By now both armies were dismounted from their juntards. Men from both sides were screaming orders or yelling defiantly as swords clashed with wooden spears and pikes, the curiously harmonious sound of death singers playing in the background as deadly arrows exchanged between the two groups.
Alex looked at his supporting army. Most had shields up high, many of which had arrows embedded in them. He checked his weapons, one was nearly reloaded, and he took aim again. Alex was positioned so that Deetur and his men were between him and Unbiter’s men. So he fired slowly and took careful aim. By the time he fired the last round the other weapon was ready to fire, so he switched and started again. An odd sounding horn blew, and the enemy soldiers turned and ran back to their juntards still drinking from the streams.
They climbed atop the juntards, but the beasts failed to move. Now they were all easy targets for Deeturs death singers. Soon the notes of music spun quickly in the air and their enemies fell by the dozens. Within moments the remainder of Unbiters soldiers were eliminated and the surviving Forex soldiers yelled in an adrenaline fueled celebration. Meanwhile, Alex quickly hid one of the weapons on himself again, hoping that during the heat of combat no one noticed he carried two.
Alex watched Deetur walk around those among them that had been killed. He and some of his men dragged the dead Forex soldiers together and linked their arms. It was an odd custom, Alex tried to decode the significance.
Alex watched Deetur tend to his wounded soldiers. He briefly longed for his first aid kit and lamented over the fact that he still didn’t know where Symboli or Alesti were. Still, Alex approached the wounded and applied bandages using their own clothing.
“Don’t do that!” Alex yelled as he watched one grab a bunch of dirt and sand, moving to fill his open wound with it.
“I must stop the bleeding.” One of the healthy soldiers replied still looking at his wounded comrade. “We do not bleed forever, our bodies only hold so much.”
“Yeah, I know,” Alex said a bit quieter as he approached. “But the dirt and sand have… very tiny animals that you cannot see and they cause infection.”
“If you cannot see them how do you know they are there?”
“He lies.” One of the other men said.
“Silence, none of you will argue against this man. He comes from beyond the sky and his knowledge is beyond our own. If he says there are invisible animals then there are. Keep your tongues.” Deetur returned to a passive stance.
By their faces Alex could tell no one believed him. But he wasn’t going to let that stop him as he continued ripping and applying his makeshift bandages.
Alex’s headset began to give off more static.
“..ex”
“Symboli, can you hear me?” The static was getting louder. A few of Deeturs men looked curiously at Alex.
Alex went to another soldier with a very deep wound laying on the ground and applied a very tight knot over the wound using the mans own shirt.
“Ale- res- ng?”
“Symboli, I can almost hear you.”
Alex stood up and looked around. The sparsely growing trees blocked the view for too far, but he did notice a group of Juntards approach from the mountains. Alex pointed, “There.”
“Alex, can you hear me?” Symboli’s voice came from the headset.
“Yes, I hear you I am SO, glad to hear your voice.”
“As am I, we are being followed by about one hundred soldiers sent to collect relics from the crashed ship. Our Juntards are slowing and won’t continue much longer, the enemy gains on us.”
Alex looked to those around him, some wounded. “My friends are being chased, I must protect them.” Alex ran towards his juntard.
Deetur mumbled something and grabbed Alex’s arm just before he managed to reach his juntard.
“We just fought and won a battle and you want to fight again, my men are tired and we are less and wounded. We will not survive in our current condition.”
“Then stay here.” Alex pulled away from Deetur and mounted his juntard. When he squeezed the lobe this time the beast lifted his head and took off.
Alex didn’t even look back as he tried to figure out which approaching juntard carried Symboli. He didn’t have to wait long as three Juntards came to a stop just as Alex did. Alesti, Jubane and Keliseo were all there.
“We hid on the ridge of the mountain, they found it and us, we ran and they gave chase. We have been running for hours. Our beasts will not continue much longer, of this I am sure.” Alesti quickly said.
“Go to those men, there they will protect you.” Alex pointed to the soliders behind him.
“Alex, those men will capture me, you cannot trust them.” Alesti said looking off in their direction.
Alex looked at the approaching group of hostile men, another one hundred Juntards about two kilometers away, approaching fast.
“Follow me.” Alex yelled and lead them back to the stream where the beasts began to drink the moment they approached it.
As they arrived, Alex’s beast trotted over it having just recently drank its fill. Alex turned back and headed towards the group of approaching Juntards head on. When they were about four hundred meters apart he fired off fourteen rounds, striking only two. Alex turned back towards the stream and by the time the weapons recharged the approaching army was only one hundred meters away, Alex fired fourteen more times, striking eight.
Alex rode his juntard behind the army of Forex as he did once before. The approaching army all came to a stop as Alex assumed they would once they reached the stream. With only about forty meters separating their group with those that had just arrived. Before the enemy soldiers could climb off their juntards, the Forex death singers began to sing and rain deadly arrows upon the enemy group.
The approaching army dismounted and retrieved their spears from the beasts as more of them fell from a second volley of arrows.
Alex fired off seven rounds as those with spears approached, killing six more men. Switching weapons Alex ran towards the front of the Deetur’s army where they were battling for their lives, shields held high, swords breaking spears. The sounds of music were sporadic and confusing.
Approaching the focal point of the two clashing armies, Alex fired seven more times at the enemy soldiers. Loud unnatural bangs jarred the teeth of those nearest to him and the battle came to a halt as seven bodies slumped or fell to the ground in various positions.
“Enough!” Alex yelled. “There has been enough blood spilled today and I find it easy to kill you, it’s not even a worthy challenge. Leave now, and I will allow it.”
“No!” Deetur yelled as he struck a solider thru the collar bone and partially through the neck with his sword.
Some of the enemy turned and fled on foot, the majority continued fighting.
The brief pause allowed time for the other weapon to recharge. Alex switched weapons then fired seven more times, the loud bangs causing many to hold their ears in surprise or pain. Moments later the fighting was over.
Once again the Forex soldiers celebrated in triumph.
Alex watched as perhaps nine soldiers fled on foot back towards the mountains.
“Letrick, take your men and hunt them down!” Deetur said in a whisper still loud enough for Alex to hear.
“You will not!” Alex gripped his weapon tightly. “You have defeated them, let them return to their families.”
“Do not presume to command my men, or tell me how to fight my battles.” Deetur took a step closer to Alex and stared into his eyes. Alex recognized the anger that was about to boil over, much like what happened with his father when Alex did anything unpleasing.
“You said it yourself, your men are tired and wounded. We have a long journey back to Forex, we are heading in the same direction anyway, perhaps you will get your chance later.” Alex spoke in a tone that suggested calm reason.
“I request permission to care for my wounded.” Letrick asked Deetur.
“Of course, see to
our men.” Deetur said as he walked past Alex towards Alesti and Jubane.
“You look familiar, do I know you?” Deetur asked those who arrived with Alesti.
“This is my nephew, Puebli. I am Jubnax and we are from the village Kanena.” Said Jubane.
“How did you come to being chased by the Jebney soldiers?” Deetur asked.
“They think us spies for Forex.”
“You are no spies, fools…” Deetur smiled at them then turned and began to see to his wounded men once again.
Alex walked over to Alesti’s Juntar and checked on the tank containing Symboli. It now had a heavy thick coat of mud smeared across it, and it almost appeared to be a barrel of wine.
“Symboli, what happened? Why did Alesti leave the ship when I was inside?”
“I do not know, we have not yet communicated.”
Alex took a few steps over to whom he knew was Alesti and not Puebli as Jubane had claimed, she was pretending to re-tighten her forearm guards as she waited for Alex to get closer.
“What happened?” Alex tried to get a good look at her face.
“We are in terrible danger, Forex soldiers do not take prisoners or escort people back to their land. Something is afoot, for you should have been killed long ago. When we learned the Forex solider’s were on approach there was much chaos among the Jebney soldiers, they fear the Forex. I was determined to stay with you, but he hit me over the head, when I was awake again I was tied up on the back of my juntard somewhere on the mountain ridge. He split to go home to his kids and take them to safety, Unfortunately for us the Jebney soldiers who fled the Forex were also on the mountain ridge. They found him and I, they accused us of being spies and we have been running ever since.”
Alex took two steps closer to Keliso. “Why did you hit her and then tie her up?”
“Simple, she is or was our princess and her vow to you would have killed her as she would not leave. I did it to save her life.” Keliso said.
Alesti closed the distance between them and grabbed his throat. Keliso did nothing to resist her.
“Do it again and I will kill you.” Alesti let go of his throat noticing Deetur carefully watching them.
“You can talk later, we must reach the mountain before nightfall. Prepare to leave!” Deetur ordered everyone in the area.
CHAPTER 7
THE REALM OF FOREX
IT WAS THREE days later, at the moderate pace of a juntard, when they crested the far northern mountain ridge crossing into Forex territory. Immediately, Alex noticed a difference on the landscape, instead of a large but sparsely dense forest he saw modern farmland, with rows of trees acting as windbreaks.
There were more built up fortifications at the base of the mountain ridge and numerous villages beyond. Far on the horizon, near the western ridge line that went straight north at the furthest point away, a large city stood proud. At least three times larger than the city of rock.
There was no doubt in his mind Forex was a formidable land and much more organized.
“Alex, it is unlikely this land is as lawless as claimed to be.” Symboli suggested.
“I was thinking the same.” Alex whispered in English. The air was noticeably cooler and he began to shiver. Moments later he watched as the Forex men all reached into packs and pulled out coats. A thick pelt was placed on Alex’s back. He turned to see Alesti eye to eye with him. She was without a pelt or jacket, instead she tried to appear strong against the rapidly dropping temperature wearing nothing but the thin outfit given to her by Buitsi.
“I have a jacket, take this and keep yourself warm.” Alex tried to pass the pelt back to her.
“No you are cold and new to this place, while I have endured the weather for many seasons.”
Despite her attempt to sound confident, her shoulders slowly hunched over and her arms were squeezed tightly in her lap. She let her hair cover her face. Anyone could tell she was cold and it was only going to get worse, the sun was on its way to set.
“This is stupid I am not going to sit here and watch you freeze, join me.”
“What?”
“Join me on here, this pelt is big enough for the both of us.” Alex pointed to a spot in front of him on his juntard.
Alesti looked as though she might deny the offer for a moment as they continued their downhill descent. Then she stood up and stepped from one beast to the other, while they were still riding, she moved confortably, as if she had done it a hundred times, and sat down directly in front of Alex facing forward. He was grateful they managed to get a bath in recently, as he recalled the odor the last time he was close to her. Now he only wished her skin wasn’t so cold, like touching cold metal, she leaned back into him and he covered them both with the pelt.
Symboli, ever watching via the tiny micro cam in the thin hardly visible headset, spoke softly.
“It is a wonder any sentient life would sacrifice their life for another.” Symboli said.
“It’s easy to make promises right before death.” Alex responded in English.
“Tell Symboli thank you.” Alesti said.
“For what?” Alex tried to think of a reason.
“He will know what it’s for.”
“Tell her she is welcome.” Symboli responded.
“Would the two of you like to be alone, plus Symboli is not a he.” Alex said in Alesti’s language.
“How do you know?” Symboli responded.
Alex tried to think of a logical reason. “Symboli, do you have goo componants I am not aware of that give you a reproductive ability?” He said knowing the answer.
“There are cellular differences that may indicate there are twenty eights different kinds of Digiforms, which one might assume a biological difference.”
“Ahh but not a sexual difference.”
“Alex, if we should survive this planet, I do not believe Alesti will stay behind.” Symboli said changing the subject.
Alex mentally stumbled as the topic of conversation shifted dramatically.
“The thought had crossed my mind.” Alex readjusted himself.
“Her presence will make it difficult for you to find a mate.”
“Whoa, who says I’m looking, I think I got enough to deal with don’t you think?”
“The only logical course of action is that you accept her as your partner.”
“Symboli, have you considered we don’t know enough about them to know if we could have children, or that by even trying we could cause biological harm to each other, or that it’s even anatomically possible?”
“I have discussed procreation with Alesti, her descriptions of childbirth are similar to humans. As such, the genetic randomness of these similarities rules out any chance that it is random. You humanoids must have an original descendant or creator, which means its highly likely all humanoids are compatible.”
“Hmm, perhaps the humanoid biological genetic structure is simply the most favored outcome of sentient evolution, ever consider that?”
“Possible, but given the humani’s ability at genetic manipulation, I now believe we have not heard the whole story of their past.”
“Wait, you think the humani are somehow involved with these people. We are like a quarter of the galaxy away.”
“Statistical averages being what they are….” Symboli responded.
“May I speak with Symboli?” Alesti asked.
“What is it you two talk about?” Alex asked Symboli in English.
“A variety of topics, but of which you are most frequent, however due to your proximity I do not anticipate we will discuss you.” Symboli responded.
“Oh how very wise of you.” Alex said sarcastically and removed the headset giving it to Alesti, for a moment he regretted she ever found out about Symboli, but knew it was inevitable.
“Tell me more about Earth.” Alex heard Alesti whisper, he smiled as he recalled his own memories from home.
“We must pick up the pace, if we are to beat the night.” Deetur yelled to a
ll those present. As If on cue the juntards began to pick up the pace.
Alex looked up into the sky, it did appear to be hazy but there were certainly no clouds to speak of. He did however notice his breathe for the first time as he forced an exhale and watched it vapor away. He even thought of his father. Why did they stop responding. Such a small thing could have huge implications. The issue of not receiving subspace communications from Earth continued to bother him whenever time permitted. And most of that time was spent thinking of the many dark and gloomy scenarios that would have caused a lack of response from Earth.
Then they reached an outer wall at the base of the ridge. The decline leveled out and a short five or six foot tall wall went at least a kilometer in either direction, the ends obscured by the sparse vegetation.
“It looks grave!” One of the death signers from the wall yelled down.
“Unless I beat you there.” Deeter yelled back in response.
The four archers that stood on an elevated platform behind the wall relaxed and watched the group pass through the opening gate. Beyond the wall was another space of one or two kilometers before they approached the first fortification. It appeared to be under renovation as the front walls were being changed from wood to stone about two stories tall, beyond its front gate were dozens of various sized buildings.
Groups of children and adults watched the riders trot by. When their gazes fell upon Alex they all gasped or appeared shocked.
The group led their Juntards through the fortified city and out the other side which had a much smaller gate.
“Symboli what do -.” Alex stopped himself as he had forgotten he wasn’t wearing the lightweight headset.
“Alesti have you have been here before? In Forex I mean.” Alex asked interrupting her conversation with Symboli.
“No.”
“Is this what you expected it to be?” Alex asked thinking this didn’t appear to be a lawless territory as he had been told.
It took a few moments but she eventually responded. “No.”
They proceeded past the fortification and rode out further north. It didn’t take long before they reached a village and the sun had just set, one torch burned in front of the gate to light the way.
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