Chapter 11

Left

Lynn shivered in the cool night air. She closed her eyes and listened for sounds in the forest. David's labored breathing was the loudest thing she could hear. The rest of the forest remained silent, not even the wind blew. Lynn relaxed a little and stood next to Eliza. Marinae was trying to make David comfortable. She looked down at the bandages and hoped that they would hold until they could find a healer.

David squeezed Marinae's hand. "Thanks." Then he glanced around the camp. "Where's Weamar?"
 

Weamar stood like a stunned mullet. He didn't know what to do. Then he caught a slight movement out of the corner of his eye and a tree branch creaked. Weamar tensed. With his hand on his sword hilt, he turned his head towards the sound. An unusually large raven sat on a low and narrow branch. It didn't seem to be paying much attention to him. Weamar relaxed again.

"And what are your other forms, I wonder?", Weamar said to the raven. He turned his head back to Solance's body but she was nowhere to be seen. In her place the remains of the bear lay in the underbrush once more. A chill went up Weamar's spine. He looked around nervously and then towards the large raven.

The raven still paid him no mind but now there were about two dozen smaller ravens arrayed in the trees around it. They all sat quietly preening themselves. Weamar tried to pull himself together, but failed. He saw that Cujia had awoken and was walking towards him. Somewhat comforted by the dog's presence, Weamar stepped over to the bear's corpse. When he reached the bear he was surrounded by ravens. It seemed as though they were on every branch. Cujia followed faithfully at his heel.
 

"I wonder what's keeping him? He's been gone awfully long to just be looking for an injured bear.", Marinae asked Lynn who shook her head. "I'm going after him. Rambis? Let's go for a sneak."

Lynn nodded and stayed behind to guard the others. She watched Marinae head off into the forest with Rambis climbing out from under a blanket and following after her. Soon she came across Weamar looking over the body of the bear. A rather large gash ran along the back of one of the bear's hind legs. The wound was much larger than one would expect from a normal sword but then, Weamar's sword was not a normal sword. Rambis looked up at all the birds and licked his lips.

"Probably not a good idea, kitten.", Marinae thought. "They might not settle well in the stomach."

Marinae cast a spell and looked around. Her sight shifted and other than the enchanted objects she and Weamar possessed, two things caught her attention. Firstly, the remains of the bear had recently been under the effects of an illusion of some kind. Secondly, the largest of the ravens had an aura similar to the one around Rambis.

"There's an illusion on the bear.", Marinae said. "The large raven looks, um, familiar."

"Cute trick, how much of the rest was illusion?", Weamar asked the large raven.

The raven didn't respond. Its gaze shifted from Weamar to Cujia to Marinae to Rambis and back to Weamar. Rambis moved cautiously towards the bear and sniffed.

"Rambis says that it smells like a bear. It could be that Solance is still alive, Weamar.", Marinae related. "It would be about right, considering all the other things we've seen over the years."

Weamar nodded. He wondered if his affinity with forest creatures would work with the ravens.

"Why are you here, what's going on?", Weamar asked the birds.

Weamar felt a tingle run along the back of his neck as he focused on the large raven, willing it to understand his words. The bird made no effort to respond but several of the others begin to chatter and squawk.

"We heard the eater of fish and honey cry out.", one of the ravens squawked. Then another spoke, and another, and another, each relating one sentence at a time. "Felt the sickness here. It wanders and spreads. Taint of the Green One. Madness stirs."

"The eater of fish and honey attacked my friends, I made it cry out.", Weamar replied. "What is 'the green one'? What sickness?"

"He has broken the old oaths and the betrayal leaks through him.", the ravens spoke. "Leaks through you. Corruption follows."
 

David grunted in pain as he shifted to look around at the forest. "Still not back yet.", he said with a grimace. "Lynn can you hear anything?"

Lynn could plainly hear a number of birds squawking loudly in the direction Marinae went, and Weamar's low voice among them.

"Birds.", Lynn said remembering the owl. "They're talking to them."

David laughed a little "You certainly keep some strange friends."
 

"What oaths? What corruption?", Weamar asked the birds.
 
Several of them ruffled their feathers and some hopped to other branches. "Sacred oaths. Promises of protection. Promises of respect. He bends and controls now heedless of the cost. Rending, breaking, burning. The land cries out in kind."

The ravens seemed agitated and were flitting from branch to branch. Only the largest of them remained still and silent. It only watched, studying them, as did the dark woman whom it served. As Weamar and Marinae wondered what to ask next the ravens began to depart.

"Be wary.", one said as he flew away. "If the Green One continues, more will heed the Land's call and no man will walk through the wild places in safety."

"Thank you.", Weamar replied. He turned to the large raven, "Please, ask your mistress to rejoin us."

The large raven was the last to leave, saying nothing as it spread its large wings and flew away. Weamar tried to put the pieces together: Solance, the large raven, the illusion, but they just didn't seem to fit. He shook his head and turned to leave.

"Let's get back to camp. How is David?", Weamar asked Marinae.

"Broken ribs.", Marinae replied with a frown. "He's got some internal injuries I can't do much about, and bruises the size of your head all across his chest. I've made him as comfortable as I could, but he needs a Healer."

"Well, I suppose that's better than needing a burial.", Weamar replied nodding towards the bear.
 

"What did they say.", Lynn asked as Marinae and Weamar returned to camp. They told her. She didn't understand and decided to go back to sleep.

Damon sat with Adederia and started to sing softly. "Hush little baby don't say a word. Papa's gonna buy you a mocking bird. And if the mocking bird don't sing...", he paused briefly and then continued in a jovial tone. "...I'm gonna rip out his feathers and tear off his wings."

Marinae stared at Damon with a surprised look on her face. Damon looked back at Marinae with a raised eyebrow and a smile.

"What?", Damon asked.

"I'm starting to remember why Grandmother didn't like you.", Marinae said with a laugh. "But she's a stodgy old stick, and she'd be the first to say so."

The rest of the evening passed quietly as did the majority of the following day.
 

"We're almost out of the Nachtfliegen.", David said. "We'll meet up with the road in a couple hours. We'll need to start southeast if we're to avoid the mountains and head into Borca."

As the sun moved lower in the sky behind them, the trees thinned and they could see the peaks of mountains close by. The trees fell away and they were on open ground. Up ahead a well worn road ran north to south. There was just enough sunlight to see by. A little more than a half of a day north along the road would bring them to Morfensi. It was a longer trip southeast to the village of Delmunster. Weamar turned to ask David which was to go when he was surprised to find someone riding slowly up from behind them.

"We have company.", Weamar said as the others turned around to see.

A rider dressed all in black rode towards the group. Nothing could be made out of what was under the fancy black robes, but the horse upon which the figure rode was a mixture of darkness and smoke. The hooves of the rider's horse made no sound, not even the crunch of earth. As the rider approached, a woman's voice came out from underneath the dark robes.

"Left.", the rider said in a chipper tone, pointing a gloved hand up the north path. "Left. Go left please."

Nobody moved as the rider closed in on them.

"Parlez-vous francais?", the rider said in a language that no one could understand. "Gauche. A gauche."

"Why? Who are you?", Weamar answered.

"I'm your guide through the woods.", the woman said flippantly. "You go left here."

The horses grew very uncomfortable as the woman and her mount moved closer. Cujia lowered her ears and Rambis tensed up. Weamar made soothing noises to Dry, patting her on the neck. Kiri pulled up next to Damon and stopped. She pulled back her hood just enough so that he could see her face. White hair peeked out from under the hood.

"Nice guys finish last.", Kiri said with a smile to Damon who was riding at the back.

Damon let out a vile curse and backed away as he saw the woman's face.

"That's the spirit.", the woman said with a laugh as she moved ahead to the cart.

Rambis hissed as the woman drew closer.

"What is it?", Marinae thought to Rambis.

"That is not a horse.", Rambis replied.

"Doesn't look like one.", Marinae replied. "What about the woman?"

"Elven, but wrong.", Rambis answered.

Damon spat on the ground and looked to Weamar. "We must put as much distance between us and this, this, creature as possible."

"What did I ever do to you?", the woman said with delight in her voice. "Tell me please."

Damon remained silent and tightened his hold on Adederia. Weamar looked at his face. The utter hate in Damon's eyes was surprising.

"Let me guess. It was the curse I placed on your whole family.", the woman said to Damon, rubbing her chin.

"Whole family?", Marinae thought to herself. She began to hate as well.

"No? Maybe it was the famine I brought down upon your entire kingdom.", the woman said. "Or maybe it's because…" And then she put her hand up to her hood and pulled it back in a sweeping gesture, "…I'm black."

Weamar had heard of them but had never seen one before. The woman was a Drow. A dark elf. Legend had it that they were a race of evil sorcerers who lived underground, and the legends about the Drow were mostly correct. The woman laughed as the light caught her dark features and pointed ears. Marinae gasped.

David sat up at glanced at the dark woman. "Bloody fucking perfect.", He moaned as his head fell back down.

"Shut up and stop moving around, you muscle bound clod!", Marinae hissed at David.

"I'll make it up to you dear.", the dark woman said to Damon. "I hereby lift the curse on you and your family."

Lynn sat up in the cart. She pulled her hood back just enough to see the dark woman. Kiri smiled at her and then turned away. Lynn didn't know what to think.

"I'm getting ahead of myself.", the dark woman said. "My name is Kiri. And your names are, let me see if I remember, Damon, Adederia...", she said, pointing at each one as she named them.

Damon was still seething. Adederia was oblivious until Kiri spoke her name. Then her eyes fluttered open and she opened her mouth slightly. Her lips trembled. "It isn't possible."

"Marinae, Lynn, David...", Kiri continued and then paused. "And yes, David, I am bloody fucking perfect."

"If you have any other tricks, our friend in the cart", Weamar said, nodding towards David. "Could use some help."

"Hmm. He's in a cart with three ladies.", Kiri smiled. "How much help could he need?" She turned back to the cart and continued. "Eliza. I'm so glad that you brought her along.", then Kiri paused and pointed at Weamar. "And, Mud."

"His name is 'Mud'?", Marinae thought to herself.

Weamar looked mildly surprised at the moniker he had been given. Kiri pulled up closer to the cart and looked down at David. She flashed her eyes at him. David looked into the dark woman's eyes and found himself inexplicably fascinated. Kiri was very beautiful.

"Want some evil magic?", Kiri asked David.

David opened his mouth as if to speak but nothing came out.

Adederia shrunk into Damon's arms. "We have to go. We have to go. We have to go. We have to go."

Kiri turned back towards Adederia and said, "Left. We have to go, left. We have to go left!"

Adederia shook her head and looked at the ground. "No, no, no, no. Have to go home. Take me home Damon. Please." She started to cry.

"How did you know our names?", David finally managed to get out.

Kiri turned her head towards David, "Evil magic, of course."

Kiri looked at Marinae. "I love your outfit.", she said in all honesty. "Where do you shop?"

"Sak's.", Marinae replied, slightly dazed.

"Take Mud there some day.", Kiri whispered back. "He looks like he fell off a carriage full of lumberjacks."

"I've had enough of this.", Damon called out. "Do as you will, I'm taking Adederia back to Sithicus. Marinae, I hope get your friend sorted out. Come see us when you can." He took up the reigns and turned his horse south.

"Well don't go that way, lover.", Kiri said to Damon. "The woods are full of Drakov's men."

"L...l...lover?!", Marinae thought to herself. She shook her head. "No, Damon would never…"

"Left.", Kiri says pointing north and talking quickly "Left, left, left, left, left."

Damon stopped, knowing what it would mean if Adederia were to be captured again. "What would you know about it?"

"I know a lot about it.", Kiri said smartly. "Drakov is after you."

"Why help us?", David spoke up.

"It would be a shame to see you all tortured and killed.", Kiri grinned. "I'm sure you'd agree."

Marinae just didn't know how to handle the situation. She didn't want to trust the woman, but Kiri didn't seem to be doing them any harm.

"Besides, you're useful.", Kiri admitted. "So we will help you and in return you can help us."

"Who's 'We'?", David asked.

"My mistress.", Kiri replied. "She can fulfill your needs and desires. What's your desire, dear?", Kiri said, leaning closer to David.

David went very quiet. Kiri mumbled some words that he couldn't understand then spoke again, "Another eye?", she asked.

The horses shifted nervously still but Cujia and Rambis had calmed somewhat. They still eyed the Drow suspiciously though. Marinae wondered if there was a connection between the ravens from last night and the Drow.

"Don't hold back dear.", Kiri said as she looked into David's eye. "What is it that you desire the most?"

David shook his head and looked away. "That's none of your damn business.", he said roughly.

An image of Lynn, smiling brightly, and wrapped in his arms entered into Kiri's mind. Kiri smiled broadly. Her spell was working. She could read their minds. "My mistress can work wonders. And she is the only one who can help your fallen friend."

"We can talk as we ride.", Weamar called out. "We should get moving again. North."

"Yes!", Kiri shouted and clapped her black gloved hands together. "Mud has finally figured it out."

As they headed north, Kiri rode up next to Weamar. She eyed him amorously. "What is your desire then?", she asked.

"I'm flattered you feel the need to try and irritate me.", Weamar said dispassionately. "Morfensi is closest. My desire? A quieter, and long, life"

"Animals live longer in captivity than in the wild.", Kiri said provocatively.

"If being caged is 'living', yes.", Weamar agreed.

"And it's very quiet back at the castle.", Kiri added. "Arrangements can be made."

"I'm sure, but I prefer sleeping surrounded by trees, rather than cut stone.", Weamar replied.

Lynn felt vaguely worried by the dark woman, but the cart was moving again, and to her that was a good thing. Damon rode at the rear and Adederia's weeping had now become an occasion sniffle and whimper. Damon wondered what treachery Kiri was leading them into, but clung to the hope that it was better than what would happen to them if they were captured by the Falcons.

"Mud, my mistress can give you anything you want.", Kiri said exasperatedly. "So what is it really that you desire?"

"Self-determination, which she probably can't give.", Weamar replied with a grin.

"Is that what you have now?", Kiri asked.

"Hard to say. More than some.", Weamar said as he wiped his sleeve across his already smeared tattoo. "But less than others."

"My mistress can help you get more.", Kiri replied. "Tell me what it is you need from her."

"Nothing for myself, at the moment.", Weamar replied, happy with himself that he could resist Kiri. "I'll be sure to let you know if I think of something."

Kiri turned her head towards Marinae, "Work with him, please?" She shook her head, then rode back to the cart.

"So Marinae...", Kiri began. Then she put her hand to her head and closed her eyes. "Wait, there's a patrol ahead."

"Oh, Mud!", Kiri called out. "Could you stop leading us into Drakov's men for a moment?"

"Leading? I'm in front is all.", Weamar thought to himself. Then he stopped.

Kiri turned back to Marinae. "He wants self-determination so he comes to Falkovnia."

Marinae worked hard to stifle a laugh. Weamar looked around for cover, but there was none in the immediate area. The closest tree cover was to the east.

"I think there's some self-determination up ahead to the left!", Kiri called out.

Weamar muttered something unmentionable to himself and turned Dry towards the open field to the west.

"Now, I assume that you know what you want?", Kiri asked Marinae. "And please don't say Mud."

Marinae cast a narrow glare at her. Kiri looked up and saw Weamar heading away from the trees.

"No, to the right, Mud.", Kiri called out. "There's more self determination to the right."

Weamar shook his head, turned around, and went east across the road and into the forest, moving slowly due to the darkness so that he didn't run into a tree.

"He's alright, if you like humans.", Marinae admitted. "But I already have everything I want or need."

"You mean you like it here?", Kiri gasped.

"I didn't say that.", Marinae replied. "But I want for nothing that you or your, mistress, might have to offer."

But Kiri was not so easily put off. "Do you like Drakov?", Kiri asked.

Marinae cast another narrow glare at Kiri. Kiri read her mind and found nothing pleasant inside.

"What do you want to do to him?", Kiri asked, sensing that she had found something.

"One might ask the same of you, with your pointy ears.", Marinae countered. "Drakov would like you for being…exotic."

"Drakov knows better.", Kiri said with more than a hint of attitude.

Marinae replied with a delicate, contemptuous snort. "He might prefer dark meat.", she grinned. "I have no intention of letting him try me."

"You could put a stop to him you know.", Kiri replied. brushing off Marinae's comment. "With the right help."

"And your, mistress, is the right help I suppose?", Marinae answered. "I've already told you, I want for nothing she may offer."

"She is.", Kiri said contentedly. "And you're wrong."

"And you may mind your own damn business.", Marinae replied in a huff.

"Of all the nerve, expecting that I would willingly walk hand-in-hand with Evil just to gain vengeance on Evil. Bitch!", Marinae stewed. Little did she know that Kiri was reading her every thought.  There was a lot of anger and hatred inside Marinae, and Kiri sensed that some of it was directed at her. But she also sensed loneliness inside Marinae, and a love unfulfilled. Kiri smiled.

Weamar came out of the trees and waved to the rest of the group who followed him into the forest to take cover. The trees began to change as they moved further east. Before, the massive trees were clad in almost black bark, now they were stripped bare of both leaves and bark. Each stood bleached white like driftwood.

David glanced around and spoke low. "Legend says that a tree dies for every person executed by Lord Drakov."

"That's because he traps their souls in the dead trees.", Kiri said nonchalantly.

David stared back at her, wondering just a little bit if that was true. With Kiri you could never tell. She would say anything. But every now and then she'd tell the truth just to mess with your mind.

"How far away is that patrol, your seeressness?", Weamar said to Kiri.

"They're almost here Mud.", Kiri said.

Weamar called  a halt and set about loading his pistols and rifle.