After some time, Brigid found her composure and wiped the tears from her face. She thanked Danu and turned to the others. It was Ra’Handa that spoke first.

‘You ok?’ She said with kindness in her voice. For all her anger and glaring at Nessus it seemed to Brigid that there was a softness under it all. ‘I’m sorry for what I said. I didn’t know what these people meant to you,’ she apologised. Brigid shook her head.

‘It’s ok. You were just being honest. I’m ok now. You won’t see me cry again,’ she said steeling herself. Ra’Handa gave a smile and a nod and looked around.

‘Where are all the people?’ she asked. The others also took in the nightmare of vines and empty homes around them. It was only now that Brigid realised there wasn’t a single body in sight. If there had been fighting or even if these strange plants killed everyone, then there surely would be bodies littered everywhere. Aside from the vines and themselves the streets were entirely empty.

‘What about the buildings?’ she asked.

‘Wait here. I’ll go look,’ said Ra’Handa and left before anyone could stop her.

‘She’ll be alright. Ra knows how to keep hidden,’ said Blink. He sounded confident to Brigid ears though his face betrayed him. ‘I’m sorry too by the way,’ he said a hangdog look on his face. Why must men always make her feel like coddling them or hitting them?

‘Its fine. Really. Don’t mention it again,’ she said attempting to sound stoic and strong. She would not coddle him and make him feel better. Besides she was fine. Wasn’t she?

‘Do you know what these plants are?’ he asked redirecting their attention.

‘No. I’ve never seen them before,’ she said looking at them as though they were a serpent ready to strike.

‘I have,’ said Danu. She walked to a ruined building before them leaning down to examine the vines and with her delicate fingers plucked a needle. She held it before the others like a prize and spoke in a lecturing way. Brigid knew the tone well from all the lectures Brinn and Innais had given her over the years. It gnawed, especially when she herself didn’t already know the information she was receiving.

‘It’s called Solerain Lustervia, or Sun Lust Vine. They’re a pest that uses poisonous nettles to subdue other plants and small animals. The vines then break them down for food. The vines are named Sun Lust because they’re attracted to sunlight, though once they’ve had their fill, they usually retreat to the darkness of the forest floor to flower. They’re quite beautiful after they’ve fed.

‘Do you mean the plants ate everyone?’ Blink asked incredulously.

‘Possibly. Although we would still see their remains if that were so. Besides, Sun Lust Vine is a small plant. I’ve never heard of them growing this big let alone growing so much they would swallow a whole town. They’re a parasite that climb trees and other plants in search of light. This should not be impossible,’ she gestured the scene around them. Brigid felt her stomach churning as she thought of her friends being devoured by these plants. She pushed the thoughts from her mind.

‘If there aren’t any remains, do you think they might be alive somewhere?’ Brigid asked hopefully.

‘It is odd that there isn’t anyone here, so I suppose it’s possible. Is there anywhere around here that the people would go?’ Danu asked, her big green eyes regarding Brigid.

‘The grasslands are where the drovers take the cattle for grazing but to get the whole town there, we’d have seen some sign of them on the road,’ she said thinking aloud. Brigid followed the direction of the vines with her eyes as they lead toward a dip in the valley through the rocks on the side furthest from where they entered. ‘Further into the valley we would come to the mines and the swamps. There are cave systems there and a few entrances nearer to the town that they may have used, the people here know them better than anyone.’

‘Didn’t you say they were full of golgeists?’ Asked Blink.

‘They use the tunnels and caves to avoid the Isles sometimes, but it’s rare for them to make it out this far. The guilds tend to clear them out. The only other way out of Tory is through the way we came in and there wasn’t any sign of them on the roads,’ she paused for a moment, ‘I also want to know what caused these vines. We should go as soon as Ra’Handa is back.’ Is this really a good idea? Maybe I should just take them back to the city and let the Daybreakers know. No! Innais would just lock me up in the guild to keep me safe. She needs to learn I can do this. And what if Yirranna and the others are alive? We can’t just leave them here. Brigid looked up at the sky. It was cloudless and the sun was sitting high above them. It was just past noon. Without the Dawn Isle to protect it this whole area would draw all manner of creatures. There was more out in the plains than the golgeists to be worried about. ‘We need to find them before dark and get them to the nearest Dawn Isle,’ she said to others and to reassure herself it was the right decision.

‘Are you sure this isn’t something we might need help with?’ asked Blink.

‘Do you think I can’t handle this? I won’t leave them to die if they’re out there somewhere,’ she snapped back.

‘I don’t want that either but how could we help against what ever did this to a whole town,’ he relied. It was just like a boy to think she couldn’t take care of herself. She’d had to put up with this her whole life.

‘I can handle this. I’m not some helpless wilting flower out here,’ she said angrily. I had been meant to be said to Blink, yet it felt as if she were speaking to all the guild and worse, Innais ,as she said it.

‘I didn’t say you couldn’t. There’s only five of us against whatever destroyed this place,’ Blink’s voice began to grow heated. Brigid supposed he was right. He hadn’t said it, but she had certainly felt their doubts since they met.

‘You want to be a guild member? Well this is it. You don’t just leave people that need you behind,’ she shifted as she spoke, and her fists clenched.

‘I’m not saying we leave them just that we need help,’ Blink said something breaking ever so slightly in his voice.

‘I don’t need you. I can do this myself and I won’t leave them to this fate. I’m no coward like you,’ she felt regret as soon as the words left her mouth. It was right for them to be afraid and what Blink said made sense. They were only a small group, most of them hadn’t even become members of the guild. They may not be enough to do anything here. Still the thought of leaving them behind rankled her and worse still should she have to face Innais without having proven herself. Brigid opened her mouth to apologise but was interrupted by Ra’Handa.

‘Oi you two keep it down. I can hear you from the other side of town,’ she said stepping in between them.

‘Did you find anything Ra’Handa,’ said Danu with a squeak in her voice. Those large green eyes avoiding any connection with Blink and Brigid. Even her posture had stiffened, and her hands gripped the gnarled staff for security.

‘Some of the other buildings showed signs of a struggle. There were more than these vines here when it happened. But no bodies,’ she said this looking at Brigid. Her words were meant to be reassuring but her face showed concern and confusion.

‘There is something… wrong about this place,’ she added choosing her words carefully. Brigid wished she hadn’t. It felt too much like treating her as glass that may shatter at a harsh word.

‘I know what you mean Ra. I could smell it before we hit the ridge. What ever happened here I’m not sure I want to stay to find out,’ said Blink.

‘Well, we’re going to find out,’ snapped Brigid. Blink immediately looked guilty for what he had said, or was it shame at Brigid’s outburst? Either way his feelings didn’t matter nearly as much as finding the towns people. ‘If you want to get into the guild, you’re going to have to protect me and get me home. And I’m not leaving until we sort this out,’ she said stubbornly. Brigid knew she could be difficult and demanding. She heard people when they spoke under their breath that she was a brat or called her names. She didn’t care. That was their problem. ‘I’ll do this without you if I have to,’ she finished and began walking deeper into the valley, alongside a large, twisted, menacing vine. I don’t need anyone. I can take care of myself, and no one is going to tell me otherwise. Not them, not Terrick, not Dell, and certainly not Innais!

The party followed behind her. Blink felt the knot in his stomach twist. It was a mixture of guilt at what he had said, his own cowardice, and the constant feeling of something in this place being off. Whilst the walk along the plains had given him an envelopment of freedom and connection, this place made him feel small. There’s no need to worry. There are plenty of us and beside we have Danu and Nessus with us. This is just like sparring with Ra. Blink tried to reassure himself.

‘Except Ra would beat me almost every time,’ he said aloud without meaning to.

‘What was that fella?’ said Ra’Handa.

‘Oh! Nothing,’ he said quickly and followed with, ‘Do you think we’ll be ok Ra?’ Ra’Handa grunted and punched him in the shoulder.

‘Just stick by me. We get in, find these people, and get out. Noone said we had to fight anything,’ she made it sound so simple. But then that had always been Ra’Handa.

‘Just stay away from that Nessus, they’re likely to blow us up or something,’ she added derisively.

‘They’re alright Ra. Bit weird but alright,’ he said. She was always protective of him, but it was rare that he would see her hold such a grudge and she tended to try to get on with anyone she met. The night on the ship must have shaken her more than anything. More even than Demera or Horrog. At least then she understood the danger, what happened on the ship neither of them really knew anything about. Blink thought of the white bone sword and was relieved that it was at the bottom of the ocean far away from him. He gripped the hilt of the sword by his side and sniffed the air. They were growing closer to the swampy waters. He could smell the wet earthiness of the still waters. There was also the acrid scent of rotten vegetation. The path was getting harder to follow as the vines grew more thickly and compacted. They passed several entrances to the mines as they followed the vines. At each of the entrances they were laced with vines and vicious needles protruding from each. The people of Tory could not possibly have entered the mines unless the vines had closed of their exit afterwards. It was not a hopeful thought that they may be trapped inside and whatever had happened had certainly followed them within. To Blink it seemed unlikely they would find anyone, but he held back his words. I’m not a coward I just don’t want to do something stupid that means we end up like the people of this town, he thought to himself as they walked. Blink wondered how Brigid could be so stubborn as to keep going. Not that she said anything, but she didn’t slow their movements and

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

the furrows of her brow grew deeper with every closed off entrance to the mines.

‘Maybe Blink was right, and we should head back to Dayargain and let them know what happened,’ said Danu after the third entrance they came to.

‘No not until we’ve found them,’ replied Brigid firmly. ‘There’s still the swamps and they feed into the underground tunnels. If they had nowhere else to go, they would have gone that way,’ and she walked on before another word could be said.

They hugged the great stone walls of the valley, and slowly they were able to wind a path through them until they reached the edge of a bank. The vines avoided the water’s edge. The water itself was still and so dark it was impossible to tell where the shallows and depths were. Worse still they couldn’t tell what might be hiding beneath it. As far as Blink and the others could see the terrain went on beyond their sight as is if were a still black mirror reflecting the sky framed in the tangle of nettled vines. Tall trees dotted the waters standing on long legged roots. They looked like tufted spiders crawling along the surface of the water.

‘Do we really have to wade through all this mud and water?’ asked Danu hugging her staff. ‘I’m not exactly dressed for this?’ she added.

‘It’s the only way through to where we are going,’ said Brigid looking her up and down.

‘I’m also not dressed for such an expedition. Perhaps Danu and I should wait behind,’ added Nessus, a jangling of their jewellery sounding.

‘Typical. I get stuck with a bunch preening children concerned more about their clothing that actual work,’ Brigid chided. Blink wondered how she could say such things, she appeared no older than him and certainly younger than Nessus.

‘You look like you’ve already been for a swim in there anyways Danu, joked Ra’Handa trying to get a rise from her. Danu glared with her round face and a telltale pout sprouted.

‘I certainly do not! I haven’t the slightest idea what you mean,’ her face flushed as she spoke.

‘As for pretty boy here in a dress I’d be happy to leave ya here,’ Ra’Handa said ignoring Danu.

‘It’s a Shi’na, a layered skirt of my people,’ said Nessus. There was a tone of heat beneath the words. ‘It will be difficult to move in through the waters,’ the added speaking to Brigid.

‘You she-she I say dress. Either way you can stay here if ya like,’ Blink grew frustrated with her childishness as she continued.

‘Enough Ra! Give it a rest. This whole time all you’ve done it bicker and try to get a reaction from Nessus. They’re with us end of story so get over it,’ his voice echoing off the rock walls of the valley.

‘Be quiet! You will bring more trouble with your noise. Nessus and Danu you can tie the layers up into pants. Its not hard, the women here to do all the time,’ she said and demonstrated on Danu’s dress treating as a child that could not dress herself. Blink flushed with embarrassment at his outburst though it seemed none of them paid him much attention. They were too fixed on Brigid. Nessus followed their example and tied the layer folds into pants, be careful to keep any jewellery from coming loose. When they were done, Brigid pointed ahead into the swamp.

‘There’s a cave system not far from here. We can wade through the swamp to get to it. Just follow me and stick to the shallows.’ Before they could ask questions, she began wadding into the water, it came up to her waist but no deeper than that. Ra’Handa gave Blink a shove and he stumbled into the water sending ripples across the still black mirror water.

‘You got a better nose and eyes than me. I’ll bring up the rear,’ she said with a grin.

‘Ra! This isn’t a time for games. Could you take things seriously for once!’ Blink snapped at her.

‘Careful! What did I say about noise you idiots?’ said Brigid. ‘Try not to disturb the water too much or you’ll wake the beelzabufos!’ She scolded. Blink looked at Ra’Handa with both a question and a scowl on his face. She shrugged and shook her head. We need to have a serious talk Ra. You’ve not made any of this easier since we left Dayargain. I just don’t why she can’t listen to me for once, thought Blink as he waded forward into the cool water. Danu followed Blink with that still matter-of-fact tone she always seemed to have when explaining somethings that everyone else really should have known, ‘It’s a giant toad with horned atop its head. They live in the mud sleeping unless they think food is around’. As Nessus came after her, she got closer to Blink and whispered to him in a sardonic excitement, ‘I’ve always wanted to see one!’

They moved as slowly as they could through the waters. Blink expected the ground beneath the water to be soft and muddy but was surprised to find that there were hard stone beneath their feet. The stone felt as though it were smoothly worked and deliberately placed. Blink edged a booted foot to the side of the underwater path and found what he had been expecting; his boot immediately sank and was consumed by the thick mud.

‘There’s a path in the water?’ he said aloud to himself.

‘The locals placed them to help navigate the swamp without disturbing the beelzabufo toads, when the waters are higher like this only the people of Tory know the path; they also make it hard for outsiders to follow,’ said Brigid in a whisper and a tone that cautioned further silence.

‘How do you know about them then?’ he answered back in a lowered voice. There was a poorly veiled hint of annoyance with Brigid still for their previous argument. I am no coward, he thought to himself again as if repeating it would confirm it to himself.

‘I spent most of my youngling years here while my parents were at the borderland. Now be quiet,’ she snapped. Blink resisted the urge to repeat her in a mocking voice and focussed on where he placed his feet.

Blink looked to the sides of the of the swampy water in view. They were bordered by the same reddish valley stone only its surface had cracks of dark green vines and needles marking it. It reminded him of the uncut stones he had seen Captain Fisk return with at times. Those had been beautiful and priceless besides. The walls here were beautiful in a way, though they drew his gaze more for the fear that any moment they may come to life and take them. In some ways he wished they would do something, the stillness off the vines and the apprehension prickled his nerves. They continued like this for what seemed an hour at least. The pace was slow and at times the waters grew deeper, and it was harder to find the footing of the stone worked path below. The sun was high above them, and a humidity chocked at their breath in the thickness of the decaying vegetation in the air. As they continued wadding Blink noticed something strange in the air. He stopped walking and raise a hand for the others to halt.

‘Wait. Do you hear that?’ he asked.

‘No? What is it?’ Brigid said anxiously turning on him.

‘It’s like the air… I don’t know to describe it other than that it’s… vibrating,’ he said hearing the absurdity of the description as he said it. There had been no other way to say it in that moment. Blink felt as though his head was shaking at the sound… wait sound! ‘It’s not a vibration as such but maybe more like a… buzzing sound?’ he said asking Brigid to confirm. As he said it the sound began to grow, and he could hear others layering over the top of it. He looked at Brigid and her eyes were wide. She began searching the sky above for something and stopped as the light in the valley suddenly diminished. Hovering in the air before them blocking the sun was a large dark smoke cloud that was making an intensifying vibration of sound that pierced their ears. Brigid pointed ahead to the swamp valley walls.

‘Run! Forget being quiet. Just run!’ she said and took off breathing heavily as she splashed through the blackened waters. As soon as she did the large vibrating cloud descended directly toward them. Blink and the others seeing her distress wasted no time in moving. If that cloud was enough to frighten Bridget this way, it was not something they wanted to know about. It was difficult underfoot keeping up with her and managing to find where the path was maintained under foot. As they moved the sound of the water splashed noisily. It would have been comical to see such a strange group rushing through the water if it had not been for the sake of their lives. Soon even the sound of the water was drowned out by the drone of buzzing, and now Blink could see exactly what was coming toward them. What had looked like smoke was a swarm of giant insects, their bodies black and glistening with long hairs extending from their bodies and they seemed to be suspended in the air by magic if it weren’t for the knowledge that their thin wings were beating so fast, they couldn’t be seen. The insects were the size and shape of dogs with heads not unlike a wolf’s only grotesquely elongated and made of thick carapace and hair. It was the snout, if that were the right word for these insectile creatures, was the most disturbing. They were so long they almost drooped yet appeared not to hinder the creatures at all in their flight. As they drew closer the snouts split into four segments revealing a long sharp spear like proboscis not unlike the kind mosquitos used to bite Blink on the long summer nights in Bonny. Blink drew his sword ready to slash at any that came close enough. The water here was shallower than in other parts, merely rising to his waist, yet with the way these creatures manoeuvred through the air even that amount of water would place him in significant disadvantage. As two made directly for him he saw a sharp dagger fly past his head and burry itself in the abdomen of one of the creatures. As the other came in range he slashed with his sword lopping the head from its body. Both creatures landed in the water floating, Blink continued to push forward looking back to see Ra’Handa wrench her dagger from one of the creatures.

‘We’re close keep running!’ called Brigid ahead of them.

Blink saw light appear in front of her as he saw her tracing what he thought looked like glowing red letters in the air with her finger. With each letter written she swatted them in the direction of the insects, and they erupted into a small burst of fire. She was somehow managing to hold her concentration on this task and run at the same time. Some of the insects were able to get out of the way whilst others burst into flames as they intercepted resulting in a sizzling screech followed by gulps as the swamp water swallowed them.

‘All of you keep running. I’ll catch up!’ came Nessus’s voice from behind Blink.

‘What are doing?’ yelled Ra’Handa as she bumped into him.

‘Go now! Now!’ Nessus yelled back, urging her on.

‘Fine! Die if you want!’ she said pushing past them and slashing at more of the insects as they came. She managed to dispense with two of them before a third latched on and drove in spear into her shoulder. A sharp bestial roar rang out as the insect-like creature began to draw blood from her body. She slipped from the path and fell into the water along with the insect.

‘Ra!’ Blink yelled after her.

‘Don’t worry. I’ll get her,’ said Danu as she dove into the water, using her staff to stay afloat she gripped hold of Ra’Handa. Blink looked at Nessus and their eyes were glowing purple the same way they had when they met on the ship. The water was rippling out from all around them growing in larger and large streams. The water began to bubble and steam as a pillar of flame swirled in a dancing unison with the water. The flames caught the insect creatures and they let loose their death shriek as they erupted into flames. The remaining insects seeing their fellows turned to charred chunks in the water began to flee but not before a great slippery tongue darted forth from the dark waters. It was soon followed by another and before they knew what was happening there were two great toads, as tall as Blink leaping from the waters. They were covered in an oily brown lumpy skin with slithering brands of reds, oranges and yellows running along their face and backs. It was their horns that made them ferocious and deadly to look upon; two great bull-like horns extending from their heads. They looked as though they could skewer a person right through without any resistance. One of the toads cut off Brigid’s path whilst the other cut off Blink from those behind him. What must have been the beelzabufos chewed on their insectile prey, crunching their hard carapaces in their mouths before swallowing. An eye the size of Blink’s head rotated and settled on Blink as he froze in place. He could see his own reflection mirrored there, mouth gaping wide, expecting the same fate as befell the giant insects.