“Why didn’t Wesley come get it himself? And where is he planning to shoot his bow at this time of night? You need to pop right back to Wesley and tell him he’s out past curfew, even if it isn’t a school night. And ask him why he hasn’t answered his cell phone.”
“Okay, we’ll tell him. Do you mind if we get that bow for him, though? I think he was going to show it to my uncle or something.”
“Hasn’t your uncle seen his bow before? And why does he want to see it right now?” Brian’s eyes narrowed.
Kaevin desperately wished Beth had come with them. She always seemed to be able to come up with plausible lies. Perhaps it was a gift. If it was, Alora obviously didn’t possess it. He kept his mouth shut—he wasn’t a talented liar either.
“I think they were going to do some night hunting. Uncle Charles has this spotlight they were going to use.”
“Deer hunting?” Brian seemed upset at this idea.
“Uhmm… I don’t know. Maybe it was elk or something?”
Brian took two steps forward and put his hand on Alora’s arm. “What’s going on? Tell me the truth. I don’t believe for a second your uncle or Wesley would hunt out of season, especially using a spotlight, which is also illegal.”
“Out of season? What does that mean?” Kaevin asked.
“Never mind that,” said Brian. “Where is he?”
“He’s in Laegenshire
, but it was an accident,” said Alora. “Beth grabbed my arm, and they both went with us. And there’s this big battle happening right now, and Wesley’s the only one who can shoot the wendts.”
“And why is Wesley the only one who can shoot the… the… whatever you just said?”
“She speaks the truth, Brian,” Kaevin said. “We don’t understand the reason, but only Alora and Wesley can see the wendts. They’re invisible to the rest of us. And they’re horrific creatures, quite deadly, with a hide that doesn’t pierce easily. Thus Wesley’s request for his special bow.”
“I’ll get his bow, but I’m going with you.” Brian disappeared down the hallway, returning moments later with not one, but two bows. He scribbled a note on a piece of paper and left it on his chair. “Just in case Karen wakes up,” he explained. “You know how wives worry. I’m ready, and now I’ll have a weapon of my own. I’m betting I can see these things if Wesley can.”
“If not, there are plenty of other enemy warriors to shoot,” said Kaevin.
“Straight back to Wesley?” she asked.
Kaevin nodded, bemoaning the time wasted with Wesley’s father. Perhaps if they hurried, he’d still have a chance to fight.
~ 4 ~
Even in the dim moonlight, Kaevin could see Wesley’s face blanch when his father appeared on the archer’s platform.
“Dad? Please don’t be mad at me. I didn’t come here on purpose.”
“Never mind. We’ll discuss it later.” Brian handed Wesley a bow. “You have some arrows we can use? And where are these wings we’re supposed to kill?”
“Wendts,” Wesley corrected with a relieved grin, his tense expression relaxing as he handed his father an arrow. “These wooden shafts will pretty much disintegrate on impact after being shot from a compound bow. But the tip goes in just fine. Even with that much force, it may take several shots to bring down a wendt, assuming you can even see it.”
“Kaevin!” Jireo shouted, and Kaevin’s eyes followed the direction of his friend’s outstretched arm. “It’s your father. Their group is outnumbered, two to one, and their backs are against the wall.”
Finally, a chance to prove my worth. Kaevin was halfway down the ladder, with Jireo following awkwardly behind, when he heard Alora’s voice.
“Wait, Kaevin! What about me?”
“You’ll be safe up here. You can always bring me back if you need me.” He ignored the warning voice inside his head. After all, he couldn’t remain by her side every moment for the rest of his life. And he couldn’t stand idly by while the rest of his people fought against Water Clan—not if he was going to be the next Stone Clan chief.
*****
Alora felt nausea bubbling in the pit of her stomach. Something felt wrong. Something bad was happening. No, something evil was coming. The wendt had returned. The shrill screech rang in her ears. She wanted to turn her face away from the monster. Yet her eyes locked onto it, and she couldn’t tear them away.
The bright moonlight gave a sickeningly clear view of the approaching creature. Like a humongous bat, the wendt flapped its leathery wings. The thick, heavy body seemed similar to movie scenes of a small dragon. But the strongest impression was the malevolence emanating from every pore on its body, as if it pushed a nauseating fog in its wake.