by Jeff Gunzel
Like a bird swooping down on its prey, Azek dropped down from the roof. In one clean slash, he opened Gill from shoulder to hip. Innards and blood spilled across the sand in a waterfall of gore.
Face still hidden with black soot, gripping the hilt of his bloodstained blade, Azek looked up to Orsh, who just stood there frozen with fear. His dark eyes bore into Orsh with a savage intensity few men had inside them. “Ple...please don’t,” he stuttered, glancing down at what was left of Gill. The big man gazed up into the rain with lifeless eyes, a river of red flowing from his halved torso. “I’m...I’m not loyal to Arkare, I swear on my life. He...he made us do this!”
With Azek’s hood pulled low and his face veiled in shadow, Orsh felt as if he were talking with the reaper himself. “You swear on your life?” came the hissing voice from underneath the dark hood. Orsh dropped to his knees, trembling while nodding his head emphatically. “So be it,” said the assassin. His blade flashed for an instant, then slid back into its sheath. Orsh’s head went rolling across the wet sand.
Azek retrieved his trophy, lifting it up by the hair. He went back to the big man’s body and glared down at it, holding up Orsh’s head. “There is nothing to fear, my friend,” he said to the body, as if talking with an old friend. “You will not remain lonely in the afterlife for much longer. This I promise you.”
* * *
Morning sunlight came peeking through the sparse trees. “We’re almost there,” said Ardo, motioning toward a spot just ahead. “Like I said before, they did a very good job at covering the tracks.” The young scout broke into a light jog. General Ninal Rothsul raised his hand, telling the others to back off and give him room. Hounds barked excitedly, white foam spraying the ground with each yelp. Handlers gripped their leather leashes, working hard to keep the eager animals in check.
“Here, this is the spot,” said Ardo, turning in a circle while looking down at the dirt road. “And we eventually found the remains all the way back there.” He pointed into the forest behind a line of thick brush.
“Good job, lad. Now stand aside and let my man take it from here,” said Ninal. He turned about, then motioned toward a spindly fellow with a huge pointy nose. The small man with jet-black hair ran up to Ninal, his hands constantly fidgeting as if he couldn’t stand still. “Yiph, get up there and do what you do best,” said Ninal, smacking him on the back. The little man nodded eagerly, then ran up to the spot in the road that Ardo had pointed out.
Yiph dropped down to his hands and knees, then began studying the road carefully. He inched along slowly, rubbing some spots with his hands then sniffing others like he was a dog. Having no idea what he was looking at, Ardo grinned and pointed to the strange man’s behavior. But seeing Ninal’s serious expression, his grin melted away and he just watched quietly.
Yiph was a strange little man by any measure. Everyone already knew that, but he had an uncanny ability to find the smallest clues no matter how old or weathered. Whether it was a tiny divot in a dirt road, or a few blades of bent grass, he always found a way to make them tell their story. He was considered to be the best tracker in all of Taron, and once again he was going to try and prove it.
Yiph reached into his pocket and retrieved a small glass eyepiece. Squinting with his right eye to hold it in place, he continued crawling around on all fours, scratching at the packed dirt every now and then. “The assault was quick and efficient,” he said in a scratchy, high-pitched voice. He looked up from the road and gazed at the nearby trees. “Something forced these wagons to stop quickly,” he muttered, before sprinting over to one of the larger trees along the roadside. He rubbed the bark with two fingers and immediately found what he already suspected was there. Yiph ran to a second tree on the other side and began rubbing at holes in the bark, shaking his head.
“And I see exactly how it was done...”
“My lady, I really wish you would ride under cover of the wagon instead of up here with me,” said Rovin, looking around nervously.
“And why would I do such a thing?” said Anna, a shake of her head allowing her hair to wave about in the gentle breeze. She stretched her arms and wriggled her toes, enjoying the ride on the open road. “Because of my presence alone, you now have more armed guard with you than ever before. Your caravan will never be any safer than this.” She glanced left then right at the soldiers riding alongside the wagons. They looked just as uptight as Rovin did, which made her laugh. “I swear, you’re all so tense today. You should try and enjoy the beautiful day.”
“My lady, I see nothing wrong with displaying at least a little caution. Being a safe distance from a lion doesn’t mean you should tempt it with a slab of raw meat. I just think it would be best if you stayed out of sight. Why must you always insist on taking such risks?”
“Because we only live once, my dear overprotective Rovin,” she said before kissing her own hand, then giving him a playful smack on the cheek. “Besides, I didn’t beg father to let me ride along just so I could hide in the back like some stowaway criminal. I want to see the world! I want to experience things for myself, not read about them in a book while father keeps me locked away like some precious jewel hidden from the light of day. Do you have any idea how long I’ve waited for this opportunity? All this time stuck in that room—”
“Wearing expensive clothing and jewelry, eating exquisite meals from renowned cooks, all while receiving firsthand tutoring from Athsmin’s finest scholars,” Rovin interrupted. Anna bit her lower lip in embarrassment. With color blooming in her cheeks, she drew in on herself and looked away. Rovin sighed and patted her knee. “It’s alright, Anna. Believe it or not, I still remember what it’s like to be young. All that energy and not the slightest idea of how to use it productively.” He let out a light chuckle. “All I’m saying is that your life could be a lot worse. Having what you seem to think is a boring life is not the same as a hard one. I’m sure there are quite a few kids out there who wouldn’t mind trading places with you. You would do good to remember that.”
Still ashamed, she nodded her agreement then tilted her head onto his shoulder. Rovin had always been like an uncle to her. Not afraid to put her in her place when she was acting like a spoiled brat, but loving and kind all the same. A shoulder to cry on when she needed one, and an ear to listen when she just wanted to complain.
Without warning, a thick black arrow slammed into a tree only a few paces ahead, the loud crack making the two of them jump. Several more thundered into the thick trunk, one right after the other. Immediately, a similar barrage of arrows zipped into a second tree on the opposite side of the road. Ropes attached to the arrows rose up from the ground as men pulled them from each side. Weaved together, they formed a makeshift net, now blocking off the road.
Rovin pulled back on the horses’ reins. They bucked and whinnied, skidding to a stop. The wagon behind theirs slowed to a halt, as well as the third. Twenty highly trained soldiers drew their swords and immediately surrounded the three wagons, five to a side. Having no idea which direction the attack was coming from, all they could do was form defensive positions.
“Form up, men,” one of them shouted. “Turtle shell!” Each soldier brought his shield up to face level with his sword tip facing outward. Their trained horses inched toward each other, helping to form four human walls around the caravan.
Yiph nodded to himself while walking in a straight line, all the while staring down at the road. He appeared to be mumbling, then nodding at his own replies. Not wanting to disturb his concentration, the men remained silent as he muttered to no one. He walked a ways, turned left, then walked a few more paces before turning again. He shuddered, then looked around as if only now remembering where he was. “The soldiers kept calm and formed a defensive formation around the caravan,” he called out. “But I’m afraid that’s exactly what the enemies were expecting them to do.”
Ninal said nothing, only nodded solemnly.
Yiph dropped to all fours again and began crawling around ne
ar the brush on the side of the road. He was starting to look worried, as if he were living this moment along with those men. “The enemy was ready,” he said, drawing invisible lines across the brush with his fingers.
The soldiers held their ground, not daring to advance into the dense forest. They would hold here and force the enemy to show themselves. “Hold steady, men,” called the first soldier, his shield up and sword ready. “Show yourselves, you cowards!”
The soldiers’ formation was meant to defend against an enemy’s charge, and the shields held closely together would help deal with any projectiles. It was a situation where the men let their training rise up above their common sense. It was the very tactic the enemy had been counting on. Large men with their faces painted green for camouflage darted out of the forest. At first glance it didn’t seem as if they had any weapons at all, only small bundles tucked under their arms. When the bundles were released high into the air, the soldiers realized their tactical error immediately.
The light but sturdy nets unraveled as they soared through the air, then entangled the closely positioned guards. The soldiers couldn’t have made it any easier for the blood pack. More fighters with their faces painted came running from the forest, tackling and pinning down the already snared soldiers. Predictable combat protocol had cost them this battle in a matter of seconds.
Anna hugged her knees into her chest and curled up into a ball. She opened her mouth to scream, but Rovin slapped a hand over it. He brought a finger to his lips then slowly pulled his hand away. With tears streaming down her cheeks, she began hyperventilating as the chaos unfolded all around. Rovin slid open a wooden panel behind them. “They haven’t noticed you yet. I need you to get back there and hide.”
“What about you?” she whispered while climbing in back. “I’m not leaving you if—”
“You’ve never listened to anybody before, but you better listen now!” he said, his eyes full of fear and determination. “No matter what they do...no matter what you hear, don’t you dare show yourself. In case this is the last time you hear the sound of my voice, you had best honor my last wish. Stay...hidden!” He slid the panel shut, then glanced around to make sure no one had noticed.
Within minutes, the men with green faces had rounded up most of the soldiers, and were now making their way from wagon to wagon, pulling down the riders. Sure enough, they were checking the back of each wagon. Having only a few moments to act, Rovin pulled the dagger they were certain to find from inside of his vest, and shoved it down into his boot.
“Here’s another one,” shouted a green-faced man. He reached up and grabbed Rovin by the vest, slung him down onto the road, then pinned his chest with a heavy boot. “Move a muscle or make a sound, and you’ll die right here, slug.” Winded from the harsh impact, he coughed a few times then nodded his understanding.
He could hear them rummaging through the back of his wagon. Almost fearful they could read his mind, Rovin made sure he didn’t glance at it. He feared for Anna’s safety and prayed she would not be discovered, but relief washed over him when the man climbed out empty handed. The soldiers were having their hands bound, each wearing a solemn expression of acceptance. A man knows when he has been beaten soundly. In groups of five they were led off the road and into the forest. Shortly after, the wagons were steered off the road. A few of the green-faced men began working on the road, sweeping away tracks.
Pain exploded through Rovin’s face as a kick sent his tooth skipping into the brush. “On your feet, maggot!” said the green-faced man. “It’s your turn now.”
Yiph shuffled his feet along the road. “There was no struggle to speak of,” he said. “It was over before it started.” He walked back over to the brush and began running his fingers along one of the trees. There were a few barely visible scratches etched into the bark. Then he dropped down to all fours again and examined the soft ground. “They led the prisoners through here, then brought the wagons down.”
Yiph snapped his fingers then motioned for the others to follow. Ninal led the way, followed by the dog handlers. Ardo brought up the rear, still astonished at what this man was capable of. The scout had never seen anything like it before. “They were led down here in rows of five,” Yiph called out, now starting to pick up his pace.
Anna could feel the wagon moving. She heard the sound of the wheels crunching over rock and sticks. Lying underneath a small pile of furs, she trembled uncontrollably. They hadn’t seen her when they looked the first time, but what was she going to do now? She couldn’t hide under these furs forever. Her panting breath sounded loud and heavy to her own ears. They’re going to find me and kill me, she thought to herself, shoving one of the furs into her face, trying to smother her sobs. Then, the wagon stopped moving. All she could do now was listen.
“Where is she?” demanded one of the blood pack. He was shirtless and wearing a black fur on top of his head. His whole upper body was painted green along with his face. He bent down so all the captured soldiers’ faces were in his view. Kneeling in a line, their eyes stared straight ahead. “Where...is Anna Drine?” That time when he asked the question, eyes grew a bit larger, shoulders shuddered ever so slightly. That was all he needed to see.
Hearing his words, her sobs intensified even further. She was practically eating the fur now, shoving it hard into her face to muffle the sound. Feeling around just outside of the pile, her fingers crept over a loose container of silverware. Gripping some kind of handle, she pulled it back underneath her hiding place. It was a fork. Hardly the perfect weapon, but better than a spoon. She gripped it tightly, as if it were the only thing in the world that mattered. She could hear them unhinging the horses and sending them away into the forest with a slap.
“Let me be clear,” he said, casually leaning back against a tree. “We already know she was with the caravan when it left Taron. We just want one of you to tell us where she is now.”
“There is nobody here by that name,” grumbled one of soldiers, before spitting on the ground.
“Oh, I see,” said the man calmly. “So I suppose Taron sent twenty armed guard just to protect some grain and a few furs.” He made a subtle gesture toward the soldier who had spoken out, no more than a flick of his fingers.
Immediately, one of the blood pack ran behind the soldier, pulled his head up by the back of his hair, then brought a dagger up to his throat. When the leader gave a subtle nod, the green-faced man began to cut. The soldier tried to shout, but instead released a wet gurgling sound. Blood pumped from his neck while the man cut away, his eyes rolling up into his head. In reality, his head was removed within seconds, but the gruesome task seemed to go on forever.
“Did I forget to mention it would be best not to lie to me?” said the leader. He waited for an answer as if the question were not rhetorical. “Well, now you know.” He marched over to the next soldier on his knees, and pushed up his chin, forcing the man to look him in the eye. “The Lady Anna Drine,” he repeated. The soldier held his gaze for a moment or two before spitting in the leader’s face.
He calmly wiped the spit from his cheek, then simply pointed toward the man on his knees. The soldier’s head was pulled straight back, and the cutting began. It was all done in a job-like fashion. Not hatefully or aggressively, just a task that needed doing. “You will all be given the same opportunity,” called the leader as he walked back to his tree. “Tell me where she is, or lose your head. Doesn’t get much simpler than that, now does it?”
A moment later, Yiph stumbled into a clearing. Sure enough, here were the three wagons, but that wasn’t what stopped him in his tracks. As requested by Ninal, the crime scene had been left untouched. That included the numerous headless bodies lined up in rows with their hands still bound. Covered in flies, their hands and ankles were bloated, the skin stretched out to the point where it looked transparent. Some of their chests had begun to swell and were taking on a purplish hue. A sickly stench hung in the air.
The heads were piled not far fr
om the bodies. With no hesitation, Yiph walked over and picked one up by the hair, then shook the maggots away. Ardo covered his mouth with his cheeks puffed out, then turned away and proceeded to give up every meal he’d ever had since birth. The men paid no attention to him; their eyes were locked on Yiph as he rubbed the leathery skin around the neck area. “This is not a clean cut. They sawed from the neck back, which could have taken minutes or longer,” Yiph said, a bit of emotion entering his voice for the first time. “Savages,” he whispered under his breath.
He gently put down the severed head and walked past the line of bodies, saying a few words of prayer for each one as he went by. “Something else happened here,” he said, gazing around at the ground in general. As always, the gifted man was able to see things no one else could.
The drivers could do nothing but stand by and watch while the soldiers were beheaded one at a time. Each one was asked the same question, and each answered with the same honorable defiance. Some called out their allegiance to Taron before dying, others went silently. Once there were only ten remaining, the pack leader gave the final signal. He was frustrated by their unwavering loyalty and had had enough of this. It was clear that none of them were going to talk, and if she was on the run and putting precious miles between herself and the blood pack, he needed to find out now.
Once their heads fell to the ground, the leader picked one of them up and shifted his attention to the wagon drivers. He held the gory trophy in front of the five men, forcing each driver to take a close look one at a time. The mouth and eyes were still open, a silent scream frozen in time. “He didn’t have to die, you know,” he said. “I’m sure he had a family to go home to, not unlike the five of you.” He rotated the head so it faced back toward him. “Isn’t that right? Now I’ll bet you wish you had just answered my question.” He gave it a shake to make it nod yes.