Tales & Treasure Chapter 40

Vidmar - Out of Luck

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The cavern dimmed as Vidmar's lantern flickered in the darkness. The drumming started again, this time from the floor. He saw a swiftly moving shadow in the faint light, but it disappeared before he could identify the creature.

He reached for a weapon, Acer's knife, the blade that brought him to Hobb. Vidmar usually stored it in a sheathe beneath his jacket sleeve, but he no longer had any sleeves, so he had moved it to his waist. His highly conditioned brain wasn't accustomed to change. He grabbed his forearm but no knife. He cursed at himself silently. He fumbled at his waist, trying to remember where he stored the blade. He found the brown, leather-wrapped handle near the top of his buttocks. The drumming quickened as the creature circled its prey.

A giant arthropod scrambled into the light, the biggest Vidmar had ever seen. A black-scaled beast with at least one hundred legs supporting a segmented body as large as a horse, two antennae probed the air, vibrating with an audible hum. It left the light before he could react. A moment of hesitation evaluating his predator had cost him a chance to kill the brute while he could see it. Vidmar wasn't sure if his knife would puncture the skin or if he could muster enough power with his unsteady grip. If its feet sounded like an avalanche of rocks, its scales would be almost indestructible. The avalanche grew louder as it approached from the dark. Think. 

Vidmar turned, using his hearing to track the monster. Even if his knife could pierce its skin, he wouldn't be able to see where he was stabbing. He took a calculated step back to the lantern. He bent down painfully, searching the ground with his left hand, trying to locate his only source of light while keeping his eyes, ears, and knife focused on defending his life. The blade nearly slipped from his hands. Vidmar inched backward carefully and silently, moving in the direction of the light. His hand crashed into the rectangular iron lantern. The light flickered to the right while a long screeching sound echoed through the chamber. The monster made a gargling, hissing noise like a snake warding off a predator with half a mouse in its jaws. The drumming charged towards Vidmar. He tried to grab the lantern's handle, but his two fingers kept slipping. He burnt the knuckles of his missing fingers, tracing them up the hot glass until he finally found the lantern's handle and swung the light toward the clamor. He crouched, barely hanging on to the lantern in one hand and trying to find a decent grip on the knife. Vidmar squinted and pushed both weapons toward the charging creature's snapping jaws.

The creature stopped as if blinded by the light. Terror coursed through Vidmar's veins, briefly paralyzing him. Finally able to see the monster, his jaw opened. It was larger than a horse, nearly ten feet long; the first handful of its segments rose into the air—each segment accompanied by numerous sword-like legs. Four black eyes glared in the light. Its pincer-shaped mouth snapped back and forth. Vidmar aimed the light closer to the monster's eyes - it backed away.

"So, you're afraid of the light," Vidmar said. I might survive this yet. A smile crept onto his face.

The creature retreated into the blackness. Vidmar spun, trying to locate it.

"Where did you go? You ugly bastard. I just want to chat," Vidmar continued his nervous rambling as he sheathed his blade and switched the lantern into his left hand. 

He saw the tight crack of an entrance he used to enter the chamber and ran. "I hope you're slower than you look."

Behind him, he heard the familiar marching of the monster's legs. He turned around quickly, shining the lantern at his pursuer. It screeched, not like the hiss it made before, but like a painful scream of frustration. The monster backed away again as if catching its breath. Vidmar stepped backward, feeling for the cavern's exit with his free hand and tightly gripping the lantern with the other. The drumming began again, moving up the wall to his left. He adjusted the lantern accordingly. Hundreds of legs moved higher onto the slick, jagged ceiling above him. Vidmar was unsure if the creature was retreating or positioning itself for a lethal strike. Unfortunately, it was the latter. The creature hissed as it dove for the kill. 

All Vidmar could do was spin and duck. The monster landed on his back, forcing him to drop his lantern. Light flashed, then faded away into deathly darkness. He could hear jaws snapping and crunching on top of him, but he didn't feel any pain until one of its rock-like legs scraped his calf. Luckily, the creature's killing blow landed on his pack. The crown provided enough depth to stop the monster's teeth before they reached Vidmar's back. He struggled to stay on his feet. He crept toward his escape; his fingertips swiped against cold stone. The monster writhed and wrestled with the pack while its legs continued to tear into Vidmar's flesh. Then, his fingers found air. He jumped sideways. I'm not dying here, he thought, unstrapping his pack. The monster fell backward, and Vidmar slipped into the tight exit. The loss of his bag and the crown sucked the air from his lungs. Vidmar was frozen in place as the creature tore the bag apart. 

A metallic clang rang through the crevasse as the crown bounced against the stone floor. Vidmar breathed heavily. He thought about returning for the crown, but with no light source, he stood no chance against the monster. "Kamet," he called as he pushed through the narrow tunnel. He was unsure if the creature could fit through the passageway. Vidmar methodically slid backward toward freedom, listening for the terrifying marching sound, fighting the urge to go back for the crown.

His knees trembled as he emerged from the tunnel. Each breath felt forced, like the air in his lungs was afraid to leave his body. He inhaled through his nose, smelling the faint rotten egg odor from the chamber. "Kamet," he repeated, searching the darkness for his friend. "Where are you?" 

Vidmar couldn't see the light from Kamet's lantern anywhere but continued moving forward. "Kamet," He called again. "Kamet." He stepped carefully, moving from heel to toe with practiced grace. Slowly, he began to see. Light from the cave's entrance reached lazily into the abyss. Vidmar's eyes adjusted as shadows became shapes. Glass shattered beneath his boot. The remains of Kamet's broken lantern lay scattered on the cave floor. No, no, no. "Kamet." His voice cracked as he called for him. The monster's drumming began again from somewhere behind him. Then, he heard a faint frog-like croak. The croak deepened into a cough. "Vidmar," Kamet called through the darkness. 

Vidmar found Kamet kneeling with a hand on his mace, covered in black ooze. Blood dripped from a deep gash in his neck. "Vidmar," he choked.

Vidmar tried to make a joke, but he couldn't find the words. He wanted to greet his friend like they always had. He wanted to assure Kamet that he would be alright, but he knew he couldn't. The cut on his neck trailed onto his shoulder, revealing a part of his clavicle. Steam rose from the black ooze that must have been poison or acid as it burned Kamet's leather armor. "I'll get you out of here." That was all Vidmar could muster; even those words were coughed out. 

Kamet shook his head. "No." He tried to stand but collapsed onto one knee. The monster's drumming grew louder. Kamet's eyes widened. "Go," he coughed. Blood splattered onto his lips. 

Vidmar helped Kamet stand. "I'm not leaving without you," he said, feeling the terrifying heat from the monster's poison. 

Stones fell from the cave's ceiling, followed by a deafening crash as rocks collapsed behind them. Hissing, the creature emerged from the rubble. Kamet's mace connected with the monster's jaw and sent the beast tumbling backward. "Go, Vidmar."

"You can't die on guard duty," Vidmar said, trying to pull Kamet with him. Instead, his friend pushed him away toward the mouth of the cave. 

The monster charged. Again, Kamet repelled it with a mighty swing. "I can die for you," Kamet said. Each word was forced out slowly, painfully. Kamet nodded, exhaled, and turned back to the assaulting monster. "Go," he called without looking.

Vidmar forced his feet to move, each step growing heavier as he watched Kamet become the attacker. The cave rumbled. The old mercenary screamed as he charged, tackling the beast into the stones. Vidmar felt the floor shake. Sunlight poked through the darkness, beckoning him back to the forest. Vidmar bit his lip, clenched his fists, and ran to the light. 

Behind Vidmar, Kamet bellowed. His roar was muffled, then enveloped by leather, blood, steel, and rock, morphing into one bone-chilling squishing sound. Vidmar did not stop running. He followed the faint glow emanating from the cave's opening. 

Vidmar smelled crisp, evergreen trees and open air. Tremors reverberated beneath his unsteady feet. He stopped running. Kamet. I can't do this without you. A true hero wouldn't abandon his friend, but Vidmar had never considered himself a hero. He took a step back toward his friend. He took another step; his eyes strained as they adjusted to the darkness again. The tremors worsened. A rock almost fell on Vidmar's head, but instinctively, he jumped to safety. Vidmar winced as he looked up and saw the cave collapse on the monster, his fruitless quest, and his last friend. I'm so sorry, Kamet, Vidmar thought, backing away from the cave. Why do I always live? A beam of sunlight poked through the dense canopy, illuminating a patch of lush green grass, but regret yanked Vidmar back to the cave. 

Once the rubble settled, Vidmar frantically searched for openings. "Kamet," he yelled. "Kamet." He pulled rocks away until his fingers bled. He circled the pile of stones until his legs couldn't move. Then, exhausted, Vidmar drifted into the glade, collapsed, rolled onto his back, took a deep breath, and cried.

---

Vidmar inhaled grass and mud, waking up face down in the small glade. Something poked his back. He rolled onto his stomach, unsheathed a blade, and prepared for a fight. No attack came. A deer-like creature stepped back, neighing like a horse. It had a body similar to a common deer, but its hair was longer, and its antlers curved around its head like a helm. A white streak ran down its spine onto its tail. Vidmar couldn't decide if it was frightening or pleasing to look at. It wasn't trying to attack him now, so he settled for pleasant. How long have I been out? Vidmar thought. He scratched his chin; his beard hadn't grown much, but he felt like he had been asleep for a month. Then he remembered Kamet. 

It had been years since he'd lost anyone he truly cared about. Not since he abandoned Elisa to her evil, selfish brother, though she was still alive, at least to Vidmar's knowledge. He felt empty without Kamet; they had always been there for each other. Even when they pretended to be enemies, Vidmar knew Kamet would be by his side when he needed him. Now, he had no one. Maybe that's what I deserve. 

He sheathed his blade, pushed himself to his knees, and watched the strange creature stomp its hooves as if annoyed. "What?" Vidmar said after it nudged him with its wet black nose for a second time. It let out a weak whine and urged Vidmar again. 

He heard a strange cackling noise outside the glade. The deer paced around the clearing as if checking for signs of danger. It poked Vidmar again. "You want me to stand up?" Vidmar said. His tender muscles throbbed as he pushed himself onto his feet. The creature stopped pacing. 

He heard another cackle through the trees, this time to his right but much louder. "What is it?" he asked the deer, hoping it could respond. The commotion grew louder. Vidmar saw shapes moving behind the branches and leaves surrounding him. Suddenly, the deer darted away, leaping over the rubble that used to be the cave's entrance. Alone again, Vidmar thought, returning his attention to the shapes. 

Three shadow figures floated between the trees. Two more shadows joined the assailants in front of him. Think, Vidmar. He had no idea how to evade these creatures, let alone kill them. They had barely escaped when one attacked, but five, now seven. They seemed to multiply at will. As he evaluated the potential of his escape, the deer crept into his vision on top of the rubble. It stomped as if it were trying to communicate something. "What?" Vidmar screamed.

The shadows closed in. 

The deer kicked dirt into the air as it sprang down the other side of the rocks. Vidmar followed; he didn't have any other options. He could feel the shadows chasing him. They didn't breathe or talk but made a haunting, hissing, laughing sound. More creatures blackened the edges of his vision. He crested the top of the rubble, searching for the deer, but it had disappeared. Vidmar turned to see an army of shadows charging toward him. One black cloud hand reached for him. Its icy fingertips stung Vidmar's spine before he slid down the muddy hill. He somersaulted before crashing into a tree. Pain coursed through his shoulder. He felt it pop out of its socket. Vidmar winced as he tried to move it back in place, but he didn't have the strength. Grunting, he forced himself to stand. The deer was gone. Fuck. Shadows surrounded him. The army shifted atop the hill as more shadows crept from the trees. Their laughing deepened.

Vidmar grabbed a throwing knife with his left hand, adjusted his grip, and balanced it as best as possible in his only functioning arm. A shadow charged from his right. Vidmar threw the blade. It found its mark, spinning through what he had assumed was the creature's head. The shadow separated momentarily but then sewed itself back together. The shadows closed in collectively, laughing as they carried their icy darkness. Vidmar threw another knife; it also found the mark, but again, the creature mended itself without stopping. The air around him froze. Vidmar could no longer see the trees, only growing shadows. He had two knives left; he couldn't afford to throw another. He bent down, grabbed a handful of mud and grass, and flung it at the shadows, hoping that something could hurt them. They shrieked collectively as the grass sizzled through them. They paused, and Vidmar darted to an opening on his right.

He jumped between two trees. A cramp tore at his left side, and his breath stung his throat, but Vidmar pressed forward. He ducked under a low-hanging branch. The creatures cackled behind him; they sounded close, but Vidmar refused to look back. The ground was slick and muddy. He dreaded falling; a mistake meant death. Each step was carefully placed until a deafening shriek caused him to lose concentration and trip over a root directly on his injured shoulder. I'm dead. 

Hot knives stabbed his entire right side. He tasted blood as he crawled onto his feet. Then, a shadow grabbed Vidmar's calf. His whole leg froze from the icy touch. The creature's laughing muddled his mind; he couldn't think. Desperately, he grabbed a dead branch off the ground and swung it at the shadow. It connected. The creature screamed as it released its grasp. Feeling slowly came back into Vidmar's legs. The other shadows stopped cackling and appeared to observe their comrade. Collectively, they hissed. Vidmar thought he saw red eyes open on the one he struck, but he didn't let his gaze linger. He pushed himself onto his feet and started running. 

Vidmar's legs burned with each step. He scoured the forest for sunlight, thinning trees, a pathway, anything that signaled the edge. The shadows closed in. Vidmar quickly spun, swinging the branch with desperate ferocity. The creatures backed away, hissing like scared cats. To his left, a small window of light appeared. Thank the gods, Vidmar thought, planting a foot in the mud and charging toward the light. The shadows' cackling lowered into a beastly growl. Still, Vidmar ran as fast as his legs would carry him. The light brightened, and the window widened. Vidmar screamed and jumped through the white opening. He landed softly in the high fescue outside the Kokor Forest.

Pollen fell from his tattered clothing as he pushed himself to his feet. He looked over his low-hanging, dislocated shoulder and saw the shadows looming on the other side of his escape window. The creature in the center of the pack opened its eyes. Two fiery ovals of red stared at Vidmar. The look alone sent shivers down his spine, but somehow, he managed to smile and turn the other way. The sight of open land in front of him gave him more joy than finding the crown. It had never been his quest anyway. He brushed himself off, found his bearings, and forced his aching body to move through the tall grass. Vidmar didn't need glory or recognition.

What do I do now? Vidmar thought as he approached the road. Almost every answer he had led back to Hobb's farm. The only answer that didn't was Elisa, and he didn't have the physical or emotional strength to face her, not yet.

A merchant strolled down the road, whistling a tune. He jumped back when he saw Vidmar and moved to the other side of the road before picking up his pace. Vidmar smiled. He took an inventory of his possessions. He still held the stick that kept the shadows at bay. He had two knives. His waterskin was still attached to his belt, but it was empty. In his right pocket, he found two Kan. In his left, he found the stone from under Greco's crown.

Vidmar looked at it briefly, then carefully tucked it away. He had forgotten about the stone, but it answered his question. Besides, he had a promise to keep.