The small band of Thoseans were now in view of the small battle line, with Cyn in the center, his wooden shield with his house's marks raised in his left hand and his single handed long sword in his right. They were hard to miss, and the Thoseans had been drawn by the campfire smoke in the first place. The Thosean rabble seemed to be less interested in tactics than Cyn and Fedelmid. With no plan at all, the warriors charged while the five friends held their ground, and Kim had taken her first life by way of an arrow in the lung. The small fight had officially begun.
"Let them come to us. Hold this line!" Cyn barked, pushing his shield forward and Milton followed suit with his own shield. Jack stood firm with both feet planted and knees slightly bent, his sword held in a defensive position while his ax was raised to strike. Jerry and Fedelmid stood with high guards for sweeping blocks and strikes. The line was prepared to take a small charge while kim continued her steady rain of arrows from the tree behind the line, felling any that appeared to have bows. In another moment, the four young warriors would see just how much they had learned.
The Thoseans were at a full sprint, only a mere five staying back to attempt to dislodge Kim from her perch. The remaining ten had reached the line of the five men on the ground. These ten stood no chance against the seasoned Fedelmid and Cynric, along with their three understudies that were picking up the art of war rather quickly.
Fedelmid skewered the first Thosean, his great sword having far more reach than the shoddy broadsword that his adversary carried. The second Thosean had made it past Fedelmid's strike zone. Fedelmid was a physical fighter, not afraid to use his powerful body as a weapon itself. He shoulder blocked the Thosean to the forest floor and decapitated him, giving him no chance to get back to his feat.
Milton did not fare so well. He parried the first Thosean's overhand strike, and raised his shield in the face of a spear jab from his second man. The strikes and blows continued to berate Milton, causing him to slowly slide back from his place on the line.
Kim had her hands full with trying to win her own fight against the Thosean archers. Her tree gave her benefit of cover and elevation, but she still wouldn't call one on five fair.
Jack went on the offensive, lunging at his two Thoseans with both arms outstretched, knocking them both to the ground. In two quick motions, he plunged his sword through the heart of one and cut the windpipe of the second with his ax. Without orders, Jack broke the line and went the short distance to where Milton's shield was the only thing keeping him from death.
Jack slashed the soft flesh from the back of both their knees, causing them both to fall to the ground with cries of pain. This was the window Milton needed to rise back to his knees and drive his sword home through one of their midsections. Jack had made the other's face unrecognizable with three blows from his ax.
Jack sat up slowly and rubbed his hands over his face, noticing that he was drenched in sweat. He exhaled and looked around the small camp to see everyone sleeping but Kim. She quirked the left side of her lips up in what looked like a disappointed, unamused smirk that came off as almost a scowl.
"That fight is sticking with you, huh?" Kim asked, her face softening up considerably. "Me too."
"Is that why you're up?" Jack asked, deciding now was time for a serious moment, not a comedic or cocky time.
"That, and it's my turn to keep watch." Kim flashed him a smile to assure Jack that she was fine. She had the bow across her lap and an arrow resting beside her left leg, which was new for her. They weren't alone and she refused to be taken off guard.
Jack stared into the small flames that remained of the fire, seemingly seeing nothing. He appeared cold and detached, like he was somewhere else. After a few moments of no sign of life other than his eyes being open, Kim began to worry about the young man who seemed to always be composed and on top of things.
"Jack, you okay?" Kim asked quietly, trying not to wake others and hoping a lowered, soothing voice may be the best way to reach him. "Jack, talk to me," she pressed.
"That was our first fight, Kim. We almost lost Milton. Sure, he's fine now, but if I hadn't gotten to him in time…" Jack trailed off, his eyes focused on the way the flames' reflection danced across her eyes.
"But you did, Jack." Kim leaned forward so the light illuminated more of her soft features. "You can more than handle yourself, and that's good. You've found your strength, and we learned that we can fight as a team, that together we can make it. Fedelmid and Jerry and Cyn were there, too."
Jack smiled at her, appreciating her words. He had been telling himself that since the fight had ended, but he had to hear it from someone else. He trusted Kim's opinions and believed what she had said. Milton needed more work in the self defense field, but as a whole unit, he had to admit that they did pretty well that day.
"Get some sleep, Kim. I'll take the rest of your watch. Mine's next anyway." Jack shrugged and smiled, telling her he meant it and that he was fine with it.
"Alright." Kim gave in. "Wake me up if you need to." She wasn't sure what that meant exactly, but she felt like she needed to offer that to him. "Good night, Jack."
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
After yet another breakfast of Thosean provisions, the six wanderers packed up their small camp and hid the traces of the fire to their best ability. They scattered the rock retaining wall and kicked dirt over what remained of the embers to kill the heat. Anyone looking for them would have been able to tell by the fire that they had been there, and recently if any heat remained.
Once the camp had been dealt with, they continued on their way through the Void, hoping for no more contact with unwanted strangers. The Cyneric took the lead and Fedelmid covered the rear of their single file line.
"So… what happens when we reach wherever it is we're going?" Jerry asked while scratching the back of his neck.
"We are on our way to Cynerheld, the outlying Safe Lands of Epineio." the Cyneric explained. "It is the home of my people. From there we shall find what to do with you."
"Fedelmid had spoken of the Elder Tree, that it would have the information we need." Jack spoke up.
"It does. What Fedelmid failed to mention, is that the Elder Tree is very sacred to the Epineions. No simple wanderer can approach the tree and eat of its berries."
"How do we get to the tree, then?" Kim asked. "We have a lot of questions."
"I understand that." the Cyneric tried to make them understand what they were asking. "The Elder Tree can only be reached by successfully completing a series of life threatening and changing trials."
"What… the Cyneric says is true." Fedelmid had omitted the Cyneric's true name, which made the group wonder what the great mystery about him was. "I have only been to the Tree once, and I nearly lost my life in doing so. I know many a great man who has perished in their quest for its' knowledge. I too, understand that you must have questions answered, but you put your lives at risk." Fedelmid warned.
Jack chewed his bottom lip as he thought, Kim along with Jerry and Milton were also quiet. Finally Jack spoke, "Without that tree, we won't know how we got here or if we can go back. That tree can answer the question of where we will spend the rest of our lives. I think the risk is worth the reward. Alone or with you guys, I'm getting to that damned tree."
"I'm with Jack on this one. I can't just stay here with so many loose ends. If we all go through the trials together, there's no way we can't get there." Kim added, staying by Jack's side.
"We're a team now, and I'm not gonna sit on the bench and not know what's going on out there." Milton had made his decision.
"You know, guys? I think I'm cool just… not dying for going after some mystical tree. I think I'll just hash out a living where I can and be happy knowing I'm alive." Jerry stood on the opposite side of the fence. "Ignorance and not getting killed is bliss." he paraphrased.
"Come on, Jerry. You're really just going to sit out while the rest of us go on the adventure of a lifetime?" Kim pressed, not happy with Jerry's refusal to join up.
"Before we begin attacking each other," the Cyneric interjected, "perhaps we should get to safe land?" he suggested. "Heated arguments and shouting is a great way to be discovered by Thoseans or worse."
"What's worse than Thoseans?" Jerry asked.
"There are far worse things in the Void than Thoseans. There are many reasons we do not lightly travel here." the Cyneric stayed as cryptic as ever.
Fear and suspicion now crept into the four young adults, their guards increasing and their hands itchy. There was so much about this realm they did not know, and so much of it seemed interested in removing them from it. Every bush had a pair of eyes lurking, every tree top became a place for ambush. Just what were they walking through?
Fedelmid chuckled deeply at the alarmed young fellows in front of him. "Worry not. You are in safe company here. We are more than half way home now. Soon you will see the might of Epineio." Fedelmid clasped a strong hand over Jerry's shoulder. "Prepare yourselves for the richest cultural center in all of Vakker."
"What is Vakker?" Kim asked with wonderment as visions of a booming marble and granite metropolis clouded the dark reality they currently walked through.
"Vakker," the Cyneric began, "is the nation of our entire peoples. Vakker is the land of the civilized, the land of peace and purity. Great stone walls fifty feet high separate Vakker from the rest of Weite, the name of our existent plane."
"This is too much to take in." Jerry said, his mind spinning. "So Epineio is a city, Vakker is the collective nation, and Weite is the name of this world? Where the hell are we?" Jerry ran his hand through curly dark hair.
"The Void. Have we not said this?" the Cyneric looked at Jerry like he was a giant idiot, which in all honesty, he nearly was.
"I think he get's that," Jack chuckled, "but this place, Weite, is much different than our own home." Jack put eloquently.
"I understand. The Elder Tree, though, is far across Weite, on the opposite side of Vakker." the Cyneric informed them. "Vakker is safe enough, but past Vakker lies lands far more perilous than even the Void. There are beasts and men alike there, that revel in causing pain and anguish. You three wish to traverse this, no?"
Jack kicked a rock along the game trail they followed, watching the way it hopped and rolled as if the answer would be written in the disturbed dirt. "It seems like a bigger decision than it did before now, doesn't it?" he humorlessly chuckled.
"It kind of does, Jack, but I think it's something we need to at least try. We can always turn back to Vakker, can't we?" Kim asked.
"You may turn back when you so wish, but you are not likely to find other companions to journey with you," Fedelmid warned. "I respect your need for this quest, but alas, I shall not be joining you. I have already once been closer to death than I am comfortable with."
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
The day passed by the travelers. The sun fell and brought night. The land was lit by only the stars and full moon.
"Full moons in the Void are beautiful, be assured, but also perilous," the Cyneric warned. "I see it fit that we do not light a fire tonight. Even so close to Vakker, the light may attract foul creatures and people."
"Should we be afraid for ourselves even without a fire?" Jack asked.
"We should not be any more afraid then we have been, young Jack, but we should not let our guard down, either." Fedelmid had amassed a pile of soft, loose dirt and leaves to serve as a resting mound. The others followed his example and were soon ready for sleep.
Milton, however, was not as able to do so. The battle from the previous day plagued his mind. The feeling produced by his sleep mound brought back the feeling of the ground under his back when he had been overpowered by the Thoseans. He felt he was not meant to survive in this land, that he needed to get back home. His life was maps and books, not swords and shields. Such conflicting views made the decision of the Elder Tree more difficult.
"You know what, guys? I think I'll take first watch." Milton offered while trying to control his emotions.
"Are you sure? I'm wide awake and really don't mind." Kim countered, bow with arrow knocked already poised on her lap.
"Yeah, I'm sure." Milton nodded, his own sword in his hand. He would be wary and ready. He vowed to himself to never appear so weak again as he had against the Thosean party. Milton would fight with the speed of the Cyneric, the power of Fedelmid and the courage of Jack.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
The night dragged on and Milton's watch was near an end. His eyes stayed alert and his hand never left his sword. He remained ready and able to defend his friends and mentors from any foe.
Milton's ears detected a nearly inaudible snap. He quickly stood, sword and round shield raised for a fight. His eyes scanned the camp; the only sound was Jerry's snoring now, the only movement came from Kim rolling over in her sleep.
Everything seemed to be at peace but he had seen this scenario before, though not in reality. He didn't have time to answer the question of whether or not it was reality. Now was time for focus.
Milton stepped away from his great tree and moved to the center of the camp, the other five bodies arranged to make a closed circle when he was thrown into the equation. He didn't want to wake the others in case it was nothing, but he feared he wouldn't be able to handle whatever may be lurking. After some self debating, the idea of waking only Jerry seemed like the best idea.
"Jerry, hey Jerry." Milton shook the exposed shoulder of the larger, still dozing man. "I think there's something out there, man." he said when he saw Jerry's eyes flutter open.
"There's nothing out there, Milton. You're just paranoid after getting your ass kicked yesterday." Jerry said in his usual blunt manner.
"Thanks a lot, jackass." Milton hissed, not pleased with his friend's forwardness. If Jerry wouldn't take him seriously, why would Jack or Kim? Waking up Fedelmid or the Cyneric didn't even seem like a viable option. He wanted to prove that the four of them could handle themselves, that they too, were adults.
"You're on your own, Milton." he coached himself. "You can handle whatever is out there. You're a smart kid. There's probably not even anything out there. It's just a deer." Milton tried to talk himself down, but it wasn't doing any good. "There's always something out there!" He jumped and stamped the ground in frustration.
Before he could jump a third time, strong and hairy hands took hold of his shoulders. Milton tried to wriggle out of the grip, but it was like an iron claw. He looked down at his feet and saw massive, wooly toes behind him. Without worrying what it was, he stomped on it's feet.
The beast cried out in pain and released Milton's shoulders. Milton wasted no time and spun around, cleaving into the creature's chest.
Fedelmid was on his feet now, having been awoken by the creature's terrible scream. Before he could act, however, another of the great monsters took hold of him under the arms and launched him back like a 6'4" rag doll.
Kim opened her eyes to see a clawed hand wrapped around her calf. Having great situational awareness, the young fighter grabbed an arrow from her near by quiver as this... thing tried to drag her away. She rocked herself upright and drove the arrow deep into the forearm of the hulking beast. With well trained athleticism, she kicked up and landed on her feet, quickly grabbing her bow from its place on the forest floor. She quickly realized they were surrounded.
Jerry grappled in vain with yet another beast. "Where the hell did we find a pack of Bigfoot?" Jerry asked through gritted teeth.
"These are Stalkers!" the Cyneric replied, crouching under a thunderous swing from a Stalker and coming back up to slash with his sword, catching it in it's left bicep. "They are pack hunters in the Void."
All six members of the party were engaged with at least one of the Stalkers. It wasn't hard to see they were outnumbered by the bipedal, seven foot tall behemoths. Their best hope was to aim for the limbs and stay out of arm's' reach to the best of their abilities.
It seemed like a winnable fight until one of the Stalkers picked up a great rock and hurdled it at Jack, knocking him to the ground. He laid on his back, coughing and trying to regain his breath after it had been knocked out of him.
"Jack!" Kim shouted, swinging her cutlass with a 12" blade wildly, trying to give herself space. The one glance she had spared Jack allowed the muscled arm of a Stalker to wrap around her, pulling her to it's great body in a bear hug.
Fedelmid had risen and rejoined the fight. Charging a beast with lowered shoulder, he knocked it from it's feet and removed its' head from its' burly shoulders. As he turned around, a great foot connected with his face, driving him to the ground unconscious.
Milton attempted to climb a tree to escape fight that didn't seem to be going so well. An ape-like hand caught his ankle and dragged him down, slamming his back into the hard ground.
Jerry had managed to strike a low blow on the beast he had been losing the power struggle with. Another one had come behind him and picked him off the ground by the shoulders to toss him into a tree.
Fedelmid looked around to see he was the last warrior standing. He also realized he was surrounded like a bear among wolves. He sung this way and that in great arcing motions with his great sword. The Stalkers slowly closed in as Fedelmid reached exhaustion. He had become aware of the plans and faked defeat. Once they were in range, he lashed out with a powerful sweep, felling three at the knees. His return to stance was not quick enough, as the remaining abominations overtook him, raining blows on his back and head until he could no longer stand.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Jack woke with a start, a hand over his mouth. "What the..." Jack's vision cleared and he saw Cyn crouched before him, a finger pressed to his lips. He looked around to see the Stalkers that had survived the fight, to be dead on the ground with throats slit.
Jack's vine-like bonds were cut by Cyn, allowing him to help free the others. Without even thinking about, he went first to Kim. "Kim, are you okay?" Jack questioned the girl who fell into his arms, once cut free.
"Jack?" Kim asked groggily as she woke. "Are you okay?" Kim countered as she reached up to touch a clot of dried blood from the blow to Jack's head.
"I'm fine," Jack took a hold of her hand and brought it back to her side. "Can everyone move?" Jack asked as he helped Kim up, his eyes seeing that Fedelmid, Jerry and Milton were all free.
"We mustn't tarry here," Cyn agreed. "If we can all travel, we should hurry to Cynherhold."
"Let's get out of here," Kim spoke for herself and the others. "How much further?"
"We should arrive at my people's by midday," Cyn guessed, his eyes noting the sun's beginning to rise.
"Do they actually have, ya know, beds? I'm tired of waking up with rocks in my ass," Jerry commented as he rubbed his backside.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"We have finally entered the fringe of friendly ground," Cyn said with a smile. He was happy that all of them had arrived in one piece. Safe may have been a little strong.
"If we're safe, why do I feel like we're being watched?" Jack asked, his eyes scanning the trees that surrounded them on all sides.
"Because Jerry's staring at a ladybug on your back?" Kim offers.
"Young Jack is right. We are being watched, Lady Kim," Fedelmid informs her, but chuckles when he feels the group of young warriors stiffen. "Fear not. You are friends of the Cyneric and I. We are watched by friendly eyes."
"If they're friendly eyes, why don't they come out and show them..." Milton was cut off mid sentence when a dark haired girl drops from a tree directly in front of him, landing on her haunches and one hand. She wore a forest green frilled tunic that stopped just above the knee underneath a red leather sleeveless cuirass with matching vambraces and burgundy cloak.
The four friends move to defend themselves when nearly identically dressed women appear, bows drawn with arrows knocked. Seeing they would stand no chance, they raised their hands in surrender.
Cyn rolled his eyes and sighed. "Lower your hands, friends. This lady before you is Warden Est*, who commands Vakker's two thousand Rangers are the greatest archers in all of Weite," Cyn steps to the side, Est bowing with a smile from the introduction.
"Warden Est, these are Masters Jack, Jerry, and Milton, and this is Lady Kim," Fedelmid introduces them with titles they didn't know they had, and the four bow as Est had.
"Fedelmid, it is good to see you yet live. When the Magnons passed and you were not among them, I heart grew dark," the young warrior said with sincerity.
"Surely, I would have perished had these four not seen it fit to care for me," Fedelmid turned and smiled at his new friends.
"So, where do these strangers go now? They must have something great about them to be brought back by none other than Fedelmid and Warden Edgil Cyneric himself."
Cyn, revealed to be Edgil, hissed at the use of his full name, earning him a confused glance from Est. "We bring them to Epineio, in hopes of an audience with King Brody," Edgil explained.
"Will you allow me to accompany you?" Est asked hopefully, and Jerry couldn't help but blush as he felt this girl's eyes on him.
"Who would we be to deny the presence of the great Est?" Fedelmid says with a light smile.
"Great!" Est beamed. "Julia, you have the watch," Est told a tall, red headed archer. "The road to Epeneio is yet further. You are out of the void, but Vakker is not a perfect place, especially in the lands between settlements," Est explains as she joins Kim in step. "Tell me of your home, Lady Kim."
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
*Est is the Old English word for Grace, so now we have yet another canon character, but under an older name to fit the story.