For the first time since the night she spent at the de Perrin home, Victoria dreamed of her parents. She stood in the tall swaying grass of an infinite plain; she could feel the warmth of the sun, the cool breeze, the grass on her fingertips. The whole place shone with a blinding, ethereal glow. Ahead of her, in the center of a sparkling, iridescent lake, stood a white stone pavilion, and at its center stood her parents. The surface of the water bore her weight as she ran to the pavilion, hurling herself into their waiting embrace.
"I'm so sorry," Victoria whispered as she buried her face in her mother's shoulder.
Her mother tipped Victoria's head up, wiping the tears from her cheek. "Sweetheart, you have nothing to be sorry for."
"But I've been gone for over a week," Victoria said.
"I know, and you'll be gone longer before this is over." She stroked Victoria's hair soothingly as she tightened her other arm around her.
"But that's not what's important at this moment," her father said gently. "Don't worry about us right now. Fate has decided that your destiny lies here. and no matter where that destiny takes you, your mother and I will always be right here." He tightened his embrace around his wife and daughter. He leaned back, looking down at her with unshed tears in his eyes. "When fate pulls that strongly, you go where it leads you."
She looked lovingly at her mother and father, before pulling them together again in a tight embrace. "I love you guys so much."
"We love you too, sweetheart," her mother said, laying a soft kiss on her forehead. "Go where your destiny leads. The heart holds the key."
The last words were whispered as the dream dissipated into blinding light, replaced with the light from the lamp that now burned brightly on the little table across the room.
"Rise and shine, ladies," Jasper said. "Time to be up and about. Be quick if you want food before it's time to leave." He waited until Astrid acknowledged him before turning to leave their room, closing the door behind him.
Astrid groaned in protest as she rolled over, pushing herself up to a sitting position. Her stomach growled angrily as she stretched her limbs, reminding her that they had forsaken food in favor of sleep the previous night. She spied their clean and folded clothes waiting for them on the table and slowly stood to trudge over and retrieve them, reluctant to leave the soft, warm bed.
Victoria sat up slowly as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes, yawning widely.
Don't worry about us right now.
Her father's words echoed in her mind as she swung her legs over the edge of the bed, setting her bare feet on the cold stone floor. Something felt different today, and she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Maybe it was whatever had changed between her and Soren? She stood, crossing the room on autopilot to retrieve her clothes. Maybe it was her parents assuring her that this was meant to happen and that everything will be okay? She dressed in a sluggish daze. Maybe it's both?
Astrid had finished dressing and stooped down to grab her pack as she headed for the door. Despite the long-ingrained speed she moved with, she still seemed very much half asleep. "I'll have 'em make yours," she said groggily as she trudged through the door, closing it behind her.
Victoria shook herself from the stupor she'd drifted into, concentrating on getting dressed. She undid her sleep-matted braid and worked the knots out with her fingers before tying the abundant locks back with the green satin ribbon Lenore had given her. She smiled as her heart squeezed at remembering their mother, and the genuine kindness she had shown her while she was there.
I never thought I'd miss a complete stranger, but I'm really going to miss her, she thought to herself as she laced her boots.
Securing the stone beneath her shirt, she grabbed her pack and left the room. Following the lights from windows and lanterns, and the quiet chatter of voices, she made her way to the hall at the front of the inn. Astrid waved her over from a table across the room, where she, Jasper, and Soren were already seated. She sat in the empty seat next to Astrid where a plate of eggs, sausages, and roasted vegetables awaited her. Across from her, Soren eyed her with a distant, contemplative gaze, and the tugging in his chest began to pull once more. Hers pulled in response, but she tried to ignore it and focus on her breakfast.
The injured soldiers, Louis Bousquet and Remy Lussier, would remain at the inn. The king's gold would ensure they had a comfortable stay while they awaited an escort to return them to the city. The second wagon and its horses would also be staying behind; payment in part for the care and housing of the soldiers. The innkeeper assured Captain Bechard that they would send for the town physician daily to clean and dress their wounds. The contents of the two wagons were condensed into one, and anything they could do without was left behind. Within the hour everyone had assembled outside the inn, checking straps and harnesses, and preparing to depart.
Jasper watched from behind his horse as Soren stood talking with Victoria several paces away. He couldn't make out what they said, but he could see him pull her into an embrace, stroking her hair and kissing her forehead, before crouching to boost her into the saddle. He sighed, shaking his head slightly, and flinched when Astrid materialized next to him.
"You trying to give me a heart attack?" Jasper said humorously, grasping his chest.
Astrid smirked and chuckled, turning her attention to her brother and Victoria. "I've seen you look at Mom the same way." Her expression softened as she turned back to her father, laying a hand on his arm. "Maybe we just stay out of it and let whatever's meant to happen, happen." She shrugged, switching to a more amused tone. "Who knows? Maybe she'll stay here and tame that preening, skirt-chasing son of yours."
"Now that really would be a miracle, wouldn't it?" He laughed, hugging his daughter tightly and planting a kiss on the top of her head. "Time to go."
Captain Bechard gave the order to move out as he swung himself into the saddle, moving to form the head of the line. With some assistance, Louis and Remy came out to say their farewells to their comrades, waving as they disappeared from sight.
In accordance with the decision made between Captain Bechard, Ozan, and Jasper, they only stop if and when necessary. They were within a day's ride from the border, and reaching the elf kingdom meant reinforcements and protection from further attacks. As the safety of the town fell behind them and the road stretched into the distance, the familiar mantle of apprehension settled itself over their shoulders, reminding them to be on alert.
The morning had dawned clear and bright, with only a few scudding clouds floating overhead. The travelers chose to take it as a good sign, and used that hope to cover a fair amount of distance before they rested at midday.
"Won't be long now," Ozan informed them. "A few more hours and Eralia will be in sight. We'll only be a few miles out by then. The terrain is going to turn a bit rough." He turned to speak directly to Victoria. "Like the foothills you crossed to reach the city."
Victoria swallowed hard. She didn't like the idea of crossing any foothills now any more than she did before.
"Be on guard," Captain Bechard addressed them all. "As the landscape changes, so do the things that inhabit it. We're already two men down, and we've nowhere else between here and the border to take refuge should it be necessary. For the next few hours, we're on our own and vulnerable. Keep your eyes and ears sharp. Be mindful of who is where on all sides of you. Cellier!" he called to the guard, Adrien Cellier, who drove the wagon. "Should the need arise, cut the harnesses, take a horse, and leave the wagon. Understood?"
"Yes, sir." Adrien Cellier nodded.
"Alright, let's pack it up and get moving. We'll get there long before nightfall, but the sooner we get there the better."
Captain Bechard's words didn't exactly inspire confidence, but everyone did as they were told. They could almost physically feel a new sense of foreboding building among them as they made ready to leave. Victoria leaned her head against her mare's neck, taking deep, calming breaths as she stroked her soft coat.
Soren gently pulled her away from the horse, turning her to face him as he wrapped his arms around her. He didn't say anything, just smiled at her tenderly before placing a gentle kiss on her forehead, then stooping to boost her into the saddle. Their hearts tugged incessantly inside them, but this was neither the time nor the place to indulge it, so they pushed the feeling aside, turning to join the line as they continued north.
Thick, leafy green foliage gave way to dense, tall pines, and the once flat, open plain now undulated with rocky outcroppings of all sizes. They soon found themselves atop a rough plateau surrounded by the tall, skinny trees. They stopped at the edge to survey their surroundings. Just as Ozan had said, off in the distance, a distinct line was formed where the kingdom of men ended and the kingdom of the elves began.
From the distant trees rose a thin, pearlescent mist. The trees themselves were tall and wide, their canopies concealing the world beneath them. A stone building stood along the tree line, where light points of movement could be seen.
"Leroux!" Captain Bechard called. "Signal our approach."
Victor Leroux produced an arrow, the tip of which had been wrapped in pitch-soaked cloth. Ozan moved closer with a flint, striking a spark that ignited the tip of the arrow. Victor straightened, aiming high, and released the flaming arrow into the sky. After several tense moments, an answering arrow was spotted flying from the building.
"Let's be quick, we can be there in under an hour," The captain said as he urged his horse onward.
They wove their way carefully down the hillside, being mindful of the wagon on the rough road. Twice before they reached the bottom they had to stop and dislodge a wheel from a deep rut or tangle of rocks and roots. Upon gaining the flat ground at the base of the hill, something changed.
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The world had gone silent. No bird, no animal, no insect made a sound. The wind howled eerily through the skinny pines that surrounded them. The horses pranced nervously, tossing their heads, flaring their nostrils, and flicking their ears all around.
"Something's not right," Jasper said quietly.
No sooner had the words left his lips, a dark shadow passed over them, drawing their attention upward. A huge black bird flew overhead, circling several times before coming to roost at the top of a tall, dead pine. Its glowing red eye flashed as it flapped its large wings and let out a piercing screech.
A growing sound like rolling thunder rose around them as thousands of previously motionless and unnoticed crows in the trees took to the sky to form a cawing, shrieking cloud that descended upon them with horrifying speed. Diving, scratching, flapping, and pecking wildly, the birds swirled and darted around them like angry hornets.
"Find cover!" Captain Bechard yelled through the raucous noise of the birds.
They scattered, being driven every which way by the unrelenting onslaught. They were forced to abandon the horses a short distance into the tree line; the rocky, uneven ground was too dangerous to push the horses blindly over. Some of them found shelter beneath fallen trees or hollow logs, others in gaps in the jutting rocks.
One of the guards, Gaspard Poulin, found a space beneath two large boulders, and swatted and cursed wildly at the pursuing birds as he ran toward it. The birds shrieked deafeningly, diving and pecking even as he scrambled beneath the rocks. Once below, he tumbled blindly from a narrow ledge to the ground of a massive tunnel. His heartbeat thundered in his ears, blocking out the shrieking birds as he peered into the endless blackness.
Something stirred deep in the darkness, and a low rumble caused the ground beneath his feet to shudder. A foul odor, like death and rotting meat, permeated the tunnel. His eyes widened in fear as he scrambled to reach the ledge below the opening to the outside, where the crows still swarmed, shrieking and cawing like mad.
It took all his strength to pull himself back up through the hole from the narrow ledge, and once he reemerged, he was assailed by the bedeviled crows. He swatted at them wildly, yelling as he scrambled to get his feet under him to run from whatever it was he might have disturbed.
A deep, massive roar erupted from the tunnel, shaking the ground violently, and causing Gaspard to roll his ankle. As he tumbled to the ground, he realized the crows had gone. They and all the others reformed the giant, shrieking cloud then dissipated, scattering in all directions. What followed was an eerie silence. Nothing moved, not even the wind in the trees.
The others had begun running back to the wagon as soon as the crows ceased their attack. A few were able to grab up a horse as they hurried to regroup. Soren was one of those lucky ones, snagging the reins and pushing Victoria into the saddle and swinging himself up behind her, bolting for the wagon. The wizard and Adrien Cellier had taken shelter beneath the canvas covering the wagon, and they emerged cautiously to attempt a frantic headcount.
"Cellier, I've got ten, what have you got?" Ozan said, scanning for any others.
"Ten as well, sir. Gaspard Poulin and Henry Gauthier haven't shown themselves," Adrien said.
A sound like an explosion burst from the trees, followed closely by a man's fearful scream. They all stood frozen, paralyzed as the scream grew more panicked, more desperate, turning into a grotesque, gurgling squeal. Just moments after the screaming turned to silence, another earth-shaking roar was loosed, flushing Henry Gauthier from his hiding place. He scrambled through the rocky undergrowth, stumbling through the tree line out into the open, and stopped just long enough to locate the others.
Just long enough for a massive, hulking creature to burst from behind, trapping him in the grip of an enormous set of teeth. It shook Henry's body about violently, slamming his flailing parts against the ground, until his distorted cries too became silence. The creature rose to its full height, sniffing the air in the direction of the wagon; Henry's limp and broken corpse still dangling from its jaws. The massive bear stood twelve feet tall, two huge saber-like canines protruded from its lower jaw, and two pairs of glowing red eyes watched intently as the new objects of his attention scurried about.
Ozan's eyes widened in fear as he let out a choked gasp. "The Brógudún."
"The what?!" Captain Bechard asked.
"A demon bear. Assyria means to end this here. Arm yourselves quickly!" He jumped down from the wagon as quickly as he could, instructing Adrien Cellier to do the same. "Don't be fooled by its size, it possesses unnatural speed. If you can strike out the eyes, we may stand a chance of escaping. Someone, light some arrows and signal for help. We may be close enough that they'll reach us before this thing slaughters us all."
Everyone scrambled for weapons, arming themselves as much as they were able to. Astrid and Victoria were given as many quivers of arrows as they could carry.
"Soren!" Captain Bechard called. "She does not leave your side. Keep something between you and that bear at all times, if we can get it to turn its back to you I want you to run. Follow the road, get to the border and get help. Wait for my signal." He paused to emphasize the point. "You and Victor were the only ones to find a horse, if you run before we're ready, we won't be able to catch it if it pursues you."
The bear dropped down on all fours, causing a tremble through the ground. Turning its massive head, it dislodged the dead soldier from its enormous teeth, tossing him unceremoniously onto the rocky ground. He then proceeded toward the wagon. slowly at first, taking the measure of his prey as they scrambled to form a line. He didn't give them long as he increased his speed, releasing a resounding roar as he barreled toward them.
Spears sailed through the air, several embedding into the thick, leathery hide of the beast's back, while others just missed or landed harmlessly on the ground. None of them slowed him down as they quickly parted and he threw his weight into the side of the wagon, shattering the side and rendering the wagon useless. The horses screamed in fear; there had been no time to cut them from the harnesses, leaving them unable to escape.
Soren took advantage of the bear's attention on the wagon to make for a pile of large boulders, putting themselves farther away and out of its direct sight. The others moved as quickly as they dared away from the beast, away from the direction they needed Soren and Victoria to go.
The poor wagon horses weren't made to suffer long. The enormous bear dispatched them quickly with a few swipes of its massive, razor-sharp claws. Seizing his chance, Victor Leroux lit two arrows, then turned his horse and ran as fast as he could away from the bear, loosing an arrow into the sky as he went. When he wheeled around to fire the second arrow, the bear had already begun following him, and was quickly closing the distance between them. He released the second arrow with barely enough time to evade the crushing tackle the bear attempted to deliver. Putting heels to his horse, he attempted to lure the bear away, turning to fire taunting shots to keep its attention.
"Now, Bechard!" Victor called.
"Soren, go!" The captain shouted, signaling for Soren and Victoria to make for the border as fast as they could.
They shot from their hiding place, neither of them looking back, both praying they would escape the bear's notice and reach help before anymore lives were lost.
Victor was only able to evade the bear for so long, before a well-placed swipe of giant claws sent his horse spinning and him tumbling to the ground. He recovered quickly, crouching low and unsheathing the dagger at his belt, ready for the attack. The bear obliged, lunging toward him and clamping his massive jaws around Victor's midsection. With a gasp of pain, Victor delivered his final blow, thrusting the dagger as deep as he could into one of the beast's left eyes.
To those close enough to hear the choking, guttural sounds of a man being shaken and ripped to death, it was violently nauseating, and nearly enough to send a few running to save themselves. Victor's sacrifice had been intended to buy time, and that was exactly what it did. Soren and Victoria pushed the horse as hard as they dared and were nearing a bend in the road that would put them out of the bear's sight and closer to safety.
Victoria couldn't help but peer back. She couldn't see Victor or his horse anymore, and the bear stood with something dangling from its jaws. She had to fight hard against the tide of nausea that rose from her belly when she realized what it was, and regretted the decision to look back in the first place.
High above them, forgotten in a tall, dead pine tree, the raven cawed, and cried, and shrieked wildly, taking flight and circling above them.
Soren swore under his breath and pushed the horse harder.
The others had formed a semicircle around the bear, keeping its attention to afford Soren and Victoria as much time as possible. It was to no avail, as the raven and its glowing eye alerted the bear to their whereabouts. It stood tall, dropping Victor's mangled corpse, looking over their heads with its glowing crimson gaze. It sniffed the air as it watched them just disappear from sight. Dropping down on all fours, the bear began to pursue them, ignoring the spears and arrows they managed to cast as he ran past them. Those who had them continued firing arrows in the hopes of turning the beast's attention. It was too late. The bear had seen them, and it would not be stopped.
Soren and Victoria rounded the bend, and as they did they could almost feel the vibration of the bear's fearsome roar. They crested a small hill where the trees opened up and the rocks became flat, open land. Just ahead in the distance, the sun reflected on the armor of over a dozen armed elvish soldiers.
"We're going to make it!" Soren said as he began waving and hollering at the soldiers.
Against her better judgment, Victoria looked back again. This time the bear was chasing them, and quickly closing the gap. "Soren, it's coming!" she cried, panic rising. "It's coming!"
Soren pushed the horse as hard as he could, but he could still hear the bear as it crept closer behind them. With a snarl, it heaved its hulking body forward, swiping the legs from beneath their horse and sending them flying from the saddle, skidding and tumbling onto the ground. From where they lay, they could hear the shouts from the foreign soldiers, but now feared they were too late.
Soren pulled Victoria close as the bear stalked slowly toward them. Its eyes glowed menacingly, and fresh blood dripped down the left side of its face from the dagger that still protruded from its eye. The bear rose to its full height before them, loosing another earth-shaking roar as it raised its massive paw, ready to deliver the final blow.
A sound like a lightning strike split the air, followed by a blinding flash of blue light.
Victoria's vision was spinning, and her ears rang loudly inside her head. Where's the bear? She thought to herself. She couldn't see the bear anywhere. What she could see was a smoking mound of fur and a large, but old and battered white owl; it was watching her. The ringing in her ears began to subside, and she could faintly hear voices coming closer. I guess that means we made it. She tried to sit up, rubbing her temples to slow the spinning; Soren kept a protective arm around her. The blue light flashed again.
"I'm gettin' too damn old for this nonsense."
Victoria froze and her eyes grew wide. I know that voice. She turned her head slowly, barely breathing. She couldn't believe what she was seeing, and sat slack jawed for several seconds.
"Victoria dear, it's rude to stare, and you're going to start drooling if you don't close your mouth."
She blinked hard. "Miss Lilly!?"