The Inner Realm

by Dale Furse

  One of the riders shot an arrow straight into the wound. The Mashki finally faltered, tripping forward, its momentum carrying it onwards until it fell in a heap less than a pace away from Mike’s feet.

  Derek and his men stared at Mike with what looked like awe in their eyes.

  “Lucky it had a weak neck,” Mike said, trying to lighten the mood.

  Derek tilted his head. “I’ve never found it so. It usually takes an arrow to its temple to take one down. You handle your sword well.”

  “Thanks.”

  “I’m glad some Mashki are solo creatures,” the rider said.

  “You have that right,” the second rider agreed. “We should bring some of it with us, Your Majesty.”

  “Yes,” Derek said, still eyeing Mike. “We will feast before we ride to the palace.”

  After the men gutted and cleaned the beast, Derek bound half the Mashki to his saddle with a thick rope. Tying the last knot, he said, “You boys can sit on my horse, I’ll walk.” He regarded Mike as if waiting for concurrence.

  Mike thought it was better safe with Derek than Mashki food. He nodded.

  The prince helped Mike on first before placing Terni in front. “Hang on to the little one and the saddle,” Derek said.

  Mike screwed up his nose at sharing the horse with the dead Mashki, but he didn’t speak. He didn’t know what to say, didn’t know if Derek was friend or foe. He had long worked out Derek wasn’t in league with Ludo, but he was a bandit none the less, and bandits are neither friendly nor nice as far as he knew.

  Mike frowned. “What are going to do with us?”

  Derek, walking ahead, stopped and turned to face Mike. “Do?” He laughed and held his horse’s bridle. “Why, we’re not going to do anything to you boys. Didn’t you notice? We just saved your lives.”

  “I could have handled the Mashki,” Mike said. “We didn’t need your help.” He narrowed his eyes at the prince. “I did need help with Ludo’s men though. Where were you then? Oh, yes, that’s right. You ran off and left me.”

  “I saw you leave. I thought you had gotten away as I had. If I’d known you went back, I would have fought beside you.”

  Mike sensed he was telling the truth. “Yeah, well, I wasn’t in trouble this time.”

  “No?” Derek laughed again and the other two men joined in. “Well, I must apologize. You only had to say the word, and we would have left the beast to you.”

  “That’s right,” one of the men said between guffaws. His orangutan colored hair, partly tethered in a tie at the back of his head, fell over his face. He blew the strands from his mouth. “Next time I’ll leave you to the beasts.”

  “Oh, no. Peule? What if there’s more than one?” The black-bearded, bald man asked his friend with mock horror.

  The corners of Derek’s lips rose in an easygoing smile.

  “Hey, he said he didn’t need us. They are his rules.” Peule hunched over, roaring with laughter.

  The bald man hit Peule’s back and joined him in the joke.

  Mike ignored them. They were having a go at him and he didn’t want to let them know about his sword. They might take it.

  “Enough,” Derek said, though he still grinned like a mischievous child. “Stay alert.”

  “Where are you taking us then?” asked Mike.

  “You’ll soon find out,” Derek said. “We’re almost at our first destination.”

  They rode for about half an hour, and Mike said, “Um, Derek, why did you leave the kingdom to become a bandit?”

  “I don’t see how it concerns you, boy.”

  His tone told Mike not to pursue the question. Instead, he peered into the darkness. They were on the path he would have taken to go back to Noor.

  “You’re taking us to Noor?”

  “Good deduction, kid,” the orange-haired Peule said.

  They rounded a corner. Noor sat beside a raging river, not the stream where they said they would meet. If Derek hadn’t come by, Mike would never have followed the river. He sniffed in the aromas. He might have noticed the fire, the smell of roasting meat, and found his way there. Three men chatted near their horses between Mike and a couple of roasting rabbits. Behind them, two more horses munched on the grass.

  Mike jumped off the horse, nearly unbalancing Terni, ran over to Noor, and said, “Why didn’t you wait for me at the place we agreed?”

  “I’m here, Mike.”

  “This is not where we agreed to meet.”

  “Yes, it is. See? There’s the three rocks to our left and the two trees to our right.” She must have seen Mike’s confusion because she added, “Oh, the stream. It has rained heavily on the mountain, which is why it is so wide. The water runs from the mountains, turning streams into rivers. They don’t last long, only as long as it rains, but they meander over the plains and around the canyons happily until they dry up.”

  Mike looked at the three rocks. They could have been sculptured people, and then the two, tall pine-like trees. It looked like the place. “Oh.” He scanned the area. “Where’s Vala?”

  “We sent her ahead with Derek’s physician.” Noor’s eyes dulled. “She’s not doing so well, Mike.”

  “She’s not a bit better?”

  “No, but the physician said she should be all right once they get her to the palace.”

  She tried to look and sound convincing, but Mike wondered if she believed her own words. No, Vala would be okay. Their doctors will know how to treat her better than Mike did.

  Derek moved beside Noor and put his arm around her. “Hungry?” he asked, nodding towards the side of Mashki.

  “Mmm,” Noor smiled up at the oldest prince.

  Mike had seen that look enough times to realize something had happened between the two of them since they met at the king’s camp. Vala had looked at Mike like the same way a couple of times. He prayed to all the gods of all the peoples, that he would see her smiling face again.

  Derek continued talking and smiling. “Carn has already cleaned the animal, but we left the skin on so as not to damage the carcass too much. Carn and Peule, take it away and skin it, will you?”

  Ah, the bald man’s name was Carn. Their names sounded strange to Mike’s ears.

  The two horsemen nodded and took the beast down river. Derek built a spit, Noor moved the fires about and the boys picked berries and dug up yams while they waited.

  One of the other three, a dark-haired man, strode to Derek. “What would you have us do, Sire?”

  “You three rest for now. You’ll take turns on watch through the night.”

  “Yes, my prince.” He bent his head in a slight nod.

  The other two, both about Mike’s age and with yellow-blonde hair fell to the ground and reclined on the grass. They appeared happy they were off their feet. The dark haired man joined them.

  By the time they had finished eating, Mike guessed it was about midnight. With a full stomach and feeling safe for the first time since he could remember, he slept.

  The first thing Mike did when he woke was look around for Terni. Sleepy confusion had him thinking it all was a dream.

  Noor pointed west. “I told Derek to take him to a shallow bend in the river to wash, and I think you had better go find them and do the same. I’m sure you can’t remember the last time you were clean.”

  Mike could not remember. It could have been days or weeks for all he knew.

  “You can wash your garments too,” Noor called before Mike was out of hearing distance.

  Mike let out a huff. What was he supposed to wear then?

  He found Terni in the water and Derek lazing on the bank a small way down river.

  “There are no soaps, but jump in and rub some sand over your skin,” Derek said to Mike.

  Mike walked into the water fully clothed. He figured he might as well wash his clothes at the same time. He rubbed his lower legs with handfuls of sand, but the particles stung at the many cuts on his hands and legs. Taking off his shirt, he filled some clo
th with sand and proceeded to use it as a scrub, taking special care around his wound.

  He hoped the water was as clean as it looked. He gritted his teeth, refusing to make a noise and slowly opened the cut to wash it out thoroughly. The skin had already started to knit back together at the ends and he squeezed what pus he could out into the river. The cool water soothed the ache. He thought the swelling had lessoned.

  “Isn’t it nice?” Terni asked.

  “What?”

  “The water,” Terni said. “I love swimming in the rivers and creeks at home.”

  “Yeah, I guess it’s nice.” Mike ducked under the water and came up scrubbing his face. “You finished?”

  “Yep.”

  “Well, let’s get out of here. I want to know what the plan is.”

  “I think we are going to go to the palace.”

  Although Mike wanted to see Vala again, he and Terni had to stay close to the wall. He would never forget her and thought if the gods agreed, he could come back to Zandell again. With proper goodbyes to his mother, he could leave Trevel. It would be just like taking a job in another city, and he could always go back for a visit via the wall of doors.

  The Shanks and Hankley’s god would know what was going on in this land. The evil prince shouldn’t have guns or anything else from other planets. Yes, the gods would stop Ludo. As Mike thought the last, the Shanks’ words filled his mind. Oln would not interfere nor would he allow his servants to.

  Chapter 22

  Mike scampered out of the water to where Derek lazed. “Are you going to the palace?”

  “That’s the plan.” Derek got to his feet.

  Mike’s heart somersaulted. As far as he knew, the palace and the kingdom town lay far to the south and a long way from the wall. He had surmised, like the wall, the god’s servants could only appear in the same vicinity. If they go to far away, neither the Shanks nor Hankley would be able to find him, and if they couldn’t find him, they couldn’t tell him when the wall reappeared. He would never be able to get Terni or himself home.

  “We can’t go,” Mike said.

  Derek eyed him for a moment. “Come, I want to show you something. Go back to Noor, Terni.”

  Mike followed Derek over a small rise. On the plain before them stood hundreds of men on horses.

  “They are every loyal man I could find,” Derek said. “Ludo prepares to march on the palace. We will combine my men with the king’s army and together they will be twice Ludo’s force. It’s the only way.” He looked down at Mike. “You know my brother; you have seen him, his army, and his weapons. If we don’t join with the king’s army they won’t have a chance.” He sighed. “We may still fall under those weapons of his.”

  Mike shook his head. He didn’t know whether he should tell Derek it didn’t matter how many men the king had, they didn’t have a chance against guns.

  “Maybe if you pray to your god, he’d help.” As soon as the words left Mike’s mouth, an image of the wall filled his mind. He sucked the inside of his bottom lip. But that was before one Ludo had the means to get the weapons. Only a god could have let him through the wall of doors and back again. By the amount of guns and ammunition, he had brought into Zandell, Mike figured he had gone through to Earth more than once.

  The Shanks said Gart, the God of the Quarter Realm, whatever that was, had the book Ludo kept in his lair. How did they know another god had it? And why hadn’t Mike had the wits to ask before they disappeared. He had to think. The book belonged to Oln. And the gem, to Gart. Either Gart or Oln, or both gods, gave the items to Ludo. Or any other god and/or servants could have. Surely, if other gods or servants interfered with the Inner Realm, Oln would do something about it.

  New hope surged through Mike. From everything the Shanks and Hankley had said about Oln, even if he was crazy, he was a caring God. He assumed Oln could go anywhere he pleased, but Mike didn’t know if he would.

  Derek stared at Mike. “Do you have a God? Mike.”

  “Huh? Sorry. What did you say?”

  “Do you have a God?”

  “The people of Earth have lots of them.”

  “And do the people of Earth go to war against each other?”

  “Yes.” Mike frowned.

  “And would your Gods help you? If so, which side?”

  He had Mike there. He couldn’t say anything about Oln, Hankley, or the Shanks. Derek would think him mad if he did. “No, probably not.” And there was still a chance Oln might not interfere or even not get to the war in time.

  Mike thought about the rifles. Derek’s scenario was very likely. Bullets traveled greater distances than arrows. Ludo’s men would attack long before the king’s armies had a chance to shoot an arrow, let alone wield a sword. Mike scratched his head. Something about the guns had bugged him since he first saw them.

  Derek said, “You have seen weapons such as those… ah…”

  “Rifles. Yes, I’ve seen them.” And used modern ones, he added silently.

  “What are you thinking?”

  Mike realized he had screwed up his nose. “I don’t know, but something’s not right.”

  “Your meaning?”

  Mike racked his brains, but couldn’t find the answer. He threw his arms up. “I have no idea.”

  “That helps.” Derek’s tone was only slightly sarcastic. He smiled. “Perhaps you can come to a conclusion by the time we get to the palace. If there is any way to fight those monstrosities, we need to know.”

  “You’re right there.”

  “Yes.” Derek’s frown deepened. He pulled his black hood from under his belt and waved it in the air.

  The lead horseman below did the same in reply, kicked his horse, and Derek’s army moved south.

  “My men will ride the plain.”

  “I thought the king said the quickest way to the palace was through the pink forest. Won’t Ludo go that way?”

  “It is the fastest route, but no, Ludo won’t travel through any forests. He will suspect a trap. Archers can hide in the trees.”

  “But, just in case, have you got archers hiding in the trees?”

  “Of course.” Derek laughed. “My brother might not be as clever as I think he is.”

  Mike hoped Ludo went through the forest. Derek and the king’s men had no chance against rifles. But Mike had to believe Oln would help, or let his servants do something. Maybe he and Terni could sneak away when they stopped for the night.

  But he couldn’t stop thinking about Vala. Ludo was so insane, he could rampage through the palace, killing everyone.

  Mike dawdled back to camp behind Derek.

  “Could we have some help over here?” called Noor.

  Derek was the first to move. “Come on,” he called over his shoulder. He held a hand up at the three men who now rested after a night’s watch. “No, you three go back to sleep, I’ll wake you when breakfast is ready.”

  Noor and Terni dug at the ground with sticks between Mike and the still warm Mashki.

  Mike hesitated. He had grown to like Noor a lot. Derek only had five men with him, plus Noor, and it would take time to catch up to his army. What if they were all killed? If he didn’t go with them, he would never know. The thought would torture him until the day he died, and even after death. He sighed.

  Terni looked up when Mike joined them. “Noor’s going to roast the yams.”

  “That’s good, kid.”

  Noor stood up. “Here, take these.” She handed Mike three orange yams and he bent to scoop up the one he’d already collected. Terni had one in each hand while Derek handed Noor four more. “We’ll wash them in the river.”

  While Noor, Mike and Terni washed the vegetables, Noor gazed at Mike. “Are you and Terni riding to the palace with us? You know it will be dangerous to stay on the plain where we first found you.”

  “Dangerous?” asked Terni with wide eyes.

  Derek had moved behind Noor. “Ludo’s army might be right behind us.”

  Mike wasn�
�t worried about Ludo’s army. He and Terni could hide in the forest until they passed. A picture of Vala, shot and lying in a pool of blood, flashed in his mind. He shook his head. “We’re going with you,” he said.

  “Thank you, Mike, I don’t like those loud things.”

  He didn’t know how, but he’d just agreed to go with Derek and his men. He had just agreed to leave the only way home behind, but if there was a way he could help his father’s people, he had to try. He snorted and washed the last of his yams.

  After they had eaten, Carn and Peule buried the remainder of the Mashki. The group of nine riders and eight horses began the ride south through the canyons.

  Rounding the last corner, Mike’s horse followed Derek’s out of the canyons.

  “Look.” Terni pointed to the top of the cliff.

  Mike turned. A row of a dozen or more of Ludo’s men watched the group emerge from the labyrinth. Some had rifles aimed and ready. The others had bows with arrows nocked. The enemy was too far away for the bows and arrows to be effective, but the bullets could easily reach them. Why didn’t they shoot? Had they forgotten the balls, or the pouches of gunpowder? Mike shook his head. Had they lost all their ramming rods?

  “Move it,” Derek commanded. He trotted back to Mike’s side and hit the horse’s rump. “Go.”

  Derek re-took the lead. Mike let his horse follow with Noor and the men into the sparse wood.

  Terni twisted around Mike’s back. “They’re coming after us,” he cried.

  Mike peered up. Sure enough, the last of the canyon’s cliffs fell away. Ludo’s men had not only gained on Mike and his group, but some had descended the last gradual decline and were all ready ahead, beginning to circle around. Soon, they would come face to face with their pursuers.

  Derek held his arm up above his head. “Run them down, men. Don’t give them the chance to use those rifles or their arrows.”

  “Aye, Sire,” they all replied in unison. Swords drawn, Carn and Peule crashed forward first. The three other men, necks bulging, closely followed.

  Derek lifted Terni from Mike’s horse and swung the child behind Noor’s back. “Keep your head down, little one.”

  Noor hung back and readied her bow as Mike drew his sword and moved forward with Derek.