Stone Ram (Leopard King Saga)

by T. A. Uner

  He felt Marella’s warmth as she clung to him. She had been silent since Diamond Town, they all had. Above them the early morning sky had announced its arrival, sending the coruscating night stars packing. In their place Fabian eyed a formation of silver geese that were making their way south. He could hear the cacophony of their honking calls as they passed directly overhead, before they faded from earshot.

  “You’ve been quiet Ram,” Lager said.

  “We’ve all been silent,” Fabian replied.

  “You wanna talk about it?”

  “What’s to talk about, I killed man back there; I don’t think I’ll ever be the same.”

  Lager nodded. “Not everyone is cut out for leadership, but the ones that prove themselves to be effective leaders become more than what they initially were. What happened back there in Diamond Town with the mercenaries, you need to let go of it.”

  “But how?”

  “By remembering the good things in your life; the good memories. That’s how you let go of the bad ones.”

  He thought of his life back home, tending his flock. “It’s not working.”

  “Give it time,” Lager said. He urged his holographic horse forward. Behind him Marella was still silent. He turned around and noticed she was asleep, her cheek pressed against his pauldron.

  “Wish I could sleep that easy,” he said.

  ***

  That night they made camp in an area of open country and settled around a makeshift kettle. Lager was cooking something called “tomato soup,” a famous Earth broth that he had recommended they try. Using a ladle he poured both Fabian and Marella generous amounts and then offered some to Matilda by filling her bowl. Around them darkness had settled in and a welcome breeze filtered through the branches of threadbare trees, causing the fire to flicker for a few ticks. To the left of their campsite Fabian could hear the gentle sound of water running through a shallow brooklet that was flanked by ferns. It stretched out into the distance and disappeared under the shadows of the hill slopes planted in the distance.

  Fabian didn’t want dinner to be quiet like their ride from Diamond Town had been. He was after all the leader and he felt it was time he acted like one. “Where do you suppose Korr obtained that strange device?” But as soon as he asked the question Fabian regretted it.

  Both Lager and Marella paused eating and looked up from their soup. Matilda continued lapping up hers.

  “The flamethrower?”

  “Is that what it’s called?” Marella replied. “Quite disgusting. No respectable Paz soldier would dare use such a heinous device.”

  Lager took another spoonful of soup and swallowed. “Only heaven knows, Ram. Probably a smuggler or arms dealer from the Southern Empire, they’ve been known to travel across-planet selling whatever piece of technology they can get their hands on. All I know is I’ve always tried to dissuade your Gold King from arming soldiers with weapons like that. On Earth, Flamethrowers were eventually banned in warfare. They were used in Earth wars during the turbulent twentieth and twenty-first centuries. No one would dare use them now; you saw what they can do. Best thank your Spirit Stone armor.”

  “Has Earth always been violent, Lager?”

  Marella leaned in closer to listen. Fabian figured war stories were quite rare in Pazland.

  “It used to be, since humans could first walk. But war between humans on Earth is now obsolete.”

  “But not in the stars,” Marella added.

  “I knew you were gonna say that, little lady.”

  “Was Earth ever like Rek? A kingdom?”

  Lager nodded. “I’m not much of a historian, but yes, many centuries ago, I suppose it was. There were many kingdoms and empires that rose and fell over the centuries. When I was in High School I did like listening to our teacher talk about one particular culture. It was called the Roman Empire. I took a special interest in it and tried to learn everything about it.”

  “Why is that?” Marella asked.

  “I guess because it had such a monumental impact on future generations of humans, Marella. You see the ancient Romans were famous for their advanced architecture. They built forums and roads that still stand today, after thousands of years. And that’s not all,Roman government also played an important role in how future republics would run their nation-states. One of their greatest, if not the greatest Roman emperor was Hadrian, he was more of a philosopher than a tyrant, ushering in reforms, supporting the arts, and making the empire’s provinces more self-sustaining—he was responsible for its Golden age.”

  “Seems like that was an ideal time to live,” Fabian said. Matilda nestled her head on his knee and he stroked her belly, feeling her warm fur and steady heartbeat.

  “Not always,” Lager said. “The Romans suffered their fair share of poor rulers. One of which was a man named Caligula. Who nearly bankrupted the Empire during Earth’s first Century; Caligula even went so far as to install his horse as a politician.”

  “Madness,” Marella said.

  Fabian laughed. Slowly the incident with Korr didn’t hurt as much. Perhaps Lager was right, in time, with the right mindset, even the most painful memories faded. “I wouldn’t want to live under Caligula’s rule,” Fabian said.

  “Ohh I dunno, Ram, difficult times are when heroes are needed the most; where legends are born. Look at you, less than a week ago you were a humble shepherd tending sheep. Now look at you, wearing magic armor and wielding staff and sword like a battle-seasoned veteran,” Lager said good-naturedly.

  “And you now have Pazland’s greatest Stealer in your service,” Marella added. She leaned over and kissed Fabian on the cheek. He didn’t see it coming, his Ram helm off, but his heart flipped in his chest.

  “Well, I don’t know about you kids, but I’m tired. Dodging militia men and battling flamethrowers can do that to you.”

  “Me and Matty will take first watch then,” Fabian said.

  Lager nodded. “Goodnight then.”

  Fabian donned his helm and stood up. The darkness around him became more refined as his eyesight returned. Marella stood up and strolled over towards him. “Fabian?”

  He turned around to face her. Her face radiated warmth; exotic brown eyes filled with curiosity, staring at him like a wood owl perched on a tree branch. Her short hair did her justice; it highlighted the soft feminine curves of her face. “Yes Marella, what is it?”

  “Is it true what Lager says about you? That…you’re…unable to see without your helm?”

  He nodded. “I still can’t believe how wonderful a sensation it is; before all I could see was a big dark blur, and, on a good day, a light blur. Now everything has changed. I’ve finally become whole.”

  She slipped her arm around his and he felt her warmth. It seemed to filter through his armor, and he liked it. What adolescent boy his age wouldn’t? “I think you undercut yourself Fabian SilverSword, even if you couldn’t see you’d still be ‘whole’ to me.”

  “It’s kind of you to say that Marella, but you’re not the one who’s gone through life without eyesight. It’s true my other senses are more developed and helped offset some of the disability my blindness presented, but I would’ve preferred to have been born with all my senses.”

  She smiled and squeezed his arm. It felt like heaven having a girl so close to him. It felt like a wonderful dream. “What I meant was, in my career as a Stealer, I’ve met so many people who had everything: money, wealth, power, but that still didn’t make them whole. They either lusted for more of what they had or plotted to take from others to benefit their agendas. What I’m trying to say is that, having less of something, or not having something doesn’t make you less of a person, not if you’ve got the most important thing in life.”

  Fabian smiled at her beneath his helm. “Which is?”

  “A heart, Fabian. Trust me in my line of work it’s a rare commodity, but I can spot it in someone, even if they don’t.”

  “You mean bravery?” This time he laughed. “Lager sa
ys that gets men killed.”

  “Bravery comes close, but heart is so much more. Your determination to prove yourself is heart; so is undertaking this Gold Quest. That’s one of the reasons I decided to join; to become part of something special.”

  He put his gauntleted hand on her arm. “You’re liable to end up regretting that decision,” he said jokingly.

  “I don’t think so, I got to make a new friend, didn’t I?” Matilda padded up to them and placed her bone in front of Marella’s boot’s.

  “Make that two friends,” Fabian said.

  II

  They broke camp early next day, before dawn. Lager had recommended they get an early start to make up for the time they lost during sleep. Fabian approved and soon they were on their way.

  “When do I get a horse?” Marella asked.

  “I thought you liked riding with me?” Fabian replied. Lager turned toward them and laughed.

  Marella looked at him and scowled. “What’s so funny Earthman?”

  “You, that’s who, girly.” Lager cleared his throat and yawned. “You’ve haven’t even been with us that long and you’re already making demands.”

  “I don’t think asking for a steed is an unreasonable request.”

  “It is when you don’t have one to spare.”

  “From what I hear Lager, your technology can create a steed for me.”

  Lager shot Fabian a suspicious look. “Have you been disclosing privileged information to your new girlfriend, Ram?”

  Fabian was glad that he had his faceplate down, it concealed the embarrassed look that suddenly appeared across his face. Is that what Lager thinks of her? My female partner? It was an appealing thought, but not when it was tactlessly pointed out by the alcoholic spaceman. “I had nothing to do with it, Lager,” Fabian replied sternly, “perhaps you underestimate our new ally.”

  “Is that so?” Lager looked at Marella. “How much about me do you know, girly?”

  Marella smiled but held her silence.

  Vegetation became scarcer as they slowly made their way toward arid terrain marked by firebrush. The sun pulsed like a heart in the white sky. They saw a sign marker for the Sun Trail, indicating the distance to Fork Ridge. Lager pointed his scanner in the direction of Fork Ridge and performed a long-range scan. “Well Jax said Fork Ridge was where those armies were supposed to meet up; I wonder if they were able to launch that counter-attack against the Reeper’s armies.”

  “Are you picking up any lifesigns?” Fabian asked.

  Lager shook his head. “Only small signs, likely indigenous creatures, nothing the size of three major armies.” He took out his Digital Binoculars and swept the area. “There!” He pointed toward the distance. “A large heat signature, bearing southeast.”

  “What could it mean, Lager?”

  “We’re about to find out, Ram.”

  They urged their horses forward, leaving the sign marker behind, a large dust cloud in their wake as Fabian and Lager pushed their horses to canter before full gallop and took off toward the heat readings. The arid steppe around them slowly transformed into grassland, and Fabian was glad to see the return of greenery. Ahead in the distance, the Pyrus Peaks appeared like squatting giants. Fabian remembered the ancient fables his father used to tell him when he was a child, he never thought he would see them with his eyes. Beneath the cloud-capped peaks his sharpened vision could make out a large expanse of tents and equipment, beyond that was scorched land and sporadic burning fires.

  Lager took out his digital binoculars. “Looks like a military camp, and, beyond that it appears a battle is being fought.”

  “I wonder who’s winning,” Fabian said.

  “Only way to find out is to enter that camp, Ram.”

  “Let’s go.”

  They passed a farm on their left and Fabian could see a group of soldiers lounging near the farm’s entrance fence. Fabian and Lager slowed their horses and rode up towards them. To Fabian they looked a sorry bunch, weather-beaten uniforms, with bandages around their arms and faces. They looked up at the newcomers and one of them grunted. Lager pulled up towards one that wore the insignia of a First Level Lieutenant on his shoulder sleeve. “I am Commander Stephen McVick, First Engineer and Military Advisor to the Gold King,” Lager said. “Are you in command here, Lieutenant?”

  The Lieutenant nodded but did not say anything. “I asked you a question, soldier,” Lager barked. One of the soldiers grasped his rifle. Fabian noticed that two of his fingers were missing on his right hand, and a bloodstained bandage concealed his left eye. Lager looked impatient. “Where is your commanding officer?”

  The lieutenant pointed toward the direction of the tents, Fabian studied the man carefully and noticed his hand was shaking. What happened to these men? “I think we better go, Hero Fabian,” Marella whispered into his ear. “We won’t be getting anything out of these poor creatures.”

  “Let’s go Lager.” Fabian urged Starspeed forward. For a brief moment Lager stood atop his holographic horse and stared at the officer and his men, as if still expecting an explanation from them. Fabian halted Starspeed, turned his head around and shot Lager a sharp glance. “Are you coming Commander McVick?” Fabian asked. Lager nodded and followed him.

  ***

  The military camp was a cesspool of activity.

  Fabian noticed that the closer they got to its proximity the louder the ordnance fire became—the sound of heavy cannon fire. After identifying themselves as Gold Quest Crusaders to the sentries, they were admitted inside the camp. Lager gave Marella a white blanket to conceal her red cape. In the camp there was no need to call attention to her Stealer status.

  As they made their way through the camp Fabian saw soldiers cleaning and inspecting their weapons; others were hitching field artillery carriages to limbers which would be hauled by teams of draft animals.

  The rutted path wormed through the camp, taking them past makeshift latrines buzzing with dog flies and firing ranges where troops were polishing their shooting skills. A few soldiers stopped what they were doing to stare at the newcomers, one of them pointed at Fabian and he met their stares. He felt a sense of power surge through him, it made his skin prickle and his heart rise in his chest before the sensation abated. A tall officer with a thick mustache and wearing a peaked cap, flanked by infantrymen, barred their path. Both Fabian and Lager reined their horses.

  “State your purpose here travelers,” said the officer.

  Lager looked at Fabian. He was the leader of this Quest, it was his duty to answer. Fabian did not wish to be rude, but he decided to keep his Faceplate down, he didn’t know how this officer would react being addressed by a young man. “I am Fabian SilverSword, leader of this Crusader band on a Gold Quest, seeking the stolen Golden Mane. We kindly seek passage through this camp on our way further east, and, if possible, information about the terrain from the commanding officer of this camp.”

  The officer looked him over and snorted. “You don’t look like a Gold Crusader to me!” he said, pointing an accusing finger at Fabian. “And him!” The officer then pointed to Lager. “He doesn’t look like a Reklander.”

  “No,” Lager said, trying his best to remain civil, “I am Commander Stephen McVick, Exploratory Defense Group of the Earth Star Service, First Engineer and special military adviser to his Golden Eminence the King.”

  The officer’s eyes narrowed and his mustache twitched. “Advisor to the king ehh? Let me see your royal documents.”

  “For what reason?” Lager retorted.

  “I am Major Aders,” Adjutant to his Excellency, Gold Marshal Picotte, Supreme Commander of the King’s Eastern Ground Forces. That is the reason why I ask, Commander.”

  For a moment Fabian held his breath while Lager and Aders maintained a standoff. Then Lager reached into his pocket and drew out an envelope. Fabian eyed it and with his sharp vision espied the King’s Royal seal, a golden sun face. Aders took the envelope from Lager’s hand and looked over the Earthman’
s credentials. He handed back the papers with an indifferent look on his face. To Fabian it almost looked as if the Captain was disappointed that Lager’s papers were in order.

  “Your mounts will have to be stabled.” He whistled and a young boy nearby, who was collecting trash with a trash-picker rushed over toward them. “Take these two horses to the stables, Meilen.”

  “That won’t be necessary for mine,” Lager said. He disembarked from his holographic steed and it disappeared. “Better conserve energy from here on out.”

  “How impressive, Commander,” Aders said sarcastically, while the boy, Meilen, looked at Lager in amazement. “I don’t suppose you care to share your technology with us, we’re up against some bloodthirsty opponents.”

  “I don’t think that will be possible, for now,” Lager replied.

  Aders’ face could not conceal his disappointment. “I didn’t think so, well, follow me.”

  “Where are you taking us?” Fabian asked as Meilen took Starspeed’s reins and led the horse away.

  “Why to the Gold Marshall,” Aders said. “And I suggest you remove your helm before you enter his command pavilion, his Lordship is quite stringent on protocol.”

  Fabian nodded and Marella remained silent. Fabian took the lead as his group followed Aders and his men past more rows of white tents. Despite the repetitive shelling, Fabian maintained his placid demeanor, he did not want to appear skittish in the presence of the haughty Major Aders.

  A unit of Elite Golden Dragoons passed by them. “Where are they headed Major?” Fabian asked.

  Aders spoke to him without looking at Fabian. “To the front lines, the Gold Marshall is about to order another counterattack.”

  “Why?” Lager chimed in.

  “Why else, Commander?” Aders said. “To relieve the strain on our right flank. The Reeper’s Wasps are relentless.”

  Finally they came upon a large command pavilion. Atop it, fluttering in the light breeze, was the Royal Flag of Rek, The Golden Sun. Beneath it were the respective banners of the three main armies that were attempting to drive back the Blood Reeper’s troops. “Your dog will have to wait outside,” Aders said. Matilda growled at him but Fabian calmed her.