Light Of Loreandril (22 page)

In anger and remorse, he could not stop himself sobbing quietly, imagining how devastated his mother would be. She had sent them away to protect them, to keep them away from danger, only to have them caught up in some strange fight for this Elvish magic thing. The tears quickly dried up and he became overwhelmed with rage, his fists clenched with anger.

“Come on, Cradon, we cannot afford to stop any longer. We must keep running!” Gomel knew the boy was upset, but now was not the right time to be mourning. He was sure the karzon or the men would send out scouts to find them. By now they must have realised that they had escaped with the Aeonorgal.

Cradon looked at him, embittered. “You should have left me. I should have stayed with my brother.”  His words were sharp, spitting with venom.

“Omph!” Gomel grabbed the boy’s shoulder, pulling him up to his feet. “And if I had? Well, you would now be a captive also.”

Cradon looked away, closing his eyes in an attempt to block out Gomel’s words.

“This way you have a chance of helping him.”

“How?” Cradon cried.

The gnome dragged him down sharply by his tunic so he was at eye level. “Be quiet, or you will tell the enemy our position!” Gomel hissed curtly.

Cradon slapped his hand away. “I don’t see how fleeing will help Nechan or your friends. He’s my brother and I left him! Running away is what caused all of this in the first place!”

“That’s why you’re angry really……….You regret leaving home?” Gomel began walking at a quick pace, dragging Cradon through the dark maze of tree trunks and shrubs. “And if you had stayed at home, what then?”

Cradon sullenly did not answer.

“Either way, you would have been caught by the Empire, and taken prisoner. Yes, you may have been in their army, but that is the same as slavery. At least this way, you have a chance of changing your destiny.”

“Destiny? You mean it was my brother’s destiny to be caught, and mine to escape?”

Gomel shrugged his shoulders. “I gave up trying to understand destiny a long time ago. All I know is that it was not by chance you found the Spirit Star and not an accident that you and I escaped.”

“I know that I could not have stopped it happening. I do know that,” Cradon sighed, his tone softening as he stumbled through the darkness, “I just feel guilty that I got away and he didn’t.”

Gomel stopped. “Help me get this back to Loreandril, and there is still a chance to save your brother.” The gnome unwrapped a corner of the embroidered cloth, letting some of the Aeonorgal light escape. “This is what everyone’s fate rests on.”

As Cradon let the warm light fall on his face something cleared in his mind. He found understanding, realising the importance of what Gomel had said. “All right! I will help!”

Gomel quickly wrapped up the orb again, enveloping them once more in complete darkness. Cradon received it with relief. Side by side they began jogging, a sense of urgency renewing their energy.

“Do you know which way to go? Do you know how to get to Loreandril?”

“Omph!”  Gomel grunted.  “No!”

Cradon stopped in his tracks. “What? Where
are
we going, then?”

“Keep running and I will tell you!” Gomel shouted over his shoulder, Cradon quickly catching him up. “Omph! Try not to be upset, but I don’t actually know where Loreandril is!”

“I don’t understand. I thought that was where you came from!”

“No! I come from Ghornathia, beneath the mountains, and
that’s
where we are going!” Gomel panted. They both kept running, weaving through the trunks, maintaining a steady pace.

“But, you said we had to return this thing to the Elves!”

“And we will. But first we need to get to my kin. The council will know what to do. They will know where the Elves are.” He stopped again, breathing heavily. “Look, boy, you have to understand, we cannot let the Empire get this back.” He patted the bundle Cradon had nestled under his arm. “They will hunt high and low for us, scouring the lands. Our only hope is to find safety and protection amongst my people. Once there we will be able to gather a force to return it to the Elves.”

Cradon agreed that this sounded sensible. Besides, it was not as though he had a better option. “Well, lead on!”  At least he knew there was a plan, and that they were not just running aimlessly through these black woods.

The sun was rising. Its faint glow, although still cold, was starting to peer through the trees, helping to guide their way. The gnome and clansman had fumbled blindly through the woods for what seemed like hours, falling over old tree stumps and roots in the darkness.

“Can we stop again, I need to fill my waterskin,” Cradon gasped, pouring the last dribble of water into his mouth.

“When we find a stream, we will. I agree we cannot keep going without water.”

They slowed to a brisk walk, and after a few more minutes, they heard the welcomed sound of a rushinng stream and waterfall. Within minutes the pair found the source of the noise. Cradon jumped in the small pool that had been scoured out beneath the long stream of water, while Gomel collapsed on shore, face down, letting the flow wash over his face and head, quenching his thirst as the water lapped over him.

“We cannot stop too long, Cradon, but we have put a good distance between us and them.”  Gomel hoped that what he said was true.

He knew they had maintained a good pace, but the karzon were on horses putting them at a disadvantage. However, the gnome was sure they would hear the sound of approaching riders, giving them advanced warning to hide. If men on foot were sent after them, it was a different matter. Soldiers can be light-footed and stealthy and the best trackers move without making a single sound.

The gnome shook his head, looking up at the sky above him, wishing he were somewhere else. He just hoped that it had been sometime before their ambushers had realised what had happened, giving them time to put a good distance between them.

Gomel watched Cradon and his spirit dropped, becoming wrapped in guilt. The boy stood motionless, up to his thighs in the cold water. He was obviously deep in thought, a pained expression on his face. It was clear that he was consumed with fear for his brother’s life, feeling remorse that he was the one who had escaped. Yet the gnome still felt a sense of relief and achievement that he had helped someone escape with him. He looked about, and, happy there was no immediate danger, lay back, resting his eyes for just a moment.

It was a tranquil, beautiful place. The pond was surrounded by tall reeds, which swayed and rustled in the gentle morning breeze accompanied by the soothing hum of late autumn insects. The melodic sound of the small, tumbling waterfall was calming after the night’s frantic events.

Gomel’s peace was abruptly disturbed as Cradon let out a yelp as he slid on a wet rock trying to climb back out of the water. He landed with a loud splash. The noise startled the birds in the trees above, sending a flock of starlings noisily into the air. The sweeping beats of their wings echoed, carried by the heavy silence of the area.

Realising his mistake, Cradon clapped his hands over his mouth. Both he and Gomel froze, straining their ears for any other sounds that might follow. There was no answer.

Releved, Cradon waded back to the shore to be met by a very disapproving gnome, hands on hips.

“I know! I’m sorry!” He shook his head, showering Gomel with droplets of water from his shaggy, red hair. “I slipped. I will try and be more careful,” he promised as he started wringing out his dripping clothes.  

“We need to be making a move.”  Gomel scanned the tree line anxiously. “We have already stayed here too long.”

They began collecting their belongings but were brought abruptly to a halt. Behind them somewhere in the woods they clearly heard the voices of men.

Gomel motioned for Cradon to be silent and they strained their ears to listen. It was definitely two men, and they were coming towards them. Cradon tried to convince himself they were only hunters, but the fear that they had been found by soldiers became too great.

Gomel sensed the danger also. Without a sound, barely breathing, he lowered himself into the water, beckoning Cradon to follow, never taking his eyes off the trees. They waded to the other side of the pool and sank from view amongst the tall, dense reeds, with only the tops of their heads and noses above the water. Keeping as still as possible they waited. Cradon clutched the Spirit Star tightly to his chest.

Within a few moments, two soldiers broke cover. Creeping stealthily from the woods, one hadhis sword drawn and the other his bow strung. Their black armour glinted in the morning sunlight, accentuating the dents and buckles that spoke of years of fighting.

“I am positive the sound came from here,” the swordsman whispered as they scanned the pond and surrounding trees.

“I agree. Something definitely scared those birds.”

Cradon screwed up his face, cursing himself, knowing it was his noise that had drawn them here.

“Check the reeds and behind the waterfall, there may be a water-hollow to hide in.”

“Fine, but keep me covered with that bow!” The swordsman began hacking away at the reeds and stabbing the water, methodically testing every patch. Cradon and Gomel watched from the other side of the pond as he began to wade deeper into the water. The man on the shore kept a close eye on his comrade and immediate area, his bow still ready to fire at the slightest sign of trouble.

After checking along the near shore, the soldier waded towards the waterfall, battling against the current. He stood below it, nearly neck deep, and stabbed into the curtain of water several times. Much to his disappointment his sword found only rock.

“There’s nothing here!” he shouted back to the shore.

The swordsman turned and began wading directly towards Cradon and Gomel, hidden amongst the reeds. Following Gomel’s lead, the boy took a breath and slowly sank beneath the surface. Cradon could just make out the soldier’s shadow approaching him.

From somewhere above the soldier, a loud, ear-piercing squawk filled the air. Glancing up he was met by a set of sharp talons that began clawing at his face. Flailing his arms wildly, he slashed out with his sword, trying to protect his eyes.

“Shoot it! Shoot it!” he cried frantically.

“Stand still!” his comrade shouted from the shore. “If you keep blocking my shot I will hit you!”

Blindly, he began wading back into deeper water, trying to dive beneath the surface to escape the talons. The hawk left him, flying instead towards the archer on the shore. He fired his arrow, but in his haste, missed. He stumbled backwards, his helmet falling from his head, and was quickly met by an angry flurry of beating wings and razor-sharp talons. The archer screamed, falling to his knees, clutching his face. The bird had easily ripped at his soft cheeks and eyelids, drawing blood. With blood also trickling down his face, the swordsman waded back to shore to aid his friend.

Unable to hold their breath any longer Gomel and Cradon had to break the surface, gasping for air. To their surprise they saw both men under attack on the other shore.

“What on earth?” Cradon gasped.  

Gomel did not wait to reply, but, pulling out one of his axes, dived underwater. The gnome quickly reached the far shore and climbed out dripping, brandishing his axe. With a swift flick of his wrist he threw it into the first soldier’s back. It easily pierced the steel armour with a clang, and the soldier dropped, lifeless.

The bird seemed to sense Gomel’s intentions and flew up into the air leaving the second soldier, his face and bare arms ripped and bloody.

“Help me, please!” he croaked, holding out a red-streaked hand towards the gnome. Clearly, he was in a state of shock, his delusion masking who Gomel really was. Without mercy the gnome lunged, burying his second axe into the soldier’s chest. The soldier fell back already dead, landing with a thud. Gomel spun round, looking for the bird that had attacked.

“Be careful, Gomel, that hawk is still above you!” Cradon shouted from the other shore.  He still sat amongst the reeds, too scared to emerge.

“Don’t be afraid! It’s perfectly safe for you to come out now, lad!” Gomel shouted back. “Khar, come down! You recognise me, don’t you?” Trying to mimic one of Jaidan’s whistles, he looked up into the air at the hawk hovering above him. The bird swooped down, and landed neatly on the axe handle that stuck out from the soldier’s chest.

“Wel,l I’m pleased to see someone else made it out of there!”

She cocked her head as if listening to his words.

“Is Jaidan with you? Is he nearby?” He took a cautious step closer, holding out his blood-splattered hand. She squawked, and hopped backwards, blinking intelligently at him.

“She’s beautiful!”  Cradon stepped tentatively from the water, not wanting to make any sudden movements that might startle her. “Is she safe?”

“This is Khar, Jaidan’s hawk!” Gomel replied. Cradon took another step towards the bird. She hopped backwards again, flapping her wings anxiously at the approaching clansman. “I wouldn’t get too close. She seems nervous, probably because of what she saw happen to the others.”

Cradon nodded. “Why did she save our lives?”

“I can only guess because we are friends of Jaidan. She must have been following us since we left camp.”

Gomel went to retrieve his axe from the first soldier’s back and washed the blood in the pool. Cradon stood nervously, still clutching the Spirit Star tightly to his breast, watching the hawk as she stared back at him with a bright, beady eye. It was as if she were attempting to read his thoughts.

Cradon felt obliged to speak. “Thank you, for helping us!” he stuttered. Khar squawked, and flapped her wings again as if responding, which made Cradon take a quick step back, fearing she was about to fly at him. Instead, she hopped down onto the floor, and came towards him.

“She seems to trust you!” Gomel laughed as he saw how nervous Cradon was. Cradon crouched down to look at her more closely. Slowly, he stretched out a hand, ready to pull back if she pecked at his fingers. To his surprise, she let him stroke the top of her head. She raised her head slightly, giving him permission to stroke the soft plumage under her chin. Suddenly, she flapped her wings, startling Cradon, and jumped onto his shoulder. He froze, holding his breath, as she leaned round, twisting her neck to stare straight into his eye.