The Crimson Claymore

by Craig A. Price Jr.

  “Yes it is…truly a sight to behold,” Andron whispered.

  She blushed and turned her face back toward the sea, leaning in close. The sparkling from the water seemed to shimmer on her face, escalating her astonishing beauty. He only looked at her for a moment before continuing through the land. Wheat and grain grew on the land for leagues along each side of the road with large wooden farm houses and barns. Everything seemed well overgrown without maintenance, and the houses were abandoned. The only sound was that of crows and ravens that flew through the skies to land on the farms and feast on the vegetables that were left unguarded. Some birds were kept at bay by large menacing scarecrows, but a few scarecrows were destroyed and tossed into the overgrowing gardens.

  The roads stretched for leagues until they reached the city of Wesiet by twilight. There was little else to the journey but farms with fruits, vegetables, wheat, and grain. Everything was abandoned, even those the closest to the city walls of heavy slate. The gate by the city was guarded by a force of thirty men heavy in armor and weapons.

  Andron frowned as the neared the city gate. Normally, the city was only covered with two men on the outside and a small force within. It was not a city that was full of people to defend. Wesiet was only a transport village of supplies and held as little as the last village. Most of the things made and grown were transported to other cities and villages in trade for other supplies or coin. The army that Wesiet had was little more than militia.

  He noticed the guards at the gate were of varying appearance. There were many different crests on their breastplates from the various villages to the south as well as that of Wesiet itself. The four different crests consisted of a crow, an eagle, a vulture, and a wagon. Hope restored in Andron’s mind as he saw the four crests of the various villages before the city. He hoped everybody had made it inside of the large city. Yet he wondered if there was room for all there.

  “Halt, who comes to Wesiet, and what business do you hold here?” A guard stepped forward with a large crest of a wagon of Wesiet in gold on his chest.

  “I am Andron, my family is from Guerettos. I have come here to see if they have made it safely.”

  “And these with you?”

  “This is Starlyn, a kheshlar from the kheshlarn city in the woods. And this is Sh’on, a mage from across Calthoria.”

  The captain’s eyes grew wide, and he unsheathed his sword, pointing it inches away from Sh’on’s face, whose green eyes glowed with shimmering fire as his hand began to glow with a color to match. The rest of the guards unsheathed their weapons as well and took a step forward.

  “Magic is not welcome in our lands; leave this place.”

  “I have not come here to harm but to help.”

  “There is little trust in those who can use magic.”

  “Please, stop. Violence is not necessary,” Starlyn said, stepping forward.

  Each guard in turn stared at her openly from her dazzling blonde hair and pale serene face, and lingered as they took in the rest of her shape. The captain stepped forward and opened his mouth, but no words came out.

  “Captain?” Starlyn asked.

  The captain cleared his throat with a few coughs before removing the sword from next to Sh’on’s neck. “I am sorry, m’lady. I have never seen a kheshlar before.”

  “And what do you know of kheshlars? Are kheshlars liars?”

  “No, m’lady. Everything I hear is that kheshlars do not speak a lie.”

  “Then I will tell you to stand down. This mage does not threaten you or your kin. He has fought the draeyks before with me, and he has come here with me to do the same. Do you doubt my words?”

  “No, m’lady.”

  “Then let us pass.”

  He reluctantly turned to his comrades as if looking for approval. None of them looked at him but instead stared toward the kheshlar in awe. Shaking his head, he sheathed his sword and took a step back.

  “You may pass.”

  Each of the other guards sheathed their swords in turn. The tall metal gate rose through the stone with the guards in towers on the inside turning the wheels. Starlyn took the first step with Sh’on and Andron following her as they walked inside of the large city.

  Inside the gate, the city looked like no other. Nothing appeared to match as many buildings were of gray or brown stone while others were made of wood of various stains. There were also plenty of brick buildings of every color. Most were businesses of various sorts from herbal shops, leather shops, and any other material that might prove useful. Homes were scarce throughout the large city, and it was empty of most travelers. There were no merchant stands of any sort. Streets were bare instead of like normal cities or villages that would be covered with people. There seemed to be only one pub on the main street, and it seemed crowded beyond anything Andron had ever seen.

  A soldier patrolled the streets and nearly walked past them before Andron caught his arm. The man didn’t look pleased and brushed Andron’s touch from his bicep. His face wore a grim expression with a thick red goatee and square jaw.

  “Excuse me, sir, do you know where the survivors from Guerettos are?”

  The warrior’s expression changed from anger to sorrow as he inspected Andron and the two others. “Most are in the third bunker from the west, near the sea. They wished to stay as far from the gate as possible and the closest to the sea.”

  Andron nodded. “Thank you.”

  He continued on with his mind set on his goal. Everything around him seemed to be a blur. Even the whispers of both Sh’on and Starlyn were but hazy murmurs in his mind. His one focus and thought was of seeing his beautiful wife and children again. Everything else around him was clouded in darkness without a thought. He traveled from alley to alley until finally the buildings grew scarce with open terrain. The sea was plain in sight, and he had to clench the excitement within him so he wouldn’t run toward the bunkers. There were dozens of them; each was created to store wheat and grain until ships were arrived. Another reason they were built so securely was in case of an attack, but never in their wildest dreams did they think they would actually be used for such a feat.

  He walked slower once he reached the entrance. Seagulls scattered the sky above him toward the sea. The sunset was to the west across the glistening water. A blanket of steaming mist covered the water for a league before the sun’s blinding reflection. Above the sun were streaks of clouds that glinted yellow and orange with gray and black clouds in the shadows on the north and south side. The sea created a peaceful scene, with perfectly still waters catching the reflection both sun and clouds.

  Andron watched the sunset for a moment before walking down the steps of the third bunker from the west. Each bunker only showed a few paces from the ground. The majority of the stone buildings were built underground so the cool dirt of the land would keep everything cold. In rumors, there were also hidden levels that went beneath the main level to hide goods or people in case of dire need.

  With heavy breaths, he stopped at the tall white stone door. For a long moment, he stood there looking at the door before him. His breath slowed as he stared for what felt like hours. He held his hand in the air in front of the door, and it twitched as he kept it raised.

  “Andron?” Starlyn whispered.

  His mind cycled through every possible outcome that could occur if he opened that door. He wasn’t sure if he was ready for any of them. Turning around, he looked at Starlyn’s beautiful eyes. She stared back at him with wonder and quickly stepped up to him to embrace him in a hug. At first, he was taken aback, but soon his arm was around her in an embrace.

  “It will be okay, Andron. Whatever happens, both Sh’on and I will be here for you.”

  “Thank you.”

  With another large breath, he turned back around to face the door before knocking against it loudly. After a few minutes, a rectangle of stone at eye level was removed from the door to be replaced with two eyes. The eyes were brown in color and surrounded by a wrinkly face full o
f wisdom.

  “Who wishes to enter?”

  “It is Andron. I am looking for my wife and kids. Ketharine is her name. Is she in here?”

  “Yes, child, your family is inside.”

  The empty rectangle was replaced with the stone, and the door opened. Standing before them was an elderly woman in gray robes. She had short white curly hair and a smile of treasured gold. Motioning for them to follow, she led them down a hall where stone doors appeared every fifteen paces on each side. Finally after what seemed to be halfway down the immense hallway, she came to a stop and motioned to an unmarked doorway.

  He nodded his thanks and took a deep breath as he pushed open the door. Inside were a large rocking chair and two smaller chairs of well-crafted wood. A woman with long curly red hair sat in the rocking chair with a young baby in her arms as she sang him to sleep. The two other chairs were occupied with two young girls that watched their mother. One had a head full of red hair and wore a white dress while the other had black hair and a light-blue dress.

  When the three of them saw Andron, they gasped, and the two young girls leaped from their chairs to run at him. Both giggled as they hugged at his legs. He knelt to the ground and grabbed the both of them in his arms.

  “Daddy!” they cried.

  “My dear Kierra and Adreamera, I have missed you so,” he said as tears came to his eyes.

  The woman in the chair stood up and laid the sleeping baby on a mattress on the ground. She walked a few steps and looked at Andron with fierce eyes. The two girls looked back at their mother and cringed as they saw her.

  “Daughters, go to your room.”

  “I love you, Daddy,” both of them whispered into his ears before disappearing into another room.

  He smiled as he watched them go with their dresses twirling, and they dashed out of sight. When he turned back to the woman, he flinched slightly. She walked up to him without a hint of joy or concern painted on her face. He stood expectant of her reaction as a hand smacked his face hard. Wincing in pain, he knew better than to rub his sore cheek. Another slap came on the same cheek that caused him to cringe.

  “How dare you!” Her voice was shaky.

  “I’m sorry.”

  Another slap crashed against his left cheek that caused him to rub it in pain. She went for another slap, but he caught her arm and stared into her eyes. Tears swelled up in her deep hazel eyes.

  “How dare you leave us to worry about you? Do you know what it was like to wonder each and every day if you were alive or dead? Do you have any idea what you have done to this family?”

  She shook with tears as she stared at him. He clasped his arms around her and brought her in for a hug. She fought against him at first but finally caved into his arms sobbing uncontrollably.

  “It’s okay, my love. I am here. I am back.”

  She pushed him away and took a step back, “Okay? How dare you say that! It is not okay. I can already see it in your eyes. I know you, Andron, and I know that you are not coming home. You are not coming back to us. I can see it in your eyes; you will leave us again. Do not say it will be okay.”

  “I love you all very much, but now that I know you are safe, I need to go.”

  “Please, Andron…Please don’t leave us again.”

  “I know it has been a while, but we no longer have a home. It will not be safe for us to go back until this threat is gone. I am with people now that seek for an alliance to defeat these creatures. I must leave and help them.”

  “Surely, you don’t have to leave right away.”

  He turned to look at both Starlyn and Sh’on. Both stared back at him with warmth in their expression.

  “I am sure Searon wishes to visit with his brother a few days as well. Stay here with your family; Sh’on and I will find this barracks and whatever warriors are here in an attempt to ask for their support.”

  Andron turned back around and saw a smile on Ketharine’s lips. She leaped into his arms and kissed him passionately. He was taken aback by her abruptness and the fresh sting that swelled on his cheek. Bringing his hand to her face, he tangled it in her hair and kissed her back just as eagerly.

  “Good, it has been far too long that I’ve slept in a cold bed,” she whispered with a smile.

  Starlyn and Sh’on both bowed before leaving the room for Andron and Ketharine to be left alone. He smiled back at her with a twinkle in his eye.

  “It has been far too long.”

  Chapter 27

  Searon watched his brother with keen interest. It had been many years since he saw him last, and so many things had changed. Yet at the same time, there were so many things that were the same. His hair was short and dirty blond with stubble on his face. Years back, when he was young, it seemed no matter what he tried no facial hair would grow. Searon smiled at the fond memories.

  “How have you been, Noraes?”

  He stared around the lively pub that his brother had taken him to. Serving maids patrolled the dirty green wooden floors, dodging spilled mugs of ale to bring fresh ones to customers. Several of them flinched as their bottoms were pinched, but none shrieked out. It appeared to be a too common thing for them that they were used to sore bottoms. The crowd cheered at the juggler as he tossed seven small silver balls up on the stage. Next to the juggler, a woman in a long green cotton dress played a fiddle.

  “I can’t complain, I’ve brought myself a long way since the last you’ve seen me. Perhaps I’ve matured a little.”

  Searon barked a laugh as he studied his brother. He changed out of his armor into a short sleeve blue cotton shirt that shone his tight fit muscles at his arms down to his hands. The muscles were as large as Searon’s, yet for his thin frame they were impressive. Noraes rubbed at his chin, feeling at his whiskers.

  “Since when have you been able to grow a beard?”

  Noraes laughed. “I still cannot, but this keeps my face a little warm in the winter.”

  “So have you found yourself a wife yet?”

  No matter how much his brother had claimed to change and mature, he still couldn’t see him settling down. He knew his brother to have the same compassion and loving nature as himself, but he was still a wild spirit. Searon had almost forgotten his compassion that he once had for his family and friends over the last few years of being alone. Now that he was seeing his brother once again, those feelings began to swirl back.

  Noraes sighed, and his face grew grim. “No, I just haven’t found the right one,” he chuckled and leaned back in his wobbly chair. “How is Victoria?”

  Those were the words that Searon was dreading to hear. They tore through him like a sharp knife through fresh bread. He closed his eyes and rubbed his index finger and thumb against his forehead. After taking a deep breath, he opened his eyes to his brother’s worried expression. His brother had known how much he had cared for Victoria and wouldn’t go anywhere without her. Noraes began to look around as if expecting to see her come from a corner of darkness. He knew his brother cared for him deeply and would ache when he told him. Searon shook his head and sighed. Noraes studied him for a long moment with concern flashing in his green eyes flecked with hazel.

  “She is dead.”

  Noraes’s eyes flared as he stared at his brother. Searon’s heart pounded with fury as flashbacks entered his mind. He clenched his fist and put it to his forehead as a splitting migraine overcame him. Shivering, he opened his eyes and brought his shaky fist onto the table. He clenched the pint of ale in his hand and began to chug it. Normally, he wouldn’t drink ale because he wasn’t as fond of the taste as he was of harder alcohol. However, it was his brother that had ordered the drinks, and it was one of those rare occasions where he preferred the bitterness.

  “Creatures called draeyks killed her…and my son. Scaly reptile beasts they are, with long snouts like a lizard and tails behind them. They are black in color, though some have speckled variations under their jaw and on their chest and abdomen. Noraes,” Searon paused, “they look like
dragons in the storybooks we read as children, except they are our size and without wings.”

  “I am sorry, Brother. I do not recognize these creatures. We have a threat of our own down here. From the look in your eyes, I can see that you have already come across a few daerions.”

  “Yes, I have. They are vicious beasts, much stronger than draeyks.”

  “Then you already know of my dilemma.”

  “I do. Yet you do not know of mine. I have been lost, my Brother. For the last forty-one months and eighteen days I have been wandering without knowing what to do. Every fiber in my body has been seeking revenge upon these creatures. A little over two months ago, a wizard approached me and scolded me for being so selfish. I welcomed death and embraced it as I struck down creature after creature seeking revenge for the past three years. He has offered me something different, a path to these creatures—destruction instead of tearing them apart one by one. Together, we have begun an alliance to strike the heart of these creatures.”

  “How many do you have in this alliance?”

  Searon sighed. “There is only the old wizard, I, Xython, a kheshlar named Starlyn, and a cunning human warrior named Andron.”

  “A kheshlar?”

  “Yes, Brother, they really do exist.”

  “I know all too well that they exist.”

  Searon’s eyebrows rose, but he didn’t voice his question over the subject. “The wizard and I split with the kheshlar and human to travel in two different paths to begin forming an army for an alliance. They went to the northern cities where Andron’s kin lies to find an army. The wizard, Karceoles, and I…have come down to these southern cities.”

  “Ah…you have come to find me.”

  “I hate to put you in this situation, Brother, but I do need you. I am rejoiced in seeing you alive and was surprised the wizard knew more of your whereabouts than I. I know you are commander of an army down here, and I was hoping you would join me and fight alongside me once again.”

  “It is not that simple, Searon. I am not only the general over the Legain army. My title is grander than that. I am in command over all the armies in this province of Lorgaeth. There are seven cities and nineteen villages here under my command. It is not official yet, but there are votes going on to make me grand duke of the land. The king is sick and is without an heir since his only son fell from horse and carriage two years ago. There are many who think without a king of the land that I would be sufficient in his stead.”