“It shouldn't be long now,” said Borman.
“I can see torches but not the ruins,” said Ellison.
“I doubt we will see much beyond torches until we're there,” replied Borman.
“It is like they're guiding us in,” said Ellison.
“There must be quite a few of them … to feel secure enough to light their presence,” said Borman.
“The caravan alone had many gorgons,” said Finn.
“We don't plan to fight them all or announce our presence, if possible,” said Borman.
“They will have sentries patrolling,” said Ellison.
“Yes. Those we will fight and kill quickly,” said Borman.
“Are you sure about this, Ellison?” asked Finn.
“Where would I go? If there are people that can be freed, we should try,” said Ellison.
“Your help is appreciated,” replied Finn. He looked into the distance at the torches.
“We will find her. I hope we find them all,” said Ellison.
“As do I,” replied Finn.
“If someone had told me last year that I would be where I am now,” said Ellison.
“Should we live, there is no guess to where you will be next,'” said Borman.
“In a warm tavern with a jug of spiced ale and room full of songs and laughter,” said Ellison. “That would be nice.”
“Brace yourselves. We should be close to the sandbar. It's too dark to see. I will slow our speed as much as I can,” said Borman. The three boats continued to slice through the water towards the looming shadows in the distance.
A light fog drifted over the island. Two gorgons patrolled the coastline. They walked the ground between the cathedral and the outpost on the southern tip of the island. Each one carried a lit torch and a spear. A sword hung from their waists. One gorgon had a warhorn buckled to his leather belt. Their tunics were dyed black but were faded from the sun. Both gorgons were tall and thickly muscled. Their scaled skin wrapped tightly around their apish frames. One of the gorgons stopped walking. He spoke to the other in a dark guttural tone. The other gorgon began to reply but an arrow whistled out of the darkness. It cut through the gorgon's throat and cracked through its neck. The gorgon twisted and fell to the sand and rock. The other gorgon reacted quickly, reaching for the warhorn on his belt. He put it to his lips, but two more arrows pierced through the shadows. One hit the gorgon in the stomach, while the other split open the front side of his face. The gorgon dropped the warhorn and fell to his side. He reached again for his horn. He tried to yell out. The gorgon could see Gilnor approaching out of darkness. He was wet from the knees down. Others were behind him. Borman let loose an arrow. It cut through the night with a low whistle. The arrow hit the gorgon in the chest with a dull thud. It fell lifelessly to the sand.
“Put out those torches,” said Borman. “And it's best to retrieve those arrows. We will need all of them.”
Gilnor buried the torches in the sand. He took one of the swords from the dead gorgons and gave it to the Ellison. Dord and Borman pulled the corpses into the water. It was not deep, but it was able to conceal the gorgons. Torin marked the sand and rock with his sword. It was a faint circle with a line crossing through it.
“To find our way back,” said Torin, holding his side. “They will not see it until first light. If we are not gone by then, our stealth is lost regardless.”
“There were more lights gathered around the main structure,” said Gilnor.
“We saw them from the water. They did not move. It is like a camp,” said Dord.
“I saw them as well. The captives are probably close to the ruins, if not in the ruins themselves,” said Torin.
“Let us hope they’re not. We need to move. Wolves will not be carrying torches,” said Borman.
The group went further inland off the beach and walked along the edge of the village. It was mostly rubble but a few buildings were partially intact. They moved slowly and tried to stay out of the sight of the other patrols. The smell of dust and decay was prevalent. It blended with the salt air and it pushed throughout the island. It proved difficult to move through quietly. The ground was a mixture of fragmented rock, dead wood and sand. There were no bushes or vegetation. The ground thirsted for water and life, but all around it was dead and dust. The slowness bothered and ate at Finn. Everything was drawn out. He was tired of waiting. The misery of the island pulled at his core. Nylah was there somewhere. She was alone. A prisoner on the most cursed ground in all the realms. Nothing about this was right. Finn filled with anger at his entire life up to that moment. It burned inside him.
“Are you all right,” Ellison whispered to Finn.
How can I know this? I can almost hear … sense his blood running. He is hot with anger.
“It is hard to be so close,” replied Finn, quietly.
“Keep on your target,” said Borman. “Rashness will ensure our defeat.”
The group continued to move forward. The looming presence of the White Ruins grew more visible. The gorgons had made a camp outside of the cathedral. It did not appear to be a main camp. It was encircled with torches planted within the rock and sand. Captives were huddled together in the center. They were once again roped together. Gorgons patrolled the camp, while others ate or slept against rocks. Larger groups of gorgons could be seen in the distance, as they entered or left the cathedral. A pile of dead prisoners was made just outside the ring of torches. Some of the corpses looked to have died from the journey, while others were ripped and gutted. Gulls set atop the heap of dead bodies pecking at the flesh and each other. It was a rancid smell that cried out to all the scavengers of the island.
The group approached the outskirts of the camp. They crouched behind a wall of white stone that used be part of a stable or house. There were other shelters around the cathedral that had partial roofs and walls intact. They could see the pile of bodies and the camp behind it. The majority of the island was still asleep or milling about.
“They will all wake soon,” said Torin.
“Those bodies,” said Finn.
“I don't think they would have killed her, Finn ...or Stone Giants for that matter. They are here for weapons not food,” said Gilnor.
“They ate them?” asked Ellison.
“More likely than not,” said Borman. “There is nothing kind about the gorgons or who they serve.”
“I don't see her down there,” said Finn. “I can't see them all, but I don't see her,” said Finn.
“Hause and Kiev are there,” said Dord.
“Yes. There,” said Gilnor, excitedly.
“There are so many. Gorgons and captives,” said Ellison.
“We kill the sleeping ones first. Quickly and quietly,” said Torin.
“We will then have a short time to kill the others and move the captives back to the boats,” said Borman.
“There isn’t enough room for them all,” said Ellison.
“We will take all we can. The rest can wait on the edge of the bars. We can try to come back,” said Borman.
“They will drown,” said Ellison.
“Better to drown free,” said Torin.
“I don't see Nylah,” said Finn. “What of Nylah? I'm not leaving without her.”
“I know. We have to get our people too. They are why we came,” replied Borman.
“I will stay and help you,” Ellison said to Finn.
“We can speak to the other captives. They will know more. We are to start here, though,” said Gilnor.
“Do you see any Storm Wolves?” asked Ellison.
“I don't but I am sure they're here,” replied Dord.
“Is that a problem?” asked Borman.
“No,” said Ellison.
“Conserve your arrows. Fire at what you know you can strike and kill. We will need all of them. Sleepers first. Then, we kill the rest,” said Torin.
“Are you all right for this?” Borman asked Torin.
“Ask me that again and I wi
ll kill you first,” said Torin.
The first to notice anything was one of the captives. The arrow whistled through the camp with precision. It lodged into the skull of a sleeping gorgon. It did not cry out. Instead, it simply laid heavier against the ground. The dry and brittle ground took in all the dark blood. Three more arrows crossed through the camp. This time one of the gorgons tried to move. He reached and grabbed wildly at the arrow in his throat. Another arrow followed, striking him through the eye. His hands fell, as he dropped lifelessly. Other captives saw the dead gorgons. They looked around into the darkness. One of the gorgons saw the captives looking in different directions. He approached the center of the camp. Something was off. The captives did not look at him. They stared forward or at the ground. He looked to the other gorgons. The sleeping gorgons did not move. Then, he saw it. An arrow jutting from the eye of a gorgon. It was suddenly clear. He could see the other arrows. The dead gorgons. He looked around the camp, while at the same time grabbing for his warhorn. He breathed in but felt something hit him from behind. He fell to the ground with a searing pain across his back. Blood pooled around him. He reached for the horn but his arms did not work. He looked up and saw Gilnor standing over him. Gilnor's sword dripped black blood. The gorgon heard rustling and noise in the camp. The clanging of swords before he faded to his death.
Finn quickly notched arrows and picked targets. He picked gorgons that Gilnor and Torin had engaged in combat. The quicker the gorgons fell, the less chance there was to alert the entire island. Gilnor and Torin hacked wildly at the gorgons. They pounded them back with their shields crushing bone and tearing muscle. They felt arrows from Finn and Borman whisk by them. The gorgons at the camp fell hard and fast. They had no tactical advantage and were taken unaware. The gorgons lashed out at Gilnor and Torin with spears and swords. However, when a gorgon would strike at them, they were met with arrows. The arrows dug deeply through leather and scale breaking bone and spilling blood. The gorgons that did not fall felt the stinging bite of the stone giant’s sword. It was an easy victory.
Dord ran to the prisoners. The seven children taken from Stone Water were huddled together. One of them had a thick head of blonde hair. The boy's eyes welled with tears, as did Dord's. Dord pulled the boy into his chest and rubbed his hair. The young stone giant sobbed uncontrollably.
“You’re safe, Kiev. We are here to take you home,” whispered Dord. He wiped the tears running down Kiev's cheeks.
“They killed Mora,” said Kiev.
“Come, we need to get you out of here, all of you,” Dord said to the other children.
Ellison took his sword and began to free the rest of the prisoners. They stared in bewilderment at the pale man with red eyes that was cutting them free. Finn began to walk through the captives looking at each one. Borman pulled arrows from the gorgon corpses. Torin walked the camp and looked into the surrounding village. He kept one of his hands on his wound.
“Do you see anymore?” asked Borman.
“No. I did not hear any horns, either,” replied Torin.
“We need to hurry. Someone must have heard this,” said Gilnor.
“I don't see her,” said Finn, as he continued to look through the captives.
“Take Kiev and the others to the boats,” said Borman. “The rest of you listen - we have another boat. Follow these men.”
“Nylah,” Finn called out. “I am not leaving without her.”
“You are alive,” said Douglas. His soldier's tunic was almost completely gone. His gray hair was thin; his face was tired and stressed. The journey had nearly proved too much. “I thought you were dead.”
“Nylah?” asked Finn. “You are talking about Nylah? Is she here?”
“Yes, Nylah. I told her you were dead,” said Douglas.
“Where is she?” asked Finn.
“Before the ships, they put her and some others into wagons,” said Douglas.
“Where are they now? These wagons?” asked Finn.
“There are more in the ruins,” replied Douglas. “There are more.”
“She is in the ruins?” asked Finn.
“We must hurry,” said Gilnor.
“Go with them. There's another boat,” Finn told Douglas. “I am going to the ruins.”
“We are taking them back to the boats,” said Dord.
“Hurry,” said Borman.
Dord and Gilnor took Kiev and the others from the camp. The remaining captives followed them. They ran towards the shoreline and down the beach. Borman watched them until they disappeared into the night. He listened for the sound of a horn but it never came. He turned back to Finn and others.
“There are too many of them for two boats. They will panic and take the third one - our way off the island,” said Ellison.
“I am sure of it,” replied Borman.
“Go. There's no use in all of us being stuck here,” said Finn.
“I’m staying,” said Ellison.
“Torin and I didn't run back to the boats, did we?” said Borman.
“We need to leave this camp. More will come and see what's happened,” said Finn.
The sound of a horn broke the silence of the night. It came from a distant part of the island. Another horn sounded. This one was closer to the ruins. The dull baritone hum of warhorns began to blast throughout the island. The gorgons began to stir. The sounds of yelling and dark speech could be heard. Ellison looked around the camp and further inland.
“That is too many for this. It can’t be for us,” said Ellison.
“No, they would be on us already. This is something else,” said Borman.
“There. Do you see that?” asked Finn.
“God and kings. I see it. The blue lights in the water. It's all around us,” said Ellison.
The White Ruins erupted with commotion and activity. Gorgons spilled out of the ruins and its surrounding camps. They were armed for battle. Storm Wolves ran alongside howling and snarling with rage. Some ran on all fours, while others charged forward on two. The gorgons wore black and yellow tunics. They carried spears and large square shields that had the image of a twisted snaked etched into the wood. Others carried large swords or bows. Their warhorns continued to hum with the anticipation of battle. A squad of gorgons saw Finn and the others. They charged towards the camp yelling. Three gorgons notched their steel tipped arrows and fired.
“Move!” yelled Finn, pointing to the stone wall behind them.
They ran towards the rubble of the village. Arrows fell behind them, while others whistled past. One of the buildings had a partially covered roof. Two broken walls supported it. They were made of stone. Rotten wooden beams crossed over the walls and helped support the roof. Finn and Borman turned firing arrows at their pursuers.
“Do you hear that?” yelled Ellison.
“Get down!” yelled Torin.
Arrows began to fall all over the coastline and village like rain from the sky. The gorgons chasing Finn and the others were littered with arrows. Arrows hit the roof of the stone structure and broke or rolled to the ground. Screams and cries were heard throughout the island. Borman pushed a stone loose from the wall. It fell leaving a trail of dust floating in the air. He could see the shoreline. A ring of blue darted over the water like fireflies at night. The first hints of morning began to crest the horizon. The shadowy outlines of Captain Dowr's ships could be seen in the distance. Men poured out of them on ropes and ladders. Flickers of blue glowed and radiated, as they moved closer to the island.
“We picked the right day,” said Torin, as arrows continued to fall around them.
“Who are they?” asked Finn.
“Acolytes,” replied Borman Thyn.
Chapter 32
The Battle of the White Ruins
The ships surrounded the island. They were silhouetted against the first orange and red hints of morning. The fog of night was slowly dissipating. Acolytes climbed off the ships in droves. They used ladders and ropes to reach the sandbars. Squadrons of
Acolytes were already on the bars firing arrows towards the island. The arrows hissed and streamed through the air, momentarily getting lost in the dark sky. They arched downward and fell to the ground like hawks darting for prey. The other Acolytes gathered on the bars waiting to invade. The glow from their eyes flickered on the water. The wet breeze dampened the men and everything in its path.
Matthias and Luras stood on the deck of the Lisbeth, watching the arrows announce their arrival. Nelos and Tylin stood nearby speaking with Captain Dowr. Matthias wore his leather vest with steel ringlets over a maroon woolen tunic. His yellow hair and beard were wet from the breeze. He checked his armor and weapons. He had a sword and a shield. The shield was round and made of reinforced planked wood with an iron center. A short sword and dagger hung from his waist. Luras wore his black leather tunic with steel ringlets and brown leather pants. The hood of his dark green cloak was pushed back. His two sabers were sheathed across his back.
“Are you ready?” asked Matthias.
“Yes. How is your back?”
“Better. Nelos did a good job.”
“Good,” replied Luras.
“It will be chaos soon … when we reach the island,” said Matthias.
“I suspect as much.”
“Stay close. There will be a push to move forward. It sometimes fails and falls back. Make sure you are not too far forward. Men often find themselves closed in, isolated. They get lost in the fight and find themselves surrounded. Know where you are and where others plan to be. If we stay close and keep our wits, we will live and make it to the ruins,” said Matthias.
“Good luck to you,” said Captain Dowr, as he approached them.
“And to you,” replied Matthias.
“I will be here; you will be there. You can have my luck. You'll need it,” said Captain Dowr, grinning.
“The other ships are taking the captives,” Nelos said to Captain Dowr.
A Dark Tyranny Page 26
