The Slayer

Chapter 14 - ^^

Sumaey glanced below them. Their path dipped sharply before them, before it led to the town; there was a dense patch of woodland, through which nothing could be seen.

'I guess the path to the town leads through the woods' Waltz noted.

Suddenly a glow began to emanate from the centre of his chest.

'Not now' Waltz hissed from between his teeth. 'Sumaey!' he said turning quickly to her, 'meet me in the town!'

It was all he was able to say to her before he vanished.

Sumaey sighed wearily, turning away and back to the path before her.

She made her way onwards, alone this time, and ventured once more into the thick of the forest as she headed to the sparkling town upon the sea.

Sumaey walked along the lonely path for several minutes, until she heard a distant sound within the woods, breaking the complete silence.

There were muffled voices, muffled calls and the sound of weapons being drawn. Whatever was going on it sounded confrontational. There was a fight happening somewhere nearby.

Sumaey hesitated then, glancing behind her for Waltz, before she remembered that he had left her.

She faced ahead again, taking a deep breath, she put a foot forwards and made her way towards the commotions, veering off the path to do so.

It was only a short distance she walked before she found the source. In an unremarkable part of the woods within the thick foliage, was a knee-high lake, disappearing back into the darkness, it was impossible to see how big it was. Within this lake were three men, soldiers by the look of them, they were fighting against a strange creature within the lake, a creature which at first glance looked to be some sort of water elemental.

It was animal-like, but stood straight like a human, with pointed ears, shaggy hair and horns. It had three clawed fingers, and very long-thin wings at the very bottom of its back, and spikes running down its spine all the way to its long tail. It had many rings around its body in various places, and skin that was light blue.

(For a picture please refer to the cover – he's the one with blue skin...obviously...)

Sumaey hung back for a moment, watching the scene unfold before her, she clung to the shadows.

She saw that the men were attacking the strange blue creature, which was trying desperately to defend itself. It appeared frightened, surrounded and was outnumbered; the men advanced upon it, one of them raised his sword to strike as the creature fell to his knees in defeat.

'Stop!' Sumaey called out suddenly.

The men turned around freezing, shocked to see her there.

'Who are you?' one of them demanded.

'My name is not important' Sumaey answered swiftly. 'What are you doing with that beast?'

'Who are you to make demands of us?' another spoke.

'And who are you to attack a beast so helpless?' Sumaey countered.

The three men exchanged a glance.

'He's done a lot of damage' the other man spoke, 'we set out to find and kill him to put a stop to the trouble he's been causing.'

Sumaey listened closely to these words. She looked back down to the water elemental. She didn't know if she was mistaken, but it looked as if there were tears in his eyes, and he showed the same raw and innocent fear as a child, and Sumaey felt pity for him.