by Brian Murray
The group was taken to the rear of the palace and then ushered into the building. Once inside, the party was escorted directly to the king’s chambers without stopping to refresh themselves. They entered the empty room and waited.
***
Prince Zane, Captain Waid, and twenty Royal Lancers joined Dax and his companions for the journey through Dashnar Forest. The first day of the journey had been fairly trouble-free as they made their way through the sparsely wooded fringe. Now in the heart of the forest, their speed had dropped. Choosing to dismount and walk, the company wound its way through the densely packed trees. The tight-knit ceiling of leaves forming the forest canopy only occasionally allowed the sunlight to stream through to the ground, creating puddles of brightness. For the rest of the time, without the sunlight, it seemed like perpetual night. On the second evening the group camped near a pond, which gave the men an open view to the sky. Here they could tell when dawn came and in which direction they were heading.
“Dax?” called Thade softly, as he lay under his blanket near the old warrior.
“What?” answered Dax, shuffling around, trying to get comfortable.
“Something does not feel right.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, I have been a gladiator in the arena, and brought up by the Sekkers . . .” His voice trailed off.
“So what’s the matter?”
“I am scared, Dax. Fighting men I can do. Single hand-to-hand combat doesn’t bother me, but fighting a force of darkness, well now, that’s another matter altogether.”
“Thade, there’s nothing to worry about. Stay close to me and you’ll be fine.”
“Thanks, Dax.”
“Now go to sleep.”
An eerie howl broke the silence of the forest and in the camp low, nervous whispering broke out amongst the soldiers.
Thade bolted upright. “What the hell was that, Dax?”
“Wolves, I think, now go to sleep,” replied Dax irritably, still uncomfortable on the ground.
“That was no wolf, my friend,” put in Gan-Goran softly.
“Then what was it, old man?” asked Dax, now sitting up.
From the north the baying sounded louder, closer.
“W . . . what in the n . . . name of Moranton was that?” called Zane, panic evident in his shaking voice.
“Dax, I think we should be moving,” advised Gan-Goran softly.
“What is it, old man?” asked Dax again, his voice cold.
“Whatever it is, it is getting closer,” announced Tanas, emerging from the undergrowth.
Another eerie howl screeched from the south, higher pitched than the others. Then came the response from the north. The horses started to snort and paw the ground nervously. The howl from the south grew louder. The horses started pulling frantically at their pickets.
“Lancers, calm your mounts,” called Captain Waid, his voice strong and commanding.
Gammel rose, built up the fire, and stood nervously gripping his sword. “Gan-Goran, what is out there? That’s no wolf. I’ve heard wolves howling. Now speak, damn you.”
Gan-Goran inched towards the security of the fire, his eyes probing the darkness surrounding them, beyond the fire. A loud shrill howl came from the north and every man drew his weapons. Then the screams of men and horses dying filled the air.
“Lancers, to me!” ordered their captain as he ran towards the horses. Now only silence filled the hollow. The howling, the screams of death, had stopped.
The men in the camp waited silently for Waid, their backs to the fire. The captain emerged from the darkness, his face white with shock.
“Captain, report,” ordered Zane.
After a hesitant moment, then the captain swallowed and reported. “Sire, we have five dead Lancers and ten dead horses. A further five horses have escaped in the melee.”
Zane cursed aloud.
“Sire, I don’t know what manner of creature is out there, but it ripped the hearts out of my men and the horses.”
“Talon Hunters,” whispered Gan-Goran knowingly.
“Thank you, Captain. See to the dead please.”
“Aye, sir.”
“What did you say, old man?” asked Tanas, standing with the others by the fire. “Just then you whispered something. Don’t mess about, old man, this is not the time,” snapped the blind warrior impatiently, his anger rising.
“Tanas is right, Magic Master, we need to know whom we’re dealing with here,” added Zane.
“Not whom but what,” answered the magic-master. “Your captain was right, these are vile creatures, capable of hideous acts of violence.”
“Carry on,” ordered Zane, narrowing his eyes.
“Back in the war against the darkness, the Dark One brought what we know as Talon Hunters. They are the souls of murderers, rapists, and killers, which had been held within the Black Mountain of the Damned or Moranton, Hell. He mined these souls, then morphed and solidified the essence of these vile men, using the darkest necromancy to form the Talon Hunters. They are part of his army, the Dread, the front line in their attacks. They live solely to consume and drink the blood of man.”
“Are you saying they are vampires?”
“Not quite vampires, but they do eat human flesh and drink our blood. The magic used to create them determines upon how they look. The Darklord would have created these beasts from animals here on our lands. I would guess from where we are the creatures are spawned from wolves. The Darklord does not have the power to open a portal, but he could bring forth their essence and meld them with creatures like wolves.”
“Wait, can we go back a bit?” interrupted Tanas, frowning. “How in hell did these creatures get here?”
“I can only assume the Darklord has recovered the two relics from the White Palace in Kal-Pharina. The more pieces he has, the stronger his dark magic becomes.”
“How many of these creatures do you suppose are out there?”
“I would say six to twelve, depending on how much dark magic the Darklord now possesses.”
“Can they be killed?” asked Dax coldly, staring at the old man.
“Yes,” answered Gan-Goran, his face covered in deep shadows from the fire.
“Enough of your scary stories, old man. Let’s be careful and kill the beasts.”
“These are powerful creatures, Dax.”
Dax lifted one of his battle-axes. “And these weapons of mine love a challenge,” he replied, a hint of defiance in his eyes.
A howl from a beast came from the west and another answered from the east.
“Zane, may I suggest you send five or so of your men to get support from the rest of your company,” said Dax in a hushed tone.
“Aye.”
“It’s nearly dawn,” said Thade, “and the rest of us have a long journey on foot through this forest. Let’s pack our things.”
***
At dawn, after a few long hours full of fear and howls from the demonic creatures, the company parted. The Royal Lancers, ordered to bring support, headed north on horseback. They did not reach their goal – dying instead bloody, vicious deaths.
***
The rest of the group continued on foot, heading northeast to Evlon, through the dense belly of the forest. Permanent darkness shrouded them and every second man carried a torch to guide the others. At midday, a halt was called for food and rest, and the men slumped exhausted to the ground. After a cold meal they set off again. No man wanted to stay in the woods, all anxious to get beyond the dark woodland. All became aware of the absence of the normal woodland sounds as they travelled; the silence becoming more and more disturbing. About an hour before sunset the group found a place to camp, again near a pond, where the light shone through the gap in the dense canopy. In the sunlight, the men busied themselves collecting firewood and setting snares and traps. This time they did not want to be surprised.
As usual, Gan-Goran set about making a thin stew for the men’s evening meal. He foraged around
the pond, gathering wild onions and other root crops, together with herbs for his broth. An hour after sunset the men were eating and the mood in the camp had lightened with talk of women, wine, and ale. Then the howling started, from one side of the camp then the other. They were surrounded.
“Those damn creatures must have followed us,” called Thade fearfully.
“I believe you are right,” said Dax with a grimace. “Captain, I would suggest you bring in your men, they’ll be of no use out there on their own.”
A shrilling scream came from the west where one of the lancers sat on guard – the distinct sound of a gruesome death.
“Lancers to me!” barked Captain Waid, and his remaining men hurried into the camp, emerging from the surrounding brush.
Dax took control. “Everyone arm yourselves and form a ring around the fire. These creatures are close.”
The howling continued from all sides, one calling, another responding. Then they all howled in a crescendo of sinister noise – then silence – an unsettling, ominous hush hung in the cool night air.
The only sound in the hollow came from the crackling fire and the men’s heavy, nervous breathing. Not a breath of wind stirred the air and everything was motionless. Only the firelight dancing against the thick heavily knotted gnarling tree trunks tricked eyes into thinking movement surrounded them.
***
Zane peered out into the darkness and saw nothing. He licked his lips and gripped his sword hilt tighter.
***
Thade looked out into the blackness and saw nothing, his eyes darting left and right watching the moving shadows.
***
Tanas could hear no movement.
***
Dax waited patiently, his eyes closed, using his hearing to detect motion.
***
Hissing started. It grew louder, drowning the sounds of the fire – louder, louder, LOUDER!
***
Suddenly, there was an explosion of movement. Two Royal Lancers were knocked into the fire, a third thrown into the pond, splashing noisily. Before the others could react, a Lancer’s chest was ripped open. Captain Waid lay motionless in the fire with the pot of stew knocked over next to him, spreading the steaming contents on the ground. Quickly Zane leapt forward, rolled the man clear of the fire, and smothered the flames on the captain’s back with his own body. When he looked up again, he saw one of the creatures feeding on the other fallen Lancer.
The Talon Hunter had orange, cat-like eyes and its head, shoulders, and arms were covered in thick black, matted fur. It had the head of a serpent, covered with tuffs of matted fur instead of scales, and a lipless mouth tapering to a point armed with rows of sharp teeth. The only bare part of the Talon Hunter’s body was its powerful barrel chest. Standing on two legs, the Talon Hunter was around eight feet tall and had thick, powerful limbs. Attached to the end of its thick fingers were long claws, talons dripping with blood. It sniffed the air, and in one bound the creature crossed the clearing and disappeared into the darkness. Another screaming lancer fell into its clutches.
The lancer who had been thrown into the pond scrambled out and fled into the undergrowth in panic. Within seconds, a gargling scream erupted.
Commotion filled the campsite.
“Everyone stay still and be quiet!” screamed Tanas. He strained his hearing and whispered, “I think there are six of them, two on each side, none past the pond.” As he finished his report, the clearing again exploded with movement as all six Talon Hunters attacked. Each man had to defend himself against the beasts.
***
Dax and Gammel reacted first.
Dax slammed both of his axes down into the head of the charging creature, killing it instantly, sending a fountain of dark spray into the night air. The momentum of the attack knocked Dax backward onto the ground with the beast landing on top of him. He could smell the Talon Hunter’s rancid, dying breath as its life fluid flowed across the warrior’s broad chest.
Gammel, with all his might, lifted the creature up and freed Dax. There was no time for thanks. They defended themselves from another attacking beast.
***
Thade levelled his crossbow and fired into another Talon Hunter’s eye. Tanas jumped up and reversing his swords, he stabbed the now lumbering creature in the back, using its falling weight to force the blades home. The creature flattened underneath him, dead. Tanas wrenched his swords forcefully from the dead Talon Hunter and dived to his left, avoiding the leap of another beast. This creature squared up to Thade and roared.
Thade ducked under a wild swing and stabbed the creature in its side. Avoiding another lunge, and using both of his swords, he crossed his arms before him and slashed upwards and outwards, slashing the creature’s throat. Blood sprayed over Thade as he dived out of the way of the falling, dying beast. At the same time, Tanas knelt on one knee and stabbed the beast in the belly with both swords. He let out a cry of triumph as he rose, slicing upwards. Tanas turned and was knocked sprawling across the ground by a charging Talon Hunter. Dazed, he clambered to his knees still gripping his swords.
“NO!” Thade screamed.
***
The Royal Lancers gallantly defended their prince, but they were being picked off easily, their cavalry swords unable to cut through the beasts’ thick hide. Two more soldiers fell before Zane took control. Grabbing a sword from one of the fallen Lancers, he took the attack to the creature with two blades. Slashing high and low, he forced the beast back. Crunch! Dax’s axes crushed through the beast’s skull, along with sickening squelch as the blades slashed through bone, reaching the soft brain matter. This was music to Zane’s ears as he began to tire. He nodded to Dax. Hearing Gammel’s bellowing battle cry, they both turned. Zane reacted first.
***
Gammel hacked wildly at the beast towering over him. Using his double-handed broadsword, he stabbed the beast just once before the Talon Hunter slapped away his sword, sending him sprawling in the dirt. Gammel recovered quickly, let out his battle cry, and charged the beast, unarmed. Grabbing the creature by the neck, he squeezed. The creature grabbed Gammel in a bear hug. Gammel felt the Talon Hunter squeezing his body and his arms grew weak as its talons pricked his skin. Out of the corner of his eye, Gammel saw Zane charge.
The young prince knew what to do. Zane stabbed low at the creature’s groin, well clear of Gammel’s body. Zane then hacked through the beast’s ankle tendons. Gammel felt the beast’s grip weaken and began punching the creature full in the face. He delivered blow after blow until the Talon Hunter released the blacksmith and collapsed. It lay on the ground, its face a pink, pulpy mess. Gammel retrieved his broadsword and stood over the creature. Without mercy, he hacked downwards. That one single mighty blow decapitated the Talon Hunter.
***
Dax turned when he heard Thade scream, “No!” As if in slow motion he saw one of the beasts jump high and land on the fallen Tanas. For a split second, Dax thought he saw a bloody blade protruding through the beast and out of its back. Then the ground beneath Tanas opened up. In a cloud of dust, he and the beast dropped into a black hole.
***
Thade was knocked to the ground by the last of the beasts before he could rush forward. He raised his swords to defend himself but the beast slapped them away. The beast raised its arm, its bloody talons glistening in the firelight. The beast’s shoulder moved, but the arm momentarily stayed still, then dropped. The severed limb thudded on the leaf-covered ground beside Thade, pumping out thick, slimy blood. The beast howled in pain and turned. Swinging one of his death-dealers, Dax beheaded the beast.
Thade rolled out of the way as the last Talon Hunter fell forward, dead, thick blood spurting from its missing limb and head. Thade looked up at Dax and saw the warrior breathing deeply, blood dripping from his death-dealers, his eyes gleaming victoriously. Without saying a word, Thade scrambled to his feet and ran to the crater, where Tanas had fallen in.
“Tanas!” he screamed down the hole. N
o reply. “Tanas!” he called again, but still no answer.
Dax appeared beside his friend.
“Tanas fell down there. How far down do you think it goes, Dax?”
“I don’t know, boy, but Gan-Goran should be able to help us.”
Gan-Goran had stayed close to the fire during the conflict with the Talon Hunters and watched the skirmish. He saw that the men had grouped together, fought an unknown enemy and defended one another like brothers, as if they had always been together. A bond had formed between these men, one that could not be easily broken.
Gan-Goran heard his name being called by Dax and came over to him. He had not seen Tanas fall into the hole and he looked at the warrior, puzzled.
“Can you send down a search spell?” asked Dax.
“What for?” replied Gan-Goran, confused.
“Tanas is down there!” screamed Thade furiously.
“What? Of course, yes.”
Gan-Goran closed his eyes and summoned the search spell. Holding out his left hand a small glowing white orb appeared, hovering above his palm. Whispering a word of power, the magic master sent the orb down into the darkness.
“Is it very deep?” asked Thade.
“Have you found him?” asked Dax.
“No, it’s not too deep, but full of flowing water. Ah, yes, it’s an underground river.”
“Where is Tanas, old man?”
“He must have been caught up in the swift current.”
“I don’t hear any water flowing,” said Dax, straining his hearing.
“That is because the sides down there are very smooth and therefore there is no sound. Look, I will show you.” He took a rock and dropped it into the hole. Moments later came a clear, audible splash.
“Where does the river emerge?”
Gan-Goran opened his eyes. “I’m not sure where it emerges, but I sense one of those Talon Hunters down there.”
“Does Tanas live? I will not leave a living man behind, especially a friend,” said Dax fiercely.
