Into Lands Forbidden (The Elfmaid Trilogy Book 2)

by Warren Thomas

  "I know. If either Ayesha or the Warlord have the time to recover before we leap through, we'll never leave this realm," Carl said wearily, having heard the argument several times already.

  "Exactly."

  "And if it proves not to be a portal?"

  "Then we'll look mighty stupid leaping headlong into that wall," Talar said, then turned his back on Carl.

  They crouched in a cramped passage off the back of the castle's great hall. It was dark, damp, and drafty, but rarely used by the Warlord's minions. They’d been using it frequently to spy on the Warlord and his dealings with howlers, Gods, and Ayesha alike. The howlers arrived sporadically, groveling and begging mercy for their failure to find the escapees. Easily half the time he struck them down on the spot. His dealings with the Gods were rare, always leaving him shaken. He only spoke with Ayesha with any regularity, keeping her updated on the search. It was that regular update that Talar was counting on.

  The Warlord sat brooding on his plain wood throne before the ebon stone wall, the large double-ringed pentacle and surrounding runes etched in red behind him. Right on schedule, the lines and runes began glowing red, getting brighter and brighter. He stood up and moved before the pentacle, nervously waiting. Without warning, the pentacle vanished into a fathomless black whirlpool. High Mage Ayesha's face slowly moved forward, as if she was walking up to the other side of the wall. It was that which made Talar believe they were using a portal instead of a visual communications spell. With a communications spell there should be no need to approach it. Of course, he had never tried communicating between different realms of existence, so the nature of such spells could be different. However, spells used to conjure otherworld creatures from other realms were in effect, portal spells.

  "What do you have to report, Qasim," Ayesha's demanded without preamble.

  "Without a doubt, they have escaped the citadel," he said, grim-faced. "We have begun to concentrate our search outside."

  Ayesha was livid. She was so angry she almost began to sputter. Qasim, whom Talar knew as the Warlord, cringed, fearful to even look up at the High Mage. Talar judged the time right.

  Pushing the door open with a crash, Talar charged out of the passage with Carl one step behind. They headed straight for the portal, and the startled Ayesha. Qasim whirled around so fast he left himself unbalanced, and Talar concluded he wouldn't be able to recover in time. He also knew enough about magic to know Ayesha couldn't end the spell fast enough to stop them. Now his only concern was how to deal with Ayesha once they reached the other side.

  He started to cry out victoriously when Ayesha stepped back with a look of shock, but another woman stepped between them on her side of the portal. She was tall, with raven-wing hair and black eyes. Her complexion was ghoulishly white and her gown midnight black.

  "Bandu Invincible!" Carl cried upon seeing the Goddess.

  "Wrong God, Tyrian!" Dirusa said, haughtily lifting one hand and pointing at them.

  Some unseen and unseeable force seized Talar. He froze in his tracks, with Carl crashing into him. Twisting on impact, Carl scrambled out of sight of the portal to escape the Goddess. Within seconds the same force that held Talar wrapped itself around his chest, arms, and legs, dragging him to a stop. He couldn't move or speak. He could barely breathe.

  Qasim quickly regained a measure of composure, turning to gawk at the two men. Men he had pronounced gone from the castle just moments ago. In an eye blink, the tall, lithe Goddess Dirusa stood beside him, studying her prisoners. Dirusa slanted him an unreadable look.

  "How do you explain this, Warlord?"

  "My Goddess...I swear, I wasn't lying..." he turned to gape at the men a second more. "...we searched everywhere, I swear. They must've figured out how to use magic. It is the only way they could've evaded our search parties."

  "Fool! I created this realm! Only my God-given magic will work here, and I have only given that to you and your bungling Lieutenants. You're an imbecile, ruling morons," she said, eyes flashing murderously at the wizard. "They used nothing but their natural cunning to evade you."

  Qasim started to protest, but something in her demeanor warned him against it. Over the centuries he had learned to read her fairly well.

  "They are dangerous, my Goddess. I will have them executed immediately," he said, watching her reaction.

  Dirusa considered that a moment. Then she turned to the portal, and a waiting Ayesha.

  "What do you think, Ayesha? A quick death, but ending their meddling with certainty. Or...something slower. Something more entertaining?" Dirusa said, becoming glassy-eyed at the thoughts of prolonged torture. It was in her nature to adore that foulest of "Arts."

  Ayesha smiled, saying, "The thoughts of their torments to come are already warming my heart."

  Turning in a whirl of black hair and silk, "Qasim, secure the troublemakers. I do not have the time to torture them at leisure right now."

  "They'll not escape again, my Goddess," Qasim promised.

  Dirusa looked at the quaking Warlord. After seven centuries as the absolute ruler of this hellish realm, he was all but destroyed. His old arrogance and spirit rarely showed themselves, and then only when he felt himself in absolute control of the situation. He was starting to bore her. She found little pleasure in tormenting mice. Qasim's usefulness was just about over.

  "If they do, then I promise you that your eternal torments will make this realm look like Lyss's Garden of Paradise," Dirusa said quietly, already smiling at the pleasure she'd have tormenting his helpless soul for all eternity. "You have greatly displeased me this day. So, I expect you to come up with some particularly sinister and innovative methods of administering pain and humiliation to your charges. I expect to be highly entertained."

  Chapter 12

  Danica enjoyed the stiff wind in her face and her long, golden hair whipping about behind her. The others braided their hair to prevent just such an occurrence. Only Danica felt a strange need for freedom. Even binding her hair would diminish those feelings of relief. Her magnificent piebald warhawk seemed to share her excitement, beating a hard pace for the others to keep up with.

  It being a perfect day for flying helped, too. The sky was a brilliant blue, with enormous, fluffy white clouds scattered about. The westering sun blazed scarlet on the horizon, promising a spectacular sunset. They were flying well below cloud level, it being easier on the birds. The thinner air at higher altitudes forced warhawks to work harder and could be unpleasantly cold for the passengers.

  Glancing back, she grinned wide and chuckled. The thought of Dame Falen tearing up the countryside on horseback seemed comical to her. Danica would pay a King's ransom to see Falen's face if the arrogant Amazon knight ever found out how they had flown to Dahlys in a matter of days while she rode herself to exhaustion for weeks on end in an endless, futile search.

  Serves the black-hearted bitch right. She turned her attention to more pleasant thoughts.

  They were flying over a vast hardwood forest. The silvery Tybor River flowed to their lower right, and a low tree-covered mountain range was looming up out of the forest directly ahead. The only villages and farms visible were small and snuggled up against the river and the Tyborian Way.

  Claudia and Cat were astride the two largest birds. Helene's sleek black was the smallest, a retired racing warhawk. Claudia rode the youngest, and most expensive, a breathtaking white with black markings. Cat's bird, the biggest, was a brilliant red. Everyone insisted she take it since it matched her outfit and armor. The memory of Cat's cringe at being forced to ride such a brightly plumed bird brought a smile to Danica's face.

  They all flew three banners in their saddle brackets. Helene and Claudia had conjured up long sinuous personal banners from the center brackets, and short black and orange Flame Sorority banners from the other two. Neither Danica nor Cat had personal banners of their own, so had fashioned some crude ones. Danica flew a blue and gold personal banner between two mercenary red ones. Cat flew a solid
black personal banner, a protest Danica believed, and two reds.

  Reclining against the high cantle, she glanced back with a lazy smile, confident now in the success of their mission. Only Helene seemed to be able to keep up with her bird, the other two were beginning to fall back. She started to ordered her piebald to slow, but noticed a line of warhawks flying low and almost camouflaged against the dark forest. She could swear they were not there only a few minutes ago.

  "Slow by half!" she said in a loud commanding voice, her eyes not leaving the familiar military formation closing on them from below. As Helene closed, she indicated the approaching formation. "What do you make of it?"

  Turning in the saddle, Helene stared squint-eyed at it for several long seconds. Then she closed her eyes and chanted a short cantrip. The spell ended with a gasp of surprise.

  "Dame Falen!" she cried.

  Danica stared past her in disbelief. How could Dame Falen have known about them taking warhawks? Was it coincidence, or had they betrayed themselves somehow?

  Cat and Claudia caught up just as Helene shouted her discovery. Everyone stared at each other for a few seconds, stunned by this turn of events. Then they turned to Danica, expectancy in their faces.

  "If we're separated, meet up again in Dahlys!" Danica shouted.

  "Where in Dahlys?" Cat said.

  "Outside the north wall of the Imperial Palace," she cried. The approaching formation bore straight at them now, any pretense at stealth gone. There was no doubt in her mind that Dame Falen knew exactly who they were. "Now follow me!"

  Danica led them up and away from Dame Falen's troop. The mercenaries had been pushing their birds much harder, so fell back somewhat. Danica headed for the cover of the clouds, knowing no other way to elude Riders. She was a Jarland knight and adventurer, and used to having solid earth beneath her feet and places to hide.

  Making for the nearest cloud, Danica had a thought.

  "Helene! Use your magic to strike them down!"

  Glancing back, "They're too far away! I'm only a witch, not a sorceress!"

  "What is your range?"

  "About the same as their bows," she said, and not looking that confident in her answer. Claudia nodded in agreement. "But I won't be able to do much."

  Claudia shouted, "We don't use those kinds of spells often, so don't put too much faith in salvation by magic."

  "Tuunar take all witches!" Danica cried angrily. "What can you do?"

  Helene and Claudia looked at each other, then at the expectant faces of Danica and Cat. Both were embarrassed at their helplessness, and more than a little afraid for their lives. To bring their magic into play would require getting much closer, most probably well within range of Puma Troop's bows.

  With a pained grimace on her face, Helene offered, "I could fall back and try disrupting their formation while the rest of you escaped."

  "No. We both can fall back," Claudia shouted above the roar of the wind in their ears.

  Danica glanced first at the closing mercenaries, then up at the still distant clouds. She estimated they would be overtaken well below cover. But the idea of letting Helene and Claudia sell their lives for Cat and herself didn't set right. She discarded it immediately; they all escaped together or died together.

  "No," Danica said. "We all turn and attack. Helene and Claudia, we'll be counting on your magic to give us the advantage."

  "And just how long do you think that'll last?" Cat asked. "They're battle-hardened soldiers!"

  "It won't have to be long," Danica said, indicating the setting sun. "We'll lose them in the dark. Fly nape of the earth to those mountains and hide."

  The others looked to the low mountain range to the south, then to the mercenaries. In the deepening darkness they were unable to make out faces, just dark shapes astride mighty warhawks slowly closing on them. No one particularly liked the plan, but none other was offered. Seeing everyone reluctantly accepted her plan, Danica loosened the bundle of javelins and pulled her bow. The others followed suit.

  "On my word wheel about and starting raining arrows on them while we drop in," Danica shouted. "Don't stop to engage, just fly past as fast as you can."

  She gave them a moment to steel themselves and ready their bows and arrows. Watching them, it occurred to her that if anyone died it would be her fault. The only reason any of them was truly there was because she’d been unable to accept being a woman. She wanted her male body back, and would do anything it took to achieve that end. For the first time, Danica wondered if she was right. Wondered if it was worth the loss of a friend. Wondered if she should just give up and accept her new lot in life. Then the vision of herself heavy with some disgusting bastard's child sent a chill up her back.

  Looking at Dame Falen's troop looming below, Not that I have any choice in whether to fight or not, thank the Gods!

  Drawing her bow back, Danica cried, "NOW! Wheel right, and attack!"

  At her shouted command, all four birds wheeled sharply about. The warhawks didn't wait for their riders to give the command, startling both Cat and Claudia. Cat's first arrow shot off harmlessly in her surprise. Fortunately, Puma Troop was also taken by surprise. As hoped, the troop scattered under the intense barrage of needle sharp arrows and roaring warhawks.

  Everyone released arrows as fast as they could, barely taking the time to aim. The tears in their eyes from the wind and the dim light made aiming all but useless anyway. But in the end it really didn't matter. Their unexpected move had the desired effect.

  As they closed, Helene and Claudia put away their bows and began chanting spells. A warhawk off to Danica's right exploded in flames first, then Claudia started pumping fireballs at mercenaries. The yellow-orange balls of fire were quite spectacular in the early evening light. Too spectacular. They terrified the birds, all the birds.

  Cat's panicky warhawk tried reversing course, and rammed into a mercenary trying to escape Claudia's magic. The two warhawks, terrified, turned on each other with raking talons. Feathers exploded in all directions as the two birds vented their fear and rage in ten seconds of battle frenzy. When it was over Cat's bird wheeled away in victory, the other fluttering away in a fast downward spiral.

  "Cat, are you all right?" Danica called as she flew closer.

  "No!"

  The piercing roar of a warhawk directly overhead startled them both. Looking up, they saw the warhawk diving at them, talons extended.

  "Turn hard left!" Danica ordered her bird. "And up!"

  The big piebald did as ordered, turning and beating her wings to gain altitude fast. Unfortunately, Cat's bird again followed Danica's shouted orders and also turned left. Into the path of the attacking warhawk. Danica watched in horror as the diving bird struck Cat's bird with such force that a loud snap could be heard. Danica saw a puff of scarlet feathers mushroom out from the warhawk's neck, and then it let out the most soul-wrenching wail she had ever heard from a beast. Followed quickly by Cat's own wail of despair.

  "CAT!" Danica cried. "Dive! Dive! Dammit, Dive!"

  Her bird responded and they were soon streaking towards Cat. Danica watched as the big red spun round and round, squawking and irregularly flapping its wings. Cat was hanging onto the saddle's pommels tightly, too terrified to even scream now. Closing on them, Danica had no idea how to help her loyal friend and companion.

  As she passed by, Danica shouted, "Cat! Cut loose and push away from the bird!"

  "I'll fall to my death!"

  "That's what you're doing now!" Then she was too far away to be heard.

  Glancing past Cat, she could see Claudia and Helene still wheeling about above protectively. She briefly wondered why they weren't using their magic to save Cat, then decide that they would be if it was within their powers.

  The now black forest was coming up on them quickly. Too quickly and Cat still hadn't cut free and jumped off the bird's back. Danica felt a moment of despair, then anger. Ordering the warhawk to loop back up, she sped past Cat again.

  "Tu
unar take you, Cat! Trust me for once, and jump!"

  With a cry of misery, Cat did as ordered. Pulling her belt knife, she sliced the thick leather safety strap across her lap and gathered her legs under herself. She then pushed herself away from the dying bird and straight at Danica. Unfortunately, that wasn't what Danica had wanted or expected. She wasn't in a position to catch Cat yet; indeed, she was going the exact opposite direction she needed to be.

  "Danica!" Cat called out, dismayed that she wasn't caught.

  "Great Gods Almighty! Cat, I'm coming!" Danica cried in shock. "Bird, dive straight down!"

  The warhawk, exhausted and perplexed by the constantly changing orders, stalled a second.

  "DIVE!"

  With a thunderous roar of frustration, the piebald complied and spun around with a few quick beats of her powerful wings. Then with Danica's constant urging, she drove downward with greater and greater speed. Cat was already far below, arms and legs flapping uselessly in the air. The ground was closing fast, and Danica began doubting she'd be able to get to Cat in time. Fighting her despair, Danica ordered her bird to even greater speeds.

  "Under the Rider!" she ordered as they closed. The bird eyed the vague shape wailing pitifully. "Now!"

  Without hesitation this time, the piebald shot up under Cat. Danica, her thighs straining against the restraining strap, reached up and seized Cat's left ankle. Hand over hand, she pulled the bravo in. Grabbing her by the belt, Danica finally jerked Cat into her lap. Cat, crying hysterically, wrapped powerful arms around her. Danica momentarily lost her breath. She held Cat's head to her bosom, unable to keep her own tears in check, just grateful she had been able to save her life. Then the first treetop struck.

  "God of Mercy, now what?" Cat cried, staring about wild-eyed.

  "The trees! Bird, up! Up! UP!" Danica cried.

  The piebald roared in anger and pain, straining to comply. The added weight of another passenger had pushed the overworked warhawk past its limit. Danica could feel it faltering.