by Thomas Rath
He looked down at his wild friend and stared purposefully into his eyes. Almost immediately, he was pulled into the wolg’s consciousness as if becoming one with his soul. The raw emotion and instincts to hunt and kill and taste blood filled him mixed with the calculating and understanding that made Erl what he was. Thane forced the instincts away and concentrated on the wolg’s perceptions. Through the din of falling rain he could hear the cluster of snores coming from the nearby wagons. The smell of the trees filled his nostrils mixed with the putrid scent of the dirty men on the road. He concentrated on those smells, trying to differentiate between them and search out the one that was his friend.
Recognizing Thane’s need, Erl took him back through the rooms of memory that filled his mind searching for the familiar aroma Thane was looking for. Suddenly, the memory of Dor’s personal scent filled his senses mixed with the terrible stench of fear. He concentrated on the location, where it had been the strongest, and a picture quickly formed in his mind pinpointing the exact spot. Thane pulled back, racing down the corridors of the wolg’s mind, searching for the place he had entered and in an instant found himself staring back at the large wolf.
He wasted no time. Turning quickly on his heels he retraced his steps back a few wagons to the one Erl revealed as Dor’s prison. Remaining just behind the tree line, he peered out through the rain and quickly searched for any sign of the jailer. He did not have to check to know Dor was underneath the large tarp that covered the wagon but he would need the key if he was going to be successful. Just then his eyes caught a slight movement coming from beneath the cart. After a quick check to make sure no one else was about, he shot past the trees and dropped silently under the wagon. Erl remained hidden, keeping watch. Although he did not want to hurt anyone, Thane was prepared to kill the guard if necessary. Luckily, the man was passed out, the smell of mead pungent on his snoring lips.
He did a quick visual search, his heart pounding in his throat, looking for anything on the man that looked like a key. There was nothing. He searched again, but still came up empty. Panic gnawed at him and suddenly he wondered if he was going to be able to get his friend out after all. Sliding back out from under the wagon he checked the near side but still was unsuccessful. Passing to the other side his eyes and hands darted about but he was still disappointed. He was starting to get desperate.
Moving to the front of the wagon, he made a quick scan of the seat when his eyes finally rested on a pair of metal keys hooked nicely to the driver’s bench. Thane snatched them up in a hurry and climbed onto the wagon careful not to make a sound. A horse snorted in the distance catching his attention only briefly before he lifted the flap and ducked inside. The air under the tarp was stifling and he wondered how Dor could possibly live through the night in such a condition. The cage sat ominously before him, a mass of metal bars only high enough to allow its occupant a small crouch. He reached for the lock and quickly inserted the key. Without even a glance at the prisoner it held, Thane crawled inside.
Almost immediately, he was thrown to the floor, banging his head on the bars that sent white dots flashing before his eyes. An arm pressed firmly against his throat cutting off most of his air and stealing away all his attempts to struggle. Thane felt warm breath against the side of his face and a raspy voice spoke in his ear. “Cheneki Jho Eelo Niek Chee Dreesho!”
Though barely able to breath and with a growing and painful bump on the back of his skull, Thane was overcome with joy as he instantly recognized his friend’s voice. Then it dawned on him what he’d had said. Make a move and I’ll kill you?
“Dor,” he barely managed, Dor’s arm still pressed firmly against his throat, “it’s me.”
“Ku?”
Thane suddenly realized he was speaking common. Reverting back to his native tongue, he tried again. “Ka Shon Ney, Dor. Thane.”
“Thane?” The raspy whisper asked, immediately releasing his grip and letting air back into Thane’s lungs. “Is it really you?”
“Yes,” he said sitting up and rubbing his throat. “And I’ve come to get you out of here.”
“Thane!” Dor whispered gleefully, throwing his arms around his friend and choking him again. “But how?”
“We’ll talk about that later,” Thane whispered trying to keep the task at hand in the forefront of his mind. “Can you walk?”
“I will walk out of here!”
Thane nodded and then turned back to the open cage door where he exited and then quickly checked their surroundings before motioning back to Dor to follow. Thane’s heart dropped as he watched his friend moving slowly and deliberately, obviously in a lot of pain from being cramped in his cage. Closing the door behind them, Thane made sure the prison was securely locked before poking his head out from under the flap to check that they were still clear. Erl had not made a sound so he felt certain that nothing had changed since he disappeared under the tarp.
Quickly scurrying off the wagon, Thane replaced the keys where he found them and then ran back to help Dor. Checking the guard, he found that the man had not moved in the slightest as his raucous snores continued to reverberate off the wagon’s hull. Reaching up to help Dor down, he noticed how very light his friend had become and he couldn’t help but wondered how he had been able to muster up enough strength to pin him to the ground.
Half supporting, half carrying him, Thane quickly rushed him towards the tree line and certain safety. His heart was pounding in relief at the apparent success of the mission when Dor suddenly dug in his heals and brought them to a quick stop just short of the trees and the freedom they offered.
“We’re dead,” Dor whispered.
Thane’s face paled.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Thane searched the darkness wondering who would be out in such weather and why Erl had not warned them. The wind came up suddenly sending pin drops of rain flying forcefully down like a flurry of needles. He squinted against its bite while searching frantically for what had made his friend stop just on the edge of freedom. If they stayed much longer in the open they were sure to be caught.
“Just beyond the tree line,” Dor whispered trying to keep his shivering body still.
Thane scanned the area again. “There’s nothing out there, Dor,” he said making a move to go. “We have to keep moving.”
“No!” Dor rasped, digging his hand painfully into Thane’s arm. “It’s there. I can see it. It’s right next to that tree. It’s just sitting there watching us.”
Thane looked at the frightened expression on Dor’s face and found himself wondering about his friend’s sanity. Being caged for so long may have robbed him of his senses. “Listen to me Dor,” he whispered, “there is nothing out there. We have to go or we’ll be caught for sure.”
“There,” Dor said, risking a pointing finger, “it just moved.”
Thane shot a quick eye to the area Dor singled out but found nothing amiss. Erl sat watching them, patiently waiting and patrolling the wet night with his keen eyes and sharp hearing. Thane quickly scanned the vicinity around him before returning his sights to the wolg. Of course. A sudden feeling of relief washed over him as he finally realized that Erl was what had scared Dor so badly. He had become so used to the wolg’s presence that he had forgotten that the last contact Dor had with his kind had almost cost him his life.
“It’s all right, Dor,” he soothed. “The wolg’s with me. He won’t hurt us.”
“The wolg?”
“Yes. That’s what they’re called.”
Dor took a sudden step away from his friend and stared at him as if uncertain who he was. “What’s going on Thane? Why would you be with one of those things?”
A loud cough erupted from the camp followed by the sound of approaching voices. Thane turned quickly, catching a glimpse of movement down the line to his left. Erl let out a low growl of warning causing Dor to take another step back. Thane grabbed his arm and whispered urgently into his ear. “Listen Dor, if we don’t leave right now it’s b
ack to the cage for both of us or maybe even worse. You have to trust me.”
Dor stared at him with a blank, far off look before he turned back to the woods and slowly nodded his head. Lightning suddenly flashed, bathing them in its light for a split second before it was quickly swallowed up in the thick darkness of night. A shout came from their left followed by a cry of warning that intruders were spotted in the camp just as a burst of thunder collided with the final words drowning them in its wake. Almost instantly, another flash answered the cry revealing an empty spot where the warning voice was positive something had stood only seconds before.
Thane and Dor shot through the woods with increasing speed not hearing the laughter and mocking voices accusing the man of having swallowed too much mead. After the first lightning flash, Dor had needed no more encouragement, giving the wolg a simple, fleeting glance, as he and Thane broke the line of trees and plunged themselves into thicker blackness and deeper cover. Erl watched calmly as they hurriedly ran past, the one with the friendly scent that he had come to trust and the other stinking horridly of fear. Briefly following their movements as they disappeared behind the trunks of the large trees, he yawned and licked his chops before scanning the camp one last time for any signs of pursuit. When nothing presented itself, he reached up with his rear leg and scratched an itch behind his ear before turning about slowly and then trotting off after the Chufa easily tracking their fresh scent.
Limbs brushed past Thane’s face as he tried to catch up to Dor who was now running madly through the trees without the least thought of where he was heading. The idea of being thrown back into a cage must have lent him strength as his once stiff legs now stretched with great strides that crashed through the woods without the slightest attempt at being quiet.
Thane kept his passing silent, as he had learned to do without thought, keeping sight of Dor’s back. A flash of fur overtook him on the right as Erl shot ahead leading the way back to Jack. Dor stopped suddenly as the wolg passed and was almost knocked to the ground when Thane was unable to pull up and stop in time.
“What’s wrong?”
“Do you think it’s changed its mind?” Dor said trying to catch his breath as he pointed at Erl who again sat calmly and watched them from a short distance away.
“It’s all right, Dor,” Thane reassured. “He won’t hurt us. He’s leading the way back to the camp. Now come on. We have to be far away from that caravan before they discover you’re missing.”
Thane grabbed Dor’s arm, practically pulling him back into a run, while Erl turned and raced ahead. Soon, Dor was running like before pulling slightly ahead of Thane who still kept his footfalls silent. Without warning, Erl veered to the left certain of where he was and where Jack would be found. Dor paused briefly, chancing a quick look at Thane before turning with the wolg and following right behind. Thane knew they must be getting close, judging from the time it took him to reach the train of soldiers, when Erl suddenly slowed and dropped into a casual walk. Thane pulled up next to Dor, who had stopped, his expression revealing his apprehension on whether it was really safe to follow.
“Let’s go,” Thane whispered grabbing his arm.
“Wait a minute, Thane,” Dor hesitated. “How do you know it is safe?”
“By looking at him.”
Dor gave his friend a puzzled look.
Thane shrugged and then smiled. “His ears are not flattened, his hackles are down, he’s not at a crouch and he hasn’t growled. Look at him,” Thane pointed. “Like a playful pup.”
Dor stared back at Thane as if he had suddenly grown horns. Opening his mouth to say something, he quickly thought better of it and, instead, snapped his jaw shut.
“Now,” Thane continued, “I should warn you about one other thing...”
Just then a large figure broke from the trees to their right and bellowed a horrific sound that grated against Dor’s sensitive ears. Dor instantly dropped to a crouch and wrapped his hands around the first thing he could find. Standing, he held a large branch and stood defensively preparing for the immanent attack. A low growl suddenly rumbled in Erl’s throat as he jumped in front of the intruder and faced off with Dor.
Recognizing the sudden danger of the situation, Thane jumped in front of Dor and raised his hands motioning for him to stop. “Wait!”
“What are you doing, Thane?” Dor yelled trying to move his friend out of danger’s path. “It’s a trap. We’ve been given away by your wolg.”
Thane turned his head towards Erl and the intruder and a stream of awful sounds suddenly escaped his mouth. Dor wasn’t positive but they sounded similar to those spoken by their attacker.
To Dor’s amazement and relief, both turned away and disappeared back behind the trees. Facing Thane, he could barely speak. “What goes on here, Thane? That looked like a HuMan!”
Thane put up his hands. “I know Dor, I know. That was what I was about to tell you.”
“You cannot be serious!” Dor shot throwing the stick down. “You cannot mean you have taken up with a HuMan!”
Thane looked down at his feet, suddenly afraid that his friend would reject him again just as he had back in their village. “I know it is strange,” he sighed, “but I can explain all of it.”
Dor just stared at him, his own feelings twisted into knots of guilt, relief, and disbelief at what had just happened. How had they gotten to this point? How was it that his closest friend, whom he had given up for dead, rescued him only to turn them both over to the company of one of the beasts that attacked their village and then into the hands of another HuMan? It was all too much for him to take. He suddenly felt exhausted. Sitting down hard, in the wet mud, he looked up at Thane through the dripping trees. “I’m glad you are still alive,” he whispered,
Thane smiled, feeling a wash of relief as he sat down next to his friend. “As am I. If it were not for that HuMan and Erl, I would have certainly perished.”
“Erl?”
Thane smiled. “The wolg.”
Dor shook his head. “I’m not sure what to think of this, Thane. What has happened?”
Thane stared sadly into his friends glowing eyes and sighed heavily. “I will tell you Dor, but I am afraid you will think badly of me.”
Dor cringed at his comment remembering all too well how he had deserted Thane at a time when he needed an understanding friend more than anything else. He was about to apologize for what he had done but Thane started his narrative before he could open his mouth.
He started with the night visit from PocMar. Dor listened intently growing in anger and sorrow when his suspicions about PocMar were confirmed. He then felt himself dip deeper into a sense of shame for not being there for his friend who had saved his life more times than he cared to remember.
Thane continued on with waking up in Jack’s cave and how he and Erl had nursed him back to health. He explained how he had come to trust Jack with his life and that all the stories about the HuMans were not true. He was careful to avoid the stories they told about the Chufa and he skipped over his experience with Tam, still fearing how Dor might react to his abilities. He figured it was best to reveal things gradually. He finally reached the part about seeing him in the cell and then the night’s rescue and then silence followed after and neither of them seemed able to look at the other. Both were lost in thoughts of shame, sorrow and regret and neither seemed able to voice the feelings that rushed upon them like the torrents of rain that had begun to fall.
Dor jumped when Jack’s voice suddenly shattered the relative still as he motioned for them to come.
Glancing at Dor, Thane sighed. “We have to leave Dor. There is still one thing that I haven’t told you that makes it necessary for us to be on our way as quickly as possible.”
Dor stared at him blankly as if nothing could change his life anymore than what he had just heard and experienced.
“Tam has been taken by trolls and they are headed toward a HuMan fort called Haykon. We were on our way to get her back when w
e found you.”
Dor’s face suddenly lit up. “You know about Tam?”
Thane looked confused. “You know about what happened to her?”
Dor couldn’t help but laugh. “Yes, I know about Tam. I was with her!”
Thane’s jaw dropped. “You were with her? How? I mean, if you were with her, how did you get here? With them?” Thane pointed back over his shoulder obviously meaning the caravan of soldiers.
Before he could answer, Jack came through the thick trees once again silencing them both. “We have to go, Thane, if we are to reach Haykon before it no longer exists.” Motioning to Dor, he added, “is your friend well enough to travel?”
“Yes,” Thane replied. “He’s still a bit shaken by all that has happened, especially seeing that homely face of yours when you came out of the trees like a lingering troll, but I think he will be all right.” Jack smiled only slightly. “He knows about our other friend, Tam, who was taken by the trolls. He says he was with her.”
Jack’s eyebrows lifted. “Well then, let’s get him on a horse and he can tell us all about it on the way. By the looks of things, we’re going to be stuck with this weather for a little while longer. It might help hide our passing some but it’s also going to slow us down.”
“Do you think Wess will follow after us?”
Jack shook his head. “By the time they discover Dor is gone they will be half way through the forest. He doesn’t have the time to go looking for him. His orders are to get to Calandra immediately and that is what he will do. Wess would leave his own mother in the arms of trolls if he was ordered to.”
Dor stared at them in disbelief, not understanding a single word that was being spoken. Jack made a slight motion to Thane who looked over and smiled. Changing back to Chufa he said, “We have to go Dor. You can tell me about Tam on the way.”
Dor’s head raced in a whirlwind threatening to suck him away into nothingness. It was all too much. Jack touched his shoulder lightly causing Dor to flinch and almost pull away. “Ka Shon Jwee. Wees Shos Oonteedi.”
