Shadows of Men (The Watchers Book 1) (14 page)

              She pulled an arrow from the quiver and nocked it upon the bow then held it down by her side, crouched down to make herself comfortable and waited, knowing that it could be some time before an unsuspecting animal came by her way.  She kept her eyes focused on the grove, however, ready to jump at the opportunity to strike. 

              There was a certain feeling of calm and excitement that mingled together as one during the hunt.  Rhada felt it each time, when patience dictated she wait for her prey.  The feeling of serenity that came from being alone in the quiet of the forest was one of the reasons Rhada enjoyed the hunt so much.  One had time to think without being interrupted or bothered. 

              At that moment, Rhada was thinking about Tyos.  The sudden thought of the now desecrated city stole away her blissful mood and replaced it with doubt and trepidation. 

              She thought of the Blood Sea, an ocean of pure blue waters that to Rhada was always so beautiful.  She had visited many times, Tyos being her favorite city in all of Kaena.  It had challenged Lerous in size but far surpassed it in beauty.  The lush, green forests surrounded it on all sides and the moist fog that rolled in from the sea every morning only served to make the forests greener. 

              The city itself was crafted in the old style, with wooden houses and shops, holding their shingled roofs aloft with intricately carved posts.  There was never a desire amongst the citizens to update any of the structures- they feared the city would lose its old-time charm.  Rhada happened to agree. 

              The last time she had visited Tyos was before the war started, three years ago.  She had already fallen out of favor with most of the realm but Tyos did not seem to concern themselves with events of the realm- they being at the farthest northern corner and thus, separated from everyone else.  It was the last time Rhada had traveled without the burden of hatred being thrown at her.  Tyos, for Rhada, was like a breath of fresh air; a place where she could become invisible.

             
And what is it now? 
She wondered. 
Nothing more than a ghost city, full of corpses and decay. 
Try as they might, the people of Tyos had been unsuccessful in their attempt to stay hidden from the evils that threatened this realm.  Rhada felt a sudden pang of sadness, knowing her only refuge in this world was gone. 

              Something suddenly stirred in the bushes ahead.  Rhada pulled herself back to reality and stood up tall, holding fast to her bow.  She watched, holding her breath, as the largest elk she had ever seen emerged.

              He stood at least six feet tall, with antlers that bulged from his head and looked as though they made it difficult for him to stand.  His neck and back were covered with thick, black fur that rippled in the slight breeze of the grove.  His round, black eyes glistened as he moved into the sunlight.    

              He emerged cautiously, sniffing at the air before each step he took, trying to make his way towards the stream for refreshment.

             
This beast’s meat will last the rest of our journey north. 
Rhada thought with a proud smile as she raised her bow to take aim.  She did so with much care, making almost no sound for the monstrous elk to hear.  All in the gorge was quiet, except for the sound of the babbling stream and the soft breath that escaped Rhada’s lips as she focused on nothing else but the majestic effigy of supple meat that stood before her. 

              She waited, with the patience of one who has nothing but time on their hands, for the beast to come into full view- waited for it to complete its journey to the stream where it would bend down its head and become blissfully unaware of any danger lurking in the shadows.  She knew a beast such as this would require more than one arrow to end its breathing.  She would have to be quick, she would have to be ready when she loosed her arrow to grasp another, nock, and give chase.  And so she waited for the time that would be most opportune for her advantage. 

              Slowly the elk crept on, one cautious step after another, until finally the full beast emerged.  Rhada had never known the size of an elk to go so unchecked.  He was as big as her horse and she frowned at the realization that she would have to fetch Mayvard to help with the skinning- she would not be able to carry the elk back to camp draped around her shoulders as Mayvard had done with his doe. 

              As the elk stopped and bent down for a drink of fresh water, Rhada aimed for the neck, hoping that her arrow would deliver it a quick journey to death.  She pulled taut and was ready to loose when all of a sudden, she jumped, startled by the sword at her side that began screaming in her ears.

              The elk, hearing her shuffling in the bushes, stood up in alarm and suddenly bounded away before Rhada could compose herself.  She cursed loudly as the beast disappeared from her view and she stood, ready to chase after it when Bloodbinder again shouted a warning to her. 

              Rhada froze in her panic and looked all around, wondering where the danger could possibly be coming from.  She raised her already nocked arrow and began scanning the outer edges of the grove.

              She heard the pattering of heavy feet rushing up behind her.  She spun quickly and aimed her arrow but her eyes were met with nothing but the trees and the grass.

              A sudden sharp pain struck her shoulders, knocking her off her feet.  Her bow and arrow flew out of her grasp and she hit the ground with a terrible
thud
- the wind knocked out of her lungs.

              Pain pierced through her shoulders like several knives making their marks.  A loud roar and then a low guttural growl rang in her ears and all of a sudden, the ghost wolf appeared. 

              The beast was nearly as large as the elk she hunted, with razor sharp claws that dug painfully into her shoulders, keeping her pinned to the ground, teeth that were bared and dripping with saliva.  Its eyes were deep chasms of darkness that made the promise of death as it gazed at its prey, and its fur was gray and stained over time with dirt and blood.  The breath of the beast flowed from its gaping mouth into Rhada’s nostrils, filling them with the scent of death and rot.

              Rhada reached her arm forward and tried to pull Bloodbinder free but the beast pushed her down harder and squeezed her shoulders with its claws, making her give up the attempt.  She watched in helpless horror as the beast lowered its jaw, aiming for her throat with its ghastly dagger- like teeth.

              Rhada knew that the ghost wolf’s first target was the throat.  It would tear it open and wait for its prey to lie still then proceed to enjoy its meal.  Rhada had even heard of some ghost wolves large enough to tear the head clean off its prey.  This beast, she realized, was probably one such wolf.

              Rhada always knew the possibility of her end being a violent one was great, but to die by being maimed and devoured by this creature was not an end she was ready to accept.

              Ignoring the pain in her shoulders, she reached both hands up and grabbed the monster by its snout, pulling it away from her throat.  The beast let out a loud snarl of anger and pushed against her even harder.  It did not take long for Rhada to realize that she was no match for the wolf’s strength and her feeble attempt to save her life would only give her mere seconds. 

              She let out an anguished bellow and pushed even harder against the raging monster, even though his claws dug deeper and deeper into her shoulders.  Rhada began to feel faint and gasped desperately for breath but felt that the beast’s claws were pushing the air away from her. 

              The wolf suddenly bit down hard and shook his head with violent wrath.  Rhada recoiled her hands just before they were bitten off and took the opportunity to grasp Bloodbinder by the hilt.  She pulled and pulled but her own weight was being pushed against the sword and she was unable to free it of its scabbard. 

              The wolf stopped its ravenous display and looked down to her with the eyes of a starved maniac.  Rhada could do nothing but hope that the beast would kill her quickly, and closed her eyes, knowing she had lost the fight.

              The sound of rushing footsteps, then Mayvard’s voice as he shouted in anger rang throughout the grove.   The beast looked up in time to see Bel’dak come crashing into its back.  The wolf reared on hind legs with a deafening cry of pain, then fell in a writhing heap onto the ground next to Rhada.  Mayvard brought the sword down once more, directly into the left eye of the monster and Rhada lay motionless as she watched the life dissipate from the growling pile of flesh and fur that was almost her own death. 

              Finally, Rhada was able to take in a breath.  She realized, as her lungs painfully filled with air and she began to cough, that she had not been breathing during the entire struggle. 

              Mayvard bent down next to her and placed his hand on her chest, keeping her still while he examined her injuries. 

              “Your wounds are deep.”  He said in a grave voice.

              Rhada pushed Mayvard aside and sat up slowly, closing her eyes against the dizziness that took hold of her.  She could feel hot blood gushing down her chest and arms but dared not to look at the wounds just yet, not until the shock of what had just happened wore off. 

              “He must have been hunting the elk.”  She whispered, mostly to herself.  She was trying to figure out how the beast had been able to sneak up on her, when everything had been so quiet. 

              “What elk?”  Mayvard asked, wondering if perhaps Rhada was losing her senses.

              “He was invisible.  He made no sound; came from nowhere.  He was upon me even before I could see him.”  Rhada began to shake violently and Mayvard realized she was succumbing to shock.

              He reached forward and wrapped his arms tightly around her.  “You are safe now.  Nothing can hurt you.”  He said, as though he were talking to a frightened child. 

              Rhada breathed heavily for a moment before opening her eyes once more and pushing away from Mayvard’s embrace.  He thought he could see her cheeks begin to blush as she stood on her feet. 

              “I’m fine.”  She said in a hard tone, as though his worry for her was unwarranted.  “I’ll be fine.”  She grasped the hilt of Bloodbinder, feeling for the first time that the sword, perhaps, could not protect her, and shuddered.

              Mayvard bent down gingerly and lifted his forgotten bow off the ground then opened his mouth, about to tell her that they should return to camp to tend to her wounds, when she held up her hand to stop him and raised her panicked eyes to the distance beyond the trees.

              The air around them suddenly grew thick with the sound of howling of wolves.  It rattled through the trees and vibrated past them.  Rhada’s eyes widened at the sound- dozens of ghostly howls, echoing through the forest, making the birds in the trees jump and fly away with a scream of terror.  Bloodbinder suddenly began vibrating violently at her side and Rhada shot one terrified look at Mayvard before saying; “run!”

              Rhada forgot all about the pain in her shoulders as they ran for their lives through the shrubs and bushes.  The thorns and sharp branches scratched and pierced Mayvard’s bare arms as he ran at Rhada’s side but he paid no attention to the pain of it.  He could hear the ghost wolves’ pattering feet behind him as they gave chase. 

              Rhada ran as fast as her feet could carry her but it was still not fast enough.  She heard the ghost wolf that was closest to her approaching, she could feel its hot breath on her neck.  But Rhada was better prepared this time, having pulled Bloodbinder free of its scabbard before fleeing. 

              Without losing her pace, Rhada spun round quickly and deftly, slicing at the air behind her.  Though she could not see the beast, she felt the steel slice through flesh and fur.  She felt the spray of blood as it painted her face red.  And as she was turning back around in midair, she saw the blur of fur as it came into view and crashed to the ground, its throat gaping wide open. 

              Rhada continued on, now a few steps behind Mayvard who looked back towards her to make certain she was still there.

              “Do not look back!”  She commanded, knowing he could lose his footing and slip.  “Make for the horses!”

              Mayvard leapt over a fallen branch, followed by Rhada and they were suddenly only a few feet away from their camp.  They could see their horses, still tied to the same tree, rearing and kicking furiously in their fear of the howls that followed their masters to camp.

              Rhada shoved Mayvard forward when he looked back once again to make certain she was there, and commanded him to untie the horses. 

              As he rushed to the tethers that kept the horses in place, Rhada spun around and watched the dirt at her feet for any sign of approaching ghosts.

              She saw spirals of dirt being sent up into the air as one approached and braced herself for the impact.  It leapt forward with a growl and Rhada lunged her sword deep into its shoulder.  The beast became visible as it landed on its side.  She quickly pulled Bloodbinder free just in time to swing it at another whose paw prints could be seen in the dirt before her.