by Dan Decker
It was almost an hour later, and Jorad had been about to suggest that he and Tere scout ahead when Adar and Karn appeared. Adar was covered with sweat, but Jorad knew that he'd be able to go for hours still. There was a smudge of blood on Adar's face, but otherwise, he looked the way he had when they'd started earlier in the morning. Karn was covered with perspiration as well and looked a touch more fatigued than Adar.
“We're smack dab in the middle of several traveling bands of Ou Qui,” Adar said in answer to the questions he expected. “They’re moving the same direction as us and traveling fast. Their bands are much larger than normal; otherwise, we wouldn’t have noticed they were here. We’ll need to travel more closely together.”
Soret paled and Wes muttered something about wanting to keep both his ears. The others took the news with stoic resolve. The Ou Qui were skilled warriors, and there were many stories of their exploits.
Tere’s face tightened when he looked at Adar, but he kept silent. Jorad wasn't certain if Tere was bothered because Adar had assumed leadership of their group or if it was Tere's hatred that was keeping him agitated.
Jorad hadn't stopped scanning their surroundings when Adar and Karn returned, and he noticed that there was a bush rustling nearby. There were some trees in between him and the bush and he might not have noticed it if he hadn't been looking that direction at the right time. This time, he was certain that the rustling wasn't being caused by the wind.
“We have company,” Jorad pointed towards the moving bush as a figure came out of the underbrush and was followed by several others. They were all dressed in the same manner Ruder had been. Tree branches and grass were woven into their disguises. Their camouflage was incredible, and Jorad couldn't help but think about how useful camouflage like that would be. If he could hide that well, Hunwei would walk right past him and never know he was there.
When he realized that they'd been here for over an hour and the Ou Qui had been watching them the whole time, he increased the tension in his bow. Ruder hadn’t wished them any harm, but that wasn’t a guarantee that these would feel the same way.
“Lower your weapons,” Adar said while looking at Jorad and the others in turn, “the Ou Qui love to fight. If they were going to attack, we wouldn’t have known until it was over. They want to talk.”
Tere glowered at Adar. “Thought you were tracking them. You’re losing your skill.”
“These came from behind.” Adar drew his sword and stuck it in the ground. Beside it, he set his quiver of arrows and his bow. He walked through the trees until he had closed about half the distance between the Ou Qui and their party.
Jorad removed his own weapons, leaving only his hidden daggers and caught up to Adar. His father turned as he approached but didn't say anything. Jorad was glad Adar didn't try to get him to turn back. He wasn't about to miss another opportunity to study their camouflage close up.
“Better hope you’re right,” Jorad said, once he’d caught up to where Adar was standing.
“I don’t recall inviting you.” Adar folded his arms and waited.
The strange men didn’t move for several long minutes, and Jorad was looking back at their own group, checking on Soret when one of the men started to approach. He removed his short swords and stuck them into the ground before coming over to meet them. His camouflage wasn’t as intricate as Ruder's, but the arrogance, which was typical of the Ou Qui, was evident. He acted as if he had an army at his back. Upon reflection, Jorad realized that the man probably did.
The Ou Qui stopped when he was a few steps away, and they stood in silence for several moments. Jorad examined the man closely, trying to learn more about the disguise. He remembered how part of Ruder's disguise came off as he moved around. This Ou Qui's camouflage didn't look as fresh, and it struck Jorad that the gear required constant upkeep. They were probably always replenishing it with fresh branches, leaves, and grass. As he examined it, he noticed the same netting he'd seen in Ruder's disguise. He also noticed strips of dark colored fabric. It varied in color from dark earthy green and blacks to several other lighter tan and brown colors as well. The darker colors were towards the bottom of the man, while the lighter colors were towards the top. Jorad was about to open his mouth when the Ou Qui spoke.
“I’m Kinib Jemmir,” the Ou Qui said.
“I’m Adar Rahid, this is my son Jorad.”
Jorad was surprised that Adar had used their proper last name. In fact, Jorad couldn't remember a time when he'd ever been introduced as a Rahid. He supposed it didn't matter now since the people they'd been hiding from had found them. He wasn't uncomfortable, but he did realize that it was going to take some time to adjust to openly being a Rahid. Had there been a flash of recognition on Kinib’s face when he heard the name Rahid?
“When was Neberan attacked?”
Jorad was taken aback. Ruder had asked the same question, but that now seemed part of another lifetime. So much had happened since then that it felt like it was years ago.
“Nearly a week ago now,” Adar said. “When was Wasat attacked?”
The Ou Qui grimaced, or at least it looked like a grimace. The mud on his face made it hard to tell. It was either that or a smile. Jorad doubted Kinib had much to smile about.
“You are well informed. Wasat was indeed attacked several weeks ago. The ships that took your people went north too?”
“Yes, all the ones we saw.”
“In the past, my people have been at war with all and it kept us strong. While we hunt the Hunwei, we can't afford to be distracted. Please accept my gifts and promise. While we are in your lands hunting the Hunwei, we won't harm you.”
It happened fast. One moment, there was nothing. The next, two black handled daggers quivered in the ground before their feet. Without hesitation, Adar responded in kind with one of his own daggers. He looked at Jorad until Jorad contributed one as well. Jorad missed sticking the blade into the ground, but a patch of grass kept it from skidding. He felt a little embarrassed but put the thought out of his mind.
“Please accept our offering of peace.” The Ou Qui put his hands out, both palms up.
“We accept.” Adar picked up one of the daggers. “We promise not to attack but cannot speak for the other inhabitants of this land.”
“Are you not a Rahid?”
Adar nodded. “We can speak for Rarbon, but not for this land.”
“So be it. Our truce stands with all those from Rarbon.”
“Agreed.”
While the Ou Qui picked up his new daggers, Jorad retrieved the remaining Ou Qui dagger. When he pulled the blade up, it was covered in mud. He wiped it on his pants, only to realize that it wasn’t mud. Jorad examined the blade. The black residue that covered it seemed likely to prevent him from using the blade to cut anything. He tested his finger on it, and sure enough, the residue made it quite dull. Why cover a weapon with something that made it useless?
“Where are you heading?” Adar asked.
“North,” Kinib said. “We mean to get our people back.”
Adar started to speak and then changed his mind as he looked at his dagger. “Can this weapon kill them?”
Kinib shrugged. “Depends on the man.” He left and returned to his short swords. Several other figures moved to join Kinib. One of them was smaller than the others but still dressed in the peculiar Ou Qui camouflage. That figure looked curiously at them. As Jorad watched the child disappear, he couldn’t help but wonder how many just like him had been captured by the Hunwei and taken north. The child reminded him of Joney Baron; it was hard not to imagine the Ou Qui child suffering the same fate.
“We’re not the only ones that prepared for the return of the Hunwei,” Adar said. Prepared was a generous word, considering the Neberan massacre, but Jorad didn’t argue. Neither the Ou Qui nor anybody else could fight the Hunwei. They could only run or die.
“You don't believe this dagger could kill a Hunwei do you?” Jorad asked as he peered closer at the blade of his n
ew dagger. It reminded him of tar, only it was hardened, and Jorad doubted there was anything he could do to get rid of the residue. With the two he’d given to Soret and the one he’d just given to the Ou Qui, he was down to one functioning dagger now.
“If one get's close enough for us to use it, we'll be desperate enough to try it.” Adar smiled grimly. It was his usual tight smile; it was gone just as quick as it registered.
Chapter 18
Jorad welcomed the chilly afternoon air. It was a good deal better than the heat wave they'd had most of the week. It was nicer for traveling, and he was much more alert. It had been overcast for most of the day and had rained several times. The breeze that ruffled his hair had a cold edge to it, finding its way underneath and through his light wool jacket. It smelled like rain again, and he wouldn't be surprised if he'd soon feel drops on his head.
The clouds were a bit darker than this morning, and he was beginning to wonder if winter was going to come early this year. He buttoned his jacket and wished he’d thought to grab his gloves in his hurried flight from Neberan. Maybe he’d have an opportunity to pick up another pair in Zecarani if it was still there.
It had been four days since the encounter with the Ou Qui, and they’d started stopping for the entire night to rest. Adar didn’t trust anybody but Jorad to stand guard while he slept, so Jorad was running with only a half a night’s sleep. He yawned, but he wasn’t that tired, splitting the watch was normal, even when they traveled alone. It was something he'd been accustomed to for many years.
Adar had become concerned that they weren't moving fast enough and the morning before last, he'd announced that they would start using the road to travel. This had been met with enthusiasm by most of the group. Tere had opposed it, but Jorad was certain he'd done so because it had been Adar's proposal. Everybody was anxious to put Neberan as far behind them as they could. Jorad estimated they were only a couple of days from Zecarani and he was beginning to think they’d make it without encountering any more Hunwei. At the moment, he was trying hard not to think about what would come after Zecarani.
Holding his bow and arrow with one hand, he reached beneath his pack and knuckled his stiff back as best he could. He hadn’t realized that he’d been sleeping on rocks until morning. They hadn’t been obvious in the dark and had been covered by dirt that had shifted as he slept. Perhaps he’d just been too tired to notice as he fell asleep. Either way, he was paying for his carelessness now. Stretching, he tried to ease the pain, but there was a limit to how much you could stretch while wearing a pack, sword and arrow quiver.
Adar gave Jorad a grim smile. For Adar, the coming of the Hunwei hadn’t changed things much; it only served to confirm the things he’d already been doing. Jorad couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen Adar happy. There had been a few times when he’d seen his father relax enough to laugh, but not too long afterward, his grimness always returned. Jorad returned the grin with one of his own, hoping that he appeared more cheerful than he felt.
They had traveled through the morning without incident. Now, in the early afternoon, Adar and Jorad were in front scouting. It was the first time Jorad had taken a regular scouting rotation because Soret was doing better and starting to move past her grief.
Up ahead, the road turned around a bend. They’d been following it as it made its way around a mountain to the west since morning. For a brief moment, the sun peeked out, and Jorad smiled when the light touched his face. He closed his eyes, glad for the extra warmth.
When it was gone, he was surprised to see that Adar had stopped a few paces back and was staring into the trees. Jorad yawned, trying to massage his back again. Adar stared a few moments longer into the woods and then moved off the road motioning for Jorad to follow. Silently using a dagger, Adar made a notch in a tree that would be seen by those behind. Jorad became more alert. It was a sign for danger. Ou Qui or Hunwei?
Adar motioned to the woods between them and the mountain, indicating that they were going to move in that direction. They moved slowly, keeping behind trees, shrubs, and other cover.
Half an hour later, Jorad crouched uncomfortably behind a small tree while he waited for Adar, who was ahead and had not moved in some time. Adar was peering out from underneath a willow tree as he took cover in its low hanging branches. He turned and made a motion with his hand by extending his thumb and little finger. This was a Radim sign to ready his bow with an arrow, a signal that Adar had given him hundreds of times in practice.
Jorad brought up his bow and pulled the string back a little ways. Adar already had his sword out and motioned for Jorad to move around the other side of the willow tree.
So much for hoping to make it Zecarani without seeing any more Hunwei, Jorad thought. He moved as quietly as he could, taking care with every footstep, and keeping as close to the branches as he could without disturbing them.
When he was in place, he had to force himself to start breathing again, but he was able to keep it shallow and silent. Thirty feet in front of where they hid were four Hunwei that had their backs to them. This was his first experience seeing Hunwei during the daytime. He'd often heard it said that daylight chases away fear but that wasn't the case with the Hunwei. They towered over Jorad by a solid three feet, and their shoulders were wider than Karn's by half. The armor they wore was colored a dull black.
Jorad was reminded of the first Hunwei he'd attacked. How his shoulder had hurt afterward. How he'd been unable to do any damage to the Hunwei. He thought of the dagger the Ou Qui had given to him and wondered if it could work on the Hunwei. If he got close enough to use it, he wouldn't have long to live if it failed.
As the Hunwei snarled, Jorad realized his grip on the bow with his left hand was in danger of breaking the arrow against it. Instead of trying to push away his fear, Jorad did as Adar had taught him and let the fear stay but he ignored it. Or rather he tried to.
Jorad took several slow breaths. Adar wasn’t foolish enough to attack when he didn’t have any idea about the tactical situation. Besides, they already knew that their weapons would do little good anyway. Sure enough, Adar signaled to fall back just as they heard noise from the direction of the road.
It sounded like people arguing. Adar grimaced as Jorad cursed under his breath and thought of Soret. Why were they here? One of them should have seen the notch in the tree. Jorad couldn’t make out what they were saying, but they might as well have been screaming at one another.
The Hunwei were now gazing towards the road, and one of them had readied his blaster. The others followed. Adar sheathed his sword, pulled out his bow, and notched an arrow. He looked at Jorad and nodded. It would do little good other than causing a distraction, but maybe it would give Soret and the others a chance. Melyah take the Hunwei, Jorad hoped she’d be okay. He singled out a Hunwei and aimed at the gap between the helmet and the body armor as there was no sense wasting a chance, maybe it would get through.
The whistle of Adar’s arrow sounded at the same time Jorad let his loose. He didn’t take his eyes off the Hunwei as he let another arrow fly. Both arrows flew true but—as expected—instead of piercing through the chinks in the armor, they bounced off the Hunwei skin. The Hunwei that his first arrow hit turned in time for the second to bounce off his face. Melyah! It had bounced right off his eye. Even though Jorad had been expecting that, it was still shocking to see.
“Run!” Adar cried. The order wasn’t needed as Jorad had already turned and was sprinting away, praying as he did that Soret and the others would be okay. They’d done what they could to distract the Hunwei, now it was in the hands of the gods.
Jorad slung his bow over his shoulder as he ran. The arrows, like his dagger and the ax, had bounced off the Hunwei as if their skin itself had been made of armor. An arrow had been turned away by a bleeding eye. If they were that tough, why did they bother to wear armor at all?
As Jorad passed a tree, it burst into flames, and a hole the size of his head emerged in the trunk. Adar sprinte
d ahead and turned up towards the mountain. As Jorad followed, the full gravity of their situation fell upon him. They were going to die, and the certainty filled him with dread.
More trees around him burst into flames, and a blast of heat rushed over his head. He ducked without thinking and chanced a look back. The Hunwei were right behind, and his eyes were drawn to one pointing a blaster at him. The Hunwei pressed a lever, and a blast exploded from the end.
Jorad hit the ground as the blast went just over his head, singeing his hair on its way. Scrambling back to his feet, he plunged ahead and hoped that they could outrun the Hunwei. Their armor should slow them down.
Several minutes later, he came across Adar leaning up against a tree trying to catch his breath. Jorad slowed to a stop while gulping down air in great heaving gasps. The Hunwei weren’t visible, but he could hear crashing coming their way. At most, they had a few minutes. He was glad that they were able to outrun them. Whether it was because of the dense forest or the weight of their armor, he didn't know.
“We need to get to higher ground.” Adar panted.
“We’ll end up like a treed cat.”
“I want to see what happens if we can push one off a cliff. Maybe we can crush one with a rock. Besides, with all these hills, we have a better chance of hiding.”
Jorad thought Adar might be joking, but one look at Adar’s face showed he wasn’t. They were facing certain death, and he wanted to test the vulnerabilities of their armor, never mind their blasters.
“My arrow bounced off that Hunwei’s eye.”
“They’ve got to have weaknesses, this isn’t magic. Come on, we have to keep going up. If they get close, try the Ou Qui dagger.”
“Suicide.” Jorad gulped for air. “This is suicide.”
Adar grinned, if Jorad didn’t know any better Adar almost looked happy. “This isn’t the first time we’ve danced with death.”
“Hopefully, it won’t be the last.”
“Pray to Melyah.”