by Tom Rogal
The injured soldier yelled, “No!”
Kile could have probably taken the boy, but the military man in him found it wiser to report this. His master would be most intrigued. He sheathed his sword and maneuvered his beast to retrieve the remaining man. Kile picked up the soldier with one arm and slung him over the saddle of the barrgon.
Kile yelled, “You haven’t seen the last of us, Levus! Hyah!”
He turned the barrgons the other way grabbing their reins and rode quickly out of the forest. It wasn’t long before both had disappeared in the fog that had grown thicker over the Dyyros forest.
Levus waited until the only sounds he could hear were the normal wildlife cadence. How did he do that? All he remembered was feeling a strong sense of rage and then something overtaking his body. He finally sheathed his sword and went down on one knee.
The woman came out from hiding and slowly approached Levus, who was visibly shaking. She could hear his quick breaths as she got closer to him.
“Mister?”
Levus slowly raised his head, flustered. This was the first time he got to look at the woman, though he couldn’t see much of her face because of the mud, which also covered her clothes. She was young and about four inches shorter than him.
The girl asked, “Are you okay?”
“Yeah . . . just a little shaken up. Thanks for asking.”
“No, thank you! Had it not been for you, they would’ve had me,” the woman replied.
“No problem. Look. I don’t want to be rude, but I need to be going now.”
He didn’t walk very far before he heard a voice from behind.
“Wait!”
Levus turned to find the woman right behind him. She looked a complete mess with tears rolling down her face, making two clear streaks in the dirt.
The girl continued, “Let me join you.”
Levus shook his head. “I’m glad you’re happy that I saved your life, but I still need to hunt something so I don’t go home empty-handed. Besides, don’t you have a family to run to?”
“Not anymore,” the girl answered.
Levus stopped. He couldn’t leave her by herself. She was alone and he knew how dangerous Dyyros could become after dark. She would not stand a chance. He put his head down and then raised it to look at her.
“Oh, what the hells. Let’s go!” Levus said.
A smile instantly grew on the young woman’s face. “Let me get my things.”
She ran to the spot where they collided and grabbed what looked like a long stick and a pouch. Levus could not tell anything more because they too were covered in mud. She stood next to Levus and waited for them to depart. He looked at her one more time.
Levus added, “Well, before we get going, I think you should wash that mud off. Maybe get some food. There’s a waterfall not that far from here.”
The woman nodded and Levus turned around.
“Okay, let’s go.”
***
Kile arrived at Fort Kerran in a few hours thanks to his ride compared to two days on foot, but it wasn’t a pleasant return. Things had gone so well earlier in the morning. They had taken Porsita in a single, swift blow in addition to bringing their Myyrilian visitors to justice. If only he hadn’t run into that accursed Levus!
As he passed through the gates, one of the guards ran up to collect Kile’s barrgon. He tossed him the reins angrily as he dismounted.
“Welcome back, Master Kile. I take it your plans were successful?”
He didn’t need this, not from a petty soldier. The quicker he answered, though, the quicker he would be out of his hair.
“As well as usual. That soldier needs medical attention. Take him to the clinic immediately.”
The guard nodded and helped the injured man inside the clinic while other guards attended to the barrgons. Kile continued to the main entrance. Fort Kerran was not very large, but it was well situated in the Dyyros Woods. This used to be what he called home during Ulcinar’s takeover. Now, he spent more time north, rarely even entering the Dyyros Woods.
As he neared the doors, Alcatar exited. At last, Kile said to himself, a competent soldier.
Alcatar was not a tall man, but he was well built and rarely seen without his chainmail on. He was bald, but had more than abundant facial hair. He was efficient with most weaponry, but there was no one as good with a scythe, barring Death himself. He had been known by another name long ago, but Kile could never remember it. They had served together when they first took the capital, but Kile hadn’t seen his old friend in over a year. Alcatar bowed and walked with him.
“It is good to see you after so long, Alcatar. Your leadership is missed in the capital.”
Alcatar replied, “I would hardly think so. Lord Ulcinar saw it more fitting that I work on the outskirts of his kingdom. Once this continent is under our full control, I’ll take some land as my own and retire a rich man with many wives. I know you did not come to me just for reminiscence.”
“It is my understanding, from some of the soldier’s whisperings, that another mage survived the attack, though very weakened. Have you been able to discover any information from him?”
Alcatar laughed. “Ah, yes. The one that called himself Darcoul. Therein lies the problem. I used methods that some would regard as questionable, but he remained mum. I told the soldiers to continue their torture while I attended to other urgent matters. I returned to find that one of them killed him.”
“I hope he was punished for his disobedience.”
As Kile said this, they passed a courtyard with a solitary tree in it. Hanging from the tree were what looked like a soldier . . . at least what was left of him after the birds of prey were through.
Alcatar commented, “Oh, he will not disappoint me again. His blatant failure to follow orders will serve as an example to all. It is so good to see you again, Kile. Shall I notify the tavern that you will be reserving the entire place and its best wenches for the night?”
“Perhaps at a later time. I must contact Lord Ulcinar immediately. Is the shrine empty?” asked Kile.
“At this time, it would be. Many don’t go until later in the evening. I will be sure to place guards before the door to make sure that you are not disturbed.”
Kile nodded as he went inside the fort. Alcatar looked at the guards near the door and said, “Be sure that Kile receives the utmost privacy.”
***
As Kile entered the shrine, it was just as Alcatar had promised him. It was not very large as not many of the soldiers came here to worship. Mainly the priests and their apprentices came here to pay homage. Even Kile thought them a strange sort. He believed the name of the head priest was Denivan. After making sure the guards Alcatar guaranteed him had arrived, he closed the door behind him.
The shrine was dimly lit by candles. The shadows they cast would cause any normal man to quiver. He hardly saw much reason for evil-looking statues as they resembled nothing like the god they worshiped. Ulcinar had his purposes, though, and he was not very eager to find them out either. The pews, as they called them were nothing more than broken benches infested by the wood-eating bugs.
At the front was an altar laid behind an open pit with a weak fire. He knelt in front of the pit, pulling a small pouch from his garment. He wished Ulcinar had a more convenient way of conversing with him, but with the given technology, this would do. It did beat riding several hundred miles on horse or lizard back. Sadly, judging how he beat his men her except for the prisoner cart, that meant Alcatar never got his message to contact Ulcinar. They must have gotten lost. It was rare for his troops to be dispatched to the Woods, as he oversaw everything north of them, so he couldn’t blame them. Since the message was still enroute, it meant he got to tell Ulcinar every good . . . and bad detail. He poured a small amount of the powder out and cupped it into his hand.
“Aotoli cummuuniocon”
Kile tossed the powder in the dying embers of the pit. The flame suddenly sprang back to life with a bright bl
ue color to replace the red. It grew so strong it nearly touched the ceiling. Kile hated this part, as his eyes could never take the illumination. It wasn’t until the flame lowered that Kile could resume looking at it, awaiting a reply. After what seemed like minutes, the flame finally began to take shape into that of a man. Kile bowed lower until his face was nearly touching the floor.
“Arise, most faithful servant.”
The deep voice would have been enough to send a chill down any man’s spine. Kile even found it inhuman. Following his master’s order, he stood up and looked at the figure. It was more of a silhouette, but was still menacing.
“Apologies if this is an inopportune time, Lord Ulcinar, but I felt this information important enough to risk it.”
“I assumed something was amiss when you failed to contact me at our arranged time. Did the attack go as foreseen?”
“Yes, my Lord. The attack on Porsita went successfully. The members of the Myyrilian government were either killed or captured . . . mainly killed, per your request. I can confirm Neeza was one of the dead. I took care of it personally. We are still trying to apprehend the captain that brought them here, but he is eluding our navy better than expected.”
“Then what went wrong?”
Kile was worried about what response he would get from Ulcinar. His master wanted things to go perfectly. Those who haven’t done so in this manner, Kile had never seen again.
He explained, “A lone girl escaped the town. Neeza seemed quite concerned with her, so I felt she was important. We pursued her all night and just as we were to apprehend her, we ran into a boy.”
Ulcinar’s snicker echoed in the empty shrine. “And you could not defeat a common child?”
“He performed a technique, my Lord.”
Ulcinar’s laughter turned deathly silent. The cold stare of his master piecing through him.
“You are certain about this?”
“It was unmistakable. It was like mine, only different,” Kile answered.
“There are many types of techniques one can do, but it would take a lifetime to even know them all. Did you see anything else on him that matched yours?”
Kile debated about how much he should tell Ulcinar. His main concern was the boy’s eyes. He wanted more time to mull over this subject before he reported it. Both our eyes are different from everyone else’s, but his eyes are also different from mine. What was I missing? When he confronted Levus again, he would be able to verify his suspicions. Until then, Ulcinar didn’t have to know about this small detail just yet.
Kile said, “I didn’t get too close a look, but his sword and medallion glowed much like mine do when I perform a technique.”
“The boy is reckless. He doesn’t realize the power he contains. One like that can be very dangerous. Find a way to retrieve the weapon and medallion and eliminate him.”
“Master, with your approval, I have a suggestion.”
“Speak.”
Kile straightened his stance and cleared his throat. A drop of sweat fell from his brow. He finally said, “Perhaps I can convince the boy to join us. He is good with the sword, even by my standards. With two individuals who can perform sword techniques in your army, you’d be unstoppable.”
Ulcinar put his only visible hand and toward his chin. “You speak wisely, Kile. So, let it be done. But if he resists, he must be destroyed . . . and Kile. If you run into trouble, recite my name in the manner I’ve told you before, and you will be saved.”
Kile knelt once more and said, “Yes, Master Ulcinar.”
CHAPTER 2
First Encounter
Levus knelt near the pond’s bank with a hunting knife in hand. The woman he had rescued began to wash the mud off her skin and clothing. She looked at Levus and then back at the water not sure what to think. She was very obliged that this local helped her, but could she trust him? If she couldn’t even fully trust her own father, how could she trust this stranger? Perhaps time will tell. Despite her fears, though, this young man was very cute.
Levus took another swipe with similar results of a miss. He hated fishing, especially in this spot. The current in the pond was much heavier than usual. Levus didn’t understand why the people still called this a “pond.” The changing of the ground through the years had made it more like a river. He took another swipe in the water.
“What are you doing?”
Levus looked up to see the woman standing in the water that went up to her waist. Most of the mud was gone, but she kept her back turned. Levus’ focus once again returned to the water.
He replied, “Trying to catch us some food. It’s not good to travel on an empty stomach.”
Levus took another quick look at the woman. She was currently washing her shoulder area and began to wring out some of the water in her clothing. Levus returned his focused once again at the pond. His reflection was hard to visualize in the mucky water by the shore.
He hated to delay the hunt, especially since he had so many important clients right now, but it was right to help this young lady out. By the time they came back this way, maybe the Styligius deer would be over the fear that something was after it and give him a second chance at it. Plus, his mom wanted him to go to Porsita anyway. Might as well take care of that business first.
“Say, I don’t think I caught your name,” Levus said.
Spotting a fish swimming by the shore, he readied his knife, excitedly following its every movement. He had to have that fish. It hovered near the water’s surface. It was like the fish knew it was being watched. In a quick splash, it made a mad dash toward the inner river. Levus was too quick, though. The knife stabbed through the fish’s scales and Levus pulled it out like a trophy. He gave a small laugh as he held the struggling fish in his hand.
The lust he had after making a kill died when a pair of legs came into his view. The water went up to her ankles, so his eyes started there. He traveled up her slender legs and further up her body. For the first time that he realized how skinny she was. Her wet clothes clung tight to her skin. Levus’ eyes finally reached her face and his jaw went slack. The woman was extremely beautiful. Her bright blue eyes received a shimmer from the cloudy sky. Her face was thin, but had a glow to it. Levus almost didn’t notice her extending her hand toward him.
“I’m sorry. My name is Divi.”
Levus snapped out of his trance and stood up. He took Divi’s hand and shook it. “It’s . . . nice to meet you.”
Divi replied, “Likewise.”
They continued to shake hands a while longer. Levus couldn’t take his eyes off Divi’s, mesmerized by their outstanding beauty. Her smile only added to the loveliness in front of him. If she had just appeared out of nowhere, well, and if she wasn’t covered in mud when they first met, he would’ve mistaken her for one of the goddesses that his father used to tell him about. She finally let go of Levus’ hand and dropped hers to her side. Levus cleared his throat.
“So, where would you like to go?” asked Levus.
Divi climbed out of the water and leaned against a nearby tree as she rung out her skirt. As she did, he could see more of her thigh. Everything was so graceful with her. He couldn’t again peel his eyes away. He was feeling . . . things. Things he usually only felt when he was with Leeta. This couldn’t be happening. He just met this girl.
“I would like to return to that city where we docked. See if there are any of my party that made it out. I believe he called it . . . Por . . . Porsit . . .”
“Porsita?”
Divi nodded.
Levus put his hand under his chin. “Porsita is quite some ways from here. We should be able to make it in a few days, though, if we leave now. The days grow unusually longer this time of year, but not enough that we can waste them,” Levus said.
Divi asked, “Why would it take so long? I got here in less than a day.”
“For one, after any storm, the woods can be treacherous. We also need food, as I’m sure you haven’t eaten in a while. Plus, you to
ok a boat part of the way from what you described. That took a couple days off your travel time by land alone. That you even found a boat there is amazing as no one lives around the edges south of Porsita. I doubt that we’d ever find the same vessel without walking the entire way down the coast.”
She could see his point. She was very hungry now that he mentioned it. Last meal she had was on the boat nearly a day and a half ago.
Levus gathered wood and set a fire. He cut off the tail and head, then removed the bones carefully. That was one thing he liked about fish; after a bit of practice, one was relatively easy to debone compared to other game. Plus, it didn’t take long to cook, which was always a benefit.
Levus passed her portion of the fish, which she ate ravenously. He was only about halfway done when she completed her last bite. She wasn’t kidding that she was hungry! She went over to the pond to get a drink. At least she was doing that slowly. His mother always taught him to eat slowly, otherwise one would get sick. He hoped that wouldn’t be the case. That was the last thing they needed was for either one of them to throw up. He finished just as she had quenched her thirst.
Divi ran over to Levus and tugged his arm. “Well, what are we waiting for? Come on!”
She let go and began to move ahead. Levus watched her walk for a few seconds. The movements of her hips, arms, and legs were like a piece of music, smooth and without error. Levus once again shook off his trance and ran to catch up with his new companion.
***
Now what? That was the only thing that came to mind when Kile was summoned by Ulcinar again. Alcatar had just introduced him to a nice group of ladies he was more than happy to share the night with. There were times when he wished Ulcinar used Alcatar more so he could enjoy some of life’s other luxuries. Kile fancied the good life and most women were drawn to him, as he was very handsome. Some had problems with the two-eye color thing, but that was all. He had hoped, in light of his victory at Porsita, that Ulcinar would reward him a few nights to indulge in his pleasures. Tonight, though, would not be one of them. It was a shame that Ardeeza met such a gruesome fate, as their master had normally called on her first.