Pembroke was more than obliged to allow the confiscation of a horse. Though Adimus fought to wrestle the stubbornness out of it, those who followed him still had a hard time keeping up.
Adimus knew too well Laina had decided to follow, as she’d had a chance to speak with Killien directly when he’d come running into the Green Beat, and though neither of them could exactly guess why the Seer and the bard had come along, they couldn’t help but feel that they too understood. This time no thoughts entered his mind about whether his actions were heroic, whether this was his heretofore aspired-to shining moment; he grasped the reins until his knuckles were white.
They crossed the bridge, and hardly tying the reins he ran to the door. A round soft-faced lady opened it, holding a bowl of candy; Brina had been expecting children. “Adimus!”
“...Umm.” He was a bit taken aback at her nonchalant demeanor; maybe he wasn’t on the right track at all. “Can we come in?”
Argent removed his hat for the lady with a silent bow.
She looked warmly at Laina, then behind her at Alfred with a somewhat concerned look on her face. “Of course.” She opened the door for them, and took their coats. “Is this about the Sumseer coming to speak to Eichgun?” she asked.
“Not exactly-.” Adimus said.
“Yes.” said Alfred.
The squeaky staircase leading to their bedroom upstairs was blockaded by Killien, tears cleaning trails on his dirty face. The boy looked more than a little relieved to see Adimus as he ran upstairs. “Papa, Papa! Your friends are here.”
Eichgun was a grizzled fellow, calloused by long years of toil on the farm and being a guardsman to boot. As they rounded the corner Adimus, seeing him lying helpless, his stubbled face doing little to hide his sunken cheekbones and sullen eyes, filled him with a dread for which he was not prepared. “...Eek?” He greeted him.
“Adi?” He’d been snoozing, only just roused by Killien. “And the bar wench! Both!” He joked. “Haha, it’s my lucky day!” He suddenly clammed up when he saw the stranger come in behind her.
“Who’s this?” he asked Brina quietly.
“A Faeth, eh?” he echoed back. “Here to see little old me?” he looked critically at them. “More like, to question me.” he said. Then his boy ran in. He strained a smile and looked back at them. ”Well, begone, I’ve no time for it.”
Laina sat down on the edge of the bed. “Oh you must be so busy, with being broken and bedridden and all.” Laina mused, poking at the bandaged leg. He couldn't hide his wincing.
“We’re actually here because of him.” Adimus nodded toward the boy. “About what Killien is saying.”
Killien cowered at the mention of his name, Laina comforted him. “You’re in no trouble.”
Eek sat up with a groan. Even in bed the man’s size could be felt. He wasn’t big and brutish like Bearach, moreover he was exceptionally tall and stringy. He was no push over though, all tough muscle and sinew, strong enough to sling the boy around when they wrestled or weasel out of any attempt to pin him; what Adimus grappled with now was what manner of creature could have managed to do that to him.
Alfred immediately jumped to it. “Tell me about the night of your fall.”
“And you know better than to lie.” Brina Lathern warned, and hands on hips, nodding at the Sum Seer; she had suspicions of his forthrightness as well, apparently.
Eichgun gave a deep, heavy sigh. “It was last week.” he began. “I was up in the loft at dusk, pitching hay for the horses.” he started. He took another breath. “I jabbed my fork into to the pile.” He fought a stammer “And it made a noise. Horrible noise.” His eyes went vagrant. His hands tried to express its enormity. “It was, it was, big. And hairy.” Adimus repeated the rhyme in his head. Eichgun’s eyes widened. “Its eyes...It made a roar that...” he didn’t finish. “All I remember when I hit the ground was the sound of chains coming toward me.
“Chains?” Alfred and Laina both shot.
“Jangling chains.” Adimus answered them. “Killien’s heard them too, hasn’t he?”
Eek gave a silent nod.
“He won’t sleep in his room anymore.” Miss Lathern explained.
“It had glowing eyes and a ball of flame in its hands. Scorched me.” He pulled down the front of his over-alls and showed them the burns on his chest. “He shoved me. My leg slipped through the ladder and snapped. I clawed my way out into the sunlight. It didn’t want to follow me there. It only stood, snarling until my wife came. And then it was gone.”
“Sounds like a Wirrychul.” Said Argent.
“What’s that?”
“A Nis Shii, and a nasty one at that. An Effigy Wraith. Bugbear, Bogeyman, Wickerman. Has many names.”
"...A Shade?" Said Laina.
He shook his head. “Shades are not Nis. And mortals don’t get touched by the Slaugh and live." He solemnly replied.
"True. Not this long at least, and there's no sign of Dissolution." said Alfred.
Still they examined the spot on his chest, just in case, as Shade’s apparently left marks
Adimus turned to look at Killien’s room across the hall. The door was open, and across the bed there was a window. Adimus left the conversation, which paused in his absence. There the child stood, eyes vagrant, lip quivering as he stared off into the darkness. Pacing up to it Adimus gazed out to see, unsettlingly close, the barn and open doors to the loft. Candlelight.
“...Adimus?” Laina looked at him questioningly. Adimus said nothing. He looked down at the quivering boy, then turned back down the stairs.
* * * * *
Had the lantern only been a bit brighter, and not stained with the soot of a generation’s use he may have been able to see up into the partially open shutter. He’d asked for Eichgun’s hooded one, that shed reflected light, but he hadn’t seen it since that day. In fact, several things had been missing from the house that went unaccounted for, Brina had said. A scary thought, Adimus admitted, that whatever it was may have been skulking about inside the house.
Light flickered in the shadows of the deep claw marks that marred the wall all the way up to the window of the loft above. He came around to the front side of it, and setting the lantern down he pulled free the large cross bar that held the doors together, and laid it on the ground with a loud ‘thunk’; Eichgun hadn’t kept it locked to keep livestock in or out, because he’d removed them all from the barn in the past week just the same.
The sudden cracking lurch of the door and the croak of the rusty hinges was more than enough for anyone to know he was coming, so he figured he’d announce himself. “...Hello?” His voice rattled the bones of the building in a loud echo. He took a few steps in, lantern in one hand, sword in the other. Deep inside atop the loft he could see the faint flickers of candlelight.
“Aren’t you at least going to wait for Bearach? Or the Sum Seer with his Magic staff? Are you really going to face this thing alone?” He hadn’t heard Laina tip-toeing up behind him, it nearly made his feet leave the ground. He hushed her with a finger, to which Laina rolled up her sleeves (much to his surprise) and followed him in with naught but a sharpened broomstick.
Neither Argent or Alfred would come. “Let’s not be hasty. It is safe enough here until daybreak.” the Sum Seer warned. And Argent echoed the sentiment happily.
He didn’t feel the need to explain. He saw the flames devouring Niall’s house. He didn’t expect outsiders passing through to care or mind anyway for their safety; it could have been the sword that gave him his bravery; like the Watcher’s charge, it itself a talisman to him...
He cast light on the lumps of shadow within the animal stalls, all empty save for their tying ropes and trophs, until he came to the latter for the loft, splintered into pieces. A musky smell, like rust and rotten greenery and wet burning leaves filled the damp air, but not a noise was heard beyond their own footprints, not even a field mouse dared come near. The wind blew in a draft from the open double doors, rustling the straw and spitting stray leaves, and pushing upon the shutters, opening them even so slightly more and bathing the insides with moonlight. Adimus looked down to examine the busted up old ladder, still on the ground from where Eek had tumbled, and then as of the wafting of some great cloud which covered the sky a shadow loomed from above. Chains rattled in the darkness.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
At first Adimus assumed the immense mound of nearly amorphous fur simply covered the creature, but upon seeing it by its own illumination he could tell it was more comprised than covered, and that it was not fur, it was foliage: straw and moss and sinewy vines and ivy, matted and spun together and held by spiralled iron chains. The thing shifted and moved when it stood, and saw that it was stuffed with debris: a carved handle from a wheelbarrow that showed Niall’s hallmark and craftsmanship, that he was positive used to sit upon the one found at the edge of the old man’s property, the bones of the graveyard that rattled and clunked as it roiled, the skull of the poor man forming a portion of its shoulder. It towered over him, easily twice his height.
Saucer sized holes like bird’s nest cradled the two dripping candles within that made up its eyes. From those lights stark Otherworldly shadows, too deep for their own possibility, sprang to life and moved and flitted like living things wherever its glance fell.
The glowing eyes fell upon him. “What’s this? A courageous little man? A Fool?” it bellowed in a deep, rumbling murmur. “Selfsame!” It spoke from a maw fashioned from a hard rake for gardening and razor sharp thorns. Its nose was a spinning wheel.
The boy brandished the sword, though he had no need to, as the thing was already looking at it.
“Cold Iron?! A rich fool, who thinks it can defeat fear with weapons. Tell me, what makes you think you are a match for me?”
“I don’t. I’m just doing my job. I’ll not allow you to hurt anyone else, creature.” He fought to say.
“Duty keeps steady the hand of no man!” Black smoke roiled from the burning tips of his eye sockets as its brow furrowed. The light shown within glowed from what perhaps would be its nose, ears and mouth, and cinders linger about it though no spark caught. “And make no mistake, this night you shall know pain! Fear!” It pointed at him with an index finger made of a scythe blade from a hand made of snips and cleavers. The other hand gripped the edge of the loft angrily: five stubby digits consisted of burning candlesticks which leaked onto the floor below as its fiery fingertips sparked against the wood. Chains slithered from the loft. “Deluded little Hyu’man, I am a creature of Shade! A Slaugh! Do you not know death when you see it!?” Adimus took a guarded stance. Laina stood close, brandishing her broomstick. The wind blew once more, the doors slammed shut, pulled by the clanking irons. With the swoop of its hand the barn became a blazing inferno of burning straw and timber “Your soul will be mine!”
A Shade?! Watcher have mercy! The mere mention of the word sent his logical mind into throes of terror, overriding any rationalization that would identify it for the ruse it was. Adimus disregarded the expertise of his compatriots in that moment in favor of utter panic.
Then it was on him. The sheer immensity of the creature and the force with which it lept upon the boy bore him helplessly to the ground. Planks of wood came crashing down around him, splintering as the chains snapped them. The crushing weight of the beast pinned his legs motionless. He couldn’t breathe.
His sword had done nothing even though he’d tried to catch it mid-flight. Wax salivated from its grinning maw. “Fear me!” It growled, and held its flaming hand over the boy. Candlewax dripped onto his cheek. Then it paused, only a moment, as the fire began to leap up his hand. Adimus used the moment to try and shake free. The flame caught on the hay and straw, and in seconds a blaze had been started in the room. Laina saw an opportunity to strike.“Yahh!” She stabbed at the creature, who dismissively lifted its other hand, five lengths of chain which unfurled in a whipping spiral and engulfed her with a force so great that it tore the feeble weapon to splinters. Wrapped and held aloft, she squirmed for but a moment before the creature slammed her to the ground, and wound her up tight like a spider saving a meal. Adimus tried in vain to reach a blow around it, but its girth thwarted any meaningful exchange, as he could but swat air.
“Contemplate upon your death.” It growled quietly. “Feel the life leaving you and know true terror!”
Adimus was thinking on it. This was it.
He hadn’t known why there had been this churning madness in him, what manner of primordial urge that had dwelt deep within him to go and confront the creature himself. He hadn’t the time to think about it, this push, whether it was out of curiosity, of altruism, or because he simply wanted the night to be over, just not like this.
“That’s right, Squirm, pitiful thing-erk!” The last syllable came out as of a gag and the knife penetrated the back of its head and out its mouth. Fire and smoke lept from the wound, as it spun around to see the face of the Cait‘Shii staring back at him. It held some manner of wand that next he pointed at the creature. A deafening roar let loose from it that tore through the creature, toppling it.
She tossed the boards aside and reached out to help Adimus to his feet, her own feet came out from under her, as a whipping chain jerked her too to the ground; the creature was still very much alive. This time Adimus’s sword struck true, a desperate full-bodied slash across the creature’s mid section. Sparks flew from the friction of the chains, and again fire and smoke roiled from the wound.
“See?” The cat quipped. “Curious.” It let out a shriek and grabbed the rafters with its chains to pull itself skyward, then with a heave it bolted through the open window and out into the night.
Adimus hadn’t seen that the creature had caught Laina. A cry “Help!” and an outstretched hand and Laina too was gone.
Adimus ran to the door. It was jarred. He could hear the little giggles of the Goblyns from outside. Flames licked the roof of the building filling it as they stood trapped, thick black smoke choking and blinding them.
“What do we do!?” the boy said. Thankfully the cat was already on it. Grabbing one of the tieing ropes and holding it with his teeth, with a hop accented by claws clinging on wood she lept to the loft and lowered down the rope. Adimus scurried, giving no thought at all to having never actually climbed one, his heightened senses and panic carrying him. He doesn’t even remember the descent, which came as a fall-tumble-rappel onto cold hard ground; he hit it running, choking back coughs from the smoke. The boy stabbed his sword into the ground to keep upright. He came to a large wheat field on the edge of the property. He waded on, following the smashed flat trail that the large creature had left. He could hear the mumbles of people behind him calling. The others he turned but for a moment to check on the safety of the others and found himself side swiped.
The Goblyn lept at him from the brush with a yell of fury, its heretofore unaccounted for shovel swinging at his head. Adimus shoved at the thing with his shield when a shillelagh caught the creature mid-stomach and sent it on its backside. “Go Adimus! “Don’t be afraid!” Luloch ordered when the thing skittered off faster than the old man’s legs could take him, pointing could make out Alfred and Bearach running toward them from the Latherns’ yard, and see Brina and Killien on the porch. He pressed on.
The dark environs of the forest blinded him just as before. Adimus swatted at brambles in his path, and spun as he tripped over obstacles in his haste. He knew where he was, not far from the village proper. His memories guided him along, bolstering his speed. This monster had invaded his home.
He could see the glint of the candle. He finally caught up with it when it took the time to scour a tree with its spindly appendages. He arrived just as the creature jumped back down, only in time for Adimus to see what it had done. Coming into a clearing, he saw her dangling over a tree limb. They stood in an old rock quarry from his childhood.
“Come close and she dies!” the creature warned, the chains of its sprawling hand holding onto the girl.
Laina dangled over the sturdy limb of the nearby tree, arms behind her back, supported under her thighs by a loop of chain that could easily slip out from under her so that the one that clinched around her neck would jarringly catch.
None of the fire and fight had left Laina though, as she adjusted her neck and in a strained voice taunted “You are the one who is afraid, creature. Not he. Not I.”
At this the creature let out a roar of consternation. Smoke billowed from its eye holes and mouth. It pulled at the chains to hoist her up further.
When he was finished Adimus looked into Laina’s eyes. He expected to see fear or panic, but instead her face shown terse determination and rectitude. “Adimus, remember...no night lasts forever.”
He knew Laina probably better than anyone in the village. What’s more, he knew her heart--that she would do anything to protect them-to protect him, and so he knew what her wishes would be. But Laina also knew him as well. No. She wouldn’t ask me to do this. To let her die, even if it saves these people. Does she really think that much of me? Does she really think I could bear such a burden?
The creature laughed at the boy’s hesitance. “I’ve won!” The Wickerman courtled.
Then it came to the boy. He spoke out loud the epiphany. “It doesn’t matter.” It cut the creature’s laughter short. “I won’t do it. She won’t do it, and most of all you. You won’t do it.” His blade enunciating his point. “Because then there would be nothing between me and my blade.” His eyes narrowed. “You are bigger and fiercer than I for sure. There would be no need for you to fight like this unless...unless you were the one scared.” he said. And with that he fell into stance, the plough, one of several Bearach had taught him. “So, let her down and face me. You’ll not be able to put up a good fight if you’re all tied up like that.”
Its eyes narrowed, burning the tips of its sockets. Then, defeated, in answer it did lower her down. “You see much.” The Bugbear said. “You think you know it all, but do you know yourself, little man? Because you are wrong!” it said. Its fiery fingertips roared its malice. Flames gouted from its mouth “Now there is nothing between you and the endless silence of death!”
The cold autumn wind blew. Between the treeline he saw the tiny lamplights of the village far below, tiny shadows dancing in the windows, children eating candy. Cold iron glinted in the moonlight. He looked over at Laina. No.
“Come.” the creature’s words made him question his own. Adimus brandished his sword again at the beast. He cloaked his ceaseless shuddering with his shield well enough; he’d been a good liar, maybe he’d even convinced himself; he’d never felt so frightened.
He buried it deep nonetheless, and charged. It wasn’t the sword that had made him brave, that pulled his legs forward in this moment, it was simply the house behind him, wherein terror had shown on a little boy’s face.
The creature took a step back. “No!”
Adimus gained ground on it, sword pointed and tucked behind the targe, as Eichgun had taught him. “Yahh!” But the blow never landed; it never needed to.
Fire shot up from its sockets, crawling down its arm. “No!!” Its eyes became blazing fountains. It stopped Adimus dead in his tracks; he could do nothing but watch. Fire roared from its mouth as the creature erupted into a plume of smoke and cinder. The chains themselves now seemed to burn it. They that bound the mound of foliage now started unwinding it, as one running from oneself; spinning and spinning until it tore apart. Only refuse and smoldering scrap remained.
Adimus jerked at the hand that met his shoulder. Luloch had stepped up behind them. “It’s in the hand--not the head, boy, where fearlessness lies. The will that moves them even when the heart flutters and the legs shake.” he said, staring into the now still wreck.
“Big and hairy, and toothy and tall
Behind the door, under the bed
Gangly and jangly, the Bugbear sees all
Beyond where the candlelight sheds
A tree in a window, a face in stray clothes
Night’s fancy and neck hairs on end,
Farther than mind reaches, past 'no one knows',
There dancing in blazes it lets
Big and hairy and toothy and tall,
On phantoms and nonsense it’s fed
Gangly and jangly, the Bugbear sees all
The fears that you choose to abet."