The falcon's daughters

Chapter 24

- Something has happened. 

She held her horse to stop and pulled out the star-shaped stone that rested under her dress. Her fingers closed around the stone before she shut her eyes and allowed her thoughts to wander. Lee and Y'zora stopped their horses next to hers and waited without making a sound. When she opened her eyes, they were filled with a strong fear.

- What's wrong?

- Kit is in danger. We have to hurry.

- It will take us another five days before we arrive in Theko.

- But Lee! My sister needs us now.

- If we push the horses any harder we will lose them and then we won't reach your sister in time,

Y’zora nodded and took Sol’s hand.

- He's right. You know that he is.

Bitter tears ran down her cheeks as she nodded.

- I just don't know how to handle this Yzza.  I can feel the danger coming closer and I can't help her.

The barren plain gave them no opportunity to seek shelter from the soldiers who were hot on their trail. Further up ahead they could see the large grove of trees that marked the border to the marshlands.

- There. We’ll try to lose them in the swamp.

Lesia pulled her horse to a stop and stared at Lace.

- Are you crazy! That area belongs to the swamp people. If we encounter them, we will be killed.

- I’ll take that risk over returning to Crayden's dungeon.

- Kit is right Lesia. If Crayden catches us, we will die anyway. In the swamp we might have a chance.

Lesia looked back over her shoulder to the soldiers closing in on them and finally nodded.

- Ok but i have a bad feeling about this.

They got the horses moving again and rode into the cold dark marshes. Outside the swamp, Crayden's soldiers held their horses.

- What the hell are you doing! Go in after them!

- But my lord. These are the swamp people's domains. No one who has gone in there has ever returned.

- Then we will wait here until they come out and then she will be mine.

Crayden smiled an eerie smile that made even his soldiers shiver.

- Get the camp ready!

The smell of rotting flesh and plants made it twitch in Kit’s nose and she placed her hand over it.

- How can any creature endure living in this stench?

Lesia stepped over a large branch and encouraged her horse to follow.

- The swamp people do not perceive smells the same way we do. We have to be careful. If they find us here, we don't have a chance.

- What do you know about these creatures Lesia?

- They live alone in this swamp. The weapons they use are spears and arrows. But the tips of their weapons are dipped in a poison that paralyzes the victim. The swamp people like to eat their meat fresh.

- Do you mean they eat people alive!

Kit raised her voice and made a disgusted face until a glare from Lace made her realise that she should probably keep her voice down.

- Is it a permanent poison?

- No. The paralysis releases after a few hours, but most are already dead by then.

- How long does it take for the poison to work?

- I'm not sure. It can be anything from a minute to a couple of hours.

She looked at Lance's thoughtful face and wondered what was going through his mind. 

- You have so many questions Lace. What are you thinking?

- We might be able to make it out alive if we were to meet them. I'll explain later. We’ll keep on moving.

They walked through the thick dunes and over trees that had fallen under heavy storms and now lay half decayed on the ground. Through the holes in the thick foliage they could see the disappearing sunlight.

- Lace, I think we should stay and rest a little.

Lesia’s gaze fell on Kit who was walking beside Chiro. She had an arm around the horse's neck and leaned heavily against him for every step. On the bandage she could see a dark spot growing larger. She lowered her voice to a whisper.

- She cant keep moving much longer. We have to stop.

- You're right. Kit! We will rest here for a while.

Kit let go of Chiro and tiredly sat down on a thick tree trunk. Lesia sat down next to her.

- Your wound has gone up. We should change the bandage.

- That's not necessary. 

- No objections Kit. Lift your leg now so I can reach the knot. What were you thinking about before Lace?

Lesia undid the bandage and thankfully the wound isn't bleeding as much as she had feared. She rewrapped it again and made sure the knot was tight and secure.

- I want you to be ready to throw yourselves on the horses and ride for dear life out of here. If it takes a while for the swamp people's poison to work, then maybe we can get out of here before it does.

- If we're lucky that is.

Lace ignored Lesia’s comment and turned to his daughter.

- Kit, listen carefully now. If we get separated, you ride to the valley and wait for me there. You will find everything you need. If I haven't come there after two weeks, I want you to ride to Laniro. Talk to King Worgan. He will help you and make sure you find Sol.

- But Lace...

- No buts! For once, I want you to do as I say.

- Yes Lace. Do you think Dorcha is doing well? Will I ever see her again?

- Don't worry. She will find you. She has before after all?

- Who are Dorcha and Sol?

- Sol is my sister and Dorcha, she is my best friend. 

- Dorcha. That’s an unusual name for a girl.

- Dorcha isn’t a girl Lesia. She's a black panther.

Lesia stared at Lace and couldn't believe her ears.

- A panther?

- She found Kit as a baby and they have never been apart since.

- What happened to her?

- She was out hunting when Crayden's men caught us.

- I miss her.

Kit’s voice was low and she looked down at the ground that slowly began to bubble. A shiver crept up along Kit's back and she got up.

- Lace?

The bubbles spread over an ever larger area and faster. Lace got on Kori’s back.

- Get on the horses and be ready to ride.

- But Lace...

- I'll meet you in the valley. Now go.

As soon as they got on their horses creatures emerged from the swamp's bubbling ground. The horses backed away from the creatures that appeared around them. The human-like creatures were covered in brown mud. In their hands they held short bows or heavy spears. With cold purple eyes they watched the people and their horses.

- Now!

The creatures turned to Lace when he shouted and the two women saw their chance. They stormed through the creatures and continued towards the edge of the swamp. Lace steered his horse toward the other side of the swamp in hopes that the creatures would follow him. They ignored the fleeing man and raised their arms at the two women. A stifling scream made Kit turn her head. A sob was caught in her throat when she saw Lesia fall off her horse with one of the creature's spear in her chest. The tears burned behind her eyelids as she pushed Chiro further. A sharp pain cut through her hip and she grabbed Chiro’s mane to stay in the saddle. The ground became firmer under his hooves and he increased the speed as they left the swamp behind.