Chris Pierson - Dezra's Quest

And then he heard it: hoofbeats, growing swiftly louder, coming through the trees. Lowering the axe, he turned.

With a roar, Trephas charged out of the gloom. He came on so fast that Chrethon almost forgot to dodge his spear. The lance, which had been aimed at Chrethon's heart, struck his left arm instead, cleaving through his wasted flesh. Its shaft snapped from the force of the blow, then Trephas slammed into Chrethon and they crashed to the ground in a tangle of arms and legs.

They wrestled together a moment, kicking and clawing, then Chrethon pulled away, shoving Trephas off. As he did, Trephas grabbed the sword Chrethon wore on his harness. Steel rang as the blade slid from its scabbard, then they parted, scrambling to their feet.

They stood apart from each other, breathing hard, holding their weapons ready. Blood trickled down Trephas's chin. He wiped it away with the back of his hand.

Chrethon chose that moment to attack, Soulsplitter whirling. Trephas raised his sword to parry, then recognized the feint and leapt back as Chrethon suddenly reversed the blow and swung upward, aiming to cleave him from beneath. The axe struck flesh and bone, carving easily through both, and two fingers from Trephas's left hand fell to the ground.

Gasping in pain, Trephas snatched back his injured hand, then ducked as Soulsplitter parted the air above his head. He rose again, then swung his sword low, parrying a slash aimed at his legs. He struck Soulsplitter's haft, the force of the blow nearly jarring the blade from his hand.

Again they separated, circling each other. This time Trephas came on, swiping with his sword. The blade opened a gash in Chrethon's belly, but not deep enough to kill. The Skorenos swung in response, and Trephas leaped back… .

And stumbled.

Chrethon's face lit with maniacal joy as Trephas fell to his knees, dropping his sword. He raised Soulsplitter high to smite his defenseless foe.

Then he saw Trephas's eyes. His smile turned into a snarl as the centaur surged forward, slamming his shoulder into Chrethon's stomach. Air erupted from the Skorenos's lungs in a loud rush, and still Trephas continued to drive forward and up. Trephas flung his arms about Chrethon's waist, squeezing with all his strength. Chrethon gasped for breath, trying to swing Soulsplitter, but he had no room. Meanwhile, Trephas twisted and shoved, jerking him this way and that. Finally, Chrethon lost his balance, and the two fell to the ground once more. Soulsplitter flew from his grasp, landing out of reach.

Trephas shifted his hold, wrapping a sinewy arm around the Skorenos's throat. Inexorably, Chrethon began to choke. When he was wavering on the edge of unconsciousness, however, Trephas relented. Even in the red fury of battle, the centaur wasn't foolish enough to kill him with his bare hands. As Chrethon lay gasping on the ground, Trephas rose, went to pick up the sword he'd dropped, and limped back to the Skorenos's side.

Chrethon tried to rise, but couldn't. He raised his chin defiantly. "It's done," he said. "Finish me.”

Trephas drove the sword into the Skorenos's breast. Chrethon grimaced, let out a weak breath. The sword burst into a million pieces.

Silence fell over the vale. Even the storm seemed to abate as Lord Chrethon died. Then a deep, furious roar rose, almost inaudible at first, but gaining strength until it was louder than thunder, shaking the earth under Trephas's hooves. Grimbough's branches waved and writhed in rage. Trephas stared at the daemon tree, his eyes wide with fear.

Then the ground beneath him erupted, and thick, hairy roots burst forth. He had just enough time to cry out in terror as they coiled about him and dragged him down.

The others were almost to the edge of Grimbough's sward when Trephas screamed. Dezra stiffened, then broke into a run, limping toward the daemon tree.

"Dez, wait!" Caramon yelped. He grabbed for her, catching her wrist, but she shook him off. Then she was gone, vanishing into the shadows. "Damn and blast!" he swore as the trees writhed in her wake. "Borlos-"

"Right behind you, big guy," the bard said.

They hurried after her, but she was quicker. When they reached the edge of the sward, she was already halfway across, sprinting toward a dark form that struggled on the ground. They only glimpsed her for a moment, however, before Grimbough stole their attention away. Stopping, they stared up at the seething form of the daemon tree. It writhed and shuddered, its branches clawing at the stormy sky. The voices in its leaves were heavy with wrath, filling their minds with images of darkness, blood and suffering. They staggered beneath its fury.

" Father! " Dezra yelled. "Come quickly!"

Caramon blinked and shivered, his head aching from the tree's terrible thoughts. Grabbing Borlos's arm, he started running again, across the sward. Grimbough creaked and groaned above them. They drew up behind Dezra, gasping for breath.

She sat on the ground before the dark shape they'd seen from the sward's edge. It was Trephas; the centaur was buried in the earth up to his chest, with only his head and arms free. His face twitched with pain, eyes squeezed shut and lips pulled back from his teeth. Dezra leaned back, pulling his arms with all her might, but to no avail-he wouldn't budge.

"The tree's got him!" Dezra snarled. "Help me!"

Caramon knelt beside her, took one of the centaur's arms, and pulled. Something yanked back from beneath the ground, matching his strength easily.

Trephas's face contorted even more. He moaned, a violent shudder wracking his body.

"What is it?" Dezra demanded. "What's happening?"

He shook uncontrollably, foam flecking his lips. When he spoke, the words came thick and slow. "I don't know," he moaned. "Something's… happening. I can feel it… ."

Borlos paled. "Are you Crossing? Is it trying to change you?"

Trephas opened his eyes, and his companions recoiled in horror. A deep blackness swirled in them, like some great beast under the surface of the sea.

"No!" Dezra yelled, pulling even harder. "We have to get him out!"

The centaur shook his head, twitching. "Not me. The Forestmaster," he murmured. "She must be freed… ."

"I'm not leaving you," Dezra told him.

"Please," Trephas whimpered.

"No," Caramon told him. "It's all right. Stay with him, Dez. Bor and I'll take care of the rest."

He and Borlos left Dezra with the centaur, hurrying toward the huddled shape of the unicorn. Caramon winced when he saw what had become of the Forestmaster. He remembered what she'd looked like forty years ago, all silvery majesty, and had to look away from her wretched, withered form.

"Come on, big guy," Borlos urged, bending down. He grabbed one of the tendrils that held the unicorn and tugged at it. "Help me get her loose."

As Caramon turned back toward the Forestmaster, something caught his eye: a glint of steel, shining on the ground as lightning flashed above. He caught his breath, then turned and hurried away, toward the gleam.

"Hey!" Borlos shouted, still trying to prize the tendril from the Forestmaster's throat.

Caramon ignored him. Soon he saw what had glimmered in the lightning's glow. Catching his breath, he bent down and picked up Soulsplitter.

"Big guy!" Borlos snapped. "Get back and help me!"

"No," Caramon said. "There's only one way to end this."

"What are you talking about?" Borlos asked.

Caramon hefted Soulsplitter. "My father was a woodcutter," he said. "His father too, and so on, back more years than I can count. I was the first Majere son in generations not to follow the family trade." He smiled. "I think it's time I started."

Borlos blinked, then glanced at the daemon tree and grinned. "Sure thing, big guy," he said. "Just make sure it doesn't fall this way, all right?"