Sergeant Maresh did a final walk around the camp perimeter before he saw to his bedroll. The three junior patrolmen on watch were arranged in triangle formation. Nothing would get past them without at least another set of eyes seeing it. He was concerned, for the Captain still alone studied the roped off traveler’s campsite for further clues.
Periodically, he looked over to see her watch lantern’s beam flash. This time however, the Sergeant saw nothing. Just to be sure, he started towards the roped area when a flash of light appeared at the brush line surrounding the traveler’s camp. “Ah, the Captain’s back after walking about.”
The Sergeant’s relief suddenly ebbed as he saw the light was not the expected yellow beam, but instead was the red-orange glow of hot iron. It was getting closer and every hair on the back of his nape raised in alarm. Suddenly, the troop’s horses shied and reared against their restraints.
Sergeant Maresh called out, “To arms! Arms at the ready!” The red glow grew closer and the underbrush seemed to come alive for an instant, but their disturbance came from two ragged and bloodied women as they burst from the thorn filled brambles!
“Help us! Help us please!” screamed a dark skinned human woman as she dragged her pale elven female companion from the undergrowth. Two Pal-hadiin Patrolmen grabbed the distraught females and carried them to the center of the impromptu camp.
Sergeant Maresh could see they were striped with lacerations from head to toe from their flight as the light grew closer! “Circle up! Recite the ‘Protection Cant’.” With swords drawn and shields brandishing the hieroglyph of Osris the Pal-hadiin chanted,
“I fear not the darkness for Lord Osiris was rent assunder
and encased within it. Cast upon dark waters to wander forever,
Lord Osiris regained his form and conquered darkness. I fear no
power of darkness, fear no agent of darkness and fear no
creature of darkness. The light of Mighty Osiris is my sword and
his word is my shield in darkness.”
The Cant spoken at irregular intervals by each patrolman created a fluctuating barrier which abruptly deflected the red-orange glow. Sergeant Maresh was the lone Pal-hadiin within the circle who did not chant. He kept close watch waiting for the unseen entity or beast igniting nearby brambles and underbrush to come forward.
Tense moments passed amidst the ardent chanting of his juniors, but nothing burst into the camp. In fact, whatever pursued the bedraggled pair of woman and elf had faded back into the forest. To be certain, the experienced Pal-hadiin allowed the cant to continue while turning his attention to the two bedraggled souls.
“Are you two unharmed?” Maresh nearly felt the fool for asking the question as he laid eyes upon the females at his feet. Covered in dirt, the woman was nearly dark as he and the elf was no doubt of the Khanii bloodlines. The woman’s ceremonial armor and clothing were filthy and beyond repair. The elf’s once fine dress was in similar condition and barely covered her enough for modesty’s sake!
Embarrassed, the Sergeant quickly grabbed a nearby bedroll blanket and draped it about the two. “You two are now safe! Was your train attacked? Do you know what happened to the others? How long have you been out here?” Once more Maresh felt the fool after the rapid succession of questions met with tears and shuddering silence.
He turned back to the circle of his fellow patrolmen and gave the order to cease the cant. From his belt the Sergeant offered his canteen and said, “I know it is not proper for a human male to offer an elven lady such crude comfort, but it is the best we have at the moment.” The highborn elf managed to smile which caused the dirt at the corners of her mouth to crack. She took the offered canteen and drank deep from it without complaint.
“Such kindness from a man of war….” Sergeant Maresh was surprised to hear the woman speak. Gone were her fearful looks and gone was the elf’s trembling as she handed back the canteen the dark skinned woman said, “Such kindness indeed.”
The Sergeant looking at the pair suddenly took in their full measure. The damaged armor worn by the woman wasn’t just dirty, it was old… very old! Instinct forced his hand to draw sword, but with unexpected speed the woman held his wrist fast in a brutally powerful grip. He started to scream the alarm, yet could not as he was smothered in the embrace of the elf with her lips crushed against his!
Using his free hand, Maresh tried to push her away yet found his hand pressed firmly against her soft breasts. He knew he was being attacked by some godless creature, but sensed none of the foulness exuded from such evil beings. Instead, he felt such painful loss and longing as her deft tongue began to entwine with his.
As he felt himself fall upon his back, Maresh felt a wave of compassion flush over him for he too understood such feelings. Hot tears rolled down his cheeks at the memories of loved ones lost to conflict and the commitment he made to his god. ‘This was not lust,’ felt Maresh. This was commiseration. It was natural for those in such pain to seek comfort. Without noticing, the Sergeant’s sword hand had been released. Clutching the elf’s dark matted hair, Sergeant Maresh passionately crushed her to his breast in return.
****
Standing in the center of the Patrol’s camp I couldn’t suppress a low whistle of amazement. Strewn about were the armor, weapons and clothing worn by dedicated Pal-hadiin soldiers. Just as they were amidst the traveler’s camp, all looked to have been quickly and willingly abandoned by their owners.
The Captain picked up a sword belt with the weapon still in its scabbard. “This is Sergeant Maresh’s weapon! He would not leave it willingly.” I noted the Captain’s concern, but wasn’t convinced. Squatting down near where his mixed mail and plate armored shirt lay, I noticed some disturbing evidence in the dirt.
“I think you’re mistaken Captain. Look here.” Squatting down beside me, the Captain held out her lantern over the scene. Her eyes followed my pointing finger to a spot where a heavy body covered in armor the same pattern as her Sergeant’s struck the ground.
On either side of the depression were duplicate indentations suggesting knees and feet steadied a body resting atop the wearer of said armor. “A woman attacked him?” asked the Captain. “A petite young woman perhaps. My bet would be an elf.” The Captain looked at me like I was raving. “An elf? Are you saying a single elf did this?”
I shook my head and moved over to point to another depression and set of larger and slightly heavier footprints. “No. She had help. These are the prints of a human woman wearing worn out boots. The elf was barefoot.” That look from the Captain struck me again as she spoke that which was on her mind.
“Are you mad Bounty Hunter? Do you expect me to believe a female elf and a human woman working in tandem took on an entire Patrol of experienced Pal-hadiin, subdued them and then convinced them to walk naked into the forest?”
I slowly stood and pointed to the trail marking the exit of humans and unshod horses into the forest. “Don’t believe me. What do your eyes tell you?” The Pal-hadiin Captain turned her lantern towards the trail and the clenching of her jaw spoke volumes.
“I should have come to their aid!” Looking hard at her stern profile I quipped, “And done what exactly? Do you know what did this? Have you ever seen anything like this before?”
The look she gave me felt hot as whatever passed over us in the brambles. “I suppose you know what this is then Bounty Hunter? Perhaps you are a part of this? Don’t think for a moment I am not aware of your ruthless reputation. You may ‘bring them back alive’, but the tales of how you’ve done so....” This was about to go badly, so I interrupted.
“Don’t get all upright with me Captain! How many Suorg villages on the borders that offered no threat to human or elven settlements have you burned? How many Hogoniin settlements have you attacked? There was a detachment of Pal-hadiin that was part of the ‘Hogoniin Campaign’. You look old enough to have gone on that run.
Word has it, a Hogoniin city in the war zone was sacked and a Pal-hadiin detachment was in the vanguard. It’s been told… those Pal-hadiin killed all in their path without mercy. Tell me you weren’t there or did any of those things in the course of your duty....”
The Captain’s jaw clenched so hard I could see the muscles rolling beneath her skin. “Fine. It would seem we both have sins to atone for. Answer my question. Are you apart of this?”
Squaring my shoulders I faced her and replied, “No. Now, if we are to save your men and the travelers there’s something you need to see first. Leave your lantern behind. We’ll need to be inconspicuous as possible.”
That look of me being daft crossed her face again. “You expect us to travel in total darkness? I’m not an elf!” A chuckle leaped from my throat as I countered, “Neither am I! Don’t worry. We have the quarter moon for a few more hours. What’s the matter? Big strong Pal-hadiin like you isn’t afraid of the dark are you?”
Dark eyes raked over me as she secured the doused lantern in a small waistpack. “Tread lightly Bounty Hunter. Your attempts to goad me fall upon uncaring ears. Standing about engaging in this meaningless exchange allows sands from the glahs to dwindle my men can ill afford.”
The Captain rearranged her sword belt so the long blade hung over her back and then gestured like a Lord’s Steward for me to take the lead. “After you....” She was good. There was a mix of mockery and sincerity in the gesture which made it difficult to tell where her true intention lay.
****
I wasn’t thrilled about having a holy warrior close behind as we made our way through the brambles. Though we followed the trail I blazed during the day, traversing it was more difficult than before. In fact, that annoying tap at the back of my skull was my Little Voice suggesting the foliage was actively working against us!
The bramble thorns were doing their best to poke and prod any weakness they could find! My tough studded and boiled-leather armored curiass, ring mail undershirt, bronze arm and shin guards layered in leather made the brambles work quite difficult. Covered by my Caterpillar Cloak, the thorns couldn’t pierce or cut the tough fabric. Whipping bramble branches constantly swinging for my head and eyes was another matter.
The Captain fared well enough though I could see the shine of moonlight on what was no doubt blood from minor cuts on her face from thorns penetrating her plainspun cotton hood. We had been fighting our way through the perilous underbrush for a couple of hours. Behind me the Captain ungracefully crashed through the rough foliage into a small clearing where I had stopped.
“Watch your step Captain.” In the semi-gloom, those dark eyes of hers glared as she snapped, “Funny, Bounty Hunter. Perhaps you should abandon your current trade and don a ‘Jester’s Motley’? I trust we haven’t stopped to rest on my account. I can track long-winded as any Twatheen!”
The sight of me in curled toed shoes and mismatched hose made my eyes squint. “No humor against you intended Captain. I merely wanted you to take care where you place your feet. We’ve arrived at the first point of interest.”
The Captain immediately reached for the folded lantern in her waistpack, but I warned her against it. “You won’t need that.” Instead, I held out a small glahs vial and shook it vigorously. An instant afterwards, pale blue light filled the immediate area.
“You didn’t strike me as having sorcerous training Bounty Hunter.” I grunted at her statement. For all the types of trades I’d put my hand to, sorcery was the one I had no aptitude for! Because of that, I’d learned to fight it well.
Pointing to the ground I responded, “Nevermind that. Look about. You’ll see our travelers and your lost men are not the only ones to have fallen afoul of this.”
I watched the Pal-hadiin’s expression change from arrogance to utter shock. All around lay piled belongings, stacks of cargo upon carts and wagons from hundreds if not thousands of traveling groups, merchant trains and soldiers! Of particular interest were the large piles of stripped bones from horses, oxen and all manner of lesser creatures. No human or elven remains were anywhere to be seen.
Quickly gaining her composure, the Captain drew her sword and poked through the piles. “By Osiris! How long has all this been here?” An unwelcome chill touched my nape as I replied, “Judging from the amount of dry rot on most of this stuff, I’d guess anywhere from decades to hundreds of years.” With noticeable concern, the Captain turned toward me and queried, “You said this was ‘the first point of interest’? What is next?”
A short walk amongst the piles saw us at the edge of the clearing. Before us stood an impenetrable wall of brambles and woods so thick an army of Clear Cutters would be sorely tested! Facing the wall I asked, “What do you see Captain?” I didn’t have to see her face to feel that glare! “Are you daft? ‘Tis an impassible wall of thorns..., wait! Is this some false image?”
I put away the glowvial and once more the gloom obscured the space around us. I turned to face her and soon would learn whether we would be able to continue together or end our association in bloodshed. My eyes alight with Nightsight, burned bright red as only one of such unusual heritage would. As expected, the Pal-hadiin leaped back in defensive stance with sword in the ready position. “Demon!”
Giving her my ‘unblinking stare’ I retorted, “Hardly. I thought you ‘Pallies’ were able to sniff out evil in people? Maybe your nose isn’t in tune?” I hit a nerve with that one. The Holy Warriors hate being called ‘Pallies’.
“You stand there with the eyes of a demon and insult me... Bounty Hunter?” I caught that part where she spat my profession at me. Standing my ground I replied, “I don’t hear your ‘sniffer’ going. Or are you incapable of determining my character despite what you see?”
The way her jaw clenched, I figured in the next instant I’d have to go for my weapon or.... The Captain abruptly lowered her guard and stood at ease.
“In truth, I detected no fell intent upon you from our first encounter. Which was why I did not stab you when we lay hidden in the wood. Your visage surprised me is all. You are obviously not an elf or any other creature capable of Nightseeing. You have been honorable to this point despite your brutish trade....”
The Captain suddenly turned to the wall and slowly walked forward. “You can see it now yes?” As she nodded in agreement, I turned to see there was no forest at all beyond the clearing! In the illusion’s place was a vast burned landscape sloping downward. Ahead lay the charred remains of a town and beyond that was a slowly pulsing red-orange glow. At our feet were the undisturbed footprints of thousands of feet all headed in the direction of the glow.
There was a thick silence between us and then the Pal-hadiin said, “You have done well Bounty Hunter to get me this far. This is beyond your depth as it is clearly the work of some mystical power. Wait by the highway for my return. If anyone still survives, I will bring them back....”
I started cinching up my gear straps and interrupted. “Uh, I was going to say the exact same thing to you Captain. I’ve taken down plenty of ‘mystical powers’ and I’ll be damned the day I let anyone fetch my assignment for me!
Whatever’s down there has been doing this a long-ass time. Odds are good we’re going to need each other. So whether you agree or not, I’m headed down to fetch my assignment. You better use some of that ‘long wind’ if you plan on keeping up!”
For the first time, I saw the Captain smile. She extended her hand and said, “I am Rhamallah and you are the notorious Wolfwalker. Together, let us bring to ground whatever fell evil lies ahead and seek out any survivors for a safe return!”
I paused for a moment wary of her attempting to knock me out for ‘my own protection.’ My Little Voice sat in the shadows and said, ‘Sissy!’ I grasped her wrist and replied, “Done. Just so you know, I’m not sharing my commission....”
To be continued....
© 2013 Dreaded Enterprises Unlimited, Inc.
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