She ran.

Through fading clouds of foreign spices, roads stripped of commotion and laughter, and homes abandoned with shutters barred. At least, she hoped the houses were empty.

The early moon was the only light, half hidden below the horizon. Shadows stretched at every step, long dark fingers reaching out to stop her. Her heart pounded in her chest and her legs burned but she didn't slow, following the bright line that led down the cobblestone street.

Her mind raced along with her, going over the events that has led her here.

They had brought everyone inside, including the mercenaries. Captain Thrend had laughed when they first warned him, dismissing the warning as a fairy tale. The fear on Triss's face and her insistence that there really were bereaved outside the town was enough to get his agreement, and the soldiers had packed up and moved inside.

There was an empty barracks near the front gate, a bygone of a more dangerous era. The elders let the mercenaries stay there. The entire building was filled with dust, nearly an inch covering every surface. The soldiers complained at first, but a few shouted orders from Thrend soon had them sweeping clouds into the streets.

Thrend and two soldiers oversaw the gate, helping those who lived outside the walls on their journey inside. The last fading lights of the sun were just touching the top of the wall when the gate was finally sealed, a large wooden beam slamming down to bar it shut. Torches set in holders around the gate and courtyard cast a flickering orange glow on everything.

The gathered elders had been all smiles at that point, sure that they had followed their master's instructions and saved the town from the bereaved. Thrend excused himself from the group, making his way to a ladder built into the wall beside the gate. He climbed to the top and stood on the narrow walkway on top, gazing out over the open fields. Triss followed him up, and stood beside him. He looked over at her arrival, grunted in acknowledgement and turned back to the fields. They stood like silent guardians as the last light of day faded completely.

Triss was the first to break the erie silence. "If you don't believe in the bereaved, why are you up here watching?" She asked.

Thrend let the question hang before finally answering. "I might not believe the fairy tale you all are spreading, but something definitely is wrong. I was about to order my troops to set double watches." He sighed. "I've got three scouts out there. None have reported back. That's not unusual, when they're on the trail they can stay out for days sometimes. Better that than lose their quarry. But it just doesn't feel right. I've been a soldier a long time, and I've learned that it's best to trust my gut on these things."

They waited as this world's strange stars began to wink into existence across the black expanse. Eventually, the pale moon began to rise above the horizon, huge and bright. Lavender light glinted off the distant river, flashing as the waters moved.

"There!" Thrend cried, pointing. Triss looked, but only saw the glint off the river. Thrend hurried down the ladder, more falling than climbing. He ran straight to the barracks, grabbing the first soldier he found roughly and giving instructions Triss couldn't hear. She looked back to see what had made the captain react, but still saw nothing. Just the light of the moon casting across the ground and the river.

A sudden horrific realization dawned. The glinting was not from the river. The glinting was getting closer. She was seeing the moonlight reflect off swords, spears and armor. Now that she knew what she was seeing, she was able to make out the hundreds of dark shapes marching below the shining weapons.

"You'll need to get down miss." She hadn't even noticed Thrend climb back up the wall. Below several soldiers gathered, short bows slung over their backs.

"What's going on?" She asked. "Who's out there?"

"Whoever was attacking the carts I imagine. Definitely not friendly." He looked at her pointedly. "And it's not going to be safe up here."

Triss didn't argue, though she did get Thrend to move the soldiers back before climbing down. "stupid dresses." She muttered to herself as she climbed down, doing her best to keep the fabric out of the way.

She moved aside to let the grim faced men climb. They spread out along the top of the wall, drawing their bows and checking their quivers. Behind her the rest of the soldiers formed into a pair of lines facing the gate. The soldiers in front carried large shields and short swords, with the line behind clutching long spears.

The night was deathly silent as they waited.

"Hold!" Thrend's command cut through the air. The seconds passed by like hours. "Loose!"

The night was filled with the thrum of bowstrings being loosed. Inhuman screams erupted outside the gate. "Loose!" Thrend cried again, and the screaming increased.

"At will!" Thrend commanded. The archers were firing faster than Triss would have thought possible, a steady stream of arrows flying out past the wall.

He turned to the soldiers below. "Brace!"

Triss realized there were a half dozen soldiers standing at the gate. At Thrend's command they put their shoulders against the wooden barrier and pushed. A loud crashing noise came from the other side and the soldiers were pushed back, one falling backwards onto the ground. He jumped up quickly and rejoined his fellows at the gate.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

Crash. Thrum. Scream. The air was filled with the terrifying noise of battle. A shouted curse drew her attention to the battlements. Something had made it to the top of the wall. A large black shape loomed over one of the men defending the wall. A long spoke protruded out of the soldiers back, and his screams of pain echoed around the courtyard. The soldiers beside him had turned and were shooting arrows into the shape, but they seemed to have no effect. The rest of the soldiers ignored the fight happening in their ranks, focused on the battle below.

“Spikewalker!” Thrend yelled, the faintest hint of fear in his normally steady commands. The soldiers on the ground looked at one another nervously, their steady formation wavering slightly. Thrend must have noticed, because he yelled at the worried soldiers seconds later. “Hold! Are you nervous little girls, or are you men? HOLD!” He yelled. He hesitated a second, then called down to Triss. “No offence miss. Now get the hell off my battlefield!”

Triss realized she hadn’t moved from her spot near the ladder, and was still far too close to the gate. If anything broke through she would probably be dead before she could reach the line of soldiers. She moved quickly to the back of the square, putting the soldiers between her and the gate. She watched the the soldiers on the wall as they pushed the dark creature off the wall. The arrows had taken time, but they had done their work. The creature struggled weakly as it was rolled down to the ground outside the wall.

The gate crashed again, throwing three soldiers back this time. Before they could race back the gate was hammered again. A giant bone-white claw stabbed through the wood, piercing through almost a full foot. The soldiers braced the gate again as the claw was withdrawn. The next stab spun a soldier’s steel cap off, cutting into his forehead. Even from a distance Triss could see the blood pouring down his face. The soldier didn’t back down, pushing his shoulder hard into the gate without even wiping the blood from his eyes.

The next stab took him straight though the head. Time seemed to slow for Triss as she watched the soldier go limp, then crumple to the ground as the claw was withdrawn. She was frozen, unable to move, unable to grasp what was happening in front of her. A dim faraway part of her mind understood that she must be in shock. But if that part of her mind had any suggestions on how to recover it stayed unfortunately silent.

She watched as the gate shuddered under repeated blows. Watched as soldiers were cast back or cut down. Watched as the wood finally splintered, cracked, and broke apart.

She stood, and watched, as unholy terrors stampeded into the courtyard.

A sudden sharp pain on her cheek brought her back. “I said get the HELL off my battlefield!” Thrend was saying, his arm held up ready to slap her again. Once he knew he had her attention, he let go of the front of her dress. Triss hadn’t even noticed. “Run. Run as fast as you can and for the sake of all the gods, don’t look back.” He turned and strode away, pulling sword from scabbard as he waded into the fray.

Triss turned, and the spirit line glowed on the ground in front of her.

She ran.

The line led her through twisting streets and down a dark narrow alleyway. At the end of the alley there was a section of stone wall that was lit. When she approached, she couldn’t see anything special about it. She cast her floating light orb, floating it above her hand as she inspected the section of wall.

Or you could just ask.

“Sorry. What are we doing here? What’s going on with this stone?”

This is a secret exit from the town. Press the glowing stone in.

Triss didn’t argue. She pressed the stone. Nothing happened at first. She pressed harder, and the stone began to slowly sink into the wall. The section of stone slid inwards, creaking and groaning as ancient pulleys and gears swung into action. Triss stepped in, and found herself in a narrow dark passageway. She set her orb to float just above her, and set out following the passage. It went downward at a steep angle for several feet before leveling out again. “So does this go back to the castle?” She asked quietly as she walked.

No. This comes out near the forest.

“Uh, no thank you. I’ve seen enough monsters for one day. I don’t need to see any more.” She shuddered as she walked.

I can guide you safely through the forest. It is my forest after all.

“Thanks but no thanks.” She replied. “I’ll take the passage to the end, but I’m not getting out until morning at least. Maybe not even then.” She continued walking down the passage until it finally started to run back uphill. At the top of the incline she found a small domed chamber with a trapdoor halfway up the wall. Triss walked to the far end of the chamber and sat down.

We must keep moving.

“Not a chance. I’m staying here where it’s safe.”

What makes you think its safe here?

Triss really didn’t like that question. “Why wouldn’t it be safe here? I’m underground in a secret passage. It’s got to be safer than running through a haunted forest at night.”

I saw the horde. There were at least three groundlers there. They will sniff out anyone who’s magic is unbound. The castle is safe. Two can hold off an army there. Nowhere else is safe.

Triss sat there for a quite a while, debating. Eventually, she decided to risk at least opening the trap door. She found the latch and quietly opened it. When the spirit reminded her, she extinguished the light, plunging the cave into complete darkness. She took slow, deep breaths to keep from panicking in the dark. Finally, she pushed the trapdoor open with her shoulder. It swung open easily, and she cursed herself when she realized she had no hand on it to stop it from slamming open all the way.

The door thumped quietly onto the grass. Triss stuck her head out, and saw she was nearly to the forest, and quite close to the pathway. The bright moon was nearly over the town now, finally dispelling some of the dark and shadow that had plagued her this evening. The spirit’s line led down the path, disappearing beyond the trees.

“You sure you can get me through safe?” Triss whispered. “I’m not going, but, you know, just in case?”

Without issue. I built the forest. There are safe paths through.

Triss felt like pointing out that forests are grown, not built. But she decided against it. She reached out farther to try and grab the trap door when she heard a loud clattering noise from the town. The towns back gate swung open.

Five soldiers dashed out of the town, heading for the path. Several creatures came shortly after, hot on the soldier’s heels. Triss tried to grab the trapdoor, but it was just out of reach.

No time. Run!

She cursed the voice repeatedly as she clambered out of the hole. She started runnning as soon as she got out of the hole, following the line into the forest. The soldiers were only a few steps behind, their thick soled boots slamming hard against the brick path.

Light. You’ll need to see. And you’ll need magic.

She recast the light. It took three tries to form the spell while running, but she managed to get it. The orb floated above her as she ran. One soldier passed her, then another. She glanced back, and saw the other three were beginning to flag. When she turned forward, only one soldier was running. The other had disappeared. What have you gotten me into! She thought angrily at the spirit.

He had no magic. This part of the path isn’t safe at night unless you have magic. Follow the line carefully here. Do not deviate.

Up ahead, the line took a sudden ninety degree turn, heading straight into the forest.

I know. Don’t argue. The path isn’t safe past that point. The spirit said before she could protest.

The soldier ahead passed the point where the line turned. He made it two steps before a large shadow dashed out of the forest to grab him. Don’t look directly at it. It will attack if you stare, even if you’re on the safety line. Triss looked at the ground instead, running as fast as she could without falling. She turned into the forest, following the line. She passed three steps away from the shadowy shape, and she could hear the wet crunching of bones as she ran past.

She should have told the soldiers to follow her. She should have yelled back at them, shared the instructions she was receiving. She didn’t. Triss kept her head down and ran. Over loamy forest earth, around root snarls, under fallen limbs, she ran.

Finally, the line turned back onto the brick path. She ran faster now, pumping energy into her legs that she didn’t know she had left. Every ounce of strength she had left pushing to get out of the forest.

“What the devil? Hold there.” She heard a voice in front of her. She didn’t look up, didn’t stop running. Her mind was focused. Determined. Broken.

She crashed into something, her headlong flight coming to a rolling, tumbling end. She flew off the path into soft, welcoming grass. She lay there, trying to breathe. Her head throbbed, and her legs screamed. Every inch of her protested the nights events.

“A pox!” A nearby voice screamed. “A pox on your entire family! A pox on every generation from the first! No! I don’t need help. Get off me you miserable lizard.”

Triss tried to get up and run, but her body was spent. It refused to listen to her commands. She laid on the ground as footsteps approached.

"What's this?" Percival leaned over her. "Reginald I thought I told you to take care of this." He said angrily when he recognized her. "Do I need to do everything myself?"