Stone Ram (Leopard King Saga)

by T. A. Uner

  The Stealer nodded politely at Fabian. “Yes, Hero Fabian, I shall be stealthy and not risk detection.”

  “Better not, toots,” Lager interjected. “Or else we’ll have to blast ourselves outta this mess.”

  Marella rolled her eyes and disappeared through the window. Fabian watched as she nimbly made her way toward the roof’s ridge before sliding down its valley. The last he saw of her was her agile descent down the gutter pipe before she disappeared into the night. What a girl! he thought.

  Lager placed a hand on his shoulder and Fabian snapped out of his reverie.

  “Don’t go cold on me now Romeo,” he said good-naturedly.

  “Who’s Romeo?”

  “A fictional character from one of Earth’s greatest plays; someone I hope you don’t end up like.” Lager looked out the window and surveyed the square. There were a group of people, huddled around a cylindrical object where a fire was burning, rubbing their hands together over the flames.

  “I don’t like the look of this,” Lager said.

  “You don’t like the look of what?” Fabian asked.

  Lager took out a pair of binoculars and gazed at the men. “This doesn’t look good, Ram.” He handed them over to Fabian, who gazed through the lenses whilst wearing his Ram helm.

  “I count at least 10 men. I recognize four of them; they’re the miners who brought Marella in for stealing earlier today.”

  “Yep. And with good ole’ Jax raising the alarm, I wouldn’t be surprised if more of our mining friends appeared to cordon off the inn.” Lager glanced at Fabian for a moment, as if waiting to receive orders.

  Fabian thought hard. He knew that there was the possibility Lager was testing him on his leadership qualities. He wanted to prove to the Earthman he had learned from his rash mistake back in Outville when he had used fear instead of respect to muscle the trading post owner to do his bidding. Part of Fabian wanted to go up against the miners and use his enchanted armor against them. He had a feeling that idea would not sit well with Lager. Fabian had a feeling being a hero, or a leader, was more than just inflicting harm and taking reckless chances. Still, being relatively new at this, he was afraid of making a mistake. He didn’t want Lager, Matilda or Marella to get hurt, or worse, killed because of him. He made his choice.

  “I take it you’ve been in situations like this?”

  Lager grunted. “Not an enviable situation to find yourself in when faced with it, but yes, I have.” Other than that comment Lager offered no other options.

  No. He’s not going to help me, not this time. Ok ‘Stone Ram’ time to quit being a sheep and earn your name. “I have a plan.”

  A grin spread across Lager’s chapped lips. “Let’s hear it.” Matilda brushed by Fabian’s leg and looked up at him. Panting and wagging her tail in anticipation.

  “I think the best move is to avoid a direct confrontation.” He paused for a moment, trying not to look nervous, he was glad he had his faceplate down, so Lager couldn’t see him sweating for words. Besides, his heart was beating so fast under his mail it was a miracle Lager couldn’t hear it.

  The Earthman pondered Fabian’s words. “Why not? We possess the higher ground. I could lob a few flash grenades into that group there, knock ’em all out, they’d be sleeping well into dawn, and we’d be long gone by then.”

  Fabian shook his head. “Yes but we still don’t know what the exact number of our opponents are. Sure we could take that number out, but we might give away our location. Then they could lay siege to the inn and we’d be surrounded with no way to get out, thus ending our Gold Quest.” He kept thinking. Yet for some reason he didn’t feel as nervous as before, and, his heart rate had slowed to a comfortable pace.

  Lager grimaced. “Ohh, I dunno Ram. You sure you wanna scrounge around like a couple of hungry squirrels? I mean we are after all warriors.”

  Fabian didn’t know what scrounge or squirrels meant. He figured they were Earth terms. But now was not the time to ask. “I say we use stealth for now, Lager. I suspect there’ll be plenty of armed confrontations in the future.”

  Lager nodded. “You got it Ram; so, what did you have in mind?”

  When the plan materialized in Fabian’s mind, he told Lager.

  ***

  Lager left a small pouch of money on the dresser as payment for the rooms, then, after he’d strapped on his travel pack they slipped out of the window and quietly made their way across the shingles of the inn’s roof. Above them the moon’s bright hue spilled through a jagged crack in the charcoal clouds that ambled across the night sky. Fabian carried Matilda under one arm, while keeping one eye on his footing, the other on the miners gathered around the fire.

  The crowd had gotten bigger in the square. Now Fabian could see a small search party carrying lanterns making their way around the square, searching for Marella. He stopped and crouched lower grasping his staff.

  “Why you stopping?” Lager asked.

  Fabian extended his staff in the direction of the town square, pointing out the growing number of search parties that kept multiplying like wood crickets.

  “This doesn’t look good.”

  Matilda barked. Glad you both agree, Fabian thought.

  “They’re sure blowing this whole thing out of proportion, all over one little girl.”

  “Perhaps,” Fabian answered, “but you must understand that with the Mane stolen by a hostile state, and war brought to our land, much of the kingdom is in a state of unrest. You heard what Jax said about the armies meeting up at Fork Ridge to launch a counter-attack. These people are scared, and are trying to protect their livelihood. Let’s get out of here without any incident.”

  They took turns climbing down the inn’s utility ladder which descended into an alley way. When Matilda was reunited with the ground she barked. “Quiet, Matty, we don’t want to draw any attention to ourselves.”

  “Too late for that.” Lager pointed to a group of men who had spotted them coming down the ladder and were advancing in their direction. “Lift up your faceplate, Ram, it’ll make you look less intimidating.”

  Fabian took Lager advice and lifted it. His eyesight diminished, and the crisp nocturnal shapes became a dull glow.

  “Let me do the talking.”

  Fabian nodded. He hoped Lager had a plan of action; he sure didn’t.

  “What are you two doing out at night?” the lead townsperson asked. He and the others in his party eyed Fabian and Lager distrustfully.

  “Me and my boy here, we were placing a friendly wager over an honest game of shake-and-roll.” Lager pulled out a pair of red dice and showed it to the lead townsman. The man did not look convinced.

  “Do you and your son always gamble while heavily-armed?” He pointed his lantern at Fabian’s staff and then turned the light back toward Lager.

  “Haven’t you heard? There’s a war going on,” Lager said, ignoring the man’s confrontational manner. “One can’t be too safe these days. What’s all the commotion about anyways? We came here to spend some quality father-son time, if you don’t believe me ask Jax, the innkeeper, he happens to be a good friend of mine and I don’t think he’d appreciate it if you fine gentlemen were interrogating two of his guests.”

  The lead townsman’s face softened a little. “Please accept our apologies, we had no idea you were friends with our Militia chief. But we are conducting a search of the area for a thief who has escaped from her holding cell. If you two see anyone suspicious, please be sure to report it to one of the search parties, or, members of the mining consortium stationed in the square.”

  “So that’s what all the ruckus is about?” Lager said.

  “Good night,” the townsman said. He and his men then proceeded down the alleyway and disappeared around a bend.

  “For a moment there I thought we would have our hands full,” Fabian said before he lowered his faceplate.

  “We did, Ram. Those militiamen were no fools. Luckily when I dropped Jax’s name they backed off, we�
�re still not home-free yet.”

  They kept to the shadows. Even though the stable yards weren’t too far off, Fabian felt uneasy. They had escaped one militia search party without any incident, but, he did not want to try his luck again. They made it to the stable yards and stopped under the eaves, a few steps from the main entrance. Lager took out his scanner and surveyed the immediate area for lifesigns. When he was satisfied he attached the scanner onto his belt. “Only three people inside the stable; probably the grooms, and no sign of pursuit.”

  “And Marella.”

  Lager titled his head back and gulped down some brew from his canteen.

  “Don’t you think, now isn’t the time for drink?” Fabian asked.

  “Ram, anytime you risk death it’s a good time for drinking. Besides, if I die it will help ease the pain.”

  “Pray it doesn’t come to that.”

  “Ram, I stopped praying long ago.”

  It shows, Fabian thought. But he kept his opinion to himself. Inside the large stable were rows of box stalls containing horses. One of the grooms, a young boy with sandy hair appeared with a lantern in hand and approached them. “Can I help you sirs?”

  Lager tossed the boy a gold Dinar. “Get our mounts ready sonny, we’re leaving.”

  The groom, looking bewildered at receiving such generous gratuity, pocketed the coin and called out to his colleague, another adolescent, this one wearing a weather-beaten denim shirt and trousers, popped his head out of a stall and stared at the newcomers. Lager hurled another gold Dinar in his direction, which the boy caught, much to his credit. “I hope little miss sneaky-pants is nearby, otherwise I’m liable to leave her behind.”

  “Are all you Earthmen so irritable?” Fabian’s heartbeat quickened when he saw Marella emerge behind a large bale of square hay.

  “How long have you been hiding back there?” Fabian said.

  Marella dusted off specks of hay from her cape. “More like waiting, Hero Fabian. Are we ready to depart?”

  “The sooner, the better, I suppose,” Fabian replied.

  The grooms brought both horses, Starspeed and Lager’s holographic steed. Marella smirked. “If I may ask, Hero Fabian, where is my mount?”

  “You’ll ride with Ram, here,” Lager interjected. “You’re only coming along because he’s got a soft spot for you.”

  Fabian felt embarrassed when Lager pointed out his obvious affinity for Marella, still he wished his friend wasn’t so loose-tongued. It’s the alcohol no doubt. Lager climbed atop his steeds while Marella helped Fabian load Matilda into her travel sack. Fabian climbed atop Starspeed and pulled Marella atop the saddle, ticks later they were on their way.

  The sky was approaching the final throes of dusk. A swath of dim stars blinked down at them. The uneasy feeling he felt outside the stable returned, and Fabian’s senses told him danger was close. Perhaps it was the power of the Spirit Stones.

  They kept to the shadows, traveling through side streets. They finally found a sign that directed them to the Eastern Road, which would take them out of Diamond Town. After passing through a cleft of houses with low-pitched roofs they found themselves approaching a marker that indicated the town’s limits. They found a small fountain where fresh water dripped from a spout into a small stone basin. Not knowing when they’d get the opportunity to replenish their drinking water they dismounted and filled their canteens. Marella decided to wash her face and took off her shoes before bathing them.

  “We don’t have time to waste,” Lager told her.

  “I haven’t had a bath in over two days,” Marella replied. “In Pazland we value personal hygiene.”

  “Lager’s right, Marella,” Fabian added. He liked the young Stealer but they wouldn’t be safe until they were clear of Diamond Town.

  A shot rang out. Fabian whirled his head around and in front of them stood four riflemen wearing combat fatigues; all four weapons trained on him and Lager. A fifth man appeared behind them. His face covered by a strange-looking mask. He had a harness strapped to his shoulders and carried an oblong mechanism in his gloved hands. A curled hose connected it to the cylindrical tanks attached to the harness. He wondered what it was used for. Lager eyed it with contempt, and Fabian realized his armor had warned him of this earlier. “Mercenaries,” Lager said. “Probably hired on for extra security.”

  “I’m in charge here; where are your passes?” one of the mercenaries said, he shouldered his rife while the other three covered him. The man with the strange device was still, but that did not make him less threatening in Fabian’s mind.

  “Passes?” Lager said. “I don’t know what you mean? We’re on official business, so stand aside so we can pass.”

  “We give the orders here,” said the lead Mercenary, “don’t you forget that.”

  Fabian grasped his staff before the other mercenaries cocked their weapons.

  “Easy Ram,” Lager warned, “these guys mean business.”

  “Aye, Earthman, now I shall ask you again, where are your passes?”

  “I’m in charge of this expedition,” Fabian said, trying to sound authoritative. He lowered his staff and slowly lifted up his faceplate to look less threatening.

  “Quiet boy,” said one of the mercenaries, “we were speaking with the Earthman.”

  “This ‘boy,’” Lager began, “is my commander. I suggest you listen to what he has to say.”

  The man wearing the strange cylindrical device on his back stepped forward and pointed the nozzle of his handheld apparatus at Lager. “It’s you that should start doing the listening, mate, unless you want me to cook you and your friends like a bunch of stuck pigs.”

  Lager’s eyes narrowed. “You best be careful where you point that flamethrower, friend.”

  “Or what?” the flamethrower mercenary said. “You gonna get angry?” The mercenary chuckled but Lager did not look amused.

  Fabian remained calm, trying his best not to lose control of the situation. This is only a test of my leadership, he thought. He looked around but Marella was gone. “My friend doesn’t like to be threatened, sir.” Fabian reached into his money pouch and withdrew a handful of silver Dinars. “Here,” he said, extending the coins toward head mercenary, “perhaps you could let us pass in exchange for a small fee.” The mercenary’s eyes lit up when he saw the money and Fabian realized he had discovered the man’s weakness.

  The head mercenary took the money and counted it before pocketing it. “No need to be hasty with our new friends, Korr,” he said to the flamethrower mercenary. “I suppose we could overlook their little transgression, just this once.”

  A rock was hurled out of the darkness, it struck one of the rifleman in the head, he lost his footing and fell, dropping his gun. “What is that?” the head mercenary said, drawing his pistol. Another rock found its mark, hitting another rifleman. Fabian saw a small shape move within a cluster of verdure. Marella. The lead Mercenary pointed toward the direction where the rocks had come from. “Korr go flush out whoever’s in there,” he ordered.

  “No!” Fabian said, and before he could muster another thought he swung his Ram staff, knocking the head mercenary off his feet before lowering his faceplate.

  The two riflemen couldn’t even get a shot off as Lager had fired a wide volley spread from his Ion weapon. They were both hurled backwards as if caught in a gale. Korr spun around and muttered a string of obscenities. “I’m going to make sure you burn for that, Earth scum!”

  Fabian leapt in front of the flamethrower just as the igniter spat out a geyser of flames. The flames tried consuming him but the Spirit stone reflected the incendiary salvo, turning it back toward Korr like an uninvited visitor.

  Korr caught wisps of flame backwash and stumbled to the ground, he collected himself quickly. “You better die now!” he pointed the firing mechanism but Fabian let out a battle cry. With one swift motion he brought the Ram staff down on Korr’s head, putting a dent in his helm. Korr collapsed again. This time he didn’t get up.<
br />
  Fabian dropped his staff and pulled off Korr’s helm. Blood streamed from his forehead staining the front of his mask. “He’s dead.” Fabian released the corpse and buried his face in his hands.

  “There was nothing else you could’ve done, Ram.” Lager said as he surveyed the area. “He made a move and you reacted.” He took out a wire from his travel pack and began tying up the wrists and ankles of the unconscious mercenaries. “There’s no crime in Rek that can convict you for self-defense, especially when the one trying to kill you is a scumbag wielding a flamethrower.”

  Marella scurried out of the underbrush and looked at Korr’s remains. “Glad to see my plan worked, Hero Fabian.”

  Fabian looked up at her and pointed at Korr’s lifeless body. “He’s dead.”

  “I know, Hero Fabian,” she said calmly. “I saw the whole exchange; what did you think of my diversion?”

  Fabian sighed. “I had the situation under control, if you had waited a bit more this could’ve been avoided.”

  Marella lowered her head. “I am sorry, Hero Fabian,” she said abashedly. “I thought you were in danger, and acted accordingly.”

  “No need to apologize, babycakes,” Lager told her. “You probably saved our lives. Ram here is just frazzled that’s all, it’ll pass. Here, come help me tie up these buffoons.” He tossed her a strip of wire and she went to work. After they were done securing the riflemen, Lager removed the flamethrower off of Korr’s back and disintegrated it with his weapon. “Now this weapon can never be used against another person. I’d say we did alright, Ram.”

  But Fabian didn’t know if he’d be alright. Everything had happened so quickly. Matilda padded up to him and licked his right gauntlet. He looked into her eyes and stroked her head.

  He wondered how many more men he’d have to kill on this quest.

  Five

  They continued on their way, toward the Eastern frontier, leaving Diamond Town behind, like a bad memory. For Fabian, part of him was still back there, at the edge of town, perhaps it was his lost innocence, the part of him that he had come to like best. His desire to prove his worth had come at a price, like most things. But there was no turning back, they would either succeed or fall.