by Jon Bender
The next morning Jaxom and his group returned to their search for a guide. Brenin left with Cribble and Da’san, while Jerup had joined him. Deciding to try the taverns in town, they had stopped at every one of the drinking establishments they passed. Again and again they found no one who would consider their offer, even after Jaxom had offered five gold pieces in payment. He was on the verge of giving up after leaving the last tavern when a woman had stopped them outside.
She was around twenty-five but her grey eyes showed an age much older. Her light brown hair was tied back in a ponytail which fell below her shoulders. Wearing a man’s dark brown shirt and pants Jaxom could tell that her five foot eight inch frame was well muscled underneath. Her smooth dark toned skin telling a story of days spent out in the sun. Over all she was very pleasing to look at, and Jaxom found that he enjoyed doing so.
“I heard you back in there. You are looking for someone to take you into Teriken Forest,” she said never taking his eyes from his.
“Yes, do you know someone who we can trust to lead us?” he said.
“Depends on what you are paying,” she said.
Jaxom knew this was his last shot at getting a guide, or they would have no choice but to enter the forest without one. “Eight gold coins, half up front and another half when we find what we are looking for. Once we do I will pay the rest and he can leave without us,” Jaxom said. Jerup whistled at the sum, it being more than what he made in a year
“Done, but I will want something else as well,” the woman said surprising Jaxom with her declaration that she would be the one taking them. He had not heard of a woman hunting in the forest from the traders he had spoken with, and though he could tell from her appearance that she was not a simple seamstress, he was still unsure they would not be better off going it alone.
“And what would that be?” he asked seeing no harm in finding out what she wanted.
“I will show you the way in and back out again,” she said. It was a bonus if she would be there to lead them back. “And when you leave Chams’dell you take me with you.”
That took him back a moment. He had not expected her to want to come with them when they left. She knew nothing about who they were or where they had come from and her demand meant either she was extremely foolish or sure of her ability to handle herself. Even with the added stipulation he was still unsure she could hold up her end of the deal. His skepticism must have shown on his face because she had begun staring hard at him.
“I know what you are thinking, how can a women lead me where the men of this town refuse to go,” she said. The anger at being doubted because of her gender evident in her voice. “My father taught me to hunt in the forest since I was twelve. I know of the dangers that are in there, not only of the wolves and other deadly animals that no one has seen, but of the unnatural creatures that call it home.”
She seemed to be sure of what the forest held, but Jaxom could not risk having her along when they returned to Ale’adar. “Where is your father? If he taught you then he should be the one to take us,” Jaxom said.
“My father died last summer and I am the only one who knows what you are looking for. Before he died he showed me where the city inside Teriken was, and if you want me to take you there you will agree to my terms,” she said.
Setting her jaw the woman awaited his response. Somehow he knew that if he refused again he would never see her again, and if she did know of where this city was it could save them days or weeks of looking for the great room. Seeing no other option besides looking for this city by themselves Jaxom made up his mind.
“Alright, we have a deal,” he said. She smiled in victory, an expression that turned her from beautiful to radiant.
“I will meet you tomorrow morning at the Traveler,” she said.
“How did you know where we were staying?”
“Very few people come to Chams’dell. I would be surprised if anyone did not know where you staying,” she said. With that she turned leaving them in front of the tavern.
“Wait, you did not give us your name,” Jaxom said to her back.
“Adriana Fielder,” she said over her shoulder before melding into the crowd and disappearing around a corner.
He stared at the spot where he lost sight of her then a chuckle to his side reminded him that Jerup was still standing there. “What’s so funny?” Jaxom asked the older man.
“Nothing’s funny. It is just amusing to see a young man moon struck,” he said.
“I am not moon struck,” Jaxom replied irritably.
“Of course you aren’t,” he said chuckling harder. “I wonder though if you would have agreed to let her guide us if she had been homely.”
Jaxom felt his face flush in embarrassment and then even more once he realized he was embarrassed over a woman. “Just shut up, we needed a guide and I got us one. Let’s head back to the Inn so we can tell the others.” This only caused the man to break into outright laughter. Jaxom walked away from him heading back the way they had come, Jerup following and still laughing to himself.
Chapter 11
Jaxom told the others that night about their encounter with their new guide. The revelation that the person leading them was a woman had caused Cribble to spit on the floor, earning him a withering stare from the girl serving them. Jerup enjoyed sharing the encounter with the others, going into great detail on how Jaxom had been so dumb struck by her beauty that he would have agreed to anything she wanted. This earned a round of laughter from the table, Brenin elbowing him in the side with a wink and a smile. Jaxom tried to explain that they had no other options but soon gave up when it was apparent that they would here no other reason for his choice.
That night had brought a fitful sleep for Jaxom, having woken up halfway through he was unable to fall back asleep. Laying there listening to Brenin’s light snoring he thought over the path that had brought him to this point. It was still hard to believe that a little over a ten day ago he had been going about his life and now he was about to enter a forest that very few ever returned from. All to find out who this powerful unknown enemy was and hopefully what they planned. Going over all the events so far he found that he had been closer to death more times recently than in the previous two years combined. The dawn broke to find him still there staring at the ceiling of the small room.
After a quick breakfast they moved to the stables to gather their horses where Adriana was waiting patting her piebald on the neck and whispering quietly to him. She carried a bow strung over her back and a flanged mace on a loop at her belt. Jaxom thought it an odd weapon for her as heavy as it was, and hoped she carried it because she knew how to use it. A quick round of introduction allowed him to give her his name, as she had not cared to ask for it the day before. Once they had saddled their mounts she led them to the smaller northern gate in the wall. The ride to the forest was quiet, everyone in their party staring at the looming woods as they grew larger and more foreboding with their approach.
Adriana had stopped them just before the undergrowth turned into towering trees holding out her hand to Jaxom. Pulling out four gold coins from his shrinking purse he handed them over. “If you intended to come back with us to Ale’adar, does it really matter when I pay you?” he asked.
She pocketed the gold before meeting his eyes and he was once again gripped by her beauty, the seriousness of her expression only adding to it. “I will do my best to keep you away from danger, but it is likely that not all of us will come back. So I would rather be paid now,” she said in a matter of fact tone. Turning back to the forest she led them into the shadows of the tree’s high branches. “The first few miles are relatively safe,” she said not looking at them but into the forest. “You only have to watch out for the wolves.”
Jaxom had seen wolves in the past and though they were lethal animals none had ever approached him, choosing instead to move in another direction. He found it hard to believe that even here they would be brazen enough to attack a group on horseback. Pu
tting his assumptions aside he kept his eyes open for exactly that. Adriana was with them because of her knowledge of this area, it would be foolish to disregard what she said at the beginning of their trek.
The dark and damp woods left Jaxom with the feeling of riding through a graveyard at night. Every sound of a bird in the trees or an animal scurrying in the bushes was deafening in the stillness that surrounded them. He had never feared graveyards at night as others did, it was even true that he often felt comfortable in the quiet solitude. Of course he was a unique case, knowing more about death than any other living person, and confident that the dead would not rise from there their graves to drag him down unless of course he willed them to do so. In all his years of channeling the power of death he had never come across a ghost, and as far as Jaxom was concerned they were as real as dragons. The deeper they rode the darker it became his companions all looking about nervously, gripping their weapons at every tree they passed as if expecting each one to hide a sinister beast ready to leap for their throats. Adriana for her part did not seem anxious only ready for whatever might be waiting, riding easily but never letting her guard down for a moment.
There was no trail to follow as she led them further away from the open skies, but somehow keeping her direction never wavering with indecision. The ride eventually turned to hours of boredom with no sign of threat. It was well into the afternoon when his friends had noticeably relaxed their guard, perhaps thinking that the stories of this place were exaggerated. As Jaxom was beginning to agree with that assessment, Adriana suddenly turned to the right, looking once over her shoulder to ensure they were still following before returning her eyes to the front. Fifteen minutes later another course change to the left, putting them back on the path they had departed then turning back to the right again.
The sudden changes were beginning to worry Jaxom and he began to scan the woods more thoroughly. Off to his left he caught sight of something large moving quickly in the shadows. Looking to his companions Jaxom found that Brenin with his sharp eyes had spotted it as well, knocking an arrow to his bow the archer guided his horse with his legs. Seeing the young man readying himself the others drew weapons as well, Da’san having no weapons began chanting quietly. Jaxom could not hear his words only see the priest’s lips moving.
“Ride hard!” Adriana yelled spurring her horse forward.
Jaxom drew his own sword as he followed the huntress in her mad charge through the trees. Her speed was almost reckless for the terrain they were on, the ground having become rocky over the past hour. If they were not careful a fall would kill them just as assuredly as whatever was chasing them.
Barely keeping her in sight for the ten minute ride, the young woman reigned her horse in near an overhanging rock shelf. Dropping to the ground she moved the piebald against the rock pulling her bow from her back and knocking an arrow. Dismounting Jaxom moved his horse next to hers, quickly surmising this was where they would make their stand against whatever was chasing them. The other four men were only seconds behind him, all getting down from their mounts to join them. Holding his sword out ready for whatever came, Jaxom saw a huge four legged shape step forward out of the gloom. The wolf was followed by another and another until eight of the largest wolves he had ever seen stared back at them. The shoulders of the beasts came to his chest and their barred fangs were several inches long, black fur making them almost invisible in the dark forest.
Da’san was the first to act, his chanting becoming louder and louder until a shout ripped from his lungs. The sound tearing the ground apart with its passing slamming into one of the wolves. The animal was thrown back with a tremendous force hurling it into a nearby tree. Another of the wolves caught by the edge of the blast had been tossed to the side, landing on its side it quickly began to regain its feet. Not waiting to see how injured the animal was Jaxom raised his hand, the blight swirled forward to ensnare the downed wolf. The creature gave a howl as the tendrils wrapped around its chest and legs quickly rotting the fur and flesh. Sure that the wolf was down for good Jaxom cast again at another. The pack was quick to learn to avoid the floating death, leaping away from his cast before it got close. Others rushed forward to catch the group in their jaws, Adriana and Brenin firing arrows scored several hits slowing them down. A wolf with multiple arrows protruding from its fur leapt for Brenin who held only his bow for defense, its jaws wide to rip the bowman apart. Moving between the animal and Brenin Cribble pierced the wolf’s chest with his sword, driving the blade completely through as the weight of beast forced him to the ground. Immobilized by the dead animal on top of him, Cribble struggled to roll it over and withdraw his sword.
Adriana was in similar trouble, one of the pack had rushed low trying to bite the huntress around the hip. She side stepped the wolf bringing her mace down on the thick skull stunning the animal. When it lunged again Da’san shouted once more while holding his hand out in a closed fist as if he were gripping some unseen object. The wolf stopped cold in its tracks, struggling to free itself the animal whimpered and thrashed. Jerup did not waste the opportunity to slash the creature’s throat.
Once dead Da’san released his grip and the carcass fell to the ground. Switching tactics, Jaxom cast towards the wolf Jerup had dealt with. Rising to its feet Jerup moved to strike again, stopping when he saw the white glow emanating from the eyes. Redirecting the cast towards the wolf still on Cribble it too stood, allowing the captain to roll clear pulling his sword with him. With a thought the two newly risen wolves sprinted to their former pack mates. The one Cribble had impaled clamped down on the throat of one of the remaining four, its sharp teeth tearing flesh away. Leaving the animal to bleed out on the ground the risen wolf latched on to the neck of another. With a powerful jerk it snapped the spine of the other wolf before looking for the other two who had already fled into the forest. Jaxom stopped the pursuit, commanding the risen wolves to hold their place and looking around he saw none of his party seemed seriously injured. Cribble nursed a bruised arm with his other hand but seemed more angry than hurt. Feeling eyes on him he turned to meet Adriana’s eyes staring at him in amazement. At the onset of the fight he had forgotten she was still unaware of what he was, the sight of him flinging magic must have been a shock. It was evidence of her self-control that she had not let it affect her concentration.
“It’s getting late, we can camp here for the night,” Jaxom said. Without a word all went about unpacking the saddle bags. Jerup and Brenin searching for firewood nearby while Da’san and Cribble unloaded items from the horses they would need for the night. Looking at the two risen wolves standing as statues, an idea came to him that would help to keep them safe that night. Casting again he brought back to life two more wolves and went to work repairing them. With his own personal pack guarding the area they would have advanced notice of anything else that came to close. Seeing the disturbed look on Adriana’s face at the gruesome animals, Jaxom turned away from her gaze and went about the process of repairing their flesh. With this much damage to the wolves’ bodies it would take him close to an hour to mend all four. It was not necessary for the risen to perform the duties he had in mind, but he believed that seeing them whole would reduce her evident fear. Jaxom did not know why he cared what she thought, it just seemed important that he make her as comfortable around him as possible.
When finished knitting flesh and fusing bone he sent the wolves out to circle and protect their camp. Back at the fire Jerup was cooking the evening meal, the others already settled down nearby to enjoy the warmth. Someone had laid out his bed roll and he was grateful for the small kindness. After the long days ride, the fight, and the energy he had expended on his new pack, Jaxom was feeling weary only wanting to sit and eat.
Their guide had not taken her eyes off of him the whole time he had worked, and whoever had laid out his blankets had put them next to hers. Sitting down next to her he warmed his hands near the fire. The food was passed around in the small metal bowls and everyone ate their po
rtion in silence. When the meal finished Brenin was the first to break uncomfortable quiet.
“So how far to this city?” he said directing his question to Adriana.
“Keeping our current pace we should be there in two days,” she said not meeting the young guard’s eyes.
“How do you know?” Da’san asked while poking the fire with a long stick to stir the coals.
“My father knew. His father told him and so on all the way back to the mage wars,” she said. “I have never been inside the city, we would only look at it from a distance. My father said that it was not safe to enter.”
All sensing she did not want to speak of it no one broached the subject further. Standing, Adriana picked up her bow and mace moving out into the darkness. After she left the rest of the party laid down on their rolls except for Da’san who continued to prod the fire. Gathering his sword from where he had laid it. Jaxom left to find where the huntress had gone. Walking out into the night he felt the magic connecting the risen to him, continuing to circle and sniff the air as they went searching for threats. He found Adriana sitting against a tree a little farther out, glad to see that whatever was bothering the huntress had not driven her beyond the sense of safety.
“There is no need for a watch. My… pack will let me know if anything approaches,” he said thinking that his term for the magical animated wolves might disturb to her.
“I know, I am here to think,” She said. Taking that as a request to be alone, Jaxom turned back to the camp. “I have never heard of a mage like you before,” she said stopping his leaving.
