Runner

By A. Foster

Drellin lives in a place, a land where just being alive is a crime. She is mixed blood. Marked and hunted, she bears the burden, "RUNNER!" That defines everything. No friends, no family, no one to connect to. Drellin tries to find her place in the world.
Everyone wants a place. Everyone needs a place.

This story follows Drellin's quest to find Balor's Ax. Along the way, the young woman also finds hope. Joined by Annon, a Prince from a faraway Isle, and Talma a peasant boy, with big dreams, they take on the King of Bracar together.

This group of unlikely companions sets the stage for a larger chronicle.
Book Two: Paladin by A. Foster.
Book Three: Dragon by A. Foster
Legends from the Great Wood

• Language: English
• Publisher: A. Foster
• Release date: Jan 30, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463444184

A. Foster

Hello friends,Thank you for taking a moment to check out my site. I hope one of my stories catches your attention. Love to hear from you. Please like me, follow me and above all, tell someone else. I would be so grateful.I love to write, all kinds of stories. I am interested in real pirates from long ago, spaceships of tomorrow and all the time travel I can get. When I am not writing, I am thinking about new stories to tell and try out. Love to attend campfires and volunteer in classrooms often. A great place to entertain and experiment on themes.Hope to be invited to your campfire one day...Have fun and keep reading, dreaming, writing and hugging those you love most.

Book preview

Runner

A Legend from the Great Wood

By A. Foster aka Annette Foster

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

In memory of Betty, Jeff the Bear and friends now gone.

Table of Contents

Chapter One - Strangers Meet

Chapter Two - Mayir, A Small Town

Chapter Three - Unexpected

Chapter Four - Brother

Chapter Five - The Wind

Chapter Six - Reunited

Chapter Seven - Drellin and Freedom

Chapter Eight - Signs of the Civilized

Chapter Nine - Money

Chapter Ten - Rescue

Chapter Eleven - Unleashed

Chapter Twelve-Bracar

Chapter Thirteen-Brother of My Father

Chapter Fourteen-Norban is Safe

Chapter Fifteen-The Tall Hammer

Chapter Sixteen-Eyes in the Shadows

Chapter Seventeen-Welcome to the Celebration

Chapter Eighteen-The Prize

Chapter Nineteen-Escape

Chapter Twenty-Norban Gets a New Rider

Chapter Twenty One-Found

Chapter Twenty Two-The Promise

Chapter Twenty Three-The North Wood

Notes and Acknowledgements

Surprise First Chapter of Book Two

More Books by A. Foster aka Annette Foster

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Chapter 1-Strangers Meet

Thick, black smoke billowed slowly, up into the cold morning sky. Its origin, the remains of the pilgrim settlement locals called Moreer. That was common tongue for gathering point. Not really a town at all, more like a group of quiet people trying to follow their own path. Peacefully living in a rough land or so that was their intent. Moreer was also the site of an earlier ancient ruin locals' called Prat. Even Drellin had no real history on it. Just stones with carvings long forgotten, by people that obviously did not last. Normally Drellin would have avoided the whole place as this was not her business. But these people had never harmed her or her kind. They had always offered food and shelter. It was now her turn to help if she could.

Drellin urged her great mount forward cautiously into the clearing, then continued until she was in front of the main building. Bodies of many humans cluttered the ground all around and a foul stench emanated from the structure itself. Those killed that she could view easily were mostly apprentices, or pilgrims of no great consequence. They did not put up much of a fight to be sure. However, there were also some healers and teachers present among the dead. Drellin could gather by their robes or what was left of them, their stature and importance, or rank to this village. The meaning of that is, or in this case was, all were killed with equal violence. There were, also a hand full of mere servants too. All the bodies looked as if they had been physically torn apart in one manner or another. The scene was gruesome.

The sight of it all did not bother Drellin so much but the smell, that was another thing entirely. The ground was so soaked with blood that it pooled in places and no longer seeped into the dirt. The smell of death was pungent upon the air, thick and sickly with the hint of rot and decay growing by the moment. It made Drellin nauseous, but she held on to her wits with equal zest as to the contents of her stomach. Now was not a good time to show weakness. There may still be enemies close at hand.

A loud snort startled Drellin. To her right, some forty paces or so away stood a huge brown and white, stallion. The beast was incredible. She had not taken notice of it until that moment. A sign the creature was well trained, it had made no noise up until that point. It was a war horse by its armor and the weapons it carried attached to the saddle. That was obvious. Slowly, Drellin urged Norban, her own steed, to move forward toward the great beast. She then caught sight of the young boy at the animals’ feet. He was probably no more then fourteen seasons if that. His hair was almost pure white in color except where it was red and matted with blood. The boy lay on his front, hands to his sides. She could not see his face. Drellin starred intently, yet could not see any clear injury without getting much, much closer.

The war horse watched her as she neared, never moving from its position. Now, only a few feet away, Drellin began speaking softly to it directly, Mighty one, I want to help the boy. He may die if I do not. She slid gently from Norban's back and walked forward closing the short space between her self and the animal with care. Drellin reached up, her open hand to the beast, slowly, confidently and with long practiced ease. She stroked the great beast's neck and patted it warmly. The war-horse whinnied softly in answer. Calmly Drellin stoked his nose and repeatedly made, low, comforting sounds just under her breath, for his ears alone. Drellin had always loved animals. She preferred them to people. Shendar, the forest Elder had told her it was one of her greatest gifts. She loved animals and they loved her back. This horse was no exception. It trusted her, for it finally moved to let her near the boy. That was a good sign.

Drellin knelt down beside the youth, prone and still on the ground. She carefully ran her hands all along his body searching for injuries. Then ever so slowly she turned him over to lay on his back. His face was ash gray colored, and she heard his breath pass in and out, with a tremendous effort. The practiced hands of an experienced healer danced swiftly over her patient. A long, bloody wound ran from the far side of his neck, down all the way to his ribs. It was deep, but she knew with some hard work, it would not be fatal. There was also a sizable lump on the back of his head. That was perhaps more serious, but she could not be sure, only time would tell.

Norban stood calmly nearby. Drellin finally rose and crossed the distance back to her mount. She retrieved her water skin and healing pouch from her saddle and returned to the boy's side. Drellin glanced about continually for scavengers and predators that would inevitably be drawn by the reek of death, pungent upon the air. She knelt again, opened the soft leather herb bag and pulled out a tiny flask, a handful of dried plants and a silver cup. Quickly she mixed the ingredients and gently held the boys head up at an angle for him to drink the contents. He coughed and sputtered a bit, but she succeeded. He drained the cup. Gently she lay him back down. He was quiet within moments, his breathing, easier. Drellin muttered to herself about the bump on his head, but he had responded and that was a good sign. Shendar had taught her the healing arts well. He had also told her she had a natural gift. Somehow Drellin hoped that he had been right. Well for the sake of this young boy anyway.

Why Drellin should care at all was a funny thought. It had never mattered before? The pilgrims and people here in this place had been kind to her and the people or forest dwellers, true enough. Drellin told herself that she was merely repaying that, passed kindness. Charn, rat-men like creatures that roamed the dark places of these mountains had been here this day. That plagued her. It was not like them to attack a sizable settlement.

The injury to the boy and the damages Drellin had already witnessed, screamed Charn. She reflected, low and out loud to herself. Then, hurriedly, Drellin cleaned the wound thoroughly with water from her skin and dressed it. By all indications, it appeared that the charn had left, but they could always return. They were well known to eat their victims after robbing them, dead or alive. Why they would do all this and leave, was a question that made her deeply worried. Banding together to attack this large of a target was unnerving. Shendar will want to know everything that she could learn from this attack.

Drellin finished with the boy and gathered up her belongings. She then placed them back in her pouch. She stopped short and became instantly motionless. Footsteps, headed in their direction. Drellin left the items and sprang to her feet. From somewhere inside she thought more than spoke the words, Oh great animal, watch over the boy again. Drellin’s verbal utterances were low and deadly, mirroring the intensity of her inner alarm. Again Drellin made more low sounds in her throat, translating to Norban, watch also. Let no one near!

Drellin then turned and set off toward the direction of the noise, making no sound herself at all. The steps had originated from the small stable only a little way down the dirt road, now a mud path from the days of rain. Drellin continued. The entrance was wide open because the door had been knocked off or perhaps even torn off its hinges. The darkness caused by the black smoke blocked out the inside. The few other outbuildings nearby had already been consumed, leaving smoking piles of charred wood. All of it prevented even Drellin from seeing well. Cautiously, Drellin entered the building, trying to suppress her immediate choking response to the black, sooty air. There may be someone else within, hurt an unable to get out? she thought to herself. Either that or the enemy still lingered. If that were true and it was a straggler or even a scout? It would bring back others. The protector insider her, would not let that happen.

Drellin’s eyes adjusted slowly to the darkness, but far too slowly. Before she could pull her blade from its sheath, she was attacked. Drellin rolled with the weight of her assailant to break her own fall. The hard ground pressed against her back and strong muscles of human flesh held her down firmly. Drellin could see the bright glint of the shiny blade held high above her throat. With her only free hand, Drellin tried desperately to reach it, while she cursed herself inside at her own stupidity and carelessness.

You are a girl? The man's loud, deep voice rang out like thunder. Instantly, he stopped his attack in confusion. The knife wavered from its path only for a moment, but that was enough. Unprepared, the fighter was thrown as Drellin's foot came away from his hold. It found new placement against his breastplate, she kicked hard, and the man knew flight. With a loud crash, he found himself flat on his own back several paces away.

Yes, I'm a woman! Drellin shook with anger. She was now on her feet and prepared to fight the stranger. I might have killed you, foolish man! For all, I knew you could have been a charn? The look on her face was pure defiance. It would not be an easy task to take her down a second time. The stranger was not sure he wanted to try even if he needed too.

Before he could reply out loud, a deep growling, cut him off. It was the challenge of a mountain cat. The blood of the dead had surely brought it here. It would not be long before many other beasts and animals found this place too. Food was everywhere on the ground, and it would not be wasted. The fire from the remains of the settlement was dying out. Having hungrily, eaten the pilgrim's homes to the ground nothing was left to save. The stable and little else held more than the skeletons of their original shapes. Moreer would soon be forgotten. It would be forgotten just as Pratt had been in the past.

The sun was already high in the sky, near noon. It was blocked off from view at times by bad weather black clouds. In this case, Drellin believed that rain would not be an awful thing. It would help reclaim the dead by washing the area. By nightfall, there would be no bodies left. If the charn did not return, the forest animals would take care of the rest. This settlement and all that remained would be welcomed back into the arms of the green mother and forgotten. That was the way of the forest. That was the way of the north.

Drellin did not waste words on this stranger. The man had caught her off guard the first time, without a doubt. He did not seem to be immediately ready to fight again now that she stood face to face with him. The horses and the boy were a more significant concern. Drellin did a one-eighty and left the fighter standing there alone. She ran back out the stable doorway and toward the horses. Both mounts stood watchfully for the big cat. A credit to their race they had not abandoned the boy but held firm.

Quickly the man recovered from his slight surprise and moved to follow her out of the stable and into the clearing. He headed toward his own horse only a few paces behind the girl.

Drellin was fast, very fast. She had the agility no elf could match, because of her bloodline. In only the space of a single intake of breath; Drellin crossed the distance from the stable to Norban, leaped over his back, retrieved a huge leather whip in mid-flight from the side of the saddle and landed strategically between both mounts and the lion. It had been a fluid movement like water in a stream, the fighter thought. In the back of his mind, he suddenly counted himself lucky he had gotten the best of the young woman in their first encounter. It was evident that she would not be an easy mark if not taken by surprise.

The giant cat sprang at Drellin with practiced ease and an absolute evil grace. Its fur was black as purely polished onyx. Its claws were incredibly long, fully extended to make the kill. The animal's great white fangs glistened and resembled not teeth but daggers, white as new snow. This was life and death, pure and simple.

The animal's target had changed. Its new aim was now Drellin, instead of the horses or the boy. Drellin's movements had brought her directly into the animal's path as she had meant it too. Drellin had helped to save the boy earlier and was not now ready to let him get mangled by this new enemy.

Norban would protect the young one with his steel-shod hooves even if Drellin died. It had been her last command to him, and he would not let her down. At the very least the animal would die in the attempt to fulfill her wishes. His bloodline like hers was a long story of honor and strength. The beast had seen more than one battle at Drellin's side, and this new threat was not so different then any other they had faced together.

In mid-leap the cat screamed in agony. Drellin danced the heavily barbed, black whip through the air as if the weapon was a mere extension of her own arm. There was a terrible cracking sound as it struck a deep gash into the flesh of the cat’s, sleek, muscled neck. The weapon had left a crimson trail of blood from the wound. Then, Drellin leaped and was on the beast with her dagger drawn before it had barely hit the ground. It died at her hand, quickly. It deserved nothing less from her. She hated taking its life, but that did not slow her movements or give her any hesitation. Death was always to be swift when necessary.

Well done! The man's voice broke the sudden silence of the clearing. He had been surprised at first by her swift, agile response to the situation. Now, he merely looked at her with a new feeling of respect. Drellin found herself extremely uncomfortable under his direct gaze. The fighter found that he too felt a bit strange in a way he could not quite put his finger on. The undercurrent of emotion between them was swift and chaotic but enticing in its mystery.

There was something measurably special about this girl. Or should he say, woman? Something he could not place as yet, which seemed vaguely important. He let it go. She was quite pretty for a woman dressed like a man he thought quietly. Now that the fighter could see clearly away from the smoke, he was unusually surprised at her looks. She resembled a hunter from back home, all dressed in dark, brown leathers and riding gear. Her dark hair was long and loose down her back, yet braided on both sides of her oval-shaped face. The man could not take his eyes off of her. She was beautiful.

He did not often think such thoughts in general, but it was hard to miss or put aside casually. A fog had settled over his brain. He shook his head to clear his thoughts. Boy, she was pretty, and she could fight. That was unique.

There was no choice. Drellin's reply was weak but, matter of fact. She spoke calmly

as she coiled the great whip up and placed it back onto Norban's saddle. Drellin had used the common tongue. It was yet unclear where the stranger hailed from. His horse, weapons, and armor were all unknown to her. She paused for only a moment to pat Norban's broad nose with affection. He whinnied back softly. Then, Norban nudged her a little playfully, affectionately.

Come let us leave this place. The fighter halfheartedly invited. Whatever did this could be back He made a sweeping gesture with his right hand. Or something else will be, to clean up. If you know what I mean? The man surveyed the area for a few beats longer. We need to get out of here. There is no one left. I looked."

The charn happened here. They are evil creatures. Normally they are not too bright, and never do they strike large targets. Something is very wrong. Drellin offered in answer to the indirect question. Where was this man from that he did not know charn? Better still, there was a place in the world that did not know charn? Drellin would like to go to that place someday.

I don't know anything about these charn creatures. I will need to know more. We could help each other. I am on my way to the city of Bracar. It is some ten days or so travels to the south from here. I will rig a carrier for the boy. He motioned toward the still body of the youth. It won't take long to build. I intend to take him there where he can get proper care. The statement was very, matter a fact, as if there were no room for discussion. The fighter was not exactly sure why he had asked her to come along, but after doing so, he was somewhat satisfied with himself. Generally, around girls or rather women, he was pretty backward in his manners. Perhaps it was the way she was dressed? A warrior or a hunter he was not sure? Maybe the fact she just took down a mountain lion by herself? Or the fact that she had attacked him and got the upper hand? even if she did not get to keep it. That made her different in a thousand ways than any girl he had ever met before. A smile crossed his features. His best-winning smile. It would be okay to have her around. It would be very okay.

Drellin led Norban by the reins to stand next to the dead cat. She lifted the animal with difficulty and placed it over her saddle. Norban was not particularly pleased, but he did not move. Her heart had not slowed much and Drellin could still hear the beating of it drumming in her ears, but she gathered her wits quickly. Breathing heavily from the exertion of lifting the cat, she replied to the fighter. I will ride with you for a while toward this city of Bracar. The direction you speak of also leads to Mayir. It is a village not too far from this place. If you will go there first, Drellin looked toward the boy on the ground and continued, I can and will help him. I am a healer. The wound he has will take time and proper care to heal right. However, he needs to be taken care of along the way. If not, he will not make it to this Bracar at all. Drellin kept her own voice rather flat. She did not want to seem too friendly, or too anxious. The fact was that she did not trust strangers as a general rule, but the man had made it clear that the boy held some importance. Where the boy went, Drellin would go, at least for now. If that meant hanging around this fighter a short while, then so be it.

The fighter stared a little longer at her, sizing her up one last time. Before he continued I would know your name First, that is before we go further down the path together. A kind, friendly look spread across his handsome features. He was every inch of six foot and weighed at least 200 pounds. His piercing blue eyes would not let her go quickly. He held her with them, waiting for her reply.

Names were significant. Typically she would have never answered. But, for some reason, it just came out. Drellin. She spoke low while tying the cat into place. Funny the sound of her voice had a bit of a shake to it, at least to her own ears anyway. It took a great effort on her part not to be lost in those eyes of his. Drellin worked purposefully at keeping her mind focused on the business at hand. She had killed the animal, but she would not waste the gift of its life.

My name is Annon. I am the fifth son of Kalamar, from the Isle of Kings.That is a great island chain to the west of this place, several moons hard travel. Your company south would be most welcome, as I have traveled alone for too long. I am on a quest. Your little excursion will not delay me unduly. Let us go to this Mayir. Walking to his horse, he pulled a short ax from the saddle. I will get to work on that carrier. He quickly applied himself to the task. It was good to have something to do suddenly. If he had continued to stand there, the awkward silence that usually overcame him in the presence of females would undoubtedly have risen up and consumed him swiftly. Being busy. That Annon understood.

Have you already checked the rest of the settlement, or what is left of it? Are there no other survivors? Drellin asked one last question, knowing the answer inside but needing to hear it out loud. So many deaths. The charn were rising. This event was important, and the news needed to be spread.

"No, there are no other survivors. These Charn you called them,