“We need this man in order to gain access to the town, so we’d better find him fast,” Konafar said and looked skyward, gauging if the weather would turn progressively worse.
It was decided that Mao, Jacko, Tonles, Konafar, Runit, Erantel, Stader, and one of Thessor’s best trackers, Kressan, would search for Delisar, while the rest of the group stayed behind in case he returned.
Under the guidance of the lizardman, the search party finally found Delisar. He was unconscious and looked grave. They quickly wrapped his limp form in several blankets and built a fire, hoping that it wasn’t too late to save him.
****
Over the next couple of hours, Delisar stirred many times, drifting in and out of consciousness. They were about to send Kressan back to the others to give them the good news when a tree fell, drawing their attention and causing the horses to stir.
“What do you think it is?” Mao asked.
“It’s probably nothing,” Stader replied.
Two more trees fell in closer proximity. The men stood up.
“I don’t like this,” Runit added.
“There’s definitely something out there, but what?” Mao asked.
“Only one creature in this area is capable of toppling over a tree.”
“And what would that be?”
“A Splintersqauk,” Konafar replied and unsheathed his sword.
Everyone else followed his lead and took out their weapons. More trees fell from the northwestern direction, and the horses tugged and bit down fiercely on their restraints.
“That thing must be huge,” Jacko said.
“They can be. Some can grow to the length of ten feet and wide as a man. They’re just plain nasty,” Tonles said.
“Plus, their bodies are thick as plate, and their jaws are powerful enough to crush steel. Be careful, they have an excellent peripheral vision, so stay in front of the creature,” Konafar added.
“I’m pretty sure there’s more than one,” Erantel said.
“Are we safe in here?” Mao asked.
“No,” Tonles said.
“I don’t want to be trapped in here.” Konafar announced.
“What about Delisar?” Mao asked.
“Leave him,” Konafar said and left the large underbrush with the rest following closely behind.
Mao spotted a hollowed-out rock formation. “Would we be safer in there?”
“No. I’ve seen them tear through rock before, and I really don’t think we can make it there in time,” Konafar said.
“Then how do we kill it?”
“Go for the underbelly or its eyes.”
Another tree fell closer to them, causing the men to spread out. Kressan ran ahead with his sword drawn and shield readied. Then, without warning, an enormous tree fell on top of Stader, killing him instantly.
“Some of you come with me. We’ll circle around it,” Konafar shouted and ran in the opposite direction from where they thought the creature was.
Runit and Mao followed him.
“See if you can draw him out,” Tonles said to Jacko and Erantel and moved some distance away.
“What are you going to do?” Jacko asked.
“Be a target.”
Tonles stood poised and ready for the creature and banged Ripper against the shield, trying to get the creature’s attention.
Konafar, Mao, and Runit almost ran directly into another Splintersqauk. Mao had never seen one before, and it was frightening to behold. It was as large as Konafar said and resembled a sleek-looking turtle with legs.
Lucky for them the monster was preoccupied with a squirming deer trapped underneath its claws. The animal thrashed about until the creature opened its maw, exposing rows of sharp teeth, and bit down on its head, removing it in one bone-crushing chomp and swallowing it whole.
Konafar was about to charge ahead when he saw Kressan running directly at the Splintersqauk and leapt onto its back. The lizardman buried his sword to the hilt into the creature’s tough, armored, exterior, causing it to raise up and fall backward onto the lizardman. The Splintersqauk began rolling to the left, then the right, trying to regain its footing while crushing Kressan in the process. Konafar barked an order to attack and they fell upon it, assaulting its soft underbelly until it lay motionless.
Jacko and Erantel were out of position when the Splintersqauk charged directly at Tonles. However, it did pass close enough to Erantel, and he jabbed at the creature with Reclamation as it passed. The spear did little to slow or even change its trajectory.
To the onlookers, it appeared that Tonles would be trampled to death, but when the creature was close enough, he dropped his shield, moved to the right, and wrapped his left arm around the creature’s neck, holding on for dear life. The creature unexpectedly lifted him off the ground and charged toward a tree. Tonles glanced over his shoulder and, after seeing where he was headed, tried lowering his feet to slow the creature. When that failed, he slammed the butt end of the ax onto the top of its head, but that did little to improve his situation. He thought about releasing his grip but figured he’d be trampled to death, so instead he tilted to one side and hacked at the creature’s front paw, almost severing the limb. The Splintersqauk slowed and dipped its head low enough to the ground for Tonles to plant his massive legs firmly onto the surface and stop the beast. The creature thrashed its head, trying to fling the pesky human off, but Tonles held firm and delivered a blow right between the creature’s shoulders, then he released his hold and gripped his weapon with both hands. As the creature raised its head, Tonles plunged the spiked head of the ax into the monster’s throat and shoved the creature over onto its side. The Splintersqauk twitched until Tonles brought Ripper down upon its neck, then it stopped moving altogether.
A few minutes later, he was joined by Konafar, Mao, and Runit, and they explained what had happened to Kressan. Tonles ordered they bury the crushed and mangled forms of the dead, while Mao was instructed to get Delisar.
****
Delisar woke to the sound of shouting, fighting, and trees falling. He had no recollection of how he got where he was or who wrapped him in the blankets. He thought about leaving through the opening in the bushes but decided against it and wormed his way out of the rear. Once free, a horse ran past him, nearly scaring him to death. Panic set in which was followed by paranoia. Quickly, he raced around looking for a place to hide and found one deep within a set of shrubbery. After entering, he found a large stick and held it in front for protection. He listened to the outside world in hopes that the battle would end soon.
The fighting lasted many more minutes. After it stopped, he gathered enough courage and began crawling toward the entrance. He felt braver the closer he got until he heard something move just outside and his courage was replaced with fear. He scurried back until he had no other place to go and held the stick defensively in front of his face.
Mao returned to the place they’d left Delisar and was shocked to find him nowhere in sight. While searching the area frantically for signs of the hunter, he heard something moving in the bushes several yards away. He figured or hoped that it was Delisar but stayed guarded and ready with his left arm in front of his right, which was bent at the elbow toward his side.
Cautiously, he moved closer and squatted directly in front of the shrubbery and began shifting his head from side to side, trying to see what was making the noise. Growing up, he was always fearful of the unknown, and this time was no different. Despite being confident in his skills, he was still afraid and knew that if he didn’t overcome this affliction, he would fall victim to it someday.
For a brief moment, he thought about getting the others but knew they would never respect him if he did. After moving aside the branches, he entered. The first thing he saw, ten feet away, was something that looked like a boot lying on its side.
It had to be Delisar, he thought and slowly crept closer.
Abruptly, the boot moved frantically back and forth, startling him, and causing him to ba
ck up. He waited for it to stop and then pushed his way forward.
****
After the intruder entered, Delisar waited until he was close enough, then moved his foot back and forth, hoping to scare it away. When he heard it back up, he quickly turned around and tried working his way through the thick bramble exterior and found he couldn’t part the branches.
“Delisar, it’s me, Mao.”
Delisar turned back around with his stick tightly in his grasp and waited. “Stay away from me,” he shouted at the stranger.
“Delisar, calm down.”
The hunter lunged at him, stick first, trying to ram the makeshift weapon into his throat. Mao moved to the side, grabbed the stick with his left hand, and punched it with his right, splintering the weapon in half. Delisar’s eyes widened after he saw his weapon fall apart. He scurried back, begging for his life.
“Delisar!” Mao said firmly.
The hunter tightly closed his eyes, hoping his enemy would go away.
“You’re safe. It’s me, Mao. I am a friend of Jacko. We met in the town of Wistful.”
Delisar paused and looked up at the man as if trying to remember.
“Come with me, we’ve been searching for you.”
At first, he didn’t move, but after several minutes of convincing, Delisar finally agreed, and they left the confines of the bushes.
Konafar and the others were approaching as soon as they left the bushes. Upon seeing them, Delisar cowered and fell to the ground.“What the hell is wrong with him?” Konafar asked no one in particular.
“He looks terrified,” Tonles answered.
Konafar knelt in front of him, and Delisar lowered his eyes toward the ground.
“Look at me,” Konafar demanded.
Delisar didn’t respond.
“LOOK AT ME, DAMN IT.”
Reluctantly, Delisar raised his head to meet Konafar’s. Konafar grabbed his jaw and stared deeply into his eyes. Suddenly, the fear washed away and Delisar recognized him.
“What happened to you?” Konafar asked.
“I don’t know. I can’t remember. I’m really scared.”
Konafar looked at the others and each one stared back at him blankly, not knowing what to say.
“We need to leave soon,” Woo stated.
“We’ll protect you, okay?” Konafar said to Delisar. He nodded and was helped up.
Tonles pulled Konafar aside. “What happened to your friend?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never seen him like this.”
“Do you think we should take him to Redden?”
“If he doesn’t snap out of it by the time we reach Wistful, then we’ll get the key and drop him off at the healers.”
Konafar and Tonles led the way, followed by Runit, Erantel, Delisar, Jacko, and Mao guarding the rear. Along the way back, snow began to fall, and Delisar’s memory and courage slowly returned. First, he remembered Konafar and their past adventures, then Jacko and his friends, their narrow escape from Redden, his trip to Wistful and the meeting with the Magistrate, and finally, the creature.
“The creature?” he whispered.
Like a piece of the puzzle fitting into place, he realized that’s when he started his downward spiral toward terror and trepidation. Whatever that creature did to him, it left him lonely and empty inside. He wondered if it would haunt him the rest of his life. Delisar told the group what had happened to him and the type of creature he encountered. No one seemed to know what it was, not even Konafar or Tonles. Konafar asked him if he needed to stop by Wistful for help, but Delisar said he’d be okay. He went on to tell them about the Magistrate and how he would not help them in their cause.
“WHY NOT!” Konafar snapped.
“Because the fool doesn’t feel it’s his moral obligation.”
“We’ll see about that.” Konafar made the motion, as if he was about to race off toward the town and deal with him when Tonles moved directly in front of him.
“Don’t waste your time, it’s pointless.”
Konafar grunted in aggravation.
“We’ll do this without him and pay him a visit afterward.”
“We certainly will.”
Chapter 10: Revenge for the Fallen (Part 2)
The sky was growing dark when Konafar and the others entered the camp. Set deeply inside of the forest directly in front of Redden, they were far enough away from the prying eyes of anyone walking the battlements.
Around the fire, Konafar and Tonles told the others from the Order of the Dragon and Thessor what happened while they were looking for Delisar and what befell Stader and Kressan. The men nodded their heads in prayer to honor their brother, while Thessor showed no emotion or said anything.
“I’m sorry about your kinsman,” Delisar said to the lizardman. “He was a brave warrior.”
“No needsss to sssay sssorry, he’sss protecting our godsss now. I knowsss about that creature yousss sssaid.”
“You do?”
“Yesss. Wesss call it Garurtsss. Very dangerous it isss. One look into itsss eyesss and you willsss lossse yoursss mind, then it waitsss until you’re unable to movesss and killsss you.”
“A Garurt. Will I be okay?”
“Yesss you willsss be yourssself sssoon. I must returnsss to my mensss and tellsss them about Kresssan,” Thessor said and left.
“It’s been a long day and I’m tired,” Delisar said and got up.
The rest of the men wrapped furs around their bodies and continued to talk well into the late hours until they fell asleep, leaving the lizardmen to keep watch.
A mild snowstorm, with cold winds blowing from the north, ushered in the morning. The lizardmen seemed more than happy with these conditions, while the shivering men huddled around two separate fires, ate their morning meal, and drank warm ale to help ward off the cold. The only people absent were Krol and Nion, who were tending to the horses, and Pundit, who was off relieving himself.
Around one fire was Erantel, Runit, Lud, Awret, Jacko, Mao, and Woo. They were engaged in conversation about the differences between their Orders.
Konafar, Tonles, Fleck, and Kildred were eating and drinking in silence, for the most part, until Fleck looked over at the lizardmen.
“If they’re cold-blooded, then how can they stand this weather better than we can?” he asked.
“I think they can raise their core body temperature. Let’s ask them,” Kildred said. “Thessor, can you come over here?” The lizardman walked over.
“Yesss, Kildredsss.”
“How come you’re not cold like us?”
“We cansss adapt to oursss environmentsss. If itsss getsss too coldsss then we cansss raissse our body temperaturesss. Sssame if it’sss too hotsss, we cansss lower itsss.”
While he was talking, Tonles was playing with his beard. “Hey, watch this,” he said and waited until they looked at him, then wrapped his hand around his long goatee and squeezed it tight. The mini icicles, formed from the condensation, fell away like stalactites do in a cave. He bellowed in delight, and the people around him smiled.
Ponduit finally finished relieving himself, walked over to where Tonles was sitting, and poured himself a mug of warm ale from the steeping kettle. “We should get going soon. There’s a big storm coming,” he said.
Tonles looked skyward. “We want a big storm, so we can hide in it as we approach the town. You should relax. We have time, eat something.”
“I’m not hungry.”
Fleck noticed the worried look upon his face. “What troubles you, my friend? I know that look.”
“I have a bad feeling about this mission. Something is amiss.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s hard to describe. I just have a bad feeling.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll be fine,” Tonles said, but his words did little to ease Ponduit’s growing fears.
Krol and Nion walked over to Konafar.
“We lost more than half of the horses during the night,” Nion sai
d.
Konafar looked up at him. “Lost how?”
“Some died and others ran off.”
“That’s just great. Thessor,” Konafar turned toward the lizardman, “can two of your men watch the horses while we’re gone?”
Thessor nodded.
“Listen up, everyone; we need to discuss a few things,” Konafar said. When they were ready, he spoke again. “In case you didn’t hear, two of Thessor’s kin will stay behind to safeguard the horses. The rest of us will follow Delisar to the city’s portcullis and enter through the secret doorway. For those who didn’t have the pleasure of meeting with Lord Rygare and Lord Tolar before we left, here’s our plan: once we enter the town, we’ll form three groups. I want Tonles, Mao, Lud, Fleck, Erantel, and Ponduit to be in one; Thessor and his brethren in another and the rest will be with me. We need one group to look for the prisoners and the other two to create the diversions. Who wants to look for the prisoners?”
“I’ll go,” Tonles said.
“Good. I want to create enough havoc to throw the town into a frenzy. Improvise if you have to but stick together, and don’t leave anyone behind. We should be able to sneak past the walls undetected if we wait long enough for the storm. Any questions?”
“Where do you want us to create the diversions?” Lud asked.
“We’ll have to figure out where the majority of the enemy is and move in opposite directions.”
“What kind of diversions do you want?” Erantel asked.
“What do you think, Ponduit?
“A large fire would be great,” Ponduit said.
“We should attack them in order to draw them away from the prisoners. It worked for Jacko and me when we were there before,” Delisar added.
“Do we know where the prisoners are?” Krol asked.
“We found them in the inn, so I think that will be a good place to start,” Jacko said.
“Do you know how many inns there are?”
“Maybe three. We already cleaned out one, but I’m not sure if they moved people back into the building.”
A Demon's Quest the Beginning of the End the Trilogy Box Set Page 21
