“We know when and where the leshen will make its next kill.” Roy was excited. “Let’s give it a whooping tomorrow.”

But Letho had to snap him back to reality. “You’re forgetting something, boy. The marked one hasn’t been found as of yet, so it’s useless, even if we kill it. But your tip yesterday helped out a lot.” Letho patted his shoulder. “Kaerwen’s not the marked one, nor is he the leshen’s believer. Even so, two dwarves from his mining area died, and he, for some reason, is hostile to you. That is out of place.” Letho stopped for a moment. “So I used Axii on him this morning and found out that he’s been helping Scoia’tael this whole time. If his information is true, then there are four members hiding in Mount Carbon.”

“That’s all?” Roy frowned. He thought there would be at least a few dozen of them.

“Most of the members lurking here were summoned back to Dol Blathanna for some reason, leaving only four to keep in touch with Kaerwen as well as helping the leshen build its totems,” Letho explained. “They didn’t hunt us down because they didn’t have enough people here. They’d be exposed if I somehow escaped their ambush, so they needed to be sure they could get me.”

Roy got the answer to his question. “I see.” 

“And one of the members is the marked one,” Letho said. “Kaerwen will meet up with them at the rendezvous point tomorrow night. The leshen will kill at the same time too.”

“Wow, they let one of them get marked? That’s a bit cold.” Roy was shocked to hear that. That means he’s giving up his life for the leshen. “No wonder I couldn’t spot him.” He took a deep breath and enquired. “But why does Kaerwen want to help them? Elder Brovar treasures him a lot.”

“That’s as much as I can get out of him. Any more and he’d escape Axii’s grip.” Letho stopped for a moment, and then he mocked, “He just came of age, you know. Sixty years old and all. Maybe he’s helping Scoia’tael because he’s in his rebellious phase. Teens do tend to disobey their elders, you know.” He continued. “Alright, we’re going to complete this request soon. I’ll be killing the leshen tomorrow.” Letho had made the arrangements. “While Kaerwen leads you and your friends straight to the Scoia’tael members. Once you see the marked one, kill him, or the leshen will revive one hour after it is killed.” Letho became a bit more solemn. “Time is not on our side, so kill them all, but leave Kaerwen alive if you can afford to.”

Roy nodded. Kaerwen might have betrayed Brovar, but that doesn’t mean Brovar’s going to kill him. I’d keep him alive if I could.

“Don’t tell anyone about this. If Kaerwen somehow finds out about it, our plan will probably backfire, since this is his turf, after all. Keep this a secret between you, me, and your friends. Not even Brovar can know about this.”

“Alright.”

“If the leshen resurrects —  and that’s the worst case scenario —  it’ll be weakened for some time. If that happens, use the bomb and oil I gave you. Fire damages it lethally,” Letho reminded Roy. “The leshen and Scoia’tael will lay low after tomorrow night, unless we manage to drive them away. Or until their reinforcement comes. Tomorrow’s our last chance to finish this.”

Letho’s not scared even though he’s facing the leshen alone. I have my friends backing me up, so kicking Kaerwen and those Scoia’tael members’ arses should be easy. “Let’s do it then.”

***

The full moon slowly rose into the night sky, but the trees flanking the path between the fifth mining area and Mount Carbon were shrouded in darkness, looking just like an eerie abyss. Anyone would wonder if they’d get ambushed by the horrors hiding in the dark.

Suddenly, hasty footsteps were heard closing in on the path, and a moment later, a dwarf in a thick coat jogged into the dark path with nothing but an oil lamp illuminating his way.

Buzz Ricky was one of the veteran miners in the fifth mining area, and he’d worked diligently for more than ten years. He should’ve been working the night shift that night and only going back home in the morning. The recent murders in the night terrified everyone, so the miners would stay the night in the mines if they got off late, only going back home when it was dawn.

However, his plan wouldn’t go that smoothly. A guard came in to inform him about his wife’s delivery, and Buzz must return to his family for the child’s delivery, even if it was dangerous to go out at night.

It was only a thirty-minute journey from the fifth mining area to Mount Carbon, and there would be the occasional patrol going through the path, but for some inexplicable reason, the path was deathly quiet that night.

A trail of shallow footsteps embedded themselves on the snow ground as Buzz jogged ahead, the mist he breathed out turning to ice on his beard. The mine was already a long way back, and he would be arriving in the valley after ten minutes. All he could think about at that point was his wife, and nothing else.

His panting became heavier, and the forest heard it. As if on cue, Buzz fell headfirst into the snow, and his oil lamp rolled away. Then a sharp stab of pain shot up from his calf. Buzz screamed into the night, and when he calmed down, Buzz looked down at his calf only to see a sharp arrow piercing his right calf.

Blood drenched his hand when he touched the wound, and the snow was dyed crimson from his bleeding wound. “Come out, you bastard!” He looked around and yelled in horror. “You won’t get away with this!” he roared, but terror was starting to overwhelm him. Then he saw someone jump down from the tree beside the path.

The moonlight and oil lamp illuminated her, revealing reddish-brown hair, sculpted features, pointed ears, a protruding jaw, and two rows of white, canine teeth. Buzz trembled, but he observed the elf closely, and finally, his eyes were glued to the accessory around her waist. It was yellow and made out of squirrel hide.

“Elf? No! You’re a Scoia’tael elf! Is Scoia’tael behind all the murders?” He’d heard rumors about Scoia’tael members hiding around Mount Carbon, waiting for the right time to topple Elder Brovar, and that rumor had spread like wildfire for some time. However, ever since everyone associated with Scoia’tael had been driven out a year ago, Elder Brovar had forbidden them from talking about the matter, and the rumors died.

Buzz thought Scoia’tael had all been driven out too, but apparently, that wasn’t the case.

The elf didn’t answer his question. She took her bow and arrow once more and aimed at Buzz. Buzz got up with difficulty, his face contorted with pain and terror. Elves were known for their aptitude in archery. He knew she could kill him easily, since he was injured and only ten feet away from her.

“Looks like this is where I meet my end, dear Akali. In the end, I couldn’t get to see you and our baby one last time.” The frustration and hatred within him made Buzz roar, “Damn you, Scoia’tael! You shall all burn in hell! Just you wait! Elder Brovar and my brethren will avenge me! This is war! And I swear all of you will burn!” Then he closed his eyes and waited for death to claim him.

But the stab of pain didn’t come, and he looked at the elf in shock. The elf turned her head to the left and gave him a look.

“What’s that supposed to mean? Should I go left?” The desire to live lit within him, but instead of following her orders, Buzz limped back the way he came. However, an arrow brushed past him before he could get far, and it drew blood. “What do you want?” He was infuriated, thinking the elf was playing with him, but the elf was still only telling him to go left.

“Fine. I’ll play along as long as I can live to see my baby.” Buzz decided to follow the elf’s orders. He would swallow his pride if it meant he could live. He dragged himself to the left, and blood trickled down his pants, leaving a crimson trail on the ground.

The pain from his right calf was still unbearable, but he didn’t do anything about the arrow that pierced him. All he could do was moan, but eventually, his whole leg went numb. The moment he entered the forest, he was engulfed by the darkness, and the terror within him grew ten times larger. He had a feeling something horrifying had set its eyes on him.

The elf was holding the oil lamp and was following him. He wanted to escape, but the elf had her eyes on him, and he didn’t make any sudden movements. “Where are we going?” he asked, but no answer came, and so, all he could do was walk ahead.

Buzz trudged on, covering a long, long distance. He kept losing blood, and the chilly winds buffeted him, draining all his color away. He could feel himself turn cold, his limbs stiffening, and his vision blurred.

He suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned around, but the elf was nowhere to be seen. However, before he could rejoice, a long, ancient sigh echoed around him, sending a chill up his spine.

Buzz finally broke down from the pressure.