Toward late afternoon they stopped on the trail, having twice seen more ogre prints at least a day old and moving in various directions, as if they wandered in search of something to do. An encounter seemed inevitable. Morven made a trilling bird call twice and they waited for a reply from somewhere ahead, but nothing came. Again he made the sound only to be greeted with silence. The elf looked at Lorian and, receiving a curt nod, dismounted. As he started forward, Eric decided to follow. He half expected Lorian to tell him not to, but instead he received words of caution.
“With stealth, Andier,” Lorian advised quietly. “Learn from Morven, and be armed.”
Ryan shifted in his saddle, indecisive about going, too, or telling Eric to stay, and when Morven gave the rogue a look of encouragement and they moved off, he felt a pang of jealousy. They knew Eric could play his part far better than Ryan could his. If he tried to go, their reaction would likely be different. In a way, they didn’t trust him, or probably even Matt or Anna, to do their parts, but Eric seemed like the real thing. The idea of being a knight still appealed to Ryan despite the violence that came with it and he frowned at his hypocrisy. He couldn’t want the admiration, respect, and celebrity without the killing and maiming that would earn it, and if death led to such esteem, how could he enjoy it anyway? And yet some desire for it remained, likely from his days at RenFest, which was fake, unlike this.
He looked down at the beautiful golden armor that made him feel so cool, even proud, every time he saw it. It wouldn’t look so nice with someone’s blood all over it, especially his, but that reminded him of its purpose, to keep his blood from being shed. That in turn reminded him what this was about – protecting people. This was the real reason knights received those accolades he apparently wanted. Maybe he should stop trying to be so noble and just accept that he wanted to be adulated. Was that so bad? Helping Daniel all these years had made him want to be a hero to his brother, despite his true nature: a coward. Perhaps he just had to find a way to help people without hurting someone else in the process. For now, he felt relieved to be out of it. Let Eric be Andier and find out what’s going on ahead. He’d be Korrin another day.
Up the dirt trail, Morven quietly led Eric, careful not to disturb fallen leaves or snap a twig. The rogue had broken into enough places as a youth to know the craft of stealth, though the consequences here would be far worse than a stint in juvenile detention on Earth. He felt ready but nervous, especially when Morven pointed out several large footprints amidst smaller ones he recognized as elven. The pair moved off the trail into the woods, paralleling the path the others were on and stopping to listen every twenty paces. The faint sounds from the horses behind them faded as they advanced, no sound ahead.
After a hundred yards, they slowed and crouched. Morven peered up into the trees, looking for something the rogue’s eyes couldn’t find. “The watch post above us is vacant,” he whispered, eyes searching the trees ahead, “and should not be. I see no sign of a body or struggle. Let us proceed.”
Worried, Eric asked, “Should we get the others?”
Morven considered before answering. “No. You will climb the watch tree for a view into the camp while I scout ahead to make sure you have time to come down if trouble arises.”
The rogue had mixed emotions about that and thought the elf ought to do that first. He’d be vulnerable up there. “What should I expect to see?”
“Into the camp, just beyond the tall hedge, with elves inside.”
Dubious, Eric looked for any signs of an outpost ahead and saw none amidst the trees and bushes. He’d never have suspected a fortified position lay there.
Handing him a pair of horn-rimmed glasses, the elf said, “Take these. They will increase your sight.”
Eric nodded and they crept to the watch tree, but as they neared Morven stopped him, sniffing the air. He slowly pulled a sword from its sheath.
“What is it?” the rogue whispered.
“Death,” the elf replied. “Much of it. And ogres.”
“Where? From inside the camp?”
The elf sniffed the air again. “Something is nearer.”
Eric cocked an eyebrow. “Which is nearer? Ogres?” After a pause, he added, “Or Death?”
Morven glanced back. It was an important distinction. “Death.”
There wasn’t much to say about that and the elf gestured for him to start climbing. Somewhere above them was a hidden platform. The tree’s hand and foot holds were carved from the trunk, a piece of bark-colored cloth concealing them from a distance. Eric went up smoothly, for he practiced parkour and could’ve climbed without the aids. He stayed alert for anything odd but saw no signs of a hasty exit from a wounded elf, and no blood, even at the three-foot square platform, where one branch functioned like a chair. To one side, the trail below peeked out through the foliage, winding over the hills for some distance, and in one clearing a glint of light caught the eye.
Ryan’s armor, he realized, getting his bearings.
A closer view of the trail just outside the camp showed Morven wasn’t kidding about death. Out on the road lay an elf, face down as if leaving the outpost for Arundell, three carrion birds picking away at the remains. While gruesome, it paled in comparison to the outpost itself. Through the leaves, Eric saw carnage amidst the wooden tower and walls, enough to realize no one lived. He counted seven dead elves and nine dead ogres, more birds pecking away at them, their distant squawks the only sound. More bodies undoubtedly lay out of sight within.
Eric looked and saw Morven patiently waiting. The elf moved his fingers at him.
What do you see? the fingers asked.
Surprised by that, the rogue answered and came down while Morven gave another bird call. This was one was answered from behind them, and soon they gathered near the body of the fallen elf on the trail. He had been bludgeoned from behind. Eric expected the grisly scene to appall Ryan in particular, but if so, the knight surprised him, gritting his teeth, looking away, and saying nothing. No one else did either.
They quietly advanced, the smell of death growing as they entered the camp with swords drawn and arrows nocked. Nothing inside moved save the birds, which took to the sky with loud protests, all pretenses of stealth going with them. Anything nearby now knew they were here.
Lorian ordered scouts into the woods while others searched the camp. Barracks large enough for a dozen people stood badly damaged and an open stone fire pit with charred embers lay in the center. A simple wooden tower provided a high archery point. A raised walkway encircled the wall’s interior. Only one doorway allowed entrance, forcing any threat from the mountains to circle the camp before finding it. After the scouts returned, Lorian ordered the broken doors barricaded against roaming ogres, though none were found and all footprints were days old. Thirteen dead elves and nearly as many ogres lay both within and outside the walls. A large band had defeated these elves, and Lorian sent an elf back to Arundell to warn them and send replacements.
“We’re still spending the night here?” Ryan asked, wrinkling his nose. Matt stood leaning against a wall, covering his nose with a sleeve, eyes closed.
“Yes,” Lorian admitted, almost apologetically. “It is the only wise choice.”
“What about the bodies?” Anna asked. “We can’t stay here with them. There’s a risk of infection.”
“We will burn them tonight when the smoke will not attract attention.”
The priestess nodded. That was safe and much faster than burial, but the smell would be awful. She already felt like it was never going to be out of her mind. Fortunately, when the time came, Lorian cast a simple spell to mute their sense of smell. It was especially welcome considering all of them were needed to move the corpses, though they spared Anna in a show of chivalry that came not only from her friends, but the elves and dwarf. She wasn’t complaining.
The same couldn’t be said for Matt, who clearly felt no need to hide his distaste, especially when they handled the large ogres. They were nin
e feet tall with an almost reddish skin, bulbous, crooked features, and soiled clothing. They exuded filth even before death. The number of wounds required to bring them down daunted him, and all but a few had arrows in them. Touching their clothing wasn’t much better than their dirty bodies and everyone felt disgusted.
It seemed like forever before the funeral pyre burned in the darkness, black smoke curling into the night sky as everyone settled in for a long night. The horses were stabled inside with elves stationed at each watch post, in and outside the camp. Their owl-like calls came through the darkness every few minutes. Soon Anna found it comforting because it never changed and she hoped that would continue till dawn.
She sat staring into the funeral pyre’s flames without seeing them. The scene of carnage had cast doubt on her ability to help anyone here like she did at the hospital, where she could diagnose and administer the proper aid. She was out in the field, not a cozy building waiting for the wounded to arrive, surrounded by all the latest equipment. Even if she were an EMT riding around in an ambulance, she’d be stocked up and ready to go with basic supplies.
As it was, she had nothing, just an amulet around her neck and a scroll full of gods she didn’t believe existed. It hadn’t mattered today, but what about tomorrow? Maybe wanting to believe it would all be better in an instant was why people had believed in witchcraft and all the other superstitions she’d scoffed at. Maybe people were still just being suckered into false hope even today. She shouldn’t be so hard on them.
She needed to lighten the attitude she’d developed, but it was hard when someone like Ryan spouted religious stuff, taking it literally. She saw him up in the tower now, looking out at the Tarron Mountains as if hoping for a sight of the castle. He’d seemed melancholy since the estate but there hadn’t been a chance to talk alone since. She was about to go to him when Eric dropped in beside her.
“Hello,” he started quietly. She got the impression that he was trying not to disturb Matt, who sat nearby with his nose in spell books again. “How are you doing?”
Anna opened her mouth to say she was fine, but then closed it. She needn’t keep up appearances about this whole thing with him. If they couldn’t be honest with each other here, they were even worse off.
“Worried,” she confessed, frowning.
He nodded. “About anything in particular?”
After a moment, she admitted, “Everything but you, really. You’re the only one who can take care of yourself in this. The rest of us are hopeless.”
His dubious expression suggested he didn’t agree and she felt glad that he didn’t contradict her. She needed to believe it.
“I take it you aren’t planning to heal anyone with prayer,” he remarked without judgment.
“I doubt I could,” she admitted.
“Since you’re in a new reality, can you pretend and go through the motions of communing with these gods in case it turns out to be real? It won’t be the first surprise on this quest.”
She looked into the pile of burning elves and ogres. He had a point there, and while the carnage had made her guard drop, she wasn’t ready for that. “Maybe, but not yet,” she admitted.
He leaned toward her, remarking, “Not to rush you, but you’re a little short on time.”
She knew what he meant, that they’d reach the castle and trouble tomorrow, but in looking at the pyre, she realized they might all be short on time in a different way if they were all killed. Companionship for her friends made her lean against him for comfort, missing the days when he would joke with her. Everything had become serious and it seemed like all of them were changing. Eric put one arm around her.
Up in the tower, Ryan happened to look down just then and felt an unexpected pang of jealousy. He turned back to his sword, which stood point down before him as he sat on a bench, the hilt in his hand. Tomorrow he’d have to use it and he reminded himself of the reason – to defend himself and his friends so they wouldn’t end up in a funeral pyre on a strange world where friends and family would never know what became of them. He resigned himself to the coming violence and would pray for forgiveness tonight before it even started. Seeing the elves in mourning, he realized his second lesson with the lance wasn’t going to happen tonight and he hoped to never need it.
As he sat lost in thought, he didn’t notice Anna climbing up to him until she sat down beside him. They exchanged a look before both turned their attention over the dark forest, the looming mountains a darker black against the night sky, two of the three moons visible overhead. Not for the first time, Ryan stared at them bleakly for what they were – a reminder that they were far from home.
He seldom forgot to wonder what Daniel was doing back on Earth, but for the first time it occurred to him that Daniel was probably worried what had happened to him and the others. After all, it wasn’t like Ryan to not check in. A search had likely started right away but not mattered. It wasn’t like anyone would find them.
“Are you ready?” Anna asked quietly as he put away the sword.
He glanced at her, having wondered the same thing about her. “Are you?”
“Not really, no. I’m hoping I won’t be needed.”
He nodded slowly. “I couldn’t agree more.”
“There’s nothing I can do to help anyone,” said Anna, “so I feel kind of useless. I can’t exactly heal people here.”
He looked out over the woods. “Don’t be so sure. Magic works here, and they believe in it. So do I, in fact. I’ve seen it now, and we’ve heard the stories Matt’s been telling of his magic training. If magic works and people believe in it, it stands to reason that faith-based healing works, too, since they believe in that. No one’s lied to us about anything. So far.”
She nodded reluctantly. “Maybe, but that doesn’t mean I’ll be able to do it. And I’d have to believe it first, which I don’t see happening anytime soon. I wish I had at least basic medical supplies like on Earth.” After a moment, she added, “You know, there are people who believe in faith-based healing back home, too, but it doesn’t work there.”
Knowing they were tiptoeing around her atheism and politely avoiding an argument about that, he asked, “How can you be sure?”
She frowned. “Well, I suppose I can’t be, but do you really believe that it works on Earth?”
He opened his mouth to say yes, then closed it. “I don’t know. I’ve thought about taking Daniel to one of these guys, but they wanted a lot of money, which to me meant it was a scam.”
“Right,” she said.
Suddenly something occurred to him. “Wait a minute. If you could learn to heal people here, you could do it on Earth and heal Daniel!” He stood up in excitement. “Think about it. We know magic works there because the Quest Ring worked there, so it stands to reason that healing works, too. You just have to learn how and then you could heal Daniel!”
They stared at each other silently. “But Ryan–”
“No! No buts!” He grabbed her by the arms and lifted her to her feet. “It will work! I know it!” His excited shouts turned the attention of those in the camp to them. “How could I have not seen it earlier? That’s the reason I’m here. You’re here. It all makes sense now. This is God’s doing. He has given me a chance, a chance to save Daniel!” His bright eyes turned back to her. “He’s given you a chance. You can do it. I know you can!”
Finally Anna found words to stop him from going any further. “Ryan, just wait a minute,” she started gently. “I understand your hope but you’re getting way ahead of yourself.”
“No I’m not!”
“Yes you are, and you’re putting way too much pressure on me.”
That pierced his excitement some, but not much. “Okay, that’s true, and I’m sorry, but you have to promise to try for me. For Daniel. Will you? Please? I know it’s against your beliefs and everything and I’m sorry for that, but we have a different reality here and I would be sooo grateful if you would just give it a chance to see what can happen.”
/>
He stared into her eyes, dimly aware of them darting away from his and back, like a trapped deer. He opened his mouth to say more when she finally spoke.
“Okay, okay,” she said gently, “just stop. I’ll look into it. I already have. Just stop, okay?”
He was about to try to convince her more but then thought better of it. “You promise? Please?”
“Yes, I promise,” she said, looking around hastily. “To look into it, not to succeed.”
“Okay. Okay, that’s fair. But you have to have faith, Anna, or nothing happens. Please open yourself to it.”
She said nothing more, turning to the ladder as if to escape, and he wondered if he’d gone too far. Probably. For the first time since they’d left Stonehenge, he felt calm, and with a renewed purpose. Now he regretted any time avoiding learning things that might benefit them, and ultimately, his brother, who was going to be amazed when Anna helped him. Ryan spent the rest of the night imagining it.
The night passed without incident from ogres or anything else and they left the outpost on horseback at dawn. As the day wore on, the foothills grew steeper, the trail narrowing to single file and the trees and underbrush growing denser. Anna kept her distance from Ryan, while Matt once again kept his nose buried in spell books. Morven and Eric rode ahead of the group, the latter in training for how to track and listen to the forest’s sounds. Even his sense of smell received instruction.
“Ogres have a certain scent,” advised the elf, long brown hair tightly braided. “You no doubt recall it from last night, though it was mixed with the smell of death.”
“Yes, I remember,” the rogue wryly admitted.
Toward noon they stopped in a small clearing for lunch consisting of elven bread smothered in fruit jam, downed with spring water that invigorated them more than Ryan would have expected. It tasted like sweet water. Both he and Matt had passed on breakfast due to nerves and nausea but both were able to eat this time.
The Dragon Gate (The Dragon Gate Series Book 1) Page 15