Empyreal (The Earthborn Series Book 1)

by Spencer Helsel

  Bouden groaned and shook his head. “We used to do that in Wyoming. It’s how you herd cattle: keep them moving in one direction. They’re easier to control that way.”

  Dani peeked again. She could see Lester still pinned to a tree. He was very much alive and conscious, but he couldn’t free himself.

  He started shouting. “Help me! Somebody help me!”

  “Oh God.” Nathaniel whimpered. “He’s going to get himself killed!”

  “Be quiet. I hear someone.”

  Something approached; moving fast. The sound of footfalls grew louder.

  Lester screamed again. “Help me! Somebody! I can’t get down!”

  Dani heard what sounded not like footfalls, but horse hooves; someone on horseback. When she looked, she spotted them galloping up through the underbrush; silver breastplate and helm with faceguards down, obscuring the rider’s face. He carried a bow and quiver as he spurred his horse out into the open in front of Lester. He was terrifying.

  Especially since he wasn’t riding a horse, but in fact was a horse. Or, rather, was half-horse.

  When he came into the clearing, Dani saw that where a horse neck should start, the rider’s upper body began. He galloped out, completely man from the waist up and equine from the waist down. He cantered around, aiming his bow in long and wide sweeps before targeting Lester.

  His eyes widened. “Oh God! Don’t kill me! I’m not with them! I swear!”

  The man cantered closer, bow still aimed. From underneath the helm, he spoke in a deep voice. “You wear the brown of a Novice.”

  “I’m not! They forced me to come with them!”

  Dani snorted in disgust. Coward. For all the crap he and Andreas gave her about being a man, he was screaming like a baby.

  Nathaniel hissed. “Is that a…a centaur?”

  The warrior turned in their direction. Everyone hunched out of sight. Apparently, centaurs had pretty good hearing. When they looked again, he lowered his bow, resheathed his arrow and drew a sword.

  Lester screamed louder.

  Dani couldn’t just watch. Lester was a jerk, but he didn’t deserve to die. She drew her knife and prepared to jump the rock. Maybe the four of them could take him on if they surprised him. It was a long way to run and he had a bow, but they had to try.

  Bouden clamped a hand down on her shoulder. “Don’t.”

  “He’s going to kill him!”

  “No, he won’t. Trust me.”

  The centaur clop-clop-clopped closer to Lester. He screamed louder as the equine warrior raised his blade, but instead of decapitating him, he smashed the pommel down on Lester’s temple. He went limp; unconscious, but very much alive.

  “Hellfires, I hate Novices.” The centaur snorted, then turned and whistled loudly. Other whistles came in response. To Lester’s unconscious body, he grunted, “Hopefully, your companions present a more worthy challenge.”

  Two more centaurs in armor galloped into the clearing. They carried their own weapons—bows and quivers and swords so long they could cut down one of the trees. They galloped to Lester, undid the bindings, and lowered him down.

  Dani whispered to Bouden. “How did you know?”

  “They’re Hellions.” He explained, as if that actually explained anything.

  “Hellions?”

  “Non-human warriors that fight demons.” He clarified. “I read some scrolls in Novice Village that say they’re part of our army. They live all over the world. I heard rumors there are villages in the Vale; centaurs, other creatures, things that live here as opposed to the Hills.”

  Dani remembered the smoke signals she saw.

  “Anyway, Hellions aren’t Numen, but fight demons. Most of them are stationed on the frontlines in Hell. Hence the nickname. They fight there while we fight on Earth.”

  “So they’re on our side?”

  “Supposedly.”

  “Then what the hell is going on?”

  “It’s a test.” Nathaniel said quietly, watching. “Don’t you get it? They’re supposed to capture us. It’s a game to see who can make to the end of the river.”

  “So we’re not in danger?”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  The two centaurs got Lester down and draped him over one’s back. The pair galloped off while the original man-horse stayed.

  “We need to find out what’s going on.” Dani said to them.

  Dink shook his head. “You want to go over there and ask him? Be my guest.”

  “Actually, I was thinking of bringing him to us.” She held up the cords that she took from Bouden’s feet. “And I got an idea.”

  ______________________

  The centaur notched an arrow onto the bow; looking around, listening. Which meant when Dani stepped from hiding, she was easy to spot.

  “Hey, Mr. Ed!” she called.

  The centaur raised its bow and fired. Dani barely dodged when she flung herself sideways. The arrow passed, exploding into whipping chains that thankfully missed her.

  Then she was up and running.

  The centaur took off after her. It leapt a fallen log, trying to turn itself onto a path to intercept. It wasn’t a fool. It knew where she was going, which she, of course, wanted.

  As it galloped between two small trees to cut her off, it raised its bow to fire. Unfortunately, it didn’t see the adamantine chain they suspended between the saplings at knee-height. The centaur hit it at full gallop and its front feet shot out from under it. The human upper body went face first into the dirt. Dani could hear the metal clang as the helmet connected with a rock. The centaur cried out in a mix of human and horse bray. Then it rolled, tumbling over itself to land on its side.

  Nathaniel and Bouden dropped out of hiding, swords raised. They didn’t know how to use them, but hopefully the centaur didn’t know that.

  Dink stood at the top of a rock, bow and arrow aimed. When the centaur went for its sword, he raised his weapon. “Uh, uh, uh Secretariat! I’ll cut those derby-winner chances short if you go for it.”

  Whether it understood the insult or not, the centaur paused, fingertips at the sword hilt. It regarded them with tense unease.

  “Take the sword and throw it away.”

  It did what he asked, removing the nearly five-foot-long blade and tossing it aside.

  Dani trudged downhill, hands on her hips. “Hi. We’d like to talk.” ______________________

  Using two captured adamantine chains as restraints, they tied his hands to one front leg and removed his helmet. A large, brown beard dominated his face. His olive brown skin and hair were long and untamed. Underneath his armor they could see a normal human body, with the exception of his lower-half going equine. His face seemed a bit distorted; larger, with bigger teeth and jowls than a human’s. His head was twice the size, too, but he was still handsome.

  Once restrained, Dani took the lead. “I’m Dani. This is Dink, Nathaniel, and Bouden. We will be your captors today.”

  “I will not tell you where they took your friends.” He warned in his deep, gravelly voice.

  “Well, first off, they’re not my friends,” Dani told him, “but I think maybe you should tell us anyway since we’re the ones with weapons.”

  “I made a vow.” He said formally. “I accept death.”

  “Bully for you. We’d still like to know where you took them.”

  He didn’t say anything.

  Bouden cut in, lowering his weapon, “You’re a Hellion, right? A non- human celestial warrior?”

  The fact he knew that surprised the centaur. “I made my vows.” Was that a yes?

  “Okay, so we’re on the same team.” Bouden nodded eagerly, getting somewhere. “You won’t tell us where you took the others because I’m guessing you’re under orders not to, but I assume since we both work for Empyrean, that means they’re safe. Can you at least tell us that?”

  The centaur’s eyes flicked quickly around the group, unsure, but he nodded slowly.

  “Can you tell us y
our name?” Dani asked.

  The centaur’s eyes met hers. They were big, brown and afraid. He was brave, but he was fearful. “Nessus.”

  “Nice to meet you.” She crouched down next to him. “So, this is a test, which means that you aren’t going to kill us. It’s sort of like capture the flag. Am I right?”

  “I do not know of what you speak.”

  “It’s a game. Not important. What’s important is if the centaurs aren’t going to kill us, we aren’t going to kill you. Are we, guys?”

  Everyone nodded.

  “What we want to know is what else is out there,” she waved to the woods, “and what direction we go to get to the river. Specifically, we’d like to know where the end is. Do you know?”

  He shook his head.

  “Are you lying to me?”

  He shook his head again.

  “How do I know that’s the truth?”

  “For it is. Our herds only patrol the centaur lands of the upper river.” He explained. “We do not stray far from our villages south or into the Hills of the gifted. Once Novices are beyond our border, our duty ends. It ensures that if we are captured, which has not happened in many generations, we cannot reveal anything else.”

  Many generations. These guys had been doing this awhile. “How far do the centaurs go?”

  “Only as far as the tall, fallen tree that bridges the river bend. Most cross the river there. We cannot.”

  “He could be lying.” Nathaniel said.

  “I have no reason to lie. My people’s duty is to protect the river. No more and no less.”

  He had a point. A large tree that bridged the river; that was their target. “Are you sure you don’t know what’s across it?”

  “I only hear the roars of the beast.”

  Roars of the beast. Awesome. “Thank you Nessus the Centaur.”

  “No thanks are required, Dani the Novice.” He said formally. “I will die here. We will not meet again.”

  “Die? We aren’t going to kill you. As soon as we leave, you can go. Though,” she held up the quiver of arrows, “we’re going to keep these.” She tossed them to Dink.

  He shook his head. “My leg will not allow me to stand.”

  There were deep gashes and ripped skin where his front legs hit the adamantine chain. She could see bone. What was it they said about horses with broken legs?

  “Can’t the others come get you?”

  “The forest is wide. My fellow warriors may be too far away.”

  “Can’t you whistle like you did before?”

  “They will not hear it if they moved on. I am too far from my people.”

  Dead. Great. Like she needed that on her conscience. “How about I promise that if we meet another centaur, we tell them where you are.” She pointed to her surroundings. “Near the cliffs, between two trees, next to a large rock shaped like an egg standing up. Can we do that?”

  “Why would you?”

  She blinked, not understanding the question. “Why wouldn’t we?”

  “You will put yourself in danger if you do.”

  “And I really don’t give a crap.”

  Bouden hissed, pulling on her arm. “Dani, we don’t owe him anything.”

  “You said he’s on our side, right? That’s the fight that matters. So maybe we just go ahead and do the right thing: save him.”

  He nodded, looking a bit ashamed he suggested leaving him to die.

  “Until next time, Nessus the Centaur.” She said, turning and walking off. Her friends joined her.

  “Until next time, Dani the Novice.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  They continued on. Dink took the arrows, which held bundles of whipping chains on the ends instead of arrowheads. Non-lethal. He added them to his quiver. They were much larger and heavier than the others. Apparently, centaurs weren’t just good shots; they were incredibly strong. He didn’t know if he could fire them.

  Nathaniel suggested sticking to the large rocks for cover, keeping the cliffs on their right. That way they knew they were headed downriver.

  “Centaurs are part horse.” He said. “They have to stick to flat land.”

  “A-Plus.” Bouden smirked. “Good idea.”

  So they stayed in the rocks. Periodically they heard screams or whistles; centaurs chasing Novices. But they didn’t see anyone.

  “What else do you know about Hellions?” Dani asked as they trudged through the forest.

  Bouden shrugged. “Centaurs are the main force. There are a few other types—no gifted as far as I know. I read what I could last night, but like I said, they’re stationed in Hell.”

  “So Hell is a place you can go?” she asked. “I mean, not as a dead person?”

  “I guess. Some scrolls talk about a castle on the outskirts: the Fortress of Asphodel. Hellions get stationed there until they’re sent to the front. But Centaurs live on earth or Empyrean, protected by the veil like all supernatural creatures.”

  As they made their way downriver, it got louder. It wasn’t a straight shot downstream. The river curved. And as they walked, they could hear it more and more. The canopy broke. More light spilled in. And sure enough, after a few minutes they could see the bend ahead.

  The reason they called it the Crystalline River became pretty clear. The waters churned down a winding, cascading mini-falls of rapids and rocks. As the water splashed into the air, it glistened like diamonds. Miniature rainbows burst from the frothing torrents. It was beautiful.

  “Wow.” Nathaniel murmured. “I’ve never seen water that clean.”

  “Me neither.” Dani squatted behind cover. “I don’t see any centaurs.”

  “That doesn’t mean anything.”

  “What’s that?” Dink pointed.

  Through the trees farther down, they could see something lying across the river: a fallen tree lay bridging the water; wide, nearly as wide across as two cars parked together. The roots on their end formed a makeshift ladder to the top.

  “You think it’s guarded?” Dink asked.

  “I bet.” Nathaniel murmured. “Centaurs don’t strike me as stupid.”

  “So do we just run for it?”

  Dani shook her head. “They’re faster. If there’s any nearby, one arrow and we’re done.”

  The rock face they used extended past the fallen log, ending at the water’s edge farther downstream. They’d either have to cross the makeshift bridge or try crossing through the water. The river’s rapids were moving too fast. No way could they swim.

  “Maybe we could make it.” Dink said hopefully.

  Their hopes dashed. A centaur cantered into the open. He melted out of the forest, sweeping with his bow. More centaurs arrived. They carried fallen Novices; hog-tied and unconscious like sacks across their backs. They spoke quickly and a few departed. The original centaur and a companion remained, arrows notched and looking for more threats.

  “Pholos,” the first one called to the other, “scout the water’s edge. A few got through but more are unaccounted for. Go!”

  One departed, galloping father down to keep guard.

  “There’s no way around.” Nathaniel observed. “He’s standing in the way.”

  “True, but he’s in the open.” She hefted the adamantine chain. “I think I can swing this thing and Dink has the bow. Do you think you can hit the centaur from here?”

  He gauged the distance and shrugged. “I used to do archery for fun. My crazy instructor was from Texas. She bow hunted and taught us how to shoot deer. This isn’t much different. What about the other one?”

  Dani moved to the other side. “You take down the one there. I’ll handle the other.”

  “Are you crazy?”

  “A little bit. You guys go. Do not worry about me. Get across and I’ll follow.”

  Dani made her way down the rock face, changing her focus from the centaur near the fallen tree trunk to the one along the river’s edge. This was crazy. She knew that, but she curled the adamantine coil in her ha
nd and slowly approached. She’d seen these things spin through the air. The ballbearings made them to twirl on their own. If she whipped them around and threw them using the center lash, it should work. Should being the operative word.

  She crept down from the rocks. She flitted from one tree to the next. Crouching, she waited. The boys had to make the first move.

  Seconds later, the other centaur screamed. An arrow hit him with a loud thunk and lashes flew out, binding his upper arms. He didn’t fall, though; staying unsteadily on his hooves, he brayed loudly. A second arrow struck his lower horse-half. The chains took him in the center and the back leg. He went down.

  “Buer!” the one called Pholos yelled, capering back towards him.

  Dink, Nathaniel and Bouden descended from hiding. The centaur saw them, took aim and fired. His bolt nearly hit Bouden, but the boy was anything if not fast.

  Pholos notched another arrow and took aim. He was standing still. He wouldn’t miss.

  It was now or never.

  Dani sprinted, unraveling the cords and swinging them high. She had one. She had to make it count. She screamed to distract him.

  He heard her and turned, shifting his aim. Dani loosed the adamantine lash and it sailed from her hand with unnatural speed. The silver chains flung through the air and with a satisfying clink they connected with the centaur’s upper body, whipping around him. He grunted, bow and arrow dropping, nearly toppling sideways.

  She pushed off a log and sprung upward, meant only to clear it, but instead she leapt into the air. As if the wind picked her up, she hurtled off the ground. Legs flying, she plowed headlong into the horse-man. Both toppled over.

  She landed on her side. The centaur collapsed several saplings behind him with a crack! She rolled, groaning and sucking wind. When she turned over, the centaur was tangled, but definitely not down for good.

  His horse hide flipped to its side, rising. Dani scrambled up. Knife in hand, she tackled his upper body and knocked him back to the dirt. She pressed the blade to his throat, point under the jaw.

  “Yield!” he screamed, hands up. “I yield!”

  “What?”