The Exodus Sagas: Book I - Of Spiders And Falcons (24 page)

Exodus I:VI

Road to Vallakazz, Chazzrynn

Shinayne T’Sarrin crept away from the warmth of the campfire, away from the snoring men, heavy breathing minotaur, and from her inebriated friend who was mumbling in his sleep. Even the four horses and the brahma made too much noise for the elf and she desperately needed solace and quiet this night. This night, seventy three years ago, Shinayne remembered meeting Lavress and she would not have her fond memories punctured with the sound of men and beasts nor combinations of the two. The snow barely giving way under her delicate frame, her blankets over her shoulder, she sought some distance over the first few hills. The elven noble crept to the top, viewing the distant mountains to the north, the Bori Mountains and the moons rising over their western peaks. The black, clear night sky gave way to the stars, stars that seemed much further away from grasp here in the south than in her warm tropical homeland. She sat cross legged, then decided to lie, gazing at the stars and thinking of Lavress on blankets in the cold.

“his hand caressed her face, gently from the pointed ear to her jaw line with the trailing back of his fingers. She woke, deep in the meadow of her childhood, surrounded by old roots and tree cover, the frogs and night sprites singing in the moonlight. There were no secrets here, no fears of injury or harms of the flesh or the heart. Her evening gown barely a silk purple sheet to cover half her body and this chiseled featured savage stared into her aquamarine eyes, his deep topaz gaze glowing with warmth and tenderness. She touched his tan face, his leaf tattoos across the nose and down his cheeks, his signs and marks of a fierce warrior soul and a life in Gualidura. His hair like bronze wind, his body muscled and marked with ink and pride at his accomplishments for his people.

Shinayne opened her arms, her skin lighter yet more golden by nature, and held him as his hand now ran teasingly through her bright golden hair, cupping the back of her head, holding her from touching the grass. Lavress moved closer, pressing his chest on her covered body. Feeling the embrace of her lover, Shinayne kissed his thin lips gently with hers, leaving just the tingle of connection for but a moment. The wood elf in turn, kissed her neck, playfully, slow, almost without effort, his many golden rings through his ears brushing her cheek. She felt his lips on the pulse of her neck, beating into and for yet another kiss from her hunter. His hands moved under her midnight gown, and her hands gracefully removed his leather vest, admiring the many cuts into it from battle. Again, the warm temperature in Kilikala getting warmer in the meadow by the moment, the hunter embraced his lover. Her soft lips pressed against his, glistening sweat only beginning to glow from their faces. Lavress placed his hand on her thigh, with a grip that held purpose and passion
.”

“My lady, are ye all right? Wake up lady, are ye dead in the cold? For Vundren's sake what are ye doin’ out here alone with ogre about, very well then, she’s breathing, that’s a good thing. Lady, are you awake?” the dwarven priest spoke quickly to himself, fearing the elven maiden was dead.

The cold rushed back, colder than she remembered. Startled, the elven maiden drew her blades and sat up quickly. “Whoa now, that’s not necessary elf. I was checking to see if you were dead, obviously you are not, no need to cut me down here.” Azenairk Thalanaxe raised his hand up, shield up as well, and glanced down at his warhammer. “You don’t be wanting me to pull this out on you, and nor do I be wanting to, I am a man of Vundren ye see, and...”

With unearthly speed the blades were at his neck, a curved longblade across his throat, and a matching short one with the point aimed under his black beard. “And I am Lady Shinayne T’Sarrin of Kilikala, dwarf, and you do not wish to challenge me, I assure you. Now, explain to me what you are doing sneaking up on me in the middle of the night, far from anywhere, while I was having a
very
good dream?”

“
Good
? Sounded like you were moaning or something terrible milady, it did not sound pleasant to me at all. I was thinkin you were sick or freezing to death.”

“Trust me, that could not be further from the truth. And who is this good stranger, saving elves from freezing in the middle of winter?”

“Azenairk Thalanaxe, last of my family line of Boraduum, and the rest is my ordeal. I am heading to Vallakazz on important business to the church of Alden and with the blessings of Vundren. These humans can’t see a task complete without some help ye know, eh elf?” his slight nervousness with the proximity of her weapons was apparent and Azenairk tried to back away a step or two.

“That much is true Thalanaxe, very true.” Shinayne lowered her swords, backing up a step as well, giving a slight bow to the traveler. He gave one in return and she sheathed her blades.

“So, what were you doing here then, praying?”

“Dreaming,” Shinayne was the same height as the dwarven traveler, though half his size in girth. “Meditating on something from many years ago, in silence from my companions.” she pointed toward the glimmer of campfire over the hills.

“Ahh, I see, I do the same when Vundren has challenged me with difficulty and obstacles. The quiet communion with ones thoughts and spirit usually allows us to hear Gods answers more clearly. Not to change the subject of spiritual matters, but the ground is a bit too treacherous at night to be traveling with horses, don’t ye think?” Azenairk stated looking over the elven woman’s shoulder.

“We aren’t traveling at night, though myself and Saberrak would have little trouble. No, with three humans, the travel must remain...”

“My lady, my lady, pardon, but then why are those two men taking all your steeds westward?” the young priest of Vundren pointed his stubby finger to the knights of Southwind, the two escorts now escorting the animals back the way they had come, silently.

“Two-faced thieves!” Shinayne whispered under her breath. “One moment.” the elf tip-toed as she ran, gracefully, and quietly in the dark. Blades were out once more, held low and out far to either side, trying to minimize any glare from the moons that may alert her unsuspecting escorts. Shinayne snuck behind the brahma, which pulled the rear of the herd, the two men’s white tabards barely visible with the moons light and the snow covered ground, yet she could tell they were walking quick and not even talking to one another.

The dwarven priest followed, keeping his distance, and trying to time his crunching steps in steel plate armor and greaves to the step of the brahma. His warhammer out, shield held high, Azenairk kept pace with the caravan led by the less than honorable men.

The elf moved out past the left side of the horses, way out off the trail to a small grove of trees and frozen brush. Shinayne ran through the little wooded area, getting ahead of the group heading west. She continued her run, planning to strike from the front between the two men, the one on the left first. They stopped, turned to look right hearing the loud crunch of metal into stone. Azenairk looked up, his shinplate just having kicked into a rock on the side of the trail, the two men drew broadswords and squinted in the dark of night at whatever manner of man made the noise so close to their position. “Evening men, heading west I see?”

“None of your business mountain dwarf, now head off unless you be in the mood for crossed blades!” the men whispered loudly, pointing their swords at him, each with threatening looks and scowls.

“I wouldn’t be no sirs, but
she
is.” Azenairk smiled, seeing the elf standing a foot in front of the distracted men. His smile dropped and as quick as he could manage, the dwarf ran up the slope to the trail to assist his dreaming beauty.

Her longblade cut across the flat of the young knight’s broadsword, center and hard, knocking the weapon into the snow. Her off hand shortblade struck out, knuckles first, into the jaw of the man on her right, then back again with the pommel into the side of his head. He swung the blade up toward her flank and the longblade chopped down, stopping it a foot or more from her chest. Shinayne spun around full circle, the left hand punching the youth in the jaw again, followed with a swooping upward kick from the ground that sent this mans blade out off the trail, spinning in the moonlit night. The knight staggered, and went to punch the elf when her boot lodged into his groin, putting him silently into the snow onto his side gasping for air. “Saberrak!! James!! Wake up and get over here!”

The first man of Southwind Keep crawled near the horses for his broadsword, spotting it he crawled faster. His neck planted into the snow, face turned aside with great force, he tried to stand. The thud of the head of a maul sized hammer dropped inches in front of his nose, catching his complete attention. “Where ye goin now son? I think you had better just stay put horsethief. Vundren forgives ya, but I think that elf there is still a bit angry.” Azenairk held the man in place with his boot, hearing men running from the campfire to the elf’s call.

Shinayne saw the minotaur’s outline appear, his shadow boldly striding toward her on the white background of snow, then slowing its pace. James’ shadow as well, moving along the ground in stark contrast to the snow and glow of the white moon, Carice. The elven swordswoman noticed the dwarf, having the other traitorous man under control of his boot and felt a comfort of accomplishment and security wash over her, confidant the situation was well under her control. The tip of the curved elf blade near the knight’s chest, Shinayne stared down past the triangle crosspiece and leather wrapped hilt, staring into the man’s eyes. She noticed the fear, a slight tremble, not quite meeting her gaze. “And who put you up to abandoning us in the night? Lady Kaya I presume?”

“
Shinayne
.” James’ voice calm but concerned, as if he did not approve of her questioning the man at blade point.

“Or Lord T’Vellon? Speak, you trembling thief.”

“
Shinayne
.” Saberrak this time, as much a growl or an order in his voice, almost demanding.

“Will you two get over here? Get the animals or something. I will get the answers, just do...”

“
My Lady, Shinayne
.” Azenairk whispered, there was a quivering in his voice.

“What is it, why are you all standing there like I have just killed him or something?” frustration in her voice, the elf was confused as to why the men all had stopped, weapons drawn and were staring in the dark light of the moon. Her senses keen, all was quiet save the breathing, and then she heard it. Heavy breathing behind her, deep and slow it was, with a guttural echo from a large chest. She felt it too. Hot breath close to her, warming her body for a moment and the smell of something not familiar, not one of the steeds she had hoped had gotten behind her without her noticing. Whatever it was, the men all stared well above her, at least another elf higher in the air. The noble elf could feel it now, a heartbeat, slow and strong, a drum through the air, and beating faster with every growling breath. She smelled urine, not from behind, but from the captive on the frozen ground at her feet, he had wet himself as he trembled, gazing at something behind her. Shinayne looked into his eyes, seeing glowing green eyes, white and black stripes, fangs and tusks, topped with spiraled horns that lay back over the head of the feline beast in the reflection of her captive’s eyes.

“Shinayne, just slowly, do not walk toward the brahma, toward us, slowly. Great white horned panthers eat brahmas
, not elves
. Are you listening?” James’ voice was barely calm, he had never seen one this big, the shoulder must be nearly ten feet, the body and tail three times that, and its long yellow tusks nearly as long as the elf who was now gently walking with her back turned to the creature. The huge feline predator crept closer to the brahma, quietly for is size, on all four clawed feet and sniffed the air, its black nostrils moving it and out, then the knight on the ground began to shake. The great panther lowered its horned head inches from the unarmed human, its eyes staring at the shivering morsel. Shinayne kept moving, slowly placing her feet inside one another, turning herself as she stepped to see what had crept up so silently behind her in the night.

“If it wanted to kill us, it would have already. This beast wants the horses. I say let it have them and let’s back away to camp and see if it follows.” James’ voice steady now, the elf beside them. He had heard of great horned panthers tearing caravans apart, killing everyone. He hoped that this one would be satisfied without them.

The dwarven priest crept back slowly as well, one foot behind the other, letting his captive breath once again and leaving him near his thieving companion, still eye to eye with the giant feline. Azenairk did not notice the other man he stood next to nor the seven and a half foot minotaur to his left. All eyes were on the white and black striped snowcat of enormous proportion.

“No, no, no, not a good idea.” The dwarf watched as the man he had stepped on moved for his sword, and scrambled quickly to straddle his steed. In the split of a second, the great paw, black claws emerging from the long white hair, swiped the horse down through the leg of the Knight of Southwind, then a second paw crushed on top of the man and horse, gripping and retracting over and over into them as it pounced, pinning its meal to the bloody snow. The horses whinnied, the brahma roared, and the man screamed the hallowed fearful yell of a man about to meet his end. Every animal ran different directions, not a rein in hand, and the giant predator bit into the rider and his steed to silence them, biting playfully with great blade-like canines that hung well below its jaw. The human that had wet himself screamed as well, being not five feet from his ally as he was silenced by the teeth of the striped monster. He ran and scrambling at the same time, fleeing west in the night following two of the horses.