Sekali, "The Sister City"
Chapter 64
The journey through the strange grassland valley was peaceful, the weather was inviting and sunny. The birds were plentiful, cheerfully noisy and busy in their daily activities. Sekali and his companions soon left the gloomy influence of Mistshadow Forest behind them and out of mind. The sun was shining and a steady breeze cooled them as they traveled. They were able to find a stream bubbling down from the mountains that seemed to draw nearer with every hour of travel.
Sekali studied the mountains as they began to leave the grassland valley and hike up into the lower range. At their base, above the foothills, sat, lay a large lake of calm, clear water, wherein a large icy-cold waterfall endlessly fed the lake. High up the mountain, bathed in sunshine, towered snow-capped peaks and ridges glistening like jewels in the sun.
They filled their flasks and took their fill of water from the small stream and ascended up an animal trail they found, winding its way up into the mountains. They worked their way in between two great hills that came together between the high and steep slopes.
Not an hour up into the well-worn path, a great bear rounded a small hill and came face to face with them. At first they all stopped and looked at each other. Sekali looked on in silence, noting the size of the bear. He’d never seen anything like it in all his lifetime. Uther grunted, narrowed his eyes, and secured his axe, slowly backing away from the large creature.
Standing up on its hind legs, it was easily more than twice Sekali’s height. It sniffed once, then again. Lowering to the ground, it growled viciously at the three. Finyat was backing up behind Sekali, whispering for Uther and Sekali to follow him quietly, but Uther lost his temper and kicked dirt at their foe, bellowing out a challenge . . . which the massive bear accepted.
It charged with surprising speed as Uther raised his axe, managing one step toward it as they met each other head-on. Uther swung his axe and connected heavily upon the bear’s left shoulder, on the inside, sinking deep. But even as the axe wounded the bear, the bear tackled Uther, flinging him to the ground, like a child’s doll, and began mauling him severely.
Sekali charged and leapt onto the great bear, driving his blade deep into its back with all his might. He knew he’d struck a fatal blow as his sword sank up to the hilt, but the bear’s reaction to his attack was swift as Sekali found himself flung back over its shoulders onto the path. As he landed, he rolled, springing to his feet and turned to see the bear lying on its back bawling in rage and panic. He watched it, not daring to near it again until it stopped moving.
Finally, it rolled to its side, in its last throes of death, then stilled. Sekali quickly rushed to Uther who was feebly attempting to get himself up. Sekali lent his support, as Finyat appeared at his other side. The attack had occurred so quickly, Finyat had only time to draw his two blades and back up a few paces. It was over as quickly as it started, leaving Uther with terrible bites to his arms where he had tried to ward off the bear’s attacks. His left arm looked twisted unnaturally and was bleeding badly where the bear had clamped down its vice like jaws on him, shaking him viciously. He spat blood and coughed. Though his armor had saved him, the attack had still wounded him terribly, and he collapsed in pain and shock.
Finyat threw his pack to the ground and rifled through it with reflexes that shocked Sekali, producing a small steel vial. He uncorked the top and quickly put it to Uther’s lips after one of the dwarf’s spasms.
“Drink, drink!” He continued saying to drink it as Uther gulped down the liquid.
Uther coughed in great agony and fell limp, his breathing coming in ragged gasps. Sekali looked at the vial and then at Finyat. Finyat stood and pulled Sekali away from Uther.
“Watch!”
Sekali reluctantly stood and watched. After a few moments, Uther’s breathing relaxed and the grim expression of dying eased. His breathing became steady and the blood stopped flowing from his arm. Sekali heard a snapping sound as Uther’s arm straightened.
Finyat sighed in relief. “This will not heal it completely, but the death damage has been reversed in its course. He is severely wounded yet, and it will take a few days before he will be ready to travel . . . and then, slowly.” Finyat knelt beside his friend, brushing his blood-soaked hair out of his face.
“He should live.”
Sekali knelt on the other side of Uther and breathed a sigh of relief. Then he looked at Finyat. “Is there nothing you cannot do?”
The Shallant smiled brightly and replied without hesitation, “Impress elfin women?”
Sekali laughed suddenly and placed a hand on Finyat’s shoulder.
“You would do well in the Wastelands among my people. I would reserve a place on my watch for you.” Finyat raised a hand and rested it on Sekali’s arm. “Thank you.”
It was at that moment when they both heard the distinct sounds of voices coming down the path ahead. Sekali leapt to the dead bear and gripped the handle of his blade, pulling it free of the bear’s carcass with some effort. He turned back to Uther as he saw Finyat shoulder both packs. Sekali quickly sheathed his blood-stained sword. There was no time to clean it. He leapt to Uther and picked him up.
“His axe, Finyat, his axe.”
Finyat looked around frantically as Sekali carried Uther into some a thicket, concealing himself and Uther. Sekali and Finyat heard the voices again, though they could not understand the language. After Finyat had found and secured Uther’s axe, he quickly joined the other two. The silence that followed was interrupted by the beating of theirs heart pounding in their ears.
A number of elves, with readied weapons, rounded the bend exactly at the point where the bear had met the three. One preceded them all, stooping low to the ground as she moved forward with incredible stealth.
She wore the black robes of a Guardian, and the martial battle robes of the Vekkarian Monk, a skilled, weaponless, fighter. Her robes were secured about her thin waist with a black sash. The robes of the Guardian she wore represented a prestigious class that took on the heavy and dangerous burdens of protecting; that was their sole purpose . . .. to protect. Along the entire border of her Guardian Robes were silver runes, signifying she had made the Guardians Oath to be someone or something’s protector. The Guardian Oath gave the Guardian abilities of incredible powers. Sekali had seen this in the Wastelands, and knew that escape would be all but impossible now.
She was also a tracker, and adept at it, for she picked up their trail instantly as she turned toward the area where they were concealed; this meant trouble. She stopped, as still as ice, and pointed toward them.
They were caught.