Ice King however was fully fluent, without hesitation the equine turned and ran, Drick powerless to the incredible steed that would only heed her command regardless of his whims.

  6

  Bone Spires

  Drick tried to turn Ice King around but knew that he wouldn’t be able to. Juil was an elven princess; daughter of Lindren, granddaughter of Lindrow the Great King himself so he knew that this horse was special. Ice King was a stallion of twin fouls born on the same day as Juil, just as it was for the mare Maggie that her twin Juin rode. Their lives were bound together by more than simply time, he understood now that the high elvish command had been to take him away and he wept. Surely she was no more than a smudge on the soul of a giant’s foot by now. He had seen her laying there as the giant foot descended and he knew that she had to be nothing but mush. He broke into an uncharted field on the un-navigated side of the copse leaving the horse to find them safe passage across the terrain. His eye’s flowed with tears and his soul wrenched from his body at the loss of the princess. He no longer deserved life.

  There must have been over a hundred of them. His mind reeled at the number of trolls scaling the face to try and cut them off. It was all a trap…Juin? He wondered about the twin, did he face a similar threat?

  Something moved ahead of him and he leaned forward to account for the horse’s sudden change in direction. It turned and burst into the trees following some unseen path forcing Drick to hug tightly to his neck as the horse thundered ahead. Dried branches and full pine boughs bounced off his shoulders as Ice King bounced and weaved between trees in a valiant effort to avoid…something.

  Is it more giants, where have they all come from? Or would it be the muridai, the mannish rat like creatures from the south?

  They had called them human at first, though humans rarely came this far north, especially deep into the Rachis.

  They had come upon small groups of them that they would have been happy to allow to live and even assist in passage but they wouldn’t even stop to parlay, preferring to attack with vile shafts and crooked blades. At first it had been a matter of self-defense, now it had come to mean much more. Three hamlets had been ravaged in unspeakable ways and the elves were out for blood.

  And now we are trapped. His mind raced.

  A burst of speed spurred Ice King across a clearing and Drick saw the muridai across the eastern horizon. Hundreds, maybe thousands of the rat people, marched toward Drick’s destination.

  How did they get…so many. He was stunned that they could keep so many hidden without the elves knowing about it. The elves as a whole thought of them as rat people due to their elongated, pinched features and the slicked hair that seemed to have no forehead and a low hairline that continued in a solid mat down into the neck of their breastplates.

  He saw the shadow from above before he heard the leathery flap of wings as the pterodac struck and Ice King swerved to avoid it. It crashed hard into the ground just left of them and Drick slashed with his blade, slicing through the film on the right wing.

  He held the reigns, but knew that Ice King wouldn’t follow his commands, he had been given a command from his bond-maiden and only death could keep him from seeing it completed. He dashed through two more strips of wooded area, seeing the muridai getting closer at every clearing. Then they came to a long stretch between two fingers of rough stone, creating a clear strip where they could actually pull ahead of the advancing horde. The pass opened into a wide trail directly ahead of the vanguard that Juil had ordered away from the base trail.

  “Fourth spear, muridai approaching from your left flank, assume defensive posture!”

  “Har Karoome!” The fourth spear used Drick’s rank to get his attention. “The princess?” he asked and held a hand up as if to ask if he should wait or look for her and what is he doing on her horse. The Har Karoome shook his head and spun to continue on toward the front leaving a saddened pallor over the soldiers.

  “Karoome!” he shouted when he got in sight of the small group of twenty warriors that Juin was leading into battle.

  “Where is my sister, Worm?” Juin growled, not having much appreciation for the Har Karoome who so freely voiced discord with his positioning within the force. He didn’t feel that he dedicated himself properly, but his sister had taken him under her wing so he respected that. Respected that until he showed up on her horse without her. That is when questions had better be answered.

  “We were overwhelmed covering the rear, three giants blocked the trail down and stayed just out of range of bow shot. Then trolls crawling up over the ridge attacked us, over a hundred of them so we both climbed on Ice King and rode until a giant hit us with a ball of something that smells like…well, I don’t even want to speculate.”

  “No Need, I can smell it. Then what?”

  “We rolled into the trees. I stayed with Ice King but she broke or twisted her leg and couldn’t get up. I cleared them back and came at her full speed to scoop her up but she was hit with another projectile. Then she…then; she shouted something in high elvish to Ice King and now I am here.” The Har Karoome kept his eyes averted as did the second spear who stood by the prince’s side.

  “I am sorry, Karoome, but I don’t think that she survived,” Drick said and the prince just nodded.

  “What other news, Har Karoome?”

  “It is not good. Three giants and a hundred rock trolls bar our retreat and hundreds if not a thousand muridai advance from the north west.”

  “Stinking muridai, they are rats simply by the way they multiply. Sound the horn,” Juin said as he scowled at the situation. He and Juil had ignored protocol and advanced without knowing their terrain, but how could they have known? Nobody knows how many of these tiny eco systems exist in the Bone Spires that had trapped enough organic material over thousands of years to create these hidden islands of life. All he could truly do was rely on what he did know and that was that there was usually more than one way to get back to sea level from this elevation. At more than ten miles across by sight, it simply had to have another exit.

  The elven horn sounded and warriors started to return almost immediately.

  “Collapse the rear guard,” he said and the horn sounded again in a series of blasts.

  “Relax, Har Karoome, she still lives. Both I and Ice King would know otherwise, ride him until he won’t allow it. Lead the rear guard as we try to dig ourselves out of this.”

  “We will, my prince, by our honor” Har Karoome said before he saluted and took his leave, grateful that he was not called worm again by the arrogant young prince. They had been friends for a long time but several years ago something had happened and they had drifted apart ever since. Drick did not know what came between them, after years of trying to find out he simply gave up and focused on his job.

  * * *

  Juil managed to get off two more shots taking trolls with each snap of the bow string while pinned by the giant’s foot. The lokai blood had lost its potency from having been away from rune center for so long, but they were still a threat from her accuracy and speed. Suddenly her body was slammed to the ground under a giant’s, her head slamming on the hard earth. Her mind, moving a hundred miles an hour, screamed for the long knife at her waist but her arms were not responding. Her brain was rattled and she struggled to get back under control. She was soon being held spread eagle by two of the giant beasts.

  A rock troll lunged for her and she roared in response to the oncoming attack but a third giant knocked the troll away and howled with rage in their faces backing them all off.

  What by the pits are they doing? Am I dead yet? They can’t possibly plan on rape…is that even possible?

  They just stood there holding her in place, the only sound being the soft grunting from the rock trolls as they waited for the giants to do whatever it was they were going to do. Suddenly there was a voice speaking in the common tongue…a female voice.

  “Princess Juil, I am delighted to finally meet you. I am Dyanna,” a woman said in such a light-hearted tone that Juil felt she was at court.

  Juil said nothing.

  “I see; well, if you promise not to run away, I will ask the vermin to release you.” Her tone maintained a supremely casual flavor.

  “I promise,” Juil said, not wanting the beasts to touch her any longer than they had too. They were so big and strong that one wrong move could tear her in half.

  “Word of honor?”

  “Yes,” Juil said and the woman paused as if she was savoring the proposal.

  “Oh, very well, release her!” the woman named Dyanna snapped and the giants dropped her in a heap. She scrambled to her feet favoring her knee that only seemed to have been twisted and not broken, then looked toward her captor. To Juil’s surprise the woman had turned her back to the elven princess and was walking away. She stopped and turned to look at her, implying that the elven princess should follow.

  They walked up a small trail that opened up to a large plateau where there were several tents and more than a few horses. Unfortunately, those horses were being tended by muridai and looked the worse for wear because of it. She flinched when she saw one of the rat men whipping the flank of a chestnut while holding the reins tight.

  “Ghastly beasts,” Dyanna said.

  “I agree; why don’t you stop him from beating on that poor horse?” Juil asked and the woman let out a slight chuckle.

  “I meant the horses, dear,” She held the curtain open for Juil who slipped inside, Dyanna passed by her unconcerned for her own safety. They hadn’t even taken her rapier or long knife, yet Dyanna didn’t seem to care, not even a little bit.

  “So, I get the impression that you are not fond of my muridai friends, why is that?”

  “Oh…I guess when you try multiple ways to talk to them and all they do is attack you, a person begins to develop… an opinion.”

  “Perfectly understandable. Truth is, they aren’t very friendly and they never have beans to talk about, but they do serve their purpose. This is why it is so exciting for me to have you to talk to, even if it is for just a short while.”

  “Speaking of purpose, what are you planning on doing with me?” Juil asked just wanting the game to end.

  “Me? Why, absolutely nothing, dear, beyond serving you some tea and some pastries I managed to pilfer.”

  “Oh, so I can go?”

  “Really, darling? I just finished telling you how happy I was to have someone to talk to and you wish to leave? That is rather rude now isn’t it?”

  “Well, I guess I am not used to talking politely with someone who sent monsters and rat people to kill me.”

  “Rat people? Really, is that all that you can come up with? Pity. I guess I should have expected no better after seeing your pathetic excuse for magic; I mean rune magic, really? Haven’t your people advanced beyond the basics yet? It is nothing but a training tool for children to practice focusing their energies. Well, I won’t blow smoke, princess, we are adversaries but there is no reason why we can’t be polite. The world is cold and heartless enough without another cat fight to add to it, so why can’t two sisters of the Spires have a pleasant conversation before…well.”

  “Before what?” Juil demanded, curious about her sisters of the Spires reference.

  “Well, hmmm. Well, you’re going to find out eventually so I might as well…” She leaned back and looked at Juil as if she could scrutinize what was inside her mind as easily as the outside before she spoke. Her dark skin almost shimmering a greenish tint within the tent light, her white hair accentuating her every movement, the woman was quite striking, though lacking in modesty. He diaphanous gown seemed to cling to her like a spider’s web more than clothing, highlighting every crease and curve. “It seems that my master, at least that is what he likes to be called…he can be quite insistent. He would like you accessible. That would typically be an easy thing where we’re from but here however…as it is, things are a bit more complicated.”

  “Master? Accessible? I have no idea what in the pits you’re talking about?”

  To Juil’s shock the woman’s skin faded from green into a deep red, darker than blood. Her hair shifted to a bright golden the color of wheat ready for harvest.

  “Why everything, dear, and at the same time, nothing at all because you see, nothing…is everything. That is just how it is, so we just roll with it, if you know what I mean.”

  “No, I don’t know. I don’t even have the slightest clue what you mean,” Juil said with the realization that this human was quite possibly completely and utterly insane.

  “I see, metaphors and innuendo are somewhat lost on you aren’t they? There are new forces in the world, Juil.” The woman’s bright green eyes were intense and for the first time Juil saw an aura of seriousness and barely contained power behind the relaxed facade.

  “Do you mean the muridai?”

  “Ha! They are merely a byproduct, what we bring is much greater than anything you could imagine Princess. Tell me, Juil, when you hear the word purity, what do you think of?” Dyanna asked with the most intense expression of interest Juil had ever seen.

  Juil gasped as the woman’s color started to shift to a yellow and her hair becoming bright red, bright green eyes focusing into pricks of pale blue, lips blushing to match her hair.

  “I don’t know, white, I guess. Like snow that hasn’t even seen the footprint or a perfect sky unmarred by clouds or smoke, and clear calm water exposing the sandy bottom of a brook,” Juil said, thinking her descriptions were quite good if not accurate.

  “Hasn’t seen the footprint…unmarred sky? Who in the pits talks like that, Juil? I didn’t ask you for a blasted story book. White like snow; blue sky, clear water…that’s all you had to say. I know that you want to sound romantic and all of that happy crap, but there is a time factor here. Let’s try and expedite things, okay?”

  “Okay, I guess,” Juil replied, feeling more than a little confused.

  “It is time for the world to come under one banner so that we as a species may advance after those pesky exotics are removed.”

  Juil heard her words, but she wasn’t quite sure what she meant by the comment of one banner. She had a sneaking suspicion that she was not going to be one of the ones accepted under that one banner moving forward.

  “What do you mean by exotics?” Juil asked point blank and the woman simply smiled.

  “Well, look where the conversation has progressed to already, too bad, too. I was so enjoying our talk. Let’s get down to business, shall we?”

  “By all means, I’ll warn you though…elves don’t survive long in dungeons,” Juil said.

  “Dungeons? Oh how dramatic. Rather gauche, but dramatic nonetheless. No, I’m sorry but we have something so much more creative than letting you rot in a damp cell. More like Alice in the looking glass if you get my meaning. Never heard of that story? No, I don’t suppose that you would have seeing as how you people have very few books here and none of them would hold anything as frivolous as a simple story. Pray, hold on to your sword and knife, dear, they will serve you well where you are going, of that I am certain.” She smiled with a false twinkle in her eye. She nodded and Juil was grabbed by one of the giants who wrapped her completely in a band of rope that cut into every exposed inch of flesh on her body. She was thrust unceremoniously over the beast’s shoulder before it took off at a run toward the setting sun.

  She watched the trail behind them as her head bobbed up and down from the lumbering gait of the giant whose every step stretched outward covering upwards of twenty feet.

  Ice King, her mind screamed until the jostling broke her concentration. She gave up, it was too far and she could sense their bond was already weakening.

  * * *

  Drick was with the vanguard in a rolling retreat that was just beginning to field the shafts of the front line of muridai as they bounced off the rows of elven shields. More than two hundred of the highly trained elven army stood to face a similar number of an unknown force. The sheer drop off didn’t allow for a possible retreat but also didn’t allow for them to be flanked, leaving them only one front to face.

  He tried to guide Ice King back through the vanguard to check out the eastern side but the horse wouldn’t follow his lead. Knowing that he was riding an animal whose bloodlines exceeded anything he had ever rode, he didn’t try to force the stallion. He doubted he would have much luck with that anyway so he gave him his rein and readied himself for more. He could feel the muscles tensing and he looked across the field at the prince whose eyes were locked upon him as if he knew what the horse was feeling. Maybe he did, his connection to Ice King was much more solid than Drick’s through his mount Molly’s sibling ties to the stallion.

  Ice King became more agitated and started to pull away from the vanguard, he looked back to the prince who simply nodded.

  “Fourth Spear, assume control of the line,” Drick shouted none too soon as Ice King bolted for the ridge.

  7

  Har Karoome

  The Har Karoome didn’t hear the shouts of the fourth spear due to the rush of wind from the stallion’s mad dash to the ridge. The drop wasn’t sheer though it would be steep enough to require ropes and footholds if an elf were to climb it safely. He had seen similar views snow skiing the Elack Crags in the north east range of the Bones. The difference today was he rode a stallion he had no control over versus a pair of long boards strapped to his feet.

  Long horizontal leaps, he prayed knowing that was the only way to survive such a steep grade. Too vertical, the speed too great, creating savage impacts on your legs, breaking knees and twisting ankles. He stayed on the steed’s back by feel, leaving his hands free and flowing with the movement of the magnificent beast. Ice King was bonded to Juil, but he was also trained to protect his rider, so he moved as the Har Karoome had prayed. They leaped from left to right followed by three left before two long right choosing each landing without prejudice. Two leaps up, one right, and one left as if he had traversed this ledge before brought them to a long horizontal leap that covered miles of vertical crags to land solidly on a shelf of grass.