To Find a God

by Mary Hamilton

  Within a few moments, they had dug down about a meter. “That should do.” Tovi eased over and rolled the dead animal into the hole and began to scoop the sand over it and then covered that with rocks. Five minutes later, they were on the way again. Kharla trudged behind Klunk, the injured animal on her shoulders. Tovi brought up the rear.

  Before ranging out ahead of them, Growl dropped into step beside Tovi and licked the young Azyrean’s hand. And with that he was gone again.

  An hour later, the peaks of the kraal huts appeared on the horizon ahead of them. Klunk paused and turned to Kharla. “You would like me to carry it the rest of the way?”

  Tovi watched a brief look of anger sweep over her before she lowered her gaze and nodded. “Yes, thank you.” After the transfer, they picked up the pace.

  With less than a half-hour walk ahead of them, a brief shadow washed over the group only to disappear again. Tovi looked up but, just as with the previous similar occurrence, there were no clouds, birds, or anything else. If the others had seen it, they said nothing.

  Chapter 16: Tovi

  “You’re going to be all right.” Tovi gently rubbed the rock dog’s head.

  The animal, lying still on its side outside one of the kraal huts, shifted its gaze to the Azyrean without moving its head. The eyes seemed almost… thoughtful, soulful, although Tovi wasn’t sure what all of that meant. It just looked to him as though the dog was trying to convey something with its gaze.

  Tovi and Klunk delivered the grim news to the family of the second fallen ogre. Tovi had spoken as he had to Kharla’s family. The ogres in this kraal had reacted much as had those in her home—with sadness and resignation.

  When he tried to talk about the coming darkness, his original charge, the chief and others had become resistant and stoic. They offered neither argument nor agreement, but rather ignored him. It was as though they simply did not want to hear what he was saying. As Tovi thought about it, though, it was not so different from the reaction in the first kraal, or even from the chief in Klunk’s village. A sense of futility stalked the young Azyrean.

  His attention returned to the injured animal. The ogres had helped him to clean and cover the wound, but they resolutely refused to let him remain in any of the huts. Animals simply did not live inside with the ogres. “I’ll stay with you. Don’t worry.”

  Growl rested nearby watching every move that Tovi made. Like the injured animal, Klunk’s companion seemed to be sending a message with its eyes. “It’ll be okay, Growl. I’ll sleep out here with him.” Tovi felt suddenly compelled to call the animal by a name. It just didn’t feel right calling him it, or he, or whatever. Surely it had a name.

  Growl had conveyed his name by growling. But the injured dog uttered not a sound. Tovi watched its side rise and fall as it breathed. He watched its eyes move back and forth. The animal had accepted some dried hare earlier and had managed to sit up enough to drink some water from a stone bowl.

  As Tovi focused all of his thoughts, the name came to him.

  ◆◆◆

  Klunk broke out in laugher, slapping his thigh. “Ha. Why do you call him River? That is a strange name for a rock dog.”

  Tovi continued to stroke the dog’s head. “That’s his name. I didn’t name him. But, when it came to me, I understood. I can see his fur, his head, his eyes, and all of the things on the outside. And we can see the surface of a river when we look. But most of what is important lies below the surface. And it’s the same with the dog. What makes him special is beneath the surface. And I know that he’s special.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “The same way you know that Growl is special. I can’t explain it any better than that. He saved my life at that fight. He stayed with me through the journey. It’s like he helped me and your father, even if he risked his own life, and he never asked anything in return.”

  Klunk reached up and scratched the side of his bald head. “When you say it like that, I understand… maybe.” He stared at the dog. “Perhaps you are right.” Reaching over, the ogre stroked the dog’s furry neck. “So, you are River.”

  ◆◆◆

  “They are fools and cowards.” Kharla glared at Tovi and Klunk. “They would hide in their kraal with leather sheets over their heads and pretend that the world is all desert blooms and topar nuts. And the humans will come and kill every one of them, including the children. And these…” she waved her arm in the general direction of the huts, “these ogres, they will do nothing, and they will die and—”

  Klunk interrupted her rant. “You judge harshly.” He sat, leaning back against the outside of a hut. The full moon shone directly on the three. “All ogres are taught peace and tolerance. It is what they know. Then we come bearing a different message. They are right to be wary.”

  “You are as bad as they are.” She hurled the challenge back at him. “What will you do when this darkness comes? Will you beg Myhrren to help you? Will you ask the humans not to kill you? If you grovel enough, maybe they will spare your life.” She stared daggers of fire at him.

  In the faint light, Tovi could sense more than see the color rising in Klunk’s face. Rather than wait for the fight to get worse, the Azyrean stepped in. “We are supposed to deliver the message. The ogres will either accept it or they won’t. We cannot force them.”

  Kharla smirked. “And what are you going to do when the battle comes? Hide behind a rock? Or will you wait and see which side wins and join them?”

  Klunk had apparently had enough. “Stop! Do not say that to Tovi. He nearly died trying to save your father. He is doing more than you, and this is not even his home. You have no right to insult him.”

  Kharla glared at the two of them but didn’t respond. Tovi turned his attention to River, running his hand over the animal’s rear haunch. “How are you doing, boy?”

  The animal offered a response that came out as something between a growl and a whine but seemed to convey that he was okay.

  ◆◆◆

  Tovi hovered between wake and sleep, drifting in and out. The moon seemed even brighter than it had earlier. River’s eyes had closed, and his breathing seemed easier than it had the previous day. He was on the mend.

  “It is time for us to speak again, Tovi Gloam of Pangrove.” The voice, which had been notably absent over the past few days, broke through the mental haze.

  “When are you going to tell me who or what you are? Why do you keep talking to me in secret like this?” Tovi hoped that no one inside the hut could hear him. He’d chosen to sleep outside with River and Growl. Klunk and Kharla had accepted the hospitality of the kraal and slept inside huts.

  “You have done well. I admit that I was impressed that you learned the dog’s name. You are indeed special.”

  “No. I’m just a kid and why won’t you answer my questions?”

  Tovi sensed a laugh from the disembodied voice. “Because if I answered every question you have, I would never get the opportunity to tell you what I need you to do. Trust me that your questions will be answered. But for now, I must ask that you focus on what I tell you.”

  “Okay, okay. So, tell me, then.”

  “First, you are doing what you need to. The ogres will resist, and you are correct that you cannot force them to believe you. But know that you are planting the seeds. They will come to see the wisdom of your words in time. Do not be discouraged.”

  The answer seemed unsatisfying to Tovi. “That’s it? Just keep doing what I’m doing?” He had hoped for something better.

  “The darkness approaches even as we speak. Yes, the shadow you saw, that was part of it. It will come upon you sooner than you expect.”

  “What? More humans?”

  “Yes, more of them will come, but that is not of what I speak. A larger danger approaches. In fact, the humans are merely an extension of this darker piece. And, Tovi, understand that when it makes its appearance, I may not be with you. Klunk and Kharla could be with you but they might also be alone. It is
important that you trust your instincts. Look within for the answers.”

  “If you know it’s coming, why don’t you tell me what it is? What will it look like? How will I know it?” Tovi grew weary of the puzzles.

  “I can relate to you the substance of the darkness. But how it appears to you is not something I know. You may not understand, but that which threatens this world is what some call a god. In its raw form, it is great and terrible, hard to mistake for anything else. Its name is Dredwyn. But it has the ability to appear in any form it desires. It may come to you as a powerful and threatening presence or as a peaceful loving image. But whatever form it takes, know that it comes with a purpose of evil—death and dominion.”

  “What? You want me to fight a god, or whatever you call it? That’s stupid.” Nausea swept over Tovi. He felt as though he was about to throw up his dinner.

  “In this realm, he cannot harm you physically. He will appear as an image and attempt to infect your mind with doubt and dread. You have the ability to resist that. But the most important thing for you is to know him for what he is. Do not be fooled by his appearance or words.”

  Frustration replaced fear. “You’ll be there with me, right? You can just tell me what I need then.”

  “No, Tovi. Although I will try, I cannot guarantee that I will be there with you. You must be prepared to face this alone.” After a brief pause, the voice continued, “I will offer you one other thing, Tovi. The dog, River, you were right to call him special. He is more than he seems and know that he is there to help you.”

  The news comforted him. “I guess it’s lucky we found him then.”

  The voice laughed again. “Do you really believe it was luck? Or chance? Surely you know me better than that by now.”

  Chapter 17: Tovi

  After the visit from the voice, Tovi fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

  The sounds came first. As though far away and of no consequence, they grew louder and closer. At first, shouts. Then the sound of metal and wood clashing. The black turned to gray. He wanted to shout at the offenders to be quiet. It was too early to get up. But the clamor increased. He opened his eyes to see shadows shifting rapidly across the open compound accompanied by barked commands and screams of terror.

  As awareness swept over him, he sprang from his makeshift bed beside River. As he stared out into the conflict, he began to make sense of it. Humans fought ogres—swords and axes against makeshift clubs and raised arms. He caught a glimpse of Growl hurling himself at one of the invaders. Looking past that, Tovi could see Klunk engaging one of them, using his club against a man with a huge two-handed sword.

  Nearby, the Azyrean saw Kharla wade into battle swinging her club furiously. Through the surrealistic light of the dancing fire and the brilliant moon, her face reflected mad fury and fearlessness. One human went down beneath her swing and she moved on to the next without pause.

  Within a few seconds, reality set in. The ogres were no match for this band of invaders. With their crude sticks and clubs, they were helpless beneath the sharp gleaming steel of the human weapons. Tovi fought the urge to run and hide. He could not abandon his friends.

  He ran as fast as his short legs would carry him across the open ground to where Klunk fought what appeared to be a losing battle. Tovi launched into the human from behind, forcing the man’s legs to buckle. With that opening, Klunk brought his club down on the human’s head. The invader stayed down.

  As one, Tovi and Klunk turned to see Kharla engaged with three humans. Despite her ferocity and courage, she seemed doomed. They had backed her up against the side of a hut and, spread out in front of her, cut off any chance of escape.

  She swung her club wildly, but it took only a few seconds for one of the humans to block it with his sword and knock it from her hand. They moved closer.

  Tovi saw the grin on their faces. He saw blood in their eyes. As he ran in her direction, he yelled back over his shoulder, “It’s Kharla. Come on.”

  As he approached the cluster, a blow came out of nowhere and hurled him back several meters. His spinning head cleared, and he saw Kharla and Klunk trying to fight off the three humans. Unfortunately, it looked as if two other men were making their way in that direction and this would seal the fate of the two ogres.

  Tovi, dazed but otherwise okay, pulled himself up and darted in that direction. Before he arrived, though, two figures shot past him—Growl and River. The tide of battle shifted. The three humans went down within seconds. The two men who had been coming to help stopped in their tracks and began to back away. The two dogs launched at them, followed by Klunk and Kharla. Tovi moved to join the fray, although by the time he arrived, the action had ended.

  What was left of the human party faded into the night leaving a stunned ogre kraal to pick up the pieces. Three ogres lay still on the ground. Tovi knew without asking that they had not survived the fight. Others sat on the ground, their wounds being tended by those less seriously injured.

  “Are you okay, Klunk?” He noticed the gash on Klunk’s head.

  His friend smiled. “As you can see, I am fine.” His face grew more serious. “Others were not fortunate. There is much sadness here today.”

  Tovi looked at Kharla again. She had a bruise on her face but looked otherwise unharmed. “What about Growl and River? Did they get hurt?”

  Even as he spoke, River nudged past Klunk and lay down beside Tovi. “Hey there. I saw what you did. You saved me again. Thank you.” The Azyrean rubbed the dog’s head.

  Tovi looked up at the faces staring back. Of all the ogres, only Kharla looked away. In that moment, he recalled the insult that she had thrown at both him and Klunk and wondered if she now regretted those words. If she did, though, her look didn’t show it.

  The crackling sound of the fire and general rustling among the ogres who stood around were interrupted by the voice in Tovi’s head. “It is only beginning, my friend. The darkness has arrived.”

  Chapter 18: Jarek

  The slashing pain in his left shoulder greeted him, even before sound and light. Jarek never imagined pain like this. The initial jolt morphed into a pounding that shook his entire body. The darkness began to pulse to a lighter gray in time to his throbbing pain. “What?” He struggled to understand. What was happening to him? More to the point, what had happened?

  “Easy there, Master Whit. Don’t try to get up.” The voice was familiar—a man’s voice, authoritative. But who?

  And, where was he? What time was it? If he didn’t get up and moving, he’d be late for work. And as sure as crystals filtered moonbeams, the Director would fire him. And he’d be cleaning toilets forever. He tried to sit up, but a hand stopped him. It didn’t matter. Even without that intervention, the pain would have done the trick. He half-screamed, half-groaned as he slid back onto the ground.

  “Doc’s going to take a look at that, my boy. Just lie still.” That voice again.

  Jarek’s eyelids fluttered and then opened. Reality set in—the cave, the torchlight, Captain Virgil… and the pulsating rivers of pain coursing through his body. But he still wasn’t quite sure how he had managed to end up on his back in this kind of misery. “What happened?”

  Virgil’s face appeared to hover over the wounded Azyrean. “You tried to stop a knife with your shoulder.” He chuckled. “Predictable results, unfortunately.”

  It all came back—the coffee, the stranger with the knife, and something else. Where was the attacker headed? Who was he after? “CeCe?”

  A familiar female voice answered. “Yes. He came for me. You saved my life. Thank you.”

  But nothing made sense. Why would this stranger whose family was killed by the king want to destroy CeCe? Why would he betray the very people who helped him?

  Jarek felt a hand rub his head and the captain’s voice returned. “I never thought I’d say this, but I guess you might be a handy guy to have around in a fight.”

  ◆◆◆

  The small gathering included Comman
der West, Captain Virgil, CeCe, and Jarek, although the Azyrean couldn’t figure out why he had been included. Presumably, this had something to do with the stranger they had taken in. Other than throwing coffee in his face and latching onto his leg, Jarek had nothing to do with any of it. Still, here he was.

  Virgil leaned back against the wall in West’s enclave, the single torch casting a flickering orange glow off the rocky surfaces. “It doesn’t make any sense. There’s no way he could have escaped. That’s just plain stupid.”

  CeCe sat, her head bowed as she spoke. “He never intended to escape. His mission was to kill me. After that, his fate was of little consequence.”

  West broke the silence that had greeted CeCe’s revelation. “How do you know this? Have you seen him before or know something about him?”

  “I’ve heard of them. He’s not the only one. They are called twilight assassins. They answer only to the king. They work by themselves in secret. I know only what is common knowledge.”

  “Enlighten me.” The commander’s voice left no doubt in Jarek’s mind that this was not a negotiable request.”

  The intelligence coordinator/traitor turned cook/dishwasher shrugged. “They are recruited from across the kingdom. I don’t know how or what sets them apart to begin with. But everyone understands that they are cold, remorseless, completely without emotion. They know no fear, compassion, love, or joy of any kind. They know only blind loyalty to the king. They….” Her voice trailed off.

  “They what?” West prodded.

  “I’ve heard… they surrender their soul as a part of their training. Whatever makes them human to begin with is taken from them. What remains is a physical shell that becomes an incredibly effective killing machine.”