by Nelson, J P
“I would think you would have the honor to comply with terms of surrender.”
“We are far removed from the nearest member of the Associated Kingdoms, and you have no foundation to speak of honor.”
Sormiske’s fluster was getting worse and he was having difficulty keeping control, “Are you, are you blaming me for Jonathan’s death?”
Hoscoe’s words were deliberate and clear, “Were you not there? Mysteriously unscathed and your sword clean beyond reproach … only five hours after the engagement when relief arrived, I believe the report described?”
Sormiske’s breath was short. I could envision his sweating in the cold, night air and facing Hoscoe with his complete composure. “Yes, I was there. But I was not in a position …” Sormiske inhaled deeply and took his time in saying, “Sir, you may have been able to take out huge numbers at one time. But you have become old. And I have a prominent wizard with me. A Meidran Wizard, no less …” Sormiske seemed to be puffing out his chest, trying to find some courage in his own words “… and he is under my command. You might get a few of us, but you would never make it away with him.
“Don’t look at me like that. Even if you did, this is dangerous country for an old man and a half-breed elf who was raised a slave.
“What is he to you, anyway?”
It was Hoscoe’s turn not to answer a question. He did ask a question of his own, however, “Sormiske? Did you slay the dragon? Or will you simply take credit for doing so?”
Whoa! Okay, this was getting deeper and more pointed. Sormiske seemed to be incapable of answering and Hoscoe had apparently hit home on several counts. Sormiske must have been turning to walk away when Hoscoe asked, “What are your intentions for me, then.”
Sormiske was mad and on the defensive, “You can go, go free. But I keep the elf.” With an afterthought he added, “I will make sure you are outfitted and provided with a suitable mount, then you can go your own way.”
I could hear footsteps as Sormiske was walking away. Then Hoscoe asked “You won’t mind if I ride along with you, do you, for sake of safety in numbers and all?”
From a short distance away, Sormiske stopped and turned, thought about it for a moment and replied, “If you wish to ride with us, that’s your choice. But don’t try to take the elf from me. I’ll warn the wizard and my men.”
In a bored and casual voice Hoscoe said, “You belong behind a desk, not in the field, Sormiske. I wager the wizard was sent to ensure you completed your mission.”
Sormiske whirled and strutted away into the night huffing and puffing.
Hoscoe pulled the flaps of the tent and came to his bed, passing me a glance. He looked at me again, and as he crawled back into his covers he saw me staring at him and said, “You should get some sleep.”
We looked at each other without speaking, then in Shudoic I said, “Good night, Hoscoe.”
He lay down and burrowed under his blankets as I watched. Looking at me with an impish smile he said, “I heard you and Jared speak the tongue a time or two. Good night Sed.”
Well now, that figures. He intended me to hear the conversation all along. I dug into my own blankets and fell asleep thinking, ‘I really do have a friend.’
The next morning we were having morning chow with a few new faces when Mahrq, Deyan, Sormiske and two more humans walked down the stairs. The one human wore some type of dark colored robes and an unruly tuft of dark hair. The other, however, made my breath catch; it was Lexin. He was fully grown and sporting a beard, but it was Lexin and he was wearing a tabard embossed with the Fel’Caden family crest. Sormiske was said to have someone with a dragon-slaying weapon, was it him?
Did Lexin recognize me? It isn’t like elves were common. I was sure he had already heard of the elf in the company who had killed Stagus. Then again, to humans, most elves look alike.
Sizing him up I began thinking just where the best point of attack would be. I could feel the heat rise up into my body and someone must have opened the door, because a small breeze suddenly went across the room. ‘Momma,’ I thought, and felt a rage begin to build. Without thinking I slowly began to walk around the mess line and toward Lexin. I could lunge quickly to one side and take him in the throat …
Mahrq yelled, “Take him!” and brigands grabbed at me, the wizard suddenly waved a hand in my direction and something coiled around my arms, forcing them against my body. A cord seemed to wrap around my neck and I couldn’t breathe. Quickly I was apprehended and taken to the floor, and then slowly everything went black. It seemed I was making a career at getting knocked out.
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When I came around I was again chained, this time to a post inside one of the other buildings. A brigand was watching me and as I started to move he called for Mahrq.
Mahrq, Sormiske, the wizard and Lexin came in the doorway. Mahrq was the first to talk, “Boy, you are a problem, but no more. These men …” he gestured to Sormiske and the wizard, “are going to take you out of here and feed you to a witch.” With a swish of his cloak he turned and said to Sormiske, “He’s yours.” Then he stormed out of the building.
Lexin just looked me over. Then with snort and a demeaning grin he said in Gevardic, “Herrol would be pleased to see you.” Nodding his head at me he commented, “Yes, still impudent and untamable.” He turned to Sormiske, “If that will be all, I need to return. There is another war brewing and I need to be there.”
“Yes, thank you major. I hope the compensation is satisfactory.” Sormiske looked down at Lexin’s sword hilt. I could see lust in his eyes, “That is a nice blade.”
“Yes, it is,” replied Lexin, “it’s been in the family for over a hundred years.” He casually gazed in my direction, “We acquired many good things in that year.” He measured the length of my chains and spoke directly at me, “Your younger brother behaves nicely.” Glancing to Sormiske but keeping me in his sight he added, “I learned on his momma …”
I bolted to get at him and the pole gave a splintering crunch sound. Lexin jumped back and drew his blade with one graceful motion, ready to strike me down. But the pole held and my chains stopped me short. Through clenched teeth I growled my rage, “You gutless son of a pig. Let me loose and I will kill your whole family … arrgggh!” Like a beast I yelled my fury, and in the distance I heard a mournful howl of a wolf. Was it the same wolf?
From his brave posture, Lexin was about to laugh, how courageous to face a chained and unarmed foe with a drawn blade, but the howl struck a nerve in his and Sormiske’s fiber together. The brigand guard in the room suddenly turned white, “Boys, the last time we heard the howl we were attacked by those demons.”
I saw the sword and beheld the beauty of it. It was of superb craftsmanship, without a nick on the edge. A gentle, grayish glow began to emanate around it and I could almost read the ancient runes etched on the blade. They were engraved in Draconic. This wasn’t a dragon slaying blade, it was a blade of dragons, or some specific dragon. I didn’t understand why they thought … of course … they couldn’t read the runes. It was assumed this was a dragon slayer. So who was the rightful owner?
Momma had made no mention of such a sword in our family’s possession. Momma had mentioned what she referred to as the superiority of elvin swordplay and construction, but never a specific weapon. Could this be one of those things she couldn’t tell me, or was it acquired about the same time but from a different source?
Didn’t Lexin insinuate the sword had been taken along with my momma, or was I reading things wrong again? Was I just letting someone raise my ire with carefully planted words? I seemed to be good at that.
I hissed at Lexin, “One day, one day I will take that blade from your filthy hands and I will run you through.”
Now mad, Lexin snarled his upper lip and drew back as if to strike me down on the spot.
“No!” Sormiske yelled while grabbing Lexin by the arm. Quickly tempering his voice he added, “I need him. He’s worth a lot of money where I’m goi
ng.”
Lexin held off, visibly thought about it, and then looked at Sormiske’s hand on his arm. What was that I saw? Was the sword emanating some kind of thin glow all around Lexin? Was this some kind of Guardian Sword? I tried to get a better look at the runes. I could read them if only … Oahkns’Fahl … I got one, but only one. It would interpret into Lohngish as protection. Not enough, I needed more to get the context of the etching.
Sormiske let go as Lexin shrugged his clothing back into place and said, “I am leaving.” I got one more word before he sheathed the sword, Ish’Thecahl. The sword had a name, Ish’Thecahl, but I couldn’t place the name’s meaning.
As Lexin’s hand left the hilt I saw the thin glow dissipate. Mahrq hadn’t even noticed. I wondered if Lexin even knew, more importantly, I was wondering why I saw it myself if no one else did. Was this part of the Family Secret, to see magical aura’s and effects?
Again I thought, just what all could I possibly do? Was there enough there to really do me some good? Was a little healing ability and maybe seeing some aura’s all there was? Or was there something more worth exploring? U’Lahna, did she have any of these abilities? And what about my twin? Some how, some way I had to find my family. But how, I was still a slave?
As Lexin turned to leave the building Hoscoe came in. He was once more dressed in his old garb of studded leather armor, long sword and other personal effects. “Mahrq and company are striking to leave within the hour, Sormiske. What about my proposal of a few minutes ago?”
Sormiske was studying me as one would a dangerous animal they have to transport. He did not like me at all and the feeling was mutual. He answered Hoscoe, “I will tell Mahrq. Meet me by the main building.” Then he turned to leave, followed by the wizard. What was the wizard’s name, anyway?
Hoscoe gave me a sardonic look with a shake of his head, “You need to learn to control that temper. Are you alright?”
“Yeah …” I almost mumbled, “My throat’s a little sore, but I’m okay.”
He glanced outside, “Can you behave yourself? This is not the time, you know? It will come, but not yet.”
Rubbing my neck a bit I answered, “I’ll work on it.” Then I asked, “When will that time be, Hoscoe?”
He pondered the thought a moment, “I don’t honestly know.” He held my view and made me look into his eyes. He breathed a deep sigh and asked, “Will you trust me? I would be your friend, if you would tolerate a lowly human.” There was a hint of humor in his eyes, but a twinge of truth as well. It was a choice I would have to make, and I needed to make it now. He had some kind of interest in me. What, I didn’t know. But he could have walked away. Instead he chose to stand with me, not us as prisoners, but me as a person.
Hoscoe offered his hand and held it for me to accept or refuse. I gave it serious consideration, and then taking his hand firmly I said in a solemn tone, “I will trust you Mehio.” Mehio being the Elvish word for Trusted Friend.
He smiled and returned the grasp, “Mehio.”
As he walked out to send a guard to unlock my chains, what he just said suddenly came to my mind, “This is not the time?” What was he referring to exactly, how much about me did he know, and what did he know that I perhaps didn’t? Trust, I thought? Nodding to myself I resolved, ‘Okay, trust it is …’
Chapter 18
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THE RECENT WOLF howl had really shaken up the party, brigands and prisoners alike. So far no one had seen or heard any sign of the creature. Most were still talking it up as a werewolf or some other kind of spirit being, but I wasn’t so sure. I was sure the big, white wolf had intentionally saved my life, and there was the tag I believed I saw. Wolves weren’t intelligent, in a problem evaluation sort of way. Yet if someone had ordered it to attack the creature which was attacking me, then that someone was watching me. Why hadn’t they made their presence known?
After all these years, had someone from the Itahro Mountains come to rescue? I thought, ‘Okay, Sed, Komain, Sed … who was I, anyhow … now you’re being ridiculous.’ I knew my imagination often ran wild as the thought skipped through my mind. Besides, no one up there would even have a clue I existed.
I quickly shook my mind back to reality, but the wolf was still a mystery. Who could it belong to? Who could make such a huge creature a pet, or trained animal of some specific purpose? A giant, maybe? Momma said there used to be giants in these mountains …
As I was led outside I saw everyone scurrying to get ready to move out. Lexin was just mounting a beautiful gray horse. Taking the lead rope of a packhorse he passed me a malevolent glance, and then rode out from the fort at a trot. I was watching him go when Hoscoe called me to get my gear together and come back out to meet him.
It took all of ten minutes to pack my duffle. Walking out to meet Hoscoe, I could see there was an argument going on between Mahrq and Sormiske.
“… it wasn’t part of the deal,” Mahrq was almost yelling.
“Your getting Stagus killed wasn’t part of the deal either. I want that wagon.” Sormiske’s contorted face reminded me of a spoiled little boy arguing with another child over a toy.
Deyan and a couple of other brigands were behind Mahrq. Somehow the wizard and a couple of Sormiske’s people were beside him. With humor, I couldn’t help but notice Sormiske’s feet were positioned so that he could quickly duck behind either of his so-called henchmen. Hoscoe wasn’t aligned with either.
Mahrq was making his case, “The merchandise within that wagon is the primary target of our interest, and we will not relinquish our rights to spoils we gathered without your presence!”
Sormiske was actually shifting his feet, as if to side step back and behind the wizard, and putting both hands on his hips yelled back in his whining voice, “I don’t care what you think you rights are, I …”
“Gentlemen …” Hoscoe’s voice was smooth, firm, but not loud and with no seeming effort took control of the conversation. “Mahrq, I concur you have rightfully earned your spoils, I was there.” He looked at Sormiske, “All we need is the wagon and team. It would be a matter of short form to engage a detail to exchange the articles in Sormiske’s wagon …” he then looked at Mahrq, “… with those in Stagus’s.”
Hoscoe casually walked between the two with his hands partially raised and had the attention of everyone. Still looking at Mahrq, “You will not need so clumsy a vehicle traversing these trails. And the choice remains of the dragon will be better stored in Stagus’s land cruiser.”
Sormiske started to open his mouth, but Hoscoe looked in his direction and continued, “We will find it difficult enough defending just the one wagon with so few numbers of guards.” These two group leaders were just looking at him, and had Hoscoe hesitated one of them might have founds words to argue. But he didn’t, “And the sooner the better or else we may have werewolves and demons to contend with again.”
Without breaking stride in speech or movement, Hoscoe moved away from between the two and immediately began calling orders, “Bernard, get a quick-time detail to unload Stagus’s wagon. You there, yes you, get up on the deck of this wagon …” he indicated Sormiske’s open box wagon, “… and back it around here like this.” He had walked to a specific point and was lining his hands in front to show exactly what he wanted.
Hoscoe whistled sharply, so that everyone in the compound could hear. He didn’t seem to yell, but his voice carried to the other side so there were no problems in clarity, “Yank, pick two men and get those Clydesdales in order, you’re in charge of the cruiser’s lines, double-stat.”
Mahrq was nearly dumfounded, looked at Deyan for an instant and shrugging his shoulders said, “Let’s get it.” They straightway jumped in to get Stagus’s wagon unloaded. What’s more, they asked Bernard to tell them what to do. You know what? He gave it only a second’s thought, and instead of being a smart-head, he directed them as to what to do and the transfer of wagon contents went fast and military smooth.
In the space of five minutes everything was moving smartly. When Hoscoe saw Sormiske’s people standing and staring at their dragon-hunting leader, Hoscoe put them to work. Even the wizard got involved to make sure his personal belongings were situated within the cruiser. Everyone was busy except Sormiske, who was standing there looking lost and out of place.
Once the two wagons had been transferred, Hoscoe walked up to Mahrq and said, “With all due respect, I need the release of four men. It is not as if there is going to be a market anywhere close, and it would relieve you of their accountability. It may even increase your speed by a margin.”
Mahrq looked to say something, thought better of it, and then asked, “May I ask a question?”
“Of course.”
“Do you remember me, at all?”
“Absolutely … graduated at the top of your class in the Dahruban Military Academy, could hit the apple at one hundred rods with the heavy cross ten for ten times, commissioned as Lieutenant in the 4th Brigade, then served with distinction during the Amber-Croaz Campaign. I was the one who signed your appointment to Captain.”
Mahrq was stunned. Me? I couldn’t help hearing, but I was stunned, too. “Why sir, why didn’t you say something?” His manner was somewhat confused as he added in apologetic undertones, “You look … your appearance is so different out of uniform … and you have a goatee …” With an almost astonished hint of a smile Mahrq said, “And your hair is much longer than the regulations you were known to be so, so firm about, sir …”
Hoscoe paused, then smiled and shook his head, “We live in trying times, Mahrq. I did not approve of the court-martial, but you had been transferred out of my jurisdiction and your commander was an idiot. He was a desk soldier who advanced due to political connection. You were a good soldier then, and you still are now.” Hoscoe raised his eyebrows in subtle humor, “Besides, I am a civilian these days, after all ...” He stroked his goatee, “… and I have come to like this.”