(Part III) The Hunt in the Dark

The Hunt in the Dark
‘That must be it!’ Cobral shouted, an early morning breeze brushing his face at the cliff edge.

Alex approached Cobral and peered over. ‘So that’s Ella’s Cave then?’

‘Fits every possible description Mira gave to us…’

‘Well then, let’s proceed.’

As they walked through a graveyard of rocks and grass, Alex pondered to herself. How did she get here? ‘There must be something to all this…’
She stopped, overcome by emotion to sit down.

‘Is something wrong?’ Cobral asked his companion.

‘I’m fine, just a little tired…’ Alex replied, standing back up and with a tired grin.

‘Sleeping in a dead person’s bed would make anyone tired…’ Cobral commented. Alex glared at him.

‘We don’t even know if that’s the case. She may still be alive… Let’s just go already.’
They continued towards the cave. A path had been carved in the grass that led them towards Ella’s cave. It was obvious that they weren’t the first adventurers there.

Cobral looked over to Alex, who had eyes half shut. ‘Had a dream or something, didn’t you?’ Cobral asked.

‘Yes, I did have a dream,’ Alex replied slowly.

‘Really? A dream of what, if I may?’ Cobral asked curiously.

‘It doesn’t matter…’

‘Oh come on, please tell me. Please?’ Cobral pleaded with his companion.

‘Well… It was like there was something there as I slept last night,’

‘You mean to say she was there with you,’

Alex stopped. ‘Perhaps…’

‘That’s pretty weird, ghosts and all,’

‘…and you were fine?’

‘Well, yes actually. I slept rather well. They must not like me or something.’

Alex continued walking. ‘Well, good for you,’ she said sarcastically

They had managed to walk into the cave while talking. Dark shadows faced them, while the sun managed to creep in a little light. ‘You magic types must have some affinity with the supernatur…’ Cobral managed to say before his right foot caught on a rock. He tumbled onto the rocky floor of the cave, kicking up clouds of dust.

‘Gracious! We managed to walk into the cave without even realising…’ Alex said in amazement.

‘I noticed…’ Cobral mumbled with his face in the floor.

Alex opened her pouch and took out some yellow powder. Lifting her hands and turning powder into a magic globe of light. With the light piercing through the darkness, it revealed a rough corridor. Cobral stood back up and dusted himself off. ‘Well, that was unfortunate… Shall we proceed?’

Alex and Cobral made their way into the corridor. Musty air filled the disturbingly quiet corridors. The linear nature however, made it easy to navigate. After a few minutes walking, they uncovered spacious area. ‘This is more like it,’ Cobral commented. The open area was roughly circular; the walls on each end about fifteen metres apart. Jagged rocks hung from the ceiling, dripping water into small puddles. A monumental rock sat in the middle of the room. ‘Nice little rock…’ Cobral said, breaking the odd silence of the cave.

‘It might be magical. I’ll have a look,’ Alex replied.

‘Very well, I can search the whole room…’

Alex approached the solitary rock. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath of the musty air, and felt a tingling sensation. In the room was a strange presence. ‘There something odd here,’ Alex shouted to Cobral, her eyes still closed.

‘Indeed,’ replied a deep, brooding voice. Alex opened her eyes to see behind her. In the magical light, three tall armoured warriors. They were identical to those they had encountered before. Alex gasped; they already had Cobral at their swords’ mercy. ‘Surprised to see us?’ questioned the middle warrior. ‘My name is Rathi… You may know these two as Morden and Verdich.’

‘That can’t be… you were slain in the forest,’ Alex shouted in anger.

‘Physical attacks are no use against our immortal bodies!’ Verdich shouted; his breath clearly visible as it left the helmet. Alex noticed the armour still had the damage from the musket rifle on it.

‘You on the other hand, are a threat to us. Your entire people and their magic are a problem,’ Morden commented.

Alex’s hand reached for the pouches on her belt. ‘Your friend will die if you make any move…’ Rathi taunted. Alex reacted, gently relaxing her hand.

‘You demons! Don’t you dare touch her,’ Cobral cursed. Rathi’s sword moved closer to Cobral.

‘You are in no place to talk, pathetic mortal.’

‘If you want me, then take me!’ Alex shouted.

‘We don’t need you… alive,’ Verdich commented. ‘We only need to kill you and our work will be done.’

‘It was them…’ Alex realised.

‘So that’s it?! You came all this way just for her?!’ Cobral continued, cursing. Morden silenced him with a strong kick to his side.

‘You finally worked it out?’ Morden cursed.

‘There was the message you found, too…’

‘So you were the ones who killed a defenceless messenger?’ Alex questioned.

‘Yes… it is so sad that such a small thing will have such drastic effects in the near future…’ Morden replied, laughing.

‘You have lost mortals. Prepare to die!’ shouted Rathi, lunging forth. Both Alex and Cobral closed their eyes… was it going to end like this?

‘ARGH’ cried a dark voice. Alex opened her eyes. The room was glowing brightly. A warrior, barely visible with the light, was shielding his eyes. ‘The light burns my eyes!’ hissed Rathi. Alex looked on with amazement as pure light beamed onto the warriors. Rathi, Morden and Verdich all shouted and cursed as the light began to burn their skin. Before they knew it, it was over. Cobral stood up and looked down on what was left of the warriors. Their armour was all that was intact. The rest was ash.

‘Now that is what one would call astounding…’ Cobral said in amazement.

‘…That light. What was it?’ was all that Alex could reply.

‘I’m not sure, but I’d rather not stay to find out.’

‘But it did not harm us at all… could it be?’

‘What are you suggesting? Oh, I get it.’ Cobral looked around at the walls that were glowing only a moment ago. ‘You mean to say she is alive?’

‘Alive in spirit… the cave is her final resting place. Her magical energies must still reside in the walls.’

‘That’s proof enough for me. Yep, she’s alive and doing well. Can we go now?’ Cobral rushed. He turned to leave; a glowing object caught his eye. ‘Well well… one of them found Ella’s ring. Ooh, it’s shiny.’ Cobral leaned down to snatch it from the gauntlet of the dead warrior. ‘Sorry, ours now.’

‘We should get going now to tell Mira the good news,’ Alex said joyously.

‘Indeed. She will be pleased,’ Cobral replied, putting the ring into his pocket. Familiar corridors lead the way as Alex and Cobral made their way to the open air.

Alex turned to Cobral.
‘This might not be the best time… but I’m sorry about all the arguments we had. You were right about how you saved my life so many times and…’ Alex apologised. Before she could finish Cobral smiled at her continuously. ‘What, am I doing something wrong?’ she continued.

‘You love me, don’t you?’ Cobral chuckled. Alex gasped.

‘I do not! You are one of the worst men I’ve ever met!’ Alex shouted.

‘Ha ha, that’s what they all say. I know you like me in some way. Come on, admit it.’

Alex stormed off in a fake anger. Cobral laughed and raced ahead of her. Alex stopped. She smiled for a moment. ‘It must be destiny that we met… or maybe it was just dumb luck…’

She turned and saw a faint figure. It looked like Ella, smiling at Alex. She smiled back, knowing it was indeed Ella. ‘Thank you…’ Alex whispered, knowing that it was she who had defeated the warriors once and for all.

‘Good luck,’ Ella whispered back to Alex, before disappearing in a gust of wind that swayed the grass and Alex’s long hair. Alex turned back; Cobral was already out of sight. She groaned.

‘I hate it when you do that! Come back here!’ Alex shouted, chasing Cobral back to White River. ‘It seems to have turned out all right…’ she thought to herself, smiling. She knew there were still questions to answer… but they would be answered in due course…