Lamfada slapped the back end of his ponies, forcing them out of the way, and pulled forth a double-edged sword from one of the packs. “Let me at them nasty things,” he shouted as he ran to stand beside the wizard.
“Thomas and I can help,” Matt said, not wanting to be shut away like some scared youth, but the wizard ignored him.
Matt heard the frenzied cries from the outpost men. The zing of arrows were heard above the shouts as the troops moved in on the three shapeless creatures making their way around the scaffolding. He and the others followed Chester towards the hut, but before they made it through the door, they heard a loud thud to the left of them. Miranda screamed when she saw the mangled body of one of the men on the ground.
“Don’t look,” Matt yelled at her above the din of the battle. “Keep your eyes on the hut.” He protectively covered her head and rushed her towards the door. He watched as soldiers grappled with pale wispy figures on the top scaffold. Their swords seemed to have no effect on the strange creatures they were battling, the blades merely slicing through the air. One by one, the upper level of warriors fell, their bodies hitting the ground like rag dolls after being twisted and shredded by the claws of the Brollachan.
“Here,” Chester cried. “Go in and don’t open the door unless Lily comes to get you.”
Thomas slammed the wood shut against the war that raged outside and shoved the latch through its notch. The four sat together in the darkness listening to the screams of the wounded.
“I want to fight,” Matt said to Thomas. “I don’t like being in here hiding away.”
“Speak for yourself,” Ned whispered.
Miranda covered her ears against the noise outside. Matt couldn’t blame her for not wanting to hear the sickening sounds of the fallen soldiers as they hit the ground. He pulled her to his chest and covered her ears further with his arms as he and Thomas looked at each other. It wasn’t right. He and Thomas should be helping the others. Only after several tense Moments of silence did Matt remove his embrace from the girl and get up to move to the door.
The latch jiggled slightly.
“Who’s there?” he demanded harshly.
“Open the door,” Lily cried. Matt slid the latch backwards. The fairy pushed against the wood and slipped inside, her wings beating frantically. “There’s one Brollachan still inside the tower. They’re hunting him now,” she whispered.
“I saw the men’s swords...they didn’t have any effect,” Matt exclaimed.
“Yes, but Keltrain’s dagger has special powers. He can kill them. There were only three, but they moved so quickly. Those evil creatures took many lives before he could subdue them.”
A cry from Urcias startled the group in the hut. “Here. In here!” His words were loud outside the door of the hut. Bursting into the room, the Captain stood at the threshold, blood oozing from a gash above his eye. “It disappeared in here.”
Matt noticed movement out of the corner of his eye, just as Ned was lifted off his feet by something invisible. A shadow emerged from the wall, red gleaming eyes directed towards Matt. Razor sharp claws curled themselves around Ned’s throat as the shadow laughed.
“Caught thyself,” it sneered at Ned.
Entering into the hut, Keltrain drew his dagger slowly. He watched the Brollachan merge partway with the wall. “Release the boy,” the wizard demanded quietly. “Or you will go the way of your comrades.”
“Help me,” Ned cried, his eyes watering at the intense grip of the shapeless creature.
“I will help myself,” the Brollachan stated, looking up at Ned dangling from his grasp. Hissing at the wizard, it snarled, “If thyself comes much closer, myself will have a delicious snack.”
“What are you doing here?” Urcias demanded as he pointed his sword towards the Brollachan.
“Myself has been called from the darkness to perform tasks against thyself.” It laughed wickedly, pointing to those in the hut. “And now myself has the boy the Witch asked myself to retrieve.”
“But...” Matt sputtered as Keltrain placed a hand on his shoulder in warning. He wanted to lunge at the creature, to snatch Ned from its grasp.
“You shall not leave this hut with any of these children,” the wizard replied slowly.
The Brollachan tightened his grip on Ned, forcing the boy to gasp and claw at the malformed hand on his neck. “Then thyself will not have the boy either.” It sneered at the wizard and squeezed Ned’s neck tighter, closing the air off to the boy’s lungs.
Keltrain advanced quickly, thrusting his dagger at the middle of the shadow. An agonizing high-pitched scream erupted from the creature as Ned dropped to the floor. Matt grabbed his friend and pulled him away from the Brollachan as the spell of the dagger melted the creature into a glob of yellow goo at the wizard’s feet.
“I never did like Brollachans,” the wizard stated as he stepped back from the advancing sludge. “They smell very unpleasant.”
Ned coughed violently. He held his throat where small red lines appeared on his flesh. Miranda bent next to him, examining the bruises and cuts on his skin. “They look terrible,” she exclaimed, her concern echoed in the look she gave Matt.
“Better that, than the other,” Chester commented as he stuck his head through the door.
Urcias patted Keltrain’s shoulder, his voice weary. “Thank you, wizard, for if you had not come along, my regiment would have been wiped out entirely.”
“You’re welcome. Bera’s stretching her hand into Green Isle for a reason. She’s looking for the children.”
“Me,” Matt interrupted. “They’re looking for me. That thing said she sent them to look for the boy.”
Keltrain scratched his bearded chin for a Moment. “Maybe they know something we don’t. Bera’s a sorceress with many talents. Perhaps she’s dabbling in fortune telling as well. But it took Ned, not you. It wouldn’t have made a mistake.”
Ned gulped loudly as all heads turned to view him. “What?”
“Surely you aren’t suggesting that big chicken is the bearer of the sword,” DaGon stated flatly.
“I told you I never saw who wielded the sword. My visions included that of the four emerging from the mirror portal above the Dell, and of course, what I disclosed in the garden. Bera would’ve been very strict about which one she was looking for. Ned was singled out for a reason, and I can only assume that the reason is because he’s the sword champion.”
Matt squinted at Ned. “Are you sure?” He didn’t know if he liked the fact that the younger and weaker boy might be the one rescuing his brother.
“No. But the actions of that creature suggest otherwise. We can only wait and see.”
“Do you want an escort to the Keep?” Urcias asked as he poked the yellow mass with the tip of blade. “We may offer some protection against any stragglers lurking out there.”
“Captain, thank you for the offer, but having an even bigger group may attract unnecessary attention. If we could rest for awhile within the sanctuary of the tower, I’d appreciate that more.”
Urcias nodded and smiled. “It would be my pleasure.”
Keltrain and the Captain walked outside the hut as Lily fluttered down next to Ned. “I’ll get Keltrain’s suave for your neck,” she said gently.
“Thank you,” Ned muttered hoarsely.
Matt stared at his friend and sighed deeply after Lily disappeared out the door. “I don’t think you are the sword bearer,” he blurted without thinking.
“Why do you say that?”
“How can you be? You don’t have...don’t have...”
“Courage?” Thomas offered.
“Well...yes, I guess,” Matt agreed reluctantly.
“That’s terrible. How could you say somethin’ so unkind?” Miranda cried.
“I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just hard to imagine Ned as the champion of anything. He’s scared of his own shadow. I’m sorry, Ned, but it’s true.”
Ned cleared his throat. “It’s okay. I’
m very comfortable knowing that in some instances, I’m a coward. But I could be the sword bearer if I had to. I could rescue those kids if I was chosen.”
Matt shook his head slowly. Things weren’t working out the way he thought they would. In the back of his mind, he considered himself the chosen champion of the sword. How could it be Ned?
“Gee whiz, even though you’re always sayin’ you shouldn’t have come?”
“Yes,” Ned replied quietly.
“He could.” Miranda put her arm around Ned’s shoulders. “He has courage that nobody knows about. Don’t you, Ned?”
“It must be buried really deep, because, I’ve never seen it and I live with him.”
“Thanks a lot.”
“Sorry, little brother, but I’ve gotta agree with Matt.”
“Fine. But we’ll see. Just like Keltrain said, we’ll know when we get to the sword. And you’ll see. I could be its champion.”
“Yes,” Matt muttered under his breath as he sighed deeply, his mind reeling. “We’ll see.”
Chapter Fifteen
“We’ve reached the other side of the Pine Forest,” the dragon muttered softly.
The words came as a relief. Matt pulled his horse forward and stood next to the others as they watched the shimmering meadow in front of them. In the light of the twin moons, the silver grasses stretched outward to the jagged, black cliffs of the ApHar Mountains, like a sea of green. He was glad they finally made it to another segment of their journey.
Matt leaned against his horse, weary and tired. He reflected on the events of the day in silence, his head aching. After the battle with the Brollachan, the group slept and ate, resting their tired bodies until it was time to leave. The Captain, Urcias, had restocked some of their supplies and added to their water before they said their farewell. As they exited the tower, the Captain sent a rider by horseback to the men of Nuada Findi. He wanted to warn the city officials about what had transpired at the outpost. “Look for me to meet with you on the shores of Black Isle,” he had said. “I will be there to help you fight this battle with the Dark One, but I must get a replacement here first.”
“Then we’ll see you soon, my friend,” Keltrain replied before the group set off. Matt watched as the two men expressed their thanks. He hated leaving Captain Urcias, but he knew the soldier would be true to his word.
No one said much of anything to each other during the remaining travel through the forest. It was the first time any of them had seen a dead body, much less been involved in something so terrifying. Matt realized that the events only strengthened and confirmed that he had to begin mentally preparing himself for what would be coming. He needed to protect the others, especially Miranda, and if that meant giving his life, then it was something he was willing to do for them.
“Do you see anything ahead, Lily?” Keltrain whispered. “Any movement in the shadows?” He placed his hand on his dagger.
“No,” she replied, zipping quickly out of the shelter of the trees. “But there is lightning off in the distance.”
“To the west, I hope.” Keltrain hesitated before stepping forward into the shimmering carpet of grass.
“Yes, still to the west and far away. The Dyrads must be keeping the Slaugh at bay.”
“Or the Bodach with Matt’s scent.”
A branch above their heads broke, startling them. The group jumped into defensive postures as they sought the source of the sound. Two fiery eyes gazed down from one of the trees. Matt wondered if it was another Brollachan.
“All clear...all clear,” Quert’s metal voice squawked from its hiding place.
“That stupid bird almost made me pee my pants,” Ned fumed.
“Be glad you didn’t,” Thomas chuckled. “It woulda been a very uncomfortable night for you.”
“We must proceed cautiously when venturing through this meadow. Be mindful of what’s around you,” Keltrain warned his companions, his hand still on the hilt of his dagger. “The grass is tall, and could hide anything.”
“I’ll go ahead. If something’s out there, I’ll rouse them from their hiding place,” the dragon volunteered.
“Thank you,” the wizard said. “We can find shelter inside the ruins once we’ve made it there. Traveling the bog in the dark is dangerous and we’ll end up losing friends and beasts in that mire and muck.”
Matt watched DaGon inch his way into the frost-covered grass, testing the openness of the meadow. Lifting his snout, he sucked in a deep breath. After a Moment, he said, “I don’t smell anything, other than us.”
“Good. Lead the way to that knoll. From there, we can see the Keep,” the wizard instructed, pointing to a small ridge in front of them.
A blast of icy air wailed past them as they moved from the cover of the pines. It whipped at their bodies and stung at their skin, forcing them to duck back into the shelter of the tree line.
Miranda’s teeth chattered. “Why is it so cold?” she asked, wrapping her cloak tighter around her body. Pine straw flew in circles around her as another blast of wind gusted past before sailing across the barren meadow.
Matt shivered. He missed having the warmth of his cloak. Looking upward, he contemplated the two orbs hanging in the night sky above the horizon. Trying to take his mind off his frozen body, he glanced at Ned. “I can’t get used to seeing two moons,” he said. He felt bad for what he had said to the younger boy earlier, and tried to make amends by conversation.
“It’s a bit unusual,” his friend observed. “I guess it’s a sign confirming we’re not on earth. At least that’s how I look at it.”
“You’re in a parallel dimension,” Chester commented from behind Matt.
“Gee whiz, parallel dimension or other world...whatever it is, it’s weird.” Thomas pulled the hood of his cloak over his head and adjusted his horse’s reins in his hands.
“Why does it feel like winter?” Ned whined. He ducked beside his horse, sheltering himself from the slap of chilly breeze. “It was warm when we left Fairy Dell.”
“Aye, it be colder than it should be,” Lamfada agreed as he drew his small ponies to his side. “What in blazes be goin’ on, Keltrain? Some funny trick of nature?”
“I can only guess that Bera has placed a spell on this part of the land.” The wizard followed the trail of the dragon further out into the meadow grass.
“Gee, maybe we should stay here in the forest tonight,” Thomas suggested. He glanced at the distant mountains as he huddled in his cloak.
Lamfada nodded his head in agreement. “Aye, the lad has somethin’. It certainly be better than freezin’ to death in the ruins.”
“I’d vote for that solution,” Chester whinnied. “We don’t know what may be lying in wait in the darkness of the Keep’s aging structure.”
“No,” Keltrain said sharply. Softening his voice, he offered an explanation at his quick response. “It’s too dangerous to be in the open. The Keep will offer a much better hiding place, should the Slaugh find their way here.”
“If that be what ya are wantin’, Keltrain, then the Keep it is.” The leprechaun shook his head. “But havin’ all them shadowy places for somethin’ to be hidin’...” he mumbled. “I still be believin’ the tree line is better.”
“Trust me, old friend. I have a place in mind that is out of sight and will offer protection against the elements.”
“I trust ya, Keltrain. It just bein’ the shadows I don’t be trustin’.”
Keltrain nodded before continuing with DaGon towards the knoll. Matt, Miranda, and Ned followed close behind, careful to step in the flattened grass. Little patches of snow crunched beneath their steps, which gave evidence that a recent storm had passed in the area. They ducked their heads against the cold force of wind as they inched their way up the small incline.
“I am having trouble flying in this bitter wind,” Lily exclaimed, when a heavy gust pushed against her. “Bera must have claimed the Keep and the lands bordering Nimryshor Sea. Her magic seems to be eve
rywhere.”
DaGon shifted his weight as he crouched at the top of the crest. “It still bears the scars from the Second War.”
“I had never wanted to look upon it after then,” Keltrain said. “The destruction was too hard for me to acknowledge. I only wanted to remember its beauty and its people. Not the desolate wasteland and graveyard it became.”
When Matt finally came to stand beside the wizard, he remained silent as he focused upon the valley beneath them. The landscape appeared frozen in time as metal and stone twisted together to form misshapen lumps in the soil. Buildings, which at one time stood proud and tall, lay toppled over, ripped apart, and scattered at the base of the mountains like tinker toys. Moonlight illuminated the crumpled structures of the Keep’s wall and towers, now filled with holes and decay, their battle wounds still evident even after three thousand years.
“It must have been a terrible fight and all,” Miranda said, shivering against the harsh wind. “It reminds me of the moving picture news we see in town at the theater...the cities and towns in Europe and how they looked after being bombed.”
“Did it last long?” Ned asked the wizard, who was standing in front of him. “The war between the Fomorians and Uthal?”
“More than two days. Never ceasing until the last Fomorian breath was taken,” Keltrain replied quietly. Freezing winds screamed across the jagged skeleton of the Keep, seeming to echo the pain of Keltrain’s memory. To Matt, the wail resembled a soulful and angry cry, like the voices of those who died. He cringed at the agonizing sound.
“Keltrain, we need to get out of this cold,” Lily finally insisted after another onslaught of icy air. “At least for Matt’s sake. He doesn’t have a cloak, and the temperature is dropping.”
“Yes, I see the Pillars ahead. We’re not far now.”
Matt looked to where the wizard pointed and could make out four gleaming white objects in the distance. They glowed strangely in the moonlight. To him, they seemed to stand guard, sentinels to the broken ruins and a testimony to the lost memory of a civilization destroyed ages ago.
The Forgotten Spell (Legends of Green Isle Book 1) Page 20