Tane saw a lot of activity in and around Kestsax. The opposite shore of the river looked packed with refugees returning. He suspected more than half were freed zombies. People filled the roads all around the city, most moving away, heading home. His family could be down there.
The warhawks fell into a line, Tane’s bird leading. They started circling the city. His rider said he was waiting for permission to land. Kestsax had a small warhawk cote, which remained empty. Not a lot of warhawk riders visited the city. So he didn’t understand why they couldn’t just land.
“There,” the rider said, pointing down to a signalman with two small white flags.
Tane looked around the city. It looked so much smaller from above like that. The streets were full of people, but he noticed a lot of homes and other wooden structures were blackened ruins. All of the stone structures appeared to be intact.
The signalman stood atop a tower, whipping those two flags around in a specific way. Tane understood it was a form of communication between ships, but hadn’t known that warhawk riders used flags, too.
“We have permission to land in the Royal Plaza.”
He easily located the Royal Plaza, which the Royal Castle opened into across a sickly green moat. The plaza was packed with people, far more densely than any other area of the city. Then he noticed all of the long tables set up.
“What’s going on down there?”
“A feast,” the rider said. “King Borric has declared this a holiday. A day of celebration.”
“What are they celebrating?”
“Life. Freedom.” The rider glanced back with a curious look. “And you.”
“Me?”
“You three are heroes,” he said. “You stopped the Beast. The world owes you a great debt.”
“The Beast? Dakar?”
He nodded. “Most don’t know His name, so call Him the Beast.”
“He was a beast of a God, all right,” Tane muttered, returning his attention to the plaza.
The warhawk started to flap differently, slowing as he dropped from the sky. People were scrambling out of the way. Tane noticed all of the banners decorating the plaza. Kegs were piled up around the edges. No food out as yet.
Glancing at the kegs. “Raven will be happy.”
The warhawks came to a remarkably soft landing, despite how fast they came down. Tane, Raven, and Jessy dismounted with help from the people waiting, and then they watched the warhawks fly away.
Tane noticed Jessy’s eyes were alight as she watched the birds leave.
“Enjoy the flight?” he teased.
“Yes!”
The people of Kestsax pressed in with jubilant faces, clapping them on the back, hugging them, with many in tears as they expressed their thanks and gratitude. Raven managed to get a mug right away, draining it quite fast.
“Ah, that was good,” she said, smacking her lips. “Life is good! Right boys!”
That was met with cheers, and someone pressed another mug into her hands. Tane shook his head and accepted a mug as well. It proved to be watered down beer, but still tasted great.
The men and women all looked happy, yet even their joy couldn’t erase the ordeal they’d endure from their faces. In moments of calm, everyone’s eyes had a wild, haunted look. He prayed they all found ways to heal from what they’d suffered.
Tane made it halfway through a second mug before trumpets sounded from the castle. Shouts of “The King!” echoed through the plaza. He looked at Jessy and Raven. Jessy licked her lips nervously, while Raven continued to laugh and joke with the admiring men surrounding her.
King Borric and Queen Isobeth crossed the drawbridge surrounded by priests and courtiers. Indeed, the drawbridge completely filled up with people by the time the royal couple reached the plaza. And then King Borric stopped, looked around, and smiled.
Tane thought the middle-aged king looked just as gaunt and starved as his subjects. His dark eyes had that same haunted look everyone now had. Well, not the Queen. She was quite young and beautiful. And well-fed. Yet, her blue eyes showed the hell she endured. Tane suspected one of Dakar’s priests took her as a lover, whether she wanted it or not.
“Citizens of Kestsax, this is a joyous day for one and all,” King Borric shouted, his deep rich voice carrying to every corner of the suddenly hushed plaza. “The Beast is vanquished! Killed by the hand of one of our own: Tane Kyleson of Bracklin!”
The people cheered, jumping up and down, some dancing. The king held up his hands for quiet. They settled down after a few minutes.
“Today we will feast on the food the Dakarian priests hoarded for themselves,” he said with a sneer. A low growl came from the crowd. “Today we celebrate our victory, our freedom, and our very lives!”
Again, the citizens of Kestsax exploded with cheers, laughter, and pure joy. Tane, Jessy, and Raven celebrated with them, faces wet with tears. Indeed, there were few dry faces to be seen.
“And to make this day even better, the Heroes of the Land are here with us! Bring them forth, so we may honor them!”
The people cheered, all turning toward Tane, Jessy, and Raven. A wide path opened up between them and King Borric. Tane in the middle, Jessy to his left, Raven to his right, the three of them started walking.
While Raven walked with her head high, a smile on her face, Tane and Jessy stared at the crowd. He’d never seen anything like that. Never dreamed he’d ever be beloved like that. They were the peoples’ heroes.
Not as heroic as they think, he thought, remembering how terrified and miserable he’d been most of the time.
They stopped before King Borric. Queen Isobeth stood to his left rear, a smile on her face as she nodded. He noticed her eyes full of as yet unshed tears. Even the king looked teary-eyed.
“These three heroes, and their three fallen comrades, have our eternal gratitude,” King Borric said. “They saved us all from a miserable fate beyond description.”
“Three sacrificed everything, Your Majesty,” Tane said. “I ask that a monument be raised to honor them. Quinn. Joelle. Armin. Our friends forever.”
“So it shall be done,” King Borric declared. “As well as honor you, Tane Kyleson. Jessy Calvandatter, and…” He leaned forward, lowering his voice. “Is Raven your real name, or a nickname?”
“My real name is Emeraude Johandatter, but I prefer Raven.”
“Emeraude Johandatter!” King Borric continued. “Commonly known as Raven.”
“Good enough,” she whispered.
Queen Isobeth stepped forward, handing the king a gold medal on a bright blue satin ribbon. Tane’s eyes widened as the king turned and smiled at him.
“Tane Kyleson, you honored us all with your service and sacrifice,” King Borric said as he slipped the medal over Tane’s head. “Once the royal treasury is solvent, we will thank you a little more substantially.”
Tane’s head spun out of control. It had never occurred to him that the king himself would give him such an honor. The medal had the look and weight of pure gold. His reaction surprised him as well. He never thought such a thing would make his head spin like that. By the time he regained control of his wits, King Borric had already given Raven and Jessy medals.
They turned to face the crowd, tears flowing down Tane’s face. Everyone was cheering, looking so happy. Raven palmed the medal, before lifting it up and biting it. She nodded, looking satisfied. He just shook his head and grinned.
“Will you come back to Bracklin with us?” he asked Raven.
“No. I have to go check on my friends and family,” she said. “Up north. So after getting drunk tonight, ending up in bed with the wrong man, I’ll take the first ship out tomorrow.”
“I want to be her when I grow up,” Jessy whispered.
“Please don’t,” he said.
“Hey, I’m right here,” Raven said, grinning. “I can hear you.”
Before Tane could reply, the king addressed them again.
“There is more, young man,”
King Borric said. He indicated five priests, each of a different Arisen God.
Kamain’s priest spoke first. “We thought you’d like to know, the Beast died from the wound you inflicted to His heart. Since he died before Quinn, your friend’s soul was released to return to his goddess.”
Raven actual gasped out a sob, dropping her face into her hands. Tane felt such a weight lifted.
“What about Joelle and Armin?”
A priest of Maag nodded. “Their souls were released to Maag. So they are safe with the Goddess.”
Tane thought his knees would give out. He hugged Raven tightly, and they cried together.
“Thank you,” he said.
“One other thing…” Queen Isobeth said, pulling Tane’s eyes toward her. “Last, but definitely not…”
“Momma!” Jessy screamed, and took off running past the king and queen.
Tane’s breath caught when he spotted his uncle and aunt, two of their other children behind them. His heart skipped a beat. Where were the other children? And then he spotted his mother.
“Mother!”
His father stepped out beside her as Tane raced to them. Joseph, Kandy, and Oscar stood with them, all smiling with those haunted eyes. They hugged and cried.
“Thank Kamain you all stayed together.”
“We didn’t, but we all survived,” his father said. “Joseph and Kandy stayed together, and your mother hung onto Oscar despite the trance.”
“Mother’s instincts,” she said.
Everyone was guided to seats at the High Table. Tane found himself sitting next to King Borric, with Jessy next to Queen Isobeth. Raven took a seat far to his right, surrounded by attentive young noblemen.
When it was Tane’s turn to offer a toast, he lifted his mug high. “To life, love, and family!”
THE END
(back to Table of Contents)
Please consider leaving a review on the site where you purchased this story, or comment directly to him via e-mail.
You can contact Warren at:
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Check out these other books by Warren Thomas:
Return to Oz With a Vengeance:
Off to Kill the Wizard
Wrath of a Wonderfully Wicked Witch
War of the Witches
The Elfmaid Trilogy:
The Elfmaid's Curse
Into Lands Forbidden
Way of the Warrior
Belly of the Beast
Adventures of the Randy Elfmaid:
Elfin Magic
Under a Werewolf Moon
Harem of the Orc King
Dreambender Adventures:
Smite
Tania
Raider Girl
About the Author:
Warren Thomas is an IT professional by day and a dreamer by night. While serving a tour of duty with the Army in Germany, he found himself in daily contact with castles, cathedrals, and city walls. His imagination erupted, and he's been writing fantasy adventures ever since.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Belly of the Beast Page 41