Chapter 4

  Refuge

  Neyra shut her eyes and whispered,

  “One, two, three, four…” her voice felt prickly and dry, and she could have done the job just as well in her mind, but saying the words out loud was the only thing keeping her grounded. Listen to me, Neyra. My sweet Neyra, you must be strong. A lump swelled in her throat as she suppressed a shudder, her mother’s voice echoing in her mind. Barcus is distracting them, but he needs our help. He won’t last on his own.

  “Fifty, fifty-one, fifty-two, fifty-three…”

  Even from the inside of the crate, a crate tucked far into the back of the warehouse, a warehouse that stood behind heavy wooden doors, the sounds of battle still reached her. Muffled as they were, the horrible noise still made bile rise in her throat. The howls and snarls of wolves, the guttural cries that could only be the black armored warriors, the clang of metal on metal, all of it made a sickening cacophony in her mind. Stay hidden, stay safe, and don’t dare try to leave this spot until the count of eight hundred. Can you do that, my girl?

  “Ninety-seven, ninety-eight…”

  Her fingers trembled around the lamp, casting eerie shadows in the confines of the crate. Her brother and sister took deep, deliberate breaths, each in their own world of grief right now, just as she was. Shamil just stared with empty eyes into the heart of the flickering lamp. Do you remember where we picnicked this summer? Just off the main road, the giant tree you all love so much? Yes, good. When the coast is clear, you take your siblings and Shamil and you make for that tree. It’s not too far, just a couple miles north. You know the way.

  “One hundred fifty-seven, one hundred fifty-eight, one hundred fifty-nine…”

  From out in the distance, an explosion rocked the ground, sending slight tremors all the way to their hiding spot. We will hold them off. We’ve dealt with worse before. But we may have to lead them off of your trail. Wait at the tree, if we aren’t there by sunrise you MUST continue north, do you understand? Make for Zerial. There’s a government office there. You MUST tell them what happened here.

  Finally, the sounds of the fight eased. To her horror, Neyra heard the faint, continued howls of the bestial wolves. Whatever the struggle had been, that ominous sound did not bode well for the fates of her parents.

  Eventually, silence. Not a sound from outside drifted into their small enclosure. She looked up and paled at the sight of her siblings.

  Gone was Elivera’s amiable smile, and her brown eyes peeked from puffy eyelids still red from tears, staring listlessly at the flickering lantern light. She just sat there, little arms curled around her gangly pre-teen legs, rocking back and forth against Arv.

  Keep an eye on our little one, her mother had said with a forced smile, hopelessly trying to comfort a child close to panic. Elivera’s a handful, but her tenacity will be a strength to you both! Trust her, trust in each other, but most importantly, watch over her. She looks up to you more than you know. Neyra squeezed her eyes tight, fighting to keep that image of her mother alive in her mind while also bearing the unspeakable weight of her words. Mother had embraced her then, handing her the small lantern.

  “I’ve lost count,” Neyra said, her small voice shaking. Nobody answered her. She looked around the crate. Shamil crouched in front of her, her shoulders slumped, as she hung her head down to look at the wooden slats below them. She muttered something inaudible and shook her head. Elivera just kept staring. Craning her neck slightly, Neyra looked up at Arv.

  His green skin twisted between his brows, which sat furrowed in concentration. She couldn’t tell if they were tears or sweat, but small droplets streaked his cheeks and forehead. Take care of our boy, Neyra. Don’t you ever let him forget who he is. The world might try to make him into something he’s not…don’t let it. You know how much he looks up to you, too. He has since the day we found him. Neyra cried in earnest at this point in the conversation, as her mother led her to the crate and scooped her into her arms. And that leads me to this. Watch over them, Neyra. Protect them, take care of them. But, most importantly, let them take care of YOU. You can’t do this alone. Neyra pressed trembling fingers to her cheek, trying to feel where that last kiss from her mother had been. Your father and I are so very proud of you, my little love. Never forget.

  “Eight hundred!” Arv said with a jolt, almost as if coming out of a trance. A strange pang struck Neyra’s heart. At least someone came through where I failed. He looked around at the little ones beneath him. “Reckon we can move now?”

  “Maybe,” Neyra said, “Lift me up, I’ll go take a look,”

  “Not alone, you won’t!” Shamil spat, head snapping up from her shoulders as she scrambled to her feet.

  “Fine, fine?! All of us, let’s go. But quietly,”

  The wood of the lid creaked as Arv poked his head out of the crate. With a surprising amount of grace, Arv gripped the bulky lid in hand and set it gently to the side. “I don’t see anything strange, don’t hear nothin’ either,” he muttered.

  “Everyone hop on,” Neyra whispered, climbing up to her spot on Arv’s back. She felt too drained to even admire the workmanship of the harness, which did its job marvelously. Carefully, she closed the window of the lantern completely, hiding its small light entirely. Elivera whimpered ever so slightly as she did so. Neyra reached out to grab her sister’s hand, providing a quick squeeze, “We can’t risk being seen, okay?”

  “Okay,” Elivera replied in a tiny whisper, squeezing Neyra’s hand back. Arv quickly secured everyone on his back and hopped out of the crate, leading them all out into the silent darkness of the warehouse.

  ***

  Arv blinked a few times as his eyes adjusted to the new lighting. It was fully night now, and while to him their surroundings stood in perfect (albeit black and white) clarity. He knew that without the lantern, Elivera and Neyra would be as good as blind. Not for the first time this night, he gave a silent prayer of thanks for his orcish blood, which would help him bear his family to safety.

  “Shamil,” he whispered, careful to keep his voice low, “How are your eyes?”

  “Good enough,” she muttered from her spot behind his shoulder, seeing the world just as he did, “And you?”

  Arv’s only reply was an affirmative grunt as he carefully wove their way through the crates and boxes of the cluttered warehouse. As he stepped, Neyra whispered to them in a strained voice, telling them about what Danya had said. They needed to make their way north, with or without their parents. Arv swallowed as a bead of sweat trickled down his face. They soon reached the door that their parents led them through such a short time earlier. Arv paused and took an extra moment to listen to the night. It seemed eerily quiet, not even the sounds of the night creatures and the wind in the grass came to him, no matter how hard he strained his ears. Ever so slowly, he reached out and pulled the great door open just a crack to peer out into the open night.

  He could barely make out the smoldering remains of the cart in the distance. Feeble flames still danced in spots. Other small patches of light dotted the landscape, varying in intensity. Towards the direction of the village, he swore that the sky held that eerie glow that spoke of burning buildings. But there was no time to worry or wonder. He forced himself to focus on what was right in front of him.

  If the battle happened just outside, it left surprisingly little evidence. Small spatters and smears of blood covered the ground thirty paces outside of the warehouse door, making a grim trail deeper off into the woods. Neyra’s small hand tapped his shoulder with urgency.

  “What do you see?”

  “Blood,” Arv took a step forward as if to follow it, “They must’ve gone that way.”

  “Then they did what they said,” Shamil said from his other side, “They led them away, but for how long?” Her voice was as cold as ice, and Arv could feel her hands tense on his shoulder.

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  Neyra took a shuddering breath that tickled the back of Arv’s neck.

  “Let’s go,” she said, each word sounding as if it took a battle to leave her mouth. Arv exhaled a breath that he didn’t know he had been holding, and with legs made of lead, he started the trudge north into the abyssal night.

  ***

  Shamil loved her gnomish eyes. She especially loved how they allowed her to see the secret beauty and life of the night, a beauty few others were privileged to see. But the evening sights, which once enthralled her senses with joy, now seemed a bleak and horrible backdrop to the tragedy that had unfolded that night.

  Shamil didn’t know how long they walked. Well…how long Arv walked. The night scenery passed by in a hazy, bumpy blur as Arv jogged in brief spurts, careful to keep as quiet as he could. The four children were unusually quiet. There was no chatter, no teasing, no sound at all but labored breathing and whimpers from sore throats. Shamil felt as if her chest might implode from the stress. She wished for nothing more than to bury her face in Arv’s back and just shut everything out. But the Tallfellows needed her. They needed her eyes; they needed her strength. Shamil wanted to be strong. She wanted to be everything they needed, but it was all so much. Her Da’s words came to her as she held tight to Arv’s shirt. Remember how much I love you. Never EVER forget it. Protect them, protect each other. Make me proud, my Millie.

  Her eyes began to blur and sting with tears as she shook her head, forcing them back down.

  “Later. Feel it all later,” she muttered, voice barely a whisper. She was confident the Tallfellows could still hear her. But she was long past the point of caring. Neyra let go of her harness handle long enough to place her hand on Shamil’s, giving it a weak squeeze. Shamil knew she was exhausted. They all were, but the gesture gave her heart that bit of strength she needed.

  Arv suddenly grunted and stopped in his tracks, chest heaving from the exertion. Shamil scanned the forest ahead, eyes searching for that familiar sight. And there it was, the enormous tree. She gave Arv a pat on the back,

  “I see it too! Good job, big guy,”

  She slipped off of the harness and onto the cold ground. Two soft thumps announced Elivera and Neyra’s presence on the ground behind her. Shamil turned and grabbed their hands, knowing that they were as good as blind out here.

  “Do you think you’ve climbed this enough to manage it in the dark?” She hissed, leading their hands to touch the rough, familiar bark of their favorite tree.

  “I…I think so,” Elle whispered, reaching her arms out to the knots and grooves that they blessedly knew by heart. But before she could make it far, Shamil saw Arv’s big hand on the back of Elle’s shirt, lifting her effortlessly up the lowest branch of the giant tree.

  A distant howl pricked Shamil’s ears as she watched, spurring her to climb the tree alongside Neyra, who was now being hoisted in the same way as her sister had. The girls scooted quickly to their preferred spots in the great branches of the tree, making room for Arv, who climbed after.

  Shamil strained her ears, but now she could only hear the rustling of leaves in the wind. She took a deep breath and then she spoke in the softest of whispers.

  “Arv, you need to rest. Neyra and I will keep watch. Well…I’ll watch. Neyra will listen.” She spared a glance at Neyra, who nodded with a grimace.

  “I can still keep a lookout for torches. And she’s right. Arv, Elle,” she nudged them slightly, “Try to rest. Okay? We’ll wake you.”

  Arv looked at them ?with his big, yellow eyes before sighing and muttering his agreement. Elle didn’t need as much convincing. They made themselves as comfortable as they could while staying huddled under the protective cover of the leaves. Arv had his arms wrapped protectively around Elivera, who shuddered slightly in the cold breeze. Then their labored breathing finally slowed. If complete sleep hadn’t come, at least some measure of rest had instead. Shamil rubbed her eyes, trying to blink some more strength into them. It was going to be a long night.

  ***

  Arv woke with a start to the booming sound of howls, howls that seemed horrifically close to their tree shelter. Frantically, he looked side to side, counting the little heads that were huddled around him. Elle stirred slightly, waking up with his sudden movement. Shamil and Neyra both hurried to put steadying hands on his arm. Shamil frantically signaled with her free hand to not make a sound. Arv followed her eyes, scanning the woods below them with intensity. It didn’t take long for him to make out the small dots of light in the distance. They could be nothing but torches, or maybe lanterns? They were moving at a steady pace, but seemed to pick up speed with the next bestial howl.

  The wind kicked up, and with it, a new sound that made his blood run ice cold. Screams. Not just any screams, screams of children. From this distance, he couldn’t be sure, but in his heart, he knew who the voices belonged to. Villagers. Pirians. Friends. Children who grew up right alongside him. And they had been found.

  “No! NOOOO! Stop!” A shrill, squeaking voice pierced the night, followed by a gurgling cry. He heard a small gasping sound from his side as a pale-faced Neyra sat there in horror, hands to her mouth as if forcing herself not to scream. Elle whimpered in the crook of his arm, her face buried to keep the sounds away. Shamil just looked dead ahead with the same intensity as Arv, focused on the bobbing lights. Her brows scrunched and her cheeks flushed with rage. Arv felt his knuckles turn white as the sounds continued their awful chorus.

  “SOMEONE HELP US! PLEASE HELP!” another child’s voice pleaded into the unforgiving night, its words rising above the surrounding screams and howls. Instead of ice, Arv’s blood ran now like fire. The rage building inside him seemed ready to burst. He could take them, he could do something, he could — his line of thought cut short as he felt a hand on his face. Neyra gently forced him to turn back and look at her. Her freckled cheeks glistened with tears, and she trembled as she shook her head. She mouthed the words, grimacing in pain as she did. We can’t. We just can’t, Arv.

  Arv looked into his sister’s face for just a moment before hanging his head in angry defeat, that burning hot rage now leaking out of his eyes. What good was his gods-forsaken strength if he couldn’t use it to help?! The screams continued to echo in the distance, intermingled with guttural shouts and the howls of those beasts. He gritted his teeth into a snarl hard enough to make his tusks prick his upper lip. Neyra just kept her hand on him, stroking his forehead with her thumb. Elivera continued her soft cries into his side, clutching at him as if she might fall. Arv spared one brief glance up, and met Shamil’s eyes as she stared ahead, torches and death reflecting in her eyes.

  ***

  Neyra and Shamil eventually took their turn to rest, but not until the sounds of the nearby slaughter were well gone. And after what seemed to be an eternal night, Neyra finally blinked her bleary eyes into the first true light of day. The sun was finally, blessedly, making its grand appearance on the distant horizon. It felt like the first light she had seen in a lifetime. Her eyes drifted to her siblings and, although she expected it, she was still startled to see the state of them. Soot, sweat, dirt, and soothsayer blood covered them all from head to toe. But they were alive. For now.

  She took quick stock of their belongings as the others stirred. They managed their flight through the night with all four packs still in their possession, their contents all accounted for. While the sun warmed her skin, she still felt cold inside as she realized what the morning light meant. Dawn had come, and their parents were still nowhere to be seen.

  “Neyra?” Elivera asked, her head poking out of her disheveled cloak. With a small smile, Neyra leaned over closer to her little sister and placed a comforting hand on her cheek as she continued, “Where’s Ma and Da? Have they made it yet?”

  Before she could respond, she felt Shamil stir behind her.

  “No sign yet, or Arv would’ve woken us,” Shamil said, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, “He couldn’t sleep after…after that. He’s been up there all night.” She pointed further up the tree and Neyra could just make out the shadowy outline of her brother's feet crouched on one of the stronger branches. With a sigh, Neyra gathered herself up and crept up towards Arv’s perch. She had to climb even higher to sit at eye level with him, straining her neck to see through the leaves.

  “Mornin, sis,” Arv said. His voice was monotone, and his eyes barely seemed to register that she was there. He focused on the sky to the South of them. Neyra turned her head and found herself hooked on the sight with the same intensity as Arv.

  There seemed to be a massive wall of black just a few miles away from their refuge. The terror that leapt into her throat announced this “wall” for what it truly was, the same black clouds of death that had descended on their home.

  “Hasn’t moved, as far as I can tell,” He said, finally turning to look at her in earnest. “And I haven’t seen anythin’ else come out of it neither. Not those riders, or…” His voice trailed off, leaving the meaning of his words hanging in the air. Neyra took a breath and nodded.

  “We–we can wait? Just a little ?longer?” She looked at Arv, hoping to the Gods that she didn’t look as scared as she felt. Arv shook his head glumly and turned to face her. Bloodshot veins rimmed his golden yellow irises, and exhaustion made his eyelids look puffy and dark.

  “Maybe,” he said, turning back to stare at the doom on the horizon, “But what if it moves again?”

  Neyra gulped and squeezed her eyes shut.

  “One more hour. Just one. Okay? I have all our things. We’re ready to leave at a second’s notice.” She put her little hand on her brother's arm, and his big one soon covered it. He gave her a squeeze and nodded his head.

  “Okay.”

  ***

  The hour came and went with devastating speed, and still their parents never arrived.

  From her brother’s back, Elivera could turn and get a good view of the tree, still in the same place it had been, just rapidly shrinking as they gained distance. Her heart lurched in her throat when the familiar sight finally left her view completely, the finality of their situation setting in.

  Her life was changed forever. She glanced over at Neyra and was struck by how hollow and defeated her older sister looked. It was profoundly unsettling. And although she couldn’t see Arv’s face, she could feel from the way he held himself that he was just as haunted and dejected as Neyra was. What were they going to do? What was she going to do? Her older siblings were always the ones there for her. But who would take care of them? Their parents were gone, and they were on their own. She needed to be brave, braver than she had ever been.

  There was no going back to who she used to be. Gone was the little girl who trailed along behind her big sister and brother, always struggling to keep up, always trying to prove she could do what they could. That girl was dead. She died the moment she was placed in that box. She was something stronger now. She had to be. There was no doubt in her tiny heart as it thundered away with determination. No matter what came their way, she would not be a burden. Not this time.