Tanis the shadow years

25

A shaft of light snot up in to the night sky from inside the hollow stump. Kishpa saw it and stealthily approached. He wondered if Tanis and Brandella had taken to the tunnels underneath the cliffs. That would explain the light. Clearly, he was not far behind them. Kishpa's magic had helped him follow them. His anger would do the rest. The mage drew his knife and moved toward the beacon of his rage.

Tanis crouched behind the tree stump, shrouded in the shadows thrown by Brandella's torch. He heard Kishpa before he saw him. With his keen elvensight, he soon saw the mage, as well. He also saw the knife.

He didn't want to hurt the mage, but he didn't wish to get hurt-or killed-himself either. And he certainly didn't want to kill the wizard, if for no other reason than that such an action might cause the mage to cease to exist in the future. In such an instance, killing the young Kishpa would be tantamount to killing himself and Brandella.

Why wouldn't the dying old man bring them out of his memory? He'd had the chance, but he didn't do it. Or maybe he couldn't do it. Tanis shook his head. He refused to believe that.

Kishpa was getting close, and Tanis cursed himself for letting his mind wander. He had to time his actions perfectly, or the mage's knife would be buried in his body right up to the hilt… and it was a long blade.

The half-elf changed his position ever so slightly, like an animal readying itself to spring at its prey. And Kishpa stopped. It was almost as if he sensed the danger. Tanis realized that the wizard's strong magic might have warned him. There was no way of knowing for sure, so the half-elf kept calm and waited for Kishpa to make his next move.

The mage studied the darkness, apparently saw nothing out of the ordinary, and then eased slowly toward the tree stump, seemingly mesmerized by the light that shone from within.

Tanis, watching him come closer, leaned farther back behind the cover of the stump to make sure he could not be seen. Even when the mage was illuminated by the light from inside the hollow tree, Tanis remained still, unmov- ing, waiting.

No longer in the darkness, the mage seemed emboldened to move more quickly. Three swift steps took him to the edge of the tree stump, where he leaned over to look down. Before Kishpa could focus his eyes on the flaming torch below, Tanis rose up from his hiding place, swinging his right fist at the mage's head.

His powerful right hand was just about to hit its mark when there was a blur of motion and a small figure hurtled out of the darkness, striking both Kishpa and Tanis. The impact sent them spinning away from each other.

The small figure that struck them was Scowarr.

Again.

Tanis had forgotten all about him. He swore softly.

Little Shoulders hit the ground hard, and he lay there momentarily stunned.

As Scowarr watched, Kishpa and Tanis circled the stump, each lit by the ghostly torchlight. The mage still held his knife, but Tanis wisely did not reach for his sword.

"I mean you no harm," said Tanis quietly.

"But I mean you harm," replied the mage angrily.

'Tanis!" cried Brandella.

There was a whoosh of bright, blinding light. Brandella threw her torch straight through the hollow opening of the tree stump. Apparently acting on instinct, the mage lunged for it.

With the wizard distracted by the torch, Tanis leaped across the opening, knocking the burning stick of wood toward Scowarr and smashing into Kishpa's chest with his head. The mage went down.

They grappled on the ground, Tanis desperately trying to avoid the wild swinging of Kishpa's knife. He had little success. The blade slashed the half-elf's upper right arm, leaving a gash that sent blood streaming down his wrist. Kishpa struggled to deliver a more penetrating blow while Tanis tried to pin down the mage's free-swinging hand. Kishpa was more successful than the half-elf; this time, the blade sliced into Tanis's upper back, cutting through his tunic and leaving a thin trail of blood oozing across his left shoulder in a jagged diagonal.

When Tanis felt the blade cutting his flesh for a second time, the pain finally drove him to smash his fist hard against Kishpa's left shoulder. The blow struck the mage like a hammer, and his hand spasmed, but he would not drop the knife.

Tanis had been so consumed with stripping Kishpa of his blade, however, that he did not pay enough attention to the mage's other hand. Kishpa scooped up a rock and bashed it against the back of Tanis's head. The half-elf instantly went limp.

Scowarr watched the entire fight with his jaw hanging halfway down his chest. Kishpa, trapped under the half- elf, tried to push his opponent off his body. Tanis may not have known where he was or who he was fighting, but in a fog of pain and confusion, he struggled to stay on top of Kishpa.

The mage hit him again with the rock, except this time the blow struck Tanis's back rather than his head. The fresh shock of the pain helped clear the half-elf's befuddled brain. Before the mage could hit him again, Tanis grabbed Kishpa by the hair, slamming his head against the ground until the mage's eyes glazed over and he stopped struggling.

"Help me," Tanis croaked to Scowarr.

Scowarr struggled to his feet. "Help you?" he squeaked. "What for? The fight's over."

Tanis groggily got to his knees. He swayed there for a moment before toppling over.

"Oh," said Scowarr, hurrying to the half-elf's side. "Come on now; I'll help you get up."

"No. Here," Tanis said weakly, offering the three strips of cloth from Brandella's shirt. 'Tie his arms and legs. Then gag him."

Little Shoulders took the three pieces of cloth and immediately went to work as Tanis lay nearby, trying to shake off the pain and lethargy.

"How is this?" asked Scowarr, showing off the elaborate knot binding the mage's wrists.

"Good."

Kishpa began to stir.

"Hurry!" urged Tanis. "You've got to finish before he can cast a spell."

Scowarr quickly stuffed a strip of cloth in the mage's mouth and frantically began tying Kishpa's legs.

"What are you doing?" demanded Brandella, climbing out of the hollow tree stump. Fear vied with anger on her face.

"Making sure I don't get turned into a tree or a fish," said Scowarr.

"Is this necessary?" she demanded, turning toward Tanis.

The half-elf managed to rise to his feet, but his legs were wobbly. "If we're going to get a head start, it is," he said.

"A head start to where?" she asked, examining the fabric that held Kishpa helpless. Tanis gave her a warning look, but she gestured him away. "Perhaps we must bind him, but I will make sure his bonds aren't too tight. A head start to where?" she repeated.

'To the place where the old Kishpa is dying," he explained. "It's on the way toward Solace. I have been thinking; maybe we have to be close to that spot. Maybe that's why he couldn't bring us out of his memory: we're too far away."

She softened at the mention of the ancient mage and looked down into her Kishpa's face. "I'm so glad you grew old," she whispered.

"It's so much better than the alternative," agreed Scowarr, who obviously had no idea what she was talking about.

"Come," said Tanis. "We can't waste a moment. You know now, as well as I do, how close to death our old friend is. Our trip will take time, and he has precious little of that left."

"I'm coming," she replied. But she didn't get up, for Kishpa had opened his eyes.

With the gag in his mouth, all he could do was make unintelligible sounds.

She kissed him on the forehead. "I'm sorry," said Brandella. "I can't help you."

He tried to speak again, shaking his head and imploring her with his eyes.

"I love you," she said, "but Tanis is telling the truth. Listen to me: I heard your ancient, brave heart beating, and I spoke to you. I sensed your presence all around me. You're dying, remembering how we used to be. Except that I will be no more when you… when you die. You didn't want that, so you sent Tanis to get me. I know it sounds impossible, but it's true. I wish you could believe it."

Kishpa grew wild-eyed with frustration and made more sounds that she could not understand. He obviously wanted her to remove the gag. She shook her head and stroked his hair, as black as hers but straight.

"I'm going with Tanis to the place where you're dying, nearly a hundred years in the future," she whispered. "He hopes that the magic will work better there. No matter what happens-" She couldn't say anymore. She simply leaned over him, hugged him, and kissed his eyes.

He was choking on the gag, trying to talk to her, but Tanis pulled her away.

Kishpa began thrashing on the ground, trying to get free.

"Let's get going," Scowarr urged.

"You're not coming," Tanis replied.

"He's eventually going to work himself out of his bonds," said Little Shoulders. "When he does, what he'd do to me if I were here would not be funny. And funny is my life's work. So I'm going with the two of you."