by Lana Axe
The summer heat did not help matters as it lay heavily in the dense forest. The humid air was filled with the scent of leaves and bark as if the trees themselves were sweating.
Mel led on throughout the morning as the others followed silently. The night had not spared them from the heat, and they were all still a bit tired. Finally, the trees gave way and a clearing lay in front of them. The sparse trees gave way to brilliant sunbeams, lighting the path to a meadow of purple flowers.
Mel dismounted to have a closer look at the ground. He was uneasy leading the group out into the open without first being sure it was safe. Seeing no signs of any disturbance, he signaled the others to wait while he scouted ahead. Once he had surveyed the area, he remounted and motioned for the others to follow.
Despite the lack of shade, the meadow was cooler than the forest. A cool breeze was swirling all around them as the wildflowers danced in delight. An open field lay ahead in the distance.
Mel turned his horse to speak with the king. “There is open field ahead. That means no cover should there be anything looking for us.”
“What are the alternatives?” he replied.
“We could detour north. The Oak Leaf Clan has a settlement about a day's ride from here.”
“I fear we would lose too much time. Let's cross here as quickly as possible.”
They set out across the field of endless golden stalks. What had appeared to be small enough to cross quickly turned out to be deceptively large. This crossing was going to take over an hour at a good pace. Far in the distance, another forest beckoned to them.
Mel felt as if he had held his breath throughout the crossing. Once the forest's edge was in sight, he felt safe enough to take a deep breath. Here under the cover of trees, he was at home. He halted immediately upon entering the forest. It was quiet here-too quiet. No sound of bird nor scurrying of foraging creatures could be heard. The grass was still and his horse neighed nervously.
Suddenly, a blast of energy surged toward them, knocking them all from their mounts. The horses reared and bolted through the forest in a panic. Mel drew his bow as the others drew their weapons. He knocked an arrow and released it at the oncoming noise of running footsteps. An inhuman yowl went up as the arrow found a target. “Wolf monsters! “ he cried as one stepped into view. The sorcerer, still unseen, let loose another blast of energy that scattered the travelers in all directions.
Quickly, they scrambled back to their feet and readied their weapons, spreading apart for their own safety. Staying close to each other for this fight would only make them easier targets for the sorcerer.
Thinal moved towards Utric, who was unarmed. “Stay down, and I'll protect you!” she shouted as the enemy advanced. The terrified old man obeyed.
Mel loosed another arrow, finishing off the wounded beast who had moved into view. A flash of light sped his way as he rolled sideways, narrowly avoiding it. Blindly, he fired another arrow at the source of the light, hoping it might find its mark. Willdor crouched low to the ground and released an energy blast of his own. Yelps arose from the monsters as they had not expected the hit.
“Now!” Aelryk cried to his men as the three of them rushed the stunned creatures. Thinal followed closely behind, leaving Utric well hidden in the tall grass.
Mel raced up a tall tree nearby to get a better view of the sorcerer. Reaching a wide branch, he crept out onto it and caught sight of the elf. He was mounted atop a wildcat and protected by four giant spiders. More wolfbeasts were closing in as well. There were at least a dozen of them, to Mel's count.
Once the new wave of wolfbeasts had moved into his view, Willdor unleashed another blast. His power was draining quickly, and his potions had been carried away by his frightened horse. Human mages do not naturally regenerate their magical powers as elves do. In a matter of moments, he would be completely useless in this fight.
Mel loosed arrows at the spiders, hoping to take out a few before they reached his companions. As his arrow hit one spider between its head and neck, Mel was stunned to see it glance off without injuring the beast. Unwilling to waste another shot, he aimed for the tiny eyes on the top of its head. At this distance it looked like a speck of dust, but it was his only hope. He held his breath as the arrow flew through the air. In a matter of seconds, the arrow landed, piercing straight through the eye of the beast. It flopped over immediately, its legs curling inward as it fell.
The enraged sorcerer began blasting fireballs in Mel's direction. Luckily, he was hidden by leaves and took the opportunity to take down a second spider. Another fireball hit the tree near his level sending smoke into his face from the wet foliage. No longer able to see his targets, he hopped down from the tree, stashed his bow on his back, and drew his knives from his belt. He joined the others as they slashed at the wolfbeasts.
As the creatures were defeated one by one, General Morek noticed a clear path to the sorcerer. Only one spider was still in position to protect him. He charged at the monster, slashing wildly at its legs. It recoiled under the weight of his sword, but its flesh was not cut. The Soulbinder sent a burst of energy directly at Morek, shoving him backwards violently. Striking his head at the base of a tree, he lay motionless on the ground.
Aelryk, seeing his friend was injured, left himself wide open for an attack from an advancing wolfbeast. It slashed his side with its razor-sharp claws before he could turn to face it. Thinal, who was close by, rushed to his aid. She stabbed the monster in its spine, dropping it to the forest floor in an instant.
“My lady,” the king said, nodding at Thinal.
She smiled and nodded in response as they both turned to fight two more wolfbeasts. Mel finished off a beast and caught a glimpse of the final spider moving to flank Thinal and the king. He dashed for cover in the tall grass and drew his bow to fire at the beast. In an instant it lay dead, oozing green pus from one eye.
As she slew the final wolfbeast, the sorcerer unleashed his wrath on Thinal. A loud pop filled the air as a lightning bolt hit her in the chest. She dropped to the ground and was immediately encircled in a purple light. Aelryk charged toward the sorcerer. Before he could reach him, the elf toppled from his mount, an arrow sticking out of his eye. His wildcat fled swiftly into the forest.
Mel rushed to Thinal's side and took her in his arms. “You can't leave me,” he said, tears welling in his eyes. She was already gone, killed instantly by the blast. He buried his face in her neck and wept. The others stood silently by as Mel grieved for his love.
After a moment, Aelryk knelt next to Mel and placed a hand on his shoulder. “She was a valiant swordswoman. Her death could not have been more honorable.” Mel did not respond.
“Shall we prepare a grave for her?” Morek asked, clutching a handkerchief to the wound on his head.
Mel looked up and said, “We do not place our dead in the cold ground. I will place her in the trees as an offering to the sky.” He placed her gently over one shoulder and ascended the wide-branched tree nearby. He laid her on her side atop a sturdy branch and placed her hand beneath her head as if she were sweetly dreaming. Kissing her softly on the cheek one last time, he bid farewell to his mate. Silently, he descended the tree.
“I think we may be losing our guide,” Aelryk said quietly to Mi'tal.
“I'll track the horses,” Mel said as he reached the ground.
The others looked up in surprise. “Does this mean you will stay with us even though your reason for coming along is gone?” Mi'tal asked.
“I promised her I'd see it through,” he said flatly.
“I'll come with you,” Willdor said. “I'm no physician, but I know some herbs that might help our wounded.” He trotted along after Mel, who was barely listening. His heart was far too heavy to think about much else. Thinal was gone, and his world would never be the same.
Chapter 22
“Report,” Ulda said sternly.
“Your highness, there was a small uprising in one of the villages,” General Fru began. They
said they would never accept you as their king and attacked the guards you had posted in their village. Three of them were killed. I immediately led troops to secure the village and have filled your dungeons with those citizens who refused to stop the fighting and swear fealty.”
“Well done, General,” Ulda replied. “I have need of some prisoners to use as test subjects. My new potion is ready to be tested on humans.”
“Shall I have some of them brought up, sire?”
“Yes. Bring four or five of them to my laboratory. Were there any children?”
“Yes, majesty. There were two.”
“Bring them as well. I need to test the dosage compared to the size of the subject.”
“Right away, my lord,” Fru said, bowing. He turned and headed quickly from the throne room.
Ulda rose from his velvet throne cushion and walked slowly to his lab. The potion had worked fairly well on the spiders, but they were still weak at the eyes. The vast majority of Na'zorans fight with swords, so he doubted they would figure out where exactly they needed to stab. They have very few, if any, archers among them which means the spiders should be able to deal more damage than they take. He had already tested his concoction on the wolf hybrids, and they had responded well. They were not indestructible, but their skin was now as tough as leather armor.
Arriving at his lab, he began mixing enough potion to test on his captives. He would start with the highest dose first. If necessary, he would scale it back based on the subject's reaction. Once he had finished mixing, he grabbed his necklace with one hand and placed the other hand on the flask. A pale purple magic surged through the liquid causing it to bubble. He swirled the mixture and held it up to his nose. It smelled faintly of moss.
Just as he was finishing up the potion, the prisoners began to file into the room. Each of them wore chains to prevent them from trying to harm their captor. “Welcome,” Ulda said. “Through your disobedience, you have volunteered as test subjects. You will assist me in making my army stronger.” He grabbed one of the two children and dragged him closer to his work table. Holding forward a vial full of potion, Ulda said, “Drink every drop.”
The boy glared at him and tried to twist out of his grip. Ulda released the child, and shot an energy blast at him. The child dropped to the floor, gasping for air. Ulda grabbed the child's nose, tilted his head back, and dumped the entire potion down his throat. He clapped his other hand over the child's mouth, preventing him from spitting it out. Once he was sure the boy had swallowed, he released him from his grip.
Within seconds, the boy began to seize. He thrashed violently as the other captives cried out in horror. Ulda watched and shook his head. He had a feeling the dose was too high, but the children were more expendable than the adults. He needed adults for mining and to serve in his army. The children, however, were of very little use.
He grabbed the second child, a terrified little girl. This time, he offered her half the amount of potion, and the girl drank it without a fuss. A few seconds passed, and her skin began to glow. Ulda grabbed a knife from his table and slashed at the girls arm. She jumped in fear as the blade struck her, but she was completely unharmed. He smiled at her and said, “Well done, child.” She stood motionless, her eyes wide.
He estimated the potion would last up to twenty-four hours before it needed to be readministered. The girl would be monitored by his Soulbinders to test that theory. This process was proving far less expensive and much faster than producing armor for his troops.
Ulda prepared a vial that contained three quarters of the dose that had killed the boy. He offered it to a young male prisoner, who promptly spat in his face. Ulda grabbed the man's throat and unleashed fire with his hand. He did not release his grip until the man's head was nearly severed by the potent, searing magic. The other prisoners stood silently, unable to express their horror at what they had just witnessed.
“You see, I will not hesitate to take your life. You can either serve me and live, or you can die in agony. It matters not to me, as I can always find someone else to use for testing.”
A woman with dark hair extended a chained hand to Ulda. “I will take it,” she said. Ulda handed her the vial, and she downed the potion in one gulp. After a few seconds, her skin began to glow. He grabbed his knife and slashed at her arm. She was unharmed. He stabbed the knife into her shoulder, and it sank into her flesh while offering quite a bit of resistance. She gave a muffled cry but managed to endure the pain.
“Excellent,” Ulda said. “You now have skin equivalent to leather armor. You are not immune to damage, but you are much less fragile than before.”
“Slave!” Ulda shouted towards the door. The boy popped his head inside and bowed. “Have these prisoners taken back to the dungeons. These two ladies will require beds here in the laboratory. Send for my Soulbinders to monitor their progress.” He looked down to the floor and added, “Have someone clear away these bodies.” The boy ran to obey his master.
Chapter 23
It was late afternoon by the time Mel had located all of the horses. He returned to the camp they had set up not far from where the battle had taken place. Tied to the back of his horse was a boar he managed to take down in the forest.
Mi'tal approached to help him unload the beast. “I hear these things are difficult to hunt, as they can be quite clever.”
“Not this one,” Mel replied, untying the ropes. “He just stood there and stared at me, so now he's dinner.”
Mi'tal chuckled and carried the boar over to the campfire. A good meal was just what they needed after the day's events. Everyone was exhausted, and Aelryk's and Morek's wounds would heal easier if their bellies were full. Nothing, however, could ease the pain in their hearts after the loss they had suffered. Only time could soften the blow Thinal's death had dealt them all.
They ate silently as the waxing moon rose in the sky. The forest was brightly lit under its watchful gaze. From the corner of his eye, Mel noticed a glow near the area where the slain sorcerer lay. Without a word, he stood and went to investigate. Clutched in the dead elf's hand was a small purple gem the size of a duck's egg. Mel picked it up and returned to the camp.
“Any idea what this might be?” he asked, showing the stone to Mi'tal.
“It looks like an amethyst,” he replied.
Mel stared at him blankly. Clearly, the word meant nothing to him.
“They're precious gems usually used for jewelry or other ornamentation. It's worth quite a bit of coin.”
“Why would a sorcerer be using an amethyst?” Aelryk asked as he came over to look at the gem.
Willdor answered, “Mages can use them as sources of power. Different gems hold properties from different schools of magic.”
“Perhaps it was powering his energy attack,” Mi'tal said.
“May I see it?” Willdor asked. Mel handed him the gem. “This gem is empty. He may have used up whatever magic was stored inside. Enlightened Elves use magic in a very different way from us humans. I'm afraid I can't be certain what he was doing with this.” He gave the gem back to Mel.
Mel shoved the gem into a pocket, and the conversation was over. Having eaten their fill, they settled in for the night. The soft hooting of an owl lulled them to a deep, dreamless sleep.
* * * * *
Two more days of travel brought them out of the woods. They had reached the banks of the Blue River at last. It was very wide and flowed rapidly south. The water was cool and clear with a crystal blue hue. A kingfisher rattled noisily overhead as Mel knelt before the water and drank a handful. It had a sweet, pure flavor to it and was still chilled from its source high in the mountains.
It was mid-afternoon, but the summer's heat was blown away by the cool breeze blowing across the river. “We should camp here tonight,” Mel said. “We can get to work building a raft.”
“How will we get the horses across?” Utric asked. “It's too deep for them to walk.”
“I've never seen a horse float on a ra
ft,” Morek said, laughing. The gash on his head was beginning to heal, and he was in much higher spirits than he had been.
“It would have to be a much bigger raft than I'm planning,” Mel said. “We'll have to leave them.” He thought for a second and then added, “I guess someone can stay behind with them.”
“Do you think it's safe?” Willdor asked.
“No, I don't think anywhere is safe,” he replied. “You might be alright since you have your potions this time.”
“I'm afraid you overestimate my skill in battle,” Willdor said.
“Well, how should I know?” he shot back. “I've seen what other sorcerers can do. Maybe you should give that a try.”
“That was dark magic,” he replied quietly. “I don't practice that kind.”
“Let's get started on that raft,” Aelryk interrupted. “I don't think any of us want to try to swim with that current.”
They busied themselves searching for suitable fallen timber. Mel gathered green vines and began braiding them for lashing. A raft large enough to hold the five of them was going to require a lot of rope to hold it together. Once enough logs had been gathered, the others began braiding vines as well. By nightfall, they had enough rope to attempt assembling the raft.
“Let's get some sleep,” Aelryk suggested. “We don't want to cross in the dark anyway. We can tie the logs together in the morning.”
No one offered any argument, and they settled in for the night. The air was much more comfortable here since it lacked the heat of the rest of the forest. The sound of the water was very soothing and sleep came much easier.
In his dream, Mel saw Thinal floating on her back in the river. She wiggled her toes to create a splash and giggled as the cool water droplets flew through the air. As he approached the bank, she propped her head up and waved to him. He wanted to go to her and wrap his arms around her, but he could not enter the water. Looking down to his feet, he saw the ground was clear. Nothing was preventing him from reaching her, yet he could not move. When he called out her name, she stood, waved her hand, and turned to leave. Still frozen in place, he tried desperately to break through the unseen barrier. She had already reached the far bank and was fading into the distance. He awoke with a start and looked in every direction. Finally, he realized it had all been a dream, and he remembered that Thinal was gone.
