“That’s odd.” Kenner said in a sarcastic tone. “I don’t remember him ever mentioning a ghoul in a white towel.”
The man smiled more broadly.
“I had been told you had courage. I’m happy to see that is true. And you, my dear,” He said to Terri. “I have heard of you as well; the woman soldier who wields the Blackwood Bow.”
“Charmed, I’m sure.” She said flatly.
“You’re testing my patience, creature.” Kayla said impatiently.
“I was only trying to be sociable.”
“I know what you’re trying.” Kenner barked at him.
“Please Kenner,” Kayla said sadly to him.
“Yes boy,” the man said in a lower, even crueler voice. “Leave this discussion to the adults.”
Kayla closed her eyes in a pained expression.
“Please tell me what you want.” She pleaded.
The man sat slowly in one of the old pews and lowered his head again.
“I’ve come to make you an offer, my Lady.” He said sounding pleasant.
“And what offer is that?”
“A war has begun; a war that will unite all the nations and a war that will end all wars. A final peace that will never be broken will finally come to this troubled world.”
“What of it?”
“I want you to share in the benefits of this peace, of course.”
“How?” Kayla asked, her voice filling with anger. “By bowing to your will? By letting you take the woods?”
“Nothing of the sort, my Lady.”
“Then how, pray tell will I benefit from this peace that you promise?”
Although he was speaking to Kayla, Kenner could still feel that the stranger’s attention was, at least somewhat focused on him. He felt as though the stranger was searching inside of him and examining him and looking into places he didn’t want him to see. He felt his memories being searched, his thoughts of ones he cared for being picked through. And then another feeling came and it comforted him. A familiar presence felt as if was standing directly behind him. He couldn’t see her, but he knew Shadow was there and then the searching stopped.
“I know,” he continued, “that is your desire, as it has been the desire of all the Ladies of the Woods that the secrets of the Blackwoods remain unknown to the outside world. I know you want and your people want nothing more than to be left alone by the troubles and strife of the world outside these forests and that your blessed lives be untouched by the strains of a world tearing itself apart. That’s the way it’s been for centuries.”
“What of it?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I’m offering to help you maintain this peaceful and quiet existence you value so dearly.”
“I see. That’s very generous of you.”
“It is an offer I will make to no one else.” He said coldly.
Again, Kenner felt the stranger’s attention focus on him, even without looking.
“And what must I do to earn this benevolence?” Kayla asked.
“The same thing all of your predecessors have done for over a thousand years.”
“And that is?”
The cold and cruel smile again crossed his face.
“Nothing,” he hissed.
“And what if I do…’something’?” Kayla asked.
The smile disappeared and a harsh scowl replaced it.
“Then the forest will fall.”
Terri could tell that Kayla was trying to hide her fear behind a brave façade. However, her terror at hearing the threat was evident in her eyes. She noticed that the unknown stranger seemed to see it as well. Smiling again, he rose from his seat.
“The war has only just begun,” He continued, “So you have plenty of time to consider my offer. However, eventually such an answer will be required.” He then stood as erect as possible. “Until then, I thank you for your time and your hospitality. I have enjoyed this time together, but I have business to attend to and I must depart.” He then bowed before the Lady. “It was so good seeing you again, my child.”
At the words, “…my child…” Kayla appeared to flinch. The stranger then turned to leave. He took a few steps toward the arch then turned to Kenner. Once more, Kenner saw the green glow of the stranger’s eyes and the terrible smile.
“I so look forward to our next meeting.” He told Kenner. After that, he slowly and gracefully walked out of the circle.
Chapter Seventeen
After the stranger left, the branches of the trees lifted and sunlight filled the circle again. It shown directly on the altar showing Kayla in a light that Terri had never before seen. Now she was even more beautiful in the golden light surrounding her; but fear and sadness flooded her eyes.
“Are you alright?” Terri asked.
Kayla didn’t answer, but instead walked down the middle of the circle and out the archway silently. Terri gave a look at Kenner as if searching for some kind of answer, but then turned and left herself. Kenner began to follow her, but then felt a soft sensation similar, but not quite like a hand touching him on his shoulder.
Standing in the shadow of the “seedling” behind the altar was Shadow. There was a serious, almost warning expression in her eyes.
“What’s going on?” Kenner asked her hurriedly. He felt that he should follow after them as soon as he could. Something was about to happen, he felt; something that needed him to be among his friends.
“I wish it were easy to explain,” She said to him. “The winds of time are shifting at this very moment. This is an hour of trouble that you must be prepared for.”
“No riddles. What’s happening?”
“I cannot tell you exactly, for I don’t know; but before you leave this place, you must know that even now it is not too late to choose not to be involved.”
“Involved in what?”
“Even now at this late hour, it is still possible for you to leave all of this behind, go back to your village and ride out the storm. Even now, you may disappear completely out of history.”
Kenner felt angry.
“You tell me this now? After I took the sword? After I came to this place? After I’ve seen what I’ve seen?”
“You can still go home and live in peace. Someone else may take up the sword if that is what you choose.”
Kenner felt his jaw tighten and his hand tighten around the grip of the sword.
“That’s not true and you know it; not after I’ve started to care about these people. You knew this would happen. You knew I wasn’t the type of person to simply turn and leave my friends behind.”
“Yes. That is why the sword chose you.”
“You led me to the sword!” He yelled.
“Yes, I did,” and then she paused and looked at him as if almost about to cry; “Because that is what it wanted me to do.”
Kenner felt like hitting something. He felt like screaming or roaring like Shela. He wheeled around and nearly ran out of the circle.
“Don’t talk to me again until you can give me a straight answer.” He said angrily to her.
He then jumped on Shela’s back and she trotted down the path. He found Terri following at a distance behind Kayla and then climbed off of the cat’s back.
“What the hell’s going on?” He asked Terri.
“I don’t know,” Terri said in a frightened voice. “She won’t tell me.”
They hurried along the path leading back to the city and then to the river bank where the stranger’s boat was waiting. When they got there, the tall, robed figure turned in the boat to face them. He then looked at Kenner with his cruel, brutal smile.
At that moment, a thought suddenly occurred to Kenner. He was close enough to the stranger that he could reach out and touch him and hear him breathe. He could feel his warmth and his life energy. Kenner thought to himself that he could end it all right then; right at that moment. With one motion, he could draw the sword and cut through this person, killing him instantly. He knew that there couldn’t be more than fi
fty Wolfen in the boats and around the stranger. There would be a battle, but it would be over quickly. And in that moment, he thought he could end all that the stranger spoke of. The war, the carnage and destruction would all be over in just a blink of an eye. All he had to do was draw the Black Sword and strike. His left hand tightened around the scabbard of the blade and he felt his right hand began to inch over to the handle. It would be over quickly. All he had to do was strike one fatal blow.
But then he reminded himself that the stranger was unarmed. As evil as he appeared and as frightening the future he told of; he was still helpless before him. It wouldn’t be right. It wouldn’t be an act of war. It would be murder and his father had taught him that there was never any justification for that. Anything other than self-defense or defending one’s home or loved ones was murder. He couldn’t bring himself to do it; not even to this evil being. The stranger seemed to see these thoughts within him.
“You don’t believe that I can bring this forest down do you?” He asked Kenner. His head then shook with a single chuckle. Kenner and Terri then saw a horrified expression on Kayla’s face.
The water cleared and began to carry the boats away from the city. The trees swayed as if being blown by a fierce storm. Kenner then saw all sorts of animals and birds flying and running away from the river as fast as they could. Even the fish in the river darted away. The trees lifted their branches high as if protecting themselves and then a sudden stillness came over the city.
It was silent for a few moments. Kenner and Terri saw the archers in the trees readying their bows, but those leading up to Sanctuary retreated up the hill away from the bank. Kayla bristled and growled again.
The silence was then broken by a low rumbling and then the ground began to shake. Hundreds of birds flew from around the bend in the river as if in a panic.
“Here it comes.” Kayla said.
A giant creature the likes of which neither Terri nor Kenner had ever seen in their lives then came tearing around the bend. Its body was the size of the trunks of the trees and instead of arms and legs; it appeared to have tree branches flailing about from all of its sides. It moved by its branches grabbing the trunks of the trees and pulling upon them. Its head looked like an enormous nut and the entire creature looked as if made of wood. The shells of the head opened wide and green tentacles came out with what looked like sharp barbs upon them. From out of this, a horrible, high pitched scream escaped.
Terri, upon seeing this creature, quickly shot an arrow at the head, but the shells quickly shut and the arrow buried into the shell. The shells opened before she could ready another arrow and a single tentacle shot out towards her. Kenner sliced the tentacle clean off before it reached her, and then a stream of green fluid poured out. Kayla ducked and the fluid hit one of the archers behind her. He screamed in pain and fell to the ground. Kenner looked down at him and was scalded, as if by boiling water. Almost as an instinct, he turned and swung the blade again, slicing away another tentacle. The blood hit his armor and helmet doing him no harm, but a single drop hit under his left eye and he heard himself cry out from the searing pain. The sword seemed to take over his body and he swung again and again. He felt the blade cut through more tentacles and more of the blood fell around him.
Kayla ran to the top of the stairs with Terri following her. All of the archers in all of their positions shot their arrows at the beast, but they had no effect. Their arrows merely bounced off of the creature. Terri’s arrows had more effect, burying themselves in the wooden flesh. But when the creature screamed, the noise was so deafening and so piercing, Terri nearly dropped the bow and she covered her ears because of the pain.
Kenner regained control of himself and rejoined the fight. He saw the beast’s arms pulling at the mighty trees and the branches beating furiously at the creature’s body. As the arms pulled, he heard the trees moan. Leaves poured from off the branches like rain. Another tentacle shot out to him and he sliced it off cleanly with one blow.
He looked up and saw archers being pulled from their positions by the tentacles. Some were dashed against the trunks of the trees or thrown into the river. He saw two pulled into the beast’s head as they cried out in terror.
One of the monster’s arms swung at a tree and with a loud crash, it smashed a large wound in the trunk. Kenner then saw past the smashed opening a woman holding a child and shouting. He saw the arm pull back as if to strike again. Not thinking, he leapt at the arm and then felt the sword carry him. He landed on the arm and nearly fell, but he was saved when he thrust the sword into the bark. The monster shrieked again and his ears went numb. He then climbed onto the swinging arm and in a single hack, he sliced it open. A flood of blood poured out of the severed arm and into the river. He jumped again and then onto the body of the beast. He hacked off the arm at the body and it fell into the water.
Terri, her ears bleeding continued to fire arrows into the monster. Wherever her arrows penetrated, thick bark fell off exposing the flesh underneath. She shot into the flesh and the creature hollered, but did not stop attacking. It continued to pull at the huge trees. She saw them bend and heard the crackling, like trees being felled. Kayla looked in horror as she saw some of the massive roots begin to be pulled out of the ground.
“No!” She wailed.
Terri exposed a weak spot just where one arm met the body. She whispered the word, “fire” and then a flaming arrow shot into the exposed flesh. It penetrated deep and then in a shower of flame, the arm blasted apart from the body. Showers of embers then went into the branches of the trees and then Terri cried “no!” as she saw leaves begin to catch fire.
At the same time, Kenner sliced away another arm and then fell into the water as the beast shifted. To his surprise, he found himself lifted out of the river and floating. He opened his eyes just in time to see another tentacle reach down for him, which he easily cut away. He saw another spray of blood come down, but turned back into the water to avoid being struck in the face again.
Kayla started running toward the river when she saw the fire beginning to spread in the trees. The branches swayed frantically, but it only seemed to spread the blaze from tree to tree. She lifted her arms and began to speak in a voice echoing from all around, but when Terri saw a tentacle reaching for her, she grabbed her and tackled her to the ground. The tentacle missed them both, but the barbs scraped across the back of her legs.
Kenner pointed the sword at the monster’s body and again landed on its back. The trees it was pulling were now listing badly and he heard terrified cries. Thinking clearly, he knew that if he cut off another arm, he would simply fall back into the water and the beast would do more damage. He jumped near the head and prepared to strike, but the head simply disappeared into the body like a turtle.
“Oh that’s real cute!” He yelled.
He then heard a child cry out in terror. Looking to the sound, he saw the child falling from high above the ground. Before the girl hit the ground, Shela leapt up, caught the child in her paws, roll in the air and land on her side and roll. Shela flipped to her feet and then the child ran away unharmed.
Kenner then decided he’d had enough. He thrust the sword into the back of the beast and pulled the blade back, dragging it the length of the monster’s body. It shrieked louder and the scalding hot blood rained from the open wound. Kenner again was thrown into the river. This time he sank, but the creature landed just above him. The sword pulled him out from under the beast and to the surface. On the surface, he saw the remaining arms pulling it to river bank near the Sanctuary. As its body came out of the water, Kenner screamed, “Oh no you don’t!” He saw the head in the wound he’d just opened and thrust the sword into it. It shrieked and rolled into the river; but even with the blood making the water around him hot; Kenner dug in deeper and twisted the blade. All of the arms then went limp, released their grip on the trees and then Kenner rode the beast down to the bottom of the river, making sure it was dead.
Terri was still holdi
ng Kayla down, but then she pushed her off of her, yelling angrily “Get off of me!”
The branches above her were now ablaze and the fire was steadily climbing up higher. She stood up and then took a deep breath. She spoke one single word that echoed and then Kenner came flying and screaming out of the water. He landed on the river bank with a thud. She then raised her arms, said more echoing words and the river came up in a great fountain, engulfing the trees and quenching the blaze.
Chapter Eighteen
The water from the fountain fell down like rain. Still breathing heavily, Kenner found a large root and sat down, leaning against it. Looking at the city around him, he saw, on both sides of the river massive trees leaning heavily and with dead roots. They were scarred from the fire and he had a sensation from them of being only just alive.
Terri lay on the ground. Her ears and her legs screamed in pain and she felt unable to move. Looking up, she saw Kayla standing above her. Her face was furious.
“You fool!” Kayla shouted at her. “You bloody fool! Do you see what you’ve done? What were you thinking?”
“Wait a minute…” Kenner tried to say to her.
“Stay out of this!” Kayla yelled back at him. “This was your doing as well!”
She then turned and began almost running up the wooden stairs. Kenner followed her angrily and Shela with him. Terri, who had raised herself to a seated position, fell against the ground.
When Kayla entered the Sanctuary, she said a word and the doors slammed shut. When Kenner tried to follow, two guards with spears tried to bar his way. Behind him Shela growled and her ears pinned back.
“Which one of you wants to be fed to my cat first?” He said to the guards.
They both looked nervous.
“I’m sorry, but once the doors are shut, no one may enter.”
The doors then opened on their own. The guards saw this, but looking frightened, did not move.
“You’ve got two seconds to get out of my way and one of them is gone.” Kenner warned them.
The Black Sword Trilogy: The Four Nations Page 8