The Cry in the Water Part 6

"I thought we were going to try and kill it," cried Burton, as Jayr helped him onto his own horse. The poor creature was terrified, but the wizard was doing his best to calm him with whispered words of encouragement.

"I was thinking more of a trap, but that hole in the roof is a bit of a problem now," answered the wizard. "We have to make a break for it."

Zena had only just vaulted into her saddle, when they heard a shrill scream, like that of a woman. It sent shivers down the spine, and all of them flinched at its sound. There was a pause, and then it came again, nearer it seemed, and still as terrifying.

"Is someone else living here?" The swordswoman snapped a look in Burton's direction.

"No, that is the cry of the creature," he stammered. "I've heard it many times."

"Time to go," said Jayr, lifting his staff and shouting a word of command towards the door. The cross beam that had held the beast at bay went flying in a gust of air from its slot, and the doors shoved outwards. Zena lit her sword with flame, and went charging straight out the opening with the other two close behind. The light pouring through the door was reassuring, and whether the creature was now close or far, they had to make the dash either way.

Both horses were given their heads in the general direction of the road leading to the fortress, encroached upon by trees slowly reclaiming the former grassy meadow maintained by the villagers in the past. The steel shod hooves glanced and chattered against the stones, making it hard to hear anything pursing behind, if the creature was on their heels. By the way the horses moved, Jayr was certain that it was indeed hot in pursuit.

The fortress of Ilmara was bone white against the sky, standing out like a hand with fingers reaching heavenward, its sleeve cuff the dark forest trees around its hill. The road was straight, leading directly to the walls somewhat hidden except the ramparts that peaked out above the forest. If the gates were open was not a problem that immediately occupied the thoughts of the wizard as a shriek rang out behind them. Zena was ahead and shot a quick glance back at him. If she had seen the creature, it was not apparent on her face.

"Is it always invisible?" shouted Jayr to the terrified boy who was looking back too. "How do you know its there?"

"It moves against the air," replied Burton, his voice halting as he spoke, either from fear or fighting to find the right descriptive answer. "It doesn't fit."

Jayr cast back a glance over his shoulder. His control over movements of the air should have helped, but all he saw was the dust of the horses being kicked up. Then he saw the rippling movement in the airborne silt. A large body of movement, loping behind with rapid bounds, yet not quite fast enough to catch up to the pace of the horses. There was a slight shimmer to the body moving after them, and the wizard thought he knew how to unmask it.

"Head for the trees," he shouted to his wife, "It's too big to slip between."

She well understood what he meant, and spurred her horse towards the dense patches to the right of the road. The horses were slim enough to guide through, though there were uneven places in the gently sloping hill that were a slight check to their progress. Still, when the creature behind them gave out shrill cry, Jayr knew they had bought a few minutes of time to extend their lead. The creature would not give up of course, but look for another route. It was up to them to find the next trick to keep out of its claws.

"Its going to catch us," moaned Burton, his face gone quite pale with fear. "We can't get away!"

"Silence!" ordered Jayr, "keep your eyes forward and watchful!"

They suddenly burst from the trees into a small meadow that ringed the old fortress. Curiously devoid of trees though no one had been thought to have been actively maintaining the landscape, it was a sudden and distressing surprise. Neither rider paused to question, but let the horses have their heads and race for the gates, which were partially open on their old hinges, great iron bound oak doors slightly ajar. The white stone walls were smooth and imposing, lorded over by the towers beyond, but that was hardly on the minds of the riders.

A crash in the trees, and creaking of timber heralded the creature's return. It's stamina and tenacity were remarkable, and Jayr wondered about its other unknown abilities. Water dweller, incredibly fast on land, and invisibility or flowing camouflage. What else could it do? What was it? These thoughts flashed through his mind as they raced for the gates. The horses were mad with fear, and only the sight of the opening kept them guided in a straight direction.

The clatter of hooves on pavement greeted their ears as the three riders flew through their last hope. Jayr turned in his saddle and crossed his right hand and staff across the space, a huge gust of wind springing forth. The doors were slammed into place with a resounding crash. Yet there was no drawbar, and the gates would not hold an assault. Forced to continue the flight, the three riders urged their horses towards the fortress.

Crashing through the open doors of the ancient keep, the three riders plunged into the darkened space beyond. Vaulting off her horse, Zena let the beast go running forward while she turned to close the way behind them. It was gracefully done, landing neatly on her feet as a cat. Already they could hear a crashing sound against the gates beyond. Jayr and Burton where with her in a moment, ramming the great iron bound doors shut, and dropping the bar across them. For a moment there was nothing but the darkness of the hall around them, with filtered light descending from slit windows above. Then, a violent crashing against the doors.

"By the heavens, this thing does not quit," barked Jayr, actually knocked back by the reverberation of the blow. But the first blow was the last. The doors were very strong and despite a slight creaking, they would not be bent or broken. There was a quiet pause afterwards, and the softest sound of rustling beyond, as if the creature was standing there, glaring at the doors. They could hear a deep panting breath, as a large creature pondered its next move.

Finally, a soft padding of large feet were heard, and they could sense the weight of the beast moving away through the stones at their feet. It would look for another way in, and it was the immediate mission of the three to find a more defensible position. Only the fearsome whinnying of the scared horses echoed in the hall to greet them. Beyond this, all was dark and apparently abandoned. No sign of the missing villagers did they see.