by G R Jordan
“Why, what’s up?
“I don’t know, but stay close.” Kirkgordon scanned the vegetation around him for something different or unusual. Despite his missing eye, Farthington instantly spotted the change in the archer and smartly increased his pace to come alongside him.
“What is the issue, Mr Kirkgordon?”
“Something is out there, Farthington. Nefol has seen something but I can’t see it yet.”
“Are you sure? Hanwere hasn’t seen anything and he has more experience than the priest’s daughter.”
“Don’t underestimate her. Keep a good lookout.”
“Always, Mr Kirkgordon, always.” Farthington dropped back and Kirkgordon tried to watch where Nefol was looking. As he was behind her, he looked for the tell-tale turn of her head. None was forthcoming. Damn, she was good.
From the forest beside him, Kirkgordon saw a dark shape move and then a figure was tossed face down onto the road. Nefol and Hanwere both turned on the sound and had weapons at the creature’s throat.
“Been tailing us for at least the last half hour,” came a deep voice from the dark of the forest. Kirkgordon turned the figure over and saw the face of a frog-man, its eyes frozen wide open and its mouth gaping. Kirkgordon slapped its face and tried to find some sign of life but the figure remained motionless. Bloody hell, he thought, it looks scared to death. I guess he really is a bogeyman.
“Amazing how they can sneak around with those webbed feet,” commented Farthington. “Rather ingenious creatures, really.”
Austerley whirled round on him and placed a finger firmly on his chest. “You worked with those bastards. They set a family up like a horror show. There’s nothing ingenious about them, just plain sick.”
“My, my, Mr Austerley, how your views change like the wind.”
Austerley swung a punch which Farthington easily avoided. The unexpected follow-through caught Austerley off balance and he fell to the ground. At first he let out a low grunt but then he grabbed Farthington’s leg and began to bite him. Hanwere raced forward and gave Austerley a low punch in the back, forcing him to release the bite and cry out. The lizard then felt Nefol’s staff across his chest and he was flung to the side. He rolled back up, ready for the next attack.
“Enough!”
Everyone stared at Kirkgordon, who had drawn his bow and was aiming it in turn around the four individuals. There was silence amongst the group as each breathed heavily.
“Nefol, get Austerley up. Farthington, stand Hanwere down. I think we all know what we think of each other, so as of now there will be no talk that isn’t relevant to our mission. Am I understood?” Kirkgordon’s bow remained drawn. “I need you vigilant, not fighting each other.”
“Then I suggest I take point with Hanwere and Miss Nefol can walk the rear with Mr Austerley.”
“No, Farthington. I put you where I need you. There we stay. I think there will be enough enemies to fight without renewing old battles. If they had a scout on us, they know we’re coming. Dagon’s shadow is on us, all of us. So forget the past or there won’t be a future.”
“Well said, Archer.” The voice was low and from the shadows. And now my top ally and supporter is a bogeyman, thought Kirkgordon. That’s one to tell the kids. Wonder how they’re holding up with Alana’s sister. I’m telling myself they’re resilient but some things are too much. But look at Nefol. She’s busted up inside and yet she fights like a pro.
The journey continued until they reached the end of the tree cover. At this point, Kirkgordon ordered them to break off into the long grass cover as he took a spyglass from Farthington and surveyed the building.
“I can’t see anything. Did you, Farthington?”
“Indeed not, Mr Kirkgordon. Quite at a loss for a door.”
“Give me that,” said Austerley, grabbing the glass from Kirkgordon. He stood taking in the building for some five minutes, rebutting any questions about how he was doing. A short bout of low-level muttering followed before Austerley sat down and closed his eyes. Farthington stepped forward to ask a question but Kirkgordon waved him away and took Nefol to one side.
“Listen, I don’t trust Farthington one bit but we need to keep a focus on what matters. Number one priority is finding out about how they intend to bring Dagon through to this world and for that we need Austerley. So he is our prime protectee. Whatever else happens, we need to keep him alive and functioning. Second to that are Alana, Cally and Havers. Dealing with Farthington comes at the end, only then. Do you understand?”
Nefol nodded and stared off at the huge building they were hoping to infiltrate. So young, thought Kirkgordon. How is she holding up to all this? Heck, she was nearly dead less than a day ago. But you can see Cally’s influence coming through the know-it-all teenager. She didn’t even give me a tut.
“Nefol, we will get Cally.”
“If she’s alive.”
“Nefol.” Kirkgordon turned her head with his hand and kissed her forehead. “Take it from an old git, she’s alive.” But he saw such doubt in her eyes. They started to well up and a tear ran down her cheek. Holding her cheeks in both hands, he wiped the tear away with his thumb.
“You need to believe, there’s no other way. Focus on the goal, trust they will be there and throw everything at it,” Kirkgordon whispered.
“And if they’re not?”
“Just trust they will be.”
Kirkgordon heard Austerley stand up and hobble over towards him but he continued to hold Nefol’s face. He needed to be her Cally just now.
“Churchy,” interrupted Austerley, “I think I can do it.”
“Kind of a moment here, Indy.”
“It’s okay,” said Nefol. “The old git’s got work to do.” And she smiled.
“Okay then, Indy, amaze me.”
“It isn’t obvious to the smaller mind, but if one can open up the realms of belief in one’s brain and cross-reference that with even a sparse knowledge of the Elders, one can easily deduce most things, and in this case the mode of infiltration to this domain. Conceptually, I doubt you’ll get it, but I believe a man of intelligence would concur—”
“Dammit, Indy, where’s the door?”
“Over there.” Austerley pointed to an apparently solid piece of stone some fifteen feet up from the ground.
“That’s just rock. Where’s the door?”
Austerley shook his head. “Sometimes I forget how slow you can be. Who uses the door?”
“The frog-men,” answered Nefol.
“Exactly. And if you’re a frog-man in a foreign place, where would you put your door?” asked Austerley. Kirkgordon frowned and shrugged his shoulders.
“High up,” said Nefol. “Somewhere others can’t leap. But where is the door? I can’t see anything.”
“No, you can’t,” said Austerley. Kirkgordon threw his hands up in impatience. “I’m getting to it, Churchy,” rebuked Austerley. “It can be sensed, if you know how of course. So it’s a good thing I’m here as there isn’t any other intelligentsia around.”
“And you would be dead if we didn’t cover your pompous arse. Now just tell me where that pissing door is.” Kirkgordon’s face looked ready to commit murder if his request wasn’t met.
“I did tell you. There!”
“But there’s nothing there.”
“Yes there is, but you can’t see it.” Austerley watched Kirkgordon’s eyebrows rise. “Trust me, Churchy, it’s there. If Calandra drew some chalk lines up there you would jump through them to wherever, so why is it so hard to follow my lead? I am the expert. Churchy, are you listening? Churchy? Churchy!”
But Kirkgordon’s eyes had been drawn to a large beast emerging over the top of the vast construction. It had wings and someone, or something, was on top of it. And it was descending rapidly. Kirkgordon estimated its path and shoved Austerley to one side.
“Nefol, watch Austerley and keep out of sight. I’ll be back.”
The Girl from the Sky
There was an almighty
crash as the winged beast fell into the tree canopy. Hurdling over the occasional fallen tree and depressed mound, Kirkgordon raced hard to the scene. When he arrived, several trees had been taken down by the creature, which was lying motionless with its neck at what Kirkgordon perceived to be an awkward angle. The fact it looked like a lizard with a bird’s head meant he wasn’t too sure what angle anything should be at but it didn’t look good.
Scanning the scene, he spotted a girl some twenty metres from the creature, rolling around in some distress. She was wearing Calandra’s leather jacket. Kirkgordon also noticed her legs as she flailed about, a loose piece of material failing to cover them in an adequate fashion. Making his way slowly towards her, Kirkgordon drew his bow and swung it around, covering the area surrounding him.
As he drew closer, the girl looked up at him, her eyes widening in terror. Kirkgordon kept the aim of the bow away from her.
“It’s okay. I’m not here to hurt you.” He put out his hand to her but she crawled backwards, never taking her eyes from him. “That jacket belongs to my friend. Where did you get the jacket?” Kirkgordon’s phrasing reminded himself of his ineptness with foreigners and he slowed down his speech like he was talking to an imbecile. He fully expected himself to start shouting at the poor girl in a loud voice.
Kirkgordon pointed repeatedly at the jacket and eventually the girl stood up. Quivering, she started to unzip the top and before Kirkgordon could say anything she was stood topless handing it over to him.
“No, no. I don’t want it. I just want to know about it.” She probably thinks I’m some sort of pervert. The girl was starting to undress completely and Kirkgordon had to throw her the jacket back to grab her attention. “Get changed, please get changed.”
It was then that he heard noises in the distance, thrashing sounds of a pursuer who wasn’t interested in sneaking up on its prey. As soon as the girl had zipped the jacket back up, he grabbed her arm but she pulled it away from him and cowered on the ground. The crashing sounds were growing closer.
“Look, I’m sorry, but one day you’ll thank me. Although I might not understand the lingo.” Kirkgordon dealt the girl a sharp blow to the neck area and she dropped silently to the ground. He slung his bow over one shoulder and picked the girl up and placed her over the other. At least she was lighter than Austerley. Rather than make a direct line back towards his party, Kirkgordon headed away from the temple then circled back round towards the group. He found them secluded in undergrowth beneath a fallen tree which the moss and roots had grown over, leaving a hollow beneath.
“Another scantily clad woman, we might have guessed.” Nefol followed up her comment with a scornful look at Kirkgordon before her face broke into a smug smile.
“What’s wrong with her?” asked Austerley.
“Had to knock her out. She was petrified. I think she’s been a slave of some sort and probably abused. She was terrified of everything. And there were pursuers. Where did they come from?”
“The temple, duh,” said Nefol.
“I did kind of guess that, but exactly where?”
“From the door you don’t believe exists. Imagine, the much maligned Professor Austerley is correct again,” taunted Austerley.
“If I can just interrupt, Mr Kirkgordon,” said Farthington. “While your fellow adventurers and yourself argue over your triumphs and disasters, we are being hunted by frog-men who came from that building. And there plenty of them. I suggest our current position is untenable and we should move quickly.”
“I take the point, Farthington, but the girl is wearing Calandra’s jacket.”
“It looks very similar, but how do you know it’s hers?” asked Nefol.
“Well, that girl certainly hasn’t got the… equipment, shall we say, to fully fill that jacket. I reckon that jacket would hug Cally’s figure good and tight, just like she wears it.”
“Unbelievable!” said Nefol barely keeping her voice to a hush. “Is the zip the same? Any familiar markings? Arm length? No, none of that, but give Kirkgordon a chest to identify and we’re in business.” And the tut had returned.
“Sorry. I’m a bloke, it’s natural.”
“And he’s right,” said Austerley, “she’d definitely fill that.” Nefol shook her head. “What do you reckon, Farthington?” asked Austerley.
“I’m a dragon and not so vulgar. Now, can we move out?”
“No. Cally’s definitely in there and this girl knows something. I think she could be key to finding Cally,” said Kirkgordon.
“That and her chest!”
“Enough, Nefol. Indy, I’m going to wake the girl up. She never spoke but she didn’t seem to understand English. The only other thing I know is she came down on a flying lizard with a bird’s head.”
“Hold on,” said Austerley, “Like an eagle’s head and a salamander body?”
“Well, I guess so.”
“It didn’t have a chest so he’s not so sure.”
“Nefol, enough,” implored Kirkgordon. I am never telling her what actually happened, he thought. “Are you ready, Indy?”
“I think she’s not from round here,” said Austerley.
“You mean she’s from the city,” asked Kirkgordon.
“No,” replied Austerley in a derogatory tone, “she’s not from this realm or world. The creature is from a place known as Hythoraph, a hot and dry land. Never been there but I have read a lot about it.”
“Do you know the language?”
“Not all of them. There are at least five main languages and countless dialects. I know the mother tongues but as for the irregularities, I’m not so proficient.”
“Well, give it a go. Ready?”
Austerley nodded and Kirkgordon sat the girl in an upright position. With a sharp strike, again on her neck, Kirkgordon brought the girl around. Her hands shot out and she tried to run. Kirkgordon grabbed her, holding her tight, and placed a firm hand over her mouth.
Austerley began to ask questions in various languages until he saw recognition in her eyes. Kirkgordon felt his impatience rise as the girl still didn’t speak but occasionally nodded or shook her head. For at least five minutes Austerley continued to probe her with questions and the rest of the group kept their ears peeled for sounds from beyond their makeshift place of refuge.
“Calandra is in there.” Kirkgordon nearly missed the comment. He had wearied of Austerley’s foreign interrogation.
“And?” said Kirkgordon.
“And what?”
“Anything else. Whereabouts? Is she fit and healthy? Any other pertinent issues? I mean you were talking for five minutes.”
“And maybe you didn’t notice, but she said nothing.”
“No, but there must be more,” answered Kirkgordon, softening his tone a little.
“There are lots of frog-men but there’s others too. She didn’t know about any portal but she was abused and left at the mercy of a hydra. That’s where she met Calandra. Apparently Calandra killed it.”
“Most impressive from Miss Calandra, but can we make a move?” asked Farthington.
“Ask the girl if she will come inside and help us find Calandra,” ordered Kirkgordon.
The girl recoiled at the suggestion from Austerley and Kirkgordon pondered his next move.
“Ask if she wants to go or stay with us. Tell her we are going in but she can go off on her own or I’ll get her back to the city.” Austerley nodded and posed the question.
“She wants to go to the city with me.”
“Well that’s not happening. Tell her we have a friend who’ll take her. He’s pretty scary but he will protect her.”
“I’m not returning to the city, Mr Kirkgordon, and neither is Hanwere,” said Farthington.
“No you’re not. Bogey is. I wouldn’t entrust the girl to you.”
It took a while before she agreed and then some time to inform Bogey, who was in the shadows and slightly aloof, but arrangements were made and soon the girl disappeared into the unde
rgrowth surround by a moving shadow. There was still a commotion beneath the tree canopy and the group held their position until Nefol had been sent to scout out the surrounding area. On her return, and with confirmation that there was a little distance between the frog-men and themselves, Kirkgordon gave the all clear to move out.
The Ice Maiden Returns
“Get yourself in gear, girl, who knows what’s coming next.”
Speaking aloud often calmed the nerves and Calandra knew she needed to ease herself into a thoughtful, rational frame of mind. She pushed down with her arms and sprang up onto her feet. There was a screaming assault from her nervous system, letting her know the extent of the injuries she had sustained, but she pushed them away from her mind, instead concentrating on her next move.
There were faint shouts emanating from the roof exit they had flown through. Swinging round, she couldn’t see any sign of the creature or the girl. Best of luck to you, she thought. Now, where am I?
Standing on the flat roof, Calandra could see a parapet surrounding it and made a beeline towards the roof’s edge. When she looked over there was a large drop onto other roofs and she thought about jumping. But then she had a feeling that something was missing. Her hand flexed. Where’s my staff?
There was nothing close by. Who knows where it might have dropped? Damn. It was like losing your right arm. And maybe your left. Still, there was no time to think about that. The descent off the roof was not available without the staff to ease her fall, so Calandra scanned the rooftop again. There was a small hatch on the far side. Time to move.
The hatch was open and showed a large drop to a granite floor. There was no ladder but then again the froggies wouldn’t need one. Nothing for it. Calandra hung down from the opening, lowering herself as close to the ground as she could get, and then dropped down. On landing she rolled sideways to reduce the force, but a stabbing pain shot up her leg. She clutched it tight.
Moving the leg was agony. Clearly something had gone. Through the pain, something else was bothering Calandra. In the far corner of the room she heard a slapping of webbed feet. Large bulbous eyes stared at her from the dark and she could see the tip of an ornate halberd. I’m not in good enough shape for this, she thought.
