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Chapter
2
Rushing
home, I found myself filled with worry. I'd given June a hug after
she returned from comforting her mother and I think that's when it
really hit me. We were actually in real danger.
I
hope dad will be ok on watch.
Our
house wasn't anything special, a little squat wooden thing with a
stone chimney poking above the simple sloped roof and a single front
facing window into the main room. Many similar houses lined the road
as it stretched away from the village center where all the important
buildings were. Opening the door directly into the main room, weaving
around the wooden table set, I entered the cramped hall that linked
the main room to the master bedroom and my own. With no siblings I
got a room all to myself. It was just me and dad like always.
I
quickly grabbed everything I'd need from my worn dresser. Two more
shirts, a few pairs of underwear and my only other pair of woolen
trousers. They looked a little threadbare but would have to do.
Giving my room another quick glance I turned and left, snatching my
brown cloak from where it hung behind the door. Making my way
outside, practically the whole town were out and about after the
Mayors announcement. I nodded to Finn and Brady carrying wood toward
the east side of the village; little Maria skipping along behind Finn
with her straw blonde pigtails swinging through the air.
"Hiya
Ali!" Maria waved, pigtails bouncing merrily.
"Hi
Maria." I smiled and waved back.
Walking
over to Joe's place on the northern end of town, I knocked before
entering into a room nearly identical to the one in my own home.
June, Pieter and Joe sat at the table as Joe looked over four large
worn leather backpacks. They looked up as I entered.
Joe
spoke, "Good. Now you're all here I'll tell you the plan. We'll
be up just before dawn tomorrow, get some travel clothes on and make
our way to the village hall to get something to eat before we leave.
Best get as much sleep as you can now. We've a hard few days ahead.
June and Alison, you'll be sleeping in my spare room. Sorry Pieter
you'll have to make do in front of the hearth here." Joe said
and grabbed Pieter some blankets and a pillow. "Right then, I'll
see you lot in the morning."
As
Joe closed the door to his room I turned to June. "Well, let's
leave Pieter to his rightful place on the floor and turn in."
June
put her nose in the air and spoke haughtily, "Why of course Lady
Alison", looking at Pieter she continued with a huff, "Peasant!
I bid thee good night."
Miming
grabbing a long dress and lifting the hem from the floor, she
shuffled out of the main room into the spare bedroom. I couldn't help
laughing at Pieter's offended expression before following June to the
bedroom; he just made it too easy. Curling up on the bed next to my
best friend, I fell asleep quickly despite my anxiousness about what
tomorrow would bring.
The
next day came swiftly.
"Rise
and shine everyone. We're leaving in a few minutes so get dressed in
travel clothes." Joe's voice yelled through the door; clearly,
he didn't care much about waking the neighbors.
I
yawned and June groaned, rolling away from me and taking the blankets
with her. With an irritated sigh, I stumbled my way out of bed to put
on a pair of trousers and a simple cream blouse. I was about to leave
the room with June still cocooned in blankets so I decided to return
the favor and steal them, ripping them away from her, throwing them
into a corner as she yelped at the sudden cold. In the main room
Pieter and Joe sat at the table waiting, our packs stacked neatly
next to the door. Pieter looked a little stiff from sleeping on the
floor and scowled at me as I entered. Giving him a half apologetic
smile as greeting, I joined them at the table.
"June's
just getting dressed, she'll be out in a minute." I made sure to
speak loud enough that I was certain she would hear me.
Joe
nodded and stood to buckle on his sword belt. "We want to be
gone just before the sun comes up so we'd better leave June to catch
up. Let's go." Joe likewise spoke loudly to be sure June would
hear but without his customary smile. Clearly Jacksonville was still
on his mind. Scooping up our packs and cloaks on the way out the
door, we stepped into the predawn light. Damn it's freezing this
early. I usually get up early, but not this early.
"You'll
be warmer after eating and once we get on the road. Probably be too
hot after walking a few hours." Joe noticed my shivers.
Banging
sounded from behind us before we were more than twenty feet down the
road. Looking back, June ran towards us pack over one shoulder with
her cloak trailing behind.
"I'm
coming! I'm coming."
Once
inside the village hall June and I sat as Joe and Pieter went to get
food from the kitchens. They must have a night shift running for the
watchmen to get food as lanterns still burned in the kitchen, light
spilling from the doorway. Joe returned placing bowls and a large pot
of steaming oatmeal with apple slices in the center of the table.
Pieter following his example with mugs and a pitcher of water before
sitting.
"Eat
up. We're leaving in a quarter-glass and mark my words you'll regret
it if you don't eat heartily now. We won't be stopping until midday
for lunch and a short rest. Then on 'till nightfall."
"Will
we get to meet the duke?" asked Pieter.
"Probably.
But I'll be doing the talking," replied Joe.
Eating
quickly, we thanked the kitchen staff, which turned out to be none
other than Mayor Thompson, before preparing to leave. He and Joe had
a few quiet words and we each grabbed a wooden spear, these ones with
sharpened points, from the back of the hall as we walked out the
door. With the sun just barely breaking the horizon, it was still
dark and cold enough that I pulled my cloak tighter around my
shoulders. Reaching the western edge of the village we stopped to say
our farewells to Brady and Franklin, a gangly young man and Finn's
partner in crime.
"Morning."
Brady nodded to us.
"Hi
Brady. Franklin. Everything quiet so far?" Said Joe.
"Yeah
everything's fine. Nothing out of the ordinary. Don't usually get
trouble this close to the duke's place but then again, I would've
thought the same all the way out to Jaksonsville. We'll need more
wood the next few nights, might even have to chop down a few of the
apple trees since I doubt anyone wants to go too far from the village
right now. "
"We'll
hurry. Wouldn't want to lose too many. Stay safe."
"You
as well. Best of luck with the duke."
Patting
Brady and Franklin on the back, Joe continued down the road with
June, Pieter and I following closely behind.
"How
long before we reach the city?" Pieter asked.
"At
least four days. Likely closer to five unless we really push it."
"What
do you think happened to Jaksonsville?" I asked Joe as we
continued to walk.
"I
doubt it's bandits, they wouldn't take the bodies. Maybe slavers
though, but they'd have to be either bold or desperate to come this
close to the duke's city. It could be something else, a beast of some
kind. We haven't had anything like that happen in decades though. I
hate to say it but I hope it's slavers. At least then some might
still be alive when the duke's men catch up to the scum." Joe
growled.
We
walked awhile in silence, hurrying along the road toward to edge of
the valley in front of us. Just as we began ascending the small slope
out of the valley Joe stiffened ahead of me, placing place both hands
on his spear.
"It's
too quiet."
Now
that he'd mentioned it I realized he was right. No birds tweeted. No
owls hooted. Not even crickets chirped. I gripped my spear tighter as
June, Pieter and I clustered behind Old Joe.The
hair on the back of my neck prickled as we rushed to crest the rise
out of the valley. Glancing backwards, the sun breached the horizon
directly up the road on the other side of Glimmerdale. The trees
projecting long, thin shadows along the ground, coupled with the
relative darkness and lack of wind lent the air an oppressive weight.
I
looked down upon the whole valley from where I stood. Sudden movement
drew my eye in the orchards near town. No one picked apples this
early. Perhaps the watchmen had started patrolling? I caught more
flashes of movement, large shapes dashing among the trees. Closer to
us this time.
"Joe.
Someone's in the orchards." My voice betrayed my fear and
anxiety. He was beside me instantly, deep brown eyes searching.
Opening a pouch at his waist he withdrew a small polished horn,
raising it to his lips.
A
single howl split the silence, quickly joined by others until a
chorus echoed through the valley. As the howls faded the trees
nearest the village shook violently. Fear and adrenaline shot through
me and my heart began battering at my ribs. Joes face was the far
paler than usual as he replaced the horn at his waist, unblown. His
eyes darted across the orchards once more. A sudden rush of movement
behind me grabbed my attention and I turned just as Pieter brushed
passed in a sprint towards the village, spear held tightly to his
side.
"Pieter
wait!" Joe grabbed at his cloak as he flew by, dragging him to a
stop.
"We've
got to go back! They need our help!"
"Wolves'
don't attack villages unless they're starving! There's plenty of game
around here. Something's not right!"
Behind
Pieter, a couple hundred metres away, something bounded onto the road
and started loping towards us.
"Helm
watch over us." Joe prayed quietly even as June screamed.
Some
kind of huge black wolf ran towards us on two legs like a man. It
stood almost eight feet tall and closed the distance between us at an
impossible speed. We'd never out run it. While I was focused on the
wolfman another one had sprung from the roadside further behind it.
"Form a line! Spears front!" Joe bellowed as he took
charge, clearly coming to the same conclusion I had.
Scrambling
close to Joe I emulated his stance, a half crouch with a two-handed
grip on my spear pointing back down the road. Pieter stepped back
towards us and took up the same stance on my right while June, a
little slow to respond, did the same shakily on Joe's left. A distant
scream filled the valley and my heart pounded with fear. This
couldn't be happening! I must be having a nightmare. Creatures like
that were talked about in fanciful stories and legends told by
passing travelers with an air of fiction. Joe said they were real but
that he'd never seen any real monsters. I broke out in a cold sweat
as the first wolfman closed on us until I could truly see it in
detail for the first time.
It
was definitely a humanoid wolf. Pointed ears sat atop a sleek,
muzzled head filled with fangs and amber eyes glowing like beacons.
Powerful, toned muscles flowed under its thick black pelt giving the
impression of great strength and agility. The wolfman didn't seem the
least concerned about our spears, sprinting directly towards up at an
impossible speed. Amusement seemed to dance in its eyes as it closed
to the edge of our spears. Just before it would have impaled itself
the wolfman crouched and leaped, sailing through the air above us.
Turning mid-air to face us, it landed on all fours on the hard dirt
of the road, skidding across the ground leaving large gouges marring
roads surface at least three metres long. Faster than I thought him
capable of, Joe spun and threw his spear. The wolfman danced almost
effortlessly to the side, the spear missing by mere inches. With a
'shing' Joe drew his short sword and stepped forward, his face grim.
"Shit."
He exclaimed at how easily his throw was evaded, his voice tinged
with horrified disbelief.
"June,
Ali, keep the other one away with your spears while we deal with
this. Use your reach and keep your feet on the ground! Pieter give me
a hand with this thing." Joe sounded steady, confident even;
only his eyes betrayed his fear.
"O-
Okay." I hated the quiver in my voice.
Pieter
stepped back to help Joe while June and I resumed our stance against
the other one.
This
one was smaller, maybe only six and a half feet tall and not as
broad. I heard Joe tell Pieter to keep his back to us before I
focused intensely on the smaller one. Unlike the larger wolfman this
one slowed as it neared, stopping a few feet away. He –for it was
definitely a he- stood slightly hunched forward, drooling. Narrowing
bright amber eyes, he licked his lips in a slow, deliberate manner;
revealing a mouth full of razor sharp fangs. His fur was lighter,
more of a muddy grey than the dark, almost black colour of the larger
one. I heard June hyperventilating beside me and realized I was as
well. A snarl sounded behind followed by a thud and coughing. The
wolfman in front of us chose that moment to attack.
Dashing
in towards June, she screamed and thrust her spear forward. With a
swift sidestep he dodged her thrust while also moving away from me,
around Junes other side. She tried to retract her spear but the
wolfman threw itself at her, knocking her to the ground. I stabbed
out, desperate to help June. My spear point glanced off his head as
he lay on top of her and embedded itself in his shoulder instead.
Scrambling backwards with a pained roar, he raked his claws down the
sides of Junes torso as he withdrew. June's shriek was filled with
palpable agony. The move backwards threatened to pull my spear from
my hands. Joe's recent lesson fresh in my mind, I'd kept both feet
fully grounded for my thrust and managed to pull it from the wound
before it was ripped out of my grasp. Placing myself between June and
the beast I gripped my spear white knuckled.
A
roar of pain and fury sounded from my left where Pieter and Joe were
dealing with the big one. A glance to the side showed Joe had the
point of his short sword embedded in the larger wolfman's lower
torso, but he never got a chance to retrieve it as an enormous clawed
hand gripped his shoulder, dragging him closer. Joe struggled and
tried to pull his blade sideways spilling his opponents' guts, but
another hand closed around his own on the hilt of his sword, holding
it in place. Bending down slightly the monster bit down on Joe's free
arm as he raised it, trying in vain to push away the descending
muzzle and he couldn't hold in a choked grunt of agony. Pieter rushed
in, spear held forward only to be backhanded so hard his feet left
the ground. He crashed into the roadside a few metres away,
continuing to roll almost into the trees from the force of the blow.
I needed to help Joe but I couldn't leave June. Making a snap
decision, I reared backwards and threw my spear one handed at the
larger wolfman. I didn't wait to see if I hit but snatched June's
spear from where it lay on the ground.
By
the time I returned my full attention to the smaller one in front of
me he had recovered and was already rushing in, claws reaching for my
throat. I braced myself in my half-crouched position at the last
moment. Letting out a surprised yelp, blood ran from his muzzle as my
spear-point entered his torso dead center. The force of his charge
propelled me backward and off balance. Trying to pull my spear back
proved impossible, the wolfman had followed the larger one's example,
gripping my spear where it entered his body and even gravely injured,
he was still too strong. His other arm clawed the air towards me
furiously as he howled in pain and rage.
Abandoning
my spear, I turned, dashing to where Pieter lay unmoving on the side
of the road. Blood ran down his face and his jaw hung unnaturally off
to one side, obviously badly broken. Panting from the fear and
exertion, I searched franticly for his spear. It wasn't here! I
couldn't find it. Glancing back to the road revealed I was out of
time. The smaller wolfman was pulling the spear slowly from his chest
whimpering while the big one stood directly in front of me, looking
down into my eyes. I froze in fear, paralyzed as I tried desperately
to think of something, anything I could do. He glanced down at the
wooden spear sticking out from his thigh and pulled it out as I
watched. Tossing the spear to the side. He continued to watch the
gaping spear wound. I couldn't believe it; the wound began closing
right before my eyes.
Apparently
satisfied, he looked calmly back down at me. His glowing eyes snapped
me out of it and I tried to jump backwards. Just as my feet left the
ground he once again showed that impossible speed, gripping me by the
head with his right hand and my upper arm with his left. Pulling me
close I struggled desperately as he yanked my head to one side.
Opening his muzzle wide, he bit down on my shoulder between my arm
and neck. I screamed in agony as I felt teeth slice through my skin
and into the muscle beneath. The nerves in my shoulder pulsed with
liquid fire that dripped down my entire torso. Sudden tears blurred
my vision and with a crunch of bone, everything went black.
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