by K. A. Lentz
The whole tavern had quieted to listen in on what Kaiyssa had to say. If avoiding a public display wasn’t encouragement enough, her threats certainly shut down any further argument. Raising his hands in surrender, Tahlan conceded but warned, “If you get injured, we will have much to talk on.”
She gave him a steadying smile and said, “I’ll be fine, now let us be on our way. We waste minutes here… when we should be working our way there.”
Dominus took this point in the conversation to voice his opinion, “I agree with her, les get going! Besides she is a fair fighter. I saw so myself when we faced that scoutin partie two weeks ago.”
Tahlan looked from one to the other before taking hold of Kaiyssa’s hand and leading her to the door without a word. Dominus followed close behind, smiling at the bar patrons as he swayed a little along the journey to the door. The trio traveled through the remainder of the day and well into night. Though it pained him to ask, Dominus requested a stop so he could sleep off the fatigue lingering from a hard morning of drinking. Wholeheartedly agreeing, Kaiyssa and Tahlan tucked themselves into a tree above the snoring warrior and rested until dawn.
The sun had begun to peak over the eastern horizon when both elves woke and nudged their snoozing companion into wakefulness. Dominus mildly fought the intrusion before necessity dawned within his dozing mind and he shot to his feet with a surprised expression widening his sleepy eyes. Kaiyssa suppressed a giggle as the warrior dusted himself off and gazed around to get a hold on the situation. Unabashed, Tahlan laughed aloud as he thumped the poor fellow on his back. Trotting into the woods, the amused elf beckoned, “Come, my friend, this way.”
It took them the better part of an hour to arrive at the shrine’s supposed location, and another half hour to actually find it. Megoth had been lazily trailing above the tree line since just after dawn, but the griffon’s eagle-eye gaze was unable to scout through the dense canopy below. Remaining outside the shrine’s border, Tahlan and Dominus circled the entire site on foot, twice, yet neither located any clues as to what was lying in wait. Kaiyssa quietly stood along the threshold to the sacred site and scanned its surrounding scenery as she gathered a sense of its unseen inhabitant. Meeting back up, Tahlan and Dominus reported their findings through abrupt shrugs and lazy head-shakes. Staring at the altars within, Kaiyssa absentmindedly breathed, “It’s still here… no signs of life, but… something is here. I feel its gaze.”
Turning to face the ruins, Dominus put his fists to his hips and suggested in a commanding tone, “Okay, this is my idea on the matter; I go first while you two freakishly fast and nimble elves keep my back.”
Quick to comment on a possible alternative, Tahlan drew in a cautious breath as he risked asking, “I don’t suppose, my love, you would consider taking your part of this fight to the air?”
Kaiyssa gave him a look that said; good try… but no, and then stated aloud, “I shall stay between you and Dominus. Megoth can have the wind on his back, better to fight without a rider.”
Megoth loosed a deafening screech as he clung to a high branch creaking under the weight of an anxious griffon. Tahlan sighed and said in a bracing tone, “Sounds like we are set to go then, lead the way my good Sir.”
Overhearing their plans the creature in question remained still as it sized-up each adversary approaching its elf-shrine. The predator’s nose worked quickly to capture wafts of scent riding the morning breeze, telling the lurking beast everything it needed to know about the advancing trio. Slowly the unseen foe inconspicuously crept in a circle toward its chosen target. Wary of battling them as a group, it gave the formidable party time to spread out from one another. Tahlan hung close to his mate as she circled the area, getting a sense of the concealed threat lurking nearby. Dominus, however, had no loved ones to huddle around and so he wandered with little caution to sight see the fabled elf-shrine. Deciding it had all the distance it needed to ambush the titan, the creature struck just as Tahlan and Kaiyssa turned their backs to their companion. With a single flick of its stout dragon-tail their lurking adversary floored Dominus hard onto his back. As the warrior landed with a thud, one, massive sword slipped from his grasp and was instantly knocked from reach by another flick of the creature’s tail. Both elves quickly jumped to their friend’s defense, flanking the swordsman as he leapt to his feet. Remaining unseen, the beast crept back into the shadows of the forest and waited for the next opportunity to strike.
This time the party refused to foolishly fan out as they had before. Forming a loose triangle, the trio kept their backs to one another while diligently scanning the surrounding forest. It was then Tahlan spotted their foe. The creature had grown impatient waiting for the perfect opportunity and started recklessly slinking toward its second target. Sensing Tahlan’s gaze, it bared two rows of jagged, leafy teeth and faded into the background. A knot of dread lodged itself deep within Tahlan; he knew what it was… and it appeared to be stalking his mate. Raising the alarm he roared, “THE TRAP IS A FOREST-CALLER!”
The party of three spun in circles looking for their adversary, but the beast hid from sight just as before. The forest-caller rounded again to Dominus’s side, intent on taking out the titan. Sneaking low before the warrior’s human eyes, the caller extended one massive claw and caught his target about the ankle. The beast easily ripped through Dominus’s pliable leather shoes, scratching harmlessly at the flesh below. Tahlan jumped to defend Dominus, expecting a handicapping injury, yet the warrior stood strong on the spot as his eyes fumbled through the landscape looking for his attacker.
The forest-caller quickly retreated, switching focus again to its second target. It was in this moment Dominus decided to inquire on the nature of what they were fighting, “What is a forest-caller? It should be right there! Why can’t I see it? Kaiyssa look out!”
Kaiyssa tried to duck out of the way however failed to clear the forest-caller’s path. Its powerful swipe caught her by the shoulder and sent the lissome elf sailing through the air. Nimble as an acrobat, she gracefully spun in transit and landed steadily on her feet. Megoth was already in motion, speeding toward their adversary from his high perch above. The griffon’s ready talons barely nicked the top of the caller’s head as it once again frustratingly vanished. This time their enemy was unable to fully blend into its natural surroundings as before; a gentle trickle of amber-colored sap had begun creeping down the side of its face, making visible a thin outline of animal muzzle. The enraged beast furiously sniffed at the air, smelling its own blood. It loosed a deafening roar succeeded by the materialization of two new opponents; a pair of crag lions crawled from the dirt at its feet to prowl around Kaiyssa and Tahlan.
Ducking behind ruined pillars and tall oaks the forest-caller tried to keep its slowing bleed from sight, yet failed to mask the odor. Megoth could smell its blood like a road map. Landing in a nearby tree-top, the keen griffon kept Dominus in view as he waited once more to attack the creature at its most vulnerable.
Approaching Dominus from behind, the flustered beast sprung at its primary victim. Megoth swooped in, this time tearing a deep gash behind the creature’s ear. The fresh wound seeped faster than the first, sending gobs of sap down the caller’s neck and jaw. Dominus had been prepared as well. Following Megoth’s path the ready warrior jumped at their mark and sunk his remaining blade deep into their adversary’s side. Thrown off guard by another ear splitting trumpet, the swordsman lost his final sword as the forest-caller recoiled back into the shadows for safety. Pulling leaves from the trees, the beast had conjured two new animals; feather drakes from the jungles of the sixth-realm. Vibrant green and yellow plumes fanned elegantly around their snake heads as the pair coiled up at their intended target. Megoth reacted as though the forest had been set ablaze, hastily backing into the air to escape the drakes’ venomous bites. Hissing at the noble griffon, each avian angrily flapped their many wings and gave chase.
Tahlan and Kaiyssa had been too busy with the crag lions to help either fri
end. Solo by nature, the large and nimble cats had never been known to hunt with another in the wild and so cooperating was not something either animal was instinctually capable of achieving. Unable to band together, the foolish lions each chased a single elf. Kaiyssa and Tahlan worked hard to exploit this weakness, zigzagging paths in an effort to force both pursuers into a heated collision. It didn’t take long before their tactic elicited the desired effect. The vicious fight took hold instantly, each predator sparing no expense on the other. Tahlan and Kaiyssa passed a look of relief before sighting their brawling targets and letting their shots fly into the hearts of the mauling lions. Both animals quickly faded from existence, harmlessly returning to dust piles upon the ground.
Kaiyssa and Tahlan turned back to the main fight in time to catch a glimpse of Megoth flying into the distance with two feather drakes snapping at his tail. Looking around for their other companion Kaiyssa spotted the forest-caller’s head hiding in a shadow, profuse dribbles of sap giving shape to its camouflaged profile. Following the creature’s gaze she saw the sure kill it had on Dominus. She had to do something and there was no doubt in her heart what had to be done.
Churned up by a magical whirlwind, leaves on the forest floor began to swirl around the siren’s feet as her toes gently lifted from the ground. Keeping her target in focus, Kaiyssa’s delicate mouth opened to unleash a song that flooded the space around her. Time slowed to a stop as the elegant melody slithered like snakes around each occupant of battle. The forest-caller heard her otherworldly song and quickly turned its uncontrolled rage on the offending siren. Charging across the short distance between them, the creature’s footfalls thundered with the promise of retribution, yet it was unable to reach her in time. Striking like cobras, Kaiyssa’s spell dove into the caller’s eyes and ears as another torrent of ethereal strands wrapped like boas around the creature’s body. Immediately the forest-caller halted in its tracks. As though exhausted from the chase, it gently lay down upon the earth and lazily rested its head on large, front paws. With a massive exhale Dominus let go of the breath he had been holding.
Kaiyssa could now see the caller’s mind and think its thoughts. Walking over to her captive, she stood astounded by the full detail of their cunning adversary. Mostly resembling a very large bear, the forest-caller appeared to be a mixture of animals stirred into one body. The head of a wolf while sporting the ears of a horse, its unique face was framed by a lion’s mane camouflaged as a tangle of twigs and vines. Visible now because it rested in a pillar of sunlight, the creature’s extraordinary armaments shined in clear detail beneath the mid-morning sun. A thick coating of brown, shaggy fur veiled a peppering of hardened scales resembling multi-colored river rock. Along the beast’s belly flowed a stream of pearlescent fish scales running from stem to stern. Kaiyssa was in awe of the magnificent beast as she crouched beside it, cooing reassurances of safety. Immediately the caller begged forgiveness for all the damage it had caused.
Dominus went on the hunt for his wayward sword straightaway. Caught in a briar just out of sight, the warrior loosed it from the tangle and twirled the blade in hand as he walked up alongside the vulnerable beast. Gaining a tight grip, he swung the weapon high overhead. Kaiyssa noticed his intent just as he was stepping close to deliver the final blow.
“No! Please don’t hurt it anymore. It’s blinded by Reaper rage; the poor beast cannot help what it does!” Kaiyssa pleaded with him, shielding the caller.
The eager swordsman readied for the kill, “Yes, but I can. Leaving this thing here will only serve them and it already has a sword stuck—to the hilt—in its side. The beast cannot have long to live. I shall ease its passing!”
“No!” Kaiyssa yelled as she continued to stand in the warrior’s path.
It was at this moment Tahlan joined the conversation, “Dominus is right, we need to end its cycle here and now… while we can. I see your wish to take the forest-caller to a healer and you mean to ride it there, but I can tell you now… you will fail. I am sorry my love, but it is bound to this place more than your link is bound to it.”
Kaiyssa turned and looked her charge in the eye, listening through the clear state of mind her song provided. Never knowing its mother, the forest-caller had been brought to this realm long ago. Kept in a cage for countless centuries awaiting its purpose, the unfortunate creature had been enslaved by a malicious reaper named Todote and turned into a vicious sentinel. Forced to live this tortured existence millennia after millennia, the cursed beast had murdered untold numbers as guardian of the shrine. Taking advantage of this blessed moment of clarity, the caller begged Kaiyssa to free it.
“You can do it.” The creature pleaded. “Hold me here and let them kill me while you can, please!”
Through their bond, Tahlan heard an echo of the beast’s words and decided. Grabbing Dominus’s sword, dangling slack at the warrior’s side, Tahlan moved quickly. In one elegant stroke, the merciful elf sank his friend’s blade deep into the caller’s rapidly beating heart. As it slipped into oblivion, a fading echo of thank you resounded through Kaiyssa’s devastated mind.
Another beautiful creature slaughtered in the name of a reaper. It is almost too much to bear! Her pain flowing over, she screamed her outrage to the uncaring forest and softly wept over the lifeless forest-caller.
Megoth returned shortly after their adversary’s demise, his two pursuers fell to the forest floor as a pile of leaves the moment their conjurer had met its death. Focusing intently on the aging carcass as he approached, Megoth happily rejoiced the meaning of such a kill; an extremely rare and magical meal he could afford by no other means. Landing next to Kaiyssa, the eager griffon nudged his grieving friend out of the way before removing each imbedded sword. Hastily discarding both weapons beside him, Megoth started in on his welcome feast. Understanding his reasons yet unable to watch, Kaiyssa moved on to the prize of the day as she glided like a specter toward one of the overgrown altars. Tahlan followed close behind his despondent mate, comforting her with a guiding hand resting at the small of her back.
Standing beside the hallowed edifice, Kaiyssa ran one finger along a barely visible patch of intricately, carved granite. Immediately every vine inhabiting the top of the altar slithered to the edges revealing a flat, pock-marked surface below. Glancing over at a thoroughly uncomfortable Dominus, Tahlan thought to ease the warrior’s worry by instructing him on his expected duties, “We need you to keep an eye on our living forms while we communicate with our folk. Should a threat arise, just yell to gain our attention, shaking us awake… is unnecessary.”
The warrior stared a bit dumbfounded at Tahlan, yet was able to manage an alert nod. Sensing Dominus comprehended what had been said, the eager elf turned to face his disheartened mate sitting atop an altar and quickly gained one adjacent to hers. Kaiyssa sat ready and waiting for the ritual to come as she stared into the distance. Delicately resting in her lap, both hands supported a small mound of grave-dirt heaped into the bottom of her makeshift bowl. Tahlan produced his own pouch of dirt and turned in unison with his mate to pile the morbid earth like a pillow at the head of his stone bed. Dominus stood transfixed… but what came next forced his jaw to drop in awe.
Lying down to begin the ethereal journey, Kaiyssa and Tahlan closed their eyes and ceremonially rested both arms at each side. Every waiting vine along the edges of each altar took its cue and crept back over the couple, enveloping them in a blanket of foliage. First to appear was a gathering mist slowly enshrouding the pair in a green haze of fog, emanating from the surface of their skin. Bright-white sparkles drifted up on currents of energy before softly fading to nothing as they floated away from their source. Steadily growing thicker, the cloud above Kaiyssa breathlessly swirled into the ghostly shape of an elf elegantly standing beside her altar. Tahlan’s image took a little longer to coalesce, yet followed close behind his mate. Seconds later each avatar ducked through an unseen doorway, leaving Dominus entirely alone and feeling a little creeped out as he stoo
d staring at their empty bodies.
Kaiyssa was walking into the shadows of death when something caught her eye underground… heading fast their direction. Taking a closer look at the figure moving through an immense labyrinth of underground tunnels, she made out the approaching visitor as none other than their friend and ally, Pyhe. Calling her mate across the echo of death, Kaiyssa pointed to the approaching gnome. Tahlan turned to see Pyhe’s hot little body chugging straight for them. Running at speeds his tiny form betrayed, the clever little gnome popped up in front of Kaiyssa and Tahlan surprising a very unsuspecting Dominus.
Turning his reunited swords on the little man, the warrior declared, “What in the world are you? Speak now, uh… Sir, or I will add you to the pile of dead this day.”
Pyhe spared a glance at the ghostly couple before approaching the battle-ready warrior. Worrying as to what this small man-creature might be, or be up to, Dominus suspiciously eyed the newcomer. Pyhe raised his hands in surrender and walked forward with a smile on his face. Abruptly clearing his throat the little gnome said, “Hello Titan! Your heritage, oh what respect for being! Also who I seek to speak, to be truth I must converse with house of Moondance, your future will affect life as well.”
Dominus stood a bit straighter, relaxing his swords a little, as the unfamiliar creature spoke. He couldn’t be certain what he said however the strange man wasn’t posing a threat and seemed to know Tahlan and Kaiyssa. Wait, his mind thought just before asking, “How did you know I’m a titan?”
Pyhe clapped and said with an impossibly wider smile, “Oh time later to tell, you can ask, now of news to speak. Come, listen, stand ready our friends.”