“They haven’t left that charred circle surrounding their camp but they’re keeping an eye on the plateau. See that one standing at the edge of the circle looking our way?”
Alexander nodded.
“They’ve rotated a few men through that watch post so everyone can eat. It’s a good bet they know we’re here. But I’m more worried about that.” Jack pointed out over the plain at a cloud of dust rising from the road off in the distance. “I suspect the rest of the soldiers we stole the horses from are headed this way. Once they get here, we’re stuck.”
Alexander nodded, “It looks like they’re a few hours away. We might have to make a run for it before they get here. I don’t really want to spend another night up here.”
Jack nodded thoughtfully. “I’ve been thinking about that too. Did you see how those nether wolves turned to smoke and went to ground? I’ve read about things like that from accounts of the Reishi War. I don’t think they’re dead.” He looked over at Alexander. “I think they’re just waiting for the sun to go down.”
“You mean they’re still here?” Alexander asked as he started to look around with alarm.
“I believe they are,” Jack answered. “By the time the sun goes down, I think we should be a long way from here.”
“Agreed, we’ll make a run for it as soon as Anatoly is well enough to ride. I’m going to check on the horses.” Alexander patted Jack on the shoulder and moved away in a crouch.
When he passed the gatehouse, Abigail pointed off toward the road. Alexander nodded at his sister’s warning. He stopped at Anatoly’s feet and gave Lucky a questioning look. Lucky shrugged and motioned for him to be quiet so as not to wake the man-at-arms. Alexander started to go but stopped for a moment to take a hard look at the ground where the nether wolf had been standing just before the sun came up. The spot looked perfectly normal until he relaxed his vision and looked with his second sight. He caught his breath and a chill crept up his spine. The patch of ground radiated the same darkness he’d seen when he looked at the nether wolves.
He looked to Lucky and whispered, “We leave as soon as we can ride.” Then turned and went to check on the horses.
The grass had been cropped in the area around their picket line and the horses were stretching to reach the lush green shoots just beyond their tethers. Alexander reached into one of the saddlebags and found a bag of carrots Owen had packed for them. He walked among them, petting them, soothing them, and feeding them their treats. They were restless and hungry but, all things considered, they were in pretty good shape. Once he’d made his rounds through the horses, he got into another saddlebag and found some biscuits and dried fruit. He went back to Lucky and saw that Anatoly was awake.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, offering them both some breakfast.
Anatoly nodded, “Much better. I should be ready to ride soon. Turns out Lucky’s foul-tasting potion was good for something after all.”
Alexander chuckled and moved on to the gatehouse. He took enough fruit and biscuits from the little bag for himself and Jack and tossed the rest up to Abigail. She caught it without a word and smiled her thanks to him.
He handed Jack breakfast and knelt down next to him to take another look at the Reishi camp. They were still in the confines of their circle of fire and the riders in the distance weren’t making very good time. It looked like they were still more than an hour away.
“You were right about the wolves. I think they took refuge from the sun in the ground. We need to be very far away from here by sunset.” Alexander took a bite of dried apple and chewed slowly while he thought it over and tried to formulate a strategy. They still had half a dozen enemy to get past with more on the way. If he was right, the ones coming this way were moving slowly because they were riding double. Since he’d stolen ten of their horses they had more men than mounts.
“Anatoly should be ready to ride soon,” Alexander said absently around a mouthful of biscuit while he turned their situation over in his mind.
Jack nudged him and motioned to the Reishi Camp. The men were arming up and the wizard was standing at the edge of his circle chanting a spell while he looked up at the plateau.
Alexander watched in helpless fascination as the wizard’s magic began to take shape. Between his outstretched hands floated a large undulating sphere that looked like a soap bubble two feet across except it was filled with swirling orange-red liquid fire. He looked straight up at Alexander and released the bubble of liquid fire at them. It rose toward the edge of the plateau, quickly gaining speed as it went.
Alexander called out, “Take cover!”
He and Jack ducked behind the low perimeter wall. The wobbling ball of liquid fire streaked over their heads, past the little wall that was sheltering them, and crashed into the old guard tower about halfway up its side. It burst with a splash and sent droplets of red-hot flaming liquid cascading down into the ruined square building that used to serve as a barracks. Had the east wall of the low square building not been collapsed in, the liquid fire would have splashed against it instead and covered Alexander and Jack in white-hot death. As it was, little droplets of the caustic, flaming, magical liquid had splattered all over the side of the tower and inside the square building. A few drops had splattered over the wall and landed just feet from Anatoly and Lucky, who were crouching against the outside of the square building’s south wall.
Alexander stared in shock. The liquid fire burned into the stone of the tower wall, eating away at what was left of the tower’s structural integrity. He knew it would be only minutes before the tower would fall. He saw the splattered fire all around and gave thanks that no one had been hit.
Then he saw a hawk circling overhead, which seemed to be watching the whole thing with intense interest.
He spun and looked back down at the plain below. The wizard was casting another spell.
“Time to go,” he said to Jack. “Start clearing the gatehouse tunnel of that pile of rubble.”
He headed toward Anatoly and Lucky and stopped at the gatehouse just long enough to help Abigail to the ground. She gave him a quick look, then stepped into the tunnel and started heaving head-sized boulders off the edge of the cliff. Jack stepped up beside her while Alexander went to get the horses. Lucky and Anatoly were already there when he arrived. They were busy tying the skittish horses into strings of three, one string for each rider. Alexander heard the flaming whoosh of another bubble of liquid fire as he raced to help prepare the horses. This one hit the perimeter wall right where Alexander and Jack had been only moments before. Droplets of liquid fire splashed over the edge and covered the grass leading up to the collapsed wall of the barracks building.
All of the horses were strung together and ready when Abigail and Jack ran up, breathless from the hard work of clearing the tunnel.
“All clear,” Jack managed as Anatoly handed him a set of reins and Alexander handed Abigail hers.
They walked the horses quickly through the gatehouse and onto the narrow path before mounting up and riding single file down to the plain below. When they came to the place where they’d staged their ambush on the west side of the plateau, the tower came crashing down with a terrible noise. The horses bolted in fear. It was all Alexander could do to keep his horse on the path. He careened around the corner and came onto the long straight stretch of the gently sloping ramp that ran along the north face of the plateau and saw yet another opportunity to die.
Chapter 18
Rangle was conjuring more liquid fire. Alexander had nowhere to go. If the bubble filled with hot death hit the ramp before he made it to the plain below, he would be engulfed in fire. The alternative was to ride his horse off the edge of the path and fall a dozen or more feet to the ground with two more horses following right after him.
Then he saw the other riders. There were five of them coming from the forest to the north, and they were coming fast. At full gallop they each loosed an arrow at the wizard and his little group of hired killers.
One of the wizard’s men called out in pain when an arrow struck home. Wizard Rangle turned just as the arrow meant for him drove cleanly through his right forearm. The bubble of fire floating between his outstretched hands was nearly fully formed. If he lost control of the spell, it would burst and consume him. In a panic, he cast it away to splash harmlessly onto the field only twenty feet in front of him.
Alexander charged down the ramp. He reached the ground and guided his horse to the left toward the riders who had saved him, while at the same time relaxing his focus and allowing their colors to shine through. What he saw filled him with hope. He headed right for them as they sent another volley of arrows toward the Reishi camp.
This time the wounded wizard was ready. He erected a plane of red hot air in the path of the arrows. It wasn’t hot enough to actually burn the arrows or even catch them on fire but it was hot enough to ignite the feathers that guided the shafts. All five arrows spun wildly out of control and fell short. The enemy mounted quickly and headed for the road, preferring retreat now that Wizard Rangle was wounded. Alexander had no doubt that they would regroup with their reinforcements and attack again.
Alexander’s group slowed when they approached the five riders who had come to their rescue. Alexander showed his open hand in greeting.
The lead rider responded in kind and then called out, “Master Grace?”
Anatoly chuckled as he rode up alongside the lead rider and clasped his hand in greeting. “Erik Alaric. You were but a boy when last I saw you. How are your parents?”
“They’re well. Father received your message a few days ago and sent us to find you and offer our assistance,” Erik said, surveying the rest of the faces riding with Anatoly.
“Erik, may I present Lord Alexander Valentine. He was marked on the night Phane woke,” Anatoly said, motioning to Alexander.
Erik stiffened in his saddle. “So the old stories are true.” He extended his hand to Alexander. “Lord Valentine, we are at your service.”
Alexander coaxed his horse forward and took Erik’s hand. “I don’t know much about the old stories, and frankly my father is Lord Valentine. Call me Alexander. I’d like to thank you for driving off the Reishi. Your timing is excellent … that wizard was about to light us on fire. These are my companions. You already know Master Grace.” Alexander glanced Anatoly’s way to see his slight scowl at the formal title. “Master Aluicious Alabrand, our family alchemist; Master Jack Colton, the Bard of New Ruatha; and Lady Abigail Valentine, my sister.” She also scowled at him for the formality, only more openly than Anatoly.
Erik bowed in his saddle to each in greeting as Alexander introduced them. “I am Erik Alaric, eldest son of the Forest Warden. This is my Second, Chase Covington, my brothers Duane and Kevin, and my sister Isabel.”
Each nodded to Alexander as they were introduced, except Isabel. She tossed back the hood of her cloak and gave him an appraising look. Her eyes were piercing green and sparkled with both intelligence and intensity. She seemed to measure him in a glance. He didn’t waver or flinch but instead held her gaze. For just that fraction of a moment Alexander was lost in her eyes. She was as beautiful as any woman he’d ever seen. Her hair was chestnut brown, her skin was clear and healthy, and her features were perfectly proportioned. She wore her armor and sat atop her horse with practiced ease. She was a woman whose substance overshadowed her considerable beauty.
He pulled his eyes away from her with an effort he hoped nobody had seen and turned back to Erik. “How many days to Glen Morillian?”
“Three if we make haste. It looked like you had only six men hunting you. With our numbers they shouldn’t pose that great a threat even with a wizard. You needn’t worry for your safety, Alexander.” Erik was a few years older than Alexander and wore a mantle of confidence. He’d been born the son of an important noble and raised as a Ranger. He was sure of himself and his skills, and it showed.
Alexander paused for a moment to gather his thoughts. He needed their help and knew it would be best offered if they were more fully aware of the threat, but he didn’t want to waste any more time with idle conversation out in the open. And he wanted as much distance as he could get from the plateau and the nether wolves when night fell.
“If it were just those men I would agree, but there is much more hunting us than a squad of men with a wizard. They retreated to regroup with their main force of twenty more about an hour up the road. But that’s not the worst of it. Just before dawn we were attacked by three nether wolves.”
Chase interrupted, “That’s not possible. Nether wolves are fairy-tale creatures. They only exist in myth. It must have been some large forest wolves. We can handle those.”
Alexander shook his head slowly. “No. These were creatures summoned from the netherworld by Prince Phane and sent to kill me. They attacked just before dawn and they would have killed us all if they hadn’t been driven off by the light of the sun. We were able to destroy one of the three but the other two are still up there.” Alexander pointed to the plateau.
This time it was Lucky who interrupted. “Alexander, are you sure? How can you know they’re still up there? I saw the one hovering over Anatoly turn to smoke and fade away when the sunlight hit it. Isn’t it more likely that they were killed or driven back to the netherworld?”
Again Alexander shook his head. “They’re still up there, Lucky. They just turned to smoke and took refuge from the sunlight in the ground. When the sun sets they’ll rise again, and I for one would like to be a long way from here when they do.”
Jack agreed, “Lucky, I’ve read about creatures such as these. They can’t stand the light of day, but they will not abandon the task they were summoned for until they succeed or are destroyed.”
Chase spoke again, clearly incredulous, “You say you killed one of these nether wolves. How can you kill a creature that’s already dead?” He looked to Erik. “I say they were just forest wolves.”
Alexander was becoming annoyed. They didn’t have time for this but he needed their help. “You’re wrong. I killed the nether wolf by cutting off its head. Arrows didn’t work. Knocking them off the top of the plateau didn’t work. Crushing them with boulders didn’t work. But taking the beast’s head off killed it.”
Jack, Lucky, and Abigail all nodded in agreement.
Erik looked to Anatoly for confirmation. Alexander didn’t know how they knew each other but he could clearly see that Erik respected and trusted Anatoly.
“Lord Valentine speaks true.” Anatoly gave a reproving glance to Chase before continuing, “These were creatures of the netherworld, not forest wolves. I know this because I cleaved the leg off one of them and it didn’t bleed. When I picked up the leg and tossed it off the plateau, it felt deathly cold to the touch. As for Alexander killing the beast, I didn’t see it happen because the creature had already bested me and I was unconscious, but Master Alabrand here tells me that Lord Valentine cleaved the head off the beast with one clean stroke. What’s more, if Lord Valentine says they are still alive, then they are still alive and will be a threat just as soon as the sun sets.”
Erik took Anatoly’s words seriously but Chase was clearly not willing to believe their story. Alexander didn’t have time to argue. He knew the truth and he knew they would as well once the sun set.
“Enough of this.” Alexander pulled down his collar to reveal the mark burned into the side of his neck. When he was certain each of them had a clear look, he continued. “Take me to the Forest Warden by the fastest route possible or stand aside.”
He held Erik with his eyes and waited for an answer.
Erik appraised him for a moment, then nodded slowly. “By your command, Lord Valentine,” he said with a little grin as he nudged his horse into motion.
Alexander caught the slight smile Isabel gave him just out of the corner of his eye.
They rode hard for the forest road. When they reached the place where the road entered the forest, Isabel called out, “The enemy has regrouped
. I count twenty and they’re coming fast.”
Erik nodded back to his sister.
Alexander was riding right next to Erik. He couldn’t imagine how Isabel could know the enemy was coming. They were too far away to see and the cloud of dust they lifted off the road in the distance revealed little about their numbers.
“How can she know that?” he asked Erik.
Erik smiled over at Alexander. “Her hawk told her.” His smile broadened at the look of confusion on Alexander’s face. “Maybe she’ll introduce you when we stop for the night.”
Alexander puzzled over that as they rode. They stopped only long enough to switch to fresh horses at noon and grab some jerky to eat while they traveled. Alexander had been into the southern edge of the Great Forest where it met his father’s lands, but never this deep. The sheer size of the trees awed him. He felt a sense of humility under the ancient giants that stood like silent sentinels alongside the meandering roadway. It looked like the road had been cut to avoid the largest of the trees as it wound through the forest. While they rode, he caught glimpses of wild deer, rabbits, squirrels, and all manner of birds.
The forest was teeming with life. When he relaxed his vision and let the colors shine through, he was nearly overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the life energy surrounding him.
Erik took his command seriously and rode at a relentless pace, pushing the horses right to their limits but never any farther. All five of the Rangers were excellent riders. They’d probably spent as much time in a saddle as Alexander. The only ones suffering from the grueling pace were Lucky and Jack. They weren’t accustomed to such hard riding but they didn’t let their discomfort slow them down. Alexander could see they were both hurting, but neither of them complained. Both knew what was at stake as well as anyone.
They made good time but Alexander knew it wouldn’t be enough to outpace the nether wolves. He worried that the cover of the trees would protect the beasts from the light of the sun. He started to feel certain that tomorrow morning just before dawn they would be attacked again. About an hour before dusk, Alexander signaled for a stop. The horses were exhausted and everyone was in need of a break, but more than that, Alexander felt a growing need to find a safe place to take refuge for the night.
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