by S D Huss
Katrina shrugged. “I guess we’re going to find out soon enough.”
They worked their way deeper into the massive settlement, past the center, which looked much like the opening. Shops and merchants cluttered the area, which was bustling with colorful people going about their business. Then they approached a large and well-defended gatehouse that blocked a road going up a steep hill. As they traveled up, Daniel admired the strategic significance of such a defense. Finally, they reached the seat of power, a large palace that looked like it was made of one giant solid piece of rock. There were two towers that covered the flanks of the opening, and several warriors and attendants gathered as Oros and his party entered the courtyard.
Oros halted the group and dismounted. Daniel walked to Robert, who missed his chance to help Katrina from her mount. Boros had taken it upon himself to do so. The two human men approached her, then followed Boros to the small greeting party that Oros was already talking to.
After some pleasantries were exchanged, Oros signaled Daniel and his two companions to follow through a large and well-vegetated courtyard, and into the magnificent palace. The first thing Daniel noticed when he entered the structure was how refreshing the air was. There was even a little breeze that blew past them. -I wonder how they do that- he thought, impressed by the fantastic ventilation. As they walked through the halls, Daniel noticed small balls of flame that floated at the top of the walls. Every few yards on both sides there sat another one, and then another, all the way to the end of the hall; it was odd how they were able to do such a thing. Watching the Dae start the campfires for the last two nights had caused a great deal of confusion and contemplation in Daniel. They would look at a spot, point their palm at it, and a fire would burst from nothing. Daniel’s rational mind could make nothing of it, it was something out of a fairy tale. When asked about this, the Dae just smiled and said it was the power of the spirits, as though they were foolish for asking.
Finally, they reached what Daniel thought was the throne room. It was a massive room, with at least a dozen warriors on each side, all clad in the crimson cloak and bone helmet’s he had seen so far. As they walked past, Daniel could see they had full plate armor underneath, but made from the same bone material as their weapons.
Oros stopped before some steps that lead up to the slightly elevated throne in the middle. Perched on this throne was an older looking Dae. His hair was still pearly white, his cloak still a deep crimson red, but with some slight wrinkles on his face, and some scars. Atop his head was a polished metal crown that gleamed with a golden light. His eyes focused on Daniel and his companions, and he sat forward in the throne.
◆◆◆
Robert looked from side to side nervously. There were so many Dae standing around with weapons. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them, he looked to Daniel, who was standing between himself and Katrina. His face was calm and collected like he had seen this all before. -He’s either fearless, or he’s very good at hiding it- He thought to himself. He watched the old Dae on the throne study them, and he leaned forward as Oros introduced them.
“My Lord Ignos, Hego of Vul De Rah! We come before you, successful in our mission to investigate the disturbance in the Spirit Forest.” Oros bowed his head, and the rest of his party fell to one knee. The three humans were left standing, wide-eyed and confused. Robert fell to his knee as well, and soon after Katrina did. Daniel just stood and bowed his head in respect, the same way Oros had done. The old Dae narrowed his eyes at Daniel but said nothing. Oros proceeded to explain what Robert had told him over the course of two nights. How they appeared in the Spirit Forest from another world, how Robert had been healed by the Spirits, and how they were led out to the exact place he and his small force were arriving to investigate.
“I have sensed the will of the spirits of the forest myself father, and I do not believe these humans to be a threat to us. I have broken bread with them, and can vouch for them myself.” Oros turned and gestured toward them. “They are lost, and I would ask that we shelter them until we can learn more of what they are and how they have come to be here.”
Robert’s heart lifted at the words. Here was this creature from another world, sentient and honorable, trying his best to defend these strangers and help them in their time of need.
“Avria.” The old Dae called, looking to his right side. From behind him, a warrior walked into view and removed its mask. Its face was a mild gray, with delicate and smooth features, and long white hair that was fastened behind her ears with fabric bows. “It’s… a female.” Robert said with his mouth falling open. She was unmistakably beautiful, with brilliant yellow eyes and near perfect features, save a scar that crossed the upper left side of her cheek.
“Yes Lord Agron?” she said, walking beside him and leaning down a bit.
“Please tell my son what you have learned at Vul De Mar, and from King Yomin’.” Lord Agron looked to Oros grimly. “As soon as the spirits told us of the disturbance, I sent Avria to the capitol to consult the King. What she discovered was troubling.”
“Yes, my lord.” Avria bowed and looked to Oros. “It would seem that there have been several incidents in Lokkadonia involving unknown creatures falling from the sky after a bright flash. There was one who was brought before the king but was raving and uncooperative. The High Espi-Dea decreed that it was, in fact, a demon, and was purified. King Yomin’ then advised that all similar incidents should be handled the same.”
“What!?” Oros shouted. “They burned them!?”
The words caused Robert’s heart to sink, and his eyes widened. “Wait…” He thought to himself. “There are others? They burned one of us?” Roberts’s heart began to beat faster.
“What’s going on?” Daniel asked observing the tension growing in the room.
Robert relayed the message but whispered as he did so.
“They have been ordered to kill us…” Daniel clenched his fists. And began looking around for something, anything, that could help them.
Robert looked back to Lord Agron on his throne.
“We have been ordered to let our Espi-Dea purify them, Oros. They are demons. The High Espi Dae has spoken.” Avria said, walking down a few steps. “Will you deny the will of your King? Will you deny the will of your Hego?”
“I will not deny the will of the spirits!” Oros yelled, looking to his father. “You must believe me, father. I am not some whelp to be discarded, you must believe me. I have seen it from the spirits themselves. Ask them! They are not demons or the spirits of the forest would have purified them long before I arrived.”
Avria scoffed and folded her arms. “Neither am I, Oros. I saw the body. I watched the King make his offering to the spirits. Do you doubt their will?”
“Silence, you wretch,” Oros said, setting his jaw.
“Enough!” Lord Agron shouted after his son’s insult. “You will not speak to my Ward in such a way Oros. She speaks correctly. We must honor the decision of the King.”
“Was it a command father?” Boros asked, stepping from behind his older brother.
Agron looked at his youngest son with softer eyes.
“Did the king command that you purify these humans? Or did he advise that we do so?”
The Hego chuckled at his son’s logic, but sat silent, nodding.
“Young Prince, it was not a direct command,” Avria said almost condescendingly.
“Then we do not have to go about it the same way. Listen to us father, please. There must be some other way to test them, to see what the spirits truly favor?”
Hego Agron took a deep breath and closed his eyes. His wrinkles became even more prominent for a moment. He opened them and exhaled, looking to the three humans.
“We will let them face the trial of Doxo. If they succeed, then we will reevaluate the decision.”
Oros and his brother looked to one another. Then they turned to the humans.
Robert could see it in both of their eyes--this
was not going to be an easy task.
“What...?” Robert swallowed hard and looked back and forth between the two brothers. “What is the trial of Doxo?”
Oros hung his head and cursed. “It is a trial of combat.”
“Long ago,” Boros began “there was a warrior named Doxo. He was said to have seduced and impregnated the Queen of Rexun when she visited his King on a diplomatic mission. The King demanded that he be brought before him and answer for his crime. Doxo approached the King’s city with an army and challenged him to open combat for his honor. He announced that he not only would be victorious but that a spirit would appear and prove his innocence before all Eleutheros. The king chose a champion-- his greatest warrior. They had a fight, and Doxo defeated him. Before he could slay the King's champion, however, a spirit did appear and prevented the killing blow, saying that he was innocent and that the king must embrace the unborn child as his own.”
Robert blinked his terrified eyes at the tale. “What, so we have to fight your father?”
“No,” Oros said, becoming more flustered and taking over for his brother. “Over the centuries it has become a sacred tradition. When one’s honor is at stake or if you must prove your innocence, you challenge someone to the trial of Doxo, and prove you have the spirit’s favor.” Oros looked at his brother. “Fortunately for us, you are the ones being challenged.”
Katrina pulled in closer to participate in the conversation. “What do you mean, fortunately? I can’t fight! I know Robert can’t either.” Robert sneered at her for the jab at his masculinity. “Just let them finish please,” he said in frustration.
“That means you will be able to choose a champion to fight in your place,” Boros said, looking at Katrina. We will fight for you.” He said, gesturing to his brother.
Robert’s heart lurched again, being thrown another scrap of hope that they may survive this terrible mess. He then looked at Oros. “Thank you. I can’t tell you what this means to us.” Oros smiled at them both.
“Wait,” Boros said. “We need one more volunteer to fight for us.” The young warrior looked back at the group of riders who they had traveled with. “Who will fight with us?” he asked with a grin, but to his astonishment, he was met with blank stares. After several moments, it became apparent that they were not going to step forward. Boros looked to Eslan and Vikko, the other two leaders of their pack. “Will you not help them?” He said with anger in his voice. The two Dae just looked away from him. Their loyalty was to Agron and to the High Dae Espi. Then suddenly a young warrior behind them raised his hand and stepped forward, but before he could say anything, Eslan grabbed him and shoved him back into his place. “Do not embarrass us in front of the Hego you fool!” he said angrily
With that, Boros gave a glare to the two men. He did not recognize the young man who stepped forward, but he would thank him later for at least making an effort.
Oros put his hand on Boros’ shoulder. “No worries brother, we have another warrior who will fight.”
“Who?” Robert, Katrina, and Boros all asked at the same time.
With a grin on his face, Oros turned to Daniel, who was several feet away from them, completely unaware of what was going on.
“What?” Daniel asked, with all eyes on him.
Chapter 6
“How did I get myself into this mess?” Daniel thought to himself. Robert had explained the whole situation to him. How they were challenged to participate in the trial of Doxo to prove they weren’t demons, how Oros and Boros had volunteered to fight for them, but how Daniel had to fend for himself. It didn’t matter to the man, he was not the type to let others fight his battles for him, but he had no idea what these creatures were capable of. How strong were they? Could they all create fire from nothing? Could they use those abilities on him? Daniel looked to Oros who approached him carrying a bone breastplate, and his brother behind him was carrying a spear made of bone. Oros gestured for him to take the armor, unfastening latches near the shoulders so it could be easily put on. Daniel removed his peacoat and handed it to Katrina who stood next to him. “I’m sorry Daniel…” She said, folding the dirty coat in her arms. Daniel sighed as he slid the armor over his head and onto his body. It was extremely light but had a solid and sturdy feel to it. “I just don’t understand why they are forcing us to do this now,” he complained.
After the challenge had been issued, all the warriors in the throne room spread out into a large circle. They faced inward and allowed three crimson-clad Dae to enter and walk to the center. Boros spoke to his brother briefly, then turned to relay something to Katrina. She looked at Daniel, face stricken with fear. “He says it’s time to begin.” She put her hands on his shoulders, looked over his armor, tightened some of the straps and tugged it to make sure it was secure. “Be careful,” She said with sincerity, “We’re counting on you.”
Daniel nodded and grasped the spear from Boros. The young Dae gave him a nod and the two men walked into the center of the circle as well.
Daniel, Oros, and Boros stood shoulder to shoulder in the improvised arena. His eyes met those of his opponents one by one through the dark eyeholes of their bone masks. Daniel swallowed the lump in his throat, and it fell into the churning mess that was his stomach. -Very smart thing to wear a mask- He thought to himself. They were almost unreadable. Daniel looked for a sign, any sign, of what was in these warriors’ heads. He stayed completely stoic all the same, doing his best to hide any shred of fear. He heard Avria begin to speak. Daniel exhaled angrily, unable to understand her words. “How the fuck am I supposed to fight in a trial of combat, where I have no goddamn clue what the rules are?” He turned to Robert, who was standing a good ten feet behind him. “Care to fill me in, Rob?” he asked, annoyed.
“Oh!” Robert said as if breaking from some sort of trance. “She is saying that you are not to kill anyone and that… Uh…” The young man paused and looked a little confused. “She said use of the Dunamis is not allowed… Not sure what that means.”
Daniel turned back to his foes before him. -Dunamis?- He thought to himself. -It has to be their abilities.- He began to wring his fingers around the shaft of his spear. “I guess that’s something…” he whispered aloud.
Avria shouted and raised her hand up in the air as if she were about to start a race. Daniel could hear Oros and Boros talking to each other to his left. He listened to them from habit, unable to understand a word of it, but wrote it off thinking they were probably planning their attack. The two seemed calm and nonchalant, even joking at his current situation. He spread his feet into his warrior stance. Feet shoulder width apart, grasping his spear in his hands, tilting it toward his enemies at an angle.
Avria shouted, dropping her hand, and in a flash, there was movement and chaos. Daniel saw in front of him the group of three Dae break and rush toward individual opponents. From his peripheral, he saw Oros and his brother break and do the same. Daniel then looked to the Dae warrior who had chosen to fight him. His heart beat like a war drum, pumping his blood through his body and strengthening him. Daniel had been in battles before but not like this. Combat in a desert with a rifle was a totally different way to fight, but still, the feeling was the same. Fear was always the same. The pit in your stomach, the slowing of time, the pumping of adrenaline, the urge to run. Those who have seen it and faced it know there are only two things you can do when faced with such a thing. You can either fall victim to your fear and run from battle, bringing dishonor and shame upon yourself and live; or embrace your mortality with open arms, clench your teeth and try to kill your enemy with every fiber of your being. The Marines only taught Daniel one of these responses.
Daniel dashed forward bringing up his spear, taking a deep breath, and yelling at the top of his lungs. The war cry startled the Dae who was advancing toward him, he became unnerved slightly and took one step back. That was all he needed. Daniel lunged his spear at the frightened creature’s gut, right beneath the bone armor that just covered his chest.
It did not find its mark, however. Right at the last moment, the Dae blocked the thrust with a quick parry from his own spear. This small setback did not halt Daniel’s violent advance, however. He pushed through his target, knocking the Dae even further off balance, then taking the butt of his spear and cracking it across his face. The warrior fell to the hard stone floor of the throne room with a loud thud. His bone mask unfastened and flew off. Daniel raised his spear again to finish him. The Dae rose his hands up to protect his face. Daniel looked through his fingers at the frightened young creature, his yellow eyes wide and unfocused, his lips frowned and terrified. The world stopped in its tracks for Daniel as he observed. Adrenaline pumped through his body, his ears slightly muffled. He knew that look; the look of absolute and unrestrained fear. This opponent he was fighting was not accustomed to the amount of ferocity Daniel had displayed. He had caught him off guard and managed to win the first engagement. Looking down at the pitiful display, the thought crossed his mind. Should he kill him? He clenched his teeth and relaxed his arms.