by Tony Johnson
“I never got to feel you kick!” he began sobbing. He repeated the phrase three more times, each time feeling more and more sorrowful.
Then, just like with his sons, Grizz hugged the corpse of his wife against his body as he let out wails and groans of lament.
“Are you in pain?”
“Not anymore,” Uncle Zeke answered. “The pain ended hours ago. It was the worst pain I’ve ever experienced. I could feel my entire body shutting down. My arms and legs are numb, but, in a way, it feels peaceful now.” Then, after a minute of silence, he calmly stated, “I’m going to die.”
“Please try to hold on,” Steve requested. “We can find an antidote for the venom or something. We can save you.”
Kari wasn’t as disillusioned as Steve was. “Is there anything we can get you?” What she really meant was: ‘Is there anything we can get for you that’ll make death more comfortable?’
“I don’t need much. Sitting here all day has been a blessing, despite the hallucinations and pain that is. I’ve been able to reflect on the life I’ve lived. It’s ending earlier than I expected, but I’m content with dying. I spent my life in good cheer and good health. I guess all I can ask for now is for someone to stay with me and keep me company until it’s time I pass.”
“Of course we will stay,” Kari offered, having not even considered abandoning the baker.
“Thank you,” Zeke said. “I also was wondering if it wouldn’t be too much trouble for one of you to find some water for me. That would be refreshing. And maybe we could get a fire started. I’m freezing.”
“Not a problem at all,” the Halfling obliged. “I’ll go find some water and come straight back.”
“I’ll stay here with him,” Steve said. Before Kari left, he lightly grabbed her hand and held onto it for a couple seconds. “Be safe.”
“I will,” she replied, happy in knowing the warrior earnestly cared for her well-being.
“Can you tell me more of what happened?” Steve asked after Kari exited the crumbled bakery.
Zeke explained while Steve walked around and began collecting broken pieces of wood. “The city wasn’t much of a challenge to overtake. A portion of our warriors had gone to Celestial for the Tournaments and three captains left with some warriors a few days ago because of some monster attack near Hunters’ Den. “Two of the warriors were injured and sent back with a caravan of civilians that had been at the Den during the attack. Poor people should’ve stayed there. They’d all still be alive right now.
“I was on the other side of town when the assault began. All around me it was chaos. Civilians were being killed left and right. It all happened so fast. Many of the townsmen took up weapons and tried fighting back. Most of the women, children, and elderly took to hiding, but whether fighting or hiding, no one was safe. I don’t think anyone made it out alive.”
Steve quietly, but angrily, fed pieces of wood into the baker’s oven as he listened to the harrowing tale. He tried not to let his uncle see the rage in his eyes and the uncontrollable shaking of his fists as he heard all the details of what the monsters had done.
“The only one who I saw escape was Commander Krause. He retreated before the Python and the other monsters got too close. I watched him mount his horse and ride full speed into the forest, making his escape.”
What a coward! He’s a commander! He took the Warrior’s Oath! He swore to put civilians before himself; to protect them at the cost of his own life.
The embers that were already in the oven caught the dry wood and quickly ignited into a roaring flame. Since Zeke was shaking, even though it was a warm autumn evening, Steve left the door to the oven open so it would heat the large, half-collapsed room.
Kari came back with her canteen full of water. Since Zeke was unable to move his arms, she held it to his mouth so he could drink.
“Thank you so much, dear,” he said, before continuing, “As I was saying, we stood no chance. I headed here to my bakery as fast as I could. All I wanted was to get back to my wife. When I turned a corner, the Python was there. I froze in fear. When he went to bite me, someone pushed me out of the way. Regretfully, one of his fangs still grazed me.”
Zeke stopped and accepted another sip of water from Kari. He took a moment to catch his breath as talking was expending what little energy he had left.
“Within minutes, I began hallucinating. Apparently I, somehow, made it back to the bakery because here I am. I’ve been in this same spot since.”
“So, you never found your wife?” Kari asked sadly.
“No,” said Zeke, “but I’m looking forward to seeing her soon.”
Chapter 58
“I don’t want to talk anymore about the attack. I’ve had its images repeating in my head for the past two days. Now that you’re here, maybe talking about other things can free my mind from dwelling on the horrors. Stephen, I haven’t seen you in years. How have you been? How’s your father and those two troublesome Canard brothers of yours?”
Steve cast his gaze downwards and shook his head. Kari spoke for him. “Unfortunately, they all passed away. Ty was with us up until recently, but,” she paused, “he was lost too.”
“Celestial was attacked, wasn’t it?” Zeke asked.
“Yes,” Kari answered in surprise. “How did you know that?”
“After the monsters were victorious in taking Serendale, I could hear the Python’s booming voice, ordering his troops. He said, ‘Next we march west, to the city called Almiria. There we will meet up with a portion of the forces from the south and destroy that city as well.’ I assume forces from the south means Celestial?”
Steve considered lying. He’s about to die. Why should we burden him with the depressing details about the successful siege of Celestial?
The baker could tell Steve was debating his answer because he said, “Tell me, Stephen. I want to know.”
Relenting, Steve recapped the events. “A man named the Hooded Phantom orchestrated a massive scale attack.”
“This Hooded Phantom, does he have a face?”
With a confused look, Steve replied, “I’m not sure because he wore a mask. I would assume so though. Why do you ask?”
“When the Python said they were marching west to Almiria, he said it was by order of the Faceless.”
Steve thought back to the mask the Hooded Phantom wore under the hood of his cloak. The Faceless: that must be what the monsters refer to him as. So, not only did the Hooded Phantom plan and lead the assault on Celestial, he also ordered the attacks on Serendale and Almiria.
Piecing everything together, Steve proclaimed, “He planned and strategically organized the attacks. He waited until the Warriors’ Tournaments so Serendale and Almiria were missing a large portion of their warriors. He’s two steps ahead of us. By the time we even realized Almiria was under attack, it was too late to do anything to stop it. Even if we had been able to warn Almiria about the impending attack, it would’ve been useless. They would have nowhere near the force needed to defend themselves from the part of the Phantom’s army that would have descended on them.”
Kari continued, seeing another connection. “The monsters were probably ordered to burn down the bridges so if anyone did escape from Celestial and tried getting to Serendale, they’d be rerouted to Almiria and then would be subject to that attack. We’re being rounded up like cattle. He’s succeeded in creating a strong foothold for his army by securing three of the Primary Cities in the center of the kingdom.”
“What are we supposed to do?” Steve asked. “How can we hope to combat someone with intelligence like that? The Phantom murdered the best strategist we had when he killed Sir Lambert.”
“You’ll find a way,” Zeke encouraged, before shaking from a chill that seemed to run through his entire body. “It may seem like gloom and despair right now, but there are always positives. If you focus on them, you’re bound to find something optimistic to give you hope.”
; “But what is it? What is there to keep us going?” Steve sat down in the corner of the damaged building and looked hopeless. “The Phantom has gotten everything he planned so far,” he mumbled. “We are experiencing life exactly how he wanted. We’re living just like the monsters: We’re homeless and struggling for survival. What do we possibly have to look forward to?”
Kari shook her head, also searching for an answer.
Having already given the best advice he could in such a dire situation, Zeke changed the subject by asking for the oven door to be closed.
“I’m sorry. I know I asked for a fire since I was cold, but I’m getting overheated now.”
“That’s okay,” said Kari as she shut the door, trying to hide the sadness on her face. People who are close to death often experience rapid body temperature fluctuations. She looked over to Steve to see if he picked up on it as well, but the warrior was staring down at the floor.
“What else do you need?” she asked Zeke, seeing an odd expression on his face. She couldn’t tell if he was in pain or not.
“Oh, sorry, nothing; I’m just trying to figure out if I’ve seen you before,” the baker inquired, wrinkling his forehead, trying to think back to a time many years ago. “What’s your name, dear?”
“Kari Quinn.”
“Quinn, you said?”
“Yes,” she nodded.
“That explains it. You’re not going to believe this, but I think I’ve seen you before as a child. What was your father’s name?”
“Quintis Quinn.”
“That’s what I thought,” Zeke said flatly. A look of disgust passed over his face.
Kari gulped, unsure of why her father’s name brought about such a negative reaction.
“Did you know my dad?”
“Yes, somewhat, but not as well as the fathers of the two warriors you traveled with on the way here,” he admitted. “What are the chances of that?” he asked himself out loud. “The three people that escaped from Celestial together all have something in common: their fathers were all best friends in the warriors.”
“My father was friends with Ty’s father?” Kari asked in shock. She looked to Steve, wondering if he knew of the connection between them.
The question managed to peak Steve’s interest and get him to raise his head as he sat in the corner, but the most he did was shrug his shoulders and say, “I always thought it was only Thatcher and Caesar who were friends in the warriors. I never heard him talk about anyone named Quintis Quinn.”
“I don’t think Thatcher would’ve ever mentioned Quintis’ name,” Zeke said, as an angry look passed over his face once again. “Quinn’s name alone would’ve brought up too many painful memories for him.”
“What do you mean?” Kari asked, gulping from the nervous pit in her stomach.
“If you don’t know what happened, then it’s probably best kept that way.”
“Please, I have very few memories of my father. He died when I was very young. Please tell me.”
“Died? Who told you that?”
Kari’s eyes widened, trying to understand why Zeke looked confused at the mention of her father being dead. With a shaky voice, she answered, “My mother, as well as my aunt and uncle. They said he died on duty. He and a bunch of other warriors were murdered by another warrior.”
After a couple silent seconds of furling his brow in thinking, Zeke said, “Well, they’re right; he died valiantly.”
“You’re lying,” Kari said, studying him closely. “Tell me the truth.”
“No, it’s better for you to believe what you were told rather than know what really happened. Please trust me on this.”
“I need to know,” Kari pleaded.
“No,” Zeke repeated, more forcefully.
“Tell me,” Kari said sharply, with a hint of anger rising in her throat.
The baker sat in silence, refusing to answer.
For eighteen years I’ve searched for a clue and this dying man knows something, Kari clenched her teeth. No one knows what it’s like to grow up knowing the person responsible for her parents’ deaths is still out there. I promised myself I would find and kill the murderer. Nothing will stop me from finding out the truth surrounding my father’s murder.
“I’m sorry to do this,” Kari apologized, “but I have to.” She pushed the sole of her boot onto the deep gash on the injured Giant’s left arm.
Zeke howled as intense pain shot up and down his numb arm. “Tell me!” Kari spoke calmly, but defiantly, not releasing the pressure until Steve got up and pulled her off his uncle.
“Okay! Okay!” the man looked at the Halfling angrily. “If you want to know that badly, maybe you’re as crazy as he was.”
Realizing what he had said, he apologized and asked her to sit down. Then he spoke to Kari and revealed new information after the rush of pain she caused subsided.
“The first thing you need to understand is that anything your mom, aunt, and uncle told you was said only to protect you. The truth is your father was not murdered along with the other warriors who died that night because he was the murderer.”
Chapter 59
After mourning for a while, Grizz saw Copper worriedly staring at him. Coming out of the wreckage of the schoolhouse, the direfox trotted to the Dwarf and nuzzled him.
“I know you’re trying to tell me you’re sorry for my loss,” he patted the orange beast on the head. “Thank you,” he said, gently petting Copper’s soft fur.
With his heart broken, Grizz considered the magnitude of destruction. Everything in my life has been taken from me. There’s nothing left. My town and my family are gone. My house is destroyed. I’m sure my shop has been cleaned out and all the weapons and armor taken by the monsters. I wish I’d never left to go to Hunters’ Den. I could’ve stayed and helped fight. Maybe I could’ve even given my family enough time to escape.
Thinking back to why he left for the Den in the first place, Grizz thought about his apprentice, Dart. I sent that boy back here with the caravan when all he wanted to do was stay and fight with me and avenge the death of his little brother. He might still be alive if I let him stay, but now he’s just another one of Serendale’s casualties.
Grizz blamed himself for Dart’s death. He also felt responsible for the death of Ty. He was a good guy, a funny Elf, who I could tell was well-liked and well-loved. I had the earth element, but I still wasn’t strong enough to save him. It’s my fault he’s dead.
Feeling guilty and alone, Grizz stood there contemplating his regrets over everything that had transpired. Next to him, Copper’s ears perked up, and he peered into the Evergreen Forest behind the remains of the schoolhouse. The direfox suddenly darted, disappearing into the trees. Picking up Skullcrusher, which he had dropped earlier when digging through the rubble, Grizz followed the friendly monster.
Thinking maybe a civilian had survived the attack and was hiding, the Dwarf wasn’t expecting to find an injured Serendale attacker.
The monster was a typical, average goblin. Smaller than Dwarves, goblins were the weakest of the Anthropomorphic Monsters. Most of them had gray skin and no elemental powers. Goblins were known to be clumsy, with little common sense. They were cowards, who usually resorted to thieving and stealthy tactics, but acted bravely when in a large group.
Grizz could tell a large clan of them, or maybe even multiple clans, had banded together and attacked Serendale. The one he looked down on now was crawling through the grass. It had multiple stab wounds and a broken leg.
Knowing interrogating the goblin would provide no answers since very few of them could communicate, he had only one solution for what to do with the monster Copper had found. He took his double-sided weapon and flipped its handle in his hand.
When the spinning stopped, the blade of Skullcleaver was facing down, so Grizz plunged that side of the weapon into the torso of the gray monster. The strike felt good, so Grizz hit it again, this time with his element en
abled. The weapon struck the goblin with a rock-coated axe blade. Again, Grizz hit the monster, this time killing it instantaneously. Blood sprayed up into his face, but he didn’t wipe it away. Copper barked, which Grizz could tell meant the direfox wanted him to cease the slaughter, but he couldn’t stop himself from continuingly slamming his axe down into the goblin, long after it was dead. He attacked again and again, faster and faster.
Finally, he exhaustedly leaned against a tree, covered in goblin blood. The monster had been reduced to an unrecognizable pulp of cut up gray flesh on the forest floor. Copper watched with a worried look on his foxlike face.
The weight of the emotions of the past hour struck Grizz at once and he fell to the ground which suddenly became unleveled. With no tears left in him to cry, he felt a gigantic void inside his heart. Having just taken out his anger on the goblin, the only things left in him were devastation and sadness.
Copper licked the palm of Grizz’s open hand. Grizz knew the direfox was worried and wanted him to get up.
“There’s nothing left to live for,” Grizz spoke out loud and then opened his eyes. “There’s no point in getting up.” Above him was a branch with Olenberries growing on it. It didn’t take the Dwarf more than a second to decide to take his life. I open my eyes, and there are Olenberries right above me! It must be a sign, he reasoned.
Pulling himself to his feet, he reached up, but found himself too short to reach the berries. Using his element that allowed him to control anything connected to the earth, he willed the branch to bend down and easily pick a handful of the poisonous purple berries off the tree. He squeezed their juices into his canteen, before reaching up, grabbing another handful, and crushing more.
When his canteen was half full, more than enough of a lethal amount of Olenberries, he held up the container and was about to drink. He stopped when Copper began whining and whimpering, prompting Grizz to stop and say, “Go back to the others. I’m doing this.” Again, he went to drink, but this time, Copper began growling, a deep, angry growl that Grizz had only ever heard directed at enemies. The direfox lunged at Grizz and sunk his teeth into the Dwarf’s gauntlet on the arm holding the canteen. The teeth were sharp enough that they bit through the metal and painfully sunk an inch deep into the Dwarf’s forearm. However, Grizz’s grip on his canteen did not loosen. With his free hand, he reached down and grabbed Skullcrusher and struck into the leg of Copper. The direfox yelped in pain, released his bite, and backed off.