Tainted by Blood

Chapter Three

Chapter 3

Spots of brightly coloured lights flickered through the black. They blobbed and bounced under his eyelids. Terulen slowly opened his eyes. The bright morning light was harsh on his eyes. Terulen blinked a few times and the blobs of bright coloured lights started to focus. He could feel his back laying on the cold, hard ground. But he wasn’t on top of any sticks or sharp rocks, so he knew he must be under a shelter of some sort.

Flashes from the night before started to flicker through his head. Terulen suddenly jumped to his feet, remembering the skeleton warriors. His hand flew to where his sword should have been, but it was no longer there. He must have dropped it when he got knocked out. Images from Hawks death filled his mind. Terulen pushed away the sadness that threatened to spill over. He couldn’t help but think there was something very important from that night that he wasn’t quite remembering. It was like an itch that he couldn’t scratch.

Andre! Terulen remember suddenly, satisfying the itch. Had Andre and Lanyla survived? Where were they? And what of the fate of the two guards? Terulen knew he had to find them. He just had to find his sword first. A blunt sword was better than no weapon at all. Terulen wasn’t sure where he would start searching for them first. The cabin! Terulen remembered Andre mentioning that the humans were being taken there. That was he’s best bet. If they were still alive, they’ll be there.

The cabin was too the east, that was all he knew. He hoped it was still to the east of wherever he was. Where was he? Terulen looked around paying attention to his surroundings for the first time. The bright coloured blobs he first saw when he woke were still there. They were hovering in the air all around him. What were they? Terulen wandered, peering at the closest one. His eyes focused on it and features started to appear. The coloured blobs were people! No, not people. Pixies.

The pixie closest to him emanated a bright pink light. She wore a dark, pink dress that looked like a ball gown. It had tiny roses dotted around the hem and there was a matching rose sticking out of her golden hair that fell just past her tiny shoulders. Sitting on top of her head was a glittering crown. She must be the queen, Terulen decided. He golden eyes pinned him with a look that made it clear he wasn’t welcome here. Wherever here was. She looked angry.

“What are you doing in our forest?” The queen demanded, in a surprisingly strong voice.

“Um…I’ve been sent by Lord Felton to discover why humans have been going missing in the forest.” When the queen heard Lord Felton’s name, a look of disgust crossed her features.

“We want no one from that kingdom causing havoc here, you must leave. Immediately.” The queen commanded.

“No. Wait. We got attacked by these skeleton creatures. I think some of my friends may have been captured. I can’t leave until I’ve found them.” Terulen pleaded with her, searching her golden eyes for some kindness.

“Skelton creatures? You have to leave, before you lead them here. If they attacked you once, then he is watching you.”

“He? Who is he?” Terulen demanded. He felt uneasy about someone watching him. He glanced around, looking for prying eyes. Above him with was a roof of leaves, weaved together. That must be what was keeping sticks from falling onto the ground. There were several trees surrounding him, which appeared to be hollow. Terulen bet that the pixies lived in those trees. Although he couldn’t see any of their lights flickering through the holes. There were red and white mushrooms growing in small patches around him and the ground was littered with purple and white wildflowers. This part of the forest was very different from where he was before.

“You have to leave. Now!” The queen’s powerful voice snapped him back to the conversation.

“I will not leave until I have found them.” Terulen promised.