A Change In The Weather

Chapter 63: Out of the night

26 June, 2008 – 7:44 am

Cyrus pushed himself up through the narrow gap and out past the moss-filled earth with one final thrust.

He was the first of the four to breathe the scented night air of Faerie once again. To his lungs it was the sweetest and most fragrant air that he’d ever experienced. Indeed, it seemed a hundred times more sweet and fragrant than it had ever done before to him.

He was glad to be home.

The others followed closely behind and before too long they were all stood on a hillock by the border of the forest of Tannith, their disheveled hair blowing in the breeze. All four of them seemed to be unable to disguise their relief; a relief that was all too apparent, etched onto their faces.

‘The demon!’ hissed Remus, suddenly remembering. ‘Where the hell did it go?’

Cyrus peered slowly into the darkness that was all about. His fear was that the demon could have been waiting anywhere within the trees for them.

He’d learned not to trust the forests - Tannith and Erebor in particular - for he knew very well that the trees of Faerie had a will and a way of their own, and even though they had only been there for a moment, the place had already begun to play tricks with his sight; a glimpse here of a snatched shape there, or beady eyes that were there one moment, but gone when he looked again. He knew what game the trees liked to play, but he’d been there before, and he was wiser for it.

‘More likely it headed off in the direction of that town down there.’ replied Cyrus eventually, pointing with his sword towards The Windings in the distance.

There seemed to be a few lights on down in the valley, but not as many as would seem normal. He frowned, and weighed his sword in his hand, but it felt strange, almost as if it belonged to someone else. It took him a few moments before he realised, and flipped it over to his left.

‘Let’s go and find out where we are.’

And so, they started the long hike down the hill.

But it wasn’t long before a terrible howl raced up from the direction of the town below.

It took them unawares, and they flinched at the severity of it. It wasn’t a wolf call, nor was it any animal they had heard before. In many ways it was more terrifying than any of them; more terrifying even than the call of the Cockatrice, which could poison wells, and blight crops. Even that didn’t compare.

Instantly they knew that the demon had made its way to the town ahead of them, and in an instant they knew what terrible fate lay in store for anyone that it would chance to meet.

‘But then again,’ said Cyrus, pretending to ignore the demon’s call. ‘I do feel rather lucky today.’

He turned to them and indicated towards the path that bypassed the town and led straight through the thick of the wood.

‘Shall we take our chances through the forest instead, brothers?’

With a nod, they changed direction and headed off towards the narrow path that led through Tannith, away from The Windings and out towards the great highlands of Faerie.

 

 

 

* * * *

 

‘What was that?’ asked Thomas, suddenly clamping his hands over his ears.

Scarlet clenched her fists together tightly and hunched her shoulders.

The demon’s call had sent a shiver that had travelled down the length of their spines.

But they were far enough away that they had both assumed - wrongly - that it was just another animal, possibly a wolf. In any case, the call had come from behind them, from the town, and as they were making their best effort to get away from there, it seemed logical to keep on walking.

‘I wouldn’t pay too much attention to it.’ said Scarlet, dismissively, sensing that Thomas was scared.

She felt the ring on her finger, turning it around and over and over again in her pocket. She couldn’t help it, but it made her feel better somehow. Deep down inside, she too felt alone and scared, but she knew that she needed to be strong for Thomas.

The path through the forest was dark and full of foreboding, but even so, she seemed unfazed; she’d made her mind up that it was just a forest, and there were more dangerous things in the world to worry about than a bunch of trees.

‘As long as we follow this path everything will be ok.’ she said, trying to remain brave, but at the same time not knowing where it would lead. ‘The path is here for a reason. It will lead somewhere. Eventually.’

‘I’m so tired.’ muttered Thomas. ‘Can’t we rest for a moment?’

‘No. Not yet.’ she said, not knowing how long it would be before they would find shelter for the night.

‘What happens if we meet a wolf again though?’

Scarlet held the handle of the long knife that she’d taken from the room along with the silver coins. She’d kept it under her coat, carefully covered in a blanket. It was heavy and old, but wickedly sharp nonetheless.

‘Well, I suppose we’ll have to fight or fly, won’t we?’ she said, hoping that she’d never have to use it in anger.

It was a cold comfort to her.

 

* * * *

 

Hillary and Tobias had barricaded the door as best they could with benches and tables, piling every available bit of furniture that could be moved against the rather pitiful-looking door - a door that looked like it wouldn’t last long if you needed it to be strong. When Hillary had finished, he brushed his hands together and grabbed his staff that had been propped against the bar.

‘Everyone upstairs! Quick!’ he barked, impatiently waving them away. ‘It won’t be long now!’

Sigbert and Raedwald ushered everyone up the timber staircase, herding them into the heart of the inn, where it would be a lot safer if the door failed.

‘Come on old man!’ hissed Raedwald, readying his sword. ‘You’ll never recover if the demon breaks through now!’

Hillary muttered something under his breath and lowered his staff. The tip glowed an unearthly blue as he held it out in front of him. It had an unsettling effect that cast long shadows that moved backwards and forwards through the barricade.

‘I’m more ready than you think.’ replied Hillary, grimly.

‘Tobias, go get the children.’ he shouted. ‘If they’re not up already, wake them. Tell them to get ready to leave here.’

Tobias nodded, and pushed his way through the crowd at the top of the stairs.

And then a silence descended on the Inn of the Waylaid Traveller.

 

* * * *

 

Outside, something had arrived.

The darkness against the dark rushed low over the ground, gathering itself up as it reached the door of the inn like a black billowed sail.

It skirted around the windows, sniffing the air and scratching at the timbers, looking for a unobtrusive way in without bringing too much attention to itself.

It wasn’t stupid, but at the same time it was being driven by an insatiable desire for fear and terror, and it realised that those emotions were much fresher and more powerful when it could harvest them from its victims when they least expected it, and that was either when they were asleep or taken by suprise.

But it sensed something was different this time, and it was cautious, and so it drifted upwards towards the windows above.

It could sense the fear within.

 

* * * *

 

Hillary stood in front of the door with Sigbert and Raedwald flanking him, their broadswords ready for combat.

Wendle growled again looking up. He was clearly disturbed and it didn’t escape Hillary’s attention. He’d learned to read Wendle’s reactions like a book. And then something made a noise and he heard it. It was quiet and far away but distinct.

‘What was that sound?’ asked Hillary.

‘What?’ snapped Sigbert, concentrating on the barricade. ‘I didn’t hear anything.’

‘Didn’t you hear it?’ he asked, incredulously.

‘You’re hearing things old man.’ hissed Raedwald.

‘No. I definitely heard it.’

And then he heard it again. This time, though, it was louder and Sigbert and Raedwald looked up together.

‘Like the sound of broken glass?’ he cried.

And then he realised, with horror, what had happened.

‘It’s above us!’ he cried, his eyes falling to the corridor and stairway.

Sigbert and Raedwald sprinted up the stairs, before Hillary had time to wave them back.

‘No! Let me go first!’ he cried, and followed after them, pushing against the sea of terrified villagers, who were now trying to escape in the opposite direction down the stairs.

‘Damn fools!’ he hissed.

In the forefront of his mind, all he could think about were Scarlet and Thomas.

Their safety was his overriding concern, and the alternatives were not worth thinking about.

He could only hope that Tobias had moved them both to safety.

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