Unicorns' Opal (5 page)

Alex hopped onto Kaz’s back and told the unicorn to fly past the Children’s campsite to the west. The moon was gone from the sky and the land sped by in darkness below him. Alex detected the scent of smoke several miles west of the Children’s campsite and he had Kaz circle the area while he peered down into the darkness. Alex thought he heard something moving and directed Kaz to land near the river, which was far enough away to avoid detection.

Alex once more made his way towards a suspected enemy camp as silently as he could. The terrain here was much easier to maneuver and Alex quickly found what he was looking for. The horses were easy to spot and numbered around twenty, much less than Alex would have suspected if this was the killing party that was supposed to attack the Children. He circled the entire encampment and could not find any sentries. The Commander obviously did not expect the Children to attack him. Alex thought it was time to eliminate the careless man and his troops before the Children were encircled. Quietly, Alex made his way back to Kaz and headed for the Children’s campsite.

Alex was a little surprised when Tedi detected his approach to the campsite, still the young Ranger had made the right call. When Alex rode onto the path to give the recognition call, he found he was framed in a crossfire by Arik and Tedi.

“You young Rangers are learning quickly,” complimented Alex. “Wake Tanya and Fredrik. We have some work to do before morning.”

The four young Rangers gathered around Alex as he explained the situation. Fredrik was chosen to remain as sentry for the campsite and the other three prepared for battle.

“Each of us will have five Dark Riders to take care of,” Alex explained, “but they are sleeping and there are no sentries for their camp. As long as you remain calm and place your arrows swiftly and efficiently, we should accomplish this task quickly.”

“What if we can’t get all five of our targets?” Tedi asked. “Should we stay or leave?”

“Once we start the attack, we finish it,” Alex declared. “If one of them remains alive, he will report the attack and we will be overrun with Dark Riders. This group must be eliminated without the other groups finding out about it. If you can’t get to all of your targets, just remain calm and kill anyone coming towards you. If I see a problem, I will try to draw them towards me. That will give all of you some breathing room. With arrows coming in from all directions, any resistance they give us will be disorganized. Trust me, this will work.”

The four Rangers mounted their horses and rode out of camp leaving Fredrik to stand sentry. When they got to within a half-mile of the enemy camp, Alex halted the group and they dismounted. Alex gave final directions to the Rangers and they split up.

Alex had the farthest to go as he was taking the most westward position. Arik had the north, Tedi the south, and Tanya would get the east. By the time Alex got into position the others would be ready. He found an old log near his position and he stabbed ten arrows into it so they would be available quickly. He nocked his first arrow and gave the prescribed owl call. Three responses came immediately and Alex let his first arrow fly.

The Dark Rider camp came alive with the first man’s scream and men started grabbing for weapons. Their swords were useless against the incoming arrows and a few of them lifted shields. Unfortunately for the Dark Riders, their shields only protected them from one direction and their backs were vulnerable to another Ranger. As the Dark Riders continued to fall, their Commander eagerly sought a solution. He attempted to rally his dwindling number of men to make a rush in one direction. When Alex saw what the leader planned he stood erect and let himself be seen.

Predictably, the Dark Rider Commander chose that direction to attack. Alex unsheathed his sword and leaned it against his leg so that he would be able to keep shooting right up until the time that they reached him. The other Rangers continued to rain arrows into the Dark Riders and by the time the enemy reached Alex there were only three left. Alex dropped his bow and brought his sword upward, slashing the first Dark Rider from his abdomen to his chin. Twisting to his left, Alex brought the high sword down on the second evil killer, removing his head from the rest of his body. Even as his sword was slicing through the second man, Alex dropped to his right knee and swiveled, thrusting his sword over his left shoulder to pierce the chest of the third, and final, Dark Rider.

Alex pulled his sword free and let the man topple to the ground. “Rangers,” Alex called, “let me hear you and get a body count quickly. Be careful.”

The three other Rangers shouted their good health and Alex wiped his sword off on one of the fallen men. He walked into their campsite and met with the rest of the Rangers. “Are they all dead?” Alex asked.

“They are now,” Tanya supplied. “Same number of bodies as horses. A few of them needed a helping hand to make it to the next life, but they are safely there now.”

“Okay,” approved Alex, “gather whatever supplies make sense and leave the rest. All arrows will be taken. I have a feeling we are going to need every arrow we can find before we get over the mountains.”

The Rangers pillaged whatever they could and made their way back to their own campsite. Alex let Fredrik and Tanya go back to sleep, then turned in himself after issuing orders to wake him an hour before sunrise.

When Alex was awakened, the whole camp was cleaned up and the Rangers were ready to leave. “We figured you would not want to stay here a second night,” chuckled Tedi.

“That’s quite true,” agreed Alex groggily. “The problem is, where do we go? There must be more to that band we met last night than what we saw. The passes are blocked and more Dark Riders will be coming soon. They mean to contain us here until they can be sure of wiping us out.”

“I heard you took some of the boys out to murder travelers last night,” accused Niki.

Tanya started to verbally lash out at Niki, but Alex cut her off. “It might be time for the Rangers to learn about mountain climbing. We have only two choices, as I see it. We can continue paralleling the mountains until we reach the north coast and we can get around the mountains there. Or we must go over the mountains where the Dark Riders don’t expect us to.”

“Maybe we can talk to them,” insisted Niki. “At least, if we talk to them before they find out you killed twenty of them, they might let us through the pass.”

Taking his cue from Alex, Arik ignored Niki’s comments. “What do we do for horses on the other side of the mountains if we decide to climb over?” inquired Arik.

“What if we only climb half way over the mountains?” suggested Tedi. “You said you were able to look down upon the forces in the pass. Couldn’t we attack them from above and clear the pass out?”

“Oh, great!” exclaimed Niki. “Now you all have the blood lust and can’t wait to kill some more innocent people.”

“That is not a bad idea, Tedi,” acknowledged Alex, “but they also have four Black Devils among them. I wouldn’t want to take the chance of any of you getting blasted off your perch.”

Niki was opening her mouth to speak, but nothing was coming out. She looked frantically from Fredrik to Jenneva, but both of them just smiled. “I think we can take care of four Black Devils,” Jenneva stated.

“What if we just toasted the entire pass?” asked Fredrik. “There wouldn’t be need for any one of us to climb the mountain and risk injury.”

“That would alert Sarac as much as the sky clearing,” Alex said thoughtfully. “Prince Midge might be able to take care of the Black Devils for us, though. Jenneva, do you have the ingredients for that Fire Glue you concocted during the war?”

Jenneva’s eyes widened with agreement. “Of course,” she smiled. “I never travel without the ingredients. I see where you are heading, Alex, and I like it. If Midge can put the Black Devils asleep, the rest of us can light the entire pass on fire without making any magic signs which point to us.”

“What is Fire Glue?” asked Tanya.

“Fire Glue is a concoction that burns through anything,” answered Jenneva. “Well, not really anything, but it is a gel which burns fiercely and sticks to whatever it touches. Water won’t even put it out. It continues to burn until it burns itself out.”

“The Targa Rangers used it in a similar situation,” continued Alex. “Thousands of goblins were pouring through a pass in the Boulder Mountains and Targa did not have enough men to hold them off. We positioned Rangers above the pass and at the Targa end of the pass and fired arrows with Fire Glue on them. The pass became a furnace and the goblins were cooked in it.”

“What if Midge can’t put the Black Devils to sleep?” Arik asked.

“Then we each choose one and they become the first targets of the battle,” Alex declared. “We start the fight with the four Black Devils dying at the same time.”

Niki was going hysterical, stamping her feet and shaking her head from side to side. Suddenly, her scream filled the morning air and she looked more surprised than anyone. Everyone started laughing and Niki stormed off to be alone.

“Fredrik,” Alex began, “you help Jenneva with the concoction. We should have two containers each. Tanya, you will pair off with me. Arik and Tedi will take the other side of the pass. We have a good day's ride to reach the mountains and I do not doubt they will be looking for riders coming their way, so we will have to split up halfway through the ride. We must swing wide enough away from the pass so they will not see our approach. Prince Midge will be used as a messenger to coordinate the three groups.”

“Three groups?” quizzed Fredrik. “Why three groups?”

“Our magicians are going to lag behind,” explained Alex. “If another group comes from the West, we don’t want them to reach the pass. You three will be dressed very colorfully and be in plain sight of the pass, but you will not approach it. You will set up a camp and have a large campfire as if you are travelers that plan to transit the pass tomorrow. They may send a scout to check you out and that is okay. Jenneva has makeup that will make you look like three old hags and the Dark Riders are looking for younglings.”

“Can’t we all use the makeup and just ride through the pass?” asked Tanya.

“The makeup won’t hold up through a close inspection,” Jenneva explained. “We will look disgusting enough and diseased so the scout won’t want to get close. Trying to get through the pass in the disguises would never work.”

“So, the attention of the sentries will be on the old hags,” chuckled Arik. “In the meantime, we will be climbing the mountain.”

“Yes,” commented Alex, “but I still have concerns about everyone getting up the mountain safely. Mountain climbing is a skill I have not taught you yet. It is not as easy or safe as it sounds. I can help Tanya, but I can’t be in two places at the same time.”

“Let me switch with Arik,” suggested Tanya. “I have had some lessons in climbing. They were not enough to satisfy me, but at least I will be able to share the basics with Tedi.”

Alex looked surprised at the young woman and nodded his head. “Some day you must tell me about all of this training your uncle arranged for you,” smiled Alex. “It sounds like he expected you to get into a lot of trouble.”

“The world is a very troubling place,” stated Tanya. “I expressed an interest in learning and he always obliged me. I miss him very much.”

“I am sorry,” consoled Alex. “We have all left loved ones behind. I know that doesn’t help, but at least you will know you are not alone.”

“But I am all alone,” Tanya said softly as she turned to recheck her mount.

***

Zorn rose and stared at the sunrise. It had been many years since he had seen one and despite what the Dark Riders believed, he enjoyed seeing the sun. He enjoyed talking with Calastano last night. The man had an intelligence that Arpal and Quilo could only dream about. Those two didn’t even deserve to be called Black Devils like Calastano and himself. Calastano was concerned that the Kantor group did not arrive yesterday and hinted at going to meet them. If the trip was made, Zorn wanted to be part of it. He detested waiting and the troops assembled in the pass wouldn’t miss him. He saw Calastano walking with Xerog and headed towards them.

“Calastano,” Zorn greeted, “I would like to accompany you today, if you don’t mind.”

“I was just discussing my little trip with Xerog,” grinned Calastano. “He is concerned about me going alone, like a mother hen.”

“Protecting you is one of my major duties,” declared Xerog. “The Dark One is never pleased with a Commander who loses his magician. If you must go, I will accompany you personally. My men are trained enough to hold the pass without me and we will probably meet the Kantor group before midday. Zorn is welcome to join us if you have no objections. That will still leave two magicians in the pass and they are not my responsibility to protect.”

The sky was lighting to another show of radiant reds as the Alcea Rangers reached the point where they would split up. Jenneva pulled her makeup kit off of Yorra after she dismounted. Gently cradling the old wooden box and its leather cover, she handed Yorra’s reins to Tanya.

“Tanya,” Jenneva began, “I want you to take Yorra on this portion of the trip. I don’t want her around if trouble breaks out.”

Tanya eyed Jenneva suspiciously as she reached for the reins. “But the horse I take may end up being left behind,” advised Tanya. “Isn’t she better off with you?”

Jenneva smiled as she gazed at Yorra. “No,” stated Jenneva, “we may have to use magic to keep other forces at bay. Please take her with you.”

Alex indicated that it was time for everyone to start off on their separate paths and Tanya shrugged as she mounted Yorra. “Very well,” Tanya agreed. “I hope we are able to come back for her.”

Alex and Tedi were already heading southeast towards their selected spot at the base of the West Mountains and Arik was waiting impatiently to head northeast with Tanya. Jenneva urged Yorra onward with a slight tap on her rump and Tanya settled down for a fast ride. Jenneva turned to Fredrik and Niki as she mounted Tanya’s horse.

“We shall move slowly and deliberately,” she ordered. “Try to avoid wiping your face as the heat from the rising sun increases. If anyone gets close enough to realize we are using makeup, they will probably attack us and ruin the plan. When we get to the spot where we will stop, I will touch up our faces if need be.”