Beyond The Wall

by Pwyll Duggan

  I pull out and stumble backwards, hitting a bench and sit down in the tub. She pushes herself backwards, sliding into the tub. As she turns around, I notice the huge smile on her face. Her neck and shoulders are bruised, her lip cut. Her hair is a mess and her eyes are glowing, matching her smile. Her chest is still heaving, precious oxygen returning to her body.

  "Knew you had it in you killer." She gasps and continues. "Looks like I marked you too." She slides thru the water, her graceful form back. She touches my cheek. It stings as her fingers trace around it.

  "Remember to get dressed before dinner killer." I nod dumbly as she exits the tub, water running down her hair and back, framing her nice bottom as she wiggles it as she leaves.

  "I guess I better make your dinner now." Echoes in my tired head as she opens the door and closes it behind her. I may die tomorrow, but I will die happy.

  I don't want to die though.

  As the haze of Rika's act leaves me, I wash my face and hop out. I get dressed easily. I need food and rest before my 'big' day tomorrow. Or I may not get another day at all.

  My brain gets into gear and I start planning what I'll need to do, how to do it and what I will need after. I walk past Aysun's grin, Molly's caring looks and Bunny's shy face without noticing. I sit down at the table, brain firing away on what I need to do. I've been a Games Master for as long as I can remember. Started when I was 11 playing and then running games like Traveller, D&D, Star Trek, MiddleEarth etc, anything my friends and I could get. Then we went online. All the MMOs, Fallouts, Divinity Original Sins, Path of Exiles. RPGs, ARPGs, shooters, Mobas and card games. We played them all, if only to try them out. A few years in the Army Reserve and Scouts helps. Gods, what I wouldn't give for my Steyr, or M4 or even a crappy AK-47 look-a-like. Couple hundred rounds, some claymores, few grenades and this would be a walk in the park. Hehehe I loved that anime, GATE. Came out at the right time for me.

  I zone back to reality and see the girls looking at me around the table. Rika's beaming, marks on her neck carefully revealed by her slightly lower kimono. Aysun is smiling, tuning a lap stringed instrument of some kind, haunting tones ring the air as she does so. Bunko is sitting apart, sharpening some knives and daggers on a blanket, turning them over and over to make sure it is all done right.

  I look to Rika. "I thought you were making dinner?"

  "I have. Molly is getting it all ready for when our guests arrive." I nod and wait quietly. The light is slowly fading outside, and I can see a lot of poles with lanterns attached walking patrol around the walls. Bunny gets up with a wrapped cloth package and comes over to me.

  "My father dropped off everything for you. This is the crossbow he was talking about. Sorry we have no time to practice with it." I unwrap it. It's a wooden crossbow, maybe the size of an assault rifle. The metal of the bow is something I've never seen, black and shining, and a little rough. Like the carapace of a beetle, or small snake scales. The string is dull silver, showing no signs of wear. Dark wooden stock and frame, with wooden shaped pistol grip. Another hand grip at the front, smooth with the frame, like a shotgun pump. Metal claws attach to the frame, with two spokes and a joining handle just below the pistol grip. I shoulder the crossbow, right hand on the pistol grip and hold it tight. My right hand easily finds the handle for the claws as I release the grip. I push it and it arches forward as the claws drag back the string and lock it into place. I grunt at the effort, much to Bunny's amusement. As I release the handle it slowly rolls back into place under the grip. A little slower than the time it takes me to grab the grip and trigger again.

  "How many bolts do I get?"

  "He had 20 suited to that." Then she whispers something.

  "Sorry Bunny, I missed what else you said."

  "My father said, 'gods willing I can make more bolts tomorrow night if he returns'."

  "Don't worry about that Bunny. He only spoke the truth."

  "I know, but it still seems rude."

  "He'll say worse once he gets to know me." The girls laugh at the shock on her face.

  "It's true. I've got his little girl with me." That gets her blushing and she returns to her work.

  In the fading sunlight, Mari comes thru the gate and heads down the path towards the house. I can see her as the girls are sliding panels around the house, putting up the wooden ones for night time. The paper dividers for the rooms inside remain. The wooden ones seem really thick and heavy, not what I've seen in information about traditional Japanese houses. Molly is setting the table and looks at me watching them.

  "Those walls keep out the night spirits. Blessed wood over paper charms. They rarely attack in our Dukedom, but it has been known to happen. Great for when winter comes again. Glad we are just hitting summer." She heads back to the kitchen. So much I don't know about this world.

  Mari walks in and bows to me.

  "Shielder."

  "Priestess. Any news of things that can help?"

  "Apart from finding more gold than I know what to do with, nothing. I can buy more food for the village if stocks get low now. Maybe more arms as we are running low. The worst information is the days left of power for the shield wall. 23 days is all we have. In nine days, the Duke will have to be informed. And Kawaba will be over, gone." She lowers her head, sadness streaked through her voice.

  "Well that's what I need to stop." That gets me a weak smile as everyone returns and sits.

  Dinner is mounds of vegetables, rice, meats and pastry wrapped dishes. I have no idea what they are called, dim sim? Dim Sum? Won ton? No idea but they rock. I eat until I can eat no more. Everyone else uses chop sticks. I tried for a while, but the rice defeated me, and I turned to spoon and fork. They had it all ready of course, they have done this hundreds of times. I try not to think on that.

  After dinner and some sweet desert rolls, Aysun comes out with a pot for me. She's smiling.

  "I think you called it coffee?"

  "oh, gods yes. That sweet sweet caffeine." Bunny looks at me.

  "It's not sweet."

  "I know, but I need the caffeine hit. Do they have takeaway cups for me to take tomorrow? And more of those rolls. Oh, oh, oh and those awesome rice balls, no idea why but they really hit the spot at lunch. I could munch those all day." I'm getting weird smiles from everyone

  Pastry is spluttering out of my mouth as I talk, gulping the coffee as I go. Aysun tilts her head.

  "It as if he was replaced with a child. Gimme, gimme and talking with his mouth full." Rika adds

  "and the raining of food all over the place." I finish off my first cup of coffee and wave it in the air.

  "Look I don't do wine or beer. I do sugar and caffeine. The sweet and the jolt. Get over it." Mari closes her eyes and shakes her head.

  "Don't get it all over my necklace. That's a symbol of my position - not a bib. Who has babysitting duty?" Molly, Aysun and Rika all point at the same time to Bunny and say, "She does." Bunny blushes again.

  Aysun pulls out her lap harp (my name for it, too afraid to ask now, a large harp or guitar she puts on her lap - sue me) and slowly starts playing. The music sounds like an acoustic guitar, with a larger range. It's absolutely haunting and soothing at the same time. It drains the caffeine and sugar right out of me and I'm mesmerized, sitting stunned and silent. She plays an instrumental and all I can think of is Tom Day, a Melbourne based musician I love. The sound drifts me from place to place, pulling me free of my worries as I watch Aysun pull on the strings. As she plays I’m off to another world. A calmer world.

  She stops suddenly, and I stare at her.

  "That was just amazing. Thank you." I give a small clap and the others join in. She bows and puts the instrument away. Rika stands and nods to Molly.

  "Looks like I have some cooking to do for tomorrow." They both leave. Aysun stands also.

  "I have some jugs to prepare." She exits slowly, throwing me a smile as does so. Mari stands.

  "I have spell duty with the guards. Seems Chen does not want t
o take any chances." She bows and heads outside.

  Bunko isn't looking at me at all. I stand and go to her, hand out to help her up.

  "Lead me to our room please?" I ask.

  "For sleep, if that's all you want." Her eyes are lowered as she takes my hand and stands.

  "I know you're not ready for anything more, but I would like someone near me who can fight. Better than me anyways." A hesitant grin spreads across her face and she stands and leads me out.

  My, Our, room is above the water garden on the second story. Two floor mattresses, futons? are set out, a little distance apart. I leave my slippers at the door and disrobe before she can do anything.

  "Which side would you prefer? I am going to drag them together. I would like you near to me." I walk over to the beds, drag them together and sit on top, in my boxers.

  "No preference then? Okay." She’s so hesitant and shy. I crawl under the left side duvet and close my eyes.

  "I'll keep my eyes closed so you can get changed into what you like. I promise. Then come to bed please." The light goes out, I hear her clothes being removed and then she’s in the bed.

  She wraps herself separate from me. That will not do at all.

  "Bunny? You trust me?" a trembling "yes" is the reply. "I'm not going to do anything, but I would like to hug you. So, we both feel safe. Where I come from it's called spooning. I'll put one arm under your neck and the other will hug your stomach. Ours bodies will be together, and we make the shape of a spoon, so spooning. I'll be the big spoon to your little - so I hug you. That okay?" she moves in the darkness and my hand gets tugged under her neck. I slide next to her body, she really is warm, and hug her.

  "You do smell nice, like wood chips and eucalyptus. I like eucalyptus." Her breathing gets calmer and her body relaxes. That calms me even further and I snuggle a bit more, while being careful where my arms are. Whatever she is wearing is silky and thin. I think it would be nice to see and then the calmness wins out. I'm warm and then asleep.

  Chapter Seven

  A soft rocking from my shoulder wakes me. Bunny has turned around to face me during the night, and my arm under her head has gone numb. Her slow steady breathing is very reassuring. Rika is shaking me awake, she is clothed all in black, with a hood pulled back. I slide my arm out and move back, keeping the covers over Bunny. Rika smiles at that. As I stand, she passes me some pants and a silk shirt. Thick socks follow and then she motions me out the room.

  Back in the main room my armor is laid out for me to get dressed. Rika seems to be the only one up.

  "We early?" I ask quietly.

  "Yes. I heard some unusual people arrived rather late at the inn last night. I'm not taking chances. Chen's ready at the gate. Mari is getting dressed as we speak. I'll help you." Right. More politics and intrigue. Great.

  I get armored up and it takes almost no effort. I'm not sore at all from yesterday’s activities, any of them. The pack is rather small and thin but has thick wooden struts. Rika sees my interest.

  "The pack can expand when you fill it, just undo the cloth ties and the sides fold out. Also, there’s a metal half ring to clasp the staff. You'll have 3 or 4 foot sticking up and out, but that'll keep your hands free. The quiver has the sheath for your dagger on it and fits on the belt to your right. You can undo a clip on the top or flip it up from the front to get the bolts. You won’t lose them when you run." I nod As I distribute my weapons. I have water and food in the pack with the tinderbox.

  I'm secreting daggers around my person as Rika holds up a cloth tied package and a tall steaming clay cylinder. "Coffee and rice balls. There's three balls in this hanky for you now, other for later." She puts the rice balls in my pack and I grab the coffee. The lid spins and I can take a sip.

  "Thanks."

  "You better come back," she growls at me. "Or I'll go out there and find you and kill your ghost." I lean over her stern face.

  "Does that mean I get to tie you up next time?" her face flushes and I steal a kiss and walk out.

  The pebbles crunch together under my feet as I get to the gate. Staff in hand and crossbow on a strap, ready to grab and load. I rap on the gate with the staff butt. I hear a lock open and the latch go up. Chen and Mari are there, with eight soldiers. I get a salute from the soldiers and Chen and a knowing smile from Mari.

  "Looking good Shielder."

  "Feeling good Priestess." I pass her the necklace.

  "I'm getting that back tonight." She nods, and the soldiers lead off.

  One soldier leads with a lantern, then others follow. They have spears at the ready. Chen has his hand on his sword.

  "Not taking any chances?" only Mari understands so she answers.

  "As you said, too many things not going right."

  We march on in silence. We take a back road, not going thru the village but behind it. It leads to a square building, made from black stone. As we arrive next to it, all the soldiers turn to it and bow, grabbing their elbows in each hand as they do. I copy them as they do, guessing this is the temple. When Mari does the same, only lower, I hope I am right.

  Just past the village in the dark the very first changes in the sky begin to happen. Dawn will be here soon. We start to move faster and cut across a field to the main road. As my feet hit the stones everyone stops. The soldiers make a square around me and Mari steps forward. I don't even see the wall in the darkness, but as the lantern light suddenly stops at a point, you can't miss it. The black field goes up as far as I can see. It's black, the type of black that sucks the light away. I think I can feel a humming in the background, just about out of hearing range, with a tiny bit of pressure.

  "Shielder Paul Walsh." Mari starts "May you bring the power of Spirita Aqua to power our Stone and Shield. Return before the last rays of light disappear to our village. With the blessings of the Stone, Kawaba." A circle of light forms around the necklace as she grasps it. It spins slowly away from her and towards me. I absorb it, warmth and power flowing thru my limbs. It feels like a super hit of caffeine and sugar at once. I feel buzzed.

  They are all staring at me. Mari motions me off with a wave. I go to walk thru and stop and turn back.

  "Everyone goes up the road?"

  "Yes."

  "Really? Everyone?"

  She's getting a bit testy and the soldiers are looking at me now.

  "Yes, everyone!"

  "That’s fucking stupid." Mari gasps and her eyes widen in horror. Chen is talking to her and Mari is talking back, animated and a little angry. Okay more than a little angry. I look left and right along the wall. The river that bisects the village is to my right. That will be a water supply for herds and predators alike. Also cuts off easy escape. No idea what’s to the left. I turn back to Chen.

  "Mari…MARI! How far to the left is a creek or stream? Or a decent sized ditch or valley?"

  "How would I know?"

  "Ask Chen please?"

  "Why?"

  "Why?" I raise my voice, and everyone turns to me.

  "You've lost everyone for the last three years. They ALL walked beyond the shield from here. RIGHT HERE. All the monsters need to do is wait on the other side and they get a delivered slave, or at worse, breakfast. They could just build a cage over the road and that would be it! Ask Chen and let him explain why!" I watch the shock on her face turn to horror as she understands what I just said. They could have led ever hero and villager to their deaths here. Chen is yammering at her and she snaps out of it and asks away. Chen nods as she speaks and then smiles and points to the left, rolling his hand up and down, like a wave.

  "He says over the two small hills is a place perfect for sneaking in. He also says about time someone was smart. Nobody ever bought them along before." I smile at him and give him a thumbs up. I turn that way and head off.

  "See you tonight."

  It takes me 15 minutes I guess to get to the stream Chen suggested. I've jogged maybe 1 km maybe a whole mile away from the road. I hear the stream before I see it and drop dow
n into the stream bed. Staff in hand I crouch. Deep breath and moment of truth, I walk into the Shieldwall as the water gurgles gently out. I only feel a slight pressure as I enter, but the humming I can now feel in my bones. I take another step and the pressure is in my ears, like I dived deep in a pool, or climbing a mountain. Opening my mouth in a yawning action makes the pressure pass, only a little tickle in the back of my brain signals it's passing. Another step forward and I'm through.

  No terrain change thanks the gods. I'm still crouched down in the stream bed, water trickling down. Light just breaking over the horizon. Looking left down the wall I can see the same small rolling hills going on. The only different there are only stumps for the trees. Stumps for a very long distance before the woods start. Someone has cut themselves a good 200 to 300m sight line. Or a killing zone. It goes as far as I can see further left. The right is blocked by the stream bed.

  I go lower in the stream bed and move forward. Not risking a look over the top. I spot a tree lying across the stream up ahead. Then I realize it has planks along the top. Bridge then. Hopefully no trolls under it, cos that’s where I'm going. Morning country noises are starting up. Bird songs, a few animal calls, frogs and crickets. I move slow and steady and get to the bridge. Its four tree trucks lying across the stream banks, very rough planks hammered down in them. And they look worn. Staying on the high side I can see a path leading further to the left. The grass is worn down. Not good. That means well used. I lean back on the bank, under the Bridge and I can hear boots on the ground heading this way. And talking. That I can understand.

  "They're gone now? The scouts?" says a nervous young voice.

  "Shit fuck Ras. They left a few hours ago. Sunlight hurts them. Stop being so jumpy. Shitty Shielder day today." An older annoyed voice. A little rough.

  "Oh yeah. Think we'll get a female this time?"

  "Not with our luck. Give me that skin." Someone gulps from something and splashes of purple hit the bridge and the clay next to me. The Older one continues drinking as I hear feet stop at the bridge, then some fumbling. A Yellow stream of liquid splashes towards the shield wall from the bridge.