Richard Tuttle - Island of Darkness

“You two are going to be real visible in those red uniforms,” MistyTrail commented softly. “Maybe we should have dyed them.”

“It is too late for that now,” replied Caldal. “We must keep moving.”

As they got further down the mountain, the slope eased somewhat. Mistake saw the section of cleared forest where they had run into the kruls. Her eyes scanned the area looking for signs of an encampment. She saw none.

They continued down the side of the mountain until they reached the forest. The forest was dark, but there was enough moonlight to navigate safely. Mistake picked up the pace, keeping her ears tuned to any noises beyond their footsteps. It was a quiet trek, and in less than an hour they reached the edge of the cleared area. Mistake halted and gazed across the open ground. The stumps that dotted the landscape caused her to check and recheck each area. Eltor silently tapped her shoulder and pointed off towards the right. Mistake nodded as she saw the dark lumps.

“Kruls,” she whispered. “Several dozen of them.”

“They appear to be sleeping,” Eltor said softly. “Should we cross together or singly?”

“In pairs,” offered MistyTrail. “That way the concealed pair can create a distraction, and the exposed pair can split up to confuse them.”

“I do want to learn more about the Sakova,” Mistake responded. “I like the way you have learned to think.”

“You and Eltor go first,” suggested MistyTrail with a grin. “Caldal and I will wait until you are safely across.”

“No,” replied Mistake. “You are the one used to sneaking around in the forest. I want to see how you do it. Eltor and I will go second.”

“Alright,” nodded MistyTrail as she edged past Mistake.

She waited while Caldal moved to the edge of the clearing. She grabbed his hand confidently and squeezed it.

“Just follow me,” she whispered to Caldal.

“I am an elf,” retorted Caldal. “I know how to be quiet.”

MistyTrail smiled and nodded as she stepped into the open. She did not try to race across the open area, but instead moved silently. It was an excruciatingly slow pace for Caldal, but he stayed right behind MistyTrail. They made it across the cleared area and hid behind a tree. MistyTrail wove an air tunnel towards Mistake.

“It is your turn,” whispered MistyTrail. “Do not try to rush. Be as quiet as you can.”

“I will,” promised Mistake.

MistyTrail broke the air tunnel and stood watching as Mistake and Eltor stepped into the cleared area.

“You move very quietly for an elf who has never been to Elvangar,” complimented Caldal. “There are still a few things that I could teach you, though.”

“Are there?” replied MistyTrail. “You could have done better?”

“Not better,” Caldal shook his head, “but faster. Your movements were excellent and silent, but there is a way to be just as silent at a faster pace. I will show you when they arrive safely.”

“I would like that,” smiled MistyTrail. “There have been times when I wanted more speed.”

Mistake and Eltor were over half way across when one of the dark lumps suddenly stood up and stretched. Mistake and Eltor saw it and stopped. They crouched low hoping to blend in with the numerous stumps that doted the land. The Krul gazed skyward as he stretched, but his body was facing Mistake. MistyTrail knew that when he looked down, he would probably see the elves. She quickly wove an air tunnel and directed it far beyond the krul. She bent down and picked up several dried branches. She broke one over her knee and the sound appeared to come from the other end of the air tunnel. The krul instantly turned and gazed towards the sound.

MistyTrail directed the air tunnel further away and broke another stick. The krul scratched his head and started walking away. Mistake and Eltor rose and continued their trek across the open area. For good measure, MistyTrail moved the air tunnel one more time and broke another stick. Mistake and Eltor arrived before the krul grew tired of his investigation.

“We need to move away from here quickly,” advised Eltor. “There is absolutely no breeze right now, but if it picks up the slightest amount, he will smell us.”

Caldal nodded and took the lead. He moved swiftly, but silently, and MistyTrail studied his movements. Caldal stopped and waited for the others to catch up and then took off again. By the fourth stop, MistyTrail had figured out what Caldal was doing to achieve the extra speed. When he took off again, she kept pace with him. When he turned to see how far back the group was, he let out a small gasp.

“You learn very quickly,” he smiled. “I did not hear you behind me.”

“It must be in my blood,” grinned MistyTrail. “Explain your movements to Mistake. We will cover much more ground that way.”

They took a short break while Caldal explained his movements to Mistake. Eltor stood next to MistyTrail and sighed.

“What is the matter?” asked MistyTrail.

“How much farther do we have to go?” asked Eltor.

“We have hours to go,” answered MistyTrail. “This forest will eventually turn into jungle. We will still have several hours to go when that happens. What is bothering you?”

“We are heading westward,” announced Eltor as Mistake and Caldal turned to listen. “Based on what you have just told me, this house that we are heading for is on the western coast of the island.”

“What is wrong with that?” asked Mistake.

“Elvangar is to the east,” answered Eltor. “What Caldal is pointing out is that we will be on the wrong side of the island.”

“And we will have to sail around either the northern or southern end of the island,” added Caldal. “That means that we will have to pass at least one major city. The odds of us affecting our escape have diminished greatly.”

“We are not going back,” Mistake declared adamantly. “I don’t care if we end up going in the wrong direction, we are leaving this island.”

“I agree,” nodded MistyTrail. “We will sail outside the limits of their sight before turning to go around the island. You can do that, can’t you? You said you were sailors.”

Eltor hemmed and hawed, but Caldal nodded his head.

“We will do it,” Caldal declared. “Get me to that boat, and I will get us home somehow. I just wish the house you found was on the other coast. Let’s continue onward.”

MistyTrail took the lead and kept up a swift pace. It took Mistake a while to put into practice what she had learned from Caldal, but the elves were soon moving silently and swiftly. The hours sped by quickly as the forest turned into jungle. The wind began to whisper softly at first, but it escalated steadily until a strong breeze blew against the backs of the four escapees. Clouds began to drift across the sky and at times the moonshine was totally eliminated causing the jungle floor to darken considerably. MistyTrail called a halt.

“I can’t see well enough to continue at this pace,” MistyTrail said softly. “We will have to go slower.”

“Let’s take a rest,” suggested Eltor. “We have been making good time. We do not want to be tired when we reach the house on the beach.”

“What are we going to do when we get there?” asked Caldal. “You said there would be four soldiers there. If they are watching the sea, we cannot steal their boat.”

“I doubt that they would keep watch at night,” shrugged Mistake. “What would be the point? They sure would not be able to see a ship passing by.”

“That may be true at night,” Eltor pointed out, “but we may not arrive there until morning. You did say that it was quite a trip.”

“We have been making good time,” replied MistyTrail. “I am sure that we will be there before dawn. Maybe we should start walking again.”