Chapter 8

Did you miss Chapter 7? Find it here. 

The battle had gone to plan, the Vulk forces lay splintered groups fleeing into the woods in different directions. It would make mopping them up all the more difficult but with the sunbelchers firmly under he control he could allow the Skyeels freedom of the forest. It would be a lie to say that he wasn't at least a little disappointed. He had spent years hunting these beasts across the realm and when they'd finally clashed in a decisive battle, well it had been almost too easy. The front lines had collapsed after nary a day of fighting, the flanks folded almost immediately after being joined, and the ferocity the enemy had garnered a reputation for seemed more myth than having any teeth to it.

Jhev surveyed the remnants of the fight from his hilltop vantage, he could see companies going through the moor of dead gathering their own or salvaging valuables. Marshall Hevsid was organizing a defensible camp on the high ground, and the Chaplains were reading the passages of Elysium. Not all things had gone smoothly today. He'd lost both of the immortals the Divinities had seen fit to bless him with, Vorcinerex still lived, and there was that minor complication with Minos' demands. How we he supposed to know which child the Divinity wanted, for all he knew the child was lying down there dead. Likely the child fled with the rest of the Vulk cur, he'd be tracked down like the rest of his Kin, then Minos would have his end of the bargain, and with Vorcinerex dead he'd have his.

There was also the small matter of Chaplain Oran, apparently she'd last been seen heading into the woods away from the frontline after leading a charge against the flank. Some of his knights had claimed she'd had the immortal with her, but that was hard to qualify now without the Chaplain here to answer. Perhaps she'd gone seeking the glory of killing Vorcinerex for herself, if so she was likely dead. The Immortal, Alaen the Glorious, no small part of this victory was due to him and the champion Minos had seen fit to send him, Kanis the Stained. He'd have to offer up sacrifices to each doubtlessly, but well worth it. He wondered if Betsol was aware of his treachery, how could she not as queen of the Divinities. Yet he still stood, he still commanded, perhaps the Divinities weren't as omniscience as the Priests would prefer you to believe. Or perhaps she knew, and understood. Minos wasn't her enemy, and the Vulk threatened her people! He'd been right to seek them out for destruction after what they'd done to Frosthaven, his home. Vorcinerex had come to his manor that night, it was that night he'd made his promise it was that night that Minos answered his prayers.

Vorcinerex.He was close . Jhev would not let him escape again, he would not let the gift of mercy extend the life of that monster.

A feeling climbed into his hear then, a dark one that worked against him. This was one of worry, of angst. It wouldn't let him be calm, it wouldn't let him be still. The days victories seemed small to the risk of losing Vorcinerex. So as it had been the past three years, so it would be that night. There would be no rest while Vorcinerex lived.

"Marshall Johanna," said Jhev, "Prepare your fastest Skyreels. We find Vorcinerex while Betsol still shines."

The woman with curling golden hair standing behind him away in a suit of leather nodded curtly, turning on her heals and leaping down the hill in her hurry.

"Marshall Derek, I'll need your finest company of Archers, we're hunting a particular beast we'd be best to avoid getting to close to," said Jhev.

"I'll send up the first then my Lord Marshall," said Derek.

"Very good, and Marshall, I'll need Bogan."

"Bogan, sire?"

"Yes, I may require his... particular blessing."

"Very well sire."

Jhev watched the second Marshall depart him, there were runners for such things of course but Jhev preferred to remind the Marshalls of their station below him. It was well that when he made orders they listened, not questioned, not advised, merely listened. It saved times and time saved lives, the lives of his soldiers who had sparsely few enough of these days. The three years had been a trying ordeal, but if the day ended as he hoped, it would have all been worth it.

***

They skimmed across an ocean of blood. The skyreel's belly grazing the top most flowers of the towering trees. They had left with mere hours left of daylight, the Glory hour bathing them as they set out on their quest.

With Chaplain Oran missing, he'd taken Chaplain Feyor with them. Rounding out their company of 24 a Divine Number. Marshall Johanna was currently steering them, while a few of the archers had their sharp eyes piercing the forest for signs of camp. Bogan sat in the center of the Skyreel near its mast. The slave was a large fellow with scars running up his arms and along his face, his black hair was missing patches where a particular scar struck through. Even to Jhev he was a disconcerting sight, which was why Jhev kept him with the baggage train. Good for digging latrine trenches and hefting supplies for the army, best to unnerve the slaves than the soldiers. Still it did not due to waste the blessings of the Divinities.

Bogan eyed him wearily and Jhev turned his attention to the passing treetops. It wasn't until they passed into a large clearing that he realized just how high up they were and felt his gorge rise. He backed away from the side and was caught by a firm hand. He turned to find Bogan.

"Get your hand off me Slave!" commanded Jhev.

Bogan did just that, shirking away from Jhev and back against the mast.

Jhev dusted his shoulder where the creature had touched him and straightened himself. The uncivility of it, why the Divinities had seen fit to bless such a simpleton was beyond Jhev's comprehension. He imagined they were a merciful sort, why else would they allow such creatures to continue living freely.

"We've found their camp Lord Marshal," said Johanna. "It appears deserted."

"Then send down the scouts," said Jhev.

Two of the Skyreel's sailors were soon strapped into a harness and lowered to the ground where they released themselves and began stalking through the village of tents. The Skyreel hovered over them, floating lazily along the wind stream towards the center of the village where two large tents sat opposite one another. There had been a battle here, a number of Vulk bodies laid discarded, it was the work of an Immortal, one of the two had made it here. No sign of Vorcinerex or the immortal, but they had left a trail. Tents sliced down or broken in a line towards the north west.

A scout entered each of the largest tents, returning to the opening with a sign for clear. Archers hoisted the pair of scouts back to the Skyreel by their re-attached harnesses. Once they'd been raised off the ground the Skyreel began moving again, floating towards the path of broken tents and onward into the forest where a similar path of broken trees was found.

Vorcinerex was close, and they were on his trail.

Would you like to read the next chapter? Here's Chapter 9. 

Fantasy and Football - A bit of both, but not that kind of Fantasy Football.

"Today's game between the Felwood Larks and the Tumbledown Madmen is just about kickoff. It's been a hell of a week so far, with coach Tom Underwood laying into his former apprentice coach Leroy Harkins. It's certainly set the tone for the coming match up, these two teams hate each other more than the coaches do!"

"That's right Houghtavious, Tumbledown coach Underwood was quoted as saying the Larks didn't belong in the Primaries, even going so far as to imply Harkins had bought their spot."

"The League was awfully quiet about that, makes you wonder if there's any truth to it."

"Oh, let's stop that nonsense right now Hough, The League would never steep to that level their not the Federal Inquisitors Football Academy! The League pride's itself on it's reputation and integrity!"

"You're right there Barkevicious, plus we would never be caught spreading rumors here at Excellent Sounding People News!"

"Indeed, Oh look! The two teams are taking to the pitch, the Madmen being led out by their captain, Middle Linebacker Gregor Dragonbane, the seven foot, four hounded pound Minotaur from the DreadMountains has been leading the Madmen for near twenty years now!"

"Yes, and I'll tell you what Bark, I had the chance to talk to Gregor earlier in the week about this matchup and he told me he's had this game circled since their loss to the Lark's last season! He said he was out for blood and that we should be ready too see heads roll! This is an excellent Linebacker, he's everything you look for, he's got size, strength, speed, and he'll knock the heads off anyone who tries to run it his way. Back in my day we'd call him the Headsmen, and we'd be sure to gameplan away from him. Let's just see what the Larks have drawn up today."

"And here come the Larks now, being led to the field by their captain Enae's Flora, the team's Quarter Back from the Golden Forest. A long way from home now isn't she."

"Yes, and let me tell you what Bark, I got the chance to interview Enae when she was drafted by the Larks and she's real smart, she's got what we called football smarts. She's going to be real good in the league, a real bright spot for the Larks this season. She's not the biggest, the strongest, or the fastest, but she's got that it, she goes' those smarts. She's got a real chance to bring the Vulk populace into The League. As you know their own league, the Canine Football League, has been gaining in popularity among the Vulk Tribes and Enae is likely going to pull in some of that viewership to The League. If she does well in her transition it wouldn't surprise me to see more Vulk being drafted."

"We'll go to the field now to hear Referee Gohan Brown with the call, it appears the Madmen have won the toss and elected to receive the ball. the Larks choosing to kick into the wind this quarter. Returner Heruth back for the Madmen he's returned a league leading three kick-offs for touchdowns."

"I really like this Heruth guy, we talked to him after the Championship last season after his big game with two kick returns for TDs and he was humble and wanted to heap all the credit onto this special teams' coach and blockers. He reminds me of a young Lionheart, this Loen can run and when he gets into the open field there isn't anyone who can catch him!"

"Fedrik with the kick, it's a long boom kick but Heruth fields it in the endzone for the touchback."

"That Fedrick has a leg there Bark, That's why I call him The Leg."

"The Madmen's offense takes the field, Quarterback Timmy Longfingers under center, Two wide, two in the back field, tight end lined up on the left. It's a hand-off to star running back Velk Longtooth, his line opened a whole on the left and he's made the linebacker miss. Tackled by third year player Yohen."

"That was a real strong run there, that's what this offense is going to look to do. Tire out the Larks with my man Longtooth just pounding it to them all day long. Look at this first contact by Lark's End Killmen, He just plows through the four arms of that monstrous Haddi right there without losing any speed. Real strong runner there."

"2nd and less than one for the Madmen, Longfingers under center again, two split out to the right, tight end opposite, two in the backfield. It's a handoff right to Longtooth, this time he's smothered in the backfield."

"That's a great play right there, that's a veteran play. Look at Mountainson moving up in anticipation of the run and then just runs over the right guard! That Minotaur is hard to slow down when he starts moving. If your Longfingers, you've got to see this at the line and change the play."

"Third and a little over two for the Madmen, Longfingers back in the Longbow, Longtooth next to him, three wide two on the right one on the left with the Tight End. The snap and Longfingers fires a quick pass over to the right complete to Williams, the six foot human from Solace, before being planted by Mountainson. Williams is slow to get up but he's being subbed off for fullback Haverfest.

"Mountainson again with a great play, he's not as well known as Dragonbane, playing for a small county team like the Larks, but let me tell you he's a great player. That combination of size and strength is hard to come by and the Larks have set themselves up long term with this Haddi right here. Just look at him get three arms on Williams and then hurl him into the ground. I'm surprised Williams held on to the ball. Good play right there on back to back downs by Mountainson getting the Lark's defense off the field."

"The Madmen's Kicker Sounders is out there, it's a tall kick and it arcs out of bounds near the 30, Enae and the Lark's offense to take the field when we come back."

"Great defensive series by the Lark's right there, setting the tone for this game with two solid tackles by Mountainson,  I tell you, the Madmen are going to have to block him if they want to get any semblance of a running game going."

"The Lark's offense takes the field now at their own thirty one, Enae back in the Longbow, runner to each side, two wide receivers split even, tight end Daniels lined up on the right. The ball is snapped, Enae drops back, looks right and shoots the ball on a line over to the left. Caught by Feor Reddard for a first down and a gain of twenty three."

"That was a great throw right there, this is what Enae was doing during her time with the Canine League. Great arm, great accuracy, she might just be the most accurate passer in the league."

"The Lark's offense lines up on the Madmen's 46th yardline. Enae in the Longbow, runner to her left, tightend on the right, two receivers on the right, Reddard on the left. The Madmen's defense has arranged themselves in a fifty-two, three corners down, Safety Faithsworn lined up deep. Ball is snapped, Enae fakes to Goldbloom, looks right passes right, complete to Daniels for a gain of seven. Brought down by Dragonbane."

"Dragonbane just levels him on this route! I don't know how Daniels held on to the ball even with four hands! That Minotaur can run I tell you, Dragonbane starts dropping in to coverage and as soon as he sees Daniels breaking right he's flying over there for the tackle. Daniels' is lucky he kept his head."

"It looks like ref Brown is cautioning Dragonbane against the aggressive hit, perhaps Brown heard Gregor's claim of head rolling and is looking to preemptively stop the headhunting."

"Ahh, Let them play Gohan! Back in my day you were hit in the head or you were hit in the knees! None of this body tackling. Why tackle a guy all day when you could take him out on the first play! Times have really changed, all these humans in the league forcing the league to soften its stance on violence. I say if they're too fragile to play, Don't Play Em!"

--Chuckles from Barkevicious--

"Lark's offense lining up on the Madmen's 39 yard line, second and three to go. Enae in the longbow, runner on the left, Daniels on the right with two receivers, Reddard on the left. The Madmen retain their patented 5-2 formation. The ball is snapped, Enae looks right, Dragonbane barely down on her on a charge! Looks left, passes left, way down field, Reddard catches it! Touch Down Larks! Enae is down on the field and she's not moving."

"She was hit hard by Dragonbane after the throw, Dragonbane came free through the center of the line on a charge, ran through runner Goldbloom whose got to do a better job there, and absolutely destroyed Enae while she was in her throwing motion. This is what he said he was going to do today, it may be a touchdown for the Larks but Enae is down and might be done for the day."

"Referee Brown is busy clearing a scuffle, looks like tackle Stoneson has taken exception to Dragonbane's hit on Enae."

"I tell you what, Stoneson is not someone I'd want to be in a fight against. That's near eight feet and five hundred pounds of muscle right there. Look at those four arms! Their near as thick as Enae! Dragonbane is still getting after it, yapping going back and forth between the two teams. They really hate each other and that's what great about these match ups!"

"It looks like they're bringing out the priests for Enae, see if they can't get her patched up. We'll be back with news for you on Enae's injury after a brief message from our sponsors."

Chapter 5: - Incomplete.

Branches cracked underfoot as the company of knights trudged  through the underbrush away from the battle and into the Eternal Wood. Their numbers had shrunk despite Betsol's protection, but they marched on. Natal was creeping along to the left of their column urging their stragglers on. Oran stumbled on, hidden brambles catching her feet and forcing her to rip free every few steps, their progress had slowed significantly but Natal had reported that they were not being followed. The lines they had broken through had been too entangled with Jhev's army to be bothered chasing them. Alaen lead the way still humming an unfamiliar hymn, plowing through the ancient wood with little of the grace he'd displayed while fighting. Oran kept close behind him, the limbs of trees tended break on him and made it easier for her to keep up. Betsol had seen her through, seen most of them through, but they still had the rear guard ahead of them and no army to assist them.

She caught a glimpse of the sun peaking through the canopy, and drew her Divining Stones out her thumb finding the familiar groove in the Betsol stone. Radiance enlighten me. You've seen us through thus far, guide us on your quest and protect us from your foes. I fear Klanae's influence in this wood.
As if in response an unyielding bow snapped free of Alaen's advance and back into face of Oran, filling her mouth with needles and nostrils with pines. She sputtered as she advanced, her face flaring pain and came to a halt while wiping her face clean. She could hear the thudding steps of Alaen as he continued on leaving her behind, and the rustle of branches as other knights passed. She heard Natal chuckling before the Captain's feet came into her blurred view.

Seems this wood has delivered you a worse blow than the Vulk back there. You're covered in blood. She felt Natal's firm hands on her head again, one against the back lifting her up and another pressing some voluminous soft cloth to her nose. She opened her eyes to find Natal shaking her grin on her face. Oran couldn't understand how Natal could still be smiling, they'd lost knights, they'd each suffered wounds, and they faced a task that seemed increasingly insurmountable. Yet seeing the smile made her feel better, just a small bit of her, but it was enough to continue on. She wouldn't fail these knights, she wouldn't fail her Divinity.

Oran nodded then started walking again, picking up her pace to try and cover the distance their company had earned on them while they'd stopped. "We're falling behind" she said through bloody fabric.

Natal caught up in a few strides, she seemed to have no problem with the under brush, powerful strides ripping through weeds and vines threatening to catch feet. She went before the two of them and began to sweep branches out of there way with circular motions, behind widely more effective than simply following in Alaen's wake. It wasn't until they'd caught up to the rest of the knights that Oran placed the familiar movements, they were parts of the Rising Sol, ones Oran had used just previously in the battle. It seemed almost blasphemous, but it was it? She found herself repeating the motions herself, gently guiding the flexible arms of the Eternal Wood away and around her, and within a few minutes she'd found a rhythm and was making good headway through the forest catching up to Alaen at the head of the company once again. He had stopped and she almost passed him before realizing why he had stopped. Before her the trees thinned out and beyond that was a flurry of movement. Vulk dashed across a wide clearing in the forest among tall tents of hide, and quenched camp fires. Few among them had visible weapons and most of them had fur of gray.

Natal came up beside them and grunted, stalking back off towards the company and giving orders for stealth. A bit late she thought, how had they managed to reach her without coming across any scouts or at least a guard? She scanned the woods around them then the clearing for any sign that their approach had been noticed. There weren't many Vulk in the clearing, and even fewer seemed likely to put up much of a fight. Where were the rest of their soldiers, the rest of their civilians?

"There are not many warriors here Chaplain." The words vibrated in her chest as Alaen spoke. "Perhaps ten, and they're focused around that larger structure in the center of the village."

It took her a moment but she spotted the structure, a tent almost twice as big as the next largest. It did appear to be towards the center of the tents and placing it there she could imagine them being placed out in rings forming a small village in the midst of the Eternal Woods. Outside the front flap of the tent was a ring of Vulk with rich colored fur and bearing spears.

"Where are the rest of them?" She wondered aloud.

"Perhaps there are a number of similar villages, or perhaps Lord Marshall's Crusade as been more successful than we've thought." Alaen replied.

That was a comforting thought, but Betsol had quested them with retrieving a child and had guided them here. "If the Vulk of hinted at the child's value then she's likely the thing being defended. We'll make our way there."

Alaen nodded then lifted the sword off his shoulder, eyes growing dark as they settled on the ring of guards.

"Remember Alaen, the Bloodfurry, and that we cannot win the child by fighting. We'll have to try and secure her without violence." she questioned the words as soon as she'd spoke them. How were they to take hostage a child of import from the Vulk in the midst of their camp without using violence?

Alaen merely nodded again before begin to stalk into the clearing. Natal arrived just to see him go and looked into the camp. waving a hand for the knights to form ranks along the edge of the clearing with their rifles. "Nothing to do now but see it through, we'll keep your retreat open." Natal said as Oran started after Alaen.

The two of them stalked quietly through the near abandoned camp, the flurry of motion suddenly still. Had they been seen, was this an ambush? A howl seemed to confirm her suspicion, as they made ready to be attacked. Yet none came. Oran spotted a few of the gray haired Vulk walking in another direction towards a larger tent arrange in mirror to the one Alaen had spotted. This one had been hidden from them by other tents but stood even larger, nearly as massive as some of the barracks Oran had seen. It was held up with more wooden poles than the others, and smoke poured from holes in its roof. At its entrance gathered a group of armed Vulk at their head was death itself. Vrocinerex stood arguing with a gray haired Vulk, his stubbed arm and single red eye stood out clear in Oran's memory. They could finish the crusade just here, but the Quest said it couldn't be won fighting. Alaen waited, his blade resting against his shoulder looking to Oran for orders.

Chapter 4:

If you missed Chapter 3 you can find the complete version here.

Vorcinerex paced atop the ridge of the knoll, looking down at their warriors as they attempted to fend off the scourge. He motioned wildly with his good arm and waved Elder Horak over to him, his red eye keeping watch of the lines. It was not going well for them, thought that was to be expected, they had not had a victory against the Humans in close to ten years. Still knowing this the tribes fought against the scourge. Horak reached the top of the knoll, his gray fur running to white  his tongue lolling the short trip exhausting him. The journey had been good for him, he'd shrunk to half his size since they started this migration, the humans dogged on their trail. They hadn't had appropriate time for gathering supplies or hunting, and so many had to do with far less to eat than they were accustomed too, the Elders more so than the rest.

"We're not going to be able to hold them at the edge of the woods much longer, have the Elders reconsidered letting the child fight them?" Vorcinerex growled.

Horak shied from Vorcinerex's wrath, when he spoke it was in a whine ."I'm sorry my Chief, the Elders have been clear on this, the child is too divine to be risked in confrontation."

"What good is the child divinity if the entire tribe is dead before she's matured!" the Chief loomed over the Elder and for a moment Fella thought he meant to strike Horak down.

Her mate steeled himself and dismissed the Elder with a snarl. She hunters positioned around her grew smaller, their tails growing stiff as they looked to escape the notice of Vorcinerex's wrath. He stalked down the hill to where she waited with their hunters a growl still sounding in his throat.

"Fools." He huffed as he took his place by her side.

"They merely seek to protect the child my Chief." Fella soothed.

He huffed in that tempered way of his, "I should send them to the front lines if its defending her they seek."

She eyed him coolly, Violet eyes piercing into the one good eye of his. He seemed himself then, the rage calming and he shook his head at her. "Hunters leave us."

They hesitated, knowing they were here to guard them, but unwilling to disobey. The sulked deeper into the woods just ahead of the pair, leaving them at the bottom of the hill alone. Well as alone as one could be while in the midst of a battle.

"These are our kin Fella, just as much as any pup. Why should her life mean more than all of theirs." He was hers again, the Vulk she'd joined herself too, not Vorcinerex the Vicious Chief of Chiefs. Their hunters, Vulk she'd known her entire life gave them room and pretended not to hear.

"You know why, even if we cannot understand it." she said in her gruff voice, the one that had won Vor to her. "She is a gift from our Mother, to lead our people to their rightful place."

His eye sought hers out, he spoke to her hushed then. "I fear that we may not have any people left to lead. I may have no choice but to send the Elders away with her, and try to lead Bloodlust away."

"The tribes will not be willing to leave her, you know this." They had discussed this very thing on several sleepless nights.

"There might not be many of them left after tonight, and regardless I don't plan on giving them a choice, too many of our kin have been lost already to their deliberations. You'll take the girl and the Elders by force with the hunters and steal into the Everwood. In such small numbers their Ships won't be able to seek you like they will this army. You'll be able to lose yourselves, and the tribes will lead them away." He sounded so sure, so sure of their defeat. This wasn't the Vor that had joined the tribes.

"The tribes will not stay together without the child Vor, they'll fracture just like they always have." She cautioned.

"Then that should help us further, forcing Bloodlust to chase several directions instead of one. He won't know that the child has slipped him until he's caught every one. Yes the more I speak of this the more I know it must be done. Tonight, tonight you steal the child and slip off into the dark." He stood taller now, the assured air returning to him. It would have been comforting to her if she did not find his plan so disastrous.

Just then a middling pup burst through the underbrush despite protestations from their ring of hunters. His longer fur and reddish tint placed him from tribe LongWood, which meant he was bringing information from their right flank.

"Chief of Chiefs! The RedMoons have been beaten back, they said there is an Immortal fighting with the Humans on that side. What's more Chief Hortavious says Bloodlust is with them."

Vorcinerex roared then, lost to his temper once more. Bloodlust, the Chief of the scourge, the man Vor blamed for the deaths of so many of their kin. He would seek Bloodlust out, try to end this war Chief to Chief. Hortavious was Chief RedMoon now, his brother had fallen then.

"Hunters, to me!" Vorcinenrex barked, while beginning in the direction the pup had come.

"My Chief, there was more. Chief Hortavious said that the Immortal and some humans broke through his warriors and continued on into the woods. He said they were headed towards the Elders." The Pup looked confused but it made too much sense, they knew, the Immortal knew exactly where to find the child. She looked to Vor but he was already loping up the hill, hunters gathered themselves and took off after him.

Would they be too late? Fella prayed to The Mother that they would not be, the child was their weapon even if she could not fight. She had unified the tribes the way no chief had been able to before. She would not let Vorcinerex break them, even if he was the Chief of Chiefs, even if he was her mate.