Chapter 8
Through the Woods
"You didn't exactly explain why you were up in the spider's nest?" Petra asked.
Steve was kneeled at her feet. "Didn't have time I suppose."
True to his words, Steve had led Lukas and Petra out of the spider's lair. It was a relief to be out of the foggy nightmare. Once they broke out of the dead ravine, the forest opened up into large quiet redwoods. There had been a cave on the other side, where the weakening rapids joined the rest of the river down a straight and calm path.
Jesse would have come through here.
Steve made them stop shortly after escaping the nest, despite their objections. He checked to make sure Lukas hadn't been poisoned, but the blonde merely suffered scrapes and bruises. Steve had quickly put some antiseptic on his arrow wound and gave Lukas a bandage to patch with. He now kneeled on mossy ground, reinforcing Petra's wrapped foot with splint.
"I was down here fishing," Steve explained, "When a spider stole my fish and my pole. I chased into the nest, but that big guy back there beat me to it. I was waiting for it to go back into its cave for a nap, when your friend over here came tumbling in."
Petra noticed Lukas flush.
"Did you seriously not know that was a nest? The Perpes River has been their home for centuries."
Petra twisted her fingers into the grass, "We've...never been here before."
"So you said you were from the other side of Adamans?"
Lukas froze, and Petra hesitated.
Clearly suspicious by their lack of answer, but very patient all the same; Steve jabbed his head, "The mountain range?"
"Yes." Petra quickly replied.
"Interesting, what brings you over here?" he finished his work and leaned back on his heels.
"Um-"
"Adventure," Lukas cut in, "To explore the unknown."
Steve let out a soft smile, for a moment there was a longing look in his eyes. "I guess I can't blame you there. But you need to be careful, you're down a person, and you both could have been seriously hurt."
"We got lost," Petra replied, "These woods got us all turned around."
"Well, we'll find your friend; we'll get you all rested and patched up. Then I'll get you in the right direction home."
I wish, Petra thought.
Steve stood, brushing dirt and moss off of his pants. "Ready?"
Petra and Lukas nodded eager to get back on the move in their search for Jesse.
Steve whistled a sharp high pitch note. It echoed through the woods, vibrating off of the tall trees. Just as it faded a large horse trotted into the clearing, followed by a second.
"Up we go!"
Petra stared at the horse. Like the spider from earlier, it was massive compared to the ones Petra was used to seeing.
"I think something ate your horses," Lukas stated equally dumfounded..
Steve snorted, "They're Clydesdales. They're supposed to be big. Meet Gaea and Titan. Gaea will be your ride," He turned to Petra, "Can you get up with your foot?"
Petra stood, "Of course." She hoisted herself up, only to get half way, "Or maybe not."
Lukas shoved her up the rest of the way, before Petra had to pull him up herself. She looked to Steve, the male adjusting the packs on the back of his horse. Clearly the other had been using Titan for the pack horse on his little hunting trip. He moved some bags aside, and tied his fishing bag on.
"Can you get on?" Petra asked.
Steve hooked one foot on the saddle, and easily swung up, "Of course," he replied. He moved Titan in front of Gaea, grabbing her reins and holding them tight.
"Don't trust us with the driving?" Lukas asked.
" We need to go fast, and I know these woods a bit better than you don't you think?" Steve made a funny click with his teeth and the horse immediately broke into a gallop. Steve only held onto Gaea's reins for about a hundred feet, then let go. The female continued following her male partner like a shadow.
The ride was exhilarating and intense. Steve rode the horses through tight curves, high jumps, low trees. The Clydesdales stayed true in all of their footing. Not even pausing or slowing down to turn and adjust. Titan leapt over a creeper at one point, not even alarmed by the creature.
Lukas was holding on tightly to Petra's waste, breath hitching with each dangerous move. Petra herself was gripping Gaea's mane. Only Steve remained calm and sure atop the enormous mounts.
I guess if anyone trusted these horses, he would. Petra concluded.
She felt only felt slightly uncomfortable following Steve through the woods. Something about him put her at relative ease. This was saying a lot, considering Brine had sent them into a death trap. Brine had been old, nothing too intimidating about him, save for his sword. But why had he pointed to the nest?
"Oh sweet creepers tell me we're close," Lukas suddenly, pulling her from her thoughts.
From the corner of her eye she saw a hoard of zombies, the horses bolting by without even the slightest hesitation. One zombie was even unfortunate enough to end up underneath the powerful legs of the beasts, and still they moved on.
"Steve!" Petra called.
He glanced back, the motion making Petra a little uneasy since he no longer was watching where he was going,"What is it?"
"Are we close?!"
Steve ducked a low hanging branch, leaving Petra to wonder how he knew it was coming, "The monsters are getting thicker now."
"Is that a yes?" Lukas called over Petra's shoulder.
Steve nodded, and turned once again forward.
With the fall weather making daytime shorter, sunset was already close, it would soon be dark. Monsters would grow in number in the shadows. The chances of Jesse surviving a second night, much less the rest of the day were slim.
The horses burst into a clearing, and skidded to a stop by the muddy banks of the river. They had lost sight of it shortly after they had taken off, but there is was again. Orange sunlight glittered off the calm waters. Most of the water still moved slowly down the river ways. But a small amount slopped down, making a large pool.
The watering hole.
Steve was already off Titan, walking slowly along the banks.
"I don't see him," Lukas whispered.
Petra didn't reply, just kept her eyes on the waters. There was no Jesse on the banks. But the water was deep and dark at the bottom...
"Steve!"
Steve didn't respond, he kneeled in the mud, inspecting the markings in the ground. "Someone was here." he stated after a moment.
Panic flared in Petra's chest.
"Was?!" Lukas asked, fear dripping in his voice.
Steve nodded, "A few hours ago." he moved farther inland.
Petra was about to get off the horse, "What if he is in the water!"
"He's not," Steve replied, "Just stay on Gaea."
"We're not going to sit on a horse while Jesse is-"
"Jesse isn't here."
"Where is he?!" Lukas panicked.
"Someone else came through here a few hours ago as well," Steve replied, his voice even and calm. "They probably found him."
"Where would they go?! He could be anywhere!"
Steve climbed back on Titan. "There is only one village near here, if anyone took Jesse, they'd take him there." He stirred Titan forward, Gaea following after automatically. "Don't worry we'll find him."
Petra started to say something, but her mouth clamped shut.
"Petra we can't do this," Lukas hissed in her ear, "He's probably leading us on a wild goose chase. If Steve had been truly fishing earlier, like he claimed, he would have seen Jesse don't you think. He's wasting our time. Jesse has to be here somewhere."
"I really think he's trying to help."
"The last guy sent us into spider's nest. Steve's probably some psychopath who lives in his isolated cabin in the middle of nowhere."
Petra frowned, "I don't think so, besides, "She looked down, the horse was already going full gallop, "Do you think jumping off is the smartest thing to do right now?"
Lukas said nothing, and adjusted his grip around Petra's waist.
The village was fairly decent in size. Most of the primitive villages Lukas had seen so far on this never ending journey home had been quaint, if not insecure. The one however was not.
Resting on a rolling hill, the village was built upon layers. All along the town's paths were watchtowers of various height and width. A stone wall circled the village, going not only around the houses themselves, but the multitude of garden's and out building's as well. There was a town hall, a library, blacksmith and what looked like a school. Even at the edge of town there was a race track and a large amphitheater built into the hill-side.
It was one of a kind.
Also the first one Lukas had seen where most of the locals were armed. Most of the men carried swords, and there were archers in the towers as well as guards at the cities gates. To top of security, there were at least a dozen golems within the town, Lukas spotted at least eight or nine more in the farmer's district, the silent stone behemoths walking between rows of corn and wheat.
Secure indeed.
Seeing Steve actually take them to a village and not some desolate cabin in the woods gave Lukas a little relief.
But it was brief.
Steve pulled the horses to a stop in what Lukas assumed - was the blacksmith. "Bach!"
A large thick man exited the building. Easily taller than Steve. He was bald, but sported a thick black beard and mustache, growing all the way down to the middle of his chest. His dark tan face and exposed arms were dirtied with grim and sweat. Burn scars littered his arms, and another on his left jaw, disappearing under his beard. He was different from other blacksmiths Lukas had seen, there was nothing small and humble about this man.
Bach was the definition of scary.
"Steve!" Bach grinned broadly, "Back from the river already? I assumed you'd be up there for a few more days at most. Was the fishing that good?" His smile dropped when he spotted Lukas and Petra, "What happened? Who are they?"
Steve unhook his bag of fish from his saddle and threw it effortlessly towards the blacksmith, who caught it with the same amount of ease, "I'm afraid there was a mishap, has anyone been to the watering hole lately?"
"No why-"
"Our friend fell in the river, he's wounded," Petra blurted, not stopping as Bach looked to her with a hardened stare, "Steve said someone might have found him at the watering hole."
Bach's eyes softened at the explanation, he turned back to Steve, "I'm sorry my friend, but this time of year only you and the Healer go to the pond."
Steve cursed.
Lukas swallowed thickly, his heart pounding hard against his chest. Jesse wasn't here then. He was probably back-
"Bach? Who is that?"
Bach looked back into his shop, "It's Steve luv, he's run into a bit of trouble."
A woman exited the building, cleaner than her male counterpart. Her much paler face was covered in a fine sheen of sweat, a sprig of dill in her dark brown hair. In her hand she carried a large wooden ladle, large enough to bludgeon. She was pregnant, easily five months or so along. But the tender glow of future motherhood did not mask her confident and strong posture.
"Mariah," Bach explained, "His little friend's here lost their mate in the river. Steve thinks he washed up in the pond.
Mariah raised an eyebrow, her cloudy grey eyes immediately filled with worry, "Did they now?" She looked at Steve, "You were wondering if anyone has seen him?"
Steve nodded.
"Aye, I told them no one has been up to the pond for a few weeks now,"
"What does he-" Mariah grabbed her husband's arm, "Bach wait. The Healer."
Steve leaned in, "Was she there?"
"I went to see her early this morning," Mariah replied, "Picking up a potion for my morning sickness. She was very busy cleaning up a young lad. Awful mess he was. Poisoned by an archer she said."
"Jesse!" Lukas and Petra cried.
Steve was already turning the horses, "Bach, Mariah, I owe you."
"You know you owe us nothing!" Bach called as they rode away, "Good luck young ones!"
Petra looked slowly around as the horses came to a stop.
Much to her dismay, this healer, didn't live within the city limits; instead choosing to live about a quarter of a mile out of town. Then to her greater dismay - and her fear - this was the nothing like a hospital.
It was a farmhouse.
Which Steve had the keys too apparently? He was already off the horse and walking up the porch steps.
Petra waited for Lukas to get off their ride- which he almost twisted his own ankle in the process of doing - before she made her descent. Lukas aided her as she moved down the saddle.
Her feet stepped down on mossy, cushy, thick grass, Lukas immediately moved closer to her and there he remained.
"You don't need to stand there like scarecrows you know." the older male called from the wraparound porch.
Lukas had a hand in Petra's, tightening in discomfort. Neither moved.
Steve huffed, "Okay, wait here then." He added, "Can't say I blame you."
Petra watched for a moment as Steve fiddled with the lock, and then slowly looked around the property.
The farm looked harmless enough, large multi-story house. There was a hanging swing on the porch, and multiple cushioned chairs. There was an equally large garden to the left, and blooming flower beds. Animal's pens not far off to the right, each well stocked with feed and barns for the animals. Even sunflowers grew along the vine covered stone wall that lined the property.
Certainly not any obvious sign of danger.
Right?
"Lukas…."
"I'll follow you." The blonde whispered.
Petra nodded and moved forward, her team mate right behind.
They were almost on the porch when Steve finally got the door open, "I really got to fix that lock." He smiled at the pair, "Welcome to my home."
Petra paused, "I thought this was the healer's home."
"It is, and well, it's mine to."
"Does that mean..."
Steve nodded as he walked in; "I am a married ma-" Steve froze.
"Steve?" Lukas asked. "What's wr-"
"ALEX!" The older male's sudden shout startle Petra, confused as he raced into the dim house.
Lukas tapped her shoulder and pointed. Following his finger she spotted the apparent source of Steve's distress. It was shattered glass, glittering in thousands of tiny pieces on the dark oak floor.
"ALEX! Answer me!" To see someone - who had handled a monstrous spider with unnatural calm earlier - look so stressed, was unnerving. Steve was hurrying towards a closed door on the other side of the wide room, "Alex where-" The door opened at that moment.
"Steve what is it-" A carrot top ginger female flew out of the room, oddly enough with a letter opener in hand. She collided with Steve her forehead connecting to his jaw.
Both let out a cry, more from surprise then pain, and tumbled to the floor in a mess of arms and legs.
It was done and over so quickly that Lukas and Petra had barely time to react.
"Um, what just happened?" Lukas said.
The pair quickly began to untangle themselves, grunting and groaning as they went.
"Damn it Steve!"
"Why yell at me? You're the one who didn't answer me! Why in the world are you wielding the letter opener?!"
"You're the one who was screaming for me, I thought you were hurt! I thought something was wrong and I didn't have time to exactly arm myself did I?"
Steve was the first to stand, rubbing his tender jaw, "Understandable, but a letter opener? I mean, really sweetie?"
"Don't sweetie me." Alex stood, dusting herself off, "Who are your friends?"
"Lukas and Petra," Steve said, "I'm gonna cut to the chase here. They got lost in the woods and one of their team mates was hurt and fell in the river. I thought he might have washed up in the watering hole, but there was no one there. Mariah said you had a patient and I was hoping-"
"Alex are you okay?"
Petra's eyes widened. That voice...
Steve made a startled glance towards the door which Alex had exited from moments before, "Who was that?"
"My patient," Alex replied, "His name is-"
"Jesse!" Petra cried.
Lukas and Petra raced by the pair, hardly pausing to squeeze through the door way.
Inside the quaint and well furnished room, Jesse sat propped up in a thick bed. Bandages wrapped the majority of his chest and there were a few scrapes and bruises around his face and arms. But the most important bit, he was alive.
Jesse stared wide eyed, "Guys? How did you-"
"You're okay!" Petra rushed to the bed, "We thought we lost you when you fell in the river!"
"I was poisoned-"
"We know!" Lukas cut in, joining Petra by the bed, "We've been searching all day for you!"
Jesse raised an eyebrow, "How did you find me?"
"Well we followed the river first, and then we ran into -"
" I'm glad this worked out,"
Lukas and Petra turned, to see Steve at the door, one arm wrapped around his wife. He winked at Alex, "Glad you went to the watering hole today,"
Alex shook her head, "I can't imagine how you missed him Steve."
"His friend's say he fell in during the storm," Steve explained, "I wasn't by the river during that." He smiled brightly, "I take it you're Jesse?"
"And you must be Alex's husband, Steve," Jesse replied.
"That I am. Pleased to meet you, shame it was under such stressful times."
"We met Steve by the spider's nest," Lukas started.
"Spider's nest!" Jesse sputtered.
Alex gave Steve a look, "You took them through the crevice?!"
"No, I found them there." Steve replied, "Look, I tell you about it and you tell me about the broken glass." He paused, "And what in Notch's beard happened to your nose." He tapped his wife's nose.
The female exchanged glances with Jesse, who in turn blushed horribly, "It's almost ironic really. But-" She tugged her partner's arm, "I tell you later. Why don't we clean up the kitchen and get dinner for everyone and let these three catch up?"
Steve nodded, "Sounds good, Lukas, Petra," he smiled at the pair, "We'll be out here if you need anything."
And with that, Steve and Alex closed the door behind them.
Petra returned her attention to Jesse, smiling brightly, "I'm just so glad you're okay."
"I'm glad to see you guys," Jesse replied, "But what about you? You look awful, and what's this about a spider's nest?"
Lukas let out a disgusted noise, "Well after we lost you we ran into the woods. Then got attacked by some monster, I was shot- no poison don't worry - and Petra twisted her leg. We followed the river, which led to this gorge between the mountains. It was full of spiders, big ones."
"Okay?"
"No seriously, big ones. We are talking the size of a small house big. One almost ate me."
Jesse's eyes widen slightly.
"Then Steve showed up and just," Petra shrugged, "Killed it."
"Killed it?"
"He didn't even break a sweat Jesse."
Jesse looked towards the door, eyes full of curiosity, "From what I gathered from Alex, Steve is the main hunter for their village; it wouldn't surprise me. But spider's as big as a house? That seems farfetched."
"We're serious; this world is different from the others we've been to." Lukas pressed.
"Speaking of different worlds," Petra said her voice dropping into a whisper. "What have you told Alex?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well Lukas and I haven't told Steve about the portal." Petra explained, " AS fasr as he's concerned, the three of us are from beyond the mountain range."
"The one past the volcano?"
"Yes. What have you told Alex?"
"Nothing so far," Jesse answered. "She's curious but-"
Suddenly the door opened and Steve and Alex walked in. "Who's hungry?" Steve asked, "It's been a long weekend for everyone don't you think?" Alex herself was carrying a large tray filled to the brim of various meats and other delicious food items. It smelled absolutely perfect.
Petra felt her stomach rumble, she glanced at Jesse who gave her an encouraging nod. "Thank you," she said as she took a plate.
"Thank you so much for finding Jesse," Lukas said as he took a plate.
"Gladly," Alex replied, she handed a bowl of stew to Jesse. "Sorry dear, until your stomach settles it's stew for you."
Jesse still took the bowl, "I'm not complaining."
Lukas and Petra remained on the bed as Steve and Alex took the two chairs across the room. Petra hardly paused a second to cool her food she was so hungry. The food tasted as good as it smelled, the meat nearly melting in her mouth.
"So," Steve said as he settled into his chair, he took a small bite of food and smiled at the now complete trio, "What brings you three through the Portal of Worlds?"
A.N. Bach and Mariah have Scottish accents, just so ya know.
Next Time on MCSM: Immortal's Child...
"There never used to be a hallway. There was no way between worlds." Steve explained, "Before the Old Builder's came there was only one way out of here. The power of the Immortals."
"Immortals?" Jesse asked.
"The First, he was the one who taught the Old Builder's to make the portals. Everything started here, this is Notch's creation."
"What do you mean?"
"This is the First World. The beginning of the Hallway."