Tree of Ages 2 Page 3

  He stared at Iseult's tall, slender back, clad in black as usual. They’d spent the morning traipsing through the woods in a frenzy. Àed had acted like a hound with a scent, making a beeline toward Finn, and not caring if the path took them far from roads and through dense forest. Kai had followed willingly at that point, elated by the idea that perhaps Finn was not as far off as they’d thought, even though her location seemed to be changing every moment.

  After a time, Àed began to seem confused on which direction he should go. Then, with a look of resignation, he had guided them back in the direction of the Sand Road. When asked where they were going, he answered Migris. When asked if Finn was there, he simply shook his head. Kai suspected that the hound had lost his scent.

  He glanced at Iseult again as they continued to ride. He’d shown no signs of worry when Àed had given up his search, though Kai knew he likely felt more than he was letting on. The cut still stinging on Kai’s throat was there to prove it.

  Since they’d reached the road, they’d seen no other travelers, an unusual occurrence for a normally busy trade route. To make matters more unusual, all of the small burghs they’d passed along the way had been recently abandoned, though many belongings had been left behind. The only explanation Kai could think of were the recent Faie sightings, but it was still surprising for entire villages to clear out on rumors alone.

  Kai shook himself out of his fugue as the thatched roofs of another burgh came into sight. Iseult and Àed veered from the road to investigate, though Kai wasn’t sure what they hoped to find. The settlement was quiet and still, abandoned like all the rest. Giving in to the situation, Kai tugged his reins to the right, instructing his horse to follow the others.

  As he left the road, movement caught his eye near the first buildings of the settlement. Whatever moved out there was too small to be human. Kai gulped. He didn’t care what it was, as long as it wasn’t Faie. Iseult and Àed rode on ahead of him, unperturbed. He continued on reluctantly.

  As he neared the settlement, the source of the movement became apparent. Ravens. The glossy black birds flew to the rooftops, startled as the other two men reached the burgh ahead of Kai. Not driven off so easily, the ravens soon returned to picking at things on the ground, then flying back up out of reach. Even from a distance, Kai knew that ravens were not a good sign. His two companions dismounted their horses ahead of him, taking the time to tie their reins to a post before leaving the mounts behind.

  As Kai's horse neared the first homes and his companion's horses, signs of struggle became obvious. Upturned and broken furniture could be seen through the windows of the houses, sometimes overflowing into the streets. Kai stifled a shiver as he rode past a particularly ruined house. Many of the boards of the wall had been ripped loose like something large had pried its way in, not bothering with the door. He brought his horse to a halt. The ruined house did not compare at all to what lay in front of him. A woman's body, at least what remained of it, blocked the path further into the burgh. Half of the woman's skull had been crushed in, as had half her chest. Her skirts were soaked with blood. Kai looked away as his breakfast threatened to make a reappearance.

  Àed came into view around the corner in front of him with a few sacks slung over his bony shoulder. He seemed unfazed by the carnage. As Kai looked down the streets past the old man, his eyes began to pick out several more bodies. There was even a man, well half of a man, on a rooftop.

  Àed hoisted the sacks on his shoulder for a better grip, drawing Kai's attention back to him. “Let's be on our way,” he announced.

  Iseult walked up behind Àed. He was dragging something heavy behind him. He reached Àed's side and let the object drop. The object, which turned out to be a massive sword, forced up a puff of dust as it hit the stone-strewn earth with a metallic clang.

  Àed looked down at the sword with distaste. “Famhair, as I suspected.”

  Kai turned to look at what Iseult had found. “It's far too large for a human,” he observed, doing his best to keep his eyes on the weapon, rather than on the carnage around them.

  “A giant sword for a giant hand,” Àed grumbled. “The Faie are not the only myths returning to these lands.”

  “Giants,” Iseult said thoughtfully as he looked down at the half-crushed woman in front of Kai's horse. “We should leave this place.”

  Kai didn't want to believe that giants, or Famhair, had returned to the lands either, but the evidence was quite compelling. He was too young to have ever even seen a giant, but that alone was not enough to compel him to wait around.

  “Why would one of the giants leave its sword?” Kai asked, trying to focus on something, anything besides the mangled corpses.

  Iseult kept his calm eyes on the horizon. “That is a very good question.”

  The question received its answer quickly. At first it sounded like distant thunder, then resounding thuds began to shake the earth, making the horses whinny nervously. Iseult and Àed jumped into motion, hurrying past Kai toward their mounts. Iseult began untying their reins as the rhythmic thuds grew closer.

  It took a great deal of restraint for Kai not to run off and leave Iseult and Àed behind. Instead, he rode out from within the buildings, searching for the source of the thuds. If he couldn’t immediately flee the danger, he could at least see how close it was.

  Kai scanned the freshly tilled fields, awaiting crops that would never come, until his eyes settled on a massive figure near the road. He’d imagined that a giant would look like a human, only much larger, and he was wrong. The creature that glanced curiously around until its eyes landed on Kai had a humanoid body, but the head was not human at all. Its face was lumpy, the skin thick and shiny with a deep green tinge. The creature looked at him with relatively tiny, pure black eyes as Iseult and Àed rode their horses to stand on either side of him. The Famhair opened a large mouth to reveal rows of broken, jagged teeth. It had to be at least 18 feet tall, and could have lifted a human in one of its massive hands.

  Kai's horse began to dance about beneath him, anxious to get away from the giant. Kai was in agreement with his horse. “We should probably flee,” he advised.

  Neither Iseult nor Àed seemed worried yet, though the giant was eyeing them curiously.

  Iseult squinted his eyes to look past the massive creature. “Is that someone chasing it?”

  Kai followed Iseult's gaze, and indeed there was a rider on horseback, galloping straight toward the giant. As they watched, several more riders came into view. They wore matching uniforms, done in dark brown with a hint of red at the chest, but that was all that Kai could distinguish.

  The giant turned on the riders, lifting a massive foot to stomp them, since it was without its sword. Several of the riders expertly threw loops of rope around the raised leg, securing them quickly to their horse’s saddles. The sound of a war horn echoed across the countryside, then the well-trained horses backed away, tightening the loops like nooses around the giant's leg.

  The giant looked down at the ropes in confusion. The horn sounded again, and the riders turned their horses, urging them forward as a unit, tugging the giant's leg out from under him. The creature fell to the ground with a resounding thud, and had no time to get up as the riders rushed him, unsheathed swords raised high.

  The entire sight was awe-inspiring, but Kai couldn't help to think what such skilled men might do to a known thief and smuggler. “We should leave.”

  Iseult nodded, but his eyes remained on the riders. Not willing to wait a moment more, Kai turned his horse to ride further away from the road and the contingent of men. Iseult and Àed soon caught up to him, mumbling about Famhair and the giant-slayers.

  They rode away unnoticed, back through the ruined burgh, and deeper into the trees.

  Kai felt more morose then ever. He wasn't daft enough to think that the appearance of giants wasn't related to the freeing of the Tuatha from the Blood Forest. Just as he knew that Finn was somehow connected to it all. He was too young to rem
ember the Faie War, but that didn't mean he hadn't heard the stories. The Ceàrdaman had been doing the world a favor in keeping the Faie trapped. Changes were coming. None of them good.

  Ealasaid wished with all her heart that she weren't alone. She would take a bandit, a bard, or even the man who'd crept about outside of girl's windows back in her village, as opposed to being alone. She looked at her skinny, brown horse, feeling defeated. The animal had gotten stuck in a pool of sticky, watery mud that she'd accidentally ridden through. The woods were so dense with grass and vegetation that Ealasaid hadn't seen the patch until it was too late.

  Now she was stranded, far from the main road, attempting to tug on the reins of an animal too panicked to move, while her boots and the hem of her pale blue dress got soaked through with mud. She pushed a clump of her curly, blonde hair behind her ear in frustration. She only had a few days worth of food left. She was going to die in the boggy forest all alone.

  Just as she had leaned against a nearby tree to rest, the sound of voices caught her attention, filling her heart with elation. Yet a moment later, fear panged through her body. Not all travelers would be friendly, and some fates were worse than starving in the woods alone.

  The voices drew nearer, and soon she could make out a group of three riders, taking their time as they rode through the woods. If they were this far off the road, they were either bandits, or they were trying to hide for some other reason, just like her. A black haired man rode in the lead, his upper body towering well above his horse, exhibiting his above-average height. Behind him rode a more slight man with chestnut hair. Bringing up the rear was a small, elderly man, seemingly well beyond his traveling years.

  Ealasaid's heart raced as she tried to decide what to do. The riders hadn't spotted her yet, and likely would not with the route they were taking. Yet, friendly or no, they might be her only chance.

  “Oi!” she called out, waving at them.

  The eyes of the tall rider found her instantly, and she regretted calling out. His expression was cold, like that of a predator. He was definitely a bandit, or something far worse.

  “Is that a girl stuck in the mud?” the second rider asked as he squinted in her direction.

  “Ye need some help, lass?” the elderly man called out.

  “Y-yes,” Ealasaid called back as she debated whether she should take off on foot. “My horse refuses to budge.” She tried to still her breathing. If the men showed any signs of ill intent, she would run.

  The riders dismounted and began to close the distance between themselves and Ealasaid. She shifted from foot to foot, resisting the urge to gather her skirts around her knees so she wouldn’t trip when she ran. Yet, there was still the chance they might help her. The tall man frightened her, but the elderly one seemed nice enough. Plus, she reminded herself, she was not without her defenses.

  The tall man reached her first and she froze. Any decisions about running were stolen from her as she cowered in fear. She flinched as his arm moved, but he simply handed her the reins of his horse. She took the reins with a shaky hand and the man walked past her, doing little else to even acknowledge her presence.

  The younger man came next, and handed her his reins too, though this time she was prepared for it. “You might want to move out of the way,” he said with a wink before turning his attention to her horse.

  Next came the old man, who wasn't even holding the reins of the shaggy mule he rode. The animal seemed to follow him of its own volition. The old man's feet sunk into the mud as he went to stand beside Ealasaid’s horse, placing his aged hand against the side of its neck. Instantly the horse’s eyes grew less wide, no longer showing white. The harsh panting of its breath slowed.

  Both of the younger men took hold of her poor horse's reins and began to tug, while the old man remained beside the animal, keeping it calm while his feet sunk further into the mud.

  With nods to the older man, the two younger men gave a simultaneous tug. Her horse whinnied, then hopped forward, splashing mud all over the old man. Ealasaid stood aside, blushing and feeling like an idiot. They had made it seem so easy.

  “T-thank you,” she stammered as she handed the two younger men the reins of their horses in exchange for her own. “She had refused to move for over an hour, I swear it.”

  The old man gave her a crooked smile. “Wasn’t yer fault, lass. I’ve a way with animals.”

  The younger men guided their animals away from the muddy area, and away from Ealasaid. The tall one climbed effortlessly into his saddle, not even bothering to bid her farewell. The other looked her up and down, then cast a glance at the supplies strapped to her saddle. Seemingly satisfied with Ealasaid's chances of survival, he mounted his horse and followed after the tall man.

  The old man hopped up onto his mule, moving like a man of twenty. He began to guide the animal away, then paused to look back at her. Ealasaid felt like the man could see right through her skin and into her soul.

  “I’m Ealasaid,” she blurted.

  “Àed,” he introduced. “Now come along, lass. We’ll see ye back to the road.”

  Ealasaid nodded and scrambled up onto her horse. She had no desire to go back to the road, the whole point of leaving her village behind was to not be found, but it was better than getting stuck in the mud again.

  “I can see yer magic, lass,” Àed commented as he glanced over at Ealasaid, riding her skinny brown horse beside him.

  He hadn’t meant to startle her, but she instantly tugged on her horse's reins, bringing it to a sudden stop. They had reached the Sand Road only a short time before, and Ealasaid had continued riding with the party without a word as the sky began to darken. Àed wasn’t overly surprised that she’d decided to join them. After all, she’d been riding through the woods alone. The only reason to do that, is if you had something to hide. He suspected that she was afraid of being recognized as a magic user, and her sudden reaction only served to solidify his suspicions.

  The look on the girl’s face surprised him, however, as her pale gray eyes held unshed tears, instead of fear. “I'll just be on my way then,” she murmured.

  Àed held up a hand to stop her from riding off. He glanced at Kai and Iseult, who had ridden further ahead. He was glad for the distance. He felt no need to spill the girl's secrets to everyone.

  “I wasn't accusing ye,” he clarified. “Nor was I tryin' to make ye leave us.”

  Ealasaid's expression softened. She seemed very young to be away from home, and perhaps hadn't even reached her eighteenth year.

  “I have the feelin' yer afraid of something,” he went on as they both nudged their horses back into movement. She was right to be afraid. Since the Faie war, magic users had not been treated kindly.

  Ealasaid bit her lip, clearly still nervous. “Have you heard of An Fiach?” she questioned.

  Àed, recognizing her words, but unsure of her meaning, squinted his eyes at her. “The Hunt?”

  She nodded a little too quickly. “They formed soon after the rumors of the Tuatha’s return, back when only a few sightings had occurred. As the Faie spottings continued, their ranks grew in number. By now, I'm sure they number in the thousands.”

  Àed, never slow to figure things out, spat in irritation. Rumors of Faie returning to the land had been circulating for months, but it was nothing compared to the release of the trapped Faie in the Blood Forest, something he’d witnessed for himself. If these men had been gathering power from the start, the sudden influx of Faie would have only increased it. “I’m guessing these men wear uniforms with red crests.”

  Ealasaid nodded. “So you've seen them. The crests are in the shape of a wolf, the inspiration of the Hunt. An Fiach is meant to track down the Faie, killing them off before they can do the same to us. The thought of another Faie War is in the forefront of everyone’s minds.”

  “Aye, lass,” Àed commented distantly. “We saw them take down a giant, one of the Famhair.”

  Ealasaid nodded, not surprised. “I’ve n
ot seen any Faie myself, but I’ve heard awful stories. Recently, An Fiach took to raiding villages, looking for signs of the Faie, and the folk welcomed them. It started because of a village called Badenmar, where several of the townsfolk danced themselves to death.”

  Àed knew his sharp intake of breath likely gave him away. He had been in Badenmar that night, and had in fact helped Iseult escape questioning for the deaths.

  “In the beginning,” Ealasaid continued, not put off by Àed’s reaaction, “An Fiach harmed few, but as the recent chaos ensued, the raids became more intense. They began to persecute simple herbwives and weathermen. Some were burned alive inside their homes, along with their families.”

  Àed's mood was souring by the second. He hated to think what the Hunt might do should they find Finn before him. “So ye ran,” he observed, unwilling to share his more private thoughts.

  Ealasaid pushed her curly hair away from her face, but it was too thick and returned instantly. “I have three sisters. I could not let them come to harm because of me. The other villagers knew I was . . . different. It would only have been a matter of time before one of them gave me away.”

  He shook his head. It was going to be just like the last time the Faie interfered in the world of man. People would be jumping at shadows, more likely to stab their own neighbors than an actual Faie.

  “Yer welcome to ride with us,” he decided, not liking the idea of leaving an obviously inexperienced young girl on her own. “We'll keep ye safe along the way.” Perhaps she could blend in with the large population of Migris. Surely the Hunt would not be able to single her out then?

  Ealasaid looked startled once more, but her attention was drawn forward as Kai and Iseult began to argue. Àed couldn't quite make out what they were saying, but he didn't need to. He'd heard the arguments time and time again throughout the day.

  “Should we stop them?” Ealasaid asked, looking worried.