The Lost Soul, page 9
part #1 of Enchena Series
“It is vain for us to continue.” Nmirr’s thoughts betrayed him. He halted and looked at his beloved sister. “Go, to Autumn’s herd. Warn them that men are hunting us again.”
He turned back to the sound of men forcing their way through the tangle of trees.
Alina let loose a whinny of fear. “You will not be made a martyr.”
Nmirr turned back to her, horn lowered angrily. “Go now Alina.”
She stood uncertain for a moment before following her brother’s command. She daren’t look back, but the horrifying sounds of an angry and desperate creature resounded through the forest.
The area cleared and Alina ran as fast as she could without making any noise. She did not know where she went, nor how long her flight would last. But eventually she slowed and stopped, far from her usual territory. Overwhelmed with sadness she wandered idly until she lay beneath the leafy shade of a tree and fell into fitful sleep.
*****
When Alina awoke, the sun was setting, blood red streaks marred the darkening sky and the lonely unicorn did not dare to look up for memory of the tragic day. Standing up stiffly, Alina started to walk steadily onwards, involuntarily moving back towards her old herd’s valley. In her desperate flight she had covered much land and now the return took many hours. The silver unicorn walked dejectedly through the forest, hardly a shining beauty in her grief.
The stars had travelled right across the inky sky and to the east the horizon was fringed with faint dawn light. Finally the silver unicorn approached the tree-tangled area where she had last seen her brother. The rising sun was just visible now through the trees, strong rays of dawn light fell upon a silver mass in the long grasses.
Alina moved cautiously up to her brother’s body, then lay down by the bloodstained corpse, large, crystalline tears dampened his grey coat as she leant over him. The humans had removed any arrows that might have pierced him, and had sawn off, and taken his horn. There were gaping red sores where spears had gored the mighty unicorn, but the blood no longer ran.
Alina waited in mourning close to Nmirr’s body, forgetting about warning other herds. She stayed there, alone, for another day before her peace was intruded. The sun was setting when Alina was aware of the presence of others.
“So, it is true. The mighty Nmirr has been killed.” Came the thoughts of another unicorn, oily and seeping across the darkening air.
Alina staggered up to face the unicorn, whose black coat made him merge with the shadows. “The Dark Being.” A thought of fear flickered, she suddenly felt very alone and vulnerable.
About this fearsome stallion stood a choice few of his herd, all obscured by fading light. The Dark Being lowered his horned head, not hiding the amusement from his thoughts.
“I have not forgotten that you bore away those human foals, nor that Nmirr dared to wound me.” He threw up his head for a moment and a glistening scar could be seen across his neck in the gathering dusk, almost identical to the one he had inflicted upon Nmirr. “It is well that this herd was destroyed, you were all a disgrace to our kind. Harbouring humans.” With this last disgusted thought The Dark Being charged forward.
Alina dodged swiftly, but found the members of his herd encircling her. The Dark Being had charged so hastily that he had to jump the mound of Nmirr’s carcass, giving the discourtesy of one last kick at the lifeless silvery hide.
The stallion turned to face the silver mare again and he snorted, in the evening dusk she shone like a star herself and another idea came to him as he approached more slowly towards the beautiful mare. “But you cannot help the misfortune for having such a fool for a sibling. You now have the chance to renounce your naïve past, join my herd.”
Alina became more scared and shivered slightly, sweat-stained ears flicking nervously. “No, I am no betrayer of my blood.”
“Then you share the same fate as your brother.”
Without warning The Dark Being suddenly reared, Alina felt his scything hooves come down to her flesh and rushed back out of range of the flailing feet but found cruel teeth nipping harshly at her hindquarters. She kicked out, then moved swiftly to an open space. Alina lowered her head uncertainly, she had not been made to fight before and she could not match this stallion’s strength.
The Dark Being walked slowly forwards, horn down in challenge, the members of his herd moving like a shadow behind him.
Alina shifted back gradually, but found herself against the trunk of a large tree and no escape. The dark-hearted unicorns seemed to realise this and teased their helpless pray behind their leader.
A slight breeze blew, on it came a scent that made Alina tremble more than any thought of these sinister unicorns, it held the smell of death for forest creatures. The Dark Being halted and lifted his head, his lip curled back in disgust at the scent of mallus.
Above and behind Alina he could see two eyes gleaming dimly in the nightfall, long claws rattled slowly on bark and breath hissed gently through sharp teeth.
Suddenly it leapt down onto the bared back of The Dark Being. The stallion reared up and roared a horse’s scream as the creature tore into his hide. Twisting violently The Dark Being managed to throw the mallus off.
The nightmare prowler crouched defensively between Alina and the angry stallion and The Dark Being snorted as dark blood seeped from the wounds, pain clouded his thoughts. He looked back at Alina. “You have some strange, dark magic.”
With the mallus spitting and growling at them, The Dark Being and his herd turned and fled.
Alina was left staring at the hideous creature, it turned its hairy face to her, then leapt back up to the canopy. Its claws could be heard tapping against the wood as it travelled.
Alina whinnied a soft call to it. “Wait.”
Her curiosity had been stirred. This mallus had not attacked her, indeed it had saved her. She knew that mallus were cunning creatures, a pack of them had once brought down a cousin of hers years ago. But something told her to trust this one, the same instinct that had told her to trust the humans.
Using the sound, rather than sight, to guide her through the forest she followed the mallus all the way to the burnt area she had discovered before. The mallus had left the trees now and was snuffling busily across the arid ground.
Alina trotted cautiously up to it, sending nervous, but peaceful thoughts through the air.
The mallus turned and snarled at her before returning to his business.
“What do you seek?” Alina ventured her question timidly.
“Humans. Little humans, I think you know them. You be Nmirr’s sister?” His rasping voice startled the unicorn slightly.
Alina nodded, sadness seeped into her mind as she thought of her brother. “But you knew David and Samantha? How? They went back to their home.”
“No, they found the gate closed. Then we… well, we meet.” The mallus went on to tell Alina of how he had journeyed with the humans and they had decided to find the unicorns and join the Gardyn to fight King Hrafn.
“And so.” Finished Siabhor. “We rested, then the guards came. I managed to escape, but now I am searching for sign of the human children.”
Alina looked quite coldly at Siabhor, trying to hide her feeling of anger at this pitiful creature that had deserted her friends.
Siabhor sniffed the ground again. “There is blood soaked into the ground here.” He sniffed again, looking thoughtful. “I am very sure it is not adult blood, but which of David and Samantha has bled I cannot tell, and it has been days since it was spilt.”
The mallus glanced up at the unicorn, finding this experience disconcerting, he knew a unicorn was deadly to singular mallus and he shifted round slightly to further himself from the glinting horn. “I am thinking this trail cannot be followed. But, the humans had said you and your herd would help them.” Siabhor’s yellowy eyes flickered over the silver unicorn.
“My brother can aid no one. But… but there is another herd.” Alina’s sad feelings echoed. She continued, remembering Nmirr’s wish for her to seek out Autumn, she glanced up at the starry sky. “Their herd is not far, we could make it by sunrise.”
*****
Such a strange pair had never been seen running through the wilderness, as this silver unicorn and shadowed mallus swept fearlessly through the forest trees in the night.
The final star before dawn was dimming and the sky was tinted with sunrise as they approached a dense thicket of trees. Alina halted and looked hesitantly at the mallus.
“The herd is close but, no offence, you are regarded as foe by them.”
Siabhor bared his teeth grimly, it was only his desire to make amends for abandoning the humans that held him to this loathsome situation. “I understand. You go find your friends, I wait here.”
Alina flicked her tail and followed a hidden path through the thicket, uncomfortably aware of Siabhor’s grief, finding her own pity for the creature a disturbing experience.
Within a matter of strides the silver unicorn had pushed through the grove to find herself in a familiar clearing. She lifted her head and whinnied quietly to announce her presence.
Immediately a tall and handsome chestnut trotted forwards, the rising sun shining both gold and silver on his coat and mane.
“Alina!” Autumn’s thoughts held relief. “We heard what had happened to your herd, to Nmirr. We thought that you…”
Alina nuzzled him with consolation, then stepped back and peered up at his face questioningly. “How did you find out? Did any of my herd escape?”
Autumn’s kindly eyes smiled, and for an answer he threw up his head and called. From the far end of the Valley came a reply and, trotting nervously, a young palomino led a small band of unicorns. There were only four of them, but they all squealed with delight at the reunion.
“Young Sundance here remembered the way to our herd after you last brought him to visit. He told us that the herd had been killed and that he found some of the others that had managed to escape on his way here. Of you there was no trace, living or dead. I had hoped that you were not back from travelling when the slaughter happened.”
Alina stood silently, the thoughts of her escape marred the happiness of finding Sundance alive. Then she suddenly remembered why she was here. “Autumn, do you remember I told you of two humans, the ones we saved from The Dark Being. Well, we think they are in trouble and we came to you for help and advice.”
“We?” Autumn looked confused, wondering if Alina had been taken by another herd.
Alina sensed his confusion and looked nervously into the peaceful valley, wondering what right she had to disturb it.
“I met someone called Siabhor.” She replied. “He’s waiting beyond the thicket, I did not think it wise for him to enter.”
Autumn started to the border of his Valley. “Well, show him to me.” His troubled thoughts murmured.
Alina moved past him and pushed through the dense copse. When they emerged to the forest again, there was no one in sight.
Autumn moved about uncertainly. “Well, where is he?”
A rustling noise came from above and a hairy shape hung down from the bough of a tree. Autumn immediately swept between the hunter and Alina, horn lowered defensively.
Alina whinnied with amusement. “Peace, Autumn. This is Siabhor, he saved me from The Dark Being… he won’t harm you today.”
Siabhor scowled down at the glittering unicorns with intense dislike. “This be the Autumn you told me of?” His voice hissed. The mallus dropped down and squinted up at them.
Autumn looked disgusted, he did not understand what Alina was doing with creatures that had killed their kind. “Well, what plan have you arranged?” Asked Autumn, warily eyeing the mallus.
“None of yet, other than to find you and to seek your help.” Alina replied yawning, she shook her head and looked hopefully at Autumn.
The chestnut unicorn stood undecidedly, but he was fond of Alina and knew to trust her. “I think we should go back into the Valley for now, I suppose you have had little sleep over the past few days.” He led the grey mare back to the thicket, then stopped and looked back. “You, O hunter, if you promise not to approach any of my herd, or to keep the way in to memory for future hunts then I will allow you sanctuary for as long as Alina wishes.”
Grumbling quietly Siabhor followed the unicorns through the thicket. The herd were watching for the return of Autumn, but spooked at his hairy companion, the chestnut stallion narrowly avoided the flight of his herd, promising the mallus was to be under Alina’s care. Siabhor still wasn’t happy though, and kept at the edge of the Valley, hiding in the shadows.
Twelve
Alina was left all that day, safe to sleep with Autumn grazing nearby. By the following dawn she was well rested and moved through the herd, meeting those she feared she would never meet again.
Siabhor stayed in the tree line, avoided by all but a bay stallion set to guard him. He watched the movement of unicorns uneasily, something like conscience flickered at the sight of prey socialising. But still he wished to be elsewhere.
A young golden palomino was moving furtively towards where the mallus rested. It lifted up its horned head and looked inquisitively at the beast. “Do you really kill unicorns?”
Siabhor hung down from the tree branches and snarled at the youngster. The palomino shuddered but did not run. Siabhor’s eyes narrowed as he tried to fit this one into the humans’ story. “You are Sundance, yes?” The unicorn nodded his head in reply. “Then have fear of me, because I am a hunter of any creature that crosses my path.”
Sundance ignored this, with a flick of his pale tail. “Are you going to help save David and Samantha?”
Siabhor looked bemused. “You… you do not fear mallus?”
“Autumn told us that as long as Alina befriends you, you would not harm us, even though he doesn’t like you.” He replied. “Are you going to help? How did they get captured? Were you there?”
Siabhor let out a strangled bark. “Silence!” He shook his head at the questions. “Why do you care so much?”
“David and Samantha are my friends, I do not want the evil humans to hurt them.” Sundance lowered his head and thoughts of sadness quivered in the air, so that even Siabhor felt almost sorry for the young unicorn.
“Alright, I be helping get them free, then I am hunter once more.” Siabhor turned and moved away as silently as he could, so the over-inquisitive Sundance could not follow.
*****
No plans were set until Autumn called the herd and Siabhor together mid-afternoon the next day.
“You have told us that Samantha was to seek out human help when you and David came to find us.” The mighty stallion quizzed Siabhor. “Now I see no other way forward but to find them ourselves. Do you remember the names of these humans?”
Siabhor shifted nervously amongst the horned beasts. “Yes, they were Tobias and his sister Jillis.”
Alina stepped forward. “But Autumn, we cannot possibly go into the city. Even if we could be disguised as horses, a loose horse would draw attention.”
Autumn nodded his head wisely. “This is true, but by Praede’s grace we have one who, if fully cloaked by human attire, covered so that none would see an inch of his true self. One that may pass relatively unnoticed through the city.” His large, liquid eyes fixed onto Siabhor.
The mallus realised what he was implying and hissed his disagreement. “No, never. Siabhor will not be humiliated by this plan of yours.” He turned and ran across the flat ground back to his trees. The herd readily parted to let him through, their fear of mallus still beyond their control.
The only one who followed him was Sundance. The young unicorn felt lonely now that all the older beasts were congregating and disregarded him completely.
Sundance trotted quickly over and whinnied lowly. “But I thought you were going to help David and Samantha.”
Siabhor came into view again, scowling. The palomino’s thoughts held great disappointment.
“I say I would help them. I not say I be made foolish, Siabhor never be made more ashamed.”
“I do not know much of humans in general.” Sundance’s thoughts slowly formed. “But, David and Samantha were not a breed to be ashamed of. Did you not say you would help them? It seems you are too scared to carry out your oath.” Sundance turned, and with a flick of his silver tail cantered back over the green grass to the others. Siabhor watched him go and felt strangely respectful to this one.
Perhaps it was thanks to Sundance that not much later, the murky shadow was seen crossing the open space towards Autumn. “Siabhor been thinking. This plan will do. But we be needing the humans’ cloth. And, you think of more plans, so I may not have to be disgraced.”
Autumn bowed his head to the noble mallus. “Well done, Siabhor.” Came a murmuring voice of praise, and the chestnut left the mallus feeling, not quite friendly, but a little less hostile, towards his natural enemy.
*****
That very same afternoon, Siabhor along with Billan and Tân, the two fastest unicorns of Autumn’s herd moved to the edge of the forest. Across the valley the city wall loomed, with the western shadows of the trees reaching out, clawing across the glen.
“How am I meant to get disguise?” Asked Siabhor as they stood in the last reaches of the forest before the land of men.
Billan, a gentle and handsome brown stallion, looked across to him, pale horn gleaming. “About the other side of the city, that is where humans cultivate the land to feed themselves. We are sure to find human belongings there.”
“But, O tree-climber, you will have to show us your gait over open ground.” The second unicorn stallion exclaimed, none too kindly. “For it will be nothing but open fields from now on.”
Siabhor snapped angrily at this bay-coated creature. Then moved to make himself comfortable in the bough of a tree. “We wait until night, you two be standing out too much in sun.”
