by Dave Hazel
As they advanced casually on the scouts eyeing them from the long grass half of them jumped up and ran away. The remaining four huddled together on one location to watch the approaching force of strangers. When Mykal’s group neared the rise in the land the second half then turned and ran down the hill. The four were shirtless, and had long hair tied into a pony tail. They carried an assortment of weapons. Three wore trousers and one was covered with a loin cloth.
When Mykal and his men reached the summit they saw down into a valley where the Sarchantian camp had been set up. It wasn’t only warriors, but they had females and children and the elderly. They had their entire clan which numbered four to five hundred. More than one hundred got onto their horses and rode to the approaching visitors. It looked like an alarm had been sounded in the camp. Men, women and children ran in all directions. Everyone picked up arms of some sort including the children. All the men who approached on horseback looked ready for war. Those running behind them on foot seemed as eager to battle as well. Every one of the warriors who advanced toward them looked to be in great shape and they appeared to be experienced warriors.
“Nordad, come with me,” Mykal said as he stepped in front of his men. Mykal held his hand up and hoped the charging horsemen would stop to communicate or he would open up on them thus signaling for his men to help him by eliminating the threat. “Stop!” Mykal yelled when it seemed the riders were bent on warfare.
Towbar ran to Mykal’s side with his massive sword in hand. Nordad and his two men Codlon and Agnor joined him. Mykal looked back to see all his men aiming their weapons at the charging horsemen. Those on horseback seemed to suddenly slow down. Mykal believed it was because they dressed so much different than the people of this world and probably because Towbar seemed to be eight feet tall and a solid wall of muscles.
Captain Diaz and Lieutenant Finley moved through the men and instructed the four squad leaders to watch for any potential threats.
“If one of them twitches wrong, you open fire,” Lieutenant Finley shouted.
“Who is the leader here?” Mykal yelled and hoped they understood the common tongue.
“It is I,” the most forward rider announced with a curved scimitar in hand.
“Kawliga,” Codlon shouted as if he knew him. “My old friend, my brother, Kawliga,” he shouted with happiness.
The man on the horse turned to Codlon and looked stunned. Kawliga turned on his horse and jumped to the ground and rushed to Codlon. “Is it true? Is it you Codlonie?” Kawliga asked and stared at the man as they rushed to embrace each other in a powerful hug.
“Yes it is I, Codlonie,” Codlon laughed while they embraced each other like long lost brothers.
Nordad and Agnor both looked at each other in stunned amazement. They looked to Mykal and Towbar as if they were trying to express they were just as surprised.
“Sit hold, sit hold,” Kawliga ordered his men on horseback as an order to stand down.
“So you have your own clan my brother from another mother,” Codlon said and looked happily into the face of the hardened warrior.
Mykal watched with great excitement and hoped they could avoid a battle and maybe get some information.
“Yes my brother Codlonie,” Kawliga laughed and hugged his long lost friend again. “Counting the women, wenches and children my clan is more than four hundred strong.”
“That is great my brother,” Codlon said.
“Now I need to ask what is the meaning of this move on my people?” Kawliga asked.
“May I speak?” Mykal asked.
“Kawliga, this is my trusted friend Mykal,” Codlon introduced them.
Kawliga eyed Mykal and fingered his black goatee. He was obviously sizing Mykal up. “Speak Myk-kal.”
“We are not moving on your people Kawliga,” Mykal said and humbly bowed his head. “We saw several eyeing us from this hill top and we were not sure if we were in danger so I wanted to come here and see what we could do to show we mean no harm or ill trust.”
“You know that your numbers can not match the army I have under me,” Kawliga said and raised his head as if filled with pride.
Mykal caught sight of Codlon slightly raising his hand as if to warn Mykal not to insult him.
“I see that Kawliga,” Mykal said softly so as not to provoke the proud warrior leader. “I clearly see your numbers are far greater than our numbers. We wish no trouble to your people nor do we wish trouble to our people.”
“What brings you to these parts Codlonie?” Kawliga asked.
“We are on a journey,” Codlon answered and turned to Mykal as if to ask his permission to speak.
“What kind of journey my long lost brother?”
“We are looking to rescue a princess who had been captured by strange forces,” Mykal answered and wondered if he spoke too soon because he didn’t know if this man or his people would have an alliance with Zizmon-Tarl.
“Ah, that is risky business,” Kawliga said and laughed. “Are you selling out your blade as a mercenary now Codlonie?”
“I am here to help my friends who had saved my life. Do you remember Soldeentar?”
“Yes. I have not laid eyes on that drunkard in many a year,” Kawliga laughed. “Is he here with you?”
“No my friend. He was killed by soldiers of the Evil One. Soldiers forced us to pay an unreasonable tax just a month ago. When we refused, a fight ensued and he was killed after he killed two of the murdering scum.”
“This is ill news.”
“We fled and the army pursued us. My party would most certainly would have been killed when we came across Mykal and his band of warriors near the base of the mountain,” Codlon said and fanned his arm to those behind them. “They annihilated the army. There were easily one thousand that pursued us and less than two hundred ran away.”
Kawliga looked at the people behind Codlon and Mykal. “This band defeated the army of soldiers? How much loss did they suffer?”
“Not one soul my brother,” Codlon said and slowly nodded his head. “They are mighty warriors. Their numbers were even smaller at that time.”
Kawliga paused and fingered his goatee while studying the force before him. “Indeed they do look like strange warriors,” he said as if he was weighing his options to attack and plunder them.
It seemed as if Codlon understood what his longtime friend had been thinking. “They carry the wrath and the power of the gods in their hands my brother.”
Mykal sensed Kawliga was sizing them up. “We have no concern with your people Kawliga,” Mykal said. “We came here to announce ourselves so we could prevent trouble with your people.” Mykal added and some of the horses started to get restless.
Kawliga turned and spoke in his native tongue. Immediately all but twenty turned and returned to their camp. “I would ask you to join us for a feast Codlonie, however, I see you have Elves in your midst. I see you also have Dwarves and an Anart,” he added and looked at the giant Towbar. “This is suddenly madness in my mind my brother. I do not understand.”
“Kawliga, my dear brother,” Codlon said and smiled. “We are on a very important mission as we proclaimed. These people are from the other side of the world. From my understanding, my friend Mykal and his people are from a different world altogether, another time and place that we have never experienced my dear brother. They have been brought to our world by strange magic. I have joined them on the other side of the world where there is no threat of the Evil One.
“This is indeed strange tales. However, you are with Elves,” he said as if filled with a discriminating hatred.
“Yes, they have been true to me and my friends. They risked their lives to help me and I am indebted to them. After spending time with them my brother, after living days and weeks and months with them I have discovered they are good and trustworthy as any human I have ever trusted. I have come to believe the hatred stirred against them is part of the Evil One’s plan to pit all races against each other. I am not going
to attempt to convince you to understand what I have learned, however they are good people.”
“What of the wars? What of friends killed by the Elvin people?”
“Kawliga, what of those wars? If we are honest and will admit the truth, did the Elvin people ever leave their forests to wage war on us? Was it not us who invaded their lands and instigated such wars?”
Mykal saw Kawliga’s jaws tighten. Kawliga looked like he wanted to say something but was at a loss for words.
“I do not expect you to understand my heart my brother,” Codlon said.
“I would invite you to a feast my brother,” Kawliga said slowly while he eyed those behind Codlon. “Yet how can I, when you have Elves in your midst?”
“I will not be offended if you do not invite us my brother. Though may I ask, are you not Lord of the clan? Are not your rules the law?” Codlon asked to make it clear Kawliga could call his people to a temporary truce with the six Elves who were present.
Mykal saw that Kawliga’s jaws tightened even more. His dark brows curled as if angered and he fingered his goatee faster.
Mykal thought he could help. “Kawliga, please do not put yourself in an uncomfortable position. We came here unannounced and we only wish to make our presence known so there will be no trouble between our peoples. We will depart and ask that your people not to harass us and we will not harass your people. We only have our mission on our mind and we will leave once we have completed our mission.”
“If you go against the Evil One you are running a fool’s errand,” Kawliga said, his bare chest exposed rock hard muscles and tight abs. “Codlonie, my brother, I do not wish to see harm befall you. Are you set on staying with your new party?”
“Yes my brother. I do not think we run a fool’s errand. There is much I know about my new friends that you would not understand,” Codlon said. “That is why my confidence is so strong, my brother who I have missed deeply. I plan to return to the other side of the world when our task is completed. The Evil One’s reach is very thin over there.”
Kawliga spoke in their native tongue and Codlon replied in the same tongue.
Whatever he said made Codlon bow his head and smile appreciatively. “My heart is humbled my brother. I must keep my word and help my friends. If I had not committed my word to my friends I would most assuredly accept your offer.”
“I graciously accept your refusal,” Kawliga said with a saddened expression. “I know you are a man of your word. I should have expected nothing less.”
“Thank you my brother,” Codlon said. “To keep this from becoming uncomfortable, we will depart.”
“Be careful my brother. I hope to see you in future days.”
“I will, and you be careful too my brother,” Codlon responded. “It was only weeks ago we encountered one thousand strong from soldiers of the Evil One and that was not far from here. We fought them at the foot of the mountain,” he said and turned toward the mountain just miles away. “Rather, it was Mykal and his mighty warriors who fought them,” he admitted.
“We will keep watch. We arrived here days ago and plan to move in a few days. Until the next time my brother,” Kawliga grabbed onto Codlon and they hugged deeply.
“Until the next time,” Codlon replied. After the hug Kawliga mounted his horse and turned away with his men.
“Well that turned out much better than I thought it would,” Mykal said and had to give a laugh of relief. “I thought they would have provoked a fight.”
“They would have, had I not warned them you are a powerful force,” Codlon said.
“Well it is good you were here,” Towbar finally spoke. “May I ask what he asked you that you refused? He truly seemed saddened by your refusal to accept his offer.”
“Kawliga asked how much it would cost to release my blade from your service. He thought I was a hired mercenary for you,” Codlon said and turned to Mykal. “He asked me to stay and become his number two. I would be his second in command.”
“Is that something you wanna do?” Mykal asked. “Because you don’t have to feel that you are bound with us if your heart’s desire is to leave. That sounds like a great opportunity.”
“No, my friend. I have chosen to return to the Pass and live out my days in the Land of Labins. I have known Kawliga since childhood. He was like an older brother. That is why he calls me Codlonie and not Codlon. He is the only one who will call me Codlonie,” he added as if attaching a warning to his declaration. “I truly desire to return to the Pass so as not to live under the cloud of the Evil One on this side of the world any longer. I have lost many a friend to the soldiers of the Evil One and now I desire my freedom from such fears.”
“Codlon, will your brother honor his word and leave us be?” Nordad asked.
“Yes. With my being here he will honor his word. If I had not been here,” he paused. “Let me say this. His father and brother were killed by Elves. Let me be fair and say they had attacked the Elvin lands. The Elves who killed them were defending their home as any would do. I do not have contention with the Elves. Starling, Leeno and Blair are like my kin. I mean that from the bottom of my heart. The first time Nordad introduced me to them I was angry and looked to have a reason to fight them. Nordad would not allow it and now, I am so grateful. It gave me the time I needed to see what kind of hearts they have. Now I would defend them with my life.”
Mykal could tell by the tilting of the heads the Elves listened to what Codlon had said with their advanced hearing though Codlon thought they were too far away to hear. “Well once again, thankfully you were here or we woulda had our first conflict,” Mykal said. “Captain Diaz and Lieutenant Finley let’s get the men ready to move out.”
3.
They traveled in silence with occasional quiet chatter among the men. Mykal walked beside Towbar but they rarely spoke as to keep their focus on the surroundings. They stayed within fifty to a hundred feet of the tree line. If need be they could duck into the trees, but at the same time they didn’t want to fall prey to whatever lurked beyond the trees. Over the hours of the travel the ground changed from grassy flatlands to grassless rocky terrain. The trees seemed to thin, but the Elves reminded them it was still a part of the Forest of Death.
Mykal couldn’t keep his thoughts from Doninka and what could be happening to her. His mental battle went back and forth that he cared for her only as a friend, but it was because of him she had been taken captive. At times he would admit to himself he truly loved the girl and needed to rescue her for selfish reasons. When he settled on those thoughts, Pam and his boys would enter his mind and he would scold himself for having such wrong thoughts about Doninka. He was here to rescue her as a friend because it was his fault she had been taken captive.
His emotions felt like a rollercoaster ride. He knew his magic ring had something to do with emotions taking him on a wild gallop like an uncontrolled horse, but he couldn’t part with the ring. He needed the ring for so many reasons. One reason was to keep himself safe when dealing with Percy and those in the government who may try to harm him if he didn’t give them what they want. He also needed the magic ring for potential battles. To turn invisible was such a powerful weapon especially since he didn’t know what they would face when they reach Zizmon-Tarl’s palace. The real reason he needed it was because the pull of the magic was like a drug and he was addicted to it. He knew that to be true, though he didn’t want to admit it. Deep down inside Mykal knew there would come a time when he would have to part with the ring or it would consume him until it completely destroyed him. He remembered Diaz had warned something along those lines when he first found the magic ring.
Diaz and Finley pulled up beside Mykal and Towbar who were in the middle of the column. “Hey Myk, I’m thinking about stopping to allow the men a short break and to have some food before we do one more leg and call it a night. Are you okay with that?’
“Sure. I’m fine with anything you wanna do. Don’t even ask me. Just do what you think we need to do,
” Mykal said and laughed inside. Just a month ago he was the one who didn’t want to make any decisions without consulting Captain Diaz, now the roles seemed reversed.
“Alright men, let’s hold up,” Lieutenant Finley spoke for Captain Diaz. “We’re going to take about a thirty minute break to have a quick bite to eat and then we’ll travel till the sun is gone and then camp for the night. Obviously we’re in the wide open so we have to be ever vigilant. Corporal Adkins and Private First Class Ferria, I would like you two Marines to go to our south about a hundred yards just to be ears and eyes for us.”
“Yes Sir,” the two Marines said together and turned to back track without any questions, complaining or arguing.
“Sergeant Freeman,” Finley called out his Green Beret team member who worked point duty most of the time the last time they were lost on this side of the world. “Take Sergeant Toloson with you and go a couple hundred yards to the north. The trees are creating a blind spot and it looks like there may be a drop like a valley or cliff out that way,” he pointed to the north. ”We don’t want any surprises.”
“Yes Sir,” Freeman said and waved for Toloson to join him. They took off at a jog away from the group.
“Is there anything you would like us to do Mykal?” Leeno asked for the six Elves.
“Not right now. Freeman was one of our point men the last time and he did a great job,” Mykal answered. “We’re gonna take a break and then we’ll head out. I really wanna avoid the forest because of our last experience in the forest.”
“I understand what your concern and trepidation may be. The Black Forest can be a menacing foe in itself,” Leeno said and mentioned the real name of the forest, though its nick name the Forest of Death was just as valid.
“We will have to enter the forest at some time to get to the palace,” Uminair said.
“Is there a way to avoid the forest all together?” Captain Diaz asked.
“We could travel to the west and circle around the mountains in the west and approach the palace from the north,” Uminair said and looked emotionless though his voice was soft and melodic. “However that journey would add several weeks to our time.”