The Exile's Redemption (The Heart of a Tyrant Book 1)

by Reece Dinn

  Three moons later.

  Melonaz dumped the lilnac carcass outside his furaz. He dumped some firewood into the fire pit, ignited it with a fireball, then sank down to his knees to skin the lilnac. His skills were still rough but he was learning. Once it was skinned he laid the badly cut pelt out on the snow, then set to work butchering the carcass. He wasn't entirely sure what he was doing, but he knew that the meat on its chest and rear tasted good so he carved them off. The rest he buried under the snow to eat at a later time, if sehseh didn't dig it up first while he was away foraging and hunting. With the remaining wood he erected a spit and stuck the meat on it. When it was done he sat back, relaxing.

  He'd explored all the areas surrounding his camp now. On his travels he'd found several streams of the best tasting water he'd ever had. He'd found a mountainside covered in shumdniz plants that made the area glow purple with their petals. He'd taken a few and every night since he'd ingested some to help him sleep. While he still hated his new life, he was at least beginning to learn how to survive effectively in the wild.

  The meat was beginning to colour, the fat and juices spitting off it, its light musty smell made his mouth water. Need learn to make broth. Like Mal. Need a cooking pot though. He turned the spit to cook the meat's underside.

  Three moons out here. Feels like a lifetime. Already his life in Oaraz was a distant memory. Every night he'd sit and think about his Mal, two Sal, and Reijiz. He'd wonder how they'd spent their day, what dramas might have occurred in the village that they'd talk about while they ate. Every night he did this, and every night he'd wind up upsetting himself. Once or twice he'd even shed a tear.

  When he wasn't thinking of his family his mind would turn to those he'd killed. Their faces haunted him, clear in his mind, like he was looking right at them. They were there every time he closed his eyes. Not think it'll go away.

  When the meat was cooked he carefully plucked each piece from the spit, hissing as hot, fatty juices spat onto his skin. He patiently waited for them to cool then set to devouring them like he'd not eaten in days. In fact it'd been over a day since he'd last eaten, save for some nuts he'd plucked while on his travels. Brubah had held off his hunger for a while, but once he'd stopped it'd returned instantly. The meat was good, juicy, and chewy, with strong flavour that he enjoyed. He was too hungry to savour every mouthful though.

  When his appetite was sated he began his second training session of the day. He trained once in the morning when he woke, and again after his evening meal, before dark. Every day he did this. It made him feel better, like he was still a Sehnal. He rubbed his stubbly scalp, panicking for a moment, as he did every time, when he couldn't feel his Sehnal braid. It felt odd. For years all of his head, save for the braid, had been bald. Now a thin crop of hair covered it. Somehow it made him feel weaker, lesser.

  He'd made a half decent wooden practice sword out of a thick branch, carving it with his knife. Its tip was sharp enough to pierce flesh if he stabbed hard, but its edge was blunt. Still it was enough to stun something, and he felt more confident in his ability to protect himself having it.

  Imagining he was surrounded by a horde of ludenez he began his training, striking at illusionary enemies, felling one after another, blocking and parrying their attacks, counter attacking, stabbing them in the chest, neck, head, hacking off their arms, legs, heads. He was a blur of motion, untouchable. The familiar movements felt good, wielding a sword one of the only things that kept him sane. He knew it was a fantasy, but practising the moves kept him focused, his body strong. It wasn't the same as sparring, far from it, but it was the best he could do. He still had no idea how he'd fare against a ludenez. Three moons had past and he'd seen neither ludenez, nor the Enemy. It'd been a relief at first not seeing one, but now he was just disappointed. I ready. Can kill a ludenez.

  He focused his Raiz, its familiar warm tingle spreading through his body and mind. He used Hakah and continued practising, now with increased strength. He tried to maintain Hakah for as long as he could learn to endure its pressure for sustained periods, hoping doing so would make him stronger, but he could only last for a couple of moments.

  Lightning. Lightning blasted out of his hands and shot into the mountains. Fire. He launched fireballs at several imaginary enemies advancing on his position from different directions. They all died in the agonizing heat of his flames. He drew the Raiz back.

  Still not know how strong I am. Need to fight for real. He dropped his wooden sword and sat back down. Need to learn new skills. Lial not here to teach me. Will learn on own. Make new skills. New moves. Yes. He rubbed his hands together. Beroz make light attack. What can I make?

  He thought about what he'd seen the Lial teach the older Sehnal in training and he quickly remembered them making their own weapons. Yes. Need learn how to make a sword too. He couldn't remember the model sword he'd carved, the one he was going to bring to life when the Lial finally taught him how. Leave model in village. Not get back. Will carve new sword.

  Breaking apart the spit he'd made and snapping off the thickest piece of it, he pulled out his stone knife and began to carve, hoping the act would bring back the memory of his sword.

  A prod to the stomach roused him and he bolted upright, knife in hand, ready to fight.

  The Lial stood in the furaz's entrance. 'Still alive, I see,' he said, his face in the same stern expression that it always was.

  Melonaz lowered the knife. 'Lial, not know it you.'

  'If I a ludenez, you be dead. Need be on guard at all times.' He prodded him in the stomach again with Rorkaroz, causing Melonaz to grunt.

  'Think sense ludenez if they come,' he grumbled, pulling himself up and brushing the snow from his furs.

  'See ludenez out here?'

  Melonaz shook his head.

  'Good. You not ready to fight them,' said the Lial.

  'I have a sword.'

  'This?' He pointed at the wooden sword lying beside Melonaz. 'Wooden swords won't hurt ludenez. It'll break in half.'

  Melonaz frowned. 'Teach me how to make my own sword.'

  The Lial frowned. 'No, you not Sehnal.'

  'Why make fun if I not allowed?'

  The Lial half smiled at him. 'Outside.' He ducked out the furaz. Melonaz followed him. The Lial stood by the burnt out fire pit and motioned to the holes in the snow, and the many footprints all around the camp site. 'I see you still training. Good.'

  'Not know if stronger. Need to fight.'

  'You right.' It was then that Melonaz noticed something tied to the Lial's waist, something wrapped in fur. 'If you don't fight you don't grow strong. It's why Apochal duel.' The Lial spun Rorkaroz in his hand, the staff momentarily becoming a blur.

  'I fight some animals. Not the same though,' said Melonaz, kicking up a clump of snow.

  The Lial almost smiled at that. 'Animals danger out here, yes?'

  'More dangerous than I think. They try to kill me.'

  'Know why Cubsoz dangerous, yes? Not for little Sehnal.'

  Melonaz smirked. 'I survive out here with no sword.'

  'You strong.'

  Melonaz's jaw nearly dropped. He says I strong. I hear him right, yes?

  The Lial untied the bundle from around his waist, then unwrapped the fur from around it, metal gleaming as it was removed. 'This is Dajimoz. The weapon of a dead Sehnal. It's a good sword.' He handed it to Melonaz.

  Melonaz carefully took the sword from him, suddenly in awe. It was a single handed sword with a big fat blade that curved a little to the right, the inner side serrated. Its grip was made of black metal that had indentations for the wielder's fingers. He turned it over. The underside of the blade had a strange looking creature engraved on it, its outline glowed like flames. 'What's that?' he asked, tracing the outline of the image with a finger.

  'An animal that breathes fire. One Kitaz, Owoklz fight in the old stories. Sehnal who make this blade love that story. Thinks the image make him stronger.'

  Melonaz turned the b
lade over in his hand. 'How he die?'

  'Die in duel.'

  'With who?'

  The Lial lowered his head. 'With me.'

  'Oh.' Melonaz gripped the sword tightly, testing its weight and balance. It was surprisingly light. He took a couple of practice swings with it and was pleased to see that he could wield it with relative ease. Lial right. It's good.

  'Like?' the Lial asked.

  'Yes.'

  'A dead boy's sword for a dead boy.'

  Melonaz stopped mid swing. 'How're my family?'

  'Your Mal takes the news badly. Your Sal too. They don't say much. Family of all who die in the forest in bad way. It's a sad time.' His face hardened. 'More sad times will come. Don't forget that.'

  'Ludenez horde.' Melonaz gritted his teeth as he thrust Dajimoz into an imaginary ludenez.

  The Lial planted his staff into the snow and rested against it. 'I hear nothing. No ludenez have come. I sense them though. They near.'

  'Tell Sehnal?'

  The Lial shook his head. 'They not ready. Old are. Young not.'

  'They need to know, Lial.'

  'They'll know when its time. I speak to Lial in Twiz. He say Sehnal there ready. They will join us. We'll fight together.'

  Melonaz breathed a small sigh of relief. 'That's good.' He twisted Dajimoz in his hand.

  'Want to try it?'

  Melonaz stopped mid practice swing. 'Try?'

  The Lial raised Rorkaroz's butt towards Melonaz, the staff he'd beaten him with several times over the years, that had left scars up and down his back, scars he'd have for the rest of his life. 'Try it. Fight me.'

  Melonaz entered into an attacking posture, suddenly excited. 'Yes.'

  The Lial pulled Rorkaroz out the snow, gripping it with both hands, holding it diagonally across his body. 'Attack.'

  Melonaz hesitated. This my chance to show him how strong I am. He shuffled forward a step.

  The Lial didn't move.

  Do it. Attack. Melonaz used Hakah and burst forward, swinging Dajimoz as hard as he could at the Lial's chest.

  Metal rang against metal as the Lial blocked. Melonaz's arm shook from the impact, the force of it nearly flinging Dajimoz from his hand. He staggered back.

  The Lial hadn't even moved. 'That's all you have?'

  Melonaz readied himself again. 'No.' Using Hakah again he leapt up as high as he could go and brought Dajimoz down hard on the Lial's head. The Lial raised his staff. The two weapons clashed and Melonaz was flung back from the force of the impact, sword bouncing out of his hands. He landed hard on his back, tumbling across the ground.

  The Lial snorted. 'What that? Think it good idea? I teach you better.'

  Melonaz picked himself back up. More Hakah. Big Hakah. He used Hakah, pouring as much Raiz into his body as he could handle, pressure building, and he burst forward in a blaze of speed, lashing out as ferociously as he could. This time his arm didn't shake as the Lial blocked, and he was able to swing again. He unleashed attack after attack, reusing his Raiz to keep Hakah going, desperately trying to break through the Lial's guard, hacking, slashing, stabbing, but nothing penetrated. The Lial was too strong, too fast. He wasn't fazed by Melonaz's strength, nor had any difficulty keeping up with his speed, even as Melonaz darted around him, swinging hard and fast. The Lial blocked his attacks as if they were nothing.

  Melonaz circled around him, panting, his whole body throbbing. The Lial didn't even bother to turn to face him. Crying out in fury Melonaz renewed his assault. The Lial spun Rorkaroz around him and beat his attacks away as if he could see out of the back of his head.

  'Where's this power you have? Why not use?' said the Lial in a mocking tone.

  Melonaz cried out as he poured all his Raiz into the biggest swing he could muster, aiming for the Lial's head. The Lial stepped aside, narrowly avoiding Dajimoz.

  The back of Melonaz's legs exploded with pain and he was whipped off his feet. He desperately drew back his Raiz, fearing he was about to lose a dangerous amount of it. The Lial brought Rorkaroz down hard onto his stomach while Melonaz was still mid-air, and he was smashed to the ground. He bit his lip to stop from crying out as enormous pain exploded through him.

  'Good,' said the Lial. 'Sword suits you.' He planted his staff back into the snow.

  Good? Melonaz struggled to breathe, head swimming. The pain was so great in his stomach that he wanted to vomit, but couldn't.

  'You grow stronger out here,' said the Lial, seemingly ignorant of the pain he'd just caused his former Sehnal. 'Wild make you tough. You learn to be strong when you hungry. When hurt. Tired. Yes. You do good.'

  Melonaz clutched his stomach as he tried to sit up, but couldn't move.

  The Lial kicked him lightly in the side. 'Use Hakah well. Make strong attacks. You have to vary them though. Your movements are easy to predict.'

  'Teach...me,' groaned Melonaz.

  The Lial shook his head. 'No time. I need to return. You can learn on your own.' He offered Melonaz a hand up. Melonaz grunted as he was hoisted to his feet. 'Learn skills on own before,' the Lial continued. 'Brubah, Hakah. I not teach you them.'

  'Watch..you....teach..old....Sehnaz.'

  The Lial's brow furrowed slightly. 'Yes. I know. Still. You see. You learn. Will see what I can do to help.'

  Melonaz took in several deep breaths, relieved to feel air entering his lungs once more. 'Yes, Lial,' he said, finally.

  The Lial slapped him on the back of the head. 'Train hard, Melonaz. When I return I want you to be stronger still.'

  Melonaz resisted rubbing where he'd been struck. You come beat me up, then go? It'll take half a day to heal this. Every part of him hurt, his determination not to show weakness the only thing keeping him on his feet. 'Yes, Lial,' he said, his voice strained.

  The Lial nodded then, without another word, left him. Melonaz wanted more than anything to follow him home.

  Chapter Fifty Five

  Melonaz twisted Dajimoz in his hand as he trudged through a trail of deep snow in the mountains. Need travel deep into the mountains. Find new places. Places with more food. By his reckoning he was venturing north, but he could have been wrong. It didn't matter much, as long as he could find his way back he'd be fine. The deep snow was proving little trouble for him, to his relief. It came up to his thighs but he ploughed through it, not even needing Hakah to do so.

  The previous day he'd spent recovering from the Lial's attacks, and by the time he'd healed it'd been too late to even hunt; the animals held the advantage at night so hunting proved fruitless, he'd learnt. He'd gone to sleep on a full stomach however, having eaten what remained of the lilnac he'd caught, and had awoken still sated and full of energy, ready to tackle a day of exploring. Resting had certainly helped too.

  The trail led to higher ground and a slippery, narrow pass. There was no sign of life anywhere. He'd expected that the further afield he explored the more he'd find, but the opposite appeared to be true. There wasn't even a gola to be seen.

  His energy dropped as hunger set in. He used Brubah incrementally to stave it off, and renew his strength, but lack of anything around only drew attention to his empty stomach.

  The pass eventually led to a large plateau dotted with gola, and packed with grazing mirac. Melonaz resisted his first instinct to turn back, the memory of his previous encounter with mirac still fresh, and he continued on, confident this time that he could outrun them if he needed to. Lilnac ran around and between the mirac, darting from gola to gola, but the mirac paid them no heed. Make wrong move, startle herd.

  The mirac were too busy digging through the snow for buchmi to acknowledge his presence as he passed by. Some of the lilnac growled as they passed his ankles, but not loud enough to startle the herd. He had to resist the urge to kill one to eat, knowing full well that that would create chaos. His mouth watered, so much food around him yet he couldn't touch any. The plateau dropped away up ahead, he hoped there was a shallow slope for him to climb down.

  He kep
t Dajimoz's tip pointed down and close to the snow, hoping the sharp, gleaming blade or its glowing red engraving wouldn't draw attention. He already felt attached to his new sword. It was a relief to finally have an actual weapon to defend himself with. It wasn't a weapon of his own making, but it was considerably better than nothing. In fact he felt a strange affinity with it, almost as if he'd made it himself. Need make a sword to feel one with it? He'd expected Dajimoz to feel like someone else's, like it'd be wrong carrying a piece of another Sehnal, but it didn't.

  The mirac grunted and moaned as they grazed, much like those in Reijiz's herd. It was difficult for him to form a new opinion of these wild mirac. Every time they were about to gain his respect he'd glance into their droopy eyes and they'd revert to being dumb, stupid beasts. They're a stupid danger.

  Something suddenly felt wrong.

  Nothing had changed, yet something was amiss regardless. The mirac continued to graze, the lilnac scurried about, the gola rustled in the light breeze blowing over the plateau.

  What I sense? He focused his Raiz. A mass of heat filled his mind from all the mirac around him. Mirac Raiz big. Some bigger than a man's. How? They stupid. Big body better than a clever mind? He wondered for a moment how dangerous the mirac would be if they could use Raiz like an Apochal, then realised the idea was ludicrous.

  All the mirac lifted their heads and began to moan together in one loud, long drone that hurt Melonaz's ears, and he lost focus on his Raiz.

  'Kak, stop,' he grumbled, covering his ears.

  The lilnac shot towards the gola. He saw one knock its companion out of the way and it crashed into a mirac's side. The lilnac flopped to the ground, unconscious.

  Still nothing had changed, but that feeling lingered, only worse now.

  'What happen?' he asked the nearest mirac, then realised the ridiculousness of what he'd just done. It looked at him with one droopy eye, then moaned loudly. The others around it lurched into motion.

  Purple light sent a chill down Melonaz's spine. His grip on Dajimoz tightened. It here. He readied himself, although he had no idea exactly what for.