by Thomas Rath
Teek stopped in mid bend, his eyes still held by the dwarf. Soren had seen him! He tried to smile but was suddenly overcome with choking fear and a sense of imminent doom. As if on cue, the dwarfs all stood as one and reached for their axes. His eyes still locked with Soren’s, Teek watched as the dwarf rose, reaching for his axe, and then suddenly was no longer there.
Everything seemed frozen for slightest moment before the whole camp erupted into mass pandemonium. Distant screams that could have only been Soren’s echoed back to the camp from an impossible distance before they were abruptly cut off. Ten of the remaining guards held a tight circle around Helgar while the other eleven spread out into the darkness trying to search out whatever it was that had taken their comrade. Suddenly, a second scream came from Teek’s right as another of the guard was taken, his voice cut off quickly, forever silenced.
“Into the trees!” Rangor shouted, pushing Helgar back toward Teek. “Whatever it is, it be droppin’ from the sky. We just be easy marks in the open.”
With Rangor’s words, Teek suddenly found twenty pairs of dwarf eyes burrowing into him with obvious looks of accusation. He shrank back from their stares before finally finding his voice. “I know what you’re thinking, but it’s not her.”
Someone grunted as if in disbelief, then all eyes turned back to the skies.
“I tell you,” Teek reiterated emphatically, “it’s not her.”
He had only gotten his last word out when suddenly the area lit up around them as a great blast of fire shot into the woods, just to his right, engulfing the trees and the dwarfs hiding there in tremendous heat and flames. Teek’s mind flashed back to his home and the devastation that had met his people and their small village. A scream echoed through the dark as another of the royal guard was taken after scrambling out of the fire-covered trees where his companions had stood by him only moments before.
“It’s what destroyed my home,” Teek whispered, grabbing Helgar’s sleeve.
“What ye be babblin’ about?” Bardolf huffed, his eyes trying to pierce the night while hefting his great axe to the ready.
“It’s the monster that destroyed my home,” Teek replied, his eyes wide with terror. “It has to be.”
Another dwarf was suddenly taken, this time to their left. “That be enough,” Helgar growled, patting his axe in one hand while rushing out of the trees and back to the road.
“What ye be doin’ ye durn fool?” Rangor shouted, following right behind him.
“Oh no,” Helgar shouted back, while throwing himself onto the ground, his face to the sky. “Ye git back. I can’t be havin’ you taken, too. This fight be mine.”
Rangor didn’t listen, of course, stubbornly following his charge out of the trees just in time to see two huge, red claws drop from the sky and wrap around Helgar’s waist. Helgar swung his great axe again and again as he was lifted skyward, his blade seeming to have no effect as it bounced off large scales as hard as the toughest stone. Rangor and Bardolf ran out, trying to help, but Helgar was already lifting into the air while banging his axe repeatedly against his captor’s legs without much effect.
With the burning trees lighting the area, all finally got a close look at what it was that was attacking them. It was an enormous creature, red scales covering its whole body. Massive bat-like wings pumped to the sides creating tiny twisters of wind on the ground as it made to gain altitude. Its neck was thick and long ending at its head, which pointed forward to cut through the opposing air. A long tail lashed out from its back swiping around behind, almost taking out one of the guard who had gotten too close. Terror seemed to radiate from it leaving Teek almost unable to breathe as the dwarfs fought to keep themselves from giving in to the fear.
The colossal body started to rise, pulling away with its prey. All seemed lost for their friend and prince when suddenly the huge creature dropped toward the ground as if pushed down from above. It released its grip on Helgar who was in mid swing with his axe but this time his swing came up just enough to catch it underneath its heavy scales. Helgar hit the ground hard while the beast flapped harder to rise into the air. Again it was hit by something from above, knocking it back toward the ground as it slowly gained elevation.
Swallowing the terror that threatened to leave him curled in a ball on the ground, Teek ran over to Helgar careful not to get in the way of the creature’s massive tail that flailed out behind it. Rangor, Bardolf, and a member of the royal guard quickly followed him. “Are you hurt?”
Helgar shot him an incredulous look as he sat up with slight difficulty. “It’d be takin’ more ‘an that to take ol’ Helgar out,” he grumbled. “But whatever it be,” he suddenly smiled hefting his axe so Teek could see the bright red mark along his blade, “it be hurt.”
Teek turned his gaze back to the creature as it began to rise slowly in the sky, every so often dipping back again as something crashed into it from above. It was then that he saw Tchee’s familiar white wings and feathers as she dropped from the sky again to land with great force on the creatures back. It let out an angry screech. Though very agile for its size, its mass at least doubled that of Tchee’s giving her an edge when it came to speed and agility. Dropping down one last time, as if for good measure, Tchee paused briefly in mid air and watched the giant leviathan fly farther away before turning herself about and flying back to their camp.
Teek met her with great relief as she finally touched ground not too far from where Helgar was swatting away Rangor’s offered hand to help him up. “I be fine,” the dwarf prince ranted, though appearing a little stiff as he used his axe to help himself stand.
Throwing his arms around the roc’s large chest, Teek buried himself in Tchee’s soft feathers, the tears, a mixture of terror and relief, running freely down his cheeks. “You’re back,” he whispered, holding her even tighter. Tchee’s head bent down and rubbed gently against his back, like a mother comforting a child, while she cooed softly.
Helgar approached, followed by the rest of the dwarfs, the shame of their earlier accusations playing humbly across their faces while the remaining guard kept wary eyes on the skies above. “We be owin’ ye an apology, Master Teek,” Helgar said, breaking up the happy reunion.
Teek pulled away from Tchee and took Helgar’s outstretched hand. He smiled slightly. “That must be the same monster that destroyed my people,” he said, wiping at the tears on his face. “You saw how it blew fire on us.”
Helgar nodded, his look grim, the concern for his lost comrades obvious. “How many be fallen?” he asked of no one in particular.
Rangor took a quick count of the guard. “Nine,” he answered, his tone kept even and official. “Four taken from the ground and five incinerated in the fire.”
“Nine,” Helgar breathed, while gently shaking his head. “Almost, half me force in mere moments.”
“What were that thing?” Bardolf asked, directing everyone’s attention to Teek.
Teek didn’t know. He just shrugged. “I have never seen or heard of anything like it before. I thought you might have an idea since you’ve been out in the world more than me. I’ve only known the Teague swamplands until now.”
“A dragon,” one of the guard suddenly spoke up. “It be a fairy creature used by humans to scare their children into behavin’, jist like Chufa or Bogs. Heard about ‘em once when I were a lad travelin’ with me da. Never thought they be actual creatures though, even as a tiny whip.”
“How do ye fight against such a creature?” Rangor asked.
The guard shook his head. “Ye can’t. Ye saw what it did. It be protected by scales harder than the finest steel. If not fer the lad’s pet,” he continued, motioning to Tchee, “we’d all be goners fer certain.”
“It’ll bleed,” Helgar grumbled, the anger and frustration like a razor in his voice as he hefted his bloody axe. “An’ if it bleeds, we can kill it.”
The guard seemed unaffected by Helgar’s apparent rage. “Aye, it be sure we can fight it,” he said, “
but what be the cost?”
“He be right,” Rangor added. “We be less nine an’ all we be showin’ fer it be a flesh wound to the leg.”
Helgar glared. He knew they were right, but he was a dwarf. They were all dwarfs and a dwarf never backed down from an enemy, no matter how fierce. “Ye suggestin’ that we be runnin’ away then with our tails tight under our legs?”
Rangor shook his head, cool in the face of his angry prince and seemingly unaffected by the obvious insult. “No. But we might be a bit more successful if we be keepin’ the roc close by.”
All eyes turned back to Tchee and then down to Teek who shrugged. “I can’t control her. If she wants to go, she’ll go. I have no way of keeping her here.”
Helgar eyed the roc carefully as she bent down and again rubbed her head against Teek’s back. “I don’t be thinkin’ we’ll be gettin’ rid o’ her anytime soon now,” he said, his voice less fierce. “I be thinkin’ she’ll be wantin’ to keep a closer eye on ye.”
Teek looked up at Tchee and smiled slightly. He was horrified by the devastation the dragon could cause, but was happy with the thought of having her back. Never had he felt such a choking fear before and it was evident that, though they tried to hide it, the dwarfs had felt the same terror.
“Tonight we care fer the fallen,” Helgar announced, “and then in the morning we keep movin’. Keep yer eyes heavenward boys. And watch out fer Chufa and Bogs. No tellin’ what other evil bred beasts might be lurkin’ about with a dragon on the loose.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Thane sank to the ground, dropping to his knees, his eyes still cast heavenward as if to pull Gelfin back to the realm of the living. You are an earth child? All nature is yours to guide and direct? Zadok. Thane’s mind rushed around and around the things Gelfin had told him trying to figure out if there were a key to understanding that he had missed. The history of his people and their downfall was a tragic one that weighed heavily on his heart and soul and was only overshadowed by the anger that such a history had come from one of their own. Poor Gelfin. He had done all for his people and his brother and still both had turned against him. For some unknown reason, Thane felt a sudden close kinship to Gelfin understanding some of what he’d suffered.
I am chosen to lead against Zadok’s evil designs? The charge came back to him but it was too much to think about at once. Yet, at the same time, it was not enough to answer his questions. All I have to do is ask. All I have to do is ask. It made a little sense but still wasn’t what he was hoping for. It’s easier to pull water from something than fire. He’d never heard of, or seen anyone, pull water from anything. What would be the purpose?
There are others like me. Gelfin’s final words struck back at him filling him with sorrow. Others had suffered and were still suffering from Zadok’s evil. Others had lost their TanIs at his knife and were now somewhere held prisoner by their own flesh and Zadok’s wickedness. Look for them at the keep. What keep? He must have meant Raven’s Eye Keep. After all, that is where Zadok was hiding and plotting with his thousands upon thousands of trolls, goblins, and now, orcs. He was gathering them in so he could attack as one great force and wipe out the world of HuMans. You have been chosen. But what was he to do against such a horde, and without the Chufeiran trees as an anchor and source of power?
He suddenly felt all hope draining away. They could not stop such a gathering of evil. The HuMans would be overrun and then how long before the Chufa were also destroyed? You must use your gift to make things right. But how?
He heard Jne put her sword away and then felt her hand on his back. “Are you well?”
He looked up at her, his eyes reflecting the overwhelming strain and hopeless feeling he was experiencing. “It’s too much to deal with,” he half whispered. “It’s too much for one person to handle.”
“But you are not one person,” Jne answered simply, her eyes fierce from the injustices that Gelfin revealed. “You are Tjal. You are many. All will answer to the call of a Tjal. All will come to your aid.” She shrugged, the intensity of her eyes dwindling slightly. “And I am here with you. You need not take this burden alone. The fight is not over until we are dead. Do not die inside before the steel even enters your heart.”
He watched her for a long moment, taking in her eyes, her face, her lips, all of her. He breathed in the strength seeming to emanate from her and made it his own. The hopelessness lessened some as he held her gaze locked to his. She was right, as she always seemed to be. Though hopeless, they would fight. It is what he had lived for his whole life. What he had always hoped for. Now was his chance to do what he could, to give his life to protect his people. He was no coward. The battle would be fought whether he was there to do his part in it or not. And he would be. He would take this battle to his enemies with fierceness born of justice and love; love of life and love of his people.
Grabbing her arm, he stood. “Thank you,” he breathed. “We will fight. I will not give up this battle until it takes my last breath. I made a promise to my friend many cycles past, that I would never run from danger but embrace it for the good of my people. I intend to hold to that promise.”
Jne smiled, that rare occasion that seemed to almost stop his heart. “You see,” she said, the shadows created by the firelight dancing across her face, “you are learning Tjal honor. We will die together in great glory. We will show them the fury of the Tjal.”
Thane felt intoxicated by her face and her voice. Though he knew the fight was hopeless, he would fight nonetheless. Suddenly, he lunged for her, knocking her to the ground, just as a huge form passed over where they had just been standing. Rolling to the side he was up only a split second before Jne, both with swords out and ready to meet their new threat. Their attacker sat feet away, eyeing them both with a look of excitement that revealed no concern at facing them. Thane paused for a moment, taking in their attacker before suddenly dropping his swords to the ground.
“Erl!!” he yelled running at the wolg and throwing his arms around the huge animal’s neck. Jne’s stance relaxed slightly but she still kept her swords ready as the giant wolg proceeded to give Thane the licking of his life. Thane laughed, rubbing his old friend behind the ears and then embracing him in a great bear hug. “How did you get here?” Stepping back, he stared at Erl, who merely sat loudly thumping his tail against the ground. “Where’s Jack? And Dor? Are they well?”
Jne put her swords away, amazed that Thane kept such friendly company with a wolg. She had never seen one herself but had heard stories from other Tjal tribes, who lived close to the Underwoods Forest, of the large wolfs and how difficult they were to kill when they attacked. “You keep strange company, Renja of the Chufa,” she said.
Thane looked up at her and smiled. “He is companion to a friend of mine, Jack. He helped save me once when I was lost in the mountains.”
Jne just nodded, not asking the myriad of questions that would be natural for anyone to ask when presented with such a friend and companion. He was a friend to Thane. That was all she needed to know.
Erl whined at his mention of his friends and seemed to become agitated drawing Thane’s attention back to him. “Look at me Erl,” he said with a soft voice. “I must know what you know.” Locking eyes with the wolg, he willed himself forward and quickly felt himself being pulled in. His senses increased as he did so suddenly hearing the horses whinny softly, their scent strangely absent of fear. These were Tjal horses, he reminded himself. They were almost as anxious as their riders to charge into any fight. He figured that they were also aware of their rider’s feelings and neither Jne nor Thane showed any signs of distress. Had they, their horses would have fought to the death to save them.
Then he breathed in Jne’s scent, feeling a little embarrassed at doing so, but not wanting to let go of it either. She smelled almost…he couldn’t quite put a name to it. Wild? Untamed? Free. But there was also something else, something deeper, almost hidden or restrained. It was something like anxiety, but no
t in the sense of fear, but more like…longing?
He tried to lock onto the feelings that emanated from the Tjal woman but his mind was suddenly overcome with Erl’s own thoughts as they raced through him, washing over him with sights, sounds, and scents. He saw Dor and Jack at the troll and goblin camp. He saw as Jack cut Dor’s hair and then caught the pungent smell as Dor covered himself in goblin dung. He saw Dor taking the animal like creature that he didn’t recognize and then the fight on the outskirts of the camp.
Thane inhaled with shock and almost lost his connection with Erl when he saw his friend stabbed in the chest. He saw as Jack gathered Dor and, his breath caught again. Was that…Tam? It couldn’t be. She was so different. She was more animal than Chufa. Finally, he saw from a long distance as Jack entered Haykon leading a horse holding two bundles.
Breaking free from his connection, Thane turned to Jne, a tear escaping and running down his cheek. “They’re at Haykon. At least that is the last Erl has seen of them. I’m afraid my friend may be dead.”
Jne took a step forward. “The girl?”
He shook his head, his eyes dropping to the ground. “No. I know she still lives; at least she was a couple of days ago. No, I’m talking of my friend, Dor. He was stabbed in a fight to save Tam. And unless the HuMans have greater ability than I presume they do, I’m pretty certain his wound would have taken his life by now. Only a Chufa with the QenChe Tane could have even the slightest chance at healing a knife in the chest.”
Jne took another step forward and then stopped. “I am sorry for your friend, Renja of the Chufa. But we can still help the girl.”
He nodded, wanting to give over to the grief he felt for Dor but knowing he didn’t have the time. He still had to help Tam. He had a lifetime to grieve his old friend, and he was certain he would, but he couldn’t give into it just yet.
