Betrayal of the Shadow Wood - Chapter Three
Betrayal of Shadow Wood
Chapter Three
© Cederwyn Whitefurr
All Rights Reserved
January, 2015
Defiantly, the Unicorn stared into the enraged eyes of the Stag, her proud noble head held high as she held his gaze.
"As I have loved you, shall I grant this upon your head - leave - now - whilst the magicks you have brought to this wood, I still contain, for refuse - shall you unleash such as you have never imagined."
Trembling, the anger sluicing from him, did the Stag swallow nervously, before he turned and fled, as the Unicorn ground her teeth, then bowed her head and forced her will, driving the powerful magicks harmlessly into the ground where they would harm no one.
*
Tears streaking down his muzzle, the stag fled from the woods, before his grief turned to a bitter, resentful urge for revenge, and he turned himself towards the forest edge and galloped recklessly from the forest out onto the open plains, his heart filled with anger and vengeance, unmindful of what risks he took - flashing like a spectre past the startled villagers, before at last, flanks slick with sweat and muzzle foaming, he skidded to a halt at the imposing granite facades of King Peris' castle.
"What the hells - " Grunted a guard, as he stared incredulously at the panting stag, who lowered its head and drew great gulping breaths.
"Mind your tongue - that's the White Hart - there's a bounty of his weight in gold..."
Greedy looks swept over both guards, as they moved to flank the panting Stag, whose eyes snapped open and he glanced from one to the other, noting their ring-mail armour and leggings, the long, unwieldy halberds they held and the much more dangerous long swords scabbard at their waists.
"Easy now Stag - " Grunted a guard, as he distracted him, his friend quickly and quietly moving to the gatehouse and returning with a thick coil of rope.
Ears twitching, the Stag snapped his gaze from one to the other, indecision in his eyes, before he took a deep breath and smelt the scent of the two men. Without hesitation - he dropped his antlered head and the screams of the guards pealed forth as the Stag's head flashed and raked, his powerful antlers skewering them and tearing their tender bellies open. He hated murdering in cold blood - but these two guards - their scent betrayed their true intent - yes, they would take him prisoner and surrender him to the human King, but not before they hadn't made the stag suffer and scream...
*
"Milord, King Peris" Spoke the voice of the Guard, as he timidly approached.
"Yes? What is it..." King Peris snarled, as he took a deep draught from the wing goblet he held, his voice bored and agitated.
"Milord - I - " Stammered the guard, then stepped aside.
A hollow clopping sound come from the other side of the doorway, before it was thrown open, and the stag marched defiantly into the stone hall, stopping a handful of paces from the lowest stair on the dais.
Unexpectedly, he belt one leg out straight, lowering his antlered head and seemed to bow formally before the human King, who stared incredulously at the stag.
"You..." King Peris grunted, the goblet falling from his nerveless fingers.
"I am the one you call the Ghost Stag, the Spectre of the Wood - " Answered the stag, as he stood back up and gazed without fear or even the slightest hint of doubt.
"GUARDS!" Snapped King Peris, as he gestured wildly. "Bring me this stupid Stag's head!"
Tensing, the Stag looked from one human guard to the other, his deep, penetrating gaze seemingly looking into their very soul, and one by one, they lowered their weapons to the floor, before the Stag turned back to look at King Peris.
"It is not me who you want, my lord." Sighed the stag, as he shook himself and relaxed. "I alone, know of that which you seek my lord, I alone, know how to hunt and find the Unicorn, whose head you so desire..."
"How..." King Peris grunted, as he stood, then unsheathed his ornate long sword, and began marching towards the stag.
"SILENCE!" Roared the Buck, his voice cracking like a whip and the power and magick behind it, driving King Peris back until he stumbled and the sword fell from his hand to clatter to the floor.
"You...dare!" King Peris gasped.
"I dare many things - human - " Snarled the Stag, as he kept his baleful eyes locked on the King, until the human dropped his head. "You want her head - I suspect - you really want her horn, for it is widely known, a Unicorn's horn holds powers undreamed of..."
Pacing the room, the Stag glanced around, before his voice carried like a sibilant whisper.
"These stories...are true." He whispered, as his cloven hooves clicked hollowly with each step. "I alone, know how to hunt the Unicorn you seek - oh- you could try to mount my head on a plaque - try being the word here...I would slaughter you like I would scrape the velvet off my antlers, and not think twice, before any of you could lay a cold iron on my hide...think on this."
"You DARE to threaten me - " Snarled the King, as he stared in unimagined rage down at the Stag.
"I dare nothing, my lord - I merely tell the truth." Snapped the Stag in response. "Your petty kingdom, your castle, all of it, means nothing to me - I come of my own accord, to test your mettle - to see - if you think yourself worthy...that is all that I offer. I know you want the Unicorn's head, and I'm here - to guide you to her...for I have forsaken my vows as Protector of the Wood, I have been banished, and now, I come to you, to seek that which my heart desires - vengeance for that which she has wrought upon me."
"You openly broke your vows - you defied her - and you expect me to believe the word of an oath-breaker?" King Peris laughed contemptuously.
"What you choose, my lord," Sighed the stag in growing exasperation. "Is yours alone to chose to believe - you want her head, I want my revenge - it seems we both mutually benefit from this arrangement..."
"You...would willingly stand and watch, as I clove her head off her furred neck..." King Peris grunted, rubbing his chin.
"I...would." Answered the stag, as he bowed his head in submission. "For there is none who walks the mortal realm, who knows where she dwells, like I, who obeyed her will. Listen to me, heed what I shall tell you and yours, and you shall have your kill - and I shall have my revenge for her spurning me."
"Milord," Come a quavering, nervous voice from a guard. "Such a hunt is an ill-omened thing, the Unicorn has magicks we can not even begin to comprehend - hundreds have entered the Shadow Wood - "
"Dozens - " Replied the Stag. "Most fell to my antlers and hooves, at her behest. The come to pillage and murder and steal - yet others - I recall a girl child once - lost, frighted and alone, I guarded her that long, cold night - them led her to the forests edge and released her unharmed. Do you think of me as some mindless, bloodthirsty beast? I kill when I must, only, when the wood I was sworn to protect, was endangered by those who sought to harm its children, or the wood itself."
Turning from the guard, the stag stared King Peris in the eye. "Promise me - and you shall have your hunt - human - I shall lead you to the Unicorn, but if you harm another creatures head - or try to betray me - her wrath will seem insignificant, to the fury I shall unleash upon you and yours..."
"I will have no part in this!" Wailed the guard, as he threw down his sword, holding his hands out in a negating gesture. "For purge the wood of its light and goodness, shall so the Gods themselves punish us for our transgressions."
Greed overcome King Peris, and he held out his hand, fingers pointed to the ground, and the Stag nodded one, then touched his nose to the fingers of the King, accepting the bond that was forged then and there.
"You have my word," King Peris smiled, as he draped a friendly arm over the Stag's thick muscular neck.
Unmindful, the Stag didn't see King Peris' lecherous glare, before he smiled and walked hand on neck, with the Stag out of his throne room, to prepare for the hunt to come...
To Be Continued...