The Last Heroes Before Judgement (40 page)

The ride back was slower, both to prevent a broken jug full of water and monster, and because only Eso could rightly see in the dark tunnel. Everyone was in a sour mood, and even I was- at first. But, Kru fell asleep in my lap, and I was grateful to be left behind for a little while. Perhaps in the next spring, we would march with He-olt’s army. Then, I would be cherishing these moments spent together in the last days of peace before judgment.

“Matthius, why are you making dinner? You have to learn how to give orders.”

“Don’t be silly, these are my guests.”

Senjay raised a brow. Bratley scoffed under his breath. But, the hour was late enough. I made dinner for the whole party- eight in total. The Lady Dooza refused to join in any possible outbreak of celebrations. The whole world was going to war, the way they should have before her people were slaughtered by mine. Three hundred years and still no forgiveness. Bratley’s presence was too much for her to handle whilst maintaining her composure. The guards, Sabrina and Boar, ate heartily and quietly cleaned their gear. Bratley borrowed Senjay’s artistic skill to properly record his analysis of the wild Creeper breed. Majors Talon and Swiftblade never came down to eat at all. At least Kru slurped up his share without any complaints.

“These last two shares cannot go to waste. Senjay, Boar, you are the biggest. Please eat a second helping.”

“No worries, master turtle. I want more. Almost finished.”

“I second that. No one makes a powder like this.”

“Yes, what’s your secret?”

“The Shaman on this mountain grows herbs for her blue clucks. In between the application of fertilizer and the over growth of worms, a black peeper spice and a pink leaf grow rampant. If I did not eat it, no one would.”

“The secret ingredient is pink manure?”

“For the worms, yes it is. They grow longer than my arms spread wide.”

“Ah, that must be why the eggs grow so large. Fascinating, there is so much to learn about this place.”

“No. Nothing of note. I still grow no taller than a Lantos wearing thick boots.”

My sad sigh pushed everyone over the edge into a fit of gut clenching, crying, gasping, and cackling. When everyone had finished, I let Kru lick the soup pot and all the bowls before cleaning them off proper. Senjay led my glance to a swirling wine horn he had brought with him. The night was already so late that the rest of the party was preparing for bed.

“They act like they put in work today. It’s a shame really, I don’t think I’ll get any alone time with that red headed beauty.”

“I’ll ask, don’t worry. Bratley, can I ask you a question?”

“You just did, Matthius. Would you like to ask another?”

“Yes, please. Are your guards allowed to leave their gear behind the way we do?”

“No, not the way Talon does it. What if someone were to take the armor and the weapons? How does an unarmed man get back his sword?”

Senjay and I both raised a brow, and quizzically examined our raised fists.

“Well, it’s just as I thought then. That’s fine, thank you.”

“Oh no you don’t. Why do you ask?”

“We were going to invite you all to the hot springs, but, they will be cooked in their armor. Of course, if they cannot come, neither can you. Oh well, it’s not as though you will ever be back. No matter, you will run into the same quandary if ever you return.”

Senjay held his stoic expression, until Bratley turned around scratching his chin. He smiled with his whole face, punched my arm, and became a statue again in an instant.

“I cannot believe I forgot about the healing pools. That level of focus may be the witch’s key to accessing the Lexicon of Potentiality. You’re right, an exception must be made.”

Senjay punched me several more times looking excited as the guards whispered with Bratley. When they came to a decision, he let us down.

“Very well. Boar will join us at the hot springs. The weapons will stay behind to prevent accelerated rust, and Sabrina will stay behind to guard them.”

“You failed me, Bratley.”

Sabrina squeezed her face together and avoided looking at Senjay. Kru and I yawned at the same time.

“Kru will stand guard with her, he does not want to swim around in hot salt water. If anyone approaches, he will tackle them over the ledge.”

“Excellent plan, Matthius. Will you protect the base?”

Kru’s belly was so full that he did not stand. He looked up at Bratley, yawned once more, and rolled over for a belly rub. Senjay and I pet him as if he were still a puppy, and the party followed me up the serpentine and over the rock wall. We could hear the echoes of Major Talon giggling on approach. Senjay shook his head and began looking for a pool as far away from her as possible. That’s when we bumped into a group of Opa. Boar and Bratley froze, but I kneeled down and pet them.

“Matthius, it is the Opa.”

“No. These little spotted things are Opa- the way you are a Viking. The difference between this breed and the tall reds would be like you wielding two swords against an unarmed Bloodaxe. That comparison is still not fair. Look how cute and gentle.”

“Oh, I see.”

Bratley approached a pool of females. They flicked their eyes from him to Senjay, tilting their heads quizzically. They were clearly intelligent enough to comprehend the difference in size and shape. Bratley was shaking from the nerves, but he found one that was not afraid. Once she saw that it was only Matthius and his friends, she went back to playing with the water.

“Bubbles? This one is making bubbles. What are you?”

“They are much smarter than the Scarlet Opa. Couldn’t you tell by the spots? She is just having fun. See?”

I slowed reached into the pool and slapped the surface with a single finger. I made a bubble, she quickly popped it, and Bratley relaxed. One tried to climb Boar, so he tossed it back into the pool. They hooted and bobbed up and down.

“You see? They think it is a game. We are safe here.”

“Good, I’m ready to get drunk. Vacation will be over before we know it. Where is my next station?”

“I do not yet know Senjay.”

“That means I’m headed back to Guuwa.”

Senjay huffed and found an empty pool. I did not get to warn him about keeping his eyes out of the water. They were covered in hot salt water, only serving to make him much angrier.

“Son of-”

“Gojinus! A traitor through and through. You bring a Lantos into my ancestral domain.”

“You must be Dooza the Shaman. The Lokah hold your power in high regard. Well met Madam. I am Bratley of Embraun.”

Bratley held out his little hand. She looked him up and down with disgust well written on her face. I decided to interject, then run deeper into the fog to join Senjay.

“Dooza, I brought you a man. Boar, meet the Lady Dooza. It was her herbs that you moaned over at dinner. Now you can thank her.”

“Oh my, hello Boar. You really like my herbs?”

The distraction worked. His eyes went wide but he lost sight of me under cover. Senjay had picked a large pool that a few of the younger Opa were playing in and around. He scanned the area, trying to open his wine horn without being caught. The smell mixed heavily with the wet air, and Major Talon found him quickly thereafter. She crept out of the darkness and shook her nearly empty horn at him. I had to turn away because she was wearing her favorite outfit- nothing at all.

“Half.”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Don’t get so down, this one won’t drink much.”

“That’s true. I couldn’t- even if I tried.”

“Let’s try anyway.”

“Have fun boys.”

Senjay looked down into his hollowed horn to see how much she had taken. Somewhere in the distance, she laughed about her spoils and jumped into a pool, purposely making a big splash.

“What happened between you two?”

He tried to play it off. He ended up yelling and the Talon yelled right back.

“I did nothing wrong- but lay with a real woman. Like Captain Besha!”

“She is my cousin you freak!”

I covered my mouth with both hands.

“You know her?”

“We met once. Um, congratulations?”

“Yea, you couldn’t handle nothing like that. A real wild fire that one.”

I could not stop shaking my head. Senjay finally laughed and offered some of his wine. It was very harsh, yet much better than that hot beer had been the night I met Captain Besha. We talked about her, and the Weary Lamb. From there, Senjay finally got to vent. Major Talon had abandoned him for her own secret missions at every turn. They both had barely survived their first year on the floating capitol of Iha-Zonya. Senjay did not have the pleasure of fighting creatures with guile and luck. He had literally been fighting in the pits for his cover story- and his wages. He had embodied the very essence of how the Lantos wished their Commandoes to operate.

“You brought the lore to life. You earned your title, Senjay Stonefist.”

“Why thank you, Matthius. How sweet, coming from a marker.”

“You know, that gator skin armor is nothing compared to my shells. Jealous?”

“Of not growing? You’re still the runt after all this time.”

“What is truly bothering you?”

“What? You just keep speaking out of turn, marker.”

“Honestly, what is it? I knew less about the Lantos and their plans then you did. None of it is my fault.”

“You think Grandfather told me about his army? All I was told is retire here, be at peace there.”

“Then what is it? What happened to you?”

“I killed a man- alright? That what you want? I killed several men, with my bare hands.”

“They got in the ring with the son of the knockout king. You can’t blame yourself.”

“Not in the ring mate. Pirates, corruptors... there is no law down there. The Thieves’ Guild owns that swamp. We could barely convince the Zonyans to remain in the union. They wanted action, they wanted us to dole out punishments, retributions...”

“You mean, executions?”

“Exactly.”

He turned up the horn, shaking the last drops into his open mouth. Then he tossed it onto the hard ground without bothering with the cork.

“Grandmother knew this would happen. The Lantos gave us this grand opportunity.”

“Only two years left Senjay.”

“I was only born with one soul, Matthius. And it’s long gone.”

“It’s not too late to earn it back. Everything in life is a test.”

Senjay thrashed at the surface of the water.

“And you? How many times did Sloan test you? How many times have you witnessed the gods punishing the wicked?”

“I do not matter. Have you spoken to Lazarus?”

“What? You- what? You knew?”

“Of course, I heard the story many times. So long as I do not get captured and taken to the Emperor, he will die in his own body. The empire will split along the divided houses, and civil war will destroy them from within. All I need do is resist that ridiculous Lexicon and the power it seems to have over everyone but myself.”

“Matthius. Lazarus.”

“You saw him?”

“Only in passing. Major Bloodaxe had them take the Causeway. I waved from shore...”

“We will see him again. Nothing will happen with the Bloodaxe around.”

“Yes, of course. He is safer than us all.”

Senjay put his hand on my shoulder. He was being brotherly, but he finished with a burp. An Opa mimicked his call, and Senjay gave it attention. The games began immediately. A group of young Opa stole his horn, another stole the cork. He tried to chase them, falling in a hidden pool more than once. My legs were wobbly as well. Getting out reminded me to secure Bratley. I found him all alone. He was floating, dead stiff, eyes wide open. He stared up at Mother Moon who had regained some of her pale light. I slowly helped him out of the dream state and the pool. He had to be carried back to the cliffside base. I traded him off for Kru, waking up Sabrina with a start.

“By the gods! What has happened?”

“Calm your loud self. Owie. My head. He is simply drunk and more relaxed than he ever knew was possible.”

“Wait, can I keep him?”

“Kru, what do you want?”

He still had the eyes of a puppy. They spoke to me, and he dropped his head back onto Sabrina’s arm. Senjay was not ready to sleep. He wandered off to punch things until he was fully tired. The fire had burned out on its own before he ever returned. I was glad to have the time with him, and to know that the Lantos were just as heartless with all of their Commandoes. It seemed that everyone was jealous of one another for some reason, be it big or small. I was only jealous of my Leiza, for having the courage to raise her fist in defiance. No matter what the gods had planned for her, she had told them no, and that was the end of that.

I fell asleep without rinsing the salt water from my hair. Aided by the static in the air, my head became a frizzy mess. Bratley’s hair was having a similar reaction. From the depth of his smile, it was easy to see that, distracted by his beautiful dreams, he had yet to notice.

“By the gods! Matthius, you need a comb.”

“Don’t think you escaped this fate, Sir Bratley.”

I offered him my water bowl, making sure he held it without drinking. After one glimpse of his reflection, he dumped the bowl over his head and tugged his hair to the side. Boar and Major Talon were already up and moving about with Sabrina racing to catch up. I hopped down to the first tier to assist with moving the boxed wagon.

“Where are the steeds boy?”

“The lightning must have scared them off early.”

“We must be gone before this storm hits.”

The sky was the sort of grey that could easily turn into a late snow. A bolt struck the ground just feet from the cliff side south of the tunnel. The blue clucks went mad and loudly chased to Dooza’s chamber. I laughed at the thought of how frizzy Frizzy would actually have been. Of course, Dizzy saw all of the confusion and decided to jump.

“Aw, come on. Wait for me, I have to grab that hen.”

I trudged a few feet towards the south. Dizzy was still spinning, just feet from touching down, and the next bolt struck her directly.

“Not any more. Find my steed!”

“Dizzy! No!”

The Lady Dooza screamed out over the valley. She was disgusted by what the gods had done to her hen. The shriek turned to a wail, and faded out with a cracking in her voice. A gathering of bison a few miles out was so frightened that they stampeded towards the southern plain. Eso and the other steed stood against the wave and headed back to help whomever was crying.

“Matthius, up here. We must move quickly.”

Bratley had me confused. Senjay waved me back to the second tier excitedly. After helping Boar pull out Shale’s cart, I hopped from it to the rock, and threw myself over the ledge with a huff.

“Senjay, brother, it did me good to see you.”

“I needed this more than you know.”

Bratley interrupted our fist pounding and manly embrace by clearing his posh little throat. He held out a scroll, still stamped shut with melted wax. I ripped it open impatiently, and he did his best to hide his smile. The script was official, and Bratley was sitting on a chest that I had not seen before.

“I don’t understand. Why do I need a new cover story?”

“It will take more than just you to build the bridge across Beaverton Channel.”

“A one man quarry? Where do I find this Creatus?”

“Creatos! The pave-able stone that is resistant to water decay. Two miles northeast of the Drakkah. You will find an ancient quarry there, mostly overgrown, but, you have a keen sense of smell. I have no doubt you will uncover more than enough this summer alone.”

“And once the bridge is finished? The armies will have a clear path for travel?”

Bratley did not answer, he simply raised his brow and pointed at the scroll. The rain had begun to trickle down and I finished reading with an audience.

“During the remaining two years of service...House Tremaine noted to refuse markers all together...relevant contribution to the war effort. Bratley, what exactly is in that chest?”

He smiled very deep, hopping off to stand beside Kru. I handed off the scroll to Senjay. The Majors Swiftblade and Talon leered over his shoulders to read along. I knelt before the box, trembling with anticipation. I had no time to fully register the words on the page. When my fingers touched the softwood, my hair blew out without the need for wind. The gods kept all their lightning in the sky, but the thunder rolled down and into the cavernous mountain base. I closed my eyes, still finding it impossible to believe. Major Swiftblade scoffed, and let the onlookers know exactly what was happening.

“Little man, is this a joke?”

“No sir, no joke.”

“Well then, open the box, Matthius Broadhammer.”

The top flew back at the lightest push. The hammer resting inside felt my approach, called me to it, demanding to be raised high in the air. The Ulfbar steel was flawless. The length of the rounded edge boxed handle was decorated with a specific inset of gold, silver, copper, and even soul glass. Each material ran up its own face of the handle and disappeared into the wide block head. The entire piece followed the equation of perfection, a centered mass that branched outward in exact measurements, rounded corners, and a calculated balance. When I finally rested my fingers on it, my hair fell flat and lightning struck nearby. The steeds whinnied for me to hurry, but the Broadhammer was already calling me to victory in battle. My heart was pounding so hard that it felt lighter than air in my hands. I lifted it high, swung it out wide, and spun it around in my palm to show off its four laces of precious metals.

I tossed it to Senjay, and he dropped it immediately. Bratley threw up a hand to stop us all from yelling about scratches. The thing landed flat on its head and wobbled up through the handle.

“That is an attribute of the design. I’m sure you all know how steel is smelted, especially Ulfbar Steel. During the carbon infusion process, we were tempted to perform an experiment. Your blood was used to expel the impurities from the very ore you dug up.”

“I can hear it calling to me. It’s not the same as if Kru barks when I’m not looking. It knows me. It’s a part of me.”

“Excellent. One more test, then we really must be on our way. Boar, you are a brute. Do you believe yourself stronger than the boy?”

“By leaps and bounds little one.”

Bratley nodded to Senjay as if he were strong enough to toss it over. He had to use both hands to lift it up off the floor, and then walked it over to Boar with a struggle. Boar also grabbed it with one hand- at first. Then two, then he bent it over his knee for further assistance. He was flexing and grunting by the time he managed to stand upright. I could not help but smile like a dumbfounded child. Especially when I took it back, and, with one hand tossed it up and flipped the hammer over. It landed in my open palms with a smack and the tip of the handle wobbled up and down. The Broadhammer did not let its energy subside until it decided to do so.

“This hammer is alive, Bratley. You may let the council know that the western front is an impenetrable barrier. Nothing can stop us now, master.”

“You are no longer in my charge, Lieutenant.”

I even got a couple halfhearted salutes- which I returned with the absolute widest smile.

“You see, my favorite tall. Issued a new weapon, immediately swears to use it for the greater good. Today, our Union is safer than it has ever been.”

I was so overwhelmed, I dropped to my knees and gave Bratley a hug. A year had passed since first we met, when I was not but a boy. The others also said goodbye to me as if they were old friends. Eso allowed his self to be strapped into the harness in order to more quickly escape the mountainside lightning range. Sabrina and Boar took the extra sloth hides from the base to cover their metal armor. Major Swiftblade told me he was very proud, then reminded me the Broadhammer would now weigh me down during the morning exercise.

“Speaking of which- get to it. Get your arse up that serpentine you weak little turtle! You had better not quit on me, we will be watching!”

“Move it, boy-o! You want to captain my crew, you better be the biggest golem on deck!”

“Oh my, that pirate voice!”

Senjay paused getting into the boxed wagon because had Sabrina engaged his ego. Major Talon kicked him out of the way and slammed the door shut on him. The wagon took off and Senjay had to ride in the back of Shale’s cart. He waved and called back as long as he was in sight. The rain darkened their view of the base, but Kru and I could see them on the road for hours. I trained harder than ever, chanting my title and imbuing the Broadhammer with hope, and strength, and pride.