Roland's Path Page 6

  Ashcliff searched the ogre’s corpse while Eldryn stood over him with the torch. Roland sat next to them on the ground examining the severed leather straps and disabling dent on his armor.

  “Take a look at this,” Ashcliff said as he removed loot from the ogre.

  Ashcliff showed Roland and Eldryn what he had discovered in the ogre’s purse. Four daggers, twelve silver coins, three silver tipped arrows, and an assortment of teeth from various creatures.

  “These arrows are something,” Ashcliff said examining them. “One is designed to magically slay men, one to slay giants, and the last is blessed. That means that it would be most effective against a fallen champion or evil sorcerer.”

  “What would an ogre want with those types of things?” Roland asked.

  “Ogres like shiny things,” Ashcliff repeated. “They will treasure a piece of rock candy as much as a gold coin. It may only be pretty rocks, but let’s remember, young lords, that diamonds are just shiny rocks.

  I would like to keep the pack, the daggers, and the coins. I have only these clothes and a borrowed dagger. I could use the others.”

  “I care not, take them. El, do you want the arrows?”

  “You are an archer as well,” Eldryn replied.

  “I am, but I cannot get within bow shot of anything quietly, and by the time a creature sees me I would rather be within arm’s reach.”

  “Very well, I thank you. What are you going to do about your armor?” Eldryn asked.

  “We don’t have a kiln, or blacksmith for that matter. I suppose I can place it on the ground and have your horse step on it to bend it back into shape.”

  “You know it could split easily.”

  “Yes, but split armor is better than none. I’ll use the hide I kept from my last bear kill to repair the straps.”

  The three ate their breakfast of broiled bear meat and potatoes along with peanuts that Ashcliff had found.

  The boys traveled with Roland riding a large portion of the time resting his injured knee. They had minor encounters with beasts along the way, some of which defied description. They would hear strange cries on the wind, even in the day time now, and would catch glimpses of fur or scale passing from one shadow to another. Ashcliff found the feces of a large predator and, after some argument, scented the three and their horse and gear with it.

  “How do you know it was a predator?” Eldryn asked, hoping to make a good argument against the idea of smearing himself and his horse with crap.

  “Teeth,” Ashcliff responded confidently.

  “Teeth?” Eldryn, as Ashcliff predicted, responded.

  “Yes, teeth. The teeth I found in the dung were that of a large cat. Now it is possible that the pile I found belonged to a scavenger of some sort but scavengers usually have the time to be selective. Predators, on the other hand, tend to bite off and swallow whatever they can. So, teeth. Also, based on the, um, size of the pile, I would say a fairly big predator.”

  Nine days had pasted since the fight with the ogre when the group was traveling along a creek bed, using the walls of the creek as a partial shelter from winter’s onslaught. Eldryn was riding their one horse when the group rounded a turn in the creek bed.

  A rock the size of cow’s head flew toward Eldryn. All of the boys knew their mistake for what it was.

  They had been traveling in the wild lands, talking and singing like drunks on Sobriety Day. Their attempt at lifting their spirits might end with their spirits separating from their earthly bodies. Whatever had attacked them had probably heard them over the winds of winter for several hundred yards now.

  Roland and Ashcliff both thought Eldryn had been struck a deadly blow, seeing him disappear from the back of the horse as swiftly as he did. Eldryn, however, had seen the rock coming just in time. Instinctively he kicked his feet free from the stirrups of the saddle. He swung himself under the neck of the horse to dodge the attack, and continued around the horse’s neck and chest until he was upright in the saddle again. The move astonished both Ashcliff and Roland. The maneuver was a true mark of a skilled cavalier.

  Eldryn drew one of the practice poles, this one of wood, he and Roland had used so many times as mock Great swords. This pole he had sharpened and capped with an iron point. He could not afford a formal lance, but this would do the trick. Eldryn dug his spurs into his mount and the horse leapt forward, hitting the ground at a full charge.

  Ashcliff saw Eldryn’s target and slipped out of the creek crawling up a wash, unseen by the monster. Roland saw the giant that had thrown the rock. It was a great creature standing almost seventeen feet tall. Even Roland at his great height didn’t quite reach the giant’s waist. Roland was confident in Eldryn’s abilities, in fact Eldryn was his superior with most weapons, but one giant was enough to be concerned about in a battle. Three giants could be considered by some to be suicide. Roland counted four giants gathered along the edge of the creek.

  The first giant that threw the rock had taken up his club and set himself for Eldryn’s charge. The next two hoisted rocks and hurled them at Roland. The fourth took up his club and headed into the woods in the direction that Ashcliff had disappeared in.

  Roland, for his size, had always been quick. His length of stride also lent him a surprising speed. Roland used that stride now and stretched his legs out in a full sprint for the group of three giants on the small ridge at almost the same speed as Eldryn’s charging steed. One of the rocks thrown at him missed cleanly while the other clipped his shoulder spinning him slightly off course. He drew both of his axes. The roar that came from Roland’s throat would have been recognized by any fighting man of any language or culture. In fact, it was also recognized by the beasts they faced. It was a sound that came from the depth of his gut, a primal noise that many before him had made and many more after him would. It was the roar of a man intent on shedding blood. Roland roared, and continued his charge.

  Eldryn reached his giant with his makeshift lance on target. The giant swung the heavy club to clear Eldryn from the saddle, but Eldryn’s determined, and well trained, steed was too quick and charged inside the arc of the giant’s swing.

  Eldryn stabbed his ‘lance’ deep between the giant’s ribs. The wooden pole shattered under the force, but not before burying a foot-long section of iron and wood in the giant’s torso. The piece broke off under the skin and sunk into the beast’s organs. The giant gurgled in pain as he dropped his club to scratch with futility at the bloody hole the ‘lance’ had left.

  Roland reached the two giants just as they retrieved their clubs. Roland ran between the creatures, faking a cut at one, and digging both axes into the calf muscle of the other. As Roland passed them, he dropped into a crouch, set his feet, and turned to travel away from the giants at a right angle. He had hoped that his cuts would have disabled the one’s mobility but the giant didn’t seem to mind the minor wounds.

  Eldryn plowed the ground with his horse’s hooves as he turned him on a sharp arc to make another pass at the giants. He dropped what was left of his ‘lance’ and drew his bastard sword. As he rode in the giant did something unexpectedly clever. The giant struck low and caught the horse’s front legs, sending both horse and rider flying. Eldryn struck the ground with a thud and rolled over the edge of the creek to fall to the soft creek bed below. The horse was lucky. It tumbled over the ledge of the creek and regained his footing on the way down to the sandy creek bed. Miraculously nothing was broken.

  Now Roland faced three giants. One unmarked, one sporting a minor wound delivered by Roland’s axe, and one slowly bleeding to death from Eldryn’s broken lance. He baited one into a swing at him. Once the giant began his swing Roland swiftly stepped between the legs of the other, causing the first giant to strike his companion on the knee. By the sound that blow made, Roland judged at least the kneecap broken, and perhaps more. What he did not consider, however, was the giant he was under. Once its leg was struck, it collapsed to the ground, with Roland under him. Roland dropped both ax
es and caught the creature as its weight bared down on him. He was able to guide the creature’s fall slightly, which kept him from being crushed to death.

  The fall still knocked Roland to the ground. Before he could regain his wits, he was slapped with a heavy wooden club that sent him flying twenty feet from where he sat. As Roland flew through the air, he saw that the giant with blood seeping from his lance wound and bubbling at his lips had managed to find his club. Roland hit the ground, again, the air already gone from his lungs. His battered armor had saved his life…again. Roland rolled over to see two giants approaching him with malicious grins on their faces. Their companion was rolling on the ground holding his injured leg.

  Roland’s bastard sword had been stripped from him at some time during the exchange. He drew his only remaining weapon, the flaming dagger. Bleak did not begin to describe his odds at survival. The giants demonstrated their scant wit by sneering at the small blade in the large man’s hands.

  Eldryn regained his breath and struggled over to the nervous horse. Whispering to the animal Eldryn took his bow, which somehow survived the tumble, from the saddle. He carried the bow and his quiver of arrows back up the creek bank swiftly. He rose from the bank to see the two giants approaching Roland, and one on the ground struggling to get up. Eldryn began trying to string his bow feverishly.

  Roland took the flame blade in his right hand and stood up to face the two monsters. Both monsters laughed at the ridiculous sight of a man facing them with a knife.

  Eldryn finally got the loop over the end of his bow and searched for the special arrow he had taken from the ogre, the one that Ashcliff said would slay a giant.

  Roland watched as both giants hefted their clubs high in the air. He was amazed when one of them winced and then roared. Blood spewed out of its mouth and the giant’s eyes rolled back into its head. Eldryn’s slaying arrow had struck its target well.

  The other giant, already breathing up froths of blood, turned to see what new threat had come from behind. When it turned Eldryn sunk an arrow into its chest. The monster laughed again at the puny effort as the arrow barely broke through its tough hide.

  Once the creature turned, Roland seized his opportunity. He jumped onto the back of the giant’s ankle, holding onto its leg with his left arm. Then he began sawing with his dagger on the tendon that ran behind the ankle and linked the calf muscle to the foot. The flame blade ignited when it tasted the blood of the giant and the tendon was scorched in two. The giant attempted to turn and get Roland in a position that he could strike him, but as the beast turned and tried to use his foot, he found that it did not respond as it should have. The giant fell to the ground with a howl. Roland began searching for one or both of his axes.

  Eldryn sunk an arrow into the first fallen giant’s right eye, just to be sure. The giant that had suffered a broken leg from his companion’s strike had pulled himself up to his knees and was taking a large rock from their pile of ammunition.

  Roland found one of his axes and attacked the giant lying near him with the severed tendon. Roland dodged several punches and was finally successful in leaping onto the creature’s back. Roland heaved his axe blade down with all of his might striking the giant at the base of its skull. Roland heard a snap and the creature fell still instantly.

  Eldryn put two arrows into the giant before it had the rock prepared for a throw. However, throw the rock he did and with gruesome accuracy. Eldryn was knocked flying again, the wind forced from his lungs. Eldryn came to rest on the ground ten feet from where he had stood, his bow had been knocked far from his reach. He felt wetness on the side of his shirt. He could only pray that there was no internal bleeding as well.

  Roland saw Eldryn’s desperate situation, but also heard Ashcliff yelling. He could hear the giant hunting Ashcliff crashing through the trees.

  “Go,” Eldryn said through the blood on his lips. “I am a warrior. You go and defend the weak one, I’ll handle this.”

  Roland had his doubts but respected his friend’s decision. To help El now would be to dishonor him after he had refused assistance. Roland saw his other axe, took it up in his left hand, and whispered a quick prayer to Bolvii for Eldryn as he ran toward the sounds of battle in the trees.

  Eldryn pulled his bastard sword from its scabbard on his side and began hurling every curse he could think of at the giant. The giant hoisted another rock and then anger flushed his face. He apparently understood some of the things the man was saying. The giant pulled himself up, took up his club, and limped toward the fallen man. The giant reasoned that the man could not walk, otherwise he would have risen to attack him or would have gone to help his friends. The giant smiled widely as he limped his way toward the man. This one would pay for the pain he felt in his leg.

  Eldryn positioned his left leg underneath him. He took his bastard sword in his left hand and took an arrow out of his quiver and held it low in his right. Eldryn waited for the monster's approach.

  The giant limped toward Eldryn. Eldryn held his sword up over head as if in a weak block against the crushing blow the giant would deliver. The creature smiled again and lifted his club high. The club came down with incredible force. Eldryn lowered his sword and then struck upward with all the strength he could muster to parry the club. As he did this, Eldryn pushed himself up with his left leg and spun himself to stand under the giant’s wide spread legs.

  Eldryn’s sword was knocked to the ground but he was no longer in line for the giant’s attack. Eldryn took the arrow in his right hand and stabbed it upward into the giant’s crotch. The beast screamed in pain. Eldryn let go the arrow, leaving it stuck in the giant’s organ, and grabbed the giant’s good leg. He braced himself there and delivered a powerful kick to the inside of the knee on the creature’s broken leg.

  Eldryn quick-stepped back as the beast toppled to the ground again. The giant grabbed at itself trying to remove the biting pain coming from its groin. Eldryn retrieved his bastard sword and swung a two-handed chop that severed the beast’s head. My attack was not honorable, Eldryn reflected. Forgive me father.

  Roland ran into the tree line to find the giant crashing through the brush swiping at an unseen enemy. Roland noticed three daggers buried in the giant’s face, one of which was in its left eye. Roland charged toward the giant head on. Ashcliff suddenly appeared on a tree limb behind the giant and sunk another dagger into the back of the creature’s head. The creature spun about and seemed very satisfied to finally have his opponent in sight.

  “Strike it in the back!” Ashcliff yelled to Roland. “Take him quick!”

  Roland lifted both axes high and continued his charge. Roland struck the giant in the lower back with both axes carrying the full force of his charge. The axes sunk in deep and severed the giant’s spine.

  The large beast fell to the ground, paralyzed. Ashcliff dropped from his perch in the tree. He retrieved one of his thrown daggers and sliced the giant’s throat.

  A battered Roland and sweating Ashcliff walked from the forest to the edge of the creek where Eldryn was sitting.

  “Oh, for something stronger to drink than water,” Eldryn said with blood shining brightly on his lips.

  “How bad is it?” Roland asked.

  “Most of the bleeding is on the outside, which is good. But I’ve got a few broken ribs, I can feel them moving when I breathe. Also, some good bruising, and I’ve lost blood.”

  “Let me see what I can do,” Ashcliff said.

  Ashcliff helped Eldryn remove his armor and shirt. They all saw the large bruise forming and the piece of rib sticking out of Eldryn’s bloody side. Wounds much worse that Eldryn realized.

  “I have been taught about field dressings. We could try to set the bones right, and then wrap it tightly,” Roland said. “It will take some time to heal.”

  “I know something of medicine,” Ashcliff said. “Roland, can you start a fire and boil some water?”

  “Certainly,” Roland said.

  Ashcliff took a wet cl
oth and wiped blood away from Eldryn’s wound.

  “I need to gather some things,” Ashcliff said. “I’ll be back shortly.”

  After Roland had the water boiling, he retrieved all of the fallen, lodged, and lost weapons of the group. Ashcliff returned with a few plant roots, five mushrooms, a small pile of leaves, and mud from the creek bank.

  “Chew on these leaves,” Ashcliff said. “They will help with the pain. I’m going to make a poultice out of these roots and this mud. This mud was around a plant we passed a little ways back. The poultice will stop the bleeding and heal the bones faster.”

  “What of the mushrooms?” Eldryn asked.

  “These were a lucky find,” Ashcliff said. “They will be useful.”

  “Indulge me,” Eldryn said.

  “When you eat one it will quicken your blood, and speed your muscles. It will allow you to attack and react much faster than normal.”

  “I see,” Eldryn said with a doubtful look on his face. “I’ll just hang on to these leaves. I don’t need them right now.”

  “Prizes such as these herbs are to be found just lying around?” Roland asked doubtfully.

  “We are nearing a magic place,” Ashcliff said. “Think on the creatures you’ve seen. The gods struck this ground with pure power. That sort of power has a residual effect. Some good, some bad. El, are you sure you won’t eat of the leaves?”

  Roland noted the familiar, concerned way Ashcliff spoke to Eldryn. He smiled.

  “No,” Eldryn said, wincing. “We may need them further on.”

  “As you wish. We are getting close,” Ashcliff said. “We should be at the burial site in a few days and that is only three or four days from the entrance to the sunken city.”

  “So, we are within a week of the entrance?” Roland asked, his sense of adventure renewed at the thought of Nolcavanor.

  “Yes,” Ashcliff said.

  “I will need some rest,” Eldryn said.

  “Yes, you will, I could use some myself,” Roland said. “We will camp here for a few days. I’ll take the giant heads and mount them on poles in a perimeter around us. That will hopefully discourage any more visitors. At least for a short time.”