The Weight of the World

by G M Archer

  “Issue solved,” Hirsh shrugged.

  A soldier stepped forward, the crowd starting to panic, “Everyone stop! There is nothing to fear!”

  The people froze under the guns aimed towards them, and the swords drawn.

  Neve suddenly stepped from an alleyway, “Yes, you’re right,” she smiled, “No more fear.”

  She took another step, voice loud and angry, “No more hiding.”

  I looked down, the roof tiles rattling. The whole ground was trembling.

  The grin split her face, “No more corrupt guardians here. No more oppression. Only freedom,” she outstretched her arms as a sea of dogs burst from the alleyways, an endless roiling mass of every size and shape of canine imaginable.

  The crowd parted for them and the soldiers screamed, one gunshot going off in a random direction as their horses bolted and the men followed, fleeing from a roiling tide of teeth and howls. Anxiously, Ram dropped to the ground, and I dismounted him, letting him go with the dog-swarm after the soldiers as I bolted for Joseph and Alexandra. I drew the dagger from my boot and cut their bonds away as all of us burst into a jumble of over-emotional questions and greetings.

  I embraced them both as the crowd started cheering, pursuing the streaking tail of the rooster and clearing out of the square.

  “Atlas,” Joseph boomed loud enough for us to silence, “I thought I’d lost you,” he wiped his eyes, “thought I’d ran you off,” he laughed, but his tears betrayed it.

  Alexandra grabbed the sides of my face, “Are you trying to kill me with worry!? I thought I was going to lose both of you,” her fingers trembled, eyes watering, “Why did you leave, Atlas?” she regained her composer, kissing me on the cheek and pulling away.

  “It wasn’t exactly willing,” I scratched the back of my head, “I was kidnapped by Maul’s people.”

  “Than what was all that about leading the traitors?” Joseph interjected.

  “How did you get better?” I asked, looking at his arm that bared three long black scars.

  “I asked first,” he insisted, “But I don’t know. The fever broke, I woke up. It was a miraculous recovery.”

  I glanced at Alexandra, and she shrugged, but some expression flicked across her features.

  “Alright, Atlas, now I get my answers,” Joseph started, looked at my armor and pointed to my chest, “Did you want to match me?”

  “It came from Maul’s people. They’re using at their symbol, or a symbol of revolution I suppose. I won a fight against Maul. It gave me the right to lead them,” I said, knowing that with their confused expression I was going to have to explain further.

  Joseph laughed, “You beat the warrior Maul? I’ve seen him, he’s a monster of a man, how did you do it? I didn’t know I was that good of a teacher.”

  “Okay, wait, wait, that explains that, but what about the giant rooster?” Alexandra said, motioning to Ram as he chased the screaming soldiers out to the city below.

  I started to answer them, but turned at the sound of hooves on the cobblestone, fearing the guards returning. Instead it was Hirsh and his two companions.

  He hopped off his steed, holding his arrows so they didn’t spill as he bowed, “Your Highness.”

  Joseph and Alexandra gave me a look.

  Hirsh rose, “Can you go anywhere without destroying the order in some way?” he motioned to the mob pursuing below.

  “It’s becoming a bad habit,” I shrugged, “At least I didn’t randomly murder a man.”

  “It wasn’t random, I only kill with purpose,” Hirsh defended.

  “Charming fellow,” Alexandra grumbled, but Joseph was laughing.

  I crossed my arms, “The ‘charming fellow’ is Hirsh,” I motioned to my side, “This is Joseph and Alexandra.”

  “So you two are the legendary traitorous maid and knight?” Hirsh grinned, shaking their hands, “I’m the greatest warrior in Maul’s camp, the most skilled archer in the land.”

  “So humble,” I said sarcastically.

  “I think I’ll tell Maul you said that,” the leathersmith woman said from her horse.

  “No, please don’t,” Hirsh squeaked.

  “Legendary maid and knight?” Alexandra asked.

  “Ah, yes, they tell stories about you two all over Viafinis,” Hirsh made a sweeping motion, “They say that you once punched a foreign queen in the face over laundry.”

  Alexandra paled, “No! I didn’t! Oh, my family’s reputation!”

  “Nice,” Joseph nodded approvingly, “As if your family’s reputation wasn’t bad enough from you running off.”

  “I’m telling them you kidnapped me if we ever get caught,” Alexandra said, frowning.

  “What if I tell them you kidnapped me?” Joseph grinned.

  “There are enough absurd rumors apparently, Joseph!” she threw her hands in the air.

  Hirsh laughed, “I’m joking, I only know about you two from her,” he jerked a thumb at me.

  “No, I’m going to spread that laundry rumor,” Joseph continued to nod.

  “Along with the one that you two are married,” I pointed between them, “And/or my parents, I heard that one at the castle once. I wouldn’t care if that one was true.”

  “I would have at least had the decency to take you to the orphanage, not the gutters,” Joseph teased.

  “Thank you, Joseph, you are so thoughtful,” I touched my heart.

  “You’re all despicable,” Alexandra mumbled, rigid with her arms crossed.

  “Sorry to break up the family bonding, but I’m here to make a delivery, and I’m supposed to make it to the Forsaken before dark. Boss’s orders,” Hirsh reached behind him and handed me my new koras in their sheathe.

  Looking to Joseph, I drew the weapons simultaneously, the swords smooth and sleek as a viper. The indentions of the swirling designs were now filled with the Moontear, and a smooth line of it ran the length of the blade to the point.

  Joseph let out a long whistle, “Fine, fine blades. How’d you arrange that?”

  “The smith,” I swung the koras, smiling at the familiar effortless weight, “at the camp. He did them for me. He just wanted to work with the Moontear,” I turned to Hirsh, “Please tell him how grateful I am, and that I will never be able to thank him enough.”

  Hirsh nodded, “I will tell him you hated them,” he said sarcastically.

  “Appreciated,” I said in a similar tone.

  Neve re-entered the square, feathers in her hair flowing as she moved, the fox dog bouncing along with her.

  “Hey, dog-woman!” Hirsh called.

  Neve paused, raising her chin with eyes narrowed.

  “Did you like, train all the dogs, or what?” he asked, “Maul’s been wondering since those soldiers went missing.”

  She folded her arms behind her, “No, they simply listen.”

  “So you’re like a dog hypnotist?” Hirsh walked towards her, “An animal mage?”

  “No, I can speak to them,” Neve said.

  “Can you learn how to do that, or do you have to be bewitched, or what’s the process?” Hirsh asked.

  “I’ve been able to do it since I was born,” Neve said, unamused.

  “So you couldn’t teach me?” Hirsh looked defeated, “Because that summoning a dog army thing seems super useful.”

  The fox-dog barked, sitting down with a smug look.

  Neve imitated the look, “I’m sure you don’t need an army, master lord archer.”

  “Ha, great, I got ratted out by a dog,” Hirsh slumped.

  “Hirsh, stop flirting and let’s go,” the leathersmith started to turn her horse, the other man laughing.

  “Don’t you even start with me, that’s pretty hypocritical coming from you,” Hirsh pointed at her.

  She smiled as Hirsh jumped onto his horse, Neve looking back from up the hill.

  Hirsh looked back, “See you at the Forsaken’s camp. You better get going if you’re going to make your bet!” He called as they galloped aw
ay.

  Down in the fields Ram jumped atop a windmill, and gave a victory crow that sounded like a dragon’s screech.

  Chapter 14- Misguided by a Hero’s Promise

  “Where did you get the name Ram?” Alexandra crossed her arms.

  I pulled the aforementioned rooster towards the owl statue, “That old story Joseph used to tell.”

  “Joseph used to tell a million stories,” Alexandra sighed.

  “The one about the man that could conjure water from nothing out in the desert, fought roosters, and raised whatever children came to him?” I prompted.

  “I vaguely remember something like that,” Alexandra rubbed her chin, “Curse my old memory. Aging is such an inconvenient thing.”

  “If I find the secret to immortality in my travels, I’ll be sure to share it with you first,” I nodded to her.

  Dogs sit in all the archways around us, curious but timid, watching the rooster.

  “Between giant chickens and teleporting statues, I wouldn’t be terribly surprised,” She said.

  From the dome above, I could see a sloped-eared silhouette cast down, the feeling of being watched chilling over me.

  I looked up, “Don’t forget my Journeyer.”

  Alexandra followed my gaze, but it was gone before even I looked, either that or I’d imagined it.

  “I can’t believe it saved you,” she walked to me. I thought you might be seeing things in the beginning but it’s hard to deny it if it killed someone.”

  “Joseph still doesn’t believe me,” I said.

  “If you haven’t noticed, he likes to irritate you.”

  I looked up at the dome again, the library growing dim in the dying light, “I need to get moving.”

  Alexandra regarded Ram with narrowed eyes, “Don’t let him break anything in The Rook.”

  “He’s very well behaved,” I assured, and he started grooming himself coolly as if to illustrate my point.

  “He’s getting chicken dandruff all over the floor,” Alexandra said plainly.

  “That sounds like a summoning component, I may need that,” Serif entered the room with several books under one arm and a horse skull in the other hand.

  “Someone is probably going to have to sweep it up,” I looked down.

  “I’ll have Neve ask the dogs,” Serif said flippantly, “Although their motor skills aren’t great.”

  “We can only hope that’s the only mess he makes,” Alexandra curled her lip.

  “Can you take care of yourself, not get arrested while I’m gone?” I turned to her, “Not get accused of some murders or anything.”

  She crossed her arms, “Can you not get kidnapped? Or take over any bandit camps?”

  “The second isn’t so bad,” I said.

  “It’s always good to have an army like Maul’s on your side,” Serif handed a book to a dog, “Considering that their ideals are in favor right now. If Varrick held a good charge, still, though, it’d be a different story. You’re still outnumbered, though, step cautiously.”

  I gave a quick nod.

  Alexandra sighed, “Hurry up, before the sun goes all the way down, Joseph is really looking forward to whatever celebration the villagers have come up with tonight. With the guards gone, they’re raiding the soldiers’ rations and ale. Which is exactly what Joseph needs,” she grumbled the last part sarcastically.

  “I fear when the guards return,” I said quietly.

  “We’ve discussed this. The people know the consequence,” Alexandra said.

  “We’ll deal with whatever comes,” Serif turned the skull around in his hands, laughed, “I don’t know if Varrick can even spare a force to quell us with what he had poured into Terminus.”

  Taking another glance at the dome above, I pulled Ram forward the last few steps, “I have to go, I’ll speak to you later,” I said to Alexandra, waved bye to Serif.

  He returned the motion best he could with his hands full and I touched the statue, coming to a halt beside the table while Ram scrambled around on top of it. I calmed him quickly, wincing at the scratching sounds his claws made on the wood, but when I coaxed him off of it, the surface was as pristine as ever.

  Ram’s eyes turned to the last painting, his blazing eye locked on the Journeyer. He clucked and hissed, shaking himself as I pulled him through the door to the map room. I literally had to pull him, he struggled to get his bulk through the opening, but he managed.

  I stopped to observe Alexandra’s work as Ram took to exploring a little ways around the space, head twitching around to gaze at things on the ground I knew he was considering eating. Alexandra’s handwriting decorated loose sheets of open books, mostly bits of Latin, which I had a limited understanding of, but I was able to recognize her other records. Most of her studying had been dedicated to deciphering the odd script that filled most of the books, the same that made up Icarus’s prophecy on the tapestry.

  I glanced at it as I walked to the map, motioning Ram over. He walked over, moving his giant feet timidly over Alexandra’s stacks of books. I held the bottom of his beak to his warbling protest as I touched the statue near to the Forsaken’s camp.

  The both of us landed with our feet in the snow, Ram jumping out of it and shaking off his claws. He followed me as I pushed out of the cedar glade, exiting out into the barren snow field of the mountains. The setting sun glinted off the peaks above, lighting them like elevated flares. I mounted Ram, hand on the Horn of Valor, and urged him on through the snow. He took leaping steps, obviously irritated at the chill of the ice.

  The snow was smooth and unbroken this time, no footsteps to guide my path, and I found myself lost in the repeating landscape of dark rocks on snowbanks. I stopped Ram, fearful that I’d even lost where the statue was, not recognizing the cliffs and cedars around me.

  As I moved forward again someone called for us to halt up the ridge. I froze, but was relieved at the same time.

  I turned, a man dressed in furs and a snarling half mask was standing up the hill with a bow drawn, but no arrow nocked.

  “Who are you!?” he called down.

  “I am Atlas,” I said, turning Ram to look at him.

  I could see his eyebrows scrunched, focused on the rooster, “What are you here for . . . Atlas?”

  “To speak to Delilah,” I answered.

  He paused, “What do you call my people?” he called.

  “The Forsaken,” I said, without skipping a beat, just as Joseph had.

  The man relaxed slightly, but I could still see his skepticism, “You wouldn’t have happen to be the girl Delilah made the wager with, would you?”

  “For the Horn of Valor?” I asked.

  He nodded.

  I twisted and patted the aforementioned object on my thigh.

  His eyes widened, “And can I ask, what exactly is that?” he pointed at Ram.

  “What the horn summoned,” I said.

  He took a step back, “I’ll- I’ll go tell of your arrival.”

  “Please do,” I nodded.

  At first I just watched him run off, and then, growing anxious, I followed his footsteps. I started recognizing things again as I traversed the slopes, stopped just before the entrance as the man exited to meet me.

  He motioned me inside, and I dismounted, guiding the rooster inside with me. The camp was just as dismal and defeated as last time, but there was a sort of closure this time. The cave was dark from extinguished fires, and more than half the tents were taken down and rolled up, people milling about trying to help each other ready to move. Heads swiveled in my direction as I crossed the camp, and at first I adverted my eyes from the gaunt features.

  But as I continued to catch glances of their eyes I caught something else. As anguished as they were, there was something new and strange flaring up. Hope.

  Delilah’s tent was one of the ones still assembled, guards waiting at the opening.

  They had the usual questioning surprise to Ram that everyone did as I approached.

 
“I believe I have an appointment here,” I said plainly.

  No sooner had the words left my mouth did Delilah come bursting out of the tent flaps, followed closely by her massive body guard. Her mouth was slack in surprise, eyes dashing from me to Ram.

  My hands fumbled at my belt, untying the Horn of Valor. If possible, her eyes widened further.

  I held the instrument out, presenting it to her, “If this is a legend of your people, then it belongs to you.”

  “You,” her hand hovered out, taking the horn as if she could not believe that it was real, “You got it. You did it.”

  “Did your myths say anything about it summoning a giant rooster at Phoenix Peak?” I asked, motioning to Ram.

  She stammered, “That’s- that’s what it did? No, it just said it would call forth something the wielder needed.”

  I looked at Ram, nudging his wing, “Congratulations, turns out I need you.”

  I could swear he made a motion that seemed like rolling his eyes.

  “Also,” I turned back to Delilah, “A group of Maul’s men is on their way here with rations. They won’t impede shipments to you anymore.”

  “Really?” her face lifted, but she quelled it with her own denial, “Do you have his word?”

  “I am in charge of his tribe, I would hope so,” I said.

  “You- you’re what?” Delilah stopped, “Alright, start from the beginning, tell me everything,” she demanded.

  Before I could say anything a man ran up behind me, “Delilah, sorry to interrupt, but there is a two men and a woman a ways down the mountain on horseback. They have rations and claim they are for us.”

  Delilah looked to me.

  “Speak of the devil. That would probably be Hirsh,” I nodded.

  “Go get him,” she said quickly, “And tell me of your quest, Atlas.”

  I started from the trip to Voltaren, the discovery of the Library of Souls, the dark tower underneath. I told her about Joseph’s sickness, my kidnapping, Maul’s camp, and getting Ram, only modifying and/or excluding the parts about Icarus and the Journeyer.

  She looked down at the horn, and then me, in disbelief as I finished the tale of my Journey. Only in the awed glances of the men around me was I was somewhat aware of how spectacular everything I’d accomplished in a week was.