Chapter 9 – Crushing dreams

Though she could have endured the torture the prince had had stored for her, she was so grateful someone had intervened. Being tied up and unable to defend her self was the deepest of humiliation for her. As always that humiliating feeling made her think she was weak, it cut her pride not being able to care for her own safety. Even when she knew the circumstances was to blame; she couldn't really forgive herself. Her pride would be the death of her someday, she needed to control it and she had spent the longest of time to work on doing just that. Still it seemed to get the better out of her every time. Her cheek was pulsating, the cut hadn't been that deep but it sure as hell stung with every little move she made. She suddenly felt very aware of the body she was clinging to; it wasn't the usual broad chested man, the brotherly figure that always came to her aid. This man was leaner more lithe in his muscles and his neck smelled almost like sweets! She felt his one arm resting around her waist and the other one supporting her head. His lean fingers were buried in the back of her neck in that mess she called hair.

- Bela, he whispered, his voice hoarse, you need to heal up!

Not that it matter to her who he really was or his reasons for helping her but it seemed rude of her to hug the life out of him while she was bleeding all over his clothes. She slowly took a step back and glanced up at him,

- I'm…, sorry about that, she stammered, oh no, look at that mess!

She pointed at his shoulder now all smeared with her blood. Not that you could actually see it that clearly since his clothing was all in grey and black. She couldn't see his eyes, only part of his face since he wore that hood so typical for the people in his trade. The corner of his mouth twitched, uncertain if she was being serious.

- I know, she said quickly, healing would be good!

She drew air in her lungs and triggered the renewal spell with her inner mind. She felt her heart increase its rate as the spell worked to renew her strength and close the deepest gaps of her wound. It wouldn't heal completely right now but in a few days she would be fine and she hoped it wouldn't leave a permanent scar.

- There we go, she said with a chipper tone.

She couldn't actually know if he was looking at her but she thought he did since that mouth twitched again as if he thought her funny. For a short moment it buggered her she couldn't see his eyes. He spoke slowly and calm,

- We need to go; they will soon notice he's dead!

- We can't leave without Alquerius, she protested, with me gone they will take out their anger on him. He won't survive it!

- Bela, there isn't enough time!

- I can't leave him here!

He sighed and turned away from her muttering something to himself, maybe he was cursing, it sure sounded like it. She knew he was right though. The best point of action would be to leave, recuperate and then attack with a bigger force. But she had just learned of the cruelness of this people; they would not wait for another attack. If they doubted Alquerius usefulness now they would kill him when they found their prince dead and her gone, just to prove one point – they could! She also doubted Alquerius had anyone looking for him or the blind luck of an assassin watching his ass.

- Bergelmir, she said with a serious tone of voice, I see the danger! I understand the foolishness in such an attempt but I simply wouldn't be able to live with myself if I left for safety while leaving him to his fate, not when I know what these people are capable of.

He turned back to her, taking off his hood so she could see his eyes. The beautiful shade of brown glittered with frustration,

- I know you're not an idiot Bela but what you are suggesting is insane! We don't stand a chance; it's crawling with people out there. There are hidden guards everywhere, for me to be so lucky as to spot you being dragged in here, in this tent on the outskirt of their defenses! It's a luck only being served to you once in a lifetime. I had to kill at least ten guards before I got here and I almost didn't reach you in time. Look what that bastard did to your beautiful face!

- Please don't think I'm ungrateful. I'm so glad you got here when you did, I could have taken the torture from that asshole but of course I prefer not to! It's not a thing I would wish for my worst enemy! But you haven't seen or heard these people talk, they are completely evil and they think they are justified to their actions.

- What I'm saying Bela is that the window of escape is closing on us. I killed ten guards; someone will eventually notice and call the alarm. The only way out of here is in my trail of bloody corpses. When they find all those corpses that escape route closes for good! For us to get to the prison tent from here and then out to safety is impossible!

- You could do it! She said with pleading eyes. He looked appalled,

- No way!

- But you can hide in the shadows in a way I can't!

- I can't do it as efficient when you are with me, they will notice us!

- That's not what I'm suggesting at all, you could do it alone! I could take your trail of corpses out of here and meet you on the backside of the prison tent.

He shook his head in disbelief,

- No, no, no! I'm not letting you out of my sight again until you're safe!

- Please Bergelmir; if anyone can do it, it's you!

He lifted his hand and pointed his index finger in front of her as if he was scolding her,

- You are impossible, do you know that?

She smiled at him,

- I know, Quartus tells me all the time! Will you do it?

He arched a brow,

- And if I don't?

- I'll go for a try myself; my conscience wouldn't allow me to have it any other way.

He sighed, putting his hands on his hips looking all defeated.

- Fine! He finally said pulling the hood up over his head again before he continued, there's a black horse just behind a group of cactuses when you get out of here. On the horse you can find some weapons, bring the horse around the encampment and start killing your way to the prison tent from the right barrel at that position. It's marking the border of their little moveable "village".

- Got it, why the right barrel?

- Behind that barrel is where they throw away their wastes and I believe they empty their toilets there. It'll be the least protected area considering it's content. You shouldn't have more than three perhaps four guards on that route.

- Nice, you're sending me to a shithole! She snickered with amusement in her voice, you're sure you're not punishing me for some reason?

- Do not deviate from my plan! He smiled and brought his body in to a crouching stance. Just when he was about to leave, she called out to him,

- Did I imagine it assassin, or did you call my face beautiful earlier?

He never answered, just puffed into the shadows and disappeared. She smiled to herself as she headed for the slit in the back of the tent.

* * *

Alquerius yawned; waiting for death was utterly boring. As his new cell neighbor had fought herself free he had watched with amusement. The guards deserved every bit of the pain she brought them, of that he had no doubt, but as he heard the commotion she stirred on the outside he realized there would be hell to pay when they got to her. Sad for a young girl, these people knew how to break the spirits of the very demons in hell. They probably would use him against her as well to torture her sense of guilt. He thought he heard a noise behind him but he ignored it, probably a rat or some other scavenger looking for a treat in the garbage heaps behind the prison. The smell during the hot daytime was not very pleasant but somehow he had gotten used to it. He yawned again and almost choked in shock as a dark figure emerged from the shadows on his left.

- By the treacherous ghouls of a necromancer, you scared the shit out of me! He hissed to calm his beating heart. The figure was without a doubt an assassin, if he wanted him dead he would already be. The shadow made a shushing gesture and started working on the locks. He was going to free him? By the dark Gods, how could he be so lucky?

- The guards will be here on their rounds in a matter of minutes; he hissed and got the shushing gesture again. After being a prisoner for so long he had accepted that death would eventually find him, like it had his friends. Staring at a possible freedom got his hopes up and he wouldn't want to loose them to an unexpected ambush. But of course an assassin would know, he probably had counted the rounds and gotten to Alquerius in the most beneficial moment. The front of his confinement opened and he got out as quickly and quietly as he could. The assassin brought him deeper into the tent which felt totally the wrong way to go but he figured the man must know what he was doing. A small rift in the back of the tent showed the way out, as he climbed out into the terrible ground of garbage a terrible noise of banging and loud voices began behind him.

- Don't look back, a voice said in front of him and there she was! His neighboring inmate! Standing tall with two swords in hand, she handed one to him and nodded to the assassin emerging behind him.

- I had to kill four of them, she said in a low tone of voice, but I guess someone noticed!

- Or they found the prince, the assassin said hurrying them along. The disgusting squishing sound of their feet against the ground would have made anyone hurl but to Alquerius it was the sound of a new beginning. He ran as fast as the debris would let him, as he reached the sand he glanced back to see if they were being followed.

- Don't look back, run for the horse! The assassin shouted throwing something on the ground behind him. As they reached the horse he was ordered to get on it,

- We can't ride all three, the girl protested.

- Bela, get on the goddamn horse! The assassin said with tensed voice.

- No, no one gets left behind! She protested.

- That's very endearing of you but I can hide better than you! Now get on the horse!

- Right, she said with a faint sound of uncertainty in her voice while she got up behind Alquerius, where will we meet you?

- Don't worry about that, I'll find you! Now ride south, head for Khemi!

He hit the horse on the back and it sprung immediately into a gallop, Alquerius steered it south without looking back. They would have a band of raged black scavenger on their tail in a matter of minutes, there weren't really much hiding space in the desert for those who didn't master the shadows the way the assassins did. Of course, there weren't that much of shadows in the desert at all. The horse did an outstanding run considering the heavy burden of two. Alquerius felt Belas arms around his waist, she was holding on too loosely. If she didn't hold on better she would fall off but maybe that's what she wanted. He turned his head back and shouted against the wind,

- He will be fine!

- You think? She shouted back strengthening her grip around his waist.

- He's an assassin, since when don't they land on both feet no matter what?

She seemed to accept that answer and he urged the horse to go faster.

* * *

They had had to stop for a while, to eat and let the horses get some rest. Quartus had to fight his frustration to that fact. The soup they had eaten was merely warmed up water with small chunks of meat in it. No flavor at all, he missed his roasted snouts! This watery rubbish couldn't keep a grown mans belly full. Sidney, the buffoon they enlisted at Khemi, had of course dropped his soup bowl, spilling its hot content all over Lazpom who cursed more than once before getting his priestly composure back. Within the hour they would pack up and continue north, to search for Bela. He was grateful for all the help he'd gotten. This Xorenius guy, the leader of the guild most of these men belonged to, was an honorable man and Quartus had started to grow some respect for him. He had kept out of guilds, since he belonged to the black dragons. He couldn't have duties in addition to that but it seemed as this guild didn't put duties on their members' maybe that meant he found a place where he and Bela could belong. He and Bela had traveled for so long together, she knew his darkest secrets and he thought he knew hers. They made an outstanding team and he loved questing with her, finishing small jobs for villagers or town people who didn't have the strength or courage to do the work themselves. But she would need more than just one mans friendship in the future; he knew this and so did she. Somehow they had avoided that subject and just indulged themselves in coin and adventure. He was worried sick for her life, it would be like loosing his own sister if she died but also he would have to bring the news to Cimmeria and that would not be a pleasant trip. Not that anything in life meant much if he lost his dearest friend, on the other hand that was the way of life in Hyboria. So many friends of his had died in his younger years he had stopped getting close to people because caring meant hurting sooner or later. Bela had been the only exception to that rule and now she was almost like family. Someone laughed at Sidney as he got to close to the fire and got his right footwear to start burning. Aromond helped the poor bastard to extinguish the small flames that licked his boots. The man would get himself killed, they shouldn't have brought him. He was a walking disaster. Aromond sat down next to Quartus with a heavy sigh,

- I swear that man can hurt himself sleeping!

- He's a clutz, Quartus smiled, and the worst part is he doesn't even know it himself!

He threw some thread that had loosened from his shirt into the fire. It fizzed and flared into tiny sparkles before disappearing completely. Xorenius came and joined them. He sat down, still drinking some water from his leather pouch.

- We'll soon be on our way. The last horses are being taken care of as we speak, Xorenius said with a thoughtful glance at Quartus.

- That'll be good, Quartus answered.

- You know, I won't say she's alright because there is nothing in this world that would imply that I could know this.

- You don't have to say anything; I know you're going out on a limb for me and her in this. I just…, I just realized that no matter how skilled, death can always find you anyway.

- Death is not be feared, Aromond said, it's an extension of the short life we lead here.

- I don't fear death, Quartus explained, I fear to be left behind alive, with the sorrow of loosening someone dearer to me than my own flesh!

They grew quiet for a moment, contemplating the true meaning of Quartus words because ultimately that was the truth they all had to face as skilled warriors. Suddenly Sidney started jumping up and down, screaming and pointing in his non understandable way.

- By Mitras blood, Aromond sighed, what is it now?

He rose to see what the ruckus was all about, he then stiffened and turned to Xorenius,

- I believe we have company!

Xorenius was on his feet in an instant and shouted

- Battle gears everyone!

All the men around started to move quickly, gearing up, checking their weapons. As Quartus rose from his sitting position he could see a small figure in the distant, closing in on their camp. At first it seemed to be only one figure but further away in the horizon a large group of riding people was following.

- It's a chase! Lazpom said with firm voice, the people in front are being chased. As a priest he was blessed with the sight, he could read situations a bit faster than the ordinary man.

- So, what's our standpoint in this situation? Another man Quartus didn't know shouted, Are we fighting the horde following them or are we capturing the fleeing ones?

- In this damned country I would say we fight the horde! Lazpom said blushing as he again realized he lowered himself to swearing.

Xorenius considered this and then nodded and shouted his orders with clear and sturdy voice,

- Everyone, battle positions!

They all got in the right positions agreed and discussed long before this little stop. Quartus readied his pole-arm. It would do him good to fight, in a fight he wasn't allowed to think about anything but the fight. He cocked his head to the left then the right as the bones in his neck cracked into place and gave him more mobility. Lazpom put his hand on Quartus armor and temporarily stopped him.

- What color of the hair does your friend have?

Quartus froze up, could it really be?

- Brown, reddish brown!

- I believe she is the one behind the first fellow on that hunted horse! He smiled before taking his position at the back of everyone else. He would be most helpful at the back of them all, Quartus heart started to rush off in hope, maybe she was nearer than he had thought possible. He took the front position with Xorenius and Aromond right behind him. As a guardian he was not only equipped to take the most punches he was also the most skilled.

- Sidney, back off! Your position is behind us! Xorenius hissed as an eager Sidney sneaked up next to him.

- Sidney fight! Make strong! The impossible man from Khemi answered and Xorenius had to push him to get him behind. Damn it, the man didn't understand the tactics of an assault.

As the one horse got closer they all waited for Xorenius signal, as agreed Quartus would push forward making the horde stop at a safe distant, allowing the other men to creep up on them and get the advantage. But just as Xorenius was about to give the order, Sidney rushed towards the approaching horse, past it and plunged himself with a happy scream into the horde of black scavengers. They saw him disappear, he didn't have the right armor for that, and his life would be impossible for them to save. Xorenius almost forgot his place out of shock, okay, the man was stupid, clumsy but to throw his life away so easily seemed almost pathetic. The horse carrying Bela and someone else past Quartus and as it did he snapped out of it shouting the charge everyone had waited for and Quartus rushed against the horde while Lazpom attacked with his magic from the back rows of their formation.