"What about you?" Berig licked the juices of his fingers. "You've probably already told your stories, but I wasn't really around, you know. What made you decide you had to be part of the Order and go on this crazy quest?"
Graig tossed his remaining rabbit bone to the side. "Well, my family's been merchants for generations. Most merchants around the Empire don't support Warrick. Some do, but they're the odd ones. Warrick's policies don't exactly favor commerce."
"Yeah, I knew an innkeeper back in Bradenton," Berig said, leaning against a tree trunk, wishing he could feel relaxed for once. "Didn't like Warrick."
"So my family's been Order supporters for generations. Not exactly members, but we'd give special deals to people who were. That's how I met Talia. Her family did a lot of things for the Order and occasionally needed a good deal here or there. And so I grew to love her. She wouldn't marry me if I didn't join the Order." He shrugged. "It was a pretty easy choice if you ask me."
Talia smiled in the flickering light. "And I wouldn't have it any other way."
Berig was surprised at the tenderness in her voice. It was hard to reconcile the image of Talia and all her weapons with a woman who seemed gentle. Adventuring types normally had a lot of rough edges.
Of course, people often said the same about Berig. But he'd never liked hurting people. Better to run away. Again, he remembered the man he'd killed in that alley.
"I wish we could all find such love," Danica said, smiling as she leaned against a tree trunk. She looked at Berig, and it felt as if something were squirming in his stomach.
"How do you stay so happy?" he asked.
"Will being upset make your problems go away? No. It only makes your problems bigger and makes other people feel worse. Do you think I'm truly happy right now? I've lost everyone important to me. But they're dead. I can't change that."
Berig could see why she thought that way. When had crying ever solved anything? It hadn't brought his parents back, hadn't told him what happened to his brother, hadn't gotten him out of debt.
Still, sadness seemed part of his personality, and how could he change that?
"Anyone know about Farah?" he asked to distract himself.
They all shook their heads. Farah sat far across the campsite, so far away she was barely visible.
"I know about her," Ander said as he approached.
"Who is she?" Berig asked.
Ander settled down beside them in the dirt. Though he was a noble, he didn't seem full of himself like so many nobles Berig had encountered. Berig couldn't help but like Ander.
"She was a noble back in Crayden," Ander said. "Her family supported Warrick before it happened. Now she says she's had a change of heart. Honestly, I'm not sure if she's telling the truth, but I've given her the benefit of the doubt. Many people have changed their beliefs these last few days. How could she still support Warrick after that?"
Captain Davis joined them, trudging about as gloomily as ever. "I don't believe her. Her clothes weren't covered in smoke stains. I don't think she was even in Crayden. Or if she was, she got out of the city before it got bad."
"I understand your suspicions," Ander said. "We'll keep an eye on her for sure. But if she were a Warrick supporter, why would she take such a hard road to get to Mountainside? She could just ask the Imperial Guards to let her through the Varner City gate."
"To gain our trust," Captain Davis said.
Ander looked troubled. "That's possible. I suppose we'll find out soon enough. For the time being, though, I think we should all get some rest. Only God knows what will happen once we reach the Black Swamp."
Chapter 33
By early afternoon the next day, Markus, Nadia, and Rik had left Crayden far behind. The images of the ruined city slowly faded from Markus's vision, but they'd never leave him. Now they marched along the dirt road, skirting the edges of the forest to the south. To the north were rolling hills dotted with only a few trees. They had left the mountains behind.
Markus turned to Nadia. "You doing okay? You haven't said anything for a while."
"I'm just thinking. There's been a lot to think about lately."
As they walked, he maintained a good distance from her. The closer he was to her, the more tempted he'd feel to hold her in his arms, and she wasn't ready for that kind of attention.
"Well, a little less thinking might be good right now," he said.
"He's right," Rik said, walking with a bounce to his step. "I know it's horrible what happened, but we can't think about it forever. If we're going to have any chance of killing Warrick, we need to focus on the future."
Nadia sighed wearily. "I know, but it's rather difficult after losing so many."
"I understand," Rik said. "But would they want you to feel so upset and hurt your chances of avenging them?
Nadia looked away. "I know that, and I'm trying. I'm not exactly good at letting things go."
"I was just hoping we could make things a little lighter. I mean, dwelling on the past ain't gonna do us any good. Focus on the past where it helps you plan the future. Let go of those things that make life harder." He shrugged. "That's what I think."
Nadia fell silent while Markus and Rik shared a long, awkward look. Markus liked Rik's ideas, but didn't want to press Nadia after she'd lost so many people.
In the silence, he heard a faint rustling from the trees to the south. He held up a hand. "Did anyone else hear that?"
Rik looked around. "Hear what?"
Markus peered toward the edge of the forest, seeing more movement. "Look closely. Do you see anything?"
Nadia and Rik stared toward the trees.
"Yeah, I think there might be someone or something there," Rik said.
"Let's keep walking," Nadia said. "See if they follow."
Markus felt nauseous as they started walking. His uncle had warned him of bandits on the road. Imperial Guards often left smaller settlements and roads unprotected. Every few steps, Markus glanced to his left and saw more movement. Four figures emerged from the trees, wearing rough clothing, unkempt hair, and messy beards.
"Get ready," Markus said, putting one hand on Rik's shoulder and unsheathing his sword with the other. Rik pulled his axe from his back, and Nadia readied her bow. The four men had drawn their swords, and one of them carried a bow, which he'd aimed at the party.
Four on three. Markus didn't like those odds.
One man stepped forward from the group. "Let's not have any bloodshed here. Hand over everything you have, and we'll leave you in peace."
"Or you could walk away," Nadia said, aiming at his chest. He wore light, tattered clothing that would not block an arrow.
"Do you really think I fear you, a woman?"
"I'm a woman with a bow, and I know how to use it. Would you like proof?"
The man narrowed his eyes. "I don't have time for games. In case you didn't notice, we outnumber you. By all means, put an arrow in my chest, but my man here will do the same to you. He used to be an Imperial Guard, you know. Got kicked out for being too vicious."
Rik glared at the man. "Why don't you leave us alone? I'm sure you can find easier targets—I mean, with all the refugees from Crayden."
Another bandit laughed. "There's one big problem with refugees. They ain't got nothing." He spat on the ground. "Worthless if you ask me."
"I'm sure you can find something in Crayden," Markus said.
"You seen that place?" said the bandit leader. "It's been cleaned out already, what little was left after the fire." He stepped closer. "Let's stop this game."
Markus exchanged anxious glances with the others. They couldn't afford to give up their weapons, or their gold. That gold could buy them everything they'd need for their quest.
Nadia narrowed her eyes. "Don't step any closer."
But the bandit leader did step closer, his sword at the ready.
"I'm warning you," Nadia said. "One more step and I'll shoot."
The bandit leader continued forward. Nadia turne
d and sent an arrow through the archer's chest. He grunted, clutching the spot, and hit the ground.
"You've made a grave mistake," the leader said. He moved with amazing speed for a large man as he charged toward Nadia. She turned and darted up a nearby hill. Markus didn't have time to watch her. Instead, he engaged the leftmost bandit, using sword techniques he'd learned from his uncle.
Heart pounding, Markus sidestepped the bandit's lunge and turned. Then he plunged his sword through the man's chest. The blade caught at first, but he put more weight behind it, and it sank wetly through flesh. The bandit fell to the ground, moaning and writhing in pain as Markus removed the bloody sword.
"I'm sorry I had to do this," Markus said, "but you had your chance."
He charged toward where Rik was dancing back and forth, using his axe to deflect every attack his opponent sent at him. That was no way to fight. In a battle, you had to be quick, decisive.
Markus approached the bandit from behind while he was focused on Rik. To his credit, Rik didn't act like he'd seen Markus. Markus took a moment to judge the bandit's movements, but just as he was about to attack, the man turned.
He swung his sword in a wide arc that Markus barely ducked, but that gave Rik the moment he needed. Rik swung his axe, aiming for the man's neck. The axe hit the bandit with a dull thwack, nearly severing the man's head. Blood flowed from the spot.
Rik's face had turned pale. A thin layer of blood lined the edge of the axe.
"Nadia!" Markus said. "We have to find her!"
They raced up the hill, toward where Markus had last seen Nadia. On the downward slope, Nadia was running from the bandit. She'd drawn her sword but looked hesitant to use it.
Markus's heart pounded in his ears, and everything seemed brighter and clearer than usual as his feet pounded against the uneven ground.
Nadia looked back, seeing him, then engaged the bandit in combat. It became apparent that she'd learned how to fence, not how to fight. She did all kinds of thrusts and parries, while her opponent fought naturally, though perhaps not so skillfully.
She backed away, narrowly dodging the bandit's attack. Markus charged the off-balance bandit from behind. The man didn't turn, and Markus plunged his sword into his back, throwing everything he had behind the thrust. With wide eyes, the bandit looked down at the sword sticking out of his stomach. Then he slumped to the side as Markus removed the sword.
Markus rushed over to Nadia. "Are you okay?"
"Y-yes, I think so."
He pulled her into a tight hug. "Thank God!"
They remained in that hug a long time. He held her through her trembling as her panic subsided.
Then a gut-wrenching scream came from behind Markus. He turned with a sudden rush of fear. Rik stood there, face twisted with pain. The bandit's sword had gone through Rik's lower back, off to the side, and come out the other side through his stomach. Rik clutched at the bloody blade, staggering and then collapsing.
Markus rubbed his eyes, praying he'd see something different.
But he didn't.
Rik lay there with the bandit's sword sticking through his body. The bandit pulled the sword back out, arm trembling. Markus tightened his grip on his sword, rushed over to the bandit, and plunged his sword through the man again and again—until the man fell still, his blood staining the grass.
Then Markus knelt beside Rik, who was flat on the ground now, moaning, his face a ghostly white. He looked up at Markus with glazed eyes.
"Don't die on me, Rik," Markus said, fighting against tears. His mind had gone blank. What was he supposed to do?
Nadia put a hand on his shoulder. "You said you had healing abilities, Markus."
"You're right," he said. "I-I have to try."
Markus placed a hand on Rik's deep puncture wound. Blood flowed from the wound like a small river, and Rik's intestines had sustained damage. This looked beyond Markus's healing abilities. He closed his eyes and thought about healing. Energy left him, but he kept going, pushing himself as far as his abilities would allow.
When he felt he could take no more, he opened his eyes.
The worst of the internal damage had disappeared, and the muscles had healed, but the gaping holes in Rik's body remained. The healing had also cleaned out anything that had leaked from his intestines. Under normal circumstances, this injury would have been fatal.
Covered in blood, Markus looked up at Nadia. "Is he conscious?"
She shook her head. "Why?"
"I need to sterilize the wound. If he's conscious, it's going to hurt like hell."
She bent low to check on him. "Rik, can you hear me? Rik?"
He didn't respond, didn't even moan.
"Keep pressure on the wound," Markus said. "I need to get back to the supplies."
She nodded, and he took off, trying not to think about Rik dying. Soon he arrived at the road, where they'd dropped their supplies at the beginning of the battle. A low moan came from one of the injured bandits as he crawled toward Markus, looking up at him with pleading eyes.
Markus had plunged his sword through the upper part of the bandit's stomach, missing the heart, and the man was bleeding to death. He wouldn't survive.
"Please," the man said. "Kill me. Finish the job."
Markus considered letting the bandit suffer, but he couldn't. He took a few steps toward the man, looked him in the eyes, then plunged his sword directly through the heart this time. The man grunted, then fell silent.
After wiping his sword on the grass, Markus found some bandages, whiskey, needle and thread, and healing herbs. Then he raced back up the grassy hill, toward where Rik lay dying.
When he arrived, Rik was still unconscious, and he'd lost a lot of blood.
With shaking hands, Markus opened the whiskey and poured as much of it as he could over Rik's wound, thankful that Rik wasn't conscious. All too soon, the bottle went dry. They might have stopped infection for now, but would that last?
Markus spread some herbs on the wound, though not enough. Some would speed the healing process. Others would numb the pain when he awoke.
He had to let Nadia do the stitching. She seemed steadier, but it still took ages, and Rik moaned a few times, almost coming awake.
Finally, Markus and Nadia worked together to bandage Rik's wounds. By the time they'd wrapped him well enough, they didn't have enough bandages remaining to change his bandages. Rik could die of infection before they reached Riverside.
Markus had to pray that his healing would be enough.
Nadia put a hand on his shoulder. "What do we do now?"
"We'll wait here, and hope he wakes up."
Chapter 34
Berig felt queasy as they entered the Black Swamp the next morning. The trees had become gnarled and skeletal, draped in vines that hung like snakes waiting to attack. A light mist drifted in the humid air. There were few paths to follow, and even those were crowded with vines and tangled underbrush.
"So what can we expect here?" Berig asked. The muddy ground squelched beneath his worn shoes, and he worried he'd be walking barefoot before they reached the end of the swamp.
"Monsters and the infamous black water," Aric said. "If you touch that water, you die."
How could they get through a swamp without touching the water? Maybe Berig should turn back now, take whatever life he had left.
"It shouldn't be as bad as it sounds," Danica said.
Berig almost laughed.
"People have made it through the swamp before," Ander said. "When Warrick tells us that no one can cross any of these regions, he's lying. He only wants us to think it's impossible so that we stay under his control."
Berig stepped on a twig. "You sure about that?"
"People involved with the Order have made the journey. Smugglers, mostly. There are probably other paths to Mountainside, but these smugglers can't risk letting that information into the wrong hands."
"Bad for business," Graig said.
"What about the journey from Riv
erside to Bradenton?" Berig asked.
Ander slashed at some vines with his sword. "Not that I've heard of, but I don't think it's impossible. Tough, no doubt, but Nadia will make it. She's very determined. She has a reason to make the journey, unlike most people."
As they walked, the mist thickened, swirling in giant clouds, and the air became more humid than ever. The scurrying and calls of forest animals had disappeared.
Berig checked his surroundings for danger, able to see only a few rows of trees away. His feet sank into the soupy ground.
"You sure we can stay out of the black water?" he asked.
"Not all the water is black," Aric said. "Only certain pools and larger bodies. We'll still be able to find some drinking water, though we'll have to heat it up first. Who knows what kind of diseases could be in the swamp's water?"
As they traveled deeper into the swamp, new sounds emerged. Up in the trees, large black birds called out with grating, high-pitched tones. Low growls rumbled in the distance, often followed by panicked squeals. Berig almost wished some of these things would step out of the mist. At least then he'd know what they were.
A nauseating smell filled the air, like something had died. They covered their mouths and noses with their clothes, but Berig still gagged.
At one point, a long, thin snake slithered out from the nearby trees, and Ander killed it with a surge of fire from his staff. Aric judged the snake safe to eat.
Eventually, they reached the first pool of black water. Berig had expected it to be thick and disgusting, but it looked more like water someone had filled with black dye. Fish even swam in it.
Berig pointed. "Strange to think those things don't die."
"Warrick created these places," Aric said. "They don't follow normal rules."
As they ventured deeper into the swamp, the black pools became larger and more numerous. Still, many paths wound between the pools. They came eventually to a giant lake whose boundaries existed somewhere beyond the mist.
"I think we should go around," Captain Davis said. He'd been quiet all day, brooding as usual.
Berig squinted into the mist. "I think there's a path over to the right."
Empire of Chains (World in Chains Book 1) Page 27
