by Joe Jackson
“Only three days?” Aeligos echoed, masking his impatience to make it sound as though he were pleasantly surprised. It still struck him as odd that a potential war wasn’t getting more attention from the shakna-rir – or anyone else. It was the sort of complacence that had let the Devil Queen conquer a good deal of Askies at the start of the Apocalypse before the mortal armies could react. “That would be great, though if you could arrange it so that my sister, Sonja, can see the queen with me, I would appreciate it.”
Haicer scribbled notes into the red leather tome and nodded his head. “That would be acceptable,” he replied. “I will set your audience for high noon three days from now. Be aware that you may not enter Her Majesty's presence armed, and the use of magic in her presence is punishable by death. I don’t mean to sound threatening, I just don’t want you to walk into the situation unprepared. It would be best for you to come formally attired, as coming dressed as you are may put Her Majesty and her guards ill at ease.”
“Of course,” Aeligos said, rising to his feet. “I will see you again in three days. Thank you for your time.” Haicer stood up and shook his offered hand, and escorted Aeligos out of the office and to the front door of the palace.
Aeligos headed back to Desert Wind and found Sonja sitting at a table in the common room, reading one of her books. “Where’s everyone else?” he asked quickly as he took a seat across from his sister.
Her sparkling eyes came up to meet his after a moment. “Typhonix and Serenjols went to see the arena in the northwest of the city. They wanted to see if there are fights to watch…or compete in,” she said with an amused shrug. “Grakin’s at the local church, and I believe he took the twins with him. It’s their first opportunity to see actual temples.”
“You and I have an appointment to see the queen at noon three days from now,” he said, and he held a hand up as her brows rose. “I know, I don’t want to sit around three days waiting to find out if we’re wasting our time here, but until Erik and Kari rejoin us I think we have the luxury of time.”
Sonja nodded and turned her attention back to the book she was reading. “Will you be going out again tonight?” she asked, making an effort not to chuckle. “I hear these shakna-rir girls like half-demons to keep them warm at night.”
He shrugged. It was unnecessary – not to mention potentially damaging – here if he was going to be speaking directly to the queen and her advisors. “Are you going to get mad at me if I do?” he asked anyway.
Sonja glanced up at him briefly and returned to reading her book for a minute before she responded. “No, not really,” she said. “As long as I know you’re just out enjoying yourself and not in any danger. Though honestly, you might want to think about Eryn a little before you do. Specifically, whether or not you’re serious about having a relationship with her.”
Aeligos sighed but didn’t argue. “Join me for a drink?”
Sonja looked up. “Aeligos, we’re at an inn.”
“Exactly. Come on, let’s go find a trashy tavern and see if there’s any excitement to be found in this city,” he said, turning the tables on her for a change. “Maybe you’ll find the shakna-rir boys like half-demons to keep them warm, too.”
Her mouth fell open. “You jackass!” she said, but she chuckled and slapped his forearm before she gathered up her books. She took them upstairs to her room, and once she’d come back down, the two set out into the city to take in its sights.
Chapter XII – Snake Trail
Kari and Erik departed with their brys guide the next morning, and the czarikk gathered to bid them farewell as they headed farther to the northeast. The tribe’s trackers gave Kari general directions to the city of Talvor, the first bastion of civilization beyond the edge of the rainforest, and Makauric confirmed what the czarikk told her. He assured her that he knew the way not only to Talvor, but also to the foothills of the eastern mountain range where their enemy made its lair. Satisfied that they would not be wandering blindly during the days leading up to their inevitable confrontation with the sylinth, they set out to complete their quest.
Makauric led them unhesitatingly through the jungle, and like with the first leg of their journey with him, he guided them around trouble and hazards alike. He was exceedingly tight-lipped, hardly speaking at all, and Kari assumed it was because he was still upset about what Erik said to him in the czarikk village. While brys were not well-known for holding grudges, Makauric had proven to be anything but ordinary for one of his kind, and Kari couldn’t shake the feeling that they were very, very lucky to have met him.
Three days passed quietly before they emerged from the jungle onto a broad savannah that stretched from horizon to horizon east to west, and to a mountain range that was barely peeking over the northern edge of the world. Though the jungle was beautiful – particularly once they had the brys to guide them through its mysteries – and reminded Kari of the elven lands of Terrassia to an extent, she was glad to be free of its humid, oppressive heat. The rains that were prevalent while they traversed the southern end gradually tapered off over the course of their journey, and the lack of deep rivers near or north of the czarikk gave gave Kari a good idea of why the czarikk lived where they did.
The savannah was different from the rolling plains of Terrassia where Kari had spent a lot of time traveling, but it was open and more arid, which she preferred. The golden grasses bent low to the ground in a hot wind that blew west to east, and after allowing his companions a few minutes to take in the sight, Makauric set out to the east. He seemed less tense out on the savannah, though his eyes scanned the horizon in all directions constantly, and he led them away from the edge of the jungle, likely to avoid the possibility of ambushes from within its shadows. He explained that the great cats and hyenas were their biggest concerns on the open lands, but that humanoid enemies likewise hunted there and he would do his best to avoid them.
He shot down a young antelope from an incredible distance as the afternoon wore on, and when they made their evening camp under a low, nearly horizontal-growing tree, Makauric prepared the carcass and started a cooking fire with what wood he could find. He set some of the beast’s meat to cook on a spit while he chewed on a raw flank, and his eyes began to glow in the twilight, watching over the grasslands for trouble. Even in the failing light, vultures circled high overhead and the braver ones landed and hopped into range of the firelight, looking for a chance to steal some of the carcass.
After cutting several more strips of meat from the animal for their morning meal, the brys hefted it over one shoulder, ignoring the blood that dripped down his arm. He walked a good distance from the camp and deposited the body there for the predators and vultures to do with as they pleased. When he returned, Makauric sat back down under the tree, took off his leather breastplate, and cleaned the blood off of it with his tongue. Kari put a hand over her mouth, not prepared for such a sight. Makauric looked up at her surprised features, and his brow knitted. “Am I bothering you?” he asked.
She reminded herself that he wasn’t trying to be rude, but that brys simply spoke their mind plainly and to the point. “That was gross,” she said quietly.
“Then I will not eat in front of you in the future,” he returned. He put his breastplate back on and then climbed the tree to get a better vantage point from which to survey the land.
“I didn’t mean to be rude,” she called up to him, and Erik shook his head.
“I did not think you were,” came the brys’ voice from the treetop. “It did not occur to me that you have only seen me eat meat that has been cooked. If eating raw meat disturbs you, I will refrain from making you watch.” He dropped down from his perch, landed softly in the grass, and glanced around once more. “We should each urinate a short distance from the camp before retiring for the night, so that the animals know not to approach. The scent of several lionesses is upon this tree, and they may return here in the night.”
“Is anything troublesome close by?” Erik asked, but the bry
s shook his head.
“I imagine they’re enjoying the feast he left them not long ago,” Kari said.
“Indeed,” Makauric said. He walked a short distance before he began tagging the area with a urinary mark, and when she realized what he was doing, Kari turned her attention to Erik.
“We should be able to reach Talvor tomorrow if what the czarikk said is accurate,” she commented. “We can re-supply there and maybe enjoy hot baths and some fresh food at an inn before we make our way to the sylinth’s lair.”
“Depends what time of day we reach the city,” Erik said. “If it’s early, I don’t think we should indulge ourselves. We need to get rid of this sylinth and meet with the others as soon as possible. Much as I’d like a drink and a bath, I’m not sure we have time for either.”
“Of course,” Kari said as Makauric came back into the camp, and she looked to the brys. “I didn’t think your piss had any scent, how are you marking the camp?”
The demon regarded her for a moment and then moved to sit at the base of the tree. “It has a scent, just one that few creatures can detect,” he said. “Animals are much more sensitive to such things. It will be faint but they will sense it, and know to avoid what left it.” He looked at Erik and nodded his head toward the larger male. “His may convince them to live elsewhere.”
Erik rose to his feet with an uncomfortable expression. “I’ll see what I can manage,” he said. “I haven’t been drinking much, so I doubt I’ll be much help.”
“Have you been to Talvor before?” Kari asked Makauric when her partner walked away.
The brys shook his head. “I have seen its gates but found no reason to risk entry.”
“You should wait out here on the grasslands when we go in,” she said, and he silently agreed. “We may spend the night there if the day is mostly gone when we arrive, but if it’s still early we’ll only be stopping in to re-supply before we get underway again. As Erik said, we need to keep moving to try to stay on schedule.”
The brys regarded her curiously. “What schedule?” he asked.
“We’re supposed to meet with Erik’s siblings as soon as possible after we’re done, so the less time we spend tracking and killing this thing, the better.”
“So your presence is also related to the rumors of war?” he stated as much as asked.
“Yes,” Kari said, and she held his stare. “If you really care about this island, then perhaps you can help us.” He said nothing, but as his gaze drifted away she could tell he was thinking about it.
Kari took advantage of his distraction to go out and take her own part marking the area with their scents once Erik returned. She could hear the two men talking while she was away from them, but couldn’t make out whatever it was they were saying. When she returned, it was hard to tell what they’d been speaking of based on Makauric’s expression, but the way he held Erik’s stare, she guessed it wasn’t pleasantries.
The night passed calmly. Only the occasional calls of hyenas got their attention, but the savannah was otherwise mostly quiet. The next day’s travel brought them to the outskirts of the city of Talvor. Before they approached, Makauric found a tree to hide in while his companions made their way toward the gates. Kari and Erik left him behind and approached the city, and they saw that it was walled but had open archways rather than closed gates, and didn’t seem particularly unwelcoming. They both reconsidered that thought once they reached the gates and guards stepped forward to halt their progress.
The terra-rir guards called inside and a third soon appeared, wearing the stripes of an officer. His eyes widened at the sight of the two visitors, and he stepped up before them with an appraising, hard-eyed glare. He started to speak, but Kari reached inside her breastplate for her tags and he stepped back defensively. The other two guards moved in front of the officer with their hands to the hilts of their blades.
Kari pulled her dog tags out slowly and she fixed the three with a glare of her own. “You might want to consider your first words very carefully,” she said.
The officer motioned for his guards to stand down. He came forward once more to fix Kari with a scowl, but it didn’t even faze her. “What business have you in the city?” he asked.
“We’re on official demonhunter business for Zalkar,” she returned. “We’re stopping in to re-supply and then we’ll be on our way.”
The officer looked to Erik, and Kari wondered how hard he would push the point. She had the distinct feeling that they had walked right up to a bastion of Gaswell supporters or, at the least, sympathizers. Kari wiggled her fingers subtly in preparation to defend her partner if need be, but then the officer waved them through. “See that you are,” he said. “The last thing this city needs is the kind of trouble demonhunters bring.”
Kari shook her head, which drew a growl from the officer, but she headed through the gates without further incident. Despite the initial impression she got, the city was picturesque: a port town that sat on the inner corner of a sparkling, deep blue bay. The land graded downhill toward the water, and Kari could see the jungle high above on cliffs to the southwest. Waterfalls fed the bay from the higher jungle, lending a calm and beauty to the city and its port. The houses were made of brick or wood, and while they weren’t extravagant, they suggested that the city was fairly wealthy. Kari couldn’t see any obvious churches or temples from where they entered, so she and Erik resolved to simply re-supply and then leave as promised.
Thankfully they found a general goods store just inside the gateway and were able to make their purchases. Kari tried to ask the proprietor about a church to Zalkar within the city, but he all but refused to speak to her and Erik about anything but their purchases. To make matters worse, he clearly charged them far more for their goods than they were worth, and it didn’t take them long to confirm Kari’s suspicions. Taking their goods, they left the shop and then the city as quickly as possible. They ignored the stares of the guards as they passed through the archway into the savannah, and soon they returned to the tree where their brys companion hid. He seemed surprised to see them again so soon, but the shock dissipated quickly and he dropped gracefully from the tree and reinitiated their trek to the northeast. He didn’t bother asking what happened within the city; Kari assumed her facial expression said enough.
She and Erik followed the brys for another three days and the savannah climbed up into the lightly wooded foothills of a mountain range that jutted up along the east coast. They crested the first hill and Makauric stopped and moved toward a tree. He glanced up into its leafy crown before he hopped up and off of its trunk to land on one of its thick lower branches, where he squatted down and gazed at the surrounding landscape intently. Kari approached and could see that Makauric was perturbed, which was unusual for him. “What is it?” she asked. “Trouble?”
“This is as far as I go,” he said simply. “It will not be difficult for you to find the trail of the demon from here. Head to the base of this mountain and then follow its edge to the north. If you do not find wanton slaughter, I will be surprised. Simply follow the trail to the door of the sylinth’s lair.”
Erik sighed and wagged his head. “Why aren’t you going with us?”
Makauric shook his head. “The last time I drew close to this creature you hunt, it nearly overtook my mind. I dare not approach again.”
“Fine,” the larger male said, and he began heading farther into the hills.
Kari lagged behind momentarily and touched the brys’ hand, though he drew away from her unexpected touch. “Thank you for your help,” she said.
Makauric nodded shortly. “I will wait here for your success,” he said. “I will see you if you cross out of the hills, so do not look for me; I will find you. From there, perhaps I can be of assistance with this warlord of yours to the west.”
The terra-dracon woman nodded and bid him farewell, and she followed after her partner. When she caught up to Erik, he rolled his eyes with another shake of his head. Kari patted his shoulder
but said nothing. He wasn’t going to change his attitude toward the brys even if Makauric did decide to go with them. They picked up their pace as they sensed they were closing in on their quarry. The travel was familiar and easy: the hills were rolling and covered in soft dirt and grass, with a few trees breaking up the strong sunshine coming in from the west. The peaks to the east weren’t as high as the Barrier Mountains of Askies Island, but they formed an imposing wall between the demonhunters and the ocean, standing in silent vigil over the lush hills at their feet. It was an odd formation, though Kari had seen stranger things in her travels across Askies and Terrassia.
Kari paused as they crested yet another rise, and she knelt in the dirt and looked north and south. Erik came over to see what she had found, and she pointed out the tracks he had missed. They were animal tracks, and Kari pointed out that by the spacing, the deer or similar creatures that left them had been heading south at considerable speed. They followed the tracks to the north. After several hours, with the sun sliding rapidly toward the western horizon, they ducked low to a hilltop beneath a tree as they saw a cave at the base of the peak they were circling. It took only a few minutes to confirm that it was the cave Makauric described: there was a refuse pile strewn about outside the door, and a narrow stream trickled near the cave entrance from farther up the mountain. Kari exchanged a brief glance with Erik and they dropped their packs under the tree, drew their weapons, and circled to the north to approach from the blind side.
“Follow my lead,” Erik whispered sharply when they reached the base of the mountain on the cave’s north side and crept slowly to its mouth. “Keep your mind clear of anything but what we’re here for; don’t let it try to trick you. We’ll pin it between us and cut off its tail.”
