***
Achil out in front ran hard. At least the land around them had firmed up. All felt relief that they had left the swamp, though they knew they were not out of the woods yet.
“I thought I heard something back there, it maybe nothing but I’m going to see if we’re being pursued,” shouted Andreas.
“Be careful you don't know who might be on our tail,” replied Achil. “Take no unnecessary risks.”
Andreas nodded and slipped back to see whether they had some unwelcome company. After a short distance he stopped, the others vanishing into the brush. He put his ear to the ground, to feel any distant vibrations, and to have warning of any danger to come. Andreas leapt to his feet someone was fast approaching. He needed to get into position so as not to be seen.
The best thing to do he thought was to climb a tree and hide in its branches. And as it turned out, he only just made it before five Mirkoid rushed past and moved ahead of him. He quietly jumped down from the tree and was away after them, approaching at speed, he struck the first. The one at the rear collapsed a dagger in his back. Before he touched the ground Andreas had pulled the dagger from him, and was after his next victim. He struck the next whilst barely breaking stride, and one by one the pursuers disappeared. Soon there were only three left and suddenly the hunters became the hunted as they ran into an ambush set by Achil and Nicholas who jumped out at the front two; dispatching them quickly. The third one turned to run, but before he could make good his escape, he ran straight into the sword of Andreas. They knew it would not take the Mirkoid long to discern that their compatriots had come to a bitter end, and after that they would most likely send out an even greater number to see what had happened to their brethren.
Achil stooped to pick up one of the clubs, to study its workmanship, and threw it across to Andreas.
“Strange that mace is made of a metal I do not recognise,” said Achil. “It's been spiked viciously and see how it's crafted, to look as terrifying as they are.”
“Their weapons are unusual,” said Andreas. “And the weight of it is strange too; perhaps they have learnt methods of metal work we do not know of.”
"I have seen this before," replied Nishga. "It is a very difficult method of working to master."
Andreas bent down to pick something up, “Their knives are ornate also, and this one is in the shape of a snake.”
He threw it at a tree, where on impact it penetrated the bark right up to the hilt.
“That’s a savage weapon,” said Andreas surprised by its venom.
Nishga pulled it out and put it in her bag, “We need to move on, before the Mirkoid start missing their friends.”
Achil once more led the way, as they weaved in and out of the tangled vegetation, trying to place as much distance between them and their pursuers. They had not realised how long they had been chased for, or how long they had been amongst the trees. And so they were blinded by the sun as they ran out onto a vast plain. It appeared that the trees had been thickest at the edge of the forest. Now at last they could feel cool air on their faces. And in the distance was an ominous shadow spreading out from Ruin Mountain. The land stretched out in front of them was a barren landscape, as though some dark presence had left its malevolent print on it.
Achil reached down and picked up some of the earth and put it to his nose.
“I think this smells like Sulphur,” said Achil pensively. “The whole place must be infused with it. No wonder everything's so desolate. It’s a poisoned wasteland. We will have to stop here and make our way up to the mountain, under cover of night. So everyone back behind the trees. We don’t want the Dragon to spy our approach.”
They all disappeared back into the undergrowth. Meanwhile Nishga put her cloak on being impatient of further delays.
“You lot stay here,” said Nishga, “I’m going out to investigate and find us a place to hold up in.”
Achil objected to her going off on her own but it was too late, she had already disappeared from view.
“Make sure,” cried Achil, “you keep safe, remember there may be other things out here more dangerous than Dragons.”
He could not see her, nor know whether she heard him, but he thought she must have on account of the mud pod that had hurtled through the air hitting him in the face.
Andreas moved round to sit next to Achil.
“We have a problem,” said Andreas.
Achil was busy brushing the dirt from his face.
“We have plenty of problems which one are you referring to,” replied Achil.
Andreas looked round making sure Nicholas could not hear, so as not to disturb his young friend.
“We cannot afford to spend time here,” said Andreas. “Not with a Mirkoid war party out after us. It's too dangerous.”
Achil pursed his lips together and nodded. “What do you propose?”
“I believe,” replied Andreas, “we need to head out as soon as Nishga gets back. The sooner we are somewhere far from here, the less likely we will need to worry about the Mirkoid coming after us.”
Achil knew Andreas was right, sadly they only had the one chameleon cloak and the lands were seemingly empty of cover.
“Okay Andreas, when Nishga returns we’ll take a chance and leave this place.”
Andreas nodded and crept back over to Nicholas to tell him of their intention.
It was mid-afternoon before Nishga arrived back and to the relief of everyone she was the bringer of good news. She had found a place that would conceal them, though it was some distance off. Achil informed her that they had decided to leave immediately, as remaining by the swamp was too dangerous, it left them vulnerable to being discovered by the Mirkoid. They gathered everything together and set off toward Ruin Mountain, they headed for the cave that Nishga had found some leagues away. As they ran their shadows stretched out like extended withered burnt out trees on the ground. The land was rough, grassy in places, stony, and barren in others. Nishga took the lead directing the others to where she thought the cave was. Every now and then they cast their eyes up at the sky or back from whence they came, to see if something malevolent had spied them. When out in the open they discovered that the land was not as barren as they first thought it to be, life had certainly returned, as could be seen by areas of long grasses and grazing herds of deer and goats. They soon covered the ground to reach the isolated covert of rocky chimneys Nishga had found. It was beneath a small alcove set back in an outcrop of large protruding rocks behind which was a water hole. Nicholas and Andreas made sure the surrounding area was secure, that they were well hidden, and could easily defend themselves should the need arise. They then joined Nishga and Achil who had made a short search of the cave; it did not stretch back far, so any unease that it might be inhabited quickly evaporated. Nishga had got out her crystal and illuminated the small cavern. At the back were signs that primitive people had once occupied the cave; there were paintings on the wall and remnants of animal bones. Nishga called the others over to view something she had found which was worthy of their attention.
They all stood staring in curiosity. In the soft light of her crystal they could make out some pictures painted on the walls that looked as if they danced like shadow puppets. There was a hunt: men after wild bison. She shone the light in the corner and the picture altered, to a different place and time. There were people standing atop a Pyramid, next to it was a picture of a vast city, but the city looked broken and fallen to ruin.
Andreas and Nicholas turned away, and left Nishga and Achil to study the wall further, while they began to rummage around to see if there was anything worth salvaging. After watching the strange shapes painted on the walls, Achil wondered if they were the remnants of a people that once frequented the locality or whether they were part of the once thriving Mirkoid community, whoever the people were there was one thing for sure, they were long gone. Achil made his way to the front of the cave, followed by Nishga.
“I do not believe the Mirkoid wil
l come for us now,” said Achil. “They seem to be a race like so many we have met on our travels. That prefers to stay within their borders. So let us rest easy today and continue on in the evening.”
“At least it's dry,” replied Nishga.
Andreas and Nicholas settled to the discomfort of the hard earthy floor.
Achil lay back against the opening of the cave and stared out. Far in the distance could still be seen the ominous shape of the swamp. Going back that way would not be wise; so should they ever return home, then he would make sure that it would be by a different road, perhaps through the great forest of Wormwood. Evening soon turned to dusk. Stars slowly appeared penetrating a deeply azure sky, glinting like rough cut diamonds. Achil looked round to see everyone sleeping; Nicholas seemed to murmur something inaudible as he slept. Nishga was curled up peacefully. Andreas slept on his back; his chest rising and falling slowly, his hand tightly gripped the hilt of his sword. Achil thought even in his sleep Andreas was on guard. Instead of waking them so that they might continue their long arduous journey, as he had said he would; he slowly shut his eyes and also fell asleep. The night past swiftly without any realising it had come and gone, outside a gentle mist seemed to be gathering, indicating that morning would soon be upon them. The sun a crimson halo was beginning to rise. As they slept exhausted by their many ordeals, the day also past the exhausted travellers by, the sun fought its way across the sky without affecting their slumber, and fled toward the horizon. Soon at dusk they would wake, and be more refreshed than they could have imagined after such a retreat, it was then hoped they would confront the Dragon of Ruin Mountain.