A Circle Of Crows

by Brynn Chapman

  "How many times have you led this expedition?” requested Colin.

  The big man turned to face him. “Since the beginning when you were just a lad."

  "Is there another way out in case Hyde decides he would like us as well, despite our impurities?"

  The captain cackled. “Aye. And for sure, he is not a just creature. He would just as likely consume or cinder any of us, and he has tried to do so on numerous occasions. The procedure is to bring the sacrifices in row by row, then have some men stand by the exit and others on the upper decks in case something goes awry.” He gesticulated upward and Colin saw a large overhang of rock with a ladder leading to it.

  "Is there only one exit out of the cave?” inquired Colin.

  "There is folklore that states there is another down the left passageway, but that is also where the beast dwells. Once Hyde begins feeding, he breathes fire and brimstone for close to an hour. For that reason, we have not had the opportunity to see if the tale is indeed true."

  "Why is he not venturing out now to investigate?"

  "I told you, he can smell souls! Smells their souls, he does. I reckon you and I are low on his list of devourables for the day."

  * * * *

  The women rode behind Nathaniel. They snaked their way up the winding mountain path with Nathaniel on a great chestnut horse, the twins on appaloosas and Bella on a young mare. They followed the trail of the three wagons and soldiers deep into the night without rest. Nathaniel was surprised at their level of endurance. As the sun began to rise, Raena brought her mount up to Nathaniel.

  "Can you tell me what your captain has planned?” inquired Rae.

  "Well, Commander McCullough was to recruit as many of the faithful as he could to go on the expedition, then attempt to free the children and slay the beast if possible,” he began in a thick brogue which reminded Rae of a Scotsman.

  "However, only ten of the twenty-five on this trip are faithful. I've acquired daggers for you to conceal, as well as small swords for each of you in case you need to defend yourselves."

  "How much further are they?” Rae asked anxiously.

  "Not much further now. We'll venture to the top of that ridge. They will stop the wagon train and await nightfall. The sacrifices always occur at night."

  Rae searched his face. “Have you seen one before then?"

  Nathaniel's expression turned steely as he replied, “Yes, I witnessed my first when I was seventeen. By twenty-one, I learned of the resistance and immediately joined.

  "We will be victorious, or die trying. This is no way to live. If we are to continue our lives in this fashion, death would be a welcome change."

  The party rode in silence, all wrestling with their own personal fears and apprehensions regarding the destiny of the innocent souls they pursued. They continued upward on the trail till it was necessary for them to lean forward in their saddles to assist their mounts with the climb. Trees were clustered close together and due to the elevation, the air was becoming close, more difficult to breathe.

  "What is that smell?” requested Bella, her small, waifish nose wrinkled in disgust.

  "It smells like chemistry class when we used hydrogen sulfide,” suggested Rae.

  "That, miladies, would be Hyde. You should all try to rest for a bit."

  Nathaniel gestured below them in the distance; the wagons were barely perceptible in a circle. “You will need as much strength as you can muster. I know not what awaits us once we approach the lair."

  * * * *

  Night fell. The soldiers began to remove ten sleeping children at a time from the wagons, and carried them into the cave.

  "McCullough! Have the men move the children into the inner chamber first!” the captain bellowed over the thunderclaps that had begun moments ago. “If any of them attempt to flee in this weather, we'll lose them for sure!"

  Morgan watched in horror as, one by one, the children were removed from beside her. Each one of them looked at her beseechingly, as if she had any control over their situation. She watched as the children were shuttled across the clearing and into the crevasse through the blinding, sheeting deluge.

  Suddenly, the only ones who remained in the wagon were Eva, herself and three other wee ones. Colin appeared at the flap and held out his hand to her and Morgana panicked. “Please, sir, please spare us! I just want to go home, sir! Let me go and I will take these little ones with me!"

  Thunder boomed outside and rain was coming in through the flaps now.

  "Girl, calm yourself. Do you not remember Marisol and her words to you? The time has come. When the skirmish breaks out, flee and take as many children with you as you can. Follow the trail and keep off the road if you hear horses approach."

  He slipped a silver key out of his pocket and placed it firmly into her palm, and said, “Put this is your mouth."

  Morgana calmed and did as she was directed. As he left the wagon, she pulled Eva to her and whispered fervently in her ear, “We are getting out of here. Stay close to me, no matter what happens."

  Chapter 23

  On the ridge, the party assembled in preparation to create a diversion in order to rescue as many children as possible.

  Rachael, who had not taken her eyes away from the scene below since their arrival, grabbed Nathaniel by his arm and entreated him, “If the stone door closes below, do you know how to open it again?"

  She pointed frantically down where the last of the children were now being ushered across the clearing. Morgana was being led across by a guard, her long hair flying in the wind. As Rachael spied her daughter, her heart began to race and she felt as if she were spiraling down a long chute. She began to sprint toward the trail, grabbing her sword and her pack as she went. “I'm going now. I'll kill each one of them with my bare hands if they touch my child. I swear to God I will."

  Raena ran toward her twin and with a flying leap, tackled her to the ground.

  Raena grabbed Rachael's shoulders and rolled her over. “This is it. Focus! If they see you now, we are dead and they'll kill the children as well. Get control of yourself!"

  "Yes. Alright. When are we going then?"

  Nathaniel began to descend down the mountain path, followed by Rachael, Bella and Raena. In their attempt to be clandestine, the going was slow. As they glanced below, Rachael noted all the party were inside, save two guards.

  * * * *

  Dusk was approaching, and they were now crouched in the high weeds behind the wagons, awaiting the precise moment to approach.

  Nathaniel motioned for them to draw closer to him and whispered, “I will slay these guards. Make ready to approach the door. Push on the black stone beside the wall and you will gain entry."

  "Please be careful,” Raena said to him as he began moving out of the brush.

  "Thank you, milady, I shall.” He nodded slightly to her.

  He was almost to the circle of wagons when Rachael blurted out, “I'm going. I refuse to sit here and watch this.” She promptly began moving low to the ground in pursuit of Nathaniel.

  "Rae, let's make for the door,” said Bella. They stopped ten feet from the entrance, waiting for the enemy to be slain.

  Unseen, Rachael climbed into the back of one of the wagons and peered out to watch Nathaniel's stealth.

  Nathaniel silently approached the first guard from behind and silently cut his throat, being sure to cut the jugular vein as he did to ensure a quick death. The second guard rounded on him and their swords began to clash as the sound of metal on metal filled the night.

  Suddenly, a third guard leaped out of the wagon next to Rachael's and howled in fury at the sight of the dead man splayed on the ground before him.

  In a surreal moment, Rachael watched as the third guard created crimson footprints in the mud as he walked through his fallen comrade's blood.

  He approached the opening where Rachael was hidden; forgetting that she possessed a dagger, she grabbed a pan and hit him in the back of the skull with all of the strength she coul
d muster. His body crumpled to the earth.

  The second guard, distracted by the commotion, turned his head to look. Without a second glance, Nathaniel ran him through with his blade.

  "Rachael, you do not follow instructions; for that, I am grateful. Run!"

  He turned and made for the opening as all three women fell in behind him.

  All the children were now shackled in the inner chamber and wailing. Small ones thrashed against the manacles and cried out for aid. Morgana tried to comfort the children beside her, but she, too, was just a child, quivering and praying for the comfort of her home.

  Christian and Colin were poised on either side of the chamber, nervously eyeing one another. Captain Dennehy shouted commands above the cacophony of sound which was amplified by the acoustics in the chamber.

  Then suddenly, the screaming ceased as a tremor vibrated the chamber and small, loose rocks fell from the stalactites on the ceiling. Everyone in the chamber froze simultaneously and Morgana looked at Colin pleadingly.

  All of a sudden, the temperature rose by twenty degrees and the vibrations intensified in harmony to the approaching footfalls.

  Hyde thrust his scaly black head into the cave, extended his neck, opened his mouth and bellowed. His large eyes glowed yellow and his stench filled the cave. Coming from the passageway was a murder of crows too numerous to count. They filled the cavern, making it appear dark. The crows began to perch everywhere. Waiting for some sort of sign from the beast, they were all cocking their heads and looking at it with anticipation.

  Hyde aimed his head in the direction of the children and took a deep, rattling breath. His eyes rolled back in his head and when they reopened, they blazed scarlet.

  "Stay firm, he is going to attack!” bellowed Captain Dennehy.

  Two younger guards closer to the dragon panicked and sprinted toward the exit; all valor forgotten, only their self-preservation instinct was intact. Hyde whipped his head in their direction. With his eyes turning black, he shot a firestorm twenty feet across the cave and incinerated them without blinking. The distinct smell of burning flesh filled the cave.

  Morgana eyed Colin anxiously as she fought to keep from screaming as did all the children surrounding her.

  "Steady...” Colin muttered under his breath, as he positioned himself a few feet from her.

  For a brief moment, there was complete silence as everyone turned to view the smoldering corpses. Hyde then turned again and glowered at the group, advancing toward them.

  The tumult that ensued was ear-splitting, as everyone began screaming and thrashing again, except for a pitiful few who had entered a stuporous state, perhaps hoping it would end quickly if they were still, or entering another place in their young minds—a safe place.

  Colin moved deliberately in front of the children and pulled a carved horn from his belt and blew it mightily. “Now!” he cried to the men behind him.

  The ten militia members turned on the guard forces and a battle broke out. Hyde became confused with the unexpected commotion. He lashed his head back and forth and his eyes changed colors furiously as he contemplated who to pursue—his prey, or his would-be attackers.

  Christian fought his way through the masses and began to climb the suspended ladder to the overhang. As he began to pull arrows from his quiver, he lit them and began to launch them in the direction of the dragon. Each arrow flew in an arc and embedded between two dense black scales. Hyde shuddered and bellowed in fury.

  "You thick utopian simpleton!” roared Captain Dennehy from across the cave. “All our people will perish now! There will be no restraining this monster!"

  Colin advanced toward his commanding officer and said calmly, “I will not stand by and watch another innocent life perish as long as I draw breath."

  "That will not be long, lad,” spoke Dennehy as he grimly unsheathed his sword.

  Inside in the cave, taking her cue from the deafening echoes which reverberated throughout the interior as a diversion, Morgana managed to get the key from her mouth and unlocked her manacles. She quickly reached beside her to restrain Eva, who was fighting uselessly to disentangle herself from the irons, and slipped the key into her locks as well.

  Bending down and grabbing Eva's tiny face so their eyes met and she was sure the little girl understood her command, Morgana said, “Run. Run and don't look back. Don't stop for anything."

  "Morgana, please come."

  "I'll find you, I promise. Go!"

  And without hesitation, Morgana began to release the children, yelling at them to flee as soon as their cuffs were open.

  Tears streaming down her pale face, Eva turned and bolted toward the passageway through which they had been led into the chamber. She began running flat-out, when she collided with something so hard, her small frame crumpled to the ground with the force of the impact. She turned her face up dazedly and said, “Momma?"

  The woman bent down to examine her. Isabella's face registered pain, terror and expectation all in one expression. “No, angel. What's your name?"

  "Eva. You look just like my momma. Could you please take me with you?

  Rachael arrived behind Bella and interrupted by saying, “Do you know Morgana?"

  "Y-Yes,” she stammered, “She's in there, please save her!"

  Rachael and Raena shot past the two crouched forms toward the light at the end of the passage.

  Hyde clambered toward one of the soldiers and lowered his head. Inhaling deeply, only his eyes flickered, but they remained black. The soldier held up his sword and vainly attempted to defend himself. The massive jaws opened and Hyde crushed the man's body as if it were a kindling stick.

  Dropping the body, Hyde then began to swagger toward the children, but was distracted by the flaming arrows that continually assaulted him. His gaze fixed intently on the children and his eyes glowed crimson. Then his jaw went slack as drool began to fall from his open mouth and hit the cave floor; leaving tiny pools of light green fire in his wake.

  Colin stood in front of the children and charged at the beast while Christian simultaneously launched an arrow which embedded dangerously close to the beast's eye. Hyde roared in fury and shot a fire blast in Christian's direction.

  Colin sliced at the beast's underbelly.

  Captain Dennehy stood a few feet from the skirmish, and seeing Colin engaged with the beast, seized his opportunity. He advanced and raised his sword behind Colin's neck, fully intending to plunge his sword deep and sever Colin's spinal cord.

  As he made his move, a flaming arrow flew through the air and landed square in Captain Dennehy's larynx and the man dropped to his knees.

  Colin raised his eyes to the platform fleetingly to see Christian's nod and ghost of a smile before he began another onslaught of arrows toward Hyde.

  "Go, Morgana! We will see to the rest!” As Colin bellowed the command, a soldier took the key from Morgana and continued to free the children. Morgana turned and ran as fast as she could toward the passage to freedom.

  Upon reaching the light at the end of the tunnel, Rachael and Raena were drowned in a sea of children, all of whom seemed to be in a fugue state. Fighting their way free of the children, they finally stepped into the light, only to be almost bowled over by ... “Oh dear heaven, my baby girl!” cried Rachael, all danger forgotten. She felt pain and relief and the fog of underlying panic that had clouded her every thought since the day of Morgana's abduction began to lift as her thoughts once again crystallized while words rang in her head with emboldened clarity.

  "Thank you, God,” she murmured under her breath, and just as quickly, she was aware of the precarious situation they were in.

  Hyde began to comprehend that all but a few of his feast had fled and immediately began to veer toward the passageway in which the remaining children were standing.

  Rachael and Raena, acting on the same accord, as they always did, shoved Morgana behind them and drew their swords. Hyde whipped his spiked tail into the cave wall and a landslide of slag came
pouring down, blocking the exit.

  "Blast, wretched devil,” was uttered behind them as Nathaniel pushed small boulders from around his feet. He had narrowly escaped being buried alive by the slag.

  Colin and Christian were both shooting arrows at Hyde's retreating backside in an attempt to divert him from the remaining children.

  "The upper level!” Nathaniel commanded and the group fled toward the ladder to the overhang on which Christian was perched.

  Hyde's eyes narrowed. He was not about to go without his meal. He advanced toward the overhang as quickly as possible within the onslaught of fire that did not abate.

  Bella was partway up the ladder, when Hyde's eyes grew alarmingly large and he began to breathe deeply, evaluating her essence. Slowly, his eyes turned a brilliant shade of emerald. Suddenly, his neck extended; his whole body was trembling and he bellowed furiously. The crows seemed to sense the beast's confusion, and they now began to dive-bomb any human within their reach. Twenty flew at Bella as she dangled precariously on the ladder.

  "Bella!” screamed Rae. She flopped to her belly, then reached to grab the back of Bella's shirt and hoisted her onto the overhang. Christian turned his bow to them and began to pick crows off her shot by shot, till Hyde's bellow returned his attention to the larger battle.

  The pond below them began to bubble and churn as if alive with acid, then it began to grow misty. Finally, a silver sheen appeared over the top of it.

  Rachael grabbed her sisters and pointed below. “It's a portal! It's opening!” Images began to appear in its surface.

  "We need to go now!” said Rae, knowing it was a rhetorical statement.

  Hyde proceeded to incinerate the ladder and its fragments continued to blaze in front of them.