Too Far Gone, page 23
part #3 of The Jaxon Grey Chronicles Series
"There's no time for protests!" said Demtrius. "If you trust me, then fall in line."
Without another word, Demtrius was off, dodging between trees as quick as he could, heading toward a section of the plateau that jutted out into the forest. Then he jumped up into a tree and started climbing upward.
It wasn't the most ideal plan, but even if we had the time to think further, I'm not sure we could have devised a better one. We at least had the wind to throw off their aim and the darkness to help conceal our movements. Nevertheless, my heart was beating wildly and I was entirely unnerved. They had taken us completely by surprise and had already wounded Alexitus. How much longer could we hold out?
Dolvin went immediately after Demtrius, followed by the injured Alexitus, who clutched his furs over the flesh-wound, struggling to climb because of it.
"Come on!" said Crispin to Nepalen. "We have to move!"
"I-I can't," Nepalen replied stuttering.
"They will kill us if we don't move!" said Thristin, thoroughly irritated with his cowardly captain. "By the hand of Carnyle, get a hold of yourself!"
Nepalen stiffened at the mention of Carnyle, but then just shook his head, debilitated by fear.
"Just pick him up!" said his brother, and with that they each grabbed an arm, dragged him to his feet, and began pushing him forward. Once moving, Nepalen protested less, and finally we were able to leave. I heard more arrows being loosed as we left, but none of them struck home.
When we met up with the others, Dolvin and Demtrius were helping Alexitus climb one of the larger thehnwood trees, and they were making good headway too. The tree grew beside the plateau, just close enough that its upper branches were within arm’s reach of the summit. I don't know how we didn't think of this solution earlier.
Demtrius returned to the base of the tree trunk, and I noticed he wore his snowshoes tied together and slung over his shoulder. He was almost knocked off the tree still ten feet from the ground, however, as Nepalen hurried to shimmy up the trunk and out of danger. He cried out once, pricked by the sharp thorns on the branches, but pushed past the pain in his fright and continued upwards.
"Take your snow shoes off," Demtrius told him. "All of you. Quickly now! We need to climb fast. Our tracks through the snow will be easy enough to follow once they've realized we slipped away."
But they already had.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Till Dawn
"Attack!" roared a voice from down the slope, hidden somewhere within the dense forest. "Kill them all!"
The words were spoken in Tatoran, so only Demtrius and I could understand them, but it wasn't hard to guess their intentions. Our attackers rushed forward, swords and axes drawn high over their heads as they emerged from seemingly nowhere. Their white fur and white hooded cloaks provided camouflage, but as they stepped into the starlight their figures were illuminated against the moss-covered thehnwoods.
We quickened our pace, ignoring the many thorns that slashed and stuck us, hurrying to make the ascent. That's when I heard another snap of a bowstring.
It came from above, not behind, and I knew we were surrounded and that our fate was sealed. The arrows came rapidly, but at the pace of only a single archer, and none of the arrows were even coming close to us. Did they not see us?
I looked up, and atop the cliff, loosing arrow after arrow, was Pinut, wielding a short hunting bow. She was shooting down at our attackers with fierce rapidity, forcing them to retreat further into the forest for cover and thwarting their attack, temporarily at least.
"We don't have all night," Pinut called down to us.
Dolvin and Alexitus were already crawling upon the ledge beside her, with Nepalen right behind them, but the rest of us were still in grave danger. We had to move faster. Pinut continued loosing arrows in rapid succession to cover our ascent, but how many arrows did she have left, and where was her new tzulamor?
As if reading my thoughts, Demtrius, having attained the cliff's height, leapt onto the plateau. "Where is Ricson?"
Pinut loosed another arrow, and then pointed down to the forest. At first I didn't understand, but that's when I heard the first scream. It rang out loud, sound waves echoing off the plateau's steep hillside, and then was deftly cut short mid-cry, followed by shouts of confusion.
She threw Demtrius a spare bow and sack of arrows. He caught them and threw them to Dolvin.
Demtrius swung around just as I was getting onto the ledge and leapt back into the tree.
"Where are you going?" asked Dolvin.
"To help a friend," he said over his shoulder, “so follow Pinut's lead and loose a few arrows.” He then proceeded to climb back down the tree.
Crispin and Thristin grinned and began to follow him.
"They'll be killed down there," said Dolvin, aghast.
"Then we'll have to help them," I said, and scarce had the words left my lips than I was on the tree and climbing downward too. I turned back once, looking directly at Dolvin, waiting for him to pick up the bow.
He seemed nervous, but then stood straight and walked up beside Pinut. “We've got you covered.” There was work to be done.
I descended to the ground and donned my snow shoes again, tying them quickly in order to not be left behind by Demtrius and the anxious brothers. All three already had their snow shoes on and swords drawn, and were now stalking around the flank of our previous position. I hadn't noticed it, but my sword, too, was in my hand, having already leapt from its sheath in a fraction of a second from muscle memory. Our attackers had stopped loosing arrows, and might have exhausted their supplies, but we couldn't be sure. Now, though, thanks to Ricson and Pinut, we would bring the fight to them.
Pinut and Dolvin sent arrows further ahead into the forest, trying to keep whoever was out there at bay and stuck taking cover.
We hadn't gone more than a dozen paces when we heard the second cry of pain and despair. It was close too. Soon we would be right in their midst. My heart was pounding faster and harder with every step, but, surprisingly, I wasn't filled with fear. Rather, it was a charged feeling of excitement and adrenaline, mixed with Demtrius' calm assertiveness and the joyful enthusiasm of Crispin and Thristin; it propelled me forward, for better or worse.
Pinut and Dolvin had just stopped loosing arrows, and I could only assume they were finally out of projectiles. I just hoped our attackers didn't surmise the same. With Pinut at their front and Ricson at their rear, they were already fighting a battle on two fronts, and now with us coming up on their flanks they wouldn't know which direction to defend from.
"Where are they!" one of them shouted. "I don't see them!"
"They're behind us now!" someone replied.
"No, they're on our flanks!" cried another.
It was all chaos for them.
Without another moment's consideration, Demtrius leapt forward, seizing the opportunity to capitalize on the enemy's confusion.
"Watch out!" one of them screamed as he saw Demtrius' fur-covered figure emerge from behind a tree. Demtrius was fast, exceedingly fast, but his prey met his speed with an almost equally quick parry, deflecting a well-aimed thrust for the heart. Like lightning the Mercerian struck back, and the force of his strike put Demtrius slightly off balance, opening him up for an attack by one of the warrior's comrades. By that time, however, Crispin and Thristin had engaged another attacker and were forcing him backward step by step. Demtrius was quick to recover and had also renewed his attack, but with redoubled effort.
This all happened in just a few seconds, and has taken longer to explain than the actual time that elapsed. I had barely leapt from the coverage of the trees when Demtrius went back on the offensive. He occupied one foe, while Crispin and Thristin occupied another, and now a third came charging toward me, roaring ferociously as he uttered his battle cry. He swung wildly, attempting to cut me in two with one savage blow. I tried to jump out of the blade's path, but the lace on my snow shoe unraveled and I lost my footing, causing me to fall backwards in slow motion.
The cold sting of steel cutting through tissue and flesh blurred my vision. My torso burned with intense pain as I rolled sideways, dropping my sword and clutching the fresh wound with both hands. I was utterly stunned, feeling my own warm blood saturating my furs, and was suddenly all too aware of my mortality. My attacker wasn't quitting either. He intended to kill, and, sensing a quick victory, he lunged forward for the coupe-de-grace.
I closed my eyes in anticipation, unable to defend myself and waiting for the finishing blow to strike home. I heard him expel a grunt as he used his full force, but was surprised when I remained unscathed. Instead, my ears rang with pain as steel struck steel, clanging violently and shedding sparks all around me. When I opened my eyes, I saw Ricson locked in battle with my attacker, pressing him closely. Our attackers had lost their advantage and were now tasting the beginnings of defeat, so, angered by the turn of events, they began retreating further into the forest, abandoning the attack.
Ricson immediately began pursuing them, with Crispin and Thristin hot on his heels.
When I realized the fight was over, and that we had succeeded in turning back our attackers, I was over-joyed. Then, the pain returned, ten-fold. My chest felt like it was on fire and blood steadily seeped from the wound, creating a small pool of dark red on the white snow.
"How severe is it?" asked Demtrius, crouching down to assess me.
"I'll be fine," I replied. Then I smiled, "You did worse to me in the Pit of the Gyx."
"Still," he persisted, "I would like to see."
I let him assess the wound, to which he said, "The cut is deep, but I don't believe any major blood vessels were hit. I would be more worried if not for your ability to heal so quickly."
"Lucky me, huh?" I asked rhetorically. "If only I could block out the pain too."
"I can stitch the wound for you once we make it back to Finnis," Demtrius offered, "but perhaps you and Alexitus should return with Ricson and Pinut. Neither of you are in a condition to travel, and they can defend you better than we can."
"Like I said, I'll be fine," I repeated, cringing at the growing pain.
Ricson came back into view, dragging behind him the corpse of one of the archers. Similarly, Crispin and Thristin emerged carrying another archer, but this one was still alive, albeit badly wounded. He was unconscious, and his left leg hung limp and useless, dripping blood from where his Achilles tendon had been severed. The archer would never be able to walk again.
"Look what we found!" said Crispin. "Ricson's fine handiwork, we presume."
Ricson, of course, couldn't understand, but he looked at the crippled archer and nodded, confirming their assumption.
"I don't think they'll return so soon after that," Crispin grinned.
"A rare fight!" Thristin added cheerfully. "Gilpin will sure be sorry he had to miss it!"
Even through my current pain, it was amusing to see their new Tatoran-like lust for fighting.
Pinut was now joining us, having just finished descending the plateau's steep precipice via the large thehnwood tree and gathering what arrows she could find.
"Looks like Ricson and I found you just in time," she commented, unstringing her small bow as she spoke. She then saw the slash across my chest, "Perhaps not soon enough, though."
"It's nothing, really," I said dismissively. "I've been through worse."
"It is an awfully large cut for one so small," Pinut said with genuine concern. "Please, let me dress the wound for you."
"You have bandages?" I asked.
"Bandages?" she repeated, somewhat amused. "Not out here, but the forest will provide everything we need."
Pinut commenced gathering some red moss from a nearby thehnwood tree, as well as some of the tree's sticky sap.
Meanwhile, Demtrius and Ricson stood over me speaking to one another.
"We are very grateful for your assistance," said Demtrius, "but how did you know where we were, and that we were in danger?"
"We didn't," said Ricson. "We were just making our return from the Dracari tree when we happened to see the lot of you, and it only took a second to understand the trouble you were in."
"Well, thank you," said Demtrius, as did I. Crispin and Thristin, however, with the lack of a translator, had Demtrius convey their thanks, which Ricson accepted with a quick nod.
"We are allies now," said Ricson, "and good allies protect one another when the time calls, no matter what the terms of our arrangement may be."
Pinut returned with the sap and moss. She broke apart the moss until it was the size of the cut and then placed it directly over and partially inside of the wound. With that in place, she then applied the sappy resin to seal the wound.
"There," she said, admiring her makeshift remedy. "That should suffice for the time being. The thehnwood moss will help to stop the bleeding and the sap is excellent at preventing infection. You should still seek medical attention in Finnis, though."
"Will do," I lied, knowing my wound would probably have mostly healed by then. "Thank you."
Ricson bent down and pulled up the surviving archer by his white cloak. "Now, let us see who it is that has attacked you. If my suspicious are correct, then Waulf will have a lot of explaining to do.”
"By all means," said Demtrius, stepping in to get a better look at the archer's features in the dark night.
Ricson pulled back the archer's hood, revealing a disheveled, blood-spattered, and unfamiliar face and mane. He turned the face from side to side and then ran his fingers through the burly white mane, feeling around for something. "Damn," he said. "Just like the other one, no bones."
"Bones?" asked Demtrius.
"The Skudlandic warriors wear the finger bones of those they have defeated in battle tied into their manes," Ricson explained. "It is a symbol of status and shows others how skillful the warrior is. If these archers were to have them, than there would be no doubt of Waulf's involvement, but now I can't be sure. We'll have to bring this traitor back to Finnis for a proper interrogation."
"We should be leaving anyway," said Pinut. "We have remained here for some time, and our yume will soon begin to lose its glow."
She opened her arrow sack to show the brilliant glowing herb, but I was on the ground and did not see much except a dull glow of colorful lights. The herb itself was said to be beautiful and magnificent, constantly changing in swirls of different colors, but I would have to wait until we reached the Dracari tree to see for myself.
"You are right, my love," Ricson replied. He turned back to Demtrius, "The Dracari tree isn't much further; perhaps half a day's walk. Once you head back up to the first tier of the plateau, walk to the right and around the bend, and soon you will find the path to the top. Once there, continue straight across the plateau until you reach the frozen lake, and then follow its bank to the right. You will eventually come to a patch of small trees and shrubbery, and just beyond that you will find the Dracari tree. It will be hard to miss."
"Thank you again," Demtrius replied, placing his closed fist to his chest. Ricson returned the friendly gesture, and then picked up the unconscious archer to resume his journey home.
"What about this one?" asked Pinut, indicating the slain archer.
"Leave him for the faolers," said Ricson. He took one last look at our group, "I'll see you all back in Finnis."
And with that they were gone.
It took some time to climb back up to the plateau's first tier now that no one was shooting arrows at us, and I was significantly slowed by my wound, which seared in pain with every movement. Eventually, though, we finally reunited with Alexitus, Nepalen, and Dolvin on the level ground.
"You're alive!" Dolvin exclaimed in happy disbelief. "By the hand of Carnyle, you're all alive!"
He came over to us immediately, as did Nepalen. Alexitus, however, remained kneeling where he was, gathering snow and packing it on his injured shoulder to help numb the pain.
Following Pinut's example, Demtrius had collected some thehnwood sap and more moss, and presently began dressing Alexitus' wound in much the same way Pinut had done mine.
"What happened down there?" Nepalen asked us.
"Sent them running!" Crispin replied with enthusiasm.
"And Ricson took one of them captive!" said an exalted Thristin. They were both still high off of the adrenaline rush. Thristin continued, "By the time we get back, Rengar will know exactly who sent them."
"As if we even have to guess," said Alexitus. "Wretches, all of them. I knew we never should have trusted them."
"You cannot judge an entire race on the actions of a few," Demtrius replied in defense. He just finished applying the sap. "And if we don't secure their help, our people will suffer. Remember that."
"Always trying to act so righteous," said Alexitus with scorn.
Demtrius ignored the comment. Instead, he quickly scanned our new surroundings, but darkness still reigned so he couldn't have seen much; at least I couldn't at any rate. I could barely make out just a few dozen feet and up a slight slope until more vertical cliffs rose to what I presumed was the plateau's actual summit. According to Ricson, now we needed to proceed to the right and soon we would find our path to the top.
"We should rest for a few minutes and then be on our way again," said Demtrius, "but perhaps only Thristin, Crispin, and I should proceed further."
"What do you mean?" Dolvin asked. "Don't we need to do this together?"
"We've come a long way," Demtrius replied, "but with two of our party injured, we should allow them time to rest and recover. We do not want anyone to suffer further injuries."
"But those assassins," Dolvin said fearfully. "What if they come back to finish us off?"
