by D N Meinster
"Wow," Aros said as he looked at his shoulder.
"Don't mention it," Rikki said. "Now put your clothes back on."
Simma came up to Rikki and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'm convinced, Rikki. We really are going to end this war tomorrow."
Rikki wasn't so confident. Healing her friends was one thing. But what Simma wanted was unusual and they hadn't even tested it out.
Lady Simma didn't give Rikki a chance to reply before she walked away and left her alone with her friends around the fire.
"How are you going to end the war?" Aros asked as he struggled to get his shirt back on.
He must have missed what was so obvious. "Magic."
Chapter Thirty-One
The Battle of Two Brothers
The back of the velizard was rather cramped, as Rikki, Doren, and Aros were all riding the same one. Though the extra weight bore down on the poor creature, it kept up with the rest of Lady Yveen's gang. None of the soldiers were in a rush to get to Kuwain's camp. Their march was no faster than it had been previously, and all of the velizards were stuck between the mass of armored Fauns.
Yveen would occasionally glance over at the trio, silently gloating that she had her velizard all to herself. Doren was not so amused by her smirk but did not say so. In fact, no one was saying much of anything this morning. The raucous voices from the previous night had disappeared. There was a sense that they all knew they were heading toward death; that some of their friends would not see the next sunrise. No one took pleasure in knowing what was coming, not even Aros.
Doren was relieved to see that his friend had the same fear in his eyes that the soldiers had. With that solemn expression, Doren knew Aros might finally have gotten over what had beset him since they set foot in Faunli. It was enough so that he was untroubled entering a potentially perilous situation with Aros by his side.
Aros sat behind Doren, incredibly nervous about upcoming events. He did not know what was going to happen, in this battle or within himself. All this greenery, all this nature, was about to be stained red. Could he control the savagery within while he was encompassed by barbarism? He felt sick to his stomach just thinking about what this war might cause him to do. He didn't want to give in to that again, after making so much progress. But how could he stop it when he was steeped in it?
The velizard he and his friends were riding let out a high-pitched gurgle. Aros patted it on the side, his fingers rubbing up against the unsmooth scales. He was the only one without his hands full. Rikki had a staff in one hand and the denhare in the other. Doren's arms were bound around Rikki's waist. Aros didn't feel so unsteady on the creature's back that he needed to grab onto his friend to feel secure.
He wanted to speak to his friends and get their advice. But any conversation they might have was going to be heard by every Faun in the area. So Aros kept his mouth shut and kept thinking. What could prevent him from relapsing? He could take the velizard and run away, but he wasn't about to abandon his friends again. There had to be a better solution.
Aros absentmindedly continued caressing the creature's side, which kept quiet in its satisfaction. His mind was set on coming up with a solution, but as he began to recognize some of the environment from their last trip to Kuwain's camp, he knew he was running out of time.
He could keep his clawblades on his back, but that would present an unnecessary danger. He could fight with only one blade, and maybe that would keep his temper at bay? Aros felt like slapping himself. That was dumb.
What if he had both blades out and he didn't fight? What if he only watched his friends' backs? He could keep his friends safe without indulging his bloodlust. He didn't have to be responsible for any death; he could merely protect.
Aros straightened up and folded his arms, satisfied with his idea. The velizard was not so pleased that he had ceased touching it and let out a shriek in response. Moments later, it stopped moving altogether, but so did the rest of the army.
"Let's get a better look, shall we?" Yveen said to no one in particular, and she egged her velizard on.
"I'm with her," Doren said.
Rikki glanced back at him with concern but urged their velizard to follow. It crammed through the rows of soldiers, following in Yveen's footsteps. No Faun seemed inclined to move out of the way until the velizard's snout was poking them in the back. There were a few grumbles, but for the most part, they all complied. Several more of Yveen's gang followed behind.
The procession of velizards made their way to the frontlines, coming to a stop only when the trees of Fair Forest were visible over the heads of the remaining soldiers. None of the troopers drew their weapons or charged in. They stood perplexed, awaiting orders to provide guidance in these unexpected circumstances.
Kuwain's army was gone. Where days earlier there had been a packed camp, now there was only flattened grass and traces of burned out fires. All they had left behind were bodies, many of them, hanging from the outermost trees of the forest. Their necks snapped, they dangled there lifelessly, twisting with every breeze. Was it a warning? Or was Kuwain taunting his brother?
The disturbing image had them all entranced; none could look away. But the longer they kept their eyes on the dead, the more they seemed both familiar and out of place. They did not wear the armor of Luewen's army, or bear his banner. No, they were like paupers, innocents, caught up in a war that was not of their own making.
And then one of the bodies rotated towards them, and they knew immediately who it was. He was wearing a golden beak on his face.
Ji-Ji was the first to notice. He escaped from Rikki's grasp and scurried forward to the hanging body.
"Ji-Ji!" Rikki exclaimed as the denhare ran between the legs of nearby soldiers. Her voice seemed magnified in the chilling silence. She flung herself off the velizard and tried to cram herself through the remaining lines of soldiers. But these men refused to give her room to chase her pet. Within moments, she shifted away.
Doren and Aros both swung off the velizard, intending to chase after Rikki. But they remained hopelessly trapped amongst the soldiers and gave up their struggles to follow her when she shifted out of sight.
Ji-Ji came to a stop just beneath Jient's body. He gazed up at it with despair, whistling a distressing tune as Rikki's faded form took shape beside him. The other bodies were not Fauns loyal to Luewen; they were loyal to Neanthal. Vezeo was amongst the Thalians that had been murdered and left to swing aimlessly from the branches. Kuwain must not have taken kindly to the interlopers as they searched for Jient.
As she approached Ji-Ji, Rikki raised up her staff and compelled the rope holding Jient to lower him. He gradually descended towards them, but on the way down was struck by an elongated spear. Rikki leapt back in shock, not suspecting the already dead man to be impaled.
Several more spears soared through the air, striking the deceased Thalians like they were nothing more than targets.
Despite the act of aggression, all of the soldiers remained motionless. Without orders, they refused to act.
The perpetrator of the callow act finally revealed himself. Sarin shifted in near Rikki, ignoring the legions of armed men beside her.
"Where is Aros?" Sarin asked.
"Did you kill them?" Rikki responded.
Sarin chuckled. "Unfortunately not. But they make wonderful targets." He began to pace around. "Now, where is he?"
Rikki bent down and encouraged Ji-Ji to come to her. "Why do you need to see him?"
"He didn't tell you?" Sarin reached into his cloak and pulled out the second Key. "I have this."
"He told me," Rikki said, not even looking at him. She was trying to get Ji-Ji back in her arms, but the denhare was traumatized by Jient's desecrated corpse, which was swinging wildly from the rope.
"I need him to answer," Sarin replied.
"It's a no," Rikki said, rising to full attention. She gripped her staff and prepared to face a dejected resurrected.
But Sarin demurred. "I want him to answer. Aros. You know,
the damaged one. He who has the first Key. I won't accept you answering for him, mage. You're less likely to give me the answer I want."
"For good reason," she said, pointing her staff at him.
"I didn't come here to fight a mage," Sarin said, waving her off. "Now, where is he?"
Multiple soldiers in the front rows stepped away from each other, and both Sarin and Rikki focused on the area, expecting Aros to emerge. Instead, Emperor Luewen strut out from behind the hordes of men. He appraised the situation, eyes moving from the abandoned campsite to the hanging bodies, until they finally lingered on Sarin.
"I never wanted to believe the rumors," Luewen said, mostly to himself. "But our worst terror has come back from the dead."
"That's quite a compliment," Sarin said with a slight bow. "I do my best."
"Did you kill my brother?" Luewen inquired.
"Not yet," Sarin replied. "I only took this from him." He held out the Key so the Emperor could see it. "Is Aros hiding with you? Can you bring him to me?"
Luewen's eyes were stuck on the Key. It looked like he might lunge for it, but he restrained any such urges. "Give it to me."
"This goes to Aros when he agrees to my deal," Sarin said. He looked from the Emperor to Rikki. "Are neither of you going to get him?"
"Do you not see what is behind me?" Luewen growled.
"A bunch of Fauns ready for battle. Whoop-dee-doo. Am I supposed to be intimidated?" Sarin slipped the Key back beneath his cloak. "I guess I'm gonna have to find the boy myself."
"No," Luewen said.
"Are you gonna bring him to me then?" Sarin asked.
Luewen raised his arm up and pointed to the sky.
Rikki could sense what was about to happen. She dove at Ji-Ji, secured him in her arms, and shifted away.
"Fire!" Luewen shouted, bringing his arm down and pointing at Sarin.
The first few rows of soldiers took hold of their crossbows and let loose their arrows at the masked terror.
Sarin stayed his ground, watching as the first group of arrows completely missed him and sailed into Fair Forest. It was only when they were about to hit him that he finally shifted away.
"Enough!" Luewen barked after Sarin had completely disappeared. His men had continued firing at the spot, wasting arrows on trees.
But within moments, the trees fired back. Hundreds of arrows emanated from the forest, flying through the air and striking Luewen's men. Most of the arrows got stuck in the soldiers' pads, doing little-to-no damage to their wearers.
Luewen, grasping who was firing back, retreated behind his men. Once he was safe from the arrows, he gave his orders in his native tongue. Hordes of men charged forth, heading into the forest to do battle with his brother's army.
The arrows kept coming as Luewen's soldiers ran forward. Many pads were struck with multiple shafts, but the occasional one got a lucky hit and took a man down. For all that were heading into combat, even more remained in place, awaiting the Emperor's commands.
Rikki shifted beside Aros and Doren, who had stayed behind and were ducking the occasional arrow. She dropped Ji-Ji on top of the velizard and turned to them. "I have to find Simma," she said. Before either friend could reply, she shifted away again.
"So we don't?" Aros asked, startled to see Rikki disappear so soon.
Doren withdrew his shield and blocked an incoming arrow from piercing him. "No, we get to stay and have arrows rain down on us."
Lady Yveen and her gang were steering their velizards in odd directions, trying to evade the incoming arrows. As they bounced around, they nearly collided with Doren and Aros.
"Sorry!" she sincerely exclaimed. "We're stuck out here. It's not easy navigating a single velizard through a forest. A pack of 'em's impossible."
She bounded away again, trying to get as far from the shooters as possible. The velizard that Doren and Aros had ridden followed her, with only Ji-Ji on its back this time.
"Wanna head in?" Doren asked, motioning toward Fair Forest.
Aros glanced at the trees with trepidation. If he wasn't being forced into combat, he really didn't want to encourage it. "Let's wait for Rikki."
Doren pouted as he demolished another arrow with his shield. "If we're not going in, we might as well catch up with Yveen." He made to follow her tracks, but shouts in native Faun spread out and another battalion rushed into the forest.
Both of them remained still as hundreds of soldiers passed them and hustled toward the trees.
"I suppose we'll wait here," Doren stated, though he would have preferred joining Luewen's men in battle. Staying out of it made it seem like he had privileges that the other men did not.
Aros hadn't even taken out his blades. When he saw an arrow coming, he moved a few feet to avoid it and watched as it embedded itself in the grass.
Doren tried spotting Rikki amongst the flocks of golden padded men but failed to see anyone that stood out. Why hadn't she let them go with her? He didn't like that she was on her own in a warzone, even if she could handle herself. They should have stuck together; they'd spent enough time apart.
As he continued looking, he saw a figure fading into being just feet away. "Sarin!"
By the time Aros turned to Doren, Sarin was completely opaque, though he lacked the spears he was so fond of.
"There you are!" Sarin squealed like he'd found an old friend. "These Fauns tried keeping me away from you."
Doren raised his shield for an attack, but the last Resurrected paid him no attention.
Sarin slapped his hands together. "Do you have an answer for me? Come on, you know that key on your waist is lonely."
"No!" Doren cried out.
"Why is everyone answering for you?" Sarin asked, keeping both his eyes on Aros. "I want to hear you say it."
Aros glanced at Doren, and then back at Sarin. "I could never agree to it. I wouldn't do that to Milo. I wouldn't do that to Leidess. I wouldn't do that to Faunli." And he finally reached back and took hold of both clawblades.
"And what do you care about any of those?" Sarin whined. "Milo is dead. Leidess is dead. Faunli is only a stop on your grand tour of Ghumai." He spread his arms out wide. "I'm giving you a chance to keep the Door closed. That's why you're here, right? You can take it and leave now. This war has nothing to do with you. All of these men choose to sacrifice their lives for their rulers. And, what? You're concerned that I'm gonna pluck a few every now and then? They're clearly willing to die." He advanced on Aros. "So don't act like you're above this. Don't try to fool yourself with those righteous words. You have a goal, and the only way to accomplish it is to accept my deal. So, what do you say, Aros? How about a change of heart?"
Aros lifted up his blade and prepared to strike. But before he could land his attack, Doren dove forward, shield-first, and tackled Sarin to the ground.
Sarin kicked out toward Doren and flipped himself back on his feet. He extended both hands and a spear manifested in each of them. "Small-minded idealists!" he spat. "Hatswick will do anything to get the Keys. This is why you will lose."
He swung his spears down on Doren, but Aros sprang into the way, blocking the weapons with his clawblades. The two pushed at each other before they both relented and moved back.
Doren returned to his feet and joined Aros at his side. "We can take him together."
"Can you?" Sarin shouted, and spears appeared in the air above his shoulders. "Your mage isn't here to save you this time."
Doren and Aros exchanged a look and then charged at Sarin.
In response, Sarin set all the spears soaring at the two Kytherans.
A velizard dashed through the row of airborne spears, knocking them all off course so they landed harmlessly on the ground.
Yveen winked at them from atop her velizard. "Y'all are careless, taking on this monster without me." With her mace out, she circled back and tried to land a blow on Sarin.
Instead of returning the attack, Sarin shifted away.
"Coward!" she shouted.
Both of them vaulted out of the way before Sarin could trample them. When he noticed he’d missed, he turned back to make another pass.
Yveen helped both of them back to their feet. "You two make tons of friends, don't you?"
The three of them readied their weapons and prepared for the incoming assault. This time, Sarin manifested spears to glide through the air alongside the velizard. He had no intention of missing.
While they awaited a collision, another battalion of Luewen's men charged forward, getting between them and ending his momentum. Sarin looked on helplessly from atop the creature. When he concluded he wasn't going to be able to take it with him, he summoned a spear above him, then grabbed onto it and let it fly him over the heads of the soldiers and straight back to his opponents.
Doren took aim and flung his shield at Sarin, hoping to knock him off course. But he missed, and Sarin dropped down to their level and immediately manifested more spears.
Doren chased after his shield and let Aros and Yveen take on the resurrected.
Aros swung left and then right, but was parried each time by a spear. Yveen managed to smash one of the spears to pieces, but Sarin made up for it by summoning two more.
Sarin didn't even seem to be trying too hard. When Aros and Yveen got close to nicking him, he moved back and formed a wall of spears between them. He then flipped the wall so that the point of every spear was facing them.
Yveen and Aros tried to back up, but they kept getting battered by Luewen's men as they ran by.
Yveen pounded one of the spears with her mace, removing its tip but leaving the rest of the shaft airborne.
Aros kept both of his blades vertical, doing his best to push back against the coming onslaught. The spears scratched against the Ligold clawblades, vibrating them as he tried to keep them in his grip.
"Willing to take that deal yet?" Sarin taunted him.
A bronze shield smacked Sarin in the back of the head. All of the spears fell out of the air as he fell face first into the newly created pile.