Leyna also cast her eyes that direction. While her son had clearly been the one responsible for turning the battle, the reasons as to why or how it had happened were somewhat still a mystery. She had witnessed him casting another new powerful spell without anything to channel it through, but even that could not have accounted for the hordes simply stopping the fight and retreating. Barilyn had been on the verge of defeat, with the enemy making several footholds on the battlements, and yet something had happened to make the enemy simply turn away and retreat.
The attack had been short but had not gone by without a number of fatalities on both sides. Along the base of the wall on the outside, were scores of fallen creatures of the darkness, many riddled with arrows. Others still smouldering, with thin tendrils of smoke twisting upwards, casualties of those using magical abilities. Finley had been responsible for killing dozens both outside the wall and several more atop of the battlements, although even he was unsure as to how he had managed it.
The bodies of fallen soldiers, mostly elves, were slowly removed and piled outside one of the buildings ready for burial. There were surprisingly few injured, and those that existed were stretchered down to the hospital building near the gates, over to the eastern side of the outpost. Although Karesh was asked to go there, he convinced his mother that he was fine, and after a stern stare, she accepted his word on the matter.
Instead, her attention turned to her biological son and the fears that troubled her mind over his well-being. Galdrac followed as the family members headed towards the mess hall for refreshments and a chat. He followed the boy he had helped return to his mother, thinking just how much he had changed in that short time. This young man was clearly like no other he had ever seen, already displaying the skills of several different callings, something made even more incredible by the fact he had never been shown how to achieve them.
The old mage was in pensive mood as the group sat down at one of the long tables in the mess hall. Sessi seemed pleased to see them, although did not look happy that he had missed out, but sat dutifully beside Finley’s feet nonetheless. With drinks being served to many of the soldiers caught up in the fighting, the room was inevitably quite busy, yet despite the number of people within, the hall was decided quiet and sombre. While sipping his drink and staring across the table at Finley, Galdrac had an idea, but it would mean them travelling again, and doing so some considerable distance.
He shared his idea with the others, although he knew only Leyna’s opinion was the one that really mattered. He had been surprised that those in Lochgorm had permitted her to travel via the portal, especially as it required the use of so many arcanists. He told them straight that would not be permitted here. For starters, there were not enough of that particular class in Barilyn, and even if there were, they would need to preserve their power in case the enemy returned again.
Finley raised a hand a little tentatively, not sure he should be interrupting. Galdrac paused and waved a hand for him to speak. “I don’t think they’ll be back. I mean at least not in such numbers,” he told them.
“How do you know that?” his mother asked looking over the table at him.
“Abalyon told me before he retreated. “
Finley explained what had happened, or at least as much as he could remember. There were parts of what had happened where he felt out of control; more an onlooker than a participant, and he could not explain why. Abalyon seemed intent on still referring to him as Zerus Maldhor, and he gave them the reason for the sudden retreat. “He said he will give me time to consider his offer,” he told them wrapping up what he needed to say.
Galdrac nodded, appearing deep in thought, before explaining his idea a little further. In the northern lands, there was a dwarf whom he thought could give them some answers. They would need to travel back to the eleven capital of Neylarin, and from there take the Waygate to Felham, before then taking the one to the dwarf capital of Durn Raldun. The dwarf they needed to see resided in a small mountain village a further days ride west of there. Karesh seemed to have forgotten his aches and pains, as he seemed excited by the prospect of visiting the land of the dwarfs, even though he did not understand the reasons for them doing so.
Leyna had all but exhausted her own lines of investigation. Her own attempt at having Finley visiting a seer had not ended particularly very well, although she had managed to have several theories confirmed. Despite the trip back to the elven capital likely to be a dangerous one, with the forces of darkness probably still scouting around the forests in between, once there her sons would at least be safer. As far as she knew the dwarfs had not yet had to encounter any beasts in this latest encounter, and it could well prove a safe haven for them to help Finley. “We leave as soon as we can get horses and supplies,” she said firmly making up her mind.
Chapter 27.
Finley was a little disappointed he had been forced to use another horse, having had to leave Swiftwind behind in Lochgorm. However, the one he had been given seemed fine enough and was content with him being the rider. Karesh, still feeling a little tender, rode beside him, with his new large two-handed sword strapped pride of place across his back. Galdrac rode ahead of the group, with Leyna just a few paces behind him and a spare horse they were using to carry their supplies. Sessi, who had been locked away for the battle, seemed to be sulking, a feeling Finlay was able to detect through the bond they shared.
The ride back east would take a few days, and although the main bulk of the enemy had merely retreated into the barren wilderness west of Barilyn, the chances of them encountering smaller groups of beasts was still a very distinct possibility. Once they reached the denser parts of the forests, they would have Sessi scout ahead for them, for now, though they relied on the eyes of the old mage riding with them.
With the sun lowering in the sky, ending what had been a very exhausting day, they hoped to reach a small farmstead that was popular with travellers to and from the capital. The family who owned the farm were usually quite happy for troops moving back and forth to make use of their barn. They made themselves a few extra coins by offering any visitors an evening meal, an option Galdrac had already decided he was going to be taking them up on. Unlike most elves, the farmers here actually served up meat dishes as well as the usual elven fruits and vegetables; another reason they were popular with the travelling orcs, dwarfs and humans.
As they rode along the tracks that crisscrossed the dense forests, Leyna trotted her horse up alongside that of the old mage. She had already deduced the man had some theories of his own, and with her son out of earshot, she thought it as good a time as any to enquire about them. As if knowing the reason why she was suddenly riding alongside, Galdrac looked back over his shoulder just to check where Finley and Karesh were. He went to speak but paused, remembering what he had been told earlier about the strange link between Finley and his wolf. Having had Finley send the creature ahead to scout for any possible dangers, he eventually deemed it safe for him to speak what was on his mind.
Galdrac started by telling Leyna about a theory that had been on his mind. “I think there is a link between your son and Abalyon,” he told her bluntly. Although probably not what she wanted to hear, he felt it only right to tell her truthfully about what he thought. Noticing she did not appear as surprised as she might have been, he continued on by saying that he thought that link was becoming more and more dangerous. “It seems to me, the more powerful one gets, the same applies to the other.”
He did not give an opportunity for Leyna to speak as he told her of another worrying thought. “What were the chances of Abalyon attacking Barilyn, at that time, just when your son happens to be there?” This time he looked over and waited for a reply, and could see a worried face. “Don’t worry. We’ll get to the bottom of all this,” he added trying to make things at least sound better than they might be.
As the farmstead came into view, Sessi stood on the track ahead of them. “There has been trouble here,” Finley said picking the
pace up a little to move up to the front. Both Galdrac and his mother pulled their horses to a standstill, and both watched on as the young lad stared vacantly forward towards his wolf, before the creature darted off to the left.
Finley closed his eyes. Seeing as Sessi did was certainly an experience, and one he liked. Not only were the images much sharper and detailed, but they were also all viewed from a different perspective, which took a little getting used to. However, as good as the images were, it was Sessi’s superior ability to smell and hear that created an entirely different scenario than one he would have seen had he been looking through his own eyes.
A bird up in the tree making the faintest of sounds, the scent of an animal that had passed this way probably a few hours earlier, everything was so much more intense. However, one smell stood out above all the others, and that was the overpowering stench that he knew to be the darkness. Finley still sat atop of his horse some distance away, explained Sessi’s findings to the others. “The creatures of the darkness have been here recently,” he told them, “but they appear to be gone now.”
“Are there any signs of a fight?” Galdrac asked clutching his staff tightly with one hand while keeping his reins on the other.
Sessi sprinted around the outside of the farm buildings, sniffing at the air as he went. He crouched down low in some long grass and crawled along as he caught sight of movement in one of the upstairs windows of the main farmhouse. There he lay for a moment, completely still peering upwards from his stooped position, before turning about and sprinting back towards Finley.
After he had explained to the others that somebody was still in the main house and that he was bringing Sessi back so not to spook the occupants any more than they probably had been, Finley once more opened his eyes. It took a few moments for him to regain his bearings as he reverted to the view from his own perspective. The sudden normality of senses was almost a disappointment, yet despite that, Finley felt more comfortable with those he was more familiar with.
After Galdrac, who appeared to be taking the lead on this trip, was satisfied there were no longer any beasts from the darkness still loitering around the farmstead, he slowly manoeuvred his horse forward. He asked the others, especially Finley and Sessi who now was back in view, to keep their eyes open for any signs of a return. The first thing he noticed about the farm, was just how much it had changed since his last visit. While he did not always travel this way to Barilyn, he had done so numerous times over his many years of service and had on occasion stopped off at the farm for rest and refreshment.
Fencing had been placed around the main farmhouse, although it appeared not yet finished as if the occupants had attempted to build some kind of defences. While the tall timbers, had they been completed, might have held back a small group of bandits, Galdrac was quite sure they would not have caused any problem for the balgraf that had attacked the outpost at Barilyn.
“Hello!” he called out as he led the group into the main farmyard. He looked over to see the main barn door closed, the building he and many others had used to sleep in. While the elves who lived here mainly worked the land just beyond for the usual vegetable and fruit diets of the local populace, they also bred a few animals to cater for the tastes of the other races. One such animal now lay dead near the barn entrance. A cow, which Galdrac thought was probably used for milk, had been savaged and now had its entrails sprawling outwards from its carcas.
Finley had Sessi move to the rear, as the first of the elven farmers made an appearance. Clutching a bow in his shaking hand, he doubted the elf had much experience using such a weapon but was glad when Galdrac persuaded him they were no threat. “What happened here?” Finley heard the old mage ask the farmer.
“Beasts of darkness. Two of them ” came the reply.
“What happened to them?”
“I don’t know. One minute they were running amok, and forcing their way into the main house, when they just turned around and left.”
Galdrac scratched at his wiry beard, before glancing over his shoulder to look at Finley, “Strange indeed,” he mumbled to himself. The more he saw of Finley, the more he was becoming convinced of his theory. The darkness and the boy were clearly connected, and this link was seemingly getting more prominent with every day that passed them by. The sooner they could get him to the dwarf lands the better. Although Galdrac now worried that by doing so, they might drag the forces of darkness their direction if they were indeed tied in some way to Finley. If that were the case, he supposed at least the elves would get a break from the fighting, although that, of course, would not help the dwarfs.
After helping the farm workers clear up the mess, and suggesting they think about moving to one of the more secure towns, he and his small group settled down for a night's rest in the barn. While not ideal, it did give a warm and comfort that was not afforded if they had stayed out in the forest. By late tomorrow he hoped to reach Neylarin, and from there they could travel by gateway to the land of the dwarfs, via the hub at Felham. Galdrac hoped they were preparing for a fight because if he was right, the likelihood that hundreds of Balgraf suddenly turning northwards and heading their direction was a distinct possibility.
Thankyou for reading.
Front cover used under licence from Shutterstock©
Return of the Darkness Page 21
