Box of Runes An Epic Fantasy Collection

by J. Thorn

  Harvi looked around the campfire, worried that others might eavesdrop on their conversation. “Careful,” he replied.

  Kin exhaled and looked into the eyes of his fellow soldier and friend. “Let’s get a closer look,” he said.

  “Now? In the dark? The gods must have stolen your sanity.”

  “I need to know who they are. We can get close enough to determine that without disobeying orders. I promise we’ll be back and asleep in no time.”

  “If I say how far we go?”

  “Fine.”

  The two men gathered torches and their swords, each carrying a machete to help clear the path to the beach. Sleeping and drunk soldiers covered the ground inside the fort. An occasional blast of flatulence broke the silence, followed by the unhealthy scent. Kin and Harvi had no difficulty exiting the gate and entering the humid night. The Moon had not yet kissed the Lady of the Light, making the path to the beach treacherous. Smoke from the fires on the shore wafted towards the men and greeted them on their descent to the Great Sea.

  Silence suffocated the sounds of the night. As Kin and Harvi approached the camp, one lone fire burned. Men surrounded it, snoring.

  “Let’s go,” said Harvi. “They are men, not creatures of the sea or spirits of the past. We have seen what we need to see.”

  Kin leaned out from behind the tree. “Let’s get a count. We can at least report their numbers.”

  Harvi rolled his eyes. Kin stepped into the clearing and crept towards the smoldering fire, and Harvi followed with his sword, three steps behind Kin.

  Two red eyes glared at the men as they passed.

  “Welcome,” said a voice coming from the darkness.

  Harvi and Kin spun, weapons drawn and terror covering their faces.

  “Put them down. Your death would awaken my men, and I don’t feel like dealing with those imbeciles right now. Sheath your swords.”

  Harvi and Kin obeyed the order. The air around them felt like quicksand. The voice of the stranger rang in their heads but did not enter their ears.

  “Sit down,” he said.

  Both men sat under the tree, facing the dark figure with red eyes.

  “Tomorrow you shall present me to your commander. I am the Serpent King.”

  Kin tried to shake off the daze and respond. Words came with great difficulty. “When—when shall we escort you, my lord?” he asked.

  “When the Sun God has begun his journey you will return to this spot. That is all you need to know at this time.”

  Harvi looked at Kin, neither man moving, bodies disobeying the brain’s order to flee.

  “Go now. I tire of your slack jaws.”

  They stood and walked back to the fort on legs of wet sand. Harvi walked well into the mouth of the jungle before his speech would relay his thoughts.

  “I don’t like this,” he said.

  “Just keep moving. We’ll talk when we get back inside the fort,” replied Kin.

  The men followed their path and snuck back inside the main gate, walking past the sleeping sentry. Kin followed Harvi to a dying fire where two bodies lay crumpled, the smell of hot whiskey floating above them.

  “It was as if I had no control of myself. If he had ordered us to slit our own throats I would have done so,” said Kin.

  “What do you think will happen to us if we don’t return tomorrow to escort him here?” asked Harvi.

  Kin shook as if gripped by a seizure, and tears fell from his face. “I do not want to find out.”

  Chapter 26

  Shane kicked the ribs of the drunken slobs rolling in the sand. “Time to break camp. Get up,” he said.

  The soldiers replied with groans and belches. The Sun God pulled the horizon down to expose first movements as the Star of the North faded into the purple dawn. Shane saw the Serpent King seated on top of an upturned rowboat, as if on a throne. Battle armor and regalia hung from him as they had since the moment the One World came into view. Shane approached, kicking sailors on the way.

  “My lord, do we enter the jungle today and march towards the great cities?”

  “There is no need, young bull. They know we have arrived. Two foot soldiers will be presenting me to their commander.”

  “What are my commands, sir? Shall I accompany you to the emissary?”

  “No. You must remain and ensure we are prepared to move out. Spare no means of motivation. If you must take a life to make your point, do so.”

  “Yes, my lord. We will be prepared to march upon your return.”

  As Shane turned to stride back into the center of camp, two soldiers appeared through the line of trees. If the Serpent King had not warned Shane, he would have welcomed them with his blade. Bronze skin shone through their cotton wraps, and helmets and swords made it clear that these men knew battle. Shane attempted to catch their eyes as he walked past, but both soldiers were fixated on the Serpent King and did not look in his direction.

  “You now look like soldiers. Follow my orders,” the Serpent King said to the two men before him. “Stand shoulder to shoulder and escort me to your commander.”

  Harvi and Kin spun into their formation without speaking a word. Some of the crew stopped to watch the three figures moving through the early morning mist. The path to the fort did not reveal itself, but with a machete in hand, Kin would chop any foliage that might fall into their path.

  “You have done well so far. Fulfill your obligation to me and I might spare your souls,” said the Serpent King.

  The fort grew out of the forest floor, a lone watchtower jutting above the crude stone wall. In places, the jungle reclaimed its territory as vines devoured the crumbling brick. The Sun God climbed further into the sky, burning off the morning dew that had settled. A disoriented sentry stood guard at the gate, the same young drunkard Harvi and Kin had passed in the darkness.

  “Eh, what have we here?” he asked, running his hand through his beard.

  “Open the gate,” said Kin.

  The sentry sensed power in Kin’s voice and opened the wooden gate. As in the camp of the Serpent King, men stirred and set about their duties. Some gathered water, and others chopped wood.

  “Where are his quarters?” asked the Serpent King.

  Both men pointed to a room in the corner of the courtyard. While hot and cramped, the commander enjoyed the luxury of a private room. In unison, the three figures marched across the courtyard to the commander’s quarters. The men in the camp kept their heads down, not daring a quick glimpse at the mysterious visitor striding through their midst.

  “Now leave me, but do not go far. If your commander is not a man of reason, I will need you to escort me out of here.”

  Harvi and Kin nodded and sat with their backs to the exterior wall of the commander’s room.

  ***

  The wooden door opened with a groan. The commander’s face twisted, and he stifled a shout.

  Burning red hair spilled out of a black helmet and tangled with a ragged beard. The massive man wore black armor and cotton, which blocked the Sun God’s rays from entering the room. The commander caught a scent of sandalwood mixed with ale as the stranger stepped inside, allowing the light to filter around him in an eerie halo.

  “Sit down,” he said.

  “Who are you?” asked the commander, his jaw falling onto his chest.

  “Sit down.”

  “How did you get past my men?”

  “Men? Is that what you call the dogs out there, wrestling over drops of whiskey?”

  “Identify yourself, or I will be forced to sound the alarm and cut you down.”

  “Yes, I am sure you can sense my fear.” The Serpent King took a step towards the commander, who stood behind his desk. With one crooked finger, the Serpent King pushed him in the chest, sending the portly man backwards into his chair. “I am not here to cause you trouble or wreak havoc on your outpost. I am here as a friend of the coalition. I need to meet with the leaders, and you will get me their audience.”

  �
��Where did you come from?” asked the commander.

  The Serpent King raised both hands in the air and let them slap down to his sides, snarling at the commander and spitting on the ground at his feet. When he spoke again, it was a low, defined growl. “It is obvious we will not get anywhere until I satisfy your childlike curiosity. I am the Serpent King. I have come across the Great Sea to aid the coalition in revolution against the People of the Sun. I bring fierce warriors and destructive powers to rain down upon the oppressors.”

  “The coalition is loose. Its members are not defined.”

  “Ah! The man speaks useful words! There must be a head of this coalition, a man driving it forward?”

  “Lord Major Acatel of the Dog People. Many claim he is the de facto leader and guides a regiment to the capital. He plans to strike the first blow of retribution upon the wicked infidels.”

  The Serpent King paused to digest the information and to process his next move. “How far are we from the capital city of the People of the Sun?”

  “Many, many leagues. Acatel traversed the Great Waste, which claims many soldiers. Some coalition fighters may not be ready to make that sacrifice.”

  “What of your people?”

  “We are the People of the Eagle, and we stand tall in support of the coalition. The People of the Sun exploited our resources from afar for generations. Freedom from their yoke is not enough. We demand blood for the blood of our ancestors.”

  “Your anger is powerful and encouraging. How many men can join my expedition into the heart of your land?”

  “Half. That is all you will need. You can reach Risenachen, the capital of the People of the Eagle, in one journey of the Sun God. This outpost is the closest and sits on our land.”

  “Will there be military command in Risenachen?”

  “Yes. The city boasts a population of tens of thousands of people and is the largest in the One World. You will find it welcoming.”

  “I will prepare my men for the journey to your fine city. I will expect half of your soldiers waiting for me at the gate. You will remain here to keep command of your post. The two soldiers who escorted me today will be part of the force you put under my command.”

  “Yes, sir, I will provide you with whatever you need.”

  “You have done well, commander, now that you’ve removed that foolish look from your face. I will remember your compliance and reward it.”

  The commander grinned and stood as the Serpent King turned for the door. His black cape swung behind him, swallowing all of the light in the room.

  ***

  “Stand at attention. I release you from the mind fog.”

  Harvi and Kin shook their heads. Kin ran his hands through his hair while Harvi shuffled his feet.

  “Your commander arranges a meeting for me in Risenachen. You will escort me and my men through the jungle, to the gates of the city. Send word that the Serpent King requests an audience with the leaders of the coalition stationed in Risenachen.”

  “Yes, sir,” said both men in unison.

  “We need to return to my camp and prepare for the journey.”

  Chapter 27

  “What is our need of these two fools?” asked Shane.

  “Your jealousy brings fire to my veins,” replied the Serpent King. “They will guide us through the jungle to the gates of Risenachen, the capital of the People of the Eagle. There we will meet with leaders of the coalition and join the rebellion. Unless you can guide us through the jungle to this city, the two fools must lead the expedition.”

  The explanation satisfied Shane of Gisanti. He did not feel ready to explore the wilds of the new land.

  “Get word to our men that we are marching inland with the rise of the Sun God. If you meet any resistance, let your sword send them beyond the Region of the Dead. From what I hear about Risenachen, we will not be short on human capital.”

  “As you command, my lord,” said Shane as he walked towards the center of camp, where men gathered their belongings and strung casks on their belts. “Soldiers, gather round,” he said. “The Serpent King sends his commands through me. Any soldier who requests his freedom from our lord can do so now.”

  Of the twenty men standing before Shane, three stepped forward to claim their independence.

  “You ask to be free of the yoke of the master, is that correct?” he asked. All three men nodded in confirmation. “Then you shall be set free.”

  In the blink of an eye, Shane drew his blade and decapitated the first two men. The third man turned and ran towards the jungle, but Shane grabbed a dagger from his belt and threw it. The air parted as the blade buried itself in the man’s back, and he fell forward, writhing on the ground and screaming in a futile attempt to remove it. Shane stood over him. He pulled the dagger out with a wet, sucking noise and cleaned the blade on the man’s beard. He kicked the solider in the ribs to get him to lie on his back, and in one swift motion, Shane slit his neck from ear to ear. He walked back to the men, who were now shuffling in uncomfortable silence.

  “Anyone else want his freedom?” he asked.

  There was no reply.

  ***

  The Sun God ascended as the men gathered in camp. Three corpses, two without heads, lay in a row, flies devouring them a few specks at a time. The Serpent King sat on the overturned boat, which had become his temporary throne. Shane of Gisanti barked orders, keeping men on task, and Kin and Harvi stood on either side of the Serpent King, functioning as his personal bodyguards.

  “I would not cross that young bull,” said the Serpent King. “He does not care for you two.”

  “Yes, I’ve sensed that,” replied Kin.

  ***

  Menacing clouds lumbered across the morning sky, threatening to suffocate the Sun God during his journey. Morning mist and humidity clung to the soldiers. Black snakes and crawling reptiles moved across the living carpet of the jungle, and unseen birds cawed at the foreigners while furry creatures darted through the canopy.

  The camp was packed, and Shane assembled the men by rank. Only two sailors from the village of Concothy remained besides Shane. They wore grizzled beards and scars upon their faces, and their eyes shone with the spark of greed. The remaining regiment consisted of captured natives from the islands raided by the Serpent King. He had secured their loyalty through fear.

  Shane shoved through a group of soldiers and addressed the men.

  “It is time to march. The two bastards will lead us through the jungle to the city of Risenachen. There, our lord will offer his allegiance to the coalition. An internal war of revolution races through this land. Our legacy in the One World has yet to be born.”

  Kin and Harvi looked at each other.

  “If that piece of shit insults my mother one more time, I will cut out his tongue and strangle him with it,” said Harvi. Kin nodded and put his hand on Harvi’s shoulder. The two soldiers of the People of the Eagle moved towards the front of the regiment as the Serpent King climbed down from the boat. Shane moved to his right side at the back of the line.

  “Snakes in this jungle will steal your soul faster than you can blink. Keep your machetes or short swords drawn, and be prepared to cut the serpents from the trees. The trek to Risenachen is not far as the crow flies, but it takes us through dense jungle,” said Kin.

  The men whispered to each other, tales of golden cities and fabulous riches filling the air. In bygone eras, explorers from the Eastern Kingdoms had set out upon the Great Sea, and none ever returned. The One World existed as part legend and part reality. In dark taverns, under heavy smoke, sailors spoke of the cities of gold that grew in the One World. No explorer had ever confirmed these fables, and yet none had ever disproved them either.

  Kin moved forward with Harvi behind him. As they left the beach and entered the jungle, fifteen soldiers came from the direction of the fort and took up position behind the Serpent King’s contingent. They bowed to their new leader.

  “The commander of the outpost may be slopp
y, but he is no fool. Here are the men I demanded.”

  Shane replied, “They are dogs, but I will call them men if you so desire.”

  The march through the jungle was as promised. Men fell sick from exposure as heat and humidity pressed down on them like suffocating weights, and they wore blisters on bloodied hands that held machetes. They hacked through unending stretches of shadowed jungle, fighting off determined insects. Streams held both fresh water and dangerous fish. Those from the Eastern Kingdoms had never experienced an environment like it. The Rain God delivered mighty blows throughout the march, but was unable to dampen the spirits of the Serpent King and Shane of Gisanti. Kin and Harvi finally halted the party in a slight clearing near a meandering creek. Without a word, the men collapsed to the ground and reached for their flasks.

  “Just beyond this clearing lies the gate to Risenachen. The city sits in a valley, surrounded on all sides by treacherous mountains. That is one reason why no invading force has been able to breach her walls throughout the generations. We must lead the party to the gate. If the sentries see your men coming through the jungle and into the valley, they will fire upon you without warning,” said Harvi to Shane and the Serpent King.

  The Serpent King nodded. “Give the men some time to rest before we approach the gate.”

  Shane walked to where Kin and Harvi sat. Two other soldiers from the outpost shared a pipe with the two expedition leaders.

  “Do not think I will be usurped by two filthy animals like you. When we have reached the gate and entered Risenachen, you had best stay clear of my blade.”

  “I’ve heard enough of your threats. Take your stinking mouth and leave me be,” replied Harvi.

  Kin reached over and put his hand on Harvi’s arm, which had moved towards his sheathed weapon. “We have no desire to serve your lord beyond this mission, which we have been forced to accept. Take your threats and your steel and leave us be. No one here is ready to go beyond the Region of the Dead,” said Kin.