by J. M. Topp
‘What kind of distraction do you want me to do?’
‘What you do best. Just make sure that this man sees you do it.’ Rebecca pointed again at the soldier pacing the walls, and then she slipped into the fog. Ayda turned to see where she went, but there was not even a trace of Rebecca left—not even a shadow. Ayda swallowed hard. She jumped out from the fog, waving her hands in the air. The sentry turned his head away at that same moment and remained there, with back turned to Ayda. Ayda looked down at a rock by her feet. She grabbed it and threw it at the wall as hard as she could.
‘Hey,’ she said, a little louder than a whisper. But as she did so, the sentry laughed louder than her words, probably at a comrade’s joke on the other side of the wall. He was unable to hear or see Ayda.
Ayda clenched her fists and frowned angrily.
‘Hey, you fucking bastard…ASS!’ Ayda screamed the last part. This time the sentry did turn to her. He must not have seen her immediately, because he was looking way over her. Ayda waved her hands again. ‘Are you as blind as you are deaf, you senile old, toothless, motherless bat!?’
The sentry spotted Ayda but still couldn’t believe his eyes.
‘Who goes there?’
‘Your bitch of a mother!’
‘Why you…! I am going to make sure your pay for that,’ the sentry said as he shouted and grabbed a rock. He threw it back at Ayda, but it sailed far over her head.
‘There’s a girl outside the wall!’ he yelled at someone on the other side. Someone blew a horn somewhere, but Ayda wasn’t about to wait and see who. She rushed into the bushes but froze as two men on horses rode up to where Ayda had been mere moments before. They weren’t supposed to be so close.
‘What did you see?’ asked one of the riders to the sentry.
‘A little girl. She ran off into…’
Ayda could only hear pieces of the conversation. The horsemen turned their heads in her direction. Ayda cursed under her breath as they urged their horses at her. They held crossbows, cocked and ready. Ayda knew that outrunning them would be just as risky. The horses stopped just shy of the thick bushes she was hiding in. She held her breath as the horses snorted. The riders were scanning through the fog, searching for any movement. Suddenly, a long and strong arm reached into the bushes and grabbed Ayda by the neck.
A third rider pulled her up from the bushes and held her in the air. Ayda squeaked and hit the man who held her.
‘Oh! She is feisty!’ The rider holding her smelt of curdled milk and rotten eggs. His face was covered by a rag, but Ayda could see his blue eyes sparkle. The rider slapped Ayda to stop her from moving, but Ayda was used to being slapped around. She ripped the rag from the rider’s mouth and punched him in the face as hard as she could.
‘Ah, you cunt!’ shouted the rider as he let Ayda go. Ayda fell to the ground and sprinted into the fog.
‘After her! Don’t let her escape!’
Ayda didn’t turn around to see if they were following. She ran as fast as her little legs could carry her.
‘Ayagi, where are you?’ she whispered to herself.
Two bolts sailed past her shoulder, narrowly missing her ear. Ayda jumped, and as if her legs had been lit with fire, she urged them to run faster. She spotted the main gate of the village. The wooden doors began to open slowly. Ayda raced into the village through the doors, but no one was there. Rebecca was nowhere to be seen.
‘There she is! Stop her!’ The riders burst through the gates. Ayda cursed and ran into an alley way. Through the muddy streets and in-between mills, Ayda ran, but she didn’t know where she was going. She ran past another alley, and an arm shot from the shadows and grabbed her by the scruff, nearly choking her. Ayda spun around, prepared to punch. Rebecca put a finger to her lips and pulled her into the dark alley, hugging her from behind. ‘Don’t even whisper.’
Dark shadows wrapped themselves around Rebecca and Ayda like a heavy cloak. The horsemen stopped at the alley and looked down the lonely in-between. The sentry snorted and urged his horse down through the streets, looking for a runaway girl.
‘I thought they were going to run me down. Assholes,’ said Ayda as Rebecca let her go. The shadows seemed to lift from the alleyway.
‘They would have. Whitetree Mills isn’t the nicest of places.’
‘Which place is?’
Rebecca nodded silently in agreement. Ayda looked up at her.
‘How did you do that?’
‘Hmm?’ Rebecca looked down at Ayda in confusion.
‘With the shadows?’
‘Would you like to learn?’ said Rebecca with a smile. Ayda nodded her head excitedly.
‘I’ll take you on what I call ranging,’ said Rebecca, looking past her down the alleyway. ‘But not now, little one.’
‘The plan didn’t work so well, did it?’ asked Ayda, clicking the heels of her boots together. Rebecca shrugged. ‘It’s always better to be lucky. Come. I’ve found a place for us to stay.’
THE SMALL DOOR to the rickety old house creaked open, and a man with a scar from ear to ear and nose stretching past his chin popped his head out. His bald head glistened in the moonlight.
‘By the gods, I never thought I would see your wretched face again, Rebecca,’ the voice creaked into the night. Rebecca put her hand to the door.
‘Theyllyn. An honour to be sure.’
‘If the circumstances were different…’ Theyllyn said with a frown.
‘I won’t postpone our disagreement for long. Right now, I have company.’ Rebecca gave a small nod to Ayda. Theyllyn opened the door a bit more and peered through the dark. His eyes widened as he understood what stood before him.
‘Is she the girl from the prophecy?’
‘Yes, she is also an exile, just like us,’ whispered Rebecca, as she brushed past Theyllyn into the small cottage. Ayda entered on her heels as warmth embraced them from within. A hooded stranger sat around a small hearth fire, spinning a squirrel or small rodent on a spit. He seemed old and worn, but his long lead-black cloak was crumpled over him. His wiry brown beard spilled from underneath his hood. He looked at the elf and smiled. Rebecca studied him for a moment and then turned back to Theyllyn.
Ayda sat by the fire in front of the stranger.
‘Gruizoch followed me here,’ said Rebecca, turning to Theyllyn.
‘By the fucking abandoned gods! What do you mean he followed you here?’ Theyllyn said as he looked back into the night. Rebecca looked down at her boots and sighed carefully.
‘He is staying in a cave outside the village.’
‘How did you get him to do that? Elven treats?’ Theyllyn slammed the door behind them. ‘Do not tell me you used the ether. Do not tell me that.’
Rebecca nodded slowly. ‘I didn’t know what to do. Gruizoch would have killed Ayagi, Ayda, and myself if I hadn’t.’
‘That was meant for the Archdaemon, not something like Gruizoch.’
‘I know, I…’
‘That was our last shot.’ Theyllyn stepped into Rebecca’s face. ‘Why did we all think the ether would be safe in your hands, elf?’
‘Leave her alone, Theyllyn,’ the stranger snapped at Theyllyn without turning to face Rebecca and Ayda.
‘You keep your mouth shut. That was our last chance, Zoreadryyn,’ Theyllyn spat, his face red with anger. Rebecca turned to the man by the spit. Theyllyn grabbed Rebecca by the shoulders and forced her to look at him. ‘What happened in Aivaterra?’
‘Bendrick was an Apostle.’
‘Bendrick? Bendrick Greystonne? You’ve got to be shitting me.’
‘I never would have guessed either. The ether began to glow the closer I came to him,’ said Rebecca, shaking her head. ‘But he was killed by the Minotaur.’
‘You didn’t.’ Theyllyn’s eyes thinned to mere slits on his face. Ayda could only look on in silence during the entire conversation, trying to piece together what Rebecca was talking about.
‘I forced the Elderleaf Ether into Gruizoch’s
mouth. Then, I channeled his dying soul into the body of the beast. The Minotaur had killed Bendrick only moments before,’ Rebecca said, looking into Theyllyn’s eyes. He snickered, wiped his nose, and sat down in a straw chair. ‘I’ve heard of daemon possession, but never the other way around.’ He stared at Rebecca. ‘And you channeled an old man’s soul. You know, why not the soul of a knight-captain? That would have at least been a little better. Shit!’ Theyllyn shouted and then rubbed his chin. ‘Now we’re fucked.’
‘There is more news,’ said Rebecca.
‘Well, maybe you should listen first. This big man has an even bigger story to tell you.’ Theyllyn said, motioning to the stranger. Rebecca turned to the man sitting by the fire.
‘What’s your name, young one?’ the stranger said, looking at Ayda.
‘Wouldn’t you like to know?’ Ayda said defensively. The stranger smiled at her and continued to spin the meat on a spit. ‘If I give you mine, will you tell me yours?’
Rebecca’s jaw dropped, speechless as she recognized the man by the fire. Ayda looked at Rebecca uncertainly and then looked back at the stranger.
‘Fair enough,’ Ayda said cautiously.
‘I am the Lord of the Greenwood, but most friends call me Korhas.’
REBECCA STARED SPEECHLESS at Korhas.
‘Hide your daggers, Theyllyn.’ Korhas snickered at Rebecca as he took a piece of meat from the spit. He rolled it around in his fingers, inspecting the cooked meat. Satisfied, he put the rodent to his mouth and began chewing on the meat. He grimaced as oil spilled onto his beard, but kept on eating all the same.
Ayda looked at Korhas and then at Rebecca.
‘You two know each other?’ said the half-elf.
Rebecca ignored Ayda. ‘I saw you go over the wall during the Siege of Weserith. You blew up the districts. How did you make it out in one piece?’
‘Not in one piece.’ Korhas drew the hood back to reveal a singed left side of his face. His left eye was white and blind. ‘I am lucky. I was the only one to make it out alive.’
Korhas sat back down in his chair and resumed his small meal. Theyllyn sat beside him.
‘You’re taking this rather well, Korhas,’ said Theyllyn and then turned to Rebecca. ‘He’s got a peculiar tale to tell you, elf.’
Rebecca sat next to Ayda.
‘Well, go on then, Korhas,’ urged Theyllyn.
Korhas cleared his throat and paused for a moment, as if trying to find the right words, and cleared his throat twice. Finally, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
‘King Ayland is alive.’
Shock covered Rebecca’s face. ‘How…how do you know that?’
‘I saw him,’ Korhas said as he pulled a strand of meat from the rodent. Rebecca sat silent for a moment.
‘Bullshit.’
Theyllyn snickered and poured himself a mug of some kind of beer.
‘That’s what I said.’ He drank deeply from his mug and set it on the table with a loud burp. He sighed and wiped beer from his lips and mustache.
Korhas swallowed hard and stared at the fire. ‘As I was escaping Weserith, all bloodied and weary, I passed by his tomb and heard strange noises within. My curiosity got the better of me, and I snuck in. His tomb was surrounded by daemons, standing with arms outstretched, and they held some kind of massive cleaver above the tomb. I remember seeing bright red wisps of light surround the concrete, and then he broke from it and grabbed the cleaver. Those daemons were all chanting just one thing over and over again: Cliobarhe.’ Korhas glanced at Rebecca. ‘I ran as fast as I could away from there. I’ve never been more afraid in my life.’
Theyllyn sighed and folded his arms on his chest. ‘Korhas ran all the way from Weserith to Flodden. An impressive feat, really. Korhas thinks King Ayland, the Cliobarhe, is the Archdaemon.’
‘Oh, shit,’ whispered Rebecca.
‘Yeah,’ Theyllyn said, shaking his head. ‘If King Ayland really is the Archdaemon, his first move will be to hunt down and kill the Harmony of the Apostles. I do know where you intend to go, however: Felheim, the land of the elves. Truth is, not even Felheim is safe.’
‘From the beginning, we were tasked with finding the Harmony of the Apostles,’ said Rebecca.
‘Tasked? Was this before you tried to kill me?’ Theyllyn said, slapping his chest.
‘I’ve had it with you! You just can’t drop it, can you? Maybe we should settle this here and now!’ Rebecca put her hand on her dagger, ready to strike.
‘Stop! Both of you!’ Korhas said, standing up and twisting his neck. It cracked once. He sighed and looked at Theyllyn and Rebecca.
‘We have a task, and we cannot accomplish it with you two fighting all the damn time. There are more important matters than your butt-hurt feelings,’ said Korhas, frowning more than Ayda thought possible. ‘The Harmony of the Apostles will stop the Archdaemon and restore peace to the world, forcing daemons from the earth, back to where they came. This prophecy, along with the halfling, are all part of why we have banded together. The world needs the Harmony to take place. It begs them to.’
‘Korhas is right,’ said Rebecca, relaxing her stance. ‘The half-ling’s name is Ayda. She held in her body a summoner spirit. It has surpassed wurmhood and is nearly the size of this hut. It listens only to her.’
‘For fuck’s sake, Rebecca. Channeling a soul into Gruizoch is one thing, but a summoner spirit? Only the gods have access to summoner spirits,’ Theyllyn scoffed.
‘What is a summoner spirit?’ Ayda asked, looking up at Rebecca.
‘A summoner spirit is a spirit only the gods may use as guardians of the heavens or hells in their absence,’ said Rebecca. ‘Do you remember how you received Ayagi?’
‘Bendrick gave him to me,’ said Ayda. ‘He saved my life by doing it.’
‘Waste of a summoner spirit, if you ask me,’ said Theyllyn, crossing his arms over his chest.
‘Well, no one asked you,’ Ayda glared at him.
‘Listen here, you little shit.’
‘No, fuck you!’ Ayda said, lifting her middle finger at Theyllyn.
‘Ayda,’ Rebecca said, pushing the inflamed halfling away.
Theyllyn gave Ayda a dirty look and drank from his mug of beer. Rebecca sighed heavily and looked at the fire. Korhas shook his head and sat once more by the fire. ‘The Greenwood has been permeated with daemons and old ghosts. Weserith lies in flames and is home to the fog, Aivaterra more so probably.’
‘Alder Isle is weak. Baron Wylfesmer saw to that when he killed the High Lords. Anarchy is all that is left of Alder Isle,’ Rebecca responded. ‘There is only one hope for us all.’
Theyllyn rubbed his chin.
‘The Twin Princes?’
‘That’s right,’ Rebecca said with a curt nod.
‘They aren’t even old enough to rule yet,’ said Theyllyn. ‘Felheim and all lands in the Cairn of Winter are ruled by aristocrats and politicians allegedly waiting for the time the young princes come of age.’
‘They may be our last hope. They have the armies and the technology.’
Korhas nodded carefully. ‘What if we help them?’
Rebecca was the one to raise an eyebrow this time. ‘Help them?’
‘If these young princes gain power before they come of age and listen to our plea, they may be able to turn the tide of this war,’ said Korhas, poking the fire with a stick.
‘You said we. You’re coming with us, Korhas?’ asked Rebecca.
‘Of course I am! I may be missing my eye, but I am as strong as ever, and don’t you dare underestimate me,’ said Korhas, tossing the stick into the fire.
Theyllyn spit on the floor. ‘You make it sound so easy, going to Felheim. Muldvale Pass is the only way, and it is impenetrable. No one has gotten through the winding pass in decades.’
‘What other option do we have?’ asked Rebecca. Theyllyn looked down at his boot and lifted it, as if making sure there was nothing stuck to the bottom of it.
Korhas folded his arms and sighed. ‘What if I told you there was a way through the Titanite Mines?’
Rebecca’s mouth dropped. ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’
‘That’s how you came to Eldervale all those years ago, isn’t it?’ Theyllyn said with a cruel smile. Rebecca bit her lip and shook her head.
‘I will never set foot in those mines again. Not ever.’
‘You might not have a choice if you want to get to Felheim before winter comes again. What was it that you met down there that fills you with so much fear?’ Theyllyn smirked at Rebecca. The elf stared at Theyllyn and turned to Korhas. He simply shrugged and grabbed another dead squirrel from his pack and put a spit through it. Rebecca stood up and walked to the door.
‘I need a moment to think,’ Rebecca said as she shook her head and walked out, closing the door behind her. Theyllyn spat and knelt before Ayda, studying her. Ayda frowned, grimacing at Theyllyn’s foul breath. Theyllyn smiled, and Ayda glanced at his odd-coloured teeth.
‘Well, you best watch your back, halfling. You’re only half perverted, but the other half eventually overpowers the human one.’ Theyllyn licked his lips. ‘I am not above killing you just because you’re a child.’
Korhas shook his head and glared at the man. ‘Theyllyn, back off, will ye? She’s just a girl.’
‘A cursed girl.’
Theyllyn hawked and spat again on the floor. He stood and grabbed his coat. With a loud sniff, he exited the small hut, leaving Korhas and Ayda alone.
‘Ignore him. He’s always brooding about something. He may look foul, but so far, his bark is a lot worse than his bite.’ Ayda sat in front of the fire and put her hands to the warmth. Korhas stared solemnly into the flames.
‘Why do you do that?’ asked Ayda.
‘Do what?’
‘Stare into the fire.’
Korhas rubbed his one good eye and then stroked his brown beard. ‘The flames. They give me comfort. If I stare long enough, it blurs the evils I can’t get out of my mind. Daemons’ screams are not so loud in my ears when I face the fire.’