Chapter 6 Part 8

The forest had grown fairly thick, but in subtle ways that Avery pointed out, had been, at least until recently, well groomed. They were in Nikki's domain. Avery guessed that caring for Sam had taxed her and that she had grown a little slack in her work. In any event he assured the others that they were within half a day of the cabin.

They walked through the brush another four hours when suddenly Avery drew up short and motioned the others to stop as well.

"What is it?" Armegon asked.

"Something’s very wrong," Avery answered. "There are bore beetles infesting this tree," he gestured to the injured plant next to him. "We’re close enough to the cabin that Nikki could feel this without leaving her bed. There’s also a smell of death on the breeze. And Mirfak should’ve been here to greet us. We’re close enough for him to know we’re coming. If he isn't then that means...."

Suddenly Avery dropped his pack and ran blindly into the bushes. Armegon, and the other stared after him for a moment before charging after him. Ruk drew his ax while Calista drew her bow. If Avery thought something was amiss, she wanted to be ready to fight, especially if she were going to have to defend Sam.

They ran the final kilometer before bursting onto the compound. The area was overgrown with neglect, but that was not the most important feature. Literally hundreds of dead and decaying bodies littered the ground. Obviously it had been the scene of a major melee.

They found Avery. He was knelt over the carcass of a giant furry creature with well over a dozen spears, several scores of arrows and two huge lances impaling the hide. The halfelf was weeping loudly as he cradled the massive head in his lap.

The stench of rot had long since dissipated as only the skin and bones seemed to be left. Calista instantly recognized the fur pattern as that of Mirfak. She felt overcome with grief as she realized that the coyodiak must have died defending Nikki and Sam. Sam! Grief gave way to panic as she bolted towards the cabin. She burst into the room aching to see him and praying that she wouldn't. An empty cot was all there was to greet her.

"Something happened here," Armegon said behind Calista. "The good news is that both Nikki and Sam are missing. That may not seem good at first, but it does mean that they’re not among the dead."

"Who were these people," Ruk asked as he stooped and entered the cabin.

"They are Doyr," Avery said angrily wiping his eyes. "They’re a demon worshiping bunch of deadbeats dwelling several leagues east of Tycho in the denser part of the Deep."

"Do you think that’s where Nikki and Sam are?" Calista asked.

"I’m going to find out personally," Avery declared.

"Whoa fella," Ultrecht interrupted. "Let's get control of ourselves. We can not go running off half cocked and berserk. We need to plan our strategy."

Avery's jaw tightened as did his fists. There was a strange tension in the room as the ranger struggled with himself. "You're right," he said after awhile.

Armegon, Ruk and Avery piled the bodies in a heap and set fire to them just as the suns were setting. Finally Avery and Ruk set a separate fire to the dead coyodiak's body as well. Avery simply stood and stared at the pyre for many long moments before finally turning and joining the others inside the cabin.

"Okay," Armegon was saying as Avery entered. "We know about where these jerks live and we can probably catch them by surprise if we’re careful. So I say we infiltrate and take back our own."

Calista was in full agreement, but Ultrecht was more cautious. "We need to be careful. Should we get discovered, Sam and Nikki might be killed."

"Of course you are right," Armegon admitted but we can't do nothing.

"We need some way of getting inside without getting caught," Ultrecht decided. "Avery, can you do that?"

The ranger was gazing deeply into the coals glowing in the fireplace. In his hands was a cloak belonging to Nikki. "I can if I go alone," he said. "but I don't think I can sneak all of us in."

"Is there any way that you can use magic to get them out?" Ruk asked.

Ultrecht considered it. "We might be able to, but it would be expected. I would not be surprised to find that they are shielded with magic themselves, and if they are, then they have had plenty of time to build up their fortifications. It would take time to get through."

"Well we have got to do something," Calista pleaded.

"Perhaps we could smuggle them out," Ruk offered. "If Avery can get in unnoticed maybe he could..." Ruk stopped talking as he noted that the Ranger had become very alert.

"What is it?" Armegon asked also catching the motion.

"Company," Avery murmured. "The sounds of the creatures of the night have ceased. That means something malevolent is nearby."

"You want me to take a look?" Ruk said reaching for his ax which leaned against the hearth.

Avery leaped to his feet and on two steps was at the door. "We're under attack," he threw open the door and they all crowded around to peer outside. They were surrounded by a host of thin humanoids dressed similarly to those bodies that they had discovered upon their arrival. Many of them carried torches. All of them carried weapons.

One of the soldiers, stepped forward and walked about halfway to the cabin. Armegon quietly suggested frying him immediately, but Avery asked him to wait. "Let me go out and see what they want. We might learn something useful."

"Go ahead," Ultrecht said. He made a few gestures and mumbled a phrase of magic. Avery shimmered in a blue outline that immediately faded from view. "At least you won't be totally defenseless."

Avery drew his sword, and stabbed it into the ground point first. He further disarmed himself by passing his bow to Calista. "Armegon," he said as he passed the weapon. "Get ready to fight. Don’t worry about me. If things get bad, nail them." With that the ranger walked alone to meet with the leader of the attackers.

Avery appraised his counterpart as they drew together. The other person was of some halfelven mixture with dark features. He was about the some height as Avery but with a slighter build. He wore tight leather armor and a pair of metal gauntlets and metal shin guards.

"You are hopelessly surrounded," the man said when Avery stood before him. "I offer you life if you surrender."

"And just to whom would you have us surrender?" Avery asked. He wanted to verify who they were fighting.

"We are the favored guardsmen of the Queen of the Doyr. It is to her glory that you will yield your freedom."

"Yield our freedom?"

"You will be honored as worthy adversaries and live out the rest of your lives as slaves. It is better than death, is it not?"

"It is not," Avery replied, "especially when I’m not convinced that you can kill us."

"Your bravado is admirable, but foolish," he was told. "You are but few whereas we are not only many, but many times your number. Only a fool would fight against such odds."

Avery smirked. "I’ve been called a fool before, and by better men than you."

"Then fool I name you. Die then with your comrades." The speaker raised his hand and immediately a uniform thrumming sounded throughout the ranks of Doyr soldiers. A rain of black arrows showered thought the night illuminated only by the light of the double moons. They flailed against the house and bounced harmlessly off the door that had closed immediately.

Avery dove forward and rolled, barely avoiding a jab towards his midsection from a dagger that had been hidden in the back of his enemy's gauntlet. The ranger rolled to his knees and held out his hand. In a flash of silver light, the enchanted sword he had left at the door jumped from the ground and shot through the air. Either by design of by accident, the path of the blade ran right through Avery's opponent, and so did the sword. There was a look of shock as the man suddenly realized that there was a gaping whole in his chest.

The small army of Doyr watched silently as their leader fell to the ground. Silence ruled for a long second to be followed immediately by a shout as they charged Avery and the cabin.

The cabin door swung open and Armegon stepped into the moonlight. He clapped his hands together loudly before him at arm's length and Avery saw a distortion around the hands; the ranger immediately threw himself flat on the ground.

An arc of shimmering darkness glittered in the pale moonlight and rapidly spread out across the clearing. When the wave front met the charging troops, bodies fell in heaps of gore as the magic scythe chopped through bodies as surely as if a giant sickle were used on a shock of wheat. In one stroke, the small army's numbers had been halved.

The soldiers, should have turned and run in fear, but their fear of their queen was far greater than the magic of some backwoods mage, so the ranking lieutenant regrouped his forces.

Armegon and Ruk stood on either side of the door. Calista had opened the window and was steadily launching arrows. "Is Avery all right?" Ruk asked.

He should be," Armegon said. "I saw him duck before the force sickle reached him."

Ruk was about to speak again when a greenish yellow ball of fire flew from the trees. "Get down," someone warned and Ruk did as he was told. He felt the impact of the spell and his skin crawled as heat washed over him, but he did not burn.

When the wave of heat passed, the minotaan looked up. The soldiers had charged in the wake of the magic assault, and were closing on the cabin. Ruk came to his feet and drew himself to his full height. Then he waded into the mass of swords and pikes swinging his huge ax, mowing soldiers down.

Calista quickly spent all of her arrows and, lacking any experience in swordplay, looked for something else to use. She cursed, and prayed that Nikki never found out, but all she could lay her hands on was a large heavy skillet. She took the makeshift mace, and returned to the window. Hiding out of sight, she awaited the inevitable moment when a head would peek through the window seeking to gain entrance.

Ultrecht began another spell. He had used a quick cast flame shield when the fire had descended upon them. It had been difficult, and he had concentrated on protecting from flame and let most of the heat through. It had been a calculated risk, but he had not the time to properly cast the spell. The new spell, however, he took his time with.

Standing before the door, Armegon and Ruk acted as vanguard. Ruk's ax cleaved most of the bodies it encountered in half, and crushed the bones in those that it did not penetrate. Armegon's saber darted like a dancing piece of metal keeping his enemies at bay, but the bodies were pressing too quickly and Armegon was losing his fighting space under the sheer weight of the numbers. Soldiers he had skeewered were being used as shields by those following. Already his back was to the wall. He wasn't sure he could hold out, and there was no time to do magic.

"Ultrecht," he yelled, "we’re a little overwhelmed here."

Ultrecht threw the door open and thrust an arm outward. A bolt of brilliant blue leaped from his hand to the nearest soldier. The victim convulsed as the nimbus of blue enveloped him and then leaped to another soldier leaving the first one to slide lifelessly to the ground. Like a living bird of prey, Ultrecht's chain lightning bolt passed its way through the ranks of the soldiers halving their number again and relieving the immediate pressure on Armegon and Ruk's fighting.

Ultrecht reached back into his sack to prepare for another spell and made the mistake of letting his own guard down. An arrow caught him in the solar plexus and doubled him over. Armegon quickly vacated his post and urged Ruk to retreat inside. With Calista's help, Ultrecht was dragged inside and the door was closed offering Ruk, Armegon, Ultrecht and Calista a brief sanctuary.

"What of Avery?" the girl asked.

"I saw him sprint for the trees when that lightning began bouncing around among those bodies. He was in its path," Ruk reported.

"How many of them are left?" Ultrecht gasped.

"Shut up," Armegon told him. "Unless you haven't been keeping up on current events, you’ve been shot."

Ultrecht coughed and blood spattered from his mouth. "Thanks for that news flash," he whispered weakly.

Armegon began to work on Ultrecht. He removed the arrow and staunched the bleeding. When Avery got back, he could heal the wound, but Armegon had not the skill to instantly heal, he could only stop the bleeding and accelerate the natural healing process.

"Wow," Ruk said as he and Calista peered out the window. The minotaan grabbed his ax and headed for the door. "Avery’s trying to take them all on single handedly!" The black giant threw the door open and ran outside.

Avery stood in a ring of soldiers. The sword darted about randomly driving the soldiers back and beheading those who were not quick enough to avoid it. A Doyr sorcerer loosed a ball of greenish yellow flame at the ranger but the sword swatted the spell out of the air and flung it back at its caster. The sorcerer, engulfed in his own magic, screamed as his body was rent and scored.

By the time Ruk joined Avery, only three of the Doyr soldiers were left and it was apparent that they were more interested in escape than fighting.

Armegon pulled up beside the minotaan and released a new spell. Instantly a blur leaped from the mage's hand and the three soldiers were trapped within the confines of a strong sticky webbing.

Instead of giving up, this seemed to throw them into a frenzied fit and before anyone could react, two of them had drawn daggers and slit their own throats. The third, was having trouble getting his dagger loose, and before he too could end his life, Ruk relieved him of the weapon.

"Would you like a prisoner?" Ruk asked Armegon.

"Most certainly," the mage answered.

Ruk picked the surviving soldier up by the scruff of the neck and carried him back towards the cabin. Armegon approached Avery who was panting heavily. "You okay?" he asked the ranger.

"Yes, I’ll be fine," Avery replied. "That fight took a lot out of me."

"You’re getting out of shape," Armegon teased. "We’ll have to talk to Nikki about starting you on a diet and exercise program."

Avery sheathed his sword. Armegon noted that it was free of any stain of blood or flesh. Together they returned to the cabin. "Those soldiers wear the same general costumes as did those bodies that were here earlier," Armegon said.

Avery nodded. "They were Doyr too. I counted about two score of them in all. I don't think they were expecting heavy resistance. And we probably could have taken them all. You really didn't have to use that Force Sickle," the ranger complained. "I hate that spell."

"You created it," Armegon reminded him.

"To harvest grain!" Avery snapped back. "I never intended it to be used as a weapon."

"I use what I need to use. In case you weren't watching, that spell cut their numbers in half in a matter of seconds" Armegon argued.

"I still don't like it," Avery answered.

Armegon decided to change the subject and looked at the bodies. "Do you think you can back track them to their base?"

Avery nodded. "I won't have to," he replied. "We have a guide."

Armegon thought about that. "You think we can use him to get in?"

"If we disguise ourselves sufficiently," Avery proposed, "we may be able to waltz right up their driveway."

Armegon opened the door and entered the cabin. Avery followed. Inside, Ultrecht was sitting in a chair. Calista was applying a bandage while Ruk was tying their prisoner into another chair.

"Good guy--Bad guy?" Armegon whispered to the ranger.

Avery nodded. He walked over to the prisoner and violently grabbed the terrified man by the front of his shirt. He drew Liberator and placed the edge of the blade across the exposed throat. Before their very eyes Avery grew in size and his hair erupted into flame.

"This is my domain!" the ranger bellowed. "How dare you enter here and take arms against my servants!" The outrage rattled the cottage and caused Calista and Ruk both to stare unbelievably. Calista looked questioningly at Ultrecht who winked in reply. Ruk just stared in disbelief.

"Master," Armegon pleaded with Avery. "Do not damn him to the living hells. He may yet atone for his deeds."

Avery whirled and stormed out of the room leaving two confused comrades, one prisoner with soiled pants and two mages who were struggling to keep straight faces.

Armegon swallowed hard and turned back to the prisoner. His face became compassionate as he loosened the bonds a little. "Do you know who that is?" he asked the man.

The prisoner shook his head trembling.

"You and your kin have attacked the sanctuary of the Forester, and that is who that is. I suggest you do what you can to win his favor."

The soldier was hesitant. "But my queen..."

"Has no power here," Armegon cut in. "This is the Forester's domain. Your people attacked and took his wife and son. What do you think he’ll do?" The trembling soldier hung his head and began to weep as Armegon went on. He took a damp cloth and wiped the grime from the soldier's face and offered him a cup of water. "We don't want to see you get hurt, and normally the Forester is very merciful, but in this case...well. let us say that we’ve never seen him this angry before."

Ultrecht leaned close. "Why did you take the woman and boy?"

The soldier licked his lips and glanced about nervously. "My queen was bound by honor to fulfill a request from House Blackheart."

Calista hissed at the mention of the name.

"Are they with your people now?" Ultrecht continued.

"I do not know," the soldier answered. "I was not part of the original raiding party nor am I involved in guarding prisoners, I am just a scout."

"You may be able to earn our master's forgiveness then," Ultrecht replied. "If you did not partake of the kidnapping, then all you have to do is help him get them back and he may not harm you."

"But my queen will condemn me to slow death and an eternity in the abyss should I betray her," the man objected.

"Do you have any idea what the Forester will do to you?" Armegon asked. He leaned very close and whispered into the soldiers ear. The man went white and his eyes grew wide. Wordlessly he mouthed some unknown words as he shook his head.

"Where is that spawn of dung beetles!" Avery stormed back into the room. His eyes were wide and in the firelight; the amber orbs seemed to glow with anger.

Armegon jumped and knelt before the ranger. "Master he wishes to make amends. Please give him a chance. He was not among those who took your wife and child."

"How can this scum atone for his wrong doings?"

"I can help you retrieve your family," the soldier blurted out, "if they are still there."

Avery seemed to calm down a bit. "That indeed would earn my gratitude," he admitted, "but you must renounce your allegiance with your people and make your own way in life. Have you a family of your own?"

"Only a son, the soldier replied. "His mother died in a priestess trial."

"Then we must liberate your son as well to insure your cooperation and protect him against any spiteful retaliation should it be learned what you have done. If you dwell in my domain, the power of your queen will not harm you."

"Please Forester," the soldier begged. "Let me make amends."

"I will think upon it," Avery said and exited the cabin.

Armegon removed the bonds and left the soldier under Calista and Ruk's guard while he and Ultrecht followed Avery.

The girl and minotaan looked at each other blankly wondering what the heck was going on, but also knew better than say anything that might tip the prisoner off that things were anything but normal.

Outside the cabin, Ultrecht hobbled along weakly. "Look, master, do you think you could patch me up?"

Armegon laughed. "I think we scared him."

"We sure surprised Cal and Ruk," Ultrecht agreed. "And that illusion of the burning hair and giant size was a nice touch. But Cal and Ruk are about as confused as they can get. You had better go back in there and let them in on this before they blow it."

Armegon nodded. "Okay," he agreed. "I'll send them out."

"Hey," Avery called as Armegon turned to go back inside. "What did you tell him I would do?"

Armegon smiled. "I told him that you’d turn him into a belly worm and place him in the innards of a maggot for the rest of his natural life then turn his soul over to the prince of demons when he died."

Ultrecht looked at Avery. "Wow, you're a real jerk."

Avery gently poked the mage in the stomach. Ultrecht doubled over in pain. "Didn't you know it’s not wise to insult your healer before you get healed?"

Armegon left Avery and Ultrecht outside and returned to the cabin.

Later that night, when the soldier, whose name was Ditks, was tied up and locked in the store room for the night, the quintet met around the fireplace to discuss their next move.

"If we put on some of the clothes that the soldiers were wearing, we may be able to pass as some of their own returning from this mission," Armegon decided. Then with a glance at Ruk, he added, "most of us, that is."

"Ditks did say that returning with prisoners was an option," Calista pointed out. "We could disguise Ruk as a prisoner."

"That’s also a possibility," Armegon said. "But our numbers are going to draw a lot of attention. They sent out about fifty troops. If only five return, their leaders are certainly going to notice that."

"Suppose we animate some of the corpses," Ultrecht offered.

"No," Avery objected.

"But we can use a little magic to temporarily preserve the bodies and we can spell them to walk along with us. It would look quite normal."

"Absolutely not," Avery repeated adamantly.

"Look, Avery," Ultrecht argued. "I know how you feel about desecrating the dead, but it’s just lifeless matter right now. Why not put it to use."

"I won't deal with any necromancy," Avery insisted.

"Not even for Nikki's sake?" Armegon asked.

"Or Sam's?" Calista added.

Avery did not answer, he simply stood and left the room.

"This is going to be difficult," Ultrecht said.

"What is it?" Calista asked. "Why won't he let you use that magic?"

"It has to do with his curse," Armegon told her and Ruk. "He feels the pain that he sees. His eyes see enough pain and death as it is, but when he sees the undead, it’s actually agonizing to him. He has to go into a trance to withstand the pain. It’s like he’s in a walking nightmare. In fact I have often see him go berserk in the face of the undead. If Ultrecht animates those bodies, he’ll suffer great mental anguish, but at least he won't flip out. On the other hand, if Ultrecht loses control of the zombies, Avery will pull that sword of his and start hacking at anything in the area, friend or not."

"That bothers him?" Calsita asked.

"He killed a friend of ours in the middle of that madness once," Armegon said. "Blair Ravendale, a huntress and friend of ours was watching Avery's back when a vampire decided to appear. Avery went crazy and killed the vampire, but before the battle lust waned from his mind, he had run Blair through with his long sword as well. It wasn’t a pretty sight and it’s a memory that haunts him on occasions like this."

"But for the sake of Sam, and Nikki," Ultrecht interrupted, "this time he must yield to the logic of the situation."

They spent the next day planning their strategy. Ultrecht was right, and by mid morning, the ranger had capitulated and submitted to the necessity of the needs of the group. With the animated bodies, they would lead their prisoner, Ruk back to the Doyr stronghold.

Avery would cover his eyes as if he had been injured, and a little cosmetic work would disguise the rest of them sufficiently to pass as troops returning from a mission. Armegon noted that many of the bodies would need a little disguising as well lest some guard become curious about a soldier with a six inch hole in his chest wandering about.

It was suggested that they leave Calista behind, but the girl adamantly refused and threatened to follow on her own should they try to leave without her. Armegon tried to explain that they were not on a simple expedition, that they were going into a fire fight and that there would be no restraints on the fighting to be done. He begged her to reconsider, but she stood firm.

Avery too asked the young woman to stay behind. He even accused her of jeopardizing the mission by distracting them. "We don't want to have to defend you," he had said, but the girl maintained her resolve.

In spite of her resolve, when morning came, she found Ruk and herself alone in the cabin. They had both been left behind.

"Ruk," she bellowed as the minotaan snored softly next to the fireplace. "Get up those old coots have gone ahead without us."

Ruk sat up and watched the girl scamper about gathering her equipment to make a pack. "Calista," he finally said in a gentle tone, "they were right. We can not go on this venture with them. You don’t have the experience necessary and I’m too obvious."

"You knew?!" she accused.

Ruk retreated slightly from the enraged little human. "They told me last night after you went to sleep. Avery can get Armegon and Ultrecht in but we’re too inexperienced and we can’t escape on our own should the need arise. Each one of them could."

Calista's eyes tried to burned a hole through the giant's black chest.

"You know that they were right. Calista, they’ll be fighting a major demon. That’s something even I must admit I fear."

Calista only replied with silence and Ruk knew that he was in for a very, very long day