by Pedro Urvi
“In that case,” Liriana said, “Albana must have one of those objects and she’s keeping it secret, but it’s just a guess. And in any case it doesn’t concern us.”
He cupped his chin in his hand and tried to remember all the details of Albana’s appearance in the night. “I don’t know, she might have a disc, it’s true,” he said at last, “but in any case, I don’t trust her in the least. I didn’t trust her before, and now I trust her even less.”
“I’ve no reason not to trust her. She’s always been loyal to us, and a valuable agent. Her secrets are hers, just like her past. I can’t force her to reveal them, and nor can you.” There was a clear warning in her turquoise eyes.
He knew she was right, but something inside him rebelled against trusting the mysterious brunette: not only for her past betrayal, but for that sinister skill. He would have to watch her closely.
Suddenly Albana appeared at a run, leapt over a fallen log covered with mold and came to a halt in the middle of the camp. Ikai and Liriana stared at her in surprise.
“What…” Liriana began.
Albana put a finger on her lips, her eyes open wide in pure alarm.
Ikai read her face at once. Danger!
Liriana looked at her without understanding, and the brunette showed seven fingers. Then she pointed south. The Captain understood, nodded and began to get to her feet without making any noise.
Ikai looked in the direction Albana was pointing at and saw a curious beam of light cutting through the thick vegetation of the forest, almost reaching them. He recognized it the moment he saw it. The Falcon Eye! Hunters! He jumped to his feet and grabbed his bow.
Albana ran like lightning, leaping over underbrush and roots. Ikai followed her at once. A moment later Liriana was running behind them. The brunette moved like a panther, heading north at an amazing speed; Ikai found it hard to keep up with her. They ran as fast as they could, with the moss-lined forest passing in front of their eyes, under their feet, surrounding them in all directions. He glanced back and saw Liriana lagging behind, unable to keep up with the tremendous pace set by Albana. It was then that he realized the seriousness of the situation: they were being hunted, and the Hunters never failed. Nobody knew that fact better than he did himself. It was a matter of hours: no matter how fast they ran, they would be caught. First Liriana, and then himself or Albana. They might try to escape, but their strength would eventually fail and they would be caught. He knew it, because that was what these men trained to do every day of their lives.
For the first time he felt the horror, the despair of being on the other side, on the side of the prey. And he felt fear, deep fear which froze his soul, for he was going to be hunted like an animal and taken back to the Regent to serve as a public example. The fear began to turn to panic in his chest, but he controlled it. They had not hunted him yet, and while there was life there was hope.
Albana swerved abruptly to the left, so he nearly lost sight of her. He looked for Liriana behind him and saw her very far back, with her face red from the effort, panting heavily. She was not going to keep up much longer. He narrowed his eyes and looked carefully. He could make them out among the trees: five Hunters in a semicircle. Two more would be further behind. Their brown clothes did not blend in so well in that forest with its lining of intense green, from the ground to the tops of the trees.
He searched for Albana. From behind a tree she gestured at him to hurry up. At least she was not abandoning them… for now. Liriana reached him. She had the Hunters at her heels. Ikai let her pass and ran after her. When the Hunters reached them he would be the first to face them and fall. It was the right thing to do.
They reached a deep moss-covered gully, and Albana rushed into it. Liriana went after her, and Ikai followed. The gully ended in an earthen wall with an opening dug into it. He guessed Albana’s intention: to hide and let the Hunters pass by. But he was completely wrong; the brunette ran past it and kept running faster still. Liriana just managed to follow her, and he caught up with them on the slope that led out of the gully.
“Why…?” he was about to ask, panting, when Albana stopped and crouched suddenly. He and Liriana did the same at once, not understanding. A chilling howl filled the gully and rose to the heavens. As three of the Hunters went by a monstrous black wolf came out of the cavern. It was breathtakingly big, practically double the size of a wild wolf. Its fur was lank and black, and a golden gleam in its eyes made it look as if it were possessed. It launched itself at the three Hunters. Caught by surprise, they were unable to flee and were forced to confront it.
Ikai guessed it was an alpha female, probably defending her lair. There was a dreadful growl, and blood spattered the ground and the trees nearby, turning the green red. The beast tore one of the Hunters apart as it was struck by the swords and knives of the other two. In fury, the monster turned and bit off the head of the second Hunter. The third stabbed the body of the monster frantically with short sword and knife. With a rending howl the beast died and fell on top of the Hunter, crushing him with its weight. Ikai felt a pang of pity for the fallen men. Suddenly another howl filled the gully. It was the alpha male, much bigger than the female. A nightmarish beast which lunged at the still-living Hunter and bit off one arm.
Ikai stared at the scene in a state of shock. He nocked an arrow to shoot at the beast, but Albana’s hand stopped him. The brunette pointed to the top of the gully. Two Hunters appeared from the east and two more from the west, armed with short bows. Instantly they launched their arrows against the colossal male. They reached it as it was biting off the head of the Hunter who lay under its dead mate. They released again and again, drawing horrible howls from the wounded animal. The male, enraged by its loss and pain, tried to climb the wall of the gully to reach the Hunters in the east, but slipped and rolled down to the bottom. The Hunters kept releasing arrows until the beast died with a terrible howl and lay there still beside its mate, riddled with arrows.
Albana seized her chance and shot at one of the Hunters in the east. The arrow caught him in the shoulder, and he fell to one side. Then she hid behind a tree.
“Hide!” she urged Ikai and Liriana.
The briefest moment later, three arrows reached the trees where they were hiding. Ikai nocked an arrow. His calculating mind studied the situation. There were four of them left, one wounded. The Hunters had three archers and they themselves had two: Liriana did not carry a bow. Their chances had improved a lot. Albana’s move had been cunning. The brunette was a source of endless surprises.
Both groups exchanged arrows from their respective protected positions, without being able to find a target. Neither side made any move to advance. They all remained under cover
Suddenly Ikai’s Ring flashed. He looked at it on his left wrist in surprise. What was happening? A white gleam filled his mind.
Turn yourself in, Ikai. There doesn’t have to be any more bloodshed.
He recognized Master Hunter Sejof immediately. Listen to me, I’m pleading with you. You know I don’t wish you any harm. The Regent has ordered your capture at all costs. And not only him: the Enforcers of the Gods are looking for you too. You’ve created the worst possible enemies for yourself. I’ve found you first, but there are three other parties of Hunters searching for you. You have no way of escape, they won’t let you get away. Turn yourself in and I promise you’ll stay alive, for the sake of all we’ve been through together, for the sake of the friendship we once shared: for the sake of all that I beg you, drop your weapons and turn yourself in.
He breathed in deeply. The last thing he wanted was to face his Master, the father-figure who had filled the void the forced disappearance of his real father had left in his heart. And with him would be his fellow Hunters, his hunting brothers he had shared so much with and whom he loved like his own family. He would have to fight them too. He shook his head. He had no desire to fight his own people, anything but that.
Liriana saw him shaking his head, and there was worry
in her eyes as she stared at him. But there was more than worry, there was… fear. He strained his neck and met Albana’s wild black eyes. There was no fear in them, but they did not shine with the same intensity as before. Her face had lost its defiant confidence; she too was worried. If he turned himself in he would avoid fighting, but he would be sentencing himself to death, for the Regent and the Enforcers would kill him. And not only himself, he would doom Liriana and Albana with him. Even if he gave himself up, they would not. If they fought, either of them might die. And if they were captured, they would suffer the same ultimate fate. The Hunters wouldn’t allow anyone who’d crossed the Boundary to stay alive and talk. They wouldn’t let them escape. They’d be captured or killed if they resisted. It’s the law of the Gods, and they’d make sure it was followed.
He sighed. To give himself up to save his own skin was to betray them, and no matter how much he might try to avoid fighting his own former family, he could not betray his two companions. I can’t. I won’t. The image of Kyra’s face, smiling, came into his mind, and he knew with complete certainty that he could not back down.
Drop your weapons and come out, Ikai, for the good of everyone.
He filled his lungs and let out a deep sigh.
“I can’t turn myself in, Master, I’m sorry! Withdraw and go back to the capital!”
Liriana and Albana looked at him in amazement.
You know I can’t do that. You’re one of mine, you’re my responsibility. The Regent will kill my wife and my daughters if you don’t come back with me. I can’t. I’m sorry. I must bring you in.
Ikai accepted the inevitable: there would be bloodshed. “Brother Hunters!” he shouted toward the gully. “Go back in peace… or die!” He waited an instant. He risked a look. Two arrows struck the tree-trunk with a hollow sound; a piece of bark hit his cheek. He drew his head back at once. They could not stay there, exchanging arrows. Sejof would communicate with the other Master Hunters using the Falcon Eye, and other parties would come to hunt them too. He had to do something. Think! What are the Hunters expecting you to do?
Albana threw a pebble towards him to attract his attention. He looked at her, coming out of his thoughts
“What are we going to do?” she asked.
He could make out the moon, partially hidden behind clouds, behind her. Her dark clothes were beginning to blend into the darkness which was falling on the dense forest. His eyes lingered briefly on the scene. Soon nothing would be visible. They could slip away into the night and flee.
“We wait,” he said.
Darkness took over the forest. Time went by very slowly until the wait was over. The Hunters began to move forward at last: two from the east and two from the west, under cover of the dark, flanking the position of the three fugitives. They came with bows ready, slowly, with extreme caution, with barely a noise, like night-time predators. Crouching, they advanced until they were in a position to dodge the trees which hid their prey. A whistle was heard to the east. A moment later, in a pincer movement, the two Hunters coming from the west attacked the position. At once the two from the east followed.
They found the position deserted. Not a trace of their prey.
“They’ve fled,” Sejof guessed. As Ikai knew well, all the prey they chased always fled the Hunters. The Hunters turned to face north, searching for the trail of the three fugitives. But this prey was not the normal kind.
From the top of the beech behind the four Hunters, Ikai and Albana let fly their arrows. Two were hit. Liriana jumped on the other three, and they rolled on the ground. Ikai and Albana jumped on the two men they had hit as they were trying to stand. Ikai, on his knees, brought out his sword. The wounded Hunter turned on the ground; it was Ismes. Ikai put his knee on his friend’s chest and his sword found his throat. Ismes stared at him with anxious eyes and raised a bloodied hand. The arrow was embedded in his shoulder. Ikai was paralyzed by doubt. He was unable to finish him. He heard a dying gurgle to his left and saw Albana slitting the throat of her opponent as she squeezed his body like a snake. Liriana gave a grunt, and he saw she was in trouble; she was fending off Master Sejof. A gleam on the ground caught Ikai’s eye, and he saw that Ismes had taken out a knife.
“No, my friend,” Ikai said, and hit him hard with the pommel of his sword three times, sharply, one blow after the other. With his nose broken and covered in blood, Ismes was out of the fight.
Liriana blocked a thrust to her heart from Sejof and deflected the Master’s knife thrust with her dagger, but was forced to step back once again. Liriana’s technique with the sword was magnificent, but Sejof was a true master.
The other Hunter she had thrown down recovered and came at her. Ikai recognized his friend and hastened to stop him. “Yestas, no!” he shouted. Yestas’ sword stabbed Liriana in the shoulder. The Captain took a step back with a grunt of pain, tripped over a root and fell on her back. She lost her sword. Albana appeared like lightning and charged against Sejof, knocking the Master down. Yestas raised his sword to finish Liriana.
“No!” Ikai shouted.
The sword came down for the final stroke. Ikai arrived and parried the blow. Yestas glared at him, eyes glittering with battle-frenzy.
“Yestas, stop, for heaven’s sake!” Ikai begged.
“We’re what we are,” he replied, and thrust a flashing stroke at his chest. Ikai deflected the sword, but lost his balance. Yestas attacked again, and Ikai had to roll to one side to avoid the blow. Liriana tried to stand up, and Yestas saw her. The Hunter swerved and went to kill her. Ikai’s dagger cut through the air with a lethal whistle. It caught Yestas in the back and sank in to the hilt. Yestas arced, lowered his sword and slumped. Liriana stepped aside and picked up her sword.
Ikai was in a state of shock. He had killed Yestas, his friend, his brother. The horror of the tragedy hit him so hard he was stunned, his mind left blank. He could not focus, he could not hear. Time stopped, and he felt he was trapped in a nightmare. I’ve killed Yestas! I’ve killed him! A terrible pain was boring a hole in his chest.
“Ikai!” Liriana shouted.
The young woman’s voice brought him back to reality. She was fending off Sejof, who was fighting the two women with extraordinary skill. Albana’s quick daggers could not manage to wound him, and Liriana could barely block the Master’s attacks.
Ikai went to Yestas and knelt beside him. “I’m so sorry, my friend. Forgive me.” He took the dagger from his back and turned to Sejof.
“Master,” he said in greeting.
Sejof took a step back and stood en garde. Liriana was panting with exhaustion, and Albana’s eyes glared with fury at her inability to cut the Master.
“Hunter,” the master said with a bow.
Ikai stepped forward and showed him his weapons. The Master saluted the same way.
“Ikai, no,” Liriana said.
“Don’t interfere, this is between my Master and me.”
The two Hunters circled each other, measuring distances and reaction times, and the lethal dance began. Sword and knife met in the night in a choreographed dance of death. The two men exchanged thrusts, strokes, backstrokes and lethal knife-strokes at a devilish speed, without either being able to cut his opponent. Ikai tried a feint in order to thrust a stroke at Sejof’s thigh with his knife, but the other saw it and in a counterattack cut Ikai in the forearm. Ikai took a step back, attacked, and at that instant two black daggers flew against Sejof. In a flashing movement he deflected Ikai’s sword with his own and the first dagger with his knife, but he could not block the second. It caught him in the shoulder, two finger-breadths from his neck.
Ikai turned his head towards Albana. “I told you not to interfere!”
“You can die if you want to,” Albana said condescendingly. “But I don’t have to watch.”
Sejof took a step back. His weapons dropped from his hands, and he fell to his knees.
“Finish him off,” Albana said.
“No! Let him be!”
&
nbsp; “Ikai, he’s a Master Hunter,” Liriana said. “If we leave him alive…”
“I know, do you think I don’t?” Ikai said full of conflicting feelings. He eyed his Master, the man who had been like a second father: defeated, his life in his hands. He went over to him.
“Have you called them?”
Sejof shook his head. “I wanted to capture you myself… to stop them from killing you and presenting your head…”
“Don’t believe anything he says, he just wants to save his neck,” Albana said.
“You know me well, Ikai, you know I don’t lie.”
“How much of a lead do we have?”
“You… have four days, five at the most: Kosler’s group will have found your trail by now.”
Ikai nodded. “I’m sorry it had to come to this, Master.”
“So am I,” Sejof said with his head bent.
“Liriana, the Falcon Eye,” Ikai said, gesturing toward it.
The Captain went over to Sejof, and the Master gave her the disc and the strange glove. Liriana looked at the object with interest. Ikai held out his hand and Liriana gave him both objects. He put them away carefully.
“Our paths separate here, Master,” Ikai said with cold calm. “If we meet again, I’ll kill you.”
Albana’s eyes gleamed when she heard this.
Sejof nodded heavily and fell to one side.
“We leave now,” Ikai said.
“The sooner the better,” Liriana agreed.
Ikai whispered in Albana’s ear: “How far?”
The brunette stared at him fixedly. “Six days at a good pace. If he’s telling the truth, they’ll catch up with us.”
“He’s telling the truth.”
“Then let’s hurry.”
A few moments later the three fugitives went into the jungle without looking back.
20
Yosane was shaking. She had never been so afraid in her whole life. She looked up from the floor of ruby marble at the two giant warrior effigies whose shadows covered part of the enormous courtyard. The stone faces represented horror, the eyes madness, and from their mouths scorching lava fell into a lake of magma. Between the two statues rose the back of an immense palace-fortress, which extended over a hill to the north. The bleeding granite walls rose magnificently, the regal towers which culminated in fiery domes lit up the streets and palaces nearby, like scarlet beacons of the spirit. The atmosphere was heavy, and a scorching heat enveloped her. It smelt of burning, but a sinister kind: not burning stubble but sulfur.
