Portals of Infinity: Book Four: The Sea of Grass

by John Van Stry

  I nodded and turned to walk back to Yarsha, to help her with Henry's body. I noticed the wolats had come back to the camp, Henry's and Yarsha's were lying on the ground by where Yarsha was still crying.

  "What happened?" Rees said coming up to me, he was the only one from Glisan who had accompanied us this far.

  I told him the story and he looked rather shocked.

  "The wolats attacked Zang?" He said when I had finished.

  I nodded. "It was rather vicious, he kept healing himself, and they kept tearing him apart. Eventually he couldn't keep up."

  Rees looked a bit wide-eyed at that. "Wolats rarely attack a person, especially in camp."

  I shrugged, "You know how well he got along with them."

  "But you said the entire village pack attacked."

  "So?"

  "He never met any of the pack; he only knew the ones that came here with us. Yet they all attacked!"

  He went over to Yarsha then, and I went as well. I wasn't looking forward to dealing with this, I liked Henry. Now I'd have to bury him, and I'd have to perform the service, and the blessing. Because he deserved it.

  "Well, that did not go well," I sighed and looked up at Fel.

  "It was not your fault, Will," Fel said putting his hand on my head.

  "If I had gone out of the teepee first, Henry would still be alive," I said.

  "Perhaps, but you can not know that. Zang would have known he could never win a fight against you. He most likely would have attacked Henry first regardless."

  I sighed, "I don't know."

  "Well, I do, and I am your god, William," Fel told me.

  I looked up at him. "Can I talk to Henry? I want to apologize to him."

  "Not right now, perhaps later."

  I looked at Fel in surprise, "Why not? He hasn't passed over already, has he?"

  Fel shook his head, "No, it is a bit more complicated than that."

  "I don't understand."

  Fel sighed, "The wolats all attacking Rodan's priest wasn't the only thing they did. After the service you performed, they went to the priest’s tent and destroyed that as well."

  "Evean's body?"

  "Yup, that too. And they attacked two of the people who were closely associated with the priest."

  "Oh no," I said.

  "They weren't killed, they got away. But enough people in the village saw it, and they're talking about it. And they've all heard the story by now about how much the wolats liked Henry."

  "So what does this have to do with why I can not see him?"

  Fel grinned, "He's becoming a saint."

  I blinked. "What?"

  "Henry is becoming the Saint of Wolat riders. Word will spread from this tribe to the others rather quickly. Almost everyone in the Mowoks had met him, knew him, saw his way with the wolats. They all liked him; he converted a lot of the People, Will, a lot of the People.

  "With the story of the Wolats avenging him, and running Roden's people out of the village, well, he's going to achieve sainthood. It puts him in a different sort of limbo right now. So it would be better if you did not see him until it has become settled."

  "Well, could you tell him I'm sorry?"

  Fel nodded, "I have. He forgives you; he knows it was not your fault. He just asks that you take Yarsha back to Steve, so he can teach her."

  "Teach her?"

  "Yarsha wants to become a priestess and carry on Henry's work."

  I thought about that a moment.

  "I hate to say this, but it seems like this worked out rather well for you, Fel," I grumbled.

  "I know, and you want to know something to consider?" Fel said to me softly.

  "What?" I growled.

  "Henry is very happy that his death pushed Roden out of the tribes and will secure me more followers."

  "He would be," I sighed shaking my head. "He is devoted to you, Feliogustus."

  "Wow, you actually called me by my full name!" Fel laughed.

  I shrugged, "I liked him, I'll miss him, and I feel guilty, and not just because I couldn't do anything, but because we will profit from his demise."

  "We?" Fel asked raising an eyebrow as he looked at me.

  "Okay, you. But I can't blame you; it's not your fault."

  Fel smiled and ruffled my head fur. "William, all of the priests and priestesses know that it is their sacred duty to spread the faith and increase the flock, just as much as taking care of them is. It may sound strange to you, but to die in my service is not something that any of them fear."

  I nodded, I knew that. While I was only the hired help, no matter how faithful I may have become, they were committed.

  "Exactly," Fel said reading my mind.

  "Oh, one other thing," I said, I knew I'd be waking up soon, "Well, actually, two other things. What did Evean do to me?"

  "Her lipstick."

  "She was wearing lipstick?" I said surprised.

  "Yes, and it was highly narcotic, and an aphrodisiac, of course, she has control over her scent, so her pheromones already had you hopping."

  "So if I had just cured poison on myself?"

  "And flushed out any intoxicants with the cantrip you use to keep from being drunk," he nodded.

  "I feel bad about what I did to her," I sighed.

  "Don't, she was going to do it to you, after all."

  I smiled wanly and shook my head, "Still, if you could convey my apologies? It really wasn't anyway to treat a lady."

  Fel laughed, "I'll pass it on. However Evean really isn't much of a lady."

  "What about the priest back in the other village?"

  "The one back in Stark?"

  I nodded.

  "They'll run him out of course."

  "Umm, should I lead him to those that were thrown out of here today, and guide them to Langhir? I mean, would it keep Roden from declaring open war?"

  Fel paused a moment, "Well, if you want to you can, it wouldn't help much, but it wouldn't hurt either. Roden isn't mad at me, though I suspect he is a little angry with Evean, her gambit would probably have hurt his case, even if she had been successful. However the rest of the Mowoks would see it as an honorable act and the other gods would see it in a positive way as well."

  "Thanks, Fel, and well, tell Henry that I will miss him."

  Fel nodded and I went back to a deep sleep.

  Fifteen

  Upshur Winter Camp

  I gathered Yarsha and Rees and anyone else who wanted to go, early in the morning and we rode back to Stark.

  I told Steve what had happened, and he looked rather shocked. I turned Yarsha over to him and he quickly took her under his wing.

  "So what are you going to do now, Will?" He asked looking at me.

  "I'm going to escort Gauch back to Langhir, or at least close enough that he won't be in danger of finishing the trip himself."

  "Why?" Yarsha asked looking up at me angrily.

  "Yeah, why?" Steve asked surprised.

  "Because without protection he probably won't make it, and it is the honorable thing to do. Once Chief Narzon hears about what happened, he'll force Gauch and any followers to leave."

  "Well, if you feel that is what Feliogustus would want."

  I nodded, "He thinks it would be best to escort them out of here quickly."

  "Yes, the quicker they are gone, the better," Yarsha growled.

  "Well, let me get you started, Yarsha," Steve said, "We can go over what Henry taught you, and I will continue your lessons."

  Yarsha agreed and I said my goodbyes to both and went and found Gauch who was already packing up his things.

  "I'm leaving," he growled at me. "Are you here to gloat?"

  "No, I'm here to escort you to the city."

  He looked up at me, "And why would you do that? I have already heard that you killed Evean!"

  I shook my head, "We fought, she lost. I didn't start it either. To be honest, killing her was the farthest thing from my mind at the time, and as you knew her, I'm sure you kno
w that to be true."

  Gauch growled and looked down at the ground. "That still doesn't explain why you're here."

  "Consider it a sign of goodwill, a peace offering. If we just let you go back alone, you probably won't make it. Plus there are followers out there from the other village who are probably equally lost and in trouble. So I'll lead you to them, point you in the right direction, and once we get close enough to Langhir, you're on your own."

  Gauch nodded, "Thank you. I should be ready to leave fairly soon."

  "Let me go speak to the chief, then I'll be back," I told him.

  "So, Will," Chief Narzon said to me when I came to his teepee, "I hear you are going to escort Gauch back to Langhir?"

  I nodded, "I think there will be less trouble that way."

  "I'm surprised that you, as Feliogustus's champion would be willing to do such a thing. I would think you would want them all dead for the death of your priest and your friend."

  I shook my head looking down at the ground for a moment. If I hadn't killed Evean, this would never have happened. And if I hadn't been thinking with my dick instead of my head, I wouldn't have had to kill her.

  "Chief, it would be a slaughter if I attacked them; they're really defenseless against me. And do they deserve to be punished because one of their priests was a murderous idiot? Do we need a war with the people of Langhir because we killed their priests? The followers of their god?"

  Chief Narzon nodded slowly, "Yes, it could lead to fighting if we killed them, you are right about that. And it would be seen by many as an honorable act to escort them to their city, even when you had no cause to be forgiving of them."

  "Thank you," I replied.

  "I will send six of my best warriors with you however, just to keep them from getting any ideas."

  "Do you really think that is necessary?" I asked a little surprised.

  "If I send them, it won't be. And that is the reason why I do."

  "Thank you, Chief, I appreciate your help."

  "Henry was a good tribesman, a good member of the People. He would have wanted us to help you."

  We set out about an hour later. There were only two followers who went with Gauch. As the story spread, I think those who were on the fence decided not to side with the priest or his religion. Also, who would want to leave their home, their families for a religion they had only just heard of?

  Plus there was one other unexpected development. The Wolats wanted nothing to do with the two followers, and they had to be stopped from actually attacking Gauch. They would growl when he came near, and would try to bite him. This was not just those who came from the Upshur village with us, or who had taken part in killing the other priest, this behavior applied to all the members of the Stark wolat pack.

  "Very curious," Rees noted to me as I got ready to follow the departing group.

  "I will see you then next time I am out this way," I said to him and his wife, Water. I had already said goodbye to Steve and Yarsha.

  "Won't you be coming back?"

  I shook my head, "I have other places I need to go; I will not be back this way for a while. So don't wait for me."

  He nodded, "Until next time then, Will."

  I got up on Tom and waved, then rode off to catch up with the others. One of the warriors, Lite was her name, was leading the group, two others had ridden out as scouts to find those who had been thrown out of the Upshur village yesterday.

  The remaining three and I hung back about twenty or so yards from the priest and the two followers of Roden to avoid any problems with the wolats.

  It took us two days to find the rest of the group. We got them organized rather quickly and on their way. We ended up having to camp a short ways from them at night, as the wolats would not tolerate any of them. At least they didn't try to attack Gauch or his group at night when they slept, and the only way we could talk to any of them was to either shout, or dismount and walk up to them.

  "I wonder why the wolats hate them so much." I mused one night as we sat around our small cooking fire to eat.

  "Wolats do not like it when one of their pack mates are killed," Jon, one of the warriors said.

  "Henry wasn't a pack mate!" I said surprised.

  "To them, he was," Lite said. "It is rare to see one get along with the wolats so well. He had a way with them, he was pack to them."

  I didn't think it would be wise to tell them about the spells and the treats that Henry had used back when he first came here to win over the wolat's affections.

  "Well, that would explain their behavior when they killed that priest." I said. "But why do they continue to go after the others? Hell, except for my wolat, none of these were even there! Why are they angry too?"

  Jon and Lite, shrugged, the others also shrugged as well when I looked at them.

  "Wolats are very smart," Jon said picking up a stick and stirring the fire. "It is not uncommon for one to learn a trick, and those that are with it to learn the same trick later. If one knows of a danger, we have seen that the others will also learn of the danger from it. It is how they live on the Sea of Grass."

  The others all agreed and nodded.

  "Did you not see how the wolats were grazing around the priest Steve's teepee when we left the village?" Fast, one of the other warriors asked me.

  I looked at him, "No, I had not noticed that."

  "They know he is like Henry, so they want to protect him."

  "Also Henry's mate is with him. They protect her now as well." Lite added.

  I thought about that a minute. I wondered if they would connect Fel's priests with Henry? Or were they just doing that because Steve and Henry had spent so much time together? Or if they were there solely because of Yarsha?

  Only time would tell if there would be any association there.

  "How much longer until we come to the city?" I asked, changing the subject. We'd been traveling for over a week now.

  "We should be able to see it tomorrow," Jon said. "Another day will take us there."

  I nodded, "Well once they can see it, I think our duty is done and we can leave them."

  "Not going into their city?" Fast asked me.

  I shook my head, "I suspect I'm probably not very welcome there."

  Several of them laughed, "I would think not!" one of them commented.

  The next day when we came over a rise, we could see the city off in the distance.

  "How long from here?" I asked Jon.

  "Another day by wolat, two on foot."

  I nodded, "Gauch!" I called, and he stopped and turned to look at me. I pointed to the city. "We will follow a while longer, but from here you are on your own."

  He nodded, "Thank you."

  "When the scouts come back, don't send them out again," I told Jon who nodded and whistled a short tune that caused Lite to turn from where she was leading the group and ride back to join us.

  It was about noon when our two scouts came back.

  "There are a group of soldiers on their way in this direction," Fast told us as we stopped to have lunch. We had fallen back far enough, that Gauch's group was no longer in sight.

  "How many?" I asked, curious.

  "About a dozen. There was a rather striking looking female leading them," He said smiling at me.

  I just sighed. I hoped Evean wasn't looking for a rematch.

  "I thought you killed Evean?" Lite said looking at me.

  "Champions can be re-incarnated by their god," I said trying not to look guilty.

  "Really? Is that so?" Lite said looking surprised.

  I nodded, "Yes, it is so."

  "That is quite a gift," She said looking at me a little differently than she had been before, and not in a good way either.

  "You wouldn't think so after you'd been hacked to pieces a few times," I growled at her.

  "But you come back!" She said in accusing voice.

  "Dying hurts, it hurts a lot! And after you die, there are worst things that happen if you are a champion. You
get to go on to your eternal reward after you die. I don't get that, I get sent back here." I growled.

  I noticed they were all looking at me kind of funny.

  "You'd rather be dead?" Jon said surprised.

  "I'd rather not be getting killed in the first place," I said looking at all of them, "I would rather be with my family and not having to do things that will cause me or them to suffer.

  "And when the day comes that they have moved on, as the rest of you will, to your final reward, I'll still be here, doing my job, and serving Feliogustus. So don't be so quick to envy me, I have to do as I'm told, and the tasks of a god, are never easy, and often painful."

  No one had anything to say to that.

  "So, when will those soldiers get here?"

  "Two, maybe three hours," Fast said.

  "What do you want us to do?" Jon asked.

  "Wait up there on that rise," I said pointing to a spot about three hundred yards away. "Where you can be seen, but try to hide your numbers."

  "Where will you be?"

  "Right here," I said looking around at our location, "if they go past the others and come here, it will be me that they're looking for. So I might as well see what they want."

  "If you think that is safe."

  I laughed, "I don't think it's safe. But I don't want to start a war either."

  We finished our lunch, and the others went off to where I asked them to wait, while I settled in to wait for Evean to show up. I knew if she came alone, she could get here a lot faster than the soldiers would.

  She chose not to of course, she showed up with ten soldiers. They were all wearing leather armor, while she was wearing a combination of leather and bronze.

  "You!" She growled, stopping a dozen or so yards back, and motioning for her men to stay behind her.

  "I said I was sorry, Evean. But you were trying to kill me." I moved Tom to the left a few feet. I didn't want the air currents to carry her scent to me. I'm sure I wouldn't appreciate the effect right now.

  "I should kill you for that, Will."

  I gestured off to where the others were at, and I could tell that her soldiers had already noticed them up there during their approach. "I'd rather not fight, and we have you outnumbered if you should decide to."