A King's War

Chapter 8

VER

“I’m curious,” Aila said with a tone of steel. “were you hoping to kill us when you pushed us into the mud the first time?”

If Raven noticed the hostile tone, she didn’t seem to care. “If the mud bubbles,” She said. “it’s safe. If it's still, you want to avoid it. The only thing I was hoping to do when I pushed the lot of you into the mud was ruin your pretty outfits. Now be quiet.”

Galen smiled and stifled a laugh whilst Aila looked like she wanted to kill Raven.

Raven abruptly stopped and held up her hand as she crouched low. “Get down and don’t move,” She ordered.

We all froze and crouched down beside her as she stared straight ahead. I was crouched beside her, our shoulders pressed together as she looked through the trees at something only she could see.

“I don’t hear anything,” I whispered to her.

“That’s the problem,” She responded quietly, leaning closer to make sure her voice wouldn’t be heard. “Dark hunters,” She added softly.

“How do you-” She clapped a gloved hand over my mouth before I could finish my sentence. She pressed a finger to her lips and then pointed off into the darkness.

I frowned as I looked in that direction, trying to see what she saw but there was nothing there. Just when I was about to turn back to her, something moved in the shadows. I felt my breath catch in my throat and my heart start to hammer in my chest as I watched it come closer to us. It was at least twice my size with arms that nearly touched the ground as it walked. Black skin, sharp claws glistening in toxins, and teeth dripping with it. It moved slowly, just sort of dragging itself along and was heading straight for us.

“That’s a big one,” Raven muttered to herself.

Aila began to back up and Raven’s hand shot out, fisting into her cloak, and keeping her from moving.

“Let go,” Aila hissed quietly. “We need to get out of here.”

“Don’t move and don’t make a sound,” Raven said.

“That thing is coming right for us,” Galen told her.

“Don’t move and don’t make a sound,” Raven repeated.

I could feel the stares of both Aila and Galen, but I found myself unable to say anything. I had seen these creatures before, yes, but never this close. And it was coming closer still. I found myself holding my breath as it was only a wagon’s length away and closing. I was certain it was going to turn to us and kill us and I was wondering why Raven insisted that we didn’t move. I wanted to move. Was tempted to run in fact, but her words from before echoed in my head.

“I can get you through the Red Forest without a problem if you listen and obey everything I tell you. . .”

I looked at her and even though she was tensed and ready to go at a moment’s notice, her face as calm, serene even. She wasn’t worried and for some reason, that eased my fears just a little bit.

The dark hunter was practically on top of us at this point, it’s large clawed foot landing less than a sword’s length away from Raven and still, she did not move nor utter a sound. She remained completely still and calm. The rest of us looked up at the massive creature, just waiting for it to turn toward us. We all had our hands on our weapons. Raven only had one hand on her wooden staff.

It didn’t even stop in its course. Didn’t turn toward us at all and instead just kept moving its straight line away from us. Passing right by. Raven motioned for us to stay quiet and still until it was finally completely out of sight. Even then, she waited a few moments before standing up straight once more and motioning to us again.

“Come on,” She said. “We need to move quickly, there will be others.” She took off at a fast pace and we were still in too much of a shock to follow right away. We faltered for a moment before taking off after her.

“Why didn’t it attack us?” I asked her as we leapt over some fallen trees. “It had to have seen us.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” She replied. She stopped for a moment to turn toward me. “What you and the rest of the world have failed to realize, is that dark hunters are blind.”

“What?”

“They have no eyes,” She said. “They rely solely on hearing and smell. So, if you’re quiet and don’t smell like anything other than the Red Forest . . .” She trailed off as she gestured to the mud on our clothes. “They’re not going to attack you because they don’t know you’re there. Everyone just immediately panics when they see a dark hunter. Shouting, screaming, running. That’ll get you killed.”

“Thank you,” I found myself saying.

She frowned. “What for?”

“That’s the second time tonight that you’ve saved our lives.”

She nodded slowly. “Don’t mention it. She looked up into the trees. “Sun’s coming up,” She said.

I looked up but couldn’t make anything out through the thick canvas of branches and leaves. “How can you tell?” I asked her.

“It’s getting warmer,” She replied before gesturing with her head for us to follow. “Let us get moving, we can rest for a while up ahead. I know of a fairly safe spot.”

I walked beside her as we continued on. Aila and Galen walked behind us, their hands on their swords. Raven’s focus was solely on the path in front of her, her eyes darting around wildly, seemingly watching everything all at once.

“I’ve heard that the toxin of the dark hunters has no cure,” I said, turning to study her face as we walked.

She nodded. “That’s true. One scratch from their claws or one bite from their teeth and you’re done for. If you’re lucky, you’ll bleed out before the toxin kills you. It’s a very painful way to die.”

“How do you know that?”

She turned to look at me briefly and her expression was grim. “I’ve seen many fall to the toxin of the dark hunters. Your skin starts to turn grey, your blood black, your mind begins to unravel, sweats, nightmares, and then your insides melt into black goo, and you’re finally freed.” She shook her head. “It’s a horrible way to go.”

I nodded my agreement silently while I thought over her words. I fought back a shiver. If everything she said was the truth then I definitely agreed. It was a horrible way to go.

“You’ve seen them before,” She suddenly said.

I turned to her with a frown. “What?” I questioned.

“You didn’t react the same way most people do when they see a dark hunter for the first time. You’ve seen them before,” She repeated.

“Is that surprising?”

She shook her head. “It’s curious,” She said. “Seeing as Ralorns are rather reclusive. Never leaving their kingdom unless they have to. When did you first see one?” She turned to look at me, her eyes seemed to be piercing through mine as if she could see right into my soul.

The answer was never far from my memory. “The day Ralorn fell,” I muttered as I turned away from her to look at the path ahead.

She didn’t say anything for a while. “I’m sorry for the death of your parents,” She said. “They were good people.”

“How did you know them?” I asked her. “Tephysea said-”

“Ah,” She cut me off. “Tephysea. Yes, that’s a name I know. I was wondering how you knew to ask for me at the inn. Surprising she would send you to me.”

I frowned down at her. “Why is that?”

“Because,” She replied. “Tephysea hates me.” I opened my mouth to question her further on the matter but she continued anyway. “As for how I knew your parents, I approached them with a proposition one day.” She glanced at me. “You know that I take people through the Red Forest, but what you don’t know is that after getting them out of the Red Forest, I would take them Meern.”

“Why Meern?” I asked her.

“Meern has control over all the waterways. They have ships. It’s the best place for the refugees of the war to go because they can board a ship and start anew. Unfortunately, Meern is a six day journey from the Red Forest and sometimes it was not possible to just continue on immediately after exiting the Red Forest. So, I requested an audience with your father and asked permission to bring the refugees into his kingdom for a reprieve before continuing on to Meern. Your father agreed and would personally help to cater to the needs of the refugees as well as myself. I knew him very well.”

“Refugees?” I questioned.

“Yes,” She replied. “There are many people that want out of their kingdoms after the Ruthless King has conquered them. I don’t typically guide travelers or soldiers through the Red Forest, I usually only take refugees through.”

I thought about that for a moment. “Then why did you agree to help us?” I asked her.

She blew out a breath and didn’t look at me this time. “Because I owe it to your father, and that’s all I’m going to say on the matter.” She slowed to a stop. “I know elves are known for having good stamina, but I’m sure you’re all exhausted. We’ll stop here to rest for a while. I’ll keep watch, just relax.”

I looked off deeper into the forest.

Raven looked at me. “We’re making good time,” She said. “We’ll make it to your brother.”

“I hope so,” I muttered as I took a seat on a fallen log. I continued to stare off into the forest, my mind wandering to my brother. I prayed to the Gods that she was right. That we’d make it there in time because I wouldn’t know how to live with myself if we didn’t.