Well, there is little I can do about it now, he thought. A little late to find a replacement. I shouldn’t worry. Even though he’s at times a little belligerent and a little mentally deficient, Belgar is good at taking orders and generally seeing them through to successful completion.
That was not the case with some of Renamir’s former lackeys, Shingar being a classic example. He would continually risk the success of the operation for his own personal gain or motives. In a way, Renamir felt it very fitting that Esselles had been able to kill Shingar because of Shingar’s own greed. They hadn’t needed to steal his purse.
He called back to Belgar. “You’re going to have to drive. I won’t have the luxury of switching riders once we get south of Dussel. They will. You’re going to have to head east to Malicar’s with Esselles while I continue south.”
“I hate driving,” Belgar said. “Besides, I need to watch him.”
So much for taking orders well, thought Renamir. “He isn’t going anywhere. Get up here and drive. I need to get some sleep. Not that it will be easy on these jarring roads.”
*
Clawson hitched up the horses as the last of the gear was loaded. Esselles-demon climbed into the transport and immediately found one of the bunks in the back and settled himself in. He wanted to avoid contact as much as possible. Especially since his connection to Renamir had gone quiet.
“Where’s Esselles?” Carrel asked as he and Reston returned to the transport.
“In one of the bunks,” Landir answered. “Kyell and Rashel are already inside, so if you two climb aboard, we can depart.”
Once aboard, Clawson snapped the reins and the transport was underway. He had to keep his foot on the brake lever the entire way down the mountain road. Once on the main road, he released the brake and turned toward Dussel.
Esselles-demon could hear the steady slow breathing of everyone else in the wagon. Over the clatter of the wagon wheels and the squeaking of the leaf springs, he could hear the driver humming a song. Bored with feigning sleep, he decided to go topside.
Mentally, he reached through the ethereal plane and found the wooden confines of one of the bow pits above him. Grabbing hold, he pulled that space towards him. When it was adjacent to the space he occupied, he released the energy that would open the smallest of portals between the two. He magically thrust his body through and found himself in the bow pit.
He sniffed the night air, again feeling frustration in his current form’s nasal cavities. No matter how strong he drew in air, he could not get scent particles to his olfactory nerves. At least I have my nerve endings, he thought, gratefully.
That made him wonder about the spell. While his outward form was that of the human, his inner form was still his own. What had surprised him was when he had been cut. He had expected ichor. Instead he had bled. He could not believe his body would be able to operate on blood, so he conjectured that the spell must somehow disguise the ichor as it left his body.
He looked down at his hand. The nails had grown rather long and thick. He knew it was his own form, trying to assert itself. Though he had a wistful thought to let it do so, he quickly banished it with his anger at the barons’ arrogance and their plans to invade his home. He settled into the bow pit and went into concentration, reversing the process of his body’s healing.
Half an hour later, the nails had fully retracted. He broke his trance and began observing the passing countryside. On one side lay a vast ocean. Esselles-demon marveled that there was that much water in one place. His home world had only one such ocean, and it was covered in thick sheets of ice. On the other side of the transport there were fields and fields of grasses. He marveled at that as well. This world is so alive, he thought. No wonder such weak creatures can survive.
In the distance, he spotted a splotch of red amongst the greens and blues of the grasses. He saw a second and third splotch. One of them moved. His stomachs reminded him he was hungry.
He looked forward to make sure the driver was not looking back and then turned back towards the fields. He reached out as far as he could with his mind and folded space. Now, halfway to his quarry, he could make out what they were. Deer. Like those down in the wagon, but with one vital difference – they were still alive.
He folded space again to move within a few hundred yards of the deer. The largest of the three lifted its head. It looked in Esselles-demon’s direction but could not spot the danger in time. Esselles-demon reached out to the space above its back and pulled himself there. He dropped on the surprised animal, arms going around its neck.
The deer snorted and tried to run. Esselles-demon grabbed its snout and twisted with all his strength. He heard a snap and the deer dropped. He immediately looked at the others. They were bolting in terror.
He folded space to the nearest one, placing himself directly in its path. The deer came crashing down on him and knocked him over. Esselles-demon cursed Esselles for being having short feet, no claws, and a high center of mass. But he immediately recovered, rolled with the fall, and jumped back up to pounce on the deer. It struggled to rise, but Esselles-demon pinned its head to the ground. He drove his nails into its neck and ripped out the jugular. He reveled in the pungent smell of the animal’s blood.
He turned to chase the third when the realization hit him that he had used his claws too easily. He looked down at his hand to see that his nails had lengthened and thickened even worse than before.
He drew on the mental link to Renamir, trying to activate it. It was a few seconds before the link became active. Renamir’s mind at the other end seemed not fully coherent. Esselles-demon wondered if he’d been struck on the head.
What is it? Renamir asked.
I’ve noticed something. I’m reverting much faster than before, he answered.
That’s strange. You hardly reverted during our journey. What have you…wait, where are you? Why aren’t you in the wagon?
I had gotten hungry, Esselles-demon answered.
And what if they notice you missing? Renamir asked. Esselles-demon could feel the anger pouring through the link.
Everyone was sleeping, he shot back, indignantly. I need sustenance.
You can eat the food they give you.
It’s dead!
Deal with it, Renamir said. Do you want the barons in your home? Do you want them running you through with their earthmetal swords? Locking you in confining cages? Making you starve?
Enough, the demon interrupted. I will return quickly. But there is still this problem. Why am I reverting?
How did you get off the wagon? Fold space? Renamir asked.
Yes. A few times, Esselles-demon answered.
Perhaps the reversion occurs faster the more demonic energy you use. Try to keep it at a minimum.
I will need to use it to get back to the wagon, the demon stated.
Obviously. But do it in as few jumps as possible. And get going now. The longer you wait, the further away they are.
I am leaving now, Esselles-demon said, breaking the connection.
He gorged on the felled deer as fast as he could. Again, he cursed Esselles for having such a small and inefficient mouth. He looked longingly at the larger kill, but decided he had already been away too long. He reached out as far as he could with his mind and folded himself ahead. Six folds later, he could see the wagon. He folded space once to get him close to the wagon and then once to get him back into the bow pit.
He looked down at his hands. His fourth and fifth fingers were pressed together and it was difficult to separate them. His nails were a respectable two inches long. He ran his hand across his chin, feeling the enlarged jawbone. It is a shame to lose this, he thought as he entered into his trance.
His trance was broken three hours later when someone slammed open the hatch to the roof. He looked down at his hands. His fingers were fully separated again and his nails had fully retracted. He felt his chin to assure himself it too had returned to its diminutive human size. He listened as some
one climbed out onto the top of the wagon.
“Smell that sea air,” Carrel said, taking a deep breath.
A second person stepped onto the roof.
“Actually, I find the salt air a little over-powering,” Reston said.
“Can I help it if your nose is more sensitive?” Carrel asked.
Too bad I couldn’t have been him, Esselles-demon thought.
“No, you cannot help it. You could, however, bathe more often.”
“Ouch. If you can convince Landir to pull over, I’d be more than happy to take a swim in the ocean.”
“So which pulpit is he in?” Reston asked.
“Back here,” Carrel said, walking to the back bow pits. “Look, he’s asleep.”
“Asleep?” Kyell asked from the access hatch. “Why would he sleep out here?”
“To get away from Carrel’s snoring,” Reston joked.
“Ouch. That’s twice.”
Esselles-demon continued to feign sleep, listening to the mindless banter of the humans. Suddenly, he felt the psionic link become active again. A single word jumped into his mind.
Ambush!
Chapter Thirteen
“We are nearing the split in the road,” Belgar said as he woke Renamir up.
“Okay,” Renamir said, stretching. “Pull off just before the fork.”
Ahead, the main road continued south, along the ocean side. To the right, a fork veered off and climbed the bluffs that separated the shore from the hills to the west. Belgar pulled back on the reins as they reached the fork.
“Get him down,” Renamir said, indicating Esselles. “I am going to have to take one of the horses and I’m not sure the other will be able to pull the wagon up the incline with him in it.”
Belgar walked around to the back of the wagon and grabbed the lead ball. He dragged it across the floor of the wagon, letting it drop over the edge. Esselles scrambled to try to keep up with it, but was unable to do so. It yanked hard on his shackles, digging them into his wrists. “Get out,” Belgar said.
Esselles simply maintained his emotionless stare.
Belgar shoved him with his boot while Esselles was bent over to pick up the lead ball. Esselles tumbled to the ground in a clatter of chains.
“Enough horse play,” Renamir said. “Let him pick the thing up and start walking. And you – untether a horse. We haven’t got all day. They were only a couple miles behind us when the demon last contacted me. That was over three hours ago. If that’s changed at all, I imagine they are closer. They have a change of horses. We do not.”
Belgar grumbled as he untethered one of the horses from the wagon. Renamir pulled a saddle out of the back and carried it to the horse. Once the horse was free, he began buckling it up.
“I do not look forward to this,” Renamir said as he tightened the cinch strap.
“It’s better than being bounced around in this damn wagon,” Belgar said, tying the extra harness off.
“For you maybe. But I hate riding horses.”
“I’ll trade. We can make him walk,” Belgar suggested, holding up the reins.
“You just get him to Malicar’s castle. Never mind making him walk. And don’t let anything happen to him.”
“I know, I know. You’ve told me a hundred times.”
“Only because I can read you like a book. If he dies, our plans are dead. And then we are dead.”
“Make that one hundred and one,” Belgar mumbled.
“I’ll see you after the conclave,” Renamir said, climbing into the saddle and turning down the main road.
Belgar watched him ride off. When he was out of sight, he turned to Esselles.
“Now, listen here,” he said. “Don’t go thinking that I won’t waste you. ‘Cause I will. Renamir ain’t here. Malicar neither. Just me. And I’m gonna make you pay for killing Shingar.” He punched Esselles in the stomach. “Now start marching up that hill.”
Esselles picked up the lead ball and began trudging up the slope. Belgar grabbed the reins and let the horse pull the empty wagon. When they reached the top, Belgar ordered Esselles back into the wagon.
Three times, as Esselles tried to climb into the wagon, Belgar pulled on one of Esselles’ chains, causing him to fall back out. After the second time, he laughed saying, “I’m just yanking your chains.” After laughing some more, he asked, “Get it?”
Esselles bit back his retort.
Finally, on the fifth attempt, he let Esselles climb in. Belgar walked around to the driver’s seat and climbed aboard. With a snap of the reins, the horse began forward again.
They had gone perhaps a quarter mile when they heard shouts from the distance. Belgar raced the wagon to the edge of the bluffs and jumped out. Ahead, swarming down to the beach was a band of uruks.
*
Renamir was just remounting, having needed to stop to adjust his stirrups, when he heard the first yell. He looked up to see about twenty uruks running down the bluffs towards him. They were strung out far enough ahead of and behind him – he knew he’d be unable to out-run them.
He muttered a curse and said, “I haven’t tried this in a while.”
He gathered magical energy and with his mind, enveloped his body in it. He extended the rough sphere to include the horse. He then mentally altered its composition such that it began to bend light. As he did, the world dimmed out. He could barely make out the road in front of him.
He started the horse forward at a canter. Hopefully, they won’t be smart enough to simply stop and listen, he thought as he passed the first shouting uruk. It had pulled up short and was looking all around, yelling something back to its brethren. They too stopped and began looking about. An uruk still on the bluffs was barely visible in the dim light, but Renamir could see him gesticulating wildly and hear him shouting all kinds of commands and orders.
By the time the uruks started following the sounds of the hoof beats, it was too late. Renamir was able to out-run them. He had to convince the horse to leap over the logs the uruks had rolled down into the road. She hesitated in the poor lighting, but the smells and shouting of the uruks gave her the motivation she needed. They landed on the far side and continued on.
Renamir held his invisibility spell long enough to be well out of the reach of the uruk bows. As the spell faded, the world returned to its earlier brightness. He continued for a mile and then pulled over to let the horse rest. He dismounted and gave it a rub down.
As he did, he opened the link to the demon. Ambush, he said, and he sent a mental image of where it had occurred.
*
“Uruks,” Belgar said. “Lots of them. Shit.”
He watched as Renamir and his horse faded from sight.
“He’s gone invisible!” Belgar exclaimed. “I wish I could do that. There’s a lot of places I’d like to visit.”
He turned back to look at Esselles, who had moved to the nearest edge of the wagon.
“We’d best wait until they move back into the bluffs. They might see our movement from down there,” Belgar said, sitting down to wait.
It took about twenty minutes for the uruks to get the logs back up the bluffs and then to clear out the beach. Belgar was just moving back from the edge of the bluff when he spotted motion to the north. He moved in that direction, back towards the wagon. Far up the road, he could just make out something moving.
“Looks like the transport is here. I’ve gotta watch this,” he said. He lay flat to the ground and waited.
*
Esselles-demon continued to feign sleep until the three returned below. He then quietly stood up in the bow pit and looked ahead. He waited until the scenery matched the mental image he had been sent and then began walking ahead.
“Hello, Clawson,” he said as he reached the front of the roof.
Clawson turned around and looked up. “Oh, hello, Esselles.”
“I was more tired than I thought,” Esselles-demon said, stretching as he did.
“I think everyone was. In fa
ct, I think it is time for Landir to take over driving.”
“What’s that?” Esselles-demon asked, pointing to the bluff ahead.
Clawson peered ahead. “I don’t see anything.”
“I swear I just saw someone silhouetted against the western sky – and I think he had a weapon,” Esselles-demon lied. “I’m going to go get the others.” He turned and went to the hatch. “Hey,” he called down. “I think I just saw someone moving on the bluffs. Send Reston up so he can take a look.”
First Kyell and then Reston came clamoring up the ladder. They went to the front of the wagon and looked out.
“There’s definitely something there,” Reston said. “I can see the top of a wagon over the line of the bluff. And I swear I see someone lying at the edge, watching us.”
“Must be nice to have Elvin vision,” Carrel said, joining them. “The bluffs are tough to see in the light of dusk.”
“Rashel,” Landir called from behind them. “Go to the lockers and pass up the bows. I don’t know what’s going on, but I want to be ready.” He walked forward. “Kyell, Esselles, I’m going to want you two in the back bow pits. Reston, front right. Carrel, front left. I’ll be joining Clawson up front. Rashel,” he said, turning around. “I want you inside. I know you want to help, but you know what your father would say if I left you exposed to danger. Gather any medical supplies. Hopefully, we won’t need them, but you never know.”
Esselles-demon took his bow and quiver from Rashel and walked to the back bow pits, taking the one on the ocean side. Kyell took the other.
“I can see an uruk hiding in the rocks,” Reston announced. “And a second. I think we are in for an ambush.”
“Everyone stay down,” Landir said. “I doubt a few archers are going to be enough to scare them off. So I’d rather not tip our hand immediately. I want them to think they’ve caught us by surprise. So wait until I give the order to fire. Reston and Carrel, I want you concentrating on those ahead of us. Kyell and Esselles, those directly beside us. I intend to leave the rest behind.”
Landir climbed down into the driver’s seat. “Clawson,” he said, “I’m going to wait before pulling the hood down until after I give the attack command. But don’t wait for me. As soon as you see them, kick the team into a sprint.” He turned to the back of the wagon. “Everyone ready?”
Demonified (Hawkblood Chronicles Book 1) Page 14
