You Can't Avoid A Little Blood

by Philip Norris

  Boskags looked uncertain, this Regulator obviously worried him though Tenemi could not fathom why. As a fighting force the Regulators were spent, they had been broken on Maramir. A lone soldier was of no concern.

  “I’ve told him to report to the inner gates if he’s interested in my offer. If he doesn’t show then I’ll know where to find him and neutralise him.”

  Tenemi carried on looking out from the battlements, humans were so reactionary.

  “As you see fit Jakamo Boskags, whatever nothing can impede on events. You were employed to manage to operation, but it might be prudent to have this Regulator alive until such a time is worth or lack of can be assessed.”

  Boskags grunted and half bowed before turning away and heading back towards the stairs leaving Tenemi alone.

  “This Regulator, describe him?”

  Boskags stopped half turning, a confused look on his face.

  “Descri…”

  “Indulge me Jakamo Boskags.”

  “Taller than me, a hard beaten face with long greying hair.”

  “Did you get a name?”

  “Never asked.”

  Tenemi fell silent looking out over the fields, Boskags lingered a moment or two more no doubt wondering if there would be anything else before turning and leaving.

  ##

  Tenemi was in Cathedral, it was not so much a physical place as humans could understand but more a state of being. It was in Cathedral that Tenemi and the other A’yai could associate and share information. In this state the A’yai had no bodies, no solid matter existed in Cathedral. If a human could witness it to them it would look like chaos. But their simple minds could not be able to comprehend the natural state of the A’yai. In here Tenemi could share and receive information, there were no individuals, Tenemi didn’t exists here, here there was only the A’yai.

  Tenemi had shared the information about preparations at Koon, also imparted were the concerns Boskags had concerning the Regulator. The description of the man Boskags had given Tenemi was shared even though it could have described anyone, to the A’yai all humans looked alike. Surprisingly a name came forward, he was one called Joakim Karesh. He was known to the A’yai and he was considered in his time to be a threat that needed to be neutralised, but that time was long passed and the decision was taken not to kill him as he might prove to be of some use. The A’yai agreed that Tenemi’s plan to bring Karesh into Koon was the correct course of action and would ensure the human was contained, Tenemi was instructed to action this and not leave it to the whim of Jakamo Boskags.

  It was confirmed that the signal received at the last Cathedral was authentic and that time was now short and the plan must progress without any delay. Tenemi acknowledged everything rested on events at Koon, if all failed there everything could be lost.

  Three

  The invitation into the Highlords Keep in Koon came as somewhat of a surprise to Joakim, more so because it was addressed to him personally. He had spent an uneventful night contemplating his choices and though he was not concerned that the quiet man’s offer of work might lead to something nefarious he’d decided to stick with the reason he’d travelled here in the first place. The deciding factor was if the quiet man’s crew already included someone like the weasel then that made Joakim nervous. He’d seen his sort before, he’d even been unfortunate enough to have been thrown in with them on one mission of another. They were not the sort to take orders well and when push came to shove and steel was pulled invariably they were the first to be running for the hills.

  The Highlords call to arms was the best offer, Joakim had fought under many banners in his life and had found taking the Highlord coin the most reliable. They always paid and on the whole paid well. Joakim didn’t know much about Bendicala but what he did know was encouraging.

  Breakfast time in The Two Headed Man was an as chaotic affair as the previous night. There were nearly fifty men and women all looking to be fed and watered, those Joakim had shared a room with the night before barely acknowledged him once they reached the common room, where it was first come first served and every man and woman for themselves. Joakim didn’t worry much. He was never much of a one for breakfast, he managed to grab a heel of bread and some foul smelling cheese along with some bitter dark sludge the inn keeper was passing off as coffee, and as he turned to find a set the serving girl Bel slipped a note into his hand. Joakim found himself a corner to sit I, read the note and watched the room.

  There was a mix from all over the Four Empires and though everyone spoke the same language the regional accents made some conversations hard to follow. Joakim was from Rochster in the Northern Empire which was closer to the border with the Western Empire than Koon, but over the years he’d lost all of his northern patios. Spending time with men and women from all over the Sirus continent had meant he’d picked up ways of saying words as they had and over the years all those mixes of words had melded into his own unique way of talking. Not unique in as only he spoke that way, anyone who’d served with the Regulators was the same, their native tongue slowly eroded away.

  Joakim thought on the Western Empire, it was there they were headed under the Highlord banner. It was there along the disputed border between north and west that troops under the banner of a Western Empire Highlord called Sreif Gerdanus had been raiding these past six months. Joakim hadn’t been to the Western Empire since he was a boy, he knew about Gerdanus, always an ambitious man with ideas of building an empire within an empire as happened with some Highlords. This sort of thing happened often, border wars flared constantly and sometimes civil wars between Highlords in the same Empire. Ultimately if things escalated the other Highlords would band together and put their errant sibling down, but usually not until a lot of innocents had died.

  Joakim pulled the note from his pocket and looked at it again. It worried him a lot it being addressed directly to him, as far as he could recall he’d not given his name to anyone since arriving in Underhill. Which led him to believe there was someone here that knew him, he thought back to the two men who spoke to him the evening before, but neither had been familiar to him. But that didn’t mean they didn’t know him. He knew he’d have to give his name when he signed up to the Highlords forces but for now he should have been another nameless face amongst hundreds of others.

  He had an old friend called Baba Doa, he was a Hoshun who’d fought alongside the Regulators just for the hell of it. Baba had a favoured saying, never smoke without fire, Joakim wondered if someone had set a fire under him. But Joakim had always been inquisitive and no matter what misgivings he had he’d decided he would accept the invitation.

  As there was no time indicated on the note Joakim felt there was no hurry for him to get into Koon so he decided to have a look around Underhill. It was not that Joakim was interested in the town or its people, it was he had found in the past it was always wise to have a good understanding of your surroundings should the need arise to find a bolt hole or a quick escape route. Before he was Regulator Joakim had ridden with a bad of outlaws in the Southern Empire, they’d raided and murdered their way across the empire in six months and made quite a reputation for themselves. It had been in Karns they had finally been run to ground. The southernmost state of the Southern Empire was a place of desert, wild forests and wilder rivers. There were no cities and a dozen or more tribes fought for control of the best land. The leader of the band Joakim rode with was a man called Braks, a thug from Southcallas who had no idea how to lead but because his entire family rode with him and so backed him up he was the boss. It had been his idea to hide out in some out of the way dirt hole of a village until the heat died down enough for them to forge north again.

  This had been over twenty years ago and Joakim had been young and foolish and followed whatever lead he was given. So it was he’d found a woman and got blind drunk without finding the lay of the land, it was how they found him, half naked and hungover without a clue where he was or how to get away. Six brutal months in a S
outhcallas dungeon followed before he was given the choice of the noose or the Regulators, he obviously chose the latter. Since then he always made a point of knowing where he was and where the door out was.

  It was mid-afternoon before Joakim was satisfied with his understanding of Underhill and he presented himself at the Base Gate. Koon was built on three levels and there was only the one gate in each wall. The Base Gate as its name suggested was in the lowest and outer curtain wall. Next up was the Median Gate and finally in the uppermost wall was the Summit Gate that led directly to the Highlords tower, all three of them were offset to each other so that should any invader gain access to Koon they would have to fight their way around the circumference of the city each time to reach the next gate. There was no direct route to the top, at least not one known to the ordinary citizens of Koon. It was said the Highlords had a direct path in and out, one made should an invasion be successful so they had an escape route, but this path was either so well hidden so as to be invisible or to be a myth.

  Joakim passed through the Base and Median gates with no trouble. The seal on the top of the note was the seal of Bendicala and was the key to every lock in Koon. The Summit Gate was something different though, here the personal guard of the Highlord controlled all traffic and Joakim was kept waiting for over an hour before finally some minor functionary arrived and allowed him to pass through.

  Inside the Summit Gate there was nothing except the Keep itself. There were no out buildings, no stables or gardens, just clear empty ground stretching fifty feet from the wall to the tower. There were no guards on this side of the wall either and Joakim stood alone except for the functionary and feeling a little lost as he looked up at the tower, the top of which was lost due to its height. Directly ahead of him was a door, the only opening he could see in the base of the tower though he supposed there must be other entrances around the circumference of the tower. Straightening his tunic he followed the functionary across the open ground, all the time the feeling of being watched making the spot between his shoulder blades itch like any moment an arrow would hit him there.

  At the door Joakim stopped, the functionary looked back at him before turning back and striking the door with a short length of wood. It all seemed a pointless ceremony to Joakim, why not just go straight in. The door swung inwards and a guardsman in full plate armour and carrying a pike half as tall as he was again stepped out.

  “Papers.”

  Joakim looked him up and down and then turned to look at the functionary who stood motionless.

  “Seriously?” The guard didn’t move just stood there with his hand out. “I’ve made it this far, passed through three checkpoints one of them right there,” He pointed back over his shoulder towards the Summit Gate. “And your man has just escorted me over and you still ask me for papers?”

  The guard was like a statue, his hand was held out waiting for Joakim to hand over something that would satisfy the guard enough to allow entry into the tower. Joakim thought he noted the knuckles on the hand holding the pike tighten, the guard was on edge that much was evident and Joakim thought it best not to try to be funny. He reached slowly into his pocket and handed over the now well creased and many times read note.

  “You are Joakim Karesh?”

  “Yes,” Joakim was beginning to loose what little patience he had. “Though if you ask me if I can prove I am who I say I am I can’t do that, you’ll have to take my word for it.” He couldn’t understand what the problem was, he’d been invited they were expecting him.

  The guard read the note and then looked Joakim in the eye.

  “Wait here.”

  The guard turned and went back through the door shutting it firmly behind him. Joakim stood exasperated and looked back towards the gate and then at the functionary who still stood motionless. The guard had took the note and Joakim wondered that if he decided to give up on this venture if he’d need it to get back through the gates. He thought about the quiet man’s offer the previous night and wondered if perhaps he’d decided on the wrong course to take. He was thinking about saying to hell with it and walking away when the door opened again, this time a young woman stood there smiling at him. She must have been half Joakim’s age, her hair as black as night. She was dressed in close fitting leather jerkin and breeches, she reminded Joakim of Pirce Jenue another Regulator he’d served with. She dressed the same and had the same air of self-assurance, all this woman would need would be a long sword at her hip and several throwing knives on her belt to make the similarities with Pirce complete.

  “Our apologies for the delays but in this heightened state of alert we need to be vigilant.” Her voice had the twang of a Northerner on certain words.

  “That’s alright I understand precautions need to be taken.” He didn’t understand but as his father always said politeness cost nothing. The young woman nodded and stood to one side indicating Joakim to come inside, he’d have been lying if he didn’t admit to himself he felt a little nervous entering the tower and hearing the door slam shut behind him. He looked back at the door noticing the functionary had remained outside.

  Joakim was not a man used to submitting to base fears. He’d seen too much, experienced more than most men would in ten lifetimes, to allow every small concern cloud his mind. But this was The Fortress of Koon, the most famous manmade landmark after the Spire of Ardens in Eastcallas on the Sirus continent. It was said to be the most blood soaked and haunted building on the planet. Joakim had never been one to believe in ghost stories but after that last tour on Maramir he’d believe anything.

  “My name is Miri and I am Captain of the Gate.” She led the way across the empty lower floor of the tower, dozens of pillars made the floor a maze and the soldier in him was picking out the best places for someone to hide. The pillars were twice his height and made of some dark metal the like that was used in the construction of every Highlords palace, it was said to be unbreakable and was one of the many marvels left behind by the Frail Men.

  “Can you tell me why I am here?” Joakim was still at a loss why he’d been invited and also how they’d known who he was. Miri looked over her shoulder and shrugged.

  “I am just in charge of the gate they don’t tell me why whoever is invited is here I am just to escort them to the upper floors.”

  “Whoever is invited, are there others?”

  She shook her head and carried on across the floor towards a solid structure in what he took to be the middle if the lower floor. “No you are the only one today.”

  She stopped in front of a large set of ornately carved wooden doors, the patterns carved into the face of it depicted some ancient hunt and when Joakim looked closer he could see the figures doing the hunting had two heads. That meant the figures being hunted were humans, he found it strange that a scene this ancient and controversial should still be in existence. She held her hand out pointing at the doors and the metal lever set into the wall beside them.

  “You know how to be elevated?”

  “Yeah I’ve used one before, can’t say I’m comfortable doing it though.”

  She smiled and pulled the lever. “Just relax and think of level twenty, it knows where to take you.”

  The doors opened to reveal a small room, nothing more than a cupboard big enough to hold five or six people. Joakim looked at her and she smiled her hand still on the lever, guess this was where they parted company.

  “Thank you.” He nodded not sure what else he could say and stepped towards the cabinet. Miri held up a hand stopping him.

  “I’m sorry but no weapons beyond this point.” She indicated his sword and daggers, he smiled at her his understanding but wasn’t happy as he undid his belt and handed them over. “I will see you when you leave Captain Karesh.”

  Joakim stopped half in through the door and looked at her confusion on his face. He’d not been known as Captain for years and she was too young to have known him then.

  “Do we know each other?” He held a hand up against the edge of
the door so it couldn’t close on him.

  “We’ve never met but I know of you.”

  Joakim stepped fully inside and she moved the lever, the smile on her face faded just as the door was closing and he thought was replaced by a look of sadness. Once again he was reminded of Pirce Jenue and racked his memories to see if he could recall anything of her history. He knew she’d come from Koon but she never really talked much about it as her family had fallen on hard times and she’d escaped into the Regulators to escape going into servitude or into a debtors prison.

  He felt the compartment he was in shudder and his stomach did a flip like it does when you fall unexpectedly. He tried to relax and remember how best to operate one of these things. He slowed his breathing and thought of level twenty, there was a jolt like he’d started moving and then suddenly stopped. Licking his dry lips he muttered a curse in Scallian and closed his eye and cleared his mind of everything except the number twenty. The compartment shot upwards at a speed faster than a galloping horse and Joakim let out a startled yelp.

  Four

  Jakamo Boskags stood against the wall someway along the wall from the Summit Gate watching as those wealthy enough to live in the upper level of Koon closest to the Highlords keep passed him by. None paid him any heed, he was a plain unassuming man who had made his living being able to pass by unnoticed. He didn’t consider himself a soldier, though if it came to it he was an able swordsman and had killed when needed. But despite not being a man of arms he had been involved in war and wars all his life. He hailed from Westcallas but had left when a young man to enter service of the Highlord Bara Tuesenemit, he’d never returned home and had little memory of it now.

  Boskags had been many things in his life. A spy, a strategist, a deceiver and yes a killer and he’d done it all for whoever paid the most. Now he found himself in the service of the strangest employer he’d ever known. He didn’t trust the A’yai, they were a furtive secretive race that had turned their cloak way too quick during the wars with the Frail Men if history was to be believed. Not that the A’yai could really be called a race because they were not individuals as he or anyone understood it, they called themselves a collective and all to be part of a greater whole. He always found it disconcerting when talking to Tenemi thinking on that claim and wondering if behind its eyes thousands of other A’yai were listening, assessing, and judging.