“Yes, High Lady,” Ertik bowed and left.
Selena busied herself by inspecting the provisions anddefenses. The knights tried once more to convince her to leave, butshe would not be moved. When it was time for the evening meal,fatigue had begun to set in. Her feet swelled and her legs ached.Still, even after a hearty meal and hot bath, she could not bringherself to sleep.
After lying in bed for an hour, she decided to read. Shesent for some hot tea and settled in her favorite chair, curling upwith one her favorite comedies. She needed a laugh. Selena had onlyread the first paragraph when there was a loud knock at the door. Itburst open before she could speak and Jericho, the captain of theknights, stepped inside holding his sword tightly.
“We are besieged, High Lady,” said thecaptain. “We must evacuate.”
“I heard no alarm raised.” Selena reachedfor her coat. She was thankful that she had begun the habit ofdressing in clothes suitable for travel, rather than her cottonnightgown. “Have they breached the defenses already?” Sheslipped into a pair of short leather boots.
“I don't know how it was done,” Jerichoadmitted. “But they killed three knights before we even knewthey were there. Whatever they are, they're neither human nor elf.”
A cold knot twisted in her stomach. “How many arethere?”
“I don't know,” said the captain. “Butthey fight as if possessed. We cannot hold. You must leave now.”
Selena squared her shoulders, standing straight andtall. “Begin the evacuation. Then, and only then, will Ileave.”
Jericho lowered his eyes but made no move to obey. “MyLady, if you do not come with me willingly, I regret that I must takeyou by force.”
“You wouldn't dare!” she hissed.
“It is my duty to protect this Order.” Hetook a small step forward, but did not lift his eyes or place hishands on her. “You are not only our leader. You also symbolizewhat we are. Should you die, we die with you. The knights are fallingback as we speak to aid in your escape. Every second you delay, moreof us meet our end.”
Selena boiled with anger, but she had no other choice.She nodded sharply and allowed Jericho to lead her though the templeto the receiving hall. Screams echoed everywhere as the enemy foundnew victims, but Jericho wouldn't allow her to pause. Tears streameddown her face. Her people were being slaughtered, and she washelpless to do a thing about it.
She hoped desperately that the gathering in thereceiving hall would be large, but as they entered those hopes weredashed. Three knights, Ertik, and two novices.
“So few,” Selena whispered in horror. Shefelt her legs begin to give way, but Jericho caught her.
“Come High Lady,” said the captain softly.He led her to the tunnel entrance. “Others may yet follow.”
Selena tried to fight back her tears.
“I will stay behind and help others get out,”said Ertik.
“No!” Selena shouted. “You will escapenow.”
Ertik bowed and helped Selena to the ladder once Jerichohad descended. When they reached the door, Jericho motioned for themto wait, and then crept outside into the cool night.
“All clear,” whispered the captain. “MyLady, stay close behind me.”
Jericho led the group down the trail, sword in hand.Selena, Ertik, the novices, and the three knights followed as closelyas they could without tripping on each other.
They had walked for about half a mile when they couldhear footsteps coming from out of the darkness. Jericho crouched andthe rest followed suit. As the footsteps grew louder, the light fromthree torches came into view.
“Off the path,” whispered Jericho.
They scampered into the nearby brush, trying to stayquiet. Soon the torches were right next to them. Selena's heartraced, and her breath was short and swift. Then the torches halted.From their vantage point behind a small bush, she couldn't see who itwas.
“Come out,” hissed a foul, unearthly voice.“I can smell you, hiding like scared rabbits.” Selena wasthe first to stand. “Who are you?” she shouted. “Whyhave you attacked the sacred Temple of Valshara?” She steppedonto the path. The others quickly jumped up and followed. The knightsstood at her side, while the others stayed close behind. Ertik haddrawn a small dagger.
What she saw shocked and revolted her senses. Twosoldiers stood in full chain mail, each bearing vicious, curvedscimitars in one hand, and a rope attached to a bound and blindfoldedelf in the other. Selena recognized them as part of Theopolou'sguard. They had been badly beaten, but there was no mistaking whothey were. Standing in the center was a creature she had never seen.Even in the dim torch light she knew it wasn't human. Hunched overand swaying from side to side, it was wrapped in a long, flowing,black cloak, and wore heavy boots of leather and iron. Though itsface was hidden behind the drawn hood, she could feel its eyes onher. It took a step forward and drew a long, jagged sword. Thecreature’s movement was unimaginably quick and fluid. Jerichoand the knights leaped in front of the High Lady.
“Stay back, demon,” commanded the captain.
“The Vrykol bid you greetings, High Lady,”said the creature. “You will come with us… or all of yourcompanions will die.”
“You will notlay your foul hands on the High Lady of Valshara,” growledJericho.
The Vrykol hissed a laugh. “Brave words, human. Ithink I'll kill you slowly.”
“You will harm no one,” said Selena. In aflash, she reached in her sleeve and threw a small glass phialstraight at the Vrykol's head. The sound of breaking glass wasfollowed by another foul laugh.
“Holy water has no effect on me, foolish woman,”said the Vrykol. “Your Gods have no power in this world.”
Selena smiled fiendishly as smoke began to rise from theVrykol's hood. A second later it burst into intense, blue flames. Theheat drove the two humans standing beside the Vrykol back. Thecreature desperately tried to put himself out, but the fire grewlarger and hotter, until the light was blinding. It dropped to itsknees and let out an unearthly scream. The sound caused Selena towince and cover her ears. After a minute, it stopped and the Vrykolfell, smoldering, to the ground.
The two human soldiers dropped the ropes and ran intothe night. Jericho started after them, but Selena ordered him back.
“We can't waste time chasing them,” saidSelena. “We must move quickly.”
They untied the elves and examined their wounds.
“You are Theopolou's guard, are you not?”asked Selena.
The elves nodded. “I am Stintos, and this isHaldrontis. We owe you our lives, High Lady.”
Selena smiled. “We are happy to aid you. How didthis happen?”
Stintos explained how the Vrykol had attacked them, andhow Gewey and Linis slew them. “We were to return to the templeuntil I was able to travel, but we were ambushed and held captive.”Anger raged in his voice. “They tried to get us to turn spy,but I would not dishonor myself, or my kin, with treachery. They aredevils. And they have elf allies. Now that we are free, I must getthis information to Theopolou.”
“He will be told,” assured Selena. “Butyour wounds must be tended. We go to Althetas and the two of you arecoming with us. I will send word. The moment we get there.”Stintos opened his mouth to protest, but Selena shot him a stern lookthat told him there would be no argument.
“Can you travel?” asked Jericho.
“Yes.” Haldrontis spoke with fiercedetermination. “And we will fight if need be.”
Jericho turned to one of the knights. “Give him adagger.” The knight obeyed and Jericho gave Stintos a daggerfrom his own belt. “I wish I could arm you better…”
“This will be fine,” said Stintos. “Anelf with a dagger is a thing to be feared.”
The elves struggled to their feet.
“What was that thing?” asked Selena. “Itcalled itself Vrykol.”
“I'm not certain,” Haldrontis replied. “Butthey fight like they are possessed. And the only way I know to killthem is to remove their head.” He looked at the smokingcorpses. “And it would seem they do not like fire either.”