Demon Within (6 page)

Already waiting in Littlewood forest as planned; Kai, Sabe, Kiera and two other warriors arrived ahead of the agreed time. Saul and Maika, two of Kai’s best archers, waited at the entrance to the forest, hidden among the foliage ready to signal the first sight of the caravan. While Kai didn’t think King Garlan was stupid enough to try anything, he still liked to be prepared. Although Sabe and Kai were fearless in the face of battle, and their sword skills were impressive, there’s nothing wrong with planning ahead as Sabe often remarked. Kai sent him to check on Saul and Maika, while he waited in the cool of the shade with Kiera.

Hypnotized by Kiera’s hands as they moved the whetstone slowly across the edge of her sword, Kai’s mind, for the first time in days, was quiet. Not easily unnerved, Kai knew he would have his patience tested today. Sitting on a large log, next to Kiera, he stabbed at the wood with his dagger and continued to watch her.

Kiera, aware of Kai’s watching eyes, continued to sharpen her sword. She’d been quiet on the journey from Blackhill, and it wasn’t usual. A day wouldn’t be complete without harmless teasing between her and her brother; even with Kai, when he wasn’t brooding. When her brother started the negotiations for the alliance with King Garlan, it didn’t sit well with her. There were many occasions for her to dislike her brother, and this last act, had outdone them all.

Swapping the whetstone for a cloth and holding it to the light, Kiera wiped the blade and examined it closely. Happy she’d done a good job, then sheathing it, she put it to the side. Kiera took care of her weapons; her armory extensive. Skilled in both sword and fighting knives, Kiera was a formidable opponent to anyone; the bow being her preferred weapon. No one matched her accuracy and precision when it came to archery, but she still reveled in a good sword fight, and rarely lost. Glancing over to Kai, she packed the stone and cloth into her saddlebag; sure he was as unhappy as she was.

‘I don’t like this plan.’

Still idly stabbing the log, Kai paused when Kiera spoke but didn’t reply. An expressionless face stared at the patterns made by his dagger before adding more.

‘It's a bad idea. He’s just using us because he’s too chicken to fight his own battles.’

Kiera waited for Kai to at least look at her, but he didn’t. Huffing out a breath and grabbing her backpack, she stormed off towards the horses and muttered under her breath when she saw Sabe heading towards her. Kai watched her; enjoying her rounded cheeks jiggling in the leather pants she wore as she marched away.

‘Good morning sister.’ Sabe greeted Kiera with a wide smile, but only received a barrage of cursed words, ‘That’s not very ladylike.

‘I’ve never claimed to be a lady.’ She spat back, and continued towards the horses.

Shaking his head, Sabe walked towards Kai.

‘What did you do to upset my sister?’ Standing with his arms folded, he nodded over his shoulder at Kiera then turned back to Kai with a grin. ‘She’s in a foul mood.’

Kai raised his eyebrows then sighed. ‘Nothing unusual there.’

Chuckling, Sabe’s legs straddled the log as he faced Kai. ‘The caravan’s just entered the forest, it’ll be here soon.’

‘How many soldiers did he bring?’

‘Eight.’ Frowning as he glanced at Kai’s carving on the log. ‘The King and his son are at the front, his aid is there too.’ Sabe noticed his friend’s worried expression.

‘Are you feeling alright? If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were nervous about meeting your bride!’ He teased, and suffered a deep scowl for his nerve. ‘Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.’ He slapped Kai’s arm. ‘Cheer up!’

Kai managed a half scowl; distracted by a hawk, he watched it hover in the air, before it dived to the ground to catch its prey. Unemotional and calm, his eyes lingered over the area, and waited for the hawk to reappear. After a few moments, it appeared with its prey held fast in its talons. Sabe followed his gaze and watched with him; he had to wonder if he’d made a mistake. Knowing how much Kai valued his freedom, had he just put the chains back on him? Kai turned his attention back to his carving, without expression or words, while Sabe looked on.

Sabe was famous for turning everything into a joke; having a witty retort to almost any insult thrown his way, he could get people annoyed very easily. On most days, he’d make the most miserable person smile, but not today. Today, it seemed impossible to make anyone laugh or even smile. And now he suddenly felt guilty about the agreement.

Watching Kai chip at the log, seeing his worried face, he hoped for his own sake, it didn’t turn out to be a disaster. He’d seen many of Kai’s moods; this one was a regular visitor. Fortunately, Sabe knew how to handle it.

‘Remember when I got caught with that pretty young filly from Landbridge?’ he quickly glanced to check for a reaction; nothing, so far. ‘The Blacksmith's daughter, Emily, and how he came after me with those hoof clippers!’ He started to chuckle, and keeping his head lowered, he looked up to see if Kai stirred. ‘…chasing me down the street, and threatening to chop off my balls!’ His chuckles turned to laughter as he recalled the scene.

‘I should have let him!’ Kai snorted.

‘Didn’t I tell you that the next time I had any such idea’s, you should talk me out of it?’

Kai nodded and laughed. ‘You did, but after you were caught the second time.’ Grinning. ‘The sight of you strung up by your ankles, naked; her father holding the hoof clippers in one hand, and a pair of tongs in the other was hilarious.’ His shoulders shook as he laughed. ‘I thought that would be a better deterrent, than me telling you not to do it!’

Kai wiped the streaming tears from his cheeks, his laughter unrelenting. He tried to continue the story, but couldn’t get the words out.

Sabe lay back along the log, his body jiggled as he laughed uncontrollably. ‘I can’t believe…you told him… to just …take one!’ Sabe could barely speak for fits of hysterics.

Kai let out a loud roar; and attempted to finish the tale. ‘His face… when heard me encourage him… was a picture!’

‘I swear you’d have let him. Thank the gods for Kiera!’

Sabe stifled his laughter and managed to speak. Rising to a sitting position his eyes connected with Kai’s dispelling any sadness or worries for a brief moment

‘Fortunately, she didn’t miss, because I was about to lose the family jewels!’

Kai added. ‘And yet you still don’t listen to me.’ One day, you will lose your balls, and your cock!’ He waved his dagger at his face in a circular motion.

Reflecting on good times brought Kai into a better mood. Sabe knew him better than himself, and he valued his friendship above all others.

‘Thank you, friend.’

Bowing his head to accept his friend’s thanks, Sabe congratulated himself on another job well-done. He didn’t like seeing Kai unhappy; he’d had enough misery to last two-lifetimes, and if he could ease his pain with a laugh and a jest, then he’d done well. Looking out towards the road, he hoped the King’s daughter would also bring some peace to Kai’s mind. He had plenty of women at his disposal, but that wasn’t always what a man needed. A companion to share troubles and worries was as important as sex. Kai hadn’t known love. He’d never received any after his mother sold him to the slavers, and had been absent of affection all his life. Sabe felt if he found a woman to show him there was more to life than fighting, he might find some peace.

Along the border of Eastland Marshes and Wild Plains, stands Braxton, the region’s main supplier of wine. Stretching across the valley and surrounding fields, the endless rows of vines not only make for a scenic landscape, but the regimental planting enabled maximum yield and provide access to tend the vines.

A bountiful crop of sweet grapes will make a good wine and provide reliable trading with other towns and villages. For two whole days the workers toiled relentlessly, finally harvesting the grapes after the evaporation of the morning’s dew.

The workers had been up since the early dawn but sprits were high, despite the amount of ahead of them. Families and friends worked together to bring in the harvest, the festival held at the end of summer made the hard work worthwhile.

A loud scream pierced the air, and everyone turned to witness an excited young boy jump onto the cart.

‘Father! Look! There’s a fire.’ Pointing towards the east.

The workers followed the boy’s directions; rising up, a large plume of black smoke bellowed into the sky.

Darion called to his father, and then jumped up alongside the boy in the cart. He and his father, Amos, owned a small portion of the vineyard, with many other villagers.

The original owner, having no sons or family, had sold the vineyard three years earlier. No one person at Braxton could afford to buy the business, so it had been sold in portions, many people taking up the offer to buy a small piece. The winery still belonged to the original owner, who took a fee in payment for the use of the buildings and equipment, but the arrangement pleased everyone.

Buying a small stake in the business, Darion and his father had seen a good return on their investment; they couldn’t afford to lose it. Standing behind the boy who’d alerted him, he rested his hands on his shoulders, as he looked towards the horizon. He could see the flames and smoke a few miles away. If they acted now, they could build a firebreak and stop it spreading. It was crucial the fire didn’t reach the vineyards; everyone’s livelihood depended on it.

Unhitching the horses from the carts, they hurried them to the plows in the fallowed fields; they could start plowing immediately and make the fire-break, so it couldn't spread. Many ran home to gather more tools; spades, forks and beaters, to start manually digging and beating at the smaller fires. Speed was vital if they wanted to save their vineyard, and everyone rallied to aid and stamp out the fire. The first people to arrive, where those who'd taken their own horses, after collecting tools from home they galloped towards the direction of the smoke.

Darion was one of the first to approach, but it wasn't the fields that burned. Dryden, a busy town with many residents was aflame. People ran screaming along the main road, and across the fields to escape. Darion approached them. Confused and unsure of the events, he stopped to ask a man fleeing.

‘What's happening? Why is everyone running instead of fighting the fire?

‘Run! You can't stop it.!’ He shouted over his shoulder to Darion.

Darion watched the man, and many others run away screaming. He didn't know what to think; his friends from Braxton caught up to him and were as confused as he.

‘What the hell’s going on? No one’s staying to put out the fire, I don’t understand.’ Darion addressed Milo, who’d sidle up by his side.

Milo and Darion’s fathers worked together in the vineyards and so they too became friends. Having died of a heart condition two years previous, Milo’s father left his son to take care of his mother, who took the death badly.

‘There’s something amiss, I’m going to get a closer look.’

Milo spurred on his horse, and galloped towards the town. Darion wanted to follow, but his father shouted to him, making him stop.

‘Darion wait! Don’t go to Dryden, stay here.’ He expressed concern. Darion waited and turned to his father.

‘Why?’

‘I don’t think it’s safe, wait until we can find out more.’ Amos looked around. Only the town burned; the surrounding fields were not ablaze. It looked like an attack.

‘We have to go and help!’ Darion was eager to aid the townsfolk.

‘Darion, listen to me. We should return to Braxton. We are too few to help them.’

He watched the people as they fled, and thought there must be many raiders.

‘Come on. These people need help, and somewhere to sleep tonight. We’ll call a meeting at Braxton.’

Darion he knew his father was right. If they banded together, they could return and fight the raiders.

Kicking at his horse, Darion sped off back home, his father followed.

Glancing back over his shoulder Amos looked for Milo, but he was nowhere in sight. Always hot-headed and quick to join a fight, he hoped he’d find sense and return to Braxton.

As Darion reached the boundaries to Braxton, he called to everyone working on the firebreak to prepare for refugees.

The Mayor of Braxton, Mr. Ridley, couldn’t believe raiders were at Dryden and burning the town.

Darion and Amos felt there was no other explanation. Waiting for the survivors to arrive, the Mayor wanted to question them and find out what he was up against. Amos, Darion and the Mayor left the office and headed into the street. Surprised at how many had gathered, Mayor Ridley had to assume Amos and Darion were correct.

The refugees gathered in the square to wait for aid. Mayor Ridley looked at the rapidly growing crowd and wondered where everyone was going to spend the night. He addressed the crowd.

‘Friends, please.’ His hands motioned for everyone to settle. ‘I’m sure you’re all scared, and understandably so, but if we stand together united, we can overcome this terrible injustice. I give you my word.’

Screams came from the crowd, as a horse galloped through the square. The crowd parted to let the horse and its rider through; an injured man, covered in horrendous burns. The gruesome sight made everyone gasp. Darion watched in disbelief as he recognized Milo’s horse. Pushing his way forward, he reached and pulled him down carefully. He was in a pitiful state; the smell of burned flesh made Darion balk. He’d never seen anything so horrific in his life.

‘Help me get him down! Someone call the doctor!’ He ordered.

People ran to fetch water and blankets. His burned clothes barely covered his body, and the sight of his charred skin made many look away. Darion’s eyes winced at the wounds as he tried to make him comfortable, placing a supporting arm under his head. Milo was barely breathing.

‘Help is coming, my friend.’ Darion assured him, but secretly knew a doctor couldn’t help.

‘Not a fire… it’s a devil.’ His words were barely audible.

Darion leaned his ear close to Milo’s lips. ‘What did you say?’

‘I saw it!’ His eyes widened in terror.

Darion thought him delirious.

‘Not men.’ Milo managed to speak.

‘Who did you see Milo? Was it raiders?’

No reply. He’d slipped into unconsciousness. Darion held back tears as he cradled his dying friend in his arms. Looking to his father and shaking his head, Darion felt Milo’s last breath leave his body.

Everyone moved aside while Darion carried his friend home. His ailing mother had no knowledge of the recent events. Amos entered the home first, and prepared her for the news. The cries and wails of a mother who’d lost her child filled Darion’s eyes with tears. Carrying his friend into the house he laid Milo on his bed. Covering his body, he suggested they bury him straight away. His flesh was burned to the bone in some places, and the smell wasn’t pleasant.

Amos comforted Milo’s mother until the neighbors arrived from the square. They assured Amos and Darion they’d take of everything, and not to worry. Thanking them, Darion and his father left and slowly walked back to the square.

‘What do you make of this?’

Amos scratched the side of his face before answering. He didn’t have any idea what to think. Milo hadn’t made sense. After a short pause, ‘Let’s go back to the vineyard. We need to know if the raiders are heading our way.’

Darion nodded and moved towards the horses.

Mayor Ridley opened the school and asked anyone with spare blankets to take them there. Sending three women to open the kitchen, he told them to make sure there was enough food to feed everyone. Food and supplies already began to appear by the door. Looking around, impressed by the chaos that had soon turned to order, Mayor Ridley felt blessed to be part of the community. He wanted to speak with Amos and Darion to see if they had any suggestions about Dryden. Seeing them ride out of the square as he turned, he called out, but they were out of earshot.