by Rai Aren
“Good idea, man,” Mitch said. “And I think we should go two at a time, it’s less obvious than four of us walking together.”
“Split up?” Bob asked worriedly. “What if we can’t find each other?”
“Come here,” Mitch motioned to him.
Bob joined him at the window.
“See that yellow awning?” he pointed. It was the third vendor from the near end of the market. “We’ll meet at that vendor. Don’t go anywhere else.”
Alex and Jack took a look at where he was pointing.
“It’s a plan,” she said.
Chapter 41
Theft, Circa 10,000 B.C.
THE decision was made. The village of Derepet would be razed. There had been no further discussions, no opportunities to suggest other ideas. Zhek had his followers completely under his influence, except for Shera. She kept her misgivings to herself, she no longer felt safe around anyone. She and Rekar had fallen into an uneasy silence between them as well. Much was left unspoken. It pained her and left her feeling very scared.
Rekar and Shera were ordered to sneak into the building where the uniforms of the Royal guards were kept and steal as many as they could. Shera wished they could just use the uniforms to intimidate the villagers instead, to break their trust of the Royal Family by striking fear into their hearts without bloodshed. But she knew Zhek had made up his mind.
Instead of returning home to Tessea as they usually did after their duties at the Palace, they waited in the main city, staying out of sight. Later, Jonar and Rembes would meet them on horseback, and the four of them were to return with the stolen uniforms. Nightfall came. The city went quiet as the people tucked into bed for the night. The sky was clear and the moon was bright overhead. Rekar’s intimate knowledge of the Palace grounds had once again proven very useful.
“It is time,” Rekar said. “We should go now. The patrols will be changing shifts soon. We need to be in place before they do.”
They were going to time their break-in for the few short minutes it would take the daytime guards to be replaced by the night patrol. They normally would meet and discuss the Palace status briefly, before the evening guards moved into position.
Shera felt her unease growing, as though she was falling down a steep cliff into a dark, rocky, and jagged valley, unable to slow or stop her momentum. It felt to her like careening down into endless darkness, an abyss from which they could never return. Such was her fear.
Dressed in dark clothing, their heads covered, and carrying large, empty rucksacks strapped across their backs, Rekar and Shera headed back in the direction of the Royal Palace. They followed their predetermined route, approaching from a back corner of the grounds where the trees were the thickest. Jonar and Rembes would show up a few minutes after Rekar and Shera gained access to the Palace grounds, so as not to have too many people in one place and to have a watch to ensure no one saw them.
The couple paused, watching the movements of the Royal patrol. “There, they are going to meet up with the new shift,” Rekar whispered. “Let us go. You two wait here.” The men nodded.
Shera followed her husband through the trees. They crouched down as they quickly ran along a three-foot hedge that lined the grounds. They paused, listening.
“I do not hear anything,” Shera whispered, her heart pounding in her chest.
“Quickly, make for the storerooms,” Rekar replied, his voice low. They ran stealthily and hid behind the building.
“Over here,” Shera whispered, waving her husband over to the door to the room where the uniforms were kept. They had brought along some tools to pry the door open. Her nimble fingers, though shaking slightly, worked fast to break the lock. She held her breath as it released. Every step was a step towards doom, she thought.
The door opened, creaking softly. Rekar quickly pushed her through. “They are coming!” he said. He eased the door closed behind them. They held their breath. They narrowly missed being seen by a passing guard. Standing very still, they heard the footsteps come closer, then move off. They waited a few moments longer.
“We have little time,” Rekar said. “Grab as many as you can.”
Counting fast, they grabbed armloads of uniforms, stuffed them into the rucksacks and headed to the door, for the riskiest part of their plan. They needed to get back unseen, which would be difficult carrying so much. They waited again for the sounds of the patrol. They could hear the footsteps far off.
“All right,” Rekar said, as he used his foot to close the door, “no looking back, just keep running.”
Shera nodded, her eyes wide with fear. She had grave doubts they could pull this off as planned, and deep in her heart a part of her wished they would not be successful, that they would have to leave the uniforms behind and run to avoid capture.
They ran as fast as they could. Not looking back, they focused straight ahead to their destination, a thick grove of trees. They made it, and found their way through the trees to the other side. Jonar and Rembes were there as promised. They mounted their horses and took hold of the bulging bags. Rekar and Shera jumped on the horses behind them to ride double. They grabbed hold of the riders. The foursome sped off into the night with their stolen cache.
yyyyy
They returned to Tessea, where Zhek had waited on lookout for them. “They are here!” he called out to the other villagers.
A small group met the returning thieves. They saw at once that their bags were full.
“Well done!” Zhek exclaimed as they rode up. He smiled widely, taking one of the bags, opening it and sizing up their valuable cache. “Very good indeed,” he said as he pulled out one of the Royal uniforms. “Perfect.”
They handed the rest of the uniforms to the villagers.
Rekar dismounted, and helped Shera down.
“They were very efficient, Zhek,” Jonar said. “They were in and out in no time.”
“Excellent,” Zhek said, “the four of you are to be commended.”
“Thank-you, Zhek. It is an honor to serve our cause,” Rembes said.
Rekar nodded.
Shera was silent, staring down at the ground.
“Shera, well done,” Zhek said.
“Thank-you,” she said, only making eye contact for a brief moment. “We should get home.”
Zhek looked at her curiously. He read her uneasiness. He would have to keep a watchful eye on her, to ensure that her commitment to their plan did not waver.
The group retired to Rekar and Shera’s home where they stashed the uniforms. Shera excused herself quickly and went to bed, claiming fatigue from the night’s events. The rest of them sat up until the wee hours discussing ideas for the attack. They had been able to steal twenty-one uniforms. They would soon begin their campaign of revenge against the King they hated.
They decided to make their move the very next night. Zhek knew he was running out of time. The King’s military would soon notice the missing uniforms. There was also the risk that patrols might find him, along with his co-conspirators, any time now if they did not act quickly. In addition, Zhek was aware that the faster events happened, the more his people would become swept up in the plans and have no time to second-guess what they were doing.
Finally, Jonar and Rembes assisted Zhek in organizing the men who would make up the death squad. A plan of attack was laid out in detail. It was set.
Chapter 42
Darkness Falls
“YOU cannot go!” Shera pleaded as she followed her husband around their home as he prepared what he needed. Rekar was one of the men chosen for Zhek’s grisly mission.
“I must,” he replied, pushing her away. “Zhek is depending on me.”
“This is wrong,” she cried, “think of what you are about to do. Please, Rekar!”
He turned to face her. “Shera, I do not relish wh
at needs to be done, but Zhek is right, this will decisively shift the people’s loyalty against the King. It will make it much easier to gain control of the Palace if the King’s hold over the people is severed. As awful as it is, this will accomplish that. It is a sacrifice for a different future.”
“It is going too far, surely you must see that,” she said, grabbing his arm.
He stood still, but did not answer.
“Rekar, please answer me,” she begged.
“Zhek has decided it is what must be done. What can I do?”
“But you could be killed,” she cried, holding on tighter.
Just then, Zhek walked in. Shera jumped, startled. She had thought they were alone. Instantly she was afraid.
Zhek’s face was serious. “Rekar, it is time,” he said, “go out and meet the others. I will join you shortly.”
Rekar nervously looked at his wife, who stood there, still as a statue, her face turned ashen.
“Now Rekar,” Zhek ordered.
Rekar reluctantly left his home. He was too ashamed to look back at his wife.
Zhek leveled a gaze at Shera that made her blood run cold. “I hope for your sake, you do nothing to jeopardize our plans.” He stepped a little closer to her. She shrank back. “For your own safety of course…and for Rekar’s,” he said menacingly. Then he smiled, and caressed her cheek with his rough hand.
She trembled, tears now streaming down her cheeks.
“It would be a terrible shame if something happened to you or your husband, would it not?”
His touch was cold and menacing. “I-I would not…” she stammered.
Zhek cut her off, “Remember what I said, woman.” Then he turned and left.
Shera collapsed on the floor, crying, shaking, and sick with horror at what was unfolding.
yyyyy
Twenty-one men on horseback dressed in Royal military uniforms readied themselves for the long ride north to Derepet. The remaining villagers had gathered to see them off. Swords gleamed in the moonlight, ready for their macabre task. Unlit torches and oil were packed on the backs of each horse. The faces of the men were grim.
“Loyal men of Tessea,” Zhek addressed them, “you are strong and brave. We will let nothing and no one stop us from gaining our freedom from the long oppression of the Royal Family. What we do tonight, we do in the name of righteousness against an evil King. The blood spilled is on his hands, not yours. Their sacrifice will sow the seeds of our future.” He raised his sword high in the air. “To victory!”
The men cheered loudly, full of adrenalin. The villagers chanted, “House Draxen!”
Rekar wondered what Zhek had said to his wife. Rekar felt a pang of guilt at having left her alone with such a dangerous man, even briefly. He looked for his wife, but could not find her in the crowd.
Shera had chosen not to join the group. She remained home, shaken from her encounter with Zhek. His anger knew no bounds. There were no limits to what he was capable of, she thought. She knew he would easily follow through on his threat.
Zhek rode up to Rekar, reading his expression. “She did not come, did she?”
“No,” Rekar answered.
“As her husband, I am certain you will ensure her loyalty to us remains intact.” Zhek turned his horse to face him head-on. “Otherwise, I cannot guarantee her safety.” His face bore the look of sheer malevolence.
With that, Zhek rode to the head of the group. “For Freedom!” he shouted and spurred his horse forward.
The group rode away amidst loud whooping and cheering, all but Rekar, who was silent, shaken. He did not want to leave his wife, but knew that if he did not, neither of them would live to see the sun rise again. He spurred his horse after them, looking back one last time. But she was not there.
Back in her home, Shera heard the words they had shouted out. ‘Freedom,’ she thought bitterly, ‘a noble cause twisted and perverted, for one man’s revenge.’ She feared what Zhek would become once he gained total power over their people. He would turn on her. He had seen her weakness, her distress. Now, her husband rode off with him to do the unspeakable. He was changing, the man she loved. She did not see how she could face him again if he followed through on this most evil mission. Soon, she feared, even her husband would turn against her too, and she would have nothing left and nowhere to go.
As the night rolled on, Shera reached for a bottle of berry wine. She poured herself a mug, staring into the dying fire in her hearth. She did not have the will to stir the embers, nor add wood for the fire’s life. She just watched it slowly grow dark and cold, as she drank down mug after mug of the strong wine. Tears flowed down her cheeks. Her heart broke. Images of what the men were doing tormented her, playing in her mind in gruesome detail. She imagined the innocent villagers, men, women, children, the elderly being helplessly slain, begging for the lives that were now forfeit. People like her and Rekar. And she had helped to do it. It had all happened so fast. She did not know how they came to be at this place. How could she live with what she had done?
Chapter 43
The Darkest Time
FINALLY, the group of twenty-one reached the outskirts of Derepet. Zhek halted them, surveying the small, peaceful village from a short distance. All was quiet. He saw the nearest home, the home of Uta and Ehrim. That is where it would begin.
The group covered their faces in black scarves to shield their identities.
“Rekar,” Zhek said, “you are with me.” He then gave orders to the rest of the men to fan out, cover, and surround the village. “Remember, take three prisoners. You choose them. I do not care who they are. Ensure you announce we come in vengeance in the name of the King. Leave nothing but one building standing.” He pointed. “That is where we will keep the witnesses.”
The men hesitated, their swords by their sides. Many swallowed hard. They had never done anything like this before.
“Go now! Unleash your fury!” he shouted, his voice coarse and raspy. “The King will pay for his crimes through the blood of his people. To his undoing!”
The men grunted their acknowledgement.
“Follow me,” he ordered Rekar, without even looking at him. He had a single purpose.
Reluctantly, Rekar trailed behind him.
Zhek spurred his horse on towards the small, humble home of Uta and Ehrim. Inside they slept peacefully.
Zhek rode to the side of their house, and dismounted.
Rekar did the same.
Zhek took out his sword and tried the front door. It was unlocked. He walked in.
All was quiet and dark. He took in the humble surroundings. He saw the two rooms on the far side of the home. One door was closed. He looked behind him. Rekar still stood in the doorway. He nodded for him to follow.
Zhek went to the room with the closed door. He opened it.
Inside, the sleeping couple lay peacefully, side by side, in their bedroom.
“Arise, peasants!” he yelled suddenly.
Uta and Ehrim awoke with a start. Uta screamed, seeing the two masked men standing there, swords in hand.
“Get up!” Zhek ordered them.