Chapter 19

Seleeku sat next to Brynn on the stone bench, looking apprehensive. They were in a small park next to the College, one of the few places in the city with any amount of greenery. Trees, manicured bushes, and flower gardens surrounded meandering pathways. Druids and apprentices would spend time here for quiet contemplation. Brynn hoped that it was early enough that the park would stay empty for the time being.

“You want to question some birds?” Seleeku asked skeptically.

“Crows,” he replied. He took out Themon’s dagger and cut off a few small strips from his tunic. He hoped the colors would be gaudy enough. No, there would be no danger of that, he decided. If anything, they were too gaudy. He spent a moment more examining the bits, procrastinating. Then he took twelve steps away from the bench, placed them beneath a tree and then returned next to Seleeku.

“Caw!” he called out in his best imitation of a crow.

A short while later, a young crow appeared, landing on the ground in a flurry of wings. It eyed the strips of cloth critically before snatching them up and flying away.

“That’s it?” Seleeku asked.

“Patience,” Brynn said, but he was just as anxious as Seleeku. The sky was getting lighter. It was nearly time for the druids to have their breakfast. Gardeners would soon be coming into the park to attend to their morning duties.

The crow returned, landing near them and waiting. Brynn screwed up the courage to ask his question.

“Why does Kodroth want my voice?”

“Wha–?” Seleeku exclaimed in consternation, but the crow interrupted with a flick of its head, staring at them both, grabbing their attention with its beady black eyes.

It took a moment for Brynn to realize that the world had changed. Had it lost its color? What was missing?

Spirits. He could no longer see the spirit world!

Before he had time to respond, a chorus of voices whispered in his ear. He strained to hear what they were saying. Other voices joined the din, some muttering, some shouting incoherently. Then images flashed before his eyes, too fast for him to comprehend. Smells, foul and sweet, filled the air. Sensations crawled over his skin, some hot, some cold, some painful, some not. He felt happy and sad and bored and busy and hungry and full and tired and awake and—

A voice, coming from everywhere and nowhere all at once, spoke. Brynn could hear–see–smell–taste–feel the words echo through his body:

… Brynn found himself curled up on the bench, his hands over his ears and his eyes tightly shut. He tentatively looked around. The crow was gone. No more sounds or sights or smells or feelings. The world was back to normal, spirits and all. As much as he hated it, he found it oddly comforting.

Relaxing stiffened muscles and sitting back up, he saw that Seleeku was doubled over, looking pale and nauseated.

“What happened?” she asked weakly.

“The crow swapped our, um, …” Brynn tried to find the right word, “… abilities.”

Seleeku straightened herself out and took a deep breath. “And here I thought crows were just birds,” she mused sourly.

“They are,” Brynn replied. He stood up. He had a headache that made the world spin, but they needed to move.

“I saw it, for a moment. I saw the world as it truly is.” She looked at him with a mixture of pity and awe. “How do you stand it?”

“I could ask you the same question about your prophecies. I think we’ve both learned to ignore what we can.”

“There was something over there,” Seleeku said, pointing in the direction of the College. Her finger quivered slightly. “It’s like the Darkness back at Grimcairn, only … smaller? I don’t know how to describe it.”

Brynn looked, and squinted, even though he knew that wouldn’t help. There was nothing out of the ordinary. Was it because he was blocking out the overwhelming noise of the spirit world?

“What did the crow tell you? Did you get your answer?” Seleeku asked.

“Let’s leave the park, first,” replied Brynn. “The groundskeepers will be suspicious if they find us here.”

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Kodroth the Quiet …

He utters his voice …

“Someone knew about the prophecy,” Brynn muttered to himself. He had taken them through a maze of side streets, and they were now in one of the poorer districts. Foul smelling tanneries crowded around ramshackle tenements. It was the best place he could think of to hide for a short time. He assumed the odor would keep the city wardens away.

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” Seleeku asked.

“I have a confession to make. Back at the inn, I think, uh, I think I was supposed to die. I made a deal with Kodroth for my life.”

“What kind of deal?”

“In seven days, he can use my voice, for a moment.”

Seleeku stopped short and puckered her face. It could have been because of what he said, or because the wind shifted slightly, sending a putrid miasma wafting through the street. “What for?” she asked through gritted teeth.

“Because of—ugh—a prophecy,” Brynn coughed up. He turned and walked in a different direction, hoping to leave the stench behind.

They rounded a corner onto a narrow, muddy street lined with small, dilapidated homes. People were going to and fro, some heading to the tanneries, some starting their daily chores. Several younger children were playing with a ball in the middle of the road. A few adults cast suspicious glances at the two strangers entering their little neighborhood.

“What prophecy?” Seleeku asked, once the aroma had dissipated.

“I heard it during the brief moment I was aware of them. The prophecy says, He utters his voice, the world melts.”

“That doesn’t sound good.”

“No, it doesn’t,” Brynn agreed.

“In seven days?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Seleeku looked deep in thought. Brynn could tell she had a question on her mind. She opened her mouth to ask it, changed her mind, then changed it again. “Brynn … was the only reason you made your deal with Kodroth to …?”

… to save his own life? “No!” he blurted out before he could stop himself. “I mean—what choice did I have?” How could he tell her he made the deal to protect her? As if he could protect her. As if she needed protecting. He should have taken his chances with Kenrick’s stew.

She stared at him for another moment, her face expressionless. “Can we get to the Far Forest in seven days?” she finally asked.

Brynn winced. He knew the question would come up.

“No.”

“I need to be with Nessana to save him,” she whispered, shuddering. Then she gave Brynn a hard shove. “Why are we wasting time going after your stupid book! We should be travelling to the Far Forest already!” she cried, swinging her arms wildly at him.

“You said it yourself,” Brynn objected, falling back from her blows. “Our fates are intertwined!”

“Yes, I know that! Now I need to be in the Far Forest in seven days! I need to be with Nessana to save his life, and I can’t!”

“The Codex can help us, Seleeku! It will help us stop Kodroth, the Darkness and save your brother!”

“How could you make such a deal with an evil spirit, Brynn? How could you betray the world? How could you betray me?” She trembled with anger. “Maybe I’ve been wrong. Maybe I shouldn’t have stayed and saved you from that dungeon.” Her eyes narrowed. “I know that I shouldn’t stay with you now.”

“Wait, Seleeku! I need your help! The Codex will have the answers!”

She backed away from him abruptly, glaring at him with contempt. “I hope everything works out for you,” she said bitterly. “Goodbye, Druid Brynn.” Then she walked away, disappearing onto a side street, never looking back.