by C. Mahood
She released me, allowing me to fall to the ground, landing in filth to the amusement of the two guards that lifted me up. Not until they had both placed a sly boot to my ribs and chest. They lifted me and sat me on my knees. The bitch was giving her speech to the silent crowd. A Congregation of ex-civilians standing there simply through orders and the lack of self-will. My senses were still failing me and I could not understand the hum that was the queen’s drone of a voice. I couldn’t listen to her incessant rambling. Rehearsed words spoken at every execution and public display of discipline. Or as she would call them, ‘attractions’ I mustered the energy needed and exclaimed,
“I will free you all, I will return and rid this place of the cruelty that rests on all of your shoulders like vultures on that of a dying stag!”
My eyes shot from left to right, scanning the crowd for a single glimmer, a spark, anything. I tried to spot Sarah and Garret. The cage was empty had they already been killed? I searched franticly with my eyes for evidence but where they landed was locked with the cold white eyes of the Queen. She did not react, a slight smile turned on the left side of her mouth and then the ground beneath me disappeared. I was kicked backwards into a large pit of putrid filth.
I knew this pit. The centre ring of the big tent. The wooden floor drawn back and the stage sank into the pit.
It was the pit of the beast, the most vicious of all beasts to have ever lived in Northland.
Legend tells of its capture. And myth tells of its birth. But the truth is Much less exciting. No Great battles, Dark Magic, Divine intervention or alchemist altercations. This was no more than a roaming predator from the forgotten jungle, lost. Roaming Northland for prey. It was drawn to the smell of blood from the battlefields.
Shann in particular.
It was not captured, it chose to dwell in a deep sink hole not far from the city. A regular and plentiful supply of carrion and live prey. Prisoners, Criminals and the unlucky from Sáann provided a steady diet for this Nameless Beast. My father was planning on training it, but it had become more of an obsession of his. He found the sink hole and built the big tent over the top of it.
I scrambled around the slime and filth to find anything possible to defend myself. Nothing came to hand. I got to my feet, stabbing pain ran through my legs. With my hands on the walls to steady myself I limped to the side of the pit and pressed my back to the wall. Sinking into the thick layers of moss, I waited for the large, iron gate door to open with the rush of sewage from under the circus, releasing the beast.
I remembered sneaking down many evenings to spy on this abomination. Every time someone would find me and stop me.
I remembered the sounds it made though, the sound of bones crunching between its jaws, the sound of blood splatting and dripping from the fresh kill, like ripe tomatoes under a blunt knife. It had no weakness, I knew this, many years it has been fought and fed, never beaten. A Gruesome death awaited the victims of the beast. I know well the hopeless cry’s and screams of mercy from men eaten alive. Most of whom criminals, Rebels and defiant loyalists but many simply those unlucky enough to cross paths with the Queen at the wrong time.
The noise began, that all too familiar creak of rotting timber doors, squeaking under rusted cogs turning to open the gate. I could feel the warmth of breath from under the gate as is was lifted higher. Nostrils pressed against the rising portcullis. The nostrils of death, breathing in the smell of life before it tasted the arrival of death. My heart stopped. I had forgotten my aches, paint and bruises, all that coursed through my veins was excitement and fear. More fear than blood. I felt light in that moment. My heart pulsed faster and faster, my fingertips tingled and almost lost grip with the stone I had picked up. The stone felt lighter than air although by its size I knew is should have been heavy.
When the doors had eventually opened, there was no movement. Slowly my eyes adjusted to the darkness and I saw it. The beast was lying motionless on the ground, It’s head lay a few feet from the bleeding stump that was its armoured neck and two figures were standing beside it. They called to me,
"Come this way! Just follow this tunnel and it will bring you outside! You will be safe there! Now is your chance". That voice, that powerful, sexy, mesmerising voice. It was Sarah. She and Garret had saved me. They must have escaped and come back for me!
Startled, confused but still intoxicated with adrenalin I thanked them and ran. Towards the tunnel there was a sound of steel sliding on steel and rusted hinges singing. The thump of boots landing and armour clanging as it fell. I did not stop running however, I knew that sound, I looked back, it was as I had feared and known, I saw the queen running behind me with a small squad of bodyguards, the most ruthless and merciless soldiers sword to the thrown with un wavering loyalty and no moral ethics of their own, soulless killing machines trained and sworn to do anything the bitch ordered, anything. I had an altercation with them earlier. Killing some and seriously burning others.
My saviours ran towards her to protect me, I heard the grown of dragon fire. It was from the ‘dragon jump’ act. It was a large cannon that blew fire in pillars. The acrobats had to evade the fire while running an obstacle course on the high ropes for the amusement of the customers and the queen. I hated doing it, the first time I was made to do so was with only three practice attempts. The skin on my back still show signs of the burning and bubbling skin. Scared as a permanent reminder to move faster and jump higher. A lesson I would not soon forget.
I did not stop running and as I leapt from the lower tunnel to the flood overflow pipe leading to the surface. The smell was so horrid, words have not been invented that do justice to the putrid stench my nostrils were assaulted with while climbing through the pipe. This was usually used for pulling the remains of victims or remains from feeding time. This may be the first time something living passed this way. I found an opened grate, rusted and weathered. The iron ladder had been cut open and bent over the years. I used this to pull myself up from the lower tunnel. In my hand, snapped of a jagged edge as my weight pulled itself up. I threw the iron shard towards my perusers as they reached the end of the tunnel before they too began to climb. How had they got past the two that had saved me? I feared the worst for both of them.
I had the higher ground, the throw was precise, calculated and perfect. It found the joint of one of the guards chest plate, through the tattered tunics they wore below. Ripping the leather and cutting deep into the flesh, Stopping him dead in the air. Gravity took the rest of the burden as it pulled him from the ladder for his back to meet the tunnel floor. I had always been a great shot, but the years of fool training by circus masters taught me accuracy and precision for piercing baskets and pots in the air while blindfolded. The remaining guards passed his body as though it were nothing. Continuing the hunt. As I looked back again I saw the queen pulling the rusty shard from the chest of the fallen guard. He was on his back on the ground in shock from the unexpected pain.
I crawled as fast as I could toward the end of the tunnel which led to the outside world. Running up the long dirt and stone- filled pathway, towards the forest, winding through debris from the market, carts from the harvest and all sorts of rubble in my path. I sprinted through small towns and hamlets covering myself in a dust mat I stole that covered freshly picked potatoes, the dried dirt stained and ran onto my face as it mixed with the sweat. I ran and ran until either my body gave up or I could find a place to rest. All the while the image of my saviours filled My thoughts, the face of the queen overlooking the destruction, burned into my skull, Hatred and anger kept me running, the dream of revenge kept me alive. I can not live with myself until I return to find them. Only two days have passed since my escape and I must know.
*
The image faded away again into a milky white. I feared that this was the end of his writing and I would not know what happened to Sarah and Garret but as I readied myself to return to the Northland reality the vision returned to me again. I still could hear his thought an
d he continued with his journal.
*
I have returned to the site of the Circus. Making a camp for myself in the dense forest just up the valley slightly. Nothing has changed since i escaped. It is evening but no braziers are lit. There is little movement in the paddock and the Big tent is not illuminated. AS I circle the camp now I can see two familiar sights in a beast wagon. Sarah and Garret both alive in the cage. I can see the blonde beauty sitting up. She is tying her hair into a bun behind her head. Garret lies with his head on her lap but he is not moving. I fear for him. From what in can see he has a wound on his side. It is time now to return the favour. I must reach the camp and release them.
*
I circled the camp but I can not get near. It is morning and in front of the wagon with my friends sits a tall man wrapped in a rugged and torn sheet. He seems to be talking to himself and arguing with himself too. I Can see the queen talking to him now. They keep pointing at the two in the cage. I will keep observing.
*
The sun has set and the moon is high. I will make my move tonight. There is a show in the tent and I saw both the queen and the tall man enter the tent together. They made some kind of transaction moments ago. Coin passed hands and more gestures were made toward the wagon. I fear the tall man purchased my friends. That is the preferable option, the second reason for the coin could be a bet on their lives. Either way, I will make my way to free my friends now.
*
My vision rose like a bird high into the night sky then turning to a soft and gentle light. Words lap past my ears like sleeping in a brook of a streem. My finger tips turned cold and dry and my head turns from light to heavy., I feel the weight of my body once more and the gravity pulls me close to the dirt. My legs gave way and I fell backwards off the book onto the pile of hay.
My eyes were stinging and I had to blink what seemed like a hundred times before I could see properly again. I wished for a better sight than I was greeted with. Not Abe, I was used to his ugly mug, but the man that lay behind him. The owner of the book I had just page walked.
He was no longer just an unlucky corpse that we had stumbled across in the carnage of this Circus. He was an old friend now. By visiting his words for a time, I felt as though I had visited him. Shared a life time of adventures and heartache. I felt as though he had shown me so many things and taught me so much. There was one thing that brought my current situation striking home like bells chiming on the hour of a great cathedral. Sarah. I had seen Sarah, and garret!
“Are ye ok lad? What did ye see son? Abe’s eyes were wide with anticipation , he was hanging on every grunt and stutter that spluttered from my lips.
“I, uh, I saw Sarah. She was here! Right where we are standing now, and Garret! I saw your son Abe. He is with Sarah. She told this man here,” I pointed to the corpse behind Abe, “She told him that Garret was leading her to the brotherhood alter!” Abe jumped back with excitement, then jumped forward to embrace me!
“Chris ma boy, you have a true gift, a talent. I can feel it now, we are almost there! We will get your bloody wife and get you back home. I have so much still to say to Garret. I am so proud of that boy, putting your wife in front of his own safety. He gives the race of luchorpán a good name worth singing about. I cannot wait to tell him that!” Abe was beaming with joy and parental pride.
“You will Abe, Soon we can see them both. But there’s a slight problem.” My voice lowered and Abe’s shoulders sunk from an upright position to those of a scolded child.
“That doesn’t sound promising me boy.” He said solemnly. Eyes darting from mine to the ground and back again.
“There’s no easy way to say this, so I’m just gona have to blurt it out ok? Sarah and Garret have been taken by Oisin. He paid the owner of this Circus to take them away.”
“Abe took a few staggered steps backward with his hand over his mouth. He searched behind him with the other hand for somewhere to sit, eyes not leaving mine. He eventually just fell to the ground. “They had be captured, They freed this man and were about to escape themselves but stayed to fight and protect him instead. That was all I could see. I do not know how the rest here died.” My voice had hushed to a whisper once more. “Oisin has them Abe.” I said again.
Abe simply sobbed. For a long while we both sat. I fought with everything to fight back the tears. I had so many reasons. Tessa pushed her head between my side and my arm. Her big brown eyes looking at me with worry and longing. She has always been able to sense when I am troubled and down and has a way of brightening everything up. I smiled at her and stroked her soft head. Her ears were back her nose was wet. She licked my face. Smudging my glasses. I pushed her away with a half snigger and patted her back as she lay beside me. Her job done and my hopes lifted.
The rain began to fall. Neither of us cared at this point. Tessa however was finding puddles to lap up some freshly fallen water.
“Abe, this was a matter of a day since this happened. The ink was still slightly wet on the page. They can be no more than a day ahead of us. How far is it to the brotherhood alter from here?”
Abe brushed the dirt from his trouser legs and stood up. His voice simply monotone now. Like a man broken and empty of emotion. “That’s not where they are headed. Oisin hates my kind and he would not hesitate on killing Garret there and then but instead took both of them and paid for them? There must be a reason. I have known in my heart he has been alive this whole time but now my heart hangs heavy ma boy. Now I loose hope for my Son.” Again Abe broke down. It was as though his heart had been squeezed every time he thought of Garret. Causing him to convulse, cramp and double over in pain. I did not say it to him but I had no such feeling. I had no doubt of Sarah’s safety. The woman is stronger than me, if I can make it through all I have she can do the same tenfold!
“Where will they be heading then Abe? You say the alter is not the destination, so where?” I asked.
“Dawn. Oisin had told Garret years ago about a homestead he was establishing called Dawn. It is Near the City of Sáann.” He replied.
“Sáann?” I exclaimed, “God I can not wait to see Sáann.” I smiled from ear to ear at the prospect. Sáann was the first place I had created for ‘Dertrids Deed’ I used it as the home of all my D&D Characters, RPG characters…every game sheet I created really. The idea of actually visiting it was too exciting to convey! “Well lets go then, the more time we stand here in the rain the farther away they are getting.” I shouted at Abe, as I walked towards him. Pulling him to his feet I slapped his back and began walking in the direction of the Kart Tracks.
“Skilled tracker are we now?” Abe mockingly questioned me behind me back.
“Well, um, no. How about you lead. I just need to go somewhere now you know? Sitting down is helping nobody and I have a bloody wife to find.” I said. Looking back I swear I saw it again. Closer now. A huge figure slipping into the tent behind us. I think I saw a weapon, a slimier of light reflecting of a silver blade, but I cant be sure, I put it down to stress, lack of sleep, I don't know, rationalising in whatever way I could to make myself feel better. I saw something then, I know I did.
Abe laughed at me, his spirits lifted slightly. “Lets be off then. East from here. The city is easy to spot in all directions.” He said.
I know, I made the damn place!.
Ten
Dawn Dawning
Our road was pretty strait forward from then on. We followed a path east, Through the very heart of Northland. We crossed the three joint rivers of River Superior. East onwards. The coastline was still visible on the horizon to our left and the mountains leading to the Brotherhood alter was on the opposite horizon to our right. I could see the three large pyramid shaped structures, piercing the clouds in the triangle that they stood. One sat much lower than the others however, as though it had sunk during some form of earthquake or plate shift. I spoke to Abe about this and he told me it was from my writing of Dertrid’s Deed, when the trio we hunting for the elemental w
eapons. Dertrid had been ambushed by Samuel and narrowly escaped as the temple was caving in around him. It truly is a strange thing to hear someone talking about your work as though it were biblical. Abe resisted lines and quotes, many of which I had forgotten I had written, shocked at myself and amazed.
We travelled farther. Days evolved into night and reverted to light once more as we continued to walk. Tessa had caught a rabbit on the second morning of walking. I had noticed that recently she had changed. It was as though Northland had brought out a pure animal instinct in her. The rabbit tasted great, cooked on a spit with some herbs. So I’m not complaining. I did worry though if on our return to Earth would Tessa start bringing me cats to roast each evening?
As we continued on East, we came close to the town of Aondor, I so longed to visit. I wanted more than anything to walk the streets to see them the way I had imagined. Like re-visiting a memory of a holiday long past. The longing for Sarah far outweighed the longing for sightseeing however. We had to press on towards Oisin’s home of Dawn. From the way Abe described it, I got images of Waco and cult compounds in my head. The expectation of stumbling upon bodies on the open ground with red cups of poison in hand, or burning buildings with charcoaled hand prints on the scorched walls, haunted my walking daydreams. I struggled with the thought of it all. When I wrote Dertrid’s Deed all those years ago it was to create an escape for my mind. A place where all the worries and problems I had in life disappeared. My own safe place. How could it now be infected with issues such as poverty, class, kidnapping and murder? Is it because I based it on humans? Therefor human nature broke through as usual and destroyed everything around it. True human nature seems to be complete matrix of diversity. I have, and will, be a big supporter of diversity and equality but as history of both our world and Northland tell us, Humans will always exploit each other to better personal agendas.