Chapter X
Battle of the Green Wood
Michael lunged forward, sword in hand. Haldrago, anticipating the blow, had already leapt to one side before it could find its mark. The battle between the two adversaries of the Wold and those of the Green Wood had raged all day - evening was drawing close and still all lay in the balance. Many Wold had already perished but so too had many Longfoot and other creatures of the forest. The blood soaked, congealed ground writhed in agony beneath their sodden feet.
Thor’s blade had been resorted to but it had been neutralised by the power emanating from Haldrago’s staff. It had worked by projecting a dampening field, rendering the energy within the blade impotent. But neither could Haldrago’s staff be used for any other purpose while it contained such a weapon. It was as if it had an intelligence of its own, as its energy field fluctuated and tightened around Thor’s blade preventing its power from being released.
Gabriel fought with relentless fury as Wendigo after Wendigo fell but still they came on, each more brutal than the last. Things would have turned against the forest dwellers that day but for the unexpected intervention of the Clan of the Mountain Bears. There came a mighty roar from beneath the cover of the trees and out they sprang, led by Uziel, jaws crunching, claws slashing, right into the flank of the Wold.
The battle turned as the Wold became compressed from all sides. Slowly but surely they were being strangled into submission; Haldrago, in desperation, and seeing that defeat was at hand, struck Michael off balance, giving him time to withdraw to the back of the clearing.
Michael rolled to one side and sprang to his feet, glaring at his adversary’s retreat. Haldrago gave him one last contemptuous look, waved his staff in the air, a dark energy erupted from it creating a hollow shadow between the trees and he and those of the Wold that were able to do so fled. As they disappeared energy from Thor’s blade was finally released, striking at any stragglers that were too slow to make their escape, but it was to no avail - the portal that had been created had already vanished. The remnants of Haldrago’s army fled into the forest to meet whatever doom awaited them there.
It is a strange silence that pervades a battlefield once the fighting has ended. There were a few groans and murmurings from the living, while the dead lay with contorted extremities as if adding a final insult to the horror they had just faced.
As the fighting ceased Gabriel wiped the sweat away. As he past one of the Longfoot, he helped him gingerly to his feet before seeking out Michael who was motionless, staring at the emptiness, to where their adversary had disappeared.
“What do you think?” asked Gabriel.
“That is not the last time we will see Haldrago,” replied Michael with a shake of the head.
“The thing is…” said Gabriel, pausing a moment.
“I know,” replied Michael through gritted teeth, “Haldrago knew it was us, he was quite prepared for the encounter, if it wasn’t for Uziel’s timely entrance all may have been lost.”
"We will have to tread more carefully,” said Gabriel.
“We will also have to hurry,” replied Michael, “if I know Lothos he will now be on the move. Which means the race is now truly on to get to the Ute.”
“What of the Longfoot?” said Gabriel, “they have sacrificed much this day.”
“Bring Chey to me,” replied Michael, “If he still lives.”
Gabriel immediately moved off, weaving his way between the dead and wounded, and calling out the name of Chey as he went.
Uziel, who had fought his way to where the fighting was thickest, now approached Michael. Beneath his helm his eyes were fixed with a grim determination.
“Your plan worked,” said Uziel, “I caught up with the Cave Bears, and was taken to see the head of their clan. They already knew that the Wold were here and were in council to decide whether to hide deeper in their mountain caves or head west. I managed to persuade them - without difficulty I might add - to join the fray.”
“The Wold,” replied Michael, “have many enemies.”
“The Cave Bears,” said Uziel, “are already retreating back to the mountain.”
“I fear it is the Longfoot,” said Michael, “that we need to worry about. They have paid a heavy price this day. A heavy price indeed; many of their clans are no more. They will need time to recover.”
“What are you getting at?” asked Uziel hesitantly: he had known Michael for so long that he could almost guess at what he meant.
“I intend using Thor’s blade to help them,” said Michael.
“That’s a joke, right?” said a sceptical Uziel. “Being human really has affected you. What about the bigger picture and the greater good? Thor’s blade will help us defeat Lothos. It’s more than useful - it’s irreplaceable.”
“We’ve all had to make sacrifices in this war,” replied Michael sternly, “even the mightiest of us.”
“Well, if we’re going to give such a thing up,” said Uziel, “why don’t we just concede right now?”
“If that’s what you think,” said Michael, “then you really were under Moloch’s influence for too long.”
Uziel was about to say something, when seeing the steadfast look on Michael’s face, he thought better of it; he threw his hands in the air, shook his head in disbelief, and walked off.
By this time Gabriel had arrived with Chey.
“What was that all about?” asked Gabriel.
“It was about Thor’s blade,” said Michael.
“Surely it’s not damaged?” said Gabriel urgently.
“It’s fine,” replied Michael.
“That’s a relief,” said Gabriel.
“I’m going use it to aid the Longfoot once and for all,” said Michael.
“You’re what!” exclaimed Gabriel, “I’m sorry, I can’t be used to these human ears. I simply must have misheard you.”
“You didn’t,” said Michael.
Gabriel shook his head ruefully and walked away, he knew very well that when Michaels mind was made up, there was no changing it.
“Chey,” said Michael drawing him close, “you and the other Longfoot have given up much in this war. A war that you, by misfortune; found yourselves in.”
“Are not all wars,” said Chey thoughtfully, “thrust upon the innocent, and as such don’t the innocent always carry the heaviest burden. Is not that one reason why wars make no sense?”
Michael nodded gravely. “You are wise Chey, but I’m afraid war and pride walk hand in hand, and pride is often blind to the malice it causes. And though as you say war makes no sense, we as guardians of the Equilibrium are charged at times to defend and maintain it by using any means possible. We’ve done this since well before even the first trees grew in the green wood. And what I intend doing now does not altogether fit with the Equilibrium, but I believe that the Wold by coming here and destroying many of your kind have altered the balance of things, thereby making what I am about to do appropriate. I intend using Thor’s blade to help your clans hide from others that might chase you down with ill intent. As time passes to humanity and other creatures of their like you shall become as a myth, you will be nothing more than a tale for children’s stories, when seen it will be as though you are but a shadow in the corner of their eye. I shall do this because this day you helped the Old Ones defeat the Wold and because there is only a remnant of you that survived, I shall see to it that never again do you suffer such a fate. Tell all your clans to gather round the rocky outcrop by first light, everything will be made ready by then.”
Chey looked at Michael, and if there was any uncertainty in him he did not show it. He turned and gave a loud booming call. There was an answer further off in the clearing. Then without looking back he strode purposefully away.
Gabriel and Uziel had been waiting patiently for them to finish before coming forward.
“So,” asked Gabriel, “you intend going through with it?”
“I do,” replied Michael.
“
Very well,” said Gabriel. “A shame though, I would’ve liked to have seen the look on Malachi’s face and all the others when they realised we had Thor’s blade.”
“I’m sure,” said Michael, “Haldrago will have told them we have it. It's of no matter, by the time we catch up to them we’ll have a few other surprises in store.”
“I hope so,” said Uziel, “because at the moment they’re ahead of us on the surprise front.”
“They are the masters of cunning,” replied Gabriel.
“Come,” Michael held up Thor’s blade, “I must make the necessary alterations to this. While I do that you two had better ask the Longfoot the quickest way to the lands of the Dakota.”
Michael crouched down and began tinkering with the device. The hilt end slid open, and as it did so a gentle glow and humming sound emanated from within it. Michael peered inside, then took an arrow shaft, broke it in two and with the arrow head began making internal adjustments. He then took the end that held the flight feathers and began to clear away any dust and debris before continuing his modifications.
Valour of the Spirit People Page 14