“We willnae be hit by the train,” Tallis answered without the least sign of concern. “Now, we rest.”
“Rest?” Bill scoffed. Throwing his hands in the air theatrically, he did his best to look perturbed. “REST!? We’ve gotta get a move on, yo! Think of the soul we gots ta save an’ the demons you gotta kill! There ain’t no time to rest, yo! We got us some shit-kickin’ to do!”
“Nae,” Tallis replied, shaking his head as he studied me for a few seconds. “Besom cannae travel yit,” he explained. He studied me for another few seconds before he reached into the sporran around his waist. “She is still tae weak. The damage from the Kremelions will take soome time tae heal.”
“Time! We ain’t got time,” Bill protested. Then his attention fell on me and his tone softened, ostensibly because I probably looked as bad as I felt. “How much time we talkin’?”
“Oontil she heals,” Tallis answered, looking annoyed. He produced what looked like a twig from his sporran. It was a small tree branch that had five or so green leaves on it. He pulled one of the leaves free and eyed me emphatically. “Ye moost chew this, lass,” he stated. “’Twill help ye restore yer mind.” Then he silently returned the twig to his sporran.
Although I could see Tallis’s mouth moving and I heard his words, I failed to process them. I felt like I was half asleep—that weird phase when your brain doesn’t really connect to your thoughts. Tallis watched me for a few seconds before he took a deep breath. After exhaling it, he reached forward and very gingerly opened my mouth by pulling down on my lower lip. He neatly folded the leaf in half and stuck it on top of my tongue, closing my mouth by pushing up on my jaw. Then he faced me squarely.
“Chew,” he instructed while demonstrating it with pantomime.
I nodded as soon as his instructions made sense to my befuddled brain. I began to chew on the leaf, and despite the bitter taste, I couldn’t say it bothered me. It just was. It seemed almost as if the thought that the leaf didn’t taste good couldn’t make it all the way from my tongue’s receptor cells to my brain central.
I continued to chew the leaf, though, breaking it up into smaller pieces. I swished the pulp around in my mouth until my teeth macerated whatever was left into oblivion.
“Dude! Is she like brain-dead or somethin’?” Bill asked. He almost looked comical as he studied me with one eyebrow raised and a worried frown on his face.
“Nae,” Tallis answered.
“Then what the hell’s wrong with her? She looks like she just got a lobotomy or some shit,” Bill complained as his eyebrows knitted in the middle. Then surprise took hold of him and he suddenly faced Tallis with a newfound sense of purpose. “Dude, she’s turnin’ into a zombie, isn’t she?” Tallis didn’t respond but Bill was already nodding emphatically, apparently already convinced such was the fact. “She’s been infected,” he announced as he eyed me warily. Then he glanced over at Tallis again. “That means you an’ me ain’t got much time left.”
“She isnae ah zombie!” Tallis railed at the much smaller man.
Bill immediately held his hands up. “Dude, I know you’re attached to her an’ shit an’ so am I, but we both gotta think about ourselves, yo. Pretty soon, she’s just gonna be a slobberin’ mess that can’t walk straight. She’s gonna start rottin’ an’ flesh is gonna start hangin’ off her. All she’s just gonna be thinkin’ about is makin’ dinner outta yours and my’s brains.”
“She isnae ah zombie, ye bludy dobber!” Tallis yelled at Bill. “The Kremelions attacked her mind an’ ’tis wounded, that is all!” he continued, his eyes still angry. “She needs tae rest sae her mind can remembah how ta function.”
“Zombie or no zombie, you think by feedin’ her a tiny leaf she’ll come back?” Bill continued, sounding less than convinced. “Sorry ta tell ya this, Conan, but she ain’t no fuckin’ rabbit!”
“’Twas not jist a leaf, stookie angel,” Tallis answered calmly. He momentarily speared Bill with a cross look before he stopped and shook his head, appearing frustrated. “’Tis medicinal, frae the boughs o’ the Prismoos tree.”
“The whatmus tree?” Bill asked, and his eyebrows seemed to reach for the dark night sky.
“The Prismoos tree,” Tallis repeated curtly.
“What the hell is a Priss-moose tree?” Bill demanded.
“’Tis ah healin’ plant, stookie angel,” Tallis simply explained. Sighing deeply, he held his breath and only exhaled some long seconds later. “Mah people, the Druids, brewed tea frae the leaves o’ the Prismoos tree. They used it tae treat all types o’ infections an’ diseases.”
“Pishh!” Bill grumbled while waving Tallis away with a stroke of his hand. He shook his head in disbelief. “Why start fuckin’ around with that hocus-pocus bullshit when you should be givin’ her good, ol’ antibiotics?”
“The sap o’ the Prismoos tree is superior tae any modern medicine,” Tallis declared with a tightened jaw.
“Yeah? Whatevs,” Bill replied, finally conceding to the wisdom of the bladesmith. He circled the area in front of him a few times, like a dog would do, before finally sitting down. After a good scratch, he asked, “Whaz next, dude?”
“Now Besom an’ ye rest,” Tallis answered with feigned interest. “An’ Ah moost assume the role o’ sentry.”
“The role o’ what?” Bill asked as he rolled onto his back and plopped his fleshy arms behind his head. One of his stocky legs sought refuge beneath the other. He looked about as comfortable as could be expected, given that we were lying on the hard ground.
“Ah will stand guard over ye,” Tallis finished. When his eyes found mine, his scowl vanished, and he immediately grew softer. “Rest, Besom, ye need yer strength.” I was surprised when he patted his lap to let me know he wanted me to curl up next to him. However, I didn’t want him to rethink his offer, so I immediately nodded and scooted over until I was beside him.
With my head against his chest, I immediately heard the comforting sound of his heart beating beneath my ear. I wasn’t sure why, but the rhythm soothed me somehow and surprised me at the same time. It surprised me because it proved that Tallis was human, after all. Well, wait … that wasn’t altogether a truthful statement. But at least, he was human enough to possess a beating heart.
Tallis enclosed me with his arm, pulling me closer. I reveled in the heat radiating from his body. I had no clue why he was suddenly okay to be in such close proximity to me, but I didn’t dare jinx it, so I said nothing.
“Sleep now, lass,” Tallis crooned in my ear. I nodded with a smile and closed my eyes.
***
I was searching for something, but I wasn’t sure what it was …
I knew I had to find it, though, if I were to hold up my end of the bargain with Alaire.
I tried not to pay attention to the monsters that surrounded me. It was strange, but I couldn’t quite make them out. They appeared only as blurred objects visible from the corners of my eyes. Whenever they came close, they suddenly backed off again. It was almost as if I were surrounded by a magical force field, which repelled demons just as efficiently as a citronella candle repels mosquitoes.
Search, Lily, I reminded myself.
Still without a clue as to what I was looking for, all I had to go on was Alaire’s insistence that whatever the object was, it was hugely important to him. Thus, it was crucial that I find it.
I wheeled around, hoping to take further stock of my surroundings, but all I could see were the silhouettes of skeletal trees stuck awkwardly in the swamp water. I was standing on a sliver of land that overlooked the eerie swamp, and I was completely alone. Well, alone except for the indigenous creatures that regularly patrolled the swamp, ducking in and around the trees as they watched me.
I don’t understand what I’m looking for! I railed in angry frustration.
What you seek lies beneath the water, a voice suddenly whispered in my ears. The close proximity of the voice startled me and I wasn’t sure if I’d actually heard it or if it
were only a figment in my addled brain.
I glanced down at the murky water in front of me and my heart sunk. The idea of traipsing through the icy water, looking for God-only-knew-what, wasn’t an activity that interested me in the least. I took a few steps forward, vainly hoping that whatever Alaire wanted me to retrieve would suddenly walk right out of the water, onto the riverbank and offer itself to me. But, of course, that was just wishful thinking… on steroids.
As I continued to study the water, I noticed a ripple appearing from the middle of the swamp when something swam beneath it.
There’s no way I’m going in there, I told myself and the voice, if it were listening. I even shook my head for added emphasis.
You made the agreement with Alaire. You are bound, the voice replied, only this time sounding more perturbed.
Recognizing the truth in the words, I took another step forward. Now I was maybe three inches from the water line. I remembered my sword, which I held in my hand, and reached forward to touch the surface of the water with the tip of the blade. The sword immediately jolted me with a shock that went straight through my hand and up my arm. I wasn’t sure if it jumped from my grasp, or if I dropped it. But when it fell onto the wet dirt, I reached down to pick it up. As soon as I made contact with it, I was instantly overwhelmed by feelings of dread and misgiving.
Of course, the sword couldn’t tell me what was happening, but I knew the feelings that were currently overpowering me had to have been coming from my sword. I clenched my eyes shut and tried to banish the sensations by using my will power, but, if anything, they only increased.
You must not go into the water, I firmly told myself. You can’t go after whatever Alaire wants you to retrieve for him.
Why?
It’s a trap, I answered myself.
Even though the words were mine, I had no doubt that the message came directly from my sword. It had served me well as a warning device in the past.
When I glanced back at the swamp, I noticed the ripples in the middle of the water seemed to be growing stronger. Whatever was down there was definitely coming closer. Still facing the water, I started to back up to make a hasty retreat. The thing in the swamp continued to approach the bank, its ripples now radiating out in a ring pattern. Taking another two steps back, I kept my eyes trained on the water and whatever lay underneath it.
You have failed me, my dear.
I gasped when I heard and recognized Alaire’s voice. His hands tightly restrained my upper arms and prevented me from turning around to face him. He pulled me up hard against his chest before he started walking forward, pushing me toward the water, and whatever lurked beneath its surface.
I tried to stop him and strained to break free from his manacle-like grip, but my efforts were to no avail. He continued to push me forward, inching me ever closer to the mysterious abomination living in the swamp.
Alaire, stop! Please! I begged him.
But my entreaties fell on deaf ears. He continued to force me forward until my toes were merely inches from the water. I saw the water’s surface parting before a gigantic fin appeared to slice it. It was the color of soot and looked like the texture of leather.
The beast has not supped in too long a while, Alaire announced at the same moment that he shoved me forward, right into the abysmal swamp.
I awoke with a start.
Taking a second or two, I tried to ignore the remnants of the dream, although I was nearly suffocating from the lingering sensation of sheer dread.
It was just a dream, Lily, I told myself. None of it was real, so stop thinking about it!
Once I believed the truth in my own words, I felt better. Taking a deep breath, I glanced to my right, only then noticing that Bill was passed out beside me. He was lying on his back with his arms and legs spread out beside him.
“’Twas it ah bad dream, lass?” Tallis asked. I looked over and found him in the same position he was when I nodded off—sitting right beside me with both of his legs extended out in front of him.
I nodded and pulled myself up into a sitting position, feeling somewhat grateful I now had the strength to accomplish such a simple feat. The stagnant cloud that was invading my head shrunk to a mere ghost of its former self. My thoughts were much clearer now, and seemed to be my own. Well, as far as I could tell anyway. “Yeah, you could say that,” I answered with a deep sigh.
“The best thing aboot nightmares is wakin’ oop froom ’em,” Tallis quipped before offering me an understanding smile.
I didn’t reply, as my attention was wholly fastened on Bill. He was snoring so loud, I feared we would be discovered by whatever creatures happened to be out and about in this part of the Underground City.
“How are ye, lass?” Tallis asked, sounding genuinely concerned. He seemed almost oblivious to Bill’s conspicuous snoring, so I decided not to be concerned about it.
“I’m feeling better,” I answered with a quick nod as I further considered it. “There’s still a bit of residual fogginess in my head, but at least now I can pronounce and understand real words.”
“Whit ye survived was nae small feat,” he stated. “The Kremelions attack by way o’ gettin’ intae yer mind. An’ when they get ahold o’ that, they can drive ye tae madness.”
“I think they did drive me to madness,” I said as I remembered some of the particulars. If Tallis and Bill hadn’t found me, who knew what would have happened? Actually, I had a fairly good idea … I’d be pushing up daisies or lilies right about now …
“Nae, had they taken hold o’ ye completely, ye wouldnae hae bin able tae come back. Yer mind woulda been scrambled eternally,” Tallis argued.
“Well, good thing for me that you came along when you did!” I exclaimed. I inhaled deeply because I was suddenly very light-headed. Those dastardly Kremelions had done a number on me, and that was putting it lightly.
“Ye fought ’em, Besom,” Tallis argued as he shook his head. “Aye, our timin’ couldnae hae been mooch longer, boot ye were the one who managed ta keep ’em at bay.” He looked at me for a few seconds. “Ye are stronger than ye know or admit.”
“I don’t feel very strong now,” I said, not meaning to sound so disheartened, but there it was.
“Ye will regain yer strength in ah short time, lass,” Tallis said with a firm nod.
I didn’t respond, but rubbed the back of my neck when I heard movement from beside me. Bill was now awake and sitting up. He yawned a few times, idly scratching his head before his eyes found mine.
“Bleahhh! Tastes like someone took ah big ol’ shit right in my mouth,” he moaned while making a sour face.
“Well, luckily for Tallis and me, we won’t get close enough to decide if your breath smells the same way too,” I snipped, rather snidely.
Bill frowned and then yawned again, glancing at Tallis for a few seconds before his attention returned to me. “So, little nerdlet, you wanna start tellin’ us about where the hell you disappeared to when we was back up here on the tracks earlier? You were like, here one second, and gone the next,” he said as he studied me suspiciously. “It seemed like the freakin’ air just swallowed you up whole!”
I instantly remembered the yak-man. “I don’t know what actually took me,” I answered with a shrug, “but it looked like a half-man, half-very-hairy-beast.”
“’Twas ah Mantreon,” Tallis interjected with a quick nod. As he shot up onto his feet, he seemed surprisingly fluid and agile, considering how large he was. “Lass, are ye ready tae move?” he asked as he eyed me.
“Yes, I think so,” I answered. Getting onto my feet, I stood still for a few seconds to determine if I felt well enough. Tallis watched me pointedly so I nodded to let him know I was fine.
With a quick smile, he started forward. “Mantreons are ah primitive species o’ demons,” he said, continuing his discussion about the yak-man.
“Well, whatever it was, it was really horny,” I replied, remembering the particulars and shuddering in spite of myse
lf. I fell in line right behind Tallis, considerably grateful to be feeling better. I had to commend Tallis and his Druid concoctions …
“Please tell me you weren’t off havin’ fugly animal sex with a hairy beast?” Bill asked before he immediately started to laugh in a high-pitched guffaw. The sound was so obnoxious, I wanted to cover my offended ears. But Bill was having a field day with it, and even slapped his stomach a few times to emphasize his obvious hilarity and amusement.
Hilarity which was lost on me.
“No, Bill, I wasn’t,” I replied, turning to face him with an annoyed frown. “I had to protect myself against the monster, which wasn’t very easy; thank you very much!”
“Aye,” Tallis nodded without sounding surprised. “Ye are in heat, lass. The creature could smell it oan ye.”
“What?” I demanded, my mouth dropping. I even dared to wonder how many more surprises my weary body could handle before my heart would just give out.
“In heat?” Bill laughed again as he came up behind me. “Like a dog?”
I wanted to slap him.
Tallis, thankfully, didn’t seem to think it was very funny. He didn’t laugh, or snicker, or do anything else. “Aye, ’tis ah scent yer body is givin’ off. The Mantreon picked oop oan it an’ wanted tae mate with ye.”
“And how do you know that?” I inquired, embarrassment and mortification reaching all the way down to my toes.
“Ah can smell it comin’ from ye too,” Tallis answered, not bothering to turn around to face me. Instead, continuing forward, he appeared to be following the train tracks again. I only hoped that the remaining distance to Dis wouldn’t be very long.
“You can smell it on me?” I repeated, shaking my head with exasperation as I caught up with him. “Smell it? You mean, like an animal?” I asked for further verification.
“Aye. Jist so.”
“Well, I can’t smell any o’ dat shit,” Bill announced from behind me.
“Thank God for that,” I grumbled. I could only shake my head when I wondered how much more indignity I’d have to suffer regarding this subject.