Abbatoir Beneath the Earth

Brota stepped out into the yard.  She scanned the area carefully and then waved Golar out. “Looks like they’re gone,” said Brota.

Golar poked his head out of the bathhouse to survey the world beyond.

“Let’s go see if everyone else is okay, and then we will see about finding your sister and Xander,” said Brota.

“You’re all okay,” said Golar as he brushed past Brota and toward the pig pen beyond the arbor.

The pigs had likely been out at night.  The pen was unmolested.  The creatures seemed only interested in people.  Brota left Golar to fuss over the pigs as she made her way to the back door. The arbor was in shambles.  It was likely as much from the storm as the creatures. There were clumps of flowers and fresh leaves littering the walkway. The back door was covered in deep claw marks, but it was otherwise intact and shut, this was a good sign.

Brota knocked. The creatures likely didn’t try knocking. She wrapped her mailed fist against the door a second time. She heard movement inside.  Golar had moved to the small pond further back near the tree line.

“Don’t stray too far!” Brota called out to Golar. It was useless. The young satyr was nearly covered in ducks. He laughed and counted each one as the crawled over him. They seemed as elated to see him. Brota almost forgot the terrors of the night before as she watched. He clearly loved these animals and was happy to see them unharmed.

The door opened slowly. It was Adelaide, Golar’s mother.

Golar sprung to his feet, the ducks quacking in protest. The two satyrs, mother and son, embraced.  They were soon joined by an older, grey-haired satyr.  Golar’s father. Brota stepped out of the way to let the family embrace. “It was terrible.  We hid in the bathhouse.  Brota fought, this is Brota,” said Golar introducing his parents to Brota.

“Sir, ma’am,” said Brota. She nodded to each in turn.

“Brota fought valiantly, but they took her. They took Espra,” said Golar, his eyes were downcast.

“I’m sorry, I tried.  I truly tried,” Brota explained. She felt small. First, she lost Xander, then this family’s daughter. 

Adelaide forced a smile. “Please, come inside. There is a man who thinks they are not dead. He intends to go get them,” said Adelaide as the family of satyrs disappeared inside.

Brota took a long moment to scan the yard. Debris, whether shingles from the roof or branches from the trees, dotted the landscape.  Still the sun shined, and the air smelled fresh.  It would have been a nice day if they hadn’t been attacked the night before.

Brota sighed and went inside. 

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————- 

“I am going,” said Loreena.  She spoke through gritted teeth. He fists clenched with frustration at her sides.

“No, you are not.  What do you know of tracking and fighting?” asked her father.  He looked over at her. His expression brooked no argument. He clearly found the idea preposterous.

Her mother stood behind them, a grave expression on her face.  Her face was downcast.  She was deep in thought.

“Those things took Telesa.  You and mom are in no place to do this.” Loreena felt the need to continue the argument regardless.

“Excuse me?” Her father raised an angular brow.

“You’re a coin counter, soon to be the exchequer of this entire region of the empire.  You can’t go traipsing after monsters, you don’t even know how to hold a sword.”  She met her father’s gaze, her eyes hard with determination.

“And you do?”

“No, but I’ve done athletics in gymnasium, I’m younger, and… Poja can teach me.” She motioned toward Poja.

“What now?” said Poja.  He raised a brow and looked their way from across the room where he was cleaning his swords. 

“No, and that is final,” said Ferrer.  “This man,” he waved a hand at Poja who nodded, “and this woman,” he indicated Brota “Know their way around weapons and how to fight.  You’ll just be in the way.”

Loreena was about to retort when her mother stepped up.

“It will be dangerous,” said Grafa.  “There is no reason to think they will not try to protect their captives. Those creatures are clearly deadly.”

“I have to go mother, for Telesa.  I’ll be useful and safe, I swear,” said Loreena.  She hadn’t stopped staring down her father even as her mother approached and spoke with her. They stood in the center of the main taproom.  The place was filled with debris, spent bedding, and domesticated animals.  Ducks, goats, chickens and the like.  The animals had calmed down, some even went back outdoors.

“You can’t promise that last part,” said Grafa.

“Alright, fine, I will try to stay safe.  Have a little faith in me.”

“Loreena, it is not you I have no faith in.  It is these monsters and their intentions I worry about.  Even at the edges of the empire we should be safe, but here we are attacked by… things.  What is the world coming to?”

“You’re not really thinking she go?”  Ferra turned on his wife. He was easily a foot taller, but her shoulders were broader, and she stood her ground. His tone was one of incredulity.

“Husband, we will make it known that the Harbrassus family will bring order to the region.  Not just with money, but safety.”  She rose a delicate hand to touch his cheek. This was how she said she had made up her mind.

“Or we lose both our daughters,” said Ferrer bluntly. He knew he was going to lose. He folded his arms defensively.

“Or that,” said Grafa.

“Dad, I’m going with them. I am going to bring them all back. Telesa will probably love telling how she was kidnapped,” said Loreena. She tried her best to insert some humor into the moment and assuage his fears.

“You can’t wear that,” said Grafa.  Her mother turned, leaving her father dumbstruck. “You’ll have to be more practical. Maybe the proprietress has clothes for you.   Something more fitting for the road.”

Loreena nodded. The two walked off to find Adelaide leaving Ferrer standing alone.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————— 

“Do you have everything?” asked Mikhail as he rounded Golar for the third time inspecting him. His father and mother had spent the better part of the morning gathering supplies.  Food and water, a backpack full of outdoor supplies, a makeshift bedroll made from linens from their house.  They did not have traveling gear, but they were nearly self-sufficient here.

“I think so,” Golar said.

“It is going to be dangerous,” said Mikhail. “But the woman ensured us your sister is still alive.”

“You mean Brota.”

“What?”

“Her name is Brota. The woman,” said Golar.

“Whatever. Bring Espra back to us,” said his father.

“Of course. The rest too.” His mother stepped in and fussed with his gear and clothes while she spoke. She forced a reassuring smile, but worry was plain in her hazel eyes.

“Right, the rest. The driver and the elf girl.”  His father was nearly dismissive, but he also bore a grave look on his face. 

“And Brota’s friend Xavier,” said Golar.

His father gave him an annoyed look. “Just make sure your sister returns to us safe and sound,” said Mikaile.

“Do you have everything?” asked Adelaide, repeating his father. They were both clearly nervous. She fussed with her son’s gear one last time. Tightened the straps on the vest, fixed his cloak, tussled his hair.

          “Mom, stop.  I’m fine, everything is going to be fine. You and dad hold the fort down,” said Golar. He smiled and his mother started crying. She was worried for them both, it was likely his father was only worried he would fail to bring back his sister

          “You’re not cut out for this,” said Adelaide blurting it out while holding his shoulders.

          “Well, somebody must bring Espra home. Dad’s knees are bad; he can’t go far.” Golar figured an explanation wouldn’t hurt. He left out how guilty he felt over letting Espra be taken in the first place.

          “I can still walk,” said his father. He was being defensive. Golar smiled at him.  He had to protest.  The man was proud and had not taken kindly to growing older.

          “Right, but Brota is going to be moving fast. Too fast for you,” said Golar.

          Mikhail grumbled something and looked away.

          “Besides, mom needs you here.  What if those things come back tonight?” He offered a sensible peace offering. This seemed to appease his father who gave a sidelong glance at his mother.

          “You aren’t a combatant. Not like those two,” said Adelaide, continuing her protests.

          “That’s true, but nobody knows the area better than me, and I think being able to speak with the people of the woods impressed Brota,” said Golar.

          “Excuse me.” It was the elven mother followed closely by her daughter. The young girl was covered in blood and mud, and her dress was torn and wrinkled.  “Do you have any clothes for my daughter.  Something more practical for travel?”

          “Certainly,” said Adelaide. The three women headed to gather gear for Loreena.

          “Just make sure your sister comes home,” said Mikhail. He gripped his son’s shoulder tightly and gave him a jerk.  It was an act of reassurance.  The older, satyr smiled.  It seemed to hurt him.  He looked his son in the eyes and then hugged him awkwardly.

          Golar nodded and returned the hug.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 

Poja was outside scanning the yard. 

There was a work shed behind the stable house, it had been left unmolested by the creatures, but not by the storm. The bathhouse’s façade was covered in claw marks and the arbor passage between the main building and the bathhouse had all but been destroyed. There was a small pond in the yard behind the bathhouse. If it weren’t for the debris left by the rain, broken cat tails and branches scattered around the pond’s edge, it might have seemed untouched. The sun glistened off the water and a family of ducks swam lazily in the center. Beyond the yard was a forest. Seemingly endless tracks of dense wood, mostly deciduous, surrounded the whole of the Wayfarer’s Repose.  The forest floor was nearly empty, the trees were old and had held dominance over this tract of land long enough to refute the sun and keep other plants from growing.

“We are ready,” said Brota as she came up behind him.  “Anything?”

“Well, something, many somethings moved through there,” said Poja. He pointed beyond the fenceline. There were haphazard tracks that led into the woods.

“There were a lot of them. That is not a subtle trail,” said Brota. “Well, let’s not waste any more time.”

“Golar, what is that way,” said Poja motioning into the forest.

“Well, there’s a brook, and it’s mostly uphill.  I mean, it is still forest, but it climbs.  Oh, and there is a warren of rabbits,” said Golar. 

“Did you both say goodbye to your folks?” asked Brota as she rounded the pond and headed for the treeline. Both Loreena and Golar nodded. Brota refriained from saying it may be the last time either ever saw them.

Poja gave them all withering glances and moved them along.  He took up the back and was the last over the fence and into the woods. Brota, the human woman, was tall and burly.  She was festooned in mercenary gear which made Poja feel like they weren’t going to die immediately.  At least she likely knew how to wield the mace at her side. The other two were useless as combatants.

Loreena was also muscular for an elven girl, that meant she was wirey, not broad and curvy like most dwarven women. Her hair had been tied down and she now wore leathers and the make-up was gone.  She carried a hunting bow.  She had confessed to never having fired at a living target, but she had been trained in archery at gymnasium.  The gear was likely Espra’s, the satyr’s daughter.

As for Golar, the satyr boy, was the tallest and skinniest.  Maybe he would make a good target. Poja smirked at his dark thought. Golar knew the woods, and his sister had been taken.  Maybe he would be useful.  Still, who cared about rabbits at a time like this? 

————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 

Brota led them into the woods.

The canopy overhead drank the sun and cast the whole forest floor into shadow.  There was the occasional shrub where the light broke through, but most of the forest floor was patches of ferns and dead leaves.  The trees were old and gnarled. The ground was uneven and rocky where the trees did not dominate.  It was uphill like Golar had said. More than a few small brooks cut their way through the forest and had done so for so long they left deep depressions which dug deep valley’s into the forest as they flowed downhill.

It would have been peaceful if they weren’t trying to find where those creatures went.

“Is everyone okay?” asked Brota.

The Wayfarer’s Repose had disappeared behind them as they moved deeper.  She had no doubt Poja was fine, but Loreena and Golar were not mercenaries. Loreena was winded, but she moved on without complaint. Determination had set into her brow. She grabbed whatever was close as they trudged forward.  She was an elven debutant, this was likely a lot for her. Still, she kept pace. Golar seemed to have any easier time. The young satyr seemed to be enjoying himself.  He was looking up at the trees with a smile on his face.  His long legs carried him over the terrain with ease. Brota wondered what she was going to do with the both of them if they ran into those things. 

“These creature’s are either close or really far,” said Brota.

“That’s not exactly helpful,” said Poja from the back. He was struggling. He was clearly not used to traveling rugged terrain.

“Well, they don’t like light. So, they’re either less than a day or more than two. I can’t imagine they travelled far to get to the Repose, so that leaves close. Fortunately, they aren’t subtle,” said Brota as she followed the obvious path the creatures had travelled. The undergrowth was trodden on and more than a few trees had broken lower branches.

“I can ask the rabbits,” said Golar.

“Sounds like a good idea. Maybe they saw them,” said Brota. She still thought talking to animals was weird, but she had seen him do it. “You said they can’t talk back, right”

“But they can communicate,” said Golar confidently. 

“Yes, let’s ask the rabbits if they saw our friends and the scary monsters,” said Poja.  The dwarf snorted and gave them crazy eyes.

“It sounds like a fine idea Golar,” said Brota. She nodded trying to reassure him. 

She sighed, turned, a continued to trudge forward. This was likely going to end in disaster.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————- 

Golar smiled and pointed the way off the path of the creatures. “It’s not far. I could ask anyone, but this warren knows these woods well. They’ll sure know more about these creatures.”

“We have a path, why bother with this?” asked Poja. He was clearly annoyed.

“Because more intel isn’t a bad thing,” said Brota now walking side by side with Poja.

Poja conceded and fell quiet.

The woods was largely oaks and maples, ash and ironwood trees spotted with a few older conifers here and there. Squirrels and other creatures nestled in the branches, while unseen song birds sent their lilting melodies to one another. They crossed a brook, the rocks were slick and the water was raging from the storm last night. Still, it was easy to fjord and soon they came upon an ancient oak.

“We’re here,” said Golar. His tone was almost reverent. The oak was as wide as it was tall with massive branches that sagged and touched the forest floor. It dominated the area and nothing else save lichen and mushrooms grew around it.  It’s roots were large. They wrapped around several boulders, and dug into the soil. At the base of the oak, within the roots, were several holes. Small, grey rabbits with bushy tails and large, alert ears darted within upon their approach.

“It’s just me,” said Golar as he approached. He raised a hand to the others who complied and stayed back. “I have a question for One Ear,” said Golar. “Well, several.  May I speak with him?” Several of the rabbits disappeared into the darkness, other watched the newcomers with large, black eyes. They were ready to bolt into the safety of thier warrens at a moment’s notice.

“What do you need friend Golar?” One Ear as he appeared out of the depths. He was an old rabbit with scars across his face and a torn, left ear.  He was lean, wilder than the others.  He had lived a hard life it seemed. 

“Well, fuck me,” said Poja. He understood what old One Ear was saying.

“May we approach? These are friends,” said Golar. He motioned to the others.

“You would not have led them here unless the need were dire. You may come closer, but this is likely about the wild men. The ones with white skin that carry the bones of their eaten,” said One Ear.

“Yes, it is” said Golar.

His companions came up behind him.  Loreena was delighted at the idea of a talking rabbit, Poja was shocked. Brota smirked.

“They broke the ground not far from here.  They tunneled out of the earth by the dozens.  They only come out when the sun is down, and return before it is up again, but they always bring humanoids… never animals,” said One Ear.

“Then, they are eating their captives? If they were selling them, some animals would fetch a decent price,” said Brota. She had seen weird things on her travels and had learned how to adjust. A talking rabbit was just one more strange thing.

“It would seem so,” said One Ear. The old rabbit scratched behind his right ear with his hind paw. There was a strange worldliness to him. The idea of selling animals didn’t seem to disturb him.

“We need to go,” said Brota with newfound urgency.

“Thank you One Ear,” said Golar.

“You are welcome. I can have someone take you to the hole.” said One Ear.

“That would be great, thank you.,” said Golar.  He turned to his compatriots.  It hadn’t dawned on him quite yet that they would eat Espra. Still, he smiled, glad to have helped.

—————————————————————————————————————————————- 

Loreena concentrated on putting one step in front of the other.  Sports were quite different than travelling over rugged terrain while carrying luggage on her back.  She supported herself on trees and rocks as they went and did everything she could to steady her breathing. Still, the forest was amazing. The tree canopy was alight with different shades of green, and dew sat on the edges of the fern leaves from last night’s rain. Golar, the satyr boy, showed them where to step. Even so, she had fallen three times so far. Twice tumbling down hillsides and stopping herself on rocks or trees. The third time she just went flat. She splayed her legs and arms outward and stopped from rolling. Brota had helped her up. Now they were following a rabbit and Loreena found herself hoping she didn’t fall in front of this animal as it deftly darted through the woods.

“Poja,” said Loreena.  She was trying to think of anything but walking through the woods.

“Hmmm?” Poja seemed to be struggling too.

“Do you think they are still alive?” Loreena was scared. She was angry, defiant, ashamed, but mostly she was worried about Telesa.

“Yes, likely. If they are eating them, it is likely they’ll keep them alive until it is time. Fresh meat at all that. If they are selling them. They are likely unharmed.” 

He did not waste words. 

Loreena thought about her sister. How scared she must be. She thought about the creature that pulled her through the window. She pictured both their faces in her mind’s eye. Telesa was scared and shocked. Her light blue eyes were wide, her manicured brows raised, her lips – glossed dark blue – mouthed Help me as she was pulled from the bed.  She fought, her dark blue painted nails broke as they bit into the window frame. And then she was gone.  Into the rain and darkness. Off to what? Be eaten?

Loreena found new strength. Her breathing became stronger, her footfalls heavier.

She thought about the creature. It was humanoid, but more like an ape. It had white, rubbery flesh that was taut and slick from the rain. It had taloned hands, and wore a tattered piece of fur over its groin. It had smiled when it grabbed Telesa. Rows of jagged, translucent teeth.  But it had no eyes. “How can they see us?”  She asked suddenly and to nobody in general.

“They can probably sense motion. Hearing, smell. Maybe even telepathy.” said Poja from behind her.

“So, if we had remained still? Wait, telepathy?”

“Maybe, but they can probably sense our breathing or heart beats.  It is how a lot of creatures get around underground.”  Poja paused.  “Or, they could smell food. Your perfumes stand out.”

“That’s disgusting,” said Loreena. She was not interested in being refered to as food.

“What, they took them for something. The rabbits say food,” said Poja. He didn’t hide his disdain about the idea on relying on rabbits “But, it makes sense. They didn’t touch any of the animals at the Repose. So, the rabbits are probably right. Or they want to sell them as slaves. Or both.”

“Well, they’re not eating my sister,” said Loreena.

“They’ll probably start with the satyr girl.” Poja clearly couldn’t care less about the captives. Why was he even here?

Golar gave him an angry look.

“What?  She’s the tallest.  Most meat,” said Poja.

“We are here,” said Brota before anything else could be added.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————- 

The hole was large, you could easily fit a carriage in it.  It was dug from the ground, probably with the creatures own claws,  Roots of trees and large rocks held it together and stopped it from collapsing.

Poja examined it. He leaned over the edge with little care.  “It’s probably twenty feet down and then bends to the north. I’d say they’ve been at this for nearly a month.””

The ground here was churned beyond the hole.  Many somethings had used this as an exit for quite some time.  Tracks went off in every direction.

“Why hasn’t anyone said anything?” asked Loreena. They had all gotten to the hole’s edge.  They stood in a row and looked in. 

“They probably stayed small, till last night.  Maybe attacking travellers,” said Poja. 

“The emperor’s road wardens…” said Loreena.

“No longer come this way,” said Brota.

“They’re mostly gone from Hemnor too,” said Poja.  “Mercenary companies have taken over defense of the city.”

“My father will fix that,” said Loreena confidently.

“Right. Well, who is the first down?  Daylight is wasting. We have a few more hours. They probably sleep during the day.” said Poja. 

Golar produced rope from his backpack.

“I’ll go first in case there is anything waiting down there,” said Brota. She slung her shield onto her back. 

Poja admired her fearlessness. She would be the first down. First to get attacked. They fastened the rope to a tree.  Golar and Loreena held it tight as Brota descended. Poja watched over the edge. Brota reached the bottom. Poja could make her out.  The sun was still overhead, and the dim light that extended beneath the canopy reached down into the hole.

“Are there any white demons?” asked Poja. His voice echoed into the hole. He didn’t hear fighting, so he was already sure of the answer. 

“No, the tunnel goes off to the north like you said. There is just an awful stench. Like a battlefield, but more contained.”

Poja grimaced. Brota was likely referring to death. The earth didn’t smell foul, corpses did. Corpses and refuse. Poja thought about the slums, the fighting pits, the garbage. All the rancid smells. The forest had a freshness, the carriage had a sweet smell, like flowers. These were new to Poja, this stench would probably be new to Golar and Loreena.”

“I’ll send them down and guard the rear,” said Poja. Loreena, then Golar, descended into the hole. Poja stole a minute to look around the wood.  This was not like home.  Why was he helping?  He had lost Stephan on his watch, Brota couldn’t do this by herself, and Loreena was determined to get herself killed. He sighed and threw himself over the edge and descended into the pit.

——————————————————————————————————————————————— 

“I’ll carry that,” said Loreena.

Brota nodded, handing her the lantern.  The two women walked side by side.  Brota hefted her shield and mace and headed down the tunnel.  The light of the lantern was uneven, and shadows played on the earthen walls, but it was better than darkness. The tunnel exited out into a natural cave. Water ran down the walls and pooled into a large, black body of water some feet down.  The walls here were more stone than dirt, and the creatures had to excavate a bit to dig the tunnel.  The uneven floor was rocky and dotted with large stalactites. Brota had never been in a cave before for anything more than curiosity.  How long had these creatures lived underneath them, why now, and how far did these caves go?

“It opens up ahead. There is about a ten foot drop and then solid ground. There’s a pool of water fed by streams coming down the walls,” said Brota. “There are no creatures, yet.”

“Are there signs of them?” asked Poja from the rear.

“Well, they dug this tunnel up, but no, no bones, or blood, or tools,” said Brota.

“But that smell is stronger,” said Loreena.

“Yes, the smell is stronger,” said Brota.  She had barely noticed, but Loreena was correct.  It was the scent of rotting meat, dried blood.  You got it on battlefields.  Nature eventually covered it up, but until then, it smelled awful, and this was worse. The stronger smell meant they were getting closer. To what? A den of these creatures? Brota skidded down the drop toward the cavern floor at the pool. She took a moment to scan the darkness. Her movements echoed down here, but nothing seemed to respond. She turned and raised her hands to Loreena to help her down.

“I’ll catch you if you trip,” said Brota.

Loreena navigated the drop expertly and rose the latern high. Brota helped Golar. Poja smack her hands away and gave her an irritated look.

          “You’re louder than a herd of stampeding aurochs,” said Poja.

          “It’s the armor,” said Brota apologetically.

          “Let me go up ahead and scout,” said Poja. “Quietly.” 

          “Be my guest,” said Brota.

          She watched Poja slip into the darkness beyond the lantern light. There was no easy way out now, they would have to climb back up.. The tunnel was ten feet above them up an embankment of stone and loose earth. Brota scolded herself for letting Loreena and Golar come. The two had never seen battle until last night. They would just be liabilities. More people to protect.

They were determined though, and they would have never have found the hole so quickly if it weren’t for Golar and his rabbit friends. She couldn’t let them go off on their own. She looked out into the darkness beyond the lantern light. Somewhere down here were Xavier, the carriage driver, and the two girls. There would also be those creatures. How was she supposed to fight them all? There were dozens last night. Hopefully they were all asleep.

                Poja returned.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————- 

Loreena’s fingertips tested the water as it ran down the wall.  It was cold. The air was cold and smelled foul, sweet and sour. She had never smelled anything like it. Her world was perfumes and incense. This place had none of that. Only coldness, darkness, and the stench. Poja had disappeared into the darkness ahead of them. Neither he, nor Brota, seemed as unnerved by the place. They seemed more alert. She had seen Poja last night. He was more comfortable in situations like this. 

“Do you think they are down here?” she asked. She chided herself for asking dumb, obvious questions.

Brota only nodded as she stared into the darkness. She scanned the darkness looking for danger. Loreena envied her in the moment. She was comfortable doing this. Being dirty, under the earth, far from the safety.

Loreena held the latern higher to do her part.  It threw the light a few feet futher. Brota nodded her thanks. Golar was talking to a small white lizard. It had pale eyes, it might have been blind. It flicked its tongue and raced off into the darkness. Golar’s amber eyes followed the small lizard.  He had whispered with it for some minutes before following it into the darkness.

“Golar, where are you going?” asked Brota.

“He was talking to a lizard and is now following it,” said Loreena.

Brota sighed, shook her haid, and followed Golar. Loreena stayed close to her with the lantern. The cave walls grew tighter as they advanced. Soon they were crawling.  Loreena did her best to keep up with the light source. She cut her hand as she slipped on some rocks. Brota stopped to check on her.

“We’ll lose him, I’m fine, let’s go,” said Loreena. She was annoyed with herself.

Brota nodded and continued crawling after Golar.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————- 

Golar followed the lizard deeper into the cave.  It skirted the pond and dove over a few stones. The light from the lantern was fading the further he got.  His eyes began to adjust and the bioluminescence of the lizard, though dim, was enough to follow. Espra was in danger. He knew that it went beyond saving her life. That was enough, she was his sister, but she was far more helpful at home than he was. She did all her chores before the sun reached its zenith; and then had time for his. His mother and father wouldn’t miss him, but they surely would miss Espra more. They were always yelling at him to stop lazying about with the farm animals and do something. He loved sitting by the pond feeding the ducks, or telling the pig’s a story, or talking to the horses that came in with new visitors. It was his saving grace that he was so good with the animals.  His father excused most of his laziness, and his mother praised him for his husbandry.

Talking to the animals was an old skill of his people. Time and civilization had wiped it away.  There were satyrs that used to understand all the animals, not just the one’s that could talk like old One Ear.

Golar spoke to the lizard.

“Take me to where these ape creatures sleep. My sister is there.” Golar did not know if the lizard understood, but it complied. Deeper and deeper into the darkness. Golar stumbled over some rocks. Then he slammed into a stelagmite. His eyes had adjusted, but all he could do was make out shapes and follow the little bioluminescent lizard. The lizard darted out of sight for a second. It had likely snuck underneath something. It reappeared a few feet away and seem to wait for him to catch up. The air was cool and damp, the scent fouler. The rocks were slick in places, and more than once Golar tripped. 

He was prone on the cavern floor when he heard the breathing. It was jagged and uneven.  There were several somethings here in the dark. On the other side of the pond the light of Loreena’s lantern was growing closer, but was still far off. Golar cursed himself. He had followed this lizard into the darkness without a thought to his safety. Worse, was that other’s would be put in harm’s way because of his brash action. Brota and Loreena might rush to his aid. The cavern floors were uneven and anything but moving carefully suggested tripping. 

Maybe Poja would save their friends.  Maybe he already had.  The smaller man seemed comfortable in the darkness.  He had gone of ahead before Golar had. 

One of the creatures advanced on him while he was still on the floor.  He shut his eyes and waited for the end. Something did hit his back, but used it more like a spring board than a target. 

—————————————————————————————————————————————————- 

Poja ran across Golar’s back and used him as leverage to dive into the approaching creature. He had been watching three of them sleeping when he heard Golar approaching. The gangly satyr was following a lizard and could clearly not see in the dark. Poja’s eyes took what little light there was and used it well to pierce the inky blackness. He watched Golar wake the creature’s with his approach.

He decided to use the satyr as bait.

Not one, but three of the creatures, larger and decorated with furs, bones, and feathers awoke. They sensed Golar’s presence and moved toward him.  They moved like predators and each carried a chipped bone it wielded like a sword.

Poja surprised the lead when he emerged from the darkness and barreled into him. Poja’s blades, fine steel, broke through its crude armor and bit deep into its flesh. It reeled back in shock and pain. The dwarf did not give up his ground. He swung his blades like a dervish sending the second to the ground with a cut across its thoat.

Somewhere behind him Golar was standing up. The third creature recovered and advanced. It bore down on Poja with its bone blade. That was when a large stone smashed into its face. Poja nodded his thanks to Golar who had thrown the stone. Loreena and Brota had broken into a run at the sound of combat. The light of the lantern had just reached them.

Poja advanced and the creature fell back trying to draw him into the darkness. It had no idea he could see. Poja cut it down quickly, his blades now covered in slick, dark, blood.

“Are you okay?” asked Poja.

“Just some bruises and a cut,” said Golar.

The satyr had a nasty gash above his left eye. He had likely sustained it when he fell.

“You were following a lizard in the dark,” said Poja. He was stating what he thought was obvious. His tone was one of annoyance.

“Well, the lizard glows a little. I could see it. There, there it is.”

“Right, but nothing else,” said Poja. He flipped over the body of one of the creatures while he talked.  It was hard to see details, but the others would be upon them soon with the lantern.

“If you mean the rocks, no, I couldn’t see them,” said Golar.

“Or these,” said Poja. He was still examining the creature.

Brota and Loreena soon came closer.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 

Brota had her shield and mace aloft. “Seems like I missed the action,” she said.  There was a hint of disappointment in her voice.

“I would have killed them all while they slept, but somebody woke them.” Poja gave Golar an acerbic glance.

“Are you okay Golar?” asked Brota. He nodded and the four of them examined the body. 

It was ashen white. Furs and bits of torn cloth adorned its form.  It wore bones, perhaps for armor, perhaps for decoration.  They were clearly humanoid, and some were notched, others were painted. “The fabrics are probably from clothes they, umm, took,” said Brota.  “They likely wear it as trophies. See. The handle of this weapon is wrapped. There is no way these creatures know how to weave.”

Golar and Loreena were already inspecting the two creatures for identifiable fabrics.

“Let’s stick together from now on,” said Brota. “Less chance of being hurt.”  She smiled at Golar.  Poja seemed annoyed.

“Golar, you were following a lizard?”

“It knows where the creature’s keep their captives,” said Golar.

“Does it? Or are you just following the lizard because it glowed?” asked Poja.

“Doesn’t matter. Golar, ask the lizard to take us to where people not like these cave creatures are held,” said Loreena. Brota followed at Golar’s side. Her shield held aloft, her mace ready.

      Golar was singularly focused on following the lizard. He nearly tripped several more times even with the light of the lantern to help them see.

          Brota smiled when she heard Poja sigh in irritation. The man could fight, there was no question, but he had little patience for anything that wasn’t about him. He tried to sneak off twice more, insisting he didn’t need a lizard to guide him. Brota stopped him and insisted they were stronger together.

They were crawling again. This time at a slant downward.  Brota made Golar get behind her as they made their way through the narrow cavern. Tight spaces were not her favorite. She could not protect herself as easily and the uneven tunnel squeezed against her unyielding armor. Though the air was foul, it gave her a sense of freedom that prevented her body from revolting. The tunnel opened up to a large cavern. Much better. More water, it seemed like an underground river of some sort fed the enormous black pool of water that had gathered amongst the rocks and dominated the cavern floor. There were stones jutting from the water to stand on if you jumped. 

          “Well, this looks fun,” said Brota as she stood her full height, stretched, and examined the lake.

          “There were at last six more tunnels like this one, you sure your lizard picked the right one?” asked Poja as he clambered through the hole.  He didn’t seem to have problems with tight spaces, but he eyed the lake warily.

          “The lizard came down this one.  It is already halfway across the lake,” said Golar.

          “We should start then.  I’ll go first, Golar can you swim?” asked Brota.

          “I can. Good too,” said Golar.

          “Good, if I fall in you’ll have to help me. This armor gets heavier when wet. Loreena, you help Poja.”

          “I can jump a few stones, easy,” said Poja.  His tone was defensive.

          Brota had already begun.  The stones were slippery and uneven, but she maintained her balance. “No doubt, but can you swim?”

          “No,” said Poja.  His defensiveness turned sullen.

          “I can,” said Loreena.  She clearly saw an opportunity to be useful.

          Brota nodded, she was concentrating on not losing her balance.  They fell into silence as one by one they leapt from rock to rock making their way across the lake. 

          The lizard swam, but the creatures clearly used the stones.  They were set into the lake at even intervals, and adjusted to be as flat as possible. Brota took a minute and examined the stone she was standing on. Iy was worn by foot traffic. The top was smoother, and had more than a few indentations.  The creatures came through here often. Hopefully they were still asleep. It was probably still daylight outside.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————- 

Loreena balanced on the rocks quite easily. She was happy to steady Poja, at least she was good for something. Poja and Brota could fight.  Golar was talking to animals and helping them make their way through the cavern system. She had been little more than the lantern holder up until this moment. The water was black and cold. There were small, transluscent shrimp-like creatures that swam in schools moving like clouds within it. It was somewhat disorienting. It was like walking on a night sky full of stars. Poja slipped and a foot splashed into the water. Loreena reached out and steadied him.  The stones were slick and uneven. Poja would have less trouble navigating them if he weren’t so focused on the water. 

“We’re almost there,” she said. 

“Just keep going.  They are getting ahead.” Poja was concentration on his balance, but that didn’t stop his irritation.

“They wont go far. Brota won’t let Golar wander off again and I have the light.” Loreena hefted the lantern for emphasis.

Poja just nodded and focused on the trip across.

“You know how to fight,” said Loreena.  She was trying to take a little of his attention away from the water.  He was too focused on falling in. He was going to make it a reality. 

“Yep,” said Poja. He was still focused.

“Where did you learn?” 

“The fighting pits in Hemnor.”

“We’re you sponsored?” Fighting pits were illegal, but the rich sponsored fighter’s they would have trained and bet on. They were even popular in the capital. Her father had shut a few down. 

“No, I was not a kept man,” said Poja. He looked at her with baleful brown eyes.

He was poor then. Father said the poor joined the fighting pits usually to provide for their families, or themselves. It hardly mattered to her. It was taking some of his attention away from slipping. 

          “Did you fight for yourself then?”

          “No, my brother is sick. My mother injured herself  She can’t get work. Used to be a laundress. The money covers his medication and helps support the house.””

          Loreena nodded. “And father?”

          “Father died. He was killed in a riot, over food.”

“We are nearing the end,” said Loreena changing the topic. “Golar and Brota are waiting, take your time, they need you still.” Loreena smiled. She wondered how much her father had paid him to travel with them, carry their luggage, and be their guides in the city. She wondered if it would be enough. The questions would have to wait. 

Poja leapt onto solid ground and drew his blades.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————— 

Poja threw himself at the creatures as they approached. Behind him Brota had raised her shield and mace defensively, and Golar and Loreena had gotten behind her. The creatures used the dark to their advantage, but Poja was accustomed to working in shadows. He moved among them with speed and grace. They were back on stable land and the creatures clearly did not expect someone so adept at hunting in their terrain. 

He took two down before they could even react.

Brota advanced slowly, Loreena holding the lantern aloft casting the light further and further. 

Poja could see the creatures outside of the light’s radius. His eyes had adjusted and pierced the darkness. The light of the lantern kept them at bay, these creatures stuck to the darkness. Poja provided them with a target outside of the range of the light. He caught a bone club to the shoulder that sent him to his knees. The pain radiated threw his body. 

The creature grinned and advanced. 

Poja cut at the creature’s legs and it howled in pain.  It fell to its knees in front of Poja.  He slashed his blades again and it’s head came free of it’s neck.

Three more advanced. The lead raised it’s bone club with two hands high above Poja’s head. This was it.  Brained by some creature in a cave with a bone club.  Was this how his ancestor’s felt?  They hadn’t lived under the earth for centuries, but ancient tales of mighty dwarven kingdoms and great heroes always fascinated Poja as a kid. Here he was dying in a cave. Would the ancestors be proud?

The bone club never came.

A shield had intercepted it.  Brota’s shield.

Poja rolled and got to his feet. 

Brota was in the thick of it now.  She took on the three creature’s as Loreena held the lantern aloft so she could see. They were brave. Especially Loreena. The girl had no combat training, she could only hold the lantern, but she showed no fear.  She stood behind Brota confidently while the two waded into the creatures.

His head still swimming from the pain in his shoulder, he leapt back into the fray.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————- 

Brota threw out her shield arm to block the blow coming for Poja’s head. The bone club reverberated off her shield as it struck. The creature recoiled. She followed through with a swing from her mace. It landed against the side of the creature’s face wiping away its grin and sending it reeling backward. She met the second with a shove of her shield, and then several quick swings that landed on the creature’s left arm and chest. It went down quickly.

They were hideous last night.  Mottled white skin, translucent teeth all sharp for rending and tearing, and taloned hands used for digging, but could have easily rent a man in two. That was last night, now they were just enemies to be slain.  They were meat, bone, and blood and they broke when Brota hit them just like any livng thing.  She just had to keep swinging for her companions, for the captives, for her failure.

She was not worried about Poja.  He could clearly take care of himself. 

It was Loreena and Golar that dominated her thoughts even while she fought. The young elven girl was capable, but she had never seen battle before. She had abandoned the trappings of high society: the make up, dresses, and jewelry. She wore her traveling clothes awkwardly and she got winded easily; still, Brota could not fault her for her determination to save her sister.

Golar was used to simple living, but he too had never seen physical conflict of any sort till last night.  Still, he had been an excellent guide, was comfortable in the wilderness, and could speak with beasts. What must that be like? They clearly did as he said. They clearly understood him. The lizard for example.

All this ran through her mind as she swung her mace and advanced.  These things could not fight.  At least, they weren’t trained. They swung their clubs with reckless abandon and left themselves open for counter attacks. The last of the five creatures fled into the darkness as it watched its allies gott mowed down in front of it. It dropped its club and grunted as it went.

“Well, they’re not hard to kill,” said Brota.

“Not when they’re not ambushing people,” said Poja.

“I know they took our friends, our families, but…” Loreena choked up as she knelt down to examine one.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————— 

Loreena placed the lantern on the uneven cavern floor beside the body.  The light cast shadows about the cavern. 

“What are we doing now?” said Poja.  He was clearly annoyed.

“These creatures, they have families too,” said Loreena.  She reached over to the creature and pulled a small doll made of dried grass, sticks, and torn fabric.

“So what?” asked Poja.

“They’re dead now.  They will never go home again.” Loreena stared at the doll. It was crude, but it was something other than violence. It was love, compassion, sympathy.

“Loreena, they have our friends, your sister. They attacked us,” said Brota.  She rested a hand on Loreena’s shoulder.

“I have never seen a dead thing before,” said Loreena. It was entirely true. In school she saw animal cadavers dissected, but that was world’s different than this.

“What, the cooks forced you out of the kitchens?” Poja’s words dripped with sarcasm.

“Poja!” said Brota.

“I’ve killed livestock before,” said Golar interjecting.

Loreena suspected Golar was trying to be helpful. She gazed up at him and forced a smile.

“Did you tell them to put their heads on the chopping block?”  Poja was clearly irritated, he turned to face Golar.

“No, but I did apologize,” said Golar.

Loreena smile widened.  Golar was so simple.  This thing was clearly hostile, but they were in its home now. She rested a hand on its chest.  She had taken her glove off. It was cooling to the touch. The skin was rough, she thought it would feel slimey. 

“I am sorry,” said Loreena. She tried apologizing.

“Are we going to do this all the time?  The others could be getting killed right now,” said Poja. He had come around to the other side of the creature. His eyes glistened, and he melded into the darkness as he walked backward. He disappeared.

“Don’t listen to him,” said Brota wheeling to face Loreena,

“No, he’s right,” said Loreena. She stood. “We should keep going.  I’ve just never seen bodies before, and this dolly, this creature, this man, clearly has a child. Maybe several. Maybe a wife too, or, a mate or something,” said Loreena as she replaced her glove and picked up the lantern.

The three continued on in silence.

The cavern had three tunnels that split off from it.  Two had low ceilings with jagged stalactites that hung like meanacing teeth.  The third was wider, and the foul smell wafted from that direction. 

The three followed the lizard.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————— 

Golar pointed out which tunnel the lizard chose, then raced off to follow it ignoring Brota’s protests. 

He was eager to get out of these tunnels and away from the violence. To free Espra, and the others, and get back home. Still, there were new things to see with every turn.  He had never been this far into the woods. He had never even been in a cave before, and certainly not one filled with monsters and the stench of death.  It both repulsed and excited him.  He had never seen a lizard like this before. The newness enticed him.

He knew every inch of home. He had travelled some of the forest just beyond but, his family had always needed him. Father was getting older. He would have to take up more chores. Espra couldn’t do everything. Espra, his sister, she was a workhorse and took the Wayfarer’s Repose very seriously. If she wasn’t slogging out food and drink to patrons, she was laundering the linens, fixing the rooms, and any number of things. She had taken on more and more responsibility the older they got.

Golar was happy spending his days by the pond, or with the pigs, or wandering the woods. Wandering. Even though this was dangerous, even though his sister was in trouble, Golar could not lie to himself. He was having fun.

The lizard led them around some naturally formed stone columns.  There, behind the columns were their loved ones, friends, and acquaintances. He knelt by Espra.  Her eyes were narrowed, her fur muddy, but she softened when she saw her brother.  She was bound and gagged.

“We’ve come to get you out,” he said to his sister.. “Thank you, friend,” he said addressing the little lizard who craned its neck proudly and then disappeared. Golar removed his sister’s bindings and then moved on to the driver. 

“His name is Stephan. He struggled, and they beat him bad. There is a big one and a witch woman. They took the elf girl away.” Espra didn’t spend any time being hurt, she scrambled over to Golar and helped him.

“My sister,” said Loreena. ”Where?”

“I’m not sure, but they dragged her back the way we came,” said Espra.

“I bet it’s the big tunnel,” said Brota.  She was standing at the tunnel entrance, her weapons drawn 

Espra and Golar untied Stephan and Xavier.

“Can you get out and lead these people home?” asked Golar. He rested a hand on Espra who nodded. Xavier was coming to and together he and Espra carried Stephan by the arms. “I have to free her sister,” said Golar. “Loreena has your bow. It’s no good down here.” He didn’t know what he was going to do against a witch and more of these creatures, but he knew he had to still help.  Maybe he actually didn’t want to go home, back to chores and monotony. It didn’t matter right now. Espra seemed to understand. She nodded. 

Loreena passed over the bow and quiver of hunting arrows. She grabbed a stone from the ground and hefted in her free hand. “Let’s go save my sister.” Her voice became harder, her eyes narrowed.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 

“Where is Poja?” asked Loreena.  She was whispering as they enterned the bigger cave. The wounded had started making their way out. They would be some distance back before night fell. Loreena hoped they were preparing the Wayfarer’s Repose for another attack. Hopefully the dwarves had stayed. They could help defend the place. Loreena accepted she and her friends would likely not be back before the sun went down.

The cavern twisted to the right and descended. There was actual adornment here. Ripped cloth, bones, and sticks made crude symbols decorated the walls as they descended.  The cavern smelled even fouler the deeper they went. Loreena did not think the smell could get worse, but here they were.

“We haven’t seen him in a while,” said Brota. She seemed unpeturbed. Loreena admired her.  She carried her shield and mace with confidence as she led them forward.

Loreena watched her footing as they descended. The cavern was treacherous to unsure feet, and she had never walked on anything more uneven than grass.  She felt out of place. Her feet hurt, her body ached. Brota and Poja were combatants, Golar had led them here with the help of animals. She carried the light. Now she squeezed a large rock. It bit through the tough leather glove slightly. Enough to feel it. 

What was she going to do with it?

She turned her attention to the totems and fetishes hanging from the walls.  Small stick men, cavern paintings of animals, bones set on ledges.  There was not light here save the lantern she carried.  Still, these creatures seemed to create all this without light here beneath the earth. Loreena secretly desired to know how. She knew they had attacked the coachhouse, she knew they had taken her sister along with the others, she knew she would do anything to get her back. To get her out of this place. Still, there was a beauty to this artwork. She glanced at the doll on her belt. She placed it on a ledge. It belonged here.

A cold breeze hit her.

Brota had stopped. Before her was a massive creature covered in torn cloth, bone armor, and wielding a metal sword. Rusted and old, but not of bone, parts of it still glistened in the lamplight. The warrior’s chest heaved and it hefted the sword; behind it were two smaller creatures similar to the ones they had run into already.

There was an alter upon which lay Telesa, bound and squirming. 

Another creature, this one draped in bones and leathers, adorned with symbols, stood above Telesa baring a knife. It was saying something in a guttural langage, but stopped when they entered. All about the room were bones, and chains, and meat. Rotted meat that had been discarded filled the corners of the room, blood painted the walls.  There were droning insects and this room was the source of the stentch. 

“He’s big,” said Brota.

The warrior advanced.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————- 

Brota lifted her shield and was sent to her knees by the force of the warriors swing. There was no way she could face this creature, his two cohorts, and the witch alone. Golar and Loreena would help but they weren’t warriors. Where the hell was Poja? He had gone missing since before they freed the captives. Brota focused on the elf girl. Loreena’s sister was squirming on the slab. She had avoided the witch’s knife for now, but they would probably all die here. At least some of their friends and loved ones got out, but what if they attacked the Repose again?

Brota steeled herself and lunged forward.

Yes, they were probably going to die, but she wasn’t going down without taking some of them with her. The large creature recoiled at her advance. He was clearly accustomed to cowing his foes. He raised his massive sword again to relieve Brota of her head.

She darted to the side and the sword glanced off her shield.  It still hurt, her arm shook, but it was far better than losing her head. She brought her mace up to meet the chin of one of the small creatures. It’s head snapped sideways and it fell to the cavern floor with a twitch. The massive creature swung several times, but Brota did what she could to dodge them.

The second lackey advanced on Brota from behind. It was Loreena that stopped it.

Brota watched as the girl screamed and leapt on the creature. She brought the stone in her hand down several time’s on the creature’s head. She was possessed. She drove the creature to the ground, straddled it, and kept wailing on it with her stone.  

The large creature roared in anger and charged Loreena. Brota got between them as the sword came down. This creature was not like the others. It knew how to fight. It easily rebuffed her blows with its massive sword.  The blows that did reach their mark did little to it. They had managed to cause a ruckus at least. They had killed two of the creatures, but Brota knew that if that witch really had any magic it could be over in a second.

She chanced a glance over to where the witch stood.  She had clearly tried to draw magic by stabbing Loreena’s sister, but the bone dagger never made it. The witch was contending with a hoard of flies.

Golar was advancing on her and speaking to the swarm. His amber eyes were narrow. There was a maliciousness she did not think he was capable of.  His arms were to his sides, but he advanced toward her more like a predator than the simple boy from the bathhouse. He egged on the swarm with strange sounds. The black cloud swirled around the witch.

“You started without me,” said Poja as he leapt out of the darkness. He was covered in effluvium.  His leather’s were stained dark and his blades were slick with blood. Where had he been? 

He drove his swords into the large warrior’a back.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 

Poja fell backward as the creature roared.  He freed one of his blades, but the other got wedged in the armor. The creature twisted and removed the remaining blade from its back.  It threw it across the room and tuned to Brota to deflect her attacks. Brota could fight, but it was Loreena and Golar that drew his attention.

The young elf girl was straddling a creature and pounding its head in with a large rock. Her hands were bloody and she screamed in wild frustration as she attacked. The creature was holding up one taloned hand to shield from the blows, but soon it dropped and the creature stopped moving. Loreena didn’t notice, she kept on slamming the stone into it’s face.

Golar had commanded a swarm of insects to keep the witch busy. Poja saw the young satyr’s expression as he advanced on the witch. Golar rounded the alter, all the while mumbling encouragement to the insects. The witch was barely visible through the cloud. Her arms flailed trying to ward off the little, buzzing creatures and she tried to step from the mass, but there was little she could do.

The warrior grabbed Brota’s mace as she advanced.  She let it go before he ripped her arm off.  She scrambled across the floor as the warrior landed blow after blow against her shield. Her free hand soon found the bone club of the creature Loreena was killing.

Poja leapt at the creature’s legs from behind. It roared as his blade cut across the back’s of its legs, sending it to its knees. Even at this height it was still taller than him, but not Brota.

She stood, covered in blood and wielding a bone.  She stared at the creature with pitiless, brown eyes. 

Poja admired hrer. From what little he had seen, she was fearless and formidable.

She raised the bone and brought it down on the creature’s head. It tried to raise it’s sword, but Brota knocked it aside and rained blow after blow onto its face. 

Poja turned to Golar.  The satyr’s amber eyes were slits and he had a predatory grin on his face as he advanced on the witch. Still, Poja could see that the bugs were just a distraction. 

He rushed to the other side of the podium to help.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 

Golar had had enough. The witch had tried to kill the young elven girl. Loreena’s sister. Golar thought of Espra tied up down here. She was leading a group of wounded back home now, but less than an hour ago she was going to be placed on this alter and sacrificed to this witch. He saw the discarded flesh and body parts that gathered in corners of the cavern. He thought of piers and fish. He had been to Hemnor before, it was a port city. He would go with his father to pick up provisions. The piers were covered in fish guts and buzzing flies. His mind turned to the insects that had gathered on the discarded flesh. 

          “Help me friends,” he said.  “Drive this woman from here.”

          A massive black cloud of insects gathered and struck out at the witch. The insects surrounded her and forced her away from the alter. Crawling insects, centipedes and beetles, moved from their resting places. They swarmed at her feet. The witch stumbled backward into a crude statue of mud, rock, and sticks held together by dried vines.  It depicted a dragon, and all about its base were stick figures. Offerings. Each one was unique, but they all had the same pose. That of worship.

          Golar advanced on the witch driving his new insect friends forward. She flailed trying to chase the insects away, but they were thousands and relentless. Golar idly wondered how the witch liked being prey.

          Behind him his other friends were taking care of the other creatures. Brota fought valiantly against the massive warrior, while Loreena wailed on another with a stone.

          He continued to advance.  He freed Loreena’s sister, Telesa, from her bindings while the insects continued to harass the witch. Telesa rolled off the alter to get behind Golar.  Her wrists were raw, her face smeared with tears, and her clothes were dirty and torn. He felt powerful. He wasn’t a great warrior like Brota, nor did he have Loreena’s conviction to kill, but he freed Telesa and kept the witch at bay.  He had done something important, and nobody had told him how.

          Poja appeared near the witch.  He had skirted around the other side of the alter.

          Golar didn’t know what to make of the dwarven man.  He was short, his wit was sharp, and he could see in the dark.  Golar didn’t like him, but he had to admit he could fight. He watched Poja put his sword into the witch’s belly. Then he saw the witch fall and disappear under a covering of insects. This feeling was new. He had never thought to try to talk to bugs before. He had never saved someone before. He had never fought before.

He was glad it was mostly dark, it hid his smile.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————-      

Brota grabbed Loeena’s arm.  “You can stop, it’s dead… real dead.”

Loreena stopped bringing the stone down on the creature beneath head.  She was covered in it’s blood.  It’s face was unrecognizable from the dozen blows to it from the stone she held, it had caved in at some point. Loreena stood. When had she straddled a creature and attacked it? She stared down at the mangled body and whispered. “I’m sorry.”

Did it have a name? A history? Certainly it would have a mother and father that would mourn it. Still, it tried to sacrifice Telesa. It should not have tried that. Was it to the idol, this dragon statue? Did it matter?

Brota was behind her and helped her to her feet. It brought her to the present. 

Golar and Poja were on the other side of the alter leaning over the body of the witch. Telesa rose from behind the alter now that the danger had passed.

“You okay?” asked Loreena as she went over to her sister. They examined each other and laughed nervously. Victoriously. They had all survived. Her sister was safe, even if she was bruised and scared. How must she look? Loreena felt the wetness of the blood in her leather gloves. She saw the expressions of the others. Brota was shocked, Golar was in awe, and Poja was impressed. The small dwarf nodded to her in approval as he made his way around her to grab his other sword.

“Are you okay?” asked Loreena again. Her sister was in shock.  Loreena could not tell if it was the harrowing experience or watching her sister crush the head of a monster.  Maybe it was both. Loreena tore off the cape she had brought and threw it around her sister. “Is everyone else okay?” she asked as she tended to her sister.

“I think we are all fine,” said Brota. “Despite wounds.”

          “Fine here,” said Poja.

          “I helped kill a witch,” added Golar.  He was still smiling.  “Well, a few thousand friends helped.”

          Loreena smiled back at him. She felt the blood drying on her face as she did. It was heavier than makeup. It probably smelled, but it was drowned out by the smell of the place. She looked around. The crude dragon statue craned over the alter.  It would have been fascinating, almost beautiful, anywhere else but here.  The alter had skulls and other bones adorning it.  Several grooves had been carved into it.  The ground around the base was thick with black ichor. 

          “We should go.  It’ll be night soon,” Poja remarked.

          Loreena wrapped an arm around her sister and guided them out, lantern help aloft. 

 ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————

          Poja followed from behind. He watched their exit like a hawk.  There was no sign of pursuit.

          “We thought we had lost you,” said Brota as they climed back to the surface.

          “There was a room adjoining that charnel house temple,” said  Poja.  “There was a tunnel, almost a pit.  It was wide.  The air wafting from it was cleaner, but still foul.  There were noises too.  I think there are a lot more.”

          “Make’s sense,” said Brota.  “A lot attacked the coach house.  They live somewhere down here.”

          “Probably down that hole.  It went down several dozen feet.  I doubled back when I heard you start fighting,” said Poja.

          “You all first,” he said.  Golar was first, then Loreena who left the lantern, and helped her sister.

          “Thank you,” said Brota.  She grabbed the lantern and wrapped her free hand around the rope.  “You fight well.”

           “So do you.  Now, get up that rope. I do not want to spend another minute down here. The light is failing topside. These things will probably be awake soon, and they won’t like what we did. We need to get back to the inn,” said Poja.

          Brota nodded and ascended the rope.  Golar and Loreena helped her over the edge.

          Poja took a minute to look into the darkness of the cave.  Here was fresh and dug, but the cavern they had come from was natural. Probably dug from eons of erosion. His ancestor’s likely would have found these things crude. Had ancient dwarves fought these things? Poja had quest5ions, but a noise drew him out of his reverie. It was a mournful wail from deep within the cavern. Likely, the creature’s had found their dead. He grabbed the rope and ascended to the surface quickly.

          They made there way through the forest with Golar in the lead.  The sun was failing fast. Beneath the canopy, the shadow’s were growing longer, the darkness more intense. They were moving on pure adrenaline.

          Poja saw the lights of the coach house up ahead.

Branches whipped him as they charged through the wood. The way back was easier. Golar led them as they hurried for the safety of the coach house. The skirted the pond, the pig pen, the bath house and busted into the back door.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————               

          Golar raised his hands defensively to ward off the incoming blow. “We aren’t those things,” he yelled and grabbed the shovel from his mother’s hand as she swung it halfheartedly. An attack turned into an embrace as his mother dropped the shovel and they hugged. He was filthy. Sweat, blood, and dirt mottled his thin coat of greyish blue fur. Her embrace felt welcome, but something had changed within Golar.

          He nodded to Espra who appeared from the kitchen.

          They made it back. Golar was relieved. He let go of his mother and nodded to his sister. Their eyes locked for a moment. His sister was older, wiser, and he had just helped save her. He had done something other than be a useless lump. He half expected her to comment. She always called him a useless lump. She simply smiled slightly.

          “Mother, father needs you in the kitchen,” said Espra.

          Their mother looked from one child to the other, touching their faces and smiling.  She then disappeared through the kitchen door.

          “You were amazing,” said Espra as she closed in on Golar.

          “They were amazing, but I helped,” said Golar.

          “Helped? Tell that to the witch,” said Poja.  He pushed past them and made his way to the bar.

          Golar smirked.

          “A witch?” asked Espra.  “Yes, I saw her for a moment. She had pointed out Telesa and they took her away. She is dealt with then?”

          “Dead,” said Golar.  “Poja killed her, but I helped. Me and some insects.”

          This didn’t strike Espra weird. She smiled again. She hadn’t had the chance to clean up. She was still dirty with torn clothes.

          “It was amazing Es,” said Golar. “The bugs swarmed her, Poja stabbed her in the gut. All the while Brota and Loreena were taking care of the other creature’s in the room. One was as big as the shed, and it had a sword, but Brota dealt with it.

          “Seems like you almost had fun,” said Espra. She ushered her brother away from the door and closed it behind him.

          “Well, maybe not fun, but we did do what we sent out to do.” Golar scratched the back of his head.

          “Which was to save us,” said Espra. Her hands were on her hips now.

          “Sure, right, save you all,” said Golar.

          Espra gave him a knowing glance and patted him on the cheek.

          “Are you hungry little brother?”

          “Starving.”

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————- 

Loreena held her sister close as their parent’s barraged them with questions. 

They meant well, they cared, but all Telesa wanted to do was curl into a ball. She had confessed as much to Loreena as they made their way back to the Wayfarer’s Repose. Loreena hoped that the creature’s had followed. She privately dared them as they fled. She would kill every last one of them if she had to. She hadn’t forgotten the doll, that made things complicated in their home, but if any dared try to take anyone again she wouldn’t hesitate this time. She loosened her grip on her sister.  It was tight, almost too much so, but she had slipped away once.

Loreena looked at the tap room.  They had boarded all the doors save the back door, and secured the windows. There were new guests. People that likely would be caught outside at night if they had continued on. A squat, fat human with a balding head and a young woman, maybe his daughter. They looked bewildered at their predicament, but they had a calm to them that betrayed their lack of last night’s escapades. Loreena almost envied the young girl. Last night she to was wearing make-up and fine dresses.  It seemed so long ago even though it had been less than twenty four hours.

“It get’s easier you know,” said Brota from behind her.

“What does?” asked Loreena.  She pretended to be caught unawares.

“Killing,” said Brota casually. “The question is, do you do it for the right reason, or the wrong? What we just did, well it was necessary if we wanted to see our friends and loved ones again I wager. Elsewise, they would be food for those things.”

“Which would have been right for them,” said Loreena. “They likely have mouth’s to feed”

“Maybe, but why pick humanoids like themselves. We fight back,” said Brota.

“So does a wolf,” said Golar. He chimed in as his sister excused herself to help their parents.

“But why not bunnies, or pigs, or horses?” 

“Maybe something is driving them to capture people over animals,” said Loreena.

“Maybe,” said Brota.

The other voices in the room seemed to drone on with inane questions.  Her parents were still firing off questions.  Golar’s parents had exited the kitchen with a large bowl of stew.  The dwarves had left sometime during the day; but had left instructions to find them in a small town called Eldorn. Loreena had looked at some maps of the region. Eldorn was on the way to Hemnor.

Xavier, Brota’s friend sat with his head in his hands in the adjoining room.  There was a small box between his elbows.  Brota excused herself and made her way over.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 

          “Thank you,” said Xavier from between his hands.

          “Of course, but for what?” asked Brota.  She flipped the chair backwards and sat on it.  She leaned he arms against the back.

          “For coming for me,” said Xavier. He rose his head from his hands.  His left eye was milky white, his right was green like emerald.  He had a five o’clock shadow beneath all the grime on his face.

          “Did you think I wasn’t going to?” Brota raised a brow.  She regarded Xavier.  He had been her road companion.  He had received the package, and the task to deliver it. Brota didn’t know him well. He clearly doubted he would be saved.

          “I still have it.” He motioned to the box on the table. “Were there dwarves here?  We were supposed to give it to them.”

          “I was a little busy. We all were. What with being attacked and then the rescue. Yeah, there were dwarves here. Three, not counting Poja of course,” she said. She nodded to the young dwarf at the bar who was nursing a bowl of stew.

          “They went ahead to the next town, Eldorn I think it is,” said Brota.  “I asked where they were when we first got back.”

          “Then that is our next stop,” said Xavier.  He stood.

          “Woah, slow down.  We’re not going anywhere till morning.  Those things come out at night, and we don’t know if they’ll attack again,” said Brota. She rested a gloved hand on Xavier’s arm. “Sit back down, get something to eat and some rest,” said Brota. “We’ll head out in the morning.”

          Xavier complied and sat back down.  There was a cold bowl of stew and a flagon of wine in front of him.

          “I’ll get Golar’s parents to get you a warm bowl.” She slid the bowl over to her. “I’ll eat this one.” She wanted to scarf it down, but she tasted it slowly.  It was cold, but good.  The spices were strong, the meat well cooked, and the broth was thick. 

          “You are on first person names with them?” Xavier raised a bushy brow.

          “Well, they did help me save you. That is Golar. He doesn’t look like much, but he can talk with animals.  Are you using that?” Brota motioned to the clotch napkin nearby. Xavier gave it to her. “That’s Loreena there. She was dressed like royalty yesterday. Make up, jewels, dresses. Now look at her.” Said Brota.  She sounded proud. “And that is Poja. He doesn’t talk much.” She took another taste of the soup.  “Disappears a lot.  Loves the dark.  I wouldn’t be on the receiving end of those blades of his.  He’s really efficient with them.” 

She gripped the bowl in both hands and sipped at the remaining broth.

          “They seem competent,” said Xavier.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 

          Poja leaned heavily against the bar.  He cradled the bowl of stew. It was warm and tasted delicious.  Potatoes, carrots, beef, and spices he had no names for gave the stew a rich, earthy flavor.  It wiped away the taste of blood, and reminded him of home. His mother’s cooking. Brota had retired to the other room to be with her friend.  She fought well.  She had a strong arm and a stronger spirit. She faced down that creature and he was easily twice her size. Not once did she flinch.

          Loreena was walking her sister to a seat still being barraged by their father. The man had been worried. He hovered over them, and followed closely behind as they moved. Her mother, far more reserved, had grown quiet. She still followed, but did so at a more reasonable distance. She saw the value of giving them space.

Loreena had both lost and found something else in that cave.  She had straddled that creature and almost howled her rage as she beat it’s head in with a large rock. She was not a small girl.  She was tall, dark skinned, with curls of black hair.  All of it was stained with blood now.  Not her own.  She had made an unrecognizable mess of the creature she had attacked. Poja wondered idly if she would recognized herself now.

          Golar was the surprise though. The tall, lanky satyr had advanced on the witch with an almost predatory glare. His smile had changed too. It had become wicked. He prowled up on the witch, commanding a swarm of insects to attack. He almost looked like he was having fun. Poja looked toward Golar. He was talking with his father explaining with wild expressions of his hands.  They hadn’t strayed far from the back door.  They were boarding it up as Golar talked. Golar had his old, goofy demeanor back as he nodded to his dad. Poja watched him from his perch at the bar. 

          The sun had all but disappeared outside. The ducks and goats rested in a pile in the corner of the main room. Espra and her mother were setting out bedding and moving aside the tables. 

          There was no rain, and they were as quiet as could be. They all listened for signs of the creatures, and for the first few hours not one of them slept.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 

          “The big creature was the scariest, Brota fought it,” said Golar. He was helping his father carry wood to the large hearth in the main room. They would all be sleeping there tonight even though he and his family had an adjoining house. There would be safety in numbers. 

          His father nodded absently.  He dropped the wood into a pile and stayed bent, reaching for an ache in his back.

          “Then there was the witch. She was trying to kill Loreena’s sister. She had a bone knife and everything. That’s where I helped.” Golar spoke excitedly as he explained the trip to his father. His father nodded and pointed to the side of the hearth.  Golar deposited the remaining logs there.  His father knelt by the hearth and stoked the embers. “It was exhilarating!  Everyone was fighting for their lives. Espra was leading the other’s home, at least I hoped she was. They were tired I bet. They had been through such an ordeal.” Golar couldn’y quite understand why his father wasn’t finding it as exciting as he was.  Maybe he was explaining it wrong.  Maybe you had to be there.

          The whole thing, from the forest to the fight had been filled with new experiences. He had seen death before, even of the level of the moster’s temple.  Sure, it had never been parts of people, but he had killed his share of the farm animals and there were the markets of Hemnor. It seemed that’s how they saw other creatures like themselves but different, like livestock.  They were going to kill his sister and probably eat her. They were probably going to eat all of the people they took. Golar couldn’t fault them. They were probably hungry, and Loreena had said they probably had kids, and Poja said he found a hole leading further into the earth. 

Golar had lived his youth near the woods. He had never seen the creatures, and One Ear said the hole was freshly dug.  How far did the it go?  How many of those things were down there?

“Son?  You’re mother got you some fresh clothes from the house when the sun was up.  Why don’t you change? You stink like death.”

Golar nodded. He found fresh clothes neatly folded on one of the beds.  He ducked into the kitchen to change. Would they attack again tonight?  It hardly seemed worthwhile to change if they did. He had to be ready.

He tucked his dirty clothes under the bed he had been assigned and laid down. He would be ready. He would stay up all night if he had to.

Within five minutes he was asleep.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 

Loreena guided her sister over to one of the beds.  A small grouping surrounded by their luggage, like a carriage train. They sat down together. Loreena still held her sister’s hand.

“Creatures like this are unheard of in the Empire,” said her father.  He has clearly outraged by the whole ordeal. He was throwing his hands around.

“The Empire is not what it was dear since the Emperor’s death, and we are at the edge,” said their mother. “Still, where are the road wardens? You’ll fix all this.”

“Perhaps Ambrachar did not have them? Well, that is going to change as soon as I get to the city,” said her father.  “Fully funded road wardens keeping the roads safe so this does not have to happen again.”

“That’s good dear,” said their mother. She was a severe woman with austere clothing.  She ran a tight household, and that included her husband. She let him free when it came to money, but everything else she decided upon.

“We’re fine, thanks,” said Loreena. Her parents cared, but it often came out sideways. Telesa had only whimpered since their return.  Loreena tried to force her to eat, but found her eat both bowls of stew.  She was starving.

“The satyr matron says this is the first time anything like this has happened,” said Grafa.  “The roads are steadily crawling with ne’re do wells, and now the forest is letting loose monsters.”

“Her name is Adelaide,” said Loreena.

“What dear?”

“Golar’s mother, her name is Adelaide,” said Loreena. 

“Right, well she said that there have been growing rumors of disappearances, but they were always those traveling alone or in small numbers.”

“This wouldn’t happen close to Sessiania,” said her father. He wanted to solve this issue the only way he knew how, with money.  “We’ll have road warden’s patrolling, and we’ll have the roads paved! I’ll have teams working on it as soon as we get to the city.”

“I’m sure dear,” said Grafa.  She placed a delicate hand on Ferrer’s arm.

Loreena smiled. Her mother was adorned with fine jewelry, nail polish, and make-up.  Not too much, she was not gaudy, but enough to relay her station, that being above whoever had the audacity to question her. Her father was dressed in a fine suit.  Black, with a gold brocade vest. He had rings on his fingers. Nothing too ostentatious. Mother would not have allowed it.  A fine chain of gold attached to a pocket watch that hung in a vest pocket.  She was told it had been his grandfathers.

“You’re both filfthy, clean up,” said Grafa. “You’re things are here.”

Telesa was already asleep.  She had fallen asleep on Loreena’s shoulder. 

Loreena laid her head down gently on the pillows and laid down next to her.

She cared little for cleanliness and finery at the moment.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————-                               

         A new day dawned. 

Brota threw her shield over her shoulder. “You ready,” she said. Xavier nodded and groaned as he sat up.

         The sun had risen and the creature’s had left them alone during the night.  Golar and his father were pulling the boards from the front door.  Espra and her mother were putting out plates of steamed vegetables, eggs, and biscuits.  The smell was enticing. 

         “Let’s grab breakfast. We’re going to head out with the elven family,” said Brota.  “Safety in numbers.”

         “Smart,” said Xavier. He stretched and got up from his bed with a grunt.

         The elves, the Harbrassus family, were not even stirring. Loreena stayed up as late as she could. She watched over them like a hawk. Brota reasoned with her sometime in the middle of the night. She had curled up with her sister and slept. They were likely not used to rising early.

          Brota sat down next to Poja at the bar. The dwarf had fallen asleep there. It was fitful, and short, but he rebuffed Brota when she suggested he get some real sleep in a real bed. He awoke with a start as she appraoched and almost toppled from his stool. “We’re coming with you. At least as far as this town Eldorn. We have business there.  Maybe we’ll meet you after that in the city.”

          “If you fancy the slums. That’s where I live. Just doing this for the coin.”

          “The slums are probably safer,” said Brota.

          “Well, I wasn’t expecting to be waylaid by those things. Bridands maybe, revolutionaries taking advantage of an elven caravan? Not… monsters”

          “I bet. None of us were. The world seems to be getting more dangerous. This isn’t the only rumor of monsters in the woods recently,” said Brota.  She picked at the vegetables Poja left discarded on his plate.

          “The world has always been dangerous,” said Poja.  “But I understand what you mean.”

          “The Harbrassus' family are waking up.  How about you and I load up there luggage while they eat. Where is Stephan anyway?”

          “He snuck out before even Golar’s family started breakfast. Said he was checking on the horses. Golar went with him, Stephan really took a beating, he is in no shape to do anything alone.”

          “So he’s in the stables then,” said Brota.  She nodded and swung herself from the stool. She made her way across the room to the elven family.  She walked over to Loreena. “How is you sister?”

          “Traumatized, she was shaking all night,” said Loreena. “What smells delicious?”

          “Adelaide and Mikhail cooked up breakfast. You and your family get something to eat, Poja and I will get your luggage. We, Xavier and I, are coming with you. At least as far as the next town.”

          “We’ll be happy to have you,” said Loreena. “That smells good.”

          Loreena led her parents over to heaping plates of food. She made a plate for Telesa and brought it to her.

          Poja and Golar appeared behind Brota.

          “He wants to help,” said Poja.

          Golar smiled and grabbed the largest trunk in his wide grip. Brota smiled, she wasn’t going to refuse the help. There were a lot of suitcases for just one night.  Ferrer and Grafa had little, but the girl’s luggage was numerous.

          “Who needs all this?” asked Poja.

          “Loreena and Telesa obviously. Their clothes, make up, jewelry. This one seems full of dolls, I wonder which of the two owns them?” Brota guess it was Loreena’s.

          “Junk,” said Poja. He lifted a suitcase. “A lot of good it did them yesterday.”

          “Be nice, they aren’t made for what happened yesterday,” said Brota. She was more defensive than she meant to be.

          “Do you think I can come with you?” asked Golar once they got outside.

          The wagon had been hitched and pulled to the front already.  Stephen was talking to one of the horses while brushing its mane.

          “I don’t know Golar,” said Brota. “Won’t your parents miss you?  Won’t Espra?”

          “My sister spoke to my parents already. My mom protested, but my father said it might be good for me. Might make me manly.” 

          “That gift of yours could keep us safe,” said Brota. She hefted the luggage onto the back of the carriage. Crates, furniture, and bric-a-brac were still tied up. Their life from Sassania. 

          “I’d say we would have our hands full keeping the elven family safe, that we couldn’t protect you too, but I saw what you did in that cave,” said Poja. 

          Brota was surprised that Poja advocated for Golar.  He had been quite adamant about his uselessness.  Something must have changed between the two men under the earth.

          “It would be better than going alone,” said Golar. He had relieved himself of the luggage he was carrying.

          “That it would,” said Brota. He was going to travel with, or without, them. Golar was innocently blackmailing them. He would be safer with.

          “Alright Golar, get ready.  We leave when the Harbrassus family is ready,” said Brota.