-Chapter Four-
The Amulet (working title - may change..)
Slender shafts of daylight pierced the linen cover of the wagon, their warmth lightly caressing Eve's suntanned skin. She sat propped against a bulky timber crate packed with ceremonial cloths and tools, her eyes following the steady flow of the road behind them. Jessa lay sleeping upon a small heap of blankets, though Eve was scarcely aware of her presence.
Her mind focused instead on the murmurs of the elements around her. Years of grounding and preparation in the sanctuary had deepened her connection to the Guardians of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, allowing her to listen to and accept their guidance. It was this bond that enabled her to utilize the elemental magic that she specialized in.
She sat in silence, spiritually conversing with the elements while the wagon swayed to and fro. Their whispers licked her ears as ancient voices echoed in her mind. Fire's voice was loud and warm, like a father singing praise to his child's accomplishments. The opposite, Water was smooth and silky like a lazy river through a grassy field. Air's whispers were breathy and dry, while Earth's voice was calm and cool, full of love and solidity. It was the sound of these four voices that she had known and trusted all of her life.
Eve and the elements finished their hushed conversation just as Jessa, the red-haired human sharing the wagon with her, began to stir. She pushed herself up from the blankets, and Eve could feel the girl's eyes on her.
"How much longer will it be until we arrive at Thornton?" Jessa asked sleepily after a great yawn.
"We will not be very much longer," Eve assured her, opening her jade-coloured eyes at last. "We should arrive well before nightfall."
Jessa stretched her arms with a sigh and scooted to the rear of the wagon, poking her head out of the opening in the cloth. "Aroth's burning fiercely," she exclaimed, wiping her forehead with the back of her wrist. Birds sang cheerily from the nearby tree branches as a calm breeze rustled the leaves.
Eve's eyes were drawn to a brief sparkle in the corner of the wagon; it had been the gilded edge of a polished wooden chest in the sunlight. Its dark wood was illuminated by fine golden curls on each corner, with a delicate-looking clasp in the centre. Its lid was engraved with images of Aroth, the god of Light. Etches of the sun as a spiral decorated the sides of the box, glistening with hints of gold.
Jessa spun around, smiling. "It's days like this that make me glad we're going to Feora City," she admitted cheerfully.
"Do you not like the sun? We will not see much of it in Feora." Eve responded, her eyes still locked onto the wooden container.
"It's not that." Jessa's gaze flicked over to the gilded chest in the corner. "I'm glad to be helping, is what I meant."
The chestnut-haired elf smiled softly and her eyes fell to her lap, where she was fiddling with the black bag hooked to her silk belt; it was now empty.
"I expect Aroth is pleased." Jessa chirped as she removed Eve's folded black cloak from atop the wooden chest. "He must be very thankful that your family has been guarding the amulet for so long."
"I would not know," Eve responded, her smirk still visible. "I have not been blessed with the talent of communicating with the gods."
There was a long silence. Dust darted in and out of the sunlight, sparkling like miniature stars inside of the wagon. The heavy sounds of the horses' hooves striking the road filled the quiet like mead into a cup.
"May I see it?" Jessa blurted suddenly, resting her hands on the soft wood.
Eve's smile faded quickly. "No."
The redhead turned to Eve, frowning. "Please?" she squeaked, her fingers gliding closer to the latch in front. Her fingertips curled under the lip of the latch, tugging gently.
Eve leaned forward and clapped her hand onto Jessa's, then pulled it away. "I cannot allow you to. The Amulet of Aroth must not be touched by anyone but its minder. It is what the prophecy has commanded."
Jessa's rounded shoulders fell as she gave Eve a pouty look. "Fine, fine. I'll just go and keep Kipper company," she grumbled under her breath as she headed for the front of the wagon.
Eve couldn't help it as a smirk crawled across her lips once more. She mused to herself about her fire-headed friend's quirks as she moved to the front of the wooden chest. She stroked the sides of the box lovingly, finally meeting in the centre; she tucked her fingers under the latch.
A satisfying snap echoed inside the wagon, and as the lid rose, the familiar scent of incense surrounded her. Dragon's Blood, for protection, she reflected to herself, breathing in the fragrance deeply. The others at the sanctuary had been burning the incense for nine days prior to the trip. Eve was surprised that the scent had been so well preserved since then.
Inside laid a crimson silk cushion with amber tassels off the corners. In the centre, a tear-shaped sunstone glistened; bright flicks of light shimmered inside a sea of flame. The stone was held in place by waves and curls of gold, suspended on a delicate chain.
Her fingertips stroke the edge of the amulet gently, and a feeling of warmth flooded her. It was as though the sun had broken through the fabric top of the wagon and was shining all around her.
A small hum echoed in her mind; it sounded like a distant song being sung, one she recognized as the Hymn of Aroth. The chanting grew louder and clearer in her mind as the minutes ticked by, and her mind dwelled on the Temple in Lo'Dria, her home.
She was so captivated by the amulet's song that she failed to realize that the wagon had slowed almost to a stop. There was a faint rustling of cloth in the distance, paired with the shaking of leaves and the distinct sound of something scratching into wood.
"Eve," came a gruff whisper from the head of the cart, breaking the elf from her concentration. "Something's wrong."
She turned to see Kipper's gaunt face poking in through the opening, his cheekbones sharp as blades. His dark eyes were wide with unease.
Eve slipped the amulet back in and closed the chest as quietly as she could, covering the box with her black cloak. Kipper pulled his head back outside as Eve joined him and Jessa on the front seat behind the horses.
The ceiling of leaves and branches overhead was thick and hardly any daylight penetrated it. What light did make it through the cover sat stagnant on the dirt as tiny pools of sunlight. The wind carried a strange odour, one that reminded Eve of the men from the tavern in Farport. She fought hard to avoid crumpling her nose in disgust.
"They're watching us," Kipper said through a hushed whisper. "They've been following us for at least the last hour. I wasn't sure until now."
"Goblins?" Eve whispered, glancing over Kipper's bony shoulder. A wall of thick tree trunks lined the road like soldiers standing at attention. Bulky, leaf-covered bushes sat at their roots like devoted hounds, waiting for the command to attack.
Kipper nodded, giving the reins a bit of a snap. Lady Lightning and Rowan picked up their pace and the wagon surged forward over the uneven earthen road.
"Jessa, with me." Eve murmured, gesturing to the redhead as she edged back inside the wagon. They moved to the rear of the cart together. Jessa reached for her recurve bow, which had been leaning against the wall of the wagon. Eve placed a hand on Jessa's arm, silently warning her to keep the weapon hidden from sight.
A burst of air flooded the wagon from the back, bringing with it the same recognizable odour as before. Eve closed her eyes and reached out with her thoughts, feeling for the wind. She sensed its chilled embrace wrap around her, holding her close and whispering into her ears. The conversation lasted only seconds.
"Kipper was right – they have been following us for a while," she stated as she opened her eyes.
Jessa's crimson eyebrows furrowed anxiously. She continued to hold the grip of her bow in her fist. "What do you think they want?" She peeped.
"Most likely anything we have," Eve responded, eyeing the cloth-covered chest containing the amulet. "If they do not strike soon, they will miss us. We are not far from Thornton."
Jessa's face filled with worry. Eve watched silently as the girl reached for her black leather quiver, pulling a single arrow from it. The arrowhead was broad and fierce looking, matching the bright red feathers that ran down its end. She held the arrow loosely in her chubby fingers.
The carriage groaned and shuddered as Kipper pushed the horses harder. Lady Lightning whinnied in frustration, but continued on. It will not be long now, Eve thought to herself as her hands began to summon a small amount of cool, clear water.
Jessa's lengthy hair swung around her like a fiery curtain as she glanced first over her shoulder and then back over to Eve. "I can see the wall," she chirped, "We're almost -"
"Move!" Eve cried out suddenly. Jessa nearly dropped her weapon as she was shoved to the side, her head narrowly missing the corner of a large crate.
A dense wall of water erupted from Eve's hands, closing off the open end of the wagon in time to catch three arrows that had been shot from behind the undergrowth. Kipper howled out a command to the horses, urging them faster along the path.
The wall of water began to swell, forming a sort of liquid shield around the wagon. Eve could feel herself growing weaker by the second; she hadn't exercised her powers in such a long time.
Jessa finally got to her knees and lifted her bow, knocking an arrow as she did so. Through the distorted barrier of water she managed to locate a small green shape that had run to the centre of the road behind them. She whispered a small prayer, drawing back her arrow. The tip of the arrowhead grazed against the water shield's inside as she took aim. Eve noticed the girl's intentions and lessened the shield's thickness around the arrow just as Jessa let it fly.
The arrow drove through the thin wall like it had been paper. Eve watched as Jessa's arrow flew towards the target, exploding into flame just before it sunk into the goblin's midsection. A garbled wail shot back at them, and Jessa grinned triumphantly.
"E-Eve!" Kipper shouted behind him, his voice broken by the bumping of the wagon, "T-They're ev-very-where!"
Eve gave a determined look to Jessa, who nodded and headed to the front of the carriage at once, lifting her quiver over her shoulder. Arrows flying from the trees continued to lodge in the water; Eve felt sweat bead down her face from the effort.
At the front of the wagon, Jessa was rapidly shooting flaming arrows into the bushes. Most of them struck into the trunks of trees, fizzling out swiftly as they had not struck their targets. The arrows that didn't miss their mark, however, caught the green creatures aflame. Howling in pain, the greenskins flopped helplessly to the ground, flailing about as they attempted to put themselves out.
Eve knew she couldn't hold the barrier up for much longer. She felt her strength being chipped away, as the goblins seemed to have begun focusing their fire along the sides of the shield. Two murky green and grey blurs dashed past the back of the wagon, scraping large crescent-shaped blades across the outside of the shield mercilessly.
"How close are we!?" Eve cried out almost frantically, her skin now drenched in sweat and moisture from the liquid shield. She grunted, pushing herself harder than she ever had before, but the strain was becoming too much...
Kipper hollered out, "Almost! They should see us coming around the bend--"
POP.
A massive cracking sound exploded in their ears, and like a bigger, wetter version of a soap bubble, the shield suddenly burst.
Water sprayed everywhere, splattering wetly against the dirt road as they sped on, soaking the horses and their masters; the spurt of liquid caught one of the goblins – who had been riding a large, black boar –off guard, and sent him and the beast spiralling headlong into the base of a large oak tree.
Kipper gave a great yowl as an arrow nicked his arm, drawing a long crimson line of blood. Lady Lightning whinnied hysterically, her large brown eyes wide with fear. Rowan, the large draft horse to her right, galloped on intently, forcing Lady Lightning to keep pace despite her worries.
A flurry of arrows suddenly ripped into the sides of the wagon, now that the shield had been destroyed. Eve, exhausted and weak from exertion, ducked down between the nearby crates, snaking her shaking hand between them. Her tired fingers worked at the latch on the amulet's chest. Finally, she managed to flip up the lid just enough for her to blindly jam a hand inside.
Eve finally found the amulet and grasped it by the chain. As quickly as she could, she slipped the amulet into its secondary hiding place – the black bag at her hip. Tucking the bag under her silken belt, the exhaustion suddenly caught up to her; she collapsed limply on the floor of the wagon, unable to move.
Up front, Jessa groaned as two goblins atop giant, stinking boars met their pace. One of the gruesome creatures, green-skinned and bloody, angrily swung a crescent-shaped blade high in the air from atop a particularly large black boar with thick, coarse fur.
The goblin nearest Kipper shouted something to the other in a horrible, guttural language, and immediately the two of them began closing in on the wagon. Jessa drew back another arrow as swiftly as she could, and let it burst forth from her bow. It landed squarely between the eyes of the goblin nearest her. Its limp and flaming body slid off of its mount and under the thunderous wheels of the wagon.
Jessa spotted the other boar rider and reached for another arrow. To her horror, the quiver was empty. She watched helplessly as the remaining goblin bit a curved dagger between his rotting, yellow teeth. Then it jumped.
Its coarse green hands clamped tightly around Kipper's bony arm, dragging it to the right. In one swift movement, the goblin swung its body weight forward and used a hand to grab the horses' reins. He yanked them sharply away from Kipper, who tried desperately to pull them back. Jessa leaned up against Kipper, grabbing the goblin tightly with her free hand. The goblin fought ferociously, and Kipper regained the reins once more...
But it was too late. The horses turned a hard right, and the wagon lurched to the left. The wheels skidded. One of them buckled, snapping in two soon after. Finally, with a terrible groan, the wagon began to tip.
Jessa tumbled backwards, still holding tight to the goblin. The two fell under a wheel on the back of the wagon as they spun uncontrollably on the ground, flopping against the dirt and rock road like ragdolls.
Kipper, feeling the weight of the vehicle shifting, yanked on an iron latch located under the seat of the wagon; the horse harnesses released from the front of the cart and the pair thundered off toward Thornton. The driver held onto whatever surface he could find.
A second later, the wagon had hit the ground. Still carrying the speed from the horses, it scraped against the earth noisily, and a giant plume of dust erupted from beneath it. Crates of goods tumbled out from the back and cracked open against the hard ground, throwing planks of wood everywhere. The amulet's chest flipped end over end, its lid snapping off completely before rolling into a boulder on the side of the road.
Finally, the wagon came to a dead stop in the centre of the road. A thick cloud of dust hung heavily in the air, and crates lay in chaos all across the area. One of the un-goblined boars hobbled along sluggishly, searching for its master.
Eve had never felt so sore in her life. Half-buried under wooden boxes, a slight groan escaped her. The wagon must have flipped, she thought to herself stupidly, straining to push a box full of iron goblets off of her legs.
She gave the crate one last push and it toppled off of her noisily, the iron goblets clinking and clanking as they spilled out of the box. Altar cloths that had been liberated from a container were now wrapped around her ankles, and a long tear in her skirts reached to the top of her knee. Eve pulled herself to a sitting position at last.
"Ilg'Barako! Daz tal naka!" growled a strange voice from outside. Another foreign-sounding voice responded, and a short grunty laugh was heard.
Eve peered over the jumbled mess inside to the front of the wagon. One of Kipper's thin legs sat propped up at an angle, and she could hear him moaning in pain. His pale hand groped for something, but then fell back down pathetically.
She looked behind the collapsed wagon and spotted a familiar-looking shape sprawled out on the road about a hundred or so feet back; flame-coloured hair tangled around the motionless body of Jessa, who had fallen from the front just a minute ago. A twisted green lump lay beside her, unmoving as well.
Kipper's weakened voice rose up, "Wh... What are you—"
"Shut your mouth-hole, human!" shrieked one of the goblins. A heavy THWAK sounded, followed by a wheezing grunt. "We take all the things now—and you maybe live, if you lucky, human." The shrill voice snorted, its laugh like the sound of nails on a chalkboard.
"Eg, 'lok a thaldak," one of the others commanded. Suddenly a group of younger goblins, some only children, began to pick at the wreckage.
Eve knew there was very little hope now. Soon, she would be discovered, and unable to defend herself in any way. The green skins were likely to kidnap her outright—her and the amulet. If the stories were true...
She swallowed hard, feeling the amulet pressing against her hip. It felt heavy in her purse, almost as though it were trying to escape under the wreckage itself. She had to get it to Feora. Her family name... the prophecy... and possibly millions of lives... They all depended on her and the Amulet of Aroth.
