Voidhawk - the White Lady

by Jason Halstead

  Bailynn ignored his fake scowl and led him after Haley to the edge of the trees. They waited silently, each looking for the best means of ambushing the boragin. The problem was they had no idea where or how it would emerge. Half a dozen runways emerged from the trees, all of them showing evidence of recent animal tracks.

  A snort in the distance was all the signal they needed. Logan drew his sword, marveling at how he felt connected to the blade as soon as it was free of the scabbard. He took a few swings to get used to the length of it. It was lighter than his mace had been but the size was greater, confusing the muscles in his arm.

  Bailynn crouched behind a tree, trying to conceal herself. Logan took her actions to heart and did likewise. The last thing he wanted was to be run over by the boragin before he’d even had a chance to face it! He nodded to Bailynn and noticed that her fingers were sporting her talons again, yet he’d not seen her put her gloves on. He couldn’t remember even seeing her carrying her gloves over the past day. He blamed it on their constant movement.

  Bailynn swore and pointed. Logan spun and risked a look around his tree. Haley was running, her axe and sword in hand. She leapt over a fallen tree, soaring gracefully through the air and then continuing her sprint as soon as she landed. She burst free of the trees and kept running. The boragin followed closely, only a few seconds separating them.

  Bailynn charged past Logan, head tucked as she sprinted towards the beast. He jerked into action himself, realizing he couldn’t risk letting her face the boragin alone. As he ran he studied the creature and wondered just what they were doing.

  Where Ragnar had been large and dangerous looking, the boragin was massive. It was as tall as a draft horse, but half again as wide. Considering its tusks it would have been more appropriate to compare it to a bull than a horse. A giant bull at that.

  Haley was facing it as it charged her down. She dropped low and threw her hatchet, catching the porcine menace in the front of a leg. It spun away, the blade failing to bite in. She threw herself to the side as it reached her, slashing with her sword in a backhanded attempt to hurt it. The boragin’s leg kicked hers, sending her spinning and then rolling across the ground.

  It slowed to a stop and turned, snorting angrily. Bailynn threw her spear, which missed entirely, and ran past Haley to jump at the creature before it could set itself. The overgrown boar swung its head up, narrowly missing Bailynn. She grabbed for its body, her clawed fingers gouging her and leaving shallow furrows along its shoulder before it turned away from her. Off balance, Bailynn slammed into the ground rolled away as well.

  “I smell bacon!” Logan yelled, making the boragin twitch as it started to turn after Bailynn. It swung its head back around and then kept turning, intent upon skewing Logan. He doubted the creature understood him. His plan was simple, use loud noises to distract it.

  Logan threw his chest back, barely dodging the ivory tusks, then was knocked off his feet when the boragin stepped into him. He rolled to the side, barely avoiding a stomping foot. Logan scrambled away and to his feet, confused by the conflicting emotions and thoughts in his head. He knew he should strike with his sword but the urge to bite and bear the creature to the ground kept rushing through his head.

  The distraction allowed Bailynn time to leap on the boragin’s back. She sank her fingers into its hide and kicked her feet into its side. It leapt straight into the air, only her grip kept her from flying free. She pulled herself up, trying to reach its throat.

  “Not the head!” Haley cried out. She was limping towards them, sword in one hand and her reclaimed hatchet in the other.

  Logan saw the huntress and forced his confusion away. Bottling the conflicting thoughts deep inside he rushed over to the boragin, ready to hack at it with his sword. He checked the swing at the last moment as Bailynn’s legs came flying across. The bucking boragin kicked back like a bull, knocking her free and making her scream. She fell, hitting the ground hard. Logan grabbed her and pulled her back a few feet, trying to get her safely away.

  “Logan!”

  The healer turned and saw the boar dip its head down to charge at him. Haley’s hatchet slammed into its side, drawing an angry squeal from it. Logan looked at his sword and tossed it aside. It would do him no good. He pulled the wolf free and charged forward, closing the distance as he underwent a partial shift.

  The distracted boar missed him as he ran past its vicious tusks. He slashed with one hand, cutting sinew and flesh on the beasts shoulder. It grunted and turned towards him, but Logan was already moving. He slashed again, ripping blood and meat on the boragin’s haunch.

  “Hurry!” Haley warned.

  Her words barely carried through the thrill of the hunt Logan felt. He reversed direction, confusing the boar, and felt a harsh bark of laughter emerge from his throat when the change in momentum caused the creature to stumble and drop to its shoulder. Bailynn joined the battle, her spear in her hands. She had it tucked between her arm and her side while the other hand guided it. Her impromptu charge ended when she jammed the spear into the boragin’s side.

  It squealed and thrashed, rising back to its feet and spinning about to face them. It twisted, trying to bite the stick impaling it, then it turned back to grunt and snort at them. It spun some more, snapping at the spear that it couldn’t reach, and twisted again until it fell to the ground.

  It snapped a few more times, then lay still, breathing rapidly. Answering snorts carried from behind them. Another eight boragin had gathered and were rushing towards them.

  Logan fell forward, dropping to his hands and letting the wolf consume him from the inside. He stretched his head towards them and howled, slowing them down. Behind him the boragin lay still, its final breath rattling out of its chest.

  Logan growled and snapped, then started towards the remaining boragin. They stopped running and stared at him, then started to turn and back away. With a few more snaps he routed them, sending them running back into the woods. He stood there watching until he was sure they’d fled, then he turned around and reclaimed his humanity so he could check on his companions.

  “Bacon?” Bailynn asked when Logan had returned to them. “You smell bacon?”

  “I couldn’t think of anything to do to get its attention. Loud noises startle animals,” He explained.

  “So you thought of bacon?”

  “Would have been nice with breakfast.”

  Bailynn shook her head. “Shut up and fix my hand.”

  Logan winked at her, then realized what he’d done. He was flirting! Granted, it was a foregone conclusion that they had something special to explore together, but that sort of behavior wasn’t like him. It wasn’t the kind of a thing a priest would do!

  He paused, nearly faltering as he walked to Bailynn. He wasn’t a priest anymore. He might have never been one, in fact. He frowned, then shook his head when he saw Bailynn studying him. Her hand was red and splotchy with broken blood vessels in the wrist and palm.

  “When he threw me my hand got caught in its hide, twisted it up good.”

  Logan nodded and reached out to take her hand. As soon as he made contact he felt the connection her and the wrongness in her arm. It extended all the way up to her shoulder from strained muscles. He focused on it and fed the restorative energy into her, fixing the swollen tissue and regenerating the torn fibers.

  He could find no more damaged tissue to repair but there was still something off about her arm. Something just beyond what his magical senses could comprehend. Whatever it was, he was certain it posed no threat to her health. He gave her an extra push of energy for good luck and was rewarded with a gasp from her.

  “What was that?” She asked, eyes wide and sparkling.

  “My way of saying thanks for not getting yourself gored.”

  Her smile was less than wholesome, it was almost wicked with intent. “I can’t wait to show you how I say thanks.”

  Logan felt himself blushing again. He turned away to see Hailey was already kneeling nex
t to the dead boragin and preparing to butcher it. “Let me help you,” he insisted.

  She glanced up at him and shrugged. “Just a wrenched knee and ankle is all.”

  Logan took her leg in his hands. He glanced at Bailynn, surprised by the lack of connection to the huntress. Bailynn stared hard at him, almost glaring. He read in her expression that she did not want him giving Haley the extra boost that he’d given her. He fought the urge to smile and focused instead on Haley’s injuries. By sending his healing magic into her he was able to feel the damage done and correct it.

  “Amazing,” Haley admitted when he stepped away from her. She rose up and tested it, then nodded again. “Thank you, Logan. I’m…I…” She trailed off, unable to find words for what she wanted to say. Finally she smiled again. “Thank you.”

  He waved it away then turned to Bailynn. She was still giving him the glare. He shook his head, then realized he was still nude. “I’d better not get used to this,” he muttered, walking as quickly as he could to fetch his clothes. The truth was healing Haley had taken a lot out of him. Bailynn was easy, and that spoke volumes to him as well. Was it familiarity or did it speak to a greater union between their souls?

  “How are we supposed to carry that all the way to Ragnar’s camp?” Bailynn asked.

  Logan turned and saw that Haley had cut the head free from the boragin. “Skin it,” Haley said. “Then we use it as a sack. We won’t move as fast, but we can be at their village before sunset.”

  “Their village?” Logan took note of her choice of words. It wasn’t her village anymore, but theirs.

  She nodded, catching his eyes for a telling moment, then returned to skinning the carcass. “I’ll cut some meat free for later.”

  “Bacon,” Bailynn muttered, shaking her head.

  * * * *

  Ragnar sat upon the mound as the three approached. Haley and Logan carried the pigskin wrapped trophy between them. Bailynn carried her spear proudly as though its presence would remind them of the honor she’d earned.

  “You’re late,” Ragnar said, addressing Haley.

  Haley nodded but said nothing.

  Logan lifted his head to speak their case. “We—”

  “You will not speak!” Ragnar roared, silencing Logan. “This is my land, these plains. You would do well to remember it, human!”

  Logan heeded the irate chieftain’s words. They were surrounded by armed and hostile gajrin. A glance around reminded him that this was a situation where reason was the better part of valor.

  “Go, return to my tents,” Ragnar snapped, staring at Haley.

  Haley stood her ground, staring at him. Ragnar returned the stare, his chest growing. Finally his front paw slammed the ground, claws pulling grass and dirt. “I send you away and you return to tell me you wish freedom? You’re more fool than I thought!” He motioned to his hunters. “Take her! I’ll deal with her later. Too stupid to be a slave, perhaps we’ll roast her for dinner!”

  Logan’s eyes widened as Haley stood complacently and let the gajrin grab her and pull her away. He opened his mouth, willing to risk Ragnar’s wrath. Bailynn beat him to the punch.

  “Mighty Ragnar, we brought you a tribute!” She called out. She turned to the package on the ground and grabbed a corner of the skin. She pulled, yanking the top of it off and throwing it aside. A small cloud of flies rose up, disturbed by the sudden movement.

  Ragnar hissed as he stood. He moved down the hill to stare at it, then he laughed aloud. “You killed Pigtooth!”

  Bailynn looked at Logan, alarm in her eyes. Logan understood her fear, Ragnar’s laugh concerned him as well.

  “It took three of you! Ha. Puny humans.” Ragnar pointed at four long healed scars on the side of the boragin’s head. “My claws. If you can mark a foe like this, you’ve won the fight.”

  Logan felt his hopes crash. The laughter made sense. Haley had misunderstood the gajrin’s wants. Now Haley was a prisoner again and he and Bailynn were little better off.

  “We misunderstood, great hunter,” Bailynn said, bowing low. “We thought only to honor you.”

  “You told them of Pigtooth?” Ragnar asked, looking at Haley. She nodded. He laughed again. “For this I won’t eat you.”

  Bailynn and Logan shared a concerned look. “Chief, we want Haley to go free with us.”

  Ragnar stared at Bailynn and laughed. When she stayed calm he moved closer to her and towered over her. He raised a paw high above her, hesitated to see her reaction, then swatted her with his face-sized paw.

  Logan tensed as Bailynn crumpled to the ground. She rolled and came up, spear held pointed at Ragnar.

  “What makes you think you’ll go free? Did Haley tell you how I tamed her?” Ragnar leered at Bailynn. Logan felt the wolf hammering away inside of him. The sword at his side was a charade, his real strength came from within.

  “Then let me fight you this time,” Bailynn said. She straightened full, lowering her spear. “Face me on your field of honor for our right to go free.”

  Ragnar stared at her, then he laughed again. “Humans are all stupid!” His laughter was echoed by his tribe.

  Haley even stared at Bailynn, a deadly serious expression on her face. Logan understood that she’d overstepped herself. If Ragnar agreed to it, she was doomed.

  “And there’s more!” Bailynn demanded. “If I win, the three of us go free. Should I yield, I’ll replace Haley as your servant. If you kill me, then my friends are still granted passage.”

  Ragnar stared at her then laughed again. “Stupid, puny humans. Take her to the field!”

  “You’ll meet my demands?” Bailynn asked, ignoring the pressing gajrin around her.

  “I’ll do as I wish! Go now or I’ll rip you apart right here!”

  The hunters forced them apart and towards the field. Logan had control of the beast inside of him as he walked, the problem was keeping control of his desire to let the beast loose. As he walked an idea occurred to him. He’d killed a massive beast in the swamp and he’d been responsible for disabling the Pigtooth. He was more powerful than he gave himself credit for.

  “Bailynn, let me do this!” He called out, uncertain of where she was amongst the throng of six limbed gajrin.

  “No!” She cried back from somewhere to his right. “You know I’m a better warrior, don’t ruin our only chance!”

  Logan opened his mouth to respond when he was cuffed in the back by a huntress. He turned and growled at her, letting some of the beast out. She snarled back at him, unimpressed.

  The crowd thinned. Ahead lay the field. Bailynn marched onto it, holding her spear in both hands. Logan saw her claws were out again. He had to find out how she managed to slip her gloves on and off.

  Ragnar entered the field, his spear held in his hands. He spun it around and roared at Bailynn. She bared her teeth at him then had to leap away as he pounced at her unexpectedly. Bailynn swept her spear around from where she landed, using it as a staff. The shaft slammed into Ragnar’s foot, vibrating in her hand from the impact. Before she could pull it away he stepped on it with one paw then kicked it out of her hands with another. She had to leap back, narrowly avoiding his spear slicing through the air at her.

  Logan watched, terrified at how much ground she was losing. Ragnar advanced, keeping her at bay with the deadly speed of his spear. She kept dodging, staying in the fight, until Logan realized that Ragnar was toying with her. It was cat and mouse all over again. He remembered how Bailynn’s last fight had gone and wondered if that was on Ragnar’s mind as well.

  Bailynn cried out, Ragnar’s spear catching her on the inside of her arm as well as her side. Logan growled and started forward, only to be held back by the firm grip on his shoulder of the huntress beside him. Bailynn surprised them all by clamping her wounded arm to her side, trapping the spear against her. She grabbed onto the shaft with her hands, sinking her talons into it to prevent Ragnar from yanking it free of her grip.

  He roared when he couldn’t shake he
r, then yanked even harder on it. It looked like Bailynn was yanked off her feet but the clever girl had staged it. She fell towards him but kept her legs under her. She leapt at him, surprising him. Her claws swept across, marking his cheek.

  Ragnar dropped his spear and tried to grab Bailynn. She’d slipped past him, ripping five furrows down his flank as she escaped his reach. She misjudged his reaction, expecting him to retreat from her. Ragnar’s hindquarters slammed into her, sending her stumbling. She rolled, anxious to escape the pursuing hunter.

  She rolled over her spear by twist of fate. She held it up, hoping to catch Ragnar as he pursued right behind her. Ragnar leapt over her, staying out of range of the spear. Bailynn tried to keep her spear between them but Ragnar grabbed it and wrenched it out of her hands. The gajrin chieftain pressed a paw to her chest, claws extended.

  “No!” Logan hissed, frozen in fear at what was about to happen.

  Ragnar fell onto her, pinning her beneath his body. “Do you yield?” He asked her.

  “I marked my foe,” Bailynn said, her breath forced by the great weight resting on her.

  Ragnar reached up to his face. His hand came away bloody. He snarled and spat. “Human bitch!”

  “Isn’t that what you said? Aren’t those the rules you live by?”

  Ragnar lifted his fist high into the air, fingers curled to allow his sharp fingernails the chance to cut her to ribbons.

  Logan yanked his shoulder free of the huntress, ignoring how his shirt and skin tore. He ran forward, getting a head start on the huntress that pursued him. He let the wolf come, shifting as he ran even though he knew he couldn’t hope to stop Ragnar’s arm that had begun its descent.

  The huntress slammed into Logan’s back, propelled by her powerful lion body. He went down and flipped onto his back, reaching up as he did. He felt his hands, now furry and lethal, shred tissue. Blood sprayed onto him but he ignored it and scrambled out from under her. She tried to wrestle him under control but she lacked the strength in her limbs she’d had only moments before