A Trial of Souls Read online

  “How many?” asked Lee.

  “Only ten as far as I can tell,” Linis replied. “All were human except for the creature. They headed west only a short time ago.”

  By now the snow was coming down hard. Lee knew that if they intended pursuit, a decision needed to be made quickly. He addressed the party. “I say we forget the Vrykol and press on. We have much distance to cover, and I will not allow the words of that fiend make me think our efforts will be fruitless.”

  “And if elves have come out of the desert, I intend to meet them,” added Linis.

  “Will we stay here tonight?” asked Bevaris.

  “Yes,” replied Lee. “But I fear this may be the last time we feel warmth until we reach the desert region. I will no longer risk endangering the innocent with our presence.”

  Millet made his apologies to the farmer for the commotion and gathered everyone inside the barn. Bevaris and Tristan kept watch on the house while Linis patrolled the perimeter. By morning the sky was clear, but nearly a foot of snow had fallen.

  Travel was slow once they set out, with only Linis’ keen senses keeping them from wandering off the road. Lee hoped that the snowfall did not extend too far east, otherwise the horses could be in real danger. Without taking shelter in the towns they passed, it would be difficult to keep their mounts fed and rested.

  After the fifth day, Lee had to risk sending Millet and a few of the men into the village of Henna, another small farming community, for grain and extra supplies. When they returned, Millet reported that the rumors of a coming invasion from the north had already gripped the village with fear.

  “This is the Reborn King’s intention,” said Millet. “To make the east too afraid to fight so that he can focus his assault on the west.”

  “Then we will have to alleviate them of this fear,” said Linis. “Once we join with the elves, then we can show them that they do not fight alone.”

  “Sadly, I think they may fear an elf army as much as the one from Angrääl,” said Lee.

  “Then we shall have to show them differently,” Linis retorted.

  Lee noticed how closely Linis was standing to Dina. He smiled. “I think your example may help to show them the way.”

  “We should begin with King Luccia in Xenthia,” suggested Bevaris. “My sway there may help us. And he is by far the wealthiest ruler in the Eastland. If we gain his support, the others could well follow.”

  “Then that is where we will begin after joining with the elves,” said Lee.

  After a few more days the snow on the ground had dwindled to little more than an inch, allowing tufts of grass to peek out. The cold wind, however, was biting and relentless. When they were a day outside the city of Theodim, it was decided to take the risk of traveling cross-country; the terrain was now beginning to flatten and the ground held far fewer hazards.

  Bevaris, being a native of these lands, took the lead and guided them toward the Xenex Valley. From there, they would head southeast along the border of the kingdom of Comodaro until they reached the outskirts of the desert. Beyond the valley, the knight explained, warm air from the Sea of Gertharis overcame the frigid north wind. The land there, though thick with tall pine forests, was flat and much easier to traverse.

  The Xenex Valley was reputed to be a sanctuary for wandering brigands and outlaws. Its difficult approach from the north, coupled with multiple exits to the south, made it a perfect refuge for anyone who wanted to evade capture.

  It took them almost two weeks to reach the narrow path leading down into the heart of the valley, by which time they had nearly exhausted their supplies. The charred remnants of old signal fires from bandit lookouts confirmed that its reputation was well earned. Once lit, such a fire could be seen for miles.

  As they rounded a rocky bend, the whole valley came into view. The flat grassy ground was dotted with thin patches of snow. Here and there a few withered trees sprung up, their bare limbs stretching out like dead fingers reaching for the dull gray sky. Thousands of jagged boulders were scattered all along the base of the east and west rims, providing excellent cover for anyone wishing to conceal themselves. To the south, in the far distance, they could see the hazy visage of the gentle upward slope leading away from the valley. Lee guessed that it was at least a two day trek away.

  “If there is anyone here,” said Bevaris. “They will have seen us by now.” His voice was filled with worry.

  “Is something wrong?” asked Lee.

  “Bandits would have lit a signal fire and fled,” he explained. “If anyone is about, they do not fear us. We must be wary.”

  “Could someone have come up from the south?” asked Linis.

  Bevaris shrugged. “Possibly. But not likely. At least, not in winter.”

  They followed the path until it leveled out and broadened; the land before them looked desolate and uninviting. Linis and Lee rode ahead with Bevaris, looking and listening for signs of foes, but the rise and fall of a howling wind overwhelmed all other sounds.

  “The earth here is dead,” muttered Lee, with a hint of revulsion.

  Linis nodded in agreement. “Yes. The flow is weak. Something dire once befell this place.”

  “It is said that the gods fought over the dominion of man on this very spot,” said Bevaris. “Poisoning the valley for all time.”

  “Whatever the case,” said Linis. “It will make detecting danger difficult.”

  “We should cut straight through the center,” suggested Lee. “At least that way we’ll be able to see anyone coming from a way off.”

  In spite of its level appearance from the top of the valley, the ground was uneven and rocky, and it took more than an hour to find a decent clearing in which to make camp for the night. Linis and Lee were not the only ones who felt uneasy. None of the men slept well, and all of them were eager to depart more than an hour before the sun broke over the valley’s rim.

  A few low clouds drifted down from the north, bringing with them an occasional flurry of snow. By midday the entire company was chilled to the bone. Linis stayed close to Dina, who was being uncharacteristically quiet and reserved.

  “This place is foul,” she whispered, just loud enough for Linis to hear. “Something evil lurks.”

  “Do not fear,” Linis assured her. “If the Vrykol are here, we will cut them down.”

  “It’s not the Vrykol,” she replied. Her eyes darted back and forth. “I felt something like this once before when I was in the Spirit Hills with Gewey. But this is far more intense.”

  Just then, a horrifying scream sounded from somewhere in the east. Everyone in the group turned to see a lone figure running toward them. It stumbled and fell every few yards, then scrambled to its feet and kept advancing.

  Lee leapt from his saddle and quickly drew his sword. In an instant Linis and Tristan were at his side. Bevaris ordered the rest of the men to form up and keep an eye on their flanks and rear.

  As the figure drew closer, Lee was surprised to see a man in a black turban and facial scarf. He was clad in a flowing black robe, and in his right hand he held a broken scimitar. His dark eyes were wide with terror.

  “I don’t think he even sees us,” remarked Linis.

  “I agree,” said Lee. “His fear has blinded him to all but his flight. But something is odd. I am sure he is from the desert. I recognize the dress.”

  When the man was only twenty yards away, he finally caught sight of the party and came sliding to a halt. He spun around to look fearfully behind him, then faced Lee and the others again. His breathing was labored and his eyes showed signs of madness. An instant later he set off at a run again, this time attempting to circle around them. Bevaris spurred his horse, at the same time drawing his massive sword. In only a few seconds he caught up and smashed the flat of his blade over the man’s head, sending him sprawling and unconscious. Bevaris sheathed his blade and slid down from the saddle. Grabbing the man by the scruff of his neck, he dragged him to Lee and tossed him roughly to the ground
.

  Linis kneeled down and allowed the flow to bring the man back to consciousness. The moment his eyes opened he let out another terrified scream and tried to rise to his feet. Lee planted his boot on his chest, holding him still.

  “Calm yourself,” Lee said. “What has frightened you so?”

  “It’s coming!” he cried desperately. “It’s coming! It will kill you all! Please, let me go!”

  Lee nodded to Bevaris and Tristan. “Hold him.” He lifted his foot as soon as the man was in their grasp. “You can leave once you tell us what we need to know.”

  The man’s eyes were wild. “No time! It’s coming!”

  Dina stepped forward and gently placed her hands on their terrified captive’s cheeks. “Calm.” Her voice was musical and soothing. “No harm will come to you.”

  The man’s breathing gradually steadied. His eyes locked on to Dina’s, though he still trembled with fear. “The beast tricked us. Led us to slaughter.” His eyes shot to Linis, as if seeing him for the first time. “He led us to our doom so that the elves could kill us all. Now he has a monster finish what is left of us.”

  “Who are you?” asked Dina.

  The man’s gaze did not leave Linis. “I am Alluzal, of the Soufis. But the elf already knows this.”

  Linis raised his brow, taken aback. “I have never heard of the Soufis.”

  Alluzal snarled. “Liar! Our people have fought with yours for generations.”

  “He is not from the desert,” said Dina calmly. “We are from the west.”

  His eyes shot from Linis to Dina and then back again. “It matters not. They are all the same.”

  “I have heard rumors of the Soufis,” said Lee. “But your people never leave the deep desert. Most others don’t even know you exist.”

  Alluzal spat. “We don’t bother with borderland scum. They are weak and useless. They are not even fit to be slaves.”

  “So your people are slavers?” asked Linis. Alluzal only glared at him. “Then I understand why you would fear my desert kin.”

  “I fear no elf,” he shouted in protest. “I have killed dozens of your kind.” He struggled against Tristan and Bevaris’ hold. “Let me go and I’ll kill another.”

  Linis smiled fiendishly. “You know not what you ask. Your head would leave your shoulders before you took a single step.” In a blur of motion his blade was at Alluzal’s throat. “Now tell me this instant what pursues you.”

  Dina touched Linis’ shoulder. “He will tell us. There is no need for threats.”

  “And why would I do that, woman?” Alluzal mocked.

  “Because we will allow you to go free,” she replied, unaffected by his tone. “And unharmed.”

  Linis lowered his blade and backed away.

  Alluzal’s jaw tightened. “You will all die soon anyway. The creature that took my brothers will come for you too.” He looked back in the direction he had come. “My people were deceived by the one called the Reborn King.” Alluzal looked at his captors and grinned. “I see you’ve heard of him. Well, he promised my people that he would rid us of the elves once and for all if we helped him take the lands west of our desert.”

  This brought a growl from Linis.

  “He promised us sixty-thousand of his own soldiers,” he continued. “But none came and the elves attacked us without warning. Slaughtered us they did. I was among the few who escaped. The one we called the dark elf was supposed to lead us west, but when the attack came, he and his guards had disappeared.”

  “He must be speaking of the Vrykol we encountered,” remarked Lee.

  “I don’t know what you call it,” said Alluzal. “It looks like an elf, but it’s not. Me and thirty of my brothers caught up with him and he convinced us to follow him west. He led us here, then told us to wait for his forces to arrive.” His eyes were ablaze with hatred. “But instead of an army, we were left to be killed by a demon.”

  “What attacked you?” asked Dina.

  Alluzal began to tremble again. “I don’t know what it is. But it killed us one by one. Tearing us limb from limb and…and.....”

  His words trailed off.

  “And what?” pressed Lee.

  “It feasts on the flesh of men.” His voice wavered and tears welled in his eyes. “It ate my brothers. We tried to go back but it wouldn’t let us. It toyed with us like we were nothing.” He heaved an unsteady breath. “You will see it soon enough.”

  With these ominous final words, Alluzal straightened his back. “I have held up my end of our agreement. I know nothing more. Release me.”

  Lee looked deep into his eyes, then waved his hand. Bevaris and Tristan let him go. Without a moment of hesitation, Alluzal dashed away north as fast as his legs could carry him.

  Lee watched him until he was out of sight. “I know you would rather see him dead, Linis.”

  “No,” he replied. “We hold to our bargains. And now we know that the Vrykol lied about the destruction of the desert elves.”

  “Yes,” said Lee. “But I am still concerned about...”

  Dina gasped. “Something approaches. Something foul.”

  Lee listened hard, but neither he nor Linis could sense anything.

  Linis placed his hand on her shoulders. “Can you tell what it is?”

  “No,” she replied. “But I can feel its presence. It is wild and full of wrath, like a rabid wolf with only one intent.”

  “What intent?” asked Lee. He peered out, but could see only the grass bending with the bitter wind against the rocky backdrop of the valley’s edge.

  “Death,” she whispered. “That is the only thing it desires. To cause death.”

  Lee pulled Jacob to his side and turned to the soldiers. “Keep your ranks close,” he commanded. “Whatever is out there may try to separate you from your comrades.”

  “Look!” yelled Jacob, pointing to where they had first seen Alluzal.

  A pale figure had suddenly appeared. Hunched and deformed, with a face that was twisted and mangled, it stood there swaying slowly. Stringy black hair fell over its hulking shoulders, and its thick muscles seemed to be on the verge of bursting from its ghostly skin as they rippled and tensed. It held no weapon and wore nothing but a tattered pair of black trousers.

  Jacob gasped. “What is it?”

  Before anyone could answer, a shadow engulfed the creature. In a blur of darkness, it vanished.

  “I think it may be a half-man," answered Lee, snarling. “I encountered something like it many years ago in the Dashivis Pass.[1]” He turned to the men. “This creature is faster and stronger than anything you’ll have ever fought against. It will cast a shadow that will blind you, and raise a wind that will deafen you. But do not flee or you will die.” With a face like stone, he narrowed his eyes and scanned the area.

  Lee could see the fear in Millet’s eyes. Both of them had very nearly been killed in the caves of Dashivis Pass by a half-man driven mad by the Jewel of Dantenos. In later years he’d discovered that the jewel was likely a creation of the gods that had been endowed with their powers and placed in the temples during ancient times. If this creature possessed such an object it would be strong, fast, and exceedingly difficult to kill.

  Twenty yards away, a shadow flashed from east to west before vanishing again. A moment later the wind picked up and swirled around the entire company. The horses reared and bucked, throwing some of the riders from their saddles. Those who weren’t thrown were forced to dismount.

  “Here it comes,” roared Lee, clenching his blade tightly. Glancing left to Jacob, then right to Millet, he felt a chill knotting in the pit of his stomach.

  The wind howled and the shifting darkness suddenly engulfed the entire group, leaving no one able to see even a single inch ahead. At first there were cries of confusion and fear from some of the men. Screams of agony quickly followed, even rising above the ever-increasing roar of the raging tempest. For a couple of minutes everything was utter chaos. Then, as suddenly as it had started, all
became quiet again. The wind died, the darkness lifted, and their vision was restored.

  The scene revealed was gruesome. Three soldiers lay dead, their throats ripped out with unimaginable savagery. In addition, Tristan lay bleeding from a gash beneath his right ear. Bevaris immediately rushed to his side.

  “I’m fine,” the younger knight said, waving his friend off and regaining his feet. “Bloody thing only scratched me.”

  The other soldiers shifted nervously, their eyes shooting down to their fallen comrades.

  “There will be time to mourn them later,” shouted Lee. He breathed deep and closed his eyes. When he’d faced the mad half-man all those years ago he had been little more than a boy off on his first adventure. Now, he was ready. He filtered out the sound of the wind and the panicked breathing of the men, searching only for the creature. He could tell that Linis was doing exactly the same thing.

  Then he heard it - the slightest of footfalls off to his left. Almost immediately the darkness surrounded them once again. This time Lee knew where it was, but the creature was too far away for him to reach it in time. The strangled gurgling of throats being torn apart echoed grotesquely in his ears as two more men fell. Linis had located the creature’s position as well and moved quickly forward. A ghastly cry pierced the air as the elf’s long knife found flesh.

  Then, for a second time, the darkness was gone.

  “I wounded it,” said Linis, a pleased expression on his face.

  A deep, rumbling, primal roar came from their left.

  “I think you did,” agreed Lee. “But this thing is not easily slain and will heal in an instant.”

  Lee had barely finished his sentence when the beast attacked again. This time it came at them in full view, outpacing the shadow that trailed behind him. Lee barely had time to react as a pale hand reached for his neck. He ducked and stepped away, but before he could strike back at the creature it shifted direction toward the soldiers. In almost no time at all another one had fallen dead and two more were severely wounded.

  Linis threw a small dagger, but the creature twisted away from it and charged at the seeker. Another blade flew over Lee’s shoulder from behind. This one found its mark, burying itself deep into the beast’s chest. It staggered for just a split second before resuming its attack. Linis leveled his blade and stepped right. His knife sliced into the creature’s exposed ribs. Lee knew that this was his chance – possibly the only one he would get.