Night Fight
Boundaried of Mirkwood
Night Fight
Chapter 11
Abigail watched in awe filled fascination as the redheaded newcomer reached over her shoulder to unsheathe her kanta in one precise arc, launched from her squat on the ground up over the fire, and sliced through the air. Two halves of a twitching, multi-limbed insect which had once been the size of a large cat, hit the ground beside her.
Abigail shrieked.
The unfazed Niobe drew a flaming branch from the fire and lashed out at something scuttling over the sand. Momentarily incapacitated from shock, Abigail watched in horror as more creatures dangled on threads from the dense black branches overhead.
Desperately trying to pull herself together, Abigail’s mind riffled through scattered, decaying memories to find battle spells from Harry Potter, but everything was muddled in years of neglect, and the shock of seeing giant spiders. Her mind drew a blank. To make matters worse, she panicked as she recalled that conjuring fire had been hard enough. Wizards spent ages learning these things; she’d been at it for one afternoon. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to perform a complicated spell like expelliarmus without studying and practicing it in a controlled environment.
Niobe’s flaming branch swiped over Abigail’s head, setting something living aflame in the process. Caught unaware by both the spider and Niobe, Abigail ducked, taking to the sand. Franticly looking over her surroundings, she saw her bag and its discarded content strewn amid a pack of spiders. They were crawling over and befouling her class notes, her textbooks, and her favorite pen.
Her Harry Potter.
Incensed, she raised her wand. “EXPELLIARMUS!”
The spider, which had foolishly treaded its sticky legs over the beautiful hardcover edition, was cast back into the pitch of the forest. As for the other scuttling monsters, with a quick “Incendo,” one caught flame, and the other was split in five parts at “Diffindo!” Little bits of yellow insect viscera landed on her Philosphy textbook, but she didn’t mind that so much.
Haughtily raising her chin to survey the carnage, and indulging in a huff, Abigail found her handiwork satisfactory.
***
Without mercy, Arielle lashed out against the creepies, slicing them, dicing them; mincing with the finesse of a gourmet chef. Before, she’d been content with her noisy lead, but now that she’d had her first taste of steel, or whatever this metal was, she found its raw, mercurial taste to her liking. With a blade she had complete control at all times. A bullet’s course was set the moment it left the barrel. A sword in the hand was a bit more personal, and as these spiders had made this battle personal, it suited her just fine.
Overhead, Pointy Ears rained arrows down; he was a most impressive shot. Arielle grinned as she saw the blonde girl, Abigail, splinter a spider to bits with a blast of white light. A witch. During a lull in fighting provided by the exceptional marksman Pointy Ears, Arielle watched as a tranquil Niobe raised her arm, poised her fingers, and with the swift clenching of her fist a creepie dropped from a branch to the ground. It was crushed to death. The violet-eyed stoic did not so much as blink. Arielle realized that between the four of them, the spiders would momentarily be dispatched and permitted herself a smug grin.
It was wiped off her face when time began to slow and she was forced to narrowly dodge a crude, rough-hewn arrow. The head’s make was similar to the one lodged in the tree on the platform. These bipedal creatures were, in fact, the same attackers of Pointy Ear’s home.
They shot a second and third arrow from her right. Dodging these suckers was hard and the sword was little use against projectiles or for retaliating. In the end, she decided she preferred guns.
At seeing Niobe stop an arrow mid-air, Arielle leapt up. Pointy Ears was in a tree on his own. These things had captured him once and she wasn’t about to let them to get away with a second kidnapping. Especially if these fuckers had taken his family.
She sensed danger from the ground below Pointy Ears moments before the creatures spotted him. He was still up in the trees, faintly glowing now as he returned fire at whatever had set him in its sight below. An arrow streaked past him. Arielle honed in on the source, raced across the forest floor, and swiped away the undergrowth with her kanta.
The disturbed emerald leaves fluttered to the ground. Before her, gasping and choking in its own black blood was the foulest monster Arielle had ever had the misfortune to look upon. Thinned patches of long, unmanaged hair grew from its blotched head. Open sores covered its body; its jaw was lop-sided. It barely wore a stitch of clothing, was filthy, and armed with a hackneyed set of arrows and a bow.
Repulsed, Arielle cleanly sliced through the repugnant thing and flicked the black blood from the sword edge with a snap of her wrist. Pointy Ears sent an arrow flying; it struck home in another thing. She could tell because of the unearthly wail it screeched.
“They reek. Ugh.” She thought.
Over the sounds of battle coming from the campsite, Arielle startled as something sounding like a cross between a howl and a growl reverberated through the heavy air. With the noise, there was a rush of movement back into the forest.
The evil creatures were retreating.
Pointy Ears let off one last shot; it too sounded to have hit home, though Arielle could barely see where the arrow went.
Without disturbing a breath of air, he gracefully landed beside her. His chin may have been inclined arrogantly, but with the friendliest expression directed towards her thus far, he raised an approving eyebrow.
“That,” Arielle proclaimed, “is fucking teamwork. Let’s see how the girls are doing, ne?”
***
Niobe had no pity for the creatures. They radiated an oppressive, putrid darkness which closed in on her senses like a miasma. It was so mentally and physically constricting that she morbidly wondered if it might suffocate her were the source not dispatched. Fortunately, it did not take much presence of mind to work her abilities; for some odd reason, she felt as though she’d already learned and understood how the mechanics of it worked. She just got it, plain and simple.
As a spider rapidity descended upon her, she instinctually knew that reaching out with her mind could crush it. Her focus was so great that she did not notice how her arm moved to physically mimic the mental projection until the monster was dead.
She only sensed the arrow heading her way, and then responded accordingly; she never saw it coming.
Thus, she handled the situation; watching Abigail’s back and keeping track of what the redhead was up to. Within a minute, the newcomer shot off into the canopy, leaving them to deal with a thinning cloud of shadow. All seemed to taper off until a bulking shadow rushed at her from behind; it was far larger than the spiders. As she wondered what it could be, Niobe turned to battle it.
The monster stood before her. Its muscles bulged as it raised a scimitar overhead to strike. It was so close Niobe could see the wear on the human teeth it wore as a necklace. She could feel the heat and stench of its body; she held her breath after her first whiff.
Casually, and reflexively, the “Force” took hold of a cartilage ring in the monster’s esophagus and popped it inward, choking it with hardly any effort.
Stunned, the creature dropped its weapon. It opened its mouth as if to take a breath, but not even its lungs could expand. Fearfully, it scratched at its neck drawing its own blood. Within moments, it fell to its knees, writhing silently.
The more it struggled, the closer it came to death, and the more the creature’s dark miasma thinned. From within. Niobe noted that this had not occurred with the spiders at all; they simply blinked out of existence. This was different. In rapt attention, Niobe took a breath and plunged into the darkness, searching for what within the creature was clearing away the dark. Just as Niobe feared it would die before her curiosity was satisfied, she saw a flicker of light burning inside of the creature, licking away at the dark.
In a rush, her head reeling, Niobe pulled out, gasping to find herself on her knees and Abigail’s reassuring weight against her back. Instantly, she righted the cartilage ring and the thing stopped flailing. On the balls of its feet and knuckles, it snatched up its weapon, and with something between self-righteousness and caution, stared Niobe him in the eye. Therein, Niobe saw a flicker of intelligence.
Standing, he threw back his head and yelped a snarl. All the advancing shadow halted and turned back. Except for him; he growled at Niobe and bared his teeth. Niobe smiled kindly in return.
Seconds later, there was nothing before her but the heavy, stale air and the night.
“Niobe?” Abigail queried pleasantly.
Niobe returned in kind. “Mmm?”
“Dear Holy Lord; Mother of Pearl; what the blazes was that about?!” Abigail sputtered shrilly.
“Perhaps we are trespassing.” Niobe suggested conversationally.
Abigail scoffed and peered into the darkness. “And where did that girl go off to? You don’t suppose she was hurt, do you?”
“She was attending to matters elsewhere.” Niobe closed her eyes and after some searching found her. As they’d only met her momentarily, her signature was not as familiar as Abigail’s, but was not hard to find. There was a great deal of light heading their way. “It appears she is well and returning to us.”
“Finally,” Abigail sighed, snatching her skirt off the tree branch clothesline, “someone to explain what’s going on and what this place is.”
Niobe shook her head. “I fear she may be in our boat as well.”
“Oh, well, this is just perfect,” Abigail snapped sarcastically to no one in particular and slipped her skirt on. It wasn’t quite dry, but she was feeling ridiculous wandering around in her knicker bottoms. “We were just attacked and no one knows the reason, or knows where we are, and. . .oh look, look at this! They’ve mucked up my Harry Potter. That does it; I’m plucking every spindly leg off their carcasses.”
“Who are we rending limb from limb?”
Both Niobe and Abigail turned to see the redhead stroll back into the circle of firelight, her sword sheathed, and face relaxed in amusement.
Niobe quickly stood, as she’d not moved since the incident with the monster, and walked over with a hand extended. “You are well. We thank you for you timely arrival and assistance.” Over the other’s shoulder, Niobe noticed a being of light taking shelter in the trees.
The girl took the offered hand and shook vigorously. “Arielle O’Neill. Anytime.”
“It is a pleasure, Arielle.” Niobe assessed the newcomer’s clothes. Both her name and attire suggested she’d once resided on Earth. However, she was not wet. “I assume you also are from Earth and among the dearly departed?”
Arielle squinted. “What the hell is going on?”
Niobe laughed, waving her hand soothingly. “I didn’t mean to presume. Both Abigail and I arrived here through the river after meeting untimely ends.”
“You say you came through that river?” Arielle took a few steps foreword and pointed.
“Aye.”
As if trying to nail the concept Arielle asked, “You died too?”
“Yes, as did Abigail.”
“And you’re from Earth?”
Niobe politely reaffirmed, “Scotland—and New Zeland respectively.”
“So it’s the same story for everybody. Any ideas on where we are, or how we ended up here?”
“Nothing conclusive. We’d be happy to entertain any suggestions you may have.”
One hand on her hip and the other rubbing her forehead, Arielle sighed. “Just when I think shit might start making sense.” She then looked up at the compassionate Niobe. “I woke up in a cave north of here with a Japanese girl, Yumiko. She speaks maybe five words of English. It was,” she poked a carcass with her sword, “a nest for these things.”
Niobe raised both eyebrows. “Nest?”
“The place was overrun. We got out with. . .” Arielle turned, looking over her shoulder. “Damnit.” She then proceeded to yell, “Pointy Ears, would you stop hiding and get your hoity ass over here? They don’t bite.”
Walking and buttoning her skirt, Abigail asked, “Pointy Ears isn’t his name, is it?”
“No, but he doesn’t speak any language I know and won’t introduce himself. I’m not even sure what he is."
Niobe and Abigail exchanged glances.
“Do you suppose we’re on another planet then?” Abigail asked hesitantly. Niobe shrugged and Arielle threw up her hands in defeat before slipping back into the woods. There was a brief rustle of leaves, and momentarily, she emerged dragging a handsome, scowling blond man after her. His pale form glowed in the dark; it wasn’t just Niobe’s vision. Once in the firelight, he shook off Arielle and stood erect, puffing himself up as if to intimidate everyone. The redhead didn’t notice.
“Don’t mind him. If the stick in his ass went up any further, he wouldn’t be able to sit without rupturing a kidney.” Arielle put her hands on Abigail’s shoulders, which wasn’t difficult as the tiny girl barely reached Arielle’s shoulders. “Pointy Ears, this is Abigail. Abb-i-gaīl."
Niobe was surprised to see that both of his ears were, in fact, pointed at the tips.
Weak from the shock and awe of meeting her first alien, Abigail waved meekly in return. “’Ello.”
Pointy Ears crinkled his nose.
“And this,” Arielle then moved beside the taller Niobe, who smiled warmly in greeting, “is Niobe. Ni-ō-be."
Avidly repulsed, Pointy Ears began muttering in his own language under his breath. Without meaning to, his eyes momentarily met with Niobe’s. Suddenly, she could hear him as if he were speaking aloud, except it was within her head.
“—Filthy morals, and now a Haradrum beyond our borders. Where they’ve—”
That was unexpected. Intrigued both by the snippet of thought and her ability to interpret it, Niobe desired to make contact. Picking up his voice wasn’t at all unlike picking up the tree voices, only he was very loud and far more coherent. Drawing from her previously successful interaction with plants, she decided to try reciprocating the contact. Besides, his opinions may have been tempered by Arielle’s forceful, but well meaning, personality and could be very confused about the strange predicament they were all in.
“Haradrum? Whatever do you mean?” she asked pleasantly telepathically.
Pointy Ears froze. His breathing stopped, and his eyes latched to hers. Niobe silently chastised herself for invading his mind. She really had no business within it. “Pardon my intrusion; I would not use this method, but none of us speak your language. We have no ill intentions. I am Niobe Night Watson of St. Andrew’s. Your companion is Arielle O’Neill, though I’m not sure where she’s from, and mine is Abigail Williams from Wellington, New Zealand. We are all very, very lost . . .”
As Niobe spoke, his mouth gaped more and more in absolute shock until the connection was lost and he dropped to one knee and bowed his head.
“Oh! No, no, no, no, no, no!” Niobe said in rapid succession, motioning for him to get up.
Wide-eyed in astonishment, Arielle shouted accusingly, “What did you do?!”
“I was only trying to speak with him and it sort of happened mentally and I need eye contact to do it,” Niobe insisted worriedly. “Good heavens; up, up, it’s not that impressive.”
Her hand motions got his attention. As she met his eye once again, she felt a flicker of fear rippling over his consciousness. He spoke aloud in his own language unintelligibly, but the meaning was clear within his mind. “Forgive my impertinence and quickness to judge; I know not what you are. Never have I heard of beings bearing your likeness in all this Middle-Earth. Though you appear mortal, you have gifts I thought only the Lady of Light possessed. You must be of the light to see into the thoughts of others, though I know not how. The Valar would never bless one who did not deserve such a gift. Forgive me, I thought you Haradrum, of the East.”
Niobe wasn’t sure if she was translating his mental conceptualization of his words correctly. It was possible there were no English equivalents to his words. “Mortal? Haradrum? What do you mean by this?”
Niobe openly displayed her confusion, while his was only detectable in his aura, probably out of politeness.
“Haradrum are mortal men of the East, corrupt and forsaken. Never have I met one, but I have been told by those who have encountered them that their skin resembles your shade. You must have journeyed far, for the mortals near our border do not have your power or countenance.”
Niobe chuckled in return, “I have never met nor heard of anyone with ears such as yours.”
His head tilted to the side. Your people do not know of edhel?"
He was referring to his own race. Apparently, he was an edhel. “No. Nor am I one of these Haradrum. However, I would suggest refraining from making such assumptions. We are strange beings. Assumptions always end up wrong, one way or another.”
Again, his face remained stoic, but he rippled with embarrassment. “I have been extremely rude, Lady Niobe Night Watson.”
“It’s only Niobe.”
He nodded. “Lady Niobe, I shall not underestimate you again. Are you an immortal as well?”
Niobe blinked, flabbergasted. Of all things, she wasn’t exactly expecting this. “Immortal? Is that what you are?”
“Yes. Our heritage is of the Eldar, we are Sindarin edhel. I am Ensign Tyelco. My father is Captain Noloquin, both of the border guard for his Majesty King Thranduil of Eryn Leasgalen.”
“Then we are in a place called Eryn Leasgalen?" Niobe had no idea of what to make of this.
“Yes, my lady.”
“Give me a moment to explain to my companions.” Niobe requested and turned to her astounded counterparts. “He says his name is Tyelco, a border guard for the kingdom we’re in, Eryn Leasgalen. He also claims to be an “immortal.” An edhel, I think he said although, I’m not certain of what he means by this. There are “mortals” running around here as well, and we look like them, but we aren’t those either.”
Arielle pointed at Tyelco and demanded, “How are you doing that?”
“I believe I am using telepathy. It wasn’t on purpose, but I picked up on his thoughts and we’ve been thinking to each other. He says there is another woman here with my power. She is called the Lady of Light, but that could be a mistranslation. Perhaps she would have answers for us,” Niobe mused.
“It really is sort of like a jedi, isn’t it?” Abigail rubbed her hands excitedly.
Arielle interrupted Abigail, again demanding clarification. “So, you’re talking to him?”
“Yes.”
“Then this light lady wouldn’t be Yumiko, would it?” Arielle asked in a rush.
“Who?”
“The other girl I woke up in the cave with. The Japanese girl, Yumiko. Hardly speaks English? We left her sleeping at his tree house when we saw your campfire.”
“No, this Lady of Light sounds well-known and respected by him. He barely knows you.”
“Then ask him about the cave; ask him how he ended up there, what happened, and what’s up with the spiders.” Arielle listed the questions off on her fingers.
Niobe refrained from questioning Arielle herself and turned to the patient Tyelco. “Arielle wishes to know what happened in the cave, how you came to be there, and wishes to know about the spider attacks.”
He complied. “My company was stationed as border patrol on a talan not far from here. We were attacked by these same spiders; it is not in their nature to gather in such large numbers and we were not prepared for the assault. All of us were captured. I awoke in the cave with the obsidian haired one reviving me with her magic.
“At daylight, I must head back to my command to warn them and prepare a rescue mission. As you have experienced, it is far too dangerous to travel by night, and I must live should any be returned alive. Warning must be sent to the king, for I’ve seen with my own eyes that the spiders now have urk organizing them in secret against us.” Deep sorrow flowed through him to the point of which it physically hurt and transferred somewhat to Niobe.
“There are others in this cave? And if you are immortal, why fear for the lives of your companions?”
Niobe asked, intrigued by his concept of ‘immortal’ and deeply concerned for their safety. The creatures who’d just attacked them were extremely dark, both the spiders and urk.
“There are eight I am aware of; there were nine of us, including myself, in the company. The Eldar will live without end save for the infliction of a mortal wound. Captured, their lives are in great danger.”
Then time was of the essence, as his friends were in danger. She turned to Arielle immediately. “He said he’d been in charge of a company of borders guards when they were attacked. As they were captured together, he believes they are still in the cave. Did you see anyone else?”
“There were other people?!” Arielle grabbed a clump of hair at her scalp, “Of course I didn’t see anyone else! We’d have rescued them too!”
Abigail, feeling thoroughly excluded, interjected, “What exactly happened to you and Yumiko, from the beginning, if you please.”
It did not appear Arielle was used to answering to others, and her shoulders stiffened at Abigail’s demand tinged with condescension. “I died, in Iowa, the US. I woke up in the cave surrounded by spiders. Yumiko was shouting for help and he was with her, barely conscious. She’s got some sort of energy power. It’s bright pink and kinda feels fuzzy.” This got blank stares, “Anyway, I had a gun and her pink stuff fried any spider touching it. We dragged him out with us. I couldn’t tell you how or where she found him. She’d be the one to ask, but she only speaks Japane—hey, you could mind-speak with Yumiko, right? We could go back to the cave and get everyone out. I bet we’ve killed most of the spiders. The five of us could handle a rescue.”
Niobe rubbed her chin, considering the idea while Abigail shook her head, astonished anyone would even contemplate such a suicidal maneuver. “You mean attack those things? We couldn’t possibly!”
Arielle liked this girl less and less. “You did just fine around here.”
“They attacked us! That’s one thing, but it’s an entirely different matter to go into a nest of those, those spiders. Wouldn’t it be prudent for Tyelco to go back to his own army, those who’ve dealt with these spiders before, and let them handle their own extermination? It’s their country after all.”
Arielle rolled her eyes. “They won’t care if we kill off all the spiders. And it’s not as if they’re used to dealing with this. You said the spiders were acting funny, didn’t you Niobe?”
“Indeed. Tyelco’s people are familiar with these creatures’ habits. It appears the spiders are being organized by dark, but intelligent beings he calls urk. His people are quite proud, and I do not know if they are properly equipped to handle the severity of the problem or even if help can arrive before it’s too late. Give me a moment.” Niobe turned to an apprehensive Tyelco who’d been waiting as the girls chatted. “Friend, tell me, how much longer do you think those who are still in the cave have?”
His countenance dropped further, but he held his emotions in check. “With the number of spiders there are, it is likely several are already dead.”
“Then we have little time.” Niobe turned back to the girls. “He says it is likely some are already dead. I’ve felt the darkness of these creatures; if he waits for assistance from his people, I do not know how many would survive. Arielle, I will ask Tyelco if he wishes to mount a rescue tomorrow. If so, I will join you both.”
“Good.” Arielle nodded, and then turned to Abigail, “If you’re coming with, you’d better start packing.”
“This is stupid! None of us are trained for this sort of thing. How are we to rescue anyone?” She turned to Arielle, “Are you even out of secondary school?”
Arielle jutted out her chin, frowning. “Are you?”
Both girls were fuming.
“Just so you know,” Abigail snapped, “I’m a senior in college. Twenty-two. And I don’t think we should go and get ourselves involved in some local dispute that’s none of our business. We haven’t any idea what the diplomatic repercussions might be. We’re representing Earth!”
“It became our business when, I don’t know, they attacked us."
Niobe doubted their argument would be much more productive. “Enough. Abigail, your concerns are legitimate. However, I assure you, the spiders who attacked us were not of the light. They are not beings to be allied or reasoned with. Tyelco, on the other hand, is more of the light than you or myself. If his companions are even half his brilliance, their lives are most worthy. So friendly a gesture as a rescue would win us allies. Besides,” Niobe placed a hand on Abigail’s shoulder, “you have already died. It is unlikely we will be going home anytime soon. For now, you have been blessed with gifts unusual even for this world. You must decide how to use them.”
All her life, Abigail had sequestered herself away, gathering and acquiring knowledge. The only time she ever demonstrated it was in term papers. As for actually putting it to use productively, well, she had supposed that was for later when she began her thesis. There was something about Niobe’s liquid violet eyes that both brought foreword her fear of action and at once soothed it. Perhaps it was time to make herself useful.
Then she saw Arielle, smirking and smug. Darkly muttering threats about how foolish this place was making her, Abigail began gathering up all her things.
Turning to Arielle who’d just straightened out her face, Niobe asked, “You are sure?”
“No qualms. We go back for Yumiko, though. This’ll take all of us. If the others are unconscious too, we’ll need her to revive them.”
“Of course we will.” Niobe smiled at Tyelco. “Tyelco, would you consent for us to return to the cave and rescue your friends at sunrise?”
Tyelco erected his shoulders and drew his head back, his eyes questioning Niobe. “What do you mean, my lady? The cave was swarming with spiders and it was difficult enough for us to escape. It would take a day or two for any company large enough . . .”
“But you do not have a day or two. You barely have tonight. Abigail and I are capable of fending for ourselves, and if Arielle’s story is true, she and Yumiko were able to assist you temporarily injured. Arielle also feels that with the number of spiders destroyed on your way out, this round will be easier. Do not fear. We shall find Yumiko and be on our way in the morning.”
“You truly wish to do this when you have no obligation to me?” He asked incredulously.
Niobe supposed that 'obligation' was a relative term. “I do have an obligation to you, but now is not the time to discuss such.” Niobe waved off his concern. “Besides, my companions and I are, as far as we can recall, dead and returned. We assume Yumiko would say the same.”
His eyes went wide, and a wave of reverence once again rippled through him. This time it encompassed all the girls. He looked at Arielle, who was impatiently switching feet, with shock and then to Niobe. “She as well?”
“Yes, Arielle as well.”
Tyelco looked to be doing some very tough thinking. “I would say no, for we would be few in number. There are none to call for aid, and I’ve heard urk do terrible things to women should they be captured. But the only being I’ve ever known to come back from beyond the veil was a great warrior. You must also be great warriors to receive such an honor, if it is true. I consent to receive your aid and thank you, Lady Niobe Night Watson.”
Niobe chuckled. “Just Niobe, friend. And it is not I who you should thank. Direct that to Arielle. Were the rest of us to seek help elsewhere, I think she would return alone. That others were left in the cave greatly troubles her; her pride in such matters is as great as yours. Relax. We will do what we can.”
Abigail came up along side them. “Everything’s packed; here’s your coat and violin. Anyone object to the fire being put out?”
Niobe shook her head, and Arielle edged toward the forest.
Sighing, Abigail said, “Right,” and put out the flames with sand. She then whipped out her wand.
“Lumos!” She slung her backpack on, gathered her bicycle, and stood next to Niobe. “We off then?”
For the nth time that night, Tyelco was dumbstruck and demanded Niobe’s attention, “She is istari?"
“Abigail appears to be a witch, if that is what you mean.”
“We have istari in our world. They are all male, she is female. Their countenance is of aged men, she is a child.”
“Remember what we spoke of? Reordering your assumptions will ease your mind, Tyelco. She means you no harm; she wishes to assist you and your people.”
“Then she is istari,” He stated confidently, and a faint smile, the first Niobe had seen him wear, sat at the corners of his mouth.
Before Niobe could ask for clarification, Arielle lost her patience. “You’d better tell him you can’t run as fast as he can. It’s a long way walking on the ground, and he can’t be running off on you guys. I’m going back now. Those urk things have arrows. I don’t want Yumiko alone.”
“Of course,” Niobe nodded to Arielle. “Be careful. Do not stop to attack should you see them.”
“I know, I know.” Arielle waved Niobe on. “Safety first, nothing stupid. May the Force be with you, yah-da, yah-da. ”
Niobe laughed, as Arielle faded into the darkness of the trees.
“Yes, I couldn’t see that quip coming a mile off,” Abigail mocked. “Well, if you’d consent, I think I could manage to make this thing fly.”
Niobe looked over the bike. “Fly?”
“Oh, yes, I think I could manage the spell, and it’d be a good deal faster than walking, without any doubt. Though, I don’t know if it would be faster than riding a bike on the ground. I might have to be the one actually steering, but I think I could fit you on the handle bars and him on the back spokes. It’ll be cramped, but should hold us all.”
“Allow me to ask Tyelco.”
His head rose at the mention of his name.
“Tyelco, Arielle has left. She is returning as fast as she can to Yumiko. As it would be a long way to walk back for us and you are our guide, Abigail has offered to enchant her bike to fly us there.”
“Fly?” Apparently, the situation was getting to him. His thoughts were being rendered difficult to understand due to the inundation of emotions.
Niobe nodded, and Tyelco rubbed his forehead, watching Abigail tinker with spell casting, adjust a gear on her bike, and then try again. “This is a great deal for me to take in, my lady. She can enchant this, you call it a bike? To fly us all the way to the talan?"
“She says she might be able to. If so, it would be faster than walking, though it may take her a moment to get it right. She’s only been doing magic for the past few hours.”
“Few hours?”
“That is how long all of us have been reawakened; a very short time.”
Tyelco winced. “This is most irregular.”
There was a squeal of delight, and when Niobe and Tyelco turned, they saw Abigail bouncing on her feet and adoringly hugging her bike as it hovered two feet over the ground.
“Come on, come on, I can’t wait to give it a go! And look; I can switch on the little headlight without using the battery.” She tittered, “It’s so cute.”
Minutes later, the three were weaving their way three feet above and through the forest undergrowth. Niobe peddled; she was so tall and Abigail so tiny that the smaller girl couldn’t see where she was going with Niobe sitting on the handlebars. With Abigail perched up front holding out the light and Tyelco clinging to Niobe from behind in fear, they looked a bit like a circus act. At any rate, she wasn’t tiring of pedaling and it was a good deal faster than walking.
What did concern her was the safety of Arielle and Yumiko. She could not tell if either was in danger, but felt as though something had happened. Hopefully, it was nothing serious.
***
Arielle almost sighed in relief. For a few moments, she’d thought she’d gotten lost. In the middle of the night all trees tend to look alike. However, she did manage to find the taller branches of the platform tree distinctly jutting up into the starlight, and found her way back after half an hour.
Dropping noiselessly onto the wood, her heart skipped a beat.
There were their sleeping mats exactly as they’d left them except no Yumiko. Arielle ripped aside the girl’s blanket to find nothing but the faded imprint of a body. The bottomless backpack was missing as well. At least this was an indication that the girl had left of her own free will. Snooping around to see if she hadn’t just slipped off to find a bush to pee behind, Arielle saw something interesting.
Little paw prints. Like a cat’s.
Night Fight
Chapter 11
Abigail watched in awe filled fascination as the redheaded newcomer reached over her shoulder to unsheathe her kanta in one precise arc, launched from her squat on the ground up over the fire, and sliced through the air. Two halves of a twitching, multi-limbed insect which had once been the size of a large cat, hit the ground beside her.
Abigail shrieked.
The unfazed Niobe drew a flaming branch from the fire and lashed out at something scuttling over the sand. Momentarily incapacitated from shock, Abigail watched in horror as more creatures dangled on threads from the dense black branches overhead.
Desperately trying to pull herself together, Abigail’s mind riffled through scattered, decaying memories to find battle spells from Harry Potter, but everything was muddled in years of neglect, and the shock of seeing giant spiders. Her mind drew a blank. To make matters worse, she panicked as she recalled that conjuring fire had been hard enough. Wizards spent ages learning these things; she’d been at it for one afternoon. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to perform a complicated spell like expelliarmus without studying and practicing it in a controlled environment.
Niobe’s flaming branch swiped over Abigail’s head, setting something living aflame in the process. Caught unaware by both the spider and Niobe, Abigail ducked, taking to the sand. Franticly looking over her surroundings, she saw her bag and its discarded content strewn amid a pack of spiders. They were crawling over and befouling her class notes, her textbooks, and her favorite pen.
Her Harry Potter.
Incensed, she raised her wand. “EXPELLIARMUS!”
The spider, which had foolishly treaded its sticky legs over the beautiful hardcover edition, was cast back into the pitch of the forest. As for the other scuttling monsters, with a quick “Incendo,” one caught flame, and the other was split in five parts at “Diffindo!” Little bits of yellow insect viscera landed on her Philosphy textbook, but she didn’t mind that so much.
Haughtily raising her chin to survey the carnage, and indulging in a huff, Abigail found her handiwork satisfactory.
***
Without mercy, Arielle lashed out against the creepies, slicing them, dicing them; mincing with the finesse of a gourmet chef. Before, she’d been content with her noisy lead, but now that she’d had her first taste of steel, or whatever this metal was, she found its raw, mercurial taste to her liking. With a blade she had complete control at all times. A bullet’s course was set the moment it left the barrel. A sword in the hand was a bit more personal, and as these spiders had made this battle personal, it suited her just fine.
Overhead, Pointy Ears rained arrows down; he was a most impressive shot. Arielle grinned as she saw the blonde girl, Abigail, splinter a spider to bits with a blast of white light. A witch. During a lull in fighting provided by the exceptional marksman Pointy Ears, Arielle watched as a tranquil Niobe raised her arm, poised her fingers, and with the swift clenching of her fist a creepie dropped from a branch to the ground. It was crushed to death. The violet-eyed stoic did not so much as blink. Arielle realized that between the four of them, the spiders would momentarily be dispatched and permitted herself a smug grin.
It was wiped off her face when time began to slow and she was forced to narrowly dodge a crude, rough-hewn arrow. The head’s make was similar to the one lodged in the tree on the platform. These bipedal creatures were, in fact, the same attackers of Pointy Ear’s home.
They shot a second and third arrow from her right. Dodging these suckers was hard and the sword was little use against projectiles or for retaliating. In the end, she decided she preferred guns.
At seeing Niobe stop an arrow mid-air, Arielle leapt up. Pointy Ears was in a tree on his own. These things had captured him once and she wasn’t about to let them to get away with a second kidnapping. Especially if these fuckers had taken his family.
She sensed danger from the ground below Pointy Ears moments before the creatures spotted him. He was still up in the trees, faintly glowing now as he returned fire at whatever had set him in its sight below. An arrow streaked past him. Arielle honed in on the source, raced across the forest floor, and swiped away the undergrowth with her kanta.
The disturbed emerald leaves fluttered to the ground. Before her, gasping and choking in its own black blood was the foulest monster Arielle had ever had the misfortune to look upon. Thinned patches of long, unmanaged hair grew from its blotched head. Open sores covered its body; its jaw was lop-sided. It barely wore a stitch of clothing, was filthy, and armed with a hackneyed set of arrows and a bow.
Repulsed, Arielle cleanly sliced through the repugnant thing and flicked the black blood from the sword edge with a snap of her wrist. Pointy Ears sent an arrow flying; it struck home in another thing. She could tell because of the unearthly wail it screeched.
“They reek. Ugh.” She thought.
Over the sounds of battle coming from the campsite, Arielle startled as something sounding like a cross between a howl and a growl reverberated through the heavy air. With the noise, there was a rush of movement back into the forest.
The evil creatures were retreating.
Pointy Ears let off one last shot; it too sounded to have hit home, though Arielle could barely see where the arrow went.
Without disturbing a breath of air, he gracefully landed beside her. His chin may have been inclined arrogantly, but with the friendliest expression directed towards her thus far, he raised an approving eyebrow.
“That,” Arielle proclaimed, “is fucking teamwork. Let’s see how the girls are doing, ne?”
***
Niobe had no pity for the creatures. They radiated an oppressive, putrid darkness which closed in on her senses like a miasma. It was so mentally and physically constricting that she morbidly wondered if it might suffocate her were the source not dispatched. Fortunately, it did not take much presence of mind to work her abilities; for some odd reason, she felt as though she’d already learned and understood how the mechanics of it worked. She just got it, plain and simple.
As a spider rapidity descended upon her, she instinctually knew that reaching out with her mind could crush it. Her focus was so great that she did not notice how her arm moved to physically mimic the mental projection until the monster was dead.
She only sensed the arrow heading her way, and then responded accordingly; she never saw it coming.
Thus, she handled the situation; watching Abigail’s back and keeping track of what the redhead was up to. Within a minute, the newcomer shot off into the canopy, leaving them to deal with a thinning cloud of shadow. All seemed to taper off until a bulking shadow rushed at her from behind; it was far larger than the spiders. As she wondered what it could be, Niobe turned to battle it.
The monster stood before her. Its muscles bulged as it raised a scimitar overhead to strike. It was so close Niobe could see the wear on the human teeth it wore as a necklace. She could feel the heat and stench of its body; she held her breath after her first whiff.
Casually, and reflexively, the “Force” took hold of a cartilage ring in the monster’s esophagus and popped it inward, choking it with hardly any effort.
Stunned, the creature dropped its weapon. It opened its mouth as if to take a breath, but not even its lungs could expand. Fearfully, it scratched at its neck drawing its own blood. Within moments, it fell to its knees, writhing silently.
The more it struggled, the closer it came to death, and the more the creature’s dark miasma thinned. From within. Niobe noted that this had not occurred with the spiders at all; they simply blinked out of existence. This was different. In rapt attention, Niobe took a breath and plunged into the darkness, searching for what within the creature was clearing away the dark. Just as Niobe feared it would die before her curiosity was satisfied, she saw a flicker of light burning inside of the creature, licking away at the dark.
In a rush, her head reeling, Niobe pulled out, gasping to find herself on her knees and Abigail’s reassuring weight against her back. Instantly, she righted the cartilage ring and the thing stopped flailing. On the balls of its feet and knuckles, it snatched up its weapon, and with something between self-righteousness and caution, stared Niobe him in the eye. Therein, Niobe saw a flicker of intelligence.
Standing, he threw back his head and yelped a snarl. All the advancing shadow halted and turned back. Except for him; he growled at Niobe and bared his teeth. Niobe smiled kindly in return.
Seconds later, there was nothing before her but the heavy, stale air and the night.
“Niobe?” Abigail queried pleasantly.
Niobe returned in kind. “Mmm?”
“Dear Holy Lord; Mother of Pearl; what the blazes was that about?!” Abigail sputtered shrilly.
“Perhaps we are trespassing.” Niobe suggested conversationally.
Abigail scoffed and peered into the darkness. “And where did that girl go off to? You don’t suppose she was hurt, do you?”
“She was attending to matters elsewhere.” Niobe closed her eyes and after some searching found her. As they’d only met her momentarily, her signature was not as familiar as Abigail’s, but was not hard to find. There was a great deal of light heading their way. “It appears she is well and returning to us.”
“Finally,” Abigail sighed, snatching her skirt off the tree branch clothesline, “someone to explain what’s going on and what this place is.”
Niobe shook her head. “I fear she may be in our boat as well.”
“Oh, well, this is just perfect,” Abigail snapped sarcastically to no one in particular and slipped her skirt on. It wasn’t quite dry, but she was feeling ridiculous wandering around in her knicker bottoms. “We were just attacked and no one knows the reason, or knows where we are, and. . .oh look, look at this! They’ve mucked up my Harry Potter. That does it; I’m plucking every spindly leg off their carcasses.”
“Who are we rending limb from limb?”
Both Niobe and Abigail turned to see the redhead stroll back into the circle of firelight, her sword sheathed, and face relaxed in amusement.
Niobe quickly stood, as she’d not moved since the incident with the monster, and walked over with a hand extended. “You are well. We thank you for you timely arrival and assistance.” Over the other’s shoulder, Niobe noticed a being of light taking shelter in the trees.
The girl took the offered hand and shook vigorously. “Arielle O’Neill. Anytime.”
“It is a pleasure, Arielle.” Niobe assessed the newcomer’s clothes. Both her name and attire suggested she’d once resided on Earth. However, she was not wet. “I assume you also are from Earth and among the dearly departed?”
Arielle squinted. “What the hell is going on?”
Niobe laughed, waving her hand soothingly. “I didn’t mean to presume. Both Abigail and I arrived here through the river after meeting untimely ends.”
“You say you came through that river?” Arielle took a few steps foreword and pointed.
“Aye.”
As if trying to nail the concept Arielle asked, “You died too?”
“Yes, as did Abigail.”
“And you’re from Earth?”
Niobe politely reaffirmed, “Scotland—and New Zeland respectively.”
“So it’s the same story for everybody. Any ideas on where we are, or how we ended up here?”
“Nothing conclusive. We’d be happy to entertain any suggestions you may have.”
One hand on her hip and the other rubbing her forehead, Arielle sighed. “Just when I think shit might start making sense.” She then looked up at the compassionate Niobe. “I woke up in a cave north of here with a Japanese girl, Yumiko. She speaks maybe five words of English. It was,” she poked a carcass with her sword, “a nest for these things.”
Niobe raised both eyebrows. “Nest?”
“The place was overrun. We got out with. . .” Arielle turned, looking over her shoulder. “Damnit.” She then proceeded to yell, “Pointy Ears, would you stop hiding and get your hoity ass over here? They don’t bite.”
Walking and buttoning her skirt, Abigail asked, “Pointy Ears isn’t his name, is it?”
“No, but he doesn’t speak any language I know and won’t introduce himself. I’m not even sure what he is."
Niobe and Abigail exchanged glances.
“Do you suppose we’re on another planet then?” Abigail asked hesitantly. Niobe shrugged and Arielle threw up her hands in defeat before slipping back into the woods. There was a brief rustle of leaves, and momentarily, she emerged dragging a handsome, scowling blond man after her. His pale form glowed in the dark; it wasn’t just Niobe’s vision. Once in the firelight, he shook off Arielle and stood erect, puffing himself up as if to intimidate everyone. The redhead didn’t notice.
“Don’t mind him. If the stick in his ass went up any further, he wouldn’t be able to sit without rupturing a kidney.” Arielle put her hands on Abigail’s shoulders, which wasn’t difficult as the tiny girl barely reached Arielle’s shoulders. “Pointy Ears, this is Abigail. Abb-i-gaīl."
Niobe was surprised to see that both of his ears were, in fact, pointed at the tips.
Weak from the shock and awe of meeting her first alien, Abigail waved meekly in return. “’Ello.”
Pointy Ears crinkled his nose.
“And this,” Arielle then moved beside the taller Niobe, who smiled warmly in greeting, “is Niobe. Ni-ō-be."
Avidly repulsed, Pointy Ears began muttering in his own language under his breath. Without meaning to, his eyes momentarily met with Niobe’s. Suddenly, she could hear him as if he were speaking aloud, except it was within her head.
“—Filthy morals, and now a Haradrum beyond our borders. Where they’ve—”
That was unexpected. Intrigued both by the snippet of thought and her ability to interpret it, Niobe desired to make contact. Picking up his voice wasn’t at all unlike picking up the tree voices, only he was very loud and far more coherent. Drawing from her previously successful interaction with plants, she decided to try reciprocating the contact. Besides, his opinions may have been tempered by Arielle’s forceful, but well meaning, personality and could be very confused about the strange predicament they were all in.
“Haradrum? Whatever do you mean?” she asked pleasantly telepathically.
Pointy Ears froze. His breathing stopped, and his eyes latched to hers. Niobe silently chastised herself for invading his mind. She really had no business within it. “Pardon my intrusion; I would not use this method, but none of us speak your language. We have no ill intentions. I am Niobe Night Watson of St. Andrew’s. Your companion is Arielle O’Neill, though I’m not sure where she’s from, and mine is Abigail Williams from Wellington, New Zealand. We are all very, very lost . . .”
As Niobe spoke, his mouth gaped more and more in absolute shock until the connection was lost and he dropped to one knee and bowed his head.
“Oh! No, no, no, no, no, no!” Niobe said in rapid succession, motioning for him to get up.
Wide-eyed in astonishment, Arielle shouted accusingly, “What did you do?!”
“I was only trying to speak with him and it sort of happened mentally and I need eye contact to do it,” Niobe insisted worriedly. “Good heavens; up, up, it’s not that impressive.”
Her hand motions got his attention. As she met his eye once again, she felt a flicker of fear rippling over his consciousness. He spoke aloud in his own language unintelligibly, but the meaning was clear within his mind. “Forgive my impertinence and quickness to judge; I know not what you are. Never have I heard of beings bearing your likeness in all this Middle-Earth. Though you appear mortal, you have gifts I thought only the Lady of Light possessed. You must be of the light to see into the thoughts of others, though I know not how. The Valar would never bless one who did not deserve such a gift. Forgive me, I thought you Haradrum, of the East.”
Niobe wasn’t sure if she was translating his mental conceptualization of his words correctly. It was possible there were no English equivalents to his words. “Mortal? Haradrum? What do you mean by this?”
Niobe openly displayed her confusion, while his was only detectable in his aura, probably out of politeness.
“Haradrum are mortal men of the East, corrupt and forsaken. Never have I met one, but I have been told by those who have encountered them that their skin resembles your shade. You must have journeyed far, for the mortals near our border do not have your power or countenance.”
Niobe chuckled in return, “I have never met nor heard of anyone with ears such as yours.”
His head tilted to the side. Your people do not know of edhel?"
He was referring to his own race. Apparently, he was an edhel. “No. Nor am I one of these Haradrum. However, I would suggest refraining from making such assumptions. We are strange beings. Assumptions always end up wrong, one way or another.”
Again, his face remained stoic, but he rippled with embarrassment. “I have been extremely rude, Lady Niobe Night Watson.”
“It’s only Niobe.”
He nodded. “Lady Niobe, I shall not underestimate you again. Are you an immortal as well?”
Niobe blinked, flabbergasted. Of all things, she wasn’t exactly expecting this. “Immortal? Is that what you are?”
“Yes. Our heritage is of the Eldar, we are Sindarin edhel. I am Ensign Tyelco. My father is Captain Noloquin, both of the border guard for his Majesty King Thranduil of Eryn Leasgalen.”
“Then we are in a place called Eryn Leasgalen?" Niobe had no idea of what to make of this.
“Yes, my lady.”
“Give me a moment to explain to my companions.” Niobe requested and turned to her astounded counterparts. “He says his name is Tyelco, a border guard for the kingdom we’re in, Eryn Leasgalen. He also claims to be an “immortal.” An edhel, I think he said although, I’m not certain of what he means by this. There are “mortals” running around here as well, and we look like them, but we aren’t those either.”
Arielle pointed at Tyelco and demanded, “How are you doing that?”
“I believe I am using telepathy. It wasn’t on purpose, but I picked up on his thoughts and we’ve been thinking to each other. He says there is another woman here with my power. She is called the Lady of Light, but that could be a mistranslation. Perhaps she would have answers for us,” Niobe mused.
“It really is sort of like a jedi, isn’t it?” Abigail rubbed her hands excitedly.
Arielle interrupted Abigail, again demanding clarification. “So, you’re talking to him?”
“Yes.”
“Then this light lady wouldn’t be Yumiko, would it?” Arielle asked in a rush.
“Who?”
“The other girl I woke up in the cave with. The Japanese girl, Yumiko. Hardly speaks English? We left her sleeping at his tree house when we saw your campfire.”
“No, this Lady of Light sounds well-known and respected by him. He barely knows you.”
“Then ask him about the cave; ask him how he ended up there, what happened, and what’s up with the spiders.” Arielle listed the questions off on her fingers.
Niobe refrained from questioning Arielle herself and turned to the patient Tyelco. “Arielle wishes to know what happened in the cave, how you came to be there, and wishes to know about the spider attacks.”
He complied. “My company was stationed as border patrol on a talan not far from here. We were attacked by these same spiders; it is not in their nature to gather in such large numbers and we were not prepared for the assault. All of us were captured. I awoke in the cave with the obsidian haired one reviving me with her magic.
“At daylight, I must head back to my command to warn them and prepare a rescue mission. As you have experienced, it is far too dangerous to travel by night, and I must live should any be returned alive. Warning must be sent to the king, for I’ve seen with my own eyes that the spiders now have urk organizing them in secret against us.” Deep sorrow flowed through him to the point of which it physically hurt and transferred somewhat to Niobe.
“There are others in this cave? And if you are immortal, why fear for the lives of your companions?”
Niobe asked, intrigued by his concept of ‘immortal’ and deeply concerned for their safety. The creatures who’d just attacked them were extremely dark, both the spiders and urk.
“There are eight I am aware of; there were nine of us, including myself, in the company. The Eldar will live without end save for the infliction of a mortal wound. Captured, their lives are in great danger.”
Then time was of the essence, as his friends were in danger. She turned to Arielle immediately. “He said he’d been in charge of a company of borders guards when they were attacked. As they were captured together, he believes they are still in the cave. Did you see anyone else?”
“There were other people?!” Arielle grabbed a clump of hair at her scalp, “Of course I didn’t see anyone else! We’d have rescued them too!”
Abigail, feeling thoroughly excluded, interjected, “What exactly happened to you and Yumiko, from the beginning, if you please.”
It did not appear Arielle was used to answering to others, and her shoulders stiffened at Abigail’s demand tinged with condescension. “I died, in Iowa, the US. I woke up in the cave surrounded by spiders. Yumiko was shouting for help and he was with her, barely conscious. She’s got some sort of energy power. It’s bright pink and kinda feels fuzzy.” This got blank stares, “Anyway, I had a gun and her pink stuff fried any spider touching it. We dragged him out with us. I couldn’t tell you how or where she found him. She’d be the one to ask, but she only speaks Japane—hey, you could mind-speak with Yumiko, right? We could go back to the cave and get everyone out. I bet we’ve killed most of the spiders. The five of us could handle a rescue.”
Niobe rubbed her chin, considering the idea while Abigail shook her head, astonished anyone would even contemplate such a suicidal maneuver. “You mean attack those things? We couldn’t possibly!”
Arielle liked this girl less and less. “You did just fine around here.”
“They attacked us! That’s one thing, but it’s an entirely different matter to go into a nest of those, those spiders. Wouldn’t it be prudent for Tyelco to go back to his own army, those who’ve dealt with these spiders before, and let them handle their own extermination? It’s their country after all.”
Arielle rolled her eyes. “They won’t care if we kill off all the spiders. And it’s not as if they’re used to dealing with this. You said the spiders were acting funny, didn’t you Niobe?”
“Indeed. Tyelco’s people are familiar with these creatures’ habits. It appears the spiders are being organized by dark, but intelligent beings he calls urk. His people are quite proud, and I do not know if they are properly equipped to handle the severity of the problem or even if help can arrive before it’s too late. Give me a moment.” Niobe turned to an apprehensive Tyelco who’d been waiting as the girls chatted. “Friend, tell me, how much longer do you think those who are still in the cave have?”
His countenance dropped further, but he held his emotions in check. “With the number of spiders there are, it is likely several are already dead.”
“Then we have little time.” Niobe turned back to the girls. “He says it is likely some are already dead. I’ve felt the darkness of these creatures; if he waits for assistance from his people, I do not know how many would survive. Arielle, I will ask Tyelco if he wishes to mount a rescue tomorrow. If so, I will join you both.”
“Good.” Arielle nodded, and then turned to Abigail, “If you’re coming with, you’d better start packing.”
“This is stupid! None of us are trained for this sort of thing. How are we to rescue anyone?” She turned to Arielle, “Are you even out of secondary school?”
Arielle jutted out her chin, frowning. “Are you?”
Both girls were fuming.
“Just so you know,” Abigail snapped, “I’m a senior in college. Twenty-two. And I don’t think we should go and get ourselves involved in some local dispute that’s none of our business. We haven’t any idea what the diplomatic repercussions might be. We’re representing Earth!”
“It became our business when, I don’t know, they attacked us."
Niobe doubted their argument would be much more productive. “Enough. Abigail, your concerns are legitimate. However, I assure you, the spiders who attacked us were not of the light. They are not beings to be allied or reasoned with. Tyelco, on the other hand, is more of the light than you or myself. If his companions are even half his brilliance, their lives are most worthy. So friendly a gesture as a rescue would win us allies. Besides,” Niobe placed a hand on Abigail’s shoulder, “you have already died. It is unlikely we will be going home anytime soon. For now, you have been blessed with gifts unusual even for this world. You must decide how to use them.”
All her life, Abigail had sequestered herself away, gathering and acquiring knowledge. The only time she ever demonstrated it was in term papers. As for actually putting it to use productively, well, she had supposed that was for later when she began her thesis. There was something about Niobe’s liquid violet eyes that both brought foreword her fear of action and at once soothed it. Perhaps it was time to make herself useful.
Then she saw Arielle, smirking and smug. Darkly muttering threats about how foolish this place was making her, Abigail began gathering up all her things.
Turning to Arielle who’d just straightened out her face, Niobe asked, “You are sure?”
“No qualms. We go back for Yumiko, though. This’ll take all of us. If the others are unconscious too, we’ll need her to revive them.”
“Of course we will.” Niobe smiled at Tyelco. “Tyelco, would you consent for us to return to the cave and rescue your friends at sunrise?”
Tyelco erected his shoulders and drew his head back, his eyes questioning Niobe. “What do you mean, my lady? The cave was swarming with spiders and it was difficult enough for us to escape. It would take a day or two for any company large enough . . .”
“But you do not have a day or two. You barely have tonight. Abigail and I are capable of fending for ourselves, and if Arielle’s story is true, she and Yumiko were able to assist you temporarily injured. Arielle also feels that with the number of spiders destroyed on your way out, this round will be easier. Do not fear. We shall find Yumiko and be on our way in the morning.”
“You truly wish to do this when you have no obligation to me?” He asked incredulously.
Niobe supposed that 'obligation' was a relative term. “I do have an obligation to you, but now is not the time to discuss such.” Niobe waved off his concern. “Besides, my companions and I are, as far as we can recall, dead and returned. We assume Yumiko would say the same.”
His eyes went wide, and a wave of reverence once again rippled through him. This time it encompassed all the girls. He looked at Arielle, who was impatiently switching feet, with shock and then to Niobe. “She as well?”
“Yes, Arielle as well.”
Tyelco looked to be doing some very tough thinking. “I would say no, for we would be few in number. There are none to call for aid, and I’ve heard urk do terrible things to women should they be captured. But the only being I’ve ever known to come back from beyond the veil was a great warrior. You must also be great warriors to receive such an honor, if it is true. I consent to receive your aid and thank you, Lady Niobe Night Watson.”
Niobe chuckled. “Just Niobe, friend. And it is not I who you should thank. Direct that to Arielle. Were the rest of us to seek help elsewhere, I think she would return alone. That others were left in the cave greatly troubles her; her pride in such matters is as great as yours. Relax. We will do what we can.”
Abigail came up along side them. “Everything’s packed; here’s your coat and violin. Anyone object to the fire being put out?”
Niobe shook her head, and Arielle edged toward the forest.
Sighing, Abigail said, “Right,” and put out the flames with sand. She then whipped out her wand.
“Lumos!” She slung her backpack on, gathered her bicycle, and stood next to Niobe. “We off then?”
For the nth time that night, Tyelco was dumbstruck and demanded Niobe’s attention, “She is istari?"
“Abigail appears to be a witch, if that is what you mean.”
“We have istari in our world. They are all male, she is female. Their countenance is of aged men, she is a child.”
“Remember what we spoke of? Reordering your assumptions will ease your mind, Tyelco. She means you no harm; she wishes to assist you and your people.”
“Then she is istari,” He stated confidently, and a faint smile, the first Niobe had seen him wear, sat at the corners of his mouth.
Before Niobe could ask for clarification, Arielle lost her patience. “You’d better tell him you can’t run as fast as he can. It’s a long way walking on the ground, and he can’t be running off on you guys. I’m going back now. Those urk things have arrows. I don’t want Yumiko alone.”
“Of course,” Niobe nodded to Arielle. “Be careful. Do not stop to attack should you see them.”
“I know, I know.” Arielle waved Niobe on. “Safety first, nothing stupid. May the Force be with you, yah-da, yah-da. ”
Niobe laughed, as Arielle faded into the darkness of the trees.
“Yes, I couldn’t see that quip coming a mile off,” Abigail mocked. “Well, if you’d consent, I think I could manage to make this thing fly.”
Niobe looked over the bike. “Fly?”
“Oh, yes, I think I could manage the spell, and it’d be a good deal faster than walking, without any doubt. Though, I don’t know if it would be faster than riding a bike on the ground. I might have to be the one actually steering, but I think I could fit you on the handle bars and him on the back spokes. It’ll be cramped, but should hold us all.”
“Allow me to ask Tyelco.”
His head rose at the mention of his name.
“Tyelco, Arielle has left. She is returning as fast as she can to Yumiko. As it would be a long way to walk back for us and you are our guide, Abigail has offered to enchant her bike to fly us there.”
“Fly?” Apparently, the situation was getting to him. His thoughts were being rendered difficult to understand due to the inundation of emotions.
Niobe nodded, and Tyelco rubbed his forehead, watching Abigail tinker with spell casting, adjust a gear on her bike, and then try again. “This is a great deal for me to take in, my lady. She can enchant this, you call it a bike? To fly us all the way to the talan?"
“She says she might be able to. If so, it would be faster than walking, though it may take her a moment to get it right. She’s only been doing magic for the past few hours.”
“Few hours?”
“That is how long all of us have been reawakened; a very short time.”
Tyelco winced. “This is most irregular.”
There was a squeal of delight, and when Niobe and Tyelco turned, they saw Abigail bouncing on her feet and adoringly hugging her bike as it hovered two feet over the ground.
“Come on, come on, I can’t wait to give it a go! And look; I can switch on the little headlight without using the battery.” She tittered, “It’s so cute.”
Minutes later, the three were weaving their way three feet above and through the forest undergrowth. Niobe peddled; she was so tall and Abigail so tiny that the smaller girl couldn’t see where she was going with Niobe sitting on the handlebars. With Abigail perched up front holding out the light and Tyelco clinging to Niobe from behind in fear, they looked a bit like a circus act. At any rate, she wasn’t tiring of pedaling and it was a good deal faster than walking.
What did concern her was the safety of Arielle and Yumiko. She could not tell if either was in danger, but felt as though something had happened. Hopefully, it was nothing serious.
***
Arielle almost sighed in relief. For a few moments, she’d thought she’d gotten lost. In the middle of the night all trees tend to look alike. However, she did manage to find the taller branches of the platform tree distinctly jutting up into the starlight, and found her way back after half an hour.
Dropping noiselessly onto the wood, her heart skipped a beat.
There were their sleeping mats exactly as they’d left them except no Yumiko. Arielle ripped aside the girl’s blanket to find nothing but the faded imprint of a body. The bottomless backpack was missing as well. At least this was an indication that the girl had left of her own free will. Snooping around to see if she hadn’t just slipped off to find a bush to pee behind, Arielle saw something interesting.
Little paw prints. Like a cat’s.
Subtitles
- Darkness and Starlight
- Abigail of Wellington
- Niobe of St. Andrews
- Arielle of Cedar Brook
- Yumiko of Shinjuku
- The Banks of River Running
- Stiff and Stark
- Screams in the Dark
- The Red Bird
- Many Meetings
- Night Fight
- Yumiko's New Friend
- A Mind of One's Own
- Running in Circles
- The Price for Revenge
- The Coming Night
- It Speaks English!
- Fragile Things: I
- Lull