by Matt Wilk
“Go it slow until dark. If I don’t catch up, its two days back to Embraun. Don’t stop.”
I threw the shell over my head and traced the trail of blood north before Jyetta could refuse. The mess disappeared too quickly on the eastern shore, so I crossed back. With a running start, I slid right across on my back shell without a problem. The cold convinced me to follow the trail directly, and I did not realize what had happened until I ran into Bratley full stop.
“Owie- sorry bub.”
“Matthius? Oh, thank the scales. It’s alright boys, he’s one of ours.”
His party let off the pressure on their bows. I could not see them, but I heard some of them suck their teeth at losing permission to kill. The trail ended a few feet past us in the forest. One wolf lay dead from a broken neck. Next to him was the Scarlet Opa the pack had killed as revenge.
“Never seen one in the day before now. This thing is much larger than I had originally anticipated. Just look at the size of its feet.”
“Damn thing buggered up the whole hunt. I don’t care what it is, just wish I could have killed it myself.”
I recognized the voice and giant build of the man. He was bigger than an Opa, not in height- in mass. His red hair disappeared into his beard. As for the competition for the burliest man in the hunting party, he won it outright. Still, he stared at the mark on my chin with an obvious disdain.
“Master Tremaine, I presume?”
“Do not speak my name, marker.”
“Would you prefer I break your arms?”
“Typical Swillian, no respect.”
He spat on the ground and stalked back to the hunting party. They had only bagged one giant stag so far. Given that their back packs were still swollen with provisions, they had only just gotten started the day before.
“That’s one for the ages. Never seen a man insult a Tremaine and not end up a bloody mess of broken bones.”
“They send a lot of business your way, Doctor Prinn?”
“That they do, boy. That they do.”
Doctor Prinn was bent over the Opa, rubbing its shoulders and parting its hair in places. I knew immediately what had happened, though, I was not sure if it was safe to say out loud. Bratley accurately interpreted the look on my face.
“What do see?”
“Best to leave that for the privacy of the council.”
“No, it is best to first tell a professional. That way, your inference can be analyzed.”
“Yes sir.”
While the rest of the party told jokes at my expense, I removed the shell. Prinn noticed the claw marks on my abdomen but did not see the full extent of the wound until I removed my Chron vest. I brought the lion tooth forward to dangle over my chest, and every one fell silent. Bratley smiled from ear to ear.
“There goes my favorite tall. You killed that long tooth?”
“And, they were there.”
“To witness?”
“They were hoping to catch me in a weakened state.”
“What happened?”
“After I killed the beast, they fled, like cowards.”
“How?”
“My shell is the single greatest weapon they have ever seen.”
“And, this one, in particular?”
Doctor Prinn caught on to where I was leading. Slowly nodding, he helped me to finish.
“They threw spears at you?”
“Tall reeds, hollowed out and sharpened at both ends.”
“How did you know that?”
“They held him down and broke his right arm in several places.”
“The slashes down the back are your surest sign. The price of failure, which they learned from us.”
“What’s that now?”
I turned my back on them and Prinn agreed that the patterns were too similar to be coincidence. Only two of the hunters were Lokah. Upon seeing the scars, they spit, slandering the Slorrick sun worshippers for their madness. For once, none of the grey skins took offense. I continued to stare north, squinting against the bright snow. Bratley trusted my instincts and asked for answers.
“What do you see?”
“Nothing.”
“Amazing. I did not notice.”
“What is wrong with you Lantos?”
“Nothing.”
“Exactly, no stirring. Not a single noise. Did the beaver smack their tails at your approach?”
“Not that I remember. We did not leave the road until we crossed the river. Then the noise of the fray...”
“What is it, boy? Don’t make me set Leona on you again.”
“The Opa cannot swim, sir. They are either in the trees above us, or this one was exiled for his failure. Either way, they ran from our valley and never came back.”
“If the tall reds come to hide in the Holy Land, we will know.”
“Would you? And the bear-kin?”
“That is a Sheek-tee problem.”
I got dressed and huffed away the manly portrayal of arrogance. None of them understood at all. Slaying the Opa War Chief was the one mission remaining in which I might reclaim my honor. Still, more than one man flicked his eyes to the canopy.
“Seriously, have Leona take a look at that wound. It looks deep enough to have damaged an artery.”
“You know your slices, Master Surgeon. Took a week to stop bleeding.”
“That’s my tall. Took to the hilt like a fish in water. Smashing display, Matthius.”
“Thank you, Sir Bratley. To be clear, when I get to town, I should check in at the secret headquarters?”
“That’s right. You will be welcomed with open arms, I’m sure.”
“For the most horrifying of reasons, I’ll bet.”
“Don’t forget your sword.”
Doctor Prinn looked around in the snow. Bratley met my eye and we shared a very deep laugh.
“I haven’t got one.”
“What? But, the long tooth? How are you still alive?”
I held up my fists and feinted towards the good Doctor. He fell back in the snow, getting his bum all wet and cold. Even Lord Tremaine laughed at the show of force. The little turtle, surprisingly, lifted their spirits. However, as they rallied to continue the hunt, I had to chase after the scared mercs. They had not stopped, nor did they slow when I had caught up. Jim turned when I shouted. They pretended not to hear. I chased after the boxed wagon, losing more patience with every step. Eventually, I sprinted at them full force and launched myself up onto the roof in a single bound. Jim and Hoss laughed, but the noise frightened the steed into a gallop. We went as far as the next gathering of grass. The poor thing desperately needed a break, and we were finally safe.
Ambassador Crow finally remembered his power after a few days of mourning. I was arguing with the mercenaries about the state of the weary steed when Jyetta decided that he had had enough. He threw open the door to the boxed wagon and the steed came to a stop on instinct.
“Fine. I will go first. Matthius, you may release the steed from his bounds.”
“Are you mad? What if he skips off?”
“Yes! I am very mad that you used my name as an excuse to abuse this animal. When- if he returns, then we will know for sure that he is ready for more.”
“Say something boss.”
“Fine. You can go next.”
Hoss and I laughed in the same tone, as he and I were both strong enough to push the cart on our own. The steed did skip off immediately. He disappeared into the woods, likely seeking water and berries, without so much as looking back. Jyetta thought that he was ready to push the cart, but his body disagreed. My shoulders and calf’s were swollen with blood from pushing the cart for days. The sun gave me strength and healed the damage from overuse. I was alone in that. Lucky for them, I still helped them in turns throughout the day because I did not need to rest until dark. The steed was angry and deserved his break. Though we spotted him running circles around us and pretending to return, he did not bother with it until morning of the tenth day
. By then, it was only a few hours to Embraun.
“Good on you there Master Ambassador. You made your point. You made it well.”
Jyetta had earned Hoss’s respect the hard way by getting out to push on the last two days of travel. Jim was not prepared for it but agreed with his boss on the merit of leading from the front. With the steed fully rested, and the patches of ice all melted, I even got to ride in the back for the final leg. As we were both dead tired, Jyetta and I both fancied a nap. He huffed and sighed, trying to imagine what would be best to say. I had a single piece of advice for him and hoped that he would remember the purpose of his mission over the luxuries granted by his title. I had hoped something similar for myself once, but, I understood what needed to be done. I was resolved to earn my honor. Once the town folk saw the mark of shame on my chin, only a grand achievement could negate the hissing. All Jyetta had to do was make a baby.
“Make way, make way.”
“The Ambassador returns. Out of the way.”
“That time already?”
The gate guards checked the cart up and down. When they looked inside, I heard a squeaky Lantos calling for a veterinarian to heal the steed. For the first and last time, I was treated with respect by the guards. No one had to see my mark until I was past the threshold. The heavily fortified boxed wagon pulled into the guard stables to be leased for other travelers of such high esteem. Jyetta’s mother had already had her new servant boy pull their town wagon around to wait. She had her hair wrapped up tight against the cold in a purple scarf. Her brown skin and eyes came from her Lokah heritage, meaning that Jyetta was in fact the son of three nations. While they were squealing and hugging, I transferred the chest, and helped the vet to unlatch the steed’s bindings.
“What did you heathens do to this poor little boy?”
“Well ma’am, after a week of fleeing for our lives, we let him go and pushed the wagon for ourselves. Luckily, he forgave us and decided to come back.”
“Very lucky indeed. So typical of a marker, no respect for the life of another.”
“Yes ma’am, I should have pushed from behind the whole time.”
Even the steed shook his long neck and stomped at the disrespectful tones, mainly because I had had his back outside of the walls. The creature could never understand what the scar on my chin meant. The mercs were recounting tall tales to the young guardsmen. The Lantos working the front office for Bratley was a woman. She pretended to be impressed by their glorious lies, and even finished by excitedly proclaiming that they had gone above and beyond the call of duty.
“Oh my, you were correct, Master Hoss.”
“Is that right?”
“My moon table shows that you passed well into the second month. Each of you earned a bonus of one gold.”
“Yea, alright boss.”
“That’s right lads, we’ll be getting tossed at the Blood and Bone tonight.”
“See you there Hoss Miser!”
“Don’t forget about our rematch Jim Boy!”
They walked on down the road, being celebrated as heroes. The Lantos woman saw me whilst rolling her eyes at the fools, and checked her scroll for any required interactions. She held up her finger, pointed it at me, and then threw up her hands. I thought it strange, however, she was not the only one avoiding contact with the marker at all costs.
“Matthius, let’s make this quick.”
“Are you sure? People are watching.”
“Oh please, look at this thing on my face.”
Jyetta gave me a tight hug that lasted, perhaps, a bit too long.
“Don’t worry, Master Crow. You will make a great father.”
“You really think so?”
“Of course, just have to find the right woman is all. Listen, talk to Nurse Leona. She works at the Surgeon’s Review. You might be the only man with enough power to gain sway with Doctor Prinn.”
“Take a woman from Lord Prinn? With what sword?”
“Just be yourself. Be honest about who you really are, and your true intentions. If she says no, then, you just get drunk and forget all about it.”
He pursed his lips together and crossed his arms.
“Since when did you get so wise on how to treat a lady?”
“I was just thinking... you know- how to help my friend.”
“Oh, I can’t take it anymore. I hate long goodbyes. Just run along before I start crying.”
Jyetta had the nerve to hug me twice, and his mother did not hide her suspicions.
“This is where you have been all this time? Grandmother and I are worried sick, meanwhile, you are hiding out in the Thieves' Guild getting inked with your little boyfriend?”
“Thief? Little?”
“All I want is a baby Crow, or two, or three! Is that really so much to ask of you?”
“Good bye, Master Ambassador, Madam Ambassador.”
“Run along marker. Do not tempt my son again.”
The poor women, she had no idea why we were laughing so hard. I made my way to Beggar’s Pass and found it conveniently empty. Most of the town folk without a permanent residence had fled south for the coming winter. They followed the food and the ability to sleep anywhere outside. With so few freaks left, I would have a hard time blending. At least no one stood in my way. Though I walked with a purpose, I kept my head down and my eyes looking no higher than a boot. For the first time, I made it to the Beggar’s Bank in the full light of day. I had no doubts about what would happen next. The Lantos would be excited for news from the front. They would happily invade my mind and make judgements on the spot. Before I could even knock on their door, the invasion of privacy had already begun.
“Come in, come in. Oh, you have loot after all.”
“No ma’am. This is for me to keep.”
Bratley had been replaced at the gate, and at the Beggar’s Bank by little women. I thought she seemed familiar, so it made sense that she ran back through the domes to reappear in her seat at the far right. Once she placed the crown on her head, I received the nod, and she whispered her name into my mind, ‘Clea.’ I fully intended to march out three pace before Kane but lost my wits at the sight of their new Divination Machine. The fountain that I had broken had finally been replaced, by a taller and much stranger statue. At about my chest, the thing spread out into a cross, and yet, the top spread out again into a large circle. Princess Caliya cleared her throat to catch my attention. The entire council was glowing in the full light of day.
“Madam, sir. Excuse me, General Kane. Cadet Matthius, reporting.”
He alone returned my salute. The rest of the council was studying my new appearance.
“I see you have string. Put that wild bundle of hair in a top knot please, you look like a Swillian savage. You could have shaved before coming in here, bathed as well. We are not short on time today. I am, however, short on patience. This time of year, the people get desperate. I have much on my mind. You had better offer good news.”
“It’s about time you earned that mark boy.”
“Don’t start with that, Sillah. I just said, I have no patience left for today.”
The little king slammed his open hand on the long desk, and breathed in deeply through the nose.
“How may I be of service to you today, sire?”
“The new and improved Divination Machine is, I believe, ready for a test run.”
“How do I use it?”
“You should not require instructions.”
He waved me onward. When I had walked close enough, I understood completely. Hands on the cross bar, head through the circle, eyes staring down into the glowing water. Besides salt crystals, there were other floating particles. I was unafraid- until I dared to touch it. A magnetism ran through my whole body, dragging me into the fountain. I tried to pull my head back but the hilt was working for them. Once fully inside the device, my eyes glowed gold and the council stole my mind. The entire experience was much more brilliant than ever before. Not only was I trapped in
my body, but I was trapped in the position of the recalled memory. Kane no longer had to struggle with the user to find the correct time, nor was he forced to view them in reverse order. They all swam through my mind together, no longer suffering from a lack of power. We began by laughing together, Kane and me, because I was impressed, and he knew it.
“Just look at this, so called ‘Seal’ training.”
“The Lokah will be preparing for war all winter.”
I could smell the cold salt water and the soggy forest floor. Sitting in the Shaman position, without any ability to move, I watched the council connect my memory to that offered by Kane, as he had seen it through the eyes of the phoenix. They flew north, following the bird through the canopy as it moved in reverse. Only Caliya stayed with me on the beach. She walked atop the surface of the water staring down. As deep down and as far west as the memory allowed, The Chalice was empty of the Spotted Creepers.
“So, they migrate with the weather. Hmm, if only we had a Commando in this sector to continue the observations.”
“Ma’am?”
She smiled at me and floated to my side through the air. Clearly, she was celebrating the fact that the Divination Machine was a success. With the machine in place, she no longer needed to lend her own power to the council.
“Come spring, I will want a shipment of fresh- live- specimen for examination. Do you think you could manage that?”
“Yes ma’am. For you, I will.”
Kane did not need to float anywhere. He had spent the whole time flashing in and out of sight like the worst kind of ghost. Just then, when I dared to make his beautiful daughter giggle and blush, he flashed to the space in between us.
“Daaron told me all about the Nanu Trap. Will you show me yours?”
“Sir, it was not very professional.”
“Why do you shy away? Did you fail?”
“I can smell the air here, sir. I- I am afraid.”
“Good.”
A bolt of lightning struck the spot in which I sat, the thunder rolling through my head immediately after. The taste of warm blood filled my mouth and nose. I moaned and tried to grab hold of my gut. When I opened my eyes, I was holding the lion’s tooth and roaring into the dark red night. The pain returned, and I was left wondering whether I was indeed bleeding again, or if the shock had caused me to wet myself out in the real world.
