Chapter 6 Part 7

Nikki was sewing. It had been several weeks since Avery and the others had left. She missed him. She missed all of them greatly.

Sam was still and his body was getting weak. He was eating enough to live but his muscles were getting slack from lack of use. She herself had been sick every morning for the last few weeks, but that was expected. She had let Calista in on her plan, but had kept her motives from Avery and Calista had been sworn to secrecy.

She kept at her daily duties with her usual exactness. Mirfak had returned quite some time ago and had been helping out by keeping guard and making rounds through the woods. He kept her abreast of the happenings without her having to go out and do so personally.

With the others gone, she was taking the time to catch up on her sewing. It wouldn’t be too long before a complete set of miniature clothing would be needed. She’d been tempted to divine the gender of the small child forming within her, but she resisted. She wanted the result to be as complete surprise to her as it was going to be to Avery.

It was late at night when Nikki was awakened from the chair she had fallen asleep in. Mirfak had jumped up from the spot on the floor next to the fireplace and was sniffing and whining worriedly. He tottered over to the door and scratched at the wood.

"Okay, okay," the elven maid yawned. She walked sleepily to the door. She opened it to let the coyodiak to out to attend to his business. She was startled when he burst out through the open door with a growl and howl that rattled her teeth.

Alert now Nikki slammed the door closed just in time to hear and feel an impact on the other side. The heavy oak wood vibrated but held.

Nikki crept to the window and peered outside. One of the moons, the smaller was up and near full. Its light illuminated the glade enough for Nikki to catch a glimpse of Mirfak tearing a humanoid to pieces with his teeth while his left paw decapitated a second. Three more were on the ground already.

Nikki rushed back to her room. They were under attack. By whom and why she did not know, nor was it important. Right now she had to help Mirfak. Reaching her travel pack, she withdrew the spell pouch and began setting about her business.

Outside, the Doyr warriors were busy dealing with the surprise of Mirfak's assault. The coyodiak was a factor they had not planned for. The creature was ravaging through their ranks like a scythe in the grass.

Doyr warriors were quickly falling back to the edge of the glade. Mirfak had killed more than a score of the pike men before the captains had called for a retreat. Hardly panting, the coyodiak bellowed a howl and the whole forest responded with trembling trees and bushes.

Nikki was ready. She made her way to the back window. Of course it was being watched, but she could not worry about that now. She needed to get to the forest.

Fortunately Avery had provided for just such a situation. A very small, but solid tunnel ran from beneath the cabin to a hollow tree trunk about a hundred feet from the cabin. The tunnel entrance was under the floor boards in the storage room. Nikki removed them and plunged head first into the darkness. She brushed aside the vipers that were living in the tunnel. They knew her and though irritated at being brushed aside, simply got out of the way.

When she reached the hollow tree, she emerged cautiously into a thick bush. From there she drew forth her spell pack. Mirfak bellowed again, this time in pain. Marlena spoke the language of the land. From the plants, she learned the position of her enemies. There were well over a hundred left. She gave the silent order: snag, tangle, and strangle!