《On the Wings of Midnight》


 Chapter 1

    The sky fell, screaming.


    Spears of glowing fire rained down from the night sky. Some hit the nearby water, the howl of their fiery passage extinguished in an explosion of water and steam. Some struck houses. The smaller ones, little burning peas, pitted miniature craters in walls and rooftops. Some were bigger, ripping through shingles and punching through roofs, leaving burning wood and shattered clay in their wake. The nightmarish sounds of splintering explosions suggested that some were disastrously large.


    Maethius entered Berendale at a dead sprint, hugging the sides of the street, hoping that the buildings would shield him from any but the largest of the fireballs. His younger brother Rhaiven ran with him, hugging the opposite side. Larger and stronger from his work as a stonemason''s apprentice, he kept pace easily.


    The brothers had been collecting firewood when the mountain exploded. They felt it more than heard it - a bone-grinding rumble as a pillar of smoke and fire shot towards the heavens. It lasted only seconds, followed by ominous quiet. As a silent black cloud slowly filled the sky, the brothers were about to give up their search and haul the half-filled wood-cart back to town. Then the rain of fire began pounding down around them, and they abandoned even that.


    "I''m going to find Thea!" Rai shouted. Math nodded, waving him away.


    "I''ll find Mom!" Math yelled back. Best to split up, he thought. Rai and Thea had only met this summer, but already were planning to be married next spring. Math was fond of the young girl and hoped she was safe, but as much as he wanted to go after her, his mother lived alone and would need help.


    Math turned a corner and Rai was almost instantly out of sight behind him, obscured by a cloud of ash and smoke. He was on her street now, her house a small, nondescript 2-floor cottage placed neatly in the middle of a row of small, nondescript 2-floor cottages. Half of them were in flames. Some of them were levelled. Math could make out a broken windowpane and the telltale glow of flames as he approached his mother''s home.


    The impacts around him were less frequent now but the town still burned. He hit the front door hard, splintering it off its hinges. His brother may have been stronger, but he was no runt. As kids, they had been able to hold their own even when outnumbered by town bullies three years older. It wasn''t long before the two of them were running off the street toughs, which earned them a constant crowd of young hangers-on at the time.


    "Ma!" he shouted as he crashed through the door. "Are you in here?" Inside, the fire was spreading quickly but the ground floor was not yet completely consumed. A quick check of the few rooms turned up nothing. He turned towards the stairs and was just able to hear his mother''s voice over the crackle of the flames.


    "I''m up here!" her voice carried down. Up the stairs Math could see more serious flames. Going down on hands and knees he scrambled quickly up, trying to stay below the heat and smoke.


    The top floor of the house was more of a low-ceilinged loft. The roof on each side slanted in, leaving enough room to barely stand upright only in the center of the room. This was where she slept. A low, long chest of drawers hugged one wall, just fitting under the slope of the low ceiling. Two windows occupied the unsloped ends. A small vanity sat near the window looking out over the street. A small bed occupied the other end. His mother Ana was near the chest of drawers, frantically gathering up a few of the knickknacks mothers collect over the years from their growing children.


    "Leave it!" Math ordered. "We have to go!" He grabbed her hand, dragging her towards the stairs. Reluctance showed on her face, but she didn''t argue. She was always a smart woman, and although willing to take some risk she saw the flames approaching and knew her son was right.


    "I''m coming. Where''s Rai? Is he alright?"Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    "He''s fine Ma, he went for Thea. Are you hurt?"


    "No I''m fine. Let''s --"


    They weren''t halfway to the stairs when they were thrown back by a hideous, unbearable detonation of wood. The ceiling didn''t collapse, it was just gone. Math pushed himself back to his feet quickly, pulling her mother up with him. The stairs were gone with the ceiling, leaving a gaping hole in the roof and the wall. He caught a glimpse of the town, still half in flames, then turned to look for an escape.


    "The window," he ordered. "Hurry!" He pulled his mother towards the now-shattered glass. She stumbled behind him, and he turned.


    "You are hurt," he said. The blood was visible now, a red blotch spreading out from the length of splintered wood protruding just above her knee.


    "I''m fine. Let''s go." She leaned heavily on his shoulder, swaying, but kept her feet.


    Math nodded and headed for the window as she hobbled next to him. The glass was mostly gone, leaving a few shards jutting out from the frame. Math kicked them free with a boot, then leaned out. The air outside was cool compared to the furnace in the house. Below, people ran up and down the street, all tending to their own personal emergencies. The window let out onto a thin strip of roof, then dropped to the cobbled walk leading up to the front door.


    "Can you hold on?" Math asked.


    "I think so."


    Math stepped through the window, one hand on the window frame, and balanced on the narrow row of shingles under the window.


    "Grab on," he said. She stepped gingerly through the window herself, grunting in pain as the shaft of wood piercing her leg bumped the window frame. Math steadied her with a hand to her shoulder, the other hand still gripping the wood frame. As she stepped out, she wrapped her arms over his shoulders, clasping them in front of his chest.


    "Ok, hold tight, and when I am hanging, you slide down." Math crouched down, gripping the edge of the roof, wondering if his grip or the clay tile would give way under their combined weight. He slid his legs over the edge, then his stomach, and started lowering himself down to get as close to the ground as he could before he let go.


    The tile gave way first, sliding free with a crack as he slid his chest down over the edge. He flailed desperately for a handhold but found only smooth slippery tile, followed by empty air. They were still several feet from the ground below, but he only had time to push himself away in an effort not to land on his passenger.


    The effort was barely enough. They hit the ground hard. He didn''t land directly on her but came down hard on her uninjured leg and arm. She cried out as they hit the ground, and Math heard and felt the crack of bone underneath him. His own ankle twisted on impact, and a wave of nausea overtook him as his elbow cracked against the stones.


    He laid on his back, stunned, as the house crackled and roared in flames in front of them. The house was close to fully engulfed, and the flames were searing his skin. Shaking his head clear he rolled to his knees, taking a quick inventory of his injuries. Pain shot through his ankle and elbow, but neither seemed to be broken.


    His mother was not so lucky. Her impaled leg still seeped blood, and blood also dripped from a gash that showed through the hair above her ear. Her other leg was twisted below the knee. She moaned weakly, but only one of her arms was moving.


    The storm of fire from the sky seemed to have ended, but the heat from the burning house was unbearable this close. Math forced himself to move, limping over to his mother''s head and grabbing the cloth over her shoulders. She was still conscious and knew she had to move. He could see her grit her teeth as he started dragging her further into the street. She groaned through her clenched jaw but didn''t scream. He saw Rai and Thea running up to the house then and let himself double over, coughing out soot until his chest felt like it was going to collapse.


    Rai immediately pulled the knife at his belt and cut a strip of cloth from his mother''s already ruined leggings. He cut the cloth completely away from the other leg and folded into a square. He packed the square around the wound, then fastened it down with the longer strip, tying it down tight enough to keep pressure on the wound.


    Math regained his breath enough to speech in a raspy, wheezing voice.


    "You ok?" he asked Thea.


    "I''m good," she answered.


    "Rai?" he asked.


    "We''re fine. Half the town''s gone though. And not everyone made it," Rhaiven replied.


    Math nodded but didn''t have the heart to ask who hadn''t. "Let''s get Mom to the surgeon," he suggested instead.


    The destruction around them had left enough broken timber to find a couple straight pieces to splint the broken leg. A couple more strips of cloth cut from the leggings tied them in place with a minimum of crying from the injured woman. The arm was not broken but seemed to hang loose from the shoulder. A makeshift sling kept it from moving, and the brothers lifted her onto half of a broken door as gently as they could. The improvised stretcher complete, they lifted her, one to each end, and went in search of the town''s only doctor.

 Chapter 2

    Theodora walked next to the wooden pallet, playing the dual role of holding Ana''s hand while doing her best to keep anyone running by in a panic from bumping her. Although she hadn''t known Ana long, she knew her by reputation. Her husband had been a stranger. He had been seen by few and known by fewer, even before he mysteriously disappeared shortly after the birth of his youngest son. He was still remembered as being tall, strong and striking to behold. The gossipmongers whispered that he had ties to the rebellious Sidhe, the strange folk said to haunt the forested mountainsides.


    Thea didn''t care one way or the other, but Ana herself was strong both in mind and body. In many ways she had to be, raising the two wild brothers, but that strength had been in her long before then. Her strength radiated from her even now, broken and battered and burned. Nobody in town would claim that she wasn''t still beautiful, even as she aged. Thea could easily imagine even one of the legendary Sidhe falling for her.


    The brothers took after their mother: dark-haired and dark-eyed but fair-skinned, and tall and strong. Math was the older by a handful of years, but still claimed to have no real memory of his father. The man had not spent much time in the home. Thea wondered if he ever spent more than the two nights with Ana that gave her the two sons. Math seemed none the worse for the lack of father figure. He had assumed responsibility for his mother and younger brother even at a young age, and never seemed to care where his father had run off to. He and his brother were far from the only boys to be missing a parent. War, work, accident and illness separated many a child from one or both parents.


    Rai was the younger, but taller even than Math''s above average height, with muscle corded thicker around arms and shoulders than his older brother. They stood out now as his hands gripped the edge of the improvised stretcher, lifting wood and woman with no apparent difficulty. With Math taking on the duties of the home, Rai helped out by apprenticing himself to Randal the stonemason. A few years of lifting and setting those stones had quickly added mass to his tall frame. His strength was becoming legendary in the small town. She loved that man.


    Thea had actually met Math first. He had been a tall, handsome, mysterious stranger who appeared from nowhere in a heavy downpour and helped her and her father dig their wagon out of the muck. He had insisted that the father and daughter follow him to his new house on the edge of town, where his mother and brother were visiting. She and her father had spent the evening sharing in his family''s simple but satisfying stew and warming themselves with conversation by the fireplace. Then, when the rain let up later in the evening, it was Rai who jumped up and offered to walk them home by lamplight. Math had accepted their thanks as they departed, then gone back to the books he was never long without.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    ¡°We shouldn¡¯t have left her,¡± Math said, voice full of self-accusation. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t have let her live alone.¡±


    ¡°Come on, Math,¡± Thea scolded. ¡°You know she didn¡¯t want you hanging around thinking she was some helpless old lady.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s right,¡± Rai said. ¡°Mom would be mad if she thought you were calling her helpless.¡±


    ¡°Besides, whether we lived with her or not, we¡¯d still have been out today instead of sitting around in the house,¡± Rai added.


    ¡°I know,¡± Math replied. ¡°I just feel helpless myself.¡±


    Thea glanced down at Ana. The woman was barely holding on to consciousness and gave no sign that she heard the conversation around her. Her hand was limp in Thea¡¯s, but the younger woman didn¡¯t let go.


    The crowd got thicker as they approached the center of town. People were gathering, looking for loved ones, trying to gather news or just figure out why their homes were now in rubble.


    ¡°I¡¯m telling you, I saw it!  Something came out of the mountain! Something big!¡±  a distraught, soot-smeared man was arguing to a few companions.


    ¡°Knock it off,¡± another answered. ¡°It¡¯s just an eruption, I heard about them before. Just never happened ¡®round here before is all,¡± another answered. His own clothes were singed and his hands blackened, his wild eyes a contrast to his evident attempt to sound informed.


    The benefit of the large crowd gathering in the square was that the bulk of the fires had been contained. Water lines had formed and walls had been torn down where necessary, sacrificing one building to keep the fire from spreading to a neighbor. The disadvantage was that their progress was slowed substantially, and the press of the people got tighter.


    Math led the way through the crowd, raising his voice to warn of their approach and lowering his shoulder a bit to force his way through when needed. As they neared their destination Thea could see tents and tarps erected around the doctor¡¯s home. Before she could make out their purpose, the press of the crowd got too close and she had to let go and fall in behind Rhaiven¡¯s broad shoulders.

 Chapter 3

    Rhaiven¡¯s hands cramped as he struggled to maintain his grip and keep his brother¡¯s pace. For a man constantly sitting in a chair, Math was able to keep a surprisingly brisk pace with the burden they carried. Rai was hard pressed to hold on and keep up, but he wasn¡¯t about to be the one to slow down their dash for the doctor.


    The doctor, or someone, had erected some crude canvas shelters on that side of the town¡¯s square. As they arrived, the press got closer and Thea dropped behind. Rai gave a concerned glance behind, trying to keep track of her, but almost stumbled in the process. A moment later he felt her hand on his back, reassuring him as she clutched the back of his shirt to make sure they didn¡¯t get separated.


    He was still amazed at how quickly he¡¯d fallen for the young woman. Named after her father, who had apparently been expecting a son, Theodora was clearly a source of pride to the frail man. Whip-smart and deceptively strong for her thin frame, she had no trouble handling the ailing innkeeper¡¯s books or rolling out casks. Those traits helped here elsewhere as well: she had taught more than one larger boy a lesson when too much ale took flirtatiousness across the lines of decency.


    Her spirit was evident the first time Rai had laid eyes on her, the night his brother had dragged her and her father into the house through the driving rain. She had looked up at him with wide and impossibly dark eyes peering out between the clumps of long brown hair plastered to her forehead. But she wasn¡¯t hunched under the weight of the wind and rain. She stood straight, defiance gleaming from her deep eyes even then.


    That willingness to stand up to the world served her well as she assumed more and more responsibility over her father¡¯s tavern. It served her tonight, as she played guardian to their injured cargo, protecting her from collisions by the panicked mob. It had served her well earlier, when Rai had found her, standing by her father in front of the bar and trying to force calmness on a frightened and riotous crowd of patrons. He wouldn¡¯t have tried to pull her away even after he saw she was safe, but her father and the other staff had matters in hand. She and Ana had become close themselves, and she was just as concerned as Rai and his brother.


    Ahead, Math¡¯s efforts to work his way through the crowd paid off, and suddenly space opened up around them as they passed through an opening in a rope cordon. Inside the roped-off


    space, volunteers had set up orderly rows of improvised cots and beds made from whatever could be salvaged or scavenged on short notice. The doctor himself was directing a man to lay the young boy in his arms on a nearby empty cot. The boy cried softly, blood dripping from his nose. The doctor gave him a quick inspection, then patted the father on the shoulder and moved on, looking for patients in more urgent need of care.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    The doctor spotted the brothers as the brothers spotted an empty cot and headed towards it. He hustled over and met them as they arrived.


    ¡°Where is she injured?¡±  he asked, even as he inspected the impaled leg.


    ¡°Her other leg is broken I think, and her shoulder, some cuts on her head,¡± Math answered.


    ¡°Mmhm,¡± the doctor mumbled. ¡°Needles, water and cloth!¡± he yelled to a young boy, who scurried off to fetch the doctor¡¯s tools. ¡°We¡¯re going to need to take this out, but we have to be prepared to stop her from bleeding.¡±


    He looked over the leg, probing it with his hands. Ana moaned as he touched her leg below the knee. After a brief but through exam, he moved up to the shoulder, probing again with expert fingers. ¡°The leg is broken,¡± he stated, then looked up at Math. ¡°You placed the splint?¡±


    ¡°Rai did,¡± he replied.


    ¡°It¡¯s excellent work. You did well,¡± he said to Rhaiven. Rai saw Math nod his own appreciation, while Thea gave his arm an affectionate squeeze. He nodded, keeping a straight face despite the flash of pride.


    ¡°The splint can stay for now. The shoulder is dislocated. I¡¯ll set it back in place before we remove the splinter,¡± the doctor said.


    Splinter is a bit of an understatement, Rai thought to himself as the doctor undid the binding on his mother¡¯s arm.


    ¡°Brace her down,¡± the doctor ordered as he lifted the injured arm. Rai and Math bent over their mother, holding her body in place as the doctor pulled her arm out and up. With a loud pop, the joint snapped back into place, and Ana gave a stifled cry.


    Rai straightened up and saw her eyes open wide. She was conscious again and struggling to stay stubborn and strong in front of others.


    ¡°It¡¯s ok Ma,¡± Rai said calmly. ¡°We¡¯re taking care of you.¡±


    Ana gave him a tight smile in return as the doctor¡¯s apprentice returned with a tray stacked high with supplies.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to need to bite down on this,¡± the doctor said as he placed a length of leather-wrapped wood between Ana¡¯s teeth. ¡°You two will need to hold her still while I remove the wood and repair the damage.¡±


    Rai and Math again bent over their mother to keep her from jerking and injuring the leg further. Math held her by the waist, leaving Rai at her shoulders and looking at her. ¡°I¡¯ll be ok, sweetheart. No worse than bringing the two of you into this world, huh?¡±  She mumbled around the bit and winked at him. Rai chuckled. Then the doctor went to work, and she threw her head back, the sinews on her neck bulging as her jaws clenched tight around the leather.

 Chapter 4

    ¡°Here you go, son,¡± Trey said as he dropped the new fencepost into the freshly dug post-hole with a thump. He held it upright as his son began packing loose dirt back into the hole. Merek was his youngest, barely eight, but insisted on tagging along with the older men and helping. Trey often found, to his great pride, that Merek actually was more of a help than a hindrance. The bright-eyed, enthusiastic boy never seemed to run out of energy.


    A short distance away, Brom, his oldest son, worked at digging the hole for the next post. Brom was nearly an adult, lean and sinewy but a capable hand around the farm. Trey watched him work as Merek finished filling his hole and stomped the dirt down. The boy had grown up well, if he did say so himself. Brom finished digging as he watched, stabbing the thin shovel into the dirt next to the newly dug pit and leaving it standing upright.


    ¡°You¡¯re slowing down, Pops,¡± he said with a grin. ¡°Try and keep up! We¡¯ve got a lot more to do today.¡±


    Although the banter was a good-natured jest, Brom was right. Yesterday¡¯s hellish storm had knocked out several sections of fencing around the horse pastures, not to mention the hole in the roof of the farmhouse. Trey counted his family lucky. The burning rock had splintered that section of roof, punched a large hole in the side wall, and exited the house without setting the whole thing on fire. The stables themselves, miraculously, were unharmed. Had any of those balls of flame landed in the hay-lined barn, the horses would have been done for.


    Despite their relative good luck, they still had some work to do. He had nailed old sheets across the holes to keep out the wind and leaves and headed for the fields with his sons to get the fence back up. Other than the thin plume trailing up from the smoking mountain, the sky was clear of clouds. With no sign of rain, the roof could wait a day so they could get the horses back out to pasture.


    Two whistled notes pulled his attention back towards the farmhouse. His daughter Aylie was a couple years older than Merek, and every bit as energetic as her little brother. She held a small basket in one hand and a pitcher in the other. A loaf of bread jutted up out of the basket, giving away the girl¡¯s mission before she announced it.


    ¡°Hi Daddy! Momma and me packed you some lunch!¡±  Her face lit up with her proud smile. Just like her little brother, she loved to feel like she could contribute as much as a grown-up. And like her little brother, she was surprisingly capable of doing so. Or at least Trey saw it that way. It wasn¡¯t often he found fault in his little ones.


    ¡°That¡¯s very sweet Aylie, thank you,¡± Trey said, one hand resting gently on her head as he took the basked from her.


    ¡°And we¡¯ve got the first batch of apple cider, too,¡± she beamed.


    ¡°That¡¯s great, Aylie,¡± Brom said as he walked over and relieved her of the pitcher. ¡°Want to have a picnic with us?¡±  Brom doted on his little brother and sister almost as much as Trey did. Neither of them minded not getting a fence fixed if it meant a picnic in the field with a couple smiling imps.


    Aylie clapped in delight at being invited to stay and feast with the boys, then spotted Brom lifting the pitcher to his lips.


    ¡°Hey! No!¡± she scolded. ¡°There¡¯s cups in the basket.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry,¡± Brom said, mouth turned down in a remorseful frown. His eyes were still crinkled in a smile, and his mouth turned right back up as he put the pitcher to his lips and took a swig anyways.


    ¡°Brom!¡± she yelled. ¡°That¡¯s not funny!¡±


    ¡°It kind of is,¡± he replied


    ¡°Quit stirring up your sister,¡± Trey cut in.


    Brom lowered the pitcher but kept smiling as he sat down, poking his sister in the belly as he did and provoking a squealing laugh.


    The others sat down as well. Trey pulled four wooden cups out of the basket and started pouring cider while Merek went for the bread. The loaf was already sliced, each cut not quite finished so the loaf would stay together but pull apart easily. He tore off the heel for himself and passed the loaf to his brother. Chunks of cheese from the picnic basket rounded out the light lunch.


    Trey ate quietly, watching his children joke and laugh with each other. Despite the too-recent natural disaster, he was truly happy. But, happy or not, there was work to be done. After a short rest, it was time to get the boys moving again.


    ¡°That was delicious, sweetheart,¡± he thanked the happy girl. Brom and Merek mumbled agreement through mouths full of bread and cheese.


    ¡°Take this back to your mother for me, then if you want you can come help us with the fence.¡± Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    ¡°Yes!¡±  She replied, jumping up immediately and picking up the basket. Aylie had never been afraid to get her hands dirty, and today did not look to be any different. She collected the cups from her brothers, waiting impatiently for Merek to finish his cider and deposit his cup in the basket. Then she picked up the empty pitcher and hurried back to drop off the remains of the picnic, eager to get back and show the boys that she could build a fence just as well as any of them.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be right back!¡± she yelled over her shoulder as she ran.


    Trey chuckled as he watched her go. ¡°Alright boys, let¡¯s get at it,¡± he said.


    Brom and Merek stood and dusted the grass from their trousers as they headed back to the fence line. Trey headed to Brom¡¯s new post-hole and picked up the heavy post lying nearby. Brom yanked the spade out of the ground and paced out the distance to the next spot to dig.


    Trey was steadying the post in the new hole, Merek once again packing the dirt around it, when he heard the terrified scream.


    ¡°Daddy!¡±  Aylie yelled. Trey looked up to see the girl barreling across the pasture, panicked. ¡°Daddy help!¡±


    Trey started jogging towards the little girl, concerned. She wasn¡¯t one to be scared of spiders and mice. Brom and Merek stopped their work and stood watching.


    ¡°It got Mommy! Help!¡± She yelled, and Trey picked up the pace.


    ¡°What the Hell?¡± He heard Brom say behind him. ¡°Merek, look out!¡±


    Trey turned to see the ground give way beneath his youngest son. Merek fell as the grass and dirt sunk downward underneath him, the surface giving way as one foot sunk beneath the ground completely. Brom was already there, grabbing his brother and pulling him back up. Merek screamed as Brom pulled, the sound carrying more than just fear. There was pain in that yell.


    Trey paused, torn. Brom saw his father stop, stuck with indecision between his two youngest children.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got him. Get Aylie!¡± Brom yelled. Even as he said it, he had Merek up and running towards him. Brom followed behind his little brother.


    Trey turned back towards Aylie. She was still halfway across the pasture. Trey started to run again but had only taken two more steps when an explosion of dirt sprayed up just in front of Aylie. She screamed in horror at the broken ground and fell backwards. It was too far away to make out, but Trey thought he saw something moving in the clumped earth.


    He leaned into a full sprint now, desperate to reach his daughter. Aylie scrambled quickly to her feet and pumped her little legs as fast as they could carry her back towards the farmhouse. Behind him, Bron was egging his brother on faster. Trey glanced back over his shoulder and saw Merek racing towards him, Bron coming on behind but looking behind him while he ran.


    Bron went down then, while Trey watched. Merek raced on, not realizing he had lost his rearguard. A quick look back showed Aylie on her feet and running, apparently unharmed. Trey stopped and reversed course again, heading for Merek and Bron. He reached Merek in seconds.


    ¡°Go, boy. Get to the house,¡± he ordered. The boy¡¯s trousers were shredded at the ankle, long, bleeding scratches obvious on the exposed skin. Trey gave them only a glance in passing, then kept his eyes on his older son.


    Several yards away, Bron was on the ground, clutching frantically at grass and roots. His body from the waist down was buried underground, and his torso was following fast. Confusion and fear filled his eyes as he looked to his father. Then he coughed, one time, and a spray of blood spewed from his mouth and nose. His eyes lost focus, his hands stopped their wild grab for purchase, and his head and arms dropped out of sight before Trey could grab a hand.


    ¡°Bron!¡±  Trey yelled. ¡°Oh god, no.¡±  He stared in horror at the churned earth, the spray of his son¡¯s blood pointing the way to the hole left by the boy¡¯s descent.


    Trey paused where he had dropped to his knees reaching for his son. Shock threatened to freeze him in place, but the thought of his two younger children overcame grief for the moment. He willed himself to move and sprung back to his feet, eyes searching frantically for his other two children.


    Aylie had almost reached the farmhouse, still screaming. The door hung open, but despite the girl¡¯s shrieks her mother was nowhere to be seen.


    Merek was halfway across the pasture. As Trey forced himself back into action, he spotted the earth churning ahead of Merek¡¯s path.


    ¡°Merek! Watch the ground!¡± He yelled. Merek was too far away or too panicked to hear. As Trey ran desperately, a hole just wide enough for a boy to drop into opened in the boy¡¯s path. Merek, eyes focused up at his destination, never saw it. He stepped into empty air and went down, his momentum slamming him into the opposite side. He paused there for a moment, then dropped out of sight.


    ¡°No!¡± Trey cried. ¡°Merek!¡±  He reached the spot where the boy had vanished a few seconds later. The hole opened up into darkness, the daylight not penetrating more than a few inches into the void. ¡°Merek!¡± he yelled into the pit. Only silence emanated from below. ¡°Merek!¡± he yelled again, with the same result. His now desperate thoughts almost had him climbing headfirst into that hole when he heard Aylie¡¯s scream from the house.


    He looked up at the sound and saw the girl at the door, standing, a look of fear on her face. Then he realized she wasn¡¯t standing, she was holding on. Her small hands gripped the doorframe, clinging, knuckles white and eyes wide with fear. Before Trey could even leap to his feet her body was pulled inward, leaving her hanging on the doorframe as if on the edge of a cliff. She held for only a second, but her small arms were no match for whatever had its hold on her. Her grip broke, and she disappeared into the house with a shriek.


    A stabbing pain shot through Trey¡¯s shoulder, as if pierced by several tiny knives. They dug into his skin, penetrating into his muscle, and yanked him backwards. A clawed hand covered his face and pulled his head back, forcing him down to the ground. More hands grasped at his legs, tearing cloth and skin. Sharp nails tore his shirt, tearing at his belly, opening the flesh. Mouths full of needled teeth closed on his exposed skin, gnawing and tearing as he screamed. Blinded by blood and talons ripping at his face, he couldn¡¯t see his attackers as they dragged him headfirst over the ground, scratching and biting. Then the ground opened up beneath his head and shoulders and he was pulled down. What daylight filtered through blood-filled eyes went out as his body filled the tunnel above his head, and the silent earth muffled his last screams.

 Chapter 5

    Maethius woke from his uncomfortable doze and reflexively massaged hands and fingers chafed raw and aching from the strain of carrying their patient. He would have liked a touch of his brother¡¯s strength for that rushed trip to the doctor; Rhaiven had not even seemed to break a sweat. There were definite benefits to hauling rocks all day. Beside him Ana slept restlessly in the late morning light.


    Math had insisted on sending Rai home with Thea to stay with her father. Though he hadn¡¯t wanted to leave, Rai had seen the wisdom in splitting their attention. Math had spent the night trying to sleep as best he could in a cracked wooden chair pulled from a still smoking building next door. The doctor had stopped by a couple times during the night, apparently not getting much sleep himself. He had changed the bandages and the herb poultice each time he stopped by, wrinkling his nose in apparent concern each time he changed the pungent concoction. The concern now was infection, Math knew. That and the rot could bring down even the strongest-willed person if the wound went sour. A sheen of perspiration was already starting to bead up on her forehead.


    Down the row of beds, a few children got too restless to stay near whatever injured family member they were attached to and began a game of Catch the Kobald under the neighboring beds and cots. The doctor appeared almost immediately, shoeing them out past the rope boundary and making them find other means of playing the burrowing fairy-tale horrors. As they passed by Math¡¯s post they switched nursery games, splitting into farmers and Sidhe and chasing each other out into the square.


    Nobody but the children ever talked about the Sidhe in the open. The old folks said they were traitors to humanity. Tall, beautiful, and strong, the pale creatures supposedly had hidden themselves away in forests and caves a thousand years ago. Nobody alive had seen one, but they and the Kobali were the default bogey-men for any bad happenings. While the Kobali were blamed every time a sheep ran off or a grain silo sprung a leak, the Sidhe were apparently responsible for anything a superstitious villager might attribute to an evil spirit.


    Gossip and rumor had linked Math¡¯s own father to the Sidhe. Math had only vague memories of the man from some time shortly before his younger brother was born. He had apparently kept to himself, which always raises the suspicion of those who like to pry into the business of others. Math had overheard many variations: his father had been murdered by the Sidhe, his father had murdered a Sidhe, his father had joined the Sidhe, his father had been enchanted by a Sidhe princess; each tale was as unlikely as the last.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Math just assumed his father had not wanted the responsibility of children. He wouldn¡¯t be the first father to shirk that particular responsibility. Had his mother not been such a strong and self-sufficient woman, he probably would have harbored more bitterness for the man. As it was, though, his mother had gotten along just fine with her two boys. He had long since outgrown the boyish fantasies of his larger-than-life father striding back into town, having been held captive by the Kobali and having avoided being eaten only by his wits and superhuman strength, scooping his sons up with joy and living happily ever after. Now he just didn¡¯t care. He was a stranger like any other man he¡¯d never met.


    The doctor made it to Ana¡¯s bedside in the wake of the battling kids and set to work changing the dressing. Ana awoke almost immediately as he tended to the painful wound.


    As usual, the doctor¡¯s nostrils flared in distaste at what he saw under the sharp smell of the compress. Math¡¯s eyes narrowed, concerned, as the doctor paused for longer than usual to examine the wound. The slight smell of rot reached him before the doctor spoke, confirming his fears.


    ¡°The rot has set in,¡± the doctor said as he turned and looked at Math.


    ¡°How bad?¡±


    The doctor turned back to his patient. ¡°We can save her. But we can¡¯t save the leg.¡±


    Maethius swore. He looked down at his mother as he felt her slip a hand into his. Even she couldn¡¯t keep the fear out of her eyes at the thought of an amputation.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do?¡± Math asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. If it spreads too high up the leg, it¡¯ll kill her. It spreads fast. I¡¯ll let you two talk about it while I gather what I need.¡±


    The doctor walked quickly away, rattling off a list of items and sending his apprentice off at a run.


    ¡°It has to be done,¡± Ana said. ¡°It¡¯ll be ok. I¡¯ll make do with one. Better than the alternative.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry Ma,¡± Math said.


    ¡°I know.¡±  She squeezed his hand.


    They sat in silence then, unable to think of anything relevant to say until the doctor returned. He looked at Math as he approached, eyebrow raised in the unspoken question. Math just nodded, and the doctor set up a portable table and started laying out his collection of vicious-looking implements. His assistant approached with a small teacup while he worked.


    ¡°Have her drink this,¡± he instructed as he handed the cup to Math.


    Math cradled her head and tipped the milky liquid up to her lips, catching a faint, sweet, slightly spicy aroma. She sipped it carefully, trying not to spill it onto herself. Despite the grimace as she sucked at the bitter draught, she finished the cup and laid her head back.


    ¡°Do you want to stay for this?¡± the doctor asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ll stay. Just tell me what to do.¡±


    Ana was already fading into sleep, eyes rolled back in her head and mouth hanging open. The doctor began giving Math instructions as he pulled out a jagged, wicked-looking saw. Math took a breath, gritted his teeth and set himself for the task ahead.

 Chapter 6

    ¡°We¡¯re going to need help. The Kobalds are going to smell blood!¡± the old man shouted in the crowded square.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous,¡± another yelled. ¡°You go asking for help against imaginary bogey-men and they¡¯ll be laughing so hard they¡¯ll never agree to send anything.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re real! My chickens got ate last night!¡±


    ¡°What, you never heard of foxes, coyotes, or anything else that actually does exist?¡± another joined in.


    ¡°It was the Kobali, I¡¯m telling you!¡± the man with the lost chickens insisted. ¡°Pulled them right underground!¡±


    Math tuned out the argument and turned to Ana. After a harrowing two weeks since she had lost her leg, she had finally insisted on leaving the bed that morning. The doctor had found an old wheeled chair, and Math had gingerly lifted her into it. Her left thigh was wrapped thickly with bandages, halfway down to where the knee would have been. Then it ended, abruptly. Her right leg lay stretched straight in front of her, resting on a padded support. It was still wrapped in splints but healing nicely. She would have at least one healthy leg at the end of it. She claimed her shoulder was as good as ever, though the doctor had ordered her to go easy on it.


    They were gathered outside a council meeting. The last two weeks had given the town time to clean up a lot of the rubble, but with half the town burned many were still living in tents in the streets or the surrounding fields. Hunger was setting in, clean water was hard to come by, and sickness was becoming a concern. The council intended to ask for help from the nearest towns and was looking for someone willing to leave their own repairs for later.


    Math was seated at their table now. Although he wasn¡¯t part of the council himself, he frequently sat in on the meetings and offered his opinions. He read more than most and the council had come to value his input. He suspected his friend Sarys was grooming him to take over a seat and retire, but Math wasn¡¯t interested in the politicking.


    ¡°You¡¯re the best one to go, Math,¡± Sarys was telling him. ¡°Your brother can handle your mother and his girl¡¯s father. The people in Tameron will respect you.¡±The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°He¡¯s right,¡± Ana agreed. ¡°Rai can take care of me and Thea. We¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not leaving you this soon,¡± he argued. ¡°There are plenty of others who can go. I barely know anyone in Tameron.¡±


    He saw Ana roll her eyes as he dug in his heels.


    ¡°It¡¯s a week-long trip each way. I¡¯m needed around here. Someone¡¯s been stealing livestock, and we need to put a stop to it. Folks are hungry enough."


    ¡°Listen Math,¡± Sarys pleaded. ¡°We are already short a man on the council, with Trey taking his family and disappearing. The rest of us can barely lead the recovery as it is.¡±


    Math didn¡¯t even acknowledge the empty fifth council chair. Trey was often a little lax with his responsibilities. The empty chair was a common sight.


    ¡°There are plenty of folks with homes that weren¡¯t damaged. There¡¯s no reason it has to be me,¡± Math insisted.


    Sarys sighed, conceding that there really wasn¡¯t any reason not to send someone else to beg grain from Tameron. Math knew he should be flattered that the councilman wanted to put such faith in him. At the moment, though, he was more concerned about his own family.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry Sarys. Please excuse me for a while,¡± Ana spoke up. ¡°I need a break, Math,¡± Ana said, resting her hand on her son¡¯s wrist.


    ¡°Sure Ma.¡±  Math took hold of the handles on the wheeled chair and carefully turned her away from the table.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry too, Sarys. You know I¡¯d love to help, but I can¡¯t go right now.¡±


    ¡°I understand boy. Take care of your own. There will be plenty more to do later.¡±


    Math nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll help with whatever I can, as long as I can stay close.¡±


    ¡°If you get a chance, swing by Trey¡¯s place in the next couple days. Tell him I said to get his lazy ass over here,¡± Sarys said as Math wheeled Ana away.


    ¡°I will,¡± Math promised.


    Math and Ana were silent until they were a good distance from the crowd.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t your fault, Math,¡± she finally said. ¡°A mother wants her sons to grow up and have their own lives, not be constantly waiting on an old lady.¡±


    ¡°I know Ma. But you can¡¯t even walk right now. How are you going to get around?¡±


    ¡°Rai will help. You wouldn¡¯t be gone more than a week.¡±


    ¡°Rai has Thea to look after now. And her father. I don¡¯t have anyone taking up my time, it¡¯s better not to put it all on him.¡±


    Ana didn¡¯t press the point. Math knew she¡¯d never admit to needing the help, but that she was smart enough to silently accept it.


    ¡°I¡¯ll head out to Trey¡¯s tomorrow,¡± he said. ¡°If he hates being in town so much, maybe they¡¯ll convince him to make the run.¡±

 Chapter 7

    Rhaiven ran the foxtail brush along the face of the wall, knocking away the last of the excess mortar. He stood back and examined his work, giving it a last inspection to make sure everything was proper. Satisfied, he started gathering his tools and cleaning up.


    ¡°Thanks, Rai,¡± Thea said, seeing him finishing up and stepping outside. ¡°He¡¯s too weak to patch the wall himself, we really appreciate it.¡±  She stepped up to him and gave him a light kiss on the cheek to prove it.


    Rai set his tools down and grabbed her in both arms, unwilling to let her get away with such a small token of affection.


    ¡°Well if he¡¯s going to be my father-in-law soon, I guess I better start building up some good will,¡± he replied, kissing her and letting his hands wander down to her backside, then pulling her against him.


    ¡°If it¡¯s good will you want, then you better hope he doesn¡¯t see what you¡¯re doing to his daughter!¡± she laughed, then reciprocated the affection with her mouth and her hands.


    Way too quickly for Rhaiven¡¯s taste, she pulled away. ¡°Come on, you. We¡¯re supposed to be working. If you¡¯re done with the wall, Mrs. Greenway found another one of those holes behind her house.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s with all the sinkholes?¡± Rai said. ¡°We must have a plague of giant moles.¡±


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s the Sidhe, digging up from the underworld to steal our babies,¡± Thea laughed.


    ¡°I thought it was the Kobali who dug up from below the ground and stole babies to use their blood for their sorcery. Isn¡¯t that what everyone¡¯s saying?  The Sidhe steal souls. And sheep. They apparently love their sheep,¡± Rai said with a smirk.


    ¡°No no, the dragon under the mountain steals the souls of those get too close to the mountain. The Sidhe take the strongest, smartest babies and turn them into more Sidhe in secret rituals,¡± Thea countered.


    ¡°Wait, don¡¯t the Sidhe command the dragon? Or does the dragon command the Sidhe?  And which one keeps the Kobalds as pets?¡±  Rai asked, trying to stay one step more farfetched than his fianc¨¦e.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Thea just smacked him playfully. ¡°Ok, funny. Get moving, so you¡¯re done before dinner. You promised to spend the evening with us.¡±


    Rai smiled again, then stole one more kiss before he picked his tools back up. Thea returned it with enthusiasm. He set the tools near the newly repaired wall and grabbed a shovel for the next chore. He smiled at Thea as he headed out, then smiled wider as she sent him off with a playful slap to the backside.


    Mrs. Greenway¡¯s place was just down the street. The sinkholes were appearing with greater frequency now. They were more a nuisance than anything else but needed to be taken care of lest a small child or old man stumble in and turn an ankle or a knee or get stuck. Most were easy enough to block up, but some of them seemed bottomless. No amount of dirt would fill them. Those they simply covered with planks and marked with posts to warn those walking nearby.


    Mrs. Greenway was waiting outside her door.


    ¡°Oh, thank you so much for coming, Ray,¡± she said. ¡°You and your brother are always such a big help.¡±


    ¡°No trouble at all, Mrs. Greenway,¡± Rai replied. ¡°Where¡¯s the hole?¡±


    ¡°Over around the side here.¡± She walked around the side of the house. ¡°It¡¯s a big one.¡±


    Rai whistled. ¡°Sure is. Biggest one I¡¯ve seen.¡±  The hole was a full three feet around. The shade of the house kept the sunlight from falling much past the mouth, so Rai could not see the bottom. He kicked at the edge, dislodging a small cascade of dirt, but the sound didn¡¯t give him any more clue how deep it went.


    ¡°Too big to fill in, do you think?¡±


    ¡°It might be. We¡¯d have to dig a big pit somewhere just to get the dirt for it. Let me go find a few boards and I¡¯ll cover it up for now.¡±


    He stood studying the hole for a few moments, then waved to the woman.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon,¡± he said, and walked off down the street.


    There were still plenty of piles of broken buildings laying around. Rai didn¡¯t have far to walk to find a few suitable planks. Laid crossways across the mouth of the hole, anchored by bricks salvaged from the same broken houses, the boards would at least prevent a major accident until the hole could be filled.


    He carried the wood back to the elderly woman¡¯s house and back to the hole.


    ¡°Mrs. Greenway? I¡¯m back,¡± he called as he set the board down. When she didn¡¯t answer, he went to work placing the boards over the hole. Once those were in place, he took another short trip to gather a couple broken bricks heavy enough to hold the wood in place against accidental jostling.


    As he returned, he noticed the front door standing ajar.


    ¡°Hello?¡± he called through the open door. There was still no answer. A quick, discreet peek inside to just make sure she was alright revealed a room neat, clean, and unoccupied. Mrs. Greenway had apparently walked off to handle some business of her own. With a shrug, Rai closed the door for her and finished weighting down the wooden blockade.

 Chapter 8

    Thea leaned over the table, towel in hand, and wiped it clean of crumbs and droplets of water, wine and ale. The tavern¡¯s common room was nearly empty. The last of the lunch crowd was finishing up and making their exit. Business had been good in the last week or so. With all the extra work to be done, workers and laymen alike were building up a good thirst and a good appetite. The stools along the bar were not quite as busy, though. Folks had less time to sit and lounge the afternoon away at the tavern bar.


    Thea stacked the table¡¯s two dirty plates, piled the forks and knives on top and picked them up with her towel-free hand. Her father stood behind the bar, leaning with one hand while he wiped the surface down with his own towel in the other. He gave her a wink as she walked past toward the kitchen. She couldn¡¯t help but smile back. Despite the aches in his old bones, he never lost his sense of humor.


    A quick kick to the bottom of the kitchen door swung it easily open on oiled hinges. She carried her load quickly through, clearing the door before it had time to swing closed. She paused at the large sink for a moment, sighing at the mountain of dirty dishes piled in and beside it. With the busboys pulled away to help their own families, Thea and her father were trying to run the entire place themselves. They were struggling to keep up. She had a busy afternoon ahead of her, getting the place ready for the dinner crowd. She found a stable place in the heap to set these latest dishes without upsetting the whole pile and headed back out to the common room.


    As she stepped through the door, she saw that more company had arrived. Sarys, the town councilman, leaned casually at the bar talking to her father. His two young boys stood a short distance behind him, pouting, clearly unhappy to be there.


    ¡°Thanks Walter,¡± Sarys was saying to her father. ¡°You know I wouldn¡¯t ask if we weren¡¯t in a real bind here.¡±


    ¡°I know. Just so long as we can keep things moving here. Don¡¯t keep her away too long,¡± Walter replied.


    Thea stepped behind the bar, eyeing Sarys suspiciously.


    ¡°What are you volunteering me for, Dad?¡±  she asked, still eyeing Sarys with good-natured mock hostility.


    ¡°Nothing sweetheart. Sarys just wants to ask a favor. I¡¯ve long since given up trying to order you to do anything.¡±  She caught him smiling at her out of the corner of her eye.


    ¡°Listen Thea. We need to get Trey back here. He¡¯s got the fastest horses, he travels the road the most, and the people in Tameron like him. If he won¡¯t come help us direct the repairs, we need him to go ask for aid. You know he¡¯s too stubborn to listen to me.¡±


    ¡°Math knows him better than I do. Why not ask him? You know Dad and I are running ragged trying to keep things running here,¡± she said.


    ¡°I already asked your future brother in law,¡± he answered, eyes twinkling. ¡°He¡¯s actually heading over there now. But I know how Margaret takes to you. Might help convince him if you get the wife on our side, too.¡±


    ¡°I would, Sarys,¡± she replied, ¡°but there¡¯s just no way I can leave in the middle of the day.¡±


    ¡°I know. That¡¯s what they¡¯re here for,¡± he said, motioning to the scowling boys. ¡°Henry, Peter. Get to work. Now,¡± he ordered. ¡°The dishes will need to be washed by dinner time.¡±  He was firm, he wasn''t angry. Though young, the boys were old enough to understand the need to help out after a disaster. They shuffled off to the kitchen, sullen looks still stuck to their faces.


    ¡°It¡¯ll take ¡®til evening to get out there and back. The boys going to cook, too?¡± Thea asked.


    ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m here for,¡± Sarys smiled. Walter reached under the bar and came up with a folded apron, which he slid across the bar to Sarys. Sarys shook it out and tied it around his waist. ¡°I¡¯ll pull double duty until you get back. But you¡¯d better hurry, I¡¯m a horrible cook,¡± he winked.


    Not exactly true, thought Thea. He was, after all, the son of a baker. He¡¯d handle the kitchen just fine.


    She sighed again, untying her own apron. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll go.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Sarys said. ¡°This really is a big help.¡±


    She set her apron down behind the bar and took a quick look around the room, checking for anything that needed immediate attention. Not seeing anything urgent, she kissed her father on the cheek and headed out the front door. Competent or not, she wanted to leave the tavern in the hands of two young boys and an inexperienced councilman for as little time as possible.


    Mrs. Greenway¡¯s place was on the way out of town, and she hoped to catch Rai if he was still there. They hadn¡¯t gotten much time together over the past two weeks, so she welcomed the excuse to give him a chance to steal a quick kiss. Or to steal one of her own if she managed to sneak up on him.


    The two of them had made every effort to be inseparable this summer. They were getting very accomplished at finding one pretext or another to run into one another throughout the course of their busy days. Rai had taken to eating breakfast, lunch and dinner at the tavern. He helped out enough after hours that Walter had never complained about Thea serving him on the house. Sometimes he even brought his own lunch and took up a table in the corner just to be there with her while she worked. Thea in turn found herself taking the long way around to finish any errands that needed running during the day. The long way always involved a route past whatever job Rai was working at that day.


    She found him hammering a thin post into the dirt next to the now barricaded hole. A thin red strip of cloth hung from the top of the pole to catch the attention of anyone wandering too close. The temporary lid was just a safety measure, not meant to actually allow someone to walk across, but the less townsfolk who fell into random sinkholes the better.


    ¡°Hi,¡± she caught his attention with a smile.


    ¡°Hi yourself,¡± he replied. ¡°Where are you off to?¡±  He dropped his mallet into his bucket of tools and made a token effort to dust himself off as he walked over.


    ¡°Sarys asked me to go help Math convince Trey to go to Tameron,¡± she answered. ¡°Want to come with?¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Rai said as he reached her. He placed a dusty hand on each cheek and planted a firm kiss on her lips. She kept her eyes closed for a moment after he pulled away, savoring the touch of fingers and lips.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go then,¡± she said once she opened her eyes. ¡°I can¡¯t take forever; I need to get back.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll just leave the tools here. She won¡¯t mind,¡± he said.


    ¡°You going to let her know you¡¯re finished?¡±


    ¡°Nah, she¡¯s not home, went off somewhere.¡±


    Thea shrugged and slipped her hand into his. His callused fingers wrapped around hers as they walked. Trey¡¯s farm was about an hour¡¯s walk once they hit the edge of town. They passed it talking about nothing important, enjoying each other¡¯s company. Despite her initial objections, Thea was glad for the short time alone with him.


    The road passed quickly underfoot while they were absorbed with each other, and Trey¡¯s farm was in view before they knew it. The pastures were empty of horses, and Thea and Rai saw nobody moving around the farmhouse.


    ¡°Math must be inside with them,¡± Rai said.


    ¡°Yeah. You¡¯d think he¡¯d have the horses out to pasture though,¡± Thea replied.


    Rai didn¡¯t answer. They turned off the road onto the path leading up to the house.


    ¡°Look, Rai. Look at all the holes,¡± Thea said. A dozen open pits were obvious in the fields to either side of the path. Up ahead, the house¡¯s front door stood open. ¡°What is going on here?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Rai replied, ¡°but something¡¯s not right.¡±


    ¡°Where is your brother?¡± Thea asked.


    ¡°Math!¡± Rai cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled. ¡°Math! Trey! You here?¡±


    ¡°What is that?¡± Thea asked, pointing to what looked like a brown, shaggy rock a few yards from the door.


    They stopped as she walked over to investigate. The thing was covered in short brown fur, with a longer strip like a horse¡¯s mane attached to the top. She nudged it over with her foot, then gave a shocked cry. It really was a horse¡¯s mane. The thing was half the head of a horse, one ragged end the stump of its neck. It had been lying face down, resting on half of a snout that ended just past the eyes as if gnawed away by a giant rodent. The eyes and ears had long since been eaten away by insects and vermin. A swarm of flies buzzed up as her probing foot toppled it over.


    ¡°What the hell?¡± Rai cursed, then yelled for his brother again. ¡°Math! Where are you?¡±


    ¡°Rai, I think we need to go,¡± Thea said. A few feet from the chunk of horse, the sound of scrabbling and loose gravel was emanating from one of the strange sinkholes. A strange glimmer from the pit caught the light, almost like¡­eyes¡­


    A sudden loud crash pulled Thea¡¯s attention away from the strange hole. Maethius came flying from inside the house, body slamming into the open door as he turned the corner to exit, smashing it against the wall hard enough to crack the plaster. As he bounced off the wood and redirected his momentum out the door, he saw his brother and Thea standing shocked before him. His face and hands were bloody, his clothes ripped. His right hand gripped a carving knife, stained red. He opened his mouth and yelled with more horror than Thea thought either brother was capable of displaying.


    ¡°Run!¡±


    They stood confused as he barreled out the door. Something skittered behind him. Math heard the claws scrabbling behind him and turned as a short, ugly creature launched itself out the door. Thea caught a glimpse of brown leathery skin, slitted yellow eyes, and long, curved claws. The thing leapt at Math as he spun, bringing the knife up under the thing¡¯s chin. The blade slammed up through the lower jaw as the creature started opening its dog-like muzzle, exposing wicked pointed teeth. The solid impact drove the blade through the roof of its mouth and into its head, forcing the jaws shut and pinning them there with the blade. The momentum of its lunge carried the now lifeless carcass into Math¡¯s arm as he twisted to dodge. As it dropped, the dead weight ripping the knife out of his hand, he turned back to the stunned watchers.


    ¡°RUN!¡±


    Rai and Thea turned to run, spurred by the urgency and fear in Math¡¯s voice. He caught them each by the cloth at their shoulders, clutching and pushing them forward. Shrill cries and screeches poured from the building behind them. Thea turned to the side as she stumbled. Half a dozen sinkholes were evident now in the field beside the path. Horror poured out of them. Several of the foul creatures clambered out, shaking dirt off their splotchy hides as they eyed the runners. They ran upright once they were above ground, like tiny men with reptilian skin and dog-like faces.


    Thea caught her balance quickly. The chattering and screaming were all around them. The field on the opposite side was likewise pockmarked with holes. Another half dozen of the dwarfish dog-men were leaping out of those holes, slavering and growling. She didn¡¯t pause to look behind her; she could hear well enough that the pursuit surrounded them on three sides.


    Weaponless, they pounded down the path trying to escape the jaws of the trap threatening to enclose them. As they passed a thick oak near the side of the path, one of the creatures darted out, biting at Rai¡¯s legs. The teeth were easily long enough to pierce a hamstring or a tendon, and Thea knew if they went down they would be swarmed and finished by claws and fangs.


    Rai spun, pulling his leg out of the way of the snapping jaws, and smashed a heavy fist into the side of the thing¡¯s head. The blow knocked it sideways into the dust, where it shook its head and clambered back up to its feet. Rai continued his spin and kept running, losing only a step to Math and Thea.


    They made only a few more strides before more of the creatures sprung onto the path only a few yards in front of them, scampering towards the trio. They skidded to a halt, nowhere left to run. Without a word, Math and Rai closed in on either side of Thea as the first of the creatures attacked. Jaws wide and dripping with saliva, it tried to take Math at the knees. Math spun and avoided the full impact but cried out as claws slashed through his legging into his legs.


    Rai stepped between her and the other two, and Thea looked behind. A dozen drooling horrors closed in behind them, only seconds from the three.


    Thea was bracing herself to fight, knowing it wouldn¡¯t last long, when thin lengths of wood sprouted from the bodies of two of the things. Blood sprayed out from the impact of two hunting arrows, and the beasts tumbled in the dust. Two tall men broke the cover of the trees, raising long, thin, curved blades in a two-handed grip and yelling wildly. The distraction slowed the attackers, some turning to face the new arrivals and decide if they were threat or prey. Two more arrows took down their small targets, shafts slamming into a head and a torso and dropping them to the dirt. Shouting behind her told her that help might have come from that direction as well.


    Aid or no aid, she still faced down several of the creatures. The two men reached the pack at the same time the pack reached Thea, exotic swords slicing through limbs and necks, making short work of the creatures. The whirling blades didn¡¯t stop them all. Two of the assailants, focused on Thea as prey, bounded up and hit her in the chest at the same time. She went down heavily, teeth snapping at her throat and claws tearing at her chest. She threw up a forearm to block her windpipe but paid the price as fangs clamped down hard on her wrist, digging deep into her flesh and pulling her protective arm down. The other seized the opportunity and opened its maw to tear a hole in her neck.


    She grimaced in anticipation, then was drenched in a spray of warm blood as the thing¡¯s head disappeared. An instant later, the grip on her arm was broken with a scream as a thin blade skewered the other through the side. She yanked her arm free, spitting salty blood, as the man now beside her stood. His crouched, horizontal thrust had pierced the body through. It slid off the blade as he straightened, grabbing the headless corpse that now rested on her chest and rolling it off her.


    She rolled quickly to hands and knees, looking for Rai. He stood near Math, scratched and bloodied. He was already reaching for her, helping her up.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± he asked, casting a concerned eye on her shredded forearm.


    ¡°I¡¯ll live,¡± she replied, and looked around her.


    Four strangers stood around the trio. They were all tall, easily looking even Math and Rai in the eye. Their long hair was pulled back and tied with leather thongs, holding it clear of their piercing eyes. Their skin was fair, but their expressions hard and serious. They were, if she was honest with herself, beautiful, as if sculpted. All four of them carried the unusual long, thin swords. They kept a sharp eye on the surrounding fields as two of them retrieved fallen bows. Around them, small scattered and dismembered corpses leaked their lifeblood into the dirt.

 Chapter 9

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Math said as he examined the lacerations on his legs. Beside him, Rai had cut a strip from his shirt and was wrapping Thea¡¯s torn wrist tightly. She gritted her teeth as the cloth pressed down on several deep punctures. She would need to get that wound cleaned out, and fast. He feared for her even more with the memory of his mother¡¯s recent bout with infection still fresh.


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± said one of their rescuers.


    ¡°We¡¯d have been torn apart for sure, if you folks hadn¡¯t appeared out of thin air like Sidhe coming up from the underworld,¡± Math said.


    Another of the strangers threw his head back and laughed, looking at one of his companions. The companion shook his head with a smirk and finished cleaning off his bloodied blade.


    Math gave them a glance, then turned back to the one who had spoken. He had seen the man before.


    ¡°You¡¯re Khel, aren¡¯t you?¡± he asked. ¡°The wanderer?¡±  He had never met the man but had seen him from time to time. Khel was rumored to be a nomad. He came to town once in a while, never staying long. Sometimes he spent the night at an inn, sometimes he spent the night somewhere outside of town. Nobody seemed to know where he actually lived, or why he traveled.


    ¡°I am,¡± the man replied. ¡°And you are Maethius, brother of Rhaiven there, and this lovely young lady is Thea. My friends here are Ulric, Rowan standing to the side, and over there is Destrian.¡±


    ¡°You know us?¡± Math asked.


    ¡°I know of you,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Forget that,¡± Rai interrupted. ¡°What the hell were those things?¡±


    ¡°Kobali,¡± Ulric replied.


    ¡°Bullshit,¡± Rai said. ¡°The Kobali are ghost stories for scaring kids.¡±


    ¡°Yes, of course. As are Sidhe, and dragons, and all manner of nonsense,¡± Rowan joined in. ¡°And yet, there they lay in the dirt in front of you.¡±


    Math looked at the corpses strewn around them. Kobalds. It couldn¡¯t be true. Yet the proof was in front of his eyes; the carcasses were no creatures he had ever seen before.


    A dozen questions leapt to mind. ¡°Why,¡± he asked simply.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Khel said in response. ¡°We¡¯ll talk on the way. It¡¯s not a good idea to stay here.¡±


    Math nodded in agreement.


    ¡°How are you two doing?¡± he asked his brother and Thea.


    ¡°Thea¡¯s arm is pretty torn up, but we can move,¡± Rai said.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get moving then,¡± Math said. He took a few steps but stopped when no one followed.¡±  He turned back, a questioning look on his face.


    ¡°This way,¡± Khel said. ¡°It¡¯s too late to make the walk back to town. Not with the Kobali out.¡±


    ¡°Where then?¡±  Math asked.


    ¡°This way. We¡¯ve got horses, and a camp on rocky ground. We¡¯ll stay the night there.¡±


    ¡°Rocky ground?  Safe from the tunnels?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. The Kobali dig like badgers. Sleep on the dirt and you¡¯re going to be dinner for some lucky Kobald.¡±


    ¡°Trey lived here, with his family. We came to find them. Nobody¡¯s seen them in days,¡± Math said.


    Khel shook his head. ¡°What did you see in the house?¡±


    ¡°I was only in there for a minute before I was attacked. There was a lot of blood. But no bodies.¡±


    ¡°There wouldn¡¯t be any bodies. The Kobalds would have taken them. We found blood in the fields as well. Maybe they got away, but I think that¡¯s most likely a false hope.¡±


    Khel looked to his companions. Rai¡¯s face was grim. Thea was taking things harder. She and Margaret had been close. She had helped watch the children on more than one occasion when Trey was off on business. Rai put an arm around her and pulled her against him as the tears started to trail down her cheeks. Once her head hit his shoulder her self-control faltered and the thought of her friend, together with the strain of the recently ended attack, brought on a series of tiny sobs that shook her body in Rai¡¯s arms.


    Math walked ahead with Khel and his companions. Rai followed behind, arm still around Thea. Strong and stubborn, she let her grief for the dead woman out for a few minutes, then regained control of herself and stifled the tears with a few sharp sniffles.            She walked woodenly next to Rai, following Math and the others, the three of them all still in shock at the ordeal.


    ¡°How did you happen to be in the area?¡±  Math asked.


    ¡°We knew the Kobali might be on the move. We were trying to find out and warn anyone who might be in their way.¡±


    ¡°On the move?  From where?  To where?¡± Math asked.


    ¡°These came from the mountain. We don¡¯t know where they were headed.¡±


    ¡°The mountain?  I thought solid rock would keep them away?¡±


    ¡°They don¡¯t dig through it, but the mountain is riddled with caves and tunnels. They are infested with the beasts,¡± Khel answered.


    ¡°Infested is a good way to describe it,¡± Rowan added. ¡°There were only a few here today. They must be stragglers or scouts or some sort of outriders. Count yourselves lucky.¡±


    ¡°They haven¡¯t been seen in so long that everybody thought they were fairy tales,¡± Rai asked. ¡°Why would they surface now?


    ¡°Because the Dragon is close to escaping.¡±


    All three of them stopped short.


    ¡°The what?¡±


    ¡°The Dragon,¡± Khel said. ¡°The Beast. The Bringer of Midnight. Imprisoned under the mountain by the Sidhe a thousand years ago. It has found a way to escape.¡±


    ¡°Oh good god,¡± Rai said. ¡°Kobalds and Dragons. Next you¡¯re going to tell us the Sidhe have returned to the lands of living men.¡±


    Rowan and Ulric laughed. Destrian just looked at them with a smirk. Khel gave Rai a wry smile.


    ¡°Haven¡¯t you figured it out yet?¡± Khel asked. He paused then continued.


    ¡°We are the Sidhe.¡±

 Chapter 10

    They reached the Sidhe camp just before nightfall. The men had found a flat rock outcropping over a ravine. The ledge overlooked a quickly flowing creek. Math couldn¡¯t see how this little piece of rock would protect them from a swarm of Kobalds, but Khel seemed to believe the ground was rocky enough. The creatures could still attack over land, but at least they wouldn¡¯t be pulled under the earth as they slept.


    After a whispered conference, Rowan and Destrian shouldered bows and small packs and strode back into the dusk. Ulric and Khel remained and quickly had a fire roaring. Math and his friends had no food or supplies, but their new companions willingly shared bread, dried meat and clean water. They sat chewing in silence. Khel was simply content to not talk. Math was trying to wrap his mind around all the legends come true that day.


    ¡°Go ahead, ask,¡± said Khel with a smile.


    Math hesitated. A dozen questions came to his lips, but he hesitated to ask. He decided to start without prying too much. ¡°Where did you come from?¡±


    ¡°Me personally?  I live here and there. The Sidhe in general?  We live in many places.¡±


    ¡°Not in the underworld, apparently,¡± Math said.


    ¡°Some live in caves, if they find one that can be turned into a nice home,¡± Khel said with a smile. Many live in forests. Some choose a nomadic lifestyle, some build more permanent dwellings. Some even live in your towns.¡±


    ¡°And nobody notices?  You look¡­¡± Rai trailed off, uncertain if his comment would offend the man.


    ¡°Look what?  Human?  We are human, despite your nursery rhymes,¡± Khel laughed.


    ¡°You said there was a Dragon?¡±  Thea joined in the questioning.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Khel replied. ¡°The Sidhe managed to imprison it long ago, but it has found a crack in its bindings.¡±


    ¡°What happens if it escapes?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Before it was imprisoned, it burned half the world. Its escape would be cataclysmic, to say the least.¡±


    ¡°How is it escaping?¡± Thea asked.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    ¡°Can you stop it?¡± Math joined in.


    ¡°Can you kill it?¡± Rai added.


    ¡°Hold on, let me answer.¡±  Math held up his hands to slow down the questions. ¡°Can we kill it? I don¡¯t think anyone knows how. Otherwise I would have to assume they would have killed it the first time.¡±


    ¡°But it was imprisoned once, it can be again,¡± Rai pointed out.


    ¡°Theoretically, yes. But we need to find three scions.¡±


    ¡°Scions?¡± asked Thea.


    ¡°There is a key to the prison. That is the weakness the Beast has discovered. It has found servants to remove that key. It¡¯s a bit more complicated than that, but you get the idea. It can be repaired, but the sorcery that created it requires three scions of the ancient Sidhe emperor¡±


    ¡°Scions? As in descendants?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Khel answered. ¡°The emperor created the bindings with his two brothers. Only three of his blood can remove the bindings. It is our hope that three of his blood can also repair the bindings.¡±


    ¡°So you don¡¯t know for sure?¡± Rai asked.


    ¡°No, we don¡¯t. We hope. We don¡¯t know of any other way.¡±


    ¡°Who would serve a Dragon?¡± Math asked.


    ¡°You¡¯ve met them already,¡± Khel replied. ¡°The Kobali.¡±


    ¡°Those creatures?  How could they serve a Dragon?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate them. Those you saw today were only a few stragglers from the cete. Low ranking, less intelligent, not as dangerous.¡±


    Math stared into the fire, trying to imagine how those claws and fangs were ¡®not as dangerous.¡¯


    ¡°What¡¯s a cete?¡± Thea asked.


    ¡°Think of it like a herd. Or a colony. Or like a swarm.¡±


    ¡°How many are there usually?¡±


    ¡°Thousands. Tens of thousands. The swarm in that great war covered the land like a carpet of teeth and talons. It¡¯s said that the sight of men torn apart in that tide would dishearten entire armies,¡± Khel said. Ulric, still silent as he sat next to Khel, nodded grimly as he watched the conversation.


    ¡°How are creatures like that able to undo some ancient sorcery?¡± Rai asked.


    ¡°They have sorcery of their own,¡± Khel answered. ¡°Their blood shamans have been picking at the arcane knots.¡±


    ¡°Maybe the bindings will hold,¡± Math said.


    ¡°Unlikely. They are already giving way. We need to stop them, or the world will burn the way your town just burned, and worse.¡±


    ¡°Do you know where these scions are?¡±  Rai asked.


    ¡°We do. We were going to gather them together when we ran into you at the farm.¡±


    ¡°There are no Sidhe around here. Well, except for your group,¡± Rai said.


    ¡°As I said, we Sidhe look the same as you, for the most part. Think of those you know in your little town. Can you think of anyone who is taller than most?  Fair skinned?  Anyone who seems to take easily to physical games as well as mental challenges?¡±


    Math looked at Rai, who shrugged. ¡°You could be describing anyone.¡±


    Math turned to Thea, who was sitting with a strange expression on her face as she looked at Rai.


    ¡°Well Rai here has always had good eyesight. Maybe he¡¯s a Sidhe!¡± Math joked.


    ¡°And Math has big ears, maybe he can hear better underground,¡± Rai retorted with a smile.


    Thea turned to look at Math, eyes wide, then at Khel. Khel nodded to her with a smile.


    ¡°It¡¯s you,¡± she whispered, looking back at Rai.


    ¡°What?¡±  Rai said.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Math added.


    ¡°You two are the scions. You are Sidhe.¡±

 Chapter 11

    Walter set the mug down on the bar in front of his patron. The dinner hour was nearly over, and only one table remained occupied at this late hour. Thomas, the man drinking the ale, was trustworthy enough. Walter felt comfortable stepping out for a minute and leaving the bar untended.  The three at the table finishing their supper were familiar, but he didn¡¯t know them personally. With Thomas at the bar, he didn¡¯t fear anyone serving themselves a free pour or, worse, getting their hands in his coin box.


    He stepped into the back to see how Sarys¡¯s boys were doing. Henry and Peter had been remarkable. Not only had they flown through the giant stack of dirty dishes, but the dishes had actually been cleaned. Most young boys would have given the plates a token wipe and stacked them back on the shelf with half the leftovers still stuck to them. After that they still had time to get the dining room tables set up for the first round of dinner guests and even managed to help in the kitchen. Walter intended to offer them both a regular job, if Sarys would allow it. A few hours a week for a few extra coins in their pockets would benefit everyone.


    The boys were most of the way through the pots and pans from the dinner preparation. At the rate they were going, the kitchen would be spotless and sparkling within the hour.


    ¡°Well done boys,¡± Walter said. He grabbed a lantern from the wall near the door to the basement and took it over to the cooking fire. The fireplace actually occupied a shared wall with the dining area, heating the room for the patrons at the same time the cooks were preparing their meals. He took an unlit candle from a wall sconce and held the wick in the cook fire until it lit. He transferred that tiny flame to his lantern, then shook out the candle and replaced it. The things were expensive; he saw no need to waste one. The fire itself was providing plenty of light for what the boys needed.


    ¡°Come with me for a minute, please,¡± he said, once his lantern was lit.


    ¡°Sure thing Mr. A.,¡± Henry, the older son, replied. He took a moment to rinse the grease and suds off his hands, then dried them by simply shaking them in the air. Peter had apparently been put in charge of drying the dishes. He found a dish rack and hung the towel, then followed his brother over to Walter.


    ¡°Can we go home soon?  I¡¯m tired,¡± Peter asked. Walter could see his eyes drooping and red with fatigue. The poor boy looked ready to fall asleep where he stood.


    ¡°You sure can,¡± Walter replied. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you what. Just help me restock the wine and I¡¯ll set you home with a few coins in your pockets for all your hard work.¡±


    The boys seemed to brighten up a bit with the promise of an unexpected reward, but even a few coins couldn¡¯t overcome their weariness.


    ¡°And a pastry, you can pick, any one you want,¡± Walter added, smiling.


    That did the trick. Both boys perked up immediately and caught up to Walter before he hit the first step down into the wine cellar. The steps led down into darkness, the light of the lantern just reaching the floor at the bottom. Walter descended slowly, the boys right behind, staying in the lamplight. He stepped down onto the floor and lifted the lantern. The basement was mostly cobbled, but patches of dirt still showed here and there.  The walls were stone, serving as the foundation for the building above. The room was cool but a little damp, not ideal for storing wine but it served its purpose well enough. Half the basement was storage for all the supplies a busy inn and tavern could want. A faint skittering from somewhere in the shadows caught his attention. He would have to call on the rat-catcher. The last thing he needed was vermin infesting his inn. Walter turned to the right, towards the half devoted to storing his wines and ale casks.


    A double row of dusty wine racks extended a few yards back to the wall. He led the boys down the outside of the first row and began selecting bottles.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "Henry, grab one of these, and one of these," he instructed, selecting the more popular vintages that were running low upstairs. He continued down the row, pointing out a third bottle for Henry. They turned the corner and started up the next row, looking for a few more bottles for Peter to carry. As they stepped into the next row, the skittering became louder. Some larger vermin must have found its way into the basement. In a way that was good; a family of racoons would be easier to deal with than an infestation of rats. The scratching and scrabbling tugged at Walter''s memory, some faded nightmare struggling to stay hidden in the back of his mind.


    He paused and lifted the lantern to illuminate the aisle ahead. The scratching was louder now. Was the dirt moving ahead, at the edge of the lamplight?


    Walter gasped as the memory of that early childhood nightmare slammed back into the front of his mind. "No, it can''t be," he whispered.


    The boys were peering around him, curious expressions on their young faces.


    "What is that?" Peter asked.


    Walter turned and pushed the boys back, frantic. "We have to hide, now!" He kept his voice as quiet as he could while still impressing the urgency on the boys.


    "What''s happening?" the older brother asked.


    "Hide!" Walter ordered, pushing them back to a row of casks near the wall. Three kegs of ale stood upright at the end of the row of wine-racks. Smaller casks of liquor rested in a pyramid atop one of the kegs. A wooden support pillar jutted out from the wall behind the kegs, leaving a narrow space. He shooed the boys behind and tried to squeeze himself in after. His joints screamed in protest at the abuse as he wedged himself in. He didn''t quite make it, bumping the keg and unsettling the smaller casks. One toppled forward and hit a flagstone with a crack. The strong smell of an especially potent rum reached his nose. The fact that the smell identified it as some of the cheapest spirits he had was no consolation given his current predicament.


    Walter blew out the lantern flame and darkness covered the three of them. No sooner had the light gone out than a muffled shriek floated through the black. The boys gasped, and Walter felt them shrink further back into their refuge. They were smart enough to know something was seriously wrong and didn''t ask any more questions. His eyes adapting to the light, he leaned in and found he could see through a thin crack between the barrels.


    His vantage point was right at the end of the wine rows, giving him a view straight down the aisle. A dim glow still shone from the open door at the top of the stairs, visible at the end of the aisle. The aisle itself was lost in shadow. As he watched, a silhouette emerged from the floor near where he had imagined the dirt moving. He couldn¡¯t make out any details, only barely discern the outline where it blocked the dim glow from beyond. The thing was almost like a little man, skinny legs and arms but an impossibly long snout. A whip-thin rat-like tail thrashed the air. The thing turned its head towards their hiding spot and sniffed loudly. Two glowing embers marked its eyes, which caught some bit of light and reflected it back to the terrified watchers. It took two tentative steps towards the wall of kegs, then another small creature emerged from the hole behind it. The newcomer chattered something unintelligible to the first, which replied with a low shriek and turned back towards the stairs. Another of the beasts scrabbled out of the hole, and then a fourth. They stood for a moment, chittering and barking to one another, then moved away.


    Walter thought about the patrons left upstairs. They needed to be warned, but to warn them would surely mean the death of the two boys cowering beside him. He stayed silent and hidden as the evil little group rounded the corner and scurried upstairs.


    All was silent for a moment, Walter trying to will his heart and his breathing to be quieter. Then claws sounded on the wood above their heads, racing across the floor. He heard a surprised shout, then the thud of overturned chairs. A mad scramble of furniture, claws, feet and bodies pounded through the ceiling. Shouts turned to curses, which turned to screams. All Walter could do was wait and pray.


    After a moment the room above went quiet, followed by the sinister sound of something heavy dragging across the floor. Worse, the sound of more claws digging for purchase in front of them warned of another exiting the new tunnel. Walter saw the silhouette of the newcomer through the gap between the casks briefly, then it moved out of view. The dragging sound above them continued, along with the wet, meaty sounds of something that Walter did not want to imagine. Then it all went quiet for seconds, which stretched into minutes. He put a hand out, across both boys¡¯ chests, holding them still.


    After a time that was probably not nearly as long as it seemed, he leaned out very slightly, trying to see around their protective barrier. He stopped, transfixed. Staring back at him from inches away was a pair of glowing yellow eyes. The same dim light from above reflected on a row of needle-sharp teeth as the kobald opened its mouth and lunged.

 Chapter 12

    Walter set the mug down on the bar in front of his patron. The dinner hour was nearly over, and only one table remained occupied at this late hour. Thomas, the man drinking the ale, was trustworthy enough. Walter felt comfortable stepping out for a minute and leaving the bar untended.  The three at the table finishing their supper were familiar, but he didn¡¯t know them personally. With Thomas at the bar, he didn¡¯t fear anyone serving themselves a free pour or, worse, getting their hands in his coin box.


    He stepped into the back to see how Sarys¡¯s boys were doing. Henry and Peter had been remarkable. Not only had they flown through the giant stack of dirty dishes, but the dishes had actually been cleaned. Most young boys would have given the plates a token wipe and stacked them back on the shelf with half the leftovers still stuck to them. After that they still had time to get the dining room tables set up for the first round of dinner guests and even managed to help in the kitchen. Walter intended to offer them both a regular job, if Sarys would allow it. A few hours a week for a few extra coins in their pockets would benefit everyone.


    The boys were most of the way through the pots and pans from the dinner preparation. At the rate they were going, the kitchen would be spotless and sparkling within the hour.


    ¡°Well done boys,¡± Walter said. He grabbed a lantern from the wall near the door to the basement and took it over to the cooking fire. The fireplace actually occupied a shared wall with the dining area, heating the room for the patrons at the same time the cooks were preparing their meals. He took an unlit candle from a wall sconce and held the wick in the cook fire until it lit. He transferred that tiny flame to his lantern, then shook out the candle and replaced it. The things were expensive; he saw no need to waste one. The fire itself was providing plenty of light for what the boys needed.


    ¡°Come with me for a minute, please,¡± he said, once his lantern was lit.


    ¡°Sure thing Mr. A.,¡± Henry, the older son, replied. He took a moment to rinse the grease and suds off his hands, then dried them by simply shaking them in the air. Peter had apparently been put in charge of drying the dishes. He found a dish rack and hung the towel, then followed his brother over to Walter.


    ¡°Can we go home soon?  I¡¯m tired,¡± Peter asked. Walter could see his eyes drooping and red with fatigue. The poor boy looked ready to fall asleep where he stood.


    ¡°You sure can,¡± Walter replied. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you what. Just help me restock the wine and I¡¯ll set you home with a few coins in your pockets for all your hard work.¡±


    The boys seemed to brighten up a bit with the promise of an unexpected reward, but even a few coins couldn¡¯t overcome their weariness.


    ¡°And a pastry, you can pick, any one you want,¡± Walter added, smiling.


    That did the trick. Both boys perked up immediately and caught up to Walter before he hit the first step down into the wine cellar. The steps led down into darkness, the light of the lantern just reaching the floor at the bottom. Walter descended slowly, the boys right behind, staying in the lamplight. He stepped down onto the floor and lifted the lantern. The basement was mostly cobbled, but patches of dirt still showed here and there.  The walls were stone, serving as the foundation for the building above. The room was cool but a little damp, not ideal for storing wine but it served its purpose well enough. Half the basement was storage for all the supplies a busy inn and tavern could want. A faint skittering from somewhere in the shadows caught his attention. He would have to call on the rat-catcher. The last thing he needed was vermin infesting his inn. Walter turned to the right, towards the half devoted to storing his wines and ale casks.


    A double row of dusty wine racks extended a few yards back to the wall. He led the boys down the outside of the first row and began selecting bottles.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Henry, grab one of these, and one of these," he instructed, selecting the more popular vintages that were running low upstairs. He continued down the row, pointing out a third bottle for Henry. They turned the corner and started up the next row, looking for a few more bottles for Peter to carry. As they stepped into the next row, the skittering became louder. Some larger vermin must have found its way into the basement. In a way that was good; a family of racoons would be easier to deal with than an infestation of rats. The scratching and scrabbling tugged at Walter''s memory, some faded nightmare struggling to stay hidden in the back of his mind.


    He paused and lifted the lantern to illuminate the aisle ahead. The scratching was louder now. Was the dirt moving ahead, at the edge of the lamplight?


    Walter gasped as the memory of that early childhood nightmare slammed back into the front of his mind. "No, it can''t be," he whispered.


    The boys were peering around him, curious expressions on their young faces.


    "What is that?" Peter asked.


    Walter turned and pushed the boys back, frantic. "We have to hide, now!" He kept his voice as quiet as he could while still impressing the urgency on the boys.


    "What''s happening?" the older brother asked.


    "Hide!" Walter ordered, pushing them back to a row of casks near the wall. Three kegs of ale stood upright at the end of the row of wine-racks. Smaller casks of liquor rested in a pyramid atop one of the kegs. A wooden support pillar jutted out from the wall behind the kegs, leaving a narrow space. He shooed the boys behind and tried to squeeze himself in after. His joints screamed in protest at the abuse as he wedged himself in. He didn''t quite make it, bumping the keg and unsettling the smaller casks. One toppled forward and hit a flagstone with a crack. The strong smell of an especially potent rum reached his nose. The fact that the smell identified it as some of the cheapest spirits he had was no consolation given his current predicament.


    Walter blew out the lantern flame and darkness covered the three of them. No sooner had the light gone out than a muffled shriek floated through the black. The boys gasped, and Walter felt them shrink further back into their refuge. They were smart enough to know something was seriously wrong and didn''t ask any more questions. His eyes adapting to the light, he leaned in and found he could see through a thin crack between the barrels.


    His vantage point was right at the end of the wine rows, giving him a view straight down the aisle. A dim glow still shone from the open door at the top of the stairs, visible at the end of the aisle. The aisle itself was lost in shadow. As he watched, a silhouette emerged from the floor near where he had imagined the dirt moving. He couldn¡¯t make out any details, only barely discern the outline where it blocked the dim glow from beyond. The thing was almost like a little man, skinny legs and arms but an impossibly long snout. A whip-thin rat-like tail thrashed the air. The thing turned its head towards their hiding spot and sniffed loudly. Two glowing embers marked its eyes, which caught some bit of light and reflected it back to the terrified watchers. It took two tentative steps towards the wall of kegs, then another small creature emerged from the hole behind it. The newcomer chattered something unintelligible to the first, which replied with a low shriek and turned back towards the stairs. Another of the beasts scrabbled out of the hole, and then a fourth. They stood for a moment, chittering and barking to one another, then moved away.


    Walter thought about the patrons left upstairs. They needed to be warned, but to warn them would surely mean the death of the two boys cowering beside him. He stayed silent and hidden as the evil little group rounded the corner and scurried upstairs.


    All was silent for a moment, Walter trying to will his heart and his breathing to be quieter. Then claws sounded on the wood above their heads, racing across the floor. He heard a surprised shout, then the thud of overturned chairs. A mad scramble of furniture, claws, feet and bodies pounded through the ceiling. Shouts turned to curses, which turned to screams. All Walter could do was wait and pray.


    After a moment the room above went quiet, followed by the sinister sound of something heavy dragging across the floor. Worse, the sound of more claws digging for purchase in front of them warned of another exiting the new tunnel. Walter saw the silhouette of the newcomer through the gap between the casks briefly, then it moved out of view. The dragging sound above them continued, along with the wet, meaty sounds of something that Walter did not want to imagine. Then it all went quiet for seconds, which stretched into minutes. He put a hand out, across both boys¡¯ chests, holding them still.


    After a time that was probably not nearly as long as it seemed, he leaned out very slightly, trying to see around their protective barrier. He stopped, transfixed. Staring back at him from inches away was a pair of glowing yellow eyes. The same dim light from above reflected on a row of needle-sharp teeth as the kobald opened its mouth and lunged.

 Chapter 13

    Thea awoke still wrapped in Rai¡¯s arms. The temperature had dropped overnight but the blanket and his body had insulated her well. She held still and didn¡¯t stir, both because she didn¡¯t want to wake him and because she enjoyed the warmth of pressing against him.


    She mulled over the previous night¡¯s surprising news. It should have shocked her that her lover and his brother belonged to some mystical race, but it didn¡¯t. It¡¯s not that she considered them supernatural, but the two of them had always stood out. They were taller than most men, strong, fast, and extremely quick-minded. They were both very fair-skinned and there wasn¡¯t a girl in town who didn¡¯t look twice at them. None of these were traits that she would have thought twice about. She¡¯d always just considered that they were lucky, or well-bred. She thought about the times when Math had overheard her whispers to Rai and cracked a joke, or the times she¡¯d tried to sneak something by Rai but he always seemed to notice. She didn¡¯t know whether to believe they had some advantage to their sight or hearing, or whether they were just observant. She didn¡¯t know whether it was remarkable at all; for all she could tell she might just be embellishing her memories with her new knowledge.


    Whatever he was, though, he was still Rhaiven. He was still her Rhaiven. She had read that particular worry on his face easily last night. She wasn¡¯t going to walk away just because he was now a fairy-tale being.


    She did have worries of her own. Would he still want her? She didn¡¯t know which tales of the Sidhe were true and which were exaggerated legends. What if he really did turn out to be


    superhuman? Surely there would be a superhuman woman waiting for him ¨C taller, stronger, smarter, and more beautiful. What if she couldn¡¯t give him children? What if the children she could give him were smaller or weaker than a Sidhe woman would give him?


    These were selfish thoughts, she knew. She had to put them aside as best she could. There were more important things to think about, like kobalds and dragons and scions and sorcerous keys. Not to mention the fact that her Rhaiven and his brother were supposed to somehow be tied up in those things. Khel had implied that they needed to decide whether to help. It didn¡¯t sound to her that they had much of a choice. But even if they did have a choice, she knew them both well enough to know that they were not going to refuse. She knew at the same time that there was no way she wasn¡¯t going with them.


    Rai began to stir against her back as he awoke. He stretched one arm over his head with a yawn, then wrapped it around her and pulled her more tightly into him. He kissed her behind the ear and then was still, holding her, though she could tell by the sound of his breathing that he was awake. She put a hand over his and said nothing for a few minutes. Neither one of them wanted to let the chill air under their blanket just yet.


    Eventually, she twisted and rolled her body onto her back, so she looked up at him as he lay on his side next to her. He bent down and kissed her softly.


    ¡°Good morning, love,¡± he said softly. She smiled up in response, then lifted her head to kiss him quickly on the lips.


    ¡°I¡¯m going with you,¡± Thea said.


    ¡°We haven¡¯t made any decisions yet. We¡¯re going home first, we¡¯ve got time to talk about it,¡± he replied.


    ¡°You know as well as I do that you¡¯re not going to say no. I can see the questions swirling around in your head right now. You¡¯re going to pester those poor Sidhe to death!¡± she said with a quiet laugh.


    Rai smiled. ¡°You¡¯re probably right. You know me better than my own brother sometimes. I¡¯m going to have to find out more about all this.¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯m going with you,¡± she repeated.


    ¡°Thea,¡± he began.


    ¡°You know me as well as I know you. You think I¡¯m not coming?¡± she interrupted.


    He chuckled for a moment, looking down at her. Then he answered with a good solid kiss. She pressed her lips up into his and let her body melt against him, cupping his cheek in her hand.


    Just as she was ready to settle into kissing him for hours, he broke off abruptly. He sat up and ripped the blanket off her. ¡°Rise and shine, warrior princess,¡± he laughed. ¡°It¡¯s time to set off on our adventure!¡± He jumped up, pulling the blanket out of her reach. She grumbled at him, but didn¡¯t take the bait and chase after. She stood slowly, stretching as she did.


    Math was already up and helping Khel pack up the campsite. The sound of slow hoofbeats and soft whinnying accompanied Ulric as he approached the camp with two horses that had been tied to a tree on another rocky patch a short distance away.


    ¡°There should be enough bread and cheese left for you and Thea,¡± Math said.


    Rai picked up the sack Math pointed out and fished out half of a loaf of bread and a small rectangle of cheese. He handed them to Thea, then picked the blanket up off the ground and draped it back over her shoulders. She tore off a hunk of bread and a chunk of cheese and handed them to back to him. They both ate quickly, but the camp packing was finished before they were.


    ¡°We¡¯ll take you back to town,¡± Khel said. ¡°We¡¯ll stay for a night. I¡¯m sure we can find a nice place to sleep,¡± he smiled at Thea. ¡°But you two will need to come to a decision quickly. The Beast¡¯s servants get closer to freeing him every day.¡±


    ¡°What if they say no?¡± Thea asked.


    Khel shrugged. ¡°Then I don¡¯t know what we¡¯ll do. We don¡¯t know of any other way we might stop it.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t sound like you think we have any choice in the matter,¡± Rai said.


    ¡°There¡¯s always a choice. My job is to convince you that things will be very bad for everyone if you decide not to help,¡± Khel replied.


    ¡°So it¡¯s to be a guilt trip then?¡± Math asked with a smirk.


    ¡°Not my intent,¡± Khel said. ¡°But the facts are what the facts are. Personally, I have no doubt that both of you will be eager to help. I have seen enough of you over the years to be sure that you both know what is right and when you have a duty.¡± He spoke with a strange, wistful expression on his face.


    ¡°Over the years?¡± Math asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ve come to town a few times over the years. I¡¯ve met, or at least seen, a lot of the folks who live there. And people gossip. You can learn a lot when you listen and pay attention. I knew your brother and Thea were an item before you did,¡± he said with a wink to Thea.


    Math shook his head. There was no shortage of strange new information from this man. The two of them finished loading up the horses. Even riding double would leave one person without a mount, so Khel and Ulric led the horses while they all walked.


    The camp was about an hour from Trey¡¯s farm by road, and the town was another few hours past that. They planned to be traveling a little longer than that because nobody wanted to walk down the road past the farm. They all thought it better to avoid the risk that more of those things may have arrived by tunnel. The fact that they wouldn¡¯t get a visual reminder of the missing family and the corpses of the creatures was just an added bonus.


    Thea walked next to Rai, hand in hand. Khel led the way, seeming to be right at home despite the fact that no road was in view. Math and Ulric followed behind with the horses. The ground was dry and the land not thickly wooded, so the travel was easy. It was still early autumn, so the maples were starting to show their brilliant reds but the oaks had only just started hinting at their yellows and coppers. They walked quietly, and time passed quickly. They crossed the roadway into town before they knew it and turned towards home.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Once on the road, Khel dropped back next to Rai and Thea. Thea took the opportunity to question their companion and rescuer a little more.


    ¡°So, what are the Sidhe?¡±


    ¡°We are just men, no different from you,¡± Math answered.


    ¡°But you are different. You look different. You have¡­ abilities? Magic?¡±


    ¡°We look different because we have lived apart for thousands of years. We have kept our bloodlines separate for the most part. Where we haven¡¯t, in most cases we have been very selective when we merge bloodlines with a Dhuine.¡±


    ¡°Dhuine?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s our term for your people. For those who exiled us. Or those we exiled ourselves from. Even our own histories are unclear about what exactly happened.¡±


    ¡°You can marry one of us if you get permission? From who? Do you have a king?¡±


    ¡°No king. We had an emperor once, ages ago, but no more. We have a council of sorts that chronicles and protects our bloodlines. Almost all of us follow their directives voluntarily. There are always a few who don¡¯t, not enough to really worry the council.¡±


    ¡°You mean they tell you who to marry? All your marriages are arranged?¡±


    ¡°Not quite. They tell you who to have children with. In most cases those end up being the same people, but it¡¯s not necessary.¡±


    ¡°Why on earth would anyone go along with that?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a pact our ancestors entered into when we first withdrew. We honor it because we see the benefits it has granted us, and we choose to pass those benefits on to our descendants.¡±


    ¡°What benefits?¡±


    ¡°Well, we¡¯ve already mentioned them. As a people we tend to be taller, stronger. We live in deep forests and in caves, so our eyes and ears are sharp. But more than anything else we value the mind. The sages and intellectuals of our people have discovered wisdom that your people have never seen.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why the girls can¡¯t keep their eyes off those two, then,¡± Thea motioned to Rai with only a hint of jealousy. Rai rolled his eyes and gave her hand a gentle squeeze.


    ¡°A side benefit of the rest of it,¡± Khel smirked.


    ¡°But what does that have to do with controlling who marries who?¡± Thea asked.


    ¡°That¡¯s part of the wisdom that our sages have gained. Think of it like this: you look a little bit like your mother and a little bit like your father, right? You have your mother¡¯s eyes, but your father¡¯s dark hair, for example.¡±


    ¡°How do you know that?¡± Thea asked.


    ¡°I come to town once in a while, remember? I¡¯ve seen them. I remember when you were born.¡±


    Thea didn¡¯t answer. Her mother had died when she was young. This man might have known her.


    When she didn¡¯t say anything, Khel continued. ¡°If we take that same idea, we can apply it to other things. If your mother and your father are both tall, chances are you will be tall. If your mother and father both have sharp minds, you will probably be quick-witted as well. So our Creche chooses the pairings that will most likely produce children that will enhance our people as a whole.


    ¡°The Creche is that council you mentioned?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. They keep the records of all our family lines. The journals and cross-references are said to be massive.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t they just have a contest, pick the best man and the best woman, and make them have lots of kids?¡± Thea thought for a moment, ¡°I guess you¡¯d have to have more than one best couple, because the children of the first couple can¡¯t get married.¡±


    ¡°And that¡¯s the rub. You have to mix the bloodlines a lot. If the family line gets too pure, things move in the opposite direction. As your people know, when the parents are too closely related the children become thick-headed, and sometimes are even deformed. You can¡¯t just pick the strongest bloodline and ignore all the others. It¡¯s a very delicate balance. Those seeking admission to the Creche study for years before they are even allowed to participate in the discussions.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s an awful lot of effort just to make me a handsome fianc¨¦,¡± Thea joked, bumping Rai with her hip.


    Khel smiled, ¡°Those two, as you might have guessed, are a little outside the plans of the Creche.¡±


    ¡°What does that mean? We¡¯re outcasts?¡± Rai asked.


    ¡°Not at all. You would be welcome among our people. It simply means that your mother was half Sidhe. Her Sidhe father went outside the direction of the Creche and made his own choice, that¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°So does his family line end?¡± Thea asked. ¡°Do your people even care about that?¡±


    ¡°The Creche will observe it. They will decide. It has happened that a bloodline has been maintained. There have even been rare cases where it was sought out. But to answer your second question: we don¡¯t worry much about it. We care about our descendants, we are interested in our ancestors, but we don¡¯t have royal families or titles handed down by inheritance.¡±


    They walked in silence for a bit, while she pondered what he had told her. They were holding a brisk pace, despite the constant conversation. They should arrive in town by noon. She hoped her father had been able to handle the place with the help of Sarys''s boys. She hoped her father still had the help of Sarys¡¯s boys this morning to cover for her unexpected absence.


    The first warning came from Ulric, behind them. ¡°Khel! Watch the sides! Kobali!¡± he shouted.


    Thea spun towards his voice, then followed his look to the right. The grass beside the road rippled as if in a breeze, but a breeze that only blew on one small patch. As she looked, more of the grass started moving, in some places dropping out of sight. A now too-familiar hole opened up beside the road.


    Ulric grabbed his long, curved sword from its scabbard hung off the horse¡¯s saddle. Khel sprinted the few steps to the horses and did the same. He barely had it clear before the horse reared, eyes wide and wild, mouth foaming. Ignoring the animal for the moment he stepped to the side of the road, in between his companions and the holes opening up beside them. Ulric stepped to the other side of the road, where more holes were opening up.


    Within seconds, three of the creatures sprang from the holes and lunged at Khel. He intercepted the first easily, gutting it effortlessly. A backswing caught the second at the shoulder and cut it clean down to its stomach. A sold kick knocked the third one back, where he took off its head with his next swing. Ulric was just as busy on the other side of the road, but more attackers were climbing out of the ground and joining the attack.


    Thea spied another sword hanging from the saddle, either a spare or one left behind by the two departed Sidhe. She lunged for it, pulling the razored length of steel free. Math also ran for the horses, coming away with two bows and a handful of arrows. A Kobald lunged for him. Thea gripped the sword in both hands and brought an overhead swing down on its head, intercepting its attack. The blade sliced clean through, spilling the thing¡¯s brain into the dust. Rai met him a few steps later and relieved him of one of the bows.


    ¡°Get on the horses and go!¡± Khel commanded.


    Math and Rai, arrows nocked, ignored him. Khel fired at a pair that were skirting around Ulric and heading for the three in the center of the road. His arrow grazed the leg of one. Rai¡¯s arrow was a little more accurate, taking his in the shoulder. The thing barely slowed. Rai dropped his grip down the bow and smashed the stave into the thing¡¯s face. It rolled back on the road, but immediately started getting up. Math took a different approach, grabbing one of his arrows and driving it down into the top of the other¡¯s head. Thea put the point of her sword through another¡¯s chest with a clumsy thrust.


    ¡°Thea!¡± Khel said, ¡°They are the scions. Get them out of here.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll follow. Get on the horses!¡± Ulric joined in.


    A dozen of the things were pouring from the holes.


    ¡°Get on,¡± Rai ordered, pointing to the nearest horse. Thea put a hand on the pommel and a foot in a stirrup and started to lift herself into the saddle. She was thrown clear almost immediately as the horse screamed and reared. One of the vile creatures had fastened its jaws on the horse¡¯s leg. A powerful kick sent the thing flying, but the tendon was torn. The horse was hobbled.


    ¡°Run for it!¡± Khel yelled. They were nearly surrounded, but the circle had not quite closed over the road ahead. Rai grabbed her free hand and ran for the gap, Math close behind. Khel and Ulric brought up the rear.


    Rai reached the open road when the earth opened beneath him. He disappeared as the ground gave way, exposing a wide pit covered only by a thin crust of dirt and sticks. He released his grip on the Thea¡¯s hand to keep from dragging her after him but pulled her down to her knees before he was able to let go. A large rectangular pit had opened up across the road. It was more than just a hole dug in the ground. Most of the dirt covering it had collapsed when Rai went through, but the remaining weave of sticks covered with mud and dirt revealed that it was constructed. A pit trap.


    Thea looked down. The hole was maybe eight feet deep. Rai lay at the bottom, looking up at her, pain on his face. Dark tunnels opened up at floor level on each side of the pit. He started to struggle to his feet as the kobalds began screeching to each other. More shrieks came up through the tunnels below, and an instant later more of the creatures followed. Rai, still holding his bow, swung it around, trying to beat them off. Math nocked an arrow and fired into the group, but they kept swarming out from the tunnels. He only had a few arrows left, and he launched them all into the mass, to no effect.


    The creatures above ground poured past them. Khel and Math and Ulric swung wildly around them with sword and bow-staff, felling the ones they could. The rest ignored them and leaped down into the pit. Rai stood at the bottom and laid about him with hands and fist, sending little bodies flying. But his strength was no match for their numbers. They clawed and bit at his arms and legs and chest, and clambered on his back, until his clothes were shredded and soaked in blood. Red streams poured down across his nose and cheeks from cuts and bites on his head and face. Thea watched helplessly as they overwhelmed him, their weight bearing him down as he roared in defiance.


    Then he finally screamed as the monsters dragged him feet first towards a tunnel. He kicked and thrashed more wildly still but couldn¡¯t fight off so many. His feet and legs slid into the tunnel. He reached out, holding desperately to the walls, but the creatures broke his grip. Thea¡¯s eyes locked with his for a moment, hers in despair, his in fear, before he disappeared completely into the dark.

 Chapter 14

    Math kneeled at the edge of the pit, stunned. Thea sobbed beside him. The shrieks of the kobalds had faded as quickly as his brother¡¯s screams, lost in the dark tunnel.   Rai¡¯s face was seared into his memory. Even now, Math could close his eyes and see it, see the horror on it as Rai was pulled into darkness. He shook his head, trying to clear the vision to no avail.


    Khel was the only one moving. He put a hand on Math¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Get up,¡± he said. Math heard the words, but they didn¡¯t register in his mind. ¡°We have to move before they come back,¡± Khel continued.


    Math nodded a grunting assent. He reached out to Thea and slid his hand under her arm. Khel moved to her other side and did the same. Together they helped her to her feet. She complied, stumbling. They turned and headed towards the horses.


    ¡°Ulric?¡± Math asked. Khel shook his head in reply and motioned to the side with a tilt of his chin. Math followed the motion with his eye and saw Ulric lying face up in the center of a crowd of slaughtered kobalds. His face was gone. At least, that¡¯s the way it appeared to Math. The flesh had been shredded and bitten. The features were unrecognizable. Where his nose should have been was just a pulpy mess. His lips were torn away, exposing bloodied teeth. Forehead and cheeks were flayed. The eyes had been torn away, leaving two gore-filled depressions in the ruined face. A ragged hole in his neck exposed the inside of his windpipe to the sky.


    Math looked away quickly before he made himself sick. Thea hadn¡¯t noticed the torn corpse, so he leaned a bit forward to block her view as they walked. He looked to Khel and saw the Sidhe¡¯s face also stricken with grief. He and Ulric must have been close.


    The horses had fled a short distance down the road. Khel jogged ahead of the pair and grabbed the reins of one, then the other. He led the animals back, meeting Math and Thea as they stumbled drunkenly down the road. Thea complied as they helped her on to one of the horses. She slipped her feet out of the stirrups to let Math use them to swing himself up. Khel took the other horse for himself.


    Neither Math nor Thea said a word when Khel turned the horses down the road in the direction opposite Berendale. Nobody wanted to face Ana and tell her she¡¯d now lost a son in addition to a leg. The loss of the son would be far more painful. Math would rather have given up a leg himself than lost his brother.


    They rode silently for hours. None of them wanted to break the grieved silence. They kept eyes scanning the sides of the road for the telltale signs of moving earth, but other than that the scenery passed in a haze. They had a wordless lunch on horseback in the middle of the afternoon. Khel simply started reaching into the saddlebags and passing out bread and cheese. Math and Thea ate slowly and silently, washing down the light meal with water from a skin hung from their own saddle. They continued on until close to nightfall, when Khel led them off the road. The sound of rushing water reached their ears, and once over a short rise the ground became rock beneath the horse¡¯s hooves. A slow-moving river flowed rapidly before them, churning through stones and boulders between banks of wide, flat rock.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    They dismounted and, still silent, began to set up camp. Khel scavenged up some dry, dead kindling and began building a fire. Math and Thea unpacked blankets and more of the bread and cheese for their supper. Khel retrieved some flints from the saddlebags and soon had the fire going. They sat and ate, staring at the flames, Thea still leaning on Math.


    Math was the first to break the silence.


    ¡°So what now?¡± he asked.


    Nobody answered. Khel sat quietly, chewing and thinking. Thea sat quietly, not even chewing, just staring into the flames.


    Finally Khel responded. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    Silence fell for more minutes.


    ¡°Are we heading to your people?¡± Thea asked, barely audible above the crackle of the small fire.


    ¡°Yes. We¡¯ll have to keep fighting, somehow.¡±


    ¡°Are there any other-,¡± she began. Scions, she left unspoken, unable to speak it. Khel had said the key needed three scions.


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Then how?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. But we have to try. We have to find some way.¡±


    ¡°You think someone back home knows?¡±  Math asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    Math paused, then responded, ¡°We shouldn¡¯t have come this way. I need to let Ma know.¡±


    ¡°We can send word, if you like, when we arrive.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, but I should do it myself.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    ¡°You will need time to locate the last scion anyways, won¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°No, we know where he is. But we don¡¯t know if two is enough anyways.¡±


    The three were silent again. As the sun began to set, the sounds of night life in the outdoors swelled around them, crickets chirping, an owl¡¯s low hoot in the distance. The soft cry of some strange animal drifted through the woods. Math looked up in surprise when Khel mimicked the sound.


    A few minutes later, he heard soft footsteps approaching through dry grass and loose pebbles. He spun in alarm, only to see Rowan stepping up out of the twilight behind Khel. Destrian was not with him. Rowan paused by the fire and looked to each of the three. His glance to the faces of the three around the fire told him all he needed to know about the missing two. He rested a hand gently on Khel¡¯s shoulder as he sat down. Khel glanced at him, then looked back into the shadows, waiting for Destrian to follow Rowan to the firelight. He looked back to Rowan, eyebrows raised in an unspoken question. Rowan shook his head.


    ¡°Damn,¡± Khel whispered. He didn¡¯t say anything more as he offered Rowan some of their provisions. He let the Sidhe eat and drink a few bites before he asked anything more.


    ¡°News from Berendale?¡± he asked after Rowan sat and took a bite.


    Rowan swallowed. ¡°We didn¡¯t get that far.¡±


    ¡°Kobali?¡±


    Rowan nodded. ¡°They set an ambush in the road. The dig up to the surface but not through it, reinforce the thin crust to keep it from caving in until some fool steps on it, and they¡¯ve got a perfect pit trap. Swallowed Destrian and his horse before we knew what was happening. Had to pick which way to run for it, figured I¡¯d go back and try to warn you. Guess I didn¡¯t make it. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Khel waved off the apology.


    ¡°How far out of town were you?¡±  Math asked.


    ¡°Not far. Couple hours maybe.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve got to warn them!¡± Thea said. ¡°My dad!  Ana!  We have to let them know!¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t, I¡¯m sorry. We won¡¯t get through. They¡¯re devious little bastards. We¡¯d be threading a gauntlet of traps and ambushes. We¡¯ll never see them coming.¡±


    ¡°So what do we do?  We can¡¯t just leave them unaware!¡±  Math argued.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do!¡±  Khel said. ¡°We can¡¯t go back while they are there.¡±


    ¡°So how do we get rid of them?¡±


    ¡°The four of us, alone, can¡¯t. Even if we had more, we can¡¯t squirm through their tunnels and hunt them down. Something drew them here. To drive them away we have to get rid of the threat that brought them.¡±


    ¡°The Dragon,¡± Math and Thea answered in unison.

 Chapter 15

    Math awoke, chilled. A thin layer of frost covered the cold, hard rock beneath his blanket. They had each taken a turn at watch during the night, and each had made sure the fire kept blazing. They had been traveling for a week now, and each night had gotten colder. There was no need to worry that an enemy might see the fire when the enemy traveled underground. Even so, with the temperature dropping they wouldn¡¯t be able to spend many more nights out in the open.


    The decision to continue had been an easy one, in the end. They couldn¡¯t go back, so they had to go forward. They couldn¡¯t bring Rai back, but they could work to bring retribution for his death. They couldn¡¯t tell Ana that her son was dead, but maybe that was a mercy. On the other hand, someone else was bound to look for them at Trey¡¯s farm. Or to look for Trey. And if that someone else didn¡¯t get pulled below the dirt themselves then they would probably be bringing news of the demise of all three of them back to Ana and Walter.


    None of that could be helped. If the Kobali were on the move the town wasn¡¯t safe anyways. If the creatures got to the town then everyone in town, including Ana and Walter, were in danger of becoming a meal to a burrowing nightmare. If the town survived an infestation of kobalds, then there was the small matter of a Dragon breaking free from its thousand-year-old prison.


    So that was the decision, by default. Stop the Kobali. Stop the Dragon. There was nowhere else to go.


    Not that they knew how to do either.


    They had left the road four days ago, striking off into the dense forest. Khel had expected them to arrive at their destination today. The forest around them was thick and deep. The territory was completely unfamiliar to Math, but Khel and Rowan seemed right at home.  Math had expected to have to fight for every yard through the vegetation, but the two Sidhe had led them through paths difficult to see even when they were traveling right on them. Though they did often need to walk the horses, they were making good progress. Following these hidden trails, Math was not surprised that nobody had seen the Sidhe in centuries.


    Math heard the faint call of some distant forest animal, but now he recognized it for the signal it was. Khel and Rowan kept in contact with these animal calls. Math could see the usefulness: besides not alerting any nearby enemy unfamiliar with the sound, it kept them from surprising each other. Until Math got used to the different calls, he was caught flat-footed more than once as Rowan or Khel stepped silently out of the brush in front of him. The men could move with no more noise than a breeze when they wanted to. The animal calls are probably why they didn¡¯t skewer each other with their long curved swords out of surprise when sneaking up on one another.


    Khel and Rowan whispered quietly to each other up ahead. Math strained his ears to listen but couldn¡¯t make out their conversation. He had begun focusing on using the gifts of his newly discovered heritage. He found it difficult to know if his sight and hearing were better than they should be, because he was accustomed to his own senses. But at night, he had taken a couple opportunities to step off into the woods. He found he was able to walk through the dark woods by starlight and see his way well enough in the dark.


    Then again, he was trying to listen in on a conversation between two people who knew exactly how well their own people could hear. They would know quite well how softly they would need to whisper.


    Not that they were trying to be secretive, merely cautious. They were very open with Math and Thea. He probably could have just walked up and asked them what they were talking about. But then he wouldn¡¯t get to do these little tests.


    Even the need to ask was eliminated when Khel walked back to Math and Thea and updated them. They would be at the Sidhe settlement within the hour. Sentries had already sent ahead word of their arrival.


    Math hadn¡¯t been sure what to expect at a Sidhe settlement. Maybe they would live in wondrous vaulted wood treehouses, built in and through the trees, marvelous wooden walkways soaring gracefully between the branches. That¡¯s the way it was in the fairy stories. Or maybe they would live in dark, damp caves, like the troll antagonists in those same stories. Would they be swarmed by the mystical Sidhe, rare outsiders in their private world?  Would they be hostile and aggressive, or welcome the strangers?


    As they arrived at the settlement, Math saw the even more unexpected truth. Everything was¡­ completely normal. He could have been walking into any other wooded village. Smoke curled from the stone chimneys of a few simple log cabins nestled in the trees. Semi-permanent tents were erected in other places, heavy canvas over a fixed wooden frame. The constructions would be enough to keep the wind out and, with the help of a fire in the center of the floor, enough to keep the cold out. Men and women went about their business like they would in any other village. There was no curiosity, or aggression, or hostility. Those they passed offered a polite greeting, as if they were passing any other stranger on the street. Those further away paid them no mind at all.


    After a few minutes of adjustment and observation, he did notice a few odd details. There would be no place to grow crops in the dense forest. There was no livestock. Certainly, they could hunt, but hunting day in and day out to feed the settlement would be a difficult task and would quickly kill off the wildlife in the immediate area. On top of that, there seemed to be a hidden order to everything. This was more than just a few random tents in the woods. There was an almost military feel to it. That sense was reinforced by the fact that a large number of men and women carried the familiar long, curved swords strapped to their backs, or heavy recurve bows, or both.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    They approached one of the canvas tents on the outskirts of the small camp. As they drew near, a Sidhe couple stepped out. Both were tall, fair and beautiful, like all their people. The man had dark hair, a sharp contrast to the woman¡¯s pale gold. Both wore it long, fastened behind their necks with leather ties. They embraced Khel and Rowan in turn, speaking in low concerned tones. Math and Thea stood back out of courtesy, not wanting to interrupt. Math could easily tell when Khel and Rowan passed on the news of their fallen.


    Khel stepped back and motioned towards Math and Thea.


    ¡°This is Maethius, one of the scions,¡± he said. The woman gave him a quizzical look, but he went on. ¡°And this is Theodora, fianc¨¦e of Rhaiven, who fell to the Kobali with Ulric.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s our pleasure to welcome you into our tent. I am Catrain, my husband is Favian,¡± Catrain said, taking Math¡¯s hand briefly between both of hers, then doing the same with Thea.


    ¡°Happy to meet you,¡± said Favian, ¡°we are saddened to hear of your troubles.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Math replied.


    ¡°Come in,¡± said Faivan.


    ¡°Yes, come sit and eat with us. You¡¯ve been on the road, rest with us for a bit,¡± Catrain added.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± said Thea. The Sidhe couple stepped into the tent. Khel and Rowan followed, Math and Thea stepping in right after.


    The interior of the tent was clean and spacious. The flaps on the other side were tied open wide, letting light in. A small fire burned in the center, the smoke exiting through a hole in the center of the ceiling. The three closed walls trapped enough heat that the inside was comfortable. A plush carpet covered the ground. Khel noticed the Sidhe removing their shoes and boots before walking onto the carpet, so he and Thea did the same. A wooden table was set up against one wall of the canvas tent. It was set not only with bread and cheese, but a platter of carved meat and a variety of green vegetables. Pitchers of water and wine sat next to six wooden goblets. A stack of six plates sat at the other end, next to a row of forks. Math and Thea and their group had obviously been expected.


    Another table sat under the open flaps, near the edge of the carpet. Simple wood and wicker chairs surrounded it. At Catrain¡¯s invitation, the four travelers served themselves from the platters onto the plates and seated themselves around the table to eat.


    ¡°Thank you, this looks wonderful,¡± Thea said. Math nodded in agreement.


    ¡°You are very welcome,¡± Catrain replied as she handed Math the platter of meat.


    ¡°What is this place?  Some sort of camp?  Are you traveling somewhere?¡± Math asked. He speared a piece, passed it to Thea, then accepted the next plate from Catrain.


    ¡°You could say it¡¯s a sort of camp, but we aren¡¯t traveling anywhere but here,¡± Favian said. ¡°Many of us adopt a semi-nomadic sort of lifestyle. When our people withdrew centuries ago, we were on the move quite a bit. Since that time, many of us have kept a love of moving from place to place, experiencing new places to live. Catrain and I have been here for a couple years now and may move on soon.¡±


    ¡°So there is no Sidhe ¡®capital¡¯?¡± Math asked.


    ¡°There is. Many of our people do live in permanent homes. Some people have been here for a very long time. They are the ones who live in the cabins you saw on the way in.¡±


    ¡°You have to carry all this with you when you move?  You carry the furniture from place to place, and break down the tent frames?¡±


    ¡°No, we will leave it for anyone who may travel here. When we find a new place to live for a little while, they may have an empty tent that we can use. If not then we¡¯ll make a stop at the nearest town and build or buy one.¡±


    ¡°You just give them away for free?  Do you not use money?¡±


    ¡°Oh, we use money like anyone else, though we do a lot of bartering. But certain things, like shelters, are open to any who need them by custom.¡±


    The conversation died down for a bit as everyone enjoyed the meal in front of them.


    ¡°It seems very organized for a camp,¡± Thea observed.


    ¡°Another hint of our roots as a people,¡± Catrain replied. ¡°It very rarely happens anymore, but at times in the past we¡¯ve been required to move very quickly. Once we withdrew, we were often hunted. Our first years as a separate society were tragically bloody, for both sides.¡±


    Math took a few minutes to think as he ate.


    ¡°Do you hate us?¡± Math asked.


    ¡°Absolutely not,¡± Catrain answered. ¡°Those hatreds are centuries in the past. Your people don¡¯t seem to hate us either, outside of some superstitious tales that have gotten more and more far-fetched over the years.¡±


    ¡°Besides, it seems you are more one of us than one of your people,¡± Favian smiled.


    ¡°I¡¯m still trying to wrap my head around that,¡± Math replied.


    ¡°Well you¡¯ll find we are a very welcoming people, if we trust you,¡± Catrain said. ¡°Take your time and get to know us, there¡¯s no rush.¡±


    Favian continued, ¡°Nor is there any reason you are suddenly forced to live with us. There are those of us who choose to live in your towns and cities. The choice will ultimately be yours.¡±


    ¡°Well apparently we have some travelling of our own to do before we settle back down anywhere,¡± Thea said.


    Favian and Catrain both nodded.


    ¡°We don¡¯t envy you that choice,¡± Favian said. ¡°We¡¯ll give you all the support we can.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t even know what we need support for,¡± Math replied. ¡°We don¡¯t know what we¡¯re supposed to do. As far as I can tell, neither do your people.¡±


    ¡°When you got near our settlement, we sent messengers to inform some of our elders. We expect that even a representative or two of the Creche will respond. We¡¯ll figure out a plan.¡±


    ¡°In the meantime,¡± Khel cut in, ¡°whatever the plan, you two will need to prepare. Have you ever used a bow?¡±


    ¡°Occasionally, of course, to hunt, or to shoot at trees as a boy. But I¡¯m not very good,¡± Math replied.


    ¡°Same here,¡± Thea added.


    ¡°What about a sword?  Or a spear?¡± Khel asked.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t,¡± Thea said.


    ¡°Me neither,¡± said Math.


    ¡°Ok then. That¡¯s step one. If I¡¯m going to be traveling with a couple people who seem likely to attract unwanted attention, they¡¯re going to have to be able to watch my back. We¡¯ll set you up with a tent for the night. Take the afternoon to rest, eat, and wash up from the road. Training starts tomorrow.¡±

 Chapter 16

    Darkness. Darkness and pain and blood. The blood is the life. The blood is the source. The blood is the power. Control the blood and you control the power. Control the blood and you control life.


    Chanting echoed through the rooms and passageways. The ritual swelled and ebbed and swelled again. A ring of robed and hooded figures, the source of the chant, stood in the center of the room. The cloth draped around them was shadowy, with darker stains throughout. Symbols were drawn roughly on the back of each, shaped out of that same black stain as if painted on with a hand dipped in blood. Another circle of silhouettes lined the walls of the round chamber. These emitted a droning hum that rose and fell in pitch and volume, interweaving with the chanting as in some malefic dirge. At four regular points around the room, a drummer struck out a complex cadence through which the repeating ritualistic speech wove. At times, the drummers thumped out their rhythms with each other, emphasizing and amplifying the pattern they shared. At other times they paired off with separate rhythms or even split off so that four separate beats pulsed through the space, but always the patterns fit inside each other, creating a complex wicked symphony.


    The inner circle of figures obscured a writhing mass of flesh on an altar of black stone. Leather cords cut into flesh swollen and blackened, pinning down what used to resemble arms and legs. The unfortunate creature¡¯s flesh had been removed, yet their dark sorcery kept it alive. Blood poured from the flayed victim into a trough that surrounded the sinister altar.


    The surrounding figures all stood with one arm outstretched over the object of their dark ceremony, angled down to the thrashing body. Every arm was slit lengthwise up the wrist. A thin stream of blood ran down.  At the palm of extended hands, the blood split unnaturally, a rivulet running to the tip of each finger and thumb. From there the stream of blood flowed not down but across, bridging from the spread fingers to the grisly mass in the center.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    The chanting swelled. The droning intensified. The drums pounded harder, faster, the patterns more complex, more frenetic, harder to comprehend but still somehow synchronized.


    At some silent command, or some preordained marker in the malevolent fugue, the inner ring closed their hands as one. The blood stopped its flow. The room went silent. The form on the altar was still.


    Time passed. The watchers waited.


    The blood in the stone channel surrounding the altar began to churn.


    The watchers watched.


    The blood began to flow, circling the altar. Then it began to pulse, waves forming on the surface, then disappearing. The blood began to trickle over the edge, then flowed up the sides of the altar. Slow rivulets worked their way up the black stone, making their way to the prone body. More streams worked their way up the stone, then more, until the entire altar was coated with blood flowing back up towards the form above. Flayed fingers twitched. Skinless arms flexed. The blood in the trough exploded, fountaining upward in a wall of gore, a solid ring surrounding the altar like a crimson curtain. The liquid peaked above the altar, then curled inward, dropping back down onto the ghastly subject.


    The level of the red fluid in the trough dropped as the blood showered upward. The last of it left the trench, arching upward and onto the figure on the altar. The body absorbed it all, the last few droplets arcing through the air and into the victim¡¯s flesh. Not a drop remained in the channel below.


    The creature opened its eyes.


    The figure at the head of the altar spoke in a gravelly, growling voice.


    ¡°Arise, Dragon of Blood.¡±

 Chapter 17

    ¡°Again,¡± Khel barked. Thea sighed. At least this one had hit the bale of hay. She pulled another arrow from her quiver and set the nock on the bowstring. She gripped the wood tightly and drew back as she raised the arrow, pulling the bow tight until her fingers touched her cheek. The bow was different than the longbows she had used a few times in the past. It was shorter for one, and elaborately carved. The curve of the limbs reversed directions at the top and bottom, curling back forward so the string lay against the wood at each end. The intricate designs were functional as well as ornate; her hand rested comfortably in a grip that seemed designed for her palm, while an indentation in the carving served as a rest for the arrow. She sighted down the arrow then released, her hand flying upward as it let the string snap forward. The arrow thunked into the target on the very top edge, just missing flying off into the woods behind.


    ¡°You¡¯re getting better,¡± Khel offered. ¡°You¡¯re still doing several things wrong, but you¡¯re getting better.¡±  His criticisms were playful, not harsh. He encouraged them as much as he could.


    ¡°I can¡¯t get the arrow to go to the same place twice,¡± she complained.


    ¡°Don¡¯t grip the bow so tight. If you squeeze the wood you¡¯ll throw off your aim. And when you draw back, rest your finger under your chin. Keep it in the same place every time, and you¡¯ll always know you¡¯re releasing from the same place every time.¡±


    ¡°Is that all?¡± Thea asked, rolling her eyes.


    ¡°Well, no. Don¡¯t draw until you lift the bow. Don¡¯t pluck the string, just release it and let your hand relax. Don¡¯t sight along the tip of the arrow or you¡¯ll shoot too high. Should I go on?¡± he laughed.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough for now,¡± she laughed back. She looked over at Math¡¯s target. He wasn¡¯t doing much better. Two of his arrows clung to the edges of his bale of hay. A third was nowhere in sight, probably lost in the woods behind if he was shooting as well as she was. She wasn¡¯t terribly frustrated yet. They had only fired a few rounds so far on their first morning of training. Already they were both improving. Most of the time. She watched as Math sent another arrow into the target, this time only about six inches from the center.


    ¡°Well done,¡± Khel said.


    Math looked over at her with a grin, proud of his shot. She smiled back. It was the first time either had smiled since they had lost Rai.


    Her smile faded immediately with that thought. He saw her smile die away, and his disappeared in response. He turned back to his target and reached for another arrow. Khel, observant as ever, saw the exchange.


    ¡°Take a break,¡± he said. She and Math set their bows on the rack behind them and went to retrieve their arrows. Luckily, the area behind the targets was only lightly forested, without tall grass or thick underbrush. They pulled their stray arrows out of the ground and the trees they had struck and dropped them back into their quivers. They returned and met Math near a table stocked with a lunch of bread and fruit. They each grabbed a piece and nibbled on the light snack.


    ¡°How do you keep the Kobali from attacking here,¡± Thea asked.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    ¡°We don¡¯t,¡± Khel answered.


    ¡°You don¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°The Kobali have not been a problem for a very long time, either for you or for us. Now that we know they¡¯re on the move, we have outriders constantly patrolling. We¡¯ll get a warning if they get near and have to evacuate. If that happens, it will be a good thing that we¡¯ve held on to some of our customs.¡±


    ¡°What if they just dig all the way here, and come up in the middle of everyone?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s possible that could happen by chance, but it would be a matter of bad luck. They won¡¯t know we¡¯re here unless they come up and look. Sometimes they scout a short distance overland, but still, they¡¯ll need to be somewhat close. They can¡¯t see our village from underground.¡±


    ¡°How do they see underground at all?¡±


    ¡°They do have excellent eyesight, and even better senses of smell and hearing, but underground they feel. They can sense when someone is walking overhead, or nearby. If they get close enough, they¡¯ll be able to feel all the people in this place walking or going about their business. But even with all that extra stomping around from the whole settlement, they have to be somewhere in the area to begin with.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s still not completely comforting.¡±


    ¡°No. No, it¡¯s not. We are being very vigilant these days.¡±


    ¡°When do you expect these elders to arrive?¡±  Math asked.


    ¡°Some will arrive in a day or two, some will take as much as a week. The messengers left a couple days before we actually arrived. They will stick to the settlements that are within five days¡¯ ride. If the elders leave immediately, that will bring the furthest of them to us in ten days from the day the messengers left.¡±


    ¡°Catrain and Favian said someone from your ¡®Creche¡¯ might come. Is your capital that close?¡±


    ¡°It is only a few days further, but some from the Creche travel from settlement to settlement. This close to our home, it is likely that one or two will be within range.¡±


    ¡°Will they know what to do?¡±


    ¡°We hope so. They are the most learned of our people. They are the ones who knew that we needed the scions. If anyone knows where we go now, it¡¯ll be them.¡±


    ¡°So in the meantime we just hang around here?¡± Thea asked.


    ¡°We¡¯ll do more than hang around. Whatever the plan ends up being, we¡¯re likely to run into trouble. We need to start teaching you to handle yourselves. We¡¯ll shoot for a couple more hours, then I¡¯ll show you which end of a sword is which.¡±


    True to his word, they started training with swords that afternoon. Khel demonstrated the proper grip and the proper stance. They practiced with weighted wooden swords but didn¡¯t take a single swing that day. They simply practiced holding the sword, gripping it in the right way, and moving. For the next two hours they stepped forwards and backwards, holding the sword. Nothing more. One step forward. One step back. Two steps forward. Two steps back. The third hour they added a sideways step. One step to the left. One step to the right. Two to the left. One forward. Two to the right. One backward. Over and over and over.


    ¡°Fighting is footwork,¡± Khel repeated again and again. ¡°Footwork is fighting.¡±


    The next day the routine was the same. They practiced their archery in the morning, took a break for lunch, and then worked with swords. That morning was better. Both their arrows already crept closer and closer to the center of their targets. That afternoon, they learned to add turns and pivots to their linear steps. By the end of the afternoon, Khel decided they were doing well enough to learn high, low and center guard positions. They finished out the day with another hour of footwork drills, but now they moved the sword from position to position as they stepped.


    ¡°How long before we learn to actually fight?¡± Thea asked at the end of the day.


    ¡°You are learning to fight. Footwork is¡­¡± Khel began. Thea cut him off.


    ¡°Footwork is fighting. I know. But at some point we need to actually swing the sword!¡±


    ¡°Normally you would learn footwork alone for months. But since we are somewhat pressed for time, I will begin teaching you to ¡®actually swing the sword¡¯ tomorrow.¡±

 Chapter 18

    Math wiped the sweat from his eyes as he picked himself up off the ground.


    ¡°Faster,¡± Khel ordered. ¡°You train yourself to get up slowly, you train yourself to get killed.¡±


    They had been at it for a week now. They were up at sunrise to eat a quick meal, which they still ate at Catrain and Favian¡¯s tent. Their hosts continually rebuffed their offers to help gather, or prepare, or clean up their meals. Favian insisted that they use that time to train with Khel. ¡°You have more important things to do than washing dishes,¡± Catrain had added.


    Their archery skills had quickly become passable. They weren¡¯t sharpshooters by any means, but they could reliably hit a target. Khel had quickly cut down their practice time to only a couple hours each morning.


    ¡°You have the form and the basics of shooting down,¡± Khel had said. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to put out an eye from fifty paces away. I just need you to hit something. You can spend the rest of your lives practicing to get better.¡±


    After their bow work, they would take a short break and then train with the swords for another two hours. Favian had shown up the third day with a couple spare swords and given them to Math and Thea. The scabbards were cracked, dusty, and well-used, but the blades were sharp and bright. They spent an extra few hours that night learning how to clean, sharpen and care for the blades to keep them that way. They repeated that care every night after they trained, though it didn¡¯t take quite as long once they got the hang of it. The good thing was, they drilled with their new real swords in the morning.


    The afternoons were now given over to a new torture. They sparred. They knew virtually nothing, but still Khel handed them wooden swords and padded vests and they fought. They sparred with Khel, they sparred with each other, and they sparred with random people who wandered by. Khel had the advantage of height, strength and reach, but Thea quickly learned ways to minimize those advantages. At the end of the day, both of them had given and gotten bruises. Everyone else they faced thumped them soundly.


    In between bouts they trained some more. When Khel saw one or another making a mistake, he made them repeatedly perform the technique properly. When one of them fell for an attack, they practiced the defense. They drilled attacks, and counterattacks, and footwork, footwork, and more footwork. And always, Khel insisted on putting their drills into a realistic context with the sparring.


    They finished out each day putting the swords down and sparring with no weapons.


    ¡°You won¡¯t always have your sword. The weapon is a tool, it is a mistake to focus exclusively on it,¡± Khel had said.


    So he spent a little time teaching them techniques to attack and defend with their hands and fists and, surprisingly, feet and knees and elbows.


    ¡°Everything is a weapon,¡± Khel taught.


    And then they sparred some more until it was time to clean up in the nearby river and head to Catrain and Favian¡¯s tent for dinner. After dinner and after caring for their weapons, they rested, nursing bruises and sore, stiff arms and legs. They used this time to wander the settlement, exploring and getting to know the people, or to sit by a fire chatting with Khel or their hosts. The days were growing shorter and colder and any warm fire was welcome. When they could find a way to make themselves useful they would pitch in, despite protesting muscles.


    A handful of elders had arrived throughout the week. They were to gather tomorrow and meet formally, but in the meantime, they spent the evenings gathering socially. Their status made them the focus of any evening assembly. The tents were too small for larger groups so eventually Catrain and Favian organized a larger fire in the center of town each night. The bonfire became the nightly gathering place. This gave Math and Thea the perfect opportunity to mingle when they wanted, and to sit back and listen unobtrusively when they were too tired to socialize.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Khel¡¯s voice brought Math¡¯s attention back. Today he had added something new to the training.


    ¡°What was your mistake?¡± Khel asked.


    Math thought for a moment. ¡°I focused on the weapon. I assumed a sword fight would only use swords.¡±  He had been so focused on the swords when they engaged that he hadn¡¯t seen Khel¡¯s foot lash out and hook behind his, sending him down flat on his back and taking his wind away.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Now, you and Thea, face off.¡±


    Math dusted himself off and faced Thea, curved wooden sword held loosely in front of him with both hands. Her large dark eyes focused intently on him, she stepped in with a quick thrust. He parried and stepped to the side with a counterthrust, which she easily dodged. These were his favorite sparring matches. He admired her drive and her newly discovered competitive streak. Every day they trained he could see new reasons why his brother liked her so much.


    The thought of Rai brought a flash of the memory of his death, and his breath caught in his throat. The pain of his loss still hit him in the gut a few times a day. He knew it would fade eventually, but it didn¡¯t seem like relief would come any time soon.


    As he blinked the water from his eyes he felt a sharp pain along his ribs. Thea had lunged forward and to her right and, before he reacted, given him a sharp smack on his left side. She skipped back out of reach before his counter reached her, his training sword passing harmlessly in front of her face.


    ¡°Pay attention!¡± Khel snapped. ¡°Getting lost in a daydream is a bad idea when someone is trying to put a sharp piece of metal into your guts!  Face off again.¡±


    They squared off a second time. He saw the concern and the pain in her eyes mirroring his. He knew she saw what he was thinking. It wasn¡¯t getting much easier for her yet either, though she had finally managed to pass a whole day without crying.


    He pushed his grieving thoughts back and lunged. Thea saw the attack and hardened her own expression, parrying and counterattacking. They went back and forth furiously, both trying to work out their rage and grief. Neither scored a hit, and they broke off, panting.


    They circled cautiously, then Math lunged again. He feinted a direct attack, then shifted his sword to catch Thea¡¯s parry. Using his weight and strength to push her blade aside, he stepped in close and reached out with his foot to hook his heel around hers. He was learning quickly and wanted to put the technique he had just succumbed to into practice.


    Unfortunately, Thea had just seen Khel perform that same move, and from a better vantage point. She stepped to the side, reached one hand up to Math¡¯s shoulder and kicked her own leg out. His foot flailed in the air as she pulled down at his vest, dropping him to the ground. Math grabbed desperately as he went down, gripping the front of her vest. She landed heavily on top of him, knocking his breath away.


    Their eyes locked as Math struggled to get a breath in. He couldn¡¯t look away. The faint scent of her hair mixed with the day¡¯s sweat reached him as her hair fell down around his face, brushing his cheeks.  His heart started pounding. The moment lasted but a second, and Math sucked in a deep breath.


    ¡°Well done,¡± Khel laughed. ¡°Well done both of you, but the point goes to Thea.¡±  Thea scrambled up, a confused look on her reddening face, and turned away.


    Math shook his head clear. No, he thought. That can¡¯t happen.


    He was saved from having to face her a third time by the sound of excited voices at the edge of the settlement. The crowd noise swelled as people rushed by their impromptu training circle towards the source of the commotion.


    Math looked over and saw two riders, sitting tall on horseback, entering the tent village.


    ¡°The elders of the Creche have finally arrived,¡± Khel said beside him.


    The three began to walk towards the newcomers. As they neared, Khel saw that the two riders were women. They wore simple riding clothes and bows were hung from each saddle. One was ancient, grey hair cascading down over shriveled features. Her back was bent over the pommel of the saddle, but she looked around with bright and knowing eyes. Math was surprised to see the ornate pommel of a Sidhe sword jutting up over her shoulder. The older woman¡¯s eyes settled on Math and bored into him. Then she turned to her companion. Her companion leaned over to hear her whispers, then turned her gaze on Math as well.


    The other woman also had a curved blade strapped to her back. Her age was indeterminable. She was far from young, but the lines of age hadn¡¯t touched her face and no grey had touched her dark hair. She stared at Math for a timeless moment. He felt insignificant under that gaze, but then she smiled and his heart couldn¡¯t help but feel joy. She turned her attention back to those greeting her, releasing him from her scrutiny. He knew without a doubt that the younger woman was the leader of the pair.


    Khel whistled. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, that is not just an elder. That is the Master of the Creche.¡±

 Chapter 19

    Thea looked back and forth between the arriving elders and Maethius. She felt a fool. They had leaned on each other a lot since Rai¡¯s death, confided in each other, cried on each other¡¯s shoulders. She didn¡¯t intend anything more than that. She didn¡¯t expect anything more than that. She didn¡¯t know why that feeling had washed over her when she had landed on his broad chest. She had made a fool of herself, and worse. The very thought was insulting to Rai¡¯s memory.


    She lifted her gaze from Math¡¯s wide shoulders to see the tall elder looking at her. Khel had called her the Master. She could see why. There was a power in that gaze. Thea felt stripped in front of her look. She knew the Master had seen her watching Math. She knew the Master knew her thoughts. She felt shamed. She could feel the heat of a blush rise up her neck and engulf her cheeks. The Master smiled kindly at her. She averted her gaze, dropping her eyes to her shoes.


    She looked up again as the pair passed in front of her. This time her eyes met those of the older woman, who also smiled compassionately. Then her view was blocked by the crowd of tall Sidhe following the horses and escorting them into the small village.


    Once inside the village borders the two women dismounted. The older of the two waved away the hands outstretched to assist her and swung her leg over the saddle. She dropped to the ground with a surprising amount of grace and stretched for a moment, apparently working out the kinks that had hunched her over in the saddle. When she straightened back up she stood tall, a majestic grey warrior queen complete with regal sword.


    The Master was no different. None of the Sidhe even thought to extend a hand, nor did she need the assistance. She vaulted from her saddle in one fluid motion and hit the ground already walking, jeweled sword hilt flashing as she moved.


    The elders headed first to Catrain and Favian¡¯s tent. The couple stepped out of the tent well before the elders arrived. They waited outside the flaps for the women to approach, then extended hands to greet them.


    ¡°Aleida, Ellyn, so good to see you,¡± Catrain said.


    Aleida, the Master, brushed the hand aside, stepped forward and embraced Catrain.


    ¡°Good to see you again too, Catrain,¡± she said.


    Ellyn gave Favian a similar greeting, then switched places with Aleida and repeated the process.


    ¡°Please, come in,¡± Favian said, holding the tent fabric open for them.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Ellyn said as she ducked inside.


    Aleida paused before she stepped inside and turned, scanning those gathered around. Her eyes found Thea and Math.


    ¡°We are not your only guests, Catrain. Your new friends should join us as well,¡± Aleida said.


    Catrain looked over the crowd until she found the three of them, then waved them forward with a smile. Thea, Math and Khel stepped forward and entered the tent behind Aleida and Catrain. Favian let the flap fall behind him as he stepped inside.


    The inside of the tent was lit well by lanterns and the small fire in the middle. The two elders were already sitting down in wood-framed canvas chairs near the fire, their swords unstrapped and laid behind them. Catrain had found thick pillows to set between the arms as cushions. Favian was setting more seats in front of the hearth. He motioned to the three to join them. Catrain was passing out cups of warm mulled wine. Thea took one and chose a seat near Math. She was uncomfortably conscious of his presence beside her, but still wanted an ally close by.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    ¡°You are Khel?¡± Aleida looked at their unofficial guide and trainer. He nodded, though Thea decided that it hadn¡¯t really been a question. ¡°You represent your bloodline well,¡± she said. Khel nodded again in thanks at the compliment.


    ¡°And Maethius. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you. Your father always spoke highly of you and your brother.¡±  Math¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Aleida continued, ¡°I am truly sorry to hear of your brother¡¯s passing.¡±


    Finally, she turned to Thea. ¡°And Theodora!  I have heard a great many wonderful things about you as well. You are always welcome among the Sidhe.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± she replied softly.


    ¡°And how is you father?  Well, I hope?¡±


    It was Thea¡¯s turn to be shocked into silence. She nodded mutely.


    Aleida smiled. ¡°Good,¡± she said.


    They sat and exchanged pleasant conversation while they sipped at their wine. Thea couldn¡¯t help but feel almost spellbound by the women. They talked about nothing of importance, but she hung on every word. She was dying to ask how the woman knew her father and she knew that Math was even more eager. But somehow the woman kept steering the conversation elsewhere.


    As Thea finished the last of her wine, Aleida looked over at her and Math.


    ¡°We will all meet tomorrow with the other elders. We¡¯ll decide what path would be best to take, though it will be up to the three of you to choose to take it or not.¡±


    So Khel would be going with them, Thea thought.


    ¡°In the meantime, we would like to discuss some minor matters with our hosts here that have nothing to do with you. You are welcome to stay, but I¡¯m sure it will be boring for you.¡±


    Thea took the hint and rose, thanking their hosts. Math and Khel followed her lead and did the same. The three of them exited the tent together.


    They started heading back to their practice spot but stopped when they realized Khel wasn¡¯t following. Turning, they saw he had stopped behind them.


    ¡°No more training for today. Take the rest of the afternoon to rest and relax. Tomorrow will be an important day,¡± he said.


    Thea looked at Math. Then, at an unspoken signal, they broke into a dash for the river to rinse off the dust and sweat. This was typically their last contest of the day, and they played dirty. Math stopped abruptly in front of her, ducking his shoulder towards her as her momentum took her past in an effort to send her flying into the bushes. It had worked yesterday, but today she was ready for it. She ducked and twisted, avoiding the blow, and took the lead, laughing. She heard him laugh in return as she sprinted forward. For the first time in days, she was truly having fun.


    Her lead wasn¡¯t enough. The trail opened up, flat and wide with no obstacles. Math¡¯s longer legs carried him faster than she could run, and with the river in sight she felt a hand grab the back of her shirt, yanking her backwards. Her feet kept moving forward as he pulled, and he passed her, still laughing, as she landed on her behind in the dirt.


    ¡°Ass!¡± she yelled with a smile as she picked herself up. She brushed what dirt she could off her leggings and trotted down the trail, knowing she couldn¡¯t catch him now. She caught up to him at the river bank as he was hanging his shirt over a tree branch. His back and shoulders were as chiseled as his brother¡¯s. She found herself staring as he turned to face her. He looked just as solid from the front, the muscles seemingly carved out of his chest and stomach. She shook her head and looked away.


    ¡°Hey, no peeking!¡± he kidded. ¡°I won, you wait over there, out of sight.¡±


    She turned towards the small clearing where they waited while they took turns. Luckily, it was in the opposite direction from him so he couldn¡¯t see her face glowing red. She reached the clearing and leaned up against a tree, pulling up a long blade of grass and toying with it between her fingers. A fly buzzed around her head, and she waved it away absently. It returned with a comrade and swooped around her hair. Annoyed, she swatted at them and left her tree to take a walk.


    As she moved across the small glade she noticed a pile of rags in the shade of a large maple. Curious, she moved closer to examine them. As she drew near, she saw that they weren¡¯t rags at all but cloth of what seemed like somewhat good quality, though she was no tailor or seamstress. Dozens of flies buzzed on and around the pile. It was only when she got much closer that she realized the fabric still contained a shriveled, misshapen body.

 Chapter 20

    The scent of blood still lingered in the air. He could still taste the life energy, feel it flowing through his veins, adding to what he had already gathered. His body swelled and grew, fresh new skin straining to contain what it had drawn into itself.


    He peered out from his earthy hideaway, watching as a woman arrived and made her way over to examine his recent work. He could smell her from where he hid, feel her heart pulsing through the earth around him. He burned to consume her as well, but his body couldn¡¯t handle it. Not yet. He had to wait, to process what he had already drawn into himself.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    He watched her yell for help as she bent to examine the body. If only she knew how close she was to finding herself devoured. She would fear him. Fear made their hearts beat faster, made the blood flow more vigorously. The fear response added a certain flavor to the life energy that he craved.


    A man ran into the clearing, responding to her shouts. This one was strong. So strong! He was as full of vitality as the one he had just consumed. The life force radiated through his skin.


    But he was newborn. He needed time to assimilate what he had taken.


    He watched as the man put a protective arm over the woman¡¯s shoulders. The affectionate gesture stirred up a rage inside him.


    He would return very soon and reap the life from them both.

 Chapter 21

    Math had just pulled his pants back up when he heard Thea¡¯s horrified shout. He grabbed his shirt off its branch and pulled it over his head as he ran towards her voice.


    ¡°Math! Over here!¡± she yelled.


    ¡°I¡¯m coming!¡±


    He reached the clearing and saw her crouched on the far side. Not seeing any immediate danger, he slowed to a walk. A very faint, sweet, coppery smell reached his nostrils as he entered the glade. He approached Thea, a vague sense of unease keeping him alert. A light breeze rustled the grass, but nothing else moved besides Thea. The cloying smell stayed with him as he reached her.


    He looked at the focus of her attention. Flies buzzed angrily around it, disturbed by Thea¡¯s examination of the cloth. The body was withered and dry, skin pulled tight to the desiccated muscle and bone beneath. The face was nothing more than skin pressed tightly over the shape of a skull. It was impossible to make out the features. The eyes had shriveled inside their sockets, their color indiscernible. Long, thick blonde hair flowed incongruously from the head, fanned out on the ground beneath.


    The body¡¯s outfit looked to be somewhat fine clothing. It was an unusual outfit for the settlement, where the Sidhe tended to wear simple, practical clothing day to day. Except, there were those in the village who wore a different style of dress.


    ¡°This is an elder,¡± he said, shocked.


    ¡°What? Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°Look at what she¡¯s wearing. She¡¯s one of the women who arrived this week.¡±


    Thea looked again. ¡°Looks like she¡¯s been dead awhile, how could that be?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. But look at her hair. Look at her clothes. I don¡¯t know why she looks like that, but she¡¯s an elder.¡±


    ¡°Damn, I think you¡¯re right. What do you think we should do with her?¡±


    He put his arm around her, pulling her up. ¡°I think we should go back. Right now.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Thea responded, rising.


    He kept his arm around her as they stepped out of the clearing, then guided her in front of him. They walked quickly, some unidentifiable sense of urgency prodding them to haste. They were only a short distance from the village and were there in minutes. They went right to Catrain and Favian¡¯s tent, calling out a quick but urgent greeting from just outside the flap.


    ¡°Come in, please,¡± Catrain called from inside.


    Math and Thea stepped in at the same time. Catrian, Favian, Aleida and Ellyn were still seated, but all were looking up at them expectantly as they stepped inside.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Favian asked.


    ¡°We found a body,¡± Math said, then paused. He didn¡¯t know how well these two elders knew the others, or how they would take the news. When they didn¡¯t answer right away, he plunged on. ¡°We think it¡¯s one of your elders.¡±


    All four of them were on their feet immediately.


    ¡°Who?¡± Ellyn asked, a look of concern on the older woman¡¯s face.


    ¡°A woman I think. Blonde,¡± Math replied.


    Ellyn and Aleida looked at each other grimly.


    ¡°Show us,¡± Aleida ordered.


    ¡°There¡¯s a clearing, down by the river. We¡¯ll take you.¡±


    They exited the tent, heading back towards the river at a brisk pace. Math led the way, Thea right behind. Math checked over his shoulder and saw the other four keeping pace easily. Ellyn¡¯s mobility continued to surprise him.


    They reached the clearing quickly. Aleida stepped in front of them. ¡°Stay here,¡± she said.


    She strode across the clearing accompanied by just Ellyn. The others stayed and watched from a short distance away. The two elders crouched over the shriveled corpse, talking too low to hear but gesturing animatedly. After a few minutes they arose and walked back to the others.


    ¡°You were right, it is one of our elders,¡± Aleida said. ¡°Her name was Helewys. And we have a bigger problem.¡± She looked pointedly between Catrain and Favian as she said the last few words.


    ¡°A bigger problem than that?¡± Math asked, gesturing towards the lifeless elder.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Khel asked.


    ¡°We are going to gather the elders together tonight.¡±


    ¡°That soon? We can¡¯t wait to discuss it at the gathering tomorrow?¡± Favian asked.


    ¡°We can¡¯t wait until tomorrow. By tomorrow, you will have evacuated this settlement.¡±


    The group looked at each other, taken aback.


    ¡°What is it? What did you see on the body? Some sort of plague?¡± Math asked.


    ¡°If only,¡± Aleida replied. ¡°That was the work of dark Kobali sorcery.¡±


    ¡°Sorcery?¡± Math blurted. ¡°I thought they were just savage creatures?¡±


    Aleida looked at him scornfully. ¡°If that¡¯s what you think, then you¡¯re lucky to be alive,¡± she said. ¡°Now let¡¯s move. We¡¯ll send someone for her when we get back.¡±


    The group hurried back to the village. Ellyn immediately recruited a group of half a dozen Sidhe to go retrieve the elder¡¯s body. As shrunken as the poor woman was, Math didn¡¯t think it would take more than one person to carry her. He suspected Ellyn just wasn¡¯t sending anyone away from the village without plenty of backup. Aleida sent a runner to gather the elders for an immediate conference. Catrain walked quickly to the center of the village. Several yards from the central area where the village collected around the large fire was a small gazebo. A rope hung down along one side. Catrain grabbed the rope and pulled. From inside the gazebo, a bell rang out loudly. Heads turned towards the sound as those walking or working nearby looked towards the source. She pulled again and the bell rang a second time. The walking and working stopped, and the eyes Math could see were all on Catrain.


    She pulled a third time, and the bell tolled again. The settlement exploded into action. Bags were thrown immediately out of tents. Within minutes a tent had been collapsed. Math was astounded by the speed and efficiency with which the Sidhe started dismantling their village.


    Math couldn¡¯t get that sickly, coppery smell out of his nose. He tried to put it out of his mind and concentrate on what was going on in front of him.


    ¡°If the Kobali are attacking, why haven¡¯t we seen more?¡± he asked.


    ¡°A good question. I don¡¯t know,¡± Aleida replied. ¡°But there is something foul with them, and if they¡¯re not here now they will be soon. Nobody will want to sleep knowing something might come up underneath them.¡±


    Math could understand that fear. He wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep either, knowing the things were anywhere nearby. Not after what happened at Trey¡¯s farm, and on the road there. As he shuddered at the memories, a small group of Sidhe approached through the bustle of the evacuating settlement. As they neared, the runner detached from the group, running off to handle his own affairs. Four remained and approached Aleida. Two men and a woman gathered around. Two elders were absent. One was accounted for already by Thea¡¯s grisly discovery.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°Where is Alys?¡± Aleida asked.


    ¡°We haven¡¯t seen her since last night,¡± the woman answered. Nyla was her name, Math recalled. She was shorter than most of the Sidhe and slender, with brown hair cut above the shoulder. These things combined made her seem much younger than her title as ¡®elder¡¯ would suggest. Any innocent air that may have accompanied that look was belied by the Sidhe blade strapped to her back. She carried it comfortably, like an old and trusted companion.


    Math stared at the men for a moment. He had never seen twins. They were a couple inches taller than him, and perhaps twice as wide. Broad torsos in sleeveless tunics stood on tree trunk legs. Bare arms as thick as Nyla¡¯s legs bulged as the twins crossed them in front of their chests. A shock of disheveled red hair crowned both their heads, matching the close-trimmed but thick red beards covering their cheeks and chins. The swords strapped to their backs looked like a child¡¯s toys. Arik and Brand were their names. Math didn¡¯t know which was which, but one of the two noticed him looking their way and gave him a smile and a nod.


    ¡°Rumor has it we¡¯ve found the scions,¡± one of the twins rumbled. ¡°Is that why you¡¯ve gathered us?¡±


    ¡°We have. Well, Khel here has,¡± Aleida replied.


    ¡°These are them, then?¡± the other twin asked, eyeing Khel, Math and Thea.


    ¡°Not me,¡± Thea put up her hands in protest.


    ¡°We lost one on the way. Kobali ambush,¡± Khel said. ¡°Math here is the other.¡±


    ¡°And the third?¡± the twin asked, looking at Khel.


    ¡°We¡¯ll deal with the third later,¡± Khel replied.


    ¡°Suit yourself,¡± he shrugged.


    ¡°So what do we do?¡± Thea asked. Nobody answered. Thea continued, ¡°I thought you all came here because you¡¯d know what to do?¡±


    ¡°Nobody knows what to do,¡± Nyla said, then looked up at Aleida. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right?¡±


    ¡°We know only bits and pieces of what we need to know.¡±


    ¡°Then how do we stop the Bringer of Midnight from escaping?¡± asked the left twin. The right twin was silent, standing still as if sculpted.


    ¡°You need to make your way to the key and retrieve it. Bring it back. You may not be able to repair it with only two scions, but we also know that it is not a key that fits into a physical lock. It can be moved.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like a key, then?¡± ask Math.


    ¡°No. The key is a sword. The Emperor named it the Bane of Fire. It was supposed to kill the Beast, but he failed and instead imprisoned the Dragon under the mountain.¡±


    ¡°Where is the key now?¡±


    ¡°Under the mountain.¡±


    ¡°The same mountain that the Dragon is under?¡± Math asked, one eyebrow cocked.


    Aleida nodded.


    ¡°So we bring it back, and then what?¡± asked the left twin. The right twin was still silent, eyes unfocused, lost in thought.


    ¡°We know it is attuned to the Emperor¡¯s bloodline. We can only hope that the way will become clear once the scions have it in hand. Once we have it, we will be able to study it and hopefully figure out how to fix it.¡±


    ¡°What else do we need to know?¡± Nyla asked.


    ¡°Well, obviously the Kobali Dragon-worshippers will be a danger.¡±


    ¡°Obviously,¡± Nyla rolled her eyes.


    ¡°They worship the Dragon?¡± Thea asked.


    ¡°Oh yes. They are a regular cult, those creatures,¡± the left twin said.


    ¡°What about the Dragon itself?¡± Math asked.


    ¡°We believe it is still imprisoned. It is breaking free, and when it breaks free the fire will flow from the mountain a thousand times worse than it did. But for now, it cannot leave.¡±


    ¡°Well ok then,¡± said the same twin. ¡°We just sneak through the Dragon¡¯s maze of caves, avoid the swarms of razor-toothed Kobald sorcerers, not get cooked by the fire boiling out of the belly of the earth, hope the dragon doesn¡¯t sneeze, and grab the sword and run. Did I miss anything?¡± He elbowed his brother, trying to incite him to join in the sarcastic mirth. His brother remained silent, still, eyes unfocused.


    ¡°Arik?¡± he asked.


    So that made the left twin Brand, Math thought.


    Arik didn¡¯t answer. Brand put a hand on his shoulder. ¡°Arik?¡± he asked, louder.


    ¡°What is that?¡± Nyla asked.


    Math looked where she pointed. A red snake twisted and pulsed on the ground behind Arik. One end stretched off into the bushes. The other rose up the back of his boot and slipped inside a gap between boot and pants. It seemed almost fluid, swelling and shifting and writhing. Brand roared and in one lighting fast had drawn his sword over his shoulder and brought it down onto the snake, chopping the thing in two.


    When he lifted the sword, the two halves flowed back together like water, unaffected. With a roar Brand kicked at it. Red droplets flew away from the blow of his boot like a spatter of crimson blood, but whatever it was simply poured back together. The thing was like a living snake of liquid blood.


    Aleida stepped forward, drawing a small dagger from some hidden sheath. She slipped it into the leather of Arik¡¯s leggings, and pulled it in a circle around the leg, separating it from the material above. Then she drew the dagger down, splitting the cut section to that it fell away from Arik¡¯s leg. Math heard Thea gasp beside him and wasn¡¯t sure he didn¡¯t gasp himself.


    The red blood-snake transformed where it reached Arik¡¯s flesh. Once above the boot and on the flesh, the thing had become a red liquid tangle of tiny threads and branches wrapped around his leg like ornate ivy filigree. As Math watched in horror, the red lattice slowly worked its way up Arik¡¯s leg, extending filaments and threads and slowly weaving a bloody net as it went. It was already just above the knee and rising.


    Brand dropped to one knee and began slapping and wiping at Arik¡¯s leg, with no more results than the boot and sword had provided. Every spot where he splashed ruby drops away, they reformed as soon as he removed his hands.


    ¡°No! Find the source!¡± Aleida ordered.


    Math reacted first, darting to follow the sorcerous serpent. The tentacle twisted through the underbrush, but before he had gone three steps the end whipped past him, receding back to where it had come from. He ran a few more steps, but the thing was too fast and he lost it in the underbrush.


    Turning back towards the other, he saw Arik¡¯s leg was bare. The bloody rope was no longer wrapped around his leg, but his skin was now a latticework of bruises and pinpricks of blood. He slumped against his brother, who supported him by holding one arm over his shoulders. Math couldn¡¯t tell if he was conscious or not.


    A scream sounded from nearby, then others quickly joined it. Math looked and saw one of the Sidhe go down, three dark figures biting and clawing at the victim. Dozens of small shapes skittered and bounded through the settlement, latching on to unfortunate victims. Many of the Sidhe had swords in hand and were felling the creatures left and right. Some were able to fight free. Others, the kobalds swarmed over. Even if two or three were cut down, the rest launched themselves at their prey, bearing them down with their combined weight and the pooled force of teeth and talons.


    Math and Khel drew their swords, about to rush in to help. Thea and Nyla did the same.


    ¡°No!¡± Aleida commanded, freezing them. ¡°You six must leave. Now! Leave this skirmish to us. You have a more important battle to fight.¡±


    Math and Khel hesitated. Math could see the displeasure in Nyla¡¯s eyes, but she supported the Master¡¯s order. ¡°This way,¡± she said, and turned in the opposite direction from the approaching wave of vicious beasts. Math took Arik¡¯s other arm over his shoulders, helping Brand take the weight of his brother. Arik was at least conscious enough to move his feet as they half-dragged him.


    Nyla led the way out of the settlement, sword still drawn, Thea right behind her. One of the creatures came at her from her left, but it was alone, separated from the pack. She cut it down and kept moving. Khel followed the twins and Math, guarding their retreat. Aleida and Ellyn drew their own swords and strode purposefully toward the approaching swarm.


    The village was virtually emptied by now. Most of the Sidhe had fled, with a surprising amount of their possessions. Their constant readiness had paid off. Some pockets of resistance were left, an unfortunate few that had been cut off from escape. As Math looked to the side, one of those pockets went down, swarmed under by a throng of kobalds.


    He looked behind him as he helped Brand drag the stricken man away from the chaos. Aleida and Ellyn stood directly in the path of the advancing mob. They stood a couple yards apart, giving themselves room to swing their swords and, Math knew, covering more territory to block any potential pursuit. As he watched, a small handful of other Sidhe joined their line, all with swords out. Some of the blades gleamed wickedly. Some of them were well-coated with kobald blood.


    The first of the creatures reached the waiting line. Aleida¡¯s sword flashed out, and the thing¡¯s head fell apart from its body. Seconds later more reached the defenders. Swords began to flash and whirl, faster and faster as more numbers reached them. The line tightened up, each Sidhe warrior stepping closer to the other as they assisted with lightning-fast sword strokes when the one standing beside them looked to be overwhelmed. The effect was like a wall of woven mesh, each sword¡¯s reach overlapping the wielder next to it, leaving no way to pass through the barrier without meeting a razor-sharp end.


    The weaknesses in the wall were the ends. With only one neighbor, they were fighting off a heavier assault than those in the middle. The creatures quickly realized they weren¡¯t going to pass straight through and began swarming the edges. Many went around the wall altogether. Many more swarmed those on the ends. One fell under the pressure, then another. The wall became smaller.


    Then the swarm scattered, and a fountain of blood curtained up in front of the desperately fighting Sidhe. The red liquid flowed up like a living curtain, undulating, groping with crimson tentacles. It paused overhead, rippling and shifting like a sheet in the wind. The last thing Math saw was Aleida looking up to face the malevolent red mass as it crashed down on the line like a thundering wave. Then the path turned and the trees behind were too thick to see past.

 Chapter 22

    The sweet coppery smell of blood was so thick that Math could taste the metallic tang on his tongue. He and Brand lugged their burden down the narrow path. There was barely room for three abreast, so Arik stumbled down the middle while Khel and Brand did their best to fend off branches and kick through underbrush. They pushed on for a good mile before they stopped to catch their breath, though they didn¡¯t set down the afflicted twin.


    ¡°What the hell was that?¡± Brand cursed.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Nyla replied. ¡°Aleida said they had some foul sorcery. That must have been it.¡±


    ¡°It looked like a lake of living blood! It had to be the same thing that attacked Arik,¡± Brand said.


    ¡°You¡¯re probably right,¡± Nyla agreed. ¡°How is he?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I don¡¯t know what it did to him. He¡¯s alive at least.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯re being pursued,¡± Khel said from behind them.


    ¡°Even so, I don¡¯t think we should stop yet,¡± Nyla advised.


    ¡°I agree,¡± said Khel. ¡°Let¡¯s keep moving for a bit. We need to put some distance in. Here, let me take an arm for a while.¡± He moved to relieve Math of the injured man, ducking his own head under Arik¡¯s brawny arm. Then they set off down the path again, intent on putting as much distance as they could between themselves and the overrun village.


    It wasn¡¯t as much as they¡¯d hoped, unfortunately. Arik slowed them down. Math and Khel tried repeatedly to work Brand into their rotation so that he could rest, but he wouldn¡¯t hear of it. Eventually they gave up and just relieved each other every mile or so. The ground around them was soft and open. Nobody wanted to camp any place that would be easy for the kobalds to dig up underneath them while they slept. They pushed on, hoping to find some rocky ground, but had no such luck. They managed to cover a few more miles, but the sun dropped low in the sky and they knew they¡¯d have to use the remaining daylight to find a camp site.


    They moved off the trail and found a suitable patch of semi-open ground that was sheltered by a couple large trees. Math and Brand lowered Arik gently to the ground. He was conscious enough to help himself down, though he groaned as he did. They propped him up against a tree and Brand threw his own cloak over his brother.


    They hadn¡¯t grabbed bedrolls or blankets, so they were in for a cold night. On the upside, the elders, instincts and custom intact, had grabbed small shoulder bags when the evacuation alarm had rung. They had a couple days¡¯ worth of hardtack, dried fruit, and jerky, after splitting it up a little to share with Math, Khel, and Thea. But they would need to find some way to supplement, and soon. The trail hadn¡¯t wandered too far from the river, so water was in reach, and Khel and Nyla were able to get there and back to camp and fill water skins for everyone before dark.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    They were all on edge to be sleeping on the open dirt. They set overlapping shifts so two people would be on watch at all times. Nobody wanted to risk a fire with the possibility of enemies nearby, so the rest huddled together in the open, exposed to the chill night air. They nibbled at their light supper as they talked softly.


    ¡°What¡¯s the plan, then?¡± Brand started off bluntly.


    ¡°Well, looks like we have to find the key and bring it back,¡± Khel answered.


    ¡°And then what? You heard Aledia, she doesn¡¯t know what to do with it,¡± Brand said.


    ¡°You have a better idea?¡± Khel replied. ¡°We can¡¯t really sit and do nothing and let the Beast burn the world, can we?¡±


    ¡°But we don¡¯t even know if getting this key will stop that. Let her do it herself. She¡¯s the one that wants it.¡± He looked at his brother, concern obvious on his face. Math knew that was the source of his resistance.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to come with us. In fact, none of you do,¡± Khel said, looking between Brand and Nyla.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous,¡± Nyle chimed in.


    ¡°I don¡¯t ¨C ¡° Brand began.


    ¡°God damn, quit your whining,¡± another voice cut in. Arik was still leaning back, propped up on a couple of packs, but his eyes were slightly open as he watched the conversation. ¡°You know you¡¯re going. And so am I.¡±


    ¡°No way! You can barely walk!¡± Brand protested.


    ¡°So what are you going to do, leave me here on the side of the road? I¡¯m going,¡± Arik replied. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine.¡± As if to demonstrate, he gingerly pushed himself to his feet. Brand jumped up to grab an arm, but Arik smacked his hand away. ¡°Gotta piss. You gonna hold it for me?¡± Arik shuffled slowly to the trees, stumbling once but catching himself. Brand sat down rather than moving to help again.


    The group was quiet for a minute. Math broke the silence first. ¡°So where is this key?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s underneath Vulcan¡¯s Furnace,¡± Nyla answered. Math looked at her blankly until she continued, ¡°It¡¯s a burning mountain in the Eastern Wall to the north of here. The Dragon is chained beneath, and that¡¯s where the key will be.¡±


    ¡°Wait, it¡¯s not the mountain that burned half of Berendale?¡± Thea asked. ¡°I thought that¡¯s where the Kobali came from, and the Beast was stirring up the fire beneath.¡±


    ¡°The Beast is stirring up the fire beneath the whole Wall. The Kobali may worship and serve the Dragon, but they live elsewhere as well.¡±


    ¡°How far away is it?¡±


    ¡°About a week¡¯s walk,¡± Arik answered as he shuffled back to the fire.


    ¡°More than that, at the speed you¡¯re walking,¡± Nyla frowned.


    ¡°I¡¯ll walk just fine,¡± the red-haired giant replied as he sat down and pulled a blanket back over him. ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve been sleeping all day,¡± Brand teased, but his brother had already closed his eyes and did not answer.


    ¡°That¡¯s a good idea,¡± Khel said. ¡°I think it¡¯s time to get some sleep. Nyla, start the first watch with me.¡±


    Nyla nodded. The rest of them crawled under their blankets. Math found himself pressed up against Thea. The warmth of her body near his was pleasant, but it was more than warmth that filled him with the urge to pull her closer. In the back of his head the memory of his fallen brother drowned out the pull of the woman next to him. He drifted off to sleep and had restless, conflicted dreams.

 Chapter 23

    Thea awoke pressed tightly against a warm broad chest. Math¡¯s arm was draped over her shoulder as he breathed softly behind her ear. She laid there, eyes open, enjoying the closeness. The memory of the first time she saw him came to mind unbidden: soaked by rain, covered in grime as he helped them work her father¡¯s wagon out of the deep, sucking mud. She had been grateful, yes, but it wasn¡¯t gratitude that had made her tremble.


    Then she met Rai. Was it simply random chance that Rai had walked her home instead of Math?  What if Math had been the one to escort her home, to really have the chance to talk with her alone?  She squeezed her eyes shut. Was she simply drawn to him out of grief at losing Rai?


    Math¡¯s breathing changed behind her, and she knew he was awake. He didn¡¯t move. Maybe he thought she was asleep and didn¡¯t want to wake her. She didn¡¯t move. He laid there beside her, arm around her, for minutes. Then, slowly and quietly, he rolled to his back, pulling his arm away.


    The chill in the air crept in quickly, intensified by the feeling that something was now missing. For minutes more they laid there, not speaking, not acknowledging the other was awake. Finally, Thea couldn¡¯t take any more. She turned her body face down, then turned her head to look at Math. She found him looking back, eyes wide, expression inscrutable. She thought she sensed his breath catch, but it was just her hopeful imagination. How could she be thinking like this?  She had no right to have that hope.


    Whatever moment they were sharing was harshly interrupted.


    ¡°Time to get up,¡± Khel walked over. ¡°Brand and Nyla will pack up and pass out a dry breakfast. You two need to get some shooting in.¡±  He was holding two bows in one hand and a handful of practice arrows in the other. He handed a bow to each of them.


    ¡°More practice?¡± Thea asked.


    ¡°You are going to get all the practice you can, so it doesn¡¯t fail you when you really need it. We¡¯re going to be practicing on the road, so get used to it.¡±


    ¡°Sparring too?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll practice with the sword and do some sparring in the evenings. That¡¯ll give you the night to rest a bit if you get bruised up.¡± Thea rolled her eyes as Khel grinned. She reluctantly pulled the blanket back and stood up in the chilly air. Beside her, Math did the same. She was far too conscious of how close he was standing to her. Sparring tonight was going to be awkward. She hoped he didn¡¯t notice her discomfort.


    They set off through the woods for a good half mile before they found a suitably large old oak. Khel pointed out a knot to use as a target. They spent almost an hour taking turns sending arrows into the tree. They were competent enough by this point that they rarely had to search behind the tree for an errant shaft. Even so, she had trouble keeping her mind from wandering. There was more than one arrow that barely caught the edge of the tree. Through her frustration she noticed a few of Math¡¯s arrows straying wide of the mark too. Grief over his brother must be interfering with his concentration as well.


    Khel looked vaguely disgusted as he kept nagging at them to focus on their practice. That was half the reason to practice, he said. Calmness is accuracy. The quieter your thoughts when you release the arrow, the truer it will fly. That was why practice was always necessary. When an enemy charges, the mind should not even think. The body should remember all on its own how to draw, aim and release. If the mind took time to think about the impending danger, the bow would be unsteady and the arrow fly wide.


    Finally, Khel released them from their miserable practice session.


    ¡°Grab your arrows, time to head out.¡±


    Thea and Math walked to the tree and carefully pulled their arrows out of the softer bark. The tips didn¡¯t seem too damaged yet, but eventually they would break down. That was the reason for carrying separate practice arrows. Save the hunting arrows for game. Or enemies.


    Thea looked at Math as she pulled her last arrow out. He was concentrating on working one particularly stubborn arrow tip free and didn¡¯t return her gaze. She shook her head clear and turned away, shafts in hand. Khel had already headed back to camp. She didn¡¯t wait for Math, preferring to walk along and try to think through her confusion.


    Her ears perked up at a faint cry off to the side. For a moment she thought she imagined a girl¡¯s voice, calling out in distress. She stopped walking for a moment, concentrating. Over the soft twittering of birds and the buzzing of bees on a patch of nearby wildflowers, she heard a jay¡¯s shrill cry in the distance. Reprimanding herself for letting her guilt and recent stress get to her, she started walking again, though more quickly.


    The cry came again, louder this time and clearly not a bird. A girl was screaming for help somewhere nearby, through the trees. Thea looked ahead and behind but saw neither Math nor Khel. She dropped her arrows into her quiver, nocked one to the string and crept through the trees towards the distressed call.


    She moved as silently as she could, but knew she was far from a trained woodsman. Even so, she saw no signs of danger as she approached the source of the shouting. A patch of light shone through the trees ahead, and as she stepped over a log and around a bushy hemlock, she saw a small clearing ahead. A tree had fallen, clearing out its neighbors and opening the forest floor up to the sunlight. A woman was sitting on the ground, back against the trunk. She wore a white dress, as if about to get married, but dirt-stained and torn. Mud and twigs were woven through matted hair that hung down in front of her face. Her hands were twisted around out of sight behind her back. Her body shook with sobs.


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    She looked up as Thea rustled the leaves on the forest floor, looking warily around, bow drawn. Her face was streaked with dirt. ¡°Please help me,¡± she whined. Thea paused, listening, but heard nothing else around. ¡°They¡¯re gone, but they¡¯ll be back soon. Hurry!¡±  the girl pleaded. Thea lowered her bow and stepped.


    That was apparently all the watchers needed. As soon as she stepped towards the captive girl a footstep disturbed the dry leaves behind her to the left and a man¡¯s voice spoke. ¡°That¡¯s far enough, sweetie. Turn around.¡±  She spun, drawing the bow again. A dirty, ragged man stepped out of the trees, nicked sword in hand. His leather outfit was worn and stained, his hair as tangled and matted as the girl¡¯s.


    ¡°Stop right there,¡± Thea ordered. ¡°I¡¯m not alone!¡±


    ¡°You are right now,¡± said a second man, stepping out from a thicket of undergrowth to her other side. ¡°And if you yell, we¡¯ll gut you before you get half a word out.¡±  The second man was as unkempt and filthy as the first. He held an axe with a worn handle and a rusty, pitted head. Both men were gaunt and skinny.


    ¡°I have no money, but we have food at camp,¡± Thea ventured. ¡°We¡¯ll be happy to have guests. This doesn¡¯t have to go badly for anyone.¡±


    The first man looked her up and down, clearly noticing that she was both young and fit.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t have to,¡± he said. ¡°But I suspect it will.¡±  He smiled.


    Thea drew her bow as they took another step.


    ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡±  she ordered. Both men laughed and swung small wooden bucklers from behind their shoulders, holding them up in front of them.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got one arrow, sweetie. Even if it gets stuck in a leg instead of a shield, the other two of us will take you down.¡±


    Other two. There was a third coming. She was already in trouble, but it was getting worse by the second. She risked a glance behind her shoulder and saw the girl start to stand. ¡°Can you run?¡± Thea asked over her shoulder.


    ¡°Run?¡±  She asked. ¡°I can, but why would I want to?¡±


    The captive swung her hands around in front of her. They hadn¡¯t been bound behind her. She¡¯d been holding a loaded crossbow behind her back. Crossbows were rare in Berendale, but Thea had seen their frightening power. She had watched a merchant one time put a thick bolt clean through an oak plank from thirty paces away. They were far more accurate as well, and required almost no practice, just a decent eye.


    The erstwhile captive raised the crossbow. Thea acted without thinking, spinning to her left and drawing the bow. It wasn¡¯t the way Khel had taught her to draw, but his lessons had disappeared from her mind. As soon as the arrow was lined up with the new attacker¡¯s chest, she fired. As she loosed the arrow she heard the men behind her lunging towards her. As soon as the arrow left the string, she grabbed the bow at one end and continued her spin, swinging the bow staff around behind her.


    The men behind her were close and closing fast, but the first one in the line of the bow staff¡¯s path raised his shield, blocking the makeshift club. The bow shook, the vibrations tearing the wood out of her hands. The other man continued his lunge, smashing into her with his own buckler. Black and white flashed in front of her eyes and she stumbled back. She caught a heel on the uneven ground and went down. She fought to clear her vision as the men loomed over her. She froze as the swordsman lowered his sword point towards her.


    ¡°You alright?¡± one called over her.


    ¡°No,¡± the woman answered. ¡°I¡¯m bleeding out.¡±


    Thea craned her neck and glanced over and behind her. The woman was slumped against the log, crossbow at her side, squeezing her leg. The feathered end of her arrow jutted up from the inside of the woman¡¯s thigh. Red blood flowed between her fingers.


    ¡°Shit. Now look what you done. I¡¯m going to enjoy making you pay for that,¡± the man with the axe growled. Then he yelled to the injured woman, ¡°bind it tight, cut off the bleeding.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t stop it!  I can¡¯t let go. Help me!¡± her cries were getting desperate.


    ¡°Just end it Ced. We gotta go,¡± said the man with the sword.


    Ced spat. ¡°Dammit. Fine piece, too. Damn waste,¡± he muttered. ¡°Should leave you to bleed out, getting your stupid ass shot by some waif!¡± he yelled to the woman. He turned back to Thea. ¡°Let¡¯s go then. I¡¯ll make it quick, you should be thankful for that.¡±  He lifted his axe in both hands. Thea kicked backwards and put her hands up desperately, knowing they¡¯d never stop the descent of that heavy metal wedge.


    The weapon reached the top of its arc, then paused as blood exploded outwards and a smaller metal wedge thrust itself out from his throat. His eyes widened as he stumbled forward, then dropped to his knees. Air wheezed out past the arrowshaft as he clutched at it. The other swordsman spun as the axe-wielder pitched forward onto his face. An arrowhead punched into him next, catching him on the right side of the chest and forcing him backwards. He dropped his sword and raised his shield in front of him, but not quickly enough. A second arrow slammed into his cheek, dropping him to the ground beside Thea.


    She looked up and saw Math and Khel running towards her. Khel had another arrow already on the bowstring and stepped past Thea, arrow trained on the woman behind her. Math stopped beside her and bent over, concerned.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    Thea nodded. ¡°I think so.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re cut.¡±  He wiped her forehead and cheek. His hand came away bloody.


    ¡°Bad?¡±


    ¡°Not too bad. I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll be calling you ¡®scar¡¯ anytime soon.¡±  Math joked.


    She smacked him on the shoulder. ¡°Funny.¡±  She accepted Math¡¯s hand to help her up and got to her feet. Her head ached a bit, and she was shaking from the encounter.


    She turned towards Khel. He was kneeling by the woman, hand pressed to the side of her neck. She gave him a questioning look, and he shook his head.


    ¡°Hit an artery in her leg. She¡¯s lost too much blood.¡±


    The full weight of the ordeal crashed into her. In the past couple weeks, her life seemed to have suddenly been filled with people and things trying to take her life. The strain was enormous. But today was the first time she herself had taken a life.


    She turned to Math, buried her face in his chest, and cried.

 Chapter 24

    Math kept his arm around Thea¡¯s shoulders as they walked back. Her body shook from time to time, but part of him was thankful for that. Her tremors disguised his own shaking.


    He and Khel had both picked up the faint cries of the woman in feigned distress. Setting off towards the sound independently, they had reached the scene at the same time. Khel hadn¡¯t flinched when he saw Thea on the ground, the man with the axe raised. He had drawn and fired with lightning speed, taking the man dead center in the back of his neck. Math had been a little slower and a little less accurate, taking his target in the side of the chest. Khel had nocked another arrow, drawn, and put a second shaft into the man¡¯s face faster than Math thought possible.


    Seeing Thea under attack had taken away hesitation. He hadn¡¯t given it a thought as he was drawing and firing. He supposed that was the point of Khel¡¯s endless drilling. Apparently, it worked. But he wasn¡¯t prepared for the aftereffects. He had never fully considered that they were training to take lives. He had never killed a man before, and regardless of the fact that he was defending Thea, he felt sickened.


    Khel was several yards ahead, keeping a sharp eye in all directions as they hurried back to camp. When they got close, he let out one of the low whistles Math recognized as Sidhe signals. Within moments he heard someone crashing through the brush, and Brand ran into view. Nyla trailed just after him, following his wake through the underbrush.


    As soon as he spotted the trio, and Thea¡¯s bloody face, he was at her other side. He and Nyla gave her a quick inspection, then they surrounded her as they headed to camp.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Nyla asked.


    ¡°Bandits,¡± Khel replied.


    ¡°Bandits?  Here?  Since when?¡± Brand asked. ¡°This area hasn¡¯t had a bandit problem in decades.¡±


    ¡°I know. Who knows what drove them to it. We don¡¯t know that it¡¯s any sort of widespread problem, but no more separating when we go off. We stick together, and stay watchful,¡± Khel said.


    The smell of smoke greeted them as they got to camp. Arik was awake and moving and had started a small fire to take away some of the chill while they packed the camp and waited for the archers to return from training. Math walked Thea over to the fire and sat down beside her. Khel threw a blanket over the two of them while Nyla went to work with a cloth dampened with water warmed by the fire. The blood and dirt were cleaned up in no time, exposing only a small cut above her eyebrow. Thea had stopped shivering and, to Math¡¯s great relief, so had he.


    ¡°Never killed anyone before, huh?¡± Brand asked, perceptive yet blunt. Math and Thea both shook their heads. ¡°Well, saving your own life from someone who was trying to take it is different than taking a life in cold blood. Those bandits would have taken yours and not thought twice. Don¡¯t let yourself sit awake wallowing in guilt.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Thea said. ¡°Just makes me feel a little sick is all.¡±


    ¡°And it should,¡± Nyla said. ¡°Don¡¯t ever take it lightly. But also don¡¯t ever be hesitant to do it to someone about to take yours.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll break early today, and rest for the afternoon,¡± Khel said. ¡°We can miss a day of training, let you guys recompose yourselves.¡±


    ¡°No way,¡± Thea said. ¡°We¡¯re training. Especially now that this happened. I¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    Brand and Arik laughed. ¡°Thatta girl,¡± Brand said.


    Arik passed out dried fruit and jerky for breakfast. He was limping and moving noticeably slower, but it was a definite improvement over yesterday¡¯s semi-conscious slump. They washed the meal down with a few swallows of wine that Brand produced from a skin he had been keeping in reserve. ¡°To calm your nerves a bit,¡± he said.


    As soon as they finished, they strapped on their packs and got underway. The narrow path they started on widened before long, then intersected with a well-traveled road heading south to north. To the south, Math knew, they would eventually find Tameron, and east of that town would be home. The road ran fairly flat, just west of the foothills of the Eastern Wall. The mountains were easily visible now that the trees were cleared for the road. Far to the north and nestled into the Wall would be Vulcan¡¯s Furnace, their destination.


    It was easier going once they got to the road; they made better time even though Arik was still not fully up to speed. Travelers were sparse with winter closing in, but they passed a few small groups heading south. They traded gossip of no real importance. None of them had run into any bandit troubles. None of the others planned to head inland, so Khel didn¡¯t mention the Kobali. If he had, most of the travelers would have written him off as crazy and instantly become more wary of him.


    Math tried to start a conversation with Thea but couldn¡¯t get her to return more than grunts and shrugs. He wasn¡¯t sure if she was still upset by the bandit attack or if he had made her uncomfortable somehow. He hadn¡¯t meant to look so long when their eyes met, or cling so long when she hugged him. He shouldn¡¯t have been feeling the pull that he felt. He resolved to be more resistant to those urges in the future.


    Khel convinced the largest of the groups to part with a decent-sized canvas tent. Something changed hands in return, but Math couldn¡¯t see what. This was a fortunate find, as flakes of snow were beginning to drift downward when they finally stopped for the evening. The three Sidhe elders went to work getting the tent up and a fire going. Khel pulled out the wooden swords and led them out onto the road to take advantage of the wide, fairly flat surface.


    As they raised their swords and faced off, Thea finally met his eyes again. He couldn¡¯t tell if he saw confusion there, or sadness, or anger. He could tell there was meaning to her glance, but he didn¡¯t know what to make of it. She stepped into a tentative attack. He moved for an easy parry, but her sword was no longer there, swinging around with suddenly blinding speed. The feint almost caught him, but he dodged backwards, and it passed inches in front of him. Then the fight was on.


    They went back and forth until they were both winded and dripping with sweat, breath fogging in the cold air. Then they spent time drilling Khel¡¯s endless training exercises, working on whatever tiny detail in their technique that Khel saw a flaw in. After they had repeated the drills over and over and over, Khel finally let them break and head back to the others.


    The three elders had erected the tent and gotten a good fire burning just outside the entrance. The canvas was tattered and dirty, but enough to keep the wind out and their body heat in. There was no way it would sleep all six of them, but four might just be able to cram in if two rotated out by the fire on watch.


    That was their routine for the next five days. Wake up, shoot, eat, and hit the road. They took lunch on foot as they walked. They avoided the need to hunt by resupplying out of a wagon or two that passed them by. Arik turned out to have a talent for getting a good deal. The two brothers were talkative on a regular day, but when it came time to buy or sell Arik turned it on like a born merchant.


    The good luck that brought opportunities to resupply also meant that they didn¡¯t need to hunt or forage or search out water at night. That left plenty of time for the Sidhe to start teaching them other things, how to start a fire being the most important. They also started teaching the two to hunt. The first couple days were a frustrating failure, but on the third Thea managed to take down a squirrel. The group was still thankful for the small supplement to their trail rations.


    And always there was more practice. Math and Thea both noticed that they could fight longer and harder now, and get less winded. The constant drills had them feeling stronger and faster, regardless of the bumps and bruises and occasional stiff muscles.


    As they made their way north the temperature dropped. By the third night snow dusted the ground. By the fourth night it was inches deep. Math couldn¡¯t imagine what they¡¯d have done if they hadn¡¯t found the tent. They began constructing a small lean-to for the watchers just outside the tent. The crude shelter was simple but effective. It blocked the wind and caught the heat from the fire, reflecting it back on whoever was sitting awake.


    On the fifth day they had passed through a small town. They all spent a welcome evening in the common room eating a warm meal and sitting in front of a blazing hearth. Then they spent a welcome night in a real bed, in a real room, out of reach of the elements. They were able to gather more supplies, mostly warm furs, heavy cloaks and thick boots.


    The next morning, they were back on the road. The schedule continued, training and walking in the cold. Just when Math had remembered what it was like to be warm, the wind and snow erased it from his memory again.


    That afternoon they left the road, and the going got slower and harder. They trudged through the snow, winding their way between trees and pushing through undergrowth. They were going noticeably uphill, entering the foothills of the Wall. They felt the added effort when they stopped a little earlier to give themselves more time to set up camp. Even so, Khel still had them up and training. ¡°What, you think you¡¯ll never have to fight in the snow?¡± he had said.


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    By noon the next day the hills were steeper and higher. The mountain range didn¡¯t earn the name ¡®The Wall¡¯ by gradually rising over many miles. The foothills seemed to be almost an afterthought of the gods. The group sought out the passes between and threaded their way between the highest hills, wondering if it wouldn¡¯t be long before what they were doing could be considered more climbing than walking.


    That night, he and Thea drew a watch together. They crouched in front of the lean-to to keep the wind gusts off their backs. They kept the fire high, soaking up as much heat as they could but getting just as much warmth from each other, huddled underneath a blanket. The wind picked up and the snow fell heavier.


    Math tried to think of something to say but couldn¡¯t, so he just sat there. Thea was silent next to him. After a short time, warmth and fatigue relaxed them both. Thea leaned against him, and without thinking his arm went around her shoulders. He glanced down and saw her looking up at him, eyes dark, lips slightly parted. He felt a pull that was magnetic, pinning his gaze on hers. He didn¡¯t even realize he was bending down to kiss her until their lips met.


    He had read silly stories about princes and princesses and the power contained in a kiss. He suddenly knew what they meant. His head spun. Their lips moved gently together. His fingers closed around her hair, and she pressed a hand to his cheek. The world went away, he knew nothing but the softness in front of him as their tongues lightly danced together. They kissed for seconds, or minutes, or an hour, he couldn¡¯t tell. The snow fell thicker and the wind blew harder, and he didn¡¯t care. The blizzard didn¡¯t exist.


    An inhuman howl cut through the wail of the wind and the ecstasy of the kiss. They broke apart abruptly. A second wailing cry sounded from a different direction. It was like the howl of a wolf, but deeper, more savage and guttural. And it was filled with an unmistakable rage.


    Math and Thea both leaped to their feet and grabbed bow and arrow.


    ¡°Wake up!¡± Math said, smacking the canvas tent flap. His warning was not necessary, the commotion inside the tent was a clear sign that everyone had heard that supernatural cry. The four of them stumbled out, pulling swords from scabbards without bothering to strap them to their backs. They stood with drawn swords, facing away from the fire, trying to see what might be approaching.


    The attack came quickly and silently. One moment the four Sidhe stood in front of Math and Thea, the next a red streak shot out of the furiously swirling snow and struck Brand full in the chest. The big redhead when down hard. Some sort of giant blood-red wolf or dog snapped at his face, teeth dripping blood closing inches away from his throat. The thing looked like it was coated in flowing blood. The fur was drenched, shifting and amorphous. The teeth and tongue were crimson, the teeth seeming to lengthen and shorten, the tongue a liquid tentacle. Even the eyes were smooth dark red fluid rubies, no hint of either black pupil or white sclera. Blood dripped from every surface, a bloody trail leading back into the dark woods.


    Math had less than a second to wonder at the strange beast when the second one shot through the woods with a snarl and launched itself at the Sidhe just starting to react. The extra sliver of time was enough for them to prepare, and the three of them met the attacker with drawn swords. Math moved to help Brand, lunging forward and plunging his sword into the thing¡¯s flank. It slid in like it was cutting through water. The lack of physical resistance caught Math off guard, and he stumbled forward. The wolf beast snapped at Brand¡¯s throat again and he met it with the fist clutching the hilt of his sword. Flesh and metal hit the side of the animal¡¯s jaw, penetrating the writhing liquid mass. Math pulled out his sword as Brand withdrew his hand. The red liquid flesh closed instantly over the slit made by Math¡¯s blade. The wolf paused for a moment, and the head began to reform, tendrils of blood knitting back together into the shape of the head.


    Brand took the moment to roll violently into the wolf, raising one shoulder into it and pivoting out from under. Math stabbed again, the steel having no more effect the second time it passed through the thing¡¯s body. But his attack and Brand¡¯s scramble to his feet put Math in front of the slavering jaws as they knitted themselves fully back together. From the corner of his eye he could see Thea, Nyla and Arik surrounding the second bloody creature, hacking and stabbing. Their blows were just as futile, the thing ignoring them and spinning to snap and lunge at each of them. With Thea helping keep the second attacker at bay, Khel had turned to help with the first. He clasped Brand¡¯s wrist and pulled him quickly to his feet.


    Before Brand could get his feet fully under him, the thing lunged at Math. He intercepted it easily with the point of the sword, but the blood wolf paid no attention. It impaled itself on the Sidhe blade, the metal passing through and exiting where the spine of an animal of flesh would have been. The sanguine mass struck Math, sending him flailing backwards into the blizzard.


    He pulled his sword free and managed to keep his feet, though he stumbled back a few yards. The darkness of the howling blizzard swallowed the firelight, only a dim glow still visible from even that short distance away. The thing followed, springing at him again. Math ducked to the side of a tree, letting the wolf¡¯s momentum carry it into the thick trunk. It left a swatch of dripping blood on the bark but kept its feet. Math heard Brand and Khel shouting as they followed, trying to keep up through the blinding snow.


    Now the uncanny wolf switched tactics. Rather than relentlessly attacking, it began to stalk. Math and his ineffective blade stepped backwards as it advanced, growling, disconcerting featureless eyes fixed on him, a trail of blood a dark stain behind it. Math stuck near the trees, taking a quick hop back from the protection of one to the shelter of the next, always making sure he had a solid barrier to jump behind if the thing leaped at him again. But still it stalked, relentlessly.


    Finally, Brand ran forward out of the blizzard, Khel right behind, following the wide trail of blood.


    ¡°Come get me, shithead!¡± Brand bellowed at the top of his lungs, swinging his blade through fluid flesh and skipping to one side of the stalking wolf.


    ¡°Hey!  Over here!¡± Khel roared just as loudly as he went to the thing¡¯s other side.


    The wolf spun from one shouting assailant to the other. Khel stepped too close and the thing caught his leg in its jaws. He yelled in surprised pain as Math and Brand closed in on its flanks hacking and swinging. Ineffective though the metal was on the amorphous beast, it relaxed its hold enough for Khel to wrench his leg free and stumble backwards.


    ¡°How do we kill the damn thing?¡± Brand yelled over the wind between shouts at the wolf beast. The three of them were tiring fast, fighting while slogging through the drifting snow and struggling against the howling wind. The creature showed no such signs.


    Math felt the rumble in his bones before he heard it. A deep, grinding vibration that set his teeth on edge. The deafening roar followed an instant later, a harsh cacophony of sound like a continuous peal of thunder roaring down the mountain. Brand and Khel both froze, heads cocked, looks of fear spreading across both their faces. The blood wolf stopped its relentless stalk.


    ¡°What is it?¡±  Math yelled. The creature between them was melting away, fur and features dissolving into a stream of blood flowing rapidly back into the blizzard it had emerged from. Brand and Khel were also bolting into action, running towards Math.


    ¡°Move!¡± Brand shouted. ¡°Run!  Downhill, fast!¡±


    ¡°Cut an angle across the slope!  Try to get out of the path!¡± Khel added.


    Math followed their lead, bounding through the snow as best he could. The roar got louder still, until Math could barely hear his own panting, an army of roaring dragons bearing down on his back. A glance over his shoulder revealed a wall of snow bearing down on him, trees falling before it, seconds from engulfing them.


    Math prepared for the impact, trying to remember what he knew of avalanches. Nothing about surviving them came to mind. He plowed a couple more steps through the snow, and then the ground opened up beneath him. He pitched forward and down, hitting the ground hard. The impact stunned him and took his breath. The ground he hit was a steep slope back the way he had come and he slid fast, turning and rolling, snow and rock pummeling him as he skidded.


    The slope evened out shortly, still graded downhill but shallow enough that the friction of his body slowed him to a stop. Two successive impacts to the side of his body sent shocks of pain through his ribs and his battered limbs. The grunts accompanying the impacts letting him know that Khel and Brand had fallen with him.


    ¡°By the Great Emperor Khel-Dain, what the fuck just happened?¡±  Brand cursed. Nobody answered. Math was gingerly testing arms and legs, sitting up with a grimace. He wondered if he had any skin left on his body after the abrasive trip down the rock tunnel.


    ¡°Some sort of old tunnel,¡± Khel replied. ¡°It¡¯s been carved out and reinforced, it¡¯s not a cave.¡±


    Math blinked in the darkness. ¡°How do you know that?¡± he asked. ¡°It¡¯s pitch black in here.¡±


    ¡°Give your eyes a few, they¡¯ll adjust,¡± Khel replied.


    The gloom was absolute. Math could only listen to his companions as they shifted around in the blackness, scuffling on the floor and grunting as they examined their own scrapes and bruises. After a few minutes he did think he could make out some dim movement. A few more and he could see the faint outlines of Khel and Brand, and the vague shape of the tunnel extending back into the mountain, sloping down. An almost imperceptibly faint glow shone dimly from patches scattered around the walls and ceiling of the tunnel.


    ¡°What is this?  What is that glow?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s an old Sidhe tunnel,¡± Brand answered. ¡°The glow is from a lichen. We cultivate it and use it to provide just enough light for our Sidhe eyes to make out our surroundings. It¡¯s not much, and it¡¯s so faint an outsider would not even see it. But it¡¯s enough for us.¡±


    ¡°Someone is cultivating this?¡± Math asked.


    ¡°At some point, yes. At this point, it¡¯s just grown wild. This tunnel doesn¡¯t look like it¡¯s been used in ages.¡±


    ¡°Well it¡¯s going to get used now. There must be a ton of snow above us,¡± Khel said. Math turned towards his voice and was just able to make out his silhouette probing at the mound of snow that was blocking the tunnel behind them.


    ¡°Too much to dig out?¡± Math asked.


    ¡°We fell and slid a decent way,¡± Khel replied. ¡°And the snow followed us all the way in. It¡¯ll take days to dig out.¡±


    ¡°What about the camp?  How far away were the others?¡±  Math asked, concerned.


    ¡°If they were back at the camp, they¡¯re likely fine. That wolf thing had driven us a good distance out. But if they followed us, there¡¯s no telling.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think they followed us,¡± Brand said. Math at first thought the big man was trying to alleviate his concern. ¡°They had their hands full with their own beast, I¡¯d be more worried about that,¡± he continued. Math¡¯s concern was not alleviated.


    ¡°You think the lichen grows throughout?¡± Khel asked nobody in particular.


    ¡°I think we¡¯re going to be finding out,¡± Brand replied.


    Khel grunted his agreement. ¡°Well, let¡¯s move then.¡±


    Math took one look back at the dim wall of ice, rock, and snow that barred their escape, then followed Khel and Brand into the dark.

 Chapter 25

    ¡°We can¡¯t do anything more tonight,¡± Arik insisted.  ¡°If they¡¯re ok, they¡¯ll find their way back.¡±


    ¡°And if they¡¯re injured?¡± Thea asked.


    ¡°He¡¯s right, Thea,¡± Nyla added with a bit more sympathy.  ¡°We can¡¯t be out in the dark yelling for them when we don¡¯t know who or what else will hear us.¡±


    They had been searching for over an hour.  The blood wolves had disappeared at the same time as the missing three.  The white wall that had plowed down the mountain had left no trace of their passing.  The biting wind had let up, and the snow that still fell drifted down in big lazy flakes.  Between the trees, the snow, and the night, the search party could barely see ten feet in front of them.  Thea knew they were right, the concession a bitter lump in her throat as she let them turn her back towards camp.


    The first hint of dark blue was tinting the black sky before they made it back to camp.  All three were exhausted from fighting the wind and plodding through the newly drifted snow.  Nobody wanted to sleep at the site of the night¡¯s attack, but moving might mean that Math and the others wouldn¡¯t be able to find them, if they were out there.


    ¡°We¡¯re no good to anyone if we wander about collapsing in the forest,¡± Arik said.  ¡°You two eat and rest, I¡¯ll watch.  Get a couple hours of sleep and we¡¯ll go back and search again.¡±


    Nyla set to work trying to coax the few remaining embers back into a flame, while Thea rummaged through the tent for something for the three of them to nibble on to regain a little strength.  She emerged with a few dry biscuits and saw that Nyla had built the fire up quickly.  The tough Sidhe woman added a few small logs for good measure and set a some mugs of snow nearby to melt into drinking water.  They ate quickly, the women crawling into the tent and climbing into their bedrolls as soon as they were finished.  Thea was asleep before she pulled her blanket up to her shoulders.


    She slept fitfully, dreams flitting from howling creatures with bloody jaws to suffocation under mountains of snow to creeping underground horrors clawing up from the earth beneath her.  She woke feeling bruised and anxious and as exhausted as if she¡¯d never slept at all.  Beside her, Arik was climbing out of his bedroll.  They must have traded watch while Thea slept.


    ¡°What time is it?¡± she asked, clambering out of her blankets despite her fatigue.


    ¡°A bit before noon, I¡¯d say,¡± Arik replied.


    Thea paused and stared at him, mouth open, not sure she had heard right.


    ¡°What?¡± she shouted, anger quickly clearing the rest of her weariness away.  ¡°We should be looking!  They could be trapped or hurt!¡±


    ¡°Take it easy,¡± the big man said.  He gave her a tired smile that didn¡¯t cover the fatigue in his eyes.  ¡°We¡¯ve been out looking all morning.  Nyla caught an hour of sleep, then her and I took turns.  She got back about an hour ago, so I took an hour myself.¡±


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    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Thea said.  ¡°Thank you.  You must be exhausted.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing.  A person can go without sleep for a day now and then, with no harm done.¡±


    ¡°Any sign at all?¡± she asked.


    Arik shook his head.  ¡°We¡¯ll give it one more day.  After that, they¡¯ve either found their way clear or there won¡¯t be much more we can do.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go out now,¡± she said, wrapping her thick cloak around her shoulders.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go back out with you.  Grab a couple biscuits, we¡¯ll eat while we walk.¡±


    Thea nodded her appreciation.  Even this much effort on their part may very well be just their way of humoring her.  Regardless, she was grateful for their efforts.  She pushed aside the tent flap and stepped out into the snowy day, Arik right behind her.


    The blanket of snow that smothered the world outside the tent lent a quiet calm to the morning.  The chaos of the night before was hidden under a deep layer of pristine powder that dampened sound and nipped crisply at Thea¡¯s cheeks.  Arik¡¯s fresh footprints leading back to the camp, and nearly covered footprints where he left hours before, were all that broke the uniform whiteness.  The snowfall covered everything, including any sign of ¨C or track from ¨C the struggle the night before.


    Thea looked around, lost and unsure where to start.  Without any sign, she had no way to pick up a trail.  She stood for a moment, just looking at the snowy landscape, and just before she let despair make its way into her heart she chose a direction.


    Keeping the Wall to her right, she did her best to retrace the memory of her path through the confused memory of last night¡¯s attack.  The snow was deep enough to reach her knees and made every stride heavy.  Arik followed just behind her left shoulder, not letting any sign of fatigue show on his face or in his walk as he plowed his own path through the powdery silence.  She knew he was only there for her benefit, and she also knew that he would push his way through the snow for as long as she did.


    As she walked, she mindlessly finished the biscuits without even realizing she was eating.  Only when she had to brush the last crumbs from her hands did she even notice she had taken a quick snack.  After that, she didn¡¯t even have food to occupy her mind.  The walk was more a meditation than a search.  She knew her friends likely did not survive and were hidden somewhere under the smooth expanse of snow.  But she had to take the walk, had to let the thought settle into her mind.  An hour into the trek, she felt the reality of her emotion finally forcing its way through the numbness of her awareness.  When she felt the first tear leave a cold biting trail down her cheek, she stopped walking. Arik stopped when she did.  He stood silent behind her, letting her process.  Finally, she turned back, and only then did he rest a hand on her shoulder.


    ¡°If they¡¯re safe, we¡¯ll find them,¡± he said.


    ¡°If they¡¯re safe.¡±  She couldn¡¯t meet his eyes.  She began the trudge through the snow back to camp, the trail at least a little easier for having been somewhat cleared by their walk out.  ¡°And if they¡¯re not, we¡¯ll never really know, will we?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll know,¡± Arik replied.  ¡°But we¡¯ll find them.  Let¡¯s sit and eat and think on what to do next.¡±


    Thea nodded.  The walk back was less of a meditation than her mind in shock, trying to grasp her loss.  The tears stopped and left her with just a numbness and inability to think about what to do next.


    Nyla had the fire still going when she returned, a small area cleared to sit on blankets laid over a fallen tree.  Thea and Arik sat, and Nyla handed Thea a skin of water.  Thea took a few swallows and passed it to Arik.  With the sun higher in the sky, the morning stillness of a new heavy snow was fading.  A cold breeze occasionally stirred the branches and snow, and the sounds of a forest were more alive.


    The two let Thea sit with her thoughts, knowing there was nothing more to say, until Thea herself finally broke the silence.


    ¡°So we continue on.  It¡¯s on us to get the key now, right?¡±


    ¡°It is.  Nothing left to do but finish for them,¡± Arik replied.


    ¡°Mmm,¡± Nyla nodded, a grunt of agreement.


    ¡°So, where to then?¡± Thea asked.

 Chapter 26

    The tunnel seemed to stretch for miles, always down, always deeper under the mountain.  Math could sense the ancient mass of the stone above him, making the very air thick and dense.  The weight of fear added its pressure to his chest.  The tunnel arched overhead, uneven but smooth.  The lichen glowed softly, just enough to make their way, but barely.  The floor became more flattened as they went, as if uncountable feet had tramped it down over time.  Or maybe those were the fears of his imagination telling him stories.


    The heat became more and more oppressive as they walked.  At one point, Math reached out a hand and the wall itself was uncomfortable to the touch.  He could see the sheen of sweat on the other two by the faint shine on their necks and foreheads.


    ¡°Is this tunnel ever going to end? Why are we walking without a plan?¡± Math asked.


    Khel looked thoughtful.  ¡°The histories speak of tunnels under the mountains.  It would take years to dig ourselves out, we¡¯d starve before.  Maybe we will come across a way out.¡±


    ¡°And maybe we¡¯ll be lost under the mountain forever,¡± Brand replied.  ¡°Maybe this cave goes nowhere but to the center of the Earth.¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Khel said.  ¡°But it¡¯s the only hope we have.¡±


    The tunnel finally levelled out, after what seemed like hours but could have been days.  The heat was oppressive.  Math¡¯s steps were heavy, his whole body drenched.  He took a deep drink from his skin, but Khel warned him to conserve it.  Water was going to be a problem, and soon. Then the tunnel opened up ahead of them. The chamber was round, almost circular, and near one wall was a blessing: a pool of water, bubbling up from the ground.  Steam rose in heavy streamers, making the room itself thick and humid.  As they approached, they could see that it was roiled by some current, as if an underground river was breaking the surface of the stone and then continuing back underground.


    The three of them pulled out their skins immediately and lowered themselves beside it.


    ¡°Wait,¡± Math said, holding an arm in front of them.  ¡°Careful.¡±  He touched a finger to the water and pulled it back quickly.  ¡°It¡¯s burning hot.¡±  He lowered the mouth of his skin carefully under the water, holding it by the strap and keeping his hand dry.  Math drained the rest of his first, to quench his thirst and some of the heat.  His own water was warm, but he wanted to make the best use of the water he had left.


    Still thirsty but knowing they had water once it cooled, the three sat at the edge of the chamber, leaning against the wall, and rested.


    ¡°We must be deep under the mountain now, yeah?¡± Brand said.


    Before either of the others answered, Math caught something odd on the wall out of the corner of his eye and stood quickly.  Taking a couple steps down the wall, feeling with his fingers, he peered closely.


    ¡°There¡¯s something scratched here,¡± he said.


    Khel and Brand stood.  Khel approached to see what Math saw, but Brand started looking at the wall right behind him.


    ¡°Here too,¡± said Brand.  ¡°I can¡¯t make out what it is.¡±


    Khel looked closely at the spot Math was studying and ran his own fingers along the lichened surface.  ¡°You¡¯re right.¡±  He continued along the wall.  ¡°Some are old, and some are new.  Someone must have been in here.¡±


    Khel took a closer look at the floor.  ¡°And this floor is worn smoother than the tunnel. Someone has walked here,¡± he said.


    Math looked.  The floor was still rough, but more packed, more level in places.  As he continued to study the room, he realized, ¡°It¡¯s smoother in paths between the other tunnels.¡±  He drew in a breath excitedly.  ¡°Someone must have been here ¨C and that means there¡¯s another way out!¡± His voice got louder with excitement.


    Khel held up a hand sharply, cutting off Math¡¯s next words.  He froze, with his head cocked, listening intently.  Math and Brand looked at each other but froze also, as Khel listened to the darkness.


    It was faint, but there was something ¨C scratching, or moving, or shuffling.  Faint, but becoming clearer as their ears got used to the silence. Something was out there, in the tunnels ahead.  As they stood in silence, concentrating, Math realized it was slowly getting louder.


    Khel suddenly pointed urgently back the way they had come.  Brand and Math didn¡¯t need him to ask twice.  As quickly but silently as they could, they moved back into the tunnel they came from.  Before they were more than a few yards deep, other noises came to their awareness, separating themselves out from the sounds of movement: animalistic noises, grunts, more than one person ¨C or thing- talking to one another.


    Dread.  A wave of dread swept through Math¡¯s body.  He could feel Brand¡¯s body next to him jerk as he felt it too.  The three of them, without a word, pressed themselves tightly to the side of the walls.


    The sounds suddenly got louder, breaking out of the tunnels.  Whatever it was had entered the room they just left.  Math¡¯s chest was tight, he struggled to take a breath.  Fear clamped down on him, an iron band around his chest.  The walls were not smooth and carved, they were natural, which left an uneven surface with small hills and valleys.  They pressed themselves into the semi-recesses, trying to push themselves into the stone.


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    In the chamber, a dim reddish-orange light rose.  Turning his head slightly he could see shapes moving, gathering.  Too many shapes.  They were smaller, maybe three feet high.  Details were difficult to make out, but Math thought they were covered in fur and scraps of ragged clothing.  Their faces were elongated, almost rat-like.  The faint glow gleamed on talons, on wicked fangs, and on beady eyes like the glow from animal lurking in the darkness outside a campfire¡¯s light.


    The air grew thicker with a nefarious presence, seeming to close in on Math.  He knew someone ¨C something ¨C else was coming before it appeared in his eyesight.  And when it did, he could feel the malice radiating off it in waves.  It was large ¨C taller by half than any of the three of them.  Its skin was fluid, flowing, reflecting the light like liquid in firelight.  The face itself seemed to shift and flow.  It walked like a man, had arms like a man, but changed.  Shapes appeared from the body and were reabsorbed.  Limbs, wings, things unidentifiable.


    The larger figure moved in the center of the crowd.  The smaller ones scampered and flowed around it as it moved.  The group crossed the chamber while Math held his breath, gathering around the pool of water.  They must have been drinking as they crowded around the edge, Math could hear the sounds of splashing and gurgling.  Animalistic noises, grunts and squeals, that must be communication.  A splash and a louder squeal made it sound as if one of the things had fallen in.  As Math watched, he saw a figure crawl back up out of the pool and bend back over the edge to drink, apparently unharmed.


    The large figure said nothing and never approached the edge of the water.


    After they all apparently had drunk their fill, they began to move back across the chamber.  As they entered a side tunnel, the noise and the dim light faded.  Math realized he had not seen any torches or lanterns.  He could not tell where that faint glow had come from.


    The three stayed frozen until well after the noise had faded to silence before any of them dared to breathe.  Then finally they peeled themselves away from the hot walls of the tunnel, clothes now stuck to their backs with sweat.  Sweat from the heat, and sweat from the unnatural fear.


    ¡°Now what?¡± Math whispered.


    ¡°We must be in their warrens,¡± Khel replied.


    ¡°Under the mountain herself,¡± Brand added.  Khel nodded.


    ¡°Then we can find the Key?¡± Math asked.


    Khel nodded again.  ¡°But this will be a maze.¡±


    ¡°And we have no map,¡± Math said.  ¡°How will we find the way?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t know the way,¡± Brand said.  ¡°But they do¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s insane!¡± Math protested.  ¡°What, we sneak around behind them and hope we stumble across it before we stumble across more of them?¡±


    Brand shrugged.  ¡°What choice do we have?  We¡¯re stuck here to either starve to death, find our way out or find the Key. And if they have the Key, we have to get through them anyways.  Not many ways to not die, really.¡±


    Khel looked thoughtful, though not particularly happy.  ¡°You may be right.  I don¡¯t see what choice we have.  We¡¯ll get discovered here eventually either way.¡±


    Math looked from one to the other.  Not that he wanted to admit it, but they were right.  They didn¡¯t have a way out.  He shook his head in frustration.


    ¡°We either go the way they went at a distance, go the way they came from, or pick the third tunnel and hope,¡± Khel said.


    ¡°The way they came from is more likely to lead to outside, don¡¯t you think?¡± Brand asked.  ¡°I¡¯m guessing that big shapeshifting guy is the same one who¡¯s been attacking.  Likely they were coming back from that, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    ¡°A good point,¡± Khel agreed.  ¡°If they were returning through another tunnel, the timing would be right, running into us here.¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s so, then at least we could see if the others are ok, meet back up with them,¡± Math suggested.


    Khel and Brand both nodded. ¡°Ok then,¡± Khel said.  ¡°That¡¯s the direction we¡¯ll go.¡±


    It made sense.  Maybe the group was returning from the surface.  There had to be other tunnels like this under the mountain.  Math felt a little bit of hope.


    Khel crept forward along the side of the tunnel, listening intently.  Brand and Math followed.  Whatever extra glow had lit the chamber was gone when they stepped slowly into it.  The faint shine of the lichen was all that was left to light their way.


    They paused at the tunnel mouth for many seconds, all three trying to pick up the sounds of movement or voices.  Faint sounds came to Math¡¯s ears, distant enough that he thought it was his imagination.  After a time, they crept a few steps further into the open cave.  The pool of water bubbled to their right, now wet from the creatures splashing around the edge and falling in and climbing out.  One exit led to the left, where the pack had gone.  One opened to the right, just past the water.  The third opened between the two, forward and to the left.


    The option seemed clear.  The tunnel to the right led most directly away from whatever evil creatures had just gathered in this room.  The tunnel to the right most likely led to an exit.  They didn¡¯t have to discuss the matter, they headed to the right.


    As they approached, they could see the floor was scuffed and disturbed, the dirt and gravel showing the marks of feet dragging through it.  Khel pointed it out to the others, but they had seen it.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know why we didn¡¯t notice before.  This way is used,¡± Khel said.


    Indeed, the ground looked different in a path between the tunnels.  More tracked, more packed down, more scuffed.  Math looked behind him to the tunnel they had just left.


    ¡°Look,¡± he said.  ¡°They go that way too.¡±


    ¡°And to the other opening,¡± Brand replied, pointing to the fourth exit.  ¡°They¡¯re everywhere.¡±


    ¡°Like I said.  A maze,¡± Khel said. ¡°And they know the way. We don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Still, the way they just came from, when we¡¯ve just been attacked, is the most likely way to find the others,¡± Math added.


    Khel nodded his agreement, and Brand grunted his.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, before they come back,¡± Brand said.  ¡°At least we know the big one went the other way.¡±


    The three of them moved quietly to the opposite tunnel, full attention focused on trying to hear any little noise from the direction the creatures had gone.  This tunnel was much like the one they came in through, natural walls rippled and uneven but smooth, as if worn out by some ancient underground river.  The floor was still much the same, but the scuffs and signs of the creatures¡¯ passing were evident.  Like the other passage, this one was slightly more even on the ground in the center, as if it had been frequently walked over the years.  The same patchwork lichen continued to give off a glow, faint but just enough so they were not blind.  The three of them moved as quietly but quickly as they could down the passageway.

 Chapter 27

    ¡°We don¡¯t even know where we¡¯re going, or what we¡¯re looking for, do we?¡± Thea asked.  They had been trudging through the snow for hours.  The sun, higher in the sky and warmer, was making the snow thick and heavy.  Her legs were soaked, cloth clinging to her skin and chafing, water soaking down to her feet.  Her cheeks stung from tears coming and going, and the winter wind chilling them against her cheeks when they did come.  She felt numb half the time and despair the other half.  The others were gone.  She was unlikely to see them again.


    ¡°We know it¡¯s under this mountain.  We know there must be a way,¡± Nyla replied.


    ¡°There are caves,¡± Arik added.  ¡°We know of them.  We don¡¯t delve into them, but they must lead under the mountain.¡±


    ¡°Well why didn¡¯t you tell me that?¡± Thea asked, frustrated.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t think of it,¡± Arik replied.


    ¡°So we¡¯re just going to walk into some random cave and check it out?¡± Thea asked.


    ¡°Pretty much,¡± Arik replied, also getting frustrated with her questioning.


    Nyla interjected. ¡°The caves are supposedly a giant network.  All connected, under the mountain.  If that¡¯s true, then likely the Key will be in there.¡±


    ¡°Probably deep in there,¡± Arik said.


    ¡°Yes, probably,¡± Nyla agreed.


    ¡°Where are the caves?¡± Thea asked.  ¡°How do we find them?¡±


    ¡°We are close to one now,¡± Nyla said.  ¡°The Sidhe have known these parts for generations.  We have a place to start.¡±


    Thea trudged on with the others.  Another hour passed, then two.  She was barely aware of her surroundings, lost in her grief.  Then finally she almost bumped into Nyla when the Sidhe woman stopped.  She raised her eyes and saw the other two peering up the slope to her right.  Following their gaze, she saw a dark shadow on the slope.  Arik moved ahead, then Nyla.  As they drew near, Thea saw it was an opening, mostly obscured by snowdrifts.  This must be one of the caves.


    ¡°This is what we¡¯re looking for?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Think so,¡± said Arik.  He walked up to the opening and forced his way through the drift.  For a moment he was out of sight, then his head reappeared, and he motioned the others forward.  ¡°Come on, it goes deeper.¡±


    Thea and Nyla moved to the cave entrance.  Now that Arik had trampled through the drift, she could see that the opening was wider ¨C well above the height of even the tall Sidhe.  They could walk into it, at least for now, without crawling on hands and knees squeezing through rock like Thea had imagined.  There was no telling how deep it went, so Arik must have gone in further to know that it continued.


    Stepping in, she immediately felt warmth.  Not hot, especially not right next to the opening and the cold winter outside the cave, but definitely noticeable.  She faced inward, not looking at the light outside, waiting for her eyes to adjust.  As they did, she realized that it wasn¡¯t completely dark further in.  A very dim glow emanated from the walls, and by that glow she could see that the cave did indeed reach deeper under the mountain.


    ¡°We follow this?¡± She asked


    ¡°From here we don¡¯t know.  The tunnel could be short, it could be miles long.  We only know from the stories that it is here somewhere.¡±


    ¡°Or maybe it¡¯s the wrong cave,¡± Thea asked.  ¡°Or maybe it¡¯s a maze of caves.  Then how will we find our way out?¡±


    ¡°Valid questions, all,¡± Arik replied.  ¡°Both could be true.  But we have to start somewhere, and this was the one we found first.¡±


    Despite the dim light, Nyla went back to the horses.  She untied a lantern from the strap holding it to the side of the saddlebag, and a second and third from Arik¡¯s and one of the riderless horses.  Striking her Sidhe firestick a few times got the small flame flickering to life.  She transferred the flame to the other two and closed the glass cage.


    ¡°What about the horses?¡± Thea asked.


    ¡°Take what we might need.  We¡¯ll have to leave them.  Sidhe horses know the snow and the mountains, they will forage and wander,¡± Nyla said.  ¡°It¡¯s not ideal, but we have no choice.  There¡¯s a good chance they¡¯ll make their way to where someone will find them and take them in.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, someone like those things!¡± Thea protested.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have a choice, Thea,¡± Arik added.  ¡°Chances are those things are hunting humans not animals, but even so, we have a mission.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Thea sighed.  ¡°I just don¡¯t like it. I¡¯ve seen what they do to horses.¡±


    ¡°None of us do,¡± Arik answered, heavy hand on her shoulder.  ¡°But let¡¯s go.  Lantern oil¡¯s burning.¡±


    Thea turned.  Nyla stood back by the mouth of the cave, lantern raised to peer inside.  Thea and Arik stepped up beside her.  ¡°Here we go,¡± she said, and they stepped inside.


    Thea felt the heat immediately.  Not unbearably hot, but warm.  The heat of a summer day, despite the chill winter just outside.  Warmth seemed to be flowing out of the cave mouth, like some great beast breathing onto them.


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    By lantern light they had a better view of the sides of the cave.  It was mostly round, almost a tube, and smooth.  The walls and ceiling undulated slightly, not exactly even but wide enough to stand all abreast and tall enough to be well above even Arik¡¯s head.  The stone was black, not like rock exactly, but more like the color of coals after a campfire died.  Greys and blacks made a patchwork on the walls and ceiling.  The floor was flatter, giving the three decent footing, though uneven in many places.  Rounded areas seemed almost to bubble up in spots.


    Spiked protrusions of all shapes and sizes pointed down from the ceiling.  Some were tiny, like little needles.  Many were longer and thin, and some were wider and longer still, forcing Arik to duck his head and be aware when he walked.  From beyond the light cast by their lanterns, a dim glow showed them that the cave went straight into the earth, at least for some distance.


    They walked, stepping carefully so they didn¡¯t trip on any of the rounded mounds on the floor of the path and avoided cracking their heads on the few spikes of rock that projected down to their level.  As the entrance shrank behind them in the distance, the heat increased until they were sweating under their heavy clothes.  They left them on, but Thea didn¡¯t know how long she could do so.  If the heat continued, she¡¯d be dropping her coat on the ground and leaving it.  Carrying the bulky thing with her didn¡¯t seem much more appealing than wearing it.


    The tunnel continued on and on.  Not featureless, every part had a different fluid pattern ¨C as if mud had flowed and hardened ¨C and some areas of the ceiling were dense with the pointed stalactites, but some were smoother.  But endless. Thea lost track of time as they made their way deeper.


    The air became more oppressive.  Smells of sulfur and brimstone first tickled the edge of her awareness, but as she continued became an assault on her nose.  The heat only got worse, until her clothes were damp and chafing her skin.  She could see the damp patches on the back of Arik and Nyla¡¯s shirts also.  Then another smell ¨C musty, like wet fur.  Animalistic.  Faint at first as well but also growing stronger.


    The tunnel opened up on the left side, a side passage yawning with darkness.  The three paused for a moment, indecisive, but Nyla pressed forward and continued straight.  After a few minutes, another tunnel opened on the right.  They stopped.


    ¡°This is where it turns into a maze,¡± Arik said.  ¡°Which way leads us where we want to go?¡±


    ¡°Straight has to be the best way,¡± Nyla said.  ¡°It¡¯s direct and heading down.  If we get sidetracked and start taking twists and turns, we¡¯ll get lost for sure.¡±


    Arik looked dubious but nodded.  They all knew it was a weak argument, but they had none better.  They continued straight.


    After only a short time again, Nyla stopped and held up her hand for the others to halt, then quickly put a finger in front of her lips, demanding silence.  They stood still as Thea¡¯s ears adjusted to the quiet.  Then, faint enough that she wasn¡¯t sure if it was her imagination, she heard a scuffling coming from ahead of her.  She froze, heart pounding.  Then another, louder, easily discernable after the loud pounding of her heart.  Something was coming.


    Nyla stepped back, motioning the others to do the same.  The noise of movement ahead got louder, and then an animal shriek pierced through the darkness ahead.


    ¡°Run!¡± Nyla said, not bothering to whisper.  ¡°Go!¡±  She rushed back towards Thea, grabbing her shoulder and turning her and pushing her along with a hand on the back. ¡°Go go go!¡±


    More shrieks and screams and howls cut the darkness, along with another, deeper roar, full of rage.


    They ran, trying desperately not to lose their footing on the sometimes-uneven ground.  Nyla led, Thea right behind and Arik in the rear.  The sounds behind them ¨C almost voices, but bestial, howling and slavering ¨C followed, getting closer.  The tunnel was too long, they weren¡¯t going to make it.


    One shrieked just behind them, seemingly right over Thea¡¯s shoulder.  Her skin prickled.  She glanced over her shoulder to see Arik turn and draw his sword.  From the darkness just outside his lantern-light, a figured launched itself at him.  This thing was shorter than him and covered in fur.  Eyes gleamed with reflected light, and jagged pointed teeth were bared as it attacked.  Arik dropped his lantern and swung the sword with both hands, edge of the blade sinking into the thing¡¯s skull with a solid thunk. The blow diverted the creature¡¯s momentum, and it fell to the ground right beside him, not moving.


    ¡°Drop the lanterns,¡± he shouted, running again.  Thea hesitated, then realized ¨C these things lived in the dim light.  Their small flames were a beacon for them.  She dropped hers and continued to run.  Nyla did the same.  Behind them, howls echoed down the tunnel, too close now, and closing.


    A grinding roar shook the cave ¨C not from behind them, but from the mountain around them itself.  The walls shook, the floor kicked up underneath them.  Thea slammed a shoulder into the rough wall, her breath punched out of her for a moment.  Arik and Nyla stumbled.  Nyla went to one knee for a second, then Arik caught her under the arm and yanked her back to her feet.  Stones fell, dislodged from the ceiling, and some of the stalactites were shaken loose, falling to the ground around them.  They did their best to keep their feet, hoping that their pursuers were having the same trouble.


    The mountain shook them for minutes that seemed like hours as they struggled to run, knowing that their lives depended on it.  Then, as quickly as it began, the rumbling stopped.  Thea¡¯s relief lasted only seconds, as the renewed cries behind her told them that the chase was still on.


    The tunnel narrowed ahead and brightened.  Not with daylight, but with a glow the color of embers.  As they rounded the slight curve, she could see a wide, jagged crack in the side wall, a couple feet wide and just taller than her.  Whether the shaking of the mountain had broken it open or whether it had always been there, she didn¡¯t know.  The orange light came from there.


    Nyla took a second to look in as she passed, then stopped.


    She thought for no more than that second, knowing they were out of time.  ¡°Here,¡± she said.  ¡°It¡¯s narrow, we have to use it.¡±


    Arik nodded.  ¡°Go!¡±  He pushed Nyla in, then motioned for Thea to follow.  She had to turn slightly sideways to squeeze in, but it immediately opened to just wider than her shoulders.  She felt Arik move behind her, heard another bestial scream, and then the sound of Arik¡¯s sword hitting flesh.  He squeezed himself in, then was just able to square up behind her.  His body pushed Thea forward as he backed down the hallway.


    There were more now.  Arik blocked the way, body shoving her as he stabbed with his sword in the small space.  Thea took a glance back.  There wasn¡¯t much room around Arik¡¯s body to see, but she could glimpse movement.  Too much movement.  Too many short, greasy-furred bodies moving, darting back and forth, trying to find a way past Arik¡¯s sword in the narrow space.


    Thea turned back to watch where she was going, just as the passage opened up into a massive cavern.  They were on a ledge, several feet wide but with no immediately obvious way off.  She caught a glimpse of glowing orange fire and black rock, the ground a couple dozen feet below them.  Then she drew her own sword and turned.  She stepped beside Arik, Nyla on his other side, to hold onto the narrow chokepoint as the creatures tried to pour through.

 Chapter 28

    This tunnel, unlike the first one, was not straight. Instead, the passage curved and rose and fell until Math had lost all sense of direction. Brand and Khel were silent and grim. This was an arrow-shot in the dark and they all knew it. But what choice did they have?


    The heat was stifling and oppressive. The smell was foul. Math found himself breathing through his mouth, but still he felt light-headed at times as it overpowered his senses. All three were soaked with sweat, and after a time that Math couldn¡¯t measure, he tilted up his water skin and found that only a few drops remained. He took them eagerly, then let the limp skin fall to his side. Unless they found more, he didn¡¯t know how long he could keep moving. His body already felt dehydrated, throat parched and raw from the caustic air.


    Math felt it in his bones first. A low rumble, almost below hearing. Then louder, coming from deep in the stone around them. The ground vibrated under his boots, then suddenly shifted. Math¡¯s knees buckled, trying to keep his balance. The entire cave shook, and a deafening grinding of rock blocked out all other noise. From behind the sound of the groaning earth, Math thought he heard another roar, more primal, more bestial.


    The grating rumble faded. Light whisps of dust fell from the ceiling as the earth around them settled. They regained their footing and stood, listening, not sure if the ground was going to buck under them again.


    ¡°What was that?¡± Math asked.


    ¡°The mountain is waking up,¡± Brand replied. ¡°Or something in the mountain is.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s doesn¡¯t sound good.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Khel said. ¡°We need to hurry.¡±


    They began their walk into the mountain again. The cave straightened out and began to travel consistently downward. At first the grade was slight, but as they went it became steeper, until there was no doubt that they were once again descending deeper underground. Math wondered if there were miles of stone above them. It certainly felt it. The weight of the mountain was always there, pressing in on him, smothering him. He began to feel a sense of despair and hopelessness, a certainty that he wasn¡¯t ever going to see the light of day. He did his best to push through the feeling. His steps were heavy. Fatigue and thirst penetrated to his bones. His feet began to shuffle on the ground.


    Then, as he thought he had to stop, that he couldn¡¯t continue, he began to see an orange glow ahead. It started as faint as the shine of the lichen on the walls but slowly became more visible. Then the passage took a slight curve to the left and the walls all around became lit. Up ahead, the passage opened up into another chamber. The light danced and flowed from there. His eyes were so adjusted to the darkness and barely visible phosphorescence he almost squinted as they stepped out into a massive cavern.


    It was a scene from a painting of Hell. The cavern was massive. He couldn¡¯t see the walls, and the ceiling was lost in the haze of heat that blasted him like a forge. Rivers of fire flowed through, pooling in lakes and ponds of thick, slow-moving liquid. The air shimmered. The ground was more fire than rock, to make their way across would require leaping from island to island. A single misstep would be fatal. The intensity was almost unbearable.


    But more than the heat, above and beyond and somehow deeper in his bones, was the dread. A wave of it, beating on him, almost driving him to his knees. His head pounded; his stomach clenched. He wanted to drop to the ground and freeze. He wanted to flee in abject terror. He wanted to be sick. He wanted to be anywhere but there.


    In the distance, a pillar of fire stood, red-orange light shifting and swirling independent of the gusts of heat. At its heart, the glow was even more intense, but Math could see a long, slender shape. Lines emanated from it, shaped almost like chains, reaching up into the depths and heights of the cavern. And behind that...


    Something moved. Something huge. Something that was the source of the overwhelming dread. The three of them watched the chains of heat and light shift as a shadow moved and flowed closer. The thing was huge, black, and terrifying. It came forward through the shimmering air and showed itself. It was covered with reddish black scales, each the size of his head. Leathery wings stretched from one side of the cavern to the other. The body was massive, Math could feel the vibration of its steps through the ground. A long sinuous neck ended in a scaled head, fangs as long as his arm, and glowing red eyes filled with hate. It turned its gaze on them, opened its mouth, and let out a roar deeper than thunder, bigger than the mountain. Math couldn¡¯t think through the noise, his mind feeling blown away by the force of the sound.


    The Beast.


    Math¡¯s vision faded, and he found himself alone, on a mountain peak. A dread-inspiring force of evil was below him in the mist, fast rising toward him. A pillar of light was in his hand. A sword of fire, ancient, tongues of flame licking along steel that glowed like it was still in the forge. He finally got it. This was the Key. It was calling him.


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    The vision cleared as he shook his head, bringing him back to the fiery cave. He saw the Key ¨C the sword ¨C clearly through the pillar of fire. Beside him, Brand and Khel stood, their hands over their own ears, still grimacing in pain and fear until, after an eternity, the thing stopped its roar. Khel straightened. The flowing, hellish rivers snaked their way back and forth between him and the sword. He knew what he had to do. Without waiting for the others, he leapt.


    He made the jump from island to island, over rivers of molten rock a few inches to a few feet wide, or more. The fear was visceral, a fist clenched around his heart and mind trying to drive him into the ground. He forced himself through it, head lowered, focusing on one step, one leap at a time, grinding his way through the physical wall of terror. He tried to empty his mind, to not think, to see only the next step, the next patch of ground to cover.


    As he got closer, he could see more detail. The Beast was held back, imprisoned, bound by the chains of light and fire that connected him to the key driven into the rock. Whatever ancient ritual had put it there, its power had faded. He could see some of the chains leading from the sword snaking along the ground and ending. He could see some of them hanging from the Beast, swinging freely, no longer connected to the imprisoning sword.


    The Beast waited, watching with hate in its eyes, as he approached the limit of its bonds. Then he saw movement to his side, high up the wall, and a clamoring din. He looked up and spotted three figures, standing almost shoulder to shoulder on a ledge high above the lava, trying to beat back a wave of smaller shapes that poured out of an opening the wall.


    Thea.


    He watched as too many of those creatures, the Kobali, poured out of the fissure, overwhelming them. Helpless, he saw one leap from the crack in the wall and lunge at one of the smaller of the three figures. The larger one ¨C it had to be Arik - was turned, focused on keeping more from breaking through. The third turned and drove a sword through its side. He couldn¡¯t tell which of the women it was, but she wrenched at the sword, taking a moment to get it unstuck from the twitching corpse. As she did, another one plowed into her side, rocking her back. It sunk its teeth into her side, and her body spasmed in pain. A third threw its body at her face. The impact staggered her backwards. As Math watched in horror, she stumbled to the edge. One foot slipped, and for an eternal moment she teetered, poised, frozen in time. Then she went down. Her foot left the edge, and the weight of the attackers was too much for her. The mass of bodies tumbled as it fell, struggling, until it disappeared into the fire below. A short flash of flame flickered upwards, and she was gone.


    Math looked at the sword driven into the black rock. The Key to restoring the dragon¡¯s chains. He looked up to the ledge, where Arik kept fighting, focused on blocking the swarm as best he could. The other woman looked over the edge, her body contorted with grief. Closer now, he could see the familiar long dark hair, now falling past her face as she looked down. Thea. Then Arik barked something over his shoulder, quickly snapping her back to the problem at hand.


    The choice was easy, after the moment of indecision. He veered left. Still recklessly hurdling ribbons of fire, he headed towards the fight. The black rock was coarse and bone-dry from the intense heat, allowing Math to keep his footing as he ran and jumped. Just one smooth or wet patch would send him off balance and pitching into a fiery death. The fighting above intensified. He sped up.


    Arik and Thea had been unable to hold back the horde at the crack. Both were backed up to the edge of the ledge, thirty feet above. As they were pushed back, the light seemed to grow and expand from the tunnel they faced. Not the fiery orange of the cavern; a deeper, redder light grew from behind the attacking mob. Thea moved with desperation and exhaustion, flailing her sword back and forth in a frantic attempt to keep the little beasts at bay. Arik¡¯s sword moved quickly and expertly in spite of his obvious fatigue, sending the bodies of their enemies over the edge. A wide pool of lava waited below the ledge; the creatures, whether alive or dead as they fell, were consumed in seconds. Math could tell which was which by the presence or absence of bestial screaming.


    As Math approached, he saw Arik¡¯s glance pause on him as he kicked a kobald over the edge, taking in the pool beneath him and Khel and Brand making their way up behind. He turned back to his next attackers and Math heard him yell, ¡°Jump!¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Thea hesitated. Math saw her glance over her shoulder and lock eyes with him.


    ¡°Jump!¡± Arik repeated. ¡°You can clear the lava, and you¡¯ll survive the fall. We can¡¯t hold here!¡±


    The moment those words crossed his lips, the kobalds made them true. Three of the creatures hit him at once. One went high, leaping towards his face. He skewered that one easily, but its weight rocked him back just as another latched claws onto his leg. The third hit him straight in the chest, and the combined momentum of the three stumbled him backwards. At the lip of the ledge he managed to kick hard against the edge, propelling himself away.


    As he went over, Thea reacted quickly and turned to follow. The bloody red glow and the swarm of bodies followed as she leaped from the edge. Extended claws and bared, drooling fangs pursued her over the edge as she pushed off to clear the lava pool below.


    Arik, off balance from the initial jump, landed hard. He managed to twist enough to get one kobald beneath him when he hit, crushing it. The one latched to his leg hit the molten pool, along with that bloody leg. The impact stunned him, and he groaned for a moment before shouting in pain as the heat overcame his daze. Kobald bodies landed around him, hitting the lava and shrieking as they too burst into flame.


    Thea never hit the ground. As Math moved to drag Arik away from the lava, the red glow intensified. A half dozen bloody red tentacles shot out of the tunnel, following her descent. They caught her before she had fallen half the distance, wrapping around her chest and legs like ropes shining with dripping blood. One circled her neck, and one covered her mouth as she tried to scream. Her eyes widened in fear, and she dangled for a moment, silently crying out for Math to help her. Then they jerked her up, arms, legs, and hair flailing forward as her body was violently heaved back up and over the cliff, where she disappeared into the shadows.