Angels Blood

by Gerard Bond

  Wollfen brooded on all this information, the Kingdom was in dire straights.

  “Tell me Lord Raz, other than this port and Oceania are there any other major kingdom forces still in play?”

  “Yes, obviously you have a number of militias still in existence out where the Isogorrean army has not traveled. Also there is the outposts of the north coast wilds under the control of Lord Cazzara of Gevalia city and also the northern inland wilds under the control of Prince Fitzgerald.”

  Wollfen knew of Cazzara, he was quite competent and just.

  “Can you think of any other armies?”

  Raz hesitated, he couldn’t think of anything else, but there was something.

  “I don’t know if an army exists there but there is a rumor that an Isogorrean army group had been sent to the east to travel along the high wilds there to approach Kassandrea from the eastern approaches. That army no longer exists and we haven’t been able to find out anything of what happened to them at all. So there are only two possibilities, either we have a huge Kingdom army there that no one knows about that keeps to itself or the orcs are finally getting well organized. I know which one is more likely and I don’t like the sound of it one bit.”

  Wollfen mulled some more. This last bit of information was disturbing. The possibility of orcs roaming through the east was a very good possibility. Justin had come from the southern area of the east where his family had been killed by orcs and no one until that happened would have ever thought orcs would come that far. Then there was the elimination of the Nightclans years before too. They had been further north than that which meant the orcs were extending over a very large area. It wasn’t adding up well at all. Wollfen could only conclude that the orcs were becoming a major threat to the Kingdom and with them on one side and Isogorr on the other, things were looking precarious for the country.

  “We need to go take a look.”

  Raz nodded in agreement,

  “My thoughts exactly, but who can I send? I don’t have anyone here who is adept in bush craft and combat training that could handle such a task. Anybody who went there would have to be very good at stealth and would need to be very quick of wit to deal with whatever was thrown at them.”

  Wollfen looked at him with a little smirk.

  “You aren’t so subtle that I don’t hear what you are saying Raz and I agree to do so.”

  Raz responded with a huge grin,

  “I would have been disappointed if you hadn’t picked up on that. So, you tell me what resources you need and I will provide them all. I take it you will want to go ask your group who will want to go, I think you may have to leave Loranda behind, but I’m not going to speak for her though.”

  Wollfen agreed, he would always give her the right of decision.

  “I think it will be just Night and I who go then.”

  Raz disagreed.

  “No, you should wait for Dark’s return before you move off. I know she will be back tomorrow night and she should be given the option too.”

  “I wasn’t sure if that may be a bit pushy, but we will do as you say. I won’t set off till the morn after tomorrow, that will give us plenty of time to prepare.” Raz spoke up again,

  “Oh I forgot to tell you, there was an elf here many months ago asking about your group. His name was Eldoron. I can tell you that after he took stock of everything here and spoke to Dark at length, he volunteered to travel to the east and check on what was there. That was over three months ago and we never heard back. I reluctantly have to assume the worst.”

  “Thank you for that Lord Raz, I had been wondering what had become of him. At least now I have an idea of where he was last. Also I do have to tell you, I have every intention once I know of what is happening in the east of continuing on to Kassandrea. There is very important business for me to take care of there and I am afraid it will not wait. I figure that means you should send along a few troops with me that will be able to take care of themselves when we part company and they make their way back here.”

  Raz knew exactly who to send when Wollfen said that.

  “I have just the man to send with you. His name is Sergeant Burkhard and once I inform him of what is to happen he will hand pick his own squad of men to accompany you.”

  “Okay good, I’ll return to the woman’s quarters and see if Night has returned. Either way I will take some time to decide what supplies I will need and prepare a list, that will be forwarded to you for your perusal at the earliest possible moment. I thank you Lord Raz for this chat. It has been interesting and I can also say that I am pleased to have met you.”

  Wollfen arose and left. Back at the quarters, he found Night sitting snacking from a large plate of seafood.

  “I took the liberty of having this sent over for you. I hope you don’t mind me having a bit.” Wollfen smiled.

  “No not at all.”

  He sat down smelling the freshly cooked meats and realized he was famished. He tucked in with gusto as he studied the varied prepared foods on the plate. It was only a matter of minutes before the plate was left bare with only a few scraps to tell the tale of a very appreciated meal. Night looked at him.

  “You certainly do like your food don’t you?” He smiled back.

  “Six months of gruel will do that to you.”

  “Eww gruel.” Wollfen winked with a smile.

  “So tell me how Loranda is?”

  Night took a deep breath.

  “She is doing good but they had to take her kidney,” A sad look came across her face, “I am very glad she is alive mind you, but it also means the days of arduous living in the wild are over for her. She will take that very hard, she always loved spending her time out in the wild.”

  Wollfen looked on and was saddened. Loranda was a woman who embraced life and he understood how she would feel. Take away the many long weeks out in the wilds living off the land and you take away a big facet of her passions. Now that lifestyle was closed to her for the most part.

  “I am sorry Night, do you suppose it would be alright to go see her?”

  “Yes of course, we can go now if you like. I know she would love to see you. When I told her you were here she picked up quite a bit.”

  Wollfen stood and took Night’s hand. The two walked back out and chatted as they made their way to the infirmary.

  Loranda opened her eyes when she sensed a presence and was happily surprised to see Wollfen looking down at her. She smiled at him and winked.

  “Hello darling, it's so good to see you. Thank you for saving Dark, I couldn’t believe my ears when Night told me.”

  Wollfen smiled and nodded taking note of her weak voice.

  “I am also glad to see you are alive too. I wish there was something I could do for you.”

  He reached out and cupped her cheek, her skin was cool and pale, not the normal Loranda he was used to and his heart went out to her. Loranda nestled into his hand and held it.

  “I’ll be fine, it will be no time before I’m up and about riding down orcs and enemy soldiers with you.”

  He leaned down kissing her on the forehead and as he did, Loranda reached up and pinched his nipple.

  “Ow!” Loranda winked.

  “Yup I’m not in a dream.”

  Wollfen looked at her sternly while trying not to grin.

  “You are supposed to pinch yourself to see if you are in a dream not me.”

  Yes her cheeky self was still there below the surface. Before Wollfen could say anymore she had fallen asleep. He stood and looked at Night still rubbing his own chest.

  “I think she will be fine eh?”

  CHAPTER NINE

  CONSOLIDATION

  On the second morning a group of ten people on horseback were moving along the cliff face traveling inland from Port Volarus. Vaughn and Dark were out front and were followed by two soldiers then Wollfen and Nightwing. Sergeant Burkhard and the last three soldiers brought up the rear. There had been fresh snow the night before and the horses
were making steady progress through the foot deep layer of white.

  Nightwing was quietly watching Dark and Vaughn up front contemplating the idea of giving Dark a serve for being so cool to Wollfen. After all, he had gone through so much to bring her back and now it was like she really didn’t want to know him. Wollfen seemed to take it on the chin though, she looked across at him and wondered what was going through his mind?

  Wollfen for his part wasn’t spending any less time thinking about the subject, but he certainly was a little more circumspect on the issue. He had been to the afterlife and had just a taste of what it was like even though he had remained focused the entire time and blocked out much of its call. The same couldn’t be said of Dark. She had been there for so much longer and had no reason not to immerse herself in it. Wollfen was a patient person and was quite prepared to let things be for now and watch from a distance. He wouldn’t leave it too long though, but right now, he didn’t want to chance driving her further away.

  Looking across he could see Nightwing was staring hard at Dark, she was getting quite worked up and he reached out and touched her thigh. It distracted her from her thoughts and she looked at him with a questioning look.

  “What is it?”

  Wollfen replied with an observation to get her thoughts away from Dark.

  “I have been thinking. Since we are traveling the eastern roads, do you believe it would be nice to drop by the old farm that Justin used to live at and pay our respects for him?”

  Night considered his suggestion and gave a short response,

  “Yes.”

  Night made no more discussion. Wollfen watched as he saw her go back to watching Dark. He didn’t think it would do anybody any good if Night decided to have a go at her.

  “You know, I have to say I’m sorry.”

  Night turned back to him and looked him in the eye quizzically.

  “Sorry for what?”

  Wollfen sighed,

  “I’m sorry for not being here. None of what has transpired would have happened if I had not gone on to Isogorr. Keera would not have stabbed Dark. Loranda would not have needed to kill Keera and Loranda would not be recovering in a bed.”

  Night wouldn’t hear of it.

  “There is no way you could have known that the circumstances that grew from your decision would result in what has happened. Tell me Wollfen, where would we be now if you had stayed? I have no idea what you did there or why you went, but would that have had any bearing on people there too if you hadn’t gone?”

  Wollfen couldn’t help but nod.

  “Tell me of the circumstances surrounding the time that led up to Dark being stabbed. We still haven’t discussed that.”

  It was Nightwing’s time to sigh.

  “Keera started going off the rails before Justin died, she had no patience for him. She saw him as a naive boy and Dark and her clashed over Keera’s heavy drinking. She also bedded a lot of men when she was drinking, you remember how she was when you first met her.”

  Wollfen nodded. She had been a lost soul going from one day to the next losing herself in whatever came along her way, but why had that started happening with him not there? Perhaps he would never work it out.

  “Anyway there was word of an attack coming at the Port one evening and the two of them took station on the cliff face. It was there Justin took a crossbow bolt through the chest. He didn’t die straight away either but later that night. Keera was there when he went. It was a sad time for all of us but for some reason, even though Keera hadn’t had any time for him, she took it the worst.”

  Night paused for a bit to allow Wollfen time to digest all she was telling him.

  “Over the subsequent weeks Keera took to drinking even heavier and some days she didn’t come home at all. She would stay at the tavern sharing one of the upper rooms with whatever guy might be there. There were a few times Dark, Loranda and I would go in and drag her out. She would curse us and sometimes she would hit at us too begging to be left alone.”

  Wollfen interjected,

  “Did no one try to talk to her and see what it was that was eating away at her?”

  “Yes, all of us did from time to time, Dark most of all. She made a real effort to get through to her. But none of it made any difference. It continued on like that for a long time, but strangely it was these last couple of weeks that we thought there was some progress being made. Dark was investing so much of her time in Keera and we all thought it had started to pay off.”

  Wollfen wondered out loud,

  “So why did she go off again in such an extreme manner?”

  Night shrugged her shoulders.

  “Only Dark would be able to shed some light on that she isn’t talking. One of us should get her to open up, her aloofness is not like her and I don’t like it.”

  “It’s okay Night, she has a lot on her mind and I am sure if we give her enough space she will work out for herself whatever her issues are. Dark will come to us when the time is ready, I would prefer if we gave her that space for now.”

  Night looked at Wollfen. She really did miss his input and having him here gave her strength for the future.

  “Okay Wolfie.”

  He looked at her.

  “Wolfie is it?”

  “Yup, I have decided, Wollfen is too old.”

  “Don’t you think it sounds a little infantile?

  Night shook her head in response.

  “As Loranda would say, Bull----shit!”

  He barked a laugh at her, they had been getting too serious. So he pushed her shoulder and had her half out of her saddle. Night grinning and fighting back, slapped Wollfen’s thigh.

  “Take that you bastard.”

  Wollfen gave her a tickle under the arm.

  “Fine by me bitch.”

  “Sheep lover.” Wollfen took mock offense.

  “Hey!”

  Night giggled.

  “Ahem.”

  It was the sergeant who was pointing ahead, they were coming up to an outpost set up to watch one of the few breaches in the cliff where enemy soldiers could work their way up. Dark held her hand up and all stopped. The two soldiers behind her moved forward and scouted to see all was well. The signal from inside came and the all clear was given, they moved forward again and pulled up at the small building. Dark went inside and the others heard a conversation from within then she came back out.

  “There has been no activity to report we are safe to move out immediately.”

  She mounted her horse again, motioned them forward and they went directly to where the cliff face had crumbled producing a slope for them to work their way down. It was slow going as it was very rocky and undulating but proved to be rather easy to negotiate even in the snow. Once at the bottom Dark had them set off in a northeasterly direction.

  The rest of the day was uneventful and that evening they made a small fire in a deep hole. It would mask most of the light given off. Some water was boiled to make soup for them.

  They gathered around in a group quietly sipping from their mugs. It had been quite a pleasant day and they passed the time in small talk on the journey so far. It wasn’t long before the group turned in. They all knew the routine of long journeys and one always took advantage of spare time to rest and sleep.

  The next day proved to be dreary as it was overcast and later that morning it started to snow. They pulled theirs hoods on as they rode. None of them were cheery now. It was wet, cold and miserable. At midday Wollfen pulled a bit of beef jerky from his pack as they rode and handed some to Night. The two of them sat quietly chewing away. Wollfen hoped most of the journey proved this uneventful. He really didn’t need any excitement at present. Later in the day, not only was it a dull cold ride, but a wind picked up and produced a chill that seeped through them.

  Evening came on and they decided to keep going for a while as there wouldn’t be a fire tonight anyway. They were now far enough into the wilds they would have to be extra cautious.

 
; After some time Wollfen had sensed a presence of something and Night had backed him up. They had no idea how far away it was or what it was but they had to take precautions. Just before total night set in, they came across a small cave in a hillside. Dark motioned for two soldiers to go check it out. They dismounted and walked in with swords drawn. Within less than a minute they came back out and signaled the all clear. The rest of the group moved in and set a couple of sentries outside. Wollfen sat there in the shadows of the cave with Night beside him. They had been discussing uses of magic and in particular the teleportation crystal he carried.

  “So how exactly does it work?”

  “It's a simple device really and allows to you travel anywhere within reason, it does have its limitations though.”

  Night couldn’t think what those limitations would be. He had traveled what was a six-month trip by ship in a matter of moments by her reckoning. He had also managed to enter the afterlife and come back too.

  “So what limitations does it have?”

  “You see, if I wanted to go directly to Kassandrea, I would have to know someone there that was capable of magics and had a beacon for me to focus on. As you know, the essence of magic in each person gives you a unique aura too. So once I can establish whom it is I wish to focus on, I can travel to them using the crystal after I open a portal. Over long distances you would open the portal first as that boosts your own capabilities to sense the other person when they are very far away.”

  Night was feeling the crystal as Wollfen spoke, it had a warmth that was soothing and the tiniest glow from it made it fascinating to look at.

  “You know Dark would love this crystal, it’s her favorite color.”

  Wollfen chuckled.

  “I should make it into some jewelry and present it to her as an offering?”

  Night chuckled too.

  “Mm, girls do like their jewelry, who knows it might just work.”