Sword of Light (The Knights of the Golden Dragons - Book One) (7 page)

           
It
seemed the large gray wolf had grown weary of seeing its brothers and sisters
slain. There was no warning as the huge animal charged into the circle,
knocking the goblins out of its path as they moved to block it. The goblin
leader turned to take it head on, bracing his feet and bringing his shield full
to face the beast. A great howl erupted from the large auburn wolf, and at once
the wolves encircling the goblins moved as one to take the remaining spear-men.
Gregor was entranced as the action unfolded. The auburn colored pack leader
moved into the path of the spears before it, biting one in half with its
terrible jaws and knocking another aside with its paw, as it surged toward the
goblin leader. The large gray wolf quickly closed the distance between itself
and the diminutive leader, and the goblin leader's full attention was focused
on the great gray beast as it leapt into the air. The goblin was quick and resourceful,
taking advantage of his position as he made himself as small as possible under
his shield. He brought the short sword's blade through a small hole in the
center of his shield and braced for the airborne wolf's impact. He had
obviously practiced the maneuver many times before with success, and it served
him well now. The gray wolf landed heavily on the shield and fell away. It did
not struggle to rise, and Gregor said a small prayer for its sacrifice. The
leader rose and shouted, apparently full of his victory, just in time to have
his throat torn out. The clenching jaws of the fiery large wolf that had come
from his rear had neatly delivered vengeance. The fight was ended with the
goblin leader's death, as his followers fled to the woods. Few made it as far
as the tree line before the pack had them, and Gregor doubted those that made
it to the trees fared much better in the forest.

           
He
turned his attention away from the fleeing goblins and their pursuers to watch
the pair of pack leaders. The gray wolf was on its side near the body of the
dead goblin leader, and the auburn wolf was now standing near its companion's
body. It tentatively touched the fallen animal with its muzzle, as if checking
for signs of life. Gregor watched in wonder as the auburn pack leader sat back
on its haunches facing away from him and began to transform. The front legs
became arms as the fur that covered it thinned and shortened, and hands
replaced the front paws. The body lengthened, with fur appearing to draw into
the creature's hide, revealing tanned skin along a well-muscled back that was
clearly human even at this distance. The fullness of the figure's hips was the
only indication it was female, as soft auburn hair lengthened from her scalp,
stopping just at her shoulders. Gregor felt embarrassed for his intrusion, but
could not bring himself to look away.
 
He
watched her run her hands over the large gray wolf slowly, as if seeking the
wound. Her body tensed as blood spread across the fur of the wounded animal.
The figure's head lowered as she brought her hands together, seemingly where
the short sword had penetrated. Moments later the gray wolf stirred, and Gregor
noted the rise and fall of its chest where the hands of the female lay. He
found he had been holding his breath, and released it in a rush. He drew air
into his own starved lungs, and moved closer to the edge of the river.
"Hello! You there!" Gregor shouted to the woman, wanting to let her
know she was not alone. She glanced at him over her shoulder, and without
pausing to acknowledge him, she scooped the wounded animal into her arms and turned
toward the forest. Gregor could only marvel at her strength, as a moment later
she disappeared into the woods with her arms full of the great gray beast. He
was glad to know the animal had been rescued, but he was curious to know by
whom. He had never heard of such a creature that could change
form
this way. Gregor shook his head, once more amazed at
how little he knew of the world. It seemed pointless to stand wondering at the
strange course of events, so he once more began moving along the river's edge.

***

           
Tana
was worried. Problems were plenty in her forest with the incursion of the
goblin tribes. The wolves were slowly starving or being killed as the goblins
encroached more and more. Their normal game was slaughtered, and the
interlopers seemed to be appearing everywhere. Lone wolves, driven out to hunt
by hunger, had even begun attacking grazing animals that strayed too far from
their herds. Men would come into the forest soon seeking the animals, thinking
the packs were to blame. Things were bad enough without this new complication.
A soldier, or mercenary more likely, had seen her change. She yanked her pack
of clothes from the tree limb where she had left it, and moved near where Fang
rested. The leathers were such a trial to deal with, but it looked like she was
going to have company soon one way or another, so best to be dressed for it.
Tana strapped on the delicate blade she kept for encounters with poachers, and
strung her bow and quiver across her back. Her tall form was clothed and ready
in moments. "Well, girl, let me see if I can get you on your feet again,
and we will go find this new problem together. We can beat him to the bridge
easily enough."

***

           
Gregor
found a crossing point the next day where a great tree spanned the river half a
day's march from where he had camped the night before. He was glad to have a
chance to resume his path properly, even if it meant moving across the river to
the forest of the unknown female. His dreams had troubled him, and Gregor
wondered at the safety of entering the forest of a woman who clearly held sway
over the animals that called it home. Her flight the day before was a sure sign
she did not wish to be bothered. It had not taken Gregor long to reason this
out, as he gnawed at a breakfast of seasoned boar meat and hard tack. The
breakfast also served to remind him he was running out of provisions, and food
had been hard to come by as he had traveled the river's edge. The simple farm
boy in him longed for a fishing pole and a bit of luck, but his days of plucking
hapless fish from the waters near his home were over. Gregor looked into the
surrounding trees on the far side of the river, and seeing no more reason to
delay, he started across the ancient tree that formed a bridge where it had
fallen. Someone had been using it regularly for that purpose, as the branches
had been cut away to make a relatively safe path across the breadth of the
river, though there was no mark from saw or ax to indicate it had been felled
for this purpose. Still, Gregor had learned his lessons well enough in the
woods, and he watched where he placed his boots as he slowly made his way. The
whisper of an arrow, followed by the appearance of the same near his right
boot
, made him aware that not only was he not alone, but
that he was in a very bad spot. Gregor had no desire to alarm the archer, who
could easily have put the arrow in him if that had been their purpose. Any
question about whom that archer might be was answered with a low growl just
ahead of where Gregor stood. He very slowly tipped his head up to find that the
large gray wolf he had seen wounded the day before was in fine health, and
currently blocking his path just a few paces away.

           
"Can
you swim? She can. Fang can just about swim like a fish when she has the need.
I bet that chain mail would drag you right to the bottom, if the current
doesn't take you first. I want you to think hard about that for a moment, and
then we are going to talk. Can you hear me okay out there? I don't want to
shoot you just because you can't hear me." The voice could not be called
musical due to the hard edge of her tone, but Gregor found it strangely
evocative in spite of his current predicament. He longed to look up at the face
of the woman of the forest, but he decided he had better not.

           
"Yes,
ma'am, I can hear you and I can't swim in this armor or otherwise."
Gregor's heart felt like it might fly out of his chest, but at that moment he
could not have said if fear or exhilaration was the primary cause.

           
"Good,
I am glad I have your full attention. Rest assured you have mine as well. Now,
you are going to look up slowly, and if I even think you are going to draw
those blades, or try running back across this tree, then you better learn to
swim in that chain mail quick. You understand?"

           
Gregor
felt he was doing well not to fall off the tree at that moment, so she didn't
have much to worry about. Still, there could be no harm in reassuring her.
"Yes, ma'am, I understand.” He brought his hands up slowly to show he was
more than willing to comply.

           
"Bring
your chin up. I want to see your face while you tell me exactly why you are in
my forest and where you are headed. You will also tell me exactly who you are,
and why I should care. Watch him, Fang."

           
Gregor
brought his chin up as instructed, and was struck silent. The woman before him
stood a bit taller than he, and was exquisitely formed from her life in the
forest. The muscles of both her arms were taunt with the pressure applied to
her drawn bow. He had no desire to taste the sting of the arrow she held nocked
and ready. Her green eyes glittered with intensity even at this distance,
though a nonchalant look colored her features.
 
It appeared she had pretty much planned this meeting as just another
part of her daily routine, and was ready to be done with it. If she had any
hesitation about firing, Gregor could find no indication of it.

           
The
woman drew the bow away slightly from its sighting position, addressing him
before assuming a proper targeting stance once more. "Are you going to
start talking, or am I going to shoot you? Let me make it easy for you. What is
your name?"

           
Gregor
decided after only a moment's deliberation that the truth would serve him best
once again. He raised his voice so that it would carry unhindered to her,
finding strength in it he had not noticed until now. "I am Gregor, honored
with the title of weapons page to the Knights of Bella Grey until they were
destroyed. Lord Galant Silverwing was my mentor and now has sent me to Nactium
for education with the priests at the Temple of Light within its walls. The
blades I carry are those of my mentor. He was wounded in a melee with bandits
and, fearing more would come, he sent me through the wood toward the city of
Nactium following a path west."

           
A
smile crooked her mouth as Tana answered the voluminous information she
received. "Well, that was a bit more than a mouthful. Do you always share
your life story with strangers, or has the potential bite of both my bow and my
companion influenced you? No answer required, as the positive influence is
obvious. It was more of a rhetorical question than an actual inquiry. Why do
you want to go to that city anyway? Your armor and stance show training as a
warrior, not a priest. I doubt there is much the temple priests could share
with you in the area of martial pursuits."

           
Gregor
took her pause as an invitation to continue his story. He noticed with some
amount of relief that her bow was lowered slightly, and no longer at the ready,
though the lady before him still kept her arrow nocked.
 
"I believe I am to be educated in many
things within the temple. My knowledge of the God of Light is limited, and my
healing abilities are lacking. Master Silverwing indicated that the priests of
the temple would be able to complete my training and allow me to more fully
enter into the service of the God of Light.
 
The sword hands of the Light have been severed. It is my hope to number
among those that are to serve as protectors of the common peoples and slayers
of the evil forces that have grown so numerous in recent days." Gregor
felt himself come to his full height as he spoke. He did not know where the
last words had come from, but he felt the truth of them bring him strength. The
statement brought him something else he had not expected; something he had not
really felt since the terrible dream he had experienced in Dakin's home. Hope,
pure hope that could not be shaken by doubt about his own abilities or fear of
the unknown trials that he would face. Despite his current predicament, Gregor
smiled.

           
Tana
lowered her bow and waved her hand, urging Gregor to come across the tree. It
appeared her interview was over, and Gregor would be allowed to continue. Fang
seemed a bit more judgmental than her mistress, not quite ready to give up her
position until Tana called her. "Come to me, Fang. He means no harm, and
there would be sin in drowning him. Let's see if we can get him to his precious
city, and out of our forest. My name is Tana, not that you will have much need
of it after today. The walls of Nactium are little more than a half-day's
walking from here. The wolves are nervous enough without another interloper in
our forest, so I will take you to the gates myself. Be sure you keep up. The
sooner I am rid of you, the sooner I can get back to tending these woods."

           
Gregor
felt his words and honesty had been well invested in the mistress of the forest
as he fell into stride beside her. There was a well-worn path leading from the
tree bridge that allowed the two to walk abreast with Fang taking up watch
between them. Gregor found his new companions equally quiet, though he was able
to learn a bit about Tana with gentle questions. She ignored most of his
inquiries, though she confirmed that she was the protector of the wood.