The Valley of the Beast Part VIII

            The bleeding statue of the forgotten elf lord a short distance behind them the group moved on deeper into the forest.  The Lost Castle was never the center of the kingdom, it was always an outpost at the outskirts of a great elven kingdom.  The history of the kingdom have been lost to time, even amongst the long lives of the elves.  Although many believe it is a history intentionally forgotten.  He was a young, brash king who succeeded in making the young kingdom a symbol of prosperity.  His rise amongst the elf kingdoms was fast, with some of the High Kings in the west seeking him for counsel.  Then the kingdom fell, those who made it from the forest raved about a gate opening and the darkness flowing.  The High Kings sent armies to the forest to help, but very soon they withdrew all their forces and the kingdom was never spoken of again.

He felt that history now, weighing down on him like a thick fog that was blocking his view and making it difficult to breathe.  Having traveled in the forest before years ago Sir Pierre felt tense and ready to pounce on any noise.  He knew the dangers of the forest and the warning Kaag had given him was enough to put him on edge.  With the desecration of the statue Sir Pierre needed something to happen.  Anything.  Let his enemies come, just don't keep him waiting.

            They moved further into the forest, stumbling from time to time over roots and broken roads.  For all it's dangers the Hero's Forest was a beautiful place.  The ancient road wound through towering trees.  The largest in the region by far and each was older than any of the cities and castles nearby.  On a clear day you could see the tops of the trees, if your sight was good enough.  Exotic flowers sprang out of cracks in the trees and hid themselves amongst the brush below.  Wizards and alchemists sent foolish adventurers deep into the forest for the rarest of these plants.  They are crucial components for powerful spells and carry a hefty price in the markets.

            Even the wildlife was beautiful even if often times deadly.  Large lumbering beasts that feasted on the foliage of the ancient trees roamed the forest although the group had yet to pass one.  Colorful cats who could mimic their surroundings stalked smaller prey that often included the wayward adventurer.  Flying creatures would often soar overhead, seeking smaller animals to feast upon.  Their calls would usually echo throughout the forest testing the mettle of those brave enough to enter the forest.

            "What a beautiful woods."  Kiera remarked as she stared up at the trees.  Sir Pierre turned and smiled at her.  "And so peaceful and quiet."

            Sir Pierre froze and his hand instantly went to his sword.  He was on edge but he hadn't notice the silence.  There were always noises, always something moving in the forest.  Except right now there wasn't.  The forest was silent, had been silent since they passed the statue.  And there had been no animals, none of the monsters that roamed the woods came about to attack them or even just stare at them from a distance.

            "Stay close, the forest is not right." Lord Sven said as he drew Leviathan and took the lead.  A flash, a sudden movement to the side of the group caught Sir Pierre's eye.  It was as if the forest was shifting or changing reality somehow.  He turned to yell to Sven when the illusion fell and they were charged from all sides.

            Sir Pierre barely raised his shield in time to deflect an arrow aimed for his head.  Sword raised he saw one of the archers in the forest as two warriors charged him with sword and axe raised.  They wore dark leather armor with black plating spread out in key areas.  Too many holes in their defense when facing someone like Pierre.  He side stepped the axe swing, deflecting it with his shield while using his right hand to cut a line across the man's face.  The sword wielding warrior was blocked by his fellow brigand but that didn't stop Pierre from charging with his shield, knocking the axe wielder to the ground and forcing the sword man back.

            Pierre leapt over the one on the ground and pressed his advantage on the foe still standing and created some distance between himself and the one he knocked down before he could recover.  High, low, high, low Pierre scored several small hits before his opponent drew a dirk and charged.  Another arrow zipped a hands width from his face but Pierre never lost focus as he deflected a hard thrust and spun full circle ending by cleanly decapitating his enemy.  The moved also brought him back to facing the charging axe wielder.  Pierre patiently deflected two strong swings by the axe that made his arm go numb before he saw his opening and stabbed the man through the heart.

            Pain shot through his right shoulder as the archer found his mark again and found a hole in Pierre's armor.  He turned back to the forest as a flaming dart soared overhead towards the forest.  Pierre deflected another arrow and prepared to charge until the flaming dart struck the archer and the forest exploded in flame.  Two assassins who were lying in wait to protect the archer sprung up and tried to put out their burning bodies to no avail.  Pierre turned back to Paxil and nodded a thanks to the wizard.

            Turning back to the larger battle at hand Pierre saw a pile of bodies around Lord Sven as Leviathan held back a surge of attackers.  Kiera stood over one of the twins who looked gravely injured.  She let her robe fall to the ground and yelled a challenge to a charging marauder.  She rushed him and as she did golden armor formed over her body and a shield and mace appeared in her hands.  The man pulled up short no longer sure of what to do and that was all the hesitation Kiera needed to attack.  He raised his sword to deflect the mace but at the last minute Kiera angled her mace to crush his hand.  Stunned, he tried to turn and run but never made it out of the backhanded swipe of her mace. Kiera's mace crushed the man's face sending him sprawling to the ground.

            Pierre moved back to form a defensive perimeter as Brother Gronin finished the healing that Kiera started.  Rota had several cuts on her arms but several bodies around her as she fought back one last charge by a warrior with two blades.  He saluted then disappeared into the forest.  Paxil threw a few more spells into the woods as the rest of the attackers fell back into the forest.  Sven saw a large figure in full plate further along the road, watching the battle unfold.  He charged and Sir Pierre did what he could to catch up to the surging lord as one twins, Bernard, kept pace.

            Dark plate with runes scattered about spoke of powerfully enchanted armor.  A double headed large battle axe looked like it weighed more than Brother Gronin but rested comfortably on his back.  His helmet was without any horns or markers that you see on many magical helmets, yet you could tell the enchantment on this was powerful for looking at the helmet felt like looking into the abyss itself.  And you knew he was looking back at you.  You couldn't see the face behind the dark helm but Lord Sven heard him grunt in amusement as he approached.

            The dark warrior pulled a vial from his belt and smashed it on the ground.  Smoked billowed out and he turned and ran into the forest, his heavy plate seemingly like leather for how fast he moved.  At first Sven thought it was simply a smoke screen, but as the he neared the smoke began to take form.  A cry from Paxil to back away pulled Sven up short.  Sir Pierre and Bernard caught up a moment later and they readied themselves as the smoke loomed higher and wider.  Dark wings of a bat sprouted and each grew to the size of a large man.  A lion's head roared and looked about the forest as if it wasn't sure where it was.  It's tail stretched and the arched over the body.  A scorpions tail, as long as a tall spear with a barbed hook at the end, and it was poised to strike at Lord Sven.

            "Manticore!"  Paxil yelled and the creature stared at him with unfettered rage.  Lord Sven took a swing but the creature leapt into the air over his blade.  The creatures powerful wings carried it to a few feet from Paxil who struck it with a few magic bolts from his hands.  The manticore took the hits and roared in defiance, finally free from its imprisonment.  It's scorpion's tail shot out and slammed into the ground near Paxil, the wizard barely escaping it's poisonous sting.  The beast seemed ready for this and leapt at Paxil claws bared and it's maw ready to devour his head.  Iota tackled him as the beast flew overhead.  She immediately recovered and charged the manticore, scoring a deep cut on one of its wings.

            Sir Pierre, Sven and Bernard charged from one side.  Iota was joined by Brother Gronin as the continued to harry the beast.  Kiera and the now healed twin Brandon approached more cautiously from another side.  The manticore began to strike wildly with its tail as it tried to keep everyone at bay.  Paxil launched another burst of magic that struck the beast in the face.  Another roar of defiance and then the manticore launched itself into the air flying up into the giant trees.   The beast disappeared into the tree line and after a few moments a distant roar carried back through the forest.

            Sven approached Pierre, his face still hard from the battle.  He yanked the arrow from Pierre's shoulder and tossed it to the ground.

            "Ow!"  Sir Pierre said looking at his shoulder, then at Lord Sven.  "You could've warned me."

            "I'm sorry, I thought we were all men here."  Sven said drawing cuff upside his head from Iota.  "I mean we're all warriors here.  Except you.  I shall see if we can find you a doll on the way to the temple so you have something to play with."

            "Ha! Only if she looks like your mother!"

            "Well given the doll will barely fit into the palm of your hand I'm guessing you'll finally be large enough to satisfy a woman," Lord Sven turned and looked at Kiera.  "Or so I'm told."

            "Are we not going to talk about the ambush that just happened?"  Kiera said as she donned her robe again.  Her armor and weapon faded back to the wind moments earlier.

            "In time, first these two have to act like idiots," said as she looked over her wounds.  She had two cuts on each arm, none very deep but well placed in the breaks in her armor.  A testament to the skill of her opponent.  She looked to Kiera and nodded to her arms.  "Do you mind?"

             "Of course," Kiera said as she fell into prayer and healed Iota.  The wounds closing and fresh skin covering the gashes.

            "I saw their leader, he looked familiar."  Lord Sven said to Sir Pierre.

            "You saw the leader?  You mean the large massive man in full plate who moved as if he was wearing leather?  Yeah, we all saw him.  Kind of hard to hide in the forest wearing that."  Sven glared it Pierre who merely shrugged.  "He is the chosen sword of Asarix.  Even though he has an axe.  But I had heard he was dead."

            "What's his name?"  Kiera asked hoping that maybe she recognized him.

            "We don't speak his name."  Pierre responded ominously.  The group stared at him, waiting for an answer.

            "You don't remember, do you laddy?"  Brother Gronin said with a grin.

            "Well it's one of those long names from the south damn it," Sir Pierre said as Lord Sven punched him in his arrow wound.  "Ow!  Cut it out you dung herder!"

            "They know we are here, we are wasting time."  Paxil fidgeted with his hands as he spoke.

            "Who knows we're here?" Kiera said.

            "The cultists of Asarix." Lord Sven said.  "The Defiled One has returned."