The Hunter's Gambit

by Nicholas McIntire

  It was a cautionary tale, meant to dissuade the overly curious or foolish.

  Bael was neither. He knew exactly what he was seeking. He knew what it would do to him, and what it could do to his world. None of it mattered in the least. He would possess it, and then all that was due to him would be his.

  He would serve his father’s memory, if not exactly in the way Rafael had envisioned.

  And he would show Jonas Belgi what it was to be powerless. What it was to hurt.

  What it was to be alone.

  Bael strode to the second gate and smiled.

  “Stephen.” he called.

  A young copper-haired man stepped tentatively forward. “Master?”

  Bael held up a second small statue before the young Magus. “Are you prepared?”

  Stephen nodded earnestly, “I am, Master.”

  “What happened to Raim was unfortunate. These chambers hold warnings and traps the likes of which we cannot comprehend, crafted in a bygone and forgotten era. But if you believe in our cause, if you believe in our teachings, the Dark God will favor you.”

  Stephen bowed his head, whispering a prayer as Bael pressed the small token into his shaking hands. “As you command, Master Bael.”

  Bael stepped away from the gate, ignoring the excited chatter of his followers. His attention was riveted on Stephen, to the small greenstone statue of the rusalka he clutched uncertainly.

  It had taken Bael’s father decades to find the Third Key. Sammul had recovered the Second Key from the Voralla mere weeks ago. It was a risky gamble to open the first two gates now, when he had not one single idea of what waited on the other side. It was riskier to open them without the true treasure, the Prime Key. But until it could be located, Bael would possess any piece of his birthright he could claim.

  And besides, the time had come. Jonas Belgi was growing stronger seemingly by the day, and all of Bael’s plans were moving along too swiftly to delay any longer.

  No, it had to be tonight.

  Stephen embraced the Archanium and pressed the small statue to the Angelic Crest, just as Raim had before him.

  This time, Bael could see the wards rip apart and hear the gears turn. But rather than rip itself apart, the gate simply vanished.

  Bael breathed an inward sigh of relief.

  Stephen tensed for a pregnant pause. But this time there was no fury to rip apart his fragile flesh. Even the Grey Sea itself seemed to be holding its breath.

  Nothing came.

  Bael waited until it was clear that Stephen would survive at least another few moments.

  “Stephen and I will continue alone.” he called to his congregation.

  There was no telling what awaited them in the Second Transept.

  He walked up to his Magus and clapped the man roughly on the back. “After you, my dear boy.”

  Stephen nodded shakily, stumbling into the Second Transept.

  Bael followed at a leisurely pace, taking this new space in as his eyes scoured the stone.

  It was not nearly so beautiful as the Third Transept. If anything, it looked like a more primitive attempt at the same story.

  Upon closer inspection, Bael realized that what had once been incredibly articulate carvings had melted over time. Apparently what lay beyond was such a corrupting influence that it had eroded even the stone.

  And then he saw it.

  Before the Prime Gate floated a man-sized silhouette. It looked very much like a shadow, except it was frozen in midair, a patch of darkness suspended a pace off the ground.

  “A construct.” he whispered.

  Stephen frowned, “After this long? Master, by now even the most powerful construct would have unraveled.”

  Bael shook his head, “No, great care was taken here.” He studied it intently, viewing it from all angles and noting the way the Archanium had bent itself to accommodate the Magus who created it.

  It was a breathtaking piece of magic.

  “Consume it.”

  “Master?”

  Bael whipped around and glared at Stephen, “Consume it!”

  Stephen’s knees shook as he walked towards the shadow construct. He reached tentatively forward and opened himself to the Archanium.

  Before he could touch it, the construct leapt at him, writhing around his body. When he opened his mouth to scream, the construct leapt up into his mouth.

  Stephen’s eyes went wide as the construct forced itself down his throat and burrowed into his being.

  He collapsed in a nerveless heap.

  Bael waited for him to move but the Magus remained motionless.

  With a sigh, Bael walked over to Stephen and kicked him roughly. The man’s eyes flashed open and he sat up like a man possessed. He breathed in heavily and stared at Bael.

  “You are still lacking, Pilgrim.” he shouted. “You are lacking!”

  And then he collapsed again. Bael was about ready to burn the man from existence when Stephen finally stood, breathing evenly and looking around in confusion.

  “What…what was that?” he muttered.

  “A very old warning.” Bael said dismissively. “But no one would leave a construct like that for a simple message. I lack the key to open the Prime Gate, that much is clear. I had hoped that there was some sort of test in here, some means of attaining it. That seems to be a fiction.

  “But tell me, Stephen, do you feel...unusual?”

  The other Magus frowned, keeping his silence for a moment. And then he smiled.

  “Where’s Raim?”

  Bael led him back to the distended body of the fallen Magus.

  Stephen reached into the Archanium, into a forbidden region. A spellform settled onto Raim’s shivering husk.

  Everyone stared as the dying Magus' body convulsed. And transformed.

  Bael smiled.

  “Get ready, Jonas Belgi. I’m coming for you.”

  Aleksei sat up sharply.

  He panted in the darkness, sweat dripping down his back. Images flashed through his mind, some so terrible he had to force back tears.

  Jonas stirred beside him, tossing in Aleksei’s reflected anguish, the deep scars tracing down his back, the eternal reminder of where his wings had been, shone pale pink in the ghostly moonlight.

  Aleksei pulled the sheets away and stepped into the light pouring in from an open window, allowing the autumn air to breathe across his naked chest.

  I hurt. The Wood’s voice burst through his mind.

  Over the past year he had made many trips into the Seil Wood to assure Her he was being a dutiful Hunter. She always welcomed him, but never warmly.

  He’d wondered if his bond with Jonas affected his connection to the Wood. He wondered if She was jealous. If She was even capable of jealousy.

  It had been months since he’d heard Her voice in his mind. But tonight something was very different.

  Mother Wood, are you alright? He tried of focus his thoughts. The day had taken its toll, but he was Her Hunter, and he had a deep and intrinsic duty to protect the Wood.

  The Lost, they have returned, Hunter. So many!

  Aleksei frowned. You sound glad, Mother.

  I am fond of them. They have returned. But Hunter, their return speaks of a darker fate.

  Tell me. Aleksei thought quickly.

  As the dream faded, terror was rapidly overtaking exhaustion.

  Gaze on this, Hunter.

  Visions filled his mind.

  A giant form born in flame rose and crushed a group of screaming people. When it moved on, nothing remained but ash.

  A man cloaked in the Archanium struggled against a giant wyrm, each trading blows before the man was rent in two. A behemoth of white stone smashed Kalinor Palace to splinters.

  One after another, images flowed through his mind. Aleksei felt tears flow from his eyes as the Wood showed him the carnage that was to come.

  These are images of what once occurred a
nd what may again if the Pilgrim is not stopped. The return of the Lost speaks of much that I had hoped forgotten. You are in danger, Hunter. As long as the Pilgrim walks, you are in danger.

  What would you have me do, Mother? Aleksei thought anxiously.

  He wanted to change those visions, to save the dying. He felt helpless.

  When the time is right, I will call on you. You must answer, Hunter. Protect your Chosen. He knows what must happen, though it terrifies him. Protect him. Give him your strength. He will need much in what is to come.

  Beware the Pilgrim.

  Fear the Demonic Presence.

  “Eaten?”

  Aleksei stared at the pages spread across his desk. “That’s what it says, Colonel. Seven men found in the Seil Wood, just west of a village called Timurus. All were dead. Some were partially eaten. Others were riddled with bite marks.” Aleksei glanced up at the man sitting across from him. “The commander of the outpost was unable to identify the animal responsible.”

  Colonel Charles Ander stiffened at the last remark. “Forgive me, Sir, but I don’t understand. Wolves or bears, either leaves easily distinguishable patterns.”

  “The commander doesn’t believe that these men were killed by either, Colonel.”

  “Well, there are any number of unusual creatures within the Seil Wood, Lord Captain. Surely that comes as no surprise.”

  Aleksei shook his head, “Such creatures never venture much beyond the Wood’s Heart, Colonel. And certainly never to the Wood’s edge. She keeps them close for their own safety.”

  Before Ander could ask another question, Aleksei held up a second report. “This is from the village of Drava, just west of the Relvyn Wood. A very similar report, but with some decidedly different elements.

  “Dead men here, too. Bitten and clawed to death, but without identifiable markings. Then something even stranger. They claim that their men walk into the Relvyn Wood and reemerge as beasts from the Aftershadow, beasts ‘of horn and bone, with razor claws and the faces from a nightmare’.”

  Ander stared at Aleksei blankly. “I beg your pardon, Sir? Couldn’t that be mere peasant superstition?”

  Aleksei frowned.

  It was possible, but then again, he’d never known his own peasant neighbors to be anywhere near that inventive with their superstitions. He glanced at the report again.

  “This is from the outpost in Drava. The commander is claiming to have seen these beasts and he assures me that this is no flight of fancy or trick of the mind. These ‘beasts’ have attacked the villagers. The outpost commander in Drava has lost five men to the creatures so far.”

  Ander breathed in sharply. “That sounds like madness.”

  “I agree, Colonel. But there’s something else that confuses me. It’s odd enough that villages near both the Seil and the Relvyn Wood should have identical reports. It will be easy for me to discover the truth surrounding the deaths in the Seil Wood. As for the beasts in Drava, that’s another matter.”

  “So what should we do, Sir?”

  Aleksei sat back in his chair, “I’ll deal with the report from Timurus. As I said, that should to be simple enough to sort out. In the meantime, I’d like you to read over the papers from Drava. See if we’ve missed anything.”

  Ander saluted as Aleksei came to his feet.

  “I’ll be back in a few hours.” Aleksei said as he reached the door and pulled on his coat.

  Ander saluted again and Aleksei sighed, pulling the door open and stepping out into the corridor. It had been a year since the Queen had named him Lord Captain and the other officers were still unsure how deferential they ought to be.

  Many were still trying to work out what actual power he now wielded. When Andariana had named him, the speech had been more concerned with his ability to survive in the position rather than his military prowess and, with it being peacetime, many of his decisions were purely organizational. He still had yet to be tested in war and the idea filled him with more than a little terror.

  Aleksei wove his way through the hallways, avoiding the larger thoroughfares. He had no interest in wading through a sea of salutes and pleasantries.

  It took him only a few minutes to reach the West Lawn and the stables.

  “Lord Captain Drago!” the stable master said, snapping to attention.

  Aleksei smiled, “Master Gearing, can you saddle Agriphon?”

  The man had hardly made a bow before he started barking orders at the stable hands.

  Aleksei stood by the doors, watching boys not much younger than himself hurry around with tackle, strapping gear to the great black warhorse. Aleksei had found him tied in front of the stables the morning after his promotion.

  A gift from Jonas.

  The Magus had explained that a man of his rank required a horse to match. And while he still rode Dash whenever he could, he understood that the old draft horse was not the ideal battle mount.

  Agriphon danced forward, halting crisply before Aleksei. The beast was tall and powerful. He was every farm boy’s fantasy come to life.

  Aleksei swung himself into the saddle and with a light tap, the warhorse surged beneath him. He’d only had scattered chances to ride the stallion, and after a lifetime riding plodding draft horses, he still wasn’t accustomed to Agriphon’s sheer power.

  It took longer than he would have liked to get out of the city. The streets were clogged with merchant traffic and Agriphon’s size only served to slow his movement between ox carts and peddler wagons.

  But once he cleared the East Gate, Agriphon broke into a heady gallop. Aleksei laughed as the air rushed past him, taking in the rich autumn air.

  The air in Kalinor held none of the rich complexities of the wild. In the city his senses always felt dulled by the never-ending noise and the smell of too many people pressed too tightly together. Tracking amongst all the chaos was a nightmare.

  But out in the open, his nose was picking up all the details that were drowned out in Kalinor, his ears finding the gentle rhythm of the earth and the air. The Seil Wood rose up above him before he’d even had a chance to truly acclimate to the change in environment, and he rode gratefully beneath Her branches.

  Mother Wood, he called, I come with questions.

  Welcome, Hunter.

  Mother, men have died beneath Your branches in the last few days. I need to know what killed them.

  The Lost, Hunter. The Lost are hungry.

  Aleksei frowned. The Lost? You spoke of them the other night, but you didn’t tell me much about them. Are they the dead come back to life?

  The Lost are the children he took from me, Hunter. Long ago.

  And they were a warning?

  When the Demonic Presence was sealed from this world, he took the Lost. The leshii, the rusalka, the vodnoia. They took my demons from me. My precious little demons.

  Aleksei stiffened. Aren’t demons inherently evil, Mother?

  In their way, Hunter. But they balance the good that lives within Me. Together, life turns without interruption. The people beyond My branches have forgotten the Lost, and they must learn to fear them again. Then the balance will be restored.

  Aleksei frowned, But you only speak of demons.

  My demons help maintain the balance of the Wood; they return the darkness that was stripped from me. I am complete with my Lost and my Children.

  Aleksei sighed, I understand, Mother. I have one more question.

  I keep nothing from My Hunter.

  Have you ever beheld a beast made of horn and bone, with razor claws and the face of a nightmare?

  Wind rushed through the trees above him, but Aleksei heard nothing from the Wood. After a long silence he felt something moving through the forest ahead of him. A blast of frigid air erupted from the underbrush, filling his mind with a tiny, terrified chattering as it whipped past him.

  The Pilgrim is closer than I feared. The power of Her voice nearly knocked Aleksei from his saddle.
As he regained his bearings, Aleksei reached up and felt a trickle of blood drip from his ear.

  Beware the Pilgrim.

  Fear the Demonic Presence, Hunter.

  When the voice quieted again, Aleksei realized he was shivering.

  He glanced down at his coat sleeves.

  They were covered with frost.

  CHAPTER 21

  Riddles in the Dark

  JONAS STARED AT the page, trying to force the runes to make sense. Before him lay a jumble of strange characters, only some of which he understood. Most were alien.

  With a curse he slammed the book shut and tossed it onto a side table. While he might be able to impress Aleksei with his knowledge of Angelic Symbology, he was more than lacking when it came to vocabulary.

  The book completely eluded him.

  There was a gentle knock. Before the sound completely registered, Aleksei slid into the room, locking the door behind himself.

  “I didn’t expect to see you this late.” Jonas said, smiling.

  “I just left your aunt’s sitting room.” Aleksei growled.

  Jonas arched an eyebrow, “And?”

  “And I’ve just ordered four hundred men to Drava.” He paused and glanced at his Magus, “And twenty Magi.”

  Jonas frowned, “Drava? That’s no bigger than Voskrin. And you’re sending Magi? Will the Voralla even honor your request? And why so many Legionnaires?”

  Aleksei stared into the fire, “Something down there is taking the men who enter the Wood and…changing them.”

  “Changing them how?”

  Aleksei sighed, “Into some sort of beast. The commander described a creature covered in bone and horn, something with claws.”

  Jonas fixed his gaze on Aleksei. “You can’t be serious.”

  The glimmer in Aleksei’s golden eyes confirmed the report.

  “Gods,” the Prince whispered, “what does it mean?”

  “I’m not sure, but I spent this afternoon in the Seil Wood. There have been some deaths on the fringes, so I went to find out why.

  “She said it was a warning. But when I mentioned the beasts in Relvyn, She…had a reaction. I think it was something like a fit. She said the same words She used when the Lost reappeared. When I suggested that the Lost were causing the trouble in Drava, She sounded…offended. She said it was a spell, but had nothing to do with ‘Her little demons’.”