Runefell: Crossroads

by Shawn Sodman

  Kristieana smiles and says, “My, you are a chivalrous one, aren't you?” She then looks at the bed and says, “No, you can sleep in the bed.”

  “Then where will you sleep?” Chance asks.

  “In the bed too,” Kristieana answers. “I am certainly not sleeping in a chair.”

  “Oh,” Chance replies confused. “I see.”

  “And don't even think about trying anything,” Kristieana warns as she removes her cloak, “because if you do I'll punch you in the face myself.”

  Chance smiles and laughs and says, “I understand, but how do you expect me to lay in the same bed as you and actually fall asleep?”

  “Well, that's your problem and not mine,” she replies with a smile.

  Downstairs Sven and the other seven amazons are still sitting at the table.

  Sven asks Rehma, “Sven knows this may not be something you want to talk about, but how is Chance responsible for your mother's death?”

  Rehma stands up ignoring Sven's inquiry and says, “I am going to go clean up now and go to bed.” There is still blood on her hands and arms from Chance. No one says a word to her as she leaves, and as she walks to the stairs, the people in the inn avoid getting in her way.

  Evelena says to the group, “I am going up to our room, too. May your dreams guide you all safely tonight.”

  As Evelena gets up to leave, Yentroc and Gelana walk over to Sven. Yentroc asks, “So, Sven, do you have your own room here?”

  “Of course,” Sven answers. “Best room in all of Copper Pass.”

  Yentroc and Gelana look at each other and smile. Gelana leans against him and seductively asks, “We were wondering if maybe you would like to show us your room.”

  Sven nervously replies, “I...um...would like to but...”

  “What's the matter?” Yentroc says as she leans against him. “Don't tell me that a big strong man like you is afraid of us.”

  Sven laughs and says, “Oh no, it is not you that Sven is afraid of.”

  Now Yentroc and Gelana look at each confused. Gelana asks, “Then what is it?”

  Sven says, “The two of you are very beautiful. All of you are, of course, but Chance has already told Sven how young you are.”

  “What!” Gelana yells. “That is ridiculous. We are not children.”

  “The whole point of our journey,” Yentroc explains, “is to experience the outside world.”

  “Believe me,” Sven replies, “Sven would like nothing more than to give you both experience you would never forget, however Chance told Sven to take good care of you, and warned Sven not to touch any of you. He said that you were his sisters, and Sven respects that.”

  Yentroc looks at Gelana and says, “The next time Rehma gets her hands on Chance, let’s just watch.”

  “I agree,” Gelana says. “Come on, let's go to bed.”

  Gelana and Yentroc head to their room as Yentroc asks, “Sven didn't count as a denied claim, right?

  “No,” Gelana replies, “we never officially stated we were claiming him.”

  “Good,” Yentroc says as they walk up the stairs. “It would be humiliating to be refused twice in one night.”

  Sven says, “Sven is going to turn in now. Goodnight everyone. We will be leaving first thing in morning.”

  Lyra, who has been reading a book the whole time, looks up and says, “May your dreams guide you safely, Sven.” Then to the others she says, “I am going to our room and read some more of this. I am curious about something.” Lyra leaves the table and heads up the stairs to their room.

  Ja'noa and Kel'ana are now left alone at the table. Kel'ana asks her, “Well, I am ready to go to bed, how about you?”

  “Yes,” Ja'noa replies. They get up to leave as two men at a table watch them closely. One of the men says something to the other and they laugh. Ja'noa and Kel'ana make their way pass them to the stairs when one of the men asks, “Hey ladies, where are you off to?”

  Ja'noa smiles, and with a sweet voice she responds, “We are going to bed now.”

  “Well then,” the man says, “you are going the wrong way. My room is down the hall.”

  Some of the men at the inn laugh. The innkeeper says, “Alright lads, leave the ladies alone.”

  “I am just having fun,” says the man. Then he turns to Ja'noa and asks, “You like to have fun, don't you?”

  Ja'noa smiles and cheerfully replies, “Oh, I like to have fun. Would you like to play a favorite game of mine?”

  “Sure, sweet heart,” the man says with a laugh. “What game might that be?”

  Ja'noa walks over to nearest wall and takes out a dagger and sticks it into a wood beam. She then walks back and says, “Whoever can hit closest to the target is the winner. Do you have a knife or a dagger, or do you need to borrow one?” She displays her sash of daggers.

  The man looks to be taken off guard by the question then finally says, “I have one,” as he pulls out a large knife.

  “Good,” Ja'noa says, “you go first.”

  “Alright,” the man says as he stands up and looks closely at the dagger in the wall.

  “You can do it,” says his friend.

  He throws his knife and it sticks into the wall below the target dagger. It is about the length of the knife away from the target.

  “Good throw,” says his friend.

  Ja'noa looks at the wall and says, “Oh, you are good. I don't know how I am going to beat that.” She then pulls out two daggers, one in each hand, and throws them both simultaneously. Both daggers stick into the wall—one on each side of the target. They are less than half the distance away from the target as the man's throw.

  The men cheer and laugh at the man who has just been bested at the hands of Ja'noa. As Ja'noa walks over and retrieves her daggers, Kel'ana follows her. The man grabs Kel'ana's wrist and says, “How about you, darling?”

  Kel'ana doesn't say anything. She nervously looks at Ja'noa who says, “Let go of my friend or we can play a different game.”

  The man smiles and says, “And what is that?”

  Ja'noa, in the blink of an eye, has her sword drawn and at the man's throat. She says sweetly, “It's called, let’s see how much blood one man can bleed before passing out.”

  The man quickly releases Kel'ana's wrist and nervously says, “There is no need for that, ma'am. I was only kidding.”

  As Kel'ana moves over to the stairs Ja'noa puts her sword away and smiles. Then as they walk up the stairs Ja'noa turns back and says, “Thank you so much for playing, I had fun. May your dream guide you safely.”

  The girls enter their room at the end of the hall upstairs. The innkeeper says to the men, “Now you see why I wanted you lads to leave them alone?”

  Chapter 18

  Restless Night

  Less than a half day from East Artos, the Red Dawn sails through the night. In her cabin, Ariella suddenly wakes up from a bad dream. She sits up startled and looks around for a bit. When she realizes where she is she takes a deep breath to calm herself. “Fernando,” she quietly calls out as she gets up out of her bed. After looking around again she decides to go out on deck to search for him. She throws on a robe and exits her quarters.

  The night helmsman greets her, “Good evening Captain. Can I help you?”

  “Good evening, Jim,” Ariella replies, “have you seen Mr. Greythorn?”

  “Yes, ma'am,” he replies, “I saw him head below deck just a little while ago.”

  “Thank you,” Ariella replies. She makes her way below deck and finds Fernando sleeping in his cell. The cell door is open and she walks in and sits next to him on the floor. She watches Fernando as he sleeps and says softly to herself, “Fernando Greythorn, I do believe I was wrong about you.” She puts her arm around him as she lays next to him. While curled up alongside him she soon falls asleep.

  In Copper Pass there are a few others who are having a hard time sleeping. After some tossing and turning in the night, Kristieana says, “Chance, when I told you if you tr
ied anything I would punch you in the face, you knew I was joking right?” When there is no response from Chance she rolls over only to find she is alone in the bed. “Chance?” she says as she looks around the room. Finding no one in the room she gets out of bed and puts her cloak on and wraps it tight around her. She then goes to the door and exits out onto the landing. As she looks down over the railing to the now empty inn, she can see Chance sitting alone at a table. In his hand he is holding a fire ball. He closes his eyes for a moment and soon the fire takes the shape of Ariella.

  Just then Kristieana hears a door open down the hall. She quickly pulls the hood over her head and becomes invisible. She looks down the hall and can see that it is Evelena. Kristieana moves out of Evelena's way as she walks down the hall and across the landing. Evelena stops at the top of the stairs and also looks down at Chance, who has not noticed her.

  Both Evelena and Kristieana stand there and watch as Chance stares deep into the fire in his hand. The fire changes shape from Ariella to his former wife, Sha'al Ree. Chance continues to sit there unaware that he is being watched. Then he changes the shape of the fire once again. This time it takes the form of Kristieana. Surprised by this, Kristieana gasps loudly.

  Chance looks up to see who is there only to find Evelena. “Oh, hello,” Chance says to her. “I didn't know you were there.”

  Evelena, also looking for who made the gasp, shifts her attention back to Chance. “Good evening, Mr. Na'Moon,” she says nervously as she walks down the stairs. “I am sorry, I didn’t mean intrude.”

  “You are not intruding,” Chances says as he dissipates the fire in his hand, “and please, call me Chance.”

  Evelena says, “Yes, sir. I mean, Chance.” She walks over to the table where Chance is sitting and asks, “May I sit here?”

  Chance stands up and replies, “Yes, of course. Please do.”

  Kristieana slowly makes her way down the stairs so that she can hear what they are saying.

  “I am very sorry about what Rehma did to you earlier,” Evelena says.

  “Thank you but, you have nothing to apologize for,” he replies. “You are Evelena, am I right?”

  “Yes,” Evelena answers sounding nervous.

  “Are you alright?” Chances asks.

  “I am fine,” Evelena replies, “Thank you.” Then after pausing for a bit she says, “I am just a little nervous.”

  Chance smiles and laughs then says, “It's alright. There is no need to be nervous.”

  Evelena relaxing a bit says, “It's just that we have all heard stories about you. I never thought I would actually meet you.”

  Kristieana now carefully sits in a chair nearby and listens.

  Evelena says, “The woman you created in your hand out of the flames, I know her.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yes, I definitely know her,” Evelena says. “That was Kristieana.”

  “Yes,” Chance replies, “it is.”

  “How do you know her?” Evelena asks.

  Chance, not wanting to give away that Kristieana is here, lies the best he can, “I met her...a while ago.”

  “Ah,” Evelena says, unsure of his answer.

  After a brief silence Chance tries to change the subject, and asks, “You couldn't fall asleep?”

  “No.” Evelena answers.

  “Was that your first battle?” Chance asks.

  Evelena nods and answers, “Against a real enemy, yes.”

  “You ladies did very well out there,” Chance says.

  “Thank you,” Evelena replies. “But if it weren’t for you Lyra may have...”

  “I am just sorry I didn't help more,” Chance says.

  Just then Kel'ana walks down the stairs and says, “I guess I am not the only one who couldn't sleep.”

  Chance stands up and says, “Please join us.”

  “Yes, sir, thank you,” Kel'ana says also sounding nervous as she sits.

  “Not you too,” he says with a laugh, “please, you can just call me Chance.”

  Kel'ana nods her head and says, “Alright.”

  Chance then asks, “Kel'ana, is anyone else still awake?”

  “No,” Kel'ana replies, “everyone else is asleep.”

  “Good,” Chance says with a smile. “I think I have seen enough of Rehma for one night.”

  They laugh, and then Kel'ana reluctantly asks, “Forgive me for asking Mr.—I mean Chance, but what happened with you and Rehma's mother? All I have ever heard was that she died protecting you.”

  “You don't have to tell us if you don't want to,” Evelena says.

  “It happened in the Second Orcnea War,” Chance begins. “We had been fighting for days slowly pushing our way across the north. The battles were intense. Teresa La'harn and I were fighting one day close to each other. She was seriously injured and I was able to pull her back from the front lines to heal her. Well, as I was doing so, a large ogre happened to rush the front line and push its way through. I had my back to it and didn't see it coming. Teresa, however did, and as it was about to run a giant spear through me,” Chance stops. He takes a slow breath before continuing, “She pushed me out of the way...” Chance struggles to continue as his voice begins to waiver. “The ogre hit her instead. We tried to heal her afterward, but she was already gone. It was my fault.”

  “You can't blame yourself,” Evelena says to him.

  “I was careless,” Chance says as he gathers himself. “I had my back turned to the front line and that cost Teresa La'harn her life.”

  “Did they try to resurrect her?” Kel'ana asks.

  “Yes,” Chance answers, “but it was not successful. After that day I left the front line. I flew beyond the orcnea army and began to hit them deep into their territory by myself. I would burn their crops, supplies, and even villages.”

  “I remember the stories,” Evelena says. “That was the breaking point for the orcneas. That's how you got the name—” She stops suddenly unsure if she should say it.

  “Orcnea Slayer,” Chance finishes sounding somber. “After that we easily pushed them from the lands. They left the continent of Bruen and returned across the sea to the Red Rock Plains.”

  “Yes,” Evelena says. Then she asks, “Chance, why didn't you tell us who you were?”

  “There are two reasons,” Chance explains. “The first is that when you were sent to scout out the north, no one had any idea what to expect. When we discovered two days ago just how serious a threat the orcneas are, A'ranah asked if I would make sure you were safe.”

  “So, A'ranah asked you to check on us?” Evelena asks.

  “Don't let Rehma find out,” Kel'ana says.

  “Exactly my point,” Chances replies. “Serena knew that any intervention would appear as if we were interfering with your Rite of Passage. She asked me not to reveal myself and only help if it were necessary. That is why I kept out of sight during the fight earlier.”

  “Well, I am certainly glad you helped when you did,” Evelena says.

  “You said there were two reasons you didn't tell us who you were. What was the second?” Kel'ana asks.

  “The second reason,” Chance pauses as he looks into the fire in the fireplace. “The second reason is because everywhere I go when people find out who I am they treat me differently. Many are nervous around me, like the two of you,” he says with a laugh. “I am always called a hero, or worse, the Orcnea Slayer.”

  “You don't like being called that do you?” Evelena asks.

  Chance shakes his head and says, “No, I do not. I had to do things in the war that I did not enjoy in the least. Every farm and village that I burned is still in my mind. It is one thing to fight an armed warrior who is trying to kill you, but when you are setting entire villages on fire... Watching as the female and young orcneas fleeing in terror, I felt like a monster.”

  A silence sets in and it is finally broken when Evelena says, “I don't know if I am ready for this.”

  “Me neither,” Kel'ana says.
<
br />   “You did well out there tonight at the gate,” Chance says, “you will do fine.”

  “What about the orcnea children?” Evelena says. “I can't kill them.”

  “You don't,” Chance says. “You burn the houses, you burn the crops, but you let the women and children go. That is ultimately what I did.”

  “Then they grow up to hate us,” Evelena says sadly.

  “Yes,” Chance replies, “and when they do grow up...”

  “They attack us in a whole new war,” Kel’ana finishes.

  “Yes,” Chance replies, “It seems to be a never ending cycle of hatred. One that I am very much guilty of being a part of. No doubt many of these orcnea warriors can tell stories of how the dreaded Orcnea Slayer burned their village to the ground when they were young.”

  “That is ridiculous,” Evelena says, “what were you supposed to do, kill them?”

  “I don't know,” Chance says. “It is possible that they wouldn’t be attacking right now had I done that.”

  “Do you regret not killing them?” Kel'ana asks.

  “No,” Chance says firmly. “If I had to do it all again I still could not bring myself to slaughter children, whether they were orcneas or not.”

  After a few moments without a word Chance creates a fireball in each hand. He looks at Evelena and Kel'ana for a moment then stares at the fireballs. He moves his fingers as the fires appear to dance, and soon take shape into the form of Evelena's and Kel’ana’s faces.

  “That looks just like us,” Kel'ana says.

  “You are really good with that,” Evelena says. “That reminds me, earlier when you were shaping the fire, before Kristieana's image there was another Amazon, but I didn't recognize her.”

  “Wait!” Kel'ana interrupts, “Kristieana? Do you know her?”

  “Yes,” Chance answers.

  “How?” Kel'ana asks. “When did you meet her?”

  “Not too long ago,” Chance replies.

  “Where?” Kel'ana asks.

  Chance, thrown off by the direct question, is not sure what to say. Thinking of an answer he hears Kristieana's voice whisper in his ear, “Tell them we met a year ago at Elonfar.”

  Chance grins and says, “I met her at Elonfar about a year ago.”