by M. L. Forman
The next morning, the rain had stopped, but the uneasy feelings had grown stronger. They were darker than the uneasy feelings they had experienced on the Isle of Bones. As they were eating their breakfast, Arconn wandered down to the stream, and then quickly returned with a troubled look on his face.
“What is it?” Kat questioned, setting aside her plate.
Alex jumped to his feet, looking around the campsite as if expecting a sudden attack.
“Just tracks in the mud,” said Arconn, trying to sound calm.
“Tracks?” Thrang questioned. “What kind of tracks?”
“They are difficult to read,” said Arconn. “I have never seen anything like them before, though they look something like wolf tracks.”
“Wolf tracks?” Thrang questioned. “There aren’t any wolves this far south in Thraxon.”
“Show me the tracks,” said Nellus as he got to his feet. “I’ve tracked many creatures in the past, and may be able to make some sense of them.”
Arconn led Nellus and the rest of the company back to the stream and pointed out the large tracks. They were all on the far bank, though none of them had come within five feet of the water.
“They do look a little like a wolf’s tracks, but they are too large,” Nellus said.
“That’s what I thought,” said Arconn, looking quickly at Thrang and then back to the tracks.
“Hellerash,” Thrang whispered. “Those are hellerash tracks.”
“What?” Barnabus asked, turning to look at Thrang.
“I thought the hellerash were vicious,” said Thrain softly. “If they’re as vicious as the stories say—and I heard a lot of stories in Kazad-Syn—then why didn’t it cross the stream and attack our camp?”
“Who can say?” answered Thrang, looking a little pale. “Perhaps this is the boundary to their territory, or perhaps they were afraid of the light from Alex’s conjured fire.”
“Or perhaps it was a single hellerash, and it has gone to get others,” Kat said darkly.
“Perhaps,” Thrang allowed. “Whatever the reason, we should all remain extra alert from now on. We should also have a double watch at night, just in case.”
“A wise precaution,” said Arconn. “And I think we should keep the horses closer to our tents as well.”
“Yes, that is a good idea,” Thrang agreed quickly, leading the company back toward the camp.
The journey that day was slow, and everyone kept glancing around them as they traveled, looking for any sign of movement. They saw nothing that day, and by the time they made camp for the night, Alex’s troubled feelings were beginning to subside. Thrang, however, seemed more nervous than ever, and he asked Alex to conjure up a fire that would burn brightly all night.
When they started off again the next morning, most of their fears had slipped away. They had heard nothing during the night, and there were no signs of tracks anywhere near their camp. Arconn and Alex had both walked a wide circle around the camp just to make sure. Thrang seemed relieved, but he still made sure that Arconn and Kat had their bows ready and that Thrain had his crossbow loaded.
“Better safe than sorry,” said Thrang with a weak smile as they started off.
Alex thought it unlikely that they would see anything along the road, but he kept his staff ready. They continued riding south, and the afternoon sun and the warm, damp air made Alex feel slightly sleepy. He was jolted awake by the sound of Arconn’s and Kat’s bowstrings snapping at the same moment, followed quickly by the high-pitched spring of Thrain’s crossbow. Neither of those sounds shook him as much as the terrible cry that followed. It was an almost-human cry of agony and despair, a cry that forced his eyes toward the creature that made it.
Thirty yards to the right of the road, a huge, black, wolflike creature crouched with arrows sticking out of its shiny black hide. Alex could see the bones of the creature’s ribcage. It bit madly at the shaft of Arconn’s arrow. Kat’s arrow had hit the creature higher in the neck, but it couldn’t get its head around to bite at that one. Then it turned and ran, darting between some large rocks, the shaft of Arconn’s arrow snapping off as it ran.
The hellerash was fast, vanishing from view before Arconn could fit a second arrow to his bow.
“That shot should have killed it,” Arconn said, turning his horse toward the hellerash’s trail. “If not mine, then Kat’s for sure.”
“I’m sure my bolt hit it as well,” said Thrain, following quickly.
“I saw no wound from the bolt,” said Thrang gruffly.
“It seemed pained, but uninjured from the arrows,” Nellus added.
Arconn dismounted and bent to pick up the broken shaft of his arrow. Thrain moved about the rocks, looking for the bolt he had let fly. As Arconn walked back toward the group he looked troubled, almost afraid.
“No blood,” Arconn said, holding the broken arrow out for Thrang. “There is no blood on the shaft.”
“Well, it broke away from the wound,” said Thrang, glancing at the arrow.
“There is no blood on the rocks or grass either,” Arconn added.
“And there’s no blood on my bolt,” Thrain said, coming up beside Arconn and holding out the bolt he’d recovered.
“You may have missed it completely,” said Thrang in a dismissive tone.
“I didn’t miss,” Thrain insisted defiantly.
“Thrain is correct,” Arconn broke in. “I saw the bolt pass through what should have been the creature’s stomach. I would not have expected it to pass clear through, but it seems to have done so.”
“What are you saying?” Thrang questioned, his pale face growing hard.
“Isn’t it clear?” said Kat, causing all of them to jump.
“No, it’s not clear at all,” said Thrang, looking as if he didn’t want to hear anything Kat had to say.
“That creature was not a true hellerash,” Kat said flatly. “It has no blood and no life in it.”
“Impossible,” said Thrang weakly.
“But that can mean only one thing,” said Arconn, glancing at his arrow and then turning to look at Alex.
“Necromancer,” said Alex, a chill running down his back as he said the word.
“No, it can’t . . .” Thrang began and trailed off.
“It is the only explanation,” said Alex. “It is the only thing that could call a long-dead hellerash back to life, or at least to a half-life.”
Alex felt his friends staring at him, but their confused and frightened looks did not trouble him as much as the next words he had to say.
“I must face him,” said Alex, looking down at his saddle.
“No, it is too dangerous,” Kat broke in.
“We will find another path to the south,” Thrang said quickly.
“You do not understand,” said Alex, holding up his hand. “As a true wizard, I must seek out this evil and try to destroy it.”
“I forbid it,” said Thrang forcefully. “You are part of this company, and I am the leader. You will not seek out this danger that has nothing to do with our quest.”
“I know you speak from friendship, Thrang, but I have no choice,” said Alex. “My vow as a wizard is more binding than our agreement, and if I must, I will break the adventurers’ bargain and go on alone.”
“Not alone,” said Arconn quickly.
“Thank you, my friend, but you cannot break the bargain without losing honor,” said Alex. “I would not allow you to leave the company in any event, as they will need you more than ever, once I leave.”
“Arconn is right,” said Thrang forcefully. “If you must seek out this evil, then you will not do it alone. Even if our adventure fails completely, I will not leave you to face this evil by yourself.”
“Then we continue south,” said Alex, grateful for Thrang’s words.
“We continue south,” Thrang repeated. “And may evil fear our approach.”
The rest of the company cheered Thrang’s words, and Alex couldn’t help but feel grateful to
his friends. He was worried, however, because he knew, perhaps better than any of them, the danger that a necromancer presented. He also knew that, in the end, he would have to face the necromancer alone. That meeting would be incredibly dangerous, not just for him, but for all of Thraxon as well.
They continued south along the road, moving as quickly as they could and looking for a safe place to make their camp. As the sun dropped in the west, Thrang called them to a halt and moved them a short distance off the main road. A series of large boulders formed a horseshoe shape, the center of which provided the perfect campsite.
“A good spot,” Nellus observed. “The creatures can come at us from only one direction.”
“They might jump down from the rocks behind us,” said Thrain in a worried tone.
“And they might bar our path from leaving,” Thrang added nervously. “Still, it seems the best place we’ll find today, so we might as well make camp.”
There was little talk and no joking or stories around the campfire that night. They were all tense, and even the slightest sound from outside their camp was enough to draw all of their eyes. When Thrang and the others went to their tents, leaving Alex and Arconn on watch, Alex took his writing things out of his magic bag. He needed to let Whalen know about this latest development.
“You are sending word to Master Vankin?” Arconn said.
“Yes,” said Alex, looking up at his friend.
“He knows a great deal, and may be able to advise you on dealing with this evil,” said Arconn, his eyes fixed on the campfire. “Though I confess, I am concerned about you meeting a necromancer.”
“So am I, but there is nothing that can be done about it,” Alex answered, folding the letter he’d been working on. “I am here, so I must face this test.”
“And if you fail?” Arconn questioned, a pained look on his face.
“I will not allow myself to be used by this evil,” Alex said forcefully, guessing at Arconn’s greatest fear. “I will summon the dragon to destroy me before I become the puppet of a necromancer.”
“I hope it will not come to that,” Arconn replied softly, glancing at Alex.
“So do I,” said Alex with a weak smile. “So do I.”
There was no sign of the hellerash that night, and they saw no tracks or signs of the creature for the next few days. Alex could tell that the others were beginning to hope they had left the hellerash behind them. Thrang even voiced the hope that there was no necromancer and that the company could continue on their quest without any trouble.
Alex, however, knew there was a necromancer. Ever since he’d seen the hellerash, he had felt the presence of evil. Worse, Alex knew knew the necromancer was aware of him as well.
“We should reach the Lost Mountains in a day or two,” Thrang said as they were breaking camp one morning. “Then perhaps we can get some news of Albrek and his people.”
“I doubt it will be that easy,” Kat commented in a low tone.
“Oh, the dwarfs of the Lost Mountains should be friendly enough,” Thrang went on, trying to avoid the point Kat was trying to make.
The others did not comment, because they were all thinking of the hellerash, even though none of them would say so.
“You sense the presence of the necromancer,” Alex said quietly to Kat as they started off.
“Yes,” said Kat, looking pale and tired. “I fear that I will be overcome if you fail.”
“Then I must not fail,” said Alex, forcing a smile.
The morning was sunny and warm, but by midday dark clouds rolled across the sky and the smell of rain filled the air. Thrang urged them forward, hoping to find a dwarf city or village for them to spend the night in. As darkness began to grow around them, Alex noticed movement out of the corner of his eye. For a moment he wasn’t sure he’d seen anything at all, but he knew that he had.
“Yes,” Arconn said, noticing Alex’s look. “I see them too.”
“What’s that?” Thrang questioned, taking his attention off the road ahead.
“Several of the hellerash,” said Arconn. “They have been circling us for the last hour.”
“As long as they keep their distance,” Nellus said, looking over his shoulder.
“They won’t attack until it’s dark,” said Kat. “They will want as much cover as possible before coming at us.”
“Then we should hurry,” said Thrang in a worried tone. “We may arrive at a village soon, and any dwarfs we find will be sure to help us against these creatures.”
Alex had his doubts. If they had been close to a dwarf city or village, the hellerash would not be circling them now. Even as he considered their chances against the evil creatures, he saw that the hellerash were getting closer to them.
“There,” said Arconn, pointing to a large hill to the left of the road. “If we can reach the top, we can make our defense there.”
“Yes,” Thrang agreed quickly. “It will be better than meeting them in the open. Quickly now—to the hilltop.”
Thrang spurred his horse forward and the others followed him. At first the horses seemed reluctant to run toward the hill, but when a sudden piercing howl rose from behind them, the horses all shuddered and dashed forward. Alex knew that the howl had been a signal, a call to the attack, and he could feel Shahree trembling beneath him.
“Easy, girl,” Alex said softly to his horse. “We have faced greater dangers before.”
Shahree seemed to calm down, but only slightly as she raced forward. Alex could sense her desperation to reach the safety of the hilltop before the hellerash could attack.
The landscape became a blur and the company was spreading out. Kat’s horse was not as swift as the others, and she was falling behind, and fast. Alex slowed Shahree, unwilling to leave Kat, but the others rushed on. It looked as if they had completely lost control of their horses and were struggling just to hold on.
It happened suddenly, but to Alex it seemed that everything was moving in slow motion. A scream and a horse’s terrified whinny came from behind him, and without thinking, he reined in Shahree, turning her back the way he had come.
Shahree stamped her hooves impatiently, but he held her on the spot for a moment, and then spurred her forward, back across the ground they had just crossed.
Kat struggled to get to her feet; her horse lay on the ground ten feet behind her. Alex saw the black shapes of several hellerash tearing at the fallen horse, and a flame of rage began to burn deep inside him.
As quickly as Shahree could run, he charged forward, whispering magical words as he went. The end of his staff flared in the darkness, and a sudden ball of flame shot toward the dark shadows in front of him. A hellerash burst into flame, and several others jumped away. He wanted to press his attack on the evil creatures, but Kat was on foot, dazed from her fall, and it was up to him to save her.
“Leave me,” Kat yelled as Alex rode up to her. “There is no time, and your horse cannot carry us both.”
“Come,” Alex commanded, putting out his free hand and catching Kat’s arm. With a single movement, he swung her up behind him, and then let loose the reins, giving Shahree the freedom she demanded. “Run now, my friend! Run like the wind.”
Shahree leaped forward. Back into the darkness she raced, back toward the hill that stood so close and yet so far away. Alex could feel Kat clutching at him, trying desperately to hold on. He could feel Shahree struggling for more speed, but the added weight on her back was slowing her down. Desperate to give them more time, Alex raised his staff over his head, its burning light driving back the darkness, and, he hoped, the hellerash as well.
As they reached the bottom of the hill, Shahree stumbled and Alex felt himself lifting off the saddle. Kat tried to grab hold of him, but it was no good. Together Alex and Kat flew helplessly through the air, and as Alex’s staff went spinning out of his hand, its light went out.
Fighting to get to his feet and drag Kat up with him, Alex blurted out the summoning spell to call his staff back to
his hand. He had barely managed to relight his staff when his eyes met the evil, yellow-green eyes of the advancing hellerash. His voice seemed to leave him, and all he could do was stare. The hellerash was moving fast, charging down on him before he could do anything to defend himself. For a moment Alex thought his life was over, but then a silver-gray shadow blocked the hellerash from his view.
“No!” Alex screamed, realizing what had happened.
There was the sickening sound of tearing flesh, followed by the sound of Shahree’s body falling to the ground. The evil eyes of the hellerash returned. The light from Alex’s staff showed the bloody jaws of the hellerash opened wide as if it were laughing at him. Anger and sorrow rushed through Alex, blinding him to reason and thought. The hellerash in front of him let loose its chilling howl, calling its companions to the feast, and in that moment Alex’s rage overcame everything else.
The hellerash standing next to Shahree burst into flame, dissolving almost instantly into ash. Alex brought his staff down forcefully, striking the ground and finishing the magic words at the same moment. For a few seconds, the darkness vanished as a wall of bright, blue-white flame grew up around Alex. The burning wall stood motionless for less than a second, and then rushed outward in all directions.
Kat cried out in fear, but Alex took no notice. As darkness reclaimed the night, Alex sank down to the ground, tears pouring down his face as he reached out to touch the neck of his lost friend.
After some time, Alex became aware of the sounds around him. He could hear Kat whimpering behind him, and he could hear the rest of the company moving carefully down the hill toward them. He didn’t want to explain what he’d done or why; he just wanted to be left alone.
“Alex,” Arconn’s concerned voice said softly. “Alex, are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” answered Alex, not turning to look at his friend. “Take care of Kat and make camp. There is no danger now. I’ll be along in a little while.”
