CHAPTER EIGHT

Gerald felt the presence of something around and was alert, even before the beast that had the head of a lion and the body of an ape lunged at Gerald, he also perceived it coming and dodged the beast known as a sibut.

The creature crashed to the ground but stood up again to launch an attack at Gerald who by this time had already unsheathed his sword channeling his powers to his sword, and stood ready to defend himself.

Calanthe and Gwen heard a roar from a distance and ran toward where the roar was coming from. Reaching there they saw Gerald standing against a creature they had never seen before, but only heard tales about it.

Gwen immediately took the hilt of her sword she was holding and touched the crest on it, instantly a blade shot out from the hilt and she channeled her powers into her sword.

Unlike Gerald when he channeled his energy into his sword, his energy in the form of green spiral lightning sparks emit from his hands and rest on his sword, but Gwen's sword only glowed blue.

They stood ready to fight the sibut, while calanthe stood behind them also on her guard in case of anything.

The beast charged towards them but before it got towards them, Gerald spun around and released a strong wave of energy from his sword in a form of air which sent the sibut flying backward.

Gwen took the opportunity and threw her sword which pierced the left shoulder of the beast and sent it flying more backward till the sword firmly pierced a tree with the Sibut stuck there weak and unable to move as blood dropped out of the Sibut’s mouth and nose.

Seeing this Calanthe and Gwen wanted to rush to where the beast was but Gerald pulled them back.

“ Wait here, it'll be very risky if I let you both go. What if it removes the sword and frees itself? You both will then be the first the Sibut will attack. Stay here till I give you a signal to come closer “ Gerald sternly instructed them with an air of finality and walked away not giving room for any further complaints.

He slowly approached the sibut but was taken aback when it wasn’t the sibut he saw with a sword on its shoulder trapped in the tree, Gerald saw a naked young man about his age there. The man's breathing was very slow and diminishing but his eyes were looking directly at Gerald.

“ Who are you? Speak or I'll slit your throat “ Gerald said as he pointed his sword at the man's neck.

“ I am Tartarus of Culorn “ The sibut who now was in human form replied Gerald with rasped breath. Gerald looked at Tartarus warily and proceeded to remove the sword from the tree to free him but stopped for a moment.

“ What are you doing in the enchanted forest? “ Gerald asked not wanting to trust anyone he sees in the forest anymore after their encounter with Pitney.

“ You wouldn't believe me even if I told you so if you wanna kill me do it fast. It's better than the fate that awaits me if I'm to leave this forest anyway “ Tartarus said and spat out blood on the ground.

Gerald then signaled Gwen and Calanthe to come closer but they weren't surprised to see Tartarus in human form for they had heard of descendants of the great shapeshifters that fought evil and darkness alongside the Gods. When they all stood in front of Tartarus he began to speak.

“ I'm a shapeshifter…. “ Tartarus wanted to continue speaking but was interrupted by Gerald who was getting impatient.

“ We know what you are now, go straight to the point and stick to details about what we want to hear, “ Gerald said, giving Tartarus a stern look, while Gwen and Calanthe just stood there watching and waiting to hear.

“ You all may not know this but I wasn't the only shapeshifter alive, King Nebeus's witches and soldiers raided our village, they killed any of us that refused to serve King Nebeus and the few that agreed were taken with them, and they set our village on fire after that. I tried to escape but they finally got to see me and pursued me till I came here because they knew this enchanted forest is regarded as a place where the living can't survive for long, the soldiers left me to die I guess “ Tartarus explained.

“ How do we trust him? Remember what happened when we tried to save Pitney. Gerald, we can not trust anyone we meet in this forest. How did he even get in here, we all know that no one gets into this forest unless magic is used to open a pathway into it “ Gwen said trying to convince Gerald to kill Tartarus, But Calanthe remained quiet.

“ Tartarus Of Culorn, how did you get into this enchanted forest? '' Gerald asked because for some reason he felt this young man was telling the truth.

“ Seems you have forgotten I'm a shape shifter, it was easy for me to enter this forest because I turned into a magical butterfly and entered easily, “ Tartarus said but paused and continued.

“ Why all these questions, if you are going to kill then get on with it already, “ he said angrily and coughed out blood.

Gerald, satisfied with what he had heard from Tartarus pulled Gwen's sword out of the tree and Tartarus shoulders making Tartarus to full in a thud, with blood oozing out from his shoulders.

“ Gerald, why are you letting him free? “ Gwen asked as she stepped forward to collect her sword from Gerald, which immediately glowed blue when she took possession of it.

“ His telling the truth, you two head back to the camp while I bring him, he is losing too much blood and might die if we waste any more time “ Gerald instructed Calanthe and Gwen.

They walked back to the camp, while Gerald bent down and picked Tartarus whose face was turning pale, with his body becoming cold. Gerald cursed silently when he noticed all this and rushed to the camp.

Getting there Gerald laid Tartarus close to the campfire they made, by now Tartarus was very weak with his eyes closed and just by Gerald looking at the campfire with his eye glowing the fire increased.

“ Did any of you bring alcohol? “ Gerald asked Calanthe and Gwen.

Calanthe checked her backpack and brought out a wooden bottle containing alcohol and gave it to Gerald silently. Gerald was scared of having an innocent person die at his hands, so he poured the alcohol on the wound on Tartarus's shoulders, Tartarus yelled in pain as the alcohol came in contact with his wound.

After that Gerald took out a burning wood from the campfire and pressed it on his wood, earning a long yell from Tartarus until he passed out.

Gwen looked at Gerald like he was insane when she saw him pressing the burning wood on Tartarus' wounds.

“ What?! That'll stop him from bleeding to death. Now you both get some sleep I'll stay up and guard, hopefully, we'll find our horses in the morning “ Gerald instructed them.

“ It's not safe here “ They all heard a voice and turned to see who said it.