The Onistan and the elegant man were right behind him, perhaps three paced behind.
Once Tov got up to the deck, he ran for the nearest edge. His wings appeared on his back as soon as he jumped off. The sweet release of air brushing against his cheek soothed him slightly, but he didn’t relent. A well-placed arrow could still cause great failure for him and his people.
Tov flapped harder and didn’t look back at the ship. Once he got to where the clouds hung in the sky, he dismissed his sword and clutched the scrolls to his chest. Tears filled his eyes as the wind beat against them. He repositioned himself in the air and flew in the right direction. He would be home soon.
His Masters called to him through the armband. “Well done! Return home, you deserve a rest!”
Tov replied “Thank you.”
NORI WATCHED THE terrible creature soar away. His chest felt hollow, and his stomach threatened to come up through his throat. Rather than stay on deck any longer, he ran back down below deck. Nori didn’t stop until he stood in the doorway of the girls’ room.
Flara had some bandages, and she currently wrapped Rayko’s shoulder. A nasty gash went from Rayko’s right cheek to her nose. The scar would surely grow to be deep and thick. Luxi dabbed at her scar with a gauss. Rayko had a blank look on her face.
Apisa stood in the room, but close to the doorway.
“I’m so sorry,” Nori said. “I’ve failed you. I deserve to be executed.”
All four women looked up at him.
Rayko winced as she spoke. “You didn’t fail us, darling. There was no way you could have known that… that monster had infiltrated the ship.”
Luxi slammed her fist against wooden floor. “How did that bastard even get aboard? This is bull shit!”
Nori turned to where the Yaoguai had created a hole in the ship, only he didn’t see a hole anymore. A small pool of water had collected in a spot, but it looked still. “What happened to the hole?”
Flara said, “When you two went chasing after that creature, I summoned the aid of another wood kami.” She secured the bandage to Rayko’s shoulder. “I did as you instructed. Is there anything else I can do?”
Rayko shook her head. Her voice sounded mousy. “No. The blade closed up the wounds. I just need time to rest.” She sniffed a little. “I’m going to be hideous. No one will ever want a woman with a scarred face. How will I ever be the same? I’m marred.”
Nori crouched down and placed his hand on her shoulder. “You’re not marred. If anything, you’re more beautiful than before. Do you want to know why?”
Rayko swallowed hard and held her hand to her chest, grasping where her heart was. She nodded weakly.
“In Onista, scars are celebrated because they show the strength and endurance we carry within us. Not only that, but your scars are special. How did you acquire them?”
Rayko blinked for a moment. “I …I gained them while defending one of my best friend’s lives. I couldn’t bear to see anything happen to her.” She looked over at Flara. “I love you like a sister.” And then she glanced over to Apisa. “You too, you uncouth farm hand.”
Apisa’s eyes watered, but she didn’t say anything. All she could do was grin.
Nori chuckled. “Then wear those scars proudly. They are testimonies to the caliber of person you are. Besides, if someone is turned away because of something like you’re scars, then they aren’t worth your time. You are wondrous!”
Rayko’s eyes became wet. She grimaced as she leaned up and hugged Nori. She brought her lips to his ear and whispered ever so slightly, “You’re a wonderful person. I’m glad to have you as a friend.”
Nori whispered back. “I’m the lucky one.”
Vihori stood in the doorway. “That bastard got away with something. What did he steal?”
Flara looked back to the wall. “He took the lore we had acquired back at the monastery. It’s okay though. I read through all of the scrolls. I can tell my mother what they contained. She will be aware of the Celestial Ones, despite the Yaoguai’s best efforts.”
Luxi looked up at Vihori. “Can you check with the rest of my crew? I need a body count and a damage estimate.”
Vihori nodded and left them alone. As soon as they were alone, Luxi hit the floor again. “I can’t believe this happened. I’m sorry my men weren’t more alert.”
Nori gestured to himself again. “Like I said, I should have been more dutiful. I’m a Qu-Tar. One of my best friends almost died. I need to be punished.”
Flara placed a hand on his. “Stop it. I command that you never say such a thing again. Are we clear? Had you not come when you did, no telling what he would have done. I saw the way he looked when you almost bashed in his face.”
Nori asked. “What do you mean?”
“He was afraid of you,” Flara said. “He probably didn’t try and kill us because he knew you were coming.”
Nori formed a fist. “I swear by all the Onistan blood that he had a hand in spilling, I will kill that man.”
No one said anything to refute him.
Vihori came back into the room. His brow creased over his troubled eyes. He rested a hand on his sword handle. “There’s trouble. You’re going to want to come above deck.”
Luxi instantly hopped to her feet. “Is that winged bastard back?”
“No,” Vihori said. “I somehow think this is worse. You’re going to have to come up and see it for yourself.”
Luxi followed him out of the room. Rayko tried to stand, and Flara helped her by offering support with her arm. Apisa moved to do the same, but Nori was closer. He wrapped his arms under her legs, and lifted her like a baby.
She slapped at his chest once. “What are you doing? I’m not some blushing bride to be carried over the threshold. Least of all by you. I can walk perfectly fine on my own.”
Nori held her close and stared into her eyes. “I know you can, but let me do this. You risked everything to protect a friend. You deserve so much more than this.”
Rayko let out a brief huff before she crossed her arms over her chest. Her lips formed a little pout. “Very well. If you insist on being like a lowly servant, than like a lowly servant I shall treat you. Onward, slave. I wish to see the danger as well.”
Nori rose to a stand and started to move out of the room. “As her highness commands.”
Apisa and Flara snickered as they trailed behind him.
Soon, their mirth vanished. A thick black plume had risen from the southern side of the shore. Many of the surviving crew stood upon the deck and gazed at it, mesmerized by its strangeness.
Luxi and Vihori stood on the front of the ship. Nori eased Rayko down, and she hobbled over to a rail. Flara moved beside her and supported her. Apisa lingered over by Nori.
“What do you think it is?” Apisa asked softly.
“I have a pair of guesses,” Vihori said. “Either the forest itself is on fire, or Kilet is.”
“Kilet?” Luxi asked. “Kilet is as big as Gohoda. What in the hell could cause such devastation? Could it be the Celestial Ones?”
Nori peered into the depths of the forest. His spine vibrated with a constant hum. He drew in a breath, but as he exhaled, his lungs quivered. “Maybe we should steer clear from that side of the shore. Something tells me that winged freak has something to do with this.”
Luxi moved up next to him. “Maybe you’re right. Do you know of anything living in those woods? Besides the humans at Kilet? I’ve passed by here a hundred times or more, but I always felt odd while in the shadow of the forest.”
Nori shifted slightly and scanned the tree line. “During our Qu-Tar training, we were told of a race of cat yokai who live within the woods. My instructors said they mainly keep to themselves, but he mentioned them only because they were some of the closer yokai neighbors to the capital.”
A rush of movement caught his eye. Nori stepped in front of Apisa and embraced her in a hug. Something sharp struck his back. He grunted.
Luxi and the o
thers ducked, and Apisa pulled Nori to safety as well. He didn’t have to see it to know what protruded from the back of his shoulder.
“Veer to the left!” Luxi screamed. “Veer to the fucking left!”
More arrows sailed over the top of the railing. The constant thudding against the sides of the ship resembled rain on a tile roof. The vantage point of the sky changed, and soon the arrows became less frequent. Luxi peeked up once it was safe. Nori tried to rise, but his whole left side ached. Apisa helped him to the rail.
Dozens of cat-like creatures held bows and arrows. Some of them continued to fire at the ship, but others merely shrieked. They moved along the shore while watching them.
“Why are they attacking us?” Flara asked. “We didn’t do anything to upset them, did we? Or do you think they may be lashing out at all humans because of Kilet? Could it be possible the people there did something to incite the rage of the cat yokai?”
“Or perhaps it was made to look like the people of Kilet did something offensive,” Vihori said. “I wonder how long they’re going to follow us.”
Apisa leaned over and squinted at the cat creatures on the far shore. “They kind of remind me of a couple of cats we had back on the farm in Buka. Those damned cats went crazy, and started attacking anything and everything in sight. In the end, we had to put them down. I wonder if that’s what’s going on with them.”
“Well, I don’t suppose we’re going to float ashore and ask them, are we?” Rayko asked. “If not, can we make this thing go any faster? I find it dreadful just to remain in their field of vision.”
Luxi moved over to Nori and examined his wound. Then she looked over at the side of the ship. She reached down and pulled out an arrow.
The arrow had a barbed tip.
Luxi winced and regarded Apisa. “You can increase your strength, right?”
Apisa gripped Nori’s arm tightly. “I already know what you’re going to say.” She looked up and met Nori’s eyes. “Are you ready, big guy?”
Nori’s jaw tightened. He took several deep breaths, and then grabbed the rail on the side of the ship. Apisa placed her weight on one shoulder, while Vihori and two other sailors secured his other one. Luxi stood behind him, and she had her fingers on the arrow shaft.
Nori swallowed hard. “Do it.”
FINALLY, THIS JOURNEY was coming to a triumphant close at last! The forest came into view at the base of the mountains. The cool air caressed Tov like a mother greeting her son. His unsettled heart eased at the sight of the swaying branches.
Moments before, he beheld the ruins of what used to be Onista far below him. Only silence dwelled within the hewn stone walls of the city. Countless mounds of rubble sat where proud buildings once stood. As he flew over the former living community, his soul quaked. The Oni had all migrated south to start the creation of their battlements. In order to protect the Masters, the Oni fortification would be needed to be constructed quickly. All of the human bodies had been taken away as well. Nothing existed within the city aside from broken buildings, ruins, and the echo of a once thriving population.
Tov sailed down closer to the tree line. The sweet scent of the flowers and leaves filled his nostrils. He still clutched the bag to his chest. Weariness grabbed hold of him in return. Several open clearings existed within the forest. Tov knew them by heart and drifted toward the clearing that was closest to his home.
As he descended toward its circular center, a woman waved at him. Judging from the red hair color, body type, and the nature in which she greeted him, Tov already knew who it was.
Urae waved both of her hands, and jumped up and down. She positioned herself at the spot where Tov had decided to land. Just as Tov’s feet hit the ground, Urae plunged into him. Her delicate arms wrapped around his torso. She rested her head against his clutched package.
“I had a feeling you would return today!” Urae said. Her cheeks were already wet. “I mean… I’ve been saying that for days, but I had a special special feeling about today.”
Tov placed the scrolls on the ground, and then wrapped his own arms around her. “My guiding light, I have missed you. You kept me going on those lonely nights.”
Urae stepped back and wiped her face. “So… did you succeed? Did you do as the Celestial Ones commanded?”
Tov stepped back and picked up the bag of scrolls. “Yes. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Come, walk with me. I have to get this to the elders.”
Tov moved toward the edge of the forest where armed Yaoguai stood. They had their energy spears drawn, but they made no motion to prevent Tov or Urae from passing. One of the men even gave Tov a stern nod.
Tov and Urae entered the safety of the forest. The dark shade created by a thick canopy blocked out the sun. Tov rejoiced. As they walked, Urae wrapped her body around one of Tov’s arms.
Urae said, “Tell me, Father. What was it like? The outside world, I mean. I dream of what the land we’re going to reclaim looks like.”
Tov chuckled. “You always ask me that, sweet one. I have told you a hundred times about the outside world.”
She beamed up at him. “I know. I just love hearing about your grand adventures. I long to fly over the river or another ocean. So where did you go this time?”
Tov took several deep breaths. It felt good to take in the Yaoguai air again, unlike the tainted oxygen that the humans have surrounded themselves with. “I went to many places. I’ve seen cities, and forests, mountains, and the river. And lording above all of that…”
Urae rolled her eyes, but she traced her fingers on Tov’s skin. “Yes, yes… I know. And lording above all of that was the vast blue sky. The sky doesn’t seem as vast when I’m not allowed to venture past the mountains. I wish you would stop treating me like a child.”
The joy that had been prevalent within him diminished slightly. “You know what happened to your mother. You know how evil and terrible the humans are.”
Urae clutched her father’s arm all the tighter. “I know… I can’t wait until the Celestial Ones return, and bring back balance to our world.”
Tov reached over and gently pat his daughter on the cheek. To have the luxury of doing that surpassed all of the gold in the world. “They will be back soon, my sweet angel. You will have your time in the sun. One day, you won’t be restricted on where you can fly.”
The Yaoguai village had been just as Tov had left it. Wooden huts with wooden roofs sat either at the base of trees or in their branches. Yaoguai citizens stood on porches and on roofs, all watching him as he moved through the gravel street. Most of them carried open smiles, but others had solemn, neutral expressions.
“And what about you, my darling?” Tov asked. “What have you been doing since I left? Spending time with Klock, no doubt.”
Urae’s eyes averted from his. Her limbs became stiff, and she stumbled in one of her steps. Tov stopped. He gently guided his daughter’s chin back around so he could review the emotion within her eyes. Her irises waivered.
“You remind me so much of your mother,” Tov said. “Do you love him?”
Urae said, “Yes. I love him with all of my heart. And he loves me.”
Tov sighed. “I was promised some time to relax by the Celestial Ones. In that time, I’d like to spend time with Klock. I want to get to know the man who has absconded with my daughter’s heart.”
Urae’s eyes widened and illuminated with the intensity of a warrior’s funeral pyre. “Really?”
Tov smirked at her. “Who knows what the future will hold? We might as well all have the things we want before war actually starts.” He gestured with his hand. “Off with you. Fetch your beloved and tell him to bring meat for dinner. I am quite hungry.”
Urae leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you, Father. I’ve never been so happy.”
Her wings fluttered to life. She didn’t fly, but she flapped them about as she moved.
A bitter sweet realization echoed in his mind. If she got pregnant, she wouldn�
�t be expected to fight. Tov continued to walk through the forest community until he came to a large wooden structure.
The structure sat at the base of an enormous oak tree. A wooden statue of a female figure with large wings and a horn growing from her forehead stood in front of the building. The figure held a long rod with an ornate circular headpiece. Elaborate wooden carvings covered the outsides of the building. The carvings depicted the Yaoguai in their height, as lesser Celestial Ones.
Tov stopped before the statue and closed his eyes. His lips moved softly. “Oh great Celestial Ones, guard my Urae as she prepares to grow up and leave me.”
He lingered there for a moment before he moved into the modest Temple of the Celestial Horns. The interior of the temple was spacious. Large pillows lined the walls of the temple. Yaoguai monks dressed in faded orange robes sat on the pillows, and they were meditating silently. At the far end of the temple sat a gigantic yellow gem the size of a large wagon. Tov’s armband matched in color and appearance to the large gem. A line of pillows were set out before the giant gem. Yaoguai monks with more elaborate robs rested upon these pillows, and they stared at the gem longingly. These were the Elder Yaoguai, the leaders and wise men and women of the community. Tov’s own grandfather sat on one of the pillows.
Immediately, the large gem flared to life. Several of the elders squinted their eyes due to the brightness.
The voice of the Celestial Ones vibrated in his mind. You have done very well! Give the lore to the elders, and then sit before us.
Tov handed the scrolls to the closest elder. The elder was a woman named Thullis, and she had been the youngest of the elders, boasting three hundred years of age. The elders all rose from their pillows and filed out of the room. None of them said a word.
Tov’s blood ran cold as he sat before the gem.
The Celestial Ones said, You have done what others could not have accomplished. You have proven yourself a loyal servant, and for that you shall be rewarded. Prepare to take in what you deserve.
The Wrath Of the Forgotten Page 26
