The Wrath

by D Glenn Casey

  “And the fact that you can hit a target you can’t even see scares the hell out of me,” said Garlan.

  “We each have our talents.”

  They advanced slowly into the camp, walking between the fires. Keelee was swiveling her head left and right, ready to alert them to anything she saw. With all the smoke hanging in the air, anyone could have walked right out of the gloom and attacked them.

  Garlan decided he’d seen enough smoke and cast a low layer of mist over the ground and soon, there was the sound of fires being extinguished by the wetness in the mist. When all the fires had gone out, he brought up a small wind that blew the low hanging smoke away from the camp, leaving the other troops nothing to hide in.

  Hilde instantly fired three more arrows, two killing the men they hit and the third just wounding a man.

  A fourth soldier saw all his fellow soldiers fall under the onslaught from this crazy redheaded warrior and he threw his hands in the air.

  As they moved cautiously toward the man, Garlan said, “This isn’t enough. There were at least another three or four men down here when we flew over.”

  “It’s good to know you were counting,” said Hilde as she kept her arrow trained on the chest of this soldier.

  “On your knees!” she yelled at the soldier.

  He dropped to his knees and kept his hands raised over his head.

  “Please don’t kill me. I just want to go home,” the man cried out.

  As Hilde walked up to the man, she put the arrow back in her quiver and slung the bow over her head. Then she pulled her sword and placed the tip right at the base of the man’s neck, just under his chin.

  Garlan cast a shield around the three of them, just in case an arrow was to come flying at them while they talked to this man.

  “As you can probably tell, my lady friend here is not in the mood for a whole lot of talk. I’m going to ask you this one time and if I don’t get the answer I want, I’ll take it by force.”

  Hilde looked up at him and said, “You’re beginning to sound more and more like Pendivall every day.”

  “Is that something he might say?”

  “That’s something he did say just a few months ago.”

  “What was the outcome?” asked Garlan.

  “He had to go into the man’s mind and take the information he wanted. He ended up scrambling the man’s brain a little, but it didn’t really matter after that.”

  “Why didn’t it matter?”

  “Because the soldier got fed to the dragons right after that.”

  “Oh, Kolgan.”

  Hilde nodded as she returned her attention to the soldier in front of her. Garlan looked back toward Golrath, still standing at the edge of the camp.

  “You think Golrath might be a little hungry?”

  Hilde looked toward the dragon and said, “Well, if you’d feed the poor beast he wouldn’t be.”

  Garlan looked back at the soldier and then back at Golrath, like he was trying to figure out if the soldier would be a satisfying meal for his dragon.

  “Okay,” he said, turning back to the soldier, “where did the army go?”

  “They didn’t tell us, so we wouldn’t be able to tell anyone else.”

  “You wouldn’t need them to tell you,” said Hilde, as she pressed the sword tip a little harder against the man’s skin. “This was an army that numbered in the hundreds, if not thousands.”

  Garlan spoke, “You can’t seriously think we would believe you didn’t see which way they went.”

  “We were sent to a cave across the field. Up there,” he said, pointing to the mountains to the east. “We were told not to come out until daybreak and then to keep the fires burning all day long.”

  Garlan turned and looked toward the mountain the soldier had pointed to. He searched his mind and heart, but couldn’t feel anything that had to do with the cave.

  “What was in that cave?” asked Garlan.

  “Nothing. It was just an empty cave.”

  “No bed, no table or any books?”

  “No, sire. It was empty.”

  Hilde was baffled by that, too. She looked at the man and, even though she didn’t have the mind sight that Garlan did, she believed the man.

  “We’ve heard rumors of another cave in those mountains,” she said. “One where the dark wizard goes when he’s not in this camp.”

  “He didn’t spend much time here in the camp. He would spend his days and nights somewhere on the mountain. Maybe in the cave you talk of.”

  Garlan asked, “Do you know where that cave is?”

  “No. We weren’t allowed to go anywhere near that part of the mountain. Only Master Kolgan had been allowed up there and he only went once. When he came back he was scarred and broken.”

  “Well,” said Hilde, “he’s not feeling much pain now.”

  “Is he dead?”

  “Yes, quite.”

  “Good. He was meaner than the dark wizard ever was.”

  Garlan interrupted him, “Any ideas as to where that cave might be?”

  “No, sire. Only that the path the dark wizard would take to get there is that one right over there.”

  Garlan looked to where the man was pointing and saw a well-worn path that curved up and around a bunch of boulders and then disappeared.

  “Alright, last question. Where did the rest of the soldiers that were with you go? There were at least a few more.”

  “Before the smoke cleared they took off, up that path.”

  “Toward Kerrick’s cave?”

  “Yes, sire.”

  “Why didn’t you go with them?”

  “Sire, there is evil in that mountain. The men that ran that way serve that evil with all their hearts. I do not. All I want to do is go back to Gallyneer, back to my wife and children.”

  “What is your name?”

  “Severin, sire.”

  Garlan held his hand out to the man and said, “Stand up Severin. Let’s take a walk.”

  He pulled Severin to his feet and then started walking toward the northern edge of the camp. Severin fell in behind him and Hilde took up the rear, lowering her sword, but keeping it ready for anything.

  Keelee did her part in keeping her eyes on this new soldier.

  Golrath started following them from a distance, wanting to keep an eye on them. He still remembered the words of his uncle, that Garlan was his responsibility until he returned.

  When they reached what had been the northern edge of the camp they looked around.

  “What do you see, Severin?” asked Garlan. “Anything that would lead you to know which way the army went.”

  Severin walked forward a little ways, looking down at the ground. He was looking at tracks in the dirt. Some pointed to the northeast and some to the west.

  “It’s really strange.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Well,” said Severin, “every night, here on this plain, the wind would come through here and soften any tracks that were put in the dirt.”

  He walked to one set of heavy tracks, the one heading northeast and said, “See how those tracks have hard ridges on the edges?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “Now, come over here and look at these.”

  They walked a few yards and came to the tracks that led to the west.

  “These tracks show the exact same thing.”

  “Okay, but what does that mean?” asked Garlan.

  “If the army went this way, then the ridges on the other road out of here would have been softened by the winds last night.”

  Garlan looked at the tracks again and then said, “And if they went the other way, these ridges would have been softened.”

  “Right.”

  Hilde looked at the tracks and then back at the other trail.

  “Could they have split the army in two?” she asked.

  Garlan looked at her. Could she be right? Had the army been split in two?

  “How many troops would you say were
here yesterday, Severin?”

  “I’d estimate about two thousand.”

  “Two thousand?” exclaimed Hilde.

  “Where did he get that number of troops?” asked Garlan.

  “He completely raided Gallyneer and the land to the east of us.”

  “He got troops from Easternesse?”

  “Yes, sire.”

  Hilde felt like she wanted to throw up. All her life she had heard of the land of Easternesse and there was nothing good about what she heard.

  “Garlan, if he got troops from that cursed land ...”

  She couldn’t bring herself to continue her thought.

  “I guess we just found out where he got those royal soldiers. There is a story that a large group of them went east, across the Southern Desert, through Gallyneer and into Easternesse.”

  “He had about two hundred royal soldiers from there.”

  “Two hundred?” cried Hilde. “Oh mother of earth, Garlan! If he has that many royals, our one hundred won’t stand a chance.”

  “I wish I could give you better news, sire,” said Severin.

  Garlan walked over to a boulder and sat down. Golrath moved up behind him and looked over his shoulder at the enemy soldier.

  He growled low and deep from his throat, “Do you swear what you just told us is true?”

  Severin looked at the very angry dragon and shuddered.

  “Yes, everything I’ve said is true. I have no love for the dark wizard or this army. He killed my brother and his family because he refused to join his army. I want him dead as much as everyone.”

  “Not everyone,” said Hilde, looking down at the dirt.

  “Garlan, what do we do?”

  He looked up at her and shook his head. Next he took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then he stood up and turned to Golrath.

  “You are to take Lady Hilde and head back to the base camp at Black Mountain.”

  “No!” shouted Hilde. “I am not leaving here without you.”

  “Yes, you are!” he shouted right back at her. “You are the one taking the news of what we’ve heard here, back to our troops. Then you will fly directly to Rosemoor and let the others know about this. Obviously you need to tell the wizards, but also make sure to let Captains Jong and Belgard know what is coming their way.”

  “You will be here by yourself!”

  “Hilde, I am not going to argue with you about this.”

  “Why are you staying?” she demanded.

  “Because, I am going to walk up that path and see about Kerrick’s lair and if I find it, I will destroy whatever I find there.”

  “That’s where Severin said the other men went.”

  “Four other men. Correct, Severin?”

  “That’s correct.”

  “I think I can handle them just fine.”

  “Sire,” said Severin, “it’s not those four men that you should be afraid of. It’s the evil that lives in the mountain.”

  “What is this evil?”

  “No one knows. Only that when Kolgan came back from there, he was so terrified about what he saw he couldn’t speak of it. To tell you the truth, I think if he is dead like you say, he’s better off.”

  “Is there any chance I can get you to show me the way?”

  “No way, sire. I will not set foot on that mountain, unless you force me.”

  Hilde put her sword right in the center of Severin’s chest and pressed it.

  “You will go with him and aid him with whatever he finds there.”

  Garlan reached out and placed his hand on hers and had her lower her sword. He could see in Severin’s eyes more terror than he had ever seen in any man’s eyes.

  “No, Hilde. I won’t ask him to do that if he can’t muster the courage to do it. He has helped us enough.”

  “You can’t go alone! Tell him Golrath!”

  Golrath looked at Garlan and then at Hilde.

  “Lady Hilde, my uncle believes that Garlan will be the greatest wizard this land has ever seen. If that is true, then he can go alone and we should have faith in him.”

  Hilde had tears streaming down her face.

  “You promised me you would let me help you kill that bastard.”

  “Hilde, he isn’t here. He’s with his army. So, if you happen to run into him before I rejoin you, do not wait for me to kill him. Do it yourself. Now go. Time is not our friend at this moment.”

  Hilde shook her head and he almost melted at the sight of her tears. She put her sword away and then threw her arms around Garlan’s neck and held him close.

  “You better come back to us. Who else am I going to slug in the gut, if you’re not around.”

  Garlan hugged her tight and laughed. Keelee twittered softly from his shoulder.

  “I look forward to many years of getting beat up by you.”

  She held on tight.

  “Go, Hilde.”

  She pulled back from him and looked him in the eyes. Then she leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek.

  “I won’t tell Jarell about that,” said Garlan with a smile.

  “If he was standing here, he’d kiss you, too. He loves you like a brother. Did you know that?”

  Garlan smiled and took a deep breath. She broke away from him and climbed into the seat on Golrath’s back.

  “Take care of her, Golrath. And under no circumstances are you to come back here.”

  “Understood. Take care of yourself, master,” said the large, red dragon.

  He turned around and took two quick steps and launched himself into the air. The last thing Garlan saw was Hilde looking back and he could clearly see the glistening tears on her face.

  Turning back to Severin, he said, “I have no intention of forcing you to do anything. I know that almost all the troops from Gallyneer would much rather be home with their families.”

  He held out his hand to Severin and they shook hands.

  “Go home. Go back to your life.”

  Severin looked toward the northeast, toward the pass that went into the land of Gallyneer and to his home. He looked back at Garlan.

  “I wish I had the courage to stay with you.”

  Garlan smiled, “Not everyone is made to be a soldier. I’m definitely not.”

  “Golrath said his uncle feels you will be the greatest wizard of all.”

  Garlan laughed a little and said, “I keep hearing that. I wish they would stop saying it. I’m like you, Severin. I just want to see this war end and get back to my own wife.”

  “You have a wife? Is she safe?”

  Garlan felt a wave of guilt wash over him. Until just then, he had been too busy with what was happening here to even think about Marnell.

  “I do,” said Garlan, “and she is not safe. She is in a prison in her mind, held captive by Kerrick. Until he dies, she will most likely remain there.”

  Severin lowered his head.

  “I’m sorry to hear that, sire. I wish you luck in your quest to bring this conflict to an end.”

  “Go home, Severin. Be at peace.”

  Severin held out his hand one last time and shook Garlan’s. Then he turned and started his long walk back to Gallyneer.

  Garlan watched him go for a few minutes and then looked at the path up the mountain. What evil awaited him when he found Kerrick’s lair? He was never going to find out standing there in the remnants of the enemy’s camp.

  He started walking toward the mountain, to find out what terrified Severin and Kolgan so much.

  An extremely frightened robin sat on his shoulder, wondering if there was anything she could say to get him to reconsider going up that mountain.

  Like it or not, she was resolute in her courage to stay with him no matter what.

  Chapter 26 ~ Two Warriors In A Stare Down

  The entire way back to the base camp, Hilde couldn’t suppress the emotions she had coursing through her soul. Leaving Garlan behind was the hardest thing she had to do and for some reason, she couldn’t shake the f
eeling that she might never see him again.

  More than once she ordered Golrath to turn around and take her back, but he just ignored her and continued his flight back to Black Mountain.

  As they drew closer, she could see the mountain top had been evacuated. There was nothing left on the plateau that showed they had even been there for almost a year.

  They flew over the mountain and descended to the base camp and could see the troops had already begun gathering and preparing to march to Rosemoor.

  Golrath screeched to get their attention and all work ceased at the sight of the red dragon preparing to land near the other dragons. Hilde could see Jong and Taynor were running across the field to the point where she was going to land.

  As Hilde jumped down, she yelled for Venia to be ready to leave and head back to Mount Thunder immediately. Next she experienced something she had never felt before.

  Golrath knocked her down and pinned her to the ground. As she struggled to get out from under his claws, Venia rose up and looked at Golrath.

  “You had better have a good reason for treating her like that, brother.”

  Golrath just nodded to her and she backed up a couple of steps.

  Jong and Taynor finally reached the gathering and looked down to see Hilde pinned underneath Golrath’s claws.

  “What is the meaning of this?” demanded Jong.

  Golrath looked at him and growled.

  “The meaning of this is, under no circumstances is she to be allowed to return to Mount Thunder. Master Garlan was absolutely clear in his orders for her to leave and not come back.”

  He looked at Venia and said, “Do not take her back there.”

  “Alright,” said Taynor, “you’ve made your point, now let her up!”

  Golrath looked at him, then nodded and released his hold on Hilde. She coughed and wheezed as she tried to regain her breath. Taynor reached down and tried to help her up, but she just swatted his hands away. She climbed to her feet and looked at Golrath with as much hate as she could muster.

  “He is completely unprotected there!”

  Then she reached out and slapped Golrath across the face. The red dragon jerked back, but didn’t react out of anger.

  “How could you do that?” she cried. “Your uncle gave you orders to protect him!”

  “Yes, he did. And it troubles my heart to disregard his wishes, but orders from Master Garlan do bear some weight. He is as strong a wizard as has ever been.”