SAROPHIA: BOOK ONE OF THE XYCERMON SERIES
PROLOGUE
Under the evening stars she studied the encampment.
Neither Lithloren or Tolorel had risen so the evening was darker and lonelier than usual; the violet and pale white glows were absent through the branches of surrounding Elms. She needed to sleep, but the air was so bracing it kept her awake.
The dying embers of the campsite fire sizzled angrily as one of the five men below tipped water over it. She had been following them for two days now. She scrutinized each of them once more, committing them to memory.
Two were so big they could pass for warriors. As for the other three she had nothing to go on. One warrior with dark skin and short black hair rose and moved to the edge of the clearing. She'd overheard them calling him Kielmark. His clothing and black skin identified him as a horseman from the village of Arrolok. He turned back to face the group. "Sudenora and I are going to find some food."
Sudenora had shoulder length brown hair, was unshaven, and wore a simple green woollen tunic and grey hose.
The others said nothing.
The watcher's attention turned back to the remaining warrior. Over the past two days she'd heard him called Anthron. He was a giant of a man - his broad shoulders and muscular arms made him look formidable; yet he had an amiable face and blonde hair. Anthron's hand rested on the hilt of his sword.
Jelik sat nearest the smouldering embers of the fire, dressed in ragged black leathers.
The last person in the group joined Jelik. He was the least imposing sight in the group, overweight, with mousy coloured hair and a goatee. His name was Karlos. He was the least respected, often being asked to do the more menial tasks around the camp.
The watcher slid quietly down the tree and slunk off into the distance. She would visit these men again tomorrow - right now she would get some sleep.
The sun rose over the treetops of the forest, banishing the darkness and waking Karlos. He could tell that it was going to be another crisp spring day. The others were awake already, discussing which way to go.
"If we continue north we should end up in Izonda by next week." Anthron calculated.
"But as soon as we arrive in Izonda we'll get arrested for escaping Selection," Jelik stated calmly. "I suggest we head towards Sorne and sail our way out of trouble."
"Izonda is a big place, Jelik - we'll be fine. All of us have family back in Izonda, except you…"
"More likely you want to go back to your woman, who only cost three coppers an hour I hear," Jelik retorted maliciously, arms folded.
Chaos erupted as Anthron swung his huge fist. Jelik rolled backwards and came to his feet, then dived to his left as Kielmark and Karlos restrained Anthron. The blonde warrior struggled briefly, then his shoulders slumped in resignation.
"Look," Sudenora cleared his throat. "We've got company."
Anthron shook off Kielmark and Karlos as he looked around quickly. He relaxed as he saw a ravishing female warrior standing twenty paces away. Although her features were Elvish, Anthron noted that she was the height of an average human woman. Her long blonde hair was plaited back into a ponytail which revealed the delicacy of her face. He estimated her to be about twenty-five years old, wearing snug soft leather armour and a green cloak.
"My name is Anthea Fleké," she began. "I am here to offer you all an invitation."
"An invitation?" Jelik replied curiously.
"To a village just to the north. It is a haven for people in your situation."
"Just what sort of 'situation' do you think we're in?" Jelik asked.
"You escaped Selection," Anthea stated. "You are now considered outlaws throughout Sarophia. I've been tracking you for the last two days just to make sure you weren't being followed. The locals don't want uninvited guests."
"We aren't following you, lady. We can handle this ourselves." Kielmark replied defiantly.
"You'd die within a week if you continued alone," Anthea replied calmly. "If you did actually make it back to Izonda, you'd be executed or re-captured as soon as anyone found out where you've been. Trust me, there are people on the look out for you."
"So we just live the rest of our lives out hiding in this forest?" Sudenora fumed.
Anthea shook her head. "No. Within the village we can provide you with training and equipment. You can leave anytime you like, but with a better chance of survival."
"Well?" Anthron asked to the group, "What do you think?"
Kielmark turned and began to collect his things from the camp.
"Sounds like a good plan." Jelik nodded to Anthron.
Anthron turned to Karlos. "And you?"
Karlos was frowning, "I think she's right, Anthron. I think our old way of life is over. Trying to go back would be the death of us."
Sudenora looked pained and almost made as if to say something, but thought better of it.
"Okay then," Jelik motioned to the woman as he gathered his things. "Lead the way."
As Anthron followed Anthea and the group through the forest, he thought about how comfortable his life had been until so recently. His father was a blacksmith, his mother a dressmaker. They'd all heard rumours in Vemmlok that people were disappearing from every town, city, and village in their vicinity. Anthron thought that this was just a coincidence - until someone he knew escaped. Lothor was an incredibly intelligent young man who had just celebrated his twentieth birthday – and he'd gone missing ten days before. He'd claimed that every month something called the Selection happened. Healthy young people with strong physical or mental abilities were taken – he didn't know where.
Within three hours of his re-appearance, Lothor was escorted away by black armoured knights accompanied by a man in a long black cloak. Nobody tried to help him.
Anthron and Harson – one of his friends from Vemmlok - were drugged and taken from their beds. They woke to find themselves in an enormous wheeled cage, which was being pulled by horses. About fourteen of these cages were linked together. That was how he met Sudenora, Kielmark, Karlos, and Jelik. They shared the same cage. Jelik managed to pick the lock of their cage one night using a bent fork he'd hidden, and they escaped.
Unfortunately during their escape Anthron's friend Harson was killed. He'd stumbled as they ran away, and was run through by a guard on horseback. So, using the stolen weapons from the guards they intended to return to their homes. That was - until this encounter with Anthea. Now they were on their way to some village out in the middle of the Ithren Forest, blindly trusting someone they'd just met.
What was worse - they could never go back to their old lives.
"Terrific." Anthron thought to himself as he continued along the trail.
CHAPTER ONE
Anthron stirred from his thoughts.
The sun was just starting to peek above the treetops of another cloudless day near the end of summer. Anthron sat on his favourite grassy spot atop a small rise near the edge of the village. He had come to love this place.
The village itself was self contained, nestled safely under the tall trees of the Ithren Forest. It was made up of a series of thatched huts, which reminded Anthron of the farm hovels outside Vemmlok. They were sparse but comfortable and dry, but he'd often thought he wouldn't wish to spend a winter living in one. These huts housed the residents of this village, which Anthron thought numbered about sixty. There were also five larger buildings of better design. These were used for training purposes; what would pass as a Fighter's Guild and gym, a Temple of Termolen, the Library – where an Elementalist could also practice their skills, a place which was referred to as 'The Maze' – where stealth and sleight of hand were taught, and the town hall. Well, Anthron thought, not really a town hall – more of a place which the town leader Karter used as his base, and where he called meetings.
Anthron loved the people here as well. They weren't the bunch of rogues he'd expected. He cast his mind back to when he and his friends first arrived with Anthea. He and Kielmark had enrolled with the Fighter's Guild.
Sudenora picked up the theories of the Elementalists quickly, as his father had been a Tolorel illusionist. Instead of following his father's footsteps however, Sudenora chose to study the God of Air – Servas.
Karlos immediately began learning about Termolen, the God of Earth Healing. Karlos learnt how to enhance natural healing within a body and focus it in a positive way via channelling and prayer. Karlos was much more confident now. He had a look in his eyes as if he knew some great secret.
Jelik became a student of Furnar, the tutor of thieves. Furnar had shown Jelik all sorts of ways to conceal oneself, sleight of hand, how locks work, and many other things.
Anthron stood up and stretched to his full height, hearing a few bones creaking. He walked down from the grassy rise, eagerly anticipating being on the road, especially with Anthea.
Anthron halted at the Fighter's Guild, knocking politely on the hardwood door as he entered. The Fighter's Guild was the second largest hall in the village. The walls inside were decorated with several items of ancient armour and weapons, which, it was said, were used in The Great War nearly two and a half thousand years ago. Anthron didn't know much about the war – he didn't care for history.
The guild floor was polished wood that Anthron walked across noisily, leading into sand at the far end. Bowing as he reached the sparring area, Anthron sought out his teacher.
"You're as loud as an ox," the deep voice of Lepus boomed.
Anthron jumped. This man could still unnerve him. Each time Anthron began to think that he was getting the better of Lepus while they were sparring, suddenly he would realise that his instructor was just toying with him. Anthron was glad that they'd started out fencing with padded sticks!
Lepus came out from the back room. He was a short thin man, with black hair. As usual, he wore his rusty chainmail vest and shortsword.
"You're off today?" Lepus bellowed, hands on hips. Anthron still couldn't understand how such a little man could make so much noise.
Anthron nodded, "I've just come to say farewell."
"Well, bye then." Lepus then turned on his heels and disappeared back the way he came.
Lepus wasn't one for social etiquette.
Anthron left, bowed again, and made for Adjur's hut. Adjur was the sage of the village. Their group was to meet outside his hut before they left for the Sambethe Forest. A man named Wilse had escaped from the Selection, finding sanctuary in the place to which they headed. He claimed to have found out the process and reasons for the Selection. They were to make for Sambethe, question Wilse, and prepare for the Ithren village to join them.
Everyone but Sudenora was ready. He was reluctantly collecting their supplies.
Anthea sighed in boredom as she waited restlessly for Sudenora with the others. She'd been invited to go along with the group as a guide, and she'd accepted. It had been a while since she'd journeyed east, and her stomach was knotted with anxiety. Anthea turned her attention to Jelik. He was caught up in his thoughts, unconsciously toying with one of his daggers. She and Jelik had become quite close over the last six months and she wondered how they'd get along on the road.
Shrugging, she watched the others.
Kielmark sat in the grass dressed in a mis-matched set of leather, chain and plate armour. He polished his traditional Arrolokian sabre with a cloth.
Karlos sat cross-legged lost in thought, a morning star cradling across his lap.
At last Sudenora arrived with the town leader, Karter. Sudenora wore blue robes, brown leather leggings and boots and carried their rations under his arm.
"At last," Kielmark breathed impatiently, sheathing his sabre and standing.
Anthron hefted his backpack on to his shoulders.
The tall burly Karter shook all their hands bidding them goodbye. "'Member to keep yaselves whole now, and we'll see y'all in a few weeks in Sambethe to find out what ya have. You'll have to see if these dungeons an' orcs are related to the Selection too," Karter said as he absent-mindedly brushed a stray curl of his bushy brown hair out of his face. "Good luck."
The party set off via the makeshift stables to collect their horses, and led them off into the forest.
The morning was quiet and passed uneventfully, the tall trees protecting them from the morning sun. Anthron noticed once again how beautiful this forest was. He listened to the birds, their mingled songs relaxed him, as he watched the animals scuttle out of their way. He also wondered if there were any elves hidden in the forest watching as they made their way.
Little was said throughout the morning; everyone seeming to be pre-occupied.
About noon they decided to rest in a small clearing. They quietly ate a small meal as their horses grazed, then continued on, Anthea leading the way.
It was late afternoon when Anthron was roused from his thoughts as they came to an old country road which headed north west and south east. The road was about twenty feet across, bearing no wagon wheel marks or hoof prints although the dirt was very fine.
Anthea mounted her white mare as she looked south east. "If we follow the road it'll take us east through Lotheric. If we keep to it we shouldn't run into any trouble."
"Trouble?" Kielmark inquired from his saddle. "What kind of trouble?"
Anthea paused. "I don't expect there to be any."
Karlos wiped the perspiration from his forehead and beard as he hoisted himself into his saddle. "Still – it's better to be safe."
"Yes." Anthea agreed.
Anthron led the way as the rest of the party fell in behind him. That night they camped close to the road, not setting up their tents owing to the warm and clear weather. Jelik and Karlos collected firewood, Anthron dug a small pit, while Anthea and Sudenora prepared a dinner of bacon and fried potatoes. Kielmark cleaned up afterwards.
"That meal was just like home." Anthron acknowledged, licking his fingers.
Sudenora sighed. "Pity it wasn't though."
Jelik and Anthea retired early, further from the fire than the others.
They soon all retired, with the exception of Anthron, who was on the first watch.
The next day dawned cloudless; promising another hot day as the group got up. They packed up their gear, and covered over the ashes of last night's fire. Then they continued their ride along the wide dusty road.
Everyone became more irritable as they rode through the hottest part of the day. Anthea had been forced to conciliate more than a few arguments, and had borne the brunt end of one or two of Jelik's more nasty comments. Now the road began to turn directly east.
The forest had long since receded from the road, which now had tall dense bush running alongside it.
Karlos rode at the back of the group. He felt like he was being watched. He concluded that it was no more than his paranoia until he heard grunting sounds to his left. He stopped to listen. Probably a boar or something, he thought. He spurred his horse forward to catch up with the group who hadn't even noticed he'd stopped.
"Anthea." Karlos called. Anthea stopped and turned around.
"Do you hear anything. I mean in the bushes there?" he asked timidly, pointing at the dense bush to their left.
The rest of the group stopped. All eyes were on her as she listened attentively. They knew that if anyone could hear something, it would be an Elf.
"No, I can't," Anthea frowned, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Karlos stammered, "Don't worry."
The party started to move on.
Suddenly several armed figures sprang out of the leaves and branches. The whistling sound of arrows filled the air, mingling with snorted commands.
Anthron ducked under an arrow just in time to see Jelik's horse being killed. The young thief rolled away from his dead mount before he saw their ambushers. There were eight stooping creatures with brownish green coloured skin. Below their snouts protruded lower canines resembling boar tusks. Their reddish eyes were visible under rusty bronze helmets which covered most of their bristly black hair. They wore rusted scale armour and tattered yellow cloaks. They were orcs!
Anthron unsheathed his long sword and spurred his horse towards their foes, eager to take them on.
Kielmark drew his sabre as he urged his mount to rear.
Anthea closed her eyes as she made several symbols in the air, silently invoking the God of Fire to assist her. She remembered the first time she'd communicated with Pharson. She compared requesting a God's attention with Kortusian martial artists. The experienced martial artist concentrated before breaking boards or bricks with their hands, summoning their inner strength and releasing their energy with a kiai – a focus. Each God has a different focus. Pharson requires symbolic gestures whereas the moons require amulets before an Elementalist is able to borrow any power.
Slowly opening her eyes, she cupped one hand. Her palm sparked as a fire grew, until it slithered and wound its way around her whole arm like a flaming snake. Anthea pitched her arm back and threw the flame at the nearest orc, striking it dead.
Karlos dismounted, unfastened his morning star from his belt, and planted his feet firmly.
Jelik held his shortsword in one hand, a dagger in the other as he backed away from his arrow-riddled horse and the orcs.
Sudenora began murmuring under his breath as he raised his silver dagger in the air. Sparks began crackling around the dagger as Sudenora flung it into the ground. The blade sunk to the hilt in the soft dry dirt, setting off two sparks, snaking like fuse wire towards two orcs. They were struck dead on impact.
This all happened in a matter of seconds. Five still lived, Anthron observed. They dropped their bows looking at each other uncertainly, before there was a grunt from the biggest orc. Immediately they drew their wicked swords and ran towards the group calling battle cries.
The first to fight was Anthron. He rode past Karlos and kicked an orc in the face as he swung his sword in an arc over his head. The sharp blade bit deep into the orc's head, splitting it almost in half. The orc's body slumped to the dirt road in a series of grotesque twitches which seemed to unnerve Anthron's horse. Anthron felt the colour drain from his face at the sight of what he had done. He looked at the blood on his sword, caught a glimpse of Jelik's approval, then Anthron quickly sought to help his companions.
An orc ran at Karlos, its curved blade raised. Karlos swung his morning star in a figure-eight, keeping it at bay while Jelik ran behind it. The young thief slashed the orc across its back before running on to help Anthea. That was all Karlos needed. As the orc turned back, its face was rent asunder by a flying morning star.
Kielmark parried a thrust aimed at his horse's side, and counter-attacked with a head strike. His flashing sabre slashed the orc across its forehead just as it attacked again. The orc spun to the ground in a spray of its own blood as Kielmark felt the impact of the orc's blade connecting with his calf-plate. Kielmark resisted the urge to cry out just as Anthron ran the wounded orc through.
Anthea had her shortsword drawn and was trying to get behind the Orc Leader for a quick kill. Unfortunately the large orc noticed her, bared its yellow fanged teeth, and charged.
This orc was bigger than most - almost a foot taller than Anthea – wielding a battleaxe and a curved sword. The Leader had a golden ring through its nose, which added to its repulsiveness. It spoke in its guttural native tongue; "Nort...harish...carj!"
Without hesitation the orc sliced its battle axe towards Anthea's throat. She just managed to parry it, but the blow knocked her back. The orc continued to attack furiously, and Anthea was forced to roll backwards trying to escape the continuous attacks. She sprang to her feet and parried the sword, and ducked awkwardly under the axe. Anthea stumbled, then was kicked hard by the orc. She hit the ground heavily. As the orc lifted its axe to take advantage of the half Elf, its back stiffened and its eyes began to glass over. Blood trickled from its nose as Jelik's shortsword burst from the Leader's chest in a red spray. Jelik pushed the orc off his blade with his foot.
"Are you okay?" Jelik looked concerned.
She smiled and rubbed her bruised ribs. "I'll live. Nothing a hot bath and a massage won't fix." She took Jelik's outstretched arm and got up. "Thank you Jelik."
Jelik nodded as he leaned over the body of the dead Orc Leader. He retrieved its small golden ring, slipped it into his belt pouch, then began searching inquisitively for something to clean his blade.
Anthron chased the last orc up the road on horseback. When Anthron returned, the fight was over.
Karlos cleared his throat and walked over to Kielmark as he removed his calf plate. "I'll look at your leg." The cut was only small, but it was very swollen. Karlos rubbed his hands together then placed them lightly on the wound. Kielmark twitched in pain as the tubby man massaged around the wound while murmuring a prayer to Termolen. When he finished his prayer, Kielmark could feel the pain ease noticeably.
"How do you actually do that?" Kielmark asked.
"Well," Karlos beamed, "I'm accelerating the natural healing processes which…"
"That's lovely," Jelik interupted, "But maybe you can tell us a little later, no? There's still the matter of my dead horse."
Kielmark was frowning as he climbed into his saddle. "Was a good horse."
"You can ride with me." Anthea offered as she discarded an arrow from her saddlebag and mounted.
Jelik nodded and climbed behind Anthea. "I guess this'll have to do then."
Anthron's eyes narrowed angrily at Jelik. The blonde warrior blinked several times and rubbed his eyes – he swore for a moment he could see a faint purple colour around the thief. Shrugging, Anthron led the way on his chestnut horse. "We'd best be moving, there may be more orcs where these came from."
Sudenora pointed back at the smoking form of the orc Anthea had cremated. "I'm sure that'll attract some attention as well. Should we hide the bodies?"
"I wouldn't worry," Anthea shook her head. "You know, I think these orcs were actually waiting for us."
"What are you talking about?" Anthron queried. "Can you understand them?"
"I know a little goblin – orcish is quite similar. The Leader said 'Nort, harish, carj.' Nort means dark or doomed. Harish is those picked, and carj is the word for soldier." Anthea replied.
Jelik toyed with a dagger from behind Anthea. "So you're saying that these orcs are part of the Selection in some way? That they were sent to find us or kill us or something?"
"They might have wandered here by themselves, but I'm not so sure." Anthea shrugged.
Karlos spurred his horse on. "How far to Lotheric?"
"From here…we'll make Lotheric about nightfall. We can stay there, find out what we can before moving onto Sambethe."
"Sounds like a good idea," Sudenora nodded.