by C. J. Strong
Shortly after leaving the city limits and following a paved trail heading northeast, Andrum and his pack mule came to a stop.
“Tired already?” Ashurd said and smiled as he looked back. “I knew you were pretty out of shape, but even Uriella as old as she is can keep up.”
“It’s not that…” Andrum said, turning back towards the Nifflarian capital just over the horizon. “This may be the last time we ever get to see Ulteria and all of its beauty.”
Both Ashurd and Uriella paused a moment and looked at each other before heading over to Andrum. All three sat down on a nearby hill, letting the reins go of their animals so that they could graze a nearby field.
Uriella got a bit choked up. “It sure does look small from here.”
“We sure have a tough road ahead of us,” Andrum said as he momentarily put his head down.
“Bahh! We will be back before they even know we’re gone. Now man up you two. The sooner we get a move on, the sooner we can return,” Ashurd said as he stood up slowly and lifted them both to their feet. Andrum took one last look before he whistled for his mule to come back over. After reconvening at the trail, the trio embarked on their journey to the Eternal Lands once more. They walked for hours upon hours until finally coming to a fork in the road. Uriella reached into a side satchel of her pack mule and pulled out a map.
“Let’s see here…” She said to the gang as the map began to light up.
“Don’t waste your magik on something as foolish as that. We don’t need any useless directions,” Ashurd said as he took the righter of the two paths.
“But how else will we know where we are going?” Andrum said. “None of us have ever been out this far before, not even you Ashurd. The Temple that I visited nearly 80 years ago was due east of the city.”
Still, Ashurd persisted through, leaving the others behind. “All you have to do is follow your instincts,” He said as Uriella rolled her eyes and traced her fingers across the map.
“Lucky guess,” She said under her breath as the map revealed that to be the correct path. Andrum then followed the both of them as Ashurd lead the way.
After a five day’s journey they stopped to make campfire and rest. With a war going on against the Tilturians, Andrum knew that nightfall could be a dangerous place, especially for Niffs who had lost their conjuring abilities, which is exactly why they had yet to stop until now.
“Where exactly are we?” Andrum asked while looking around for the first time since they stopped. He was absolutely exhausted from the journey so far and had probably already lost quite a few pounds just from walking.
“They call this place the Forest of Sorrows,” Ashurd answered.
“I’ve heard of it before…” Andrum said as he tossed a nearby log on the fire.
“The Forest of Sorrows is rumored to have trapped countless spirits over the millennia’s. Spirits who do not possess enough remaining life force to finish the trek to the Eternal Lands usually wind up here,” Uriella said as she pulled an ancient book from one of her bags and started to read it.
“Intriguing. Maybe my brother is among them?” Ashurd said. “Hey Andrum, you ever talk any spirits the first time you traveled to the Eternal Lands?”
“Those of the living cannot see nor hear residents of the afterlife, let alone communicate with them,” Uriella said as she continued to read her book.
“Oh, thanks for answering my question Andrum,” Ashurd said before kicking dirt towards Uriella and her belongings.
“Knock it off you two,” Andrum said as he leaned back and placed his carrying bag underneath his head, using it as a pillow.
“Is that an order mister Head of council?” Ashurd said.
“What is your deal Ashurd? You’re starting fights with us for no good reason and we still have a long way to go before we reach the Eternal Lands,” Uriella said before being interrupted.
“I’m afraid your journey ends here weak little Niffs…” A voice said coming from the trees. Both Andrum and Ashurd hopped up as Uriella slammed her book shut and carefully put it away.
“Who goes there!?” Ashurd yelled as he drew his blade.
“Nifflarian steel is no match for us,” Another voice said from behind the trees as shadows crept closer and closer surrounding them.
As Andrum began to look around, Ashurd stepped to the side of him and held him back in a protective manner. “A couple of adventurers I see,” A large man advancing into the campfire light said. He appeared nearly 8 foot tall with dark skin wearing nothing but a wolf pelt around his shoulders. He howled, and the others stalked in to view.
“Tilturian scum,” Ashurd said as he prepared for a fight.
Without a moment’s notice, the wolf hides that encompassed most of the surrounding foes bodies grew around them as they transformed from humans into four legged animals. The alpha howled once more and leapt for Ashurd’s throat. Without any hesitation at all, Ashurd swung his blade slashing the beast across the eye and causing it to change trajectory in midair. Dirt flew as the wolf slid across the ground rolling in between Uriella and Andrum. The pack cautiously made their way to the alpha with chests hugged towards the ground in a crawling position. Ready to pounce at any time, they growled as they moved closer step by step. Uriella turned to Ashurd who had his eyes still locked onto the beasts. After pawing at his fresh wound, the alpha snarled. Standing back to all fours, he started to take a similar position while the other wolves readied themselves behind him.
“Quickly! Over towards me,” Ashurd said to Uriella reaching out a hand, but it was too late. The wolves had already surrounded her. One ascended from the ground, nicking her across the arm as she swung her bag full of books back and forth attempting to defend herself. All the commotion startled the already skittish pack mules and off they galloped back towards Ulteria, along with the majority of the heroes belongings.
“I’m done being pushed around by these things.” Andrum said as he stepped out from Ashurd’s protection. He needed to do something or they were sure to be torn apart. They stood no chance against the Tilturian shapeshifters in a physical fight, Andrum figured that much was clear. As the wolves leapt back and forth readying themselves for battle, Andrum feared that this was where their journey ended, slain by Tilturians in the Forest of Sorrows. But then an idea popped into his head. He remembered a bedtime story his father used to read him about this forest. Rumor has it that long ago, the lost spirits had protected a young Nifflarian girl when she was being attacked by vicious animals and bestowed upon her their remaining magik powers by fusing their souls with hers. It was only a kids story, but magik was just the thing that they needed at a time like this and it was worth a shot, so Andrum put his hands out and began to speak. “Spirits hear me! We, the Council of Magniffs seek your help. Banish these beasts with your eternal power,” Andrum said in a chant as the wolves backed away. “It’s working…” He said raising his eyebrows a bit.
“No, they’re just regrouping before they finish us off,” Ashurd said to the group.
Just as it seemed like they were done for, Andrum heard a voice coming from deep within the forest. “Woooh!”
“We are here to answer your call,” another ominous voice sang out.
Could it have really worked? Andrum thought. “The spirits of the forest have answered my calls!”
Quickly transforming from wolf back to man, the pack leader commanded his army to retreat. “Let’s get out of here… We’re no match for the lost spirits of sorrow.”
“It did work!” Andrum said as the wolves fled.
“But… That’s impossible,” Uriella said as she tilted her head sideways.
Chapter 6
After suffering from the concussive blow, Gallagher found himself yet again in unfamiliar territory. A slight nudge woke him up and he opened his eyes for the first time in hours. Unaware of his surroundings and still fearful of what was going on, he slowly sat up, holding the back of his head. A young girl not much older than Gallagher st
ood before him. She had long dark brown hair that stretched down her body as if she had never had it cut before. Dirt seemed to have permanently made its home in her pours, but her face still appeared fresh and innocent. She was an inch taller than him, yet only three quarters his size. It took a few moments for Gallagher’s eyes to readjust from first waking up, but once they did he started to admire the looks of the girl. After all, he hadn’t seen a girl his age since back at the Mother Baker’s orphanage.
Gallagher then turned his attention to where he was. The bed he was in was far from comfortable, but it was better than the cardboard box that he was used to. Looking around, he appeared to be in some kind of tent or hut, and it didn’t look like Thrix or Threx were around anymore, they must have dropped him off at that village they had talked about. Did this mean he was now a slave? He opened his mouth to speak to the girl in front of him, but was unable to.
“Easy tiger,” She said as she gently pushed Gallagher’s head back onto the bed. “I didn’t mean for you to wake, I was only checking up on you.”
“The names Gallagher, what’s yours…” He said as she pulled the covers over him.
“Sleeps the best thing for you right now,” She said. Gallagher just laid there relaxing and eventually fell back to sleep while the girl cleaned around him and then left the room.
The next day Gallagher opened his eyes and the most amazing sensation came over him. Not only did he at last get a full nights rest, but a familiarly delicious smell was in the air.
“Breakfast!” He shouted as he jumped up from the bed, nearly tripping over the covers. It smells of bacon and eggs, just like Mother Baker used to make, He thought as his excitement turned to regret. “I never should’ve ran away…”
The girl he had met before entered the tent, carrying a plate of food in her hands. “…Ran away from where?” she asked as she sat the plate down on a small one person table in the middle of the cramped room.
“It’s rude not to introduce yourself before asking questions,” Gallagher said with his arms crossed and flopped back onto the bed.
“I’m sorry. My names Omna Flisker and yours is Gallagher, correct?”
“Gallagher White, at your service. But my friends call me Gally. I don’t suppose that food over there is for me?” he asked before biting his lip in an attempt to stop his stomach from awkwardly growling.
“Of course, I cooked it just for you,” Omna said and then smiled before turning back towards the curtain covered entranceway.
“Hey where are you going?” Gallagher asked after rushing over and stuffing his face full of food.
“I have to let the Master know that you are awake silly,” She said, pulling back the curtain and stepping outside.
In a matter of moments, Gallagher scarfed down the bacon and eggs and rushed after her. “What do you mean Master? You actually let someone control you?” he said catching up to the young girl outside. “Where are we exactly anyways?” he asked while looking around as the girl continued walking, smiling and nodding her head as Gally rattled off question after question. “What happened to the mother and child I was travelling with? And those goons from earlier?”
“This must be the new kid on the block,” He heard from a nearby tent as they passed it by. Gally glanced back to see a short and stubby boy waddle out with a piece of bacon in his hand.
“Who’s that?” Gallagher asked as he tugged on Omna’s shoulder to get her attention. He waited a moment longer before continuing “You’re not very talkative ya know,” He said shortly before stopping. Irritated, he watched as she kept on walking without him. She marched towards one of the largest tents in the village, seemingly unscathed by Gally’s remarks. What is her deal? he thought before deciding to follow her once more. Lagging behind, he was unable to catch up to her before she entered the chambers of the cloth structure. Two flags flew proudly out front, signifying this to be a leader’s campground. Curiosity overtook him so he decided to hide behind the entrance, eavesdropping on a conversation that was already taking place.
“But sir, if we move 3rd company now, we run a risk of losing advantage against our advisory,” One voice spoke as Gallagher peaked around the corner.
“Are you questioning my tactics?!” Another man yelled, causing the entire tent to shake. “We are Tilturian! We need no advantage in order to crush our enemies like the bugs that they are.”
There it is again, that word, Gallagher thought. He remembered one of the kidnappers used it as well. Even though Gallagher hadn’t been out of Los Angeles before, he knew that country folk did not refer to themselves as Tilturians. He also knew that slavery was illegal, it was as if that flash of light from the book had somehow taken him to some far away land where everything was different. The most frustrating part was that nobody seemed to care about answering any of his questions, either.
Gallagher blinked his eyes a few times and started to focus on eavesdropping once more. “I am sorry Valdar sir, I will inform my superior of your battle strategies right away,” one of the men said in a reply. Gallagher peaked into the room to see the man who just spoke now trembling in fear. He bowed to the other figure and turned to leave the tent, shoulder checking Omna as he passed by. Seeing this enraged Gallagher. Omna was the first person to have shown any kindness to Gallagher in a long time, and he was not about to allow her to be abused on his watch.
“Excuse me Master, but the child you bought is awake,” Omna turned and said just before Gallagher flew from the doorway and tackled the man who just ran into her.
“It’s not very nice to bully little girls!” He said foaming out the mouth as he held the man down. “Someone should teach you proper manners on how to treat a lady.”
“That is some entrance my boy,” the other man laughed as he pounded on the armrest of a wooden chair he was sitting in, eventually caving it in. “…Now get off my soldier before I gut you with my bare hands.”
Gallagher casually crawled over the man, dragging his nuts across his face before letting him up. The subordinate soldier muttered expletives under his breath before leaving in a hurry. Turning his attention to Omna, Gallagher asked, “Are you okay?” but her attention remained straight ahead awaiting the orders of the man in the chair. “A simple thank you for defending your honor would be nice,” Gally said before he finally noticed the insanely muscular figure in front of him. The man was chiseled from head to toe, sporting a dark tan and multiple tribal tattoos. “The name’s Gallagher White, what’s yours?” Gallagher asked in a friendly manner.
“I like your enthusiasm kid. I am known to all as Valdar the Strong,” the man said before standing and draping a lions coat over his mostly naked body which was covered in countless scars, each seeming to hold an odd sense of significance.
“Cool scars,” Gally said. “Where did ya get them?”
“Mostly self-inflicted injuries,” Valdar replied.
“That’s not creepy or anything. You know you kind of remind me of the guy who kidnapped me and stuffed me in that moving crate, no offense. Thrix or Threx or Thrill or some shit was his name.”
A great sense of anger appeared over Valdar as Omna tried to speak up. “Gallagher… We should get to work—“
“I am nothing like those worthless bounty hunters!” Valdar shouted over Omna. “All they do is lie, cheat, and steal for a quick buck. Those two are notorious for taking bounties against only the weak, and dealing in the slave trade when business is slow. They are scum.”
“But didn’t you buy me?” Gallagher asked. “Which in turn would make you scum.”
“Tread lightly kid,” Valdar said. “The pretty little thing is right though, it is time for you both get to work.”
“What needs to be done today Master?” Omna asked with her head down.
“I’d like for you to take care of the usual chores. But once the two of you get done I have a special task in mind for our new thrall here,” Valdar explained.
“Thrall? I’m no slave to you or anybody else
. You may look tough and intimidating but so does everybody else until I kick them in the junk,” Gallagher said.
“Oh don’t you worry kid, I think your gonna like what I have in store for you. Join me in the courtyard after you help Omna. I have someone I’d like for you to meet.”
He had been a slave in one form or another his entire life, jumping from foster homes to an orphanage, and putting the title to his name didn’t bother him much. It took some convincing, but Gallagher eventually agreed to do the chores and after hours of hard work, both Gally and Omna finally finished for the day. It wasn’t the following her around that he minded so much, but the tasks that they were faced with. Taking orders was a new thing for young Gallagher, and so was cleaning apparently. It took Omna nearly twice as long to show him how to make a bed, cook, or clean an outhouse than it did for her to do it by herself. Gallagher probably could have done most of it without her showing him, but he enjoyed her company and she seemed like the only one who would answer even a few of his questions. As the sun set over the hills of the village, it came time for the two to part ways.
“I guess I better go find out what else that butt licker has for me to do,” Gallagher said as they both cleared the last table in the mess hall.
Omna nodded in approval. “I can finish up from here. Good luck!”
Gallagher gave her a thumbs up and left the barracks, heading towards the street that led to the courtyard. He could already see Valdar the Strong waiting for him in the distance. There’s the big lug, he thought. But as he approached closer and closer he started to notice something else over there as well. He could barely make out the shape until he passed through the courtyard gates. “A puppy!” Gally shouted as he raced over. “Wait… that’s no puppy,” he said as he came closer. It happened to be a little baby brown bear sitting awkwardly next to Valdar.
