Dark Wood: Legends of the Guardians (2 page)

The
Bishop’s hand grasped her throat, his fingers digging up into her chin as he
forced her to look into his bitter grey eyes. His mouth was open to chastise
her for sins she’d never committed when she screamed. The sound was deafening,
echoing off the walls and farther. Beyond conscious thought, she reacted.

Her
callused hands lift to either side of his head and grabbed a hold with all of
her strength. Not pushing, not jerking, just holding. The fear grabbed hold of
her tighter than he had. Her scream rang louder still, burning her very throat
for its pure hatred.

Heart
pounding, heat built within her chest like fire, exploding out through every
limb, bringing with it a surge of power.

The
clergy was paralyzed as he looked upon her. Terror blazed in his depthless
pools. Light radiated from her very fingertips, blinding white. So brilliant
that everything else in the room was cast into darkness. Even the fire
extinguished in the wake.

Bulging
eyes stared at nothing, for they saw nothing. Blood seeped from his sockets, as
they themselves dimmed slowly until not even a dull spark of life showed within
them. All at once his weight collapsed in a clothed pile at her feet.

Stunned,
her trembling hand covered her gaping mouth. “What have I done?” Aryaunna’s
whispered words echoed off the walls around her.

The
light from within her now gone, returned from whence it came, only one dull
glow cast light upon the room. “Oh thank the stars!” Aryaunna’s heart all but
stopped at the sound of a new voice. Looking up, a young woman stood within the
open doorway. Gathering her wits as quickly as she’d lost them, the young woman
started; fliting down the hall swiftly.

Unsure
what to do next, Aryaunna stood frozen, alone with the corpse. She hadn't
intended to kill him. The first witness had fled. But how many would come now?
In answer a swift set of footsteps returned to the room. The last of her color
drained from Aryaunna’s cheeks as her eyes clinched shut. “What are you doing?”
The maiden. Her voice was apprehensive but stern as if she were scolding her.

Aryaunna’s
lids opened, so filled with fear tears streamed down her cheeks. Pleading would
not matter. It never did. She was dead, there was no doubt about it now.

“Now
is not the time for you to lose your senses. You have to hurry. No one else is
coming yet, but they will. Someone will be here to tend the fire or warm the bed
sheets soon. You have to get out!” With haste she strode across the room,
taking Aryaunna’s hands in her own and pulling her around away from the body.

The
girl’s eyes burned feverishly, pleading for Aryaunna to come to her senses. No
one was coming to rescue him, for it was Aryaunna that had screamed, not the
Bishop. No one dared to intervene with that.

Quickly
the girl went about throwing the rest of logs on the fire. A large fire if
noticed first would be left alone, and the room may go unchecked longer.

“Get
his feet, and pull him to the bed. If they think he is sleeping they may not
look closer until morning.” Once the fire blazed, engulfing the logs, she
flittered quickly to the bed and threw back the heavy linens.

Using
the robes as a barrier between Aryaunna’s skin and the priest’s she pulled on
his ankles. It was to no avail. She could not lift his body despite her
strength.

Coming
to Aryaunna’s aid yet again, the girl quickly moved next to her and took up one
leg as she took the other. “Must they be so fat!” The girl groaned, stopping as
they could barely manage to get his rear end off the floor. “Okay, I'll take
the feet you take his arms, and on three we lift him to the bed.” Aryaunna was
thoroughly bewildered. The girl acted as if dealing with a corpse were but any
other chore! Then again, perhaps she had seen her share.

“You're
quite astounding,” Aryaunna grumbled while switching places. Cringing, she
swallowed down the bile that rose in her throat as she grabbed a hold of his
wrists.

“Yes.
And you killed a Prior of the Church. Let’s finish this quickly now before
we're both found! One, two, three!”

In
minutes they were down in the cellar. The maidens all shared rooms. There were
few places to speak in complete privacy. “You must leave. You must leave
tonight, Aryaunna.”

“You
know me.” Aryaunna felt ashamed that she could not put a name to her face.
Beneath a wrap, the girl’s white blonde hair was a mess of tendrils over pale
fresh skin. Her eyes were cold and hard, blue as the frozen lakes in the
valley. She was so striking. It seemed odd to Aryaunna that she could not
recall meeting her before. It was a big Church, with many bodies to keep it in
working order.

“We
met over the summer, working the fields of Brimshire. My name is Lena.” With her
every word, like magic, Aryaunna recalled the memories. So keenly in fact it’s
a wonder she could have forgotten.

“I’m
sorry. I should have known you.”

“Do
not be. Now is not the time for manners, Aryaunna. You must gather your things,
and find Elizabeth at once.” Again, she was so well prepared and together that
it caught Aryaunna off guard and made her feel foolish. “If she does not go
with you, what they will do to her will only make her wish for death.”

“You
know Elizabeth?” Eyes narrowed, Aryaunna gazed upon her closer, trying to place
a memory that whispered at the edge of her thoughts.

“Really,
Aryaunna, who doesn’t know the daughters of the White Witch that have grown
under the ever watchful Magistrate and his Church.” Lena looked upon her as if
she were daft for questioning her. It was a true enough statement, though no
one had ever been so blunt about it before. “Now go and get your sister. Bring
with you nothing you cannot carry in a small satchel. Return here immediately,
for I will not wait long.” Lena’s eyes shown bright with urgency. With little
more than a glance back at her, Aryaunna was up the stairs and slinking through
corridors to find her sister.

The
sisters’ chamber was on the other end of the Church, in the northern corridor.
Though they were young, and by law not old enough to be tainted, the Church did
not wish to risk exposing the sisters to others of the Church, and thus were
granted a small private chamber, intended for anything other than living.

Entering
their room, the oaken door creaked louder than it may have ever before. As if
by touching it, it cried out to the guards that Aryaunna was guilty of the
worst of crimes. Her feet were light on the stone as she swiftly entered and
strained to ease the door closed quietly.

“Ary?”
Elizabeth was crouched by the window on her knees. By the light of the fire
Aryaunna could see the wet trails on her sister’s cheeks. Had she heard her cry
all the way from the northern corridor of the Church? Or had she seen
something?

In
a moment, Eizabeth crossed the room to meet her sister, taking Aryaunna into
her arms as if she were the mother they never got to know. “I thought he was
killing you when I heard... I thought they'd found out.”

Unable
to speak to explain, Aryaunna shook her head, pulling from her reluctantly.
Bracing her hands on Elizabeth’s shoulders, she looked into her eyes and saw
the love and relief pouring from them. “We are leaving here, Elizabeth. We are
leaving tonight. Now. Gather your things.”

“Ary!
No, they’d hunt us! If we were ever to be found by the Church they would burn
us!” Elizabeth pulled from her sister’s grasp as if Aryaunna were crazed, and
it could be catching.

“Elizabeth,”
she snapped as she stepped closer, cornering her sister against the wall.
“They’ll do worse if we stay…” her voice quieted to barely a whisper.
Elizabeth’s brow furrowed in concern, marred with her confusion. “I killed a
Prior. Prior Hile. Please, there is no time to explain. Elizabeth, we must go!”

The
blood drained from her face as she looked at Aryaunna closely. “Did he hurt
you?”

Shaking
her head no, Aryaunna forced a weak smile. “No. I did not let him. Not this
time.” Relief flooded through Elizabeth’s stricken heart as tears brimmed over
her lashes. “Please, Elizabeth!” Aryaunna begged.

A
dozen times she asked what had happened, and a dozen times Aryaunna answered
her with silence. Elizabeth looked aged beyond her years as they returned to
the cellar.

Reaching
the cellar they took heed of their every step, for the only light was the red
coals of a cooling fire. The room pitched into darkness did nothing to ease
their worry. “Ary, why are we at the wood cellar? Shouldn’t we go to the
kitchen for food?” Elizabeth had always been the ever logical one.

“We’re
meeting someone. If she hasn’t left…”

From
the shadows Lena emerged as if she’d stepped from another place completely. “I
am here. Hello, Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth’s
hand clasped a hold of her sister’s wrist defensively. “It's all right. She
helped me, Elizabeth. She's here to help us get away.” Elizabeth stood stock
skill, appraising the young woman with bald skepticism. It was a wonder at what
she truly saw.

“She's
not like the others,” Elizabeth breathed out in surprise. “She's not... human.”
Her eyes widened, skin turning placid as she hastily stepped between them.

“You
need not worry, while I am indeed Drow, I mean you no harm.” Lena’s eyes
radiated a brilliant silver, casting a light almost hypnotizing. As soon as
Aryaunna saw this beautiful gleam it vanished, as if she’d imagined it.

Drow
were thought to be deceased, much like the Guardians themselves. The Magistrate
had declared all Drow demons, and ordered their death on sight, even offering
bags of silver as compensation. Very few bodies were ever turned in for the
rewards though... Some say a true Drow could never be caught or killed. That
the bodies turned in were humans whose teeth had all been filed to points to
make them appear demonic, and it was the Drow themselves who claimed the
bounty, for the Drow could appear human. Perhaps this legend wasn't so far off.

“Run!”
Lena hissed. She had been pushing them every step, quite literally with her
hands on their backs to guide them. Their steps crunched softly through the
snow leaving a powder of white dust in their wake. Through the frozen wind, the
sound of the hounds’ baying chilled them more than any winter ever could. The
Magistrate’s guards were always on patrol, day and night.

Lena
had sworn that once they got to the woodlands she could protect them. Until
then, they’d have to run, and pray to the Guardians for a swift and safe
journey. Suddenly, Aryaunna’s torso jerked back as Lena pulled them to a stop.
“Not that way. There are guards by the gate all through the night. I could
fight them in my natural form, but not like this. Not before the knights come.”

Elizabeth
pulled back and spun on her heels to face Lena. Even red cheeked and out of
breath she seemed perfectly put together. “Just how do we get out of here?
These walls were built to defend armies. We cannot just climb over them.”

Lena’s
gaze never once stopped roaming as they stood halted in the middle of the
courtyard. “We have to get out of sight. Come now.” Without so much as
regarding Elizabeth, Lena urged them quickly to crouch down beside a great
fountain. “You’re right. I’ll have to take out the guards then…” she spoke to
herself more than either sister.

“You
are insane.” Elizabeth’s eyes rolled as she looked behind them at the daunting
stone wall. A bastion sat not more than a stone’s throw behind them, looming
like an all seeing eye.

Smiling
ruefully, Lena looked over to Elizabeth expectantly. “You have any better
ideas?”

“Here’s
an idea, it may be the dead of night but we are on a white snow. We are going
to be found if we do not move!” Aryaunna hissed at them anxiously.

“The
Church was designed like any other castle. We are at the outer curtain. Tis a
solid wall, but the corner bastions are hollow with stairs up to the allure.”
Elizabeth was of course brilliant in her logic. Still yet…

Lena
and Elizabeth eyed the wall, gauging the height. “Either way we have guards to
face,” Aryaunna whispered anxiously before giving into a nervous habit of
biting her knuckles.

“Stop
that, Ary.” Elizabeth bat her hand away as she scolded. “The bastion will keep
us hidden. We can get to the allure and go down from there.”

“How
do we do that? Fly?” Aryaunna scoffed.

Elizabeth’s
eyes narrowed on her sister. “The wall isn’t too high. The snow will break our
fall.” She looked to Lena with nervous hope. “Lena, we follow your lead.”

“Very
good. Elizabeth will watch the yard. Aryaunna, you will watch for my signal.
When everything is clear I will wave for you to make run for the tower.”

“You’d
take them by yourself?” Aryaunna looked half astounded.

“What,
would you prefer to have the fun of slicing their throats?” Lena smiled
wickedly, as if the very thought amused her. Balking, Aryaunna looked away. In
thought, she was brave enough. To do so was another story. Lena’s smile
softened as she pulled a blade from her tall boot beneath her skirt. “It’s all
right, Aryaunna. This is why I have come.”

By
the time they made it to the forest the moon was high in the sky. Elizabeth
made work to hide her limp with every step they made, refusing to complain even
when asked. The snow did cushion their fall, but not enough.

The
winter woods were a quiet place. Sensational, yet frightening. By just the
light of the moon reflecting off the blanket of fallen snow one could see their
every step and yet the canopy of trees cast everything into shadow. The only
sound was the owl that called to them. Aryaunna could feel it watching them,
and for it she felt safer.

The
Thuringian forest edged the chiefdom of Kenan, where the Magistrate ruled. The
woodland spread out like a vast ocean. The surrounding forest was a peaceful
place where hunters roamed. It was what lie deep in the Thuringian that both
frightened and intrigued Aryaunna-the Hollow, and beyond it, the Dark Wood.
“Where are we going?” Elizabeth questioned low to her sister, shy of the worry
in her voice.

The
hood of Elizabeth’s cloak had cast her gaze in shadow. Aryaunna’s only response
was the tender reassuring smile for her sister. Elizabeth’s cool hand clasped
her sister’s tightly. If Lena had heard, once again she had chosen not to
respond. Perhaps it was the way of Drow. Perhaps it was just Lena.

Time
seemed to have stopped in the woods. Perhaps it had frozen along with the rest
of the world. Elizabeth could no longer hide the limp in her ankle. It was a
worry that ate at Aryaunna for she could do nothing for it. “Ary, enough. I
will be fine. We have to get away from the Church. The further away we are the
safer we will be. I have suffered worse,” in a quiet breath she answered her
sister’s never ceasing questions.

“Elizabeth
is right. Do not worry. We will be there before the red dawn rises.” Lena’s
words were whispered, yet seemed to come from everywhere.

“And
where exactly is ‘there’?” Aryaunna called ahead as Lena walked faster than
they were able.

Before
Aryaunna could see her move, Lena stood facing her. “Keep your voice quiet. We
are not safe yet.”

“You
said once we made it to the forest you could keep us safe,” the panic in
Aryaunna’s voice betrayed her nerves.

“In
my woods, yes. We are not there yet. Your answers will come soon, Emissary.
Even the ones you have not asked for.” Turning her back again, she walked on. The
minutes had turned to hours as the night continued endlessly. It was Aryaunna’s
worry for her sister that tired her so. She’d never slept much.

The
moon was now hidden. They were cast into darkness. The woods were quiet but for
the sound of labored breath, and the call of the ever watching owl. “Lena,
please, we have to stop.” Elizabeth was almost asleep on her feet as she leaned
against her sister. “Lena?” Aryaunna whispered into the night. Raising her
voice to a hiss, she called again, “Lena!”

Elizabeth’s
cloak had fallen, though she’d been too tired to right it. Her exhausted gaze
looked upon her sister, revealing her pain and worry alike. “It’s all right,
Elizabeth. Sit.” Holding her arms around Elizabeth she eased her down against
the base of an oak. “Sit here and rest.” Pulling water from her satchel, she
placed the bota in her hands. “Drink.”

“Why
do you think she called you Emissary?” Elizabeth asked after taking a drink.

“I
don’t know.” Aryaunna’s hand clasped around the amethyst heart which hung from
her neck.

“You
prayed to the Guardians, became sworn to them. It’s true, Aryaunna. And if the
Drow know, then more will.” Hanging the bota over her neck, Elizabeth held her
hands out. “Help me up. We have to find her.”

“No.
You sit. I shall find her. You must rest.” Aryaunna couldn’t respond to her
otherwise. How could she admit that she doubted her sister’s words after
everything she had confessed to her just hours before? She didn’t feel strong
enough.

Where
have you gone to, Lena? Have you left us?
Aryaunna wondered as she walked
careful circles through the trees, always keeping an eye on Elizabeth with
every step. “Lena?” she whispered to the night.

From
the corner of her eye she saw quick movement. “Lena?” she called louder before
she could catch herself. Her hand placed over her mouth, wishing she could take
it back. Again she saw it, this time from the right. A cloak billowed as it
disappeared through the trees. It was not Lena’s.

Watching
carefully, she made her way back to Elizabeth. She had never fought before, but
she was not afraid to do so, especially to defend her sister. Again and again,
she watched the blur through the trees circle them. “Ary?” Elizabeth questioned
so much with just her sister’s name.

“Stay
down,” Aryaunna warned as she watched what little she could see. It was strange
that in such darkness she could see the cloak as it moved through the trees, as
if it was a light of its own making. “I am not afraid of you!”

“Are
you not?” a voice called from the darkness. It was not Lena.

Deft
fingers unclasped the cloak upon her shoulders, laying it over Elizabeth. Her
right hand pulled a knife from the hem of her skirt. It was not a decorated
blade, but it was sharp and strong. A valuable aid in her work. “If you doubt
me, then approach.”

“Sister,
don’t! You do not know what dwells in the woodlands,” Elizabeth called from
behind her as Aryaunna turned in slow pivots to watch the cloak circle.

“Guardians
of the light heed me, give me your strength,” her voice was but a whisper to
the night air, though every word warmed her very soul. She could feel their
warmth, like a kind hand on her back, feeding her strength.

As
she turned, Lena stood an arm’s length away, facing her. “I told you she was
strong,” she called to the trees.

Without
hesitating Aryaunna brought the blade’s tip to her slender throat. “Where have
you brought us, Lena?”

“We’re
still inside Thuringian. We have entered the edge-wood of the Hollow, Emissary.
I assure you, you are safe here.” Her hands held out, palms to the air as if
welcoming them to a pleasant countryside inn.

The
cloak she had seen whispering through the woods emerged from her left.
Stretching out her arm, the tip of the knife touched Lena’s throat. “Stop where
you are.”

“She
is brave, I will give you that,” his voice resonated through the trees and drew
Aryaunna’s gaze for just a second. That was all it took. As Aryaunna returned
her sight to Lena she had changed. Her fair cream skin had darkened to the
ebony of the night. All but her blue lips. She was taller. The blade rest
against her chest. Though Aryaunna was startled, she dared not pull back.

“Stay
away from my sister. Leave us. We’re nothing to you. Let us be on our way!” she
demanded as she looked up into Lena’s silver eyes that shone clearly in the
night.

“Your
sister, I fear, would not make it back to Kenan, let alone anywhere safer,” the
deep voice informed.

“I
will see to her safety just fine, thank you.”

“I
am sorry if we frightened you, Emissary. You must understand we had to be sure
you are who we’ve been waiting for. Please, allow us to help you.” Lena smiled
lightly, silently asking for Aryaunna to trust her still.

“You
are welcome to fight Lena. She will defeat you with ease. But the longer you
draw this out, the longer your sister will suffer. Is that what you want,
Aryaunna?”

“I
want a great many things. However my sister’s suffering is not one of them.”
Stepping back, she sheathed the knife at her side. Without hesitating she
turned her gaze away from them and stooped down to Elizabeth’s side. She did
not look well. Cupping her hand to Elizabeth’s cheek, she felt fevered flesh.

Elizabeth
smiled sadly, as if in defeat. “I’m sorry, Ary,” she whispered to her as a tear
brimmed over her eye.

“I
swear to you, on my life, you shall be safe with us in the Hollow, Aryaunna,”
his voice sounded from just behind her. “The both of you.”

“And
I shall hold you to it,” Aryaunna warned. Reaching out, her arms cradled
Elizabeth to her and eased back up to pull her sister to her feet.