by Dan Mat
“Hide behind the tree!” Zaanven instructed Carissa, as he let the arrow fly.
Judging by the painful scream, that came from the bushes, Carissa knew the elf did not miss. It must’ve been some shot, seeing he’d hit the target blindly. But shooting did not stop there, it intensified if nothing else. That told Carissa, the danger was far from over. And that the attackers were many. Enepel’s constant firing gave Carissa enough time to crawl behind the cover. But once there, she had no intentions to stay put. She had to help.
After taking a deep breath, Carissa peeped over bent, knotty root, pulling the arrow from her quiver. She aimed at the same bushes, she saw elf firing his arrows. But just before, she let hers fly, the large group of Sumen head-hunters, came crashing from the thicket, on the opposite side of this small clearing. The encounter which Carissa dreaded, and without a shadow of a doubt horrified of.
And it was quite obvious why. Because Sumens looked frightening, to say at least. Long ago, not much different than Pamens. But now, deformed, monstrous aberrations, which no one could identify as halflings. The darkness that poisoned their minds, led them on the path of evil, and turn them into cannibals. It also forced them to mutilate and disfigure their own bodies.
They were completely covered in deep, repulsive scars, undoubtedly inflicted with their own hands. And to such extent, that their skin now resembled the rough bark of the trees. Dozens of long, sharp and pointy fangs and claws, stretched along the entirety of their arms. The claws were driven deep underneath the skin and flesh, fixed and secured until they were fused with their own bones. Until they were a part of them.
Boar tusks decorated shoulders of some Sumens. Similarly fused with the bone, somewhat larger than the claws, but equally sharp. They served as a mark of a higher rank. A rank those Sumens surely deserved, because they remain calm, even after being suddenly attacked from above. Experienced in combat, they hastily issued a few orders, splitting their party. The first group was to carry out after their prey. And the other, to deal with this audacious attacker.
Standing well above, Enepel immediately recognized their intentions. And knew he couldn’t stay on the tree, for a second longer. If head-hunters are to cut him off from Carissa, that would mean the end for both of them. But together, their chances of surviving were much higher. Enepel let one more arrow fly, before he graciously slid from the branch.
“Turn right!” Enepel yelled, moving towards Carissa “Cover me!”
She promptly complied, immediately jumping from behind the cover. Arrow already in her bow, she was ready to help Aduin. Or so she thought, until she saw the horrifying, bloodthirsty group of Sumens, flailing behind the elf’s back. Fear rendered her motionless. Long suppressed memories of the day, she found herself inches away from the death, froze her to the spot.
But the moment of weakness had passed, as fast as it came. Carissa was no longer young, and helpless girl. She could handle herself in this jungle more than many. She was proud Pamen warrior. And now, she had the opportunity to prove herself, and at a same time return the favor to Aduin.
Sumen head-hunting party was some fifty yards away, when Carissa let her arrow fly. And then the second, and the third. Even before she even saw where the first had landed. Sharp, loud scream told her she struck the target. But she had no time to rejoice. Sumens weren’t stopping. Even more so, it seemed as they charged with more vigor.
Zaanven joined her, managing to fire a few arrows himself. Together, they halved the head-hunting group in no time. But Sumens weren’t stopping. And to make the matters worse, the second group snuck behind their backs. In the heat of the battle, elf thought they had more time. He became aware of them, once the head-hunters were less than ten yards away.
“Switch to blades.” Enepel said, unsheathing his scimitar.
And not a moment late, skilfully deflecting simultaneous lunges from the two enraged Sumen hunters. Finding himself right in between, he had a clear shot at them. Enepel swirl to the left, putting the entire force of his body to the swing. The blade went through head-hunter’s neck with ease, decapitating him in process. Elf was somewhat taken aback by this, as he expected some sort of resistance from the vertebrae, hardened skin or muscles. Not to mention those horrifying looking bone decorations, Sumens had placed on themselves. But he managed to use the momentum of the twist, plunging his scimitar in the body of the other cannibal. Right under his shoulder blade, finding a spot in between ribs. Blade slid through the lungs, grazing the spine, piercing the heart, only to stop when the tip appeared on the other side of the torso. Enepel twisted his wrist, to abruptly and vigorously jerk his arm, freeing the blade from the body, in a shower of blood and flesh.
Just in time to face the remaining four Sumens. They were now at a hand’s reach. Enepel was most fortunate to dodge and deflect their rough blades. And it took a huge amount of effort to do so. And he knew he wouldn’t be so lucky the next time. He knew he had to figure out how to deal with them, and deal with them fast. But Sumens were relentless. They wouldn’t stop lunging. Not even for a second. Enepel was forced to defend.
And so he did. He parried alternately. Left to right, left to right. And then again. And again. The attack wasn’t subsiding. What’s more, it felt more vehement, with every new dash. They forced Enepel to take a retreat. Step by step. They forced him to make a mistake.
Rough, serrated Sumen blade bounced off the scimitar. But not enough, as it slid and scraped over the guard, straight towards Zaanven’s exposed thigh. Rusty, jagged metal, teared open a nasty looking gash, sending painful stings up the elf’s spine. Inflaming his every nerve, along the way. But he knew he had to suppress the pain. To try and keep calm and collected. Otherwise, the next mistake could prove to be fatal.
In the meantime, Carissa dealt with four of her attackers, astonishingly easy. Two of them died, in the first ten seconds of the clash. She emptied all of her wrath and hatred towards Sumen tribe, focusing on these few in front. She stabbed and jabbed and pierced them with her daggers, in the whirlwind of seethingly furious swings and thrusts. She didn’t even let them lift their weapons half way up, as she left over dozen of wounds on their bodies.
The third one managed to swing only once, before he fell dead. His neck slit, his head bent backwards. Carissa immediately lunged towards the fourth Sumen, aiming for his vitals. The head-hunter managed to avoid several of these attacks, as he backed away from them. But his luck was short lived. It went away the exact moment, he decided to counter. His arrogance and pride wouldn’t allow him to stay in such a position for much longer. Especially not by the hands of some girl. Once he realized, she was far more skilled in the art of combat than him, there was nothing else for him to do, except to die.
Carissa turned around, just in time to see one of the Sumens cutting Aduin. Elf was in trouble. And to make things worse, his lapse gave the opportunity for the remaining three head-hunters to surround him. Aduin that she remembered and knew, wouldn’t allow this to happen. The luxury of the civilized world and that indulging way of living, must’ve soften him. It was clear he couldn’t handle them all by himself. He needed help.
Carissa wasted not a second, as she furiously charged towards the nearest Sumen. And she was in luck, because they were all focused on the elf. None of them even considered the danger could be coming from behind. If nothing else, they expected some help very soon. How hard of a task was a single, weak Pamen girl? Surely they were done with her by now. Loud, painful, gurgling sigh, escaping out of the mouth of one Sumen, told the rest how wrong they were.
Carissa plunged both of her daggers straight into head-hunter’s kidneys, before taking a step back. And then she lunged again. This time aiming for the spots under the shoulder blades. Aiming for the lungs. Sumen coughed, spitting a lot of blood, as he collapsed to his knees. Startled and confused, he struggled to understand what had happened. Who attacked him from the back? But the last thing he learned, before his miserable life came to and end, was the cognition
of Pamen’s blade remarkable sharpness, as it slit his throat.
Caught by this unexpected, interfering turn, head-hunters allowed Enepel to regain the initiative. And he used that almost immediately. By striking down two of the Sumens in the same amount of strokes. He’d even charge the third, but Carissa beat him to it. Elf managed to count six precisely placed stabs, wounding the torso of the cannibal. But surely there was twice as much, seeing the large amount of blood, simultaneously leaving his disfigured body. Carissa moved far too fast, for Enepel to be sure.
“We should run!” Carissa exclaimed “Before even more of them decide to show.”
“Wait a second.” Enepel said, before sprinting off into the brushwood, from which Sumens came.
He was away for a minute or two. And when he returned, he was carrying the handful of arrows. Same ones, he shot at Sumens. The arrows elf couldn’t left behind. Not just because they would leave a clear trail of his presence. But for the fact he only had a few of them.
“Now can we go?” Carissa asked nervously.
“Sure.” Enepel answered, placing the arrows in his quiver “Lead the way.”
They went east, towards the general direction of Pamen village. In full sprint. For a good couple of miles, when Carissa suddenly decided to veer south. Enepel noticed the change, but said nothing, following her closely. They kept the pace for another mile or so, before slowing down to a jog for a good remainder of the day. They went straight through the thicket and dark wood, avoiding the pathways and clearings. Until, they came upon widening, in which exact center stood the gnarly, old tree. And just in time, because the sun was setting down.
With the trunk girth of more than fifteen paces, the tree was at least three times larger than any of the surrounding ones. Rough bark, covered in moss and vines, traveling all the way to the top, testified to the age of this giant. Thick, exuberant treetop, full of huge, green leafs, made a water resistant cover.
“Wait a second.” Carissa said, as she moved some shrubs and fern from a very specific spot, two or three feet above the ground, revealing the hole in the tree, just wide enough for an average halfling to crawl in.
“What are you doing here?” Enepel asked.
“This is one of our shelters.” Carissa retorted “Don’t you worry, we’ll be safe tonight.”
“Not here specifically.” Enepel explained “What are you doing outside of the village?”
“What am I doing…?!” Carissa scowled at him “Is that the way of saying thank you for saving my ass, over there in the towns?”
“My apologies.” Enepel stuttered “What I ment is…”
“Bah!” Carissa interrupted him, as she crawled in the hollow of the tree.
“My apologies.” Enepel said once again.
Carissa didn’t answer, although elf knew she heard him.
“Thank you for saving my ass.” Enepel said.
Carissa didn’t answer.
“Carissa?” Enepel called, peeping through the hole.
“You’re welcome.” Carissa’s voice came from the lush treetop, some fifty feet above the ground “Now climb.”
She lowered the rope along the trunk. One of those Pamens used for everything. For making traps, weapons, tools and in building fences, barriers and huts. And although seemingly thin and weak-looking, Enepel knew it could easily hold his weight. Few seconds later, he was sitting on the small platform, made from the intertwined branches and strips of softened bark. Twenty foot long ladder, stretched towards the second, much larger platform, on whose base rested quite neat, cone-shaped, thatch hut.
“Come in.” Carisa said from the inside.
Enepel complied, crawling into a surprisingly spacious room. It was wide enough, so even he could fully stretch inside. And also, it was quite comfortable. The entire floor was covered in several layers of fern and straw. Pamens encased the ceiling and the roof, with long palm leaves, to make sure the place would sty dry.”
“Now can we talk?” Enepel asked, after almost two minutes of dead silence.
“Sure.” Carissa nodded.
“How come you went after me?” Enepel asked.
“How come you went towards the lakes?” Carissa retorted.
“I thought to look for a fishing tribe.” Enepel answered.
“You thought wrong.” Carissa said “They are long gone from there.”
“How? Why?” Enepel asked.
“Because of the Sumens.” Carissa’s voice shivered “The territory of the lakes is now under their control.”
“And what about fishermen?” Enepel asked.
“The few lucky ones, that managed to escape, are now somewhere far to the south.” Carissa shook her head “If you can even call that a luck, seeing what they’ve survived. Not ot mention they are living with the knowledge that they’ve escaped, where the majority of their kin haven’t.”
“What happened?” Enepel asked “Was there a war?”
“No. Not a war. It was a slaughter.” Carissa answered “It was dreadful. The entire jungle was soaked in blood. Sumens killed everyone. Even the youngest ones.”
“Horrible.” Zaanven shivered.
“And to make the matters worse, not a single tribe came to their aid.” Carissa’s shoulders sunk “Not even us.”
Zaanven said nothing.
“And we should.” Carissa continued “We could.”
Zaanven said nothing.
“But instead, we hid like some cowards.” Carissa nearly burst into tears.
“Your father surely had a damn good reason for making such a decision.” Enepel said “Not out of cowardice.”
“No matter.” Carissa waved her hand “Sumens should’ve been stopped then.”
“Is that why you went after me?” Enepel asked “You knew, you’ll find the Sumens aswell.”
Carissa said nothing.
“Very imprudent and highly unsafe move from your part.” Enepel continued.
Carissa said nothing, her cheeks blushed.
“Out of some sense of vengeance, you are prepared to risk your life and the lives of every…” Enepel begin scolding Carissa, only to stop himself, once he realized her face became bright red “Or you had another reason for going after me?”
Carissa looked straight into his eyes.
“Well?” Enepel asked “Why did…”
“Because of you.” Carissa whispered.
“Come again.” Enepel said.
“Because of you!” Carissa yelled “All because of you.”
“Hold on a minute, but you told me to leave.” Enepel was confused “Why the sudden change of mind?”
“I haven’t changed my mind.” Carissa sighed “I just wanted to hurt you. Just like you hurt me, when you decided to leave us out of the blue.”
“My intentions were to protect you.” Enepel explained himself “I became their main prey. If they were to find out I’m staying with you, the entire tribe would be in danger. You know that?”
“Yes.” Carissa nodded “But we could’ve hid you, or something.”
“How?” Enepel smiled “Chop my legs off so I wouldn’t stick out?”
“Now you are making a fun of me.” Carissa said “Nonetheless, my father shouldn’t have let you leave.”
“Come again?”
“You shouldn’t have left.” Carissa said, as her cheeks blushed once more.
“Why?” Enepel asked.
“Because.” Carissa answered shyly, her entire face was now bright red.
“Why?” Enepel repeated, but now in much softer voice.
“Because…because I love you.” Carissa stammered “Because I’ve always loved you.”
She blurted, scrambling to get out of the hut, as fast as possible. Leaving the dumbfounded elf, before he’d even get a chance to respond. Perhaps for the better. Otherwise, he’d probably made a fool of himself. He didn’t want Carissa to see, how his cheeks also turned into a similar red color.
CHAPTER 29
Xavnier Gloir hurr
ied up the stairwell, leading to the western wing of the Vallsynk palace. Either because of the assembly results, or the fact that Elias Mird surprised him with Eilonna’s invitation, halfling’s heart beat harder, with every other step he took. And by the time he entered the hallway, leading towards the private quarters of Lady Falkner, Xavnier had a feeling his heart will burst out from his chest.
Two guards stationed in the corridor, let him pass without a word, into a small, receiving room. Undoubtedly under the strict instructions to do so. The room wasn’t empty. Old Palgrin, Eilonna’s adviser and her right hand, waited him there. He was wearing the dark gray robes, with prominently wide sleeves and raised, hardened colar. And was patiently standing in the exact middle of the room, still as a statue, until the halfling appeared.
“Master Gloir.” Palgirn bowed “Welcome.”
“Thank you.” Xavnier answered politely.
“Lady Falkner is awaiting for you, in her room.” Palgrin continued.
“Make sure that no one is bothering us.” Xavnier said, as he opened the door.
“Certainly.” Palgrin nodded “Anything else?”
“Nothing.” Xavnier said, as he closed the door.
The hallway seemed much longer, than it actually was. Truth to be told, Xavnier wished for that to be the case. Meeting Eilonna was the last thing halfling had on his mind right now. Not only because of their deal. And the stipulations he promised to fulfill. But for the fact he finally begin to realize, how much of an influence Lady Falkner had in Vallsynk. And that frightened him, as much as it impressed him.
Xavnier’s every step was reluctant. Every subsequent was shorter and shorter. Until he couldn’t make a single one. Not without entering the room. Xavnier let a deep sigh, knocked gently, and opened the door.
“Xavnier! Come in!” Eilonna jumped from the armchair “Or you’d rather be addressed as Lord Gloir.”
“Y…yes, whatever.” halfling stammered, as he hastily slumped on the sofa.
