Starfall (The Fables of Chaos Book 1)

by Jackson Simiana

“I may as well be.” Tomas leant against the shell of a hollow out tree, shaking his head. “I’m a dead man walking.”

  I could run. But how far would I get in these chains? And where on Eos would I even go?

  “If you do as I say, I can protect you from them,” Landry said, gesturing to Ref, Smiling John and the few remaining in the company who appeared to be siding with Ref.

  “Do you really think I attacked Ref for no reason?”

  “I don’t know what happened, Tomas. All I know is, you say one thing and Ref says another. I take my orders from the captain.”

  “Fuck the captain.”

  Landry rushed to cover Tomas’s mouth. “Are you insane? He’ll have your head if he hears you say anything like that. You are already on thin ice as it is, Tomas.”

  “Like I give a shit. Rilan is dead. Ref murdered him. I only came all this way because of Rilan. He was the only person I had left… and now he’s gone.”

  Landry consoled Tomas with a half-embrace. “I’m sorry, Tomas. I wish I could go back and change what happened.”

  “No one believes me,” Tomas sniffled, but refusing to cry.

  He felt so lost, like having the very earth pulled out from under him, removing any resemblance of direction he may have once had.

  Landry wanted to tell him that he believed him, to try and make Tomas feel heard. But he couldn’t. Tomas could see it written across his face that he was just as unsure as the others.

  “If I’m guilty of attacking Ref unprovoked, then why hasn’t the Gharland had me executed?” Tomas said.

  “Because I convinced him not to,” Landry said, “until you were sound of mind at least, so that we could figure out what really happened. We thought that maybe you were so grief-stricken upon finding Rilan’s body that you attacked Ref.”

  “That’s the only reason I’m alive?! Your good word?”

  “And because we need you. This mountain path is a labyrinth, and you are our only guide.”

  At least he’s honest.

  “Why should I help them? Fuck them, the lot of them. They should be dead in the ground with Rilan.”

  “Half of us are dead. We need help, Tomas. We need to figure out what the fuck is going on. I don’t want you to be executed,” Landry said. “But if you refuse to help the company find our way to the Repository, I fear the captain may lose his patience with you.”

  He was right, and that made Tomas feel all the worse. He wanted nothing more to do with Gharland’s company or the task they had been given. But Tomas knew he was out of options.

  Tomas fell backwards into the snow from where he was seated. The cold was bitter and numbing but it did not bother him.

  “You know, Rilan was the only person I had left. My only friend. My only family,” Tomas said.

  Landry nodded, listening intently. “I know.”

  “He wanted more than anything to leave our village and make a name for himself. He spent most of his life talking about becoming someone. A traveller, a knight, or a soldier. But we never had the money or the means. So, when the recruiters came to Brittlepeak, he took the chance without a second thought.”

  “You didn’t want that life?” Landry asked.

  Tomas shrugged with heavy shoulders. “I needed to get away from my father. I wanted anything other than what life I was living. After mother died…” He paused. “Everything went to shit. I didn’t want to lose Rilan. I knew I would lose him. So instead, I joined him.”

  “That was a brave decision.”

  It was the biggest decision Tomas had ever made, and he regretted it more than ever. It had taken him a while to truly understand why he made that choice, believing for so long in the lie that he wanted the same thing as his best friend.

  “I have nothing left to keep me going, Landry,” Tomas said. Even the words were difficult to muster up, they required so much energy to say.

  “That’s not true.” Landry stood before Tomas and looked him straight in the eye. “You have me, and you have yourself. You and I both know that Rilan would not want you giving up. We have a job to do, Tomas, and I need you by my side for it. I can’t do this without you.”

  Tomas looked back down at the snow he sat in. Icy chunks of frozen water, yet somehow so soft, elegant, and peaceful at the exact same time.

  He ran his fingers through its juxtaposing texture, feeling its cold touch and letting it melt into crystal clear drops of water. A delicate blend of bitterness and beauty, of cool calm and gentleness.

  It helped settle his nerves to feel the coldness of the snow around his body and in his hands. Tomas stared into Landry’s desperate eyes. He realised that the squire was just as scared as Tomas was, just as scared as he had been.

  What would Rilan want?

  “I can’t do this without you,” Landry repeated, reaching with an outstretched hand.

  Tomas nodded to the squire, took his hand, and let Landry help pull him up from out of the soft, crunchy snow.

  “Let’s start by getting out of here, alright? Do you know where we are?” Landry said.

  The instruction was clear and gave Tomas something to focus on that wasn’t Rilan- finding the right path through the labyrinth that was the foothills of the Fist.

  Tomas studied the environment. The brown earth spotted with patches of white snow and melting runoff, devoid of all vegetation with the barely worn path branching out into various stark, rock-lined chasms.

  Mooncrest Mountain towered before them, still several miles off.

  But how to get there?

  “We came somewhere like this when we left Brittlepeak, I think,” Tomas said. He turned back to see the tree line of the Darkwood from where they had approached, immediately recognising the strange, imposing vibe it gave off.

  “Alright, good. That’s good. So, we are on the right track,” Landry said. He swept his black curls back off his forehead with a sigh of relief.

  “If we keep heading down the path that leads southeast, we will reach Brittlepeak,” Tomas said. “But if we take the northeast path, I think it will take us to the Mooncrest Mountain route.”

  “You’re sure?”

  Tomas shrugged. “As sure as I can be.”

  Truthfully, Tomas did not know the way. Rilan had not been certain either. They figured they would deal with that problem when the time arose. But that time had finally caught up.

  Landry went and spoke to Captain Gharland. The older man was wide-eyed and dishevelled, clearly deprived of sleep. His shoulder was tightly bandaged, his arm in a bloodied sling from the attack.

  The captain strode over to the chained Tomas like a parent about to scold a child.

  “So, you’re speaking now, boy?” Gharland spat.

  Tomas nodded, making sure to avert his gaze from the captain’s piercing eyes. He focused on keeping his feet firmly planted on the ground to avoid tackling the bastard.

  “My squire says you think we should take the northeast route.”

  “Aye, ser.”

  Gharland raised an eyebrow. “And you’re sure that it’s the right path.”

  “Like I said to Landry, I’m not entirely certain. But I’m pretty sure it is. Southeast is my home village, so I figure we go northeast instead.”

  Gharland focused even closer on Tomas, his eyes refusing to blink. “You attacked my soldier the other day.”

  “He attacked my friend,” Tomas rebutted.

  Gharland grunted. “And why would he do that?”

  “Because he’s a psychopath.”

  Landry was growing nervous at Tomas’s fearlessness. “Ser, I can vouch for Ref and Styna’s wrongdoings. Before we reached Winterglade, they attacked Rilan in the woods. Tomas and I had to fight them off. That’s how he got his arrow wound.”

  “I knew that bastard was lying about that injury,” Gharland said.

  “The night those… things ambushed us, Ref took the opportunity to seek revenge on Rilan,” Tomas explained. “I saw him stab Rilan straight in the neck.”
r />   “And you retaliated?”

  “I did, ser. I tried to save him.”

  Gharland huffed. “Well, if that’s true… then I can’t blame you for acting the way you did. Yet, you say one thing and they say something entirely different.”

  Tomas and Landry did not know what else to add. They hoped the captain would believe them. He had to.

  The three regrouped with the other still left in the battered company. Tomas kept his distance from the men. They all watched him with judgemental eyes.

  “Alright men, we know where we are headed. We take the path northeast,” Gharland said.

  “Ser,” Styna said, “you really trust that mutt?” He gestured towards Tomas.

  “We have no other choice but to trust him. We have lost men, we have many injured, and I fear the Imperium needs us now more than ever. When we reach them, we will send word to the king about what attacked us the other night.”

  “But ser… what did attack us?” Smiling John quivered.

  “What the fuck were those things?” another soldier said.

  Everyone had been too afraid to even discuss the monstrosities they had fought that night. It seemed easier to try and forget what had happened, but clearly that was no longer going to work.

  The truth needed to be addressed.

  Gharland huffed, trying to think of how to respond. “Your guess is as good as mine, men. But whatever they were, they were not from this place.”

  “Others will be in danger,” Landry added. “Who knows where they came from, how many there are, and where they are headed now? We need to get to the Repository at once.”

  Many of the remaining men agreed, muttering to themselves, nodding. Some were more hesitant.

  “Perhaps the Magisters will have some idea on what those beasts were,” Gharland said.

  “And what of him?” Ref said. He was glaring over to Tomas, his face still black and blue and swollen. One eye was sealed shut from the swelling.

  Gharland turned around and looked Tomas up and down. He spoke loud enough for all the men to hear.

  “You attacked one of my men and damn near killed him. The only reason I will not have you hanged here and now is that we need your directions. And if what you say is true, and your attack was in retaliation…”

  Tomas held his breath.

  “…then I will not sentence you to die.”

  “Thank you, ser,” Landry said with a sigh of relief.

  “However,” Gharland added, “I cannot have you serving with me and my men. You are a danger. When we reach the Grand Repository, you will be discharged from my service, soldier.”

  Tomas felt a burst of uncertainty. How did he feel about that? Was he relieved? Shocked? It was all a lot to think about.

  Landry, however, became distraught. “Ser, you can’t-”

  “Remember your place, squire,” Gharland hissed. “You do not tell me what I can and cannot do.”

  Landry’s shoulders sunk down like a scolded dog.

  Ref simply sneered; his menacing blackened teeth hideous even from a distance.

  “This boy is clearly not suitable for working in the king’s name.” Gharland looked at Tomas. “You acted violently towards one of your superiors. Despite the apparent cause behind it, your crime cannot go unpunished. You will remain in chains until we reach the Repository, or until I order otherwise.”

  Tomas could not help but smile to himself. He was finally going to be free of all the turmoil he had experienced the last several weeks.

  Free to leave.

  But then it dawned on him. He would be departing from the only people he had left. Landry had become someone he could rely upon. Someone who seemed to genuinely care for him. And in a strange way, it was a sort of relief to receive orders about what to do and when to do it by the captain- it forewent the burden of making tough decisions for himself.

  Rilan was gone.

  Tomas did not want to return to Brittlepeak, not yet, perhaps not ever… so where else would he go?

  Chapter 28 - Bells

  Katryna Bower was still wide awake, despite the hour being well after midnight. She gazed out her window and saw the sky was alight with the pale white and blue light of Rea and Ixo.

  Ixo, on this night, was especially alive. Its millions of shattered pieces out-glowed even the stars. So much beauty, yet so much devastation. She could not help but relate to the view.

  Katryna was unable to stop thinking about her conversation with her father. It was what she had wanted in coming back all this way to Ravenrock, yet she still had so much to say and so much she felt she wanted to hear from him.

  On top of that, there were still all the questions about the poisonings. Had Rowan really orchestrated the assassination of their mother, and the poisoning of their father?

  Rowan was a cold person, there was no denying. Ever since he was an adolescent, Katryna could remember his disdain for her and the cruelly horrible things he would say and do to hurt her.

  But was he truly capable of killing their parents, all for the crown?

  The red star was brighter than the previous night. It was getting closer to Eos, Katryna suspected. It was a beautiful scarlet colour and its glow shimmered like sunlight on water.

  She closed her eyes but could not sleep. Her anxiety had been grieving her again. It felt like someone was sitting on her chest and choking the breath out of her. Her hands were again trembling.

  Katryna eventually gave up on trying to sleep. She threw her blankets off and jumped out of bed to leave her quarters for a walk to clear her mind.

  The castle was hauntingly quiet at this time of night. Dark, candle-lit corridors awaited her. Their ceilings and corners were draped in black, while stark moonlight cast brilliant, decorated shadows from the windows.

  Katryna recalled this feeling, the oppressive mood of Castle Bower. It was something she had often felt before she had abandoned it.

  She certainly hadn’t missed it.

  Katryna made her way down to the stables, avoiding the Infinity Guard where she could. Her revelation about her brother made her paranoid of every single employee in the castle. There was no telling who could and could not be trusted anymore.

  The stable smelt of hay and horse manure and was bitterly cold this time of night. Most of the horses within their pens whinnied at Katryna’s entrance.

  The only horse which did not make a sound was Tulip. The Camridian Aurous mare stood tall and proud as she always did, like a regal statue. The beast bowed her head towards Katryna as she reached out, stroking the soft, smooth mane beneath her fingers.

  “Hey there, girl,” Katryna whispered, leaning forward over the fence to rest her face upon Tulip’s.

  Tulip brushed up to Katryna as if coming in for a warm embrace. Katryna could not help but smile at her warmth, her beauty. Her pure strength.

  “Oh, I missed you too,” Katryna chuckled, patting the mare’s muscly neck.

  Tulip neighed and gently nibbled on Katryna’s ear.

  “Sssh, sssh! You don’t want to wake up your stable mates.”

  Katryna lifted Tulip’s leg and checked her injury from their arrival in Ravenrock. Her hoof was almost fully healed, and she was back to putting weight on it again, to Katryna’s relief.

  Being by her companion’s side flooded Katryna with comfort. It brought back so many positive memories from her childhood. Her twelfth birthday, when father had presented Tulip to her as a gift to signify becoming an adult and learning how to ride in the grounds of Castle Bower.

  How had she ever feared such a perfect animal?

  She stared longingly into her dark eyes through the mare’s long eyelashes that she used to adore growing up. Despite the anxiety Katryna still retained when riding, Tulip had always brought her a sense of ease.

  Katryna suddenly felt as though she was not alone. She heard the crunch of dirt from behind, like gentle footsteps. Who would be out in the stables at this time of night?

  Startled, Katryna spu
n around. Out of the darkness and into the torchlight came a small figure. It was a boy in a leather apron and tattered clothes. She immediately recognised him.

  “Sniff?” Katryna said. “Is that you?”

  The stable boy from lowtown crept up to her from the shadows. His eyebrows were furrowed and his eyes wide.

  “Hey, Katryna.”

  Katryna smiled in relief, realising she was not in danger after all. “What are you doing here? How did you get inside the castle walls?”

  Sniff looked around, making sure no one was there to see or hear. He seemed nervous. “Listen, I don’t ‘ave much time.”

  “For what?”

  “I’ve come t’warn you.”

  “Warn me?” Katryna snickered nervously, thinking it as some sort of joke.

  Sniff looked her dead in the eye. His expression told her how serious he was truly was. “You need to leave Castle Bower… now. Tonight. Get out of the castle and leave Ravenrock for good.”

  “What are you talking about?” Katryna gulped.

  The young boy scratched the back of his head. “You are in danger. Terrible danger.”

  Katryna wanted to tell him that she was fine, that all would be okay. But what was Sniff talking about? She needed to hear him out- something deep inside told her he meant her well, that he spoke the truth.

  “I think they are gonna come after you next,” Sniff whispered. “Ever since you walked into my shop, I haven’t stopped thinking about you. I don’t want your death on my hands. You must leave Ravenrock!”

  Katryna put her hands out to calm the boy but he backed off. “Sniff, if you know something, you must tell me at once.”

  The words were on the tip of Sniff’s tongue. He tried to let them escape but was too distressed to speak any further. He stuttered gibberish instead.

  Katryna grabbed him firmly by the shoulders. “Sniff! What is going on?!”

  His eyes became full of fear and his lip quivered.

  And then came the booming sound of bells. Katryna spun back towards the open door of the stables from where the noise was coming from.

  It was the castle’s bells, it had to be. No others were that loud in the entire city. The deafening ringing was followed by the noise of commotion in the castle grounds as guards ran to their stations and people anxiously awoke from their sleep. There was yelling and marching as a sergeant barked orders to his men.