ground. Before any of the others knew what had happened the archer struck a second, felling him quickly as well. The other men in Daegan’s team were crouching closer to the circle, remaining in shadow until the signal was given. Daegan had crept ever so quietly and quickly that he was already upon the Ónarach off to the side and slit its throat before it had even registered the threat in front of it.
“Ferrishyn!” shouted one of the Ónarach in its gravelly voice.
“Only one, keep the boundary!” shouted another.
“Destroy her faster!” one shouted from the center, hacking at the tree that refused to be slaughtered.
Another swing of the ax. Another scream rent the sky, but oddly it did not come directly from the tree itself but further away. The fog continued to provide cover as Daegan weaved in and around the band of hunters and their evil intent. In the otherwise silent forest, what sounded like a bird shrieked a cry—a signal. Daegan’s men surrounded the circle in the cover of the fog. Another cry from the bird and the men attacked with a cry of their own...
That was the only sound that came from the Ferrishyn, to inform the enemy of their approaching end. Otherwise, they fought and killed in silence. The only sounds heard were the clanging of metal upon metal as swords clashed, the gurgling shouts from the Ónarach if they had time to utter a sound before death found them, and the panicked chopping coming from the center followed by the weakening screams of the invisible woman.
Thump. The sound of a heavy body hitting the forest floor with all its weight arrested the sounds of the chopping. The last remaining Ónarach stood gripping its ax and spun around to look behind it. Still surrounded by a fog that was beginning to thin, the Ónarach glared into the darkness beyond the mist.
“It does not matter. She will die. She is destroyed beyond full repair,” it gurgled out with spit flying from its malformed mouth and crooked teeth as its eyes were wild with terror. It turned back around only to come face to face with the eyes of a Ferrishyn about to deliver justice.
“I am not afraid to die at the hands of a Ferrishyn,” it garbled out with what seemed like laughter.
Burning flames danced in Daegan’s eyes, eliciting recognition in the Ónarach. “I am no ordinary Ferrishyn.”
Daegan’s sword had already pierced the creature’s gut with one hand, while the other hand flew outward with his dagger slicing clean through its neck, severing darkness from its host.
Daegan took a deep breath attempting to cool the fire he felt burning within him and to flood his own being with the coolness of peace from his inner magic. The fog instantly dissipated. The carnage left a gruesome sight and a foul smell. Seeing his men all intact and wiping the blackish brown blood off their weapons gave him a sense of relief. Yet something in his gut was left unsettled.
“H...e...l...p.” The faintish whisper that only the most sensitive could hear tickled Daegan’s ear.
It felt distant and then in the very next moment it felt like the one who whispered it was right next to him, though he could see nothing. He took a deep breath and looked to his magic, which often gave him an additional sense or sight that others did not have. Closing his eyes, he let the magic envelop him as it pushed into his mind and behind his eyes. Opening his eyes again, he suddenly saw hidden things in the forest that he had not seen before. Within many of the trees, a green energy pulsated throughout their trunks from the roots all the way through the branches and up to the tops of the trees. If Daegan looked with eyes to understand, he could see the forms of beings that resembled people take shape, hold for a moment, then morph back into the flow of their energy. He looked near the circle again, almost spinning fully around, taking in the same scene with the magic in his eyes.
“H...e....l.....p.” Weaker than before, the voice twisted
“Ferrishyn!” shouted one of the Ónarach in its gravelly voice.
“Only one, keep the boundary!” shouted another.
“Destroy her faster!” one shouted from the center, hacking at the tree that refused to be slaughtered.
Another swing of the ax. Another scream rent the sky, but oddly it did not come directly from the tree itself but further away. The fog continued to provide cover as Daegan weaved in and around the band of hunters and their evil intent. In the otherwise silent forest, what sounded like a bird shrieked a cry—a signal. Daegan’s men surrounded the circle in the cover of the fog. Another cry from the bird and the men attacked with a cry of their own...
That was the only sound that came from the Ferrishyn, to inform the enemy of their approaching end. Otherwise, they fought and killed in silence. The only sounds heard were the clanging of metal upon metal as swords clashed, the gurgling shouts from the Ónarach if they had time to utter a sound before death found them, and the panicked chopping coming from the center followed by the weakening screams of the invisible woman.
Thump. The sound of a heavy body hitting the forest floor with all its weight arrested the sounds of the chopping. The last remaining Ónarach stood gripping its ax and spun around to look behind it. Still surrounded by a fog that was beginning to thin, the Ónarach glared into the darkness beyond the mist.
“It does not matter. She will die. She is destroyed beyond full repair,” it gurgled out with spit flying from its malformed mouth and crooked teeth as its eyes were wild with terror. It turned back around only to come face to face with the eyes of a Ferrishyn about to deliver justice.
“I am not afraid to die at the hands of a Ferrishyn,” it garbled out with what seemed like laughter.
Burning flames danced in Daegan’s eyes, eliciting recognition in the Ónarach. “I am no ordinary Ferrishyn.”
Daegan’s sword had already pierced the creature’s gut with one hand, while the other hand flew outward with his dagger slicing clean through its neck, severing darkness from its host.
Daegan took a deep breath attempting to cool the fire he felt burning within him and to flood his own being with the coolness of peace from his inner magic. The fog instantly dissipated. The carnage left a gruesome sight and a foul smell. Seeing his men all intact and wiping the blackish brown blood off their weapons gave him a sense of relief. Yet something in his gut was left unsettled.
“H...e...l...p.” The faintish whisper that only the most sensitive could hear tickled Daegan’s ear.
It felt distant and then in the very next moment it felt like the one who whispered it was right next to him, though he could see nothing. He took a deep breath and looked to his magic, which often gave him an additional sense or sight that others did not have. Closing his eyes, he let the magic envelop him as it pushed into his mind and behind his eyes. Opening his eyes again, he suddenly saw hidden things in the forest that he had not seen before. Within many of the trees, a green energy pulsated throughout their trunks from the roots all the way through the branches and up to the tops of the trees. If Daegan looked with eyes to understand, he could see the forms of beings that resembled people take shape, hold for a moment, then morph back into the flow of their energy. He looked near the circle again, almost spinning fully around, taking in the same scene with the magic in his eyes.
“H...e....l.....p.” Weaker than before, the voice twisted
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