by Pedro Urvi
The Ogre bent forward and roared, with its face very close to Lasgol’s. The fetid breath hit his face and blew his hair back. It was as if he had been struck a foul-smelling blow, but he neither flinched nor lost his concentration. He sent out more energy and once again commanded: Get back!
The reply was a terrible roar of rage. This was not working. He was sending it messages which – although they were confusing it – were only enraging it further. He was not going to get out of it alive this way. Very soon the monster would realize that if it killed him, the mental messages would end. The Ogre grabbed his arms and lifted him off the ground as if he were a ragdoll. It shook him hard, and he lost one of his two bows and several arrows. It lifted him up until his face was level with its mouth and fangs.
Let me go! Lasgol shouted in its mind.
The Ogre shook its head several times in annoyance and roared in his face. It began to tug powerfully at his arms. The monster had realized how it could get rid of the messages, and it was going to split him in half!
Desperately he focused on its mind, ignoring the pain he was feeling. Instead of sending a message, what he tried to do now was to influence its mind so that he could bend it to his will. He had never tried anything like this before. When he gave orders to Ona, he did it by way of Animal Communication, with messages she understood. This was different. He was trying to make the Ogre’s mind obey his own. He tried to create a link between both their minds so that he could command. It was about to pull his arms off, and the pain was reaching unbearable levels. He could not keep his concentration. With one last desperate attempt in the midst of a sea of pain, he ordered it:
Stop!
All of a sudden, a green flash ran through his mind. This surprised him, since he had not expected a new flash – or perhaps the pain was making him see things that were not there. But he noticed amid his agony that the Ogre’s aura was beginning to change color. It turned from brownish to greenish, and an instant later it was an intense green. Lasgol had no idea what this meant.
Stop! he ordered it with his last moment of sanity.
The monster froze into immobility, looking at Lasgol vaguely, while its mental aura turned completely green. It stopped its pressure, and Lasgol felt no more pain. He took a deep breath of relief and tried to clear his mind, where the pain was still echoing with a terrible intensity.
Put me down!
The Ogre obeyed.
Let me go!
It obeyed again. Lasgol could not believe it. He supposed that he was now mastering the beast’s mind, and it was obeying his orders. Realizing that he might have discovered a new skill, he named it at once so that he could remember it and recall it more easily later, as Egil had always suggested he should do. The first thing that came to his mind, seeing what had become of the Ogre, was: Animal Domination.
He took a few steps away from it, and also from Camu and Ona so that he would not put them at risk, but the Ogre did not even glance at him. Its eyes were still distant, as though it were in a dream, Lasgol had no idea how he had developed this skill, but he thanked the Ice Gods. Probably it had been the danger of dying that had made it possible. He would have to talk to Egil about it. He was surprised that his mind should be generating such a non-stop range of ideas, especially since his body and his limbs hurt so agonizingly.
Suddenly he noticed something else: the intense green of the Ogre’s mental aura was beginning to fade. He took a couple more steps away from it, seeing the green fade and the aura regaining its original brown. This looked ominous. The Ogre seemed to come out of its reverie. It turned its head, saw Lasgol and roared in fury.
On your knees! he ordered.
The Ogre began to move forward. Its fists were clenched, and it was roaring at the top of its voice.
Stop! Lasgol ordered – and then realized that his skill was no longer active. The effect had been short-lived. He swore under his breath and called upon the skill again. He searched for his energy, concentrated on the mind of the approaching Ogre and invoked the new Animal Domination skill.
He failed. There was no green flash.
He realized that he had not yet mastered this new skill sufficiently to be able to call upon it at will. He knew that he needed to do a lot more work before he could use it again. Instantly he decided that he had to find some other way to carry on the fight. He turned and fled like lightning.
The Ogre was still roaring behind him, beside itself with rage. There would be no more games. If it caught him now, he was a dead man. He saw the entrance of the cave and ran toward it. He had no intention of going inside, but an idea had occurred to him and he was going to put it into practice. The fact that the monster was blind with rage was working in his favor, and he intended to use that to his advantage. He glanced behind and saw that it was getting closer. He swerved abruptly and ran in a straight line, this time moving away from the cave. The Ogre was taking great strides which covered the space between them a great deal faster than he would have liked.
Suddenly Lasgol heard a metallic click, and knew what it was. The Ogre had stepped on the first of the traps he had set. There followed an explosion of earth, which blinded the beast and stunned it. Taken aback, it roared as it tried to wipe its eyes to get its sight back.
Lasgol stopped and took out an elemental arrow of earth, and before the Ogre could recover, he released. The arrow hit the monster in the torso with an explosion like that of the trap, although much smaller, blinding and stunning it. The beast screamed in rage and battered its head with its fists, trying to get rid of its bewilderment.
Lasgol released two more arrows, normal ones this time, but these did not have the power to pierce the creature’s tough skin, which was like the bark of a tree. After this encounter he would make an effort to develop a kind that was powerful enough. He felt unarmed in the face of that enormous monster with its impenetrable skin.
Elemental does affect, came Camu’s message suddenly.
Camu! Are you all right?
Pain, but not die.
Thanks to the Ice Gods!
More elemental, Camu advised him.
I’ll try. How’s Ona?
Lame. Strong blow, not die.
Poor Ona. Don’t you move from where you are, and if anything happens to me, run!
We not leave you.
Don’t argue, this isn’t the moment! Do as I say!
Not argue.
Lasgol was not sure whether this meant that he would not argue because he accepted the order, or because he would do what he pleased. Probably the latter. Unfortunately, he had no time for arguments. He had to finish off the stunned Ogre before it recovered.
Amid roars of deep rage, the Ogre managed to recover some of its vision. It was still bewildered, but now it could charge again. Following Camu’s advice, Lasgol nocked another elemental arrow, but instead of running toward the forest he ran toward the monster.
No! Run other way! Camu messaged, fearing for Lasgol’s life, and Ona hissed in warning.
Lasgol knew he had to seize the advantage before he lost it. The Ogre, seeing him approach, banged its own torso with its fists and roared. It was going to crush him like a slug. Lasgol slipped rapidly to its left, and immediately it charged. He slipped once again toward a specific spot and the Ogre tried to seize him again.
There was another click as the second trap was activated. There followed a frozen explosion of ice which rose up the monster’s feet, then through its huge body, until it reached its head. It was frozen on the spot, unable to move. Lasgol stopped, aimed and released. The elemental arrow struck the ground between the beast’s feet. A roar of immense frustration and rage came from its mouth as it fought to break free of that icy prison, but without success. The cold, which did not seem to affect it, would not kill it, but it would delay it. The icy cold of the trap and the elemental water arrow would freeze its body until it was unable to move as fast as before.
Before it could manage to free itself, Lasgol ran in the opposite di
rection. As he went, he nocked another elemental arrow. Meanwhile the Ogre managed to free its upper body, roaring. With a tremendous crack it freed one of its feet. It beat on its other leg with its fists until it managed to break the layer of ice that held it. There came another crack, and its other foot was free. With a loud growl it moved toward Lasgol, who was waiting for it at fifteen paces with his bow armed.
It was coming toward him, but in slow motion. Its limbs were frozen, and every step took it an eternity, Lasgol remained calm, even though he knew that if it caught up with him and grabbed him with one of its huge hands, it would be his end.
Escape, Camu messaged, very worried.
I can’t do that. I have to finish this mission and kill it. If I run away, then sooner or later this beast’s going to come back down to the village and kill a bunch of innocent peasants. I can’t let it do that. I’ve got to put an end to it.
Maybe can’t.
True, but I have to try, whatever way I can. I wouldn’t forgive myself if this monster killed a family of farmers because I hadn’t tried everything I could to stop it.
Can’t save everybody.
I know. But nothing’ll stop me from trying. It’s my duty. I’m a Ranger. Nobody else will stop this monster before it causes more grief to other innocents.
Monster very dangerous.
This time I agree with you all the way.
The Ogre was now five paces from Lasgol, who was aiming without releasing. It came closer, to three paces. Lasgol held his breath, and there came a third click. It had stepped on the third trap. He stepped back at the very moment when the trap exploded. This time it was one of fire. The flames enveloped the Ogre, which screamed in pain.
Fire works! Camu transmitted excitedly.
Lasgol got to his feet from where he had thrown himself to one side to avoid the trap, and stood there ready to release. The Ogre was gesticulating in pain and fury. Its body was burning, and this time the fire was penetrating its tough skin. To Lasgol’s surprise, it threw itself on the ground and rolled over, trying to put out the flames.
Monster smart, Camu transmitted. Release.
Lasgol followed his advice and released at the Ogre as it was getting up after putting out the fire that had enveloped its body. The fire arrow exploded in its neck and the flames enveloped its head. Lasgol breathed out in relief. It had been a great shot, though of course the target was a large one. The Ogre roared and screamed, hitting its face with its large hands as it did its best to put out the fire. Lasgol wanted to end its misery, but did not know how to do so. He remembered that he still had one elemental arrow left, that of Air. He always carried one of each kind ready, just in case.
The Ogre spun round, beating its head, roaring and yelling in agony. Lasgol nocked the air arrow, aimed and stepped closer, waiting for a clear shot. The Ogre roared to the sky, and he released. The arrow hit the Ogre in the forehead, and there was a discharge, as if a bolt of lightning had hit the spot where the arrow had struck. It went into its head and fried its mind, which was too much for the Ogre. It fell to one side, dead.
Lasgol gasped in relief and fell to his knees.
We did it!
Chapter 6
With a terrible feeling of concern oppressing his chest, Lasgol ran to see how Ona and Camu were. He found them lying down, with pain on their faces. Ona greeted him with a moan and sad eyes. She licked her hind leg to let him know where she was injured.
Poor Ona, Lasgol sent to her, then knelt beside her and stroked her tenderly. The Ogre had given her a massive blow, and though she had managed to land on her feet, she had made things worse by putting her weight on her injured leg. His eyes moistened.
How is Ona? Camu transmitted. With the message came a feeling of concern about his friend and partner.
Lasgol examined her back legs, ribs and spine carefully, looking for possible broken bones. I don’t think there’s anything broken … but the blow was a very hard one. She might have an internal injury, besides her hind leg.
Ona Strong. Ona good, said Camu, sounding very troubled.
And how are you?
Nothing broken.
Are you sure?
I sure.
I’m going to examine you thoroughly, just in case. You took a bad fall and got a tremendous blow. Does it hurt anywhere?
Not hurt, Camu said untruthfully. Lasgol realized that he was hiding something, because he was not turning when he tried to roll him over to look at his side.
Don’t play the hero. If it hurts, tell me. It’s important, because I need to know if there’s anything broken, or any internal injury.
Camu put his head to one side. Hurts … a little, he admitted.
A little or a lot? Tell me the truth.
He looked down. A lot … he admitted.
Lasgol rolled him over very gently. Here, on your side?
Camu opened his mouth. Although he neither cried out nor flinched, Lasgol knew he was in genuine pain.
Yes … side …
Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it.
His ribs turned out to be badly bruised, and something internal was probably torn. He would need care. He took a deep breath, to try and relieve the pressure he felt in his own chest. He could not manage to dispel it completely but he did not allow it to paralyze him. He searched his knowledge of healing. He knew he would have to use the Rangers’ techniques of healing, so without wasting time he began to prepare an ointment against blows and a potion against loss of internal blood. While he was working, he kept an eye on his two comrades to make sure they did not get any worse. It took him half a day to prepare the medicines, going as fast as he could.
The ointment was not hard to prepare, because he was carrying all the ingredients he needed in his Ranger belt. The potion was considerably more complicated, but finally he succeeded. He gave thanks for all the knowledge he had acquired with the Rangers. He had always had the feeling that everything Eyra had taught them might well save their lives someday. Today was one of those days.
When night fell, he made a fire at the entrance to the Ogre’s cave, and they spent the night inside. He was so worried about his two partners that he spent the whole night awake, tending to them lovingly. It was a terrible time for him, because this was the first time Camu and Ona had been seriously hurt and their lives endangered. As their animal bodies responded differently to injuries and remedies, he had no idea what was going to happen, and he was very uneasy. Internal injuries, without a Healer like Edwina to treat them with her healing power, were very dangerous, and there was no certainty that the body would recover.
When dawn arrived, Lasgol checked his friends again. They were too quiet and still, which was not a good sign. He was proved right. Camu had a fever, so that his body temperature was on the warm side when it was usually cold. This could only mean that he had an internal infection. Lasgol bit his lip and tried to stay calm.
How are you, Camu?
Fine … he said. But his bulging eyes barely opened.
You don’t look fine at all.
Like Ona?
Lasgol examined her again. Luckily she had no fever. Her leg had swollen, but that was a normal reaction to a blow as hard as that. He would make an ointment to bring the swelling down. The poor thing could not walk, which she hated and which saddened her. Thank goodness, in her case the situation did not seem serious, which was good news. But Camu was different. His condition really was worrisome.
Ona’s all right. Don’t worry about her.
Ona sister.
Lasgol was surprised by the comment. He did not know that Camu could have this kind of feeling, although when he thought about it, there was no reason why he should not feel that Ona was like his sister and that he should be worried about her.
I know, she’s your sister and you’re her brother, he told both of them.
Ona chirped affirmatively.
I fine … not worry.
Lasgol stroked Camu’s head. He was not fine at all, howev
er much he might want to put on a brave act. He needed a potion against infections and another for fevers, which would take time to prepare, so he got down to work. It took him all day, what with finding the necessary ingredients, making a fire and preparing the utensils he needed, but by nightfall, everything was ready. He had used up several of the ingredients he carried in his belt. He would have to replace them as soon as he could, but for the moment he could not leave Camu’s side, just in case. He made him drink both potions, very slowly, so that he would absorb them gradually. Camu took them without complaint, even though they tasted horrible. Night enveloped them, and Lasgol, who was exhausted, did his best to stay awake, but in the early hours, exhaustion finally got the better of him and he fell to one side, asleep.
Ona dragged herself to where Camu was lying by the fire and cuddled beside him, to give him a little warmth and comfort with her body. It was all she could do. She stayed close to him with her head leaning against his.
Ona good …
Ona gave a loving moan and spent a long time licking his head. Camu, who was feeling terrible because of the fever, was very grateful.
Lasgol woke up from a nightmare at dawn. He had been dreaming that Ona and Camu had fallen down a precipice and he was running to save them, but would not make it in time. He tried to rise, half-asleep and deeply afraid, with a dreadful feeling in the pit of his stomach, then fell back on the floor. He looked around, opening his eyes as wide as he could to wake himself up fully, and saw the two of them by the dying fire. They were both staring at him with concern. He realized where he was, and that he had been having a bad dream.
Easy, guys, I had a nightmare. It’s nothing.
Ona stared back at him, looking unconvinced. Lasgol went over to her and scratched her head.
How are you? he asked, and then petted Camu. The sun was already rising, and it looked as though it was going to be a good day. They would even be able to enjoy a little warmth, which was always welcome in Norghana.