Arestes II
"What has you so distracted?" Kaden grunted in his direction as the caravan continued its slow ride north. Arestes blinked and turned his attention away from the river as he realized Kaden was talking to him. Just a few minutes before he could have sworn his friend was talking to the Warden, but Wyckham was nowhere to be found.
That wasn't unusual, the Warden often rode ahead of them. He claimed he liked to scout ahead and make sure nothing dangerous was in their path. But Arestes just assumed that his warhorse liked to move at a quicker trot than Apple and Pudding were able to while pulling the caravan. Still, if he thought he was being helpful, none of them saw any reason to argue against him.
He realized Kaden was still glaring at him as if waiting for a response. Something had rather soured his friend's mood in the last few weeks and Arestes wasn't wholly sure what it was. And given the fact that Seralyse was practically sitting on his lap as the three of them sat on the caravan bench, he wasn't quite sure what his problem was.
"The river seems low," Arestes said, nodding toward the river they were following north. In the last few days the water seemed to be ebbing lower with each passing mile.
"You're an expert in Calabarian rivers now?" Kaden commented. Arestes rolled his eyes. He didn't think the Calabarian was trying to be an ass. But he was sure doing a good job of it anyway. Which, to him, seemed like a colossal misuse of energy given that, again, the pert Kin girl was literally sitting in his lap.
"You can see the waterline changing," he said, gesturing to the banks. Kaden rolled his eyes and focused his attention back on the horses. But Seralyse at least looked interested. To her credit she was interested in most anything. Not everything kept her attention for very long but she always liked to gather a little knowledge here or there.
"Really?" she asked, shifting out of Kaden's lap and leaning across the bench toward the river. Arestes shifted back to give her more room. Her tail swished in Kaden's face, causing him to shift away from it.
"Yes," he said, pointing toward the river. "See how the color changes above the water line? That looks a lot like an older water line to me. It's been going on for the last few days. It makes me think the river is drying up."
"Or it just hasn't rained in a few weeks," Kaden shrugged.
"Maybe," Arestes answered. He knew Kaden had a point. It might just be a summer drought or something equally insignificant. But it didn't feel right to him. "We're in the biggest wheat area of Calabar. And the landscape looks far too close to Lorak for my tastes."
"And you want us to do something about it?" Seralyse asked. She shifted back to her seat, plopping down on Kaden's right leg. Kaden snorted his derision as she sat down and Arestes shook his head.
"I mean I'd love to. But I don't know how to make it rain or even what we could do. It was more a stray observation than anything important," he answered.
"Alisen might," Seralyse responded cheerily. The three of them all sort of glanced back toward the caravan. They'd chosen the outdoor ride that morning because the Volkar decided it was time to clean Shambles. And none of them, despite her asking for help, wanted to know what that entailed. There had been a period of strange banging noises and arguing from the caravan when they started, but that had petered off as the day went on.
"Rain blood, probably," Kaden scoffed. It drew a chuckle from Arestes but the Kin girl just shrugged her shoulders.
"That wouldn't be good for the water," she said.
"Or the plants," Arestes added.
"Or that. I don't see why we should worry."
"We shouldn't," Kaden said. "It's not our problem. And we can't do anything about it."
"Yeah," Arestes agreed half-heartedly. "Not our problem at all." He spared one short glance at his friend, his brows furrowing as he did. He turned his gaze back to the river after and watched the waters flow.
He didn't know why it bothered him so much. He knew the area they were in was often cited as being lush and fertile. But now, it looked rather drab. He wasn't sure what to make of that. Or why it bothered him. For all he knew this was just how it looked during this time of year.
Part of him wondered if he could get them to stop the caravan and wander off toward some of the wheat fields to inspect the crop. Then again, he knew about as much about growing wheat as he did seasonal river levels.
He turned his gaze back toward his friend to see if he still looked angry. He did. It seemed to be getting worse with each passing mile they ventured into Calabar. His eyes darted around the countryside and he seemed to glower more with each passing minute.
Again, he had a hard time with that. Sure, there were some worrying things. But there was also a very pretty Kin girl wiggling in his lap as she hummed lyrics to a new song she was working on.
Every now and then she'd stumble with a lyric and they'd offer a suggestion or three. Sometimes widely unrelated to the word she was looking for, but, hey, it rhymed. He hoped Kaden would have the heart to stop her from using some of them in public.
In her defense, she didn't seem to be taking their suggestions too seriously. But you never knew what could come up. He suspected Kaden wouldn't let her sing a song that knowingly insulted everyone in the tavern. But Kaden had also surprised him before. And he was in a mood where he seemed to be spoiling for either a fight or a roll in the hay.
Arestes half wondered if he should just lock Kaden and Seralyse in the caravan one night and let nature takes it course, as it were. It was fairly obvious they both liked each other. And while they seemed to be trying to be professional, that was slipping every day.
Of course Alisen would probably object. She'd yet to even consider the idea of sleeping outside of the caravan and clearly wasn't about ready to sleep on the ground, could you imagine?!
Alisen likely wouldn't have seen a problem with his decision though. She'd have probably laid out a blanket and told them to have at it while she watched. Which seemed like it would make it less likely for Kaden and Seralyse to do anything fun. Knowing the Witch, she'd get involved to get them started.
The more he thought about this, the more he wanted to try to make it happen, just to see how mortified the other two would be.
Then again, they were supposedly taking her home to meet her fiance. So maybe he shouldn't be encouraging them in any way. The last thing they'd need is to have the Kin decide they'd taken advantage of one of their kind. He already doubted they'd get paid. He didn't want to have to fight his way out of Bazaar if he could avoid it.
But that was something they'd have to deal with when they got there. When they'd started the trip, Arestes hadn't thought they'd actually make it the whole way. He'd assumed Kaden would abandon the girl once it became clear that she wasn't going to be able to pay them. But instead they'd somehow gathered more members of their party.
Although even he noticed Kaden had not offered to pay either of them. Even when the reason for their trip came up. Instead he seemed more interested in telling the Warden they'd drop him off at a Gate, which would be way out of their way, and the Witch that she should let the ghoul finish her off.
Which, granted, he didn't necessarily disagree with. He didn't much like magic in general. And Necromancy wasn't one he wanted to learn much more about. He hadn't voiced the opinion to any of the others, but it felt, well, wrong, every time she used any magic. A sort of rotted scent filled the air when she did. Everything around her felt wrong.
She seemed hesitant about using it in most cases. At least until they started fighting someone. Then she threw it around with abandon. But always seemed a bit sheepish when asked about it and never gave a clear answer. Arestes would have been mad at her about that, but it wasn't like he and Kaden ever gave clear answers, either.
He couldn't fault her for it. And he didn't. Although there were moments where he suspected Kaden hated her for it. Before he was able to think of that for too long he saw the Warden riding back toward them. He was pushing Julius harder than he normally would.
"We have a problem," he said as he looped around the caravan and matched their speed. Apple bit toward the warhorse out of annoyance. Pudding ignored its presence.
"A derelict Warden and a Volkar witch. Two, I count," Kaden said.
"Don't be a dick," Seralyse ordered.
"What is it?" Arestes asked as Kaden and Seralyse glared at each other.
"There's a town up ahead," Wyckham started.
"Yes," Kaden answered. "Bellus. It's a fairly big farming village."
"I'm aware," Wyckham answered. "They're fortifying against something. And doing so in a hurry."
"What?" Kaden asked.
"I didn't get close enough to ask," Wyckham answered. Arestes understood why. Wardens were supposed to aid citizens in distress. It would have been difficult for him to resist had they asked for his help. So he hadn't gotten close enough to let them ask.
"Of course," Kaden sighed.
"What kind of fortifications?" Arestes asked.
"Trenches mostly. Putting some stakes into them. Digging around the entire town," Wyckham answered.
"Less effective than walls," Arestes answered.
"Much. But quicker. They seemed panicked," Wyckham said.
"Can we go around?" Kaden asked.
"I'm sure we could, but it would be at least a couple of days of backtracking," Wyckham answered.
"Then we turn around," Kaden said.
"I want to see the town," Seralyse said.
"There's no point. We're obviously wandering into some turf war we know nothing about. Our best course of action is to avoid it," Kaden said. Arestes frowned. He didn't like it but he had to agree with his friend. If there is some sort of conflict occurring before them, their best course of action would be to avoid it.
"He's right," he said. "We should avoid it."
"I was robbed around here on my way down," Seralyse said, peering around.
"You were?" Wyckham asked, peering around.
"Yes. They didn't find my coins but took a bracelet and some other jewelry I used in my costumes. A couple of mercenaries with a few merchants I was traveling behind scared them off," Seralyse said. "But they didn't chase them."
"Probably hoping to poach the caravan themselves," Kaden shrugged.
"Not everyone is a pirate, pirate," Seralyse spat back.
"Where were you when this was going on?" Arestes asked.
"Performing," Seralyse answered as if it was obvious. "The mercenaries recognized the caravan and didn't think the robbers looked like the type I'd travel with."
"Should I be offended?" Kaden asked.
"Did you rob me?"
"Not yet."
"Prat," she swatted him on the shoulder. He was starting to slow the horses and clearly looking for a convenient spot to spin the caravan around.
"What? I'll at least wait until we're in Kinland to abandon you and steal all of your money," Kaden said.
"The Land," Seralyse retorted, correcting him for what felt like the hundredth time. Arestes knew he did it to needle her.
"I won't abandon my duty," the Warden responded.
"Gates are that way," Kaden said, pointing.
"Thank you, Wyckham," Seralyse answered, sticking her tongue out at Kaden. She'd shifted a bit so she was sitting more across his lap than in it. She leaned a bit against Arestes as she peered out toward Wyckham on Julius Kaden ignored her.
She peered out toward the trees as they were all silent for a few moments. She wiggled some against him, Arestes didn't mind but did find the entire situation a little awkward. Still, the three of them barely fit on the bench and at least she smelled much better than the ghoul. She was the one who would finally break the silence.
"I want to see the town," she said. Kaden groaned.
"That's such a stupid idea," he said.
"How far are we?"
"About five miles. If we don't water the horses we can make it just after midday I'd guess," Wyckham answered.
"Well, I think going around is stupid," Seralyse said.
"We have no idea what we're getting into," Kaden said.
"Exactly! And we're not getting into anything. We're taking a normal Calabarian road toward a normal Calabarian town. One I remember being quite nice and quite welcoming," Seralyse said.
"Not if they're digging a defensive perimeter around the town," Kaden scoffed.
"Maybe that's not what they're doing," Seralyse shrugged.
"If the Warden thinks they're digging defensive trenches, he's better versed in what that would look like than the rest of us. I doubt he'd be mistaken," Kaden said. Arestes glanced at Wyckham. The man looked almost surprised by the minor show of faith. But he nodded.
"It's what they're doing. It's not the best I've seen but it's not something I'm mistaken about," Wyckham said.
"Well, whatever they're worried about obviously isn't in our current path. So what's the harm in wandering into the town and trying to figure out what's going on," Seralyse said.
"And then we wind up caught in whatever they're dealing with and it ends up getting us all killed," Kaden said.
"Or they know a way through to the north that we wouldn't have found ourselves and we save a few days of travel time," Seralyse countered.
"Or we all wind up dead," Kaden said.
"I'd rather investigate the town as well," Wyckham said.
"Feel free," Kaden gave him a warm smile and waved him on his way. Wyckham rolled his eyes but it was enough to make Arestes chuckle.
"I'd rather go around," he admitted. Not just out of slavish devotion to his friend. He knew the better course of action would be to go around. There was little downside to that. Whereas not going around could lead to something far worse for them. He'd been in enough sticky situations to know that the risk just wasn't worth it.
"Tied then," Wyckham said.
"I don't recall this being a democracy," Seralyse answered.
"May as well ask everyone's opinion," Kaden grumbled. Seralyse glared at him for a moment before raising her hand to hit the window of the caravan a couple of times. After a moment Alisen opened it.
"What?" she asked.
"I need you to agree with me," Seralyse said.
"Okay!" Alisen responded brightly. "I agree with Seralyse."
"Three to two, to the town we go," Sera said smugly. Kaden rolled his eyes but kept them going on their way, muttering that maybe Shambles should get a vote.
It took slightly longer than Wyckham had assumed to get to the town. But it was still early afternoon when the caravan rolled into the town.
The Warden had been right. There was a group of men working on fortifying a trench of some sort on the north side of the town. They'd worked it nearly around the entire village but were clearly focusing on the northern gates. Arestes frowned as he stared at it. They weren't doing a very good job. But speed seemed to be a bigger priority than quality.
"I remember this town being nicer too," Seralyse said as they brought the caravan into the small town square.
"It's one of the wealthier towns in this area," Wyckham answered, peering around.
"Then why does it look so miserable?" Seralyse asked. Kaden brought the caravan to a halt near a tavern with an open trough for the horses. Seralyse jumped off with them and Alisen emerged from the back as they looked around. Wyckham stayed on Julius and stared around the town.
"And where are the people? Not everyone can be working on the defenses," Wyckham said. Arestes walked over toward a stone bridge as Kaden seemed to have the horses under control.
"The river is so low their mills aren't working," he said. Wyckham trotted over and peered down at it as well.
"That doesn't seem good," he said.
"It isn't," a stern voice snapped. Arestes spun around to face it as Wyckham dismounted and turned as well.
A young Calabarian woman stared at them, her hands on her hips. She was perhaps his age with long brown hair and dark eyes. She wore worn but clean clothing of a simple roughspun fabric and had the remnants of dirt on her face and hands.
"What's going on?" Wyckham asked.
"Goodness," she blinked as the sigils on his armor gleamed in the afternoon sun. "A Warden of the Gates?"
"Wyckham Abruzzi," he answered and offered his hand as he stepped toward her. She dodged around him with a glare. Her gaze faltered at his surname. Kaden smirked at the reaction though, while Arestes only rolled his eyes.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"We gave you one name already," Kaden said.
"If you're all Abruzzis then drown yourselves in the river, there should still be enough water for that at least," the woman said. She spun around on her toes and walked away from them.
"I'm not an Abruzzi," Seralyse said, hopping toward the woman with her tail swaying wildly behind her. "Too furry."
"And I'm too pale," Alisen answered.
"Too dark," Arestes added.
"And I happily admit to my thievery and don't hide behind calling it 'taxation,'" Kaden said. Wyckham rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest and glared at all of his traveling companions. Despite that, the hint of a smile formed at the corner of his
"If you think about it, it's closer to extortion than theft," the Warden answered. To Arestes infinite surprise, Kaden laughed at the comment, a genuine smile spreading across his face.
"Goodness," the woman said again. She peered through all of them. "You're quite the….wait, I recognize you! You're a Siren!"
"On my way back north, yes," Seralyse smiled. "I remember the town being a bit more bustling."
"It was. But I wouldn't recommend going north," the woman said.
"Why not?"
"There's bandits in the woods," she answered but her words came out too quickly. Like she was clearly hiding something.
"Shouldn't Calabarian knights be dealing with that problem?"
"We've sent missives to the capitol. There's been no response and there hasn't been a single patrol in the month since," the woman said.
"That can't be," Wyckham said.
"They don't care about us," the woman said.
"They should," Kaden said.
"Why?" Alisen asked, looking around the town and seemed oblivious to the fact that her words could be hurtful.
"Because the harvests from this area feed a good chunk of Calabar," Wyckham answered. "I'm surprised the King didn't rush soldiers here at the first sign of trouble."
"So were we," the woman answered. "But that was months ago."
"I don't remember there being issues," Seralyse said. "Everyone seemed happy to have me perform last time I was here."
"And then the spring crop didn't take. And then the summer crop failed. And then the water started to dry up," the woman said. "And now we don't have much of anything."
"Going to be a rough winter," Arestes said. He peered toward the rivers. "Are they damming the water or did the river just dry up?"
"Uhm…" the woman said.
"You can tell us," Seralyse said. "We want to help."
"Well, you do," Kaden said with a pointed look to Seralyse.
"We do," Wyckham answered.
"Yes, the Abruzzi family has helped them so much," Kaden said.
"If you're able to control your father I'd love some advice on how to better control mine," Wyckham shot back. They just glared for a few minutes until another villager appeared and spoke up.
"Just tell them, Elesia," he said. He was an older man and walked with a limp.
"We think they're damming the water. But we don't know how," the girl, Elesia, answered.
"Why not?" Wyckham asked.
"Because everyone we've sent out to investigate hasn't come back," the girl said.
"That would do it," Kaden answered. "Now, not to seem too short, but do you know a way for us to get out of town and continue on our way toward The Land?"
"I'd tell you to go south and take the western road toward the sea and turn north around Curia, but I don't think you'll have much luck at this point," Elesia answered.
"Why not?"
"Uhm," the girl said, looking toward the older man.
"Tonight they've promised to kill us all," the man answered.
"Just like that?" Wyckham asked.
"They gave us two moons to come up with a ransom for our lives, but after the droughts and whatever they've done with the water, there was no chance of coming up with the money. About half the town fled," the man said.
"The rest should join them," Kaden said.
"The rest can't," Elesia answered with conviction. Arestes could feel her pride at the words. She loved her town and the people in it. And she would do what she could to save it.
"Why here?" Arestes asked.
"We don't know. Almost certainly to take control of the wheat production," the man answered.
"I'm not sure why the Crown would tolerate such an obstruction for the year though," Kaden answered.
"Unless they're involved," Elesia spat.
"There's no reason to believe that," the man said. "King Balian was never anything but kind."
"King Balian has been dead for over a decade," Elesia spat. "And King Marek hasn't shown his face in these parts in nearly as long. And Count Abruzzi didn't like us when he visited last year."
"I've never seen the Count happy on one of his visits," the man said.
"They're related," Elesia said, gesturing toward Wyckham. The man's brows raised.
"He's my father," Wyckham said.
"I see," the man answered. "I didn't mean any disrespect."
"I wouldn't worry about it. I've never seen him happy either," Wyckham answered with a reassuring smile. It seemed to settle the tension some. After a moment, the man continued talking.
"Elesia is right. The ones who came implied that they would hunt down anyone here. Some of us fled. Some decided to make a last stand and hope the Calabarian military showed up."
"We'll stay and help," Seralyse offered. The man looked startled.
"No. We won't," Kaden said. "We're getting you back to Bazaar."
"We would appreciate a Warden. If you would at least be willing to inspect what we've done and provide a suggestion on the defenses," the man said. Wyckham pressed his lips together but didn't answer.
"I'll take a look," Arestes said. "I may not be a Warden but I'm pretty good at building things. Comeon, Wyck."
"We're not…" Kaden started.
"Yes we are," Seralyse answered.
"It'll be fun," Alisen smiled. Kaden closed his eyes. Arestes expected him to argue as Wyckham joined him. Instead he shook his head.
"Fine. But when we die it's your damn fault," Kaden answered.
"Fine," Seralyse agreed. Kaden paused and looked at the Volkar.
"You're with me, Witch. Lve the ghoul," he said.
"Okay," Alisen answered, skipping over toward him. Seralyse raised her brows and looked at the two of them.
"Where are you going?"
"North," Kaden answered. "Someone needs to try to scout what's coming."
"But they said they all died," Seralyse answered, gesturing toward Elesia and the old man.
"I'm a big boy and I'll be careful," Kaden said as he and Alisen walked across the stone bridge and toward the north end of town. Arestes could sense Seralyse wanted to argue with him, to tell him not to go, or maybe to accompany him. But instead she found herself being pulled with Elesia toward the trenches.
It wasn't much, at least Arestes didn't think so. They'd clearly waited until the last minute in hopes of some sort of outside savior. But when they'd realized they were going to have to solve it themselves, all sorts of things started in a hurry without much direction.
Wyckham took over on instinct. He organized them into specific lines and focused on specific areas. He kept them at work until the sun started to dip beneath the horizon. Seralyse watched for a few minutes before finding a perch on a nearby stone fence.
She started to sing quietly as they worked. He didn't quite know how she did it, but the tasks felt easier while she sang. Arestes focused on what traps he could help with, what pitfalls he could manage for the ensuing attackers.
Around sunset her singing grew a bit more somber. She kept looking north as she sang until finally two figures emerged from the forest. Some of the gathered crowd stiffened and looked that way.
Wyckham called them to stop and told them that they'd done what they could that day. And to go get something to eat and be with their families. He would take the first watch that evening.
Seralyse didn't stop singing until Kaden was within earshot. Then she shifted off the wall. For a moment Arestes thought she might rush to him and embrace him. But she didn't do either.
"Well?" Wyckham asked.
"Twenty to thirty bandits. They have built some sort of dam around the river and seem to be using it to power something," Kaden answered.
"Did they spot you?"
"One did," Alisen smiled, holding up a small pink gem.
"So they'll at least know something is wrong when they go to change guards," Kaden answered. "If they haven't figured it out already."
"Any thoughts on what they're doing?" Arestes asked.
"No clue" Kaden said.
"They were communing with an effigy of Shalan," Alisen said with a confused look at Kaden. Her tone made it quite clear she thought Kaden was an idiot for not knowing that. Arestes figured it best if he didn't voice the fact that he had no idea what that was.
"That's what those sticks were?" Kaden asked.
"No, the effigy was the dam. The sticks were decoration," she said.
"Shalan?" Wyckham asked, he furrowed his brows as he stared at the witch.
"Yes," Alisen said. "Unless you know of other serpent tailed beasts with tentacle arms." She waved her arms as if trying to mime tentacles.
"Care to enlighten the rest of us?" Kaden asked.
"Shalan was one of the early monstrosities of the Scar. One of the few believed to have escaped inland but there was never much of a sign of it," Wyckham said.
"It's an ancient Volkarian myth," Alisen said. "But they seem to be trying to summon something with the effigy."
"Is that possible?" Wyckham asked.
"For a bunch of talentless humans? No," Alisen answered.
"Okay, but assuming they have talent?" Kaden asked.
"Still no, probably," Alisen answered.
"Why not?"
"Because it's a myth?" Alisen answered, again as if she thought they were stupid. "Myths aren't real."
"We should get out of here," Kaden said.
"I'm not leaving," Seralyse said. "But you're welcome to."
Arestes turned his attention to his friend. Kaden only glared at the Kin girl, powerless to refute her. He wasn't sure that his friend thought a thousand gold, well, five hundred really, was worth his life. But he shook his head and paced a few steps away.
"Excuse me?" Elesia asked from behind them. They turned to see the woman holding a large pot of stew. Behind her Shambles walked with a tray of drinks. "We wanted to offer you this for your help. It's not much but…"
"Thank you," Wyckham answered. "It's more than we deserve."
"Speak for yourself," Kaden grumbled. Arestes walked and took the stew from her and placed it down between all of them. Shambles walked over and placed the platter down as well. Some brown bowls rested on the corner of it. He started to serve his companions.
"Is that thing safe?" Elesia asked, gesturing to the ghoul.
"He's harmless," Alisen smiled. "His name is Shambles."
"I'd stay out of biting range," Kaden added.
"Oh," Elesia took a couple of steps away from the ghoul.
"He won't hurt you," Arestes said, reassuringly. The girl gave him a skeptical look but nodded.
"If you insist," she said.
"Eat with us?" Arestes asked. She looked around for a moment but then her gaze shifted back to the food as he offered her a bowl and she nodded.
He made her talk while they ate. He wanted to hear about this Calabarian farming town. He wasn't sure what he was hoping to find out, and he wasn't sure he found it. But he liked to listen to her and the more she spoke the more he felt at home in the small village. For a moment, they could have been nothing more than a group of friends enjoying an evening meal and an ale as the sun set on a peaceful village.
The more he got her to speak, the more her love for the area filtered through. The more she talked of farming and irrigation and the simple process of creating the food that nourished so many, the more embarrassed he felt about his own life choices.
Here this young lady was responsible for feeding hundreds, if not thousands, by the grace of her crops in any given season. And all he'd ever managed to do with his life was take lives on a pirate ship. He couldn't help but notice that the more she talked about Calabarian wheat the more Kaden refused to look at her.
Until finally, he got up and paced away, hopping over one of the stone walls to eat his meal in peace. He wasn't given much peace, though, as Seralyse followed him in moments. They could sense a battle coming. And he knew people did stupid things before a battle. But he doubted either of them were going to do it in the dirt within earshot of the rest of them.
As the sun set, a rustling in the trees caught their attention. Wyckham rose, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword and he moved toward the defenses. Elesia looked panicked as two figures emerged from the woods.
They paused as they turned toward the town. Wyckham's armor made him quite the target as he stood, gleaming in the growing darkness. He gave them a moment to identify themselves and when they didn't, he yelled.
"Who goes there?"
They didn't speak as they took a few steps forward. Finally, as they drew within a couple of steps one of them spoke.
"We've come to collect our tithe from the town. This isn't any business of yours, Warden."
"This town is protected and owes you nothing. Dismantle your dam and leave. This is your only warning," Wyckham answered.
"Only warning? You can die with the rest of them, Warden," the man laughed at him. Wyckham kept his face impassive as he spoke.
"You can still leave," the Warden answered. The two men stared at him before the first spoke again.
"You can't," he said. He produced a dagger and lunged at Wyckham with a surprising speed. But the Warden was prepared and with one quick motion he unsheathed and slashed his sword down on the man. He fell to the ground with a large gash across his chest and Wyckham finished it with a quick downward jab of his sword while he focused on the other man.
"I see your answer," the other man said, backing toward the trees. He didn't look away from them until he was into the treeline, then he turned and continued north. Wyckham lowered his sword and backed toward the group.
"Tell everyone to get inside and hide," he said to Elesia. She nodded and stood as Kaden hopped over the stone wall.
"Bullshit," he said. "Tell anyone who's willing to grab whatever they can wield and join us."
"They're farmers, Kaden," Wyckham said.
"And?"
"Against equipped and trained mercenaries? They'll be slaughtered," Wyckham said.
"Yeah," Kaden agreed. "And when we die, they'll be slaughtered anyway. I'm sure some of them would rather go out on their feet."
Arestes thought Wyckham might argue with him. But all he did was nod his head. He chose to follow Elesia back into town. He ducked into the caravan and grabbed Seralyse's hatchet and their hunting bow. They'd gathered a few more arrows in various towns but barely had a quiver full.
Some men emerged from the tavern as he moved back toward the north trenches. They donned makeshift armor, some of it looking like antique mail from past Calabarian wars. Probably, he thought, family heirlooms from centuries past. They picked up spears and sickles and pitchforks and stank of fear as they moved to the defenses they helped dig that afternoon.
Wyckham spaced them along the lines and offered what brief instruction he could. Arestes gave Seralyse the hatchet and bow. She nodded at him and his least favorite part of any fight started. The wait before the action.
Thankfully it didn't last long.
Shortly after sundown the bandits emerged from the trees. They were better armed than Arestes would have expected, each sporting armor that reminded him far too much of the trained guards in Pelican's Rest than he cared to admit.
They all carried spears and had swords at their hips as they rushed toward the town. Wyckham plucked a torch from nearby and tossed it toward one of the forward pits Arestes rigged hours earlier. He ducked into a trench as flames spread around them.
Kaden shifted between them and drew his sword. He walked up to Wyckham and took his place next to the Warden ahead of the other three. There was only a moment of hesitation before the mercenaries hit the villagers.
They went for the Warden first. They didn't have much of a choice given he stood in front of most everyone else and in the small area they hadn't dug up. The first of the mercenaries to reach him fell as his sword arched around.
The second grouping pushed him back some but behind the glowing armor and in the smoky haze of the evening they hadn't seen Kaden. And his sword was every bit as deadly as the Wardens.
But the mercenaries weren't stupid. They could see the bottleneck they were rushing against and others fanned out to the side. Some fell into the trenches, some were picked off by a crossbow bolt or an arrow from further into the town. But most made it through. Spears hit townsfolk and townsfolk hit mercenaries.
In moments screams mingled into the staticky sound of burning. The stench of death wafted over the battlefield. Someone screamed far closer to him than he would have liked. He spun around and saw two mercenaries rushing toward them.
He flicked a knife at one, catching the man in the neck as he grabbed for another. A purple bolt of magic flashed past him and hit the second mercenary. The man crumbled into dust as Alisen giggled behind him. He spun around as an arrow flashed by his face.
It always shocked him how strange battles were. They felt like six seconds of chaos sandwiched between minutes of nothing. He knew that wasn't true. That there was far more to it than that. But it always amazed him how much one could catch during a battle, and how little one could actually do.
He hopped out of the defensive trench he'd joined Alisen and Seralyse in and peered around. Fires were raging as the mercenaries continued to pour out of the forests. Kaden had clearly been wrong about the numbers.
Everything was growing hazier by the minute and in the darkness he was finding it hard to focus on any single thing. He saw a mercenary rush toward one of the townsfolk and caught him with a knife in the leg. The man stumbled and fell into one of their pits. His wails soon filled the air.
Arestes found it hard to see anything around him. His eyes watered against the smoke as his eyes darted around. He saw people scrambling. Some of the villagers were fleeing back toward the village, some of the mercenaries were following them.
He saw Shambles chase after them. The ghoul pounced, flying a good twenty feet through the air and landing on one of the mercenaries. Arestes forced himself to look away before the ghoul started eating.
After a moment his vision seemed to clear. Everything grew more focused. Somewhere in the back of his mind he could hear Seralyse starting to sing. Although she wasn't doing it in the common tongue. He couldn't make out the words in her native Beastral speech, but it didn't matter. He felt invigorated and juked around another mercenary. The man slipped chasing after him and Arestes pounced.
He wished he'd had more time to prepare. He was best in a more controlled battlefield, where he could direct others into traps. Instead now he was throwing knives and doing everything he could to keep them away from Alisen and Seralyse.
It seemed to be working though. As he could still see the glowing sigils of Wyckham's armor and the dark shadow that was Kaden as continued to weave through the mercenaries. Arestes thought they had to be winning. But he knew it could change in an instant.
And then it did.
An unearthly roar shook the trees. A cheer rose from the mercenaries almost as soon as it happened. Arestes disliked that, so he stabbed the nearest bandit in the neck. Alisen must have had a similar idea as her giggle ran through the battlefield once more.
The fight continued until an unearthly roar stopped everyone. Even the bandits turned to look for the source of it in the treeline.
Moments later a monstrosity burst through the trees. It was perhaps ten feet tall and slithered on a snake body. Four large tentacles burst out of its sides where the arms should have been. Its head reminded him of a goat but only because the only distinguishable trait was the curling horns.
"Oh Gods," Wyckham said.
"Shalan?" Alisen yelled. The creature turned toward her voice. A sort of bellowing laugh followed as it saw her. It didn't quite speak. There wasn't any movement from his head. And Arestes wasn't sure that he heard words. But he could understand its meaning in his head as it told the Volkar to join him, to stand at his side where she belonged.
Alisen tilted her head and looked at him but before she had a chance to respond Wyckham yelled out.
"I will vanquish you!" he screamed at the monstrosity. A sense of laughter filled Arestes's head as it faced the Warden. Magic flared off of it. When it hit the mercenaries they seemed to swell with power. The townsfolk crumbled when it flashed their way.
Wyckham charged.
Arestes watched as he slashed at the creature. He severed one of the tentacles with a quick flash of his sword. Shalan screamed and the other three tentacles flashed out and hit the Warden square in the chest. He flew a few feet, landing in one of the trenches. He pulled himself out as the bandits swarmed him.
Seralyse roared and flashed toward him, hatchet raised high above her head. She took one giant overhead swing at one of the bandits and buried it in his head. She tried once to pull it out but it didn't budge. So she pounced on the nearest one, biting and clawing at the man as Wyckham pulled himself back to his feet.
The monstrosity slithered over toward them, rising up against the trees and readying a strike. Instead a purple beam hit it in the back. Arestes traced the beam back to Alisen. The witch stood with her hand out and the beam flowing from her. Her eyes were glowing red in the darkness and her hair billowing out behind her.
Traitor. The word resonated through his head as the creature turned and rushed toward Alisen. It wouldn't let her steal its power! Some pissant Volkar did not deserve his majestic magic.
Kaden ducked around and slashed at the creature's tail. It roared and lashed the tentacles out against him. He blocked one but the other found its way home and knocked him aside. Kaden, to his credit, rolled against it and kept his feet and started to charge once again despite blood dripping from his side, down his hand and onto his sword.
Shambles beat him to the monstrosity. The ghoul jumped and landed halfway up the creature's back. It started grabbing and gnawing on the creature. The tentacles lashed at the creature and ripped it from its body. It held the ghoul up for a moment before ripping it in half. One tentacle impaled through the creature's head as Alisen screamed in rage, her spell flashed with even more power and she kept her attention focused on the creature.
Arestes blinked as it buckled under Alisen's magic. Her face contorted with rage as she shrieked.
"Witch!" Kaden yelled. Arestes wasn't sure what he was yelling about, but Alisen started to jog toward the trees as she kept her spell focused on the creature. Kaden followed after them. Arestes looked to Wyckham and Seralyse, they'd managed to work in unison fighting some of the bandits. She'd dislodged her ax and held it in one hand while holding the Warden's dagger in her other. She managed to still sing as she fought. As her words shifted into his ears he felt everything shift into focus.
Kaden and Alisen closed in on the creature. His friend peered over his shoulder at the bandits separating them from the rest of the group.
"Warden," he yelled. "Hold the line."
Arestes made to chase after Kaden and Alisen, to help his friend however he could. He'd sworn he'd always help him. No matter how bleak it seemed. And he'd kept that promise. He pushed through a pair of bandits who were distracted by the choice of advancing or retreating to join the monstrosity.
But then a scream distracted him. He turned and saw the girl from the town, Elesia, standing between two bandits. The mercenaries were standing over the body of the old man as the woman held a spear in shaking hands. Arestes hesitated.
He had to help his friend. He'd promised he'd always help his friend. Always. And now, perhaps more than ever, his friend needed his help. But his friend would also have helped a Calabarian citizen in peril. And if he did nothing, the girl would die. He'd thrown the knife before his brain had even registered that he'd made the decision.
It impacted uselessly on the man's armor. But it was enough to get his attention and as he turned Arestes hit him full on with a shoulder. Pain seared through him as he did but he didn't let that stop him. He toppled over with the man and pulled himself quickly back to his feet, turning around to face the second one.
He dodged the spear, grabbing at it but missing as the man thrust again. Arestes reached into his pocket and grabbed his latest tinkering project. It wasn't much, and he'd been putting less effort into it than he normally would in his spare time. But his new companions were far more interesting conversationalists than Kaden.
It was supposed to be a magical bomb. But he'd never gotten around to letting Alisen infuse it. So instead he threw a small metal orb at the man. It hit him square in the face and did nothing else. But it served as a distraction.
Arestes wrested the spear from the man. Cursing himself as it fell to the ground. The man went for his sword but Arestes slammed into him. He took him to the ground and bashed his head into the ground over and over. When the man stopped fighting he spun around to see the first bandit charging at him with the spear.
But Elesia grabbed the fallen spear from the second mercenary. And she thrust it forward with as much force as she could. Arestes saw it puncture through the armor. She dropped it almost as soon as it pierced the man, shock evident on her face.
He looked down at it but before he could act a wave of power flattened him. It knocked Arestes down, and Elesia on top of him. A shriek like he'd never heard rang through his head. He got the girl off of him and rose to his feet. He picked up one of the spears and looked around only to see the bandits fleeing.
A moment later he saw why.
Kaden stood on top of the creature's flailing body. He pulled his sword out of the creature's head. Arestes felt his breath hitch as flames flashed along the length of the blade, seeming to almost engulf his hand and flicker up his arm. The effect created a halo of light around him, oranges, blues and purples flashing around. He'd only seen his friend use that trick one other time. And even then Kaden had refused to say he'd done it himself.
Kaden peered at the fleeing mercenaries but made no movement to follow them. The flickering flame of the sword created a small circle of light around him, orange mixing with the dark purple of the night.
Alisen walked up the creature as well, her eyes wide as she seemed to sniff at Kaden. Arestes fought back a disbelieving laugh as he wondered if she really could smell magic. His friend closed his eyes and shook his head as the flame flickered away from the sword. He dropped the near melted blade next to the creature as he hopped off the body. Arestes watched Wyckham walk up to the creature before the woman spoke.
"You saved my life," she said. He watched as Wyckham put his sword into the creature a few times, just to be on the safe side, before he turned to face Elesia.
"And you returned the favor," he smiled.
"What was that thing?" she asked. He noticed she was shivering despite the warmth of the evening. But such things happened after battles. He put an arm around her shoulder. She stiffened against him but after a moment leaned against him.
"I have no idea," he said. "Some Volkar monstrosity. Perhaps one of the creatures from The Scar made it inland?"
"Could there be more of them?" She shivered. The thought was terrifying.
"I don't know. But its death was enough to scare off the bandits."
"Do you think we're safe?"
"For now," Arestes said. "Should bring guards when we check the dams in the morning."
He watched as Wyckham surveyed the scene. Kaden stood next to the Warden but was looking around their impromptu battlefield rather than at the monstrosity's corpse. They found seventeen dead townspeople and nearly thirty dead mercenaries.
After a few moments some of the townspeople started to cheer. They'd defended their town. And not longer after, ale was flowing rather freely. Wyckham, he noticed, didn't partake. Neither did Kaden.
He lost track of his friend at the party that followed. But he knew Kaden liked to be alone after a fight. Especially one quite that bloody. And that it was best to let him be.
Still, as he watched a drunken Seralyse and Alisen attempt to perform a duet about the slaying of Shalan, that he was pretty sure wasn't in anything remotely resembling the common tongue, he wished his friend had been there to see it. Of course, knowing Kaden, he saw the entire thing without being seen himself.
He barely noticed as Elesia took his hand and led him from the party and into a small house down by one of the mills along the river. He thought he could have improved the mill, and the irrigation, but he was distracted by being pulled inside.
The home was small but well kept and clean. She led him through it without a word and they entered a small bedroom tucked away in the back. Part of him knew he should have stopped her. He should have said something. But when she started undressing him he didn't much see the point in arguing or, really, voicing anything. He'd never been quite as stoic as his friend when it came to the opposite sex. And, well, Elesia seemed nice, in more ways than one.
He woke before her the next morning, nursing only a moderate hangover. He slipped from her bed and intended to leave, but he was rather quickly distracted by some tools in a small room near the entrance of her house that must have served as a workshop. She was working on some type of mechanical pump. It was all fairly rudimentary and he resisted the urge to fix a few things he noticed about it. Instead he ducked outside and spent a few minutes looking at the water mill.
It was well built and well cared for. But he expected nothing else of a town like Bellus. He watched it cycle until Elesia emerged from the home. She seemed surprised he was there and more so when he offered to make breakfast. She led him to a small coop near the side of her home and he made eggs.
He stayed with her the rest of the day. They talked of nothing at first and he wondered if he should make himself scarce. But she didn't seem bothered by his company and eventually they started discussing her day to day life and the toils of the farming village. She even took him to see some of the crops.
He was no expert, but they looked in desperate need of watering. She blushed and seemed sheepish as she talked about them but his mind was immediately putting two and two together with her makeshift pump and the locations of her crops.
Their day was only interrupted by an annoyed Seralyse as Wyckham, Kaden and Alisen had left to scout the bandit camp without her, claiming they hadn't allowed her to go. He tried to placate her, figuring she mostly needed to complain. And after an hour or so she left to wander the town.
That evening he sat with Elesia in the workshop and they worked on the pump and pipe. By the morning they had a makeshift prototype. A few hours later they had it installed and watched as water from the river sprayed across the crops. Elesia blinked a couple of times as she saw her invention work before tackling him and kissing him right in the field.
The mud took ages to get off but it was worth it.
They stayed in the town for a couple of days. Arestes never availed himself to the free inn rooms as the rest of his companions did. He did attend the burials for the townspeople that perished in defense of the town. And did attend their festival celebrating their victory a few days later. Elesia said it paled in comparison to their fall Harvest festival and he found he rather wanted to see that as well.
He tried to help a crying Alisen as she attempted to reassemble her ghoul. She claimed Shambles normally did it himself but he was being lazy, so she tried. She looked lost as the destroyed lumps of flesh refused to reanimate. He figured it was best to make himself scarce before she started to look for new material for a ghoul.
Seralyse performed near the end of the night, dancing around a makeshift stage in the center of town as she sang. The Ballad of the Setting Sun drew a more muted response. If consulted, he'd have said she shouldn't perform it there, where Calabar failed the citizens so completely.
Her new song drew many cheers though. She'd spent the previous few days learning everything she could about the fallen, and she'd worked them into a glorious tale of the defense of Bellus. One that featured very little outside help, aside from Kaden and Alisen combining their power to finish the monstrosity.
In the song, Alisen enchanted his blade with the fiery power to kill the beast. He asked the Volkar about it later. She'd shrugged and said that was what Kaden said happened, when Seralyse asked him. He didn't question it further. He wondered if anyone would ever figure out the irony of her music and their responses to it. Part of him doubted.
Altogether they lingered in the town for two full weeks. The villagers were happy to restock their provisions and they wished to make sure no other bandits threatened. Wyckham spent most of his time drawing images of the monstrosity's corpse. He sent them by pigeon to a few of the closest gates and the Citadel.
It took some convincing but he persuaded the townspeople to not move the body until the Wardens came to inspect it. And spent more of his days guarding it. He fully expected the Wardens to want to study it, to see just how something like that could make it so far from the Scar. One of the gates even responded stating they would send a few Wardens to look at the creature and compare the records. They received the news from one of the village elders on the morning of their departure from Bellus.
Arestes woke that morning to a kiss from Elesia. She didn't say anything to him. They'd settled into a bit of a routine and he wasn't sure anything needed to be said. They walked together to town, hand in hand.
He felt his chest tighten as he saw them packing up the caravan. Elesia squeezed his hand as he approached.
"We're leaving," Kaden said as he approached. Arestes nodded and chewed on his bottom lip.
"Can we talk?" he asked.
"Plenty of time for that when we're on the road. Help me with the rope," Kaden said. Arestes picked up a cord of it and carried it into the caravan. He wasn't sure how to voice what he was going to say. So he just said it.
"I'm not going."
"What?" Kaden laughed.
"I'm staying here," Arestes said.
"Cute."
"I'm serious." He said. There were a few seconds of silence. He saw Kaden stand straight and stiff, his shoulders tensing in anger.
"Traitor," Kaden spat.
"Oh don't be like that," Arestes rolled his eyes.
"You promised," Kaden started.
"When I was what? Eight? And I've kept that promise. You can't, for a minute, say I haven't kept that promise. But look around you," Arestes said. He pulled his friend from the back of the caravan and led him a few feet away and gestured to the downtrodden town.
"What?" Kaden snapped, his expression as hard as he'd ever seen it.
"This is supposed to be one of the wealthiest small towns in Calabar. And it's almost destitute," Arestes said.
"How is that my problem?"
"I can help here. Far more than I can help you by escorting Seralyse home. They're going to need a miracle to even get a harvest this autumn. And without it how many Calabarians will starve?"
"Thousands," Kaden answered, his tone harsh. His eyes flashed with anger but he showed no other outward emotion. The coolness of it was enough to make Arestes want to slap him. But that was something he couldn't do.
"And I can try to prevent that. I might be able to prevent that. I can't just leave. Some things are more important."
"Like keeping your word," Kaden countered.
"If you want to hold me to a childhood oath, I'll remind you of yours," Arestes countered.
"That isn't fair," Kaden retorted, anger again flashing across his face and the color drained out of him. For a moment he thought his friend might hit him.
"Isn't it? Again, look around."
"Circumstances change."
"Yes," Arestes agreed. "They do. And oftentimes they should. Think of the change we could bring if we devote ourselves to it. Think of how King Marek abandoned these people. Think of how little Count Abruzzi did to save them. Think of how it should be, how it is in the songs, compared to what it is before us."
"And you want me to do what? March to the capitol and stage a revolution? I'm not a revolutionary," Kaden laughed. Arestes shook his head, a small smile curling upwards on his face.
"No. You aren't. Are you?" Arestes countered. They lapsed into silence for a moment. Kaden stared over his shoulder, his eyes focusing on Elesia for a moment, before shifting back to him. His jaw was still set tight but after a moment, he nodded.
"If the Witch turns me into a ghoul I'm coming back and eating your brain," Kaden said. Arestes couldn't suppress his chuckle.
"Why do you think I'm staying? She keeps eyeing me up in a way that makes me uncomfortable," he answered.
"And I'm taking half of your half," he said.
"I'd expect nothing less."
Again they lapsed into silence. But Arestes could see the fight draining out of his friend. They stood in the awkward silence for a few moments as Wyckham finished loading the caravan and mounted Julius.
Kaden reached into a pocket and drew out a coin purse. He offered it to Arestes.
"What's that for?" he asked, taking it.
"They're going to need more than just some luck and a miracle. A little extra coin never hurt," Kaden shrugged. "It's the least I can do. Maybe give it to the girl, though. I know how you are with money."
"Thank you," Arestes said. But he couldn't fight back his smile.
"No. Thank you. For everything. For suffering with me, for staying with me, for helping me…" his voice trailed off.
"It was quite the adventure," Arestes answered with a smile. He felt his eyes grow damp and resisted the urge to rub them. Kaden offered his hand. He took it. After a moment his friend pulled him into a hug. Then, as abruptly as it started, he let go.
"I'll stop by on my way back to Lorak, make sure everything is going well and pay you your share," Kaden said.
"I look forward to hearing all about the wonders of Bazaar. Have at least one Kin for me," Arestes answered. Kaden rolled his eyes, but he too was smiling. He paused for a moment then turned and walked back toward the Caravan. He said something to the companions as he climbed onto the bench. Wyckham looked his way and gave him a nod and a salute, Arestes returned it. Seralyse blinked at Kaden, then frowned and hopped off the caravan.
She ran straight to him and hugged him. It lingered for a moment as she whispered her thanks to him for helping her on the journey and convincing Kaden to undertake it. He didn't think he was that crucial to it. But it seemed pointless to argue with her. He wished her well and told her he hoped he'd get to see another of her performances one day.
She smiled brightly at him, tears shining in her eyes, before Kaden called for her to come back to the caravan. Her ears and tail drooped but she did.
Arestes stood in the center of Bellus and watched them leave. He'd been with Kaden for almost his entire life. They'd fought together, bleed together, starved together, all of the things his friend had mentioned and more. Part of him thought they'd do it for the rest of their lives.
But, as he'd said, circumstances changed. Elesia took his hand as his friends departed town. He may not be a part of the end of their journey but some things were just more important. And he knew he could help this town, and perhaps everyone in central Calabar by doing so. Deep down he knew the travel had worn on him. That he needed to stay somewhere, to do something, to learn to be something himself.
He watched the Caravan until it disappeared over the horizon. After it was gone he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, counting to ten as he exhaled. And then, for the second time, he started the first day of his new life.
Author's Note: Thanks for reading and reviewing. I do appreciate all of the support I receive. If you wish to support me further I am available on PAT RE ON at TE7writes. Ten additional chapters of this story are live there as well as the final chapters of Cleansing the Sins. Thanks again!