“I know you have an opinion, Erasmus,” Annon said.
The Preachán murmured to himself and then said, “Always smoke and fire with you. It will take a lot of smoke to hide us completely, but with our disguises, it will be easier than otherwise. Some of the workers will form a bucket chain to put out the fire. Some of the Rikes will go inside to warn the others. If we are close enough to follow their steps, they could lead us to the inner sanctum.”
“That means I would need to be close by when the fire starts. Your prediction of the odds of success?” Annon added in a playful tone.
“Well over half,” Erasmus answered curtly. He rubbed his throat and nodded with certainty. “Well over half, I should say. It’s a good plan. How will you get close?”
“One person approaching will be more inconspicuous. I will see if the spirits will help me. Once the fire starts, wait for the smoke to billow and then approach quickly. The confusion will aid you. Nizeera will come with me and help track them inside the caves.”
Khiara looked skeptical. “Shouldn’t we wait until nightfall?”
Erasmus spat on the ground. “Too risky to wait. We don’t know when the next arrivals will be. We also don’t know how long it will take for the Arch-Rike to recognize that his pets are dead. The plan is solid, Annon. Surprisingly so.”
The Druidecht smiled wryly. “Thank you, I think.” He looked at the big cat. Stay near me.
I will not be seen by the mortals.
Annon emerged from the boulder and started along the edge of the trail, approaching it but keeping himself covered by the boulders interspersed along the way. As he walked, his nervousness increased, realizing he might well be seen long before he drew near. His breathing was quick and stressed. If he was challenged, he would need to think quickly. His thoughts reached out to the spirits in the mountains, probing gently to gain their awareness, hoping to beg their aid.
The response was immediate. We sense you, Druidecht. How may we serve you?
I thank you. Is there a means to shield me from their sight as I approach? You know by my thoughts that I am here to do mischief to these men who hammer at stone.
We understand your intentions, Druidecht. Walk amongst us and you will not be seen.
Annon felt their presence expand in the form of moths and gnats that began to swirl around him in thick clouds. He felt the vibrations from their fluttering wings and the natural urge to swat them away, but he remained surefooted and calm and continued walking forward. A shroud of magic enveloped him, providing a sense of ease and protection. Their power amazed him, and he felt a swell of gratitude.
I thank you.
The fluttering of moths billowed around him and he no longer guarded his approach. He did not know how it appeared to others, but he trusted in their power and approached the workmen and the scaffolding. The ding and clang of stone and chisel rocked the air, clashing harshly against his ears. Grunts from the workers, gray with dust, became more pronounced as he approached. Annon advanced to the far edge of the scaffolding, keeping his distance to the doors. He realized that, with the magic of the spirits, he could enter it by himself.
Are there enough of you to disguise my friends? he asked.
No, Druidecht. We are not sufficient in number.
He thought it best to proceed as planned. Reaching the edge, he glanced up at the figures standing on the scaffolding, working on the rungs and boards to provide the height needed to work. Some men were resting by the lake. The Rikes were clustered together, discussing something amongst themselves.
Annon reached out and gripped the lowest plank of the scaffolding. Pyricanthas. Sericanthas. Thas. His fingers began to tingle and glow blue. Seizing the plank, he focused the heat against the wood, watching it blacken. Smoke began coiling along the edge. He fed the flame slowly, not wanting to startle them with a sudden blaze. A few tongues of yellow fire began to lick at the wood. He stepped back, focusing on the wood, feeding it with his mind, letting it writhe and twist and begin its hypnotic dance. He stepped farther back, edging away from it. The fire began to crackle, but the sound was lost in the hammering strokes.
The length of the board burst into flame, its dry, desiccated wood ready to burn.
“Hold on there, look! Fire!” The cry of alarm came from the cluster of Rikes as one of them had finally noticed. “Fire!” he screamed even louder.
The hammering ceased all at once.
Annon, backing away, focused his attention on the flames and fed the blaze with his power. He willed it to burn hotly, to surge higher and higher.
“Get off!” someone shouted. A loud ruckus commenced, the scaffolding buckling as workers began to scramble across to the adjacent section, knowing that descending was perilous. Some jumped to the ground and rolled away in the dust and dirt. Smoke from the fire began to fill the air, bringing wheezing coughs and stinging eyes.
The Preachán murmured to himself and then said, “Always smoke and fire with you. It will take a lot of smoke to hide us completely, but with our disguises, it will be easier than otherwise. Some of the workers will form a bucket chain to put out the fire. Some of the Rikes will go inside to warn the others. If we are close enough to follow their steps, they could lead us to the inner sanctum.”
“That means I would need to be close by when the fire starts. Your prediction of the odds of success?” Annon added in a playful tone.
“Well over half,” Erasmus answered curtly. He rubbed his throat and nodded with certainty. “Well over half, I should say. It’s a good plan. How will you get close?”
“One person approaching will be more inconspicuous. I will see if the spirits will help me. Once the fire starts, wait for the smoke to billow and then approach quickly. The confusion will aid you. Nizeera will come with me and help track them inside the caves.”
Khiara looked skeptical. “Shouldn’t we wait until nightfall?”
Erasmus spat on the ground. “Too risky to wait. We don’t know when the next arrivals will be. We also don’t know how long it will take for the Arch-Rike to recognize that his pets are dead. The plan is solid, Annon. Surprisingly so.”
The Druidecht smiled wryly. “Thank you, I think.” He looked at the big cat. Stay near me.
I will not be seen by the mortals.
Annon emerged from the boulder and started along the edge of the trail, approaching it but keeping himself covered by the boulders interspersed along the way. As he walked, his nervousness increased, realizing he might well be seen long before he drew near. His breathing was quick and stressed. If he was challenged, he would need to think quickly. His thoughts reached out to the spirits in the mountains, probing gently to gain their awareness, hoping to beg their aid.
The response was immediate. We sense you, Druidecht. How may we serve you?
I thank you. Is there a means to shield me from their sight as I approach? You know by my thoughts that I am here to do mischief to these men who hammer at stone.
We understand your intentions, Druidecht. Walk amongst us and you will not be seen.
Annon felt their presence expand in the form of moths and gnats that began to swirl around him in thick clouds. He felt the vibrations from their fluttering wings and the natural urge to swat them away, but he remained surefooted and calm and continued walking forward. A shroud of magic enveloped him, providing a sense of ease and protection. Their power amazed him, and he felt a swell of gratitude.
I thank you.
The fluttering of moths billowed around him and he no longer guarded his approach. He did not know how it appeared to others, but he trusted in their power and approached the workmen and the scaffolding. The ding and clang of stone and chisel rocked the air, clashing harshly against his ears. Grunts from the workers, gray with dust, became more pronounced as he approached. Annon advanced to the far edge of the scaffolding, keeping his distance to the doors. He realized that, with the magic of the spirits, he could enter it by himself.
Are there enough of you to disguise my friends? he asked.
No, Druidecht. We are not sufficient in number.
He thought it best to proceed as planned. Reaching the edge, he glanced up at the figures standing on the scaffolding, working on the rungs and boards to provide the height needed to work. Some men were resting by the lake. The Rikes were clustered together, discussing something amongst themselves.
Annon reached out and gripped the lowest plank of the scaffolding. Pyricanthas. Sericanthas. Thas. His fingers began to tingle and glow blue. Seizing the plank, he focused the heat against the wood, watching it blacken. Smoke began coiling along the edge. He fed the flame slowly, not wanting to startle them with a sudden blaze. A few tongues of yellow fire began to lick at the wood. He stepped back, focusing on the wood, feeding it with his mind, letting it writhe and twist and begin its hypnotic dance. He stepped farther back, edging away from it. The fire began to crackle, but the sound was lost in the hammering strokes.
The length of the board burst into flame, its dry, desiccated wood ready to burn.
“Hold on there, look! Fire!” The cry of alarm came from the cluster of Rikes as one of them had finally noticed. “Fire!” he screamed even louder.
The hammering ceased all at once.
Annon, backing away, focused his attention on the flames and fed the blaze with his power. He willed it to burn hotly, to surge higher and higher.
“Get off!” someone shouted. A loud ruckus commenced, the scaffolding buckling as workers began to scramble across to the adjacent section, knowing that descending was perilous. Some jumped to the ground and rolled away in the dust and dirt. Smoke from the fire began to fill the air, bringing wheezing coughs and stinging eyes.
