by Dilland Doe
Theto closed his eyes before opening them. He clenched his fists. “Uncle, we’ll make double the pay if I come. I won’t let the east advance. I wanna help.”
Hibb scrunched his face. “The high pay is for wizards. You’re not a wizard yet.”
“Teach me a few things, I can help.”
Hibb shook his head. “On Themeno’s name I won’t let you fight until you are rigorously trained. An untrained wizard in battle is like a cow to the slaughterhouse.”
The chatter in the inn filled their silence. Hibb smiled. “Let’s get some food in us. I bet the wait is forever. You’ll stay here and rest for a few days while I get this job done.”
#
Hibb arrived at the small keep next to town, then approached the stable with his horse. A wooden palisade surrounded it, with guards in wooden watch towers and at the entrance. They wore fine mail, probably given to them by The Authority. A stable boy stood in front of the guards, watching Hibb.
After dismounting, Hibb stretched the reins to the boy. “Here ya go!”
The boy didn’t take them. “Sir, your mercenary card?”
“Of course!” Hibb pretended to search his pockets, then the saddlebags, then underneath the owl even through there was no place for anything to be hidden there. He gave the boy an embarrassed smile. “Darn it. Looks like I misplaced it. I’m obviously a wizard.” he created an illusion of a dancing gnome in front of the boy.
The boy’s mouth opened in a smile, but he still didn’t take the reins.
A guard from behind spoke in a gruff voice. “No card, no stable. This is a military operation. Leave or be arrested.”
Hibb muttered curses under his breath as he stomped away, then whispered, “A card just for the stable? C’mon!”
He walked out of sight of the stable, then tied up the horse around a tree.
Hibb touched his right nipple through his shirt and created the guttural laugh that accessed Leos power. It flowed through him from the other side, energizing him with inhuman energy. He thought of his body, saw his body, then thought of a mouse and willed the change. His vision quickly dropped below the horse, then all went dark as his shirt covered him. He crawled out of the shirt through an armhole, then scurried to the keep.
#
Hibb snuck into the grey keep, as quiet as a mouse. And, actually as a mouse. A mass of mercenaries wearing a hodgepodge of armors and robes, while carrying an assortment of weapons, waited behind a wooden platform that had steps on all sides of it.
A grey-haired man with a large angular scar on his right cheek stepped upon the platform. Everyone watched, awaiting the mission. Hibb hid near the back, and transformed into his human self. It seemed a little colder than he remembered. With all the body heat in the keep, he would have thought he’d feel warmer.
The man spoke in a rugged voice. “Mercenaries of The Divinity, time is against us.” He scanned the mostly men below him. “Our army preemptively struck against the heretical King Leekhan, taking his best castle with ease. But now our brave warriors are trapped in enemy territory surrounded by a horde of eastern mercenaries. Our job is to rescue them.”
Hibb noticed a few men to his left staring at him. He gave them a ‘sup?’ nod.
They smiled awkwardly while glancing at eachother. As the leader explained the composition of the enemy forces, one of these men said to Hibb, “Why are you naked?”
Hibb jerked his head back, then glanced down at his pudgy, white skin that shined into the morning for all to see. As a mouse, I left all my clothes behind. Crap! He looked at the men. “This is how I fight. It intimidates the enemy.”
They chuckled. More mercenaries looked at Hibb. A small commotion grew, then the leader stopped speaking and stared. “What’s going on over there?”
Someone yelled, “A fat guy is here in his birthday suit!”
“What? Get him out of here!”
People around him hesitated, scanning his bare body.
“Wait!” Hibb said, “I can save that army!” He strode toward the front of the crowd. Everyone shuffled away, creating a wide path.
As he reached the front, someone from behind the platform stepped forward. “Sir! I interviewed this man and rejected him for his lack of shape and combat abilities.”
The leader’s eyes narrowed. “Then how in The Divinity’s power did he get in here?”
Hibb stood up straight, ignoring the rude comments that spread about his not so fit looking buttocks. “Promise me twenty times the normal pay if I return with the trapped army single handedly.”
Shaking his head, the leader said, “We don’t have time for your games.”
Hibb faced his fingers toward each other and twisted his hands back and forth, making his fingers blur together while releasing an airy whistle form his lips. He carefully showed the light of what was directly on the other side of him in all directions, making him appear invisible. Only the best illusionists in the world could perform this. Most could only make parts of the body disappear, or only do it for people viewing from certain angles.
The crowd around him gasped. Some people applauded. The applause grew as the roar of a great dragon boomed from above. Everyone ducked and yelled as the strafing beast, wings out wide, dipped into the keep. It blasted fire down the center of the gathered mercenaries.
People on the sides dashed for the walls, those in the center laid with their hands over their heads. A few crossbow bolts and colorful blasts of fire, ice, and arcane magic shot after the dragon, which flew away. Hibb magically enhanced his voice to make it boom throughout the keep. “I may be the number one illusionist in the world! Give me a chance! If I’m not back in three days with the trapped army, pay me nothing. If I am back, pay me twenty-fold! Hire these men for defense in case the enemy attack while your army is trapped.”
Hibb ended the illusion. Men glanced around the sky while partially ducked, then cautiously stood and returned to their positions.
The leader remained squatting, scanning the scattered clouds, before standing and staring at Hibb with wide eyes. “If you’re such a great illusionist, then why not create the appearance of clothes!?”
Hibb’s jaw dropped. He muttered, “Yeah, that’s actually a good idea. Didn’t think of that.”
He stood in silence for a moment. The crowd of mercenaries stood where they had before, not making a sound.
The leader jerked his head forward. “Well, are you gonna make yourself have clothes?”
Hibb shrugged his shoulders. “Meh. You’ve already seen ma bodae.”
The man sighed, shaking his head into an open palm. Hibb waited patiently.
The man looked at him, then to the sky with both palms open and facing upward. “Fine.” He focused on Hibb. “You have three days.”
The crowd made way as Hibb walked toward the exit.
The leader said, “The rest of you are no longer needed.”
“Ahhhh c’mon!” The mercenaries let out moan.
The leader chuckled. “For your time, I’ll provide one round of biscuits and ale for everyone!”
The keep exploded in cheer.
Naked, Hibb walked out of the fortification and toward his clothes, horse, and communicators. Determination flowed through his body as he knew he may soon die. One man versus a whole army was never an easy thing. This is gonna be really hard. I really should have asked for more money.
Ch. 28
The wooden steps creaked as Theto descended down them. I should be helping. It’s a fight against infidels and a job to support myself and my uncle. Hibb shouldn’t be doing this alone.
He sighed before entering the inn and consciously removing his glum expression.
He ordered eggs and water from the same barkeep he saw the night before.
He stared into space, trying to imagine how his uncle would fight in a battle. Theto failed to imagine a scenario where Hibb wasn’t beheaded or had his guts ripped out. Shaking his head, Theto whispered, “The Divinity protect him.”
Someone sat next to him as the barkeep approached the newcomer. “I’ll have eggs with triple X hot sauce,” she said.
Triple X! In the morning?
He looked at the girl. Oh The Divinity. It’s her…
He stared for a few seconds before turning away. Don’t stare, play it cool, Theto. Play it cool.
He faced her. “It’ll take an extra cool mouth to take some triple X first thing in the morning.”
Looking at him, she scrunched her face. Then smiled. “Hey, from the sedeux match.”
“Yeah! What a coincidence running into you in a random river land. Heh. That riot was pretty crazy.”
She rolled her eyes. “Sedeux boys and their riots. That sport has killed more people than some battles.”
“Sedeux is life to some people,” Theto said. “Heh, it used to be life to me.”
“Oh yeah? What changed?”
Theto paused. “Uuuuh. Nothing. I mean. I just been busy traveling and all.”
She stared at him seriously. “I know who you are, Theto. Don’t worry, I’m not gonna turn you in.”
How?
“You think all Hyzantria doesn’t know about the sedeux stars on the run for maleficence?”
Theto didn’t know how to respond. “Well, shoot. I guess I was kind of a star.” He gave his best, handsome and cocky smile.
She shook her head.
“I’ve seen you at two matches,” he said, “so you must not think it’s that silly.”
Locking eyes with him, she smirked.
They chatted on and off as they ate, then finished at about the same time. Theto didn’t want to spend all day sitting in his room, and he certainly wanted to see more of his future wife.
After placing a few coins on the bar for his meal, he tapped his fingers a few times. “I’m in town for a day or two. You wanna hang out?”
She nodded while leaving a few coins on the bar as well. “Yeah.” She jumped off the stool. “Follow me.”
He followed her outside where she strode along the edge of the road, keeping a brisk pace.
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see soon enough.”
They walked outside the town toward a series of tents filled with mercenaries training, drinking, and laughing.
She approached a line of weapons leaned against a crude wooden rail, then tossed him a sword and grabbed another for herself. He reached for the flying weapon, catching it awkwardly as it almost tumbled out of his grasp.
Staring at the sword, he said, “I don’t know how to fight.”
Shrugging, she said, “Let’s see what you got. You’re on the run from dangerous forces, you should know how to protect yourself.”
She moved in, then swung her blade.
Theto barely got his sword up in time before her impact knocked it away. “Holy crap, wait.”
She didn’t. He had no trust in his sword abilities, dodging left, right, and down.
“You’re gonna die, Theto.” She threw her sword into the ground. “Come at me.”
“Huh?”
She dashed toward him. He moved to avoid her, but she was on him. She twisted his wrist, then tore the sword from him before sweeping with her legs. Theto crashed into the ground. Breathing heavily, he stared at his own sword pointing at his neck.
The Divinity, what’s going on?
She lifted the weapon, then put both swords back where she found them. He lay, watching her, afraid to move as she approached him.
Standing over him, she smiled. “That was fun.”
Theto stared in shock for a moment before levity flashed through him. He laughed. She did too as she helped him up.
Giggling, they walked back toward town.
She looked into his eyes. “Seriously though, you have no idea how to protect yourself.”
He stopped walking. She did as well, awaiting his response.
“Well, I was thinking about becoming a wizard.”
She nodded. “Do it.”
He gazed at her sweet, green eyes, then smirked. “You’re so dominant.”
She blew air out her nose. “You like it?”
“Yeah, I kinda do.”
“I have a present for you, young wizard.”
She reached into her pants.
Theto’s heart fluttered. Oh, The Divinity.
She pulled out a small gerbil.
“That was in your pants?”
Laughing, she said, “An inside pocket. It’s fashionable in some parts.”
“Okaaaay.”
She held the creature toward him. “This is a communicator. It’s connected to the high being Proteen. He’s easy to use to put up strong defense barriers. You’ll need this if you wanna live.”
A voice came from the creature. “Yo. Every wizard who ever used me just kinda reacted to danger and it worked. Man, I be easy to use! But let’s be clear. I help you cuz she says so. I’m not your little servant.”
Theto nodded. “Got it.”
#
Theto and the girl had dinner together at a little place near of the edge of town. The corn and turkey meal satisfied his stomach while her beautiful face heightened his desire, and her mind enlightened him with discussions on sedeux, local politics, and food.
They then stood outside the restaurant. The setting sun lightened the sky with reds and pinks. She stepped close to him. Theto lost his breath. She reached toward his chest while gazing into him. As he moved his own arms to touch her, she cupped the gerbil in his shirt pocket.
“Theto. Always carry Proteen’s communicator with you, and if you’re in trouble, just react. It will work.”
She spun around and strode away.
“Wait, what?”
She kept walking, her light hair bouncing with each step. The muscles of her thin, tone back showed through her shirt.
“You’re leaving?”
She stopped and faced him. “I must go. With a little luck, we’ll meet again.”
With a little luck? But I love yo.? He stared at her in silence as she walked away. His mouth still salivated from the kiss he thought he’d have. I do love her…her…what’s her name?
Ch. 29
Hibb traveled by horseback across the border, disguised as a wandering cow. He thought the giant bell that rang as he walked was a nice touch. He got assurances from both his high beings that they would be available, for if they flaked out on him, he’d be dead.
Because of the directions given to him by his employer, he expected the besieged castle to come into sight soon. Other than a few scouts, Hibb hadn’t seen enemy forces yet.
Two horses galloped toward him. The light spears, dyed clothing, and darker skin of the riders indicated that these were not troops outfitted by an eastern empire; they were members one of these empires’ elite cavalry. Strips of colorful cloth streamed behind the spears in a curve—connected at just below the spears’ heads and at their ends. The wind fluttered similar cloth connected to the horsemen’s clothing and headwear.
The men slowed as they reached Hibb. Then, circled around him. They yelled as their horses stomped the ground.
Hibb kept plodding forward. Why are they bothering me? I’m just a wandering cow.
More shouting and stomping sounded from behind Hibb as the cavalrymen followed him. Galloping hooves raced toward him from his rear, then blew past on both sides.
Hibb ignored it. Man, I’m just a cow, walking down the road. Leave me alone!
Hibb figured they were from Lssssshhhhhhka, the southern eastern empire, due to the little images of a desert fox on their streaming cloths.
The men pulled up behind Hibb again, speaking to each other in Oooookhhhhhhhsh—the language of the east. It sounded like a series of rising and lowering tones. It made no sense to Hibb.
Riding beside him, their heads at the butt of the cow, in real life Hibb’s horse, the easterners stared at Hibb.
Hmmmm, maybe they just wanna eat me… maybe a cow illusion wasn’t the best idea. Yeah, probabl
y should have gone with something people don’t like to herd and eat. Come to think of it, I’ve never seen a cow just walking down the road, especially one that doesn’t react to attempts at herding… crap.
The man on the right lifted his spear, ready to slap the cow, Hibb’s horse, in the butt. Hibb produced a few growling noises.
“Huhuwaaa?” The men looked at each other.
Then Hibb released Leo’s magic. Both their horses shrunk while their jaws shortened and fur poofed out, turning into muskrats. As the easterners fell to the ground, Hibb jerked his reins and his mount took off.
After losing the cavalry turned footmen, Hibb veered off the road before heading again toward the besieging army. He made himself and his horse invisible. Part of his mind remained focused on showing the light, and therefore the images, of what was directly on the other side of him. This took a lot of mental power, but Hibb knew he had to do it. Those cavalrymen would run to their camp soon, and people would be looking for him.
Hibb dismounted. He wanted his horse to have plenty of energy in case they needed to sprint home. He stared at a large ant pile as he and his horse walked along. Lots of big piles here. He walked up to one, then kicked it. Dirt flew and ants swarmed from the ground, running all over each other looking for an enemy to bite and sting.
Hibb saw another pile and kicked that one too, laughing. Stupid ants.
He kicked a few more piles until he saw the small, grey castle made of different sized stones. The enemy army was there, but it wasn’t much of a siege. A handfull of local forces stood around wearing shiny chainmail and carrying spears that must have been provided by an eastern empire.
Most of the enemy who surrounded the castle in scattered tents were Lssssshhhhhhka cavalry. There was no siege equipment in sight, so the eastern empire appeared prepared to wait out the trapped army.
I guess there wasn’t much urgency after all, assuming there’s lots of food in that castle.
He narrowed his eyes, then whispered, “Alright, let’s do this.”