Fantasea by Wild Rose Press Authors

Author:Wild Rose Press Authors
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Anthology;Pirate; kelpie; mermaid; sea monster; ocean; fairy tale; adventure; waves; fantasy; young adult; new adult; anthology; mythology; sea monster; magic
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2022-04-22T00:00:00+00:00

Part Three: The Morgen

I shield my eyes against the morning sun. The surveyors have nearly finished their work. Soon, we will reach the point at which earlier workers had marked the path of the ditch leading toward the lake from the trefi.

“Good work, men.” Tomos grins. “Not even a sighting of the monster. Perhaps it has fallen ill and perished.”

“Or perhaps it ate so many men, it now lies in slumber, like you after a feast,” another guard jests.

All roar with laughter.

“Might we send a man back with our news, and begin digging here?” One of the surveyors points to the current plot of ground. “It will be easier to work from both directions to meet properly in the middle.”

Tomos shrugs. “I can see no reason against this. We shall send Aedd back to Derwyn to inform him.”

Aedd huffs, long arms bent to rest his fists on his hips. “Why me?”

“Because no one can run like you.” Tomos waves toward the ground. “Would you rather dig?”

Aedd swiftly takes up his spear. “I shall be there and back with their message by dusk.”

The men chuckle and jest as Aedd sets out for the trefi.

We begin to dig in sight of the lake but give plenty of leeway. We must not unleash the waters until the ditch is ready to receive them, or the hungry torrent will wash away those who attempt to dig.

So violent, so hungry. Not unlike the monsters that live within.

We dig until dusk. My hands and back ache, even though I rotate with the other guards in standing watch. As the sun recedes and I heave another mound of dirt out of our trench, the wind stirs in the trees, flapping the leaves.

Wait. That sound does originate from leaves.

“To the sky!” I shout.

I scramble out of the ditch, grasping for my spear. The men around me eye the trees, reaching for shovels or spears. Tomos glances at me. “What is it, Bran? Do you know the meaning of this sound?”

Before I can answer, dozens of winged creatures burst from the treetops.

One of the surveyors is the first to fall, crying out as a barb catches him in the neck. The Llamhigyn shriek, a high-pitched sound somewhere between a frog’s croak and a bat’s cry.

Three creatures dive toward a fellow guard. I hesitate for a moment before rushing to his aid. These are Ceri’s creatures, Ceri’s friends. They have rested in my hands, floated with me in slumber. Can they truly be a danger?

They fall upon the guard. He screams, clawing at the monsters that batter his head, driving their barbs into his arms, his chest. Before I can move, he falls, and the nearby Llamhigyn shriek with glee, falling upon him to feast.

I retch and turn away, clutching my chest. No, this cannot be happening. May Duw grant this but a terrible dream.

The men around me scream, falling like crops before the scythe, yet the Llamhigyn do not touch me. I look beyond the chaos, back toward the lake.

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