Darkshore

by C S Harrop

  “Where are we, is this the Chasm you mentioned?” Asked Asha looking down from an icy ledge into the endless darkness of an abyss and then across to the far side to see glistening snowy peaks of the Everlong Mountains.

  “Yes Asha, this is known as the Chasm a bottomless crack in the earth separating the Great Forest from Everlong, some say the gods themselves were at war with each other fighting for overall power and the Chasm is a scar of the aftermath,” Riven said in a tone suggesting it was more fact then myth.

  “Everlong, the home of the Frost Elves, didn’t you say they are not the most tolerant of races?”

  “The Frost Elves are truly misunderstood,” explained Willow. “They are a secluded race who dwells up in the snowy mountains; their mountains are sacred to them and are cautious of all strangers entering their land.”

  “That’s why thousands of years ago they created the Mountain Guard to protect Everlong, they are possibly the most feared warriors in the whole of the western lands,” Riven said nudging Asha away from the slippery edge with his huge head.

  They travelled carefully along the icy ledge keeping close to the forests edge. Willow scouted ahead on her light feet whilst Asha could only manage a stead walk as her feet kept slipping in her fur boots.

  The sun began to set in the distance between Everlong Mountains and the Great Forest, it seemed to Asha looking far has her eyes could see the endless crack of the Chasm was slowly devouring the sun. Her eyes suddenly focused on a much closer object that stretched across the Chasm.

  “What is that,” pointed Asha.

  “That is what we call the Noose,” answered Willow. “Thousands upon thousands lengths of rope intertwining to make the longest roped bridge in existence. Many lives have been lost by slipping on the icy bridge and catching their necks in one of many tangled ropes hence the name Noose.”

  As Asha drew nearer, she noticed the skeletal remains of unfortunates swaying in the cold wind by the neck and other body parts from the roped bridge. Reaching the gigantic wooden posts supporting the great intertwining ropes of the bridge Asha stood hesitantly, looking down at the Chasm through the icy wooden slats that spread across the bridge and out of sight, unable to see the other end of the Noose.

  The creaking of the ropes became uncomfortable to the ear as the cold wind became stronger, Asha realised Willow was already making her way across on her light feet it took a few more minutes until Asha built up enough courage to take her first steps. Grabbing hold of the thickest part of rope for minimal security Asha looked at her task ahead trying her hardest not to look down into the wintry depth of the Chasm. Her heart pounded harder and harder as she took a few more steps along the icy wooden slats fiercely taking hold of another sturdy piece of rope sending a hanging skeleton to the endless darkness below.

  The sunlight had almost disappeared by the time Asha reached a quarter of the way across, the bridge swayed more violently in the wintry weather which gave Asha all the more reason for her to hold onto the bridge tighter. Then a feeling grew within Asha that she has felt many times in her life while living with Aunt Elora on Lake Erat a feeling of an uncontrollable power building inside her. Instantly looking at her hands a light blue glow was emitting from the scared looking marks on her palms.

  “You must calm yourself Asha,” advised Riven walking silently up behind her.

  Forgetting Riven was even behind her, Asha was startled to hear Riven’s strong voice, she had not looked back once along the bridge since her first step. She held on the ropes tighter and tighter her feet slipping on the wooden slats until she was on her knees unable to move.

  “I can’t control it I never have been able to,” panicked Asha worried she will destroy the bridge.

  “Your emotions as you know control the power within you, take long deep breaths and clear your thoughts.”

  “I have been told that before,” Asha responded thinking of Aunt Elora.

  “A wise person then,” replied Riven. “You must bury your thoughts and emotions deep within you then only bring them back to the surface when in need of them. Do not let your power control you it is you and only you that should control your power.”

  Asha struggled to concentrate for what seemed like an eternity with the icy wind blowing fiercely at her, managing to get back to her feet on the creaking ancient bridge suspended high above bottomless chasm. With focus and deep concentration Asha managed to get the glow down to a dim light and then to the point where the marks on her hands were just a slight aura of blue.

  “That’s it Asha you are doing well, deep breaths and clear your mind of all emotion,” encouraged Riven not taking his huge cat eyes off Asha’s palms.

  “Wait what is that by the ridge just coming out of the Great Forest, I can see movement and it’s moving quickly but I can’t make it out what it is,” noticed Asha straining her eyes to see any sign of detail in the moonlight.

  “Willow we have company, it’s the Goblin King he’s found us,” bellowed Riven able to see through the dark from a greater distance came naturally to him. “I will head him off before he gets to the bridge, you have get Asha to the mountains she will be protected there.”

  Riven shot off on thundering paws back along the Noose, once again to meet the Goblin King in combat. Both Asha and Willow knew if the Goblin king got to the Noose before Riven, he would destroy the foundations collapsing the ancient bridge and sending all three of them to the endless depths of the Chasm.

  “He is not going to make it Asha, the distance is too great,” shouted Willow over the howling wind. “Asha we have no choice you must use your power against those goblins, my arrows won’t reach that far but hopefully you can.”

  “What! I do not know how to, I cannot control it. I will destroy the whole bridge.”

  “Listen to my voice Asha and only to my voice, relax your body and clear your mind take long beep breaths just as Riven was showing you.”

  “OK Willow I’ll give it a go.” Closing her eyes and pushing all of her thoughts to the back of her mind with her palms flickering like a short-circuited night light.

  “Now you need to do the exact opposite and bring all your emotion which is buried deep within you to the surface then feed the emotions like a river to the palms of your hands, then let the power release,” explained Willow hastily.

  The stableness of the noose had altogether disappeared from Asha’s mind it was now the Goblin King that was the real danger to the bridge. Therefore, Asha did exactly what Willow asked of her. She stood firm footed with both palms raised towards the distant moving targets taking into account the trajectory whilst thinking of all that has happened over the past days and of the evil witch Onyxia and of the loss of Aunt Elora. The feeling of remorse and anger and hatred all came too easily to Asha, within seconds her marks on the palms of her hand sprung to life filling with an immense blue energy. Her spine tingled her arms and legs began to shake wildly as the power got stronger and stronger to the point of no return. Asha pushed her hands further forward and with a long exhale of breath, she released everything she had built up erupting a mass of blue energy across the Chasm. The blue energy glowed like a shooting star across the night sky destroying a large section of the ledge sending a handful of goblin guard screaming to the depths of the chasm and scattering the Goblin King and his servant Relg along with the remaining guards across the rocky floor.

  “Nice shot that should give Riven enough time,” praised Willow. “Now we must move as fast we need to get to the safety of Everlong.

  Asha fell to her knees exhausted not hearing a word Willow was saying. After what seemed like a lifetime Asha took a drained look at Willow, who was now kneeling by her side then took a last look at Riven to see him reach the end of the Noose to protect her from the Goblin King. Willow put her arms around Asha and heaved her up back to her feet taking most of her weight. Just as Asha turned away, she noticed in the distance a silhouette in the moonlight, a figure of a man in the mask appeared out of the shadows
beside Riven as he reached the foundations of the noose.

  Mustering as much energy as she possibly could with the help of her woodland protector Willow. Forgetting about the dangers of the icy bridge and the endless depths below they headed along as fast as they possibly could towards safety and the land of the Frost Elves, leaving Riven and the stranger to defend the Noose at all cost.

  Chapter 8

  A Perilous Message

  It was daybreak over the Great Forest with a rare flickering of light scattering around the ancient forest as the easterly wind blow the tops of the ancient trees. After two nights of travelling Relg stood cautiously at the demolished main gate of Witherbark. He worked his toes into the moist dirt relieved to be back in his home village but on the other hand not so overjoyed in giving Onyxia the bad news of the Goblin King’s demise. Relg’s senses were going wild something in the back of his mind knew something was not quite right; something strange filled the air in a quite eeriness. Along with the realisation there was not one goblin guarding the destroyed gate alone rang alarm bells. He knew the fighting had stopped the instant the human girl escaped and his goblin kin would have started rebuilding their hovels almost immediately. However, stepping a few caution feet into the compound Relg suspicions were correct Witherbark was deserted.

  Hesitantly carrying on with half a mind to just turn around and walk away knowing it was a high possibility Onyxia would turn her anger on himself. Secretly Relg hoped she wouldn’t still be around but the need to know what has happened to the rest of the goblins got the better of him, as they were in a sense is only family even though he couldn’t personally stand most of them. Relg climbed over the wooden remnants of the lookout towers then slowly peered his wide goblin eyes around the corner of the huge timber frame taking a good long look at the deserted mud ridden village. Demolished hovels still burned with small fires and smoke rose from charred trees and to his shock the slain bodies of many of his kin.

  Slowly stepping his small goblin frame out from behind the giant timber post he slowly made his way across Witherbark avoiding the scattered bodies of dead goblins with scorch marks to their bodies. Sticking to the shadows his head could not keep up with his eyes has he searched for any signs of movement particularly Onyxia and her winged beast. Relg knew before he was ordered in pursuit of the large cat and the woodland female the damage they had caused, most of his kin hid when they attacked, Onyxia was most likely the cause of this massacre.

  Relg reached the courtyard stopping at the large grey tree with a piece of loose rope swaying lightly in the breeze that hung from a thick branch with a demolished wooden cage on the ground below. Looking at wreckage, he was surprised the human girl was unscathed from his desperate actions.

  Staring ahead loomed the Goblin King’s gigantic tree, Relg’s attention directed towards to the windows and the movement of shadows from the candlelight inside. Panic set in at the sudden frightful realisation Onyxia was still here. Many of his goblin kin must have fled the village, as there were clearly not enough bodies lying around Witherbark for the whole tribe. The only two reasons Relg thought what could have happened here is if Onyxia had already learnt of the Goblin Kings demise and the failure to kill the human girl, or to kill everyone out of pure malice.

  With that in mind, Relg instantly took refuge behind the large grey tree not taking his wide goblin eyes off the flickering shadows of the Goblin Kings dead tree. Not hesitating for too long Relg knew Onyxia would not be happy to see him and realised very quickly he needed leave Witherbark as fast as he could. He took a few cautious steps backwards getting ready to take the same route he came in then disappear into forest, it was not much of a plan but it was the best he had under such circumstances. He spun his oily looking dark skin body around in a fraction of a second to make his way back across Witherbark. Relg made no more than two steps when he abruptly came to a halt. A greasy haired goblin wearing rags and a worn leather belt gripping a rusty dagger stood menacingly in his way not taking his twitching eye off him.

  “Going somewhere maggot?” Asked a twitching faced Snitch, his eyes fixated on Relg with a psychotic look on his face.

  “I – I was, I mean, I bring word of the human girl to queen Onyxia,” muttered Relg thinking fast on his feet.

  “Let hope its good news for your sake.” Snitch replied drawing his dagger.

  The point of Snitch’s rusty dagger pressed firmly into Relg’s back forcing him at a paced walk across Witherbark towards the dead tree where Onyxia awaits. Relg was hoping for some miraculous plan of escape searching franticly with his eyes hoping to grab a stick or something viable object to knock Snitch unconscious or a distraction for Relg to be able to dive into a goblin hole to hide within the labyrinth of tunnels. Relg searched with his eyes scanning the ground before him. In what actual little time he had been walking then from the corner of his eye, he saw it, he saw a lifeline a pieces of charred wood from a destroyed watchtower lay on top of a body of a goblin.

  The piece of wood drew closer, Relg’s goblin heart pounded harder and harder with every step. With a sly glimpse over his shoulder noticing Snitch was to his left side Relg’s arm came up a fraction readying to grasp a piece of timber. Relg knew he had only one chance and he would have to spin around with speed and precision before Snitch had the chance to react.

  The time was upon him, the huge Goblin King’s tree loomed high above. Relg unknowingly held his breath as he reached out and gripped the wood and with one quick smooth motion he yanked the wood from the goblin’s body and with all his strength he spun and struck Snitch full on in the chest sending him crashing to the muddy ground. It took a split second of realisation and luck that his desperate plan worked as Snitch lay motionless on the dirt courtyard.

  Relg’s mind raced with what and where to go next. He spotted maybe fifty feet away a half buried goblin hole just big enough for his small frame which would lead him to safety of the goblin tunnels, which then would take him to a route out of Witherbark. Looking over his shoulder, Relg almost got to full running speed, the distance to the hole closed with every step until he heard a loud screeching sound coming from high above.

  Onyxia’s dark winged creature emerged from high above the open treetops. Pinpointing Relg’s position with its sharp vision it tucked in its wings just as a hawk would do hunting its prey, with a swooping motion it darted down with great speed towards Witherbark. Just missing Relg as he ducked down the creature flew over his head followed by a loud gust of wind blowing Relg off his feet entirely. The winged creature took one last scout of the area before landing in Relg’s path. Digging it’s talons into the soft dirt, it towered over his small body letting out a loud screeching cry along it long scaled neck and out through its needle teethed mouth.

  Looking up at the huge monster accepting his time was now up Relg slowly rose to his feet knowing the beast could eat him in one mouthful. He covered his pointy ears in an attempt to soothe the intense pain the beasts cry was causing, Relg just hoped the creature would stop making that horrific sound and just eat him.

  “I hope I give you stomach ache,” shouted Relg accepting his fate with his large eyes closed readying for the huge mouth to come down and snatch him.

  “Only one returns, a messenger I guess?” Onyxia stated stepping down from the beasts back. “What word from your King little goblin?” Asked Onyxia in such a tone Relg did not think his blood could get any colder.

  “Y – Yes, I mean n – no my queen,” stammered Relg surprised by her presence he thought he saw her shadow moving around in the huge tree. “I mean, well the Goblin King has sent no message.”

  “Then why are you here and he is not?” Asked Onyxia sharply.

  “He – he is dead my queen,” Relg replied bowing his head in fear unable to look directly at her.

  “What!” Shouted Onyxia directing her fury at Relg. “Tell me how this happen?”

  “We tracked the human female all the way to the Noose my queen, we fought bravely but the hum
an girl’s protectors were too strong. My king fought with a four-legged beast of his own size but he had help from a faceless person. It all came to an end when my King fell into the darkness of the abyss,” explained Relg believing Onyxia already knew of the king demise but maybe not the how.

  “It’s the Guardians it must be, they are the ones helping her,” Onyxia muttered to herself with distaste in her mouth.

  The tension in Relg’s body made him stiff to the point his eyes could not roll back in their sockets to follow her shadow as Onyxia moved slowly around him. Contemplating his fate, she gripped her staff tighter and tighter getting ready to strike with her winged creature edging closer hoping for an easy meal. Then from the corner of Onyxia’s eye, a movement stirred in the dirt. Forgetting he was even there, Snitch rose to his elbows shaking the unconsciousness haze from his mind and holding his chest in pain.

  Onyxia paused with a sudden newfound respect for Relg, Snitch is as nasty a goblin that there is and she knew to get one over on him takes guts.

  “You’re an unusual quirky little goblin aren’t you but with all that so called fighting you alone came back here unscathed. You are either very foolish or very brave, I haven’t made up my mind up which you are yet but I do think there is something you’re not telling me,” accused Onyxia her dark pupils burning into his.

  “There is nothing else my queen, nothing I swear. When the king fell, the goblins were quickly killed by the figure in the mask, I ran as fast as I could to inform you.”

  “Then tell me little worm where is the human girl the very girl you were sent to bring back dead or alive, the very girl you have barely mentioned since your return?” Shouted Onyxia with the last bit of her patience evaporating away.