The Gauntlet ( A Fantasy Novella) (4 page)

The entrance was a perfect rectangular frame and around three metres tall. They entered in single file, Janna leading and Ash last. Once inside it was immediately cooler and straight away they were faced with their first challenge: the path split in direction.

“Great, which way do we go? Left or right?” asked Ugg.

“Should we split up? We can cover more ground that way,” said Ash.

“No. Let’s not divide, if this is some kind of maze then there will be a right way through. It is better we stick together and if we get to a dead end we turn back and go the other way,” said Janna. “Let’s use our swords to mark the ground to remind us which direction we’ve already been. That will reduce our confusion and stop us going round in circles.”

“Smart idea,” replied Ash.

“It was a trick I did back in Harwell’s narrow and tight back-alleys when I was a child, except I’d scratch the wall with stones from the floor. It worked well for me until I learned them off by heart.”

The three of them decided to venture right and marked an arrow into the ground pointing in the direction they took. The sandy gravel path continued, splitting continuously into a dizzying array of lefts and rights and, at each turn, one of the knights scored the ground. The green hedgerows were very densely packed and it was impossible to see through them. Every leaf was uniform in size and always the same dark shade of green.

“I feel like a rat in a sewer pipe. Why don’t we just hack our way through these trees or whatever they are?” said an angry Ugg.

“We could hack and hack but in the end, we’d be so exhausted we’d die of thirst and hunger. And I’d prefer my sword sharp enough to cut through whatever beasts may greet us at the end,” said Ash.

“Let’s burn the buggers then.”

“I hope that was a joke, Ugg. We’d be dead from the smoke encompassing us or the flames burning us,” said Janna. “Patience is all that is required and that is a quality we all possess. I quite like this challenge, it beats falling over a great waterfall or being chased by birds over deadly potholes.”

They continued. Sometimes they came to a dead end and were forced to turn around, which frustrated each knight to varying degrees. Yet they had encountered nothing threatening or dangerous so far. As time went on Ash and Ugg began to get even more irritated.

“I know you’re against it Janna but we would cover a lot more ground if we split up. We could keep within shouting distance,” claimed Ugg.

Janna secretly had to admit the frustrations of the maze were beginning to irk her as well, and replied: “If we are still in here after a few days and are truly desperate, then we can split up to cover more ground. It will be a mistake to part ways now, even within talking distance. It wants us to split up. That is the test. But we won’t.”

“Quiet, I heard something,” said Ash.

They stood still, listening intently to their surroundings. There was indeed a noise, a metallic noise that seemed to be moving in an equal rhythm yet they couldn’t see what was generating it. They kept walking and at the next intersection they turned right and then left, finally confronting the source of the noise. The pathway ahead of them was filled with swinging axes, swords thrusting up and down from the ground and spikes which pushed into each other from both sides before pulling apart again. The three were stunned by the visual spectacle of metallic interplay in front of them.

“This here is the true gauntlet,” declared Ash. “I don’t mind hacking my way around this.”

“It will be fruitless to even try, this is clearly the only way, even if it is a daunting one. We have to time our way through to perfection: the slightest hesitation or miscalculation will be our death,” said Janna.

“I figured that part out already,” commented Ugg.

“Is this the source of the noise we heard last night? It has to be,” asked Ash.

“If the wind was blowing in the right direction then perhaps it was, but I cannot say for certain. There is nothing here to explain the scream we heard either, I cannot see any bodies ahead and the blades look like they have never cut through anything but air before. They are in perfect condition. First things first, the swinging axe in front of us is moving at a constant rate. We just need to pass it, one by one and repeat for the rest of the devices. Study, time our move and advance,” said Janna.

“It’s probably easiest if we go individually through it all. The three of us will just congest the space and get in each other’s way. What do you think?” asked Ugg.

“I’ll go first again,” Janna volunteered. “The back part looks the trickiest, I think we need to move, jump and then duck in one swift motion.”

“Grace of movement is not my ally,” said Ugg. “I’ve always been more of a brute force kind of man.”

“I disagree, the hares you caught back in the valley were no fools but you got them through fine footwork. Just watch what I do and do not hesitate.”

Ash sighed: “There is no way I can make it through with my sword, it will hinder my passage. It was destined to leave my side since I first entered The Gauntlet. It is a good sword and I shall miss it. What a waste.”

Ash unattached the sword from his belt and lay it on the ground. “The slaying of a few birds does not do this sword justice.”

“Nonetheless it did save your life, so it has fulfilled its purpose. I am ready to go, I will not say farewell as we will be together on the other side in no time at all,” said Janna.

Janna’s confidence and calmness continued to amaze Ash. She was a natural leader: fearless, intelligent and always inspiring to others. If there was to be one of them who could survive this whole ordeal it would be her, he thought. Janna was in the prime condition of her life and this was a place where only the very fittest survived.

Before Ash could reply to Janna she was already gone. She swiftly sidestepped the huge bronze axe swinging on its pendulum and immediately hopped over the bottomless pit that came next. She continued, elegantly navigating her way through the silver swords, which protruded in and out from the ground and the sides of the hedgerows.

Ash and Ugg were mesmerized by her movement, it was like she was dancing her way through it and completely unfazed by the peril. With a jump and a roll, Janna cleared the final hurdle of spinning swords.

“Well done,” shouted Ugg, before speaking to Ash: “I’m done for. I can’t move like her. For a start we’re a lot bigger. Those swords are going to slice the very fat off my belly.”

“It will be tighter for us, yes, but not impossible. Janna just proved that. Even bigger men than us could get through, but if we hesitate at all we will die. You can do it, I have no doubt about that.”

After catching her breath Janna then shouted back to the men, relaying the timing sequence to which she had safely made it through.

“Do you want to go next? I don’t mind waiting, you entered The Gauntlet before me,” said Ash.

“I’ll go. Did you ever think you’d be doing something like this when you were back at the entrance?”

“Absolutely not. I expected to be fighting terrifying, fire-breathing monsters every step of the way. You should leave your sword here too.”

Ugg dropped his sword on the ground and smiled.

“Well, if we survive this and do somehow get back to Harwell the good news is the stories are ours to make up! We can tell them we fought the most horrible creatures and everyone will believe us.”

“Sounds good to me.”

Ugg left Ash and easily sidestepped the first axe and leapt over the hole. Watching on Ash was surprised to see how deftly Ugg dodged and weaved his way through the danger. Ash suddenly began to feel nerves and self-doubt creeping in.

Ugg was nearing the end, dodging the protracting swords when suddenly a loud, blood-curdling scream boomed through the air. This time the scream seemed incredibly close, practically over the next hedgerow. The noise distracted Ugg, he stepped back slightly and a sword impaled his right shoulder and he wailed out in agony.

“Ugg!” shouted Janna.

“No!” shouted Ash.

The nerves Ash was feeling were immediately replaced by overwhelming concern for his friend and he ran forward, eager to help Ugg, assuredly dodging the axe and leaping over the hole.

“I am fine,” shouted Ugg. “The sword did not pierce my shoulder blade, do not rush to me Ash. You take care of yourself, I can finish on my own.”

“You’re almost done, Ugg, just this last part and then we can heal your shoulder,” said Janna.

“What was that scream?” asked Ugg.

“Don’t care about that now, just get through this last obstacle.”

Ugg made it through the spinning swords, but the roll at the end further severed his wound and he grimaced in pain while spread out on the floor. Janna immediately tended to him.

“That damn scream made me jump, what a fool I am to be shocked like that!”

“You’re not a fool. It shocked me too, the sound was close indeed. Your wound is clean but it is deep. You are losing too much blood. I will light a small fire then I will cauterize the wound.”

“I’ve seen that done before, it didn’t look too pleasant.”

“Did it save their life?”

“Yes, always.”

“Then you know it must be done. In the absence of liquor I’ll find something for you to bite down on instead.”

Ash finally joined them, safely through the corridor of death.

“Three out of three,” said Janna. “Well done you two. Ash, help me get a fire going.”

“Are you alright, Ugg?” asked Ash.

“Fine. Just cross with myself for being startled like that.”

“Don’t blame yourself, you did well not to lose your concentration more. I jumped back when I heard it and went straight for my sword.”

Ash and Janna got a small fire going with kindling and flint. Janna placed the blade of her knife in the flames and it soon became a glowing red.

“Ash, just pin me down will you? I don’t want to bite down on anything, my teeth are not exactly the strongest part of my body.”

Ash nodded and took a firm hold of Ugg from behind.

“Just do it,” shouted Ugg, “I’m ready!”

Janna took the red hot blade and pressed it down firmly onto Ugg’s wound. Ugg cried out in pain, the kind of scream the knights had heard up in the valley yesterday and again just moments ago. Ash struggled to pin down Ugg who was frantically thrashing around, but managed to keep him secure. Janna was glad she had Ash now in a situation like this, three was stronger than two. Ugg’s flesh smouldered and sizzled, becoming a charred black and it wasn’t long before Ugg passed out from the overwhelming pain.

“Good. That will do it. You shouldn’t stop until the person faints otherwise you probably haven’t done it firmly enough,” said Janna.

“Ouch, that looked and smelled horrific. At least he will live, that was too close. The scream we heard, it sounded very near. Almost like it was behind the other side of the trees. In fact, I think it was.”

“It was near, there is no doubt about that but I’ve still got my knife and my bow and arrow. We’re not completely defenceless. Whoever it was knows we’re here now anyway, our presence is no secret. The sun is setting, it will be pitch black soon. I do not think it is wise to proceed until sunrise and besides, Ugg needs time to recover. Let’s rest here.”

“He lost a lot of blood, we should give him more of our food or he will be too weak to continue for some time.”

Janna agreed with Ash and smiled at the knight.

“You two have almost restored my faith in the males of our species.”

“Only almost?”

“Two good men does not make up for a dozen bad. In Harwell women are outnumbered by men with dark hearts and ill minds, but here, in the strangest of places, I am with two of the few good ones. I am a lucky lady.”

“I’m not perfect. I never intended to have a child, but we were both drunk and we just hit it off. I was weak to give in to temptation.”

“You only did what was natural. What happened to your child’s mother?”

“She died during childbirth. I grew up without a father, I was determined my child wouldn’t. I should have left the service, but I needed the money to support my child. I’ve done the same thing for so long I didn’t think I could do anything else. I was more afraid of change than I was of The Gauntlet.”

“Most men would have left after the one-night stand. You are a good man.”

Ash nodded, before replying: “Have you explored what’s beyond the next corner?”

“Not yet. I was too busy watching Ugg, do you think we should we go? Or do you want to go and I’ll stay here with Ugg?”

“No, we should both stay, I was just curious. All will be revealed soon I’m sure. I can take first watch if you are tired?” offered Ash.

“That sounds good, thank you. Ugg will come around soon; he is a strong, determined man and will probably be angry that he passed out. Do your best to assure him it would have been unnatural if he hadn’t passed out.”

“I will. Besides, when it comes to passing out, I’m still beating Ugg two to one. I felt dizzy navigating through those obstacles. Do not try to save me if I faint in the future and it puts you or Ugg in danger. It is my weakness and should not bring down others.”