by Hoyt, Joshua
“Did you find them?” the woman crowed.
A big man stood in front of her. “There’s no sign of them anywhere, they must have escaped the fire.”
“What about the three that headed into the forest?” She asked.
“I sent two scouts but neither of them has returned yet.”
The woman continued to scan the mountain for a few more minutes before turning and looking at the man.
The man seemed to shrink at her gaze.
“You idiot, we had them and now we have lost them all. If you had covered the back like I suggested then they would have been ours by now,” the woman said.
“Listen here Ahti…” the man said, pointing at the woman, “…if your spell had worked correctly we would have had the boy and the girl right now without even a fight. So instead of having no fight like you promised I have seven dead men and probably more in the fire.”
“It wasn’t my fault. The house must have had an enchantment of protection on it,” Ahti said looking at the cabin. “This is an ancient location much older than the cabin itself.”
The man looked at her for a moment longer then looked at his guards. “I don’t want to risk any more of my men. This wasn’t in the bargain.”
Ahti looked at him and raised her hand to the height of the man’s neck; she began to close it slowly. The man reached for his neck, his face beginning to turn red. The man’s group looked at the witch and pulled their weapons out. The group with the witch pulled their swords out and charged.
Tom ducked down and listened to the ensuing battle hearing men scream and swords clanking on metal. He began to shiver as he lay in the snow wondering what to do next. Aithnea was close on one side and Cody on the other.
“At least they are killing each other,” Cody whispered.
The battle died down and there was no longer any noise coming from the other side of the ridge. Tom slowly lifted his head and looked over the small ridge to see what was going on. Ahti was standing with three other men who were cleaning their swords on the fallen. She looked at the cabin one last time and turned toward the road.
“We need to get more scouts to find them. We are done here for now,” Ahti said.
She walked toward the road and out of view with the three men falling close behind. Tom watched for several minutes hardly breathing. “Are they gone?” he asked.
“I don’t know. But it looks safe to go down, maybe we should go down to the back side of the cabin just to be safe,” Cody replied.
They circled around to the back of the cabin and began approaching it. The cabin was still burning making it impossible to get to close to the building. Tom looked into the burning building but could see nothing but smoke and flames. He turned suddenly hearing a sound behind him. John was waving for them up on a hill. Tom grabbed Aithnea and Cody and started to run toward John. The three topped the small hill and John quickly pulled them down, “It’s not safe yet. We need to get going now.”
John had many cuts and his hair was black from soot and ash and when he ran Tom noticed that he had a slight limp. John’s clothes were torn in many places and were stained with fresh blood.
John ran away from the burning cabin for several minutes only slowing when Aithnea and Tom fell too far behind. Tom felt his throat begin to burn from the strain of running for so long. He thought that there was no way that he could continue farther when John finally stopped. Tom caught up to him and saw that Kristiana was laying on the ground with her eyes closed her breathing shallow and ragged. Her clothes were torn and tattered and had many places where it looked like they had been burned through. There was blood around her mouth which John wiped away with a clean part on his shirt. He held her head and lifted her up to give her a drink from his water skin that hung around his waist.
“I found them Kris,” John said softly.
Kristiana opened her eyes and gave John a small smile then closed her eyes again. Aithnea fell down next to Kristiana and held her hand. Aithnea was crying softly as she rubbed her hand while holding it in her lap.
“What happened, John?” Cody asked.
“There were too many of them and combined with the witch’s power we could not hold them off,” John said.
John looked back toward the cabin then dropped his gaze. “After you headed toward the hut we tried to follow but were surrounded. Karman...” John sat silent for a few moments and then he looked up again, “…Karman fell covering our retreat. I was able to carry Kris out of the cabin before the witch started the fire to finish us off.”
Tom looked toward the cabin the pain of Karman’s death weighed heavy on his mind.
“If it hadn’t been for Karman we all would’ve been dead,” John said.
John held Kristiana’s other hand and waited until the tears stopped falling.
Kristiana opened her eyes and in a weak voice said, “John we need to be going, I think I have regained enough energy to move.”
John raised Kristiana up to a sitting position. Putting her arm around his neck and his arm around her waist she was able to get up. Aithnea held Kristiana’s other arm and gave her support from the other side as they headed off.
“Where’re we going?” Tom asked.
“We will go to Darthmoth; we have friends there,” John replied.
“What about Archelaus?” Cody asked.
“We’ll contact him there.”
Chapter 13:
The companions traveled for several hours toward Darthmoth. John and Aithnea supported Kristiana as they walked. Tom and Cody didn’t talk much; both of them wrapped up in their own despair over the loss of Karman.
Why did he have to die? Where is he now? Life isn’t fair, first I lose my mom and dad and now Karman. Am I cursed to lose everyone that I care about? Tom wiped the tears away from his face. Don’t be a baby, Tom. You have to be strong. If mom and dad are still out there you need to be strong enough to find them. Karman wouldn’t want you to be crying over him.
The pack on his back grew heavier and heavier as they traveled. Tom slipped on a rock; luckily Cody was there to catch him.
“You ok?” he asked.
“Yeah, I’m ok.” Cody is always there to catch me. I’m so glad that he is here.
After traveling for what felt like an eternity John put his hand up and pointed toward a small shack off in the distance. “It must be a hunting shack,” he said.
John lowered Kristiana to a rock and said, “Aithnea, you wait here with Kristiana. We’ll go and check things out.”
Tom, Cody and John jogged toward the shack until they were within a short distance of the building. John slowed, with the others following his lead, and they crept the rest of the way. They were on the back side of the building. John pulled his sword from his scabbard while he continued to creep closer. There was a small window in the back and the wooden slats that made up the walls were peeled and faded with age. It looked as if no one had been there for years.
They circled around to the front of the building. A chain was around the front door. One of the two windows was broken. The old wooden deck creaked when John stepped on it. He pointed to either side of the door and Tom and Cody took their places.
John looked at the chain for a second and then hit it several times with the hilt of his sword. After a few hits the rusty lock broke and the chain fell loose to the wooden deck. John opened the door and peered in. “It looks like it’s empty.” He slowly walked in. “Tom, go and get Kris and Aithnea; Cody and I will try and get things a little more comfortable.”
Tom ran toward the women, reaching them quickly and through gasps of air he said, “It looks empty.”
Tom and Aithnea helped Kristiana cover the distance to the shack, one on each side. By the time they reached the shack, Cody and John had already put a board in front of the two windows and had cleaned an area where Kristiana could lay down. John covered Kristiana with a blanket that he had found in the back and then looked to her wounds. Tom looked through his pack and found some c
lean bandages and handed them to John.
“Thanks Tom, I’m glad you guys were able to get supplies from the hideout,” he said. “Aithnea could you get some clean snow from outside that we can heat up.” Pointing to the pack he said, “Tom, I think there should be a heating tablet in the pack.”
Aithnea took a small pan out of the pack and went outside. Tom pulled the warming pellet out of the pack and broke it so that it would start to heat up. He found a small tin plate in a cupboard and put the pellet into it. Aithnea returned with the small pan overflowing with snow and placed it on top of the pellet. Within minutes the snow had melted and was warming up. John had, in the meantime, torn Kristiana’s clothes away from her burns and wounds and took a clean rag and dabbed it into the water. He gently washed Kristiana’s wounds and then applied the bandages.
Color returned to Kristiana’s face as she began to warm up and as the pain began to ease. John turned to the rest of the group and smiled. “Who’s next?”
He began with Aithnea, checking her over, then Tom and finally Cody, to mend them as he could. Last, he worked on his own wounds. Tom and Cody looked around the small shack and found some more blankets along with some clothes. After everyone had been bandaged Cody broke out some of the food in the packs and handed it out.
Tom began to warm up and the pain in his stomach had gone but he still felt emptiness. Was there really a heaven like his mom had talked about or was that just a way to comfort him about his grandmother’s death? That had been a long time ago. His grandmother had also been able to use magic. He smiled as he thought about the little butterflies she would conjure up for him. He never knew his grandfather but he imagined that he had probably been like Karman.
He ate his food slowly, remembering the many nights by the fire he had listened to Karman talk, often about the good old days. Those were the days when the council cared about the people more than their own power. According to Karman, the council had become corrupt due to their neglect of the old laws and their inability to adapt to the new technology.
Kristiana would disagree with him and they would begin to argue, John stuck in the middle. Karman would become riled up and begin to shout but in the end he would grin and make some sort of joke that would ease the tension. I can’t believe you’re gone.
“We need to set up watch duty,” John said.
Tom jerked as he was startled out of his memories.
“I’ll take the first shift, then Tom, then Aithnea. Cody you take the last watch,” John said.
John looked over at Cody who was preparing his bed. “Make sure we are awake at the first hint of light. We have a long ways to go and I don’t think it will take them long to organize and find our trail.”
Tom wrapped his blanket around himself and lay down. Trying not to think about the long day, an image of Aithnea, in the morning sun, came to his mind and warmed him. He had wanted to hold her for a long time. Maybe from the very first time I saw her coming down the stairs behind Kristiana and John at the mansion. It seemed so natural, as if they were one. He still remembered the power and warmth that came from the embrace and he wanted to feel it again. He smiled softly, falling asleep thinking about Aithnea and her long black hair.
He woke to John shaking him.
“It’s your turn, Tom. There’s a chair by the window, keep an eye out the window and every once in awhile check the back,” he said.
Tom nodded sleepily and dragged his blanket to the chair. John patted Tom’s head and headed off to sleep.
Tom watched out the window trying to remember the different spells that he had learned and practiced the gestures as he watched. He found it hard to stay awake and decided it was time to check the back window. He walked past the group sleeping on the ground into the back room and looked out the back window. He squinted. Is that a man? My eyes must be playing a trick on me? Tom rubbed his eyes. It is a man.
The man had a large pack on his back and he was using a staff to hold himself up. He staggered and nearly fell many times as he made his way to the cabin. Tom ran into the other room and woke John. “There’s a man outside coming from the back.”
John jumped to his feet and ran with Tom to the back of the house.
Where did he go? I know I wasn’t dreaming?
John looked out the window into the darkness. “Are you sure you saw someone?”
“Yeah, he was hunched over and carrying a pack and everything. He had a staff. I’m sure I saw him. It looked like he was hurt or something,” he said.
John rubbed the window cleaning part of it. “Go check the front.”
Tom ran to the front and looked out the windows but didn’t see anything. Maybe it was just a dream.
John came in from the back and looked out the front windows. He looked at Tom. “Are you sure you saw something out there.”
“I thought I did but maybe I imagined it,” Tom said.
John looked out the window again and then went into the backroom. Tom followed and stepping through the doorway. John grabbed him and pushed him against the wall. He put his finger to his lips and then pointed out the window. There was the man struggling up to the window.
He got to the window and peered into the shack, looking side to side. The man was old and he had a big scar running across his left cheek. He stepped back from the window and began to walk around the side of the building.
John pushed past Tom into the next room pulling his pistol from its holster. Tom turned and saw the man walk in front of the window and begin to turn the handle. The door opened.
“Don’t move,” John shouted at the man.
The man smiled. “I’m not here to hurt you young man.”
“Hold your hands up so that I can see them.”
The man held his hands out in front of him showing that he had nothing in them. John walked toward the man, the man didn’t move.
“Maybe I should close the door so that it doesn’t get any colder in here,” the man said.
John nodded and the man closed the door.
“Who are you?” John asked.
“I am no one of consequence I have been traveling for many days from the north…” He lowered his hands, “…I have come looking for a man by the name of Archelaus. I must speak with him.”
John motioned with the pistol and the man raised his hands again.
“I’m very tired and if you don’t mind I have had a long journey and would like to rest.” The man shrugged lowering his hands he walked to a chair. He sat down ignoring the pistol in John’s hand. The moonlight shined through the window on the old man. He had a long, grey, tangled beard with twigs caught in it. He was wearing a plain grey robe that was ripped and stained. He walked slowly and favored one leg.
“What’s your name?” John asked.
“My name is Caspin the Grey,” he replied with a smile. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pair of eyeglasses. Putting them on, Caspin said, “And who are my fine hosts this evening?”
“My name is John…” John pointed to Tom, “…this is Tom.”
“It’s nice to make your acquaintance good sirs.” He nodded.
Cody and Aithnea began to stir as the conversation was no longer a whisper. Cody looked up at them and jumped to his feet with his sword instantly drawn when he saw Caspin.
“Wow, you are a jumpy bunch aren’t you,” Caspin said with a chuckle.
“We’ve had some hard times recently,” John said.
Caspin looked down at Kristiana. “I can see that.” He moved toward Kristiana.
“Don’t get any closer,” John said.
Caspin looked at John. “Don’t be afraid of me, I am a friend.”
The man continued his move toward Kristiana reaching his hand out toward her, “She is injured more than you are able to repair,” Caspin said. He knelt beside her and as he did a feeling of peace and warmth entered and filled the room. Caspin could never hurt anyone. All the feelings of dread that had been in Tom were now gone.
Caspin lightl
y placed his hands on Kristiana’s face and bowed his head.
“He’s a healer,” Cody whispered.
Caspin spoke a few words under his breath and Kristiana’s breathing became regular and smooth. His shoulders visibly sagged as he moved his hands away from Kristiana and he slowly rose to his feet. He struggled towards the nearest chair. John grabbed Caspin before he fell and helped him sit.
“Caspin, I’m sorry for the disrespect,” John said.
“There’s no harm done.” He sighed and said, “Please, in my bag is some tea will you prepare it for me?”
Caspin breathed heavily, his head sagged. “I’m not as young as I used to be that’s for sure.” He smiled at the group. “Your friend will be fine. She was hurt badly…” he looked up at John, “…How did this happen?”
“We were attacked by men from across the sea. They are known as the Red Dragon Clan. Kris…” John looked down at Kristiana, “…Kristiana is an enchantress and I am her counterpart.”
John seemed to fade out while he told Caspin abut the battle. “There were too many of them and they had a witch with them. The witch focused on Kristiana, drawing much of her energy.”
“She pulled energy from an enchantress?” Caspin asked.
John looked up and stared at Caspin for a moment as if he had just realized where he was.
Caspin patted his shoulder softly. “It’ll be ok.”
John nodded. “Thank you for your help. We were surprised by her power and don’t know how she was able to do it.” John looked back at Kristiana, “I tried to aid her by giving her more life energy but Kris wouldn’t take it. She must have realized that I needed my strength to get us out of there. Somehow she managed to keep up a spell long enough for us to escape.”
“She must be a powerful enchantress. To hold up against a witch who can sap her energy must have been very difficult,” Caspin said.
Tom handed some tea to Caspin.
“Thank you.” He nodded and said, “I have healed her wounds but the energy can only be replaced with time.” He sipped at his tea. “I wonder why the red dragon clan is attacking this far inland. Do you know what they are after?” Caspin asked.
