The Godling Chronicles (Shadow of the Gods, Book #3) (3 page)

She had only run a few yards when she felt
something hard strike the back of her head. She tried to keep her
feet, but felt herself losing consciousness and tumbling hard to
the ground. The world began to turn dark as she heard the footfalls
of the Vrykol approaching and the hiss of its foul breath. She
wanted to cry out, but the light faded from her vision, as the blow
to her head overcame her.

Chapter 2

Linis halted, a confused look on his
face.

“
What is it?” asked Gewey.

Linis bent down and placed his palm just
above the ground and closed his eyes. “Something follows our
quarry,” he muttered. “Something...unclean.”

“
Vrykol,” growled Gewey.

“
Yes,” agreed Linis. “It must be.
Nothing else I can imagine would leave such a scent. It's
like...death.”

“
Then we have to catch up with Kaylia
before they do,” said Gewey with no hesitation.

Linis opened his eyes and looked at Gewey
with determination. “Don't worry, my friend. We will.”

They continued to race through the forest.
Gewey kept a few paces behind Linis, all the while reaching out to
Kaylia. He told himself that since he didn't lose her entirely, it
meant they were going in the right direction. It wasn't until it
was fully night when Linis halted again.

“
We must slow our pace,” decided
Linis.

Gewey's jaw tightened. “If you can't keep
going...”

“
It is not that I am weary, my friend,”
said Linis, cutting him off. “But if either the elves or the Vrykol
are aware of our pursuit, they may decide to lay in wait. And
though I am uncertain of the Vrykol's skill in stealth, I do know
that it is unwise to believe the elves are without such skill.” He
peered into the night. “I can spot a trap in the blackest darkness.
But not if I move too quickly.”

“
I can sense every living being for
hundreds of yards,” argued Gewey. “There is no way they can hide
from me.”

Linis thought for a moment. Gewey had been
channeling the flow from the moment they left, and he had no doubt
that he could do as he claimed. “No,” he said finally. “Whatever is
blocking your connection to Kaylia may be able to hide itself from
you as well. I would not risk it.”

Gewey was silent for several seconds, then
nodded sharply.

Linis withdrew a flask from his pocket and
drank deeply. “Jawas tea,” he handed it to Gewey.

Gewey took the flask and drained it. The tea
filled his belly and relaxed his limbs. Even the flow felt as if it
came with more ease. He drew his sword, drawing in more power. Then
from a few hundred yards away he sensed something. His muscles
tensed as he reached out to find the source. He had done this
before several times during the pursuit. Usually it had been a deer
or a bear, and once, a fox. In fact, if circumstances were
different he would have marveled when he’d touched the mind of a
wild animal.

It possessed passion and life in a way no
human or elf could understand. It lived for the moment, with no
care for anything other than survival. But this time, the mind he
found touched him back. Dark and tortured, it was filled with hate
and anger, yet also sorrow and desperation. He recoiled and drew
back within himself. He knew he had just touched the mind of a
Vrykol. And he knew it had sensed him as well.

“
They're here,” whispered Gewey. “The
Vrykol are here.”

It took Linis a moment, but he felt it as
well. “There are eight of them.” He drew his knife. “This will not
be easy.”

Gewey filled his lungs and allowed the flow
to saturate him. “Let me handle them. You stay back.”

“
I will not,” Linis said, with fierce
determination. “You may be powerful, but we still do not know the
extent of these creatures’ powers. It may very well be that they
are the reason you cannot feel your bond with Kaylia. If that is
the case, they may be able to do more than we know.”

“
Then what do you think we should do?”
asked Gewey.

“
They know we are here,” said Linis.
“But they do not move against us just yet. Perhaps they want us to
move against them.” He surveyed the area. “We should move past them
and put ourselves between them and Kaylia. If I am correct that
will force them to move against us. I would rather them act
according to our plan, than us to theirs.”

Gewey nodded, then followed closely behind,
as Linis led them in a wide arc around the Vrykol’s location. Gewey
knew that their movements were detected. In fact, Linis made
certain of it, making just enough noise as to draw the Vrykol’s
attention.

“
Now what?” asked Gewey.

But before Linis could answer he sensed the
Vrykol moving. But to his dismay, only two moved in their
direction. The other six headed west, in an apparent attempt to
flank them. Gewey faced the direction of the two oncoming creatures
while Linis peered into the forest, listening for the others. Just
when the two Vrykol were in sight, they stopped and separated, left
and right, forcing Linis to turn his attention away from the
flanking maneuver.

“
We must kill the first two before the
others reach us,” shouted Linis. “If not, we will be
overwhelmed.”

Gewey's heart raced and he could feel his
sword, hot in his hand. The flow was like a flood raging through
him. He turned to Linis with a malicious grin. “They will never
have that chance.” He took a step forward and focused on the single
Vrykol moving to his left. With a tremendous boom, the earth
exploded beneath the creature, sending it flying, and its limbs
flailing. Its screams pierced the air as it slammed into a tall
pine, then slid to the forest floor. “Finish the beast, Linis,” he
said, in a near whisper. “I'll deal with the other one.” He focused
his mind on the second Vrykol. It had stopped in its tracks just
after he had unleashed the flow on the first. Gewey stretched out
again, but this time something stopped him. It felt like the same
thing he experienced when he tried to reach out to Kaylia. A cold
chill seized his chest.

Linis had sped off toward the fallen Vrykol.
In moments he saw it leaning against the tree, struggling to rise,
its cruel sword still in hand. Linis knew he only had seconds
before the beast recovered, and rushed headlong, swinging his long
knife at the creature’s neck. The Vrykol tried to move away, but
Linis was too fast, and the blade severed its head clean. He
glanced over to Gewey for a moment and saw him stalking steadily
towards the second Vrykol, then listened for the others. He
couldn't hear them...anywhere.

Gewey knew then why he was unable to contact
Kaylia. Somehow the beasts were able to block him. He tried again
to explode the earth beneath the Vrykol, but with the same
result.

The soft hiss of evil laughter seeped from
within the hood of the Vrykol's cloak. “That only works once,
boy.”

“
It won't save you,” growled Gewey. He
could still feel the flow. He may not be able to use it to destroy
the monster directly, but he knew it had no chance so long as the
flow still raged within him.

“
Perhaps not,” said the Vrykol, its
voice was thin and raspy, though clearer than others Gewey had
encountered. “But then again, I am not the one that needs to be
saved.”

In a flash, the Vrykol charged, its sword
held low, almost touching the ground. Gewey stood in a wide stance,
and steadied himself for the onslaught. His sword was fire in his
hand as the Vrykol reached him and swung its blade upward. Gewey
easily dodged the blow and stepped to the side, ready to take the
beast’s head. Then, in the corner of his eye he saw a flash; as the
creature stabbed at his neck with the other hand, its fingers
wrapped loosely around a small dagger. Gewey turned again, but the
tip of the blade found flesh, cutting deeply.

Pain shot through Gewey's body, as if burned.
He stumbled back slashing wildly, but the Vrykol moved away, just
out of reach.

“
Arrogant fool,” the Vrykol taunted,
twirling the dagger in its hand. “And you hope to challenge my
master?”

Gewey felt dizzy and his vision blurred. He
struggled to keep his focus on the Vrykol, waiting for it to charge
again, but it remained still. He reached up and touched the wound
on his neck. Blood poured down, soaking his shoulder. Though the
cut was deep, it shouldn't have been bleeding so badly. 'Poison,'
he thought, with disgust.

“
So frail,” laughed the Vrykol. “So
foolish.”

The Vrykol feinted left, then right, throwing
Gewey off balance, then swung its sword in a wide arc. Gewey just
managed to bring his sword up in time to deflect the blow. He could
feel the flow draining from him as the beast pushed forward. Soon
he knew he would be defenseless. He tried to counter, but his
blurred vision caused him to strike off target each time. A wave of
sudden nausea wracked his body, and he fell to one knee. Gewey
glared up defiantly, jaw clenched tight.

“
You see,” the Vrykol jeered. “You are
not even a match for the servants of the Great Lord.” He kicked
Gewey's sword from his hand.

Gewey leaned back on his knees and held his
head high, readying himself for the final blow. He heard the whip
of a blade approach. But instead of feeling the slash of steel, the
Vrykol roared with anger, a small dagger protruding from his left
shoulder. The beast spun to meet his attacker, but Linis was upon
him before it could react. Linis' long knife cleaved off the
Vrykol's leg, just below the hip. It toppled back and fell to the
ground. Without missing a step, Linis swung again, this time
decapitating his enemy. Thick black blood oozed from the wounds,
hissing as it touched the soft forest turf.

Gewey smiled with satisfaction and slumped
over. The cut on his neck burned with an evil fury. He looked at
the head of the slain Vrykol. It was twisted and scorched, but
clearly human. Its skin blackened, as the others he had
encountered, but not nearly as badly. He thought about how the
first one looked and sounded. This one was most certainly...better.
Definitely stronger. But why? These thoughts vanished from his mind
as another wave of nausea took him. He emptied his stomach with a
groan. Linis was at his side in an instant.

“
Poison,” Linis spat, examining the
cut. “Red Spider Blossom, from the look of it.” He smiled. “Nothing
to worry about. It is meant to incapacitate, not kill.” He reached
to his belt and removed his flask.

Gewey drank greedily, nearly draining it dry.
The jawas tea was cool, and instantly settled his stomach. His
wound still throbbed, but the burning slowly subsided. He sighed
with relief. “And the other Vrykol?”

“
I don't know,” Linis admitted. “They
seemed to have retreated. Why I could not say, but I take it as
good fortune. We will need to rest for at least a few hours. You
cannot continue until the poison wears off.”

Gewey shook his head. “We rest until I can
regain my feet, and not a second more.” He tried to let the flow
pass through him, but it was sluggish and weak.

Linis looked at Gewey, disapprovingly. He
thought to object, but could see that Gewey would not be dissuaded.
He closed his eyes and placed his hands on the wound.

Gewey felt as if a blade of ice had shot
through his neck. The shock made him gasp. “What-” Then the intense
cold became a pleasant cool sensation. The cut on his neck ceased
to throb and his head began to clear. Linis kept his hands on Gewey
for several minutes before finally removing them. He breathed
heavily, and opened his eyes.

“
You should be ready to travel soon,”
said Linis, wearily.

“
What did you do?” asked Gewey,
touching his neck gingerly. The wound was nearly closed. It itched
a bit, but the pain was gone.

Linis rubbed the bridge of his nose and
lowered his head. “I have channeled my flow into you. You are
healed, but I am drained.” He squeezed his eyes shut.

Gewey placed his hand on Linis' shoulder.
“Will you be all right?”

Linis looked up and smiled weakly. He took
the flask from Gewey and frowned as he found it empty. He reached
in his belt and pulled out another. “I will be. Though I will not
be able to travel as fast or fight as well for at least a day. But
do not fear. I can move fast enough for our purpose, and I'm still
more than a match for our prey. Just give me a little time to
regain some strength.” He crossed his legs and bowed his head. “Go
back to the path. I must focus. I will be along shortly.”

Gewey sat there for a moment, then struggled
to his feet and retrieved his sword. Though still unsteady, his
strength was returning and he slowly made his way back to the path.
Nearly an hour had passed by the time Linis rejoined him. Gewey
scrutinized the elf for a moment. If he was unable to continue, it
didn't show. As for Gewey much of his strength had already
returned. He had been listening for signs of the other Vrykol, but
just as Linis had said, they were gone.

“
I think we should follow them,” said
Linis. “I do not believe that this encounter was a coincidence.
They will lead us to Kaylia.”

Gewey nodded sharply and focused. The trail
the Vrykol left was clear and easy to follow. “I'll lead.”

Without another word, the two raced off after
the Vrykol. Gewey could tell that Linis was struggling to keep
pace, but he knew that they could ill afford to slow down. They had
already lost too much time. For more than three hours they
continued without pause. For a while, Gewey could still feel the
fatigue left from the poison, but as the flow continued to course
through his body, it vanished. From time to time he reached out for
Kaylia, but he found that her mind was still shrouded.