Chapter 9
Nighttime in the Dead Lands
Thaddeus and Rasmere could not have been more thankful for the fire. Nighttime in the Dead Lands rivaled the darkest night that either Thaddeus or Rasmere ever experienced.
Thaddeus walked over to the gate and peered into the blackened wilderness. He could only see a few feet past where the fire's soft orange glow met the night's onyx colored curtain. It made the King uneasy when he wondered what lurked in the abyss of night, waiting and watching. The King was brave, but not stupid. Thaddeus retreated back to the safety of the fire.
"I hope if anything is out there, it does not like fire," Thaddeus said as he pushed the end of a log deeper into the fire with his boot.
"The evils that lurk in places such as these rarely like anything associated with light. That is why the Dead Lands has become a haven for such creatures. Even in the height of the sun, the land is still dark," Rasmere said.
"There are many tales of this place," Thaddeus said. "I suspect most of them are just that. Tales. I wonder if any of the old stories about this place are genuine?"
"Most stories and tales originate from some form of truth. After years and years of retelling, some of the facts have become misconstrued," Rasmere told the King.
"That makes me feel a little better. The tales about this place have spread for the past five hundred years. Hopefully they are far from the truth," Thaddeus replied.
Highly unlikely. Rasmere looked at the King. His brow narrowed and face hardened. "Ghosts, Dashi, Hoggins, and Cold Hearts are all confirmed to reside here. I think we are free from the Hoggins for a time. I do not fear ghosts. The Cold Hearts are territorial in nature, so as long as we do not come near their den we should be fine. The Dashi are my biggest concern."
"Why the Dashi?" The King asked.
"Dashi are very manipulative. They glamour their victims, creating an alternate reality. Many of the Dashi's victims live the rest of their lives under their trance. Dashi are cruel and blood thirsty, slowly draining the life force from their prey to remain young and beautiful themselves."
"I have never encountered a Dashi, or most of the other creatures of which you speak," Thaddeus replied. And I hope to keep it that way.
"Most of these demons do not come close to the kingdoms. No offense, but you have spent little time outside of Galdarath," Rasmere pointed out, rather politely.
"When someone says no offense, they do mean to offend, but you are correct. Other than my campaign against the Black Suns and the Shadows, I have not had an abundant amount of experience outside of Galdarath," Thaddeus admitted.
Smiling, Rasmere said, "It looks as if this journey is changing all of that. Here you sit in the dark of night in the Dead Lands. Few men can say the same."
"We have not survived the night," Thaddeus said with a grin. "Tell me more of these Dashi."
"They appear beautiful and fair, but in all reality, they are old, ugly hags with great magical power at their disposal. Some say they are mothers of Wizards. Even if one could break the glamour, it would serve only to hasten their demise. They are not to be trifled with," Rasmere informed the King.
The conversation came to an abrupt halt when a bright light appeared in the darkness. Beams of light crept through the broken gate and floated toward the hamlet.
"What do you suppose it is?" Thaddeus asked. He cracked his neck from side to side and stood.
"I do not know. Let us go to the gate and find out," Rasmere said as he stood and marched toward the light.
Thaddeus drew his axe, and Rasmere unsheathed his golden long sword.
"Hello?" Thaddeus called out into the night, but received no answer. Lights without voices are not a good sign. Rasmere gave the King an uneasy look. "Who goes there?" Thaddeus shouted out once more.
Still no answer.
"We should retreat back to the safety of the fire. At least we will be able to see our foe, or foes," Rasmere insisted.
"Agreed," said Thaddeus.
They inched backed away from the gate.
"Thaddeus? Rasmere?"
"River?" Thaddeus asked. "Is that you?"
As the light came closer to the hamlet, three figures came into sight. It was River, Azonis, and Caleb.
"Thank the gods!" Thaddeus called out as he hurried to the gate to meet them.
Thaddeus let out a sigh of relief. A tremendous weight had just lifted from the King's overburdened shoulders. River rushed through the gate and jumped into Thaddeus's arms, wrapping her own arms around his neck and almost squeezing the life from him.
"It's good to see you," she said.
"As it is you," Thaddeus replied as she let go of her tight embrace. "And you as well, Azonis."
"Your appearance has given me a great sense of relief," Rasmere sputtered.
Azonis shook Thaddeus's meaty hand. "Good to be back, King," the Sestian said.
"Good to have you back, Sestian," Thaddeus said, slapping him on the shoulder. "And you as well, Caleb. How do you feel?"
"Much better," Caleb replied.
Azonis walked over to Rasmere and stuck out his hand. Rasmere looked at him for several moments before he returned the gesture.
"It is good to see you well, Sestian," Rasmere said.
"Your presence was sorely missed. I had a rather brutal encounter with a tribe of Hoggins. I could not help but to think how badly I needed my Sword," Azonis said.
"Your sword is in its sheath," Rasmere said, confused. "Did you lose it?"
"Not my golden sword, but rather my true Sword. Rasmere Elmidas," Azonis confessed.
Rasmere's mouth gaped open at the sincerity in Azonis's voice. The Sestian had not spoken to him like this in many years.
"Thank you, my Lord. I would like to have been by your side in battle once more," Rasmere replied. What is happening? "Nothing would have made me happier than to slay a few hundred Hoggins with you."
Rasmere tried to pull his hand away from the long shake, but Azonis held tight.
"Rasmere," Azonis said with the utmost sincerity. "I promise you that when this is over, and we return to Lasticall, I will right the wrongs my people have bestowed upon your kind. Never again will the Forest Engeniums be treated unfairly."
"I have heard these idle promises all too many times," Rasmere barked.
"This time it is different. When I was fighting the Hoggins, I realized how important you are. It does not seem like it at times, but I cherish our friendship, if you ever considered it a friendship. Things will change," Azonis said as a tear rolled down his cheek.
Rasmere's heart thumped against the wall of his chest. He did not know what to say. Azonis had never shown such emotion. His stomach grew queasy, and his body coursed with an unknown feeling. He could think of only one thing to say.
"We shall see," Rasmere said.
He turned away from Azonis, partially out of embarrassment, partially out of confusion. That was not the response I should have given.
Azonis looked at Rasmere for a moment and then made his way over to the fire.
I hope I did not offend him. That was not my intention at all, Rasmere thought.
As he turned, Rasmere locked eyes with Thaddeus. The King looked at him and grinned. Rasmere returned the smile and walked over to the fire with the others.
Azonis warmed his hands next to the fire. He told them of his and River's battle with the Hoggins. He praised the Mage for saving him and disposing of the Hoggins in such a spectacular fashion.
"I swear it to you," Azonis said as he placed his hand on River's shoulders. "I was surely dead, but she cast a spell that wiped out the entire pack and still protected me in the process. I am glad she rides with us."
"Thank you, Sestian. You are too kind. I just did what I had to do. You saw what happened to me afterward. I was useless," River said as her face turned the color of a beet.
"You did not need to be able to continue. YOU KILLED THEM ALL!" Azonis exclaimed.
It pleased Thaddeus
to find the Sestian bonding with the group. From previous dealings with Azonis, Thaddeus knew that he could be very stubborn and proud. Even though he and Azonis had never been at odds, an unspoken tension lay between them, but Thaddeus suspected that there would always be tension between two rulers.
"That's impressive," Caleb said as he stood. "But take a look around you."
They looked around the hamlet. Hundreds upon hundreds of Hoggins lay slain all around them. If this hamlet was in the Free Lands, the events that had taken place would be forever remembered.
Caleb sat back down and said, "Thaddeus did this all by himself!"
"By himself!" Azonis blurted out. "There must be over five hundred Hoggins here."
"More like seven hundred," Caleb said. "And if he would have not done what he did, Rasmere and I would not be sitting with you at this very moment. They had us tied up and were about to burn us at the stake."
River asked, "How were you able to single handedly defeat this many of these creatures?"
Thaddeus, trying not to sound arrogant, answered, "I am not sure. I just knew that Caleb and Rasmere were in dire need of my help. My mind just shut down, and I attacked."
"And look!" Caleb exclaimed once more. "Not a scratch on him!"
"Is this true, Thaddeus?" Azonis asked. "You did not even sustain a single scratch?"
"So it seems," Thaddeus replied.
"Incredible!" Azonis said. "It seems your moniker rings true."
"At least for the moment. It was luck more than anything," King Graystone said.
"Luck!" Caleb cried out. "Bah! Wasn't it you that said luck plays no part in battle, only skill?"
"I do recall something along those lines," Thaddeus said.
"Come on," River said as she sat down next to Thaddeus. "What you did was miraculous. Why not indulge in it if just for a moment."
"When one indulges in his accomplishments, he loses focus," Thaddeus said.
"You know you want to at least smile," River said as she pushed his large chest, moving him back a few inches. She smiled from ear to ear.
A thin grin grew on Thaddeus's face. "It was impressive if I do say so myself."
"He smiles," Rasmere said. "What is the world coming to? Something is not right when Azonis and Thaddeus are this merry."
"I almost sense a hint of joy in the Sword as well," Thaddeus said.
"You most certainly do," Rasmere replied. "Why would I not be joyful? Well, other than being stuck in this wretched, evil, land."
"It is good to see our group meshing. We have been through much together, in a short period," Thaddeus told them.
"I feel that if we are to be successful in defeating this evil in our land, we must all have a strong bond. I cannot wait to meet the others," Azonis said.
"Nor can I," River said as she rubbed her arms in an attempt to warm them.
Rasmere stood and threw another log on the fire. He looked to River and nodded with a smile.
"Too bad we have no food. I am starving," Caleb said, after his stomach let out a ravenous growl.
"I do not like the fact that you are hungry. Do not turn into the form of one of your beasts and make a midnight snack out of us," Thaddeus said, and then let out a chuckle.
"Never," Caleb replied. "Without you all, I would be lost."
"Thaddeus?" River asked.
"Yes," the King replied.
"I am freezing. Do you mind if I sit closer to you?" she asked.
Thaddeus shuffled his feet in the dirt. His cheeks became rosy red. He did not want to get too close with River. For one, his beloved, Emilia, still weighed heavy on his mind. Two, he was sure his brother fancied River. Thaddeus made to offer her his shirt, but the nip of the cold convinced him otherwise. If he gave her his shirt, he would freeze.
"If, if you insist," he replied.
"I just make the jest because I am cold, and you're the largest individual here. Don't think that I am making an advance at you," she said, smiling.
Rasmere, Azonis, and Caleb found humor in this. All three laughed loudly. Thaddeus's face grew redder.
"Shut up," the King said as he draped his arm around the Mage and pulled her in close. At first it was an awkward embrace. Thaddeus was tense, his muscles taught. She nuzzled closer to him.
What are you doing, Thaddeus? She looked so peaceful under his arm. She knows she is safe. Relax, this means nothing. Thaddeus let the weight of his arm drape over her. He took a deep breath and exhaled as he pulled her closer to him.
Their moment of serenity did not last long. From within the darkness a scream of pain tore through the night.
"What was that?" Caleb said as the five companions jumped to their feet.
"I do not know," Azonis said. "But I do not like the sound of it."
"Some sort of animal," Rasmere said. "But I do not know what animal would be out here in the Dead Lands."
Again, the unknown beast cried out in pain. This time a deep growl followed the painful plea. The growl became louder and more vicious. They heard a loud snap, and the cries went silent.
"I don't like the sound of that. It seemed close," Caleb said. "Want me to check it out?"
"No!" Thaddeus said. "We stay together. Whatever it was has eaten and should be full now. Let us build the fire back up. I feel we are in for a long night."
They sat back down next to the fire and tried to make themselves comfortable.
"I will take first watch. We will switch the duty every two hours, so no one will fall asleep," Thaddeus said.
"Fine by me. I'm exhausted," Caleb said.
Slumber overtook them. Even in such a frightful environment, it did not take longer than ten minutes for the last of them to fall asleep. They did not worry because Thaddeus pulled first watch, and they were confident he would protect them.
As the night lingered on, Thaddeus looked over at his sleeping companions. The corners of his mouth rose. King Graystone was glad that his companions were getting along better. Things would be much easier now. Thaddeus felt that even in this desolate land, nothing could go wrong.
The hair stood on the back of Thaddeus's neck upon hearing the loud growling once more. This time the beast sounded angry.
He took to his feet and unsheathed his swords. He circled his sleeping companions and called out for them to wake. Suddenly, as if woken from a dream, Thaddeus's current reality came to an abrupt halt. The fire blinked low, Rasmere was lying on the ground asleep, his other companions were nowhere to be seen, and the black and yellow Hormut hovered over top a strange creature, tearing at his neck.
Thaddeus ran to the beast and called for it to stop. The human-like figure screamed out in pain. Rasmere woke and jumped to his feet.
"What is going on?" he asked. "What is happening?"
"I do not know," Thaddeus replied. "Where are the others?"
"Why are we back in the Dead Lands?" Rasmere asked.
"What do you mean?" Thaddeus asked with a look of confusion.
"We left the Dead Lands over two days ago," Rasmere said, confused.
"Rasmere," Thaddeus said in a strange tone. "We have been here by the fire the whole time. What has come over you?"
A loud snapping sound came from the Hormut's direction. The unknown creature's cries went silent. The Hormut shook the blood from its coat and panted over to Thaddeus's side.
What is going on? Thaddeus thought.
The canine looked at him with a bloody grin. Its long purple tongue hung from its mouth, moving up and down with each long, deep, rapid breath. Thaddeus disregarded the Hormut and walked over to the slain creature.
A grotesque figure lay before them on the ground. It looked like an old woman, except for the long claws on the ends of her fingers. No hair grew on her head. Warts and oozing boils covered her flesh. Her neck was twisted with a large open wound pumping out the last of her blood.
"What is it?" Thaddeus asked.
"I cannot believe my eyes," Rasmere said. "It is a Dashi!"
"A D
ashi," Thaddeus said in wonder. "What is it doing here?"
"You believed us to be reunited with the others. I was lead to believe that we were back in the Free Lands," Rasmere paused for a moment. "It seems that we have been under the glamour of this beast."
"But how?" Thaddeus asked.
Rasmere thought long and hard, trying to differentiate fact from fiction. He strained his mind to remember.
"Do you remember the light that appeared in the darkness?" Rasmere asked.
"Yes I do. It was River and the others," Thaddeus replied.
"Well in my reality it was a group of bandits. We killed them and took their horses," Rasmere said.
"It was neither," Thaddeus realized. "It was the Dashi."
"Precisely," Rasmere said. "If not for your savage friend we would still be stuck in its trance."
Thaddeus looked like a dagger was driven through the heart. The companionship they all had shared, false. The peace between Rasmere and Azonis, false. Everything was false. River and the others were still missing as well. King Graystone took to his knee and patted for the Hormut to come to him. The beast showed reluctance at first, but made its way to Thaddeus. The Hormut went down on its front paws and scooted its way over to the King. It whimpered and shivered. For a beast so fierce, it seemed to be reduced to the state of a scared pup.
"That's it. Come on boy," Thaddeus said as he extended his hand. "That's it, boy. I won't hurt you."
The Hormut smelled the King's hand and licked at his fingers. It inched its way closer. Thaddeus, ever so cautious, put his hand on the Hormut's head and gently stroked its fur. After a moment, the beast was panting with its purple tongue swinging back and forth.
"Thank you for your help," Thaddeus said.
The dog-like creature rotated its head to one side and let out a short bark. He understood Thaddeus.
"Do you have a name?" Thaddeus asked. "I suspect not."
The Hormut laid his head on Thaddeus's knee and panted. Out of the blue the Hormut shot up to all fours, and his ears stood erect. He took off toward the gate, barking loudly. Rasmere and Thaddeus set off after him. Once at the gate, Thaddeus and Rasmere saw a light, much like they had before, making its way through the dark night.
Thaddeus called out, "Hello out there!"
Someone answered his call at once, unlike the initial silence he experienced earlier.
"Thaddeus!" a familiar voice answered.
Thank the gods! Thaddeus thought as River, Azonis, and Caleb approached the hamlet.
They sat around the fire discussing the strange turn of events that happened since their separation at the river. Much to the King's surprise, Azonis and River's story was identical to the one he had imagined earlier. The only difference between the alternate reality and this, was the fact that Azonis did not make amends with Rasmere, and River did not ask to sit with the King to warm herself. She did so without asking.