The Return

by Campbell, Sean M.

Likka still in human form said into my mind.

  We approached the shattered doors of the grand entry to the manor, the shock of that first explosion of power fresh in my mind even after so long. We entered as I felt the shadows close behind us and follow. Towards the back of the room, we flowed like wraiths in the night. No sound was made, our breathing even muted.

  If I could get to Penelophene before they decided to act we would do this. I prayed she would be near the back of the hall. Through the living area and into the back of the ruins we walked. The shadows followed, trying to conceal their drawn weapons. Little did they know I would not attack, only defend to make my withdrawal, should the shit hit the fan.

  The doors to the grand council hall were still intact but stood open as they had on that day so many lifetimes in the past. My worst fears realized as I stepped into the room, they all stood with bows and spears ready and Penny was at the front of the room. I had to walk the gauntlet, to get close enough for my plan to work.

  We continued to walk with the explosive fury of the Life Wards pointed at us from all directions. 100ft., 90ft., 80ft., all depended on how much of a trap they thought this was. I felt their tensions rise as bowstrings creaked around me; I felt the shift as they all swung their target to me in the front.

  My relief was almost a wave; at least the others would have a split second to make their escape. 30ft., 20ft., almost there and no twang had been heard. If I could get within that last ten feet my plan had a chance. 10ft. left and I sprang forward with all the speed I could muster, which is to say I became a blur of motion. Slapping Penny’s bow aside I wrapped my right hand around her waist and my left behind her shoulders; I bent her back so that her weight was in my arms, and locked my lips to hers.

  As she gasped in surprise my tongue dove between her lips and I tensed for the pain. Those razor sharp teeth closed on my tongue and blood poured into her mouth. I felt her knife come out and start downward towards my spine, then felt it clatter harmlessly off the back of my armor, as her eyes opened in surprise, and her hand closed around the back of my neck.

  I moved my attention to her neck leaving a trail of blood down her chin as she moaned, “Oh Goddess of the bright light, Rhys, you’re here; you’re finally here.” Every one of the Life Ward gasped and lowered their weapons. Voices from behind me. “Rhys?” “Is it really him?” “Will we get to avenge our failure?”

  I stood, looked at the hooded figures behind me, and spoke softly as I dropped my hood. “All of your questions will be answered but we have to get out of the city before sunrise. There are Mages here bringing the city guard together to fight us. We will head out the west gate and ride hard till morning."

  Then tears started streaming down my face, "we go now to rescue Morgana. Then I will go to the imperial city and kill the Emperor myself. Likka, we need a scout we have to move to the west gate quietly and quickly. Steer us well my love.”

  As Likka dropped down into wolf form, the new gathering of Life Ward gasped, and Penny looked into my eyes. “Still managing to keep secrets after all these years, Rhys?”

  “I never knew how you would view our relationship. We comfort each other.”

  “Rhys, look at this group of women, there are… Oh Goddess, Rhys, you’re going to be a very busy man. When are you ever going to find the time?”

  “I have no idea, if my count is correct there are now eighteen of you here and I already know where this is headed. Soon there will be nineteen because I am going to rescue Morgana, mark my word. Before the week is out Morgana will walk with me again.”

  “Rhys it is impossible, no one has ever broken a tailored spell before.”

  “No one has ever tried what I am going to do.”

  “With every moment you delay the emperor can mass more forces against you. This side trip could cost us.”

  I stopped and looked at Penny, locking our gaze eye to eye. “Penny you rode with me for ten years before I made the most foolish deal of my life. That has cost you and the rest of the Life Ward more than I can ever repay. There is still one out there paying for that mistake, and I have a chance of fixing that, but it has to be done while the Emperor is still alive.

  I have to do this Penny. My sanity and my life depend on Morgana being there when I face him. If I cannot save her, then I will go on without her; but I must try, just as I would try if it were you or any other one of the Life Ward. The only question I can ask is, Penny, will you and the other Life Ward ride with me into the teeth of hell on the slim chance that Morgana can be saved?”

  “Rhys, we would ride with you into the teeth of the Emperor himself, without weapons or armor, if we can save her. We will ride by your side.”

  “Why are there so few of you left?”

  “The mages tracked us down and killed us one by one there are only eight of the original life ward left. Six of us here and the two you know about. Most of us have companions but they are not trained nor have they ever sworn their oath.”

  We moved out of the room where I was introduced to the others waiting there. There was an array of women the likes of which I had never seen. “We will make more formal introductions in the tent tonight. Right now I need to know do any of you have horses.”

  “No.”

  “We need to make a stop at the City Stables outside the wall then, I am sure the city guards won’t miss a few of them.”

  Four nerve wracking hours later found us staring from an alley at the west gate of the city. Taina was standing next to my shoulder watching the guards at the gate. “How do you plan on getting us past them?”, she whispered.

  “Do you see the inn there about half a block up against the wall?”

  “Yes.”

  “It has a very interesting back door.”

  “How can it have a back door it is right up against the wall… Ah, I see. How far out does it come back up?”

  “One of the exits is in the barn of the city stables outside.”

  “And how do you know that the back door is still there?”

  “It is way too useful to the thieves’ guild for them to let it get known or destroyed. We move down this alley to the building across the street then we move out in pairs and trios five minutes apart. Try and look innocent.”

  “You will never make it across then.”

  “I and Likka will be the last pair. Once inside, wait for me. If anything happens to any of us, do not come back out, I will handle incidents.”

  “What if something happens to you?”

  “Same, I will handle it.”

  The move to the Inn was smooth and easy. The guards never even noticed us. I would have fired the whole lot of them if they worked for me. Eighteen people, and a wolf, crossed the street and went into an inn that only has five rooms. I would be wondering what the hell was going on, if nothing else. Don’t get me wrong, I was very happy they didn’t notice. I would have just fired them, that is all. Once I was inside, I saw the Inn keeper arguing quietly with Taina and Mieko. I stepped up to them, “Is there a problem?”

  “As I told the ladies sir the kitchen is closed and we will not be open until after sun up.”

  “We are not here to eat. We are here to use your back door.”

  “Sir, as you can plainly see, we do not have a back door. I will need to kindly ask you to leave and come back after sun up.”

  I pulled two gold coins from my pouch and held them up. “I am sure your back door is quite ready to be opened, or should I call the guards and show them where it is?”

  He looked at the coins with honest greed in his eyes. “I am sure we could possibly find a small door that could be useful to you.” Less than a minute later we were moving crates, from in front of the wall in the back of the Inn’s basement. Once the wall was clear I surprised the barkeep by reaching up and pulling down on the loose piece of wood that triggered it open.

  Once the girls were moving into the opening, I handed him the two coins. Then I silently slipped into the tunnel, as he closed the door
behind us. Six thousand years is a long time to remember how many steps to each turn. It took me better than an hour to find our exit at the city stables. Then another thirty minutes to get the horses to move off of the trap door.

  We climbed up into the stables, the girls started gathering tack, and saddling the horses we would need. “What about Reaper?” Mieko asked from the dark.

  “He will be along, with the pack horses, as soon as the gate opens. We need to be out of here, and on the road, before the sun comes up or there will be hell to pay.” The girls started leading their horses out in ones and twos, gathering a little ways down the road into a hollow. I was of course the last one out, as I led a roan stallion out and started walking him.

  That was when the back door of the grooms building was kicked open. A man stepped out headed to the outhouse, belching and scratching his self. My flechettes found their marks but it was not fast enough. His scream of alarm ended in a bloody gurgle, as he slumped to the ground.

  I did not wait to see a response as I mounted and shouted to the girls to ride. Behind me I heard the gates to the city being thrown open, and shouts of alarm, as Reaper stampeded through them, leading the string of pack horses. “We have ten minutes tops before they are after us. It is time to make tracks ladies.”

  We had the horses at a dead run into the west forest, as Reaper caught up to us. I vaulted from the roan to his back. I pulled the lead ropes for the other horses out of his mouth, and started tossing them to different ladies. “Make for the western gorge bridge!” I shouted as we rode. I could hear in the distance the sound of thundering hooves leaving the stables behind us.

  We had good horses, if this was just a flat race we would be in good shape and would stay ahead of them till they gave up. The problem was ahead, the gorge cliffs. We had three sets of terraced cliffs to work our way down. There was a good road, but it wound back and forth like a confused snake. Even the best riders had to take this slow. I didn’t have the best riders with me. Tia was still a little timid with the horses, and I had no idea how any of the other’s friends would be.

  I had no choice; I was going to have to use powerful magic to keep the arrows off our heads as we rode down. Then Taina had the best idea I had ever heard. “The tent, Rhys, put all of us in the tent, Reaper and you can outride these guards in seconds flat if you didn’t have us.”

  “I don’t know what will happen when I fold it up.”

  “There was a roach in one of the bags of potatoes; I missed him when I tried to kill him. The next night he was still there, and I killed him that time. He was fine after folding the tent. Try it on one of the horses; if they are fine we will be.”

  “We have to do this quick, as they are only ten minutes behind us. Let the others know what we are going to try, and tell them to be ready. Keep them riding, I will drop back and try it with a pack horse. Then I will pass you and set up the tent, so you can dismount and enter as fast as you get there.”

  I dropped back, and took the lead rope of the pack horse, with the tent on his flank. Then I started slowing down. It took me two minutes to set up the tent and put the horse in. Then I dropped the tent and rolled it up sloppily. I then unrolled it and set the poles in place again. The horse was fine. I rolled the tent up rather sloppily again leaving the horse inside, I would double check when I got to set it up again.

  I rode out only about two minutes ahead of the guards. I let Reaper lay on the horsepower as we rode, the forest around me became a blur as he started to stride. One of these days I will have to explain exactly what Reaper is, but this is not the time for it. Less than five minutes later, I was passing the girls, and giving them the thumbs up signal. I hollered out at the top of my lungs “No time for questions, just do what is said, and we can explain later.”

  I rode on establishing about a five minute lead on them. Then Reaper and I stopped. I dropped off, unrolled the tent, and set the poles in place. I stepped in, the pack horse was fine, and he still had the same mouthful of hay in his mouth. I stepped out and sat down to wait for the girls.

  I didn’t have to wait long. As soon as they came around the bend I yelled “Lead your horses into the tent. We don’t have time to explain.” Taina, Laina, Mieko, Tia, Myka and Beth dropped off, and led their horses in without even a hesitation, of course. The others stopped and stared. “No time to stare either, get your horses in there.” I grabbed Penny by the arm and led her to the entrance.

  The others followed without resistance. I heard many exclamations of surprise before I dropped the tent, and rolled it up. This time doing it neatly and stowing it proper. Then I waited on Reapers back for the guards to catch up a bit.

  Likka asked.

  that is exactly what I did. When the guards came around the hillside two hundred feet back, I extended my right arm, and pointed my middle finger at the sky. Then Reaper, Likka, and I bolted as fast as our feet could carry us.

  As we got ahead of them Likka ran up a hillside next to the road and got a little ahead of us. I watched her jump off the hilltop overlooking the road. She changed in mid air only to land in the saddle behind me. As soon as she hit, Reaper poured it on. By the time we reached the cliffs I was a full half hour ahead of the guards.

  The trip down the cliff road would take an average rider a half a day. A good rider on a good horse could do it in two hours. Reaper, Likka, and I were at the bottom twelve minutes after hitting the top. Reaper cornered like he was on rails, and skipped whole sections when the road did a switchback below us. To an observer it looked like we fell down the cliff face.

  At the bottom of the cliff I stopped and turned to face back at the guards. Likka asked from behind me.

 

  This time Likka made the gesture too. For some reason, this seemed to enrage the guards. As we turned and rode off to the west and towards the second cliff, Likka thought from behind me.

 

  By the time we crossed the bridge, I figured we were at least a half a day ahead of the guards. I could stop them completely, by blowing the bridge behind us, but that would just be being destructive for no cause now. I figured we could ride for a few more hours and be a full day ahead of the guards, then we could take our time and ride normally again.

  Likka was just riding and I could feel her smiling in my mind. I had to admit to myself letting Reaper ride full out was fun. He was the fastest animal I had ever known. In terms from the other earth he could run at over one hundred miles per hour for short bursts and make sustained runs of seventy miles per hour for hours on end.

  The ride was also smooth. Most horses when they run have an up and down gait that can pound bruises on your backside. His gait was a smooth, rise and fall, like riding a wave through the air.

  We rode, until I saw the sun headed for the horizon. By then we were couple of day’s normal ride from the city. We had covered a lot of ground with Reaper being allowed to run free. I was sure the city guard couldn’t catch us now if we sat still for a couple of days. We stopped in a clearing area, and moved off the road to set up camp. I unrolled and set up the tent. As I walked in I was in for a bit of a surprise.

  The girls were all sitting around on the couches and I could smell dinner cooking. Laina jumped up and ran to me. “It didn’t stasis us, while we were in here not even the animals were in stasis. We could even see out the windows and, for some reason, that gesture you made with your finger made Beth laugh.”

  I looked over at Beth rather sheepishly. “It is a very rude gesture.” I said to Laina, “On the other world it is a way of telling people that you despise them, and they should go have impossible sex with themselves.”

  Laina laughed, “Dinner should be ready in a bit. P
enny says you owe her something.”

  “She wants me to take her to bed tonight, because she has tasted blood. Blood affects her the way magic does Beth and I. It would be a good idea if you did not get too nosey tonight. It is liable to be loud and bloody in there.”

  Laina’s eyes got as big as dinner plates as she looked at Penny. “Now I think it is time I be introduced around to those that don’t know me, and get reacquainted with the rest of the Life Wards. Shall we join them in the sitting area?”

  Liana took my hand, and walked me over to the couches. Before she sat down I kissed her passionately. I then walked over to Penny. “Lady Penelophene, may I ask who your charming companion is?” I was looking towards a small woman dressed in black leather pants and corset style top with a short half cloak. She had black hair and dark gray eyes, with very pale skin. Her features looked as if she had been carved from marble, to be the statue of a beautiful woman.

  Penny stood and kissed me biting my lip slightly to taste my blood again. When she pulled back, “This is my companion and friend Nyanya.”

  “I am pleased to meet you, and call you friend.” I said to Nyanya.

  “Thank you, Rhys, is what Penny says about you true?”

  “Depends on what she says.”

  “She says, you are the only man she has ever taken to her bed that she could not bring herself to eat afterwards.”

  “I am still here aren’t I?”

  She blushed and sat back down as I moved over to the next introduction. There was a pair of ladies both of them of the Saidhee race like Morgana. They were tall just less than six feet tall with blond hair and pale blue eyes. Both of them also had a small green emerald embedded in the backs of each of their hands. “Lady Mayleha if I may ask for an introduction to your gentle companion?”