The Wrathful Mountains by Lana Axe Page A

Tashi’s
staff, Kaiya illuminated the darkness surrounding them. She moved away from the
city, where no lamps were burning.
    “Where are you
going?” Raad wondered. Traveling outside the camp at night was unsafe, but
there was little chance he could change the sorceress’s mind. Especially with
only one usable arm, he couldn’t hope to force her back toward safety. “There
are wild beasts in these mountains, you know,” he said, attempting to warn her.
    Not listening,
Kaiya continued to follow the scent burning in her nostrils. “Here,” she said,
stopping near a pile of rubble. It stretched on for several feet, loose rocks
combined with packed ice. A faint trail remained visible where the stones had
slid to their current position.
    “What happened
here?” Tashi asked. Placing her foot against the fallen stones, a shiver ran
through her body. Was this the magic Kaiya spoke of?
    Kneeling on tired
knees, Kaiya ran her fingers over the rubble, a silver light trailing behind
them. “These are the remains of an avalanche,” she announced. A nearly
undetectable energy remained, causing her fingers to tingle.
    “So what?” Raad
asked. “This part didn’t do any damage. It’s the debris closer to the mine that
caused the most harm.”
    “I understand
that,” she replied, her patience wearing thin. “This may have done no damage,
but there is magic behind it.”
    “What does that
mean?” Tashi wondered. “Is that the cause of any avalanche?” This discovery had
her questioning what she had believed was a natural occurrence.
    Lowering herself,
Kaiya laid her head sideways upon the rocks, the searing cold finding its way
through her cheek and into her throat. Behind it was a distinct presence—unseen,
unheard. A sensation of falling through the earth flashed in her mind,
prompting her to pull away from the rocks. Sitting up with a jolt, she said,
“This was not the work of nature. Not at all.”
    The fine hairs on
the back of Tashi’s neck stood up, a shiver racing along her spine. What
have I done? From the corner of her eye, she thought she saw a shadow move.
When none of the others acknowledged it, she questioned whether it was her
imagination.
    “Who caused it,
then?” Galen asked. Only an earth mage of incredible power could summon an
avalanche. Unless there were darker forces at work—ancient ones.
    Tashi looked away,
avoiding eye contact with any of her companions. Kaiya made note of her action
but did not draw attention to it. Her revelation had clearly unnerved the
priestess.
    She knows more
than she’s saying, Kaiya suspected. But
how is that possible? Tashi had no magical talents, Kaiya was certain of
it. This work was far too complicated for a mere mortal. What Kaiya sensed in
the rubble was a force unknown, one of tremendous strength. This was only the
beginning of what it could do.
    “There is great
danger here,” the sorceress said. “This avalanche was intentional, and the
being who caused it is angry.” To Raad, she asked, “Is there any plan in place
for evacuation of the camps?”
    He stammered over
his words. “You’ll have to speak to the foreman about that,” he finally managed
to say. Mines normally had an emergency evacuation plan for the miners, but for
a camp this size full of women and children, he wasn’t sure.
    Looking back to the
rocks, she said, “Maybe it won’t come to that.” There was still more to
investigate, and she had yet to set foot inside the mine. Her vision showed her
deep within the mountain as well as at its summit. “Tashi, do your people have
any tales of magical beings who can cause rockslides or earthquakes?”
    The priestess
searched her memory but found nothing. “I have not heard such a tale,” she
replied. Glancing up toward the stars, she said, “The mountain is angry.”
Feeling smaller than ever before, she wanted to run into the night and hide
herself. Eyes stared through her in the darkness—knowing eyes.
    “Who angered