Part 10 (1/2)

”Still, a lacarath?”

Melody's eyes went wide. ”Nooo!”

The barrier flickered once, then, with a bright flash, disappeared. She swallowed hard.

”Can you see anything moving out there, Max?”

Max didn't move, but his voice shook. ”Melody, if a lacarath did exist, what would it look like?”

Melody crawled over to Max where she followed his gaze out to the edge of the torchlight. Standing in the shadows with its side to them was a man-sized, four legged creature. Max pointed a shaking hand at the animal.

”Is that...?”

Melody pulled Max's hand down, cupping her other hand over his mouth. ”Shhh!”

To their horror the animal turned its head in their direction. Both of them held their breath, hoping it hadn't seen them. After what seemed like an eternity, the animal turned its head forward again and walked out of the torchlight. Melody let out her breath. Max did the same.

”You really think that was a lacarath?”

”I guess I should have said n.o.body has proven they've seen a lacarath in years. We have heard rumors of sightings; however, in the more desolate places of Velrune. That thing out there sure fit the description of those sightings. I'll have to tell Bastiaan and...”

Melody's gaze drifted off into the darkness. ”Bastiaan, Zeth, I hope you've had better luck.”

When Max found Melody surrounded by the bandits, all thoughts of the diggers had left.

”The diggers! Melody, what happened to them? Did one of them head for the next camp? Where's the other one?”

Melody cupped her hand over Max's mouth again. ”Not so loud Max, that thing may still be around.” She dropped her hand. ”Yes, Bastiaan rode for the next camp. Zeth headed north with me. When the bandits started to catch up with us, we separated. I made the mistake of riding into this canyon. I don't know where Zeth went.”

Max kept his voice to a whisper this time. ”Do you know if any of the bandits followed him?”

Melody shook her head. ”I don't think so, but I am not sure.”

Max gently touched Melody's shoulder. ”I bet he's found his way back to the camp by now.”

”I can only hope.”

Max smiled. ”He's probably better off than us. We either leave and chance getting eaten or stay here until the bandits return.”

Melody shook her head. ”I don't think any of the bandits will be back before daylight. They are just as afraid of the lacarath as we are.”

”Then I guess we wait till daylight. Hopefully the guards from the next camp will find us.”

The two sat in silence for close to an hour, listening for the slightest sound. Max was the first to hear the faint thudding of hoof beats. He tapped Melody's shoulder.

”Horses are coming.”

The sound of hooves grew louder, echoing off the canyon walls. Max readied his sword and motioned Melody to step away from the entrance. Max took a few steps back to stay out of view, but stayed close enough that he could quickly defend the opening. The sound of the horses grew louder then stopped short of the cave. Max heard voices then a loud shout.

”h.e.l.lo. Is anyone here?”

Max looked back at Melody, who shared his expression of hope. Is it the guards from the next camp?

As Max eased forward, a figure walked past the entrance and crouched next to the body of a bandit.

”It's a bandit, Sergeant, this is the right place.”

”h.e.l.lo, is anyone here? My name is Sergeant Kallis. I have come from the Protector's camp to the southwest. Lt. Biros sent me in search of his fellow traveling companions.”

Max crept back to Melody. ”I'll go and make sure they really are guards.”

Melody gave a nervous nod. ”Be careful, it could be a trick.”

Max puffed out his chest and stepped out of the cave. ”Over here.”

The crouching man jumped at Max's appearance, his hand moving to the hilt of his sword. From Max's right came the voice of the Sergeant.

”Are you Maxwell?”

Turning, Max saw three other men on horseback. They wore the same light armor as the guards from the previous camps. A fourth man, bound and gagged, sat on another. A fifth horse carried no rider.

”Yes, I am Maxwell.”

”I am Sergeant Kallis, Maxwell. We've been sent to find you and two others. It appears you have had a bit of trouble, but I can guarantee, with the exception of the one we captured, the bandits are long gone.” The Sergeant nodded at Max's sword. ”If you don't mind?”

Max lowered his weapon, embarra.s.sed. ”The sheath is still on the horse, wherever he went.”

”That's okay, you kept the important part. Are the others with you?”

Melody stepped slowly out of the crack. ”Only myself.”

”Ahh, the acolyte. What of the digger?”

”We split up before entering the canyon. I don't know where he is. We had hoped he had made it to the camp.”

The Sgt. shook his head. ”Only one rider arrived. Bastiann, I believe. He was the first to alert us to the attack.”

Melody clasped her hands together. ”Was he hurt?”

”He would not let us aid him, so I do not know. He told us the location of the attack and that two of his companions had ridden north of the trail with several bandits in pursuit. He pleaded with us to come look for you. While I discussed our course of action with the other guards, the digger took off with one of our horses, not even bothering to take his belongings. Since we had his things, we let him go and prepared to find the rest of his party. We rode out of the camp as Lt. Biros arrived. He told us about you and stressed we bring you back at any cost. He then changed horses and went after the digger.”

Melody sighed heavily. ”Thank you, Sergeant Kallis, I'm glad to hear that at least one of my friends made it to camp. Thank you for coming after us.”

Max reached up and shook Sgt. Kallis's hand, taking note of how his armor s.h.i.+ned. The guards they had come across to this point had cared little for their appearance. Sgt. Kallis took pride in his position.

”Yeah, thanks. I was worried you wouldn't be able to follow the tracks at night.”