by A R Maloney
The door opened, “Sir, the crowds outside are growing restless. Shall I gather the men forth to port out?” Garith, my cleric, shoved his head in the doorway. “That one out there, Erin, he’s the one in charge here. But from the looks of it, he won’t be for too much longer.”
“Agreed, Garith. We need to remind these men and women who the enemies are.” I pinned the magus with a hard gaze. “Cyrus, you will be carrying the wings back to the special storage. Take the long route. Make sure everyone sees what happens to the traitors of Lucenia. You can join us at the governor’s mansion in DuPage tonight.”
I blinked hard and rubbed the knot on my head again. Garith handed a wet cloth to me. “Nasty cut you got there, chief. Can I heal it up for you?”
“No,” cloth in hand, I wiped my forehead clean. Most of the bleeding had stopped some time ago. “What’s one more scar anyway? The ladies can’t get enough of my pretty face.” I gave him an evil grin. I didn’t really want to bother with keeping a woman around, at least that’s what I tell myself. I didn’t have any trouble ‘making one available’ whenever the need arose. “Let’s wrap this up, boys. They can clean up their own trash.” I gestured to the bloodied corpse on the floor before exiting the building. Together we watched Cyrus leave the village with the wings strapped to his back. “Garith, bind the other one for travel. Gag him as well.”
I pulled my shoulders back and stood tall before crossing the clearing to where Erin waited, speaking to his officers. Small puffs of dust rose up from my heels as I crossed the distance between us. They ceased talking on my approach. “Erin, I thank you for hosting our little group here today. I do hope we haven’t caused too much commotion.”
Erin’s lips were a grim line across his face. “Sir, Rockton Village is at your disposal.” His words sounded forced and monotone as they reached my ears.
“Erin, you are the leader of this outpost?” I swung my arm out in a wide circle dramatically.
“No sir. No. That would be Arnie,” he responded quickly, “but he’s been away. Nobody’s seen him for weeks now.”
“Of course,” I nodded and smiled falsely, “come with me a moment.”
A hot, dry breeze blew through the village. Many of the soldiers milled around in small groups. I watched as they whispered to each other. They gave us a wide berth, staying to the edges of the huts as they observed my small group. We made our way to the center of the clearing again with Erin at my side. Many appeared to still be in shock from the fight and the death which had followed. Everyone had heard the screams. They all knew what had happened in the small room.
I turned on my best smile before announcing, “My people! Men and women. Sentinels of Lucenia! We have come here today to cleanse your village of a blight. We seem to have a problem… a problem with traitors here in Lucenia! Men and women who are actively working with the Ustenian beasts, and those…” I looked over to Erin, “who are harboring those traitors.”
I pulled my dagger from its sheath, and swiftly sliced Erin’s neck from one side to the other. I wiped the blood on his tabard and pulled him close to whisper into his ear as he slipped to the ground, “Arnie, like you, has been relieved of his duties.”
Gasps had quickly rose from the men and women around us as Erin lay on the dusty earth. He bled profusely as he struggled for breaths which would never come. My sentinels took up defensive stances around me.
“This man gave refuge to the traitors.” I swept my arm over the body on the ground, “Who is next in command here?”
A tall woman stepped forward.
“You have seen what has happened here today?” I pointed once more towards the bloodied body which was nearly dead on the dirt before our feet. Victory filled my eyes and my voice was thick with disgust as I continued, “We simply cannot have this. We must remain vigilant if we are to remain victorious against the Ustenians! We must remember that they will take every opportunity to destroy us! WE CANNOT… NO, WE MUST NOT LET THAT HAPPEN! Today we have killed and removed the wings from one who has been working with those dirty black wings! One who has been scheming against us! One who carried their blood in her veins! An impure mongrel! She had been rising through our ranks. A deceiver! Misleading all she encountered. But we ended her! You saw... you all saw! Our gods gave and will always give victory to those of us who fight for the truth. She will not return!”
I pointed to a small shack, watching as Garith pulled Dimitri through the door and into the clearing where we stood. The ranger was beaten and bruised, gagged and bound, with his hands in irons behind his back and his ankles chained. He was attached to another chain like a dog on a leash. His blackened and swollen eyes were filled with hatred as Garith dragged him across the clearing, handing me the chain.
I pointed towards Dimitri. “This one, he was with her. He will be returned to Plano and will be brought to judgment before the high priests! This will be the future for all of Company Damagus! Every single one will be tried and judged. We will separate the wheat from the chaff! Take heed. Pay attention to what has happened here and remember well the fate of any traitors to Lucenia!”
I turned and shoved the bound one hard between his shoulders, smiling broadly as he stumbled to his knees before me. “Don’t get too comfortable now. Your wings may very well be next.” He began to stand, and I shoved him again. “Move!” I gestured to my men, “Let’s get going. We are expected in DuPage tonight.”
Chapter 3– The Courier
~Lancer~
DAMNIT! EVERYONE ALWAYS SAID my hubris would be my downfall. But it shouldn’t have been hers. Gods! What a mess I’d made. My team saw when she was sent from the badlands. Like a moth to a flame, I was pulled to her. I gathered my guards and we followed. I could not even begin to explain that one.
I should have just grabbed her. I should never have let her return to the village. I’d known what was waiting there… no, I’d known WHO was waiting there. I had really hoped the Kauri had gotten it right. They were supposed to be the ones with the direct connection to the gods master plans… right? They had arranged my meeting with a phoenix. They had said she was the key to ending this warring. That we were to do this… together.
She fought like a demoness; I believe she may have bested even me, given the chance. And she would have had that bastard down and gone if it hadn’t been for the interfering magus. Maybe we could have swept in, caused a distraction and given her a chance to escape. No. She was in it ‘til the end. It was going to be either her or that bastard Droghel.
I swear I felt it in my bones as they drew every single scream from her perfect lips. It was as if my own wings were being torn from my back; I had felt my own soul being shattered and scattered to the winds. And now, I just felt… empty.
The one who left the badlands with her was being held too. They had been questioning him for hours. His cries of pain drifted from the small room in the center of that village. The pain touched every plant as the breeze carried it along. It frustrated me that there weren’t enough of us to do anything to help him.
Kumar had even been affected by this. He had been in my company, under my command for many years now. We’ve had our share of conflicts and disagreements over the years, but we can both rely on each other. When it came down to it, I’ve known he’d always have my back, and I’d always have his.
He’d been bringing me food… each time setting it beside me and taking a seat—a few arms lengths away. He’d sat with me for what seemed countless hours. I hadn’t touched a single bite, nor had I spoken since it happened. I could not find the words. In my several long years I had killed countless others… seen so many of my brothers and sisters fall in battle. Still, I had never felt so absolutely wrecked as I did right now.
Kumar returned again. “General! Please! You need to know that Droghel and his men have left the village, they are traveling north with the male prisoner. He sent a runner west….” When I didn’t respond Kumar bent down, getting in my face. “This runner is carrying a pair of whi
te wings! You know I have no love for those sun-bleached moths, but this is your chance to do… something! Droghel just killed the leader of the outpost. They would have his blood if they were strong enough. You should see the rage in their eyes.”
My fists were slicked red with my blood, dripping from where I had sliced my very palms open with my claws in anger. I looked up at Kumar and he took two steps back. Everything I saw before me was shrouded in a red haze of fury. My voice came out, a venomous growl, as I spoke clear and low. “Spread the word, gather everyone. We leave in five minutes. We will take that courier… alive.”
We caught up with the transporter within a half hour. I recognized him as Droghel’s own magus, the one who interfered in the fight. A wicked smile settled over my face and I gave my group a nod. “Remember. Take him alive!” My voice filled with thunder as I watched my sentinels surround and subdue him. He was no match alone to our five.
“What do you have in mind, General? Cole asked between whispered spells. He kept the other magus silenced as I paced the ground in front of our captive.
“We could just gag him, but… Naofa… you do still carry extra suture kits, don’t you?” She nodded and dug into a pouch at her waist. Moments later she handed a needle and thread. I looked to Kumar, “Hold his head, this will be fun.” I knelt, peering into my enemies eyes, giving him a wicked evil grin. “Not so much fun for you though. You? You really screwed the pooch here.”
He would have screamed if he could have even opened his mouth, but Cole’s spells made that impossible. The only sounds he could push forth were lowly moans as I stitched his lips together, piercing his skin… driving the needle through and tugging the string… pulling it back out, over and over again, tying knot after knot.
“He won’t be silencing anyone else anytime soon.” Naofa had a good point. The cleric had always been insightful.
“My intention precisely.” I wiped my bloodied hands on his chest and stood, kicking him in the ribs for good measure. I forced myself to take a couple steps back. Looking down, my eyes were drawn to the precious bundle. The pair of bloodied white wings… Skye’s wings. I knelt beside them and removed the bindings and cloths which had kept them bundled together. A shudder ran through me as I swept a hand over them. “We need to burn these, but not here… not yet.” I gently rewrapped Skye’s wings and tied them, strapping them to my own back, opposite my sword.
Standing once more, I looked over my group and saw the mix of my anger and misery reflected in their eyes. I reached down, roughly pulling our captive to his feet. The need to punish him was still raging through me like a hurricane. “Kumar, I believe this one may be considering running, what do you think?”
The ranger gave me a dark smile. “My general, he does appear to be a flight risk.” With that, Kumar pulled an arrow from his quiver and nocked his bow. He raised it and drew the arrow back, holding it against his cheek, waiting for my word. “Cole, can you help the general keep our prisoner on his feet?” Cole nodded and took hold of the magus’ other arm.
I nodded to Kumar and we all watched as the arrow flew through the air, burying itself in the knee of the Lucenian. His red face twisted in anguish as his cheeks expanded outward. The man was trying to scream through his stitched-up lips but all that could escape was a whistle of bloody spittle as it passed through the tiny spaces between the stitches. We would have to carry the prisoner, but I am okay with that. Cold-blooded satisfaction filled me as my gaze landed on our own magus. “Cole, say the words. Please take us home.”
Chapter 4 – A Time for Sharing
~Niera~
ENO’S EYES MET MINE with a nod. A grim look crossed his face, “Morland?” I felt the weight of several tense eyes upon me as everyone turned towards us to listen.
I released a long sigh, “Yes.” This wasn’t going to be pretty. I was about to betray the trust of my best friend, one who had named me sister. Gods… may she ever forgive me. I stood to face my company and Eno. “Before you say anything. Before you pass any judgments. Hear what I have to share. Please… know that the information I hold may very well be the death of our sister Skye.”
I began with the story of Serafina and Soulkos, Skye’s parents. How they were separated in the wake of the Great Break. How Serafina, a sentinel of Company Hellfire, had believed Soulkos had died. I relayed the story of how they’d reconnected, how Soulkos had been mutated, along with hundreds of others, our friends and families, all ones which had been presumed dead after the Great Break—the ones we now called Ustenians. Their changes were a result of the fallout from the weapons released at the time of the Great Break. I explained how Serafina had become pregnant and was soon after, found by Droghel and the rest of her company. How Droghel had slaughtered her remaining family and Soulkos, removing his wings. How this caused Serafina to leave the military and raise her child, Skye, in deep isolation… far from the badlands and the wars. I described how Skye learned the truth of her heritage, her mixed blood, and the struggles which came hand-in-hand with keeping such a secret.
I faced my company. “You know who Cooper was to Skye. You know he and Serafina were both killed by Droghel and his death squad. Now,” I hung my head, pausing to catch my breath, “now you know why. Droghel and his death squad took their wings as well.” Many gasped, others stayed silent as they tried to process this information. “This was why Skye took the assignment which sent her into Morland. She was safer there, away from the reach of Droghel and those he would send to harm her. Yes. She is of mixed blood, although knowing what I have shared… can this really be a crime?” My gaze crossed from one person to the next, challenging them to refute me. Tears seeped from my eyes, dripping from my chin. I paused at each member of my company, silently begging understanding.
I looked to Eno, my eyes imploring him to understand. “What I suggest next… it will certainly be considered treasonous by many, although my intent is nothing but pure of heart.”
Eno’s face was a hard mask, unreadable. Yet he nodded for me to continue.
I began pacing the length of the room. Anxiety threatened to overwhelm me as I searched for the words to describe what I was trying to say. “I believe….” My heart was racing, so I closed my eyes and drew a deep breath, seeking the strength I knew was within me. I looked at Masio and my resolve to protect my company intensified as I continued. “My company, my family, I believe we are really one people. Lucenian, Ustenian, we are all one people. We just didn’t have the information we needed after the Great Break. Soulkos was her father. Soulkos was just like the rest of us before the fallout mutated him.”
I continued, going one step further, “When Skye was sent to Morland, she carried messages between two Kauri, Espencheid of Arden and Nabaru of Morland. Together they placed an edict upon both Skye and General Lancer of Ustenia. These two were honor bound; given the chore of bringing us all together again as a single nation. This was what she shared with me on her return. This is what drove General Lancer to lay himself at her feet in the badlands carrying only a rose. This is also why she picked up that rose.”
Suddenly exhausted, I slumped back into a seat at the table. I had no more room in my soul for anger, fear, or even sadness. I felt numb. “I’m sorry.” The tears that had been seeping before were now openly streaming down my face, the frustration and loss—now a heavy knot in my chest. “I’m sorry that she couldn’t share this with you. I’m sorry I had to carry these secrets.” I sighed deeply and lay my head down on the table, defeated.
Eno reached out to me, touching my hand lightly, “Niera, where is Skye now?”
“Masio sent her back to Savannah Gate Fortress with Dimitri, but I’m not sure where they went from there.”
Eno nodded, looking over to Masio who was now laying on a mattress in the corner of the room. His skin was covered, charred in many places with heavy, deep burns. He was unconscious… or perhaps sleeping. His breathing, labored, each breath a struggle. The clerics had done all they could to pull Masio back from the
brink of death, but he would still have a long bit of healing to do before he was out of the woods, if we could keep infection away. There would be no answers from Masio of their whereabouts anytime soon, not unless we were to hit the rumor mill jackpot.
Eno’s voice rang out clear and direct, “I’ll send Sonorim to Savannah Gate Fortress. She’s always had a gift for tracking people down, and she is one who can be trusted without question. Perhaps she might have some luck.”
I let my gaze crawl over the men and women of Company Damagus as they sat in small pairs and groups, speaking among themselves. They were processing , trying to make sense of what they had just learned. Exhausted, I lowered my head onto the smooth surface of the heavy oaken desk and closed my eyes, hoping to find a moment of temporary escape in sleep.
***
It had been a long night. We had all been taking turns tending to the wounded and keeping watch. We were exhausted and our spirits were low. My brothers and sisters-in-arms had been mixed in their reactions. Some had cast worried glances my way. I could see the pain in their eyes as they gazed upon me. Some had been very angry… feeling betrayed… and I didn’t blame them. I could hear their hissed whispers from across the room. It was a terrible secret I had kept from them, but it wasn’t mine to share. If it hadn’t been for Eno, they may have cast me out.
Masio wasn’t doing well. His breathing was still labored and when he woke, he moaned constantly. The pain must’ve been tremendous. I crossed the room and knelt at his side. There didn’t seem to be any spot on his body that hadn’t been covered with bandages or blackened skin. If he lived, he may lose a limb… perhaps two.