The words rung hollow on her tongue. Aegwyn stood there in the middle of the debris, her shocked eyes looking forward, seeing nothing, and yet, seeing everything.
Even though she hadn’t dared to open herself since the village earlier, she could still see the burning building of the church. She could see the clerics valiantly fighting against the Orc marauders who stormed the structure. Crimson stained axes and fire burning bright. The smell of ashen flesh and fresh blood stung her nose even though the chaos had come through so long ago.
Galion, who had his hands on her shoulders and was shaking her gently, pulled her free from her vision. “We’ve got to go, they’re getting nearer.”
Aegwyn looked around. She could only see the shadows of the forest staring back at her. “Who’s getting nearer? I don’t see anything!” What was he talking about?
Tarmand was looking at Galion in the same confused way. “What are you talking about elf?”
Galion stood still, his face hard with concentration. He grabbed Aegwyn by the wrist and started running northward through the debris of Northshire Abbey. “There’s no time! When you start to hear them, then it’ll already be too late!”
Aegwyn stumbled behind Galion, trying to keep pace. Her foot struck a big block of stone and shot pain up her foot, through her calf, and up her thigh. “Stop it! Stop it! I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
Suddenly, she began to hear it. She could hear the faintest sound of giggles in the distance, the gentlest clanging of plate armor against iron. There was the soft sound of laughter at such a high pitch that it couldn’t be any man or child.
“They’re upon us!” Galion cried out.
Little shapes of small men jumped out of the trees. Aegwyn had little chance to scream when she was swarmed by thousands of creatures whose green skin shone in the light of the moon. Their big, leather skinned ears flapped with their movement in an almost comical gesture. Talk, chatter, and muttering filled her ears as they brought out spears, bows, and swords alike.
Aegwyn stood there, frightened, and Galion stood still as well.
Aegwyn heard a roar from behind her. She turned her head to see Tarmand slashing his sword at the little creatures. He managed to slice off the head of a few and to catch legs, arms, and bellies before they started to press against him. A crowd of the little creatures started to climb onto his body and to lean their weight in his direction. Tarmand staggered backward, swinging his sword madly. The beasts eventually grew too heavy for him and Tarmand fell to the ground. More and more of the demonspawn piled on top of him until Tarmand lay motionless on the ground, trapped beneath their weight.
Little hands grabbed Aegwyn by her cloak and dress, pulling her downward. She struggled with all her might against their grasp but they were too much for her. She fell to her knees and she felt them grab her arms and bind them behind her back. Aegwyn fought against the thin ropes, but as more and more wound themselves around her wrists, she found herself trapped, captive of these horrid little creatures.
One of them looked at her straight in the eye. It’s black beady eyes stared at her with a level of curiosity that was almost frightening. It gave her a disconcerting smile and then walked away to Galion, who was bound and kneeling as well
.
“What-What’s going on?” Aegwyn asked, stunned by what happened.
One of the little creatures struck her in the side of her head with its club. Aegwyn felt warmth trickle down her nose and past her lip. She began to realize that her nose was bleeding.
“No talking! No talking!” several of the little creatures chanted towards her in their shriek high voice. “No talking!”
Aegwyn opened her mouth to say something, but the creature that had hit her before raised its club warningly. Aegwyn closed her mouth and remained silent.
She was pulled to her feet and she felt the points of spears press against her back. Aegwyn marched forward, following the sea of green that led towards the Red Ridge Mountains in the distance northward. She tried to catch sight of Galion or Tarmand, but every time she turned her head one of the spear-points behind her dug deeper into her flesh, sometimes drawing blood.
Aegwyn hung her head in defeat. She was frightened, but she could do nothing to stop them.<
