Hunter's War (Legend of the Wild Hunter Book 4) (13 page)

-Kile.-

Who or what was a Kile? The word sounded familiar. Was it a name? Was she Kile?

She had to know, she had to remember. Who was she? Her name was…

-Kile.-

She grabbed hold of the word and the meaning it held. It was her word, it was her name. It was enough to break the connection, but was it her connection to break? She suddenly snapped back into her own mind and everything started to spin. She doubled over, retching.

-Kile all right?-

Vesper asked, and the sympathy and kindness of this voice seemed to push the darkness away, if only for a moment.

“No Vesper, I’m not all right,” she whispered.

Her whole body was shaking. There was blood on her hands. It was her blood from where Vesper had bit her, several times by the looks of it. Was that what broke the connection. She never felt it. She didn’t even know he did it.

Why did she think that would work? Why did she even do it? Why did she have to see those things? Why did she have to see Toby?

“Hey! Kile, I don’t know what the hell you did, but it sounds like you might have started a war,” Sandson said, crawling out of the narrow tunnel. No sooner did he drop to the ground, then he grabbed one of rocks shoved it into the hole.

Kile looked up to see the cavern was now filled with people watching her. How long had she been in contact with the creature? It felt like mere seconds, and yet she had seen its whole life. She saw its birth and felt its death

“Twine,” she said in a shaky voice as the reason for her being there suddenly came back to her. “Follow the twine and it will lead you back to the exit.”

She waited until a few of them were moving back up the tunnel before she even tried to get to her feet. She felt a bit uneasy and disconnected, but then, she always felt that way after using the Maligar, although, she wasn’t sure if she used it or had it used on her.

“How many more are there?” she asked Sandson.

“I’m the last one. I tried to close the hole, but I don’t know if it will hold.”

“What… what happened?”

“I have no idea,” he said, shaking his head. “We heard noises outside, at first we thought they were coming in, but they sounded as if they were attacking one another. I figured that was the right moment, so we started working on the hole as quietly as possible. Then all hell broke loose. There was screaming and yelling and who knows what. At that moment, silence wasn’t an option. We just tore at the stone as fast as we could, to get the hell out of there. I swear it sounded as if they were tearing each other apart. What did you do?”

“I… I didn’t do anything,” she said.

“Well, whatever you did or didn’t do, we’re still alive, so that’s something.”

They moved back through the tunnel in silence, except for the occasional curse when one of the men bumped his head or stubbed a toe. Kile followed up the rear again, constantly looking over her shoulder and listening to the darkness. She could hear the scratching behind her. It echoed through the stone and she knew those things were only a few loose rocks away from following them. If the Uhyre managed to get through the blocked hole before they reached the entrance, they were all dead. There was no room to fight and no light to fight by. They would be overtaken one by one, starting with her.

Epoh clung to her, giving her the advantage of his sight. Even if it wasn’t true sight, she was still able to get a sense of how far they came and how far they needed to go. When they reached the twine, they moved faster, or as fast as blind men can walk, stumbling their way in the dark. She should have brought lanterns or torches. There was no need for secrecy now.

They were getting closer to the entrance. She could feel the cool night air on her face. She was starting to think they were going to make it, but hope quickly shattered when an unnatural cry echoed through the tunnel behind her. Kile knew they just ran out of time. The Uhyre broke through the tunnel and the reptilian wolves were on their way.

“We have to move now,” she shouted.

She could hear the men trying to pick up the pace, but it was no use. It was difficult to run when they couldn’t see their feet. The ground was beginning to tilt up and they started their accent, but the reptilian wolves were gaining on them.

Whatever they were, they didn’t appear to be hampered by the darkness. They were closing in fast. It wouldn’t be long now, she thought. Turning, she reached for her weapon. The walls were close, the area was tight. This wasn’t the best place for a battle, but if she had any chance of stopping them, even a slim one, she had to take it. Who knows, one dead reptilian wolf may jam up the path enough to slow down the others.

She heard the triumphant yell of freedom as the first soldier exited the cave, followed closely by the inevitable…

“It’s a bear.”

She probably should have warned them about Burgora.

With the exit in sight, the men picked up speed, but the sound of pursuit was growing louder. It was a race to see who would reach the mouth of the tunnel first. She could see them now, or how they appeared in the bat’s vision. The tunnel proved too narrow and their broad stature slowed them down, but it wouldn’t stop them. They crawled over one another, clinging to the walls, even the ceiling, pulling themselves through. Kile stumbled out of the entrance on top of Sandson just as one of the reptilian wolves caught up to her. It came barreling out of the cave and lunged at her, but it never reached her. A large claw caught it in midair, slammed it up against the rocks and threw the broken body down the mountain side.

Kile lay on her back, staring up at the great bear. “Thank you Burgora,” she said.

-You must get moving. Others will follow.-

He told her.

Sure enough, she could already feel their approach, but she was just too exhausted to move.

“Close the tunnel,” she heard Tullner yell.

Hands grabbed her and dragged her from the entrance. Men started hammering at the stone with anything they could get a hold of in a vain attempt to close the opening, but in the end it was Burgora who pulled the mountain down.

“Never thought I’d be thanking a grizzly,” she heard one of the men laugh.

“We’re not out of this yet,” some commented.

“What now, sir? Where do we go from here?”

“I’m… I’m not quite sure,” Tullner replied.

She forgot to let him in on certain aspects of the plan.

Without getting up, she pointed over her head. “That way,” she said

Tullner appeared beside her, extending a hand. The last thing she wanted to do was get up, but she did, as he pulled her to her feet.

Epoh took off the moment Kile exited the cave. Bats weren’t very comfortable around vir, but then most animals weren’t. She thanked him and hoped he heard her. Grabbing her hat, she slapped it on the side of her leg to dust it off.

“We have to make for the open fields,” she said, picking up the courier bag from where she left it. Vesper quickly climbed in.

Private Anurr stepped forward. “Why should we listen to you?” he asked. “You’re not in charge. Where’s Sergeant Wargner? Where are the others?”

“We’re all of what’s left of Perha Squad,” Tullner replied. “Renop, Lesh, Browne, Hilnn and Duffy have gone on ahead. We are to meet them at the outpost of Moran.”

“And how are we supposed to get there?” Ustar asked. “I don’t mind a good walk, but we won’t get far with those things on our tail.”

“Hopefully we’ll have a ride,” Kile replied, stepping past him. She started down the hill.

She really wasn’t in the mood to debate the situation. She was queasy, her head was throbbing and she felt as if she just received a bear hug from Burgora, all in all, not the best day.

Most of the men followed her, a few needed to be persuaded. It probably wasn’t because they thought she was right, it was more likely they didn’t have any place else to go.

Her first stop was the old grizzly who was sitting quietly off to one side. At this point all the men stopped and let her advance alone.

“Thank you again, Burgora.”

-You have no need to thank me.-

He replied softly

“You’ll be all right? I’d ask you to come with us, but…”

-I don’t think so. You need to go your way as I need to go mine. Our paths with cross again, I am sure of this. But for now, you should get these vir to safety.-

“Yes, perhaps you’re right,” she said, looking back over her shoulder to where the men stood in awe. “Just, stay out of trouble please. Head toward the spire, get out of this area. It’s no longer safe.”

-It has never been safe, first the Alva, then the vir, and now the Uhyre, but we manage.-

“Maybe, but I feel it’s going to get worse.”

-Then I will heed your advice, should it come to that. Fare thee well, Kile Veller.-

The old grizzly slowly turned and headed back toward the forest, back toward the mountains.

“Goodbye, Burgora,” she whispered. She wasn’t as sure as he was, they would meet again.

-Kile alright?-

Vesper asked from the courier bag. She scratched the yarrow’s head.

“I will be,” she lied. She turned to look at the men of Perha Squad. “Come on, we have to get to the clearing.”

“Why?” Anurr asked. “We should be looking for a defendable position. It won’t be long before they come for us.”

“More the reason to get out of here,” Sandson replied.

“But Sergeant Wargner…”

“In case you haven’t noticed, Sergeant Wargner is dead. I for one don’t wish to follow him anymore,” Nasom added.

“But Corporal Duffy is second in command, what did he have to say?” Anurr asked.

“Corporal Duffy chose to accompany the wounded to Moran,” Tullner explained. “Right now, we’re on our own.”

“But then should we…”

“Seriously guys,” Kile said, turning around. “You’re really going to debate this now?”

There was an awkward silence. The men looked at one another. She just shook her head.

“You know, forget it. You can sit here and discuss who’s right, who’s left and who’s wrong until the Uhyre catch up to you, but Vesper and I, we’re going to Moran. But know this, the last ride leaves with me, so if you don’t come now, you’ll be walking.”

When she reached the clearing, she was grateful to see the small herd of black-hoofed mountain deer waiting for her. They were a large breed of deer, as large as horses and she hoped they would be able to carry the men all the way to Moran, if she could persuade them.

“You can’t be serious,” she heard Sandson when he tried to approach one of the deer. It shied away from him.

“Please, keep back,” Kile told the men. She walked up to the large stag who was waiting for her in the center of the herd. He was as big as Grim and looked about as ornery, and he watched her as she approached.

-Why call to us?-

He asked. His voice was as smooth and as harsh as the winds.

“I’m sorry, but I need your help.” she pleaded.

-Why should we help you?-

“You shouldn’t.”

-Then what need have you?-

This was the tricky part. Deer were not horses, and do not give rides willingly. It was up to the deer, whether or not to would agree to carry the men to Moran. If they refused, it was a long walk.

“I need to get to the outpost,” she said, choosing her words carefully. “It is some distance away.”

-I see, and you wish for us to carry you these distances?-

“I’m sorry, but I would never ask if the need wasn’t dire.”

-You have helped me in the past, this, I do not forget, but I cannot speak for the others. I will not force any of my kind to bear the burden of a… vir.-

His use of the word vir was filled with visions Kile wished he wouldn’t share. She knew deer were not very fond of vir, mainly because they saw them only as predators.

“I understand.”

-So be it, the decision will be for the herd to make.-

The stag said.

Kile waited, but knew, with each passing moment, the Uhyre were getting closer. The men were already getting nervous and she could hear dissension in the squad. She couldn’t blame them, they had no idea what was going on. They were relying on her, some against their better judgment. If the mountain deer refused to help, where would that leave her? Would she force the deer to carry them to Moran? Could she take it that far? Would it be justified? If it came down to a choice between the natural world and the world of the vir, which side would she choose? Fortunately, she didn’t have to make the decision, at least not today.

-It would appear you have friends among the herd.-

The old stag said when he approached.

“Then they will help us?” Kile asked, holding her breath.

-Yes, they have agreed.-

“Thank you. I will inform the others,” she said and walked to where the men were waiting a respectable distance away.

“It’s settled,” she told them. “They have agreed to help us.”

“So… now what?” Sandson asked.

Fortunately, Kile didn’t have to tell them to strip off their armor or leave behind all their supplies, the Uhyre took care of that. As it was, she still had her doubts about the weight of some of the men, since deer were not as strong as horses.

In the end, eight deer volunteered, and Kile made it a point to introduce each one to the vir who would be riding them, it only seemed polite. Only when everyone was ready did Kile finally climb upon a good-natured black hoofed deer named Fenola.

***~~~***

10

They took to the highlands, skirting Coopervill to the north, instead of testing their luck on the main road. It was slower, but it only made sense. To get back to the road, they would have to first pass through the crags, and then deal with the lake. They would be vulnerable the entire way. The highlands provided security. She tried to explain this to Wargner, but he wouldn’t listen. By crossing the highlands, they were concealed from watching eyes.

As it was, the traveling was not as easy as she hoped. She was familiar with the area and was able to guide them through the worst of it, but there were no paths or flat lands in this part of the province, so the ground was uneven and rocky. It made for a rough ride. The deer had no problems navigating cross country, but the men complained the entire way. They soon learned, riding deer was not the same as riding horses. Deer did not look for safe paths to travel, or mind going through thick overgrowth. More than one rider was struck in the head by a low branch as a reminder to keep their heads down.