There they were, two predators facing each other and all alone in the dark, misty forest. The fur on Ariel’s back stood up and her muscles tightened. Her entire body was tense, ready to flee or attack. The man’s breathing had become heavier and more ragged. Ariel heard his raspy breaths and could see his shoulders heave up and down in the firelight. The man shook and coughed, which almost caused Ariel to leap up from her position.
Slowly she stood, all the while keeping her eyes on the lone figure sitting by the fire. Every fiber in her being told her that she was in extreme danger being this close to him. She knew the best thing for her to do was flee from him as fast as she could, but she didn’t. She was curious as to why he was here and she hoped to find him in a sane state of mind. She couldn’t be sure of his sanity, however—or his intentions.
With all the concentration and resolve she could muster, Ariel returned to her elven form. To make such a rapid change of form caused her to feel weak for a short period of time. Only the most powerful druids were able to change shape quickly and not suffer any ill effects. The man sitting by the fire made no move, nor did he indicate he was aware of Ariel’s presence. She stayed motionless in the dark, not daring to make a single sound. Her hands were shaking and her palms were moist with sweat. Ariel didn’t frighten easily, nor did she panic at the first hint of danger. She had seen her share of battle.
Now, however, Ariel was in danger, and it took nearly every bit of willpower to keep from fleeing. The man raised a gnarled hand and pointed at her. A sense of dread came over her, but before she could turn and run away he beckoned her to come closer.
Ariel knew that the further away she was from the man the better her chances of surviving this encounter. She took a deep breath, steadied her nerves, and then stepped from the trees onto the moist bank by the brook. The man beckoned Ariel to come closer, but she hesitated and her hands moved nearer to her weapons.
“Why do you fear me, old friend? Are we not both woodland beings?” asked the sitting figure with a deep, raspy voice.
Ariel didn’t answer. She was trying to decide if she should trust him. He was once an honorable and noble man, but that was a long time ago. Again he motioned for her to come closer and he offered her a seat by his fire. Ariel looked around. If she had to flee she could not escape through the forest. She would have to find another way to safety.
She placed her hands on the hilts of her blades and stepped into the cool, shallow waters. The water bubbled and splashed about her ankles, refreshing her and helping her to focus. She walked to the other side and stepped onto the bank. She was careful to position herself by the fire opposite her host. She still couldn’t see his face under his hood.
She stood for a moment, then knelt down in front of him, keeping the fire between them.
She licked her lips and swallowed. “What are you doing? Why are you following us?”
He sat silently for a moment, and then replied, “Have you not sensed it? Do you…not know?” Ariel tightened her lips and shook her head. This was a lie and he would certainly know, but she didn’t dare answer him truthfully.
“I’m sure you know by now there is something about them. They are…special,” he said.
“They are three human children. That is all,” Ariel said flatly.
He pointed at her. “No, they are much more…at night I sense their power. I believe they can—”
“Can what?” interrupted Ariel. “Help you? They cannot help you. They have no powers and seek only to return home.”
“No, Ariel. They are much more…they’re powerful.”
She was taken off guard for a moment hearing him speak her name after so many years.
“They are children. They are here only by chance.”
“No. I believe fate brought them to us. They shine, Ariel. They shine so brightly. Surely you can see this. They are here for a reason and that reason must be to—”
“No!” shouted Ariel. “Do not involve them in your dark affairs. They are only children. Leave them be.”
They sat in silence for a few moments, staring at each other. Then Ariel spoke. “I cannot protect them from you. This you know. Go away and leave them be.”
The man lowered his head and thought for a moment, then answered. “You know they are so much more. I have seen their auras just as you have. They may be mere children, but I believe they can help. I sense they have true power, especially—”
“Stop. Please stop,” said Ariel. “You do not know what you ask. Just leave them be.”
“Even if I did as you ask, do you think he would listen to you? Do you think the Shadowlord would leave them be?”
Ariel shook her head. “I…don’t understand.”
“He hunts them. He has gathered his armies and has begun to wage war against the free kingdoms. No one is safe. Not from him. He commands the darkness and he will not stop until he conquers all.”
Ariel’s eyes widened. She was not aware of these dire tidings.
“Why would the Shadowlord hunt them? And how does he know of their presence?”
“I don’t know,” said the man. “His powers have grown. Perhaps he senses their potential, too. We will soon be at war. It would be a mistake for you to take them to Chalon. Lionel can’t protect you. He can’t defeat the Shadowlord’s legions.”
Ariel thought for a moment. She wasn’t planning to travel to the capital city of Chalon. Perhaps they could elude him. Buy some time, she thought. Perhaps all the talk of war would be a good distraction.
“The elves and dwarves will aid in this war…there are other human kingdoms…if we band togeth—” she said.
“The dwarves and elves struggle for their very existence,” he said.
“The dwarves fight cave to cave in their subterranean strongholds against unknown dark minions. It is rumored the remote mountain fortress of Bhregendain has already fallen. For the moment, the elven fortress of Selra’thel stands. If it should fall, then the rest of the elven kingdoms would follow. The outlying human villages and forts are being destroyed. Millhaven—”
“Has fallen…I know,” said Ariel. She dropped her eyes and looked into the smoky fire. “I lost many friends there.”
“Then you know I’m not lying,” he said with a hint of disgust. “You druids keep to your forests while not giving a second thought to the world beyond your trees, preferring to maintain the balance and protect nature.” The man’s voice lowered. “Heed my words, Ariel. There is nowhere to run; our world is burning. Your precious balance is in peril. Once you leave the relative safety of this forest, you will be risking their lives.”
Ariel sighed. Her heart was heavy with the news he had shared with her.
“Then what would you have me do? I have given them my word to safely guide them out of the forest. If our world burns as you say then there is no sanctuary anywhere.”
There was no answer from him.
“You were destined to be a great ruler!” cried Ariel. “If you know of a safer haven than Chalon tell me. I trust the counsel of the wizard Maelord. Perhaps he will know how to return them…” Ariel’s voice trailed off.
“Return them?” he asked. “Where are they from?”
Ariel took a deep breath, “They came here through a wizard’s portal. They say the smallest had a wizard’s key.”
“A wizard’s key, eh? Where did he find such a treasure?”
Ariel shook her head. “I do not know.”
The man leaned back and seemed to consider what Ariel had just revealed. “Then perhaps I’m mistaken,” he said. “Lionel and Maelord are good men. They will help you. I’m sure of it. But beware. The Shadowlord has spies everywhere. Anyone you meet may be his pawn—anyone.”
“Lionel is a fool,” said Ariel. “He should never have been chosen to sit on the throne. The peop
le of Chalon need their rightful king. Now more than ever.”
The man in tattered skins shook his head.
“He’s dead. Forget him. He can’t help.”
Ariel knew he was right. But how did the Shadowlord become so powerful? How did he come to have the military might to challenge elves, dwarves, and men? This didn’t make sense. Perhaps she did spend too much time in the forests and not enough time staying current with the affairs of men. No, she thought. Her place was here, in the forests.
“Does Lionel know the elves and dwarves are fighting for their lives?” asked Ariel.
“I don’t know,” the man said. “Even if he did, I don’t think he can help them. His troops are spread too thin already trying to protect the outlying villages. He’s calling up reserves, but time is not on his side. It’s a brilliant strategy, what the Shadowlord has done. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Of course,” she said. “He was always a brilliant tactician.” The Shadowlord is not the only foe we need to avoid, she thought as she glanced at the figure seated in front of her.
“I believe the safest place for us will be in the city of Chalon,” she said. “If the battles are still being waged in the outer villages and towns, then the children will be safe there.”
The man coughed and shuddered a little.
“Aye. Perhaps you are right,” he said. “If you can reach Chalon, then maybe you will find safety—at least for a while. Remember what I said about spies.”
“And what of Caladar? Do they know of our peril? Will their knights aid us?”
“I don’t know.”
“You must stop following us,” she said. “It is too dangerous! If you find us on a night when the moon is full—”
Suddenly, he coughed and began to shudder.
“Go,” he croaked. “Run.” He shuddered again, more violently than before. Ariel leapt to her feet, her eyes focused on the man. His body convulsed in the firelight and he rolled over on the mist-covered ground.
“Run! Get away,” he growled as he swung his hand in a shooing motion. His hand was almost fully covered with coarse black hair, and long, razor-sharp claws grew from his fingers right before her eyes.
Her old friend had been so unintimidating that she had spent too much time talking to him. Ariel took a step backward. She was trembling and her mind raced. She was in danger. The mist was heavy enough to partially cover the man writhing on the ground. First he sounded like he was in pain. Then the sounds became low growls.
Ariel was horrified, but she had to summon her senses or she would die. She leapt into the air and her body quickly assumed the shape of an owl. As she took flight, a massive dark figure exploded from the mist, scattering ashes from the fire everywhere. All she could see were two glowing yellow orbs set above a large, fang-encrusted maw. An expression of rage covered the monster’s snout as it closed in on Ariel, who was flapping as hard as she could to gain more height.
Her head was spinning from such a rapid shape change, however, so her reflexes were slowed. Fear overtook her as she frantically flapped her wings and moved higher. She could feel the hot breath of the monster and she heard the violent snapping of its jaws closing in on her.
A massive clawed hand tore at her, causing her to swerve and dip slightly in order to avoid being shredded. Ariel summoned every ounce of her strength and with a final flap of her wings she propelled herself away from her attacker, but not before the monster’s other claw raked one of her wings. The glancing blow dislodged a few feathers and sent Ariel careening sideways.
The close call actually helped Ariel, as the blow knocked her further away from the monster and gave her room to maneuver. She changed direction and shot straight up, spiraling upward as fast as she could fly. Down below, she could hear the werewolf snarl with rage.
Once she had reached a safe height, Ariel looked down at the mist-covered landscape and clearly saw the shape of a large black beast disappear into the trees. She saw it was below, following her. Every now and then she caught a glimpse of those yellow, hate-filled eyes.
She changed her route and flew in the opposite direction, away from Geoff, Jane, and Sawyer. The werewolf howled. To Ariel it sounded like a scream of rage in the darkness. It was a sound she had heard before, but every time she heard that howl she was chilled to her core. If it was somehow able to follow her then she must lead it away from the others. Ariel flew as fast as she could; hopefully she would somehow be able to lose the werewolf.
She flew with the wind for several minutes until she reached a small clearing, then circled and peered into the misty darkness below. She watched for disturbances in the mist, but her first pass revealed nothing. Even as an owl, Ariel could feel herself tremble. She had just escaped being ripped to pieces and she was upset with herself for walking into such a dangerous situation. But she had to try to reason with her friend.
She had learned much, however. War was at hand and everything was going to change. No longer would she be able to live in her forests and let the outside world take care of itself. Ariel dropped lower and made another circle around the small clearing. Her keen owl’s sight enabled her to catch a glimpse of an irregular swirl of mist along the tree line. She swooped lower for a better look. Ariel found an old oak tree and quietly landed on a branch.
Her perch was over twenty feet from the ground, which gave her plenty of time to take flight and escape danger. Her talons gripped the branch tightly and she peered into the mist below. All she could see was the thick gray mist rolling over the ground. Then she noticed the eerie silence that had fallen on the forest. The only sound was a slight breeze that blew through the trees and rolled the thick mist along.
Ariel swiveled her head around and searched the mist behind her as well. She wondered if she had flown high enough and far enough to lose the werewolf. Certainly it couldn’t track an owl in flight. Even a supernatural beast like a werewolf would have realized the futility of pursuing prey that could escape so easily. She swiveled her head around again, looking for any additional movement. The sensation of being watched overtook her, and a feeling of danger washed over her. She shifted nervously. A single bit of bark had become dislodged by her claws and fell to the ground.
The small piece of bark fell, tumbling through the branches and leaves. Ariel wasn’t aware of the pair of yellow eyes in the mist that watched it fall to the ground and disappear into the mist. The yellow orbs slowly moved their gaze upward to the owl sitting on a limb close to the oak tree’s trunk.
Without a sound, the werewolf moved closer until it was directly below the owl that sat on a branch above. Ariel swiveled her head left and right, looking all about for the creature. Suddenly the mist below her erupted and the monstrous shape of the werewolf leapt upward. The beast roared and grasped the trunk of the oak tree. It quickly scrambled up the trunk toward Ariel, ripping huge gashes in the side of the tree and sending chunks of bark and pulp flying.
Ariel was taken off guard by the sudden attack. She only caught a glimpse of those glowing eyes as the dark shape of the beast lurched its way higher up the tree toward her. Her avian instincts took over, and she instantly took flight, propelling herself into the night air again. This time, she thought, she would lead it many leagues away before returning to the others. She swooped lower, staying away from the beast’s reach but close enough to maintain its attention.
The werewolf had dropped to the ground and continued to follow her, attempting to conceal itself in the mist and the darkness. Ariel’s keen night vision allowed her to keep a close watch on the beast. She flew even lower, below the tree line. She knew this was risky, but she flew faster as well, as fast as she could fly. She hooted a few times, taunting the large black shape that followed her. She darted in and out of the trees as she kept circling deeper into the forest. The werewolf followed her for a mile or two, but then suddenly broke off its
pursuit and changed direction. It was headed straight toward Sawyer, Jane, and Geoff.
Ariel flew as fast as her owl form could fly. She passed the werewolf and flew a mile further before landing on the forest floor and returning to her elven form. Ariel’s hands trembled as she drew her scimitars. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath to steady herself.
“Alex,” she said, “go away. Please go away. You are right. There is something special about them. I do not know if they can save you—or us. But they do shine so bright, so very bright in a world full of darkness.”
Ariel scanned the forest, waiting for the beast to burst through the mist-shrouded undergrowth at any moment. She looked at the trees and shrubs nearby.
“Bar’athel envora,” chanted Ariel over and over.
Then she saw the werewolf. It was running. Sometimes it crouched on all fours, yet it also ran on two legs like a man. As she watched, it stood and raised its snout and sniffed. She continued to watch the werewolf as she chanted. It moved slowly and methodically, like the predator it was. Ariel’s heart sank and she swallowed. She knew she had no hope of defeating such a creature, but she had to try to slow it down.
She saw the furry hulk moving in her direction with its eyes gleaming in the moonlight. She smelled a strong musky odor as it came closer. Her heart raced.
Perhaps the trees would be able to hold the beast long enough for me to escape, Ariel thought. She could clearly see the hair rise up on its back as it crouched very low to the ground. She watched as the beast crept closer. It stayed in the underbrush and moved silently, never taking its eyes off Ariel.
Suddenly the werewolf charged. Ariel finished her spell and she turned and dashed away as fast as she could, her graceful legs carrying her over fallen trees and rocks and through the brush. Behind her, the werewolf had become ensnared by tree limbs and vines. It roared and gnashed its teeth as it ripped and tore through its leafy attackers. Ariel dared not look behind her.
Wizard's Key (The Darkwolf Saga Book 1) Page 11