My single chance was to find a way to eliminate or delay these creatures long enough for her to escape. Celeste’s hips brushed against mine and I let out a curse. Protected from my power by our clothes, but not protected from my lust.
Hearing my expletive, she turned her head and a golden eyebrow rose in question.
“Is there no way to stop them?”
“If they kill us, then their charge will cease.”
“Great.” I let out a huff and she frowned at me.
“It’s your own fault. I told you not to take all from the Bergone.”
I clenched my teeth and was rewarded with a jolt from Shadowdancer as he jumped over a fallen tree.
“What has passed cannot be undone.” Her eyes caught the sun and their brilliance stunned me for a moment. Swirls of gold merged out from her pupils and shined like stars within the grey iris.
“Does no way exist to slow or divert them?”
Less than a mile from us a tree crashed, and Shadowdancer skirted sideways at the noise.
“Perhaps. But it is dangerous and I’ll be drained after.”
“Tell me then, if it be our chance.”
Before she even tightened on the reins, Shadowdancer slowed to a walk. Celeste patted his neck, and he stopped. His breathing was labored as we climbed off.
She dodged behind me.
“What?” I wheeled around. Behind me was a pine tree with a hollowed knot at the base.
She brought out a striped beast which sprayed a stink so foul I choked on the fumes. Skunk. Why would she stop for that?
When she approached Shadowdancer, he snorted and shook his head as though to demand we’d never ride him smelling so.
The skunk squirted her again, and then she strolled to Shadowdancer. The horse backed up, shaking its mane.
“Now, Bergone eat meat. Any kind of meat, raw. Unless you smell like this.” She waved the skunk in front of her and another spray shot through the air.
Gagging on the stench, I heard rumbles through the forest moments from us.
Soon Shadowdancer was soaked from the stink as well.
“Now it’s your turn.”
“No, I got us into this mess. I’ll delay them long enough for you to escape. Perhaps the stink will throw them off your trail for a while. Maybe even enough for me to escape and catch up to you later.”
Then Celeste let the animal go and spun to me.
“Listen carefully, for I only have time to say this once,” she said, pointing to my sword. “My spirit will trade places with Shadowdancer. When you see my head snap up, plunge the sword into my stomach.”
“This will never work. You’ve a better chance at running away while I head them off.”
“I hope to have enough healing left as the horse to heal you after they’ve gone.” She squared her shoulders as if she wasn’t listening to me. “When you awaken, take my body and the horse to a village north of here. Half a day’s ride. Ask for the midwife.” I saw her hand shake as she brushed down her gown. “She’ll reverse the spell and heal me.
“You must reach her before the new moon rises tomorrow, or my spirit will forever stay inside the horse’s body.”
In the silence, she waited until I drew my sword. Bergone crashed down trees within yards of us.
“Now,” she said and her hands flew to Shadowdancer.
Whispers floated on the breeze and brought a chill to my flesh.
Suddenly, Celeste slumped down, her chin on her chest. I took a step forward. She did not move.
Perhaps the switch had not worked. I reached out to shake her shoulder. Her head snapped up. Grey eyes rolled in their sockets.
With a scream she scrambled up on four legs. Shadowdancer nudged me from behind and Celeste’s words flooded through me.
Run the blade through me.
My stomach tightened, I could not do this. This was madness. Liana was struck by my hand, I vowed I’d never hurt another innocent if I could help it.
Behind me Bergone bellowed in rage. I thought I felt their breath on the back of my neck.
She fled past me stumbling.
The Bergone circled us.
“No.” I screamed.
She headed straight toward them.
One reached out with its massive claws and raked across her. Anger surged and I flew forward putting all of my weight behind my blade and into the creature’s skull.
Took one last look at Celeste’s form sprawled across the ground. Blood darkened the front of her gown.
“You’ve damned my people and yours.” I whispered to her still form.
Doubted Celeste could heal me if she and I were dead.
I drew the blade and leapt over the Bergone’s dying corpse to go after another. Didn’t matter I killed another of the horde, I already had them hunting me.
But there were too many of them. Eleven. I slashed at another, but his forearm tossed me back and sent my blade flipping through the air. Out of my reach. His claws slashed at my head and blood coated down my face. I gritted my teeth and wrestled with him. Two swipes I was able to avoid. Then he yanked me up with one paw and, as I struggled, stabbed me with his free claws. I was dropped like a broken toy.
Hot blood poured over my hands. Slumped on my knees, I watched my blood spurt out across the snow.
Another Bergone wrenched my head back. His yellow eyes glared into mine. Felt my power thrash toward him, but like a dying insect. No life flowed back into me.
In his throat, the Warloc’s voice vibrated. “Where is she?”
“She’s dead.” I whispered. Shadows danced before my vision.
“Damn fool. I’ll shred you to pieces,” he paused, and the Bergone growled low. The sound bounced off the trees. “Bring her body to me. I’ll heal her.”
Knew her damn plan was no good. I was dying and now the Bergone would take her away. I struggled to my feet, but clutched my side as pain tore through me.
“You’re not worth the trouble of eating.”
I watched as a Bergone picked up Celeste’s body. Still alive, but she let out a soft moan.
“Take warning, Elf,” the Warloc said as the other Bergone trudged through the forest and Celeste disappeared among them, “if you live and come after us, we’ll rip every muscle from your bones and drink you dry.”
The Bergone’s claws reached for me, but I did not cringe away. The claws snatched up the hilt of my sword, and plunged it into me. And twisted the blade while it was still inside. The pain blinded me.
Heard my sword pop out of my body and tossed at my feet. Knew Celeste needed me alive in order to heal me. But she was gone, and dizzy, I fell into blackness.
Shadowdancer nuzzled my face. Dazed, I lay on the forest floor. Absently, I swatted him back. But he nickered at me.
I was alive? Digging my hands in the dirt, I forced my body up. Dried blood stuck my tunic to my side. But I felt no pain. Holding my breath, I eased the cloth back. My wound was healed. Only a white jagged scar remained. How was this possible? Shadowdancer shook his mane as if I should know better.
Everything flooded back. The Bergone had Celeste. I glanced back at Shadowdancer who stared at me.
“Celeste?”
The horse nodded, and turned toward the forest, where the Bergone had left.
Cursing, I glanced up. The sun ducked behind the trees. Within hours, the sky would darken. I had less than a day before Celeste’s spirit would be stuck inside her horse.
I picked up my sword, cleaned off mine and the Bergone’s blood, and sheathed it. By now, the Bergone would be at least two hours ahead of us.
“Come.” I made my way through the forest, Celeste following behind me. But I couldn’t force myself to ride her, even if her body was now a horse.
She followed behind me. Her hooves clomped on the icy ground.
At the heart of the woods, ten sets of Bergone footprints scattered in each direction.
Which one should I follow? Which had Celeste’s body?
In a circle I spun glaring at the ground. Would the Bergone carrying Celeste have deeper prints? But alas, no, each was identical to the other.
Apparently, not upset by our predicament, Celeste moved ahead, to the south.
“Hope you know which track to follow,” I said running up beside her. “One wrong turn and you’ll be stuck.”
She shook her mane, but continued following the southern tracks. As though testing her new legs, she tentatively cantered ahead. Moments later, she then galloped through the forest after the Bergone’s tracks. My Elvin feet raced after her.
Felt the winter wind through my hair. She kept pace with me as we leapt over a fallen log. The sun dipped, coloring the sky with orange and red. Taking care of her footing, I slowed our pace to a walk.
Discerned the tracks were fresher now. I peered into the distance, but didn’t see the Bergone or Celeste’s body. Took the reins, and led her up a winding path. Through rocky ground, the Bergone’s tracks appeared sporadic. But I knew they must be close. For Celeste’s sake they had to be.
As night fell, I made out a cave in the distance. The Bergone must be inside, for I saw no movement through the forest from an animal bigger than fox or owl.
• • •
Inside the cave, a rock wall pressed to the left. I followed around it, with Celeste behind me. My skin itched in anticipation and I unsheathed my sword.
Her body lay across the dirt floor in an awkward angle. The Bergone crouched beside her, his breath white fog. “Why have you come?”
“To take back what you’ve stolen, Warloc.”
“Stolen?” a growl mingled in laughter answered. “She’s been promised to me. At Beltane, I will devour her and strengthen.”
“Never.” My hands sweated, but I clutched the sword hilt tighter.
With just one Bergone to face, I’d maim him and take Celeste.
“Such courage.” Rising up, the Bergone’s head brushed the top of the cave. “But you’ve faced just one of my Bergone and lived. I’ve left two more for you now.”
I glanced down the cave, but no shadows moved. A horse shrieked and I spun around. Blocking the cave was another Bergone. His meaty paw pushed Celeste further into the cave. Snot blew from his nose. And I smelled the pungent stink from the skunk still on our skin.
A glimmer beside Celeste’s body caught my attention. The garnet dagger.
“Take your leave now, and you may yet live.”
“The dagger?” my voice caught in my throat.
The Warloc laughed, his voice echoed through the Bergone and bounced off the walls in the cave.
“I’ve no use for blades. Take it and leave.”
My hands sweated so I brushed them down my sides one at a time for I still held my sword ready.
I could take the dagger and kill Celeste. I’d have the chance to fulfill the prophecies and bring healing to me, my people.
But my heart twisted. My fault for not heeding Celeste’s warning about the Bergone that caused the swarm to overpower us. And earlier, she healed me instead of taking my advice and leaving. Stubborn. Perhaps more stubborn than me.
I glanced at Shadowdancer, who housed Celeste’s spirit inside. She stared at me, her rump against the far wall as if she’d spring forward if I angered her.
But didn’t the lives of my people weigh more than one girl? My heart answered, leaping into my throat when I picked up the dagger. Clutching the hilt, I backed toward the cave opening. I sheathed my sword.
The Bergone behind me grunted, then moved aside.
Unable to release Celeste’s stare, I frowned. Spun on my heel, I raised the dagger and then jammed the blade into the Bergone’s eye.
Howling, the monster held his bleeding head.
Tugged out the dagger, then I rushed forward to attack the other Bergone.
To my amazement, Celeste kicked up the back of her heels into the Bergone’s stomach. Momentarily, the creature doubled over. She pushed my hand with her nose to the previous Bergone.
His clawed hands swung to shred me into pieces. I dodged his swings. Realizing his vulnerability since his hide was pierced; I leapt over Celeste’s body on the floor, and pressed my free hand to the bleeding socket.
His power and rage coursed through me. Smelled the stench of skunk through his senses. And it was a hundred times stronger, so much so I almost dropped my hand from the gagging that choked me. Yet part of me wanted more. Wanted everything this creature had to fill me to overflowing.
Tingling coursed through me, but I refused to let my curse overtake me. I thought of Celeste, and the swarm that came from killing one of these creatures.
Just as I saw the flicker of life inside him dull, I gritted my teeth and jerked backward.
A popping sounded in my ears. Unsteady, I held onto the dagger and forced my legs forward to the other Bergone. Behind me the fallen Bergone heaved. But he was alive.
“Fool,” the Warloc said. “You’ve not escaped my vengeance. From the ends of the earth I’ll track you. Take reward in killing you.” Another Bergone rushed forward.
Celeste moved to block his progress, and his claws swiped her aside. Her blood flowed down her flank. Shaking, she slumped to the floor.
In my vision, the cave shrunk until only the Bergone ripping towards me remained. I leapt up, and jammed the dagger into his skull from underneath his chin.
He gargled blood, then collapsed. Still he breathed, but would die within moments. Then the rest of the swarm would soon be alerted.
Since I didn’t know how long I had, I eased the saddle off Celeste. Digging through my pack, I removed a clean tunic and tore the fabric into wide strips.
Covered Celeste’s bleeding horse body with the pieces. The blood would cause them to stick to the fabric, but perhaps it would slow the bleeding down enough until she was healed. The gods must be enjoying my torture. Here I was racing to save a witch just to kill her.
“I’ll carry everything.” I picked up her human form and juggled the body with the saddle and pack. “Just concentrate on making your way to the village to be healed.”
She stumbled up and out of the cave, and into the night.
I adjusted Celeste’s body, then I sprinted through the forest. Because of her injury in Shadowdancer’s body, she could barely trot.
Sun rose lighting our path. If her steps were surer we could run, but blood coated the tunic I wrapped her side with.