by Zy J. Rykoa
Chapter Five
When the end comes, to whom will they call?
January 14, 997 R.E.
Jaden was restless. He needed answers, but there was no way of getting them, not while his grandfather was taking time to recover. As a distraction from the waiting, he had tried to speak with Alyssa many times, but had so far been unsuccessful. Ardim was continuing his usual prevention methods of starting fights with Jaden at every meeting, while her father did his best to keep her occupied, preventing any possible time with the boys in the village. Jaden's friends offered a minor deterrent from the boredom, but they all seemed to be busy with their families too. It had all become so frustrating that Jaden found sleep almost unbearable. He wanted to take action, to learn more about the sharp movements in the ground, but he knew he couldn’t. He was left in solitude, away from the only one that seemed to understand what he was feeling, away from the guiding wisdom of his grandfather, and away from the friends who, while not understanding, would make light of the situation and make him laugh. It seemed his only companion was the dark-haired boy, the one that came in the haunting dream, making the little sleep he had uneasy.
He had been losing sleep nightly, most of his hours spent in thought. It felt as though he had been awake all his life; no longer able to remember a night in which his sleep was undisturbed, the memories strangely erased from a past he was no longer sure he had.
Things were changing all around him. There were only slight differences at first, then greater as time went on. It seemed each time he woke, he had become someone else. He would feel as if he were decades older, wise and experienced, able to converse with the elders as if they were children, only to feel like a newborn the next day, brought into an alien world of uncertainty. His health was fluctuating just as rapidly, various illnesses coming and going in no particular fashion. One morning he had sat up in bed coughing badly, all of his limbs aching so much that he wasn’t able to move any further. Yet minutes later he emerged feeling in perfect health. This morning he had woken feeling drowsy to the point he had to go back to sleep. His mother, Sayva, woke him in the afternoon so that he could have some soup she had made for him, but as he got up, the drowsiness had gone and he felt full of energy. He wanted to tell her that he was not hungry, but didn’t like to refuse when he knew his mother had worked hard to help him.
He ate in silence at the dark wooden table, ignorant to all else as he tried to analyse everything that had happened. By the time he had finished, he had decided that to find the answers he needed he had to return to the waterfall, where he had first felt the strange motions that seemed to fuel the dreams. Thanking his mother, he left the house and made his way to the elevated flat piece of land that had been lost in the game of tennagen. He was not sure if they would stop him from going there in the future, perhaps when they wanted to build there, but for now he could still claim it as his own.
As he sat on the edge, he crossed his legs and took a shoot of grass with which he could fidget, then closed his eyes and searched all around him. After several intense minutes of concentration with no reward, he turned his attention to the air, where only a soft breeze existed. It calmed his breath as it gently drifted about him, while the wind that it came from pushed bands of cloud in front of the sun, leaving him in a cooled shadow.
The change in light didn’t deter him. Whatever it was must have been here, somewhere. He could feel that it hadn’t left him, but he was unable to call for its presence to surface. He wasn’t sure why he wanted to have it come to him. The curiosity could easily have led to his death. But there was a void in him now; a longing that needed something to fill it, a feeling, a piece of knowledge, something that would reveal to him what had happened.
I can't let this go, he repeated to himself. He had to find it, no matter what the consequence.
‘Those who search beyond here know greatness can be found out there,’ came a husky yet warm voice. ‘But where will one search first, when out there is beyond all they know?’
Jaden kept his eyes closed. He recognised the voice. It was Vennoss, finally returning to him.
‘One can dream,’ he replied, still in his meditative position.
‘Yes, it is thought dreams are limitless, but how can one know of what they can dream if they have not seen?’
‘They can’t. It is not the dream that counts, but that they are moving forward. As long as they push their limits, there will always be growth.’
‘And so it is left to luck and faith, in hope that they by chance grow in the necessary way to survive.’
The cloud that blocked the sun moved on, allowing light to the land again. Jaden’s closed eyes twitched at the change, while Vennoss remained unhindered. The next moments were silent as each found their way into faraway places, thoughts of the unknown and visions of the future filling their minds. Together they would wander across vast and desolate planes in the realms of consciousness, free of the other’s inner ramblings, but aware of the outer presence. Vennoss had taught Jaden to do this from an early age, and now continued the practice so that they could reflect ideas off one another as they wished.
There was little that Jaden could tell his grandfather, but Vennoss seemed to appreciate the different viewpoint from time to time. He had always been interested in the thoughts of the youth, a caretaker to all in the village. He was their guiding force above even the elders. While the elders roamed the village with superior expressions engraved upon their faces, Vennoss would participate in small games and laugh with the children, answering questions as they came, and always making light of situations that the elders would have frowned upon. He was their greatest source of knowledge, and Jaden was thankful he had been given as much time as he had over the years.
‘Tell me about the Forgotten Years,’ said Jaden suddenly.
Vennoss looked down at Jaden as if surprised by the request. It almost seemed as if he were about to walk away without answering, offended, but then had thought better of it and made himself comfortable, sitting next to Jaden in the same meditative pose.
‘They were times no one should ever have had to witness,’ he said, now also with his eyes closed. ‘What do you wish to know of them?’
‘I want to know what happened.’
‘A fair desire. None can truly say, but there are fragments. Wars were constant. We know that. Waged between the living and dying, the talented and the damned. Those that could control their world were few, and even fewer were those able to command it at will. Jealousy was rampant, and soon those that could have been saviours were hunted as the enemy. There was much confusion with blame being thrown from all directions at the rift made of irrational logic.’
‘But what of the creatures?’ Jaden asked. ‘The ones still in Ukota that were born of those years.’
‘The beasts …’ said Vennoss thoughtfully. ‘A sad and unfortunate side effect, they were. Many of them perished.’
‘What were they?’
Vennoss paused a moment. ‘It is not known … hybrids perhaps, or mutations. They say the very thing that was giving the living their power was also keeping the dying from death. Many claimed that the gods had forsaken us when they saw the horrors of those years. Indeed, evil had come of age. It did seem all morality had been lost, but who is to say what really happened?’
Jaden bowed his head slightly, satisfied with the answer.
‘How did the continents change?’ he asked, but opened his eyes when a reply had failed to come.
Vennoss was examining him with interest. ‘How do you know of the change?’ he asked.
‘A traveller showed us maps.’
‘I see,’ said Vennoss. ‘Who was this traveller?’
‘I don’t know her name.’
‘It is a woman, then?’
Jaden nodded. ‘She came to us the same day you returned. I didn’t believe her. I wanted to know what you thought.’
Vennoss smiled. ‘You wanted an argument to put to her that would prove her wrong.�
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Jaden’s sudden smirk told Vennoss everything he needed to know.
‘I see. Well, unfortunately, and fortunately, she is right. There was a change that saw the continents reshaped and the ground purified, so I cannot help you in defeating her. Sometimes it is wise to let go of the challenge, child; always remain on the side of truth, no matter how deep the longing is to do battle with another.’
Jaden’s smirk left him and he looked back down to the ground. ‘Yes, Grandfather,’ he said.
‘Do not feel disappointed,’ Vennoss comforted. ‘You will not be able to win every debate. Learn from each one and then look to the next. There will always be someone with whom to disagree, and someday you will rarely be wrong, but until then, you must learn as much as you can.’
‘Yes, Grandfather,’ said Jaden, his eyes still set firmly on the ground.
‘But enough of such things. How are you feeling today?’
Jaden breathed deeply and looked to horizon where the sky met the mountains ahead. ‘The same—living the perfect life on the outside, still lost on the inside,’ he said.
‘Ah, the troubles have remained, then?’
Jaden nodded. ‘Have you thought of anything?’
‘I have—many things, in fact.’
‘What can I do?’
‘I will tell you shortly. First, do you remember the golden wristlet I gave you years ago?’
‘The loh-korah.’
‘Yes,’ said Vennoss. ‘I need you find it and bring it to me at the Gates. I fear dark times await us, so I must tell you of its true nature.’
‘What is it?’ asked Jaden.
‘I will explain at the Gates. Go now and meet me there as soon as you can.’
Before Jaden could protest, Vennoss had stood up and hurried away. It was the most abrupt ending Vennoss had ever made to one of their sittings, and it took Jaden a moment to realise what he was meant to do. After deciding the matter’s nature was serious, Jaden did the same as Vennoss, but in the opposite direction toward his home. He had never thought of the loh-korah as anything more than jewellery, a prized possession at that, but for decoration and little more. He couldn’t imagine a different purpose for it. All he knew was that it had come from another nation he had not heard of before.
As he reached his home, he noticed his mother standing at the door, speaking with another woman wearing strange, yet pleasantly coloured clothing. She wore a robe of autumn design, warm greys mixed with dark browns in leaf-like patterns, seeming to compliment the bushiness of her greyed hair.
‘I was wondering if you could tell me how one becomes a resident here,’ she asked, and Jaden immediately recognised her voice. It was the traveller who had told him of the Forgotten Years.
‘The elders must be consulted,’ said Sayva. ‘You will need to ask them and show that you are able to become part of our community.’
‘You will need a skill of a sort,’ interrupted Jaden. ‘Storytellers are allowed only several days’ stay.’
The woman’s eyes brightened as she turned to him. ‘And this must be your eldest, Jaden.’
‘No, I have an older brother, Ryan,’ Jaden corrected her and then turned to Sayva. ‘Mother, Grandfather has asked for the loh-korah.’
Sayva nodded and went inside at once.
‘And what might be a loh-korah?’ asked the woman.
‘A wristlet,’ Jaden answered simply.
‘Ah, indeed,’ said the woman. ‘You know, we didn’t quite get a chance to finish our conversation. I would very much like to continue it.’
‘I don’t have time today.’
‘Perhaps tomorrow?’
Jaden nodded as Sayva returned to the door, holding the loh-korah, a wristlet seven inches in length that wrapped around and covered only the part of the wrist closest to the hand. Jaden took it and put it on his right wrist at once, then bowed to his mother in gratitude.
‘What did you call that?’ asked the woman before Jaden could sprint away.
‘A loh-korah,’ he said.
‘What is your grandfather’s name?’ the woman asked abruptly.
Jaden looked to his mother for assurance, unsure of the woman’s intention.
‘Vennoss.’
‘Indeed. Might I come with you? Just to meet him,’ she added, noticing Jaden’s expression turn sour. ‘I will not stay with him very long.’
After several moments of contemplation, Jaden reluctantly agreed. He wanted to make the most of his time with Vennoss, but he saw little harm in allowing her simply to meet him.
As the woman bade Sayva goodbye, they left for the Gates of Callibra in the far west. They had to walk almost the entire width of the village, and although it took close to an hour, Jaden allowed little conversation between them on the way. He had been troubled by the tone in which Vennoss had spoken. It made him afraid to think of what he might soon learn. It was a tone he had heard only once before, when talks had not gone well with the neighbouring nations. Those fears had proved false at the time, but there was always the possibility things could turn against their favour and leave them defenceless.
Jaden’s nerves calmed a little as he saw Vennoss standing on a hill, looking to the west. There, five enormous pillars of rock could be seen, each two hundred feet in height and fifty in width, marking the only entrance to the valley. These were the Gates of Callibra. Jaden always felt insignificant as he walked near these great structures of earth, but admired them for their natural beauty. Evidently they impressed the woman, as she had failed to notice Jaden run up ahead to meet with Vennoss without her.
‘I have it,’ said Jaden, but Vennoss gave no reply, now staring at the woman who was walking toward them with mouth agape and eyes set on the very tops of the Gates. ‘She said she wanted to meet you. She won’t stay,’ Jaden explained.
Vennoss raised a hand for Jaden to say no more, and his and the woman’s eyes soon met.
‘Noviahn,’ said the woman.
‘Tarsha,’ said Vennoss in acknowledgement.
‘I thought I recognised that wristlet. So this is where you have been hiding away?’
Vennoss nodded. ‘Jaden, I would like you to meet a dear old friend of mine, Tarsha Esgra of Raikanon. Tarsha, you have no doubt met Jaden?’
‘Yes, we’ve spoken,’ said Tarsha with a grin. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘I feel I should be asking you the same.’
‘Raikanon is ruled by the Alliance. I’ve been on the run for as long as I can remember.’
‘Yes, I’ve heard. I had wondered if you made it out alive.’
Tarsha chuckled and then sighed. ‘Ah, you know me, always in the wrong place at the right time and the right place at the wrong time. It would take more than an army to change my luck.’
Vennoss smiled knowingly.
‘What of my dreams, Grandfather?’ asked Jaden, becoming impatient and hoping Tarsha would take the hint to leave.
But she did not move. ‘Dreams?’ she asked.
Vennoss nodded to her. ‘He describes milayiss, but I can’t be certain. However, I have suspected it before. It is why I have called him here. Tarsha, I’m glad you have come also, I have been meaning to speak with you.’
‘If this is about the jewel,’ said Tarsha, suddenly defensive, ‘I haven’t been back to get it yet!’
‘No,’ said Vennoss calmly. ‘I mean there is trouble in Hawan and Lassah.’
‘Oh,’ said Tarsha. She almost seemed confused, eyeing the ground a moment. ‘Because I have every intention of getting that jewel back, you know.’
‘Yes, there is no doubt of that,’ agreed Vennoss in slight agitation, ‘but there are more pressing matters.’
Tarsha finally seemed to believe that he wasn’t interested in the jewel and asked, ‘What is the situation?’
‘They have not returned communication with the Resistance. There are no reports of an attack, so we fear the worst. The Resistance may soon be facing a new war with them. I will explain later, but fi
rst, Jaden’s dreams. You describe milayiss,’ Vennoss turned to Jaden.
‘What is milayiss?’
‘I will not frighten you with the details until I am sure of it, but I want you to wear the loh-korah from now on. It will help. If you are indeed experiencing milayiss and Callibra is called to war, I don’t want you to follow your friends or family.’
‘But, I can’t …’ Jaden tried to protest.
‘Please, listen,’ Vennoss hushed and his voice became strained, as if it were the hardest thing he had ever had to say. ‘Northeast of here is a mountain. You will know it by following a direct path toward the two highest peaks. Track the stream north and you should find your way. Once there, you will know what to do. I will not tell you exactly, but know that water is good, and bathing where the stream ends will help cleanse old wounds.’
‘Do I have a disease?’ asked Jaden.
‘I can’t say,’ said Vennoss. ‘Please, just go there when the time comes. You will be safe. Can you do this … for me?’
Jaden thought hard, fighting back all the questions he wanted to ask of why he could not remain with his family, and then nodded finally.
‘Thank you, Jaden,’ said Vennoss, and he turned back to Tarsha. ‘As for the island of Hawan, I need to see it firsthand. I will be leaving for there tonight.’
‘You’re leaving already?’ asked Jaden.
‘I’m afraid so. I cannot wait any longer. The air is troubled. I can feel something is not right.’
‘Yes,’ said Tarsha, ‘you feel it too! I have had an inkling in the back of my neck for some time. It is why I have come this way.’
‘And why I have returned early.’
‘I will go with you,’ said Tarsha.
‘Why do you have to go?’ asked Jaden, ignoring Tarsha.
‘So that you can live on, my child,’ said Vennoss, ‘and be proud of what we have here. This is Callibra, the closest you will find to paradise on Earth, especially in these times. Someday, when I am gone, you will do the same for this place. You will give up a life of leisure to be on the road, knowing that by your efforts, others may enjoy what you once did.’
Jaden looked to the ground; he didn’t want to accept what was being said, but looked back up again at Vennoss, the Daiyus way of showing strength in times of uncertainty. Vennoss gave a weak smile to him but then looked suddenly at the centre of the village.
‘What is it, Grandfather?’
‘It appears an audience is forming on the field.’
When Jaden turned he saw that Vennoss was right. Almost everyone in Callibra was now massing in the centre of the tennagen field.
‘We should join them,’ said Vennoss.
‘But what about the loh-korah, what is it?’ asked Jaden.
‘That would require a day’s study to truly understand. I will explain in time, for now, let us walk and join the others. If I am not mistaken, your father’s friend Kobin might be making an announcement I will not be supporting.’
Jaden followed Vennoss with Tarsha to the tennagen field. All three remained silent, as if hoping to hear what was being said in the gathering, but it was too far away. Vennoss had begun to jog, as he did not wish to miss what was being said, and in much less time than Jaden would have believed, they had all made it to the field. Jaden took a moment to catch his breath as Tarsha caught up, but only he seemed to be wondering why Vennoss had not even broken a sweat. For a man easily three times Jaden’s age, Vennoss seemed fitter than even the best athletes in the village. Travelling so far over the previous decades must have done very good things for his body, Jaden thought.
As they made their way through the audience, Jaden could hear Kobin speaking loudly at the centre, but could barely see him.
‘They will aid us in our time of need, so long as we make a sufficient contribution to their military personnel,’ said Kobin, his voice carrying easily over the silent crowd.
‘What’s he talking about?’ asked Jaden.
‘Hush,’ said Vennoss, ‘we need to hear this.’
‘Who do we send?’ asked a man in the audience.
‘Our population is not great in size,’ said Kobin, ‘and many do not have the strength to fight, so we will only send a percentage that might be useful. I propose that we use tennagen as the means of determining who goes and who stays.’
The villagers all whispered amongst themselves at this prospect. The sport had been used to decide so much in Callibrian history. Could it now be used to send young lives into battle, potentially to their deaths? A slim hope of glory would be all that accompanied them if they were lucky enough to survive. Many eyes turned to Jaden, as if expecting him to protest, but Jaden was busy trying to get a glimpse at Kobin through the audience. He was only able to see a line of heavily armoured soldiers standing near where he could hear Kobin speaking, and guessed this was why so many in the village seemed so willing to accept his word. Even his grandfather did not seem to wish to speak, instead, remaining very calm, taking in every word uttered around him.
‘This is madness! We can’t send our youth to war! They are our future!’ shouted a man.
‘Would you go in their place?’ asked Kobin, mockingly.
‘If we absolutely must agree to this ridiculous notion of war, then yes! How about you join me?’ the man retorted.
Jaden couldn’t hold back his smile. Even with armed guards standing either side Kobin could not get the respect he often demanded. From what Jaden had learned; Kobin was a troubled youth, often outcast and laughed at for his warped ideals and strange visions of the future. He often spoke about ruling the world, which just made Jaden wonder at why his father seemed so fond of him. Kobin was insane. Tyral was a good man and a great father. Was it out of sympathy that Tyral supported Kobin?
It made very little sense.
The crowd silenced as the soldiers standing either side of Kobin began to reposition their weapons, possibly a warning that no disrespect would be tolerated.
‘Volunteers will also be accepted,’ Kobin went on, ‘but there will be no substitutions. If you are chosen to go, then you will be escorted, wilfully or not.’
There was an audible grumble in the crowd as Kobin’s mood darkened. This was not a request for the village to join a nation in battle, but a demand, and Kobin was dictating the terms to them.
‘We don’t need help!’ shouted a woman.
‘No one would attack us!’ shouted another.
People were becoming restless as the realisation that their sons, daughters, sisters or brothers could potentially be sent away. It was not right. It was not the Callibrian way. How could Kobin, one of their own, be so cold as to even suggest that their young should fight in battles that hadn’t even come near them? The Callibrians trained daily to be ready for all of life’s challenges, but they had become so safe in their valley that their training had simply been used for daily difficulties, nothing as serious as war. There was nothing in their training that could have prepared them for it.
‘Your confidence is unfounded,’ said Kobin. ‘As we speak, entire forces are on their way.’
At that moment, a tomato flew from the audience straight into Kobin’s shoulder, splattering its juices all over his maroon robe and the guard next to him. All except the soldiers and Kobin began to laugh and point their fingers, while Jaden readied to throw another. He had finally found a spot in the crowd from which he could view Kobin, right next to someone who had just been working in a field and had plenty of tomatoes in a basket. Before he could line up the next, someone else had thrown an apple, which was shot out of the air, showering those beneath it with its shattered pulp, and then in a blink of an eye a man fell backward, a tranquiliser dart firmly in his chest. One of the guards had shot straight through the tomato being held by a man near Jaden with the dart, hitting the man behind them.
‘Do not test my patience!’ yelled Kobin, making no attempt to clean the tomato off. Kobin’s long golden brown hair had fallen forward, now slightly covering
his face and making his shadowed eyes seem even more piercing as he continued to shout, ‘The forces that come here will not be kind. They will not offer allegiance. They will simply conquer. Do you wish to be conquered? Do you wish to be enslaved? I have spent years on the road for you, all of you, knowing this day would come. I do not expect appreciation from such simple minds, so I will not even attempt to ask, but know this, without me, this village would not have a chance.’
The audience erupted into jeers at Kobin’s well-known and expected arrogance, many shouting taunts and insults at the man they had only disliked, perhaps pitied, but now despised with every cell in their body. They were silenced with gunfire from the soldiers and Vennoss spoke loudly to be heard by all.
‘Please, calm yourselves,’ he said. ‘There is no need for anyone to be hurt this day.’
Kobin stared at Vennoss suspiciously, not saying a word or taking his eyes off him as he made his way through the crowd. Many stepped aside to allow Vennoss an easy passage, and soon he had reached the centre, walking past the guards without fear or concern.
‘I do not recognise the uniforms these soldiers wear,’ said Vennoss to Kobin, ‘from what nation have you brought them?’
Kobin stared for a moment, as if weighing his options on whether he should reply or not. ‘Hawan in the west,’ he said.
‘That is a long journey for a few soldiers, is it not?’ asked Vennoss.
Kobin seemed irritated but attempted to hide it as he spoke with clenched teeth.
‘They are already on their way east, I simply convinced them to stop here as they passed, so that we could gain their protection.’
‘Yes, yes,’ said Vennoss, now looking more closely at the uniforms they wore. ‘For the price of a few young lives, the village will be protected from an evil that may or may not even come here. Quite a bargain.’
‘And you have better?’ asked Kobin.
‘I will not claim as such, but I believe even a man of your mental capabilities would have better sense than bringing armed military personnel to a defenceless village. Who do you think will attack us here? The Alliance? The Resistance? Dragons?’
‘You dare mock me, old man?’ asked Kobin over the laughter around him.
Kobin walked menacingly toward Vennoss, who also began walking forward, showing that he was without fear.
‘I didn’t become old by being lucky,’ Vennoss scolded. ‘I have travelled farther than you have even dreamed, and yet you stand here, the wise conqueror, as if anything you have to say is of any worth. You are as stubborn and as arrogant as you were as a boy, and still you refuse to learn.’
The soldiers standing near Kobin and Vennoss armed their guns as they saw tempers rise in both men, but Kobin waved his hand for them to stand down.
‘Labelling others arrogant as always, even when they have tried to help,’ said Kobin calmly. ‘It seems wisdom does not come with age or long journeys. You and I both know that this was an inevitable conclusion. War will come. This land is a prime location for resources and reconnaissance. If the Alliance gets hold of it, they will have a base from which they can attack all in this continent, without detection and in complete safety. We need the help of other nations. We need it now. Are you going to stand in the way of what can save this village?’
All could see the rage building in Vennoss, his face becoming redder with every word Kobin uttered. But Kobin was right. Vennoss had travelled and spoken to the other nations, just as Kobin had, and this was the logical conclusion to Callibra’s fate. He had little other choice but to concede the point.
‘He may not be our brightest or most heroic,’ said Vennoss to the crowd as he walked away from Kobin, ‘or even a man you’d want breathing, but I have spoken to friends elsewhere and it is true, we are in danger here. The wars are not far away, so we will all be faced with a choice. This man will have you join a nation’s army, with whom we have had very little communication. You may do so if that is your choice. But I have been offered safe passage to the great city of Waikor, an ally of Callibra for many years. I know it is possibly too much to ask you all to leave your homes and join me in going there, but I urge you to consider this grim future that awaits us here and make the right decision. The Waikorian people are proud, but they will accept us as brothers and sisters.’
‘Only those not selected may have the choice,’ said Kobin.
Vennoss spun on his feet. ‘You do not have that right!’
All weapons of the soldiers were quickly aimed at Vennoss.
‘But in truth,’ said Kobin slowly, glancing at the guns, ‘I do.’
Vennoss did not flinch, but began to back away.
‘Restrain him from any further interference,’ Kobin ordered, and then announced to the crowd as Vennoss was taken away, ‘the matches will begin now. I know you all have your teams. We do not have time for full matches or for many games. You will each be represented by your best. Prepare the field for tennagen, now!’
As the remaining soldiers aimed their weapons at those that stood defiantly, the people of Callibra became ready for their sporting matches. Possibly the last ever witnessed for many of them. Jaden quickly found Bo, Corey, Dion and Konnor and even those from generations before them that were part of the same social clan. But it became evident early that none believed they were above the current team’s skill and fitness level, so it was accepted that Jaden’s Dynasty would play as they had.
‘Are we ready?’ asked Jaden.
‘As ready as we’ll ever be,’ said Konnor.
‘I still can’t believe this is happening,’ said Bo.
‘It’s that snake Kobin’s fault,’ Dion muttered.
‘Either way, we don’t have a choice,’ said Jaden. ‘This is the match we can’t lose.’
‘Right, so strategy,’ said Bo, ‘no matter what, we keep it pure. Everyone will be nervous, so all we need to do is play hard and fast.’
‘If we win, we’re essentially sending them to war,’ said Corey. ‘Even on the opposite team, they are our friends. Can we play in good conscience?’
The boys were silent for a moment. Corey was right, as usual.
‘It’s either us or them,’ said Konnor. ‘I don’t want them to go to war, but I don’t want to go to war either. What else can we do?’
‘We just have to do our best,’ said Jaden. ‘It’s not our friends that we have to think of right now. It’s our families. If we throw the matches, we are saying to our families that they will not see us again.’
All turned to Corey as if to check on whether or not Jaden’s answer was acceptable. Corey was thoughtful, and then inclined his head and nodded, acknowledging Jaden’s point as a good one.
‘Don’t worry about the other team,’ said Bo. ‘Chances are we’re only going to play one game today, and that game will be against Ardim and the Pioneers.’
‘Then who cares? Let’s destroy them!’ said Konnor.
The others laughed, but they all knew they didn’t even hate Ardim enough to want to send him to war. Nothing good was going to come of this situation.
The teams were soon assembled and the first match quickly began, Jaden and the others watching from the sidelines with concern. It became evident early that neither side wanted to lose, as some of the most brutal tackles were being made, injuring some of the better players before even a single point was scored. Years of respect were being broken down before their very eyes as everyone’s need for survival overwhelmed any moral codes or cares regarding the opposing team. It was chaos on the tennagen field, something no one in Callibra had ever wished to see happen to their beloved game.
The first match was over within ten minutes, the winning team with the better score of three to one. Both teams were escorted to opposite sides of the field, one being the winners’ circle, the other for the losers. This was how they would keep track of who would be going to war and who would be staying. The second match began in a similar way to the first, but the runner was a very good sprinter and even wi
th his entire team tackled by three players, he was able to get across the line three times in a row, winning three to zero. Jaden’s team was called upon next, and as Bo had predicted, it was against the Pioneers.
‘Standard formation,’ explained Bo, ‘guard the bridges, get Jaden across before they can come close!’
Almost like clockwork, the Dynasty moved into their respective positions, made the right tackles and helped Jaden across the midway mark. Bo knew Ardim would be wanting to hurt Jaden badly and made the tackle early to get him out of the round. This gave Jaden an almost entirely clear run as he easily scored the first point. The crowd was as silent as it had been in the previous games, none enjoying what they were witnessing. Even as Ardim’s team made their first run and Corey was hit so hard in a tackle that he flipped over backward, there was little more than a murmur among them. The score was tied at one all as Jaden made his second run, putting a big effort into his jump as he almost cleared the entire stream, swimming the final few yards to get across. Four defenders had been neutralised with only Ardim remaining. Jaden expected another rock to hit him as he ran toward the line, but no rock came, and he saw that Ardim had come out of his hiding spot too late and had no hope of catching up.
The score was then two to one. The Pioneers were to make the next run. Jaden guessed early that it would be Ardim with the runners’ band, and Bo agreed to double team him. It was a gamble that paid off, as the round was over very quickly, leaving Jaden with the runner’s band for the final play.
‘Which way do you want to go this time?’ asked Bo.
‘I don’t know, something’s not right,’ said Jaden.
‘What?’ asked Konnor.
‘Ardim, his heart isn’t in this,’ Jaden explained. ‘He might be stupid but his timing is good. That last round shouldn’t have been so easy. He came out from the trees too late.’
‘You’re right,’ said Bo, ‘but why?’
‘His life is on the line,’ added Corey, ‘maybe he can’t handle the pressure.’
‘Now that you mention it, I don’t like that idea either,’ said Dion.
‘Just make the tackle, you’ll be fine,’ Bo comforted and then turned to Jaden, ‘look, we only have a few more seconds, just say which way you want to go and we’ll do the rest.’
‘Right bridge, I’ll fake left and outrun them.’
‘Everyone got that?’ asked Bo. ‘Good. We only need one more point, boys, let’s do this.’
Jaden jogged slowly to his position as the team broke apart, still troubled by Ardim’s behaviour. Even to a bully like him, this was too much. The thought of going to war, especially as a result of the game they all loved was heartbreaking. And it was all Kobin’s doing. Jaden had always been suspicious of Kobin, but he did not think a friend of his father’s would be capable of this evil. Could he have twisted this enough in his mind to really believe it to be righteous? After the speech he gave earlier, Jaden was starting to believe it.
The whistle sounded and Jaden began his sprint. As he had said, he faked going for the left bridge, allowing Corey and Dion to take down the two defenders far from the right bridge. They knew the defenders would drift toward the middle in case Jaden made another run at the stream. This now meant that the right bridge was free. The defenders from the left bridge were giving chase, but Bo and Konnor quickly caught up and held them, creating a second dead zone and leaving Jaden to run against Ardim for the victory. Ardim was jogging up to the centre as Jaden made his way over the right bridge, but just as Jaden was preparing for the sprint of his life, he saw Ardim stand completely still, watching him.
Jaden turned slightly once he reached the three quarter mark. No matter what he would not stop completely, so he began jogging backward toward the finish line, watching Ardim stand perfectly still where he was near the stream. Jaden made it easily across the line, and both players remained locked in a stare.
The Dynasty were declared winners, Jaden’s teammates coming up to congratulate him and themselves on a good effort, but Jaden showed no emotion. His attention was still focused on Ardim, who was now walking toward him as he was escorted from the field.
‘Dumb move, runt,’ Ardim sneered at Jaden as he passed.
Jaden followed Ardim with his eyes and then turned back to his friends.
‘What?’ he asked.
Bo shrugged. ‘Who cares, we won!’
‘Let’s go to the winners’ circle and watch the rest of the matches,’ said Konnor, who almost seemed excited by the matches now that he had been running around on the field and no longer had to fear going to war.
‘Corey, what did you make of that comment?’ asked Jaden as they began walking to their designated area.
‘It’s as cryptic as he’s ever going to get,’ said Corey. ‘Either he’s going to come to get you later for winning or he’s up to something we can’t even guess at yet.’
‘I’m not favouring either option.’
‘Nor am I,’ said Corey, and both walked in silence the rest of the way.
The remaining matches followed a similar pattern, with many of the teams proving too strong while the others caved under the pressure. It seemed some were to be given a second chance, however, as Kobin announced several more games for the losing teams. Many cheered as they won and were moved into the winners’ circle, while the others let their shoulders slump as they returned to the losers’ area.
As the afternoon began to draw to a close, all matches had been played, and several large trucks were driven in through the Gates of Callibra, ready to take the new recruits away from the village. Many of the families were gathering around the losers’ circle to say goodbye to their loved ones, in tears and looking hatefully at Kobin, but Kobin was making his way to the winners’ circle where Jaden was waiting.
‘Congratulations,’ he said to them all, ‘your victory has earned you a place in the Hawan Military. Welcome! You will be taken into service immediately.’
The boys all looked at one another in surprise.
‘What do you mean?’ asked Jaden, stepping forward. ‘We won, why are we going?’
Kobin eyed the son of his friend and then said plainly, ‘Do you believe they wanted the weakest of the village to join them? You have shown yourselves to be fine specimens, you should be grateful for the honour.’
‘And throw our lives away by going to war? Are you crazy?’
All seemed to agree and they stepped forward with Jaden in protest. Kobin glanced over them all before stating simply, ‘Whether you go now or wait, it makes no difference. You will all go to war. At least this way you will be in good hands. You should be safe enough,’ and then looking at Jaden Kobin said, ‘so long as you do as you’re instructed.’
‘I won’t go,’ said Jaden. ‘I’m going with my grandfather to Waikor.’
‘I’m afraid it is too late for that,’ said Kobin, and he nodded to the soldiers standing nearby. ‘Take them to the trucks. We will leave in the hour.’
‘No! You can’t do this!’ shouted Jaden.
‘Silence him,’ said Kobin, and a soldier hit Jaden hard in the back, knocking him to the ground.
Bo and the others jumped forward to help him up and also attack the soldier, but as several guns were aimed on them, they all stood back. Jaden was pulled to his feet by two soldiers and taken to the first truck, where he was lifted into the back and chained to the seats by his left wrist. He tried to yank it free but it was no use. His flesh was no match for steel.
Soon all in the winners’ circle were loaded into the trucks just as Jaden had been. No goodbye, no gathering of possessions. They were to become soldiers of Hawan, leaving everything of their lives behind. None knew when they would return, or if they’d ever have the chance. Perhaps after the wars were won, or maybe when they had served a sufficient number of years. Their families had noticed the boys being taken and moved toward the trucks, but they were stopped by Hawan reinforcements, which held them at bay. There was nothing any could do to stop it.
This was a military unit invading Callibra and taking their young. A simple village did not stand a chance.
With the roar of truck engines starting, gears shifting and brakes being released, they set out upon their journey, toward a place far from home.