Chapter 2: The Winding Woods
After having a morning meal with the constable, and going over some final details, the three headed northwest out of Belshire --in the direction of the Winding Woods.
They follow the instructions on the map, and by noontime, they had made it to the head of the hunting trail on the edge of the forest. After a brief respite and a snack, the trio pressed onward. The farther they went into the Winding Woods, the more dense the trees and foliage became, and this slowed their progress. Their ears filled with the songs of the teaming wildlife, which was a welcome sound, because each one of them knew that a sudden quiet in the wilderness always preceded danger. The plan was to seek out the monster and take it by surprise. In other words, to be the hunter, and not the prey. But things rarely went according to plan in such matters, so they all were on high alert, hyper vigilant, and completely aware of their surroundings.
Tyler was reminded of all those flicks he had watched about the Vietnam War. Images of the squad out on patrol; the soldier on point -creeping through the jungle in grubby fatigues, with the ace of spades slipped into a helmet- watching out for "Charlie." He snickered at the metaphor running through his minds eye, and immediate-ly caught a frustrated stare from Luva.
"What is it?" She asked.
"Nothin' really," he responded casually.
"Well, pay attention," she shot back, in an admonishing tone, "Your daydreaming could get us killed!"
He returned a plaintive glance, and brought his thoughts back to the here and now. All was forgiven, and they continued on -deeper into the forbidding forest.
The shadows had started to grow long when they made it to the moss covered boulder -that resembled the face of an old man- Gilford noted on his map. Still following the instructions, they headed northeast off the trail to a southeast flowing stream, and decided to make camp there for the night.
Finding a soft spot of level ground for a campsite, they trampled down the deep grass, and dug a pit for a fire. After gather-ing stones to border the pit, and wood to fuel the flame, they laid out there bedrolls, and sat down to have something to eat. It was then that the dreaded silence they had feared was upon them, and the next noise that they did hear was a rustling in the bushes -not more than ten yards away. They were no longer the hunters.
In a flash, they were to their feet with weapons in hand. Tyler held his sword on the ready, Sola was brandishing her large flanged mace, and Luva had nocked an arrow in her bow. The three stood there in silence, and focused their attention on the source of the noise, but saw nothing at first.
They were just about ready to sit back down when they caught their first glimpse of the minotaur. It was giant, with the broad muscular upper body of a man, and the hind legs and head of a bull.
Luva did not wait. She deftly drew back the arrow to her cheek, and loosed it directly at the creature's heart; but just before it struck home, it deflected off of an unseen force. The trio could not believe what they saw. The elf-maid's shot should have at least mortally wounded the monster --if not outright killing it.
The failing light that crept through the branches reflected off the wickedly sharp horns of the beast as it moved toward them with predatory grace. Then something quite unexpected happened. From behind the minotaur, stepped a young girl that was clad in the vestments of a dark sorceress. She was beautiful, and petite with flow-ing, flaxen blond hair that fell far past her shoulders. A long black linen loincloth hung low on her hips, showing off her thin yet shapely legs. She also wore a small, black bikini top, of the same color and material, that barely covered her small pert tits --which left her taut creamy white midriff exposed. Although tiny compared to her seven-foot companion, she was very alluring, and dangerously sexy.
She held up her hand, and the creature halted its advance.
"Well, my pet, it appears we have company on this fine e'en." her tone was most malicious, but she continued in a more reflective voice, "I had wondered how long it would take that foppish dandy, Gilford, to find a band of fools to rescue the damsel, and slay the beast." the end of her statement dripped with sarcasm. "It took less time than I expected."
It did not take long for them to realize that this was the miller's daughter, Lina, and that she was no victim. It also occurred to them that she was not about to let them leave the Winding Woods alive!
Tyler moved closer to Sola, and took a defensive posture, as the half-orc did the same. Luva drew another arrow from her quiver, and square her stance to target the sorceress; but this was all for nothing, as Lina simply passed her hand through the air in front of them, and said, "Sleep..."
The word echoed in their ears as if it were spoken in a vast empty hall --as if they heard it on some ethereal plane of existence, and then all went black.
βββ‘ββ
Axania found she was pacing the floor -again.
It was not so much that Tyler was that special to her; it was quite the opposite. How could such a lowly insect of a man elude her so successfully? He was a piss-ant! It was the principle of it: How could she maintain her dignity and authority if he was off gallivanting about her realm? This made her appear weak, and this she would not abide!
The empress flopped down upon her throne, frustrated and anxious. Just then, her captain entered.
He began to make the formal approach to the dais, but her lack of patients got the best of her, "Never mind that nonsense. What news?"
"It appears your instincts serve you well, Majesty," he reported, "One of your apprentices has captured a trio of adventurers. Among them is a man that she found an odd little pouch on --containing strange cards and papers. One of these card had a portrait of the man, and it made me think of those 'aye-dee' things you told me of."
"That is him!" She exclaimed, and a wicked smile crept across her face, "Who was it that found him?"
"Lina of Windingwood, Majesty," the orc replied.