"The Betrayal of Amaranthe Chapter 2b" by Mercedes A Boggs

As ribbons of sunlight fell across Ana’s bed gently brushing her face with golden rays, she reluctantly opened her eyes.  As much as she loved sleeping under the stars cradled by the earth, she was refreshed by her bed-bound slumber.  The soft cotton quilt, which she had covering her , held her warmth; and the bed filled with lamb’s wool had melded to her form during the night forming a perfect body-shaped indentation.

She watched as sunlight, thrown about by the wind blown trees, danced across the polished wooden floor.  The leafy branches knocked urgently at her window signaling for her to get up.  Her graceful elven feet peeked out hesitantly from under the cover.  It had been so long since she was able to sleep past dawn that she was slow in ending the indulgence.  Finally, with great resolve, she threw off her covers and stepped into the crisp morning air.

“M’lady?”  A brusque knock sounded on her door.  “’tis mornin’.  Will you be wantin’ breakfast,” the heavily accented female voice called.

“Thank you, but no.”  Ana replied through the door.  “I haven’t time,”  she replied truthfully remembering her agreement to meet Falin at sunrise.

“The gen’leman yesterday, ‘e told me t’make certain you ate, so ye’d have yer strength.”

Ana stopped dressing.  “Which gentleman?”

“The ‘andsome one with the black ‘air.  Falin, I think his name was.”

She smiled as she buttoned her tawny vest over her white traveling shirt.  She left it hanging out over her beige riding breeches.  “Well, I guess I have a little time then.”  Ana let out a startled gasp as she opened the door and found herself staring into Falin’s smiling eyes.

“Good mornin’, M’lady,” he beamed still speaking in the feminine voice.

“Falin!”  Ana’s voice spoke of embarrassment and agitation.

“I’m happy I inspire you to live life to its fullest.”  His own voice was a welcome change as he began using it again.

 “I hardly think partaking in one meal constitutes inspiring life.  I was planning on eating, anyway.  I needn’t have had your encouragement or permission.”  Ana was a bit defensive.

“You weren’t going to until you heard that I requested it.”

“I was just afraid that I would be late in meeting you.  When I heard it was your request, it gave me an excuse.”

“Oh, is that what it was?”  Falin smiled speaking disbelievingly.               

“Do you doubt my sincerity, sir?”  Her chin rose proudly challenging him to question her.

“Never, Ana.  I was just teasing.  It’s my way of breaking the ice.  Please, accept my deepest apologies and join me for breakfast before we embark on our journey.”

“It’s not possible,” she said stubbornly.  “I have too many things to complete before we depart.  My hair’s not even plaited for travel yet.”  Ana could hardly eat with him after his behavior.  She was frustrated that she found him charming despite his trickery at her expense and afraid that breaking that morning‘s bread with him would dull her ire.               

“It looks wonderful down.  It’s like nature itself, wild, yet beautiful,” he said carefully touching a curl of her hair with the back of his hand.

Ana’s fleeting anger deserted her as she searched his face for signs of sincerity; and as if reading her thoughts, he answered her.  “I say that with all honesty, Ana.”  The way he spoke her name made her heart flutter like the wings of a hummingbird. 

“I must have it tied back.  It’s impractical to wear it down when traveling.”

“Well, leave it until after breakfast then,” Falin said decidedly.  “Now, let’s go.  I’m starved.”  As though second nature to him, Falin took Ana’s hand in his and escorted her out into the main dining room.

“Ow do y’a do, lass?”  asked the innkeeper when Falin and Ana sat at the table.  Her voice was full of concern and sounded uncannily similar to Falin’s impression.

“I’m well.  Thank you,” Ana replied politely.

“That’s good t’hear, lass, good t‘hear.  The way you looked when that knight carried ya in ‘ere,” she lilted rustically as she poured them an unidentified liquid,  “we was all worried for ya; and look at ya now, still all bruised.  Pretty, though, I says.”

Falin smiled as Ana blushed under the onslaught of attention.

“You’re right, Mina.  Those bruises can’t hide her beauty, but let’s see if I can do something about them anyway,” Falin chimed in.  Looking deeply into Ana’s eyes, he waived his hand in front of her face and chanted some words that she didn’t understand.  Mina watched as the bruises and cuts on Ana’s face faded and disappeared.

“Ahh¼you are a wonder, Falin,” Mina said with astonishment.  “Now, what can I get for the two of ya?”

“Everything smells wonderful, Mina?  Just bring us two plates of whatever is filling the air with those divine scents.”

 “Oh, Falin, you’re always the sweet one, aren’t ya?”  she said slapping him playfully on the shoulder with the back of her hand as she walked away.

“I try, Mina, I try,” he called to her rocking on the back legs of his chair.

Ana looked around the dimly lit bar.  Considering the early hour, the bar was surprisingly full.  Men and women of all descriptions sat at the maple tables eating their meals.  A band of rough looking dwarves in the far corner laughed boisterously as they washed their meals down with a dark brew.  A tall olive skinned half-orc was keeping company with several halflings and a very old, bearded human who puffed thoughtfully on his oversized pipe.

“So, did you sleep well, Ana?”  Falin’s voice pulled her back to their table in a small secluded area of the bar.

“A bit too, I’m afraid.”  She smiled.  “I overslept.”

“I’m sure you needed the rest.”

“Perhaps, but I can’t allow myself to get used to such luxuries.”

Falin laughed.  “I was thinking how much softer my bed in the palace was.”

“You live in the palace?”  Ana asked.

“Yes.  You seem surprised.”

“Forgive my saying so, but you don’t seem like the type.  You’re nothing like the others I’ve met there.”

“I believe that’s the consensus there as well.  I’m kept locked away in my labs all day.  It tends to dull the social graces, so you’ll have to excuse my shortcomings,” he quipped.

“How awful.  How can they do that to you?”

Falin’s smile was brilliant as he lowered his head allowing long dark lashes to cover the mischief concealed in his eyes.  “I was jesting, Ana, a poor jest at that.”  He laughed and placed his hand on hers reassuringly.  “Rest assured, my days are filled with mind numbing etiquette at King Jocylenus’ soirees.” 

“I’m not sure that’s an improvement,” Ana laughed.

“You seem to evade days at court, though I know you’re supposed to be there.  I’ve seen you there before, though, only once.  What’s your secret?”

“Ride in on a griffin just once, and they begin to take ‘no’ for an answer,” she smiled.

“I can well image.”

“’Ere ya go.”  Mina placed their plates on the table and replenished their drinks.  Eggs, toast, potatoes, and thick bacon filled their plates.  “I hope you enjoy it.”

“I don’t see how it’s possible not to, Mina.”  Falin answered as he lifted a fork full of food into his mouth.  “Mmm¼Mina, this is heavenly.”

“I knew you’d like it, Falin.  Well, you two enjoy,” she said as she left them to eat.  As the two of them finished breakfast, Falin took out a pouch and, from it, left several gold pieces on the table.

 The sun shone high in the sky as Ana and Falin came upon the first trail marker on the path to Amaranthe.  After a satisfying breakfast, the two departed the town refreshed.  Their horses were loaded and watered, and the two companions set out on the path ahead of them.  The morning hours had passed quietly, each tree surrounding their path blended into the next; now a large leafless tree, reaching its gnarled fingers upward towards the sky, broke the monotony of the journey. 

“This tree serves as a reliable map to those who know how to read it,” Ana informed Falin.  “We should head east here,” she directed examining the markings on the tree.

“The sign,” he said pointing to a small post by the side of the road, “points this way.”  Falin pointed the way they had been traveling.

“Yes, but that’s the long way.  It’s only traveled if you have to, if you’re in a large group or have wagons with you¼ or if you have absolutely no clue where you’re going,” she added quietly.  Her comment was not lost on Falin who glanced at her.  “It circumvents the narrower forest,” she explained.

Falin looked skeptically into the thickening woods to the east.  “I’ve always taken this road to return to Amaranthe.  Are you sure we won’t get lost?” 

Ana raised her eyebrows in annoyed incredulity at the absurdity of his question.  “I don’t get lost; it’s my job not to,” she said turning and leading her horse east into the woods.  Falin shrugged and followed her into the dense forest.

It was nearly an hour before Falin again addressed Ana.  Her terse answers and resulting silence had made their travel together tense.  “Have I offended you, Ana?”  he asked not waiting for a reply as he rode his horse up next to her,  “for if I have, I am truly sorry. I meant no offense.”

                “Falin, do you find it odd that you’ve said that to me several times already in the brief period you’ve known me?  Thus far you’ve insulted me, my beliefs, and my profession, yet you meant ‘no offense’?”  Ana laughed though she found no humor in it.

“No.  I meant it to be light-hearted humor, though not at your expense,” he added quickly.  “I had not expected you to be so defensive.”

“I am not defensive.” Her voice rose slightly.  “You’re just too impetuous.  Do you even bother to think before you speak?” she asked rhetorically.

“I know the power words.  I don’t need to be lectured about it, especially by a child who spends all of her time in the woods.”

“Child!”

“I’m pretty sure there is nothing I could say to you that you would find satisfactory.  I’ve never met any one so overly¼”

“Falin, shhhh¼.” Ana held her finger up to her lips as her horse snorted uneasily and twitched her dappled ears. 

“I will not be quieted because you do not wish to hear what I have to say.”

“Shh!”  She clapper her hand over his mouth and looked around their lush surroundings straining her ears to hear what prompted the horse’s warning.  “What is, girl?” she whispered into the mare’s ear sensing her alarm.

Falin moved Ana’s hand away from his face and moved his horse closer to hers.  “What is it?” he whispered. 

“Something’s following us,” she said scanning the forest behind them.  “Ride fast, the forest breaks ahead.  Keep the sun at your back.  I‘ll be right behind you.”  Falin hesitated.  “Go.  Now,” she commanded. 

Falin turned and spurred his horse east with Ana following him.  They could hear brittle leaves crunching behind them as they fled from their pursuers.  Ana glanced above them to the branches overhead as she heard the leaves rustle.  Dark figures moved above them, passing over them. 

“Damn,” Ana cursed as she recognized her foe.  She turned to warn Falin, but her alert came too late.  His horse stopped abruptly before a web that Falin did not see throwing him off of his saddle and into the sticky threaded structure.

“Augh¼,” he voiced in disgust trying to extract himself from the giant web that blocked their path.  “This is a huge¼”

“Falin, stop moving.”  Ana jumped from her horse and pulled out her bow, nocking an arrow as she spoke. “You’ll only make it worse.” She let loose an arrow that whistled past Falin’s ear hitting its target just beyond the web.  Falin’s eyes followed the arrow’s path ending in alarm at its gruesome destination.  A spider-like head sat atop a pale humanoid body.  Five vacuous eyes met Falin’s gaze; and Ana’s skillfully shot arrow protruded from the sixth, which wept viscous tears of blood.   

“Riotous Lõpt, what is that thing,” Falin exclaimed as another arrow whizzed past his head halting the approaching beast. 

“Ettercap,” she stated simply preparing another arrow for its flight.

“Oh, is that all.”  Sarcasm laced his voice.  He began murmuring the words to a spell to extract himself from the web when he noticed hulking multi-legged bodies descending from the trees above Ana.  “Ana, behind you!”  he shouted interrupting his spell. 

Ana turned quickly firing her arrow at point blank range.  The spider’s legs, each as long as Ana’s arm, dangled lifelessly as it hung dead at the end of its strand of web.  Falin watched Ana’s graceful adeptness momentarily, in staggered amazement, before noticing three other arachnids approaching quickly.  Ana took aim as Falin quickly chanted the words to a spell.  Before she could loose her arrow, a cone of vibrant, undulating colors shot past her.  The three spiders caught in its path fell limp where they hung.  Ana turned her attention from her incapacitated arachnid foes back to Falin.  Too late, she noticed a second ettercap lurking in the shadows just behind him. 

“Aughh!” he yelled out in pain as the creature sunk its poison-laden fangs into the back of Falin’s shoulder, cutting with ease through his thick traveling clothes.  Ana aimed and fired, hitting the beast even before it had finished envenoming her ensnared companion.  Falin winced in pain as he tried to shake the slain creature from him.  Ana tossed her bow over her shoulder, drawing a sharp dagger as she ran to Falin’s side and began cutting through the sticky webs. 

“It bit me,”  Falin stated in consternation.  His speech was already beginning to slur prompting Ana to work faster.

 “Yes, I saw that,”  she said breathlessly trying to extract him.  “I need to get you out of here and administer the anti-venom.”

“Anti-venom?”  His voice was edged with panic.

“You’ve been poisoned,” she answered him.  As she freed Falin from the strands supporting him, the effects of the poison became obvious.  Normally lithe beyond that of even the most agile of elves, Falin’s limbs seemed weak and unresponsive.  She wrapped her arm around his waist holding him up as she completed the task.  His leaden arms draped clumsily over her shoulders seeking her strength for support as she began to sever the last strand that held him.  Ana tugged on it seeking to tear it away from him, but to her dismay the strand tugged back.  She looked up the grey-white silky material, and her eyes met two large, pear-shaped, black eyes staring hungrily back at her.  Cutting the strand quickly, she retreated a few steps dragging Falin and weighing her options.  Behind her the spiders began to show signs of life, finishing their descent to the ground.  With a heart-stopping screech the manlike creature lunged at her seeking a victim for its toxic maw.

Ana let Falin slump to the ground as she drew one of her swords from its sheath.  The ettercap’s sharp talons flailed out at her slicing through her and leaving three deep gashes streaking her arm.  Ana’s quick reflexes allowed her to ensure that that particular claw would never again draw blood.  Her sword cut cleanly through leaving only a thread of fleshy muscle connecting it to its owner.  The monster let out a cry, which caused his arachnoid companions to act.  Ana spun around and threw her dagger at the closest approaching spider, releasing it towards the sound of the shuffling steps before she even finished turning.   The dagger plunged deep between the spider’s two largest eyes.  Its body gave a final dying shudder before falling to the ground.

Out of the corner of her eye, Ana spotted movement among the nearby trees.  She turned to address the new foe and was taken aback by what she saw.  A third ettercap was approaching riding upon the largest spider Ana had ever seen.  The spider’s body was wider than she was tall, and it stood half as tall as she did.  Ana looked down at her prone companion.  Falin’s breathing had slowed and his eyes were closed; but despite his deteriorating condition, she knew she could not hold her position over him and defeat the enemies approaching from three sides. 

“Elaendra,” she called out into the forest. 

A whinny sounded from just beyond a line of trees as Ana’s black and grey dappled horse ran to her side.  Ana looked into the mare’s eyes.  “Guard him,”  she said gesturing to Falin.  The horse snorted throwing her head into the air and rising slightly on her hind legs.  Ana, satisfied that the horse had understood, turned to face the first of the remaining foes. 

She ran towards the two smaller spiders first, drawing her second sword as she went.  They raised their front two legs flashing their fangs.  Her swords slashed through one, then the other, as though they were little more than black, wisps of clouds.  The injured ettercap bellowed at seeing his loyal pets destroyed with such ease.  His rapid footfalls pounded in Ana’s ears creating a contrapuntal rhythm with her racing heart.  She rounded on him dropping to one knee to avoid his snapping fangs and razor claws.  His attack passed harmlessly over her head, and she rolled effortlessly out of his grasp.  Before he had time to realize what had happened, Ana plunged her sword into his back.  His body tensed as the sword pierced his heart, stopping it mid-beat.

Ana pulled her sword from the lifeless aberration, now facing her last foe.  Her face splattered with blood, her hair tousled and wet with sweat, she looked on him with contempt. 

“You shouldn’t have done this,” she growled in the common tongue, a language known by most sentient beings.  The ettercap answered by casting a web at Ana, which she dodged nimbly tumbling close enough to the beast and its mount to attack.  She found herself kneeling underneath its giant mandibles; it was poised for attack. The monstrous spider struck out before Ana had time to get to her feet.  As the arachnid’s head dove at her, Ana drove her swords through the creature’s mouth.  Their glinting points emerged glistening and red at the back of its head.  She forcefully separated her arms, cleaving the spider in two as her keen-edged weapons burst from either side.  The bloodied body of the spider collapsed onto her and her weapons pinning her to the ground and throwing the ettercap off. 

“No more ranger.”  The ettercap’s muffled voice reached her ears as he stood and inspected his motionless mount.  “Feed now.”  The ettercap hobbled towards Falin and Elaendra. 

Every inch of Ana’s body felt as though it would explode with pain.  Her chest was tight and her head pounded.  Still, she forced herself to turn over onto her stomach and writhe free.  She had to release her swords to extract her hands.  When she emerged from the darkness, the ettercap was nearing Falin and her horse.  Elaendra, neighed and stood intimidatingly on her hind legs trying to scare away the attacker.  The ettercap hissed at her; its mouth spitting poison laced saliva.  Elaendra nipped at the beast, but the ettercap was driven.  It had tasted elven blood before and longed to partake of it once more.  It would not let this chance elude it.  Its claws shot out, digging deeply into the mare’s front flank.  Elaendra whinnied in pain, but did not desert her charge.  She stood her ground kicking out and landing a forceful blow with her hooves.  The ettercap stumbled back a step before lunging past the mare.  It launched itself into the air intent on feasting on the inert elf, but a brief pain followed by a strange numbness embraced it in flight.  The ettercap was dead before it reached the ground.  Its spinal cord severed by Ana’s well placed arrow, it landed harmlessly beside Falin. 

Ana lowered her bow and, tiredly, rested her head on the ground.  A cracked rib sustained when the spider fell on her prevented her from breathing deeply.  She was dizzy with pain.   Pulling herself together, she dragged the rest of her body from beneath the eight legged carcass.  She was covered from head to toe with grime and blood.  Throwing her bow once more over her shoulder, she ran over to Falin and her horse. 

“I’m sorry, girl,” she said inspecting Elaendra’s wounds.  “I’ll pick up some herbs for that while I’m gone.  You stay here with him, okay,” she said kissing the horse’s soft, tapering muzzle.  Ana leaned down to examine Falin.  His face was cold with sweat, and his breathing had become labored. 

“Falin,” she spoke softly to him lightly brushing his hair from face, “hold on, okay.”  Now, within the quiet of the forest she was able to call upon the nature god to aid her in slowing the poison that coursed through her companion’s body. 

When her entreaty to Silvanus was completed, Ana took her backpack from off of her horse, pulled her dagger from the dead spider, and headed into the forest to find herbs for an anti-venom. 

Nearly an hour passed before she returned to the makeshift camp carrying several leaves and roots.  She blended them together crushing them in a small mortar and adding spring water before heating it over a fire to make a strong brew.  When the sweet smelling infusion reached a boil, Ana knew it was completed.  She let it cool, and took it over to where Falin lay.  Supporting his head, she held the bowl to his lips tipping it slightly.  Much of the first sip dribbled from the corners of his mouth and dripped down his ashen face.

“Please, Falin, swallow,” she said more to herself than to her fallen friend.

She tipped the bowl again, and Falin responded to her plea.  He swallowed weakly, though his eyes remained close; his  breathing eased as she laid him back on the ground. 

“He’ll be out for hours, Elaendra,” she sighed tiredly.  “Let me tend to you.”  She cleaned and dressed her mare’s cuts and rewarded her valiance with a long brush down and an apple.  Ana was throwing a blanket over Elaendra when she heard movement in the woods. 

“Not again,” she breathed exasperatedly.  A frightened neigh stopped her from firing the arrow she had quickly readied.

“Here, boy,” she called to Falin’s horse holding out an apple to entice him.  She tied the skittish horse to a tree, tended to her own wounds, and set out to retrieve her weapons.

Falin awoke lying under a blanket of bright stars.  He had spent few nights outside of the city, so the sight of the open sky was breathtaking.  He sat up and looked around.  His mouth was dry and a bittersweet taste lingered in it.  His muscles ached in protest as he stood; but he was otherwise unharmed. 

“You’ve finally awoken,” sang a concealed voice.  Falin looked to the treetops following his ears.   

“Ana?”  he questioned hoarsely.  Ana jumped from the high branches of a nearby tree.  She winced in pain, grasping her left side as she landed.  “You’re hurt,” Falin commented with concern.       

“It’ll heal.” Falin could hear her fatigue as it clung to her voice.

“How long was I sleeping?”

“A day, a little longer.”  She shook her head wearily.

“You haven’t slept, have you?”

“These woods aren’t safe.  Someone had to keep watch.”

“You look awful.”  Ana rolled her eyes at Falin’s tact.  “I mean,” he quickly corrected.  “You look tired¼and like you’ve seen the inside of a large bloody beast,” he added regarding her appearance.

Ana couldn’t help but smile.  “A spider fell on me,” she laughed, but grasped her side as a pain shot through her.  “I had to dig my swords out from underneath it with my dagger.”

“Well, I’m up now; so you can rest.  Tomorrow we’ll find a stream to clean off in.  I feel a bit sticky myself.”

Ana sat next to a tree leaning her back against it and shut her eyes.  Falin sat down at an adjacent tree and watched the ranger, stoically bearing her pain, try to sleep. 

“Ana?”  he spoke softly.

“Hmm?”  She was nearly asleep.

“I’ve never seen such skilled swordplay before.  You’re amazing.  Surpassing even Arathyn, perhaps.”

 “Hmm.”

Falin smiled as he watched her drift off to sleep.