by Jon Kiln
Once they had decided against the hidden route, they needed to find an alternative way to take. In the end they compromised speed for safety, and decided on the coastal path. They would take the river to the outskirts of the city, and from there they could follow the cliffs to the druid’s hideout.
Resting during daylight hours, they had agreed it would be safer to make their move during the night. When the time came they loaded the boat, fastening Cronos to the travois. Ganry and Linz took the oars and the set off down the underground current of the river.
The enchanted stones that Azmariddian had given Ganry were still working. They used the faint light to guide them in the pitch blackness of the subterranean tunnel. The journey went without incident, and soon they were out in the open air. A full moon stood high above them, as did the silver twinkling of stars in a clear sky. It helped that the moon cast its silvery glow over everything, alighting the way. As they continued down the river, there was no stopping until they were safely away from the city walls. Eventually, they moored up in a small sheltered cove.
Setting off on foot, they made their way through the lightly wooded area. Cronos was once again strapped to Kregon, who remained in wolf form. The going was slow, because of the uneven ground and tricky maneuvering through the lines of trees, especially for Kregon who pulled Cronos behind him. As the woods became denser, progress slowed even further. This left no alternative but to take to the road so they could make better time. The sooner the boy was in the care of the druid, the better. They were far enough away from the city to take the bold risk of going on the road.
Ganry doubted there would be patrols out at this time of night, and he was soon proved right. Quickly, they made progress, without encountering anyone. Ganry checked the rough map that Azmariddian had made for him. It showed him the different routes, in case he could not manage to return through the underwater passage.
Whilst discussing the best way forward with Grecia, a dark shadow cast by the moonlight passed over their heads. Instantly looking up, Ganry saw two huge flying creatures, the same as the ones he had seen in the city.
“It’s those flying monsters again,” he exclaimed. “More spawn of the devil, no doubt.”
“Whatever is happening in the city is most certainly the work of the devil. We must take cover before they see us,” Grecia urged.
Too late. A shrilling shriek from above their heads alerted them that they had been spotted. Ganry watched one of the creatures change its course. He could make out a huge silhouette flying back towards the city. The other swooped down low, banking around full circle, before landing in the road ahead of them.
“Damn!” Ganry cursed. “The other must be going back for reinforcements. We cannot tarry here, let’s get back into the woods. Take the map and the boy,” he said, handing the parchment over to Grecia. “Linz and I will try and hold this one back, while you make for the caves.”
“We should stick together,” she replied, feeling a dread at the thought of Ganry and Linz facing that beast.
“No,” he insisted. “We can buy you time. It’s important for the Emperor’s son to survive. You must go, and go now.”
Grecia realized that arguing with him would be pointless. His decision had been made.
“I will leave Lazras with you,” she said, before turning to Kregon and instructing him to follow her back into the woods. “We must go now. There is nothing more we can do to help them without risking the boy’s life.”
Kregon reluctantly followed Grecia. He would have preferred to stay and fight, but they all knew the boy’s safety was paramount.
Ganry waited until they were into the woods and out of sight, before advancing on the beast that was now blocking the road. It remained still as a stone statue, just sat there, seemingly content to wait for them, or for its reinforcements.
“You ready?” he questioned Linz and the others, whilst drawing his own sword.
They nodded their agreement and slowly moved towards the darkened shape. Lazras changed into his wolf form and followed them. As they drew closer, the size of the creature became clearer. It was much larger than they had realized as it had its wings tucked in. For the first, time they could see that another beast sat high up on its back.
“Look, one of those creatures we fought back in the city,” Linz announced to Ganry. “Where are all these monsters coming from?”
“I know not,” Ganry replied, nodding his head in astonishment. “Neither do I care. If that creature is from hell, then let’s send it back.”
They were almost on the beast, and it was keeping a watchful eye on them. Linz and his men moved left, looking to flank of the creature, while Ganry and Lazras moved to face it head on.
Suddenly it reared and spread out its huge wing span, squawking angrily. It lashed out with one of its talons at Linz’s men as they tried to flank it. They only just avoided the long sharp claws. The attack had taken them by surprise. The birdlike creature had so far not shown any signs of aggression, but its intent was now clear: it meant to kill them.
The beast had made the first move and the watching game was over. Linz’s men attacked from the rear, stabbing at the creature with swords and daggers at every opportunity. It was hard to avoid the sharp talons and beak as they slashed at the bird’s body. Whilst some strikes were true, the creature seemed oblivious to their attacks, instead they just urged it on with a greater ferocity as its beak and talons attempted to make their mark.
Rubos, one of Linz’s men, saw a gap between the attacks and made a bold move. Rolling under the creature, he stabbed his sword in an upwards stroke and deep into its body. His strike was good and the beast howled out its agony as the blade penetrated into its flesh. But as he tried to roll back out from under the creature, it was too quick for him. One of its talons grasped ahold of his body, and the sharp claws pierced his skin, fatally wounding him. The beast then completed the coup de grâce, lowering its head, and with its beak, it ripped Rubos in two. The action of flicking its head back sent the upper torso of Rubos through the air, landing at Linz’s feet.
“Nooo…” Linz cried out in anguish. Rubos was a fierce soldier and a loyal friend. Overcome with grief and anger, and with no regard for his own safety, he rushed the creature slashing frantically at the beast. Linz scored a few good strikes, and the creature’s stalk like legs were covered in many cuts, its blood flowed freely, staining the ground and pooling where it stood. Though none of these were fatal or even debilitating. The creature still fought ferociously, slashing out with its claws, trying to spear its pointed beak into Linz’s body. With its wings outstretched, it performed a macabre dance, hopping from leg to leg as it avoided the stinging blades.
Linz, while avoiding the creature’s attacks, was so intent on causing damage, that he lost his footing, stumbling over the lower part of his friend’s body. He fell to the ground on his backside. The creature reacted quickly, seeing its chance to rid itself of this troublesome imp. It lifted its claws to strike the fatal blow, but just before it landed, Lazras the wolf flew in under the beast’s body, his mouth clamping around the bony leg. The wolf’s powerful jaws ground together, canines serrating flesh and bone until they cut clean through. The creature howled in agony as its leg was severed. Blood gushed from the stump as it slumped down onto its underside. It could not remain upright on just one leg. The rider on its back desperately attempted to get it to fly, but it was in so much pain it did not heed the command.
Ganry saw his chance. Moving quickly, he leapt upon the wounded creature and scrambled up its scaly body towards the rider, who had his back to him. As he approached, he drew his dagger and reaching around, he pulled back the rider’s head, cutting his throat. Pushing him aside, the rider fell to the ground. In the same fluid movement, Ganry raised his sword, held it in both hands, high above his head. With all his remaining strength he stabbed it down hard, the sharply honed point cut into the scaly skin and sank deep into its back. The blade had ruptured its heart. The giant bird
shuddered with its final breath, before it collapsed to the ground, Linz and Lazras jumping out of the way at the very last moment.
Ganry slid off the back of the dead creature and approached a distraught Linz.
“I feel your pain, my friend, but we must move swiftly.” Ganry laid his hand on Linz’s shoulder as he spoke. “He was a brave man and doesn’t deserve the ignominy of being left out here, but others will arrive soon. We must go now. I promise, long will we and others remember his feats and valor in battle. We will mourn him.”
Linz nodded his agreement. He knew that Ganry spoke wisely, as much as he hated leaving Rubos like this. He understood that they had no choice. Linz took one last look at his fallen comrade, before following after Ganry and the others. They made their way into the relative safety of the woods.
26
“Dead? How can this be?” Mistress Thalia shouted at the witch who stood before her. “Did I not instruct you to keep him alive with magic? Couldn’t I even trust you to do that?”
“Mistress, for a human, the Emperor was an old man. His heart could not withstand the magic, or maybe he just simply gave up,” the witch pleaded.
“I should have done it myself rather than trust a mere mortal!” Thalia fumed.
The death of the emperor was not a disaster. In reality she did not need him anyway, but he may have been useful as a puppet, a figurehead of which she could control. No matter, it will all be the same result in the end. The humans will fall into line, or they will be killed. She was only angry because it was the Emperor’s ancestors that had banished her in the first place. There had been a glimmer of hope that she could make him suffer a while longer, even prolong his suffering, as she had suffered for hundreds of years. He had been the last of the lineage, with the young albino being dead. There were no other Fontleroy’s to take her wrath out on.
“Do you wish to see his body?” The witch dared to break into her mistress’s thoughts.
“Why would I want to do that? Can’t I trust you to dispose of an old man? Feed what is left of him to Canne, my personal Asgwern. That might appease me.”
There would be no ceremony for the death of the human Emperor, no period of mourning, not even an official announcement. The Emperor was dead. Long live Queen Thalia.
***
Canne poked his nose around in the meat and bones that had been thrown into his pen. Having been chosen by the Mistress because he was the largest and strongest of his kind, he had the privilege of not having to fight or hunt for his meals with the other Asgwerns. His Mistress had ensured he was tended to and cared for, as was his status.
The meat smelled fresh; this must have been a recent kill. Aah, human flesh, this had been a new taste to most of the creatures of the underworld. He did not care for it, the meat was usually sinewy and tough, as was this one, but he needed to eat. Crunching the bones between his sharp beak, his claws tore the flesh from the bone and he ate the remains of the Emperor of Mirnee. The meal was a light one, but it would hold his hunger for now. Settling down to nap, he wrapped his wings around himself and closed his eyes.
As he slept, he dreamt a voice was calling him, not his mistress but someone else. The voice was commanding and authoritative. It spoke to him as if it knew him personally, calling him by his name. Canne could not resist the call, and he flew at full speed towards the voice. Even though the calling was only in his head, he knew where it originated.
As he flew, an image appeared in his mind of a small human boy. A strange boy, all pale and white. A weak looking human child. Yet this boy was not weak, he could sense this, feel the power that emanated from him. This boy was strong in magic, stronger even than his mistress. That thought brought him awake and he realized it was just a dream.
Yet, something had unsettled him and he could still hear the calling inside his head, compelling him to go to its source. Ever loyal to Mistress Thalia, always obeying her commands, he now felt compelled to find this new master. The voice was calling him, a call he could not resist.
Not a moment could he waste as he unfurled his wings and began to rise out of his pen and up into the clear night sky. He pushed every muscle in his body to move faster and faster. He must find his Master.
***
Cronos dreamed he was in the spirit world once again. He was wary and mistrusted his judgment, as this was where everything had started to go wrong. A vision of his father stood before him, looking different. Younger? Yes, he was younger and more vibrant.
“I can no longer be with you in the living world, my son,” he smiled as he lay an arm gently on Cronos’s shoulder. “I have passed to the spirit world, but I will guide you when I can.”
“Father, what will I do without you by my side?” Cronos cried. “I’m confused, unsure, whether I am awake or asleep. I have seen monsters in my dreams, but I fear they’re in the real world. I felt that something was in my mind, ruling me, and I had no power to stop it.”
The Emperor’s spirit smiled at his young son. He had hoped to be with him for longer, or at least until he had grown into a young man. He was too young to be taking on the troubles that the kingdom was now facing, but there was no other option. Cronos was the only one that could save Mirnee and indeed, the world.
“You have good men by your side, so do not fear anything in the living world,” his father encouraged him. “Here is your spirit guide, Malasias,” he said indicating an albino who stood behind him. “You should have met on the eve of your tenth birthday. He is the albino who banished the witch, Thalia, many years ago. He will also guide you when he can. The monster within your mind has gone, and will never return. But you are ill, and although there are those trying to heal you, in the end only you can do that. Heal yourself and quickly, for you are needed in the living world. Our kingdom depends on you.”
“I will be with you,” Malasias told him, and gently kissed his forehead.
The images of his father and Malasias faded and he was surrounded in darkness. He felt a great sadness inside, knowing that his father was dead, but he understood what he had to do. First he must heal himself, and then he must awaken. His kingdom did need him.
He slept again and another vision came to him, but not his father or his spirit guide. Instead the vision was of a great flying beast, a fearsome creature, and an ally. It was flying towards him at great speed, willing to serve him in the coming fight. It would be his steed, his flying warhorse that he would ride into battle.
27
“I’d feel better waiting for Qutaybah,” the Duchess expressed to Artas, as they were preparing to leave. The Duchess and Qutaybah were lifelong friends, and she did not wish to leave without him.
“I would too,” Artas agreed, “but his men say he left instructions to get Myriam to safety as quickly as they could. I would feel safer being closer to Palara. Besides, Qutaybah can look out for himself, my Lady. There is nothing we could do to help anyway, we are too few.”
The Duchess reluctantly nodded her agreement. She knew it was important to save her granddaughter, the Queen of Palara, but she was very fond of Qutaybah. It hurt her heart to leave without him.
“I know you’re right, Artas, but without him we probably wouldn’t have made it safely into Vandemland.”
“I understand how you feel grandmother,” Myriam intervened. “I did not wish to leave Ganry in Mirnee to face those dreadful creatures, but I knew that I must put Palara’s interests first.”
The Duchess knew she was beaten, and deep down she knew they were both right. It still hurt to leave without knowing if he was alive or not.
They packed up what little supplies remained, and saddled up their horses ready to ride. One of Qutaybah’s men assisted the Duchess onto her horse. Everyone else was already saddled up, and she was the last one to mount. As they were readying to set off, hoof beats could be heard in the forest, and the rustling of trees. It sounded as though someone was riding through at great speed.
Artas and the other soldiers drew their swords a
nd prepared to confront the unseen intruders.
Bursting through the forest and into the clearing, were three riders galloping swiftly. The Duchess was delighted to see that leading the trio was the dark skinned merchant, Qutaybah.
“You look like you’ve been dragged through the hedges backwards,” the Duchess remarked as Qutaybah approached them. He smiled wide in response. He knew that her flippant words were only a disguise to hide her relief at seeing him.
“I’m glad to see you too, Duchess,” Qutaybah bowed his head to the Duchess and Queen. “To know you are all safe in my homeland is a relief. Artas…” he turned to the Queen’s Knight to speak with him. “We should ride now and ride hard. I need to urgently speak to my King, and your party needs to head to your borders. We have a deadly foe opposing us, and with the permission of my King, and you Milady, we should join forces to defeat it. If we unite, we might just stand a chance of killing these beasts that have crawled out from the underworld itself.”
Artas nodded his agreement and they clasped arms as friends. Qutaybah ordered a handful of his men to accompany the Queen’s party, led by his trustworthy lieutenant, Jacob. He did not yet expect troubles here in Vandemland. These men knew this area well and would find the quickest route to Palara. It was imperative that Queen Myriam returned home to assemble her forces, rallying them to fight the evil foe that threatened everyone.
The ride to the borders in Vandemland, as Qutaybah had predicted, was uneventful. The Queen’s party made good time and soon the border posts between the kingdoms could be seen just ahead.
“Ride hard, and ride true, my friend,” Jacob said to the Palaran Knight. “Gather your troops and meet us back here. We have little time to waste. I doubt the enemy tarries and are probably marshaling their forces as we speak.”
“I need you to pass on a message, Jacob, to Qutaybah,” Myriam said as she approached the leader of their escort. “Tell him I will also be sending troops over the sea, to the royal city harbor in Mirnee. Attacking from two fronts will improve our chances of success. Ganry still remains in the city. Knowing him, he will have organized a resistance. With the aid of the naval forces, we can provide him with soldiers and arms to add to his attack.”
