An Alturian Legacy- Chapters 2 and 3

Chapter 2- Fire and Flight

By the lagoon the silence was now tangible. Nothing moved in the forest, no birds, nothing except the presence, it was larger now. The sun was setting and an eerie red husk of light coated everything, it was getting darker, time was running out. To begin with, one unknown creature following them wasn’t much of a concern, but now it was more than that. There was some presence behind that seeped power and hostility, and worse than this it was intensifying. There was a certain distinction that the whole lagoon was now nearly surrounded just behind the tree line. The village was only just over half a mile to the east, not a far run by any standards but once it got too dark it would seem far longer, and something about the nature of these creatures suggested that they were waiting until the sun had set.

“We can’t wait much longer, we have to make a move” whispered Tristain, the pair had hardly moved since they had discovered their stalker and although it hadn’t appeared yet, the woods had never seemed any darker than they do now.

“If we move now it might attack as we run, and who knows how many there are out there” replied Tika tentatively, she wasn’t one to be easily startled but the nature of whatever lay out there shook her down to her core.

“If we stay we are letting them choose their time and place to attack, if indeed that is what they intend.” He stood slowly, never taking his eyes off the spot in the woods where he had first believed they had been. Taking a grasp of the horses reigns, he removed his broad sword from the array of packages attached to them. Signalling to Tika to take her horse he turned around to face the eastern edge of the woods. The beaten path towards the village beckoned, though each side of the path was cloaked in an unnatural darkness; he strode forwards, being careful not to let Tika fall more than a few feet behind him.

“Trist…”

He turned, Tika looked panicked. Behind them darkness enfolded the path they had just travelled. Though the sun was finishing its journey across the sky and complete darkness was not far away, what engulfed them was not natural. Tristain moved closer to the side of the path and beckoned Tika past him. As she passed, both of them trying and failing to look untroubled, he leant close to her ear and whispered one word.

“Run”


**
Darkness now totally cloaked the village of Middlewood, a solid line of silhouettes that could only vaguely be distinguished extended now in a full circle around the communal area. The villagers, having been alerted to the presence of the beings of the forest by Corbin, had gathered around the large fire in the centre of the village that was stoked heavily with wood. All of the torches circling this small area were lit early, before the sun had even set fully. Whatever these were they carried darkness with them as a companion, as soon as the sun had left the sky they moved, a slow march that surrounded the protective circle formed by the villagers as a last line of defence.

Corbin stood next to his father, Tarbin, and gazed at the sight before them. He was certain now that these were human at least in part. Although they were bathed in darkness it was easy to see that the evening breeze was moving their clothing. To Tarbin this meant only one thing, if wind could move them an axe should have no problem.

This kind of waiting and suspense didn’t settle well with Corbin, he knew that the whole village was in the control of these outsiders “If we charge them…”

“We all die. When did you become so impatient? This village has stood for many generations and this wont be the end of it. No, they haven’t come here to kill us, everyone is accounted for except Tristain and Tika” Tarbin paused, the great man was larger even than Corbin but his face was soft when he turned to his son. “They will be fine.” He turned to face those gathered behind him, children were playing with young mothers by the fire, they had been brought here first, and quickly surrounded by the rest of the village. Though there was a tense feeling in the no mans land between the villagers and their visitors, by the bonfire life seemed care free, the children apparently satisfied by the presence of so many of the people that took a hand in raising them. He was somewhat envious, children of the village are brought up in knowledge that the woods were dangerous, but also that they were safe if they followed the teachings of those older than them. Let us hope, he thought, that that rings true before the night is over.

Suddenly on the western edge of the circle a slight rift shakily turned into a large hole in the ranks of those surrounding the villagers. Tarbin turned to Corbin and then signalled the leaders of those present. All of those carrying a weapon tensed their hold and faced the nearest point of the shadow. Behind them, children continued to play and laugh with those caring for them. They had been well taught.

***
They mustn’t be far now. Tika pursued the horses through the darkness, and nothing was visible beyond them. She could hear the sound of Tristain racing behind her; after they began running they released the horses ahead of them, opening a channel through the darkness. Alturia had an intelligent breed of horse, though probably not as fast in a straight race with a horse from the plains, none could compare with the intelligence of the horses bred in the villages. It was for this reason that Tristain and Tika were sure that soon they would arrive in the village.

“Up ahead, the fire is lit!” shouted Tristain, this was only a good sign, light from the fire would give them an advantage, and this impenetrable darkness seemed to choke him as he ran. As his eyes began to become accustomed to the lack of light he noticed more about his surroundings. Looking to his left Tristain could make out shapes in the darkness, they were in the trees as well as just along the path. They appeared to be almost human in shape, but their were things about them that drew him away from this conclusion. The nature of their bodies, the way that light seemed to just diminish in their presence, that feeling of power and the hatred so thick in the air; suggesting more than mere humanity could account for.

Tika raced in to the clearing marking the start of the village, expecting to now be able to turn on the assailants with the aid of Corbin and the others. She was surprised by what she saw. Figures bathed in darkness were throughout the village, all heading towards the fire at its centre. The crowds encircling the fire parted and the horses, still laden with meat from the hunt, punched a hole in the ranks, as the figures seemed to melt away from the action preferring to avoid trampling under their hooves.

**

Time seemed to slow as the woodsmen prepared to tackle whatever came through the gap in the ranks of these creatures. Much to their confusion what came through was nothing more than two horses laden with boar carcasses. Momentarily this took those who witnessed it aback, the thought resounded collectively through the villages consciousness. Tika. Tristain. Suddenly they came crashing at full tilt into the circle as the horses were grabbed by the reigns and calmed by those nearest.

There was a short pause as the pair took in their surroundings, this was not a happy situation, but relief was clear on the faces of the villagers. These were the last two that were unaccounted for, no matter what happened now at least they were together. The sense of community was tangible now and it brought smiles to worried hearts and laughter to the mouths of the children. Tristain grinned; returning was always the best part of having such a home.


Chapter 3
         
         Corbin greeted his friend with a relief that transcended the situations that surrounded them. “Your late,” he commented as he embraced first Tristain then, with some trepidation, Tika. “You didn’t get lost on the way home I hope?” he joked with heavily feigned concern, bringing a small ripple of laughter from those nearby. Tristain was famed for his sense of direction; it was speculated that even blindfolded he could probably negotiate the woods more efficiently than Parsos himself.

         “Very sorry for the delay, your items are in the saddlebag. Oh! And we brought dinner,” Tristain replied. He was so relieved to be in the warmth and light of the fire, he had almost forgotten about the presence of those that surrounded them. “I see you’ve made some new friends since we left” turning to smile at Tika he added  “If we had known you had guests we would have brought more home, I don’t think there’s enough to go around.”

Tarbin joined them, his axe resting over his shoulder, the giant of a man winked at Tristain “We thought they were with you. Well if they are friends to neither of us I feel it would be rude not to introduce ourselves.” He turned to face the gathered darkness; those unpacking the horses presented the travellers with the rest of their weapons which were gratefully accepted and the villagers once again prepared themselves for whatever came next. Arrows were knocked, bows were bent, and knives were heard sliding out of sheaths.

Then the ground shook as Tarbin plunged his axe into the ground before him and bellowed, “My name is Tarbin. I represent the people of the village of Middlewood. If you have a leader I request he come forward for I wish to speak with him. If you have no one who bares such a position and you have no intention to converse with us…” He turned briefly to face Tristain and the others assembled around him, “Middlewood hopes you enjoyed your visit, and wishes you well in your future travels but your time here is over… so speak now for we will bare this intrusion no longer!”

There was a cheer from the villagers and steel clashed with steel as the villagers made as much noise as they could to back Tarbin’s speech, they were in this together. He picked his axe from out of the ground, and stood waiting for whatever reply was to come.

Tristain took in the situation, there appeared to be no change in the figures now once again completely surrounding the gathered villagers. It appeared as though the implications of Tarbin’s words was of no concern to them, which begged the question, what are they to do if there is no reply? If they attacked and made the first strike several problems arose. Firstly they appeared to be heavily outnumbered but more importantly the very nature of these creatures was still not certain. It wasn’t known if one arrow or the entire gathered force would be enough to remove but one of them.

There was a movement from the ranks of the shadow before Tarbin and the others. One solitary figure, slightly larger than many of the others, moved into the light apparently unaware of the hail of arrows that would be immanent if it were to provoke an attack. He drew the hood of his bedraggled cloak back, revealing the creature beneath, clearly humanoid in shape but starkly different. His eyes had no colour to speak of but shone in the firelight like black gems, his skin looked charred and scorched, his angular features covered in scars that told of many battles, some, spotted Tristain, more recent than others. Red marks that seemed to be a part of the skin rather than painted on to it were present on his cheeks and his bare head, the only sign of colour on his face. Beneath his cloak he wore a tight black jerkin that covered a narrow figure.

As he moved forward the darkness seemed to fall from around him revealing two more of the creatures behind him, following him forward. As the creature was around halfway in to what was now a no mans land he addressed Tarbin and those near to him. “My name is Rimmon, I would speak with you.”

Tarbin moved to confront him, flanked by Corbin and Tristain to even the playing field. It seemed neither leader had any intention of appearing humble before the other, though Tarbin was cautious not to provoke an attack that may not now be necessary. “Why is it that your people have come here Rimmon? We know not of you and owe you no discourtesy nor any favours, if you would wish to trade you have an odd way of beginning such diplomacy.” Middlewood’s leader was as tall as his mysterious counterpart but much broader, he had left his axe behind when he approached to give a good start to the discussion although he still was far from unarmed, now carrying only what was an average amount of steel for his race.

“You are a brave people indeed but with coming events this alone may not be sufficient to ensure your survival.”