by Pedro Urvi
Kyra meanwhile was searching among the bodies they had hidden under the hay and straw.
“What are you looking for?” Karm asked.
“These!” She showed him her daggers. “I never go anywhere without my weapons.”
“What the hell are we going to do now?” Honus asked.
“Escape on horseback,” Kyra said.
“That’s not a very good idea,” said a voice from the far end of the stable.
Karm drew his sword and faced the figure that was coming into the stable. Kyra readied her daggers.
“There are half a dozen Guards coming this way,” the stranger said.
“Romen!” cried Kyra as she recognized him. “He’s with me, don’t worry.” Honus grunted from above. He did not seem very convinced.
“Was it you shooting at the Hunters from the trees?” Kyra asked.
Romen nodded. “The Hunter’s aim was better than mine,” he said, and showed them the blood on his left shoulder. “He got me.”
“Oh no!” Kyra felt around the broken arrow in his shoulder. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, except that the tip’s still inside. I need you to take it out and sear the wound so it doesn’t get infected.”
Honus meanwhile had been keeping a lookout from the opening under the eaves. “You’ll have to wait. More guards are coming. Climb up, quick.”
Karm and Kyra hid the bodies more carefully by covering them with a pile of hay and straw, then climbed to the loft up an old wooden ladder with several rungs missing.
From that height, Kyra was able to see the square and what was going on there. Her blood froze. The Guard had rounded up a number of the peasants and were pushing them to the center with their spears and shields. There was no escape; all the entrances to the square had been blocked.
“I’ve never seen so many Guards together,” Kyra cried in disbelief. “There are hundreds of them!”
“They belong to the Guard of Osaen, the capital,” said Romen. He was sitting watching beside her on the straw. “There are a thousand soldiers… a display like that for such a small village… that’s strange. Very strange.”
“How on earth do you know there are a thousand soldiers?” Honus grunted as he strained his neck to count them.
“Because I’ve counted ten regiment captains, and each regiment is made up of a hundred men. You can see them there, in front of the Proxy’s house. They’re the ones riding horses. A little further on is Svariz, the Commander-in-Chief of Sesmok’s Guard. He’s an extremely dangerous man. They call him the Black Adder.”
Honus was eyeing Romen warily. “And how do you know all that?” he snapped.
“I used to belong to the Guard of Osaen. I’ve served with them, under the Adder.”
“You’re a bloody Guard!” Honus cried, and drew his powerful arm back ready to punch him.
Kyra moved to protect him with her own body. “Easy. Romen’s with me.”
Honus hesitated.
“Listen to what she says, she’s one of the Heroes,” Karm reminded him as he pulled back the giant’s arm.
“This doesn’t look good at all,” Romen went on. “Ten regiments from the capital, sent to this small village, with Svariz himself at the head… I don’t like this one bit.”
“And why have they rounded up the whole village?” Karm wondered aloud. “They’re no more than peasants.”
“No idea,” Romen replied in a low voice “But it looks ominous…”
“Shhhh,” Kyra said, “let’s hear what he says.”
Proxy Ambuk came out of his residence to greet Svariz. With him were two of his personal Guards. He spread his arms wide
“Commander Svariz,” Ambuk said. His voice was meek and amiable. ”Welcome to our little village. It’s an honor to receive you here.”
Svariz did not get off his horse, and neither did the ten captains behind him. He simply stared at Ambuk and spat to one side.
“How can this humble Proxy in the service of the Regent help the great Commander-in-Chief of the Guard?”
“You can forget him,” came another, powerful voice. “The one you have to deal with is me.” From the north side of the square came a rider dressed as a Hunter, escorted by a dozen others.
“Uh-oh,” Romen said. He shook his head.
“What is it?” Kyra asked. “Who’s that?”
“He’s not just any Hunter, he’s their leader. He’s Lord Hunter Osvan. The fact that he’s here is a very bad sign. He hardly ever leaves his master’s side. He’s the Regent’s rabid dog, with an iron jaw and an infallible sense of smell. He carries out all his master’s orders, and he delights in blood. Particularly shedding it…”
Kyra felt a shiver run down her spine.
Ambuk meanwhile was bowing low. “How can I serve Lord Hunter Osvan?”
“I don’t like this,” Honus protested.
“Sh,” Kyra said. She wanted to hear the conversation. Luckily the wind was blowing towards the stable.
Osvan came up to Svariz, whom he greeted with a nod. All the riders took their places behind them protectively.
Svariz raised his fist and ordered: “Form a circle!”
At his order the Guard closed in behind the riders around the villagers in the square. The people were pushed into the middle where they crowded, with a solid circle around them, shield against shield.
Watching the scene, Kyra felt her stomach lurch. Why were they surrounding all those defenseless farmers? What did they intend to do?
“Ambuk,” said Osvan as he watched the maneuver behind him. “an unfortunate rumor has reached me: one that leaves you in a rather awkward position.”
Ambuk tensed. “Over the years I’ve learnt not to pay too much attention to rumors, my Lord Hunter. Life is too short to be wasted on giving credit to gossip…”
“That’s very true. And it’s even shorter for the Regent’s enemies.”
“My lord knows I’ve always been a faithful and devout servant of Regent Sesmok. I’ve loyally governed this farming village for his greater glory.”
“And that being the case, how come you didn’t report that two of the traitors, those the peasant rabble call the heroes, are from this village?”
Kyra’s eyes opened wide. “How do they know that?” she whispered to Romen, who met her gaze in astonishment.
Ambuk stiffened at the accusation. “I’ve never given credit to these rumors about the Heroes. They’re nothing but the gossip of the rabble, in my humble opinion.”
“You’re clever, I have to admit. But that won’t save you. Not from me. Two siblings, from a family of farmers: surely you remember? The boy, particularly. He was a Hunter… Ikai’s his name… hers is Kyra. Do you remember them now?”
Kyra swallowed. They knew about them, even their names! How was that possible?
“Yes, I remember the boy… Ikai. A Hunter, young…” He did not mention Kyra.
Osvan scratched his beard. “I understand he came to see you before he left for the city.”
“He came to see me a while ago, that’s right. His sister had been Summoned. He wanted my help. But I couldn’t do anything for him. It’s the law of the Gods. Once she’d been Selected by the Golden, his sister’s fate was sealed.”
Osvan narrowed his eyes. “But you did reveal something you shouldn’t have, didn’t you, Ambuk? Something that mustn’t be divulged, a place where his sister was held. A piece of information the Hunter could only have learnt from someone with privileged information, from you…”
Ambuk remained silent, trying to think up a reply. The accusation had unsettled him.
“I didn’t tell the young Hunter anything, I assure you. And I never heard from him again.”
“Maybe not. But we have. That hunter was captured and taken before the Regent. He escaped when he was being interrogated by the High Priest Torkem. Someone helped him, a traitor Captain of the Guard, one Liriana. Do you know anything about her?”
Kyra swore. They already knew of
Liriana’s existence. It would not be long before they made the connection and discovered the rest of the group. She clenched her jaw. This was very bad news.
Ambuk shook his head. “I assure you I know nothing of any traitor, and I didn’t help Ikai or Kyra in any way which might go against the laws of the Gods.”
“But the crimes of that fugitive Hunter go even further. He made an attempt against the life of his own Master Hunter, and he killed several of his comrades in his flight.”
“I assure you I have no idea what all this has to do with me.”
From inside the Proxy’s house came one of the Guards, limping, a bloody bandage on his thigh.
Kyra covered her mouth to muffle a cry. “Oh no! It’s Ambuk’s guard, the one I wounded!”
The guard was intercepted by the Guards as he went to Svariz, but the Commander waved at him to come closer and he was allowed through. He whispered something in the Commander’s ear.
Svariz’s face turned crimson with fury. He pointed his sword at Ambuk. “He sheltered the fugitive! Get that traitor!”
Four of Svariz’s soldiers grabbed the Proxy and forced him to his knees, to the amazement of the villagers.
“Good,” Osvan said in a menacing voice. “And now we’ve established that you’re a traitor who’s helped two of the so-called Heroes ‒ fugitives who’ve broken the law of the Gods and acted against the representatives of the Regent ‒ tell me where we can find them.”
“I have no idea where they might be. Their farm is to the east of the village.”
Osvan smiled crookedly. “Yes, I know that. My Hunters have already searched the farm. It’s curious: I’ve been told it was burnt to ashes, just like their neighbors,’ and both families have disappeared. Could that have been so that my Hunters couldn’t follow their trail?”
Ambuk remained silent.
“You don’t even have to confirm it. I know that was the reason. I’ll ask you again, Proxy. Where are Kyra and Ikai?”
“I don’t know…”
Karm, watching the scene beside Kyra, breathed out heavily. “This is going to turn nasty very quickly.”
“Then we’d better get out of here as fast as we can,” said Honus.
“I’m going to get the horses ready. Come with me and check that no Hunters or Guards come anywhere near.”
Kyra glanced at Romen, who was staunching his wound with a bloody hand. She gave Karm a warning look.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to leave him. If he’s with you, he’s with me. Your cause is mine.”
Kyra nodded in acceptance. Karm climbed down to the floor of the stable with Honus following.
“I’ll ask this for one last time,” came Osvan’s booming voice. “Where are Kyra and Ikai?”
The Proxy was silent.
“I see I’ll have to use one of my skills on you,” Osvan said, and took a braided leather whip from one of his saddlebags. He uncoiled it slowly, letting it fall to the ground, then smiled and cracked it. The leather lacerated Ambuk’s forehead, and he moaned in pain.
“Swine!” cried Kyra, and Romen had to cover her mouth.
“Turn him round and hold him fast,” Osvan ordered the Guards who were holding Ambuk. “Don’t worry, I never miss.”
The whip cracked ten times, searing the air, spattering both the Guards and the ground with blood.
Kyra was overcome with fury. She wanted to leap down and run to the square to help Ambuk, but Romen held her back.
Ten more lashes echoed in the square, carrying a message of pain and blood. Ambuk was on his face on the ground, his back crossed by bloody lacerations, his robe in tatters. He moaned in pain, while the villagers remained dumbstruck at what was happening.
Osvan smiled sardonically. “Perhaps now you’ll feel more inclined to cooperate. Where are Kyra and Ikai?”
Ambuk raised his head to look at Osvan. Blood was running down his forehead.
“I… don’t… know…”
Osvan sighed. “I see I haven’t been convincing enough. I’ll have to try a bit harder.” He gave a signal to Svariz.
Svariz turned in his saddle, raised his fist and shouted: “Guards, get ready!” His men stood straight and readied shield and spear. “Shield blow!”
With a sharp clash a thousand shields drove at the first row of villagers. With cries of surprise, pain and horror they fell backwards, toppling others as they did so.
“No…” Ambuk said from the ground.
“If you don’t want your villagers to suffer, you’d better speak. I’m not leaving here without an answer, and if I have to sacrifice these stinking farmers to get it, I will.”
Ambuk tensed, and a murmur of fear filled the square.
“He won’t dare,” Kyra whispered to Romen in horror.
“I see I’m not quite managing to convince you,” Osvan said. He gave a signal to Svariz, who raised his fist and ordered: “Guards, get ready! Spear strike!”
In a near-simultaneous movement a thousand spears stabbed at the first row of villagers. Cries of horror broke out. In panic, the villagers tried to escape from the circle, but were either skewered by the spears or driven back by brutal shield-blows. None of them could escape, and hundreds died.
Kyra, struck dumb, felt she would lose her reason. They were slaughtering her neighbors like cattle.
Beside herself with rage, she cried: “I’ll kill you all!” and drew her daggers. Romen struggled to hold her back, but was handicapped by his wounded shoulder. Kyra pushed him aside and ran down the ladder. “I’ll gut you all!”
Karm tried to stop her with his arms outstretched.
“Calm down. You can’t. They’ll kill you!”
But she was blinded by the force of her own impotent rage. She raised her daggers to Karm. “Let me go,” she cried.
There was a sharp thud, and her legs buckled under her.
Osvan’s shout reached them from the square: “Where are they, you bloody traitor? Tell me, or Svariz will give the order again. It’s a very effective move: shield strike, followed by spear strike. His men are masters of it. If you don’t want any more peasants wiped out, tell me where they’re hiding. Tell me!”
Ambuk raised his bloody arm in defeat. “The… stable…” He pointed. “Don’t kill any more… I beg you…”
“Search it!” Osvan ordered his Hunters.
They did not take long to find the bodies. But by then three horses were galloping fast, following the river, fleeing towards the capital.
Honus looked at Kyra, who was lying unconscious on Karm’s horse. “That one’s really going to hate me. I only just met her and I’ve already hit her twice on the head, the second time with a log.”
“Don’t worry,” Romen said. He winced in pain. “She’s tough, and rather get a blow on the head than fall into the hands of those murderers. You did the right thing. And now ride. We’ll soon have the Hunters on top of us. Ride for your lives!”
In the square, the Hunters reported their findings to Osvan. The Lord Hunter turned to Ambuk, crimson with rage. Saliva flew as he shouted.
“That means she was hiding in the stable all this time. That fugitive, with the help of whoever was with her, has killed Svariz’s men. She’s killed several of my Hunters! My men! While you were stalling me! While you were laughing in my face!”
Ambuk tried to plead, but his head failed him and his face fell back on to the ground.
“Lift that treacherous bastard up!” Osvan ordered, and two guards lifted him by the arms so that he hung like a broken puppet.
Osvan dismounted, grasped Ambuk’s hair and pulled his head back.
“I want you to witness what happens to traitors,” he whispered into the Proxy’s ear. Then he turned to the horrified villagers. “I want all of you to know what awaits traitors. Nobody escapes the law of the gods! Nobody escapes what Sesmok’s decided! Those who shelter or aid the Heroes are sentenced to death! Those who know the Heroes and yet fail to deliver them to us will be sentenced to death! T
hat’s what you need to learn, and learning comes with blood!”
Svariz looked at him, awaiting his command.
“Kill them all, and burn the village to ashes,” Osvan ordered. “Let it be an example to the other villages, to all the Counties. Leave a few alive so they can spread the word.”
Svariz raised his arm amid the terrified sobbing and pleading of the villagers.
“Attention, Guard! Spear strike! All the way!”
While the soldiers delivered death and the cries of horror rose to the heavens, Osvan looked into Ambuk’s eyes, half-closed and covered in blood.
“That’s what awaits those who oppose Regent Sesmok.”
“One day… the Heroes will kill you… and free the people from slavery… and from monsters…. like you…”
“That will never happen, you fool!” said Osvan, and killed him.
Chapter 19
The entrance to the Western Temple shone faintly in the light of two big braziers. Like flaming guards they stood at the concave double door which gave way to the sacred precinct. The building was spherical and completely golden, which made it unmistakable, even more so in the First Ring where the buildings were crystalline.
Adamis watched warily from a prudent distance. His face was hidden under a cloak with a white hood. Most of the temples, of different sizes according to their importance, kept that rounded shape, following the ancient beliefs. The sphere: representing the protection of The Five. Gold: the glorious final destiny awaiting the Golden, he mused, alert to any suspicious movement. On the façade the carved runes in honor of the founders of the Golden Dogma stood out. The temple was in the less privileged part of the Ring, where the third caste lived: the Commons. As the most populous of the castes, they occupied a third of the whole extension of the Ring. They were mostly Warriors, Seamen, Priests, Healers, Craftsmen and minor Merchants.
He narrowed his eyes and made sure he could not perceive any Power or other danger near him. I suppose they must have chosen this temple because it is in the very center of my father’s realm. They must know I would never come to a temple in any other Ring. Even though temples are sacred and blood cannot be shed in them, that is the law, punishable by death.
