by Adam Watson
Aiden looked down at the branch he was kneeling on. Stupid branch! You almost undid everything. He continued on, Greegan now nearing the spear halves - this was a crucial part of the capture.
“Now!” Greegan shouted as he quickly grabbed the pointed spear half, and threw it just over ten yards to Aiden. Aiden jumped to his feet just in time to catch it - this was not the first time they had been in this situation. The boar took off squealing.
“Damn it!” Aiden shouted, now he had no choice but to run after the boar. Greegan, being a slow runner was soon left behind.
Faster and faster the boar ran, grunting and squealing all the way. Many thoughts ran through Aiden’s mind as he chased on, the foremost being 'Boy, this boar can really run!' The chase went on. Up ahead Aiden could see what he had been dreading; it was the same thing boar hunters from all around the region dreaded - ‘The Swamplands’ - and the edge was right ahead.
The Amalician Mire, also known locally as ‘The Swamplands’ was the place where the grasslands of Amalicia’s plains turned into the marshy wastelands of the mire, and if that boar made it into the swamp, he would surely lose it.
Only going to get one shot at this, he thought. Got to make it count! Aiden threw the spear with all his might, he watched as the spear hurtled towards its prey. Right on target, he thought, but then, somehow as if knowing the spear was upon him, the boar let out an almighty squeal and leapt into the air. Aiden watched in disbelief as the spear sunk into the ground behind its prey.
“What the ...?!” yelled Aiden, he could not believe it, the boar had escaped him yet again. “I will not be outsmarted by a boar!” The rage built up within and gave Aiden his second wind, he stepped up the pace and started running faster than he had ever run before.
The boar seemed to be tiring now, but the mire was only a few yards ahead. Aiden could see how close it was, but now he was actually making ground. Faster! I must run faster! Just a little bit more! The boar made it to the swamp, mud splashing around its little legs. Aiden was right behind, and in one almighty leap, he dived onto the boar’s back - the boar squealed and grunted like a pig possessed.
Aiden dragged it to the ground, but the constant thrashing loosened his grip, enough that the boar could stand again. Aiden was frantic, he knew if he lost his grip completely, it would all be over and the boar would surely escape. He desperately tried to hold on tighter, but could only manage to grasp the hair on its back, the boar started running again; dragging Aiden through the mud.
Aiden held on, though he felt very undignified; not only was he being dragged through the slimy, black sludge of the mire but with every step the boar took, it would fling more mud into his face. He was soaked, shrubs and bushes were slapping him in the face, and at one stage the boar jumped over a fallen log to which Aiden promptly followed; causing much pain and indignation - somehow he managed to hold on.
Suddenly there was a big drop; the boar had dragged them down the side of a small hill. They both screamed together as they tumbled and rolled. Aiden lost his grip, but he could still hear squealing in the background, even whilst rolling down the side of a hill all Aiden could focus on was catching the boar. When I stop rolling, I’m going to jump up and … ‘BANG!!’ Everything went black.
He could feel his heart racing at a million miles an hour. Aiden groaned and slowly staggered up, his ears were ringing, everything seemed a blur. What’s happening? He wiped the mud from his eyes and tried to hold his head still. Was running … fell … tripped … no fell … rolled … downhill into tree … that tree. Aiden looked at the tree, and yes, the tree was real. Was running … no chasing …chasing …
“Wild boar!” he yelled aloud, suddenly the pain disappeared and everything came into focus. He was alert and he knew what he had to do, he had to find that boar. He looked to the left, he looked to the right, he looked behind him, he looked all around and there it was … right in front of him, lying on the ground - one wild and extremely filthy boar. It seemed to be all right, but it was panting like it was completely exhausted.
With the last ounce of his strength, Aiden tried to dive onto the boar, but instead, he just landed face down in the mud. He then crawled the remaining distance and latched onto the boar’s back. The boar seemed to no longer care and just laid there, trying to recover from the fall, and although Aiden now had a hold of the boar, he had no strength left to do anything about it, so he too just lay there - attached.
After a short period of time Aiden could hear rustling in the bushes, then the splashing of footsteps through the marsh.
“Two pigs in a pod,” came a voice from above. Aiden looked up, and of course it was Greegan - he had finally caught up. Aiden looked at the boar, which then did the strangest thing. It turned its head back towards Aiden as though smiling and then in the poshest voice Aiden had ever heard it spoke.
“Why, he’s insulting both of us.” Aiden released his grasp and flung himself backwards as though repelled by some horrid stench. ‘YOWL!’ The boar took off like lightning and disappeared into the dense growth of the swamp.
“What are you doing?” barked Greegan. “You just let him go?”
“Did you hear that?” Aiden yelled back.
“Hear what?” Greegan asked as he helped Aiden to his feet.
“It said …”
“What?” asked Greegan, breaking in. Aiden paused a moment, clearing his head.
“You didn’t hear it?”
“Hear what?” Aiden thought about what he was saying; it was crazy, and if Greegan didn’t hear it, it'd sound even crazier - wild boars do not talk.
“Oh … nothing,” he lied.
“What happened? You just let it go, I was almost here.” They started to climb back up the hill.
“I don’t know, I think it almost bit me.” Aiden didn’t know what to think, he was sure the boar had spoken to him, but he couldn’t say so … it was impossible. “Let’s just go home,” he continued. It was the first time Aiden could remember being afraid in the swamp; sure it looked scary, but he had grown up not far from here. He had ventured through the mire many times. However, nothing quite so strange or inexplicable had ever happened before, and right now Aiden just wanted to get out of there.
***
It was nearing dusk when the two brothers finally arrived home, they had travelled many miles and were weary. Greegan’s feet hurt and his calves ached, he was tired and wanted to go to bed. Aiden looked like he’d been through every one of the Seven Hells; dried mud was caked all over him, his hair was swept back, and his walk … was like that of an old man.
Ahead of them, they could see their father, and even from this distance it was easy to tell that Kane was a mighty man. A solid block of pure muscle, almost as tall as Greegan, he looked like he was carved from granite. He was strong, very strong and every muscle on his body bulged. He had spent most of his life as an elite soldier in the royal army, where he had built up his strength and conditioned his body.
He had only recently retired from the Royal Army after many years of loyal service and turned his hand to blacksmithing. He figured the long hours of forge-work and all the heavy lifting associated, would keep him in shape.
He was untying his horse ‘Thunder’ - a magnificent black stallion with a fierce demeanour but paused when his two sons approached. When the brothers finally reached their father, Greegan was the only one to stop.
“Don’t even ask!” snapped Aiden. “I don’t want to talk about it,” he continued, walking straight past his father.
“What in the Seven Hells happened to him?” asked Kane, curiously.
“Chased a wild boar into the mire,” replied Greegan. Kane sniggered; a little outburst of laughter.
“Did he chase the boar or did the boar chase him?” asked Kane, still chuckling. Greegan hadn’t really thought about the humour of the situation until this moment, but as he watched his father laugh, his own little snicker started to build up inside. “I mean, did you see the hair?” Kane lea
nt against the side of his horse, laughing so hard, he had to hold himself up with the reins. Greegan burst out laughing too, he couldn’t help it; the sight of his father in hysterics was too much.
Aiden could hear them laughing in the background. Well, that’s just great, he thought as he opened the back door and peered in. I wonder where Mother is, if she sees me like this, she’ll have a fit!
“Aiden?” came a call from the kitchen. Here we go … let the lecture begin. “I made a bath for you.” Aiden shook his head, somehow his mother always knew just what he needed, at any given time.
“Thank you, Mother,” he yelled. How could she possibly know I needed a bath? This sixth sense that his mother seemed to have had always caused him an internal paradox. On the one hand, Aiden appreciated it; she was right, there was nothing he wanted or needed more than a nice hot bath, but on the other hand, it infuriated him; how did she know these things? I mean, that's not normal, but even as he had that thought, he slipped off his clothes and jumped into the bath.
“Dinner will be ready for you when you get out Aiden,” informed Deanna, poking her head into the room.
“Thank you, Mother,” answered Aiden. I really wish she wouldn’t do that. I mean, it was lucky I was in the bath and not still getting undressed or even worse … walking around naked. “I appreciate that.”
“Good, don’t be too long,” and she left the room. Aiden leant back in the bath. Ooh, that feels so good. Just letting those aching muscles unwind was enough to please Aiden right now.
He closed his eyes and thought about the day, it had started off all right; nice and quiet. Then there were those boar tracks, Aiden shook his head at that - boars were not his favourite animals right now. Five hours to track a boar from fresh tracks? That was unheard of in his world. Oh, they are definitely getting smarter. He wondered how that could be, as he started washing the grime off of his face.
Then there was the fight with Greegan; another good spear down the long drop. He shook his head at that too, there was nothing worse than needlessly destroyed equipment. Then a thought popped into his mind, how could he forget? ‘Why, he’s insulting both of us.’ The boar had definitely spoken to him, but how was such a thing possible? He had no idea. Greegan claimed he never even heard it, and he was right there. Aiden wondered if he was going crazy. If I were going insane, I wouldn’t know it, would I? Because if I knew I was insane, I wouldn’t be insane, that’s defying the whole concept.
And so it went on like this, the thoughts inside Aiden’s mind, one question led to another, and that question led to another and meanwhile neither question was getting answered.
In the end, Aiden just laid back and relaxed with his eyes closed, he forgot all of his problems, but one thought remained. It was a simple thought, and nothing sounded better at that moment. I will sleep well tonight.
***
Later, Aiden awoke to find himself slowly treading through the dense undergrowth of the swamp; the mud was thick and stuck to his boots. How did I get here? This was strange. I really can’t remember how I got here. He looked around, he was definitely back in the mire, but where?
Nothing seemed familiar and that put him on edge. I must be near the centre, the fog is thick here … and hot ... really hot. He could feel the sweat on his body; it was literally dripping off of him. Was it the heat or just his nerves? He could never remember being this nervous. He made his way through the scrub. What am I doing here? The bushes were thick, almost smothering and felt uncomfortably close; he had never travelled this far into the mire - he never had reason to.
Why was he here now? The wind seemed to be picking up, but it brought no coolness with it. His bow was knocked and ready to draw at a moments notice. Must be here hunting, but what? He could not remember. This place seemed strange to him; it was the mire, but it seemed … different somehow ... darker maybe, more … misty.
Was it the mist that made his thinking unclear? His mind seemed as hazy as the fog. He could hear something, but couldn’t quite make out what it was. The further he travelled, the thicker the fog seemed, but it was moving now, blown by the wind; it seemed to come in pieces - like his memories.
The wind was louder now, it blew through his ears. Is that laughter? Laughter on the wind? He couldn’t tell, but now the place was getting to him. Got to get out of here, he thought. But which way? He turned around, it all looked the same. That is laughter! A man’s laughter. Was someone watching him? He didn’t like it one bit.
“Is someone there?” he shouted. “Show yourself.” He started to run, it didn’t matter where, anywhere was better than staying where he was. The laughter was louder now, it seemed to follow him. Aiden was tiring, was there no escape? The land itself seemed to want to keep him there, the mud clung to his legs, the trees seemed to close in, the wind was always against him and the laughter that now deafened him appeared to be coming from the forest itself.
Madness, this is madness. Aiden was in a panic now, there was nowhere to run. The trees reached out for him, their deep laughter echoing in his mind, he turned around, but his way was blocked by even more trees.
Suddenly there was movement beneath him, roots and great tendrils were springing from the ground. Aiden tried to run, but they had already latched onto his legs, and he couldn’t move. The tendrils made their way up Aiden’s back and started winding around his arms and shoulders. He was slowly sinking, he could feel the tendrils pulling him under and try as he might, there was no escape.
He could feel the coolness of the mud rising up his body as he sunk deeper and deeper down - it was all over. The light was gone now, there was only the pressure of the marsh pressing in on him; squeezing the air out of him. His panic had ceased, now there was just a cold, black, silence - the last few moments before death, but they were peaceful.
Then a burning light came before him; closer and closer it came, burning brighter and brighter. A darkened figure emerged from the light; he was tall and looked very strong. He had the body of a man and the head of a bull. In his left hand he held a spear and in his right, a red robin, he closed his hand around the bird; the figure sounded very wise.
“Aiden Thun'dira, in my hand I have a red robin. Is it alive or is it dead?” Aiden tried to speak, there were so many questions, but nothing came out. “Ask nothing, only answer. In my hand I have a red robin, is it alive or is it dead?” Aiden studied the hand.
“It’s alive,” he answered, and then watched in disbelief as the fist tightened. What is he doing? He’s killing it!
“No, the robin is dead … as are you.” The figure opened his right hand to reveal the crushed robin. Aiden couldn’t understand what was going on. But you killed it!
Suddenly the pressure seemed to push on him again, he tried to scream, but it was a silent scream; fear had never been this great. The pain was immense, it would surely crush him at any second. The laughter from before was back and grew louder and louder in his mind, the pressure built and built, he was just about ready to explode, the pain unbearable … then everything went silent.
“Why, he’s insulting both of us!”
Aiden awoke with an immense scream, his pulse was racing, his heart was beating like a drum. He was drenched in sweat like he had run a marathon. Aiden looked around; he was in his bed, he was in his room. It was all just a dream, Aiden started laughing … it was all just a dream.
A second later Greegan burst into the room, quickly followed by Kane and Deanna. Greegan glanced around the room, found that there were no immediate threats, and so ran to the window, looking outside for any danger.
“Aiden, are you all right?” asked Kane as Deanna rushed past him to check her son over, Aiden was still laughing with relief.
“It was just a dream Father, just a dream.” He had never been so glad to be in his room or to see his family.
***
The cock crowed and heralded the new day born. Aiden opened his eyes, his dream from the night before was still fresh in his mind. He lay there st
ill, thinking it over. He was sure it meant something, but what? The mire - a vast slough, a fen, a swampy wasteland. What could be in there? Anything and no-one would ever know.
He had never travelled far into it. He thought about the laughter from the trees and the way they had moved, he shuddered … the tendrils. He had never seen such tendrils on the trees in the mire, but they scared him, and the claustrophobic pressure of the swamp closing in on him - that was the worst part. He wondered if he would ever go back. What am I thinking? … It was just a dream. He didn’t like being afraid, especially of things that weren’t even real. This is ridiculous, I must go back.
Then there was the Minotaur, or was he a Taurean, or were they the same thing? He wasn’t sure. Whatever he was, he was a towering half-man, half-bull; he looked like a warrior, but he spoke like a wise man - maybe he was both. Aiden felt the question about the robin being alive or dead was of great importance, but what could it mean?
He had answered ‘Alive’, and then the Minotaur killed it, but on the other hand, if he had answered 'Dead', then he was sure that the Minotaur would simply have opened its hand, showing the robin still alive. There was no way to answer it … was there? Aiden was also sure the Minotaur and the boar from the mire, the one that spoke to him, were somehow linked, two weird experiences in one day had to be more than a coincidence. They were definitely linked, very closely, but how? Aiden got out of bed.
For the rest of that morning, Aiden did the chores he would normally avoid; he didn’t want to talk to anyone and instead spent his time trying to determine whether or not the dream had a meaning, and what else could be in the mire besides swamp and boars.
Should the robin be alive or dead? It had to be one or the other, it couldn’t be both … could it? Was the talking boar magical? It had to be … how else could it talk? So many unanswered questions, he thought. No rational reason to be afraid … and so it was decided. There was only one thing he could do. I must face my fears, I must find out what’s going on, I must go back … back into the mire.