“We need a place to take shelter for the night,” Foldrin said as he turned back to Karrina. Who was panting after the run he had convinced her was necessary.
“Just need some air.” She said as she leaned on her knees. She had done remarkably well in his opinion, he had thought she would complain or be a horrible runner.
“Come, it is best to walk after a run.” He said as he lead her further south. Closing his eyes he could feel the worngers, he didn’t know where they stayed hidden but he hardly needed to focus there were so many of them. “We are a bit northwest of your town, the name of which I still don’t know.”
“There isn’t.” She said as she regained her breath.
“What do you mean?” he asked puzzled
“It was just called ‘The Village’ until people started moving in after the Darkness came. It became too large to be a village so we started calling it ‘The Town’ the mayor and the council aren't very bright.”
“I’d say. Now you said people moved into the ‘Village’ so would one of these old homes be close by?”
“My house wasn’t too far west if we get further then maybe we can spend the night there.” Karrina said as she took a look around, “It looks sort of familiar but it has been eight years since I’ve been out here with my father.”
He watched her trying to spot if she would break down crying, that would be inconvenient. Her eyes became moist but she just straightened her back and looked at him, “I think it would be nice to see the old place.”
“Alright then, we will keep heading the way we have been, how many miles west is your old home of the town, do you remember?”
“About eight maybe ten? Not too far. I should recognize the area as we get closer.”
“Sounds good to me, how about another jog we will cover more ground that way?”
Karrina groaned, but to his surprise ended the protest at that and started to jog along with him. ‘Maybe having friends isn’t so bad after all.’ He thought.
*****
After running, walking, jogging, and more, she had begun to pick up on old landmarks from her childhood. There was the old hedgerow, there was Old Maid Sylvie’s abandoned cottage, that was actually used to scare girls her age about not getting married. Find a husband or you will end up like Old Maid Sylvie, dying alone with no one to even see you pass. She doubted if that was true, people always had friends and relatives, not to mention nosy neighbors.
“Do you recognize anything?” Foldrin shocked her out of her recollections.
“Oh, yeah, we should be in the area by now. A few more steps south and then west all the way. There is a road that runs past our house.”
“Well, that will help.” He said as he stopped and pulled off his bag.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“If you haven’t noticed night is about to fall.” He said as he pulled out his lantern. “You will need the light, plus I think the Darkness will make an appearance tonight.”
“The Darkness?” she asked as her old fear started to squirm.
“Yes, you will need all the comfort you can get.” He said as he struck his flint, “Remember, do not let your fear rule you, I won’t let anything hurt you. I promised your father, and unlike that time you are close to me before they can attack. Stay close and you will be safe.”
She gathered her courage, ‘It is just like the stories’ she thought, ‘You always wanted to be part of those stories don’t back out now.’
Karrina would have thought Foldrin would have them run but he set them at a light jog.
Pointing out the road, they made their way quicker with the even ground underfoot. The sky continued to grow darker the brown and yellow hues growing dim.
Foldrin paused with his eyes closed he breathed deeply, “Now the race begins.” He said as darkness fell.
They continued to jog trying to cover more ground as quickly as possible.
“Is there no other building closer?” Foldrin asked suddenly.
“Yes, the Cromlin’s place will be on the left after a turn in the road. It is up on a hill.” She let out as she focused on her breathing and her feet.
“I would rather take refuge in a place built by the Cromlins,” Foldrin said from ahead of her.
She was about to question him when he shushed her. “When I say go, run, and don’t look back I will be behind you.”
“What is it?”
“Worngers. Five of them. There are about twenty altogether but they haven’t all found us yet. Remember don’t be afraid. You might not have the Truth within you but it never hurts to keep close to it. GO!”
She almost missed it because he had confused her with his talk about truth and whatnot but she ran. She felt something pass behind her as Foldrin jumped to the side. There was a growl and a soft noise ‘slink’ and then the sound of Foldrin running alongside her.
She started to open the lantern’s shutter, “Keep it shuttered only enough for you to see where you are going, and keep it on one side.”
“Why?” she gasped at him.
“I’ll explain later.” He stepped behind her and that soft sound came, followed by a big thump.
Her heart pounded in her chest, every breath felt raw as she ran on the road that had once led home, now with nightmares on every side. Foldrin continued to encourage her as he darted back and forth in the dark.
“They are on their way.” Foldrin suddenly said from beside her.
She almost landed on her face but Foldrin grabbed her before then, “Sorry about this, but we need shelter sooner rather than later.” He said as he swung her up onto his shoulder.
She would have yelled at him but she was out of breath and his shoulder was digging into her stomach forcing out every breath with every step he took. As such, she got a good look at what they were running from.
At a glance, she would have called them black wolves but they were… wrong was the only way to describe them. They had mouths that were too large for their faces and claws that suited a cat more, and their tails looked like they belonged on a rat. And the smell she hadn’t noticed the smell earlier but now she could. They had way too many teeth and saliva was frothing out of their mouths. “Foldrin! There are four of them!” she tried to scream at him.
“There are eight of them with two trying to flank us,” Was his calm response, “should have picked up a stick for you to throw at them.”
They ran that way for what seemed like hours just inches from death, well Foldrin did. When he spoke again, “Does anyone live out here?”
“What?” she tried to turn around to see what he was talking about.
“Stop that! You are ruining my balance.” He gripped her more tightly which she thought was very inappropriate.
“Describe it then.” She huffed
“I see a light through the trees, most likely up on a hill.”
“That must be the Cromlin’s place.” She said trying to think of why the Cromlin’s would go back to their old home.
“Well, that is where we are going, just splendid,” Foldrin said as he put on a burst of speed that seemed to come out of nowhere.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
“Foldrin, Wait! The Cromlin’s have a fence.”
“I’ll just jump it.”
“No, I mean like a wall, probably eight feet high.”
“Where is the gate?” he asked without slowing down.
“Um, it has a lane leading to it from where the road forks.” Looking back to the worngers she saw that they had started to fall behind but there were now definitively more than eight.
*****
Foldrin’s feet pounded against the ground as he neared the wall. There was a light in the house beyond, he just hoped the gate was unlocked. There were the full fifteen worngers behind them now. Karrina kept squirming and threatening to tip his balance. He would be better off without her, no, this is what he had promised, what his father would have wanted of him. Even though he could barely remember he brought the fuzzy face of his mother back to mind, how she would encourage him to always keep his word. He breathed deeply of the Truth, if he made his last stand here so be it. Jumping with a twist he slid the last few feet to the gate.
Karrina’s scream cut out as gravity sunk her into his shoulder, that must have hurt, he winced in sympathy. “Try the gate. If it is locked try screaming for help but not before.” He said as he let her prone body fall to the ground.
“Why?” she croaked.
“Needed more time.” He said as he re-centered himself in the Truth and pulled out his short blade. “In my service of the One I take refuge.”
*****
Karrina crawled to the gate trying to regain her breath but her lungs refused to cooperate. Using the gate she was able to stand, the lantern had shattered spilling the oil causing the brittle grass to ignite. Foldrin stood between her and a veritable army of worngers. Swallowing her fear she focused on the gate. There was a latch that slid easily. There was a growl, followed by a snarl and several thumps. She closed her eyes forcing herself not to look back and pushed on the gate. It didn’t budge. She pulled on it and still there was no give. She searched again but there was no lock. ‘On this side.’ Se thought.
“Foldrin it’s locked!” she shouted, she turned around and saw him throw one of the worngers into the night.
“Then shout. Try to wake up the people in the house. They may come down to help.”
Foldrin said without looking back.
*****
Foldrin was ready to die. He had never fought more than ten worngers at a time and that was in favorable conditions which he had set. Now he was in the open with someone to protect, and twenty worngers before him. He had killed eight already but more were coming. Never before had he seen anything like this, Worngers were cowardly beasts always running away from a fight unless they could smell blood. No blood had been spilled except their own which they ignored. The lantern had spilled giving him a light from behind for which he was grateful.
Karrina let him know that the gate was locked.
“Then shout. Try to wake up the people in the house. They may come down to help.”
He said not believing for a second that they would receive any help. The people in this land were in a more dire position than he was, he served the Creator. He entered into the Truth fully, allowing it to burn away all else, he felt a piece of himself die to the flames. The Laramin came alive in his hand. Seeing it the worngers let out a bestial howl and charged him. It almost caught him off guard but he was in the Truth he had known they would be driven to rage. He crouched low and sliced at their mouths, the snout of the first was severed, the third its jaw and tongue, the third its nose. Raising his hand the Laramin rushed forth and engulfed the other four in the second row. They started screaming in pain running in circles allowing the Laramin to leap among the others in the pack. Placing his palm upon the ground, he let the Laramin burn there, it would protect Karrina as he went among his foes.
*****
Karrina watched as Foldrin brought Fire into the world, it was unlike any fire she had seen. It was as if she had lived with a pale imitation all her life and this was the Truth. There was no wind in the night and yet it waved and leaped about as with a mind of its own. As it brought her peace looking into its lively light it seemed to throw the beasts into a wild rage. Her heart was in her throat as she watched them all charge her friend and protector. The first three had their faces sliced open by Foldrin the rest seemed to be consumed by the Fire, it was devouring them she thought as it sprang from one to another without needing to touch to spread. Foldrin dropped down to his knee, for a moment she thought he had been hurt, but he rose and stepped into the chaos killing the ones he had wounded. Looking she saw the Laramin floating above the ground where Foldrin had been. It burned nothing, and yet grew, spreading out like arms embracing the area where she stood. The howls and screams from the Worngers continued to grow.
Remembering what Foldrin had asked she raised her voice over the cacophony, “PLEASE, SOMEONE HELP! OPEN THE GATE!”
The battle raged as she continued to call out into the night, Foldrin seemed a creature of vengeance smiting evil in the night, when there came a great rumbling sound. Looking up Foldrin dropped the Wornger he had been about to throw. The shadows seemed to lengthen, the air grew frigid. The remaining Worngers withdrew and the Darkness pressed in.
“Son of Kelmu.” A voice croaked through the dark.
Foldrin stood between the Laramin and the Darkness, defiant.
“Son of Kelmu why have you entered into my domain? You have broken my long rest.”
Foldrin remained silent staring out into the Darkness.
“Speak child of broken oaths. I care not for your rebellion.” The voice shivered the air with its rage.
“By virtue of the Truth in Light, you have no power over me. By the power of the One and those who serve, your assignment is over.” Foldrin said as he lifted his hand to his head and lowered it to his chest.
“Ha”, the voice chuckled, “You have no authority here. Last son of Kelmu, unless you bear his blade you will not have power over me or my masters.”
Foldrin remained there with his head bowed not answering the Darkness.
Karrina’s heart thundered within her, this was the Darkness that had taken her brother all those years ago, she remembered how it had asked her to make her choice, the choice she regretted even now.
“What is this?” the voice seemed to focus on her, “You have taken a child of mine? You truly do overstep your bounds.”
Her heart stopped beating her breath caught in her throat.
“BY VIRTUE OF THE CREATOR, BEGONE YOU SERVANT OF DARKNESS!” shouted a voice.
The Darkness recoiled and screamed.
“In the unspoken name of the One I command you to leave, you have no power over those who serve in the Light!”
“CROMLIN! You will pay for your insolence!” the Darkness screamed as it fled into the night.
*****
Foldrin was exhausted, he had done his best he knew the Darkness couldn’t hurt him, not as long as he remained in the Truth. But he couldn’t fight Worngers all through the night it might find something to hurt Karrina, she hadn’t sworn to serve the One. He pushed its taunts from his mind, ‘Never listen to a rebel Shegika, Foldrin.’ He recalled the words of his master. ‘They will seek to mislead you with lies and half-truths, it will sound as though they speak wisdom, tune them out. It would be better if you were deaf than to trust them.’ It was hard, but he thought he managed it, at least he could set aside all he heard with the lies he ignored. Then it started talking of Karrina, he almost lashed out at it, but he could do nothing against an elder spirit. It was right he had no authority, that is why he had to rely on the Power of the One. Just as he was about to lose his struggle, he heard a man shout.
“BY VIRTUE OF THE CREATOR, BEGONE YOU SERVANT OF DARKNESS!” He could feel the authority carried in those words. The Darkness felt it too.
“In the unspoken name of the One I command you to leave, you have no power over those who serve in the Light!”
“CROMLIN! You will pay for your insolence!” the Darkness shrieked as it ran from the Power of the One.
Foldrin nearly dropped his blade as his muscles sagged in relief, he remembered the worngers but couldn’t find them in sight. Turning he let go of his hold on the Laramin. He felt empty as though someone had carved out his center and replaced it with, he had released what had taken its place, the Laramin had taken residence within him and burned away a piece of him. He wondered what it had taken. Looking he saw a group of people standing at the open gate. A large man was holding Karrina with several others standing on either side.
“Who goes there?” said the large man.
“Foldrin, last son of Kelmu keeper of his oaths,” Foldrin stated, hoping to impress.
“So the stories are true? The Line of Kelmu fell in battle to the last child?”
“Yes, I alone remain. There was one other, he left this world after teaching me all he knew.” Foldrin said as he remembered that bitter parting.
“You have done much damage would you care to come inside and tell us why you are here?” the man gestured to his home.
“I would appreciate that,” Foldrin said as he nearly fell over.
*****
“Karrina you are safe,” Tarlin said as he hugged her.
She was shaking so badly that she couldn’t respond.
“We are here, you don’t need to run anymore.”
“Oh, Tarlin thank you.” She managed to say through the tears that threatened to spill over.
“You can stay with us.”
“Father, that’s him. The one who told me of the Creator.” Kallem said from behind her.
“He looks dangerous,” Bem said from the other side.
“I know,” Tarlin said. The fire that had been lighting the area began to diminish. It seemed as if all its light was being drawn into Foldrin.
“Who goes there?” Tarlin demanded.
“Foldrin, last son of Kelmu keeper of his oaths.” Came Foldrin’s tired response.
Karrina tried to listen but her thoughts wouldn’t work in a straight line. ‘Why were the Cromlin’s out here? How was Foldrin able to control Fire? “How many Worngers had they killed? How was the Darkness… Would the Darkness return?” her thoughts ended there, the comfort of someone familiar that had held her fear back, broke. She began trembling as her mind took her back to that night, that night where the Darkness had come.
She felt herself being lifted, “Bem, Kallem, bring the lad, I’ll bring her in to see Seeta.