Grace's Quest Read online

They muttered and pointed in our direction with looks of disdain and hatred on their faces.

  “She has turned them against us.”

  “How are we going to get her to help us?” Mecca questioned.

  “That will be simple. She may be ‘Chief’ of the Outer Realm,’ but she still is under the control of the Queen of Mistasia.”

  Day broke shortly after we had descended into the world under the Outer Realm. We would have to wait for nightfall again before we could venture out for the forest. There was little cover in the light of day between this Elven realm and the horrors of the Deadly Spray Forest.

  I had grown eager and impatient, which was why I stood alone in the burnt out home of Chief Yorne peering through a hole in the wall at our objective in the distance. The trees in the Deadly Spray Forest were menacingly tall with branches that hung down like the tentacles of an octopus. They swayed in the wind as though dancing on the horizon, taunting me…laughing at my fear. Horrible creatures lived in that forest; trolls, vampire bats, and now apparently a sorcerer. It would make sense that LaCroiux had made this forest his home. He once lived in Wolverine Forest, but unable to head back there, he found a new place…one with far more hideous creatures to control. From there he could easily attack this village, without even leaving the safety of the trees.

  The chill of the air had set into my bones. My breath was exposed as the warm air from my lungs turned to thick white puffs in the freezing air outside. I rubbed my hands together in a vain attempt for warmth. It lasted only a few seconds.

  “Grace?” Mecca’s voice called from the tunnel behind me. He wasn’t alone. Chief Yorne walked beside him. They appeared to be in the middle of a conversation…a civil conversation. Mecca did have a way with elves…especially females. His smile entered the room first. I smiled back…I just couldn’t help it. That seemed to catch Chief Yorne by surprise. She gave a forced smile in return and slightly bowed. I did as well out of courtesy, not respect.

  The sun had begun to set. The sky was a brilliant array of colors; from pink to orange to purple.

  “Chief Yorne, we will be leaving shortly.” I paused for a moment wondering how exactly to broach the subject of her leading us to the Deadly Spray Forest.

  “Please, call me Delza. I apologize for how I behaved earlier. I should not have shown you such disrespect.”

  “I understand, Delza. You and your people have been through a great deal. I am sorry.”

  “I will gather my belongings and be prepared to assist you, Commander Tallon. Mecca has informed me of our mission…ah ‘quest’.” She corrected as she turned to Mecca for reassurance. “At Queen Merran’s request, I will accompany you to the forest.” The Chief nodded again and left.

  Mecca and I stood alone in the cold. It was silent. Mecca’s smile was beaming brighter than the sunset.

  “Come on, Grace; you can say it.”

  “Say what?”

  “How good I am.”

  I chuckled. “Yeah, you’re good alright. Now go get our friends.”

  “What would you do without me?” Mecca joked.

  “Yes, Mecca I am glad you’re here,” I regretfully replied. He most certainly didn’t need his ego stroked any further. His head might grow so large that he would fall over.

  After he left the room, I returned my gaze upon the horizon. I exhaled deeply. The pit in my stomach grew heavier.

  “But you, my friend, may soon not be.”

  I sat tall upon Fraydorn’s back while Delza climbed up Millessa to join Mecca. Tightening the strap that held my sword, I inhaled sharply. The rush of cold air stabbed my lungs.

  “Grace? Are you alright?” Mecca noticed my discomfort.

  I nodded, but my chest still hurt. Shaking it off, I grabbed Fraydorn by the reigns and pulled tightly. He lurched into the air and roared. We were off into the darkness.

  Just outside the village the winds began to intensify. Snow formed a wall before us, encircling us.

  A tornado! Delza called out with telepathy.

  She was correct. The snow whipped around us.

  “Ahhhhh!” I yelled as Fraydorn charged into the vortex. I was knocked clear from his back in an instant. I heard Fraydorn’s voice call to me as I was whisked away. I landed in a large pile of snow, but the tornado continued to push more on top of my body. It was burying me alive.

  Mecca! I called for my friend. There was no answer. The snow kept coming. My legs were buried deep. The wintry wind storm had me pinned down and was now attempting to finish me. I kicked my left leg free, but an angry growl echoed from the tornado as it doused me with a huge wave of white powder. Now, only my face and right arm were free.

  A figure suddenly emerged from the swirling winds.

  Fraydorn!

  He grabbed hold of my arm in his mouth. The sharp pain from his teeth was a small price to pay for my freedom. Fraydorn yanked me loose. Blood trickled down my arm and dotted the white snow. I slung myself onto Fraydorn’s back and hunched down to avoid the wind knocking me off again.

  Fraydorn burst through the vortex of snow and we were ahead of the roaring monster. Millessa rode up beside us with Mecca and Delza still on her back.

  The chilling blast of wintry air kept the pain in my arm from throbbing as we raced ahead of the tornado. I turned back to see just how close it was. In the winds was the face of a monster.

  “LaCroiux,” I muttered in anger.

  Delza noticed too and fired an arrow into his mouth. LaCroiux swallowed it and spat it back at her, narrowly missing. The tornado cackled as it chased us down. There was nowhere to go. We were easy prey for the sorcerer out in the open fields.

  Suddenly, I realized our fate. LaCroiux knew that I wouldn’t dare return to the village of innocent elves. The only choice would be to enter the Deadly Spray Forest for shelter. He was driving us right toward him. We ran directly for his trap.

  DEADLY FOREST

  6

  The roar of the wind trampled the snow behind us like thousands of horses charging into battle…with us.

  The Deadly Spray Forest sprawled out before us. The power from the tornado pulled the tree branches like arms reaching out to snatch us. It was a frightening sight.

  LaCroiux cackled heartily, signaling his latest attack. I turned around to witness arms forming at the tornado’s side. They swirled around above his head gathering tremendous speed. Then LaCroiux whipped them toward us.

  The first snap landed between Fraydorn and Millessa. The second barely missed Millessa, sending a cascade of snow up across her back. Delza slipped, but Mecca grabbed her at the last second keeping her from falling into the tornado’s vortex. Millessa bolted ahead of Fraydorn and me, kicking up a trail of powder in our faces.

  We had almost reached the forest when the tornado vanished.

  “It’s gone!” Delza yelled.

  Millessa skidded to a stop and turned to watch the sky clear. Fraydorn galloped up beside.

  “Where did he go?” Mecca questioned, slightly out of breath.

  “Is he gone?” Delza nervously inquired. She knew the answer though. LaCroiux had been attacking her village for months. It was a false hope that he had given up.

  “No! LaCroiux will return. He always returns.” I patted Fraydorn as he restlessly moved about. “We must enter the forest.”

  “I’m not going in there. We don’t go into the Deadly Spray Forest,” Delza was obviously concerned.

  “What is that?” Mecca pointed into the darkness.

  I squinted to look through the night. In the distance loomed a wall of snow barreling directly toward us.

  “Move!” I shouted pulling on the reins and directing Fraydorn toward the forest.

  The noise was terrible as the wall of snow closed in on us quickly.

  “It’s gaining on us!” Delza screamed.

  It was the last words any of us would utter before the snow cascaded over us, pushing us into the forest. I was pulled free from Fraydorn. I tumbled through the snow
unable to break free from its grip. Finally, I skidded to a stop, much of my body buried in snow. My eyes fluttered. It was so difficult to keep them open. My head throbbed. I searched the area for my friends, but dizziness overtook me. I grew ill and vomited upon the dirty snow, which was tainted by leaves, rocks, sticks and dirt. I couldn’t stay awake. I felt my body slump into the snow around me and everything went black.

  Grace? Grace can you hear me? Mecca’s voice echoed in my head. Open your eyes.

  I could feel the touch of his strong hands upon my shoulders. My body was in great discomfort. It took too much effort just to pull open my eyelids. I took a short painful breath.

  “Grace, be careful. You may have broken a few ribs. It will be difficult to breathe normally.” Mecca explained.

  Delza sat beside me tending to a wound on her arm. The gash was nearly closed now. Tears streamed down her face, which showed the result of our entry into the forest. Scratches and cuts were along the side of her face and over her eye.

  “Where are we, Mecca?” I mustered up the strength to ask. A pain shot down my side as I shifted to sit up right.

  “Grace! Take it easy.” Mecca had turned his attention back to helping Delza finish closing the wound on her arm. “We are inside the Deadly Spray Forest. Fortunately, we found a place to hide among the trees. LaCroiux has had Vampire bats out looking for us.”

  “Where are Millessa and Fraydorn?”

  It remained silent. Mecca wouldn’t look at me.

  “Mecca?”

  “They were both unconscious, and too large for me to move on my own. I had to leave them. LaCroiux has them now.”