Hidden Enemies. Steve Reilly
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above. What made these woods different, as she looked beneath the leaves, were the trunks and branches. They were patterned with every colour imaginable. Many hues of red, green, blue and yellow laced each section of bark and the trees emitted a soft light, giving a magical glow to the air. She stepped beneath the canopy and the air became liquid. Each step felt like walking through deep mud. She forced herself to go on, concentrating on placing one foot in front of the other as her mind fought to overcome the beauty that threatened to engulf her. Inside her head a voice seemed to keep inviting “Join us.”
Resisting with every step she pushed forward and finally reached the far edge of the woods, stepping out into the sun again. With the light, the suffocation of the trees left her and she sat on a rock to rest. The ground before her was littered with rocks of all sizes, harder to cross but insignificant compared to what faced her at the far edge. Stretching as far as she could see in either direction stood a sheer rock wall, its top about sixty feet above her. She could see no way past the barrier but had no desire to go back beneath the trees. She would need to work her way along the cliff until she could find a way into the mountains. Glancing at the sun hanging low in the west, she decided to wait until tomorrow before going on.
Next morning as she stood looking up at the barrier she noticed a bird high in the sky above her. It circled her for three or four turns, then drifted west along the wall on silent wings. She followed because it seemed right and by afternoon she started to notice changes in the face of the cliff. There were more cracks and fissures appearing, with small caves showing at various levels. With the afternoon drawing to an end a familiar shape appeared in the skies above her. The raven circled before flying ahead and returning. The dark bird continued to follow overhead for the next hour before finally alighting on a rock at the base of the cliff. It waited for Camille and only when she noticed the cave behind the rock did the bird spread its wings and, with one mighty thrust, launched itself back into the air.
The cave was tall enough for her to enter without crawling and extended back before angling to the right. It was about thirty feet deep, the floor was fairly level and a few loose rocks were scattered around the inner depths while enough light entered to make movement comfortable and safe. Camille chose an area among the stones as a bed for the night. As the darkness closed around her she lay on the floor and wondered if the raven was telling her that this was her destination. It appeared to be a good place to stay for a while. She had crossed a small stream a short way back that would ensure a supply of fresh water and the colourful trees spreading from the base of the cliff would surely provide for her requirements if she could collect it without being overcome by the power of the shadows. She looked around the cave and thought it was definitely worth considering.
Her eyes opened to find the sun brightening the entrance to her cave but it struck her that something was different. She lay still and allowed her eyes to roam the cave before settling on the entrance. Just outside the cave something sat on the rock where yesterday the raven had stood. She could not make out the silhouette so she lay still, hoping that whatever sat there was only resting and, if she gave it time, it would leave. But after some minutes the shape spoke with a voice that sounded like the deep rumble of distant thunder. “Can come out now. Wait for you.” Camille lay still. It took a few moments before her sleepy brain realised that the rumbling noise was actually speech. Then the rumble came again. “I know you awake.”
Camille watched. The shape had not moved so she climbed to her feet and edged towards the entrance. “I no hurt you,” the voice said. Camille stepped out into the sun. Crouched on the rock was a massive creature. Its head was round and hairless with large eyes and an overly large mouth filled with pointed teeth. The creature’s body was much larger than any man’s and it had long thick arms and short solid legs. Around its waist was tied some sort of animal hide that was hitched between its legs. The hide was obviously well used. But to Camille the overall appearance of the creature was blue, like it had just climbed out of a wine-maker’s barrel.
“Welcome,” said the creature.
“Thank you,” replied Camille. They watched each other in silence for some moments before she continued. “I am Camille.”
“I name Aiyu, son of Yent, son of Avgar, son of Goar.”
“How did you know I was here?”
“Watch you. You walk along Edge yesterday. I see you. No see many humans come mountains.”
“And what sort of creature are you?” she asked.
“No like be called creature. We people auchs.”
“An auch?”
“Auchs live mountains many years.”
“But the auchs are only a myth, tales that parents tell their children to make them go to bed.”
“Do I look like myth?” he grinned. “Auchs no myth. Auchs proud and peaceful people. My family go back many generations. Aiyu son of Yent, son of Avgar, son of Goar, and go back Ngai the Brave.”
“I am sorry but I cannot remember all of your family names.”
“Friends just call Aiyu.”
“How did you see me? Where were you?”
Aiyu simply pointed up.
“Up there?” asked Camille. “What were you doing?”
“Work on farm. Holdbori come speak.”
“Holdbori?” asked Camille. This creature confused her. “Is Holdbori another auch?”
“Holdbori Great Spirit of skies. Come in black clothes. Land on tree. Tell me follow. Bring me to Edge. I see you come and watch. When you sleep, Holdbori tell I come wait for you wake.”
Camille and Aiyu talked on through the early morning. She found it easy to speak to the big blue man. She told him of the attack on her home and the death of her mother. She spoke of her flight from the people of Thistledowne and she told him of the raven and how it had saved her from capture and death. “Holdbori protect you,” Aiyu told her. The auch then sat and pondered for a few minutes.
“Come. It time go.”
“Go where?” asked Camille.
“I take to farm and we talk Bhata.”
“Who is Bhata?” she asked.
Aiyu’s face lit up. “Bhata mate of Aiyu. She strong spirit talker, understand spirits. She tell us what Holdbori want. We go to farm. It no far.”
Camille did not understand why she trusted this big creature but she agreed to go. Aiyu jumped off the rock and set off immediately along the cliff face. He was already well on his way before she reacted and followed him as he set a fast pace over the broken ground. The effort of keeping up prevented any further conversation. The fast pace was difficult. She was forced to stop and think of her route around or over rocks and fallen trees while Aiyu just seemed to step over the obstacles. Soon Camille was forced to stop and call to Aiyu. She explained that she could not walk through this broken ground and keep up; she did not have his strength or speed. After considering the situation for a moment Aiyu announced, “Carry you.” In one flashing movement he leaned down and picked up Camille, slung her over his shoulder and started to walk again. With her head hanging over the back of Aiyu’s shoulder and her legs bouncing on his chest she called to be put down but Aiyu took no notice. She punched him in the back with both fists while continuing to curse him loudly from her indignant position. Aiyu walked for some time, ignoring her screams and punches. They had travelled a good distance before Aiyu turned and walked into a small fissure in the cliff face. He placed her back on the ground and looked at her with a confused expression.
“What are you doing?” she yelled at him.
“Camille say she no walk. I strong so I carry,” he explained.
“I just wanted you to slow down, you big oaf,” she yelled.
Aiyu stood looking at the small human, not understanding her complaints. “No matter,” he said. “We here.”
Camille looked