The Cry in the Water Part 2

The sound of the breeze in the tall grass, drowned out the pace of the horses as they traveled down a well worn road. This part of the country had been deforested many ages ago, and now only the wild flowers and waving green shoots of the prairie, remained to praise the gift of life. The two travelers breathed in the fresh air with enthusiasm, so different from the smog of other places far to the south.

"It's beautiful," signed Zena, "like a sea of green."

"And free," he replied, "free of corruption in every way. Smells so good."

"How much farther?" she asked.

"Few hours I would guess."

"I can live with that," she replied with that winning, yet mischievous smile.

Jayr sighed inwardly at the flash of that smile. How many times had it thrown him off balance, melted his resolves, and made him the adoring companion of this woman with so many abilities and gifts? He was lucky he knew, and thought it all the time. Once again he was looking at her with the long dark brown hair, the equally dark eyes that lit with passionate fire, and daydreams seemed ready to capture and take him away.

"Lost somewhere?" she asked with a laugh.

"On the road with you," he replied with a smile.

"I hope we have a better bed than last night. All that sour smelling hay might be nice for someone with a love of earthy aromas, but I hardly slept a wink."

Jayr laughed, but he had to agree. Lodging with farmers had hit and miss aspects when it came to amenities. However, he believed that Ilmara, the village on the lake, would be a much needed upgrade. At least it would have an inn that could offer something more substantial. It had been four days since they had started on the journey north, and nothing but rain and poor lodging had been their lot. Now the weather was stellar, and hope sprang forth anew.

By midday they had made good time on the road, and the horses were not flagging. One stop only along the way for rest and forage, and then back to the saddle. Ilmara was just over the next rise, and the gentle sloping of the land down towards the lake, would give an excellent view of the valley. Jayr was leading the way with Zena just a few paces behind him, and he beheld the vista before him.

A long wine dark lake stretched across the valley beyond, its great girth fed from mountain springs. Within its pristine surroundings, great dark forests grew right down to the water on the opposite side, and it appeared as the gate between three worlds. The forest, the plains, and the island. For an island it was that first attracted the lords of Ilmara in ancient times, building a tall many spire fortress on the greatest height this lonely fastness provided. They had called it Sol Adementa, a strong point without peer. Beneath it, lay the village of Ilmara, a prosperous fishing and agricultural community, one half separated by the other. A long bridge connected the island to the shore, built with confidence that the island would always be connected to the plains, in defense and in peace.

"But what happened to the bridge?" asked Zena, having ridden up to Jayr and looking down on the village below. "It is broken right there, near the island. Those two piers are smashed. And what is that boat doing, sunk in the water to its mast?"

"I don't like it," replied Jayr, having followed Zena's questions with his eyes, mind racing to answer the mystery.

The two of them made haste down the gentle rise, looking about and observing several more facts that they shared with each other as they went. There were no boats on the lake, except the partially sunk one. Indeed, there were no people to be seen about the split village. The fields that were waving with golden wheat ready for harvest, continued to bend gently in the breeze without farmer or wild deer to notice them. All was quiet, and the settlement without walls, once so confident in its position and strength, appeared completely abandoned.

"What happened?" asked Zena, her left hand resting on the hilt of her sword, even as she guided the horse towards Ilmara. All thoughts of a comfortable bed at the inn were gone for the moment.

"There was some kind of purposeful attack," said Jayr, "and I don't like the conclusions. Look there. Holes in the side of the vessel in the water, just as it neared the shore of the island. And those piers of the bridge? Part of the stone beams are still attached above. The structure fell apart from the water line, and the pieces fell into the water. Careful selection too. There is no way to cross the bridge from the way it has been attacked."

Zena looked at her companion, and he merely nodded his head. They didn't have to use words.

"Go away!" cried a voice from an upper window of a two story structure near the road. It was a generously apportioned building one would have assumed to be the local inn on first arrival, but could easily have been a guard house or barracks for civil defense. Regardless, a man, frantic around the eyes, was waiving his hands above his head and trying to shout louder as they approached.

"Run away, or you'll be killed!"

"About the kind of response I expected," said Zena, prodding her horse ahead in spite of the warning.

The afternoon light was still strong, and the shadows few as they rode towards the building with the frenetic occupant. He had stopped trying to scream out warnings, but kept looking at the dark waters of the lake, as if expecting them to move onto the land if he took his eyes off them. Neither of the riders neglected to notice this as they drew closer to him.

"Why don't you listen to what I say?" asked the man, only half looking at them. He was middle aged, but clear streaks of gray running through hair and beard. He looked like a hardened man, one used to the work of tilling the soil, but that was a passed life. Right now he looked like a small child struck with fear.

"What happened here?" asked Zena, also following the man's eyes and looking at the water.

"We were attacked by a demon from the water," replied the man, closely looking them over once. "Three days ago a fishing craft that you see out there, the Blue Spray, was holed when the men aboard here tried to get to land. They all made it to the shore, when the captain turned overboard all the fish they had caught in barrels, but only just."

"And they tried to get the villagers over the bridge?" asked Jayr.

"Aye, they did. And then the black beast smashed the bridge, cutting them off."

"Was anyone hurt?"

"Not yet," said the man, with a haunted look on his pale complexion. "All the fish are gone, the seals too. And the demon has taken all the animals, broken into their pens. It's just the people over there and the black beast now."

"Are there still people here in this half of the village?"

"No. Most have fled, except a few of us who still have family on the other side. We don't know what to do. The beast is coming for us all, that much I'm sure, but my boy Burton is on the island, and I can't leave him behind."

"Well then, it looks like we'll have to stay until this thing is set right," replied Jayr. "Can you let us in, and give us any more information that you have? We are here to help."