by C S Harrop
The sudden jolted remembrance of the human girl made Relg’s eyes widen with a realisation that Onyxia cared nothing of the Goblin King’s demise only for the lost soul in which she hunts with a psychotic obsession.
“I last saw them disappear across the bridge over the darkness, I beg your forgiveness my queen,” cowered Relg to his knees.
“Them, the girl was not alone?”
“No my queen, another human female was with her, there were three in total.”
“Where does this bridge to over this chasm lead?” Onyxia asked already having an idea but needing to hear it from Relg’s own mouth for confirmation.
“E - Everlong,” stammered Relg barely able to look up at Onyxia’s face as her expression turned to stone knowing she was ready to burst with anger at any time and a high possibility of what happened to the rest of the tribe in Witherbark. Onyxia looked long and hard at Relg contemplating his fate she turned her gaze slightly looking over his left shoulder and gave a slow but decisive nod. Relg instantly without control looked behind to find Snitch standing there. His face twitched more than usual looking with a deep unnatural hatred whilst clenching his rusty dagger, and then suddenly he leapt.
Chapter 9
A Winter's Night
By late evening, the wooden slats of the Noose turned to a soft powdery snow as Willow and Asha finally stepped from the bridge. The white rocky mountainside of Everlong looked down upon the two women with an overwhelming presence. Willow had more important thing on her mind then navigating the pass through the mountains that she had done many time before, the outcome of Riven’s fight with the Goblin King was unknown and playing heavily on her mind.
Asha on the other hand was at the point of collapsing with exhaustion, she in a desperate need of rest and nourishment. Willow thought Asha looked like her soul was physically been drained from her body, which was clearly showing in her face as it turned a sickly pale grey.
Asha had noticed Willow looking over her shoulder many times whilst on the Noose obviously worried about her companion the huge sabre-cat, even with Willow’s sharp vision she was unable to see the far side of the Chasm. Turning her glance for the last time away from the Noose knowing Riven’s fate is now in the hands of the gods and her orders to deliver Asha to the council of Elders was of the utmost importance.
A long, rocky steep path up through the mountainside was the only way in or out of Everlong. With a hard enduring journey ahead Willow wandered if Asha was up to task since her explosive actions on the bridge and current physical condition. To her shock, Asha now laid motionless on the snowy ground her face half buried in the snow.
“Asha are you OK?” Worried Willow striding over to her and lifting her head out of the snow.
Willow a young woman of the woodland realm of Elwood an adventurer at heart, she and Riven have travelled across many lands spread across many realms most of their growing lives. Everlong was no exception Willow knew these lands very well and aware of a crack in the mountainside well known by traders, a shelter from the blizzards of the chasm. Scooping her arms under Asha’s, she lifted her unconscious body and dragged her through the snow scraping heels as she went along. Willow knew the trail marks would be covered almost immediately by the wind the thought of been tracked was a concern but keeping Asha alive was more pressing.
The crack in the mountainside opened up into a small featureless cave. Willow placed Asha gently on the ground by the charred remains of a fire surrounded by stones arranged in the standard circular fashion. Placing her bow and backpack by some old wooden crates that was perfect for firewood, she broke them up crate-by-crate and placed in a systematic heap within the stone circles. Willow knelt down with the marks on her palms glowing a pale green, with a soft whisper multiple of sparks came to life that manifested into a lively warm fire heating and lighting the cave with dancing flames.
Willow sat by the fire with her back against the wall nibbling into a piece of dried woodland bread with her bow laid across her lap ready for any situation that might arise. Silver and bronze leaves on Willow’s leather breastplate glistened with the crackling of the fire along with her copper highlights in her brown wavy hair displaying a full array of colourful shades. The temptation to go find her big furry friend was overwhelming they have been close friends since they could both barely walk. However, she knows as does Riven the importance of the mission superseded her own self-need, looking over at Asha who remained in her exhausted slumber by the fire.
“I hope you’re worth it,” Willow said quietly to herself noticing a hint of colour slowly coming back into Asha’s skin. She knew Asha would be fine in time with a little rest and some food to boost her strength. Her worry was focused on the fate of her friend, the Goblin King has is minions with him which makes him an equal opponent either one of them could find their way into the bottom of the Chasm.
Asha stirred slowly struggling to lift her heavy eyes to the comforting sight that she was at home inside the cabin on Lake Erat, laid on a thick white and grey fur rug with Aunt Elora sitting in her usual warn chair cosy in front of the log fire. Suddenly the cabin door burst open with wintry blizzard sweeping through, Onyxia stood there staring at both of them with a face of hatred then with a screaming shout she raised her staff and sent a mass of energy at them both. With sudden jolt upright, Asha’s eyes shot wide open followed by the realisation she was not in Lake Erat but was in fact a nightmare.
“Aunt Elora!” Shouted Asha in anger that quickly manifested into uncontrollable weeping. Willow sprang to Asha’s side in a moment putting her arm around her in comfort knowing there was nothing she could do to help. The pain of losing someone close was something Willow knew too well, Asha would have to come terms with her grief in her own time.
“Thank you,” Asha said wiping away her tears and leaning in little further. Willow smiled in acknowledgement then took a piece of Barklin wrapped in cloth from a pocket under her breastplate and placed it in her hands.
“Time is the best healer Asha but for now you must eat and regain your strength, we have a long journey ahead up through these mountains,” advised Willow passing her a piece of Barklin.
Edging closer to the fire Asha took what looked like a piece of tree bark in her hand with a look of bewilderment. In the few short moments of eating the Barklin, a surprisingly nutty taste with a hint of a woody sweetness engulfed her palate, which seemed to rejuvenate her rather quickly. She took a drink of water from her pouch and passed it to Willow with gratitude. She had not paid much attention to Willow since her rescue from Witherbark, Asha realised for the first time Willow maybe three to four years older than herself. She had pale skin and copper highlighted hair with a forest type of design on her armour. Asha noticed she was very beautiful and brave woman who had grown up amongst the trees and the wildness of this world.
“What is this place, last thing I remember is we reached the other side of the Noose?” Asked Asha looking around damp lit cave.
“We are not far from the Noose. I managed to drag you to this cave within the mountains. Traders use this place as a resting point to wait for the blizzards to ease,” explained Willow filling Asha’s now empty pouch with snow from the entrance then placing it by the fire. “You collapsed with exhaustion after you used your power against the Goblin King. You used every ounce of your power in such an uncontrolled manner that it depletes your energy, you literally let everything go except your soul only leaving yourself enough energy to barely walk. With practice, you will learn to control your gift. You have a strong will Asha that I can see; you managed it all the way to the other side of the Chasm before you collapsed, which is no small feat.”
“I knew I had to get to the other side of the Noose no matter what, Riven was risking his life for me – wait where is Riven?” Asked Asha suddenly realising and looking around the cave for him to appear.
“We have been resting in this cave for most of the night, it’s nearly first light and I have not heard from him yet. I fear
the worst he was not just protecting us from the Goblin King but his dark blooded minion as well.”
“He will turn up Willow I’m sure of it,” trying to ease her worries.
Asha sat in silence finishing her Barklin deep in thought looking into the dancing flames of the campfire. The thought of the beach where she saw Aunt Elora came to the forefront of her mind wandering if it was just lucid dream but it felt so real to her. Then her thoughts drifted to Witherbark then to Riven trying to calm her down on the Noose. Remembering Riven running off to back along the Noose to face the Goblin King, a sudden chill ran through Asha’s body as she remembered taking one last look around towards Riven as she carried on towards the end of the noose. A person whose face shone in the moonlight, similar to the person at Witherbark that wore a metal mask appeared alongside Riven. Asha’s gut feeling was this person was an ally of Onyxia.
Thinking back this masked person also seems familiar in some way it reminded her of someone she had seen from the corner of her eye on many occasions over past couple of years. Asha thought she was going mad when she turned to look at this figure all she would see is the natural surroundings and the faceless person would be gone. Most recently, the madness appeared again for a split second on Lake Erat she saw the same shadowy figure within the tree line of the Great Forest wearing a hood with something covering his metallic face and again at Witherbark when she was barely conscious. Asha always thought this figure was a figment of her imagination but to then to see this person for real sent a shiver up her spine.
“Are you OK?” Asked Willow noticing the intensity in her face.
Not wanting to break the news of the person in the mask appearing alongside Riven for fear it would break her heart and to hear Riven was also up against a spy or even an assassin of Onyxia would wound her more deeply than any weapon could ever do.
“I am OK just thinking about everything that has happened over the past couple of days. Do you know why Onyxia wants me so badly? I always thought see wanted me dead because of the hatred for my mother. But with recent developments and the Elders sending you and Riven to find me and hearing words like the lost soul I’m thinking there is something more to this then plain vengeance,” asked Asha trying to coax information from Willow that Aunt Elora would never tell her.
“It’s not my place to say but what I can tell you is you’re the spark that will light the darkness forever. I know it’s frustrating why all this is happening to you for reasons you do not know, be patient all your questions will be answered when we reach Andoria,” answered Willow in a tone that Asha knew too well from Aunt Elora, her line of questioning ended abruptly.
“Well it won’t help me find answers by lying here,” Asha said slowly pulling herself up to her feet.
The sun rose slowly reflecting the icy on the dark jagged rocks of the mountainside of Everlong. Willow signalled the all clear after she made the area was clear of goblins; Asha emerged from the cave with stiff joints and a sore head wrapped warmly in her hooded fur coat and bag draped over her shoulder. The wind had died down considerably from the previous night giving Willow the opportunity to check every inch of the ground with her keen eyesight for a sign of paw prints or worse goblins, hoping to find some evidence of her big friend.
Willow felt disheartened by the lack of any evidence that Riven made it across the Noose she gave a huge sigh that Asha heard from a good distance away. Willow held on as long as she could looking across the Noose hoping to see some kind of movement. She slowly turned and led the way on light feet up and around the steep snow covered rocky path away from the endless depths of the Chasm.
The trek took longer than anticipated the icy rock frustrated Asha to the point she could scream. Her fur boots were warm but had limited grip she lost her footing several times sending her sliding back down the path barely clinging on to extruding rocks stopping her from a deathly fall down the mountain.
Night came and went by the time Willow and Asha reached the end of the passage through the mountains emerging out into the open white wilderness of Everlong. The icy breeze of the Chasm had mostly diminished as it travelled through Everlong’s mountain pass to a calm chill that gave a relieved and welcomed expression on both Asha and Willow exhausted faces.
The moon shone faintly in the bright blue sky as it dipped behind the furthest snowy peaks to the west as the sun crept up from the east slowly lighting the endless snowdrift plains and large protruding rock.
Once again Willow showing her worldly experience pointed to a shelter not too far from their position. They kept on moving across the snow until they reached a group of large boulders nestled in a circular formation that surrounded a basic campfire. To Asha’s surprise, firewood was already prepared and an animal carcass laid above on a makeshift metal spit. Asha thought this was very strange it was as if someone was expecting them, too tired to raise the question she dropped to the ground with her back against the rock her eyes closed almost immediately.
The boulders gave excellent wind protection and the lack of a roof was of no concern due to the cloudless sky. Willow once again lit the dry wood with a whisper and her glowing palm. Resting her weary bones she too followed Asha and closed her eyes soon drifting in out of consciousness as sleep eventually took hold.
Asha woke with the universe of the night sky scattered across like a vail of sparkling jewels. Looking up between the protection of the dark grey boulders Asha had never seen such a beautiful a sight before, been so high up in the mountains clearly had its benefits. Time seemed to have stopped as she stared with an amazement on her face until the image had firmly imprinted in her mind. Unaware Willow was perched on top of a boulder just behind her searching the endless white landscape before her, there was some pleasure seeing Asha’s face not being so tense but relaxed for the first time since her rescue from Witherbark. She felt Asha has not had a reason to smile for a long time, hiding from Onyxia her whole life.
“I wonder if the Goblin King would follow us up here in the mountains?” Asha asked wandering if she should mention the man in the mask knowing the reason why Willow is on lookout, she clearly is worried for her friend more than she is letting on.
“He would be foolish if he was, the Elves keep themselves to themselves they especially don’t take kindly to the dark bloods especially goblins and orc,” replied Willow not taking her eyes of the endless white surface beyond.
“Willow is correct,” came a deep voice by the large gap in the boulders. “The Elves are a warrior race that take pride in their culture and of their lands. Also we won’t have any more trouble from the Goblin King, he is no more alive than he is dead,” explained Riven appearing between the two boulders scaring Asha half to death.
“Good to see you my friend,” Willow said showing a clear sign of relief flicker across her face. “I feared the worst, what happened down there?” Jumping down and giving Riven’s huge sabre-cat face a warm embrace.
“The fight was fierce but a friend of ours turned up again and gave a welcomed hand, he must have been keeping an eye on us. I pounced on the Goblin King while our friend took care of his minions; I can honestly imagine he has the biggest grin underneath that mask of his every time he intricately kills a dark blood with those daggers of his. Anyway, we fought punching and clawing at each other sending ourselves gripped in a vicious struggle. I was biting at his neck while he thumped me with his armoured fists as we slid towards the edge of the path towards the Chasm. The Goblin King threw me off leaving me clawing desperately at the edge of the icy path to stop myself falling.
We fought all the way up to the Noose. He struck me with his hammer sending me sliding along the wooden slats knocking the breath out of me. When I looked up at the Goblin King has he set foot on the bridge with blood pouring down his raging face to finish me off I noticed when I landed I cracked a few of the old wooden slats. The Noose creaking from his weight and could not take much more strain. I knew I could not allow him to go any further so I leapt at him striking hi
m to his face, with my weight combined the wooden slats broke. The Goblin King managed to get his neck tangled in a looped piece of rope as he fell hanging for his life above the Chasm. I managed to cling to stable slats I luckily clung onto and clawed myself to my feet.
I stood on the swaying bridge looking down at his wriggling body with a thought, should I just leave him to die like that or let him fall. I went for the latter so I chewed and clawed through the rope that hung him. I could hear his loud cry dwindle away as he fell further and further down into the Chasm, nobody really knows how deep it is he could still be falling now for all I know,” explained Riven in detail Willow knew he always enjoys telling stories of battle.
“You mentioned your friend, does he wear a mask,” asked Asha, her concentration focused at the possible identity of the man in the mask.
“Yes, why do you ask?”
“I, I just remembered him from Witherbark,” stammered Asha holding back the full details of seeing him over the years.
“His name is Lore, he took care of the goblins with precision you could just sit back in awe and watch him work his mastery of those daggers of his. But unfortunately one did manage to slip away a goblin with one eye.”
Asha wandered after all this time if she had this person in the mask all wrong, that this person was actually there to protect and look out for her. Then her thoughts drifted to the one eyed goblin, she knew of the goblin he was talking about it must be the same goblin that captured her in the Great Forest and took her to Witherbark.
“It would be highly likely that goblin will run and find Onyxia she would then be upon us flying her dark creature once she finds out what happened to the Goblin King and our location,” worried Asha.
“We are safe here Asha that witch wouldn’t dare step foot in Everlong, the Elves of Everlong are race not to underestimate and they are very protective of their mountains. For the time being we believe she does not have that big of an army to attack Everlong – not yet,” Willow replied stroking her hand through Riven’s dark fur letting it slide softly through her fingers.
