The Viking's Apprentice

by Kevin McLeod

  Chapter 10

  They reached the cave system as quickly as possible, slowing down only when they could see the lights and hear the sounds of the commotion below them on the cavern floor. Granddad crept forward and looked over a rocky ledge; the scene was familiar and frightening at the same time. Goblins and trolls herded scared children into cages that were then lifted by ogres into the hold of a large ship. The children were crying and screaming while the monsters mocked and taunted them. A group stood watching the activity having a heated conversation. Granddad could not hear what was being said, but he recognised the three sisters from the house next door. The one that brought Jake back appeared to be leading the talk and was very animated. She struck out sending a troll flying across the cavern, eventually landing twenty feet from the group. Granddad watched as the Shadow King appeared and talked directly to the sister. They both looked up to where the group were hiding. The sister began to shout, and soon trolls and goblins were heading up the winding path towards them.

  Graff struck the floor hard after being thrown by the Master. He cursed her under his breath as blood flowed from impact wounds on his legs. Struggling to his feet, he regretted telling the Master that her sisters had done nothing but get in the way and hinder his progress. He froze when he saw the Shadow King; only Tolldruck scared him more. Graff finally got his legs to move hurrying back to the group to grovel an apology to the Master and to find out what the King wanted.

  ‘Spare me your apologies Graff we have more pressing matters to deal with. Jacob is here, and he has brought some old friends with him.’

  ‘They routed the ogres and I was lucky to escape with just a scratch,’ the Shadow King hissed. ‘They will be close by now, coming from above us. We must send some goblins and trolls to slow them down.’

  ‘Graff, take some of your soldiers and workers and stop Jacob. Do not fail me or you will answer to Tolldruck.’ The Master’s voice was cold and distant, and her eyes turned black as she spoke.

  Jacob hurried back to the group telling them what he had seen. They all stood to look down the path and could see hordes of goblins and trolls running up it in a chaotic herd. They must have outnumbered the small group twenty to one, but there was no thought of escaping back up the tunnel. The gryphon spread its wings and rose up above the group ready to attack. The Vikings and knights drew their weapons while the Elders moved to the back. Elder Andersen took out a small potion bottle and another small container from his pockets. He mixed both of them up then stood ready to throw the mixture. Elder Thomson smiled before doing the same.

  ‘We can’t fight like they do, but we can still make a nuisance of ourselves,’ Elder Andersen said with a smile.

  As the goblins and trolls approached screeching, squealing and growling, clawing at each other to get to the group, the Elders both threw their potions over the others into the first lines of the enemy. A blinding light then a furious explosion and thirty of the creatures lay dead, stopping the others in their tracks. Their noises now the whimpers of fear and uncertainty. Seeing so many killed so quickly had removed their appetite for the fight. Graff knew he could not fail though and screamed orders at the goblins and trolls to attack. He kicked the nearest ones to him and shouted threats about Tolldruck. It was this last threat that spurred his army on. They surged forward once more drawing their crude daggers and axes ready to kill Jacob and his companions.

  The gryphon struck first, swooping down and picking up four of the attackers, lifting them effortlessly into the air before dropping them to the cavern floor. The Vikings moved in led by Jacob who slashed and moved so fast the goblins and trolls were left striking at thin air before they were cut down. Graff screamed with rage as he could see the battle was being lost, and his army seemed unable to inflict even the smallest wound on their enemy. As before the two knights stayed back and guarded the Elders, the odd goblin or troll that got past the Vikings unharmed was soon cut down by them. Jacob's sword moved with such speed and accuracy he was unstoppable. Goblins and trolls fell at his feet, some before they knew they had died.

  Panic spread through Graff, not only were they losing but soon the Vikings would be upon him and he would be required to fight, and most likely die. Graff liked to fight, but usually only when he was sure he would win. He looked around for a miracle and seeing none he moved further back while barking orders to his army.

  The Master watched the scene unfolding above her, shaking her head at the ineptitude of trolls and goblins. She expected that they would lose, but she at least thought they could hold back a handful of Vikings for a while longer than it seemed they were capable of doing. The cavern floor was littered with their broken bodies that the gryphon was dropping, and she imagined the pathway was running green with their blood. If only Tolldruck were here to stop them, but he was searching for the children. She could get involved herself but would rather that was the last resort. She would be needed on the ship and could not risk a fight until it was out at sea. Her sisters could prove useful, but not yet. She had another plan to slow them down; a plan that made her smile. The Master concentrated on all the dead bodies of goblins and trolls that lay around her and began casting a spell. She pointed her finger at body after body saying the spell over and over. She looked up to the pathway and said the spell again. Dead bodies of goblins and trolls began to float down to the cavern and lie with the others.

  The numbers of enemies were dwindling, Jacob and the Vikings were minutes away from securing the path and getting down to the cavern floor when the bodies started to float all around them. Such was the surprise that one of the Vikings dropped his sword and immediately two of the goblins left living jumped on him striking him with their crude daggers. He threw one against the wall while another Viking brought his axe down on the other with great accuracy and speed, stopping just as the blade cut all the way through the goblin and touched his brother's armour. After a quick inspection, a few scratches were his only injuries. The bodies of the two slain goblins began to float like the others and move towards the cavern floor. Soon there was a large pile of bodies altogether. The group watched in astonishment as the pile began to melt, and the bodies all became one big puddle of greenish brown. The goblins and trolls that were still alive turned and ran back down the path, led by Graff who knew what was coming and did not want to be anywhere near when it happened.

  The puddle began to bubble and expand. Shapes formed then disappeared over and over. Hissing sounds turned into tortured screams and shouts. A hundred voices could be heard all at once, then suddenly everything stopped and the puddle became still.

  ‘I don’t like this Jacob,’ Elder Andersen said.

  ‘Neither do I; I have a terrible feeling about this,' Jacob replied not taking his eyes off the puddle.

  The puddle began to move again although this time there seemed to be some order to the movements. First, an eye appeared then another, they blinked and looked around as if they were aware of their surroundings. One eye was yellow with a red pupil and the other was red with a yellow pupil. A head began to take shape around the eyes and rise out of the puddle. A hooked nose formed and below it a snarling ugly mouth full of row after row of large ragged teeth. A jet black tongue, the size of a python, darted in and out.

  The group watched the transformation terrified.

  ‘It’s a Goliath,’ Jacob shouted to the others.

  The huge monster rose up as more of the body formed. Large, powerful arms with the muscles of trolls and the razor sharp claws of goblins grew out of the dark green body. The head snapped round until it fixed eyes with the Master who communicated some hidden message without uttering a sound. The beast turned to face the pathway and roared. It looked down at itself seemingly anxious for the legs to form so it could do what it had been created for. Finally, it was complete, standing twenty feet tall, powerful and confident. It flexed both arms, stretched out the clawed fingers and stamped the huge feet. Intelligent eyes took in the pathway, and the group as it wei
ghed up the options for attack. It knew no fear and had the combined speed and strength of every troll and goblin that had been used to create it. One leap and it was on the pathway facing the group who formed a battle formation while the gryphon took flight ready to attack. The Elders made another couple of potions, and a tense standoff began as they sized each other up.

  The Master was happy with her creation. The Goliath should keep them busy, and if she was lucky it might kill them all and save her the trouble. She searched for Graff and found him hiding in a dark corner. She pointed at him and he was forced to her, flying through the air into her iron grip.

  ‘Can you do nothing right?’ she asked. ‘Why do I keep you alive Graff?’ The questions did not require to be answered which was just as well as Graff could barely breath never mind speak.

  ‘Go and make sure everything is secure, we are leaving right now.’ She let go of Graff and with a wave of her hand he was thrown towards the ship.

  In the Longship the boys waited for what seemed like an age. Jake barely stirred, happy on Peter's lap. No one on board spoke, and there was a tension in the air. Arto looked towards the caves waiting and hoping for a signal. The gryphon's cry was faint at first growing louder each time. The cry was answered by the eagle that swooped down to fly side by side with the gryphon. They spoke to each other in a series of squawks and cries then the eagle turned towards the caves and was gone. The gryphon continued towards the Longship landing next to Arto. Straight away the gryphon began to squawk and Arto listened, nodding then asking questions.

  Arto turned to the Vikings. ‘We sail for the caves now!’ he commanded in a booming roar. The Vikings needed no further encouragement, and the Longship began to sail for the caves.

  ‘What’s wrong?’ Peter asked standing up, sending Jake to the deck. Jake gave a disapproving bark in Peter’s direction before resting against George’s leg.

  ‘Your Granddad has been discovered in the caves, and they need our help,’ Arto replied.

  ‘It’s time to join the fight.’

  Tolldruck ran into the underground harbour taking in his surroundings. He sniffed the air and moved instantly to the spot where the Shadow Walker had been killed. He growled then walked over to the picture, one clawed hand circled where the Elder had touched. He walked to the edge of the water, breathed in deeply before roaring and diving under the water. He could sense his prey was close.

  Elder Thomson’s nerve broke first; he threw his potion at the Goliath. The explosion was as ferocious and bright as before. The Goliath was sent backwards crashing into the wall; stones fell over him as he struggled to regain his senses. The Goliath shook his head from side to side brushing off the effects of the blast. The few cuts the explosion had caused were already healing. Before the Goliath had completely recovered Elder Andersen sent his potion into the wall above the beast burying him under a large pile of stones and rocks.

  The Elders cheered, patting each other on the back, and Elder Thomson clenched his fist in celebration. The Vikings were not so quick to claim victory. They stayed in formation watching the rubble pile. The Goliath burst from the pile, roaring, but still did not attack.

  ‘Why does it not attack?' Asked one of the Vikings. Jacob looked to the cavern floor then back to the Goliath.

  ‘He’s trying to give them time to escape,’ he said pointing to the activity below. ‘We must not allow them that luxury.’ Jacob spoke louder so all the group could hear him. ‘To hurt a Goliath you have to sever limbs. They will grow, back but at least we can slow him down long enough to get past him.' With that, he raised his sword and charged.

  The sword changed colour and glowed orange as Jacob swung to try and sever a hand. The Goliath moved with surprising speed, only losing a couple of fingers before slamming Jacob into the ground with its other hand. The Vikings moved in as one, slashing and cutting at the beast which feinted then sent two Vikings into the wall with one swing of its left arm. The gryphon swooped, raking his talons across the Goliath's face, retreating before being hit.

  Jacob was back on his feet moving unnoticed as the Goliath concentrated on the Vikings. He brought his sword across the Achilles of the right foot severing the foot completely. The roar of pain was instant as the Goliath stumbled and fell off the pathway crashing onto the cavern floor.

  ‘Run! We must get down to the cavern before the Goliath has healed.’

  The group gathered the injured Vikings and ran as fast as possible down the pathway towards the ship with the gryphon flying overhead. The Goliath was hurt but not defeated. The foot was growing, back and the broken bones it suffered in the fall were already healing.

  The Master watched on, with her sisters, aboard the ship almost ready to sail. She smiled as the Goliath got to his feet roaring with rage before running towards the group.

  ‘Set sail Graff; we must get to sea before they are passed the Goliath.'

  Graff ran to the front of the ship and blew the large horn. Two gigantic creatures raised out of the water each holding a rope in their mouth. The ropes were attached to the front of the ship. The creatures began to swim out to sea taking the ship and the prisoners with them. The Master raised her hands as the ship began to move and slowly recited some ancient magic. Sparks appeared from her fingers and danced all around her. Soon the sparks from her were flowing over the ship. Her sisters joined in and within seconds the eggshell along the bottom of the ship began to glow, and the water around them bubbled. Outside of the caves clouds filled the sky, and thunder began to rumble. A large flash of lightning cut across the sky just as their ship left the caves. The Master smiled. She was confident nothing would stop them now.

  The group rounded the last corner just as the Goliath charged, it was not holding back any longer. The Vikings met the charge, dodging and slashing again and again. A mistake by one gave the Goliath the chance it was waiting for, and it smashed one strong arm into his body sending him flying through the air, crashing against the wall then slumping to the ground. The gryphon swooped, though this time, the Goliath was ready, ducking out the way then swinging through one powerful turn, grabbing the gryphon in mid-flight. There was no time to react as the Goliath crushed the gryphon, dropping it lifeless to the ground.

  ‘No!' Jacob yelled, filling with anger as he charged, ducking under one giant clawed hand. He spun round bringing his sword down cutting off the hand at the wrist. Before the Goliath could recover Jacob struck again taking off half of its' left foot. The Vikings and knights joined in, attacking the Goliath from all sides. One arm was chopped off above the elbow, and the right leg was severed at the knee forcing the beast to collapse. Jacob rushed in standing by the head, and with one mighty swing took it clean off.

  Jacob ran over to the gryphon, but it was too late; tears filled his eyes as he watched the Elders check the fallen Viking. Elder Thomson rose, looking at Jacob, shaking his head. He turned to look at the Goliath and despaired to see it reforming once again. The beast was almost entirely regrown. He wondered how they could ever kill this monster when a loud roar came from where the ship had been a few moments before. The dragons swooped in, blasting fire at the Goliath, landing between it and Jacob. They circled the Goliath as the attack continued relentlessly. Fire with ferocious heat and intensity shot from their mouths blast after blast. The Goliath stumbled and curled up into a ball trying to protect itself from the attack. The fire kept coming, turning the Goliath to nothing more than a pile of smouldering ash. The remaining gryphon and the eagle arrived landing next to Jacob.

  ‘You did well my friend,' Jacob said to the gryphon stroking its back. The gryphon left Jacob's side, going over to the body of the other gryphon nudging it with its nose. It licked the face of the dead gryphon as a low sound of pain and sorrow came from it.

  ‘I’m sorry, he fought well and was very brave,’ Jacob said. ‘We must go now if we are to have any chance of catching the ship.’

  The gryphon looked up to the cavern roof letting out the loudest cry
it could. It was almost the sound of a scream, haunting and pained.

  ‘We are too far behind. How will we get to the Longship in time?’ asked Elder Andersen.

  ‘We fly,' Jacob replied pointing at the dragons and the eagle. They seemed to understand and lay as flat as they could on the cavern floor. The Vikings and the Elders got on the two dragons while the two knights got on the eagle. Jacob got on the gryphon.

  ‘Hold on tight,' Jacob said to the others as the gryphon took to the air, leading them out to sea.