Arrow of Justice

by R W Caron

  “You are most welcome madam.” Sister Echo replied. “The other man,” She started.

  Carmae’s face suddenly turned hard. The man that had shot one of her wolves. He is lucky to be alive Carmae thought. She had shot him with a minor fireball from the end of her staff. The staff she still held in her hand. The coolness of the metal was soothing to her and the warmth of the red ruby on the top was enough to keep her warm even on the coldest of days. It has served her well over the years and has her connection to magic. The man she had blasted was lucky indeed that he was traveling with Andrew, for otherwise he could have been a mere black pile of ash for shooting at her wolves. His shot had only wounded the shoulder of one of her wolves, which is another reason he still lived. “What of him?” She growled.

  “He has recovered.” She replied. Something about the way her face looked made Carmae pause.

  “What is it?” Carmae asked.

  “He is,” She started choosing her words carefully. “Different.”

  “What do you mean?” Carmae asked. “I understand he looks different as do it.”

  “That is not what I mean ma’am.” She replied, her voice almost seeming hurt that Carmae would assume that it was the colour of his skin that made her question. The Sisters of the Rocks had accepted Carmae without a second thought when she defended them against the Kings armies. Though times had gotten even harder when the king shut off trade routes, Carmae had never done them wrong. All of the sisters looked as Sister Echo. Their skin was pale, untouched by the suns grace. Carmae however, was the exact opposite. Her skin was dark, her hair jet black and curly compared to the other sisters she was the odd one out. However, they respected her beyond any other and had been taught by Carmae to respect each living creature, not for what they looked like, but for what they were.

  The bear that attacked Carmae after his children were murdered, Carmae held no grudge against. She knew his pain and suffering, she could feel that he was angry with himself more than her and knew he did not mean her harm but wanted revenge on humans. The bear that attacked Andrew was scared, startled and felt she needed to defend herself against intruders. Carmae had taught them all how to listen to the animals, how to listen to themselves and not to judge by appearances alone, even though she herself was guilty of it from time to time.

  “What do you mean then?” Carmae asked, almost sounding frustrated.

  “I do not know.” Sister echo explained. “I have heard him talking to himself, arguing.”

  “Maybe he is scared.” Carmae explained.

  “It is not that kind of arguing my lady.” Sister echo retorted. “I also feel extremely cold in his presents. Almost as if he is sucking the heat from my bones.”

  “Non-sense.” Carmae replied. “He is nothing more than traveling companion who is poor with a bow.”

  “Yes, my lady.” She replied, with a low bow and removed herself from the floor and exited the room. Carmae stood staring at the mirror as the sister’s concerns echoed in her mind. She had heard tales of the Nipawin people, and of how their archery skills where second to none. Something was not adding up, but it was not her main concern. Andrew was awake now, and she must know when he had come. The seasons had started to change and it would not be long until winters gasp left them and more dangerous creatures stalked the hills and coast.

  Andrew sat up on the soft warm bed that had been him home for the last month. His body ached and his muscles screaming from not being moved in almost a month. His wounds had healed mostly, his shoulder had been set back in the socket and the bubbling of scars ran down his arms. He reached around his naked chest and felt the scares from where the bear had dug its claws into his ribs and the attack flashed in his mind. The old wooden door to his room swung open, as the hinges groaned in protest and the door itself seems to slouch with age. Carmae walked into the room, he face cold as eye, but something about her warmed the chilly room. Her eyes fell on Andrew like a hungry animal looking at prey, her eyes shifted to his wounds and then fell back into his own eyes. “Why have you come, Andrew Brady?” She snarled. “Was your father to small of a man to come himself, he sent a boy to...”

  “My father is dead.” Andrew said softly. It seemed like an eternity had passed since that fateful night when his father was strung up by the king. In that short time Andrew had taken back him fathers settlement, gained the kings favor and plotted a revolution that would give Esmos back to the people. As he thought about all he had done, the thoughts of all those lost flooded into his mind. Nahan had been killed thinking Andrew was an enemy, Alina had disappeared, many men had lost their lives, saving his secrets, his father had been killed for even considering to talk ill of the king, and yet Andrew was still alive, still playing both sides of the coin.

  “I’m sorry.” Carmae replied with sadness in her voice. She moved across the room with the grace of an eagle as she perched herself in view of the glorious sea. “He was a good man, from what I heard. Though his decisions were poor.”

  Andrews head snapped to Carmae. “You know nothing of his decision.” He shot at her. “He died, for protecting people from the king. He died for telling me his secrets, he died for...”

  “Nothing.” Carmae growled.

  “How can you say that?” Andrew asked, the anger and frustration building in him.

  “Because, nothing has changed in his death.” Carmae replied with a cool demeanor. She turned and swept across the floor to stand in front of Andrew. “Has it?”

  “I have changed.” Andrew replied in a low voice, diverting his gaze to the stone floor.

  “My scouts tell me the King favors you.” Carmae snapped. “Tell me, have you come to kill me?”

  “No.” Andrew replied with a soft chuckle.

  “Then to recruit me to the King’s cause?” Carmae countered.

  “No.” Andrew replied again chuckling more now.

  Carmae glared down at him and swiftly placed the glowing ruby on the end of her staff into Andrews face. The colours in the ruby swirled in Andrews face like the flames in a camp fire as she looked into it. “Why are you here?” She demanded.

  “Carmae, you would not have had your sisters tend to my wounds if you planned on burning me to a crisp.” Andrew called her bluff. “I will explain why I am here in a moment. May I get dressed first madam?”

  Carmae removed the ruby from his face and stared at him with eyes of revulsion and yet a slight admiration. He had called her hand and knew full well that she would not have had him healed if she was to kill him. Carmae shook her head as Andrew continued to sit on the bed with a small sheet covering himself. “Well, get dressed.” She exclaimed.

  “Do you mind?” He asked.

  “That you get dressed? No.” She replied.

  “Ok then.” Andrew stood up and revealed himself to be completely naked as Carmae’s eye went wide and she shielded her face.

  “Oh my,” she retorted. “Andrew.”

  “You said you didn’t mind.” Andrew laughed as he held his hands out to the side and shrugged. “Do you know where the Sisters put my clothes?”

  “No.” Carmae replied and shook her head in frustration.

  “I will be in the dining hall, meet me there.”

  “Ah,” Andrew said coyly. “Did I make the great Carmae Massey uncomfortable?” Andrew stuck his bottom lip out like a child and Carmae snapped a cold look his way.

  “Not at all,” she replied with a smirk. “Just, must be cold in here.”

  Andrew covered himself and sneered at her. “So, it does have a sense of humor” he shot at her as she opened the door and he turned around scanning the room for his cloth. Carmae always needed to have the last word, especially in her own rocky palace, she slapped the cold metal of the staff on the hard stone and a single ember shot into the room planting its self firming in Andrew right buttocks. He yipped and Carmae smiled to herself as she walked towards the dining hall.

  Andrew met her in the hall a short time later wearing his under-layer tuni
c from his armour, his right black trousers that fit under his armour and his leather boots. He had taken the iron covers off the front of them as to not make too much noise on the stone as he walked. He placed himself to the right of Carmae who Sat patiently at the head of the long sleek marble table. Before Andrew could even sit down Carmae’s eyes snapped to him. “Now Lord Brady, explain why you have come.”

  “Straight to business,” Andrew replied impressed. “I was never one for pleasantries anyway.” He reached out and grabbed a green grape off the patter that sat between the two of them and sunk into the chair like a warm bed after a long day of work. He entertained his fingers, while his arms rested on the armrests of the chair. “King Erwin has hurt you.” Andrew started. “He has stopped all trade, basically banished you to live the life solitude and forbidden you too leave your coast.”

  “All things I know.” Carmae replied, as she rolled her eyes at the young man. Truth be told she found him alluring. Something about the way the young man carried himself, the way his words flowed together with such confidence had her listening to what he had to say instead of ignoring him.

  She played her part well with the eye roll, but Andrew knew she was listening to every word he said. “Erwin has hurt me as well. He has made me slaughter innocent people for being different. He made me watch as my father hung for crimes against the king, he has made me play the part of his lackey, as his most trusted settlement ruler.”

  “A part, I hear you play well.” Carmae countered. “Tell me Andrew, are you trying to impress me?”

  “No ma’am.” Andrew replied. “I am merely telling you we are one in the same.”

  “Ha,” Carmae laughed. “We are nothing alike my dear. Your people are fed, are clothed, do not have to hide underground and have a ready supply of trade. I have heard of your triumphs Lord Brady.” The word’s shot at Andrew like an arrow at its victim. “I heard of your victory over the Nipawin people, how you murdered them all. All but two it would appear. One is your slave; the other was their chief.”

  “How did,” Andrew started.

  “You are not the only one with spies. Mine are just less noticeable.” Carmae replied coyly.

  Andrew looked down and smiled to himself. “Your spies have been deceived just as the king was.”

  “Explain.” Carmae demanded.

  “The Nipawin people live.” Andrew replied calmly. He grabbed a bushel of grapes and sat back in the chair popping grapes as he talked. “I did not kill a single one.”

  “But,” Carmae started.

  “We covered them in blood, broke arrows and suck them through their clothing.” Andrew replied as he smiled widely at her.

  “So, they all live?” She asked. Andrews face suddenly grew in sorrow. They did not all live. He had Lost two friends he believed. Two people that Andrew had grown very close too. Nahan and Andrew had not spent much time together, but hearing the stories of him and remembering the night they first met, the night Nahan had spared Andrews life made him feel closer to Nahan then any other man in his command. Listening to Alina tell stories of Nahan by the campfire and believing so strongly that she would mind him made Andrew believe that Nahan had lived. With Alina now gone, he could only hope that she had found him and that one day he too would find his friends even if it was after his demise.

  “Not all.” Andrew replied. Carmae could tell he was fighting a battle within himself and she had to force herself not to pry.

  “You still have not answered my question. Why are you here?” She asked. He voice no longer seemed commanding but intrigued.

  “I am here to offer you an alliance.” Andrew replied. He glanced at her for a moment and she looked at him with unconvinced eyes.

  “An alliance for what?” She questioned.

  “To take back Esmos and return it to the people.” Andrew replied in a calm steady tone.

  “How?”

  “By storming Debec, taking the citadel and dethroning the king.” Andrew replied, making it sound easy.

  Carmae laughed and fell back into her chair. The laugh was deep and hearty and lasted for a long moment before she stopped and looked at Andrew who was still sitting with a stern look on his face. “You are serious?”

  Andrew slipped another grape into his mouth and smirked. “Of course I am.”

  Carmae looked at him is disbelief. “You know that you will need an army the size of Esmos its self to take the citadel. I do not have those kinds of forces and I know for a fact that you do not have those kinds of forces.”

  “Ah, what you do not know is that I have recruited all of the settlements of the west to fight beside me.” Andrew replied. “Beside us.” He corrected. “My men are securing the riders of the south should have been back to my settlement a week ago.”

  “Riders of the South.” Carmae said with pain in her voice. “My spies tell me the entire settlement has been burned and abandoned. Some sort of plague claimed them all.”

  Andrew looked at her shocked by her words. His mind quickly shifted to Tuck and Brittina and hoped he had not sent him new friends to their deaths. “Tuck will find those who remain. He will bring them to fight for the cause.”

  “My people are safe here Andrew.” Carmae replied as she suddenly became very stern. “I will not join your cause.”

  “Your people are safe, but are not free.” Andrew replied. Carmae pushed herself out of the chair without a word. Andrew quickly stood and moved across the room to cut her off. “Without your help, we could fail.”

  “You will fail.” Carmae scolded. “You are a fool.”

  “What if we succeed? To have a free Esmos. We could hunt, trade and be truly free. The Nipawin could walk around without being judged. Mages could be free to practice magic, without being looked at as a witch or someone to be feared because mages would have helped free Esmos.” Andrew pleaded. “You would be in control of the trade routes, all of them across Esmos.”

  “You are a fool.” She yelled in his face and stormed off he robes flowing behind her. Andrew watched for a few moments as she walked away. He had seen it in her eyes that she had wanted to fight, wanted to join him, he had almost had her convinced he believed but something was holding her back. Something was stopping her from joining the rebellion. Andrew’s frustrations suddenly erupted from his stomach and burned their way up his throat and flew out his mouth like fire.

  “I may be a fool,” he snapped. “but at least I’m not a coward.”

  Carmae hesitated for just a moment as the words stabber her in the back like the shape point of a dagger. Never before had she been called a coward. She had been revered for he battles against King Erwin many years before but things were different now. Their where circumstances that no one would understand. Surely not the spoiled little boy who wants to play war that stood in her dining hall. She continued on as the muscles in her chest tightened and he stomach lurched. When she was clearly out of eye shot she leaned hard on her staff, trying so hard to fight off the pain she was feeling. The darkness of her situation closed in around her and she continued to fall into the pit of guilt and failure. Her world continued to spin as she forced herself though a set of double doors and into the sunlight of the coast. The roar of the sea washed away the darkness in moments and the light from the sun grabbed her hands and pulled her out of that place. No, she could not join the rebellion. If he found out, what would he do to her? Her mind asked. For somewhere deep in the dungeons of the citadel Carmae’s sister was being held. If she where to join and the king were to find out, surely he would kill her.

  Andrew stormed towards his room, his frustration boiling over with Carmae. How could she just sit back and ignore the facts? The rebellion needed to happen, regardless of the result. The way Andrew saw it was if all the settlements banned together against King Erwin they could dethrone him and take back the land for the people or they could ban together fight and die, leaving Erwin with no one to rule thus dethroning him as king. Andrew did not fear death, for death came to every ma
n eventually. Andrew feared life.