Metamor Keep -- A Long Patrol
By Christian O'kane

Part 5

Misha crouched in the brush by the side of the road and stared warily at the figure on the other side. The lutin was resting with his back against a large tree. Barely twenty feet of open space separated them, but that twenty feet was open road, devoid of any possible cover.

Behind him there was a faint sound. He slowly turned towards it and waited. After a moment a green and brown form slid into view. Misha relaxed as Caroline slowly came closer. "How did you do?" he signed with his hands. "Any luck?"

The otter's hands moved in reply, "They have a sentry every thirty feet for at least two miles. How about the other direction?"

"The picket line extends three miles that way," the fox replied. "No chance of sneaking past during daylight."

"Neat trick, we can't cross the road without being seen by a sentry. And if we take out a sentry those on either side will see it and raise the alarm," she quietly explained.

Misha looked at the sentry, he could kill him in an instant with a arrow, but not without it being seen.

"How do we do this?" his partner asked.

"We'll have to wait till night fall and sneak across then. It's not possible to guard that big a section of road at night," he signed back.

"I don't know, something doesn't feel right. I'm sure they must have something guarding the road at night," she said. "What could guard a five-mile section of road in the dark?"

"I guess we'll find out. What we'll do is pick a spot midway between two pickets, and cross there. I'll go first while you stand guard. Once I'm sure its safe I'll throw a pebble into the woods to signal you," Misha signed.

"I don't like it," she replied.

"Neither do I" the fox answered with his hands, "but we don't have a choice."

Night came all too quickly for Misha's liking. It seemed to arrive in a rush, like a charging bull. The darkness seemed to be more intense than ever before. Almost like the night itself was alive. I made him shiver.

Misha crept silently to the edge of the road and knelt down. Caroline was next to him, visible only as a dark shape. He reached out, took Carol's hand and squeezed it. She squeezed it in return, and then reached over and kissed him on the muzzle.

With the axe gripped tightly in his hands he checked one last time for any sign of an ambush. Nothing. That didn't mean it wasn't there. It meant it he couldn't spot it. Crouching low Misha moved onto the road. For a moment he was naked of cover as he hustled across the road. Then he dropped into some bushes on the other side.

Behind him he heard the sound of gravel clattering against a tree. Misha looked up in time to see a large black mass rushing at him. The object slammed into him knocking him to the ground.

The creature on top of him was ice cold and easily twice his weight. It seemed to be all teeth and muscle. A mouth with dagger sized teeth rushed for his face. The fox jammed the wood handle of his axe into that maw. The jaws clamped down and the creature shook it's head. He could feel the tremendous power as it tossed him around like a terrier shaking a dead rat. The creature's breath was like a blast of arctic air in his face and it chilled his whole body.

Misha's world diminished to just the two of them as they wrestled and rolled on the ground. The only thing between him and a violent death was the thin oak handle. As long as Misha kept it in that frigid things maw, it couldn't bite him. He needed both hands to hold off the beast, but he couldn't keep this up for ever. The only thing he could think to do was to hold on and pray.

Finally the creature slammed him bodily into a tree. The force of the blow stunned him, and he lost his grip on the wooden handle. A cold, heavy weight pinned him to the ground like a thousand pounds of ice. Those huge teeth descended towards his throat. "GOD HELP ME!" he screamed out loud.

"ANA TOW KANA" a voice shouted. Suddenly the whole area lit up with a brilliant glow. The light blinded Misha for a moment. There was a loud scream, and suddenly the weight on his chest was gone.

Misha shook his head to clear the spots from his eyes. A figure knelt next to him and spoke aloud "Are you alright?" It was a Caroline.

"Yes, I think so," answered still a little daze.

"Nafu ti," she said and the darkness returned to the forest. Carol threw her arms around him and hugged him. Her warm body felt fantastic after that icy creature. For a moment they just hugged and enjoyed each other's warmth.

"What happened," He signed to Caroline.

"It just appeared when you reached the middle of the road. Poof! One minute you were alone, the next it was standing behind you," came the reply.

He shook his head. "Neat trick, they bound the creature to guard the road. I didn't know you could bind something to guard that large an area."

"Where did it go?" he whispered.

"It ran off when I activated the Light stone. I realized that the monster couldn't bear light. That's why they had the sentries on the road during the day."

Her partner nodded, "Makes sense."

"What is that thing," she asked.

"A dark hound," he answered. "I've heard about them, but never seen one before."

"Will it come back?"

"No, a summoned creature like that can only be set to do one task," he explained.

"Ah, and each attack counts as one task," she added.

Misha nodded in agreement.

"We have to get out of here my love. Are you up to it?" she asked.

Misha stood up slowly, a little unsteady. "Where's Whisper," he asked looking around. He reached down and picked up the axe from where it lay next to a bush.

The sound of people shouting and running sounded through the woods. "Time to go honey," Carol whispered. She pointed south to the river Irthing, less than a mile away.

They took to their heels and ran from the battle site. Twenty minutes of running left their pursuers far behind. Tired, Misha lay flat on his back.

Caroline knelt next to him, "Are you alright?" she asked.

"Yea, nothing broken. The armor absorbed most of the blows," he answered.

"Where to now Misha?" she asked.

The fox had to think for a moment, before answering. "We ran due south, so we need to continue that way till we reach the river. Then we should be close to the cache, where we left the canoe. If my navigation is right."

Misha stood up and hafted his axe.

"We could both use a rest, and I'd like to check your wounds."

"We'd better put a few more miles behind us first," was his answer. Caroline didn't answer but just nodded her head reluctantly.

Together the otter and the fox started moving south, towards the river and safety.

Continue to Part 6 :
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