by H. J. Cronin
They burst through the main gate and into the mass of dead that were still awaiting their turn to fight. The bear and his rider managed easily to reach the Dark Wood despite the almost impossible odds; the skeletons were not fast or strong enough for the furry behemoth coming at them, and they carried on until they reached the east coast. When it was safe, Bethegar turned back to his human form and fell to the ground. For the first time he cried out in sorrow at the destruction of his homeland.
He turned back to face the Dark Wood and saw in the distance a long plume of dark smoke which undoubtedly was Bemon. He vowed to himself, ‘One day I will return and the undead will be vanquished beneath my fists.’
16
Unlikely Saviours
‘Lady Lalo?’ Johan exclaimed, his face full of surprise.
‘No Johan! Stay away from the elf!’ Ardag immediately said, and stepped between Lady Lalo and Johan with his katana drawn.
Before Johan could say anything Bry also stepped forward. ‘Johan, this is the most vile race to have set foot on Wilmurin,’ she warned, preparing to charge.
‘Wait, you have it all wrong,’ Johan said swiftly and pulled them both back. ‘She is not evil, can you not see, they saved us?’ he added, pointing down to their attackers on the ground.
For a moment Ardag and Bry were defiant but eventually lowered their hostile pose. Ardag then looked at Johan suspiciously, ‘You said her name – and how do you know of them?’
Johan sighed with relief and then looked back at Lady Lalo, ‘I met her in a tunnel beneath this forest on our way to Sworcadia. She gave me my sword. My apologies for telling you now but I swore to her I would not. I did not know of the rest of them, only Lady Lalo.’
Ardag scrutinised Johan and then shook his head. He then looked up at the beautiful pale green face of the elf and stood forward, ‘How did you survive the First War of Wilmurin?’
‘After Darkool led the last assault on my people I knew it was our end, I knew the druids had won so I took a small band of elves into hiding,’ Lady Lalo said in her soft voice. ‘We are ashamed of how we treated the druids and we are all that is left of our once mighty race.’
Bry laughed mockingly. ‘Mighty race? You subjected our people to slavery. Your people killed for fun and slaughtered countless innocents. You save us from Count Darkool's minions and yet you think that is enough for us to forgive you?’ she said angrily and clenched her fists.
‘I do not seek forgiveness for crimes committed by my people. We are but thirty now – my race paid for these crimes with their lives,’ she said, offering her arms out as a sign of peace.
‘Why is it you save us?’ Ardag quickly asked to ease the tension.
‘Do not trust them, Ardag, their tongues are poisoned with lies and deceit,’ Bry added, pointing her finger at Lady Lalo.
‘Enough Bry,’ Ardag said, holding his hand up at the irate woman. ‘Now elf, why do you aid us?’
‘The world is falling into darkness,’ she started. ‘Count Darkool will take the north and then the south. Wilmurin is not safe for Johan son of Haramithir. We must leave this place and go to safety.’
‘We head for Jotun. We seek a ship, but two of our friends have been killed in the search,’ Johan said with a hint of pain in his voice, remembering the very brave Palar and Garpaw.
‘Jotun?’ Lady Lalo asked.
‘My father left a note for me in Sworcadia. There is a Lone Druid that resides there, and we must find him,’ replied Johan.
‘Johan! Do not tell her too much, we cannot trust them,’ Bry pleaded.
‘I trust them,’ he replied quickly, and shot a warning look at Bry.
‘Johan, Jotun is an extremely dangerous place,’ Lady Lalo said.
‘Regardless of what is there and what is not, we must find this Lone Druid. It has come to our knowledge that he knows how to defeat Count Darkool,’ Johan responded confidently.
‘I offer the assistance of my people, Johan, we will help you, we have knowledge of a ship not far from here,’ Lady Lalo said.
Bry stepped forward and pointed a finger at the tall elf, who was shoulder height taller than Bry. Her lips curled as she spoke, ‘How do we know that you will not betray us?’
Lady Lalo smiled and opened her arms out as if to embrace the air, ‘You do not know that. What I can give you is my word. Count Darkool will see this world turned to flames, we do not want this to happen. For all of the past horrors my people bestowed upon your people I wish to regain some honour. You can trust us. I will give my life for Johan.’
The three companions huddled together to discuss in private what to do.
Bry started immediately, ‘I do not trust them. Let's thank them for their help and carry on to our goal.’
Johan shook his head, ‘They have a ship and soldiers – they can get us to Jotun safely.’
‘Over six hundred years ago those elves slaughtered our people, they are barbaric animals who need to be destroyed,’ Bry argued.
‘I am with Johan,’ Ardag announced, and the other two looked at him with surprise. ‘These elves can get us to Jotun so that we can complete our quest. Maybe six hundred years of exile has changed them and made them better beings.’
‘When I met Lady Lalo before Sworcadia there was a lot of hurt and remorse in her voice. They are here to help and not to kill. There are only thirty of them. Count Darkool has a vast army that needs to be stopped. If having the elves on our side is a bonus then so be it,’ Johan said.
‘I will stand by you two for as long as I physically can. If it means having the elves on our side then I will live with it, but know I will forever be keeping my eyes on them and if there are any wrong doings I will kill them,’ Bry said, and judging by her tone she was not lying.
‘Very well,’ Ardag concluded.
The three turned to face the small host of elves again but before Ardag could say anything, Bry stepped forward, ‘We will journey with you, elf, but know that our trust for you is thin. If anything bad happens to any of us then I hold you responsible,’ she said, pointing at Lady Lalo.
Lady Lalo nodded her acceptance, ‘very well, Bry of the Clan of the Bear. Know this now, our lives are yours – together we will bring down Count Darkool.’
The ex-captain of Flordonium sat at the wooden table sipping his tankard of mead before taking another bite of the broth made by the cook. Tumnis had been with the boy Carmin for four weeks now, they had fled Flordonium after it was sacked. The High King had given Tumnis his last order: save the boy. They had stumbled upon a merchant baggage train; the merchants had told them that the north west was now under control of the Black Widow and her men were everywhere.
Tumnis decided to take the boy further east; they had just past the town of Arnot and were heading west to the coast. Tumnis had an uncle who lived by the sea, and he hoped that his uncle still had his fishing boat which would be a ticket out of Wilmurin for Tumnis and Carmin. But for now they enjoyed the food they ate in the inn, which lay far from any main roads.
‘When do we leave, Captain Tumnis?’ the boy whispered over the table.
‘Shhh! I told you not to call me that anymore,’ Tumnis said. He was extremely paranoid, all it took was one person to give them up and the game was over. This was Black Widow territory but he hoped that with the Black Widow campaigning in the north he would not be bothered here in the south.
‘Sorry, when do we leave, Peter?’ Carmin asked, emphasising Tumnis's borrowed name.
‘Once we have finished eating we leave immediately, we still have at least two more weeks’ trek to the coast.’
The boy sighed. ‘I want to go home, I do not want to be here,’ he said, slamming his fist down.
‘Quiet, do not alert anybody to our presence. I don't want to be here either but we have to be,’ Tumnis argued, but then he saw the boy's eyes filling with tears. ‘You will be fine, I will protect you. Sometimes in life there are things that you just have to do, Carmin.’
Tumnis then not
iced a group of three men behind them, staring at them; one was broad and tall with dark hair while the other two were slightly smaller, more twig-like compared to their companion. Tumnis knew it was time to leave. He signalled to Carmin to stand up and they both left the inn.
Tumnis heard men talking behind him as they were walking away from the inn. He turned around and the broad, tall man grabbed him by his throat, ‘I know you!’ He said; his horrible breath filled Tumnis's nose and his teeth were yellow and rotten. ‘You're Captain Tumnis!’
‘I have no idea what you are talking about, friend, leave me and my son alone,’ he pleaded with his hands in the air.
‘Look lads! This one escaped the battle. Maybe we should hand him in to the Black Widow, or even better High Count Darkool!’ He said and snorted, and as he did so remnants of food spat into Tumnis's face.
Carmin gasped and started to step backwards before one of the men scooped him up and held him under his arm.
Without a second thought Tumnis drove his knee as hard as he could into the broad man’s genitals. The man screamed and fell over, holding his hands between his legs. Tumnis reacted quickly, drew his sword and drove it down into the man’s mouth and through to the other side.
He looked up immediately and saw one of the other men running at him with his axe held high. The man brought his axe down with the aim of cutting Tumnis's head in half, but Tumnis managed to block it. Using his sword and the curved part of the axe he locked the blade with the axe and spun it around, causing the man to drop the axe. Tumnis now wielded both a sword and an axe and approached the petrified man. The man tried to block with his hands but his attempt was futile as the axe came down at him and cut off both of his hands, and then a sword burst through his stomach; the man fell to the ground, dead.
One more. Tumnis looked up at the man who held Carmin, the man looked at his dead comrades and stuttered. Tumnis stepped forward, ‘Release the boy, friend and you will live.’
‘D … d … do you p … p … promise?’ the man asked, and Tumnis noticed the stream of piss falling down his legs.
‘I swear,’ was all he said. The man let go of Carmin and turned to run away. As he was a few feet away Tumnis threw the axe. It spun in the air with a whiz and landed with a thud in the man's back, severing his spine.
Carmin, who was panting in fear, looked up at Tumnis, ‘I thought you would let him live, Peter.’
‘I lied,’ Tumnis replied coldly. ‘We must leave before more men come, next time we may not be so lucky. From now on we stick to the road.’
The two of them left the inn and spoke no more of the incident. Tumnis's thoughts returned to his family and he shuddered when he imagined them screaming in the flames of Flordonium.
‘It's just down there,’ Lady Lalo said, pointing down to a ship that was anchored a mile out at sea.
‘And how do you suppose we go down there and get it?’ Bry asked.
‘Look on the beach Bry, there are half a dozen rowing boats that belong to it – if we commandeer them we can take the ship,’ Ardag said, gazing down at the beach.
‘Take a ship?’ Bry asked, astonished at the notion.
‘Yes, the elves are good fighters and there are the three of us. It is the only way,’ Ardag reasoned.
‘Even if we can, there is no way down there,’ she added.
‘There is,’ Johan interrupted as he returned with two elves after scouting the cliff. ‘Over by that large tree there are steps.’
‘See, Bry, where there’s a will there’s a way,’ Ardag said with a wink, but Bry just scowled at him.
The small party carefully descended the narrow, rocky steps down to the sandy beach. The rock was slippery because of rain and moss. The descent took almost two hours but they all made it safely. As they slowly walked up the beach they saw that the rowing boats were guarded by two dozen lightly armed men. They had no insignia or any obvious loyalty to any of the clans.
Lady Lalo turned and faced the companions, ‘I want you three to stay here. My warriors will deal with the pirates. It will be quick work,’ she said in a hushed tone and the companions nodded. She whistled and Larko came running to her. ‘This is my son, Larko, he will lead the attack.’
After a short period of preparation the elves were off. The elves were very graceful and masters of sneak; eight of them quietly and successfully crept around the pirates on their left flank. Another eight got close enough so that the pirates were within range of their deadly bows, and the rest prepared to charge in. It amazed Johan how they communicated by whistling and hand gestures.
A short whistle gave the signal for the first volley of arrows. They shot with lightning speed into the air and hit home, downing seven of the pirates instantly; the last arrow struck the foot of another and he cried out in pain. The pirates were now alerted to the new threat and fumbled around grabbing what weapons they could. Another volley struck down five more of them and another killed six. Only six remained.
They did not notice the elves in their shiny green armour coming from behind. The elves made short work of the remaining pirates with their curved blades and the fight was over in seconds. A loud shout and cheering from the cliff alerted the elves. Out of an obscured cave came pouring at least fifty men, wearing thick dark armour with a red spider painted on their breasts. It must have been they who the pirates were meeting.
‘We have company,’ Bry said, and took on her bear form and gave a roar. Johan and Ardag drew their weapons. The companions, along with the remaining elves, charged towards the newcomers.
The elves who had just despatched the pirates stood no chance against the incoming men. The two sides crashed into each other and after leaving a few of the enemy dead the elves were quickly cut down.
‘Archers! Take down as many as you can! Rapid fire!’ Larko barked at the archers, as he and the rest of his soldiers along with the companions ran past.
Without a moment to think, the archers began firing volley after volley into the small dark mass. Arrows hit home a number of times killing dozens of the enemy. The Black Widow’s men saw the incoming elves and charged towards them.
Bry ran faster than the rest, she growled as she ran and glared at the enemy with hungry eyes. She smashed into them, instantly killing the first two men she saw. She bit and clawed at the men around her. Moments later the two sides clashed hard and the sound of metal on metal echoed off the rocky cliff. A bloody battle followed. The elves’ fine curved swords were not as effective against the plate armour of the Black Widow’s men but still dangerous nonetheless.
Johan's blade found its way into the rib cage of an attacker. For a moment his sword was jammed and he could not release it. Finally he managed to twist it and shuddered at the sound of the ribs cracking. He pulled his blade up and searched for his next target.
The light brown bear, Bry, spat out the arm of an unfortunate victim as she stared down another man, who held a spear. He feinted an attack and then came forward with a real attack. The spear tip grazed Bry's faced slightly; using her great big paws she snapped the spear in two and then pounced on the man. Her sheer weight killed him but she was not finished until she bit his head off from his shoulders.
Ardag was locked in a desperate melee with two of the enemy soldiers. He found an opening and managed to swing his sword around and cleanly cut through the helmet of an unsuspecting soldier. As the man gripped his face, Ardag slashed at his neck opening a huge wound which poured with blood. He quickly turned to face the other man and blocked a number of attacks before finishing him off in a similar way to his comrade.
Although outnumbered the elves fought valiantly – one by one the numbers of the enemy dwindled. It wasn't long before a dozen of them began to flee. Lady Lalo, who came over when it was safe, pointed to the fleeing men, ‘They cannot be allowed to escape and spread the word of our return!’ she barked to the archers.
Without much effort the archers quickly finished off the fleeing men. They had suffered twelve casualties to
the enemy’s fifty. Only the companions, Lady Lalo, Larko and sixteen other elvish warriors were unhurt. They all panted with exhaustion from the brief battle.
‘Let us not waste time, we must get to the ship as soon as possible,’ Johan said with urgency.
Ardag nodded, ‘Of course, we leave now.’
The party took two of the boats and sailed towards the double mast schooner nearby. Once they arrived below the ship they cautiously boarded it. After a long search they were happy to find that nobody was aboard; the pirates they had killed on the beach were its only crew. What they were even happier to find were the barrels of ale and wine down below. Within hours they had readied the ship and set sail for Jotun.
‘Uncle Barbor!’ Tumnis called out at the quite round man who was scrubbing a small boat by the shore.
Barbor looked up, astonished, ‘Tumnis! How are you, my nephew?’ He said with happiness, and ran over to his nephew. He looked down at Carmin and then back at Tumnis and nudged his shoulder, ‘Is this lad your son?’ he asked.
‘Not my son, a friend's son. He is in my care now,’ Tumnis replied cautiously.
‘Very well, how goes it? How is that wife of yours and your children?’
Tumnis winced at the mention of his family and fought the lump in his throat as he replied, ‘They are dead, uncle, killed in Flordonium.’
‘Dead? Flordonium?’ His uncle said in surprise.
‘I guess I have a lot to tell you, Uncle Barbor.’
They sat down in Barbor's small little hovel; he had no children or wife and was all alone. Tumnis explained everything except for the true identity of Carmin. His uncle listened silently as Tumnis told him of the destruction of his city and his need to escape Wilmurin.
‘Well, you have come to the right place my boy, my boat is seaworthy and ready to set sail in the morning. Why don't you stay for supper and leave in the morning?’ Barbor offered.
