by James Wisher
At the bottom of the stairs they came to a hall leading further into the basement. The door on their left went into cold storage. “Which way?”
“The wine cellar.” She spoke so softly Col almost didn’t hear her.
“Where is that?”
“Second door on the right.” She let slip a hysterical giggle. “I snuck down here once with the other ladies and we shared a bottle. I had such a headache the next day.”
Col led the way forward. He didn’t give a damn about her personal history, but at least she hadn’t frozen up on him again. When they reached the door he found a padlock on it. No doubt added after the princess had her drinking binge. He hammered the crude lock with the hilt of his sword and after four blows it snapped off. He wrenched the door open, guided Rain inside, kicked the lock through the door, and shut it behind him.
“What now?”
“One of the bottles triggers the door.” She looked around at the dozens of racks filled with wine bottles. “I can’t remember which one.”
Great. He set the lantern down and spun in a circle, trying to orient himself. Which wall was closest to the keep wall? He pointed at the right-hand wall. “It’s got to be this wall. Start pulling.”
Col started at the far end, pulling bottles and tossing them over his shoulder as fast as possible. It seemed a waste of good wine, but he doubted the beastmen drank wine and if they did they could lick it up off the floor. He hoped the monsters choked on it.
He’d lost track of how many bottles he’d pulled when Rain said, “I got it!”
She gave the bottle a firm yank, and the hidden door opened a few inches. Col got his fingers in the gap and pulled the door open wide enough for them to get through. He couldn’t see more than a few feet down the pitch black tunnel. It looked like it sloped down. Col retrieved the lantern and motioned Rain to go through first.
When she’d gone a few feet down the tunnel he followed and pulled the door shut behind him. In the dim light he saw brackets on the door frame and, leaning against the tunnel wall, a heavy wooden beam. He hefted the beam. It felt solid despite however many years it had sat in the damp tunnel.
Col barred the door and scooted past Rain to take the lead. The tunnel was just wide enough for him to squeeze through without his shoulders brushing the dirt walls. He eased his way down the tunnel. Every few feet heavy posts propped up the ceiling. Something crunched under his boots, but Col felt no desire for a closer look. The tunnel continued on for what Col guessed was several hundred yards before he spotted light ahead of them.
“Take this.” Col handed Rain the lantern so his hand would be free if he had to fight.
He inched forward until he reached an ill-fitted door held shut by another bar. He pulled the bar free and shoved the door open. Bright afternoon light dazzled him for a moment. When his vision cleared he found the tunnel exited into a briar patch. That was one way to keep people away from the hidden door.
A small area around the doorway remained free of thorn bushes. Rain stepped out beside him. “Where are we?”
Col looked around, trying to get his bearings. Beyond the thorns lay rolling hills and beyond the hills the forest loomed. “I think we’re at the base of the hill on the opposite side from the city. Hang on and I’ll make a path.”
He stomped and hacked with his sword until he’d carved out a decent path for the princess. She picked her way through the thorns then looked back. “Sort of an obvious trail.”
Col glanced back at her. “Not as obvious as the blood trail you would have left after those thorns tore your legs up. A wolfman would smell that from half a mile away.”
Rain looked up and gasped as if in pain. “They’re burning the castle.” She pointed at a column of smoke.
He frowned and did a quick reckoning. “That’s not the castle, it’s the city. The smoke’s too far south.”
“Why would the city be on fire?”
“Because the beastmen are sacking it.” Col started toward the forest. “That could be a good break for us. If they sack the city before they give chase we’ll have a bigger head start.”
“You’re going the wrong way.” Rain pointed northeast. “The Great Road’s that way.”
“The Great Road’s too obvious. On open ground they’ll run us down before dark. In the forest we can find hiding places and forage for food.”
She still didn’t move.
“Don’t worry, I have wilderness survival training, we’ll be fine.” What the hell was her problem? Every second they wasted made it more likely they’d get caught. He started for the forest. “Come with me or don’t, but I’m not waiting here to get eaten.”
Rain looked back at the tunnel entrance, chewed her lip, and then ran to catch up with him. “I hate the forest. It’s dirty and there are bugs. When I was a little girl I got lost once in Crystal Lake Park. It was terrifying.”
Col shook his head. He’d passed by the park once. The manicured grounds had as much in common with the wilderness as a kitten did with a saberfang.
“I’m sorry, Princess,” Col said as they approached the tree line. “If it’s any consolation the forest is much less frightening than getting eaten by a beastman.”
* * *
“I’m sorry, master. We searched the entire castle but found no sign of them.”
Zarrin controlled his anger with iron will. He never should have sent the knight to search for the princess. If you wanted someone hunted down you sent hunters. Zarrin waved his hand. “Oversee the sacking of the city. I will attend to the girl.”
The Black Prince withdrew leaving Zarrin alone in the courtyard. The afternoon sun seemed to dim as he drew on the Dark, and a swirling, black disk big enough for a wagon to pass through appeared a few feet away from him. Five tall, heavily muscled wolfmen ran out of the portal and kneeled before him. The Pack were his finest and most reliable hunters. They would have no trouble finding the princess.
“Two humans, a boy and girl, have escaped my grasp. They fled into the castle. Find them and kill them.”
The leader of the Pack, a seven-foot-tall brute with dripping jaws, threw back his head and howled. A moment later the rest joined in. The wolfmen raced toward the castle, their claws tearing up clods of dirt.
Zarrin walked over to the sword sticking up out of the petrified earth. He touched the pommel and a white spark of energy zapped his finger. He’d long ago lost the ability to experience pain, but the tip of his finger smoked and blackened. After all these many years the sword’s power hadn’t diminished in the least. Once the Pack killed the girl they could destroy the sword and one more lock binding the Darkness would fall away.
* * *
Col set a brisk pace through the forest. The first few miles consisted of open hardwood, with minimal underbrush. Rain jogged along beside him, keeping up without complaint. Col thanked the Light for that. Speed and stealth would serve as their best allies.
Long mournful howls echoed through the trees. Col clenched his fists. Wolfmen had caught their scent. The two of them had made good time, but the few miles they’d gained wouldn’t be enough.
“What was that?” Rain’s voice trembled.
“Wolfmen. We need to pick up the pace, Princess; they’ve got our scent now.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’ve heard wolfmen on the hunt before and that’s what they sound like.” Col increased his pace a little. He didn’t dare break into a full run. They would run out of strength and be easy meat for the wolfmen.
“Are you certain it wasn’t regular wolves?” Rain was trying her best to keep up, but slippers and silks weren’t the recommended outfit for running for your life through the woods.
“I’m sure. Farmers killed all the wolves around here years ago. The only packs you’ll find now live at the base of the mountains.”
“How do you know so much?”
The incredulous tone she used brought a smile to Col’s lips. “You mean for an ignorant peasant?”
&nb
sp; She was starting to sputter out a response when they came to a fallen tree that spared her the need to continue. Col clambered over it then reached back, grasped Rain around her slender waist and lifted her over. She felt so light, so frail. He feared she wouldn’t make it through this.
“Unlike Callion and his friends, I spent my free time reading not writing bad poetry.”
She looked at him with wide eyes.
Col choked on a laugh. “You didn’t think I could read either?”
“No! I mean, I don’t know.”
Col smiled and shook his head. As much as it amused him to see Rain flustered he couldn’t fully enjoy it when bloodthirsty monsters were hunting them. “How many people that aren’t rich or noble have you spoken to?” He had a good idea the answer was none, but he wanted to see if she realized it.
“I talk to the servants all the time.”
“Shouting orders doesn’t count. How many have you gotten to know?”
“I’m not certain. None I guess, but what does it matter? It’s beneath me to deal with commoners.”
That sounded more like her. “Beneath you, is it? The only difference between noble and commoner is an accident of birth. The only reason you live in a castle and not a ditch is pure dumb luck. Today your luck ran out. Those beastmen lowered your social standing from noble to refugee.”
“I will always be noble.”
The heat in her voice caused Col to look back. She stood rigid, staring at him, the muscles in her jaw clenched. It looked like he’d hit a nerve. “What does that mean to you, Princess?” He hated to waste the time, but Col found himself fascinated by Rain’s reaction.
She blinked and some of the tension went out of her. “I don’t understand.”
Col started walking again. “You say you’ll always be noble. What does that mean to you? The attack stripped you of all the trappings of nobility, even your fancy clothes will be little more than rags by the end of the day. You have no servants, no ladies to pretend to care what you have to say. You’ve got your jewelry I suppose, but out here you’ll find diamonds about as useful as gravel.”
“Why do you hate me so much? If you so despise the nobility why become a knight?”
“That’s simple, Princess. Becoming a knight seemed like a better choice than starving to death in the slums where Sir Geris found me. I get three meals a day, a roof over my head, and enough coin to live on in exchange for listening to a bit of inane blather from you lot and killing whoever you point me at. It seemed a fair trade at the time.”
The howls rang out, closer this time. The wolfmen had gained on them far quicker than Col expected. They needed to run, or better yet find somewhere to hide. Col looked at his puny sword. He doubted he could kill one wolfman with it, much less the pack on their trail.
Chapter Eight
“They’re closing fast,” Col said. The sun had almost set. Through the afternoon the wolfmen’s howls had gotten steadily closer no matter how hard the two of them ran. “If we don’t find a way to throw them off our trail they’ll catch us by midnight at the latest.”
“I’m so tired,” Rain said between ragged gasps. “I can’t keep going much longer.”
Col didn’t need his ring to confirm Rain’s honesty. One look at her sweat-soaked, bent-over figure and you could see she’d about reached the end of her strength. They had no hope of outrunning the beastmen. Col doubted he could outrun them on his own. He needed to find them a hiding place.
“Hang on a little longer, Princess. I’ll think of something.”
“Think fast.”
They trudged on, neither of them capable of running any longer. Soon enough they wouldn’t be able to see much of anything which would slow them even more. The wolfmen howled again. The pack had gotten close enough that Col could pick out at least three distinct voices and he suspected there were more than that, definitely too many to fight.
Rain staggered and fell to her knees. “I can’t take another step.”
“You have to. If we don’t keep moving they’ll catch us.”
“I don’t care. I’m so tired.”
Col wanted to scream. He didn’t want to die in this place defending a spoiled brat, but he wouldn’t abandon her. He owed his mentor’s memory more than that. “Just a little further, please.”
“I can’t.”
He heard the tears in her voice. If she started bawling now he’d never get her moving again. “Listen to me. If you stay here you will die. I don’t care if you have to crawl, we can’t stay here.”
Col lifted her to her feet and put her arm around his neck. “Lean on me. I swear we’ll get out of this, just have a little faith.”
They staggered on, Col carrying most of Rain’s weight along with his own. She seemed so light earlier, now it felt like he had a harbor chain draped around his neck. If he didn’t find something soon he’d collapse beside her.
A few hundred yards further on Col caught the scent of cinnamon. His eyes widened. They must be near the stand of Pixie Pine Joey mentioned. If he managed to find it they might have a chance.
Col followed his nose and the scent grew ever closer. Another hundred paces brought them to a thick clump of bushy evergreens. The smell coming off them overwhelmed every other scent in the area, just what they needed.
“Hang on, Princess.” Col held Rain close to his chest then backed through the prickly little trees. The springy branches snapped back in place as he moved deeper into the copse.
In the center they found a small area clear of growth. Col hacked away enough branches to give them room to lie down and to make the scent even stronger. He eased Rain down on the soft bed of fallen needles. She never made a sound. It looked like she’d fallen asleep on her feet.
They didn’t have much time now. Col tore a strip of silk off the bottom of Rain’s dress. The trip through the forest had reduced it to little more than shreds so he doubted she’d even notice the missing piece. He worked his way back out of the copse and found a dry branch not far away. He tied the strip of silk to it and dragged it along behind him as he staggered away from the Pixie Pines down a deer trail. Col needed to lay a long enough trail to lead the wolfmen away from their hiding place, but he couldn’t go so far that the beastmen got between him and the grove.
In the distance the burbling of a brook caught his ear. Col found the strength to put on a burst of speed. A few seconds later he reached the bank of a rushing little stream. He tore a strip off his undershirt, tied it to the branch beside Rain’s bit of silk, and tossed the branch into the stream. He hoped the scent would lead them downstream away from the grove.
Col retraced his steps, scuffing his feet so he wouldn’t leave a clear track. He prayed to the Light that in the dark the wolfmen would focus on scent and wouldn’t notice his tracks. The wolfmen howled again. It sounded like they had almost reached the Pixie Pines. If they beat him there he wouldn’t survive the night and Rain wouldn’t survive the day tomorrow.
Half staggering, half running, Col hurried as fast as his weary body would allow. He reached the grove and backed through the branches. Not far away something crunched. In the dim starlight he could just make out Rain’s sleeping form. He slumped down beside her. She stirred and Col clamped a hand over her mouth. If she made a sound they were dead. She struggled, but Col held her still. Rain didn’t have enough strength to throw him off.
Col leaned down and put his lips right beside her ear. “They’re here.”
Rain stiffened and stopped fighting. He took his hand away from her mouth. In the silence of the night Col hardly dared to breathe. Beyond the evergreen barrier wolfmen growled and snuffled around for their scent. After an interminable minute the wolfmen howled and pounded away toward the stream. He sighed. They’d taken the bait. Col had bought a little time at least.
“Are they going to kill us?” Rain whispered into the dark.
Col felt around until he found her hand. He gave it a squeeze. “They’re gone for now. Try to get some sleep. W
e need to move again at first light.”
Col smiled when Rain squeezed his hand back.
* * *
The morning dawned bright and beautiful; at least Col assumed it was beautiful, everything looked blurry through his sticky, itchy eyes. He rubbed his eyes with the back of his hands and the world became clear: the Pixie Pine grove that sheltered them for the night, the mass of wolfman tracks running down the trail, and, of course, the disheveled princess staring at him through red-rimmed eyes.
“Did you sleep well?” Col asked.
“Until you woke me up. What are we going to do now?”
“More hiking.” Col grinned at the scowl on her face. “Don’t worry, I have a fair idea where we are, or at least where we need to get to.”
He started down the trail toward the stream. He suspected, reinforced by the occasional distant howl, that the wolfmen would search the far side of the stream until they became certain he and Rain hadn’t crossed over in the night. That would buy them time to get a better head start.
At the stream’s edge Col bent down to drink. Even if they had no food they could at least slake their thirst.
“Where is it you think we need to go?” Rain asked.
“Port Rel, my home town. This stream runs into the White River which empties into Armageddon Lake right next to Rel. When we get to the port we can hire a ship to take us to Celestia. You’ll be safe there.”
“I’ve never been to Rel. What’s it like?”
They left the bank and moved deeper into the forest before following the little stream toward the river. “Rel’s the biggest port in the kingdom. Ships come and go, wagons rumble through the streets all day and all night. Kids have to watch out as the teamsters aren’t all that careful where they drive.”
“Sounds like a tough place to grow up.”
“It wasn’t so bad, I…” A howl echoed through the forest, still distant, but getting closer. It didn’t sound like they’d found their trail yet. “We need to hurry.”
