When at last the hunting party came to a halt, the foremost rider wearing an eye patch lowered his hood and looked at her with a piercing silver eye. “I’m Fjolnir. Are you the hunter or the hunted?”

“Hunter,” Liese answered; the niggling sensation she was being tracked by some other unknown entity was bad enough. She didn’t want to have a party of what seemed over twenty also pursuing her through a world she didn’t know.

“We will see. There is a colossal boar deep within the forest, but know this: As you hunt, so are you the hunted.” Many of the accompanying hunters laughed with grating barks and inhuman sounds. Fjolnir turned his destrier away from Liese and urged it straight into a gallop. The horse reared with a roar, the wild hunt taking flight through the shadows and raised a bracing wind in its wake. The two ravens alighted with mocking cronks and spiralled up above the canopy as she stood watching their departure.

A toneless, disembodied voice crawled over her. “Run.” Liese’s skin was crawling all over, and in a blind panic, Liese leapt into a sprint without first checking her direction.  Jagged branches tore at her flesh as she forced her way through razor-sharp pines and dense ivy that tried to drag her down. All the while, feral and primitive howls and shrieks followed behind and alongside her. She tried to keep her gaze set ahead. She needed to keep the blue light in her sites.

When she’d told Fjolnir that she was a hunter, she’d been hoping that she could join with them and figure things out as they went. All thoughts of hunting a boar were gone as she continued her mad rush through the Darklands. She had no weapon and no armour; there was no chance of her succeeding or surviving. Her only chance now was to keep ahead of whatever was pursuing her and to reach Elfinburg.

Snarls and growls reached ever closer, insidious chuckles and taunts lashed through the otherwise silent world at Liese. She was clutching her chest and struggling to take a breath. In the moment she faltered, something grabbed the material of her dress and dragged her back into a deep hollow of tangled roots. A calloused hand clamped her mouth before she could let out a scream and a thick arm bound her tight. She was completely pinned and unable to see her captor. She watched as a horde of disfigured undead thundered straight past, unaware that their prey had already been seized.

Liese bit at the hand still clasped across her face and wrestled with all her remaining energy. A chaotic frenzy was coursing through her veins like fire, overwriting her thoughts and instincts with the pure desire to escape both the dead and her captor.

“Quit your squirming or you’ll bring ‘em straight back at us.” A gruff voice muttered close to her ear, a lesser binding magic laced throughout his words. Liese ceased her fighting and tried to catch a glimpse of whoever, or whatever, had spoken as the creature loosened its grip a fraction. It was a man of sorts with goat-like horns and downy feathers covering one side of his face. Amber eyes peered back at her from a neutral expression and he shook his head slowly, pressing a finger against his lips before returning his watch to the darkness. 

“Never seen ‘em riled up so much in a few hundred years. I wonder…” The creature sniffed at the air and grunted. “They do have a lust for living souls. Why d’ya leave the road eh?”

Liese couldn’t answer. She was exhausted and stunned by everything that had happened. Recognition of the stone fleshed demon from before had hit home as the horde had gone past. She’d seen it before in many nightmares, and often in the darkness of her room when she woke from them. Prowling ever closer to where she lay terrified beneath the quilt, stalking her for its time. The dawn would always banish it, but there would be no dawn here, and she knew that it would soon turn back and sniff her out.

“Oi.” The creature jabbed at her arm.

Liese turned in response, still struggling to keep her wits together. Whatever the thing that caught her was, it at least seemed civil for now, though crude with its behaviour. Her gaze fell to a dull, hefty sword propped by the creature’s side and she wanted to ask about it, or even to say anything. No words would come, and she felt the darkness of oblivion seeping through her mind. Sleep beckoned. Her eyelids were heavy and her body was becoming weightless. “Don’t sleep!” The creature hissed, prodding at the centre of her forehead with a taloned finger.  The touch sent a bolt of electricity right through her core and she sat up straight.

“Ow. I don’t…can’t… who was…is…you?” Words tumbled from numb lips. Liese mewled in frustration at her inability to form a sentence and pummelled at her temples and clawed at her hair simultaneously.

“You mean the leader of that there pack? Tha’s Zaza. Right tasty piece of work, even if I say so meself. I’m Jack, nice to meetcha.” The creature patted her on the head with a heavy hand, though it seemed to have the desired effect of stopping her madness.

“Um, sorry about that,” Liese muttered ashamedly, her hands dropping to her sides. “I’m Liese. Thank you, I guess?”

“Pah! Don’t go thanking me jus’ yet. I only grabbed ya ‘cause I figured you might be able to help me out. Tha’, and it’ll really piss Zaza off.” Jack winked, sitting back on his haunches and looking her up and down. As the shadows shifted, she noticed a white pumpkin that had been hollowed out and held a glowing lump of coal.

“I don’t…” Liese sighed. She took several slow, deep breathes to instils some clarity back to her mind before trying again. “What do you need help with?”

“I’m trying to cross over t’other side, it’s much prettier and got plenty of light see? There’s a ferryman of sorts not far from ‘ere, ‘cept I can’t pay ‘im an’ I can’t go through Elfinburg neither as my type ain’t welcome.”

“But what can I do?”

“I dunno. What can you do?”

Liese bit back a retort at the petulant response and thought about her options. For the time she was inside of the hollow, she was safe, though her time was slipping past at an unknown rate. Jack was clearly a demon of sorts, though at odds with the other residents of the Darklands. He’d saved her life, so taking the ferryman herself would only make her another enemy and there was no guarantee the other side that Jack referred to would be any less hostile. She looked at the sword again, longing for the blade to be at her side.

Liese gasped, fingers reaching into the sash and clasping the warm golden coin with relief. “This for the sword?” She held the coin in her fist with enough of the gold glinting in the feeble light from the coal.

“Jus’ so ya know, this thing don’ even have an edge.” Jack’s eyes had gone wide with hunger and were trained on her hand.

“That’s okay. I just have a feeling…something I can’t explain anyway. Deal?” She was surprised that the creature had had the decency to warn her of the swords inferiority as she lowered her hand in preparation for the exchange.

“Yours.” The creature grunted and he knocked the sword over so it landed by Liese’s side with a dull thwump. She dropped her golden coin into Jack’s hand, certain she had made the right choice. “Gotta ask, What’s with the cat toy?” Jack continued, tilting his head to one side and sniffing the air again. “Didn’t know humans went for catnip.”

“It’s my cat’s. I’m not sure what she gave it to me yet. If you don’t mind my asking, why the coal in the pumpkin?”

Jack snorted as he secured the coin in the depths of his coat pockets. “you get yourself to the other side too, then maybe I’ll tell ya. Better go now. I can tell ya now, tha’ Zaza’s picked up your sent.” And with that, the semi-humanoid creature pounced from the roots with his pumpkin securely in the crook of his arm. Liese shivered and wished he’d not told her that the demon Zaza was already coming back so soon. She lifted the blade in her right hand, uncertain of what she’d actually do if she had to use it.

She crept from the roots and looked all around for the beacon. She had no idea how far she had been forced off track and her heart dropped even further when all she could see was a rising wall of black on the horizon. Uncontrollable shivers shot up and down her spine, the recognisable sensation of demons creeping closer washed over her and made her mind waver again.

There were more of them. Too many to try and fight with a dull sword she didn’t know how to swing yet. She could hear the guttural snarls and growls and the breaking of twigs underfoot. They were quieter than before. More ordered. The idea that the demons were capable of such meticulous stalking horrified her and tore at the calm she had not long regained

“Wait, that’s not…” Liese swung her head around in the opposite direction and saw the flash of ivory as a showed beast snuffled in the earth. A wild idea filled her mind, and she started to edge towards the boar. There was no breeze to betray her and the demons and the dead were still a reasonable distance behind. 

Twenty feet. Ten feet. She could almost hear and feel Zaza’s rasping breath on her neck, but she kept her slow and silent pace. Five feet. The boar finally sensed her closing in. Angry vermillion eyes glared at her as it turned, brandishing its tusks at her and roared. The trees trembled and crows and ravens alike took to the firmament in an angry cawing and screeching. Liese added her own voice to the cacophony, bellowing at the boar and charging forwards.

She could do it. She had to. The boar lashed its tusks again and reared up. Liese dove into a sideways roll at the last second as the beast came crashing down. She continued with her momentum, spinning on her toe and leapt onto its back using its shoulder as a perch before straddle the boar’s back before the beast could start another attack on her. The sword she had been using to counterbalance came down hard. The flat edge whacked the beast’s rump and both screamed at the night as the boar started on furious charge straight towards the horde of demons.

The boar kicked and cavorted, tusks ripping demonic flesh apart while trying to dislodge the unwelcome rider. Liese held tufts of the coarse fur for dear life and clenched her legs tight to the beast’s back. The foul creatures scattered in all directions with howls and curses and Liese finally let out her breath as the boar settled into a levelled run. Zaza had been there. She had only just managed to spot him watching the scene from the safety of a tree, its cruel, grey features set into a furious expression.

As the boar carried her further away from the nightmare and the cool breeze whipped through her hair, she finally felt less afraid. As they entered a clearing, two ravens appeared in front of them and Liese was certain they were the same two from earlier. They worked together to distract the boar and confuse its vision until the brute finally came to a halt. Then the ravens landed on its tusks, cronking together again. She sensed they were being smug about their actions and calling to the hunting party as their voices echoed all around.

Sure enough, the mournful cries of the hounds answered back and were followed moments later by the thundering approach of destriers. Fjolnir was smiling as the riders came to a halt, once again circling around Liese. Many had lowered their hoods now and she could make out men and women of all ages amongst the hunting party.

“You have a very unconventional method of hunting. I see you somehow found one of Regin’s swords too.” The semi-blind man nodded at the dull blade Liese was clinging to. Her hand was in such a state of cramp from clinging to both the sword and the boar, she didn’t think she could let go of it anytime soon even if Fjolnir demanded it. He rode alongside the boar and patted its flank, speaking softly to it in another language. “Come. Time to let Trwyth return now.” Fjolnir offered a hand to Liese as she slid from the boar’s back and lifted her on to the horseback with him as though she were a feather. 

Her earlier exhaustion and aches returned while she contemplated this new predicament. She wondered what to do next and searched for the beacon, almost letting out a sob when there was still no sign of it. The hunt moved off again as the boar Trwyth lumbered away. She wasn’t sure if she was a captive to Fjolnir and his party or what, she only knew she was beyond fighting or running anymore as she rocked from side to side to the motion of the destrier.

They passed behind a waterfall and entered a tunnel of total darkness and purifying mists. Liese’s senses spiralled out of control again and Fjolnir held one shoulder to keep her steady throughout. She could see light ahead and the group splashed across a burbling stream, exiting the cavern to a town of stunning architecture and colour.

She felt the destrier come to a stop. Heard the merriment all around her. It was all so far away and she felt herself falling from the horse, unable to do anything about her. High above her in the highest tower of a beautiful castle was the blue light she had been following for the longest time. She sighed with relief as she fell into the embrace of sleep, not even aware of Tegan rushing forwards to catch her.

Original article: The Edge of Darkness III – The Wild Hunt.

Liese had only just stepped through the colossal iron gates when all light seemed to be consumed by oppressive darkness that settled on her shoulders like a leaden mantle. There were dim lanterns every hundred yards or so as if someone had the decency to leave some form of marker to where the road was, though the light they cast was indigo and scarcely broke through the night. The sky above was darker than pitch; no stars or moon, or any suggestion of time for her to monitor.

She’d never heard of Regin before, yet the name itself had sent a shiver of pure fear down her spine when Kürgis spoke it. She could feel her heart quicken and flutter as a cruel breeze rustled through the aged and dry leaves of the gnarled woodland. All around her was a dark presence waiting for her to stumble from the safety of the road. Whispers in the distance and unnatural howling added to her sense of dread as she continued to force one foot in front of the other and took to counting the dim pools of light that she passed.

After walking for what seemed an eternity with nothing other than stone lanterns to see, Liese finally spied a brightly lit crossroad ahead of her. It was basked in ambered light that spoke to her of warmth and welcome, and the place Kürgis had referred to as Elfinburg. She hurried her pace and closed the gap between darkness and light, relieved to see there was a bench. With a sigh, she dropped down and placed her face in her hands, trying to keep the despair away. Through the space between her fingers, she was surprised to see vividly coloured flowers that resembled daisies growing amongst peach coloured grass around the wooden bench. It was the first presence of life she had seen since parting from Kürgis and the small flowers brought her some comfort.

“It is unwise to sit for too long on this night.” A powerful female voice made Liese start. A willowy woman veiled in black silks and gossamer was sat beside her as though she had always been there. Liese was certain there had been no one about when she sat down, nor had she heard anyone approaching. “I’m the watcher of the crossroads.”

“Oh,” Liese answered, as though the stranger’s statement made perfect sense. She tried to make out who was beneath the veil, but the sheer material did a perfect job of obscuring the woman’s identity. She wore a sweet, unearthly fragrance which was familiar to Liese, though she couldn’t place where she recognised it from.

“You may ask three questions, then you must move on from here.” The woman continued, her voice full of secrets and arcane power.

Liese restrained herself from asking the first and useless question that sprang into her mind, or then what the identity of the woman was. She knew she had to ask something that would give her an advantage in the Darklands if she were to reach Tegan in time.

“Is this the underworld?” She asked after some time had passed and she had contemplated what Tegan had told her about the veil between realms being thinnest during the time Samhain and Beltane.

“Yes,” Liese was almost relieved with the answer. Though the idea of the underworld threatened to consume her with fear, a year with Tegan had taught her a lot about the dead, the underworld and the spirit realms. Now she knew where she was, her uncertainty diminished and she looked around the weird scenery.

“What time is it?”

“There is no specific time here. It is vague and ever-shifting.”

Liese bit her tongue before wasting her last question. Time would try to deceive her into getting to Elfinburg too late, or not at all. “Which way do I go?” She prayed that the stranger could give her a definite answer, though she had a sinking sensation that the road was also set against the traveller in this place. Even the bright lights of Elfinburg had vanished from view.

“Keep to the centre of the road and follow the beacon of the Erlkin.” The stranger gestured towards the road which continued straight on in the direction Liese had started out on, and at its horizon, she could see a brilliant blue light piercing the shadows that hadn’t been there before.

“Thank you.” Liese sighed, resigned to her fate of darkness and lack of direction.

“Take these with you.” The woman in black proffered her a small, hard cake and a weighty golden coin which Liese took and stowed them with the little mouse toy. What a strange collection of possessions to carry through the land of the dead. She realised too late that perhaps one of her questions should have been to ask for a light.

After sniffing at the cake curiously, she finally remembered the fragrance that clung to the stranger. Cinnamon and dragon’s blood, and it hadn’t been so long ago that she’d smelt them. “Aelwyd?” Liese asked, looking back at the crossroads, but both the stranger and the illuminated crossroads had vanished. She was once again devoured by the Darklands with only the dim pools of indigo to show her the road. As she wandered through the trees, she noticed the beacon of blue remained in her sites, as though neither stone or bark could block its light. The light of the Elf-folk.

As she had suspected, the road became tricky to navigate. The lanterns were placed at random and with a varying difference in proximity to either side of the road. The road twisted and turned, proving to her that the next lantern she saw was not always the one to walk towards. She’d lost count of the times she had found her foot slipping from the cobbles and made a hasty retreat back to the centre of the road. Her eyes constantly scanned through the darkness for another pool light to move towards, periodically checking that her blue light was still there.

She had no idea how much time her futile meandering through the dark was costing her. The thought she wouldn’t make it in time to always threatening to paralyse her to the spot; then the distorted whispers on the breeze urging her to continue forwards. The longer nothing happened to her, the worse her unease became. It was reminiscent of the time she was forced into watching a paranormal horror that only had a few minor jump-scares for the first hour, then unleashed pure visual horror that robbed her of sleep for several days.

Wisps of mist crept over the road rich with a cloying scent of moss and pine as the road started to climb through the dense firs. By the time she reached the peak of the hill, she was completely shrouded in the mists which spread out as far as her gaze could reach. The guiding beacon was now glowing and shimmering through the silver sky. She despaired at how far away it had become though, and let out a disgruntled moan, an action she instantly regretted as something seemed to snicker from behind. Something was following her, and being careful to keep out of site. A cold wind rushed passed her and parted the ocean of mist, and through the pallid grey, Liese saw a behemoth wolf prowling through the murk in the distance. She shuddered and forced herself on.

The road descended steeply and Liese broke into an instinctive run, eyes hunting for indigo and blue now they had adjusted to the dim light. Ahead, the road turned around what looked like an ancient stone monument. Dappled kaleidoscopic lights filtered through the foliage towards her and she paused to listen to the forest. The murmurs of the dead had faded away and instead, she could now hear laughter and the jingling of small bells that reminded her of Kürgis’ collar bell.

Liese followed the sounds, music drifting through the air. Woodwind flutes and bodhran, and a sort of mouth harping that was both familiar and foreign. It spoke to her of some ancient time and whispered to the depths of her heart, filling her soul with courage she didn’t know she possessed.

As she passed the weathered remains of the stone monument, she noticed fine runic markings glowing subtly through the lichen. Before she could pay the symbols much notice, her attention was captivated by the procession creating the ethereal music and brilliant lights. It took her a moment to comprehend what she was seeing and she wondered if perhaps she was dreaming and not at all in another world.

Coming towards her were several small gigs being pulled by stunning marbled foxes with turquoise and amethyst-hued fur and jewels set into their foreheads. Four or five fairies were crowded into the carriages that were only built for two passengers. Some were leaning out precariously, while others sat on the rims of the carriages and many more cavorted around them or followed behind riding more of the fantastic foxes.

It seemed impossible for there to be such festivities within a world of death. Liese continued to watch in fascination as the procession drew close enough for the fairies to finally notice her. The enchanting music and dancing diminished as the foxes and their gigs came to a halt. Seconds turned into minutes as both human and fairy studied each other alike. Then, the fairy which seemed to lead the party sprung from the gig. The creature’s petite form was supported by sheer wings of iridescent light as she hovered a short way in front of Liese, its nose wrinkled.

“I’m Tanuki, What brings you to Annwn?” The creature asked, her voice melodic and chiming.

“Annwn? I thought this was the Darklands?” Liese responded, confused by what the fairy had said and forgetting to answer the question. “Oh, I’m Liese.” She offered her hand to the fairy. “I’m searching for someone. We got separated a little while back.”

Though the fairies seemed friendly enough, Liese wasn’t convinced that telling them the specific details was wise. Technically, if she took names literally, the fairies would be connected to the Erlkin and Elfinburg, yet they were out here in Darklands.

“Both the Darklands and Annwn are one. There would be no light without Annwn, and no Darklands without the light. What brings a mortal to our forest?” The fairy asked again, adjusting her vivid purple top hat.

“I need to get to Elfinburg.”

There was a collective intake of breath. More fairies sprung the gigs and stood or fluttered around Liese giggling amongst themselves. Even the foxes chattered and whistled in anticipated excitement.

“The living can never navigate the labyrinthian roads of Annwn. We can show you the way, but first, you must pay tribute to the forest spirits and play their game.” Tanuki spoke while the others cheered and cajoled Liese forewords. She thought a moment, then pulled the cinnamon cake from her sash and offered it up.

“Yes! Come this way.” Tanuki swiped the hard cake quicker than Liese could blink and stuffed it in her mouth whole. Tanuki grasped Liese’s hand and guided her down a small path toward more of the ambered fires and a winding track that looped through the trees. “All you have to do is walk the path three times. Once in the light, once in the dark, and once again to relight the braziers. The first time, you can take as light no as you need. The second time, you must complete the path in less than seven minutes. For the third time, you simply need the make it to the end.”

Liese eyed the path. It was composed of stepping stones and was well maintained exactly like the roads. Her bare feet could easily distinguish stone from the earth, but she couldn’t help wonder what the catch was. The route didn’t seem long. It would likely take ten minutes while idling along. And what did they mean by ‘simply make it the end?’ What would happen? Liese frowned, then promptly massaged her temples. Thinking about what-ifs would not help her, and the rest of the procession had caught up with them and found seats wherever they could around what appeared to be the starting point.

“You remember what you have to do?” Tanuki produced the stub of a black candle from her waistcoat, shook her head and replaced it before waving to another member of her party, who moments later, retrieved a larger black candle from the gig. Tanuki took it, lit it from the braziers and placed it carefully into the loose, dusty soil. Then, she smiled at the dancing flames “Well, get started then.”

Liese started along the path, trying to work out what she should do to help her remember the route. The gaps between stones were consistent enough and she counted her steps between each of the braziers, making each step count for a second. After the second brazier, she came to two in close proximity to each other decided that counting steps and time was pointless. She studied the stepping stones closely, noticing that she was at a crossing point of two paths, the two braziers diagonal to each other with a third brazier a bit further along if she continued straight forwards.

Beneath her toes, she felt a groove in the stone and crouched down to inspect it, fingers tracing out a ‘v’ shape that pointed straight. Next, she studied the stone braziers. The only difference was that the one to her right had five starts engraved into the rim, and the one to her left had six. She moved on to the third brazier, and as she expected, there were three stars carved into the stone. She continued on, the next brazier having four stars engraved in it, and then back to the fifth which told her all she needed to know of the path’s course.

It followed the shape of an infinite loop. Even-numbered braziers were on the right of the path, and odd numbers to the left; the exception being the first, which was central. As she returned to the first brazier and the burning candle, she sensed the excitement in the air from the watching fairies and a collectively held breath. As she passed the candle, all of the lanterns extinguished simultaneously.

Liese stopped dead where she stood. Though she had expected the fires to go out, the sudden contrast from the dim light and utter darkness left her blind and disorientated. As she tentatively took a step forewords and felt for the weathered stone beneath her sole, she swung her arms out for balance. The lack of orientation or point of reference felt like being drunk on too much bourbon as she staggered the dark.

With the return of the darkness came the frightful whispers all around her and every other sense leapt into overdrive. Each little gust of wind felt like something trying to push her over, each groan and sigh of the tree the sound of someone tracking her. The unnatural sounds of the underworld formed a picture of a grotesque, stone fleshed being in her mind’s eye that leapt into life among the subsisting darkness.

With each calculated step she took, the demonic creature of her mind would leer out of the shadows at her with alarming clarity and burning red eyes. Her feet kept feeling dusty earth and she would panic until stepping back to stone and feeling through the shadows for the braziers.

The darkness was closing in on her. Suffocating and terrifying, fear threatened to take over, feeding the Darklands and the spirits within. More conjured demonic creatures gathered in her path and tried to force her off it. She felt sick and feverish, her consciousness threatening to betray her as her fingers felt the fourth star.

It took all of her concentration and mental restraint to keep some control on her mind, to keep walking forwards and to keep to the path without falling. With every heartbeat, she tried not to think about how long she was taking, certain it had been longer than seven minutes. Still, she kept following the path and almost wept when she saw the little candle flame burning ahead of her.

Liese rushed forewords, grasped it from the earth and lit the first brazier. She didn’t slow her pace then. Whether she passed the game or failed, and even if she was no longer timed; the sensation of being pursued was still there in the icy cold breath of the wind and the scratching of dead wood in the trees. She sprinted on, the stone steps bathed in enough light for her to see far enough. She hardly stopped long enough to relight the fires until she finally returned to the beginning. She was trembling all over, covered in a sheen of sweat and collapsed to the floor. The candle rolled onto the floor, her right hand covered in black wax.

The fairies had gathered all around and resumed their frivolous festivities, dancing all around her to the enthralling music.

“You did it!”

“No human ever does it!”

“They always go mad before they can light the braziers.” Several fairies spoke and clamoured at once. They fluttered around her and lifted Liese back to her feet, spinning her around in a wild dance until she was dizzy and swayed on the spot with a multitude of colours sparkling in her eyes. She wasn’t surprised people went mad playing the forest’s game. She was certain she had. She could still see the stone fleshed demon sneering at her through the pines, needle-like teeth barred at her in a wicked grin that made her shiver and clutch her chest.

“The spirits of the forest will let you pass and the road will become more certain so long you do not stray from it.” Tanuki beamed, pointing back towards the road to which her companions were moving towards. “Be quick though, the Hunter is on his way and this path is not a road.” With that, a Tanuki flew after her party, her beautiful wings casting the kaleidoscope of lights all around her until she landed back at the head of her gig.

Liese followed them, fearful of the demon in the trees and whoever the hunter was. She stood in the centre, close to a lantern and searched for her blue light, relieved to see it was still there and not so far away as before. Closer still was the mournful baying of hounds and clattering of hooves thundering towards her. Two ravens circled above her, cronking and cawing.

“This is definitely not what Tegan said would happen,” Liese muttered moodily to herself, waiting for the hunt to come into view.

{Next Chapter – The Wild Hunt}

Original article: The Edge of Darkness II: Fairies of Annwn.