The Exiles
Chapter 7
The storm continued the rage another two days. During that time Aka transform and hunt for game to bring back to the cave. Rob, strong as he was, had been badly tortured and would need time to recover. Aka also flew to their former home to gather supplies for the three of them: food for human, demon, and horse, warm clothing for Rob and her clothing from her clan. While it was true the demonic clothing badly needed to be repaired it had the advantage of not being destroyed when she transformed. She circled the dwelling three times, and saw smoke coming from inside; obviously there was at least one person inside. Aka waited till nightfall, all the while thanking her good fortune that the winter squall was still raging. Sometime after midnight she went in to discover four of Hoji's men sleeping. She made sure they never woke up. The demon put on her traditional outfit and filled a saddlebag to near bursting with supplies. She then set the dwelling aflame and took off awards Rob and their sanctuary. She arrived to find Rob shivering and tending the fire. He looked up at Aka as she arrived and made to stand, but she dropped the bag and went to him before he had a chance. With a smile she tightly hugged the man and once again increased her own temperature. "I brought you warm clothing and other supplies for you and Wind," she said softly.
"Thank you," Rob replied and gently kissed his lover's forehead. "I was worried, you've been gone a while. I'm not used to being laid out like this. Was there trouble? I feel so useless."
"Not really. Hoji had some men in the house. I just needed to wait for them to go to sleep, then I made sure they will never wake up again. The fact that they were there confirms that the headman of Inge answers to Hoji." As she spoke she rubbed Rob's back and limbs with her hands. "You're still too cold," she said impishly. She went to the saddlebag and withdrew a heavy wool blanket. She spread it out on the ground, and gently laid Rob down on it. With a grin, she unbound her top and brought Rob's injured hands to her beasts as she straddled him. "It's time to change tactics again…"
Three weeks passed and with each passing day Rob's condition improved. Storms came went went as they were common this time of year, and when they came Aka took advantage of the worse of them by transforming and scouting for enemy soldiers. Rob also began training to recover his strength. He drilled with sword and hammer; with mace and horse. When Aka wasn't out foraging or scouting for the enemy she continued training with her bow.
The final night in the cave the two spent planning the next course of action that they should take. "We can't let Hoji get away with what he did to you. It's unforgivable!" Aka had picked up Rob's habit of pacing when she was angry, and she was doing that now. Rob was brushing Wind's coat and watching his fierce companion. "I will make sure he dies! I will eat his pathetic heart raw!"
Rob dropped the curry comb and walked to Aka and put his arms around her. "We will make him pay, but we have to have a plan. What will we do after we kill him? Like it or not, he is the authority in this area, and he has a substantial force out looking for us. It may be better to leave for a while, allow things to return to normalcy. Once things calm down it will be easier to return and cut his throat. Trust me Aka, I've had to do things like this in a place called Anatolia against the Turks. Now is the time to plan our escape, not an attack that will likely end in failure." He turned the woman around to face him and gave her a gentle kiss. "Trust me, I beg you."
Aka smiled and returned the kiss. "I do trust you. Completely. Very well my foreign knight, let's get on with it."
"The roads are patrolled and Hoji has small groups of soldiers guarding the bridge at the river, as well as the pass over the mountains now that winter is ending. The border to the forest from what I have seen has the lightest guard," Aka explained and made a crude map in the dirt of the cave.
"Interesting," Rob replied. "Do you have any idea why, or who or what lives in the forest?"
"No," Aka replied. "Before last summer the only thought I gave humans was how good they tasted. She grinned wickedly at Rob and giggled at her own morbid joke. Rob only shook his head, but his eyes couldn't hide the smile that came to them.
"The pass leads to the interior of the land and from what I've seen they are heavily populated. Would you agree with that assessment," Rob asked?
Aka nodded. "I flew over them with my flock following the final destruction of my home. There are many castles, and every year the warlords of the region fight for domination. There are many small villages, a few larger towns, and at least one city."
Rob returned to combing Wind's coat and asked, "Are there any demon enclaves that you know of? You mentioned you wanted to get your outfit repaired."
Aka smiled at the question. "I'm afraid it doesn't work that way my love. First, I am the last of the Phoenix demons. My power alone is a very small thing. Many demons would just assume kill me because of my station." She stood and walked to Rob and wrapped her arms around him. "And then, there is you. You are my mate. You are my companion and most demons would kill me for that. There was a time before the fall of my tribe that I would have done that. My, how a spear through the chest changes things." Rob gently squeezed one of her hands, but Aka continued speaking before could say anything. "Now there is a demon swordsmith in the lands of fire named Totosai. It is said he forged a sword for a half demon. If we were to seek out aid from demons he would be the best place to start, but that will involve crossing the plains and several mountain ranges, as well as Hoji's most heavily guarded outposts."
Rob put Wind's comb is the saddlebag and fed the horse a handful of grain. While the horse ate Rob said, "So be it. Let's go see this Totosai. Perhaps we can hire him to make you a weapon that isn't destroyed when you transform and find out where we can get you some armor. And frankly I'm sick of sneaking around as a fugitive. Let's let Hoji know in no uncertain terms that we have left the area."
"Very well," the demon said. "We will see if this Totosai can or will aid us. I do have one more suggestion once we escape into the plains. I should ride in front of you on Wind. My eyes see farther than yours and so I can see human patrols before they can see us. That would give us an advantage I'd think."
"You are certainly gaining quite the military mind," Rob said as he ran his hands through Aka's black mane. "And you, my human knight, have become quite grabby since you overcame your shyness. Why don't you come lay with me and touch me where I truly desire?" Aka replied lustily.
They left the cave before sunup and travelled at a quick pace. Aka flew overhead in her humanoid form searching the road for Hoji's mercenary soldiers. Several hours later she saw a wagon on the road not moving. There were two horses hitched to the wagon, and the two humans appeared to be an older male and female. She flew back and told Rob about the obstruction. "Very well," Rob replied. "Ride in front of me and we will see what we see when we arrive. Keep those eagle eyes of yours pealed and depending on what we see we will take action. If we are lucky, it simply is a broken down wagon. If it's an ambush we will flee or fight depending on the situation. If we do run hold tight, because Wind can run as fast as his namesake."
Before long they came upon the wagon. It was indeed an elderly couple, and neither Rob or Aka saw anyone hiding in the trees off the side of the road. Once Wind headed the wagon Rob and Aka dismounted. "Greetings travelers," Rob said cordially as he walked to the wagon and saw the read riverside wheel had come off the axle.
"Hello strangers," the old man replied. "I don't suppose there is anything you can do to help my wife and I is there? We have been stranded here since last night."
"Let's see," Rob replied and he walked to the wagon. Aka stood by wind and watched carefully for any sign of danger as Rob grabbed the back of the wagon. He squatted and with a Grint stood and lifted the wagon with its load of vegetables and fruits. The old man quickly slid the wheel onto the axle. Rob lowered the wagon and the two old farmers bowed deeply. "Thank you young man!"
"You are very welcome," Rob replied. "You need to get that fixed because it will happen again if you don't."
"Horsemen! Three of them!" Rob turned as Aka called out and saw three riders approaching. She brought Wind to Rob and he mounted the stallion and wheeled to face the newcomers. Aka looked back at the elderly couple and the old man was reassuring his wife that everything was ok. He then stepped forward and greeted the samurai as they pulled up. "Greetings my lords," he said pleasantly. "How can we be of service today? Would you like some fresh fruit, or sake perhaps?"
"We are looking for two bandits," one of the men said. "You two fit the description we were given; a huge barbarian and his tiny demon whore. You two will come with us to Lord Hoji, and you will come now."
"Please my lords,' the farmer began. "These two just helped my wife and m.." He never got to finish before being kicked viciously in the face by the samurai who had been speaking. Rob drew his sword and road awards the men. "Fool! Very well, kill them all!" The three mercenaries drew swords and rode towards Rob and Aka, murder in their eyes.
Shang! Clang! Bastard sword clashed with katana. Aka threw a fireball, striking the samurai on the right full in the chest, pitching him from his saddle. The mercenary on the left wheeled his horse and rode away at a full gallop. "You'll not escape," Aka snarled as she took flight. A moment later, fire flew from the sky felling both horse and rider.
"You demon fucking barbarian!," Rob's opponent shouted. "I'll have both of your heads!" Clang! Shlang! Steel met steel, sparks flying with each impact. Suddenly, Rob spurred Wind forward and pushed into his enemies horse causing it to stagger, throwing him off balance. Rob took full advantage and drove his sword into the man's chest. Blood flew and he fell dead from his horse just as Aka landed.
She turned and faced the two farmers as Rob rode next to her. "Aka, we must go and get far from here before these men are missed." Aka looked up at Rob and glared at the farmers. She took Rob's hand and mounted Wind.
"My lord and lady," the old woman said as her husband was recovering from the kick. "I promise you, we are not your enemies. Lord Hoji strangles us all with his high prices and corruption. We will tell him nothing, I promise." Rob nodded and said, "Remember to get that wheel fixed." Then touching spurs to Wind they were off leaving the merchants and three slain enemy soldiers.
