by Sharon Gibbs
Blood spurted from his mare and she became silent. The lantern cast just enough light enabling Foreman a view of the grizzly scene. One beast flew off with her hindquarter and Foreman inched his way further from the path. A twig snapped under his weight, catching the attention of the creature closest to him. It stopped its carnivorous attack and turned its attention towards the sound.
Foreman froze as he saw the beast’s head whip around in his direction. Holding his breath, his heart raced and the beast returned to his meal. Foreman remained still. When they seemed engrossed in their feast he inched his way back further from the road.
From the darkness it flew in and pinned him to the ground. Straddling him with its heavy leathery body, it gnashed its teeth. Foreman closed his eyes, too terrified to look, and waited for the end to come. He could feel the breath of the beast in his face as it took in his scent. The animal screeched, calling to its pack. Stopping its feast, another of the beasts sprang from the remains of their kill while yet another flew in from the surrounding forest and the two joined the first as it seemed to wait for them. Foreman could feel the hair on the beast’s nose as it sniffed at his exposed skin. The two who’d arrived snorted and scratched at the earth surrounding their prey.
Foreman could barely breathe. He wanted to flee but his fear held him in place. The beasts, unsure, screeched at each other. They could smell the fear of their prey but also the scent of their creator. As they snarled and snapped at each other, they tugged at his clothes until Foreman heard another bellow out and they left his side.
Foreman lay still and as the forest became silent, he opened his eyes and looked around. He saw nothing except the dark stain on the road where his horse had been. He inched his way over to the comfort of the warm glowing light. As he rose to his feet he picked up the lantern and hurried back to the path, slipping in the gore left on the road. There was nothing he could do here in the darkness. His horse was gone and north was where he needed to be.
<><><>
As Jack led his men back towards The Dale, the horses raced along the forest’s edge. He realised quickly the need to keep their mounts a good distance away from the trees. The times they’d tried to ride in close to the tall pines and make their task of inspection easier, their mounts’ agitation increased. Battling to gain back control they found the horses settled quickly the further away they rode from the wooded growth. Approaching the road which led back to The Dale, Jack spied a man staggering along the path. He carried a lantern in his hand, and his steps seemed laboured and his shoulders drooped with fatigue.
‘Over there.’ Jack pointed to the path emerging from the forest and steered his mount towards the old man.
The thundering of hooves caused Foreman to lift his head towards the oncoming troop. He raised his hand to them and then dropped the lantern as searing pain shot through his chest. Gasping for breath, he dropped to his knees as Jack pulled his steed to a halt and jumped from his saddle.
‘Are you alright, old man?’ He knelt by his side.
‘North. I need to get north,’ Foreman gasped, his brow slick with perspiration. ‘I… I need… to find the Wizards.’
Jack reached out to support the man as he began to slump to the ground. ‘Why do you need to see the Wizards?’
‘North… I must…find them.’
‘Archer, we need to get this man back to the village. Find something we can use to transport him.’
‘Yes, Captain.’ Archer scanned the surrounding area. ‘Harrison, Zane, come with me,’ he said and then rode off towards a small group of saplings which grew further up the road.
Foreman clutched his chest, gasping for breath as Jack sat by the man to support him from slumping to the ground. ‘It won’t be long, we’ll get you help. What’s your name?’
The pain in Foreman’s chest eased, enabling him to breathe better. ‘I’m… nobody… of importance.’ Sharp searing pain wracked his chest. ‘Argh.’ His hands shot up to clutch at the pain and Jack watched on, helpless, unable to stop the old man’s torture.
Archer raced over with the makeshift transportation. He and his men had cut some small saplings and made an ‘a frame’. Fastening the whole lot together with the rope from their tack they had crudely attached a blanket as a sling to support the old man’s weight.
‘I hope it holds together until we get back,’ Archer said as he helped Jack manoeuvre the man on to the contraption.
‘It will have to do.’
‘Zane!’
‘Yes, Captain.’
‘Ride ahead. Let the wizards know we’re bringing a sick man back with us.’
He nodded and sped back to his horse. The dust flew from its hooves as he headed back to the village.
Chapter Thirty-nine
‘Bring him inside,’ Elle called as the soldiers rode up to the house. ‘The Wizards are preparing for him.’
Zane rushed down the steps of Joseph’s home. ‘They’re ready.’
Jack dismounted and helped Zane lift the old man from the stretcher. ‘Archer, grab his feet,’ he said as they struggled to lift the old man’s limp body up the stairs and into the house.
‘Bring him over here by the fire,’ Clarence said as he ushered them over to the hastily prepared pallet.
‘Alright, let us have a look at him,’ Henry said as he strode through the room with his small bag of medicinal supplies, placing it on the floor by the pallet. ‘I know this man,’ he said as he stared at the now much older but still familiar face of Foreman Johns. ‘Foreman,’ Henry called to the man as he shook him.
‘Foreman?’ Clarence was shocked. They hadn’t heard from him since he’d left the Keep.
Reaching up, Henry felt Foreman’s brow. His skin was pale and glistened with sweat. Henry placed his hand over Foreman’s chest. ‘Clarence come here tell me what you can.’
As he reached the man’s side Clarence placed his hand on Foreman’s chest and closed his eyes. He suddenly recoiled. ‘No, it can’t be.’
‘What is it, Clarence? Are you alright?’ Christopher said, seeing the shock on the wizards face and reached out to steady his old friend.
‘She’s alive. I can feel her power in him.’
‘Who? What did you feel?’ Henry stared at his friend.
‘Dark magic. The same as—’ he licked his lips and swallowed, ‘the same power which held me captive. Athena lives and has linked her magic to him.’
‘I wondered what that was,’ Henry said. ‘But I felt more than another’s powers. His heart is blackened with burden and sorrow. He has suffered much since our parting. The strain has been too much on his heart. I can ease it a little but he will need to deal with it once he wakes.’
‘What about the Sorceress’ power over him?’ Elle asked as she gave Henry a dampened cloth to cleanse Foreman’s skin. ‘Are we in danger?’
‘Possibly,’ Henry said. ‘Jack, did he say anything when you found him?’
‘Yes, he wanted to go north.’
‘North?’
Jack nodded his head. ‘Yes, north to find the wizards.’
Henry stared at his friend ‘North,’ he said to the unconscious man. ‘What was it you had to tell us old friend?’ He placed the cloth which had been dipped in a medicinal solution on Foreman’s skin to help ease his suffering.
‘There’s nothing more we can do until he wakes,’ Henry said.
Christopher placed his hand on his grandfather’s shoulder. ‘I’m sorry, Henry, but to make sure we’re all safe we must tie him down, until we know why he’s come to find us.’
Chapter Forty
Doran thrust the stick into the fire. He’d had to listen to Athena’s moans of ecstasy for the last two days and nights. The only time the reunited couple left the confines of their tent had been to stretch their legs as they took a walk through the valley, returning when they wanted to relax in each other’s pleasure. In the darkness that enveloped him he could see the flashes of Athena’s magic through the thin canvas veil that concea
led the two. The flicker seared through Doran’s brain and his thoughts wandered back the time when it had been him receiving pleasure from Athena.
‘Doran, why such a scowl?’
He jumped to his feet and his temper flared at her sudden appearance. ‘So this is the reward I get for finding the tree!’
‘Reward? Who said there would be a reward?’
‘You sent me off to find this tree,’ he said, pointing to the now lilting trunk. ‘You made me travel for weeks through the cold to find it for you, only to return and find Catrain had usurped my place, and now this,’ he said, pointing towards her tent.
‘Doran! You forget your place. Don’t make me regret my time with you.’
‘Your time with me?’ He grabbed Athena by the arm. ‘What! Am I now to watch forever as you bray like a bitch in heat before him?’
‘What’s going on?’ Zute said as he emerged from the tent.
‘It’s nothing, my love. Go back to bed.’ Doran increased his grip on Athena’s arm. She stared into his eyes, ‘I think you forget your place, Doran. Let me go.’
His cold calculating glare continued to challenge hers. Athena could see his pulse throb through the delicate skin of his neck. It flickered with every beat of his racing heart. Doran squeezed her arm tighter. With her free hand Athena released the tie which held her robe closed. The material eased open as the cord loosened. She pushed aside her covering to reveal her womanly charms and as she did so, her hand slid past the jewelled chain she wore to reach for the leather thong around her thigh. Her fingers wrapped around the handle of the silver dagger as Doran spoke.
‘Why, Athena, is that a wrinkle I see?’
She released the handle and her hand flew up to grab his arm. ‘Why do you say such wicked things after all I’ve done for you? Dressed you in fine clothes and taken you to my bed and to my heart.’
He smiled to see the torment on her face. ‘Your heart? I think not. You have no heart.’ He laughed. ‘Your games with your Lord are aging you, Mistress.’
She squeezed Doran’s arm. ‘Old, is that what you see? What about now?’ Athena sucked at his life force and Doran watched as her skin plumped and regenerated before his eyes. ‘How about now? Am I more beautiful?’ she taunted.
‘No matter how deceptive your looks,’ Doran said as he snarled through his teeth, ‘deep down you will always be ugly inside, Athena.’
Rage soared through her and she increased her grip on his arm, drawing his life force from his soul. Doran cried out as his life rushed from his body, and Athena smiled as she watched his flesh wither before her eyes. She sucked his essence from his soul leaving his skin crisp and dry as if it had baked in the scorching desert sun for months on end. Doran’s desiccated hand still held Athena within its grasp. With a flick of her arm his brittle skeletal frame broke and Doran’s legs sheared away from his torso. The hand which held Athena within its grasp, snapped at the wrist and Athena plucked the desiccated fingers from her arm and brushed off her skin. Without a second thought for him, she headed back to her tent. As she approached her Lord at the entrance he halted her.
‘My love, you are more beautiful tonight than ever before.’
She smiled and then continued on in.
Zute growled and slapped Athena’s backside as she passed him. ‘To bed with you!’
A girlish giggle escaped Athena’s lips.
Chapter Forty-one
Zute rose from the cocooned warmth of his bed as the wind continued to ripple the canvas walls of the tent. He turned to Athena, ‘We have dallied too long. It’s time to be on our way.’ He moved to the table and filled a cup from the pitcher of wine.
‘What are your plans, my Lord? Where do we go from here?’
‘My plans,’ he said and then wiped the back of his hand across his mouth. ‘I thought you would know, my sweet. My plan is to take back what should’ve been mine and be rid of those wizards once and for all. It’s to the east we must journey.’ He placed the mug back on the small table. ‘Come here, my queen.’
Athena swept back the covers and rose naked from the warmth of their bed. She moved towards her Lord and as the cool of the night touched her flesh she shivered.
‘Here, my love,’ Zute said as he took off his cloak and placed it around her shoulders. ‘Stay warm. On the morrow we shall head off and travel to the flock. I sense their frustration. You’ve done well, my love,’ he said as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her full lips, his tongue tasting the sweet warmth he found there. He drew his mouth away from hers for a moment. ‘You, my love, were worth my wait in purgatory.’
Athena rose up on the balls of her feet, and as she slipped her arms around his neck she leant forward and returned the kiss he had given her. Zute’s hands danced over her body and as he scooped her up into his arms, he continued to drink from her warmth. Athena’s passion soared as his lips danced upon hers with the whisper of a butterflies wings while he held her secure in his arms and carried her back to the warmth of their nest. With a flick of her wrist, Athena snuffed out the candle light.
<><><>
Morning arrived and with it came a chill they had not endured for weeks. The servants rushed around the campsite and packed for the day’s travel. Two days ago they had buried what little remained of Doran’s body.
Catrain pulled her cloak close, to keep out the draft as she dashed about. ‘Martha, make sure the food is ready for when the Lord and Mistress return from their morning walk.’
‘Yes, Ma’am.’
‘Krane, see that the main tent is packed and strapped under the oiled cover. I wouldn’t be surprised if it rained,’ she said as she glanced up towards the gloom overhead.
Krane’s back ached. He let the canvas fall to the ground and stretched to ease the strain. ‘We know what to do, girl,’ he said. ‘You don’t need to issue us orders.’
‘I’m making sure all is done before the Mistress returns, and as it’s my role to see all is set right, I’ll beg you to get on with your work and be quick about it.’
‘Your role? You’re nothing more than a pet scurrying to please its master. We’re all pets to the Mistress, so don’t you go fooling yourself girl, thinking that you’re any more than that.’
‘Why, Krane, I do believe you are jealous.’
‘Jealous? I think your simple mind deceives you, girl. Just look at what happened to Doran. He was once in the lady’s favour.’
Catrain whirled on her heel and stormed back to Athena’s tent. What did Krane know? He was just a common peasant.
With the wagon loaded the carriage set off. ‘It will be a few days before we near the edge of the forest,’ Athena said to Zute as she relaxed upon the seat, nestled in the warm furs.
Zute stared out the window at the overcast sky as the carriage bumped over the rough terrain and headed towards their destination. While his body relaxed in the soft silky pelts, his mind whirled as he made plans. Once all was in place, he would make his way towards the Keep and finally take back what should have been his all along.
<><><>
Krane waved for the wagon behind to follow and then turned his team of horses off the main track to head for a clearing, a short distance from the forest. The area they headed for was dotted with pine. The fallen timber would provide them with plenty of fuel for the evening fire without having to venture near the forest to search for wood. The campsite he’d chosen was close enough to the timberland to please the Lord, yet seemed safe enough from the creatures he knew lurked within its dark interior.
As day light began to fade and twilight drew in, the shrouded grey sky which had loomed for the past few days cleared. Above the snow-covered peaks of the mountains to the east, the moon inched its way up into the sky as the daylight faded. With the campsite readied and the evening meal prepared, the small group of servants congregated around the warmth of the fire to eat and seek comfort as the damp of the evening drew in. Snarls and yaps from deep in the pines unsettled the servants as they ate. The
animals within the forest grew restless as the daylight faded. Weary of the darkness to come, even Catrain became jittery as eventide turned to night and the sounds of the creatures nearby quietened.
Krane startled as a howl erupted in the silence. The shrill call of the beast jolted all around the fire into an alert state. Their eyes darted towards the place where they’d heard the sound and fear trickled into their bellies, each one wary of what the night would bring. They scanned the distance between them and the towering trees. On edge, Krane’s keen eyes searched the shadows for any movement that would signal the beasts were headed their way.
The sturdy canvas of Athena and Zute’s tent did much to keep out the drafts while the fire in the iron cast drum provided warmth to the couple’s temporary retreat. An opening in the peak of the tent allowed the smoke to escape.
‘They’re waiting for you my, Lord. They’ve all arrived,’ Athena said as she heard the dominant male call. She abandoned her meal and threw back the thick soft pelt that had kept her warm to rise from her chair and collect her woollen travel cloak. Out into the dark, across the dew covered field Zute and Athena strode, headed towards the dark forest. Several meters from its edge they halted, and Athena conjured an orb of light. She bent forward and lowered it onto the damp earth, its red glow illuminated the ground where it had been placed. The dominant male watched them from the cover of the trees.
‘Come, Garlon.’ Athena cooed. Garlon emerged from the safety of the trees and took a few steps out into the clearing. He stopped to spread his leathery wings to their full extent and then let out a bellow. The other beasts in the forest watched as their leader proclaimed his authority, as head of the pack, and they yapped as they paced while they watched him. Garlon refolded his wings and settled them on his back as his blazing red eyes observed Zute.
