Later, Ariel found a good spot to camp for the night as the sun was setting. It was a covered rocky outcropping behind a small grove of weeping willows.
“This will do,” she said. “It is concealed yet defensible. If we are careful and have a small fire no one will know we are here.”
Ariel leaned close and whispered something to a weeping willow tree and it moved. The willow stretched its branches and intermingled them with the other weeping willows, which, in turn, formed a semicircular, lattice-like structure around the small outcropping. Kind of like an igloo, Jane thought.
Next, Sawyer and Geoff gathered stones and placed them in a circle while Ariel and Jane gathered wood for a fire. Ariel lit the kindling by bending close and uttering a single word, “Ignara.”
“Cool! I gotta learn how to do that,” said Geoff.
Later, after they had eaten, Ariel said, “Take care to stay here and do not wander off.”
“Are you going somewhere?” asked Jane.
“I am going to scout the nearby forest. If the werewolf or any other danger draws near then perhaps I can distract it or lead it away.”
“Shouldn’t we all stay together?” asked Geoff as he looked at Jane and Sawyer for support.
“Yes, humans should always stay together when lost in a forest,” said Ariel, “but I am not human and I am not lost.”
Sawyer, Jane, and Geoff looked at each other uneasily, but no one said a word.
“Sawyer,” said Ariel as she was about to leave their tree-covered haven, “I will need you to stand watch.” She pulled a slender, slightly curved dagger from her belt and handed it to him. “This is an elven blade. It is far superior to the goblin spear you carry.”
Sawyer nodded. “Okay. Hurry back.”
Ariel looked about the small hidden camp as if she were inspecting it. Then, without another word, she turned and walked to the wall of weeping willows, which parted for her, let her pass, and then closed again.
“Will it do that for us if we have to make a quick exit?” asked Jane.
“Let’s hope we don’t have to find out,” said Geoff.
They sat around the fire, staring at the flames as they danced among the wood and embers.
“What do we do if she doesn’t come back?” asked Jane.
The thick mist covering the ground brought it all back. The silence of the forest offered undeniable proof that he was not welcome. Understandable, he thought. An outcast of man and nature. Accepted only by the moon. The cold, harsh moon. He shook his head, trying to clear the images that haunted him. But it was no use; the memories flooded in. The hooded figure draped in tattered animal skins looked into the flickering flames of the small campfire. The only thing missing was the torrential rain. He remembered his friends. That night long ago when Shaun and Lionel rode beside him, followed by Zorn and Maelord.
They had been hunting a monster. The beast had been terrorizing the countryside, killing livestock and farmers. He had tracked it into the Eldritch Forest, which was looking especially sinister that night. The Eldritch Forest had been a pleasant woodland, much like the Spirewood Forest to the south. But now it was changing. It was a forbidding woodland with twisted, blackened trees and uneven terrain.
All manner of slithering, stinging, biting, crawling death lurked behind every tree and under every stone, waiting for the chance to strike at unsuspecting prey.
At the heart of the forest was a great festering swamp said to be impassable and home to dark woodland denizens. Five riders carrying torches raced through the trees of the Eldritch Forest in a heavy downpour.
Their torches flickered in the wind and rain, threatening to die as they rode. They were on the trail of their quarry and they were close. The trees swayed and seemed to move and swipe at them as they ventured deeper into the darkness.
“Time has changed so much…” he said as he threw a stick onto the campfire, sending red glowing ash fluttering upward. “I was an excellent tracker,” he growled.
He remembered how he had come to a stop and swept the ground with his torch, looking for the tracks of their prey.
“Alex! This is madness!” shouted a dark-haired rider with a large war hammer slung over his shoulder.
“We must turn back! We’ll never follow its tracks in this weather!”
“Shaun is right,” said the rider in the rear. “We should go back!”
Shaun and Maelord’s advice should have been heeded. It wasn’t, he thought. Maelord had a slight build and a thin, dark beard and moustache. He carried a narrow staff made of dark brown wood and topped with a large white glowing gem. Normally, it would be impossible to try to track at night in such a downpour. This quarry left heavy, clawed tracks deep in the mud, however, and knocked small saplings aside as it passed.
“There!” said Alex as he pointed to signs on the ground. “It’s close! It’s headed for the ravine! There’s a chance we can corner it!”
Without a glance backward he spurred his horse forward into the darkness with the others in close pursuit. Lionel was directly behind Alex. He had clear blue eyes and dirty blond hair that was now thoroughly soaked. Behind Lionel came Shaun, then Maelord followed by Zorn, who carried a hunting bow and a sword slung over his back.
“We were heroes,” he said as he broke off another stick and tossed it into the campfire. “And we were best friends. Together we were unbeatable.” Those were grand days. Days of adventure. The best of days.
They pressed on through the storm, horse and rider dodging branches and weaving in and out of twisted, gnarled trees that swiped at them. Alex halted his horse when they arrived at a small clearing. The others pulled their horses close and huddled together.
“We can’t be far behind the beast now. I see fresh breaks in the undergrowth and broken saplings. Be on your guard,” said Alex. He saw the concerned looks on their faces and nodded. “Yes, this is madness to chase such a monster into its lair on a night like this or any other night. But we may not have another chance to slay this beast. We can’t turn back now. It’s close.”
The other riders said nothing. Their gazes fixed on him as they sat silently in the cold rain, their breaths rising from their mouths.
“Alex, even if we find the beast,” said Shaun as he leaned forward in his saddle, “do we have the means to kill it?”
“Aye,” said Alex. “We can kill it.”
He looked at the rain-soaked faces of the others. They were frowning and looking at each other. Their uneasiness had been understandable, thought Alex now as he sat by the fire. But what other choice had he had? He did his best to rally his friends.
“If we turn back now, what happens to the townspeople of Somerdale? What of them? Do we let them continue to suffer?” He shook his head. “No, we’ve been charged with this task and we must see it through.”
Maelord had been the first of the riders to speak. “So be it. We’ll destroy the beast or die.” He grabbed Alex by the shoulder. “But I sense something else working its will here tonight. Dark magic is all around us. Be careful!”
“I sense it, too,” said Zorn. He readied his bow and peered into the darkness around them.
“What do you think it is, Maelord?” asked Lionel.
The wizard shook his head, “I don’t know. I’ve never felt anything like it before. I’m not sure what kind of magic we’re facing, but it permeates everything here.”
“What? Are you saying the trees are cursed?” asked Lionel. Maelord nodded. “Perhaps.” Lionel winced as he turned again to look into the darkness. Alex wondered if they had ever faced anything so dreadful. He couldn’t remember the last time they were in such a fix, and more important, wondered if they would survive the night.
Shaun sighed as he pulled the war hammer from his back and wiped the rain from his face. “Stormy night, ma
rauding beasts, haunted forest…it’s not so bad. Could be fun.”
Alex smiled at Shaun’s words. They weren’t cowards, not even remotely. He looked at his friends. Each had proven himself time and time again in battle. However, he had long ago learned that if Maelord urged caution it would be wise to heed his warning.
At that moment the horses gave a start. Lionel’s horse nearly lost its footing in the mud.
“Easy. There now. Easy, boy,” he said in a reassuring voice as he scanned the tree line around them.
“We shouldn’t linger. It’s too dangerous! We should move on,” said Zorn.
Alex nodded and spurred his horse forward. Zorn looked at a thoroughly drenched Shaun and laughed.
“Having fun yet?” said Zorn as he raised his eyebrows and urged his horse to follow Alex.
“Ha!” laughed Shaun, sputtering and spewing water. They followed Alex into the darkness.
Not one of them noticed a pair of yellow eyes hidden in the trees following their movements as they rode. Only after the riders disappeared into the darkness did it move. Its brownish- gray matted fur was a perfect disguise as it followed the riders. The beast slowly began to quicken its pace, for it sensed the kill.
Up ahead, the riders continued their determined passage through the forest. Alex noticed the ground had begun to change. It was rockier. The ravine was close.
He was sure the beast’s lair was in that ravine, but what had begun to worry Alex was the fact that it had been some time since he had seen any tracks. He glanced left and right, holding the torch close to the ground in an effort to discern any trace of the beast.
Water poured from his brow and the tip of his nose as he bent forward. The others scanned the trees in every direction.
Alex turned in his saddle and called, “I’ve lost it, and I’ve lost the trail. I don’t see any sign of it now. It must have doubled back on us. Be on your guard! It could be anywhere!”
“What?” said Shaun, “Alex, if you’ve lost the trail—”
The thunder overhead was interrupted by the horrific, tormented howl of a wild beast.
“It’s close! Where the hell is it?” shouted Lionel.
“Gods and demons!” shouted Shaun, turning his head and looking about.
Lionel and Alex drew their swords, the hair on the back of their drenched necks standing up. Maelord’s horse reared in fright, causing the wizard to desperately cling to his reins to avoid being thrown to the ground. Alex dismounted and started to search the edge of the ravine for a safe way down. The other riders remained mounted and kept scanning the woods, all the while trying to calm their mounts. Alex moved along the edge of the ravine, scrutinizing the terrain. There could be no mistakes, not if they were going to survive.
The footing along the edge of the ravine was treacherous, but Alex managed to keep his balance.
“I can’t find a safe way down and there are no tracks!” he said.
Lionel dismounted and walked along the ravine in the opposite direction. Alex remembered Lionel had wandered away from the group, however. He moved toward Lionel and as he did so, he called over his shoulder, “Maelord, we need more light!
The wizard stood in his saddle while he raised his jeweled staff high overhead. “Iluminara!” shouted Maelord, and the large jewel in the tip of his staff began to grow brighter and brighter. The white light continued to expand and cover more area. The shadows among the trees retreated against the growing intensity of the magic illumination.
Behind his companions, the bright light revealed a large, furry form already in full charge toward Lionel. It was huge, roughly manlike, yet it seemed to alternate between running on all fours and leaping with its hind legs. The beast was covered with thick brownish fur that failed to conceal the large corded muscles that rippled beneath. Its enormous head housed two glowing yellow orbs that were fixed on Lionel.
Its snarling jaws were lined with large fangs. Its massive, fur-covered claws tore at the ground as it propelled itself toward Lionel at incredible speed.
Maelord’s horse reared and neighed, as did the other horses. The beast charged past the riders as they were trying to regain their balance on their steeds and bring their weapons to bear. Its lips were now peeled back, further revealing its fangs, which now resembled jagged daggers.
Alex turned and saw the monster was closing in on Lionel, and moved as fast as he could to aid his friend. Lionel had heard the beast’s approach and turned to meet it. As he did so he lost his footing and dropped to one knee. He couldn’t take his eyes off the monster, and he cursed as he struggled to regain his balance as the werewolf drew near.
“Look out!” yelled Shaun as he leapt from his horse to aid Lionel. Alex was closer and already running. Lionel regained his balance and braced himself for the impending attack. He was pushed aside at the last moment by Alex, however, who readied his sword to meet the charging beast.
It lowered itself to the ground and gathered speed. It launched itself at Alex, slamming into him with frightening force, knocking the warrior backward as it tore and ripped at him with claws and teeth.
As Alex and the monster hit the ground, the werewolf closed its jaws on Alex’s left shoulder, its fangs piercing Alex’s armor. Alex screamed in pain and plunged his sword deep into the beast’s left side. Then he pulled out his dagger and stabbed at his attacker again. He could barely feel his left arm and noticed it was no longer responding as it should.
“Alex!” shouted Lionel as he pulled himself to his feet and ran to Alex’s aid. The werewolf swung around and turned its malevolent gaze on the others as Shaun and Lionel together struck it with their weapons. Shaun ducked under a vicious biting lunge and swung his war hammer at the beast, striking it on its left side. Lionel plunged his blade deep into its belly. The beast lashed out at Shaun with a massive claw that struck him squarely on his chest and sent him sprawling several feet away.
As Shaun sailed through the air, Lionel spun and slashed at the beast, slicing into its right shoulder. The werewolf snarled and rose on its hind legs. It was about to pounce on Lionel when it was suddenly blinded by a sharp light that was focused on its eyes. Maelord had altered the magically generated light at the end of his staff and sent a beam directly at the beast.
It held up its massive, blood-covered paw to shield its eyes. This hesitation was all Lionel needed. He leapt forward and stabbed at the beast with his weapon, then followed that attack with a slash to its midsection.
Shaun climbed to his feet and was charging to help as fast as he could, his war hammer high overhead ready to strike. The beast lashed out with renewed ferocity and struck Lionel on the left shoulder. The force of the blow sent his left pauldron flying in one direction and Lionel in the other.
Shaun brought his hammer down on the monster’s back. It whirled, its head colliding with Shaun as it snapped savagely at him. The collision knocked Shaun off balance and sent him tumbling into the mud. The monster then leapt onto Lionel. As the beast’s jaws were about to close on Lionel’s throat, Alex buried his blade deep in its back and then collapsed.
A short yelp escaped from the beast as it turned on the prone Alex. Something glinted and sparkled and caught its attention. It raised its head and looked at the rider with the silver-tipped arrow and snarled. In another instant Zorn’s silver tipped arrow had found its mark.
Five riders had entered the Eldritch Forest. Only four emerged. The man in the tattered skins flung another stick on the fire and shook his head.
“I was careless,” he said. “Now I’m an exile. It must be this way. For the sake of all, it must be this way.”
“Ah, here she comes,” he said, looking into the dark forest. “Here comes my old friend.”
Chapter Nine
Meeting by Night
An evening mist had formed, which made it diffi
cult for Ariel to see any tracks. She quickened her pace as she walked deeper into the darkness. She detected the faint smell of smoke from another campfire. As she moved toward the distant fire, thick, dark hair grew all over her body and her posture changed to that of a four-legged animal. Long whiskers grew from her cheeks and her teeth grew into fangs.
Ariel’s senses were heightened and she detected the scent of a human. It wasn’t the first time Ariel had smelled this particular scent, but she had hoped to never encounter it again. She shivered in her cat form. She wasn’t sure what would happen or what she would do if things went badly when she met him again. She admitted to herself that she was afraid—for herself and for the others. She growled deeply with irritation as she raced toward the unwelcomed scent.
The mist covering the ground had become thicker, permeating the entire forest floor. Soon her senses told her that she was close to him. Very close. Ariel slowed and navigated her way through the trees. She heard the bubbling sounds of a brook nearby and moved in that direction. The smell of the campfire was much stronger now. She made no sound as she stalked toward the human scent. She saw the glow of a small campfire through the trees in front of her.
She crouched lower to the ground and began to circle. Each time she circled she moved a little closer until she could clearly see a lone figure crouched by the fire. It was a cloaked man, and his hood was pulled up, making it impossible to see his face. He was dressed in torn animal skins. Ariel hid roughly fifty feet away, facing him.
She lay down and watched the figure by the campfire. She knew him. He moved very little; only once in a while he would throw another piece of wood on the fire. Ariel could see that his large animal skins and cloak were soiled and ripped like the rest of his clothing. The only sounds were the crackling and popping of the campfire and the rushing water of the creek, which was between him and Ariel. He was still large and muscular. That much was easy to see, even if he wore raggedy skins.
Wizard's Key (The Darkwolf Saga Book 1) Page 10