by R W Caron
“These peasants were stealing and assaulted myself along with my two lieutenants. I’m enforcing my right to…” He started.
“How dare you?” Andrew exclaimed. “No punishment is to be given out without my order,” he stated as he walked toward the men and woman. One of the guards went to raise his whip to hit the man on the right and Andrew stepped in front of him. “I did not give you an order.”
“I don’t answer to you.” The guard spat back at him defiantly.
“He answers to me,” the guard Captain replied. Andrew’s eyes shot to the guard captain whose eyes shifted to the man quickly and he nodded. The whip cracked out and hit the man hard across the back drawing another line. Andrew glared at the man then walked toward the guard captain. “You don’t want to start this Andrew.”
“It’s Lord Brady to you.” Andrew corrected. “You are very wrong, I do want to start this. Take your men and get out of my City Center.”
“No.” The guard captain replied. “Not until these men and that whore are punished.” The guard captain looked at the man standing in front of the woman and nodded.
Andrews hand shot out as the man began his swing. “Do it and you will die!” The guard lieutenant hesitated and then followed through catching the woman in the face. She winced and red lines formed on her face and blood started to run down. “Enough!” Andrew yelled his hand dropping to his sword. The guard Captain reached for his when he suddenly realized that the people of the town, banishing minor weapons of rakes and pitch forks out numbered his men twelve to one. reinforces would not make it to them before they were overwhelmed. He eyed Andrew cautiously and smiled.
“Move out boy’s. We are done here.” The guard captain called and smirked at Andrew. He moved close to the young man’s face, and smiled. “You can’t protect them all forever,” He stated. “My lord.” he added with a tone of sarcasm. The men walked out of the center with him and Andrew rushed to the people’s side as more of his followers moved in to help him. He glanced at the man whose back was bleeding with deep lacerations and rested his hand on the man’s shoulder. Surprisingly, the man smiled and looked up at Andrew.
“It’s done.” The tied up man said.
“All of them?” Andrew asked in a hushed tone with a smile creaking his face.
“All of them.” He said with a laugh, the laugh made him wince in pain. Andrew started to untie his hands as the others got help from Andrews followers. His heart was hammering in his chest, and he knew full well that this man had put his life on the line for Andrews plan to work. “We will keep watch on them.” The injured man murmured wincing in pain. “As they fall we will replace them.”
“You used the gakin flower on the guard captain?” Andrew asked his voice showing slight concern as he looked at the deep lashes on the man’s back. “Will you be able to keep watch on them with…” Andrew hesitated looking at the mans back and slowly dropping his gaze. It was his fault after all that he was in this state.
“Yes and his two lieutenants,” He smiled as his hand fell free from the knots that bound him. “The other is hot viper venom.” The man looked at Andrew and he showed no regret or blame but Andrew felt as though he should speak.
“Thank you.” Andrew replied. “I’m sorry this had to happen to you.”
“I’m not.” The man replied to Andrew’s shock. His eyes lit up as he looked around at the people standing around and helping each other, the men that where banishing the simple weapons that had made the Captain think twice about defying Andrew. All of this was part of the plan. In truth he wanted to get caught ‘stealing’ this showed the people for how evil the guards were. It helped bring more people to that cause. This showed that Andrew was not on the kings side, any man that witnessed the display that had just happened could tell that. “A little pain for the greater good is fine by me.”
Andrew smiled at the man and he helped drape the man’s arm around his shoulder. “You are very brave Tuck.” Andrew said then aided the man towards a building off to the right of the center. Whatever his plan had been Andrew was in Tucks debt for the abuse he had taken this day. Andrew vowed then and there to make it up to the man one day. As he ushered him into a small hut and laid him face down on the table. Several men approached Andrew. These men Andrew did not know, yet he could sense they meant no harm. A burly man as wide as he was tall waddled up to Andrew and clapped him hard on the shoulder.
“We will take care of old Tuck from here sir.” The man announced. Andrew nodded then walked out of the hut where more men and woman stood staring at him. Once all the guards where out of sight two men started the trend, taking a knee and bowing their head. Soon the entire circle was on a knee. Andrew stared at them all in shock. He walked to the first two who had knelt and patted their shoulder.
Andrew knelt and spoke to them softly, “No man should kneel to another man.” Andrew said. The look of shock covered their face as Andrew pulled them to their feet and motioned for everyone to raise. “No man or woman should have to bend a knee to anyone. I believe in a free Esmos, I believe that every life is worth something to someone. That any man can be a king if they just believe in themselves. You are all kings and queens to someone, whether it be a son, a daughter or a friend.” Andrew paused as he walked to the middle of the circle. “I know many of you have several years on me, but if you believe as I do, don’t let them push us around. I can not protect everyone, but those guards will think twice about attacking another man in the settlement, that I can promise you. The king sits in his castle and stuffs his face while we fight to survive.” Andrew scoffed. “Change will come my friends, I promise that.” With that Andrew turned and walked away as the people gave a silent cheer and went about their duties. Andrew hoped that that little speech told them that no matter what he did in the coming months it would be for the benefit of the people. Them taking a knee to him showed him that they did trust him, something he longed for over the last couple of months. As alike as his father had in every civilian in the settlement. Respect was earned, and he believed he was well on his way now.
Andrew sat in the study of his house, candle light burning as he wrote in his journal. The study was located on the top floor of the house, with its low sloped ceiling Andrew felt it more a cave, and enjoyed it that way. Andrew leaned back in his chair stretching his back and neck. As he closed his eyes a yawn escaped his body and he ran his hands over his face, feeling the scruff that had now started to grow. Stretching his arms up above his head, he leaned farther back. Suddenly the candle blew out and Andrew opened his eyes not seeing the brightness through his eyelids that was just there. Standing in front of his window was a man dressed much like the one he had fought that night at the fire. Andrew lost concentration and fell backwards as the chair tumbled over. “Damn it.” Andrew cussed out loud. The man stood there in the dark and slowly cocked his head to the side looking at Andrew in the moon light. “Go ahead; kill me if you have too.” Andrew said as he slowly got up from the chair.
The man cocked his head to the other side and Andrew finally, took a look at him. This man was more seasoned then the boy he had fought that night at the fire. This man’s robes were torn and dirty, his face was stern yet soft all in one. Andrew slowly re-lit the candle and the man smiled warmly at him and took his bow from across his back, setting it against the wall. He took a step forward and Andrew instinctively reached to his side. “Relax young one, I wish you no harm.” The man said. “My name is Ryukin, I’m here to help.”
“You speak common?” Andrew said in shock. “Do all your people?”
“No.” Ryukin replied. “Not all.”
“Why are you here?” Andrew asked.
“You wish to change your people, to help them free themselves.” Ryukin stated and leaned against the wall. “I wish to see no genocide.”
“I wasn’t planning on it,” Andrew started.
“Not you boy.” Ryukin shot back. “Nahan left you alive because you were different, I know this.”
&n
bsp; “Nahan?” Andrew asked.
“The man whose daggers sit in your belt.” Ryukin replied pointing to the belt that hung from a nail. “He is stubborn. Wishes to fight the king head on.”
“He won’t have to worry about that. The king will not be back for at least another year.” Andrew replied smiling.
Ryukin shook his head. “No, the king is returning with his army. The tribe was betrayed by the brother of the girl your people tainted.” He replied with a slight judgement in his voice. “He was banished and quickly ran into the king, he told him everything of where the people are, the king intends on wiping them out.”
Andrew dropped his head into his hands. “What do you propose I do, fight the king?” Andrew suggested. “I don’t have the man power to stop or even slow his army.”
“Why would you help my people?” Ryukin asked, the question almost seem loaded. “I mean, they have done nothing for you.”
“I wish peace.” Andrew replied honestly and softly. “I wish to have open trade again, I wish to have people feel safe and walk freely whenever they enter the settlement, regardless of the color of their skin or the way they live.” Andrew continued. “I wish to live in a time like my father did, where everyone seemed to coexist.”
After a long moment that seemed to drag into the night Ryukin’s face lit up and he nodded “I have an idea.” Ryukin said suddenly. “It’s something the Aslian use to do to fool their enemies.”
“Aslians?” Andrew questioned. “Who are they?”
“An ancient race of people, well, not really people. They use to be humans, until the gods punished them for their greed by turning them into serpentines. Feared and unexpected in the world they disappeared into the Forest of Czar. The king’s men pursued them in hopes to slaughter them, when they arrived at their stronghold, however, all were covered in blood and already dead.” Ryukin replied.
“How?” Andrew asked.
“A girl was left, Shatina was her name. The king took her as she was only a baby that the king assumed had been snatched from one of the villages. He treated her as his own and raised her with his sons and trained her into being his son’s advisor. King Erwin II fell for her and she is now his mistress.”
“How does this help us?”
“Many strange things have happened in that forest since.”
“So?” Andrew replied.
“I believe they faked their deaths. Covered themselves in blood and made the king believe that they were dead. They were planning an attack against him but realized they were strongly outnumbered so they lay in wait.”
“You believe they live?” Andrew questioned.
“I do not know what to believe.” Ryukin replied looking out the window at the moon. “I intent on finding out one day, but I do not know if that will be a tale told in my life time. What I do know is we have to try something.”
“I agree.” Andrew replied. He bit his bottom lip and glanced at the daggers hanging on the wall. “How do we contact Nahan?”
“Rally all the men you trust and meet me outside the gates, do not be seen.” Ryukin warned.
“I understand.” Andrew replied. “Why trust me though?”
“Why not?” Ryukin replied and slipped out the window and into the night.
Two hours later with the moon high in the sky Andrew, Ryukin and a score of ten men rushed into the darkness of the forest towards the tribe. Andrew followed Ryukin’s lead, staying on the ground. The men stumbled and staggered through the woods but still kept pace with Ryukin. When they arrived at the teepees in the valley they were met by the warriors of the tribe, bows drawn and war paint covering their faces. “Nahan?” Ryukin asked in Nippen, the language of the people. Andrew and his men stood with their hands up in a non-threatening position. “Bring Nahan here.” One of the warriors lowered his bow and rushed off without a word. A few seconds later Nahan came running up toward Ryukin. He then looked past him at Andrew and smirked.
“What are they doing here Ryukin?” he asked, speaking their native language.
“They are here to help, we have a plan.” Ryukin replied.
“We don’t need their help.” Nahan spat.
“Nahan, trust me.” Ryukin replied. “For the sake of the people.”
“Our plan is to fight.” He replied.
“And die.” Andrew shot at him.
“You understand our language?” Nahan asked in common with a shocked look.
“No,” Andrew replied. “But I understand you. You wish the same things I wish.”
“You know nothing of my wishes.” Nahan replied.
“You wish your people free, free to trade, free to walk the woods, plains and tundra without having to look over their shoulder. You wish your people to survive. I want that as well Nahan. I want that more than you believe.” Andrew replied. “We are here to help save you.”
“We don’t need saving.” Nahan replied. “I have done a fine job so far. Why do we need you?”
“You don’t.” Andrew replied. “I need you.” Nahan looked confused at the comment but Ryukin just smiled. “Without your people, we could not survive the winter. The pelts and skins we have are old and weathered, so we need your people to help save us. Let us help you. Don’t live your lives aimlessly, we have a plan, as crazy as it sounds, that could very well work and save all the people.”
“Ryukin,” Nahan started.
“Listen to him.” Ryukin suggested. “There is no harm in listening.”
“You speak truth. Come Andrew,” The way Nahan said his name made it clear that He did not trust Andrew fully but out of respect for Ryukin he would listen. “sit with the people and tell us your tales and how you intend on saving us.” Nahan replied with a chuckle.
“One minute.” Andrew replied. Then reached to his belt causing the men to draw their bows back and take aim. Andrew held a hand up and pulled Nahan’s daggers from his belt, holding them outstretched to him. “These are yours.”
Nahan looked at the daggers then grabbed them from Andrew. “Thank you.” He replied in his own language. Andrew looked back at his men who had their hands on their swords and breathed a sigh of relief making the motion that his heart was pounding. The men nodded and followed him into the camp where Nahan, Ryukin, Andrew, the people and Andrews’s men went over Ryukin’s plan which he gave Andrew full credit for. They had to work quickly for if they failed, there would be bloodshed at dawn.
Chapter 6
Time Returned
King Erwin II paced in his throne room, his face twisted with a scowl as his captain of the guard explained what had happened outside the walls. "She managed to kill Lieutenant Conal and half of his patrol sir."
"Was she captured?" Erwin snarled but he knew the answer by the look on the captain's face. "She was one girl" he replied.
"She is extremely skilled, we underestimated her." The captain admitted.
"Do you have any idea where she is now?" Erwin asked, also knowing the answer but thrusting to hear his captain admit his failures.
"No sir." The captain replied with his head bowed. "We have all patrols looking for her."
"Why would she risk being captured and completely expose herself?" Shatina asked joining in the conversation. Her eyes flashed to the captain and she stared at him intently. "Unless," Her 's' trailing in a hiss. "What was she doing Captain?"
"She..." The captain could not find the words under Shatina's intense energy. Beads of sweat start to form on the captain's forehead and he forced his gaze from her.
"He does not know." She said breaking the stare. The captain flashed his eyes to her and then dropped his head back to his defeated position.
"Captain, prepare the men for battle." Erwin ordered. "We have some unfinished business to attend to."