The Raptor of the Highlands

by Peter Wacht

  “Maybe,” he replied noncommittally, “But I put little faith in the stories I hear about this Raptor. Some of it is just too remarkable to believe.”

  Kaylie thought about it for a moment and decided that her father might be right. Then again, he was wrong about not letting her learn the sword so he could be wrong about this as well.

  “I wonder if the Raptor is the Lost Kestrel.”

  Gregory stopped abruptly and spun around. “Why do you think that?”

  The sharpness of his voice surprised her. She hesitated before answering.

  “I don’t know, I was just thinking out loud. That’s all.”

  Gregory grunted and walked ahead, obviously wanting to be alone with his thoughts.

  Kaylie wondered what had gotten into him. She had never seen him act like that before. Oh, well, she’d think about that later. She still had to figure out how to convince him that he was being a bull-headed fool for not letting her train with Kael, but in a way that wouldn’t result in a shouting match.

  CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

  Getting Closer

  “Yes, Beluil, I know,” said Thomas between breaths, translating the image sent by his friend. “I think they will come back too, and very soon.”

  They had tracked the pack of Fearhounds for most of the day and were still no closer to their quarry. Each time Thomas and Beluil angled in a direction that would allow them to catch up to the dark creatures, the pack moved off another two or three leagues.

  Thomas blamed it on bad luck. The Fearhounds couldn’t know they were there, could they? And even if they did, why would that stop them from attacking? Thomas and Beluil were only two and the pack probably contained as many as fifteen to twenty Fearhounds.

  The sun had had dropped below the horizon, giving way to a quarter moon that provided little light and no warmth. A cold wind swept down from the north that presaged an early winter. Thomas and Beluil made camp where the Burren met the Highlands, putting a large, flat rock over the fire so as not to attract any attention. Beluil lay in a comfortable spot right in front of the fire, stretching out his long frame to soak in as much warmth as possible.

  The Fearhounds had turned north and followed the Southern River out onto the Northern Steppes during the afternoon after darting in and out of the Highlands. Thomas and Beluil had gone as far as where the Southern River met the Sea of Mist before returning to the edge of the Burren.

  The behavior of the pack bothered Thomas. Normally, Fearhounds wandered randomly during the hunt, searching for any prey that crossed their path. But not this time. Throughout the day the Fearhounds had traveled along the southern edge of the Highlands, and at regular intervals made at least a dozen quick forays into the Burren before returning to the Highland border. They had even entered Oakwood Forest.

  They were hunting, but this time for something in particular. Maybe that’s why they didn’t come after him and Beluil. They were too busy with their search to bother. Thomas’ curiosity got the better of him. He wanted to know what these Fearhounds pursued.

  “We’ll wait here, Beluil. When they come south again, we’ll be ready.”

  CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

  Aggravation

  Kaylie left her father alone for the rest of the afternoon, deciding that she had pushed hard enough for the time being. As evening approached, Gregory led the troop along the bed of a small stream until it converged with another in the middle of a small glen. A hill sat at the juncture where the two streams formed into one.

  As the soldiers set up camp for the night and started dinner, Kaylie wandered over to the hill. She thought it would be an easy climb to the top, but the tall grass that covered its sides deceived her. Several times she slipped as she tried to dig her feet into the hillside, and by the time she finally reached the top, beads of perspiration covered her forehead.

  The hill topped the trees pushing in on the small glade her father had chosen as a campsite, allowing her to see for miles around. Below her the soldiers worked diligently at their tasks while Gregory surveyed everything with a practiced eye. That was interesting. From where she stood, Kaylie thought this hill, at some point in the past, might have actually been a waterfall. On both sides it appeared as if the forest ran up against the hill, which more and more looked like a cliff as she studied it. If her father decided to go in this direction tomorrow, they’d either have to climb up the hill or parallel the cliff until it tapered off again to level ground.

  As she faced north, her breath caught in her throat. The snow-covered peaks of the Highlands towered over the trees, their huge forms speaking of strength and age. It was an awesome sight. She would do almost anything to have the opportunity to travel in the Highlands and see where Alessandra had assumed her place as leader of the most feared warriors in all the Kingdoms. Every day would be an adventure, filled with danger, excitement and fun.

  “Kaylie, time for dinner,” yelled her father, who stood at the base of the hill.

  “Coming, father.”

  She took one last glimpse at the towering peaks. Someday, she promised herself. Someday.

  CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

  Stories

  “Enough, Kaylie. You cannot train with Kael beyond the dagger. I will not change my mind so you might as well stop trying.”

  Dinner passed quietly after that as Gregory and Kaylie sat in front of a small fire, their backs up against a log dragged there by a few soldiers. Both were tired and hungry from the day’s trek. The resemblance between father and daughter was remarkable, as both wore similar expressions of aggravation. When Kaylie finished her meal, she immediately started up again about learning how to use a sword. Tenacious almost to a fault, she refused to admit defeat. That same tenacity Gregory so admired most of the time was beginning to wear on his nerves.

  “But—”

  “No buts,” said Gregory, cutting off his daughter. “I will not change my mind.”

  Kaylie slumped back against the log, crossing her arms and grimacing as if she had tasted something sour. He was impossible. Absolutely impossible! She had tried everything she could think of and still he refused to give in. It was like arguing with an oak tree.

  “It would be so much easier if your mother were still with us,” murmured Gregory, sighing as he poked at the fire with a stick. Sometimes he simply didn’t know how to deal with his daughter.

  Kaylie dropped the grimace from her face. “You miss her a lot, don’t you?”

  “Yes,” he answered in a quiet, sad voice. “Yes, I do.”

  Kaylie looked at her father thoughtfully, weighing whether or not she should tell him what was on her mind. She decided that she might as well. He was already irritated with her so she didn’t have much to lose.

  “You shouldn’t be alone, father. Mother has been gone a long time. I don’t think she’d mind if you found someone else.”

  Gregory sat up, too surprised to know what to say. Thinking of nothing else, he replied in a huff, “I’m too old.”

  “You and I both know that’s a lie,” said Kaylie. “I know there are several women who are quite interested in getting to know you better. In fact, there’s one who is more than just interested.”

  “Oh, really.” Gregory leaned back against the log and crossed his arms, expecting his daughter to turn this conversation into a joke. “And just who might that be?”

  “Sarelle Makarin.”

  “Sarelle,” sputtered Gregory, sitting forward, his eyes wild for an instant.

  “Yes, Sarelle Makarin. It is quite obvious by the way she looks at you that she’s interested in much more than just the trade between our two kingdoms.” Kaylie stretched her legs out, her self-satisfied grin spreading across her entire face. “Much more.”

  “But, she’s—”

  “Quite beautiful. Don’t you agree? And very intelligent. She’s also quite patient, which is an absolute necessity when it comes to you, father. You know, you can be quite difficult at times.”

  “Can I?” asked Gr
egory, his voice laced with sarcasm.

  Kaylie failed to notice. “Yes, you can. And despite that she is quite taken with you.”

  “And just how do you know that?” The certainty in his daughter’s voice frightened him. His worries from earlier in the day returned tenfold.

  Kaylie smirked. “Oh, come now, father. Any woman could see it. Even you should by now. She sent you how many invitations to visit Benewyn? And when you finally said you couldn’t, what did she do? She invited herself to Fal Carrach. Father, I’m quite disappointed in you. You really should have figured this out on your own.”

  “Yes, well, I had considered the possibility, but there were other things on my—”

  “Actually, she’s doing quite an excellent job of it.”

  “Job of what?” asked Gregory, his confusion obvious.

  “Twisting you around her finger,” chuckled Kaylie. “She’s doing such a good job, you don’t even know it.”

  “No woman can twist me around her finger,” Gregory almost shouted in indignation. He looked around quickly, relieved that none of his men had heard him.

  “Whatever you say, father,” laughed Kaylie with delight, pleased that she could still tease him so easily. “Whatever you say.”

  She leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Good night, father. I’m going to turn in.” Kaylie rose from her place by the log and walked around the fire to where she had placed her blankets.

  “Sarelle cannot twist me around her finger,” Gregory protested a final time, but his daughter only laughed as she burrowed beneath her blankets.

  Gregory got up as well, trying to get his mind thinking of other things. He began to make a circuit of their small encampment. All the guards stood their stations as they should, he noted, pleased by their discipline. Yet, as he walked from one soldier to the next, he picked up on their uneasiness. Several fingered the hilts of their swords as if they expected a fight.

  It wasn’t long before Gregory felt it as well, the sense that there was something in the dark of the forest that shouldn’t be there. It was a very uncomfortable feeling, especially when you didn’t know the source. He shrugged it off. It was probably because they camped near the Burren. The stories of the dark and forbidding forest were legendary. But that’s all they were. Stories. Nevertheless, before he turned in for the night he decided to double the guard. Just in case.

  As he walked back toward the fire, his mind wandered back to the conversation he had just concluded with his daughter. Sarelle? Could Kaylie be right? She was extremely beautiful. And intelligent. And clever. But Sarelle? Why would she be interested in him? The whole thing confounded him. His hair had more grey than black, though he did have to admit that he was just as fit as he was when he was a youth. But Sarelle? He just couldn’t believe it.

  CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

  Bloody Skirmish

  Gregory woke with a start as shouts rang out in the small camp. The sun was still a distant wish. The perfect time for an attack, he thought, as he flung his blankets off and leapt to his feet, his sword already in his hand. He had considered taking off his boots before going to bed, but had decided against it because of the cold. He was glad that he did. He didn’t have time to put them on.

  Large black shadows that barely stood out against the early morning darkness flashed along the defensive perimeter established by his guards. Fearhounds — more than a dozen in all — and they were pushing his soldiers in toward the camp. He and his men had fallen into dire straits.

  The beasts resembled large dogs, but that’s where the resemblance ended. Many were the size of small ponies. Their jet-black fur made it extremely difficult to pick them out of the darkness. The only feature that remained visible for any extended period of time were their sharp, white teeth that rivaled many a dagger in size.

  High-pitched howls tore through the night, setting the soldiers’ teeth on edge. It was said the howl of a Fearhound sent bolts of terror through its prey, hence its name. Legend had it that these creatures, distant cousins to the wolves, followed the scent of fear. Once they had the scent, it was only a matter of time before they had the kill as well.

  Gregory ignored the shivers of fear that ran up and down his spine and sprinted toward Kaylie. She had jumped up, her blankets tangled around her but her dagger in hand. At least she took Kael’s words to heart. They had made camp at the base of the hill. None of the Fearhounds had come from that direction, so he pushed Kaylie behind him. His men had already formed a semicircle with their backs to the hill.

  All his soldiers were veterans of dozens of border clashes, so there was no need for Gregory to give instructions. They knew the enemy they faced and what they had to do. Several more Fearhounds burst from between the trees to stand with the others, bringing the size of the pack to twenty. Counting his men, Gregory realized to his sorrow he had already lost five to the beasts. The odds definitely were not good. Still, he and his men would not go down without a fight.

  He looked around the small glade, then up the hill, searching for a possible escape route for Kaylie. The only option he saw was going up the slope. But the Fearhounds would catch her easily even then. Cursing his luck, Gregory encouraged his men to hold strong. He knew in his heart, however, that it was a futile gesture.

  Suddenly, the Fearhounds charged forward. His soldiers withstood the assault for several minutes, struggling valiantly to hold back the massive creatures. The men fought quietly, focused on their task and on their survival, their fear neatly locked away. Several nerve-shattering howls rose above the din of the swords striking out toward the beasts; the soldiers scored hits, yet to no avail. The skin of a Fearhound was almost as hard as rock, and though the beasts could be wounded, killing them was far from easy.

  First one soldier was pulled down, and then another, and then another. Three bloody, red maws stared at Gregory as they feasted on their prey, their eyes promising that he would be next. It was a horrifying sight. His soldiers tried to close the breach in their defenses, but couldn’t. The Fearhounds were too quick. Three beasts ran past the soldiers and sped directly for Gregory and Kaylie.

  Gregory swung his sword in front of him in giant arcs, hoping the steel would keep the Fearhounds at bay. He saw the intelligence and cunning in their eyes now that they were so close. They would wait until he tired and then make their move. To speed up the process, the three Fearhounds split up. One remained in front of Gregory while the other two trotted to separate sides. Kaylie stayed behind her father, her dagger held at the ready as she spun from one side to the other on knees shaking with fear, trying to keep an eye on both Fearhounds.

  The Fearhound in front of Gregory feinted forward. Just as Gregory moved to defend, the Fearhound on the left darted in as well. Gregory had expected that maneuver. Cursing their intelligence under his breath, he ignored the beast in front of him. Turning quickly, he swung viciously at the Fearhound moving in from his right. The Fearhound yelped more in surprise than pain as the steel bit into its flesh. However, what should have been a killing blow only resulted in a small slash across the beast’s chest that momentarily halted its progress. The Fearhound growled in anger and charged straight at Gregory. At the same time the other two leapt forward.

  Try as he might, he just wasn’t fast enough. His blade again met the rush of the Fearhound, biting deeper into the creature’s shoulder. The beast’s rancid breath almost overpowered him. As the Fearhound staggered back, the one that had stood in front of Gregory leapt in the air, hoping to come down on his back. Catching the movement out of the corner of his eye, Gregory rolled away from the attack and jumped back to his feet. But the Fearhounds had succeeded. They had separated Gregory from Kaylie. Two of the creatures approached Gregory, while the third, limping slightly from the injury to its shoulder, stalked toward his daughter.

  As the screams of his men, fighting and dying just twenty feet away, echoed in his ears, all he could think about was how to save his daughter from the death that awaited her. Before
the two Fearhounds could attack him, Gregory charged forward, swinging his blade wildly. If he was going to die this day, he would do it on his own terms, fighting to his last breath trying to protect his daughter.

  Kaylie tried to reach her father as he attacked the Fearhounds, but the injured beast remained where it was, sizing up its prey. She stood there in shock as the Fearhounds cut her off from her father, not knowing what to do. She had nowhere to go, nowhere to hide. She could barely stand as it was. Her knees continued to shake uncontrollably and her stomach did somersaults.

  She thought of a dozen different ways to escape, but discarded them all, knowing in the end that it would be wasted effort. All she could do was go down fighting, just like the other soldiers. Yes, like the other soldiers. That thought made her feel a little better, and she slowly began to regain control of her legs. The queasy feeling in her stomach remained, however.

  The Fearhounds weren’t distracted for long. The injured beast walked stiffly toward her with bloodlust in its eyes, unafraid of her dagger. She took several steps back until her feet hit the base of the hill. Everything that Kael had taught her flashed through her mind in an instant. Though she tried to remember it all, it didn’t really matter. Her dagger was of no use against a Fearhound. It wouldn’t even be much of an annoyance.

  Seeing her as an easy kill, the Fearhound continued to limp toward her confidently. Kaylie held the dagger in front of her, balancing on her toes just as she had been taught. She could hear her father yelling in anger as he tried to make his way past the two Fearhounds blocking his path, but she knew he would never get to her in time. She’d have to depend on her own abilities now.

  When the Fearhound was no more than a few feet away, the creature lunged forward, its jaws aimed for her throat. Giving in to her instinct, Kaylie slashed with her dagger and then rolled to the ground, clear of the Fearhound’s attack. The beast howled in pain. Kaylie had been true in her aim. Her slash dug into the slice caused by her father’s sword. Though not a disabling blow, it was painful and would slow the Fearhound even more. If nothing else, at least she had scored a hit. Kael would have been proud of her.