‘Now I’m the one who’s sorry. I’m moaning at you for complaining but I’m no better. I shouldn’t have thrown a log at you.’ Jade hurried over to Calix and hesitantly slipped an arm around him. ‘We’re all worried about Kaelia but as Gunnarr said, we need a Vallesm’s nose to track her. I know you and Cadence had a bit of a thing going on before she turned all blue and shit.’
‘Just blue,’ Calix said, ‘not shit. Mind you, her decision to turn Draugr was pretty crappy.’
Jade playfully pushed him. ‘See? You’re already starting to feel better. Although,’ she said with a glint in her eye, ‘that joke was a stinker.’
Calix shook his head, his black mood lifting.
‘Things must be looking up,’ Bryson’s husky voice interrupted. He stretched his limbs and stood up, bones creaking. ‘If there’s flirting.’
Jade blushed and stared at her feet.
‘Oh no,’ Calix replied hastily. ‘We’re not flirting. Jade is Cadence’s best friend. There’s nothing going on between her and me.’
Bryson stood up and joined Gunnarr, who was leaning against the mantle above the fireplace. ‘Remember when we were young? The denial of youth can be a mixed emotion.’
Gunnarr chuckled. ‘Wasn’t that how you and Christine started out? Wasn’t she a friend of a white wolf girl you dated, what was her name?’
Bryson cleared his throat. ‘I can’t remember. It was such a long time ago. Where’s Bay?’
‘It’s Kaelia,’ Calix replied. ‘She’s gone and if I know her Vallesm—.’ He blushed. ‘Sorry, if I know Bay, he’s looking for her.’
Bryson rubbed his aching forehead and groaned. ‘How long was I out for? Feels like weeks.’
‘Long enough.’ Gunnarr clapped Bryson on the shoulder. ‘It would’ve been longer if I hadn’t turned up when I did and saved your furry arse.’
Bryson hugged Gunnarr, in turn clapping his old friend on the back. ‘Thanks. I’m glad you’re here. It’s been too long since we last saw each other. Your face is all lined.’
‘Thanks for reminding me; well it has been nineteen years. I’m not the only one who has aged, you cheeky bugger,’ Gunnarr replied. ‘The day we parted was the day Kaelia was born and you followed the family to protect them. You kept Kaelia safe while she was growing up, you did well. Did her father ever figure out what you really are?’
Bryson shook his head. ‘I never had a chance to tell him. I was going to, once we knew for certain Kaelia was The Chosen One but he was killed before I could.’
Gunnarr patted Bryson on the shoulder again. ‘I’m sure he appreciated what you did. He trusted you with Kaelia even though he thought you only human.’
‘He knew Christine and I would have defended her with our lives if we’d needed to.’ Bryson rubbed his moustache. ‘We never needed to; Bay did that all by himself. Do we have any idea where Bay has gone?’
Calix shook his head. ‘We found this in the library.’ Putting his hand in his pocket he pulled out the glowing feather, illuminating the area around them.
‘A firebird?’ Bryson stroked the feather then carefully placed it on the mantle and stared at it.
‘Yes, I’m certain it’s from a firebird,’ Gunnarr answered Bryson’s question. ‘Bay had already left by the time I arrived else I would’ve sent him out to track. I thought the last firebird died out a long time ago.’
Bryson picked the feather back up again and sniffed it. ‘It smells like a firebird.’ He pulled the feather between his hands. ‘Feels like it.’
‘Do you think The Salloki sent it?’ Gunnarr asked.
Holding the feather in the palm of one hand, Bryson crushed it. Its light extinguished underneath his fingers. ‘I hope not.’ Opening his hand, the feather burst back into light and sprang into shape. ‘The bird this came from is a strong one.’
‘So there is something to worry about?’ Calix asked.
Bryson nodded slowly. ‘Yes, Calix, I think there is.’
‘Can you track it?’ Calix pointed at the feather. ‘Are firebirds big? Could one have taken Kaelia?’
Bryson exchanged a look with Gunnarr. ‘It is possible.’
Gunnarr nodded in understanding. ‘If a firebird really took Kaelia, it will all happen sooner than we thought. If the Draugr is behind this, it means that lot have something planned already. I fear a fight is coming sooner than we thought.’
Jade rubbed her hands together. ‘You mean I’ll get to kick arse?’
‘No.’ Bryson slipped the feather into his pocket. ‘I will try to track the firebird, failing that I will track Bay.’
‘I’m coming with you,’ Calix said.
‘You’re not.’ Bryson’s moustache twitched. ‘You’ll only slow me down.’
Gunnarr made a noise of agreement. ‘You’ve been to the academy, haven’t you, Calix? I think you should go back there and see if anyone has heard of the appearance of a firebird. If one has been seen, they may know about it. There’s a greater concentration of gifted people there than anywhere else in this country.’
‘Good idea,’ Bryson said.
‘But I want to come with you in case you find Kaelia!’ Calix sighed in exasperation. ‘She’s my friend!’
Bryson laid a hand on Calix’s shoulder. ‘We are all worried about her.’
Gunnarr nodded. ‘But we should keep calm until we know where she’s gone.’
‘Exactly.’ Bryson exchanged another look with Gunnarr. ‘For all we know, she’s gone off looking for Marrock.’
‘Kaelia thinks Bay is Marrock!’ Calix said. ‘Why would she go off looking for him if she thinks she’s already found him?’
‘Because,’ Bryson replied, ‘it is not inconceivable she’s realised she’s still changing.’
‘Yes,’ Gunnarr picked up, ‘if she had truly united with the Marrock of her destiny, she would already have broken into full power.’
Bryson looked at Calix. ‘Were she and Bay romantic with each other?’
‘Pardon?’ Calix blushed.
Gunnarr laughed. ‘Did Kaelia and Bay...?’ He rubbed the palms of his hands together.
‘Ewww,’ Jade interrupted. ‘We don’t know!’
‘If they did,’ Gunnarr said, ‘and Kaelia’s still growing in power she would have thought Bay is not Marrock.’
‘She would’ve been heartbroken!’ Calix cried. ‘Yet another reason why I should go with you, Bryson, when you hunt the firebird. If it took her, and she’s already upset, she’ll need me!’
‘Absolutely not.’ Bryson shook his head. ‘Gunnarr is right, you and Jade should go to Mortiswood Academy and see if anyone there has heard anything. While you’re there you can ask Harriet to prepare anyone willing to fight, she will need to train them if they want to join with us. There may not be much time left but what there is, she can make good use of.’
Calix’s shoulder’s sagged. ‘I’m letting Kaelia down all over again. I already let her down when I went off in search of a Rosealrium bloom and left her with Bran.’
‘You’re not letting anyone down.’ Jade tentatively touched Calix’s arm. ‘This is something useful you can do, it’ll be better than waiting around.’
Calix sighed. ‘Fine. I owe Harriet and Mortiswood Academy some Rosealrium oil.’
Bryson rose. ‘I’ll cut you some blooms to take to her.’
‘You can’t go alone.’ Gunnarr winked at Calix. ‘Jade can go with you. You’ll be safer with her.’
‘I don’t need a babysitter!’
‘No,’ Gunnarr teased. ‘You need a girlfriend, look what happened to your last one!’
* * *
Chapter Twenty
Mortiswood
The grey-white Vallesm wove around tree trunks. The firebird’s flaming feathers lit the early morning sky as it sailed through the air. Bracken crackled beneath the wolf’s paws, its tail billowing out behind it. Keeping both its gaze and nostrils locked on the firebird overhead, it let out a lengthy howl.
The Vallesm kep
t up with the bird, its paws covering the same distance on land as the wings of the bird covered in flight. Suddenly, the firebird took a nosedive, its flaming tail feathers cutting vapour trails as it plummeted through the sky so fast the bird disappeared within the tops of the trees. Having to rely on scent and sound, the wolf slowed. Density of the trees lessened as the creature nipped between an avenue of Lime trees.
Skidding to a halt in a small clearing, the Vallesm left a claw trail in the dirt. Guard hairs along the ridge of the wolf’s back rose into points. Its strong, ivory fangs glimmered in the low light. The wolf snarled. Lowering its head, its ears flattened and its amber flecked eyes narrowed.
Undergrowth on the opposite side of the clearing to the Vallesm rustled. The wolf bared its teeth. A tip of a black nose emerged from the foliage. Within the shadows, a pair of ice-blue eyes blinked. The Vallesm’s nostrils twitched. Slowly, it padded into the clearing and slunk around the outer edge. Gradually, from within the leaves a dark head came into view. The grey-white Vallesm growled as an ebony wolf stepped into the clearing, its shiny fur thicker and longer than the Vallesm’s.
The Vallesm paced around one edge of the clearing; the ebony wolf mirroring its movements along the opposite edge. Each creature lowered their heads and peeled back their lips, exposing glinting fangs. The Vallesm pounced. The ebony wolf leapt forwards a split second behind. The creatures met in mid-air in the middle of the clearing, each of their heads pointing towards each other, teeth snapping.
A screech sliced through the snarling of the wolves. The firebird dived at the creatures, its flaming feathers singeing the tips of the wolves’ guard hairs. The Vallesm howled and span around. Jumping up, it clamped its teeth on the bird’s tail feathers. The bird squawked and snapped back at the Vallesm with its hooked beak. The grey-white Vallesm howled, releasing the firebird as the ebony wolf plunged its teeth into the Vallesm’s hind leg.
Sagging in pain, the Vallesm pulled itself along the ground with the ebony wolf refusing to let go. Light flared in the Vallesm’s amber eyes and it twisted back on itself. Managing to turn almost nose-to-tail, the Vallesm bit the ebony wolf, catching its ear in its fangs. With a ferocious tug, it tore part of the ebony wolf’s ear off. The wolf released the Vallesm and howled. With blood surging from the wound on its hind leg the Vallesm snarled, spitting the part of the wolf’s ear to the ground. Saliva ran crimson from its jaws and it shook its head, splattering the bloodied drool at the ebony wolf. Steam expelled from the Vallesm’s flared nostrils. Lowering its head, it prepared for a repeat attack.
Screeching, the firebird swooped over the Vallesm’s head and landed in between the bloodied wolves. It spread its huge wings, the span so great the end feathers reached the noses of the panting wolves. With a flick of its wings, the firebird blazed afresh. The Vallesm shrank back from the intensity of the heat. The bird’s wings flapped rapidly, flames flaring out from each feather until the feathered creature was encased within a roaring ball of fire. Flames exploded outwards, forcing the Vallesm to turn its head to protect its eyes. Keeping its head side-on, the Vallesm pushed closer to the bird, looking for a weak spot. It paced around the flaming bird, trying intermittently to push its head into the fire but each time it was forced back. The Vallesm stumbled, weakened by the wound on its leg. Catching a glimpse of retreating ebony tail, the Vallesm ran around the edge of the clearing. It looked back to the firebird, which was still ablaze, and lowered its head to the ground, sniffing. Detecting the scent of the ebony wolf, the Vallesm took off after it.
The mighty Vallesm stumbled, its back leg gave way and it collapsed. Blood had soaked the entire back leg, leaking profusely from the wound inflicted by the ebony wolf. Trying to stand, the creature shook. With a sorrowful howl, the Vallesm dropped its heavy head onto the dirt and bracken, the amber light in its eyes, dimming.
* * *
Gunnarr, weighted down by his backpack, trudged through the undergrowth. Spots of colour pinked his cheeks, and he was slightly out of breath. Ahead of him the amber Vallesm Bryson paced back and forth. Gunnarr hooked his thumbs under the long strap of his canvas bag to lessen the strain and picked up his pace.
‘It’s okay for you,’ Gunnarr grumbled, ‘you can run, well, like a wolf. I can only run like a man of my age!’
The amber Vallesm howled, prompting Gunnarr to break into a run. Following the wolf, he jumped over bracken and ran along an avenue of trees before charging across a small clearing. A short distance from the edge of the clearing, and partly hidden within the dense foliage, the amber Vallesm stood with its head dipped. Looking back at Gunnarr over its withers, its eyes moistened.
Pulling his bag off his shoulder and holding it by its handles, Gunnarr charged to the amber Vallesm’s side. The holdall slipped from his grasp as he caught sight of the grey-white Vallesm slumped in a pool of blood with even more surging from a rough looking wound on its rear leg.
The amber Vallesm shook until it was a whir of fur and changed back into human form. ‘Can you help him?’ Bryson asked gruffly.
Gunnarr opened the bag and dropped beside the grey-white Vallesm. Rummaging in the depths of the bag, he nodded. ‘It may take a little time. We need to stem the flow of blood.’ He pulled out a bottle of clear liquid from the bag. ‘This should do the trick. If he’s out cold this’ll certainly wake him up.’
The moment the liquid hit the Vallesm’s flesh it hissed and steamed. The Vallesm’s amber eyes shot open and the wolf snapped its head around, snarling.
‘It is okay, Bay.’ Bryson knelt beside the injured Vallesm and placed a hand on its head. Soothingly, he stroked the fur. The Vallesm shuddered under Bryson’s touch and lessened its snarls to a whimper. ‘Gunnarr will put you on the mend and you can turn back into yourself and tell us what happened.’ He looked at the wound. ‘That wasn’t inflicted by any kind of bird.’
Gunnarr, rummaging again in his bag, agreed. ‘Looks like teeth to me. Firebirds don’t have teeth.’
Bryson patted the Vallesm once more before rising. ‘I’ll have a quick scout around while you decide what to do about Bay’s wound.’ He strode off in the direction of the clearing.
Gunnarr hummed to himself while he picked up bottle after bottle of liquid before discarding each one. Finally, his hand rested on an irregularly shaped bottle and he clutched it triumphantly. He shook the bottle and the liquid inside, resembling the colour of a dirty puddle, bubbled.
‘The firebird was here.’ Bryson loped back through the undergrowth to Gunnarr. He held up several long, glowing tail feathers. ‘And I found this.’ He offered his palm to Gunnarr.
Gunnarr’s nose crinkled at the bloodied piece of fur in Bryson’s hand. ‘What is it?’
Bryson held the offending remnant up to his own nose and inhaled deeply. ‘It’s definitely not from a bird.’
‘Can you tell what it is by its scent?’
Bryson shook his head. ‘No, but I can tell you the same scent lingers on Bay. Whatever this came from is the thing that took a chunk out of my boy’s leg.’
‘Here.’ Gunnarr handed Bryson a scrap of material bandaging from his bag. ‘Wrap it in this and I’ll take it back to the castle to inspect it further.’
Bryson accepted the material and wrapped the bloodied piece of flesh in it before handing it to Gunnarr to keep safe. ‘What are you going to use on him? It’ll need to be fast acting. We can’t afford for him to be out of it for too long like I was.’
‘He won’t be,’ Gunnarr promised. ‘He has only this one wound, unlike you. You had internal damage. This’ll be cleared in a jiffy once I put this on it.’ He looked down at the grey-white Vallesm, which feebly lifted its head. ‘It will sting a lot more than the first stuff though.’
Bryson sat down beside his Vallesm son and lifted the wolf’s large head onto his lap. He peered into its eyes. ‘He understands. Just make it quick. What is it you are using?’
‘Everstrain.’ Gunnarr unscrewed the lid of the bottle.
Bryson c
oughed, covering his mouth he asked, ‘Where did you find it? I thought it was hard to buy?’
‘I have my connections.’
‘On the dark magic market?’ Bryson exhaled, trying to clear the stink of the Everstrain from his lungs.
‘Yup.’ Gunnarr glanced across at Bryson. ‘Cost me three vials of Rosealrium oil so it had better work. Ready?’
Bryson looked from the Vallesm to Gunnarr. ‘Do it.’
Gunnarr upended the bottle over the Vallesm’s wound and liquid drooled from the opening. Shaking the bottle once, Gunnarr dislodged a droplet, which wobbled in slow motion on its descent. The Vallesm groaned feebly then, as soon as the liquid neared its flesh, it howled. The drop sizzled, causing a plume of acrid smelling steam to rise from the wolf’s flesh. The wolf howled repeatedly and convulsed. Choking through a fug of burning fur and skin, Gunnarr recapped the Everstrain and chucked it back in his rucksack. ‘It’s making my eyes water!’ he spluttered.
‘Holy goddess, it sure smells like hell!’ Bryson coughed. ‘I’m glad I’ve never come across a Hellhound if that’s how they stink!’
The Vallesm’s howls died to whimpers.
‘It’s working!’ Gunnarr said. ‘Look!’
A mix of molten flesh and fur slid from the Vallesm’s back leg, creating a pool on the dirt ground underneath its stomach. The liquefied mass bubbled, rose in pinprick spikes, and then melted into the soil, leaving behind a charred crevice caked in dried, crackled flesh residue. The Vallesm’s seizures lessened until it twitched in the dirt, grumbling weakly. The ragged edges of the wound on its back leg stretched, pulling the sides of the muscle and skin across until the ends met.
Mortiswood: Kaelia Falling (Mortiswood Tales Book 2) Page 17