Chapter 15: Late Arrival
It was a long time stuck in deep swamp brush. Xev's right leg pained him greatly each step. Parts of the old path had been flooded by waist deep water which slowed their progress even more than the dangerously sharp vegetation surrounding them from above and to the sides. They were constantly swatting away giant stinging insects some of them providing Svarturvog with a snack. All the while it became increasingly darker and hard to make out their surroundings.
"Why didn't we just go around this damned swamp?" Zanir said while he continued to chop away at the thorny plants.
"It would have taken a lot longer than cutting through." Zyra replied.
After a while of bush whacking the path opened up into another swampy area although this time it was a circular field without trees. Xev looked ahead and he could barely see that the path continued towards steps that rose to a hill in the center of the clearing. Atop the hill were six large monolithic stones encircling a glowing red light.
"What is that?" asked Xev.
"It's where we need to get to, a gate that will take us to the rebel headquarters." Zyra replied.
"I feel uneasy about this place." Zanir said looking ahead.
"Let's move out." Xev said and started to walk forward.
Just then a flash of blinding white light went off followed instantly by a deafening blast and they all were thrown back wards into the swamp's treeline. Xev was caught in the thorny branches and fell down into the mud. He couldn't see everything was white and he couldn't breathe. He tried to get up but blacked out.
Xev's consciousness faded back and he opened his eyes. He saw Zyra over him, blood running from her nose, yelling his name but he couldn't hear her then he passed out again. He regained consciousness once more this time as he was dropped on his back from Zanir carrying him. He looked around but could not see farther than five yards in all directions. Instinctively he grabbed for a sword or dagger at his side but remembered he had none.
Sitting up he heard clangs of metal behind him and looked back but couldn't see where the fighting was. He heard Svarturvog's roars and wings buffeting above then saw him dive out of the darkness and grab on to a body of some creature that had emerged from the darkness as well. It fell over as Svarturvog bit down and ripped flesh off of its body.
Xev felt an immense pain all over and saw giant thorns sticking out from his chest, arms and legs. There was one long piece of tree branch that was protruding from his left thigh. He felt sick and nearly vomited but had nothing in his system to do so. His bow and quiver were gone.
"Zanir! Zyra! Where are you!?" he yelled into the air.
"We're here! Stay still!" Zyra shouted from in the darkness.
Something came from his right side and he saw a rotten body that was missing its legs crawling over to him holding a nasty dagger in one hand. It had no bottom jaw and half of its head was missing. Xev quickly used his arms to pull himself away from it. Then Svarturvog leapt over him and attacked the being. He bumped into something behind him and noticed it was Valon's body lying on the ground visibly uninjured.
Another similar looking being ran at him from his side with a word overhead ready to strike but Xena teleported in front of it and removed its head with her dagger. Zanir limped over and stabbed it through the chest before it fell to the ground. Zyra made a calling sound for her horse and within seconds Ahwa emerged from the dark with numerous cuts and scrapes but nothing serious.
"We have to get Valon on the horse. Zanir and I will carry you again." Zyra said quickly.
With Valon secured they picked up Xev. Zyra had his legs and Zanir his shoulders. Svarturvog continued to defend them as they made their way blindly down the path towards where the gate's stairs should be. Loud rumbling sounds came from the darkness and the ground shook violently knocking them all to the ground except Valon and Ahwa. Xev yelled out in pain. They picked him back up and increased their pace.
An ethereal voice yelled and then the ground in front of them erupted. Dirt and stones flew everywhere and out came a rock elemental covered in tree vines and moss that linked the stones together forming its body. With its two arms it launched a massive boulder towards them. Zyra summoned a protective shield shattering the stone upon impact. It sapped a large amount of her strength to hold the shield and broke after absorbing the energy. Another elemental popped up from behind them and it launched a stone hurtling at them.
"Duck!" yelled Zyra.
As they hit the deck and Ahwa jumped to the side the boulder flew over them and slammed into the other elemental in front. It destroyed the top half of the elemental and the rest of the stones fell into the hole it came from.
"Quickly go! I can't shield us from it for very long." Zyra yelled.
They picked up Xev again and quickly moved down the path. They could only use it as a marker to follow otherwise they would have been completely lost in the darkness. Another stone flew overhead as the second rock elemental now stomped after them.
"Where's Svarturvog!?" Xev exclaimed while gritting his teeth from the pain of being carried.
"He'll follow us don't worry." Zyra replied.
They finally made it to the base of the hill where cobblestone stairs raised up the side. As they started up the stair case the sound of wings became louder and louder then a dark winged figure Xev thought was Svarturvog swooped down and grabbed Zanir sinking its claws into his back and tried to lift him off the ground but failed and let go flying off. They managed to hold on to Xev while constantly being bombarded by stones from behind that nearly missed them and dive attacks from nasty winged beasts.
Two dived down again targeting Zyra but she ducked and with one hand grabbed her throwing knife from her boot and threw it at one of them. It struck its target and the beast fell out of the sky with a shriek. Svarturvog came jetting out of the dark and collided with the other winged beast bathing it in molten hot fire while he crashed it into the side of the hill with a loud thud killing it instantly. It was the first time Xev had seen him breath fire and he was amazed at the ferocity and strength Svarturvog had. He knew that once the dragon was older he would be safe from any monster that crossed their paths.
Another boulder thundered above them and slammed into the stairs ahead destroying them in a blast of stone shrapnel. A piece narrowly missed Xev's head. Ahwa struggled to climb the steps but Zyra managed to control her while holding onto Xev. Her magic would have no effect on the rock elemental the only one there that would be able to destroy it is Valon but he was still locked in his spell.
Svarturvog leapt up into the sky again and flew down towards the elemental and bathed it in fire multiple times. It charred the stones and burned the tree roots and bits of moss attached to it. A few seconds later the elemental began to fall apart the larger heavier stones crushing its legs.
"Yes!" cheered Xev as he saw the rock elemental go down. "How did he kill it?"
"Its roots must have been enchanted with magic binds." Zyra replied.
"Come on we need to get passed the ruined stairs." Said Zanir.
They lifted Xev onto the boulder that was embedded in the stairs then stepped around and picked him up again. Ahwa moved to the side of the stairs and maneuvered along the steep hill with success. They continued to the top of the hill. Svarturvog seemed to have killed most if not all of the enemies around them and flew up to the top of the steps. He landed and watched over them licking his claws clean of gore.
Once they had made it to the top they moved closer to the six massive stones that stood at the center. A red light shone between the narrow cracks of the stones which were engraved with strange symbols and writing. An opening provided entrance into the gate directly ahead of them.
"We've made it. All we have to do is walk into the centre of the stones and it will take us to the headquarters." Zyra said.
Approaching the entrance first was Ahwa with Talon on her back. A flash of red light shot up through the center of the stones into the sky above and then they were gone. Now it was the rest of them to go through the gate.
"Will Svarturvog enter the gate?" Xev asked worriedly.
"I think he will but there may be hesitation at first." She replied.
Svarturvog followed them until they were through the entrance then he stopped and paced back and forth smelling the air and stones.
"Come on its safe Svarturvog. We made it you can rest and have a big meal once we're on the other side." Xev said enticingly.
"I believe if we go through he will follow us Xev do not worry." Zyra said.
Xev didn't like the thought but it might be the only way his dragon will stay with them. They continued forward carrying Xev slowly and then a flash of light and a feeling of weightlessness enveloped them.