The   tall maple and oak trees grew far enough apart to allow the travelers a quick pace. The long unused path was obscured by a grassy cover now that it was no longer in use. Each man looked uneasily about as an eerie, unnatural silence covered everything like a heavy, invisible blanket. Blue sky peeked through scattered treetops. The sun shone brightly, bringing a noonday warmth and the grassy forest floor swayed gently, prompted by a light breeze. Kari noticed how it looked like the waves he once saw when he gazed across a lake to the south of the city Dela.

        Soon, they became aware that the trees were pressing closer together. Occasionally, they were forced to dismount, leading their horses on foot. Soon they had to cut off low hanging branches in order to proceed. Curses were cast (most of them by Kari). Kristopher noticed that the ground suddenly grew darker. Immediately, he looked up. Dark storm clouds were appearing beyond the treetops. They seemed to materialize very unnaturally. One moment the sky was blue and the next it was hidden behind a black cover.

        "It looks like we're in for a good one!"

        "Where the hell did they come from?!" Kari's tone revealed his surprise at their sudden appearance.

        "We'd better set up a shelter until it passes," added an equally astonished Talnar. Kari pointed out a small gathering of trees that he suggested would make a good shield from the coming storm. Moments later, they stood beneath the shelter as their horses grazed nearby. Talnar removed some food from his pack and began to prepare a small meal. Suddenly, Kristopher clutched his friend's right arm, signaling him to stop. He tested the air as he looked all about. His stare then stayed in a westerly direction. "I can smell smoke!" It was easy to detect the worry in his tone.

        "Give me a break, Kris! You're always Mr. Paranoid!"

        "I know what I smell, Kari."

        Talnar's stare turned to the right and his face grew concerned. "Kris is right. I smell it as well.

        You would too if you had Lostarian senses!"

        Suddenly the sky above the treetops was aglow with a bright amber flash, followed by a thunderous explosion . They had no sooner stilled their horses when the rain appeared. It was light at first, but it grew heavier with the passing of each moment. Pulling their hoods over their heads, they quickly moved beneath the cover of the tall trees.

        "We've got to scout ahead to find the source of the smoke!" Kristopher's voice was almost drowned out by the sound of the rain that was now coming down heavily. He instructed Talnar to watch the horses. His gaze then turned to Kari who had already read their leader's next command from the look in his eyes.

        "A walk in the rain? Oh well...can't dance." Kristopher smiled. The two proceeded westward. The rain continued its heavy descent and they found it difficult to move through the trees. It soon became necessary to halt while they removed parts of the underbrush. Frequently, they were forced to change their course in order to continue. The scent of smoke remained ever present.

        The forest began to thin. Their progress was much easier, although the absence of close standing trees offered less shelter from the driving rain. They were both thankful that their Tulnits shed the rain so well. Suddenly, Kristopher stopped, grasping Kari's arm and motioning him to silence. The scent of the smoke was now very heavy.

        Kari began to test the air until his head snapped to the right. Beneath his rain covered hood, his handsome features changed from a look of caution to one of fear. Simultaneously, they removed their swords and headed towards the source of the bitter/sweet scent of burning wood. They moved slightly. After a few steps, Kari grasped Kristopher's arm. "I heard voices coming from behind those trees just ahead!" His half whispering voice gave away the terror in his heart. Kristopher nodded. He'd heard the voices already. They squatted lower, noiselessly creeping through the wet grass. Suddenly, they fell face down into the tall underbrush as a pair of voices appeared from behind a nearby bush.

        "Why does we always gets the hard jobs, Gos?! We always has to stands guard in the rain! And for what? The Tull won'ts be comin' this way. He'll be ridin' on the Path till he gets home!"

        "Shut up Oh-Kal! Someone might hears ya!"

        "Nobody's gonna hears me. Most everybody else is on our side of the mountain...or else we could take their whole village right now."

        "Well, the Boss wants us here and I ain't about to argues with him! He says that the Tull is comin' this way 'cause his spies tells him. I can't waits ta get the key off him sos we can go home!"

        Kari looked over to Kristopher who was laying in the grass, still staring towards the bush. His wet face was snow white and held the look of pure horror. Kari motioned him with a nod and immediately the two crawled silently backwards, away from the bush. They moved through the wet underbrush until they reached the cover of a group of maple trees. The guards' voices still echoed in their minds.

        They leapt to their feet, running immediately towards Talnar and the horses. Fear pushed them quickly through the forest as, once again, it became thick with heavy underbrush. Their faces and hands were cut from running into low hanging branches. Moments later, they spotted their friend who was staring into the tall grass before him. He was holding his sword above his head with both hands. His stare never altered as his weapon fell to his side.

        Soon, they reached him and looked into the grass. Both gasped! Kristopher looked back to Talnar, spying the blood that dripped from his sword. He then looked back to the dead body of a hideous creature. It was as described in the woodcutter's tale. There was no hair on any part of it's misshapen head. It had a flat nose and its eyes seemed to be very close together. Its massive arms and shoulders were covered with blood. Its face held an evil look, yet it somehow seemed strangely content. Kari looked up to Talnar. "Nice head on him. Is he a friend of yours?"

        Talnar, still holding his sword, looked to Kristopher. "It was after you. It knew your name. It knew you were coming this way! It told me that it wanted some key that you've got!" Kristopher grasped his companion's shoulder to comfort him. "He's got friends up ahead. They said the same thing. We, however, didn't show the same valor as you. They are still alive." "What does it mean?"

        "It means," interrupted Kari, "that we've got to get the hell outta this place!"

        Kristopher wiped the raindrops from his face as he looked to his fellow Lostarians. "Somehow, they know we're heading back to Lostar. By now, the Path will be heavily guarded. We can't go back that way. We've no choice but to continue through Normat. At least we'll have the protection of the trees."

        Kari stared at the massive corpse before him. He was amazed that Talnar had been able to defeat the creature. "Who, or what, do you figure these clowns are, anyway?"

        Talnar's head slowly rose and he looked to Kari. "Do you remember when Samuel spoke of a 'key passing'"? We thought that he was referring to a place. Maybe he meant the passing of a key."

        "Well, I don't know about that," added Kari, "but I'd say it's definitely time to hit the road guys. I mean, I like a good fight and all but..."

        "What route should we take?" asked Talnar.

        Still staring at the dead creature, Kristopher said "Soon they'll know that we didn't take the Path. Any guards posted on it will be sent back into the woods. They would probably expect us to stay to the north. I think we should travel west to Dela and get someone there to deliver us to Lostar." After a moment's silence, he looked to Kari. "Did you hear that guard mention the other side of the Mountain?"

        "He could've said anything. It was raining too hard to make out most of what he said! Let's just get outta this damned forest and back home!"

        "Agreed!" Talnar raised his sword before him. Moments later, his friends followed his move. Their swords touched with a clang and then were brought down to their sides. This was a ritual that the three always performed before going into battle. With the rain driving into their faces, they mounted their horses and motioned them to begin the journey to Dela.
^^^

        The afternoon was passing slowly as they moved cautiously through the green forest. The beating rain made every moment an agonizing experience. Their Lostarian clothing had managed to keep them dry for a while, but now was unable to shed the pounding waves of rain. Midday soon passed into evening and they grew much colder. As the cloud-covered sun was setting in the West, Kristopher motioned the others to stop. "I've got to rest for a moment. I've never been so tired in my life! Besides, we haven't seen any more of those creatures."

        Talnar couldn't believe what he had heard. Kristopher would never admit to being weary and he would certainly not forget about the danger they were in just because they hadn't encountered any guards! "That doesn't mean that there aren't any more. We may have just been fortunate so far!"

        "I agree with Kris. The rain has made this journey a drag and a half. My arms are about ready to fall off!"

        Talnar stared silently into the forest for a moment. His friends watched for that look of surrender to come to his face. It finally did. A smile came to Kari's rain covered lips. "I knew you'd see things our way."

        "I still don't like it."

        Throughout his life in Lostar, Kari had always felt that Talnar had never looked upon him as an equal since he was the youngest of the three and not a born Lostarian. Although few words had ever been spoken to make him feel that way, he still felt it. Time and time again, he went out of his way to prove himself. This time would be no exception. "OK. I'll make you a deal. You and Kris set up a camp under those trees, and I'll search the area for trouble"

        "I had better accompany you," added Kristopher.

        "No, it's alright. It's gettin' dark and it'll be too much trouble keepin' an eye on you. I'll just be a moment."

        "Very well. But don't take any chances. If you see or hear anything, come back immediately."

        "Piece 'a cake! I'll just be minute or two," he added, as he dismounted, offering the reigns to his friend. With a quick wave of his hand, he disappeared into the falling darkness. He didn't really expect any trouble since they had traveled all day without any sign of the beasts they had encountered. However, he took no unnecessary chances as he crept through the rain. Even someone with Lostarian training could lose direction in a forest such as the Normat.

        He swept the area thoroughly until he was convinced that all was safe. Suddenly, to his left, a number of birds flew out of the darkness, calling out loudly. This was the first sign of wildlife to appear since they had entered the forest and he grew afraid. "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea," he whispered. His first reaction was to run as quickly as he could back to the safety of his companions. A vision of Talnar's disappointed look at such a cowardly act filled his mind and he tried to push his fear aside. It was, after all, his duty as a scout to investigate any sign of possible danger to their small fellowship.

        Silently, he crept through wet underbrush with his vision ever fixed upon the area from which the birds had fled. Then he heard it—the low rumbling of deep voices and the crashing of glass sounded through the darkness. With each step taken, the laughter grew louder until he could make out words... "It won'ts be long now, Sheal. They'll be caughts soon!"

        "I won'ts be happy 'till we finds 'em so's we can gets back to our side!"

        More laughter drowned their words as the rain began to fall harder. It became obvious to Kari that he and Kristopher had been quite wrong about this part of the forest being safe. Quickly, he turned to run back to his friends. His heart leapt into his throat as he looked up. Standing just a few feet away were two of the tall creatures! Their eyes cast evil glances towards him as their swords slid from their sheaths. Their muscular bodies seemed to almost burst through their wet armor. He wouldn't be returning to his friends...
^^^

        Kristopher and Talnar waited impatiently beneath the shelter of the trees. Neither liked the idea of Kari searching the forest alone, yet they knew that no words could be spoken that could have changed his mind. He could be quite stubborn at times! Kristopher couldn't shake a peculiar feeling that haunted him. Not just the concern for his friend. There was something else troubling him. It was something from within himself—something that he couldn't quite put his finger on.

        Suddenly, a distant voice appeared. He couldn't actually hear it as much as sense it. It was very faint at first, but it seemed to be getting closer.

        "Where are you, Tull?! Damn you! You can't hide from me forever!"

        Kristopher felt an evil presence fly above him as these words faded. "Did you hear that?" "Hear what?"

        "Someone calling my name!"

        "All I can hear is the rain and wind."

        "I'm sure I heard it...as clearly as I can hear you right now!"

        "It's this forest! It's possessed!" Pausing a moment, Talnar looked back into the woods. "Why does he always do this? He's probably lost!"

        Kristopher was trying to forget about the evil presence that he had just felt. Perhaps it was just the forest. No, he knew what he'd heard. "I don't think that we should wait here any longer. Pick up Kari's trail and let's get out of this place." Even as his friend was speaking, Talnar was tying their horses to a low hanging branch. Turning, he looked towards the path that Kari had taken earlier. With a nod, they were quickly on their way.

        The driving rain made it difficult to follow Kari's trail. They found it necessary to use many of the skills taught to them when they were studying to become Lostarian warriors. It was hard enough just moving through the driving rain. All the while, Talnar cursed Kari's foolishness. Kristopher couldn't shake the thought that the voice he'd heard had been much more than just the wind.

        After a few more minutes of fruitless search, they were convinced that Kari was in trouble. There should have been some sign of him! Each moment brought the falling of a more intense darkness and the concern for their friend much graver. Suddenly, Talnar grasped Kristopher's arm, motioning him to silence. He then beckoned him to listen. At first, Kristopher could hear nothing save the pounding rain. Then he heard it! Somewhere out in the grayness was the sound of voices!

        They weren't clear, but they were there! They moved hastily towards the sound, not daring to think of what they might find. Neither noticed the rain as they concentrated on their movement through the forest. They had been trained well in Lostar. Each step brought them closer to their goal and the voices grew steadily louder.

        Almost simultaneously, they unsheathed their swords, crouching lower. Realizing that the voices were coming from beyond the trees ahead, they stopping, looking into the darkness and then back to each other. Kristopher motioned Talnar that he should take a route to the left of the trees and he himself would head to the right. This was common practice when surveying an enemy camp.

        There was no hesitation in their movements. Both feared for Kari who might be a captive of whomever was beyond the trees. Kristopher was thankful for the pounding rain as it covered the sound of his footsteps through the decaying underbrush. His thoughts were fixed upon the deep voices as he drew closer.

        Talnar's heart pounded heavily as the voices echoed louder. An evil laughter sounded that brought a chill to his soul. The trees were just steps away as he fell to his chest and began to crawl through the rain-saturated underbrush. His knuckles were white as he gripped the sword. As he reached the trees, he heard the crackling of fire. Almost without a sound, he crawled behind a tall oak tree that was surrounded by a large bush. Slowly, he rose.

        The rain was driving into his face as his vision passed above the bushes. It was hard to see through the downpour until the wind changed direction. Two of the creatures came into view! Both of them were standing beside a small fire that burned beneath the protection of a large maple tree. Beside them was what appeared to be a man lying on the wet grass. Kari?

        The two creatures were laughing as they drank noisily from a tall flask. They appeared to be mocking the person lying beside them. Talnar prepared to leap over the bush to face the creatures. At that moment, he spotted Kristopher crouching behind some bushes just beside them. The years that the Lostarians had spent together had prepared them for a situation such as this one. Talnar waited a moment more, tensed his entire body, then leapt over the bush into the campground screaming.

        Immediately, all eyes were turned to him. Kristopher had his cue. With the creatures now facing away from him, he pounced into the campsite. Without hesitation, he thrust his sword into the back of the creature to his right. It stuck in about four inches and the creature cried out in pain. To Kristopher's horror, it remained standing and turned towards him. He could hear the man lying in the grass struggling - obviously bound and gagged. The creature drew closer.

        Talnar faced the other creature. This one was much bigger than the one that he had killed earlier that day. Neither of the two Lostarian warriors had ever felt such intense fear rush through them before. Kristopher raised his sword before him defensively. The mammoth creature moved closer toward him. Its eyes didn't admit to any pain, although blood dripped from the wound in its back. The figure bound in the wet grass was still moving about madly, trying to free himself. Finally, he freed his hands and removed the gag in his mouth. "Kristopher! Talnar!!! Get the hell outta here! There's gotta be twenty of these things cruisin' in and out of this camp!"

        The creature stepped closer to Kristopher. "It's too late for you, white skin! There ain'ts no way outs!" Finishing these words, he knocked Kristopher's sword from his hand. A low gurgling laughter erupted hideously from its throat. At the same moment, battle sounds appeared from Talnar and his opponent. Kari continued to struggle as Kristopher leapt into the wet grass to retrieve his fallen sword. The creature appeared to allow this, just to mock the frightened Lostarian. Moments later, Kristopher joined Talnar in battle.

        Kari began to fight his binds much harder knowing that the battle sounds would attract more of the creatures. More grotesque laughter echoed through the night. This sound was joined by the crackling of the fire and by the rain pounding upon the trees and grass. Before the struggling Lostarian could free himself further, a gloved hand reached from behind him and covered his mouth. Then a whispered voice said "Be still. I am a friend..."

        Kari nodded his understanding, becoming motionless. Quickly, the warrior's binds were removed and he immediately turned to see the man who had freed him. It was hard to make out much in the dark, but he could see his eyes. They seemed to have a proud and powerful look to them. "This man is a warrior," he thought. Just as this thought passed through Kari's mind, he noticed that his savior was removing a crossbow that had been tied around his back.

        Almost in one motion, he swung it around, loaded it and sent an arrow towards the battle. A horrified Kari turned quickly, not knowing which of the four had been his target. All of the combatants stood still for a moment. The only sound that was heard was that of the fire and rain. Suddenly, the creature standing before Talnar fell to his back, no longer alive. The other creature began to growl as the mysterious man with the bow moved into the light. All eyes were upon him and he reloaded his bow, moving toward the creature.

        "Dorma! What is you doin' on this side of the mountain?!"

        "The same as you, Lit! Looking for Kristopher Tull!"

        "Well...I founds 'im first. There ain't no way you is gonna gets him through this forest!" Just as he finished these words, an arrow found the chest of the creature he had called a "Lit." This one didn't die noiselessly.

        "There ain't no escape. Dolnar will rules soon. If you joins 'im, he mights spares ya..."

        "I'll die first!" These words marked the end of their conversation as the rain beat against the Lit's dead body. Kari, now free, entered the former battle zone.

        "Hey, pal! I'm really thankful that you saved us, but I'm more than a little fed up with the crap that we've been going through! Just who the hell are you and what do you want with Kris?!"

        Slowly, the bow-man turned to him. "If you want to see your home again, I think you'd better learn to speak with a little more respect, my young friend."

        "Ram it!" he answered under his breath. Kristopher touched the bowman's shoulder. The young Lostarian could tell that a powerful figure was beneath the archer's black cape . "Forgive my friend, sir, but we are confused. What do you all want with me?"

        "I don't have time right now to explain it to you. The rest of the Lit guards are not far away. Curse Samuel for not listening to us. You should have been told years ago. Before your father was killed. I'll never understand why the Elders have allowed your war with the Salvians to continue so long!" He paused for a moment and then let out a loud sigh. "All I can tell you now is that you must get to our side of the mountain immediately. Our lives depend upon it!"

        "But, I must know why! Please!"

        "Samuel will tell you all you need to know. "continued the archer. " Be warned! Dolnar knows that you are here. I have felt his black mind searching through the forest. You must reach my home beyond the mountain if you are to learn to face him. I wish I could tell you more, but the other guards are very close."

        As he spoke these words, he removed his boots, informing Kristopher to do the same. He explained that they would exchange them and he would be able to take Kristopher's scent with him. After doing this, he turned to Talnar. "You must come with me to add to the Lostarian scent."

        "I'm not leaving Kristopher!"

        "You will be doing him a far greater service by coming with me. The Light will protect him."

        Hearing this, Kari let out a sigh. "Oh God! Another loony!"

        Kristopher considered all that Dorma had said to them. He thought about the voice that he had heard earlier. Could that voice belong to this Dolnar? "Is it somehow possible that a being exists whose mind can enter others'?" Kristopher's words sounded foolish to himself as he spoke them.

        "Then you've felt him? There's no time to waste! You must leave this forest immediately! When you reach Dela, go to the Inn. Tell the Innkeeper, Mittem, that Dorma sends you to his protection. He will see that you get home."

        "How did you know that we were heading to Dela?" asked Kari.

        "I know much more than you think. By the Light...the Lits are getting closer! Listen very carefully. If you follow the main path just west of here, it will lead you to a stream which will itself take you to a small canyon. Search for a ledge that moves along the side of it. It will end at a cave that will lead beneath the forest. This is the safest route to Dela. Do you understand?"

        "Yes, but..."

        "Good. Talnar, follow me. Kari, protect Kristopher. Soon, Dolnar's mind will be searching the forest again so you must hurry!"

        "Who is this Dolnar?!" insisted Kristopher.

        "You'll find out soon enough. Now, hurry." Immediately, the man who called himself Dorma grasped Talnar's arm and they disappeared into the darkness.

        "I'm gettin' sick of this!" complained Kari. "I can't believe we let that lunatic take Talnar. He's part of that phony religion that your uncle belongs to."

        "Come on," said Kristopher with a sigh, " We've got to get our horses and find that path."

        "I need a beer," answered Kari under his breath. Moments later, they left the campsite. _________________________________
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