Meet Azrak
Shaz knew it was not too much longer and they wouldn’t be able to see anything. The deeper they went into the forest, the more their surroundings shifted from the bright green trees, shrubs and grasses to gray hues of green and tan with an ever increasing mist that seemed to sit on the forest floor. Shaz spotted a makeshift shelter. It was made of large bush leaves strung across a broken Waslick tree.
It was propped up on an old half rotting stump on one side and a huge rock that had been moved into place. The moist earth had been moved and scuffed leaving a deep trench where it had been dragged or pushed. Shaz wondered what would have the strength to move the rock and analyzed whether it would be safe to use it.
"Where are we?" Serin asked.
She rubbed her sleepy eyes and massaged the kink in her neck.
"Not exactly sure."
He stretched his back by arching it and swinging with his hands gripped together in a wide circle then side to side. He examined the details of the shelter.
"I wonder if anyone is using this shelter, these tracks are several days old." He said leaning down and felt the prints left in the soft dirt.
"How can you tell, the dirt is too soft, the moisture here is thick and heavy."
"Fresh tracks would have more definition in the shape left behind. These tracks have softened."
"So we make camp here then?" Serin asked.
It was quite roomy considering it was makeshift and not meant to be permanent.
"Let me check out the surroundings first." Shaz said,
Shaz hopped a fallen tree and disappeared into the woods. Serin climbed down from the horse and made her own inspection. The constant mist made her hair softly hang down around her face. She found herself thinking about Shaz again. It was all she seemed to think about lately and it was starting to make her crazy.
Maybe I should just tell him how I feel, then it will be out in the open and I can think about other things, but if I did, it would make things weird for sure. He has enough to worry about. I wish he would tell me what he was thinking more, I could help. Does he think he has to do this on his own? Men, are so complicated.
"Well I guess we make camp here tonight." Shaz said.
Serin jumped out of her skin, her pale skin turned paler as she bumped her head on the top log.
Shaz started to laugh but coughed into his elbow.
"It's not funny."
She slugged him in the arm as he rounded the end of the long pole sticking out the end of the shelter. Shaz turned into the punch knowing that she wouldn't hit him that hard, and flexed his bicep.
"Yeah it kinda was." Shaz strode to the horse that nibbled on the tall grass. "I'm starving, you?"
Serin glowered at him while he piled some branches together and pulled out a bit of dry kindling from his pack. Struck his knife against the stone and sent a spark into the tinder. A small flame burst into life. Serin shivered in the coolness of the evening, only wearing a light pink traveling tunic and skirt over leggings. She pulled out her cloak and wrapped it around her. Scooted a log over near the fire and sat lady like with her legs to the side and rubbed her arms.
Jagwynn crawled up against her offering her body heat. Serin smiled and rubbed her ear. They sat quietly in the night as the stars appeared to dance and sparkle in the sky. The trees mingled tightly in the canopy high above them, shielding out most of the night sky.
“What if it’s the shadow magic that gives you the headaches?" Serin asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, when we were in the dungeon, my magic didn’t take anything from me, but when you had to open the cursed grate, it was shadow magic right? And then you got that headache. I don't know if other times when you have gotten headaches you used shadow magic, but it seems to be related."
Shaz propped his head on his hand held by his bent elbow "I think you’re right. When I first saw the sqwall on the island, the portal, the dungeon, yeah it all makes sense, but why?"
"That I don't know, but we need to figure it out and soon."
The horse suddenly reared on its haunches and lurched forward darting away. Shaz and Serin both jumped. Jagwynn scurried toward a tree. A crackling came from a branch high above them, as if it were about to give way to something heavy perched on it. An enormous creature sat on a branch. Its lion like hind legs were bent and sat under its body and its lion’s tail wrapped around the tree trunk. Its head was that of a large bird with a razor sharp black beak and deep black eyes stared down at them.
The brightly colored feathers in hues of fire red and deep oranges started with a deep red at his head and flawlessly transitioned to orange and then to yellow. The feathers tapered off at its neck exposing a bare human-like chest. Sharp talons clawed the branch it sat on posing a stress on the timber. The fang Shaz wore around his neck stung more than usual and he thought about his conversation with the old man. Jagwynn hissed and arched her back. Shaz reassured her.
"Not another one?" Serin moved to where her bow was lying,
"Another one?" the gryphton asked.
"Yes, another one, we have already killed two of you.” She said.
“Are you the one the old man was speaking of?" Shaz glared, his neck muscles tightening while his fingers shifted slightly on the hilt of his sword.
"You have seen my kind before? What old man?" Azrak asked his face contorted in confusion.
"The man in the village, he said he met you once." Shaz said.
"My kind, do not know about this world."
"There were three of them. They were attacking the flocks of the villagers. We killed two of them but one escaped." Shaz said.
"A scouting party." Azrak rubbed his chin with the back of his paw. The gryphton lunged out of the tree landing softly in front of Shaz. "What do you know of me?" Azrak asked.
"Stay back. Don't make me kill you too." Shaz said.
"Don't be silly human, I prefer steer, but will settle with mountain elk." Azrak said, licking his beak just thinking about it. "I am very hungry, but you don't fit my tastes."
"Well that's nice to know." Serin said.
Shaz felt the persistent tingle of the fang against his chest, and knew he could trust him.
"I'm Shaz and this is Serin. We were told that you lived in this forest. We need to know why there would be scouts here." Shaz said sheathing his sword.
"Tell me, did the scouts say anything to you?" Azrak asked.
He pawed at the ground with his talons that dug easily into the soft dirt.
"No, we were busy trying to kill each other." Shaz paused, "Why?"
"Groargoth." Azrak said.
"I take it, they are looking for you?"
"So it would seem." He growled.
"Why?" Serin asked.
"It's not any of your concern." he growled spinning on her.
"Don't you
dare
growl at me." She said, stomping her foot and slapping her hands on her hips.
"A feisty one, this one." Azrak said, his eyes wide.
"You have no idea." Shaz mumbled.
"What?" She hissed.
"Remind me to stay on her side." Azrak said.
The pink in her cheeks grew under her pale skin.
"Serin, it’s ok, we're on your side." Shaz said.
Serin stormed off and Jagwynn followed her into the trees.
Shaz let her go, turned back to Azrak.
"So what is going on? Why are you here? Why are there scouts here? Where do you come from?"
Azrak paced back and forth a few more times, and then sat down. "I don't want to talk about it."
"I don't care if you don't want to talk about it. Your '
kind
' has caused havoc and I need to know why."
"Fine.” He paused, “Groargoth is the king of my nation, a wicked gryphton, he killed his father. Blamed me and cast me out, and apparently is now after this world too."
"What does he want?"
"Gold, silver, jewels, usually, but I wouldn't put anything past him." A sudden memory came to the fore front of his mind, "Blast." Azrak cursed, "We must get the orb."
"Orb?" Shaz asked.
"Before my king’s death, he sent me on a mission to retrieve a vessel that held powers. The king believed it had magic that would help him defeat the Ebonhoards who had mages battling with them."
“Gavin Rhill.” Shaz muttered,
“What?”
“Nothing, where is it?"
"Groargoth has it." Azrak said as he slammed his fist into the earth.
"Hmm," Shaz paced, "How do we get it? Is it not common to have mages fight in your world?"
"No, we are a prideful race and don’t need humans to solve our problems. And
we
don't." Azrak said "I will."
"But you will need help.”
Azrak lowered his eyes with shame and said "No, this is my fault I must do it."
"How is this your fault?" Shaz asked.
"They have been searching for me for many years. They must have finally found the rift." Azrak said.
"The rift?" Shaz raised one eye brow.
There is so much I don’t know about
.
How am I going to do this?
He thought.
"Yes, after I fled I had nowhere to hide. I kept to the outer parts of our kingdom and found a tear. I discovered that it lead me here," Azrak paused, looking around the forest he had come to love, "to your world. I managed to keep out of sight of humans, well except Lewison."
"The old man? Why keep out of sight of humans?" Shaz asked.
"During one of my earlier visits through the rift, I had been exploring and upon returning to meet Ralti for news, I witnessed a great massacre of my fellow warriors. I determined that humans were not ready for our kind, but I had nowhere else to go. I found this place and have not had any trouble here." He paused and then said. "Until you two."
"Where is your world?" Shaz tapped his finger on his lip ignoring the jab. Something didn't fit, though he couldn't figure out what.
"I am from the North lands, on the other side of the Tarumite Mountains. From a time separate from this one." Azrak replied.
"Just like the island." Shaz said pacing.
"You are from another time also?" Azrak asked.
"Yes." He said then asked "How do we get to the rift?"
"I told you, I will go. It is my duty, and my men are still loyal to me. If I can get a message to Ralti I can take over the army and stop Groargoth." Azrak said gruffly.
"What are you going to do to stop him?"
"Whatever it takes."
"We have to destroy the vessel." Shaz said.
"Why, what is it anyway?"
"The magical powers from a creature now destroyed. Gavin Rhill needs it to complete his Binding of the Crypt spell."
"What does he want with that?" Azrak asked.
"It will make him immortal" Shaz said, sitting back onto a stone. "I wonder where Serin is, we need to get going. I better go after her."
"Maybe she wants to be alone." Azrak said "She'll be fine. There is nothing in these woods except mist."
****************************************
Serin found that she didn't know where she was, and being even more frustrated, picked up a stone and threw it as hard as she could into the misty dusk. The rock bounced off something hard, sending a returning ping instead of a thunk from hitting dirt. She carefully climbed over, under and around the trees, rocks and debris. She saw a tall stone statue that sat in the middle of several hand-carved stones several feet tall. The statue was preserved well. There appeared to be nothing broken, however, it was covered in spongy moss from years in constant moisture.
“What in the world? She asked Jag who only whined.
Several markings were carved into the stones that were set in particular orders around the stones. A woman with long hair wore a delicately carved braided head-piece and flowing gown. The same symbols on the stones were etched into a belt that hung delicately over her hips. The face had fine features, but it was the marks in her skin that struck Serin’s curiosity the most. One of the statue’s hands stuck out to the side, while the other grasped at a pendant hanging from her neck. The marks in her skin had a fine twirling and spinning effect.
They moved up her hands, up her partially uncovered arms, then resumed at her low cut collar and onto her neck and face. Serin also saw them on her bare feet. It was almost as if the statue was a woman turned to stone and was in the middle of speaking to someone. Serin usually didn't fear most things, but this time she felt a pang of angst standing in a place she didn't know.
What are these stones for, what are the symbols
? She thought. Serin's eye stopped at one symbol she had seen on Shaz’s sword and felt it with her finger. A heavy weight of sleep overcome her, it was as if she had just evoked a spell without knowing.