Journey Through the Gloom
Journey Through the Gloom
I sense Bess’ unease, but she soldiers on, regardless; making light work of the uneven camber. Kel is practically sticking to us like glue; I know he will have sworn to Ayris to protect me at all costs and is more than likely the reason my surly Lycan has approved this detour in the first place. I can’t help the pang of guilt that washes through me as I think back to the things that I said to him. He insisted I didn’t need to apologise; but bringing up the past and our somewhat rocky beginnings felt cheap and deeply personal. We had both sworn to put the past behind us and I have vowed since then never to again use it as ammunition.
“Ayris isn’t a man to beat around the bush, Short-round. If he was angry, you’d know about it”
Kel’s voice catches me off-guard and Bess huffs as I try to regain my seating.
“The guilt is painted all over your face, Laurel. You feel bad about what you said, hmm?”
I nod, shrugging my shoulders in defeat. The air in this place seems thick and heavy and I swear the bleak surroundings have altered my mood. I’ve felt nothing but sullen since we passed through the veil.
“Leave all of the past in the past, kiddo. You apologised and A said it was forgotten, so let that be it. This bloody place is grim enough without you furrowing your pretty brows and something he’s more than likely forgotten and forgiven, yes?”
I nod and roll my shoulders back, trying my best to focus on the journey ahead.
“Thank you” I answer “I can’t wait to see him when get there. I already miss him”
“I’m sure he feels the same, lass. I swore I’d take good care of you. That includes cheering you up, as well as... being on the lookout for whatever lurks in this gods forsaken place”
Kel looks around with a hint of unease. The trees are bare and sinister-looking, and the air weighs heavy on all of us. It’s impossible to see more than ten feet in any one direction due to the ever-present mist that seems to curl and coil around everything; further adding to the creepy atmosphere of the place. The Gloom feels like purgatory; everything is so still and empty.
Until it isn’t.
The occasional twig snapping or howling wail pierces the dead space all around us. The sudden noise raising every single hair on the back of my neck. The men all put up brave appearances, but I know they must find it unnerving too. Several times I’ve caught Kel resting his hand atop his hilt or Nicolai gripping his horse’s reins a little tighter.
Renys says the Gloom wants us to know that its keeping its eyes on us. That we must adhere to its rules if we want to make it through safely. Perhaps that’s why I’ve felt like we’re being followed ever since we crossed over. And why I keep feeling like there’s a flicker of movement or shadow in the corner of my eye that I’m never able to quite pinpoint.
“Easy does it, we should be coming upon the river crossing any moment now. Have your wits about you”
My pulse quickens. Have my wits about me? Why? What’s there?
“The terrain is boggy as we approach the crossing. Ensure the horses do not get unnerved”
One of Renys’ men ‘Dower’, I believe, calls from the back. We ride in twos, Renys leading our party whilst Kel and I follow behind.
“Just difficult ground, lass, nothing to worry about. Be confident with Bess as you lead her and don’t dawdle, lest she get stuck and panic, hmm?”
Kel’s reassurance settles my nerves, but I can’t shake the feeling that Renys is alluding to something more. The ground does, indeed, become boggy and waterlogged as we approach the water’s edge. The water is eerily still, not a single ripple or bubble breaks the inky black surface. Tall reeds that resembling long, gnarled fingers emerge from the still liquid, but there doesn’t seem to be any wildlife living here.
“Be swift. And do not gaze beneath the water”.
My heart races at his words, but nevertheless I have no intention of ignoring Renys’ instructions. The crossing is narrow and ancient-looking. We arrange ourselves into single file and cross on horse-back one at a time. Renys crosses with ease, his lexara apparently unbothered by the rickety old bridge. The others appear less confident, but their horses quickly stride one at a time to the other side with little fuss.
As Bess plants her hooves upon the walkway, we both instantly tense. Kel gives gentle encouragement from behind but remains on the other side as the bridge may not take the weight of multiple riders. I look ahead and hold the reins with confidence, as I was taught, urging Bess to continue across. To her credit, she complies, albeit with distrust. Once we pass the centre of the bridge I hear a voice, faintly at first, but with a sense of urgency.
”Laurel, my lady, where are you?”
I turn my head at the sound of ripples to my left, before quickly remembering myself and darting my head forwards.
“Make haste, Laurel. The riders behind you are waiting” Renys calls from the other side, ushering the others on his side to ride on, whilst he sits atop his lexara; his eyes slightly widened, but his expression neutral. His calm tone masking something else beneath it.
” Please, help us, your highness. We need you”
The ripples and coils in the water beneath are undeniable now. The voice carries a tone of wrongness, like a dozen voices rolled into one. My skin prickles with fear, yet the sound is so compelling...
The sound of scratching and scraping against the old, rotten wood beneath Bess’ hooves forces me to concentrate as she whinnies in alarm.
“You are almost across, Laurel. Just a little further” I sense the urgency in Renys’ voice this time and I heed his words, urging Bess forwards. A sudden splash to my right has me almost galloping Bess to the river’s edge until we finally make it across. I look back and see Kel already is already a third of the way across the bridge, sword partially unsheathed and hand upon its hilt. His gaze never leaves me until he reaches the other side.
“What the fuck was that?” Kel hisses as he reaches the other side, squaring up to Renys. “It almost pulled her in”
“Laurel was not almost pulled in” Renys scoffs, trying to mask his unease with nonchalance, but his face hints at a kernel of truth in Kel’s words.
“That thing almost pulled her in by the hem of her cloak when she was two thirds of the way across, yet you did nothing, Renys”
“Just a simple water spirit’s call. The call is stronger for those with the old magick. No harm would have come to Laurel as long as she followed my instructions”
Kel’s expression is terrifying. And it is clear that he still doesn’t trust our fae ally. Perhaps Kel’s mistrust heightened his perception of danger?
“We are all across now, let us ride on, away from the water. We must continue our pace if we wish to reach the haven before nightfall”
The others ride on, but Kel waits by my side as everyone disperses.
“Stay alert, Laurel. I do not trust that arrogant fae prick one bit”
“I’m sure he’s right, Kel. I don’t think he’d let anyone get hurt. This place has all of us jumpy, let’s just-”
“I know what I saw, Short-round. That thing would have pulled you under, I know it. I set off across the bridge to hack off its bony claws before Renys urged you on”
“You... saw it?” I ask. “I didn’t imagine the clawing sounds?”
“You did not. Just look at the hem of your cloak if you doubt me”.
It’s only as I pull it closer to inspect it that my stomach lurches. A section near the edge is missing – the fabric tattered and torn. The clear gouges of claws running down a short length of the thick material.
“Thank you” I murmur, running my fingers along the tattered material, my eyes barely believing what they can plainly see.
Kel waves his hand in dismissal. “You are my charge. I swore to Ayris I’d protect you. Now let’s go, I do not want to remain he a moment longer than we have to”.
I could not agree more.
The ‘haven’ as Renys calls it; is a nook carved into the hillside. A small, but rather charming little cave that has fireflies fluttering around the entrance.
“There will be clean water and enough wood to start a small fire, should we need. We may rest for several hours and then continue on, as long as that is agreeable”.
Everyone agrees and we fasten up the horses a few strides away by the trees. As we navigate our way through the entrance there is indeed a small pool of clean water and a stack of firewood adjacent to it.
“Where does the wood come from?” Lenrick, one of Ayris’ men poses the question as he lays down his pack and stretches his legs.
“Other travellers, usually. It is important that the havens are always left in the fashion in which they were found”.
A murmur of acknowledgement from the men and myself. It seems like the right thing to do.
“Do many travellers pass through the Gloom, then?” I ask, trying my best to keep things light and surface-level. I intentionally don’t want my thoughts to slip back to that river crossing earlier. I know that experience will haunt my nightmares for many nights to come.
“Some” Renys replies.
“And how many of them make it across the river?” Kel spits, placing his pack on the ground and unfurling his bed roll.
“Some” Renys responds. His usually arrogance and taunts no longer present.
Gripped by weariness, I feel my eyelids grow heavy. Kel ushers me to his bedroll and places my own inside it.
“Get some rest, Laurel. I’ll take watch” I’m too tired to argue and curl inside the bedding without needing to be asked. My sleep is fitful and restless. Thoughts of claws and howling permeate my sleep.
A hand at my shoulder gently wakes me. I see Kel’s smiling face looking down at me. I have no idea how long I’ve slept, but the uneasy sleep has done little to rouse me.
“Sleep well?” I nod, lying through my teeth. I’m not sure Kel believes me, but he doesn’t question it. Instead, he strides off to convene with Lenrick and Nicolai who must have been scouting outside.
“It was enormous, Sir. Easily the length of a dozen horses”
“The way it slithered along the treeline” I see Lenrick visibly shudder as he gives his report and I gasp. Kel spins round, his expression serious.
“What the hell was it?!” I blurt out. The men all looking amongst themselves for an answer. Any answer.
But they don’t reply, unable to answer the question.