The Godling Chronicles 02 - Of Gods And Elves (12 page)

Linis handed both Lee and Dina a small flask. “Keep
this with you. Should you find yourself lacking food and drink, it
will keep you strong for several days. Only a mouthful will do.”

They received their gift gratefully and bowed in turn.

“
Thank you, my friend,” said Lee.

Linis took Dina's hand. “I look forward to our
next meeting.”

Dina blushed and smiled. “As do I.”

Kaylia embraced Lee then turned to Dina. Dina laughed as
Kaylia whispered into her ear.

Gewey hugged Dina then turned to Lee. “Be safe,
and bring your son home.”

Lee placed his hands on Gewey's shoulders and studied
him for a moment. “You have grown up so much in such a short
time. Still, listen to what Linis says, and be careful whom you
trust. I don't like the idea of delivering you into the hands of the
elves, but I think you’re right. It is the only way.”

“
I'll be careful,” said Gewey.

Lee smiled, then he and Dina mounted their horses. As
they rode through the doors, they heard the farewells of the temple
call after them. Lee's mind focused on their journey as he heard the
boom of the doors close behind them. They hadn’t ridden a
hundred yards when the hairs on the back of Lee's neck stood up. They
were being watched. He knew it but from where he couldn't tell. The
rocky terrain made it impossible for him to spot anyone, and if
whoever it was could evade the elf seekers, he had little chance of
catching him.

Lee turned to Dina who was looking around nervously. “I
feel it too,” she whispered.

“
Be ready,” warned Lee.

Dina's hand slid to the knife in her belt. By the time
they reached the end of the path, her nerves were frazzled. Lee,
however, seemed calm and alert.

“
We should head in the direction of Althetas,”
said Lee. “If we are still followed by nightfall, we'll
continue on to the city and try to throw them off. If not, we'll
start west. There's a road about a day’s ride that will take us
to Idelia. From there we can make our way to the southern coast.”

By the time the sun began to set, Lee no longer thought
they were being followed. He and Dina found a small clearing and made
camp.

“
It seems we are not worthy of further attention.”
Lee laid out his bedroll. “Which means Gewey and the elves are
the likely targets.” His eyes scanned the nearby brush. “Still,
I should scout the area. Wait here.”

Lee disappeared into the fading light, while Dina
munched on a piece of bread and some dried fruit. About an hour
later, he reappeared.

“
Whoever or whatever it was is gone,” said
Lee. “For now we aren't the objects of their interest.”

“
I hope they feel the same way about Gewey and
Kaylia,” said Dina.

Lee nodded slowly, laid down on his bedroll and stared
at the night sky.

Chapter Eight

Gewey, Kaylia, Selena, and Linis joined Theopolou and
his companions in the receiving chamber shortly after Lee and Dina's
departure. Their gear lay next to Selena's chair at the far end of
the hall.

“
Follow me,” said Selena. She walked to the
far left corner of the room where a tapestry depicting the symbols of
the nine Gods hung. She reached behind it and a loud clack echoed
throughout the chamber. A hidden door on the floor in front of her
fell open, revealing a ladder leading down into a dark hallway.

“
Follow the passage for about one-thousand feet.
There you'll find a small iron door.” She handed Gewey a key.
“This will unlock it. The passage will let you out along the
western wall of the temple. From there, follow the trail west until
you reach the Sintil Sans Road.”

Gewey nodded and put the key in his pocket. “Thank
you, High Lady.”

They gathered their gear and readied themselves to climb
down the narrow ladder. Selena had packed the Book of Souls in
Gewey’s satchel.

Theopolou and the other elves thanked Selena for her
hospitality. Linis bowed low, and held out a small silver dagger,
sheathed in an ivory scabbard. The handle was wrapped in soft leather
and it was crowned with a large blood ruby. “Take this as a
reminder of our friendship,” he said.

Selena smiled and took the dagger. “Thank you,
seeker. You and your kin are always welcome here.”

Kaylia took Selena's hand in hers. “I can never
repay you for your kindness, High

Lady.”

“
Nonsense,” she replied. “Your bravery
has saved us all. Without you, the only hope we have for survival
would still be laying helpless in the healing chamber.”

Kaylia lowered her eyes and smiled.

“
As for you,” she said to Gewey. “I
charge you with keeping yourself alive and well.”

“
I'll do my best,” Gewey replied with a
smile, then made his way to the ladder.

Gewey went first, followed closely by Kaylia, Linis, and
the others. The narrow hallway was pitch black, and it took a few
moments for Gewey's eyes to adjust. The air was stale, and the rough
stone walls echoed the troop’s footsteps. Just as Selena had
said, the hall sloped gently up for about one-thousand feet. There he
could make out the outline of small door. After retrieving the key he
had been given, Gewey felt around until he found the keyhole. The
lock was old and rusted, and for a moment he feared the key would
break, but to his relief he heard the sound of grating metal as the
lock gave way. Gewey pushed hard with his shoulder and the door
screeched open.

Gewey breathed deeply, allowing fresh air to fill his
lungs. The sun was still high in the sky, and for a moment he was
blinded.

“
I should take the lead for now,” said
Linis.

Theopolou nodded his approval.

They followed the trail west for a few miles, then Linis
ordered a halt. “I assume you have no intention of traveling
the main roads.”

“
Correct,” said Theopolou. “Once this
path ends I will lead us.”

They continued for several hours. The terrain became
less and less rocky, replaced by thinly spaced oaks and pines. The
long grass bent and shifted as a constant breeze blew in from the
west. What struck Gewey as odd was the utter silence. With the
exception of their footfalls and the sound of the wind, nothing, not
even birds could be heard. The elves appeared to notice this oddity
and Gewey could see that it made them uneasy.

“
Something foul is near,” whispered Linis.

“
What do you mean?” asked Gewey.

“
I'm not sure. But I intend to find out.”

Linis motioned for a halt and disappeared into the thin
brush. A while later he returned, muscles tensed and eyes wide.

“
We are being followed,” said Linis. “But
by whom or what, I can't say.”

“
How?” said Gewey. “I thought this way
was secret.”

“
So did I. It would seem the High Lady was
mistaken. I tried to spot our pursuer, but it is as crafty as my
seekers reported, assuming what they saw is the same thing that
hounds us now.”

“
We should try and capture it,” said
Theopolou. “I would know who this is, and why they risk
following elves.”

“
Whatever it is, it's neither human nor elf,”
said Linis.

“
How do you know that?” asked Gewey.

“
No human alive could avoid me. Not even a
half-man could manage it. As for it being an elf... no elf
feels
like this creature. Life flees from it. Not even the birds come
near.”

Theopolou looked troubled as his brow furled and eyes
surveyed the area. “Take as many from my escort as you need.”

“
I should need no more than three,” said
Linis. He turned to the other elves. “Who among you have had
seeker training?”

Stintos and Haldrontis, two tall blond elves, stepped
forward. “And I make three,” announced Gewey.

Linis looked at Gewey skeptically. “I know you
have training, but I do not think Lee would approve of this.”

“
Lee is not here,” said Gewey. “And if
he were, I am still the best choice.”

Linis' mouth tightened, then he sighed. “Very
well. But you must do exactly as you are told.”

Kaylia grabbed Gewey's arm. “You should let me go
instead.”

Gewey squeezed her hand. This drew uneasy stares from
the elves. “Don't worry. I won't do anything too stupid.”

Linis motioned for the volunteers to follow him into the
brush. They walked north for about one-hundred yards, then he told
them to halt.

“
You two split up east and west. See to it that
you make enough noise to announce your presence. I will move north
while Gewey follows slowly behind.” His eyes met Gewey's. “Make
sure you are at least three-hundred paces behind me at all times. The
thing that follows us fell back north as I approached. Ahead is a
clearing. The creature will likely try to avoid being exposed, which
means it will double back and try to sneak by me. When it does we
will close the trap.” He looked hard at the entire group. “If
you encounter whatever this is, do not take it on alone.”

Everyone nodded in agreement. Gewey began to feel the
pulse of the earth flow through his limbs. The world around him
opened up, and he could sense everything around him. He closed his
eyes and listened for their prey.

“
It's one-hundred yards north,” said Gewey.
“And you're right. It's neither human nor elf.”

“
How is it you know this?” asked Stintos.

“
Never you mind,” shot Linis. “If
Gewey says the creature is there, then you can count on it.” He
turned to Gewey. “Do you know what it is?”

Gewey shook his head. “No. But I think it knows
we're coming.”

“
All the more reason to be mindful,” said
Linis.

Stintos and Haldrontis drew their long knives and each
headed in opposite directions. Linis gave Gewey a final glance and
went north. Once he was out of sight Gewey slowly crept forward. With
his heightened senses, he could hear the movements of the creature
ahead. Slowly he slid his sword from its scabbard. It felt warm as it
throbbed in his hand. Energy rushed through him like a torrent, and
he could feel the sinews of his arms and legs pulse and grow
stronger.

Gewey heard Linis as the elf neared the creature. Linis
had not yet spotted it, but Gewey was certain he soon would. How
could he not? He was practically on top of it, but soon it was clear
he had missed it entirely. Linis continued past the creature, showing
no sign he had noticed it. Gewey realized the hunters had become the
hunted.

From the east, Gewey heard two more of the creatures
move in, closing in on Stintos' position. He knew he had to decide
quickly what to do.

“
Linis, it's a trap!” Gewey yelled at the
top of his lungs. His legs burst to life as he sped toward Stintos.

The creatures revealed themselves just as Stintos came
into view. Their figures were that of a man, but that was the only
thing they had in common. They wore tattered clothes, blackened with
grime and decay. Their faces were burnt, misshapen, and covered with
deep scars, as if they had been assembled from the rotting corpses of
a dozen dead men. But despite their outward appearance, their
movements were unearthly... their speed unmatched by any Gewey had
seen, save Lee.

They were on Stintos before he knew they were there.
Each beast held a cruel dagger in hand, and with them they slashed at
the elf’s throat. Stintos only barely avoided death by falling
back onto the ground. But this only put him at a greater
disadvantage. One of the creatures moved to plunge his dagger in the
elf’s chest, but Gewey got there just before the fatal blow
could be struck and removed the creatures head with one swift stroke.
Thick, black blood poured from the beast's neck, as the body fell.

Gewey turned his attention to the second creature that
was already in striking distance. The creature struck at Gewey's
heart, but the power that flowed through him allowed him to easily
avoid the attack. He brought his sword down across the creature’s
chest, splitting it open and sending it tumbling to the ground. But
to Gewey's dismay, this did not end the battle.

No sooner had the creature landed when it sprung to its
feet and charged again, this time at the elf. The creature slashed at
the left arm of Stintos, who deftly moved aside, and spun around,
bringing his long knife across its back. But this did nothing to slow
it down, as the creature also spun, swinging its own knife wildly.
This time the blade struck home and slashed across the elf's ribs.
Stintos groaned and staggered back.

Gewey knew this must end now. Linis was alone with one
of these creatures, and he knew he must hurry to his aid.
The
head
, he thought, and aimed his blade at the
creature’s neck. It found its mark and the beast fell.

“
Go back to the others,” Gewey commanded and
tore off in the direction of Linis.

He found the elf three-hundred paces north, kneeling
beside the dismembered body of the third creature... dismembered
except for the head.