The High-Wizard's Hunt - By Ashley Delay Page 0,34

creature can travel as fast as I fly. Is this new magic dangerous?”

“Aye, it be dangerous, but it will’nt hurt ye. Some people will be wanting to use it for evil, so we must be careful who we be teaching it to. The High Wizard be trusting ye, so I be trusting ye too. Would ye like to learn?”

Treethorn’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Yes, I would like to learn this new magic very much.”

*

Thamas awoke and looked around in confusion.

“Machai, this is not where we were when I fell asleep. What happened? And why does my head pound so?”

Machai looked over at him from across the small campfire and a tinge of guilt crossed his features. He added some more wood to the flames and avoided Thamas’ gaze.

“Eh, I think ye may have hit ye’r head. Do ye not be remembering camping here last night?” Treethorn perked her head up and snorted, swishing her tail and turning her head away from the campfire.

“The last thing I remember is going to sleep on the beach. I feel like I have been spelled.” He rubbed his temples as he spoke. “Where are we?”

“We be a short flight from me home,” Machai said, indicating the steep mountains rising up to the north. Thamas looked at him suspiciously and walked past Treethorn to get a better look at their surroundings. The sky was just beginning to lighten and the land stretched out beneath them in a sea of glittering snow. Icicles swayed from the tree branches like crystal chandeliers and Thamas’ breath drifted away from him in visible clouds. He stared out over the landscape with an expression of deep concentration, and when he turned back he smiled and joined Machai at the campfire.

“Well, I must have hit my head, like you said,” he watched Machai closely as he spoke, “I am sure I will feel better soon.”

Machai was surprised that Thamas had been convinced so easily that his memory had failed him, but he was glad to shift the conversation away from his deception.

“Aye, breakfast should be helping.” He dished a bowl of oats and berries from the pot simmering at the edge of the fire and passed it to his companion. “We’ll be leaving shortly.”

“Wonderful, I look forward to meeting your kin.”

They finished their morning meal in silence and loaded their gear back onto Treethorn’s rigging. After they were securely strapped in, Treethorn took flight with a rapid ascent into the crisp air. The chill wind stung their cheeks and made their eyes water as they huddled in their seats for the brief flight. Treethorn approached the mountains and Machai directed her to circle around a sharp peak and land in the small valley beyond.

The hollow was protected from the wind, and the air seemed a bit warmer as they dismounted. A swift flowing stream snaked down the mountainside and cascaded over a small ridge behind them. Machai unloaded their gear and Thamas stretched his stiff limbs and stood in awe at the beauty of the landscape. The trees were dusted with snow but there was abundant greenery on the most sheltered side of the valley. Towering evergreen trees stood like sentinels along the mountainside, with the branches nearest the ground many paces over Thamas’ head. A strange vine climbed the mighty trunks of the trees, with silver sheened leaves and delicate white flowers. Thamas reached out his fingers and touched one of the blossoms, and he was startled to hear Machai’s voice from directly behind him.

“Fairie tears.”

“What?” Thamas turned toward Machai in confusion.

“The flowers be fairie tears. They be full of power, to be healing and to be harming.” Machai eyed the vines with a mix of wonder and pride. “The harvesting process be tricky. It be a fine line between healing essence and wicked poison.” Thamas took a step back from the dangerous sounding plant and Machai laughed, his deep rumble echoing off the nearby peaks. “I’ll be teaching ye. I need to be refilling me salve.” Machai hefted the gear and gold he had unloaded from Treethorn and nodded at Thamas to follow him toward a shaded path beneath the boughs of the largest trees. Frosted grass crunched beneath their boots as they walked along the thin trail to a narrow crevice in the mountainside. After several paces down the natural stone tunnel, Machai paused for a moment and set the bags on the ground. He stretched his arms to either side and placed his palms against the cold