“Do not be so sure,” offered Marro still waiting.
Before there could be a response, a large object rose above the cliff and into view. Kaysa gasped and backed away as she laid eyes upon a flying carriage. To Kaysa it resembled a large sailing ship, its entire deck covered with canvas and filled with air. Attached to the bottom of this was a smaller ship that housed a crew. The smaller ship held large spinning blades that moved the ship as the air was filled with a steady, unsettling hum. Kaysa gripped to her quarterstaff as Marro sought out the captain of the vessel with his sharp eyes.
“Vakk,” said Marro with a fire to his voice. “The only thing that would make this reunion better would be to place a bullet into your skull.”
Rising higher than the cliff, Vakk looked down smugly from the deck of his flying craft. “Marro. Traitorborn. I wondered when I would cross paths with you again. It is with no surprise that I find you harboring fugitives. It will simply make killing you more gratifying in the end.”
“Trying to live free of oppression is only a crime in Thorindale. These people have done nothing wrong,” countered Marro.
Vakk pointed to Kaysa. “But they possess the property of our King Thorien. The penalty for such a crime is death. You know this, because you were once one of us,” he stated.
Marro nodded slowly. “I was, yes. It is a blight on my soul that I will never be free of, and the very reason I no longer stand with you. You wouldn’t hold the spine for such endeavors if it weren’t returned by the king for these missions.”
“I am done wasting words with you,” said Vakk to Marro before shifting his attention. “I would speak to the steward of this town to bargain.”
Delegas stepped forward, joining Marro. “I am Delegas, and I speak for my home. What is it that you want?”
Vakk eyed Delegas, evaluating Talcoros’s son with grim scrutiny. “Sir, if you wish to be free of our great king’s judgment, you would be wise to not harbor fugitives. Return them to us at once as well as the seed, and your town will remain unharmed. Anything less than this will garner a swift, merciless response.”
Delegas held up a hand. “The claims of King Thorien hold no jurisdiction here. We are a free people. The seed of Tharador belongs to all creatures and not the selfish whims of a mad king,” he said.
Vakk’s grimness intensified as he nodded slowly. “So be it, Delegas of the cliffs. I am left with no choice but to hold you accountable,” he said before motioning with his hand. “Take them.”
Hearing Vakk's command, Marro drew two of the guns upon his belts and opened fire with them. Vakk ducked swiftly though as his ship rose and the bullets ate savagely into the wooden ship sides. Marro fired repeatedly, filling the cliff with small thunderclaps as Vakk's ship positioned itself above the cliff. Marro then goaded the others to retreat as he covered their escape with his weapons.
"We must return to the town," said Delegas.
"No!" shouted Marro as he reloaded his pistols. "It will not keep you safe long. We must continue forward and be free of this place. Do you have skiffs hidden below?"
"Yes! But without the lift we will be effectively blocked from them," said Delegas.
"Leave that to me," replied Marro as he kept his sights upon the ship above. "We are about to be offered opportunity."
As Vakk's ship maneuvered over the cliff, he shouted an order. Soon soldiers leaped from the ship with defiant battle cries. Pulling at chords upon their packs, canvas spat from them, catching the air and slowing their descent. Kaysa watched as some landed and tugged upon the chords again, observing as the canvas withdrew back into their packs before the soldiers commenced their assault with rifles and swords.
As the ship circled above, unleashing its payload of soldiers, Marro rushed to a cluster with Onzlyn not far behind him. With his reloaded guns, he fired upon the soldiers focusing upon him. Offering support with his rifle, Onzlyn and Marro killed the six soldiers in their proximity. With blood spilt devoutly, six lifeless bodies came to rest on the cliff as Marro and his friend pulled the chords, retracted the canvas and procured the backpacks.
"We must be swift," said Marro as he tossed the packs to those around him. "They will be upon us again in no time."
"You surely do not mean for us to use these contraptions," said Lokus. A growing fear was rising in his voice as he spoke.
"I do, for it is either this risk or certain death," said Marro as he tossed a pack harshly to Lokus. "Now put it on."
With the sounds of fighting around them, the rest gave little resistance to Marro's insistence. Marro and Onzlyn checked the others, ensuring that their packs were secure before Marro headed toward the ledge and further away from the invaders. “Now you must run swiftly and jump. If you do not gain some distance between you and the rocks, they will devour you," he said.
"We are short a pack," said Delegas, pointing to Kaysa.
"That is still my charge," said Marro.
"Marro!" shouted Kaysa, noticing the approach of a squad of soldiers.
Marro drew his guns yet again as he motioned to the cliff. "Onzlyn, get them going. I am covering you!"
Onzlyn led the others as Marro urged Kaysa to remain with him. The elf from Faeth kept his rifle poised, firing upon the approaching soldier. As the others reached the ledge, Onzlyn swiftly caught up, joining them in looking down upon the depths below. Onzlyn quickly secured his rifle upon him as he drew a breath in preparation.
"Do not forget to pull your chords in your fear. That should about cover it," said Onzlyn.
"Are you quite mad?" hissed Vienda in her disbelief.
Onzlyn shrugged as he backed up a few paces. "Only sometimes," he said, before sprinting and leaping off of the cliff.
The others watched breathlessly as Onzlyn began his furious descent. Within seconds, the elf pulled upon the cord on his harness, allowing the canvas within to unfurl once more. Catching the wind, Onzlyn's fall slowed as he maneuvered himself casually. Yet the ease of his efforts did little to comfort those that watched him from above.
"That is madness!" exclaimed Vienda.
"Would you rather we remain?" asked Delegas.
"Surely there is another way," stammered Vienda as she looked over the ledge below again.
"Carried off this cliff dead, I wager," said Delegas as he copied Onzlyn and also jumped.
Vienda backed away from the ledge, pulling Khey with her. As she did so, Lokus followed, remaining close to his friends. Vienda shook at the prospect. "We cannot do this."
Suddenly, the rock near Vienda's foot burst with a flash, prompting the group to flinch. Soon, another followed and the elf warrior was forced to move lest she be hit. As she did so, the others followed, continuing to be pressed to the cliff. With no other choice, the Quenthell natives were goaded to leap off the ledge, screaming to whatever gods would hear them.
Satisfied with their jump, Marro reloaded his pistols. "At last," he said, frustrated he had to use so much ammunition as motivation.
Kaysa ducked as she searched about, the sounds of calamity engulfing her ears. "What about us?" she inquired.
Looking over her shoulder, Marro aimed one of his pistols and fired. Another of Thorindale's soldiers screamed once before going limp in their descent to the cliffs. "Grab that man's harness, Kaysa, and move swiftly," he commanded.
As Kaysa rushed without question, Marro kept her covered. Yet the mercenary's eyes held Vakk's ship in his view, for he knew he and Kaysa's time was waning. Marro could hear Vakk's commands over the sounds of conflict, and his ship was rising as it maneuvered into position. Precious few seconds remained as Marro contended with more approaching soldiers, who were just as dead as he would be in a few moments.
Below Vakk's rising ship, a small compartment opened, revealing a large, metallic canister. At the sight of it, Marro's voice reached Kaysa fiercely. "Hurry, Kaysa! Move faster!"
"I am trying!" replied Kaysa as she fumbled to remove the harness from the slain soldier. Despite her best efforts, the harness would n
ot budge and the canvas had entangled with the soldier as he had fallen.
Kaysa did her best to remain focused with the throes of combat surrounding her. Town defenders and civilians quarreled with Thorindale soldiers in vicious exchanges. Kaysa shuddered at each report of Thorindale's rifles, fearing that she would be claimed. Yet the fury of Marro's assaults somehow kept her safe. Kaysa chanced a glance upward at the hovering ship, seeing what Marro had seen. She watched curiously as the container revealed in the underbelly of the ship unlatched and descended below.
She somehow felt a horrible sense of dread.
Seeing it too, Marro's urgency rose tenfold. "Kaysa! To me! Now!"
It was the look in the mercenary's eyes and the thunder in his voice that elicited Kaysa's full attention. Without hesitance she stood and rushed toward him, feeling the pressings of battle reach out with wanting hands. Kaysa shielded her face as she pushed through the hail of torment, feeling intent and weapons trained upon her. Marro kept his guns unleashing their fury, never relinquishing his defense of Kaysa. Kaysa made the mercenary her only focus as she sprinted faster than she ever had before.
It was then that Kaysa felt the canister hit upon the cliff, for her senses were filled with heat and fire. She could feel as flame, like dark magics, swarmed the cliff, consuming all that it embraced. Soon the cries of friend and foe alike ravaged Kaysa's senses as the heat intensified behind her. The young elf screamed as she pushed even harder. She didn't know what awaited her with Marro, but she would gladly take the death of the fall over the hungry flames that chased her.
"Hurry!" screamed Marro as he put his guns away. The mercenary secured the straps to his procured harness before he extended his arms to Kaysa.
Kaysa realized then his intentions as her eyes widened. Against the heat and scents of the roaring flame, they held one chance. Kaysa's eyes saw nothing now but the elf before her. Yet the heat and licking flames reminded her that one falter would mean agonizing death.
Feeling the flame practically upon her, Kaysa was forced to leap, arms outstretched. Marro braced himself, poised upon the edge of the cliff. Kaysa hoped that it was enough, that she would be spared the torment of the fire. The heat rose from the ground, singing at her boots as her breath caught in her chest.
As her arms met Marro, Kaysa hugged at him fiercely. Taking her in a swift embrace, Marro twisted and jumped from the ledge, narrowly beating the flames. Much of the cliff was consumed by fire, cleansed of the guilty and innocent alike. Descending now at tremendous speed, Kaysa discovered that she was screaming, for she and Marro did not slow in their descent.
"Marro!" pleaded Kaysa as the world swirled around them.
"Hold tight, child!" ordered Marro as his hand fervently fought for the cord upon the harness.
Kaysa's vision began to spin as she desperately clung to the mercenary. As dizziness crept into her senses, she found it more difficult for her hands to keep their hold upon Marro. She cried out again as Marro held his concentration, at last grabbing hold of the cord and giving it a strong pull. The canvas extended once more, catching air and slowing their descent. Yet with their speed and motion, the canvas offered a powerful jerk as it slowed them.
And Kaysa lost her grip upon Marro.
Kaysa could feel herself ripped from the mercenary as their swift momentum was halted. Her descent quickened once more. Kaysa reached out frantically but to no avail. Her hands found nothing as she was ripped away in an instant and forced to face oblivion.
It was then that a strong hand grabbed her wrist and her fall was stayed once more. Kaysa grunted at the halting, and the strength that thwarted her death. Above her, Marro screamed as he pulled Kaysa up. The pain of saving her burned through his arm. Pulling her to his chest, Kaysa held to him once more as Marro wrapped his other arm around her, allowing his pained arm to go limp at his side.
As the winds hugging the cliff whisked through her hair and heightened her senses, Kaysa wondered if their descent would soon be at end. Yet the young elf was afraid to look up again, afraid to relinquish the relief she felt in that moment. For the briefest of breaths, Kaysa felt safe somehow in the arms of the mercenary who had saved her life.
Kaysa tried to speak, but a powerful impact claimed her and Marro as both screamed in pain. Their reunion with the ground was harsh, their feet meeting on the unforgiving rocks below. Both Kaysa and Marro rolled on the ground as it bit and scratched them. Stopping at last, the two elves slowly brought themselves to their feet as Marro discarded the harness.
Kaysa wiped at her head, discovering that red coated her hand. Grimacing at the pain wrought by it, she kept her hand pressed to the wound. "I don't know how we survived that," she said to Marro.
Marro walked over to Kaysa, examining her for other wounds. Reaching into his jacket with his uninjured hand, the mercenary procured a cloth and placed it upon Kaysa's wound. "Hold that here. We were most fortunate just now," he offered.
"I was fortunate because of you," said Kaysa.
"If you think that, then perhaps it was dumb luck," replied Marro.
The two caught their breath as Onzlyn drove the others to them in the hidden skiff. Kaysa was relieved to see that the rest of their friends were safe, breathing a heavy sigh of relief at the sight of them. Slowing and stopping the skiff, Onzlyn hopped off to help Marro as Vienda, Khey, and Lokus rushed to Kaysa.
The three natives of Quenthell hugged Kaysa before Vienda secured the cloth to her wound. "That was far too close," offered the elf warrior.
"That warrants an agreement," replied Kaysa, shivering at the thought.
Delegas watched the group before looking up to the cliff above. "We should depart at once. Maybe the forces of Thorindale will give chase and leave my town be."
Marro shook his head as Onzlyn inspected his shoulder. "We should depart soon, yes, but it matters not if Vakk sees us. His ship does not possess the speed to catch this skiff. And he is not a man to shirk punishment. The Ageless King would not allow it."
Delegas looked up at the cliff again. "And what of my people?" he demanded.
Marro took hold of the hand offered by Onzlyn as he responded to Delegas. "The weapon he just used now, be grateful that the ship only carries one. Everyone outside the walls of your town though are assuredly dead. He will use what remains of his armaments on your town now. Others will die. There is no stopping that. All that we can do is be grateful that some will survive the attack."
Before Delegas could respond, Marro made a fierce jerking motion as Onzlyn held to his grip. Kaysa shuddered as Marro's shoulder returned to place. Marro hissed and almost lost his footing but remained standing. With the use of his arm reclaimed, Marro headed for the skiff.
Delegas's glance rose again to the cliff. For the briefest of moments he could see the enemy's ship reposition before it set itself over his town. Straining, his elf ears could make out the assault above as his home was bombarded with bullets and torment. Lowering his head, the son of Talcoros mourned briefly before raising his gaze again to the others. "Then nothing remains to us but to press forward," he said.
"Just tell Onzlyn the way," said Marro as he scanned the landscape.
Delegas joined the others in sitting in the skiff for mumbled his sober response. "Head northeast. I will orient your direction as we continue."
"Very well," said Onzlyn as he turned the skiff about and brought it to its fullest speed.
As the skiff drew further from the cliff, Kaysa joined the others in watching Vakk's ship administer its punishment. As nightfall hinted its arrival, the fire cast from the ship could be seen quite vividly on the charred cliff. Fire ravaged the walls innards as judgment continued to rain mercilessly.
Luckily and gratefully, no one, one even the precocious Lokus, offered any responses to mar the silence wrought by the assault carrying in the growing distance.
11 sacred waters
A rumbling in her belly pulled Kaysa from her grim vigil of the passing landscape. The skiff had cart
ed them through the broken world for what felt like an endless span. Kaysa fished out some sun-dried berries from her bag, grateful for their taste though they made her miss Quenthell tenfold. And while the journey was long, little was said to pass the time as the group took turns keeping vigil for friend and foe alike.
The exhaustion that crept up upon Kaysa was maddening, for it was beyond tiredness of her body. Her spirit rested upon her like lead and her heart felt as heavy as iron. The travel in silence merely fueled the flames of grief, offering Kaysa time to dwell on the loss of her home and the true state of the world. Just thinking on it again brought tears to her eyes once more.
Fighting against the sadness, Kaysa looked to her friend Lokus from across the skiff. The young elf paid her little heed as he surveyed the landscape, bow at the ready. After some moments, he glanced at his friend, offering a swift, faint grin of encouragement before resuming his vigil. Kaysa was warmed by this, that the anger between them was fading. Accepting the small gift of reassurance, Kaysa's focus returned to the skiff before glancing at Marro next to her.
Marro sat casually, arms crossed and his head lowered as he dozed. As Kaysa looked at him, he spoke to her softly. "You waste your eyes on this landscape, young one, for there is nothing to see."
"But currently my focus is upon you, mercenary," replied Kaysa.
Marro chuckled once at this. "Then there is even less to see," he offered.
"You are extremely determined to prove you are as empty as this landscape, yet I will not believe it," said Kaysa.
Marro slowly opened his good eye as he looked at the young elf. "You are my charge. I am under your employ. It would be harmful to my reputation if I should fail you."
"That is utter drivel," countered Kaysa. "What you did could have very well killed you. Yet you stayed until the end. Why?"
"There is no simple response for the answer that you seek," said Marro indifferently.
"Blast you, Marro," said Kaysa angrily. "Why won't you simply tell me?"
Marro sighed. "Because no one has ever asked me, Kaysa of Quenthell. To what is left of this world, I am a mercenary and a traitor born of Thorindale. Seldom do others wish to know beyond that. They do not wonder my reasons or motivations. All they wish to know is if I am worth the coin it shall cost for my services."
The Last of Kel'Thara Page 14