Chapter Six
The Dark Warrior gazed at the small group from across the rolling waters. His sapphire eyes showed great astonishment at the sight of the beautiful sorceress showing such devotion to a troll. Perhaps they were not Puissant’s destroyers after all. His eyes fell from the young woman to the rocky ground beneath them as thoughts of duty pressed him to action. He could not let the beautiful face and seemingly compassionate heart dissuade him from what must be.
Jack and Nicole packed the food and supplies as Sarah helped Hopper onto his horse. Fetching the thick tree limb that served as his weapon, Sarah tied it to Hopper’s saddle before mounting her white mare.
“The map shows a large series of narrow canyons running the entire length of the mountain range,” Sarah announced, studying the soft leather parchment. “There’s a canyon passage near the crest of the double peak.”
“We’ll have to find some high ground. You can’t see the sky through these trees, much less a mountain,” Jack said as he headed for the waterfall.
Climbing the rocks, Jack stood near the edge of the cascading water and gazed over the trees. “There’s a double peak just west of here,” he yelled.
“Wonderful! Now anyone in the immediate vicinity knows exactly where we are headed,” Sarah chided.
“Let them come,” Nicole declared as she swung up on her horse. “I’m ready for a little exercise.”
“How much longer until nightfall?’’ Sarah asked.
Nicole shrugged, “What do you think Barbarian?”
“Beats me,” Jack answered climbing down. “Let’s go. I’ll take the point.”
They headed into the forest. Working their way through the dense foliage, they searched for any sign of a path leading into the mountains. Nicole sang to the animals, and they reappeared to greet her, scampering away when the others came near. The small red fox from that morning appeared out of a dense thicket. It darted toward Nicole then veered off to one side, disappearing into the trees. Eyes narrowing, Nicole called the party to a halt.
“We’ve got company,” she announced.
A rush of pounding hoofs reached them. The group turned their heads simultaneously.
A band of nearly twenty elves on horseback appeared from the far end of the thicket just ahead of them. Without hesitation, their leader took action, determined to capture the sorceress whose beauty haunted him.
He was a golden haired elf of considerable stature dressed in black chain link armor. Drawing forward, he raised his sword high above his head. The Dark Warrior’s eyes met Sarah’s, and he hesitated. She froze. Much to her surprise, she was met by a pair of radiant blue eyes that caused her stomach to leap and her heart to race.
“Back!” Jack shouted turning his horse around. The others followed suit, retreating the way they had come. A shrill war cry pierced the air as the warriors charged. Veering from the path and crashing through the underbrush, Hopper cleared a trail with his club for the others to follow. Galloping blindly through the thicket, Hopper searched for an easier route in an attempt to gain distance from their attackers and still head toward their goal. The Warriors raced toward them, unhindered by the dense line of trees and brush.
Without warning, a large doe leaped out of the thicket directly in the path of the charging elves. The lead horses, startled by the sudden movement, reared and snorted in fright. The instant of confusion slowed the warrior’s approach, allowing the adventurers to lengthen their lead. Pushing the frightened horses aside, the Dark Warrior forced his horse past, continuing the chase. Arrows began to assault the brush around the adventurers as the elves attempted to halt the escape. The small red fox dashed out of the underbrush to race under the legs of the pursuers’ horses, sending several more warriors reeling into the thicket.
A hawk flew from the treetops into the leader’s face. He swatted it away and pushed on, gaining ground with each stride. The air around the warriors seemed to take form as birds of prey dove out of the sky attacking them. The elves fought to control their horses, urging them forward, trying to keep pace with their commander.
Hopper came to an abrupt halt as his friends cleared the dense trees. “We’re trapped!” He motioned toward the rock bluff that stretched out before them. They had fled into a small canyon, concealed by the trees. The sheer wall of the cliff gave no hint of escape. As Jack cleared the trees, Hopper turned his horse around and charged back toward the dark warrior.
“Todd! No, there’s too many!” Sarah screamed as he disappeared.
Without hesitation, Nicole drew her short sword and followed. Hearing the battle cries of the warriors, Jack hesitated for only an instant, his mind flashing back to the waterfall and the darkness of the cave. It felt so life-like, the water forcing its way into his lungs. It was all too real. Pushing the reality of the adventure out of his mind Jack surged toward the trees while Sarah struggled to free the spell book from her saddlebag. The rushing adrenaline made it difficult for her fingers cooperate.
Jack drew his sword as he reached a small clearing where they had left the Warriors. He prepared to fight again to save his friends’ lives. Hopper was already swinging madly at three muscular elves attempting to slip past him. Nicole jumped from her horse onto the back of a warrior. With a mighty thrust, she drove her short sword through his chest. Without missing a beat, she sprang from the horse and sprinted toward a small cluster of warriors heading toward her.
Out of the corner of his eye, Jack saw the Dark Warrior charge him. Meeting the assault, he managed to deflect the first blow with his sword. The force vibrated through his body and nearly threw him from his saddle. As the Dark Warrior pulled his horse around to face him, Jack surged forward yanking hard on his reins. His horse reared preparing to attack the Dark Warrior’s horse. The large elf dove from his saddle before the tan mare’s hooves struck. Not waiting for the warrior to recover, Jack spun and charged into the last group of elves who had managed to surround Hopper.
Swinging his sword in a broad arc, Jack issued an impressive war cry as he severed the head of the nearest elf. A young female warrior turned and met Jack’s attack carrying only a large staff. Rendering it useless with one blow, Jack raised his sword to strike and hesitated as his eyes focused on the body of the headless elf sprawled out on the ground behind her. Jack screamed in rage at the young elf. She was a fool to bring only a staff to battle, and he was tired of killing. Jack turned to face another; he would not kill an unarmed female. Jack undercut the warrior’s attack with the tip of his blade and sent his sword flying. Without hesitating, Jack punched him square in the face with his hilt, then turned and left the warrior slobbering face-down on the ground.
The sky began to transform. Fingers of black mist stormed across the horizon, leaving the clearing as dark as a moonless night. The large trees surrounding them dipped and swayed in the fierce wind, sending a sturdy evergreen crashing into the center of the clearing. The battle halted in an instant.
A loud roar reverberated from the tangled brush before them. All eyes turned to face its source. The earth shook from a piercing scream as the creature emerged forward with massive clawed feet, trampling the giant trees the White Oak and ancient Redwood were merely a tall grass to this enormous creature. Rising to its full height, it stood nearly 40 feet. Its long snout swayed from side to side between two large menacing horns. It screamed a challenge through needle-like teeth that stretched the full length of a human arm. Covered with long dark brown fur, it was hard to discern where the creature ended in the darkness.
The Warriors backed away from the adventurers, as their leader fearlessly rushed to meet this new foe. Hopper snatched Nicole from the midst of the elves and tossed her on her horse.
“Where did that come from?” he asked breathlessly.
“I don’t know.”
Sarah appeared at the edge of the clearing in time to see the warriors charge the creature. Galloping to them, she motioned toward the far end of the
glen. Moving past the battle, they raced into the trees.
“Wait!” Jack yelled, slowing their escape. “That thing... we can’t just leave them to its mercy.”
“They were trying to kill us, Jack!” Nicole challenged, sheathing her sword.
“If aliens attacked Eastern Europe, don’t you think China and Russia would unite against them?”
“What?” All three stared at him.
“Forget it, Jack. If we came to their rescue, they would turn on us when that thing was dead, if we could kill it. Let’s get as far away from that creature as possible before it decides we are its next snack.” Nicole turned her horse back toward the trail.
“No,” Jack reached out and took hold of her arm. “I’m not going to let them die. Just because I’m dressed like a barbarian doesn’t mean I have to act like one.”
“It’s all right, Jack” Sarah smiled, moving toward him, “It won’t hurt them.”
“How can you say that? It’s huge!” Jack spun his horseback in the direction of the battle.
“It’s mine,” Sarah added calmly.
“Yours?” Jack turned back to her.
“Conjuration, she’s my baby.” Sarah beamed, triumphantly. “It’s a mixture of a Mammoth, gorilla, and a saber tooth tiger.” Her delighted laughter lightened Jack’s mood. “She thinks we’re her young and is keeping them busy until we get away.”
“That was fantastic!” Hopper’s deep voice penetrated the darkness. “But can you bring back the sunlight? It’d be easier to travel if we saw where we were going.”
“Of course,” Sarah answered. “And don’t worry Jack, it won’t hurt them. I made sure of that. But it will keep them occupied for a few hours.”
Looking at the canopy of trees Sarah, spoke a few short phrases allowing the magic to surge up within her. A soft breeze began to blow, flowing through her long amber hair as a soft yellow glow enveloped her. A trickle of light drifted down through the thick canopy. Hopper’s breath quickened at the sight of Sarah, consumed by her magic. Never before had any woman looked so elegant, so beautiful. He felt stirrings build up inside him he had so carefully kept under control for the last two years. Glancing down at his clawed hands and hairy body, his eyes darkened, and the stirrings vanished.
“We don’t have much light left,” Jack observed. “Let’s put some distance between our friends and us.”
Forbidden Quest, 2nd Edition Page 11