Evil Within

by Richard S. Tuttle

  "I don't see anybody moving," answered the guard. "They are just standing there." A moment went by before he continued, "Actually, I think they are not standing. They are lying down."

  "You mean they are crawling towards the wall?" the captain asked with confusion in his voice.

  "No sir," the guard shook his head. "They aren't moving at all."

  The captain frowned and sighed deeply at his inability to see what the guard could see. He waited impatiently for the sky to lighten. Just as he was able to make out the forms of men lying on the ground, the guard next to him stiffened.

  "They are Borundans!" gasped the guard. "Merciful sword! What has happened?"

  Gasps rang out along the wall as the predawn light showed thousands of Borundan bodies surrounding the city of Oran. Runners came from every section of the wall to report to the captain, and Hardan waved the men back to their posts after he heard their reports. Several other captains showed up and huddled behind Hardan so that they could hear the reports.

  "One would suspect that General Bassner's assault on Natura did not go well," the captain said softly.

  "But why bother to carry their bodies back here?" asked one of the other captains. "Is it some sort of Odessian ritual?"

  "I think they are telling us that we are not welcome in their land," replied Captain Hardan.

  "Well that was a waste of their effort," snarled the other captain. "We have the fortifications of the city on our side. What are the horsemen going to do about it? When they charge the walls, we will cut them down with arrows."

  As the captain spoke, the Odessian warriors rode into view. Thousands of Odessians, sitting proudly on their Odessian beauties, rode towards the walls of Oran and stopped just outside the range of bow and arrow. For a full half hour the Odessians continued to arrive and form a ring around the city. Captain Hardan swallowed hard and shook his head in dismay.

  "How many arrows do the men have?" he asked the other captain.

  "Enough," snarled the other captain, but his voice cracked with fear. "Besides, there are not enough Borundan bodies down there."

  "Not enough Borundan bodies?" snapped Captain Hardan. "There are thousands of our brothers down there. What are you talking about?"

  "That can't be all of General Bassner's men down there," scowled the other captain. "Maybe the general was ambushed and lost some men, but that doesn't mean that the rest of his force is destroyed. He may be leading them up behind the Odessians at this very moment."

  "If General Bassner has any force left," retorted Captain Hardan, "he will not waste them in an open battle against the horsemen. Frankly, I do not think the Odessians would put themselves in this position if General Bassner were still alive."

  "You can't possibly know that," shouted the other officer. "You want to take control of the western army. You are merely hoping that he is dead. We will not allow you to take control."

  "You won't allow it?" snapped Captain Hardan. "General Bassner left me in charge of this army. You will obey my commands, or you will face the consequences for treason. If General Bassner returns, you can complain to him about my orders, but until then, you will do as I say."

  With a wave of Captain Hardan's hand, a group of soldiers surrounded the other captains. Hardan was about to continue with his verbal lashing when a distant whoosh caught everyone's attention.

  "That sounded like a trebuchet," the guard said with alarm.

  Everyone faced east expecting to see a fiery ball approaching, but their mouths fell open when they saw that it was merely a human body being tossed over the city wall. They followed the progress of the body, which slammed to the ground in the middle of the marketplace.

  "That was General Bassner," announced the guard. "I don't think he will be coming up behind the Odessians."

  "I thought the Odessians were on their way to Caxon," one of the captains remarked. "How could they also be here?"

  "Evidently King Zinan was wrong in his assessment," sighed Captain Hardan. "If the Odessians have defeated General Bassner, which I now think it is safe to say is true, that means that they have his siege weapons. They can tear down the walls of this city before sending their horsemen in to finish us off."

  "They wouldn't destroy their own city," balked one of the captains. "You are thinking of surrendering. I know it. You cannot. The Odessians will kill all of us."

  "All we need to do is get word to King Zinan and then hold out for a few days," offered another officer. "Surely he would send reinforcements?"

  "That is one option," agreed Captain Hardan, "but how do you propose we get a messenger out of this city?"

  "I am sure we can get a man out," boasted the defiant captain. "It only takes one man to get through. We could send several men at the same time to increase out odds."

  "A good thought," smiled Captain Hardan. "Borundan officers are among the finest riders in the land. I am willing to let all of you give it a go. Surely one of you will get through to King Zinan?"

  The officers' faces paled at the prospect of trying to get through the lines of Odessian horsemen. They realized that Captain Hardan was calling their bluff, and their clamor for sending for reinforcements died out.

  "What are we going to do then?" one of the officers asked meekly.

  "I don't know," admitted Captain Hardan. "I am curious as to what the next step of the Odessians will be. I suspect that they would rather not destroy the city of Oran, but I know that they will if they have to. Perhaps that gives us a bargaining position."

  "What do you mean?" asked one of the officers.

  "I see only three options for us," explained Captain Hardan. "We can stay and fight in hopes of defeating the Odessians. We could surrender and hope they do not massacre us, or we can bargain for a peaceful retreat to Borunda. Given a choice, I would opt for the third option. We might be able to hold onto Oran, but for what purpose? We would need another army to complete the capture of all of Odessia, and General Wikner's army is already committed to the fight against Arin."

  "I agree," conceded the defiant captain. "With no hope of reinforcements, we will be stuck in Oran forever. The only thing better than a retreat to Borunda would be if we could get word to King Zinan, but I am not willing to take that ride myself. Still, I think we should see if there are some men who would be willing to try it before we retreat."

  Captain Hardan thought for a minute and then nodded in agreement. He waved the guards away, setting the officers free.

  "There may be some men crazy enough to give it a try," Hardan conceded. "See if you can find any, but be quick about it. The Odessians are not going to sit there long before doing something."

  Before the officers could depart, three riders separated from the long lines of Odessians and rode towards the wall. The outside riders were Odessian warriors, but the inside one was hooded. All of the officers moved to the wall and peered at the riders.

  "That is King Rihad on the left," announced an officer.

  "And Prince Umal on the right," added another. "Perhaps they are coming to parley?"

  The riders halted some distance from the walls, but close enough to be easily identifiable. When Prince Umal was certain that all attention was on them, he reached up and pulled back the hood covering Jared's head.

  "They have captured King Zinan!" gasped one of the officers. "We are doomed!"

  Captain Hardan stared in amazement at the sight before him. He had expected the Odessian king to make a demand of surrender, but no words were required to fulfill the act. With the Borundan king captured, there was no chance of reinforcements, and there was no way that the Odessians would allow the Borundans to retreat from Oran. The war was over.

  "Signal our surrender," Captain Hardan ordered the officers. "Have the men leave their weapons on the wall and retreat to the marketplace."

  "But they will murder us all," complained one of the officers.

  "They might," conceded Captain Hardan, "but I will try to make sure that they don't. Make sure that none
of the men keep their weapons. I do not want to give the Odessians any excuse to start killing us."

  "What are you going to do?" asked the guard.

  "I am going out to surrender," answered Captain Hardan. "I am also going to plead for our lives. Wish me luck."

  The captain walked down the stairs and ordered the gates opened. As the Borundan soldiers watched, the captain marched through the gates and approached King Rihad. He bowed to King Zinan and then drew his sword. He held the sword by the blade and extended it to the Odessian king.

  "My men are willing to surrender the city to you, King Rihad," Captain Hardan said formally, "but I would like to hear that they will be well treated."

  The captain's eyes continually flicked towards King Zinan, and King Rihad noticed it. He waved his hand dismissively towards Jared.

  "Take him away, Prince Umal," ordered King Rihad. "There is no need for his presence here while I discuss the terms of surrender with this captain."

  Prince Umal took the reins to Jared's horse and led him away from the city walls. The captain watched his king being led away and shook his head.

  "What is your name?" demanded King Rihad.

  "I am Captain Hardan," answered the officer. "I was left in charge of Oran by General Bassner when he headed east."

  "And you think I should spare the men who murdered the elderly of this Odessian city?" scowled the Odessian king.

  "None of the men in Oran participated in that," replied Captain Hardan. "In fact, we found the general's actions reprehensible, but none of us are in any position to berate a superior officer. We are at your mercy, King Rihad, but I plead with you to be sensible in your moment of victory. We are giving up the city of Oran without a battle in order to save lives. Surely that is worth something of consideration to you?"

  "It is," nodded King Rihad. "I am loathe to lose more warriors to a war that we never wished for, but I am concerned that my leniency will be cause for bolder steps by your people in the future. If there is no price to pay for waging war against your neighbors, won't others be more inclined to do so in the future?"

  "I suppose that is possible," conceded the officer, "but I still must press for leniency. Surely you can think of some punishment other than murdering thousands of men?"

  "Like only killing the officers?" asked King Rihad.

  Captain Hardan swallowed hard as he stared at the Odessian king, but eventually he nodded. "If that will save the rest of the men," the captain conceded, "I will accept your punishment, but I must warn you that the others will not. If this is to be the terms of our surrender, I must insist that you do not seek retribution until the city is fully secured by your people. The other officers will panic and create a bloodbath. There is no need for that. Let me gather my officers in one place so they cannot sow discontent when the time comes."

  "Only on the condition that these terms are disclosed to no one," countered King Rihad. "You are the only Borundan to know of what has been spoken out here. Will you abide by these terms?"

  "I will," vowed the Borundan captain.

  "Go and prepare your people for surrender," ordered the Odessian king. "Know that your soldiers will not be killed if they are disarmed and do not try to fight us."

  Captain Hardan bowed and retreated to the city. King Rihad sat on his horse and watched the young officer walk away before turning and riding over the hill to where his camp was. He dismounted and was met by Prince Umal and his friends.

  "An interesting man, that captain," commented King Rihad. "He offered up his life to save his men."

  "A trick?" asked Prince Umal.

  "I don't think so," the king shook his head. "He was sincerely eager to avoid the death of his men. I think if Borunda had more men like Captain Hardan, their armies would not be out marauding the world."

  "You aren't going to massacre the Borundans, are you?" Jared asked in alarm. "I thought the purpose of this was to avoid bloodshed?"

  "I do not intend to kill anyone," smiled King Rihad, "but it does not hurt to make the Borundans think there is a heavy price to pay. I suspect that we will enslave the officers for a few years, and they will welcome that solution over death. When we finally return them to Borunda, they will be more like ambassadors of goodwill. Perhaps the stories of this war will help to prevent the next one."

  "You know best, Father," nodded Prince Umal. "While I would like to stay and see the people of Oran returned to their homes, I must leave you once again."

  "I know," the king sighed sadly. "Where are you off to now?"

  "We go in search of the real King Zinan," answered Jared. "He is not far to the south from here. Maybe three day's ride."

  "Three days?" frowned the king. "That will take you into Capri. It is not safe for you there. The Borundans are all over the place down there."

  "Where else would we find the Borundan king?" Prince Umal smiled thinly, "but in the middle of all of the Borundans? I will not offer false promises, Father, but I do hope to see you again. Give Mother my love when you see her."

  King Rihad's eyes began to water, but he offered no words of farewell. He embraced his son and hugged him tightly for several minutes. When the embrace was broken, Prince Umal turned and whistled loudly. His Odessian beauty came running and he leaped into the saddle and rode swiftly southward. The foreigners quickly ran for their horses to follow the Odessian prince, but Prince Antion did not ride directly south with the others. He rode towards King Rihad and looked down at the monarch.

  "I will do everything I can to see that Umal returns home," the Arin prince vowed.

  "But there are no guarantees," nodded the king. "I understand, son of Caedmon. You both must do what you are called to do. Go swiftly. Odessians do not care to see their king cry, and I cannot hold back the tears any longer."

  Prince Antion smiled tautly at the king and nodded. He turned his Odessian beauty and galloped after the others.

  Chapter 68 - Fire in the Woods

  Fire in the Woods

  In the forests of northern Capri, well off the Koar-Oran Road, the warriors bedded down for the night. Their close proximity to the Borundan army required that sentries be posted throughout the night, although the location of their campsite almost ensured that no one would stumble upon them. Prince Derri had chosen a spot at the summit of a hill that was only accessible by a single path, and the trail leading up the slope was littered with dead brambles, which would break noisily under someone's approach.

  Sandar and Winona drew the second shift of the night. They stood concealed by a large rock where they had an excellent view of the trail to the base of the hill. The nearly full moon cast a broad glow of light over the forest, and the two foreign warriors felt their minds drifting as their eyes kept watch. Half way through the watch, Sandar noticed that Winona kept staring back at the campsite. He followed her gaze, but he saw nothing alarming in the camp.

  "Is something the matter?" Sandar asked softly.

  Winona quickly tore her eyes from the campsite and shook her head. "No," she answered. "There is nothing wrong."

  Sandar thought that Winona had acted with embarrassment, and he dwelt on his thoughts in silence for some moments before pursuing the matter.

  "What were you thinking about?" he asked.

  "Many things," Winona answered distractedly.

  "Like what?" pushed the Arin soldier.

  Winona remained silent for several minutes as if pondering some inner debate. Finally she sighed softly and smiled thinly.

  "Life in the Land of the Nine Kingdoms is not what I expected," Winona confessed. "Since I was a young girl, I have been taught that the royalty of our neighbors were terrible people, yet that is not true. I have watched your princes critically since this journey began, and I have not seen anything that would not make my fellow countrymen proud to associate with such men. We have been treated with respect in every country that we have been to. How could my people be so wrong about what exists outside of Harangar?"

  "Perhaps what you
were taught was necessary," shrugged Sandar.

  "What do you mean?" frowned Winona. "Since when is it necessary to speak lies?"

  "What did you think of the Lomites?" asked Sandar.

  "They were a strange people," admitted Winona, "but they truly cared for the people of the nations around them. They would not have agreed to send out their warriors if they did not believe so."

  "Yet the Lomites forbid visitors to their land," Sandar pointed out. "To enter the jungles without an invitation is punishable by death. Is that not a contradiction to you? How can they care for their fellow man and yet threaten to kill them for visiting?"

  "I do find that strange," conceded Winona. "Perhaps the stories of such a punishment are not true?"

  "The stories are true enough," countered Sandar. "Prince Antion has stated so, and he would never lie to me."

  "But it makes no sense," frowned Winona.

  "To me," smiled Sandar, "it makes as much sense as the attitude of the people of Harangar. Your city also threatens to kill those who trespass."

  "But we must," retorted Winona. "Our very safety rests in our ability to hide from the hordes of the Land of the Nine Kingdoms."

  Winona's face screwed up in confusion as she listened to her own defense of Harangar.

  "You are beginning to see what I see," Sandar smiled widely. "The people of Harangar have isolated themselves as a form of protection, but man's curiosity can spoil such defenses. I imagine at one time long ago, the threat to Harangar was quite real and such a defense was required, but the threat is long gone. Still, the best way to remain safe is to prolong the beliefs of long ago. Those beliefs may indeed be lies now, but who could possibly know that?"

  "No one," Winona nodded grudgingly. "Our people never leave the mountains. Perhaps that is why I will not be allowed to return? Could it be that Orro knows what I will discover on this journey, and he fears my spreading the word to the other people?"

  "I cannot speak for Orro," shrugged Sandar, "but your leaving Harangar certainly does present a problem for your people. If Harangar were to let down its defenses, who knows what might happen?"