The Grim Wanderer (51 page)

‘Right,’ Hirandar said confidently, ‘you’ve seen how it’s done. As Ragad said, if it can take his weight it can hold any of ours. Let’s go, one by one.’

Taem stepped onto the bridge next. He edged his way across, slow and sure. Taem made certain he never had less than one hand gripping the bridge, as he tested every bit of wood with his foot, before he put his weight on it. His heart thundered through his chest. His mouth went dry. Taem just kept his eyes fixed on the bridge, and where he was putting his next step. He dared not look down. Like the way he applied himself to anything, it was only one step at a time.

Taem made it across and was followed over by Baek, the others, and finally Forgrun. The Rhungar was the most unsure of any of them. But eventually – by taking tiny steps and gripping on for dear life – Forgrun made it to the other side.

By nightfall the Hand of Fire had traversed all the bridges, and the snow-covered ground had become continuous once more. They built their fire up as high as possible that night, with whatever material they had been able to scavenge. A vigilant watch was maintained through the dark hours, but none of the company saw anything all night. If the Nemeth watched them, they did so from a distance. Taem lay shivering in his blankets, striving for sleep, and he wondered if Hirandar’s magic display the night before was enough to keep the Nemeth back, or if the sinister creatures would not take the bridges.

By the following midday, the company had left the snow of the high peaks, and descended into the eastern mountains. This side of the mountains was lawless and wild. There were no Grey Ranger patrols here. That afternoon, Logan found fresh footprints in the soft earth of the path, a group of fifteen to twenty men on foot, a day old. There were no horse tracks.

‘They lost their mounts in the Blizzen Passes,’ Baek shook his head. ‘No place to take horses.’

Taem thought that Balthus would have known his mounts would perish in the mountains, but if the Lord of Dolam was Maliven, would he even care?

‘The enemy are on foot now,’ Logan gazed on down the trail, into the valleys, ‘and they took the longer route through the high peaks. We have made ground on them. If we quicken our pace, we could yet catch them. Let’s move.’

Taem felt the afternoon get warmer as the company walked lower into the eastern mountains, over the rocky terrain with its sparse plant life. Before the mountains he had enjoyed winter, but now he would be happy to never see snow again.

The companions walked on past a highland stream and through a tranquil glen, dropping downward as they passed through a lush valley, nestled between two peaks, and then down steep mountain ridges. It was upon one such ridge that the Hand of Fire stopped for the night. Their campsite had a commanding view over the surrounding highland country. Team looked out over the mountains by twilight, and found it a wild and beautiful land.

‘We left the threat of the Nemeth in the high passes,’ Hirandar reached inside her backpack, ‘so tonight there is no need for such a big fire. Nevertheless,’ Hirandar pulled the Orb of Silarnon out of her pack, and its colours began to swirl into each other, ‘this will hide us from searching eyes.’

‘Good,’ Logan nodded, ‘for up on this mountainside, our campfire will be visible for miles.’

‘The orb will have enough charge for two more nights after tonight,’ Hirandar placed the orb back in her pack.

The companions sat looking over the dusky mountain landscape, as Drual and Ragad prepared a deer that Baek had shot earlier. They soon realised the value of the magic orb. Three miles to the north, down in the valley, Taem saw there were campfires burning – enough for scores of men. Five miles to the south, on one of the mountain sides, there were a similar number of campfires. There were more to the east too, further away.

‘Dare I ask what they are doing in the mountains?’ Jvarna laid out some blankets.

‘Is one of those Isornel?’ Hirandar gazed out towards the campfires.

‘Impossible to say,’ Logan stared at the distant fires, and Taem sensed his Master was troubled.

‘At each of those camp there must be fifty men or more,’ Taem gazed down, ‘by the number of their fires.’

‘
If
they are Men,’ Logan said darkly.

‘What do you mean by that?’ Drual looked at the Sodan Master with wide-eyed fear.

Logan did not answer, he just stared out into the dusky mountains. Taem knew the Master’s Sodan senses were more attuned than his, but realised he also could feel there was something wrong about those distant camps.

‘What are they doing here?’ Taem murmured.

‘Could be looking for something,’ Logan said warily, ‘
or
someone
. They are too far away to tell, but if they come closer I will be sure. But I feel uneasy at their presence.’

The warriors all shot cautious glances between each other.

Now that Taem thought about it, he realised he also could feel whoever was at those fires, lingering on the edge of his periphery. It was a feeling of dread, of darkness. He had sensed it once before, at Stheeman’s Hill.

‘They are Narg fires,’ Taem whispered.

‘Yes,’ Logan nodded, to the alarm and distress of the other companions.

Baek’s shoulders hunched over with worry, as he looked down at those camps. Forgrun’s face went withdrawn, with an anxious frown.

‘Nargs,’ Jvarna murmured, her eyes wide with fear.

‘So far from the Border?’ Ragad even had concern in his voice.

‘How can you know that?’ Drual’s voice shook with panic.

‘There are other skills to being Sodan,’ Logan put a hand on his sword, ‘as well as the Way of the Sword.’

‘They are so many,’ Baek’s eyes were full of dread, as he counted the glowing campfires.

‘They are looking for us,’ Hirandar gazed out over the darkening twilight. ‘To believe any less would be foolish. Our fire is hidden from them, but in daylight the magic of the Orb cannot conceal us.’

‘We will have to move fast tomorrow,’ Logan said, ‘if we want to make it through.’

Logan looked at his companions, saw in all their eyes how terrified they were.

‘Do not forget, my friends,’ Logan held up a fist, ‘we are only eight, and they need to find us first. Taem and I can sense them coming, we will avoid them.’

The tension in the warriors’ shoulders eased, and the terror in their eyes lifted. The companions knew the Grim Wanderer – the hero who had strode alone into the Shadowlands – was the one man in Hathlore that could get them through this alive.

‘Should we move on, Logan,’ Hirandar whispered, ‘head out into the night?’

Logan shook his head, ‘It’s too late for that. We have the orb, and the night is the ally of the Shadowsworn. Better to rest here till morning. Everyone must eat,’ Logan gestured to the deer roasting on the spit, ‘and get some sleep. I will take the first watch with Hirandar.’

After days of provisions, roasted deer tasted divine. Taem was so tired, he curled up in his blanket and fell to sleep, as soon as he had finished eating.

It was still dark when Forgrun woke Taem, to take his turn as sentry. Although it seemed only moments ago that he had shut his eyes. Taem roused himself and took his place alongside Jvarna. Logan made them keep watch in twos, to keep each other awake. The fire had died down, but the embers were still glowing and gave off some warmth. Taem bathed his hands in the heat. Gazing out into the darkness, he saw the campfires to the north and south had faded. But Taem could still feel them, sense their evil.

Jvarna and Taem woke their sleeping companions as first light swept away the night. The Hand of Fire were soon packed away and ready to move. The campfires they had seen last night filled all the warriors with haste and dread.

‘Enemies circle us like crows,’ Hirandar looked up at the bleak dawn sky.

‘We must all be wary today,’ Logan gazed down into the valley, where they had seen fires last night. ‘Every step must be taken with caution. For the enemy are close.’

The warriors barely spoke as they walked, and every member of the company scoured the surrounding mountain country, searching for signs of danger. The verdant glens were no longer a source of joy, but places where menace lurked. The Hand of Fire left the ridges behind and descended into a valley basin. Two out of Baek, Logan and Taem – the swiftest and most careful of the group – were always scouting ahead of the main party.

It was on one such scout ahead that Logan and Baek came across numerous tracks, on an expanse of grass that had become muddy and soft alongside a trickling stream. Logan grimaced, as he saw how the deep impressions in the mud revealed whoever had made the tracks had been heavy – far bulkier than Man or Rhungar. Logan brushed his hand over the flattened shoots of grass, and he felt them stretching back up skywards. The tracks were fresh, one to two days old. Logan saw there were boot marks in the churned up earth, but mostly there were hoofprints, with a scattering of other impressions where the feet had been padded, as a giant dog.

‘Cattle?’ Baek pointed at the heavy print left by a cleft hoof.

‘No,’ Logan shook his head darkly. ‘Whatever left these walked on two legs, not four.’

‘You mean...’ Baek gaped with terror. ‘These are Narg tracks? They must be
so
close!’

‘Yes,’ The Sodan scanned the immediate terrain with a new level of vigilance. ‘Come, let’s get back to the others.’

Taem saw the dread in his friends’ eyes, as they listened to the news of the ominous tracks.

‘Nargs stalk this valley,’ Logan said, as the companions gathered around. ‘They are close, and they are many. They may even be watching us, waiting for the time to strike.’

The shadow of fear grew in Taem’s heart, at the thought of the terrifying enemy hunting them.

‘Nargs!’ Drual’s glance skittered around the dale, trailing his crossbow across the scenery.

Baek notched an arrow in his bow, as his anxious gaze scoured along the ridge lines.

Ragad eyed the trees within the valley. Taem saw the Croma’s cold eyes had no fear in them.

‘They do nay of’en stray inter mountains,’ Forgrun rubbed his bearded chin.

‘They would not be here without reason,’ Hirandar muttered. ‘It is rare enough for them to be so far south–’

‘They wouldn’t be here for us though,’ Jvarna said fearfully, ‘would they?’

‘They
have
come for us,’ Logan said warily. ‘Those camps last night were set to watch the eastern mountains.’

‘But you said there were over fifty in
each
camp?’ Drual said frantically.

Logan nodded again, and Drual’s mouth dropped open in horror. Taem sensed the foreboding descend on the company. They each realised that the Hand of Fire was alone out in the wilderness, far outnumbered, and no help would come. The companions had each other, that was all. Jvarna was shaking her head, and Baek was looking anxiously to Logan. Forgrun seemed to be looking inwards, preparing himself, whilst Ragad’s clear gaze continued to watch the surrounding country. Taem thought even Hirandar seemed unsettled, as the Wizard gripped her staff tight.

‘They must be all around us!’ Drual glanced up at the ridge line.

‘We just have to stay out their way,’ Logan said calmly, as he gestured for Drual to lower his crossbow.

‘What do come, do come,’ Forgrun said boldly, as he patted his war axe.

‘They are well behind us,’ Logan looked back up the valley trail. ‘If we want to keep it that way we need to up our pace.’

The Sodan Master looked into each companion’s eyes in turn, and Taem felt how each warrior took strength from Logan. It was in that moment – as Taem watched even the mighty heroes of the Hand of Fire turn to Logan for courage – that he realised what it meant to be a leader.

‘Baek, drop back,’ Logan gestured for the Aborle to turn around, ‘watch the rear with Ragad. Taem and I will go ahead.’ Logan motioned for Taem to move to the front. ‘Everyone stay alert, and we
will
live through this.’

The next few hours were tense as the company pushed on towards the foot of the eastern mountains, not knowing if enemies were close, or in what number. It was mid-afternoon when, with no noticeable signal, Taem and Logan both drew their swords and spun to face behind the company. Taem sensed it immediately. His hackles raised. Danger was coming, a Dark presence the Sodan could feel was close.

Baek and Ragad came running from back up the trail.

‘They’ve picked up our scent!’ Baek panted – Taem knew if the Aborle was struggling for air, they had been running fast. Ragad was gasping, too out of breath to even speak.

‘They’re moving fast and gaining on us.’ Baek added between heaving gulps of air.

‘Fire and brimstone!’ Hirandar said angrily.

‘Bloody Hell!’ Drual pointed his crossbow up the glen’s slope.

Taem’s eyes were fixed on the back trail, the Starblade gleamed blue in his hands.

Jvarna cursed under her breath.

‘By ye luck o’ ye Black Pit,’ Forgrun muttered.

‘How many?’ Logan demanded.

‘Five score at least,’ Baek said wearily.

‘Can we get off the trail,’ Hirandar asked Logan, ‘let them pass us?’

‘Not if they’re tracking us,’ the Sodan gazed up to where the trail disappeared over the ridgeline. ‘The Narg-Baal can smell as well as dogs, and there’s nowhere to hide in this open country.’ Logan turned to Baek, ‘How far back?’

‘They’d just entered that last valley,’ Baek looked back to the crest of the last rise. ‘I’d say five minutes, if that.’

‘Come,’ Logan glanced around. ‘We’ve got to move fast. Everyone stay together, m
ove
!’

Logan sheathed his blade and strode off across the glen, the others followed.

If they got ambushed here – Taem realised, as he scabbarded Estellarum – caught in this deep-sided glen, there would be no escape.

Taem knew Logan must have thought the same, and the Master upped the pace to a run. Every few moments, Taem checked back over his shoulder for pursuit. But his Sodan senses told him the enemy were not that close – yet.

The company soon climbed out of the steep-sided glen, but Logan kept them moving at speed. The trail led on through the fells, rising as it clung to a steep mountainside, skirting the edge of a high drop to ragged boulders below. The adventurers’ path wound upwards over a crest in the mountains then sloped down again, covering rocks and patches of grass and shrub. It was twenty minutes since Baek had returned with his dark sightings, when a horn was blown behind the Hand of Fire, well in the distance.

‘They have our trail!’ Logan cried.

As he shouted, the companions swivelled to the south, as an answering horn was blown, then whirled to the north-east as a third horn sounded.

‘
Hurry
!’ Logan held up a fist, urging the company into a run.

Taem’s frantic gaze searched the mountains as he ran. He knew the enemies were circling, closing in on the Hand of Fire. They were surrounded! The company hurtled down the long mountainside slope, heading eastward, the descent rolled on for half a mile at least. When they reached the bottom, Taem glanced back up the trail.

‘
The Light blind them
!’ Taem roared. ‘They’re right behind us!’

The companions all spun round to look back. Their faces dropped at what they saw. Swinging round the curve in the mountain, Taem watched a horde of ravenous Nargs start down the long mountain slope, in pursuit of the warriors. His heart beat raced as he saw the company was outnumbered many times over. The way the Nargs bounded on, beasts sensing a kill, brought a shudder to Taem’s spine. He saw the primitive power in their altered bodies, and their monstrous cries chilled his soul.

The companions bolted down the steep trail, hurtling into a fertile valley. But as they started down into the next glen, Logan pulled up.

‘
Stop
!’ The Sodan Master reached to grab Taem from running on any further.

Looking down the trail, through the grassy valley, past clumps of trees, Taem saw a Narg war party was racing towards the company. His mouth went dry as his heart missed a beat.

‘
Back
!’ Logan roared. ‘We must loop right! Logan ran uphill past the other warriors, climbing to where the trail entered the valley.

Logan led the Hand of Fire round the base of the northern ridge, down into the next valley, and they started eastwards again. More horns sounded in the distance all around. The companions dashed across the valley floor until Hirandar began to falter. Even though Ragad was half carrying her, the Wizard was wheezing and her exhausted legs could barely hold her upright. Taem rushed to support the old woman. Logan gestured for the company to slow to a walk.

The warriors staggered through a patch of trees, gasping and heaving, and they saw a sight that stole what little breath they still had left.

Nargs were coming straight at them from the east, and soon the Narg pursuit would enter the valley behind them, cutting off the west. Taem looked to the north and south, and saw there were mountains that rose thousands of feet high, thwarting any possibility of escape.

‘Up on that tor!’ Logan yelled, starting to run again, urging the others to do so.

Somehow, the companions all summoned more energy and stumbled into a weary run. The warriors made for the tor in the oval valley’s southern side. Taem could see the tor rose fifty feet above the valley floor, and the sides were steep, but climbable. If they sprinted, the adventurers should just reach the tor before the eastern pack of Nargs. Even though Hirandar was slight, Taem felt the Wizard become ever heavier with every few steps. Pain sliced through Taem’s faltering shoulder, as the extra weight numbed his arm.

‘We’ll be trapped up there!’ Jvarna screamed, as they hurtled through the low grass.

‘We’re trapped anyway,’ Logan shouted back to her, ‘At least up there we can make a stand.’

After a couple of excruciating minutes – during which Taem saw many of the company thought they could not go on, but forced themselves through the pain – the Hand of Fire reached the bottom of the rocky tor’s sheer sides. Taem felt his body quivering with exertion as the run finished, and he was the fittest of the company. Every heaving breath he took seemed to burn inside his chest. Forgrun dropped to his knees, but Ragad lifted the Rhungar back onto his feet. Taem and Baek held up Hirandar, and the old woman felt as if she would collapse without them. Jvarna leaned on Logan, and Drual was coughing like he was going to be sick.

‘Climb!’ Logan said forcibly. ‘Climb because your lives depend on it!’

The breathless warriors scrambled up the craggy side, grabbing rocks or tree roots and helping each other up to the top. All whilst a stampede of charging Nargs chased after them, as loud as a thundering herd of wild bison, their guttural cries filling the valley. Taem pushed Hirandar up over the edge and heaved himself up afterwards. He wearily rose to his feet, and saw the tor was larger than it looked from afar, with a flat top that was a hundred by forty yards. Two of its sides were vertical rock-face, and there was the steep side the company had just climbed, plus a fourth gentler slope to the south, carpeted in low grass. He saw that the southern rise was shallow enough that it could be walked up without the need to climb with the hands. That was where the attack would come, Taem thought.

‘Help me get them up,’ Logan gestured for Taem to lift the wheezing companions to their feet. Even Ragad had dropped to one knee, but Taem saw the hard look in the Croma’s eyes as he rose to his feet.

‘Show me some Rhungar spirit!’ Logan clasped Forgrun’s shoulder, and the Rhungar climbed to stand and glower at the Nargs.

Taem held Jvarna’s forearms and pulled her up. She rested on him for a few moments, her chest heaving, but he saw the strength of will in her blue eyes. Hirandar gasped, pale faced, as she used her staff to support herself, and Baek helped Drual to stand.

‘This way,’ Logan led the group across the flat tor to the top of the slope. On the way the companions discarded their packs and cloaks, and drew weapons. Logan formed them up in a line across the top of the slope, so the Nargs would have to fight them uphill.

‘They will assault us here,’ Logan said dauntlessly, as the puffing companions faced the shallow rise, and the bawling Nargs surged across the valley. Taem shivered as he heard the Nargs’ haunting cries, cries that promised to tear the Hand of Fire to pieces. He watched as the beasts of the Dark battled each other to be the first to get to the slaughter. Taem looked upon the jostling monsters, and their smouldering rage turned his muscles to ice.