Winds of Chaos (Tainted Blood Book 3)

by Jeff Gunzel

  “Have you forgotten my promise already?” Viola asked, her eyes hard as steel. She was different now. They could see it plain as day, in her expressions, her voice, even the way she carried herself. That charming, innocent twinkle in her eyes was long gone. This was not the same person anymore. This was someone else entirely. But it was too early to tell whether or not that was a good thing.

  “You told me we came here together and we’re going to leave together,” Kalmton said.

  “That’s right,” Viola said as she nodded. “I’ve been forced to kill two people since we arrived here. Nothing I do can ever take that back. I’m a murderer.” Eyes fell to the floor at her stunning admission. She really was being brutally honest with them, sharing her innermost thoughts. “So what makes my life more valuable than any of yours? The way I see it, if I can save three lives, at least that’s one small step towards making amends for what I’ve done. No, I will never forgive myself, but I must find a way to live with my demons. As your leader, I am responsible for all of you. I didn’t ask for this, but the burden is mine nonetheless. I take that seriously.”

  “So what would you have us do?” Nald asked.

  “First, I would have you trust me,” Viola replied. All three nodded, giving her their full attention. Whether she realized it or not, she had earned their trust some time ago. Viola rose from the bed, standing tall before them. She picked up a small pebble near her feet and shook it as she spoke. “Ozryn has done exactly as he was instructed to do. He taught us how to fight, how to defeat an opponent one on one. That was his job. What he didn’t do was teach us how to fight as a team. That was never the plan. The plan was to have each of you put up a good fight for a bloodthirsty mob, then die as individuals. Well, I say we disappoint them. Again, do you trust me?”

  “Yes,” said all three at once.

  “Good. We’ve lost more than half the night already. Let’s not waste any more time.” Viola stepped over to the wall, her white pebble in hand. Only half aware of what she was doing, she began to write. The others gathered closer, watching as she tapped away on the stone wall, pulling up memories of old battle tactics. As the pages of her books flipped open in her mind’s eye, she began to construct a plan.

  * * *

  It was late morning and the party was gathered round a table in the inn’s front room, eating a brunch of eggs and ham. All except Xavier, that was. Today was the day. The mood was glum as they ate in silence. Eyes flickered towards the steps, wondering if Xavier was ever going to come down and join them. This had been the norm as of late. Some days he didn’t leave his room at all, except of course in the evening when he could wander over to one of the many city taverns. Those that would still allow him entry, anyway.

  “I’m going up to get him,” Thatra said, breaking the silence as she stood.

  “Leave him be,” Owen muttered, tracing a fork in circles around his plate.

  “No, I will not leave him be,” she shot back, nearly tipping her chair when she kicked it. “Enough is enough! I’m not going to sit by while Xavier crawls into a bottle waiting to die. I’m not like you,” she hissed at Owen, raising a finger. “I know what you’re capable of on the battlefield. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. But when it comes to matters of the heart, or dealing with those closest to you, all I see is a coward!” But when Liam tried to interrupt her tirade, Owen cut him off with a raised hand.

  “Go on then,” Owen said quietly. “Speak your mind, Thatra.” Both Assirra and Jarlen lowered their heads, staring down at their mostly full plates. They hadn’t been with the group long enough to get involved.

  “How long are you going to pretend nothing is wrong?” Thatra asked. “Perhaps it’s just a phase, yes? Maybe he will just beat this on his own without your help or anyone else’s? Are those the lies you tell yourself so you can sleep at night? As I recall, you didn’t hesitate to interfere when he and Viola were getting a little too close for your liking. And now that he really needs you, you just look the other way? Oh, sure, his problem will go away eventually, unless you plan on burying him with the bottle. He can’t drink anymore once he’s dead!” With that, she turned and stormed up the steps.

  When Liam stood to follow, Owen grabbed him by the wrist and shook his head. “Just let her do what needs to be done,” he said, head hung with shame in his eyes. “Everything she said be true. I took that boy under my arm and trained him, believing he may one day take my place. Somewhere between the training and hunting creatures of the night, he became a man. I was so caught up in our travels, in what we were achieving together, that I hadn’t even noticed. She is right, you know. I’ve turned a blind eye for far too long.”

  “Looking backward is the easy way to see one’s mistakes,” Liam said, slowly retaking his seat. “But it’s also a window into lost time. There is nothing we can do about it now. In this, we all share equal guilt. What matters now is how we deal with the lad moving forward.” Owen sighed and nodded his agreement.

  ***

  Knock...knock... “Xavier?” Thatra said, ear pressed to his door. “Xavier,” she repeated, louder the second time. No answer. “I’m coming in,” she warned, suspecting she might have to break down the door. But it was unlocked and she was able to walk right in. She saw him sitting in the corner, staring at the opposite wall with both hands wrapped around the neck of a dark bottle. She approached him slowly, carefully, as if trying not to frighten away a wild bird. “Xavier, I need you to give me that,” she said, cautiously reaching for the bottle.

  “I need this,” he whispered, fingers tightening around it. Eyes still fixed on the far wall, it was as if he were speaking to some unseen ghost.

  “No, you don’t. What you need to do is give that to me. I just want you to—” He sprang to his feet, then plowed right through her one-armed attempt to stop him. “Xavier, please! I’m just trying to help you! Everyone is so worried about you.”

  He rushed to the basin in the second room and stood over it, gazing down at his reflection. Thatra was still shouting, but he could hardly hear her now. He popped open the bottle, the strong aroma quickly filling the small room. He passed it under his nose twice, taking in the biting scent. “I need to do this,” he said quietly, his words meant only for himself. The bottle glugged in his hand as he poured, the dark liquid splashing down into the water, scattering his reflection. When the last drops trickled out, he flipped the bottle upside down and threw it, shattering it against the far wall.

  A set of hands wrapped around his chest from behind. “I know that was hard,” Thatra said, holding him close. He turned to face her, accepting his friend’s embrace.

  “I should have done it long ago. Everyone has suffered because of me.” He began to tear up, his arms tightening around her. “It’s all my fault. Everything is my—”

  “Nothing is your fault,” she said, stroking the back of his hair. “Trust me, nothing you could do would ever drive your friends away. We are here for you. Don’t you dare forget that.” They both stiffened at the sound of a bell. The sound chimed through the streets outside, each steady ring like a dagger through their hearts. Thatra looked down at Xavier, now fighting tears of her own. “And now we must both be strong for our friend.”

  ***

  The others waited at the table, watching as excited folks rose from their chairs and hurried out into the streets. They could hear cheers and laughter coming from outside the inn. Smiling people passed by the windows, all making their way towards tied horses and parked wagons. Seeing all those lit-up faces might make one assume a holiday was upon them, as opposed to the bloody event about to take place.

  “I’ll ready the horses,” Owen muttered, rising from his seat. He was already wearing his black body armor, the small crossbows at his shoulders covered with loose cloth. If anyone saw those, there was a good chance he might be recognized. But he wasn’t going to the pit without his gear either, so he had to risk it. Halfway to the door, he turned back at the sound of two pairs of boots thumping down
the steps. “How ya feeling, boy?” he asked. Xavier’s eyes were slightly red, but he didn’t have the look of someone who had been drinking hard. That was a good sign.

  “I’m ready,” he replied. “Look, I owe you all an apology. I know I haven’t been easy to live with these past few weeks. I just need you to know—”

  “Enough,” Owen grunted, raising his hand. “There are enough apologies to go around ten times, and I be at the front of that line. But there is no time for ‘em now. You know what we got to do.”

  “You’re right,” Xavier said with a sigh. “Then let’s get on with it.”

  After gathering the horses, they trotted through the crowded streets and out through the gate. Wagons rolled along while horses clopped up the long, winding hill. Unlike the last events, this was not to be a high-priced affair exclusive to only those with status and fat coin purses. This event was open to the public, free of charge. King Milo wanted all to see his new pet in action, to witness her firsthand so word of her tenacity could spread to neighboring cities.

  Knowing he was sitting on a fortune in the making, the king saw no reason to rush anything. Soon enough, coin would be flowing like water. All he had to do was be patient.

  * * *

  Kalmton’s hands trembled as he sat in the corner. He shook them out periodically, flexing his fingers to keep the blood moving. But the moment he stopped flexing, they began trembling again. Sweat trickled down his brow and he constantly shifted sitting positions, unable to stay comfortable for more than a few seconds.

  Nald stood at the center of the room, sword in hand as he practiced his forms. It wasn’t like he was going to improve any more during this final hour. He just needed to find a way to occupy his mind, to help distract himself from the inevitable. The time was drawing near and it was almost too much for him to bear. Eagle’s nest flowed into dancing winds. Bubbling creek melted seamlessly into wandering spirit. Despite being so nervous, his technique was flawless. Astounding, really, given the relatively short amount of time he had been training. He had probably improved the most out of any of them, but it was yet to be seen if his skill set would translate into live combat. He would find out soon enough.

  Viola sat in another corner with Salina at her side. Legs crossed, hands on her knees with her eyes closed, Viola breathed deeply. She visualized her lungs filling with air, chest expanding, shoulders rising with each deep breath. Then exhaled in similar fashion, long and steady as she felt her body deflate. Like the others, she was doing anything she could to stay calm and focused. Meditation was the easiest way for her to achieve that.

  Salina watched her, not sure whether or not to interrupt. Everyone needed to deal with this dark reality in their own way, and Viola’s way seemed as good as any. She appeared to be quite calm, in control.

  “Viola?” she dared to interrupt after a time.

  “Yes, Salina,” Viola replied, peeking at her with one open eye.

  “It’s possible we might not survive this day.”

  “Funny,” Viola said, turning her head to give Salina her full attention. “I recently came to the same conclusion. I guess we think alike.”

  Salina grinned. It was hard to imagine how Viola could still keep her sense of humor during all of this. She certainly was a special person. But after a second or two her grin melted away. “That’s not what I meant. What I mean is that if we don’t make it, I need to die with a clear conscience.” Viola’s expression turned serious as she listened. “I have a confession to make, and I should have done so long ago. Please don’t be mad at me, but I—”

  “Stand before your king!” one of the guards shouted, alerting the room. They did, quickly falling into line even before he came into view. A moment later, King Milo stepped around the corner with an unusually large entourage surrounding him. Men whose arms were thicker than most folks’ legs, these were his elite bodyguards. These beasts were taught to kill first, ask questions never.

  “My children,” Milo announced, arms spread wide as if ready to embrace one of them. “Your day has finally arrived, and the people of Shadowfen could not be more excited. Can you feel the energy surrounding this place? Do you not hear them chanting?” His hand glided towards the gateway beyond. Sure enough, folks were chanting outside, their voices echoing across the pit. “The people’s loyalty warms my heart. It makes me proud to wear the crown.” He seemed to be speaking more to himself.

  The group stood still, arms at their sides with their heads high. It seemed strange that the king himself would come down here to share words with them in person. “Tonight, I shall have a feast prepared for all of you,” the king continued. “To celebrate your victory, there shall be drink, women, men. Whatever your lusts, they shall be satisfied. In your own rights, you shall all be royalty for a day.” His incessant boasting of how well they would be treated only confirmed what Viola had told them. They weren’t even expected to survive.

  “Now, all of you go stand by the gate and prepare to meet your glory!” the king shouted, hands raised. They hesitated a moment, then shuffled past him while making a concerted effort not to touch any of his elite guard. But when Viola tried to pass, Milo snatched her by the arm. “But not you,” he whispered, glancing back over his shoulder to make sure they had followed his instructions. He could see them at the gate, fumbling through barrels full of weapons. Even after having trained almost exclusively with swords, they could still use whatever weapon they were most comfortable with. There was quite an assortment to choose from.

  “I assume you haven’t forgotten our little talk,” Milo said, still clutching her arm with a firm grip. “The last thing I need is you taking any unnecessary risks out there. Such a foolhardy thing would be inexcusable, especially since you have been provided with meat shields. Let them serve their purpose so you will live on to serve yours. I have invested much in you, and I will not have it put at risk because your heart is bigger than your head. Am I understood?”

  “Your Highness,” she said, glancing down at his hand gripping her arm. “I assure you, your words are what drive my every action.”

  Smiling, he released her. “Good. Now go wait with those sheep, and try to offer them words of comfort if you think it might help them survive a little longer. Sooner or later, you will figure out just how the game is played. I promise you that by that time, these trivial feelings of attachment for the walking dead will have long faded. Now I must go and rile the crowd further. I will be seeing you later.” Once he stalked off, she hurried to go join the others.

  “If there is anything we need to know about, now would be the time,” Salina said, hinting at the meaning of yet another of those private talks with the king. She didn’t look up while adjusting a set of leather belts across her chest. The belts housed a number of sheathed daggers. It seemed as if Salina’s choice of weaponry had been made.

  “Never mind him,” Viola said, addressing Salina but speaking to all of them. “He underestimates you, and that will be his undoing. The king does not bleed with you, I do. Do not waste another thought on him.” She pointed to the gate, hearing the cheering and chanting from outside. “They don’t matter, either. The only thing that matters is right here in front of you.” Nald and Kalmton stepped closer, swords in hand. With their courage hanging by a thread, the sound of Viola’s voice was a light shining through the darkness. It was the only thing guiding them now.

  “No one is coming to help us,” Viola continued. “We have to do this ourselves. I know you’re all afraid. I am too. But that’s not an excuse to give up and lie down! Once we step out onto that sand, we will all share the same beating heart. No longer are we individuals, but a single unit. Either we all walk out of here together, or we all fall together. There is nothing in between. They expect me to sacrifice you for the greater good. Well, I see the greater good, and it’s standing here before me! Bleed with me, share my fate, and I promise you that when the dust settles it will be us who are still standing.”

  * * *

&nbs
p; Owen pushed his way through the crowd, shouldering a path so the others could follow. This was not the first time they had been here, but it was certainly the largest turnout they had seen. Free to everyone, it seemed as if the whole city had shown up. The distance from those standing at the edge of the pit to those all the way in the back seemed to stretch nearly a full city block. Of course, those in the back could see nothing at all. Folks were trying anything, including standing on each other’s shoulders, just to catch a peek of the action. They would just have to judge what was going on by the crowd’s reaction and energy.

  Staying close to Owen, who had already left more than one person swearing while shaking a fist, they eventually made their way to the front. Jarlen kept his hood low, nervous of being seen. He hated this place and everything about it. He had never seen it from this viewpoint. So this was what these creatures saw when they looked down at him, hoping his next breath would be his last. But most of all, he hated knowing he would be forced to watch his sister fight for her life. She is not supposed to be down there, he thought. I am. This is my prison, not hers. She did nothing to deserve this. Her only crime was trusting me.

  “I need you all to know something,” Xavier said, hands resting on the safety rope as he gazed down at the sand. “I don’t plan to be just a spectator today. The moment an opportunity arises, I’m going to seize it. I’m going to get her out of here, or die in the attempt.”

  “Don’t be a fool!” Liam said, looking around to see if anyone was listening to them. “Lad, there is nothing you can do. Throwing your life away will not benefit anyone.” There came a roar from the crowd as the king came into view, standing in his boxed seating area on the opposite side of the pit. With him were Ozryn and Kuuma. It was a great honor to be allowed to watch the event by the king’s side. As always, Diovok stood behind the king like a towering statue.