by Hicks, Aaron
Doctore said,
“Is power in the name or the ssstrike?
If you sssay, ‘name,’ you will take a permanent hike.”
Uktesh smiled at Doctore’s humor, but when Doctore raised a scaly eyebrow Uktesh said, “Strike, it’s the strike. So I already know all the true, titanic, and god form strikes? And does that mean that for three can be used for defense?”
Doctore said,
“Think back have you usssed all forms that way?
If you have or have not mattersss not if you lisssten to what I sssay.”
Uktesh asked, “How do I amp myself up enough to do a god form palm strike?”
Doctore held up a finger and said,
“God form is different from all othersss.
Only can be usssed once before it sssmothersss.”
Uktesh said, “What do you mean, it’ll kill me to use it?”
Doctore said,
“That isss the mossst likely outcome,
but could be that you change little or whole sssum.”
He gestured at himself.
Uktesh said, “Wait! You used to be human? But you used a god form attack and were changed into a snake!” That’s what Talia meant!
Doctore made a hissing laugh sound again, and said,
“I was the bessst of the bessst,
I ssstood higher than all the ressst.
One hundredth match I was to be free,
a ssstrange desssperation took hold of me.
My opponentsss ten of the bessst to fight,
should have been hard, but possssible, right?
Wasss not to be, I fought hard, but early lossst my arm.
Then my leg, ssso god form I usssed, what wasss the harm?
My family wasss from a ssssmall town by the sssea,
generationsss by the sssea, thisss form wasss meant to be.
Attacked them, I did, in god form I did,
killed opponents all, but of my human body I was rid.
That wasss the end of my sssaga,
to be cursssed to live forever asss a naga.”
Uktesh felt stunned, “But it was do or die, right? Better to win and live another day right?”
Doctore looked to the distance and said,
“I oncsse could have been a bloodlessss searcher,
a wife and child to love and nurture.
Now they are gone,
it ssso quickly went wrong.
Murdered becaussse of their husssband and father,
To them I was just a deadly bother.”
Uktesh said, “They killed your family because you became a naga? Who?”
Doctore said,
“Asss I am I am ssstill mighty, far ssstronger than you.
He who killed my world isss ssstronger than me it’sss true.”
Uktesh asked, “Was it the Storm lord?” Doctore nodded, and Uktesh said, “Why do you work for him?”
Doctore said,
“One day he will ssslip,
and there will I be with my whip.”
Uktesh said, “I’d like to help you. Let’s train until I can use the titanic form easily. With that I doubt anything could beat me.”
Doctore said,
“Be careful pride is wrong,
unlessss you wish to live only in sssong.”
Uktesh nodded and said, “Gotcha if I’m not careful I may die by underestimating an opponent.” Uktesh thought for a moment and asked, “How many people know how to use the god form? How many have used it?”
Doctore said,
“Know how? Hundredssss I’m sssure.
Usssed it? Maybe three dozen, but only one doesssn’t need a cure.”
Uktesh said, “Wait. You can use it without being changed?”
Doctore nodded and said,
“It isss far more than rare.
You would be more likely to walk on air.”
Uktesh smiled and said, “Gotcha. It’s a last resort only. Hey, before your change, did you always have to rhyme?”
Doctore sighed and asked,
“Do you
need to?”
Uktesh smiled and got back to practicing; as much as his broke arms would allow. He had a lot to learn and didn’t really understand how he was able to beat the best if they had someone as skilled as Doctore training them.
Is this my life now
Two months apart from Uktesh
Laurilli woke up and stared at the ceiling. Two months without him.
The dragon said, you’ve got me at least.
Sure, what girl wouldn’t want a horny Wyrm in her head making comments about how attractive her mother is, or suggesting I look in the mirror for a little longer, or that Pamfilo looks uncomfortable with her shirt on.
If I knew where Uktesh was I would leave you in a heartbeat. At least he agrees with me most of the time, even if he doesn’t always admit it to himself. Do you at least enjoy the fringe benefits of my powers? You can Walk almost as far as he could already.
Sure those are great. I can go anywhere, with nowhere to go. I can get anywhere instantly with nothing but time on my hands.
At least the pain has gone away.
Laurilli touched the scar between her breasts. That’s true. She’d seen Uktesh deal with injuries that had nearly killed him, and he never once complained about how much the healing process hurt. She’d almost daily woken up screaming in pain for two weeks straight. When that ended most had assumed that she was fine, if not ready to begin activities, and easily worn out. The truth was that only in the past few days had she finally been able to breathe without pain. If she breathed in deeply, there was a clear line of pain in her chest, but she tended to avoid testing her pain threshold.
She sat up, scooted out of bed, and began the tedious process of getting dressed. Though she complained that the dragon kept asking her to look at her full-length mirror for a little longer, they both knew she was grateful he thought her attractive, because with their minds linked, she wasn’t sure if he could lie to her, and vice versa. She stepped into loose pants that Tylor had created for her and pulled them up to her waist, and pulled on the string in the front that tightened them around her hips. Likewise Tylor has invented a bra that she could put on and take off with one hand. She scrunched up her shirt with her hand until it was basically two holes and then pushed her head through both holes, and after a moment of fighting, she was able to force her hand through the armhole.
She stood in front of the mirror as she brushed her hair. She still had bags under her eyes. She thought she still looked pale, which made sense considering she’d previously seen a tanned version of herself looking back at her in the mirror. After two months inside--considering it was winter--she’d definitely lost her tan. She put the brush down and stared at the much more worn Laurilli that looked back at her. Personally, she thought she now looked deformed.
What will Uktesh say when he sees me? Really what she feared was that he wouldn’t still find her attractive. She assumed he’d no longer find her beautiful, but she couldn’t bear it if he returned to her only to be repulsed by her.
She felt tears well up in her eyes, as they seemed to so easily these days. Say? He’ll probably say something stupid like, “Oh no! That was my favorite arm.” She burst out into a laughing sob, once again incredibly grateful to the dragon. The more she thought about it the more she realized the dragon was probably right. She took a deep breath, but not too deep, and stood up, ready for the day. The sky had just begun to brighten into day, so she Walked to the top of the watch tower and sat on the roof as the sun rose over the hills to the east.
She much preferred the sunrise to the sunset as the mountains to the west blocked most of the light. So instead of getting to see the ball of light rise from the horizon, before it’s too painful to stare directly at, she was forced to watch the after effects as the sky changed from blue to pink and red. As the sky brightened and illuminated the world around her, she saw a pack of spider wolves race back to the edge of t
he forest. I can’t even pretend I’d help hunt them down. Without a second arm I’m basically useless. She even saw a few lickmutts playing in the mud with a mudhound. She watched them play for a few minutes before a hand appeared on the edge of the roof, which was followed by her father Thulmann as he pulled himself to the top of the roof to sit next to her.
Although he sat right next to her, there was a distance between them that he’d put there when he had insisted that Uktesh would turn evil. Now she didn’t know if she could trust him with the knowledge that she too was Afflicted. He sighed and said, “First that husband of yours, now you, zipping from one place to the next like frenzied humming bees. How is this old man supposed to keep up with you young’uns?” Even though he was graying around the temples, she knew that he was one of the most deadly warriors in the Sinian army. He had even revealed that he was a Number, one of the elite warriors that were the best at their given weapon. He was Number Four master of swords; they’d previously met a Number who simply went by his moniker: One. To this day she still didn’t know what weapon he was the best at using.
Laurilli responded to his question and said, “Maybe you’re not meant to, old man.” He sighed and put his arm around her. Together they watched the sun rise over the hills.
They were a small community that consisted of Basam’s family, Myrtin’s family, Repus, Heathyr, Thulmann, Tylor, Larut, Sara, Pamfilo, Pippy, Abrym, and Laurilli. Such a small community and we’ve already lost three for sure, four if Uktesh really didn’t make it. Myrtin, Leilani, and Esolc’s faces passed through her mind with a pang of regret.
Don’t you worry. It’ll take more than an invading army to kill him. Laurilli smiled at the dragon’s thought and watched as Pippy ran out of Repus’s house only to be met halfway by Robyn and Mychael. The three of them took off running toward the watchtower. Laurilli saw Fayth and Trysha sneak over the north wall. Where they were coming back from wasn’t really a question. Upon arriving in Manori they had sought out the wealthiest family with sons their ages. That meant they were sneaking out to spend the night Dekan and Baloce.
They’re big girls; they can certainly handle themselves, and if not, I’ve already said my peace, twice!
What would Uktesh do?
Laurilli sighed in disgust. He’d probably let the girls follow their own path, but put the fear of the gods into Baloce and Dekan.
Then let’s do that!
Do what?
Scare some kids! Come on; it’ll be fun!
Against her better judgement she felt like doing what the dragon was egging her on to do. Thulmann must’ve felt the shift in her attitude and said, “There she is, my little ray of sunshine.”
Laurilli smiled, her mind set, and said, “I’m hoping down. Do you want help?”
Below them in the watchtower they heard the three children arrive and immediately start sighting Afflicted animals, people, and monsters. Thulmann smiled as Mychael shouted, “Mychael sees a giant dragon! It says it’s come for the girl!”
Pippy shouted back, “No! Not me?”
Robyn shouted heroically, “Robyn will protect you!”
Mychael added, “Mychael will protect you too!”
Robyn whined, “Huh uh! Only Robyn can protect her! You go keep watch for more Afflicted.”
Thulmann nodded as the three started to fight about their roles in their imaginary lives. Laurilli grabbed his shoulder with her right hand and Walked to the base of the watchtower. Thulmann hugged her and said, “I don’t know what you’re planning, but have fun and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Laurilli hugged him back before she Walked to her house and got her new sword. She had decided that Uktesh’s fighting style wouldn’t work for her anymore, so she was learning from Heathyr how to use a rapier. It wasn’t going well, but she had only started training with Heathyr for a week. She tried to pull her minotaur jacket on, but found that she couldn’t get it buttoned shut. She found her mother and had her button it shut. Or at least she tried. They soon came to the realization that Laurilli was too big for the jacket!
Am I getting fat?
The dragon didn’t answer for a second, then thought, No I don’t think so.
You hesitated!
No, I didn’t. I was thinking about it.
You shouldn’t have to think about it! It should be obvious!
Human proportions have always baffled me.
Liar!
Alright fine! You’ve gained weight, not just, ‘you’re growing,’ but you’ve put on about five extra pounds.
What! She mentally shrieked and collapsed into her mother’s arms sobbing. “Have I gained five pounds, Mom?”
Heathyr patted her head and said, “No, I think you’re just growing. You got that jacket when you were a child. Now you’re a woman and it makes sense that you’d outgrow it.”
Laurilli asked, “Really?”
Heathyr hugged her again and said, “Of course.”
Laurilli mumbled into Heathyr’s shoulder, “Do you think Uktesh will still love me if I gain a lot of weight?”
Heathyr said, “I know he will.”
That’s how you answer that question!
The dragon replied, I was being honest!
I like her dishonesty better than your honesty.
Then don’t ask me a question you don’t want the answer to.
Will Uktesh ever return to us?
Are you sure you want to know my thoughts on this subject?
Yes.
The dragon mentally sighed and thought, no. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think he’s dead, but I know the geography of this world and the closest land mass from here in the direction they came from is too far to swim, too cold to walk, and he’s not strong enough to fly or Walk here. I knew if he got captured it’d most likely be a one-way trip.
Why didn’t you save him?
It was him or you. He has a chance of returning, though it’s slim. You wouldn’t have survived without my help.
Then if he can’t come to me, I’ll go to him.
I don’t think even you have enough money to tempt a captain to go that far away.
Laurilli pulled away from Heathyr and wiped her eyes, “Sorry, I just get emotional these days.”
Heathyr said, “You’ll always have my shoulder to cry on if you need it.”
Laurilli gave up on the jacket and headed to find Dekan and Baloce. They were usually in the inn lounging around and drinking the day away. Like most days today was no different. She stormed into the inn, nicked each of their necks with her rapier and said, “Those two girls may not know who and what you two are, but I do. If you hurt them those scratches will become profoundly deeper.” She turned on her heel and strode out of the inn without looking back, though the dragon was keeping a watch on them with his senses.
She didn’t start to giggle until she was safely back inside the walls of her community. Perhaps you’re not so useless after all, the dragon thought, mocking her earlier fears.
Her stomach growled and even with her fears about gaining weight she went to find some food. It was times like these that she missed the Isle de Tramonto and its endless buffet of food. She settled for eating an apple and when she was finished she threw the core over the wall. She only had time to kill these days, so she practiced her new forms that primarily involved her wrist. She flowed forward and back trying to adapt Bull Rushes Down into her forward attack pattern, but had a hard time keeping her balance without her left arm.
Heathyr joined her about an hour later and together they fought back and forth each striving to achieve a point or a victory. Laurilli had learned her lesson about rushing and trying to do something she wasn’t ready for, so instead of trying to Rush an attack, she fought with controlled bursts of speed and strength. After several minutes she saw an opening and kicked out at her mother’s hand, but it had been a ruse, and now off-balanced Heathyr quickly tapped Laurilli on the head. Laurilli was breathing hard and trying not to breathe too deeply and hur
t her wound.
Heathyr said, “Good job. I thought you were going to try something flashy but foolish to let me win the point. Instead you were patient and I had to work hard to trick you.”
Laurilli smiled and said, “I still have a long way to go. I got tired after only a few minutes of sparing. I used to be able to fight Repus and,” she paused as she was hit by loss again, “Esolc for hours.”
Heathyr nodded and asked, “Shall we go again?”
Laurilli nodded and stood to begin again when someone shouted over the wall, “Hello the compound!”
Laurilli walked to the gate as a crowd began to form. She pulled the heavy slide open and swung the gate so that they could see their visitor. It was a messenger from the lord Marshal, the leader of Sinai. The man stepped into the courtyard and was flanked by dozens of guards. “Hear ye! Hear ye! By order of the lord Marshal all persons between the ages of eight and sixty are to report to Bainbridge by noon on the midwinter festival for combat training!” Laurilli felt her jaw drop, eight year olds? That’s only two weeks away! “Once there they will have the honor of being trained by the esteemed Numbers in hand to hand combat.”
There was more than a few parents glaring angrily at the messenger, but Laurilli raised her hand for quiet, “It’s not his fault, and it’s not even a bad thing! If we’re to survive the return of those invaders then we’ll need to know how to defend ourselves.” She turned to the messenger and said, “Please continue.”
The man was staring at her arm, or lack thereof, but quickly recovered and continued, “This will not be to form an army, or to begin recruitment. Though it is mandatory, there won’t be a draft at the end. You will all be back in time to begin planting for the harvest. Are there any questions?”
Basam strode forward and said, “Basam and all Basam’s family are between eight and sixty save for Sy and Mychael. Who would watch them if all are to be training?”
The messenger said, “For a community this size you may choose one person to stay behind and care for those too young to begin the training.”
Thulmann marched forward and said, “I am Four. We have a wet nurse who has to stay behind, but she has no combat training. If my wife were to stay behind we’d all feel much better about leaving. Then we would know the children would be defended”
