It was Severus who spoke. “She’s not here.”
“What happened?” asked the knight, genuinely concerned.
“We don’t know. We just arrived ourselves,” said Severus. “It looks like they were attacked by zombies—”
“Zombies?! Impossible!”
“See for yourself, sir knight.”
The knight dismounted but his companions remained mounted. The knight turned over a zombie with his foot and sucked in a breath when he saw the creature’s decayed face. “What madness is this?” He made a sign to ward against evil.
Finn placed his hand on the black sword’s hilt and its cold metal pommel felt reassuring. He knew what had to be done—he would find Anna and then kill the master and Wolfgang. They had to pay for what they had done!
“Look here.” Severus’s voice broke him out of his building rage. His father was kneeling just off the eastern side of the road studying the ground. “Someone walked into the forest here.”
Quickly Finn moved to his father’s side and examined the ground. As an experienced hunter, he could clearly see that two women wearing light shoes travelled into the trees. They were followed by several people wearing poor fitting boots. “Two women went this way and were followed by several men.”
“Knights?” asked the knight.
“No. They were zombies.”
Chapter 28
Holding hands, Anna and Maria moved quickly through the undergrowth. Periodically Anna glanced over her shoulder—dark shapes moved after them, spurring them on. She could hear their pursuers gaining on them and she knew what would happen if they faltered—they would be zombie food. It sent a shudder up her spine.
It was almost dark when Maria let go of Anna’s hand and they finally stopped and looked back. Maria leant against a tree and her breathing came in ragged gulps.
She’s not made for this.“Come on, Maria, we must keep going,” pleaded Anna.
“I can’t,” replied Maria and she waved away Anna’s outstretched hand. “You go on without me.” The princess bent over and let out a sob. Her black hair was plastered against her dirty face and she didn’t look like she could go much further.
“I’m not leaving you...let’s go.”
Maria didn’t respond.
Nervously, Anna looked back the way they came, her eyes darting from shadow to shadow. Where are they? The growing silence was intense—it was like the forest was waiting for something to happen. But nothing moved.
Maria slid down the tree and sat at its base, resting her back against its rough bark. After another quick look around, Anna plonked down beside Maria. “We’ll rest just for a moment…”
Maria nodded weakly.
Night had fallen quicker than Anna anticipated. In the dark she reached out and grabbed the princess’s arm. Maria was still there. Relieved, she sighed.
Looking up, there were no signs of the stars through the forest’s thick canopy and with no light source, it would be hard to navigate through the dark forest. It’s best if we find some shelter for the night.
“Maria,” she whispered. There was no response. “Maria…” Anna reached over and found Maria’s face—she was breathing but was asleep.
Anna sat still for some time listening to the night sounds. There was no sound of any pursuers or anything large moving through the undergrowth, just insects and the occasional night bird hoot. She thought about their predicament and not for the first time she wished Finn was with her. He’d know what to do.
They needed to get back to the main road as that’s where they would come looking for the princess. No stone would be left unturned to find her. Surely the king will execute the master for this threat to his daughter’s life.
“Maria,” she said and gently rocked the princess’s shoulder. “We must go.” Anna shivered, it was getting cold and they had no coats.
“Is it morning?” asked Maria sleepily.
“No. But it’s getting cold and I don’t want to escape a horde of zombies only to freeze to death. We need shelter.”
“It’s too dark,” stated Maria and Anna could hear the desperation in her voice. She was close to panicking.
“Be strong, Maria. We’ll find somewhere safe to sleep. Let’s not give up now.” Maria was silent but Anna pictured her nodding her head.
Anna held Maria’s hand as they moved slowly forward. She felt her way with her feet and moved an arm back and forth—feeling for anything they may walk into. Anna hoped Maria was doing the same.
They trudged on through the dark forest, moving slowly around trees, rocks and other obstacles in their path. Maria was getting slower and slower the further they travelled and Anna had to pull her to keep her going. Anna gripped her hand tight—scared that if they separated, they wouldn’t find each other in the oppressive gloom.
Anna was at her physical end when she stumbled into a large fallen tree across their path. She felt its rough surface. It stood as high as her chest and was covered in wet moss. Moving along its trunk, she noticed that the ground dropped away at one end, creating a small crawl space big enough for both of them to get into.
“Maria, we’ll sleep under this log tonight,” Anna said and pushed the princess down and into the gap between the ground and the old tree. Without a word, Maria crawled under the log and Anna crawled in after her.
“Are you comfortable?” Anna asked but Maria had already drifted off to sleep. Yawn. This will do…
The singing birds’ merry little songs woke Anna from her sleep. Light danced on the ground filtered by the tree branches high above. It was early morning and Anna was stiff from lying on the cold ground. She moved and it felt like she had slept on a rock. “What I wouldn’t give for a bath and a proper bed,” she muttered as she rubbed her aching back.
Maria was gone! She was not under the log! Anna scurried out from under the log and looked around but the princess was nowhere to be seen. Climbing on top of the log, she scanned the forest. Nothing moved except a few squirrels scampering up a tree.
“Maria!” she shouted but only silence answered her. The morning air was still—her shout had frightened the birds and they stopped singing.
She jumped down and slumped her back against the log. Gone…what’s that? Anna noticed an impression in the soft earth and bent down for a closer look. In the soft dirt was a small-shoed footprint that could only belong to Maria. She pushed aside a clump of ferns looking for more signs of the princess’s passing. There were none that she could see. The footprint points that way…then that’s the way I go.
It was cool under the tall trees as Anna walked in the direction she believed the footprint was going. She scanned the ground as she walked but saw no other marks and was just about to give up when she noticed a small piece of cloth caught on a thorny bush. It was the same colour as Maria’s dress. She came this way. But why?
Her stomach made a low grumbling sound just as she passed a bush covered with small red berries. She hesitated but her growling stomach urged her to eat. Poisonous? She ate a handful of berries and continued in the direction she believed Maria went.
It was midmorning when Anna came to the realisation that she was well and truly lost. Great! She dropped beside a tree and leant back against its trunk. She was demoralised—alone, hungry and lost. Looking up to the heavens, she closed her eyes. Help me please…
Chop!
Chop!
Anna’s eyes sprung open. That’s a woodman’s axe! Her fatigue forgotten, she jumped to her feet and listened intently to the rhythmic sound. It was impossible to determine which direction the sound was coming from. She tapped a clenched fist against her leg. Which way? Which way?
The axe fell again, beating out a sound that echoed off the trees. Unable to perceive the direction of the sound, she walked up a small rise.
The sound stopped. NO! She ran up the rise and stopped. The forest was quiet again and after a moment, the birds started to sing. Was I dreaming?
Anna dropped to her knees and pl
aced her face in her hands. She wanted to cry but the tears wouldn’t come. “Aaaarrgh!” she screamed at the forest.
Chop!
Chop!
Don’t stop!
Chop!
That way. Anna weaved in and out of the trees in the direction she thought the sound was coming from. She started to pick up speed and before long she was running, oblivious to the branches ripping her dress and cutting her skin as she passed.
The chopping stopped. But ahead, she could see sunlight beaming down onto the forest floor. Anna slowed to a jog and then stopped at the edge of a tree line and looked out across a green-grassed clearing. Grey smoke trailed out of a small cottage’s chimney in the middle of the clearing. There was a pile of cut logs and an old tree stump in front, and beside the stump leant a woodsman’s axe. There was no sign of people.
Anna didn’t have to wait long before a tall, bare-chested man walked out of the cottage. His long black hair was tied into a ponytail and his beard was cropped short. Sweat glistened on his sun-browned skin as he walked to the tree stump and placed a small log on it. He picked up the axe and strong muscles rippled across his broad back as he drove it into the log, splitting it in two and sending wood chips into the air.
I’m saved.
Chapter 29
The knights and Karok were busy placing the dead in the back of the wagons as the sun dropped below the tall treetops. The rotting corpses of the zombies were dragged off to the side of the road where Kliem set fire to them. The smell of burning hair and flesh was almost overpowering but it was a job that had to be done. They wore gloves doing this task as only the heavens knew what diseases these decaying bodies might carry.
The light faded fast.
Finn and Severus tracked the two women some distance into the forest before Severus stopped his son with a hand on his shoulder. “It would not do us any good if we got lost as well.”
“You can go back but I must find Anna.” Finn walked on stubbornly, studying the ground for signs of their passage. Severus smiled and followed a few paces behind.
“No!” Finn stopped.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s too dark to see the tracks.”
“Don’t be too hard on yourself. Anna will be all right for one night in these woods.”
“I hope you’re right,” said Finn. “I just want to protect the ones I…”
“Your mother has taught you well…better than I could.”
It was true, his mother had tried her best but he and Garm were not the easiest boys to rear. His father seemed to have his own personal honour…even though responsible for many deaths—and some may have been innocent of any crime apart from their name appearing on a hit list.
Severus was right about one thing. His mother, Leanar, did her best to bestow good morals on her two sons. Garm was still a little mischievous at times—a trait he must have inherited from our father, Finn mused.
“We won’t find Anna now,” said Finn. “We’ll start again at first light.”
Severus nodded.
Chapter 30
The axe dropped again onto the log and split it in two. The woodsman wiped his forehead with the back of his hand and placed another log on the chopping block. She had watched him for a short time and no one else had left the cottage or walked out of the trees. He must be alone. Anna’s heart beat a little faster as she watched the tall man work. Maybe I’ll watch a little longer…
Chop!
Nervously, she moved from her hiding spot and out onto the open lawn. Cautiously, she surveyed the clearing again before straightening her hair with her hand and then she continued toward the woodsman.
Chop!
The woodsman’s axe raised again but as it fell, the woodsman spun on the spot, swinging the axe around—narrowly missing Anna’s head. He had noticed her at the last moment and redirected the massive blow.
“Oii! I could have killed you.” He voice was deep and it resonated with a strong Krystorian accent. It seemed to linger in her body for a moment or two after he finished speaking.
“I’m sorry, I—”
“No harm done,” he said and smiled—exposing his straight white teeth.
Standing this close to him, she realised that he was a lot taller than she had first thought. He looked a strong and physically capable man and standing so close, she could faintly smell his musky sweat.
Fumbling, she held out her hand. “M-my name is Anna,” she stuttered, feeling like a little girl again and strangely self-conscious. He took her hand firmly, but not too strong, with his calloused hand and shook hers.
“My name is Darius,” he said calmly.
Darius, she repeated silently to herself.
“Are you lost?” he asked.
“Lost? No. I mean yes. I’m lost.”
Darius leant his axe against the chopping block and his dark eyes locked with Anna’s. “Can I help you?”
“Yes...”
“Will you come inside? I will make you some breakfast and you can warm yourself beside the fire. And when you are ready, I will take you home.”
“Thank you,” was all she could manage to say. She felt like she was blushing and hoped it didn’t show.
The tall woodsman led her to the cottage where an old black and tan hound lay in the doorway. Its front legs were spread wide and its chin rested on the ground. Its ears were long and lay flat to the ground. The hound was asleep and didn’t even move as they approached.
Darius stepped over the dog and smiled. “This is Hunter, my faithful guard dog.” Anna followed and stepped over the dog as well. It didn’t move a muscle and it reminded her of Warden Kalher’s old dog, Bucket.
The cottage was small and cosy. In one corner was a small kitchen containing an iron stove and a crudely made table and chairs. At the back of the house were two closed doors and a blazing fireplace between them. An ancient looking woman wrapped up in a blanket slept in a chair beside the fire and beside her on a mat slept another dog similar to Hunter.
“That’s my gran, Tula,” whispered Darius. “And that’s Titian on the mat. He’s Hunter’s brother.” Neither the old woman nor the dog stirred.
“Is she…all right?” asked Anna.
“If you mean alive?” Darius laughed. “She’s just sleeping.”
Anna was embarrassed and her cheeks coloured again. “I’m sorry—”
“That’s all right,” he said, smiling and Anna smiled back. “Would you like porridge?”
“Yes, please.”
“Sit at the table and I’ll go fetch water.”
“What if the dogs wake?”
“I have a little secret; they’re not really good guard dogs. You’ll be fine.” He put on a simple green shirt that was hanging over one of the chairs and grabbed a bucket. In several long steps he walked out the front door, stepping over Hunter.
Anna sat at the small table and looked around the room. There were herbs hanging on pegs, jars containing jams and conserves on a shelf and other bric-a-brac scattered about the room. A small hunting bow hung on the wall beside the front door. The cottage was clean, airy and felt like a cosy home. Tula muttered something softly as she stirred in her sleep but didn’t wake. The two dogs didn’t move at all. Anna sighed and relaxed for the first time in days. I’m safe here with Darius.
After a short time, Darius returned with the water and busied himself in the kitchen, humming a catchy tune. He lifted down a metal pot from a hook and added water and oats and then placed it on the stove and stoked the fire. Darius looked at home in the kitchen as if he had cooked often. I bet he takes good care of his gran.
As the water started to boil, he stirred it with a large wooden spoon. “What brings you here and how did you get lost?”
“I was travelling on the road—”
“The road? We are miles from the main road,” he interrupted. “Sorry, please continue.”
“It was almost dark and as we travelled we were ambushed by…bandits and we r
an into the forest where we quickly became lost and…I lost my friend, Maria.”
“Lost? The dogs will help you find her,” Darius smiled. “They can find anything.” Anna looked doubtfully at the dogs but said nothing.
He dished up a large portion of steaming porridge into a wooden bowl and placed it in front of her. Anna gratefully spooned the hot food into her mouth, burning her tongue but that didn’t stop her from eating.
“Slow down, Anna. Here is some water.” He placed a cup next to her and she thanked him.
“Will you eat with me?” she asked.
“No. I was awake before the sun and I have eaten. Enjoy your meal and when you’re finished, we’ll find your friend.”
Mmm. This is good!
After finishing every last morsel, Anna pushed her bowl away and sat back, feeling satisfied. Darius sat across from her and smiled kindly. “Would you like some more?”
“No, thank youuu…I’m fullll…” The room started spinning and Anna felt lightheaded. What’s happening…? Her vision blurred as she looked at Darius, who was still smiling.
Panicking, Anna tried to stand but her legs refused to obey. Conjuring all her strength, Anna pushed away from the table but quickly lost balance and fell off the chair, hitting her head on the floor. A sharp pain shot across her temple and she started to black out…
In the distance she heard a voice speaking but couldn’t determine who it was and where it was coming from. “…this is not going to hurt a bit…” A cruel and wicked laughter echoed in her head as she drifted into darkness.
Chapter 31
As was his habit, Severus rose before the sun, dressed in simple travelling clothes and left his sleeping son in the room they shared. He didn’t make a sound—a noisy assassin was a dead assassin his instructors often told him when he was a boy. That was so long ago now.
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