In Sylvan Shadows by R. A. Salvatore

Author:R. A. Salvatore
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: General Interest
ISBN: 9780786950539
Published: 2010-12-31T05:00:00+00:00

Fourteen – Revelations and Reluctant

Allies

Cadderly saw the black liquid oozing from Danica’s wound and grew doubly concerned. He had seen the imp’s sting fell Pikel, and the dwarf would have died if it hadn’t been for a druid’s healing magic. How could a human survive a poison potent enough to overpower a dwarf?

Danica’s arm continued to twitch, and still more of the evil substance flowed out, mixing with her blood. Her breathing came slower, alarming Cadderly until he realized she was using a technique to keep herself calm. Then she opened her eyes and smiled at him, and he knew, though did not understand how, that she would be all right.

“A wicked sting,” she whispered. “And the burn…”

“I know,” Cadderly replied gently. “Rest easily. The battle is won.”

Danica’s eyes looked past Cadderly and she couldn’t suppress a chuckle. Cadderly turned and understood, for Ivan and Pikel, both covered head to toe in soot, rushed about the camp, searching the bodies of dead monsters.

Danica sat up, took a deep breath, and shook her head vigorously. “The poison is no more,” she announced, her voice suddenly solid again. “I have defeated it, forced it from my body.”

Cadderly could not begin to express his amazement. He shook his head slowly and made a mental note to question Danica on how she had overcome the deadly substance. But that would wait for another, more peaceful time. Now Cadderly had other concerns.

“Dorigen got away,” he said. Danica nodded and began working at the bindings on his wrists.

“You do not understand,” Cadderly continued, building himself into a minor fit of frenzy. “She has my crossbow. The weapon has fallen into the hands of an enemy!”

Danica didn’t seem overly concerned. “We are alive and free again,” she said. “That is all that matters. If you get into a fight again, you’ll find a way to win without that weapon.”

Danica’s confidence in his ingenuity touched Cadderly, but she had missed his point. It wasn’t for himself that he was frightened, it was for all the region. “She has the crossbow,” he said again. “And the explosive darts.”

“How many?”

Cadderly thought for a moment, trying to recall all those he had used and all the ones he had continued to make during his stay in Shilmista. “Six, I believe,” he said, then he sighed with relief as he remembered another important point. “But she does not have the flask containing more of the potion. I left that back at the elven camp.”

“Then fear not,” Danica said, still not understanding his concern.

“Fear not,” Cadderly echoed sarcastically, as though his worries should be plain to see. “She has it-do you not understand the implications? Dorigen could copy the design, unleash a new…” He stopped, unable to penetrate the frown on Danica’s face. She pointed behind him and he looked again over his shoulder.

Not even the dwarves were there. Cadderly didn’t understand.

“The tree,” Danica explained. “Look at the tree.”

Cadderly did as instructed. The proud elm, just moments before lush and vibrant in its late summer colors, remained only a charred and blackened skeleton.

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