Runefell: Crossroads

by Shawn Sodman

  “You are hurt,” Lyra says, looking up at him.

  “I am fine,” Sven replies, “go help Kel'ana.”

  “I have Kel'ana,” Kristieana says as she looks at Kel'ana's arm.

  “Then I guess that means I'll heal you,” Yentroc says as she walks over to Sven and Lyra. “Now lie down so we can get these arrows out.”

  “How about Sven just gets on knees,” he says as he drops down.

  “I guess that will work,” Yentroc says. “Lyra, can you pull the arrows out while I cast the heal spell?”

  “Wait,” Sven says, “These aren't practice arrows. You cannot just pull them out.”

  “They aren't in that far,” Yentroc says as she examines one of the wounds. “Your fur cloak helped protect you. It will hurt, but I should be able to heal it completely once it is out. Lyra, make sure you pull it out straight.”

  “I can do that,” Lyra answers. She braces herself and grabs one of the arrows. “Just tell me when.”

  “Now,” Yentroc says. Lyra pulls one of the arrows out as Sven grits his teeth. Yentroc places her glowing hands on the hole in his fur cloak. She says, “Good, that one went well. One more, just like before.” Lyra puts her hands around the other arrow and waits. “Now,” Yentroc says again. Just as before, Lyra pulls the arrow out as Sven winces in pain. Yentroc's hands quickly heals the wound.

  Ja'noa walks over to the four orcneas. She holds out her hands as the two star steel daggers return. She wipes the blood from them on her sleeve before sheathing them. She pulls a few of the arrows from the orcnea's quivers and smells the tips. Rehma now joins her and she asks, “What is it?”

  Ja'noa replies, “I was just making sure the arrows weren't poisoned.”

  “Good idea,” Rehma replies. She kneels down and searches the bodies for bit then says, “Looks like they have nothing worth taking.”

  Ja'noa laughs and says, “They usually don't.”

  Chapter 34

  A Matter of Trust

  On the Red Dawn, Ariella is up in the lounge writing in her log. There is knock at the door. “Enter,” Ariella says as she closes her journal.

  Torgus enters and says, “The weather is in our favor, Captain, we will reach Bastion in two days.”

  “Good,” she replies. “Any luck tracing my amulet or Mr. Greythorn?”

  “No, Captain,” Torgus replies, “I am sorry. I try every couple hours.”

  Ariella nods her head. She stands up and as she walks over to a chair at the center table she says, “It's hard to believe that so much has happened in the last few days. Just over a week ago we first heard of my father's treasure. Now, I have lost that treasure to a man, who until a few days ago, I had never met. I have to replace two of my crew because of him, and on top of that Fernando stole something very personal of mine. Why? What is so important about my locket that he had to steal it?”

  “Maybe he just wanted something to remember you by,” Torgus says.

  “No,” Ariella replies. “There is a reason he took that locket, Torgus. I just know it, and I am sure it has to do with that treasure.”

  “Captain,” Torgus says, “I will keep trying to find him, of course. Sooner or later we'll get him. Right now you need to get some rest. You have been under a lot of stress lately and I am worried about you.”

  “Do you suppose the gods are punishing me for something, Torgus?”

  Ariella sits at the table and Torgus sits next to her. “Now, what would the gods be angry with you for?” He asks.

  “I don't know,” Ariella says, shaking her head. “Maybe I am not on the right path. Maybe I should have tried to see Chance again years ago.”

  “So this is about Chance then?” he asks.

  “I don't know Torgus,” Ariella says sounding exasperated. “I just don't know. Seeing Chance for the first time in nearly twenty years was harder than I ever imagined. Why did he come back into my life at a time when he couldn't stay? Even if he could, I don't even know if he would want to anymore.”

  “I don't have those answers, my dear,” Torgus says.

  “Why did we stop coming to Sheathelm years ago?” Ariella asks.

  “What do you mean?” Torgus asks. “We came, but your father just never docked.”

  “For a while, yes,” Ariella replies, “but one day, we set sail to the south and didn't return until the day Chance took his vows. Was that planned?”

  “Ariella,” Torgus says as he stands up and heads to the door, “we stayed away from Sheathelm once Chance had mastered the eagle transformation spell.”

  “Father couldn't have known what Chance was doing unless...” Ariella stops and looks at Torgus. “You,” she says as she holds back tears. “You told him didn't you?”

  “Ariella, we—“

  “Get out,” Ariella snaps.

  “Not before you hear the rest,” Torgus says as he walks back over to her. “We had no idea that Chance had met anyone during the Dragon War. Shortly after the war your father decided that he was wrong about Chance. That is why we returned to Sheathelm. The fact that Chance was taking his vows was only a coincidence.”

  “A coincidence, or a cruel twist of fate,” Ariella ponders. “Torgus, I have to ask you something else.”

  “What is it, Captain?” he asks.

  “Is there something you are not telling me?” she asks. “Do you know something about this treasure that I don't?”

  “Ariella,” Torgus replies, “I have told you all that I can.”

  “You have told me everything that you can?” Ariella questions. “So, there is more, but it's something you can't tell me, is that it?”

  Torgus looks Ariella in the eyes and says, “I can tell you that I don't know anything about Fernando Greythorn. I can also tell you that your father never told me what he put in that treasure chest of his, or what your locket has to do with it. To answer your question though, yes, there are things that your father never wanted you to know. We were pirates, Ariella, we did things that we were not proud of, but I can promise you this, I am not keeping your father's treasure from you. Your father and I have always tried to do what we felt was best for you.”

  “Like keeping Chance's letters from me?” she asks.

  Torgus sighs and looks down. “I suppose I deserve that. I am sorry, my dear. I promise you that we will get Fernando Greythorn and we will find your father's treasure. Perhaps then, all of your questions will be answered.”

  “Until then, Torgus,” Ariella says as she now opens the door for him, “Look me in the eyes and tell me that I can trust you.”

  Torgus looks Ariella in the eyes and says, “Ariella, I swear to you on your father's watery grave you can trust me.”

  Ariella, feeling a sense of relief, replies, “Thank you, Torgus.”

  “I'll let you know if I find Fernando or your locket,” Torgus says.

  Ariella nods to Torgus as he leaves. She then closes the door and walks back over to her journal. As she sits down at the desk she opens the book and takes out her quill and begins another entry.

  Chapter 35

  Encampment

  In the cold snowy mountains of the Northwind Range, the Amazons of the Silver Moon, along with Sven, are looking upon a small orcnea encampment. Peering over the edge of a cliff Lyra watches while invisible. The orcneas are no more than twenty paces out. They are also just as far down, and everyone is hidden from the orcnea's view by the edge of the cliff. There is a very large tent with smoke coming out from a hole in the middle. Outside the tent several orcneas are skinning a mountain goat they had just brought back from a hunt.

  “There are five of them,” Lyra says quietly to the others behind her. “Plus whatever is in the large tent.”

  “Five? This will be easy then,” Rehma says, “let's just rush them.”

  “No,” Evelena replies. “We can take them from right here without anyone risking getting hurt.”

  “What will I do?” Rehma asks, “I don't have a ranged weapon.”

  �
��You can use my old bow,” Kel'ana says. “You can still shoot a bow can't you?”

  Rehma sneers at Kel'ana and says, “Yes, Kel'ana, I can still shoot a bow.” Kel'ana takes her old bow and hands it to Rehma, along with the cornucopia of arrows.

  Sven says, “Sven will guard pass in case any come up.” Staying low he moves over to the right of the group to a small ledge that leads down to the orcnea camp below. The winding ledge is about fifty paces in length and is only wide enough for one person to stand on it.

  “I'll stay back and be ready to heal anyone who needs it,” Kristieana says.

  “Alright,” Evelena says, “get ready.” Yentroc, Ja'noa, Evelena, and Lyra cast their spells and wait just back from the edge for Evelena to give the word. Gelana has her spear ready while Rehma draws back an arrow. Kel'ana draws back the bowstring of Glacies and an icy arrow magically appears. All of them are watching Evelena for the signal. She nods her head they all take two steps forward and form a line along the cliff edge.

  Kel'ana is the first to release her attack. The ice cold arrow finds its mark right into the skull of an unsuspecting orcnea. Ja'noa's lightning and Yentroc's dark bolt strike the same orcnea simultaneously killing it before it can even move. The three remaining orcneas look up, and one is immediately struck down with the searing light of Lyra's spell. Another orcnea is severely wounded as Evelena hurls a magically summoned stone into its chest.

  Gelana throws her spear at the last of the three orcneas, but it only hits the orcnea in the leg. Rehma now releases her arrow but it misses the orcnea. “Ugh, I hate bows!” she says frustratedly.

  The orcnea with Gelana's spear in his leg grabs for his shield and calls out something in orcneish that the girls cannot understand. Soon five more orcneas emerge from the large fur tent. Four of them have bows and one carries with him a long tribal staff with antlers on the end. The wounded orcnea with the shield points up to the cliff and says something else. The orcneas all look up and the archers draw their arrows back. Two more orcneas with swords and shields run out from the side of the tent and start to run towards the path leading up to where Sven is waiting.

  Ja'noa quickly draws out her star steel daggers and throws them at the orcnea with the staff. The orcnea shaman puts up his hand, and with a simple gesture deflects the two incoming projectiles. Ja'noa holds out her hand and waits as the two daggers begin to fly back to her.

  Kel'ana attacks again with another arrow. She shoots at one of the four archers but the orcnea easily steps to the side to avoid being hit. This does distract the orcnea, and forces him to lose his aim.

  With the orcneas now aware of the attack, they are able to defend themselves. Yentroc and Evelena cast more spells but the orcneas are able to dodge them. Two orcneas manage to fire their arrows back at the group. Kel'ana has to duck along with Lyra, as the arrows fly harmlessly over their heads.

  Rehma shoots the bow once again at the injured orcnea, but it is blocked, and the arrow sticks into the shield. Rehma looks over to the pathway and can see the two orcneas running up to them. She tosses the bow to the side and draws out her two Vallo swords. “Good, finally something I can hit,” she says as she begins to run over to the pass.”

  The others continue to try to hit the orcneas below as Rehma prepares to engage in melee combat. Rehma stands ready as the two orcneas make it to the top of the pass. Just as they arrive, however, Sven charges into one of them. He lowers his shoulder and slams into the orcnea from the side. The hit sends the orcnea flying into the other and both orcneas fall over the edge of the cliff. Rehma watches as they fall to the rocks below.

  “What did you do that for?” Rehma yells at Sven.

  Sven turns to her with a puzzled look on his face and answers, “To kill them, of course.”

  Rehma moves close to Sven's face and says, “Next time leave one for me.”

  Sven smiles and says, “Alright, next one that comes is yours.” Just as those words are spoken, a large ogre emerges from the tent. It is holding a giant club that looks like a small tree. It looks up at everyone and lets out a loud howling yell and begins to run up the path. Rehma looks as Sven, who just smiles and says, “If you need Sven's help just say.”

  Rehma glares at the big man and doesn't reply. Instead, as the ogre makes its way up the passage, Rehma grips her two swords and charges towards it.

  Evelena yells, “Rehma! Get back here!” Rehma doesn't show any sign that she can hear Evelena's orders as she continues down the path towards the much larger enemy.

  Kel'ana lands another shot on one of the archers killing it. Lyra burns another with her searing light. Ja'noa catches her daggers as they return to her, and as one of the orcnea's attention is focused on Kel'ana, Ja'noa throws her star steel daggers again. The two daggers stick into the side of the orcnea and it falls.

  This gets the attention of the last orcnea archer who fires an arrow at Ja'noa. She quickly draws a regular dagger from the leather sash across her chest. Just as the arrow reaches her she is able to parry it out of the air. Yentroc fires another dark bolt at the remaining archer. This time, with its attention elsewhere, Yentroc's spell strikes the orcnea down.

  During this time the shaman has been building up a large lightning bolt. Instead of attacking the young women directly, he takes aim at the cliff edge below them. The bolt hits with a violent force that cracks the ice and snow beneath Kel'ana and Yentroc. “Get back!” Gelana warns. Her warning is too late and the cliff gives way. Yentroc turns and grabs the ledge, and Gelana dives to grab her wrist. She says, “Hold on, I have you!”

  Kel'ana begins to fall as well. Grabbing for the edge she loses her bow as it falls to the ground. She is not able to maintain her grip as more snow and ice give way. Kel'ana falls to the ground below. Though the landing is softened by the snow from the cliff, the impact knocks the wind out of her, and she feels a sharp pain in her leg and back.

  “Kel'ana!” Ja'noa yells. She runs over to the ledge and looks down at Kel'ana. She calls out, “Are you alright?”

  Kel'ana, wincing in pain, looks up at her friend and manages to wave back. She tries to move but the pain is too much.

  Evelena yells, “Lyra! Hit that shaman!”

  “Alright,” Lyra replies. Evelena casts another stone missile spell while Lyra begins to cast another beam of light.

  Before they can attack, however, the shaman fires another bolt of lightning. This time it is at Yentroc, and because she is hanging from Gelana's hand, she is an easy target. The bolt hits her and the shock renders Yentroc unconscious. The shock also shoots up Gelana's arm stunning her. Gelana losses her grip on Yentroc and as Yentroc begins to fall Sven suddenly grabs her arm. He quickly pulls her up.

  “She is not moving!” Sven yells as he carries Yentroc over to Kristieana and lies her down on the ground. Kristieana leans down and checks Yentroc's breathing.

  Still fighting, Lyra's light spell misses the shaman but it causes a distraction that allows Evelena to attack the shaman without its full attention on her. Evelena releases her spell, striking the shaman in the head. The orcnea falls to the ground motionless.

  Ja'noa takes aim with a lightning bolt at the orcnea still hiding behind the shield. The orcnea's shield does not fully protect him from the shock, and he, too, falls to the ground.

  Rehma now has reached the ogre and stands in its path. She is waiting for an opening to attack. The ogre swings its club and when it does, Rehma is ready and steps back out of the way. Just as soon as the club goes by her, she steps in and swings her swords at the beast. Both swords hit and cut the ogre's chest, but it does little to slow it down.

  Sven is now back at the end of the path looking down as Rehma steps back again to avoid the massive club of the ogre. This time, Rehma impales it with one of her swords. The ogre flinches but continues to press the attack. Rehma steps back again and waits for another opening, but the ogre waits to swing. It instead tries to close in on her as Rehma backs up further and further up the cliff face. Rehma rea
ches the top of the pass when the ogre takes a big step forward and swings at Rehma's left side. Rehma has little choice but to try to parry the much larger weapon. With her left sword she tries to defend, but the massive strike is too much for even her Vallo swords. Rehma's left sword is knocked from her hand. The momentum of the massive club continues forward as the attack strikes Rehma's arm with a crushing blow. Rehma is knocked to the ground.

  Sven grips Hellfire tightly and takes a step towards the ogre as a bolt of light from Lyra strikes the beast. Though she is growing tired, and her bolts of light are not as powerful, the ogre lets out a roar.

  Just as Sven prepares to step in front of Rehma to shield her, a bolt of lightning from Ja’noa hits the ogre and stuns it for a moment. Rehma quickly gets to her feet forcing Sven to stay back as she is now in the way. The ogre recovers from the lightning just as Evelena hits it with a stone missile. The ogre swings wildly now and the club hits the ground in front of Rehma. Before the ogre can draw back his weapon again, Rehma steps on the end of the club and swings her remaining sword at the ogre's arm. The beast drops his club as Rehma steps in and impales her sword into the ogre's chest. The ogre lets out a loud cry and stands there without moving for a moment before it finally falls to the ground.

  Kristieana has revived Yentroc, and as she begins to check on Rehma, Evelena says, “Kristieana, Yentroc, we need to help Kel'ana. Hurry!” Evelena starts to run down the path to the encampment below as the others all quickly follow.

  They reach Kel'ana who still has not moved from where she has landed. Kristieana asks, “Can you move?”

  Kel'ana, wincing in pain, shakes her head. “No,” she groans, “I think my leg is broken and my back hurts.” She closes her eyes tightly and grits her teeth.

  Kristieana places her hand on Kel'ana's leg and asks, “Can you feel this?”

  Kel'ana replies, “Yes.”

  “Good,” Kristieana replies. “You still have feeling, then. Alright hold on to someone. I am going to try to set it.”