Dark Wood: Legends of the Guardians

by Unknown

  The sound of her name being called drew her quick response. Elizabeth looked up to Aryaunna and began crying from relief. Sobs took her as Aryaunna ran up and hugged her sister tightly. “Oh thank the Guardians you’re alive,” Elizabeth let out in a rush between breaths.

  Aryaunna pulled back and took Elizabeth by the shoulders. “Tell me you’re all right,” Aryaunna begged as she looked over her sister intently, looking for injuries.

  “What? Yes, I’m okay. Allos was with me. He got us out in time. I’m fine,” Elizabeth let out in a gust as she looked Aryaunna over in turn. She balked at the sight of so much blood.

  “It’s not my blood, sister,” Aryaunna assured her quickly. Elizabeth caught a deep breath and let out a quick sigh. “Where is Mayla?” Aryaunna stepped back and pulled off her cloak, handing it back to Allos who stood behind her. “Take this for me and have it put somewhere. I have to help Elizabeth,” she spoke directly to him.

  Taking it he directed back at her sternly, “You need to get checked out. Help your sister, but you have to be looked at as well.”

  “I will,” she agreed almost too easily.

  Doubtful of her truthfulness he pushed again. “I mean it, Aryaunna. I was never far from you. I know how many you fought. You need to be tended to as well.” Allos spoke to Aryaunna but his gaze was on Elizabeth, asking for her support in this.

  “I will see to her myself as soon as the burned are treated,” she agreed vehemently. Aryaunna was walking. Her hands worked fine. She knew this medicine. She had to help.

  Elizabeth directed Aryaunna to which tables had what supplies. Korena helped Aryaunna with one severely injured young man. A burning limb had fallen on him as he’d been trying to help his mother and sister escape the flames. His mother had died. His sister was being treated by Elizabeth.

  Korena let Mayla have her place and continued on to care for the less critical patients, of which there were many. Smoke inhalation. Burns, broken bones, and small wounds.

  The boy had to remain on his stomach. His shoulder had been broken and burned very badly by the massive limb that had fallen. “Go on, Mayla. Check in on everyone again, I can finish this,” Aryaunna insisted. She was finishing the poultice for his shoulder.

  Sighing with weariness, Mayla agreed. “Yes. Give him another dose of the black oil and then I will take it around to the other patients.” Taking the length of the moment for Aryaunna to get a dab of the thick black oil onto a small medicine spoon Mayla rested on the bench. Aryaunna pushed on the boys jaw as one might a dog. She didn’t have the best bedside manner but she was very thorough and careful about tending to them.

  The oil was so thick she was able to swipe it against his tongue as if it were a paste. With that she handed the bowl and spoon to Mayla so she could continue with the poultice. Mayla was exhausted, but stood to her feet to continue on.

  Allos had gone to Mayla’s in multiple trips to bring supplies to the main hall. Once him and two other men had gotten everything here possible, he stopped for a sparse minute. His hands braced on a table, leaning over it for just a moment to catch his breath.

  Elizabeth came up to stand behind him, placing her small cool hand gently against his back. Beneath her hand a dark bruise was forming rapidly. The surrounding skin was already swollen and red. “Your ribs are cracked,” the sound of her voice was a gentle hush upon a storming sea.

  Turning his head he looked back at her. “I’m all right.” His assurance was the smile reserved only for her.

  “You made Aryaunna promise to be looked over, but you must care for yourself as well, Allos.”

  As he turned to face her, the touch of her fingers gently brushed over his skin. He took a moment to consider as he looked down at his soot covered love. Blood stained her fingertips. Her red hair was a flurry of ringlets, the handkerchief around her hair having fallen back low. “Looking at you is medicine enough. Your beauty is so deep that it radiates,” he whispered low enough that only she could hear. Her hand fell down and held to her other behind her back. As if she had to keep herself from touching him.

  “Let me treat you, Allos.” Their eyes caught as the quiet hung between them.

  “Lena is missing,” he said after a moment to explain. “I’ve seen to it our people have what they need to be treated properly. Now I must go find my sister.”

  “Why hadn’t you said anything?” She stepped back stunned. Lena and her had spent a good deal of time together when obligations didn’t require them elsewhere. Lena was her friend.

  The only response he needed to give was a nod of his head at the open room filled with tables of the injured. “Go. Good speed, Allos. Stay safe.” He’d acquired his belt, and boots. Aside from that he’d bothered with nothing else.

  To her intense surprise, his hand reached out and clutched to her side. Stepping close, his lips brushed her forehead. In such a small kiss was all the love and need he held for her. His knuckles brushed along her jaw as he lifted her chin gently. “I’ll be back soon. I love you, Eli.”

  Leaning down, his lips pressed against her cheek tenderly. Her brows were lifted high, surprised he’d show such affection in front of not just anyone, but everyone. “I don’t care what they say. I intend to make you my wife. They should get used to it.” Hugging her tightly, she held her hands against his arms so not to hurt his back.

  As he pulled back to leave, she stopped him. “I love you, too.” His lips brushed hers softly before he took leave.

  Raising her hand, her fingers touched over her lips after he’d gone. She’d have sworn she could still feel his kiss, as if it had lingered. Suddenly realizing she wasn’t alone, she turned her gaze to those around her. Many looked away as if suddenly aware they’d been caught gawking. Some continued to gawk. One of those someones was her sister.

  Aryaunna was grinning. “I knew it,” she said aloud to herself as she turned back to a large pot of boiling water. Korena and her stood grinding herbs into the water.

  Korena was smashing the ginger root into mushy pulp, completely oblivious Allos and Elizabeth. “Knew what?” the girl looked up curiously, though exhaustion marked her eyes.

  “Allos and Elizabeth”

  “Oh, I knew that already.” Korena looked happy with herself.

  “Oh did you now?”

  “They’re always staring at each other, sneaking touches. People don’t notice me cause I’m small. I know lots of things.”

  Aryaunna let out a weak laugh. “I bet you do. I’m going to go check a few of the deeper wounds. Make sure the bleeding has stopped. Where’s the castor oil?” She asked while picking up a small pile of clean bandages.

  “Next to the dried sunroot.” Korena returned to her task, making a special healing tea for the wounded.

  Turning for the table Korena had indicated Elizabeth ran up to her. “Why, Elizabeth, you certainly look flushed. Everything all right?” She smirked. But Elizabeth wasn’t smiling. “What’s wrong?” The humor in Aryaunna’s eyes deflated.

  “Lena’s missing. Allos is going to look for her.” Before she could finish the second sentence, Aryaunna had shoved an arm full of towels into her sister’s and was aiming for the door. “Stay safe!” Elizabeth called at her sister’s back.

  “You weren’t going to tell me?” Aryaunna asked as she came up alongside Allos.

  “You were busy tending to our wounded. Even I had to wait to see to our people. Besides, have you been checked over yet?”

  “I’m bruised. Nothing more. No cuts, no scrapes, no breaks. Which is more than I can say for you.”

  A small voice called to them from behind. Korena was bringing them their cloaks, a satchel hung over her shoulder and a large bota hung from her neck. “Wait,” she let out a panting breath as she slowed to a stop as she caught up to them. “You need these.” Shoving their heavy cloaks into their arms, she handed the bota off to Allos before holding the satchel out to Aryaunna. “Black oil, eleuthero nectar, and there’s tea in the bota.”

 
“Thank you, Kore.” Aryaunna smiled to her. “Do me a favor?” Though the girl looked tired she looked more than willing. “See to it that Mayla, Elizabeth, and yourself get some rest. We’ll be back soon, but I need you well rested if you’re to help me when I return.”

  The girl looked eager and nodded with a sleepy sag. “You have my word.” She promised as if taking on a grave task.

  Allos’ brow was high as he donned the cloak. It hurt him to do so but he no more than grunted as he adjusted it. Aryaunna took the bota and hung it over her back. From inside the satchel she pulled out the eleuthero. Taking a heavy drink of it, she offered it to Allos. “I’ll not be sleeping this day. This might give you another wind,” she offered.

  “How long have you’ve been taking this stuff?” he inquired as he took the flask and took swig after her. It was a powerful tonic that would make you more alert. Not only would it help your mental focus but physically you would feel stronger.

  “Only when Mayla is lecturing about plant origin.” At that they snickered. Tucking the flask back into the satchel, she tied it onto her belt securely. “When was she last seen?” As they’d been speaking, they’d been walking through the village. They would do a quick check of the area before going into the wood.

  “I hadn’t seen her since midday,” he spoke as he watched the ground. Neither wanted to directly acknowledge what they were doing out here. The idea wasn’t a pleasant one.

  “I saw her as I was leaving just this night. She was speaking to me as I was saddling Sita.” She’d not worried about Sita despite not seeing her. She was with Veyn. He would keep her safe, as she would keep him safe in turn.

  “How far did you go with her?”

  “One of the fields near Brisheer.”

  “How long were you there?”

  “A few hours at least. I fell asleep, but Sita always comes back before dawn when I fall asleep. She had just reached close to the woodland when she woke me.”

  They walked on without another word. Too anxious in thought to speak light, too beaten to speak of what had taken place this night. Nerves eating at them, they walked with their hands braced upon the hilts of their weapons.

  Brisheer was a stretch of hills, called home by farmers. The last hill in the rolling dominion was home to the pagans. The hills were sparse of trees. In early summer they were a glorious sight, especially at sunset when the sky looked to be on fire.

  On that particular dawn, the sky was a grey fog. Perhaps it was the lingering smoke from the Hollow. Perhaps it was the precursor to the day to come. Neither noticed, for neither were looking to the dawn. One would have had to search hard for the east, as the sky was so muddled that the sun breaking through the night was nowhere to be seen, despite that the sky had lightened significantly.

  They’d gone afoot without thought of looking for Sita. But when they reached the field Aryaunna had journeyed from hours before, with no sign or site of Lena or anyone other than the horse’s worn path, they turned back to the Hollow.

  “Call for Sita, she’ll come for you before we reach the Hollow. You can go on without me until I can get a horse. We would cover more ground if we split up,” he corrected after a second’s thought.

  “Of course we would. But we won’t. Not this night. I will call for Sita. She can take us back to the Hollow where we will get you a horse.”

  Allos had no energy for argument. Or perhaps it was that Aryaunna was stepping further into her role, allowing Allos to step into his at her side rather than as her lead.

  It wasn’t long after Aryaunna’s high whistle that the thunder of hooves sounded through the wood. Sita was still saddled. But she wasn’t alone. Veyn rode behind them on his own Fell pony, Reins of another held in his grasp, keeping a brisk pace at their side.

  “I thought you might call for her. With Allos with you, I thought it best we have another ready,” Veyn explained as he handed the reins off to Allos.

  “Good man, Veyn. You’re all right to ride back on your own?”

  The boy gave Allos a baneful expression in response. “Please, JoHan is the second fastest steed this side of the dark sea.” Leaning forward, the boy covered his horse’s ears. “Second to Sita. But I don’t like rubbing that in,” he mock whispered as he sat back up.

  Allos nodded to him upon settling into the saddle. “You’ve saved us precious time.”

  “More than that, Kolin, Zane, and Raif have taken to the woodland in search for more of the Church’s guard as well as our sister. Nadegia and Ollin have taken charge of the prisoner. They wait for your return, but are questioning him as we sit here now.”

  “Ride hard, Veyn. They’ll need you back in the Hollow.” Allos gave him an appreciative nod as he dismissed the boy. Veyn seemed pleased to be of service but was still too hardened by the events in the night to show it. With a click of his tongue as he tossed the reins over, he urged JoHan to return them from whence they’d came.

  “That was lucky,” Aryaunna seemed wearily surprised by the boy coming all this way to deliver the horses and information.

  “Luck, or is it that the Guardians hold our Emissary in their good graces?” Her eyes rolled. “I pray it so, Aryaunna. For Lena’s sake if not else.”

  Their pace was steady as they rode on. Some time had passed before either spoke again. In doing so, she was very hesitant. “Allos…” When she didn’t immediately continue he turned his head to look at her.

  “Ary?” he prompted.

  “We’re riding in the direction of Kenan.”

  “We are,” he agreed with an edge to his tone.

  “So we believe Lena is at Kenan. Do you agree with that summary of things?”

  He paused a moment to consider. “Aye.” It was clear he didn’t like where this was going.

  “This is going to be ugly,” she stated with a heavily burdened sigh.

  “Aye, Aryaunna. Our day shall see no soon end, and I have a feeling that we may see it worsen far sooner than we care to.”

  “Glad we’re on the same page then,” her voice dripped in sarcasm as she gave him a dark look.

  The only noise came to be the huff of their four legged companions, the steady drum of their hooves as their pace quickened. The horses raced down the gentle slope of a large hill that coasted into a lesser hill before reaching the valley road to Kenan.

  Going forward, one of two things were bound to happen.

  They would reach Kenan. Find Lena; perhaps with Amelia’s help. Aryaunna had last seen the women as promised two weeks ago, loaded with thick warm cloaks, medicine and food. They would take down all the guards, just the two of them. Lena might be hurt, but she’d be alive. They’d get her out safely, like they did with the Nymph.

  The alternative option was simply that they wouldn’t.

  Everyone’s heads hung low as the horses trudged on. The horses’ burdens were not just the riders, or exhaustion, but mourning. They had succumbed to grief. Grief of a long night of blood and pain, death and loss, followed by a day of more.

  Head had turned their direction upon reaching the village. Many froze in what they were doing, staring at the sight of them.

  There were people everywhere, trying desperately to repair what had been lost to the flames of the night before. Zane walked alongside, Sita. Raif and Kolin had gone on to the hills of Brisheer where their fallen were to be returned to the earth so that they could prepare another pyre for their kin.

  Zane called to two boys hauling river stone up through the wood to come and aid them. “Fetch blankets, and another long board,” he instructed of them.

  The four stood in silence as the boys ran on. Zane hadn’t yet asked Allos and Aryaunna what had happened. Neither had spoken a word since descending the hills to Kenan.

  When the boys returned, their faces were sullen as they steeled themselves for the gruesome task. The two held the long board sturdily next to Sita as Zane helped take Lena from Aryaunna’s arms.

  Lena’s body was scorched from having fought assail
ants wielding torches. Blood had dried where it had spilt. And it had been spilt in plenty. She’d taken three of them down herself. They’d found the bodies in the woods. But there had been too many for just one to take on.

  Lena had been an intense fighter, but she’d never had to take on more than few enemies at a time. They’d had ropes. From the condition of her body she’d been drug back by one or more of the guards after they’d killed her.

  “Take care, my sons. This warrior must be treated with great respect, as she fell in attempt to save our people.” Zane regarded the two boys as he placed Lena down onto the long board carefully as they held it. Her pure white hair was stained with her own blood.

  Dragging his heavy hand over her face, he closed her eyes for the last time. “Return to the mother, great warrior. Sleep sweet.”

  No other words had been spoken by a soul since their arrival. No words were spoken as the boys carried Lena away. Those working had stopped to honor their sister as she was carried past them.

  Korena ran up to the three with tears streaming down her face. “No!” she cried out when she reached them, seeing with her own eyes that it was true. Elizabeth was on her heels, pulling Korena away from Lena’s body and into her. Korena sobbed against her chest, clinging tightly as Elizabeth held the girl up.

  Elizabeth’s gaze sought Allos out. He looked defeated. Unable to hold his head up, he looked back at her, grimacing to see Korena’s heart breaking in his beloved’s arms. Dismounting from the horse, he stumbled a step back. His body was battered, his heart was worse.

  Walking up to Elizabeth and Korena, he dropped to his knees in front of the two. Korena turned around hesitantly, tears streaming down her cheeks. Bowing his head, he brought his hand up, kissed his two fingers and lifted them above his head in a gentle waive. Lifting his chin, he looked into Korena’s eyes. “She fought hard. She loved fiercely. I was proud to call her my sister, and my friend. Your mother loved you, Korena. She fought for you.”