Empire's Edge (Path of Light Book 2)

by N. A. Oberheide

  “We have to go find him you dolt! Get your shit together while the trail is still hot!”

  They ran back inside and gathered up what they could. They strapped on their boots and Dezlyn broke out a pair of cap and ball revolvers.

  “We might need these.” He said, handing one to her.

  She tucked it into her belt opposite her sword. With that, they grabbed a water skin and set off with haste. Revolver took point, and eagerly sniffed out a trail through the underbrush.

  “Well, a little late-night stroll never hurt anyone huh?” Morra laughed.

  “Words can’t possibly describe how much I hate you.”

  “I love you too.”

  “Just fuck off.”

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  Why does it hurt? What am I sitting on? Can’t move…maybe just open my eyes, maybe a bad dream. Opening his eyes turned to be entirely in vain. The only thing he saw was the splitting headache he came to be quickly acquainted with. He tasted blood. No amount of blinking changed it. Rolling his head around only revealed pinpricks of light. Something was covering his face. Should be easy to fix, if not for the fact his hands were tied up behind the chair he was sitting in.

  “Well now, ‘bout time you came to.” A man with a drawling voice said in front of him.

  “Huh? I can’t see…” Naurus continued to roll his head around to no avail.

  “No shit you can’t see. Now looky ‘ere, see we don’t want your money, we don’t want your life, we just want to know who you are and why you’re here.”

  “What...Who’s we? Ah…my head…” Even talking hurt his head.

  “Who’s we?” The man chuckled. “We’re the Regulators. We regulate any incursions into our territory, and we’re damn good too!”

  “Yeah…I bet.” Naurus groaned in pain.

  “Well shit, now the introductions are out of the way! How’s ‘bout you tell me who you are, hm?”

  “I’m nobody. Just let me go…ow…” He tried shifting in his chair with little effect.

  “We’ll if there’s one thing I can’t stand, its liars. And right now, your pants are on fire. You can play hardass all you want, but I’m tellin’ you that ain’t gonna be fun for you.”

  Naurus didn’t say anything, being at a loss for words and still unable to see what was going on. However, his ears were still sharp and he could hear someone slowly walking around in front of him. He heard something clicking over slowly, then faster, then slower again.

  “You hear that, dont’cha?” The Regulator drawled.

  “Yeah.”

  “This ‘ere is a lil’ game I like to call revolver roulette. You see, the rules are simple. This iron has got six cylinders, five of which are loaded with nothin’ but a cap. The last one is loaded with thirty grains o’ charge and a nice lead ball, point four-four imperial caliber to be exact! Now that sounds like a fun game, don’t it?”

  “No…I’m just visiting with a friend. I’m not who you want.”

  He heard laughter in front of him.

  “Well that ain’t a good answer. Time to play the game!”

  Naurus heard footsteps come up to him. He heard a hammer cock. He felt something hard pressed against his forehead. He tried to jerk his head back, but the effort was in vain. A loud snapping noise filled the room and he smelled an unmistakable acrid burning that stung his nostrils.

  “Please…just stop! You must be mistaken!” Naurus cried out through the headache.

  “Oh, I ain’t mistaken. You are exactly who I’m lookin’ for. Now quit playing stupid and tell me your damn name.” The hammer cocked again.

  “Stop! Fine, my name…is Naughto.”

  Laughter broke out from multiple places in the room.

  “You hear that, boys?! We gots ourselves the one and only Naughto ‘ere! Ain’t that just the peachiest thing?”

  Who are these people? I shouldn’t be here, how the hell did I end up here? I can’t believe this… Naurus thought to himself just before he felt the barrel of the gun press up against the side of his head. Another snap rang out.

  “Well listen ‘ere mister Naughto, we hear that you are quite the fixture over yonder. I thought you’d be a little older myself, or you could just be lying to me.”

  “Who are you?!”

  “I told you who I am, but maybe seeing is believing. I’ll give ya a taste.”

  Naurus felt a hand on his head and with a quick movement the veil was lifted, and he could see again. He saw he was in a small room lit by lanterns hanging off the wall. The walls were little more than dirty bricks, and he noticed a stair case that went up another floor to his left. He heard someone stepping around him and looked to see a stocky man in a suede button up shirt standing in front of him. The mans face was covered by a dirty bandana and a wide brimmed, fur felt hat.

  “I…don’t know you. I promise you are mistaken. Just let me go!”

  The man who called himself a Regulator scoffed.

  “Of course you don’t know me! Now let’s try our little game again. What are you doing here? You sure do talk funny, definitely ain’t from ‘round ‘ere!”

  Before Naurus could respond, he heard the hammer click back and felt the barrel against his forehead. Except this time, he could see the hammer fall. Hot powder residue splattered across his forehead and got into his eyes. He winced hard and teared up, blinking rapidly to try to regain his vision. Before he could, the hood was pulled back over his head.

  “Alright boys, we got ourselves real piece o’ work ‘ere. Let’s cut him a lil’ bit. Get ‘em all nice and dizzy!”

  Naurus felt someone grab his hands and turn them up.

  “Well look at you. Got a nice scar across your palm right there. Looks like you got branded under that too! You someone’s property, son?”

  “No…It’s a long story.”

  “Well it’s gonna be even longer for you now. All this talk makes me thirsty. Give ‘em a nickin’ and let’s get somethin’ to drink.”

  “No! Wait, I’ll explain...just..I can’t think!”

  That apparently wasn’t a good enough reason. Naurus felt something cold and sharp against his neck. A quick flick, an intense burn, and a warm trickle started down his shoulder. He heard nothing else but the Regulators leaving the room and taking the lanterns with them. He was left in darkness, only aware of a cold draft and warm blood running down his shirt. He closed his eyes, realizing there was no point in trying anymore.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  “Are you seeing what I’m seeing?”

  “Yeah buddy. That’s what I’m talkin’ about!”

  Ahead of them, quickly falling under dusky night, was a great estuary flanked by rolling hills and rocky precipices. This was the mouth of the Kominzee river, their final destination before striking off on a great hunt.

  “Are you seeing what I’m seeing?”

  “You just said that, moron.”

  “No, peep through this spyglass. I hope you haven’t gone blind in your only good eye!”

  Trevin took the spyglass and scanned diligently. There wasn’t much light, but he saw exactly what he hoped not to see. A pair of ships patrolled lazily off the coast, their smokestacks billowing over their dull grey armor plating.

  “Yeah, now I see it. Those certainly weren’t here last time. When the hell did they start using armored monitors?”

  “I don’t know Trev, but this just got much trickier. How did your son do it?”

  “Great question, since either he got very lucky or he got blown out of the water already. I’m assuming I’m not on a false trail given the map I saw of his, but I’ve got jack shit else to go on.”

  “So what…do we get to turn back now?” The old man grumbled from behind them.

  “Shut up, Seadog!” The rogues said in unison, giving him that name as the old salty seaman refused to give a real one.

  Seadog grumbled and cursed under his breath, going back down under the deck to sleep. Apparently night time was his bedtime, and not a second
later.

  “I think we just have to go for it Gull. The moon is covered with clouds and our ship is fast. They won’t be able to chase us upriver either, I bet their drafts are too deep.”

  “I hope you’re right, this isn’t what I signed up for.”

  “What, getting cold feet now?”

  Gully threw his messy hair back from his face.

  “Yeah well let’s just say the water isn’t warm. Come on now, we need speed and need it now!”

  So that is exactly what they did, barrel headlong into danger as if they were bright eyed and bushy tailed young agents they used to be. They seemed to have lady luck on their side, as the monitors patrolled in a lazy semi-circle which allowed them to shoot the gap straight towards the estuary. They ran out of luck as soon as they thought they were safe, as fickle as Fortune tends to be. The otherwise quiet night was awoken by the screaming of a shell tearing overhead before it hit the water some distance ahead.

  “Shit! They’re on us!”

  “Thanks captain obvious! Quit bitching and keep an eye out while I steer!”

  They both looked back, knowing there wasn’t much more to keep an eye on than the two monitors now steaming straight towards them. They had a fast ship, but the gap of a mile was closing, and they had no means of defending themselves. Gully noticed a flash coming off one ship, then the other.

  “Trevin duck!”

  So he did, as two shells pierced the air above them and punched large holes in their sails.

  “They just about have their range!”

  “Shut up and keep lookout! We’re almost to the mouth!”

  They hadn’t noticed Seadog had made his way back out and poked his head back above the threshold.

  “What’s that racket?! I’m trying to sleep!” He yelled.

  “Shut up, Seadog! Go back to bed, now!”

  “You goddamned mangy brigands and your…” Seadog trailed off as he went back down below.

  They finally made it to the mouth, but not before they were now wet from shells hitting the water next to the ship. It was almost complete darkness, which was their only defense now as they made their way upstream. After a long and uncomfortable silence, they made the mistake of looking back one last time at a bend in the river. They were greeted by the closest set of muzzle flashes yet, as the shells slammed into the embankment behind them and showered the ship with dirt, rocks, and shrapnel.

  “I hope they aren’t giving chase, Trev! We’re sitting ducks!”

  “Calm down! We need to disembark soon, I can see the river is starting to get much narrower.”

  The darkness was now very problematic as they started to bump into logs and scrape against sand banks. The moon peeked out once again, only to reveal a partially sunk catamaran blocking the river in front of them. It was far too late to stop and they slammed into it, thus bringing their voyage to a grinding halt.

  “Well shit Gull, I guess that solves that issue. Let’s bail before Seadog summons up all of his old man rage on us!”

  “Good plan let’s go!”

  They hopped off and waded through waist deep water to get to shore next to the derelict catamaran. They hardly made it to shore before a tirade of Seadog’s most stomach-churning curses and insults rained down on them. It was harsh enough to make the saltiest sailor blush, and that they did while making haste into the woods beyond. The hardly had time to catch their breath before they heard a peculiar whistling coming from high above, which steadily grew into a shrill scream that grew ever louder. No words needed to be said, they hit the dirt in unison before a pair of shells crashed into the woods barely fifty yards away, raining down a shower of wood splinters, dirt, and hot shrapnel.

  “Holy shit Trev! When did they learn any sort of gunnery like that?”

  “Great fucking question, but I don’t know and I don’t much care!”

  Something glinted in the moonlight next to Trevin’s feet. He picked it up and brushed the dirt off. It was a heavy, triangular scale that shimmered with iridescence. Trevin smiled as he pocketed the hard, heavy scale. Fortune had smiled upon him indeed. He suddenly felt refreshed. Nothing else mattered in that moment.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  “What do you mean we lost the trail?!”

  “I’m telling you they crossed the river here. Keep on it and I’ll bet we will find those bastards soon enough.”

  Morra, Dezlyn, and Revolver the ocelot stood on the sandy, rocky bank of the Kominzee in front of them. Revolver hitched a ride on the shoulders of his owner through the chest deep water. On the other side, there were signs of activity such as hoof prints, but some split off in different directions.

  “Are we near a town or some other settlement that they could have gone to?” Morra asked.

  “Nothing I could call a town, no. However there is an old fort a few miles from here which I know is sometimes used. I’m really wondering why someone would have come all the way over here though…”

  “Well whoever it was owes us some damn answers. If that was his blood back there, someone else will pay with theirs!”

  “Yes, I know you will get yours, I have no doubt.” Dezlyn started. “Come on, lets head there and see what we come up with.”

  So they went, and the miles turned the dusk into murky darkness. Something was lit up with distant points of light. They found the fort, in all its dilapidated glory and it certainly wasn’t abandoned. At least a dozen men were milling in and around it, some carrying torches and lanterns.

  “So, who are these guys?”

  “I’d be lying if I said I knew. But there are many of them, and they look well-armed and have horses as well.”

  “Yeah? Well screw that. Let’s flank ‘em, shall we?”

  “Easy does it hotshot, we don’t even know how many are inside and I really don’t feel like starting a gunfight with only my crappy guns. I haven’t needed anything more than what I hunt with.”

  Morra grunted in disapproval and mulled over the options.

  “So, what’s your plan then?”

  Dezlyn didn’t answer for a few moments, then he whistled to bring his familiar up to his side.

  “Alright Rev, I need you to scout around and see if you can find any signs of the kid, got it?”

  “Your wish is my command.”

  The ocelot bolted off into the night. Morra looked around impatiently.

  “So…what are we supposed to do now?”

  Dezlyn shrugged. “Now we wait. Patience is a virtue, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah, maybe for monks and beggars.”

  “And for us. Might as well catch up on a little sleep and wait for daybreak. Maybe some of these people will leave.”

  “I sure hope so. My patience is wearing thin and so is my luck apparently.” She scoffed, sitting back against a tree and crossing her arms.

  She closed her eyes and tried to relax, which was harder than usual for her. It wasn’t often she felt powerless, yet this was exactly the feeling that crept over her as she sat against a great oak tree. The feeling that Naurus was hurting followed her doggedly into her sleep.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  This is just a dream…can’t be any other reason. Just gotta wake up. What’s this sticky stuff? Ow!

  He craned his neck back up, tugged against the fresh scab on his neck. Another warm dripping of blood followed. The pain jolted him only partially awake. He was still suffocating in darkness, feeling more lethargic and quite parched.

  “Hello? Anyone there?” He feebly croaked. Nothing but silence answered his call.

  The floorboards creaked above him. Muffled voices could be heard, an occasional jeer or yelling broke out. Footsteps, clattering, clanking, all manner of noises so close yet so far. He just couldn’t muster any strength to yell. Time was a lost concept in a blackened room and his eyes were all but useless inside the hood. A commotion seemed to start up suddenly. Frantic footsteps could be heard.

  “The hell is that noise?!” Someone yelled out.

  “I d
unno, go check it out!” Someone else replied.

  “Will somebody go kill that damn thing? Fuck that noise!” A third person yelled back.

  It wasn’t long before a few gunshots rang out distantly. The sound of glass breaking. Suddenly, the shots were much louder and coming from directly above. Yelling interspersed with the percussive thumping of gunshots permeated the floor above him. Naurus could hardly summon the energy to try to make sense of the chaos he heard. He hadn’t even had the chance before everything went quiet. Several painstaking moments passed. More distant gunshots. The hood was yanked off his head. He hardly had the strength to lift his head. The twine binding his hands together snapped off. He saw a pair of glowering violet rings step in front of him.

  “Oh…shit! God damn it, what did they do to you?!”

  “Huh…? Morra? How did you…”

  “Shush, don’t talk. Dez, I found him!”

  Heavy footsteps slowly came down the steps. With it, a lantern held by the tall and hirsute Transcendent outcast who went by Dezlyn. In the light, Naurus looked down and saw himself for the first time in some while. Morra quickly ripped off a piece of her tunic and tied it around the cut on his neck.

  “Can he walk?” Dezlyn asked, his deeply copper eyes shone with concern.

  “Yeah…sure…I’ll just—” Naurus couldn’t finish the sentence in his feeble attempt to stand.

  He stumbled and was caught by Morra before he fell.

  “Those sons of bitches…We need to get out of here. Come on!”

  She carefully supported him up the stairs. He was barely able to focus his eyes on anything. All he could make out was the passing of stone walls, broken floors, the smell of burned powder. The light grew brighter and eventually he was blinded by the sunlight outside. He shielded his eyes and grunted with pain.

  “Dez, help me get him up here!”

  With that, they managed to hoist him up onto a horse with Morra. He held on as best he could with her taking the reins, sitting behind him. She spurred on the horse like a bat out of hell. He surely would’ve fallen off had she not been holding him in with an arm across his chest. The warm sun in his face and the bumpy ride jolted him in and out of his torpor. Dezlyn took the lead in leading them through a maze of hedgerows, woods, and clearings. They crossed back over the river and he could hardly feel the cool water on his numb legs. He felt like he only blinked, but when he opened his eyes back up he was being carried inside and set down on a log chair. A flurry of commotion and activity flashed back and forth in front of him.