Web of Deceit (26 page)

“My trip wire,” whispered Bakhai.

Rejji grabbed for his sword as Mistake rolled away and came up in a crouch, her hands filled with knives.

The three Fakarans stood motionless for a few moments waiting for another noise, but the jungle was silent of any nearby danger. Rejji reached down and retrieved a large vine section from the fire and held it aloft. The glow only extended out a few paces, but Rejji hesitantly stepped towards the area the noise had come from. Bakhai and Mistake followed him closely. They proceeded about twenty paces from the clearing when Rejji halted and held the vine-torch higher. There on the ground was a creature the size of Mistake. It had smooth leathery skin and an odd orange tuft on the top of its head. It had two legs and arms like a human, complete down to its toes and fingers. It appeared to be unconscious and Rejji raised his sword to finish it off before it woke up.

“No,” shouted Bakhai as he rushed forward. “What are you doing?”

“I was going to kill it before it wakes up and attacks us,” Rejji replied sheepishly.

“Why?” Bakhai asked rhetorically. “It hasn’t harmed us. You must learn not to go around killing things just because you don’t understand them. Help me get it back to the fire, Mistake. I think it might be hurt.”

“Are you sure, Bakhai?” questioned Mistake. “Can’t we just let it go?”

Bakhai glared at Mistake and she shoved her daggers into their sheaths and grabbed the feet of the creature. Bakhai carefully lifted under the arms and they carried it back into the clearing. Bakhai sat next to the fire and held the creature across his lap while he examined the head.

“It has quite a bruise,” frowned Bakhai. “I feel responsible for putting up that vine.”

“I don’t understand,” puzzled Rejji. “You kill animals every day. Why is this one special?”

“I kill to eat,” explained Bakhai. “As does every other animal. I don’t kill for pleasure or because I don’t understand another animal. If the animals reacted as you did tonight, I would not be here. I am sure I was strange and alien to them when they found me. They took me in and nurtured me. They taught me and raised me as one of their own. Why is that so hard to understand?”

“Oh, it is so cute,” chirped Mistake as she saw it in the firelight. “I wonder what it is?”

“Cute?” Rejji echoed, his eyebrows rising in disbelief. “It has orange hair, if that is what that is. And practically no mouth. Look how sharp those ears are.”

“Hand me a water flask,” ordered Bakhai. “I want to revive it.”

Bakhai took a water flask from Mistake and held it to the tiny mouth. When he tried to drip a little water into the mouth it rolled down the creature’s cheek.

“See if you can open its mouth a little, Rejji,” ordered Bakhai. “I can’t seem to get any water into it.”

Rejji sheathed his sword and returned the vine-torch to the fire. He moved around Bakhai and placed his fingers on the creature’s mouth. As he spread it open, Mistake screamed and Rejji jumped backwards.

“Oh no,” wailed Mistake. “Oh no. Get rid of it now. Get it out of here. Did you see those teeth? That thing doesn’t eat berries. Those teeth would rip through bone.”

Just then the jungle floor pounded as something huge approached. A loud growl ripped through the air and the trio was frozen in terror. The pounding came louder and closer and before they could recover, a huge creature stood at the edge of the clearing. The creature was twice the height of the little one in Bakhai’s lap and much, much wider. Its skin was also leathery, but tough and wrinkled. It had large ears that hung off at angles, like small flags, and a large bulbous nose. The most prominent feature of its face though was huge mouth that spanned almost the entire width of the face. The mouth was open like the entrance to a cave and its teeth were long and sharp. It didn’t appear happy.

“Still think bringing the small one back here was a good idea?” asked Rejji as he started to slowly slide his sword out of the sheath.

“It was hurt,” Bakhai said defensively. “And I wouldn’t react that way if I were you. It was my trip vine that caused it to get hurt. I should at least try to help it recover.”

“That’s the mother, isn’t it?” trembled Mistake. “Can you talk to it? Explain that we meant no harm. Tell her we were trying to help her young one? Can’t you do something?”

“I could try to explain,” nodded Bakhai as he stared at the large creature, which was just standing at the edge of the clearing glaring at them. “The problem is that I don’t know what species to imitate. I have never seen a creature like this. I don’t know where to begin. Maybe it can sense that we mean to help and not harm her young one. She hasn’t attacked us yet.”

The creature’s mouth closed and the glare softened to a squint as it scanned the clearing as if looking for more humans. Finally, its eyes returned to stare at the Fakarans.

“I think I believe you,” the creature said. “I am going to see how Tiny is now. If you even think about touching a weapon, I will tear your hearts out. Do you understand?”

The Fakarans mutely nodded and Rejji’s hands rose so they were not near his sword. The creature stomped over to Bakhai and lifted the child off his lap. She held it to her chest and murmured into its sharp pointy ears. She ran a massive hand over the child’s orange hair in a loving caress and in a few moments the child’s eyelids popped open and revealed a set of piercing blue eyes. The child squirmed and suddenly realized where it was.

“Elf, Tokak!” Tiny exclaimed. “I smelled an elf.”

Tokak’s eyes squinted at the Fakarans and her bulbous nose crinkled as she sniffed the air.

“Smells a bit like elf,” Tokak agreed. “Hard to tell with so much smoke though.”

Tokak lowered Tiny to the ground and stared at Mistake. She lumbered closer and started sniffing the air again.

“Is that your names?” Mistake asked nervously as she backed towards the fire. “Tokak and Tiny?”

“She is TinyTokak,” declared Tokak. “I call her Tiny sometimes. Where are you from?”

“From a small coastal village far south of here,” offered Mistake. “I am not an elf though, just a Fakaran. Do you like elves?”

“I love elves,” grinned Tiny, showing a huge mouth full of very sharp teeth. “Eating elves make trolls smert.”

“Eating elves?” shuddered Mistake.

“Yes they very good to eat,” nodded Tiny. “That how I got hurt. I smelled elf and tripped in the jungle.”

“And you could have been attacked by a tyrik,” scowled Tokak. “I have told you not to go running off like that.”

Tokak turned from Mistake and looked at the two male humans. Rejji still had his hands away from his sword and Bakhai still sat by the fire.

“Who are you and why are you here?” Tokak asked.

“I am Rejji,” answered Rejji. “My friends are Bakhai, who is sitting down, and Mistake. I am responsible for them coming here. If we have trespassed on your territory, it is my fault not theirs. We are being chased by the Jiadin and entering the jungle was the only way we could survive. We plan to leave it as soon as we can find our way.”

Tokak’s large ears wagged when she nodded her head. She looked down at Bakhai. “And you are a talker?” she asked.

“A talker?” echoed Bakhai. “I am not sure what you mean.”

“You talk to animals,” explained Tokak. “It sounded like you were going to attempt that to communicate with me.”

“Yes, I was,” admitted Bakhai. “I can talk to the animals. I did not know what you were though. How is it you can talk?”

“Do you think that humans are the only ones who are smert?” Tokak asked.

“Can we eat the elf?” interrupted Tiny. “Please.”

“You will eat nothing, Tiny,” scolded Tokak. “I have warned you about running off. Besides, these humans have saved your life. That makes them friends and we don’t eat friends.”

“Even if they are elves?” Tiny pouted.

“Even if they are elves,” affirmed Tokak. “Besides, I am not sure she is an elf. It has been so long since I smelled one and the fire hurts my sensitive nose.”

“Are there other talkers?” Bakhai asked. “Other people who can talk to animals as I do?”

“There are,” Tokak nodded after a long pause. “It is not for me to talk of them though.”

“You mentioned tyriks,” interjected Rejji. “We heard stories about them. They are large spiders, aren’t they?”

“They resemble spiders,” agreed Tokak. “They are very nasty creatures. They eat trolls. You do not want to go where the tyriks are.”

“Where are these tyriks?” asked Mistake.

“In the jungle,” answered Tokak. “They are everywhere in the jungle. Avoid them if you wish to live.”

“But we are in the jungle now,” Mistake said, confusion evident on her face.

“Yes, you are,” nodded Tokak. “The jungle is not for humans. You are best to leave right away.”

“Is there a path that goes towards the Bone Mountains,” asked Bakhai. “We are on a quest to find the Sage of the Mountain and we believe that is where he is. Bad people await us outside the jungle. We would rather try avoiding the tyriks than return the way we came.”

Tokak squinted again at the Fakarans and after a long pause answered, “There are many trails through the jungle. Some lead the way you wish to go. I doubt you will survive the journey, but if certain death awaits you the other way, I will point one out in the morning.”

“That would be wonderful,” responded Rejji. “We are willing to take our chances in here. Perhaps you would like to join us on the journey?”

“We do not travel far from here,” Tokak replied. “We know this area well and it is our home. There are few tyriks in this end of the jungle and we like it that way. I will point you to the trail in the morning. You should get rest. You may need to run a lot tomorrow.”

Tokak grabbed Tiny by the arm and marched her out of the clearing. Unlike the pounding of the ground they heard when Tokak had come running, the two trolls moved silently.

“A lesson well learned,” sighed Rejji after the trolls had left. “I doubt we would be alive if I had killed TinyTokak. This certainly is a strange place.”

“She was so cute before she opened her mouth,” frowned Mistake. “I thought she was going to eat me.”

“She is still cute,” smiled Bakhai. “Her teeth are needed for what she eats. Funny how it looked like she barely had a mouth at first. Very interesting creatures. I should like to visit and talk more with them some day.”

“I think I will skip that trip,” chuckled Rejji. “Once is enough for me. She offers good advice though. Let us get some more sleep.”

The Fakarans settled down for the second time and drifted off to sleep. The morning was noted by a lightening of the jungle, rather than sunlight. The large trees blocked most of the sun, but it was light enough to travel safely, although everything was cast in a shadowy gloom. When the Fakarans awoke, the trolls were waiting for them. TinyTokak was munching on a small pig.

“Share that with your new friends,” instructed Tokak. “Have you no manners?”

Tiny’s sharp teeth receded from the pig and her mouth closed up to a small button. She sheepishly walked over to Rejji and held the pig out to him. Mistake came over and carved off a large section of the rump, which Tiny’s teeth had not yet reached.

“Thank you, Tiny,” smiled Mistake. “I think that is plenty for us. You enjoy the rest.”

Tiny beamed and hopped back onto the log she had been sitting on. Mistake handed the slab of meat to Bakhai and excused herself as she retreated into the jungle. Bakhai ran a couple of sticks through the meat while Rejji rekindled the fire. Tokak watched intently as the humans cooked the meat. Tiny seemed interested only in the remains of the pig she was devouring. Mistake returned and the three humans divided the meat and quickly finished their morning meal. Mistake took what was left of the slab of meat and stuck it in her sack while Bakhai and Rejji doused the fire with dirt.

Tokak led them along the small trail they had been on the night before. She was a tremendous storehouse of knowledge concerning the jungle and she pointed out plants and animals as they walked. She indicated which plants and animals were poisonous and which ones to avoid for other reasons, such as the plants that spit up streams of acid when you came near them. Tiny frolicked along, sometimes darting into the jungle, only to dart back out moments later. The little troll was a bundle of energy who almost always seemed happy and content. The small trail finally came to a slightly wider trail and Tokak stopped.

“This is as far as we go,” Tokak announced. “Follow this trail for many days. When it stops, try to pick a smaller one going in the same direction. Be wary though. This trail is wider because many creatures use it. Most of them will not be friendly to humans. The talker knows what I mean I think. Beware of the tyriks. It is a horrible way to die. The other animals will at least kill you quickly and efficiently.”

“Will we ever see you again?” asked Bakhai. “I would like to if that is permissible.”

“You are a friend now,” Tokak grinned with a smile that reached from ear to ear. “You are always welcome to visit. When you get close, we will know it.”

Without any further farewell, the trolls turned and went back up the small trail. The Fakarans walked briskly along the wide path. Droppings along the trail indicated that it was indeed used often by a variety of creatures, but whatever they were, they seemed to avoid confrontation. At one point, the Fakarans had to detour around a huge snake that had taken up residence on the trail. When high sun came, the orb was actually visible overhead. The group stopped for a rest and nibbled on the meat Tiny had given them.

They continued on for several hours until they came to a small stream crossing the path. As the pig meat had made them all thirsty, their water flasks were empty and they stopped to refill them. Mistake filled hers first and stood watching the small fish dart around in the stream. Suddenly, Bakhai yelped and dropped his flask into the stream as he swiftly withdrew his hand. His hand was bleeding in several spots.

“They bite,” scowled Bakhai. “Look at this. Must be seven bites all at once.”

Rejji quickly pulled his own flask out and capped it. He retrieved a long stick from the side of the trail and tried to move Bakhai’s flask to the edge of the stream. The school of small fish attacked the stick viscously and stripped the bark off of it in seconds.