Part 7

I woke as the last rays of sun set behind the tops of the trees. I could tell that it wasn't full dark yet, but in our little patch of the woods it was enough to pull my mind and then my body back to the world of the living, and away from the little death of my sleep. I didn't move, but just looked out towards the mouth of our cavern, to see Alcide and Jankin huddled around a small fire, the smell of roasted flesh, rabbit I surmised, wafted back to me. I still found it pleasant, even if the taste itself gave me nothing but cramps and pains.

Alcide was sitting on his haunches, as I was used to seeing him, ready to spring. Keeping himself warm over the scant flames, he'd eaten his meat first, likely more raw than cooked. The show he was putting on was for Jankin's benefit. He wanted to be in his wolf form, I could see the prickling of his skin. He could sense the supernatural all around us, just as I could, and it was more than just the presence of the half fairy sharing his kill.

Jankin had covered his spiky dark hair with the hood of his cloak and he seemed to be making an effort to conceal all his exposed skin. The cloak rested over his broad shoulders, and draped over his crossed legs, as he sat in front of the fire. As I looked more closely at him, the bright blue eyes, the full lips, I nearly convinced myself that he was actually glowing; not the yellow of the flame, but a pure blue white light. Even his hands, the long fingers that picked meat from between the small bones, seemed to shine. Alcide didn't seem to notice, and I questioned whether I was truly seeing it, or if it was a product of the blood I had taken from him over the months. Finally I stirred. Not making a great show of waking, since I knew both of them would be aware of even the smallest gesture, both being on alert in their own ways. I sat up and sought out my sword, taking it with me as I stood.

Jankin turned and smiled at me, the soft smile I was used to seeing as he attended me each night after the hunt. But now he was a part of the most deadly one yet, and I was never more happy for that.

"All full up then my friends?" I walked forward to join them at the flames.

Alcide's wolfie smile was also the same as always. For the time being my universe was unchanged. Though by the end of that night it would be more the antithesis of all I had ever known.

ooOOoo

Alcide had gone on a little ahead of us, still trying to shake the feeling of other that had him on edge. I could still see him, eyes and nose darting about, blades in both hands. That left Jankin and I together, striding behind him. As we walked I could see the tension stiffening Jankin's shoulders, as if he understood that we were going in the right direction (which I had truthfully never doubted). I had seen him silent before, and even scolding, and less frequently, comfortable, even happy, but I had never seen him afraid, and I was certain that was what I was seeing just then. I put a careful hand on his arm, not to stop him, but show him that I wanted to understand.

"What are we walking into Jankin?"

"Perhaps nothing, perhaps the gates of oblivion themselves Eric." He kept his eyes straight ahead and did not break his stride.

"You need to tell me."

"I don't know anything for certain Eric."

"But you have a sense. What is out there?"

"A terrible magic." The serious tone of his voice might have disturbed me if I had not been expecting it.

"And at its source Jankin?"

"An equally terrible being." He took a very deep breath and gripped the pommel of his blade.

"And what is he to you Jankin?"

"My enemy." I let my fangs drop.

There was no further time to speak on it, as we approached the slope of the gorge. Alcide stopped, shucking off his shirt, and pants, and handing his daggers back to me, he transformed to his wolf being. He had been vibrating for most of the last hour, wanting to take advantage of the feral skills that came with the fur and fangs. The conversation that Jankin and I had shared could not have failed to contribute to his anxiety for he certainly had heard every word. Even with the four feet now padding against the scrubby ground he was silent as he moved. Quieter than Jankin and I could manage, even with our skill. We all paused as the topography changed obviously from forest to cliff and looked out into the abyss. Jankin let out a deep breath, punctuated by the panting from Alcide's now lupine mouth. I surmised that he could not see as well as either of us could, but of course I had never asked him the depths of his powers.

"What are we looking for Jankin?"

"I imagine he will have a fortification of sorts. Nothing he will have wasted a great deal of time on constructing. He does not mean to stay here; he has greater designs for this place. It will be enough to protect a portal."

"Can you lead us to it?"

He nodded and pointed just to his left, drawing his sword. I did likewise. I did not yet have all the answers, but I had enough to be wary. Alcide took point as we descended. It was his growl that was our first alert to trouble. We stopped as four mighty looking beasts crashed from around a copse of scraggly trees to try and surround us.

Prior to that night I had never seen an Elf, the stories from my childhood did them little justice. Not the little people youngsters are told of in their tiny beds at evenfall, no, quite the opposite. They had to be seven feet tall, taller than myself, with faces carved into wicked points, just like their teeth. Eyes that gleamed complete hatred, and ears that looked hard as rock, even curled over against themselves, sticking out from hair shorn like wheat stalks at harvest time; crooked noses and long fingers that ended in talons. They were naked but for strips of cloth to keep things out of the way of battle and low shrubs I guessed, though not just then, just then I had my sword at the ready, prepared to take on as many as I needed to.

Trust Alcide to be the first to move on them, leaping towards the chest of the one closest to him and being batted away with a beefy fist as if he were no more than a bug. Not that it stopped him, rolling to land he was back on all fours and tearing at the ankles of his chosen one, eliciting bellows of pain, and earning himself a mouthful of blood for his efforts. It stank to the heavens. He leapt away from the second swat, snarling. To my left Jankin was staring down at a second, his sword gripped so tightly I could see his knuckles turning white, and I began to wonder if he had ever actually used the thing before; at least until I saw the blur of its flight, and heard the squeal of the Elf as it whipped across his chest, drawing a jagged line of blood. Not that it stopped him advancing.

I snarled my teeth at the remaining Elves and leapt at one, expecting to cleave him in two with my longsword, but I did little better than take a strip of flesh off a left arm; which only angered the beast even further. His skin was like leather. He advanced on me and I swung again drawing more blood and more ire. Even though we all continued to make contact with the various targets it didn't seem to slow them down, and I became quite concerned about us being herded into a corner, especially as there was one more of them than of us, and so I took the chance given by their attention to Alcide to vault over one and recommence the attack from behind, forcing at least one of them to wheel on me, exposing an undefended back. I tried to lead him to me so that Alcide and his claws could have their way with him, and for a moment it seemed to be working, and Alcide had done his part, clawing at the beast's muscled thighs until he was forced to his knees. But beyond that I saw two Elves turning their attentions to Jankin and I knew, despite his masterful work with his blade, he could not keep them at bay for long. Running around the mêlée, I came to his side and joined my blade with his, taking piece by piece off the closest Elf until he backed away for a moment, roaring his displeasure before advancing again. We were making little headway; that much was obvious. The things felt the pain, but it did not stop their drive. I changed tack, and sheathed my longsword, grabbing up Alcide's daggers, which I had tucked into my belt. I might not be able to slash through the leathery skin, I reasoned in moment, but the eyes, they were always vulnerable if you could get to them, so I pounced.

One blade hit its mark, driving deep into the gelatinous center of the globe, the other bounced off a thickened brow, and I was tossed yards away into the bedrock that made up the walls of the gorge, not knocking the breath from me, as that was quite impossible, but stunning me for a few moments. Before I could move I saw the beast, a hand clutched to the socket I had enucleated, bellowing and flailing out its free arm, hoping to strike something, which it did, Jankin, sending him limply crashing into the scrub. I was on my feet in seconds, charging at the thing, sword back in my hands, full fury in my grip as I ran him through with the sheer force of my will (I believe), and finally he crumpled to the ground. Before I could attend to my fallen companion though, I felt the steel grip on my shoulders, and was again torn from my feet. I landed after spiraling onto my front and felt the immediate weight of a body on top of mine, and I felt the claws tearing at my back. And then I smelled the blood; my own blood, and I felt its warmth turn to ice on my cold skin. Then came the searing burn. I did not have the presence of mind just then to understand that molten silver had been somehow poured over me, into the wounds that had not had time to heal, to mix with my torn flesh.

I screamed.