by Sam Ferguson
“Just then, a horrid shriek, unlike anything he had ever heard before, erupted outside. Captain Terrelius reflexively went for his sword at his belt and watched the door. Another squeal was followed quickly by a deep, rumbling roar. It wasn’t the dragon, he knew that much. It wasn’t powerful enough to be the great beast he was after. Yet, whatever it was, made the hairs at the base of his neck stand on end.
“The captain stood there, watching the door and waiting for the unseen horror to come and attack, but it never did. The shrieks and cries would rend the silence of the night every few minutes, but it never came closer to the door. Still, it was several hours before Captain Terrelius allowed himself to relax and sleep.
“Alerik was sitting at the table before Terrelius woke the next morning. The captain threw off his blanket and sauntered over to the table, still shaking the sleep from his steps as he navigated through the floor full of sleeping bodies. Terrelius immediately inquired of Alerik what had made the strange noises outside during the night.
“Alerik frowned. ‘The Gray Wood has many dark corners and crags,’ he said. ‘Best you not worry yourself about it.’ Alerik clapped three times and in rushed a line of servants, each holding a platter of freshly baked bread. They were followed by a few women holding pitchers, and then finally by several more servants carrying platters of fruits and eggs. ‘Eat your fill, you will need your strength,’ Alerik said.
“Terrelius insisted that he and his men should leave, for they yet had a long way to travel to reach the dragon. Alerik nodded in agreement, but implored Captain Terrelius to wait but one more day, claiming he had a few more things to prepare before they should depart.
“Captain Terrelius allowed his men to pass the time that day whittling and swapping stories with the people in the tower, but all the while he stared at the front door and thought of the dragon. The few moments he spent thinking on anything else came upon him as his mind would recall the horrid sounds of the previous night.
“After supper that evening, the men resumed the same sleeping positions they had taken up the night before. Again, just a short while after the others were asleep, the terrible screams and howls erupted outside. This time Captain Terrelius went for the door. The large portal was locked as it had been the night before, but there was a panel that he could open to peer out. He reached up to the brass knob and pulled the panel open. The cold night air wafted in, bringing with it the scents of the forest. He waited a moment for his eyes to adjust to the black night. He scanned around, but saw nothing. Not even guards moved outside of the hall.
“Alerik snuck up from behind and said, ‘It would be better to keep the door closed entirely.’ Captain Terrelius jumped away slightly, caught off guard by Alerik’s sudden appearance. He apologized, and then explained that he heard the same sounds again in the night. ‘Curiosity killed the cat,’ Alerik said with a smile as he brought a steaming mug of mulled wine up to his mouth.
“Captain Terrelius closed the panel securely and stepped away from the door. He asked Alerik once more what was outside. Alerik shook his head. Saying only that it was best that no one venture out after sundown. Alerik shrugged and then said, ‘Simply follow my instructions and this is one danger that will not bother you or your men. You have my word.’ The large man gestured to the hall with his open hand and told Captain Terrelius to get some rest. ‘We leave tomorrow, yes?’ Terrelius asked. The lord of the tower didn’t reply. He just walked through the hall and disappeared into another doorway. Captain Terrelius sighed and forced himself to sleep.
“The next day proceeded much the same. Terrelius suggested the group depart, but Alerik came up with more excuses, holding them all in his tower again while he went about seeing to his so-called preparations. The third night brought even more shrieks and howls in the forest - wo many that all of the men woke and reached for their weapons. Terrelius tried to calm them, saying he had heard the sounds before, but the men all remained awake. A pair of Alerik’s guards stood on the inside of the door, each holding wicked pole-axes that had hooks on the back.”
“What was out there, the dragon?” Kathair asked as he stared at Britner through the smoke of the fire.
Britner shook his head, signifying that he would not reveal the end of the story early. He continued on. “Terrelius couldn’t be sure whether the guards were there to protect them from something breaking in, or to keep them from going out. Alerik was down in the hall the next morning before the first rooster’s crow. He woke Captain Terrelius and then laid out a map on the table. As the rest of the men began to stir, Alerik pointed the way the group should take through the wood. Again, Terrelius asked about the sounds in the night. Alerik nodded. ‘It was a bit louder than usual,’ Alerik replied. ‘But it sleeps now,’ he quickly added. ‘We can travel to the edge of the wood without fear.’ Terrelius placed a hand on Alerik’s shoulder and asked, ‘But what was it?’ Terrelius asked. Alerik replied that it was better Terrelius didn’t know. Alerik then said that he would meet Terrelius and his men in the courtyard. Captain Terrelius asked how many of Alerik’s men would be joining them, but Alerik turned on his heels and shot Terrelius a look that nearly froze the man’s blood in place. ‘None,’ was all that Alerik would say.
“Captain Terrelius opened his mouth to protest, but the words never found their way to his mouth. The old dragon slayer threw open the bolt, unlocked the door, and stormed out of the hall before Terrelius could find the courage to say anything.
“Once the men were ready, and had eaten their fill of eggs and bread, they marched out to see Alerik dressed in oiled leather armor, with a simple helmet on his head. A greatsword hung on the left of his horse while a bow was slung over his back and he held a spear in his right hand.
“Like in the song,” Kathair called out to Dengar. “He fights with sword and spear.”
Dengar winked at Kathair and raised his canteen to his lips.
Britner continued the tale, without pausing. “Alerik pulled the reins off to the left, urging his horse into a healthy trot out through the gates and into the wood. Captain Terrelius quickly issued the command and the rest of them did their best to match pace with Alerik as they took the winding trail out of the wood and toward the southeast.
“The birds sang and deer bounded through the brush at the sight of the troop. Rabbits nibbled clover near the edge of the road and the trees swayed in the warm breeze. It was as if nothing had happened the night before, but Terrelius knew it had. He kept his eyes peeled for the mysterious beast, but he saw nothing more dangerous than a pair of hawks circling high in the sky. His ears, on the other hand, picked up the thunderous roar of the dragon from afar off. ‘Sends a chill down your spine, does it not?’ Alerik asked after a particularly long dragon roar. Terrelius nodded. ‘Does it sound as large as the one you slew?’ he asked.
“Alerik narrowed his eyes and sighed, looking off in the direction of the sounds and waiting for the next cry. A few moments later, when the horrible cry tore through the air, Alerik nodded his head. A sour grimace crawled onto his face, turning the corners of his lips downward and causing a tense knot to form between his brows. ‘It is the same as I remember before,’ Alerik said somberly. ‘You may wish to let your men have one last night of revelry before we move on to face its wrath.’
“Captain Terrelius turned on him sharply. ‘My men are not cowards,’ he declared. Alerik shrugged and said, ‘The brave die as quickly as anyone else. I am just pointing out that these may very well be the final hours of their lives. Perhaps we could try to make them a little lighter.’ Captain Terrelius shook his head, his impatience turning to anger now. He turned to Alerik and said, ‘You tried to keep us in your tower, and now you would ask me to make camp before we should. We have a long way to travel yet, and our foe does not wait for us. It will devour our people if we linger.’
“Alerik pulled his horse to a stop and instantly all of the men behind stopped as well. ‘The dragon will devour its prey whether you face it a few hours earl
y or not,’ he said. He then pointed to a large cave. ‘I propose we make camp there, it is where I made camp with my group of heroes some thirty years ago.’
“But the captain was not having any more of Alerik’s tricks. ‘No,’ Captain Terrelius said. ‘We should press on. We still have daylight left, and we can make better time if we use all of our light.’ Alerik shook his head. He explained that the rivers near the base of the mountains were flanked by thick brush and trees that grew close together. Beavers had felled many trees, not only making dams, but also making the path treacherous. Alerik informed Terrelius that even if they somehow managed to get through that before the sun fell that day, they would find themselves in an open field, with nothing else between them and the dragon they hunted. Alerik said, ‘The cave provides shelter from the weather, and fortification against a dragon’s flame. Remember, even though it takes you a day to cross the valley, the dragon can fly over this area in a matter of only a couple of hours.’
“Terrelius shook his head, still not willing to listen to the experienced dragon hunter. ‘We should go farther. We can camp in the wood near the rivers,’ he said. Alerik turned his horse off the road and shouted over his shoulder. ‘The dragon hunts at dusk, and doesn’t sate his appetite until well into the night. You do what you want, but I am pitching camp here in the cave.’ Captain Terrelius turned back to his men. He could see the looks on their faces. There would be no way to convince them to press on. Ultimately, he agreed to camp with Alerik, calling out to his men saying, ‘We leave before first light. Set up rotating watches and post a guard at the entrance of the cave.’ The lieutenant nodded dutifully and blew a short blast on the horn. ‘You heard the man, move it, move it!’ the lieutenant shouted.
“Captain Terrelius pulled his horse up along that of his lieutenant and watched his men break ranks and make for the cave. ‘I am starting to have my doubts,’ he said to his lieutenant. The lieutenant turned and offered a curt nod. ‘Three days in the bastion and now he slows us down and instills fear in the men,’ he said. ‘Makes me wonder if he slew the dragon, or if he ran and the dragon just happened to succumb to its wounds.’ Captain Terrelius nodded his agreement with the lieutenant’s sentiments.
“Terrelius spat on the ground and turned a sour face to the cave. ‘I suppose we will uncover the truth soon enough.’ Just then, Alerik shouted from up the hill. ‘Come, Captain Terrelius, you will not want to be outside of the cave when night falls.’
‘“Again with his ghosts of the night!’ Terrelius grumbled.
‘“Permit me to take a few men and camp out in front of the cave,’ the lieutenant requested. ‘Let me show the men there is nothing to fear from Alerik’s monster stories.’
“Captain Terrelius sighed and shook his head at first, but upon the lieutenant’s insistence, Terrelius gave permission for a few of them to camp outside. The lieutenant quickly rode off and selected a few men to join him. Then they returned to make camp. Alerik saw them and came down the hill from the cave. He walked up to Captain Terrelius with a most disapproving frown.
‘“The men should come into the cave,’ Alerik said. ‘It is not safe out there.’
‘“If the dragon comes, we will spot it, and retreat to the cave,’ the lieutenant said. ‘Then we can rouse the others and emerge to fight it.’ Alerik shook his head. ‘You cannot fight a dragon at night,’ he said. ‘They can see clearly as day, but we cannot cut the darkness with our eyes.’
‘“We have fire,’ the lieutenant said. Alerik smirked. ‘So does the dragon.’
‘“We are staying,’ the lieutenant said defiantly. Alerik shook his head and waved a dismissive hand at him. ‘It is not the dragon that should worry you here at any rate,’ he said. ‘Then what?’ Captain Terrelius asked pointedly. ‘We are no longer in the Gray Wood, what monster roams the valleys out here?’
“‘I can’t say,’ Alerik replied. ‘Because you don’t know,’ the lieutenant stated. ‘Are you Alerik the Great, or are you a coward?’
“Alerik arched an eyebrow and slowly folded his arms across his chest. He then decided to let the men seal their own fate. He denounced them as fools who sought glory and riches but lacked the brains or courage to find either.
“Captain Terrelius grew enraged and told Alerik, ‘You have proven neither brave, nor wise so far along this venture of ours, and you have offered only one feeble old man when we asked for the strength of your warriors.’
‘“My men have spent their lives for the last thirty years battling the dangers of the gray wood. They have faced danger enough to earn them the right to live out the remainder of their lives with their families,’ Alerik replied. ‘They will not now walk into the fire. That is for me to do, and me alone. In fact, all of you should turn back. Let me face the dragon alone. You can even keep the riches if you like.’
‘“What game are you playing at?’ Captain Terrelius asked.
“Alerik shook his head again and walked away. ‘Wouldn’t believe me even if I did tell you,’ he mumbled into the wind.
Kathair rubbed his shoulders and then drew his knees up to his chest as he watched Britner continue the tale. It was longer than he had expected, but now his mind was captivated by the riddle. What was Alerik hiding?
Britner took another drink from his canteen and then moved to the other side of the fire where the smoke was a bit thicker and lowered his voice before continuing the tale. “A couple of hours after the group had eaten their supper, they went about dousing the fires and preparing for sleep. They were going to rise early, so they laid down before dusk had fully faded into the black of night. The night was peaceful, calm, and cool. Only the wind howled against the mouth of the open cave. The stars were out, and the half-moon provided a bit of light with which to see. Captain Terrelius leaned back against the wall of the cave’s opening. He knew he should sleep, but he kept watch on his men in the valley. The lieutenant and another warrior stood watch, each trading places and pacing around as they normally did to avoid exhaustion as the night wore on.
“It proved unnecessary, as there was nothing to be seen. No beast had followed them from the Gray Wood, no dragon dropped down from the skies, not even a bear roamed the area. All was tranquil. As the lieutenant woke another warrior to take his place in the rotation, Captain Terrelius allowed himself to drift into sleep. His eyes grew heavy, and his breathing slowed. He pulled his thin blanket up to his shoulders and tucked into the wall as best he could, turning his head into a small curve in the rock. A horrid scream jolted him from his slumber not more than a few seconds after he had closed his eyes. He looked out and saw a flash of darkness swirling about the men and his lieutenant.
‘“To arms!’ Terrelius cried. He jumped to his feet and pulled his sword. He took one step out of the cave and then a hefty arm wrapped around his chest and yanked him back. A second hand clasped over his mouth, tight as a vice.
‘“Keep still!’ Alerik whispered harshly. ‘To venture out is to die!’ Captain Terrelius struggled against him, but Alerik was much stronger, despite his age. ‘Order your men to stay here. I will go,’ Alerik said.
“Alerik released Terrelius and ran out into the night, fast as a fox. Terrelius ran out a few paces after him, as did several of his men. Others were clambering about deeper in the cave, but they were too far away to lend any immediate support.
“Another cry rent the air and a warm liquid splattered across Terrelius’ face and neck. He stopped and looked to his right, but nothing was there. A moment later something heavy and scaly slammed into his chest, hurling him to the ground. It was all he could do to maintain consciousness. He heard snarls and screams all around him. Occasionally someone would shout, but Terrelius could not make out the words.
“A terrible roar shook the valley and then all went utterly quiet.
“Terrelius fought against his burning lungs and throbbing torso, struggling to rise. A hand slipped in under his armpit and hoisted him up the rest of the way to his feet.
‘“I
told you to stay in the cave!’ Alerik shouted. The old warrior yanked Terrelius up, half dragging him back to the shelter of the cave. As soon as they crossed into the opening, Alerik threw Terrelius down. ‘All of you back into the cave. From here on out, you listen to me. I am in command, unless you prefer to die by this idiot’s strategy.’ Terrelius didn’t argue this time. Alerik left the cave once more and strange sounds could be heard in the darkness. Terrelius peered out into the darkness beyond the cave, trying to see what had become of his men, but the moon hidden her light behind a cloud. It was many hours after silence had fallen over the area and Alerik had still not returned. Terrelius could no longer bear the wait and gave in to exhaustion and sleep.
“In the morning, Terrelius was the first to wake. He rose to his feet, dreading what he would find. His heart nearly stopped as he surveyed the scene. A bloody hand lay on the ground, still clenching a spear near the spot where he had fallen in the night. Flies lighted on the grotesque smear of blood on the ground. He stepped out, knowing there would be no survivors left outside the cave. He found only a boot, foot and ankle still inside, a helmet with large claw marks through it, and the tattered remains of blankets and armor scattered along the ground. Some of the armor was slick not only with blood, but also a thick, yellowy slime that smelled of sulfur and refuse. Captain Terrelius bent over and vomited, his stomach heaving only burning acid, and cramping violently in protest to the sights and smells he had taken in.
‘“I told you to stay in the cave,’ Alerik said as he came up slowly from behind.
“Captain Terrelius turned to see his men still hovering near the entrance to the cave. ‘What evil have you wrought upon my men?’ Terrelius demanded.
“‘If I tell you, I will need a blood oath that you will keep my secret, on pain of death, and that you will follow my orders without hesitation from here on out.’
“Terrelius straightened himself and nodded his head, giving Alerik his word. Alerik leaned in and whispered to Terrelius. The man’s eyes went wide as he listened carefully. Suddenly he pulled away. ‘You should have told me the first night!’ Terrelius shouted.”
