Chaos Lives in Everything - 51. Chapter 51

Skold veered through the winding streets of the village, headed straight for the trees that climbed up the mountain. An abomination came forward to intercept him. He grabbed a hold of it and threw it into the snow with the grunt. He didn’t stop to finish it off but kept running. He left the little ghost village behind and jumped into the trees.

Branches clawed at his armor, his hair. He paid them no heed. I have to keep going. This night has to end before it’s too late.

Already the ground beneath his feet was starting to rise. He clawed through the snow with fingers that were already numb and started to climb. His movements were quick and cat-like. He reached behind him to give Dom, who was not so graceful, a hand.

Each foot he lifted burned. His long hair slapped the sides of his face, soaked with sweat. What was left of his men were following him in the climb but unfortunantly so were the abominations. They were faster, more capable climbers. Somehow one of them had attached itself to Dom’s back like a parasite. It clawed at him relentlessly, tearing through the armor and straight into Dom’s flesh. Blood colored the air like falling rain-mist. Dom was barely dangling with one hand. If he slipped he would knock into Candestine directly below him. Skold could picture watching as everyone, one by one, fell down the mountain like Dominoes.

Skold was close enough to the struggling Dom that he could reach the creature.

“Candestine, watch out!” he shouted.

As she scooted to the side Skold lashed out with a well-aimed kick. The creature lost his grip on Dom’s back and tumbled down the snow. He grabbed Dom’s hand and pulled him up next to him.

“Thanks,” Dom rumbled.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. Those bastards have sharp claws. Don’t stop on my account. Carry on.”

Skold nodded and continued on his way.

Sometime later, the massive hill they were climbing flattened, the trees just sparse enough for everyone to fit through. Though Skold could see the top of the castle from where he stood they were still several miles away. He wanted to stop, wanted to rest, but knew that he couldn’t. He reached for his water canteen and forced himself to sip from it; his throat was so parched that he wanted to gulp it all down. Doing that would be a bad idea. While it was a must to stay hydrated water could be very heavy on the stomach. Water sloshed down his chin. It was icey cold but Skold didn’t care. The cool touch of the water was welcome against his sweaty skin. He screwed the black cap of the canteen back on and looked down. His men were making a steady pace up the mountain. He could not see anymore of the abominations. Satisfied, Skold continued to lead the way.

After the long, arduous climb up the side of the mountain it was a relief to set foot on flatter ground. After another half an hour of putting one foot in front of the other, Skold signalled for everyone to take a five minute break.

Skold and Dom slumped against a tree trunk together. Skold took another careful sip from his canteen. It was at that moment that he began to feel uneasy. Something was watching them, he could feel it. When he relayed this to Dom, the large elf nodded.

“I feel it too. What do you think it is?”

Skold shrugged and let out a tired sigh. “Who knows? I get the feeling that Samhein knows we’re here by now. It’s definitely a trap, a way to buy himself some more time. Whatever it is, it isn’t good.”

In Skold’s mind the five minute break wasn’t enough. It simply gave everyone enough time to drink water and check over their weapons. Such were the pains of war. There was nothing anyone could do but muster through it. Everyone can rest when they’re dead. Leaning slightly against the tree he got to his feet and motioned for everyone to follow him. The break was over. It was time to move on.

The feeling of being watched grew stronger. There was something out there. It was the same feeling he got when he’d been in the subway tunnel with Reynolds and his men back in Roc City. It must be a troll, Skold thought, grumpy with fatigue. Of course Samhein would have a troll, just for laughs.

His suspicions were confirmed when the ground started to shake under his feet. It was as if the mountain was being hit by strike after strike of lightning. He waved a hand, signalling for everyone to be ready. The troll burst through the trees, crude stone axe in hand. It looked exactly like the troll that Skold had faced in Roc City only it was bigger. Much bigger.

And much faster.

When it swung its axe Skold barely had enough time to jump out of the way. The curved blade of the axe slammed into the ground where his feet had been just a fraction of a second earlier.

“Move!” he shouted. “Everybody move!”

“What about you?” Dom said.

Skold shook his head. “Not enough time. I’m going to keep the troll distracted while you head towards the castle.”

“Are you nuts?”

“I took the last one down myself. This one shouldn’t be any different.”

“I’ll help,” Dom said. “I’m staying with you.”

“Fine,” Skold said reluctantly. Now was not the place or time to start an argument. “Just don’t get yourself killed. Run around to the left and stay out of sight until I tell you to jump in.”

Dom nodded and lumbered out of sight. Skold’s men were weaving through the trees, heading away from the troll and in the direction of Paladin’s castle. The troll turned to follow. With a side swipe of its axe it sliced an unfortunante elf down the middle. Blood and intestines clung to the troll’s axe as it raised it to take down another.

No you don’t, Skold thought.

His uzis rattled in a sustained yet well aimed burst of fire that hit the back of the troll’s head. It provided the distraction that Skold hoped for. The troll turned its attention his way. It snarled and reared its spiked-covered head and knocked a tree out of its way. The tree fell completely to the side, roots tearing free from the ground.

It reared its head back once again and charged towards Skold.

Skold turned and sprinted in the other direction.

Distracting the troll had been the easy part. Now came the hard part.