by L. R. W. Lee
“Hans, I’ve seen these tunnels before, in my last dream about Princess Yara. I knew this looked familiar, but I couldn’t place it until now. She’s somewhere in this tunnel system.”
“Oh?”
“I’m sure of it.”
Sniff, sniff, sniff. “Do you smell that?” Hannah questioned, scrunching her nose.
“Pee-yew,” Alden replied.
“What is it?” Andy followed as Hannah fanned the air in front of her nose.
Skreek.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say we’re approaching a bat roost,” Hans surmised.
“A what?” Hannah replied, her voice quaking.
“Hannah doesn’t like bats,” Alden explained.
“Thanks for letting everyone know,” Hannah corrected tersely.
“What?” Alden questioned. “What’d I do wrong? It’s true.”
Hans and Andy laughed. Sergeant Hammond, who followed close behind, feigned a cough to cover a chuckle.
Skreek. Skreek.
Dim light through the zenith of the tunnel illuminated a sharp bend in the path to the left. Rounding the turn, the stench grew stronger and Andy drew his arm over his nose. I didn’t think I’d ever find something more revolting than cow farts, but this… He opened his mouth and inhaled, tasting ammonia. Oh… The rest of the company assumed a similar pose, and two of the sergeants coughed at the fumes as they stepped forward into the cavernous space. Twilight seeping through a sizeable opening between jutting rocks at the apex revealed a cave that towered a good fifteen feet upward, double that in width and quadruple that in length. Movement on the wall to his left attracted Andy’s attention. Closer inspection revealed the source.
Skreek. Skreek. Skreek. Skreek. Skreek. Skreek.
“This place is crawling with bats,” Andy whispered.
Hannah cowered, covering her head with her arms.
The ceiling directly above convulsed with life, drawing Andy’s attention as his feet slipped in what he prayed was mud. Captain Baldric put a cautioning finger to his lips and shook his head.
Andy nodded his acknowledgment, and as he did, several winged inhabitants took flight, brushing the top of his head. He ducked but Hannah shrieked, coaxing more furry occupants from their upside-down perches.
Another shrill cry escaped Hannah, compelling more bats to flight. She crumpled to the malodorous ground in a protective ball. The rest of the company crouched low against the wall in a rugby-style scrum as a continuous stream of winged bodies crowded the space above. Combined with the tumult of squeaks, the scene unnerved Andy as he felt wings brush his back and neck. The stream seemed endless
Just when he thought it was safe to stand, three more latecomers launched, compelling him downward once more.
Hooh-hrooo, Calum announced minutes later from between his caretaker’s hands.
Andy unfolded himself, and Hans and the soldiers gathered, their noses smashed into bent arms. Alden lifted the bird to his shoulder and crouched next to Hannah, attempting to console her.
“It’s twilight. Bats leave their roost to hunt,” Hans spoke in a muffled tone. “I guess we just happened along at the right time.”
“The right time?” Hannah objected, holding an arm over her nose. She stood, coughed, and wiped her eyes.
“Perhaps I should say the wrong time,” Hans corrected.
“Bats are the only animal I absolutely cannot stand. They’re filthy and ugly and disgusting! And just look at my clothes!”
“Let’s get out of here,” Alden encouraged in a nasal tone.
It took no persuading. Sergeant Fulk led the group along a dim but clear path directly below a fissure in the roof where the rock slabs reached for each other. The bats could not roost in the gap, and the ground below remained clear of droppings. Andy’s eyes began to water and, despite covering his mouth, breathing became more difficult as the acrid fumes burned his nasal passages and the back of his throat.
The company quickened their pace in the fading light. Andy extracted Methuselah from his holster and the blade lit up, illuminating the interior. The cave narrowed and resumed a more familiar size as the group distanced themselves from the stench. Several minutes later the tunnel ended, dumping them coughing and wheezing into the open air. Andy and Alden sprawled out in the waist-high grass, sucking in the evening scents. Calum verbalized his displeasure at being unceremoniously ousted from his host’s shoulder, then hobbled onto Alden’s chest where he immediately sat down. Sergeants Terric and Ranulf chuckled at the sight.
“We need to find a place to camp for the night before we lose the light,” Captain Baldric instructed.
“Andy!” Hannah exclaimed, holding her stomach. “I feel evil. And it’s approaching fast!”
Andy and Alden scrambled up. The words had barely left Hannah’s mouth when Andy caught sight of a black, catlike figure bolting toward them in the twilight.
“Everyone stay clear!” Andy yelled. “I’m the only one who can beat this thing!”
“Never! We’re sworn to protect!” Captain Baldric objected, assuming a ready position. The other four officers followed suit, forming a semicircle in front of Andy. Alden, Hans, and Hannah drew their weapons as well.
With no time to explain, Andy took a defensive stance and hoped he could lure the bellicose away using Methuselah’s light as bait.
“Here kitty, kitty,” Andy taunted, waving the glowing blade. The white mark the creature had left on his arm during a previous altercation glowed in Methuselah’s light.
With the defenders’ attention focused on the enemy, Andy took several steps, distancing himself from the company. Out of the corner of his eye he thought he saw the silvery image of a lady in a long flowing gown, but he did not have time to confirm before the first cries of pain echoed across the field as two officers fell to the ground, grasping wounded extremities. The beast had cut through the center of the line and now bolted for its target. As it approached, it raised a dagger in its right hand and belted out a loud roar. Andy braced as movement around him slowed. Ten feet away the bellicose opened its mouth wide, exposing large canine teeth as it planted its hind feet and leapt.
The move so surprised Andy that he found himself unprepared as the cat-man barreled into him, bowling him over and knocking Methuselah clear. Searing pain shot across his face and down his arms where the creature touched. His shoulder throbbed, and as he glanced over, he noted a red trail flowing freely down his knife arm where the beast’s dagger had found its mark. The creature rounded and approached for a second attack. As it jumped, he rolled to his left.
Methuselah.
The blade instantly appeared in his hand, halting the follow-up rush.
Rrarre! The beast announced its displeasure.
Andy pushed himself up to sitting as the remaining company rushed to defend. They got to within ten feet before the bellicose extended its hand and produced a force field that leveled Alden and Hannah who led the charge. The distraction granted Andy time to wobble to a standing position.
Burning from the beast’s touch consumed his senses and he fought to focus. The bellicose assumed a ready stance, its yellow eyes locked on Andy, and the pair began a slow circling dance. The officers, along with Hans, Hannah, and Alden, resumed their assault to identical results. Andy found it increasingly difficult to grip his sword and moved Methuselah to his other hand despite the awkward feeling. He’d never had to fight left-handed before.
He was unsure if he hallucinated or not, but the silvery figure of the lady he had seen earlier floated nearby.
“Imogenia, help me,” Andy begged. He thought he saw her grimace, but the ghost took no action to intervene.
Hearing his plea, Alden and Hannah began yelling and making all manner of noise, working to distract the menace. The rest of the company joined in, increasing the tumult.
Rraaarrrr! The bellicose snarled, then lunged.
Andy sidestepped, barely in time, but the creature nicked his hand with its dagger as
it flew by, again knocking his blade loose.
“Ahh!” Andy howled.
Methuselah.
With his right arm hanging limply, the sword reappeared in his now-bloody shield hand.
It’s toying with me.
Andy struggled to block out the pain, drawing on every ounce of willpower he possessed to lock eyes with his stalker. The beast, dagger poised, resumed the circular ritual. Andy staggered with each step, trying to match his partner in the dance. Growing bolder, the bellicose lowered its dagger as it stalked. That was all Andy needed. Summoning all his remaining reserves, he thrust Methuselah over his head and bolted forward, bringing the blade down.
Andy heard Hannah shriek and Alden cry, “No!”
Rraaarrrr!
He sprawled face-first into the ground. Seconds later, pain shot through his body as the beast clamped its powerful canines into his side and shook. Fog filled Andy’s mind, and it barely registered when Alden grabbed Methuselah from his hand.
Yelp! resonated in his ears and rattled about his brain but held no meaning.
The next thing Andy knew, he lay limply on the ground, his appendages jutting out at awkward angles. Figures surrounded him, uttering unintelligible sounds before everything went dark.
Andy woke to sunlight squirming through a crack in the vaulted ceiling above where he lay. Methuselah’s hilt rested on the ground near his hand. He inventoried his extremities, side, and shoulder, and was surprised when he felt no pain. His black T-shirt had been replaced with a brown tunic. Movement caught his attention, and he spotted Hans stooped next to the fire, ladling something from the cookpot into a bowl he then handed to Hannah. Sergeants Fulk and Hammond conversed quietly on the far side of the fire while Alden chatted with Captain Baldric nearby.
Andy sat up and wiped sleep from his eyes, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Andy! You’re awake!” Hannah exclaimed, rushing over.
The rest quickly followed.
Hooh-hrooo Calum cooed.
“Glad to see you finally decided to come around,” the captain kidded.
“Yeah, you’ve been a real slacker,” Sergeant Fulk added.
Hans beamed as he scanned his patient.
“How long have I been asleep?”
“Two days,” Alden informed.
“Two days? Are you kidding?”
“Afraid not,” Hans informed.
Andy examined both his arms then looked up at Hans. “How?”
“Dragon tears. I threw them in my pack at the last minute, just in case. You never know what you might run into out here,” the healer explained. “Healed your wounds right up.”
“Well, I’m glad you did!” Andy smiled.
“Unfortunately, it didn’t fix the discoloration where that thing touched you,” Hans added, frowning.
Andy felt his face. I wonder what I look like. What will Mom and Dad say?
“Not to worry, Hammond and I match,” encouraged Sergeant Fulk, showing off his arms.
“I’ll wear my scars as a badge of honor that I received defending my prince,” Sergeant Hammond added.
“Are you hungry?” Hannah questioned.
“Now that you mention it.”
Nourishment appeared a minute later, and as Andy bit into some crusty bread, he asked, “What happened?”
“You tried to stab the bellicose, but it sidestepped your attack and you went down,” Alden began. “It must have broken concentration on the force field when it sank its teeth into you because the next thing I knew, we got through.”
“Yeah, Alden grabbed Methuselah and plunged it into the beast,” Hannah interjected, grinning.
Alden caught Hannah’s gaze and smiled before adding, “It let out a loud yelp and then made a run for it. I don’t expect we’ll be seeing it again for quite some time.”
Andy finished the last bite of stew but still felt hungry. “Can I have some more?”
Hannah glanced quickly between Alden and Hans, and the soldiers ricocheted the look between them.
“What’s wrong?”
Hannah studied the floor as Hans explained, “The bout with the hungry grass drew our provisions down much faster than expected. Between that and an extended stay here, we had to implement rations. Sergeants Ranulf and Terric are out hunting right now, but this area doesn’t seem to have much by way of large game, unless you care to down a karkadann.”
CHAPTER NINE
Undercover Ops
Sergeants Ranulf and Terric scrambled into camp a long while later carrying long faces.
“Sky’s full of zolt. We had to bide our time to get back,” informed the orange-haired soldier after catching his breath.
“Hunting’s no better,” groused Sergeant Terric, holding up three squirrels by their tails.
“Then I suggest we stay put until nightfall. We don’t need another encounter with those things,” recommended Captain Baldric.
Hans slowly nodded.
Since awakening, Andy had watched Hans pace. The delays must be killing him.
“Sky’s clear,” called Sergeant Hammond several hours later.
Moonlight illuminated the terrain as the nine travelers exited their quarters with still-hungry bellies. The rock outcroppings that had provided camouflage died away and tension grew as they navigated the scattered clumps of grass. The five officers kept glancing upward as they circled their charges.
They had walked for quite some time without incident when Andy’s thoughts began to drift. He could not help studying Hannah’s golden locks as they shone in the moonlight, and he felt his stomach flutter. He tried to convince himself it was just hunger pangs, but reason refused to accept.
Hooh-hrooo, Calum sounded from Alden’s shoulder. Hannah glanced over at the passenger and smiled. Andy could not help but follow suit.
“You said your dream put Princess Yara in a cave that looked like the one we left?” Hans interrupted.
“Oh, yeah…that’s right,” Andy struggled to reel in his thoughts.
The healer frowned. “I didn’t see any sign of her. There’s only one other place I know of where rocks jut up like that.” Hans said no more as they continued, but his furrowed brow spoke volumes.
The moon had passed its zenith and was halfway toward the horizon when clumps of trees sprang up to add variety to the otherwise spartan terrain. Off in the distance Andy spied the modest beginnings of a monolithic snake slithering across the plain. The breeze carried the scent of a dying fire, and the officers motioned for everyone to gather.
“We should check that out,” Captain Baldric asserted. “If the inhabitants are friendly we may have found our next meal. If not, we may have found our next meal.” He grinned and the sergeants shared a chuckle.
Sergeant Fulk scouted ahead while the other officers led the group swiftly and silently. They paused under a grove of trees and waited for the fleet-footed man to return. It did not take long.
“It’s a zolt camp. Looks like the site’s been used for a while based on the stores I spotted. I counted ninety-seven of them. There’s only one sentry, but he’s alert.”
“Did you see a way to help relieve them of some provisions?” Sergeant Terric questioned, smiling.
“It’ll be tricky, but if we move now before the moon sets I think we can manage it. There are two stores of food and two weapons caches, one on each side of the camp.” The sergeant scratched a crude diagram of the site in the dirt then used four rocks to indicate the rough positions of the targets.
“Well done, sergeant,” the captain commended. “I want everyone to pair up—one officer, one civilian per pair. Terric, you go after this weapons cache. Hammond, you go after that one.” He pointed to markers on opposite ends of the makeshift map. Again he indicated, “Ranulf, you grab food from this stash, and my partner and I will go after that one.”He smiled at Hannah as he said it. “Fulk, I want you to lead us to the camp, then watch all the pairs and make sure no one gets left behind.”
“What happens
if we’re discovered?” Alden questioned, voicing what Andy had also been wondering.
“See those rocks over there?”
He pointed, directing everyone’s gaze. Andy saw Hans raise his eyebrows.
“I didn’t go in far, but there are more tunnels. If they pursue, it’s a good defensive position. Either way, let’s plan to meet up there.”
Andy felt his heart quicken. He glanced over to see Hannah bite her lip and Alden rub the back of his neck. Calum nestled silently on Alden’s shoulder. For his part, Hans looked his usual stoic self, but his repeated calming breaths revealed more.
Captain Baldric unsheathed his sword. “Ready?” Everyone else drew their weapons.
Receiving nods, Sergeant Fulk instructed, “Follow me.”
The well-conditioned soldier led them at a brisk pace. The company hunched in single file below the tops of the grass. They navigated around several hulking oak trees, finally stopping behind a boulder.
“The camp’s just on the other side,” Fulk whispered. “I spotted the sentry over there.” He pointed to his right.
Sergeant Hammond pulled an arrow from the quiver slung across his back and nocked it before silently launching from hiding.
Twang.
Andy heard no further sounds. Captain Baldric peered out, then gave a thumbs up. Alden set out after his partner, and Sergeant Fulk used hand signals to direct the paths of the remaining officer-civilian pairs.
Coupled with Sergeant Ranulf, Andy crept stealthily behind the broad-shouldered man. They paused behind a thick tree trunk and the sergeant held up a hand. The man peered around and surveyed the scene.
Once satisfied, he ducked back down and instructed Andy, “The food stores we’re after are over there, behind those barrels. Take a look.” He indicated with a nod.
Andy made like a gopher and spotted the prize twenty yards away. Next to a disorderly grouping of barrels lay several wild boar carcasses with nine pheasants strung from a line above. He counted eight zolt slumbering only five or six feet away, however, and swallowed hard.
