After another hour, the fog grew thicker and the rain increased to the point that their clothes were soaked through. The fire was consistently hissing in protest of being extinguished.
“Now what do we do? It’s too late and foggy to go looking for a better place to camp.” Breen said in disgust and stood up, acting like she wanted to leave.
“Are you thinking about leaving?” Jacko said to her.
“Look. I'm cold, tired, and wet.” She replied.
“This is why I don’t travel with women. They complain about everything.” Konafar said.
Breen shot him a look that if looks could kill, he would have been a dead man. She made a motion, as if she was about to storm off, when Sun stood up, staring directly at Konafar and said.
“Stop giving her a hard time.”
Konafar’s smile faded, and the big man stood up to his full height. “You should watch your tongue.”
“You're not helping the situation.”
“No one speaks to me like that.” Konafar said in a challenging tone and rested his hand on Carnage. He started feeling angry.
When Breen gripped her sword, Tonles knew where this was going. He stood up and looked at his friend. “He's right, leave her alone.”
Konafar looked at him and then at Sun. “I need to get away from you people.” He said and walked off.
Jacko got up and was about to go after him, when Tonles spoke. “Word of advice boy, let him cool down. He’s not used to someone standing up to him.”
Jacko nodded and sat down on the wet log.
“Sun, that was gallant, but very stupid. You really don't want to challenge him in any way, unless you expect a fight.” Tonles said, then sat down with his back against a tree.
“He has to know when to stop.”
“I’m tired.” Tonles announced and closed his eyes, letting the matter drop.
Breen touched his arm in a way to get his attention and thanked him. He smiled back at her.
****
Konafar activated a glow rock and walked around the area trying to cope with what had just happened. He didn’t know why he got so upset with Sun for coming to Breen’s defense. He felt rage toward the man, and if it wasn't for Tonles' quick words, he might have attacked not only him, but anyone else that got involved.
A short time later, he heard something moving across the tree tops and then stopped somewhere overhead. He hid the light source, unsheathed Carnage, and listened. For many heart-pounding minutes, there was only silence. He looked upward, but the fog made it impossible to determine where this thing was.
After several minutes, he began moving quietly back to camp. After taking a few steps, the sound of claws scraping against bark clearly indicated that something was climbing down a nearby tree. He quickly grew fearful and hid behind the closest one and watched intently in the direction of the noise. Bathed in the moonlight and fog, he saw the outline of a very large creature, with horns about the length of a man's arm, climbing down the tree a few yards away. The creature slowly and methodically descended until it was a quarter of the way, then it flattened itself against the bark, and become one with the structure. The creature’s ability to blend in with its environment was perfect, even though Konafar knew where it was.
A few seconds later he lost track of the beast altogether. Both he and the creature remained motionless for several long minutes, until suddenly the creature lifted his head, turned around with remarkable agility, scampered up the tree, then ran along the treetops in the opposite direction of their camp. Breathing a sigh of relief, he hurried back.
Back at the campsite, they were sitting around the fire when they heard something quickly running in their direction. They were on their feet instantly, with weapons drawn.
A few seconds later, Konafar came rushing in. “We need to leave this place right now!” He said breathing heavy.
“Why?” Sun asked.
“There's something in the woods, and from what I saw, it's big and can walk along the treetops.”
“We can’t leave, it's too dark.” Breen said.
“I don't care. That thing can even camouflage itself to blend in perfectly with its surroundings.”
“Does anyone know how far it is to the other side of the woods?”
No one knew.
“Are you sure it's headed in our direction, because we didn't hear anything while you were gone.” Sun asked.
“No. It ran towards the west, but that doesn't mean that it won't come this way.”
“Can anyone track our way in the dark?” Tonles asked.
They shook their heads no.
“I think we'll be safer here with the fire instead of running aimlessly through the woods.”
“If that thing comes back, we’re going to have our hands full.”
“We should be safer here by the fire if it’s nocturnal.” Tonles added.
“Why is that?” Breen asked.
“They usually hate fire.”
“We should add more branches to the fire just in case and use them as weapons.” Sun said.
After doing so, Sun and Konafar took first watch while the others slept.
Jacko dreamt he was standing in a meadow. Large fluffy clouds dotted the sky; water trickled from a nearby stream, creating a serene sound, and trees with their many-colored leaves, set the stage for a beautiful autumn day.
His attention was suddenly drawn to the large wooden table on his right. Seated there was his mother, father, sister, grandfather; Aurora covered in blood, Torhan, and a female made of wood. He walked over and sat down.
The wooden lady was speaking of troubled times ahead and pointed at Aurora on several occasions saying that she would die, which caused her to cry tears of blood. She turned to Torhan and said he was in grave danger from an unknown entity and would die if he didn't have help. After she was through talking, his mother also spoke of ill times to come and at one point, reached over and touched his hands, telling him everything would be okay.
Suddenly, the sky darkened and rain began to fall in thick sheets. Jacko could feel the wetness against his skin. The wooden lady looked directly at him.
“I'm here in these woods, and I have news about Torhan. My name is Ailith, seek me out.” She said.
Jacko awoke a short time later and sat up. It was still dark out, and everything seemed peaceful. Sun, Tonles, and Konafar were sleeping nearby, but Breen was missing. Most likely, she was keeping guard. He laid back down, thinking about his dream and the meaning of it. He was about to write it off as just a dream when he heard a female’s voice whisper gently over the light wind.
“Jacko, I'm here in the woods, seek me out.”
At first he thought it was his imagination playing tricks on him when she spoke again.
“Look for the camp to the east and take the path leading south.”
Frantically, he sat up and looked around. He thought about waking Sun, but when the voice didn’t return, he decided not to.
“Good you're awake. It's your turn to keep watch.” Breen said as she was walking over.
“What?” He turned his attention to her.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, I just had a weird dream. What time is it?”
“Still have a few hours before dawn.”
“Did everything go okay?”
“Nothing eventful happened. Come on, I need sleep.” She said, wrapping her cloak around her.
After Jacko got to his feet, she laid down on his bedroll and was asleep within minutes.
When dawn finally arrived, the rain ceased, the fog lifted and everyone else rose and began gathering their equipment.
Jacko walked over to Sun. “I need to talk to you privately.”
“Is everything alright?” Sun could tell something was troubling him.
“Sort of.”
“What is it?”
“Let’s talk away from the others.”
Jacko told the others they needed to talk about something very persona
l and followed Sun deeper into the woods.
When he knew they were far enough away Sun stopped him. “What is it?” He asked.
“I had a dream…”
“So did I.” Sun interrupted and smiled.
“Let me finish. The dream involved my family, Torhan, Aurora, and a wooden lady who predicted ill times ahead for me. She also had information about Torhan.”
“So? It was just a dream.”
“I don’t think so. The wooden lady told me to seek her out in these woods.”
“It’s just your subconscious jumbling events together.”
“Normally, I would agree with you, but after I woke a voice said for me to travel east until I come to a camp, then take the path leading south.”
“I think this place is playing tricks on you.”
“Make me a deal then. If there is a camp to the west and a path leading south, we'll investigate.”
Sun thought about it, then agreed. “What about the others?”
“If they don’t want to come along, I'll go by myself.”
“You won't have to as long as I’m with you, but we'll try to convince them anyway.”
They walked back, grabbed their belongings, and left.
They proceeded eastward, with weapons drawn, and eyes constantly scanning for the creature Konafar had encountered. Breen noticed birds were no longer chirping or critters scurrying about, there was only stillness.
Around midday, they came to a part of the woods where the trees looked sickly and dead. Leaves that would normally be the colors of orange, yellow, or brown were a strange shade of gray. They were standing around accessing the area when a thick pungent smell of death wafted further westward catching their attention as it began to fill their nostrils. Tonles didn’t want them to wait around longer than they had to, and led them in that direction.
After another mile or so later, they came to an area that appeared to be the beginning of someone’s campground. Pots, pans, and plates were thrown everywhere, and an unrecognizable carcass still hung over a burnt-out fire. While they were walking through the knee-high grass, Breen tripped over something solid and fell to the ground. After regaining her footing, she discovered that it wasn't a log she tripped over, but an armless, headless corpse.
She gasped in horror. “There’s a body over here.” She said.
“That explains the smell.” Konafar said.
“The smell is too strong for just one, there must be more.” Sun added.
The area continued to reveal many more surprises; arms holding weapons, legs, feet, torsos, organs, and severed heads from a race of creatures that no one recognized. Further in, they came to the main camp and there was more of the same. The amount of carnage was so brutal that Konafar said he'd never seen such a scene before. From the state of decay that the bodies were in, Tonles surmised the fight had taken place only days ago.
“What could have done this to them?” Breen asked no one in particular.
“Let’s not linger any longer then we should.” Tonles warned.
They were passing through the camp when Jacko noticed a large path leading to the south. He showed it to Sun.
“Do you think that’s it?”
“It has to be.”
“Are you really sure you want to go?”
“I need to find out if this Ailith person is down there.”
Sun nodded, and they walked over to Konafar.
“Konafar there’s a path over there that I need to take.” Jacko said.
“What path?” The big man glanced at him, and Jacko pointed to it. “Why?”
“Because I have to.”
“What do you mean you have to? We need to leave this hellish place.” Konafar snapped at him.
“I know, but I have to go there.”
“Then explain yourself.”
“I had a dream…”
“A dream?” Konafar interrupted. “You're going there because of a dream?”
“It's a long story.”
“I’m not staying here another night.”
“If I’m not back in an hour, then leave, and I’ll meet you on the other side of the forest.”
“You've got to be kidding me? You do remember the thing I told you about that still roams this forest?”
“I know, but I still need to go.”
Tonles and Breen walked over.
“What’s going on?” Breen asked.
“He says he needs to follow the path over there because he saw it in a dream.”
“A dream!” Tonles said.
Jacko proceeded to tell them about his dream and the voice he heard while he was awake.
“So you are following a dream and a voice you think you heard?”
“I’m not asking you to come with me. Just wait here for an hour, and if I’m not back, I’ll meet you on the other side of the forest.”
“Do you want to go?” Tonles asked.
“This will be the last time we do something like this if it turns out to be a waste of time.” Konafar added.
“Agreed.” Jacko said.
Breen slung a short bow over her shoulder that she’d found a few minutes before.
“Where did you get that?” Konafar asked her.
“I found it over there near a corpse.” She then secured a quiver full of arrows around her waist.
They followed the road through a series of twists and turns until they reached a huge pond with a small island in the middle and an uprooted tree lying on its side. The area, just like the camp, was once a place of beauty.
“There's nothing here but death and decay.” Konafar stated.
“Jacko where is she?” Tonles asked looking around.
“I don't know. Maybe she'll show up.” Jacko said.
“It's going to be dark soon, so we should get going.”
Jacko was about to agree and leave, when he noticed a pair of booted footprints leading into the water.
“Let's go.” Konafar nudged them again, turned around and began walking away.
Breen and Tonles did the same, hoping their actions would convince Jacko and Sun.
“They're right we shouldn't linger here much longer.” Sun said and took a few steps away.
Jacko surveyed the area and was about to follow them when he heard a faint voice.
“Help me please.” A female voice said from somewhere on the other side of the pond. “Please, I am dying.” The voice begged.
“Where are you?” Jacko said aloud, causing the others to stop walking and turn around.
“I am on the island.” The voice said to him, so low that only Jacko's ears could hear her. Jacko stared at the island and said.
“What is she?” Sun asked him.
Jacko ignored him. “I don't see you?”
“I'm the…tree… please…” The voice seemed to become weaker with every word.
Jacko looked at Sun. “I’m going across. Wait for me.” He said, and entered the chilly pond.
“Now what? Has he gone mad?” Konafar asked.
“Why is he going across? There's nothing on that island but a dead tree.” Tonles added.
Sun joined the others and sat down after Jacko climbed onto the island.
Jacko waded across the water and when he reached the small island, he found a strong foothold and pulled himself up. Leading up to the tree were the same size footprints that he’d seen on the other side and very large paw prints around the entire area.
Jacko approached the tree and could tell by the way it was positioned, that only a creature of substantial size could’ve actually toppled it. Claw marks marred the bark so much that sap flowed freely like they were wounds.
Taking it all in, he finally said. “Are you Ailith?”
“I’m glad you decided to come here.” Her voice sounded weak and Jacko definitely knew it was coming from the tree.
“I’m here because you said you know Torhan. I’m not sure how you’ve come to know this information. Did you read my mind?”
&nb
sp; “I can commune with the living if I know about them.”
“What are you?”
“I am a Tree Spirit, and I need your help.”
“Why should I help you?”
“Because I can give you information about Torhan that will save his life.”
“Tell me what you want and then I’ll decide.”
“If you promise to avenge my death against the one that did this to me, then I will tell you.”
“What information could you possibly have about Torhan? How did he end up here in this forest and in front of you?”
“Do you promise to help me?”
Jacko was hesitant to give his word, but given the fact that he’d never found Torhan in Redden, and it was possible that he had traveled this way; he agreed. “I can’t promise that I’ll be able to slay this monster, but I will do my best.” He looked at the paw prints again thinking he might not be able to at all. “Alright?”
“Agreed. Torhan visited me a short time ago and is in grave danger,” she began, “not by the creature that has wounded me beyond life, but by something far more powerful and is known to your kind as a demon.”
“Impossible! Demons don't exist. You speak lies tree.”
“They do exist and this one, in particular, is very powerful and will stop at nothing to achieve his goals.”
“Nonsense.” Jacko said in anger.
“Believe what you want.”
“Then tell me why?”
“He made a deal with him to assassinate the priest in Mirkin.”
“He would not willingly make a deal with anyone, be it man or demon. And he isn’t an assassin, so he must have been tricked.”
“Demons are very cunning, and yes; he was tricked by the demon because he appeared as a human and went by the name of Grappin.”
“Let’s say I do believe there are demons. Why is he in danger?”
“If he doesn’t live up to his end of the bargain the demon will kill him.”
“How did you meet Torhan?”
“Lord Sim sent him to me.”
“Who?”
“Lord Sim, he leads a race of beings that inhabit these woods.”
“Why did you help him?”
“I merely answered his questions and revealed the demon’s true identity. I also told him how to defeat him.”
A Demon's Quest the Beginning of the End the Trilogy Box Set Page 48
