Witch, page 4
“Looking for that missing patrol,” Randy said, grimacing. “We’ll need to leave. Go grab your brother and meet me back here as soon as possible.”
“The four of us will need to hide, Randy said. “We’re obvious soldiers. The best place is Edgewater Cave. Don’t worry. We’ll hide in the trees above the stream when the soldiers first arrive. If anything goes wrong, have your horses close by and try to lead them in our direction. We’ll have our bows ready, and they won’t be expecting that so we might stand a chance. But let me be clear—it’s in all of our best interests if there is no confrontation here.” Randy looked at the worried faces around him. Nearly the whole village had congregated. The soldiers would likely arrive within the hour, so they didn’t have much time. He turned to address Kenyon and Candle, the two men they’d agreed would meet the soldiers.
“Be polite, no matter what they say or how cruel they are. They probably won’t hurt you, but it may be … expensive hosting them here. And they will expect obedience. Do you understand?”
“If you think this is best, Randy, we’ll trust your judgment.” Kenyon nodded, and Candle nodded along with him.
“There are too few of us who are of fighting age for it to be otherwise. They’ll probably behave themselves. Danforth will want to bleed you of your crops and money for many years, not just one,” he smiled, hoping it was reassuring. He wished he felt as confident as he sounded.
“All right. We’re agreed then,” Randy said. He looked over at Doug, Kevin, and big Jamie, the three obvious soldiers. “Let’s go.”
The four men moved as quickly as they could with big Jamie’s bad leg. They moved out along the western edge of town. Instead of crossing the bridge, they crept along the western edge of the stream. The stream moved south from there, and they found themselves just outside the village, in amongst a patch of trees along the stream. There, they laid down in the tall grasses along with the trees. They could see the village from there, but the villagers couldn’t see them. Now there was nothing to do but wait, though they knew that if the soldiers chose to attack, there would be little they’d be capable of doing to stop it.
The company of men was closing in on the village now, and Randy watched as Candle and Kenyon walked out to greet them. His vision centered on the man riding at the head of the company. The man was tall, bald, and a had great curling mustache rising from his upper lip. He wore the plate armor and insignia of one of dark marshals.
“Reinachter,” he whispered, and the other three men turned their heads toward him.
“You know him, Randy?” Doug whispered from beside him.
“Only by reputation,” Randy lied. He grimaced. “He’s said to be one of the cruelest of Danforth’s marshals, which makes him dangerous.”
“So, one of the cruelest of a band of men known for murder, torture, and rape is now amongst our families?”
Randy heard Jamie’s voice crack and was taken aback at the concern he saw in the man’s blue eyes.
“I don’t think he’ll do anything,” Randy said softly, and then they watched as Reinachter raised his sword as Candle and Kenyon came out to meet him. The two of them cringed. Jamie tensed, and Randy gripped the back of the man’s tunic.
“Hold steady, he might be trying to bait anyone lying in wait,” Randy said.
“Easy for you say, it’s not your family down there,” Jamie grumbled, but he held his position.
After a moment, Reinachter let out a great belly laugh that they could hear from where they were in the grasses. He sheathed his sword and lowered himself off of his horse. Kenyon and Candle were still cringing, but Reinachter slapped Kenyon on the back cheerfully. Then he handed his horse off to Candle, who reluctantly took the reins.
All four of the men hiding breathed a sigh of relief.
“I think we’re all right,” Randy said. “They won’t search out here till tomorrow morning. In the meantime, we should go back to the cave and camp out.”
The four men walked down through the trees toward the stream. There was a little hill here and then a waterfall where the stream continued down through to the valley and onward. Behind the waterfall was Edgewater Cave, where Randy and the three other men would camp and hide from the soldiers.
The cave was a secret of those in Oaktree, if only because it shouldn’t have existed. Looking at the waterfall from the outside, it seemed too small, too filled with rock, for there to be anything behind. But there, with only the smallest entrance for those who knew where to go, was a large cave that extended deep underneath the water. Though the cave could be wet, Danforth’s soldiers would never find it unless someone from Oaktree told them where to look.
As they entered the cave, Randy watched Kevin of Glerester taking it in. He, Jamie, and Doug had known about this place all their lives, but it was new to Kevin, and the strange man walked around with his mouth agape at the little chambers and passages that made up the cave. Kevin noticed him watching and looked back. The man smiled at him for the first time, and it even seemed genuine.
“This is an excellent hiding place,” Kevin said, and though his grating tone still made Randy’s skin crawl, he managed a smile in return.
“It gets better,” Doug said softly, and Randy frowned as Kevin dipped into another chamber. He followed the two men and soon came into the grotto chamber.
It wasn’t really much of a grotto—more a small pool. But as Randy looked up, he could see that Doug remembered.
“So this little pool doesn’t look like much, right? Stick your hand in there,” Doug said, and Kevin, looking nervous in the torchlight, bent low and dipped his hand into the water, then his arm to the elbow, then to the shoulder.
“It’s deep,” he cried, and Doug and Randy smiled again.
“There’s more.” Doug laughed. “Now, drive your arm forward.” Kevin complied and turned toward the two men, his wild eyes now wider.
“There’s a passage?” Kevin asked, his grin twisted in the torchlight.
“That’s our escape if things get hairy,” Randy said quietly. “So far as I know, Doug, Candle, Jamie, and I are the only ones who know about it. And now you.”
Kevin looked thoughtful. “You’ve trusted me with your secrets,” he said.
Randy gave a tight-lipped nod. Doug had trusted him. But there was nothing for it now.
“I apologize for any … strangeness earlier. You’ll understand, I’m sure. Guhtred is someone I will find, even if it takes the rest of my days.” Kevin’s twisted smile seemed as genuine as the broken man could make it.
“Don’t worry about it,” Randy said. “It’s a tense time. But I’m not the one you’re looking for.”
“Indeed,” Kevin said. “Do you think they’ll look for us, Randy of Oaktree?”
“They’re all afraid of Danforth. And they all want to be the one that finds Guhtred, even as they don’t want to find him at all. I think they’ll do their due diligence, and they’ll search the area sometime in the next few days. We’ll have to be vigilant, but with any luck, they won’t find the cave. I’ll take the first watch. Doug, I’ll wake you in a few hours.”
Then Randy nodded to the other two men and left them to their preparations. He took his sword and bow and made ready to stand watch. His lip twitched. It was going to be a long few days.
That night, Randy dreamed. You might have thought he would have dreamed of a witch, maybe one who would carry him away from his troubles. You might have thought he would have dreamed of Reinachter, soldiers, fire, and blood. Perhaps, you might have thought he would have dreamed of a more peaceful time, one where he could live with his friends and family in harmony.
But he dreamed of none of those things.
Instead, Randy dreamed of a cold hard run through the forest. He couldn’t see the face of the man running. He was cloaked and hooded. But Randy felt a chill rattle through his chest. He knew that cloak. The man continued running, and Randy continued to follow. He didn’t want to follow. He didn’t want to see the man’s face.
But he couldn’t stop. He ran after him longer and farther until his lungs were bursting and his legs were burning. He ran through a forest and then alongside a farm, and then they heard the scream. It was a woman’s scream. Randy saw her but then turned back quickly, knowing that the man had turned, and Randy needed to see his face.
But there was no face. There was only the mask.
Randy screamed.
“Randy, Randy, wake up! Wake up!” Randy awoke to find himself being shaken by Doug as he kneeled over him. He pushed the man away, groaning. His head was killing him, and he felt like he’d barely slept.
“What the hell’s going on?” he asked, glaring at Doug in the cave’s dim light.
“You were screaming, Randy. You must have been having a nightmare.”
Randy realized he was soaking in sweat. He shook his head as he remembered something, trying to sort out the cobwebs. He stiffened as he recalled the dream.
“It almost sounded like you were screaming a name,” Doug said. He looked uncomfortable, his feet shifting under him.
He knew what the name was. He wondered what Kevin would say if he had been there. But it was only Doug. “I suppose you have questions.”
He paused for a long moment, but Doug said nothing. He only stared at Randy, his hands helpless by his sides.
“I saw him, Doug,” Randy said, and his raspy voice seemed to be picked up by the wind so that it sounded louder. “I saw him. I … there are things you don’t know. After Iersen Bridge, I was taken to Gavikol.”
A small sound escaped Doug, but he said nothing. Randy turned away from the sympathy he saw in the other man’s eyes. All of Wemblia had heard the rumors of Gavikol, Prince Danforth’s prison fortress. They had all heard that the screams of those tortured there were carried on the winds, ensuring the mountains themselves were a cacophony of torment. Randy knew those rumors were true.
“I was tortured there … I don’t know how long. Near the end of the war, he came. He killed everyone. Every last guard and torturer. Every last prisoner and refugee. Except me. I’m the only one he spared. I don’t know why.” Randy finished heavily, the words rushing out of him at once. Doug stared at him. He raised a hand. But then was interrupted.
“Who came?” Kevin of Glerester stood near the entrance of the cave. His broken teeth gave him a sinister appearance at the lip of the cave. He strode in closer, staring at Randy with mad eyes. “Say his name.”
“You know his name,” Randy said, his face a mask. “It was Guhtred. Guhtred the Black.”
Kevin’s eyes were triumphant in the dim light. He screeched helplessly, punching his arms joyously in the air.
“Ahh, Randy, Randy. You were hiding these things from me. That isn’t kind. But you saw him. And he spared you.” Kevin stared at Randy, who didn’t respond. He wondered if Kevin would attack him, but after a moment, the man broke into a rabid grin.
“He spared you for a reason. Guhtred is a spiritual creature. It is as I first said when I saw you. You and he are linked. I could feel it when I looked at you, feel it for true. God will ensure that you and I meet Guhtred, Randy.”
“Well, I don’t think we’ll meet him in this cave.” Randy chuckled, but Kevin didn’t smile.
“Randy, Randy, ye of little faith. I will face the man who has burned my family. God has told me so.”
Randy shivered but said nothing. Kevin and Doug turned to leave, and Randy picked up his pack. It was soaking wet. He snorted in disgust, looking around the cave. He knew it was wet in here, but his pack was soaked. It really shouldn’t have gotten this wet. He’d have to find a place to dry his things out.
Before he took a step, Doug and Kevin came bounding back into the cave.
“Randy, you’re not going to believe this, but it looks like the soldiers are leaving.” Doug grinned as he popped back into the cave, slapping Randy on the shoulder. But Randy didn’t smile. Why would the soldiers leave so quickly? It didn’t make any sense. Those men were thorough. He, of all people, knew that.
“We’ll stay on our guard until Candle signals us,” he said, and the other two men dropped their smiles. Then the three of them made their way out to the same place they’d hidden the day before, where Jamie was already keeping watch.
Randy crawled into position beside the big straw-haired man, who smiled over at him.
“It really does look like they’ve gone, Randy,” he said, and Randy looked out toward the town. It seemed to be true. The village looked empty, where just a day ago, the men had set up their tents, and Reinachter’s horse had been tied up near Kenyon’s stables. But now, the town looked even emptier than usual. As Randy watched, Kenyon and Candle met near the center of the town, they nodded at each other and then signaled to where Jamie and Randy were kneeling. The other men smiled and stood and began walking toward the town, but Randy hesitated before slowly getting to his feet and beginning the walk.
He kept his head on a swivel, but the soldiers really did seem to be gone. Still, he didn’t relax until Candle called out to him.
“They’ve really gone, Randy,” Candle called, but he didn’t look happy. By this point, Randy and the other three men were within twenty paces of Candle and Kenyon, who stepped out to meet them.
“You don’t look happy. What happened?” Randy asked, shaking his head. He wished he’d gotten a better sleep. His head felt fuzzy, and he needed to be sharp now.
“A runner came from Langenville,” Candle paused, and his eyes were pinched and tight. His mouth gaped slightly as he spoke. “Guhtred the Black was seen in Langenville last night. Multiple people, people we know said they saw him. Apparently, he ran on north of the city from there.”
Candle looked stricken as he said it.
“When Danforth’s men heard that, they packed up straight away and marched for Langenville,” Kenyon interjected. He, too, looked as if he’d aged ten years since Randy had last talked to him exactly one day ago. “Guhtred the Black. Langenville is only a half day’s march from here. A couple of hours if you’ve got a horse.” He looked shaken, and Randy patted the man on the shoulder. Then he looked back at Kevin, Doug, and Jamie.
“This area will be crawling with soldiers within weeks.” He sighed. But then Kenyon had put his hand on Randy’s wrist.
“You’ll stay close, won’t you, Randy?” Kenyon asked, and Randy read the fear in his eyes. “You’ve kept our families safe so far. We trust you.”
Randy nodded slowly. “I told my parents I’d stay until after the Harvest Fest. So I won’t abandon you, no.”
Kenyon clasped Randy’s hands and looked into his eyes hopefully. Then he turned and walked away. As soon as he was out of earshot, Kevin began to speak.
“Guhtred the Black was seen near Langenville,” Kevin said, looking at Randy as though he expected some reaction. But Randy just kept walking, and Kevin hurried to keep up with him. Doug and Jamie fell in step alongside the other two men.
“This is our chance, Randy!” Kevin’s voice pitched higher in desperation. “Don’t you see? He was seen in Langenville the same night you dreamed of him. It’s destiny, Randy, we were meant to be the ones to slay him. We have to go now.”
“Guhtred won’t be in Langenville.” Randy shook his head, sighing heavily. “All you’re going to find there are Danforth’s marshals. They’ll swarm on the place like rats now that he’s been sighted there. And he’ll be long gone.”
“Couldn’t we track him if we found some sign of him?” Doug asked.
“It’s not impossible. But I’m not convinced this is even him. Might just be a rumor or an imposter. If there is a trail, Danforth’s soldiers will have destroyed it by the time we get there.”
“Why would you say it’s an imposter?” Kevin asked. “You dreamed of him last night. You don’t think that means something?”
“Coincidence. And I just don’t understand, I mean, I understand why he would come here. It’s so damn quiet. But why the hell would he show himself? It doesn’t make any sense.” Randy shook his head. It didn’t make any sense, he thought. It had to be an imposter.
“You’re so rational, aren’t you, Randy?” Kevin asked, and when Randy looked back at him, he let out a slight giggle. “You have so little faith. But there are things that we can’t see in this world, can’t explain. There’s a shadow world, closed to all but a chosen few. And I am one of these few, Randy. And I can see it, Guhtred is drawn here because of you. You and he are bound to one another. And so, even if he runs, he’ll be drawn back here. Or you’ll be drawn there. I’ve seen this.” Kevin’s eyes gleamed with that mad light as he spoke.
Randy supposed other folks might have found it persuasive—the sign of a touched man.
“You could be right. But either way. I don’t think he’s there. So, I suppose he’ll just have to come to me then.” Randy spoke calmly, but he felt a coldness seize his heart, and he forced himself to tense up so the others wouldn’t see him shiver.
Kevin was silent for a moment.
“If Doug and I went to Langenville and brought back some evidence that Guhtred was there, would you come then?”
Randy stared at Doug.
“You’re game for that, Doug?” he asked, and the stout man nodded with a big smile.
“Be a hell of a story, wouldn’t it? My best pal from my hometown, killing the famous Guhtred the Black? Hell yeah. I believe in you. If Guhtred’s there, we’ll find him for you, Randy.” Doug clapped Randy on the shoulder.
Randy couldn’t help but smile back despite the heavy feeling in his stomach.
“Suppose I have to agree then. You bring back some evidence he’s out there, I’ll ride as fast I can, promise.”
The two men began walking toward the Phillips’s homestead, but Kevin turned, a hurt expression on his face.
“You really won’t come, Randy? What if Guhtred comes upon Doug and me, and you’re not there?” He looked afraid, but Randy shook his head.
