The Reborn King (Book Six) (4 page)

Lee and Penelope huddled by the small fire along with one of the three desert elves they had recently encountered. The few of these who had not marched west with Gewey were patrolling the borders of the sands and had discovered them just after they left Dantory.

Lee knew that he was putting the desert dwellers in danger simply by being in their company, but he was relieved to see them nonetheless. The Waters of Shajir were weeks away, and his knowledge of the small oases that dotted the desert was limited to an old map he had acquired from a merchant. Though Lee believed the man to be speaking truthfully when he told him it was accurate, there was  no way he could be sure of this until it was far too late to turn back.

Samaal, a sand master in training, was sitting just across from Lee and Penelope. He was a good natured elf with a sharp wit and kind demeanor. He had halted his training until after the war was over and his kin returned. Though desperately desiring to go with the rest of his people, he had grudgingly accepted the charge of minding their land's borders.

The other two elves, Talmiel and Mangri, were at present scouting the area. Rogue bands of Soufis who'd escaped slaughter had been seen in the area. Though as a people they were no longer a power in the desert, they were still dangerous and desperate enough to attack lone travelers.

“We have been with you for three days now,” Samaal said. “I am wondering when you int
end to tell us what pursues you. Truly, it must be dread incarnate if you brave the sands alone to escape it.”

Lee hesitated and looked to Penelope. Her eyes were cast down and uncaring. Each day she had become increasingly reserved, rarely speaking a word.

“I am ill,” he explained. “And I hope the Waters of Shajir will cure my malady.” This was true enough.

Samaal scrutinized Lee for a moment. “And does your malady cause enemies to follow you?”

“What do you mean?”

“I am no fool,” he replied. “Though I have no doubt you wish to reach the Waters, you are also in flight. Something is giving chase, and it is clear you do not want whoever it is to catch you.”

Lee nodded. “You’re right. We are being followed, and it is likely you are in danger if you remain with us. I should have been more forthcoming when we met, but I…”

His voice trailed off. The truth was, he desperately wanted to protect Penelope as much as he could, and three more blades provided a much better level of security. He pulled her close, but still she did not look up or give any other indication that she was listening.

“If you are in need of our protection,” said Samaal. “We offer it freely. There is no need for subterfuge.”

“Thank you.” Lee bowed his head. “Perhaps I can repay your kindness one day.”

Talmiel and Mangri returned a few minutes later, their faces twisted into scowls.

“Wolves,” said Talmiel. “At least six of them. They are stalking us.”

Samaal waved a hand. “They’ll not attack. There are too many of us.”

The new arrivals knelt down beside them, hands on the hilts of their blades.

“Their eyes glowed green,” said Mangri. “Just like the ones who attacked Darshan and Pali.”

Gewey had told Lee the story of the monster wolves he and Aaliyah had encountered when the desert elf, Pali, was leading them to the Black Oasis. Apparently, it was a tale often told amongst the elves as well. Instinctively, Lee stood up and drew his sword.

A single, long and menacing howl sounded, lingering ominously in the night air. This was answered by several others, their aggressive wailing seeming to come at the small group from all directions simultaneously, like beastly battle cries. Rapidly, Lee helped Penelope to her feet and pushed her behind him.

He spotted the wolves just as they crested the dunes. They charged with astonishing speed.   In complete concert, four of the six animals leapt for the throats of their prey - one at each combatant. The two others were moving a little wider on either
side in order to get at Penelope. Lee ducked under the wolf attacking him, thrusting his blade up into its belly. The cut was deep, but the beast twisted at the last second, preventing the deadly steel from gutting it completely. It crashed onto the sand just beside Penelope, its jaws snapping and snarling.

Lee seized hold of his wife’s arm and pulled her away just as another wolf came at them from the left
, ready to deliver a lethal bite.

Letting out a feral cry, he swung his blade down in a tight controlled arc, splitting the animal's skull in two.

By now, Samaal had killed the wolf attacking him and was trying to stop the beast on the right flank from getting through to Lee and Penelope. Mangri and Talmiel had injured their foes, but in return had fallen victim to vicious bites - Mangri to his shoulder, and Talmiel to his upper arm. The wolf wounded by Lee was already regaining its feet.

Just at that moment, another lone howl called out from the darkness. As if responding to this, the attackers immediately began backing away, all the time their glowing green eyes spewing malice
as foam dripped from their dagger-like fangs.

“What devilry is this?” hissed Samaal. “It is as though they are being guided by some sinister intelligence.”

“Perhaps they are,” said Lee.

He listened carefully. Three more wolves had joined the others. And there was something else. Four Vrykol. He quickly scanned the area, but could see nothing other than more rolling dunes.

“Is there somewhere we can mount a defense?” he asked.

“There is an entrance to the
Blood of the Sands
to the south,” Samaal replied while stripping off a piece of his shirt to bind his comrade’s wounds. “But it is at least half a mile away and leads straight into the vortex, so we could not use it. In any case, I doubt we could make it there in time.” 

Lee looked at his wife. Her eyes showed no fear, yet tears still streamed down her cheeks. She gave Lee a sad smile and reached up to touch his face as if to say that she was ready for whatever was about to come. He could hear the foul voices of the Vrykol in the distance. The wolves howled in response, then began moving to surround them again.

“You three stay here,” ordered Lee. “The wolves will follow us.”

“We will not abandon you,” Samaal shot back.

“If we stay with you, we
all
die,” Lee told him. “And I will not have that.” Grabbing his wife, he threw her over his shoulder. “And I have no time to debate.”

The sinews of his legs burst into life as he ran headlong for a gap between the wolves. The three elves set off just behind him, but split away and attacked the beasts closest, hoping to give him and Penelope more time.

Lee could hear the elves engaging three of the creatures. The other wolves had paused and moved back, caught off-guard by the sudden aggression of their prey. But the Vrykol remained focused, and at once ran after Lee and Penelope, ignoring all else.

He had covered only a short distance when Lee hear
d the sand scraping beneath massive paws just a few yards behind him. He waited until he heard the beast jump, then, sword still in hand, spun sharply around. His blade thudded into the wolf’s outstretched neck while it was still in mid-air, instantly killing it. At the same time, he was forced to step sharply and awkwardly to one side in order to avoid the creature's falling body. While recovering his balance he heard Penelope grunt, but dare not delay to see if she was hurt.

The Vrykol were drawing near, as were two more wolves. But ahead he could now see the out cropping of rock and narrow entrance.

Encouraged, he ran with every last bit of speed he could muster, all the time feeling the presence of his enemies closing in. Penelope gripped the back of his shirt, trying not to cry out from the rough manner in which Lee was being forced to handle her.

Still running hard and barely able to pull up in time, he stumbled up to the entrance where his right arm rammed straight into the rock. Penelope was thrown off his shoulder and landed hard on the rocky path within. Lee twisted, slipping inside next to her. Ignoring the blood from the wound the jagged stone had just made, he raised his blade ready to skewer anyone who would dare try to follow them. But the Vrykol and the wolves slid to a halt, their gazes fixed.

“You cannot escape, Starfinder,” called one of the Vrykol in a harsh gurgling voice.

“We shall see,” spat Lee. He turned to Penelope and helped her to her feet. “Are you all right?”

She brushed the sand and dust from her dress. “Bruised and shaken, my love. But I can still go on.”

Despite her assurances, he took a moment to examine her. There was a long cut on her left forearm and her dress was ripped in several places, but there were no serious injuries. Satisfied, he peered along the dark passage. It sloped gently downward for about thirty yards, then veered to the left.

“Stay close behind me,” he said in a calm, even tone. He kissed her and smiled. “I’ll lead the way.” Lee sheathed his sword and drew a small dagger.

The path twisted and turned for more than a mile, then began descending sharply, its suddenness very nearly causing Penelope to stumble over. Lee listened, his half-man senses penetrating the echoes of their footfalls. The Vrykol were indeed following, but at a cautious distance. Gewey had described the
Blood of the Sands
to him,
and how he had traveled upon them. If the small round vessels he spoke about were there, they would use them to get away. If not, Lee would hold the enemy at bay for as long as he could. Of course, if Samaal was right about it leading to the
vortex,
then they may very well be heading to their death regardless. But it was a risk they would have to take.

After another mile he saw a faint light ahead. The path ended in a cavern large enough to accommodate about twenty men. On either end was a tunnel
connected by a broad strip of rough, dark brown sand. Lee stepped around his wife, picked up a pebble, and tossed it in. The sand instantly came to life, flowing and rippling like the water of a swift stream. Both of them stared in wonder for a moment.

“I have never heard of such a thing,” whispered Penelope. “And we can use this to get away?”

For a moment Lee considered not telling her about the risk. But the look in his eyes betrayed him.

“Tell me the truth,” she demanded. “I heard Samaal say something to you about a vortex.”

“Gewey told me about that as well,” he replied. “He said the elves believe it to be a place of no return.” He touched her shoulders. “We will make our stand here if that’s what you want.”

Penelope reached up to cup his face in her hands. “No. Let’s see where it leads.”

Lee gazed into her eyes. They were no longer sad and her tears had dried. “Yes. Let us see what it is the elves fear.” He kissed her, then took her hand. “And you never know. Perhaps this is where fate wanted us to be after all.”

He scanned the area and saw the round 'slithas' piled in a corner. He grabbed two and placed them beside the sands. At that moment, the sound of rapidly advancing Vrykol boots began echoing from the passage. They were very close.

No time to lash ourselves together
, he thought. He helped Penelope onto the vessel and pushed it atop the sands. Again, they burst into life, now propelling her toward the mouth of the tunnel. Lee raced to throw his own disc down and was about to jump aboard when a searing pain shot through his chest from where the cursed spike was buried in his flesh. He tried to fight through the agony, but it was unrelenting. He felt his legs giving way and fell heavily to the stone floor.

He heard Penelope screaming out his name, but she had already reached the tunnel and was quickly out of sight. He fought with everything he had to crawl atop the slithas, but his muscles had seized up. He could only lay where he was, helpless and frozen.

The foul stench of decay and ruin soon reached his nostrils. The hissing laugh of the Vrykol raked at his ears. Seconds later he saw the cloaked figures walking toward him.

“Get it over with,” he managed to grunt through his agony.

In a single swift movement, one of the Vrykol mounted his back and bound his arms. Once he was secure, the pain slowly subsided and a little of his strength returned.

“What are you waiting for?” he demanded.

The Vrykol pulled him to his feet. “Do you long for death? Do you wish for your torment to end?” Its harsh, rasping voice was mocking and cruel.

Lee glared defiantly. “I’ll not grovel to you,” he growled, spitting hard into the darkness of its hood.

His defiance was met by a fist smashing into his jaw. Were it not for the Vrykol at his back, he would have been sent sprawling.

“It will be a pleasure to watch you…turn,” the creature goaded. “To watch your sanity slip away.”

Lee tried not to look daunted by this, but fear of what he was likely to become gripped him anyway. Once again, his legs began to weaken.

“I see that even the mighty Lee Starfinder’s courage has limits,” it continued. “Excellent.”

Pride compelled Lee to gather his wits and straighten his back. “If your master wanted this, he would have done it when he captured us the first time.”