by Garry Spoor
“What’s up, Duffy?” Tullner asked.
Duffy gave Tullner a look which clearly stated it was none of his business. It was clear to Kile the power struggle between the two of them finally reached a conclusion, and it wasn’t in Tullner’s favor.
“The Sergeant wants you up front… now,” Duffy demanded.
“What? No please.” she said, urging Grim forward.
Tullner followed her as she made her way up the column, past the other riders, to reach Sergeant Wargner who was standing on the edge of a very large lake. He seemed a little put out, but then, he expected to see an open field. The field was always flooded this time of year, what with the melting snow in the mountains. The water, finding its way down through the crags, filled the lower lands, resulting in a lake which usually remained until midsummer. It was a nesting place for many of the water fowls and Kile was happy to see at least one family of geese who didn’t let the presence of the valrik keep them from their home.
Sergeant Wargner turned to look at her.
“So?” he asked.
Kile dismounted and walked to the edge of the lake. She looked both left and right, and then dipped the toe of her boot into the water.
“It’s a lake all right,” she replied.
“I know it’s a… a lake.” Wargner said, grinding his teeth. “What I need to know is, how do I get around it?”
It would have been so easy, at this moment, to point out she warned him about the presence of the lake, but she just couldn’t bring herself to do it. The man was having a bad day as it was and she didn’t want to add to it.
“There may be a place west of here,” she said, “where the water isn’t as deep. We may be able to ford it there.”
“And you know where this place is?” Wargner asked.
“I’ve used it, once or twice.” She replied.
“Then lead the way.”
Mounting up, she turned Grim west, along the lake’s edge.
“I did warn you,” she whispered when she passed Sergeant Wargner. She could almost hear his teeth grinding.
It didn’t take Kile long to find that section of the lake which was shallow enough to cross, but if she didn’t know it was there, she would never have found it. The water was dark and muddy. The deepest parts of the lake looked no different than the shallow parts. She came this way, once, during a routine delivery to Shrop. Back then, she was unaware of the lake effect, and it was the black-hoofed mountain deer who came to her aide. They showed her the way to cross, and what to look for in the future. It was shortly after that mission when the Guild put a hold on all class E assignments. Her next mission was a class D delivery to a Mr. David Draw. It marked a turning point in her career.
Motioning Grim forward, he stepped into the lake. The water came up as high as the furry tufts of hair which covered his hoofs. She was grateful to see the land bridge was still intact. Grim cautiously moved out into the middle lake and the rest of the squad followed. The column moved slowly, in a single line, across the surface of the water and, eventually, to dry ground on the opposite side.
“I guess you’re useful for something after all,” Sergeant Wargner said when he came up the bank, but Kile didn’t hear him. She was reaching out with her Edge, stretching it across the wild, but all she could feel was the emptiness. There was nothing there, or at least, nothing natural. Whatever they were, they were high in the crags and they were waiting.
***~~~***
7
Quickly spurring Grim forward, she cut Sergeant Wargner off.
“Stop, you can’t go any further,” she told him.
“What is the meaning of this?” Wargner shouted.
“They’re waiting for us. It’s an ambush,” she replied.
“What are you on about? Who are waiting for us?”
That was actually a good question. Who were they? It wasn’t the valrik, or the gulrik this time, that much she was certain of, but there was something else out there, something which didn’t quite fit. The last time she had these feelings, was when she encountered the Minotaur of Calder falls. The Minotaur existed in two worlds, the natural world, and the world of the vir, but this was different. Whatever was out there waiting for them, whatever was stalking them, was something she had never encountered before. They were creatures torn between the world of nature, and someplace entirely different.
“We have to go back. I don’t know what’s out there, but whatever it is… it’s not right,” she told the Sergeant.
“If you are scared then go back to the end of the column,” Corporal Duffy shouted, Wargner held up his hand to silence him.
“Ready the men,” wall all he said.
“Yes, sir,” Duffy replied, although, he didn’t seem too happy about it.
Across a field of wild flowers and tall grass, the walls of the mountain rose sharply, blocking their way, save for a single entrance. This was the opening to the crags, a natural maze of high hills and low valleys, created by rivers of water cascading down the mountain for countless years. A network of paths which meandered their way through the lowlands, where a careless traveler could easily find himself returning to the place he started from, if he was lucky.
It took less than an hour for the men to ready themselves. Riding wear was put away for something more durable, and they donned helmets. Lances were handed out and every man bore a shield adorn with the Fennel crest.
Sergeant Wargner stared at the crags.
Kile only ventured into the crags on one occasion, and that was out of sheer boredom. Of course, back then, she wasn’t being stalked by some unseen, unknown creatures. She had to wonder, was Wargner’s decision to ready the men based on her fears or his?
The column advanced slowly across the field, Wargner led the way with Duffy by his side. Kile had to give the sergeant credit. He never flinched or hesitated when he came within the shadows of the valley. Was it ignorance, bravery or stubborn pride which pushed him on? He either knew the path to take, or he was just heading east, keeping the setting sun to his back. Before they knew it, Perha Squad was deep in the crags.
Kile followed up the rear with Tullner on one side and Sandson on the other. The two men were now armed and were keeping an eye on the cliffs. Although no one could see anything, there was a general feeling of uneasiness.
-Don’t like-
Vesper said from his perch atop Grim’s head.
“What’s out there Vesper? Do you know?” she asked.
-Not sure, don’t like, don’t know-
The words he spoke carried with them visions of something clouded and hidden. Vesper didn’t know what he felt, but his feelings created a murky picture which Kile had to concentrate on to see. At times it felt very much like a wolf, but she always had a strong familiarity with wolves and this was no wolf. At other times it was almost reptilian, but whatever they were, they were not natural.
She didn’t want to do it, but she knew she had no choice. Closing her eyes, she fell into her Edge and reached out with her consciousness. It didn’t take her long before she found them. They were a lot closer than she anticipated, and they were moving fast. If she could just pinpoint their location, find out where they were heading, she may be able to remove the element of surprise, but it meant linking with them. Stretching out further, she hesitated before touching them, and that’s when she realized her mistake.
She felt herself falling into the shadows. Thick black strands of molasses were reaching out to her once again, wrapping around her and pulling her further in the darkness. Was this the Maligar? She had not called upon it, nor did want it. Struggling against the strands, which were now tightly wrapped around her, she knew she had to maintain control. It took every ounce of her will to pull herself free, but she still couldn’t leave, not yet. She had to keep the darkness at bay long enough so she could see what these creatures were seeing.
She was now moving fast along the crests of the hills. She could feel the dampness of the coming night and the cold wind from the northern peak
s. She could hear the sounds of riders and she could smell the blood of vir. They were close, over the next hill or the one after that. It didn’t matter, she could move quietly and at great speed. She topped the hill and looked down into the valleys and that’s where she saw them. The vir upon their horses, moving in a straight line, completely unaware she was above them, watching them pass.
She wasn’t sure what she said or, more to the point, what she screamed. She wasn’t even sure if it was a word, it could have been the cry of an animal. It echoed from the hilltops around her, and was answered by other voices.
Breaking away from the Maligar, she snapped back into her own head, into her own body and nearly fell off the back of Grim. Tullner quickly moved to catch her while Sandson spurred his horse forward to battle.
The cries might have given away their positions, but they still held the advantage as they charged into the column from both sides, taking down vir and mount alike. They were low to the ground and muscular in a way an animal shouldn’t be. With wide heads and narrow muzzles, covered in coarse black fur, they mockingly resembled wolves, but their tails were long and scaly, and they used them with deadly accuracy.
“Watch out!” She heard Tullner yell as one broadsided Grim, knocking the legs out from under the pony. Kile soon found herself flying through the air, only to meet with a hard landing. She tried to get to her feet, but for some reason, she couldn’t think straight. She could still feel the lingering effects of the Maligar and the overpowering scent of blood consumed her. She no longer knew, nor cared, who she was.
The creature did not appear to have an appetite for the pony, only the vir. It quickly turned and its powerful legs propelled it across the ground toward her. Kile didn’t hesitate, nor did she think. She ran at the creature, and when it lunged for her, she leapt over its head, barely avoiding its powerful jaws. Grabbing hold of its thick fur, she landed on its back. The beast spun, trying to dislodge her. She drove her fingers into its eyes and the screams she heard in her head, were deafening. The darkness of the Maligar reached out to her from the very edges of her sanity, all the while laughing.
It rolled, forcing her to release it, or risk being crushed beneath its weight. She tumbled and quickly regained her footing, grabbing the nearest thing to a weapon she could find, the broken end of a lance. The creature, now half-blind, charged. She slid down under its gaping maw and forced the spear shard up through its neck. It staggered and thrashed around before it finally fell motionless.
Grabbing the shard, she pulled it free when something small and white flew at her. It latched onto the sleeve of her shirt. Quickly spinning, she tried to dislodge it, but it was too quick. It darted up her arm, over her shoulder and she felt a blinding white pain in her ear. Vesper bit her.
Dropping the spear shard, she fell to her knees, clutching her ear. Everything seemed to be spinning out of control and she wanted to pass out, but instead of going blurry, the visions around her became crystal clear.
“What happened?” she asked.
-You went nuts-so coo-coo, child.-
Grim said, coming up beside her.
“Vesper?” She called, looking around. She spotted the yarrow some distance away.
-Kile mad?-
He asked. Through his eyes, she saw herself. She looked half crazed. It was no wonder Vesper didn’t want to be anywhere near her.
“I am so sorry… Vesper, please forgive me,” she pleaded.
-Kile alright?-
He asked.
“I think so. I’m back to normal.”
Grim snorted.
-When have you ever been normal, child?-
“Fine, then I’m back to being me. Is that better?”
The yarrow quickly scurried across the ground, leaping up onto her arm as she got to her feet. Her ear was bleeding, but at least it was still there. She had no idea yarrows had such sharp teeth.
Looking around the battlefield, she saw Tullner staring at her from a distance. This was going to be harder to explain than the wolves, she thought, but it would have to wait. She made her way to the fallen creature. Kneeling down beside it, she ran her hand over the still warm body. It was like nothing she had ever seen before. Nothing she had ever read about even came close to matching its description. It was not of the natural realm, that much was plain to see, and it wasn’t really of the mortal realm. She really didn’t have much hope in the divine realm, which kind of left her without realms. Although, she would be the first to admit, the whole realm concept eluded her. Maybe she should have spent a little more time studying the philosophical theories.
Getting to her feet, she looked down the length of the column. They were attacked by four such creatures. They may have won, but at what cost? Three men lay dead and two more were wounded. Of the dead, she knew only one by name, Dion Essoris. She had spoken to the young soldier, not more than a few hours ago. What would his father do without him?
Sandson was only mildly wounded. The chain-mail he wore was torn away at the sleeve, but it appeared to have protected most of his arm. The wound was carelessly wrapped in a torn cloth.
“Are you all right?” he asked, looking down at the beast.
“I am but I don’t know about Tullner,” she replied.
Sandson turned to where Tullner was now sitting on the ground. The Corporal looked a bit pale, but slowly got to his feet.
“I’m… I’m all right,” he stammered.
Sandson kicked at the fur covered body which lay sprawled on the ground.
“Well, it looks like you guys handled yourself pretty well, I’m almost sorry I left you,” he said with a forced smile. “You wouldn’t happen to know what these things are, would you?”
“I’m afraid not, I’ve never seen anything like this,” Kile replied. She looked to where the soldiers were now gathering. “How bad?” she asked.
“We lost Kelther, Essoris, and Totely, and it doesn’t look like Renop is going to be of much use.”
“What about you?”
Sandson looked down at his left arm and flexed his fingers.
“It’s not as bad as it looks,” he said. “Come on, we should probably see what’s going on.”
Turning, the young soldier headed to where the others were gathering. Kile started to follow, but Tullner grabbed her by the arm.
“What just happened?” he asked.
She was going to tell him, they had just survived an ambush, but she knew that’s not the answer he wanted. The problem was, she didn’t have an answer to his question. Was it because she didn’t know herself or because she didn’t want to know?
“Nothing,” she said, pulling her arm free. She followed Sandson.
The dead were laid out carefully to one side. Two of the soldiers were covered with their cloaks, while the third had the Perha Squad banner draped over him. The wounded were being treated, but it didn’t look as if any of the soldiers had any skills in healing or first aide. Sergeant Wargner stood over one of the fallen creatures. He appeared to be free of any injury.
“Is this the best they have?” he asked in his harsh gravelly voice. He turned to Corporal Duffy. “Get the men settled, we take Coopervill at first light.”
“Are you serious?” Kile shouted.
“I don’t think I asked for your opinion, Hunter,” Wargner said, turning his back on her.
“A quarter of your men are out of commission right now. Do you really think rushing in head first is the best option at this moment?”
“You do not understand war, Hunter. They think they gained the upper hand, but they failed. We have to act quickly before they can regroup.”
“They aren’t regrouping, they don’t have to regroup. They have control over the town.”
“I seriously doubt that. It was clear from this futile attempt to waylay us, they are running scared.”
“Running scared? They aren’t running anywhere,” Kile exclaimed. “At the very least let me go and check the area out. I know Coopervill. I…”
> “You? You think you can do a better job than us, is that it? You Hunters always think you’re better than the military.”
“That’s not what I said. I was only…”
“That’s enough. Not another word, Hunter, or I’ll have you up on charges of insubordination.”
“Incompetent idiot,” She said to herself, or she thought she said it to herself. Unfortunately, she was still yelling at the time.
“Corporal Duffy, take Hunter Veller into custody.”
Tullner ran forward, putting himself between Duffy and Kile.
“Sir, is that really necessary?” he asked.
“Stand down Corporal.” Sergeant Wargner ordered. “You are already on thin ice with me.”
“But sir, maybe you should listen to her, she’s been right so far. The gulrik, the lake, the ambush…”
“I said stand down, Corporal, or you may find yourself joining her.”
The two stared at one another for what seemed like an eternity. Tullner looked away first, and sighed. Kile thought the young man was backing down, and she really couldn’t blame him. There wasn’t much Wargner could do to her, but he was a soldier. Wargner could make his life miserable, or more miserable than it was right now.
“Then maybe I should join her.” Tullner said.
“So be it,” Wargner replied, turning his back on the young man. “Corporal Duffy, you will take Private Robert Tullner into custody as well. Is there anyone else who wishes to join them?” He asked, looking at the men who appeared to be concerned, if not frightened, by the turn of events. This was not the mission. Sneak into Denal, recon the mining town of Coopervill and return with any information, there was nothing about retaking it. What was Sergeant Wargner thinking?
Even though she could tell, the men clearly knew there was something wrong, they said nothing. They diverted their eyes and went about their order. Duffy stepped forward and motioned for Tullner to hand over his weapon.
“You just threw away a promising career,” he said, taking Tullner’s sword and handing it to Private Lesh.
