“Yes m’lord,” and they were gone.
Khlekluëllin smiled. For the first time in months, he felt that there was a light at the end of the tunnel.
*Now about that report you dug out…*
And the light faded from view.
* * * * *
Amani and Dancer inched their way to the peak of the ridge and peered over its edge.
The wind was in their faces, which would carry their scent away from the skittish bison below. It was a small herd, only about fifty calves but it was not the buffalo that the two Highlanders were concerned about, it was the camp of orcs on the other side of the valley that captivated their attention.
In many ways, Orcs were simple brutes but they did have a certain shrewd intelligence. They were obviously clever enough to fence off this small valley to pen up a portion of the wandering buffalo herds to keep their main food source nearby. Therefore, they would also be smart enough to realize something was wrong if the presence of the two Highlanders stirred up the buffalo.
Amani reached out and pushed aside a small shrub that was blocking their view and she felt her heart catch in her throat. The quick intake of breath told her that Dancer had also seen the same thing. In the distance, shrouded in constant fog was the notorious silhouette of the Black Falls Fortress.
They had both grown up in the shadow of the Dark Alliance and much of its history was tied to that ominous fortress. It was originally built as a refuge for travelers by a famous dwarven adventurer named Haldar. For a short time, it became a beacon of learning and unity for all of Terreth. However, time is the enemy of all mortals and Haldar’s legacy fell into ruins. Centuries later, it became the main stronghold of the evil that now plagued the land.
Even as threatening as the fortress was, it was the untold number of troops littering the lowlands that captivated their attention. Thousands, nay tens of thousands of soldiers lay between them and their destination, the Dragonfang Mountains.
Dancer shook his head. “What are they doing?”
“Waiting.”
“Waiting for what?”
Amani’s eyes scanned the closest camps looking for a path through the enemy lines. “Waiting for the order to invade the Southlands once more.”
Dancer nearly jumped to his feet. “The Southern Kingdoms will be overrun. They’ve barely recovered from the last invasion.”
“True, but that is not our concern.”
Dancer’s eye went wide. “How can you be so callous?”
“Not callous, realistic.” Amani turned to face her companion and bit back the angry retort that was on the tip of her tongue. She hadn’t realized how close they actually were until this very moment. She swallowed and licked her lips several times but they remained dry. “It’s actually rather simple. Neither of us can shape shift so there is no way of warning the Southlands.”
Dancer nodded and his face softened. “That is true.”
Amani’s eyes seemed to grow larger. “This mission we are on to find Odovacar is paramount to the wellbeing of our people. This I know. I‘ve had dream after dream concerning the curse which keeps us shielded from Luna’s gift and Odovacar figures in every single vision. We must find him.”
Dancer reached out with one hand and placed it on her shoulder. “We will. I promise.”
Amani’s skin was afire from his touch and her nose was suddenly filled with his scent; an earthy smell seemed to call to her. She lifted her chin ever so slightly and inched forward.
Dancer held his breath and leaned forward. He’d long dreamed of their first kiss.
Crack.
The sound of twigs breaking echoed up the ridgeline and the two Highlanders froze. If anything, they both sunk lower into the tall sawgrass.
Even though the traditional Highlander armor had evolved from simple leathers and furs to chainmail and hardened leathers, they had retained certain features that were intrinsic to their cultural habits. In some ways, they had even improved on the dwarven concept of armor. Instead of making a full suit of chainmail armor, they used the mail to reinforce the more vulnerable areas of the body while using layers of hardened leathers to cover the rest, kind of like the scales of a fish. This ingenious combination allowed the Highlanders unprecedented protection while keeping them agile and at home in the wilderness. The natural tones of their armor and cloaks paid off as a patrol of orcs passed within five yards of them.
Amani waited until they were out of sight before speaking. “Come. We best be going before they loop back.”
Dancer nodded. He was frustrated that the brutes had interrupted their moment but relieved that they hadn’t been spotted. Keeping himself low, he followed the lithe spellcaster down the ridge and into the night.
* * * * *
Nilrem roared and threw the log against the closest obstacle which just so happened to be the wall of the sweat lodge. Luckily, no one was inside at the moment since it buckled and collapsed under the assault. Turning to face Karin Fleetfoot, Nilrem screamed, “What do you mean there is no sign of Amani at the northern pass?”
Karin unconsciously stepped backwards when he replied. “I found two sets of tracks leading to the pass and through it. One was certainly Amani’s. The second…”
“Dancer’s,” replied Nilrem. “I should’ve known something was awry when the Moonsword was missing out of the lodge.” The huge Highlander took a deep breath and looked at the damage he’d done. “Sorry about that Karin.”
“No harm done my Chieftain. Should I gather a hunting party?”
Nilrem shook his head. “No. They have too great a head start on us and as much as I hate to admit it, it was their choice. Amani and Dancer have chosen their own path and they must walk it without our help or protection.”
Karin cocked his head to one side. “You are calmer than I would be if one of my daughters were off wandering the Highlands without me.”
Nilrem chuckled and placed one hand on his friend’s shoulder. “That’s what you say now before they’re teenagers. Just wait, one day you will know this feeling. It is odd to be both proud that they are making their own way and scared that they aren’t ready.”
“I can only imagine. Now what?”
“Organize several scout patrols. I want that pass under watchful eyes all day long. Eventually, they will come back and they may need our assistance at that time.”
“It will be done Chieftain.”
As Karin rushed off to do his bidding, Nilrem set about the task of cleaning up his mess and rebuilding the sweat lodge. Well at least he now had a project to help occupy his mind and to keep him from worrying.
It didn’t help.
* * * * *
Anasazi rubbed his temples and blinked repeatedly as he watched the old blind man move down the stairs and maneuver through the crowded inn with ease. As strange as the old man’s mannerisms were, that was not what had him bewildered. Anasazi knew he had had a long conversation with Master Pau but he could not remember any of the details just that it happened. He felt that it was a good meeting but that was about it. There was something familiar about this bafflement but it was more than that. He had the impression that he’d been idle too long.
Moving down the stairs, Anasazi glanced at the gnomish water clock behind the bar. It was just past eight bells, midnight Anasazi corrected himself since he wasn’t aboard a ship, and the inn was still crowded. Glancing at the stage, he spied Rhea Nightingale playing a lively tune on her mandolin while Tallon did his best to keep time with her on his lute. Seeing them still on stage explained a lot, Rhea was always good for business and Tallon was very charismatic for his age and a local favorite.
As Anasazi joined his friends at a reserved table near the bar, Rjurik looked up and grinned. “Ah, there you are old man. Ronin was just explaining his mission here in Asylum.”
The old shaman pulled out an empty chair and sat down next to the blind monk. “Which is?”
The dwarf finished taking a long swig of ale and wiped his beard
off on his sleeve. “He is to open a monastery and needs our help.”
Anasazi nodded. “That is a wonderful idea and a great place for your strays.”
Master Pau turned his sightless face toward the old shaman. “Strays?”
Ronin answered. “It seems that Rjurik and Aleena have been sheltering the city’s unwanted children.”
“Really?” Master Pau faced the married couple. “That is commendable. They should be your first group of students Ronin.”
“Don’t you mean our first group?”
Master Pau shook his head. “No. My destiny lies down a different path than yours. It is not your time to take this journey. One day perhaps but not tonight.”
Ronin’s face dropped. “But…but…”
“No buts. You knew this day would come. You have the tools to accomplish this stage of your mission, now you must find the courage to walk your path alone.”
Ronin lowered his head. “Yes master.”
“I am sure that Rjurik and Aleena will aid you as best as they can in the years to come,” added Anasazi.
The cryptic way he said that caught Rjurik’s attention. “Sounds as if you won’t be around to help.”
Anasazi nodded. “You are correct. I have spent too much time being stagnate while our true enemy has been fortifying her positions. It is time I resumed my duties elsewhere.”
Neither Rjurik nor Aleena understood everything the old shaman had truly said but they did understand that he was leaving. Rjurik had known him the longest and had been expecting this for years but even so, it was disheartening to hear that it was time. Out of a long-standing habit, Rjurik tapped out his pipe and began to refill it until he caught the stern look from his wife. Putting it away, he asked, “And when will you be leaving?”
Anasazi looked around. He had been content here. Honestly, it had been the closest to true happiness he had known in ages but it was time to move on. He knew it now. He felt it in his bones. It was time to make amends to his parents and strive to undo the mistake he had made all those centuries ago.
Anasazi stood up and walked around the table to stand next to Aleena. “There is no time like the present.” He leaned down and gave her a gentle hug. “Keep my room available. Better yet, give it to Tallon. He is growing up and will need his own space. Besides, soon you will need the extra space for your daughter.”
Aleena returned the embrace. “Goodbye Anasazi. I will miss you.”
Anasazi reached down and wiped away her tears. “This isn’t goodbye, not really. We will see each other once more before the end, this I know.”
Aleena had no idea what the old man was talking about but grinned slightly and nodded.
Rjurik stood up and held out his hand. “May the road rise up to meet you and the wind be ever at your back.”
Anasazi grinned as he clasped forearms with the sturdy dwarf. “May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields.”
Together they finished the ancient blessing, “Until we meet again, may the Trôika hold you in a warm embrace.”
Anasazi snapped his fingers and his staff appeared in his hand and a rucksack of his belongings materialized at his feet. Reaching down, he pick up his bag and walked to the door but paused and looked back over his shoulder. “Tell Tallon goodbye for me. And let him know I left something special for him in his room.”
Aleena nodded. “We will.”
Without saying another word, the ancient shaman walked out of the Inn of Quiet Repose.
* * * * *
In the darkest hours of the night, Kâlikâ shuffled across the sands of the Lüdüs Lupus until she reached the corpse of Zivën Tenëbráe the fallen Blademaster of Timgâd. By Svartálfar tradition, the body of a fallen Blademaster is left to rot where he or she fell. No burial and no last rites. A Blademaster’s path is a lonely one, in life and in death.
Kâlikâ shook her head. “Zivën, you always were a cocky son-of-a-bitch. I warned you to beware of the Shadow but did you listen?”
The withered old witch thumped the corpse on the forehead and Zivën’s eyes flew open. However, his bright purple eyes were now milky white with coal black irises. Kâlikâ thumped him again. “I asked you a question.”
“What? What?”
Kâlikâ shook her head. “You know, you never were the sharpest sword in the rack but even you can figure this one out.”
Zivën blinked his eyes several times, then opened and closed his mouth. He quickly realized that he didn’t need to swallow or breath and everything had a sort of greyish haze to it. “I’m dead.”
Kâlikâ cackled. “Wow, you are a bright one. Of course, you are dead. That’s what happens when a two foot piece of metal is rammed through your midsection.”
Zivën sat up and pulled free the blade that killed him. “Where is that bastard? I’ll kill him.”
“Not so fast you dolt. I didn’t recall you from the afterlife so you could enact your revenge.”
Zivën turned his baleful gaze on the witch. “Why did you bring me back?”
“So you could enact my revenge.” Kâlikâ chuckled and turned away. Her laughter echoed in the dark corridors.
Zivën shuffled after her, not knowing what she had planned but he recognized he must serve her or go back to being food for worms. It was a simple choice.
Chapter 40
Gray had found the chambers of Zivën to be overly luxurious for his tastes but he had to admit, they were comfortable. It was basically a three room suite. The main entry room acted as a sitting room with big comfortable pillows and a fireplace on one wall. That same wall held the doorway to the bedroom and shared the fireplace.
The opposite wall held the entrance to Zivën’s armory. Weapons of all types lined the wall ranging from daggers to axes to polearms to bows and finally to swords. At random, Gray pulled down a cutlass. It was well balanced and the edge was razor-sharp. Replacing the blade, he realized that he felt content in this room. Probably more comfortable than any time in his life, except those days before he was captured.
Gray turned his attention to the large table that took up the entire center of the room. On top were maps and charts of Terreth, covering nearly every region and section of the known world but underneath were the dossiers of the students. Gray pulled up a stool and began to pour through the files.
At first, he was excited to have such information readily available but the more he read, the more appalled he became. Evidently, Zivën had a wide-ranging sexual appetite and used his position to feed it. He ranked his students not by their fighting aptitudes but by their compliance to his desires. According to Zivën’s notes, those that performed his extracurricular activities were to receive extra weapons instruction. However, from what Gray saw of the students, they weren’t getting any.
Out of curiosity, Gray pulled out the files on Khan and Rjani. Both were marked with the ‘untouchable’ rune. Scanning the notes, it seems that neither would succumb to the pressures of Zivën’s bribes and had been written off by the Blademaster as fodder.
Hearing a knock on the door brought Gray back to reality. In his mind, he had been slowly dismembering the fallen Blademaster while the students watched and cheered him on. Gray wasn’t sure which bothered him more, the cheers of the crowd or the lack of remorse he felt towards Zivën.
Knock. Knock.
“I’m coming,” shouted Gray.
As he opened the door, Tamina leapt into his arms. “Not yet but soon.”
“What?”
“Shh…..” she said as her mouth found his and they enjoyed a long passionate kiss. Her hands began to pull off his clothes. “We can talk later. Right now I want you out of these clothes.”
Gray must not have been moving fast enough for her as she ripped off his shirt. They kissed and laughed as they began to make their way to the bedroom. Every few steps they would stop to shed another article of clothing and send it flying. Finally, they reached the large bed of the fallen Blademaster and proceeded
to christen it. The two Sicárii rarely had this much alone time together without the threat of someone barging in on them. Therefore, the two lovers took their time pleasuring each other until they lay totally exhausted, at least sexually.
Tamina rolled on to her side with one leg draped over Gray’s. His hands were absentmindedly playing with her nipples and were threatening to arouse her again. Smacking his hand aside, Tamina grabbed it and pulled it close to her heart. “Grim, there is something I need to tell you.”
Gray shifted positions until he was facing her. “Yes love?”
“I’m not looking for anything in return nor do I want you to say anything right away. Can you do that?”
Confused, Gray nodded. “Certainly.”
“I’ve felt this way for some time but never found the right time to tell you.” Tamina paused, there was so much to say but where to start? She gazed into her lover’s storm grey eye and knew this was the time. It was past time to come clean about everything. “Grim, I love you. And…”
The sounds of someone pounding on his door interrupted them.
Gray’s hand shot out to the side, he grabbed a nearby dagger and the tender moment was lost. His eyes flicked to the door and back to Tamina. “I’m sorry Mouse, you were saying?”
Knock, knock, knock. But this time they were harder and louder as if someone was kicking the door.
Tamina shook her head. “Never mind, it can wait. Go see who’s at the door.”
Gray flashed her a crooked grin, leaned forward and gave her a quick kiss before jumping out of bed to find his pants.
Tamina’s courage had failed her the moment she heard that initial knock. It was scary enough trying to tell someone for the first time that you love them. However, add having to tell him that he was going to be a father made it downright terrifying.
* * * * *
Gray had leapt at the interruption.
The moment Mouse had used the L-word, images of Annabelle had flooded his mind. Her death and his failure still haunted him. Then, there was the fact that Tamina did not know his real name or his true history. Eventually, he would have to tell her. But how do you explain to someone that you’ve been intimate with that you have been lying to them for nearly a decade?
Darkness Falls (Tales of the Wolf) Page 35