Motion in a clearing at the valley floor caught his eye. Hope spiked in his chest when he saw a person running across the clearing thousands of feet below, disappearing when the wooded hillside obscured them from view. If there were people here, food and shelter couldn’t be far away. His eyes continued to scan the clearing, tucked against a sheer rock wall.
Ashland stopped beside him. “What a view.”
“I saw someone down there.” He pointed toward the clearing.
“Are you sure?” She peered where he pointed.
“We are heading that direction anyway. Let’s watch the clearing as we descend to see if they show up again.”
Brock glanced backward, seeing the others stopping to drink from their water skins. He waved them along and began the long descent.
CHAPTER 41
The thick forest offered no view of the valley floor during their decent, but Brock could feel something ahead, something big. He could almost hear it, but he had no idea what it was. The feeling began to eat at him, making him anxious. Something inside of him yearned to discover what it was, just to know what could make him feel this way.
Ashland caught up to him, whispering. “Brock, I don’t know if this is real, but I feel like there’s something ahead. It’s…noisy.”
He stopped and looked her in the eye. “You feel it too?”
She nodded. “What is it?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know, but I hear it. It’s so loud that I almost can’t think.”
The others began to catch up to them, clustering as they stopped to drink from their skins.
“Does anyone else…feel or hear something ahead?” Brock asked.
“I do.” Tipper nodded. “Libby does too. We were wondering what it was.”
Benny squinted, looking at Tipper then back to Brock. “What are you guys talking about?”
Tipper spoke again. “I don’t know, but there is something ahead. It’s a buzzing noise that is messing my head up.”
“Yes. Exactly.” Brock nodded. “Nobody else feels…or hears what we are talking about?”
Blank stares looked back at him.
“That’s what I was afraid of,” Brock said before turning toward Benny. “It has something to do with Chaos. I can feel it.”
Benny nodded. “That’s why you four can feel it, and we can’t.”
“I believe so.” Brock nodded in return. “I think we better be careful. Everyone, try to be quiet. No talking until we find out what lies ahead.”
As he resumed the snaking descent, he could feel the pressure growing. They were getting close. After a few more minutes, Brock spotted a rocky outcropping where the trees parted and the sky opened. Climbing up the rocks, Brock laid on his belly and eased to the edge.
In the low light of the setting sun, his eyes scanned the wide clearing far below. The sheer rock wall of the opposing hillside faced Brock, providing a good view of the large cave at its base. Tall, human-like shapes moved about at the mouth of the cave. Their long black hair and lumbering gait were familiar to Brock. The timbre of a single high-pitched wail echoed through the valley, setting his hair on end. Dread and fear threatened to take over, triggering a cold sweat.
“What was that?” Benny asked from behind.
Brock turned his head, whispering. “Hush. Don’t make a noise or we’re dead.”
His companions quieted and looked toward one another in confusion. Ashland slid next to Brock to get a view.
“What’s happening?” she asked.
Brock pointed toward the cave. “Those are banshees. Dozens of them.” Even as he said it, chills went down his spine.
“What? I’ve never heard of more than one,” she whispered. “How can this be?”
He whispered back. “I don’t know, but I do know that this is bad. Very bad.”
Benny slid in on the other side of Brock. “What’s happening?”
Brock pointed toward the cave. “Banshees.”
Benny shook his head. “That’s a lot of banshees. They’re big, right?”
“Yes. Ten feet tall,” Brock replied. “And there are dozens of them. Maybe more.”
A shorter form emerged from the cave, walking out in front of the gathered banshees. This one didn’t have the same lumbering gait as the others, nor did it have the same crazy long hair and torn clothing. The shorter one waved an arm, and the banshees broke into a run across the shadow-covered clearing as they headed north. Hoots and high-pitched wails sounded out as the shorter one ran among them. Each wail sent chills down Brock’s spine and increased the fear within his gut. Dark forms continued to pour from the cave, lumbering across the darkening field. He counted two hundred of the huge beasts before the scene quieted.
“What’s that?” Benny whispered, pointing toward the edge of the clearing.
Partly obscured by the trees, Brock saw the glowing red of a shifting shape hovering in the air. The edges of the thing danced in quick jerking motions.
“I don’t know,” Brock replied. “It’s almost as if it’s alive or something. I…”
Brock heard a buzzing sound as three banshees emerged from the sizzling red curtain of energy, as if materializing from nowhere. The beasts broke into a run, following the others to disappear into the forest at the north end of the clearing.
Brock’s throat tightened as a deepening fear gripped and twisted his insides. It all came together at once. The Banished Horde was back. They were back, and he now knew where they came from.
Part IV:
Visions of Truth
CHAPTER 42
“I know you’re wondering what’s happening,” Brock quietly said to the group sitting around the small fire. The sense of trepidation surrounding him was palpable, fear reflecting in the eyes facing him.
“I assume everyone has heard of the Banished Horde.” Heads nodded when he paused. “Well, it looks like they’ve returned.”
“What? How is that possible?” Lars asked. “They were destroyed hundreds of years ago.”
“Really, Lars?” Brock raised an eyebrow. “Were you there to see it? Do you know where they even came from?”
Lars shook his head. “Well, no. But…”
Benny clapped the big guy’s shoulder. “It’s real, Lars. Brock and I researched them, learning all we could from a book we took from the Academy Library archives last year.” He paused, releasing a sigh. “Everything matches. It makes sense, too much sense. What we saw, what you heard, was the Horde. They’re back, and now we know what they are.”
“We do?” Parker asked, looking from Benny to Brock.
“They’re banshees.” Brock replied. “Perhaps the term came from a play on the word banished. Banished, Banshee. Pretty similar, wouldn’t you say?”
Sinclair released a laugh, which sounded forced. “Banshees. They’re just a wild tale used to scare children. There’s no such thing.”
“How can you say that, captain?” Brock asked. “Didn’t you see what happened on the docks of Sol Polis? Did your eyes tell you it was just a wild tale?”
Sinclair’s gaze scanned the faces circled around the small fire. “That was real? I thought it was just a dream I had after I hit my head.”
The quiet night was disturbed when a high-pitched wail sounded in the distance, causing everyone’s eyes to search their surroundings. The darkness had never seemed more frightening. Another chill caused Brock to shiver, one of many since arriving in the valley. The wail reminded him of the banshee that killed Hank.
“Tipper and I had a run-in with a banshee last year. It was horrifying. The beast was twice my height and had solid red eyes, no whites showing. With pale skin, long black hair, and sharp talons, it was a creature from nightmares. I watched it take a crossbow bolt in the shoulder, barely pausing before it advanced and tossed a grown man aside as if he was a child’s doll. Each time it wailed, fear overwhelmed me. Luckily, the banshee fell off a high cliff and plunged to its death. If it hadn’t fallen, Tipper and I would be dead instead.”
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Parker spoke next, his voice somber. “Sol Polis fell to the Horde. You all saw it. The city is lost. If they could sweep over the largest city in the Empire in mere hours, what chance does the rest the Empire have?”
“To make matters worse, their numbers are growing.” Brock pointed east. “We just saw hundreds of them run to join their dark army.”
“What do you mean, Brock?” Cam asked. “Where are they coming from?”
Brock looked toward Cam, a bit surprised to hear his voice. The big guy had been more quiet than usual since the shipwreck. For that matter, Brock realized that Puri hadn’t spoken in that time either. He then remembered the horses, and how Cam and Puri had to put them down. The horrible, yet necessary, act must still be weighing on them.
Brock pointed toward the canyon mouth, where the banshees had been seen. “They have something down there. More banshees are coming from it.” Brock looked to Benny. “I think that thing is where all of the noise is coming from. What is it?”
Benny scratched his head and adjusted his spectacles. “Well, it appears to be some sort of a doorway. They’re coming through the portal from somewhere else. I have no idea where from, but I’m sure that’s what we saw.”
Brock nodded. “I guess that makes sense.”
“Brock,” Ashland said, drawing his attention. “Earlier, while we were sitting here, I tried to meditate to calm my nerves.” She didn’t need to explain why. “When I did, I could feel the wrongness of this thing radiating within the calm of Order. The discord it was causing made it difficult to find my own sense of Order. It feels almost like some sort of giant wound that has torn into our world.”
Something clicked within Brock, a puzzle piece sliding into place to reveal a hidden secret.
He nodded. “You’re right. It is a wound. A wound that we must close, just as we were told by the Duratti Prophecy.” His mind was working through something larger. “What you feel is the discord of Chaos. It is a wound, as all wounds and illnesses are forms of Chaos invading our body. This wound is just larger; it’s a wound in the world itself.”
Ashland’s eyes grew wide. “Wounds are a form of Chaos? I’ve never thought of that, but it makes sense.” She nodded. “Now that you say it, it seems so obvious.”
“What are you talking about, man?” Sinclair asked. “You aren’t making sense.”
Brock took a deep breath, preparing to deliver his message. He needed their commitment.
“I’m saying that the Empire and every single person within it will fall to this dark army. You heard Parker. This dark force was already enough to crush Sol Polis. Worse yet, the size of the Horde continues to grow. They’re getting reinforcements through this doorway they created.” His eyes scanned those facing him. “We are doomed.”
Everyone was quiet as a distant wail sounded, contributing to the eerie feel of the surrounding darkness.
“Well, thanks for the uplifting talk. I feel quite better now,” Sinclair said.
Brock leaned forward. “Since we are doomed if we do nothing, let’s do something to stop them. Let’s fight back.”
Lars looked around and asked, “What do you mean? What can we do?”
Brock’s eyes searched the faces before him, highlighted by the dull orange glow of the flickering campfire.
“If we can destroy this doorway, it will prevent more of the Horde from coming through and would limit their numbers to those who are already here.” Brock needed to inspire them, persuade them. “It might give us a chance. This isn’t a fight about any single city or province, but about the survival of humanity.”
A long moment passed before Lars spoke, breaking the silence.
“That sounds like suicide.” Then, he smiled. “I like it.”
Lars was usually the doubter in the group. With him on board, Brock knew the others would agree. He just needed a plan.
CHAPTER 43
Thin beams of sunlight streamed through the surrounding trees, appearing like small threads of hope after a long and sleepless night. The sun hovered mid-way to its apex as the group waited in nervous silence for Cam’s return.
Brock looked toward the hillside where they had camped the prior evening. Though the mountain obscured the camp from where the banshees gathered, he was glad to see no trace of smoke rising from the small fire they had smothered before sunrise. He didn’t want give a reason for the monsters to investigate the narrow ravine despite their purported aversion to sunlight.
Hearing crunching leaves, Brock turned to find Cam weaving his way through the trees. As his big friend approached, Brock’s heart began thumping in anticipation.
Slowing as he drew close, Cam nodded. “I haven’t seen any come through for over an hour. They’re huddled within the cave as you guessed, not making a sound.”
Brock nodded. “Good. Let’s hope they’re sleeping. I’ll take any advantage we can get right now.”
Turning to the others, Brock spoke louder. “This is your last chance for questions before we begin. Does everyone know what they’re to do?”
Heads nodded in reply, their eyes reflecting everything from resolve to terror. Brock wasn’t sure which end of the spectrum was appropriate. Perhaps both.
“Okay, Lars. Light the first branch, and we’ll follow you. Stop just before the clearing and then we’ll use it to light the others.”
He stepped closer to Ashland as Lars broke out his flint. “Are you ready?”
She nodded, looking resolute. “Yes.”
He smiled at her. “We have each other. We can’t lose.”
She gave him a shaky smile before closing her eyes. When he stepped away to give her space, a tap on his shoulder caused him to turn.
Cam bent and whispered in his ear. “There are a lot of them. Dozens or more. I can’t tell how many were in the cave before I began my watch.”
Brock nodded, trying not to show the fear he felt inside. He closed his eyes, seized the fear, and embraced it. It was easy to feel the tumult of Chaos surrounding him. Drawing in as much as he could, he felt as if his eyes would burst from the pressure. He opened them to focus on the Power rune drawn on his hand, pouring the raging torrent of energy into it. The exhausted feeling that normally struck after using Chaos lasted for just a moment. As the rune began to glow, a surge of strength flowed through his veins, making his vision a bit unstable. The glow pulsed red before returning to the black of charcoal.
Brock turned to find Lars holding a large burning branch as he nodded and led the others eastward. Most carried dead tree branches while Niles and Tenzi trailed the group, each carrying cloaks tied into a ball. Brock handed his staff to Libby, who stared down at it.
“Stay back with Ashland and hold this until my hands are free. Remember to remain clear of the action.” He placed a hand on her shoulder and spoke softly. “Keep Ashland safe, because you’re her eyes. Keep yourself safe, too. We need you at the end.”
She nodded, fear reflecting in her eyes.
He turned toward Ashland, who nodded that she was ready. They each stepped to either end of a big fallen tree, which had broken off about twenty feet from its base. Brock grabbed onto the thick roots, easily lifting the three-foot diameter trunk. Despite being aware of his Chaos-enhanced strength, it was odd for the tree to feel so light, as if it were a hollow shell. Ashland held the other end as if it were a twig, her strength enhanced by a Power rune as well. She gave him a nod and they began following the others through the woods.
After walking a quarter mile, the trees thinned. Lars paused at the edge of the woods, using the burning limb to light the branches the others held. With all branches lit, everyone turned toward Brock and waited for the signal.
Brock nodded, trying to show confidence despite his twitching nerves. “Go.”
Lars led them out into the open, running toward the wide cave. Cameron passed him and tossed his burning branch into the mouth of the cave. One by one, the party members ran to the cave mouth and threw a burning branch inside. Lars, Cam,
and Puri stood before the dark opening with their swords brandished and ready.
After dropping the tree, Ashland ran toward the portal from which the banshees had appeared. Brock stared at it, getting his first good look at the doorway as he moved to stand behind the thick tree trunk.
The portal was perhaps ten strides wide and nearly as tall. Sizzling red energy danced and pulsed at the edges while shapes and colors shimmered within the expanse of the doorway, making his eyes hurt as they tried to follow the chaotic movement. His focus shifted back to Ashland as she seated herself on the ground beside the doorway. She crossed her legs, closed her eyes, and she slipped into meditation with Libby looming behind her.
He turned back toward the cave as Niles and Tenzi ran in with their bundles. They stopped just before the growing fire and hastily worked at the knots tied into the cloaks. Tenzi’s came free first and she lifted the cloak high to dump the bundle of leaves tied within. Moments later, Niles dumped a pile of leaves a few feet from where Tenzi’s leaves had fallen. They both ran away, darting past Brock as the smoldering leaves began to fill the cavern with dark smoke.
Brock glanced to the cliff wall beside the cave and saw Tipper using a chunk of blackened coal to trace a rune onto the rock. Howls and wails of anger blasted from the dark maw of the cave and a dagger of ice-cold fear plunged deep into Brock’s soul. Everyone froze.
A massive beast burst through the smoke, holding an arm up to shield the sun from its eyes as it neared the mouth of the cave. With long, twisted black hair and impossibly pale skin, the banshee’s torn clothing covered its gigantic ten-foot tall frame. The lumbering gait of the monster covered large chunks of ground with each step as it stumbled forward. The banshee’s arm shifted, allowing Brock to see eyes of solid red. It paused and blasted another bone-chilling wail from a mouth filled with pointed teeth, matching the long dark talons adorning each massive finger. Brock felt stuck in place, his head fogged by fear.
The Emblem Throne (The Runes of Issalia Book 2) Page 21