“I don’t,” Aide said. “I was too busy running for my life and I didn’t even have my walking stick with me.”
“Well, I think it's time we find out,” Gavin said grimly.
“Gavin?” Markam said, warningly.
Gavin rolled his eyes but looked at Markam. “Don’t worry, Markam, I wasn’t thinking of doing it myself. What say you work out a little aggression you’ve been harboring for Aiden on one of our little floating friends?”
Aiden didn’t like how feverishly happy Markam’s grin was.
***
It was not difficult in the least to set up an ambush of one of the menacing floaters. Aiden knew they could move faster than the creatures, so it was only a matter of getting one of the things attention. If things went badly, Aiden was fairly sure they could just run away.
As Aiden and Gavin stayed at a respectable distance, they watched Markam approach the interior of the camp where they had identified the fewest number of creatures. Shortly, when Markam was about thirty meters away, one of the things picked up Markam’s presence and began to move toward him. The stout guardsmen stood, waiting patiently as the thing approached.
“That’s odd,” Gavin said softly, half whispering. “It's just moving in on him as if there’s no danger.”
“Or it's just stupid,” Aiden whispered back. “Do you think they can communicate with each other? Some were close to that one, but none of them followed when it started to go for Markam. When I was in camp, there was a whole bunch that chased me.”
“You were probably within range of a lot of them; maybe you just didn’t notice them coming for you until it was too late. It's not like we’re used to looking up for danger. Wait!” Gavin said, pointing. “Markam’s making his move.”
Gavin and Markam stopped, watching intently as Markam, without preamble, stepped forward and struck sideway toward the thing's tentacles. The sword cut through them like they weren’t there, scattering several curling pieces across the ground as the floater recoiled in pain.
Markam stepped back, watching carefully to see what the creature would do or if it would attack, but the creature was clearly in distress. It had pulled the long stubs of its tentacles upwards and had turned, frantically trying to escape what had attacked it. Even from this distance, they could see the creature’s body shivering with strange ripples racing up and down its length. Several other floaters suddenly turned and begin moving towards their injured number.
They watched as Markam reached down to pick up one of the severed tentacles but quickly drop it, and then retreat towards their hiding place. He was shaking his hand in pain when he arrived and didn’t look happy.
“Their tentacles still sting like the dickens even after I cut it off,” Markam said, showing them his red, blistered skin. It didn’t look like it had disabled his hand, but it did look painful. He looked back toward the now-circling pack of floaters, shaking his head. “The sword worked great, but they’re bodies are too high to reach.”
“Clearly they can communicate,” Gavin said, watching as several other floaters gathered around the injured one who was still quivering in distress. Some had draped their tentacles over the injured one’s body, and we're sending pulses of light into it. “And, apparently, heal each other. That one’s tentacles are growing longer.”
The three friends watched in wonder as the things tentacles slowly grew back. It took almost fifteen minutes, but in the end, the floater was as good as new. They also noticed that despite Markam having walked back to their hiding place, none of the creatures had acted like they knew where he had gone. Instead, they circled the area of the attack in angry confusion.
“Well, that was educational,” Gavin said once everything had calmed down. Once their compatriot had been healed, all of the creatures resumed what looked like a normal routine of grazing. “It looks like everything is back to business as usual. I wonder if a squad of bowmen would have better luck. I could try throwing my dagger.”
“I’ve got a better idea. I changed my walking stick so it would hit from a distance.” Aiden said, eying the closest floater. Let me try that though I’ll have to get closer. I’m not a very good aim.”
“Gavin and Markam exchanged glances, looking impressed. “That...sounds interesting,” Gavin said. “Really, Aiden, you can’t keep these toys to yourself. You have a distance attack with your stick? Do you throw it or something?”
“No,” Aiden answered before stepping out from behind cover and moving towards his target. “Watch this.”
He didn’t move to within thirty meters because he didn’t want to have to deal with the thing coming towards him, so he stopped where he judged it was just beyond that range. Slowly, he brought the stick up, pointing it and then pressing the top, least damaging button. He wanted to see what just the basic push would do, first.
Nothing happened.
Frowning, he pointed it again and fired. This time, he saw a gentle divot appear along the creature's flank. It didn’t cause any damage, but the floater turned in response, clearly looking for the source of what had just nudged it. Ugh, of course, he’d missed the first time. He stood staring at the floater for a long moment and frowned. What now?
He continued to watch, thinking hard about his option. It wasn’t until he saw the thing move off and then dip it's tentacle into a young, exhausted soldier’s head that he knew what he had to do. Whatever they were doing, they were preying on people and even if they weren’t killing them outright, they were helping to do it. He took one last look back towards the now-distant front of the fort before raising his weapon and firing it on its highest setting.
The bloated, sickly body of the thing disappeared into a fine, yellow mist.
He didn’t like killing anything, though he knew he’d done it in the past. But each of those times had been desperate, or to survive. This death had been different. He’d thought it out and then deliberately pressed the button that ended the creature’s life. He watched sadly as the fine yellow mist drifted off in the breeze, disappearing against the backdrop of the camp, but when his eyes refocused, he was looking at the haggard faces of the oblivious soldiers around him.
Raising his walking stick, he began to clear the sky over the camp of any of the floaters he could reach. It was his first glimmer of what war really was.
“So,” Gavin said casually from behind him, “I take it we’re not going to skirt the camp anymore?”
Aiden shook his head. “No,” He said, distantly. “And I think I now know what your father meant about protecting others and standing between those that can’t defend themselves.”
The trio began to pace through the camp, heading towards the rear where Carol had recommended they set up the gate. As they moved, Aiden continued to kill the floaters with ease. The floaters couldn’t see what was befalling their brethren and those Aiden killed didn’t have time to send out a warning.
However, as they walked through the camp, Aiden began to notice that many more of the campsites had been abandoned with many columns of soldiers moving toward the rear.
“Is it me or does it look like soldiers are leaving?” Aiden asked Gavin as he walked beside the tall noble.
“I don’t know. Maybe the troops are just repositioning or something?” Gavin said, shrugging. “Why would they leave?”
“No, they are leaving,” Markam said, his eyes resting on one of the abandoned campsites. The fire was still smoldering, and Aiden could see licks of flame within the half-collapsed wood pyramid. “A Sargent wouldn’t allow troops to leave so much trash or a lit fire unattended. Especially in a camp they might return to, even if surrounded by mud.”
Gavin paused, cursing under his breath. “You’re right, Markam. That’s not good news. From everything I've heard, if this place falls, Norpon and his troops will sweep Caitrel and Banum. Not to mention that putting a gate right in the middle of an advancing enemy line sounds like a terrible idea.”
Aiden grimaced as he looked around. If they were leav
ing, then he would need to put the gate wherever the soldiers were going. The problem was, he had no idea how they could figure that out without either asking someone or following the army. The second option sounded dismal, and there was no telling how far they might have to travel, and the first option sounded dangerous. What if they were mistaken for spies?
“We’ve got to ask someone what is going on,” Aiden heard himself say.
“Sure, let's just pop out in the middle of the camp,” Gavin said sarcastically, “I’m sure these terrified soldiers will be understanding of strangers appearing in their midst.”
“Yeah,” Aiden said, frowning. “I think being stabbed isn't my idea of a good way to help.”
“Maybe we can find an officer and listen in. It's a slim chance but better than being run through.” Gavin said, gesturing the way the troops were going. “There are some bigger tents that way. Maybe we’ll get lucky.”
The three continued, walking through the camp but instead of officers, the tents resolved themselves into what looked like a hospital. There were quite a few of the mobile injured sitting outside or lying on pallets set under tarps. It was difficult to walk amongst the wounded, witnessing their misery, but Aiden especially didn’t want to avoid clearing this area from floaters. It couldn’t help the healing if the floaters were feeding off of the injured.
Still, despite the terrible chore of ending so many lives, no matter how alien, Aiden’s eyes widened as he watched a familiar face come out of one of the tents.
“By the gods!” Aiden exclaimed. The man didn’t look much older, but his face carried a few more lines of stress and worry than when he’d last seen the mercenary. Despite everything the man had put them through, including kidnapping, Aiden felt a strange sense of elation at seeing the man alive.
“Is that Stitch?” Gavin asked.
“Yes, and he may be the perfect person to help us,” Aiden responded. “He can show us the best place for the gate and maybe even get help from the Caitrel army.”
“Are you sure we can trust him?” Gavin asked.
Aiden had to remember that Gavin had been unconscious during their break-out, but Aiden was sure. “Yes. Yes, I think we can, but we need to be careful.”
They followed Stitch, who looked exhausted, toward a large tent. When they got to the flap, Aiden stopped and led them around toward the back. It was an isolated place set up against a wall and looked like as good a place as any to transition. Hopefully, they could just sneak in and out without anyone else noticing.
Right, he thought to himself, like that ever happens.
Chapter 21
Aiden slowly felt the transition settle over him. The move from this second realm took the same amount of energy that it took to travel to the Anderealm but, he realized, there was no headache when he emerged. Maybe it was because of the same phenomenon that had healed him? He was pleased because the pain could range between annoying to debilitating depending on what he was doing. The worst had been when he created the Aidengates. He’d only done it twice, but each time he’d been unconscious for a day and unable to do anything for two more.
He would have preferred more time to ponder it, but the insistent feel of a cold blade against his throat was too distracting.
“I don’t know who you are, but you better start talking quickly,” rasped the familiar voice of Stitch. Despite how they parted, he could feel the icy hand of fear grip his stomach and squeeze. The man had a dark voice and it brought back terrible memories of when the Mercenary had been hired to kidnap him. Gavin and Markam froze with their wide eyes locked on the man over Aiden’s shoulder. Despite the suddenness of the threat, Markam looked like he was getting ready to lunge and Aiden knew that was a mistake.
Locking his eyes with Markam, he slowly lifted his hand in the universal ‘wait’ gesture and was thankful when the big guardsman acknowledged him with a subtle nod.
“Wise choice, kid,” Stitch growled toward Markam. “You don’t want to see how easily I could cut your friends head off. Maybe I should just save myself the… wait,” There was a sudden pause before the man’s voice continued carefully. “Aren’t you Terek’s kid?”
“Stitch…” Aiden whispered, making sure he didn’t move or do anything else to alarm the man. He not only was a good mercenary, but he was also an excellent assassin. After Aiden spoke, he could almost feel the man’s eyes narrow.
“Aiden?” Stitch said with bafflement clear in his voice. The blade slowly withdrew from Aiden's throat, “and Gavin Terek? What in the blistering hells?”
Aiden turned once the blade was safely away from his throat. He was wearing his armor, but he knew that the dagger he’d given the mercenary could cut through most anything. He was just thankful the mercenary had used the dull side. “Uh, it's a long story, but we need your help. We’re trying to put a…uh,” Aiden paused, trying to figure out how to explain about the gate but figured anything would sound crazy, so he might as well go with the truth, “Gate, so we can get reinforcements here.”
“Gate? The gate is that way,” Stitch said, pointing with the black dagger attached to the stump of his right arm towards the front of the fort. “What are you talking about, kid? We’re just about to pull the army back from the fort. That gate isn’t going to do anyone any good in a few hours.”
“What? What’s going on? Why are they pulling the army back? I thought that would let the Norpon troops out into the farmlands, right?” Gavin interjected, leaning forward. “We just watched the Norpon troops pushed back. It wasn’t pretty, but it didn’t look like they were about to break through.”
Stitch eyed them all, squinting at them before looking at Gavin. “I am not going to ask how you watched the battle. I got an eyeful of strange things the last time we met, but you’re right, kid, we’re not leaving because of the enemy troops. We’re leaving because scouts reported back that the Norpon forces were bringing some huge monsters up to the front.” Stitch looked away, curling one of his lips up and sucking on one of his teeth. “Not sure I believe their stories, but I do believe the fear in their eyes.”
“Monsters?” Gavin and Aiden asked in unison before exchanging glances.
“Did the scouts describe what they’d seen?” Aiden said, remembering how horrible it was to watch the Locust Crabs attack and feast on the sailors not so long ago. The only problem was, they were not anywhere near the oceans. “They didn’t look like slugs with crab claws and lots of legs, did they?”
Stitch frowned, tilting his head and squinting at Aiden before answering. “No, and I am not certain I want to know why you asked that. The scouts said these monsters looked like some shelled lizard with tentacles for a head, but massive and taller than our walls. They said there were platforms on their backs holding a bunch of men and catapults. I guess the officers figured our walls wouldn't hold, so they’re pulling back beyond the swamp hoping the things get stuck in the mud.” The balding man snorted. “Idiots.”
“They can’t hold the plains,” Gavin said slowly. “Even if these things can’t get through the mud, the pikemen can, and they’ll wipe out your troops. With this plague draining all of your men, they don’t stand a chance.”
“You’re right, but most of them are not going to listen to me, even if I had an answer.” Stitch said. “I’m afraid my advice isn’t much in demand right now, kid.”
“What about the Naiadens?” Markam said. “Maybe they can do something. They took care of those landing skimmers in Riften pretty handily, didn’t they?”
Gavin nodded, looking eagerly at Aiden and Stitch. “Yeah, Markam has a point. If we can get them here, we may be able to hold them off. I…have never heard of giant lizards, but that has to count for the Naiadens to bring their larger weapons, right?”
Aiden shrugged. He didn’t honestly know, but if the creatures were as large as Stitch described, he was determined to try to convince the Naiaden leader it was necessary. They couldn’t be natural creatures, but more of the abominations the Mourning Lor
ds had already unleashed. Glowby seemed to swell a bit, shivering as if puffing out a non-existent chest, so Aiden figured his friend was planning to back him up.
“Listen, kid,” Stitch said. “I don’t have a clue how you even know the Naiadens are going to come help, much less how you are going to get them here. That being said, even if they dropped out of your rear hatch I wouldn’t care. We need all the help we can get. What’s the plan? I feel stupid for asking, but next to all the other wild things I’ve seen you do it can’t hurt. Can they be here within the next couple of hours?”
Aiden shook his head. “No, it will take me at least eight hours to get a gate up and running. It takes a lot out of me.”
Well, then, we’re out of luck. Those things, whatever they are, will hit our walls by noon. That’s only four hours away.” Stitch paused, clenching his good left hand. “Damn that Norpon egg sucker. How did he even get his hands on something like this?”
The Glimmer Steel Saga, Boxed Set, Books 1 - 4 Page 83
