12. Chapter 12
CHAPTER 12
Lucenna
T hey reached the end of Troll Bridge by the fourth day. Lucenna had held her breath all the way across until they came out onto a high ridge overlooking the isthmus that connected the land to the rest of Urn. The air was refreshingly brisk. On the left stretched on the glistening horizon of the Saxe Sea, carrying brine on the wind. Ahead, a section of marshes expanded about half a mile wide, and at the end of it lay the gorge.
It consisted of two steep rock walls hundreds of feet tall, coated in bright green moss and surrounded by waterfalls. A shallow creek cut through the narrow passageway like a trail. She could hear the rush of water from here. The view lent the feeling of standing in a world apart.
“We made it,” Klyde said, bringing his horse to a stop beside hers. “A mile upstream lie the cascades. There is a passageway hidden behind them large enough for a small troll to slip through. Fortunately, they haven’t discovered it yet.”
Fortunately.
“Come, we must prepare.” He clicked his tongue and tugged on the reins.
Lucenna followed him back into the cover of the trees where the mercenaries had dismounted. They removed their jackets, detaching their grappling gear and checked their weapons.
Rawn and Zev exchanged confused frowns.
“The marshes from here to the gorge are the most dangerous part of the Bridge,” Klyde told them. “There are no trees to filter a horde attack or to hook on to, greatly deterring our advantage against trolls. Not to mention the muddy terrain makes it difficult to ride through. It’s easy to get sucked in and makes for easy prey. From here we need to be on high alert and ready to fight. Secure your boots and remove any heavy clothing. Once we reach the gorge, we must swim part of the way.”
Lucenna’s heart jolted. “Swim?”
“Aye. We’ll hike the creek bed for about a mile, but it does get deep at one point, especially at this time of year.”
Her stomach sank.
Klyde winked. “Don’t worry, lass. We’ve done this many times before. We’ll make it across fine. The one thing trolls hate is water.”
“And how big is this Horde?” she asked. There seemed to be hundreds the last time they faced them.
“We exterminated more than two thirds of the eastern Horde last summer out of necessity. They’re nasty buggers, but they don’t tend to mate in the winter. Against fifty of my best mercenaries, I don’t anticipate any casualties now.” Klyde gave her a nod of assurance and went on to speak to Eagon.
It did little to ease her worries though. She glanced at the cascades. The trolls were one thing, but they were not her main concern at the moment.
“Are you all right?” Dyna asked her. “You look pale.”
Lucenna forced a smile on her face. “Only feeling a little cold. The air still clings to winter’s chill.”
“Can you cast a warming spell?”
“I can, but it’s best to conserve my power if we’re confronted.” Lucenna buttoned up her black redingote. “I will simply keep on my coat.”
“Are you sure, my lady?” Rawn asked as he and Zev joined them. “It may weigh you down.” He had already removed his cloak and Zev didn’t need one.
“Then I will wear it at least until we reach the gorge.”
Rawn held out his open pack to them. “We will need to have our wits about us at this point. Allow me to carry our belongings during the crossing.”
“Thank you, Lord Norrlen,” Dyna said.
She and Lucenna put their satchels inside, then Zev added his. Already enchanted to conserve space, Rawn’s pack appeared as if it carried nothing at all. He then tied it to Fair’s saddle.
“Be careful out there,” Zev told them.
Lucenna smiled, warmed by their care. “You two worry too much.”
“I’m ready,” Dyna said, resting her hand on the hilt of her short sword.
Zev tugged off his shirt and shifted into a massive black wolf. He rose to his full height, nearly as tall as Lucenna’s horse.
The mercenaries were already mounted on their rides. The forest was littered with their grappling gear they would have to leave behind. Two mercenaries were collecting them into enchanted packs. The sight of that made her nervous.
The men settled down as they lined up in formation. Klyde and Eagon took the lead along with Olyver, Cam, Sigrid, and Alasdair. Her group took up the center and the rest of the mercenaries covered the rear.
“Listen up,” Klyde said, his eyes sweeping over the younger mercenaries then falling on Lucenna and her group. He kept his voice low, and all held quiet to hear him. “Some of you have not faced the west end trolls. They are much different from trolls on the east end. They don’t have plated hides, and they are blind but make no mistake. They have other ways of hunting. These trolls are bigger, faster, and fouler. Once they attack move quickly . Don’t hesitate and strike true. Right and left flanks will create a barrier to hold them back as I lead our guests to the gorge, with last flank covering our backs. Once we are through, front, and last flank will unite with the unit to make for the sea. Go with your God.”
“And may he receive me,” the mercenaries murmured in quiet unison.
The younger mercenaries paled but did their best to appear brave.
Nerves buzzed in Lucenna like a hornet’s nest. She briefly shut her eyes and sent a prayer to the God of Urn they would survive this.
Klyde gave a signal, and they began to move.
“Steady now, Osombre ,” Rawn murmured to Fair.
They cantered ahead at a quiet but steady pace. Lucenna and Dyna kept close, keeping an eye on their surroundings. They clomped through the muddy marshes without trouble until they reached the middle of the glade.
Trolls sprung out holes in the ground. The mercenaries reared back on their horses. The beasts were coated in mud, but these trolls looked different. They were lithe with murky green hides like swamp sludge, and they had no eyes. They screeched and the sound pierced through Lucenna’s skull, echoing across the land.
The trolls focused on them clearly.
Sound waves.
The mercenaries fought with Klyde in the lead. She cast out spells, and Rawn unleashed a rain of arrows, Zev tearing into any that got too close to them. They kept Dyna shielded in the center. The men fought all around them and soon killed them all.
A Horde burst out of the trees behind it and charged after them. They poured out in an endless stream. There were so many, it was an army. And it completely ruined their initial plan.
Klyde yanked on his reins and rode to the front lines with Eagon.
“Stay back, my lady, please,” Rawn said to Dyna, and he gave Lucenna a look to watch over her.
She nodded.
The mercenaries fell in formation as they rode after their captain, with Rawn and Zev following close behind. But they were severely outnumbered.
The sound of clashing blades came from all around her as Eagon and Klyde called out attacks. Lucenna knew their luck wouldn’t last for long, but she also didn’t expect the trolls to find them right when they reached the gorge.
“They will be swarmed,” Dyna said. “We need to cut the horde’s attack off at the neck.”
She shook her head. “What do you mean? You don’t have magic.”
Dyna reached into her pocket and took out a black feather, giving her a sly smile.
Lucenna gaped at it. It was one of Cassiel’s feathers. “Where did you get that?”
“Never mind that,” Dyna said, yanking her horse around. “You take right, I’ll take left.”
“What? Wait! Your supposed to stay with me!”
But Dyna kicked her heels and rapidly galloped away. She rode low and fast, arcing around the two units to race straight for the Horde.
Lucenna cursed and galloped in the opposite direction. She called on her Essence, feeling it crackle on her skin. They rode across the marshes and circled to the right as the Horde passed between them. She felt a violent charge in the air, but it wasn’t hers.
A brilliant green light flared, and it felt dark. Storm clouds rolled across the sun as Lucenna called on her power. Dyna’s fire roared across the marshes and exploded into the left flank of the Horde. Lucenna reached up to the sky and drove down her fist with a cry. Bolts of lightning rained down and tore through the screeching beasts.
The air filled with thick smoke and the stench of scorched flesh. Lucenna couldn’t see a thing. She coughed violently and blinked her watering eyes. It was quiet. Too quiet. Her heart beat wildly, and she felt the world closing in.
“Dyna?” Lucenna called, tugging on her reins as she turned in place. “Rawn?”
A troll crashed into her horse, and she went down. Her horse neighed wildly as the troll tore into it. Lucenna stifled her whimpers as she tried to pull herself out from beneath it.
The ground began to rumble, and she fought harder. The mercenaries burst out of the smoke with the Horde chasing after them. Klyde charged for her and swept his skull blades through the air, beheading the troll. It’s hot, reeking blood splashed her in the face.
“On your feet, lass!” Klyde jumped down and drag her out from under the dead horse. Taking her waist, he tossed her up onto Onyx’s saddle then leaped up behind her. Trolls came screeching through the smoke, more than ever before.
Klyde cursed. He kicked his heels, breaking into gallop across the marshes. “Head for the gorge!” he shouted at his men. “We will make our stand there!”
The narrow passageway would make it easier to fight them back.
Lucenna cast out spells left and right, taking down any beast that got too close. They caught up with Zev and Dyna riding with Rawn on Fair. The rumble of racing hooves and screeching beasts came from all round them.
They made it out of the smoke cloud onto the end of the marshes, the gorge within sight. But this Horde was as fast as the horses. They leaped onto the last flank and men started to go down.
Olyver and the first unit rounded to defend them.
“Keep riding!” Eagon yelled to Klyde as he yanked on his reins. “We’ll cover you!”
Klyde gritted his teeth but kept going and they raced for the gorge.
When they reached it, Rawn called out, “Above us!”
Lucenna whipped her head up. Trolls growled from the edge of the steep rock walls of the gorge. It was an ambush. Then they began to leap down. The beasts landed between them and the mercenaries riding to their aid, Eagon in the lead.
Lucenna looked up at the desiccated trees rooted into the soft earth at the top of the gorge and swung out her hand.
“No, lass!” Klyde shouted.
But her power flared out and hit the ledge. Trees came down in a violent slide. The ground shook as they rained down on like massive spears, piercing through the barricade. When all was still, she took in the newly formed dam at the base of the creek. The barricade was at least twelve feet high made of sharp wood and twitching limbs. Dark blood seeped into the water.
Lucenna took shaky breath. The mercenaries…
“Eagon!” Klyde bellowed out frightfully. He listened for a pause, his chest heaving. “Eagon!”
Only silence answered.