Eternal Forest: Savage Rising (12 page)

             
Sunrise looked up, surveying his surroundings. “There’s a small storehouse right over there,” he said. “If we climb on top, we should have a better vantage point.”

             
At the heart of the crowd, Azalea traveled with Lord Boulder towards a crudely built stage in the center of the marketplace. It had obviously been a rushed job, built in response to news that the Sorceress would be attending the festivities. She smiled as the joyous faces and happy cheers delighted her senses. This was her first time in civilized society in three years, and it was a very different experience from her narrow escape from Meadowgold.

             
There were no steps constructed up to the stage. Instead, the dwarves fashioned some out of overturned crates. They wobbled a bit as she ascended to the top of the stage, but did the job well enough. Once on stage, the crowd became even more excited. She still didn’t understand her amazing power, but the fact that it had greatly touched the lives of so many made her happy to have it.

Lord Boulder moved to the center of the stage, taking his place next to her. The Dwarven Lord’s head came up to Azalea’s elbow with her hands to her sides. “Dwarves of Stonemouth and
the surrounding settlements, visitors from other territories, it pleases me greatly to present to you, the great Sorceress of the Wilds!”

The crowd cheered again. Azalea blushed a bit as she waved. Just being amongst a crowd again felt strange enough, and being the focal point of one was almost more than her mind could take. Lord Boulder raised his hands again, quieting the crowd.

“These last few seasons of drought have truly taken their toll on us all. Crops have died as once fertile land has turned to dust. Our children have gone hungry. Our loved ones have perished. I know many have joined us from every corner of the Lands of Order, coming together in prayer that the Lady will bless us with a way through such hard times. Well, I’m here to tell you that our prayers have been answered!”

The crowd cheered again, but Boulder was quick to silence it. “It was many months ago that we discovered the Grove of the Sorceress, and since then we have been able to stave off the effects of starvation and death. Her bounty is great, and is for all to partake of, with her blessing. Tell us, great Sorceress, were you sent by the Lady to save the tribes of Her forest?”

Azalea wasn’t quite sure what to say. She’d certainly never heard any call from the Lady, and it likely wouldn’t go over well if the dwarves discovered her power was the result of some strange, balisekt ritual. She would have to choose her words carefully and weave a story to keep her audience in their blissful state. However, as her mind prepared a speech, a series of terrified screams echoed from the west, taking all attention away from her.

Chapter 12

              Riding at full gallop through the trees, Cherin wasn’t able to admire the sight of Stonemouth rising up on the horizon. The dwarven city was carved into the side of a high cliff at the edge of the Eastern Mountains. It was a wall of stone, chiseled over the centuries into tall buildings that reached up into the sky. Ladders and bridges crossed between the stone structures like an enormous spider web. Thick, black smoke poured from stone pipes carved to divert it away from the city and up into the air. These were the signs of the dwarves’ industrious metalwork shops, housed deep in caves their empire had been built around.

             
Soon, the marketplace at the base of the mountain came into view. The crowd was so thick it was all but impenetrable. Dwarves, centaurs, and elves were packed shoulder to shoulder amongst the carts and tables. There were creatures from every race in the Lands of Order gathered in the Stonemouth marketplace, and it wasn’t hard to see why. The merchant tables were overflowing with food and drink. Baskets were piled high with delicious looking fruits and vegetables. Large, toasted breads were heaped into piles, their wonderful smells filling the air. Wine flowed as freely as water. Truly, the Sorceress had done wonders in the dwarven territory. It was a large gathering and a joyous festival, but not anymore.

The sun was still high, just beginning its descent towards the western horizon. Going from a peaceful trot to a full gallop cut quite a bit of time off their journey, and Cherin’s aching body felt the pain of every hour saved.

              As Viyana and her soldiers reached the base of the mountain, one of her guards blew a long tone from a horn tied to his belt. The sound echoed through the trees and off the stone walls of the city. Movement in the marketplace stopped and all eyes turned to them. Children were gathered close by their parents. Some men and women placed hands on the hilts of their swords and axes, eyeing the newcomers with caution. Cherin knew they’d disturbed their joyous spring day, but not as much as the approaching army was about to.

             
Viyana’s boots were on the ground before her horse came to a complete stop. Cherin and her guards quickly dismounted as well. The horses ran off, but there was no time to tie them up properly. Viyana began racing into the market, waving her hands above her head to get the people to flee. “Everyone, into the city!” she shouted. “Run!” The frightened and puzzled looks she received pained her. Many held out their hands, begging her to stop and explain her actions.

             
“What is the meaning of this?!” a dwarven merchant shouted, waving a loaf of bread above his head as if it was menacing.

             
“You all need to fall back!” Viyana shouted. “Retreat to the city! They are coming!” They’d ridden as hard and as fast as possible on the final stretch to the city, but the army was moving swiftly as well. She knew they couldn’t possibly have beaten the creatures here by more than a few moments.

             
“Who is coming?!” a nearby elf demanded.

             
“Balisekts!” shouted a dwarf as he came running towards the market from down the road. He was sprinting as fast as his short legs could carry him, leaving a trail of tiny dust clouds in his wake. “Run! Run for your lives!” As the dwarf continued to dash down the road, the first wave of the savage army broke through the trees. Thousands of armor-clad balisekts burst from the forest like water through a failing dam, hissing and screeching as they charged.

             
The marketplace went into pandemonium. Merchant stations were quickly abandoned as the dwarves fled for their cliff-side city. Carts and tables were knocked over. Food and wares trampled underfoot. Visitors from the other tribes ran with them, all fleeing for the safety that their thick, stone walls could provide. The area around Cherin and the travelers from Meadowgold quickly thinned out, but the horde of savages was nearly ready to fill it once again.

             
A hail of arrows flew from the savage army like a flock of startled crows. The projectiles arched through the clear sky and rained down on the retreating dwarves. Many fell like stones as they were struck in the back, dropping what little they were carrying and crashing onto the dusty earth. Few stopped to help their fallen kinsmen, instead continuing on frantically into the stone structures. The bodies of the fallen were trampled in the exodus, left to die alone in the dust.

             
Viyana drew her sword as the first wave of soldiers came upon them. The beasts waved their crude weapons eagerly, though clumsily, over their heads. One balisekt turned to attack her. It was excited to do battle, but poorly skilled. After a quick, strategic swipe of Viyana’s blade, it was dead before it could think to swing its weapon. Another balisekt swung an axe at her, leaning forward and creating a wide arc. She dropped to one knee, letting the blow sail over her head, and thrust her sword up into its chest. Pushing off the ground, the balisekt was flung forward, landing on its back as a spray of blood splattered against her face.

             
Viyana’s soldiers drew their swords and attacked in unison. With skill and precision, they hacked at each balisekt that cross their path, dispatching them quickly and efficiently. The trio moved in formation. It was clear to Cherin the training they’d received for combat. He, on the other hand, had never killed anything other than livestock.

             
He also was armed with nothing more than a hunting knife. He drew the blade, clutching it tightly in his shaking hand. His head darted around like an excited squirrel. Most of the balisekts raced by him, clearly more interested in the fleeing groups of terrified dwarves. However, a trio of the sword-wielding savages surrounded him. Their tongues darted wildly across their open lips as they hissed at him menacingly.

             
A clumsy slash came at his torso from the balisekt in front of him. He leaned back, letting the blow sail by, inches from his fragile skin. Unfortunately, the savage behind him was striking at the same time. Cherin felt the sting of a thin, rusty blade pushing across his left hip.

             
It was a shallow cut, but no less painful. Crying out, he went down hard into the dust and rolled onto his back. The sun shined brightly against the scales of the balisekt hovering over him; the spear in its hands held high over its head.

             
Cherin raised his hands defensively, but knew it was pointless. He’d just accepted his end when the blade of a sword erupted from the creature’s chest, spraying a wave of blood over his body. The slain balisekt dropped where it stood with a loud thud, revealing a silhouette of Viyana standing in front of the sun. As Cherin scrambled to his feet, Viyana hacked at the legs of another charging balisekt. Its right leg was severed from its body and the balisekt fell forward on its snout.

             
“Grab a weapon!” Viyana shouted as she plunged her sword into the back of the creature’s head.

             
Frantically, Cherin dove down to his hands and knees. His grip found the handle of the fallen creature’s sword sitting on the dry ground. He picked up the weapon and lifted his head just in time to see another balisekt leaping through the air towards him. Cherin fell back on his rear as the tip of the balisekt’s spear struck the ground. The creature tugged at it, but the weapon was stuck. As it gave another violent and frustrated tug, Cherin swung at the spear with his sword breaking it in two with a spray of splinters.

             
Losing its balance, the balisekt fell backwards, clutching the useless end of its severed weapon in bewilderment. As the beast fell, Cherin popped back to his feet and thrust his sword through its sternum. A trickle of blood shot from its mouth, turning its death cry into a gurgle.

             
“Not bad,” Viyana said as she hacked away at another balisekt. “Maybe there’s hope for you yet, peasant.”

             
Cherin was about to say something back to her, but a familiar roar echoed against the cliff and chilled him to the core. They’d heard the same fiery cackle along the road. He looked up as Viyana turned around. There was a hillcrest down the road from the dwarven marketplace where a few balisekt soldiers were cresting the mound and charging down into the battle. As the last few raced down the dirt path, a creature emerged at the top the likes of which Cherin had never even heard of.

             
The creature was easily three times his height, standing on all fours like a mountain cat. It had a long tail, broad shoulders, and a long snout, but the most amazing thing was its skin. From head to tail, the creature was covered in burning-hot, blackened coals. Steam rose from the orange glow radiating off its otherwise black hide. The beast looked as if it had risen straight from the ashes of a dying fire. Its eyes were two living flames that rose up from their sockets like torches. When it opened its mouth, it was like looking straight into a hot furnace.

             
“Lady’s grace!” Viyana shouted. “What is that?!”

             
The monster reared up on its hind legs, letting out another roar that shook the trees. Smoke and fire poured from its mouth. The very site of the creature made Cherin’s legs nearly too weak to hold him up. The creature landed on all fours and bounded down the hill like an attacking dog. The ground shook beneath them as it moved. Large, blackened prints of scorched earth were left in the wake of each footstep. Its flaming eyes were set on the fleeing crowds of dwarves.

Viyana was so alarmed by the creature that she didn’t notice a balisekt trying to flank her on the left side.

              “My lady, watch out!” Cherin shouted as he raced towards her. Frantically, he swung down at the creature as it made its attack. His blade met the balisekt’s wrists, lobbing them off before its sword could strike her in the back. Broken from her trance, Viyana turned and stuck her sword into the balisekt’s chest.

             
“Thank you,” she said, kicking the lizard-man to the ground.

             
“We should go!” Cherin insisted. The bulk of the balisekt army was already past them and in the marketplace, but fire monster was nearly upon them. Each landing of its flaming paws on the ground made it difficult to stand. Even the few balisekts choosing to stay behind and fight were having trouble maintaining their balance. It paused for a moment, staring down sinisterly at Cherin and Viyana. They were clearly the first prey it had come across, and the desire to kill was alive in its flaming eyes. With a deafening roar, it lifted its large front paws into the air, rearing back like a proud horse. The creature smelled like a bonfire, and they could hear its skin sizzling and crackling like a burning log.

             
“Move!” Viyana shouted. Grabbing Cherin by the collar, she dove with him towards the trees as the paws came back down. They struck the ground with the force of an earthquake. Viyana found herself unable to stand again for a moment, but in such circumstances, a moment could prove fatally long. She and Cherin rolled to their backs. The beast was on all fours again with its mouth open wide.

             
Cherin was as stiff as an oak branch. His wide eyes stared down the beast’s throat. It was like gazing into the sun itself. The heat from its breath singed his hair. Finally managing to move his arm again, his hand searched the dust beside him for his rusty blade. His fingers found only a rock sticking out of the dry ground, but still grasped it quickly. Acting out of desperation, he flung the stone down the creature’s throat. It turned a brilliant orange before disappearing into the white-hot glow. He never heard it strike anything.

             
Finally finding her footing, Viyana swung her blade across the creature’s front leg. It was like slicing through a burning log. A shower of glowing embers erupted into the air, stinging her skin and forcing her to turn away. The beast roared and lifted the paw into the air.

             
“Your ladyship, move!” one of Viyana’s guards shouted from near the tree line. He and his companions were busy dispatching a group of balisekt soldiers that had lingered behind the hoard.

             
Realizing there was no hope of victory, Viyana turned and fled towards the trees. Cherin crawled backwards as fast as he could, stopping only as the massive, flaming paw came down once again. When the tremor settled, he hastily rolled onto his stomach and continued on all fours into the Wilds.

Seemingly bored with only two victims, the creature continued into the marketplace, charging loudly down the small hill like a rockslide. Now no longer the monster’s target, Cherin rolled onto his back and lifted his upper body off the ground with his elbows, giving him a view of the monster as it crashed through the marketplace. Wooden structures burst into flames as it passed. It wasn’t long until it caught up with the slower of the fleeing dwarves.

              That’s when he began to hear the screams.

             
The terror-filled shrieks of the dwarves rang out in the spring air, met with a horrifying chorus of breaking bones, ripping flesh, and the fiery roars of the beast. Cherin shut his eyes tight and turned his head away. It was the stuff of nightmares, and his heart couldn’t take it.