Knights: Defenders of Ollanhar

  Chapter 7:

  The Departure without Glory

  Lannon and Aldreya walked the forest trail, carefully stepping over roots, fallen limbs, and loose stones. They carried no light source, with Lannon relying on the Eye of Divinity for guidance and Aldreya staying close to him. They moved like silent shadows beneath the sprawling tree branches, two of the most powerful warriors in all the land yet lost beneath the ancient trees that had seen many legendary fighters come and go. The breeze ruffled the treetops periodically, but otherwise there was deep stillness in the woods.

  A crashing noise arose in the brush nearby. In an instant, Lannon's bone-sword was in hand, a pale weapon in the starlight that filtered down through the branches, and Aldreya held her stone dagger close to her chest in the traditional stance of a sorcerer. The stench of the Deep Shadow hung in the air--along with a physical stench that could easily have been from a Goblin.

  Something moved again in the brush, more silently this time--attempting to hide its presence. It seemed to be moving away from them.

  Lannon scanned the woods, but glimpsed nothing beyond weak traces of dark sorcery that could have been old. Whatever had made the noise was beyond his range. "Could just be a wolf or a bear," he whispered, "startled by our presence."

  "No, a creature of the Deep Shadow lurks here," said Aldreya. "The stench of evil is very fresh. But is this a foe stalking us? Or just some Goblin wandering around outside the Bloodlands?"

  Lannon shrugged. "I sense it's not very powerful--maybe a Tree Goblin. Probably nothing to worry about." He yawned, wanting only to get to the stable and start the journey so he could rest in the saddle. The Birlote milk had left him feeling both tired and a bit ill, with a throbbing headache. Dealing with some petty Goblin was just an annoyance that Lannon wanted no part of.

  Aldreya sniffed the air, then shook her head. "The stench is too strong for a Tree Goblin, and the creature is far too noisy. Tree Goblins move quietly through the treetops. It is something bigger--perhaps a Wolf or a Jackal. Wait here, Lannon. I'm going to see if I can hunt it down."

  Aldreya's dagger emitted a faint greenish glow, and she slipped into the forest without a sound. How she was able to walk silently across crunchy leaves was beyond Lannon's comprehension. Even a fully trained Blue Knight made a bit of noise when moving over dry leaves. He wondered if all Birlotes were capable of that feat, or if it had something to do with her sorcery. He thought back to all the times Shennen Silverarrow--the famous Blue Knight and assassin--had moved so silently over any surface, and he decided it was a Birlote skill.

  Lannon waited patiently, sword leaning on his shoulder. A few moments passed, and then he heard another crash that was followed by an inhuman screech. A green fireball shot up through the trees and struck something.

  A moment later, a burning shadow swooped down into the trail--a Goblin Vulture partially engulfed in green fire, a winged monstrosity with a humanoid face, bulbous black eyes, and a mouth that resembled a bloody gash from which a deadly beak extended. Its eyes gleaming with hatred, it dove for Lannon--a final, desperate act. The beast knew it was doomed and wanted only to take Lannon's life before its own burned into ash.

  The beast's flaming wings beat frantically, Aldreya's sorcerous fire quickly melting flesh from bone. The Vulture was tremendously resilient, its will and hatred holding it together long enough to reach Lannon. With a gurgling hiss, it hurtled from the sky like a bloated spear, beak aimed at Lannon's chest.

  It was such a swift and frantic dive that a lesser warrior might have been caught off guard and been pierced. But the Eye of Divinity sprang to life on instinct, guiding Lannon's movements. As the Vulture closed in, Lannon dodged and cut off the beast's head. The Vulture's body dropped to the dirt and lay burning, while the detached head continued to glare at him, a spark of life lingering in the black eyes. With a shudder, Lannon kicked the head into the forest.

  Aldreya stepped into the trail. She gazed at the pile of ash that had once been their foe, a look of contemplation on her face. "A spy of Bellis or the Blood Legion, no doubt. It was probably trying to escape and warn of our plans."

  "Can Vultures communicate like that?" asked Lannon. He had always assumed they lacked such intelligence.

  She nodded. "With enough training, it can be done. A Vulture can deliver a simple message."

  "Regardless," said Lannon, "no message will be delivered on this night." He cleaned his sword and then sheathed it.

  "I'm not so sure about that," said Aldreya. "When the beast took flight, I glimpsed another shadow soar over the treetops. It could have been another Vulture or some other winged spy."