When we arrived at the settlement, Pix led us straight to their leader Vyrthul he called him. Who's hut is very small and in a very central location, as compared to the country mansions human leaders tend to dwell in. Pix said it's because their Vyrthul wants to feel more connected to his people and be easily accessible to help them. A very commendable attitude in a leader, one I wish my own could implement into their rule. As we enter the hut through a small door, covered only by a large leaf. The Vyrthul greets us.
"Welcome, friends of the Vrythe. Allies of the Mortus Rose. What brings you to our humble village?" They Vrythe do not age as humans or any other creature do for that matter. He looks similar in age to Pix, but may very well be hundreds of years older. The pitch of his voice is lower, slightly. I wonder if he does it on purpose.
"Thank you Vyrthul. We've come bearing a message from The Arator." Rhys says. "We've received reports of the Noxbleum Cult scouting your home. We believe they plan to overtake your village." Vyrthul's leafy brow furrows in confusion.
"The cult? We have not seen any traces of the cult in some time. Are you sure your reports are accurate?"
"The cult has been infecting any form of sentient life. Monster or otherwise. Their spies may not appear to be a threat."
"I see..." He clasps his hands behind his back and paces and paces over to one of his scouts. Her eyes flicker over to us as he whispers something to her. After a moment she salutes and quickly leaves the hut. "My scouts will find any trace of the cult they can find. The Arator is not known to gives us false information after all." He paces closer to us. "In the meantime why don't you all get some rest. We have a cottage built specifically to accommodate our larger allies. Pix will show you the way." He gestures towards Pix, who is staring into the noxious gift bag. He jumps to attention, nearly dropping it.
"Right away!"
"Oh and do find your way to the stores, we don't want our gift going to waste."
"Of course chief. This way please!"
Our walk through the village is wondrous, like a fever dream come to life. Most Vrythe homes grow out from the sides of trees like house sized mushrooms. Each cap reflecting a different array of colors and patterns. Golden lights strung from vines wrap their way around trees and wind themselves low above the village floor. Vyrthul's hut is the largest building in the entire village. Though the store houses are a close second. Children run through the village cheering and shouting at some strange game. Several Vrythe circle a bonfire, magically splitting limbs onto massive logs and stacking them into a fire lay.
As we near the edge of the village the sweet aroma of wet soil fills my nostrils. I take a deep breath, the smell reminds me of home and how peaceful life was back then. Much like life seems to be here, everyone working together, singing together, laughing together. I miss that...
"Here we are!" Pix inserts a key into the door and swings it open. A suffocating cloud of dust puffs out of the doorway. Pix turns back to us covered head to toe in a thick layer of the stuff. He lets out a wheezing cough and welcomes us home. "Apologies for the dust... it's been a long time since anyone from the Mortus Rose has visited us." He says as he brushes the dust out of his fur. "But we Vrythe are happy to have guests again! I hope you'll find the beds comfortable and fire warm." He smiles and waves us inside. Turning to leave after the last of us enters. "Oh! I almost forgot. Dinner is at moonset, don't be late!"
"Thank you Pix." Rhys says. Pix smiles and jogs off towards the storehouses. An awkward silence fills the cottage as Pix leaves. Rhys has some explaining to do.
"So." I say. "How long have you been a member of the Mortus Rose?" His expression hardens. He stays silent and walks over to the small table by the fireplace. Brushing off the dust from the chair he takes a seat and long breath.
"A long time."
"Are you the spy my uncle told me about?"
"Yes."
"So you knew who I was. Why didn't you say anything sooner?"
"You didn't need to know. Telling you anything about my involvement would've jeopardized everything."
"Which is what exactly?" He glances over to Durin his expression shifts quickly into a grimace then cold again.
"The Mortus Rose wanted eyes on the coven. They assigned me to gather knowledge that could prove useful if one day the coven grow bold enough to attack them. Culture, rituals, defensive capabilities..." He glances to Durin again. "Weapons and armor production."
"But I'm an outsider, nephew to one of the men you work for. That doesn't seem reason enough to keep yourself a secret."
"Your uncle told us you were dead. When you arrived at the coven, I wasn't sure what to think of you. And after observing how close you and Aurora were getting, the risk was far to great." Something feels wrong, like he's lying to us. I don't believe The Arator would risk an asset like Rhys to simply gather information. He's hiding something, but I don't have evidence to accuse him of it.
"Fair enough." I turn and head up the stairs, Ivar close behind. There are two rooms on the second floor, both with one bed in each. When I open the door a sly grin creeps onto my face and I turn my head to Ivar.
"I will sleep on the floor." He says.
"Suit yourself."
Ivar shuts the door behind us. I open the two windows and begin dusting off the bedding. I want to discuss Rhys with him, but the walls in the cottage are far too thin. Better to wait until tonight, when there will be plenty of noise to cover our whispers. Ivar takes a pillow from the bed and lays it on the floor. He sets his axe down besides it and lies down. And before his head hits the pillow, he's snoring like a boar. I chuckle quietly to myself and lie down on the bed, it's hard to breath in here with all the dust, but it feels good to be in a bed again.
---
A loud creek startles me from sleep and I'm meet the eyes of Pix. Straddles over the top of me, a thorn dagger raised above his head. I quickly wrestle the knife from his grasp and shove him to the floor. The crash of his body against hard wood make Ivar stir in his sleep. I pin Pix down and hold the knife to his throat.
"What the hell are you doing?!" I whisper. He continues to struggle under my weight for a moment, until opening his mouth and biting my arm. I growl in pain and hit him across the face the pommel of the knife. "Why are you trying to kill me?!" Blood from the fresh cut on his cheek begins to drip down to the floor. He doesn't answer. I hit him again.
"Stop stop stop! I'll tell you, I'll tell you! Just let me breath." I do not trust this creature but I also don't want to kill him in his own home. That could end badly for us. I lift my weight slightly and the bastard takes the opportunity to kick me in the groin. I yelp in pain and try to grab him before he dashes out the window, but I'm too slow. I hobble to the window and see his shadow in a tree a several feet away from the window. When my death glare meets his eyes, he yips in fear and jumps from the tree. Heading for the village. I grab my sword from the bedside and run after him.
Pix is much faster than I, but I'm able to follow his tracks into the village. I keep myself as hidden as I can from his sight, hiding behind houses, bushes and trees. Soon he reaches the store house, checks his surroundings and heads inside. A few Vrythe still wander the village, drunk off of their amber ale. I wait until the coast is clear and then make my way inside the store house.
In the corner I spot a trap door just showing from underneath a rug meant to cover it. I hoist the trap door open and see light flickering below, I jump down into a tunnel that branches in several directions. Though only one is lit. This feels like a trap, but I'm not letting Pix get away without answers. I slowly make my way further into the tunnel following the glowing amber on the walls. Eventually I come to a small doorway, I crouch through and the smell of rot assaults my sense. My eyes burn and I gag at the putrid scent. But it's the sight of its source that horrifies me the most. Dozens of bags full of severed limbs are lumped in a pile against the wall. And each emblazoned with the crest of The Mortus Rose.
My morbid curiosity gets the better of me, I topple one of the bags with my foot and hand falls out. It has a ring on it still. I bend down to inspect it closer. There's an onyx stone embedded on it, and the sides are carved with some kind of symbol. I squint my eyes hard trying to see through the dim amber light. It's a rose... a black rose.
"I see you've found our little secret, Soren." Vyrthul's voice sends a shock of fear down my spine. I stand slowly.
"Why are the Mortus Rose sending you butchered witches?" I turn to meet his firm uncaring gaze. His small frame is far more intimidating in this room.
"We have been trade partners with the Mortus Rose for many years now. We give them the useless gold we find in exchange for the most succulent of delicacies. Witch flesh and all the magic that comes with it." He smiles eerily, proud of the seemingly one sided deal he's struck with The Arator.
"And why me? Why did I wake up to Pix holding a knife over his head?"
"The Mortus Rose does not always want gold for the more... delicious specimens. Her offer was quite generous. Kill you and she sends us a bag full of Dcera parts!" He grins wickedly, flashing his razor sharp teeth. Dcera... they captured Aurora.
"I thought you Vrythe were peaceful?"
"We are! Unless the reward of violence far outweighs price of piece." The Vrythe begin to emerge from the doorway. All grinning wickedly ready for a feast. I draw my blade and ready myself for death. There's too many of them to fight on my own. Black Rose if you're listening I could really use some help. The rush me all at once, slashing their thorn blades and gnashing their teeth. Instinctively I throw up hand to protect myself. Vines burst through the floor and ceiling flailing wildly and knocking the Vrythe in all directions. I dart out of the room through the path they cleared and run as fast as I can back to the cottage. But they're already there.
The roars of men and dwarf pierce the once quiet nigh. I rush into the cottage bashing a Vrythe with the door. I put my sword through its back and run up the stairs to help the others. As I run more Vrythe pour in from hidden passageways throughout the cottage. No wonder they boarded us up in here. Rhys, Durin and Ivar make their stand in one of the bedrooms. Batting and slashing away the furry forest terrors as they leap and lunge at them. Before I can make it inside, I see During dash to his pack by the bedside, reaching inside and producing the small trinket from the inn. He taps and turns the device and throws it at the attacking Vrythe.
"Take cover!" I dive into the adjacent bedroom and slam the door just as the blast goes off. A loud garbled woosh blasts through the cottage. I crack the door and peer through. All of our small assailants are suspended in time. Some even stopped mid air. Magic like this is powerful, but it doesn't last long. I fling the door open and rush to meet the others. My throat meets Rhys's blade as enter the door way, which he quickly withdrawals when he realizes it's me.
"Soren! What's going on?"
"No time, we got te move!" Durin says and runs out the door, the rest of us follow close behind. As we exit the cottage we hear an alarm sound. We don't have long before we're engulfed by the entire village. We sprint into the woods, small stinging branches whip my face as I crash through the thick wilderness. The trees begin to shake violently as dozens of Vrythe leap through their branches. They whoop and holler to each other as they gain on us. Thorn tipped arrows fly down at us, whistling through the air. Penetrating dirt and trees with a heavy thump. My lungs burn and my body screams at me to stop running, but the fear and adrenaline won't let me. Durin throws another bomb, different this time. Instead of suspending, it blasts its victims in all directions. Gaining us valuable distance.
I can hear the sound of rushing water getting louder as we run. Soon we skid to a stop at the edge a large canyon. I massive river flowing below us. I scan the canyon frantically, looking for a way across. A bridge, several hundred feet away and in bad shape, but it beats being eaten alive. I shout to the others, pointing out the bridge and we take off again. Slashing bushes and vines with out swords, cutting as quick a path as we can. But the Vrythe are far faster, and more nimble in the thick overgrowth. An arrow whistles past me, nicking my right ear and burying itself into a tree. I yelp in pain and turn to look behind us. Hundreds of hungry golden eyes flicker in the dark. Whether it's the bridge or the Vrythe, we're going to die here.
My foot catches underneath the above ground root of a tree and slam into the brush. As I stand a Vrythe leaps onto my back and drives a knife deep into my left should. I roar in pain and rage, throwing my right elbow back hard and catching the creature in the temple. I send it reeling off of me, their getting closer. The hunting cries are deafening now, and their faint shillouettes are becoming visible in the darkness. I scramble to my feet and take off, trying to gain ground on my companions.
"Soren, duck!" Rhys yells. I drop the ground as a massive wave of arcane knives flies overhead and into the darkness. Dozens of high pitched cries replace the whooping and cheering. When we finally reach the bridge, my heart drops into my stomach. The bridge is worn out and falling apart. Several ropes are frayed and missing strands and many of the wooden slats have fallen into the rapids below.
"You sure about this lad?!" Durin asks, his voice full of panic.
"We don't any other choice. Two at a time, go!" I yell. Durin and Rhys take off first. But they won't make it across before the Vrythe devour us.
"Ivar go! I'll hold them off." Ivar looks me up and down, my ear is bleeding and I've got a knife in my shoulder. I won't last long.
"No Soren." He heaves his battle axe from his back. "We go to Valhalla together." They come us two at time, three at time, then all at once. I slash my blade clean through one and thrust it between the wicked golden eyes of another. Ivar cleaves several of them in two with a single swing. Screaming wildly like his berserker ancestors. I parry an attack and kick the little green monster off the bridge. I turn quickly to check on Rhys and Durin's progress. They've made it a crossed, their hands are cupped around their mouths but I cannot hear them over the tide of Vrythe and the raging river below. Thunderous cracks rip attention back to the battle behind me. The trees begin to walk towards us. Each step making the ground quake and rumble.
"Run!" I yell. Ivar turns just as a Vrythe lashes out with its thorn sword. I block the attack and slam the pommel of my sword into its face, breaking bones. I rush after Ivar, who has gained impressive distance for his size. The boards below me creak and crack under my weight. I hear a loud snap and my foot goes through the bridge. Ivar makes it to the other side, and begins to rush towards me but I stop him.
"No! Run, now!" He stops dead in his tracks and his eyes widen. But he's not looking at me. I turn to see one of the giant trees carrying a massive boulder over its head. No no no. I will not die here stuck in a damn bridge! I grip the rope with my good arm and yard my leg up out of the broken slat and run. I run harder than I've ever ran in my life, all I can hear my heart beating a thousand miles an hour in my ears. My lungs burn, the fire inside them blazing hotter with each gasp of air. I'm getting close, twenty feet, ten feet. Ivar reach out his hand, a deafening snap echos across the canyon. And then I feel weightless, my boots no longer make contact with the rotten wood. Time slows and all I can hear is the rushing of the wind past my ears. I lock eyes with Ivar for a short moment, shock and grief already fill them.
See you in Valhalla.
