by B. T. Narro
She’d done the same to a vile man who had stormed into the house she’d shared with Leo and Andar. Marcus Dowl was his name; she wouldn’t forget it, or what it felt like to be completely powerless as he’d grabbed her and looked up and down her body.
Rygen was glad to have ridden the world of these people, but she had not enjoyed the act. In fact, it made her sick to remember the feeling of stabbing a dagger into Celia’s chest. She’d had to do it hard enough to break through the woman’s bone. That disgusting thought sent shivers down Rygen’s spine. Her hand had hurt for a while afterward, making it easy to recall all the sensations she’d felt during and after. But that did not compare to the sounds Marcus Dowl had made as Rygen’s beast ravaged his throat.
She’d fallen ill several times in the weeks that had followed, but eventually her strength had returned. She’d been preparing for this day for a while.
Although the capital was her original destination, word had spread across Jatn recently that half of the king’s army was sent to Analyte land to destroy the rift Darren had told his sons and Rygen about the last time he’d come here. All mages had joined these twenty-five thousand troops, meaning Leo and Andar must be with them. They must’ve left from the capital weeks ago, so Rygen wouldn’t be able to catch up to them. She would have to find them once she reached Analyte territory.
As she walked to the city’s edge to meet her driver, she recalled the night Darren had come to tell them about this rift. It had been Andar’s fourteenth birthday, more than three years ago now. Darren had made the expanding rift sound like something serious but that it would be taken care of with ease. Now everyone knew just how dire the situation really was.
It was shortly before Darren’s visit that Rygen had lost her mother. Rygen couldn’t recall exactly what her younger self was like back then, just that she was scared all the time of losing Leo or Andar next. If her memory served correctly, it wasn’t long after Andar’s fourteenth birthday that she’d come home after a difficult day to find a note telling her that Leo and Andar had left, her worst nightmare come true—everyone was gone. Leo had made it seem like they would be back soon, but they had trained for forty long months before Leo returned for his all too brief visit.
She would now travel across most of Aathon to be with him again. She would help him and his family destroy the rift. Rygen felt like every year she’d lived was in preparation for this. She had learned how to control Esitry and bring a summoned creature through to her realm. She had killed, though she wasn’t proud of it. She would one day meet Erisena, the master summoner who had organized rebels against the king. It was so they could one day replace Mavrim with someone who actually cared about destroying the rift. Rygen would cherish every lesson that she was taught in Analyte land. With Leo at her side, she would finally be home, a feeling she hadn’t felt since Leo and Andar had left to join the army.
She didn’t know what might become of her and Leo. She had to be aware that they didn’t know each other as well as they used to when they were growing up together. But she knew what she felt when she thought of him, and when she remembered the way his strong arms had wrapped around her. She was excited to get to know him again, and to possibly feel his lips again.
Soon she would be riding away from this city and might never return. She’d wanted to diminish the power of the nasty farm master, Rhenol, before leaving, but no safe plans had come to mind. She knew she could easily kill him with her trusted knife, and Jin at her side, but she might be caught afterward. Besides, she wanted nothing to do with killing ever again if she could help it.
Rygen hadn’t spoken to the guild master of the Bookbinding Guild, Gartel, in quite some time. It felt a little strange not to say goodbye to him, for he used to at least pretend to care for her like a daughter. But the goodbye itself would be even more strange. He might not recognize her anymore, for her appearance had changed greatly in the past few years.
The last friend she had remaining in the city was Leo’s aunt, Yune Quim, or as Rygen had gotten to know her, Miqu Yenu. Rygen had told Miqu of her plan to leave and was right to assume beforehand that Miqu would rather stay here than take the dangerous journey with Rygen.
Rygen cared for the older woman, but she was not at all like her brother, Darren. Miqu didn’t work just to provide for Rygen. She cared too greatly about her own comfort and safety. She rightfully told Rygen she would just burden Darren and his sons with her presence, but Miqu had also added a few statements that had bothered Rygen and caused her to say goodbye sooner than planned.
“It is not safe for you, little Rygen, to travel alone. Please do not do this. They will come back for us eventually, and then we can all go wherever we want together.”
Rygen was little, sure, but she could defend herself just fine. Miqu had no idea what Rygen had done so far, but she did know one thing.
“I have Jin,” Rygen had reminded Miqu. “I will be fine.”
Miqu had frowned. “I don’t mean to insult you, sweet thing. It’s just important for you to know. You are very beautiful. You remember what I taught you about many of the men in this world, don’t you?”
“I do.”
“Then you should not choose to leave with one.”
“There are no women who take carriages out of the city. Just come with me. You may not be able to contribute to the destruction of the rift, but they will still be happy to have you there.”
“Rygen…the men of the army are men just the same. You’ve seen how town guards here in Jatn can behave toward women like us. Soldiers can be even worse. Neither of us will be safe there. We may even put Leo and Andar in danger by forcing them to stand up for us. It is not our place.”
It isn’t your place, but it is mine.
They had argued for some time before Rygen had finally left. They had not hugged. Rygen could do a lot more good joining Leo than she could here, but Miqu couldn’t. She had already taught Rygen everything she knew about Esitry, which Rygen had used over the years to improve her ability. There was nothing left for her in Jatn.
Her mother would live on in Rygen’s heart no matter where Rygen went, so she did not want to ever go back to Jatn if she could help it.
Rygen met a man named Willven just outside Jatn. He would take her east. Willven was much older than Rygen, probably around Miqu’s age of early thirties. He didn’t have a particularly kind face, but his clothes were clean and his hair was kempt. Rygen wasn’t sure she could trust him, but at least he made an effort to smile and appear professional when he spoke to her about the trip.
His father, who’d died recently, had owned this horse and wagon, he’d told her. Willven was now trying to keep his father’s business going. Rygen had met him in the market as the man looked for someone who wanted to travel to another city. He had been enthusiastic about taking Rygen to the Analyte capital, or perhaps it was the six gold coins she’d offered him. He wanted three when the trip began and three when she arrived, but she’d talked him down to accepting one after the first day of travel, and one other coin paid after each week on the road. If they arrived sooner than six weeks, she would pay him the remaining coins then.
She’d warned him afterward that she knew how to defend herself and wouldn’t hesitate to do so if he tried anything. He seemed to be insulted by the insinuation and told her he would never harm anyone except to protect himself.
He offered his hand now as she met him again with her bag on her back. “Always a pleasure, Rygen,” he said with a small bow.
“Thank you, Willven. Let’s go.” She started toward the wagon, but he hurried to open the door for her.
“That’s not necessary,” she said.
“It’s my pleasure,” he repeated.
She didn’t let her guard down as she watched him carefully while he climbed up and sat on the driver’s seat. With a little shake of the reins and a “hyaa,” the horse started moving.
Rygen had never been on a wagon or even on a horse. A smile broke out upon her
lips as the breeze brushed against her face and made her hair dance. She suppressed the smile as Willven turned back. He didn’t say anything, though, just smiled at her and then looked ahead. She was on guard after that and did not grin again.
The long minutes turned into hours, and Rygen soon found herself relaxing while Willven kept his eyes ahead. She was glad he didn’t speak much. Something about him made her uncomfortable.
When they reached the hills outside Jatn, the horse began to huff and sweat but made it up the first hill. Willven then stopped the horse. He unfastened the reins as he got out.
“I need to let my horse rest after that climb,” he said as he tied the reins to a tree. He watched Rygen a little too intently when he should’ve been focused on his task.
Rygen had stopped wondering if men more than twice her age could feel attraction toward her. Now it was just a matter of recognizing it. There was no doubt in her mind that Willven did, though he had hidden it well until now at least.
Rygen was somewhat comforted to feel the holster of her dagger against her leg. Part of her wanted to take it out to show this man that she was ready to defend herself, but a louder voice told her to keep it hidden. Revealing your only weapon is foolish when you’ll be sleeping near this man.
They’d only ridden for half a day, but she’d never been this far outside the city. She wondered how small the impoverished city would look from out here. She went back toward the slope.
Jatn appeared tiny, as she suspected. If she had a spyglass, she could probably make out all the different districts. The only one she could recognize from here was the market in the middle, which just looked like an open circle among many short buildings.
She gasped as she witnessed something terrible. A horde of—what were they?—was coming from the south.
“Do you have a spyglass!” she yelled in a panic.
Willven ran over as he fetched one out of his bags. He looked through it. “Gods, they look like barbarians.”
“Let me see.”
He handed the spyglass to her. There had to be tens of thousands of them! Men and women in fur and armor. They did seem to be barbarians from what Rygen had heard of them. The barbarians usually lived on a small continent south of Aathon. They were savages, Rygen had heard, sometimes sailing north to pillage the small towns in human territory. The human cities were usually safe, however, but the barbarians must’ve found out about half of the king’s army marching east.
This mass of savages would be in Jatn by tomorrow morning. The citizens wouldn’t be able to see them coming until it was too late. The southern hills provided too good a cover.
“We have to go back and warn them!” Rygen handed the spyglass to Willven and headed toward the carriage.
The driver didn’t move as he showed Rygen a confused expression.
“Come on!” she yelled.
“You must be mad. Don’t you know what barbarians do to girls like you?”
“We’ll make it there before them. Let’s go!”
“We might make it back with enough time to warn a few people, but those same people will take my horse and carriage and leave us to die. I’m not going back there.”
“No, we can save so many of them if we leave now! You can’t be so cold.”
“I am not cold. I’m sane.”
“You’re a coward is what you are!” Rygen jumped out of the wagon with her pack in hand. “I’ll run back.”
“You’ll never make it in time without a horse. Just keep going east with me.”
“I will make it.”
She was just starting to run when he grabbed her from behind.
“What are you—?” she started to ask, but the tip of a knife pressed against her throat.
“Don’t move,” he growled.
She froze. There’s no time for whatever he has planned. She wanted to call Jin to help her get this man away, but the act of opening a rift took time and concentration. As soon as Willven realized she was a summoner, he might cut her throat.
“You’re going to slowly take out your money pouch from wherever it’s hidden.”
“Jatn is about to be taken by barbarians, and you only care about stealing my gold coins?”
“Just do it, Rygen.”
Anger took control for a moment. How dare he use her name, as if he knew her…as if this was personal.
She reminded herself that Miqu and Gartel were still in Jatn. They needed her help. She lifted up her leg to grab and turn over her shoe. Her coin purse fell into her other hand. She held it up for Willven to take.
“Now let me go,” she demanded.
“You’re still thinking of running back there?”
She would’ve started already if he hadn’t kept holding the knife to her throat.
“The barbarians have horses, Rygen. Don’t get yourself killed.”
“What do you care?” she seethed. “I’m leaving now.”
He pressed his forearm tight against the top of her chest. His blade dug into her throat, the pain causing her to squirm.
“Stop moving, Rygen.”
“Stop using my name!” she yelled.
“You will stay here with me a little longer.”
She swallowed in fear as she realized what he still wanted. No. He can’t be so cruel.
“You already have all my coin,” she pleaded. “Please, just let me go.”
“I don’t ever see a young woman as pretty as you, Rygen.” His head came over her shoulder for a look down at her chest. She thought to strike him, but she was frozen with panic. He stepped back again.
“Take off your dress.”
“Please, no.”
“Just do it quick. I only want a look.”
You lie.
“Willven,” she tried. “We know each other. You are not this kind of man.”
That gave him pause. His grip loosened for a moment, then came back tighter than ever.
“If you speak again, I’m going to run this blade across your neck. I’ll do what I want with you as you bleed, or you can listen to what I say and live. Run back to Jatn and get yourself killed if you want. I don’t care. First take down your dress.”
Her breath was fierce as anger almost made her spin around and attempt to claw his eyes out. She had no doubt, though, that he would kill her if she did, but at least she could do some serious damage to him first. She would bring Jin through to finish him off as she bled…but she would be dead. She would never meet Erisena. She would never see the Analyte land. She would never be with Leo again.
She calmed herself as she thought of a plan. She dropped one side of her dress from her shoulder. Feigning whimpers of sadness, she slowly peeled down the other side of her dress. She let it fall far enough to expose the top of her bosom, where she had to stop herself. She could feel Willven’s disgusting breath on her neck as he looked down over her shoulder. It smelled like rancid meat. She gagged as his full stink entered her nose, the sweat on his shirt slopping against her bare back.
Her stomach turned in disgust as a great sense of vulnerability came over her. She felt as if she would die inside if she exposed anymore of herself. Anger returned with force. He thinks he can take advantage of girls like me just because he likes the way I look? Why were some men like this?
Because they had never been punished for their actions!
She reached her breaking point when she felt his hard manhood press against the small of her back.
“Keep going,” he urged. “Or I will kill you.”
No, I will kill you!
He was so distracted by her body that she had time to wind up and get her whole torso into an elbow strike to his most sensitive area. The agony of his scream was a terrible sound, as if he might die from the pain.
Rygen didn’t have time to let him suffer, as much as she wanted to. He had reeled back and hunched over himself, but anger was starting to cross his face as Rygen drew the blade from her leg holster, as she had practiced many times.
His
expression as he looked up showed he would kill her, but it changed to shock and fear as she drove her knife into his head. He fell back, his arms sprawled, and lay motionless.
Rygen screamed at him, cursing him with fury.
“You made me do this to you! You’re a disgusting degenerate!” She knew he was dead and couldn’t hear her, but she couldn’t stop yelling anyway. “I gave you all my money. I would’ve let you live, but you had to take away my dignity!”
She could feel her creature, Jin, wishing to come to her realm to help her. She didn’t know why she opened a rift for him to use—her enemy was already dead—but she did so anyway. Jin ran over to Willven’s corpse, snarling as if ready to bite, but he stopped and looked back at Rygen. She stomped over and kicked the dead man, screaming as she fell and beat out her aggression against his chest.
She stopped only when exhaustion overcame her. Nausea followed. She held back her breakfast as she pulled the knife out of his skull. Stumbling back, she had just enough strength to turn away from his body as she fell and began to cry.
She dropped the bloody knife as she wept. She wanted to pick it up again because she felt so vulnerable without it, but she didn’t have the strength. The feeling of breaking through the vile man’s skull was etching into her soul. She would never forget it, just as she would never forget what it was like to kill the two others.
Jin came over to nuzzle against her. He whimpered in sympathy. She cried for some time before she finally had the strength to sit up.
Rygen forced herself to focus on her courage as she saw the barbarians approaching Jatn. She wiped the blade on the grass and sheathed it, then she walked over to Willven. His gaping mouth and bloody scalp made her want to cry again, but she held onto herself. She would get through this feeling. It was just that—a feeling. It made her weak in the knees, made her stomach turn upside down, but that’s because she was still alive. She had won again, and she wouldn’t let this disgusting man continue to agonize her even in death.