The Blighted Fortress

by David E Dresner

  He studied the giant’s running feet. He knew from many battles that foot movement was the first to show failing strength. In watching his own men in boxing matches he was less impressed by arm muscles than by footwork. Footwork speed permitted many a smaller man to defeat a larger brute.

  He also studied the man’s breathing as he was exerting himself. Most soldiers who are running toward an enemy start with a sprint, then necessarily slow as they lose their breath. This man’s size permitted Attila, even at a distance, to watch his chest movement. Chest movement signaled his need for faster breaths.

  The giant was now halfway across the field and maintaining a runner’s hard pace. There was no weakness appearing on either his foot speed or his breathing. The older, smaller man had fallen behind, but surprisingly not as far as the bettors had wagered. Attila appreciated that this older man was well conditioned to maintain his own measured pace.

  Attila listened as his captains changed their bets to cover early losses. He also noted the leather bags of kumis were no longer being passed. All his captains were now quiet and focused on the runner giant.

  The unwanted thought came to his mind, Perhaps I should not have made this running challenge. It is not good karma for my warriors to gain respect for a foe. He put that thought behind him as he found himself drawn into the excitement of watching the runners continue their strong pace. The giant continued to carry his size without effort and the older man was able to move quickly forward despite his advanced age.

  The race ended with the giant standing in front of the line of Hun horsemen. The horsemen saw that while sweat flowed across his face and down his hands, his breathing was steady as were his staring eyes.

  This giant was a warrior ready for battle. The run had simply elevated his fighting spirit. Those who had earlier been eager to engage him now had second thoughts, Let the young warriors prove themselves against him while I watch.

  Upon arrival the duke immediately recognized the Hun leader sitting on a large black stallion. Their eyes met and a slight nod of Attila’s head confirmed he was the Hun general. The duke gave a returning nod. The duke walked slowly toward the mounted warrior, knelt and held up his flag.

  As the mage trotted pass the mounted warriors, the warriors who had placed bets on when and where the old man would collapse studied him more closely. The old man appeared composed after his exertion.

  A few warriors studied his face and suddenly found themselves looking into flickering red eyes that seemed to be taking their measure. No warrior held eye contact. No warrior challenged the old man as he followed the two leaders toward the parley tent.

  The jinn knew, of course, they had met the conditions for the parley as Attila slid off his horse and motioned for the duke to rise and follow him. Had Attila not honored the meeting, the jinn would have instituted Plan B. Attila and the surrounding Hun would not have liked Plan B.

  The jinn had the mage walk closely behind the duke as both entered the parley tent. Continued control of the duke was essential.

  Once inside the jinn prepared for the next step in eliminating the Hun threat.

  Chapter 80

  A Strange Parley

  The duke’s height required him to stoop down as he followed the Hun leader into the large tent. The tent was constructed from thick woven hides. The tent sides were supported by carved wooden support poles. The elevated interior was supported by similar but larger wooden beams.

  Hanging above the entry door was a pagan symbol of Hun battle intentions. Multiple skulls were bound on a chain of horse hair. The symbol proclaimed to their foe, “As you enter expect to die.” The entry sign did not suggest fruitful parley outcomes.

  The interior was a strong contrast to the threatening entry symbol, it was culturally magnificent. While the Hun leader moved each day on horseback, he enjoyed a high level of comfort once their camp was established. The floor was covered with thick piles of oriental rugs. Each rug was a work of art and presented a tale of heroes, faraway cities, and mystical creatures.

  Any one of the rugs would require four or five skilled workers over a year to construct. The craftsmen built the rugs by tying together a plethora of small knots of varying colors. These rugs had such a high density of knots that their pictures jumped out in great detail. The greater the density of the knots the greater was the rug’s value. As art, they rivaled the finest Roman floor mosaics.

  Asian gods were well represented, confirming the Huns indeed had a strong cultural belief in supernatural beings. The Hun’s central god was a god of the open skies. The sky god was based on the Hun’s daily lives spent on vast open plains with an endless sky above. Lightning and thunder alerted the mortals below of the sky god’s mood.

  Attila walked to a throne that rested on an elevated platform. He ascended several steps and sat down. The platform’s elevation had been constructed so that while seated he would look down at his taller opponent. He never accepted an opponent being at eye level, a level line of sight implied they were equal in power to him.

  Even with the added elevation Attila found the duke was looking back at close to eye level. The giant was easily more than two heads taller than the tallest warrior he had ever met. Attila unconsciously arched his body upward for additional height. His servants would pay a price for this error. He ignored the old man standing well below him beside the giant as being of no consequence.

  Standing on each side of the platform were pairs of archers and swordsmen. The archers stood a short distance away and had arrows notched. They could release in an eye’s blink. The guards were closer to the standing giant with drawn swords ready for a fast strike. The pairs were experienced teams and each member of the team was deadly in his craft.

  Attila made a hand motion to one of his captains, who immediately hit the standing duke hard on the back of his knees with a thick spear. While he was not struck himself, the mage understood the message of the strike. “Sire, you are being told to kneel at once. Your height offends this Hun leader.”

  The duke was unfazed by the leg strike but immediately accepted the command from his mage. He assumed a kneeling position. In other circumstances, with a clear mind, he would have turned on the striking captain, lifted him above his head and broken him across a knee. The archers and swordsmen would have followed shortly.

  Beyond humbling the giant, Attila knew from past experiences that this kneeling position ensured the giant would be slower to rise and attack. His archers and swordsmen would strike the giant down long before he was upright.

  As the duke knelt down Attila made a hand motion indicating the old man would be permitted to stand. Age was respected among the Hun and Attila was impressed with the old man’s endurance in the run. It was also good psychology to permit the servant to stand while the leader was forced to kneel. The servant looking down became superior to the master.

  While kneeling, the duke stared ahead at the throne which was now at his eye level. The throne was carved from an exotic black wood and featured sculpted demons protecting the chair’s occupant. Little did the seated Hun leader realize that a true demon was hiding in the old man standing in front of him.

  Attila made a second hand-motion and a captain approached the kneeling duke. This captain was an experienced interrogator. He would inflict increasing levels of pain so that the Hun leader could study a kneeling opponent’s reaction.

  The captain had proven himself many times in his ability to intimidate and interrogate captured foes. He had mastered the art of physically humbling a foe before Attila’s questioning began. The other captains enjoyed watching him as he broke the strongest man down to a whimpering child.

  Facing the kneeling duke, he lifted a flexible switch in his right hand. He made it snap through the air with a whistling sound, then delivered a stinging stroke across the duke’s lower face and lips. Lips are very sensitive. The duke remained motionless.

  Attila had agreed to the parley to gain critical information. He had instructed the captain
to make the application of pain a slow and humbling process. Attila knew from many experiences that to advance torture too quickly led many captives to say whatever they thought the leader wanted to hear. That information was useless.

  This duke was an important source of information regarding the treasure lands and their guarding armies to the west. These western lands held numerous wealthy cities, the greatest of which was Rome. While his advance scouts had assured him that the once mighty Roman empire was a shadow of its former self, Attila knew he needed to advance his horde swiftly. Food, water, and information were the keys to victory.

  The captain watched his first strike hit the giant’s face and saw there was no anticipatory flinch. Every person instinctively flinches when a known blow is coming. The captain was annoyed and embarrassed that his blow was ignored.

  He held the switch in front of kneeling man and moved the end across both cheeks. This time the captain made a much louder snapping sound with the switch. Maybe this giant needed to really hear what was coming. This would be a stronger blow across the sensitive middle face and nose. The blow should break the nose.

  When it was delivered there was still no resulting flinch. This man must have a face made from stone, the captain thought. But even stone breaks with a strong enough blow.

  Attila watched as he expected a third and even stronger blow to quickly follow. This third blow would be higher up and across the eyes. Nobody can ignore a blow across eyes, all people automatically close their eyelids and jerk their heads. This third strike would tell Attila much about this duke.

  While retaining control of the mage, the jinn used its cloud form to approach each warrior. It easily passed through each warrior, read their minds, and then controlled them. They were easily controlled and they now stood expressionless. Their cognitive skills were gone and their bodies were only containers for their organs.

  The jinn read the interrogating captain’s mind last. It provided a history of similar encounters. The jinn felt no emotion in considering the sad fate of prior victims. It did not judge the captain, it simply observed and understood. What it found was that human leaders frequently sought knowledge using a wide variety of pain techniques. Before returning to the mage, the jinn wiped the captain’s mind clean as he stood motionless, poised to strike.

  Attila ignored the nearby mage. His focus was on his captain and the kneeling giant. He saw the captain’s switch was poised but was not delivering the expected third strike. Annoyed he barked a command, “Strike now, captain, before I strike you!”

  His words had no effect. Angered he immediately leapt down to the carpeted floor and proceeded to another captain. “Replace our inquisitor, you know the steps.” This captain simply stared at his lord without recognition. Attila slammed a fist into the warrior’s chest, then stood stunned as the warrior collapsed.

  He moved to other captains and saw the same blank looks on their faces. Attila was instantly on high battle alert. Could his captains and guards have been poisoned? Was he personally in danger, and how could that be?

  Before he shouted for help, he returned to the kneeling duke and studied him. The duke looked back at him much as a milk cow looks at the person milking it. For a moment he considered taking the switch and applying it, then he considered the size of this man and the absence of guards.

  When his eyes left the kneeling giant, he became aware of the old man beside him. The man was studying him and Attila’s frustration and anger bloomed into a rage. Attila knew he was at risk to lose his control and he never lost control.

  The old man’s impudence to approach him and then study him demanded immediate punishment. There was no risk in applying the switch to this old man. He lifted his arm to strike, then found himself lost in the flickering red eyes that stared back.

  Attila fought to maintain control of his anger and his confusion. He had studied many adversaries both at a distance and as captives. He could read the obvious and the hidden. On the surface this was simply an old man, an advisor to the kneeling lord. His clothing consisted of robes similar to Roman nobility, not the garb of battle warriors.

  The second reading was the insightful one. The robed man projected an easy confidence in front of a feared conqueror. He reminded Attila of the mystical shamans from his own homeland. Shamans were valued for their power to foresee future outcomes as well as to advise on best courses of action. They were thought to have a link to the gods and could petition the gods for advice and help. These shamans treated warrior kings as their equals. When shamans spoke, rulers listened.

  Attila instinctively knew that the true leader in this parley was not the kneeling giant but this old man. The eyes looking back at him had dancing red flames in the center. Then the man spoke his name “Attila”, but in his mind. Attila was mesmerized.

  While Attila was frozen in place the man spoke again in his mind. A single command formed in Attila’s mind. The command was to cease his army’s battle plan. The Hun army would retreat. No person, soldier or farmer, would be touched. No grain or livestock would be taken. Once past the duke’s lands, the Hun leader could proceed westward on routes of his choosing.

  Finished with Attila, the mage spoke aloud to the kneeling duke, “Rise up. This invader understands he will bypass our lands. We will return to our camp and celebrate the outcome of this parley.”

  As he walked to the tent opening, the mage turned to Attila and gave a final vocal command in Latin, “You will begin your retreat immediately. The day is young and your horses are rested. By evening you will be beyond this region. Seek your plunder on a different route.”

  Once the mage and giant were out of his tent, Attila regained control of his mind. He began to shake. He took a series of slow, deep breaths to calm his body and his mind. He accepted that he had been in the presence of a god.

  Fortunately, this god was permitting him to continue his advance west with only the loss of a few captains and guards. Attila felt relief. This was a generous god. Attila’s invasion luck was still with him.

  Chapter 81

  The Jinn Looks Back

  The jinn was pleased that his review of past events confirmed the correctness of each decision. Further, each action had provided great insights into the human body and mind. Humans were easily understood and controlled. They offered no threat to the jinn.

  The jinn was mildly concerned over the lingering blockage to fully control the giant but it would sort that out in good time. The jinn loved to solve puzzles.

  For now the jinn was content with its total mastery of the mage. It had carefully integrated itself into every aspect of the mage’s mind and body. Integration had taken more time and effort than anticipated but now its control was perfect. It had even, with considerable practice, learned how to make facial muscles form a smile. It knew human leaders had to smile on occasion.

  Following the encounter with Attila, the jinn used the mage to take control of the army and the workforce. The captains saw the duke was an ill man and had delegated much power to the mage. The captains initially accepted this shift of authority with ease. The mage was wise and had saved the entire army from the Hun. The mage had also saved their own lives.

  With an obedient workforce the jinn had commenced construction of the portal. Progress was made but it was slow progress. The portal was a highly complex structure for humans to work on. Workers tried to learn but they now feared the mage. The mage was constantly dismissing, in some cases eliminating, inefficient workers. Fear clouded learning which slowed their efforts. Humans were slow students scared of making mistakes.

  Tonight’s feast was the jinn’s attempt to regain goodwill and motivate the leaders. If this failed the jinn would consider a Plan B approach to the portal’s construction. Tonight’s attendees would not like Plan B.

  Just as it had completed its review, the dinner bells rang out. It was time for them to join the feast. The mage motioned for the duke to follow him as he stood and headed to the great hall. The duke rose slowly and t
he two moved in unison toward the great hall.

  Once at the hall the jinn stood off to the side and waited for the slow-moving giant to be the first to take his place. The jinn continued to demonstrate outward respect to this leader. Having a puppet leader enabled the jinn to place unpopular decisions back on the duke. The jinn had mastered the blame game. It was developing human political skills.

  Chapter 82

  The Jinn Is Studied

  Well before the arrival of the first diners to the great hall, Glenda and Traveler were on their way. They knew their route and were soon at the low exit door that led onto the selected crossbeam. Traveler eased the shutter to the side and slowly looked out. He saw serving people busy preparing for the feast. While they were generally looking down, he knew body motion was what attracted curious eyes.

  Whispering to Glenda he said, “You know stealth requires that our bodies must remain motionless, we can’t use stealth until we’re inside the crow’s nest.”

  Glenda accepted the comment with a nervous smile, “I know, and you are the master of stealth, lead the way.”

  Traveler continued, “We need to be snakes staying close to the center of the beam and slowly wiggle our way across. If you sense we’re spotted, freeze in place.”

  Traveler gave Glenda his encouraging smile, “This is as good a time as any to move out. It’s a piece of cake compared to our deep dive. Let me get about ten feet ahead so we don’t get backed up at the crow’s nest.”

  His parting gibe was, “Don’t get a splinter in your nose, it’s already had a tough day sneezing.”

  “Lead away, big boy, and let’s hope your oversized head doesn’t draw attention.”

  With the brief repartee exchange over, they transformed into lizards moving on the log. Several times one or the other had to stop and slowly remove a splinter that was snagged on the wool clothing. Finally, Traveler reached the observation nest and wriggled inside. Once inside he moved around to allow Glenda to wriggle in beside him. They immediately went into stealth mode.