The Lone Apprentice

by I K Spencer

  "Well it seems to have withdrawn for now, thanks to you two, and we have scattered mounts to collect," Teya reminded them.

  The trio gathered the terrified animals as well as their scattered goods and mounted up. Exhausted but not daring to rest there any longer, they pressed on. The cover of full darkness was little reassurance against this new threat and the three nervous warriors continually scanned the perimeter.

  The party followed the river to a bridge, then from there followed the road north. They stayed on the road for the most part, taking to the jungle to skirt a couple of watchfires. They had just returned to the road when Anthen halted the party again, well past midnight.

  He sat quietly in deep concentration for several moments, then swiveled around to look at the other two. "It is out there somewhere ahead, waiting for us," he announced.

  No one needed to ask what "it" was.

  "How do you know this?" Garrick asked.

  "I do not know. I just do."

  "Is this skill new since the awakening?" There was suspicion evident in Garrick's voice.

  Anthen shook his head. "Since childhood."

  "Why is it I have never heard you speak of this?"

  "We have not been in a situation where it would be useful and it is not something to disclose freely," the younger guardsman said with a shrug. Anthen stared pointedly back at Garrick. "It is how I was so easily able to turn the tables on you the night you followed me when we first met." Anthen grinned and began to move off the road.

  "He has never been wrong," Teya said to the older guardsman as she turned to follow Anthen. "I no longer even question it."

  Garrick scowled but said nothing more.

  The trio entered the thick jungle and traveled west. The thick brush provided excellent cover against an attack from the air but it also slowed their progress a great deal. After a while they tried to turn back to the north, hoping to make a wide circle around the lurking beast, but Anthen sensed the creature had kept pace with them. It had not only moved in a course parallel to the three warriors but Anthen sensed it had also cut the distance separating them.

  They continued west until dawn, making slow progress, then halted. All three were exhausted, having nearly no sleep in over two days. After a hasty meal, Anthen took the first watch while the other two fell asleep immediately, despite the marked increase in temperature from the rising sun.

  Anthen sensed the nearness of the unearthly creature and pondered its behavior as he continuously scanned the jungle. It had gradually closed the distance between them but had halted when they had made camp. Was it just resting and waiting for the right moment or was it content to keep them close?

  He felt sure that the creature and Cidrl were linked; the appearance of the creature in the jungles of Dolonar could be no coincidence. It seemed likely that Cidrl was in control of the demon and that scared him even more than the terrible creature itself. The thought made him shiver, despite the oppressive jungle heat. How could they stop a man with such a beast at his disposal?

  After a couple of hours, he roused Garrick to take the second watch. He warned the older man that it was out there, somewhere nearby, but hadn't moved since they had made camp. The pair exchanged worried looks, both seeing the deliberate behavior as another sign that marked Cidrl's involvement.

  Anthen soon dropped off into a fitful sleep and Garrick nervously scanned the perimeter, battle hammer in hand. At first, every movement in the jungle caused him to jump to attention, but he eventually calmed down, aided by a pipe-full of his dwindling tobacco supplies.

  His attention was drawn to the sleeping figure of Anthen. On close inspection, he could see that the young guardsman looked to be in great turmoil as he slept. His taut face resembled that of a man bearing considerable pain and his hands were clenched tightly into fists. His entire body jerked every so often, as from the shock of a blow. Did he fight Cidrl in his dreams or was the proximity of the beast the cause of his restlessness?

  Learning of Anthen's uncanny sixth sense had bothered him. He felt uneasy about subjects involving magic or sorcery and did not trust anyone who demonstrated an affiliation with wizardry. Look at what damage Cidrl had already wrought and the immense threat the traitor represented to the entire realm. He associated magic with evil and the young guardsman's unnatural ability was likely tied to sorcery somehow.

  Garrick had offered to take the middle watch and suffer the resulting break in his rest as he had slept more than the other two in recent days. He was still far from fully recovered though. After a couple of hours, he woke Teya and, after passing along Anthen's warning, quickly fell back into a deep sleep, snoring softly.

  Teya surveyed the thick jungles all around the camp but did not expect to see anything. She felt certain that Anthen would alarm them before their assailant became visible and besides, she couldn’t see very far in the thick forest anyway. She glanced up. Glimpses of blue sky were visible here and there but mostly she spied a solid ceiling of leaves and branches that robbed any chance of even a slight breeze, which explained the stifling, midday heat. She likened it to the sweat lodges that were popular in the northern stretches of her homeland but those you could leave anytime. She was already sick of the humidity and longed for a bath and a cooler, drier climate.

  Her gaze shifted between the two sleeping men. Anthen struggled in his sleep, clearly battling demons; the only question was whether they were real or imagined. In contrast, the older man snored peacefully, as if oblivious to the dire situation they faced. She took an instant liking to the squat figure. He was refreshingly open and straightforward, especially considering the vocation he had chosen.

  Her eyes wandered back to Anthen. She found him a curious man, very unusual. She at first had thought him shy but shyness played only a small role in his distance. She believed he was also a loner and fiercely independent, a thinker and watcher who spent much of the time alone with his thoughts. She also perceived that he distrusted her because she was a woman, which meant a painful relationship lay in his past somewhere. She found his pensive demeanor both sad and alluring; she had always been drawn to quiet, strong men and no one she had ever met exuded such an inner strength as this guardsman.

  She noted also, as he tossed and turned, that he was an appealing man physically. He appeared slight, especially compared to the barrel-chested Garrick or the oversized Cidrl but when he had removed his tunic to see to his arm wound, she saw a surprisingly strong build—broad chest, chiseled arms, and slim waist. She also liked the way he moved. He did not benefit from natural ability as Harth had; she could tell his quickness and skill came from years of hard work and practice. She was amazed at speed and sureness in his hands and often caught herself watching his fingers, especially when he handled a weapon.

  His face was reasonably attractive, though not classically handsome. On close inspection it bore flaws and was plain from most angles. His expressive blue eyes, though, seemed to make all the flaws disappear, as if every part of his face had magically fallen into place. He would draw a second glance from women but not further interest unless his gaze met theirs and few women, she guessed, would be lucky enough to garner such attention from the meditative guardsman.

  When the allotted time had passed, Teya shook off the pleasant thoughts and rose with a groan to rouse the two men. Garrick woke slowly while the younger man seemed to be happy to escape his fitful slumber.

  The sun was past its zenith when the somewhat rested trio broke camp. They traveled in a northwesterly direction for a short time, then came to another creek flowing due west. Anthen knew the creature was waiting, ready to ambush them if they crossed, so the small party followed the creek without trying to cross the open water. Twice more in the close afternoon heat they thought to cross but each time they approached the shore, Anthen knew the creature was right there on the opposite shore, invisible unless it chose to move. Near sunset, the trio halted to rest the horses and discuss their situation.

  "We are moving too sl
owly," Teya complained angrily.

  "Aye," Anthen agreed. "We may be already behind. If Cidrl left as planned he would be in the second full day of travel." Anthen didn't have to add what they all knew, that Cidrl could cover ground much quicker since he could use the roads. "Slowing our progress may be the evil beast's purpose."

  Garrick nodded. "Either that or drive us west closer to the border region where the land opens up. By my reckoning, we will soon run out of jungle for cover."

  "Can we cross into the realm along this section of the border?" Teya asked hopefully.

  "No," Garrick replied. "The swamps are too wide here and there are no safe routes. Unless we turn south again and return to Gates, our only options are the bay or a small strip of passable land just south of the bay."

  "The Gates crossing will add at least another week so that is out of the question," Anthen offered. "I say we must follow the quickest route, facing the creature if we must."

  Anthen looked at the other two for their reactions. Teya nodded in agreement but the older guardsman looked uneasy.

  Garrick looked toward the west and the setting sun. "Facing that devil in darkness is folly. I suggest we continue this path through the night or until we run out of jungle, then face the creature in the morning. Traveling west is not completely out our way."

  Anthen and Teya both agreed. Garrick had experience facing the beast and another night of traveling to the west would not make that much difference.

  Chapter 34

  The trio continued west in the fading light. Even before it was totally dark they noticed more breaks in the thick jungle. Garrick's reckoning proved correct; they were nearing the border region and soon the thick brush, which slowed their progress but offered protection against the beast, would give way to open, barren land with sparse tree cover.

  As full darkness descended upon them, the travelers threaded their way through the dense forest, avoiding the increasing patches of open ground they came upon. Clouds blocked the moon and stars so they used the sound of the creek to maintain direction.

  Anthen's head throbbed from the ever-present danger he sensed. The silent winged creature was shadowing their every move and he knew that if they attempted to cross any of the clearings instead of skirting them, the thing would be on them in a flash.

  Well past midnight, the trio came to a halt. All around them lay open terrain. The stretch of forest they were threading through had narrowed like a finger and now they were at the tip, their only options besides risking open ground were to double back or stop until dawn. They chose the latter so it would give them some rest before facing their new nemesis.

  The three pensive warriors shared a quick, silent meal made up of the odd bits of food they could find in their supplies, mostly jerked meat and dried fruit. As before, one kept watch while the other two slept, the sentry using the time to prepare for the battle expected at daybreak. The atmosphere was grim as the party broke camp in the gray light before dawn. All three were dressed for battle, including mail vests and helmets. Anthen and Teya held their bows close while Garrick rode with the massive battle hammer over one shoulder.

  Along with thick clouds above, mist and fog swirled about the ground as they emerged from the protective forest onto open ground, heading north. The creature's presence, however, had departed during the night and Anthen sensed no danger awaiting them at the moment. He remained subdued however, doubting it was more than a short reprieve.

  The trio continued north in the early morning hours, using the brighter clouds masking the sun to the east to gauge their direction. They passed through short stretches of jungle, skirting others where it made sense. The young guardsman took heart from the fact that they were moving at a reasonable pace and in no immediate danger.

  Their good fortune was short-lived, however. Just an hour after starting, Anthen felt a sudden and unmistakable presence ahead. He informed the other two and they slowed their pace and readied their weapons. In another half-hour, the presence was so overwhelming that Anthen could think of nothing else. Every movement caused his head to whip around, which startled the other two. Garrick suggested they proceed on foot and found no argument from the other two. They inched forward with their weapons poised.

  "Look at us!" Teya angrily exclaimed after a few minutes, causing the two guardsmen to jump. "If the creature's aim is to thwart our progress, then why bother to attack at all? We are barely moving."

  Garrick nodded and Anthen managed a weak smile. Without another word, all three warriors climbed into their saddles and moved again at a normal pace. For Teya and Garrick, it was easy to ignore their normal fear but for Anthen, it took immense control for him to ride headlong into such danger for he felt the imminent attack in every nerve in his body.

  For nearly two hours the party continued without disruption but Anthen knew the winged one was merely waiting to lull them into letting their guard down. Suddenly, Anthen pulled Rorc to a halt and whirled about. His eyes scanned the gray skies until he finally located it, approaching at them from directly behind. In the open air, with only clouds behind, it was difficult to focus upon, a subtle disruption in the scenery. The shifting of the air was mesmerizing, a faint, unnatural movement of colors in the cloud-filled sky.

  "There!" Anthen shouted as he pointed. "Due south and at the level of the tree tops. Do you see it?"

  The other two acknowledged him and all three braced themselves for the attack. Anthen lifted his crossbow and sighted the movement. He focused on the shifting form and after a moment, figured out its outline. Aiming at where he guessed the creature's head to be, Anthen launched three quarrels in succession and heard Teya's bow an instant later.

  They heard the arrows bounce off the creature's armor-like covering and readied their weapons as the form closed. Anthen tensed, getting ready to thrust with his sword. In a flash, the shape dipped and rolled, then the nearly invisible form became a very real and solid force as it bowled them over, pitching all three to the ground with their weapons scattered. The creature instantly whirled around and dispersed the nervous animals, then wheeled back toward the warriors. Anthen took up his bow again and this time waited for the creature to open its eyes or mouth. It came within a few feet of him, then suddenly veered away at the last instant and disappeared to the north.

  Anthen looked around, checking on the others. Both stood staring toward the skies to the north. Teya turned and looked at him and he saw, in her eyes, the same helplessness he felt. They all knew the demon was merely toying with them.

  The disheartened trio recovered their scattered mounts and belongings and pressed on once again. Before long the clouds gave way and they were riding beneath blue skies. After a few hours under the hot, summer sun, Anthen missed the jungle; the smothering humidity was better than scorching heat from the direct sun.

  The small party continued north throughout the afternoon. The terrain was mostly open, dominated by bare, infertile soil supporting little vegetation. The deadwood trees familiar from the crossing into Dolonar provided sparse cover for the barren landscape. They did pass through stretches of forest, however, which provided a much-appreciated respite from the sun. They saw no more rain showers, though, of the like that were commonplace in the heart of the jungle.

  The sun had nearly dipped to the western horizon when Anthen felt the overwhelming presence once again.

  "It comes!" he yelled and halted.

  All three riders whirled around in their saddles, frantically searching for the nearly invisible form. Anthen could not see the creature but sensed it was approaching from the west, using the setting sun as cover.

  "In the sun!" Anthen informed the others as he slid off Rorc's back and waited.

  "I see it!" Teya shouted and Anthen saw the unnatural movement in the air a moment later. The warrior-woman fired twice at the fast-moving shape. Again they heard the metallic sound of the arrows clattering off a hard substance but Anthen noted that her larger longbow arrows seemed to bother the creature more t
han the smaller variety used in his crossbow.

  Anthen stepped ahead and waited for a shot. At fifty paces, he could make out the apparition's jaws and fired two bolts but both were adeptly knocked aside. Anthen stood his ground and waited for the evil thing's eyes to open but they never did. At the last instant Garrick stepped forward and, with a swing of his hammer, deflected the full force of the creature away from the young guardsman.

  Both men were knocked off their feet and the creature turned on Garrick, ripping the weapon easily from his grasp. Anthen scrambled to his feet as Teya rushed in and slashed at a shadowy wing. Before Anthen could join her, the woman was tossed aside like a rag doll and the shimmering figure soared away. Anthen watched the shifting shape grow smaller in the eastern sky until it was gone once again.

  Teya regained her feet quickly but Garrick was slow getting up, his face twisted in pain.

  "I am fine," the older guardsman said in answer to Anthen's look of concern. He smiled grimly as he went off to collect his horse.

  Teya's mount had fled some distance to the south and was still running, so Anthen hurried to Rorc and chased down the terrified animal. When he returned, the ragged party continued on, discussing their situation while the day's light faded.

  "We ride through the night?" Teya assumed they would, guessing that Cidrl had already crossed the border.

  "Aye," Garrick replied nervously. "May the gods see us through the night."

  "That is not enough," Anthen replied, frowning. "We are already likely a day behind Cidrl and if the gap grows much further, there will be no hope to overtake him. This cat-and-mouse game must end."

  "Unfortunately, the mouse has little choice in the matter in this case," Garrick offered with a cheerless chuckle.

  "We are not mice. We can think," Anthen mused.

  "You have a plan?" Teya asked hopefully, seeing the thoughtful look on the young guardsman's face.