Empire's Edge (Path of Light Book 2)

by N. A. Oberheide

  “Alright…that was bad…I don’t know if we can run all night like this…” Trevin wheezed out, hardly able to catch his breath.

  “It’s alright Dad, lets just find somewhere to hide for the night and—”

  A loud whistling from the town distracted him, and they all looked back to see the watchmen now pouring out of the gate, lanterns and torches in hand with some mounted up on horses.

  “Fucking…shit…here we go again…” Trevin panted, grabbing his rifle and working the lever with obvious fatigue.

  Naurus and Gully followed suit, loading up and resting their rifles on the low hanging branches of the willows.

  “Pick your targets…aim small…miss small…on my mark.”

  Several seconds and loud gulps of breath passed before the flash and report of Trevin’s rifle woke up the night. A man with a crossbow out front fell to the ground like an old tree. Naurus aimed at the lantern of a mounted musketeer and squeezed. His horse neighed loudly, painfully, and flopped over, trapping the musketeer underneath it.

  “Good one, kid.” Gully chuckled.

  “Whoops.”

  “Shut up, Gully. Fire at will!” Trevin barked, and so they did, sending the search party sprawling to the ground and scrambling for cover.

  It didn’t take long for them to empty out their internal magazines, though. They silently contemplated their situation, but only for a moment. Bolts and hot lead crackled through the air around them, snapping twigs and showering down leaves and splinters.

  “Screw this, lets go and maybe they won’t give chase!” Trevin cried out, quickly turning tail and spurring on to a gallop.

  Gully and Naurus followed on down the dirt road dimly lit in the moonlight. The horses were as tired as their riders, and soon they had to slow to a canter, but at least they could see no one following in their path for now. They lined up three abreast now and took stock of their situation.

  “Alright guys, we’re gonna need to bivouac for the night. I really want a nice bed too but—”

  “Bah! Just bad luck is all. What’s new in our lives?”

  “Yes Gull…what indeed. How much ammo do you have left?”

  Gully dug around, going by feel since there was hardly enough light for the task.

  “Hm…maybe a dozen or so cartridges left.”

  “What about you, kid?” Gully looked over.

  Naurus dug around too, then remembered the bandolier he had stuffed into his saddlebag.

  “Maybe twenty or thirty.”

  “Hmm…could be worse I guess.” Trevin said with obvious fatigue, stretching and yawning. “Well shit…I have no idea where we are.”

  “Well dad why don’t we just pull off the road and set up somewhere quiet? Surely we can’t go on like this all night.”

  “Yeah…you might be right about that. Well keep your eyes peeled.”

  So they did, although nothing of note could be seen for a few miles, save for endless seas of dark and shadowy forests punctuated by hills and distant massifs. Eventually, the glimmer of the moonlight sparkled unmistakably in front of them, shining in an ever-changing ribbon. The stream in front of them cut across the roadway, but instead of crossing the bridge they decided to head upstream until they ran into a waterfall about a half mile up.

  “Good enough, lets stick it out here for tonight. No fires though, sleep lightly.” Trevin warned.

  Nobody had any real intention of starting a fire though, sleep was the only thing on anyone’s mind. The horses greedily gulped up the water from the stream as they set up their bedrolls under the precipice that hung over the nearby cliff, listening to the soft and continuous splashing of the falling water nearby. Several minutes must have passed before this sound was intermingled with his dad’s snoring. He was too tired to care though.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  “Hawk! Where’s Splinter?”

  “I don’t know boss, I heard some shots coming from over there and—”

  “Well shit, let’s go!”

  Rahlo wiped his sweaty face with his sleeve, walking briskly and hardly able to catch his breath. They arrived at the main drag where the inn was, and a loud din of agitated voices and shouting filled the night. They struggled to press their way through the crowd and finally saw some watchmen dragging two lifeless bodies off to the side of the street.

  “Fuck! God damnit! I told them not to…fuck this!” Rahlo broke off, turning around and walking back down the street, lost in his anger.

  “Boss, did you see ‘em? They must’ve been ready for us!”

  “No…they weren’t.” Rahlo panted. “I chased one of ‘em down an alley. Had him cornered, the little rat. Then he just…”

  “What?”

  “He just vanished…melted into the night. Like a ghost, like I just chased a specter for nothin’!”

  “Surely not, sir. Perhaps some magick? Maybe it was a sorcerer?”

  “A fuckin’ wizard? Hangin’ around here with these losers we’ve been chasin’?”

  “With all due respect, boss, it sounds like the same guy you had run into out back at the—”

  “Yes…yes you might be right. Still though, why would our mark have a wizard in his company? Shit makes no sense! They don’t just hang around snotty kids for nothin’! Even lords and barons have to pay out the ass for one to hang around and fling fancy spells.”

  Rahlo huffed back to the rendezvous, finding the rest of his company already back there, visibly unnerved and pacing around. They looked relieved to see Rahlo and Hawk turn the corner.

  “Thank fuck you guys at least made it.”

  “Where’s Splinter and Dagger?”

  “They didn’t make it. They died like idiots because they didn’t obey my orders. These aren’t pickpocketin’ vagabonds we’re dealing with…shit!”

  Nobody responded, and everyone shifted around uneasily, sensing the anger in his voice.

  “Now we know one of ‘em might be a sorcerer or some shit. I don’t know, but he just disappeared and got away from me.”

  “So where are they now, boss?”

  “I don’t fuckin’ know. I’ve been busy wranglin’ up all y’all dumbasses who can’t follow a simple plan!”

  Rahlo felt nothing but frustrated and disappointed stares fall onto him.

  “Get mounted up and let’s go look around. Maybe they’re still here. Side by side y’all, nobody is goin’ it alone this time.”

  Everyone made sure to form up tightly and walked their horses through the streets that weren’t filled with crowds. One hand on their revolvers, one on the reins, and both eyes scanning the streets and alleys. Eventually they came up to the gatehouse, which was surrounded by watchmen who looked none too pleased with the events of the night. Rahlo noticed that the main gate was ajar, and most of the watchmen were filing out of it.

  “Where do ya think they’re goin’, boss?”

  “I dunno, but me thinks we’re gonna go find out.”

  They slowly made their way toward the gate and waited for the perfect opportunity. The gatehouse was seemingly empty, the lone sentry on top was looking keenly out into the wilderness. The company slowly, quietly, filed through the gate one by one. All of them were outside now, and a series of torches could be seen moving to-and-fro not far off in the nearby tree line.

  “They’re lookin’ for someone. I think it’s the same people we’re lookin’ for, gents. Let’s go.”

  The Revenant

  Here we go again for the last time…I hope. This isn’t very fun when you know exactly what happens next. What happened next, however, wasn’t exactly what he bargained for.

  “I missed you. I’m glad you’re here.”

  “I bet.”

  “No need to be a sour puss. Turn around, I have a surprise for you.”

  He didn’t entirely believe it. In fact, he dreaded a trick of fate or a reveal of the face that would ruin his perception of reality. In truth, it was none of those things. He did notice that the colors were less muted th
an before. The sky was deeper azure, the sea was emerald green, the seagulls streaked through the sky and lazily glided along the cliff. This was a bit surprising, but he had to fight the existential dread of an unpleasant surprise. He spun on his heel and saw something he never expected.

  He was now standing back at home, on the edge of the quay, looking over the rocky beaches and yawning expanse of the aquamarine waters that sparkled in the bay. It was odd seeing it like this. No ships were to be seen. Not even the smallest of dinghies, simply silence and stillness, only nature at work. Naurus looked around, and noticed the figure standing next to him hardly more than spitting distance away. The figure was tall indeed, he tried to walk over to it, still to no avail. The distance between them just never shrank.

  “You’ll see me soon enough. But for now, we can enjoy a little taste of home. I can’t let you touch me here, I’ll explain later. Just relax, and I know I will find you very soon.”

  “How soon?”

  “How close are you to the sea?”

  “How the hell would I know?”

  The figure laughed deeply, the cloak and hood shaking rhythmically

  “I’m happy you kept your sense of humor, Naurus.”

  He bristled at his name being mentioned by a figure that couldn’t mention theirs for whatever cryptic reason he couldn’t recall.

  “I’ll be happy to finally get this over with.” He replied, distinctly smelling the salty sea.

  “Won’t you be happy to go home again?”

  “I mean…yeah but what’s it to you? This isn’t what it looks like!”

  “Sure it is. Anything can happen in this world.”

  He stood silent for some time, not precisely sure of what was expected of him.

  “You miss her, don’t you?” The figure suddenly asked with an almost childish curiosity.

  “Miss who?”

  “Morra.”

  He tensed up, feeling flushed and slightly embarrassed.

  “How the…you couldn’t possibly know…what the hell are you?”

  “I am your dream come true and your worst nightmare all in one. She misses you though.”

  “How?! She’s dead! The dead can’t miss anything, because they’re fucking dead!”

  The figure fell silent, as if in deep contemplation. This was impossible to exactly determine with the hood hiding all beneath it in unnaturally thick shadow.

  “It doesn’t matter.” He moped, just trying to fill the awkward silence.

  “Sure it does. You just don’t know it yet.”

  “I wish you would talk like a normal person. Why is everything a fucking puzzle with you?” His frustration became hard to contain.

  This boiled up even more with this strange familiarity the figure was implying now. It had grown bothersome long ago, but the enigma never seemed to have a rhyme or a reason.

  “Take me back.”

  “What?” The figure responded with genuine confusion, something Naurus picked up on.

  “Take me back!”

  “Where?!”

  “To that place where we used to be. I don’t know what it’s called but take me back.”

  “If you insist.”

  The world seemed to spin in opposite directions, twisting like a pretzel as his body felt like it was being pulled in a completely different dimension. He closed his eyes, hoping he wouldn’t see the world ripped asunder. Suddenly, it all stopped. Seagulls cackled once again, and he opened his eyes.

  “Better now?” It asked from behind him.

  Of course it’s behind me again. Why not? Why would anything be different this time?

  “Nothing’s different because your concept of reality hasn’t changed.”

  “What the fuck?” He turned heel, half disappointed that everything appeared exactly as it always did.

  “You seem upset.”

  “You’ve been able to read my damn thoughts this whole time?”

  There was no response, but there didn’t need to be. He could feel it. He could feel the smug smile, the mischievous eyes, the exuberant confidence of something which didn’t have to be revealed but for the entertainment of this figure. Something he was powerless against, yet clearly had the power to avoid during his waking hours. He was starting to loathe the living nightmare more than this ethereal one.

  “Gotcha!” The figure boasted, churlish as much as it was arrogant.

  He knew getting angry would solve absolutely nothing at this point. This was little more than a game now. A game which he wasn’t sure how to win, only to walk away from. He didn’t look, he just felt, and his hand landed right on the cold, brass backstrap of the revolver. He thought the figure flinched, ever so slightly. He knew thoughts would betray him, so he acted instead. As soon as the revolver left the holster, time dilated massively, slowing to a crawl. Everything went grey, he tried his hardest to pull the hammer to no avail. The figure moved quickly, as if in its own time warp. A barrel poked out from under the cloak. A bullet erupted forth, straight towards his face. Slowly, it homed in on him, frozen and unable to move for reasons beyond his comprehension. Now the slug was just inches from his face. He closed his eyes, anticipating impact.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  “Are you feeling alright there, bud?”

  His father was leaning against a great oak tree next to him, both concerned, confused, and fatigued in equal measures.

  “Yeah, just a bad dream.”

  “I know you were visited again. Tell me about it.”

  Naurus recounted what he remembered, trying to keep his composure as he recited aloud the ridiculous events that were just transpiring in his head. Gully, instead of scratching his ass and picking his nose while kicking rocks and pinecones, actually took a keen interest in the recounting of events this time. By the time he was done, his throat was dry, and he was quaffing the last of the stale water in his canteen.

  “So what’s the plan fer this fine day?” Gully asked in the contemplative silence that followed.

  “Run the sun…yet again.” Trevin answered flatly, before starting towards the plunge pool.

  Everyone else followed suit, refilling their canteens and making sure the horses had their fill. Old, dry bread was the prime choice to break the fast in haste before they set off into the morning fog. Thankfully, the terrain had become more forgiving and the road was decently maintained. As the morning wore on, they encountered more carts and wagons drawn by ox and horse, some coming off smaller paths feeding into the road. None of the roads seemed like they ran the path of the sun. This bothered Naurus as he was concerned they would end up lost in the wilderness once again.

  He looked behind himself every now and again, seeing if anyone was obviously following but he found it difficult to tell friend from foe in the strangers on the road. His father must have noticed this.

  “You can keep looking over your back all the live long day, but I doubt you’ll see anything. Our pursuers would seem to prefer ambush tactics anyway. Were safer on a main road like this, gives us some human shields if nothing else.” Trevin drawled nonchalantly.

  It was a morbid thought, but Naurus saw no point in debating the finer points of morality in such a situation. They were at wits end, tired, lost, and clinging on to the hope of a faceless figure’s vague directions in such dreams that only haunted him. The sun was high and hot by now, their pilfered hats coming in handy more than they would care to admit. They pulled off a crossroads and took a break, stretching their legs and eating the last of their pemmican.

  “Well that’s a welcome sight.” Trevin blurted out, shading his eyes while scanning the sky.

  Naurus looked too, seeing a colony of seagulls coasting high in the sky, seemingly to nowhere in particular as they usually did.

  “We must be close to the sea, I can only hope were still going in the right direction.”

  “Ya don’t have to tell me twice.” Gully said, picking a wild onion out of the ground.

  “Well no point dawdling around, we haven’t
time to waste and certainly no food to do so.”

  “Just need to catch some of these damn birds…” Gully replied.

  “You gonna fly up there and snatch some of your brethren, Gull?”

  “I’ve done worse.”

  At this point Naurus had little reason to doubt it, or even care. Tall tales had their time and place, but survival was higher on the priority list for now. Back on the road, it wasn’t hard to notice how much thinner the ranks of merchants, yeoman, and farmers had become. The road became rougher and overgrown, becoming little more than a beaten path through a pine forest that offered a merciful amount of shade in the humid air. Sure enough, the sun had chased the moon in its ever-predictable arc, and there was still no sea to be had or even the smell to entice them further. The general lack of morale made for long and boring stretches of silence. There was nothing more to expect, nothing more as far as goals, no rhyme or reason besides the hope of something better just around the corner.

  The problem being there was nothing of interest that they would stumble upon in this dense, coniferous forest. They came upon a wide, flat depression which held a mineral spring that bubbled forth a small stream that ran into a depression under a nearby boulder. This was as good as they figured it was going to get, so they called it for the day and settled in for the evening. They occupied time by foraging around for any sort of vittles and found little more than pine nuts and berries much to their disappointment. They started a fire anyway to roast the nuts and boil some water in which to soften the hardtack they had. It was a far cry from home, and Naurus found himself slipping into daydreams about the all the food and drink he’d rather be enjoying than this.

  Gully seemed to be looking intently at something in particular off in the distance, but Naurus initially paid it little mind figuring it was probably just some critter. Trevin picked up on it as well, slowing down his labored chewing of the hardtack.

  “What are you looking at, Gull? See some food walking around?”

  “I don’t think so. Gimmie the binoculars.”

  Once he had those, he looked more intently while father and son squinted and scanned the trees off in the distance. Nothing was unusual, the dusky shadows and shafts of light betrayed no man nor beast to any of them.