Disclaimer: see chapter 1
A Story of Eighteen Years
by Centurious the Azure and Storm Wolf77415
Chapter 2: At the River's End
It was a night like none other, quiet, peaceful. I was passed out in bed, enjoying the cool breeze coming in from the window. I would have stayed like that if not for the door of my cabin suddenly banging open, admitting Popola. "You need to wake up right now, Ezra!" I had never heard her voice so sharp before, as I sat upwards in bed.
I managed as I crawled out of bed. It was then I noticed that she was crying. Instantly my senses went on full alert. The years of training have made them razor-sharp. I grabbed my blades, cinching up my baldric. "What's going on, Popola? Did something happen?"
Popola wiped the tears from her eyes, doing her best to regain her composure. "Just come with me. Ioran will explain everything." I fell into step behind her, walking over to Ioran's cabin, the largest in the village. I found him with Devola, looking about ready to smash something. Already I could feel a strong sense of dread forming inside.
"Hey, kid," Ioran grunted. He looked exhausted. "I'm afraid I've got some bad news, although it's probably what you've wanted for a long time now. Your time in the village is fast approaching an end." His words caught me by surprise. Truth is, I had been secretly planning to sneak out of the village for the past few weeks. I had gotten a letter from Rodger recently, asking if I had made up my mind about starting the hunt for my mom.
The letter pointed me to a city called Vizima in the Kingdom of Temeria. I knew Ioran and the twins wouldn't hear of it. I had quietly gathered some supplies and was just waiting for the right time. So, to hear this was truly out of nowhere. I kept my cool, not wanting to give anything away. "Why exactly do I need to leave, Ioran?"
It was then I noticed the tattered piece of cloth in his hand. Ioran passed it to Popola, who in turn gave it to me. I grimaced when I saw the coat of arms on it, and it all clicked into place. A large white eagle on a red shield with a scepter held in one talon, and a smaller black shield with a gold cross. "Redanians?" I asked. "Who got hit and how bad?"
"It's bad, kid. As in, Minas Tor bad. They attacked Red Ridge in force. I was going to meet with one of my contacts, but the entire place was in ruins. I was lucky to find a lone survivor, and he was alive long enough to tell me about it." Ioran's words cut deeper than I liked. Red Ridge was the elven village nearest to us, just about six kilometers. If the Redanians were making inroads, and if someone talked. It would eventually lead them to Calima Nen.
"Do we know what kind of forces we could be up against?" Devola asked, nodding strongly to Ioran. She was the picture of stoic confidence. Both twins were always so great at projecting themselves in serious situations. It's where I learned about public speaking. They never faltered in the middle of a performance. Or when it came to their mission…
"Three Gigas, about a dozen or so Ogres, and about a hundred Redanian regulars. It looks like a fairly common hunt for anything that doesn't match up to the Order's august standards." Ioran didn't bother to hide the sarcasm in his voice. It did help to lighten the mood, if just by a very tiny margin. "Although this could be the beginning of something much bigger…and far more sinister. There have been rumblings about a planned campaign against the Nilfgaardians. It's all mostly rumors right now, but there are reports they've been rounding up elves and…draining the blood."
Apart of me wanted to puke at those words. "Elf's blood? Why would the Redanians want elf's blood?" I asked in shocked surprise.
"Because it's a natural poison against dragons." Devola looked to me, reminding me sternly.
I was studious, but sometimes shit facts like that were better to put in the back of my mind. "Remember from your history lessons, the Nilfgaardians have long employed mounted dragoon soldiers in battle. If Radovid is going this route, we would be looking at the fifth war between Midgard and the Nilfgaardian Empire in less than thirty years. Last time Midgard was on the defensive. I doubt it's the case this time."
"So why does this mean I need to leave the village?" I finally asked the pertinent question. Devola just shuffled uneasily. Popola looked like she was ready to start crying again before she started speaking.
"Our major fear is if they find you, Ezra." She looked so ready to break down again. I truly wanted to hug her. "We don't think that the Order is actively hunting you, but if they raid this place and find a human. They're going to investigate it. And once they find out who you are and who your parents were. Do I even need to finish?"
"The bottom-line kid is that we don't want to see that happen to you," Devola said, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. Even a tough girl like Devola had moments of weakness. She struggled to continue, squeezing out a tiny noise that sounded like a half sob. Popola put a hand on hers, giving her a comforting squeeze. I suppose even in some ways I was their little boy. "Against our better judgment. We're cutting you loose. You can even go see Rodger in Vizima if you want." I bristled a little, of course, they would have figured that out.
"However, there is a caveat to this," Ioran continued, his visage becoming ever more deadly serious as my eyes locked with his. Although, there was a concerned gleam in his dark eyes. I knew what was coming as he paused for a moment to collect himself. Ioran only ever got this way when he spoke of Kyana. "You have to take Kyana with you. If she was caught here, then I know the Order would execute her on the spot. Or even worse than that, send her to some damn brothel where she'll get used up before being tossed aside to rot on the garbage heap."
The corners of my lips twitched downward in disgust. I felt my anger build within me. The very idea of Kyana being treated that way made me want to hurt someone. Badly. I nodded quickly with no hesitation. I wouldn't put it past the Order to treat their female captives that way. "I'm in total agreement with you. No woman deserves that kind of fate." Although a part of me wondered how Kyana would take this turn of events. I took a chance and broached the idea of leaving home to her a few months ago. She didn't take it very well.
"First order of business, however, is taking out their vanguard. It won't halt them, but it should slow them down a little bit." It was clear Ioran was spoiling for a fight. Despite the respect, he had for certain humans like Mark and even myself, he wouldn't shed any tears at spilling the blood of the Redanians who had so callously killed his countrymen. I checked my blades one more time. I just shared a look with Ioran, no words were exchanged between us.
Minutes later, a sudden thought came to me as Ioran, Devola, and I stalked through the forest with a few members of the Scoia'tael, the resistance group Ioran had formed long ago. "Where is Michael? If the Redanians have Gigas and Ogres on their side, a dragon may come in real handy in this situation." I had images of the majestic white form soaring over and incinerating them all with a well-timed burst of dragon fire.
"He's on the way, but it may be a while until he arrives," Ioran said, before holding up a clenched fist, causing all conversation to halt as we ducked down in the brush. It wasn't long before the reason became apparent. A patrol of about twenty Redanians was coming through the brush. The Scoia'tael operatives nocked their bows, while Devola's hand began glowing as she prepared to conjure fireballs. Ioran's arm was raised, but I knew once it came down then the entire clearing would be stained red.
The hand came down and a half-dozen arrows silently whistled through the air. One got it in both shoulders before being finished off by a projectile to the face, his eyeball hanging by its nerve. Another took an arrow to the knee before Ioran rushed out. His blade swung upward, relieving the soldier of his arm, before taking off the upper third of his skull. A third was felled by arrows to the neck and stomach, blood already pouring out of the injuries.
"Archers!" The fourth soldier called out before being silenced by a fireball tossed by Devola, his head turned to a burned, charred mess. With our window of surprise gone, we rushed from the brush, and the battle was joined. Ioran and the Scoia'tael operatives let out war cries, steel clashing against steel in the dead of night.
I took advantage of the initial confusion, drawing my steel sword and rushing at one of the Redanian soldiers. Not hesitating to impale him square in the back. I could hear the gurgled sound he made as choked on his own blood. I pulled my blade out, watching as he slumped to the ground, dead. I didn't have time to process it as another soldier, wielding a spear rushed me. I batted it aside, going for the soldier's neck, but with his weapon's longer reach, he knocked me back.
Bringing the sword up to a guard position, I tried another angle of attack, slicing upward only to be blocked by the spear's shaft. "Nice try you, little punk! I'm not going to die so easily!" He sneered, giving me a view of his yellowed teeth. Something I didn't need to see. Not to mention the guy could have seriously used a bath.
I then saw Devola over his shoulder. She winked at me as flames were dancing on her hands, it didn't take a genius to figure out what she was going to do. I smashed my sword against his spear a couple of times before I kicked him in the chest. Devola held out her hands, letting twin streams of flame loose, engulfing the man in flames. His agonizing cries rang off the trees before I finished it off with a quick decapitation strike, a quick spurt of blood before the heat cauterized the wound.
I quickly turned around, finding myself with my face full of shield, as another Scoia'tael soldier fell to my left fell by way of an axe to the neck. I barely had time to raise my sword in defense. The soldier kicked me, knocking me to the ground. "You're finished, knife ear!" The soldier sneered, raising his axe for a final blow, only to be met with a flurry of throwing knives to his chest.
There was Kyana in full battle garb. A green high-necked sleeveless crop top protected by brown leather chest armor inscribed with intricate elven designs; a red loincloth tied around her waist that half hid a pair of brown short shorts. Detached sleeves with wide flares made of leather covered the green, half hiding the fingerless gloves she wore. She also wore a single green stocking on her right leg. A thigh holster containing more throwing knives over a green leg band, topped off by a pair of brown leather boots she made herself. Her orange-red hair shone in the moonlight of the pleasantly cool spring eve. She'd had grown out since our first meeting, long enough to be tied up in a ponytail, while also held back by a blue and green bandana I had given her.
Her faithful axe in one hand, her dagger in another. Kyana wore a murderous expression. "Think again, asshole!" She hissed, burying her hatchet square in his face. Kyana paid no mind to the blood splashing across her forehead and cheek as he slumped to the ground dead. "I can't believe you were going to leave me out of this! I'm seriously hurt, Ezra!" The two of us stood back-to-back to protect the other's back from the soldiers boxing us in.
"Well, you don't have to worry, there's still plenty to go around!" There had only been less than a dozen soldiers in the scouting party, so it wouldn't be much longer before we wrapped this up. I could only appreciate Kyana's grace in short bursts as I dodged and blocked enemy strokes. But it was hard not to. She would flip and weave, almost dance in and out amongst the Redanians, making them look like a joke.
I caught the gleam of the large dagger she used in her off-hand, parrying the halberd the soldier carried. She brought her axe up, striking the flat of the blade against his helmet. This pissed him off a bit, and he clumsily swung his polearm. Kyana dropped into the splits letting it harmlessly pass over her, her sleeves whipping about. She twisted her body, kicking him in the chest before relieving him of an arm, the blood spraying out. He screamed in agony before she finished it with a knife to the throat.
Retrieving her weapon, she sought out her next target. The evil smirk Kyana now wore unsettled me just a bit as she rushed at another Redanian soldier. He brought his shield up to smash in her face, but the girl in green ducked and rolled underneath. She swung her hatchet, burying it deep in his left thigh before digging a chunk out of his right ankle. The blood pooled out into the grass. Kyana finished her assault by flipping up onto her hands, catching the guy's head between her ankles, giving a deft twist, and breaking his neck with a boisterous crack.
"Show off!" I called out, settling for literally disarming my opponent just above the elbow, before plunging my blade into his heart. I could see about ten Redanians coming at Kyana and I. We just wouldn't have been able to take them all out at once. Luckily, I was prepared for such occasions. "Kyana, get behind that rock, close your eyes, and cover your ears. I have a plan!" She gave a quick nod, jumping behind the very large boulder.
I conjured up a fireball in one hand. My eyes not breaking from the incoming squad. I took a breath, tossing it out before I brought my other hand up, bracing it in a vertical position, winds forming around it. I swung downwards, a blade of air cutting through all in front of it…including the fireball. Next thing you know, instant firestorm!
The sound of the explosion was deafening, the shockwave alone eviscerated two of the enemy soldiers, turning them into pulp on the wind. The wall of flames expanding in all directions got seven of them. I could see the flesh burning off their bodies as they were immolated. A part of me was glad Kyana didn't see it. As for me, I was totally unfazed by the heat. True masters of pyromancy are immune to the flames on principle.
It was thanks to Devola and Popola that I learned that fire was my natural element, certainly the most volatile of them all. Controlling the flames took a lot of practice and discipline. We trained out in the wastelands just to ensure that we didn't burn the entire forest down. I also learned throwing in wind magic could drastically increase the intensity of the flames.
I extended all four fingers and my thumb, once again bracing it with my other hand, staring down three of the surviving Redanians. "Don't blink guys." I quipped. I flicked all my fingers. The only sound heard was a sickening crack as the backs of their heads erupted outwards, sending blood, slivers of bone, and flecks of gray matter flying in all directions. "Because otherwise, you're already dead."
In addition to fire and wind magic, Devola and Popola also taught me the fine art of telekinesis. Using my mind, I concentrated great amounts of force into a very small space. A single flick and that force could ram through whatever was in its way, usually destroying it in a gratuitous fashion. As the Redanians just found out the hard way.
After another few minutes, the Redanians all lay dead. Ioran ordered everyone to dispose of the bodies right quick. Once it was evident the advance guard was gone, the Order would no doubt call in reinforcements before launching a full-scale attack. It was quite apparent our haven had just vanished.
(Two Days Later)
It was a tense forty-eight hours since the initial skirmish with the Redanians. If I had been smart, I would have just grabbed Kyana and left at daybreak. However, Kyana convinced me that we should at least remain to see if we could push the Order back. Calima Nen was still our home after all.
The two of us had agreed to take guard duty for the night. So we were out there with a few of the Scoia'tael. Everyone was checking their weapons and then doing it all over again, just to keep from freaking out. It was slightly chilly, Kyana shivered a little at the harsh wind nipping at her bare legs. "It's so cold!" She whined, pulling a heavy dark green wool cloak about her. "I definitely need to invest in some pants!"
I wisely held my tongue, not wanting to earn her ire. A part of me rather enjoyed seeing those long, toned legs of hers. But I did wonder how she'd look with a nice tight pair of leggings on. I cringed a little at another bitter gust. "It's way colder than it should be," I growled, tugging at my collar. "It's the middle of April for crying out loud!"
Kyana sighed, sitting down on a fallen log. "So, I guess you're really excited to begin looking for your mother, huh?" She looked down at the ground while idly flicking her feet. "I know it's been your main goal since Michael brought you here. Looks like I'm going to be joining you, whether or not I like it."
I took a seat down next to her. "I know you would have been just happy to remain here and live out the rest of your days, Kyana. But I would think recent events would have opened your eyes to the truth. We're not safe here anymore." I put my arm around her. "Look, all we have to do is meet up with Rodger, and then we can start looking for Mom. If anyone can shed some light on this, it's her."
It was then a cold feeling washed over everyone present. A sensation that ripped us all to the bone. A massive translucent dome formed into existence over the entire village. "Something's going on with the ward barrier," I said. Upon closer inspection, I realized what I was seeing was a thin layer of ice forming. I looked to Kyana, narrowing my eyes dangerously. "You know, something tells me that this isn't just some regular freak cold spell."
It goes without saying, nonhumans are looked at with all degrees of fear and hostility. Elves especially. Hence why their villages are usually hidden by many layers of magical protection. Calima was no different. And the village's barrier had been reinforced by Devola and Popola, using whatever special magic they possessed. Trying to breach such a barrier is usually considered a really bad idea, and by that, I mean turning into a smoking, burning corpse.
The ice continued to slowly form across the dome, and more ice coalesced on top of what was already there. "How is that happening?" Kyana asked. Her panic grew by the minute.
"It could only be one of…them." A switch turned on in my head. "One of the Order's seal guardians." I swallowed hard. "The same people who attacked Minas Tor. I remember one of them had a sea creature of some kind as a summons. This must be their handiwork. They must be using it to freeze the foundation stones so they could destroy them."
"If they're going after the foundation stones, the entire barrier would collapse!" Kyana exclaimed, turning to one of the Scoia'tael operatives. "Notify my father immediately. Tell him the Order is attacking the ward stones." The elven warrior just gave a curt nod before hightailing it back to the village. Just as a bestial roar reverberated through the trees.
Kyana and I braced ourselves for whatever was coming through. My eyebrows knitted together in rage and fury at the sight of a Gigas crashing through the trees, knocking over everything in our path. Smaller but no less ugly were the troupe of four Ogres lumbering at the giant's feet. This is putting it mildly, but I'm not fond of such creatures at all. They're all the same, dumber than rocks, uglier than shit. Simply put, I thought they were a full-on evolutionary dead end. A view I would find myself changing over time. But at that moment I couldn't wait to put all those mongrel beasts in the ground.
Accompanying them weren't just more Redanian soldiers but actual Knights of the Order. I saw red when my eyes fell on those suits of armor, shining by the lights of the torches they bore. I drew my steel blade, taking note of the edge. It was then Kyana put her hand on my shoulder. Her eyes seemed to glow in the night. I felt my bloodlust abate a little. "You ready?" She asked, readying her hatchet and dagger.
"Always," I replied tensely, making a final check on my weapon. The Scoia'tael archers once again readied their bows, they were also backed by a couple of mages, one conjuring a swirling disc of fire, while lightning danced on the palms of another, forming into a long, wicked-looking spear, sparks dancing off every inch of the crackling surface. "Bring those monsters down!" I ordered, slicing my sword down. The first barrage of projectiles, magical and steel-tipped wood, flew into the night. As we all let out our best war cries, running through the barrier to try and bleed off some of the Order's manpower before the barrier dropped.
The arrows did little against the Gigas, even if they did manage any degree of penetration, it would have been like a pinprick to any of us. And even the Ogres' skin was thick enough that the arrows would be a moderate annoyance at best. But the lightning spears and flame discs were different stories entirely. The lightning would explode on contact, covering the entire battlefield in lightning, causing anyone caught in the area of effect to become temporarily paralyzed, leaving them open to the archers.
I always admired the Scoia'tael for their incredible accuracy, managing to aim their arrows at the gaps in the armor of the Order's knights, which left them vulnerable to the flame discs, slicing them in half. They didn't even have time to bleed out as the searing, hot flames cauterized every blood vessel. Leaving nothing but piles of molten slag mixed with smoking meat. The Redanians suffered even more so, running about as the fires melted their uniforms to the body before they collapsed, one after another. Burning, charred corpses, every last one of them.
Kyana and I wasted no time, rushing toward the enemy line. I had swapped out the steel blade for the silver one, a necessary measure against the monsters. Even if it was a rough, broken shade of its former glory its machete length was more than enough to deal enough damage to anything reasonably sized. I saw a tiny glint out of the corner of my eye as a pair of throwing knives sailed through the air, hitting one of the ogres in the shoulder. The beast roared, swinging its club to crush Kyana. She was too quick, ducking under the strike to get behind his back. She leapt up, bringing the hatchet down square on its neck, blood gushing out.
I followed up, silver sword swinging around to get the ugly mass of flesh in its side, just below the floating ribs. The ogre roared in a mixture of rage and agony. The giant club swung about in all directions trying to hit something. But Kyana and I were too fast on our feet to let ourselves be taken out in such a way. I certainly wasn't going to die this early on, especially to some dumb monster. I swung my blade again, while Kyana springboarded off his head, tossing another pair of throwing knives. Her aim was perfect, connecting right with the brute's dead-looking white eyes!
The ogre screamed, flailing about now that it was blind. I looked to Kyana and we both smirked. It was time to bag our first ogre kill! I brandished my silver sword, dropping into a crouch, folding my arm towards the shoulder while giving my upper body a slight twist. My sword erupted in a brilliant yellow light. "Vorpal Strike!" I roared, lunging forward at the Ogre, impaling the monster right through its leg. It collapsed to its knees with an earthquake crash, kicking up dust.
"Kyana now!" I yelled, guarding my face against the dust with my sleeve. I knew Kyana could feel my intent even if she didn't hear me. Her intuition in battle was second to none.
Her sleeves audibly snapped with each rapid step she took. She ran up a nearby rock, a hatchet high over her head. With a berserker cry, she brought her weapon down, embedding it as deep into the monster's skull as she possibly could. The dull echo of a skull breaking was music to our ears. The only sound the ogre made was a rattling gurgle before it collapsed onto its back, very much dead. Kyana vaulted through the air, landing perfectly. She flashed a smile at me, and my heart fluttered a bit.
However, we didn't have time to celebrate as we still had three more of the beasts, plus the behemoth towering over everything. The ice was still growing over the barrier, showing that the Seal Guardian Haunch was still freezing the foundation stones for the wards. We were ready to take on the next ogre when the Gigas turned and suddenly headed in the opposite direction, the Order and Redanians huffing and puffing to keep up. We saw the thing head toward a nondescript pile of rocks.
"The ward stone for this part of the barrier!" Kyana exclaimed in dread. I didn't say anything. The barrier was being weakened by the influx of magic. But a single swing of a club would mean the structure itself would be destroyed and then the wards would fall, and the Order could move in. Kyana and I moved it as fast as we could, only for the other three smaller brutes to get in our way. It would take way too long to get through them to stop the Gigas from smashing the ward structure.
A massive roar rang through the woods. I couldn't help but crack a grin at the sight of Michael soaring majestically in the night sky. His white scales reflected in the pale moonlight. He swooped down, blasting flames at the ogres. The monsters roared in agony, even their thick skin couldn't last long against the searing heat. "Yeah, get them, big guy!" I raised my sword in the air, while Kyana cheered.
He directed his attention at the Gigas, going in to rake its eyes with large, taloned feet. The giant roared, swiping at Michael, who hovered just beyond the reach of his club. "Don't worry children. I can handle this." He said, between flame discharges. "You go and stop the one freezing the barrier. It won't be much longer before it falls." We needed no further prompting. I gave a final salute to the white dragon, and we bolted.
It wasn't difficult to find that sour-faced wench. The closer we got, the colder it became. The moisture in the air began to solidify into a heavy mist. We ran through a grove of trees, and there she was, just as I remembered from all those years ago. The dark bags around her sunken in eyes. The droopy cheeks. It was as if she hadn't aged a day. Her hands outstretched, pouring eldritch blue rays into the ward structure. Ice continued to form until it covered the entire barrier dome. And finally…it gave out.
"No!" Kyana cried, fingers already going for her throwing knives, looking to plug Hanch in her goth face. But she quickly whipped her hand out, freezing the daggers, clattering to the icy ground. I had never seen Kyana so livid before if the way she was clenching that hatchet was any indication. I had to hold out an arm to keep her from leaping at her, it was taking all my willpower to rush at her myself.
"Ah, so we have some new arrivals." Hanch's spear lightly tapped on the ground. She sounded so disinterested in the whole thing. Which just further made Kyana see red. This was the one in charge of destroying her home and it wasn't it didn't matter at all. "At least you made it easy on yourself."
I held myself in check the best I could, but the images of that day were harder to ignore. Hanch then directed her gaze to me. Deep in my mind, I wanted to gouge out my own eyes if it meant not looking at that sunken in face of hers any longer than I had to. I then decided gouging out her eyes would be much more productive, not to mention it would be a huge improvement to her looks.
With that thought in mind, I brought my hand up, my fingertips starting to glow as energy gathered there. "Hey, It's been a while since we last met." A small spark grew into a flame. "Your looks haven't improved at all." I thrust my arm in a horizontal slashing motion, letting a crescent-shaped jet of flame rush at her. "How about I change that for you?"
She just yawned before raising her hand, with a snap of her fingers the flames were encased in ice, falling to the ground, shattering. Hanch's eyes raced for a minute. It was like she needed to register just who I was. And then it clicked for her, her lips becoming a thin line of disdain. "That face, I know who you are! That bitch Yesenia…she's your mother! I can see it as clear as day!"
I felt my face screw up as she said that, but I let it fuel my resolve for what was to come next. I settled for putting on my best sneer. "That's right, Hanch! I see your nose is still a little on the crooked side after you got kneed in the face. Mom's aim was spot on in that regard." I pointed my sword at her. "As a matter of fact, I'm looking for her. Maybe you can answer some questions in that regard…once I've chopped off your legs at the knees."
But before I could even do anything, a wall of flames ripped through, separating Kyana and I from her. I looked to see Devola and Popola appear. "What are you two doing?" I yelled at them. The misty air swirled around Hanch as she conjured a shield to protect her from the heat.
"This isn't the time or place for this, Ezra! You and Kyana gotta live!" Devola cried out, continuing to intensify the flames, making the wall of fire grow more and more as Hanch pumped more frozen air to try and snuff them out.
"No, this is as much our fight as it is yours!" Kyana protested. "This is our home too, Devola! We must defend it!"
"I'm afraid that isn't an option anymore, Little Sis," Devola said, ducking an icicle tossed at her by Hanch. "The only thing remaining for you here is death. It will put both of us at ease if you two were somewhere safe." She threw an apologetic smile at us. And even in the darkness, I could see the tears in her eyes. "Be safe, kids."
Popola raised her hands, glowing with a brilliant white light. "A final lesson for you two. Seek out the Legacy of Solomon, Ezra. It will aid you in your quest." She smiled sadly, tears running down her face "You've grown so much, and we're so proud of you. Please take care of each other." I couldn't say anything more as the light grew, blinding me.
The light dissipated, and both Kyana and I looked about at our surroundings. We stood in the middle of a circle of stone pillars with more stones lying flat on top of them. I could see elven runes carved on the stones with a slowly fading glow. "This must have been used by the ancient elves for magical transportation," I said to no one in particular. I took a moment to look up, it was still the dead of night. The stars were shining brightly, and it was calm, peaceful even. A far cry from the nightmare we had just left.
Once I got my bearings, I reasoned the best thing to do was set up camp for the night and wait until morning. Wherever this place was, it seemed to be far off the beaten path, and I didn't feel like traipsing through unknown woods. I looked at Kyana, she was still rooted to the place she stood, her back to me. It occurred to me she was still in shock at what happened back in the village. "Kyana, hey, you listening to me?" I reached out to touch her shoulder, and a wail of pure agony filled the clearing.
She turned around, tears in her eyes as she threw herself into my arms, crying into my chest. "Why? Why did this all happen, Ezra?" She managed between sobs, delicate fingers clenching my shirt "Our entire village is gone! Daddy, Devola, and Popola. It's just like, like-" She couldn't say anymore, settling for just more sobbing. I said nothing, settling for just gently stroking her back. I figured it would be easier once she had worked it out of her system. Finally, it subsided. She looked up at me with tear-stained green eyes. It hurt so much to see her this way. "Where do we go from here, Ezra? I feel so lost."
I brushed my hand along her cheek, silently relishing how soft her skin felt. "For now, we get some sleep. Once first light hits, we'll hit the road and try and find some hint of civilization. We can plan our next move from there." Kyana just gave a weak nod, sleep was looking real inviting at that moment. Not wanting to stay out in the open, we went into the tree line near the clearing, bedding down beneath a large redwood, leaning against each other. Kyana was asleep in minutes, but it took me a little longer. I kept thinking about Popola's final words about 'seeking the Legacy of Solomon' and what it could possibly mean.
It had never come up much during any of our lessons. Although I did remember it being a rather vague magical theory. There are no existing records, mostly because it was violently quashed by the Order. That or people just quit believing in it. Either way, if anything related to this so-called legacy existed, it would be out there somewhere. But for now, I would just settle for keeping Kyana safe and getting to Vizima. I'm not even sure if we're anywhere close to it.
We awoke to a beautiful sunrise. I wish there was more time to enjoy it. I stood up, cracking my neck as Kyana stretched her arms up. "I'm hungry, although I don't think we have any food, considering how fast we left." She said aloud, stretching further, her bones made a sound pop. "I suppose we can always hunt for breakfast."
"How does bear steak grab you?" I asked jokingly, a stupid grin plastered on my face.
Kyana's face screwed up. "Ew! I'm hungry, but I'm not desperate! You know how fatty and gamey bear meat is. It would wreck my figure!" I couldn't help but let a chortle escape from my lips. She pouted at me. "Hey, just what's so funny?"
"It's good to see you going on about something trivial." I put my hands on her shoulders. "I know that what happened last night was traumatic. You didn't want to leave, but we can't do anything about that now, Kyana. All we can do is move forward and try to survive. I have your back if you have mine." I held my hand out. "What do you say?"
Even if her eyes were still somewhat melancholy, it was good to see that bright smile again. She gave a slight nod as she clasped my arm. "Always!" Her face took on a more neutral demeanor. "So where do we go from here, Ezra? Personally, I think it may not be a bad idea to stay here in the woods for a bit longer, but I'll follow your lead."
"Hanging around here is a bad idea. We have a head start and it's probably a good idea to put as much distance between us and here as we possibly can. Judging from the fact that I don't see any mountains or deserts, I'm going to assume we're still somewhere in the Land of Forests. And now that Hanch knows I'm alive, we need to keep moving if we want to stay ahead of them."
I took a few steps before Kyana put her hand on my shoulder. "That was one thing I never understood, why are you so important to them? I mean, thanks to Ioran and the twins, and even Rodger I suppose, you're a fairly skilled warrior, but still only one person. Why would the Empire consider you such a threat?"
There it was: the question I knew she would ask eventually. I hesitated for a bit, not sure how to answer. My fingers curled up and down. I wasn't sure how to explain the whole mess with the Flower to her, so I decided to keep that particular part to myself for now. "It all stems from my mother. She used to be the court mage of the High King himself. She…stole some valuable secrets from him and it pissed the Empire and the Order off quite a bit. As such, I spent a lot of my young life on the run. Minas Tor wasn't the first place I lived, but it was where they finally caught up to us. I…really can't say anything more for right now, Kyana. It's really painful to talk about, I hope you understand."
This seemed to placate her for the moment. Kyana took hold of my hand, resting her head against my shoulder. "So Bright River isn't the first home you've had to leave behind."
"Yeah, although this is the first time, I've brought someone along with me for the ride." I gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. "It's a nice change to have a friend with me. I'm sorry it had to be like this, but knowing I'm not alone makes it a little more bearable."
"I feel the same way. As long as you and I are together, I feel like I can endure it." We broke camp and made our way through the woods. Luckily, we didn't have to go far before finding a well-traveled road. "Finally, a little luck!" Kyana said, skipping down the path. The sun was high in the crystal blue sky, and not a single cloud was in sight. The attack on the village seemed just to be a distant nightmare that was slowly fading away. However, my inner sense of danger told me it wasn't over yet.
The first sign of civilization came after we'd been walking for about half a day. A sign affixed to a tall gnarled wooden post. "Lothric Town, ten miles." Kyana seemed in high spirits. Although I couldn't help but feel that sense of dread growing again. I tried not to say anything, and just let her enjoy the time.
It was when we saw the road marker saying Lothric was only five miles away, the dread intensified even more. A familiar smell soon wafted through the air. "Oh no…" Kyana whimpered. She could sense it too. It was a stench both of us knew. It was the stench of death. Already she was fingering the head of her axe, her mind probably running through any number of grim scenarios for us to find.
Finally, the road opened up and we saw the village of Lothric, or rather what remained of the village of Lothric. It was an all too familiar sight to me. Caved-in roofs on top of flame-scorched walls, doors, and window shutters hanging off the hinges from being forced open. Carts, wagons, and various other pieces of property smashed into pieces, the pungent odor of ash and blood in the air, and of course a giant pile of bodies unceremoniously dumped in the center of the ruins to finish it all off. Really, a lovely backdrop for a romantic stroll through the countryside.
"Weapons out! Be on your guard Kyana!" I barked, drawing my steel sword as I began inspecting the area. I ran my fingers along one of the walls, noting the soot that came off on my fingertips. I let out a wordless grunt, before turning to her. "This is very recent, possibly in just the last day." I sighed, shaking my head. "We need to tread very carefully. The Redanians could have left a couple of patrols in the vicinity, looking for stragglers…"
"What now?" Kyana sounded so tired when she asked that question, looking more dejected than ever. I'm certain she was hoping to get a meal and some rest. That way we could cool off and plan our next move. She really looked like she needed a hug.
I put my arm around her waist, hoping to comfort her a little. This wasn't the time to get overly emotional or sentimental, but I know this was all new to her. She was going to need a gentle hand at first. "Let's scavenge for any supplies we can find." I cleared my throat. "I know you'll be repulsed by this, but let's check the bodies as well. Nothing is off-limits. We'll wait until nightfall, hopefully, we can avoid the enemy and make for Vizima." Kyana said nary a word. So, we set off to do the dirty business required.
By the end, we had come off with a pretty decent haul, at least two thousand crowns worth of hacksilver. We even grabbed some of the fallen soldiers' weapons that were in decent condition, odds are we get could get at least another three hundred crowns for all of it. Taking refuge in the least damaged hut, we rested against the wall, leaning up against each other. The faint sound of Kyana's gentle breathing lulled me to sleep.
"Whoa there!" Raven cut in suddenly. Everyone had been so engrossed in Ezra's tale up to this point, no one had said anything up to that point. Even Rita had been quiet. "So you two weren't doing it yet? Because from where I'm standing. It sounds like there's a lot of handholding, hugging, and leaning on each other here. I'm surprised you didn't just take her right then and there!"
"Shut up, you lech!" Rita's fist came down square on the older man's head, sending him slumping into his seat, eliciting a frustrated groan from Judith and an embarrassed shake of the head from Yuri.
"I have no regrets!" Raven slurred, raising a fist in the air.
Ezra just rolled his eyes, knowing it would take much more than a single punch to keep him out for more than a spell. "Since we've stopped, does anyone have questions or things you want to comment on?"
"I had no idea my kind's blood was useful against Entelexeia. I can't help but feel bad for Ba'ul," Judith said, a sad look overtaking her pretty face.
"Yeah, but I seriously doubt you're going to slice open your hand and pour your blood down his throat, Jude," Phoebe said placatingly, although the topic was anything less than comforting. Still, the context was needed to capture the horrific reality of Midgard. "Whole villages of elves were slaughtered just so their blood could be harvested to be used against the Nilfgaardian dragon mounts. It would have turned your stomach at just how much devastation they would leave in their wake."
"The Empire and the Order all sound like a real vicious lot. If what they did at Lothric is their standard M.O. So do these Redanians, Although if I had to say, it's like they're just a client state for the Order." Yuri reached down to pet Repede, who just wagged his tail.
"That's pretty much what they are. The Redanians were usually the mooks the Empire sent in ahead of their own forces. Little more than glorified magic and arrow fodder." Fianna chimed in, crossing her arms beneath her chest. "Their ruler, King Radovid, liked to think he was in control, but he wasn't. Not to mention he was a nasty piece of work all his own. He wanted magic and all related concepts wiped out, but more on that later."
Furiae shot a sad glance over to Ezra. The part about having to leave Bright River truly struck a chord with her. "I feel bad you constantly had to be on the run. Your family was always looking over their shoulders, wondering if the Empire's agents would catch up to you. It's just like how people were always after me when I was the Goddess. I never felt truly safe wherever I went."
"The circumstances aren't quite the same, but that general feeling of always being hunted is one we're both quite familiar with. I wouldn't wish it on anybody. You can't make any lasting attachments, always have to be mindful of who comes around. It's a fate worse than death…at least until you do end up dead."
"Still, I'm glad Kyana was there to support you," Estelle said. She had felt equal parts sad and grateful that once again Ezra was forced away from a place he called home, but at least he wasn't totally alone this time. "It's a shame she's not here to contribute to this as well. I would have loved to hear her perspective."
"She'll meet up with us once we make port. The missions we've taken on are needed if we're going to support this ship and crew." Many of Ezra's party that had come with him from Midgard were out on various missions for supplies and coin. "Now, back to the matters at hand. I was about to learn a valuable lesson that even if you think you're a hero, often, it's not always the case."
I could have listened to the sound of Kyana's breathing all night. However, a shrill cry of terror quickly killed whatever sappy moment we were having. "What the hell is that?" Kyana said, the hatchet already clenched firmly in hand. She had gotten real good with the old quick draw. The two of us came out of the hut, looking around for the source of the distressed scream. We made our way through the burned huts, eventually finding a gathering just outside the other side of the village.
We had stumbled into a full-blown witch burning. A man in his early forties was tied up on a large wooden stake, the robes he wore indicated he was an apothecary. Redanian soldiers were laying freshly chopped wood at the bottom of the stake. A young girl of no more than sixteen was held by two of them. She was crying, begging the soldiers to stop. But what caught my eye the most was the contingent of crimson armored knights, about eight of them, that stood a distance off.
Sitting atop a massive horse, fur black as night with a pale white mane was the biggest knight I had ever seen, clad in the same crimson armor, wielding a massive lance in hand. He was clearly the one in charge, and something about him just felt…wrong to me. I looked to the other knights, and they emanated that same sense of wrongness, if not as powerful.
The knight on horseback slammed his lance against the ground. "Foolish mortal, you have toyed with forces you cannot begin to control. The penalty for using magic is death, and thus you will be burned as such!"
"Please, I am but a simple apothecary!" The man protested as a couple of burly soldiers came forward with lit torches. "I don't use magic at all! There's a difference between casting dark magic rituals over mashing plants, roots, and animal shit into a bowl!" He looked rather embarrassed to admit that last part. "At the very least spare my daughter at least!" Even from where we were hiding, I could see what the goons intended to do with her.
"Oh, don't worry about that. We'll spare her the impossibility of having a good time with us!" One of the men holding her said with a lustful gleam in his eyes. "Yeah, she'll have a real good time!" He licked his lips before playfully tapping his fingers on her chin, which caused her to recoil in fear, even she could sense where this was going.
I could feel my blood heating up with each second. I found my hand gripping my steel sword tighter and tighter. I'm sure Kyana was wondering what I was thinking when I picked up a good-sized rock. With a mighty heave, the rock flew through the air, beaning one of the torch-wielding Redanians square in the head, dropping him on his ass with the force of the rock. "Hey, fuckwits! Don't look twice!" I called out. Everyone turned to face us.
"Ezra, is that really wise?" Kyana whimpered. I then took stock of our situation and thought maybe I had been a little too hasty.
"Well, now, who do we have here?" The crimson armored knight drawled. "It appears we have guests to our proceedings. Join us, please, by all means. Although I'm afraid that the caterers aren't here yet." Clearly, he was being sarcastic. "But where are my manners? I am Duke Eligor, in charge of this hunt. Whom might you be?"
I just snorted derisively. "Like you care at all what the same of some random kid is? You care as much as you do about the people you're hunting like animals. Tell me, are you like everyone else in the Order? Do you just get off on inflicting pain on other people?" The knight just sighed.
"As a matter of fact, no I do not enjoy this job a single bit. I would much prefer an honorable duel against a worthy opponent, and it seems fortune has smiled on me today. It is rather curious to see you wielding two swords, but I'm sure you can give me a fairly decent fight. Provided you're up for it, boy."
I just rolled my eyes. "Yeah, right, like anything about the Order is honorable." I drew my steel sword. "I know how you guys work. You'll take every advantage if you can."
Eligor just let out another bored-sounding sigh. "I suppose you are right in that regard. It's my lot as a knight of the order. It sometimes requires me to do unsavory things. But what can I do? If I'm ordered to do something, I must obey." It wouldn't be until much later that I realized how little I knew about this particular warrior. However, all I could think about was making this blowhard pay.
I held out my blade in challenge. "Well, let's get this honorable duel of yours over with." I guess on some levels this wouldn't be such a total loss. This would be the first real challenge I had faced since I started my training. A way to let me know how much I had improved, and how much work I still had ahead of me.
The crimson knight lowered his lance right at me. "I hope you and your little friend there are ready. Ensure your deaths will at least be quick." Kyana brought her axe and large knife as the Crimson Knight's followers slowly advanced, All with ill intent in their eyes. Only for a crossbow bolt to whiz just inches from my face and plug one of the Redanian soldiers square in the eye, he slumped to the ground, dead.
"Hey, you oversized tin can!" A crude voice barked. We turned to see a large man enter the clearing. My first impressions were…he needed a bath, and fast! His salt and pepper beard was colored with spilled mead. While his clothes seemed to be of better condition than the average peasant, it was covered in blood and who knows what else. He was followed by a contingent of soldiers in the colors of the Kingdom of Temeria. "What right do you have in pushing around a couple of helpless kids?"
"Who is he calling helpless?" I muttered. Yeah…I was a cocky little bastard back then. So sure of my own strength. Kyana gently dug me in the elbow. At least she was grateful to have some backup. The big guy walked up, a bastard sword clenched in a meaty hand. "So do you have a name, big guy?" I offered.
"Watch your mouth, whelp! The name is Philip Strenger, Captain Philip Strenger to be more specific!" He sounded so proud of himself like he was really someone important, and maybe he was, but I didn't care. With several large strides, he took a place beside Kyana, looking at Eligor with disdain. "You Order types get uglier by the fucking day. What atrocities against man are you doing now?"
The crimson-armored warrior paid the new arrival no mind. "The question you should be asking what atrocities against man haven't we committed yet? Nonetheless, you do make a valid point, mortal."
Strenger just laughed. "Oh, sure! Keep making your lame-ass jokes. I'm sure you'll be able to come up with a few good ones for Radovid once I punt your sorry ass straight back into his crazy lap!" He brought his blade up to a guard position. "You kids get out of here! My men and I can handle this!"
"No way you're getting rid of us that easy!" I snarled. "This guy is on getting on my last good nerve!" Two of the other crimson-suited knights trotted up to join their master. While the rest of them and the regular Order knights and Redanian soldiers squared up against the Temerians. I wasn't too sure about our new ally, the man looked three sheets to the wind already, if the way his beard was stained was any indication.
Yet, I could tell he was at least a capable warrior, judging from how he wielded his blade. One thing I had learned from Rodger was picking up on the signs of how skilled those around you fought. I got the impression this was you'd know how to backstab anyone looking to sell you out, I guess it comes with having a pirate for a teacher. Strenger let out a war cry, rushing at the three knights. Only for one of the other knights to step in front of their commander. He raised his shield, knocking the drunken soldier back.
Kyana supported him by tossing out a couple of throwing knives, I decided to chip in by raising my free hand, imbuing them with my fire magic. Flames burst into life along the blades. I then used my telekinesis to increase their speed. The knights looked nonplussed. Eligor just raised his hand, and a flickering red wall appeared, the knives slammed into the barrier.
"Ha! So you can use magic as well? I guess we can add hypocrisy to the Order's many shortcomings." I couldn't help but laugh at the irony of the situation. "I mean seriously, sending a wizard to hunt down its own kind? I guess the Order really isn't the pinnacle of purity after all!" I smirked, it was a small victory, but I would take it!
A low rumbling chuckle came from Eligor. "I'm not exactly a mage or wizard. I just have some…very unique powers all my own, mortal." He brought his hand up. "Would you like to see it?" He clenched his hand into a fist, chanting in a strange tongue that I couldn't recognize. Through the slits of his visor, his eyes flashed red. His two fellow knights suddenly cried out in agony, spasming all over.
That was only the beginning. The other two knights drew their swords, actually stabbing right into their horses' necks, their pained whinnying drowning out the wet slap of blood on the ground. Blood pooled out everywhere. "What the fuck is this all about?" Strenger asked, his mouth gape in horror. We got our answer soon enough as the blood began flowing upwards in the shape of strange runes encircling the knights, the twisted enchantment turned their armor a brilliant shade of vermillion.
I then realized what they were doing with a horrified gasp. "You sick bastard!" I could barely get it out, feeling my stomach uneasily churning. "You're using blood magic!" I could see now Eligor's subordinates had the same supernaturally glowing red eyes he did. "You really are a monster, aren't you? Blood magic is about as bad as you can get! Not to mention they've just gained a very heavy magic resistance!"
"It has its uses. Although it's a shame I don't have a few extra slaves on hand. Human blood is far more potent for this." This did not go unnoticed by the rest of the combatants. The other Order knights seemed to pay it no mind. The Redanians, however, had looks of confusion and even disgust at the gruesome display before them.
"Hey, what gives? We were out here to hunt witches, and this guy is using the foul art himself?" The Redanian commander remarked.
"This isn't good! What if he chooses to do that to us?" Another soldier said, fear coloring his voice. This was enough to make some of the Redanians decide enough was enough and run. Thing is, the Temerians weren't about to let them go so quickly. Strenger's men began hacking away at the retreating soldiers. One of them flung an axe, splitting their helm, killing them instantly.
Eligor slammed his lance on the ground. I get the impression he did that a lot. "Perhaps you've forgotten about me and my little puppets?" His voice took on a menacing tone. "You still have to deal with them!" Strenger just looked annoyed, raising his blade once again. I was right there with him, a part of me wanting to pull out my silver blade, if magic was involved it would be a must. However, it wouldn't be so useful at this point. Thanks to Ioran the broken blade had been reforged into a dagger, but it wouldn't have the reach to take this thing on.
The two lesser knights grunted, shambling toward us. The eyes blazing through their helmets. All three of us stood as one. There wouldn't be time for hesitation. So we just went. Kyana in the middle, Strenger on the left, and myself on the right. The first one took the massive greatsword it was carrying, raising it with a single hand, spinning it with terrifying speed. Kyana deftly rolled out of the way, while Strenger raised his bastard sword, parrying the knight's weapon away.
"That all you got?" The Temerian Captain sneered, swinging his sword, but the knight, at least twice his height blocked Strenger. Kyana tossed a couple more throwing knives before going in with her axe, bringing it down with a hard, downward swing. While the blood coating the surface would negate magic, it couldn't stop a couple of pounds of steel buried into it.
I quickly joined in, slashing upwards across the second knight's blood-covered breastplate, causing sparks to fly, before leaving a nice little rent in the armor. I barely avoided getting crushed by the knight's blade. "The blood ensures magic won't be that effective, but I know a way around that!" I began conjuring up more flames, channeling them into my sword, it began glowing red, before flames were dancing about on the steel, just like with Kyana's knives but far stronger. "Let's see how you like this!"
The Knight moved to meet my blade, but with my sword enhanced by the flames, it was much stronger. The zombified knight brought its shield in to smash me in the face, but I was quicker, rolling out of the way and swinging my flaming blade around, taking off the top eighth of it. I ducked underneath the wild swing, rolling about again, slashing across the back of the Knight's ankles. He let out an inhuman roar.
Eligor then thrust forward with his lance, which I barely avoided, the tip getting the back of my coat. I skidded back, leaving long tracks in the ground. He then rushed forward, obviously intending to impale me. Again, employing the ancient art of the dodge roll. Let's face it, rolling solves all my problems.
Kyana gracefully flipped over the heavy weapon as it got embedded in the ground. She saw a chance, running up the length of the polearm to plant her booted feet right in the big guy's face, finishing it off by swinging her dagger across Eligor's helm. He let out an inhuman roar as he backhanded Kyana, sending her flying into a heap about ten feet away. There was a huge break in his helmet. For the barest fraction of a second, I could see what looked like a swirling void in the large gash.
"Impudent little brat!" Eligor's voice carried an eerie resonance to it, he didn't even sound human. "You will pay for that with your life!" His eyes flared just as much as his fellow knights. Strenger put himself in front of Kyana, sword raised to block Eligor's lance, amazingly the fast bastard was holding him back. It gave Kyana time to stagger up to her feet.
"You okay?" I asked her, taking note of the bruise on the right side of her head, there was also a thin trickle of blood coming out of a gash on the left side of her forehead.
"I'll be fine." She grunted, wiping the blood away. Kyana wasn't frightened, she was just pissed now. And that's when she got really dangerous. "Can you cover me?" She asked, a playful smile forming on her face. "I have a confession to make, Devola has been training me in secret, taught me a neat little trick. I think this is a good place to show it off." I was about to ask when she set her sights on one of the secondary knights. Kyana smiled and winked before she blinked out of sight.
Faster than anyone could react she appeared inches in front of one of Eligor's compatriots. "Hello!" She said cheerfully, before burying her axe into the small gap between where the armor pieces met, hacking deep into the knight's neck, ignoring the blood spraying across her face. The knight roared in pain, whipping his broadsword around to try and hit her. Kyana was too quick, backflipping out of the way. But she brought her dagger down, impaling the armored knight through his hand, before her axe slashed upwards through his wrist, severing the hand entirely, the sword clattering to the ground.
Strenger capitalized on Kyana's devastating strike. He also took to aiming for the weak points in the armor pieces, impaling the wounded knight in the left side under his arm, before cutting downward, leaving a nice big gouge in the armor. A black ooze began to leak out. "What the fuck is that?" He asked, wondering if he should grab another pint or two.
I couldn't help but feel my own stomach churn a little bit. But I quashed it, instead lighting my sword on fire again, leaping up in a single, powerful swing, hacking the knight's head off. More of the black ooze gushing out instead of blood. I looked to Kyana who just nodded, using her new intense speed to go after the second knight.
The second knight was ready this time. He brought the shield up, Kyana bouncing off. She flipped in the air, letting a couple of throwing knives fly. Strenger huffed as he ran behind the knight, but our shared opponent clearly learned from the defeat of his comrade. His blade caught the light of the sun, parrying Strenger before knocking him back. I took that opportunity, having formed a giant fireball in both my hands. "Catch this!" I hurled it with all my might.
The flaming projectile flew straight and true, catching the knight square in the chest. Even if the blood-reinforced armor negated most of the burn damage, getting hit by a heavy object still hurt. Strenger took the chance to get the knight across the back while Kyana used her newfound speed to deliver a devastating barrage of axe attacks on him, throwing in a few good kicks for good measure, finishing up with a knife to the shoulder.
I came in with my sword, rolling under the shield bash, spinning on my knees to slash across the knight's left calf, blood mixing in with the black ooze. I quickly legged it away from whatever that garbage was, regrouping with Strenger and Kyana. We could sense it, this guy was about to go down. It would just take all three of us to make it happen. The big Temerian cracked his neck, while Kyana spun her knife in hand. "Let's finish this!" I said, brandishing my sword.
Once again Kyana's throwing knives whistled through the air. A telekinetic burst increased their speed, this time they would hit their mark, impacting square into the chest armor. I let loose a stream of flames, keeping the knight off balance. I once again brought the flames on my sword to life, but this time I also did it to Strenger's sword as well. He looked at me questioningly. "You'll need the extra power to bring it down, trust me!" I said.
He just shrugged, going in for a powerful horizontal slash across the knight's torso. The mad warrior growled, ahead with his tainted blade. But Strenger just brought up his blade to block. The air sang as metal edge slammed against metal edge, embers dancing as the Temerian captain began gaining ground on the armored warrior. "Why don't you just die already, you fucking bastard?" He yelled, bashing the flaming blade into the knight's side, causing the blood covering the armor to shatter, the flames burning through the crimson metal, leaving a deep, scorching gash.
Kyana vaulted over Strenger, using his broad shoulders as a launching platform, axe held high overhead. Letting out a shriek that would put a banshee to shame. She rapidly dropped axe strikes on the knight's helm, each blow rendering it more and more dented and misshapen. "It's all yours, Ezra!" She screamed as she leapt over my head. I was going to end this the only way I knew how, and I would do it with great relish.
"I'm taking a few inches off the top!" I yelled, my sword arcing in the air, the helmet…and the head it contained both sailed off from its body. I got a good look at the knight's face, permanently twisted into a grimace of pained anger. But what was most prominent were his eyes. They glowed with an eerie, blood-red light. Those red eyes would haunt me to the end of my days. All three of us watched as the second knight slumped over dead. We then turned our attention to Eligor. "What do you say, big guy? You want to mess with us?"
Eligor just let out a bored, dry laugh. "Actually, I think I've had enough for now. This whole little hunt has thoroughly bored me." A mist began pooling around our feet. "But remember this well, young one. We will meet once again. I know this for a fact, just as much as the taint of the foul Dragon that clings to you." I found myself slightly uncomfortable as he said that for some reason. The mist surrounded him more and more, eventually obscuring him from view, until I could only see the faint outline and those glowing red eyes. "So, continue to grow stronger, child. I'm sure our next engagement will be far more entertaining."
His sinister chuckle resonated in the air as the mist faded, and he was gone as were the other crimson knights. Everyone wasn't sure what to make of it. But the last few surviving Redanians realized their commander had just effectively abandoned them. The bulk of them promptly broke ranks and made for the hills, not wanting to meet their fate at the hands of Strenger's men. "That's right you pussies better run!" The Temerian captain yelled after them.
"So, is that it?" Kyana asked. It certainly seemed that way, The other Order knights had vanished with Eligor, and most of the Redanians were gone. It all seemed pretty cut and dried from where I was standing.
"Please somebody help me!" The girl from earlier screamed, still in the grasp of one of the Redanians who hadn't run away. Not to mention the apothecary had been tied to the post throughout the entire engagement.
"Oh, yeah, that's still a thing." I quipped, directing by attention at the brute. He was like so many of his other countrymen, missing quite a few teeth. Hadn't had a bath in days. There was a mad gleam in his misshapen eyes.
"Watch it there, tough guy! One more step and I slit this pretty little thing's throat!" He held his sword to her neck for emphasis. I kept my face neutral. I could see the nervous tension in his face, the way the flesh around his eyes tightened. The girl was panic-stricken. I took the smallest step forward. "Watch it there, pal!" He barked, eyes flashing about.
"Go ahead then," I said flatly, giving him an unimpressed look. "Even if you kill her, we'll have no reason to hold back." I held up my hand for emphasis, letting the flames ignite. Its tendrils danced in the air as the heat of the fire licked the palm of my hand. "You'll be ash on the wind before you can even blink!" I could already feel the questioning gazes coming from everyone behind me.
"Ezra how can you say such a thing?" Kyana didn't get any further when I turned to look her dead in the eye. It took a moment before it dawned on her. A wicked smile crossed her face, before turning to the Redanian holding the girl. "That's right, but know this you cur: when you die, the Dread Wolf will take you to the Realm of Shadow where you'll face eternal torment!"
Strenger just snorted. "Hey, if it bothers you that much... Then perhaps we can just shoot the lout through the girl? My crossbowman Struthers is a dead shot with that thing. He can jam a bolt up the asshole of a raven at a hundred paces. I've seen him do it, right man?"
"Got that right, Boss!" He sneered as he loaded a small wooden arrow into the weapon. Clearly, he wouldn't have cared one way or another if both the soldier and the girl died. The apothecary looked horrified. His daughter just kept bawling and struggling. As this whole thing was happening, no one noticed the innocuous-looking wooden bucket on the ground begin moving. I was subtly tugging at it with my telekinesis. In a single burst, the bucket whipped through the air, smacking the dumb lout in the back of the head.
This caused his grip on the girl to slacken. She took the chance to break free and Struthers proved that he was indeed good of a shot that Strenger claimed. The twanging of the crossbow string still reverberated as the quarrel plunged into the Redanian's neck, blood spurting out as he stumbled about before keeling over dead.
"Ha! Dead on as always!" Strenger hollered. He turned his gaze to the apothecary. "Go and cut the man down."
I turned my attention to the girl. I slowly approached. "Are you okay?" I asked, holding my hand out. My thoughts went to the old stories I remember reading. The hero saves the fair maiden, who was full of gratitude toward her savior, and gets a reward from them. My reward was a scream and my hand getting smacked away.
"Stay away from me, you monster!" She ran off crying. There was no gratitude in this maiden's eyes. Just fear and grief at the horrible trauma she had endured. In retrospect, It might have helped if my armor, my face, and my hair weren't all coated in blood. But the sting was so prominent I was taken aback.
Of course, that wasn't the end. The apothecary had been released and started laying into us. "What in the hell took you so guys so long? It wasn't enough they were about to burn me and rape my daughter, you couldn't save my wife or anyone else here?" He indicated the shattered ruins of Lothric. "We have nothing left, what will we do now?"
"Well excuse me for trying!" Strenger growled getting right in the man's face. "Maybe you've forgotten, but this is a cruel, unpleasant world we live in, Mr. Apothecary. You know as well as I do that the Redanians and Nilfgaardians have been impinging on our borders for years now. And the way it's going, war is all but inevitable. You should be fucking grateful that my company was even in this area, to begin with. So kindly piss off before I decide to intimately acquaint your face with the bottom of my foot!" The apothecary just glared at Strenger, before glancing at me pointedly. The man tugged at his robes and stalked off after his daughter.
Strenger just snorted. "Well, that was fun. I suppose it's back to Vizima for this lot. What about you brats?" He directed at us. "Where are you off to?"
I was still trying to process what just happened. So, it fell to Kyana to get us where we needed to be. "Uh, we're actually going to Vizima too. The two of us are looking for a friend of ours." She hesitated at mentioning 'friend', Rodger was an…acquired taste to be sure. "I hope you don't mind if we tag along until we get there?"
The Temerian captain just pulled out a flask and took a deep swig. "Doesn't bother me." He grunted, clearly Strenger had enough of the whole mess. He just wanted to go home. With his drink satiated, Strenger turned to his troops. "All right boys, we've done all we can here. Let's go home!"
I didn't have much to say as we set off toward the west. All I could do was replay that moment in my mind. It wasn't anything like Dandelion's ballads. How could everything have gone so wrong? I then felt Kyana gently dig her elbow into my side. "You still pouting over how the girl rejected you like that?" She gave me a chiding look. "The way I see it, you had it coming! Really, telling the guard he should just go ahead and kill her? That's not very heroic if you ask me."
"I had to think on my feet, Kyana." I tried to reason with her. "I would never let her come to harm."
Kyana wasn't buying it. She always knew when I was making excuses. "And what if that was me in that position? Would you have thrown me under the wagon?" I couldn't help but deflate at those words. She just folded her arms and gave a little satisfied nod, although it was clear she was disappointed herself that the apothecary could be so ungrateful that even though we saved him and his daughter, we didn't save the rest of the village. As such, we were both in a rather defeated mood when we finally arrived in Vizima.
As we parted ways from Strenger and his men. Kyana and I took everything in. A part of me very much wanted to explore the town and see the sights, but I knew that we had a mission. "So where exactly did Rodger tell us to meet him again?" Kyana asked me. I dug into my pocket and pulled out the message he had sent me a few weeks prior, a ratty-looking scrap of parchment with his messy handwriting scrawled on it.
I had to squint to read the chicken scratching. "Uh, it's called the Blooming Datura." I had to read it a second time to be sure I read it right. "Seriously, Rodger needs to take some calligraphy lessons, or at least have someone take dictation for him!" I muttered, straining my eyes further for details. "It looks like it's in the Trade Quarter. We should head there immediately." I pushed the thoughts of Lothric to the back of my mind. Reflecting that since we had finally made it to the city, the hunt for my mom could begin, so it meant things were finally looking up…right?
As we made our way through the streets. We began looking around for the place Rodger mentioned. We strolled through the main marketplace, the sounds of vendors in their stalls peddling their wares. Kyana just lit up. "Oh wow! Ezra, I know we're on a timetable. But is it okay if we look around a bit before we meet with Rodger? I've never been to a place like this before."
She was so excited by all the new sights around her. I shrugged. "Why not? I'll even buy you a memento." The wide smile and grateful eyes Kyana gave me were what I had hoped to see from the girl in Lothric. I realized that I'd much rather have her look at me that way, rather than some random chick I'd probably never see again. We came in front of a stall selling jewelry. "Do you see anything you like?"
Kyana's eyes fell on a bronze-colored hairclip in the shape of a hawk's wing, inlaid with emeralds. "That one." She said with conviction. I paid the vendor with a few pieces of hacksilver. "Will you put it on for me?" Kyana batted her eyelashes. I found myself unable to resist the simple request. Kyana even back then was so cute. I pinned it against her auburn-hued locks. The emerald flickered for a millisecond as they caught the sunlight. Kyana flashed a smile at me, clasping her hands behind her back, leaning forward in a pose I could only describe as "tomboy cute". "How do I look?"
"Y-You look really good with that, Kyana," I stammered, feeling my face beginning to heat up. I was beginning to feel some kind of way about her. It made my stomach feel like it had a million smoldering butterflies fluttering about in my gut. It was a warm, pleasant sensation. It made me feel both great and confused at once. It was just so…pleasantly frustrating.
Ah, the teenage experience of learning how things work. Especially in the ways of love. I didn't have time to ponder it, though. Fate had its way of nudging me in the right direction, even if I was busy with girl problems.
It was then I caught sight of a sign hanging in front of a building down the street. A sign with a white flower that read 'The Blooming Datura' "Kyana, that's it!" I exclaimed, pointing at the sign. "We're here!" I took off into a run, Kyana hot on my heels. The building itself seemed innocuous enough. There were a couple of girls sitting on the front porch. They gave me rather amorous gazes as we walked up.
"Hey there, handsome." One girl purred in a sensual tone. "How can we help you?"
"I'm looking for a man named Rodger. He said I could find him here." The two women's demeanors changed in a heartbeat, both wearing nasty scowls.
"Just wait a minute." The other girl threw her hair over her shoulder before stomping inside. An awkward silence followed before the sound of heavy footsteps echoed across the floorboards. Kyana gasped at who emerged from the building.
He looked far older than he should have. Bleary-eyed, bloodshot. Huge dark bags were under his eyes. He had been up all night. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he was nursing a hangover as well. It couldn't have been him; it shouldn't have been him, but it was. It took all I had to utter his name. "Erik?"
"Yeah, what the fuck do you want?" He muttered, clutching his forehead. It took Erik a few minutes before he realized just who he had spoken to. "Ezra? K-Kyana is that you?" He vaulted over the railing, coming up to us. "Oh, crap…it is you guys!"
"Erik, what are you doing here? What is going on?" Kyana asked, eyes squinting in confusion.
"Uh, I got sloshed last night and I'm currently wanting to lobotomize myself for going on this stupid bender with Rodger?" He said bluntly, sounding quite exhausted as he held his head in one hand. His eyes snapped up as if suddenly coming to a realization. "…What are you guys doing here?"
I wasn't sure if I was hearing this right. "Did you really forget dude? I mean, we had a hell of a time getting here. I would think you of all people would remember what we planned six years ago, Erik! We're here to start looking for my Mom!" Erik froze at those words, and began blasting out a long train of cussing in the elven tongue, before banging his head against the wall in rage.
"I'm sorry to get your hopes, Ezra, but I'm not ready for this at all. Rodger isn't ready either. You guys came at a really bad time! Why in Cosmos's name did Ioran send both of you here now of all times?"
"Maybe because Bright River was invaded by the Order!" Kyana got in her cousin's face, fully intending to slap some sense into Erik. She bared her teeth in anger at him, looking ready to take a chunk out of him. "They butchered everyone for their blood! How can you not be on the ball for this? I mean, it's all you and Ezra could ever talk about when you guys came to visit us!"
I held up my hand to stall Kyana's rant. Something which she venomously glared at me for. She could save it for later, and she most definitely did. "Erik," I paused, directing my gaze solidly on him, "where is Rodger?"
Erik just shook his head, not meeting my gaze. I could feel my skin crawling with a great sense of wrongness. "Uh, it's easier if I just show you. Kyana, I don't think you're going to like this place very much. Just stay close to me and let me do all the talking. The girls may think you're a new recruit, given how you dress."
Once we went inside, it became quite evident what Erik meant. The air was heavy with the stench of perfume. The long couches had scantily clad women lounging on them, a few of them weren't clad in anything but a smile. Many of them were close to my age.
Kyana looked about ready to scream. And then she did, marching right up to him, taking a handful of his tunic quite assertively. "Erik Lamperouge, you had better explain yourself right now!" Her face was alight with a tangle of emotions as she ranted. Shock, rage, and disappointment colored her expression from moment to moment. It was scary, and kind of hot at once. I know, I'm weird. "Why on Cosmos's green freaking earth are you hanging around in a damned whore house? Does Uncle Mark know about what you're doing here? I never imagined you would stoop so low as to lie with a prostitute!"
"Whoa! Chill yourself right now, Kyana! I'm not a customer!" Erik protested, holding his hands up defensively. "I work as one of the bouncers. If the guys cause trouble, my job is to throw them out on their asses and ensure they never come back!" He grunted, clearly, he didn't enjoy this job, but it was all he had at the moment. Sadly. "Come on, I'll take you to see Rodger, but I'm going to warn you, it's not a pretty sight at all."
Kyana relented, taking her hand away with a frustrated noise. She glanced at me, looking quite worried by his words alone. I was also quite anxious. The bad kind of butterflies began gathering in my gut this time. They say anxiety is a kind of invisible status effect in the adventuring business. If that was true, I was already hit full-on by the toxin with no hope of recovery.
Erik led us to a dark corner of the room, where about half a dozen men sat, with about the same number of working girls. The shadows obscured everyone's faces before a loud belch cleaved the air and leaning forward was Rodger, a tankard of mead in hand and five sheets to the wind. While he had always been a bit on the shabby side, he truly looked like a bum now, his shirt was no longer just threadbare, now with quite a few holes in it, and his pants had some new patches on them.
It was then I realized he was missing something quite essential. The left sleeve of his coat was hanging limply at his side. His left arm, his dominant sword arm, was gone! His eyes got wide when he caught sight of us, spewing liquor all over the place. "Well shit! I wish you had called ahead kid! I would have saved you a spot!"