The Assassin's Tale (Isle of Dreams)

by Kirsten Jones

  A pair of tawny eyes were staring back at her from the other side of the plateau.

  ‘Saul –’

  Mistral slowly reached for her swords, not taking her eyes from the manticore. It was crouched at the base of the cliff below the rocky opening. Mistral felt a thrill of fear when she realised that it must have been in its den all along, watching them. Its face had oddly flattened features that looked almost human, apart from the eyes, shimmering pools of gold that were fixed unblinkingly on Mistral. She levelled her swords at it and stared evenly back.

  Mistral heard Saul’s sharp intake of breath and knew he had seen the manticore poised, ready to spring. She heard the others leaping to their feet, cursing under their breath with the realisation that they’d been sat with their backs to the manticore the whole time.

  The manticore opened its mouth to roar, revealing a triple row of sharp teeth. Steeling herself to hear a deep snarling sound, Mistral was taken aback by the low, musical sound that came from the manticore’s open mouth. The call rose and fell with bewitching harmony, almost like the manticore was singing to her and a pleasant dreamy sensation suddenly stole over her.

  ‘Focus!’ Bali called out sharply. ‘The call is enchanted!’

  Bali’s voice seemed to come from far away, piercing through the heavy fog in her head and dragging her mind back to the strange creature crouching before her. Gritting her teeth, she raised her swords again and glared at the manticore with fresh determination.

  ‘You’re going to have to do better than that, kitty.’

  The manticore’s tail twitched with frustration and Mistral saw that it wasn’t tipped with a tuft of fur like its leonine body would suggest, but with a clump of long dark spines. With another low bell-like cry it began to pace back and forth across the plateau, gazing almost thoughtfully at Mistral. Without warning it suddenly wheeled and launched itself at her, claws splayed and teeth bared in a snarl.

  Mistral dug her back foot into the loose earth of the plateau and angled her swords upwards, tensed ready for the impact. Time seemed to slow as she watched the manticore hurtling through the air, reaching out with curved claws. Suddenly there was a high-pitched whine followed by a resounding thud. The manticore tumbled over with the force of the impact and rolled across the ground. It clambered to its feet and turned to face Mistral again. Mistral could see blood staining the golden flanks where Xerxes’ arrow had plunged into its shoulder. The manticore didn’t even glance at the arrow, its large amber eyes were set on her. Giving a low melodic cry the manticore padded softly towards her again.

  More high-pitched whines rang out followed by the double thud of two crossbow bolts striking their target. The manticore staggered then sank slowly onto its belly and began to crawl towards Mistral, still staring hungrily at her.

  Looking almost disappointed, Mistral stepped forwards and thrust a sword into the side of the manticore’s neck, releasing a gush of scarlet blood. Giving one last lingering cry the manticore slumped lifelessly onto its side.

  Mistral yanked her sword out and spun around to glare at the others, ‘Did you have to do that?’

  ‘Shouldn’t you be saying “thank you”?’ Saul said, walking over with a bemused expression on his face.

  ‘For what? You just ruined the best chance I’ve had in ages of having a go at something with some actual fight in it!’

  ‘If it’s any consolation, you made very good bait.’ Xerxes commented cheerfully while he bent over the manticore’s body to retrieve his arrow.

  ‘What?’

  ‘You tell her Bali, she’ll shout less at you,’ Saul said and joined Xerxes to pull out his crossbow bolt.

  ‘Konrad told me that manticores prefer female flesh to male,’ said Bali mildly. ‘He said that your scent would prove irresistible to it.’

  Mistral glared furiously at them all for several seconds, ‘I’m so angry I don’t know what to say,’ she finally burst.

  ‘Well that’s a first,’ muttered Saul under his breath.

  ‘Next time you want me to be a platter of meat, I want to know!’

  ‘Why, what would have done differently? Put a dress on?’ Xerxes smirked.

  Mistral scowled at him and roughly wiped her sword clean on the dead manticore.

  ‘Phantom won’t be pleased with you for doing that!’ Xerxes laughed.

  ‘Don’t wind her up any more,’ Saul warned, seeing the look on Mistral’s face. ‘Or it’ll be a long climb down carrying your body as well as this hulking beast.’

  Bali climbed swiftly down to the next plateau while Xerxes and Saul tied rope around the manticore’s body and began to lower it to him. Mistral left them to it and stalked angrily to the far side of the plateau and stared out across the mountainside. The last faint rays of sun were catching the clouds, staining them to glorious reds and pinks. Mistral glared unseeingly at the view, too incensed to appreciate the wild beauty of the mountains or feel the cool breeze that had sprung up, lifting her hair and blowing it out behind her. She was livid with the other three for not telling her that the manticore would be drawn to her scent. Mistral didn’t care about being used as bait; it was the fact that they had kept it from her … were they worried that she would be afraid and ruin their plan by refusing to take part? Mistral snorted out aloud at the thought and shook her head angrily.

  ‘Are you coming?’ Saul called hesitantly from the edge of the plateau.

  Mistral didn’t even acknowledge him but continued to glare angrily into space.

  Xerxes’ voice drifted up from the plateau below, ‘Leave her to have a sulk Saul. She’ll come down when she’s ready.’

  There was a short silence followed by the sound of Saul making his own descent and Mistral exhaled the angry breath she’d been holding. Saul spoke of warriors being able to trust each other … well he should have trusted her with the truth …

  A soft thudding sound from behind her made her narrow her eyes angrily – no doubt Saul had come back to reason with her. Well she would give him a something to reason with all right. Turning sharply the angry words died on her lips when she found herself staring into the mesmerising golden gaze of a manticore for the second time that day.

  The manticore was smaller than the one they’d just killed and its features had a feminine cast to them. The eyes were almond shaped and the lips more generous and curved.

  Mistral’s mouth twitched up at one corner, ‘Oh now you’re talking!’ she breathed and reached slowly around to the back of her belt for her dagger, not taking her eyes from the beast in front of her.

  The manticore sniffed the air cautiously and mewled softly. Mistral could tell that it was torn between the strong desire to hunt her and the instinctive urge to escape the danger that she and the other apprentices represented. Opening its mouth wide, the manticore emitted a succession of short musical notes, almost like it was calling for the other manticore.

  ‘Looking for your mate kitty?’ Mistral crooned, leaning forward into a crouch with her dagger held out in front of her. ‘Sorry, but he’s dead … which is also what you’re going to be in a minute –’

  The manticore regarded her with its wide unblinking gaze for a moment then gave another musical cry and began to stalk towards Mistral.

  ‘That’s right, come on,’ Mistral almost purred and beckoned it forwards with one hand, the other gripping her dagger.

  Mistral watched the manticore slinking closer and smiled. The manticore abruptly halted and dropped into a crouch, where it froze. For a second they stared intently at each other then, with a single high flute-like cry, the manticore suddenly sprang.

  Mistral threw herself to the ground and rolled away. Leaping quickly to her feet she spun around to see the manticore stumble slightly as it landed. Seizing her chance, Mistral darted forwards with her dagger raised but the manticore was too quick for her. In one fluid movement it turned and reared up onto its hind legs, lashing out with its sharp claws. Mistral felt the stinging pain of its claws ripping into her
arm and retaliated instinctively, stabbing her dagger into the manticore’s paw with a shout of rage.

  The manticore squealed; a high jumble of discordant notes that grated against Mistral’s eardrums and made her want to drop her dagger to cover her ears. She struck out with her dagger again and the Manticore leapt away, whipping Mistral across the legs with its spined tail as it turned.

  ‘Oh, you are going to pay for that,’ Mistral growled.

  Feeling the burn of poison seeping into the wound on her leg, Mistral narrowed her eyes and began to move with deliberate slowness towards the manticore. Sensing her intent the injured manticore backed away with something close to fear in its yellow eyes. Mistral continued to advance on the manticore until it was backed up against the base of the cliff. With nowhere to go the manticore stared at Mistral, lashing its tail furiously. Mistral inched closer and saw something suddenly change in the golden depths of its eyes. The smell of her blood was driving it crazy with longing.

  Grinning savagely, Mistral crouched forward ready for the manticore’s attack. She knew the beast would not be able to resist for long.

  The beast opened its mouth and cried again, a high keening sound. Other noises broke through the manticore’s cry; shouts and cries coming from below. Bali, Saul and Xerxes were calling up to her.

  ‘Come on kitty, or they’ll ruin my fun again,’ muttered Mistral, holding her bleeding arm up in front of the manticore’s face and waving it tantalisingly.

  With a desperate cry the manticore sprang at her. Mistral dropped onto her back, gripping the hilt of her dagger with both hands she thrust it up as the manticore leapt over her. Hot blood flowed down over her hands and sprayed into her face, blinding her. She rolled swiftly and clambered to her feet, hastily wiping her eyes to clear the blood. The manticore was on its feet facing her again, but its tawny eyes now had a glazed look to them. Blood poured from a long gash in its underbelly, pooling on the hard ground between its paws. Giving a mournful cry the manticore collapsed and rolled onto its side. Mistral watched the flanks continue to rise and fall, gradually weakening until they finally fell still. She strode forward and quickly plunged her dagger into the manticore’s neck. Blood seeped out but without the urgency of a beating heart; the manticore was dead.

  A muted smattering of applause broke out from behind her. Mistral spun around to see Saul and Bali standing at the edge of the plateau armed with their crossbows and Xerxes with his bow.

  ‘Nice work!’ Xerxes grinned and swung his bow onto his back. ‘We thought we’d let you have a go at this one on your own. I wasn’t sure about you trying to talk it to death though.’

  Mistral tried to scowl at him but ended up grinning.

  ‘I can’t believe there was a mate up there as well!’ Saul exclaimed then eyed her bleeding arm and leg worriedly. ‘I think we need to clean those wounds quickly, especially where she got you with her tail, they carry a poison.’ he walked quickly towards her, swinging his saddlebag from his shoulder and reaching into it for his medical kit as he spoke.

  While Saul began to clean the wounds on her arm with a strong-smelling ointment Mistral remembered how angry she’d been with him earlier and laughed.

  ‘What’s so funny?’ he asked with a frown.

  ‘You lot for not telling me that the manticore would be drawn to my scent! Did you really think I would be afraid?’ Mistral asked, still laughing.

  Saul continued to look strangely at her, ‘No,’ he said slowly. ‘We thought the opposite actually. Bali wanted to tell you but Xerxes and I told him that if you knew it was drawn to you, you’d want to go and flaunt yourself outside the den mouth or something equally as suicidal.’

  ‘You’re right!’ Mistral grinned. ‘I would’ve gone straight up to the den and sat in the entrance! In fact, I think I ought to just go up and check that the manticore didn’t have another lady in residence.’

  ‘Mistral, do you feel alright?’ Saul asked, looking at her carefully.

  ‘I feel great!’ Mistral said brightly.

  Saul frowned and made an unhappy humphing sound in the back of his throat. He turned to call out to Bali, ‘I think we need to get Mistral down right now. The poison has already got into her system.’

  ‘No it hasn’t!’ Mistral snapped and yanked her arm away. ‘I’ve never felt better! Actually, while we’re here I might do a little bit more hunting. There’s got to be some harpies or gargoyles nesting in these mountains.’

  ‘Definitely poisoned,’ said Bali while he watched Mistral pick up her saddlebag and walk towards the cliff face, whistling a jaunty tune. ‘Konrad said it has a strange effect on the victim. It deludes them into a sense of invincibility so that they become dangerously reckless.’

  ‘Oh great, like she needed any help in that area,’ muttered Saul. ‘I wish the twins were here, they always seem to be able to control her.’

  ‘No problem! Where’s that rope?’ Xerxes strode after Mistral, grabbing the rope from Bali’s outstretched hand as he passed him.

  ‘Mistral?’ he called and lengthened his strides to catch up with her. ‘Do you think I could come hunting with you?’

  ‘No thanks!’ Mistral called out happily without turning around. ‘No offense, but I think I’d prefer to go on my own tonight. I’m just going to check the den out then I think I fancy hunting some gargoyles.’ she looked up at the rockface below the manticore den and immediately started to climb.

  Running the last few steps to reach her before she climbed out of his range, Xerxes grabbed her around the waist and hauled her back down. Her initial surprise swiftly turned to anger and it took both Saul and Xerxes to hold her down while Bali tied the rope around her in a harness.

  ‘What the hell do you think you’re doing?’ Mistral shouted. ‘I’m going hunting!’

  ‘Oh no you’re not!’ Xerxes said firmly. ‘Let’s lower her down like we did the manticore –’

  While Mistral began her graceless descent from the plateau, cursing and making detailed threats about what she was going to do to them all once she was free, the manticore bodies were unceremoniously rolled off the top of each plateau to crash down to the next one.

  ‘The twins won’t be too happy, but we either get them down like that, or Mistral,’ Xerxes grunted while he rolled the huge male across to the edge of the last plateau.

  ‘If she calls me that word again I think I will roll her off the next plateau,’ muttered Saul when Mistral began swearing at them all again.

  Darkness had fallen by the time they reached the pastures. The other apprentices had watched their descent anxiously, believing that Mistral had been injured and were all gathered at the base of the last plateau as they lowered her down.

  ‘Untie me!’ Mistral howled when the twins bent over her with worried expressions on their faces.

  ‘Where are you hurt?’ Phantasm asked, beginning to unknot the ropes from around her.

  ‘It’s not me that’s hurt! It’s those three that are going to be!’ she fumed.

  ‘I see.’ Phantasm paused from untying the ropes and backed away from her slightly, ‘Care to tell me what’s been going on?’ he asked Saul in a low voice.

  Saul sighed and gazed unhappily down at Mistral, still lying trussed up on the floor, ‘There were a pair of manticores. We got the male but Mistral took down the female and got caught by her spined tail. What you are seeing now is the effects of the poison. Apparently it makes the victim think they’re invincible. We had to tie her up to stop her going off on a lone gargoyle hunt.’

  Phantom raised his eyebrows, ‘Mistral with a poison in her that makes her think that she’s even more indestructible than she already does?’ he asked in a slightly awed voice.

  ‘Not good, I know.’ Saul confirmed grimly.

  ‘How long will it last?’ Phantasm asked, wincing as Mistral released a fresh torrent of abuse.

  ‘Don’t know. Bali’s gone to ask Konrad.’ Saul replied, calmly ignoring Mistral when she switched from abusing Phantasm to
resume her diatribe against him.

  There was a short pause filled with some foul language from Mistral.

  ‘Never mind!’ said Phantom brightly. ‘Let’s go have a look at our manticore pelts!’

  Grendel carried the two manticore bodies and placed them near the camp fire. The other apprentices quickly gathered around to examine them.

  ‘I’ve never seen one up close before,’ murmured Phantasm and peered at the female’s face. ‘They’re quite intriguing.’

  ‘They could be in better condition,’ grumbled Phantom, inspecting the hides critically.

  ‘Well, I was tempted to chuck Mistral off the plateaus and lower them instead, but then she’d be really mad with me,’ Saul shrugged apologetically and looked over at where Mistral was laying.

  Phantom gave him an understanding look while the sound of Mistral cursing carried over to them.

  ‘Where did she learn that language?’ Phantasm asked softly, still gazing interestedly at the female manticore. ‘I sincerely pity the man that is brave enough to take her on!’

  Saul said nothing and Phantom glanced at him curiously.

  ‘Konrad says she should be back to normal by the morning,’ Bali announced, walking over to join them.

  ‘Whatever normal is for her,’ muttered Phantom. ‘I suppose I’ll go keep her company for the first shift,’ he sighed and walked towards Mistral with a martyred air.

  Mistral finally fell asleep in the early hours of the morning having demanded and pleaded for her release for most of the night, finally wearing herself out by trying to chew through her ropes, much to Phantom’s amusement who politely asked if she would like some bread to accompany her meal. He and Phantasm had sat up with her for the night, quietly skinning the hides from the two manticores and talking in low voices, oblivious to Mistral’s rantings as she lay tied up beside them.

  The apprentices rose at dawn and breakfasted on roasted rabbit before breaking camp. They carefully doused the fire and slowly packing up their saddlebags until they were completely ready to leave and couldn’t put off waking Mistral up for any longer. Phantasm went to rouse her and found her already awake, staring at him with a confused expression on her face.