by Doug Backus
When thick twisting roots almost blocked their passageway he knew they were under the Forests of Selmont. He knew every landmark throughout the long narrow tunnel for over the years he had been down here many times. His father had insisted that every time they walked it, he call out where he was the moment he was asked. Back then, he had thought it just a game to pass the time of having to walk the tunnel which stretched well over fifty miles. He knew better now. It had been his father’s plan all along to prepare him for this day when he would have to lead his people to the Valley of Aura.
Jayden was young for a Lealian, a mere ninety-eight years old and now he was the leader of these people whether he was ready or not. His family had ruled their small village for hundreds of years and his father and fathers before him had taught their sons everything they needed to know about warfare, creatures both good and evil, different worlds and most importantly about Rhol itself.
He could not be sure how long they would have until the Kaltaures discovered the gateway. Jayden estimated they would need about a ten hour head start to reach the first depot safely. They had food and weapons stored there in the event something like this happened. More importantly, once they reached the first depot, they could collapse the part of the tunnel in which they already travelled, making it impossible for anyone to pursue them further.
Many may have felt reassured at this prospect but Jayden’s father had taught him well. He knew that if the Kaltaures discovered the tunnel they would surely send the Ralcriff after them. Ralcriff were particularly vile creatures. Their hair was black as were their eyes. Each Ralcriff had a full mane of poisonous quills capable of killing an inflicted individual within a day. Their teeth were razor sharp. Upper and lower fangs protruded from their steel trap like jaws and when they penetrated a person’s flesh, it made escape from their grasp nearly impossible. Very few had ever escaped a Ralcriff attack and those who had did so at the expense of a limb. They were killing machines bred for the sole purpose of tasting blood.
Ralcriff used fear as a tactic in their hunt, letting their victims know well in advance that they were coming. Their long ghostly howl was very effective for that. It would pierce your very soul and render the less trained, immobilized in terror. If that wasn’t enough Ralcriff could travel five times faster than the Kaltaures.
Jayden hoped they wouldn’t have to worry about the Ralcriff. He could smell the gas seeping through the soil and knew they were passing under the Mourning Sands. They were only about three hours from the depot. Nevertheless, Jayden summoned one of the Lealians to speak with him in private.
“Oisin, you are by far the fastest Lealian I know. I need you to take two men and get to the Depot. Collect as many weapons as you can carry and return as fast as you can.”
“Does it have to be men Jayden? Kaelyn is as fast as they come.”
“Anybody, whom you choose Oisin, but make haste.”
Without another word Oisin collected Kaelyn and a young male named Palvoy and ran toward the depot.
Jayden could feel someone tugging on his shirt and looked down to see a small boy. “Sir, what is that awful smell? It is horrid.”
Jayden grinned. “It is just the smell of Rhol letting off steam in the form of gas, lad. It will soon pass.”
With that, the boy grimaced, pinched his nose and stormed back into the crowd of Lealians walking behind him.
Jayden had not told the boy everything, but then even he wasn’t sure whether the smell was what he surmised it to be; rotting bodies.
Based on what his father had told him about the Mourning Sands, it was certainly possible. They were so named for the lost souls that succumbed to its alluring setting. It was a pure spectacle of nature. Set in between hills of rock and swamps that were unfit for any living soul, the Mourning Sands provided the welcoming illusion of sandy beaches and fresh water along with a single tree for shade. But the beaches were alive. In fact they were not beaches at all but the larvae of an insect known as a Mortynt. What looked like water was simply thick greenish-blue gas. What appeared to be waves rolling up onto the sands were merely thousands of Mortynts scurrying through the gas and back to their waiting place. A living creature entering the Mourning Sands was walking to its death. There was no escape. The Mortynt’s larvae relied on living flesh for their metamorphosis and dead flesh for nourishment. Once you walked over them they entered your body, unnoticed. The further you walked the more you ingested. By the time you made it to the tree, blisters would be forming on your skin and each blister contained the Mortynt’s pupae.
Unable to see or walk, the unfortunate victims would usually cling to the tree, screaming in agony, before the blisters would begin to burst, producing adult Mortynts. The victims would die shortly after only to have their dead flesh stripped from their bones by the remaining larvae.
It amazed Jayden how something could start life in such a grotesque way but then finish it in such splendor and beauty, for as adults the Mortynts were stunning to look at and quite harmless. They had six wings, three on either side of their small furry brown bodies. The female’s wings were black in color with a chartreuse dot on the end of each. The males were covered in every color you could imagine, all in vivid stripes and circles.
Jayden’s thoughts were interrupted by a faint sound in the distance. He immediately held his arm up signaling the rest of his people to be silent. There it was, a faint but clear ghostly howl coming from down the tunnel and they still had no weapons.
Jayden immediately began to organize the Lealian’s. They did not have much time. The Ralcriff would be coming from the rear and so he placed the women and children at the front of the lines. All the Lealian men were trained warriors. Jayden placed the youngest males in the middle, for they would have the stamina to fight a long battle should the Ralcriff make it past the rear of the lines. The rear line would be where the eldest Lealians would be placed for they were experienced in all sorts of combat and would have the advantage in close quarters. He positioned himself in front of the elders because he had been taught to lead his people.
Jayden turned and spoke. “Lealians, hear me. The Ralcriff are upon us, pick up your pace and listen for my instructions. When I give the word the elders will stop while the women, children and young warriors forge ahead. Young warriors of Leal, should the Ralcriff reach you, know that we did all we could to stop them. It will be up to you to fight for the lives of the women and children.”
A young warrior named Talen interrupted “Jayden, please reconsider. You have no weapons; the Ralcriff will slaughter you. Let us all join and have the women and children forge on. There is strength in numbers.”
“Very well spoken Talen, however every fight has a strategy and this is our best given the circumstances. We must have as many survive as possible and if we must die to protect the lifeline of the Lealian’s then so be it. Now let’s move.”
With that the Lealians quickened their pace. They made it about another mile before Jayden heard the howling coming from just around the bend. It was time.
“Now!” Jayden yelled.
Alongside Jayden, the elders turned to face the Ralcriff. They knew they were simply barricades put in place to give the others a chance to make it to the Depot. With no weapons, they had no hope. They stood proud however, knowing the delay might give the young warriors a chance to retrieve weapons and save the remaining Lealians.
The first two Ralcriff rounded the corner. Saliva dripped from their jowls at the sight of the Lealians. Their ghostly howl signaled to the Ralcriff advancing behind them that they had found their prey. Jayden immediately began to advance on them but the first strike would not be his. Six of the elders jumped in front of him and tackled the Ralcriff. It was an honorable gesture that cost them their lives in a matter of seconds. The Ralcriff stood proudly over their kill, their thick fur matted with the blood of Jayden’s brothers. They were joined by six more and several others moved in behind them. They stood and stared at the Lealians, as if looking for
fear in their eyes. After finding none they bound toward them snarling, with their chiseled teeth gleaming in the torch light of the tunnel.
Jayden heard a whistle of sorts and a slight breeze brushed by his ear. A Ralcriff was upon him causing them both to come crashing to the ground. Its foul breath turned his stomach. The weight of the beast made it hard to breathe. He instinctively lunged forward throwing the motionless creature to the side. Blood was spurting everywhere. More Ralcriff began to let out high pitched whines before dropping dead to the ground, feet from where he lay. He could see that Orler arrows were what caused their demise. The whistle he had heard had been an arrow flying by in search of its target. It had found its mark with no time to spare.
Oisin’s hand appeared in front of him and as Jayden grabbed it, he was pulled to his feet.
“Oisin, you have returned. Well done!”
Oisin passed Jayden a sword. “Jayden, we came with all we could carry. I left Kaelyn and Palvoy at the rear to shoot Orler Arrows for as long as they lasted. I am afraid there were less than sixty at the depot. We could carry only five swords each. The thirteen elders standing behind you now have one, along with you and me.”
“Oisin, you have done us proud.”
The Ralcriff continued to fall lifelessly to the ground as the Orler arrows twisted and turned around the Lealian warriors striking the beasts down. In the hands of a Lealian the magic contained within the Orler tree came alive. A Lealian needed only to think of their intended target and the Orler arrows would find their mark every time.
“Keep moving back toward the depot until the Orler arrows have run out. Once that time comes we will fight with our swords. If one man drops at the hands of a Ralcriff, than the next will pick up his sword until victory is ours.” Jayden instructed.
The Lealians’ faces were beaded with sweat as they edged back toward the Depot. They all knew the Orler arrows would not last. It was not the sweat of fear but that of anticipation. They were born to fight, to protect their heritage.
Their gap to safety was closing. Palvoy and Kaelyn continued to fire their arrows at a rapid pace. The Ralcriff stood no chance while the arrows lasted.
Jayden was sure that the young warriors would have led the women and children to the safety of the Depot by now. They themselves had only a short distance to go. Jayden had carefully counted the Ralcriff that had dropped to their demise. It would soon be time to fight with swords. As quick as the thought had crossed his mind, he heard Kaelyn yelling from the rear.
“Shooting the last two arrows!”
Two Ralcriff dropped in front of Jayden and the fighting tactics changed dramatically. Jayden took the head off the first one that neared his men. He was one of the most skilled swordsmen in Leal; his father had spent countless hours teaching him close quarter swordsmanship.
He had dropped another three by the time the Lealian warriors suffered their first casualty. Many more would follow as the Ralcriff continued their relentless attack. It wouldn’t stop the Lealians though. They continued to strike out at the Ralcriff. If one warrior got tired another took up his sword; if one fell, another would pick his sword up, seamlessly continuing the fight.
Jayden glanced at the walls of the tunnel. The sparkle of trite stone glimmered back at him. This told him they were less than one hundred yards away from safety. It was time to save as many of his people as he could, and with that in mind he spoke.
“Anyone without a sword in hand, turn now and get to the depot! We will hold the Ralcriff off. Close the gate and collapse the tunnel if a Ralcriff comes within striking distance.”
Lealians never backed away from a fight, but they did not question Jayden’s authority. Knowing he had the Lealians’ best interest at heart they reluctantly obeyed.
Fifteen warriors fought the never ending onslaught of Ralcriff as they backed their way to the depot. By the time the Depot was in sight only three of them remained alive, Jayden, Oisin and Aiden, who was one of the most respected of the elder warriors in Leal.
Jayden looked at them admiringly. Both were covered in blood and gore. Aiden had use of only one arm and Oisin had several Ralcriff quills stuck into his side, no doubt from when he had tackled one to save Jayden.
Jayden himself had suffered the wrath of the Ralcriff quills and could feel them protruding from his neck. Jayden looked ahead to see more Ralcriff running toward them. With a heavy heart and a nod to both of them, he gave a final order.
“Collapse the tunnel!”
Chapter Eight
Deo led Deke deeper into the cavern; he gave off a glow which provided just enough light to see in the depths of the tunnel. Although Deke was still unsure of his surroundings and who Deo was, he followed him obediently. Deo was a welcome friend considering what he had gone through in the last few hours.
At Deo’s insistence they walked in silence. The cavern walls were laced in minerals of some sort that sparkled as they passed. After a prolonged period of walking in silence Deke’s imagination began to take over. The minerals became thousands of eyes glaring at him as he passed by. What were once stationary towering cones of molten rock hanging from the ceiling now appeared to come alive, jumping out in front of him.
It made Deke nervous and he madly patted his pockets for any sign of the spearhead he had pulled from his cheek. For some reason it gave him some comfort. When he felt a lump in his pocket he sighed in relief. Although he didn’t know exactly why the arrowhead was so important, he felt some sort of energy when he held it. Unfortunately, as he gazed at the object, it also reminded him of the gash in his cheek, which in turn reminded him of the searing pain emitting from it. Deke placed the arrowhead safely back in his pocket hoping this would relieve the pain. It didn’t.
After several tense hours of walking through the winding corridors they came to a dead end. Deo faced the wall and began to chant in a low sort of grumble “Solert a piony du sa trquil.”
The wall in front of them became slightly transparent. Deo walked toward it motioning Deke to follow him. It was a strange sensation as he placed his hand into the wall. It felt like he was dipping it into a cool stream, sending a shivering sensation up his arm. When he sidled slowly through his body became relaxed and revived, so much so he felt almost like he was floating. In mere seconds he was on the other side staring in disbelief at what surrounded him.
He was standing on the edge of a meadow of bright green grass that swayed slowly back and forth as if dancing for him in the wind. A lone tree, which Deke could not identify, stood in the middle of the meadow. The tree’s trunk was at least fifty feet wide and it stood hundreds of feet high. Its long branches reached out over the entire rock ceiling and draped down over its walls almost touching the ground again. The leaves were a brilliant red. He could see an abundance of black fruit, about the same size as apples slightly hidden behind almost every leaf.
A stream of water flowed steadily from a hole in the wall of the cavern and fell several feet into a flowing stream that cut its way through the grass and disappeared under the trunk of the tree.
On the far side of the cavern, beyond the stream, the grass appeared shorter and well groomed. A small village carved into the stone wall stood out to him only because he could see hundreds of holes, some with no windows and others with brilliant stained glass colored in red, yellow and blue. The windows glimmered in the light which came from thousands of creatures the size of hummingbirds that glowed, a brilliant blue. The creatures flew freely around the cavern, stopping periodically for what appeared to be a rest on the branches of the tree.
Deke looked at Deo noticing that he no longer had any cuts or scratches and that the large gash in his forehead had disappeared. Deke himself no longer felt any pain and feeling his cheek he noticed it was completely healed.
“Deo, what is happening, why…?”
“I have much to explain to you Deke and I am sure you have many questions for me. Let’s walk.”
As he walked alongside Deo his mind flooded wit
h questions, but he had no time to ask them before Deo began to speak.
“You noticed that we no longer have any injuries. The Wall of Solace heals anyone or anything that passes through it. You are in Solace, a hidden realm of Rhol, one of only three that remain in this world. The amulet you pulled from your cheek, please take it from your pocket.”
Deke stopped and looked at Deo suspiciously “How did you know what I pulled from my cheek and for that matter, how did you come to know it is in my pocket?” Deke asked abruptly.
“Because Deke, it was I who pushed you down onto it, watched you pull it from your cheek and then in the cave, place it in your pocket. I am sorry. It wasn’t my intention to have it penetrate your cheek but then it did work out quite nicely.” Deo laughed.
“Quite nicely?” Deke shouted “I was chased and quite nearly killed by some vile creature that pursued me through the woods and onto the cornfield. The creature attacked me and I ended up here, wherever here is. You were nowhere in sight.”
“I was there Deke. It was I who guided you through the woods to the cornfield and then pushed you so you would land on the amulet and hopefully see it. It was your only chance of escaping the Kaltaures that pursued you.”
“The Kaltaures, what on earth is that? And I think I might have seen you running beside me, don’t you?” Deke exclaimed.
“No Deke, as I explained to you earlier, I am your Paladin. Just because you didn’t see me does not mean I wasn’t there.”
“Oh yes,” Deke said. “I remember, you are my guardian angel, you have been there since I was born. Then why can I see you now?”
“Please Deke. Let me explain. Every human on earth has a Paladin. There are many names for us but there is a simpler explanation. You do believe that you have a soul, yes?”
“Of course.” Deke replied.
“Well you are right. Every human has an inner soul but what you don’t realize is that there is an outer soul that exists as well. Simply put, I am your outer soul. I cannot exist without you and without me you would walk aimlessly throughout eternity.”
