by Pedro Urvi
He had seen him. Now began the most complicated part, and the one where everything was at stake.
Camu. Give it to him.
I give, his friend replied. He put the scarf in Molsen’s hands, which were tied behind his back.
Lasgol saw the Ranger grasp what was wrapped in the scarf and hidden from sight: Lasgol’s knife. Molsen could not see behind the stake, and made no attempt to. Without wasting a moment, he seized the knife with both hands and placed it so that the sharp edge was against the rope which tied his hands. He began to cut through it with rapid up-and-down movements. Lasgol meanwhile was keeping his eyes on the Wild Ones. The situation was going to become complicated at any moment.
Ona. Bring down, he ordered mentally, and pointed to the nearest Wild One, who had his back to them.
The panther gathered speed with a short run and leapt on the unsuspecting Wild One. Even though he was so huge, the impact was such that he fell forward on top of two of his companions. The three of them collapsed, leaving only one standing and staring at Ona with eyes wide as saucers. It took him a moment to react to the attack, since he could not believe that a snow panther had attacked them there, in the village, beside the fire.
Ona. Run away, Lasgol ordered her. He was pointing to the west, the opposite direction from Molsen.
Ona obeyed the order and shot off like an arrow.
The Wild One finally reacted, reached for his axe and ran after her. The others stood up, seized their weapons and ran after the panther with cries that sounded like curses. Lasgol knew they would never catch her, because she was too fast and agile for those behemoths. He had had a hard job teaching Ona the order Run Away, because the good creature would always come back once the lesson was over. This order was different: she had to run away, and escape instead of coming back. As it was the first time they had tried it for real, he was anxious that she might not do it. If she came back to him, they were lost. He trusted she would do as he had taught her. She was very clever and good. She would do it.
Molsen freed himself and fell to his knees on the snow, then crawled across the ground until he was out of the lighted area and within the shadow of one of the houses. Lasgol went around the shadowed area to reach him and dragged him a few paces on until they were completely hidden in the darkness.
“Thanks…”
“Don’t thank me yet. We’ve got to get away.”
“Ranger?”
“Yes. Lasgol Eklund.”
“Molsen…”
“I know. Don’t talk. Can you walk?”
Molsen shook his head.
“I’ll carry you.
Camu, north. Watch.
Watch. North. Camu obeyed and passed by the two Rangers. Lasgol could see his footprints on the snow. He took his knife and scarf back from Molsen’s hands, took his arm and put it over his own shoulder to lift him. He could barely stand. Lasgol held him tightly by the arm and waist and led him away, nearly dragging him. Very carefully, they went between two houses, and now he had to cross an open space.
Camu, see anyone?
Not see.
Lasgol pulled Molsen, and they crossed the open space. Immediately they passed between two other houses, seeking out the shadows so that they could go on northward. Molsen was heavy, but all the physical training Lasgol had had to do was now paying off. It was not very hard to carry the other man, and he was pretty sure he could do it all day if necessary. They went between two other houses, and he saw the forest a hundred paces away. They were almost there. He walked faster and carried Molsen away, almost giving him a piggyback ride as he did so.
Wild One, came the message from Camu.
Lasgol stopped and hid. Where?
North. East. Come.
This meant that he was approaching from the northeast. He turned at once and set off northwest. The footsteps of a Wild One sounded, very close, but he did not stop. He flattened himself against the side of the last house between them and the forest.
Wild One. Stop.
Lasgol stopped breathing and put his hand over Molsen’s mouth. The Wild One had stopped. Had he heard them? If so, they would have to run. With Molsen in that state it would be difficult. He waited tensely, his heart beating so hard he could feel it in his ears. He knew the Wild One was only a few paces away.
Camu. Make a noise to the east. Don’t let him see you. Just attract his attention.
I make noise.
Suddenly Lasgol heard a kind of shrill scream.
Not so loud!
You say noise.
Only for that Wild One to hear, not the whole camp!
All not hear.
Lasgol could not believe it. Don’t stay there. Change position.
The Wild One went to investigate the strange scream and reached the spot where Camu had been when he had uttered it. He was not there, but his footprints were. The Wild One saw them and began to follow them.
Wild One follow trail me.
Escape!
I well.
What do you mean, well?
The Wild One came to the end of the trail, where the tracks vanished. He looked in every direction, scratching his head.
I on roof.
Lasgol breathed out heavily.
Wait there until the Wild One leaves.
Wild One stupid. No danger.
They’re not stupid, and don’t be too confident!
You go.
Lasgol could not stay to help him. He had to trust that the creature was clever enough to get out of there on his own. He held Molsen tightly and slipped out toward the forest. He reached the first trees, but did not stop until he was deep inside. Molsen fainted, so that he had to sling him over his shoulder and go on further into the snow-covered forest. He needed to put a distance between himself and the village.
He only hoped his two companions were all right.
Chapter 16
At the end of the forest he left Molsen leaning against a tree. When he checked him he looked pretty bad, but he was still alive, and Lasgol sighed in relief. He waited a moment to see if Camu and Ona would appear, but they did not. Despite his worry, he could not wait for them; Molsen’s life was at stake. He slung him over his shoulder, then under cover of the forest he made his way to the meeting point.
There were no cries of alarm, so he guessed that either his companions had not yet been located, or else they had not realized the Ranger had fled. This gave him wings, and he crossed an open area and went into another forest as fast as he could. He kept up a good pace, considering that he was carrying a Ranger on his back. Stealth and speed were the keys to getting out of there alive. He was obliged to circle the village under the protection of the trees and shadows to reach the spot where Isberson and Elkmun were waiting.
“May lightning strike me!” Elkmun said when he saw him. “I can’t believe my eyes!”
“How on earth did you do it?” Isberson asked in utter disbelief.
Lasgol laid Molsen on the ground. “It’s difficult to explain. Help me with him. He’s badly wounded.” He set to work on Molsen’s most serious wounds. From his Ranger’s belt he took out the healing potions and ointments he always carried for situations like this. There was not much time, since at any moment the Wild Ones would sound the alarm, and then things would turn really nasty.
Elkmun and Isberson were veterans and knew very well what to do with somebody wounded. They disinfected and stitched up the ugliest cuts, then bandaged them as best they could. Between the three of them, they managed to deal with the most urgent ones. The unconscious Ranger was not aware of anything, which was a blessing as it meant he did not suffer in the process. All the same, for an injured person to lose consciousness was not a good sign. He could easily fail to wake up again if the wounds were serious, and all three of them knew this.
“Bring him around,” Lasgol said to the two veterans. At the same time, he was gathering together the ointments and potions and putting them away.
The two soldiers brought him t
o ruthlessly. A few shakes and a good slap did the trick. They gave him water. Molsen was grateful for the liquid of life and looked around, trying to understand what was happening to him.
“Just water isn’t going to help him go on walking,” Elkmun said. He brought out a metal flask with strong spirit in it. “Drink this, it’ll do you good.”
“You’re going to give him alcohol?” Lasgol asked. His tone suggested that he did not think it was a good idea.
“We haven’t got time to prepare one of those restoring potions like the ones you know how to make.”
“No, there’s no time…” Lasgol had to admit.
“Well, this is almost as good. It’ll have to do.”
Molsen took two gulps and began to cough.
“He’s beginning to warm up.”
Isberson was looking worriedly in the direction of the village. “We’ve got to get out of here before they sound the alarm.”
“Yeah. Let’s get moving,” said Elkmun.
“You two go ahead. I have to wait for my panther.”
Elkmun stared at him in disbelief. “Your panther? As soon as they give the alarm, this place will swarm with Wild Ones.”
“Take Molsen to the camp and the captain. I’ll wait for my panther, then search the area to see if there’s any other settlement. When I’ve finished, I’ll join you back at the camp.”
Isberson and Elkmun exchanged a glance and shrugged.
“As you like,” said Elkmun. “But if I were you, I’d leave that panther behind and get out of here as fast as I could.”
“I don’t leave my partners behind.”
Isberson tried to get him to change his mind. “It’s not your partner, it’s an animal. Come on, come with us.”
“She’s my Familiar.”
“As you like. See you at the camp,” Elkmun said. His tone of voice suggested that he did not believe Lasgol would make it. Isberson shook his head.
“I’ll see you there. Get going, and make sure he gets there alive.”
The two soldiers picked up the wounded Ranger between them and carried him away to the south.
Lasgol watched them disappear into the distance and stayed where he was, waiting. Ona and Camu were his family. He would never leave them behind, no matter how dangerous the situation.
He used his Gift and sent a message without any specific direction, since he did not know where his friends were and could not catch their mental aura. Generally, he could send them messages over a short distance without needing to see them physically, or their auras. But as the distance increased, the messages began to stop getting through. There was a maximum distance for sending them: he thought it was about a hundred paces, but he was not exactly sure. He was still working to increase it, but it was turning out to be a difficult thing to do. In addition, he had trouble sending and receiving messages if there were buildings of solid rock in the way, or caves.
I’m at the meeting point. I’m waiting for you. Come to me.
There was no reply. He tried again, and this time he used more energy, seeking to amplify the distance so that his message would reach farther. He concentrated and sent it toward the village, visualizing the range spreading further and further.
I’m at the meeting point.
Nothing. No reply.
He used another of his skills: Animal Presence. This had a far smaller range of action, so he was not surprised when he failed to detect his two friends, although he was able to sense several animals in the vicinity.
All of a sudden, he heard a thunderous yell, which he recognized at once as a cry of alarm. An instant later another voice joined the first, and these were followed by several more. The Wild Ones began to emerge from their huts, startled. They armed themselves and began to form groups. Several patrols set off at once, searching the whole village. Other Wild Ones gave orders with cavernous shouts. These must be the chiefs; the others did as they were told.
Lasgol nervously readied his compound bow. Camu, Ona! Come to me! he called again.
Movement in the village and the surroundings was now widespread. He could see Wild Ones spreading in every direction.
Come on, quickly!
Suddenly he saw a group of five Wild Ones heading straight to where he was. They were going to find him out! But even so, he did not move. This was the meeting-point, and he had to wait for Ona and Camu. The Wild Ones were moving toward him from the snow-covered plain, armed with huge axes. Seeing them so close, with their bluish bodies and their fearsome axes, Lasgol felt fear: a fear that warned him of imminent death. But he kept it under control. Fear could be an ally if it could be controlled. His father Dakon had taught him that, and he remembered it well.
He fell to one knee, hidden between two trees, and aimed as the Wild Ones came into the forest. His time was running out, and so was his luck. One of them sensed him, not by sight but by scent. He pointed towards him and shouted, and the other four began to run toward him.
Lasgol released.
The arrow hit the first one in the chest. The tip broke, and there was a small explosion. A gas spread out until it reached the four: Summer Slumber. The Wild One who had been hit fell to the ground, unconscious. The two closest to him took two steps and fell in their turn. The last one kept running, apparently unaffected by the gas. Lasgol released again, hitting him in his right leg. The Wild One went on running. This time Lasgol got him in the left leg, and between the gas and the two arrows he managed to slow him down. He nocked an Earth Arrow and hit him in the face. The explosion of earth and smoke blinded him. Amid guttural screams he fell to the ground and was left stunned.
The last of the Wild Ones ran toward Lasgol like a raging bull. He nocked an Air Arrow, released and hit him in the chest. The electrical discharge which followed rose to his head. The Wild One howled in pain and terror, lost his sense of direction and crashed into a tree with all the momentum of his run. He rebounded backward from the massive impact and was left prone in the snow, half knocked-out.
Wild One stupid. Fun, came a message.
Camu!
His friend became visible beside him.
Lasgol hugged him tightly. Where were you?
I with Ona.
Where is she?
East.
Lasgol turned and saw her coming at a run from that direction. Ona. Here.
The panther came to Lasgol’s side and he hugged her too. Let’s get out of here.
They ran off to the south as if Snow Ogres were after them. Behind them they could hear the shouts of the Wild Ones.
Happy? Camu asked him as they fled.
Happy? Why? Lasgol asked, not understanding.
I bring Ona.
What do you mean, you brought her?
She on other side of the forest. I bring.
How did you bring her?
Message.
You communicated with her?
Yes. I send messages.
Lasgol did not know whether to scold Camu or not. He had told him not to do it, but then if he had not done it, they would probably not have gotten out of there alive.
Well done!
I smart.
Sure, and handsome.
Handsome much.
Lasgol nearly burst out laughing, but the effort of the run uphill through the trees made it impossible. Camu was amazing, in all his facets. Lasgol was very proud of him, he had looked after Ona and brought her back to him. The panther still did not understand the logic of mind-messaging, and she was too young to grasp certain situations. Camu had saved the day.
Always look after your sister.
Ona good. I look after.
That’s the way I like it.
They went on running until Lasgol’s legs and lungs gave up. Luckily the Wild ones were not exactly fast, with those great hulking bodies to move. Lasgol let himself collapse against a tree and panted, trying to draw air into his lungs without choking with the effort. Camu and Ona rested beside him. Ona did not seem tired at all, but Camu, like L
asgol, was suffering from the strain of the escape.
They rested, just enough to recover and be able to go on. Lasgol took out the map of the land and calculated approximately where they were. He considered tracking to the west, and noticed that he was not far from one of the areas Eyra had marked where he could find the plant she had requested. Since he had to track the area anyway, he decided it would be a good idea to do both tasks at the same time. They set off to the west at a much more relaxed pace. They had left the Wild Ones behind, and there was no reason to believe they were still being pursued. But seeing that a wary man lives longer, he decided not to take any risks.
Camu, you stay about a hundred paces behind to check we’re not being followed. If you see any Wild Ones, run to warn me.
I watch, he transmitted, and lagged behind.
Don’t be too confident, and keep yourself camouflaged.
Yes. Camouflage.
Lasgol went on walking, and this time he addressed his Familiar: Ona. Track, and indicated that she should do so ahead of him, also a hundred paces or so away.
The panther acquiesced with a small growl. With Camu covering the rear and Ona the front, Lasgol felt a great deal safer. They went on until noon without coming across any trail of the Wild Ones. They rested a while; Camu fell asleep and so did Lasgol. Ona kept watch. Having partners who could share the watch was a great help. Camu needed to sleep, not just to recover from the physical effort but from using his skill to keep himself camouflaged for long periods.
After their break, restored to some extent, they set off again. Lasgol wanted to find the Undying Bell, the plant Eyra had asked him to bring back. Since it was very uncommon, it would be hard to locate. He tracked the whole area Eyra had marked on the map, but, as he had feared, he could not find it, even though he inspected every new plant he saw. Ona accompanied him and sniffed the plants curiously. Camu was not interested in plants unless they were edible. Then he was, and very much so.
He had an idea and communicated it to Ona. Ona. Search, he said, and pointed to a plant. A plant with a yellow-orange flower, with a long stem, more than three hands tall and with a white tip, in the form of a bell.