Ghosts Of Alfhaven (Book 2) (12 page)

The Solifuge did not bother slowing down, Sawain had to stop it or he and Naralei would be shredded to ribbons by it's thorny carapace. He readied his sword for a thrust. Naralei followed suit. The monster was on top of them now, going full speed. Sawain prayed hard.

Please let this work.

“
Stab him now!”

Sawain and his cousin stabbed upward at the Solifuge's underside. They hit it at a softer spot, where crashing through the trees wore down its armor. Their resin coated blades slid through the exoskeleton. The two of them together were not enough to stop the monster's momentum. It roared and crashed down on them.

Piercing pain shot through Sawain as one of the spines ran through his shoulder. Another spine penetrated his left thigh. He grit his teeth and pushed upward with all of his might. A deep growl rolled through his chest. The Solifuge struggled to its feet. The spines ripped from Sawain's flesh. He roared in pain. He heard Naralei emit an agonized scream. He looked over to her as he ripped his blade from the monster.

She was grasping at a wound in her stomach. Fear washed over Sawain as he watched his cousin's blood seep from the open hole. He could tell from the glazed look in her eyes that she was going into shock. Her words from earlier came back to him.

There are potions in her pack.

Sawain made a dash for her. The spot he was laying at an instant earlier was covered in acidic slime. He grabbed Naralei and ran for cover as the bough under his feet began to sag. He glanced behind him. The Solifuge reared up on its hind legs and was hissing at the two attackers.

Sawain ducked behind a tree trunk just as another volley of acid splashed against the other side. He held Naralei close to keep her protected. Sweat covered her face, but her warmth quickly fled from her skin.

“
Stay with me, Nara... Loraleth! Today would be nice!”

The tree he was hiding behind shuddered and popped loudly as the Solifuge rammed it. Sawain hoisted the pale form of Naralei again and delved deeper into the tangle. The forest behind them tore to shreds as the Spinereaver followed after them. Sawain knew he would have to  stand and fight it again if Loraleth was to get a clear shot.

He managed to get far enough ahead to prop Naralei against a thick tree trunk. He stepped out of cover a second later, sword drawn again. The Solifuge lumbered toward him like an unstoppable storm.

Images of Naralei's cold corpse filled his mind. Those images turned to anger. That anger fueled his inner Berserker. Red filled his eyes. He could see the monster clearly now. It was mere feet away. A fierce roar ripped from his lungs and shook the surrounding trees. The Solifuge skidded to a halt in front of him. It recoiled at the terrifying display.

A pair of throwing knives shot from the monster's throat and buried themselves in the wood at Sawain's feet. Acidic blood dripped from the unaffected hilts and sizzled when they hit the wood. Sawain looked up at the beast as his rage began to subside.

It stood upright again and made an ear splitting hiss as it spewed acid and blood into the air. It was not long before the mist of acid settled on its host and the surrounding boughs. It ate away at the beast's exoskeleton. It staggered toward Sawain, but the supporting branches were already weakened by the acid. The makeshift floor snapped under the monster's weight. Sawain was barely fast enough to grab onto another bough as the one he was on snapped away. He dangled by an arm and watched the hissing horror fall to the floor below. Several of the limbs smashed into the insectoid. Sawain's stomach turned at the cracking sound the beast's shell made as it was bashed open by falling debris.

He did not see any movement from below after all the debris settled, so he used his sword to pull himself back up. The other Ghosts caught up now. Sawain ran to the place he left Naralei. She was still there, but her eyes were closed and her eyelids flickered faintly. She was pale. Sawain placed a finger to the side of her neck. There was still a pulse, but it was faint and she was cold.

He grabbed her bag in a panic and unlatched it. It was not hard to find the potions. He pulled one out and uncorked it. Loraleth was at his side from out of nowhere.

“You need to apply it to her main wound. Here, let me.”

Sawain nodded and handed her the open potion. She lifted Naralei's tunic enough to expose the gaping wound. Sawain had to look away. The scene was too much for him. Several minutes of work and two potions later, Sawain heard Naralei gasp for air and a sob-choked laugh of relief from Loraleth. Sawain turned back to see Naralei staring up into the canopy, pain etched into her face. He joined Loraleth in relieved laughter as tears filled his eyes.

“You scared me.”

Naralei turned her gaze to Sawain. Her voice was weak, but her words were as strong as ever.

“What are you crying for? I'm fine. It's just a scratch.”

Sawain grinned at her. He turned to Loraleth and gave her a big hug without thinking. He could feel the heat rising in her face.

“Thank you for saving my cousin, Lora. I owe you.”

Loraleth pulled back and smiled nervously. Sawain could not make out color in the forest, but she looked different, perhaps brighter.

“I-- It's the least I could do... I mean, well, you would have done the same...”

Sawain clapped her shoulder lightly, “You're my hero today, Loraleth.”

Loraleth was silent, but Sawain could see the smile on her face clearly. He looked around and made a quick head count. Everyone was present.

“
Alright, looks like we're setting up camp early today. Nara's in no shape to keep moving. We'll rest for the evening and get back to it in the morning. In the mean time, Tobi, try to get our bearings.”

Sawain glanced at Tobi, who looked mortified, “What is it, Tobi?”

Tobi stared at Sawain, terror building in his expression, “I don't know how.”

Sawain slowly rose to his feet, a bad feeling in his chest rose with him. He looked at Tobi warily.

“What do you mean?”

Tobi swallowed hard. He was shaking visibly.

“I mean we're lost.”

Chapter 12

“What do you mean we're lost? Get us unlost!”

Banthan's angry shouts irritated Sawain further, “Enough, Banthan. Let me handle this. Tobi, You're our go-to for this sort of thing. You have all night. I know you'll figure it out.”

Banthan snorted, “You put too much faith in that tubby lout, Sawain. He's so useless! First he gets the wrong map, then he can't even find north!”

Sawain's temper flared, “Can you find north, Banthan?”

Banthan was silenced for a moment by the ferocious edge in Sawain's voice, “Well... No.”

Sawain snarled at him, “Then shut up.”

Banthan opened his mouth then shut it again. He reminded Sawain of one of the fish in Mistveil Farm's pond. He turned to Mari, who sat against a large tree trunk and stared off into the darkness.

“
Are you alright, Mari?”

She snapped back to the world of the living with a start and looked to Sawain with wide eyes. She gave him a forced smile.

“I'm fine. It's just not every day that you almost get turned into a pile of smoldering goo.”

Sawain sighed, “In our line of work? I'm afraid it'll come up more often than we'd like.”

Mari nodded and turned her gaze back to the darkness. She spoke again.

“
You think I'm really cut out for this, Sawain? I mean, all I ever seem to do is get chased by monsters. I feel so useless.”

Sawain sat down beside her, “That's not true. Your music has a magic in it that none of us can even come close to. I've never even met anyone who could use magic without shedding their own blood.”

She smiled and dropped her gaze to the bough they sat on, “Well, that's just because The Bardsong isn't true magic. It's more of a mental weapon. Kind of hard to explain, really. Mostly because I only half listened to the stories my mother told me about it.”

Sawain nodded and felt enlightened, “Well, either way, it's indispensable to the team. As far as being monster bait is concerned, I'll try to make sure everyone takes a turn now and then.”

He gave her a wink and she giggled. He could tell she was already feeling better. She looked at him again.

“
Thanks, Sawain. You know, you've got a way with words that would make the bards proud. You sure you're of druidic stock and not bardic?”

Sawain shrugged, “I'm not usually very good with words. You know, before I came to Alfhaven, my words were always getting me into trouble. Guess I'm starting to grow up.”

Mari nodded, “Good thing, too. We're not playing training games in the tangle anymore, are we?”

It was Sawain's turn to stare into the darkness, “No, I suppose not.”

Banthan slumped down beside Loraleth, just inside Sawain's peripheral. He pulled his knees up to his chest. Loraleth placed her head on his shoulder.

“
Cheer up, brother. You know, if you weren't shooting off all the time, I wouldn't have to keep making you feel better all the time.”

Banthan muttered to his sister. Sawain could barely hear him.

“You say that every day. It's so annoying. I don't need to be cheered up.”

Loraleth shuffled through Banthan's dark locks of hair with her fingers, “I think you do.”

Banthan knocked her hand away, “Cut it out, alright?”

Loraleth draped her arm around Banthan's shoulder, “You know, there's no sense in shutting me out. I'm your twin. If you're sad, I'm sad, and I don't like being sad. Come on, Banth.”

Banthan did not respond. Loraleth sighed, “Fine, we'll just sit here and be sad together.”

Banthan muttered to his sister, “Why do you always want to be in the same mood I'm in? You've got it good. Everyone thinks you're great. You're one of the rising stars. I'm just the smart mouth that no one likes.”

Loraleth clicked her tongue, “That's not true, I like you.”

Banthan snorted, “You have to.”

Loraleth laughed, “I don't have to. I could hate you too, but I choose to like you. You're my brother and my best friend. We're inseparable!”

Banthan was quiet for a moment. He muttered to her again.

“Sorry, sis. I don't mean to be a pain, it just happens, you know?”

Loraleth smiled, “You're not a pain to me, Banth.”

Banthan smiled back, “Thanks for always having my back, sis.”

She gave him a quick hug, “Any time, brother.”

The rest of the night passed uneventfully. Tobi spent the night away from the main group, his nose buried into the new book he brought with him. Even at dinner time, he ate alone. Sawain was worried about him, but he left him alone. He had faith that Tobi would get them on the right track again.

An hour passed and everyone settled into slumber fairly quickly. Sawain was one of the last to fall asleep. He sat with his back against the same trunk as Tobi, though on opposite sides. He heard the pages of Tobi's book flip from time to time, but no other sound from his friend. They came at intervals of two minutes like clockwork. The flipping sounds lulled Sawain into a deep sleep.

The turning pages morphed into drips. Sawain thought it was water at first. But then he smelled the strong, familiar scent of blood. A voice called out to him. It was a low growl, as cold as death.

“
Where are you, Thrallborn? I know you're there. I can smell your fear.”

The voice was so familiar. Sawain's heart filled with dread. He was standing on a dark hill. Everything around him was set ablaze. Great flames licked at the sky from every direction. The stars were blotted out by thick smoke. He looked toward Anvilheim. All he could see was a pair of wicked, yellow eyes.

“Wake up, Sawain.”

Fangs ripped at Sawain's throat. He opened his eyes and screamed. When the world came back into focus, he realized that he was sitting in the darkness of Alfhaven, surrounded by his team mates. Loraleth jumped away from him when the terror tore from his lungs.

Was she the one calling for me? No. that doesn't make sense. What was that?

He blinked several times until reason returned to his fevered mind. Jatharr whispered hoarsely.

“Keep it down, lad! You want more wild animals to come running?”

Sawain signed to Jatharr, <
Sorry.>

Jatharr snorted, “You know I don't know that hand talk you elves are keen to.”

Sawain whispered back, “Sorry. I'll teach it to you later.”

Jatharr nodded, “Aye. In the mean time, you might want to see this.”

Sawain rose to his feet. He was stiff from sleeping in the tree. He worked the stiffness out with a stretch and nodded to Jatharr.

Jatharr led Sawain to a spot not far from their camp. He pointed to a dim flicker of orange in the distance. I was hard to make out through the trees, but it was without a doubt the flicker of firelight. Sawain glanced at Jatharr.

“What do you think it is? Enemy campfire?”

Jatharr shrugged, “Could be, but why would undead need a camp fire? Same could be asked about the Dark Elves. Might be a village. Might be a trap. Yer leader of this outfit. How do you want to approach it?”

Sawain sighed, “With caution. Whatever it is, we don't want to rush in without knowing what is going on. We will regroup and go in quietly. If they're friendly, then great. If it's a trap, maybe we can get the jump on our ambushers.”

Jatharr smiled, “You have grown up in the last year, haven't you lad?”

Sawain shrugged. He felt the heat rise in his cheeks, “We'd better get back.”

Jatharr nodded and the two comrades fell back to the camp. Everyone was up and ready when they returned. Sawain signed to the group.

The team nodded acknowledgment and spread out. Jatharr stuck close to Sawain this time. Sawain preferred this. He felt confident in the halfling captain's fighting prowess and experience. Sawain signaled the direction they were to move in and the Ghosts complied.

They slowly and quietly crept closer and closer to the light. The nearer they drew to it, the more their formation spread until the light grew brighter and warmer. Soon, Sawain could hear the crackle of flames. The smell of blood drifted to his nostrils. This ominous scent quickened the pace of his heart and his feet.

There must have been a battle here.

He silently edged around a tree and was able to see into the clearing. The sight was completely horrifying. It was indeed a small treetop village. Flames ate away at the crippled structures that were once houses. Blood spattered the boughs and trunks in the proximity. Headless bodies hung out of windows or dangled across branches. In the center of town, Sawain could see a gruesome effigy set up on a pile of headless corpses. The attackers set up a sort of tree made of spears lashed together. Each spear had skulls pierced though on its shaft from butt to spearhead. It resembled a ghastly tree of skulls. Sawain noticed that the flesh still clung to the heads and all of their lower jaws were torn away.

He waited for his team to move into position and prayed that none of them would give in to the grotesque display in the middle of the village. Several minutes passed before he saw the
in position
sign from Loraleth and Banthan on either side. He gave them both a signal.

He allowed the signal a few seconds to get around, then drew his sword and stepped into the clearing. The other Ghosts slipped in from their vantage points. Now that he could see their faces well, he noticed that everyone wore the same horrified look he wore. They closed in on the center of the village. Sawain kept his eyes peeled for movement, but there was none.

The outriders stood around the effigy, unable to look away from it. The skulls belonged to elves. Sawain read about the villages outside of the city that preferred a quiet rural life, usually protected by one or two druids. It looked to him as if the druids failed their mission to protect this village. Anger churned in his stomach.

“Who could have done this?”

Jatharr cleared his throat, “Have you ever heard of a Tree of Souls?”

Banthan piped up, “I have. It's a terrible effigy. Those that use it are so cruel that they kill everyone, young and old, in a settlement or village. They then find a large tree, like an oak, and nail the bodies to the tree, covering its trunk and branches with corpses. They say that construction of a Tree of Souls condemns the constructors to eternal unrest. Their souls are bound to the place the tree is constructed. Well, that's what they say, at least.”

Jatharr nodded, “That's the idea, more or less, though the berserker clans of the Southern Fells never care for the spiritual side of anything. They view it as the ultimate display of power. Only thing is, outside of Alfhaven's borders, there are not many big trees in Jordborg. It's a very hilly, sandy place, especially closer to the coast. The barbarians of the south developed a smaller, just as suitable version of the Tree of Souls. They call it the Tree of Skulls. They decapitate their victims and rip off their lower jaws, just for added gore. They then run them through several spears, covering the spears completely. Then they lash it all together, usually with their enemies' entrails and plant it on a mound of bodies. It's a symbol of ultimate victory.”

The rage brooded inside of Sawain like a tempest, “So, you're saying that Jordborg is responsible for this atrocity?”

Jatharr shrugged, “I can't say, really. Best not to go accusing an entire country of such an act. It could have been the independent actions of one vengeful clan, or even a clan under the Grey King's control. Don't forget, the raiders that attacked Captain Nerelis' team were riding Bjornhunds, meaning they were likely orcish raiders. The same effigy could be popular in the tundras of the Frostwylde. We may be looking at the first traces of war in Alfhaven, either way.”

Mari looked as if she would vomit at any moment, “So, what do we do now?”

Sawain looked around. His eyes settled on a ruined house with burning limbs sticking out of it. He also noticed a sign with arrows on it.

“For now, we show these people some respect. Banthan, you and Naralei gather any bodies you find and place them around the tree, then burn it. Mari, Timbrel, Jatharr, you're on fire duty. Don't let it spread to the rest of the forest. Loraleth, try to pick up their trail.”

Everyone nodded and broke away from the tree. Tobi hesitantly walked up to Sawain.

“Does this mean I'm with you?”

Sawain nodded. In all of the excitement, he forgot about Tobi. He felt bad about it, so he tried to play it off. He walked up to the sign he spotted. It was in elven, but he could read some of the names. Two in particular jumped out. One read ALFHAVEN and the other, pointing in almost the opposite direction read BITTERDEEP BOG.

Sawain sighed with relief. If nothing else, this gruesome discovery shed some light to their path. Tobi stared at it. Sawain glanced at him and saw the cheer and hope drain from his face. This concerned him.

“
Tobi, are you alright?”

Tobi's gaze dropped to the ground, “Now that you know which way Bitterdeep Bog is, I guess you don't really need me around. I'm sorry, Sawain. I'm just no good.”