Nightfall (Book 1)

by L. R. Flint

  I bolted. People fell to the ground and possessions flew through the air in my wake. I knew my only chance was to make it through the hole in the Wall and escape into the forest, but I had to go without any of my belongings, otherwise the Guards would have an even greater chance of catching me. I ran as fast as I could through the crowded streets, easily leaving the Guards far behind in my wake. Behind me I could hear the Guards shouting at those people who had recovered quickly and were inadvertently blocking their path.

  I sped through the corn field, leaving behind me a visible trail of bent and broken stalks, speed was of the essence so I paid no extra attention to detail. At the edge of the field I bent toward the ground, hiding myself from searching eyes as I raced alongside the Wall. When I finally reached the hole, I dove in, ignoring the scrapes and bruises that would soon come. I turned and draped the hanging vines over the entrance and sincerely hoped that I had gone in unseen. There I awaited the Guards’ approach, which would determine my next move.

  ~ ~ ~

  As sunset fell across the land I was disturbed from my thoughts by the sound of men’s voices at the edge of the cornfield. The indents on the grass from my light feet had long since disappeared, leaving no definite trail for them to follow. “We have been looking for hours and we have found nothing in either direction. I am heading back to the barracks for the night.” I crawled to the entrance of the tunnel and watched the Guards as they walked back in the direction I had come. “It was probably a prank by those good-for-nothing street kids,” one of the Guards muttered, just before they were out of earshot.

  Even after I was sure the Guards were gone, I waited for the thick darkness of night to take a firm hold on the surrounding lands before I moved. I crawled through the tunnel and cautiously stepped into the vastness of the open space, stalking silently along the foot of the Wall. My footfalls were silent as the night itself, and from a distance all that would be seen of me was the green shimmer of light emanating from my eyes. I continued a distance before finally crossing the large swath of grassy ground.

  “It is me,” I hissed, before descending the stairs into the cellar.

  “Izotz.” It was Eskarne who jumped me, wrapping her arms around my neck. I coughed, letting her know that she was cutting off my windpipe. “Oh, sorry,” she said sheepishly and let go, though she remained standing at my side.

  “I did not think you would miss me that much,” I teased and she glared back. “Well, I guess this has to be goodbye.” I did not want to leave my friends behind and it pained me to think that I might never see them again, but I knew I had to leave. There was nothing that could change that.

  Eskarne looked wretched. “You cannot just let them run you off.”

  I sighed. “I am sorry, but I have to go. This evening will just replay itself over and over until I leave, or until I die—I would prefer that I did not have to die.” She objected and I held up a hand to stop her words. “It is my choice.” She looked away, glaring murderously at the wall.

  “Are you sure you can survive on your own?” Arrats joked, trying to make the situation more bearable for us all.

  “Of course he can. It is just a matter of how long he can bear to live without our lovely personalities brightening his day.” This came from Ekaitz, who followed the words with a slap on my back.

  “Many people survive without the two of you around and never even complain,” I countered, drawing grunts from them both.

  “Are you going to look for Koldobika?” Eskarne finally asked, breaking her silence.

  I nodded.

  “How are you going to find him?” was Ekaitz’ question.

  “I have a general idea of where he ran off to.”

  “We could go with you,” Eskarne suddenly suggested.

  “No. Absolutely not.” I had not meant to sounds as harsh as I had and my friends stared back at me with interest burning in their eyes. “I cannot risk losing any of you,” I clarified, though it came out muttered.

  “It is just Caernadvall, for Lietha’s sake,” Arrats exclaimed.

  “No. I am leaving this place.”

  “What? How?”

  “She can tell you.” I glanced meaningfully at Eskarne. “But I have to leave now.”

  “Oh, you would not,” she growled. “You are not leaving me with the only answer to a question that is burning on their minds.” She stabbed a thumb over her shoulder in the direction of the boys mentioned and they watched our exchange with great curiosity.

  “What did the two of you do?” Arrats finally asked and we immediately ceased arguing.

  “Nothing,” Eskarne said. That reply only piqued their curiosity further and they folded their arms across their chests, stern questioning stared from their faces. An imposing sight, really, if you had not known them your entire life as I had. To me, the sight was almost comical.

  “You will tell them?” I asked.

  “Not a chance.”

  “It will be fine. I have to go now, though.” We said our goodbyes and Eskarne gave me a pack filled with items she said I might find useful at some point. I was surprised by how much thought she had put into the offering, and greatly appreciated it.

  “Wherever fate takes you, stay safe and remember that we will always be waiting for you to come back, so do not ever—do you hear me? Never—forget us.” I told her that I could not forget them, even if I wanted to, and then I promised to come back. Someday.

  I ascended the stairs and turned back for a moment. “Farewell.” I then disappeared like a breath of air in a rainstorm; a shadow in the evening gloom.

  Not knowing what strange apparitions or events might befall me beyond the Wall, I camped within the stretch of the long, cold tunnel, waiting for the light of day before venturing further. The green light from my eyes reflected off the walls of the tunnel as I lay there, wrapped in my cloak, and tried to sleep, but the enveloping embrace of unconsciousness was held at bay for a long while by my thoughts of recent events.

  10 OGRISH ENCOUNTER

  I stooped in the shadow of the tunnel’s mouth, surveying the dry stretch of land before me to make sure that I was alone. I still found it strange to not see just an empty abyss of nothingness beyond the Wall, as I had grown up believing was there. Again I was awed at the size of the trees before me, their shady domes rising high above the ground, reaching for the blue sky which was brightly arrayed in the colorful light of sunrise.

  I made a quick dash for the trees and stood at the base of a huge, black oak, looking around in every direction for signs of danger. As I started off I had the nagging thought that I would die within the next hour. In the distance I could still hear the cries I had heard on my first trip beyond the Wall, though this time I was more aware of their existence and with my heightened senses I could hear them more clearly and they seemed to be coming from a much closer location.

  After a quick decision I headed in the direction where I guessed I would find the mountain on which Koldobika and Alaia had parted ways, in the dream I had so long ago. I could only hope that I would come across it sometime along the path I was taking, as I followed the sun on its Westward journey.

  After hours of treading through the shadowy forest of towering black oaks I happened upon a huge, dusky clearing where the sunlight filtered weakly from the canopy above. I stopped at the edge of the clearing, surveying its edges to make sure I had not run into anything unwelcome. The floor of the clearing was covered in dark moss and black ferns, just as every other stretch of ground I had seen throughout the forest.

  While digging in my pack for a flask of water, my hand touched a cold piece of metal and I pulled out a dagger with a blade the length of my hand; my name was engraved alongside the fuller, or blood groove. The quillon and pommel were intricately carved, the hilt was wrapped in black, leather cord, and the leather sheath was the same color. Once finished with the flask, I returned it to my pack and turned my attention back to the curious dagger. I hooked the sheath to my belt and held the knif
e in my hand, admiring the carvings covering the handle. I next examined the blade; it was perfectly smooth except for the fuller and engravings, and had a mirror-like surface. I wondered where Eskarne had confiscated it from, since there was no way she could have purchased it; none of us had that kind of money.

  The soft sound of breathing startled me and I spun around to confront whatever had interrupted my train of thought. A strange beast rose eight feet tall before me, with blackened horns reaching even further above its head. As it was not attacking, I crouched, gawking at the dark, vermillion-eyed monster until it began sniffing at the air to confirm that I was the creature I appeared to be. A deep growl emanated from the creature’s snarling mouth so I cautiously slid my dagger back into its sheath—I needed a bigger weapon. The beast snorted and stomped an enormous foot into the turf. I slipped the pack off my back and whisked off my cloak, dropping it onto my pack as I called a sword from Lietha.

  Not having been able to fully explore the new inhuman abilities I had gained, I assumed that I would never have been able to outrun the creature, so my only chance of survival was to kill it, if that was possible. I envisioned my limbs being torn from my dead body and being gnawed on by the beast—definitely not the most inspiring of thoughts. The monster howled and charged me; I did the first thing that came to mind: I yelled in return and ran head-on toward it. The thought that I was about to die flashed through my mind but instantly dissipated—as did any other organized thoughts I may have had—when the beast swung his huge ax before him and I found myself in its path. Being unable to stop myself quickly enough in my mad dash, I ducked, lost my balance, and tripped. After that I did a few unplanned somersaults, ending up sprawled on my back behind my still charging opponent.

  I spun around as soon as I got back to my feet and without thinking, really, I jumped twenty feet through the air and drove my sword into the creature’s back as I landed atop it. He howled in pain and rage and I sat there somewhat dazed, giddy with elation at the feat I had just accomplished. I was startled as the creature began swaying backward and I barely had time enough to jump up and grab an overhanging branch as he keeled over onto his back. His plan must have been to crush me with his greater weight, but the plan—if plan it had been—backfired and drove my sword deeper into him. I was about to drop to the ground when the creature suddenly stood. Please, just die, already, I thought, as he sighted me and charged a second time, with one thing in mind: to take me with him when he died.

  I closed my eyes in anticipation of the creature slamming into me and knocking me to the ground, where I would die; my friends would never know what had happened to me and would still expect me to appear again in Caernadvall. I heard a bone crunching thud and a grunt, but still I hung from the branch, wondering why I had not felt the pain of a fatal blow. When the blow never came and I had hung there for a bit, I opened my eyes and looked around, but the creature was nowhere to be seen. My first thought was that I had died before the pain could register, then I wondered how the scene could possibly be the same, absent the beast. I looked down and saw my opponent’s huge body sprawled out on the ground below my feet, lying in its final resting place.

  I swung myself backward and away from the dead creature so that I would not land on it and dropped from the branch, landing silently on hands and feet. I walked over to the being and tentatively poked him with my foot, making sure he was dead. He was, so I removed my sword with a grunt, the weapon had been buried in the creature’s flesh up to the quillon. The thick liquid seeping from the beast’s deep wound was a bit darker than human blood and it began to pour freely when I removed the sword.

  I walked over to my discarded pack, which fortunately had been missed by the creature’s trampling feet and hoisted it onto my back by one of the two straps and slung my cloak over my opposite shoulder. Before leaving the clearing, I called upon Lietha to set the lifeless body on fire. Once it was no more than a pile of ashes, I made sure of the direction I was facing and began running at a speed that no human could reach.

  ~ ~ ~

  My stomach rumbled, reminding me that I had not eaten anything since the previous day, and if I wanted to keep my strength up I would have to eat soon. Once I chose a place to rest, I sat down with my back to a huge oak and ate, ridding myself of some of the more perishable food. The leaves on the tree behind me rustled as if there were a breeze blowing through them, but there was no breeze—at least none that I could feel from below. I looked into the heights of the tree and could see nothing that would disturb them; I then noticed that there seemed to be a rhythm to the whispering of the leaves. I listened to the subtle noises and realized that words were forming. Welcome, doom-slayer.

  “What did you say?”

  Welcome, friend of magic and mystery. A chill went down my spine as the slow, wispy voice continued. We have been waiting many long years for you to return to us.

  “Why have you been waiting for me?”

  You must find that out on your own, young Izotz.

  “How do you know my name?”

  We know much more than that, I am afraid. You must save us. The whispering of the wind in the leaves died out after one final, echoing word: Run. I turned and hurried off in the waning path of the sun. Through the small patches of sky that I occasionally glanced upon, peeking through the treetops, I could tell that night was steadily approaching, and though I could see perfectly well in the dark with my enhanced sight, I was still sure that I did not want to meet any more unfamiliar creatures that night, friendly or otherwise.

  I raced across the forest floor until the last rays of the sun were setting on the hidden horizon and climbed high into the reaches of one of the enormous oaks that surrounded me. I leapt from branch to branch until I was midway up the trunk, where I secured my belongings before ascending to the tree’s peak. When I reached it, I realized that my search for a good vantage point had been futile; only a few hundred feet to the West the tree-tops rose to obscure my view of anything beyond. Annoyed that I could not see my target location, I sat at the top of the tree and brooded. I could see the top of the Wall in the distance to the East, nothing but a thin, grey line above the treetops. That sight made me long for the presence of my friends and their absence gave me a hollow and lonesome feeling. Grand adventure or not, I felt miserable.

  Just as I turned to drop onto the lower branches of the tree, a spot of gold glinting in the late sun caught my eye; I turned and saw a glowing form descending toward the earth. As the mystical creatures drew closer I realized that they were a flock of sunbirds; Koldobika had said they were signs of good-luck, somewhat like the unicorns had been, though these birds were still large in quantity. The sunbirds were occasionally sighted, though not commonly by humans—because they disliked cities and thickly populated areas—and I had heard of them before Koldobika’s appearance.

  The sight of the creatures erased my despairing feelings and when they departed—flying over the trees to the West, following the sun as I was—they left me in high spirits. I climbed back down the tree and wrapped myself in my cloak, trying to find a comfortable place along the branch. Sleep was kept at bay while I wondered over the safety of my friends, who were likely falling asleep at that moment. I wondered if they were thinking of me, and if sleep was also avoiding them, all those miles away.

  11 FLIGHT

  I slipped cautiously from my perch high in the tree and landed softly on the thick moss of the forest floor. I crouched there for a moment, listening to the sounds around me to get a sense of where they were coming from. I became so entranced by the distant sounds that I failed to notice the subtle plodding of footsteps directly behind me. I only realized that I was not alone when the ground beneath me shook with the vibrations of each quiet, slow and extremely heavy step.

  My eyes flew open and the stench of rotting flesh overwhelmed me as I was gusted by the raunchy breath of whatever stood behind me. I turned my head slowly to get a look at my new company. Venom dripped from giant tusks looming to
either side of me, glowing orange like drops of molten metal and again the huge, gusting breath wafted over me. Behind the tusks, a snarling maw gaped open, releasing the foul stench. My gaze drifted upward to the face and glazed-over eyes of the creature. The milky film covering the eyes suggested that the animal was blind, but that did not mean it was helpless or that it had no knowledge of what lay at its feet. I cautiously stretched my legs to stand but the creature let out a warning growl, the venom flowing more profusely as it sensed the life in its prey and the mouth-watering prospect of gorging on fresh flesh.

  My heart raced as I realized that the only thing I could do was run. Unlike my previous encounter, this creature’s weapons were a part of its body and I had never experienced a duel even remotely similar to what could take place if I stood my ground. I also did not know what properties the beast’s venom held. Would I asphyxiate if it entered my bloodstream? Would I become paralyzed and have to sit there, feeling every pain as my flesh was ripped from my bones, while I could do nothing to defend myself? I felt much better about my prospective chances in running and I let the straps of my pack slide from my shoulders. I prayed Eskarne would understand and possibly even forgive me. I took a deep breath. And I bolted.

  The beast let out a deafening howl as it sensed the beginning of a chase and then the ground beneath my feet began to tremble as it bowled through the thick undergrowth after me. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it might burst as my leaping strides carried me so fast that everything around me was no more than a blur at the edge of my vision.