Part 38
Creatures of the Dark
As the girl stormed to her room, she threw herself onto the fur spread. “He’s not like that,” she murmured to herself before going silent.
“The thought of her Kazan turning on her brings up such anger,” Ranin said. “She trusts him implicitly,”
“Indeed, despite his resistance to her wishes,” Namic said. “Her trust grows as their opinions diverge.”
“You don’t think that will be a problem?” Ranin asked.
“This may be our old friend’s first experience with a master like her.”
“Not exactly,” Ranin reminded.
“You are correct,” Namic said. “But remember how that ended.”
Ranin fell silent as if replaying a memory before sighing. “The Empire was in disorder then,” he said.
“Yes, the lands did go mad in those times,” Namic said. “But it was not the Empire which saw him through.”
“No,” Ranin said. “Does he still sleep?”
“I do not know about him,” Namic said. “Even now his Sealing Stone eludes my search. But if our old friend took almost a millennium for his Sealing Stone to be formed and found, who knows if it will ever come.”
“Positive for once,” Ranin said surprised.
“Practical,” Namic mended.
It was only until late in the evening when the girl emerged from her room. She made her way to speak with Seeker. “I’m sorry for what I said earlier,” she said. “I spoke without thinking.”
“Do not worry so much,” Seeker said, “I am too old to hold a grudge against the young. However, I thought you would want to know that my Geode have arrived from their search and are preparing to guide you to the surface.”
“One should be enough,” the Trapper said entering Seeker’s hut.
“I would rather send you off with a compliment of Geodes. Abhartachs have been seen in the area and, recently, cave-ins are becoming more frequent. We think they have started a nest nearly.”
“What’s an Abhar-uh-ach?” the girl asked.
“An Abhartach is a shade beast known to Calta, also known as Dearg-Due.” The Trapper answered. “They harbor in dark places fearing the sun. They are vicious creatures who drain the blood of their victims.”
“Yes,” Seeker put forth, “in fact the original legends call the first of those creatures the Abhartach, who cursed the corpses of those who sought revenge on the world, who then rose as Dearg-Due or red blood suckers, under his control. Only weapons of wood could keep them at bay as they can not stand the touch of it. Possibly one of the reason Calts of antiquity chose pixies as their guardians as most have wood related abilities Yew is more effective as well as oak and ash, but my Geodes have found smashing them under stones to be just as efficient.”
“Enough of your history lesson,” the Trapper said. “So we leave tomorrow.”
“Very well,” Seeker said. “I wish you a safe journey.”
“But I still have so much too learn,” the girl protested.
Seeker shook his head. “If we had more time I would be glad to continue your education but for now you have what you need to learn and grow stronger; both you and your Kazan.”
“I hope you are right,” the girl said.
“Now, now do not be sad,” Seeker said. “It has been a long time since I had guests. I’ve enjoyed the time we have had together.”
By the morning the group had packed for their journey; despite the Trapper’s protest, they had an honor guard of three Geodes.
“Be safe,” the Seeker said. “There is still a long journey ahead of you.”
“Till we meet again,” the girl said.
“Unless that happens quickly, I doubt your wish will be fulfilled,” Seeker said as they departed.
The group descended into the darkness and it did not take long before the Trapper was forced to light a torch. The Geodes took up defensive positions, two in front and one in the rear, escorting them through the mountain tunnels.
“How long will it take to reach the other side of the mountains?” the girl asked.
“The old man seems sure it would only take two days,” the Trapper said.
“Two more days,” the girl said with a shiver.
“I see you don’t have much care for the dark,” the Trapper said, but the girl shook her head.
“It is not the dark that bothers me,” she said. “I just feel like we have been on the move for so long.”
“Ah, so you hope to reach Belford as fast as possible,” the Trapper laughed. “Well, I doubt you will be there long. I believe Calta is not fit to be your home. The winters here are long and by the end I think you will go.”
I’m not so sure,” the girl said.
“Ya know, only two types of people come to Calta, those seeking adventure and those seeking to disappear, and I feel like you have no interest in the first.”
“Well…” the girl trailed off.
“I understand,” the Trapper said. “You paid me to guide you not to ask questions. But if you fled Selia, where do you go next?”
“We will deal with that if the time should come,” Uncle Ben said.
“Well said,” the Trapper almost laughed, “I think you will do well with your time here.”
Sworder tensed and gripped his sword, “Something off,” he said. “The caves are no longer friendly.”
Even as Sworder spoke the Geodes drew close, taking on a more defensive position. A chill wind suddenly blew through the caves. It bit at the group stealing what warmth they had managed to retain. The wind died and the burrow fell into absolute silence. The shadows around them clung close to them, and all at once the roof of the burrow shattered apart.
Sworder grabbed the girl, diving out of the way of the falling ruble and the rear Geode shielded Uncle Ben from the rocks. The Trapper, however, was pinned beneath a large stone slab, his legs buried completely beneath the rubble.
In the confusion four figures leapt down from the large hole in the ceiling. They were tall, lengthy creatures with large fangs. They stood on two legs but ran with a low hunch, their arms hanging low and their skin an ashen gray.
“Dearg-Due!” the Trapper warned, and he gritted his teeth as he unsuccessfully attempted to remove the stones which covered him.
One figure leapt towards the girl and another engaged the Geode in the rear. The last two dashed towards the pinned man. The Trapper watched as the two Dearg-Due charged him. Pinned, he could do little but click his tongue, “Tsk, what an empty way to die.”
A single copper coin fell to the ground near him. It faded to dust and a flash of light burst near the Trapper and from the light emerged Grota, garbed with light leather armor and two daggers in hand his belt lined with darts. Darting between the Trapper and the charging Dearg-Due, he stabbed them in their bellies. Twisting behind them, he grabbed his darts throwing them into the Dearg-Due’s exposed backs.
Sworder held off his assailant with his sword, long enough for the two Geodes in the vanguard to bull rush the creature and smash it into the wall. Crouching low, Grota charged the last Dearg-Due which Uncle Ben and the rear guard had restrained and were holding in place. Twisting his dagger, Grota delivered a blow to the base of the spine driving up into its chest dissolving the creature to ilk. The other three quickly fled after the loss of their counterpart and in only moments the party was in silence again.
“Ha,” the Trapper gave a dry laugh. “I’m glad we’re alive but would someone get me out of this.”
The girl and the Geodes rushed to help the Trapper free himself; but as she began pulling stones to the side, she saw Uncle Ben learning against the stone wall attempting to remain standing while he clutched at his chest.
“Uncle Ben!” she exclaimed, jumping up as the Trapper finally freed his pinned leg. Even as she ran, Uncle Ben collapsed to his knees. “What’s wrong?” she said.
“Oh, nothing,” Uncle Ben said between exasperated breaths. “I think I just exhausted myself too much.”
“Sworder can you help?” and as she spoke, Sworder was already beside her, but Uncle Ben shook his head.
“No, no,” he said. “I’ll be fine; I just need a little rest.”
“You’ll get more then just that,” the Trapper said, holding himself against a piece of ruble. “These blasted Dearg-Due did a number on my leg, we can’t travel like this.”
“Are you okay?” the girl asked.
“We Calts are a hardy breed,” the Trapper said, “Ain’t the first time I broke a leg and I sure as hell won’t let it be the last.” He glanced around for something to support himself with and one of the Geodes moved forward to assist him, “I don’t want your stony hands near me,” the Trapper spat at the Geode. Then looking at Grota, who stood next to him, looped his arm over the Shadow Warrior’s shoulder, “What are you even doing here.”
“You gave him a coin,” Sworder said.
“A coin?” the Trapper said confused. “But that was almost a week ago.”
“He’s paid his debt,” Sworder shrugged.
“Bah,” the Trapper said dismissively, taking a step forward before looking at the group. “When you’re done resting lets get a move on.”
“To where?” the girl asked.
“Where else, to Seeker or whatever he wants to call himself.” Then turning to one of the Geodes, he continued, “We’ll have to impose on your father a little longer.”
The Geodes nodded and walked into the wall, melding with the stones until they disappeared.
“That might be the first time I have seen them react to something we have said to them,” the girl said.
“They understood that we can not speak their language,” Sworder said.
“I think I have recovered enough,” Uncle Ben said, finally rising. He still held his right hand to his chest but it seemed to be less to support his chest but rather to cradle his arm.
The return trip was slow and uneventful and when they arrived Seeker had already readied everything for them. A half dozen Geodes surrounded Uncle Ben and led him off to a closed tent.
Despite his protest that he was fine, Seeker led the Trapper to a place for him to rest.
“I advise you to wait,” Seeker said to the girl before leaving. “Do not concern yourself about them, they will be alright, how about you let Amethyst guide you around.”
A large Geode strode up to her as the Seeker spoke.
“You must be Amethyst,” the girl said with a curtsy, Amethyst did not respond but simply walked away. “Where are you going to show us?” the girl continued but Amethyst made no answer.
For the greater part of the day the Geode led the girl around while being pestered by her questions but it never gave a reply. He showed her the many buildings in the village each used for their own purpose. There was a kitchen, a small forge, a room used to make textiles and even a wood shop.
As Amethyst continued to walk the girl around the village, Ranin glanced around and noticed Seeker entering the Trapper’s hut.
“You were quite lucky,” Seeker said.
“Luck had nothing to do with it,” The Trapper replied. Then shaking his head, “No, luck played no part.”
“Oh?” Seeker asked. “Did something happen.”
“Grota came without me calling,” the Trapper said.
“Ah, yes. My Geode spoke about it,” Seeker nodded. “I assume he used a coin you gave him before hand.”
“But I paid him that coin because he came to my call,” The Trapper said. “One should never dismiss Grota without proper payment.”
“That is where your misunderstanding began. True, Grota requires payment, but he needs it as well. Grota cannot fight without a tribute to stage.”
“That explains it,” the Trapper laughed. “Usually, when I call upon Grota, whatever is threatening me does not back off.”
“And you only call upon him when you need him,” Seeker said. “Because you do not trust him.”
“It seems he has learned quite a bit of the nature of his Kazan,” Namic said.
Seeker finished his business before leaving the Trapper in silent thought while Ranin saw that Amethyst had led the girl through a long tunnel, leading slowly up.
They emerged out of the side of the mountain overlooking a tiny valley completely circumvented by mountains casting the valley in shadow. There Amethyst showed her where they kept the livestock and protected them from predators. He showed her their fields where they grow crops.
“This is all for Seeker isn’t it?” the girl asked, but Amethyst simply turned away. “You love him very much don’t you, you all do.”
After they had finished exploring, Amethyst led them once more underground; the girl ambling behind him. “It’s all amazing,” the girl said. “I wonder what it was like before. It must have been lonely.”
Amethyst stopped and the girl looked curiously up at him. “Is something wrong?”
Slowly bending down, Amethyst stuck his hand into the stone. A small figure rose an inch from the ground and walked silently in an endless circle. Slowly, another figure rose up. This one with a long stick held out in front of him. Then one by one, more figures like the first appeared. “So, you were here when Seeker came?”
All the figures sunk back into the ground, and a single figure of a dragon appeared, a dagger lodged into one of its eyes. “So Seeker took an eye from the dragon who took his,” the girl laughed. “Wait, if you know what the dragon looked like, were you the one who saved him?”
“It must have been lonely before that,” the girl continued. “Was that why you helped him?”
The dragon sunk back into the ground and Amethyst stood up beginning once again down the long tunnel with the girl following in tow.
“Ranin,” Namic said, looking back at the Geode village. “This should prove interesting.”
“What!” Ranin exclaimed, following Namic’s gaze.
Just as Ranin reached where Namic sat watching, Seeker entered the hut and paused. “I was told you had awakened,” he said to Uncle Ben who lay awake prone.
“How long have I been asleep?”
“For most of the day, I sent her off with one of my Geodes so she would not see you in you condition,” Seeker said.
“I thank you for that.”
“And what possessed you to do something like that?” Seeker asked.
“They came on us quite quickly,” Uncle Ben began. “I reacted on instinct.”
“Well, it almost ended you,” Seeker said, sternly tapping his cane on the ground. “You cannot handle the stress it put on you. If you try something like that again, I doubt you’ll be as lucky as you were this time.”
“Thank you for telling me,” Uncle Ben said. “I guessed it was this bad but it is nice to know.” He gave a long sigh, “Then one last time.”
“And what? Is that how you want her to finally find out?”
“I would prefer she never know, but if it comes to it.”
“If you told her the truth she may be able to help you.”
“No,” Uncle Ben said. “I would only put more strain on her and I doubt it would delay the end.”
“So what do you think,” Ranin said leaning back. “An old warrior with little time left?”
“I do not believe it is that simple,” Namic said.
“Oh?”
“I believe he is more then just a simple warrior and his skills are more than natural.”
“What do you mean by that?” Ranin asked.
“I am not sure,” Namic said. “We may just have to wait and see.”
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