“Whoever or whatever it was is gone,” Lee said. “For now we aren't the objects of their interest.”
“I hope they feel the same way about Gewey and Kaylia,” said Dina.
Lee nodded slowly, lay down on his bedroll and stared at the night sky.
Chapter 8
Gewey, Kaylia, Selena, and Linis joined Theopolou and his companions in the receiving chamber shortly after Lee and Dina's departure. Their gear lay next to Selena's chair at the far end of the hall.
“Follow me,” said Selena. She walked to the far left corner of the room where a tapestry depicting the symbols of the nine Gods hung. She reached behind it and a loud clack echoed throughout the chamber. A hidden trapdoor in front of her fell open, revealing a ladder leading down into a dark hallway.
“Follow the passage below for about one thousand feet. There you'll find a small iron door.” She handed Gewey a key. “This will unlock it. The passage will let you out along the western wall of the temple. From there, follow the trail west until you reach the Sintil Sans Road.”
Gewey nodded and put the key into his pocket. “Thank you, High Lady.”
They gathered their gear and readied themselves to climb down the narrow ladder. Selena had packed the Book of Souls in Gewey’s satchel.
Theopolou and the other elves thanked Selena for her hospitality. Linis bowed low and held out a small silver dagger sheathed in an ivory scabbard. The handle was wrapped in soft leather, and it was crowned with a large blood ruby. “Take this as a reminder of our friendship,” he said.
Selena smiled and took the dagger. “Thank you, seeker. You and your kin are always welcome here.”
Kaylia took Selena's hand in hers. “I can never repay you for your kindness, High Lady.”
“Nonsense,” she replied. “Your bravery has saved us all. Without you, the only hope we have for survival would still be lying helpless in the healing chamber.”
Kaylia lowered her eyes and smiled.
“As for you,” she said to Gewey. “I charge you with keeping yourself alive and well.”
“I'll do my best,” Gewey replied with a smile, then made his way to the ladder.
Gewey went first, followed closely by Kaylia, Linis, and the others. The narrow hallway was pitch black, and it took a few moments for Gewey's eyes to adjust. The air was stale, and the rough stone walls echoed to their footsteps. Just as Selena had said, the passage sloped gently up for about one thousand feet. There at the end, he could make out the outline of small door. After retrieving the key he had been given, Gewey felt around until he found the keyhole. The lock was old and rusted, and for a moment he feared the key would break; but then, to his relief, he heard the sound of grating metal as the lock gave way. Gewey pushed hard with his shoulder and the door screeched open.
He breathed deeply, allowing the welcome fresh air to fill his lungs. The sun was still high in the sky, and for a moment he was blinded.
“I should take the lead for now,” said Linis.
Theopolou nodded his approval.
They followed the trail west for a few miles before Linis ordered a halt. “I assume you have no intention of traveling the main roads?” he asked.
“Correct,” said Theopolou. “Once this path ends, I will lead the way.”
They continued for several hours. The terrain became less and less rocky, replaced by thinly spaced oaks and pines. The long grass bent and shifted as a constant breeze blew in from the west. What struck Gewey as odd was the utter silence. With the exception of their footfalls and the sound of the wind, nothing, not even birds could be heard. The elves also appeared to notice this oddity, and Gewey could see that it was making them uneasy.
“Something foul is near,” whispered Linis.
“What do you mean?” asked Gewey.
“I'm not sure. But I intend to find out.”
Linis motioned for a halt and disappeared into the thin brush. A while later he returned, muscles tensed and eyes wide.
“We are being followed,” said Linis. “But by whom or what, I can't say.”
“How?” said Gewey. “I thought this way was secret.”
“So did I. It would seem the High Lady was mistaken. I tried to spot our pursuer, but it is as crafty as my seekers reported, assuming that what they saw is the same thing that hounds us now.”
“We should try and capture it,” said Theopolou. “I would know who this is, and why they risk following elves.”
“Whatever it is, it’s neither human nor elf,” said Linis.
“How do you know that?” asked Gewey.
“No human alive could avoid me. Not even a half-man could manage it. As for it being an elf - no elf feels like this creature. Life flees from it. Not even the birds come near.”
Theopolou looked troubled as his brow furled and eyes surveyed the area. “Take as many from my escort as you need.”
“I should need no more than three,” said Linis. He turned to the other elves. “Who among you have had seeker training?”
Stintos and Haldrontis, two tall blond elves, stepped forward. “And I make three,” announced Gewey.
Linis looked at Gewey skeptically. “I know you have training, but I do not think Lee would approve of this.”
“Lee is not here,” said Gewey. “And if he were, I am still the best choice.”
Linis' mouth tightened, then he sighed. “Very well. But you must do exactly as you are told.”
Kaylia grabbed Gewey's arm. “You should let me go instead.”
Gewey squeezed her hand. This drew uneasy stares from the elves. “Don't worry. I won't do anything too stupid.”
Linis motioned for the volunteers to follow him into the brush. They walked north for about one hundred yards, then he told them to halt.
“You two split up east and west. See to it that you make enough noise to announce your presence. I will move north while Gewey follows slowly behind.” His eyes met with Gewey's. “Make sure you are at least three hundred paces behind me at all times. The thing that follows us fell back north as I approached. Ahead is a clearing. The creature will likely try to avoid being exposed, which means it will double back and try to sneak by me. When it does, we will close the trap.” He looked hard at the entire group. “If you encounter whatever this is, do not take it on alone.”
Everyone nodded in agreement. Gewey began to feel the pulse of the earth flowing through his limbs. The world around him opened up, and he could sense everything around him. He closed his eyes, listening for their prey.
“It’s one hundred yards north,” he quickly announced. “And you're right. It's neither human nor elf.”
“How is it you know this?” asked Stintos.
“Never you mind,” shot Linis. “If Gewey says the creature is there, then you can count on it.” He turned to Gewey. “Do you know what it is?”
Gewey shook his head. “No. But I think it knows we're coming.”
“All the more reason to be mindful,” said Linis.
Stintos and Haldrontis drew their long knives and headed in opposite directions. Linis gave Gewey a final glance and set off north. Once he was out of sight, Gewey crept slowly forward. With his heightened senses, he could hear the movements of the creature ahead. Slowly he slid his sword from its scabbard; it felt warm as it throbbed in his hand. Energy rushed through him like a torrent. He could feel the sinews of his arms and legs pulsing and growing stronger.
Gewey heard Linis as the elf neared the creature. Linis had not yet spotted it, but Gewey was certain he would very soon. How could he not? He was practically on top of it. Even so, it quickly became clear that he had missed it entirely. Linis continued past the creature without showing any sign whatsoever he had noticed it. With a rush, Gewey realized that the hunters had become the hunted.
From the east, Gewey heard two more of the creatures moving, closing in on Stintos’ position. He knew he had to decide quickly what to do.
“Linis, it's a trap!” Gewey yelled at the top of
his lungs. His legs burst to life as he sped toward Stintos.
The creatures revealed themselves just as Stintos came into Gewey’s view. Their figures were that of a man, but this was the only thing they had in common. They wore tattered clothes, blackened with grime and decay. Their faces were burnt, misshapen, and covered with deep scars, as if they had been assembled from the rotting corpses of a dozen dead men. But despite their outward appearance, their movements were unearthly - their speed unmatched by any Gewey had seen, save for Lee.
They were on Stintos before he knew they were there. Each beast held a cruel dagger in hand, and with these they slashed at the elf’s throat. Stintos only just avoided death by falling back onto the ground. But this put him at a greater disadvantage. One of the creatures moved to plunge his dagger into the elf’s chest, but Gewey got there just before the fatal blow could be struck. He removed the creature’s head with one swift stroke. Thick, black blood poured from the beast's neck as the body fell.
Gewey turned his attention to the second creature, which was already in striking distance. The creature struck at Gewey's heart, but the power that flowed through him allowed him to easily avoid the attack. He brought his sword down across the creature’s chest, splitting it open and sending it tumbling to the ground. But to Gewey’s dismay, this did not end the battle.
No sooner had the creature landed than it sprung to its feet and charged again, this time at the elf. The creature slashed at the left arm of Stintos, who deftly moved aside and spun around, bringing his long knife across its back. But this did nothing to slow it down either. The creature also spun, swinging its own knife wildly. This time the blade struck home and slashed across the elf's ribs. Stintos groaned and staggered back.
Gewey knew this must end now. Linis was alone with one of these creatures, and he knew he must hurry to his aid. The head, he thought, aiming his sword at the creature’s neck. The blade found its mark and the beast fell.
“Go back to the others,” Gewey commanded Stintos before tearing off in the direction of Linis.
He found the elf three hundred paces north, kneeling beside the dismembered body of the third creature - dismembered, except for the head.
“Are you injured?” cried Gewey, relieved to see his friend alive.
“I will live.” Linis panted. “But as for this...thing, it has seen better days.”
Gewey moved closer. His eyes shot wide as he realized the beast still lived. The ground was covered with the creature’s thick, black blood, and its limbs were hacked and scattered about the ground. Still the thing snarled and growled, its eyes fixed on Linis. Linis stared in return.
Gewey touched Linis' shoulder. The elf looked up at Gewey and forced a smile. Blood soaked Linis’ shirt - elf blood.
“We must tend to your wounds,” said Gewey. “Stintos was hurt as well.”
“Is he seriously injured?” asked Linis.
“I don't think so. He was on his feet when I left him.”
“Good.” Linis sighed. “As for me, I am fine. Thanks to your warning it is only a scratch.”
Gewey's eyes turned to the creature. “How does it still live?”
“I don't know,” said Linis in a whisper. “How do you live, beast!” His voice boomed, startling Gewey.
“I was never alive,” hissed the creature. Its voice was like the wheezing of a dying man, sick and labored.
“It speaks,” gasped Gewey.
“So it does,” remarked Linis.
“You shall all fall by the hands of my brothers,” spat the creature. “The master will see that it is so.”
“You mean the Dark Knight, don't you?” said Gewey.
The creature let out a gurgling laugh. “I know you. The god who will die like a man. The master will see to you soon enough.”
“What manner of beast are you?” demanded Linis.
“We are the Vrykol. We are the instruments of your demise.”
Linis gripped his long knife so hard that his knuckles turned white. “We shall see.” His blade flew down, cutting off the Vrykol's head.
“Are you alright?” called Kaylia’s voice from behind.
Gewey turned to see Kaylia, Theopolou, Haldrontis, and three other elves running up with weapons in hand. They stopped short when they saw the mangled body of the Vrykol strewn about the ground.
“What is this...thing?” gasped Kaylia in horror.
“It's a creature of Angrääl,” said Linis. “It called itself a Vrykol.” He turned to Theopolou. “Have you heard of them?”
“I have. But they are supposed to exist only in legend. They are said to be damned souls, forced from paradise to walk the earth. But I have never heard of them as physical beings, only spirits.”
“They're physical beings for sure,” said Gewey. “They almost killed us.”
“So you spoke to it before it died,” said Kaylia. “What did it say?”
Linis described his encounter and the short conversation with the Vrykol.
“You should have waited until I had a chance to interrogate it,” said Theopolou.
“It wouldn't have told you anything,” said Gewey.
Theopolou shot a glance at Gewey. “You know very little, young one. I may have been able to discover more than you could guess.” He paused. “But there is no use belaboring the point. As it stands, we know they are intelligent and resilient. Whether or not they are in fact Vrykol, or just use the name, matters not. They are on our trail.”
“How fares Stintos?” asked Linis.
“His wounds are being tended,” Theopolou answered. “But he will slow us considerably. I'm sending him back to Valshara with Haldrontis until he can travel.” Theopolou noticed Linis’ wound. “Are you able to travel?”
“I am,” replied Linis, seeming to just notice the wound on his arm. “Thanks to Gewey's warning, the Vrykol's blade did not bite deeply.”
“Still, it needs to be dressed,” said Kaylia. “Come. I have salve and bandages in my pack.”
The group started toward to the trail, but Theopolou paused. “Bring the head,” said the old elf.
Linis nodded and picked up the head by its grimy hair. A wave of nausea washed over Gewey as more of the black blood poured onto the ground.
When they got back to the trail, Linis immediately unpacked a spare cloak and wrapped the Vrykol's head inside. Stintos was there, leaning against a tree while two elves treated the wound on his ribs. He noticed Gewey's approach and motioned for him to come near. Gewey reluctantly obeyed.
“You saved my life, human,” said Stintos. He winced as an elf rubbed salve into the deep cut. “I owe you a debt.”
“Forget it,” said Gewey. “I didn't do anything you wouldn't have done in my place, I'm sure.”
Stintos smiled. “That you think an elf would come to your aid is remarkable, and speaks to your character. However, I don't understand how you knew to come. I was far out of sight and earshot. Only an elf seeker could have heard them coming, and even a seeker would have had difficulty.”
Gewey was unsure what to say. “I...I,” he stammered at first, before adding: “Kaylia and Linis have been instructing me.”
Stintos looked at Gewey skeptically. “I see. Then their training has heightened your senses. I was not aware that humans could gain such abilities.” His eyes fixed on the boy, then his smile returned. “It matters not. You saved my life, and for that you have gained my friendship.”
“I value it,” said Gewey, bowing his head.
“Gewey,” called Linis.
Gewey turned to see Linis standing near the packs. Kaylia was dressing the cut on his left arm. He took his leave from Stintos.
“We leave at once,” said Linis. “Theopolou says we should arrive at his home in six days if we press our pace, but I disagree with moving at too great a speed. With these so-called Vrykol about, I would not risk being taken by surprise. I would ask you to remain extra vigilant. You can hear what I cannot, it would seem.”
“I'll do m
y best,” said Gewey. “But I heard the Vrykol because I channeled the power of the earth. I've never done it for more than a few minutes at a time. To do it for six days...”
“You must try,” said Linis. “Our lives may depend on it.”
Gewey’s stomach knotted at the thought of so many lives depending on him.
“I will not have him put his life at risk,” said Kaylia, fiercely.
“I doubt it will harm him,” said Linis. “Seekers use the same power at times. I have used the flow, as we call it, for two straight days and it did me no harm.”
“He's not an elf,” countered Kaylia. “Or have you forgotten?”
“I have not forgotten,” Linis shot back. “But we also both know what he really is, don't we?”
“Mind your tongue,” hissed Kaylia, looking around for prying ears. “Would you have Gewey exposed?” She jerked tight Linis’ bandage, causing him to wince. “I thought Lee confiding in you might be a mistake.”
“It was not a mistake, child,” chided Linis. “Lord Starfinder thought I should know what is at stake. He confided in me out of friendship and trust. I will not expose Gewey, and I will not be scolded by you. I am a seeker.”
Gewey had never heard anyone speak to Kaylia as if she were a mere child. He could see the fury in her eyes, but she managed to contain her rage.
“You are correct, of course,” growled Kaylia. “My apologies - seeker.”
Linis' face softened. “I know you love him. But remember, I have named him friend and care for him as kin. I only ask of him what I must.”
“I know,” replied Kaylia weakly. “I just want to keep him safe. The bond we share can be maddening at times.”
“You are young to have done such a thing,” said Linis. “But it seems to have been the right thing to do.” He bent and flexed his arm as Kayla finished dressing the wound. “Gewey, if you feel any ill effects from the flow, release it at once and consult me.”
“I will,” said Gewey.
Theopolou approached, his pack already on his back. “We must depart. Gather your things.”
Once everyone had donned their gear, they said farewell to Haldrontis and Stintos and continued down the trail. Gewey allowed the flow of the earth to saturate his body, taking great care to listen for anything out of the ordinary.
The Godling Chronicles : Of Gods and Elves (Book Two) Page 9
