Hand of Fire: Book 1 of the Master of the Tane

by Thomas Rath

  “I don’t blame you for not wanting to talk,” he said, trying to sound nonchalant. “I’m almost too exhausted to even think myself.” He laughed. “I bet you’re thinking that that must be the case most of the time.” He chuckled again. “I guess you’d probably be right.”

  Tam sighed loudly. “Please don’t, Dor,” she said softly as tears washed over her face. “I don’t deserve any kindness from you after what I did this morning.”

  “Hey, hey,” he replied trying to find the right words to say without putting his foot into his mouth. “It wasn’t your fault, Tam. I don’t blame you for what happened. Come on, it’s forgotten, all right?”

  “I feel like such an idiot, Dor,” she sniffled, her face twitching with another gush of tears. “I wouldn’t blame you if you hated me and never spoke to me again.”

  “Come on, Tam,” he said, feeling desperate. “We have to stick together if we expect to get through this. We still have Thane to think about.”

  “Thane’s dead!” she cried, drawing an evil glare from their incensed guard. She lowered her tone. “We’re never going to find him and we’re never going to get out of this alive.”

  Dor felt his anger beginning to rise. How dare she give up on their friend so easily? He had to admit that he too was pretty unsure about the likelihood of Thane still being alive but that didn’t give her the right to try and make him lose all hope. After all, she was the one that had given him the hope in the first place. “You’re wrong, Tam,” he said, trying unsuccessfully to mask his rising anger. “Thane still could be alive and I, for one, am not going to give up on my life just because of the bad situation we’re in right now. If they wanted us dead, we would have been killed a long time ago. Now quit feeling sorry for yourself and let’s think of a way to get out of this mess!”

  Tam just cried harder making Dor feel suddenly terrible for his harsh words. What he didn’t realize was that Tam cried because of what she knew for herself to be true, not because of anything he had said. She wanted to have hope and wanted to escape but the reality was that she would not be able to stray from the trolls because she needed what they had. She needed her drinks and they were the only ones who could give them to her. Just the thought of being without them made her feel sick and cold inside.

  Dor wanted to apologize but he was certain he would just make things worse. She is so fragile, he thought and a sense of dread came over him at his inability to protect and help her. He felt responsible for her being there in the first place and knew that he needed to find a way to get them away and to safety.

  Both sat silent in the misery of their own hearts, Dor trying to find some answers and Tam just lost, unable to pull herself back.

  It wasn’t long before the cries from the battle drifted back through the trees as the trolls fell upon their unknown foes reeking havoc in their wake. The screams of what sounded like women and children pierced the early evening air and then were silenced as their lives were brutally cut short. The guard stared longingly off in the direction of the fighting and then glanced back at his prisoners in agitation. Dor watched him anxiously knowing the personal war that was waging within the mammoth troll and did his best to appear as if he were falling asleep. This was no easy task considering the high dose of adrenaline rushing through his body. He knew that this was what he had been praying for. No troll could resist the chance to kill. The guard turned one last time to check his seemingly half-dead captives and then lumbered off through the woods eager to find a victim before all were dead.

  Dor didn’t hesitate a moment before freeing himself from the ropes that bound his wrists. Trolls were not known for their intelligence so whenever he was tied up he always placed his wrists in such a way that when he flatten his palms together the rope was left loose. He originally did it to keep the ropes from getting so tight they cut off the circulation in his hands. He never figured it would someday be the means of setting him free. After freeing his hands, he frantically started on his ankles. Then he maneuvered himself around the tree searching for the knot that had them tied at the waist.

  Tam felt him squirming and sullenly asked, “What are you doing?”

  “Getting us free and out of here,” he said excitedly.

  Tam’s heart sank. She couldn’t leave. She knew she couldn’t. She would never be able to survive without her drinks.

  Dor found the knot and started on it as if possessed. His shoulder stabbed with pain at the sudden movements but he did his best to put it out of his mind. They may not get another chance like this. The noises coming from the battle had quickly begun to fade and he knew his time was fast running out. The trolls knew knot tying better than he had figured.

  Tam pushed forward against the rope hoping it would tighten it and slow his escape. She was frantic. It wasn’t that she wanted him to get caught. She wanted him to get away. She just knew that if he got loose that he would insist that she go with him and she couldn’t.

  “Let up on the rope,” Dor said quietly but with a definite bite to his voice. “Hold still!”

  His sensitive ears could hear the approach of the returning raiders and he knew his chances of escape were quickly fading. His fingertips started bleeding from their incessant pulling and rubbing against the coarse rope. The knot was tight. It was almost as if they knew he would try to escape today. He was feeling desperation creeping up on him when he finally felt it loosen. “I think I’ve got it Tam,” he said exultantly.

  Tam groaned, feeling her craving for the dark liquid pull at her senses just as the rope around her waste released its tension and let her fall flat on her face. Dor was at her side in an instant grabbing at her bonds.

  “No!” she screamed moving her hands away and kicking at him.

  “What are you doing?” he asked exasperated. “We’ve got to get out of here now. This may be our only chance!”

  “No! I won’t go,” Tam yelled, the mad fire returning to her eyes. “You can’t make me.”

  “That is ridiculous, Tam,” he said becoming more agitated as the sounds of returning trolls grew louder. “We’re getting out of here, and you’re coming with me.” He made a grab for her hands only to be met by her feet as she kicked them up and into his face. He fell back, stunned by the force of the blow, his nose suddenly dripping blood.

  “You can’t have it, Dor!” Tam raged like a rabid animal, sending spittle spewing everywhere. “I know you want my share, but you can’t have it!”

  Dor slowly got to his feet catching the glimpse of a troll as it entered the trees and made its way towards him. It was their guard. The troll immediately spotted him and roared, rushing headlong towards them. Dor looked down at Tam. She appeared more like a wild animal now and the sight of her in such a state forced his decision. “I’ll come back for you,” he said glancing at the quickly approaching troll. “You stay alive and wait for me.”

  Tam’s only answer was a gob of spit shot up at him.

  The troll was mere yards away when Dor finally darted into the woods back towards the mountains and his home. The troll howled as a rock shattered against a tree just to Dor’s left sending tiny missiles flying everywhere. The pain in his shoulder throbbed and the blood running from his nose made it hard to breathe as it slipped down into his mouth. He tried to ignore the discomfort knowing that if he got caught, he would probably be slaughtered. The trees became a blur as he increased his speed as best he could putting a little more distance between himself and his pursuer. From the sounds that followed he knew that others had also taken up the chase, the bloodlust still raging through their tiny brains.

  Dor began to concentrate on running in silence, knowing that if he wasn’t visible then they wouldn’t know which way he had gone. With that thought in mind, he quickly turned right heading south into the thicker part of the grove. His feet passed silently over the relatively clear ground as the sound of pursuit quickly faded into the background. It worked. He thanked the Mother for his luck, and his skill, as the failing sunlight gave
him even more cover from anyone trying to follow. He was beginning to feel fairly confident that his escape was successful but he refrained from letting up until he was far enough away to assure his freedom.

  Moments after Dor escaped, a group of trolls surrounded Tam and started beating her unmercifully. Whether to keep her from escaping or simply because they could she did not know. It didn’t really matter though since the pain they inflicted was nothing compared to the pain of withdrawal that was suddenly creeping up on her with its demands to be sated. With every kick and punch she screamed not from the beating but for someone to bring her something to drink. Seeing that they were not getting the desired response from her, Tam’s attackers quickly tired of their play and returned, instead, to their spoils. Soon, she was left alone to writhe in her anguish. She howled and screamed, thrashing in her bonds begging for someone to bring her mug. It seemed like hours before her outbursts finally caught the troll leader’s attention. He approached with the mug she so desperately wanted.

  She calmed some when she saw him. A part of her knew that she had completely lost control but she couldn’t help the cravings that were suddenly so demanding. “Oh, thank you,” she said adoringly as he stopped in front of her.

  He glared down on her fiercely as Tam groveled and begged at his feet. “You try escape,” he rumbled pointing a finger in her face.

  “No, no,” she said shaking her head rapidly. “It was Dor! He tried to get me to escape with him but I wouldn’t let him! He’s the one, not me!” Tears began to run down her face, mixing with the blood that oozed from her wounds.

  “You lie!” the troll spat. “I not stupid.”

  “I know you’re not,” she answered quickly. “You’re very smart, but I’m telling the truth. Honest. Please, I need that drink.” Her eyes were locked on the cup and a stream of saliva ran unnoticed from her mouth.

  For a moment, the troll stood motionless not saying a word. Tam watched him hopefully, almost adoringly, finding herself willing to doing anything for the drink he held close. Suddenly, he turned away as if to leave.

  “No!” she screamed. “Please, you can’t! It wasn’t my fault! It wasn’t!” She darted forward trying to catch his leg but was yanked back to the ground by the length of rope that had been tied around her neck. Her throat constricted with the impact and she struggle for air but she kept her eyes planted firmly on the cup.

  The troll turned suddenly, glaring back at her as she writhed in the dirt in agony. “You try to escape, you get no drink.” Then he turned his back and stomped off throwing the mug to the ground.

  Tam screamed hoarsely and threw herself into a twisting whirl of madness. “Curse you DorMar!” she shouted into the night. “Curse you to the halls of hell! If I ever find you again, I’ll rip out your TanIs with my bare hands!”

  * * *

  Dor continued running until he cleared the grove and raced out onto a slopping, grassy plain. The sun had faded in the distant horizon casting a red glow across the sky and bringing out the familiar sounds of night. His shoulder throbbed and his sinuses felt as if they had been stuffed with rocks. Looking at his surroundings, he quickly decided to return to the edge of the grove and the relative safety of cover. If the trolls did follow him out this far, he didn’t want to be an easy target in the open fields.

  Gently hoisting himself up into a tree, he climbed into the highest branches far from any predators or searching trolls. The tree’s branches were thick enough all around to afford him ample places of relative comfort. He tried to stay awake all night to guard against unwelcome visitors, not quite assured of a successful escape, but soon after midnight, his bobbing head won out and he drifted off.

  He was awakened with a start by a burst of thunder that almost dislodged him from the tree. It was light, but he couldn’t tell how late it was because the sky was saturated with dark clouds. He could feel the wetness in the air telling him that it wouldn’t be too long before the rain started. It was not part of his Tane but it was obvious that a storm was coming. As if to confirm his suspicions, the soft pitter-pat of rain suddenly began to descend on his position.

  After a swift check of the immediate vicinity, he gently lowered himself to the forest floor and made a quick survey of the area. Not too far from the tree he had slept in, he found tracks from half a dozen trolls that sent a quick shiver coursing through his bones. Good thing I chose my bed well, he thought with a sigh. He judged the tracks were made sometime late in the night so felt fairly confident that no trolls were in the area now. He guessed they would have given up soon after they reached the forest’s edge; trolls were not known for their patience or their concentration. The tracks circled about the area and then followed near the same course back toward their camp. “Good,” he said, quickly scanning the area one last time. “Time to find my way back and get Tam.”

  The trail the trolls left was almost too easy to follow. Their large bodies and lack of knowledge or care in covering their tracks left imprints all over in the soft ground as well as a collection of broken branches snapped by their careless passing. He traveled quickly but remained alert watching for anything that might try to surprise him in ambush. Who knew what types of creatures lurked about on this side of the mountain?

  His mind raced over the previous days events, especially the complete opposition Tam had shown him when he tried to set her free. It was the drink they’d been poisoning her with. It had to be. By her violent reaction, he figured that his escape must have been about the time she was to get more. If he ever hoped to free her, he had to get to her soon after her evening drink when she’d be calmed by it. With the foul liquid coursing through her veins, maybe he could convince her of the need to escape. If not, he would have to take her by force. Gently touching a finger to his nose, he realized that that would be no easy task.

  The rain had increased from a drizzle to a full out shower when Dor reached what looked like a village. But, it was a village like none he had ever seen or imagined before. The huts were large and square and built with some sort of flat tree. Was this a Chufa village? He sighed. “This must be what the trolls raided last night.” He had passed their campsite a short time before and found it, as he expected, full of troll dung and half gnawed bones. The direction they went this morning was obvious; it was hard to hide such a large mass of trolls. He looked around the village searching for survivors or any clue that might give some idea of who, or what, had lived here. The thought that Chufa might be living on this side of the mountains was almost more than he could hope for. But he had to find proof. Whatever it was that built and lived in this village were certainly enemies to the trolls and might be able to help him.

  He searched quickly and thoroughly but came up with nothing. The village had been completely decimated by the trolls. The thought sent a shiver up his spine. A whole village, possibly a whole race, was now extinct. He couldn’t help but think of his own home and how precarious a situation they had unknowingly been in for all of these years. A group of trolls as large as the one that attacked this village could just as easily sweep through the Chufa and completely wipe them out.

  His searching suddenly took on a completely new focus. He had to find something he could use to fight with. Nothing he had seen thus far lent itself as a weapon but there were still a few more buildings left towards the outskirts of the town. He stared at the buildings that seemed to stare back at him with an eerie gauntness as if dead themselves. The last remains of what once must have been a thriving community. He had to get Tam and then get back home and warn their people before the trolls returned and did the same to them.

  His hopes of finding anything to fight with in the remaining buildings were as empty as the structures. He did, however, find a sack of half charred grain, which provided a meager but grateful meal. Eating half of what was edible right off, he placed the rest in a pouch before turning his back to the town and the frightening testimony it bore.

  He easily picked up the troll’s trail even in the heavy
rain. It was hard to miss the huge swath that had been trampled through the tall grass leaving a massive track of slick mud. If he kept a good pace, he figured he should be able catch Tam by nightfall; the timing would be perfect.

  It continued to drizzle as he followed the trail making the day as dark and gloomy as his thoughts. His mind kept drifting back to the empty village as he plodded along trying to keep an even pace. Had his own people already been destroyed? The thought made his breathe come in a short gasp. He had never considered that. It was possible. He forced it from his mind with great effort. There was no use assuming the worst when he had no proof to back it up. He turned his thoughts back to Tam and what he would have to do to get her free.

  Trolls were inherently lazy and slow and with the size of the group he was trailing, he knew it wouldn’t take too long to catch them. The terrain remained hilly but not so much as to be a hindrance, for the most part. There were a couple of hills that were so steep and slippery with mud that he had to go around and pick up the trail again on the other side. One such hill was causing him problems now. With a lack of good sleep and nothing to eat since that morning, his endurance was not holding out too well. He slipped again and again as he fought the mud-streaked slope trying to reach the top. This hill was larger than the others he had skirted and he was in no mood to waste the time going around.

  Again and again, he slipped into the muck covering himself completely in muddy goop. Time and time again he fell flopping in the mud and sliding back down the short distance he had gained. He tried to move sideways but that didn’t help either. Looking up, he could see the top and grit his teeth in fierce determination to reach it. Pressing his mud soaked and fatigue legs into the mud, he was finally able to gain some footing and push his way high. Finally, with one last lunge, he cleared the zenith where he landed in a sullied heap, almost completely exhausted from the effort.