WolfHeart

by K. Allen Cross

  “Squire!” he groaned as loud as he could.

  The squire came back, glancing over his shoulder at the ridge. “Yes, M’lord?”

  “See...what’s...”

  “Go see what’s happening?”

  Zodiac nodded, and he was off.

  Smoke was now trailing through the sky in dark lines. Grass fires, it had to be. All those explosions were sealing their fate--evil didn’t have to kill them, the fires would. He expected the sounds would soon die out, but they kept going. Several times the air vibrated with a staccato of blasts. Then the men on the ridge began to raise their fists and yell in excitement.

  What in the abyss was going on out there?

  A friendlier sound, the thunder of horses, came to his ears. The men on the ridge parted to let four long lines of riders file down into the camp. On the right side were ragged remains of Stazor’s knights. The banner on the left belonged to the Knights of Tolina. From the two rows between them, priests and packhorses began to disburse. Looking closer, he saw a few druids in their ranks.

  Stazor, a priest and the lead knight from Tolina rode towards him. They dismounted and walked up. The priest laid his hands on him and began prayers of healing. As he did, Stazor introduced the other knight. He wore a look of pleasant surprise.

  “Lord Zodiac, this is Sir Parson of Tolina. He has come with Lord Tayan; and I must say, the method of attack they are using is totally outrageous! Evil has no chance, from what I’ve seen out there today.”

  Sir Parson bowed. “Greetings, M’lord, please accept my apologies we did not arrive sooner.”

  He felt the healing course through him. He thanked the priest and asked, “The odds are turning in our favor?”

  “We will have the lakeshore and the fort secured in a few hours,” Sir Parson told them. “We will need every available man to help fell trees and fill the water tanks.”

  Trees, water tanks? Zodiac felt he had to have missed something. “What in the abyss for?”

  “The steam wagons,” Stazor told him. Shaking his head in disbelief, he said, “I have never seen a vlak get run over and crushed before today. It really is quite heartening.”

  “If Tayan can’t shoot it, he runs it over,” Sir Parson beamed.

  Zodiac tried to visualize what kind of wagon could run over vlaks. As he pondered this, he heard a new mix of sounds. Heavy chugging noises, squeals of metal on metal and a ground-shaking rumbling were coming from the other side of the ridge. Sitting up, he feared the worst, some kind of new weapon evil had made. He caught sight of twin columns of smoke pouring straight up, and then the first battlewagon lumbered into view.

  Chapter 22

  Odif crept slowly through the dark, trying to keep an even distance from Sam, who was right in front of her. Behind her, Jo-Jo kept touching her feet, as if to verify she was still in front of him. Like her, he didn’t care for being in total darkness.

  Since Sam and the elves could see, there was no reason to give themselves away by lighting a torch. The small tunnel they crawled through passed by the main chamber where wizards were engaged in their magic. Every so often, she spied a bit of the cavern through cracks in the thin separating wall of rock. Besides wizards, she noted glassblowers were at work. The last hole she paused at showed hoarcs carefully loading spears into wooden crates. This was the place they made the explosive magic. She would have to find a way to destroy it.

  She sensed Sam move to the left. Searching with her hands, she felt the tunnel make a sharp turn away from the cavern. It then dropped in a steep slope, moved right then became even narrower. She wondered if it would close off completely, forcing them to backtrack.

  After they had crawled long enough to make her knees raw, dim light showed enough so she could make out Sam ahead of her. One last twist and the tunnel open up into a larger passage. The faint yellowish light came from mosses that clung to the walls and ceiling.

  The group assembled, stretching out kinked backs as the last few exited. Everyone had made it through though somehow Gloredaniel, who had been towards the front, now came out last.

  “Did you see that cavern?” Scorpio asked Frieda. “They’re making those spears in there.”

  “We have to find a way to destroy it,” Odif added.

  Theo smacked her in the thigh. “Hey, crazy woman! Those things go boom, and in there was a lot of boom. We set those off, and it’ll bring all these caves down on our heads.”

  “I’ve already taken care if it,” Gloredaniel informed them.

  Mother Frieda eyed her. “How?”

  “I cast a fire ring to pass through the cavern. I set the spell so I hold the magic in check. It will not go off unless I command it, or if I die. Only then will the magic be released.”

  “We better keep you alive for a while then, eh?” Hutch said nervously.

  “You did well,” Frieda told her. “Sam, which way?”

  Sam looked one way then the other. Nibbling on a fingernail, she scanned both directions again. “I’m not sure. I don’t think I’ve ever been here before.”

  “You led us here,” Shilo reminded her.

  “I know. I think maybe I took a wrong turn.”

  “Take a guess,” Odif ordered.

  Hutch pointed at the far wall. “That way is north.”

  “How do you know that?” Scorpio snorted.

  Hutch scowled. “I have a very good sense of direction. We are also eighty feet below the ground, unless the land above us had changed.”

  Theo shook his head. “You’re wrong, brother. We are only seventy-five feet down, but you did get the direction almost right. North is that way,” he said, pointing off slightly more to the right.

  Hutch turned his scowl on him. “Says who?”

  “Says me,” Theo replied, planting his hands on his hips. “Do you want to get us lost?”

  “We are lost,” Hutch reminded him.

  “I am never lost, I only...find new places.”

  “Enough!” Frieda hissed. “Sam, do you have any idea which way to go?”

  Sam laced her fingers together and shrugged. “Not really.”

  Hutch tapped her arm. “Bat lady, when you were leaving, did you go up most of the way or down?”

  “Up, I think.”

  “Makes sense,” Hutch noted. “When you first started, was that up or down?”

  “It was mostly flat until I got to the lake cavern then it was up.”

  “Then we go that way,” Hutch said, pointing to the left.

  “Yes,” Theo agreed. “Left.”

  “May I ask how you came to that conclusion?” Odif asked him.

  Hutch looked at Theo and muttered, “Her mind has gone, she has no brains.”

  Odif looked away, staring down to the left so she wouldn’t have to look at them. As she did, she began to notice what they were talking about. “The moss seems a bit thicker that way, and the floor has a slight decline.”

  “You win a biscuit!” Theo chuckled. “You do have brains!”

  Scorpio interrupted them with a low growl. “Hey, guys! We are inside enemy territory. Keep it down.”

  “Please,” Frieda agreed. “Let’s move. Hutch and Theo in front, Porthalen and Scorpio next.” Pointing to one of the other elves, she said, “You scout ahead. Sam, stay by me. Odif, you’re behind us then the wizards. Everyone else behind them. Shilo, you have the rear guard. ”

  Shilo folded his arms over his chest in a mock-angry manner. “Oh, so I’m the ass!”

  “If the shoe fits...” Theo shrugged with a grin.

  “Move!” Frieda hissed.

  The passage looked as though it had been carved out rather than made by nature. The jagged turns, rises and falls of the other caves were replaced by a smooth, even floor and clean, parallel walls. They traveled for a while before the elf came back, crouching low and keeping to the inside wall of a gentle curve. He waved them all to the side then moved up beside Frieda.

  He spoke in a quiet tone just loud enough for them t
o hear. “Just beyond this corner are hoarcs. Two are in the tunnel, and there is a cavern or something to the left. I saw three come out. They headed away from us.”

  “Armed?” Scorpio asked.

  The elf shook his head. “I didn’t see any weapons.”

  “Can we sneak up on them?”

  “No, the sides are too smooth.”

  “All right, we’ll shoot the ones in the passage then rush them. As long as we keep them quiet, we can take them then deal with whatever is inside that cavern.”

  “And suppose it’s another couple hundred in there?” Porthalen asked.

  Odif leaned forward. “It’s a risk we’ll have to take. Entaurus, you keep them from yelling. Jo-Jo and Gloredaniel, be ready to help with whatever is in that cavern.”

  They all looked at Mother Frieda, who nodded. “Go.”

  The three were gone from sight as Scorpio crept on his hands and knees to peer around the bend. Carefully he signaled back with two fingers then moved out far enough to lie prone and set the sights of his crossbow on the farther hoarc. The creatures sat against the right-hand wall looking quite bored. They didn’t notice Porthalen edge into sight, drawing back on his bow.

  The instant Scorpio heard the twang of the bowstring he shot. Porthalen’s arrow drove into the near hoarc just under his arm. Scorpio’s bolt landed with a crack square into the other one’s head. One hoarc turned into dust immediately, the other kicked at the ground for a few seconds before turning gray and crumbling.

  The rest of the group ran down, searching for the entrance. Not seeing anything, Odif motioned for them to start tapping at the walls. Porthalen and the other three elves ran down the passage and knelt on one knee, ready to shoot whoever came their way.

  Sam found the entrance. It was cleverly hidden, an illusion with form. While the others tapped on what they thought was solid rock, she saw through the image and into the chamber beyond. A pair of hoarcs sat watching a ragged man who was chained to a wall. The man’s clothes were rags covered in old bloodstains. His head was down; the mop of tangled red hair hung too long to see his face. He was not conscious, though the life force she felt from him let her know he was still alive.

  Grabbing Mother Frieda, she spoke quietly, indicating the outline of the illusion. “There is the portal. Inside, two hoarcs are guarding a prisoner.”

  “Weapons?”

  “The prisoner has a battleaxe on his belt. The hoarcs have small knives.”

  Frieda raised an eyebrow. “A prisoner with a weapon?”

  Sam nodded. “My mother will do that, just to add to the prisoner’s anguish. He is chained and probably can‘t reach it by a mere few inches.”

  “But close enough to keep trying for it in vain,” Frieda said in understanding.

  The surprised bark of a hoarc and the snaps of bowstrings got their attention. Porthalen raced off with two elves, sending the last one back. The elf wasn’t trying to be quiet as he skidded to a stop in front of them. “One got away, we’re going to have company.”

  Mother Frieda pointed at Scorpio then Sam. “Scorpio, take care of it and cover us. Sam, help me get that man down. Shilo, Jo-Jo, take care of the hoarcs inside.”

  Scorpio loaded another bolt. “Let’s go--wizards behind warriors, Odif and Entaurus, attack. Gloredaniel, get ready to defend us,” In a breath, they formed up and jogged after Porthalen.

  Sam slapped her hands onto the illusory wall. At her touch, the barrier vanished. The hoarcs inside only had time to get to their feet before a flash of magic from Jo-Jo turned them both into dust. Sam ran to the chained man and started to work at the bolts on one shackled wrist while Shilo started the other one.

  The man groaned. His eyes partly opened, as if he sensed someone near him. “No, not again,” he breathed.

  “We’re going to get you out,” Sam told him gently.

  His head lolled in her direction. Hate flared within his eyes so quickly and strongly it caused her to stop and gape at him. His lips curled back in a snarl.

  “Not again!” he growled.

  Sam backed off as he lunged, jerking at his chain. The feeling she got was clear--if he got hold of her he was going to kill her.

  A heartbeat after waking, he jerked and flailed at his bonds so violently he knocked Shilo into the wall. Jo-Jo retreated a few steps, though not even near him. They backed off as he swung in half-circles, trying to yank himself free. Once more, he bellowed, “Not again!”

  Shilo took a cautious step towards him. “Hey, pal, we came to save you.” He stopped and ducked back as the man swung his foot at him. The foot slammed the wall, not that the chained man noticed.

  Frieda got Sam’s attention. “Try to make him stop. Hold onto him.”

  Sam nodded. She called up her anger and lashed out at his mind, intending to hold him in place. To her surprise, he snarled at her then planted his feet against the wall and shoved out as far as his chained arms would let him. Her will was not only cast from him but slammed back at her with rolling waves of hatred. She recoiled, afraid he just might snap those chains.

  “I will never break!” he spat at her. “Never!” As hard as he had thrust out, he pulled himself back into the wall, snapping his head back as he hit. His head made a loud crack, and he slumped to dangle by the chains.

  Shilo touched the back of his own head with a wince. “Ouch, I felt that.”

  “Get him down before he wakes,” Frieda commanded.

  Sam’s eyes went wide. “No! He’ll kill me if you do!”

  Shilo started for him. “Once we get him down and explain it to him--”

  “No!” Sam cried. “There is no explaining to him!” Terrified, she tried to plead with them. “He’s been here so long he thinks everyone is an enemy. He’s been tricked so many times, he won’t believe anything you say.”

  “How can you know that?” Jo-Jo asked.

  Sam put a shaking hand to her forehead--they had to believe her! “I felt it. If you let him go, I don‘t think you‘ll be able to stop him. He doesn‘t care if he lives, only if he can get his hands on me! He thinks I‘m my mother.”

  “Sound’s like he’s a bit pissed,” Shilo offered.

  “We will deal with it. Get him down and bind his arms behind him,” Frieda told him.

  “Better make that legs, too,” Shilo added. Looking at the bloody mat of hair on the back of the man’s head, he asked, “Is he alive?”

  Frieda looked at Sam, who nodded. “He just knocked himself out.”

  “Tough guy,” Shilo said as he started to work on the cuff bolts. “A smack like that kills most folks.”

  Sounds of battle came from outside, followed by a crack of thunder. Frieda motioned to Sam and Jo-Jo. “Go out and help, we will take care of him.”

  Jo-Jo eyed the limp man. “You sure? If he wakes up, you might need help.”

  “He’s unconscious--go,” Shilo told him. “We’ll take care of Thump here.”

  “Thump?” Frieda asked.

  Shilo patted the man’s head. “Yeah, I heard a thump, didn’t you?”

  Frieda glared at him. “Just help me get him down.”

  ***

  Scorpio kept his crossbow shouldered, watching down the passage as Theo and Hutch dragged the elves back to their line. Porthalen’s empty stare told them he was dead, and another elf was deeply slashed and no longer had a heartbeat to pump out blood. The third one was still bleeding enough to show he was alive. Entaurus stood beside him, shifting to let the men past.

  “See where they came from?” Scorpio asked.

  Theo dropped the still-living elf by Odif so she could do what she could for him. Returning to stand by Scorpio, he said, “They came out of the wall, on the right. Those elves didn’t even know who got ’em.”

  “Think that’s a single room like what’s behind us?”

  “Who knows? There could be anything behind that wall.”

  Squinting, Entaurus said, “I can make out the portal, now that I know what I’m looking fo
r. I don’t see any others. If I get close enough, I can make it solid.”

  Scorpio started moving slowly. “Theo, Hutch, come on. We’ll cover Entaurus while he casts.”

  Scorpio got against the left wall and scanned the area through his bow sights as Theo and Hutch moved in front of Entaurus, their battleaxes poised to strike. They approached the portal slowly. A hoarc stuck its head out, and Scorpio put a bolt through it before it could pull back. It disappeared with a scream.

  “They can’t see through the illusion either,” Scorpio realized as he cocked his weapon again.

  No other hoarcs tried to come out. Entaurus slid along the wall the last few feet, reaching out with his fingers to touch the portal. In a low but strong voice, he cast his spell. The opening glowed for a second then faded.

  “Done, solid rock,” he said with a sigh of relief.

  “What if they go for help?” the last elf asked.

  “Then they’ll ram into his wall,” Theo said, jerking a thumb at Entaurus.

  “No one else scouts ahead,” Scorpio told them. “Entaurus will stay behind me and watch for more of these portals. We’ll put Jo-Jo in the back to keep them from sneaking up on us.”

  The elf had a tear in his eye as he looked at the blood of his comrades pooling on the floor. “We’re all going to die, aren’t we?”

  “That’s what Odif said, but there’s no need to rush it,” Scorpio told him. “Go see how Mother Frieda is doing.”

  Shortly, Odif came running up, her face lit with excitement. She grabbed him by the front of his breastplate. Her eyes gleamed as she said, “We got him. I think we got him!”

  Excitement was the last thing he expected to see from her in these tunnels of death. “Got who?”

  ***

  Gathered around the limp wretch who was bound hands and feet in the passage, they looked down at him, not believing what Odif had told them.

  “This is the Red Man?” Entaurus asked. “The all-powerful, mean-as-the-abyss bastard who kills vlaks?”

  “He looks more like the beat-up man to me,” Shilo commented.

  Odif moved his head toward Scorpio, brushing back the thick mop of hair. “Doesn’t he look a bit like Tayan?”