Chapter 10

The sun made its slow climb up into the sky, steadily giving life to the dead rock around the camp. Cloud cover had thinned finally but everything still had a layer of moisture on it that made it extra uncomfortable to sleep. Ag had been awake for an hour at least, watching the area around them slowly become more and more illuminated. He hadn’t moved since he’d woken. It wasn’t his watch that night but he’d remained awake despite the fact that there was no need to.

He’d simply lay there and contemplated. Death was a good chance if he continued on this venture. It was possible, highly possible they all ended up as new corpses within the spire or just a few more additions to the red captain's army. Still he’d continued on with the group. A cynic in the midst of idealists and hopefuls, yet he continued on. He couldn’t figure out why.

There was the reward to be sure but no reward was worth dying. There was friendship here he supposed. Torvund at least was his friend and while the others weren't, Esker and Martine were at least decent men. Marus could live or die, he didn’t care much there. Imperials were better left six feet under than walking the land causing the same problems they’d been making for years. Then there was Genine, she didn’t like him one bit but she was a good lass with a good heart, which was more than could be said for him.

He sighed and rolled onto his side. She was still in the same spot as the night before, huddled in her little crack in the rock that gave her better protection than his spot. She shifted in her sleep, her face a mask of concentration and fear. Wherever she was it wasn’t a good dream which boded ill for them, or it meant nothing.

“Magic.” He muttered. The stupid ability had only led to problems for them all.

“Aye, magic.”

Ag twisted to find Torvund huddled near him. The big man was sharpening the head of his ax while still layered in his cloak and sleeping roll.

“And dream magic at that. Strange and complicated stuff.” The big man murmured.

“I could do without it.” Ag muttered. “I’m inclined to believe all this is their fault. Not just our situation but the state of the world in general.”

Torvund nodded, eyeing the edge he’d been refining then going back to work with his whetstone. “You may be right there lad. But it wasn’t none of her magic nor her personally. All she does is look. Look and see what’s happening with the world. No harm there.”

“Yeah, until she’s looking at you for the benefit of someone that wants your head.” Ag shot back.

Torvund gave a low chuckle. “You’re right on that.” Then he put his ax down and locked eyes with Ag. “You don’t much like magic, not surprising seeing as what it's done. You don’t like imperials, both for what they did to your da and for the state of everything.”

“What’s your point?”

“My point is you don’t like what’s going on here, or the people involved in it. But, you’re still here. Why?”

Ag was silent for a long while, long enough for the rest of the camp to stir. He finally looked at Torvund and said. “I don’t know.”

With that their conversation was finished and Ag reluctantly rose and began packing up his gear. The camp was cleared quickly, They had all been traveling light and with many of the men and horses they’d started out with dead or missing there was little in excess. They began the treacherous climb down a winding path that hugged the mountainside, all of them on foot with their horses following behind. Below, through the thick coniferous trees, a few glimpses of a mist shrouded land could be seen.

It wasn’t until nearly midday that the canopy between them and their destination was thin enough to get a good view. Below was the valley the spire had been built in. On one side the large slope pushed up against the cliffs all around it was still covered in a thinning fog. The spire jutted out, its red sides gleaming like a bloody knife in the sunlight that had only just cleared the mountain tops. Whoever had built the spire and later the fortress around it had stumbled upon a perfect point to defend. Only one path led easily into the valley floor while one side was a sheer cliff and the other a treacherous slope that no large force could descend quickly.

As the spire and the area around become more and more visible, conversation slowly died down. A sense of foreboding settled over the party, a knowledge that they were descending straight into the belly of the beast. Sounds drifted up to them from far below, carried on the wind came the wavering calls that ebbed and grew. Chittering and screeching, signals that stone skin were below, a lot by the sounds of it.

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Ag felt his skin prickle at the noise. This was it. If he turned back now he might make it back up the slope without slipping but then he had little supplies and a possible horde between him and the nearest safe haven. Better to go on, at least then he wouldn’t have to wonder if he’d die.

The trail began to lead in one direction, towards the bordering cliffs on the valley’s back end. After hours of arduous trekking they reached a flat section of rock. Behind them was the mountains and looking back it was a shock they’d even made it down. Before them was a thin path cut into the rock that led off into the growing dusk. They were nearly to the spire, it had grown in size steadily and this last stretch was supposed to lead to a secret entrance. From what the Therudi had said it was an actual entrance not the sewer grate and tubes Andelmar had told them about. His path would have taken them through the valley, not a good idea now that they could see what was there.

Even with the setting sun Ag could still just see the valley floor. Where there had once been fields and irrigation ditches was a massive spread of mud and bodies. The churned ground, soaked by the rain, had become a bog, and stone skins stalked its depths. Twisted trees had somehow managed to grow but even from this distance one could see the red sap leaking from their decrepit frames.

“We can camp here for a while.” Nacine announced. “I'd like to make the final approach while we still have darkness on our side.”

“You sure?” Torvund asked. “That little path seems treacherous enough as is.”

“We go when it's dark.” The finality with which the huntress spoke the phrase told them there would be no argument.

They settled in for another cold camp, no fire, no music, no talking, not when they were this close to death.

__________

Again Balasar felt those eyes upon him, closer than they ever had been. It was not madness, there was a seer looking at him and they were close. “Gomon!” He bellowed.

His ever loyal servant ran into the room, his armor clattering, one hand on his sword. “My lord?”

“You are sure no one has been seen on the road since the village?” His lieutenant nodded, his confusion evident. “They are near, a seer is with them.”

Where were they? Lost once they headed into the mountains. They couldn’t know of the path, no one did. But the Spears had been persistent and going bolder and more well informed every year. They knew of the path, they had to.

“I have a task for you, my trusted lieutenant.” He hissed. “They know of the path on the cliffs. You will show them the way off.”

His lieutenant nodded and turned to leave but Balasar raised a hand to forestall him. “One more thing. You will take my new creation with you.”

They both turned to look at the table in unison. At a silent command the beast sat up then climbed off the table. It stood at nearly eight feet tall, its body a mass of muscle and spikes, its eyes sunken under a stone brow burned with a red fire. The clicks it made were deep and guttural, sending shivers down the backs of Gomon and even Balasar.

“He is ready to taste his first flesh.”

__________

Genine woke with a start, her face deathly pale. Ag jumped as she sat up, dropping the wet stone he’d been using on his weapon’s blade. “There coming.” She whispered.

“Who?” Ag asked but his question was ignored as Torvund and Nacine both rose in unison and moved to Genines’ side.

“What did you see?” The big man asked.

“The man in black armor is coming, with something new, something terrible.” Genine’s voice shook with fear and already the Therudi were rising and seizing weapons.

Just then a guttural howl echoed out, bouncing off the cliff beside them and into the valley where it was answered by a chorus of other shrieks. A glimmer of red showed in the blackness before them, twin points of light that shone with a malevolent glow. A chitter sounded, deep and wet, a challenge. Someone struck a flint and steel, brief sparks of light that showed a shape, huge and hulking for brief moments until whatever they were lighting caught and a steady flame lit the shelf of rock.

An ululating howl rang off the rocks as whatever stalked them from the darkness propelled itself forward. Two bows twanged and arrows whipped out hitting whatever it was before it landed before them. In the fluttering light of the torch they saw a massive hulk, like a stone skin but twisted and bulked up to an extent none had ever seen. Even with its massive size it was lightning fast. With the barest twitch of warning it had seized one of the hunters and thrown them off the edge into the valley below.

That seemed to break the spell that had been on them as all at once they charged the thing. Torvund bellowed his own challenge and rushed forward, managing to sink his ax into the things leg before it bashed him against the rock wall. The four Therudi harried the creature, the armored two with their swords, dancing in and out of range while the other two pelted it with arrows. Ag and Marus joined in, jabbing at the thing's arms as it swung.

The creature twisted suddenly and caught one of the armored Therudi, bashing him against the rock floor again and again until his body was a broken mass held together by his armor. The thing threw the bloody mass that had been a living being a moment ago into Marus sending him sprawling. For a moment Ag was left staring the creature down alone until Esker and more surprisingly Martine appeared at his side. Together they charged, slashing at anything they got close to.

The creature bellowed in rage and swung wildly, clipping Esker and sending him spinning dangerously close to the edge. Martine yelled in anger and jumped forward, his sword sinking into the thing’s chest and lodging there. In a moment of adrenaline fueled stupidity Ag followed suit, his impact against the monster sending it stumbling back. It thrashed wildly, trying to shake its passengers but it only served to move itself closer to the lip of the rock shelf.

Marus seemed to realize the inevitable before they did. He regained his feet and grabbed onto Ag. “Let go or you’re both dead!” He shouted but it was too late.

With a final roar the monster pitched over the edge, taking Martine, Ag, and Marus along with it.