by I K Spencer
With the rock now providing cover, she drew an arrow back and took aim at the closest Dolonarian but he fell before she got the chance to release. Looking to her left, she spotted Anthen spring from the jungle onto the road behind the patrol. The guardsman dropped two more enemy soldiers as he raced forward, trying to divert the Dolonarians' attention from herself, the closer quarry. She could see that he was trying to get them to turn in his direction so the two marksmen could catch the Dolonaries in a crossfire.
The ploy had the reverse effect, however, as Anthen's skill with the bow caused the soldiers to flee, racing in her direction even faster. Teya dropped them as fast as she could draw arrows from her quiver but there were too many and soon they were upon her. She hopped up on top of the rock and drew her sword to face them.
The Arnedonian killed the first swordsman but three stepped forward when he fell. She tried to keep them from encircling her but was overwhelmed and forced to leap from the rock and back away as they followed. They were nearly on her again when a war cry erupted from behind her, startling the soldiers for a second or two, then Anthen flew past her and helped her drive the soldiers back. The pair seemed to hold the advantage for a while, felling a few more Dolonarians, but the enemy, still with superior numbers, reorganized and pressed the attack once more.
Anthen and Teya back-pedaled as fast as they could to keep the dozen remaining soldiers from getting behind them. They tried to work their way toward the brush but the Dolonaries out-flanked them, cutting off any escape. Anthen's mind frantically searched for a means to turn the tide, even if it meant sacrificing himself, since they must not be captured!
All at once there was a roar from behind the advancing Dolonarians and Anthen's heart leapt at the sight of Garrick galloping toward them, a giant battle hammer held aloft in his huge hand. Just the sight of the burly figure atop the large horse was enough to halt the enemy's advance and keep Anthen and Teya from being overrun.
The band of soldiers halted and a few turned to face the formidable warrior. Garrick rode in and vaulted from his mount like a young man. One swipe of the heavy weapon sent those in its path flying through the air as though they were launched from a catapult. Anthen marveled at the older man's skill and could well imagine how Garrick had gained his heroic reputation in the Dolonarian wars.
With Garrick's considerable aid, the trio turned the tide and quickly took care of the rest of the enemy. The last few Dolonarians, knowing the fight was lost, dropped their weapons and ran off into the jungle.
When the last of the enemy had fled, Anthen looked at Garrick, who had a big grin pasted on his face, and couldn’t help but smile himself. He could not remember ever seeing the older guardsman smile and it was a wonderful sight.
Garrick stepped forward and gripped the younger man in a bear hug, lifting him from the ground. "Where have you been Apprentice?" he thundered. "What a day! I never guessed I would fight the Dolonaries ever again. You didn't leave many for me, though." Garrick looked around; they were surrounded with dead or wounded Dolonarians. He turned back and Anthen saw that he was fighting back tears. "My, 'tis good to see you Anthen."
"You as well, old friend," Anthen replied gently, fighting to control his own emotions. "You arrived just in time Garrick; we were nearly finished! What took you so long?" he added with a wink, trying to lighten the mood.
Garrick chuckled. "You move so fast I can barely match you much less overtake you. Now I see why you were trying to lose me." He smiled at Teya.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Garrick this is Teya, one of Arnedon's finest. Teya this is Master Garrick, the guardsman who uncovered this terrible treachery and the realm's most noted war hero."
Garrick was so happy he repeated the hug with Teya, explaining it as a warrior ritual. The Arnedonian didn't seem to mind it one bit.
"We have much to discuss," Anthen said as he scanned the road in both directions, "But this is no place to dally. We must get away from here quickly!"
Anthen and Teya fetched their mounts while Garrick searched the Dolonarians for anything that might be of use and pulled the corpses out of sight. They carried no food so it was very unlikely they had traveled any great distance before discovering the foreigners.
Once the site was cleared, the trio hurried away from the road. They pushed north, paralleling the road for an hour without speaking and during that time, they spied no less than three enemy patrols hurrying past on the nearby road. A short time later they paused by a stream and, after conferring quietly, decided to ride down the center of the stream, which would allow them to move more quickly and cover their tracks. Garrick explained that they could count on the stream to roughly flow toward the west and the border marshes so it was a reasonable path to follow.
The three warriors rode through the creek for another hour before stopping to hold council and let the horses drink. They stayed mounted in the middle of the stream, concerned that enemy trackers might not be far behind.
"I know what Cidrl means to do," Anthen announced as soon as they had halted. The three riders sat in a circle to see one another and more importantly, to watch the forest beyond.
Garrick's eyes shifted to Teya, a silent reminder for Anthen to watch his words in front of the Arnedonian.
"We have formed an alliance," Anthen explained, seeing the older man’s concern. "Teya is an Arnedonian agent and has been most valuable. I would likely not be here without her aid."
Garrick nodded, though did not appear completely comfortable with discussing such sensitive guardsman affairs in front of a foreigner. That concern was quickly forgotten when Anthen went on to explain Cidrl's mission.
"Is there yet time? Can we stop him?" Garrick's normally broad, ruddy face seemed to have drained of all color.
"He was still at Greyrock when we escaped. Their plans at the time were for the man in black, he is called Dolkes by the way, to leave yesterday morning and Cidrl and their Dolonarian escort, led by a field marshal named Vlaednyk, to leave this morning. The escape, though, may have caused their plans to change."
"Only for the worse, I imagine," the older guardsman replied. "What is Dolkes' mission?"
"He will be waiting somewhere, over the border I think, at some rendezvous point. My guess is he will have supplies and perhaps, more men."
Garrick silently mulled over their situation. Anthen noted for the first time, that the older guardsman looked as though he had been through a particularly hard time the last few weeks. Though still a solid figure, Garrick looked thinner and older, with dark circles under his gray eyes.
"Garrick there is more bad news," Anthen warned, then nodded to Teya.
Teya described the force mobilized not far from their present position. At the mention that the rebel tribesmen were also numbered in that immense force, Garrick's head shot up in alarm and looked at the younger guardsman for confirmation. Anthen solemnly nodded.
"What is your plan?" Garrick finally asked, after probing Teya for more details about the force she had witnessed.
"With three, two would travel to the destination, enlisting what aid they might, while the third rode south to Dolonhold to alert the fortress and evacuate the border plains. From the garrison the news would be sent to Carael and, in addition to fortifying Dolonhold against the imminent invasion, a force would be dispatched to secure Mount Baenkeep."
Garrick nodded, approving of the plan. No one spoke for a few moments as the two guardsmen eyed each other. Garrick, as the senior guardsman, would have the final say so Anthen had omitted stating who would do what.
Garrick saw the younger man respectfully awaiting his decision and was amazed at both Anthen’s deference and his calmness. The apprentice had clearly changed as well and he guessed that the young man had been through many difficult times since departing with the traitor. In Anthen’s eyes he saw the wisdom and maturity of a seasoned guardsman along with the humility that comes from seeing battle and human suffering. The confident and cocky young man of just a few weeks ago would have
never even given him the opportunity to make the decision unpressured. After seeing the obvious changes in the younger man, it was an easy choice for the aging guardsman.
"It is a sound plan and I’ve none better." He offered a fatherly smile to the pair. "If it is all the same with you both, I will travel to Dolonhold. You are better suited for the hard journey and you obviously make a good team. Besides, if the garrison is to come under siege again, that is where I want to be."
"No one is better suited to any important mission than you," Anthen countered solemnly. "If you had not come, as you promised you would, I fear we would be dead or captured and all would be lost. With you at Dolonhold, the safety of the heartland could not be in better hands."
Anthen leaned forward and offered his hand. The burly, older guardsman, moved by younger man's emotion, clasped his forearm in a strong, reassuring grip and mumbled his gratitude for the tribute.
Anthen stiffened as he straightened back up. He cocked his head as if listening for a moment, then shot a look of warning at the other two. "We must go ... They are coming."
Garrick gave him a questioning look but there was no time to explain. The three riders turned and continued downstream at a quick pace.
Chapter 33
The trio followed the westerly stream for a couple of more hours until it came to another north-south road. There they waited as a troop of marching soldiers passed along the road, then risked leading their mounts along the road for a stretch, hoping the increasing traffic would cover their tracks. They then dropped into the jungle on the far side of the road and followed it to the north. At the next waterway, a gently flowing river, they again turned west and followed the watercourse. They followed the river, riding in the shallow water along its edge, until nearly dusk and then halted at a small clearing for food and rest.
Once they were seated and eating a cold supper of dried beef and stale biscuits, the two men were eager to learn of the other's experiences in more detail. Garrick prompted the younger man to begin his tale first and listened attentively as Anthen described his and Cidrl's passage through the dangerous borderlands, including his fall into the foul water and fight against the giant snake. The younger man also admitted to a growing malaise and confusion as they progressed.
"I played along, in part, but I do think now that it was having a real affect," said Anthen, describing Cidrl's attempts to undermine his loyalty to the guard. "I was ..." the young guardsman's voice trailed off as he struggled to describe his descent into the darkness.
"I had quite a time during the crossing myself," Garrick interjected, seeing that it was difficult for Anthen to talk about what came next. "I missed the meaning of your sign by the muck and suffered mightily from the huge insects before figuring it out. I did not make it out of those hellish swamps as you did and spent the entire night fending off those serpents. Luckily I learned that by killing one, the rest would turn and fight over the dead viper." He paused, then added in a gentle voice, "I felt a sharp pain, from the amulet I gather, when you ... were taken. How did it happen?"
Anthen steeled himself, then began the tale. "I was blinded from the poisonous water. Cidrl set up our camp and offered me some Dolonarian brandy. For the first time since leaving, I actually felt better. Cidrl talked of some of his adventures and I fell asleep, feeling wonderful and relaxed." Pain became evident on the younger man's face as he recalled the rest. "I dreamed of his tales but then, in the dream, I fell against a tree limb and was knocked senseless. When I came to, I was back by the fire and I was not sure whether it was still the dream or real... Cidrl appeared and commanded me to kneel before him." Anthen stared straight ahead, seeing the vision once again as he recalled the experience. "I—I tried to fight it but my body would not obey. He possessed this ... unearthly sword that shimmered with blue fire. He said the words and I repeated them, disavowing my guardsman pledge and pledging all to him. I knew ..." Anthen's voice broke and he shook his head to ward off the painful memory. "I knew what was about to happen but was powerless to stop it. I even thought to take my own life but it was too late. He touched me with that wicked sword and the blue flame burned so." Anthen grimaced with the thought of the terrible, unclean pain. "It was the last thing I felt, then blackness ... then worse. One horrible vision after another." Anthen shut his eyes against the horrific image of Garrick and Urvena from his last vision.
"There was nothing you could have done," Teya softly offered. "It was an enchantment."
"Aye," Garrick agreed. "Anthen, King Jamen and I knew there was a likelihood that there was no way to resist Cidrl if sorcery were his weapon. That is another reason for the amulet."
Anthen looked at the older guardsman. "The amulet? How?"
"The two stones join together the life forces of the bearers. When the spell was cast, the amulet immediately went to work to fight it."
"Using your life force!" Anthen interrupted excitedly. "That is why you look as though you have suffered so terribly. Your vitality was taken to free me from the spell!"
Garrick nodded with a sad smile. "I do not look that ill do I?"
"How long?" the apprentice queried gravely.
"Nearly a week. I must admit it was by chance that I did not give up." Garrick explained how, fearing he was near death, had decided to remove the amulet lest they both be lost but he had lapsed into unconsciousness before he could bring himself to do it.
The three warriors were silent as Anthen pondered the battle his elder had waged to save him from the terrible spell, a fate worse than death. He wondered if he could have done the same.
"Yet again you have been there as promised." Anthen's voice was choked with emotion and respect. "Thank you Garrick. I pray to the Gods I am worthy of your sacrifice."
"You are son." Garrick nodded then, to lighten the mood, chuckled and added, "I am just thankful I fell asleep."
The older guardsman, eager to change the subject, looked back and forth from Anthen to Teya. "How is it that you two came to join forces?"
Teya and Anthen took turns telling him of the events from Anthen's awakening up to that morning. He seemed genuinely amazed at the clever way they carried out Teya's escape and asked many questions, especially about the emerging details of Cidrl's plot. He was keenly interested in the meeting between the traitorous guardsman and Vlaednyk.
"That is an astounding tale." The master guardsman's face conveyed his high regard for their deeds. "You both have already accomplished far more than should be expected of any mortal man, or woman! Thank you Teya, for joining forces with us."
"There is a long and difficult road ahead, I fear, before we may rest though," cautioned Anthen, who did not share the older guardsman's exuberance.
"Yes but we have hope," countered Teya. "We have come so far. We know the devil's plan and are free of the Dolonarian stronghold unharmed. The gods have smiled on us thus far."
"Aye," agreed Garrick, who raised his mug. "May the gods continue to smile on us!"
Teya joined the toast but Anthen was no longer hearing the others. Someone or something was near and approaching very quickly. He stumbled to his feet and drew his sword. Anthen spun around wildly as he tried to locate whatever was overwhelming his senses. Teya and Garrick stared at him in confusion.
"Take arms!" Anthen screamed and the other two scrambled to their feet and drew their weapons, scanning the perimeter for an enemy.
Anthen continued to spin around, expecting to see riders bearing down on them and confused why he heard nothing at all. Movement in the trees to the west caught his attention and he faced it. "There!" he yelled and pushed the other two behind him.
The others followed his gaze. They could see nothing at first, then a shimmering form, the outline of a winged creature, took shape in the fading light. Anthen dropped his sword and scooped up his bow. He rapid-fired two bolts at the center of the quickly-closing shape and heard them both hit what sounded like battle armor.
As the shifting form bore down on them, two red orbs sudd
enly appeared and Garrick roared in fearful recognition, "'Tis the beast! Take cover!"
Anthen fired at one of the glowing eyes and dove for cover, the creature missing him by inches. It passed so close overhead he felt its animal heat. The shadowy form wheeled around at the horses, sending the animals fleeing in terror, then turned for another pass at the stunned trio.
Garrick stepped forward, battle-hammer in hand and Anthen could see fear in the great warrior's eyes. The winged beast seemed to recognize the challenge and opened its jaws in a horrible grimace as it bore down on him. Using the gaping mouth as a target, Anthen fired his last quarrel, which found its mark. The previously noiseless being shrieked and tried to cut off the attack but Garrick lunged forward and caught it with a glancing blow from the heavy hammer. The impact turned the figure and it continued to move away at a great rate of speed. They heard its shrieks fade long after they lost sight of the barely visible shape.
"What was that?" Teya exclaimed.
Anthen looked at Garrick for an explanation.
"I was attacked by that creature, or another of its kind, coming from the mountains toward Gates."
"How did you escape?" she asked.
"Through no skill of my own, I am afraid." Garrick quickly recounted his futile attempt to face the creature and the chance fall that saved his life. "The strange part is how the beast seemed to be toying with me, prolonging the attack for its own enjoyment."
"Strange that it happens upon us here and now," mused Anthen.
"You think Cidrl has some hand here?" Teya asked in alarm.
"Aye," said Garrick, thinking the same thing as his comrade. "I do not think the beast is here by chance."
"We will know for sure soon," concluded Anthen, doubting they had seen the last of the beast.
