The City Under the Mountain

by D. W. Hawkins

  Dormael turned the party one way or the other until Bethany was lost—not that she had known where she was before. He cursed under his breath every time he had to change direction, and grew more anxious each time. The horses could sense everyone’s fear, and grew more excited with each passing moment.

  An ear-splitting howl cut through the night, causing the horses to dance in terror. Muttered curses went around as everyone tried to control their mounts. Steel rasped against leather as someone drew a weapon. Other howls answered the first, ringing out from somewhere behind Bethany and her friends.

  “We’re almost to the river!” Dormael turned a frantic look to Bethany. “Run!”

  ***

  Dormael dug his heels into Horse’s flanks and let the beast have his head.

  He made an effort of will and brought a magic light into being. He brightened it in slow degrees, hoping to keep from blinding everyone while still giving the horses enough light. It would illuminate the party’s position for every Garthorin within range, but the horses needed the light.

  Dormael kept one eye on Bethany, willing her warhorse to stay close.

  He split his consciousness and readied his Kai. His senses stayed centered on his body—it was difficult to hear over the noise of the mounts, and Dormael could only concentrate on so many things at once. His magic would reveal anything that got close enough, but without focus, his senses operated only at close range.

  A shout rang out from behind Dormael, and he turned his head to see D’Jenn with his arm extended to one side. There was a flash of power, and a point of light streaked from D’Jenn’s hand into the forest, twisting the shadows around it as it flew. Dormael was forced to tear his attention away before he saw it land, but the growls of pain that issued from the woods told Dormael all he needed to know.

  A Garthorin appeared ahead of Dormael, running hard to intercept him. Dormael lashed out with his Kai and smacked the creature, sending it tumbling into the shadows. It made no sound as its body was flung away.

  More howls erupted from the darkness, drawing closer around the party. Dormael demanded more speed from Horse as fear crawled up his spine. The forest went by with dark blurs and moving shadows. Dormael glanced behind him to make sure his friends were still on his tail and was heartened to see everyone still in their saddles. He only had time to notice the spear his brother had tucked under his arm, the glint of steel in Shawna’s hand, and the harried expressions on everyone’s faces.

  Dormael heard the sound of claws ripping at the dirt to his right and turned to see a Garthorin almost on him. It ran in an odd, loping gate, teeth bared to the night. Dormael lashed out with his Kai, grabbed the thing by the skull, and smashed it into the dirt. The creature hit the ground with an audible crack and Dormael lost sight of it as Horse ran past.

  “D’Jenn!” Shawna's voice called from behind.

  Dormael was too busy looking ahead to glance behind him, but he heard his cousin’s magic whip through the ether. There was a hollow thump, a primordial shriek, and a flash of light. Dormael chanced a look over his shoulder and saw a burning silhouette falling to the ground. D’Jenn rode with one hand clutching his reins and the other raised to the sky. A nimbus of bright yellow flame wafted from his upraised hand like a torch.

  Another Garthorin came from the shadows just ahead, snarling as it rushed toward Dormael’s mount. Dormael ripped it from the ground with a gesture and held it in his magical grip. When another shape appeared in Dormael’s periphery, he sent the creature hurtling toward it with enough force to break its back. He heard a satisfying crash but was past the commotion before he could see the result.

  A lull in the howling brought a new sound to Dormael’s ears—the steady whisper of flowing water.

  “We’re almost there!” Dormael said over his shoulder. “The river is just ahead!”

  As the words came out of his mouth, he and Bethany broke through the treeline and into the open. Dormael was surprised to see that it was still raining—they had been under the canopy for most of the evening. He pulled on Horse’s reins and drug the beast to a halt, glancing around as it danced in a circle.

  The riverbank was rocky, the footing slick. Dormael took in the sight of the rushing water—probably swollen from the turn of the season—and felt a spike of worry. He could see no place safe enough to ford, even though the river was no wider than three city avenues. The current was strong, and Dormael could see rapids downstream, along with swollen sections of water that indicated hidden rocks below. The bank was higher than the river where Dormael and Bethany had come out of the woods, and they’d have to jump the horses down into the water to get across.

  More howling rose from the woods as D’Jenn, Shawna, and Allen broke through the trees. D’Jenn turned in his saddle and unleashed a bright line of flame that shot into the trees and hit a pursuing Garthorin. The creature burnt to ash before it could fall.

  “We can’t cross here!” Dormael waved for everyone to follow him and dug his heels into Horse’s flanks. Dormael was happy to be in the open, though the footing along the riverbank was treacherous. He led the party westward, looking for a place to ford the river.

  Horse made fearful noises as he fled. Dormael stood in his stirrups and sent his light zipping before him, illuminating the ground in front of the horses. There were more howls, a crashing noise, and screams of beastly pain behind him—D’Jenn hurling magic at their pursuers. Dormael spared a glance for Bethany and found the girl right behind him, eyes wide with fear.

  They scrambled up a short rise—Dormael panicking a moment as Horse slipped and almost fell—with the cries of the Garthorin rising behind them. The river widened at the top of a short waterfall, and Dormael could see the current was slower where a rocky outcropping had dammed the flow. He kicked Horse into motion, directing him toward the safer part of the river. Instead of crossing, however, he pulled Horse to a halt and jumped from the saddle.

  “What are you doing?” Bethany pulled Tirrin to a halt beside him, a fearful look on her face.

  “Helping D’Jenn.” Dormael hefted his spear. He looked to Shawna as she topped the rise and came to a halt. “Get Bethany across! Let Horse follow. I’ll meet you on the other side.”

  Shawna nodded, grabbing Horse’s reins with her off-hand. “Come on, girl, let’s go!”

  “I can help!” Bethany made to leave her saddle.

  “Go with Shawna!”

  “But I can help! I can!”

  “Go!” Dormael gave her a stern look. “Get to the other side first!”

  Bethany let out a frustrated snarl, but she nudged Tirrin into the water after Shawna and Horse. Dormael watched them go, hoping he’d judged the river correctly. Shawna made it to the middle and was forced to slide from the saddle as it grew too deep to ride. Dormael grimaced at the pace as she turned to yell instructions to Bethany.

  Allen topped the rise and directed his horse into the river. “Don’t be long! I’m not coming back for you!”

  Dormael turned as D’Jenn’s horse struggled over the hill. D’Jenn was standing in his stirrups, peering behind him. The nimbus of flames around his hand was gone, but Dormael could still hear his cousin’s magic singing in the ether. Dormael made to speak but a crashing noise from the woods stopped the words in his throat.

  A Garthorin burst from the trees, claws scraping over the rock as it made for D’Jenn’s horse. Dormael slammed an invisible fist of air into the beast. It tumbled away in a boneless heap. Another appeared, but D’Jenn sent a nearby stone flying into the creature’s skull. It fell to the ground as the rock pierced its head.

  “More behind me!” D’Jenn said, breathing hard. “They keep coming!”

  “Are you alright?”

  “Fine.” D’Jenn dismounted and coaxed Mist into the cold water. “I’ve used a lot of energy, summoning all that flame. I tried to scare them off with an illusion. Nothing worked—these things are bloody relentless.” Mist balked at the cold water, and tossed her head in fe
ar of the creatures howling in the woods. D’Jenn tightened his grip on the reins and tried to calm the horse. “Come on, girl—do you want to be eaten?”

  “Go.” Dormael gestured his cousin onward. “I’ll watch your back while you cross.”

  “What about you?”

  “Help me once you get there, I’ll be right—”

  A growl sounded from the top of the rise, and Dormael spun to see a Garthorin hurtling over the rocks in their direction. Dormael summoned his power with a scream of anger. Lightning flashed across the space between him and the Garthorin, striking with an audible crack. The beast flew back over the edge of the rise, trailing a line of smoke and the stink of burnt hair.

  Dormael walked backward over the rocks, heading after D’Jenn. He stoked his magic as he went, preparing an onslaught of offensive workings. Lightning crackled from the tip of his weapon, but Dormael held it steady. The last thing he needed was to hit the water with lightning and fry D’Jenn as he was crossing the river.

  Two more Garthorin appeared over the rise, all claws and snarling teeth. Dormael pointed his spear at the Garthorin and released his magic, sending an arc of lightning to slam into them. They were blasted into the trees, but another appeared as they were put down.

  Dormael gestured at the dirt under the Garthorin’s feet and things began to whip in its direction. Pebbles, water droplets, and any other bit of detritus on the ground pelted the approaching creature until it was forced to back over the hill. Dormael kept up the spell and backpedaled into the water.

  The cold was startling. It sent his balls crawling into his belly and made him want to dance with discomfort. The current was stronger than he had suspected, and he wobbled as he stepped backward. The footing beneath the surface was slick. It took focus to hold the defensive spell as he went, but the effort bought him time. Four more Garthorin peeked their heads over the rise only to be pelted back into hiding.

  When the water reached his chest, Dormael had trouble standing against the current. The spell holding the Garthorin at bay failed as Dormael was forced to concentrate on his footing. He skipped backwards in the chill water, using his arms to fight the current. Snarling rose from the direction of the rise. A group of six Garthorin rushed in his direction.

  Dormael abandoned his magic and turned to struggle toward the other side of the river. The chill water made it hard to breathe. Dormael’s feet slipped on the bottom as he fought through the current. He could hear his friends on the opposite riverbank screaming things in his direction, but he couldn’t make out the words.

  Burning points of light streaked over Dormael’s head and into the pursuing Garthrorin. The lights hit at different moments, stopping the Garthorin in their tracks—all but one. The last creature barreled into the river, thrashing through the water in Dormael’s direction.

  They’re not afraid of the water!

  Dormael reacted on instinct, shoving his spear at the creature like he was meeting the charge of a boar. The Garthorin hit his spear like a rushing bull. The force of the creature’s rush was diminished by the water, but the impact almost wrenched the spear from Dormael’s hands. He felt the blade sink home, hit something hard, and then he was struggling to keep his grip on the spear haft.

  The Garthorin screamed in rage, struggled, and swiped a claw at Dormael’s eyes. Dormael leaned out of range and sputtered as his head dipped under the surface. His back foot slipped, which allowed the Garthorin to get closer, and Dormael felt a hot line of pain across the back of his right arm. His stomach was filled with panic as he lost his balance and the river pushed him from his feet.

  There was cold, blackness, and the taste of river water in Dormael’s mouth. He felt a tug on his right hand and realized in a moment of clarity that he’d held to his spear in the struggle. He floundered in the water, his feet hit the bottom, then slipped from the rocks underfoot. The river pushed him downstream, the current preventing him from getting to his feet.

  Dormael’s back fetched up against something hard, giving him leverage to stand. He pushed his face out of the water and scrambled atop the thing behind him—a jagged, wet rock sticking from the river. He still had his spear in hand, but there was no sign of the Garthorin he’d stabbed.

  “Dormael!” D’Jenn’s voice cut through the chaos.

  Dormael turned to see his friends on the opposite riverbank. He took stock of his situation—he was standing on a boulder which stuck out of the river at the top of the rise. Water rushed around the rock, and though the current wasn’t deadly, it was strong enough to take him from his feet.

  Angry howls rose from the other side of the river. Garthorin streamed from the trees. They made for the water without stopping and splashed into the river with bloodthirsty snarls. Dormael’s heart quivered.

  Bethany’s over there!

  Dormael reached for his Kai and pulled more magic from the ether. The Garthorin were slowed as they tried to cross and some were swept from their feet to struggle against the current. A few made their way in Dormael’s direction.

  Dormael built his power, summoning enough magic from the ether to make his muscles tight with the effort of holding it. More Garthorin came out of the trees and into the water. His friends screamed his name again, but Dormael barely heard them through the buzz of power in his Kai. Dormael waited until the river was full of Garthorin.

  Now have a taste of this, you bastards!

  Dormael released his spell and brought lightning down from the sky. It struck the river in a series of bright flashes, illuminating the Garthorin in bursts of light and shadow. Their forms were captured in Dormael’s sight—snarling, twisted beasts contorted with agony. The spell left a burning image over Dormael’s vision, and the violent cracks left his ears ringing. His Kai sang with vengeful glee.

  The night went silent for a moment in the wake of the strikes. The smell of seared air and burnt flesh came to Dormael’s nose. He blinked his eyes to clear his sight as his magic hummed with the release. His body rang like a struck bell.

  “Dormael!” Shawna’s voice was full of fear. “Come on!”

  The use of so much power left Dormael with a buzzing headache and wobbly legs. More burning points of light shot from the riverbank and into the Garthorin on the other side, but it wouldn’t stem the tide of oncoming beasts. Dormael glanced over the water to make sure none of the creatures were still alive and held his spear over his head as he slid into the cold river.

  Dormael struggled against the current with desperate motions. He had trouble navigating the water as the corpses of the Garthorin were washed downstream in his direction. One of the bodies bumped into Dormael and he flailed at the thing until it passed.

  More howls rose from the southern tree line. Dormael looked over his shoulder as he struggled toward the opposite bank. More Garthorin—more than he could count—were coming out of the trees. They hesitated at the edge of the water, but only for a moment. Dormael watched in horror as one, then three, then more braved the corpse-choked river.

  “They’re coming!” Bethany’s voice was threaded with terror.

  Dormael turned and fought against the current for all he was worth.

  He wasn’t halfway across when his body erupted with a crawling sensation so intense it made him want to tear at his own skin. There was an angry, feminine scream, and the water around Dormael moved with sudden violence. It rushed toward the oncoming Garthorin, pulling Dormael’s feet out from under him. He tumbled for a moment and ended with his hands and knees on the slippery rocks of the riverbed. His spear clattered to the wet ground beside him, revealed by the sudden absence of the river.

  Bethany! It must have been her—no one else was so strong with magic. Dormael yanked his spear from the rocks and struggled toward his friends. Gods, just give me a moment to make it there!

  ***

  Bethany watched as lightning sliced down from the sky and hit the water. The Garthorin inside the river were killed in flashes of blue-white brilliance. Bethany could feel
what was happening in her Kai, hear the wild magic her father wove from the ether. She longed to have that much skill.

  Bethany held her magic in check—on strict orders from D’Jenn, of course. She’d offered to help when he’d been tossing fire across the river, but he had snarled that she was still untrained and should keep her bloody mouth shut until he was done. It rankled inside her, making her angrier as the moments passed and the situation became more dangerous. She could see the Garthorin across the river, could feel them in her magical senses. If something wasn’t done, everyone would be killed and eaten.

  “Help him!” Allen wrestled with his reins as his mount danced in nervous circles.

  “What do you think I’m trying to do?” D’Jenn raised his hand, shooting a cluster of burning pinpoints across the river. They soared into the Garthorin and ignited them when they hit. A few touched the trees on the far side of the river and set them ablaze.

  Dormael glanced from the riverbank to the Garthorin and slipped into the water. Bethany’s heart lurched. She clutched Tirrin’s reins in nervous hands.

  “Dormael!” Shawna said. “Come on!”

  “Hurry!” Allen added, shooting glances between Dormael and D’Jenn.

  Bethany heard a chorus of howling voices raise from the woods beyond the river and felt her blood run as cold as the water on her skin. She extended her magical senses and felt the Garthorin in the forest on the other side—there were so many she couldn’t count them all. They rushed to the edge of the water, snarling with blood lust, and started across.

  “They’re coming!” Bethany could hear the terror in her own voice.

  “Help him!” Allen repeated.

  “I’m trying! Just shut up and let me—”

  “Dormael!” Shawna waved her arms at Bethany’s father. “Come on, hurry!”