by Kevin Ashman
‘Oh Little-bear,’ sobbed Golau, ‘you know I will never harm you.’
‘It is not your choice, father.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Don’t make me stay in this place, Golau. I will not be their plaything. Do as he says, strike true with the blade and I will go to join my mother in the place of the sun.’
Golau screwed his eyes and looked skyward his body racked with silent sobs.
‘She will be waiting for me, won’t she father?’ asked the boy.
Golau recomposed himself the best he could and forced a smile. He knew Little-bear was right. He could not leave his boy to the disgusting fate that awaited him in the village.
‘Yes, Little-bear,’ he whispered through his tears, ‘she will be waiting.’
Golau felt his son pressing the handle of the knife into his hand and he squeezed Little-bear as hard as he could without hurting him.
‘You may have to tell her who you are, son’ he whispered through his tears, ‘she may not recognize the man who will stand before her. For today, as much as any man ever earned his name, you have earned yours. Pick a name and wear it with pride.’
‘I like Little-bear,’ he answered crying gently, ‘it is the name you gave me when I was born, it is the name I will take to the sun.’
They held each other tightly as long as they could until Kraynar called out loudly.
‘Your time is up, Hair-face,’ he said sadistically, ‘what is your choice?’
‘You know I have no choice, filth,’ cried the hunter, ‘I am honoured to have a son who is more of a man than you will ever be and I will not let him be defiled by you or your spawn, but know this Baal, before his blood has run cold on this cursed rock, it will mingle with yours.’
‘Ha Ha,’ laughed the Baal, ‘we will see.’ His laugh stopped ominously short and he snarled. ‘Get on with it, Hair-face, my people await their sport.’
Every Baal of the village stared in fascination at the drama unfolding before them.
----
Golau changed his grip on the knife and held his son tightly in his arms, staring at Kraynar with a hate that transcended everything he had ever known.
‘I love you, Daddy,’ whispered Little-bear.
‘I love you too, son,’ he answered through his sobs and raised his arm slowly to slash his own son’s throat. The knife had just started to bite into the flesh as the horrified scream rang out around the arena.
‘Golau... No!’
----
Chapter 34
Seren, Morlak and Brola had hidden away for weeks as they waited for Aarnoy to bring help. Every day, one of the Neanderthal crawled close to Bin-naarve, using every skill they had to stay hidden from the Baal lookouts, posted around the village.
Over the weeks, they learnt the layout of the camp, the strength of the tribe and the weak spots of their defences. They found the whereabouts of the prisoners in boarded up buildings, and watched helplessly as Kraynar sealed Kraiach in the small cave. They observed the daily routines and searched out the best hidden vantage points from where they could launch their audacious plan. As they watched from the shadows, it became apparent that the village was preparing for a ceremony of some kind.
‘We have to do something,’ said Seren two days before the full moon. ‘It is obvious Golau and the others may have only days to live. We cannot wait any longer.’
‘Aarnoy is close,’ countered Brola, ‘he will be here soon.’
‘I hope you are right’ she said, ‘or it will be too late,’ and crawled out of the hide.
She stretched her legs in the gathering gloom and carefully made her way into the bushes to see to her evening toilet. She finished her business and was halfway back to the hide, when she stopped dead in her tracks. In front of her, grinning wildly was a Baal warrior, throwing a knife from hand to hand. He was joined from behind the nearby trees in the evening darkness with more warriors, and they quickly overpowered her, holding her hands tightly behind her back.
‘Hello, Human-woman,’ said the warrior still grinning, ‘we come looking for the hair covered men and we find a pretty woman. Surely, the Gods smile on me tonight!’
She ignored him, her mind racing.
‘Are you alone?’ He looked around nervously. Seren thought quickly. It was obvious they did not link her to the Neanderthal.
‘I escaped from your hunting party on the way here from our lands,’ she lied, ‘I’ve been living out here on my own ever since.’
His brow frowned as he mulled her words.
‘I am not aware of any female prisoners escaping’ he said.
‘I crept away in the night. No one saw.’
A sly smile crept on his face.
‘If what you say is true, pretty woman, and no one else knows you are here; then no one will miss you if you don’t return.’
Her face dropped as she realized the implications.
‘Don’t you touch me,’ she growled, ‘I am a witch and you will be cursed.’
‘We are already cursed, witch,’ he snarled, ‘one more won’t hurt us.’ He barked an order in his own language and the accompanying Baal surrounded them, forming a tight circle.
‘Strip her,’ he ordered, ‘let’s have some fun.’
Dozens of hands clawed at her clothing as she struggled silently in terror. Very quickly, she was released and she crouched naked in the centre of the circle, her torn clothes lying all around her. She knew her fate, and realized she was trapped. She could not call for help, as that would put the Neanderthal and the rescue attempt at risk. She was cornered and there was nothing she could do.
‘Stand up!’ grunted the warrior coarsely.
She did not move.
‘Stand up or this will be more painful than you could ever imagine,’ he said again. She stood up slowly, and the surrounding Baal admired her astounding beauty in silence.
‘Oh, this is going to be so good, witch,’ said the leader with a leering grin and stepped forward to grab at her naked body.
----
Before he managed to touch her, a whirlwind smashed into the circle, knocking several warriors to one side, as he drove his knife deep into the Baal’s black heart. Seren cowered in fright at the onslaught, not realizing what was happening at first, but just as terrified at the hate-filled anger showing in every sinew and muscle of Morlak’s face as he killed everyone within reach.
Brola was just as efficient with his spear, and a dozen Baal fell before they managed to react. Quickly, the Baal re-organized and within minutes, Morlak fell with a knife blade sticking out of his shoulder as Brola fell backwards, a spear sticking out of his chest.
Morlak looked up to see a Baal warrior raise his spear to finish him off. Before he could thrust the killing blow into Morlak’s injured body, the Baal warrior seemed to pause in disbelief, and slowly fell backward, his head cleaved in two by a flint edged axe.
Aarnoy stood behind him, and before Morlak realized what had happened, the rest of the Mwrllwch that had spent the last few weeks rushing from the Long-tooth valley fell on the Baal with silent, yet devastating effect.
----
Five minutes later, Seren sat wrapped in a Mwrllwch cape, with Morlak’s head cradled in her lap as they assessed the damage. Morlak’s shoulder wound had only grazed the bone and Aarnoy pulled out the knife blade, sealing the wound with chewed herbs as quickly as possible. On the other hand, the spear had killed Brola outright. No others had been hurt in the one-sided confrontation, but Seren still cried quietly when Aarnoy told her the news.
‘Don’t be sad, Seren,’ said Morlak gently, ‘he will go to the better place.’
‘Why did you come, Morlak?’ she asked. ‘Surely, you could see there were too many for you. You could never have beaten them.’
‘I would not see you defiled, Seren,’ he said, ‘you told me that you could not mate if you were to be a Shaman of your people.’
‘That is true,’ she answered, ‘but surely the freeing of
Golau and Kraiach are more important than one girl’s fate.’
‘Perhaps, but not yours.’
‘Why not?’
‘I know not the answer, Seren,’ he said gently, ‘I have come to know you over these months, and care for you.’
‘What do you mean?’ she asked cautiously
‘We have no words to describe my thoughts,’ he said, ‘but in a different life, if you were not going to be Shaman and I took you as a mate, then I would take no other, if that was what you wanted.’
‘Oh!’ she said and sat silently, her thoughts in turmoil at the revelation from this male of a different species.
‘We must make haste,’ she said finally, lifting herself to her feet as carefully as possible not to hurt Morlak. ‘Aarnoy, they will be missed.’ She pointed to the dead Baal. ‘We must hide them before I show you what must be done.’
‘Seren,’ called Morlak.
‘Bring the Mwrllwch,’ she continued deliberately staring at Aarnoy, ‘I will take you to where you can rest, there is much to do.’ Seren led off, deliberately ignoring Morlak, surprised and embarrassed at his words.
The Mwrllwch followed, ignorant of the drama playing out between Morlak and Seren, and they settled near the lake, posting guards to protect them from attack. She spent the next few hours describing the village, and what they planned, watched silently by Morlak as she struggled to make herself understood. By the morning, they all knew their role and they hid themselves away to get some sleep. There would be a full moon that night.
----
Chapter 35
Golau looked up through his tears at the scream, a spot of blood already forming on the knife’s edge. He withdrew it quickly and turned to see Kraynar draw his own knife and start forward toward him. He took two steps, and stopped suddenly, lifting his hand to his throat, clutching in confusion at the small patch of goats wool that had appeared on his neck. He took a few more steps forward and dropped to his knees shaking uncontrollably as the effects of the Gwenwen affected his nervous system. Golau looked over toward the source of the scream, spotting Seren to the side of a nearby building, holding her Swaden in her hands.
Around the arena, the crowd fell silent, unsure what was happening. Confusion and fear started to spread in the rows of Baal warriors as swarms of Gwenwen tipped darts started to thud silently into various parts of their anatomy causing momentary pain, followed swiftly by the convulsions before they fell dying to the arena floor.
Golau was just as confused, only realizing that the enemy was falling and the crowd was panicking. He picked up Little-bear and ran toward the familiar but unexpected voice of Seren who was calling him to safety at the edge of the arena.
As he ran, he paused and stared down at the terrified face of the Baal chief as he choked on his own vomit. He stared back into Kraynar’s terrified eyes, and spat violently into the dying man’s face before continuing his escape out of the arena, his son crying and bleeding, but safe in his arms.
----
The attack from the Mwrllwch was devastating, with every Swaden dart taking a warrior, but there were only so many darts and only so much Gwenwen. However, the Baal did not know this and Baal ran everywhere in screaming panic, only knowing that death flew silently from the darkness.
The Mwrllwch took the opportunity to set fire to whatever they could, the smoke and flames adding to the confusion, while Aarnoy and Morlak released the captives from their boarded prisons, quickly dispatching the guards with spear and knife.
At first, the cowering prisoners were afraid to exit the rock formed buildings, thinking that the unfamiliar men had come to kill them, so Aarnoy called Seren who quickly persuaded them to follow the Mwrllwch to safety. Over a hundred emaciated women and children followed Morlak from the village and into the forest, heading toward the trail that led out of the valley. Golau stood next to Seren as they passed, suddenly leaning forward and pulling a passing woman out by her arm. Terrified, she cowered covering her head with her arms expecting a beating.
‘Raven,’ he called gently, ‘Raven it is me, Golau, and you are safe.’
She looked up in fear before comprehension gradually returned to her eyes.
‘Golau,’ she stuttered looking around wildly, ‘what is happening?’
‘There is no time to talk, Raven, there is something you must do for me,’
‘Yes, anything,’ she said, ‘what would you have me do?’
‘You will be safe with the Mwrllwch,’ he said and seeing her confusion, ‘the hairy men,’ he explained. ‘Listen to what they say and they will take you home, but I want you to take Little-bear with you. Can you do that?’
‘Golau no!’ cried Little-bear clinging on tightly. ‘I want to stay with you.’
‘I will see you soon, son,’ he said softly, ‘I have to find a friend. Be brave.’
Little-bear loosened his grip and went into the arms of Raven.
‘You will be safe now,’ repeated Golau. ‘Go!’
Raven and Little-bear rejoined the throng and disappeared into the darkness. Golau watched them go, not realizing that he would never hold Little-bear again.
----
‘Seren, do you know what they have done with Kraiach?’ he asked urgently.
‘I fear he is dead, Golau’ she answered.
‘Why do you say this, have you seen him killed?’
‘No, but Brola told me he was sealed in a tomb many days ago’
‘What tomb?’
‘I did not see, but they said it was perched high on a ledge and sealed with trees.’
‘I will find it,’ he said, ‘join the others. I will catch up with you as soon as I can.’
‘No, wait,’ she pleaded, ‘there is more.’
‘Speak quickly, Seren, time is running out’
‘They said that the villagers call it the place of the beast. The Lair of the Slorth-baal.’
Golau paused looking deep into her earnest eyes.
‘No matter,’ he said finally, ‘I have to find him.
‘Then let me go with you, Golau’ she said quickly grabbing his arm.
Golau turned to her and held her arms gently.
‘You have journeyed long and suffered many hardships, Seren. Many times, I doubted you. Yet you overcame your own trials and continued to this place. Without you, Seren, my son would now be dead by my own hands. You alone have broken the prophesy of Night-owl. I owe you my both my life and the life of my son. You have today earned your place as Shaman in our clan, but I need you now to help take our people from this place. They will have need of medicines and even of your magic. Many will die out on the ice, but there is no other way. The Baal will soon re-organize and will come after them. You must go.’
She released his arm, and nodded gently, accepting he was right.
‘Be careful, Golau,’ she said with a wry smile, ‘there is one back in the valley of the Long-tooth who longs for your return.’
‘I cannot allow myself to think of her now, Seren, I have to find Kraiach. His people have set ours free, now I would return the favour.’
‘Go then,’ she said, ‘and let the Sun-god guide your blade arm.’ She made the sign of good hunting over his head.
‘You know what I think of magic, Seren,’ he laughed.
‘You may not believe, Golau,’ she said, ‘but what harm can it do?’
‘Ok,’ he answered, ‘just this once,’ and he knelt down to receive her blessing.
She quickly recited an incantation and he stood up, slightly embarrassed.
‘Now go,’ he ordered gruffly, ‘I have work to do.’
Seren turned and ran through the fire lit darkness to join the trail of people shuffling to leave the village. As soon as he saw she was safe, Golau picked up a nearby torch and walked quickly toward the slopes of the volcanic rim to find the place of the beast.
----
The Neanderthal hunters forced the pace through the woods, encouraging the tired and the injured to keep going, one more
mile, one more hour, one more step. Keep going was the mantra, every inch of ground they could place between them and the Baal increased the chances of survival, especially as they still had the glacier to face. Eventually, Seren ran forward to speak to Morlak.
‘We have to stop,’ she said breathlessly as she trotted alongside him, ‘they need to rest.’
‘We can’t afford the time,’ he snapped without looking at her.
‘There are children and injured,’ she argued, ‘they cannot keep this pace up.’
‘The weak will die, the strong will survive,’ he answered, his stride unrelenting and his gaze ever forward. ‘It is always the way!’
‘Morlak!’ she shouted, grabbing his arm and pulling him to a stop. ‘If we keep going like this no one will survive and all the deaths will be in vain; Brola, Afon, Gafr and the others. What is the point if there is no one left alive?’
He looked back at her, his face devoid of emotion.
‘Please,’ she said quietly, ‘Just a few hours rest. A chance to tend their wounds and grab some sleep, we haven’t stopped since last night.’
He looked up at the sky and sniffed the air, eventually looking back toward her without meeting her eyes.
‘There are three hours of daylight left,’ he said. ‘There is a clearing ahead where everyone will rest. The fit must collect as much food as possible from the forest until it gets dark. The way ahead lies over the ice and there will be nothing to eat. We must be gone before it gets light.’
‘Thank you,’ said Seren ‘I will let them know.’
Morlak turned to walk away
‘Morlak…’ she said.
He stopped, not turning.
‘I didn’t mean to hurt you,’ she continued, ‘I just…’’
‘There is nothing more to say,’ he said, cutting her short and left to find the rest of his kind. She stared at his retreating figure before turning to the sea of expectant faces now gathered behind her.
‘You heard him,’ she said, ‘keep going to the clearing and take the opportunity to rest and eat. There may not be another chance.’ They filed past her, shuffling their sore feet, supporting each other as she encouraged each of them with a smile or an encouraging word. Bringing up the rear were Raven and Little-bear. They stopped alongside her.
