Chapter 7 | Part 5

They left at dusk.

Drusniel wore the heaviest cloak Zaelar could spare, hood low even beneath the old forest canopy. The last daylight still found gaps between branches. Each pale shaft made his eyes ache.

Zaelar chose the darkest path.

They spoke little.

Soon he could no longer see the tower. He glanced back at the last bend and found only trees.

He counted turns.

West until the old road vanished beneath roots.

North where two stone markers leaned toward each other.

Down through a narrow ravine where the canopy thickened enough that he could finally loosen the hood.

The Null rested in its pouch against his chest.

The Vrinn dagger rested at his hip.

The pouch knocked against his ribs at every downhill step. He tightened its cord.

The voice remained silent.

Hours later, Zaelar stopped beside a low cairn overlooking a slope of black trees.

“I turn back here.”

Drusniel looked past him. He could smell salt now, faint beneath wet leaves.

“The cove?”

“North from here. Stay above the coast until you find the headland. Then count three hundred paces.”

“Black teeth.”

“Yes.”

“And Szoravel finds me.”

“If the signal reaches him.”

“You said he would.”

“I believe he will.”

Drusniel watched him.

Zaelar did not amend the answer.

He would remember the change from will to if.

“What if the boat is gone?”

“Then do not enter the sea.”

“What if someone is waiting at the cove?”

“Decide whether they expected you or the boat.”

Drusniel adjusted the pack.

Zaelar had taught him enough to escape the men in the passage. He had also kept the map.

Drusniel could still ask him to come farther. He looked toward the salt smell instead.

“Drusniel.”

He paused.

“Survive the crossing before you decide what it means.”

Drusniel nodded once.

Zaelar turned back toward the forest.

Drusniel went north alone.

The trees thinned gradually. The smell of salt strengthened. Somewhere beyond the dark slope, water struck stone with a rhythm too slow to be ordinary surf.

He pulled his hood lower and kept walking.

End of Chapter 7.5 —> 8.1: The Road from Zuraldi: The Awakening