Winter's Rising

by Mark Tufo

  “People who fall asleep in the water generally drown.”

  “I had Cedar there.”

  “She was sleeping too, remember?”

  I knew I wasn’t fooling him. If he got on the right track of questions I was doomed to reveal everything. “You came to call? I assume it wasn’t to check on mine and Cedar’s sleeping habits.”

  “Right. Sorry. It’s about the battle tomorrow. I’m concerned for you, Winter. I wish you and your people would just sit this one out.”

  “We’ve been through this, Haden.” I was about as adept at hiding anger as I was secrets. “I will not sit by while the Titans clash and determine our fate for us.”

  He sighed. “I know you see us as eventual adversaries, but I want so much more than that, Winter. This doesn’t have to end badly.”

  “I want to believe you. I do. I just don’t know how that can be. There are certain rules to this war that I’m sure you know better than I. How can what you suggest ever come to pass? Even if your clan absorbs us amicably, Dystance will send a whole new army of fresh recruits in a year and the cycle will begin again.”

  “I don’t know. I don’t.” He came up close to me. When he reached out to hug me, I thought I was going to melt into his arms. The smell of him was intoxicating as I breathed him in. I laid my head against his chest. “All I know is what I feel, and this feels so right. I’ll fight anybody that tries to take this away from me.”

  We stayed like that for a good long while. I think I may have even taken that nap I’d alluded to earlier. When he moved me slightly away so he could look at me, it was like a dream. I reached up and touched his face.

  “Don’t ever hurt me,” I told him.

  “Never. Stay safe tomorrow or I will hunt down death himself to seek vengeance.”

  We hugged again, he pulled me in so close that I never wanted to leave. I allowed myself to float so far from my present troubles that I didn’t remember getting back to my quarters. Either I had fallen asleep and he’d carried me back, or I moved on my own in a dream state. Either way, I ended up next to Cedar. I felt somewhat rested when the call to arms came that following morning.

  “You all set?” I asked Cedar as I dressed and put on some of the leather armament Haden had supplied.

  “I am, but I have the easy part. Are you all set?”

  “I hope so.”

  “You stay safe, Winter. I’ve loved you, I guess, like a sister would for all these years. I will miss you like no other.” She hugged me briefly but fiercely before letting go to wipe her eyes.

  “I will miss you as well, Cedar. Trust that if there is any possibility I can get away undetected I will follow you.” It was a long shot, of course and we both knew it, but it offered some comfort and right now that was all that either of us wanted.

  We were just parting as we entered the great room.

  “Haden wants to see you,” one of our guards told us. He didn’t say anything as Cedar peeled off.

  I entered the room. Serrot was looking past me for Cedar. “She’s getting the Dystancians organized,” I told him. He nodded curtly.

  Haden spoke. “Our long range scouts have reported seeing Mennot’s army not more than ten miles from here. They will be upon us before the morning is over. Kinder?”

  “The Comanchokees are ready.” His face looked stern, discontented. Not, I believed, because we were about to go to battle but because of the way we were going. It was sitting heavily with him.

  “Two hours is not much time, so let’s not delay. We’ve already discovered and dispatched four of Mennot’s scout parties. At some point one will get through and figure out what our strategy looks like. I don’t want that to happen until we are ready for it.

  I shuddered when Haden said “dispatched.” It was so callous, as if he wasn’t saying four men had just been put to death.

  When Haden and I got to the mouth of the cavern he looked upon what was to become most likely the bloodiest battlefield The War had ever seen. “Where are your people?”

  “I’ve had a change of heart.”

  “What?”

  “The vote was close, and Cedar talked me out of having them fight.”

  “You seemed so intent on it last night.”

  “Cedar felt so strongly and she has always been a voice of reason for me. She was right. They’re not fighters, they’re people with weapons in their hands waiting to die.”

  “There is something more you are not telling me; this is too much of a change too quickly. When this day is through you are going to tell me everything.”

  I didn’t trust myself to speak, so I simply nodded quickly.

  Haden moved away to begin ordering his men into their positions.

  “Winter, we need to talk before this battle happens” Tallow said at my shoulder.

  “Go find Cedar,” I told him without even glancing his way. I could not dare to look at him. Last night with Haden seemed like too much of a betrayal. The guilt would be right there for him to see.

  “I did see Cedar. She had some fantastical story about getting us out of here. When I asked about you she clammed up, so I figured I’d find you in the thick of things. If what she says is true why are you not leaving?”

  “I can’t.”

  “Is it because of him?” he asked, pointing his sword toward Haden’s retreating form.

  “Tallow, go. Go with Cedar, please. I cannot bear the thought of anything happening to you.”

  “I will not leave you here, Winter. I cannot; every promise I have ever spoken to you is as true now as it ever was. How do you think I would feel if that which you are trying to protect me from befell you?”

  “Forgive me if I seem doubtful, Tallow, but you must admit you have given me cause. Lately you’ve been acting as if you didn’t care about me. Sometimes you look upon me as though you hate the sight of me. Why would you be so concerned for my welfare now?”

  I thought he was about to storm off again, but he stayed. For a moment, I saw those perfect blue eyes that only a year ago had held my heart completely captive. He spoke, and I believed his words. “I’m ashamed of my actions, Winter. We are in a situation I have no idea how to contend with. You make it seem so effortless.”

  “Please,” I scoffed.

  “You do!” he entreated. “I’m doing all I can just to wrap my mind around what is going on. You, on the other hand, are saving our people, making alliances that the world has never seen before, and today you sit on the precipice of the largest victory our people have ever known. Not to mention you have found a way to free us. How does a mere mortal compete with that?”

  “Compete?”

  “I mean, for your heart. But I know now what I must do.”

  “And what is that? Protect me? I’m sick of people saying they need to protect me.”

  “Not protect, not shield, nor hinder. I need to fight by your side, Winter, by your side, where I have always lived. We’ve been through so much together I know no other way. Let me pay for my transgressions.”

  “Tallow, your life is too steep a price. I forgive you. Now please, go with Cedar. There is a real chance there.”

  “I will go when you do.”

  I nodded and silently thanked him, even if he was a fool. It felt like something that had been torn from my soul had been returned and stitched back into place. Perhaps the scar was still visible, but the mending would hold–that I knew.

  “Winter,” Hendrich nodded. He was one of Tallow’s close friends and one of the boys that had been there when they were jeering my every move. He was followed by Uriah, Jakob, Wembly, and Lunnel. Each nodding respectfully to me as they passed.

  “They’re staying, too,” Tallow told me.

  “Seven strong.” I pulled out my sword, as did the others. We laid the points of our blades together.

  Haden was running around trying to set everything up as we had planned. I got an uneasy feeling as I watched a large number of the Comanchokees lie down in mock demise. It did not se
em wise to play with death, as ultimately, he was unfailingly the victor. Those men out on the periphery were given arrows with broken off tips to place them somewhere on their body to make it look as if this was the reason for their fall. Three pigs had been slaughtered and the blood used to make the wounds look more realistic. It must have tormented Kinder to place his warriors in this position.

  “What are they doing?” Tallow asked as we watched the Comanchokees adhering arrows to themselves and having blood poured over them.

  “It was Haden’s idea that we have Kinder’s people look like they had suffered grievous losses on the outskirts of the battle. Mennot’s men should pass them by, and then we will have them surrounded.”

  “That’s kind of impressive.” Tallow nodded. “Would so many have died by arrows?”

  “I don’t think so, but the plan will fail unless we have enough warriors to prevent Mennot from simply retreating. The Comanchokees are not happy with this plan.”

  “Why? If it works it almost assuredly guarantees us a victory.”

  “It’s not honorable to deceive the enemy. Don’t look at me that way. I didn’t say it. That’s just how they feel.”

  “So where are we supposed to be?”

  “Somewhere in the middle. We are to look as if we are in hand to hand combat with the ones that got through.”

  “And Haden’s men?”

  “In the middle and also to the far side of Mennot’s approach.”

  “He really thought this out, didn’t he?”

  “He did. What? Again with the funny looks. This is what they do. While we’re trying to find enough food to survive, they’re learning battle tactics. While we are trying just to make it through a few battles, they’re figuring out how to win.”

  “You envy him.”

  “No, I wouldn’t wish to spend my entire life planning for war. I do wish that our people had been given the same opportunity to prepare, though, rather than living as so much wheat waiting to be harvested. I don’t want to be the rabbit hiding from the fox. I want to be the Grizzly bear that everyone runs from.”

  “Winter,” he said, shaking his head, “our people may be the rabbits but the Grizzly would be wise to steer clear of you. If not envy, then what?” That next question caught me off-guard. I didn’t have an answer for myself so how could I give one to Tallow?

  “What do you want me to say, Tallow? Yes, I like him. I am grateful that he saved our people, that he allowed us into their stronghold. I like that he has fed us. I like that he desires, or seems to wish to protect us. And he didn’t abandon me when I needed someone the most.” I knew that last would cut him, but I couldn’t just forget how much he had hurt me.

  “I’m sorry, Winter. I’m here now. Can you forgive me?”

  “You make it through the day, Tallow, and I will do my best.”

  He smiled that same lopsided smile from so many years ago. I’d known then we were going to be together forever. Why had I ever doubted it, or, more importantly, him? The smile quickly left him as Haden walked back.

  “I thought you said the Dystancians were staying out of the fight?”

  It looked like disdain on his face, for the ones fighting or the ones staying behind, I could not tell. Tallow had never hidden his feelings in regards to Haden; it would have been impossible for him not to pick up on that dislike.

  “We decided to stay,” Tallow told him.

  “Try to stay out of the way.”

  “We have proved ourselves in battle,” Tallow shot back. “Have you? For all your talking I’ve yet to see you do anything with that shiny blade of yours but polish it!”

  “Well, I could change that right now!” Haden said, pulling his blade free. Tallow matched him. The entire compound stopped to look. Even the so-called fallen Comanchokees sat up to watch.

  “Stop! Stop right there, both of you.” I said with as much authority as I could muster.

  “That’s right, keep your little Dystancian boy in control,” Haden hissed.

  “Haden, Tallow, I think we have more to worry about right now than whatever this is.” I had stepped in between them, both looking past me at each other.

  “Get out of the way, Winter. I would hate for someone as inexperienced as Tallow to mistakenly hit you.”

  “That’s enough, Haden. Provided there is a tomorrow you two can settle this then.”

  “Oh, there will be a tomorrow, for me at least. That’s why I would rather resolve this now; this one won’t be around to watch me revel in my victory,” Haden declared.

  The confidence with which he said those words created a pit in the middle of my stomach. I knew some were blessed with the gift of second-sight; in that moment I prayed he wasn’t one of them.

  A runner spared us any further posturing. “Mennot....” He was breathing heavily. He must have been running as fast as he could to deliver the news. “Just over the hill...” He hunched over, hands on knees.

  “Well done, Jalal.” Haden clapped him on the back. “Everyone into their arranged locations! Mennot will be upon us soon!”

  “Winter, will you please take your group to the center?”

  I nodded. Tallow glared at him. I knew it wasn’t over between them. He would have ignored the command entirely had it been directed to him instead of me. Once we were in place, a group of Comanchokees surrounded us. Haden’s plan was in motion. The first deception was the Comanchokees on the fringes, lying “dead” by Klondike arrows. Past their bodies was a wide berth, where, presumably Mennot’s warriors would muster as Klondikes, Dystancians, and Comanchokees locked before them in a pretense of mortal combat. The goal was to entice the Hillians into the open area between the dead and the mock battles. When they were in the designated killing zone, we were to break contact with each other and put the Hillians between a hammer and a vise. With our superior numbers and the element of surprise it was believed that this fight would be over before it started.

  The clang was deafening as multiple swords clashed across the fields. Of course, the object was to make the fighting look convincing without actually injuring anyone. This was the only part I hadn’t felt comfortable with. In an effort to make it look genuine, the warriors would have to fight hard. There were bound to be a lot of wounds created accidentally before the Hillians ever got in range.

  “It is an honor to fight you, Ghost,” Kinder said as he stood face to face with me. His face was lined with savage streaks of red clay. “To a victorious day–may our adversaries die well.”

  “That would be helpful. Ready?” I brought my sword up. The echoes of vibrations from our collision had just tapered off when Mennot’s men crested the hill before us. The fighting intensified as we obtained an audience. I heard more than one curse above the din when someone received a slice or had some body part struck. On a cue from the person we were fighting, one or the other was at some point supposed to fall over so that we could move to the next opponent; that way the battle would not appear stagnant.

  The Dystancians and the Comanchokees locked in swordplay were told not to move their positions in order for the real trap to form. I was strategically placed as bait to draw Mennot in. I thought Haden was being overly optimistic. The chance that Mennot, as large as he was, would join the fray was negligible. He looked to be more of a leader by delegation than an actual leader of men. Warriors were swirling about, sweat pouring from them. The battle might be fake, but that didn’t make it much easier.

  “Owww,” I said, rubbing my arm where Kinder had smacked it.

  “The Ghost should not allow herself to be hit in any manner,” Kinder chided.

  He was right. I was just having a hard time trying to understand what my eyes were seeing. It was Mennot’s army, but there was something in front of them that defied explanation. The sun blazed off of whatever it was so intensely I had to squint just to be able to see in its direction. The closer the object got, the more men stopped to stare, shielding their eyes and lowering their weapons. Haden more than once had t
o tell them to keep fighting. I thought at first that perhaps it was some gigantic burning torch to lead the army. When it finally crossed into a patch of shade I realized my mistake; I lowered my own weapon, as did Kinder. The fiery red was caused by the reflection of the sun off of a metal man. Or rather, a man encased in an armament of metal. By the size of the device, I knew who that man must be.

  “It would appear that the Fat One has graced us with his presence.” Haden smiled as he swept nearby.

  Kinder had resumed and kept smacking me in various places, trying to re-engage my sword, but I just could not peel my eyes from Mennot as I tried to reconcile what I was seeing with what I knew previously of war machinery. As he got closer I could see long, thick poles attached to each of his legs and arms. There were two men assigned to each pole, their sole job seemed to be Mennot’s locomotion. He looked like the world’s largest puppet; a marionette with eight controllers. Nope, make that nine. There was one at his back that had the unenviable task of making sure Mennot didn’t topple over. He would have fried like a turtle if that happened. A sword easily as large as me was in his right hand and the men on that arm came forward swinging it viciously from side to side to demonstrate it was not merely for show. It was ludicrous, yet absolutely terrifying.

  “He...cannot be killed,” I said in disbelief. “Owww! Kinder! Stop hitting me.”

  “Perhaps he cannot, but the men around him are as vulnerable as you.” He once again smacked my arm.

  The armored Mennot and his men lumbered towards us. They were obviously in no rush to join in; why would they be? In fact, why show themselves at all? His scouts could just watch from a safe distance and see who emerged the victor. Wouldn’t that be the wiser thing to do–swoop in after and finish the job? The longer Kinder and I sparred the more I began to doubt our present predicament. Could Mennot have such disregard for his men that he would needlessly enter them in a battle they didn’t need to be in? Or was his ego as large as that shiny metal suit? It just didn’t add up.

  “Something’s wrong, Kinder.”