Dark Wood: Legends of the Guardians Read online

  “That could be fun,” Aryaunna chimed in. To her sister’s horror, Aryaunna was positively loving the fighting more than anything else she’d learned since being here. She’d surprised herself and her sister both at how naturally it had come to her.

  “You think so?” A slow grin spread his face. It would have seemed quite malicious if he’d truly intended her harm. He turned smoothly on his bare feet and walked over to the wall. Racks lined the walls outside of the pit, filled with weapons of all sorts. And this was not all that the Hollow housed, but those used for training. He grabbed two staffs from the wall and turned, tossing one to Aryaunna. She caught it with ease and spun it around her gracefully.

  Pulling his shirt off from over his head, he wiped his head of sweat and tossed it onto the floor. Aryaunna couldn’t help but glance at her sister to see her reaction but quickly looked away before Allos could notice.

  He was a fit man, not really tanned or pallid but covered in blue ink nearly everywhere but his face. His chest was broad and his arms sculpted. It was easy to see he was a fighter. It was impossible to imagine the man as a peaceful Druid as his true people had intended.

  Taking up the staff he jaunted to join her. “The staff is an artful weapon. Not a bad choice for anyone, if you know how to use it properly.” She had a feeling he knew well.

  Swinging one end up to be caught by his left hand he held it out in front of him at chest level, maybe a foot from his body. As she spun the staff stiffly he brought the end of his to meet her shoulder. She barely maneuvered to ricochet the hit off her own. Backing up swiftly she gathered her wits about her.

  Left then right, left then right, the ends of his staff would move to whack at her as he backed her up. Suddenly his staff swung as his body twisted and the end hit her fingers hard. She gasped and dropped the staff from the injured hand promptly. It shot pain through her fingers up her arm. Another swing and the staff connected with hers, barely missing her ribs where he’d aimed.

  Her eyes widened as she swung it out with one hand, spinning it around. The length braced against her arm and swung for his chin. She clipped the skin which clanked his teeth.

  Back stepping he freed a hand to rub his chin. “So you’re not entirely inept. How unexpected.” Aryaunna was learning quickly that he enjoyed taunting her during a spar. “The good thing about a staff, you need little muscle mass. Just swift action. It doesn’t take much, as you well know, to injure your opponent. How’s your hand?”

  “No broken bones,” she assured him with a wiggle of her fingers. They throbbed, sending sharp pains through her callus hands. He nodded his approval. They continued on like that for a couple of hours. By the end, Aryaunna tossed down her staff and fell back dramatically until she was sprawled across the floor. “I give!”

  Though he’d have never admitted it, Allos was relieved. Elizabeth caught the flash in his eyes as he tossed his aside and braced his hand on his knees as he leaned over. They were breathing heavily and soaked to the bone in sweat. Aryaunna groaned as she hugged her sides tenderly. Her ribs were bruised, but still nothing was broken.

  Allos had taken his share of hits, too. Bruises marked them both sporadically from their heads to their toes. “So, staffs as much fun as you thought they’d be?” He smirked as he eyed his Emissary, laid out like she could pass out right there comfortably.

  “You’re a cruel taskmaster, Allos.” She chuckled weakly.

  Elizabeth was just as exhausted as she let out a sigh of relief. She’d been on pins and needles for hours watching them fight relentlessly. Allos was indeed a tough trainer, but he was good. He’d stopped his attacks enough to direct Aryaunna on better ways to both defend herself and attack. Aryaunna was a quick learner and had fought back any complaints of pain throughout the many hours they’d spent in the arena.

  Once he’d caught his breath, he righted himself and walked over to where Aryaunna lay sprawled. His hand held out persistently when she just starred up at him, not wanting to move. “Come on. You need to keep moving or your body will grow tight and you’ll be too sore to fight tomorrow.” Her eyes widened. Tomorrow, she thought in angst.

  With a groan she reached her arm up and he took hold of her wrist. She was on her feet smoothly in the next moment. “Elizabeth, will you take her to Mayla? See that she gets an herbal bath and gets rubbed down properly.”

  Elizabeth stood and hurried to her sister. She looked nervous about touching her but settled for hooking her hand under Aryaunna’s arm to get her moving. “You should take care to do the same,” Elizabeth advised him as she gave him a look over. He didn’t look much better off than Aryaunna in her estimate.

  He nodded to her respectfully. “Yes, of course.” He stepped in front of Aryaunna. “Tomorrow is another long day. You best be off, get a good meal before you sleep, too.” He eyed Elizabeth meaningfully, knowing full well that Aryaunna’s care had fallen on her shoulders. If Aryaunna’d had it her way, she’d fall into bed immediately without caring for herself at all. Elizabeth forced a tight smile. She understood his meaning.

  They garnered their cloaks. Though Elizabeth had to assist her, to Aryaunna’s embarrassment. She refused to don her boots. Her feet were bruised and the soft snow outside sounded just blissful.

  Mayla and Elizabeth helped her strip down and climb into the steaming water. Dried herbs floated atop the milky water. A special mix to aid her body in its healing. She’d had many since arriving.

  Soaking, she fell asleep. She didn’t know how long it had been when they pulled her out and wrapped her in thick blankets that Mayla had kept in a metal box right next to the fireplace while she’d bathed. They were blissfully warm. She drank warm thick soup and so much water she thought she may float away. When she’d finished, Mayla had her lay upon the same table they’d laid Elizabeth onto. With motherly care, Mayla rubbed down Aryaunna’s tender body and aching muscles with a warm oil that smelt of rosemary and eucalyptus. None to anyone’s surprise, Aryaunna was asleep in minutes.

  “Aryaunna!” Her eyes shot open. It was dark in the room but that meant nothing. There were no windows in here. She reached under her automatically for the knife she kept under her bed but it wasn’t there. She realized then that she wasn’t in her bed. They’d left her to sleep on the table under a pile of blankets. “Aryaunna, get up,” the voice sounded more familiar and she sat up, grabbing the blanket to her before it fell, realizing she was naked beneath.

  “Allos?” she questioned groggily as her eyes tried to adjust in the darkness.

  “Get dressed. Now,” he ordered. Something was wrong. He was tossing fabric at her, which she swiftly realized was a folded set of clothes. She slinked off the side of the table and dressed in the dark. He’d stood staring at the door, but she’d taken care to keep her back to him.

  “My boots.” Two soft thuds hit the table she’d been asleep on. Hurriedly she donned knit stockings and slid her feet into the boots in such a rush that she struggled to get her heel in. Her hair was held in a tied bun that her sister had made the night before as she’d been in the bath. “Belt.” A noisy clunking hit the table and she felt for the ends before slinging it on and wrenching it tight. “Let’s go.”

  Her right hand held tight on the hilt of her sword, still hung sheathed in the belt. It was an added comfort. “What’s going on, Allos?” she kept her voice low. It was still dark outside. As she’d left her cloak the night air was brisk in winter but it did well to wake her and sharpen her senses.

  He said nothing.

  “Allos, you will tell me,” Aryaunna snapped at him when he didn’t answer.

  Stopping suddenly, he half turned to face her. Lowering his head near hers, he kept his voice quiet as he spoke, “A boy was found in the wood. He was crying out you and Elizabeth’s names.” Aryaunna’s eyes narrowed as she thought on this. That made no sense to her at all. She nodded her understanding and said something that surprised him, “You can trust in me to do this.” She knew Allos meant to take her to the boy
to discover his identity, at any cost.

  “I wouldn’t have come for you if I didn’t.”

  The entrance to the arena was a dark stone cave. Upon entering the cave a person had to know just where they were going for the stairs began immediately, winding down a long ways to a vast opening below.

  Aryaunna had learned that there were many structures above ground, many even in trees. But below ground was a whole other world. There was a city below the surface of the Hollow. The stairs wound down for what seemed like forever, because the arena was so deep under the earth’s surface. The Drow would not impact the growth of the wood, and thus to build had found it necessary to build deep under the surface.

  Allos took the stairs two at a time, as did Aryaunna who was practically running down them. If he’d have stopped at the bottom she’d have plowed into him. Fortunately he’d seemed to realize this. Side stepping, he stopped her by taking a careful hold on her arm. She’d been exhausted, worn to the bone and had slept maybe three hours before being woken.

  The brisk cold of winter had done well to wake her and sharpen her senses but he knew sleep would fog her mind still. She’d be brash, and not as cautious as she needed. “Stop,” he bid of her as her body ran on auto pilot. Allos had to tighten his grip and jerk her to him suddenly to keep her in place. They stood right against each other. “You will follow my lead,” he said seriously.

  “You must believe that I mean you no disrespect but this is new territory for you, Aryaunna, and a deadly one at that. There’s no going back after this.” His eyes begged her to understand. She nodded hastily. As if realizing how he was holding onto her and its disrespectful nature he suddenly released her arm. “My apologies.”

  “Don’t be sorry, Allos. You’re doing your best to keep me safe and guide me on what must be done.” Her arm was sore, but her whole body was tender. She didn’t blame him for his anxious behavior.

  With nothing more said he gave her a nod and continued on through the dark towards the arena. Light show dimly through lit fire held in sconces on the wall. It was a fittingly gloomy atmosphere. The warm glow danced along the walls, not quite reaching its golden light to the center of the arena. In the center was a wooden straight-back chair. It held the boy bound tightly with rope.

  Aryaunna was impressed he wasn’t in worse shape. A trickle of blood seeped from his nose. He hadn’t been here long. Allos had come to get her immediately. She was grateful for that respect.

  The boy’s hair was dark, not like the night, not like Aryaunna’s, but dark brown. He was filthy but this wasn’t exactly unordinary for a peasant of Kenan, especially a Church servant. Through his filth there was a distinct and peculiar scent of hickory smoke and fish.

  Allos stayed directly to Aryaunna’s right. This was symbolic in many ways, but ultimately it said that she was in charge. “Tell us your name,” she demanded in a hoarse voice that was cold as ice. Allos was surprised by her steely conviction, emotionless and demanding of obedience.

  The boy glared defiantly. An actual peasant of Kenan may have been frightened, but this boy was not. Whoever he was, he’d been used to abuse. He’d been prepared for this treatment and had seen it and worse. “You’re from the Church,” Aryaunna said. His confirmation was a knowing gleam in his eye, while he remained quiet.

  The boy likely couldn’t even see Aryaunna, for where she stood the torches barely reached, casting much of her into shadow. The torches had not all been lit.

  “Your life will become much easier if you tell us what we want to know,” she pushed him again.

  “I will say nothing until I see Elizabeth and Aryaunna,” his voice was rough, as if he were fighting a winter’s illness. Many in the Church had grown ill over the harsh winter. Not even the Church’s priests had avoided the sickness.

  “You think they’re here? That we’ve any idea who they are?” Allos had been tense until Aryaunna had responded this way. Any indication that the Drow knew these names would be admitting more than he’d wanted to. That she’d be wise enough to know this had been not just surprising, but reassuring.

  “I know they are.” His chin rose boldly. Fresh blood still ran from his nose. It must’ve been broken, she thought. The blood was stained down his chin and had dripped onto his tunic.

  “We will not go around in this circle of questions for much longer. I will not ask you again.” The warning was clear, but to emphasize the matter her hand holding tightly to the hilt of her sword drew it easily, as if she’d done no more than pulled a lose thread from her tunic. The blade placed into her open left hand gently. This was his last chance.

  His chin held high, but quivered slightly. It was a miniscule movement, but it didn’t pass her notice. Leisurely, deliberately, she walked forward until she stood before him. His jaw trembled, so he tightened his clinch as his teeth ground together. She could respect how stubborn he was. Being so close to him now, standing above him, the light of the sconces cast against her features but spread long shadows as well. He could see her, but not yet clearly.

  There was no recognition in his eyes. But Aryaunna felt a spark of remembrance. Somehow she knew this boy, not yet a full grown man but old enough that some would call him such. He was her age, possibly even older, it was hard to tell.

  With a swift careful motion, the tip of the blade rested just below his bobbing Adam’s apple. He was not an attractive man. He was thin, as were many servants of the Church of course. His cheek bones jutted out of his skin and his chin was rigid with a deep unnatural divot dug deeply in its center. His skin was sickly looking and unclean. She kneeled down, just inches from his face, and allowed him to really look at her as the light cast her features into better view.

  Nothing. This boy did not know her, she was certain. “What business do you have with these women?”

  “Elizabeth is in danger. I am here to see to her safety,” he croaked the words as the blade’s tip dug painfully though it hadn’t yet broken skin.

  “Why?” Aryaunna demanded harshly. Speckles of blood hit her face as he spoke. It was the boy’s blood that dribbled still over his lips. She didn’t even flinch. He sneered up at her, again refusing to say anything. The tip of her blade punctured his flesh just to draw a single bead of blood. “Why?” She asked more sharply, nearly yelling in his face.

  “Because I love her!” he screamed angrily. She would never be sure what shocked her more. His declaration or the tears that fell from his cheeks as he sobbed. From his choking sobs she had to withdraw her sword to keep from running him through.

  This was unexpected. She had no idea what to do. It was clear this man could not mistake Aryaunna for her sister. He wouldn’t have been foolish enough to say such things if he did not know what Elizabeth looked like. Though he clearly had no idea what Aryaunna looked like.

  Withdrawing her blade, she let it rest in her hand at her side. Backing up a step she nodded to one of the Drow standing nearby. She recalled his name. An older man named Raif. “Gag him.” Raif nodded and a slow smile pulled at his dark lips in a most unnerving way.

  Shifting her weight she twisted herself to the door, eyeing Allos significantly. He followed her without question. “Follow me, we can’t speak freely in here,” he whispered. Into the dark she followed him by only the lightness of his shirt. He moved carefully but without question of where he was going.

  A corridor was hidden behind the staircase where they’d entered. She followed him into another dark room, lit with only one torch. The shadows it cast would have been frightening to some.

  “Is there truth to his words?” Allos asked with a tight jaw.

  “Elizabeth’s never mentioned anyone to me that she cared for. He is afraid, but that doesn’t mean he’s lying. I just don’t know.” Aryaunna shook her head. Something wasn’t right about this. The hand on her sword was so tense it had practically seized up as her other rubbed the back of her neck.

  “Well I imagine anyone with a sword at their throat would find reason to know fear.”
Allos’ remark went past her. He could have meant she’d been too harsh, but Aryaunna didn’t believe she had been. “How did you know he was from the Church?” He seemed very interested in this.

  She took a moment to consider. “While the people of Kenan are not treated well by any means, only people of the Church would be so accustomed to abuse like this. He wasn’t afraid of being hit, which is why I drew my sword. This isn’t the first time he’s been in a similar situation, likely being beaten.”

  Allos’ brow arched as he considered what she said. This was a lot of wisdom from one so young. Good to know none the less. “Yourself and Elizabeth, too?” he found himself asking though he regretted it the moment he did.

  “Yes,” she answered simply, yet briskly, not wanting to give more detail than she had to. “The town’s people would be more accustomed to the stocks than physical beatings unless they were thieves, but a thief that’d been caught at any time… Well he’d have been missing some important parts.” A hand or fingers if the theft was petty.

  Allos nodded, understanding what she’d meant. “That was an astute assessment. You’re doing well. Exceptionally, I might add.” He didn’t seem surprised, but certainly impressed.

  “This isn’t as unknown to me as you might think. Though granted it’s the first I’ve been on this side of things.” That, too, was clear enough without further exaggeration. “I need to know if he’s lying.”

  Aryaunna looked to Allos for help. “If we can get his name, maybe Elizabeth will recognize him?” he inquired. It was their only hope without bringing Elizabeth in to identify him. There was something familiar about the boy, but Aryaunna just couldn’t place him. She’d spent her years in the Church trying not to be seen, which meant trying not to see others. Aryaunna explained as much to Allos. It was hard not to feel guilty when she could have known him had she paid better attention.

  “Go get my sister. Bring her to this room and wait for me. I’ll have you a name in short time.” Aryaunna turned to leave as his hand fell heavily to her shoulder.