Avalyne Series 01: The Queen of Carleon (11 page)

Blood was flowing freely down her shoulder and she knew its scent could bring others. Grunting in pain, she was conscious of how much time she was wasting trying to fight this creature when she realised that her lungs were burning from the smoke of the fire she had started. So preoccupied with the spider, she had not noticed the fire that had spread across the roof and down some walls.  The rising heat prickled her skin and caused sweat to run down her forehead.  With the flames growing taller around her, she came up with a plan.

Instead of running, she stood her ground defiantly, challenging the beast to do its worst. For an instant the spider paused, recognising the intent of its would be meal to fight. However, pain and hunger overrode its caution and it scampered forward, preparing to devour her. Its fangs snapped in readiness for fresh blood, tired of morsels since the supply of people in Caras Anara was exhausted. 

Celene saw it approaching and braced herself, ignoring the fear in her heart and reminding herself resolutely that this would only succeed if she held her ground. The creature closed the gap between them swiftly and as Celene saw herself in the reflection of its uninjured eye, her nerve almost gave out. There was an instant of terror when the spider’s jaw opened and Celene could almost smell its fetid breath upon her skin as it rushed her too quickly to stop.

She leapt out of the way at the last minute and the spider could do nothing but utter a terrified screech of desperation as it ran straight into the fire raging behind her. The flames quickly overcame it and Celene grimaced at the sight of it writhing in agony as it was burned alive. Its legs kicking wildly as it tumbled unto its back, continuing to struggle until she could no longer stand to look at it.

When she heard the creak of a wooden banister burning away over her head, Celene knew it was time to leave. Grabbing a piece of timber, she used it
as a torch and ran out of the boathouse now blazing before it collapsed in on itself and her.

*******

After Celene left them, Arianne and Keira went in search of an appropriate vessel to take them into Eden Halas. They had decided upon a long canoe that was resting near one of the ramps and would take the three of them easily.  After she and Keira had carried it to the shore,  they returned to the spot where Celene left their belongings and began loading the craft now awaiting patiently near the water’s edge. Neither of them spoke as they did this work, too fearful that if they made any noise, they would give themselves away to whatever menace had ruined this village.

Suddenly, they heard a scream tear through the night.

‘Was that Celene?’ Keira straightened up, staring at Arianne with worry.

‘
It is!’ Arianne declared and without better of it, took up her sword and ran up the beach, not waiting to see if Keira was behind her.

‘
Arianne! Wait!’ Keira called after her but the elf did not stop. Keira uttered a curse and followed, picking up her own weapon as she did so.

It didn’t take long for them to see that one of the boathouses was ablaze. Fire and smoke was billowing out of the door and through the windows
as they approached. Arianne needed no clairvoyance  to know that this was where they would find Celene. However, the thought had no sooner crossed her mind when she realised that building on fire was not the one to watch. It was the ones near it. Black bodies were emerging into the night, bodies with two many legs and large, blood red eyes.

‘
Oh Spit!’ She heard Keira curse next to her as they saw the spiders climbing out of the previously silent boathouses.  

Two of them skittered onto the path, barring their way towards the burning building.

‘Let me pass or you shall feel the sting of my blade!’ Arianne hissed as she slashed the air before one of them, showing them that she would cut them to pieces if they tried to stand in her way.

Keira unsheathed her sword, never imaging that she would have to use it so soon and certainly not against
spiders
. They should have run but Arianne was determined to reach Celene and Keira had promised the warrior of Angarad to stay with the Queen who now needed her help. She couldn’t leave. Remaining at Arianne’s side, Keira prepared to fight if the creatures rushed them.

The one on Arianne’s left lunged and the queen dropped to her knees, seeing the power in its legs and knowing that it would fly over her head. She raised her sword as it flew above her, its tip biting into the beast’s plump abdomen and ripping it open as it passed overhead. Black blood spilled out and Arianne felt it splash on her clothes and almost choked in disgust.

The second spider, taking advantage of Arianne’s distraction, skittered towards the queen, prompting Keira into action.

‘
Get away from her!’ She shouted, swinging her sword wildly, uncertain if any of the wide, clumsy swipes was doing anything to deter the thing.  The spider hesitated at this new attack and then sprang forward again, once it gauged the threat appropriately.  Keira stumbled backwards and then lost her footing. She fell on her rump just as the creature landed on her, tripping her body with its legs on either side. She let out a sharp scream of terror as she shrank away from its dripping fangs.

However, no sooner than the sound had left her throat,  Keira heard the spider shriek in agony and roll off her. She scrambled away and saw a thick piece of flaming timber protruding from its round body.

‘Keira are you hurt?’ She became aware of Arianne demanding frantically.

‘
No,’ Keira answered, shaking her head as she turned and saw the spider struggling to rid itself of the spike upon which it was impaled as the fire spread across its body.

Arianne let out a gasp of surprise and relief when she realised that Celene had come to their rescue. She moved swiftly, far swifter than Arianne ever thought possible and slashed her blade in a wide arch ending the flaming creature’s agony when she took its head. Arianne was forced to look away in revulsion as the foul creature’s head tumbled from the rest of its body and rolled downed the beach.

‘Celene!’ Arianne noted the blood on the Angarad’s shoulder. ‘You are hurt!’

‘
I am fine,’ Celene said exhausted and looked at the town to see more dark shapes emerging. ‘We have to go! This entire village is infested with spiders. We must be away to tell Halion what transpires here!’

‘
Well come on then!’ Keira shouted, already running down the sand towards their boat.

Neither Arianne nor Celene could disagree with that when they saw more spiders crawling out from their hiding places, having picked up the scene of fresh blood. Running towards the boat, the river was the only thing that could save them now.

‘Get in!’ Arianne ordered Celene as she helped Keira pushed the boat further into the water.

‘
But...’ Celene started to protest.

‘
NOW CELENE!’ Arianne fairly roared, stopping her from saying anything else. Celene’s blood was drawing the spiders to them like a beacon, causing them to swarm in a frenzy of hunger.

Keira and Celine pushed the canoe into the water, until it was floating on its own. Neither looked behind them to see what was happening , the chilling screeches and sound of skittering telling them there was nothing they wanted to see.

‘That’s enough,’ Celene barked. ‘Climb in!’

Both women climbed into the large canoe, quickly picking up the oars so that they could row beyond the reach of the swarm. Only when they started to paddle, did Arianne and Keira realised just how many of the things were there and was grateful that the river halted their advance.  Some of the spiders were pacing up and down in frustration at being unable to reach the prey they could see. The fire that Celene had set was now moving from house to house, claiming each building until the whole village was soon ablaze.

‘We must get you to Eden Halas,’ Arianne declared once they were far enough away from Caras Anara to stop paddling. Though they could still see the glow of the fire, they were now far enough away to be safe. ‘You’re hurt.’

‘
It is nothing,’ Celene grunted as Arianne examined her.

‘
Oh right,’ Keira rolled her eyes as she continued rowing. ‘You can as stubborn as a man about such things Celene. I would have thought that as a woman, you’d have better sense.’

‘
Do not be stubborn,’ Arianne retorted as she undid the buttons of Celene’s jerkin. ‘I have yet to encounter a spider that did not have some poison in their bite so you will let me see to your injuries. As your queen I
demand
it,’ Arianne stared at her imperiously.

Celene groaned and stared at her petulantly.
‘I think it is exceedingly unfair that you should use
that
to force me to obey.’ She grumbled.

‘
I know,’ Arianne smiled. ‘Do I not do it well?’ The elf asked with a twinkle of mischief in her eye.

Celene rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath,
‘
elves
.’

The irony of the situation was not lost on Dare as he pursued Arianne and her companions down the Yantra.

Until now, Dare did not know what torture it was to be the one left behind when loved ones departed to face untold dangers. How had Arianne borne it every time he left Eden Taryn to take on yet another battle with Balfure? It was always a woman’s lot to wait and pray that her loved ones would be delivered back to her safely because that was the accepted way of things. However today, he realised now why she was always so distressed to see him go.

The wait was simply maddening.

Ronen, who was sharing a boat with Tully and Tamsyn, appeared just as anxious about his wife though he tried hard not to show it. The Lord of Gislaine told himself that his wife was a brave woman and a cunning warrior. If there was one person who could acquit herself in any kind of peril, it was certainly Celene of Angarad.

Celene believed it was their time together following the battle of Astaroth that love first bloomed between. If she had asked, he would have told her she was mistaken.
He knew the exact moment he fell in love with her. It was during the battlefield of Astaroth.

Even in the midst of fighting the worst of
Balfure’s army, he had caught sight of this woman, clad in armour fighting more fiercely than even the most seasoned soldier under his command.  She was simply the most magnificent creature he had ever seen. Fearless and determined, she had fought that ogre with all the skill at her disposal when a lesser man would have fallen well before the moment Ronen was forced to intervene on her behalf. He was not even been thinking when he rushed into fray and speared the beast.

All that was on his mind was the possibility that the creature could kill her before they met.

Like his king, Ronen was all too aware that this time it was no ogre that Celene was facing. An enemy capable of resurrecting Mael from the Aether was no ordinary foe but it would not matter to Celene if she was defending her Queen. She would lay down her life just the same.  He was afraid for her and no matter how much he tried to tell himself that she was capable of protecting herself, he feared skill wouldn’t be enough.

In the same boat as Dare, Aeron was silent.

He had been for some time now but this was not unusual behaviour for him because he was prone to quiet reflection when others about him were losing their heads over whatever trial they were facing. However, on this occasion his silence had purpose. His heightened senses were on full alert because he could feel something tugging the edge of his perception and the sensation produced by that unknown was ominous.

As he rowed the boat in tandem with Dare, he scanned the shoreline that ran parallel with the Yantra, trying to learn what shape this danger coming upon them would take. It had been growing in intensity for sometime now but Aeron had not spoke of it because he was uncertain whether or not it was danger in the lands they passing or was it something following them.

‘What is it?’ Dare asked when he had paused in his rowing and noticed the look on Aeron’s face.

Aeron did not answer immediately.
‘I do not know,’ he replied and that was the whole truth. He did not know what it was, he only
felt
it.

Dare knew to trust the elf’s senses for on too many occasions, his perception had saved their lives. He tensed, disliking this feeling of not knowing from where danger was coming.
‘What do you feel?’ He asked quietly for there was no need to alarm everyone just yet.

‘
Its closeness,’ Aeron answered and his words made Kyou even more wary.

‘
Is it the Enemy?’ Dare asked.

‘
No,’ Aeron shook his head. ‘It if were the Enemy, I would know it instantly. Darkness of such magnitude is not easily missed. This is smaller but dangerous, I am
certain
of it.’

‘
The foolishness of it,’ Kyou snorted in annoyance. ‘What could they be thinking? Rushing of like that to the peril of all their lives to face who knows what, without telling us! This should be a quest handled by all of us not the three of them alone.’

Aeron shot Kyou a look of annoyance because this type of rant served no one. Dare was already worried for his wife and such words would only deepen his fears for Arianne and their child.
‘These are hardly unskilled women Kyou, Arianne is the daughter of Lylea and she has been alive a great deal longer than you.  Celene fought with us at Astaroth and Keira, well I do not need to tell you what she faced with far more courage than most men.’

‘
You know that I have only the greatest respect for all three,’ Kyou answered, realising now what effect his words were having on Dare. ‘Lady Lylea is wise but this quest upon which she has sent Arianne is ill thought. Arianne is with child and should be guarded, not traipsing about the countryside to face who knows what.’

From where he was sitting, Aeron could see Dare’s spine stiffen.

He knew that Kyou’s feelings about what the three women had embarked upon were mostly tempered by his affection for both. Aeron felt the same way. Arianne was like a sister to him and he loved her dearly and Celene was a comrade in battle as well as friend. While he did not know Keira as well as she should, he respected what she had suffered for his best friend. He feared for their safety not merely for himself but also for their husbands.

Overhead the sun was starting to set and though Dare wanted to travel further, he knew his companions needed to rest. They had been journeying up river for almost a day and the if the weariness was starting to seep into his limbs, then they must surely feel the same. It would not do to press themselves into exhaustion
if they would no good to Arianne when they finally reached her.

Besides, he suspected that the women might seek shelter themselves, after all Arianne was not accustomed to travelling at such an arduous pace and he knew his wife well enough to suspect that she would take care not to harm the babe by straining herself.

The Circle aimed their boats in the direction of land and stepped onto the Eastern Shore. By the time the sun had disappeared into the horizon, they were all gathered around a campfire watching the dance of flames. They feasted upon some rabbits that Aeron and Ronen had managed to snare while Tully did the honours cooking. The conversation around the fire as they ate was not at all as lively as it had been during the celebration in Sandrine.

‘
What route do you think they would take to the north?’ Kyou asked in an effort to dispel the awful silence around the campfire.

Dare looked up from his cup of mead as if he had been a thousand miles away and shook the distraction from his mind as he addressed the dwarf.
‘I think they would journey up the Yantra to the Winter Keep.’

‘
Yes,’ Ronen agreed with that assessment. ‘Celene knows the Caretaker there. I believe they fought together at Astaroth.’

‘
Galain is his name,’ Dare volunteered, having met the man once. ‘He would offer them shelter for the night and perhaps horses.’

‘
Horses?’ Tully asked.

‘
Yes,’ Tamsyn replied before Dare could. ‘They would need to travel by land to avoid the Falls of Iolan. I believe they are bound for your father’s kingdom Aeron.’

‘
That would be sensible,’ Aeron agreed, ‘mother and father would certainly give them shelter and a means to travel west.’

While it would be nice to see Syanne again, Dare wished the circumstances of his return to Eden Halas was better.
Despite having been given the best of an elven upbringing thanks to the Queen of Eden Halas, his relationship with King Halion had never been warm. Halion had looked upon him as indulgence his wife had allowed to continue for too long. His lack of interest in the human child brought into his home was part of the reason why Aeron had become so close to Dare in the first place. Unlike his father, Aeron possessed a compassionate nature that Halion sadly did not share.

‘
It would be faster to reach the Frozen Mountains by crossing the Baffin Range.’ Kyou remarked in between chewing his food.

‘
That would require crossing the Northern Province and then the mountains,’ Ronen spoke up. ‘The route by river is the safest and the one I think Celene choose to ease the burden of the journey on Arianne.’

‘
I thought that we got rid of all the Berserkers,’ Tully frowned, aware that the creature were still roaming about in the Northern Provinces.

‘
Not all of them,’ Tamsyn rumbled. ‘They are like insects, they merely go to ground until they are needed by some dark malevolence to guide them. Until then, they scavenge for what they can.’

‘
Balfure’s forces were many,’ Dare sighed, wishing he had spent more time these past two years ridding Avalyne of that particular threat. Unfortunately there had been so much rebuilding to do after the occupation and the war that the Berserkers and ogres, powerless without their master, had become less of a priority.

‘
We vanquished many during the War but some had fled after Balfure was destroyed. With all that we had suffered to defeat him, there are simply too little resources to spend on seeking them out and finishing them once and for all. We had to address our wounds, rebuild what was destroyed and bury our dead. Once we replenish our forces, we will resume the hunt for them.’

‘
Still what is left of them seem to have grown bolder of late,’ Ronen pointed out, recalling the focus of their attention prior to the announcement of Arianne’s pregnancy. ‘They have been emerging from their places, attacking the border lands, fleeing before the watch guards can deal with them. It is as if they are preparing.’

‘
They are readying themselves to ally with the Enemy,’ Tamsyn announced, his eyes lifting from the pipe he was smoking.

‘
Who is this Enemy?’ Tully asked.

‘
I cannot say,’ Tamsyn responded and saw the anger flare in Dare’s eyes. The king was still fuming over his silence at the danger to Arianne. ‘It is not that I do not wish for you to know Dare, it is because I am not certain what we are dealing with. I have a sense of him but little more than that. Not even Lylea was able to look into his mind and that speaks to his strength.  All I know is that he is very old and strong and is able to keep us out.’

Dare swallowed thickly and saw that Tamsyn was speaking earnestly. The magii had been a true friend and while the ways of wizards could be maddening at times, he also knew that Tamsyn would not intentionally keep the identity of the Enemy hidden unless there were good reason for it. He breathed in deeply, as much to calm his anger at this whole situation as it was to accept the magii’s word.

‘We have been through much together old friend,’ he cast his eye upon Tamsyn. ‘I will trust your counsel in this.’

‘
Thank you,’ Tamsyn bowed his head slightly in gratitude of the faith Dare was placing in him.

‘If you cannot tell us what he is, you can tell us something of his powers?’ Aeron asked in an effort to give Dare something more than just riddles.

‘
Once again, I am uncertain,’ Tamsyn answered honestly, ‘I have a senses of him but it is clouded. I believe he may have be able to cloak himself with a spell of glamour that makes people see what he wishes.’

‘
Glamour?’ Ronen asked, not liking the sound of that at all.

‘
Yes,’ the magii blew another puff of smoke from his pipe. ‘He can make them believe a thing with such fierce determination that there is nothing else but the illusion.’

‘
That’s quite a trick,’ Tully exclaimed. ‘How can we fight something like that?’

‘
By not trusting our eyes,’ Dare answered automatically. ‘What we see can be just as deceiving as what we hear.’

‘
So we must look closer then.’ Kyou started to say when suddenly Aeron jumped to his feet, picking ups his bow.

‘
Dare! Something is coming!’ The elf warned as he stared into the darkness, searching.

‘
Can you tell what it is?’ Dare demanded getting to his feet with the rest of his Circle who were now reaching for their weapons as they too stood up and began searching the darkness, more aware of the shadows than ever.

‘
No,’ Aeron shook his head in frustration. He knew that there was danger coming but he could not tell in what form. It was still not close enough.

‘
I sense it too,’ Tamsyn spoke up after a time, his staff clutched firmly in his hands as he too scanned the darkness for the danger that approached.

The
Circle rose to their feet and all brandished their weapons in anticipation of what was coming for them. They could hear nothing so far but Aeron appeared tense, telling them that whatever it was, it would soon be here. 

‘
Where are they!’ Ronen hissed, revealing his impatience. ‘I wish they would just come!’

‘
They are close,’ Kyou warned, his acute hearing picking up the sounds of many feet running towards them. ‘Be ready, there are many of them.’