The Godling Chronicles 02 - Of Gods And Elves by Brian D. Anderson Page B

the
west. What struck Gewey as odd was the utter silence. With the
exception of their footfalls and the sound of the wind, nothing, not
even birds could be heard. The elves appeared to notice this oddity
and Gewey could see that it made them uneasy.
    “ Something foul is near,” whispered Linis.
    “ What do you mean?” asked Gewey.
    “ I'm not sure. But I intend to find out.”
    Linis motioned for a halt and disappeared into the thin
brush. A while later he returned, muscles tensed and eyes wide.
    “ We are being followed,” said Linis. “But
by whom or what, I can't say.”
    “ How?” said Gewey. “I thought this way
was secret.”
    “ So did I. It would seem the High Lady was
mistaken. I tried to spot our pursuer, but it is as crafty as my
seekers reported, assuming what they saw is the same thing that
hounds us now.”
    “ We should try and capture it,” said
Theopolou. “I would know who this is, and why they risk
following elves.”
    “ Whatever it is, it's neither human nor elf,”
said Linis.
    “ How do you know that?” asked Gewey.
    “ No human alive could avoid me. Not even a
half-man could manage it. As for it being an elf... no elf feels like this creature. Life flees from it. Not even the birds come
near.”
    Theopolou looked troubled as his brow furled and eyes
surveyed the area. “Take as many from my escort as you need.”
    “ I should need no more than three,” said
Linis. He turned to the other elves. “Who among you have had
seeker training?”
    Stintos and Haldrontis, two tall blond elves, stepped
forward. “And I make three,” announced Gewey.
    Linis looked at Gewey skeptically. “I know you
have training, but I do not think Lee would approve of this.”
    “ Lee is not here,” said Gewey. “And if
he were, I am still the best choice.”
    Linis' mouth tightened, then he sighed. “Very
well. But you must do exactly as you are told.”
    Kaylia grabbed Gewey's arm. “You should let me go
instead.”
    Gewey squeezed her hand. This drew uneasy stares from
the elves. “Don't worry. I won't do anything too stupid.”
    Linis motioned for the volunteers to follow him into the
brush. They walked north for about one-hundred yards, then he told
them to halt.
    “ You two split up east and west. See to it that
you make enough noise to announce your presence. I will move north
while Gewey follows slowly behind.” His eyes met Gewey's. “Make
sure you are at least three-hundred paces behind me at all times. The
thing that follows us fell back north as I approached. Ahead is a
clearing. The creature will likely try to avoid being exposed, which
means it will double back and try to sneak by me. When it does we
will close the trap.” He looked hard at the entire group. “If
you encounter whatever this is, do not take it on alone.”
    Everyone nodded in agreement. Gewey began to feel the
pulse of the earth flow through his limbs. The world around him
opened up, and he could sense everything around him. He closed his
eyes and listened for their prey.
    “ It's one-hundred yards north,” said Gewey.
“And you're right. It's neither human nor elf.”
    “ How is it you know this?” asked Stintos.
    “ Never you mind,” shot Linis. “If
Gewey says the creature is there, then you can count on it.” He
turned to Gewey. “Do you know what it is?”
    Gewey shook his head. “No. But I think it knows
we're coming.”
    “ All the more reason to be mindful,” said
Linis.
    Stintos and Haldrontis drew their long knives and each
headed in opposite directions. Linis gave Gewey a final glance and
went north. Once he was out of sight Gewey slowly crept forward. With
his heightened senses, he could hear the movements of the creature
ahead. Slowly he slid his sword from its scabbard. It felt warm as it
throbbed in his hand. Energy rushed through him like a torrent, and
he could feel the sinews of his arms and legs pulse and grow
stronger.
    Gewey heard Linis as the elf neared the creature. Linis
had