Chapter 5                       BOOK 2

Gwidian and Morgain rode north. The day had been uneventful and only the
length of stubble on their chins gave some indication that they were not
simply out for an afternoon ride. But as dusk fell..

'Is that what I think it is?' said Morgain.

They had just reached the crest of a hill, below them they saw a large
group of men, surrounding a small wagon.

'Human vultures,' said Morgain. 'Outland thieves.'

Cretin came up from behind. Normally he led but on this occasion he thought
his companions knew where they were going. 'Perhaps they are just talking,'
he said in an inspired voice.

They all watched. An old man and woman climbed down from the front of the
wagon; a girl seemingly younger than Morgain climbed from the rear. The
sound of voices drifted on the breeze, but Gwidian was too far away to
make out their content.

The old man was knocked to the floor.

'They do not look like they are simply talking to me,' said Morgain.

Two men climbed on the back of the wagon and began throwing what seemed to
be the travellers belongings over the side.

'I think it is about time we intervened,' said Gwidian reaching for his
sword.

'No, no,' said Cretin. 'We have a mission; the Crying Caves; we must find
the shield.'

The old man was dragged to his feet and pushed towards his fellow
travellers. They huddled together.

'Our mission can wait,' said Morgain.

'No. You do not understand. You cannot fight a score of men. You will die.
We have to find the shield or we are all doomed... all your friends.'
Cretin was pleading.

Morgain and Gwidian looked at one another and then back to the gathering.
The young girl was being dragged to one side by two men, she was struggling
and screaming. The men were joking and laughing; tearing at her clothes.
The old couple were restrained by many strong hands.

'I cannot sit here and watch this outrage,' growled Gwidian.

'Then close your eyes,' said Cretin.

Two more men joined in the fun. The girls clothes were scattered about the
ground in shreds. She scratched and kicked as she passed from one set of
hands to another.

'Chivalry,' rasped Morgain. 'Have you never heard the word, Cretin?' His
horse reared as he drew his sword. Both he and Gwidian set off down the
hill in a headlong charge.

'It is all in your little mindsies,' called Cretin to the backs of their
heads. 'Oh dear, how sad. Two against a score, whatever next?' He held out
his hand and a sharp claw sprang from the end of one of his fingers; he
scratched his head. 'Cretin is coming, my stupid friends.'

Morgain and Gwidian were almost on top of the gathering before anyone
noticed their approach. The laughs and giggles stopped instantly, to be
replaced by startled if somewhat bemused looks. Four men fell to the swords
of the attackers before the rest had gathered their wits. Morgain grabbed
the girl, hoisting her to relative safety. Both he and Gwidian retreated
forty paces.

'We have to go back,' said Morgain. 'We are not done yet.'

Gwidian nodded. He dismounted and stuck his sword in the ground. He then
helped the girl from Morgains saddle. He hardly glanced at her. 'Make your
way to safety,' he shouted as he regained his sword.

Morgain quickly dismounted and they made their way towards the angry crowd.

The girl watched them go. They never turned to see the wicked smile on her
face.

Cretin saw what was happening, though he could have glided down the hill,
he had jogged. Now he stood half watching the girl and half watching their
foes, as if studying which was the greater danger. Gwidian and Morgain
handled themselves like true swordsmen, a class above their opponents, yet
they were greatly outnumbered.

Cretin walked warily around the girl, who gave him a questioning look. He
kept one eye on her all the time, until he drew close to the fighting.

Neither Morgain nor Gwidian were aware of Cretins approach until he leapt
into the midst of their enemies. He snarled like a wild beast and lashed
out with claws and talons. Cries filled the air as flesh shredded. The
thieves and tormentors drew back. Cretin and the brothers moved towards
them. One of their enemies broke rank and ran, then another. Cretin held
out his hands to display his blood red claws and a deep gurgle left his
throat. The remaining thieves stared a moment then panic crossed their
faces; they too ran.

Morgain smiled and turned to Cretin. 'You worry too much. Where was the
problem?'

The brothers wiped their swords on the grass then sheathed them. Gwidian
looked over to the girl, who had moved to within twenty paces of them. In
the heat of battle she had momentarily left his thoughts, but now she was
again at the top of his agenda.

Morgain glanced at the old couple. They were standing perfectly still in
the position he last remembered them. Something did not seem quite right.
He put his hand on Gwidians shoulder and said, 'There is something strange
going on here.'

Gwidian ignored him.

'Gwidian, those people...' As he watched they began to fade. At first
becoming opaque and then disappearing altogether.

'What about those people?' said Gwidian still looking towards the girl.

'They have vanished,' said a bemused Morgain.

'They were probably scared and ran,' said Gwidian in a very calm and
collected voice.

'No. They did not run. They simply vanished into thin air.'

Gwidian pulled his eyes from the girl to face Morgain. 'You mean they just
went puff...  and vanished in a cloud of smoke?'

'Something like that.'

'You are probably exhausted.'

Morgain gave his brother a look of disdain, then they both looked towards
the girl. She was smiling and beckoning them to come towards her.

They both began to walk. They had taken about four paces when two firm
claws clasped their sword belts and stopped them in their tracks.

'Is this the poor scared girl you are going to rescue?' chortled Cretin.

'Let go,' said Gwidian. 'You are too suspicious.'

'Can you not see through her thin disguise?'

'She is not wearing a disguise. In fact she is not wearing anything to see
through,' said Morgain. 'Now do as my brother bids - LET GO.'

Cretin held firm. His talons dug firmly into the ground. 'You are going
nowhere.'

The girl turned square onto them, placing her hands on her hips. 'You want
to really see what is beneath my thin disguise, my little fire demon.' The
girl held out a finger. At its tip was a nail as deadly looking as one of
Cretins claws. She placed it on her left hip where a trickle of blood
appeared. Then she ran it over the soft white flesh of her side until she
reached her neck. The line of blood followed. She continued across her
collar bone and down the right side. Both brothers looked on in
horror.

'Now you will really see what is beneath my thin disguise.' She began to
peel the flesh from her neck downward.

A lump stuck in Morgains throat. Gwidian covered his face.

Cretin released the brothers, and with what seemed an ultimate effort he
held out a hand; a flame began to rise from his palm. With a flick of the
wrist he sent a small ball of fire hurtling towards the creature which now
stood before them. It impacted in a flash of light, accompanied by a cloud
of dark obnoxious smelling smoke. A high pitched voice screamed with
laughter and the smoke began to twist and form itself. They all looked on
again as a dark figure materialised. It was totally colourless, save
for a brown sash.

'You think you can burn a wraith of the circle,' mocked the hideous voice
of a woman. 'A wraith of the circle of fire.'

'Move back,' cautioned Cretin.

'You wish to see fire; then fire you shall have.' It moved its hands like a
dancer across its empty cowl, then pointed a slender finger towards the
group.

The voice seemed to come at the threesome from all directions, but the
ensuing fireball seemed to appear just in front of her finger. It held in
the air motionless for a few moments. Morgain and Gwidian dived away from
Cretin. The fireball scorched across the earth at incredible speed, to pass
within a handspan of Cretins legs. They all felt the heat, then heard the
hysterical laughter of the wraith. Slowly the dark figure began to
evaporate and the laughter began to echo; moments later - silence.

'Have you foolsies learnt anything?' queried Cretin in an inquisitive voice.

The brothers looked about themselves at the carnage. There were at least
eight bodies which had fallen to their swords for no real reason.

'Well, they were trouble makers,' said Morgain with conviction.

Gwidian did not seem to share the same sentiment. He had been deceived, and
of the men they had slain he was not sure. He looked around. The wagon and
its occupants had disappeared as if they had been no more than a figment of
his imagination, 'We shall have to lay these fellows to rest before we move
on.'

Cretin frowned. 'Not to worry about these nasty men. Cretin will take care
of them.'
