Odwitchni forest was a tranquil and beautiful place. Hundred-year-old trees sprung up and sideways, casting soft shadows over lush bushes and wild grass. Together they formed a solid mass of greenness which seemed impassable from the outside. It was an erroneous impression. Countless beasts lurked in the woods. However, no birdsong, rustle, breath, or roar could be heard. Unforgiving nature of Odwitchni taught whatever creatures lived there to keep quiet, unless they wanted to summon their undoing.
There was a single source of disturbance for the last moon. A procession of outlanders was passing by the forest road. It was slow, for it had no beasts of burden to carry baggage. Instead, foreigners carried sacks on their backs and dragged man-powered carts with two wheels. They chatted, sung and rattled their weapons idly, bringing the attention of the woods upon them.
Dwellers in Big Land promised to lead them by the well-known passage in the forest, reaching their city in less than a moon. It was already twenty sixth day of the journey and their destination did not look any closer.
Two drevlyani messengers were trudging to the left of Crewslayer. Their exhaustion was not solely born from a trek, but also from the burden of expectations. He was not intending to make their moods any lighter.
“Hey you, the one who speaks in our language. Tell me, why did not your people put milestones on the road, so we could at least know how much of a journey lies ahead?” he asked.
“Such things are impossible in Odwitchni. The forest quickly devours marks left by men. We can only trust our sight and memory,” drevlyani translator answered with a guilty expression.
“I guess neither has taken us far enough.”
“Calm down, Crewslayer. You may accidentally kill Blagoslav, while spewing that much poison,” laughed Lulaton, who also happened to be walking close by.
“I may as well kill him in a traditional way, if this pointless trip continues. I am pretty convinced that we are walking in circles. Are you, perhaps, luring us into a trap? Why is that your warriors are leading the way now instead of you. Maybe it is to strike us from the rear and front simultaneously when an ambush happens?”
“I implore you, use common sense. What is a point of guiding you across half of the world just to set a trap?” Blagoslav was visibly afraid, his companion also looked worried, not understanding the sudden increase of tension.
“Perhaps, a convoluted plan of enemies of our lord to remove him as a power on Isary,” answered Lulaton with a pensive face.
“Honoured island man, I have a wife and two daughters waiting for me in Khladnetz. Do you think I would risk leaving them without a husband and a father just to dash you against the reef?” retorted the translator.
Ymdaton smirked at the used figure of speech.
“I wonder, how come you know our language so well. That saying you have chosen, for example. Not even tyrsenoi would say that, because they do not encounter coral reefs in their sea travels as often as we do.”
“As I have already said, I have a family in Khladnetz. I was not born there, however. My birthplace is Stodmuj, an ozeryani city at the north shore of Volnitza. I have spent first twenty five years of my life in that town. There I served in the retinue of a wealthy merchant. We traded with people of Moriegrad, which is named by you Qyris. I have had a lot of dealings with ostrovyani and eventually learned your language very well. Needless to say, that I have earned a generous salary with my knowledge.
But once when my master visited Khladnetz, I’ve met there a girl who was more precious than all the riches from over the sea. She did not want to leave her home, so instead I abandoned my service and moved into her city. That is how I ended up living among drevlyani.
Should I add that inviting your kin was partially my suggestion? I know of your prowess first-hand. I believe that lord Azytenisar of all people has the power to save us. I do not want my family to witness their home being consumed by Odwitchni,” Blagoslav was talking with a passion, probably being thankful for the change of subject. Crewslayer ceased to follow the dialogue. He turned his head to the right and saw Abimnupal beckoning him from the edge of the road.
Ymdaton passed through the caravan and approached his comrade. He was carving something into the trunk of a closest tree with traditional triangle-shaped knife.
“Leaving your name?” grinned Crewslayer.
“Nothing so grounded. I heard your talk and I think you might be right about us walking in circles. I also think that you might be not right about land dwellers luring us into trap. Perhaps, it is something from the forest that wants us to never come out.”
The shape that Ymdaton’s friend was carving consisted of three circles, connected with lines.
“In case we are being misled by the forces of the woods, any ordinary mark would be erased by them. But here is no ordinary mark. I carved an image of Ulamsilis, who keep eternal vigil over Sea Betwixt. Upon seeing it, any evil spirits will be reminded of dreaded celestial guardians. They will not dare to touch the sign. Watch for this tree. If you see it again, then we have indeed got lost.”
Sun was was descending down the sky. After the whole day of travel it was almost the time to call halt. Ymdaton felt exhausted from another day spent in pointless walking. He barely paid attention to his surroundings, until a familiar shape came before his eyes. Three circles forming a triangle carved in a tree bark. An oak with such mark suddenly appeared just eight steps ahead of him. The warrior recognized the shape of its branches and roots. It was the same exact tree that Abimnupal branded in the morning.
Crewslayer unsheeted his axe and headed for land dwelling translator. Blagoslav understood what was happening only when the warrior had already seized him by the lapels with one hand, while raising his weapon with another. Drevlyani man looked at him with horror in eyes. Ymdaton made a swing and struck. Most of those around who watched the events unfold blinked, thus missing the result.
Blagoslav was down on the ground, frightened yet unharmed, Crewslayer stood close, his back turned to the translator, at his feet lied the one that he truly cut. The victim was built as a ten years old child: barely three cubits tall, thin torso, arms, and legs. It wore no clothes, however, its body was completely covered with dark fur, hiding any features. Even its face was obscured.
Men were about to begin wondering how it did pass among them unnoticed. Next moment hundreds of similar creatures swarmed out of the forest, attacking the expedition.
A lumberjack’s axe, a carpenter’s hammer, a sickle, a frying pan, a cook’s knife, a rolling pin - those were weapons that Ymdaton parried and blocked in the first minutes of combat. Some hairy midgets used metal dishes as shields. They were dying in droves by his blade, proving little challenge. Yet even more crawled over corpses of their fallen kin.
“That is ridiculous, insulting! Bring actual weapons at least!” laughed Ymdaton. As if answering his plea, one of creatures came at him with bloodied kinani axe. It still did not help.
“Do not be dismissive of them! These are borovici, imps of the forest who live to undo the works of good men. Their arms are such because they are taken from slain travellers. Their numbers are enough to overwhelm even mightiest warriors!” cried out Blagoslav from somewhere behind crewmen backs.
True, these freaks were beyond count, yet kinani already regrouped into battle formations and began pushing them back into the forest. Ymdaton seen several warriors being dragged down under the weight of imps horde, yet crews were winning the skirmish.
A severed head still clad in a helmet flew over Crewslayer. He traced its trajectory back, wondering, what on the battlefield had enough power to hurl it that far. His answer was in the ranks of Uribu crew. A towering figure almost five cubits tall was fighting its way through kinani. Experienced warriors of the squad encircled the enemy, outnumbered him, yet were still outmatched.
Limbs were cut off, men were thrown away by hits of immense power. The unknown combatant was clad in the armour of drevlyani design, rusty, dirty, and covered by moss. At first Ymdaton thought that bodyguards of the embassy betrayed them, but four warriors still held the defense at the front of caravan. It did not matter. What mattered is that he finally found a thrilling challenge.
As soon as the attack has started, High Crew regrouped, encircling their liege in a protective formation. There they stood, no amount of enemies able to break their ranks. Ymdaton knew that they would manage just fine without him. So he left his comrades and headed for the towering foe.
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Crewslayer yelled, drawing the attention of the giant. The enemy noticed him and, after sending his last opponent rolling with a mighty shield shove, approached Ymdaton. The two circled each other before engaging in the exchange of blows. The foe was skilled, he did not show any openings initially. What was even more important, he was terrifyingly strong. A single shield block taught Ymdaton that he should limit himself to dodging and parrying, unless he wants his bones to be shattered.
Eventually, Crewslayer found his opportunity. After a particularly wide swing, which he dodged, the enemy left himself open. Kinani warrior made a cut at the unprotected area above knee guard but below chain skirt, hoping to crack a thigh bone.
Nothing happened. His opponent did not loose footing, blood did not spray, sound of tissue being severed could not be heard. The confusion almost costed Ymdaton his life, as he barely dodged a retaliating slash. He landed a clean cut, he was sure of it. Why did it not work? As he parried next blow at the level of his eyes, he saw the answer. The edge of his axe did not shine even slightly. The weapon was completely dull. It was impossible, he sharpened it personally just the last evening.
Ponderings could be left for the later. After another series of feints, he caught the opponent with an axe butt to the temple. With horror Ymdaton watched as the blade of his weapon fell off just before the impact, taking away most of the momentum. Only a fragment was left on the handle and it was marked heavily with rust. Crewslayer instantly retreated, avoiding the counterattack and establishing a few steps distance between him and the opponent.
His hit was not entirely without success, it knocked off enemy’s helmet. What was previously hidden behind the aventail, now could be seen clearly. It was no human visage. What looked at Ymdaton was resembling a flayed skull, except instead of sinew it was covered in creeping vines.
The giant approached him. Crewslayer turned and ran, trying to think of some new tactic, while the foe chased him. His enemy was, perhaps, protected from mortal weapon by an enchantment. Some extraordinary solution was necessary, but what exactly? He heard the thing stomping after him, cutting and crushing whoever dared to bar its path. A loud clang of metal made him turn his head.
To Ymdaton’s surprise, the creature was lying on the ground, upon it was Abimnupal who struck the enemy repeatedly not with his weapon, but with his bare fists. The giant struggled to get the warrior off him, unable to slash with his sword at such close distance. Finally, it bent its leg and delivered a kick to Abimnupal’s stomach with such power, that the crewman flew several steps away. There he fell and did not stand up.
The creature raised itself, on its forehead a massive bruise leaking with sap could be seen. Ymdaton stood still, intending to face the foe once more. He silently thanked Abimnupal for his combat intuition. The monster noticed him and approached. Crewslayer dropped his shield and now useless axe. The opponent hesitated for a moment, but then charged, making a wide swing with his blade. Ymdaton waited until the last moment, then he ducked and caught the enemy by the wrist of his sword arm.
The warrior pulled it forward, guiding enemy’s immense momentum. The giant flew over him. Crewslayer did not let go of the wrist. He put his thigh under foe’s elbow. As it fell, his whole weight was focused on it. The elbow cracked with a sickening sound, bending the wrong way. Creature lost its grasp on the sword. Ymdaton felt the moment of triumph, but was instantly hit in the shoulder with an edge of the shield. He tumbled few steps backwards.
Both combatants stood up simultaneously. Right hand of the monster was limp, it dropped its shield and picked up the sword with the other one. Without hesitation, the enemy attacked again. Ymdaton was dodging and baiting it away, until he stood with his back close to the tree. Another wide swing came, which he avoided, allowing foe’s sword to hit the trunk. There it was struck. The giant pulled without success. When it tried to pull again with more force, Crewslayer was already behind its back.
As blade came out, the thing swayed backwards. The very same moment, the warrior grasped it around the waist and lifted with all his strength. The creature was heavy, but the inertia helped Ymdaton and he managed to toss it over himself. It landed right on its skull, the momentum crashing enemy’s neck.
Still it tried to get up, even with the head hanging to the side. Crewslayer did not give it a moment to regain orientation. With a huge effort, he lifted the enemy on his shoulders, then immediately dropping it on the massive root of the closest tree. The giant got hit right across the back, its spine shattered.
Still it tried to get up. It was unsuccessful, so the monster simply dragged itself in Ymdaton’s direction. The warrior looked around himself. He grabbed a shield of some fallen warrior from the grass and assaulted the creature, pulverizing its cranium and chest with mighty blows of its edge. It fell motionless, finally.
Ymdaton stood up and raised his fist in triumph. Upon seeing his victory, hairy imps turned their backs and ran back into the forest. In less than few moments the battle was over. All crews cheered, some yelled his name or moniker. All that noise distracted him from the fact that the monster at his feet move again.
The thing grabbed him by the leg and dragged the warrior to the ground. Crewslayer kicked it in the head and rolled away, quickly jumping back to his feet. He was about to attack the foe again, when a hand at his shoulder stopped him. Ymdaton turned his head to see a warrior in richly adorned armour.
“Allow me,” said the man and hurled a sealed clay pot at it. When the vessel shattered upon enemy’s body, it was suddenly engulfed in a burst of flames. The burning monster writhed in pain for some moments and finally stopped moving.
The unknown warrior observed it, his green eyes displaying obvious glee, while his heavily scarred face remained unmoving.
“Thank you, good man,” muttered Ymdaton.
“That is nothing difficult. I am Sumiaton,” answered the crewman.
Crewslayer nodded and rushed to Abimnupal’s prone body. His comrade lied unmoving where he fell. He grabbed the warrior tightly by the shoulders and shook him.
“I think it has knocked me unconscious, don’t tell anybody,” rasped Abimnupal and opened his eyes.
“Damn fool, I was coming up with words to say at your funeral already!”
The wounded man laughed but then his face clenched up.
“I also think it may have broken few of my ribs.”
Ymdaton helped the warrior to his feet. All around them crewmen were treating their wounds and celebrating victory. Warriors discussed the skirmish, chuckles could be heard here and there. Through this ambience Crewslayer did not notice a single ceaseless stream of laughter at first. But soon it begun annoying him, so Ymdaton turned around, searching for the source of sound. No one cackled around him in that manner. No one did so as far as the eye could see. He noticed some men casting uneasy looks around, same way as he did. Suddenly he heard a voice just behind his back.
“Heed me, foolish sea runners. You may have broken my body, yet I am eternal in spirit. As long as grooves grow, I will exist. You have made a mistake when you angered me, petty things. These woods shall be your grave, no path on the earth shall dare to guide you out. Thus I curse you!” proclaimed it in clean kinani language.
Ymdaton spun with his weapon in hands, seeking the authors of threats. He found none. Warriors around him were doing the same, it seems everyone heard the words.
“Look, the way disappeared,” someone cried out.
Crewslayer scanned the wood’s edge and noticed that all the traces of the road that led them were now indeed gone. The expedition stood in the middle of a glade encircled with thick forest.
Panic rolled through the crowd. People began murmuring in shock and fear.
“Calm!” a mighty shout devoid of worry echoed through the place. It originated from the midst of the expedition, from lord Azytenisar, who has risen his sword high, beckoning his men to gather.
“I will not allow such pitiful displays of terror from my brave subordinates. Let us deal with this in a wise manner. I request an explanation from our drevlyani friends.”
Blagoslav and the second messenger stepped forth.
“In all honesty, I don’t have a slightest idea what kind of creature you just have defeated. Neither do I know what kind of a curse has befallen us,” said the translator, barely holding back panic.
The other man spoke something in his native language. Blagoslav listened carefully and then told others.
“Dalnovyd thinks that the monster is called Ljad. He is the devil to borovici imps, the powerful and malign spirit of the forest. It is said that weapons crafted by men can not wound him. Was it not the case here? When you crashed his material form, he cursed us out of spite, commanding the forest to bar all paths.”
“Please, convey my thanks to Dalnovyd for his insight. This curse will not affect us, for we do not need a guidance of earthly passages. We are guided by those in the sky. Now then, to the pressing matters. The map, please,” Lulaton gave his master the map of Owritchni. “Show me on the map the part of the road on with we were situated before the attack.”
The translator came closer and pointed with a finger.
“Good, now I need someone to climb a tree and seek the answer of the stars.”
“Allow me,” shouted Ymdaton before anyone else could answer, “I am the one who humbled that thing, after all.”
“Fine. Find me a direction two thirds between north and east,” agreed Azytenisar.
Crewslayer found a fitting tree with a multitude of trusty branches. He climbed it until reaching the top. From there he observed evening sky. Luckily, there were few clouds and stars shone unobscured. There were Ulamsilis, the Eternal Three, standing unmoving in the south, there was Nisirask, the guarding of the West Shore, slowly making his patrol, Yrah, moon was moving along his path almost full, many others were also familiar to him. From his childhood Ymdaton was taught to recognize many dozens of stars, for navigation at sea was based on them first and foremost. When he got down and returned to his liege, Crewslayer simply pointed his hand in the direction calculated by him. Azytenisar nodded and carved a line in the soil with his sword, which displayed it.
“We will rest this night and the following day. The next evening we move out. We will travel in the dark, when the stars can lead us. We will pass directly through forest without turning to either side. Every man should always keep at least three others in his sight at all times, unless he desires to be swallowed by the woods. Whatever stands in our way shall be brought down, plant or a moving thing, no matter. That is all for now.”
And so they did. The journey was grueling. It was not easy for a party of such size to pass through the wild forest. Sometimes the way through the greenness was simply cut. Sometimes a man would climb the tree and find out that the sky is rotated completely, meaning that they were moving in the opposite direction somehow. Sometimes they halted during cloudy nights, when navigation was impossible. Sometimes men were lost to the Odwitchni despite all cautions. Yet onwards they came.
Finally, in half the moon since the battle on the forest road, a warrior who was ordered to check the sky reported that an end to the woods could be seen not so far ahead. According to the maps, Khladnetz stood on the clear land lined with forest. The view matched the description perfectly. After overcoming so many obstacles, travelers reached their destination.