The Warden's Sword Page 15

  They travelled all day and by late in the afternoon the sound of running water brought Anna out of her walking day dream. Through the trees ahead they caught a glimpse of a fast flowing river, running out of the treed hills and down through a rocky riverbed. The river blocked the direction they were headed.

  “Do we cross or go around?” asked Maria.

  “If we cross we’ll get wet and we’ll probably die of hyperthermia. I suggest we go around—” A wolf’s howl echoed around the trees, sending the birds flying into the air. The forest fell into a tense silence.

  “Wolves,” whispered Maria nervously. Both women surveyed the surrounding forest, looking for any movement. It was difficult to determine the direction of the sound.

  “I think they’re behind us. In the hills,” said Anna, looking in the direction they had come from. “We might lose them if we cross the river.”

  They quickly moved down to the river’s bank and looked for a good place to cross. The river was not very wide but it flowed fast. Water splashed over smooth rocks and semi-submerged logs—crossing looked hazardous.

  “Here’s good enough spot as any,” said Anna. “Try and hold your blanket over your head, we don’t want everything to get wet.” Both women removed their shoes and held them over their heads with the old blankets. Anna made her way to the water’s edge and after a moment’s hesitation, she stepped into the frothing water. The current was strong but Anna was confident that they could cross safely.

  Maria entered the water behind Anna and the pair moved slowly out into the river. The water level rose with every step and the current got stronger. In the centre, the water was deep as Anna’s chest and the current pulled at her weak body. The splashing water pushed unrelenting on Anna, causing her feet to slip off the smooth stones and pushed her downstream. The forced knocked her under the water and she fought to regain the surface for air. Panic course through her body and she fought against the urge to open her mouth and scream.

  A hand grabbed the back of her dress and dragged her to the surface. She gulped down air noisily, refilling her lungs. Maria held Anna tight and together they bobbed like two corks, travelling rapidly down the river and bouncing off the rocks. Some distance downstream, Maria had managed to guide them to the far bank and they clung onto a half-submerged log. They lay in the water for some time without speaking.

  With great effort Maria pulled herself onto the river bank and offered her hand to Anna. With the princess’s aid, Anna scrambled onto dry land and lay motionless beside her friend, breathing heavily. Both were fatigued from the lack of food and the physical and emotional efforts of the last few days. What else could go wrong?

  A wolf howled again. But this time, it was closer.

  Chapter 37

  Slowly Severus’s sight began to clear. Where am I? He tried to sit up but pain shot through his body and he clenched his jaw, laying back down again. He remembered. I never wanted to end like this...

  “He’s awake,” said a deep, gravelly voice.

  Severus opened his eyes. He was in bed and there were three people in the room—including his would-be assassin.

  “Get him to take this powder three times a day with water,” said an old man, a healer. “And nothing else. That means no beer.” Karok didn’t look convinced. The old man walked to the door, hesitated and turned back to address the room’s occupants. “He’ll be bed bound for a few days. His fate is in the hands of the five gods. He’ll either walk out of this room by himself or you’ll carry him out.” The healer closed the door as he left.

  “He’s a cheery fellow,” said Kliem. Both the dwarf and the gnome hovered near Severus. The gnome and dwarf were a similar height although Karok was twice as broad and a lot more heavily muscled than the merchant. Dwarves were heavier muscled than any humans or eldon as well.

  You’re going to finish me, aren’t you, assassin? I will take you down before I leave this world—Severus started coughing and Kliem rushed to his side and supported his head. There were small flecks of blood of his lips. The gnome wiped off the blood with a clean cloth and Severus lay back on the pillow.

  Karok opened the window and sunlight and the scent of forest flooded into the room. The dwarf breathed in deeply as he looked out at the endless trees.

  In the sunlight, Severus’s grey skin looked almost white and he coughed again.

  “Close the window, you imbecile. Do you want him to freeze to death?” said Kliem as he pulled up Severus’s blanket. Karok flashed an angry look at the gnome and his hand dropped to his hand axe at his belt. Deciding against further action, the dwarf closed the window and turned his gaze back to their patient.

  “Arr…” Severus couldn’t speak.

  Karok stood beside Kliem and both gazed down at Severus. “The healer said you shouldn’t talk. The poison has reacted with your body and your throat is swollen.”

  “He has left you medicine,” said Kliem.

  “Dwarves don’t like human medicine. Ale achieves the same result.”

  “Your race are drunks,” stated the gnome.

  “And your race…is weak!”

  The dwarf and the gnome glared at each other for a tense moment. There was no love between their races as in the past, both races accused the other of betrayal. The disagreement ended in years of bloody conflict where both sides lost many lives. Who knew who was at fault and what really started the centuries of hatred?

  “I’ll give him the medicine,” said Karok. “Then I need my morning beer.”

  “I’ll do it. You’d probably make him drown.” Kliem poured some yellow powder from a jar into a mug and stirred in some water. He helped prop Severus and made him drink the fowl smelling concoction.

  Severus gagged on the gritty liquid as it trickled painfully down his throat. It didn’t taste good but it quickly started to soothe and numb the pain in his body.

  Now, I just have to survive…

  Chapter 38

  A wolf howl tore through the forest’s silence, startling Maria and causing her to stumble over some loose rocks. Anna caught the princess’ arm and steadied her. The howls were infrequent but that one sounded closer—very close. Anna looked around but in the fading afternoon light she couldn’t see the furred predator. The forest was devoid of animal life. It was like nature could sense the impending danger.

  Anna had no knowledge of wolves and neither did Maria. All they knew is that they hunted in packs. It would be night soon.

  “I…I can’t go much further,” Maria said breathlessly.

  Anna felt the same, she was exhausted. Beyond exhausted. They had travelled many miles since they crossed the river and heard the first howl. Her energy reserves were totally spent. “We’ll have to find somewhere to defend. There is no protection here in the open forest.”

  They were both too tired to run. Maria walked with her arm over Anna’s shoulders and together they moved slowly down a gentle slope and into a narrow gully. The hills in the distance may offer shelter.

  Clumsily, they slid on loose stones until they reach the gully’s bottom. The princess dropped to her hands and knees and could go no further. Anna tried but didn’t have the strength to lift her back to her feet.

  “Get up, Maria.”

  “I need to rest for a just a moment.”

  “There is no time.” It was a struggle even to speak. “We have to go—” Movement caught her attention and she looked up into the eyes of a grey timber wolf on the ridge above. The beast looked down at them with the piercing eyes of a predator. It snarled and its skin wrinkled along its snout, exposing its teeth. A low growl rumbled from its throat.

  This is the end.

  “No…” said Maria feebly. She could not get her legs to work and remained on her knees. Anna picked up a tree branch as long as her arm and prepared to defend herself for as long as she could. Her mind told her they would die in this forest but she was determined to fight to the end. A second wolf appeared beside the first and her resolve faded and a
defeated cry escaped her lips. She staggered back and stumbled to the ground, her eyes frozen on the two wolves above.

  Maria crawled to Anna’s side and held her tight, terror plainly visible on her dirty face. The two wolves did not move but continued to watch their prey. They waited for the rest of the pack.

  A sound behind her brought Anna’s head around fast. On the ridge behind them was another three wolves silhouetted against the sinking sun. Their doom was sealed. Two unarmed people had no hope of fighting off five wolves.

  The two women huddled silently together in the bottom of the gully. Both knew this was the end but Anna didn’t want to die without a fight. She held the branch in front of her in a last feeble defence.

  Anna couldn’t tear her eyes from the two wolves in front of them as they moved slowly down the slope toward them. The other three were moving in for the kill as well.

  The first wolf lunged forward and snapped at her. She retaliated by whacking it in the head but the hungry wolf was not easily dissuaded and came in again, teeth snapping. Maria screamed.

  “Help!” Anna’s words sounded and she prepared for the worst. A black shape flashed passed her eyes and the wolf disappeared.

  The wolves stopped growling and the air felt tense and heavy. Slowly, the closest wolf to Anna started to back away. Something was happening!

  In the dying daylight, Anna could see a large dark shape on the top of the gully. It was another wolf—no, it was larger and thicker set. Its eyes were like two red balls of flickering fire.

  The hell dog surveyed the scene below with silent indifference. The wolves could sense that they were outmatched by this newcomer and in unison they turned tail and ran. Before the closest wolf had gone two steps, the hell dog had moved and was on it, sinking its knife-like teeth into the wolf’s throat. With a quick shake of the hell dog’s powerful neck, the wolf’s body and head separated, spraying blood and body parts into the air.

  Behind them a wolf yelped in pain. Anna turned to look as the first hell dog leapt over them and joined its companion in tearing apart the remaining three wolves. Within a few heartbeats, the five wolves had been reduced to nothing more than gory piles of meat and fur. The coppery smell of blood filled Anna’s senses as she looked around in disbelief. The gully looked like a slaughter house as blood covered everything. Strangely, no blood had landed on them.

  The two hell dogs stood motionless, blood dripping from their open mouths, gazing directly at Anna.

  “W-what happened?” whispered Maria, more terrified by this new threat.

  “We’re safe…I think,” said Anna. “These…dogs…helped me back in the imp’s cottage. I don’t think they will harm us.”

  “Good…” Maria trembled and looked like she was about to cry. Anna grabbed her hand and pulled Maria along the gully and away from the macabre scene. By the time they reached the end of the gully, night had fallen and it was dark.

  They stumbled out of the gully on their hands and knees and through the trees for some distance before they stopped to catch their breath. Maria dropped against a tree and placed her head in her hands. “I’m not meant for this,” she cried.

  “I don’t think anyone is.”

  “What are those things? Why did they save us?”

  Anna sat beside the princess. “I don’t know…but they have helped me twice.”

  “Why?”

  “I not sure.” Anna looked out into the night but could see nothing in the surrounding darkness. “Hunter, Titan, protect us tonight,” she called to the night but the night didn’t answer.

  “Did they hear you? Are they guarding us now?”

  “I don’t know.” Anna pulled her ragged blanket around her shoulders and leaned against Maria. “I can’t go on any further.” Weariness had overcome her. “I need to rest...”

  “Protect us, please…” muttered Maria but Anna didn’t hear her as she was already asleep.

  Chapter 39

  Severus woke and was surprised he was still alive. The sun shone through the cracks in the shutters, creating lines of illumination across the small room. The whole building felt still—it was still early. His head throbbed and spun dizzily as he tried to sit up. The room was empty.

  The eldon chuckled, bringing on a coughing fit that left red flecks of blood on his lips. The assassin had missed an opportunity to kill him. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and swung his feet onto the cold timber floor.

  The grey colour had returned to his skin and he no longer looked like death. Barefooted, he stood on the cold timber floor. He wobbled for a moment before the weakness of his limbs forced him sit back down on the edge of the bed. He was stubborn and had never given up on anything before and wasn’t going to start today. Grabbing the bed head for support, he pushed himself away from the bed and stumbled to the window. He threw open a shutter and stared out into the morning. The sun had just peeked over the ocean of trees and it bathed him in its warm light.

  The floor boards creaked outside the door and Severus turned to face whoever came in. He reached for the knife but his hand came up empty. Crap!

  The wooden handle turned and the door slowly open to reveal the board shape of an armoured dwarf. Seeing Severus standing, Karok pushed open the door fully and walked in. “Greetings, eldon. Good to see you still breathe.”

  “For now.” Severus felt naked without a weapon.

  The dwarf moved further into the room. “Are you able to travel?”

  “If I have to,” replied Severus. “Where’s your friend?”

  “He’s no friend of mine.” Karok’s hand slid down to the hand axe at his waist. His stern expression hadn’t changed.

  Just then Kliem walked in. “Am I interrupting?”

  “No,” replied Karok. “We were just talking about…the weather.” His hand moved away from his axe.

  “The knights are not able to find the princess’s trail,” said Kliem. “Woodsmen, they are not. Can you track them?”

  “Not yet,” said Severus. “I can barely stand.”

  “Don’t look at me,” said Karok. “I don’t like trees.”

  “I guess we’ll have to wait for Finn’s return,” said the gnome. “Hopefully, he will return soon.”

  At the first opportunity, I will kill that assassin.

  Chapter 40

  The undergrowth parted as several small, dirty creatures crept forward toward the two sleeping women huddled against a tree. They were vile little creatures and native to this forest. Their simple animal-like minds contained only the most basic thoughts; eat, drink, sleep and—kill. The leader spoke to his pack in a high-pitched cackling voice. It didn’t sound like a language but the creatures halted their advance.

  It was almost sunrise and the two guardians were still close by. They scared the small creatures as they were not native to the forest or even this world. But the sunlight would force the guardians to retreat and then the women’s flesh would be unprotected.

  Their warm, juicy flesh…

  Dappled light flickered across Anna’s face and rousted her from her sleep. Even though she had slept against a hard tree, she felt surprisingly refreshed and stood, stretching arms toward the sky.

  “Good morning, Anna,” said Maria. “How do you feel?”

  “Better…but hungry.”

  “Me, too. I am hungry enough to eat grass. We need to find food.”

  “We’re lost. We might as well spend time to find food.” Anna didn’t feel confident they would find anything to eat but kept her thoughts to herself.

  “Do you think those…things are gone?” asked Maria.

  “They’re gone. It’s strange…I can feel that they are gone.” Anna was surprised by her own revelation.

  The undergrowth moved, drawing Anna from her thoughts. She stepped back and grabbed Maria’s hand. The ferns and scrubs were still again.

  Anna breathed a sigh of relief. “It was a rabbit.”

  Maria gripped Anna’s ar
m and pointed to a dirty brown creature no more than 3-foot-tall crouching amongst the ferns. The creature’s small feline eyes stared at the young women with interest. Its features were pointed—its ears and nose were long. It had a mouth full of small sharp teeth giving it an evil look.

  “Goblin,” whispered Anna. This wasn’t the first time she had come across these evil little creatures. They were the lackeys of bigger creatures like orcs. Holding Maria’s hand, Anna edged away from the goblin and around the tree trunk. It was a good idea to put some distance between yourself and these vile little creatures. Impassively, the goblin watched but didn’t move.

  On the other side of the tree, Anna indicated they should sneak away and Maria nodded in agreement. Turning, they stopped cold in their tracks. There was another dirt-covered goblin standing in their path. It grinned wickedly, exposing its sharp teeth. The women stared at it and it stared back—neither wanting to make the first move.

  Quickly, Anna pulled Maria in another direction. “Sssstop!” said the creature.

  The women ran a few paces then halted. They looked at the creature whose voice was not designed to communicate with words.

  “Ssstop.” The goblin made a strange gagging action as it spoke, as though it had to force the words out.

  “What?” Anna found herself saying.

  “Stop…m—mmmistress.”

  “What?” she repeated, shocked that she was talking to a goblin. They had a well-deserved reputation of being blood thirsty savages.