by Robe
“These people,” a voice said from the other side of the table, “they are your rescuers?” The speaker was an old woman. In fact, she was by far the oldest person any of them had ever set eyes on.
The man nodded. “Had they not arrived when they did…”
“You are safe,” the ancient woman said. “Do not worry on that now.” To the heroes’ greater surprise, she stood and walked over to them without so much as a hint of sore joints or tired bones. A Martin, she wore purple and silver robes with several necklaces draped around her wrinkly throat. Her voice was strong, not at all fitting of her age, although nothing other than her appearance seemed old.
A man and a woman rushed to Kandon and relieved him of Marima, gently taking her away to be cared for. The old woman gestured for the group to follow her to a different part of the room where comfortable-looking chairs and benches surrounded a large fireplace. She sat, and the companions sat as well. The man they had rescued joined them in addition to another, younger woman who continued to dab at and bandage his wounds.
“I am Ysseri, great elder to the people of Oluld,” she spoke. “I am no royalty or leader, and I have no authority over the Martins. I remain simply for the purpose of confering advice to my people. The man you saved is named Emule, and have you not yet learned it, he is like you. This is why he was abducted, forced to use his abilities to fulfill the wishes of his captor. Marima suffered the same, although the extent of her story you know more of than I. You put your own lives at risk for the purpose of saving two strangers. There is no greater honor than that.”
Auric spoke, “We were not seeking to save Emule and Marima, but to slay the villain who captured them. When we found that he had already attacked innocents, it was our first priority to remove them from danger.” As he talked, the woman who was tending to Emule moved to him and began cleaning his fresh injuries.
“So you know more of this man than I do?” Ysseri asked.
“How much do you know of him?” Auric questioned.
“We know only that he appeared last night to steal Emule and Marima, and that he too is a host to many strange powers.”
“Then we know a great deal more than you,” Auric said, and he began to fill Ysseri and Emule in. As he talked, the young Martin woman moved from Auric to Dalk and continued to rotate around the room, tending to each of their wounds and ensuring that none of them were badly hurt. Auric began by telling of how Argain had been freed, how Veese and his family had watched over the tomb for many years. It was difficult for Auric to describe the way his allies had slowly begun to discover they could do things that previously seemed outside the realm of possibility, but Ysseri didn’t seem to doubt his words, only blinking and nodding as he spoke.
Soon, Auric was recounting how they had witnessed Argain murdering innocents and eventually engaged in combat with him where he demonstrated much of the capacity of his powers. He spoke of the havoc the Evil God had caused in Rathelstat, and how Argain had corrupted Balanch, instilling him with powers and bending the young man to his will. Auric hesitated before he mentioned Hazzul, unsure if the mysterious man would want his presence revealed to such an important member of the Martin community. He decided to leave Hazzul out and instead skimmed over how they located Argain’s lair.
“So then,” Ysseri said once Auric had finished, “you are the Spiderhunters.” The heroes looked at each other in confusion, and Ysseri clarified, “You chase he who drains the life from others, he who spins webs of power to capture innocents. You are the Spiderhunters. The being you seek is powerful, and you seem to think he is also in command of the black raiders that attacked Oluld early this morning. It is important to keep your allies close and to surround yourselves with them. Rest today. He will not be waiting for you anywhere you can think to find him. You are welcome to use any of the facilities of this Long House. You will stay here as long as you like and rest in the dormitories at the back of the building. Allow me to talk with my allies, and tomorrow, I will have more information to give you.”
Having finished caring for the wounds of the heroes, the young Martin girl rose. “Please, follow me. I will show you to the quarters you will be welcome to.”
Auric looked at his friends, and they nodded. “There are two more members of our group,” Auric said to Ysseri. “Will they be welcome also?”
“Of course,” Ysseri said, and Veese left to fetch Ziem and Thraun.
-
“What do you have to say for yourself?”
“That there isn’t enough to go around?”
“I heard you were carrying strange women around.”
“I heard you were carrying strange men around.”
Joan smiled and fell into Kandon’s arms. “I’ve never been so tired.”
Once Ysseri’s maiden introduced them to the guest dormitories, Joan and Kandon had quickly chosen quarters together. It was a smaller room compared to the others, with just one window and one large bed. Although it was only late afternoon, Joan had left the curtains pulled to keep out unwanted light.
Kandon fell backwards onto the bed, making Joan yelp as he took her with him. “I could fall asleep right here.”
“Do you think it’s right for us to be resting?” Joan asked, nestling in beside Kandon.
“If we went after Argain in this shape, we would not look good afterwards,” Kandon replied.
“But he’s wounded. Shouldn’t we be exploiting such a vulnerability?”
“To be honest, I’m not certain I didn’t kill the spider.”
Joan turned her head to look at Kandon just beside her. “So you accept the name Ysseri has bestowed upon us?”
“I think it’s as good as any,” Kandon said, “and it has a nice ring to it. Spiderhunters. I can see epic songs being written about us, and statues being erected from the ground.”
“Don’t tease,” Joan said smiling at him. “We’re not after Argain for fame.”
“Aren’t we? You might not be,” Kandon said grinning back at her. “Although for now, all I care about is a good rest.”
“Then let’s have a good rest.”
“Hanging in, I take it?” Reon asked, stoking the fireplace in the common room. It was a large enclosure, the ceiling as high as that of the main hall, giving the room a very open atmosphere.
“Better than I thought I could,” Ziem said, sitting on a bench behind Reon. “Of course, Thraun’s been by my side since. Are you well?”
Reon chuckled. “Quite! Hadn’t gotten to use my fire in a long time. Today, I got my fill. I tell you, next time I get my hands on Argain, we’ll have a bonfire!”
“Not getting bloodthirsty, are we?” Dalk asked as he entered the common room, buttoning his shirt. He sat down beside Ziem.
“I was only joking around,” Reon said.
“Well, be careful what you say and wish for. These are not lighthearted times,” Dalk said.
“You discourage lightheartedness?” Reon asked teasingly.
“I discourage foolishness,” Dalk replied. “Do you not agree?”
“I think life is far too short to be spent avoiding foolishness,” Reon said, and he plopped down at a table near the corner of the room. “Who’s up for a round of Chakzat?”
“I’ll join,” Auric said as he walked in. He turned and called back into the room he came from. “How about you, Veese, Thraun, up for a game?”
“I’ll play,” Thraun said and followed Auric to the table.
Veese appeared at the doorway and eyed the cards Reon was spreading out across the table as if they were a group of murderers before muttering, “I’ll watch.”
Ziem and Dalk rose to join the other men at the table. Ziem had a bit of trouble getting accustomed to playing the game with one hand, but once he was used to the feel, he dominated his opponents with ease. Not until the common room grew dark and the fireplace was the only source of light did Veese bid the others goodnight and head back into his quarters. He was followed shortly by Thraun and then Reon. The c
ards were put away, and a bottle of alcohol was opened.
“This journey has taken us far,” Dalk said, “but how much farther will it take us?”
“We have already traveled three of the four nations of the New World,” Auric said. “I’m not sure it could take us much farther.”
“I keep asking myself if we’re going in circles.” Dalk said. “Are we getting any closer to stopping Argain? Look at how many times we’ve had the snake cornered, and he always manages to get away. The villain took a bolt to the lung and seemed largely unaffected.”
“Do not despair, Dalk,” Auric said. “If we stand strong, we will not fail.”
“I don’t see how you can be so certain, but I do not doubt your judgment,” Dalk said, and he finished his glassful of wine. “It is late, and I think I’ve had enough excitement for one night. Goodnight, Ziem. Goodnight, Auric.”
Auric and Ziem both nodded to Dalk, and he stalked off to bed.
-
Reon woke late the next morning and sighed, enjoying so much being able to sleep as long as he liked. He found his friends in a dining area some way off the common room and sat beside Joan. She and Kandon were flirting as usual, but he didn’t mind. To his surprise, Emule was sitting across from him, reading a leaflet that had come from Rathelstat earlier that morning.
“How bad was it in Abelenst?” Emule asked Dalk, who was sitting beside him. The recently-freed prisoner of the Evil God didn’t look like he was well enough to be out of bed, but his eyes were bright as he read and looked at the people around him.
“There were a few incidents, mostly involving Argain’s lackey causing trouble.” Dalk responded. “Why?”
“Several people were found dead inside their homes earlier this week,” Emule said.
The table went quiet, both in honor of those who had fallen, and in anger or concern over their lack of knowledge about just how much Argain had done in Abelenst. It was several moments before Auric spoke, “We must not despair. We are closer than ever to stopping Argain. Today, I will seek out Hazzul, and we will try again.”
Reon ate his breakfast quietly, his mind busy bolstering himself for the upcoming confrontation.
“Great elder Ysseri wishes to speak with you,” a voice said behind them, and Reon turned to see the young Martin girl who had tended to their wounds the previous day.
Auric rose, and his companions followed as the maiden led them into the main hall of the Long House. Ysseri was standing around a table with a Martin man wearing fine clothes, and an armor-clad Martin with a gruff look about her.
“I assume you are well-rested?” Ysseri spoke.
“Thanks to you, we rested easily. You have our gratitude,” Auric said.
Ysseri nodded. “This is my distant nephew, Morris,” she said, indicating the man.
Morris smiled at the large group of heroes as they gathered around the table. “My great aunt speaks highly of you, and of your feats,” Morris looked different from most of the other Martins they had seen since arriving in Oluld. His hair was long, and strands of it were braided together. He was not particularly muscular and didn’t exude an aura of sheer strength as the other Martins did. Regardless, he was still quite confident-looking and smiled down his nose at the heroes.
“And to my right is Zanesh,” Ysseri continued, “the closest to commander of Oluld’s forces, if there were one.”
Zanesh nodded her head shortly. “I must express my opposition to your including these strangers in our plans of action,” she said sharply to Ysseri. “It is rash to trust so quickly, should even one of them be a spy or traitor. They hardly look fit to serve a Harou chieftain.” Zanesh’s brash words suited her hardy appearance. Scars ran the length of her face and her bare, muscular arms, and on her face sat a crooked, pointed nose. She had shorter hair than the other Martin women. Not only her words were rough; her gaze, too, was condemning, and only Dalk managed to hold eye contact with her.
“I will not stand idly and have my comrades slandered,” Auric said. “I have watched every one of them risk their lives repeatedly for strangers who could not protect themselves.”
“The integrity of this group has been more than proven, Zanesh,” Ysseri said. “That is not the issue here.”
Zanesh snorted and glared at Auric.
“I have summoned you, Spiderhunters, to inform you that our scouts have discovered the location of the black raider camp. They are in the Sullen Lands, west from here,” Ysseri said. “I know you may be thinking of rushing to pursue your target again, but I must advise against this. The raiders are close to our village, closer than comfortable to all. Should you find the one you seek, he will call upon all of his servants if he fears you will win.”
“What do you suggest?” Auric asked.
“Patience,” Ysseri said. “Let Zanesh lead a force to combat these raiders away, and then you can do your job properly.”
“But if Argain manages to sneak into Oluld…” Auric began.
“We already have that under control,” Morris, Ysseri’s nephew spoke. “The people of Oluld are well aware of this being and his murderous disposition. They will not be caught with their guard down. I am well connected within Martin. If this being so much as appears in a public area, he will be apprehended.”
Auric looked shocked, not expecting anywhere near the amount of support being given to them. “Marvelous,” he muttered.
“I only ask,” Ysseri said, “that you wait for Zanesh to move before you do. Your group is the best chance we have.”
Suddenly, the doors to the Long House flew open, and a Martin man rushed inside. He was well out of breath and gasped through pants as he spoke, “Zanesh, Ysseri! They, they took one down. The scouts took one down.”
Zanesh grabbed the man’s shoulder to steady him. “Calm yourself, Neno, and speak clearly.”
“Our scouts caught one of the raiders astray and pulled it off of its horse before it knew what was coming,” Neno spoke. “They’re not people. They’re not living at all. They’re just armor! Just moving armor!”
-
“It seems very like Argain,” Joan said, sitting on a bench next to Kandon in the common room. “He certainly enjoys letting his servants do battle for him. Remember the hand, and the snake?”
Auric had gone out to search for Hazzul, and Veese had left to go for a walk. The gruff battle master, Zanesh, went to gather the people of Oluld to retaliate against the black raiders. It was a cloudy day, uncharacteristic for Martin according to the local citizens, and the party couldn’t help but feel the darkness was foreboding.
“What are we to do if Hazzul has left us?” Kandon asked. “We can’t very well find where Argain’s hiding without him.”
“We will find the Evil God,” Dalk said. “He has a way of drawing attention to himself.”
“I fear for the innocents that don’t see Argain coming,” Thraun said. “Hopefully with Ysseri having warned the gifted ones of Argain’s presence, a life or two will be saved.”
“How is your arm?” Dalk asked Ziem. “You look like you’re in less pain.”
“I am,” Ziem said.
“Do you ever miss being in the forest?” Reon asked suddenly. “I know we were desperate and all, but-”
“We’re still desperate,” Joan cut him off. “Just because we have a few allies now doesn’t mean we’re not desperate.”
“I miss the forest,” Dalk answered Reon’s question. “Something about having what you’ve got to survive. It makes the soul strong.”
“The game you catch yourself is the game that tastes best is what I always say,” Kandon said, laughing.
“You’re all loons,” Joan said, shaking her head, although she couldn’t deny part of her agreed.
A sudden cry from just outside the window made the heroes leap to their feet and rush to see what the problem was.
“Unbelievable,” Dalk said as he watched several black raiders ride past, sending civilians running. He dashed through the common roo
m doors followed by the rest of the party, Kandon stopping only long enough to grab his crossbow. “Stay here!” Dalk commanded Ziem.
“But I can help-” the boy started.
“Stay here!” Dalk repeated, and then he was out of the Long House doors and into the battle.
There were significantly more raiders this time, and Dalk spotted Zanesh as she drew her sword and swung it at the nearest one. Like last time, each of the black knights was mounted. Several nearby raiders targeted Zanesh as she fought furiously against the attackers. Soon, three or four brigands were circling her, taking turns swinging their sharp or blunt weapons to overwhelm the experienced warrior. She would wear down quickly or lose her life if she remained so heavily outnumbered.
Dalk sprang into action, pulling his sword from its sheath at his side. When he saw an opening, he jumped past one of the mounted knights and pressed his back against Zanesh’s, countering the blows that would otherwise have forced her to turn.
“We won’t last long like this!” she shouted to him and then yelled as she swung at one of the raiders, which easily deflected her blow from atop its mount. “We need to break through. They’re not going to let up.”
Dalk raised his hand and released a blast of cold at one of the incoming raiders. The thug’s horse reared up in surprised, and Dalk dashed past, Zanesh close behind. A moment later, he felt two hands pull him backwards, and the spear of a passing raider narrowly missed him.
“Thanks,” Dalk said, and Zanesh nodded.
“Cover me. I’m going up that ladder to get a view of what’s happening,” she said, and Dalk turned to ward off their attackers. Soon, one of the knights spotted Zanesh, vulnerable as she scrambled up the ladder, and its steed turned toward them and began to charge.
Centering himself, Dalk prepared for the collision. He dove sideways just in time to avoid the stomping feet of the horse and swung his sword upward to catch the black raider from behind. His sword tore through the gap in its armored body, but it turned its horse with impossible control over the beast. The knight’s blow came sooner than Dalk expected, and the sheer surprise knocked him to the ground. He rolled frantically as the hooves of the horse stamped down toward him, as if the beast was intentionally trying to attack him.