Thieves Path of Shadows

Suspense Stories | Apr 29, 2014 | 10 min read
12 Votes, average: 3 out of 5
Suspense Stories

Thieves Path of Shadows

It was cold that night.
Very cold.
The kind of cold that puts an ache in your bones making even the slightest movement a daunting task. Vlademar McGowan hated nights like these. He had been traveling for days up and down the mountains, going to village after village. The last few nights weren't as bad. But on this night, he was going through the Therpion Mountains on his way to Burrell Village. He had gotten word that the village was in need of trade goods, a service he hoped to provide, well to make them think so at any rate. McGowan was a renowned con man and liar. He had been banished from many a village and traveling was something he was used to doing. His visits had always been short and his getaways quick. He was usually being pursued by angry villagers and their damn dogs. He spent many nights hiding in strange places. Still he loved to travel and enjoyed seeing the world. But nights like these he hated.
Earlier in the late afternoon he had stopped off at a nearby farm at the base of the mountains. The old farmer that lived there with his young beautiful daughter was very kind to him. She had long curly red hair and the most adorable face. McGowan encountered many different women on his journeys but very seldom had he seen such a beauty. They offered him food and shelter but he insisted he must press on. It wasn't their hospitality that surprised him, but rather their warning. They told him it was not safe to travel these mountain paths at night. He was very tempted to stay the night and enjoy a good meal and a warm bed, especially if it was the farmers' daughters' bed. But a large sword and an even larger dog persuaded him to keep traveling and avoid any repercussions from an angry farmer. So he decided to keep heading towards his destination. They gave him some fresh water, and a few rations of jerky and fresh fruit to get him through the night. As the sun started to set he continued on his way.
As he made his way up the mountain path pulling along his faithful mule he remembered their warnings of large man beasts that roamed these mountains and had a craving for the flesh of weary travelers. McGowan scoffed at such an idea. He had traveled for many years and had seen many things in this large world, including far away lands, but he had never encountered such a beast. So their warning he did not heed. He had to get to Burrell Village and this was the only way.
It was no beast that bothered him now, but the damn cold. Even bundled up in a thick bear skin coat and fur hat the cold still got to him. His heavy, thick beard offered his face some protection but not nearly enough. He quickened his pace hoping that would help to keep him warm.
Just get to the top of the mountain, he thought to himself, then start a fire and bed down for the night. He thought about the fresh jerky that the farmer had given him and was anxious to tear into it. He also longed for the warmth of the fire and some much needed sleep. He would then get a fresh start in the morning and get to Burrell Village when the sun is fully over head.
Just over that clearing he told himself looking up the mountain path. The path was thick with heavy brush and surrounded by dense forest. There were large rocks and fallen timber lying all around him. It was almost like a small maze he had to navigate through. He stopped and looked around at the dark woods that seemed to be closing in on him. . Then a new kind of chill ran through him. If there was ever a place an evil creature would live, these dark woods would certainly be it. He shrugged off the feeling of dread running through him and tugged at the reigns pulling his ass along.
Suddenly a loud wail echoed in the night air. His mule bucked and yelled at the shrieking sound. McGowan was so caught off guard by the bucking mule that he nearly lost his grip on the reigns. He was wearing heavy leather gloves so his grip was not that strong to begin with. Somehow he managed to hold on.
"Steady!" he yells trying to calm the beast, "steady boy!"
He pulls the reigns closer and caresses the neck of the frightened animal. He looked around with wild brown eyes looking for the source of the wail. His eyes studied every shadow that moved in the darkness. He was a good tracker and even better spotter, years of hiding out in the brush will do that to you. But this time he wasn't sure if he wanted to see what was out there. Wild ideas of horror filled his mind as he remembered the warnings of the farmer. He reached down and pulled a small dagger from his fur boot. Little defense it would be for a giant beast, but it was better than nothing.
"Come on boy", he said pulling on the reigns, "just a little further".
If he could get to the spot where he wanted to be he could start a fire. There is no way the fierce monsters would come near a roaring fire, he hoped. He made his way quickly up the winding path.
It seemed like it took an eternity but he finally made his way to the top of the mountain. He looked down at the open clearing that lead to the village. It was going to be a long journey in the morning, but that was not a concern right now. Then something else caught his eye, movement at the edge of the tree line. He walked slowly towards it, studying the shape, trying to make out what is was. It was too large to be a deer, he thought. Could it have been a bear? They have been seen from time to time in these woods.
"Come out of there" he yelled out. Out of the corner of his eye he saw another shadow move closer to him. He turned and held his knife ready to strike. Much to his surprise a beautiful raven haired woman walked out onto the path. He lowered the knife and stared at her with disbelieving eyes. Was the cold playing tricks on his mind? Was this really a woman out in this unholy place?
"Who are you?" he asked still not certain this wasn't an illusion.
"Please sir" she replied, "I am but a lost maiden, I was out for a walk in the night and now can't find my way".
"Are you from the village below?" he asked curiously.
"I am with a troupe of gypsies" she explained. McGowan looked around the woods surrounding them. He hears the crackling of tree limbs and the rustling of leaves. He could see nothing, but he knew something was there.
"Where are these gypsies?" McGowan inquired.
"Right behind you mate" a deep raspy voice replied. McGowan quickly turns to see a dark figure behind him pointing a drawn bow at him.
"What is this?" McGowan asked furiously.
"This is your unlucky night" a second male voice responds from the woods beside him. A large man with a long, flowing grey beard steps out of the shadows. In his hand is a long heavy steel sword pointed at McGowan. Then two more men step out, followed by two more and soon McGowan finds he is surrounded.
These were not gypsies as the mysterious woman claimed. They were bandits. Thieves and murderers who travel the land searching for wealth and carnage. This beautiful woman was a distraction, and McGowan fell for it. He dropped his knife to the ground offering no resistance, not that he could anyway.
"I am but a poor traveler on my way to Burrell Village" McGowan explained, hoping to talk his way out of this mess.
"Well" the large bearded man speaks up, "these woods are ours friend, and you are walking through them and now you must pay".
"Forgive me" he replied, "I did not know these woods were-".
An angry bandit cuts him off, "enough of this give us all the goods you have!"
"I do not have any goods", McGowan replied nervously. He was not lying about that. All he had was a few rations the farmer had given him and the clothes on his back. When you travel as he did, you learned to travel light.
Suddenly another wail echoes in the night. They all look around nervously. They were not the only ones hiding in the darkness. Something else was out there; watching them.
"There it is again", the woman says to the large man with the beard. McGowan took solace in the fact that he wasn't crazy. They heard the terrible wail as well. There was something out in these woods, something even more dangerous than a gang of rouging bandits.
"Forget that", the bearded man barked, "do not make us take the goods by force old man".
"You heard that noise" McGowan fired back, "I was warned not to come up this mountain, there is something out here".
"What?" the woman asked. The weary traveler could hear the fear in her voice. The other men all looked around them. McGowan could see that they were also concerned, all except the bearded man who kept his eyes fixed upon him.
"A farmer told me of large man beasts that roam these woods", McGowan explained, "they have a taste for blood".
"I don't believe such rubbish!" the bearded bandit shouted. Then another wail followed. But this one was much closer. All the bandits then drew their swords and looked around frantically. What ever was out there was now closing in on them.
"We need to build a fire" McGowan yelled.
"No, what you need to do is give us what we asked for and maybe I'll let you live", the angry bandit said forcefully.
McGowan looked over at the woman. She had turned ashen with fear. They all were now very fearful for their lives. They were running out of time. Loud stirring in the woods was heard all around them. They all gathered closer together in a tight circle. The woman was in the middle. Even the bearded man had now gotten wind of what was coming. An awful rotten smell permeated the woods around them. Robbing the traveling man was no longer his concern.
"Quickly we must build a fire!" McGowan yelled but he was silenced by a heavy punch from the bearded man. He dropped heavily to the cold ground. His grip on the reigns came loose and his trusted mule quickly trots away. Animals could always sense when danger is near.
"Perhaps we should just kill you to appease these monsters taste for blood" the bearded man says looking down at McGowan. McGowan wiped the blood away that was trickling down from his nose. Suddenly a scream thundered in the night air. They all turned to see a large hairy creature holding one of the bandits high over its massive frame. The bandit is screamed with terror as he is slammed hard against a large nearby boulder. The sound of breaking bone is heard by all. The bandit was dead.
"Kill it!" the bearded man yelled.
On cue his archer fires an arrow at the beast. It pierces the creature in the shoulder. But that only seemed to make the monster angrier. It reached up and snapped the arrow off and threw it aside. The archer surprised by what he had seen quickly pulls out another arrow and loads it. He then pulls back on the bow. A large hairy hand grabs him by the shoulder from behind. The grip of the powerful hand was enough to crush the bones in his shoulder. He yelled out in pain as he is lifted up in the air. Another pair of hands grabs him by the legs and he is caught in an awful tug of war between two massive creatures. He can feel his limps being crushed and pulled apart. He screams out for help but everyone was to terrified to even move. They just watched in horror as he is ripped apart. The two beasts howled out in victory. The synchronized wails set off a frenzy and beasts came out of the darkness in every direction.
McGowan, still lying on the ground, could barely see what was going on. It was turmoil. Beasts were coming from every corner and grabbing bandits and tearing them to pieces. Blood splattered on tress and rocks. Limps flew through the air and screams of pain echoed in the night. It wasn't long before all that remained was the bearded man, the terrified woman, and the cowering traveler. And they were surrounded. McGowan could now see clearly what was attacking them.
They were tall, over eight feet for sure. They were covered in long brown fur, just like a bear, but damn if they didn't look human. They stood upright with massive human hands, and human facial features. But they had sunken eyes, high foreheads, and ugly faces. Their teeth were sharp and their eyes were as red as fire. McGowan could never have pictured a fiercer beast, even in his worst nightmares. He scurried back against a tree and watched as the bearded bandit tried to fight off the creatures.
"To the death!" he yelled out wielding his sword at anything that moved. The beautiful woman saw an opening and ran away screaming. But her screams were drowned out by the cries of pain. McGowan looked over and saw that the bearded man had lost his sword and was now in the hands of several large beasts. McGowan quickly looked away as he the creatures began to tear the poor man apart.
Soon all was silent.
McGowan looked up and saw a huge creature hovering over him. Standing behind it were eight other huge dark figures. He knew he was dead. There was no way he could fight them. He covered his eyes with his hands and waited for the inevitable. It seemed like he waited forever, but he was afraid to move his hands. Afraid to look at their ferocious faces snarling at him. But he felt no pain. He felt nothing. Soon curiosity took over and he moved his hands slowly.
Trees.
Large trees were all that looked down at him. The starry sky looming over head. But no creatures. He looked around but all he saw was carnage. All that was left of the bandits who wanted to rob and possibly kill him. He wanted to stand but was afraid to. He just sat against the tree shivering. Partially from the cold, but mostly from fear. Then a familiar form walked in front of him. His trusty mule had returned.
Covered in blood, McGowan made it to the village the next day. He told his tale to the barkeep and anyone willing to buy him a drink. Told them how the bandits were massacred before his eyes, but somehow the creatures spared him. For the remainder of his days he will wonder why. He never left Burrell Village. He became the village drunk. You could always find him at the tavern telling his story to travelers, hoping to spare his fate to others.
Every night after the tavern closed he stared up at the mountains, listening to the sounds. Listening to the wails far off in the distance. Wails warning all to stay away.

THE END

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