by Chris Ward
Their eyes slowly became adjusted to the dark and they realised the passage led to a mighty shaft which descended into the earth, around which a path was hewn from the solid rock. They peered down and could not see the bottom, but every now and then there were shafts of light coming in from one side.
‘At least the builders of this strange place thought to let the light in,’ whispered Rema, his voice echoing easily off the walls. ‘They have cut out to the cliff face in the gorge in places, but the path is narrow and the horses will not easily travel this way.’
‘We have a pressing problem,’ added Andes thoughtfully as he peered into the depth of the circular shaft, ‘the sunlight will fade shortly and there will be no way to see, for we have no lamps.’ They both thought on this for a moment.
Do we stay here until the morning in this cramped passage or do we start our descent, thought Rema.
‘We must begin,’ he said after a time, ‘perhaps this problem had been thought of as well, for one cannot be expected to bring a horse through these strange Gates unless some provision has been made for resting on the way.’ Andes nodded but was not convinced. ‘We must lead the horses carefully Andes,’ Rema continued, ‘but in the end if they fall, take care they do not take you with them.’
And so they began the difficult descent. The roof above the path was not high and Andes found he needed to walk with a continual stoop or else he bruised his head, which he managed to do with a curse often enough. They travelled slowly round and down, circling the seemingly bottomless shaft in an endless and almost mesmerising manner. The small but regular channels which admitted the light had been cut through many cubits of rock out to the gorge where they could hear the roaring falling waters of the Swifft river which accompanied them on their descent. The horses were nervous at first but gradually became accustomed to the monotonous rhythm and settled to their task. As the light began to fade they came across an opening which had been cut into the rock and which with the help of a few sparks from Rema’s flint revealed itself to be a resting place large enough for them to spend the night. On the wall were ancient lamps and with difficulty Rema managed to get one to burn fitfully for a span until they had arranged themselves. As the lamp flickered out and an impenetrable dark descended the horses became quite quiet and Rema and Andes lay upon their blankets, exhausted with what had come to pass that day. They did not speak except for the bidding of good night, and then they fell quickly into a deep sleep. Rema dreamed of the girl and he relived the horror of that time, for in his visions he tried over and over to save her but could not, and always he returned to that dreadful moment when he had knocked her senseless and then cried in anguish at the realisation of her plight, and her awful end.
Andes dreamt of Fryn and what he had left behind. His dreams were happier for they were together and he promised her over and over again that he would return in a short while... Forever Fryn, forever.
They passed the night without incident and woke to a new day, the light from the dawn sufficient to mark their path ever downward, and so they went as before around and around, and always down, until by the noon they found another place to rest and called a halt for a time.
‘This is wonderfully made,’ said Andes as they ate a simple lunch. He indicated the rock walls and the shaft, for they had much time to look upon it.
‘It was crafted by mountain trolls,’ said Rema quietly and Andes gave him a curious look.
‘It’s in the book, said Rema with a smile.
‘Always,’ replied Andes wryly, ‘it is always in the book.’
Further down they encountered a long tunnel heading off into the rock on the far side from the gorge. The horses needed calming as they passed and both men wondered where it might lead, and why it was even there. Finally as the day began to wane, Rema called back to Andes,
‘I think I see the bottom,’ and indeed he did. They both paused and looked down into the gloom.
‘You are right.’ said Andes quickly for the eyes of the Edenwhood surpass all others of human form. ‘And I can see some strange form upon the ground...’he paused, ‘I believe it is a skeleton, a large one at that...’
‘Perhaps something fell long ago,’ replied Rema but they said no more until they reached the bottom.
The horses were nervous now for the skeleton seemed to greatly affect their manner.
‘It was a beast of a type I have never seen,’ Rema whispered, ‘its arms are so long and the body huge. Look, there are some teeth and even hair remaining upon the limbs...’
‘It is not like the beast we encountered yesterday,’ said Andes, ‘for the skull is quite different.’
‘Do you see there?’ exclaimed Rema suddenly, pointing. ‘There is an arrow in it,’ and before Andes could reply, Rema reached down and pulled the broken shaft from near where the heart might have been. ‘This is incredible,’ he continued, examining the arrow, ‘for it is the same type of those I have recently acquired.’
Both men looked at each other.
‘Which means...’ whispered Andes, and Rema continued softly,
‘That another Rema Bowman passed this way long ago and wounded this beast to death.’
They stood in awe until Andes spoke.
‘And that is not in your book?’
‘I have not read that far perhaps.’ replied Rema. ‘What happened here in this place must have been a fearsome thing,’ and they both shuddered at the image of such a beast pursuing a lone man in such a dark and fateful place.
Rema tossed the arrow back upon the skeleton, which seemed to shudder slightly with the impact, and each man shivered involuntarily in response.
‘Come on,’ said Andes quickly, ‘we have disturbed something which perhaps was best left alone. Let us find a way out.’ And so they led the horses down a small passage which was the only way remaining until they came to a blockage.
‘Look for the three holes as before,’ said Rema but the light was dim and they found it hard to examine the rock face for the horses kept wanting to close up upon them.
‘It is as if they want to get out more quickly than we,’ said Rema in frustration as he struggled to find the right place for the key with the nervous beasts hard against him. Andes looked behind them at that moment; back to the base of the shaft where more light came in from above, and cried in horror.
‘Rema the skeleton!’
Rema looked back and in disbelief saw that there was now more hair upon the limbs and a twitching had begun in one leg. I should not have removed the arrow he thought in dread.
‘What sorcery is this?’ hissed Andes, ‘Quick find the opening Rema, for I am not sure what we fight now.’ Andes drew Elwand and stood half in terror half in grim determination for what was to come. Rema scrabbled hard to find the place but as his eyes adjusted he saw it.
‘I have it!’ he cried, and placed the key in the right manner. Andes did not hear for the loathsome creature in the shaft was now taking form before his eyes and he could not wait to allow it further time. With a cry he went back to meet it and with Elwand gleaming in the gloom he took the beast apart, severing the body in many places in a sudden frenzy of fear. A mighty soulless cry shook the shaft and then the bones and partial flesh lay still once more.
‘We are free!’ cried Rema as the door swung open and they escaped into the light.
Chapter 5
Rema and Andes searched for the place where the key would work in order to shut the door to the gates from which they had emerged, for despite the manner in which Andes had destroyed the vile creature that had been forming before him, they did not know what else might come upon them from that place. But search as they might they could not find it. In the end there was no need for the door suddenly shut itself, as though it had waited open long enough, and some allotted time had passed. And when shut the rock in which the door lay hidden, bore no sign of the magic it held.
The place where they found themselves was full of endless sound and a drenching mist, at the head of a long gorge whi
ch the Swifft River had cut into the mighty escarpment over ages past. The roar of the tumbling waters from the Highlands above drowned out all else and prevented speech even when close, so once the horses were watered and secured they travelled on once more, following the river south and into a quieter place as the gorge opened up and the land on either side of the river became a lush wilderness of tall ferns and giant trees.
‘These are Fernwoods,’ said Rema in awe as they passed by a mighty towering stand of softwoods. ‘Refr told me about these. They only grow here in this gorge and are the most rapid in growth of all trees in Revelyn.’
‘And what use are they?’ replied Andes unimpressed for they looked like giant stalks to him. ‘They have no great girth or canopy above.’
‘It is said that the bark is wondrously good for medicine,’ said Rema, ‘It is used to bind wounds and when wet will stop the poison of decay.’ Andes nodded, his mind on other things, but Rema dismounted and using his hunting knife cut off some long strips and packed them away in a saddle bag. They camped for the night hard up upon the east wall of the escarpment, where the river came in close below it, and having chanced upon a small cave, which upon inspection proved to be hewn by hand.
‘The mountain dwarves alone can do such work,’ said Rema once more in awe of their discoveries that day. ‘It seems as though the earth itself has made the shape of it, but upon inspection you can see the artful strokes of their axes and tools.’
‘How long since they left this land?’ Andes asked. Rema shook his head.
‘I would think an age... a thousand summers at the least.’ He paused and ran a hand over the wall. ‘But it would seem they were hewing this rock but yesterday.’
‘Well all I ask for is a dry bed and one not so dark as the last we shared,’ said Andes as he made himself comfortable against the far wall out of any draught or seeping of water.
They made a fire at the entrance to the cave and hobbled the horses by the river so they would have plenty to eat and drink during the night. The air was fresh and all about were the sounds of crickets and frogs, so different to the sad empty land they had traversed in days past, covered in grey ash and ruined villages. Rema took a small rabbit with a single arrow as dusk approached and so they ate a hot meal in good spirits while the darkness fell upon them. The temperature dropped quickly then and they were glad of the fire and the supply of fuel placed close by it.
‘Rema.’
Andes spoke quietly as he lay on his bed of dry leaves looking up with half closed eyes and a full warm stomach; his mind rested upon the events which they had shared in days past.
‘I hear you,’ came the soft reply. Rema was sitting by the fire and staring into the coals. He too was well fed and for the first time that day able to turn his mind to other things.
‘What happened in the house?’ There was a palpable tension in the voice.
Rema paused, unsure of what he should say. He had known that this would need to be discussed, but such were the emotions which it brought him, that he did not know what the words were to describe it all. Andes let the time pass without further comment, sensing that whatever the revelation which might be forthcoming, it could not be hastened.
‘We did all we could.’ Rema finally spoke in a whisper. Andes just nodded in agreement.
‘She was in a strange place Andes. She thought you were her love, and yet she knew that things were desperate, for she cried out for help.’ A quiet time passed between them once more before Rema spoke again. ‘I did not kill her Andes.’
At this the big man seemed to relax a little, and in the shadows a tear slipped hidden from one eye. That is good he thought, before adding,
‘I would not judge you if you had. It would take a brave man to do it, but to live with it thereafter would take the greater strength. You did right Rema, whatever you did.’
‘I stunned her Andes, I hit her hard with my knife and she knew no more, but the fire and rock claimed her within a moment. It was all gone so quickly.’
Another time of silence stood between them as they thought on what had come to pass.
‘But that is not the hardest of it,’ said Rema once his mind had put all the pieces together. ‘Although I thought it would be.’
‘No?’ Andes prompted. Rema looked deep into the coals; into the fire and heat.
‘She knew Andes. She looked at me and said she heard it too... I mean the coming lava and fire. She forgave me, almost welcomed me in my action and I did what I did before I knew and I am glad I of it, for if I had known an instant before I would have stayed with her and I would not now be here.’ Rema fought to control his voice, before he continued, ‘but Oh Andes, it is a hard thing to bear. She was so brave and so young, like your Fryn.’
Andes sat up upon one elbow and looked at Rema who was partially turned away by the fire. He shook his head and felt the emotion within him almost become too much.
‘It is best shared then,’ he said, ‘best shared, and I thank you Rema for telling me.’ And he lay down once more and thought of Fryn, and they were both quiet for a long time.
‘We will sleep now,’ said Rema finally. He built the fire up and they did not speak again before they were both consumed by their dreams.
The terror of the horses in the dark woke them.
‘What is that?’ Rema cried, suddenly awake, as Andes appeared instantly and soundlessly besides him with Elwand drawn.
‘There is another one!’ he hissed. ‘Another shadow beast and this time it is upon us with no water to hold it back.’
Rema knew it too. The air was so cold and smelt of evil. The horses screamed again and again and then suddenly all sound ceased.
‘It has slain them,’ he whispered in horror, ‘those poor gentle beasts...’
‘The fire!’ Andes cut off his thoughts. ‘We must make it burn high now; we cannot be blind if we are to stand against it.’ And then they were racing to put what fuel remained upon the coals and suddenly the night was full of shadows and a brooding quiet.
‘It is eating,’ said Andes after a time. ‘Perhaps it needs the strength.’
‘What is our plan?’ said Rema half to himself, but thinking hard.
‘We can harm it Rema,’ replied Andes firmly, ‘together we can do this despite what your book says.’
A mighty howl then rent the air and sent a shiver of terror reverberating through each of them. Andes took a great breath and calmed himself.
‘A howl cannot kill us,’ he said grimly, ‘it must do more than that.’
‘I will take out its eyes,’ said Rema, ‘both of them, quickly. It will renew itself but you will have time with Elwand to cut it badly. If the sword speaks as you have said then perhaps we can do as you say Andes.’
‘It will work,’ said Andes with a growl. ‘I have much to live for and no evil howling creature of the night is going to keep me from seeing my Fryn again. We stand together Rema. Let this night be one to remember.’
And then, with Elwand before him and the firelight illuminating his every fine feature he cried into the night;
‘Come on you filthy beast... we are ready for you now!’ In that moment Rema was suddenly struck by the fearful resolve which Andes displayed and he realised that the Edenwhood blood which coursed through his veins was true to itself in such a moment; his giant friend was a warrior now and mighty to behold.
When the beast came it had no fear of the fire. It came silently as though to catch them unawares but they were ready, hearts pounding and dry mouthed as Rema loosed an arrow which found one red eye. The beast screamed in pain and went to pull the shaft away, crashing through the fire; and then Andes let Elwand speak. The sword now glowed as though itself were alight, and needed but a steady strong hand to guide it to its mark. The beast tore out the arrow only to have another in its other eye for Rema did not miss at such close range.
The beast swung around and swept the cave with its mighty tail knocking Rema down, but Andes seemed to have time to spare
for he leapt nimbly over it and landing easily behind the beast’s left quarter, cut its flank a mighty blow. A thick black blood poured out upon the ground and the beast howled in pain and fear.
Rema regained his feet and once more put two arrows in quick succession into the eyes as they renewed themselves by some evil magic. Andes dived low and rolled. He came up before the beast and with a single stroke took off its right claw, although this success was not without cost for as he turned to dart away he felt a sharp pain across his back as the beast caught him a glancing blow with the other razored talon. But the creature then stood gasping on three legs, holding its damaged limb up off the ground, vile blood pouring from the gaping wound in its haunch. Andes and Rema watched in amazement as its eyes suddenly returned for it had instantly removed the arrows when they had struck.
Andes did not wait this time but moved so quickly that Rema thought him almost a blur. He took three quick paces forward and then stepping boldly close up upon the creature’s mighty bended knee he leapt up before it in the air, and as he did the great man swung Elwand in a mighty circle and took its head clean off in a single stroke.
Andes landed and danced away before the quivering body fell headless before them, but it was still not over.
‘Quick Rema, the fire!’ Andes called. ‘We must burn the head, or else it will return as did the eyes.’ And so with great earnestness the two dragged the head to the fire and put upon it as much fuel as they could gather and kept up the supply until there was no more shape or form to the ugly bony thing which had glared so evilly before them a short time before.
And then they took breath and spoke in disbelief.
‘You did it,’ said Rema.
‘No, we did it, ‘replied the giant who seemed now so much more than what he was.
‘You were so quick!’ said Rema, ‘I cannot believe the speed with which you moved. And Elwand...what a mighty sword.’
‘And you were so accurate,’ Andes countered with a smile. ‘Four arrows and each found their mark in an eye. A moving target but you did not miss. I think we can both claim this together.’ And they embraced warmly in the strange light of a fire which was fed by the flesh of such an evil foe, whilst the body of the great creature lay still and stained the earth dark with its blood.