The Gate - An Ancient Connection

by B. N. Crandell

  “Either that or they don’t know themselves,” whispered Gerard as he continued to stare at the massive flying creature. It was as black as night and had a long, spikey neck. Its flat head with an elongated snout held two sharp horns. With its mouth wide open, Gerard could easily see its many jagged teeth and long forked tongued protruding from its mouth.

  The creature’s wings were like bats wings only much larger and its muscled and scaley body finished with an extensive tail tipped with a jagged barb. Even with its legs tucked up close to its body, Gerard could make out the sharp claws on its eagle-like feet. Every part of this creature was fraught with danger.

  “Should we get her attention? She might be able to tell us if there are more humans still alive.” Jeff seemed set to run out and flag her down, but Gerard put a steadying hand on his leg.

  “We don’t know her affiliation. She could be as much an enemy to us as the orcs. I say we just watch and observe for a time.” Gerard had a strong feeling that this woman may even be in league with the orc spy they had spotted the previous day. It seemed like too much of a coincidence to him that she should be flying around this area, obviously searching for something. Jeff didn’t reply but Gerard felt his body relax and so the two men kept an eye on the woman and her mount.

  * * *

  Quinby had been the first to notice the flying creature and alerted Major Isak. There was no solid cover for them nearby but they could see a copse of trees not too far ahead and so Major Isak pressed them forwards. Most of the injured were relatively stable and they weren’t likely to lose any more but they were still slow in moving. Major Isak ordered the most able to carry the slowest ones.

  Halfway to the trees, Major Isak realised that it was going to be too risky to continue. Their movement would easily be detected from a height and the injured were moving too slowly. Not liking the idea of splitting the group, he saw little other choice and so he urged the fastest of them to sprint for the trees and the injured to try to blend in with the nearby rocks.

  He had just reached the trees himself when he heard the loud flapping of wings overhead. Soon after he caught sight of the beast and the one riding it and could scarcely believe what he was seeing. Gerard had told him that humans had once existed on this world but had supposedly been wiped out by the orcs. He had no doubt at all though that the rider of this fierce beast, which he believed to be a dragon, was a human woman.

  The creature flew lower and continued to circle around. Major Isak’s heart began to race. The men out hiding amongst the rocks were filthy after their long hard travels and so blended in with the countryside fairly well, but their disguise would not escape close scrutiny. His hand reflexively gripped his sword hilt a little tighter. If they were discovered, they would have to charge hard and strong to come to the aid of their injured.

  Long gruelling minutes passed by but eventually the woman passed out of sight. Major Isak ordered everyone back to help with the injured. Once they had returned to the relative safety of the trees, Major Isak suggested a short rest where they ate the last of their food supplies.

  * * *

  “I need to return to Zin-Baiden,” said Cressida out of nowhere. Decker and Cressida had taken Jaz, Trent and Vik out to his property for some quiet time and to give the horses a run. Decker and Cressida were sitting on a flat rock watching the children gallop around on the horses.

  “Do you intend on returning to Arthea?” Decker suddenly realised that they had never discussed this matter. They had both been too busy helping to mend the damage done to Arthea and then the recent events with the missing children. He hadn’t thought too much about what Cressida had left behind in her home city.

  “I’m not sure. I have been away for much longer than I planned already. I have a life back there — my work in the temple, my friends, my house and belongings, without even mentioning Jaz’s schooling.” Cressida stared off into the distance as she spoke.

  “You could make a life for yourself here. The Arthean temple would be glad to have you after the great help you have been to them. Your brother is here, I’m here and I’m sure you’d make many other friends. Many houses are vacant after the city’s defence and so houses are cheap and Jaz could continue her training at the temple.” Decker tried to keep the pleading tone out of his voice, but he didn’t want Cressida to leave and he couldn’t move with all his new responsibilities.

  “I know that, but it’s just so dangerous here. If it were only me, I would move here to be with you but I have to think of Jaz. She finds trouble wherever she goes, exactly like her father did, but with the Gate being such an attraction, the trouble she finds here could easily mean her death. It very nearly was.” Cressida turned to regard Decker and her eyes were red and brimming with tears. This weighed heavily on Decker and so he moved closer and put his arm around her.

  “I think she has learnt her lesson there, as have the boys. They won’t be venturing near the Gate again and with any luck we’ll have it closed soon anyway,” he said softly.

  “And you think those orcs are to be trusted? How do we know they weren’t buying time until they were reinforced and strong enough to defend against us or even attack us?” Cressida’s voice was raised and she pulled away from his embrace and eyed him incredulously.

  “We don’t know for sure, but they do seem honourable,” replied Decker, a little taken back at her sudden rise in temper.

  “Or perhaps they are smarter in their deceits,” spat back Cressida.

  Decker was about to reply until he noticed the kids riding towards them at full gallop, Trent waving an arm to get their attention. Cressida followed his gaze and stood up immediately. Decker did likewise.

  “A black horse,” shouted Trent in excitement as he approached.

  “Do you think …” began Cressida.

  “It has to be the same one, surely,” finished Decker as he mounted his borrowed horse. Trent pulled up next to him. “Where’d you see her?”

  “Trotting out of the forest not too far from the lake,” said Trent as he pointed in the general direction.

  “I want you all to wait here. I don’t want to startle her with too many of us around,” ordered Decker as the other children reined in their horses. The children didn’t look too happy about it, but they heeded his command while he rode off.

  As he neared the lake he dismounted and walked the rest of the way. He caught sight of the horse soon after and she noticed him immediately. How does she do that? Decker was certain that he had made next to no noise and he was upwind from her so his scent couldn’t have given him away.

  The horse continued to stare at him as he slowly approached. Within twenty paces of her she began to stamp her front hooves in agitation.

  “How did you know I was here?” he asked gently. The horse moved her head up and down excitedly and was it his imagination or did she smile at him?

  * * *

  The scant food they had didn’t stop their bellies from grumbling for long but the sight of the flying creature had given them the motivation to keep moving. Major Isak had discussed with Captain Riyad and Jerzy their thoughts on the human riding the dragon. They had all agreed that just because she was human didn’t make her friendly and so they were determined to stay out of her sight if they could.

  The landscape wasn’t doing them any favours though. On the other side of the trees they had hidden in was more hilly countryside with very little cover. Major Isak was very anxious to put as much distance as they could between the cave they had camped in last night.

  Overhead the dark clouds were thinning and fingers of the red sun occasionally warmed their faces. Major Isak had decided not to send out any forward or flanking scouts, preferring to keep the remaining group together. He ordered them all to be well alert and to travel close to any available cover in case the dragon returned.

  He silently cursed himself for that decision as they came over the next rise to find a line of orcs charging out of a deep gully riding the beasts he now knew t
o be called worgs. Running was futile as they would be run down quick smart and so he ordered the dwarves to group together and provide a shield wall at the last moment. They couldn’t win this time as they were few in number and exhausted from their long march and lack of food. His only hope was that Jeff and Gerard had remained undetected and were able to make it home eventually. His time, it seemed, had finally come.

  Izlalek

  Sylestra had noticed the dwarves and men curled up amongst the rocks, but did not want to alert them just yet and so had continued her searching patterns until she figured she was out of sight. Then she had flown swiftly back to her worg rider company and ordered them to set up an ambush in a gully she had taken notice of earlier while she went and pursued the two men that had been hiding in a crevice.

  She caught sight of them a short while after on the edge of the horizon, darting for the closest cover they could find which was a single large tree amidst an otherwise barren looking hillside. Once again she flew on as though she hadn’t noticed them, grounded her pet wyvern over the next rise and told him to fly on while she lay in wait.

  Sometime later the men came into her view as she watched through the branches of a bushy tree. The landscape had relatively few trees or any other forms of cover and so she had rightly guessed that the men would pass by close to her tree. Just after they had walked under her, she lightly jumped down and smiled in satisfaction as they spun around with startled looks on their faces.

  “An orc city lies not too far from here and they patrol these hills well,” she said as they held their weapons at the ready, “so it’s not the safest place for a leisurely stroll.”

  “What happened to your pet?” asked the smaller of the two men.

  “He was hungry and wanted to hunt.” Sylestra took a few seductive steps toward the men and was surprised to find that their eyes never wandered from her own.

  “So what has you flying around such a dangerous area?” asked the larger man as he eyed her dangerously. She actually found herself stopping in her tracks and staring into those big brown eyes which made her heart race a little.

  “Hunting mostly,” she replied confidently.

  “And what do you hunt?” The big man remained stern.

  “Orcs of course.” The smaller man chuckled but the larger one retained his serious demeanour. Neither of them had eased their stances. Without even fighting them she could tell they were skilled warriors. “But also whatever else is available to feed us.”

  “Us? There are more humans about or do you refer to your dragon?” The smaller man seemed content to let the big man ask all the questions.

  “Dragon? Oh you mean my wyvern. You think I would survive around here for long by myself?” she answered cryptically.

  “We had heard that no humans had survived the orc cleansing,” said the smaller man finally, ignoring her correction of the name of her pet.

  “That’s because we stay out of sight, although I can’t speak for you two. Where did you come from anyway and where did you hear these things?” They still held their weapons firmly. These men were not overly trusting, which she could understand if they were who she assumed them to be.

  “We were held captive for a time, but we were able to break free.” The larger man gave a warning glance to the smaller one, obviously not impressed with him giving away too much information about them.

  “Well this is hardly the place to be having long conversations. Would you be willing to return with me and we can discuss these things over some fine food and sweet wine?” As she suspected, the men must be starving and parched, so with the mention of food and wine they relaxed their pose, albeit not entirely. “My name is Sylestra.” She watched for any hint of recognition at the name but saw none.

  “I’m Gerard,” replied the large man finally allowing himself a quick glance down at her shapely body.

  “And I’m Jeff,” added the smaller man.

  “Are there any more of you around?” she asked as she started walking off, half turning her back on them.

  “No it’s just the two of us. The rest died upon our escape or soon after,” replied Gerard.

  “Well I hope you’re not afraid of heights,” she said as she took out her enchanted whistle and blew on it. A short time later Zaydok landed nearby.

  “You’re expecting us to ride on the back of that?” asked Jeff. Gerard barely hesitated in his step as he approached the wyvern although his eyes were well focused on its head. If only he realised that the wyvern’s barbed tail was just as dangerous as its head.

  “I’m sorry to say that I’ll have to wrap these bandages over your eyes so you can’t see where I take you. My leader is very cautious about such things.” She pulled out two tightly rolled bandages and held them out to them.

  “You want to blindfold us, fly us hundreds of feet in the air to an unknown destination?” asked Gerard, incredulity written all over his face.

  “I’m sorry but it’s a long walk. We’d never make it by nightfall and I’d have to blindfold you anyway. Our people haven’t survived this long by bringing strangers into their midst without precautions.” She held out the bandages closer to the two men but neither of them made a move to take one.

  “And if we decide not to come with you? You’ll just let us be on our way?” asked Jeff, obviously taking his lead from Gerard.

  “Of course. There are so few humans left, we can hardly afford to fight amongst ourselves.” Their faces softened a little at her words.

  “Then forgive our mistrust,” said Gerard taking a step backwards, “but I think we’ll continue along on our own.”

  “Very well. That is your choice and I wish you both well. I’ll continue sweeping the area for a while, so if you see me and change your minds, just give me a wave.” Sylestra stuffed the bandages back into her tight pockets as the men nodded and turned to walk away. With a mental command to Zaydok, the creature’s tail came down in a rush and jabbed into Jeff’s back hurtling him forwards.

  Gerard turned and swiped out with his sword quicker than she expected from such a large man, but she was still quick enough to block the attack with her magically strengthened scimitar. Even with her supernatural strength, the blow jarred her arm painfully.

  Zaydok’s tail struck down again but only hit the earth as Gerard dived away. Sylestra pursued, intending on keeping him on the ground but in one fluid motion he was back on his feet and ready for her attack. A groan from the side alerted her that Jeff was stubbornly trying to regain his feet, but she knew that the wyvern’s poison would soon overwhelm him and so she paid him no heed as she went into a blur of motion.

  Gerard amazingly blocked her four quick attacks although he had to give some ground in so doing, but she hadn’t come across a warrior skilled enough to match her for this long in millennia. As he blocked her fourth attack she kicked out with her foot, trying to push him off-balance, but he was able to grab her foot with his left hand and stop it from connecting, which had her off-balance.

  As he jabbed in with his long sword seeking a killing blow, she enacted a backflip which had him losing his grip on her foot. She landed lightly back on her feet in a crouch and had her dagger drawn before his next strike came at her. She caught his blade in the cross of her two weapons and fought against his strength attempting to push her guard down. The surprise on his face told Sylestra that this man had seldom met another that could match his strength and particularly not a woman.

  Zaydok was circling around trying to get a better angle on Gerard, but he was circling also, trying to keep her in between himself and the wyvern. Before he eased the downward pressure off her blades, Sylestra turned herself into a black mist and watched from her incorporeal form as his sword fell through her and hit the ground. A second later Zaydok breathed his poisonous breath on him and he staggered backwards in a coughing fit.

  She rode the gentle breeze until she was well away from the toxic green gas before restoring her solid form. Zaydok was eager to pursue his prey but
Sylestra held him back with her will. Gerard soon collapsed and joined Jeff in unconsciousness moments later. Damn you both for making me do things the hard way.

  * * *

  “Here he comes,” shouted Vik as he pointed toward Decker coming over the rise.

  “He doesn’t have the horse with him,” stated Jaz. They all waited in silence until Decker reined in his horse.

  “That is one high spirited horse,” said Decker with a smile. “I even attempted a glamour spell on her but it failed. It’s almost as if there is something magical about her.”

  “Did you get close enough to touch her?” Vik asked.

  “No she wouldn’t let me. She was happy enough to allow me to stand just beyond arm’s length, but any closer and she’d back away with a threatening kick.” Decker wiped the sweat off his forehead with a handkerchief he pulled from one of his pockets.

  “You’ll gain her trust one day,” said Cressida. “Now I’m not sure about the rest of you but I could do with a swim.” No further encouragement was needed and so they all mounted their horses and trotted off towards the lake.

  * * *

  By the time Sylestra arrived at the ambush site, the battle was already over. Zaydok opened his powerful claws and rolled the two men out onto the ground gently as he landed. Sylestra unstrapped herself and jumped lightly down.

  “Any casualties?” she asked the senior necromancer, Dator Farenway by name, a tall thin man in a heavy black robe, wearing a diamond ring and a diamond brooch which depicted his rank.

  “None, supreme mistress. We simply surrounded them and let loose with our poison cloud spells. The humans dropped quickly but it took a bit longer for the dwarves,” said Dator after a respectful bow.

  “Yes, dwarves have a natural resistance to magic. Have the worg riders take them back to Chakun and lock them up in the dungeons for now and then they are to catch up with the marching army,” commanded Sylestra.