by Rex Hazelton
Then all became dark, for the Hag's candle had given way to the serpent eel who would now take over the job of dealing with the trespasser.
A moment later, a faint glow appeared in front of the swimmer.
The Largryk Sea, J'Aryl thought as his imagination pictured the mammoth serpent eel speeding through the blackness behind him. But do I have time to reach it before the eel catches up with me?
If it did, he would die. For even though J'Aryl had been able to keep the last of his air from being knocked out of him by the tumult that swept past him, it wasn't enough air to enable him to fight off the eel. Worse yet, the flow that had been rudely carrying him forward was now replaced by a counter surge coming out of the Largryk Sea.
Though bruised and bleeding, the cause of the wounds had aided J'Aryl’s flight. The Hag's magic had inadvertently helped the Nyeg Warler gain greater separation from the chamber where the dark wizard stood; the place where the dangerous eel launched itself into the water-filled tunnel. But this couldn't be helped if the Hag was going to give the eel a chance to catch the troublesome man who had invaded its lair. The Candle Maker's fire had to be put out quickly, thus the explosion of power and the accompanying light. And now that the mutated serpent eel's opportunity had come, the huge, slithering creature was hard after the stranger, swimming faster than it had ever done before, so fast that it sustained cuts of its own as it recklessly wove its way through the tunnel it knew so well.
The surge of water that swept J'Aryl along aided the serpent eel too, pushing the beast forward like it was a dart shot out of a blow gun. The elation the eel felt as it sped along at such a terrific speed was fair exchange for the wounds it sustained. In time, the elation was magnified when it caught sight of a shadow that slipped around a corner in front of it.
With eyes adept at seeing in the dark, the serpent eel could easily see the movement. The faint light that sifted into the tunnel from the open sea made sure of this. Opening its large mouth to inhale salt water into its gills, the serpent eel's dagger-like teeth were revealed as it furiously cut through the current that was now moving against it. Shaped like a long, sinewy lance made of muscle and scales, the monstrous thing's momentum was barely hindered by the counter surge of water that pushed up against it.
The faint light suddenly disappeared. But this didn't deter the speeding creature, for it knew the tunnel was too small for a griffin, large enough to threaten it, to swim through. The man had to be responsible for the momentary darkness.
The serpent eel looked like a giant ribbon blowing in the wind as it raced forward in the slithering way it swam. When the light reappeared, the man's body could be clearly seen framed against the tunnel's bright mouth. Straining to catch up with its prey before it could reach the open sea, the eel shot forward to close what little gap separated the hunted from the hunter. Seeing the human's legs kicking before it in the clumsy way that land bound creatures swam, the serpent eel opened its jaws a second time; not to gulp in salt water as before; this time it was getting ready to sink its razor sharp teeth into the flesh that flailed away before it.
Then the unexpected happened, the man's speed increased, so much so that it matched the eel's own terrific pace.
The human's frantic flight triggered a primordial instinct that focused the slithering predator's full attention on its prey. Now nothing would prevent the eel from catching the man. It was certain that the speeding monster wouldn’t stop until it struck him.
This was what J'Aryl and the griffin who pulled him along by a submerged rope that had been hidden for this very purpose wanted. With the far end of the tether, the apes nimble fingers had woven together with strands taken from the vines growing in Stromane's jungles, held in the vice-like jaws of a griffin, J'Aryl was being used as bate to lure the slithering monster out into the open sea. Fortunately for him, the winged-lion was just as fast as the serpent eel.
Chasing the man as long as it could, but unable to get close enough to sink its teeth into the human, the serpent eel suddenly stopped just short of the tunnel's mouth. The effects of the Hag's magic had increased its intellect enough so that reason won out over instinct. The serpent eel was no fool, the dangers the open sea posed outweighed the thrill of continuing the chase. Logic said that retreating now would ensure it could fight another day and continue to strike at the griffin young at will.
But the bait wasn't really intended to draw the creature all the way out into the open sea. That was too much to expect. Instead, it was meant to get the serpent eel to come to the very place where it had stopped, a place that had a second rope hidden, one that encircled the narrow tunnel's expanse like it was a submerged root clinging to the stony walls. And once the eel was in position, the rope tightened around the slithering creature's body as powerful griffin savagely pulled on it at that exact moment, just as their carefully made plan dictated.
Three of the strongest griffin quickly tightened the noose around the serpent eel's muscle-laden body as the hated creature's extraction from its hiding place began. The weakness in the strategy being implemented lay in the serpent eel's shape and the slippery nature of its scaly hide. Would the rope gain purchase on the stream-lined monster's form? Or would it simply slid off the murderous eel as the monster retreated into its hole?
Being eighty percent muscle and cartilage- with the other twenty percent being a skull, a digestive tract, and gills- the writhing creature was more than strong enough to make good its escape. And this is what was happening. The serpent eel's powerful wiggling was causing the rope to slide off even though the three griffin, pulling on the tether, were exerting enough force to tear the sea creature's flesh as it struggled to back out of the trap. If this happened, all would be lost and the monster would retreat to its lair to wait for another opportunity to cripple the pride. Then, any wayward griffin, swimming too close to the serpent eel's lair and small enough to be ambushed, would fall prey to monster's merciless intentions.
But even if the squirming creature escaped, maybe the rough rope could damage the creature's gills enough, as its strangle hold slipped past the their vulnerable tissue, to administer a wound the eel couldn't recover from enough to pose a danger in the future.
Then an ironic twist of fate did one better. It took the Hag's machinations and used them to catch the beast. Engineered to walk on land and breathe air, a thing no other serpent eel could do, the sorcerous mutations given to the creature were the things undoing. Before the rope could reach the blood-gorged gills, the tightening noose slid up against the forelegs the wizard's dark magic was inducing the serpent eel's body to grow.
Far short of reaching the full length the Hag intended the legs to reach, they were long enough to provide a niche the tether could fit into. Then a second and third rope clamped hold of the serpent eel. And as the additional ropes slid up against the forelegs like the first one had, the serpent eel's retreat was arrested. For a time, a kind of tug of war took place that favored neither party involved in the desperate game. But like most fish anglers have hooked, if the line doesn't break and the hook holds, the serpent eel was doomed to be pulled in.
Like a sword being removed from a wound it inflicted, the exhausted serpent eel was being drawn out of its hole when more griffin joined their brothers in pulling on the ropes. Once it cleared the stone sheath, the massive eel thrashed about in the open sea in a final bid for freedom. Biting at the ropes, it could now target without the tunnel restricting its movements, the slithering creature caught the cruel tethers with its razor-sharp teeth and severed them with a powerful jerking motion that was fueled by an accumulation of its remaining strength.
Finally free of the ropes, the serpent eel was quick to locate the hole it hid in. But unlike before, the tunnel's welcoming mouth was no longer open. Two griffin stood guard before it.
With the bereaved parents leading the way, the Blood soon were plummeting through the sky overhead, as they dove at the monster who was responsible for killing their children. One after a
nother, they dropped out of their nests that dotted the crystalline cliffs above, and knifed into the frothing green sea to join the short-lived battle that was being fought below. Attacking the writhing band of muscle with unrelenting violence, the sea was soon stained red with blood. Only two griffin were slashed by the eel's sharp teeth, and none of the wounds were grievous. The eel, on the other hand, was torn to pieces.
After the serpent eel was slaughtered, its severed head was placed on the highest pinnacle found on Stromane's cliffs. There, the sea birds that were used to following the griffin when they went hunting for food fed on it. The rest of the creature's body was carried out to sea to be disposed of since the griffin considered it an abomination to eat the flesh of the monster who had consumed their offspring.
Later that night, in the Cave of Meeting, J'Aryl was discussing the day's events with the pride's elders. Never far from J'Aryl, Nazar Blood was there too. The parents of those who had lost children in the serpent eel's reign of terror were present as well.
"What about the Hag and the river children?" A lioness named Ryle Blood asked. "Can't the Hag conjure up another monster it could use to torment us?"
Tor Blood's eyes looked like fiery embers against the backdrop of his black mane as he spoke. "Indeed that is something to consider. Like any warrior, the Hag, undoubtedly, is armed with more than one weapon. Surely he has a knife to go along with his sword, so to speak."
Tor Blood's form was hard to distinguish in the shadows that the small fire burning in the center of the room couldn't remove. "We need to stay vigilant in watching out for further attacks," the revered griffin added.
Snarling, Seym Blood shook his reddish-brown-colored mane before he spoke. "Now that we know the Hag is here, we'll feret him out of the hole he's hiding in. For we are not lacking magic of our own, and all that live in Stromane are friends of ours. We'll send spiders, scorpions, and serpents to bite and sting him. Because we understand the secrets of the aquifers running through Stromane, we'll deny the wizard fresh water by blocking up the source he's been drinking from. And if this doesn't work, will ask the elves for help."
"And how can we help?" A lithely built man dropped through the air and into the cave's mouth as Seym Blood finished speaking. The flash of blue light, bursting out from the shadows cast by the broad-brimmed hat he wore, announced to all gathered that Alynd the Elf-Man now stood in their midst.
The sound of wings filling up with air, as the griffin who Alynd had been riding arrested its momentum before alighting in the cave's mouth, announced Shar Blood's arrival. At Muriel's request, the winged-lioness had carried the Elf-Man from Nyeg Warl to Stromane.
After hearing the telling of the tale of the serpent eel and the Hag, Alynd said, "It seems my coming to Stromane will serve two purposes."
The Elf-Man lowered his eyes in thought before continuing. Then running his hand through his wavy, blond hair, for he had pushed his hat onto his back where it was held in place by a thin strip of braided leather, he added, "Though the first purpose is not greater than the later, I must attend to it immediately." Stepping closer to the small fire that was the cave's only source of light, the pouch holding Andara's tears could be seen hanging from the wide leather belt he wore as he said, "I've come to bring J'Aryl home."
Rising from his haunches, a posture he had taken to mimic the griffin's posture when they were at rest, J'Aryl asked, "Why so, Elf-Man?"
Gazing at J'Aryl with a knowing smile on his face, Alynd's thoughts were distracted by the young man who looked so much like his mother did when the Elf-Man first met her so many summers before, though a male version. Living as long as he had, Alynd had witnessed this phenomenon time and again: one generation rising up to replace the other; the son becoming the father; the pages in a book turning to a new chapter in a very long story. And if he were to survive the coming days of doubt, he knew there was a good chance he would look upon another young man or woman who would resemble the one who now stood before him. But this anticipated joy-filled eventuality was tempered by the realization that this would mean others he loved might be gone: Jeaf Oakenfel, Phelp the Eagle King, and more. A long life was good. To have others live as long as he did would be better.
Pulling himself out of his reverie, Alynd replied, "Your mother has things she needs to tell you about your father."
Hair, black like his mother's, framed J'Aryl's oval-shaped face. Unlike Muriel's, it was wavy, so much so that he kept it cut short, though it was long enough to hide his ears and half of his neck. A full-lipped mouth sat below a nose whose shape leaned to the narrow side of the spectrum of facial possibilities. J'Aryl's brown-colored eyes, that had a generous portion of red mixed into them, were large. Spaced wide apart, they gave him an exotic look. His olive-colored complexion added to this theme. Possessing a well-proportioned build he inherited from his mother, that included her long arms and legs, J'Aryl was blessed with the kind of lean muscles that helped his grandmother, Mara, gain renown as a huntress. A handsome man, his distinctive look befuddled people who tried to guess what part of Nyeg Warl he hailed from.
"What about Father? Is there news?" J'Aryl looked at Tor Blood, his eyes urging the griffin to pay close attention to the Elf-Man's reply before he turned his gaze back to Alynd.
Jeaf Oakenfel had been missing for five winters now. Having gone to Ar Warl on a quest to find the Hammer of Power that had abandoned him, J'Aryl's father had not been heard from since.
Looking about at the griffin, certain they would keep the conversation confidential, Alynd explained. "There isn't any news, but there are decisions to be made," J'Aryl stepped closer to the Elf-Man as the ring of griffin tightened, "decisions that concern you and your brothers." The Elf-Man's eyes glowed as bright as a griffin's as he spoke, blue in contrast to the winged-lions amber and yellow that were scattered about the Cave of Meeting. "You and your brothers are now old enough to shoulder your family's burden, and it seems the weight of the warl is included in that. So, ready yourself. Since the moon is full tonight, we'll leave as soon as I help the Community of Blood with their problem."
Reaching into the pouch that held Andara's tears, the Elf-Man withdrew a small golden orb and turned to face Tor Blood. "Once I release the sphere's magic, you can use it as you will, but not to do violence. Its potency will last until morning. So chose well how you utilize its power. If you employ it wisely, you can get rid of the Hag long before my brothers come to help you."
It was Alynd's plan to stop at Mystlkynd on his way back to the Eyrie of the Eagle and ask Ramskynd to come and help the griffin purge the filth that Ar Warl had poured into Stromane, for the elf-king was a Brotanyss- one who possessed magic. This was the second purpose Alynd had alluded to.
Lifting the sphere up before his face on a flattened palm, Alynd spoke elvish words over the orb, and as he spoke, the golden sphere began glowing until it lit up the Elf-Man's face and the faces of those nearest to him. When this was done, Alynd blew breath over the radiant orb that sent a cloud of powdery, amber-colored light wafting over to Tor Blood where it floated before the griffin elder waiting for orders.
"I release the emanation to you," Alynd intoned. "The power that once was Andara's is now yours to command until the cloud's light has fades away. Use it well... and use it now."
Tor Blood bowed his head in gratitude for the great gift the Elf-Man had given him before stepping into the luminous cloud. Muted by the vaporous light's substance, the griffin elder's rumbling voice was heard directing the amber-colored mist to do the following: find the Hag and determine how he got access to the chamber hidden beneath Stromane's cliffs; locate any other monsters the wizard has at his disposal, including the foul river children, and locate the water source the Hag is using so that it can be interrupted. Simply stated, Andara's magic was sent to gather information the griffin needed to devise a plan to remove the intruder and the danger he posed.
In time, the amber-colored vapor slipped into a crack in the cave's stone wall and went of
f searching for the Hag and the monsters he controlled. With this done, Alynd placed the sphere back into its pouch. Then turning to the griffin, he took a deep breath that he quickly exhaled before saying, "Now that that's done, let's talk about other matters."
As if spiced with magic, the Elf-Man's words chased the heaviness that filled the cavern away and replaced it with the kind of atmosphere friendship flourishes in. For the winged-lions were Alynd's dear friends, and as such, he would spend time commiserating with the griffin before he began his return trip to Nyeg Warl, a trip Nazar Blood would make to provide the source transportation J'Aryl needed. Seym Blood asked to come along so that he could bring Ramskynd back to Stromane. His sons, Rab Blood and Tran Blood would go too so that other elves might accompany their king when he came to help the griffin remove the Hag threat.
Chapter 9: Kaylan
Looking like a skewed smile was gracing the night sky, the moon shone above the cliff top where the young man stood. Filling the darkness with enough silvery light to aid his already acute vision, the young man looked down on pools of water that were scattered atop multiple terraces jutting out from the stone wall like uneven steps in a treacherously steep stairway. The water cascading down the cliff face flowed from one pool to another like they were cleverly arranged goblets that were all filled by a single pouring. Glistening from an inner glow that was more than reflected moonlight, the water leapt about joyously like it was a living then. And who knew. Maybe it was. For this was Mythoria that sat in the Warl of the Waterkynd.
Taking on vaporous shapes that rested on top of the pools of water used for their homes, the waterkynd enjoyed family life that was not so different from what their flesh and blood counterparts experienced. Though different species, the waterkynd and humans were bound to the same paradigms of communal identity where love and loyalty were valued. Both possessed powers of reasoning. Both waxed philosophical in their own way. Both desired to rise above a simple struggle for survival and become more. Both had been birthed by magic, long ago, when the warl was first formed, though the humans had forgotten who they once were and the waterkynd hadn't.