Amendments (12 page)

              The large creature neared and Grandel could hear and feel a low “whump” as each massive foot fell.  It stood as tall as an ancient oak tree.  Oddly, the sound of metal grating and gears turning moved in timing with the behemoth’s movements.  Adeel made a lux-fueled light near the creature and all of the men stared in disbelief.

              The creature was more metal than flesh.  Dozens of stragh bodies were entwined with the metal, their pale flesh stretched tight around metal beams, gears, and hinges which formed the shape of the creature.  White stragh faces stared at them from all over the body.  Each arm ended in a huge metal mass that had sharp protrusions at random angles.  Every footfall brought the hulking mass closer and looming even higher over the men.

              The Returners looked from Grandel and Adeel back to the giant over and over.  Grandel saw the fear in their eyes growing with each glance.  He had to say something to steel their courage, but he had no words for this.  He’d seen nothing like it before and he wasn’t sure if they stood a chance.  Perhaps they should flee and abandon the town.

              Surprisingly, Adeel spoke.  Her words were loud, clear, and strong.  “This beast is one giant enchant.  Enchants are unbreakable, but the Straghs attached are not.  It is forcing the straghs to use their chakra to power it.  If we can kill the attached straghs, we can stop the whole thing.  This IS conquerable.  Aim for the straghs.  Defend your loved ones!  Go!”

              Grandel was impressed at how well the men responded to Adeel’s speech.  They let out a battle cry and attacked.  These men had been farmers and slaves a month earlier.  Now, they attacked with organized ferocity.  Arrows found their targets more often than not.  Stragh bodies went limp on the creature.  Men ran to the mechanical legs and stabbed up at other Stragh bodies with their spears.

              The mechanical behemoth did not slow visibly, however.  Gears ground together and one massive metal limb pulled slowly up to strike at the men at its feet.  “Watch the arms!” Grandel yelled as he finally ran forward to help.  The huge appendage swung forward and low in an attempt to smash into three men at its feet.  The men heeded Grandel’s warning and dove under the arm.  More arrows pelted the creature as it raised its other huge arm over its head.  Grandel reached the men and realized the second arm was aimed to slam down into the ground where they lay.  “Get back!  Run!  The other arm!” was all he could get out before it plummeted down.  The men scrambled, but there was not enough time to move.

              All four men cringed as the massive arm stopped midair with a deafening crack.  A light barrier shone just above their heads.  Grandel knew Adeel could not hold a barrier of that strength for long.  “Move!  Now!”  They all scrambled away.  Behind them, as soon as they were clear, the appendage smashed into the earth, burying at least a fourth of its length into the dirt.  Grandel called to the rest of the men as he ran.  “It is too dangerous up close.  Take it down with arrows!”

              One of the trained bowmen spoke frantically as Grandel and the others approached.  “Octavius!  We’re out!”

              “Out of what?” Grandel asked as he slowed before the man.  The monstrosity continued lumbering toward the men and the settlement behind Grandel.

              “We’re out of arrows!”

              “What?  No!”  Grandel looked at his men.  Each held their bow at their sides and had empty quivers of arrows on their backs.  Grandel looked at the beast again as one of its massive feet thundered into the earth.

              “What do we do?!” a man cried out.

              “We can’t stop this thing!”

              Adeel was suddenly at Grandel’s side.  She spoke quietly so only Grandel could hear.  “We have no weapons to fight this beast.  It’ll be upon the town in seconds.  Any ideas?”

              “None.”  Grandel watched the beast approach.  It was mere steps away from smashing one of the small, wood hovels.  “We have to evacuate everyone.”

              “There’s nothing else we can do,” Adeel agreed.

              Grandel turned to his men and drew in a breath to yell the evacuation order when he saw a massive shape high in the sky.  It block out the stars behind it.  “It’s her!” he called instead.

              Everyone’s eyes turned to match his gaze.  Some men gasped, some cried out curses, and others simply started running, but Grandel and Adeel knew help had arrived.

              Fafnir’s enormous shape swooped down and smashed into the stragh enchant beast.  The force of her flying into the creature sent them both skidding across the dirt.  Grass, rocks, dirt, and plants exploded into the air from the force.  The sound of grinding metal rang deafeningly through the early morning sky.  They stopped skidding and Fafnir rose up above the creature.  She raised her head and spread her wings up and above them both.  Her immense, powerful form made the stragh beast seem like a toy beneath her.  She let out a deafening, screeching roar, and then plunged her head down to bite and rip at the stragh flesh that stretched across the beast.

              The other men finally realized what was happening and started cheering.  Some watched in awe and others hugged each other in relief.  Grandel had met Fafnir in her human form weeks earlier.  He had never seen the dragon in person and the sight was awe-inspiring.  The creature was incredibly powerful, and yet haltingly beautiful.  Her white and yellow scales seemed to glow in the light of the moon like a fresh snowfall.  Fafnir’s massive jaws ripped at the stragh flesh with incredible power, pulling chunks and entire stragh bodies from the frame.

              Grandel glanced at Adeel who was also staring at the scene in front of them.  However, she did not have the look of awe that the rest had.  She looked calmly, almost lovingly at the scene before her.  Grandel remembered that she had trained for a year with Fafnir when she was a teenager.  She was used to the creature and felt an almost mother-child bond with her.

              Eventually, the stragh monstrosity stopped moving.  It lay limp in the dirt beneath the massive form of the dragon.  Pieces fell to the ground and Fafnir ripped off one of the beast’s arms with her powerful jaws.  Finally, her mauling ceased and she let the appendage dangle from her teeth.  She studied the remains beneath her and, seemingly satisfied that it was destroyed, finally looked at the people standing nearby.

              Through clenched jaws still holding the arm, she growled, “This beast will not bother you any longer.  Study the remains.  I will as well.  We must learn about these new creatures.”  She looked long at Grandel.  He wasn’t sure if she had been told about his altered features or his plan to work among the Returners, but she looked deeply into his eyes as if she knew.

              The other men looked to Grandel, and, for a moment, he feared they’d noticed the way she looked at him.  Then he realized they were simply looking to him as their leader.  Grandel cleared his throat and called back to the dragon.  “We will study the remains.  Thank you for your help, Fafnir.  Many lives would have been lost this day if not for your intervention.”

              “I will be near, Returners,” Fafnir said in her booming yet feminine voice.  She spread her wings and vaulted into the sky with the creature’s metal arm dangling beneath her.

Chapter 13

Jarek

              “You are true Returners,” Menoh declared  He stood in front of Grandel, whom he knew as Octavius  His arms were outstretched in a welcoming gesture.  Hundreds of refugees who called themselves the Returners surrounded Grandel, Menoh, and the other men who served as guards and fought the straghs.  It was several hours after the attack.  Luxin Adeel had already healed the injuries on the men and now rested deeply in the healing tent.  “You have proven yourselves brave and strong even after being abused as slaves for years.  You defended the Returner settlement with your lives, and for that, you all are honored this day.”

              The crowd cheered.  Grandel watched as the men he had trained looked around with pride.  He knew they would be dedicated to the cause from that point on.  As for himself, he never wanted fame among these people.  He wanted to quietly help from the shadows.

              Once the cheering subsided, Menoh spoke again.  “Octavius, you have protected these humble people.  Your actions, expertise, and teachings allow us to continue being free.  Because of this, I am officially making you the General of the Returner defenses.  This honor….”

              Grandel lost focus.  Being named general again brought back horrible memories and made a shudder of revulsion run through his body.  This was the last thing he wanted. 

              Grandel interrupted Menoh’s speech abruptly.  “I do not want this title, please.”

              Menoh lowered his hands and looked at Grandel with surprise.  “Octavius  This is a great honor.  You have proven yourself worthy to lead—“

              “I don’t want it.  Just… let me keep doing what I’m doing.”  Grandel looked at the ground.  “Don’t name me General.”

              Menoh studied Grandel for a long moment and Grandel was suddenly afraid that he had figured out his secret.  However, Menoh again raised his arms to the crowd circling them.  “Ultimate humility.  Octavius should be an example to us all.  We were once oppressed by those with money—with power.  Octavius rejects such power or prestige.  This should be a lesson to us all, myself included.  If we take power, we risk becoming like our former captors.”  He said the last sentence in a raised tone and the crowd cheered in response.  “Octavius is a true Returner!” 

              Grandel looked around once again.  The people whose lives he once ruined were thanking him with cheers of gratitude.  They also cheered him as a prime example of someone of their order… something which Grandel was not and never intended to be.  However, there was a part of him that had selfishly longed for decades for a moment like this.  He recognized this longing and felt foolish.

              Menoh’s speech lasted another few minutes.  He made broad assumptions about the will of the dragons because of Fafnir’s visit and attributed it to their divine cause.  He quoted sections of the Lumin Prophecies, he talked about the blessings of the Lumin being on the Returners, and then he dismissed the crowd.

              Many people with light-colored rings on their necks went to Grandel.  They each gave their thanks and compliments on the weapons and fighters.  Some told him what they may have lost if that beast had not been stopped.  Grandel was humble and repeatedly attributed Fafnir with the successful defense.

              Eventually, the crowd dissipated and people went about their daily routines and jobs.  Grandel went to the healer’s tent to see Adeel.  When he entered the tent, she was curled up on a sleeping cot under a blanket.  Her Luxin armor was laid on another bed, and her sword was propped against her cot.  She would be deeply asleep.  Using one’s chakra, whether through a vigor or through enchants, drained a person’s energy.  Grandel sat on the bed next to Adeel and tenderly brushed a couple of her braids out of her face.  She stirred slightly and let out a happy sigh.  She was so small and beautiful.  It was hard to believe she was the same warrior who had just saved men’s lives in battle and fought alongside them.

              A movement startled Grandel.  It came from the entrance of the healing tent.  He grabbed Adeel's curved sword and spun to face the opening.  A small, startled Jarek stood silhouetted in the light of the afternoon.  Grandel groaned and lowered the sword, but Jarek ran.  “No, Jarek!” Grandel called after him, and ran to the tent opening.  He flung open the tent flap and stared at Jarek's back as he ran away.  He suddenly realized people were staring.  He couldn't chase the boy or it would raise suspicion.

              Adeel was at his side peering out of the tent.  “What's wrong?  What happened?” she said sleepily.

              Grandel gently pushed her back into the tent and closed the flap.  “We shouldn't be seen together.  It was foolish for me to visit.”

              “What happened?” Adeel repeated.

              “Jarek, a young boy who's been watching my training sessions, saw me holding you.”

              Adeel put her hands on Grandel's cheeks so he looked into her eyes.  “So?  I understand your caution about us, but he's just a boy.”

              “He's just a boy who can start rumors.”

              “Grandel, my love, it is a massive leap for people to go from 'Octavius has a Luxin girlfriend' to 'That guy we hate had his features changed so he can get into our camp and help for no reas—'”

              “It's one detail closer to blowing my cover.  I already think Menoh thought it was strange that I reacted so vehemently toward being called General.”

              Adeel let her hands drop from Grandel's face and took her sword from his hands.  She walked back to her bed and returned the sword to where it had rested.  “I'm not worried.”

              “We can't see each other anymore, Adeel.”

              Adeel spun on the spot.  Anger and hurt flashed across her face.  “What?  Don't be a fool!  We will be--”

              Grandel squared off with Adeel and stood at his full height.  “I am not being foolish!”  He waited for a moment, checked himself,  and then continued with a softer voice.  “I'm sorry.  It could blow my cover.  I want to help these people more than--”

              “More than you want me.  I get it.”

              Grandel was taken aback.  That hadn't been what he'd meant at all.  “No, Adeel.  I--”

              “You promised I wouldn't lose you because of this plan.  Just... leave me alone if that's what you want.”  Her words were as cold as ice.

              Grandel stared at Adeel for a long moment.  She put her feet back under the blankets and curled up again facing away from Grandel and the entrance of the tent.  She said nothing, so Grandel finally turned and left.

              Grandel looked around and saw no signs of Jarek.  He hoped the boy didn't go tell anyone about what he'd seen.  He had to find the boy and knew one way to easily draw him out.

~~~

              Thirty-two new men and five women showed up wanting to be trained as soldiers that day.  The successful defense of the town from the straghs the previous night made everyone not only respect what Octavius was doing, but realize the need for more defenses.

              Grandel split the new recruits into groups each led by one of his more senior soldiers.  He started them with the spear since it was a simple weapon that did not require a large amount of skill with which to be moderately effective.  They each held a long, straightened stick with no spearhead and practiced jabs, slashes, and other attacks.  Grandel noted that he would have to recruit more apprentice blacksmiths as well and probably create another make-shift forge to keep up with his growing army.

              Grandel walked among his fledgling soldiers with a pinch of pride.  He was giving back to these people even if they didn’t realize it.

              As expected, Grandel spotted Jarek half hidden behind a hut doing the same jabbing motions with one of the straightened sticks.  The boy hadn’t seen Grandel yet, so he went around the hut so he would be out of Jarek’s view.  Grandel approached from behind the boy quietly.  As he got near, he grabbed the back end of the spear, pulled on it to get Jarek’s balance off, then swept the boy’s feet from under him with a kick.  The boy let out a yelp and landed in the dirt on his back side.

              “Hey, what do you th--!!!” he started to yell until he saw Grandel standing over him.  “O-Octavious.  Sir.  I….”

              Grandel held the stick in front of Jarek.  “How did you get one of the training spears, boy?”  Grandel saw the boy shaking with fear and decided to play on that fear a bit.  “This is not meant for you.  How did you get it?”  Jarek stuttered.  “Speak, son!”

              “I, I just, I don’t know.”

              “Out with it or I’ll never let you be a soldier.  Speak.”

              “I… I took it.  I just want to be strong.  I want to fight!”

              The boy’s eyes were wide with fear.

              Finally Grandel laughed, though Jarek looked more confused than relieved.  “Jarek, you are a boy,” Grandel lectured.  “You should be playing or learning, not pretending to be a soldier.”  Grandel reached down with a hand to help the boy up.  After a moment of looking at his hand, Jarek took it and Grandel pulled him to his feet.  “Being a soldier is not fun.  It’s not glamorous.  It’s an unfortunate necessity.”

              Jarek brushed his back side absentmindedly while staring at Grandel.  “But it’s what I want to do.  I want to fight.  I am strong; I’ll prove it!”

              “You’ll prove it, will you?  How?”

              “Watch!”  Jarek blurted out and suddenly fell to the ground on his hands.  He furiously started doing push-ups.  Grandel watched for a moment amused, then put his boot on the boy’s back and pressed slightly.  Jarek did not slow, so Grandel pushed down harder.  To Grandel’s surprise, the boy kept doing push-ups with the greater weight on his back.  The boy strained and grunted with effort.

              “You are strong, Jarek.”  The boy finally stopped as Grandel removed his boot.  He spun his legs around and sat on the ground looking up and breathing heavily.  “But you are strong for a boy.  A stragh can easily tear apart a strong, full-grown
man
.”

              Jarek didn’t say anything for once, but Grandel noticed the look of determination on his face.  The boy would probably make an excellent soldier in time, he realized.  Grandel figured that moment was as good as any to get to the point.  “Jarek, I need a favor from you.”

              The boy looked up with wide eyes, obviously excited that his hero needed him for something.  “Sure!  Anything, Octavius”

              “Earlier when you saw me in the healer’s tent… I’d prefer if you didn’t tell anyone about that.  Okay?”

              “Oh, okay.  I guess.”  The boy looked away like he was ashamed about something.

              “You… already told someone, didn’t you?”

              Jarek dropped his head between his arms in shame.  “Yes.”

              Grandel was frustrated but didn’t let it show.  “Who, Jarek?”

              “My friends.  I… I just thought….”

              “No, it is fine, just don’t tell anyone else, okay?  Luxin Adeel and I are just old friends and I was making sure she was okay.”

              “Yeah, okay.”  Jarek said while looking down.

              “I’m not mad, just don't tell anyone else.”

              “Okay.  I promise I won't.”

              Grandel turned to leave, but Jarek looked up and said, “Octavius, there is something else.”

              “What’s that, son?”

              Jarek stood up and ran a hand through his messy hair.  “Well, I’ve never shown anyone this before, but I can do a magic trick.  It might... mean something.”

              Grandel was surprised.  Something like this was usually how vigor users discovered their powers if they found out about them on their own.  They found they could sometimes hear peoples' thoughts, or create frost on their hands, or something like that. “Show me your magic trick, Jarek.  Please.”

              The boy held up his left hand and snapped his fingers.  Where he snapped, a quick, tiny burst of light winked to life then disappeared immediately.  He did it two more times in rapid succession.

              “Jarek!  This is excellent!”

              “Does this mean I have to leave and go visit the dragon?”

              Grandel knelt down, put his hand on Jarek’s shoulders, and looked the boy in the eyes.  “Jarek!  You have an amazing gift!  You can use lux!  You will be a Luxin!”

              “But….” the boy trailed off.  “I don’t want to leave my mom and sister.  I don’t want to go.”

              Grandel was surprised.  This rare gift usually made people excited, full of wonder, or nervous, but he’d never found a boy so young who had already found they could use lux.  It made sense that he’d be afraid to leave.

              “Jarek, no one will force you to leave your family, but this is an amazing gift!  Eventually, you should go study with Fafnir and become a Luxin.”  Seeing the fright in the boy’s eyes, Grandel added, “But only when you are ready.  And Fafnir is very gentle.  She is not as scary as she looks.”