by Brian Murray
***
Realising the problems Ubert might face, Commander Waid called a meeting of the outpost’s elders. These men and women had been visiting another outpost town called Mandeville when the Kharnacks attacked and the weather had closed in, preventing them from travelling back to Ubert. Only when the weather cleared and they returned to the outpost did they learn of the siege and the carnage that had ensued. The two women and two men who made up the outpost’s elders sat in Waid’s office, waiting for the commander to arrive. Suddenly, the door opened and Commander Waid marched in. To the surprise of the elders, Waid arrived in full battle uniform.
“Commander Waid, are we expecting a fight?” asked one of the elders, chuckling and rolling her eyes.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I bring the gravest of news. I believe there’s an army marching towards Ubert.” Waid went on to reveal the reports from the two scouts. He concluded, “We still have two men missing out there somewhere, hopefully trying to make their way back home.”
“And what are we to do?” asked one of the women who had a round, red face spotted with brown freckles and grey streaking through her flaxen hair. “I cannot believe a fortress just appeared out of the ground. What silliness is this? This is some kind of military folly to scare us. After the Kharnacks, you think you need another reason for a force to be here. This was a quiet outpost until you arrived, Commander,” she concluded with a sneer.
“Ma’am, I don’t believe these men are lying in any way. As protector of this outpost, it is up to me to ensure the safety of its inhabitants. I resent adamantly that you think I would be a party to any kind of fear mongering with these good people. They have been through enough and had their fair share of trauma. But this is a threat I cannot ignore.”
“I’m sorry to tell you, Commander, there’s no threat to us,” said the woman defiantly. “None!”
Waid sighed heavily. “Ma’am, I’ve seen the creatures described by the men before.” Waid told them of the fight he had had in Dashnar Forest with Zane and the others. “So, you see, if only six of them could wipe out a company of Royal Lancers, what damage do you think a whole army of them could achieve?”
“But Commander . . . ”
Waid stopped the woman from continuing by slamming his palms down hard on the table. The sharp sound echoed throughout his small office. “Listen to me! I’m not having one of your long discussions or debates. I need to take action to ensure the safety of the women and children here, so I called this meeting to inform you about what I’m doing. I repeat, this is not a discussion, nor a debate!” added Waid vehemently.
“But Commander, we’re the elders and we have a say in the running . . . ”
“ENOUGH!” roared Waid. “Aye, you have a say in the running of the outpost but not its safety. That is up to me, and me alone. Now I intend to evacuate the women and children to Dashnar Forest until this threat either goes away or they attack. I want the women and children safe.”
A man with a large potbelly spoke next. “Commander, we trust your judgement in matters of safety, but you must understand our concerns. You’ve just told us that a fortress has materialised out of thin air and creatures of the foulest kind are moving towards us. It’s a little hard for us to take such drastic actions on the word of two scouts. We need more time to investigate the matter, obtain more evidence.”
“I understand your concerns, but listen to me. I don’t think these walls can stop these creatures so I don’t want the women and children here.” Waid took a deep breath, trying to calm his rising rage. It did not work. “I hope this is a mistake and in a few days we can return to normal. But if there is a threat to our safety, I’ll take all necessary action.”
“I understand, Commander. When do you intend to have the women and children moved?”
“Now,” answered Waid, holding the man’s stare. Before the man could reply, Waid continued, “And that means immediately. I have already got the outpost on alert and the evacuation will happen within one hour.”
“You have done this deliberately, Commander,” protested the rotund man. “You had us waiting here while you issued your orders around the outpost.”
“There’s some truth in that,” answered Waid with a wry smile.
“How dare you?” demanded the other man, surging to his feet.
“I have a carriage waiting for you outside. Good day to you and I hope She blesses us all. Scott!” called Waid.
“Yes sir,” said a soldier, promptly entering the room.
“Please show these fine people to their carriage outside.”
“This is not the end of this discussion!” screamed the woman with freckles, her face turning a troubling deep scarlet.
“Ma’am, I pray that there’ll be a time for us to argue this in the future. Now, good day.” Waid did not wait for a response and left the office to ensure his preparations were going according to plan. He thought about Captain Verun and Abe, as he walked through the officers’ quarters out into the courtyard, where families were saying tearful goodbyes. He sent out riders to the surrounding homes and farms to warn the people, telling them to bring wagons to the outpost. Nearly everyone responded to Waid’s call. The commander could do nothing for those who did not listen, except pray.
***
Captain Verun’s horse was suffering. It laboured on, blowing and stumbling through the foothills of the Great Mountains towards Ubert. In front of him, Abe constantly glanced back over his shoulder, fear and apprehension apparent in his gaze. “No point in doing that, my friend,” called Verun. “They’re still there.”
“I know that, but they’re getting closer,” snapped the younger man. The harshness in his tone was born from terror, not anger.
Verun twisted in his saddle to look behind him. He could see the mass of black shapes emerge over the hill now, about fifteen minutes away from them. Calculating in his mind, he worked out they were still a few hours from the outpost. He knew his horse would not outrun the enemy for much longer and the gap was getting smaller and smaller. There were no other routes to the outpost and safety, so he turned back in his saddle, pushing his horse on. Trepidation filled his thoughts, but he maintained his normal grim expression so that Abe would not become even more concerned. It was hard for him to hold the pretence.
***
Half a day earlier, the women and children had evacuated the outpost, leaving the men behind to defend their homes. Now, thick storm clouds bunched overhead as the men waited for the unknown to arrive. Waid had only told the men that a force might be heading their way, possibly a force of creatures not of this world. He had told the men that they had to buy some time for the women and children to escape and reach the safety of Dashnar Forest. The men had not questioned his commands, as they respected his judgement and his honesty. If there was a danger to their families, they knew Waid would not put them through such a trauma on a whim. There must be substance to his concern for him to take such drastic action.
Dusk was approaching when Waid reached the southern wall above the gates. The sun was hidden behind dense, dark grey storm clouds and the land was covered in an ominous gloom. Crackling lightning pierced the sky, briefly illuminating the land in cold brilliant light. Thunder clapped. In a heartbeat, sheets of rain fell onto the men who waited in the dying light for the unknown.
***
Abe halted his horse on a path that wound through woodlands leading to the outpost. Captain Verun’s mount was labouring badly behind him. Night closed in on the two men and they were just under an hour from the outpost. In normal circumstances, they would have reached the outpost already. These were not normal circumstances. Their exhausted horses had caused them some delay. Pushing their mounts during the first night and not resting them had slowed their pace. Now close to home, Abe allowed himself a smile and he waited for his captain to catch up. He removed his baked leather helm, letting the rain cool his head and face. Replacing his helm, the scout beckoned his captain to hurry up.
Veru
n raised his hands in a gesture of resignation and then whispered something to his horse. The horse plodded through the thickening mud, splashing its flanks and legs with the brown sludge.
***
Over the sounds of the lashing rain, Waid thought he heard a gurgling scream. He peered back into the gloomy outpost, but sheets of rain reduced his vision and splattered the ground, forming tiny rivulets and waterfalls down the steps. Looking back, out of the outpost to the south, Waid prayed for his two scouts. He narrowed his eyes. In the distance, a shape appeared in the rain.
***
Verun waved Abe on, his horse making heavy work of the thick, sticky mire. Abe saw Verun smile at him. He was about to turn back in his saddle when something caught his eye. Suddenly, in a mass of bedlam and noise, the area around Verun exploded in movement. One moment Verun was smiling and waving from his horse, the next he disappeared in a mass of black, with branches snapping and leaves flying—the next moment a red mist.
Then Abe saw the glow of yellow and orange eyes. Remembering Verun’s orders, he turned in his saddle and heeled his horse into a gallop. The frightened animal did not need prompting, and took off with its ears flat against its head. Abe heard a shrilling scream from behind and knew it must be Verun. He did not look behind but leaned in close to his mount’s neck, letting the tired gelding gallop away.
Behind Abe, the Talon Hunters who had stalked the two scouts fed on Captain Verun’s corpse, and his horse. Luckily for Abe, he did not see the carnage or blood in the gloom and rain. He pushed his horse towards the outpost, tears of fear rolling free, mixing with the rain that splattered against his face. Behind the fleeing scout, the Talon Hunters howled with delight. They had, again, tasted warm fresh, salty blood and tender man flesh. The sounds grew louder and louder. They wanted more.
***
Waid recognised the sound and the hairs stood on the back of his neck. He shivered. Somewhere in the rain, Talon Hunters were feeding. The howling unsettled the men on the wall and they looked towards their commander for reassurance. Waid just stared out into the rain, gazing southwards. Straining his eyes, Waid saw a shape in the rain, racing towards the outpost. He realised it was a rider.
“Open the gates!” he ordered.
Thick iron retaining bars were pulled back with a heavy clunk. The hinges of the gates creaked, as one side was pulled open.
***
Abe could just see the dim orbs of light from lanterns on the outpost walls. Safety loomed close, so close. Behind him, he sensed the creatures of darkness were closing in on his struggling horse, whose neck and flanks were covered in foaming lather. His horse slowed in the thick fields of mire surrounding the outpost.
Behind the sluggish horse, the Talon Hunters splashed lightly in the pooling water and thick mud. They closed the gap to their prey.
In front of him, Abe could see the outpost gates slowly open. But behind him, he could feel the creatures getting nearer, their watery footsteps closer, nearer, their howling getting louder, sharper. Just as Abe could see the men’s faces on the wall, his horse collapsed from exhaustion, sliding on its knees and sending the scout sprawling in the soft wet soil. Rising quickly to his feet, sodden with wet earth, Abe left his horse and supplies and raced on foot to the gates. A scream of frustration and fear caught in his tight throat. He swallowed. The howling grew louder. The splashing in the mud behind him grew louder, closer, nearer.
From the wall, Abe heard Waid give the order for men with bows to notch arrows. Many bowstrings creaked as the men drew their bows, then he heard snapping and whistling as the arrows were loosed and flew towards their targets.
Abe dared not look behind him. He struggled towards the gates, wading through the thick, gluey mud. The howling got louder. The soggy footsteps got nearer. To his relief, Abe finally reached the gates and safety. The gates were then pushed closed behind him. In the stress of the moment, Abe allowed himself a strained smile, his breathing heavy, his chest heaving. He leaned against the closed gates as his weakened legs gave in. Sliding down the wood to sit on the wet ground, Abe cupped his face in his hands and began to weep.
***
The gates of Ubert were closed. In the darkness, all around the outpost, howling filled the rain-saturated air.
***
The Talon Hunters reached the gate as it closed. The beasts pounded and slammed their bodies against the wood. Men on the walls stopped firing and stared down in disbelief at the creatures of darkness. To Waid’s surprise the Talon Hunters did not attack the outpost, but just stood back and waited. Their howling—the bloodcurdling sound he remembered—filled the man with terror. The noise reached a screeching crescendo followed by silence, except for the teeming rain.
The creatures of darkness waited, their yellow-orange eyes glaring up at the men on the walls. Hate-filled eyes, full of anger, loathing and hunger.
CHAPTER 9
Tanas woke just after dawn rubbing his head, the after-effects of the Kharnack liquor Brotage pounding in his brain. Only once before, at Thade’s home, had he known the feeling of total devastation in his head and the dry, furry tongue filling his mouth. When he moved, the throbbing became unbearable. He had drunk plenty in the past, but nothing had affected him like the last two sessions. Perhaps he was getting old. With a groan, the warrior rose to a sitting position and immediately hated himself for doing so. Moving the blanket from his legs, he stood gingerly, then walked out into the morning sunlight, feeling the tingling warmth on his face. Luckily for Tanas, he did not have the burning feeling of the sunlight, like needles, boring into his eyes. But the chirping birds sounded like strident whistling. Bending down, he scooped up some snow and placed it on his head in a desperate attempt to ease the pain.
“Tanas?”
“Aye,” he croaked.
“Come and let’s eat,” called Dax jovially.
“I do not think that’s a good idea, my friend. My stomach feels a touch queasy.”
Dax roared with laughter. “Too much rich food?”
“All the drink you forced on me,” moaned the blind warrior.
Dax strolled up to Tanas and placed a hand on his shoulder. “One thing about these Kharnacks, they know how to drink, but also they have the best cure for the morning after.”
“That, Dax, is the best thing I have ever heard.”
Behind the two men came a groan and they both turned around towards the noise. Emerging from a tent appeared a green-looking Thade. “That’s the last time I go drinking with you, Dax,” whined the former gladiator.
“The youth of today! Whatever is wrong with you?”
Behind Thade, Gan-Goran appeared, and the sunshine deepened his wrinkles, making him look older than usual. Dax boomed with laughter at the old man’s discomfort.
“I don’t appreciate your jollities this early in the morning, thank you, Dax. And before you say another word, I need some food to ease my churning stomach,” snapped Gan-Goran, his voice croaky and full of irritation.
The four Rhaurns made their way to Maldino’s tent, where the chieftain sat with his son and Chahar, breaking their fast.
“Well, well, look what the morning has dragged in. The only things greener than your friends’ faces are the fields in the Kingdom, Violet Storm.”
“They’re not men of the world like us, Cloud Rider.”
Maldino’s laughter became infectious as the men broke their fasts together. They ate plain oats slightly salted, which appeared unpleasant, but surprisingly settled the men’s churning stomachs. Later that morning, a storm once again grew in intensity. The Rhaurns spent two more days with the Silverswords, waiting for the blizzard to break. At dawn, on the third day, the weather cleared.
After breaking their fast, the Rhaurns prepared for their journey.
Maldino walked out of his tent to see his friends off. “Where do you travel?” asked the chieftain.
“We will stop at Ubert to get more supplies, then back to Teldor. We have a party to attend.”
“That’s fine, we can visit a friend at Ubert for fresh supplies.”
Maldino pulled Dax to one side. “If you ever need me, just call and I will be there for you.”
“That, my friend, is good to know.”
Dax grasped the chieftain’s outstretched hand warrior style at the wrists. The two men embraced and Dax returned to his friends. A couple of hours after rising, the Rhaurns were on their way to Ubert, to see Waid.
***
The men of Ubert watched in terrified wonder as the creatures of darkness gathered around the outpost. The rain had stopped at dawn and once the sun clawed above the horizon, bright sunlight and blue skies greeted them. None of the creatures had attacked, all waited patiently for someone—or something. Waid looked out over the sea of blackness, at the assembling creatures. He recognised the Talon Hunters, with their distinct serpent-like heads, from the attack in Dashnar Forest, but there were creatures he did not recognise.
What confused the commander were the shapes and greater sizes—different to the creatures he knew. Fear rose from the pit of his stomach, becoming acidic bile in his throat. He knew these creatures were powerful, but the others joining them were overwhelmingly frightening.
The creatures seemed to cower in the bright sunlight, and to Waid they appeared to be resting. He gazed along the walls at his men and saw in their eyes the same fear he felt. None of these men had seen creatures like those that waited below the walls—waiting for an order to attack. Like the professional he was, Waid walked along the battlement talking to his men, trying to convince them that they could defeat the creatures. Most of the men were veterans from the siege with Zane and they just waited. Some took advantage of the time to sleep.
Again, Waid stood in the middle of the southern wall, staring at the mass of creatures. He felt a presence next to him and turned to see an ashen-faced Calac standing next to him. Calac was a Royal Lancer in Waid’s company who had travelled from Teldor with Zane and his friends. Following the siege of Ubert, Calac had remained with Waid, acting as his administrator. The two had become friends over time, but they were also bonded by something stronger: by their experiences during their travels with Zane and their fear of the creatures in Dashnar Forest: the Talon Hunters had bonded them.
