Through the Dark Wood

by Geno Allen

  Zam held tight to the boat with one hand and to his staff with the other. The world spun around them. A wall of rock swung precariously close as they tumbled. One moment it was there, the next… stars in the night sky, and then the crashing force of the boat striking water again. They had reached the bottom. The force of the impact drove both men out of the boat and deep into the water.

  Zam tumbled, trying to get his bearings, but he could not discern the surface of the water. The words of Galwen came back to him: Sometimes, the best course of action may seem, on the surface, the most foolish. Zam stopped fighting the water and let the current take him. The pressure of the water falling from above drove him first to the bottom, which was closer than he expected, then swirled around him, carrying him forward and up. In moments he breached the surface, gasping for air, and immediately noticed the stars above him.

  As he got his wits about him, he discovered he still had his staff in hand, the glow of which illuminated the area. The fall had led them out of the cavern and dropped them down a sheer rock face into a pool branching off from a wide river flowing nearby. The current was somewhat slower here, turning little circles as it wound its way through the pool. That current brought Zam to the surface and drew him to the edge of the pool.

  As he climbed out upon the bank, he looked for Griss, but saw no sign of him. He held his staff higher, lighting more of the surroundings. The pool sat in a rock alcove tucked away alongside the river. To the south a small path followed the bank and to the north the rock face met the river, creating an impasse unless one had a boat.

  Just then, nearly at the edge of the light, Zam saw their boat as it was carried away, still capsized, down the stream. “Griss!” he called out in fear for his friend. As he did the light from his staff flared up, brightening even more of the area. Across the river eyes reflected in the light and Zam was instantly drawn back to Tangleweave and the Shadow Vermin, though these eyes held something different. The Shadow Vermin had been hungry. These were angry.

  A splash and a clank came from behind him, and in one motion he whirled about, drawing his sword.

  There at the edge of the pool was Griss. He'd slung Zam’s bag of jewels out of the pool, onto the bank, and was struggling to heft himself onto the bank as well. “It's difficult to swim carrying both my pack and your bag of jewels, Zam.”

  Zam sheathed his sword and ran to assist his friend. Griss smiled and heaved a heavy sigh. When he finally gained his footing on land, he dropped to the sandy bank to rest. “I must say though, that was quite a ride.”

  “Indeed.” Zam glanced to the far bank. “I'm not sure we are safe here.” He motioned across the river to the eyes in the darkness.

  Griss sat up to look, but they were gone.

  “My staff grew brighter and there were angry eyes in the dark.”

  Griss pondered it a moment. “They seemed angry? Then we may be safer than you would suppose.”

  Zam was Skeptical. “How is that?”

  Griss lay back again to rest. “This river beside us is the river Moriella. Of that I am certain. Beyond the river there are many night dwellers, but few of them are truly vicious. Their anger was likely more at the light from your staff than at you. Most like they did not even notice you. Once we have crossed the river, it is the day dwellers we should fear more.”

  Zam wasn't fully convinced but decided he needed rest as well. He planted his staff in the sand beside where they lay, and it wrapped them both in a sphere of light that Zam hoped would keep any night dwellers away.

  The breeze carried with it a chill that neither would have expected, but neither said anything about it just yet. They both stared silently into the clear sky above them. Something seemed out of place, and it took both of them only a short while to realize what precisely it was. Almost in unison they said, “The stars…”

  They both broke off and glanced at each other for their like-minded thought. Griss nodded. “They seem to be in the wrong point of the sky.”

  Zam added, “And the moon... when I entered the cave it had barely begun to wane. Now it cannot be seen in the sky. Can it truly be that we have traveled the waters of that flood for a fortnight?”

  Griss sat up again, as did Zam. “I believe it can, Zam. The sky does not lie, and the one you called Shi’geon told you that time was askew in that place. We have traveled far. If I were asked to guess, I would say we will meet this Fraegrel shortly after first light tomorrow.”

  They discussed their strange plight a while longer and agreed, it was best they try to get some rest before the day dawned.

  Morning broke and the rays of the sun greeted them from above the tops of the trees where Zam had seen the angry eyes in the dark. Both adventurers were surprisingly refreshed and ready to meet whatever would come their way. In the morning light the stone alcove, the pool, and all the surroundings seemed such a pleasant place that Zam could almost not bring himself to believe they were still in Darlandis.

  Looking about they could clearly see the sheer cliff behind them and the opening where the cavern had dumped them out into the pool. At some point during the night the flood waters had subsided and no water poured forth from the cave. In the light it appeared from most angles nothing more than a large boulder protruding from the rock wall, but when one stood closer they could see the opening in the bottom of the great rock, and both Zam and Griss were amazed that they had not been smashed against the edge as they tumbled out.

  They sat to eat for the first time in a fortnight. They were hungry—not famished, but hungry—and as they ate, Zam scanned the surroundings. Away south the terrain on the other side of the river seemed familiar. His dream in the Place of Scrolls flashed through his mind and he muttered to himself, “Something evil.”

  Griss looked up. “What’s that?”

  Zam turned to him. “Something evil… will come from the south. In my dream we were farther south, down that path, when I saw the river. Something dangerous was approaching from even farther south, and as it sprang upon me I awoke. There is something to fear in this place.” Zam sighed. We are, in fact, still in Darlandis.

  Griss looked at his young friend for a moment then stood. “Well, if there is a danger to face away south, let us face it and have done with it.” He took his last bite. “What say you?”

  Something in Griss’ bravado lightened Zam’s heart and he rose to his feet as well. “I agree. Let’s have it done with.”

  Gathering their belongings again, Zam found a place in his pack for the jewels, and they set off down the path.

  A short way south, the path widened out and foliage of all types stretched away toward the opening of the path they would have traveled had Shi’geon not intervened. Zam began to recognize the area. “This is where I heard the growling… from somewhere in the brush there.”

  Griss scanned the area and saw nothing, but something about the place felt less comfortable than the pool alcove. He began to question his wisdom in having urged Zam to come to this place. He didn't know why, but he felt death in the air, and he feared for his friend.

  From the brush, precisely where Zam expected it, came a deep growling. Both drew their swords and stood ready. The growling grew louder and closer, and both began to smell a foul odor. In a flash, a Black Farrix burst from the brush, pouncing on Zam and knocking him to the ground. Immediately a Silver Farrix followed, bringing Griss to the ground a few feet from the river’s edge.

  There was no time to defend themselves, no time to react. Both were pinned beneath the raging beasts. But, as unexpected as snow in late summer, the Black Farrix left Zam and quickly leapt toward the water’s edge, leaving him unharmed, followed closely by the Silver Farrix. There both beasts locked their monstrous jaws in a death grip upon a reeking creature that had risen from the water. A short but fierce battle ensued. In moments the two Farrix had nearly finished the beast. Zam and Griss watched in shock as these Farrix saved their lives.

  The creature the beasts battled stood to Griss’ he
ight, its mottled black and gray form glistened in the morning light as river water congealed with the filth upon it skin. It was broader than Griss. Its legs were like the stumps of trees with arms to match. Though the creature stood no chance against two Farrix, it seemed every bit the warrior as it fought to the end, clutching a sword the length of which matched Zam’s height.

  Zam stared as the creature struggled to escape. “What is that?”

  Griss answered, “A Sinji' Grimmal. Less cunning than their kin, but more fierce.”

  The monstrous powers battled there upon the river bank until the Sinji' Grimmal’s life was no more. Zam was awed by its defeat. It had seemed so powerful, but now only moments later the creature fell, lifeless. When it did, the Black Farrix turned and leapt toward Zam, growling, baring its teeth, a bit of its former meal still clinging there. The Silver Farrix shouted in a throaty voice, “Be silent, Corcle! Stand down!”

  The Black Farrix instantly went silent and sat back on its haunches. The Silver Farrix turned to Zam and Griss. “You will have need to forgive my learner. A life spent without guidance has left him wilder than I would hope, but he is learning.”

  The Black Farrix cocked his head toward the Silver Farrix and seemed to appreciate the words.

  Zam was dumbfounded. He would never have guessed Farrix capable of speech. “Who… who are you?” he asked. “And why have you saved us from that creature?”

  The Silver Farrix shifted to a less-imposing stance. “My humble apologies.” It bowed to Zam, as had the Silver Farrix atop Rendift. “I am Fraegrel, one of the shepherds of the Black Farrix such as my learner Corcle here. We have been sent to aid you. Fall approaches, and we are told you have far to travel.”

  Griss looked at the Farrix. “What sort of aid do you intend, Friend Fraegrel, save perhaps protecting us from dark beasts of the land?” He humbly added, “For which we are quite grateful.”

  Fraegrel motioned to Corcle, who walked close to Zam and nudged him with his snout. Fraegrel said, “He will not hurt you, young one.”

  Corcle, looked up at Zam and spoke in a raspy voice that was tinged with a desire for approval. “Our eyes are far seeing, and our ears hear much. Our senses guide us through dark and light alike on paths where evil beings do not walk. Forgive me for baring my teeth to you.” Corcle paused in his speech, trying to find the proper words to respond as Fraegrel would. “If you will allow it, I will—as like a steed as I am able—bear you forth to the boundaries of this land.”

  Fraegrel spoke up with a fatherly hint in his voice. “Well said, Corcle.” He turned to Griss. “And I will bear you forth in the same manner, good master, if you will have it.”

  It had never occurred to either Zam or Griss to look for help from so fearsome of beasts, but they had been sent here to find Fraegrel, and the Farrix now offered much needed help.

  Riding a Farrix took some getting used to, but Corcle spoke the truth when he said their senses would guide them on paths where evil beings did not walk. Many days they traveled, both day and night, stopping only for a brief rest once a day. Zam and Griss began to weary of the pace, but the Farrix’ strength did not seem to wane. They traveled tirelessly along a path that no man could have traveled on foot, bounding here and leaping there, climbing ever higher upon the cliff face. The farther south they went, the farther the river dropped beneath them.

  On the eighth day they had reached a place where only birds could have continued to travel the face of the cliffs.

  They stopped and Fraegrel informed them, “From here we must take to the land atop the river’s edge. It is three days since we passed the border of the Darkling Wood. We are nearing the dragon Caladak’s realm. I would that we could travel the rock face longer, but I fear your strength would not hold out, and our footing would not be as sure. Here we must begin to brave the wood.”

  With that said, they leapt to the surface, and immediately felt the unpleasant air of a land owned by darkness. They had traveled many weeks in parts of this land that were not so, and had nearly forgotten how stifling it could be. Fraegrel sniffed the air, seeking foreknowledge of any creatures that might be approaching. “If you wish to rest here, good masters, we may, though I do not know for how long. We are less than a day’s travel from the Great Bridge.”

  Corcle stood glaring into the distance, watching for any sign of movement.

  Zam thought, truly one could not ask for better guardians in a land such as this. Another thought struck him. “Corcle, what would you choose? Rest or press on?”

  Corcle was surprised. “Master Zam asks my opinion?”

  “Yes. What would you choose?”

  Corcle sniffed the air, pricked up his stubby ears, and glared in every direction. After a few moments of this, he said, “I would press on, if it is all the same.”

  Zam and Griss agreed, and Fraegrel, agreeing as well, shot a proud glance at Corcle for his decision.

  A short while later nighttime set in and the world was shrouded in the deepest dark Zam could remember outside the flood cave. His staff had ceased to glow since they’d met the Farrix. They continued in pitch dark, relying on the Farrix’ senses to lead the way.

  They traveled many more hours, and as the sun crested the trees beyond the chasm that towered above the river Moriella, they came at last to the Great Bridge. It was a marvel built by the kings before the kings of record. Its weathered white stones reflected the golds, pinks and purples of the early morning light. It was so far across that a man standing at one end would be hard pressed to tell the difference between a horse and a man at the other, and it was so wide that thirty soldiers marching side by side would not jostle one another.

  Zam asked that they hold here a moment before crossing, then dismounted and walked to the stone pillars at the mouth of the bridge. There, carved centuries upon centuries ago was the image he’d seen in Molly’s painting: a dragon slayer, a warrior of old. He thought of Galwen’s family, of all he would have to share with Dorrin and the others when he returned. I will return. He thought of Tearis and how she had said that he would take longer in returning, but that it would be worth it. I wonder how much of this she knew?

  Corcle approached. “Master Zam, we must away. I have traveled many dark lands in my life, and there is a sound on the wind that I do not recognize.”

  Zam returned to the moment, and heard the sound as well. He called to the others, “Do you hear that?”

  Griss shook his head, wondering what Zam meant. Fraegrel didn't seem to hear it either. But it grew in Corcle and Zam's hearing like the growling, scraping sound of an avalanche driving toward them.

  Quickly Zam leapt upon Corcle’s back and they set off across the bridge. Fraegrel called after Corcle who would not stop.

  Corcle called back, “Come! Come friends, as swift as wind!”

  Fraegrel began to sprint across the bridge, carrying Griss, who looked back and saw nothing to run from. A moment later the trees along the road through the Darkling Wood that led toward Ellerion's Wall were snapping like twigs.

  A gigantic cloud of shadow began to congeal into a tangible presence, picking up a boulder and hurling it at the travelers. It just missed Griss and Fraegrel and landed thunderously on the bridge, impacting an ancient guard tower that seemed at first strong and impervious to the ages, now ruinous.

  Zam was sure the creature was a Seritheen. “Keep running, Corcle!” An uprooted tree crashed to the bridge not far from Zam. “…blade nor bow nor flame nor cold could stop the creature’s onslaught.” We cannot stop it!

  The creature drew closer to the bridge. It seemed a giant towering above the trees. At any moment it might break out in a run and overtake them. It ripped another boulder from the earth and hurled it. The stone struck the bridge just in front of Corcle and the Farrix could not stop. He and Zam collided with boulder and tumbled to the bridge’s edge. Grasping wildly for anything to hold, Zam slipped over the side.

  Corcle leapt to his feet and looked over the edge.


  Zam was clinging for life to an ancient carving of two kings with arms locked in a brotherly embrace. “Help me up Corcle!”

  A sadness Zam would not have thought possible from a Farrix permeated Corcle’s voice. “I have no way to help you, Master Zam!”

  Zam began to lose his hold. “Bite my arm!”

  Corcle was confused. Farrix have no control over how hard they bite. Every time, it is with crushing force. “If I do I shall remove it!”

  The shadow creature stepped upon the ancient bridge and its foundations trembled.

  Zam's grip loosened. He shouted again, “Trust me, Corcle! Bite my arm! Not my hand, just my arm! Please!”

  Corcle did not understand, but he did as he was asked. He clamped his jaws down upon Zam’s arm and the sleeve of the Noradur tunic became rigid as Tal’kyon hide. Several of Corcle’s teeth shattered, but he did not let go. Instead he pulled Zam up onto the bridge, then released him and turned, growling and baring what was left of his teeth to the shadow beast.

  Zam hadn't realized what his rescue would cost Corcle. With much sorrow he set his gaze beyond the shadow as it approached, saying, “Elyon, you once sent Angeon to aid Rivelin when a Seritheen attacked. Please, for these here who have put themselves at risk to aid me in my quest, do so again.”

  Thunder rumbled across the wood and Shi’geon’s familiar voice rang out, “Well done before, Zam. Even better done now!”

  Zam looked at his companions. He was the only one who’d heard it. A flash of light streaked across the sky toward the shadow beast. With an explosive impact, the shadow giant toppled. A war cry went up that all of them heard. The beast leapt to its feet and another titanic impact set it stumbling. It swung wildly, lashing out at what looked like empty air. Another thunderous strike brought the Seritheen down, and a battle cry resounded once again. Even before the cry’s echo died out, the shadow beast burst into a thick dark fog which clung a moment to the ground and was taken from the bridge by the wind. The Seritheen was no more.