The Dark Path

by James M. Bowers

  "You have said that you do not wish to talk about your travels, but tell me one thing. Is it true that you were in the Artorian war?" The elf turned to Gen, his eyes twinkling.

  "Yes." Gen did not look back at his former master.

  "Oh what I would give to have seen that! I've heard the stories, but perhaps later you could tell me what really happened there."

  "Perhaps." Gen's expression was grim.

  "Ah! Here we are." The elf turned to look before him. "I had seen the sketches but this is better than what I thought it would be."

  "This is new," Gen said as he looked up. The old gardens had been one small greenhouse when he had left. Now it was a huge garden. A wall of hedges over twice Gen's height surrounded the place. He could see the tops of a large greenhouse inside the walls. There was a gap in the hedges and an ornate iron gate lay open, welcoming all who would enter. Gen walked in and was taken aback by the beauty of the place. It was well tended. Rows of plants were spaced in a manner that was pleasing to the eye. Large topiaries were placed throughout the place. Some of them were done after the masters of the Schola, others were done in the images of various gods and goddesses. In the center of it all, lay a huge greenhouse. It was beautifully designed. Gen could see that many years of work had gone into its construction. Gen walked to the greenhouse and opened one of the stained glass doors. A warm breeze washed over him as he walked into the building. The greenhouse was breathtaking. It stood over two stories tall. All kinds of plants were contained within it. Gen recognized some herbs as well as some exotic flowers that he had seen grow only in Nipangu. There were many other plants as well. All looked healthy and well taken care of. Gen heard a noise and looked up to a balcony on his right. A man walked to the edge of the balcony, set down his trowel, and looked down at Gen and the Master librarian.

  "I'll be down in a moment," he called down.

  "Who is that?" Gen asked the librarian with a whisper.

  "His name is Marcus, I believe. It was he who helped Thomas to build all this. He came here a few months after you left. If you'll excuse me for a bit. I wish to walk the garden grounds alone."

  "I will come to you tomorrow. There are things I wish to discuss with you," Gen said. The elf bowed low then walked back out of the greenhouse. As the door closed behind him, Marcus came down the stairs. He was a few inches taller than Gen and had skin that was tanned a deep bronze from many hours in the sun. He had short black hair that curled tightly about his head. His eyes were a soft brown color and were open to his soul. This man had no secrets to hide. His robes were stained with dirt and were dyed a deep green with a copper trim. He walked calmly up to Gen and held out his hand in greeting.

  "It's a pleasure to meet you, Marcus," Gen said in Hellanic as he shook Marcus' hand.

  "I'm afraid I do not know you, Sir. Are you new here?" Marcus replied in the same language as he dropped his hand back down to his side.

  "I'm an old friend of Thomas'. This place is beautiful. I had no idea Thomas was so talented."

  "He designed all this. I only helped him build it," Marcus said, with a faint flush to his cheeks. "A friend of Thomas you say? I thought I had met all his friends. What is your name? If you would be so kind, Sir?"

  "Gen Hothman, at your service," Gen said with a slight bow.

  "It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Marcus. I have no family name as I was orphaned at a very young age. Would you care for a tour of the place? I would bring Thomas here to see you, but I'm afraid he's been gone for a few days. We are all beginning to worry about him."

  "I brought Thomas back. He's at the healer's right now recovering from his wounds."

  "By the Gods of good! I didn't hear he was back. Please, excuse me. I must go to him." Marcus raced out of the greenhouse without waiting for a reply from Gen.

  "Nice to know he has friends that care for him," Gen said under his breath. He sighed and took a tour of the greenhouse on his own. When he had walked around the lower level, he left the building and walked back to the healer's.

  When he arrived, he opened the door quietly. Thomas was awake and propped up on a few pillows. He smiled when he saw Gen enter. Marcus sat on his right and held Thomas' scarred hand in his own. A look of deep concern on his face.

  "Feeling any better?"

  "Yes. I should be back to normal in a few days. Marcus tells me that you saw the gardens. What do you think of them?" Thomas' voice held new strength. The healer must know her art well.

  "The gardens are beautiful, Thomas. I had no idea you were that talented," Gen said with a smile. He pulled a chair over to the left of his bed and sat down. "You two seem close. When did you meet?" At Gen's question Thomas blushed a bit.

  "Marcus came to the Schola a few months after you left. I was still full of sorrow at losing you and...." Thomas looked down for a while as he regained his composure. "He understood my pain and stayed with me. He's been by my side ever since." He blushed again.

  "Thomas told me what you did for him. I am in your debt for bringing him back to me," Marcus said. His eyes held tears in them but also a look of deep love when he looked at Thomas.

  "I'm glad you have found someone, Thomas. You don't need to thank me, Marcus. You have taken care of my close friend here while I was gone. Soon I must go away again. Please continue to keep him safe." At this Thomas looked from Marcus to Gen, a look of surprise on his face.

  "You just got back! Why must you leave again?" His voice was pained and tears came anew to his eyes.

  "I told you. I came to bring her back. I've talked to The Headmaster. He has broken his promise to me and let Aaron take her body. I leave in two days to get her back." Gen's voice held a tone of conviction that said his mind would not be changed.

  "Wait only till I heal. I will go with you!" Thomas pleaded.

  "No!" Gen exclaimed. "You will stay here and take care of the students. You would only get in my way if you came." Gen could see that his words hurt Thomas but he didn't want to put him in any more danger. Thomas looked down and was silent for a while.

  "I understand, Gen. I just..." Tears came to his eyes once more. "I just don't want to lose you again! It tore me apart when you left! If Marcus hadn't come, I...I don't know what would've happened to me." Tears fell down his cheeks and he looked up at Gen.

  "If you had come with me, you would be dead now," Gen stated in a cold, quiet tone.

  "You don't know that! I could have helped! You know how much I wanted to go with you when you left!"

  "You would not have survived," Gen stated again. "Look at me, Thomas." Gen stood up and pulled his arms out of his sleeves. He slid his shoulders out of the top of his robe and folded it down around his waist. Thomas gasped at the sight of his friend's chest. Gen's chest was so very thin. He had muscle yes, but all his ribs were visible. His skin was a road map of pain across his chest and arms. Scars covered it, some small from cuts, others large from something worse. Several arcane symbols had been carved into his chest and arms as well. He turned around and showed Thomas his back that was covered with the lash lines. Then he pulled his robes back on, and turned back around. "Do you see? I can't tell you what I've seen with these tired eyes of mine. I cannot tell you what atrocities these hands of mine have done. Just please understand when I tell you. You would have been killed or worse." Gen looked down at Thomas. Thomas had tears running down his cheeks.

  "Who did this to you? By the gods, Gen!"

  "Does it matter? It was done. I lived somehow. I was thrust into the fire and pounded and tempered. I had no choice save to grow stronger or die. I chose to live. I HAD TO LIVE! She was waiting for me, Thomas. Don't you see? She still waits, and now I can finally bring her back, only that filth of a man named Aaron took her from me. I should have killed him the day I came to this school." Gen glanced over at Marcus. Marcus had tears running down his cheeks as well. "What are you crying about?" Gen asked angrily.

  "You have suffered so much! Yet you shed no tears. Thomas cares for you deeply so
therefore I care for you as well. I see that you must leave to finish what you have started. I will pray to the gods of good that you succeeded in your quest. Just please, when you are done, come back here. Come back and live peacefully."

  "Your gods won't help me. Save your prayers for Thomas. I promise nothing to you save that I will see Aaron suffer greatly for what he has done." He turned to look down at Thomas again. "Get some rest. I'll come see you before I leave." With that said, he stood and walked out of the healer's without looking back. When he got outside, he shook his head. "What's wrong with me? I've spent years with this pain and not shown it. What is it about this place that brings it all out?" He thought to himself, "Use the pain, use it as you have always done." He sat down in the middle of the road and meditated. He pushed the pain all back away and locked it up again. He sat there till evening. When he opened his eyes again, it was growing dark. He stood up and walked to the dinner hall. He wasn't hungry but he felt the need to be around other people for a while

  XXII

  Elsewhere

  Snow seemed to fall in sheets. Somewhere the sun tried to shine through but it was losing the battle with the snow. Bitter wind howled out of the north. A lone figure trudged slowly into the wind. Each step the figure took buried a leg up past the knee. Ice clung to every inch of the skins that were wrapped tightly in layers around the traveler. The figure was covered almost entirely. Two small slits were cut into the face cover to allow sight. Though all there was to see was endless white. The traveler's pace was slow but steady. On and on he walked. Eventually, a dark shape appeared out of the white ahead. The traveler trudged closer to see that it was a dark opening to a cave. The ice covered figure stopped outside the cave entrance for a moment then walked on inside it. A fire roared deep inside.

  Three creatures sat around the fire, drinking and telling stories. They all stopped when the visitor walked into the cave, and looked up curiously. All three creatures were a mix of bull and man. Their lower legs were covered in shaggy hair and their heads were similar to a bull's. Their chests were covered in fine hair but were the shape of a human's chest with human arms. All were taller than a longbow though their fur was colored differently. One was jet black, another was spotted brown and white, the third was a brownish red shade. The black one stood and spoke.

  "Come warm yourself by the fire." He motioned to the empty spot around the fire.

  "Thank you," the visitor murmured through the thick hood. The figure began to take off the many layers of covering. First the gloves came off to reveal pale human hands. Next the hood was removed. The face that stared out from under it was human and male. Bits of tattoos crept up his neckline and onto his face surrounding his eyes. A long blond beard covered the lower half of his face and was frozen with bits of ice in it. Deep blue eyes shown with intelligence. His brow showed the beginning of worry lines. He was as tall as the minotaurs that surrounded the fire. He took off a long bow and quiver of arrows that was covered to protect it from the elements, and leaned them up against the wall. Next he removed two outer layers of skins and hung them to thaw out on the line that was strung up against the wall of the cave. He then sat down in the spot offered and held his hands close to the fire.

  "Have a cup of hot tea," the black minotaur offered. The man took it and nodded thanks. "What brings a human this far north into our country?" he asked politely. The black haired minotaur seemed friendly though his two companions held looks of contempt upon their bull like faces.

  "I seek someone named Kemersek," the man replied as he sipped at the hot tea.

  "What do you want with him?" the brown and white spotted minotaur asked, a tone of contempt in his voice.

  "I have a package to deliver him. Do you know where I could find him?"

  "What's your name, Human?" the reddish tinted minotaur asked with a snarl.

  "Duncan." Duncan replied quietly. His eyes had not left the black minotaur's face the entire time. Though his look held no threat in it, silence hung thick in the air.

  "Never heard of you. We don't know anyone named Kemersek so finish your tea and leave," the brown and white spotted minotaur stated.

  "Thank you." Duncan said. He drank his tea slowly and let the fire thaw him out. After a time, he finished the cup and stood up. He slowly wrapped himself back up in his skins and was reaching for his bow to strap back upon his back when the black minotaur spoke.

  "Sit back down," was all he said. Though his tone was gentle, it carried a sternness in it that let you know he was used to being obeyed.

  "I'm sorry, but I must continue on to find Kemersek. I've been trying to find him for a while now. Thank you for the tea and the fire but I cannot waste any more time," Duncan said and reached for the bow once more. The other two minotaurs stood up suddenly.

  "He said sit down," the brown and white one said menacingly.

  "Don't try to stop me, please," Duncan said and stood up straight. "I've no wish to hurt you.

  "Puny human!" the red tinted minotaur said and moved toward Duncan.

  "Stop!" The black skinned minotaur commanded. He then turned to Duncan. "I know where to find the person you seek but you must do something for me first."

  "What do you want me to do?" Duncan asked, his dark eyes locked onto the red tinted minotaur.

  "Our people are known for our strength but not for our brains, I'm afraid. I want you to wrestle Holdvir here and if you can best him, maybe he will learn some humility. If you can beat him, I'll tell you where to find Kemersek," he said as he motioned to the red tinted minotaur.

  "No weapons? No Magic?"

  "None."

  "It ends with submission or one of us unconscious?"

  "Those are the rules."

  "I'll do it." Duncan began again to take off his skins. He stripped down to a short sleeved shirt and a pair of thin woolen pants. He took off his boots as well. From head to toe, Duncan's pale skin was covered with intricate tattoos. The patterns of the tattoos seemed delicate and fragile yet extremely intricate. Duncan was of equal height with the black minotaur so he stood a bit taller than Holdvir, if you didn't count Holdvir's horns which twisted up from his head. Duncan backed up and did some stretches. "I'm ready."

  "Make him bleed Holdvir!" the brown and white spotted minotaur said to his friend.

  "This human will not walk out of here. If anything, he'll be crawling," Holdvir said and pressing his hands together, popped his knuckles. The muscles of his chest rippled. He put his head down and without warning, charged full force at Duncan. Duncan stood his ground, then at the last moment, he dropped down flat on his back. Placing his feet upon the minotaur's chest, he pushed, vaulting the minotaur over him. Holdvir's momentum carried him through the air to crash against the cave wall. He got up quickly with a snarl and approached Duncan again, though more slowly this time. He threw a punch at Duncan's head. Duncan once more waited till the last second then twisting his body, he grabbed the minotaur's extended arm and jabbed two fingers into Holdvir's elbow. A sharp crack echoed in the cave. The minotaur roared in pain and pulled his arm back.

  "Do you give up?" Duncan asked calmly.

  "You die!" Holdvir shouted and punched again with the other arm. Duncan went to dodge but it was a feint. Duncan dodged right into the minator's knee that slammed into his ribs. Duncan fell to the ground, the wind knocked from his lungs. He brought himself back up on his hands and knees but the minotaur kicked him savagely with his right hoof into his left side. Duncan felt two of his ribs crack. He rolled with the blow and somehow managed to prop himself up against the cave wall. Duncan coughed into his hand and looked at it in the fire light.

  "No blood at least." Duncan grimaced and pushed himself off the cave wall to a standing position. Holdvir had a grin on his face even though his right arm hung limp at his side. He walked back to Duncan.

  "You ready to give up and crawl home, Human?" Duncan answered with a quick jab that connected with Holdvir's jaw. His head jarred back and he was dazed for a moment. Dunc
an didn't waste the time. He swung his right fist hard into Holdvir's stomach. The blow carried such force that Holdvir doubled over and vomited onto the floor. Duncan clasped his hands together and brought them both down upon Holdvir's neck. The minotaur crashed to the ground. Duncan paid for the move though. Pain shot through his left side and he could do nothing but gasp and hold his cracked ribs. Holdvir recovered and kicked out with his right hoof connecting with Duncan's right knee. Once more, a savage crack echoed around the cave. Duncan cried out in pain and fell to the floor. Holdvir jumped on top of him and placed his left forearm across his neck.

  "Now you die, filthy human!" Holdvir shouted as he pressed hard against Duncan's neck. Duncan's face took on a deep shade of red. He pushed against the minotaur's arm but couldn't budge it. His vision started to go dark around the edges. In desperation, he reached up and placed both his thumbs against the minotaur's eyes. He started pushing against them. Holdvir roared in pain and rolled off of Duncan, clutching his eyes with his left hand. Duncan coughed and slowly pulled himself over and straddled Holdvir. Grasping his horns, he pulled up and slammed Holdvir's head again and again into the stone floor of the cave. After the second time he did this, Holdvir reached up and grabbed Duncan round the throat. Duncan ignored the choking pain and poured all he had into slamming the minotaur's head again and again into the floor. Eventually, Holdvir's hand dropped limp from his neck and his eyes rolled back into his head. He wasn't dead though. He was merely unconscious.

  Duncan dragged himself painfully over to where he had been sitting and sat down. He pulled his right pants leg up past his knee and looked at it. The knee was dislocated. He pulled a leather strap from his pack and bit down upon it. Then he grasped his lower leg with one hand and the knee cap with the other. With a sharp pull he popped it back into place and screamed into the leather strap. When his vision was no longer swimming, he looked back to the black haired minotaur.