The Marenon Chronicles Collection

Chapter Four





“That's not good enough,” Garland said pressing the cold steel of his sword to Silas' neck. “If you keep trying to go for the killing move every time, you will slip up and die.”

Silas shook his head as the sweat dripped from his brow. A trickle of blood ran from his nose, a trophy he earned from being too cocky with his maneuvering. Training with his grandfather was always fierce, but that day had been much more difficult. He had never beaten Garland in combat of any sort whether it was hand-to-hand, sword, staff, none of it. His grandfather was a master at fighting and Silas would never do as well.

He was fifteen and had been training since he could remember. In the end, the goal was for him to learn how to survive. He never believed there was any practical use to it, but he loved it. When his grandfather had thrown the stick at his feet all those years before and said to pick it up, he never knew he would become the warrior that he was today. The combat exercises didn't help him in school or anywhere away from home. In fact, sparring with his grandfather probably landed him in more trouble than he would have ever found on his own. In school he would catch himself daydreaming of the power he was gaining and his ability to use it in a grand battle. He often fantasized about using his abilities against the jerks in school that deserved a good beating. He had been taught, however, never to use his abilities on anyone that was weaker than him unless they posed a true threat to his safety or that of others.

Archery was involved too, but much less so than the sword. He had gone shooting many times and became very skilled with a bow and arrow, but Garland was convinced that swordplay was what was most important to learn. He said it was good for the reflexes and it kept his mind sharp.

Training, in and of itself, was never really questioned by Silas. While other students were playing games or some sport, Silas was going home and getting a walloping from his grandfather. He often wished there was someone within his own skill range to fight, but fighting the master was the best way to become better.

“Pick up your sword,” Garland said. “Let's try it again. This time, focus on disarming me instead of using all of your energy for a killing strike.”

“I'm done,” said Silas. “I can't beat you. Never once have I even come close to beating you.”

“That's because you are not confident. That's because you are thinking in your mind that you have never beaten me. And that's why I win every time.”

Silas just stared at Garland and grabbed his sword. I can do this, he thought. Just beat him. Just beat him.

With the first swing, Garland parried his blow. Silas went for the feet, then the head, then made a quick jab toward the stomach, and each attack was blocked by his grandfather. Then the thought came to Silas: Go on defense. He became vulnerable because he never let Garland attack first. He immediately stopped his slashing and stepped back in ready position, waiting for Garland to strike. For several long moments it didn't come, but Silas waited patiently anyway. The tension grew and both stood silently until Garland finally charged at Silas. When the swords clashed, the weight behind his attack almost knocked Silas to the dirt, but he held his ground. With each strike he focused on nothing but blocking while he searched for any opening to weaken his grandfather's attack. Then it happened. The opening manifested itself when Garland swung and missed wide. Silas instantly rolled to the ground, shifting to Garland's side. In a backward, chopping motion, Silas slammed his blade against the hilt of Garland's sword sending it to the ground with a crash. In the same motion, Silas reached his right leg behind Garland, tripping him and throwing him to the dirt on his back. Silas stood up and placed the blade against his grandfather's neck. He had won. There was a moment of stunned silence and then to Silas’ surprise, Garland began laughing hysterically. It was a deep laugh, straight from the belly. He held up an arm and Silas pulled him to his feet.

“And that's how you do it, my boy!” he said as he patted Silas on the back of the neck.

“You let me win, didn't you?”

Garland shook his head. “You may never believe me, but I was trying harder this time than I ever have.” He paused and laughed again. “Perhaps that was my folly.”

That was two years before and there had been no sparring since. For some reason, unknown to Silas, Garland began making excuses to delay further training and soon, they stopped picking up their weapons altogether. At that time, Garland started dropping hints to Silas about some sort of possessed beings that roamed the Earth searching for the two of them. He became consumed with worry and stayed in his room many nights, pouring over some manuscripts that he never allowed Silas to see. When Silas would ask, Garland would just tell him that it was nothing, just a hobby. But Silas knew better.

As time went by, Garland began to appear older and gaunt. It was striking to see how much he had aged in only two years. The fear of him growing older and dying was not ever a prominent thought in Silas’ mind. But then Theron and Marcus had visited them and they were forced to travel further west, and Garland had ultimately died. Silas' night was not over. Death was still a possibility for him as well.

He was shaken from his memories when Kaden’s voice told him they needed to hurry. Kaden Osric had not been completely thoughtless. Before their trek through the possibly dangerous Stühoc-ridden terrain they had searched the cave for food and water. They were able to find enough water to quench his thirst, but they found no food. He could feel his body absorbing the energy as the water of the small pool reached his lips. He still felt as though he could sleep for the next week, but the small boost would have to do for now.

He wondered, as he lifted his head above the pool, if all the training he had endured had been leading up to this night. He wondered if it had all been part of ‘the plan’ or ‘The Reckoning’ that Kaden had spoken of. Perhaps it was. It would make sense, although it hadn't really helped much yet. Being good with a sword could help in a handful of situations, but it was never a match for a gun, thus it hadn't been a big help for Garland. Things were falling into place and questions were being answered, but it was all happening so quickly. He hadn’t known whether to believe Garland when he was told about his rescuer, but it was difficult to dispute his existence now. And a Stühoc horde? What was he to think of it? Sure, there had been instances or perhaps references to Stühocs in his childhood, but only in the last two years had it started to become more serious.

The two of them left the mouth of the cave and plodded through the tree-covered darkness. Silas tried to remember the way to the road where they let the truck roll off the mountain. He still had no idea where the truck landed, but it couldn't have been too far. He carried his sword on his back with a sling over his shoulder and Kaden kept an arrow fixed on his bow, ready to pull and release at any moment. He had said there was no evidence of the Stühocs yet, but often times they did not leave a trace of their passing.

“How difficult is it to fight a Stühoc?” Silas asked as they walked through the woods toward the road.

“That depends on how well you can take care of yourself in a fight,” Kaden said a little more than a whisper. “One or two don't take too much effort, if you possess decent combat skills. But they can soon overrun you. That's how they fight. They overwhelm their victims until they are powerless. If you ever come across one then you should run. One is probably a lookout for twenty or more.”

Silas still wasn’t completely convinced about all this talk of Stühocs, but he played along anyway. “Are they spiritual, or physical?”

“They are physical beings,” replied Kaden.

Silas nodded to himself, keeping his eyes wide open on the path ahead of them.

“How much farther?” Kaden asked.

“I'm not sure,” said Silas. “We came through quickly, it was almost dark then and it's dark now. We'd be lucky to be on the right side of the mountain.”

Kaden threw up a hand to hush Silas, seeing movement in the distance. “Get down!” he said.

Silas dropped to the ground; a new fear gripped his insides. He held firm to the sword in his hands, ready to take on any enemy. Kaden was bent to one knee and had his arm cocked and ready.

“What is it?” said Silas.

“Something's moving.”

“What's moving?”

“Shhh.”

Kaden pulled back his arrow and closed an eye. The target was far away and Silas could not see anything from his position on the ground. For several long breaths Kaden kept a steady aim then released. There was nothing but a whistle through the air and a thud as an arrow landed in its victim. A brief, but loud shriek flew through the wind.

Kaden swore under his breath. He had hoped the arrow would silence the victim, but it instead pinpointed their position to any Stühoc that may be listening.

“Come on,” he said as he took off in a sprint.

Silas almost protested, but didn't have time. He had to keep up with Kaden. They ran through the forest with the fear that every step would bring them closer to being surrounded by Stühocs. Silas gripped his sword as Kaden fixed another arrow. They finally came up to the creature that Kaden had shot, an arrow buried deep in its chest. It had died only seconds after the shot.

“Is this one of them?”

“Yeah,” Kaden said. “It’s a Leaper.” He looked in every direction. “They’re close.”

Silas nodded, not knowing what to say. He looked down at the grotesque figure, unable to distinguish many of its features in the night. He wasn’t sure he really wanted to see what it looked like up close anyway.

“Well, Mr. Ainsley, if you aren't sure of the way from here then I suggest we keep heading north to try and find the path.”

Silas agreed. They traveled silently for several long minutes and finally found the path with the tire tracks in the dirt road that led off the cliff. This was the spot. They both looked over the edge and could see a dark mass of metal on the main road far below. Kaden looked at Silas. No direction was needed. They had to get down to the truck.

“We don't have time to walk the path around the mountain,” Kaden said.

Silas raised an eyebrow fearing he knew what Kaden was about to suggest.

“I know you've been through a lot already,” Kaden said, “but the quickest way to get to the truck is if we climb.”

Silas looked over the edge again. The thought of descending the steep jagged rock nearly a hundred feet to the next level made him dizzy.

“I'll go first,” Kaden said. “I'll guide you down.”

“I don't need you to guide me down,” he said defiantly. “I've climbed steeper.” It was a lie.

Kaden could sense his apprehension and he waited a moment then shrugged. “Sure.” He said.

They both began to make their way down the steep cliff side. Inch by inch Silas felt his way down. Several times he nearly lost his footing to loose rocks. Kaden seemed to feel at ease, climbing without any struggle. He called out to Silas from time to time to see if he was all right, but was only met with grunts and swears.

The two reached the ground and Silas rubbed at the small scrapes he obtained from the jagged rock. He followed Kaden who crouched behind a brush pile. The demolished truck sat crumbled about thirty paces away from them.

“What's the plan?” Silas asked.

Kaden watched in all directions, feeling for the sword and bow strapped to his back.

“This feels like a trap,” Kaden said. “Almost as if they are waiting for us.”

“We haven't seen or heard any sign of Stühocs down here,” Silas said annoyed. “I don't think they're here.”

“Which is exactly what they would want you to think if they were about to ambush you,” Kaden shot back. “They are brutal creatures, and as smart as you or me. They don't always attack their enemies blindly. They wait for the opportune moment so they can be thorough in their destruction.”

It was an argument that Silas couldn't win, so he decided not to fight it.

“Well, if you think there's an ambush, then what's your plan?”

Kaden raised an eyebrow as if to say, why are you so annoying, but he had more tact than that. As much as he wanted to say it, instead he said, “There's nothing we can do but to go to the truck and get the medallion. It's likely they didn't see us on our descent because of the trees. But they'll know we're going to the truck.”

“Why would they know that?”

“They can sense the medallion,” Kaden said, not taking his eyes from the truck. It was as if he were lost in thought, a memory from his past. “They can almost smell it.”

“Then why haven't they already gone after it?”

“Silas,” Kaden said with a sigh, “I didn't come here to protect you from Theron and Marcus.”

A red flag went up in Silas' mind. Then what are you doing here at all? Silas thought.

“You living or dying isn't what is important,” Kaden continued. “You cannot, at all costs, be captured by the Stühocs. It would be better if you just jumped off the side of the cliff.” Kaden said this with such calm and lack of emotion; Silas wasn't sure whether Kaden would care if this happened.

“You're saying they want me alive?”

Kaden nodded.

“But why?”

“That's a conversation you need to save for your grandfather.”

“My grandfather is dead, in case you haven’t noticed.”

Kaden looked at Silas and for a moment their gazes locked. The silence was heavy.

“What are you saying, Kaden?”

“I'm saying that you need to stay here behind the bushes. I'm going to the truck. Where is the medallion?”

Silas was silent.

“Silas,” he said to bring him out of his trance. “Where is it?”

“There’s a hidden compartment behind the passenger seat,” Silas said. “Kaden, wait!”

Kaden turned.

“What are you saying about talking to my grandfather?”

“The Stühocs want you, Silas. They want to make you one of their own, and they can do it. All they need is to capture you, and it's done.”

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“I'm going to get the medallion,” Kaden said. “Stay put.”

Kaden drew his sword from his back as he lightly stepped toward the truck. He looked from side to side seeing nothing suspicious. He knew the Stühocs were near and he knew in this position and location, it would be difficult to stop an attack. But the medallion was a vital part of his mission. Silas was not so important yet.

When he finally reached the truck, he again looked in every direction to detect any approach. Luckily, the passenger side door had sprung open during the truck’s impact with the ground. Kaden pushed the passenger’s seat forward and ran his fingers along the floorboard, feeling for the compartment. It took a few seconds, but he found it quickly enough. He wrapped his fingers around the chain and pulled. The medallion came out easily and its sapphire jewel glinted in the full moonlight. He placed the medallion in his pocket and once again scanned in every direction for the enemy.

Silas watched Kaden during his silent operation. Everything seemed to be going smoothly, yet he felt Kaden was taking way too long to grab the stupid thing. He watched as Kaden turned his head in every direction, and then gripped his sword tighter when Kaden did a double take and focused in on one place in the distance. He lifted a hand and held a finger to his mouth telling Silas to remain quiet. Kaden crouched low at the front of the truck.

What happened next took Silas by surprise for several reasons. Seemingly out of nowhere, a creature at least a foot taller than Silas jumped on top of the truck thrashing its claws at Kaden. It had a long scaly snout with sharp teeth; its eyes were wide with anger. It was like a giant, gray lizard that stood upright, but had hind legs like a dog. Its claws were weapons that tore through the metal roof of the truck.

It let out a deafening scream; a warning sound to Kaden letting him know his life was about to end. Kaden didn't flinch, standing firm with his sword in front of him. The creature shrieked again and in seconds, two more Leapers jumped from out of the shadows to its side.

Kaden was in trouble, but he wasn't showing it. He didn't fear the Stühocs, but it had been a long time since he had fought one. Two of the gray-skinned Stühocs tried to flank Kaden while the one on top of the truck charged him. He ducked below a swipe that would have taken his head off and countered with a sword thrust to the Stühoc’s side. Kaden was now on top of the truck, a high position. He swung his sword down on a Stühoc, but was blocked by its steel-like claws.

Silas knew he had to do something. If Kaden were killed, there would be no one to help him. He also knew that the Stühocs could not be allowed to get that medallion. His training had not prepared him to take on creatures such as this, he thought. Or had it? Silas stood and crept in behind one of the Stühocs. The sword felt heavy in Silas’ tired hands.

Kaden was a master. Every move was a block against six flailing arms aiming to rip him to shreds.

Silas crouched low and got within inches of the first Stühoc and stabbed it through the back of the heart. The Stühoc let out a loud scream and crumpled to the ground.

Kaden took the distraction as an opportunity to drive his sword through the skull of another. It instantly dropped to the ground, taking his sword with it. Thinking fast, he unstrapped his bow and placed an arrow ready. As the last Stühoc turned its tooth-filled head back at Kaden, but the arrow was already through its throat and it too was sent to the ground, dead.

With the three of them defeated, Kaden jumped from the top of the truck and pulled his sword out of one and his arrow out of the other. A thick, gray fluid pooled around the bodies of the Stühocs. Their blood smelled like ash and smoke.

“What were you thinking?” Kaden said, scowling.

“They were going to kill you!”

“We've got to get out of here,” he said. “They'll be here any minute.”

“I thought you said they already knew where we were.”

Kaden shook his head. “I suppose I was wrong. More would have attacked me if they were here. Regardless, they are on their way now. We made plenty of noise for them to know exactly where we are.”

Kaden charged back up the path to where they had climbed down and Silas followed.

Through short heaving breaths he pried Kaden for more information. “What were those things?”

“Stühocs, specifically Leapers,” Kaden said. “Some of the more dangerous kind of Stühocs. Not only are they intelligent fighters, they can jump more than twenty feet in the air consistently. It makes them extremely fast.”

“Do you still have the medallion?”

Kaden stopped and turned to Silas. “Yes,” he said. “Silas, there's something you should know.”

He almost didn't want to hear it. The thought of this situation getting worse was unthinkable.

“I didn't think this would be happening the way it is,” Kaden said. “Leapers coming here adds a new problem.”

Silas was silent, waiting for him to continue.

Kaden hesitated searching for the right thing to say.

“Just say it,” Silas said, frustrated.

“The Leapers are led by a powerful Stühoc named Maroke. They are his personal soldiers, and although there are very few of them, they follow him religiously. On top of that, he is the second in command of the entire Stühoc army.”

Again, Silas said nothing, waiting for Kaden to finish.

“If he's here, then we're running out of time to get to the gate.”

“Wait, what?” Silas said. “What gate?”

“That’s why your grandfather was going to the cave in the first place, Silas. This medallion is a key to a gate that leads to another place where you can be safe. That gate is in the cave. We must hurry!”

They were immediately stopped by a shriek somewhere below them. It was the Stühocs. Silas followed Kaden as he ran to the cliff side and crawled on his stomach to peer over the edge. Kaden pulled out a scope from a pouch underneath his cloak.

“Yeah,” he said. “It's Maroke. I don’t see him yet, but he isn’t far. I see a few Leapers, though.”

Silas wasn't sure what he was supposed to be feeling at the moment. “How many?” he said.

“Too many to take alone. Run.”

Silas looked down at the figures moving in the dark. They were far away, but at their speed, he knew it wouldn't be long until they reached him and his protector.