Chapter 3: The Kalkara

"I want a report, numbers on the injured, anything that was destroyed by the mad-man firing arrows at us, and send someone after them," Alton growled as the healer bound his arm to his chest. "And be quick about it!"
"Of course Lord Alton," the young squire bowed before running out of the tent.
"And you," Alton turned his steeled gaze on Karigan. "What were you thinking, smacking Night Hawk like that?"
"I was thinking it was preferable to be hacked to bits by the horseman trying to escape that hell of a forest," Karigan snapped leveling her own steeled glare at the Green Rider. "And you're the one that fell off him and dislocated your shoulder. That's not my fault."
"Not your," Alton gapped at her trying to find a phrase to completely convey his outrage at the statement. "You sent him bucking off like a colt! How is it not your fault?"
"You're a Green Rider. I had assumed that you could manage to maintain your seat in the saddle." Alton opened his mouth the comment, but Karigan was not finished. "And that rider was too busy trying to keep his horse free of those clinging vines to pay you much attention. If I hadn't gotten Night Hawk moving, we've have a lot more to deal with than the arrows littering the camp."
"We are supposed to keep what's in Blackveil, in Blackveil!" Alton shouted as the healer tied off the bandages. "That's why we're here Karigan."
"They're not a threat," Karigan countered crossing her arms. "The guardians were not concerned about their presence, and Merdigen said they had a mission here."
"Merdigen said," Alton leapt to his feet, leaving the healer behind as he advanced on Karigan. "What could Merdigen possible know about the monsters that come from Blackveil?"
"That rider and the man firing arrows are friendly. And when I find them, I'm sure they'll explain everything."
"You're not riding out after them."
"Oh really?" Karigan challenged. "I'm a full-fledged Green Rider, I have more experience in the field than you, and in case it's slipped you're attention, it's Sir Rider G'ladheon. Sir, Lord Alton. And you wanted someone to ride after them."
Karigan turned from Alton before he could respond and stormed out of the tent, leaving the Heir of D'Yer Providence with his mouth hanging open.
She saddled Condor and rode from the camp before could stop her. She had to get away from Alton. She had to get away from Blackveil, just being near the wall and thinking about the contents of that forest—of what that rider had gone through to reach the wall—sent shivers down her spine.
Condor easily picked up on Karigan's rage, he ran through the Green Cloak at her bidding like they were being chased by Groundmites. And Karigan fumed during their ride. The longer they were away from camp the more her anger seemed to be fueling her thoughts; it was not long before the only thing running through her mind was Alton. And Alton had been a very unpleasant thought for a few years.
"Where does he get off, trying to tell me what I can or can't do?" she asked Condor when she finally slowed him to a walk. "I'm not some little child in need of protection!"
She shook her head in anger. She had saved his life, that rider would have slashed his head off if Alton had tried to stop him. He should have been thanking her, not scolding her like a child. And then he should be looking for those riders to offer them assistance, not to incarcerate them. People did not just ride out of Blackveil, and if the guardians had been unconcerned they were not bad.
"He needs to sort out his priorities," she decided, reining in Condor. "And until he does, we'll do what he should be doing." Condor turned so he was looking up at her with one large brown eye.
Karigan smiled rubbing his neck, "We're going to find that horseman and his friend, and find out what they were doing in Blackveil."

"Get up," Will kicked Horace with the toe of his boot. Groggily Horace rolled over, pulling his blankets up. Will kicked Horace again, a little harder. "Horace get up, she left the camp."
"Alyss is a big girl, she can take care of herself," Horace yawned, scooting up in his bed roll.
"Not Alyss, that girl," Will kicked Horace in the shin roughly.
"What girl?" He felt like he had hardly slept at all. It was still daylight out, which meant he had hardly gotten any sleep. His mind was foggy from the exhaustion, what girl was there besides Alyss that caused Will problems?
"The one the Kalkara are after."
"Oh, that girl," Horace gasped sitting up in his bed roll. "Why didn't you tell me she was leaving her camp?"
Will gave the knight a withering glare, his mouth falling to a frown. Horace leapt from his bed roll and started trying to pull on his boots. "Are you finished yet?" Will asked in mock curiosity when Horace finally managed to pull one boot on.
"Almost," Horace grunted as he forced his foot into his other boot. "Is Kicker saddled?"
"Yes, I saddled both of them, now come on," Will was already mounted, watching Horace with impatience. Horace frowned, crossing the camp to where Kicker was waiting.
Will led the way out of their small camp. He had left most of his gear behind. With any luck they would return there after an uneventful ride through the countryside of this strange world they found themselves in. He had watched the girl ride off; hopefully she had left an easily followed trail or, even better, rode along a cleared road through the dense forest.
He leaned low over Tug's neck as they rode, helping the shaggy grey pony maintain his speed and looking for signs of the girl's passing. He saw the evidence of a diverse community of wildlife, but nothing of the girl. Where could she have gone?
"Will, I know you're busy trying to find this girl, but I think there's something you need to see."
Will slowed Tug to a walk and looked back to where Horace should have been riding behind them. Horace was several meters back, looking off to their right. His hand was wrapped tightly around the hilt of his sword. Will followed the direction of Horace's eyes, and reached for his own saxe.
Shambling through the trees a half kilometer to their right was one of the Kalkara. It seemed fairly preoccupied, and failed to notice the two mounted fighters so close by. Will was thankful for that. He was not prepared to face a Kalkara.
It looked just as disgusting as the first one Will had faced. The brown hair was matted and woven together with mud, bits of twigs and leaves stuck to it. Its long hairy arms swung at it's as it clomped through the underbrush with massive mud encrusted feet. The red eyes faced forward, intent on the beat's destination.
Will turned quickly, looking ahead of the monster. That girl, whoever she was, was out here and had no idea that a Kalkara was after her. The last time Will had fought a Kalkara it had taken, two Knights, and a Ranger to help slay the beast. This time there was only Will and Horace.
"She must be close by," Horace brought Kicker up alongside Will and Tug.
"She is," Will answered, spotting the girl walking her horse slowly up ahead of the Kalkara. "And it's gotten her scent."
The two friends laid their heels into their mounts, going from a stop to a dead run in seconds. Will drew an arrow and knocked his massive longbow as he rode, allowing Tug to navigate the terrain. Horace drew his sword, hoping it would be enough to at least slow the Kalkara a little.
"Ride!" Will shouted at the girl, "Get out of there, it's coming for you!"
The girl turned and spotted the monster first. Her hand reached to her side where she drew a saber. She turned to charge the Kalkara. Her horse, however, had other ideas. It fought her commands, sidestepping to try and run away from the Kalkara. She shouted something neither Will nor Horace could understand, and suddenly vanished from their sight.
"Gorlog's teeth!" Horace shouted, "What sorcery is that?!"
"She's still there Horace, the Kalkara hasn't changed course."
Indeed the Kalkara had not diverted from its original path, but it had sped up to meet her charge. Will drew his arrow back, using the powerful muscles in his back to draw the full eighty kilo weight, brought the yew bow to a full draw. With a deep thrum, the arrow hissed off cutting through the air and embedding the head in the armor-like coat of fur on the Kalkara's back.
"Damn," he breathed, drawing another arrow. "Horace we're going to need a fire."
"I don't think we have the time Will," Horace answered just as the monster let out a triumphant howl.
It had found the girl, and had the horse in the clutches of two massive paws.