FOREVER KNIGHTS: #4 Battling Black Roses

Netherwood, Netherlands

TEVERIUS

Teverius strolled the Northern Netherwood in the direction of his hut. He caught the dangling rope and climbed it agilely up to the deck. Striding its width to reach his door. He walked in and kicked off his boots. He climbed the rough wooden ladder headed to the top level. Where he kept books and maps. Documents I use for tracking stars and comets.

My favorite hobby. He stared out his expansive window on the top level. Looking through the treetops from his spot on the fur rug. He heard the sounds of a beginning rain. Nearly masking a shrill scream.

Tev unfolded and shot to the window. Leaning against it he peered through the dumping rain and the shadow of the forest to see what made the racket.

He could just barely make out what looked like a log, lunging forward to bite into a skittering Noni. Putting a heavy paw on the Noni’s tail it caught its head in between thick jaws and ripped it apart. Tossing it aside. Other Nonis scattered.

Tev squinted to catch the rapid movement of the little rodents suddenly veering in every direction.

But the Targue hopped up to land on another. The Noni’s strip of black skin lifted from its stomach to unleash a racking shriek that sounded very much like a woman’s yell.

Targues attacking Nonis?

The slithering little creatures must’ve nipped it or gotten in its way. The Targue appeared to have lost all patience with them.

No shame there. Tev cared little about the deaths of Cimmerii in the woods. Apparently they followed me. It wasn’t the first time that’d happened either.

Sighing he turned from the window. Going back to sketching on another roll of parchment. What would be a map of constellations when he was done. If I ever get it done.

But he heard more strange noises outside and curiosity soon drove him back to the window.

The Targue had the foot of one, now human, corpse. Dragging it from beneath Tev’s hut with rough jerking motions. The body scraped over branches and snapped twigs as it drug limply.

A little unusual.

Why try to hide the damage? Grunting he turned away again.

“Teverius!”

Zierno’s voice seemed very far away.

Tev flopped to his stomach. What nightmare is this?

“Teverius!” The voice got more urgent.

Why won’t he let me sleep?

I sleep so little. He woke blearily.

Zierno knows if I don’t come to the door to leave. Why’s he bothering me? Tev grunted and flopped from his rush bed.

“What do you want?” He grunted. Clumsily stumbling to the door with all the grace of a sleepy child.

“Get your ass out here!” Zierno shouted. “Call this thing off!”

“Call what off?” Tev opened the door.

Squinting against the vibrant afternoon sun. Why? He thought, objecting to the blinding glow. He used a fist to rub his eyes, blinking slowly until they adjusted.

What are we talking about? He was taken aback when he saw the bark coated shoulders of a Targue just below his deck. Near the swaying rope he used to lower himself to the ground.

The beast snarled so low Tev hadn’t noticed it until now.

When Zierno shifted his weight to the right the Targue matched the movement. Ready to launch into an attack at the slightest provocation. Zierno was clearly unable to even back up and leave without inciting the animal.

“What are you doing here?” Tev asked more to the animal then Zierno. Though it was Zierno that answered.

“Bringing you rabbit.” He lifted it by the ears very slowly. “Does he want it? Because he can have it, if it means he won’t eat me. But I was very concerned if I were to throw it at him, he’d only see it as provocation to come after me.”

Good thing you didn’t. It would’ve been a mistake.

“He would’ve.” Tev muttered. He slid one hand below the other to lower to the ground. Stepping heel to toe to keep from startling the animal as he eased from behind it.

It didn’t even spare him a glance.

It knows my smell, my voice, and that this hut is mine.

He’s one of mine. Tev reached down to caress along the dog’s back. Lightening currents rippled over its vined fur from where he touched it. Making the creature rumble and stare lovingly up at him.

“Groomsman!” He greeted. Kneeling to his most friendly demon dog. “What are you doing out here? Shouldn’t you be guarding the shack?”

He rumbled in answer, though Tev didn’t know its meaning.

“Come, Zier.” Tev waved him over. “He was obviously guarding me while I slept, though I know not why…He’ll not bother you now that he knows you weren’t trying to sneak up on me.”

“I didn’t even know you were sleeping!” He said exasperatedly.

“Well, he did.”

Apparently. Tev jerked his head toward the dog. Ruffling its spiked cheeks lovingly while it made kind, high, noises in response.

“He’s just a nice, lazy beast. Aren’t you Boy?”

Groomsman uttered three high whines in response.

“See?”

“I see he’s massive and looks armored in bark. What is he?”

“A Targue. Cimmerii.”

Zierno frowned. “Like Cimmerii you fight?” He approached with a furrowed brow. Widely skirting Groomsman with a wary look.

“Nah. He’s a changed beast. All good now. Unless you were to harm me or his beloved huntress.”

“Beloved huntress?” Zierno frowned. “Oh, you mean the purple-haired Dread girl.”

“You’ve seen her?”

“A few times. Beautiful now.” Zier gave a low whistle. “But far too vicious to touch.”

Good. Tev thought.

“We gonna eat or what, Tev?” Zier lifted the rabbit pointedly.

“Yea.” He rose and grasped the rope, climbing back up.

Zier looked up with a groan. “I’m telling you…Stairs.”

Tev shook his head as he landed smoothly on the deck encircling his hut built into the cradle of the tree. Tev opened the door and gave three quick whistles. Knowing the dog knew how to leap from branch to branch of the surrounding trees until able to land on the deck.

But to his surprise, Groomsman trotted off as if he’d completed some mission rather than just missed him. Odd.

Tev watched him bemusedly as he vanished back in the direction of the crone’s shack. Strange beast.