Chapter 19:

Chapter 19

Guardian of Wind

“Vorg?”

I focused on Gard, not wanting to glance in the direction of the Lycan’s mauled body. He nodded, still refusing to meet my gaze.

“Everyone knew what he was doing. That’s why I wanted to go with you instead. You were so different. I really believed you would be safe…”

I thought I heard him sniffle, and Stella stepped forward.

“Wait, I don’t understand… Vorg, the elder that you asked for safe passage to Tovira?”

He nodded. She frowned, turning to Yorun and Mitrandes.

“Did you go to him and ask for a blessing in the end?”

Yorun nodded.

“Yeah, that’s how…”

He gestured at the clearing, and Stella turned back to Gard.

“What do you mean ‘everyone knew what he was doing’?”

Gard hesitated, still staring at the ground, before he sighed and gestured for us to sit down.

“He… He came to Ulin some years ago,” he said as we formed a circle around him on the ground. “He was a joke at first, and drunkards fed him scraps for fun to get his blessing. But his blessings worked… People returned safely from the jungle, the hunts were successful, and there were whispers that he had the power to heal, as the elders had in the old days.”

He dared to glance at us.

“Then he started to ask for copper and bronze, then for blood… Some embraced his teachings, growing wealthy by his help, while others hated it. But everyone feared him. At first people offered their own blood, but it was not enough if it was a big blessing…”

I shivered, listening to the sickening story.

“Just like that cursed elf village...” Yorun whispered.

“Worse!” Stella hissed. “Those elves did it to survive. But he did it for metal and the townspeople for their own greed…”

Mitrandes raised his hand, interrupting her.

“We should leave. The sun is setting.”

He got up when Gard reached out.

“You… You’re not traders, are you?”

He glanced at me.

“I… I’ve never seen magic like that for a long while.”

I glanced at the others, but it was Yorun who spoke.

“She’s a Guardian.”

Gard nodded, staring at the ground.

“I knew you were different,” he whispered.

I glanced at the others, not knowing what to say. Yorun got up.

“We need to go back and retrieve our belongings."

I’d almost forgotten about Aegon and the others. They were supposed to pick us up today.

“Is it safe to go back?” I asked.

“You’re still within the walls of Ulin. The Monsters can’t come here,” Gard said. “Take his head with you, and no one will dare to stop you."

I shivered at the thought, but Stella nodded.

“That’s a good idea."

I stared at her, but she just shrugged.

“The townspeople won’t change only because Vorg is gone. But if we take it, they'll listen to us. We have a chance to make Ulin a better place, and the news of it will reach Tovira."

I glanced at the others, but even Yorun nodded to her words.

“I can do it," Gard said.

I looked away as he grabbed a knife from the ground and walked over to the altar.

Once he was done, Mitrandes gestured for us, and I followed them, staying as far away as I could from the long pole raised high in front with the head bobbing on its end. It didn’t take long until people understood what was speared at the top, and they watched silently as we made our way into the village.

As we reached the open space on the river bank where the market had been held, Stella walked to the front, pointing up at the head.

“Vorg is dead! It is your greed that brought him here! The Guardian has brought him down!”

There was a murmur throughout the gathered crowd, and Yorun pushed me forward. Their eyes fell on me as I awkwardly walked over to stand next to her, trying not to glance up at the pole that Gard was shaking in the air.

“She returned from Tovira even though no boat arrived in the harbour. She saved us with her magic!”

It was all it took for the first person to break from the crowd. An older woman hesitantly walked over to me, bowing her head, and not long after, a line formed behind her as people silently began queuing for a blessing. I could see the others breaking up, standing to the side as people kept coming, and it wasn’t until darkness fell over the marketplace that the last villager bowed their head and left. Mitrandes took the pole and tossed the disgusting head into the river.

“I should have forced them to throw their metal into the river too,” Stella growled as I walked over to them.

Mitrandes chuckled.

“This will help us more. Now they know the Guardian is here and what she can do.”

He put a hand on my shoulder.

“You did well…”

Yorun gestured for us.

“Come, let’s get our belongings.”

Gard followed as we walked back to the village. It seemed like the townspeople had already had their way, because the floor was littered with clothes and I was pretty sure a few things were missing. Yorun stepped over to the cart, rumbling around before he turned, grinning as he held the large crystal lamp in his arms.

“At least we still got this…”

Stella sighed in relief, and Gard gestured for us to sit outside. We’d agreed with the others to use the lamp to signal to Aegon once the moon had risen, but there was still some time left, so I sat down on the stairs with the others. I could hear them chatting quietly, but all I could think about were the Worm’s words. It hadn’t lied… Neither with Yorun nor about how to weave the Flow to travel through space. Did that mean we could trust them? Would they help us bring down the Council? I glanced at the others. I knew what the Spectres had done to Vorg, but wasn’t that his own fault? He didn’t need to have used it for his own power. I wouldn’t, I only wanted to bring down the Council. But I didn’t think the others would understand, even though I had proof that they spoke the truth.

“Let me come with you, Guardian."

Gard turned to me, interrupting my thoughts. Stella frowned, but Yorun said,

“He fought with us when they tried to capture us.”

“Why don’t you stay here? Life will become better from now on,” Mitrandes asked.

Gard stared at the ground.

“You're different… You remind me of…how things used to be."

I smiled at his words.

“You’re welcome to come with us.”

He sighed in relief.

“Thank you…”

We didn’t dare to leave the walls of Ulin after all the commotion earlier, not knowing if the Monsters had heard it from the other side of the wall. But with our identity revealed, we decided to bring Aegon to the square instead. Once the moon rose in the sky, Mitrandes gestured for us, and we followed him to the open space.

The others had said they would wait in the mountains, and Yorun held the crystal lamp in his arms as he turned towards them. He signalled once, twice, before putting it down on the ground. I peered at the sky, waiting for the dark shape of Aegon to appear when Stella suddenly pointed into the night.

“They’re coming!”

Its dark shape grew closer above us until it began to descend and landed safely beside us. I could see the others standing by the railing, holding their weapons, but Mitrandes ran over to them.

“We’re safe. There’s no danger.”

I followed the others and climbed on board, and Aase rushed over to me, throwing her arms around me.

“Silje! You're safe…”

She stroked my hair when the ship suddenly jerked, and we launched into the air.

“We don’t need to hurry. We're among friends,” I heard Yorun call as I let go of Aase.

“Tovira is burning!” Kine yelled.

I stared at them. Burning…?

“What happened?”

“We don’t know! We saw the fire from the sky!” Tore called into the roaring wind.

The wind howled across the deck, fluttering my hair as Aegon kept accelerating. Burning… Had to Worms...? Was that why they had wanted me to leave? Had I...? No, we’d saved Yorun and Mitrandes. Without the Worm, they would be dead… It really helped me, just like he said he would.

I rushed over to the railing, peering into the night, and it didn’t take long before we could see the orange glow further ahead. Stella’s friends… Luna…

“Guardian!”

Ifrim thrust a wind rifle into my hands, but I turned back to stare below us. The whole town was ablaze, the flames licking every wall and… Monsters… Hordes of them climbing the outside walls. I could see Guards shooting their bows, pushing them back, but they kept coming. What had they done…?

“Silje!”

Aase grabbed my arm, pulling me over to our station on the roof. Light flashed from the deck, turning a Monster into a screaming torch. I scrambled up the roof, loading a bolt as Aase released it into the horde.

“Mitrandes! Land in the city! My friends!” Stella cried, loading her rifle.

“No!” Kine yelled, releasing another bolt. “If the Monsters pass the wall, everyone will die! Keep shooting!”

The cannon flashed again, setting the huge Monster standing on the top of the wall ablaze, and it tumbled down its side.

“Last one!” I cried, cranking the pulley and loading the final bolt.

Aase released it into the dark shape below and reached for her rifle.

“Guardian! Help us! There are too many of them,” Gard cried.

I stared at him. Why hadn’t I thought about that… I reached out and touched the Flow. I shot it towards them, pushing as hard as I could, and the force slammed them backwards, smearing their grotesque bodies across the ground. I turned my gaze to the city and pulled the remaining Monsters, throwing them high into the air.

Do you want us to show you another trick?

I stared around, but it was nowhere to be seen.

“What…?”

An image of the Flow weaving itself into a spell appeared in front of me.

It’s easy when you know how…

I closed my eyes, trying to replicate what the Worm had shown me. The Flow reached out, touching the surroundings until some spots vibrated with corruption. Monsters… I shot towards them, and I heard their screams as they fell. A wave of fear flooded the air, but I pushed it away.

We helped you save your friends, Silje and now this… Do you trust us now…? You’ve already made a difference. Imagine the world you can create with our help…

“We're landing on the square!” Mitrandes called.

His voice pulled me back, and I wove rain to quench the blazing flames before letting go of the Flow, and the Worm’s voice faded. We slowly began to descend, the rain pouring down around us, and as we came closer, Tore called,

“Landing! Stay together!”

The moment we touched the ground, Stella leapt from the ship and ran.

“Go with her!” Kine shouted.

Yorun and Gard jumped over the railing and ran after her.

“Let’s spread out and help the people!” Tore called.

“No, let’s find the Master and kill him!”

Ifrim grabbed his spear and turned to me.

“Come, Guardian.”

He gestured for me, and I peered over the railing. People had already begun to gather around the ship, and I glanced between him and their rain-soaked figures.

“Go with him,” Mitrandes said. “We’ll take care of the villagers.”

Ifrim turned back to me, a dark grin spreading across his face.

“Let the people see you coming back with his head."

I shivered, remembering the disgusting pole.

“I’ll come with you,” Aase said.

Ifrim was already climbing down the rope ladder, and Aase grabbed some supplies before gesturing for me. I followed them down, and we set out in the rain.

“Do you know where he lives?” Aase asked, jogging to keep up with him.

Ifrim pointed up at the mountains.

“Close to the crystal-bearing caves.”

We hurried after him down the street. With the flames gone, it was eerily quiet. We passed half-burnt buildings surrounded by rubble, but they all seemed empty. Where was everyone? But I didn’t have time to ask because Ifrim pointed ahead of us.

The Master’s house was looming above us, its walls smouldered by the flames. Ifrim gestured for us, and we followed as he crept closer. It was just as eerily quiet as the other houses. Were we too late? Aase raised the lamp as we stepped into the courtyard, and I froze. It was littered with bodies.

"No…"

“Look!”

Aase pointed at the wall. A grotesque corpse lay resting against it, crushed by a heavy rock and its skin scorched.

“Here’s another one."

Ifrim frowned, poking something with his spear. I hesitantly stepped closer, peering at it. I thought I could see the headband of the Companions, but the figure didn't… look human any longer. Aase frowned.

“I didn’t think the Monsters came this far?”

“They didn’t…” Ifrim said.

“What do you mean…?” I asked, dreading the answer.

“They're too small and…”

Even he hesitated before saying it out loud.

“They still resemble the host. They change as time passes."

He frowned, stabbing the burnt corpse with his spear.

“When the Monsters attacked, those cowards must have touched the Flow. The Spectres didn’t go easy on them…"

I stared at the corpse.

“But it wasn’t the fire that burned them…”

He turned and peered up at the house.

“Why would someone do such a thing?”