. In the dim light from the moons the clearing looked wrong to him. Deanna pushed through the bushes and kept walking forward without looking at her surroundings.

A few steps further and Matthew knew they were walking through some sort of garden. The mature plants masked the rows they stood in. Above them Matthew could see the shadow of a roof of a large building, and at the top of the roof, the symbol of the church of Yathma. Matthew's heart sank slightly.

"Wait for a moment," Matthew said quietly, "this is a church garden."

"You druids can see everything can't you?" Thomas walked ahead and stood before the garden.

"Well, from back here you can see the roof. Let me go see if they'll let us hide here. Sometimes the church will offer refuge to travelers and escaped slaves."

"Do they take fugitives as well?"

"Well, sometimes. Not as often, but we'll see. Stay here and I'll go talk to them. Best only one of us goes so if there are any guards from Fort Blister, only one of us gets caught."

"Alright," Deanna waved towards the church, "go ahead."

Thomas nodded as Matthew walked past. He wished they hadn't found the church. He couldn't imagine what would happen once they found him knocking on the door. One of the other two could have gone, but he couldn't jeopardize their mission now, not after he worked so hard to help them.

He stood before the front doors of the church. There was a time he stood before church doors happy to enter. Now he felt apprehensive. Whatever they said, or did, he would do his best to remain civil. He had to get the others a place to stay, he had to convince them to let them stay.

Matthew stepped forward and banged on the door. At first there was nothing, but after a minute, he heard footsteps. Quickly he brushed off dust and dirt he had picked up from running through the woods. Slow creaking of floorboards approached the door, and then a latch was undone. The door opened and an old woman stared back at him, and then scowled.

"A druid? What does the bastard son of Yathma want with here?"

"Sister, I am with some tired travelers. We're hoping to rest here for the night if-"

"A whole pack of you animals? A whole pack wants to sleep here, inside my church?"

"No, I'm the only one. There are travelers from the Southlands that need a roof over their head. One of them is wounded."

"There aren't travelers from the Southlands here." The old woman's eyes peered deeper into him. "What exactly are you playing at beast?"

"Well," Matthew sighed and then plunged onward, "I don't know completely myself. I met them in Fort Blister. I helped them escape the city, and what little they've told me is that they are trying to get home with information that may stop a war. I don't know everything that has happened, but I know what Torland has done so far is terrible. I think their right, and if they are a lot of people stand to die if they don't get home.

"We need a place to stay to rest and hide. The dragon was put on trial and beaten, I'm not sure how badly either, but it isn't good. I'm just trying to get them a place to rest. Please don't turn them away. I'll sleep out here and leave you alone if I must madam. You must give them a chance, even if you won't give me one. Please."

The old woman straightened her back during his plea. She remained silent for a long time. Matthew knew she was going to say no. They couldn't stand what they were. He nodded and turned to walk back to the others to find a place in the woods.

"Wait druid." Matthew faced the woman who nodded, "Bring them here, I'm willing to take a chance so wild as your story. If any of you cause trouble though, know that we know enough to make your life miserable."

"Thank you madam."

Matthew bowed then turned back to the woods. He smiled as he approached them and pointed back towards the church.

"We've got a place to stay for a while. Go ahead."

"Good." Deanna started for the church.

"Thank goodness Matthew," Thomas laid a hand on Matthew's shoulder, "I was worried we'd be sleeping in the trees tonight. Thank you, now help me get Raogothcar inside will you? He's barely awake."

******

Raogothcar snapped open his eyes. Nothing of the room he laid in looked familiar. He started to stand but found his back leg hurt far too much to make it. He slumped back down and growled at the pain.

He lay on a large pile of woolen blankets. They felt rough against his skin, but the warmth felt good to him, so he would tolerate them. The room was dark, only small windows on three sides of the room let light through the stone walls. He lay in the corner of the room close to several large crates. Through the whole room barrels and crates were scattered at random, making small winding paths. At the opposite side was a thick wooden staircase that lead up to a wide door.

Furrowing his brow, he tried to remember how he arrived there. He remembered the trial, and the man with the metal club. The man's shouting rang clear in his mind, nearly as if he was laying on the cold hard stone with him shouting over him. Then the blows came back to him. Horribly painful strikes with no way to avoid them, no pleading or fighting helped. His neck, head, legs, shoulder, the man had hit his several times on his back leg and on his side.

Then the sound of cheering returned to him. He lay broken and bleeding on the stone, and the sound of cheering, came to his memories. The same kind that had cheered him as a hero had cheered the man with the club as a hero. They wanted to beat him. They enjoyed beating him. Memories became fuzzy after the cheers. There was a blow to his head and he could only remember snatches from then.

Then he remembered running. There had been loud shouts and there was several buildings, but none of them looked like where he was now. Then there were plants and trees. The only other thing he could remember were people pushing him and forcing him to run when all he wanted to do was sleep. He hated the torture and clawed at the blankets in his anger.

His anger cooled quickly, and a sense of disappointment and self-pity took its place. Raogothcar curled up as much as his bruised body would let him and cried quietly. Humans were such great creatures when his parents had talked about them. It didn't take people in Ravenstone long to start throwing bricks at him. Fort Blister beat him the moment he arrived. None of them were as good as what his parents had said, not a single one.

He wanted to write in his journal, to say everything he felt onto the pages. He nosed around through the blankets and looked around the room a second time. The journal was missing. It couldn't be missing, he couldn't have lost it. His heart raced as he tried to remember what had happened to it. It was in his leather bag when he arrived at Fort Blister, but they had taken it from him. He let out a wail, his whole life was lost. Everything he was, lost in the hands of two legged animals.

Anger returned fresh and bloody. Humans were evil, all they wanted was to destroy things. Everyone seemed to be trying to destroy someone else, all of it was wrong. Now their destruction had destroyed his memories. When he returned to his den, he would destroy any of them that came too close. He was done with humans.

Raogothcar clawed at the blankets as he envisioned tearing the mayor of Fort Blister apart. When the door creaked open above him, Raogothcar twisted his head to face whatever monster approached. Deanna stepped into view, and Raogothcar lost the energy to snarl.

"You're awake."

"I'm awake."

"You've been asleep for two days, dragon."

"Sorry, I was tired."

"They beat you pretty badly."

"I know." Raogothcar pressed a claw into the blankets, "I was there the whole time. I remember enough of that."

"Matthew patched you up," she pointed and walked down the stairs further, "And then some of the priests here drew a circle for you and set that up."

Raogothcar huffed then curled up with his back to her.

"Are you hungry?"

"A little." Raogothcar mumbled, "and a little thirsty. Who's Matthew"

"He's a friend we found in Fort Blister."

"I have no friends."

Deanna said nothing. Raogothcar felt a little sad for saying what he had, but it felt true. Everything was so wrong, no one was acting right.

"What happened to my journal?"

"I don't know dragon. We didn't have time to find something like that when we were trying to-"

"Would you leave your name, or your left arm in a place like that?" He twisted his head around to give her one of her own cold glares, "Do you know that a journal is life? I have to start over. Details of my life may be lost for all eternity. I won't be all me in heaven now because of what you've done."

"We were saving your life dragon."

"Maybe it's not worth saving anymore."

"I'm sorry." Deanna straightened and walked up the stairs, then paused at the door, "Next time dragon, I'll ask you if you'd like to stay."

Deanna left and slammed the door. Raogothcar tucked his head under one of the blankets and growled to himself. He wanted to yell at her more. Now his journal wouldn't get to heaven, he'd only be half a dragon the rest of his life. He might as well just kill himself, because life wasn't worth living anymore.

He wished he was with his parents. He wished he had never left home. He cried as he longed for his mother's wing, and his father nearby. He wished he had never gone to the little damnation of Freeraven. Sleep took his sadness slowly.