Chapter 11: Aftermath

Nerdef stepped from behind the corner of the wagon. The women in the wagon whimpered and cowered back inside of the covering. Nerdef walked up to Larks body, it convulsed as the life faded from him. Nerdef shook his head. A knot growing in his stomach. He knew that his employers weren’t going to like this.

Sighing he turned on his heels as the sounds of screams and shouts from further back in the caravan caught his attention. He rushed to the opposite side of the wagon that he had hid behind, seeing some of their men shooting crossbows at the Elk rider as the elk rider himself soared through the air, his spear raised above. He shouted like a mad man and drove the spear deep inside the other man that had been holding the goblin, she was now on the ground.

Nerdef watched the young elk rider take a bolt to his left thigh as he collided with, what was his name, oh yeah. Arash. He then watched as the young man rolled, pulling the spear from Arash’s corpse and grabbing the small goblin woman's hand. The elk itself ran up to shield them from the crossbows and took a couple to his side. Soon they were on the animal and riding hard and fast out of sight.

His mind reeled from all that had happened in such a short amount of time. Their leader, dead on the ground along with another. Dread now filled his mind as he knew what he had to do next. He would have to contact Lady Veldrin.

“You!” he said and pointed to one of the men in the wagon behind the first one. The man, startled, responded with. “Yes sir?”

Nerdef looked around for a second. “Help the other men secure the wagons. We can’t lose the cargo or else the Veldrins will have us skinned alive.”

“Yes sir!” The man shouted back and jumped from the wagon, hollering for the crossbowmen at the rear of the wagons. Nerdef spun on his heels and returned to the front wagon. He went to one side and opened a small trunk. Inside were various items of his profession but the item he sought was a special one.

There, on the top of the other items, wrapped in cloth was a hand held mirror. To anyone watching it looked like any ordinary mirror but Nerdef knew otherwise. He had watched Lark use it and unfortunately it was his turn to use it. He pulled the cloth from the reflective surface, his face stared back at him. “Now what were the words that Lark had uttered?” Nerdef thought to himself for a moment, then remembering he held the mirror before him and said. “Mirror mirror in my hand, take my blood and show me the mistress of Greland.”

Suddenly spikes protruded from the handle and impaled his hand. They protruded through his hand and writhed like tentacles before wrapping themselves around his hand and biting into the flesh. Nerdef howled and groaned in pain, doubling over while holding his arm. He could soon feel the mirror sucking the blood from his body as a face other than his materialized in its reflective surface.

A pale face with hard, cold and unfeeling eyes stared back at him. Red, feminine lips were the only bright color on her face which was framed by wavy silver locks of hair. “What is it?” the woman asked coldly with slight annoyance.

Nerdef swallowed hard then began. “Pardon me Lady Veldrin. I am Nerdef Stersk.”

Lady Veldrin huffed. “Yes, yes. I know who you are. Why have you contacted me, worm?” she spat the last word.

Nerdef swallowed again, this time though it felt as if something was constricting around his neck, making it harder to swallow. “Lark is dead.” He said quickly. Surprise crossing Lady Veldrin’s face.

“Dead?!” she asked.

Nerdef nodded, the strange grasp around his neck easing as he did. “How is he dead?” She asked.

Nerdef began to relate the story of what had happened but was interrupted. “Wait. I will be along presently.” she told him. Nerdef watched as her visage faded from the mirror. The tentacles unwrapped themselves and retreated from his hand much to his relief. He had wondered if the mirror was going to use all of his blood. As it returned back to its normal state Nerdef shakingly replaced the cloth back over it and then returned it gently back to the chest. Happy for it to be out of his sight. “Curse that damned thing.” He spat as he looked at his hand. Tiny teeth marks dotted his hand and fingers. He reached into his breeches pocket and grabbed a handkerchief then wrapped it around his hand, the flesh tender and painful.

No sooner than he had closed the trunk lid and wrapped the handkerchief around his hand did he hear a strange sound coming from the front of the wagon, the women inside whimpered as he looked around the corner. A dark spot hovered just above the ground. As if a piece of the night sky had somehow manifested on the ground and decided to stand upright. It wavered with an invisible energy as tendrils of what looked like inky smoke rose off of it. The center seemed to pulse and swirl but in unnatural ways.

A thin, tall and strangely beautiful woman emerged from the inky swirls. Her silver hair flowed in the breeze along with the dark gray dress that she wore. She wore gloves that ended in a flare just below her elbows and had some type of garment that covered her shoulders and went up to her neck. Ornate stitching upon it and the leather pauldrons that cover her shoulders. The gem on her broche matched the earrings that she wore. All three dark in color. Nerdef stepped from behind the corner. ‘Surely this is Lady Veldrin.’ he thought to himself.

Sensing movement Lady Veldrin turned her head. Nerdef stopped. “Lady Veldrin.” he said bowing. Lady Veldrin flicked her attention back to the body that laid on the ground before her. A look of disgust crossed her face. “Search the area.” She commanded seemingly to no one. Nerdef started to move.

“Not you worm.” She said, stopping him. “You stay where you are and they won’t harm you.”

Nerdef felt confused. He hadn;t seen anyone emerging from the portal earlier. But as he stood there a chill ran down his spine. He could feel icy cold hands on him, something seemed to be behind him, breathing just by his ear. Nerdef did as he was told.

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Lady Veldrin observed the scene with silent vigilance. Creatures crawled over and beneath the wagons, while their winged counterparts soared overhead. These shadowy beings moved purposefully, searching for any threat to their master. They remained quiet, save for the occasional signal when danger was detected. Nerdef stood with curiosity on his face. Who was she commanding? He could see no one.

“The area is all clear master.” spoke an invisible voice. A voice that sounded to Nerdef like the falling of timbers or booming of thunder, yet he could hear the malice in its speech. A shiver ran down his back when it asked. “And what of this one?” Its voice rumbled. Lady Veldrin glanced over at him. “Leave him be.” She answered the invisible voice. “He will be useful.”

“Very well my Lady.” The voice answered once again.

Lady Veldrin then squatted down, studying the dead body of Lark in front of her. Lark had been a useful tool. He would accomplish his tasks without hesitation no matter how heinous they had been. But he wasn’t the smartest man she had ever dealt with. She liked it that way. The dumb ones always did things normal, more intelligent people wouldn’t do if you promised them gold or silver. But oftentimes they would have flaws. Lark’s flaw was his overconfidence and temper.

Lady Veldrin reached out and placed a hand on the dead man's forehead. Even though he had been dead for almost an hour now she could still gather the information she needed. Closing her eyes she summoned the power she needed from within. Then she opened her eyes, now solid black and the events began to play out.

Lady Veldrin watched as Lark and another man walked up to the front of the caravan. She watched as Lark could see the female goblin sitting atop the large red elk, being protected by a human male. Her lip curled a bit in disgust. She could feel Larks smile as he told the other man to sneak around and grab her while he distracted the young man atop the elk. She witnessed Lark speaking to the young, blonde haired man. “More of a boy.” she thought to herself. Then the other man pulled the female goblin from the elk's back and the protection of the young blonde haired boy. She watched the events that followed unfold quickly and with surprise. The boy had some skill and had mortally wounded Lark in a matter of moments.

Her eyes returned to normal and the vision faded. She stood up silently, her head spinning a bit. It was something that she had become used to. She took a breath to steady herself then said. “Take me to the other body.” The creature that stood behind her reached out and picked her up. Using its otherworldly strength. To Nerdef’s eyes she simply began to float in the air as she moved towards the back of the caravan. His eyes wide, he decided to keep his mouth shut.

Once at the other dead man, who had a hole through his skull, she performed the same task as before and witnessed the events that had unfolded. She saw the young man on the elk now covered in Lark's blood as leapt from the elk's back, a silver spear held high as he yelled and flew towards the man. She felt the pain from the bite that the female goblin had inflicted upon his arm while tearing a chunk of meat out. Then there was nothing but darkness. Lady Veldrin stood up, the familiar dizziness washing over her once again but stronger this time. She relished her powers but at times hated the side effects that came with them. The creature that always stood watch behind her grabbed her, steadying her. “Are you ok my lady?” it asked in its quiet yet thunderous voice.

“I’m fine.” she replied. “Take me back to the front.” She ordered it. It did as it was commanded. Shortly she was hovering before Nerdef. He quickly bowed. “Set me down Delgar. And make your presence known.” She commanded the dark creature that carried her. “As you command my lady.” Delgar replied. As her feet touched the ground the air shimmered behind her. Nerdef watched as terror crept into his heart. Behind Lady Veldrin stood a creature that he had only seen in nightmares. It towered above the woman. Its height was complemented by its broad shoulders and large muscles that seemed writhe with their own liveliness. Its head was that of a grinning human skull, bleached white with piercing red eyes in the hollow sockets. Twisted white horns protruded from the top of its skull. Nerdef had never seen such a thing in life. He trembled in its gaze as it and Lady Veldrin looked down upon him.

“Listen to me, worm.” she spat. “You will complete the delivery of these.” She paused and looked over the frightened women in the wagon. “Subjects. They are expected by the master and he will not be disappointed. Do you understand?”

Nerdef, his eyes stuck upon the horrid demon behind Lady Veldrin, nodded. He could feel the creature’s gaze burning through him and as he stood there, his knees feeling weak, he could see in his mind a terrible image of the creature flaying the flesh from his bones. “Good.” Lady Veldrin said. “If you do not succeed in this task then Delgar will find you and he will do exactly what he is showing you now. Do not disappoint me.” She chided. “I will be leaving some help with you. You will not be able to see them but be assured, they will be there.” She told him as a portal like before opened up to her left. It’s inky black surface swirling and pulsing unnaturally. “I take my leave now. Continue on your task.” She told him as she turned and walked through the portal. Delgar stared at Nerdef for a moment longer then he turned and stepped through the portal.

Nerdef, shaking from fright, fell to his knees. His hands shook as he took a deep breath. His stomach turned and he wretched, clearing his belly of its contents. “What have I gotten myself?” he whispered.

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Duke Veldrin stood in front of the window, the setting casting a glare upon the tinted glass as he stared over the city of Greland. He took a sip from the glass of red wine that he held in his hand. He watched as the peasants and middle class folk scurried about. No doubt returning to their homes as the night time drew near. He turned his attention to the castle. A large stone structure that had been built a century ago. The seat of power in the northern kingdom and now seated by a damned fool of a man. He took another sip of the wine as he narrowed his eyes. “Soon.” he whispered to himself.

He felt a disturbance in the air as a portal opened behind him. He stood still as it was a disturbance that was all too familiar with. His wife, Lady Veldrin stepped out onto the wooden floor and into the posh room that served as the Duke's study. The walls were lined on two sides with bookshelves and various glass displays of antiques. A desk sat just in front of the duke, papers and books lined the desk along with a quill pen and ink pot.

“Hello my love.” the duke said as the portal closed behind her.

“Hello dear, brooding again I see.” she answered, walking around the desk.

The duke turned and sat the glass of wine down on the large oak desk. Its polished surface reflecting the glass. They embraced, their lips touching. The duke's white beard tickling her cheeks. They broke the kiss and looked at each other. “Not brooding.” Duke Veldrin said. “Planning.”

Lady Veldrin smiled but only for a moment. “We have an issue.” she told him.

“Oh? What is it?”

“I can show you.” She told him then placed her forehead against his. In a flash the memories played before the Duke's eyes as the magic flowed between them. He watched the various scenes play out just as they had for his wife. After a moment the flow ended and the two of them separated. Dizziness washed over the two of them but kept each other supported.

After the dizziness cleared the Duke grabbed the glass of wine and took a sip. His calm demeanor returned. “It seems that we have a bit of an issue like you said.”

“Yes we do. How should we handle it.?” Lady Veldrin asked.

There was a bit of silence between the two of them. The Duke took another sip of the wine, mulling over his course of action. This elf rider and goblin could become a problem or it could have been a one time thing. Either way he decided to have them eliminated. HE was getting closer to taking the throne and he sensed that they would be a distraction. “Where did this happen?” he asked.

“Just a few leagues outside of Sablewood.” Lady Veldrin answered. The Duke smiled.

“Then they are headed there I take it?”

“It seems that way, dear.”

“Good. Have our men in Sablewood take care of them.”

“Very well, my love.” Lady Veldrin replied. She turned and left the room, stepping through another portal and into a small room with just a mirror hanging on the wall. She waved her hand in front of it. IT shimmered to life and after a moment a portly man appeared. “Lady Veldrin, welcome.” the man said as he bowed.

“Borst. I have a task for your men.” She told him.

The portly man grinned, a grotesque gesture that could make a child cry.