The Fallen Kings

by P D Atkerson

  The driver flashed them a smile. “You bet! Hop on up, friends.” He said, waving towards the wagon. “We’d be happy to have company on this long stretch of road anyways.”

  Aroron thanked him, turned back and helped Lilay up, then climbed up beside her. Slanslot scrambled onto the wagon, scooting his way between Aroron and Lilay.

  “Name’s Hal, and this be my boy, Colt.” He said, nodding towards the ten-year-old sitting beside him.

  “His son’s name’s ‘Colt’?” Slanslot whispered in Aroron’s ear. “What a strange name. He couldn’t just call him ‘baby horse’ instead?”

  “Says the person with ‘Slanslot’ for a name.” Aroron growled back. “What does your name even mean?”

  Slanslot’s face turned bright red and he quickly turned away. “Nothing.” He mumbled. “Just forget about it.”

  “What be your names?” the driver asked, prodding the horse on.

  The man had been kind enough to let them ride along with him and his son, he deserved to know their true names. “I’m Aroron, this is Lilay and Slanslot.” He called up to him.

  “Sounds foreign.” The boy said, turning back to face them. “You’re not from Shenock, are you?”

  “You’re right, we’re not.” Lilay said, smiling at the boy. “We’re from G…”

  “Karlay.” Aroron said, cutting her off. “We’re from Karlay.”

  “If you’ve come to Shenock to get away from that king of yours, you’re out of luck.” The driver said, not even bothering to glance back at them. “Munay’s taken over most of the southern border and King Dillaran hasn’t done a thing about it.”

  “Thank you for the warning.” Aroron said. “We will keep that in mind.”

  “So then, what be your business in Hatter?” Colt asked, leaning towards them. “Are you going to become pirates?!”

  “Aha! Me boy’s heard too many stories about them.” The driver said, swatting the boy. “Thinks they’re heroes!”

  “Yeah?” Aroron said. “I haven’t heard very much about them. But I guess that’s because I’ve grown up inland.”

  “Yeah, the real heroes are those to stand up against tyrants, like King Munay.” He said the name, as if it fouled his mouth.

  “I take it you're not a fan of Munay?”

  “Does he have any?!” he growled back. “The man doesn’t deserve the title of king.”

  “Well, the pirates are standing up against him!” Colt said, cutting in. “Doesn’t that make them heroes?”

  The man snorted. “They’re not heroes! They don’t ‘stand up’ against Munay. They just don’t like authority.”

  “Pirates are just sea bandits.” Slanslot told the boy. “You don’t want to be a bandit, do you?”

  The boy seemed to hesitate. “No…?”

  Lilay covered her mouth and stifled a giggle, then she cleared her throat. “No, you don’t want to be a bandit.”

  While she was speaking, Aroron glanced around them and noticed the back of the wagon was filled with old hay. Strange. Why would they be traveling to Hatter without something?

  “You’re both obviously not pirates or bandits, so what do you do?” Aroron asked, turning back towards Hal and the boy.

  The boy opened his mouth to speak, when his father grabbed his arm and shook his head. “Not to seem rude, but we don’t know you.” Hal said, glancing to his side. “Not that you’re not trustworthy. We just don’t know you, and I don’t care for us to share too much.”

  “Alright.” Aroron said, shrugging. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know it was a touchy subject.”

  “It’s not a touchy subject!” The driver snapped, then he cleared his throat and forced a laugh. “Sorry about that, haven’t slept well in a few days. Isn’t that right, me boy?”

  Colt quickly nodded. “Yes, sir.”

  Slanslot glanced towards Aroron and raised his eyebrow, then shrugged. “Well we’re going to Hatter to visit some friends of ours.”

  “Oh? Maybe we know them!” Hal said, his demeanor brightening again. “What be their name?”

  Slanslot glanced towards Aroron. “Um…”

  “Ryan and Meey, but they're just passing through too and we decided to meet.” Aroron said, biting his lip.

  “Really? That’s too bad.” The driver said.

  “Yes, it is.” Lilay said, smiling.

  Before anything else could be said about it, the driver swore. “There be a tree in the road up ahead!” the driver called back to them, as the wagon began to slow. "We’ll have to take care of it before we can go on.”

  Aroron’s body tensed. “There’s a tree in the road?” he asked, noticing the boy was acting a little nervous too. He glanced at Aroron; his eyes big.

  “This isn’t right, I think it’s a trap Da’!” the boy said, grabbing his father’s arm as he tried to climb down.

  Aroron was thinking the same thing. He’d heard too many stories. Quickly, he reached for his sword. Aroron would only fight if he had no other choice, but he had a bad feeling he wasn’t going to have one.

  Hal looked back at his son, as he settled back in the front of the wagon. “Bandits? Draven! Speaking of them brought bad luck on us all!” The driver hissed. “What do we do? We can’t let them get us.”

  “What?” Lilay whispered, looking towards Slanslot and Aroron. “Bandits? Out here?”

  “Yes, bandits!” Slanslot growled, rolling his eyes. “What did you think? They were stories?”

  Lilay glared at him. “No.”

  “Will you two stop it!” Aroron snapped. “That’s not going to help.” He sighed, wishing he’d been wrong, he turned towards the driver. “What do we do? Are we just going to wait here for them to come?”

  Hal looked back at him, his face pale. “They’re already here.”

  Aroron looked behind him and saw what he was talking about. Four masked figures were making their way towards them. They didn’t seem to be in the least bit of a hurry, as if they knew there was nowhere for them to go. It wasn’t like it would be easy for them to turn the wagon around and go the other way.

  “Whatever happens, don’t let them touch the wagon.” The driver whispered to them, rummaging around in the front of the wagon for something.

  “Why ever not?” Lilay asked, scooting closer to Slanslot and Aroron.

  “Just don’t, and leave it at that!” The driver snapped. “Please!”

  “Alright.” Aroron whispered still fingering his sword. “We’ll trust you, for now.”

  Hal nodded. “That’s all I ask from you. Stay down, and they won’t be able to see you.”

  Slanslot noticed Aroron's drawn sword and unsheathed his own, then they all scooted onto their backs. “What are we going to do?” he whispered to Aroron and Lilay. “Are we just going to sit here?”

  Aroron nodded, just as the bandits came upon them. “For now.”

  “Stay back, bandits!” the driver hissed, yanking a short blade out from under his seat, as he stood on the front edge of the wagon.

  “Well, isn’t that nice?” the young woman said, stepping towards them. “They know who we are!”

  “Aha… if I wasn’t wearing this mask, you'd make me blush.” The man next to her said, laughing.

  “Do you really think you’re going to stop us with that little blade of yours?” She asked, placing her hands on her hips. “That’s so sweet.”

  The two men in the group of four, grabbed the driver and yanked him off the front of the wagon, followed by the boy. Then they pulled them to their feet and drug them to their knees in front of the young woman.

  It took everything in Aroron, not to jump up right then and fight the Bandits. He could see everything happening through a crack in the wood.

  All he could do was watch, as one of the women bandits grabbed Colt and dragged the boy away from his father. The boy screamed and drug his feet, but it did no good, the lady held him tightly.

  “Unless you want something to happen to your dear boy, you’d better hand
over the money.” The other young woman (who was obviously the leader) hissed, bending down next to Hal, so their faces were just inches apart. “And I don’t make idle chatter. Give me what I want, or the boy will pay the price.”

  “Please, just leave us be!”

  “Not what I asked for.” The young lady said, then she snapped her fingers. The boy screamed out in pain, as the lady yanked his arm back sharply. Hal winced, as if he’d been hurt as well. “Now, give me your money.”

  That’s it! Aroron couldn’t just sit there any longer and do nothing! Within a second, he was on his feet. “Leave the man and his son alone!” Aroron yelled, jumping out of the back of the wagon and onto the hard-smooth road.

  “What do we have here?” the young woman asked, standing as she turned towards Aroron. “A young noble, trying to prove himself? Goody! I just love nobles.”

  “I am not a noble,” Aroron growled, gripping his sword with all his might. “And I need not prove myself to the likes of you!”

  “Oh?” she said, stepping towards him. Aroron’s heart thudded in his chest as she drew nearer. She was unarmed, yet as she came beside the wagon, he felt afraid. “Fool…” she whispered, placing her hand against his chest. “I can feel the fear, pulsing through your veins. Why do you try and fight me?”

  “I may be afraid.” Aroron said, pulling away from her. “But that doesn’t mean I won’t try and stop you.”

  The bandit man yelled, and lunged towards Aroron with his drawn sword, his eyes ablaze. Aroron blocked the attack and lashed out with his own, just as Slanslot leapt from the wagon and took on the other bandit across from Aroron.

  The bandits were ruthless in their attack. They were savage and unruly.

  He’d faced his share of warriors, but these bandits were trained in the art of sword-fighting, just enough to make them dangerous.

  Aroron was glad, that after everything Lilay had said about Elouns not wanting to fight others, Slanslot knew how to handle his blade. He kept his own against the other bandits, hopeful they would all survive.

  “Colt, run me boy!” the driver yelled to his son.

  The boy glanced around, then he broke free from the bandit and bolted towards the wagon, but neither of the bandits seemed to notice as they continued to fight against Aroron and Slanslot.

  “Grab him!” the young woman yelled at the lady who’d held him, as she just stood there.

  “Why not let the ‘boys’ handle it.” The lady growled back, crossing her arms. “You obviously think they can handle more than me.”

  “Don’t be dramatic!” the young woman said back. “Fine, I’ll have one of them do your job.” The young woman looked at the two bandits fighting Aroron and Slanslot, and rolled her eyes. “I guess I just need to deal with this myself!” with that the young woman moved towards the boy.

  At that moment, Lilay jumped down beside Aroron and Slanslot, and held up her hands. It was as if a shield protected them. Lilay glared at the bandit, as she pulled her hood down. “Stand back!” she hissed, as the shield spread to cover the driver and his son, who stood staring at her.

  But they weren’t the only ones. The other bandits stared at her. Too shocked to notice Aroron and Slanslot anymore.

  So much for keeping their gifts a secret. Aroron thought, lowering his sword.

  “You’re Odditys!” the lady bandit hissed. “I am one of you, why do you betray me like this?” she asked Lilay.

  With a nod from Lilay, Slanslot pulled down his hood as well. “We are not Odditys, we are Elouns!” he hissed. “And what you’re doing here is wrong!”

  “You are not worthy of your gift!” Lilay yelled, glaring at the young woman. “You use for evil, what was meant for good!”

  “If you think I’m evil, you do not know the meaning of the word.” The young woman whispered back. “You Elouns are more self-righteous than the stories give you credit.”

  “If you think you’re not evil, then you do not know the meaning of the word.” Lilay said. “Take the wagon and the horse, if you must, but leave us be! What harm have we ever caused you?”

  The young woman looked at her companions and laughed. “You’re already growing weak. How much longer can you protect them all?” she asked Lilay. “Your strength will slip and I will take what I want from you! You will not endure.”

  “Are you really like pirates then?!” Colt asked, speaking for the first time since the bandits’ arrival. “Being bandits, I mean.”

  The young woman knelt on the other side of the shield from the boy. “No. I am a pirate.” She whispered, leaning closer. “Our ship was attacked last month leaving us stranded on this forsaken place. It was quite the adventure.”

  “Really?!” Colt said, his eyes bright as he stared at the young woman. “Can I come with you? I promise to be good. I’ll do whatever you tell me to.”

  “What?!” His father cut in. “Son, don’t say such things, when you know you don’t mean them!”

  “Maybe he does.” The young woman whispered, rubbing her neck. “Why wouldn’t he? By his age I was already well on my way to becoming the person I am today. Why shouldn’t I take him with me?” she asked, eyeing the driver. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t take him away from you.”

  With a shaking hand, the driver reached into his jacket and withdrew a pouch. “There!” he hissed, tossing it to the bandit. “It’s all I have. Now, please! Don’t take me boy! He doesn’t know what he’s saying.”

  “Yes, I do, da’!” the boy snapped, shot his father a glare. “I’m not a child anymore.”

  “Son, please!” the driver cried. “I know you’re not a child, but you’re still my son.”

  “I should take him with me.” She said, looking down at the pouch. “But I’m not a monster.” The young woman said, standing. “I’m sure we’ll meet again, when you’re older. And when we do, I’ll make you the most feared pirate in the realm!” The boy smiled and nodded, then she turned towards the driver and shook her head. “Love is a fleeting thing. All it takes is one mistake and it’s gone.”

  “That’s not true.” The driver said, moving towards his son. “Colt, there’s nothing you can do that would change my love towards you.”

  The young woman gagged, then motioned to two of the bandits. “Cut the horses free! Let them walk the rest of the way.”

  The five of them watched in silence, as the bandits moved towards the front of the wagon and began cutting the horses free. There was nothing they could do to stop them, and they knew it.

  Once they were finished, the young woman smiled at them, bowed and tucked the pouch from the driver into her jacket. Then she turned and they vanished into the woods. Leaving Aroron and the Elouns out of breath and wishing they hadn’t climbed into the wagon.

  It would have been so much easier for them if they hadn’t.

  For a minute, none of them said or did anything, they waited in silence, until they were sure they were gone.

  “Well, that was interesting.” Aroron said, sheathing his sword as he turned towards Lilay. “Are you alright? You look exhausted.”

  “I’m fine.” She whispered, lowering the shield. “I hadn’t expected to have to hold it for that long, that’s all.”

  When the driver moved towards his son, Colt looked ashamed and turned away from him. “I’m sorry, father.” He whispered, ducking his head.

  Aroron and the Elouns, glanced at each other and watched in silence as the man placed a hand on his son’s shoulder. “I know.” Was all he said, then he pulled him into a hug. “But why did you want to go?”

  “I’m just sick of deliveries!” the boy whispered. “That’s all we ever do, when there are people out there making a real difference. Helping people.”

  “My heart would break if I were to ever lose you.” The driver whispered, holding his son tightly. “We are doing good here too, my boy. Can’t you see that?” he asked.

  “We can’t stay here all day.” Slanslot whispered to Aroron. “What’s the plan
now?”

  Aroron turned away from the driver and his son and looked at the Eloun. “Obviously, we’re still going to Hatter.”

  “What about them?” Slanslot asked, nodding towards Hal and Colt. “They know we’re Elouns now.”

  That was true. But Aroron had a feeling they weren’t going to say anything, but they did have to be on the safe side. “I’ll see what I can do.” He told Slanslot. “Let them finish talking and I’ll deal with it.”

  It wasn’t much longer, before they’d finished and Aroron made his way over.

  “Can we talk?” Aroron asked, shoving his hands into his pockets as he stood next to the driver. “Alone.” He said, glancing towards Colt.

  Hal turned towards his son and nodded for him to leave, then he looked back at Aroron. “What is it you want to say?”

  “First off, please, don’t tell anyone you saw us.” Aroron said. “As you know, not everyone in Shenock looks kindly upon Odditys.”

  The driver nodded and flashed him a smile. “We’ll never tell a soul.” He said. “Thank you for saving me boy, and me. And the wagon. I can’t thank you enough for that.”

  Aroron eyed him. “But the wagon’s empty. Isn’t it?”

  The driver flashed him a grin and laughed. “Maybe. Maybe not.” He said, shrugging. “It’s not my place to say.”

  “I understand.” Aroron said. “What are you going to do now? Are you still going to try and make it to Hatter?”

  “Don’t worry about us, I’m sure help will come along at some point.” He said, glancing around. “After all, I can’t leave the ‘empty’ wagon here alone. But if you ever need help in Hatter, find Koon and tell him Hal sent you.” The driver told Aroron. “He’ll help you with whatever you need.”

  “I’ll remember that, thank you.” Aroron said and began to turn away, but he stopped himself. “This friend of yours… is he a rebel?”

  Hal laughed. “And your friends? What are they? You know, the ones that’re ‘meeting’ with you in Hatter? Are they rebels?”

  Aroron laughed too. “Maybe, but less likely than yours.” Since they don’t exist.