by D. H. Dunn
Turning back toward the plains it was clear Sinar would be on them in a minute, Drew having no idea what to do.
“A wise decision,” Merin said as she came to stand beside him. A small sword was clutched in her hand, and she looked like she knew how to use it.
“I thought I said no weapons,” he said, wishing he had brought one too.
“I do not take orders from you,” Merin said, throwing him a smile. “Do you want me to put it back?”
“No--not listening to me is a good idea. I should do it more often.”
The ground began trembling, the thundering of the mammoth’s feet bringing it forward at impressive speed. Sinar’s eyes were visible now, as wild and passion-filled as they had been in the library. Drew saw no flames from the man though, reminding himself Upala could not produce them as well at this lower altitude.
“Any suggestions?” Merin asked.
Drew spread his feet wider and raised his fists, feeling foolish as he did so. He could see his pulse beating in his eyes.
“Dodge and hope it only kills one of us?” Drew’s words were nearly drowned out by the sound of the ground’s trembling.
There was no time for further thought as the charging beast closed the remaining distance between them.
Each of them lunged out of the mammoth’s path in a different direction. The beast roared by him, the vibrations nearly knocking Drew off his feet.
Sinar leaped from his perch, crashing into Drew. The pair fell back onto the ground, Sinar’s heavy weight adding to the force of their impact on the ground.
Drew managed to get back on his feet first, taking a moment to see if Merin was all right. He got only a glimpse of her running alongside the brown mass of the mammoth before Sinar’s fist connected with his side, doubling him over.
He coughed, feeling his stomach recoil. Sinar stood before him with fists raised, a sneer on his dark, bearded face. What was this about?
There was no time for a second thought as the Manad Vhan swung a beefy arm at him and Drew twisted out of the way.
Having recovered a bit of his breath, he felt familiar instincts firing off inside him. He was a sailor, not a soldier, but he had been in a few bar brawls with his shipmates during the war.
If Sinar wanted a fight, he was ready to give him one.
Another swing from Sinar at his head, Drew moved his arms to redirect the blow. He was only partially successful, the man’s huge fist connecting with his shoulder instead of its intended target, but it still hurt like hell.
Sinar was strong. Too strong.
Drew managed to bring his elbow around, giving the Manad Vhan an impact to his jaw that produced a satisfying groan. The man let out a roar, Drew feeling the heat of his flames even before they appeared on Sinar’s hands.
Shit! I guess he can produce fire here.
Sinar raised his fists overhead, towering over Drew. Drew threw his own arms in front of his face to protect himself, just as he saw a large stone catch Sinar right in the forehead between his eyes.
Drew turned, eyes wide with surprise as he saw Trillip. The man was standing behind him looking terrified, his hands still in the air from launching the rock.
Sinar stood standing there with a wild look in his stare and flames still dripping from his fingers, but the big Manad Vhan was no longer looking at them. Drew followed his gaze to the left, where Merin sat atop the mammoth, her legs clinging to its neck.
The beast pushed and thrust awkwardly with its huge bulk, sending tremors into the ground, but was unable to throw Merin off from its neck.
She gripped her sword in both hands, staring at Sinar and preparing to bring the blade down onto the creature’s skull.
Sinar’s eyes went from anger to fear in an instant as he waved his flaming hands frantically.
“No! Hold, woman! I yield!”
Merin froze, keeping the blade poised above the beast’s head as she stared back at Sinar, her eyes looking as surprised as Drew felt.
“Sinar!” Drew shouted. “What is it you want? Why are you attacking us? We don’t have time for this, so if you don’t cough up some answers I think you’re going to be looking for a new pet.”
Sinar gritted his teeth for a moment, then he snuffed the flames from his hands, as if someone had blown them out like candles. “Please, please be careful. Cuvi is rare.” Sinar held his hands up as if to further show their doused state. “Unique. A singular experience, which is valuable to me.”
Drew cast a glance in surprise up at the huge beast, the animal now motionless in response to Sinar’s hand gestures. Merin was poised on its neck, one hand still holding her sword over its furry skull.
Drew shook his head. Sinar actually cared about something.
He turned back to the Manad Vhan, putting on what he hoped was his most steely glare. “Start talking or you’ll have the unique experience of him being dead.”
Merin nodded.
“Why did you attack me in the library? What did you hope to find?” Drew demanded.
“A route to your world. Your Earth,” Sinar said. “Yes, I am aware there is a path to it through the Under, I know. Sadly, the way to the Under is closed now. Whatever these two fools did with their squabbling seems to have corrupted the doorways to it. But the Under is merely a hub, there are direct portals and if one has the right essences one can find them.”
“All this, just so you can die? Whatever. So, I have the right essences then? Because I am from Earth? Well you ripped a hole right through me and yet here you still are.”
“And here you still are as well, and there might be the problem. I needed a pure essence from someone who from this world, this Earth and it would seem that is not you anymore. I received a glimpse. A taste, if you will. But you are corrupted now too. Infected, as I am sure Upala has figured out now.”
“Rasi sakta,” Drew said with a bite to his tone, noting Merin’s eyebrows raised at the mention of the term. Great, she knew about it too?
“Yeah, Upala told me what she knew about it. I don’t suppose you’d be willing to tell me more? Upala is still quite in the dark.”
“Poor girl, she is quite in the dark about a lot of things. I am willing to guess her late brother Kater was too, which I will confirm once I find his fortress. Perhaps his research will have the answers I need, the direct path to your Earth. I tend to doubt it though, which means I may have to return to you.”
Frustration knotted Drew’s stomach. The idea that this crazy Manad Vhan wanted to attack him was bad enough, but there was no way they could deal with Garantika while Sinar kept complicating things.
“Then what’s with the mammoth charge, Sinar? It sounds like you have things to do and so do we, why go out of your way to attack me?”
“I did not plan it. I was already heading to Nalam Wast, looking for Kater’s fortress. I happened upon you and . . .”
“And what?” Drew sighed. This was taking too long, but Sinar was too much of a wildcard to leave on his own. Drew needed to know he was off the table.
“I saw an opportunity. The essence route back to Earth may not be inside you, or perhaps I just need to look harder. With a cooler head, I fear now I may not be able to extract what I need without your cooperation. Your resistance is disruptive.”
“Drew, the sun. It is almost down,” Merin called. The mammoth had sat, the tall woman still astride its neck with her blade atop its head. Cuvi snorted but made no other action.
Drew sighed. If there was no taking Sinar off the table, he’d have to try and put him in his pocket instead.
“Listen, Sinar, we’re on a clock here. We’re in a bit of a conflict with the Rakhum of Nalam Wast--”
“Already? This girl, Upala, is not much for diplomacy.”
“Yes, already. She’s several miles up the river about to walk into an obvious trap. I know the Rakhum can’t hurt her, but as you can see, occasionally we ‘quicklifes’ can surprise you.” Drew cocked his head in Merin’s direction. “So, I will make yo
u a deal. You help us free the Rogek Shad prisoners in Nalam Wast and get Upala back safely, and you can do whatever you need to do with me. Willingly. You can find all the essence you need.”
“Drew!” Merin yelled from atop the mammoth. “You cannot mean that.”
Drew stared back at Sinar, who chewed at his bottom lip through his beard. “Maybe I’ll heal, maybe I won’t. But the Rogek Shad people will be free and Upala will be safe. That’s enough for me.”
“But Drew, he wants to travel to your homeland!”
“Merin, if Sinar wants to die then let him die. He’s no threat to Earth, I was with Kater there and he nearly died just climbing up Everest. He couldn’t even light a match for his pipe without my help.”
“I accept your terms,” Sinar said, one hand running through the braids in his hair.
Drew wondered how long it had been since the man had needed to negotiate with anyone.
“Well, I’m not done giving you my terms, Sinar. I want two more things. Number one is no killing. There’s a lot of distrust and anger here over what Kater and Upala have done in the past, the last thing these people need to see is another Manad Vhan torching soldiers and guards.”
“Hmm. It will make things more challenging, and that has an interest of its own. What is the second condition?”
Drew narrowed his eyes at Sinar.
“Before you stick that hand of yours in me, you’re going to give me some answers. About the rasi sakta and the Manad Vhan. Do we have a deal?”
“Would you ask your female Rakhum to dismount Cuvi?”
“Her name is Merin, and no, she will not. You agree, and you send Cuvi away. Then we head in and we work this my way. You keep me happy and I’ll give you all the willing essence-time you need.”
Sinar drew a breath in deeply and let it out, rubbing the top of his head. He then smiled at Drew and shrugged.
“For a thousand years I have waited, I can wait one day more. You have my assistance and knowledge from now until sunset tomorrow. Then you belong to me.”
Gritting his teeth, Drew smiled back. One day might be all he needed.
Chapter 13
Upala walked alone along the banks of the Umbuk River, passing by the outskirts of Rogek Shad, the last tents and huts like dried up grass at the edge of a dying field. She had made no eye contact with any of the Rakhum who had looked at her as she departed their village on her way to secure the release of their kin, keeping her eyes cast down on the dirt of the road.
The bridge was up ahead, a simple construction of stone, yet older than any other structure in the valley. A permanent landmark to the Rakhum of both villages, as constant the mountains which surrounded them.
No more than a hundred feet across, it had come to serve as a defensive chokepoint after the walls had gone up and the separate communities of Nalam Wast and Rogek Shad had become formal. It was always manned by a platoon of guards on either side, each staring at the other with the swift deadly waters of the Umbuk underneath them, the divide between the peoples becoming as deep and cold as the water.
There were no guards in front of the bridge now, and no bodies to explain what had happened to them. Upala assumed Garantika’s forces had overrun and captured them, or perhaps they had fallen in defense of Rogek Shad and the bodies had been disposed of. Along with the men and women who died in Kater’s attack on her library and the assault on the lower library, the count of bodies on her conscience was mounting.
Somewhere ahead of her, Drew, Merin, and Trillip sought to free the captured citizens. Drew and Merin had seemed confident of their plan, especially when Trillip had come forward with information about the layout of Nalam Wast. Still, Upala was afraid to hope for their success. She would stall Garantika as long as she could while she waited for Drew’s signal, but there was a part of her that wanted to be on that bridge, in front of the Rakhum of both communities, and be judged for her crimes.
Thoughts of Drew brought a pang to her heart, one that was strong and physical enough to stop her in mid-step. She could feel the fire of passion run through her, longing for his touch even as they had both seen how dangerous that touch could be. Drew, the man who helped her as she explored a new understanding of herself and her role in the world. Now a man who was consumed by the rasi sakta and mysteriously altered as well.
More crimes on her ledger.
The sun was approaching the western mountains as she grew close to the bridge. Through the dim light of the evening she could see three figures waiting on the center span, the smaller center figure dwarfed by the two massive bodies alongside. Her heart beat even faster. Not for her safety, but for fear of Garantika’s intentions.
She took her first steps onto the stone bridge. As the Umbuk River raged below her, she felt the solidity of the structure which had stood since even before she and Kater had come to the region. Built by Rakhum and once the center of their joined community, the only remaining relic of a time before her influence had helped break these people apart.
With a few more steps the three figures became clear. A small man stood in the center, his legs in a wide stance as if he planned to ride the bridge like a stone mount. His arms were folded in judgment. While he was not obese, he was nearly as wide as he was tall, which made him look to Upala like a sturdy box clad in bright metal armor.
Bearded like many male Rakhum, his dark facial hair was long and streaked with gray, sufficient enough to cover the top of the crest on his breastplate. He wore a metal helm with red plumage on the top. His left hand held a sword while the right held an ax. His dark eyes were barely visible through his squashed face, but she could feel the anger in his stare all the same. She had never seen this man, but she knew of him by reputation and description.
Kater’s loyal general and advisor, one of the few Rakhum her brother had ever trusted.
Garantika, now apparently the leader of Nalam Wast.
Flanking Garantika on either side were two Yeti. Each were clad in the traditional, primitive Yeti armor of tanned beast hides that had been wrapped around the giant creatures, appearing to be more for ceremony than protection. The Yeti looked identical to one another save for the color of their fur and the crystals growing out of their shoulders. The sight of those crystals reminded her of the countless deceased Yeti she had experimented on in the past, harvesting the valuable crystals which allowed passage through the magical portals.
Beyond Garantika and the Yeti, a crowd had gathered at the edge of the Nalam Wast side of the bridge. Upala could make out little detail in the shadows of the approaching evening, but she could see a mix of what looked like military uniforms as well as civilians.
A pit grew in her stomach as she gazed back at the two Yeti that flanked Garantika. Eyes she had only previously seen lifeless glared back at her. Inside the beasts’ massive chests beat hearts like the ones she had dissected, but never known. On the table, they had been experiments and resources to be harvested.
The Yeti towered over Garantika, more than twice his height yet did not overshadow him. The small man had a presence to him that made even the bridge fade away from her senses as she approached.
He smiled a grin devoid of joy, white teeth showing through his beard.
“I had heard rumors that you had returned, yet now I am not sure it is really you, longlife.” He spat this perversion of Kater’s favorite slur for the Rakhum at her. “If you are here, you must care about the people of Rogek Shad. Tell me, where is the real Upala?”
Upala set her jaw and ground her teeth together. Being close to Kater had allowed Garantika to pick up some of her brother’s sarcasm.
“I am here for the people you have taken, Garantika.” She made sure her voice carried clearly across the bridge. There was no seeing who was in earshot on the other side. It could be the people of Nalam Wast, Rogek Shad or both. Either way, they needed to hear her sincerity. “To secure their release, I am willing to negotiate.”
Garantika laughed, his amusement sounding like streng
th. He seemed so confident, a new spark of fear built inside her. Could he know of their plan?
“You will negotiate, eh? Kater said you were soft and I often argued we should use tactics such as this against you. Your brother, unfortunately, was a man who liked his own imaginations better than those of others. That he is finally gone is an improvement.”
“What are you doing, Garantika? My brother and I both have crimes to answer for, and I am here to take responsibility for them. But you have committed crimes of your own. Lives of your fellow Rakhum taken.”
She took one step forward, watching the reaction of the Yeti. They did not move, their eyes trained on the small man in front of them.
There was now an unease to how they looked at him, how they held themselves still. They were there, but Upala suspected there may be limits on what they were there to do. While she knew Yeti to be capable of great violence, they often seemed to avoid it where possible.
“Unless,” she added, “you only consider the people of Nalam Wast to be your own people. Unless the lives of Rakhum on this side of the Umbuk have less value to you.”
He tried to hide it, but Upala could see that got a reaction from the man. Inside the helm his nostrils flared, his right hand gripped his sword a little tighter.
“I am a Rakhum. Rogek Shad, Nalam Wast,” he spat the names out. “Creations of you and your brother. Perversions of what we used to be, before you Manad Vhan came with your magic and your immortality. I would see the true Rakhum restored once again, I would see reunification!”
He struck the stone in front of him with the sword, sending sparks flying. They scattered across the bridge, their heat dissipating on impact. He stepped closer to her, looking up into her eyes. The anger was there, but so was the confidence.
“To reunify, there must be no more Manad Vhan. There must be no more of you and your brother. You thought yourselves untouchable, immortal. You cannot be harmed, you cannot die. What could insects like me do to you? I watched Kater misuse us and stood beside him, for only from there could I place the knife in him when it was time to do so. That the same blade now cuts even one of my own people is a pall on my heart, a burn on my soul.”
