by Tony Roberts
Lace and two others stood at the far side, waving her on. They could see her struggle, and the skeletons pursuing her were gaining. They had no fear, no worries about being pitched into the water. Faer caught a shout of warning and turned.
One was a matter of ten paces away, claws reaching out to her.
TEN
Her sword came up. If she was to fall, then she would take this thing with her. A hollow victory, but she would not join their ranks. It was huge, not a Caldokian, but something else. Two-legged, two armed, no tail. A kaldeen? It had been something once, but it had fallen victim of the evil power here and had become one of them.
The day brightened and the skeleton halted. Faer faced it, breathing heavily. “Come on, let’s get it over.”
Behind it the other animated bones also stopped. As one they all slowly sank to the ground. She felt the power they emanated fade, and then suddenly she was on her own looking at just a pile of bones. There to lie until sunset when they would once more rise to wreak havoc on the living.
She breathed out in relief, slid her sword away and returned to fighting the wind. The others looked as relieved as she felt. “Lucky,” Heller greeted her, his face a scowl.
“And hello to you too,” she growled, giving him a hard look before passing him. The others greeted her in a friendlier manner.
Lace nodded at the gatehouse. “Once through there we’re out of the city. Come on, let’s go to the caves.”
They walked through one tunnel formed by the entryway, passed two rusted gates, then had to descend into a dried out moat, full of weeds, long grass, bushes and rubble. The wind dropped briefly while they were down in that, thankfully, then it redoubled its efforts once they emerged on the other side. Faer found the climb difficult, still being weak, and Heller, standing at the edge above her, regarded her for a moment, then held out a hand. She looked at him, then took it.
He pulled her up sharply and she staggered briefly, then nodded a thanks. She turned away and walked off a few steps, then sensed Heller was looking at her. She turned. “What?”
“What exactly are you doing here with us? You’re out of the city now, and the edge of the forest is just over there,” he nodded to the west. “You don’t need to be with us anymore.”
“I’m here to find the heir to the throne of Gorradan,” she said. “Finding Captain Lace, you and the others was a complete accident.”
“And destroyed our army. I won’t forget that, you know.”
“So you keep reminding me. I told you; that was Via’s doing, not mine. I’ve been trying to keep you all alive since then. Without me here none of you would have made it.”
Heller sneered. “And am I supposed to be grateful for that?”
“I doubt you know the meaning of the word,” she said and walked off, leaving Heller scowling.
Lace went up to him, slowly shaking his head. “I wish you’d stop antagonising her. We need her more than she needs us. Look at her powers, imagine taking on Jerethal’s top men without her? Think we’d have a chance?”
Heller snorted. “I’m not sure of her loyalties. She turns up with their army and defeats us, then sticks to us like a leech to an arm. How do we know she’s not somehow signalling Theruddas to keep track of us? Was her mission to find the heir or us?”
Lace squeezed Heller’s shoulder. “She’s on our side; I knew her a couple of years ago – a totally naïve girl without any sign of these powers. She got them in Kaltinar, so bear that in mind; she’s a Kaltinar protégé.”
Heller grunted. “I’ll trust her only after she’s put her sword through Capel’s throat.”
“That may come. Let’s go. I don’t want to hang about here any longer than I have to.”
They set off, the snow blowing hard into their faces, driven on by a stiff wind off the sea. It was cold, unpleasant, and hard going. The trees of the forest helped shelter them for a while, but as they passed a half-frozen waterfall, the one Lysak had mentioned, the wind came at them full-on.
The men were lost in a blinding world of white, staggering on, keeping close in single file. There was no point in sending out a scout in this weather; nothing would be out stupidly in this weather – except seven fugitives. Faer walked stolidly behind the broad shape of Lace, head bowed. She wondered what would become of them now. Somewhere out there was Theruddas and his force, probably seeking a parallel route to them. It wouldn’t take a lot of thinking to work out to sweep round the ruined city and come at it from another direction.
She was cross at herself for getting distracted from her search for her father’s quest. She vowed once this journey was over she would get to Selanic as quick as possible and resume her search for what Jarrod had left her.
That led her mind onto thinking about the struggle for the throne of the dark elves. Five royal houses, all mutually antagonistic to one another, all seeking to gain an advantage at the expense of the other four. How was it they had managed to not destroy one another up to now? Somehow her father’s house had fallen foul of some temporary alliance or some misfortune, for to be totally exiled and scattered was something exceptional. What had happened all those years ago? Would she find out? How many supporters would she finally manage to gain, if any at all?
All these things went round and round her head as she plodded on, and therefore she didn’t notice Lace stop, and she bumped into him, biting off an apology. She screwed up her face, trying to see against the driving snow, but not even her exceptional eyesight could cope with the conditions.
“No more,” Lace shook his head, “this is madness! We’ll end up getting lost and then goodness knows what kind of mess we’d be in. Come on,” he tugged the arm of the man in front of him, “let’s get shelter.”
They huddled in a group and staggered against the buffeting wind, now on their right hand side and tried to find somewhere they could get out of the blizzard. Finally they fell into a drift, the two men in front sinking up to their thighs before they knew what was happening. The others crowded around, seeking to get them out, and then it occurred to them that this was a hollow and they could get some shelter.
Piling up the snow into a makeshift wall, they lay down on the exposed grass behind it, thankful to be out of the worst of the knife-edged wind. The snow still fell on them but it was passing mostly overhead and therefore not too bad. Faer lay in between Lace and Lysak, trying to knead some feeling back into her face.
“Go on, keep doing that,” Lace said through numbed lips. “Else you’ll get frostbite. All of you, get the circulation going.” He rubbed his face, then after a few moments, lay back with a sigh. “Stupid decision to leave the forest in this but I didn’t want to remain there with those things on the loose.”
“Well we have a choice of certain death back there or hypothermia here,” Heller muttered, rubbing his feet. “Let’s put the blankets we have over us, at least we’ll be underneath this thing, and the snow lying on top will act as insulation.”
“Good idea,” Lace agreed. They got out all the spare clothing and rolled-up blankets they had between them, and formed a rough and haphazard covering for them, and soon their body warmth was keeping them at least passably comfortable. Faer’s eyes gave her better vision under the covers than the others and she grinned at the sight of the seven of them pressing together for warmth.
“The things I get up to in the outdoors,” she said. The others chuckled, glad to have someone cracking even a bad joke. Heller, though, remained quiet.
“Can you warm us up with your magic, Blade?” Polian asked, shivering.
“Sorry, I’d incinerate the covering and probably us, too. We’ll have to suffer I’m afraid.”
And suffer they did, while the storm raged above them. They used their packs as pillows, not very comfortable ones at that, while trying not to move too much as the weight of the snow on their blankets and covers increased, and the numbing cold seeped into their boots and gloves. At least their body heat kept them from getting frostbite and hy
pothermia. The only issue was one wanting to relieve themselves. It happened a couple of times and the rest moaned and complained, and the unlucky ones had to stay on the outer edge of the group as punishment once they had returned. Each time they reported the blizzard was still raging, as if the sound of it wasn’t sufficient evidence.
Finally, by mid-afternoon, the wind dropped, the snow stopped and a weak sun appeared low on the western horizon while the storm passed to the south to batter itself to destruction against the mountains there. Slowly, sluggishly, they peeled back the covering, dislodging about a hand span’s depth of snow and sat or stood up, blinking in the light. The smell of unwashed bodies rose like an evil cloud and dissipated in the clean, fresh air.
Faer stretched and flexed her legs, encouraging the flow of blood back into them. Her breath clouded the air before her. She turned full circle. It was a world of white, punctuated by dark patches of rocks, trees or other such features. She shivered and pulled up her spare clothes and shook the snow from them, beating them enthusiastically. Once clear, she folded them and put them away in her pack. The others were performing similar tasks, and they didn’t hang about.
“The cave’s not too far,” Lysak said, pointing off to the north-west. He was looking at a distant rise in the land where a small wall of rock jutted up. The others got ready. Lace looked at Heller, who shrugged.
The captain slowly came over to Faer. “Blade – you’ve been invaluable to us in getting here, and we’re all grateful. Yes, even him.” He indicated a cold-faced Heller who stood with his arms folded, glaring at her. “But I think it best from here we go our separate ways. I don’t think there’s any more need now we’re out of the forest. I know you’ve got other things to do, and I don’t want you to waste any more time coming with us on our efforts to defy the king in Gorradan. I think you’ll have to make yourself scarce until this all blows over. I can’t see Jerethal being pleased with you, can you?”
“What are you saying, Captain? Are you dismissing me?”
Lace looked uncomfortable. “It’s just that since our hideout has been destroyed, we’ve become something less than a force to defy the king. He’ll hunt us down mercilessly and you’ll be killed along with the rest of us. To save yourself, get out of here.”
Faer looked from one to the other in hurt shock. “You don’t want me to come with you – you’re just abandoning me? What about Theruddas and his army? There’s still about a hundred of them somewhere, and I can’t deal with all of them! At least with you I have a hope of surviving.”
Lace rubbed his eyes. Heller stepped forward. “Look, you’ve done your bit – and not all of it was helpful to us – so let’s say it’s enough and we can do without your so-called ‘help’ anymore.”
“Captain, you really think Heller’s right? He’s just doesn’t like me, plain and simple. But you, well, I’ve been helped by you and I have done all I can to repay your kindness. Are you really convinced I’m of no further use to you? I’m your best hope for survival, and apart we’re both so much weaker.”
Lace slapped his hands helplessly against his sides. “I can’t order you, Blade, but I don’t think you should remain with us, for your own good.”
“Oh, come on, Captain, tell her to go away!” Heller snapped, frustrated.
“And why don’t you shut up?” Faer snapped back. “If you’ve got a problem with me just come out and say it, and don’t keep on sneering behind your hand.”
Heller stepped forward so he was right before her. “I don’t like dark elves, I don’t like magic-users, I don’t like kids who think they’re something special. I don’t like you,” he jabbed his finger into her chest. “Is that enough for you? Or do you want me to write it on your stupid face?”
Faer screamed and sent a wall of force into him. Heller was picked off his feet and thrown two lengths of his body into the snow, sending a spray of it up into the air as he landed. The other men came forward, uncertain as to what to do.
Lace held up his hands. “Alright, alright, enough! Blade, don’t do that. Heller, you’ve said your bit, and it’s got under her skin.” He leaned forward and helped a dazed Heller to his feet, shedding snow. “It seems she’s more forceful than that storm.” He shook his head slowly. “Come on, I don’t want to hang about here for the night to come.”
Heller grumbled and threw off Lace’s hand and ploughed moodily through the snow to the front, taking up point. The others began to follow, slowly at first, then gradually getting into their stride. Lace eyed Faer who was breathing heavily, her face suffused with anger. “I think you really annoyed him there. Watch him; he won’t let that go.”
Faer rolled her eyes. “As if I haven’t got enough to concern me. Oh alright.” She trod on after Lace, being the back marker this time. At least that meant her route was easier, the snow being packed down by the six preceding her. From time to time she looked around, not knowing what exactly she should be doing as rearguard. It was about the tenth time she did this that she caught sight of movement off to the south. She stopped, turned fully and squinted into the distance. “Captain!”
The others turned. In the distance, a large group of people were coming their way. Theruddas had found them. Lace swung to face Lysak. “Get going! We’ve got to get to the cave now!”
They all set off, plunging into the snow, frantically making for the not so distant rock wall. Now a yawning black mouth of a cave entrance could be seen. They gauged the closing distance as the royal army converged on them. They would make it – just. Lace yelled at the others. “Run as fast as you can! Get into the caves and warn the others.”
Others? Faer looked at him in surprise. As she sprang alongside him, she looked at him accusingly.
Lace shrugged in apology. “Not now, later. If there’s opportunity,” he said grimly.
Faer looked over her shoulder. She saw the quicker members of the pursuing force were not very far away now and she could make out their faces. There were all told around ninety or so of them. Theruddas and Sherea would be there somewhere, and they were mounted. Not all of the royal army were, so they had lost some over the past few days which wasn’t surprising. Now, though, a group of horsemen were riding wide, coming in from the flank. They would cut them off before the cave entrance.
Heller saw the danger and skidded to a breathless halt, his legs and lungs on fire. He gripped his sword, prepared to die. Faer sprang forward and sent an arc of flame at the horses, causing them to rear up in fright. As the riders fought to control their plunging steeds or came to terms with being dumped on their backsides heavily, the small group of rebels staggered to the cave entrance and turned.
Lace took two or three deep breaths, swallowed, then nodded to his men. “We stand here and fight to the death. You all know your vows.”
“What is this?” Faer demanded, standing behind the front row of men. Heller was alongside her.
“We’re here to protect the heir of Gorradan,” he said.
“What…?” Faer looked at the others.
“He’s in here,” Lace said. “We had him all the time. It’s the late king’s only son. I was tasked to save him when Gorradan fell and with these men we took him away from Jerethal and his murderers. Shame they found us.”
Faer groaned. “So all this time you did have him! But here, not in the forest.”
“Yeah and it would have been alright if you’d not led those animals here,” Heller growled.
“Oh stop it, you’re boring me,” Faer said. “So this is the last stand?”
“Something like that,” Lace said.
They stopped talking, for the enemy had arrived and were dismounting or lining up. A few archers were with them, preparing their missiles. Theruddas and Sherea both arrived, dismounted and slowly came forward, a couple of guards with them. “So, we finally meet again,” Theruddas said. “This time it seems you’re trapped and there’s no escape. How pleasant,” he smiled. “And the half-wit, too. That’s a bonus.”
“T
akes one to know one,” Faer retorted. “I’m surprised you’re so far from home. Your mother should be calling you back for supper before long.”
Theruddas bared his teeth. “If that’s the best you can do, that’s a poor showing. I’ll have you beheaded and your head will be mounted on the palace gates.” He looked at Lace. “As for you, I’ll have you quartered. Traitors have no place in Gorradan.”
“Then what are you doing here?” Lace replied.
Theruddas sneered. “Your tongues will be silenced in a moment. We’ll just cut you down where you stand. Goodbye.”
“I want her,” Sherea pointed at Faer. “I have a debt to exact.”
“You can have her corpse if you like,” Theruddas said indifferently. “But she’s been a pain for too long. She dies today, here, now.” He walked back to the line of archers who were waiting for the order to loose. Sherea stood fuming for a moment, fixing Faer with a look she hoped would shrivel the half elf on the spot.
“I’ll have you burned so your body has no chance of coming back to life – one can never tell with you of dark elf blood,” she said, then followed Theruddas back to the archers.
Lace grimaced. “This is going to be short-lived.”
Faer turned to him. “How deep do these caves go?”
“A way – we’ve got three decorated comfortably for the heir. It’s a long tunnel down to a large cavern, then there’s a chasm and a narrow bridge crossing it to the far side, and then the rest of the caves are on the far side. Why?”
“Get ready to flee to them. I’m going to buy you time.”
“And what is that going to achieve?”
Faer pushed him irritably. “I can see in the dark – they can’t. Down there I’m queen. Now go!”
Lace gave her one long look then grabbed Heller. “Get going! She’s going to hold them off.”
Faer ignored the men as she closed her eyes and sucked in her stomach, willing a wall of inky darkness out of her. The men pulled away from the cave entrance just as the air around them began to darken. They plunged into the dark tunnel at the back of the cave, Lysak fumbling for his flint and lighting tools. They could see very little and only a dim light reached them, for at the entrance now a black cloud stood. Faer was within it somewhere.