Siren's Song Chapter 14

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The ground was soggy under their feet. Mud caked their boots and stuck to the horse’s hooves. The rain had stopped earlier in the day but the sun hide behind the dusky clouds. Small animals peeked their heads out peered around and then ducked back under cover sensing that the storm wasn’t over just yet.2

As the company marched on, the ground beneath them turned rockier. A slow incline stretched before them. Cautiously they stumbled onwards. Rock walls shot up around them and the vegetation became sparser. Gnarled and spinney trees, shrubs speckled the walls. Tan and beige boulders popped up in the path. Loose pebbles worn smooth by wind and water rolled beneath their feet, making the ground treacherous. Rage and the other horses whinnied nervously as they laid their ears back. Angel perched herself warily on Rage’s back, tail flickering to and fro. 3

From under her hood damp Siren peeked worriedly around, watching for any signs of a spider. Angel came to nestle under her cloak to keep the rain off. In between peeking out from under her hood she thought about all that had transpired before now. Crispin Ravenlocke was always foremost in her thoughts. She glanced towards him and studied his looks. His hair hung around his face hiding his eyes but a worried look lined his mouth. He looked as if he could withstand any force and she needed that reassurance right now. She was afraid of what they would find in the Windhill Cliffs. 4

“Is this a good time to say that Captain Ravenlocke has been staying close to you since we’ve started?” Angel interrupted Siren’s thoughts.5

“I don’t think that that is any of your business.” 6

“Company dismount. Lets walk the horses from here.” Ravenlocke announced suddenly.7

* * * 8

It was nearing dusk when the thirteen men and women found the first signs of another creature on the path. The sky held an array of rainbow colors over the horizon. Blues ran into purples as red and orange spilled together. The crickets and frogs took up their nighttime symphony and the birds settled down for their nightly sleep. The Rain had slacked off gradually to only a light sprinkle.9

On the path Belle crouched down to inspect the tracks that littered the ground. “Captain Ravenlocke, Forthroan Teals come see this, sirs.” She called to them.10

“What is it?” Asked Forthroan as they approached her.11

“I have never seen anything this large. What do these look like to you?”12

Strange markings crisscrossed the mud underneath one large s-shaped track. The track was three feet across and ran the length of the path.13

“It looks like something was dragged here,” Crispin pointed to the s-shaped marking. “But these other couldn’t be spider tracks, could they?”14

Forthroan stooped down, “It’s not like any spider I’ve ever seen, large or small.”15

“Belle take Tag and run up ahead and see what you can. The rest of us will wait your return.” Belle nodded and ran on as the others dropped their packs to rest.16

Siren sat on a boulder and pulled off her boots. She was massaging her feet when Crispin wandered over. He took up a seat next to her. 17

“I’ve been wondering how you’ve been holding up?” He asked her quietly. She shrugged her shoulder and continued to massage her sore feet. “I know I haven’t been as attentive as I would be if we were back in the village and I feel terrible.”18

“What are you trying to tell me?” He looked away from her when she spoke to him. 19

Shadows clothed the narrow path as the sun faded over the tree line behind them. Overhead a hawk circled twice before gracefully swooping away. In the background the men’s murmured voices drifted past them. The smell of damp horsehair hung on the air.20

Hesitantly he took Siren’s hand and then turned to face her. “I,” he took a deep breath, “if we were still in the village I would have asked to court you. I feel that there is a connection between us and I think we should explore this relationship.” He stopped abruptly. Crispin stared into her eyes watching her expression. Waiting for her to speak he squeezed her hand tightly.21

Siren looked at him amazed. It was strange to see such a strong man reduced to stuttering. She had not thought that his feelings were so strong. He looked so vulnerable in the waning of the day’s light. A worried look crossed his face as he waited for her. She reached out and touched his face softly. Running her hand down his cheek to his chin she felt the beginning of a rough beard. It only made him more handsome in her eyes. She stopped at the scar on his chin and caressed the crest. 22

This is what she wanted. From the first time she saw him in the small tavern she knew that it would be. What an odd place to declare his love for her. Inside she was melting, she heart fluttered and her fingers shook. A slow smile crept onto her mouth as she leaned toward him and touched her lips to his.23

Surprised he pulled back; he looked at her astonished. Then he realized what had happened and he took Siren in his arms and kissed her passionately. Out of nowhere there came shouts and whistles from behind them. The soldiers had stopped what they were doing to watch them. Embarrassed they pulled back from one another. Their faces flushed red, but their smiles were wide and bright. 24

The laughter and hollers stopped when Belle and Tag walked back into sight. Crispin let Belle come to him. Her eyes were bright with excitement and her breath was labored.25

“What have you seen?” He asked her as the others gathered around them.26

“I followed the tracks to a huge cave. There seems to be a great deal more activity in front of it. What ever made those tracks is in that cave.” Belle reported a little bit out of breath.27

Angel materialized next to Siren to jump in her lap. “Those tracks were not made by a spider.” She purred.28

“What do you suppose made them then?” Siren thought to her.29

“That I do not know.”30

“What help are you then?” Still thinking to Angel.31

For her answer Angel jumped off her lap and disappeared along the path.32

“Angel!” Siren yelled after her. She grabbed Crispin’s shoulder to get his attention then chased off after her. Not caring about what lay ahead of her she speed away from the safety of the group. She caught sight of Angel rounding a bend in the path and raced faster to catch her. She faintly heard Crispin and her uncle calling after her but the safety of her cat drove her on. 33

Siren stumbled over a loose rock in the path and went down. For a second she laid there when she heard crunching of rocks above her. Something grabbed her and hoisted her up by her elbow. She struggled to free herself from the rough embrace. When she swung around to hit whatever was behind her, Forthroan stopped her hand.34

“Did you not hear us calling to you?”35

Breathlessly she answered, “Yes, I heard you but Angel is out there.” She pulled her arm roughly out of his hold.36

“Angel can take care of herself.”37

At this time the rest of the soldiers and Cinzia caught up to them with the horses. Breathing deeply Crispin took her in his arms and held her close. The sound she heard before got louder.38

Angel slithered around her legs. “It comes.”39

Siren stooped down and picked her up and buried her face in the cat’s warm fur. Crispin and the others looked around cautiously. The sound seemed to be coming from above them.40

“Where is that cave?” Darion asked Belle quietly.41

“A few yards ahead of us,” she answered back. “Just over that rise.” 42

Crispin and Forthroan Teals unsheathed their short swords. The others followed suit. Cinzia and Siren stood in the middle of the circle as the rustling sound grew louder. Angel hissed and the horses stomped their hooves nervously.43

“I do not like this.” Angel hissed violently in Siren’s arms. “That does not sound like a spider.”44

“I agree,” whispered Siren.45

Crispin swung his head around and glared at Siren. She held her ground under his stare. Over the high wall on their right the rustling came. Branches broke under enormous pressure and bits of shattered rock rained down on them. They ducked in response to the shower. Sheltered Angel with her body.46

Looming above them came a male human head with a snakelike hood on the sides of its face as if it was hair. As it drew closer it showed the sinuous body of a snake. Long and slender with gray scales running down its muscled body. A smooth underbelly of pale yellow stretched tightly under a human chin. Blood red eyes, with its pupils slit like the snake it resembled watched defensively. A forked tongue darted in and out tasting the air. Human arms and hand jetted out the sides of the body. It could have easily been three feet wide and four human men long.47

Siren cringed back at the sight of the hideous beast that emerged Angel hissed in Siren’s arm and struggled to be let free. She held on fast to the little cat, needing. The horses nickered and tugged at their reigns also struggling to get free. Their eyes rolling up to show the white, fear making their nostrils flare and hooves prance. The soldiers closed in making the semi-circle smaller. They watched as the human headed snake slithered down the side of the walls.48

“That’s no spider!” Exclaimed Pegg as his eyes grew larger.49

“Stand you ground soldiers.” Crispin yelled over the loud hiss coming from the beast. When the creature opened its mouth long fangs could be seen.50

As the part snake, part man advanced Crispin, Forthroan, Vox Silver, Tag and Tanner moved forward with sword out in front. The second wave, Pegg, Jenkins, Older Went, Aromus, and Belle took up in back of them. Darion stayed with Siren and Cinzia, his sword clutched in his shaking hands. A look of fear masked his face as he struggled to draw a breath.51