by Hicks, Aaron
Three said, “How did you make it here?”
Laurilli said, “I ran.”
Three raised his right eyebrow, his eyes hard, and said, “You ran? You’re look nine months pregnant! You’re practically about to burst!”
Laurilli slapped him and said, “Yes, I’m big, no need to be rude about it, but I’ve always been good at running, so I ran, and I lost myself to the run.”
Three said, “It took me all day to get here, and that was pushing my horse hard.”
Laurilli thought about that, then thought about the fact that Three had run by himself too, “You ran from the fight? What about the people you left behind?”
Three said, “Right back at you kid.”
“But I was being a coward, and I was afraid for my child! You’re one of the ten and you never went back. I did.”
Three said, “That can’t be true, if you went back that means you ran up this high that quickly when I had at least an hour head start. Being a Number doesn’t mean that I don’t know the difference between a fight I can win and a fight that my death won’t help at all.”
Laurilli said, “Why’d you ride here?”
Three said, “This cave runs all the way through the mountain and comes out near Manori in Sinia. I had planned on going through to the other side. It’s about a two-day trip through the mountain, I was going to warn the people that there was an army on the way, but I would guess that, that is not in your plan.”
Laurilli saw that Three had finally untied himself and she said, “You guessed wrong. I’ve got twelve hundred with me and we are going save the people of Manori. One of my lieutenant’s betrothed, his kids, and my mother. Trust that we will fight to the fullest extent of our power to save them.
Three said, “That I believe, but how am I to know that once they’re saved you won’t just run off.”
Laurilli asked, “What do you mean? You’re the only one that ran and kept running from that fight. For now you are still my prisoner, in the sense that I have weapons and you don’t. So we are going to wait for the rest to show up then we’ll start moving into the mountain and we won’t stop until I say so.”
They waited another several minutes before Belial walked in and said, “Everyone has caught up except for those that had a late start due to climbing over the rocks. Who’s your friend?”
Laurilli said, “This is Three.”
His face drained of all emotion and he asked, “This is one of the Numbers? Move aside. Before they were called Numbers they killed my village.”
Laurilli said, “No, that was during a war. They were just doing their job.”
Belial said, “You don’t understand, they weren’t just doing their job. They slaughtered women and children and took perverse joy in doing it! Other units were rotated out, but not them; they stayed and fought long after they should’ve gone home--because they were too busy raping and killing my people. Move aside.”
Laurilli said, “But not all of them? Not their leader. Not Number Four.”
Belial said, “I don’t know them by their numbers. What weapon was Four a master of?”
Laurilli said, “Dual swords.”
A strange light entered his eyes and he asked, “Do you know who Four is? I would pay you any price for the chance to kill that one! That one was the worst! He’d let children escape the fighting only to hunt them down. Sometimes he’d hunt them down only to let them go again, and hunt them down again and again. Sometimes he’d just kill them. Sometimes every time he caught up to them--let me remind you these are children--he’d cut off a body part and let them go only to hunt them down again. That one took sadistic pleasure in hunting down the helpless. The pattern seemed to show that the more capable children he’d either just kill or let them go. There was no rhyme or reason to it either.”
Three started to laugh and said, “Yeah. Those were good times. See Four’s smart, he knew what randomly killing, maiming, and freeing children would do for your morale. We Numbers became the bogeyman for more than one generation for an entire country. If every time we attacked everyone was killed it would become a sad and cautionary tale, ‘beware the Numbers.’ Four knew that the ‘why’ of it would freak you out more than just killing everyone and everything.”
Laurilli took a step away from him, “You’re a monster!”
Three said, “You know we caught Uktesh once. He led us through one of the most tiresome chases we’d ever gone through, and he hadn’t even been running from us. Just running. Then we come back from a job well done only to hear about this boy that turned the tournament upside down, and bankrupted every bank and every money lender in Baenok. We had a good laugh over than one! To think that indirectly we’d caused that was a good laugh. When I think back I don’t really regret letting him live. Some I regret killing; at least I regret killing them before I could use them more.” Three drew his tongue across his lips, “There was this one girl-”
Laurilli didn’t realize that she’d thrown her knife until she saw it imbedded in Three’s eye. They are heroes here in Sinai. They’re heroes and we don’t even know they’re monsters. Laurilli sat down on a rock and cried. My father’s a monster! First the Afflicted thing and now this!
Basam entered the cave at that moment and shouted, “What did you do to her?”
Laurilli said, “He didn’t do anything, Basam, but thank you. I just learned that the Numbers need to die.”
Basam said, “All of them? Basam doesn’t understand what happened.”
Laurilli said, “I thought they were heroes, but it turns out they’re villains.”
The cave entrance was suddenly very full and people. Someone shouted, “Who killed Three?”
Laurilli didn’t say anything, but took out a second knife and after she removed his shirt, she carved, “rapist,” into his chest. She left both knives in the body.
Silently the group started to walk deeper into the cave. The Beletarians demonstrated that they were prepared for anything as they created several torches and lit them one by one as they walked into the darkness. Belial lead the way with Laurilli following him. They’d been walking for a few hours when Belial asked, “So you think you’re a coward, huh?”
Laurilli said, “What?”
Belial said, “I was listening before I walked in, and you said that you were a coward. What did you mean by that.”
Laurilli said, “Nothing, it’s just that before today I’d never really fought anyone with real weapons. There was this one time in a tree, but I slipped when I attacked at the guy, and then the guy I had been attacking saved me. It was only so he and his friends could have their way with me, but I don’t count that one cause Uktesh killed them. There was an attack on us while we camped and while we were in a tournament barracks, but both those times I was unarmed and didn’t kill anyone. When I lost my arm it was to the invaders and they hit me before I even had a chance to fight. Today I saw those bolts that not only took my arm, but nearly my life. And I ran.
Belial said, “You fought in the battle though, I saw you. You lead the charge on their flank that saved us from having serious casualties.”
Laurilli said, “That’s true, but I really don’t have a problem fighting people with regular weapons, big weapons, I should say. Swords, axes, maces, spears, and many others, I could fight against them all day. Knives, bows, throwing daggers, and crossbows I seem to find my courage is weak against. I got about a hundred yards away and realized I couldn’t leave my men and women, not if I wanted to still be me tomorrow. So I ran back and that’s when I led the charge.”
Belial said, “So you were terrified because they were using weapons that you feared, weapons that had previously nearly killed you, and you ran through a storm of them, with just a shield for protection? You know what courage is, right? It’s not being fearless; fearless people are stupid. Courage is being piss-in-your-pants scared, but knowing what has to be done and doing it even though you’re terrified. I don’t think you’re a coward. I think you’re spe
ctacular and now I’m jealous of Uktesh for two reasons!”
They were silent for a while; each wrapped in their own thoughts, until Belial, asked, “So can you really run faster than a horse?”
Laurilli said, “What? No, I can’t run that fast, but I know if I use Hawk Soars I can get close.”
Belial asked, “Hawk Soars? The imperfect attack that closes the distance between someone quickly?”
Laurilli said, “Yup, Bull Rushes Down, Hawk Soars, and Uktesh created the Saber Rabbit’s Charge are all sustainable ‘attacks’ meaning that with training, you can run while using Hawk Soars for a major boost in speed. Horses are faster, but not by much, and if I learn Saber Rabbit’s Charge I’ll be faster than a sprinting horse!”
Belial said, “Wow, it sounds like Uktesh took what we were trained in and just raised them to suit his needs as he needed them.”
Laurilli said, “Maybe it seems like that, but he also nearly killed himself using attacks out of order. When he was trying to figure out the god form he used the perfect Woodman’s Work, then used it again, as the first attack was still descending!”
Belial said, “And he lived?”
Laurilli said, “It was a close call, but he couldn’t use his hands at all for about two months. Then there was another month of limited mobility, and probably another two months without a full range of motion.”
Belial said, “A healable injury to his hands? He’s lucky to be alive.”
Belial looked at her, and Laurilli could tell that he was thinking about how a person, could run as fast as a horse.
They walked in silence for four more hours. Finally Belial asked, “How long are we going to walk for?”
Laurilli smiled and made sure to dimple at him. She replied sweetly, “Until I get tired, or we arrive there, whichever comes first.”
Belial said, “It was sundown when you arrived and since then we’ve walked for nearly seven hours. I don’t know about the rest of your troops, but I didn’t get much sleep yesterday. If my troops and I are going to be of any help to you tomorrow, or whenever we get to Manori, then we’re going to need some sleep, and so will you.”
Laurilli said, “You’re right, we’ll sleep tomorrow. Keep moving.”
Belial stopped and said, “No. I will not condone having my men and women treated this way. We’re taking a shortcut that will only take two days at a normal pace. It would take us at the very least a week to get to Manori if we’d taken the regular path. Don’t worry, we have plenty of time.”
Laurilli knew that it was not an idle threat, and that Belial was done walking for the day. She nodded and said, “As long as we get to my mom in time, I won’t care. But we can’t rest here. Let’s look for a cavern or open space for at least a some of us to be able to lay down.”
Belial said, “That sounds very reasonable.”
They walked for what felt like a few minutes to Laurilli, though she knew that as tired as she was, it was probably more like another hour or two. Finally they found a huge cavern that would probably fit their whole army!
Laurilli told everyone to pass the word back that there was a cavern ahead and that everyone was going to sleep there.
They broke out the camping equipment and soon enough food was being cooked, mats were laid down, and people were either talking, laughing, or sleeping. Laurilli was quickly surrounded by Enan, Anan, and her friends from their compound. Belial said, “I think I’ll take my leave, and I’ll see you in the morning, or since there’s no light here, I’ll see you when I wake up.”
Laurilli ate quickly, lay on her sleeping mat and thought back to when Uktesh had bought these. She had said, “I don’t see why you’re so excited we have beds.”
Uktesh had woken her up before dawn so that they could ride to White Bridge to purchase some camping equipment. It had been a pleasant ride, if a dark one, to White Bridge. The traveling merchant had just set up when they arrived. Uktesh had practically levitated as he moved from display to display. He had said, “Lie on it again!” He glanced at her to see that she was currently lying on in, “Well, roll around, isn’t it comfortable? That pallet will not only hold in heat in the winter, but hold in cold temperatures during the summer! It will also negate any twigs, rocks, or roots you may be sleeping on.”
Laurilli said, “It’s nice, but really how often are we going to need to use all this stuff?”
Uktesh said, “Well, for sure, to and from the upcoming tournament. Other than that who knows! If I get conscripted into the army like that guy said I would I’ll use it a lot then. You just need to wake up.”
Laurilli didn’t remember him saying that and asked, “What?”
The dragons voice thundered in her mind, Wake up!
Laurilli woke up in a panic and fire lanced from her chest, was it hit by a bolt in the chest again?
The dragons thought, your Affliction is activating!
What? Now? The pain receded from her chest as she made her way to Basam, “Basam, wake up!” She shoved his shoulder, but he remained asleep.
Anan said, “What’s up, boss?”
She turned to him and fell to her knees another wave of pain lanced from her chest. Is this what happened to Uktesh?
No, it just kind of felt like a ball was unraveling and seeping into every part of his body. The pain came after it had unraveled.
She gasped, “Anan, your father is in charge! Get everyone to Manori, I’ll meet you there.”
Anan nodded, “Sure boss, where are you-”
She Walked home and found herself in her old home as she did feel like something was unwinding inside her. Like a ball of razors. Focus! You have to start meditating!
It hurts so much!
It’s time! I can’t help you I have to shield your son! She could feel the dragon’s fear as he thought, good luck!
The waves of pain were coming in shorter intervals now. As one subsided another crashed through her. She fought to achieve a meditative state as her body began to convulse in pain. She found herself riding over the waves of pain, aware they were happening, but not affected by them. She didn’t know how long she held her meditative trance, but when it was over she wiped the tears from her eyes, pulled out a handkerchief and blew her nose into it. She folded it and blew again. Did you do it? Is my son safe?
When she did hear back from the dragon she began to worry. Dragon are you there? She checked her arm and saw that the telltale tattoo was gone! She felt her child kick at that moment and knew he was still alive. Where did the dragon go? She picked herself up and left the handkerchief on the ground.
She didn’t know where her troops were, but she knew they were somewhere in the mountains to the west. She Walked, and felt her world shudder. What was that? Damn it! Without the dragon I don’t know how to Walk! She left her old home and walked, the slow way, toward the mountains. The sun was beginning to set in the west, but she didn’t know how long she’d been fighting the change. She ran into the group as they were coming down the mountain!
They had with them four puppies that had, what looked like poisonous spikes on their backs. Laurilli was about to ask a question when Enan said, “From up the hill we saw that your village was on fire. We need to hurry there, before we talk about where you went.”
Laurilli nodded, and even though she saw that the two armies were missing as many as perhaps a hundred people she turned and hurried toward the compound. As they passed her house she saw Enan put the spiked dogs inside and came out a moment later. He said, “They’re just puppies, I don’t want to risk them in a fight.”
A group of Beletarians who had been scouting ahead came back and spoke to Belial for a moment. He walked over to her and said, “Well, I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that the Imperials seem to have left already. The good news is they have left behind a small force, about half the size of ours to guard their prisoners. We’ll attack at midnight, which is in nearly four hours. Then we will free your people, catch up to the other group, and finish them all
off. Strategically the fact that they split on their own is good news, but I want to end this as quickly as possible.
We’ll make our way through the burned out town and head toward the compound where they’re holding the prisoners. You lived there, where’s a good spot to hide from the guard tower, so that we can approach undetected.”
Laurilli said, “If we go through the village and cut through the forest we’ll be closest to the walls. If we go straight through the town we’ll be closest to the gates, but we’ll be easily seen as we run toward the gate. If it’s closed we’ll expose ourselves for no reason. Right now, they probably think they’ve either killed all the defenders or we’re elsewhere.”
Belial said, “The gates are open, but could we not go through the forest and then around the walls to the gate?”
Tylor cut in and said, “Only if we got extremely lucky, and with this many people I doubt we’ll go unnoticed.”
Belial nodded and said, “Then the gate is our only option.”
Suddenly wary, now that they had a plan, but practiced enough to not let it show, Laurilli nodded, and gestured Belial forward. As they walked through the burning village, she saw dead people, many who’d been stabbed from behind, littering the street. The wind blew wildly against the fires, and forced them to roar in defiance of the wind that tried to put them out. Laurilli thought it was appropriate to match her building anger.
She tried as hard as she could to keep the anger from her face. Even though Belial was in front of her, she didn’t want to show how much the death of her village meant to her. Sure they’d ostracized my mom and me, but they were basically good people and they didn’t deserve this.
By the time that they’d walked to the edge of the village Laurilli had calmed herself down. Then she saw the cages.
Why would they do that
Six months one week and a few days apart from Uktesh
Hot fury rushed into Laurilli. She trembled all over, although she tried to suppress it. But as they viewed cage after cage through the open gate she could feel her anger building. Is my mother in one of those cages!