Shadow of the Gods tgc-3

by Brian D. Anderson

  The Vrykol moved to grab Kaylia, but Freistal stepped between them.

  “She is our responsibility now,” said Freistal. “You need not concern yourself with her any longer.”

  “Fool,” said the Vrykol. “If I were not here, her mate would have already found you, and slaughtered you like sheep.” It took a step forward. “She will remain with me until I am certain we are no longer pursued.”

  “You are not master here,” said Freistal. “And she remains with me. I have no fear of any human.”

  Freistal and the Vrykol stood mere inches from each other, but neither made a move to draw a weapon. Though his features were hidden, Kaylia knew the Vrykol was scowling with fury.

  “Very well,” relented the Vrykol after a very long moment. “She will remain with you…for now.” It spun around and vanished into the forest.

  Freistal called two elves to him and commanded them to watch over Kaylia.

  “Do not mistake my defense of you as a sign that your words have swayed me,” said Freistal. “I will not see you brought to Angraal, and I believe you are right about one thing. That creature out there has no intention of allowing you to be delivered to our elders.”

  Once the party had finished their meal, they packed and started out again, at an even more desperate pace than before. Kaylia repeatedly tried to reach out to Gewey, but found that her bond was being somehow blocked…by the Vrykol, she assumed. She could only hope for a chance to escape.

  By midday, Kaylia began to sense further unrest among her captors. The Vrykol made occasional appearances, each time its foul gaze fell on Kaylia, then it disappeared again into the forest. Kaylia could feel the tension rise with each encounter. Clearly the elves found the presence of such an evil creature difficult to bear and were becoming more vocal in their displeasure.

  “Why tolerate this?” Kaylia asked Freistal, who was running just behind her. “Nothing good can come from such a being.”

  “We are commanded to allow it to be with us,” grumbled Freistal. “And so long as they make no move against us, we shall obey that command.” He shoved her roughly. “So keep moving and mind your tongue.”

  Just then the Vrykol appeared ahead of the band and motioned for them to halt.

  “What is it?” asked Freistal, clearly annoyed. “Why are we stopping?”

  “The elf woman's mate is drawing near. She must come with me,” the Vrykol hissed. His black hand reached out to grab Kaylia.

  Freistal jerk Kaylia behind him, drawing his long knife. The ringing of elven steel sliding free could be heard from all directions.

  The Vrykol let loose a harsh rasping laugh. “You think to stop me?” It took a step forward, then let out a high, piercing cry. The elves couldn't help but to cover their ears. “Alone I could take her.” he said. “But did you really think my master would send only one servant to guard his prize? You are a pitiful fool.”

  Just then, six more Vrykol stepped into view, each holding a long blade.

  “You will not be taking her anywhere, demon!” Freistal roared.

  Kaylia heard the snap of a bowstring, and the whiz of an arrow. The Vrykol hardly had time to react as the arrow buried itself deep in its chest. The creature stepped back, then pulled the arrow free and tossed it carelessly to the ground. The air grew cold and still as the Vrykol turned to its comrades and slowly nodded. With astounding swiftness, it then spun back around and charged at Kaylia. The elves erupted in response, some rushing at the other six Vrykol, and others to aid Freistal.

  Freistal slashed at the Vrykol's neck, but the beast easily blocked the blow with his own blade and brought the hilt up, crashing into the elf's jaw. Freistal staggered back, barely able to keep his feet. Several more arrows pierced the Vrykol's flesh as it brought its blade down attempting to hew the elf in twain. Freistal raised his knife just in time. Sparks flew as the sound of metal on metal reverberated.

  Kaylia knew this was her chance to flee. Quickly, she looked at her surroundings. Six Vrykol had engaged the bulk of the company, and though they fought with ferocity, were falling one by one to the wicked swords of their foes. Five elves had joined Freistal in the fight and were driving the Vrykol back, but their blades were useless. Clearly they did not know how to kill the creature. The arrows had ceased, and the elf archers filed in from the forest, blades drawn.

  Kaylia turned and ran, bereft of hesitation. The last thing she saw of the battle was Freistal clenching at the Vrykol's blade that had run through his gullet, only a moment before.

  She felt anger and regret, but there was no time to dwell on it. She needed to get as far away as possible. The Vrykol had said Gewey was near, but she still couldn't feel where he was through their bond. She hoped that if she got far enough away, the Vrykol’s influence would wane and she would once again feel the reassuring presence of the bond she shared with Gewey. The trees were a blur as she ran faster and faster.

  As she focused on her flight, a dark figure appeared a few yards ahead and Kaylia slid to a halt. A Vrykol loomed, sword drawn. Its cloak was shredded from the battle with the elves, but still she could not make out its form beneath the tattered rags. Instinctively, she reached for her knife, only to realize she was unarmed. She looked around for signs of other Vrykol, but there were none. Her legs tensed for a moment, then burst to action with the rush of battle as she ran straight at the creature. This apparently surprised it, and it side-stepped, slightly lowering its blade. Just as Kaylia was in reach, she ducked and slammed her fist into the Vrykol's knee.

  It was like hitting iron. She felt pain shoot through her hand and up her arm, but her blow was enough to part the Vrykol's legs wide. Kaylia thrust her body upward burying her shoulder into the beast’s chest, sending it stumbling back.

  Kaylia knew she had no hope of defeating the Vrykol without a blade, and trying to disarm it would mean certain death. It was far too strong. Her only hope was to outrun it. But could she? She had seen how fast they could move. This one had caught up with her, even with several minutes head start. Fear gripped her chest, but she fought it back and ran as fast as she could, not bothering to look back. She had unbalanced it, but she knew only for a few seconds at best. “I must move faster,” she thought.

  She had only run a few yards when she felt something hard strike the back of her head. She tried to keep her feet, but felt herself losing consciousness and tumbling hard to the ground. The world began to turn dark as she heard the footfalls of the Vrykol approaching and the hiss of its foul breath. She wanted to cry out, but the light faded from her vision, as the blow to her head overcame her.

  Chapter 2

  Linis halted, a confused look on his face.

  “What is it?” asked Gewey.

  Linis bent down and placed his palm just above the ground and closed his eyes. “Something follows our quarry,” he muttered. “Something…unclean.”

  “Vrykol,” growled Gewey.

  “Yes,” agreed Linis. “It must be. Nothing else I can imagine would leave such a scent. It's like…death.”

  “Then we have to catch up with Kaylia before they do,” said Gewey with no hesitation.

  Linis opened his eyes and looked at Gewey with determination. “Don't worry, my friend. We will.”

  They continued to race through the forest. Gewey kept a few paces behind Linis, all the while reaching out to Kaylia. He told himself that since he didn't lose her entirely, it meant they were going in the right direction. It wasn't until it was fully night when Linis halted again.

  “We must slow our pace,” decided Linis.

  Gewey's jaw tightened. “If you can't keep going…”

  “It is not that I am weary, my friend,” said Linis, cutting him off. “But if either the elves or the Vrykol are aware of our pursuit, they may decide to lay in wait. And though I am uncertain of the Vrykol's skill in stealth, I do know that it is unwise to believe the elves are without such skill.” He peered into the night. “I can spot a trap in the blackest darkness. But no
t if I move too quickly.”

  “I can sense every living being for hundreds of yards,” argued Gewey. “There is no way they can hide from me.”

  Linis thought for a moment. Gewey had been channeling the flow from the moment they left, and he had no doubt that he could do as he claimed. “No,” he said finally. “Whatever is blocking your connection to Kaylia may be able to hide itself from you as well. I would not risk it.”

  Gewey was silent for several seconds, then nodded sharply.

  Linis withdrew a flask from his pocket and drank deeply. “Jawas tea,” he handed it to Gewey.

  Gewey took the flask and drained it. The tea filled his belly and relaxed his limbs. Even the flow felt as if it came with more ease. He drew his sword, drawing in more power. Then from a few hundred yards away he sensed something. His muscles tensed as he reached out to find the source. He had done this before several times during the pursuit. Usually it had been a deer or a bear, and once, a fox. In fact, if circumstances were different he would have marveled when he’d touched the mind of a wild animal.

  It possessed passion and life in a way no human or elf could understand. It lived for the moment, with no care for anything other than survival. But this time, the mind he found touched him back. Dark and tortured, it was filled with hate and anger, yet also sorrow and desperation. He recoiled and drew back within himself. He knew he had just touched the mind of a Vrykol. And he knew it had sensed him as well.

  “They're here,” whispered Gewey. “The Vrykol are here.”

  It took Linis a moment, but he felt it as well. “There are eight of them.” He drew his knife. “This will not be easy.”

  Gewey filled his lungs and allowed the flow to saturate him. “Let me handle them. You stay back.”

  “I will not,” Linis said, with fierce determination. “You may be powerful, but we still do not know the extent of these creatures’ powers. It may very well be that they are the reason you cannot feel your bond with Kaylia. If that is the case, they may be able to do more than we know.”

  “Then what do you think we should do?” asked Gewey.

  “They know we are here,” said Linis. “But they do not move against us just yet. Perhaps they want us to move against them.” He surveyed the area. “We should move past them and put ourselves between them and Kaylia. If I am correct that will force them to move against us. I would rather them act according to our plan, than us to theirs.”

  Gewey nodded, then followed closely behind, as Linis led them in a wide arc around the Vrykol’s location. Gewey knew that their movements were detected. In fact, Linis made certain of it, making just enough noise as to draw the Vrykol’s attention.

  “Now what?” asked Gewey.

  But before Linis could answer he sensed the Vrykol moving. But to his dismay, only two moved in their direction. The other six headed west, in an apparent attempt to flank them. Gewey faced the direction of the two oncoming creatures while Linis peered into the forest, listening for the others. Just when the two Vrykol were in sight, they stopped and separated, left and right, forcing Linis to turn his attention away from the flanking maneuver.

  “We must kill the first two before the others reach us,” shouted Linis. “If not, we will be overwhelmed.”

  Gewey's heart raced and he could feel his sword, hot in his hand. The flow was like a flood raging through him. He turned to Linis with a malicious grin. “They will never have that chance.” He took a step forward and focused on the single Vrykol moving to his left. With a tremendous boom, the earth exploded beneath the creature, sending it flying, and its limbs flailing. Its screams pierced the air as it slammed into a tall pine, then slid to the forest floor. “Finish the beast, Linis,” he said, in a near whisper. “I'll deal with the other one.” He focused his mind on the second Vrykol. It had stopped in its tracks just after he had unleashed the flow on the first. Gewey stretched out again, but this time something stopped him. It felt like the same thing he experienced when he tried to reach out to Kaylia. A cold chill seized his chest.

  Linis had sped off toward the fallen Vrykol. In moments he saw it leaning against the tree, struggling to rise, its cruel sword still in hand. Linis knew he only had seconds before the beast recovered, and rushed headlong, swinging his long knife at the creature’s neck. The Vrykol tried to move away, but Linis was too fast, and the blade severed its head clean. He glanced over to Gewey for a moment and saw him stalking steadily towards the second Vrykol, then listened for the others. He couldn't hear them…anywhere.

  Gewey knew then why he was unable to contact Kaylia. Somehow the beasts were able to block him. He tried again to explode the earth beneath the Vrykol, but with the same result.

  The soft hiss of evil laughter seeped from within the hood of the Vrykol's cloak. “That only works once, boy.”

  “It won't save you,” growled Gewey. He could still feel the flow. He may not be able to use it to destroy the monster directly, but he knew it had no chance so long as the flow still raged within him.

  “Perhaps not,” said the Vrykol, its voice was thin and raspy, though clearer than others Gewey had encountered. “But then again, I am not the one that needs to be saved.”

  In a flash, the Vrykol charged, its sword held low, almost touching the ground. Gewey stood in a wide stance, and steadied himself for the onslaught. His sword was fire in his hand as the Vrykol reached him and swung its blade upward. Gewey easily dodged the blow and stepped to the side, ready to take the beast’s head. Then, in the corner of his eye he saw a flash; as the creature stabbed at his neck with the other hand, its fingers wrapped loosely around a small dagger. Gewey turned again, but the tip of the blade found flesh, cutting deeply.

  Pain shot through Gewey's body, as if burned. He stumbled back slashing wildly, but the Vrykol moved away, just out of reach.

  “Arrogant fool,” the Vrykol taunted, twirling the dagger in its hand. “And you hope to challenge my master?”

  Gewey felt dizzy and his vision blurred. He struggled to keep his focus on the Vrykol, waiting for it to charge again, but it remained still. He reached up and touched the wound on his neck. Blood poured down, soaking his shoulder. Though the cut was deep, it shouldn't have been bleeding so badly. 'Poison,' he thought, with disgust.

  “So frail,” laughed the Vrykol. “So foolish.”

  The Vrykol feinted left, then right, throwing Gewey off balance, then swung its sword in a wide arc. Gewey just managed to bring his sword up in time to deflect the blow. He could feel the flow draining from him as the beast pushed forward. Soon he knew he would be defenseless. He tried to counter, but his blurred vision caused him to strike off target each time. A wave of sudden nausea wracked his body, and he fell to one knee. Gewey glared up defiantly, jaw clenched tight.

  “You see,” the Vrykol jeered. “You are not even a match for the servants of the Great Lord.” He kicked Gewey's sword from his hand.

  Gewey leaned back on his knees and held his head high, readying himself for the final blow. He heard the whip of a blade approach. But instead of feeling the slash of steel, the Vrykol roared with anger, a small dagger protruding from his left shoulder. The beast spun to meet his attacker, but Linis was upon him before it could react. Linis' long knife cleaved off the Vrykol's leg, just below the hip. It toppled back and fell to the ground. Without missing a step, Linis swung again, this time decapitating his enemy. Thick black blood oozed from the wounds, hissing as it touched the soft forest turf.

  Gewey smiled with satisfaction and slumped over. The cut on his neck burned with an evil fury. He looked at the head of the slain Vrykol. It was twisted and scorched, but clearly human. Its skin blackened, as the others he had encountered, but not nearly as badly. He thought about how the first one looked and sounded. This one was most certainly…better. Definitely stronger. But why? These thoughts vanished from his mind as another wave of nausea took him. He emptied his stomach with a groan. Linis was at his side in an instant.

  “Poison,” Linis sp
at, examining the cut. “Red Spider Blossom, from the look of it.” He smiled. “Nothing to worry about. It is meant to incapacitate, not kill.” He reached to his belt and removed his flask.

  Gewey drank greedily, nearly draining it dry. The jawas tea was cool, and instantly settled his stomach. His wound still throbbed, but the burning slowly subsided. He sighed with relief. “And the other Vrykol?”

  “I don't know,” Linis admitted. “They seemed to have retreated. Why I could not say, but I take it as good fortune. We will need to rest for at least a few hours. You cannot continue until the poison wears off.”

  Gewey shook his head. “We rest until I can regain my feet, and not a second more.” He tried to let the flow pass through him, but it was sluggish and weak.

  Linis looked at Gewey, disapprovingly. He thought to object, but could see that Gewey would not be dissuaded. He closed his eyes and placed his hands on the wound.

  Gewey felt as if a blade of ice had shot through his neck. The shock made him gasp. “What-” Then the intense cold became a pleasant cool sensation. The cut on his neck ceased to throb and his head began to clear. Linis kept his hands on Gewey for several minutes before finally removing them. He breathed heavily, and opened his eyes.

  “You should be ready to travel soon,” said Linis, wearily.

  “What did you do?” asked Gewey, touching his neck gingerly. The wound was nearly closed. It itched a bit, but the pain was gone.

  Linis rubbed the bridge of his nose and lowered his head. “I have channeled my flow into you. You are healed, but I am drained.” He squeezed his eyes shut.

  Gewey placed his hand on Linis' shoulder. “Will you be all right?”

  Linis looked up and smiled weakly. He took the flask from Gewey and frowned as he found it empty. He reached in his belt and pulled out another. “I will be. Though I will not be able to travel as fast or fight as well for at least a day. But do not fear. I can move fast enough for our purpose, and I'm still more than a match for our prey. Just give me a little time to regain some strength.” He crossed his legs and bowed his head. “Go back to the path. I must focus. I will be along shortly.”