by B. C. Morin
Alannah arrived at the Kingdom entrance within the hour, joining Kaleb, Tristan, and what she estimated to be a hundred or so warrior fae.
“We cannot all go on the dragons. She whispered to Kaleb as they approached Brennus.”
Kaleb chuckled under his breath.
“Brennus is sending them by foot in case Samil has the shores near the island guarded.”
“Kaleb!” Brennus shouted as he turned to face them. His eyes landed immediately on Alannah.
She was dressed in her training gear, had pulled her long hair back, and sported several more weapons than she usually did.
“Sire?” Kaleb responded, a mutual truce evident between them. “It is time.”
Kaleb turned to Tristan, who stood next to Alannah, and nodded.
“Yes!” Tristan yelled as he rubbed his hands together. They each reached into their shirts, pulling out a small wooden whistle hanging from a leather rope around their neck. They blew on the whistles but no noise was heard.
Only the response.
In the distance, the roar of the dragons echoed throughout the Kingdom, plumes of black smoke rising in the distance where they had shot fire in to the air.
Within moments, two enormous shadows circled overhead, waiting for the fae to disperse and allow them room to land. Lothaire and Dalinda landed with a thud, their tails creating clouds of smoke around the warriors, who were leaving through the gates.
Kaleb walked up to Lothaire, placing his hand on his snout. Lothaire’s large green and yellow eyes focused on him.
“I will need you to take more than one of us, Lothaire. It will be a short ride, but we need you desperately.” Lothaire eyed the surrounding group of fae, as if mulling over his decision to help. He guided himself onto the ground and lowered his head to Kaleb, in agreement. Kaleb hugged the giant and returned to the group, in order to decide who will be riding with them.
As Alannah settled in behind Kaleb, she saw a set of metallic green and blue scales, glimmering in the sun and heading towards her. Kontar settled himself on her shoulder, wrapping his tail beneath her arm, to secure himself.
“Kontar, you cannot come.” Alannah said sweetly, trying to pry the small dragon’s talons off of her, but he was mightier than he appeared. He sat firmly on her, craning his neck only so he could look at her, while he blew a cloud of smoke from his throat. “Alright, you fierce beast. You may come.”
Lothaire thrust himself up before Dalinda, carrying Kaleb, Alannah and Kontar, and Jadoc, who had volunteered himself. With Tristan sat Brennus and the fae Alannah had seen Isibeal visiting in the cabin. During the seating assignments Alannah had learned that his name was Magnar and through whispers from Tristan she learned that he had volunteered to come in place of Isibeal.
Quite peculiar, she thought to herself.
Alannah watched, as the dragons wings barely moved in the wind, though they were easily three times the size of body of the dragon on each side. Kaleb suggested that they take the route of the sea. Though it would take them slightly longer, they would be able to arrive behind the mountains on Garvis, possibly avoiding being seen.
Although, flying on the Pegasus provided quite an experience for her, being on the dragon was quite another. Lothaire took them high enough to where they could fly through the clouds, avoiding detection. It was cold in the clouds and Alannah was grateful that Anora talked her into wearing her cloak.
“Are you prepared, Alannah?” Jadoc called over her free shoulder, the one that did not have a small dragon perched on it, trembling from the cold.
Alannah looked over her shoulder, careful not to release Kaleb.
“As prepared as I will ever be, Master. Thanks to you.”
Jadoc inclined his head to her and she thought she saw him smile.
Alannah reached over to her shoulder, coaxing Kontar to sit between her and Kaleb. It didn’t take much for him to realize he would be warm there, and he crawled his way down clawing onto her straps and weapons.
Dalinda flew up alongside them, and although there was a bit of distance between the dragons, from their wing span, Alannah was able to see the determination in Brennus’s eyes.
We’re coming for you Evy, She whispered in her mind.
“Kaleb, how will we know the exact location?” Alannah leaned in, careful not to crush Kontar, who had curled into a little ball and had been lulled to sleep by the rhythmic flapping of Lothaire’s wings.
“We do not know the precise location, but we know it is in the mountains. By what Driscal was able to gather, Samil only knows the same. Though we do not know how long he has been there, if he has already reached it.” He answered, shaking his head.
Alannah looked in the far distance, and was barely able to see mountains of Garvis through the clouds. The enormity of the mountains caused her to realize just how difficult this could become.
They had only been in the air an hour or two, before the dragons came in behind the mountains. They had managed to find a small cliff and one at a time, they started to unload their passengers. Though it took prying tiny dragon claws from her baldric, Alannah managed to convince Kontar to wait with Lothaire and Dalinda.
They waited for the others, then began to make their way along the deadly trails along the mountains.
Brennus grabbed Alannah by the hand, pulling her behind the others. He put a hand on her face, looking into her emerald eyes, which glimmered with a hope, and determination, that was not there before.
“I did not want you here.” He said bluntly, his voice, echoing hurt.
“I would not have stayed in Anrad, Brennus. Nothing you could have done would have kept me from trying to save my sister.” She grabbed hold of his hands and pressed her face into his palms. “I will be fine.”
Brennus sighed, defeated.
“Stay by me so that I can see you and be sure you are not in danger.”
Alannah shook her head and took her place, at the front, between Brennus and Kaleb, before they continued forward.
“Anyone know what in the five Kingdoms we are looking for?” Tristan called out from behind Kaleb.
“An entrance to a pathway within the mountains, a cave, anything that could contain the hidden scroll.”
* * * * * *
Evyette awoke to the same growls and strange noises, which she attempted to block out, as Samil told them they were going to camp for the night. Even the great Samil knew that it would not be a good idea, trampling around this strange land in the dark. He’d had Maligo perform an invisibility spell that would last the whole night, which almost knocked Maligo unconscious. Evyette wondered for a moment where the other Drow were that they had brought with them, but decided that Samil might have them guarding the shores.
Sleep came in small intervals, since she was constantly afraid that she would wake up with Samil holding a knife to her throat. As soon as Samil felt that the others had had enough rest, he gathered them up and began trekking through the forest, which seemed to be made more out of mutated plant life than trees. The ferns and lavender plants were the same size they were, and the coral bell leaves hung over them like giant makeshift roofs. For some reason, the strange size of the plants, that were normally small where she lived, made her nervous. Again she heard the roar filling the air around them and she was grateful that they had almost reached the foot of the mountain.
Maligo walked strangely close to her, almost protectively, and though she was still working through her feelings concerning him, she did not mind the extra protection. As they approached the foot of the mountain, the ground beneath them began to shake. Then again. At first she thought it was the island, but the rhythm of the shakes told her otherwise.
“Quickly!” Samil called, as he began to scale the sides of the mountain that was thankfully laden with cliffs and trees. The two Drow guards of his followed behind him.
Evyette placed her boot on the first small ledge and pulled herself up, her arms trembling from the lack of food in her body. As soon as ther
e was room, Maligo placed his foot on the first ledge to make his climb. Just when he grabbed the rocks above him to pull himself up, a huge beast pounced out from the mutant plants and planted itself in front of the Dorchae. They drew their swords, but it was obvious that they would be no match for this animal.
The appearance reminded her of the demon wolf that she had encountered in the Aberrant woods, near the Kingdom of the Magi, only this wolf-like creature was four times the size of the demon wolf. It roared, looking up at the fae that had already begun to climb the mountain. It looked to be angry that some had escaped.
“Risfen!” Maligo yelled as he hastily began making his way up to Evyette.
“What?” She called out as she measured how far she was from the animal, trying to determine if she was safe.
“Risfen.” He said as he stopped next to her trying to pull air into his lungs. “I had only heard legends. The Demon Wolves are merely descendents. These are the original creatures.”
Just then, the Risfen craned his neck back, roaring again, exposing four sharpened fangs on the top and bottom set of teeth, as he swiped at the Dorchae with its enormous claws.
Despite their distance, Evyette heard the bones cracking on the Dorchae that was hit first. The other warily got up and charged at the Risfen, but the creature knocked him down and, while holding him with his paw, closed his jaw on the Dorchae.
With blood covering the white fur around his mouth, he looked up, prompting the remaining survivors to clamor for higher ground. The Risfen made a quick meal of the Dorchae, before he began pacing the foot of the mountain. He positioned himself below them and made a jump, catching his hind leg onto a ledge, giving him just enough leverage to swipe at the group.
Evyette and Maligo ducked, pressing themselves against the mountain, the claw just barely missed them.
“Go!” He yelled at her as she began to climb again.
The Risfen paused a moment, gauging the distance between them. This animal is unusually intelligent, Evyette thought to herself.
Just as Maligo was pulling himself up on the next ledge, the Risfen jumped up, lashing his paw at them again, this time catching Maligo on the ledge.
Maligo yelped in pain, holding on with one hand, while he pointed his staff at the creature.
“Incendium!” The white fur on the Risfen burst into flames and he threw himself from his perch, running off into the woods, his roars and howls filling the air around them.
“Are you alright?” Evyette reached out her hand, helping Maligo onto the ledge on which she was standing. He pulled off his robe and threw it to the ground, exposing the back of his leg that had been slashed from the knee all the way around and to his ankle.
Evyette began chanting a healing spell, but the cut was too deep for it to take effect well.
Maligo reached for a vial at his belt, popped the cork off, and before Evyette could read the label, he had drunk it, and crashed the glass onto the cliff below them. The bleeding slowed, but did not stop completely.
Evyette rushed to the robe on the floor and began tearing at the fabric. She created several bandages from torn pieces, and wrapped them around his leg before helping him back up.
Samil looked down at them from the ledge in which he stood. His eyes filled with disgust, and at the same time, perhaps envy, thought Evyette.
“If he cannot keep up, then we will have to leave him. I cannot waste time.”
Samil spoke, his tone even.
“He is hurt!” Evyette yelled at him.
“And I have granted you the time to assist him. Now we move forward at the pace required, or I push him off the cliff myself, for slowing me down.” Samil’s black eyes bore into Evyette and she knew that there was no humor in his words. He was quite capable of doing that to the one who brought him back from Hell.
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Chapter 25
Alannah quickly reached for the belt at Brennus’s waist, upon hearing the roar and howls that suddenly surrounded the island. “What was that?”
Brennus glanced over his shoulder.
“On this island, your guess would be as good as mine.” He raised his eyebrows at her.
“My guess is whatever that was, it might have just had a run in with our friends.” Tristan shot over Kaleb’s shoulder, as they maneuvered around a tree that had taken up most of the ledge they were trying to pass.
“If that is so, then they are no closer than we are, and we still have a good chance of stopping them and saving Evyette.” Kaleb spoke this time, nervous to speak Evyette’s name in front of Tristan.
“Alright, this may seem like a ridiculous question and all, but why are we not flying around the mountain instead?” Tristan shouted, clearly annoyed at the time it was taking to maneuver the mountain.
“Because, with all the various trees covering the mountainside, it would be impossible to see if any of them are covering any entrances unless we are close.” Jadoc answered plainly.
“Oh.”
“Let us also not mention the fact that if we are flying about, we risk being seen and possibly shot down by Samil, or Maligo when we are not looking. But if you would still like to, feel free, Tristan.” Brennus said with a smirk.
“Funny, Brennus. Very humorous.” Tristan sulked.
“Just making sure you have the option.” Brennus laughed as he proceeded forward.
Alannah looked around, surveying the tree tops, and on two occasions she was able to see two red eyes peering at her, but she could not make out the bodies to which they belonged. It was frightening not knowing what species of animal lived on this island. The ledge widened for a good length in front of them as they made their way down the back and side of the mountain.
“This is starting to feel impossible.” Alannah grunted, as she wiped some sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand. She walked over to an open space in between two trees and threw herself against the shaded stone of the mountain.
“Brennus!” Alannah yelled, as she fell straight through what she thought was the side of the mountain. She just barely grazed Brennus’s fingertips, when he reached for her, but she had already begun her descent. The passage was steep and dark and not at all smooth. Twice, her legs were thrown over her head, and she felt the scrapes of sharp stones against her arms and head.
“Hmpf!” Alannah’s breath was stolen by the cold floor, which unwelcomingly greeted her back.
“Alannah!” Her name echoed through the passageway, where she had just tumbled through.
“Levis.” Alannah whispered, as she sat up and crawled over to the end of the passage. “I’m alright!” She yelled up, listening to her echo carry the message up. “It’s too steep to climb back up.”
“Then we are coming in after you. Do not move.” Brennus called down as he unbuckled his baldric and wrapped it around his hand, so his sword would not hinder his descent.
After only a few moments, Brennus’s black boots slammed into the ground.
“Alannah.” He ran to the Princess, the floating ball of light illuminating her bloodied face, from the gash in her forehead. “Sanare.” Brennus whispered as he cupped her face and watched the wound begin to close.
“Is it bad?” Alannah looked up, staring into his grey eyes, which by the light of her magic, shone silver.
He smiled as he wiped the blood from her face.
“Not anymore.”
“Tender moment, but we need to figure out where to go from here.” Tristan said as he rubbed his hands against his sore bottom. “Whomever created that entrance did not have comfort in mind.”
Brennus raised his eyebrow.
“This is not an entrance, nor exit, for anyone, or anything, that does not have wings.”
“Oh.” Kaleb began looking around, though he was not sure what he was looking for.
The walls of the cave rounded towards the ten foot ceiling, and were smooth to the touch and shone a light grey, below the light of the magic that floated ahead of them. It wa
s sending out sparks of blue light every few moments.
“I have never seen a light orb do that.” Kaleb said lowly to Master Jadoc and Magnar as they walked behind Tristan.
“Neither have I, but I would assume that it has to do with young Miss Alannah’s power.” Jadoc furrowed his brow. “I am beginning to wonder if this mountain will be able to contain her, should she have to use her power.”
Kaleb looked at Jadoc, concerned, but did not say a word. The group followed the cave into an opening littered with bones, with a large nest, easily big enough for two or three of them to sit in, resting in the corner.
“I think we should keep moving since I have no intention of finding out what creature this belongs to.” Brennus called out to the group that had stopped to inspect the bones lying at their feet.
He swung his sword around in his hand, preparing himself to turn into the next passage that was not as tall as the one they had just come from. Brennus held up his hand signaling for all behind him to stop as he listened to a shuffling sound coming from up ahead. He pushed the orb of light forward and was able to see a pair of low set luminescent green eyes with a black slit in the center staring at him.
“What is-“
Before he could finish his sentence, the green eyes disappeared from sight, but the shuffling got louder.
“Stay back.” He called over his shoulder.
When he looked back, the green eyes were closer to the ceiling now and the lids were partially closed as if they were focusing on him. A loud hiss filled the passage followed by a hot liquid hitting Brennus square in the shoulder, burning through his leather vest and part of his baldric.
“What is that?!” Brennus turned his nose at the stench of the fluid on his vest.
“Levis!” Kaleb and Tristan shouted simultaneously, shooting two orbs of light into the passage in front of Brennus and illuminating the hall. Twelve sets of glowing green eyes focused on them. Large lizard like creatures were scattered about the passage, some on the ground, and others somehow gripping onto the ceiling, and walls. Above their eyes began a trail of spikes that circled around the head and down their back, until they ended in a large spike at the very end of their tail. Their skin was sickly grey in color which was why it was difficult to see them in minimal light, since they blended with the walls.