by Chris Ward
Nothing was said for a time and as the night was late Cordia directed them to sleep upon the cushions as best they could, although Reigin was offered a small couch which he filled well enough. Exhausted from their long day of avoiding pursuit, and climbing up the immense shaft of the Eastern Gate, they were all soon asleep, their dreams full of a strange people and creatures which were to be greatly feared.
Cordia kept watch in the room below for the Edenwhood did not need to sleep as others, and were trained to go for several days without, should the need require. She sat and wondered greatly at these four strange visitors from the lowlands she had never seen, beyond a distant view from the mighty escarpment on a clear day. She wondered about the leader Rema Bowman who had a special presence which disturbed her, and the black man Scion who looked so different from his companions. And then there was this Reigin, and his mysterious denial that he was Edenwhood. How could this be? Her night was full of many thoughts and a growing sense that her life would never be the same from this moment on.
By the morning she was sure of it.
Rema woke to the sounds of voices calling in a strange tongue. He had slept deeply and it took some time for him to clear his head, the bewilderment of unfamiliar surroundings clung to his fogged brain like honey to a spoon. The voices carried a message of alarm and this penetrated his consciousness until suddenly he was wide awake. Reigin was already up and standing at one of the shuttered windows fiddling with the latch. At that moment he swung it open and they stood together looking down from the third level of the Edenwhood treehome. Several Edenwhood were talking earnestly in the early morning light, half hidden by shadows and the light forest mist. They stood by the sturdy fencing which Rema recognised as that which surrounded a small plot of land and into which they had surrendered their horses the night before. He could make out Cordia and Rhynos among the Edenwhood gathered there in the sharp rays of early morning sun.
‘Come Reigin we will go down and find out the cause of this commotion,’ Rema said having surveyed the scene, ‘for this is not usual surely?’ The big man nodded as he thought upon the scene.
‘It is strange to see such agitation in ones so powerful,’ Reigin commented as they collected their weapons.
‘We will find out soon enough,’ said Rema who led the way down the heavily carved stairs into a large living area and then again to the ground level which seemed to be for cooking and food storage, for all manner of fruits and vegetables were hanging from the ceiling, and a pile of bagged taters was stacked against a wall.
They emerged into the icy cold morning air to be immediately confronted by Cordia.
‘I welcome you to the new dawn,’ she said with genuine warmth. Rema nodded in acknowledgement, but was keen to discover the cause of the distress.
‘There has been a problem Cordia. What can you tell us?’ He and Reigin stood before the elegantly tall and confident Edenwhood woman and she realised that they had perceived truly. She paused as though searching for the right words in their common tongue.
‘One of your horses was taken in the night. By a Serper. I believe it was your mount Giron... Reigin,’ she quickly changed her naming of the tall man as though it required an effort, but one which she seemed wanting to give. ‘Horses are highly valued here. I am sorry for the loss.’
‘What of the others?’ Rema inquired.
‘They are agitated but we have calmed them. The Serper will not eat for some time now and should be no threat, but they desire horse flesh above all else, and they can smell it for many leagues. This is why we have few such beasts in AlGiron.’
For the first time she used her native name for the land of the Edenwhood, and both men noted the lovely sound of it in the clear morning air.
‘Is this usual, Cordia, Keeper of the Eastern Gate, this attack by such a creature?’ Rema spoke formally for he wanted to discover the reason for the concern he had perceived in the voices which had woken him. Cordia looked intently at him as though making some assessment.
‘I see that you perceive well Rema Bowman. Indeed you are correct. We have not seen a serper in these parts for many summers, and never have we been attacked.’
‘Does Rhynos, First Keeper of the Gate see some connection between the appearance of this serper and our visit to your land of AlGiron?’ Rema asked quietly and watched Cordia’s face carefully as he waited for her reply. He knew almost immediately that his feelings on this were true, for she nodded slightly and seemed to speak to him with her eyes in a manner which conveyed some surprise.
‘Once more you have spoken truly Rema Bowman. Indeed he of whom you speak believes that your presence here has brought this evil upon us. I have calmed him for the moment, but we will need to watch his mood for he is a difficult Giron.’ She smiled then and turned to Reigin. ‘We will provide you with another mount. Today you will learn to ride a Scythercat, which of course is familiar to all Edenwhood.’ Both men thought her smile deepened, but her hearty laugh was unmistakable as she walked past them into the Treehome. ‘Come let us eat for we must be departed shortly now.’
They all ate well and declared the rest that night to have restored them to a sense of wellbeing which they had not felt before.
‘I feel light and strong and so clear headed in this place, as though I could run for leagues and not tire,’ said Serenna as she collected her few belongings. She paused then and took Rema to one side. ‘You did not tell me what words you spoke to the Edenwhood which so changed their mood in our favour. Please tell me now Rema.’ She looked keenly at him and Rema knew that he must try some answer.
‘I cannot say how this came about Serenna,’ he whispered, not wanting the others to hear, ‘but I spoke in their tongue. The words just came to me. I do not understand how this happened but a most wonderful feeling came upon me and I spoke.’ Serenna frowned but nodded in acceptance for she had learnt to expect strange things from Rema. It was as though he had been gifted beyond normal men.
‘What words did you offer?’ She asked quietly. Rema took a breath.
‘I said that I had come in peace, but had been met with violence, and little mercy, and so I appealed to the Elder.’ He waited for her response.
‘The Elder?’ she inquired.
‘I know as much as you Serenna, but my appeal was accepted and so now we travel to the Elder.’
Cordia suddenly entered the room and ordered them to be hasty.
‘Rhynos has set the time for our departure. We must not upset him. He will lead and I with three other Edenwhood will travel with you. We must be away within the span. Reigin you will come with me for you must meet your mount.’ She turned and left as quickly as she had appeared.
‘This will be interesting indeed Reigin,’ Scion chuckled, ‘I am pleased that the dreaded serper took your horse, for I would not be getting upon a scythercat for all the gold in Revelyn.
‘But you have not even seen one,’ said Reigin with a smile.
‘The name bears witness enough,’ replied Scion seriously.
The scythercat was a large beast with a most fearsome appearance. It stood the height of small horse but its musculature was far greater. It was clearly a cat and had the haughty bearing of one; its movements sinewy and sleek and every twitch of its powerful flanks spoke of deadly force and speed. It was in the head that it found its name. Like the common sabrecat of the lowlands it had two enormous incisors in the top jaw but in addition these were matched by two in the bottom jaw which allowed the bite to not just pierce like the sabrecat, but to cut clear through flesh and bone.
The four watched Reigin take hold of the reins as the great cat turned and sniffed him. A long rasping tongue reached out and the tall man offered his hand fearlessly to it. The cat licked this offering and then ran its tongue around its open mouth and teeth as though tasting.
‘I for one am glad to be on a horse today,’ Scion muttered with a shiver ‘Is that thing really tame?’
‘As tame as any,’ Cordia said, ‘although with
a scythercat you never really know. If it senses fear you will not master it. They can only be trained from birth. No wild scythercat can be made to serve another creature.’
They watched in awe as Reigin swung up into the leather saddle and sat confidently as though he were upon a horse. The great creature beneath him tossed its mighty head and tested the reins around its muzzle and then settled without further show of discontent.
‘He is surely Giron,’ Cordia muttered, ‘for he has no fear, and straddles the beast as one of long experience.’ She shook her head as though some puzzle was too much for her.
The strange party travelled west through an open forest of giant frester and highland oak. Spruce abounded on the ridges and the gullies seemed full of ancient ferns. Every now and then a large group of Bulbane trees was passed, for they seemed to grow in colonies rather than more widely like the other trees.
Rema rode with Serenna, Scion with Ofeigr, whilst Reigin travelled with Cordia and as easily as she, which brought no little comment from the other Edenwhood. Rhynos was coldly aloof and travelled alone in the lead. He had said nothing to the visitors save for a cutting comment to Rema before they left. He spied Rema’s bow and arrows and could not help himself.
‘Ha,’ he cried, ‘I had such a bow when I was a boy. You will find that one needs more than toys in AlGiron Rema Bowman.
By the mid morn they had left the forest and were travelling over higher and more open ground. To their left rose a range of rocky and deeply fissured mountains which had a strange affect upon the Edenwhood. Every now and then they would turn and face the cliffs and bow and mutter some words which could not be heard. Rema wondered what this meant but had no immediate opportunity to inquire of Cordia as to its significance.
‘Look Rema,’ Serena suddenly spoke pointing to the skies. ‘Those silver shapes floating in the air, what do you make of them?’
Cordia had heard her cry and replied. ‘Those are shining eagles hunting. They will have seen us and would attack but for the scythercats.’
As they watched three of the large bird which seemed so small for they were so high suddenly dived toward them.
‘Is this a safe place to be?’ said Scion as they rapidly grew larger and closer.
‘We will not be harmed.’ Cordia replied confidently.
Suddenly to their left and higher up upon the rocky cliffs a herd of huge Orax appeared descending rapidly, their surefooted leaps accompanied by anxious bleats for they had seen the eagles diving on them and were heading for lower safer ground under ledges and caves at the mountain base. The party all watched, entranced by the spectacle unfolding before them. The three huge eagles dropped liked stones and swiftly closed the distance between themselves and the terrified Orax, for they travelled at a frightening speed. The Orax reached some flatter ground and raced as one towards the safety of an overhanging ledge. The watchers realised that it was a close race, for the eagles were almost upon them.
Suddenly from the other direction and travelling at a far greater speed than the three that had dropped so visibly from the sky, came a fourth shinning eagle. It appeared over a low ridge and must have dived long before and judged its flight to appear at the exact moment when the Orax would be racing towards it. It hit the now scattering herd with a huge thud and then rose with a screaming Orax held firmly in its mighty talons. The three chasers rose high and left the hunt, their job done. They circled around their huge mate who carried the dying Orax and slashed and tore at it in eager anticipation of the coming feast.
‘I am glad we had no shinning eagles in the mighty mountains,’ Serena said to Rema in amazement, ‘for it would have made our hunting somewhat difficult.’ Rema shook his head in disbelief.
‘Such incredible power and sense of purpose. They worked together and judged it perfectly. Those are truly deadly creatures.’
‘Ride on now,’ Rhynos called impatiently. ‘We have a long way to go before nightfall and with serpers about it is best that the dark does not find us in the open.’
This encouragement was all that was needed to get the five visitors to AlGiron moving purposefully once more.
They travelled well thereafter and enjoyed the journey, for the land was beautiful to behold despite the few fearful creatures which shared it with them. The road was well formed the further west they went and every now and then a fork led off to a village or farm. They passed other Edenwhood who stopped to peer curiously at them; but in the main to Rema and the others it seemed a normal place, the people taller and more graceful and gifted with wonderful speed and agility, but their pursuits were not greatly different from other folk. They farmed and herded, hunted and lived together raising children and caring for the elderly.
Scion was most of interest to those they passed for his black skin was a novelty in a land where fairness of flesh and blondeness of hair was the common sight. He appeared not greatly bothered by such attention, and nodded and smiled whereupon he received many similar greetings in return.
They found a grassy clearing by the road in a deserted valley for a rest in the mid noon and to take a late meal. The shade of several large oaks was most welcome and all succumbed to the calm and restful spell of such a gentle place. The three Edenwhood soldiers kept their own company some distance off, whilst Cordia and Rhynos shared space with the lowlanders.
After a simple meal of fruit and ale and rich goat cheese, they stretched out on the thick grass and took some rest. The sun was warm despite the height of the land and the soft breeze swept rich and wonderful perfumes to them, so that they dozed happily for a time.
Rema woke with a start and immediately knew that something had changed. He sat up and looked around. The others were all still lying peacefully as before. The three Edenwhood soldiers chatted cheerfully enough some distance off, their long forms mostly hidden by the taller grass. He looked back. Rhynos was gone. He cast about and then caught sight of him closer to forest and higher up the valley. He was walking slowly towards a large bulbane tree which stood alone in the grasses, a stone’s throw from the forest itself.
Perhaps he is going to relieve himself; Rema’s simple assumption was then suddenly overwhelmed by an intense feeling that this angry Girion, this Edenwhood Keeper of the Eastern Gate was in great danger. Without a second thought he took up his bow and quiver and ran fast towards him. Cordia was aroused by his action and shortly after sat up. She did not immediately see anything of concern, and cast her eyes about as Rema had just done. At the last she saw Rema running soundlessly towards her leader, his bow with an arrow ready at the string. She did not understand why this man would attack Rhynos, but her duty was clear despite her strange misgivings. In an instant she was on her feet and she moved with a speed and lithe ability that no normal mortal could ever match, her sword unsheathed and ready to strike.
Rema was well to the fore of her however and with his mind in a different place for suddenly he saw wrapped around the Bulbane tree in the shadows, a massive serpent, its colour and texture so matched the tree on which it coiled, that it was but another branch. Its sheer size was overwhelming, as thick in girth as he was to shoulder height, and its enormous length could not be easily seen for it was so well disguised and entwined about the tree. Rhynos could not see it. Rema was sure it was invisible to him, and he was now but a dozen paces distant from the deadly creature. He halted and took aim.
At that moment a cry from behind came as a warning. Ryhnos turned and saw him standing there. For the merest fraction of a moment he stood and then both he and Cordia from behind came upon him in a blur.
In the time between heartbeats Rema saw it all unfold. He aimed his arrow now full drawn, to a place just a cubit behind the serper’s massive ugly head, and watched it fly. He saw it pass by Rhynos’ ear and the wind of it wash over him, he who for all his great speed had no ability to dodge such a deadly shaft. He saw the arrow punch through the serper’s heavy scales, disappearing completely inside the huge body as the great snake leapt in pain, and w
ith a mighty writhing began to fall from the tree.
Cordia saw it then, for once death was upon the serper it could no longer hide, and she withheld her deadly blow to Rema’s neck by the barest margin and pulled the blade up as it swung so that it cut the air above his head instead. Rhynos too saw her change her blow and her gaze which suddenly cast beyond him to the tree. In a blur he turned and watched in stupefied amazement as a sudden understanding dawned upon him as the huge serper tumbled to the ground and commenced a mighty soundless writhing, until by the time the others had run up it lay still and lifeless, its eyes open but unseeing.
They all of them stood in silence for a long time, and gazed upon the terrifying creature. Finally Cordia spoke.
‘Rema Bowman you had done a great thing here today. You stood your ground despite my attack; you saw what we could not, for none can easily see this creature when it lies in wait, and further you have killed it with a single shot to the heart which is beyond my comprehension at this time. I salute you.’
And with this heartfelt statement still echoing clearly across the valley she took her sword and lifted it vertically before her eyes, holding it with both hands upon the hilt at her waist, until as some set time passed, she swept it down and up again. The others except Rhynos all did the same in unison. And then the swords were sheathed, and they looked to their leader who stood silently before them.
Rhynos said nothing, but after a time in which no one spoke but in which a nervous anticipation grew upon them all, he faced Rema and spoke as one who now saw things from a place which gave a vastly different view.
‘Rema Bowman, I am in your debt. More than this I owe you my life. I confess that I have ill-judged you and too easily dismissed your ability and indeed your strange quest. I am at times given to hasty action and clearly too easy judgement. None I know, or have ever heard of in AlGiron has ever done such a thing as this just now. I saw not this fell creature and yet you did. You hit the heart in a single shot. There is much I have to learn from you and your friends. I ask forgiveness for my shallow ways. I too salute you.’
