19: When Something Isn't Right

Lyra assumed the lead of the freed people through stone tunnels. The metallic stench was lighter and less penetrating to the senses. It was a hopeful sign.

Her heart raced with hope as streams of daylight brushed her cheeks from the way above. She felt a cool breeze gush down, carrying the bitter-musky scents of low growing palms and tall succulents. The way out was most definitely a head.

"Thanks Lyra." A wiry man in a ragged tunic and pants said when everyone alighted to a shallow cave dotted with aloe and pale-blue ghost plants.

"Don't thank me yet. There's going to be mages still around." Lyra saw ten heads and nodded, all of them were accounted for in the cave. "Wait here while I check."

She frowned when there was nothing untoward. The way they took was via deviations from trodden paths, so she hoped the cave was off the nox mortre radar.

So she returned to the others.

"It looks safe for now, but..." Her words stopped when she heard chaotic squawking and turned toward the cave mouth.

In the sky was a chaos bird circle.

"It's a big gathering," she gulped and flinched when a barrage of lightning struck the sky.

The air stank of sulfur and acrid-clay.

"They're going to find us." A woman fearfully cowered in a corner.

"I won't let them." Lyra reassured the woman.

"I think I know a way around the magic." Lyndal said. "If what I've gathered of the area is correct, we're near Dead Man's Circle. There's a small path from this cave, which leads into the dry lake."

"I know that one. There's a dry cave where we can rest until it's safe to go back." The man added to the conversation.

Lyra nodded. "Okay. Lyndal and I will lead the way. Everyone follow and stay close."

The group carefully picked their way down a narrow fire trail path between canyon fissures of unrefined sandstone.

Fortunately the sounds of magic faded the further they descended. Only the hoot and other animal sounds could be heard.

Eventually they reached an unkempt cave hidden behind a rock fissure and yellowish leaf and cane bushes.

"I think you'll be safe here."

Sighs of relief went around when everyone entered a dry and calm looking haven for the time being.

Lyra checked the state of her greatsword then turned to leave.

"I'm coming with you." Lyndal firmly stated.

"No. You're in no shape to fight Lyndal, and you don't have a weapon."

"I was once your senior officer. I still have some authority here." Lyndal firmly stated, not about to back down. Besides, she was keen to give those nox mortre and imperialist scum pay back.

Lyra found it difficult to refuse. Even in a dress, the woman was skilled with hand combat, and now that her strength was recovering, she could be her support. "Fine, but stay close to me. Until your strength has returned..."

Lyndal chuckled. "I know, I'll just be your way."

Last checks were made. Lyra reassured everyone that they shouldn't have to hide for too long.

The two women left the small cave.

"We need to see what made those birds crazy. If there are some others enthralled, we can't let the empire take them." Lyndal calmly noted.

"Right. If we keep to the trail, the bushes and boulders will cover us." Lyra nodded.

As the crept closer, keeping close to natural cover, the magic stench was more potent along with cries of anguish, rapid and erratic whooshes and thumping.

"Four mages, that's a lot for us." Lyndal carefully whispered to Lyra when they were crouched low behind some bushes.

They saw four dark robed mages attacking another magic user with their staves.

"You call that magic?" Teal cackled as she evaded the blasts and balls.

When the woman was in an ideal position, her hands slammed to the ground.

Her magic activated large roots and overgrown vines from underground to throw the mages off balance. The upturned soil and dust were causing clouds to affect their eyes.

Roots snaked around the mages, wounding so tight they were unable to hold on to their staves. The dropped staves were caught by roots, which wound around the length to snap them in two.

The snakish roots and vines around the flailing and helpless mages, lifted them into the air.

Teal raised her arms to navigate the roots and vines movements. With a big lurch and throw motion, all the mages were tossed across the clearing's rock walls.

Sounds of wailing and screaming from the mages faded into silence. No doubt they landed somewhere far from the site.

"Take that evil mages." Teal huffed, slumping to her knees.

"Teal!" Kiara raced toward her to keep her upright, holding her by the arm.

"Little girl, I'll be fine." The woman patted the girl's head with her free hand.

"Thank you!" Sam bowed to Teal. "I know magic is outlawed, but not all you synfolk are bad. You, Vo and even Zen proves this."

"Zen?! Ha, are you sure? That one is shifty!" Lyra blurted as she stepped out of her cover to step before them.

She nodded at Teal, impressed by the woman's ability to displace all the mages. As she entered more of the clearing, her attention became distracted by surrounding iron cage wagons of docile people. Most whom she recognized.

"What's wrong with them?" Lyndal approached the cages.

"Careful, they're still enthralled but the spell is wearing off," Teal soberly answered.

"Can you remove the spell?"

The syn-mole sighed and shook her head. "That syn-loki probably could and most definitely Vo if he was still a syn."

"What do you mean, still a syn?" Lyra asked.

Teal was hesitant. "Forget it, I shouldn't have said anything. But if you survive this, and he does, ask him." She refocused her attention to the caged people, detecting a cinnamon scent on them. Her hope lifted. "Actually, I might be able to snap them out of the spell with an incense from plant life here."

She gave Lyra, Sam and Lyndal instructions to procure bush leaves and buds from the surrounding area of the Dead Man's Circle clearing.

Within an hour they had gathered the ingredients, which Teal used her powers to mix, crush and turn into an incense powder. She then had the girls make a few thin sticks for the incense.

It was night when Teal used what was left of her magic to combine the powder and sticks to form incense sticks.

Sam had a campfire going to give decent light.

Teal wiped sweat from her brow and sat back.

"It's done. Just as well, as it looks like these poor people would still be enthralled for another night."

Sam found matches near one of the cage wagons, from a mage's knapsack. He also saw a key to cages and suspected it was another way into that horrid chamber.

He returned to light the incense Teal held.

Teal strolled across the cages, ensuring the smoke wafted up the victim's noses.

Some of them dropped to the cage floor, convulsing in fits.

"It's the spell's hold trying to fight off the sense deprivation this incense causes. Enthrallment embeds the consciousness of the caster to form two minds to one. Sense deprivation cuts off this link, but it's like breaking a bone."

She pointed to Sam. "You big fellow, get in there and feed them this leaf. It's mugwort that neutralizes spirit poison. Give it to them a bit at a time so they can swallow it."

Sam took the leaves she handed him. He struggled to hold the convulsing victim and fed the leaf into their mouth. After a short moment the body was calmed.

The other women followed Sam's lead, ensuring all the victims survived the enthrallment disconnection.

A few times, Lyra got an elbow to the gut. However, she persevered to ensure the leaves went into mouths.

"By Anul, that was tough." Lyndal heaved for breath, as she had to hold down a man larger and taller while dripfeeding the leaf.

She took a moment to step back and slump down the ground before a cage.

"Lyn..dal?" The man weakly called out when he saw her.

Lyra smiled when she saw all the caged victims free and back to themselves.

"Glad it worked." Teal wiped off more sweat from her brow.

Their victory was interrupted when a column of red-white magic shot up from the area where they had left Vo and Zen.

Lyra gulped when she felt a momentary tickle on her skin from the released charge in the atmosphere. It was lighting up the area like moonlight would.

"Get down!" She shouted when a mad rush of birds flooded the clearing as they raced for the magical light.

Everyone dropped to the ground and covered their heads as the birds swooped from every direction, but their flight was focused on the light. The mad cacophony of squawking drummed into their ears, stirring a throbbing to their temples. Fortunately, the pain was momentary when the birds flew past them.

"Not good." Lyndal shuddered when the last bird rushed for the magic's direction.

"That's where Vo and Zen are. I have to go back. The people are still in danger there." Lyra gathered her resolve for the cause.

"I'm coming." Sam added, but Lyndal stepped before him.

"You need to stay with Kiara and Teal." She looked at Teal who was putting up a brave front, but all that magic she had cast would no doubt have drained her. It would be detrimental to her health and life if they continued to rely on her magic.

"Lyndal. It's too dangerous and you were already enthralled."

"Exactly. I know the way and the signs of that awful spell. This time I can protect myself." She reassured him.

Sam growled out a complaint but his former senior was right by some askew logic. Perhaps they could creep around the danger based on an ability to sense the dark magic.

"Fine. I'll go back to Rogue and maybe learn something from there." He stated his action.

"Not smart. Go be with the others in the dry lake cave. They need someone who can fight." Lyra suggested.

Sam shook his head. "Take Teal and Kiara there..."

"Papa, I want to be with you." Kiara begged.

"It's too dangerous little flower. Be a good girl and stay with the people in the dry lake cave, Teal gently said to the girl and sighed when the youngster did a stubborn tantrum.

"No, I go with papa!" Kiara was adamant of not being separated from him again.

Lyra calmly suggested, "Then take shelter in the stone house in the south gate zone outside the walls. Let Kiara stay there for the time being. Don't go into the village. You don't know how the guards will react."

"I'll come with you Sam, to make sure the little one is protected while you do your guard thing." Teal reassured Kiara who hugged her tight with excitement.

Sam nodded.

"Meanwhile, Lyndal and I will escort the people here to the dry lake caves," Lyra added to the recovered people, "This shelter is temporary until we can deal with the issue."

"Then Lyndal and I will see what's happening with Vo." She added.

After a brief recap, everyone dispersed to their next steps.