Escana

by J. R. Karlsson

  We need to flee.

  Why? Re'tak asked, surely now that he was here they could take this solitary pale-skin. None of the others appeared to be making a move in his defence now that Re'tak had appeared. They were all waiting in expectation, it was tangible and washed over him unprompted.

  The pale-skin is no ordinary creature, do not fight him.

  He hurt you, I must avenge you.

  Re'tak, no, please listen.

  Re'tak was done listening, he wasn't so fool-hardy as to not believe his friend, there must be something extraordinary about this pale-skin if he were to best Hern with ease. Re'tak had listened eagerly to Hern's recalling of his past life and from what he could gather the man had been formidable by his people's standards.

  The pale-skin seemed unassuming, it stood there watching Re'tak passively but Re'tak was not fooled. He had made the mistake of misjudging these... humans before and it had cost him his freedom, what if the very piece of wood the man was carrying had the same as the weapon that incapacitated him? They looked completely different in his memory but he was wary of it all the same.

  His opponent held up his hand and Re'tak's initial approach slowed, he was wise to this kind of manipulation and shut his mind off entirely. It had taken him days to understand Hern's mind enough to send a message, this pale-skin had seconds.

  Feigning subservience to the human and his power, Re'tak slowed and mimicked a struggle forward, when he came within rushing distance the human put up a second hand and he stopped altogether.

  Seeing that his opponent was off-guard, Re'tak rushed forward with all the speed he could muster and leapt at the human with his front claws extended.

  He heard a faint intake of breath and a humming noise in his ears, the world went white as the extended arms shot upward to meet him.

  Hern blinked the sand out of his bleary eyes, just in time to catch Re'tak approaching the stranger. The grace and power of the stranger's movements belied any understanding. Long had his people studied the art of fighting and undertaken many endeavours to increase the speed and power of their assassins should they face open combat which they invariably did. The stranger would make the greatest of masters seem like a child, or so Hern had felt as he had fought the man.

  Was he really that weakened by his ordeals that a fresh and clearly experienced warrior seemed akin to a fighting deity? No, while his body may have surrendered to the relentless march of exhaustion, his mind had been clear during the fight. Even if he had been in possession of his full reserves there had been no opportunity to withstand the assault.

  He watched powerlessly as Re'tak drew closer to the stranger, who had positioned himself well clear of the blast radius of the doors and had returned to his previous spot. Standing in the centre of the arena floor as if nothing had happened, he faced off against this new challenge.

  Hern found his feet once more, the sand seeming to shift with each treacherous step, nevertheless he grew inexorably closer to the conflict. He wasn't going to make it to the centre of the arena in time to do anything, in fact he hadn't given any thought as to whether he could do anything. He just knew that his friend couldn't fight this foe unaided and he was the only one who could lend assistance.

  Mercifully Re'tak had decided to come to a halt, perhaps he had sensed the power of the stranger and thought better of attacking him now. Hern knew he wasn't thinking clearly, fatigue and concussion had robbed him of his wits and everything seemed entirely straightforward when before it was complex in the extremity. Instead he focused on placing one foot in front of the next and guiding himself toward the conflict, keeping his eyes on the lizard at all times and waiting for a move.

  It didn't take Re'tak long to make up his mind, Hern watched the lizard's rear legs tense and bunch in preparation for a leap at the man. Although wary of the man's power, Hern had witnessed the speed and agility of a giant lizard through the eyes of his dreams.

  When Re'tak leapt, it wasn't high in the air like Hern was expecting. It was more of a low lunge, propelled forward with claws out and death in mind. As his friend crashed forward, he stopped again. Was it a feint? Had he been trying to break the nerve of this hereto implacable enemy?

  It was the crowd's reaction that gave him an answer, he had grown accustomed to their screaming and shouting after Re'tak had broken free of his confines, even if he could no longer tune it out. Everyone standing beyond the arena wall knew they were safe from this monster, things were very different when they knew someone else wasn't. Even C-Company had heard rumours of the beast that dwells in the depths of the arena, devouring those that displease Dyson. While nobody living aside from possibly Dyson and Yalem had seen this beast, everyone had been subjected to the sounds of the men it tore to pieces. There was a horrified fascination and something utterly primal about this encounter, the stranger was undoubtedly a member of A-Company and from what Hern had heard they looked after their own. Nobody would wish harm upon him but then again they did want to see what happened to a real fighter when put up against a creature like this.

  The crowd had gone completely still now, it was that strange silence that was still audible because of the laboured breaths of those in attendance. A wave of bewilderment hit Hern, the crowd had a far better view of what was going on than he did, his view of the stranger was completely obscured by Re'tak. What had happened? Why was Re'tak's body expanding to obscure the field of view?

  Hern had a split second as comprehension dawned on him and he dove to the side with all the energy he could will forth. Re'tak's body flew past him and crashed into the Arena wall with a resounding thud.

  Hern knew that a lizard's hide was tougher than the rock faces of the very canyons they inhabited, it seemed that the arena wall had come off worse in that collision.

  The crowd erupted in cheers, as if collectively coming to terms with what they had just witnessed. Hern crawled his way over to Re'tak while the full attention was on the triumph of the stranger.

  Are you alive?

  Re'tak righted himself, shaking his head from side to side, Hern couldn't blame him for his grogginess.

  I am unhurt, merely dazed. You were right about your opponent, we should flee while their attentions are diverted.

  Flee? To where exactly? The concept itself was largely alien to Hern, though these circumstances may have merited it more than any other he had encountered.

  The door of our former prison is propped against the wall of the arena. Stay very still and trust me.

  If it was one thing Hern was exceptional at it was staying very still, even in such a battered state. He immediately played dead and hoped the crowd would assume him unconscious.

  Re'tak opened his jaws.

  Trust me.

  88

  Jimmy

  Jimmy blinked numbly at the carnage he had just witnessed. The lizard had to be twice as large as the one they had encountered in the desert yet The Hermit had grabbed its front legs as it pounced and held it in place. He couldn't tell exactly what had happened at this distance but the next thing he saw it was being hurled into the wall.

  The last few moments had been ones of elation, the sheer power and majesty of The Hermit's every move sent a thrill through him unlike anything he had ever felt before. That it came at the expense of the very villain who had pressed him up against the door of C-Company's room made it all the sweeter.

  Now the cloaked enigma stood in the centre of the ring as if nothing had happened, staring at the destruction he had caused but betraying no visible reaction. Tub appeared out of hiding and crossed the arena reluctantly and raised The Hermit's hand.

  Jimmy cheered, then cut short with his celebrations when he realised he was the only one doing so, everyone else was staring fearfully at his idol. The whole crowd appeared to be in a state of either shock or incomprehension over what had just occurred.

  'It would appear that your immediate placing in A-Company was good judgement on the part of the guard that brought you here,' Dyson said, re
fusing to show any intimidation at the display of unmitigated power. 'It's a shame you are mute, or I would ask you your name.'

  Jimmy spotted Tub retreating as Dyson spoke, clearly uncomfortable at being on the arena floor with the lizard. Or was it The Hermit that he was frightened by? No, he was definitely looking past The Hermit at the lizard, his legs were starting to break into a run too. Why was he openly displaying fear in front almost the entire population of the fort?

  The lizard leapt up to its feet, somehow it had crept over to the foreigner and clamped its jaws around him without anyone noticing. Jimmy held no love for the intimidating man but he wouldn't wish this barbarity upon him.

  Tensing its hind legs once more, the lizard vaulted onto the remnants of the door propped up against the arena wall. Surely it wasn't thinking of escape?

  A second massive leap sent it crashing into the stands, sending spectators screaming and running in both directions to avoid the lashings of its tail. Dyson could just be heard over the uproar calling for the guards to subdue it.

  Jimmy froze in panic, finding himself completely unable to do anything. Mercifully the lizard was at the far end of the arena, it launched itself and vanished from view.

  After the action had died down, C-Company were given their marching orders and Jimmy trudged back to the small room with a strange mixture of relief and regret. He had caught glimpses of Jakob on the other side of the arena, though his eyes had mostly been on The Hermit. Now that he knew that both were alive and well and living inside these very walls, returning with C-Company felt even lonelier in its isolation. At least he wouldn't have to deal with the foreigner any more, he shuddered at the thought of the lizard devouring him in the dunes.

  He settled down into his corner of the room, C-Company didn't seem as territorial as those in the cage and there was no challenge with regards to personal space. Then again none of them seemed capable of putting up much of a fight even with the conspicuous absence of the overbearing foreigner. He had never even known the man's name, now he was dead. The worries he had harboured over having to spend the night at the man's mercy vanished, though the image of the lizard leaping away with his body in its jaws stayed with him. He felt like he wouldn't sleep again.

  The door opened once again and a bearded man filled the frame, staring down at the remnants of C-Company as if he'd trod on something disgusting. In response they refused to look at him out of fear, one that seemed well practised as if from experience. Jimmy's heart started pumping faster when he realised that the man was staring right at him.

  'You,' he said, not bothering to point and assuming his stares were enough. 'With me.'

  On that the man turned and marched out of the doorway, not waiting to see if Jimmy was planning on following him or not. Apparently that was a foregone conclusion and one that Jimmy wasn't going to contest. The door slammed shut and was locked again, there was no wariness about this man. He seemed to believe that Jimmy was no threat whatsoever, another absolutely correct assumption.

  Jimmy cursed himself, what would the likes of Jakob or The Hermit or Gadtor or even Thom have done in this situation? They'd have disarmed the guard, freed C-Company and somehow led a revolution before escaping into the desert. He kept that image in mind as he bitterly reprimanded his own weakness, he knew so many powerful and accomplished men and compared to them he was nothing. He couldn't imagine what they must think of him in turn, a snivelling and irritating youth that they must tow around under some moral obligation.

  So wrapped up was he in his new-found self-loathing that Jimmy had completely forgotten fear, it was as if his anger and frustration had driven it away for now. The guard escorting him made no attempt at conversation and that only encouraged his self-recrimination further.

  They wound their way through a maze of corridors that all seemed the same and eventually stopped outside a door that looked just like any other.

  The guard gave it a distinctive knock, clearly a code of some sort and the resulting muffled voice inside bid them enter.

  The expensive-looking rug laid out on the floor as he entered indicated that this could only be one person. Corporal Dyson was sat at a large desk filled with stacks of paper. Jimmy had never seen so much paper in one place before. Why would the man need it out here in the desert?

  'A source has informed me that you are the acquaintance of the two newest members in A-Company.'

  The man had to be talking about The Hermit and Jakob. Jimmy frowned, he thought Jakob was in B-Company. He found it hard to believe that promotion was that fast, what did he do to earn it?

  'Respond any slower and I'll cut your balls off with a carving knife.'

  Jimmy gulped, very much in the here and now. This man didn't ask questions, he made statements and demanded responses to them.

  'Yes sir, I know the two members you speak of.'

  Dyson formed a steeple with his fingers. 'Very well. Now that we have established this, inform me how it is that your cloaked friend bested the lizard in the arena today.'

  The fear was back, Jimmy had to think fast now or face the consequences. Dyson didn't look like a man who made idle threats.

  'I haven't known The Hermit long enough to determine where his prowess in combat comes from.'

  Dyson looked over Jimmy's shoulder. 'Is he full of shit, Yalem?'

  Silence. Jimmy dared not look back.

  'Very well then. Tell me how you met him instead.'

  The piercing gaze settled upon Jimmy as he detailed the last few weeks of his acquaintance with The Hermit. Dyson's eyebrows raised at the mention of the Black Quail's goals, though he seemed to have little recognition for the name of Kelgrimm or any other officials he mentioned in his tale. Jimmy could only assume that this man hadn't visited the Urian peninsula. It was a painful reminder of just how far away he was from the simple life he had led in Escana.

  'I can't picture you being much use in a rebellion if you're in C-Company,' the Corporal said after a time, clearly musing over every morsel of information that had just been provided. 'I also don't understand why a combatant of his ability would waste his time with guerilla warfare. If a giant lizard could not subdue him and the journey here left him unharmed then the Urian guard wouldn't stand a chance. This poses more questions than answers, I don't like unanswered questions.'

  Jimmy flinched at the rising irritation in the man's voice, there was no doubting who he would take his anger out on should he be pushed too far.

  'Tell me everything you know about your second companion.'

  For the second time in the conversation, Jimmy felt painfully aware of the man's discerning gaze as he detailed everything he knew about Jakob, including his murder of Solomon. If Dyson was to consult with Yalem and found he had lied or hidden anything from him now he knew it would end badly.

  Dyson stared at him for a long time after he finished detailing their journey in the cage together and lapsed into silence. Jimmy kept wondering if he had omitted any important detail, going over and over what he had said in his mind and looking for any possible missing recollection that would stop this man from killing him where he stood.

  'Your words are honest, I do not kill honest men in cold blood. Your companions must care about you deeply to have let you survive this long.'

  Jimmy felt a knife touch the back of his neck, he didn't dare to move.

  'You are now my property and my insurance. You will go where I go and your friends will see that I am entirely in control of your well-being. Should they cause me any inconvenience your life will be forfeit.'

  Jimmy didn't dare to nod.

  'You will now be taken to A-Company's rooms and explain what I have just told you to both your companions. After this you will return with Yalem to my quarters and remain there for the duration of your stay.'

  Dyson busied himself with the papers once again, apparently their discussion was concluded. Yalem removed the knife from Jimmy's neck and escorted him out the door toward A-Company.

  Jimmy di
dn't need the cold kiss of steel to be reminded that his death was drawing closer with each passing moment he remained trapped here.

  89

  Thom

  The box was one of the more unpleasant moments of his life thus far. Since being crammed into a prison with no room for one let alone two people to survive in his disposition had soured. He was growing increasingly frustrated as they got closer to their demise, and as the sweltering heat cooked them he was finding it much harder to tolerate Gadtor. The last thing he needed in this box was a corpse for company.

  His companion had mercifully lapsed into silence since his fruitless inquisitions about Thom's past. Murder would have played on his mind much more had the probing continued.

  He could tell they were growing closer to Sah'kel with each brief exit from the box, the green had given way to brown and then the sucking pull of a warp gate had them meet a wall of heat. They had been in the desert for three days now by his reckoning and conditions were rapidly deteriorating.

  Occasionally they would catch snippets of noise coming from the attached caravan. This only happened when the occupants were pressed up close to the far wall, which had been seldom up until now. Every night they could hear the sounds of sobbing from a volunteer who was clearly coming to terms with the reality that he'd been duped.

  Thom had no sympathy for him, anyone stupid enough to buy the illusions of war that the recruiters span out deserved to have them dispelled by the desert. War was blood and fear and a lot of waiting, nothing glamorous about it.

  They ground to another halt shortly before sundown, though Thom didn't see much use for their piss break other than to stretch their legs. He was parched and water was seemingly in short supply on the caravan, being in the box meant they'd get the dregs of whatever was being shared around since arriving in the desert.

  When they finally deigned to let him out of the box, he was greeted with the bustle and activity of a great mass of human flesh. They had arrived then.