Ben's NaNoWriMo Log

Chapter 10 added Sep 23, 2005
Sarah breathed a sigh of relief as they approached the northern city gate; the doors were still open. They hurried past the guards, who gave them nothing more than a nod as they passed. A winding road lay before them, sloping up into the mountains. "I'm so sorry," said Molly as they started up the road. "I was supposed to be protecting you and instead I put you in more danger. I... I guess I just wasn't prepared to see this place again." The road forked ahead of them. The smaller branch kept going in the same direction, winding its way into a narrow canyon that Sarah figured must be the start of Elizar's Gap. The main road veered off to their right, heading toward a collection of buildings higher up the mountain. The road in that direction was heavily rutted by the wheels of carts and wagons. Molly pointed up the right hand road as they passed. "My father died in that mine when I was thirteen. By the time I was fourteen, my mother died of fever. With my father no longer pulling copper out of the ground for him, the mine boss so no reason to help us. When my mother was gone as well, I was fostered to an old friend of the boss's." She grimaced at the thought. "The old man had no desire for a daughter, of course. He only ever saw me as a slave. Or a whore. "I wasn't about to let that bastard have his way with me, though. My parents were dead, but at least they were free. When my new 'father' tried to put his hands on me, I hurt him -- hurt him bad. And then, of course, I ran for my life. I had no idea where I was going, but as long as I died free I would count myself lucky. I don't know how, but I managed to get to Silverwell. If Master Eldridge hadn't taken me in..." She shrugged. "At any rate, I don't intend to set foot in Coppergate ever again." Syphar turned to look over his shoulder. "I think they may have other ideas." Sarah glanced back to see what Syphar was talking about. A dozen men on horses were coming up the road behind them. They were waving swords and clubs above their heads, and Sarah could hear their shouts and whoops echoing from the mountain sides. Molly dug her heels into Lightning's flanks, and the horse shot forward like her namesake. Sarah mimicked Molly, and was soon dashing into the Gap beside her, along with Syphar. "They know this way as well as I do," grunted Molly. "I doubt we can outrun them; their horses are fresher than ours." She looked back over her shoulder at her friends and the pursuing band of horsemen. "I've failed you, Sarah. I'm sorry." "I was lucky to get this far," replied Sarah. She clung to Brand's reins as they rounded a tight curve in the trail. The way ahead gave her little hope; the looming canyon walls left them only one way to go. Syphar pulled up beside Sarah, flashing a smile at her. "Don't dig our graves quite yet, ladies." He held out his hand, and a stone the size of Sarah's fist leaped into his hand from the trail below. Holding onto the reins with one hand, he held the stone in his other palm. Sarah could see the glow of his ring shining on Raven's withers, and the stone began to float above his hand. his fingers curled slightly, and the stone began to spin. Faster and faster it spun, as the glow from his ring grew brighter. He looked up, and Sarah followed his gaze to a snow covered outcropping of rock just up the trail. "Don't stop. Don't slow down," said Syphar. The spinning stone streaked from his hand, slamming into the base of the outcropping. As they were passing directly beneath the hanging stone, Sarah could hear a deep crack, like the bones of the earth breaking. She clutched at Brand's mane as he raced ever faster. The rumble of stone and ice sliding down the canyon wall echoed deafeningly in her ears. She glanced back over her shoulder. She caught a brief glimpse of the pursuing men trying desperately to control their wheeling and bucking horses before they were blocked from sight by a vast avalanche. Thankfully, they hadn't been close enough to get caught in the direct path of the falling rock. She had no love for such men, but Sarah didn't think anyone deserved to be crushed to death like that. They slowed their horses back to a walk, men and beasts alike panting in the chill air. Molly shook her head in disbelief at Syphar. "That was impressive." Sarah nodded in agreement. "Couldn't you have just blasted the rock itself, though? You cut it awfully close there." "I could have," said Syphar, "but then they would have gone back with a story about a wizard rather than a freak avalanche." "Oh," Sarah shook her head slowly. "I didn't even think of that." Syphar looked back at the rubble filled canyon. "Well, no one is going to be following us that way for quite a while." Sarah looked at Syphar and smiled broadly. "You're right!" She turned her eyes toward the twisting mountain pass. It didn't seem nearly so grim as it had a few moments before.
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