The horse nodded, and turned toward the forest, where the Bergone had left.
Cursing, I glanced up. The sun ducked behind the trees. Within hours, the sky would darken. I had less than a day before Celeste’s spirit would be stuck inside her horse.
I picked up my sword, cleaned off mine and the Bergone’s blood, and sheathed it. By now, the Bergone would be at least two hours ahead of us.
“Come.” I made my way through the forest, Celeste following behind me. But I couldn’t force myself to ride her, even if her body was now a horse.
She followed behind me. Her hooves clomped on the icy ground.
At the heart of the woods, ten sets of Bergone footprints scattered in each direction.
Which one should I follow? Which had Celeste’s body?
In a circle I spun glaring at the ground. Would the Bergone carrying Celeste have deeper prints? But alas, no, each was identical to the other.
Apparently, not upset by our predicament, Celeste moved ahead, to the south.
“Hope you know which track to follow,” I said running up beside her. “One wrong turn and you’ll be stuck.”
She shook her mane, but continued following the southern tracks. As though testing her new legs, she tentatively cantered ahead. Moments later, she then galloped through the forest after the Bergone’s tracks. My Elvin feet raced after her.
Felt the winter wind through my hair. She kept pace with me as we leapt over a fallen log. The sun dipped, coloring the sky with orange and red. Taking care of her footing, I slowed our pace to a walk.
Discerned the tracks were fresher now. I peered into the distance, but didn’t see the Bergone or Celeste’s body. Took the reins, and led her up a winding path. Through rocky ground, the Bergone’s tracks appeared sporadic. But I knew they must be close. For Celeste’s sake they had to be.
As night fell, I made out a cave in the distance. The Bergone must be inside, for I saw no movement through the forest from an animal bigger than fox or owl.
• • •
Inside the cave, a rock wall pressed to the left. I followed around it, with Celeste behind me. My skin itched in anticipation and I unsheathed my sword.
Her body lay across the dirt floor in an awkward angle. The Bergone crouched beside her, his breath white fog. “Why have you come?”
“To take back what you’ve stolen, Warloc.”
“Stolen?” a growl mingled in laughter answered. “She’s been promised to me. At Beltane, I will devour her and strengthen.”
“Never.” My hands sweated, but I clutched the sword hilt tighter.
With just one Bergone to face, I’d maim him and take Celeste.
“Such courage.” Rising up, the Bergone’s head brushed the top of the cave. “But you’ve faced just one of my Bergone and lived. I’ve left two more for you now.”
I glanced down the cave, but no shadows moved. A horse shrieked and I spun around. Blocking the cave was another Bergone. His meaty paw pushed Celeste further into the cave. Snot blew from his nose. And I smelled the pungent stink from the skunk still on our skin.
A glimmer beside Celeste’s body caught my attention. The garnet dagger.
“Take your leave now, and you may yet live.”
“The dagger?” my voice caught in my throat.
The Warloc laughed, his voice echoed through the Bergone and bounced off the walls in the cave.
“I’ve no use for blades. Take it and leave.”
My hands sweated so I brushed them down my sides one at a time for I still held my sword ready.
I could take the dagger and kill Celeste. I’d have the chance to fulfill the prophecies and bring healing to me, my people.
But my heart twisted. My fault for not heeding Celeste’s warning about the Bergone that caused the swarm to overpower us. And earlier, she healed me instead of taking my advice and leaving. Stubborn. Perhaps more stubborn than me.
I glanced at Shadowdancer, who housed Celeste’s spirit inside. She stared at me, her rump against the far wall as if she’d spring forward if I angered her.
But didn’t the lives of my people weigh more than one girl? My heart answered, leaping into my throat when I picked up the dagger. Clutching the hilt, I backed toward the cave opening. I sheathed my sword.
The Bergone behind me grunted, then moved aside.
Unable to release Celeste’s stare, I frowned. Spun on my heel, I raised the dagger and then jammed the blade into the Bergone’s eye.
Howling, the monster held his bleeding head.
Tugged out the dagger, then I rushed forward to attack the other Bergone.
To my amazement, Celeste kicked up the back of her heels into the Bergone’s stomach. Momentarily, the creature doubled over. She pushed my hand with her nose to the previous Bergone.
His clawed hands swung to shred me into pieces. I dodged his swings. Realizing his vulnerability since his hide was pierced; I leapt over Celeste’s body on the floor, and pressed my free hand to the bleeding socket.
His power and rage coursed through me. Smelled the stench of skunk through his senses. And it was a hundred times stronger, so much so I almost dropped my hand from the gagging that choked me. Yet part of me wanted more. Wanted everything this creature had to fill me to overflowing.
Tingling coursed through me, but I refused to let my curse overtake me. I thought of Celeste, and the swarm that came from killing one of these creatures.
Just as I saw the flicker of life inside him dull, I gritted my teeth and jerked backward.
A popping sounded in my ears. Unsteady, I held onto the dagger and forced my legs forward to the other Bergone. Behind me the fallen Bergone heaved. But he was alive.
“Fool,” the Warloc said. “You’ve not escaped my vengeance. From the ends of the earth I’ll track you. Take reward in killing you.” Another Bergone rushed forward.
Celeste moved to block his progress, and his claws swiped her aside. Her blood flowed down her flank. Shaking, she slumped to the floor.
In my vision, the cave shrunk until only the Bergone ripping towards me remained. I leapt up, and jammed the dagger into his skull from underneath his chin.
He gargled blood, then collapsed. Still he breathed, but would die within moments. Then the rest of the swarm would soon be alerted.
Since I didn’t know how long I had, I eased the saddle off Celeste. Digging through my pack, I removed a clean tunic and tore the fabric into wide strips.
Covered Celeste’s bleeding horse body with the pieces. The blood would cause them to stick to the fabric, but perhaps it would slow the bleeding down enough until she was healed. The gods must be enjoying my torture. Here I was racing to save a witch just to kill her.
“I’ll carry everything.” I picked up her human form and juggled the body with the saddle and pack. “Just concentrate on making your way to the village to be healed.”
She stumbled up and out of the cave, and into the night.
Chapter Twenty-One
I adjusted Celeste’s body, then I sprinted through the forest. Because of her injury in Shadowdancer’s body, she could barely trot.
Sun rose lighting our path. If her steps were surer we could run, but blood coated the tunic I wrapped her side with.
If the calculations were accurate, we’d reach the village tomorrow afternoon. Too late to save Celeste. As though hearing my thoughts, her head slumped.
“Let’s rest,” I said with the attempt to keep my tone light.
Without answering, she laid down. Her chest rose and fell as if breathing were difficult. I set down her body beside a willow tree.
We had not heard the roars of the Bergone, so I hoped both still lingered in the cave. But the Warloc could possess another before long.
Now I had to worry about a Warloc attacking me.
Her horse eyes stared at me as though saying all was lost.
Damn my curse. Wished I had some way of transferring the power from the Bergone surging through me to Celeste. But if
I touched her, she’d die.
Her labored breathing brought a cramp to my heart. She suffered and I was powerless to help her.
My hand fingered the garnet jewel of the dagger. The quest of killing the witch did not hold the urgency of yesterday. I flicked the blade into the distance, and it lodged into the ground yards away.
With a smile for her sake, I picked up one of our waterskins. I dropped to Celeste’s side and drizzled water into her muzzle to drink. Her stare held me, but she moved her head away after a swallow. She knew as well as I we’d never reach the village in time.
My fist hit my thigh. Magic could save her, but I did not contain any. Nivel could help her, were he here.
I tossed the waterskin aside and stalked to the cluster of plants to retrieve my dagger.
Snow caked on green stalks stared at me. My breath caught. No magic I had, but knowledge of plants and herbs was taught every Elf from birth.
Yarroway poked through the snow. Even as I bent down and cut the stalks and leaves I knew this would not heal Celeste. But the plant may give us the strength to reach the village.
When I had an armful of yarroway, I rushed to Celeste’s side. “Let me tend your wound.” My dagger again tucked in my boot. After I finished with Celeste, and her spirit in her body, then I would leave.
She let out a sigh, and looked away from me.
I set the yarroway down. Gingerly, I eased the bleeding strips of my tunic from her side.
Skin ripped away with the cloth. Yellow puss oozed from the wounds. Throughout she did not whimper. She gazed into the void instead of at me. The claws must have held poison. Celeste had healed me before, so I did not realize we had another problem to worry about besides time and healing her wounds.
With the dagger, I cut away the rest of the tunic. Opened the stems and leaves, I placed the yarroway over her wounds. She inhaled sharply as her flank shook.
At last, every piece of the plant covered a bleeding wound.
“Don’t move.” I raced back to my pack and removed my extra pair of trousers. Ripped one leg into strips, then I tied the ends together. “When you’re ready, I’ll rewrap you for the journey. For now the air will aid the healing.”
Using the dagger I dug into the frozen ground. The blood crusted to the old strips may draw the Bergone to us.
When I thought I had a deep enough hole, I kicked the bloody strips inside and buried them.
I wished Celeste could speak. Already I missed her voice. And perhaps she’d answer the questions racing through my mind about the Bergone and this Warloc.
How did he know her? Why did he pursue her with such fierceness?
Searched the grounds until I found another cluster of yarroway, then I cut another armful. The sun dipped behind the tips of the trees marking the afternoon. I checked on Celeste’s body beside the willow tree.
Blood was caked on her dress where the Bergone had clawed her. Easing aside the material, I placed the yarroway leaves and stems until the sap covered her wound.
Tore the edge of her grey dress, and wrapped the wound tight. But she did not stir.
Sheathed my dagger into my boot and waited beside the willow tree. Regret filled me of all I had done to save her, but the sun dragged through the sky toward dusk, and I hadn’t done enough.
A rustle sounded behind me and to the left. Clutching my sword hilt, I rose.
My shoulders sagged, but I would not give up on Celeste. Wind prickled my skin. On light feet, I crept to where the sound arose. But nothing but branches enclosed in ice revealed themselves to me.
Uneasy, I rushed back to Celeste’s body. She was still unconscious. Then I stared toward Celeste’s essence within the horse.
Her eyes were rolled up in the back of her head.
I didn’t remember running, but then I was at her side. Her chest no longer rose.
“Celeste,” I called out to her, but she did not move.
Laid my head near her heart. Faintly I felt the thump of a beat. I stroked her mane hoping she would live. Grief trampled my heart. Why hadn’t I been more persistent she leave without me before the Bergone attacked? “Celeste?”
After what seemed endless strokes, her breathing returned and her heartbeat grew stronger. She lifted her head and nodded. Moved to stand up, but I restrained her.
“Wait. Let me tie your side.” I snatched up the pieces and wrapped them around her. She rose on shaky legs for me to secure the strips around the other side of her and tie them.
Believing the sound earlier was my imagination, I sheathed my sword. Donned my pack, but decided to leave the saddle behind.
If Celeste survived, I’d buy her a new saddle. I hiked to the willow tree, and eased Celeste’s body off the ground.
Before I spun around, Celeste trotted through a narrow path.
While her strength wavered, I carried her body and raced through the trees after her.
Dusk colored the sky. But ahead, I saw the glimmer of fire. Minutes before the moon would rise. How we’d come this far this fast was beyond my reasoning. The village should be hours away.
Celeste must have seen the flickering too, for her four legs moved faster toward them.
I glanced behind me, but didn’t recognize the scenery where we just came from. When Celeste was healed, I’d ask her.
Apparently, Celeste knew where the woman lived, for she turned left and cantered down a pebbled road.
I chased after her, her body in my arms.
Turning three more times, she led me to a dark alleyway. Outside a thatched roof house, she collapsed.
Afraid to question her and wanting this to be the right home, I rapped on the wooden door. At first no sign of life answered from inside. Then, a hacking cough sounded and the door creaked open.
A woman with dull gray hair stood before me. Her eyes bright as she glanced down at Celeste’s body then at me. “Bring them in. Quick before the moonlight touches them.”
Inside I set Celeste’s body down. Then I rushed outside to help Celeste’s horse form up.
“Almost there,” I whispered to encourage her.
Her legs wobbled, but she moved inside the cottage.
The old woman slammed the door shut behind us.
“Move aside,” she said pushing past me, “can’t help by looming over them.”
I watched as she fingered back Celeste’s hair. Her nose scrunched up at the scent of the skunk, but otherwise nothing changed.
The woman hummed and pulled bottles from shelves beside the window. Through the curtains, I saw the moon winking in the distance.
“Don’t we need to hurry?” I asked.
She glared back at me, but continued her humming. Set the jars beside Celeste along the table. When she finished, she held out her hand.
“Give me her athame.”
“H-her what?” I stammered.
“Athame.”
I glanced around, but saw nothing.
“In your boot,” she said.
“My dagger?” I eased the blade from my boot and handed it to her.
She cut a line down Celeste’s arm.
“What are you doing?” I asked pushing forward.
“Healing her.” She opened a bottle of pungent liquid and poured it into the wound.
Celeste’s body convulsed. Opening another jar, she dusted the dried herbs across the wound.
“Take care and set what right as was before. Ease the nature of this beast back into the home of horse,” her words radiated though the cottage.
Then, the woman limped to the horse body lying on the dirt floor.
“Set back and make right as was before. Remove the nature of this woman back into her home of flesh.” She used the dagger and cut a wound down the horse’s chest. Poured the sour liquid inside and sprinkled herbs from two different bottles.
A groan sounded on the table.
“Celeste.” The fresh wound on her chest bubbled.
“Move away, Elfling,” the old woman said, “I’m only ha
lf done.”
She shook her hands over Celeste. Fascinated, I watched as the open wound sealed, then disappeared. Healed, Celeste sat up.
“We don’t have much time.” She reached over to the old woman and squeezed her arm. “Together we’ll heal Shadowdancer.”
Jumping off the table, Celeste went to Shadowdancer with the woman at her heels. Their hands and arms formed a circle around the wound from the Bergone.
Chanting, they hovered over the blood seeping through the dressing. They took off the dressing and yarroway, then they spat on the open wound. The flesh melded back together even as the cut along his front leg closed up. Shadowdancer nickered.
He rose. Then pawed the ground with a hoof.
“Aye, glad to be back in my body too.” She rubbed his nose and I noticed the bruises along her hand were gone.
“Your hand?” I pointed to the splint still tied to her hand. “The bruises are gone.”
“Aye. We’d no time for a focused healing. So all ailing me and Shadowdancer is no more.” As she unwrapped her bandaged hand she moved passed me to the old woman. “You had the right to refuse my call. Thanks and blessings.” She hugged her.
“I know. But I’ve lived a long enough life.”
Dumbfounded, I glanced from Celeste to the woman and back again. How did I end up on this quest of witches? And here were two before me that left me baffled.
I reached into my coin pouch to pay the woman, but she shook her head.
“No, she’s family. Besides I’ve no more use for copper or silver.”
To honor my word to a grieving father, I pulled out the medallion. “Have you seen this before?”
I didn’t expect an answer, but her eyes lit up in recognition.
“You’ve seen this before.”
“Aye, one like it.”
“When? Where?”
“Hurry,” she said and gave Celeste’s shoulders a squeeze with her wrinkled hands. “That much power we used will alert him of your presence here.”
“Come with us, I fear for your safety.”
“Nay,” she coughed a laugh, “I will remain here. He’ll not drive me from my home.”
A crash sounded in the forest within miles of us.
“Where? I search for the young man who owns this. His father — ”
The Garnet Dagger Page 10
