by Unknown
"Let her go!" Shaz yelled.
"Who are you? ...Why should we listen to you?" asked a woman in the front row.
His blood boiled and Shaz had had enough. His anger now reached its max. Maybe he was just tired of all the running, dodging and keeping things a secret. He was tired of not having a hot meal, and traveling to his inevitable doom. He slapped his hands together. A thunderous crack echoed through the village and rumbled into the distance causing Serin to flinch. The crowd fell silent with wide eyes and trembled.
"What has this woman done?" he yelled.
“She brought the serpent upon us.” A man yelled.
He started to open his mouth, when a calming voice came from his left. Serin stood on the platform next to him.
"If we can stop this beast, will you let this woman go and never resort to this nonsense again?" she asked.
Serin's long, brown, wavy hair gently fell to just above her waist. Her bright green eyes twinkled in the setting sun. The confused crowd murmured to one another.
A man in the front row called out, "You think you can kill that serpent? You're a woman!"
The crowd broke into laughter. Shaz combed his hair out of his face and jumped down from the platform.
“Jag, stay here.” Shaz said pointing to the feet of the bound woman.
Jagwynn sat her large rump on the ground and bore her teeth at anyone who dared look at her.
"Shaz what are you doing exactly?" Serin asked when they got to the horses.
"I don't know yet."
"Well I am coming with you."
"No you are not." Shaz said, "You are staying here."
"Oh yes I am. You can't tell me what I can and can't do."
"Serin, don't start with me, I am not in the mood"
He brushed pass her toward his horse as his face reddened with anger and frustration. What does she think she is doing? He thought.
"Well neither am I, you need my help and you know it. Besides you don't get a choice. I am going!"
"AAAAHHH! You are so stubborn." Shaz threw up his arms.
"Yes and just stubborn enough to put up with you." She shouted back.
He stared at her blankly as she slammed the leather strap of her pack here and there and climbed onto her horse. Shaz mounted his horse and started out at a fast gallop. Serin kicked her horse and followed him. He did know better than to argue with her, she was just as stubborn as he was, and right now, she was all he had. They rode toward the mountains until the sun set behind them.
"Let's make camp over there" Serin pointed to a small grove of trees to the west.
Shaz halted his horse and slipped out of the saddle onto the soft damp ground and stretched with a large yawn. It had been a long time since they had slept in a bed and the exhaustion wore on them. Shaz un-cinched the center billet strap and ring then flopped the stirrup strap over the saddle. He gripped the horn opposite the cantle and hoisted the saddle off the horse, resting it on a nearby branch. Serin too unsaddled her horse then dug into her pack for food.
"Blast!" she slammed the cover back over her pack and kicked the ground, "We left in such a hurry that we didn't get supplies!"
"I’ll find something, just start a fire."
"Fine, I would like a large bird, one of the red ones." Serin said putting her finger up as though she was hailing a servant at one of the fancy eateries in Ebassia.
"Ha ha, sure. Your order coming right up." Shaz grabbed his bow and gave her a mock bow, then slipped into the trees.
Serin found as much dry wood as she could. All she wanted was food and a bath. She always felt energized after spending time in the water. She didn't even care having to sleep on the ground again. A short while later Shaz came into the fire light. She didn't want to admit it but he was handsome and she liked him, even though he was stubborn and arrogant and a bit obsessive, well a lot obsessive.
"Here you are...a red one." He dropped the bird in front of her.
"Wow, you're awesome."
Serin took the bird and began plucking the feathers. Shaz flopped down on the ground and propped himself against his pack. He put his hands behind his head and gazed into the sky. He could see through a small opening in the tops of the trees. At least there were Waslick trees here too. He thought. He missed his little island, the mainland was fine, but it wasn't his home.
His mind wandered back to the small cave on the island that he and Riddick had spent so much time in. One day he found a small crack in the wall and found he could move through it. The cavern on the other side, had strange markings all over the walls engraved in glittering silver. He had never seen anything like it. One day he showed Riddick but he couldn't see anything, and teased Shaz for being crazy. That's when he realized he was different.
Serin noticed Shaz, his deep blue eyes, although deep in thought, were inviting. Serin found there was something there she couldn't explain. He was handsome with a strong jaw and check bones. She had seen handsome men before, but Shaz held a certain attraction that was different.
He never gave her reason to think he was different than he was. Or hide his true character from her. She knew she could trust him, but didn’t know exactly why. Ever since her father died and her brother disappeared she was on her own. It wasn’t until she met Mrs. Bailey that she felt like she had anyone she could depend on. She couldn’t explain that she was starting to sense his intentions more than before.
"Shaz, would you like some supper?" Serin asked.
"Huh? Oh yes of course, I am starved."
They ate in silence, enjoying the comfort the meat brought to their stomachs. He did appreciate her being there. It was nice not to be alone.
"So Mr. Smarty, what is your plan for getting this serpent, thing?" Serin asked setting her plate on the ground.
“I was thinking I would stand at the top of the highest rock and yell and see if it comes out of the sky to eat me." Shaz said, flipping his hair with a smile.
"Shaz!" Serin said, crinkling her brows with irritation.
"I'm just kidding, settle down. You're so serious." Shaz licked his fingers.
Serin glared at him. Shaz ate a few more bites then saw her scowl. He cleared his throat and wiped his fingers on his trousers. Serin shook her head as though to say ‘what a slob’. Shaz turned slightly pink. He knew how to behave in public, and in front of a girl, but he didn't think of Serin as a girl. She was tough and spirited and he thought she had proved herself equal to a man.
Serin picked up her plate and pulled out her bed roll and nestled it next to the small fire.
“Good night.” She said.
“Good night.”
Shaz gazed into the stars for a bit longer then he too retired to bed. The next morning Serin was up early, she hadn't slept well at all, so she got up and started cleaning up camp. She revived the small fire in the makeshift pit and started to boil water in a small kettle.
"Uugg, you making that nasty tea again?"
Shaz sat up and rubbed his eyes.
"Yes and you need it. Mrs. Bailey said it will keep those headaches from making you crazy."
"It's awful. I bet she made it nasty on purpose" Shaz said.
"Yeah, just to irritate you I'm sure," she said.
Serin whirled the kettle around a few times and set it back on the hot coals. Shaz rolled up his blanket and stuffed it neatly into his pack. He rolled his eyes when he saw how Serin had shoved hers into her pack. In a way he liked her spontaneity but in a way he didn’t.
"So we never got to what your actual plan was." Serin said as she brushed leaves and twigs around to cover her makeshift bed.
"Last night, while hunting for your red bird," he said, "I came across a stream that had tracks. I think we need to follow them, they may lead us to the creature."
"How far it is?" she asked, shaking the contents of a little container into the simmering water.
"Not far, and the tracks were fresh."
Serin poured the rusty orange liquid into a metal cup and gave
it to Shaz. Shaz wrinkled his nose and took a deep breath and swallowed the tincture in two gulps. Gasping, he stuck out his tongue and gagged. Then with his fist hit his chest and coughed.
"You're such a baby!" Serin said.
"Well then you drink it" Shaz growled.
"Settle down, I've tasted it and it is awful." She said.
A shriek came from the top of the rocky hillside outside the cover of the trees.
"Let's get moving" Shaz said.
Serin whispered into the air and with a sweep of her hand sent a gush of wind around camp eliminating signs that they had been there.
"We can't take the horses into the woods, the thickets are too heavy. If we go around the out skirts we can get there faster, but then we will have to leave them and go on foot the rest of the way." Shaz said,
They were about to the creek when they heard the screeching again, more like, felt it in their bones. Shaz quickly brought his horse to a stop and dismounted. Shaz waved to Serin to dismount in which she did slowly. He touched the ground to feel if he could sense any movement, but couldn't. They quickly moved to the place Shaz had found the night before and scrutinized the forest for clues. Serin stopped and tilted her head, listening for anything unusual.
A pungent odor of fresh blood filled Shaz’s nose as he breathed in deeply. The side of his lip peeled with disgust as a rock formed in his stomach. He felt the discomfort of not knowing what he was up against. Slipping in and around trees and tall shrubs, they moved toward the stream. The babbling of water got louder as they crept along the upper banks of what was once a large river.
"Did you hear that?" Shaz asked.
"Yeah, but what was it?"
"I don't know, so be careful"
He slid onto his belly and crawled to the ledge.
"I don't see anything" She said.
"Me neither, but can you smell that?"
"No, smell what?" she said.
"Not sure."
"Look, over there." She said pointing toward a rocky ridge.
"What is it?"
Its razor sharp black beak was tearing the limbs off a mountain goat and feeding fiercely as though it hadn't eaten for weeks. Shaz could relate. The sun magnified its copper color and it radiated a gold hue around it as though it was on fire. It stood like a man while its long lion like tail swayed behind its huge body, as the feather like tufts danced behind it. Sharp talons gripped the goats flesh.
"Is that a human, bird, or a lion?"
"Looks like all three."
It stood on its hind legs, searched its surroundings then went back to eating.
"If we get a little closer, we might be able to place a few arrows into its neck." Shaz said.
Serin put out her arm in front of his chest as he rounded the back side of the tree.
"What?" he whispered.
"Two more, over there."
He nodded and whispered, "I'm going up."
Shaz crept around the boulder several feet. Light on his toes, he ran toward the boulder. He shoved off using his momentum to carry him upward. Serin flicked her hand, sending a small blast of air under him. He shot up and nearly leapt over the branch but gave her thumbs up. Serin lifted herself off the ground with an air spell. When she reached the height she wanted she pulled out her bow and arrow and stood ready. Shaz drew his bow, strung it and pulled out an arrow. He pointed to the neck just above his collar bone to tell Serin where to aim. She pulled back the arrow making the string taunt, and took in a deep breath.
"On three" Shaz whispered
Serin steadied her nerves as the forest greens and tans disappeared from her view and all she saw was the gentle heaving of the gryphton's feathers.
"Three" Shaz said slightly above a whisper.
Their arrows whizzed through the air. The beast reared backward at the sudden sense of pain as its body became paralyzed. Shaz scooted back on the branch into the cover of the shadows. Serin dropped to the ground and slipped behind the boulder. The beast managed an ear-piercing screech, alerting the others, who dropped their carcasses and leapt into the air. Bright green and ruby red feathers sent radiating glints of color as they moved. They carried swords and wore leather armor on their human like chests, forearms and shins.
The green one landed in front of the copper one. Serin squatted but pulled another arrow.
The bright green gryphton grabbed the arrows and broke them from his comrade’s neck. He crushed them in his grip. The stone in Shaz's stomach turned to a lump in his throat. He pulled another arrow and took a few steps out on the limb. Serin slipped out around the boulder just enough to find her mark and waited for Shaz to give her the cue.
He whistled a soft bird call and they each let go of another arrow. Shaz's arrow penetrated the leather and settled deep into the copper gryphton's heart. Serin's sunk into the soft flesh of his throat just above the armor. He fell back dead, thumping against the hollow rocks. The other gryphtons flared out their massive wings and leapt into the air. Hovering for a few moments confused, the red one moved closer to the tree line.
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
Yavo’s Second Hunt
A strong odor wafted into the air as the two gryphton soldiers flew over the last battle with the Ebonhoards. Heaps of smoldering remains plagued the landscape. Broken and shattered long blades, shields and battering rams protruded from the ground. A fierce battle, one in which they had been successful in driving the Ebonhoards back into their own lands, for now.
A soft breeze eased the stench as they crossed the last few yards. The soldiers slowed under the waning pressures of fatigue. Last they had heard, Yavo was making his way through the outskirts, interrogating residents of the King’s lands. They were nearly there and pushed hard just to keep to the sky. Small prides scattered the open grasses roared as they crossed.
One pointed to a landing and they banked hard left. In the distance, they heard a commotion. Yavo drug an elderly gryphton from his cave. His family roared and snipped at him.
“You will tell me where he is, or else,” Yavo growled.
“Sir, he’s in the forest,” the soldier interrupted.
Yavo gripped the neck of the old gryphton and shot them a glare.
“What?”
“Azrak, we saw him on our way to the secret-“
The second gryphton elbowed him in the ribs and interrupted, “Toward the gorge.”
“When?”
“We came straight here, no stopping,” the soldier said.
Yavo’s eye lid twitched with anger. He squeezed even harder as the old gryphton gripped his paw to release him. The old gryphton opened one talon and sliced the top of Yavo’s paw. Yavo growled in pain and jerked away. The gryphton fell to the ground. Yavo searched their eyes and found them to be telling the truth.
“Well then, I best go hunting.”
Yavo’s eerie swagger and ruffling of his feathers was a signal that he is not to be trifled with. A trickle of blood dripped from the back of his paw before he leapt to the sky. Yavo flew through the night. His chest exhilarated with renewed energy. He ran through his mind the last several seasons and tried to peace the puzzle together. The trails went in circles. Yavo spent so much time combing through the finest details. He spent many days following each trail only to find they overlapped. He thought of every exercise Azrak had taught him and retraced his paths.
He followed every trail and non-trail he found, back and forth all over the country side, he covered every inch of the land. As fall turned to winter, Yavo slowed his search, having to wait until the snow melted. He took his search into the lands to interrogate prides. He even took it as a chance to settle a few scores. He left his mark on the land and frightened the creatures that lived there. Once the snow melted enough, he returned and again retraced all the trails.
One night he was in an old run down eatery. A mysterious gryphton approached him. The gryphton wore an unusual cloak and ornate jeweled necklaces. He asked him if he were interested in a mission for a very wealth
y payment. Yavo dismissed him. Before the gryphton left, he spoke in Yavo’s ear and told him a powerful necromancer could use his unique talents. Yavo was too obsessed with Azrak to think more of it.
Yavo prided himself with his even temperament but the last few seasons pushed him to his max on more than one occasion. Prides began guessing as to why he would be searching for him there.
Soon rumors surfaced that Azrak had outsmarted Yavo. Story tellers told stories of Azrak having extra ordinary powers to the young ones. They said Yavo was losing his mind and couldn’t hunt a ribbard. They said he had gone deaf and blind with furry and had to beg for food. As the rumors spread they became less afraid of Yavo and some even laughed at him. This drove Yavo to greater depths of furry. He felt at times he couldn’t make sense in his own head. He ended up having several conversations with trees or rocks.
There was no logical explanation. He shook his mind clear and dismissed them. A small part of his mind wouldn’t let go, however, of the thought that Azrak must have some extra ordinary powers.
A snap up ahead alerted his senses and he stopped. Yavo lowered to the ground and hunched under a thicket. He listened, but didn’t hear anything more. He hadn’t realized the darkness creep into existence. He spotted a large thicket and slunk underneath.
Without the rain it made it easier to cover greater distance. He failed to find any Oil of The Creeping Dewberry which added to his delusional state. Yavo kept low to the ground, searching for clues. He spotted marks on the bank of a river, he hadn’t seen before, and circled in the sky a few times before landing. Yavo prowled around the area, sniffing for information. He studied the other side of the bank and found tracks he hadn’t seen before.
