The Last Heroes Before Judgement (25 page)

“This is quite far enough, thank you very much.”

My reflection did not exactly speak back. The moon was still brightly shining and the weather was warming up. No matter, I walked only as far as the first stream. The high walls just before the crossing felt secure and I tunneled into the south side hoping the monsters might lose my trail. Even if it had truly been the border guard haunting me the night before, the scent of spoiled eggs and death was haunting. The smell had to have followed on something’s back. Just in case I was smelling myself- a horrible thought that was completely within the realm of potentiality- I bathed.

“Oh yes, finally.”

The stream was deep enough to become completely submerged if laying down flat. The icy fresh water felt great in the sticky heat that chased behind spring’s advance. I made a small alcove by sticking my shell into the south wall and did not even need to start a fire. The powder bags mixed into a paste without heat and I was plenty used to that. In the mines, however, it would have been seriously watered down. The potent and gritty mixtures did not taste nearly as good as they would have in a soup, regardless, I had no cooking pot. The meal was quick, and I had all the clean water I needed to fill me up the rest of the way. I was settling in for an early morning when the creatures of the night decided to go silent. The smell of rotten eggs came back so thick in my nose that it made me gag.

“Whoever you are, listen closely. I can smell you, I can hear you, and I know you’re there.”

My warning echoed west and east along the paved road. I expect they thought I would give up and go to sleep before long. They were wrong.

“I can still smell you! And not even a toad dares to burp in your presence! If you were a man at all you would show yourself!”

Shouting into the darkness yielded nothing. My ears were deafened by the thumping of my own heart and my shallow breathing filled my muscles with blood. There was no sleep to be had under such conditions.

“This is your last chance, fool!”

Impossible, I heard laughter. I swatted the false visions away, but the Lantos were not involved. My eyes did not glow gold from their presence. My instincts told me the beasts were nearly human, as every shift of weight was done one foot at a time. If they had feet like us, then they were indeed the Opa. The Sheek-tee had warned Ambassador Crow about a monster chasing them down from the closed pass between the glaciers. So it was, with this tribal empathy in mind, that I attempted to bargain with them.

“Whatever beast is chasing you, we can stop it.”

I was on my feet traipsing towards the thickest pockets of the smell.

“We can help. The Monster Hunter can slay any beast on land, and likely, any threat that may rise from the sea. Show yourself, so that we may treatise. Hello?”

The forest was so dark that I was the only creature so foolish as to stand out in the moonlight. I might as well have been in my bares.

“Look at me. You see? I come in peace. No sword, no shield, not even my armor. Let us make a pact so that we may all live in peace together.”

Major Swiftblade walked out from the darkness, behind me on the north side of the road. He was mocking me with a slow clap and a deep smile.

“You spent far too much time with the Crow.”

“Master wait. We are not alone.”

He did not pause nor even slow. He was so unimpressed that he sat along the wall and dangled his foot. The look on his face was one of disappointment.

“So I had hoped. You seemed so convinced.”

“But, don’t you smell them. They are all around, I swear it.”

“That smell is Sulfus from the hot springs. Only a barbarian like you would so happily drink that poisoned water. Now, you carry it on your breath.”

“But, I feel fine.”

“The ability to survive on food that would choke a rat does not make you strong, Matthius. You are a scavenger with a strong stomach.”

“Well, thank you sir. I found your speech to be both educational and inspirational.”

My anger only amused him further. I walked back to my tiny camp to the sound of his mocking me with a shrill-toned mush-mouth. He was calling me a girl, and a sheepish one at that. From the northeast came the long howl of a pack of wolves preparing for the hunt. I looked in that direction too quickly, and Major Swiftblade scoffed hard. His head was low and shaking on the way back to Ram’s Peak. I wanted to scream, but the beasts and the bugs began to move and chirp, signaling to each other that the threat had passed. The wind changed direction, and the air smelled cleaner. Sleep should have found me easier with the fear gone. However, it was merely replaced by an angry frustration.

“What’s the best way to catch any monster? Ha-ha, I know. Let’s use Matthius for bait. Great idea lads. Make sure he’s unarmed as well. Yea, good thinking. That’ll teach him. But, what? What have I ever done to you people? Huh? Why am I so easily disposed of? What god decided I was expendable?”

Mother Moon offered no response. Neither did my heart feel any better from yelling at absolutely no one. I woke up to the smell returning several times in the night, still in a rage. All I could do was check the road and stare blankly into the darkness. But, like a superstitious fool, I roared.

Past the first flooded river to the next took me four whole days. The Sheek-tee did not so much as ride by to say hello. The valley of the bears had become repopulated. Luckily, none of the giant monsters bothered with the tiny turtle, as they were too busy grappling for dominance over mates. I had wanted for Kru badly but I suspected the wild carnivores would not be as pleasant as the grinnlies. More than once, a stray cub dug his teeth into my shell, if only just to gauge his budding bite strength. They scared me much more than the wolves. Perhaps, that was why the wolf pack treated me with more respect.

“Puppies!”

The mother wolves were all laying out on the warm stones when I reached the river where Ambassador Crow had caught us fish just two weeks earlier. Though the water was running much higher and faster, the ash and frost colored wolves had even better luck than we had. The whole pack was so fat and happy that some of the brood mothers allowed me to pet their young.

“Broad Wolf Crossing! How do you like the sound of that?”

They could only coo in response. They struggled to properly howl and the matriarch did not approve of my weak attempts either. She knocked me down from the side and ate my food right in front of me- as if daring me to attack. I knew to hide and look away. Just as the alpha rhino had done, she blew her nose in my sweaty hair so I would wreak of her scent.

“Oh, why thank you, Boss-Wolf. What an honor to smile like wet dog.”

Petting her was not allowed. I was sad to leave the puppies that so reminded me of Kru, but, I dared not risk over staying my welcome.

The left leaning crescent of the moon grew smaller and smaller with each passing evening. It rose earlier in the afternoons and, by morning, would be still visible on the other side of the world. Perhaps it was the extra bit of light that propelled me faster east. Perhaps it was the effect of running straight towards the sun. Either way, making Embraun in eight days was unacceptable. The timeline told me it would be nine on the way back, unless the Swiftblade was waiting at the tree line. I doubted it, and, doubted a lack of heavy cargo would grant a much greater speed.

The flowers on the early bells had wilted, allowing the city to glow as scarlet as the bark of pines. The afternoon light especially aided the lighting globes in making the city seem ever more magnificent. That, and, I was gone nearly two weeks. In that short amount of time, I had seen more death than ever before in my entire life.

“Ah yes, Matthius my boy. We’ve been expecting you.”

“Speak for yourself, runt.”

“Bratley. How have you been?”

“Very well. My, my, just look at all of this loot here.”

“What? I assumed you knew-”

Bratley’s eyes told me to be silent as the new Corporal of the gate guard suddenly became interested.

“You sir. Don’t you agree?”

“Uh, what’s that now?”

“Master Bratley seems taller? You must see it too.”

“Ha! Stupid boys, always imagining things.”

His interest rolled away with his eyes. Apparently, the Lantos were to be given the same amount of respect as myself- absolutely none. At least the cover had worked, and I could discover why it was necessary to begin with. However, Bratley refused to mention it further.

“It is not on us to reveal secrets to the people. Such an exercise must be considered carefully. Bad news is always blamed on the messenger.”

“Well then, glad the shame was not dumped on me- for once.”

“Yes, be very glad. The Chron armies are massive and the people fear of their might.”

Bratley sighed long and low. The implants he held were still stained with blood. They must have suspected a treachery was planned. Whatever their counter-measure, they were the ones whom had failed to save Ambassador Crow, not us. Not even the mercenaries could be blamed. It was clear from the start they had been given nothing and told less.

“Will you be escorting me to the bank again?”

“Yes, no one else will be coming in for some time.”

“You know, Bratley, this is not your fault either.”

He raised his brows at me and sighed. Before we left, he measured out the length of the hides and the long piercing teeth. Each was declared a different worth that was recorded under Major Swiftblade’s name. They had written it out over the line where he had drawn the roaring head of a lion, and none of his wears were subtracted by a tax. I was sure that the mark up on the resale price would more than cover the meager bonus wage that was added to his coffer. The silver swirls were wrapped in a silk and slid into their own satchel. The swords were left on a shelf under Bratley’s tiny table. Once he climbed down, he had me roll the hides up with the teeth. He did not speak again until we had reached the giant domes.

“Wait here.”

I nodded. His mood seemed even worse. Daaron came out to retrieve the loot, inspecting every piece to ensure the accuracy of Bratley’s records.

“Master Daaron, sir. The string. May I have it back?”

“Yes. Your Monster Hunter is very skilled.”

“Yes sir. The best.”

“Indeed, little one. The best I’ve ever seen.”

He nodded to himself, overtly impressed. Two of the teeth he held out in one massive hand. They had dried blood stains up more than half their length.

“Sharps must be sterilized before you enter their domain. It’s the law now”

“Yes sir. I am sorry sir. I did not know.”

He understood the law was new. Daaron certainly knew the reason as well.

“Um, before you go. Am I too late? Where are all the beggars?”

“Someone broke the Divination Machine. No more loans until replaced. Don’t cry. Kane said he wanted upgrades. You merely convinced the rest of the council.”

When he disappeared back into the domes, I was left alone in the courtyard. The last few messenger birds flew about the city as night approached. The only messages headed to and from New Lantya were those carried by a phoenix. I watched one carry Bratley’s bag of implants back to the raised safe haven. I joked that the thing had eaten him. It was very funny, however, there was no one around to hear.

The length of my wait told me that something was wrong. I was tired, hungry, and anxious. Still, I dared not sit on a bench. Just inside the dome, a council of the wise was deciding my fate. I could already feel them searching my mind for guilt.

“Matthius. Matthius? Are you asleep on your feet?”

My eyes snapped open all of the way. I wiped the drool from my chin. I tried hard to swallow.

“You’re not on trial. You can relax.”

“By the dwindling light of day. Thank you Bratley. I needed to hear that.”

“Come, come. The council is ready to disperse as it is.”

Less than an hour left until sunset. My legs were so ready to rest they had turned to stone while waiting. Both doors were still open. Bratley locked them both when I entered. The lady Lantos at the end smiled down at me and stifled a yawn. Smiling back, I walked around their raised platform to center and saluted. I was overly distracted by the missing fountain that I had broken the month before. The oldest and angriest member was gone, replaced by a younger red-haired woman that was likely his daughter. She clapped her hands to regain my attention. The man beside her also made no attempts to hide his ill will.

“Hello there, ma’am. Funny, I never got your father’s name either.”

“Because the Clan McCallus needs no introduction- Swillian scum.”

“Aha, so he was Balthus McCallus. You must be his daughter Sillah. Nickolas warned me of you people and your, ‘old ways.’ And your cousin?”

“I am Matthius Ligurius.”

“You too are named Matthius?”

“No! You too, are named Matthius. I am the son of General Lamich Ligurius. You are just another peasant. A lying, thieving, time-wasting, Swillian peasant.”

The anger towards me was warranted. As far as they were concerned, I had unjustly unveiled their master’s plan. They blamed me for his loss of power in their council. However, Balthus McCallus had tried to have me killed. Being punished for refusing to die struck me dumb.

“Matthius.”

“Which one sire?”

“Commando!”

“Apologies, ladies and gentlemen.”

Princess Caliya half-saluted with her father, and moved to cover her own yawn.

“Oh my, excuse me.”

“General Kane, sir.”

“Well met, boy, well met. Now, we are short on time. Come.”

The Lantos king was standing on his chair to properly reach down to me. He bid me extend my open palm to him and he pulled it over the ledge. Once one hand was centered over my hilt, he plunged my hand into his small fountain. We grabbed the handhold as one. Nothing happened, so he nodded to his daughter. I knew her power to be much greater. She joined us, holding her hand over my hilt and dipping her off hand into the same fountain. I took one last free breath, and then, they took control of my mind.

“Kru!”

“What is this Caliya?”

“His strongest memory father. Just- give me a moment.”

“How have you been? Oh my, still just a puppy.”

The dream state was much more real than the strange machine that conjured only visions. I could clearly hear Kru cooing and even Caliya could feel his soft fur. We were standing on the white plateau of the grinnlies. Everything was devoid of colors except for Leiza’s necklace. When the princess played the pearls through her fingers, Kru jumped up to lick her face and cooed loudly in her ear.

“That’s how he was named?”

“Yes ma’am. Named himself, like a big boy.”

“Father, do you see? The grinnlies are real. Father?”

Kane was able to fly about the dream with untethered control. He first flew high as he could, then circled all about, before finally coming to a stop at the great black boulder. He grumbled and studied the map, tracing his fingers along the indentations.

“Shall we make a note?”

“No! This is for my eyes only.”

“What is?”

The new red-haired woman grabbed me in the real world and pulled herself into the dream. The power draw took its toll and sent a crippling shockwave through the entire image. My eyes opened along with the council. The princess and I were already sweating from the exercise.

“Oh, why? I was playing with Kru you red-headed wench!”

“How dare you, little man? I am a member of the high council-”

“And I have spent the past month narrowly escaping certain death for you people. I just wanted to pet my puppy for a little while. What have I ever asked of you?”

“This is no game child. Caliya, we need to see the incident in question.”

“You want to see the Chron Nation? You wish to look on their children and see how they are worshipped as gifts? Observe the chosen people in all their glory.”

I jumped up and grabbed that woman’s hand. Kane shifted in his seat to lend his power and we were sent to the gathering plateau. Many soldiers watched on from the outer rim. Only the children were illuminated with colors and it proved to better show their finely crafted toys.

“This is impossible. How could one nation have so many children?”

“Father, look at how richly they are dressed.”

“So, the tribute does not simply go into storage after all. Fascinating. Not a single adult makes use of the gold. Look at this one, living more richly than any queen in Slorrick.”

The little girl ran around with the spoon and the sound of laughter was so loud the dream shook itself apart. She ran through me just as my eyes opened up back in reality.

“Children, using our gold for play. What a waste.”

“They are seen as gifts. For the Slorrick, the thought of having a child conjures only memories of other women being boiled. This exercise clearly reinforces the notion of them being a gift. You saw it- nearly every adult wore the uniform. Any stranger amongst the Chron would gladly die for another’s child. They are more united than we could ever be. Thank you, Matthius, we are almost finished.”

“Highness, I heard them speaking about the test…”

“Yes, Clea, I did as well. We are told not to follow them to war. A note: It is on us to disobey and send troops for the honor. This may be our only chance.”

My stomach grumbled for food. It was loud enough to be heard over their conversation. I moaned in response and the red-haired lady rolled her eyes around at me.

“My hunger bother’s you my lady? Many apologies. Many, many apologies…”

“You dare to mock me, peasant? You may eat when we are good and finished.”

“She’s quite right Matthius. I need you to focus on that moment.”

“Sir? You mean that moment, when you threw me off a cliff?”

Kane was pleased by my declaration of his unparalleled exertion of control. I could not help but smile back at him because it was also a very proud moment for me.

“Someone keep the count. How many arrows did I block?”

I stood on the tips of my toes and extended my hand over the desk for him. They took us to that moment without delay. Feeling the rush of falling, yet knowing I was completely safe, had me excitedly counting the arrows.

“Eleven clean shots, and one more with my boot! Woo-hoo, I’m the best! Oh look, here come the creepers.”

“What?”

“Where?”

“It cannot be.”

My stomach was turned upside down as the entire council, and even Bratley, had joined us in the dream. Princess Caliya squeezed me hard and it took several breaths for the shaky vision to regain stability. She extended her open hand into the sea and changed the vision in a way I could not possibly have seen at the time. Light trickled out from behind the beasts like the sun crowning about the moon during an eclipse. They were perfectly profiled by her power, and she even traced them back to the point of highest density.

“A note: Creeper migratory lane beneath the northern ice block.”

I thought we were finished, but the other members of the council were only just getting started. Sillah rode the back of the phoenix and Bratley made the ships explode over and over. Caliya was sweating as much as I was, and I hoped that she could not smell my stink. Kane sapped all the power to manipulate the dream state, but actually made good use of it.

“Your eyesight is impeccable, my dear boy.”

He was focused on the ship profiled by the setting sun. Raising his hands, he brought the ship closer into view. The world folded in on itself the way a ballerina creases her skirt over and over until it becomes a tutu. He could only fold my memory so much, because the field of view shrank each time. In the end, Kane was floating high above me, staring into the telescopic lens of a pirate lord. The sails were the same bright blue as the hull and they displayed a three-headed hydra emblazoned in gold. The man spoke my father’s name, and a few of his mates gathered round into the small circle through which they could be seen.

“So, we are not the only ones buying heroes from Dante’s Isle.”

The man lowered his lens and handed it off. He seemed strangely familiar, even sharing my Swillian spot on the chin. The man beside him wore the tattooed head of a lion on each shoulder.

“Goja the Thirteenth.”

“Now that is as inbred a bloodline as it gets.”

“Ugh, he’s so ugly. And that laugh is horrifying.”

“What a monster.”

That last word drove Caliya into a bout of madness. She chanted it over and over as we rushed through memories of her own.

We were in the council’s dome finishing with the testimony given by Sloan- about Matthius.

“Throw him to the cyclops. If the gods choose to spare the boy, we will see it as a sign that they have other plans for him.”

“Yes, that idea is sound. A vote: the Swillian will become food for the cyclops.”

“Indeed.”

The red-bearded elder of the council was too excited about sentencing me to death. When the council agreed, Caliya shook her head and we were suddenly standing on New Lantya. She kept chanting about the monster as we chased through the telescopic lens held by Kane. The vision raced down to the city streets where we saw Sloan drunkenly stumbling towards an inn. He was snatched up from behind by Daaron and dangled helplessly in the air. Before he could call out for help, all was explained by a mercenary from the White Coal Nation.

“This is what happens when you disobey your king.”

“Brother Coal, help me.”

“You, Coal? You turned a whip on six white women.”

“But, they were spies from the Queen. Brother Coal,-”

“You aint no brother of mine!”

The underpriest finally got what he deserved. The brawler’s fists dug deeply into Sloan’s soft belly. The air rushed out of his lungs with the snapping of ribs and welling up of blood. Every time he blocked with his hands, they were crushed as well. This time, I shook the image away. I was too horrified as, somehow, I felt sympathy for that ugly demon. That’s when the princess began chanting something else.

“The demon. The demon. The demons!”

I was in the field of blood with the rhinos. Her power again profiled monsters that had been hiding in the darkness. The evil red light of the moon turned them into more demonic entities. Their weapons of hollow reed were silent and sharp. One of them plunged his tool into a sloth’s lungs. The air pushed out the blood with a squirt. The rest of them watched the Lantos run behind me in fear. The Opa were more man than beast, especially in the way they waived me towards them and licked their lips in anticipation. Their leather faces had more fang than lip, and their red fur allowed them to blend in perfectly with the bark of the scarlet pines. The entire council was chanting prayers to themselves. I was not afraid, now that it was only a dream.

“I knew it! Princess, do you smell that? Is that just me, or, is that how the Opa smell? Ma’am?”

Caliya drew in through her nose and recoiled. The nasty red glow went blank in some places. Pines replaced a few of the trees. The image slowly turned blue. We were taken to the road, and everyone dropped down to appreciate the safety. But, there they were, just beyond the line of darkness. They truly had followed me and were watching from the shadows all along. Their War Chief was closest to the road. When I spoke of peace, I was actually speaking to him directly. The pack of beasts closed in from all around and some were climbing down headfirst with as much control as a gliding squirrel. They suddenly stopped, and I looked to Caliya. It was not her fault, the vision was the same as it had been. Master Swiftblade walked out of the opposite tree line clapping at my speech, and the giant Opa had frozen in fear.

“They are afraid. They fear my Monster Hunter!”

King Kane laughed and taunted them. He cackled like a madman and shook his tongue about like a goat. His laughter echoed through all of us until we laughed in unison. Then the spell was broken, and I fell flat on my back. My stomach growled so ferociously that all I could do was lay there on the floor. The entire council, however, was on their feet, rushing about barking orders.

“Emergency! Domestic threat! Emergency!”

“Enquiry, send for an artist.”

“A message: The Swiftblade must be warned!”

“Gather the Commanding Generals.”

“Matthius? Matthius.”

While the fuss distracted everyone else, only Bratley remembered I was still there. He helped me to my feet and out of the dome. With only one tiny sliver of sun left hanging over the mountains, I found my strength returned just in time.