by Hicks, Aaron
There standing, crouching maybe sitting, in the middle of the room was Ceftin! Alive! Uktesh Rushed to him and wrapped him in a bear hug. He released the naga and asked, “How is this possible?”
The medic said, “He hasn’t regained his voice yet, but I noticed that his teeth grew back after I pulled them that first day you brought him here. I figured he’d be a gold mine for teeth sales, but after a day I saw that his wounds were also healing. Yesterday they were gone. Today he woke up. He’ll probably be talking tomorrow. Not that I missed his weird rhyming speech impediment.”
Uktesh said to Ceftin, “I did! There are a few things you need to know. First off, the Storm lord was killed. Second, you’re no longer a slave. Third, I’m giving you my prize money, with the stipulation that you buy, then free Talia and split the remaining money.” Uktesh ignored Talia’s, “hey,” and continued, “Lastly, I need you to join a Dungeon House so that when I get out of here in three more, ‘kills,’ I can join you and we’ll make some serious money. Though I doubt it’ll equal my money back home, we sure can try.”
The man asked, “How much did you have back in your homeland.”
Uktesh said, “Between my wife, mother–in–law, and myself we had somewhere around six million gold coins, but our home what worth over sixty million.”
All three people in the room stared at him in awe. Talia said, “Were you an emperor in your land?”
Uktesh said, “No, just very good at what I do.”
“Better than good I think,
to have more money that water to drink.”
Uktesh shouted, “Ceftin! You spoke!”
Ceftin said,
“It wasss only a matter of time,
I know you missssed my rhyme.”
Uktesh nodded and said, “I did! I really did.”
The man said, “Well now that he’s able to speak, I have other things I can be doing.”
Talia excused herself too. Ceftin said,
“The Ssstorm Lord isss dead?
My reassson to ssstay hasss fled.
I will do asss you asssk,
to find a Houssse is my tasssk.
Though to find one that would accssept me,
I might have to apply to one hundred and three.
It would be easier to create one ourselvesss,
then we could invite people in by the twelvesss.”
Uktesh grinned at the use of twelves to signify dozens. Uktesh said,
“If you think that wise,
we should do that, so that we can hire not only guys.”
Uktesh thought he’d made up a fine rhyme even if it was heavily lopsided toward the second line.
Ceftin said,
“Your rhyme isss weak
while mine isss peak.
Like a sssqueak,
againssst a shriek.
You should be meek,
or risssk your ssstreak.
Try to be unique,
maintain some myssstique.
Ssso your words don’t reek,
like bowelsss that leak.
Havoc will I wreak,
againssst your cheek,
if you continue to ssspeak
it will make me pique.
I’m a sssleek freak,
don’t copy me weak geek.
My wordsss bessspeak,
A mind of power and physssique.
Your wordsss use the technique,
but are beyond antique.”
Uktesh clapped at the clever rhyme and gave up trying to beat Ceftin at his own game. He knelt on the ground, raised his hands in surrender, and said, “I give up! I’ll never rhyme on purpose again!”
Ceftin said,
“It’sss good to know,
that your wisssdom can grow.”
Uktesh said, “Ok hopefully we’ve gotten that out of your system. The reward ceremony was delayed because of the Storm lord’s death, but hopefully I’ll get my money when it takes place tonight. Then I’ll give it to you and if you could, please also buy the three surviving dragons that came with me, I owe their grand masters a debt I can start repaying now.”
Uktesh walked to the doorway, looked around to make sure they were alone, and whispered, “I was the one who killed the Storm lord. I thought that he’d killed you and remembered what you said months ago about him tripping and their being your sword tip. He made a huge mistake and I made him pay for it.”
The naga nodded his approval and they got down to the business of creating a House. They weren’t even halfway done with their plans when the dinner party started. Uktesh stood and said, “I have to be there.” He hurried out to the training sand and found the gladiator lined up. For the first time Uktesh realized how depleted their numbers had become. There were the three dragons, Uktesh, Destus, and four others who were so new Uktesh couldn’t remember their names. Uktesh was led up to the party and the others were told they weren’t invited so they dispersed. Uktesh was told to stand on a podium and not move.
Uktesh spent the next three hours being poked and prodded, kissed and caressed, and worse discussed like a tool that was extra useful. Finally came the time he had been made to wait for. The Storm lord walked forward to stand on the podium with Uktesh. Neftalix muttered, “I know it was you who killed my father. I don’t know how, but I know it was you. If you think I’m ever going to let you get three more, ‘kills,’ and earn your freedom you’re mistaken. You’re going to be my slave for the rest of your life, short as it will be. Now smile and wave, champion.”
Uktesh smiled, waved, and said, “Beware. I may only be your slave for as long as you live.”
Neftalix laughed like Uktesh had made a joke. He threw his arm around Uktesh’s shoulders and whispered, “You may have killed by father, but he was no Dungeon master.”
Uktesh said, “I’m confident that sooner or later you’re going to make a mistake and because you won’t let me go, I’ll be there to reunite you with your father.”
Neftalix removed his arm and announced, “Here he is the Rumble champion! Ninety-seven ‘kills’ are awarded to him! Is there a challenge that can be made that would be worthy of his skill? We’ll just have to wait and see. I want his last fight in the arena to be a tribute worthy of the champion of the Storm ludis. However, before then were of the Storm ludis award Uktesh his hundred platinum marks!” He handed Uktesh a bag full of coins that Uktesh assumed were platinum marks.
Neftalix reached out for the bag, but Uktesh pulled it away with a grin, “I just got this. You’re not going to let me savor it for a little bit longer?”
Neftalix smiled woodenly and said, “Of course. It’s yours to do with as you please.”
Uktesh smiled and said, “Then I wish to give it away!”
Uktesh smiled wider as every jaw in the crowd dropped. Uktesh said, “I freed a slave during the games, and I would like to give the money to him. The Doctore of the Storm ludis Ceftin!”
Neftalix frowned and said, “We would be honored to give it to Ceftin.”
Uktesh said, “Good. He’s waiting for his rudis to be freed to leave. Since you’ve had a week to prepare it, it should be ready. Right?”
Neftalix clearly didn’t know where this was going, but he said, “Of course it’s ready. Just show me his body, I mean, just let me present it to him.”
Uktesh said, “A slave earning his freedom is a rare thing. A slave being given his freedom by another slave, who would then stay behind must be the rarest of freedoms. I’m sure your esteemed guests would like to see something like that.” Uktesh turned to the crowd and asked, “Wouldn’t you like to see that?”
They cheered and Neftalix walked to the balcony with the rest of his guests to find that Ceftin was standing, crouching, sitting maybe, on the sand. The naga said, “
Great Lord of the Ssstorm,
I await my rudisss to head sssomewhere warm.
Uktesh took that moment to throw the bag of money to the naga and asked innocently, “So where’s his rudis?”
Ceftin grabbed it from the air, held it high, and said,
“Let it be shown,
and forever known,
that the Ssstorm ludis,
would do this.
Would honor their word,
only becaussse far and wide had heard.”
Uktesh felt his jaw drop and fought a grin from forming on his face. Way to go Ceftin! The naga smiled his disturbing full-of-teeth-smile and Walked away. Uktesh had a brief humorous thought of, Slithered away? Uktesh took that moment to said, “I hope you weren’t planning on stealing the hundred platinum marks from me at some point, because if you had, they just left with him.”
Neftalix said, “Do you think I’m stupid enough to lose my temper and chase him into whatever ambush you have set?”
Uktesh grinned and said, “Well, not this time, for sure. I guess next time well have to do more than take your money and insult your House.”
Neftalix grinned at Uktesh, and for the first time Uktesh worried about his plan, not because of the risk of death, he’d worried about that for months. But because in Lord Neftalix’s eyes Uktesh saw controlled madness that was slipping into uncontrollable madness. Neftalix said, “Be assured if you do somehow kill me, I will take you with me.”
Uktesh grinned right back at Neftalix and said, “I’ll take that bet.”
Neftalix said, “I thought you might. You’ll be interested to know that I am the Storm lord.” Uktesh felt confused, where’s he going with this? “I am the commander of the armies of the Empire. The day after you murdered my father, I sent my brother with seventy-nine of our ships to your Five Kingdoms. I’m certain that those who got away in that cart won’t be able to escape the fate that will arrive on their shores in little over a month. From what those who came with you have told me, if they are to be believed, you’re from a small town called Manori. It’s the first place my brother is going to destroy. Perhaps he’ll bring you back a gift, your wife’s head perhaps.”
Uktesh couldn’t wait to kill him, but knew he wasn’t skilled enough yet. With a start he realized, well happy seventeenth birthday to me.
Well they are on our side
Six months and one week apart from Uktesh
Laurilli glanced behind her, looking at the men under her command. They were in the middle of the reserve army heading to Jubay to join the battle. They were just one part of the massive army that was headed to the fight, and Laurilli had been told pointedly, that she was no true leader. That she was a publicity stunt in peace times and a disaster in the current wartimes. The two majors in charge of the other six thousand men and the major general over all three of the majors were of the mindset that she could wear her major uniform, but that she hadn’t earned it. Of that they were in agreement.
I can fight, I’m ok at leading, but I’m not remotely prepared to lead three thousand new recruits against the likes of the Imperial army!
You’ve got the smarts to be able to make good judgements. The only thing you lack is experience.
You’re not just saying that? Right?
No way! You’re probably better than Uktesh is when it comes to strategy.
They’d heard, as soon as they came back from leave, that they were going to the front lines. Since then they’d been travelling, in Laurilli’s opinion, slowly, for the past week and a half, and every agonizing second away from her mother was wrenching to her.
They’d been given a day of rest after the tournament, for those that went. Then the next day they were ordered to Bainbridge. The first days into their march away from Bainbridge the troops had been highly vocal in their thoughts about this year’s tournament. Someone had almost achieved the Titlist title from Arme. He had won every category in the tournament, and like the rules stated, he’d instantly become the ruler on Arme. Had he been able to do the same at Sinai, Beletaria, Grange, and Cratoa he would’ve become the ruler of the Five Kingdoms.
From what she understood about the tournament, he’d made it to the finals of every category before he was stopped by Thulmann. He had left, refusing to fight in any of his remaining matches. He vowed to be back next year to claim Sinai as his own. Needless to say those who’d been there had spent the first several days of the march retelling the story, each retelling had Thulmann either inflicting more damage, or receiving more damage, than he actually had. Laurilli hoped Uktesh was back in time to stop that man personally.
Yesterday they had gotten the report that the enemy had landed nearly one hundred ships and had taken Jubay in less than an hour. Again she sighed and thought back to her time together with her mother. It seemed like a whirlwind of moments that had passed far too quickly.
I had expected to arrive at Bainbridge and turn around.
I had expected smarter leaders than the three you were saddled with.
Enan growled, “Ye sigh one more time an aye swear to me moth’r’s grave, aye’m gonna reach inside o’ yer head, an pull out all dem ‘appy mem’ries dat’s maken you t’ink about t’ings odder dan dis war we heading to.”
“I can’t help it. We passed no more than thirty miles of my house when we started out, and with this slow-moving army, and the winding path that we’ve been taking, I could be home tomorrow or the day after at the latest.”
Enan said, “Ack, sure ye could, an ye’d kill da ‘orse that carried yer bum de ‘ole way dere.” At nearly seven months she was clearly showing her pregnancy. She’d tried to get someone to relieve her of her command, but as much as her three superiors disliked her and didn’t think she could do the job they also saw that her troops trusted her implicitly, even if she wasn’t going to be leading any charges for a while.
“Well, you have a point there, but it’d be worth it to not have to worry about giving birth on the field of battle.”
“For the last three weeks dat’s all you been t’inking about.” Enan shook his head, then nodded up to the head of the column, “Anan dere’s a rock, ain’t no one gonna kill dat one, not wit me around at least.”
Laurilli said, “Sure you say that now, but when we walk through that canyon up ahead, if we get ambushed we’ll never get to him in time.”
Enan looked ahead, and saw what Laurilli was talking about, “Aye t’ink I’ll just mossy up on te de front, if ye don’ mind.”
Laurilli said, “I was kidding. We’ve scouted that area. The scouts would’ve warned us if someone was there.”
It was too late however. Enan was already making his way to his son’s side. Laurilli once again let her mind wander to Uktesh. She thought back on the day by the ocean when they had sat under a tree wrapped in each other’s arms. Laurilli came out of the day dream as they passed under the shadow of the cliffs rising on both sides of the canyon ahead. She thought about the scouts. With a panicked shock and sudden clarity, she realized that they had walked into a trap. The scouts, should have sent one person back, to let the army know that it was safe to travel on, but they’d been silent. Unless those three didn’t inform me. She thought that possible, but also had a bad feeling so she shouted, “Company halt!” She yelled again at the top of her lungs, “About face!” She quickly searched for the trumpeter who could sound the retreat, and as she found him, she heard the rumble of hundreds of rock rolling down the sides of the canyon.
A boulder come rolling down at her and she jumped off her horse straight into the air, as the boulder rolled where she had just been, crushing her horse. As she landed on the ground she rolled to her feet to absorb the impact of the fall. As she stood up she was clipped in the shoulder by a bouncing rock, and spun to the ground. Her shoulder was bleeding, but
miraculously her remaining arm was intact. It would have been impossible for me to fight with no working arms. Spilled around her were broken bolts. Where had those come from!
Get down!
She dropped low as a bolt flew over her head. As the rocks settled, she gathered as many as she could around her and surveyed the area. They were completely cut off from the front section by a wall of rocks. She didn’t know how many, if any, lived. Enan and Anan!
She heard the shouts of warriors as they headed toward the wounded and divided army. She saw the Beletarians running toward them. A year ago she would never had thought that would be a comforting site. To the side of the road there were several lines of Imperial crossbowmen firing at the stalled troops. “Men!” Laurilli shouted, and jumped on top of a boulder, “Today we have been bloodied, today we have lost friends.” She unsheathed her sword. “But today is not our day to fall. Today is our day to avenge the deaths out our brethren and our friends, and to protect our families!”
She flinched as a crossbow bolt passed inches in front of her face. She turned and saw the crossbowman line up a second shot, and while he did Laurilli grabbed one of her daggers. The archer’s second arrow needed to be deflected, which Laurilli did by hitting it with her throwing dagger. Then she threw the dagger at the hidden soldier and killed the archer. “Steel your courage men, because they will take no prisoners, and--” she took a deep breath, “Charge!” She grabbed three more daggers and in quick succession Walked behind those that looked like leaders and threw the knives into their spines.
She Walked back to her men and then quickly Walked again to the top of the ravine cliffs. Her heart beat like a mad drummer was in her chest. I won’t run away, I will stand and fight. I won’t be a coward, and I will survive.
She saw her men crash into the line of Imperials and watched them break like leaves before a flood against the might of the Empire. She had thought about what she would do in a real fight, one where people she knew were fighting and dying, for as long as she trained, and in every scenario she made up in her mind Laurilli had always stood and fought with her friends. In some she won, and some she died, but even in those scenarios she was happy, because she’d died trying, not running away. The wave of death that raced toward her made her realize that in all those scenarios--every one of them--had been false.