They Were Born Upon Ashes (15 page)

“I’ve had a long life,” said Andrew. “I was never a king’s man but I supported them on some of the missions the king gave them years back. I’ve had to use the attack a handful of times. Each time it worked and with it I have saved lives. More recently there have not been too many missions. Back in my younger days we had to do some missions that would blow you away. But I digress.”

“Andrew, I view you as a very wise man,” said Nick. “I know you heard of my story. You know my father was murdered in front of me and you know how I ended up in the arena. In my heart I believe my father was murdered by a member of the six or a hit man they had working for them. Do you believe this idea to be true?”

“Considering the circumstances, I would not ever doubt that idea,” said Andrew. “You are a Hetha. You are one of the greatest Paplon warriors to ever pick up a sword. You are a Reza, you produce flame and ice like a master. Finally, you are a supreme Reza, the most promising one I have ever seen. You are the complete package. No one else living is like you. If the six had learned of your father’s abilities then they surely tried to recruit him to become a supreme Reza. If that was the case and he declined they wanted him taken care of before they made their move on the capitol. He was surely a threat to them. But your mother and your father must have loved you dearly.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because they did everything in their power to make sure no one knew you existed,” said Andrew. “You have no birth papers and no records of any kind. They knew they made a child that would grow up to be extremely gifted. With that gift came threats which they knew all too well of. It was no coincidence that there was not another man there that night who was set to kill you. They had no idea of your existence. Now that is what I believe to be true, Nick. Take what you like from it or ignore it completely.”

Nick put his head down and stayed silent. He got down to his hands and practiced a few more times. He did not speed up the time it took for him to conjure the attack but he still simply enjoyed every moment of it. It was intoxicating to him to have the power to do something such as that. He could understand why supreme Rezas were kept a secret. Three powers with the ability to demolish cities by a single individual.

The three men gathered viable fire wood for camp in the surrounding area where Nick practiced. They placed the wood into the leaf sacks and began the walk back to camp. The walk back for Nick felt much shorter than the walk out. His mind was extremely busy. Andrews’s opinion on his father’s death only helped confirm his own theory he had been battling with. There was nothing he could do now, only ease his mind and one day put his anger towards the right individuals. On top of that, he was busy grasping his mind around the latest attack he learned. He then began to think of how fortunate he was to wield such a power that could very well one day save many lives. It was a bit much to take in all at one time. For one reason or another it all came to him at once. He was a supreme Reza. It was a gift that he knew he would have to put to the best use possible.

Chapter Eleven

Several days had passed as the thousands slowly started to get acclimated to their new camp. The sun was nowhere to be found behind the thick clouds and Nick looked at a group of old men huddled closely near a fire. They looked cold and miserable. Their old bones were shaking and their eyes were tired.

Nick saw Jeffrey sitting on a rock taking his blade to a wooden stick, making it into a spear. He walked over to him and said, “Do you worry of the old and sick?”

“Everyday,” said Jeffrey.

“It will be a long winter for the old, the young, and the sick,” said Nick.

“Indeed it will,” said Jeffrey.

“I don’t believe they will all make it,” said Nick.

Jeffrey threw his spear at the ground in frustration.

“Of course, they won’t!” yelled Jeffrey.

Nick paused for a moment and looked up at the sky. He looked back down at Jeffrey, who was rubbing his head furiously.

“Our number one priority will be caring for them,” said Nick. “I know you have more than enough on your mind but you must stay strong. We all look up to you. It’s a burden you did not wish upon yourself but it is the reality. I have one idea that I would share with you.”

“What is that?” asked Jeffrey.

“What if we go to Terrel City and talk to their leader? Maybe he would let us in.”

Jeffrey began to laugh at the idea.

“I’m sorry but there is no way Lord Senvot would let us in. Terrel hates us. They hate everything about Paplon and Reza. They would hate the humans traveling with us if they knew they were associated with us.”

“I don’t think it would hurt to try,” said Nick.

“The voyage there would take a week on horseback, at least twenty days if we walked. And for what? To be laughed at when we arrive at the gate? No, thank you. It would indeed hurt more than it would be beneficial.”

Nick shrugged his shoulders at Jeffrey and walked away. There was nothing left and he felt all ideas had been thought of already. Winter was upon the camp and they were not prepared.

***

Night time had come and Nick was busy cooking a rabbit above a flame. Penny was talking to him about her childhood memories of her walking with her mother and going to the store to collect groceries. Suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, she screamed, “Nick look!”

Nick turned around to find hundreds of new faces walking into camp. He got up and walked over to see what was going on. He began to see some familiar faces as he walked through the crowd. He then saw a familiar face that he had hoped to see again; it was Thomas. Nick gave Thomas a hug and the two men smiled for just a brief moment. Thomas’ mother and father were by his side.

“I am sorry I was not a good friend to you the last time we saw each other,” said Thomas.

“No need to be sorry and no need to explain. I understand,” said Nick. “I am just extremely grateful that you have made it here. But tell me what happened?”

“The man in the hood came into our city with a dragon,” said Thomas. “He claimed Hentrio as his own and released the prisoners with a new set of laws as well. So here we are searching and willing to fight for a better life.”

Nick took but a few moments of rekindling his friendship before bringing Thomas to Penny and Phillip to present him. Nothing meant more to Nick than to have everyone he loved dearly by his side again. Joy took ahold of him as his two friends and his girlfriend talked and joked with each other.

After the three had a moment of casual conversation Thomas put his hand on Nick’s shoulder.

“Now, Nick,” said Thomas. “What is the plan here?”

“The plan is to hunker down and prepare for winter,” said Nick.

Thomas was shocked at the response.

“Do we have nowhere to go?” asked Thomas.

“Every viable option was considered and this was what the king’s men elected,” said Nick. “They lead us and we trust in them. There is nowhere to go.”

“It’s a shame. I worry as Nick does about the elderly, the children, and the sick,” said Phillip.

“The only idea I thought was worth sharing just earlier today was to try to convince Terrel City to let us in,” said Nick. “Unfortunately, the trek is too long and the fact that they hate Hentrio and its people does not work in our favor.”

“The idea is not completely terrible,” said Thomas.

“What do you mean?” asked Phillip.

“Well, in training to become a Refect you must be partnered with a veteran of ten years or more for one month,” said Thomas. “It just so happens that the Refect I was instructed to train with was ordered to go to Terrel and meet with Lord Senvot to talk about relations for one week. I got to know the leader of Terrel in that week and I sensed he had a liking for me.”

“Do you think you can talk sense into that man?” asked Nick.

“I don’t know for sure,” said Thomas. “Although I believe that we will never know the answer unless I try.”

Penny walked off and ventured into the crowd of the newly arrived Vincot residents. She circled around and around as her hopes became completely depleted. Familiar face after familiar face, but there was no sign of her parents. She walked back over to Nick as he was in the middle of a conversation with Thomas. She stared blankly behind Nick as if he was not even there. He immediately began to think and realize what she was going through in her own mind. He was so caught up with the presence of Thomas that he did not stop to think about Penny.

“Penny,” said Nick. “Penny?”

There was no reply. She continued to stand and stare blankly.

“Penny, talk to me,” said Nick.

“I can’t believe they aren’t here,” said Penny.

“Penny, everything is going to be alight,” said Nick.

“You don’t get it,” said Penny. “They stayed in the hopes that I would come back to them. I said I would be back soon.”

Nick couldn’t think of a response fast enough. He had no thoughts and no words to say to comfort her. She walked off towards the southern man-made wall of the north bend. Nick wanted to follow her but he did not. He couldn’t find it within himself to tell her everything would be alright when he knew that would be a lie.

“Nick, the city is not in ruins,” said Thomas. “The city became the most dangerous it has ever been, but as long as her parents are careful they should be fine.”

“But for how long?” asked Nick. “Who’s to say they won’t be killed for fun by a group of sick individuals as they walk to their home at night? Living in the cities of Hentrio is like living a death sentence. Most people do not understand the violence and evil that is uprooted in each arena. I do. I understand it all too well. Most people in the arenas should not be free to commit there crimes. They have no laws to abide by anymore. The Refect have no power to arrest and imprison those individuals.”

“The Refect will think of something, Nick,” said Thomas. “They will do whatever it takes to keep the good people who are left safe.”

Nick stormed off and walked towards the gate that Penny walked out of. He felt guilty. Penny had left her parents in order to find him. Her parents’ safety are in jeopardy because of where his path in life had taken him and, as a result, where Penny’s path had taken her.

Nick finally caught up to Penny. She had walked a few hundred feet before she sat down on a boulder. She was sobbing uncontrollably and looked as though she was sick. Her face was pale and she was trembling. Nick put his arms around her and held her tight.

“They will be fine for awhile,” said Nick. “When the opportunity arises I will make this right. I’ll find a way to make them safe, Penny. I know powerful people and so does Thomas. Trust that I will do everything I can.”

Penny did not say a word. She only cried harder. She simply nodded her head in agreement while her head was pressed against Nick’s chest. An unfathomably miserable feeling resided between the two.

***

The new members of the camp had finished getting themselves situated. Paplon men, women, and children as well as Reza men, women, and children. Families as well as those who came alone. Some wielded weapons while some did not. Some brought a small armory of weapons while others brought only food. Trained warriors, Refect, and common folk now joined the camp. They went out to seek shelter and the open arms of the camp invited them in. However, it was worrisome to some of the members of camp as to who these people actually were. They would wonder if released inmates slept next to them or if it was just another person.

It was later in the night when most of the camp had fallen asleep. Jeffrey, Reed, Ron, Jacob, Dani, Tyler, Andrew, David, and Nick stood in a circle and talked amongst themselves.

The topic quickly diverged into what the camp should do next. Nick was quick to give his input on the situation to see how all of them would react instead of just hearing the opinion of Jeffrey.

“What about Terrel City?” asked Nick.

“They hate us,” said Reed. “They literally all hate us. Their leader most of all.”

“I don’t speak too much on matters,” said David Terrax. “I believe they would shoot us at the door. They resonate as much hatred towards us as I have towards most of you.”

“But none of you have been there?” asked Nick. “These are simply rumors or tales told from person to person. Who’s to say that they don’t say the same thing about Hentrio without ever setting foot in it? Who’s to say we hate them because they hate us, when in fact no one really hates anyone?”

“Trust me, young Nick,” said Jeffrey. “They hate us because of our abilities. It has been true for too many centuries to count.”

“My best friend has been in Terrel City,” said Nick. “He said Lord Senvot even seemed to like him. The best part is that my best friend is a Paplon. He has a connection. He could possibly talk some sort of sense into the man. We would never know the answer unless we try.”

The men and woman around Nick were silent. They had no immediate response to his statement.

“Is it the dark skinned Paplon that we released from the arena?” asked Reed.

“No, it is not him,” said Nick. “He just arrived in the latest group from Vincot. He was a Refect.”

“Let us talk to him then,” said Reed.

Jeffrey nodded his head in agreement while the rest of the party followed suit. One by one they nodded their heads while looking at Nick.

Nick took no time to spare as he ran down towards the fire near the edge of the wall where Thomas was sitting. He grabbed his friend by his shirt and pulled him up. He pulled his arm with him as he ran back to the group without telling him a word.

“This is Thomas Bell,” Nick said to the group. “Tell them what you told me earlier about your visit to Terrel City.”

Thomas seemed nervous and was acting shy. He held out his hand and waved it to greet the group that were now huddled around him.

“So, yes, I visited Terrel City with a Refect I was shadowing in order to train. I was there for a week and we stayed in the castle. I did not talk to him all too often but I did have a few conversations with Lord Senvot while I was there. He seemed fair and reasonable. He liked my humor even though I feel like that is one of my weak points. He told me he would miss my company when we finally left.”