Reign of Phyre

by Nicholas Cooper

  “No. You’re not burying him like that, Reilek. Even if you’re a rebel, you owe it to him. He was your friend,” Rhen managed to say in Euparyen through his bloated face.

  Kiern let out a small laugh. “Is it too shameful to converse with us in Karzarki? Personally, I’m glad you can speak Euparyen. The thought of having to use your people’s language is repulsive. And rebel? We are not Sons, thought we both fight against you. Rebel, resistance, it all depends on where you stand. Reilek has remained faithful to the cause while your friend has –”

  Reilek interrupted. “Kiern, enough. He died no less of a man than you or me.”

  Kiern turned around to say something back to Reilek when Rhen leapt for the small dagger buckled to Kiern’s boot. He grabbed it, and scurried back against the tree, standing with the knife against his own throat.

  “If you don’t give him a proper sending, I will kill myself here and you can find the damn Dawn Shield by yourselves! That’s what you’re after, isn’t it? You can ask the Khasari to assist you.”

  Sweat and blood trickled down his face, but the blade remained surprisingly still in his hand. He was not afraid.

  Reilek looked at Kiern before turning back to the thorn in their sides. “Alright, Rhen. How does one give a proper sending for a Karzarki?”

  Reilek didn’t argue that digging that hole had taken two hours when their potential guide to the Dawn Shield was showing strong suicidal tendencies. Yelia did not look kindly on the ungrateful who took their own lives. The Commander would look just as kindly at those who let their captive kill themselves.

  “Build a pyre, wait for nightfall. I will say the words that need to be said, not some Yalean, Wrath-worshipping fool.”

  In one swift motion, Kiern threw the dagger that had been tucked behind his jerkin, and pinned Rhen’s arm that held his other dagger against the tree by the sleeve. “You do not give commands around here. You do not blaspheme against The Wrath. And how do you know we are Yalean?”

  Kiern knew this Rhen was way out of his league. They were professional killers who would flay him with an inch of his life so long as they dragged him along to Tannis.

  The boy sobbed. “Your accent is off. Please. He was a good man, let me.”

  “I’ll do it,” said Reilek to Kiern’s surprise, “Kiern, head to camp and tell the others. And I do not want to hear anything but ‘yes sir’ coming out from that big mouth of yours. We clear?”

  “Yes sir.” Kiern trudged away, pissed off for being rebuked in front of the prisoner.

  -------------------------------------

  The Youngers had sinned in the eyes of their Mother, their Maker. Yelia, timeless in her wisdom, was resolute in her determination, her judgement of her children. If, as the Youngers believed, they were ready to surpass their Elders, then they would need to prove that to their Mother. And so, Yelia tore the land asunder, a test to her children to prove themselves worthy of their actions, their claim.

  Razyc es Masten – The Sin

  Rhen

  So many missteps, thought Rhen, as he watched Yaren’s body burn on the pyre, lighting up the night. Too soon. Yaren was not supposed to die here. He had miscalculated, and it had cost him Yaren’s life.

  He had been an idiot, and Yaren was right. He had withheld information and been incredibly stupid. He hadn’t told Yaren that the person they would be selling the Dawn Shield to was his father, and that it was his idea to begin with. He had opted to keep it a secret for Yaren’s safety, for all the good that did. At least Reilek didn’t know. His own foolishness had totally blinded him to the importance of the Dawn Shield and birthed more questions than he had answers for. Did his father know it was a Caranaum? If he did, how did he know? Rhen had spent months digging. If his father knew, how many others? And if he didn’t, was it just chance?

  Either way, the burden was now solely on his shoulders, and the weight was crushing. He said a prayer as the last of Yaren’s remains were consumed by the fire. Damn these Yaleans, damn their Wrath. It was past time that Karzark dealt with them as they had the Euphyrians. He was unsure what his father wanted with the Caranaum, but if it wasn’t to exact revenge on Yalea, he would consider giving it to the Khasari.

  He wasn’t in the right frame of mind to work it all out just yet. All he knew was that they would pay for Yaren’s death. He would make sure of it. This plurality of purpose between the Youngers had caused countless deaths already, but now it had added Yaren’s name to the list. And Rhen would not forget that any time soon. But for now, he was their prisoner. So long as he knew the way to the Dawn Shield, and only him, he would live on. He would think of something between here and there. This Kiern was bright, but Rhen could outsmart him. Reilek, on the other hand, would be more difficult to deal with. He knew that Rhen was more cunning than he let on and would always be on guard.

  The last of the embers dying down drew Rhen’s attention back from his quiet contemplation, as Reilek motioned with his head towards the camp that had been made earlier by the other Yaleans upriver. No point arguing with the man. He wouldn’t make three steps running. Sure, they wouldn’t kill him, but they didn’t need him whole. His bruised and bloody face was testament to that. He made a promise to Yaren under his breath that this Reilek would be hunted and know no peace, the man that Yaren had trusted. He started walking towards the camp, wishing that the nightlife in the trees that he once found peaceful would shut up and give his head a rest.

  The camp was actually quite far from where they were ambushed – or rather, betrayed. It took a good hour following the river north before he spotted the campfire and tents. The black-clad Yaleans stood up upon seeing them, heads bowed as Reilek walked past the fire to Kiern. As quick as lightning, Reilek pummelled the hilt of his dagger into Kiern’s stomach.

  “You think it’s funny, taking the horses with you so we’d have to walk back? All I see is a boy who can’t keep his anger in check. Do that again and next time it will be the pointy end,” he said as Kiern doubled over, the air knocked out of him. Rhen didn’t realise he was gawking at Kiern until Reilek shoved him forward.

  “Move.” Onward towards the man who was studying Rhen’s map. It must have been pilfered while he was unconscious.

  “Sit,” said the man, pointing to a tree stump beside the table.

  Rhen sat. If it wasn’t obvious from the man’s attire that he was in charge here, with his lion-sigil emblazoned black tabard, it was the fact that Reilek had knelt on one knee to pay his respects that put it beyond any doubt. A man with that much to prove did not kneel lightly.

  “Why do you seek the Dawn Shield?” he said, without looking up from the map.

  “To make a small fortune,” Rhen replied, looking up at the man who subsequently drew a dagger from his waist and slammed it into the map in one swift motion. Right where Tannis was labelled.

  “Lie to me again and my sword takes off an ear.” The man was looking directly in Rhen’s eyes now.

  “Look, I will share the gold with you, I’ll –” The man kicked the table into Rhen’s chest, knocking him flat on his back.

  “I am not someone you can lie to. I am not someone you think you can fool. You will stop playing games with me or you will regret it. You need a mouth; you will not miss an ear since it failed to heed my warning.”

  He unsheathed his sword, and with impossible precision, cut off the top of Rhen’s left ear. Blood started gushing the same moment Rhen registered what had just happened, and then the pain hit him. He screamed out as his instincts told him to get up and run. They were insane. They would kill him. He had no more than turned over onto his stomach to get up when Reilek’s boot pushed down on Rhen’s shoulder, shoving him into the dirt. Reilek shoved a piece of cloth into his mouth to stop the screaming.

  He turned through muffled screams towards the man who had just cut off his ear, wiping his blade before sheathing it. “It seems you are lucky. I only cut the top, but I will put it down to kindness. Play games with me one more
time and there will be no more kindness.”

  Reilek removed the cloth from Rhen’s mouth, which Rhen quickly placed on his ear to stem the bleeding that had now stained his clothes.

  “Okay, okay, I will tell you what I know,” he blurted out. There’d be little room for keeping secrets from this man, towering over him. Maybe enough misdirection and…“When we left Mhir, all I knew was that the Dawn Shield would be worth a small fortune. Wait!” he shouted as Reilek took a step closer, showing his frustration, “Then Yaren told me that it was the Caranaum of Euphyria. I swear to you, I have no idea what that is, only that perhaps the value has gone up.”

  Rhen didn’t dare break eye contact with the man, unsure how much Reilek had heard that night. He continued, trying to move the topic away from why he sought the Dawn Shield. “Then Reilek, as he was about to kill me said that the Dawn Shield was not for a Karzarki, and he said something I didn’t understand. Mal-”

  Reilek suddenly launched his foot into Rhen’s side, winding him, the pain ripping through him. He screamed in breathless silence, only able to channel his hatred towards Reilek.

  “You knew damn well what it was before you set out. You kept your own friend in the dark, ever playing the fool. I will not tolerate your lies and misdirection in front of the Commander.”

  Reilek stood back, allowing for the Commander to mete out his orders. The Commander turned back towards his makeshift table, picking it up from the ground. “Let me tell you what you need to know. I am Reisch Elestan. I am commander of the Elsgard here, and you are my prisoner. You will lead us to the Dawn Shield, and in return I will guarantee your life, no more. Remember, we only need you alive, not whole, to take us there. I suggest you make peace with this fact, else you and I will have a long journey ahead of us. You are dismissed.” And with that, Commander Reisch turned and disappeared into his tent.

  Suddenly Rhen wished that he had never strayed from the merchants back in the Desari Desert. If only he had carried on with them instead of leaving them at the oasis. If only he continued to Desaris with the merchants and made it back safely to Braest to tell his father that he would not be travelling to Tannis. He could have gone off to study, or if he had saved up some money, hired some bodyguards if he still wanted adventure…

  His mind was abruptly brought back by Reilek, who, seeing as though it was just the two of them, stepped close enough to breathe down Rhen’s neck and said, “I will treat you fairly on my honour, for you were friends with Yaren. But, you say anything unnecessary about what is asked of you, including what I said to you back there, and I will gut you where you stand, consequences be damned.”

  “What was Yaren to you?” Rhen asked, defiantly looking into Reilek’s eyes.

  Reilek paused for a second, before giving his reply. “Your saviour,” he said, “and someone who walked my path.” Then Reilek picked up the map and left to join Reisch Elestan in the command tent.

  Rhen could not hide the bewilderment written all over his face. This was not where he had planned to be, this was not the company he had planned to have. At least, he tried to think rationally, not yet. But until he had figured out his next move – if he had a next move - he was a prisoner.

  The wind had picked up, more befitting for the season, sending a shiver down his spine. No one had told him where he was to sleep, and he was not going to ask. Instead, he made his way over to the campfire. He noticed his ear had stopped bleeding from holding the cloth over it, though the pain had gone nowhere. He noticed Kiern standing by the fire, so he sat on the opposite side as far away as possible.

  Kiern made his way over and sat down right next to him. “So tell me, why does Karzark seek the Dawn Shield?” Rhen responded with silence. “Fine. Tell me about The Sin.” Silence again.

  “Then I’ll tell you about The Sin. You’ve been lied to. Your ancestors have been lied to. Our Goddess, Yelia, did not destroy that which she made to absolve the Harbingers of the Calamity of their sin. She did it to teach us a lesson.”

  Rhen broke his silence. Fine, I’ll bite. “So what, you’re saying that Yelia tore up the land while the Elders still existed alongside the Catalysts of Change, to teach us a lesson about destroying the Elders? Yelia is indeed all powerful but I don’t think predetermination is the best way to go about demanding forgiveness when the act hasn’t happened. Don’t you find that a little too convenient for you Yaleans’ Wrath? Seems quite logical to call it an anachronistic corruption.”

  Rhen could tell that Kiern was not used to debating the nature of Yelia. It wasn’t just his deliberate use of words that could have strained Kiern’s Euphyrian, but just by looking at Kiern’s face he could tell that it was a new experience.

  “If that’s what you think, I’m surprised that Karzark ever managed to learn to read and write. Have you ever seen a map? Your corner of the world was nearly thrown off into the sea altogether. If only she had been a little angrier then perhaps I wouldn’t be here talking to the likes of you.”

  “You don’t have to. Feel free to piss off.”

  Kiern shook his head. “No, I need to. The Sin is a virus that infects your body, but it isn’t part of it. And it’s wrong. You call The Wrath convenient, because the Elders were still alive? Yeah, they were. And it doesn’t strengthen your side in the slightest. The Elders still existed and the destruction wrought is interpreted as a sign of encouragement? How convenient that the victors decided that rather than Yelia’s wrath being attributed as an attempt to stave off the Harbingers and their Youngers, that it was a sign from Yelia to conquer and destroy the two great civilisations of her own creation that had existed for countless centuries without any other recorded incident of such destruction. Seems quite logical to call it another charasmic corruption.”

  Rhen snickered to himself at the limitation of the daft Yalean’s Euphyrian, but kept his sense of superiority inside his head.

  “Yelia could have easily wiped Karzark off the map, deep below the waves. If she indeed wanted to save the Elders, she could have. She did not, despite her omniscience. Instead, she left us a tremendous task to overcome. If we were to rule, we needed legitimacy. What better way to prove that than by overcoming a task set by the Goddess herself?”

  Kiern scoffed as he threateningly took out a blade. “The sickness perhaps runs too deep. Perhaps it can only be cut out. Do you fools really believe that? I mean honestly. If you were born a Euparyen, would you really think that to be the truth? She tore the world asunder to make us repent for the deaths of the Elders, that we may ask forgiveness for our ancestors’ sins; that we condemn Kalecenes, Tolsa, Misral and Relices, whom upon their foolish quest took away the future this land held.”

  “Oh, piss off. You can’t win with reason, so you become a brute. You think you know the half of it, Yalean? You know nothing of The Sin, and nothing of Kallix, Tulsa, Mishval and Relik. The Catalysts of Change. Yelia did not make us strong to simply cower away from our future by looking to the past. The Calamity is ours to overcome, to prove ourselves worthy of justly ruling Cerenea.” He turned to the fire. He knew even if Kiern wanted to, he could not hurt him. He’d already be dead, otherwise.

  “Alas, Karzark would destroy this land’s future by ignoring the echoes of the past. Karzark foolishly seeks to bring forth a second Calamity.”

  “Think what you want,” barked Rhen, as he turned to walk anywhere but here.

  -------------------------------------

  Yelia had wept for her eldest children, for she had made them with all her love. The elders, she had thought, would guide the younger brothers, and teach them to live in harmony. But it was the Youngers, who had been moulded with such ambition, such destructive ambition, that they had conquered the very heartland of their siblings.

  Kiern

  Dawn ushered in grey, menacing clouds, looking as though they would unleash their cargo before midday. At least it would wash away any evidence they left on the land last night, thought Kiern, as he finished chewing on a piece of smoked p
ork.

  As the tents were being packed away into their carts, he spotted the original owner of his breakfast, curled up by the fire that was now reduced to embers. He had chosen to rough it out rather than use the furs that Kiern had so graciously laid out for him. Foolish, thick-skulled Karzarki lordling. That is exactly what I would have done.

  After camp had been mostly cleared, Commander Reisch signalled for Kiern to come over. “We’re travelling in two groups, meeting up five days hence outside Rulven. Reilek will take most of the men and travel light to scout ahead, staying clear of the roads and patrols. We will follow behind, staying on the highway. With horses and carts, we are but a caravan of traders.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Secondly, your charge will have caught a cold during the night. You’re to give up your horse until he has recovered. We need him cooperative and alive.”

  That bastard. “Yes sir.”

  “Prepare to leave the camp. You’re my Second until we reach Rulven. Don’t make me regret it.”

  “Yes sir. Thank you Commander Reisch.” Kiern was glowing. Reisch’s Second. Praise Yelia. He wouldn’t disappoint Commander Reisch. Reisch was a man who had given him his past, and who could offer him a future.

  He saw Reilek and the men he was taking, finishing up loading their meagre provisions and headed over with a bounce in his step.

  “Congratulations on your promotion. Though, don’t get too ahead of yourself. It’s only for a couple of days. I’ll be back in charge before we enter Rulven. Good luck, Kiern. Keep everyone together for when I return.”

  “Who knows, maybe I’ll be so good that you’ll find yourself demoted when we meet up again.”

  “The fates are hardly ever as kind as you want them to be. Now be off.”

  Kiern left, claiming victory in the verbal sparring, and went to check on the three Elsgard whom he had been left in charge of: Derilen, Karrik, and Bairn. His job would be easy, other than having to look after his charge. He wondered if the Karzarki had purposely laid out in the cold just to be that little bit more of a thorn in his side. He was wearing twice as many layers as the Yaleans, and they hadn’t even begun their march north. Were all Karzarkis this weak?