“I believe so,” I pronounced. “He isn’t really a Vile at all. He’s got no violent tendencies and he loves music. What other qualifications does he need? Besides, he’s a One. Part of the family, as it were. You should welcome him back into the fold.”
With the general consensus behind me, I overcame Varish’s doubts and persuaded him to come along with us once we escaped from our present dangerous surroundings. So, with his future settled, Varish happily continued to lead us to safety. At least, that was the intention. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite work out that way. We’d just climbed up a winding path which led to a flat plateau. The going was a bit tricky because a substantial drop into a yawning crevasse loomed on one side, and a towering wall of rock on the other. As we negotiated the last bend on the plateau we were surprised by the extremely unwelcome sight of The Vile, grouped together and waiting for us.
“Bloody hell!” Nix swore. “Where did they come from?”
Thorn gasped in fright and snatched at my arm. “Stephen!” she exclaimed. “It’s them! They followed us!”
I looked around at my friends. Nix bunched his fists in preparation for a battle. Varish seemed frozen in fear and Trix stared dumbly at her worst nightmare. Thorn was trembling but I could tell her fighting spirit had been aroused. I looked back down the path, judging the odds of a successful retreat. They weren’t very good. The Vile Leader sneered at us, confident of his superior numbers and delusional fighting ability. I had to admit to myself that we were well and truly trapped this time. We had no weapons and no real means of escape. Even if we turned around and ran back down the path, The Vile would follow and simply overwhelm us.
Arrogantly, The Vile Leader stepped forward, sniggering at our misfortune. He looked us over contemptuously. “No one escapes from us, fools!” he snarled. “It’s a waste of time to even try. All that remains is to decide what to do with you all.”
“And that is?” I asked.
“You’re more trouble than you’re worth,” he announced, scornfully. “There was no army and, even if there had been, it wouldn’t have made any difference.” He thumped his chest defiantly and suddenly shrieked, “We are supreme! Nobody can stand against us! We’ll crush everything in our path!” Then he calmed down and stared at us malevolently. “You’ve all annoyed me,” he stated calmly, with a bewildering change of mood, “and I’ll have to think of a fitting punishment.” He pointed at the shuddering Varish and announced, “You, the traitor! You will be the first to die! And then the rest of you! Yes, that will do. A mass sacrifice! Very appropriate for the start of our glorious campaign of victory!”
The Vile cheered at their leader’s words and shook their weapons in the air. They actually believed that the whole twenty of them could take on the rest of the world and win. Ridiculous. But they could certainly take on the five of us without a hiccup.
The Leader stared madly at us. “I’ll give you a little time to say farewell to your gods,” he proclaimed. “After all, you should be properly cleansed for the sacrifice.”
“This isn’t going to end up well, is it?” Thorn whispered to me.
I took her hand in mine. “No, dearest,” I told her. “I’m very much afraid that this is the end of the line. I can’t see any way out of this at all.”
“We’ll be together,” she murmured. “It’s how I’ve always wanted it to be. I’m just sorry I couldn’t have spent more time with you. I’m going to miss Traculimna, too. Send her my love, won’t you? And tell her not to be sad because I’m following my destiny. It just didn’t come off this time, that’s all.”
I squeezed her head in sympathy. “She knows, my darling. I’m with her right now and she says you’re the best sister that anyone could ever want. She regrets all the fights she had with you and feels sorry that she didn’t tell you how much she loved you more often.” Thorn’s eyes filled with tears as she listened to the relay of her sister’s thoughts.
“I’m pleased she’ll have her Stephen to help her through,” she confided. “At least she won’t be alone. It’s the only good thing I can see coming out of this.” She turned to me, her tears beginning to coagulate and run down her face. “Oh, Stephen,” she murmured, “is this really the end? Do we have any hope at all?”
I looked at The Vile who were working themselves into a frenzy of bloodlust. “I honestly can’t see any,” I told her solemnly.
“Well then,” she declared, bravely gathering herself, “let’s give these animals a battle they’ll never forget!”
“Yes!” Nix agreed, wholeheartedly. “If we’re going to die, we’ll do it with fists swinging.” His look encompassed all of us. “Although it sounds trite, I’d like to say at this juncture that it’s been a privilege to have been with you all. Thank you for everything.”
“And thank you too,” Thorn replied, putting a friendly hand on his arm. “You’ve been the best of friends. I’m going to miss you so much.”
Nix nodded. “I’ll miss you as well,” he replied. “I still think you’re the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.” Then he grinned sardonically in a way that only he could manage. “Shame about the face, though. And the fat bottom. But if you take away those two things, you’re not too bad looking.”
“Right back at you, you ugly walrus,” Thorn smiled lovingly. “I don’t want you haunting me in the next world either. Not that they’ll even let you inside the door, mind you. They do have some standards after all.”
“Gods!” Nix exclaimed, taking her into an emotional embrace. “What am I going to do without you? Who’s going to insult me now?”
“Just about everyone, I should imagine,” Thorn retaliated from the confines of his arms. “Why should the afterlife be any different?” She pulled out of Nix’s hug and held him at arm’s length. “Farewell, my dear friend,” she whispered. “Let me do this one last thing for you.” So saying, she bent her head and kissed Nix comprehensively and exhaustively.
When she had finished, Nix managed to gasp, “I always knew you’d succumb to my charms one day, you unspeakably alluring sexpot. What took you so long?”
Thorn’s reply ended up being a half-laugh and half-sob.
Chapter 20
We gathered Trix into our little group and hugged her consolingly.
“So, this is it?” she asked, philosophically. Then she shrugged. “Ah well, what better way to go than in the company of my family and friends. Without you I probably would have died alone in the wilderness a long time ago. Thank you for all the happy times.”
“No, thank you, little one,” Thorn replied. “You brought joy to our lives and a sense of motherhood to my sister. We’re all in your debt.”
“I would have liked to have seen Zenith one more time,” Trix said, wistfully. “But he has his girlfriend now, so I know he won’t be lonely.”
“He’ll be fine,” I reassured her. “Zenith is a survivor. He’ll make a new life for himself with the wolf pack.”
“Let’s not forget Varish,” I reminded everyone. “He’s going to pay the ultimate sacrifice for taking us under his wing. We owe him something.”
“You’re right,” commented Nix. “He’d still be safe in his building if it hadn’t been for us.” We all went over to where Varish lay huddled on the ground.
“This is all our fault,” I told him. “We’re sorry for getting you into this.”
Varish waved aside my apology. “Is okay,” he said. “Better this way. No more lonely. No regrets.”
“Prepare to die!” The Vile Leader suddenly roared. “Your time is up!”
We turned to face our doom. Thorn captured my face in gentle hands and murmured, “Goodbye, my beloved. You gave me a happiness I thought I’d never experience. I can’t thank you enough for that.”
“You’ve fulfilled my every dream,” I whispered back. “I count myself the luckiest person in the world to have met you. Dearest Thorn, you’ll be in my heart forever.”
She gave me a gentle smile and grasped my hand.
&nbs
p; “Together, then,” she murmured.
“Together,” I agreed, watching the screaming Vile run towards us,.
Chapter 21
Now, I have to say that I normally detest action clichés in movies and books, where someone gets saved at the last minute by the hero, but this time it was the most welcome of events. Just as The Vile were about to engulf us, they were attacked from behind by a rolling mass of grey, growling creatures. The wolves! It was almost too good to be true. Somehow or other, like the last, desperate rescue in an old fashioned action classic, we’d been saved, or at least given a chance, by friendly reinforcements. And those reinforcements, I noted in some amazement, were led by a savior we knew very well indeed.
“Zenith!” Trix screamed joyfully. Zenith awarded his owner a quick welcoming bark before taking down a shrieking Vile. With a sort of horrible fascination we watched the wolves decimate our enemies. Like true predators, they hunted in concert, one incapacitating a victim and another going for the throat. I knew with absolute certainty that our rescuers didn’t intend to leave a single Vile alive to tell the story. We couldn’t have stopped the wolves’ rampage even if we wanted to, because they were totally enveloped in a primal killing frenzy that nothing would break. I prayed that they knew when to stop, that was all.
“How on earth did Zenith find us?” Thorn exclaimed in wonder.
“Never underestimate the power of a wolf’s nose,” I replied, giddy with relief. “He must have been following us ever since we left him at the cave. I don’t know how he managed to persuade the other wolves to come along as well, though,” I mused. “Somehow, it looks like he’s become the alpha wolf of the pack. Good old Zenith!”
The carnage had almost been completed. The pack was busily killing off the last of The Vile when, out of the chaos, loomed the giant figure of the Leader. Batting away a stray wolf with amazing strength, he strode towards us screeching, “You did this! You’ve destroyed us! But how? We’re invincible! How could things like you destroy the mightiest army ever assembled?” He waved his sword at us as he continued his incoherent diatribe. “Anyway, die you will! Nothing will stop that!”
Nix sprang to the front of our group, fists raised. “You have to go through me first, you lunatic,” he stated, fiercely.
The Vile Leader towered above Nix and scornfully brushed him aside without even stopping. Nix staggered, and then leapt onto the Leader’s back. With a roar, the giant Vile tossed him aside and continued his inexorable trek towards our little group.
“Now, die!” he yelled, raising his sword for the death blow. I stepped in front of Thorn, in a vain attempt to shield her, although I knew it was probably useless against this maniac. It didn’t occur to me until much later that Thorn and I could simply have flown out of his reach. But, on further reflection, I realised that we couldn’t have abandoned Nix and Trix on the ground anyway, so the point ended up being a moot one.
As the frothing madman was preparing to send us all to the afterlife, Varish surprised us all by tackling the Leader around the waist and propelling him backwards.
“You no hurt friends!” he shouted. More than anything, I think it was the utter surprise of Varish’s sudden attack that momentarily halted The Vile’s onslaught.
“You dare!” the Leader yelped, assaulting Varish with the hilt of his sword. “Insignificant worm! I’ll kill you!” And, true to his word, he pushed Varish away and callously ran him through with his sword. Our valiant companion collapsed with a groan.
“And now for the rest of you,” he hissed, staring spitefully at us. This was as far as he got because, before he could take another step to fulfil his murderous intent, Zenith came from nowhere and bowled him over. Both of them then erupted into a screeching, growling mass of arms and legs as they fought in a whirling, clawing bundle of skin and fur on the ground. I found it impossible to follow the progress of the battle, or to see who was winning, because the combatants were rolling around and changing position so quickly. Zenith snarled non-stop and his opponent shrieked dementedly. By this time, none of The Vile were left standing. The wolves were poised over their bodies, intently watching Zenith’s ongoing battle. None of them offered to help, so it was obviously something the alpha wolf had to do alone.
Breathlessly, we watched the ongoing conflict. Finally, both figures were still. Thorn anxiously gripped my arm as we waited for the conclusion. And then, shaking himself, a triumphant Zenith pushed himself upright. His muzzle was covered in blood but he appeared otherwise unharmed. He lifted his head and sounded a brief howl. His pack answered in kind, as a tribute to their leader, I imagined. Trix rushed over to the hero of the hour and cuddled him ecstatically. The rest of us stepped over to where Varish lay to see if anything could be done. Surprisingly, he was still alive, although it quickly became obvious that this state of affairs wasn’t going to last for very much longer.
Thorn cradled Varish’s head in her lap. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered, sorrowfully. “You were very brave.”
“Is worth it,” he replied in a faltering voice. “Best this way.” Then he looked up at Trix who had just joined us. “Sing pretty,” he told her. “Always remember song. Give me joy.”
Trix knelt beside Varish and took his hand. “And I’ll always remember you,” she promised. Then, unbidden, she began to sing softly. It was a farewell song, emotionally potent, full of regret and longing, but sparkling with the underlying beauty of the notes. Varish smiled as he listened and we watched the living light slowly fade from his eyes.
“He was a true One,” Thorn murmured as she gently lowered Varish’s head to the ground. With tears in her eyes, she looked up at all of us. “A true One,” she repeated defiantly. Nix nodded solemnly as I helped Thorn to her feet.
“Yes,” I agreed, hugging her in consolation. “He was an asset to your race. You should be proud of him. We’ll honor his memory.”
We looked at the chaos around us. The wolves were sniffing at The Vile bodies and Trix had joyfully returned to embracing Zenith.
“What now?” Nix asked.
“We’d better go home, I’m thinking,” I replied. “I need another transfer machine and Thorn needs a sword. We have to report back to the Council of Elders as well. At least we can take some consolation in the fact that The Vile threat is ended forever.”
“At a cost,” Thorn murmured.
“Yes,” I acquiesced, glancing sorrowfully down at Varish’s body. “At the highest of costs.”
Chapter 22
We built a monument of rocks over Varish’s body and stood for a few moments in respectful silence. Then we took stock of our situation and decided to leave immediately. Since we had no idea where we were, we urged Zenith to lead us back to safety. He seemed to understand what we wanted because, after calling his pack together, he trotted off happily, with Trix by his side.
“What we going to tell the Elders?” Thorn asked, as we walked behind the gaggle of wolves.
“The truth, I suppose,” I shrugged. “What else?”
“I don’t think they’ll be too happy to find out that The Vile were our ancestors,” Thorn said thoughtfully. “It’ll cause all sorts of heart palpitations.”
“Let it,” I proposed, pitilessly. “It may be a harsh lesson in humility, but it’ll be a reminder that everyone is fallible, even the One.” I heard Nix snigger at my last remark, and Thorn heard him too.
“What’s so funny, you overfed wombat’s whisker?” she huffily demanded.
“Nice one,” I praised. She shot me a pleased grin.
“Nothing much, biscuit face,” Nix replied. “It’s just good to see someone finally putting the One in their place.”
“Biscuit face?” Thorn enquired, lips twitching in the beginnings of a smile.
“Wombat’s whisker?” asked Nix, astonished.
“I’m happy to see that, despite everything that’s happened, you’re equally as insane as ever,” I declared happily, crushing them both to a bear hug. “I couldn’t ask fo
r anything more.”
“Let go of me,” Nix declared, wriggling in my grasp. “This sort of thing could start untold rumors about our friendship. You don’t want Thorn to get envious, do you?” I burst into laughter. I simply couldn’t help myself. Nix pulled himself away from me and brushed himself down.
“That’s better,” he commented, winking at me. “I mean, it wouldn’t do for Thorn to catch us together. You know how jealous she gets when she suspects I’m with someone else.” Then he sighed. “Ah me, she’s such a spirited little thing! Lovely within limits, mind you, but she can change into a green-eyed monster so quickly!”
“Even being a wombat’s whisker is too good for you,” Thorn spluttered, giggling. “Stephen, what’s the worst possible thing you can think of that applies to this horrible waste of oxygen in front of us?”
“Oh, no you don’t,” I advised, holding up my hands in defence. “You’re not dragging me into this! Sort it out yourselves. I’m here simply as an impartial witness.”
Thorn poked out her tongue at me. “Wuss!” she asserted.
“And proud of it,” I told her. “The last thing I want is find myself in the middle between you two. I don’t want to die prematurely.”
And so it continued as we followed Zenith to safety, with Thorn and Nix inventing more and more convoluted insults for each other. Finally, we arrived back at the wolf cave, with Zenith wagging his tail in a self-congratulatory way. Trix dropped to her knees and hugged him proudly.
“Who’s Mommy’s clever boy, then?” she asked, ruffling his fur. We joined her and subjected Zenith to an orgy of congratulations and ear scratches. He lapped it up, and licked us all impartially.
“Time to go home,” I softly advised Trix, putting a hand on her shoulder.
“But Zenith ……..” she cried. “What about him?”
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