Chapter 196: The Beast of Spriggington Glade
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It was a rainy day and Fritz was wandering through the woods. He entered a strangely silent area next to a little valley called Spriggington Glade. There he met a Gnome and a Bachaun who greeted him with apprehension.
'Good day, friends,' Fritz said. 'Is the glade always this quiet on rainy days? Where are all the forest creatures?' 'You'll find very few around here, brother,' the Gnome answered. 'Most have been driven away.' 'Or killed,' added the Bachaun. When Fritz asked why, the little Satyr-like creature continued, 'It's the beast, you see. It come 'bout a month ago and folk start turnin' up dead. If you was wise, friend, you'd be turnin' 'round out of these parts.' Fritz thanked them for their warning and bid them 'good day'. If there was a monster threatening this land, Fritz had to do something about it. |
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| Fritz walked on through the eerie quietness of the glade. He noticed a foul odour in the air, choking and poisonous. Then he saw some butterflies on the ground. At first he felt happy seeing the brightly coloured wings in this desolate wood, but when he approached he saw that they were all dead. His heart sank. Then he heard a terrible cry off in the distance which nearly made him run. He gathered his strength and went on, his companion, Sparky, whimpering all the while. |
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Then he heard another sound closer than the cry and Sparky began snarling. Suddenly, three armoured figures topped a rise and stopped when they saw Fritz. It was the Elf prince, Valen, and two of his knights. Fritz and the prince greeted each other warmly and Valen explained what he and his soldiers were about.
'We were tracking a Goblin war party that's been raiding villages to the East,' he reported, 'but we've lost them in this accursed place. Why is this wood so empty and cold? Do not wee folk dwell in these hills and trees? It's as if a blight has come over this glade.' Fritz told the Elves about the mysterious beast and how he wanted to find it and drive it away. |
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When the prince heard Fritz's purpose, he smiled. 'I should have known that you would be on such a noble quest,' he said. 'I should like to aid my cousins if I can. I'll put one of my knights under your command. Keiriann is a brave fighter, is fleet of foot, and she walks almost as silently as you Gnomes, even in full armour. She is at your disposal, sir.'
The Elfin woman stepped forward and bowed her head to Fritz. 'I'm your command, sire.' Fritz thanked her and the prince. Valen wished them luck and hurried off to pick up the trail of the villainous Goblins. |
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Fritz and Keiriann travelled further down into the valley. The deeper they went, the more they discovered signs of the beast's presence. The noxious odour increased. They saw drops of blood, large reptilian or bird-like footprints, and at length, a dead Fairy.
'What monster could do such a thing?' the Elfin knight asked in disgust. 'Why would it kill her yet not devour her?' 'Perhaps,' said Fritz, 'she was not the beast's intended victim.' The girl looked at him, puzzled. 'Neither the Fairy nor the butterflies that I saw had any injuries. They must have been poisoned by something passing by, maybe hunting larger game.' Then, a monstrous cry cracked through the trees. It was the same horrible noise Fritz had heard earlier. He and the Elfin woman both froze in terror. Then they ran off in the direction of the cry. |
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They spotted something ahead of them as they ran, so they took cover to observe it.
'It can't be!' Keiriann said in disbelief. 'A Cockatrice? No one has seen one in 500 years!' 'Nonetheless,' Fritz whispered, 'there one stands. We must be cautious. Its poisonous breath is what killed the other creatures in this place.' They kept a keen eye on the beast as they discussed what they should do. Finally Fritz decided that the Cockatrice, being perhaps the last of its kind, should be spared but kept safely away from other living things. For this they needed the help of wizards. Fritz and Keiriann left the glade in search of magical help. |
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| It wasn't hard for them to find Willow and Wickersham. Nor was it difficult to convince them of the urgency of the situation. The wizards both agreed with Fritz's plan and they all went to hunt the Cockatrice the next morning. They passed through the glade and sped down into the valley, searching for signs. Just like the day before, the smell grew stronger the deeper they went. They found fresh tracks in the mud and knew that they were close. Suddenly, the horrible cry of the Cockatrice paralysed the adventurers. When they recovered from the shock, they steeled themselves and followed the sound. |
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Fritz, Keiriann, Willow, and Wickersham sneaked up on the Cockatrice. It was outside its lair and in a very grumpy mood. The bones of some unfortunate creature lay scattered around the entrance to the beast's home. It was time to put the plan into action.
'Listen,' said Willow. 'Be careful when the Cockatrice rears its head back. That's when its about to spray its poison. I don't know how far it will shoot, so just run.' Fritz and the Elf knight prepared to face the deadly challenge. |
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| The two ran out of the bushes and attacked the beast head on. The Cockatrice was groggy and not ready for a fight. It screamed and kicked with its claws as Fritz and Keiriann poked at it. Fritz, armed with a long stick, could keep the monster at a distance. Keiriann's sword brought her into closer contact. She was knocked down by the monster's fierce claw but her armour kept her from injury. |
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| The wizards weaved their spell, a charm powerful enough to make the monster sleep. As they recited the incantation, Fritz and Keiriann were still engaged in the battle. The Cockatrice was tired of this nonsense. It drew back its scaly head and prepared to fire a blast of its acrid breath at its enemies, but suddenly it felt drowsy. The spell was working. |
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The beast ceased its action in mid attack and began to sway. Its great eyes turned deep inside its head and it fell, limp, to the ground. Fritz and his friends gathered around the Cockatrice and nudged it to see if it was really asleep. It snored loudly, like a chicken with a head cold.
Fritz leant exhausted onto his makeshift spear. 'Phew, not before time, eh?' |
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| Later that day, after word had gotten round about what the heroes had done, Fritz and his friends secured the monster and placed it carefully into a crate. Fritz thanked Keiriann for her help and told her to tell Prince Valen that she had served him most nobly. They each hoped to see the other again and she offered her service whenever Fritz need it. With the help of some locals who had begun returning to the glade, they carted the crate off to Grayfell the wizard. He would know what best to do with the Beast of Spriggington Glade. |
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