by B. T. Narro
“I want to tell you something,” he warned her in a grave voice.
She opened the window and released the bastial energy into the sky in a white ray of power. The sartious she let fall to the floor where it slowly began to fade.
“You and Father took me on many trips around Ovira throughout the years. Adventures, we called them, and they really were, at least to me.”
She smiled. “To us as well.”
“The most difficult one I remember was when we went all the way to Merejic to see the Elves. I have no intentions of going through that jungle again. It terrified me as a child, but I think it would terrify me even as an adult.”
“The things we saw and heard did terrify me, and even your father.” Desil’s mother showed the faintest smile. “Certainly the hardest of our adventures.”
“I couldn’t have been older than ten, but I remember what made the journey so difficult. We were going across Devit when we encountered the only other person we saw during our trip. He was a man with blood on his shirt. Something seemed wrong with him, as if he might’ve been insane. I know now it was shock that gave him that look, as if he didn’t believe he was alive.”
“I remember,” Effie said. “We got the story out of him eventually. Wild Krepps had hunted for him and his wife. They’d killed her, and he’d run. He had to leave everything behind. He had no food or water. He’d been walking for days.”
“You and Father gave him a bag, a blanket, water, a dagger, and even some of our food. The two of you figured it would be difficult for us to get through the jungle in Merejic after giving away so much, but you did it anyway. I was surprised.”
“He probably would’ve died if we hadn’t. It was the right thing to do.”
“Yes,” Desil agreed. “I remember how all of the deliberation came from how much to give him, not whether to help. You both immediately decided you would do something. Even though it put our family in danger, it was an easy decision.”
She grumbled. “I see what you’re saying.”
“I’m not in danger yet,” he continued. “Just like we weren’t in danger yet after giving up some of our belongings. But we knew we could be in danger later during the trip, and there would be no way to take back our decision. The same thing’s happening to me. It was an easy decision. Not once have I thought otherwise.”
“Are you sure they need you?”
“I’m sure.”
She sat on the bed and shook her head. “You were always brave during those adventures. I was a fool to think it would go away.” Effie thought for a while, then stood up and approached him. “As soon as you can tell me everything without putting yourself or others in more danger, promise you’ll do so.”
“I promise.”
“And that you will be fine.”
“I promise that, too.”
She opened her arms. Desil felt his guilt dissolving as he embraced his mother.
Returning to his room, he could finally focus all of his thoughts on how the bastial hell he was going to get that note from Nebre without getting himself killed.
*****
Desil awoke before sunrise to find his mother was already up and fixing them breakfast.
“I couldn’t sleep much,” she told him with a gravelly voice. “Promise me again you’re going to be fine.”
“I promise.”
Soon she was setting down a hearty meal in front of him. They barely spoke as they ate. When he was done, he kissed her on the cheek and left.
With his belly full, he walked for the first two miles. The lake stayed with him to his right as the mountain began to dip to his left. The trees ahead became denser and taller the farther he went. By the time he made it around the mountain, he was in the southern edge of Corin Forest.
He jogged between the trees straight north and used a technique his father had taught him to keep up his stamina. Although Wade called it “cycling,” the process didn’t involve moving energy in cycles. Instead, Desil focused the natural bastial energy from his body into his legs. When it was used up, he moved some more. It sounded simple, but it had taken years for him to become proficient.
There were two types of bastial energy; what every living being naturally produced, and that which rose from the center of the world and eventually made its way into the ground, air, and nearly every object in between. Desil’s own energy could act as heat and light, but it could also be used for power. Psychics manipulated this natural energy to cause emotions. He could do no such thing, but he could focus the energy into specific parts of his body for added strength or stamina.
When he was first learning, the concentration necessary made it impossible for him to make use of the added strength. But now it was as simple as flexing a muscle.
There seemed to be no limit to how much he could increase his strength, though there were diminishing returns and a higher chance of injury the more he pushed his body. After the initial flex that gave him a burst of power, he needed to focus increasingly harder to continue gaining the boost.
The Girgis thief hadn’t noticed Desil concentrating before tackling him, but if he had, he wouldn’t have known what he was looking at when Desil moved his hands in small waves. It made it easier to push bastial energy into his arms and legs. He’d drawn more in slowly from the air and let it run through him until his body had become accustomed to it. Then he’d moved that energy into his limbs as well, and without burning himself as would happen if he focused the bastial energy from the air directly into a limb.
He didn’t know what it was about his moving hands that helped speed up the process, but it was well known among mages and psychics—among any manipulator of bastial energy—that hand movements were essential for most, while they were helpful for all.
The trees started to fly by as his speed increased. He split his concentration between ensuring he didn’t trip over a rock or a root while navigating the trees and shrubbery.
The hours disappeared. He took his first break when he reached the river. There were only a few trees by the banks, giving him a clear view of the sun directly overhead. He was making good time, though he felt as if he’d gone an entire day without eating. Cycling his energy tended to make him hungry quicker.
He ate most of the contents from his small bag, then tried not to gorge his stomach with water as he drank from his pouch. After resting for a bit and refilling his pouch in the river, he walked farther north. Then he began to run once more.
Soon he had broken out of Corin Forest. There was about a mile of flat grassland between him and the much smaller forest ahead. Regash Forest, home of the Krepps. It was one of several locations where the lizard men had chosen to dwell during the last century.
From what he understood, there were still many tribes of Krepps who did not farm or garden, as these Krepps were taught to do. But that did not make these Krepps any less dangerous than those out in the wild. They still valued honor over all else and viewed the other races as weaker. As a human, Desil wouldn’t be allowed in their encampment unless he proved himself worthy.
Soon enough he saw the first sign of Kreppen life, a tattered flag with the side view of a male Krepp. It was a warning Desil had to ignore.
He heard the deep and rough chatter of Krepps ahead as he pushed on through his fear.
He was somewhat disappointed in the creatures when he came upon the encampment and saw that it didn’t look any better than when he’d visited with his father a few years ago. The houses that were only half built last time seemed even worse off, some now missing part of their roof or walls.
New huts had been erected around the superior homes. There were no walkways, just random living places. He imagined many Krepps coming here after the Elves had finished helping the first Kreppen tribe get settled. These new Krepps would want homes like their brethren, yet were unable to build them, so they settled for huts instead.
Of the one farm he could see, two Krepps stood guard to protect the chickens from other Krepps. Desil knew t
here were more farms and gardens farther in, but a row of trees bearing apples blocked his view.
The creatures themselves were dark gray like rock and just as tough. He’d rather run into a bear than a Krepp in the wild because at least a bear was likely to be alone. Krepps weren’t known for enjoying each other’s company, though they were even less known for solitude. The adult females were about the same size as Desil, the males a head taller, and that was even taking into consideration their hunching neck leading up to their lizard heads. The rest of their body was shaped like that of a human or an Elf, except with enough muscle to outweigh even the bulkiest men.
He lifted his arms and waited to be spotted. He cursed when it was the group of male Krepps who saw him first, not the females nearby. They could be just as aggressive as males but often acted with more reason, at least according to Desil’s father. The last time the two of them were here, it was a female who’d first spat on Wade’s feet, after all.
Desil counted five Krepps rushing toward him. Although they ran like men, they were as fast as charging horses. He might just be able to match their speed with energy cycling. As difficult as it was to refrain from running from them, he managed not only to stand his ground but to put on a brave look. They stopped just in front of him and started circling around.
Only one of them had a sword. He drew it from the sheath on his belt and stuck it under Desil’s chin. With a slight push, the blade pressed against his throat.
“Dra lu izcat, felk?” threatened the Krepp, asking why a human would come here.
“Lyloll Nebre,” Desil replied. To speak to Nebre.
All the Krepps seemed surprised by his Kreppen, their yellow eyes widening as more of them gathered around Desil to stare. Some looked him up and down as if expecting a Krepp to emerge out of his human skin at any moment. But none seemed to know what to say. Had they even heard him?
Repeating the same thing could be taken as an insult, which could lead to a duel. If he asked them to bring Nebre to him, it could start a duel. If he walked around them to look for Nebre, it would most certainly start a duel. In fact, a hundred things could lead to a duel. He almost wanted to initiate the sword fight just to get it over with.
“Ri eeshten faario jit,” Desil said. I will prove I have enough honor to enter.
His limited Kreppen meant he didn’t know how to ask the Krepps what he needed to do to prove himself, but they got the message clearly enough and motioned back toward the encampment for more Krepps to come.
Soon there must’ve been a hundred circled around him. If Nebre was among them, Desil didn’t recognize him. There was some variety between Krepps, though all were covered with hard scales. The males were either bald or had tufts of black hair sprouting from their scalps, while the females had thin hair of the same color falling down loosely like a balding human. All had sharp teeth, mostly stained yellow, but that didn’t stop the Krepps from showing them to Desil as they hissed like snakes.
CHAPTER TEN
The largest Krepp of the group was still holding his sword beneath Desil’s chin, but Desil refused to show how scared he was, trying his best to ignore the many Krepps spitting on his boots. There was too much of the harsh Kreppen language flying around for him to catch most of it, though he did recognize the words felk and kirjek: human and attack. They started to point at each other, no doubt trying to decide who should fight him.
None of them seemed interested in why he was there, only who would be the best match. Many of the males shouted as they pointed at the females, but none of the females wanted to volunteer. It must’ve been a great dishonor to challenge a human. How else could he prove himself, though?
The last time he was here with his father, Wade had fought the largest Krepp in the group and lost. But he had fought bravely enough that they’d let him and Desil into their encampment. It gave Desil the idea he needed.
Desil pointed at the Krepp right in front of him. “Ri hyash ru.” I challenge you.
All chatter stopped. Then every creature burst out laughing. The sound was like clucking chickens, only deep and rough.
The Krepp Desil had challenged was the only one who wasn’t amused. There would be no honor for him if he won, but he couldn’t refuse, either. He finally lowered his blade and gave Desil’s bleeding throat a break.
Another sword passed through the crowd and into Desil’s hands, then all the Krepps except Desil’s opponent moved away to form a circle. They’d given him a Kreppen woman’s sword. It suited him well, being about the same length and weight as his own, but using it would do the opposite of what he was hoping to accomplish. This wasn’t about victory. It was about getting to Nebre with as few injuries as possible.
He didn’t know how to ask for a larger sword. He could only point at the weapon he was given and repeat, “Keo kar. Keo kar.” Need sword.
The Krepps seemed confused. He looked around the crowd and eventually saw a much larger sword in the hands of another Krepp. Desil stepped toward the Krepp while pointing at the weapon. The other Krepps separated from each other until Desil was right in front of the weapon.
The Krepp pulled it out of its holster. The sword was in no way magnificent, with its dirty and chipped steel, but it was enormous, and that’s all that mattered. The creatures laughed again as the Krepp threw it on the ground in front of Desil.
He gave the female Krepp’s weapon back to her, then returned to his new weapon as he focused energy into his arms and shoulders. They continued to laugh as he bent and picked it up. Returning to the circle, he deftly swung the enormous weapon around his torso and silenced their deep clucking with what had to be a shocking display of power.
His opponent grinned. No doubt he was thinking there might be some honor in this for him after all.
Desil was in no way an expert swordsman. His father had trained him to block and attack, but Wade’s expertise was in the manipulation of land and water. The one thing Desil had over this Krepp was speed. He would fare much better with the lighter sword…if spilling the Krepp’s blood was what he intended to do.
He danced out of the way of an overhead slash that would’ve cleaved him in half, keenly aware that these duels for honor could result in death, and that if he died here, no punishment would come to the Krepps. He’d forfeited his right to protection by coming into Kreppen territory.
He hacked at the Krepp’s leg. The Krepp swiped his weapon down to block but clearly underestimated Desil’s strength, even after his display of power. These creatures weren’t known for their intelligence. Desil’s blade got through, but only to make a small gash. The opening was already red with blood.
The Krepp looked down and then laughed at his measly wound. Lines formed across the Krepp’s forehead as he charged suddenly. Desil ducked under the oncoming blade and tried to counterattack with a stab to the Krepp’s leg, but the creature was already slashing his claws down Desil’s face. A slight turn of his cheek was all he could do so as not to lose an eye.
The Krepp backed away and asked Desil something in Kreppen with a smirk. Desil didn’t recognize the words, though he could assume from the Krepp’s smug expression that he was taunting Desil, probably asking if he’d had enough.
The pain was like a dozen bee stings from his left temple down to his chin. The Krepp flicked his hand and sprayed Desil’s blood onto the grass.
“Aken,” Desil said. No.
This time he charged the Krepp. The heavy blade slowed him as he used every muscle in his torso to lift it over his head. The Krepp raised his weapon to block Desil. Anticipating this, Desil brought down the blade early to drive it into the ground. He vaulted himself and kicked the Krepp in the chest with both boots.
The Krepp rolled backward and lost his weapon. The creature reached his arms out and thrust both claws into the ground to stop himself. With a small jerk, he went from his back to his feet in a frighteningly fluid motion, as if unaffected by gravity.
Desil ran back for his sword. He glanced over his shou
lder, expecting to see the Krepp going for his own weapon. Instead, the creature was headed straight for him, looking ready to pounce. Desil sidestepped as the Krepp got to him, but a claw snagged the collar of Desil’s shirt and scratched his neck.
The Krepp pulled Desil toward him, giving him no choice but to grab the Krepp’s arms before he twisted Desil’s head off his body. He poured all his energy into his upper body as he found himself in a wrestling match with the much larger creature. The Krepp’s hot breath stank like rotten meat. Spit flew out from each corner of the creature’s mouth.
The Krepp started to push Desil back as if to show everyone how much stronger he was, so Desil returned the favor. There were breathy sounds of shock from the audience when Desil stopped himself from going farther and then forced the Krepp back a step. The whole point in everything he’d done was not to kill this Krepp or even win, but just to prove himself worthy through courage and strength. He knew he was vulnerable pushing back against this much stronger creature instead of trying to break free, but in doing so he had obtained victory. Now it was just a matter of ending the duel without suffering a worse injury.
In a flash, the Krepp switched his grip and flipped Desil over him to slam Desil’s back against the ground. Thank the stars there were no rocks right here or his spine might’ve broken. The Krepp was on top of him before Desil could get up, the weight of a boulder on his chest. The creature started to reach for his neck.
Desil mustered his strength and pushed the Krepp off just enough to roll away, but he didn’t get far. Suddenly the creature was on top of his back and too heavy to shake.
