The Last Heroes Before Judgement (34 page)

Ambassador Crow finally remembered his power after a few days of mourning. I was arguing with the mercenaries about the state of the weary steed when Jyetta decided that he had had enough. He threw open the door to the boxed wagon and the steed came to a stop on instinct.

“Fine. I will go first. Matthius, you may release the steed from his bounds.”

“Are you mad? What if he skips off?”

“Yes! I am very mad that you used my name as an excuse to abuse this animal. When- if he returns, then we will know for sure that he is ready for more.”

“Say something boss.”

“Fine. You can go next.”

Hoss and I laughed in the same tone, as he and I were both strong enough to push the cart on our own. The steed did skip off immediately. He disappeared into the woods, likely seeking water and berries, without so much as looking back. Jyetta thought that he was ready to push the cart, but his body disagreed. My shoulders and calf’s were swollen with blood from pushing the cart for days. The sun gave me strength and healed the damage from overuse. I was alone in that. Lucky for them, I still helped them in turns throughout the day because I did not need to rest until dark. The steed was angry and deserved his break. Though we spotted him running circles around us and pretending to return, he did not bother with it until morning of the tenth day. By then, it was only a few hours to Embraun.

“Good on you there Master Ambassador. You made your point. You made it well.”

Jyetta had earned Hoss’s respect the hard way by getting out to push on the last two days of travel. Jim was not prepared for it but agreed with his boss on the merit of leading from the front. With the steed fully rested, and the patches of ice all melted, I even got to ride in the back for the final leg. As we were both dead tired, Jyetta and I both fancied a nap. He huffed and sighed, trying to imagine what would be best to say. I had a single piece of advice for him and hoped that he would remember the purpose of his mission over the luxuries granted by his title. I had hoped something similar for myself once, but, I understood what needed to be done. I was resolved to earn my honor. Once the town folk saw the mark of shame on my chin, only a grand achievement could negate the hissing. All Jyetta had to do was make a baby.

“Make way, make way.”

“The Ambassador returns. Out of the way.”

“That time already?”

The gate guards checked the cart up and down. When they looked inside, I heard a squeaky Lantos calling for a veterinarian to heal the steed. For the first and last time, I was treated with respect by the guards. No one had to see my mark until I was past the threshold. The heavily fortified boxed wagon pulled into the guard stables to be leased for other travelers of such high esteem. Jyetta’s mother had already had her new servant boy pull their town wagon around to wait. She had her hair wrapped up tight against the cold in a purple scarf. Her brown skin and eyes came from her Lokah heritage, meaning that Jyetta was in fact the son of three nations. While they were squealing and hugging, I transferred the chest, and helped the vet to unlatch the steed’s bindings.

“What did you heathens do to this poor little boy?”

“Well ma’am, after a week of fleeing for our lives, we let him go and pushed the wagon for ourselves. Luckily, he forgave us and decided to come back.”

“Very lucky indeed. So typical of a marker, no respect for the life of another.”

“Yes ma’am, I should have pushed from behind the whole time.”

Even the steed shook his long neck and stomped at the disrespectful tones, mainly because I had had his back outside of the walls. The creature could never understand what the scar on my chin meant. The mercs were recounting tall tales to the young guardsmen. The Lantos working the front office for Bratley was a woman. She pretended to be impressed by their glorious lies, and even finished by excitedly proclaiming that they had gone above and beyond the call of duty.

“Oh my, you were correct, Master Hoss.”

“Is that right?”

“My moon table shows that you passed well into the second month. Each of you earned a bonus of one gold.”

“Yea, alright boss.”

“That’s right lads, we’ll be getting tossed at the Blood and Bone tonight.”

“See you there Hoss Miser!”

“Don’t forget about our rematch Jim Boy!”

They walked on down the road, being celebrated as heroes. The Lantos woman saw me whilst rolling her eyes at the fools, and checked her scroll for any required interactions. She held up her finger, pointed it at me, and then threw up her hands. I thought it strange, however, she was not the only one avoiding contact with the marker at all costs.

“Matthius, let’s make this quick.”

“Are you sure? People are watching.”

“Oh please, look at this thing on my face.”

Jyetta gave me a tight hug that lasted, perhaps, a bit too long.

“Don’t worry, Master Crow. You will make a great father.”

“You really think so?”

“Of course, just have to find the right woman is all. Listen, talk to Nurse Leona. She works at the Surgeon’s Review. You might be the only man with enough power to gain sway with Doctor Prinn.”

“Take a woman from Lord Prinn? With what sword?”

“Just be yourself. Be honest about who you really are, and your true intentions. If she says no, then, you just get drunk and forget all about it.”

He pursed his lips together and crossed his arms.

“Since when did you get so wise on how to treat a lady?”

“I was just thinking... you know- how to help my friend.”

“Oh, I can’t take it anymore. I hate long goodbyes. Just run along before I start crying.”

Jyetta had the nerve to hug me twice, and his mother did not hide her suspicions.

“This is where you have been all this time? Grandmother and I are worried sick, meanwhile, you are hiding out in the Thieves' Guild getting inked with your little boyfriend?”

“Thief? Little?”

“All I want is a baby Crow, or two, or three! Is that really so much to ask of you?”

“Good bye, Master Ambassador, Madam Ambassador.”

“Run along marker. Do not tempt my son again.”

The poor women, she had no idea why we were laughing so hard. I made my way to Beggar’s Pass and found it conveniently empty. Most of the town folk without a permanent residence had fled south for the coming winter. They followed the food and the ability to sleep anywhere outside. With so few freaks left, I would have a hard time blending. At least no one stood in my way. Though I walked with a purpose, I kept my head down and my eyes looking no higher than a boot. For the first time, I made it to the Beggar’s Bank in the full light of day. I had no doubts about what would happen next. The Lantos would be excited for news from the front. They would happily invade my mind and make judgements on the spot. Before I could even knock on their door, the invasion of privacy had already begun.

“Come in, come in. Oh, you have loot after all.”

“No ma’am. This is for me to keep.”

Bratley had been replaced at the gate, and at the Beggar’s Bank by little women. I thought she seemed familiar, so it made sense that she ran back through the domes to reappear in her seat at the far right. Once she placed the crown on her head, I received the nod, and she whispered her name into my mind, ‘Clea.’ I fully intended to march out three pace before Kane but lost my wits at the sight of their new Divination Machine. The fountain that I had broken had finally been replaced, by a taller and much stranger statue. At about my chest, the thing spread out into a cross, and yet, the top spread out again into a large circle. Princess Caliya cleared her throat to catch my attention. The entire council was glowing in the full light of day.

“Madam, sir. Excuse me, General Kane. Cadet Matthius, reporting.”

He alone returned my salute. The rest of the council was studying my new appearance.

“I see you have string. Put that wild bundle of hair in a top knot please, you look like a Swillian savage. You could have shaved before coming in here, bathed as well. We are not short on time today. I am, however, short on patience. This time of year, the people get desperate. I have much on my mind. You had better offer good news.”

“It’s about time you earned that mark boy.”

“Don’t start with that, Sillah. I just said, I have no patience left for today.”

The little king slammed his open hand on the long desk, and breathed in deeply through the nose.

“How may I be of service to you today, sire?”

“The new and improved Divination Machine is, I believe, ready for a test run.”

“How do I use it?”

“You should not require instructions.”

He waved me onward. When I had walked close enough, I understood completely. Hands on the cross bar, head through the circle, eyes staring down into the glowing water. Besides salt crystals, there were other floating particles. I was unafraid- until I dared to touch it. A magnetism ran through my whole body, dragging me into the fountain. I tried to pull my head back but the hilt was working for them. Once fully inside the device, my eyes glowed gold and the council stole my mind. The entire experience was much more brilliant than ever before. Not only was I trapped in my body, but I was trapped in the position of the recalled memory. Kane no longer had to struggle with the user to find the correct time, nor was he forced to view them in reverse order. They all swam through my mind together, no longer suffering from a lack of power. We began by laughing together, Kane and me, because I was impressed, and he knew it.

“Just look at this, so called ‘Seal’ training.”

“The Lokah will be preparing for war all winter.”

I could smell the cold salt water and the soggy forest floor. Sitting in the Shaman position, without any ability to move, I watched the council connect my memory to that offered by Kane, as he had seen it through the eyes of the phoenix. They flew north, following the bird through the canopy as it moved in reverse. Only Caliya stayed with me on the beach. She walked atop the surface of the water staring down. As deep down and as far west as the memory allowed, The Chalice was empty of the Spotted Creepers.

“So, they migrate with the weather. Hmm, if only we had a Commando in this sector to continue the observations.”

“Ma’am?”

She smiled at me and floated to my side through the air. Clearly, she was celebrating the fact that the Divination Machine was a success. With the machine in place, she no longer needed to lend her own power to the council.

“Come spring, I will want a shipment of fresh- live- specimen for examination. Do you think you could manage that?”

“Yes ma’am. For you, I will.”

Kane did not need to float anywhere. He had spent the whole time flashing in and out of sight like the worst kind of ghost. Just then, when I dared to make his beautiful daughter giggle and blush, he flashed to the space in between us.

“Daaron told me all about the Nanu Trap. Will you show me yours?”

“Sir, it was not very professional.”

“Why do you shy away? Did you fail?”

“I can smell the air here, sir. I- I am afraid.”

“Good.”

A bolt of lightning struck the spot in which I sat, the thunder rolling through my head immediately after. The taste of warm blood filled my mouth and nose. I moaned and tried to grab hold of my gut. When I opened my eyes, I was holding the lion’s tooth and roaring into the dark red night. The pain returned, and I was left wondering whether I was indeed bleeding again, or if the shock had caused me to wet myself out in the real world.

“Stay right there.”

Kane mocked m. He left me frozen in the victorious pose, knowing full well I felt the pain.

“I cannot believe this worked. Congratulations, little Monster Hunter.”

Caliya followed her father to the east. Two days’ worth of memories were replayed separately from within the tree line. The Lantos examined the Opa, who had actually been examining me the whole time. When they were finished calling observations out to their notaries, they marched in on me with hungry eyes.

“No surgeon, no stitches, and no sun light.”

“Sir?”

“How did you survive?”

His voice shook through the dream state. Another bolt of light and pain dropped me to my knees. I was kneeling before a fire. Major Swiftblade was looking away. Wine poured all down my front. Kane was slapping through the image of Dooza and demanding answers. Try as I might, I had no control over the memory. However, Caliya realized that I was conjuring it in the front of my mind and she moved us on to the healing pools.

“Eighty one years I’ve lived in Embraun! Eighty one years you hid this from me!”

“Father, she is an ally.”

“This is how the Clovus exact revenge. Look at the power of this secret grove.”

“Please, be quiet.”

A hush fell over the council, but the Princess did not fear her father the way they did. She knelt down next to the head of the pool. Reaching in and grabbing hold of my hilt, she brought forth Dooza to initiate the memory.

“Show me what was written in the Lexicon. Show me Gojinus the Devil.”

They gasped from the lack of color. I rejoiced from the ability to move.

“Three Island Summit, Vacation Home of the Swillian royals.”

“Goja- by the gods- he looks just like Goja!”

“How beautiful.”

There were only three instances of color shining through all of the dull grey. The Emperor's eyes were glowing red, as was the entire body of Gojinus out in the field. And his mother, the crown jewel of the empire. She gave birth to only one son, and never wanted for more. Her golden hair was brighter than the sun that day. Her eyes, a mesmerizing blue that caused half the council to stare. Kane and Sillah McCallus were busy investigating the palace for holes in security. I spent the time observing my father in his movements. He was handsome and confident, walking with his chest out and jaw raised. If the circumstances were changed, we would have made a fine team, fighting in the streets for gold and food and respect. My spots were his spots, and the spots of the Emperor. But, the guile and thirst for knowledge, they were special attributes that only we shared. And, of course, we were plenty different as well. He took on the role of a power hungry lunatic at the ripe old age of ten. In that way, he was just like every other Swillian royal, and I was merely a peasant from the slums of Ulfbar South.

“Why have I never heard of her before?”

“News of her son’s passing broke her. She leapt from a cliff to the rocks below.”

“I see a pattern emerging.”

“Indeed.”

The council turned its eyes my way. I too saw the pattern. I had had no will power before, however, mentioning Leiza with a roll of the eyes changed that. I held out my arms and wiggled my fingers the way Dooza had done. They looked unimpressed, until the waves washed the memory away. We were standing on the mountain next to the healing pool, all of us.

“Finally. What took you so long?”

Kane wanted to glance right over the fact that his new machine failed to control the Swillian runt. Sillah squinted suspiciously, unconvinced that I was ever supposed to resist. We raced forward to a time when Kane was mentioned in a positive light. Scaring Jyetta into getting the sickness over with made him appear strong. After listening to the speech I made on his behalf, he clapped.

“That Crow is going places. He will always remember this day as the day the truth was revealed to him by an honest man. The Chron will hold you down for days to ink your face in a display of power. King Kane will simply make you disappear from existence.”

The council joined him in his slow clap, and the memory shook itself apart. My body was still being drawn to the statue when my eyes opened in real life. The Lantos removed their hands from the pools on their desks, freeing the hilt from the machine. Kane curled his little finger, summoning me to his side.

“Listen, Cadet.”

The Lady McCallus and the other Matthius got up to leave. They all nodded to one another. Kane rubbed at his face, not from the interruption, but due to a lack of words.

“I’m not sure, how best to say...”

The princess held up her finger to me and whispered his way. He nodded, seemingly relieved.

“Let this be the first and last time you ever hear these words. On behalf of the Logistical Operations Division, allow me to offer an apology. You did not deserve the mark. I am so sorry that happened to you Matthius.”

“That’s fine, Princess. I was surprised that I did not earn it sooner. Besides, now normal people will leave me alone. I am a freak, the freaks are my people.”

“That is an excellent attitude to have. However, there is a process for making amends. Please accept this offering and stay at the Weary Lamb tonight. Bathe and relax for a day before your long journey back to Ram’s Peak.”

Caliya held out her hand and gave me three silver. It was more money than I had ever had before, and the look on my face told them so. Kane could not apologize, but his daughter more than made up for that.

“One day, my dear boy, you will understand. Every man has a purpose. You may live for that purpose and never achieve it, and you may die for that purpose without ever having known.”

“I understand now, sire. The gods are always watching, always judging. Everything in life is a test, and must be treated thusly.”

I unwrapped the long tooth from its hiding place. The tooth rested on my chest and all of my hair fell down after it. They nodded, and I saluted. Then, they got up to leave.

“Wait. I mean, excuse me sire. You usually allow me a single question.”

“Apologies, dear boy. What is it that ails you?”

“Do you know what happened to Kru?”

Kane looked at his daughter with a quizzical tilt of the head. Caliya smiled and her face flushed. She knew to whom I was referring. The last notary, presumably hers, giggled at the ridiculous nature of questioning the King and Commander about a dog that was never mine.

“Matthius, he was sent to Kowena for war dog training.”

“How long does that take?”

The notary excused herself before losing control. Kane followed her out, rolling his eyes around as he did. Caliya did not mind the tone because she shared in the joy of our memories.

“The gods played the trick on that one. As it turns out, he was not a runt at all. In fact, he is the first of a smaller and smarter brood. So, he was selected for breeding.”

“Good. Thank you. Good for him- just like Jyetta.”

She covered her face with her hands, cringing and shaking her head.

“That’s not the same thing. You are such a savage.”

“Thank you for your honesty Princess.”

I bowed to her. She shook her head some more and waved goodbye to go and giggle with her friend. I did get somewhat lost trying to find the Weary Lamb. However, I was much too hungry to give up. With three silver coins in my vest, I lowered my head no more. The mark of shame was a mistake that I could proudly bare just above my lion’s tooth. I was glad to be called a marker. It seemed, to me, to be the one insult worse than any mention of my Swillian spots. And so, it did not hurt my feelings one bit.