Stronger than Bone

by Sidney Wood

  Chase and Corvis started to chuckle. “Kelly Turner?” said Chase. “He’s the King’s Master of Swords.” The two men traded a mischievous look. “You can find him in the capital, usually at the castle. Why do you need to find that crazy old man?”

  Lynn shook his head and refused to say more. The conversation went no further.

  At the opposite end of the valley, a company of rebel soldiers searched for signs of the escaped prisoner. “Sir, it looks like someone was camped here. There are horse tracks as well. We believe at least two men were camped here for several days. They were probably lookouts for a larger group farther up the valley. I’ve sent a few men ahead to make sure, but there is a path through the center of the valley that may be the shortest route. I suggest we set up camp here and maneuver up through the valley at first light tomorrow. We can send a squad up each side of the valley like pincers while the main force moves down the middle.”

  The rebel Captain shook his head and laughed. “Sergeant Major, you are always so cautious! We are after one man. So what if he has a few others with him? We have an entire company of the best fighting men in the Rebel army!” He said that last part loudly enough for anyone to hear. Some shouts of approval were heard among the resting men. “No Sergeant Major, we will not wait. We will march into these woods tonight, and we will capture this man as he sleeps. Or we will kill him when he tries to escape.” He turned to face the men and shouted, “One hour! Catch your breath and be ready to march in one hour! This ends tonight!”

  Turning back to the Sergeant Major he said, “I want the company spread across the valley on line. We will walk through the valley, like we are a giant net dragging the ocean for fish. It will be a slow process, but we will be sure to catch our prey.”

  With a quick salute the Sergeant Major turned to deliver the instructions to his Sergeants. He mumbled to himself as he walked. “Officers…just once I’d like to meet one that wasn’t a complete idiot.”

  An hour later they were walking on line through the forest. The light was fading, so the men had to stay close or risk breaking the formation. The company was big, but it still didn’t reach all the way across the valley. As it got darker the men had to move closer to keep on line, and they condensed farther and farther in to the middle of the valley.

  The scouts had not reported back, so no one really knew what lay ahead.

  At the cabin, a rider stopped his horse suddenly. “They’re about half way up the valley,” the private said as he dismounted. “I ran into a few scouts on my way back, but they seemed lost. They’re not much farther than the main body.”

  “This is it men,” said Lynn. “Whatever God you pray to, now is the time.” He stepped out of the doorway and one by one, he put his hand on each man’s shoulder and looked him in the eye. “Move quickly and be brave. We have every advantage tonight. Keep moving and don’t look back.” Then looking at Chase and Corvis he said, “Lieutenants, you know the plan. Execute.”

  Without hesitation, Lynn and Chase mounted their own horses. Charity rode with Corvis, and the private who had been riding scout pulled Guy’s cart. The rest doubled up on the remaining two horses. The last man to mount handed each rider a torch. Without a word, they split into two columns and raced for the southern tree line.

  As they approached the dark forest, they slowed and turned; one column right and one column left. They lit the dry piles of tinder and brush as they went. At the edge of the valley each team headed south, continuing to set the forest ablaze as they went.

  It was slow going, but they met no resistance. It wasn’t until the forest began to really burn; and it did, that they began to hear the rebels yelling in fear. Soon the cries of fear turned to screams of pain. When they passed over the crest of the hill and began their slow descent the screams finally died out. Lynn thanked God for that. Burning is a terrible way to die. He set his jaw and continued leading his horse carefully down the mountain.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  (Present Day: 237 Cycles into the Light)

  Crashing through the tree line between pillars of smoke and flame, a badly burned rebel soldier stumbled and fell. He coughed uncontrollably as he struggled to get back up. He saw a cabin in the middle of a clearing up ahead. He hurried forward, ignoring the pain that clawed at him and tempted him to just stop and drop to the ground. He knew the temptation was false. There was no relief to be found in lying down or stopping. Not when you’ve been burned so badly. The soldier knew he had to find shelter and water. The cabin would have both.

  As he neared the cabin, he heard a noise. It was the sound of something whining. “Is it a hurt dog perhaps?” It seemed to be coming from past the cabin, near the shed. He took a few steps in that direction, and suddenly a terrible feeling came over him. It was as if an ice cold blanket was dropped over his shoulders, and the cold brought with it despair. He nearly fell to his knees from the weight of emotion and fear. Unable to stop himself, he continued forward. The whining sound became a deep but faint laughter. There was no humor in it. It was evil, cold, and dark. He tried to stop walking, to throw himself to the ground in protest, but his body refused to obey. He felt excruciating pain in his limbs as he got closer to the shed. Looking down, he saw his burns oozing blood. His skin was splitting like an overcooked sausage, and blood was flowing down his extremities and dripping onto the ground as he continued forward.

  The evil laughing turned to heavy lust-filled breathing. Some evil thing desired his blood, and he or it, was getting closer. As his body was compelled forward, he tried to scream again and again, but no sound came out. Then suddenly it stopped. The blanket was lifted and he could feel the control of his body returned to him. The relief was so tremendous that he collapsed to the ground. He wept.

  While he lay there weeping and bleeding, subtle movements stirred beneath him in the soil. The ground he now lay upon was recently disturbed and a body had been buried there. In complete silence, cold dead fingers, long and bony, forced their way to the surface. One enormous pale hand emerged from the soil on either side of the injured man, followed by long and powerful arms. They reached high above the pitiful man who was consumed once more by pain and fear, and slowly, without mercy they closed and wrapped him in an evil embrace. Through the dirt beneath his face, sharp teeth emerged and to his horror, gnawed at his flesh. He screamed and cried, fighting to escape, but he could not.

  Coming more and more alive with every drop of blood, the pale creature erupted from his grave and sunk his teeth deep into the neck of the rebel soldier. Feeling life flowing back into his body, Death smiled as he drank. Runes tattooed on the skin of his back and over his heart burned hot as the blood magic worked to revive him.

  Undead and with unfinished business, he finished feeding and stood up. Death stretched his limbs and took in a deep breath. The cuts and slashes in his skin had closed, but thick scars remained to tell their story. He knew this death had left him looking even more frightening and his mouth twisted into a mockery of a smile. He would find the man he hunted, and he would finish this business by gutting him. Then, while he was still alive, he would make him watch as he tore the little girl’s neck open and drank her blood. His smile grew and the start of a maniacal laugh escaped his lips.

  A dog growled and barked from the nearby shed. Death turned and looked at the shed door. He flexed his long fingers and clicked his hardened, claw-like nails together.

  The barking intensified.

  Death stood and walked to the shed. He opened the door with one hand and held the other ready to strike. From the darkness he caught a hint of movement before something slammed into his chest and sunk its teeth into his neck. He struck it with his enormous hand, slicing its side open with his pointed fingernails. He easily pried its teeth from his neck and threw it against the wall.

  All barking and growling ceased. The mother dog lay still and bled out on the floor. The puppies were completely silent as they watched the tall man look at them for a long moment. Finally, he turn
ed and walked out of the shed. There was no point in killing the little things. Their blood gave him no satisfaction, and they would die painfully of starvation on their own anyway.

  Death smiled as he felt the wounds on his neck healing. His smile faded quickly though as he realized he was now vulnerable. If the dog had killed him, he would not be reborn. He must find a dark priest or a witch, and pay them to recharge the runes. He unconsciously rubbed the skin over his heart as he thought about it. It was a lengthy and painful process.

  He couldn’t wait.

  First, there was one last piece of business to attend to. He squatted down next to the corpse and began peeling away large pieces of skin. He would need a new hat, and lucky for him, he was getting quite good at making them.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  (Present Day: 237 Cycles into the Light)

  A week passed since their descent out of the mountains, and Guy was feeling much like his old self again.

  “Slap your sister!” he exclaimed as he yanked his hand out of the water. “I felt something really big!”

  The private next to him laughed out loud, again. He was having a good old time teaching Guy to “Hand Fish.”

  “Seriously? People do this?” Guy asked. “I mean, this is so stupid! I have no idea what’s really down there!”

  “That’s what makes it so fun!” said the private. “Well, that and watching you chicken out…again!” And he rolled over laughing even louder.

  Guy rolled to his side and then back to his stomach. He got his good leg under him and stood up. “Fine, you get your arm bit off. I’m going to go shoot something like a civilized person.”

  The private chuckled some more as he scooted the edge of the bank and stuck his own arm in the hole. A moment later he jerked back, and a big mouth fish, nearly as long as his arm was on the end of it. His hand was deep inside the fish and he gripped it tight, howling with laughter as it thrashed and splashed, trying to get free. Guy could see blood on the private’s arm where the fish’s sharp teeth were cutting him, but the private didn’t seem to care or notice. Impressed, but not about to admit it, Guy muttered, “Jack ass!” under his breath, and walked back to camp to get one of the cross bows.

  “How is the fishing going brother?” asked Chase as Guy walked into camp. Chase was sharpening his sword near the smoldering ashes of the fire pit.

  “I don’t want to talk about it,” he said. He scooped up a crossbow and quiver of bolts from the cart that had been his ambulance. “Which way did you say to that cave?”

  “Uhhh, Guy, I don’t know if hunting is a good idea. You just got back on your feet,” said Chase without getting up.

  “Well it’s a hell of a lot safer than sticking my arm down holes waiting for something to try and eat me!” he snapped half-heartedly. Then he laughed, remembering the private jerking that huge fish out of the water, and his own failed attempts. He must have looked ridiculous.

  “If you’re going, I’m going with you,” Chase said, leaving no room for argument. He stood up and placed his sword back in the scabbard and slung the belt across his body and over his shoulder. He met Guy at the cart and picked up a spear one of the privates had crafted.

  Corvis, walked back into camp just as the two were getting ready to leave. Seeing Lynn and Charity also sitting near the fire pit, he joined them.

  “Sergeant Hayes, I think we’ve run out of reasons to stay here,” he stated after watching the brothers leave camp for a hunt. “Guy has healed enough to travel, and my men are getting a bit too comfortable here.”

  Lynn had to agree. It was nice finding some normalcy after the fighting up in the valley. They had agreed to travel together until Guy healed. Now the soldiers needed to return to their camp, and Lynn and his daughter had to go their own way. The problem was, he wasn’t quite sure where that might lead. He had an idea where he should start if he wanted to follow the path to his origins, but at what cost? Looking at his daughter, he considered for the thousandth time, if he shouldn’t just take her and disappear.

  “I’ve been thinking the same thing,” said Lynn. “Charity and I will be heading out at first light tomorrow.”

  “You are welcome to come with us to meet up with the Royal Guard. I’m sure my superiors will be interested to speak with you.”

  “No offense, but I am still not sure what makes me so popular. Until I find out, I think it’s best for me and my daughter to keep a low profile.”

  Corvis looked at him thoughtfully for a moment, but said no more.

  An hour later, near the boar’s cave, Chase and Guy argued hotly. “I don’t care if you want to use the spear!” Guy whispered angrily. “I didn’t take off my leg for the fun of it!”

  When they first spotted the boar, which was rooting around a rotten stump, he removed his wooden leg and used it as a rest to steady the crossbow. “I’ve got a clear shot and I’m going to take it!”

  “How many opportunities does a man have like this in his life time? Maybe one!” whispered Chase. “I’m just saying wait a minute.” Keep your eye on him while I try to get closer. If he spooks, or starts to wander off, then go ahead and shoot him.”

  “Ok fine!” Whispered Guy harshly, and he lowered the crossbow.

  Chase smiled mischievously and turned to sneak around the right, in order to approach downwind from the extremely large and dangerous boar.

  As soon as he was a few paces away, Guy gave his own mischievous smile and raised the crossbow again, rested it on his false leg, and sighted in on the beast. “Stay still you fat bastard,” he whispered to himself as he slowly squeezed the trigger.

  A solid “thunk” sounded when the bolt hit the boar and pierced its side. But, it did not fall. Instead, it merely startled before lowering its head and charging wildly toward him. “Slap your sister!” Guy thought as he tried to re-cock without taking his eyes off the boar. Frantically he looked down at what he was doing and just managed to cock the bow when he heard snapping branches and pounding hooves only a few paces away. He brought the crossbow up and held it to his cheek. His heart was thundering in his ears so loudly that he wasn’t sure he heard anything else when the boar’s enormous head burst through the foliage in front of him. What he did hear, very distinctly, and quite disappointingly, to the point of leaving him momentarily heartbroken, was the sound of an empty bowstring twanging forward impotently when he pulled the trigger. He forgot to load a new bolt.

  Guy clenched his teeth and braced himself for impact as his left hand pulled his knife from his belt.

  Suddenly and inexplicably, the boar crashed to the side and tumbled.

  Chase had heard the commotion and raced full speed back to his brother. He threw the spear on the run when he saw it burst through the bushes. He followed through by bodily tackling the boar.

  “Yes!” Chase shouted as he untangled himself from the dead animal. “Did you see that? Ha-ha!”

  Guy fell over backwards and tried to slow his breathing. “Slap your sister…”

  The next morning, Lynn and Charity were loaded up with enough meat and supplies for the next few days, and they said their goodbyes. Lynn refused the offer of horses, saying that they would be too easy to track. He gave the crossbows to Chase and Guy. He thought it would draw attention if he and Charity were armed too well. He carried his axe in one hand and his sword across his back. Charity insisted on carrying some of the provisions, and as always, her knife was tucked into her belt.

  “Best of luck to you, Sergeant Hayes,” said Chase with a firm handshake. “I can’t tell you what an honor it’s been fighting along side you.”

  The rest of them gave similar goodbyes, and went about securing their own gear for travel. Guy walked over to Charity and offered his hand to shake. She smiled and shook his hand while Guy whispered, “Gretchen was my best friend. She helped me get free of the pirates who captured me.” He gave her a wink and said, “She was strong, like you.”

  Charity smiled and waved at her new friends. Then she an
d her dad left the camp to find a man who might have some answers.

  “Now there goes a man I would follow into any battle,” said Corvis. The men near him grunted in agreement. They finished their preparations and mounted their horses. Guy rode behind the private who tried to teach him to fish, and two other privates also doubled up, leaving Lieutenant Martin his own horse. Corvis gave the order and they headed south in a column, toward the nearest encampment of the King’s Royal Guard.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  (Present Day: 237 Cycles into the Light)

  “Of course I was careful,” said Vanessa with a smile. She snuggled into the warmth of her lover’s embrace and soaked in his tenderness. Klaus, the groomsman, was a simple, but devoted man. He worried about her and it was a comfort in these dangerous times. “I sent it hidden within a gift to the King’s Master of Swords. She doesn’t know that I know, but that is who he is, her brother.”

  Klaus lay with his Love, silently. He was grateful for any of these moments they could spend together, and they didn’t come often. It was important that the Duke and his footman didn’t find out the extent of their intimacy, or both of them could be in danger.

  “Have you ever met him?” he asked. “The Master of Swords I mean.”

  “No,” she smiled and kissed him. “The Duchess says he is a silly man. He is incredibly talented and a bit self centered, but in a way that leaves a person smiling.” She kissed him again, more passionately. “Why?”

  “I am just curious what type of man holds the future of our kingdom in his hands.” He kissed her softly while his hands caressed her.

  “Your hands are the only hands that matter right now,” she whispered happily.

  Across the kingdom, near the eastern border, the King’s Guards arrived at their Battalion’s installation and reported in to their Commanding Officer.