“What was that?” Prizene asked. “Did you hear it?”
“I don’t know,” Tip replied. “I heard something, but I’m not sure what it was.”
Prizene held her head toward the forest. “I think it’s an instrument or a horn of some kind.”
Eros suddenly yelled, “No, stop fighting!”
Tip and Prizene jumped at the force of his words and found Eros clutching his hair with his hands and a look of horror on his face. “What is it, Eros? What do you see?” Prizene asked.
“Kenrya. She’s in trouble.” He grabbed Tip by the shirt. “She has to stop fighting! They want to help her.”
“What? Who? Who’s ‘they’?” Tip pleaded. “Eros, you’re not making sense. We don’t even know where they are.”
“That way.” He pointed to the south, directly into the dark forest where the eyes still fell upon them.
“How do you know that?” Tip asked. “Have you ever before seen distant events while you were awake?”
“No,” Eros admitted. His breathing quickened as he felt Kenrya’s mounting fear. “I can’t explain it, but I know I’m right.” He felt warmth coming from his pocket and without thinking, removed the pendant, still wrapped in its protective cloth. He lifted a corner of the cloth, exposing the pendant. It glowed brightly on the cloth in Eros’s palm.
“How can that be?” Prizene moved closer to Eros, her eyes wide with surprise.
The pendant baffled Eros. What was its power? He covered it again with the cloth. He pronounced each word carefully and with emphasis. “We have to help her … now!”
Prizene shook her head. “Eros, there’s no way we can reach them. Our packs are heavy and the forest is too thick. We’re not swift enough.”
Eros looked at her with a crazy glint in his eyes. “You’re right, Prizene. We’re not. But Tip is,” he added as he turned to Tip.
Tip’s eyes grew wide and he began backing away from the other two. “Now, now wait a minute. I’m ... well ... it’s just ... you can’t be serious? By myself, alone?”
Eros grabbed Tip’s pack and started flinging the contents out of it. He pulled out the daggers and the flute. “Do you have your laser gun?”
“Yes, but —”
“Then here,” Eros cut him off as he thrust the flute toward Tip. “Take this, as well, and hurry! You must reach Kenrya and tell her to stop fighting! They’re not far, just too far for me to make it in time. You can do it. Stay off the main path, stick to the trees.”
Tip stood frozen in his spot. He swallowed hard and looked into the forbidding-looking forest. His lip quivered as he said, “Why the flute?”
Eros shrugged. “What can you do with the daggers?”
Tip tilted his head. “Nothing — right. Good point.” He took the flute and stuffed it into the back of his pants. He took a deep breath and started shaking his limbs, preparing for the run. He squatted once, then shook his limbs again, hesitating as he looked to the forest. He took a deep breath, stretched his arms, then squatted again.
“Tip! Now!” Eros yelled.
“All right!” Tip yelled back and sprinted into the forest, heading directly south and toward the sound floating through the dense forest. Tip concentrated on the roots and limbs, staying off the main path, as Eros instructed. The main path appeared far less dense and cluttered, but at this point, Tip feared what would happen if he didn’t listen to Eros.
He darted swiftly through the trees without catching his toe on a root or his clothing on a limb. Once again, his agility allowed him to move far more freely than with the others. He never once stopped and altered his course only slightly to follow the sound of what he now suspected was the horn the old men had given to them and they had placed in Azetan’s pack. Tip hoped he could arrive in time to prevent whatever horrible fate now awaited Kenrya.
Chapter 63
Kenrya and Azetan had traveled cautiously through the dark forest the day before, covering a good distance, and were pleased with their progress. They camped among a small ring of trees with a relatively clear patch of forest ground in the middle. The area rested off the main path, which would be safer if the Graeliths happened to be following them. After the night’s rest, they again moved well through the forest, staying close to the path, constantly alert for danger.
“I’m beginning to wonder if Eros’s visions are more like hallucinations,” Kenrya said, glancing back at Azetan. He was walking at the very edge of the path, which required skirting the roots sticking up from the ground. “What are you doing?” She motioned toward the smoother section. “This part of the path is much easier for walking.”
Azetan stopped and looked toward her feet. “I know. That’s what worries me.”
“You’re starting to sound like Eros.” She rolled her eyes and started walking again.
They continued for several hours and stopped midday for lunch. Azetan refused to move to the center of the main path to eat, despite the fact the path was much wider and clearer, thus Kenrya grudgingly joined him among the uncomfortable roots running along the path’s edge.
When they finished eating, they packed the supplies. Kenrya glared at Azetan and said with an edge in her voice, “We could travel much faster if you would simply walk on the path.” She strode to the center of the main path and turned around to face him. “Here I am in the center of the path.” She held her arms out and wheeled around full-circle. “It’s fine.”
Azetan stood up slowly, staring at her feet. “Kenrya, you’re sinking.”
“What?” Kenrya looked down. Her shoes had sunk into the ground about half an inch. “It’s not a problem if the ground is a little muddy.” She shrugged away his concern. “We should start moving again.”
Azetan gathered the packs. Kenrya tried to pick up her foot to move back to the edge of the path and found her foot was mired in the mud. She tried to lift the other; both were stuck. As she struggled to move her feet, she began sinking faster into the mud. “Azetan!”
Azetan spun around to see the mud now covered the top of Kenrya’s shoes. He picked up a loose stick and tossed it into the center of the path where it quickly sank beneath the surface. “Hang on,” he said calmly. “Let me find a bigger branch to help pull you out. Stop fighting! If it’s anything like sinking sand, you’ll sink faster.”
Kenrya stopped fighting and the sinking slowed. She watched while Azetan frantically searched for a loose branch, while staying clearly off the main path. By the time he found a branch he could easily snap off a tree, she had sunk to her ankles. He held the branch across to her. She grasped the end as tightly as she could and he tried to pull her toward him, but she never budged. Trying again with all his strength, he couldn’t dislodge her.
She looked around desperately for another way out. Azetan ran to his pack and started digging through the contents.
“What are you doing?” Kenrya raised her arms toward Azetan with a shrug.
“Remember the horn the old men gave us? While they didn’t tell us its purpose, maybe Eros and the others took a nearby path and can hear it. With their help, perhaps we can free you.”
Azetan pulled the horn from his bag and blew into it with all his might. The sound it produced was low and deep. He glanced at Kenrya, seeing she had now sunk to her calves. He blew the horn again and again.
Something whizzed by Azetan’s head and he raised his arm to shield himself. Kenrya searched for the source and found a small creature standing directly across from him on one of the tree limbs. The creature stood about a foot tall and had a long, crooked nose. The head was disproportionally large for its body, which was a thin, stick-like torso holding two scrawny arms and legs. The creature wore a green bodice and a pointed hat. He turned his beady eyes toward Azetan, placed another arrow in his bow, and shot again.
Azetan hurled a small rock at the little creature and almost knocked him off the branch. The little creature sneered at him. “Go ahead. Try to knock me off. She will eat you soon enough, she will. You and the
girl will be a great feast.” He cackled as he pointed to Kenrya, who had now sunk to her knees.
“Eat?” she yelled. “What does he mean by that?”
The little creature leaned on his bow and explained, “You, my dear, have been walking in the mouth of the great Sah. Yes, she picked up your scent as you brushed against her tendrils,” he said as he stroked one of the tree trunks. “She led you right where she wanted you ... her throat.” He fell on his back, laughing.
Kenrya started battling the mud again and sinking faster. “Stop!” Azetan insisted. “Stay still. The others will come.” He blew the horn again.
“Yes,” the little creature jeered, “fight harder, my dear. That only aids her swallowing, though she won’t digest you until you have traveled deep into her stomach.” He then picked up his bow and started firing at Azetan again, always directing the arrows to force Azetan closer to the path. More creatures appeared on other limbs and the first one began instructing them to steer Azetan toward the main path. Azetan continued to blow the horn while trying to work his way back into the forest.
Kenrya berated herself for letting her arrogance lead her down this path. If she had listened to Eros rather than fighting him, they would never have traveled this way. She remained as still as possible and hoped Azetan was right about the others not being too far away. As the pressure of the ground moved to her hips, something fluttered nearby. She strained for a better view and saw more fluttering movements. Then they came into her line of sight — little flying creatures, much like the ones firing arrows from the trees, except the heads of these beings were more appropriately sized for their bodies. They were no bigger than four inches high, with long braids swinging at their backs and wings about the size of their bodies. Their body coverings were various shades of blue.
The creatures flew directly toward her and as they drew near, they threw small ropes around her arms. “No!” she yelled. “I will not be eaten so easily.” She shook the ropes off and swatted at the little winged pests. They kept circling around her, unable to draw any closer as she fought to keep them at bay. By now she had sunk over her waist. She was determined not to die without a fight.
“Kenrya!” a voice yelled from the forest. She stopped swatting and followed the sound of the voice; Azetan turned in the same direction. Tip rushed through the trees, waving his arms. “Kenrya, stop fighting! Stop fighting! Eros said not to fight!”
At first Kenrya thought he was telling her not to fight against the sinking mud. Then she looked warily at the little winged creatures. Should I trust them? Or rather, should I trust Eros? Tip certainly never would have run through the forest without prodding from Eros. She took a deep breath and resisted the urge to swat them.
As the creatures flew near her head, one of them said, “Well, about time! We thought you were going to let her swallow you before allowing us to help.” Just as he started issuing instructions to the other winged creatures, an arrow whizzed by, narrowly missing him. Azetan hurled a rock at the tree creature shooting the arrow, knocking him cleanly off his branch. The little winged creature turned back to Kenrya and ordered, “Hold your arms out to the side as stiffly as you can.”
She nodded and did as she was told. She closed her eyes as she sank up to her chest. The little winged creatures quickly looped ropes under her arms and tightened them securely.
Tip stopped by Azetan’s side to catch his breath. “What is that?”
“A massive creature, swallowing Kenrya whole.”
“Ugh! What can I do to help?”
“We need to keep these tree creatures from shooting arrows at the ones helping Kenrya. Throw rocks, sticks, anything you can find and stay away from the path!”
Tip grabbed the flute stuck in his waistband. He moved farther back from the path to ensure his safety and, using the technique he learned watching Chimsey, started to play a soft melody.
One of the tree creatures hopped from limb to limb until he was closer to Tip and a second followed. The first elbowed the second and said, “What do you think he’s doing?”
“Dunno,” the second replied. “Maybe he thinks we’ll fall asleep or something.”
The first one snorted. “That’s ridiculous. Let’s shoot him.”
They drew back their bows and started shooting arrows at Tip. Tip raised his arm to protect his face and growled a warning to the tree creatures. They continued shooting arrows until he pulled back his hand holding the flute and swung it wildly in their direction. He hit the first one with such force that the creature flew at least ten feet into the forest and caught the second one as his arm swung back, knocking it well on the other side of the path. Turning the flute over in his hands, he must have been satisfied as he then took off after another of the creatures with the flute raised.
The winged creatures held the ropes around Kenrya’s arms and started beating their wings rapidly. Little by little, they began to pull her free. While she felt the ground below gripping at her legs, the combined strength of the little winged creatures was far greater. They lifted her from the path and carried her a few feet into the forest towards Tip and Azetan.
“Are you all right?” Azetan asked as they placed her gently on the ground.
“I think so.” She tested her legs, which were filthy but seemed to function normally. “Outside of this slimy stuff all over me, I think I’m fine.”
Azetan tossed Tip her pack and loaded his on his back. Vine-like plants emerged from Sah’s throat, moving in their direction. Tip motioned for them to follow him and they quickly took off through the forest. The little winged creatures flew alongside them, and the tree creatures followed them as well, still shooting arrows and making rude remarks.
“Hurry!” one of the winged creatures said. “She’s growing angry. The tendrils are becoming larger! She’s trying to block your path.”
The roots of the trees expanded and the limbs began sinking lower. Tip hurried the others and tried to help them navigate the way, as best he could. As they neared the edge of what they now knew was definitely not a typical forest, Eros and Prizene stood waiting in the clearing. The trees continued to expand, closing the gaps through which they could see the others.
When they finally reached the edge, the roots and limbs fully blocked the path and they could no longer see through them. They looked behind them to see the long vines from Sah’s throat snaking their way across the ground after them. Azetan drew one of his swords and slashed the blade into a branch. A harsh cry sounded deep beneath the ground. As he raised his sword to strike again, another branch grew in place of the last. He stopped, his arms falling to his sides, then took a deep breath and raised his sword again.
“The laser gun!” Tip shouted in sudden inspiration. He pulled the gun from his pocket, shifted the lever to the unblocked position, and fired into the branches at a height he judged wouldn’t hurt Eros and Prizene on the other side.
A great roar sounded beneath their feet and the ground began to shake. Eros and Prizene dove out of the way, allowing Tip to fire again and again, until a large enough opening appeared for the three of them and the winged creatures to escape.
They leaped through the edges of Sah’s mouth and stopped to catch their breaths.
“No stopping!” the little winged creature yelled. “Sah still comes for you!” He pointed to the vines now crossing the threshold of Sah’s mouth.
Eros and Prizene grabbed the remaining packs and they all dashed onto the path leading to the southwest. They ran a good distance before deciding they were safe. After unloading their packs, they prepared lunch for those who had not yet eaten, and introduced themselves to the little winged creatures. Two of the little creatures kept an eye toward Sah in case she tried to reach them here. It was unlikely, one said, but you never knew with Sah.
The leader of the creatures rested on a rock to Kenrya’s right and smiled at her. “I am Cusilje of the Bertog order. We live among these trees above you,” he explained with his hands held toward the sky. �
�We journey near Sah only when in need of a rare moss that grows in the forest near her.”
Azetan asked, “How were you able to pull Kenrya out? I tried with a branch and she only sank faster.”
“We are stronger than we appear,” Cusilje said with a wink and a chuckle. “Of course, the ropes we used are of a unique variety, which may have helped.”
“Unique how?” Kenrya asked. She was amazed that such small creatures could lift someone her size.
“The ropes are spun from a rare weed that grows deep in the marshes to the south. When the Miyran clan and its fellow travelers arrived here centuries ago, they developed friendships with the Graeliths.” Cusilje looked from face to face as he spoke. “I see that surprises you. Did you not know that the Graeliths once welcomed the Miyrans to this world? You see, my people were among the species traveling with the Miyrans. We live for thousands of years. I well remember those first meetings with the Graeliths. Caldot thrived and life was good then, peaceful. I traveled many times to the great marshes to visit a friend of mine, a Graelith who long ago perished from old age. He insisted I visit the sacred place where the golden weed grows and he offered some to me. The weed allows us to lift a weight much greater than our own.” He saw questions on their faces and shrugged. “We can’t explain its power. The weed truly is unique.”
“However you managed it, thank you,” Kenrya said. “How did you even find us?”
“Luckily, we heard the Gaelan horn.”
“The what?” Kenrya asked. The other marked ones looked just as confused.
“The Gaelan horn. You possess it,” he added, turning to Azetan.
Azetan pulled the horn from his bag. “This is a Gaelan horn?”
“Yes,” Cusilje confirmed. “I see you are not aware of its purpose. How did you come to find it?”
Kenrya explained, “We met a group of old men at the edge of the bristly bushes on the far side of the wetlands. They traveled with us for two days and provided us with supplies. The horn was among them.”
The Journey of the Marked (The Miyran Heir Book 1) Page 25
