Thrall

by Steven Shrewsbury

  “Interesting.” Tammas sipped from a silver canteen. “Was that patriarch any relation to our chieftain?”

  “Yes. In fact, Cielo’s sister was the grandmother of Carlato Wyss.”

  Maddox laughed and eyed the horizon. “That’s ironic.”

  “Not really. It just is.”

  Though they had taken many a rest during the day, they all dismounted, shook off the dust, and tried to regain their ability to walk properly. Gorias went to relieve himself near some brush. Maddox joined him, still appearing hearty.

  “You seem to know where we are heading,” Maddox said, staring at the scarlet streaks across the sky.

  Gorias concentrated on the sunset. “You got something to say, kid? Ya look like you’re waiting for ghosts to bubble up from yonder bogs.”

  Maddox glanced back at Tammas and Kayla. “Were you there when they executed Carlato Wyss?”

  Gorias shook his head. “No, but I know the area they used for it. It was a common sinkhole back then near the edge of Benedikt Canyon. There’s a spot over that hill there where the ground is always wet, even in the winter.”

  Maddox stared, jaw agape at Gorias’ words. “We are that close?” He didn’t seem afraid and Gorias smiled at that. Maddox inquired, “Is there a force in the earth that stays warm and keeps the bog soft?”

  Gorias shrugged as they walked back to the spot where the horses drank. “Could be, but Wyss is just as dead. There are forces that we don’t comprehend below us and I don’t mean from Hell. The earth shrugs, we could die in an instant. Immense and uncanny, the forces of the earth are nearly like that of a sleeping god. Its bile keeps the bogs soft even in the frosty weather.”

  “This quest of the cult--it’s all twaddle, right?” Maddox asked as Tammas got to his knees and drank with the horses. “These idiots can’t really hope to find Wyss’ body?”

  Kayla refilled her carafe in the creek, shot Tammas a disgusted look. “You’re a necromancer, Maddox La Gaul. You doubt the resurrection of the dead or their ability to find a body via their magic?”

  “Of course not.” Maddox pointed his index finger at her. “I know what soul jewels can do, and what hides in them, but this pursuit for bones of a man long dead is nonsense. How can they hope to find a body dropped so long ago?”

  “Wizards, damn their eyes,” Gorias said and sat down against a tree to rest his back. He glared at them with eyes as cold as glaciers. “If they can find a portion of his bones, they can make a mockery of life. Something will come up, I mean. Something bad.”

  With a wave of both hands at the sky, Maddox said, “Many of them, the youths in the cult, are students of the Daemonolateria and know their work well. One even has a familiar demon that sucks at an extra teat. Serious, it’s true. Kayla, I have no doubt about their ability…”

  Mouth transforming into a scowl, she snapped at Maddox, “How could I ever doubt one such as you?” Stamping away from them, she slammed herself against another tree, slowly sinking to the ground as Maddox stared at his grandfather.

  Gorias watched all of this casually then looked across the creek.

  “Grandfather, you must understand…”

  “I understand fine. Don’t ask me to solve problems created by you trying to get some tail. All of that is old hat to me. It ceased to amaze me years ago what young men will do to knock off a piece of a woman. They’ll even pretend to get in bed with monsters, act out ceremonies to invoke the less savory demons of the underworld, just to feel that soft skin on their body.”

  Maddox frowned sheepishly. “But…”

  Gorias looked to Tammas. “Can you fish?”

  The boy nodded. “I caught ten fish in an hour at the Jothdan River once.”

  “Impressive,” Gorias muttered, giving him a mock salute.

  “I scaled them myself.”

  “We have been followed.”

  Tammas was starting to stuff jerky in his mouth and nearly choked. “What? You said flames would keep the leeches off us.”

  Gorias groaned with dismay. “Yes, followed close since we left Khabnur. The fool thinks he is stealthy, but my nose knows, if you pardon my language.”

  Kayla dark eyes darted a glance between them with cat-like furtiveness.

  Tammas peered into the distance as he stowed his jerky in a pouch. “The slave train at the breadth of the bogs beds down for the night. They strike fires as well. Who follows us? Is it a man from that train or a leech?”

  Down on his knees, Gorias gazed over the creek. He drew out both swords and his traveling companions jumped a little. They stared at him, how he kissed each sword on the flat of the blade then laid them at each side. Behind him, he folded his hands and let his body lay back. Facing the distant sunset’s glow, he took a deep breath.

  He glared at the bard. “What? Can’t a man have a private moment with his own God? Ya can piss yer pants any day, ya know.”

  Shamefaced, the three turned from Gorias. Kayla twisted back and waited for the two to move away. Maddox drew his sword and told Tammas to fix an arrow. “We’ll hunt the countryside once we get some bigger fires made for the night. The leeches won’t come near fire.”

  Tammas said, “Good God, we’re really going to sleep outside?”

  Glancing around at the area, Maddox muttered, “Looks that way.”

  “You must think me a terrible person,” Kayla said as she stood near Gorias.

  “For being human? There are greater sins than youthful desire. I hold no anger for you. Hell, any woman who can fight is all right with me.”

  She knelt beside him in the vanishing sunlight. “My daddy used to tell me tales about you when I toddled.” She laughed. “I can still remember that. The picture in my head of valiant Gorias La Gaul, killing dragons, and fighting the evil ones of the world.”

  He chuckled, then said in a harsh voice. “I must be some disillusionment, girl.”

  “Never, Lord La Gaul.”

  “Words have made me a fable. Words grind on and on and foster dreams in the heads of youths. That I can’t stop. However, my heat will indeed stop soon. I used to think it a great honor that young men would so willingly throw their lives away if I would but lead them into battle. I once thought it a grand honor that a highborn woman, or even a lady who swept the stables, dropped to their knees or spread their legs for me. After a long time…”

  “It’s an empty bag?”

  Gorias smirked. “No, nothing like that. I’m long past getting too passionate about asinine words. I wish I were young enough to do it all over again.” Kayla laughed and Gorias did as well. “I’m not one for maudlin feelings, young lady. They’re a waste of time, really.”

  They both started to rise up. “I’m not much of a lady, Lord La Gaul.” Grinning, she gave him a mock curtsy.

  Gorias saw the look in her dark eyes. Kayla’s plain features smoldered as her gaze danced over his aged face. Simple words, he thought, could make her love me more or hate me forever. “You’re strong and determined. I find that beautiful in any woman.”

  Kayla’s face flushed pink.

  For a moment, he felt evil…but only for a moment.

  When the two young men returned, she put on a stern face and stepped closer to the nearby grove of trees. Her stance grew unyielding, almost more masculine in the presence of the two youths, he noted.

  “Grandfather?”

  “Words can do more than blades.” Gorias picked up his swords. “What is it?”

  “We can find no one around. What’s your plan for the night?”

  He watched Kayla retrieve a length of rope from her horse. “Well, the bogs of Cielo are just over the ridge. They crest out then give way to what the desert folks call the Slough of Despair, or the less dramatic Canyon of Benedikt.”

  Tammas nodded and scratched his scalp. “I know a song about it.”

 
“Spare us, kid. I ain’t that tired. It’s called that because there is a sheer fall down from a great swampy area. It’s an unlikely feature, an abrupt desert plain so close to the bogs. It was like God cursed the ground and refused to let it prosper. Anyway, once night falls, we shall sneak up and see if those assheads have found anything.”

  Maddox gestured toward the grove. “What’s she doing?”

  “Fishing,” Gorias said.

  Tammas was wringing his hands. “Is the yonder desert the worst one you have ever seen?”

  “There’s one out beyond Jericho, past Kemet, that seems to go on forever,” Gorias said. “That one is the armpit of the gods.”

  Kayla extended her arm and leapt out of sight.

  Maddox armed up his sword. “Aw, man, now what?”

  Gorias walked behind Maddox and Tammas to the edge of the grove. Maddox had stopped his quick movements when he heard a struggle.

  “Got you, rat bastard!”

  However, Kayla didn’t wrestle with vermin but a skinny man. Her rope had lassoed him by the arm. When she leapt on his back, the robust girl easily forced him down. She yanked his ankles up together, completing the hogtie move.

  Tammas trembled, feet shifting, and slapped Maddox on his shoulder. “Help her!”

  The young man hesitated, mainly because he could see what Gorias soon voiced: “She’s doing just fine on her own. It looks like she caught our spy, by Heaven.” When Kayla dragged the tall man out and threw him down into the dim light, Gorias declared, “Or should I say, Michael Galenson?”

  Greasy black hair flew apart and a pale man glared at him. “Huh? How do you know me?”

  “Ya were the bar tender when I killed Shavon, ya punk assed freak. I never forget a face. You’ll pray in Hell that ya can forget mine.”

  Kayla slapped Michael’s face down into the dirt then picked up his skull by the hair. “Who sent you?”

  “Piss off, child.”

  Kayla drove her knees into his back and punched the base of his head. He screamed out and received a mouthful of dirt.

  Gorias said with approval, “Damn, she swings like she means it.”

  Michael’s bleary eyes leered at the men. None made a move to stop Kayla in her actions. They all stood deathly still.

  Kayla rolled Michael on his side and kicked him in the crotch, twice, hard with her pointed boot.

  Screaming, Michael rolled and wailed loud, “Gods! I think she burst my sack! Oh gods!”

  Gorias glared down at him. “They were just occupying space anyway. Better answer her.” He shook two fingers toward Michael’s crotch. “She ain’t mine, and I could care less if she kills you or maims your skinny ass.”

  “I ain’t telling you anything.”

  “I believe him.” Maddox sighed.

  “Me too. I think he needs additional inspiration to talk.”

  “What sort of hero tortures people?” Michael screamed, still writhing.

  Gorias’ long hair shook as he laughed. “I never said I was a hero. Shoulda thought of that before ya started to spy on a professional killer, punk. Ya think because I’m old I’d be easy pickings? I killed my first before you saw the light of day, and I’ll slay more once your miserable self expires.”

  *****

  The night came at last, and the four travelers stared at Michael Galenson, staked out spread eagle on the spent winter/spring turf. Tammas and Maddox held raging torches, while Gorias stood between them.

  Kayla crouched like a cat ready to strike as she whispered near to Michael’s ear, “One of them is coming. They are sneaky pricks just like you.”

  From the ground, he looked between his legs and screamed.

  In the distance lumbered a form. It approached from the direction of the Canyon of Benedikt. To anyone unaware, it was a drunken man stumbling in the night. But the light of the torches showed the face of the stranger, ashen and gray. This stiff limbed leech sported red eyes surrounded by dark circles. Arisen and hungry for blood, it blinked at the four then focused in on Michael.

  “They drink blood until they are full,” Gorias said. “Then they head on down to dark Nosmada so far away. What for is the mystery, but hey, it doesn’t matter why Nosmada has invoked such a spell, huh? You look like a tall cold brew to him now. What say ya talk to us?”

  Michael screamed and wet himself as the leech staggered forward, nearly to Galenson’s feet. “Stop! I will tell you!”

  Maddox was about to move forward with the torch, but Gorias slapped a hand on his shoulder. “I haven’t heard dick yet, son. A name, Michael.”

  The leech went to its knees and placed a cold hand on the stake near Galenson’s left foot. Mouth open, drool dropping from its fangs, the creature prepared to feed.

  “Mitre! Mitre Stillwell!”

  Kayla leapt, throwing a shoulder into the side of the leech. The creature flopped over and she cartwheeled away from it. Tammas prayed as he stepped forward, waving his torch to keep the leech at bay. Indeed, it respected the fire and stopped. It appeared bemused as to what to do next, yet its gaze returned to the helpless one staked out.

  Gorias walked to Michael and knelt. “Why would that damned freak of Syn want to know what I’m doing? What could it interest him? There isn’t great cash to be made from it.”

  Michael hesitated, then looked at the drooling leech and whimpered, “It was he that Robyn De Balm dealt with under the table. They swapped items often and—”

  “Stillwell and the deserts of Dundayin. Damn my slow mind!” Gorias’ head snapped back like a fist hit him.

  Maddox’s stare drilled into the face of his grandfather. “What do you know about that?”

  Gorias eyebrows lowered . “What do you?”

  Shaking all over, Michael squealed. “C’mon, man, let me go!”

  Kayla kicked Michael in the ribs and told him to remain quiet. When she did, a small pouch rolled out of his clothing. Tammas snatched this up and it easily opened. Inside were dark green herbs.

  “He was easily bought, ya see?” Gorias said pointing at the herbs. “Addicts usually are.”

  Maddox ignored this revelation. “I’ve heard the old ogre was an adventurer before becoming overlord of the workers at the foundry.”

  “Foreman sounds better, but go ahead. What else do you know of Stillwell?”

  “Mitre will deal with anyone. He’s a backstabber, but ogres are selfish by nature.”

  “So are humans. Mitre Stillwell killed and took his wealth and that’s why he relaxes now.”

  “But I know he traded soul jewels with De Balm,” Maddox confessed. “They were both snakes and lairs. What fortune is there in that? Is it like an investment?”

  Gorias brooded over this. “Then why didn’t he pursue you when he heard the jewels were stolen from De Balm? If Wyss rises from the grave, he may reveal secrets exposing the ogre as compliant with his old ceremonies.”

  Observing everything the night might throw at them, Kayla said, “Maybe Mitre knows better. That’s why he isn’t worried.”

  Gorias focused on Michael. “Is that it? Why does he want your skinny ass watching me?”

  Michael rambled, “He wants to know what happens to you. I’m just watching. He wants a front row seat for the show. He doesn’t want anything going wrong when the army of Nosmada, led by General Tolin, gets to the Foundry of Syn for their weapons.”

  “Tolin, eh?” Gorias said in a quiet voice, different from the confrontational one he had used. “Yet Mitre doesn’t fear exposure at the rising of Wyss.” Gorias ire rose. “It was Mitre who probably stole the Carlato Wyss soul jewel from those maniacs hiding in the desert of Dundayin, then he substituted it with another. He worked that area years back. I cannot see him trading that article to De Balm, but, damn, of course that is it! He didn’t! The old mutt isn’t worried, for he knows Wyss isn’t in
the soul jewel those fools got from Maddox.”

  “Damn.” Maddox glanced toward the rising land where the bogs lay.

  Tammas spoke up, “I wonder who is in that jewel?”

  “Indeed,” Gorias said, suppressing a yawn. “And I wonder where Wyss is?”

  “Mitre was drunk one night and said he sold the Wyss jewel to the Cult of the Dragon on the edge of Dundayin years ago,” Michael went on to say. “He thought it was a great jest, or at least that’s what he told me. These cultists of Wyss are idiots and want their hero to arise to lead them to a golden age. What they obtained from their remnant in the desert or the Cult of the Dragon isn’t their lord. That’s all I know. Now, let me go like you said!”

  With a laugh, Gorias took the torch from Tammas. “I never said that, ya nark.”

  The leech lowered its head and the teeth bit into the veins in Michael’s calf.

  “Die like all cowards should, groveling in the dirt,” Gorias said, and then told Kayla. “When the leech is done with him, chop his head off and burn his pathetic ass. He isn’t worth me killing him twice.”

  Michael thrashed and screamed as if on fire already. Kayla watched safely by the fires, ready to carry out her orders.

  “Can she handle it?” Maddox asked Gorias, an eyebrow raised to emphasize his doubt.

  The old man gazed at the edge of the bogs. “I told her to, didn’t I? We need to get over there. I have a terrible idea about all of this, son.”

  Tammas trembled as he went to the other side of the camp by the fires. He held his hands on his ears. “How long can he scream?”

  “As long as it hurts.”

  Gorias eyed the moon imparting light over the shroud of smothering vegetation. Distantly, he could hear the bellow over Dundayin. He knew what it was. He had a bad idea of who it was as well.

  CHAPTER VII

  Helter Skelter

  *

  When Lannon heard the voice of his master cry out in distress, he left his assigned position with haste. Though it was forbidden to follow Lord Nosmada down the southern most hallways in the fortress of Kanoch, Lannon discarded his orders. The cry sounded as one of weakness, not an emotion usually assigned to his mysterious Lord. The sound of Lannon’s leather boots on the stone floor echoed and squished, for the dampness of these caverns grew more tepid and dank the deeper one traveled.