He pulled his eyes away from her with an effort he hoped nobody had seen and turned back to Erik. “How many days to Glen Morillian?”
“Three if we make haste. It looked like you had only six men hunting you. With our numbers they shouldn’t pose that great a threat even with a wizard. You needn’t worry for your safety, Alexander.” Erik was a few years older than Alexander and wore a mantle of confidence. He’d been born the son of an important noble and raised as a Ranger. He was sure of himself and his skills, and it showed.
Alexander paused for a moment to gather his thoughts. He needed their help and knew it would be best offered if they were more fully aware of the threat, but he didn’t want to waste any more time with idle conversation out in the open. And he wanted as much distance as he could get from the plateau and the nether wolves when night fell.
“If it were just those men I would agree, but there is much more hunting us than a squad of men with a wizard. They retreated to regroup with their main force of twenty more about an hour up the road. But that’s not the worst of it. Just before dawn we were attacked by three nether wolves.”
Chase interrupted, “That’s not possible. Nether wolves are fairy-tale creatures. They only exist in myth. It must have been some large forest wolves. We can handle those.”
Alexander shook his head slowly. “No. These were creatures summoned from the netherworld by Prince Phane and sent to kill me. They attacked just before dawn and they would have killed us all if they hadn’t been driven off by the light of the sun. We were able to destroy one of the three but the other two are still up there.” Alexander pointed to the plateau.
This time it was Lucky who interrupted. “Alexander, are you sure? How can you know they’re still up there? I saw the one hovering over Anatoly turn to smoke and fade away when the sunlight hit it. Isn’t it more likely that they were killed or driven back to the netherworld?”
Again Alexander shook his head. “They’re still up there, Lucky. They just turned to smoke and took refuge from the sunlight in the ground. When the sun sets they’ll rise again, and I for one would like to be a long way from here when they do.”
Jack agreed, “Lucky, I’ve read about creatures such as these. They can’t stand the light of day, but they will not abandon the task they were summoned for until they succeed or are destroyed.”
Chase spoke again, clearly incredulous, “You say you killed one of these nether wolves. How can you kill a creature that’s already dead?” He looked to Erik. “I say they were just forest wolves.”
Alexander was becoming annoyed. They didn’t have time for this but he needed their help. “You’re wrong. I killed the nether wolf by cutting off its head. Arrows didn’t work. Knocking them off the top of the plateau didn’t work. Crushing them with boulders didn’t work. But taking the beast’s head off killed it.”
Jack, Lucky, and Abigail all nodded in agreement.
Erik looked to Anatoly for confirmation. Alexander didn’t know how they knew each other but he could clearly see that Erik respected and trusted Anatoly.
“Lord Valentine speaks true.” Anatoly gave a reproving glance to Chase before continuing, “These were creatures of the netherworld, not forest wolves. I know this because I cleaved the leg off one of them and it didn’t bleed. When I picked up the leg and tossed it off the plateau, it felt deathly cold to the touch. As for Alexander killing the beast, I didn’t see it happen because the creature had already bested me and I was unconscious, but Master Alabrand here tells me that Lord Valentine cleaved the head off the beast with one clean stroke. What’s more, if Lord Valentine says they are still alive, then they are still alive and will be a threat just as soon as the sun sets.”
Erik took Anatoly’s words seriously but Chase was clearly not willing to believe their story. Alexander didn’t have time to argue. He knew the truth and he knew they would as well once the sun set.
“Enough of this.” Alexander pulled down his collar to reveal the mark burned into the side of his neck. When he was certain each of them had a clear look, he continued. “Take me to the Forest Warden by the fastest route possible or stand aside.”
He held Erik with his eyes and waited for an answer.
Erik appraised him for a moment, then nodded slowly. “By your command, Lord Valentine,” he said with a little grin as he nudged his horse into motion.
Alexander caught the slight smile Isabel gave him just out of the corner of his eye.
They rode hard for the forest road. When they reached the place where the road entered the forest, Isabel called out, “The enemy has regrouped. I count twenty and they’re coming fast.”
Erik nodded back to his sister.
Alexander was riding right next to Erik. He couldn’t imagine how Isabel could know the enemy was coming. They were too far away to see and the cloud of dust they lifted off the road in the distance revealed little about their numbers.
“How can she know that?” he asked Erik.
Erik smiled over at Alexander. “Her hawk told her.” His smile broadened at the look of confusion on Alexander’s face. “Maybe she’ll introduce you when we stop for the night.”
Alexander puzzled over that as they rode. They stopped only long enough to switch to fresh horses at noon and grab some jerky to eat while they traveled. Alexander had been into the southern edge of the Great Forest where it met his father’s lands, but never this deep. The sheer size of the trees awed him. He felt a sense of humility under the ancient giants that stood like silent sentinels alongside the meandering roadway. It looked like the road had been cut to avoid the largest of the trees as it wound through the forest. While they rode, he caught glimpses of wild deer, rabbits, squirrels, and all manner of birds.
The forest was teeming with life. When he relaxed his vision and let the colors shine through, he was nearly overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the life energy surrounding him.
Erik took his command seriously and rode at a relentless pace, pushing the horses right to their limits but never any farther. All five of the Rangers were excellent riders. They’d probably spent as much time in a saddle as Alexander. The only ones suffering from the grueling pace were Lucky and Jack. They weren’t accustomed to such hard riding but they didn’t let their discomfort slow them down. Alexander could see they were both hurting, but neither of them complained. Both knew what was at stake as well as anyone.
They made good time but Alexander knew it wouldn’t be enough to outpace the nether wolves. He worried that the cover of the trees would protect the beasts from the light of the sun. He started to feel certain that tomorrow morning just before dawn they would be attacked again. About an hour before dusk, Alexander signaled for a stop. The horses were exhausted and everyone was in need of a break, but more than that, Alexander felt a growing need to find a safe place to take refuge for the night.
“Erik, we need someplace secure where we can rest for the night,” Alexander said. “I expect the nether wolves will catch up with us about an hour before dawn and I’d like to be in a defensible position when they do.”
Erik frowned, “Do you really think they’ll be able to catch up with us? We made good time today.”
Alexander nodded, “We did, but they run faster than a horse and it’s midwinter so the nights are longer than the days. They’ll attack just before dawn. We need to be ready or we won’t survive to see daylight.” Chase harrumphed under his breath. Alexander ignored him.
Alexander was too tired to be angry and he was coming to like and respect Erik. The man could ride. And he knew his horses well enough to get all he could out of them without hurting them. He’d do well on a ranch.
“We also have a platoon of soldiers with a wizard to consider,” Alexander added. “If they push on after dark, we could end up in a fight with them in the next few hours. This is your forest, Erik, where do we stand the best chance?”
Erik nodded in thought. “We’re close to the south fire tower but we’d have to leave our horses on the ground. About two hours up the road is a Ranger’s sleep shack. It’s got a stables and supplies and there are probably a few more men there, but it isn’t well defended.” Alexander could see that Erik was becoming more worried as he thought through their situation.
“Erik, Lord Valentine is right about one thing,” Isabel said. “There are twenty men no more than an hour behind us and riding hard.”
Alexander frowned. “How can you know that?”
Isabel smiled at his question and her face lit up like the sunrise. “My hawk told me.”
Alexander looked around and Isabel’s smile widened. “He’s not here; he’s floating over the enemy about an hour behind us.”
“I don’t understand.” Alexander knew magic came in many varieties but he was baffled. “If the hawk isn’t here, then how can it tell you the enemy is following us?”
“Slyder is my familiar. I can see through his eyes if I want to,” she said, as if such a thing were commonplace.
Alexander’s jaw dropped open. He’d never even heard of such a thing. He knew magic could manifest in almost impossible ways and infinite variety but he had a hard time wrapping his mind around such a thing. Then he thought about his own second sight. Most people looked at him with that “prove it” look before they took him seriously, so he decided to give her the benefit of the doubt.
He blinked a couple of times before his surprise transformed into a smile of wonder. “I’m impressed. I’d like to meet Slyder sometime.”
Isabel nodded with genuine joy and excitement. She was proud of Slyder and happy for an opportunity to show him off.
Anatoly cleared his throat to gently bring everyone back to the issue at hand. “Is Falls Cave near enough to reach by dark?” he asked.
Erik nodded, “I believe it is. It’s certainly big enough and the path in is narrow enough to defend. I like it. If we push, we can be there in an hour.”
The path to Falls Cave was much narrower than the forest road. They had to ride single file alongside a stream running through a narrow canyon. The path was old and overgrown but it had been cut well so it was still passable.
The light faded quickly under cover of the thick, evergreen canopy. Soon they were moving through the shadows of the forest by torchlight. It was treacherous and slow but that actually gave Alexander some hope for greater safety through the night. It was entirely possible that the soldiers tracking them would miss their trail in the dark and continue along the road.
The evening gloom of the forest abruptly opened to the darkening sky at the edge of a large forest lake. Stars were just starting to peek through as the sky faded from blue to black.
Erik pointed across the lake to the waterfall on the far side. “This trail leads to the cave behind the falls. We’ll camp inside. With any luck we’ll have a quiet night.”
Almost as if on cue, the gentle sounds of the forest were interrupted by the shrieking howls of the nether wolves off in the distance. It was an otherworldly sound that made every hair Alexander had stand on end. If death could scream, it would sound like that. The forest fell silent.
Chapter 19
The five Rangers looked to Alexander as one.
“I wouldn’t count on a quiet night. They’ll be here before morning,” he said.
Chase muttered, “I’ve never heard anything like that.”
Alexander shook his head, “Neither had I until last night. Erik, lets get into that cave.”
The narrow path ran along the edge of the lake, with the water only a few feet below to the left and a stone cliff face reaching more than fifty feet into the sky on the right. The path had been cut into the stone, but the work looked very old. Everyone was silent, their thoughts, no doubt, on the coming threat. The path wound around behind the waterfall and into a cave that extended deep into the face of the cliff.
They dismounted and walked their horses for the last few hundred feet because the path was slick from the spray of the falls and the footing was treacherous. The entrance was a good ten feet high by fifteen feet wide and the trail stopped at the far edge of the cave mouth.
Once inside, the cave opened up considerably. It formed one large round room about fifty feet across and twenty feet high at the top of the natural stone ceiling. Despite the waterfall flowing overhead, the floor was mostly dry. Given the circumstances, it was an ideal place to make camp.
Everyone was tired after such a long day of hard riding. Camp was made quietly and quickly so everyone could get to sleep as soon as possible. Light was kept to a few torches and dinner was cold jerky and some hard biscuits with jam. Alexander was checking on his horse when Isabel approached him in the dark.
“Lord Valentine?”
He turned and saw her with a medium-sized bird on her arm. “Please, call me Alexander. Every time someone says ‘Lord Valentine’ I look over my shoulder for my father.” He could see her smile in the flickering light of the torches.
“Alexander it is. I’d like to introduce Slyder, my hawk.” She held her arm up so Alexander could see the grey speckled hawk perched on it. “He likes it when you rub under his chin.”