In spite of the good food and drink, conversation was stinted during the meal. We were so close to finishing a quest any sane person would consider impossible, that we were lost in our own thoughts. I was confident enough we could finish that I couldn’t stop thinking about my bed back in DuPont. In my head I could feel its flannel sheets against my skin and smell the forest out my bedroom window.
The storm finally passed hours later as quickly as it came. One minute snow was falling so hard I could barely see more than ten feet, and five minutes later the night sky was clear and the stars twinkled. I stepped out of the cave and pulled the hood of my coat down so it wouldn’t block my view. The sight past the glacier’s edge was breathtaking.
The night’s black sky was in perfect contrast to its diamond like glittering stars. A full moon caused the snow to shine with almost a bluish tint, and ominous silhouettes of sharp mountains strove toward the sky. Small islands of slim trees stood out among the rolling sea of glistening snow. The air was cold, clean, and refreshing. It was hard to believe this place wasn’t heaven.
“You shouldn’t be out here,” a seductive voice said quietly behind me. I turned to smile at Lanisa. She was walking silently toward me with the hood of her enchanted wool coat down. “Orc eyes are almost as good as elf, and with your hood down the enchantment won’t hide you,” she said. Her eyes were setting my soul aflame.
“Do you see any?” I whispered. My eyes took in her face as she scanned the terrain.
“No,” she said.
I smiled at her and instinctively reached out to squeeze her hand. Trepidation at possibly crossing her boundaries vanished as I felt her delicate hand return the squeeze. We stood there for a moment, eyes pointed out at the beautiful but hostile terrain, although I spent most of the time watching the beautiful elf out of the corner of my eye. I was so deeply captivated with her entrancing profile that an orc could have walked up and kissed me. But all too soon, she broke the moment, that lovely hand disappearing into one of her pockets.
“We should go in,” she said turning. “We’ll be settling down soon and need to set the watch.” I followed her in, wishing the ankle length coats we wore didn’t cover her lovely frame so effectively.
Tallus banked the fire as we determined the watch. A jolly Invincible named Ilvar had first, and a quiet ranger I think is named Shalann had the shit watch. I took the third. With the evening business completed, we curled up as close to the fire as we could get. My time spent outside with Lanisa cost us a good spot near the fire, but also guaranteed me a spot next to her.
I felt like I’d only just gone to sleep when Shalann woke me for my shift. I gave him a nod as I drug myself to my feet. By the time I’d taken my place near the mouth of the cave, he was fast asleep at his well-chosen spot near the fire.
My watch passed excruciatingly slowly. I sat so I could see the sliver of world past our protective glacier. At first, I counted the stars I could see. 27. I’m sure because I counted them three times. Then I counted the stars that I wasn’t sure if I actually saw or was imagining. Another 14, give or take.
After that I gazed at the sight of the two mountain peaks visible. The closest with its jagged yet partially snowless crown looked a lot like the pictures I’d seen of Ama Dablam peak in Nepal. The second with its three pointed snowy top made me home sick for Mount Rainier. That brought a host of images from my days in Washington.
I was retracing the Mt. Fremont Lookout Trail on Mt. Rainier in my head when something caught my eye. There was a movement behind a distant snowbank. At least, it seemed there was.
I moved to the edge of the glacier for a better look. Nothing moving now, but Lanisa said orc eyes were almost as strong as hers, and for all I knew the bastards could sneak like an elf too. There might be hundreds out there, and I couldn’t see them. At the same time, I might have just imagined it.
My eyes were focused on the darkened, slightly moon-lit, expanse when a distinctly feminine form suddenly appeared from behind a crevasse in the glacier. I felt like I should recognize her dark silken hair, almond eyes, and supple naked skin, but no recognition came. My attention was captured by perfection in human form.
I was enchanted, I knew that. Something had to be going on for a woman to be naked in this environment and not freeze. But I didn’t care. She was there, my fantasy, and all I cared about was making her mine. As I took a step toward her, she stepped toward me, our hands outstretched. The touch of her soft supple skin was electric. I felt a charge course through my body.
“Did you miss me?” she asked, her voice distantly familiar. It was husky, breathy, sexy. My breath caught in my chest.
“D-do I know you?” I stammered, speech failing from her beauty. I knew I did, she was my everything. Yet something felt wrong. But the sensation was distant and every fiber of my being told me to ignore the annoying instinct and make the woman mine.
“Of course you do, lover,” she purred. “Your mine.” Her face wore the sweetest smile I’d ever seen.
Instinctively, my hands reached out to caress her naked curves. But my eyes were locked on her face. A face that was so perfect it made me hurt, yet I knew to look away would inflict agony on myself. But as I gazed upon that perfect visage, something seemed to be missing.
My hands explored her firm stomach and breasts, yet I barely noticed. Her hands groped the depths under my long coat, except I was ignorant. Her gasping and moans should have been intoxicating, but I didn’t care. I couldn’t tear my attention away from her face.
It was a face that was so perfect to be too perfect. I didn’t know how perfection could be missing something, yet it was. The longer my eyes lingered on that face the more sure I became. Some distant part of my mind finally made the connection. There was a line missing.
At first, I thought the line might be a wrinkle. I searched the corner of her eyes and the supple skin of her forehead, but neither seemed to be right. As I searched her face, I realized it wasn’t a wrinkle. The line I sought was far too long and jagged.
A scar!
“Get away from me!” I snarled as I shoved Gallinea away. With her enchantment over me broken, I could see the vile little bitch for who she was.
A disembodied giggle echoed through the chamber as Gallinea flew back from the shove, only to pass through the solid ice of the glacier. Her giggle continued as she flew in and out of the cave walls, her naked form no longer enthralling.
“How can I possibly stay back from you?” she cooed. “We’re soulmates.” I was looking at the wall she’d just disappeared inside of when her voice whispered in my ear just behind me. “I can give you everything you’ve ever wanted and more.”
“You have nothing I want,” I growled as I turned toward her and stepped back. “You’re a rep from Withermoor. Nothing more.”
For a split second, a dark look crossed Gallinea’s face. Then her insidious smile returned. “I staked my claim to you on our last night in Withermoor,” she whispered quietly. “And you more than happy to accept my favors that night.”
“You used your magic on me then.”
“I used it on you now. And yet you resisted… barely. How I wonder?” Gallinea floated around me, her eyes taking me in from all angles. After three complete circles, she stopped facing me. “Was it your time in the sanctum?” she asked. “Did the witch cast a spell or give you a protective amulet?” The ethereal naked woman gave me a long sniff, from toe to head. “No, that isn’t it.” Then her eyes slid to the sleeping Lanisa. “Perhaps it’s your elf whore.”
My warning growl made Gallinea giggle. She floated over to the lovely elf’s sleeping form, laid next to her and looked to me. “I don’t mind your slumming,” she said huskily as she appeared solid again. “You’re only a man, after all. You’re never satisfied with just one woman. Besides… if you’re that infatuated with her, we could always share her.” Gallinea turned to Lanisa, her tongue finding the young elf’s ear and hand disappearing into Lanisa’s coat between the two toggles at the breast. Wit
h the necessity of the enchanted long coats, the elves had no need for another layer of plant clothing. Once the phantasm’s hand penetrated the long coat, she found soft luxurious skin.
My pistol was in my hands instantly, leveled at the phantasm. She only giggled, pulling her hand free only to send it lower down Lanisa’s form. The hand disappeared into the elf’s coat at the hips. The coat moved as Gallinea’s fingers worked, drawing a moan from Lanisa’s sleeping form.
“Do you really think that weapon can hurt me?” she asked as she planted as passionate kiss on the elf’s cheek.
“If you can touch her, I’m willing to bet my bullets can touch you.” I cocked the hammer back.
“It’s a bet you’d lose,” she whispered huskily, kissing the elf gently on her lips. Lanisa was writhing and moaning uncontrollably under the combination of Gallinea’s powerful fingers and ensorcellment. “I can turn any part of my body incorporeal any time I wish. Now, why don’t you join us?” Lanisa’s legs strained to spread against the restraining long coat she wore.
“Leave her,” I said putting my weapon away. “My pistol may not be able to damage you, but I’m sure Rasthamus Vale has something that will.”
Gallinea snarled, suddenly twisting in my direction like a snake ready to strike. Then she flashed into her true, transparent and ethereal form and rushed toward me. She moved at such astounding speed that I staggered back in alarm. Her face was only inches from mine as it twisted demonically.
“You’re mine,” she growled, an inhuman hollow to her rage filled voice. “And your whore exists at my pleasure, not yours. If you continue to resist me, she will pay first.” Gallinea gave one final screech of frustration before vanishing from the cave.
The Bloodravens
Moments after Gallinea disappeared, my team started waking up. I only barely paid attention to the others, my focus being on Lanisa. She bolted up into a sitting position, her shoulders shifting uncomfortably. The elf looked around as though something was wrong, and I gave her as relaxed a smile as I could muster when her eyes settled on me. It wasn’t returned; her eyes were haunted by something that I could certainly understand but she likely didn’t.
“Bad night?” I asked. Stupid question I know, but I wasn’t sure how to bring Gallinea’s invasion up. I placed a hand on her shoulder but she immediately jerked away.
“I-I’m sorry,” she said, as shocked by the intensity of her reaction as everyone else. Everyone but me. “Just some strange dreams.”
“Oh, I understand those dreams,” I said with a nod. It was obvious from the look on her face she didn’t believe me, but then, how could she possibly know? I gave her a smile and some space, but kept an eye on her with the corner of my eye. Lanisa found a quiet and shadowy area of the cave. She wiped at her coat as though scrubbing away some imagined filth.
While she dealt with her inner demons, the rest of us prepared to leave. Minutes later, we were on the march, eating our cold breakfast on the way.
A pair of elves who were tasked with watching our flanks found the dead and frozen bodies of six orcs about one hundred yards from our cave. We gathered around, looking at pale gray orcish faces that were twisted in unearthly horror. Even alive, the orcs would have scared the hell out of me with their scrunched together faces, too large mouths, and pointed predatory teeth. But looking down at their visages, contorted and pale from murderous terror, made my stomach roil.
“Gallinea?” I whispered. I was answered by silent nods. One by one everybody filed away, until it was only Lanisa, Tallus, Shieldwall and I. As worried as I was by the discovery, I was fascinated by the weapons and gear they had. Matte swords and ebony bows, matched with black leather armor, all were as dark as their onyx hair.
“How do they not freeze?” I asked looking at their meager leather protection. “They’re not wearing any cold weather gear.”
“Orcish resistance to cold rivals the dwarven resistance to heat,” Lanisa said. “Dwarves adapted to living in volcanoes near the magma, and orcs evolved to live near their arctic summits.”
“Never thought I’d ever say this,” Tallus said. “But I’m glad the undead’s along. She’s proving to be quite the ally.”
“Yeah,” I said casting an eye toward Lanisa who was marching away in stoic silence. “She’s a fucking peach.”
Despite spending most of their time under mountains rather than on them, the dwarves knew this terrain better than anyone and acted as our guides. Whenever possible they led us through thick copses of trees, along bare rock covered by rock overhangs, or even through game trails of broken snow. But, try as they might, the snows were just too thick for the dwarves to hide our trail completely.
Three times our scouts spotted either hunting parties or scout parties of darklings on rout to somewhere. Each time we avoided them by hiding behind massive boulders or under the thick snows, waiting silently as they passed obliviously by. Just before noon, we were fortunate enough to be hit by a short but heavy blizzard that hid our trail.
It was late afternoon when our luck ran out. I was so exhausted from the pace, grueling terrain, and altitude that I didn’t notice the tension building in our group. Not until we halted our rapid pace at the crest of a short rise.
I was gasping and wheezing, completely tied up in trying to keep pace, when the elf before me suddenly stopped. I almost ran him over, needing to grab his shoulders for support so I wouldn’t topple onto him. Only then did I notice something was off with our group.
To anyone else they’d have appeared relaxed, watching our flanks without worry. But I’d learned a great deal about my team during our time together. I could sense their trepidation, all but smell their fear. In spite of the pristine and breathtaking, almost Swiss Alps-like scenery, a significant danger lurked somewhere near.
“Have your feet under you yet?” asked the elf whose shoulders I’d seized. I looked down to see my hands still tightly squeezing him.
“Yeah, right,” I said looking around as I let him go. “Sorry. What’s up?”
“We’re being surrounded by something,” he whispered, seeming relaxed but for his eyes darting.
“How can you tell?” I asked, my eyes darting as well.
“Hand signals,” he said simply. “Rangers use them as a matter of course. Our scouts noticed movement behind us about two hours ago. We thought we were keeping distance, but now there’s sign all around us.”
“They were holding back while they got their support in place,” I surmised in a growl. He nodded. “Can we negotiate with them?”
“We don’t even know what they are. But from their numbers and tactics, it’s likely an orc war party. They won’t negotiate.”
“Ok,” I said, mulling that info over. “So what do we do now?”
“If we can make that forest to the left, we have a chance,” he said flicking his eyes in that direction. “But it’s more than three miles away.”
I nodded and glanced toward the indicated direction. Lanisa stood to the edge of the group, directly in my sight-line to that forest. Her right hand in the slit of her jacket and squeezing the hilt of her blade. Her eyes were on the forested valley that was our only sanctuary.
“Go stand next to Ambassador Shieldwall,” he whispered. “And get ready to jump on.”
“Jump on what?” I asked, but he was already moving away.
I crunched loudly through the snow to the dwarf who looked off the direction we’d been headed. She had her shoulder height shield resting on one edge in the snow, her hands hanging onto a strap at its upper end.
“When I say now, grab my waist and hold on tight,” she whispered. “And make sure you stay right behind me.” I wanted to ask why, but I knew they had a plan. Each dwarf stood with their shields as Shieldwall was, and an elf or two behind them.
I was trying to puzzle out their plan when Shieldwall gave a subtle nod. Suddenly, every dwarf burst forward and jumped onto their shield, the elves right behind them. The dwarves kept a tight hold on that st
rap at the forward of the shield, using the curving rectangular metal as a sled to rocket down the mountain toward the forest.
Shieldwall moved so quickly I almost missed the sled ride, and I quickly realized that holding onto her waist was an impossibility. She was just too short. If it hadn’t been for the thick metallic humps of her armored breastplate, I would have flown off that careening shield more than a dozen times before we reached the end. While the world flashed past at such a blur that I thought I’d be sick, I hung onto the woman’s armored form like life itself.
“Enjoying yerself?” Shieldwall shouted, a clear thrill in her shout.
“Sorry,” I shouted back. “There’s just nothing else to hang onto!”
“Huh?” she asked. The dwarf flipped her visor up and looked down. “Ha! It’s been a long time since anyone but my wife’s tried grabbin’ me like that!” I may not have been able to see her face, but the smile in her voice was obvious. She was clearly enjoying our ride-of-death far more than me. “Hang onto whatever it takes to stay aboard!” I’d never expected to hear the dwarf gave the squealing laugh she did as we flew off a snow bank and caught 25 feet of air. “I forgot how fun shield-glidin’ was!” she screamed in exhilaration. Shieldwall was so excited by our wild ride that she’d lost her diplomatic patter.
“Get yer swords ready!” one of the Invincibles screamed as dozens of dark forms suddenly rose from behind snowy hillocks in our path.
I wrapped my left arm around her chest as tight as possible and drew my sword. We were moving so fast that I barely got my blade up in time to block a matte black sword. The shock of the two blades crashing together with such force ripped my blade free of my hand. It flipped through the air, but we were moving so fast that by the time it landed in the snow it was dozens of feet behind us. Creatures in wickedly spiked night-black armor howled in frustration as the lot of us careened past them.
Arrows thudded into the snow around us but we were moving too fast for the creatures to get another volley off. I was actually starting to grin in spite of the terrifying sled-ride, when Shieldwall screamed out another warning.
A New World Page 20
