Dark Wood: Legends of the Guardians

by Unknown

  Fresh tears flooded over her lids. They glistened crystalline blue against her pure white skin. Chin dropping, a tear fell off her snow white lashes. Mayla came and placed a gentle hand on Korena’s shoulder. Reaching out, Korena took Mayla’s hand.

  Mayla lead her away as a hush fell over the village. Lena had given birth to Korena. Because Korena was blessed with magic she’d gone to live with Mayla to learn from the old white witch. To keep her daughter safe, Lena had become a warrior.

  Elizabeth looked past Allos to her sister. Aryaunna didn’t want the attention. Dismounting from Sita slowly, she unhooked her straps, reins, and the harness. Zane helped, as he didn’t seem to know what to say. Aryaunna lift the saddle from the mare’s back. Zane pulled the horse’s saddle blanket off next.

  “Go find Veyn. He’ll see to you. I’ll be back soon, friend.” Aryaunna spoke to the horse, nuzzling the side of the horse’s face. Sita bumped her with gentle affectionate before walking away as if she understood perfectly. On some level, she really did.

  “Let me take that.” Zane tossed the blanket over the saddle as he took it from Aryaunna. “You’ll see no soon end to this day, Aryaunna. You must go down to the arena. Nadegia is waiting for you.”

  “Life is one long day,” she spoke seriously, but without foreboding. “Thank you.” She placed the reins and harness over top of the saddle for him to take. Nodding their farewell, Aryaunna and Zane parted ways.

  Wishing she could avoid all further conversation until she reached Nadegia, Aryaunna lifted the hood of her cloak and pulled it over head. To get to the arena she had to walk close by to Allos and her sister.

  She’d rather he not come along for this part. He’d been injured, he needed rest and care. Elizabeth needed a moment of peace as well. That didn’t sway the two from following after her. “Not this time.” Aryaunna spun abruptly on her heel to face the two. “Elizabeth, take Allos to the main hall and look him over. He needs rest, and food. See to him, please.”

  Elizabeth’s brows went up as Allos’ furrowed. “Do not argue with me. Not this time. I don’t have it in me. You will both do as I say. Before anything serious takes place, Allos, I will come speak with you about it. Until then, you’re both to do as I say.”

  On any other day they would have argued. For as much as she was their leader, Aryaunna had always been the little sister first, warrior in training second. This night she had changed. It was a change there was no turning back from. Without waiting for response of any kind she turned once more and continued on. Leaving them standing still in her wake.

  Down in the arena, she stepped into the small room fit with table and chairs, but little else. The torches weren’t lit, but it was day light above and some sun had filtered through the staircase into the open room, which gave light enough through the open door.

  Stopping just inside, she opened the satchel Korena had given them when they’d first left the Hollow in search for Lena. In the only minute she’d give to herself this day, she took a heavy drink from the flask and then took a lump of the thick black oil and licked it from her finger. It would numb the physical pain and keep her body comfortably able to continue on with whatever the day might have in store for her next.

  Stashing them both away again, she took a piece of her cloak and rubbed her face thoroughly. Not so much removing the soot and mud, but smearing it away where able.

  The heavy door of the arena opened up. Fire light filtered out through the open door. A lithe body cast a shadow over the entryway of the small room. “Who’s there?” a male voice called out.

  “It’s only me, Ollin.” Wearily she pushed herself up from the brace of the table and walked out to greet him.

  Looking relieved, Ollin bowed his head deeply to her. Her hand came up and dismissed him. She hated it when they bowed in any sense. Walking past Ollin, she unclasped the heavy cloak about her shoulders and hung it over her arm as she entered the arena. Dropping the heavy fabric safely by the door, she proceeded inside. Ollin closed the door after them, and remained there. It was quite likely that was where he’d been standing all through the night.

  Aryaunna didn’t verbally acknowledge Nadegia, but they gave each other a nod of greeting. The lit torches were all stationed at Nadegia’s back. They kept her face cast into darkness. The prisoner sat facing the light, keeping his disoriented with the mirage of bright light yet so much darkness.

  Aryaunna walked to Nadegia’s side, and turned to face the man. Thin black hair, grown long though he was clearly balding. He’d been stripped of his tunic and the chainmail beneath, as well the gambeson beneath.

  He’d clearly been put through a taste of hell being locked in this room with Nadegia. Long talons had cut into his flesh strategically, to hurt, but not draw too much blood. They needed him to talk before he died. “Has he said anything?” Aryaunna questioned.

  “Oh yes. He’s said a great deal in fact.” Nadegia smiled in sick satisfaction.

  “Has he given you everything you need then?” she asked again, looking as casual as one could, dressed in black and armed for a fight.

  “More than enough, though you’re welcome to him if you feel you can derive more, Emissary.”

  Upon stating her title, the man’s chin lifted up. Squinting against the bright torches he tried to see Aryaunna more clearly. “You want to see me?” she offered him in a calm enough tone.

  “Aye,” he added a sneer to the word.

  Considering a moment, she turned her back on him and walked to the wall. The torches were many, but they were small. Lifting one from its cast she stepped in front of him once more. Holding it out to the side she let him see her.

  Nadegia held her hand out to take it from her, and held the light up so that the human might see Aryaunna better. His lips curled back into a grin. “You’re the Emissary?” he coughed out in what was intended as laughter. “You’re but a babe! You are no threat to the empire!”

  Aryaunna’s head tilted in silent ponder, raising a hand to keep Nadegia from speaking out. Her wild black hair framed her pale face like a demonic halo, lit by the light of the flame. With grace and speed Aryaunna drew her sword, still stained and crusted with the blood of his brethren. “Do you see this blade? Look closely at the crimson coating, for that is the blood of your brothers.”

  Kneeling down, she kept the blade up for him to look down upon. So filled with hate was he that rather than curse her name he cried out in rage. Body straining against his ropes as if he’d kill her if not for his binds. Rising from her knee, her hand twisted, propelling the deadly edge of her blade through his flesh. His cry ceased on his lips. A softer gurgle echoed off the flame lit walls as he fought to breathe through his bleeding neck.

  Her hand lifted his chin so that he would have to look at her as he died. “You’re lucky I am kind. I could have burned you alive. This way you’re dying fast. It’s better this way. Don’t you agree?” Blood spat from his lips as he tried to speak. “I’ll take your silence as sign you’ve no argument then.” She smiled down at him as his life flickered out like a candle down to the quick.

  Nadegia turned and returned the torch to the wall. “Ollin…” she addressed her aid with her back to them all. “Your aid is no longer required. We thank you for your loyalty this night.”

  “Tis day, m’lady,” he corrected with a heavy heart.

  “Night and day. You’re a good man for staying with me through it. Go find something to eat, and prepare for the night ahead,” she bid him well with a soft caring smile as he left them alone.

  Aryaunna waited a long moment as she listened to his footsteps ascend the stairs. “Lena is dead,” she said with a sudden finality that ached through her.

  Nadegia’s head dropped low as she sat slowly down onto the bench between the arena and the double oaken doors. “So much death. More than our Hollow has seen in a hundred years’ time.”

  “Go seek rest, Nadegia. You’ve done your duty to your people this long eve. I can finish here.” She could
feel Nadegia watching her, though her gaze was upon her own feet. After a time, nothing was said. She heard Nadegia stand and take her leave. There was nothing more that needed said.

  Sheathing her sword, she rubbed her leather bound palms over her face. Raking her bare fingers back through her hair, she looked down at the corpse tied to the straight back chair. “Just as I’ve seen my fill of dead I realize that I’ve just begun to see them,” she spoke to no one but herself in grim sarcasm. “I hope you’re not heavy,” she complained to her lifeless companion as she went to untie his binds.

  Elizabeth and Allos had returned to the main hall with all the intentions of checking on her patients. Sola and Neva were working diligently to keep everyone well cared for in their absence, and insisted the two of them seek rest.

  Neva had placed a basket of food, herbs, tonics, and bandages into Elizabeth’s arms. “See to it he sleeps soon, and yourself as well. We can take care of them for now. If anything happens we’ll send for you.” Neva had refused all arguments.

  They’d been in his home when Allos had caught the glow of flames through the window. Mayla was a heavy sleeper, and Aryaunna hadn’t stepped foot inside their room in weeks. Elizabeth came here almost every night, if Allos wasn’t training late with her sister.

  Allos kept little in his room. Weapons hung along one wall. A staff sat in the corner. Fur throws were piled on the floor a comfortable distance from the fireplace. A change of clothes sat on a chair in a corner next to a small desk against a wall. Upon it was parchment and a quill pen. A small jar for the ink.

  “Sit in the chair,” her soft voice instructed when he stood staring at an empty fireplace, not sure what to do with himself.

  Glancing over at her for a moment, he nodded and moved the clothes over to the corner. Setting the basket on the table for her, Allos shed his cloak slowly. It hurt to roll his shoulders back. Before he even tried Elizabeth stepped up behind him to ease it from his shoulders. Folding it over her arm she carried it to place over his others.

  Ignoring the chair he walked past her to the fireplace and knelt. A few scarce logs were stacked on the floor. “What are you doing? Stop that,” she scolded him. It was so unexpected he stopped and looked up at her.

  “How do you expect to work in the dark, Eli?” A tight smiled tugged at his lips as he turned back to the wood.

  Quickly she knelt down beside him. “I can light a fire myself, Allos. In fact I’ve been lighting them all my life. Please. I don’t want you to make it worse.”

  Brow quirked, he sat back on his haunches and waved a hand for the cold hearth. “It wasn’t my intention to imply you couldn’t. Simply that you shouldn’t have to. That is all.”

  Dropping onto her knees, she stood closer to him and placed a soft kiss to his cheek. “That’s precisely why I don’t mind doing it. You can light the fire the next night, and the night after that.” She giggled, kissing his cheek again. “And the night after that.”

  “Be mindful, lady, talk like that and I’ll keep you.” His chin tilted to press his mouth lightly against the corner of hers.

  “I thought you already intended to keep me?” she teased with a smile. Her hand came up and touched to his cheek, feeling the slight bristle over his cheeks.

  “Oh, sweet woman, I absolutely do.” Their lips touched lightly, prolonging each second and instant of touch. “Marry me?”

  “After I light the fire.” Another soft kiss touched his mouth, and then his chin. Turning her small body around in front of him, to block his reach she went about stacking the wood over cool coals. His hand touched against her side as she worked on lighting it with the flint stone. It barely took her two minutes to have it burning, and growing steadily.

  “I confess, you’re quite good at lighting fires. You’ve certainly lit two well now.” He seemed appreciative.

  “Two?” she questioned, trying to think of another time she’d done this before him but she couldn’t recall.

  “Mine.” Allos brought a hand up to brush her wild crimson curls over her shoulder. His lips pressed to the back of her neck lightly. “You are incredible,” his voice was gentle as he spoke against her neck. “What you did for these people, you are an angel of mercy.”

  Her chin dipped low, embarrassed by his words. Hand snaking around in front of her, it rose to gently touch her cheek. His calloused fingers brushed her tender skin. “My incredible, beautiful angel. I love you, Elizabeth.” His arms wrapped firmly around her from behind, pulling her back against his chest. Chin resting down upon her shoulder, he watched the fire flicker behind one of her crimson curls.

  Raising her hands, she held them over his, tracing her touch back and forth against his warm arms. “You’re warm.” Nuzzling into him lightly, she melted against him.

  “And you are freezing.” Keeping her flush against his chest, his hands rubbed up and down her arms to warm her up. The fire was growing. The larger logs began to catch. Carefully he sat back, his hold on her not loosening as he pulled her back with him.

  “Allos, I need to look at your back, and make sure you’re not hurt anywhere else,” she lectured but had moved with him.

  “No torn flesh. Bones will mend. There’s nothing to do about them. They’re not a danger to me. It’s just an ache,” he reassured her. “Druids heal quickly when we’re in nature. The only medicine I need is you by my side.”

  Pulling away she turned to face him. “Lay down on your stomach, and I will stay at your side.”

  “Is that what it takes?” A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth as he gave in, turning to lie down on his stomach, twisted half onto his side.

  Carefully she curled back into him. “My mother had a healing touch. That’s why caring for people comes so naturally to me.” Lying onto her side, she reached her arm around behind him. “Rest against me,” she urged. Holding her body against his, she rest her chin gently onto his shoulder.

  Touch light as a feather she ran her fingers around his back what seemed sporadically almost. Until he realized she was tracing an invisible symbol. She was tending to his wounds in a way he’d least expected. She was healing him with pagan magic.

  It was a strange sensation as his bones began to mend, knitting together where they’d cracked and splintered. It would be tender, but she’d advanced his healing by weeks when she was done. At that point her body had melted down against his.

  “Angel of mercy,” he spoke in a whisper as his arms wrapped around her, pulling her against his chest securely. Snaking her arm up between them, Elizabeth touched three fingers against his chin as her eyes closed. Her body fell lax into his arms as she drifted into sleep. Weary, his eyes closed.

  “Aryaunna? Where are you going?” Zane came up behind her casually as she mounted the horse who’d had little rest since their return. Sita was weary, but was ready to ride again.

  “The pyres light at full dark?” she asked without comment as she turned Sita around to face him, as his back was to the open gate.

  Hesitating a long moment, he looked from Sita up to her rider: their Emissary. A young girl in every right, but with more strength of will than he’d seen in many those twice her age. “They do.”

  “I will meet you there. Keep them safe, Zane. I will not be long.” She gave him no room for argument for as she spoke she was urging Sita forward to stride past him. The moment Sita broke the gate her pace hastened. Though it was not a hard run, she kept the brisk walk straight through the village to the Dark Wood.

  The journey had become well-traveled, as well as the pathway to Brisheer if not more. The trees had seemed to have defined a path, moving out of their natural way. Even the limbs of the haunted wood pulled back for the Emissary on this day of mourning.

  “I know of your tire, Sita, but we must make haste.” Sita was panting but as Aryaunna spoke to her she pushed her body harder. Her hooves hammered the frozen ground at a near full run.

  In time Aryaunna could see Mount Dia through the trees. They were nearly there. Si
ta seemed to find a renewed energy. Before they knew it the mountain’s base sprawled the ground before them, stretching out in what seemed like a never ending horizon.

  “Reign!” Aryaunna let out his name in a deafening plea. Dismounting Sita fluidly, she gave her a gentle touch on the side of the neck. “Go, Sita. I will call you when it’s time to leave.” Turning away from the mare, her feet took her rapidly up the ever steepening base. Again she called for him, “Reign!”

  Deep inside the mountain steam puffed out of the Dragon’s maw as he climbed vertically up a large cliff that overhung the great pool. Talons like raw diamond dug effortlessly into the stone, propelling himself onward and up. Having heard her call, he was moving rapidly to get to her.

  Reign found himself out of breath once he reached the inner caves. A winding labyrinth of winding tunnels. Shaking off the ache in his underused muscles, he ran through the caverns to the closest opening. His body struggled to fit through the small opening. Talons dug into the exposed rock side to help pull himself through.

  Though his wings were dead, they stretched wide as his body leapt through the air to jump from one edifice to the next in search of her. She’d stopped calling for him. As the Dragon bellowed her name it rippled through the skies like thunder and echoed off the mountainside.

  A crumble of rocks could be heard behind him, further down the mountain. She was on foot. Spinning in a sudden half circle, Reign leapt out off the side of the mountain. He moved with a practiced agility. Despite his size he never lost balance as he moved swiftly for her.

  Even though Reign could have made the distance to the base of the mountain in little more time, Aryaunna had been climbing ever higher to meet him. Her hands shook as she reached up for the next surface, wide enough to stand on if little else before she’d have to climb higher. Her forearm placed sturdily as her fingers dug into the unforgiving edifice.

  Long talons slipped between her arm and her torso as scaled appendages securely wrapped around her bicep. “Reach up, and take my wing,” he instructed her.