The Third Corridor

by The third corridor (NCP) (lit)

  Sera inhaled the evening air. It was fresh and amiable. The air was not nearly as chilled as it had been the previous nights. The fire gently crackled, and its warmth was satisfying. She grew drowsy, and fought to stay awake. Sera was bored stiff. With her memories in limbo, she had nothing much else to reminisce about, except him, and most of that was not pleasant. She rose to her feet to shake the sluggishness and walked to the edge of the bush. She looked out to the stars shimmering in crystalline rhythm across the abysmal sky. It was a clear night--luna. Her thoughts began to drift and bits of memory besieged her, a few recognizable faces but not much else. Did she have a family? Were they bereaved with her loss? If only she had a way to contact them, to let them know she was alive. For now, she was a displaced person in an alien world with nothing to do but bide her time.

  When the moon reached its highest point in the sky--half luna--midnight, she knew it was time to rouse him. He rose readily and took his place at watch. Sera was appreciative that it was her turn to rest, but her sleep remained disturbed through most of the night. It was nearly full luna before her agitation settled.

  "Sera." He shook her. The knight was crouched at her side. "Sera, you must awaken now."

  Sera startled awake. It seemed as though only moments had passed since she had fallen asleep, but it was already quarter rise (dawn). Her mouth was sticky, and she smacked her lips. She thought that her breath must be horrid.

  "Go away," Sera pushed him rather unobtrusively on the shoulder and turned over. The warrior grasped both of her shoulders from behind, picked her completely off of the ground and placed her on her feet. He swiveled her around to face him.

  Now that got her attention.

  "You must rise!" He shook her again, more vigorously this time. Sera’s head bobbled a few times before she bolted it upright. She was irritated that he would wake her in such a rough manner, and was about to retaliate when he grabbed her chin with one hand and turned her head.

  "Koitazo!"(Look!)

  Sera could see two specks moving across the lowlands. "We must leave, now. There are intruders approaching!"

  He was no coward. Under better circumstances, he would have boldly met his foe and slaughtered them. With his strength diminished however, there was a possibility he could be defeated. If he lost, they would take Sera. He would not put her in jeopardy.

  He had extinguished the fire and camouflaged it. His charger was loaded and ready. He was dressed in the vestments that remained intact, his trousers, leather boots, and gloves. A small piece of his jerkin that was not used for his bandage was tied about his upper arm presenting a section of his crest. His weapon belt was secured at his hips. He was bare-chested, and Sera was momentarily dazed by how savagely handsome he looked.

  He picked up her jacket and held it out to her. She stared at him stupidly, like a besotted maiden, until he became impatient and started to dress her. That snapped her from her trance. Sera snatched her jacket from him and immediately put it on. The warrior then mounted his charger and offered her his hand.

  "Quickly Sera."

  Sera hesitated, still apprehensive, but finally placed her hand in his and allowed him to pull her behind him. She shifted in the saddle barely large enough for two, realizing quickly how firmly she was pressed up against his back, his heat suffusing her clothing and warming her flesh.

  Enticing heat…masculine heat.

  Sera had little time to dwell on the awkwardness of it as he yanked the reins and the charger moved forward. They headed straight through the cluster of trees and toward the creek. The charger expertly maneuvered the rocks and gullies that presented along the path. They traveled along the water’s shore until they reached a large, grassy clearing where the stream’s edges expanded to a dashing river. A new forest was just ahead. They briefly stopped at the rim of the plain.

  "What is your experience with a courser?"

  Sera thought hard. She remembered something, a beach and riding along the sand, a dirt road along a field and jumping an old wooden gate. "I’m quite competent."

  The warrior snapped the horse’s bridle and it moved instantly, accelerating to a full gallop, gaining speed as it moved with swiftness across the field. In an instant protective response, Sera’s arms flew around the warrior’s waist and she held to him tightly. She feared that if it weren’t for the high cantle at her back, and the pressure of his body against hers at her front, she would have been propelled from the saddle. This was unquestionably the fastest horse she had ever ridden, and it was exhilarating.

  They reached the next copse safely. The warrior slowed the charger’s gait to a trot and then to a steady walk as they moved through brush and into the wooded area. They followed the river bank traveling deeper into the forest, until it was well past full rise (midday). The knight seemed to have his bearings, guiding his charger purposefully. Sera removed her arms from around the stranger. She had not noticed earlier, but now her right arm felt wet. She looked at it and grimaced. From midway down her forearm, to the palm of her hand, she was stippled red. It canvassed the now dried, brownish tint of the blood which had painted her sleeve earlier. He was still bleeding. She wiped her hand on the leg of her trousers.

  "It is a flesh wound, Sera. Not to bother."

  "What’s your horse name?" Sera asked, not wanting to think about the fact that the warrior was bleeding to death.

  He grinned. She had no interest in knowing his name. It was well deserved. He had frightened her immensely, and she chose to keep distant, but he was no fool. He had no doubt that she wouldn’t hesitate to rip the parts off of any threatening intruder. He considered himself fortunate to still possess his appendages. All of them.

  "Her name is Dex, and she is pleased to make your fellowship."

  Sera smiled and patted the charger’s hind quarter. She had developed a fondness for the creature, now finding humor in how the horse badgered her at the river. How awful of a man could its master be to own such a waggish creature?

  They continued their journey in silence for what seemed like endless hours, until the rise began leaving them. It was nearly full set (dusk). Sera looked about. The forest was dwindling into tall underbrush, and the river branched into a smaller brook. They followed the capillary into a meadow dotted with a delightful sprinkling of turquoise flowers. The aroma was quite lovely, similar to the scent of lilacs. The warrior commanded Dex to stop. He surveyed the horizon and the dimming skies. "We will camp until quarter rise."

  Sera dismounted from the horse and the warrior followed. The jolt with the ground caused him to grab the side where he had been wounded and he doubled over. Then he fell to his knees. Sera knelt and placed a hand on his back. She pushed his hair to one side, and felt his forehead. He was febrile.

  "You need to rest." Sera placed her hands on his shoulders and urged him to sit. She unwrapped the bandages and grimaced. The wound was red and puffy and oozing, clearly infected. She rinsed the wound and attempted to cool him with water from the brook. Thick, dark blood seeped languidly, and Sera was forced to cut the sleeves from her jacket to create a new dressing. Using Dex’s blanket would be her last resort. It was filthy. At least the insides of her sleeves were somewhat cleaner, and the thicker material would be more absorbent.

  Throughout most of the luna, she attempted to arrest the bleeding by applying heavy pressure to the laceration, using her forearm. Rise seemed as though it would never break. Sera, deprived of sleep, was feeling thoroughly depleted of energy. Her head finally dropped to his chest, and she nodded off.

  A tumult of flashing scenery and noises began obtruding into her thoughts, dashing lights, an explosion, fire, and the sound of her own voice echoing, Possum checklist complete. She was reading reports, and studying complex digital readouts. In her dream state, Sera reached, grasping for information, attempting to read the name tags of the people in the room, searching their faces for recognition.

  The images were suddenly shattered as the warrior sat erect, throwing Sera sideways
and jarring her from the smudged visions that invaded her dreams. The luna had passed and the quarter rise (dawn), was just beginning to crest the horizon.

  "What is it? What’s wrong?" Sera sat up and rubbed her face. He bid her to be quiet, pressing a finger to her lips. He tilted his head to listen. Sera attempted to listen too, and then she heard it. Horses were approaching. They both stood. Two riders appeared in the distance and were fast drawing near. The warrior yanked his sword from its scabbard. As the trespassers came closer, he was able to determine their colours. He was well seasoned in the garnishings of warriors from other Zones.

  "The Fourth Zone. Stay alert."

  Sera’s heart began to thump without even knowing what the real danger could be.

  He turned to her and firmly warned, "Do not speak your language ever, in the presence of others. They will surely strive to acquire you. Do you understand?"

  Sera nodded.

  The two intruders came to a stop three horse lengths away from them. The younger of the two wore a plain brown tunic and a crimson belt. He was a simple page. He bore no weapons except for a meager set of bow and arrows. The other wore the same styled, brown tunic, but the crimson star of the First Kingdom, was embroidered in the upper, left corner. A sword rested in his belt and he held a shield of the same colours and emblem.

  "A mere squire." The warrior deemed this citizen posed little threat. The star lacked a piercing silver dagger, the badge awarded to the accomplished combatants of the Fourth Zone. Nonetheless, this apprentice of warfare halted before them and dismounted from his horse. He drew his weapon.

  "I seek reprisal for the head of my master, King Zoren, descendant of Nyx, First Kingdom of the Fourth Zone," the squire declared, "and it is your head Jerad, son of Shegarth, descendant of Antheia, Third Corridor of the Tenth Zone, that shall give me deliverance!"

  Sera looked at her warrior escort, Jerad.

  The gap that separated them as strangers narrowed a fraction.

  The squire sneered then snapped back his head, a common innuendo used among the Zones for intimidation and to show great detest. He raised his sword.

  Jerad flashed a contemptuous grin. "Leave this place. You are a nuisance." He cocked his head and waved the squire off with the back of his hand, as if annoyed by his presence. "I see no herald declaring this Challenge."

  "Do not ridicule me assassin," the squire refuted with a menacing voice.

  "You servant, overstep your authority." Jerad’s tone was cool and rigid. His arm was outstretched and he pointed a finger inches from the squire’s nose. "You will regret your insubordination."

  With this, the squire from the Fourth Zone drove his sword forward. Jerad parried and counter attacked with an oblique upper swing of his sword. The squire leapt back and attempted a cut of his own. Jerad anticipated the move and avoided it. He thrust his sword. The squire moved back and out of reach, but then lunged forward again and circled his sword to drive a blow. Jerad, extended his left hand and blocked the blade at the cross guard. Simultaneously, Jerad’s sword made slanted contact with the squire’s blade. With a great shove Jerad broke contact with the squire. Jerad then stumbled backward and became unbalanced. He slid to one knee. The squire lifted his blade to strike.

  Sera gasped. She feared that Jerad, weak from fever and the loss of blood, was about to be defeated. With a quick exchange from her left to her right, the dorsum of Sera’s foot came up between the squire‘s legs. "Wa!Ya!"

  The squire’s eyes widened as he released his sword. He grabbed his crotch and squeaked out a curse before falling backwards.

  "Yo! Ten points!" Sera did a little jig clasping her hands above her and waving them.

  Jerad surged, sword in hand, and jabbed it harshly into the dirt, taking with it, a chunk of the squire’s ear. Blood began to ooze from the wound. Sera winced. The squire squealed with the pain, rose to his feet, and mounted his horse. He retreated, disappearing into the horizon. His page, who had completely avoided the conflict, followed closely behind him.

  "He is spineless," Jerad stated complacently. "It would serve him right if I pierced his tail with my arrow, hence his citizens know of his foolishness."

  He turned to Sera, and scowled. "You were not supposed to speak woman."

  "I said it in your language."

  "Wa Ya are not words in my language. I will be grateful if your intonation was not noticed."

  "I have an accent? Not me." Sera threw her palms to heart and looked at him innocently.

  Jerad rolled his eyes. "Let us hope that this brain damage you suffer is remedied with haste."

  It was Sera’s turn to scowl.

  Jerad ignored her and instead took notice of the sword the squire abandoned in his recession. Jerad retrieved the item and examined it. The sword was a diamond cut, double-edged weapon with an arched steel cross guard. It glimmered in the light of the rise. The grip was ebony, exquisitely carved into a braided design. The pommel, like the blade, was a highly polished, steel orb. It contained a star shaped bezel holding a two karat ruby, the symbol and colour of the First Kingdom of the Fourth Zone. Jerad recognized the sword. It belonged to Zoren. His squire had either stolen or inherited it when Zoren was slain by Jerad. It was a fine sword, and masterfully forged. Jerad turned to Sera and presented it to her, hilt down, tip up.

  "Your spoils, Lady Noble." He bowed to her. "I thank you for your assistance."

  Sera was mulling over the integrated fighting skills she apparently had. She looked at him confoundedly, intrigued that he was arming her with a weapon. She accepted the sword.

  "I’m a little surprised that you would give me a weapon."

  "Why?"

  "Am I not your captive?" It was meant as a mocking statement, for in reality, Jerad had shown her no sign that she was his prisoner. He treated her more like a traveling companion.

  "Captive?" Jerad raised an eyebrow. "It would be quite contemptuous of me to entrap a descendant of Gaia, one whose status ranks higher than mine. I would surely be punished. My duty is to give you honor."

  Sera rubbed her forehead. She did not understand. Her thoughts strayed to her own origins as her eyes wandered upward.

  "Ah Sera, what is it you search for in the skies?"

  "My people, they must be looking for me. I’m sure a rescue is on the way."

  "Then let us hope that when they do, they will choose to point their feet to the ground instead of their heads."

  Sera squinted at the odd comment. "You saw the crash?"

  "Hmn." He splayed his hand through his hair. "I was being watchful of the shatter arrows being thrown by Nyx warriors. They are powerful and will split a man apart when they burst within the flesh. I had decided to arc along the edge of the grassland to avoid detection.

  As I moved toward the safety of the forest, I spied an object, a person in the sky just ahead of where I rode. No higher than two of my lengths, the body appeared in the air from nowhere and tumbled to the ground."

  He lifted her chin with two fingers. "I thought my eyes deceived me, but then I found you."

  Sera blinked at him. She could see by his look that he believed the unbelievable tale. He had to be hallucinating.

  "At first I thought you a spirit, but then I touched you and knew you were flesh," he paused, running his hands down her arms. "You are the Ptino asteri."

  Sera quickly scanned her memory banks. Ptino asteri, bird star, starbird. He must have seen her ship when it entered the atmosphere. She didn’t just merely fall out of it, drop through the sky and hit the ground. One thing was definite. He knew that she was not of this world, and amazingly he seemed to accept it as nothing extraordinary.

  Sera’s eyes browsed the skies, once more. "What is the name of this world?"

  "Protogio."

  "Pro-toe-j-e-o." Sera mouthed the pronunciation but without an interpretation of the words.

  "Gaia and Protogio are linked. You must have learned of our connection through Argilos and Tomas, the two who came before you
."

  Sera shook her head. "I’ve lost my memory."

  Jerad studied her with contemplation. One side of his mouth turned up in a half smile as awareness struck him. He moved his palm to her cheek. "Pure of mind."

  Sera stepped back from his touch. "What do you mean?"

  "It is a quote from the Edict of Oneroi." He reached out for her again. Sera took one more uneasy step backwards. He really shouldn’t be touching her like that.

  "Do you know my language?"

  "I know some of the words. The two Gaians could not speak our tongue when they arrived. We spent much time learning to communicate with each other."

  "Did you see my ship crash?" Sera looked at him expectantly.

  "There was no ship, only you."

  Jerad scanned the horizon, looking for any indication that other warriors from the Fourth Kingdom were present. Satisfied that they were relatively safe for now, he turned to Sera. "We must go now. I will walk for a bit. The brawl with the squire has enlivened me, but I fear it may pass before too long."

  Sera decided that she too would walk and they both continued the trek on foot. Sera kept at least two horse lengths behind him. She was too deep in thought to keep his company. She was a bit disoriented, but there was no doubt that she had seen her dead crewmates and crawled from the wreckage. True, she hadn’t actually seen the ship explode. She heard it, felt it, saw the flames, and she remembered being in it, well, sort of, although now, everything seemed to be one big blur. Jerad claimed that there was no ship. Maybe he just didn’t see it. Perhaps she climbed a tree and what he saw, was her falling from it. There had to be a reasonable explanation. Sera strained to refine the intricacies of her voyage from her home planet to Protogio, but the memory she clung to, felt more like an illusion. It was fading from her reality like a long expired notion. Sera pondered that for a lengthy amount of time.