The Legend of Alexandros: Belen (21 page)

Alexandros drew his sword and turned to the voice. Standing at the far end of the muddy beach was Maddoc, the lycan leader.

“Do not look so amazed, son of Mabruk…I am here to help…”

CHAPTER XIX

LYCAN
FOREST-OVUNAS

T
WO
N
IGHTS
A
GO…

“T
he land is ours once again. This time we shall not allow any other being to cowardly sneak in. Celebrate my children, for this is a victory worth a celebration,” Maddoc told the lycan clan.

The lycans ran through their haunted forest, the remains of the Ovunas villagers dangling from their snarling mouths. Deep within the woods stood a dark dank cave; hidden within the cave were hundreds of tunnels built by the lycans many years ago. Humans who chanced on roaming the tunnels never got lucky enough to see another day. The entrance of the cave was located deep in the forest, surrounded by several tilted tresses. The trees covering the cave entrance seemed as if they were clawing at each other.

The lycans of this clan were far older than any other, so old in fact that they forgot how to revert back to human form. Although some could still in fact revert to their human form they simply refused to, wishing to ignore past memories of their human roots. Before any other was allowed into the cave, Maddoc entered first; his paws thudded upon the cavern floor as he walked. Within the cave a flowing spring trickled. Maddoc, after taking a drink, shook his shaggy dark fur, then easily made his way through the dark tunnels; without even the benefit of light in the cave, Maddoc saw as clear as day. His chamber, far within the cave, featured a small opening in the ceiling that allowed the full moon to shine through. Skeletal remains were scattered about the round chamber; a bed of dry leaves in the corner. For the remainder of that night, Maddoc slept undisturbed.

“Is there anyone left from the village to eat?” asked the lycan Liorm.

Liorm, known well within the clan, was heavy set with dark brown fur and a scar over his right eye. Besides Maddoc, Liorm was the only lycan in the clan born from lycan birth. “I will never understand why humans are such fools,” Liorm said with a hissing growl. “The son of Mabruk must have given them our message. Why they would not leave is a question that will now haunt them for eternity.”

“Simple answer to your question…humans are not as bright as they would like to think they are,” the lycan Vesall said in a deep coarse, growling laugh. “Only a rare few actually really think and use their thoughts.” Vesall stood tall and lean and was very agile. His fur was deep reddish brown; his eyes were extremely light in color and were the only human quality he had left. “These are a few less humans to have to worry about…” Vesall tossed a leg to the corner of the cave.

“You were human once…”

“My human life ended a long time ago, before you were even born so I would watch how you speak to me.”

“Tell me of this Mabruk.”

“You were just a pup when we left for battle. Mabruk led the humans into battle. He and Maddoc had their understandings, and that was the only time in our history we ever allied ourselves with humans.”

Liorm scratched his neck in a dog-like fashion. “Do you think Maddoc regrets not helping the son of Mabruk?”

“Who are we to even question? If Maddoc wanted to he would have. But there is no for sure way of truly knowing… unless someone was to actually ask.”

“How nice of you to offer. Go on, go ask,” said Liorm and pushed Vesall toward the dark tunnels. “Do not worry; Maddoc is resting in his chamber. Go on.”

“Stop!”

“It was a joke, Vesall.”

Vesall crouched into attack position. “Are we really going to battle over these scrawny remains?”

“Silence…” Vesall took in a few deep sniffs. “Do you not smell that…it is the scent of…vermin…”

Vesall leaped out of his the chamber and ran through the tunnels letting out a piercing howl. Lycans from all throughout the chambers then charged into the tunnels. Vesall led a dozen lycans out of the cave into the forest, where silver-tipped arrows were being launched towards them. The lycans quickly turned back to the caves for shelter. Waking from the howls, Maddoc ran through the cave’s tunnels, bouncing off walls as he turned corners.

Two mountain trolls and several goblins swarmed around the cave’s entrance. The trolls pulled trees from the ground and hurled them at the lycans. They bashed the lycans using the trees like giant clubs, sending them high in the air and then crashing to the ground. Liorm used his ferocious claws to dismember the goblins, while Vesall tried to lure a mountain troll away from the cave’s entrance. Vesall bit and slashed at the legs of the troll until the beast followed him into the forest. Liorm charged the goblins, who were now hurling torches. Just as a flaming torch was about to fly into the cave, Maddoc flew out of the cave’s entrance like a hawk, catching the flaming torch with his mouth. Maddoc tossed the torch at a mountain troll, setting its legs on fire. Maddoc then leaped onto the troll’s chest with full force. The mountain troll lost his balance and stumbled backwards, crashing hard on its back. Maddoc slashed and clawed the mountain troll; he viciously tore off huge parts of the troll’s chin until there was nothing left but bone.

As more goblins charged, the lycans were now fully aware of the attacking foes outside, and several of the clan’s most powerful warriors were out in the battlefield.

“You should have remained the cowardly rodents you truly are—and never …” But before Liorm could finish, a goblin fell an axe into his back. Liorm dropped to the ground with a loud thud.

Maddoc lunged for the goblin, and with his fierce claws struck the creature across his belly, hacking the goblin in two.

Vesall led the troll deep into the woods and silently moved through the trees, barely making a sound. The troll searched for the lycan, kicking over boulders with its giant feet. Vesall waited on a tree branch, and just as the troll stepped beneath him, he leaped upon on the troll’s chest and ferociously ripped a huge chunk of the troll’s neck. The troll crashed down to the ground and soon bled out. Vesall kicked dirt into the troll’s face and left the dying troll squirming about. He returned to the cave, where the mournful clan welcomed him.

Liorm shook restlessly as a lycan tried to pull the axe from his back. Liorm choked when he attempted to speak.

“Do not move, my child,” Maddoc whispered. “You shall be well before the next full moon.”

After a moment Liorm’s breathing stopped, and he died soon that night.

Maddoc howled loudly at the full moon for what may have been minutes without end. His cries echoed throughout the air. His breathing became hard, and he shook with anger.

“I want half of our clan standing directly in front of me before the sun rises,” he cried.

Vesall rounded up their most fearsome warriors.

“We are leaving,” Maddoc said, gazing into the forest. “The remainder of our clan shall guard our caves and forest while we are gone.”

“Where are we off to, Maddoc?” Vesall curiously asked.

“We are going to find the son of Mabruk…”

CHAPTER XX

A HARPIES SONG

H
ARPIES WERE ONCE
thought to be hags of the underworld, but in recent times have been known to live in remote rocky mountain areas. Before you will ever see a harpy you shall surely hear her song. Although hideously ugly, a harpy has a most magical voice, which she uses to lure her prey. Before a harpy feeds she will torture her victim for hours. Harpies are carnivorous creatures that will feed on just about any living creature, but prefer the taste of human flesh…”

“N
ow they wish to help,” Bixbin complained as they traveled over faded mountain paths. “Before, when they were asked, they turned us away, but once they were attacked, the lycans wish to join the battle. I would have turned them away for the cowardly actions they had shown before.”

“You have been rambling on for miles now about the lycans, but have you ever stopped to think that they may be able to hear you. Lycans possess impeccable hearing,” said Alexandros.

Maddoc’s eyes were locked on Bixbin.

Valchor whispered to Bixbin with a chuckle, “I would not stop if I were you…”

The sun soon began to set over the mountains. The darkness made it close to impossible to travel through the mountain path, but they found a small, empty cavern to serve as shelter for the evening. The lycan leader arrogantly pushed Alexandros aside and entered with his lycan clan. Alexandros made a fist and hoped to control his anger.

Tension that night was at its highest. The lycans kept to themselves and slept at the back of the cavern, while Alexandros and the others sat around a small fire Raphael had made near the entrance. The fire flickered through the dimly lit cavern. Alistair sat and was deep in thought. With his hand he created small objects with the flames. He first made a shield and when it did not seem familiar he made a locket, then broom, then a crown. Alexandros watched as the wizard created all these bizarre things and asked.

“What are you doing?”

“I am trying to recall what it was I transformed my staff into. I figured, if I saw it then I could remember.”

“Any luck?”

“None so far…”

As Winston slept with his head on Alexandros’ lap, Valchor pulled out the scale Lucinda had given him. Elora sat close to him.

“You miss her, do you not?” she asked.

“I do. I feel as if I should have stayed, but I know Lucinda would have made me continue with this quest.”

“Valchor…do you think you might love her?”

“You creatures and your love,” the lycan leader said with a growl from the back of the cave. “It truly is a sad and pathetic thing.”