The kDira's World Anthology

by K R McClellan

  “I have a better way,” Muzi said. “I can get you into the palace and down to where they keep the breeders without any Karn catching us. That is, at least, not until we get inside where the Karn are.”

  And how are we going to do that?” Agis said, not completely trusting the Karn female.

  “Lead us to the south side of the city and I will show you a better way in,” she said.

  “This better not be a trick,” Agis said. “You will be the first to die if it is.”

  “It’s not a trick,” she said, trying to reassure him.

  The Blackhorn headed towards the southwestern corner of the city, and as they grew nearer they could see that there were more buildings still relatively intact on the northern corner where they had entered before.

  The sun was going down in the west and to the northeast they could see the lights from torches being lit inside the windows for as far as they could see into the city, but the section they were about to enter was completely dark.

  “Why are there no lights on this part of the city?” Agis asked.

  “Because there are no Karn here,” Muzi said with a smile.

  “Don’t make me prod for answers,” Agis said showing anger, “why are there no Karn here?”

  “Because the Karn believe this area is bad luck,” Muzi explained. “There are bad spirits here from the people that lived here before the Great Cloud.”

  Muzi paused to check the reaction from those listening to her explanation. She looked from face to face, and was a bit disappointed that there was less of a reaction than she anticipated.

  “Bad… spirits?” Agis asked.

  “Ghosts? Spooks?” she asked, not realizing that the concept was foreign to the Blackhorn and Midlander cultures.

  “Well, then,” she continued, “this should not be a problem.

  “You’re saying the Karn won’t go in here because they are afraid of people that died hundreds of years ago?” Edu asked.

  “That is right,” Muzi answered.

  Suddenly, everyone that had been listening erupted in laughter. Some had to sit down as they were about to fall over from laughing so hard.

  “Okay,” Agis said, trying to subdue his laughter,” we can use this to our advantage. How far will this take us before we start running into Karn again?”

  Muzi, a bit annoyed that the Karn beliefs were being mocked, took a moment to answer.

  “It takes us almost all the way to the south side of the Karn Palace,” she said. “Then it’s just a short way and I can show you how to enter the lower levels of the palace without being seen.”

  “Let’s do it then. Lead the way,” Agis said. “Afraid of dead people... Look out! Dead person. Right there.” And everyone was laughing again. Everyone but Muzi.

  pART 5

  Spirits

  cHAPTER 26

  By nightfall, Hayden and the Karn had not yet reached the edge of Karn city, though the lights were shining bright in the East. With the moon full and high in the sky, Hayden made the decision to continue on.

  “We will rest when we reach Karn City,” he said to the disappointed Karn warriors following him. “We must hurry to make up the time you wasted in the Ocheebee Pass.”

  “To wait for the Blackhorn was your idea,” General Tutower said bluntly. He was tired physically and tired mentally of Hayden and his disrespect for those under him.

  “Do you wish to remain General when I am crowned King of the Karn?” Hayden asked.

  The general didn’t answer; instead he just walked onward, picking up his pace just a bit.

  “What do you think, kDira, leader of the Blackhorn?” he asked of his tied and tethered prisoner. “Should we stop or keep going?”

  Through the bitter and dry gag in her mouth, kDira didn’t try to answer. Instead, she just looked down and continued on, her feet aching from the lack of protection of her thin boots.

  “The sooner we get there, the sooner we can start enjoying each other’s company again,” he said.

  As they walked through the dark pathways outside the city, Hayden kept up his act of antagonizing his captive.

  “What should I do first?” he asked. “Cut your feet like you cut mine? Or let you stand a while as I have you whipped, or branded with hot irons?”

  “We do not treat our breeders that way, Haydennnn,” the General hissed.

  “This one is my breeder, General,” Hayden said firmly. “When I am king, I will treat my breeders the way I see fit.”

  “The council will not like you harming the breeders,” the general insisted. “They will not allow it.”

  “My general will defend his king when the time comes,” Hayden said.

  “You are not king yet, Haydennnn,” Tutower reminded him. “And we are not at Karn Palace yet, either.”

  Hayden took that as a hint that he’s pushed just a bit too far and should stop while he was still alive. He would have his chance, he assured himself, when he was seated on the throne.

  The Blackhorn walked down a street walled on both sides by ancient structures. Many of the structures had openings that allowed access from the street, but no one dared explore. Several warriors had lit torches to guide the way through the streets, and though they had no previous knowledge of what a ghost was, somehow they were aware that they might not be alone.

  “I feel like we are being watched,” Agis said, somewhat quietly.

  “Spirits,” Muzi said, as though it were obvious.

  “Oh yes, the dead people in the buildings,” Agis said, laughing nervously. Then he realized he was the only one laughing and quickly stopped. “I am sure it is nothing.”

  “We will be fine,” Muzi said, “if we just pass through. If we try to disturb them, they will take us to their world.”

  “Their world?” Agis asked, confused. “Where is their world?”

  “It is here. They walk among us. We cannot see them, but they see us,” she said, looking a bit nervous.

  “We can’t see them?” Agis asked.

  “That is right.” Muzi answered.

  “But they can see us?” He went on.

  “That is right,” she said.

  “Threg, check the bryne, I think Muzi has been drinking more than her fair share,” he said, causing a few of the Blackhorn to laugh a bit.

  They continued onward, always combing the windows in the upper levels for signs of movement. Occasionally, Agis was sure he saw eyes staring down at him, but in a fleeting moment they were gone, leaving him to wonder if he’d actually seen the eyes, or if his own eyes were playing tricks on him.

  “We will be going to a place underneath the Palace,” Muzi said, “where they keep the breeders and other prisoners. Once we get Princess Jilleane out safely we will ascend into the upper floors to rescue kDira. Certainly, Hayden will take her up to show her off, and probably have his way with her.”

  “And I will kill him,” Agis said. “If he hurts kDira, I will torture him until he begs me to take his life.” Everyone was looking wide eyed at him, and he realized he was speaking much louder than everyone felt comfortable with him speaking.

  “Relax,” Agis said at a more tolerable level. “You think I will raise the dead by being too loud?”

  “Maybe not,” Fralek said, “but if there are Karn here they could very easily hear your outbursts.”

  “Good point,” Agis agreed. “Everyone, quiet down.”

  “Everyone,” Threg said, mostly to himself. “He knows it was just him, right?”

  Hayden could see the towering Palace ahead, adorned with the light of torches. He thought to himself what a glorious return for him, to see the Palace that he will rule from within when they crown him King of the Karn.

  “We are almost there, my Queen,” he said, looking back at kDira struggling along. She was obviously on her last legs, tired and hurting from the beating and the tortuous walk from the Ocheebee Pass.

  kDira wanted desperately to spit in his royal face, but the gag, and the lack of sal
iva made that impossible. She longed for a cold drink of water and a warm blanket. She imagined herself back in her hut beside the fire, feeding young Winter, Agis by her side caressing her hair. She wanted to cry, but refused to allow her emotions to show. Not now.

  Slowly, she felt herself beginning doze. Her pace slowed and the leash began to tighten. Hayden gave the rope a tug, bringing her back to the grim reality that faced her.

  “Keep up, my Queen, or I will drag you,” Hayden said.

  kDira stopped and pulled backwards on her rope. Again, Hayden tugged on the rope, even harder. kDira had little strength to fight back and began walking forward again.

  “I know my little breeder, you are tired. You will have plenty of time to rest as I stretch you out on my bed,” he said with a sinister tone. “And between beatings.”

  “The Council will not approve of you abusing the breeder,” General Tutower reminded Hayden.

  “I think the General is looking to be demoted,” Hayden said. “Tell me, what rank is lower than a general in the Karn army?”

  “A Midlander King,” the General hissed.

  kDira erupted in dry laughter through her gag, and Hayden stopped. He turned and in one swift move, slapped her in the face with the back of his hand. kDira winced in pain, but in defiance she did not cry out. She turned her head towards Hayden and stared him in the eyes. In her mind, she was choking the life out of him, but with her hands hopelessly bound behind her, that is where it stayed.

  “Do you think that was funny, Blackhorn?” Hayden barked. “I will teach you to respect your king,” he said, bringing his hand back to make another blow. Without warning, his hand was stopped mid swing. General Tutower held the hand in place. Hayden, a surprised look on his face, relaxed and looked at his general.

  “That will be the last time you touch me, General,” he said.

  “That will be the last time you strike her,” the general replied.

  “We will turn south-hand when we get up to this corner,” Muzi said.

  As they rounded the corner they could see the towering Karn Palace ahead. A flood of emotions came rushing back to Agis. Having barely come out of there alive, he wasn’t anxious to go back in, but with kDira’s life on the line he submitted to the necessity of his actions.

  “Ahead, the path will slope downward and we will make our way into the lower levels of the Palace,” Muzi explained. “There will be no guards watching the entrance as the Karn are afraid of the spirits that might wander in. Inside, there will be several guards in front of the chambers that they are holding the breeders and prisoners, but it will be easy to get past them if you listen to me when we’re in there.”

  “Sure. What could go wrong?” Agis asked no one in particular.

  “Keep your heads down below the half walls as we go in, in case there are Karn walking around,” Muzi said just before they took the slope downward to the lower level. “I will go on ahead. I am known here, and I can scout out the area.”

  And then she was off down the slope into the darkness of the lower level. Agis looked at Threg, Ari and Omiroe.

  “And this is how we die,” Agis said.

  “Let’s go, no turning back now,” Omiroe said.

  “I think turning back could be an option,” Fralek said.

  “Don’t you want to see your friend Hayden again?” Ari asked as they started down the ramp.

  “Well, maybe you’ll get your chance,” Ari said. “Now keep down.”

  The small Blackhorn army crouched down behind a half wall and walked along towards the center of the Palace. As they got closer to the center, they saw a row of rooms to the north-hand wall, lit by torches and guarded by four Karn. Muzi was standing there talking to them as though they were old friends. The Blackhorns were about as close as they could get without being spotted by the guards. Ari, Omiroe, Shamaya and Lyren, as well as several others all readied their bows in preparation for a signal to strike.

  Suddenly, one of the guards started grabbing at Muzi and she struggled and screamed. The other three guards laughed and cheered for their friend as he pawed at her. Then, without warning, she broke away and started running towards the Blackhorn at full sprint. Two of the guards took pursuit. When Muzi was out of the line of fire, the Blackhorn arches let loose of their arrows, stopping both runners in their tracks, and dropping the two by the door in a silent, slow motion fall to the floor.

  Muzi stopped running and slowed to a walk, out of breath, back over to Agis.

  “Do you think you can trust me now?” she asked.

  “That’s a good start,” Agis said with a smile.

  “You can all stand up now, let’s go get your breeder,” Muzi said.

  “Just like that?” Agis asked.

  “Just like that.” Muzi answered.

  They broke into a run to the doors that behind which the Princess Mother Jilleane was being held. Eight years ago, she was taken by a Karn wolf pack but no one knew about Karn City at the time. Attempts to find her were futile. Now they may have finally found her again.

  They stood outside the door for a moment. Edu pushed his way up to the front of the group.

  “Please, let me lead the way in,” Edu asked.

  “Of course,” Agis said. “You knew her best.”

  Agis and Threg lifted the large wooden bolt that held the door securely shut. They set it aside, and Edu opened the door slowly, not knowing for sure if a Karn might be behind it. He stepped inside; the first thing he noticed was the putrid smell of human waste and filth. Looking around he could see the forms of people lying on the floor, or sitting up against the walls. He could hear moans and some faint cries and whimpers, but until they got a torch lit he could not tell where they were coming from.

  In the light of a torch he could see the filth and overflowing waste buckets that were in various places around the chamber. He brought the torch over to one of the faces, it was that of an old man who turned is face away from the bright light.

  “What is your name, old man?” Edu asked. There was no answer.

  “Princess Jilleane! Are you in here?” Edu called out.

  For a moment there was no response, and Edu’s heart began to break. But then he heard something.

  “Who’s there?” came a quiet, mousy voice from the distance.

  “Princess Jilleane? Is that you?” Edu called out, turning his head towards the north end of the chamber. “Where are you?”

  “I’m here. Please help me!” she cried.

  The group headed in the direction of her voice, and found her in a dark room with no door, tied to a bed, without a stitch of clothing.

  “Princess,” Edu said, racing over to her bedside. Quickly he cut her hands free as Agis removed the binds from her feet. Ari pulled a blanket from off the floor and helped wrap her in is as they sat her up. She was frail, and suffering from malnutrition. Her skin was pail and her eyes were not taking well to the light of torch.

  “Princess, it’s me, Edu,” the older Blackhorn said with his hand on her shoulder.

  “Edu, you’ve come to rescue me?” she said in a thin, tired voice. She began to cry and put her arms around him, holding him with every bit of her strength. “Take me out of here, please.”

  “Mother, are there any others like you here?” Agis asked.

  “I am the last, they said. There was another girl, said she was from Midlandia; she died a short while ago. She couldn’t take the torment any longer, I don’t think.”

  “Princess Mother, we will get you out of here,” Agis said. “Edu, do you want to escort her back the way we came to keep her safe?”

  “I would very much like to do so,” Edu said.

  “Take her back the way we came in,” Muzi said. “Take her half way in and care for her there. You will be safe.”

  “The rest of you, it is time to climb to the top of the palace. We must intercept Hayden before he does any harm to kDira.

  The climb of the stairs was a strain on the already tired Hayden, but
the prize at the end of the ascent would be worth the effort. kDira was being dragged up the stairs ahead of him, and he could hear her protesting and struggling several flights above.

  When Hayden reached the level that the Council was on, he saw that the door was already open, and a guard was standing outside waiting for Hayden to enter. Once he was inside, the guard shut the door.

  The Council members were positioning themselves into a formal half circle. kDira was standing, with the help of General Tutower, next to Hayden. She again tried to struggle and was once again held in place by the general.

  “Hayden of Midlandia, I see you have returned bearing gifts,” the eldest council member began. Is this the breeder, or the Blackhorrrrrn leaderrrrr you promised us?” he hissed.

  “I present to you, both the Blackhorn leader, and a breeder!” Hayden boasted. “Not too long ago she bore a child herself. My own people have confirmed it.”

  “She appears to be beatennn. Why would you abuse a breeder in that way?” the council member asked.

  “I assure you, it was necessary, as she is feisty, and have made many attempts to escape,” Hayden said, glancing over at the General. The General returned the glance.

  “The Midlander lies,” General Tutower objected. “She did not try to escape, but he beat her anyway.”

  “Is this true, Haydennnn?” the Councilman asked.

  “Of course it is not true,” Hayden lied. “General Tutower has wanted to see me fail since we left. He doesn’t like me because I am not of Karn blood.”

  “None of us like you because you are not of Karn blood,” the councilman said. “But a deal is a deal. We, the Karn Council, declare you our King.”

  As he said that, all of the Karn knelt before him; everyone except the general. General Tutower handed kDira off to one of the guards, turned abruptly and left the room.

  “Please rise,” Hayden said, reveling in his new status. “I will deal with the general later. If you could have a guard escort me and the Blackhorn breeder to my quarters, I would like to clean up and rest for several days. And send my Midlander brethren up to me as well. I wish to reward them for their loyalty in assisting the Karn in securing the Blackhorn leader.”