The Panids' Children_The Panids of Koa

by Lee M Eason

  “Can you see him,” Aaron gasped as they ran. Scanning the road and woods ahead hoping somehow that Carrick or Gwen would appear round the next bend.

  “There’s no sign of Ja- it’s that thing! It’s coming!” Jenna shouted in alarm.

  Aaron glanced back and fear gripped his stomach. It was after them. “We can’t out run it!” he realised.

  “The woods - into the woods,” Jenna said in panic, as she struggled for breath. “It might slow it down.”

  They left the road heading into the woods. Both hoped the trees would make it harder for the much larger creature to follow them. Red ferns, tangle bush and uneven ground threatened to trip them with every frantic stride. They leapt and ran with the sound of the creature crashing its way behind them. Panic threatened to overtake them as they struggled on. They couldn’t look back, one wrong foot and it would be on top of them. The crashing was getting closer. They could hear its heavy breath. Both felt it focus its will but didn’t have time to react. The tree directly to their left exploded, throwing them sideways and off their feet. They struggled to get up. Aaron suddenly screamed as the creature grabbed hold of his ankle and lifted him clean off the ground. It clearly wanted him out of the way. Aaron’s arms flailed in the air as he tried to reach for something, anything he could use as a weapon. Jenna clutched at a branch and swung frantically. Hitting the creature’s leg with little effect. It laughed and made to reach down for her. Aaron was yelling at her to run but there was nowhere to go. The creature became irritated with the noise and knocked him unconscious. It turned back to Jenna. She lashed out again with the branch, knocking its hand aside. Then, as if from out of the air, Jac was on its shoulders. With a cry of rage, he drove his knife deep into the creature’s neck. He pulled it out and stabbed again. The creature threw Aaron aside and reached back trying to knock its attacker off. Jac struck again and again. The creature clutched at him. With a desperate effort it finally managed to grab him. Jenna struck it with her branch in a desperate attempt to distract it. Jac stabbed at the arm but the creature didn’t let go and dragged him over its head. He thrashed madly trying to break free. It grabbed at his knife arm, hanging him in the air, his legs flailing.

  “Jenna, run. Run!” Jac called out in pain as the creature squeezed the arm it was holding. He dropped the knife. Kicking out, with as much force as he could, he aimed for the creature’s belly. In return it struck him heavily. Jac’s head lolled and his vision blurring. It took hold of him with both hands and shook savagely until he was unconscious. Jenna looked at Aaron, face down on the ground and then at Jac hanging from its hands. It made to snap his neck. She reacted more out of instinct than thought. Desperately focusing her will she directed the field wildly at the creature. The strike caused it to stumble and drop him. Jac fell into a crumpled heap. She hit it again and the creature took a step back. This time focusing its own will. The blow Jenna received was far more powerful and controlled, knocking her out. The creature straightened, a look of satisfaction spreading on its heavily boned and ridged face, it had the Prize. Pressing a hand to its wounds it grimaced painfully and concentrated. The blood stopped flowing and darkened. It kicked Jac out of the way angrily and walked over to pick Jenna up, throwing her over its shoulder with a grunt of discomfort. Turning, it headed back to the road now some distance away. The crack of twigs under its feet provided the only noise in the otherwise silent woods. On reaching the road it looked up to the other side of the valley searching for signs of its brothers. It was about to take a step when the air behind it exploded. It stumbled nearly dropping Jenna. Small branches and other debris were blown aside as Gwen appeared. From up on the hillside she’d seen The First of The Three step onto the road and had collapsed the air explosively as she’d transported. She straightened, hurrying to focus her will and add it to her voice.

  “Put her down,” she compelled but in that instant she realised her mistake. The First of The Three had come to its senses and spoke in a voice so deep she could feel it in her chest.

  “That will not work on my kind. Had you been a Panid you would have known that,” its disgust at her efforts was obvious and the exchange gave it vital seconds to draw on the field.

  Gwen sensed this. “I always learn from my mistakes.”

  Risking for her own safety she reached out and transported Jenna to safety. But had to draw on the field again, leaving her vulnerable. The First of The Three howled in frustration and released energy. Gwen struggled to redirect it. Stone paving shattered to her left. The air tingled with static as both refocused. The field responded and they pushed. The blows met. The air boomed and rippled. Gwen braced herself against the road. It took the force of the blow, displacing paving. The First of The Three had not been so well prepared and was knocked back. But it kept its focus, drawing in all it could from the limited field. It pushed harder. The space between them began to distort and bend.

  Aaron had eventually come to. Unable to find his sister, noises from the fight had drawn him over. Keeping low he’d scrambled to a point behind Gwen and almost crawled over his unconscious sister. As quietly as he could he tried to rouse her and had to cup his hand over her mouth when she came to. Her sudden panic faded when she saw him. He took his hand away, gesturing for her to look to the road. It seemed like the air between Gwen and the creature was being warped and squeezed out of shape. They both watched helplessly. The distortion became more pronounced and unstable as the two focused more and more energy at each other. The First of The Three was straining forward, heavy face contorted in concentration. Gwen stood, footing firm her fists clenched. The distortion whipped at leaves and branches swirling them into a frantic cloud. It was becoming wild, barely contained and threatened to engulf them. Gwen suddenly jerked one of her arms to the side. A part of the distortion wheeled out at The First of The Three. It was knocked to the ground. She raised her arms with a grunt of effort and yelling, brought both fists down. The distortion was focused. Bones and road slabs cracked under the blow. The distortion dissipated and Gwen lowered herself to the ground, exhausted. Tiny wisps of energy lingered, curling and licking at stone and tree trunks. The woods became silent and leaves fluttered back to the ground. Breathing heavily, she held out her hand, letting some settle there. She was sat awkwardly propping herself up with one arm and wiped at the blood trickling from her nose.

  Jenna and Aaron struggled to take in what they had seen and it was a moment before they were able to rush over to help her. Aaron took her arm as she shakily tried to get to her feet. She had cuts from the branches and bits of stone the distortion had whipped up, but her clothes were also dirty and torn from an earlier struggle.

  “Are you alright? Can we do anything?” Aaron asked anxiously glancing at the fallen body of the creature that had attacked them.

  Jenna had stepped towards it. “Is it dead?” she asked nervously, almost expecting it to leap up.

  “I’m fine, really - I look worse- than I feel,” Gwen said still out of breath. “Are you both alright?” she asked looking at Aaron and then stepping forward unsteadily to draw Jenna away from the body. “It’s not getting up again.”

  “What is it?” Jenna asked unable to take her eyes off the huge creature.

  “One of a group, they named themselves The Three. You might have heard Kellim talking about their kind. The Panids’ Children?” Gwen stopped suddenly. “Where’s Jac? Wasn’t he with you?”

  Realisation suddenly struck them and without speaking Aaron raced in to the woods. Jenna clutched at Gwen’s arm and led her after him. “He tried to protect us when it first appeared, but then it came down after us. It nearly had us when Jac sprang out of nowhere. He leapt on its back. It was terrible. Jac was trying to keep it away from us. It shook him hard and then just threw him away. He didn’t move.” Jenna explained as they hurried.

  “Here! He’s here!” Aaron was shouting, relief in his voice. “He’s ok.” They quickened their pace as much as Gwen was able and arrived to find Aaron pulling
Jac’s arm across his shoulder and heaving him up off the floor. He was covered in cuts and dirt. A gash bled in his side leaving a large stain on his shirt.

  “You look well,” he slurred.

  “You look dreadful,” Gwen smiled, relieved by his attempt at humour. She reached forward and hugged him.

  “Ow, ribs, pain” he managed, “I’ve had - a busy day. You - been up to much?”

  “This and that,” she winced, wanting to laugh with relief but finding it too painful.

  There was a noise on the road behind and for one dreadful second they all thought the same thing. Instead Bryn’s booming voice echoed urgently through the woods. He came crashing across to them his huge sword in his hand. He was flecked with blood, his face was ruddy from exertion and his hair matted.

  “You took some finding,” he breathed heavily as he reached them, sheathing his sword with a look of relief. “Lewen will be happy to see you’re alright.” Jenna smiled bravely and Bryn instinctively hugged her before reaching out to Gwen.

  “They’re fine,” he whispered before releasing her, suddenly self-conscious. Gwen hesitated, about to say something and then seemed to think better of it. Breaking the awkward moment Bryn turned to Aaron. “You alright?” Aaron nodded and Bryn gripped his shoulder. “Good lad,” he smiled reassuringly. Finally, he turned to Jac who was now leaning against a tree. “You look dreadful. Can you walk?” He carefully took hold of his friend and they started back to the road.

  “What’s wrong?” Bryn asked as Jac faltered.

  “That’s twice,” Jac said groggily. The others looked at each other. “H-how come I’m the only one who looks dreadful?”

  Carrick’s first task had been to check the surrounding area, while Kellim joined with Gwen to transport the others to the top of the final hill. These tasks had proven an effort. Once reunited Kellim had attended to injuries while the mounts were rounded up. Despite their fatigue Gwen and Carrick had taken turns to keep a constant check on the area while the others rested.

  “There. I believe you’ll live,” Kellim said to Jac with satisfaction after a final check on the work he had done earlier. “That’s healing well now. Though try not to stretch the stitches.”

  Jac nodded and went to put his shirt back on. “Look at that,” he complained, holding up the tattered cloth, “That was my favourite shirt.”

  “You have more I assume?”

  “Yeh, the one I wear when I’m not wearing this one.” He went to get up and then quickly sat down again. “Whoa there. Did that a bit too fast.”

  “We’ll need to keep an eye on that,” Kellim mused. “You’ve had a good crack on the head.”

  “May have knocked some sense in,” Bryn said coming over and sitting down. He picked at some grass awkwardly before saying “Sorry we couldn’t get to you quicker.”

  “Hey come on,” Jac sat forward with a wince. “I think you had other things to think about. I could have asked The First to sit and wait until you were free, I suppose.”

  “Gwen sensed them the instant we came out of transport,” Bryn explained. “We had just enough time to get into the woods hoping they’d carry on and not see us. They’d been hiding on the other side of the hill waiting for us to pass. Carrick thinks they’d picked up on our transporting and were expecting us to show soon after. When we didn’t, they came looking for us. There was The Three and four mercenaries. When one of The Three transported himself away, we feared he’d gone to search and would find you. The others started looking on our side, which startled the mounts. They saw us and we had no choice but to fight. It was sometime before Gwen could get to you.”

  “Did you manage to find out anything?” Jac asked.

  “Nothing. When the tide turned and we had them at a disadvantage the remaining mercenary fled and The Three who was still alive jumped itself away.”

  “A dangerous move, unless he had a marker placed somewhere,” Kellim added absently as he tied up his medical supplies. “They weren’t interested in us,” he looked up from what he was doing. “The First of The Three left quickly to find you.”

  “He wasn’t interested in me,” Jac said and then lowering his voice. “The second it came out of the woods it was looking for Aaron and Jenna. I was just in the way.”

  Kellim nodded, keeping his voice low, “That makes sense. I believe they were after Jenna.”

  “So you think there is something in what The Faithful told you?” Jac asked.

  “I believe so,” Kellim concluded and got up to return the medical pack to his saddle. He passed Gwen and Lewen, leaving them to their discussion with Aaron and Jenna. The two had been badly shaken but now seemed calm and ready to move on. Standing over Carrick, he waited for the man to open his eyes, not wanting to disrupt his concentration.

  “So The Panids’ Children are interested in Jenna,” Carrick finally looked up.

  “Indeed.” Kellim replied. The two men were silent for a while considering the possibilities of the statement. “I assume the area is clear?”

  “Yes, there’s nothing hiding out there. I’ve swept it again and again. Did you say The Faithful would find you?”

  “Yes and with some answers I hope.”

  “Then the sooner the better.” At that Carrick got up. “We aren’t ready for this Kellim,” he kept his voice low. “If this is a taste of things to come we’re going to have to catch up quick.”

  Kellim nodded. “I’m afraid a hundred years of peace is no preparation for what could be ahead of us. But you and Gwen are fast learners,” Kellim reassured. “You’ll both meet the challenges to come with your usual fortitude.” He patted him on the shoulder.

  “Let’s hope so.”

  “Ready to move on?”

  Carrick checked the sky. “We don’t have much of a choice if we want to make Leet before dusk,”

  Kellim’s expression brightened, “Of course Leet. I wonder if they still do those excellent pies, the ones with the sauce.”

  As it turned out The Leet Inn was still making good pies. It was an old travellers’ inn, hundreds of years old and a bit off the beaten track and so less popular than those right on the main highway. But it had a reputation for good food and so Kellim knew it well. After a hot bath and rest, it was agreed they would meet in the inn’s main room to eat.

  Carrick stepped down from the awkward stairs that, for some reason, were hidden in what felt like a cupboard. He held up a hand in case Gwen wanted it as she made the same manoeuvre of descending the half spiral and ducking under the door lintel.

  “That hasn’t changed,” she said straightening up.

  “Not so sure about the guests though,” Carrick muttered with a slight motion of his head.

  Gwen looked. “I see what you mean,” she agreed, her lips hardly moving. There weren’t many and they were a mixed bag but all were eating, all clearly aware of the inn’s reputation.

  The bar was dimly lit by candles and a fire which all contributed to the smoky atmosphere. The room smelled of pipe smoke and ale, which wasn’t necessarily bad once you sat down below it. Old beams stained dark by the years and wooden floorboards muffled sound and occasionally creaked underfoot.

  “I think that must be our table over there in the dimly lit corner,” Gwen pointed to a large wooden one in the corner with a hand written sign on it saying Held at the landlord’s discretion.

  Carrick looked over. “Which of the dimly lit corners would that be? Do you want a drink?”

  “Yep,” she replied looking at the kegs along the back wall behind the bar, “What have they got?”

  “Leet Ale, Kagash Kri, Bara Lek and Eris Mash.” Carrick looked at Gwen expectantly.

  “Bara Lek. I haven’t had that in ages,” she said leaning on the bar.

  “Two pints of Bara Lek,” Carrick motioned to the innkeeper who had appeared from an archway into the other smaller bar.

  “Make that four,” Jac added appearing behind them with Bryn. “I’ve not had that in ages.”

&nbs
p; “Blight,” Gwen said and they both bumped elbows, taking pleasure in enacting a childhood superstition.

  The innkeeper put four large glasses down, “Shall I add it to the tab sir?”

  Jac’s hand hovered over the drink he was about to pick up, “Whose name is it in?”

  Bryn answered before the innkeeper could check. “Mine.”

  “In that case we’ll have another round,” He grinned and all four tapped classes, “Down in one,” Jac saluted.

  Gwen gave him a wary look and then relented, “Down in one,” she took a breath and all four focused on emptying their glass. Each had their own particular way of doing this but all four managed to finish at about the same time, with a mixture of gasps and noises of satisfaction. The glasses hit the bar at the same time and the innkeeper had four more waiting. They laughed at the ritual they’d shared for years. The second pint lasted longer as they talked about past escapades.

  “And there was that time coming from Dallene,” Carrick recalled. “That boat ride back was rough.”

  Gwen gripped his arm, “You can say that again. I’ve never been out in weather like that before. Do you remember it was the first time we’d got you on a sea boat?” Gwen looked at Bryn who rolled his eyes.

  “Not my finest outing,” he replied dryly.

  Jac laughed. “You weren’t happy. Mind you I don’t remember any of us being too happy about it.” They all began to laugh at the ridiculous images called up.

  Bryn shook his head. “I don’t mind admitting I was glad when we reached port.”

  “We called him Bork for ages. Do you remember?” Jac could hardly finish the sentence for laughing. Which made the others laugh even harder.

  “Stop,” Gwen begged, wiping tears from her cheeks. “I can’t breathe.”

  “Hey there,” Bryn called out as a man pushed past. “Mind how you go.”