by Billy Wong
"But she's my friend... I still consider her my friend."
Derrick didn't know what to say. "Don't worry so much, Rose. Just concentrate on keeping yourself alive."
She nodded, and only now seemed to notice Derrick's presence. "What did you come for, anyway? I mean, I'm glad you're here, but..." He told her then about the attack on Mick and his futile attempt to save the bard's life. A familiar fire lit her eyes. "I may not have known him well, but he seemed a fine man, and died because the Dream Killer wants our lives. Let him come, then, and find his end on my blade." And hearing her outrage, Derrick knew she would survive.
#
Finn too realized Rose was not as close to death as he'd feared, and when she fell asleep turned to Alicia. "You've got to help me."
She and Derrick both looked at him, and she asked, "How?"
"I want you to pretend you're gravely ill—dying."
"What?!"
"It's for Rose's sake. I need an excuse to leave here, and getting Count Brandon's medicine seems as good as any."
"May I ask why?"
He told her how he'd asked Brandon to fetch their children. Now that Rose seemed like she would recover without such encouragement, he didn't want to make her angry when she found out about his plan. "I need to stop Brandon from bringing them here."
Alicia rolled her eyes. "Yeah, and I'm sure you'll be able to catch him with two days' lead, after telling him to kill horses to get there quickly."
"I don't have to catch him before he reaches Gustrone—I can always stop him on the way back and send the kids home then. Of course, I'm assuming he'll take the most traveled roads; otherwise, this could end quite miserably."
"So all I have to do is act like I'm going to die? Fine, I've done it before. But you're going to owe me, big time."
Finn gave a small nod, but Derrick asked, "What are you doing? You don't need all these lies—why don't you just tell Rose the truth and apologize?"
"I don't want our kids here, anyway. I was desperate when I asked Brandon to bring them, but the danger definitely isn't worth it now."
"Why don't you just contact Ashleigh by bird, then? Tell her to let Brandon know things have changed, and to come back here."
"I will, but I'm afraid it won't reach Ashleigh in time. So I'm going to chase him down just in case. Actually, you get the bird. I'm going after Brandon."
"Right now?"
"There's no time to waste. Tell Rose I went to save Alicia, and that I love her."
"Ugh, Finn. I don't know if I can pull this off. I'm not used to lying, and you know how perceptive Rose is."
"Just try."
"And I play almost-dead, right?" Alicia asked.
"At least I know you'll be able to act convincingly."
She growled. "Putting me in another embarrassing spot... you better pay me back good, someday!"
"Yes, yes." Finn hefted his pack and walked from the tent.
As he stepped outside, he heard Alicia add, "That's not very nice, leaving Rose right after he finds out she's not going to die."
"Yeah, but at least he tries," Derrick said.
Finn thought about how Rose would feel about his disappearance, and took a deep breath. If only he'd put more trust in her strength.
#
Thraga stomped into the cave with an irate look, and Thonng already predicted what she would say. "We have to go south and help our fellow Ulir!" she said, voice insistent.
"Did you find out, then, that they truly fight for our old friend?"
"I don't think it's the real Kayla," she answered with hesitation, "but it doesn't matter. Father, they're slaughtering our kind."
"You mean the enemy?"
"Yes. They attacked the camp at night, killed six and maimed more. I'm afraid not many will survive the war if we don't aid them."
Thonng didn't appreciate the humans' tactic of ambushing the Ulir at night. But he was still unconvinced that his tribe should join the fight. "If they are stupid enough to be tricked into fighting for a pretender, why should we be so stupid as to join them despite being aware of their mistaken beliefs? Just to risk death alongside fools?"
"To preserve all the Ulir lives we can, and protect the future of our race."
The first and only Ulir king sighed. He had figured out even before the rebellion that "Kayla" was not the woman she used to be, but chose not to disclose it knowing a better opportunity to benefit from the situation might arise. Thought a hero for punishing those who betrayed Kayla, it'd been easy enough to declare himself king. At first, everyone had agreed with him because his momentum biased their views towards him. Eventually, they'd grown so used to agreeing that they couldn't see any other way. Now his daughter wanted him to take less than full advantage of his keen mind, by going along with others who acted in poor judgment?
He said to Thraga, "Even if we go, we do not know how much help we would really be. The humans are plentiful on both sides, are they not? We may well lose more than we can save, and it would be a shame to waste those lives."
She glared at him, anger vivid in her tone. "So we shouldn't even try?"
"To go would be to make ourselves unnecessarily vulnerable to the deceiver who pretends to be our old ally." Even knowing Kayla was a fake, Thonng still felt the familiar calling of the being that had taken her place. But it'd gotten surprisingly weaker in recent days. Why? Had it been diminished in conflict with an enemy? The danger of going south nonetheless remained too great. It could just be another ploy.
Thraga shook her head. "I went down there and I came back. I don't feel like a slave to Victor, as the false Kayla calls itself nowadays."
He smiled, reaching out to stroke her lovely blonde braids. "You have a strong will, daughter, and I am very proud of you for that. But not everyone is strong like you and I, and I cannot risk my people so lightly." And he could not convince himself that if forced to choose between king and legendary ally, his people would stand by his side.
"All right," she said in a resigned voice.
"You're going back even without help, aren't you?"
"I can't let ours become the only Ulir tribe. Why don't you come with me? Even if you won't fight, maybe together we could convince them to leave."
Thonng doubted that. The deceiver's power over a mind was not easy to break. "I can't go, Thraga. I must stay here and rule, to guard our family from temptation. That is my place."
"Fine, I'll do it alone. I'm sorry, but like you I just want to help our people survive."
The girl's determination was admirable, but he feared the danger she put herself in. "One question. You haven't been stupid enough to actually fight for this fake, have you?"
"I've stayed out of harm's way."
"Well, keep it that way. Be safe."
She nodded and headed off. Less than an hour passed before Thonng had a change of heart. He couldn't allow his daughter to go back to the false Kayla by herself. With her determination to help those deceived, she would unquestionably find herself at odds with that being, against whom he doubted she would fare well. So he put everything on the line, asking his most trusted friend Glolg to watch over his subjects while he followed Thraga into the fight of their lives.
#
Pick me up, you ungrateful fool. Hold me.
Victor glanced at Clearsky propped up in the corner of his tent, but ignored the mental plea. "You served me well in battle, but you've no sense of subtlety. It's time to give this nation a chance for peace. I think it likely they'll surrender everything to me willingly, thanks to the fearsome reputation that you helped build for me."
Clearsky couldn't believe the man set him aside so easily. He had been damaged and possessed less than his usual power, but could still serve Victor's purposes readily. Was it because the prince knew Clearsky's own desires took precedence in his mind, and so distrusted him? If that was the case, he might never again grasp Clearsky willingly—and thus, would be useless to him. He would need to change wielders after all, and for spur
ning him so foolishly, Victor just might have to die.
#
"Brandon? What are you doing back here so soon—is the war over already?"
Seeing Ashleigh look so beautiful resting in their bed with that wonderful little hump in the blanket over her belly, he wished he didn't have to crush her hopeful thought. "No, it's not. I'm going to Gustrone to do something for Rose, but I just wanted to stop by and stay with you for the night."
"You better. You look like you haven't slept for days." She frowned at the bags under his eyes.
"I haven't."
"How is Rose, anyway? Is she going to die?"
"I don't want to let her, but... I don't know if she can survive."
Ashleigh brushed his face with the back of her small, yet strong hand. "It must be hard for you, not to even know if she's still alive. I know how you love her."
The discomfort was evident in her voice, and he assured her, "Not more than I love you."
"Not less either, though?"
Brandon didn't answer, not wanting to lie. He had never gotten over his beloved Meatball, even after he'd married Ashleigh and not seen Rose for over a year. She would always have a place in his heart, the indestructible warrior goddess of his dreams. Still, he adored his wife and coming child just the same. Finally, he said, "She's not my woman. You are."
She smiled, cheer returning to her eyes. "You know, we still haven't thought of a name for our babe."
"Rose if it's a girl, Brandon Junior if it's a boy."
"Brandon!"
"You should name him to honor your husband," an unfamiliar voice said. "After all, he'll be dead when your child sees its first light."
Brandon turned towards the sound. Like a ghost emerging from the ether, a painted man with dark slanted eyes grew out of the shadows in the corner. He was not large but well-muscled, and brandished two slender blades. "Who are you, and what are you doing here?" Brandon yelled.
Even before he said anything, the count read the promise of death in that inhuman gaze. "I followed your friends, hoping they would lead me to Rose and Finn. But after they reached where they were going, I saw you leave there. You have more than your share of legendary exploits. So come, fight me and return to where you should be."
Brandon charged the intruder, greatsword whipping from his sheath, and their weapons rang in a grim melody. The painted man proved stronger than he looked, and his two blades fast like striking snakes. Brandon heard Ashleigh whimper in fear while he backed away, and wished for a moment that she wasn't pregnant. As exhausted as he was from lack of sleep and the unhealed wounds he bore, he could have used her help. A downward slash with both swords drove a blocking Brandon to his knees, and she acted anyway, throwing the lamp at his opponent's face.
The man simply struck it aside with a sneer, only for Brandon to swing at his gut. He jumped back, a thin line appearing on his skin. Brandon pressed the attack, causing him to stumble with a heavy blow he could barely parry. Another hard blocked cut knocked the smaller man off his feet, and Brandon chopped down at his ribcage. But he rolled forward into Brandon's reach, avoiding the strike and slicing up into his belly. He shoved at the painted face, pushing its owner away, then fell to his knees.
"Get up, Brandon!" Ashleigh cried.
He forced himself to stand against searing pain, clutching his wound with a shaking hand. Blood gushed out between his fingers, and he wished he had Rose's ability to withstand such agony. Holding his huge sword with one hand, he slashed at his opponent's waist, but his arm was leaden and his foe easily parried. The painted man tensed his legs and sprang into the air over Brandon's head. Slowly he turned, his knees close to buckling beneath his weight. They wouldn't get the chance. He looked up just in time to see a flash before his eyes, and there was no more pain.
Chapter 10
Wincing, Rose nevertheless smiled gratefully as Derrick helped her sit up to drink from her canteen. Her innards still burned with intense fire, but she felt more energetic with each new day. She believed she would survive, but worried deeply for Alicia. The redhead hadn't moved or spoken more than the occasional slurred phrase since shortly after arriving in her tent, and Rose hoped she could overcome her sickness.
According to Derrick, Finn had already tried healing magic to no more effect than on the doomed Mick, and now sought Count Brandon's medicinal aid. Rose was a bit surprised he had gone so hurriedly. The duchess wasn't her husband's favorite person most of the time, and she felt glad he could put that aside when a life was at stake. What was so important that Brandon had left in the middle of a war for it anyway, though?
Though Derrick was obviously happy that Rose would apparently live, she noticed he still seemed agitated by something. Her intuition made her think it not just concern for the lasting damage she would have, but more like guilt over hiding something he knew. But whatever that might be, it probably didn't matter much compared to Alicia being in such condition.
"Don't you die on me," she whispered, glumly watching the big woman's still form.
Derrick patted her shoulder. "Everything's going to be okay, Rose. Finn will take care of her, and she'll be just fine."
She nodded. Though he'd done more than a few things she didn't agree with before, she loved her husband and tried to believe in his ability to make things right. As she took another sip of sweet juice and her insides twisted in agony, she dimly heard a voice from the tent's entryway. "Lady Rose?" the young soldier there said. "There's someone here to see you."
"Who?" she asked, trying to will the pain off her face.
"A giant, who says his name is Thonng."
Rose hoped he wouldn't be stupid enough to attack in the middle of the camp, if he was here for unfriendly reasons. She was in no mood to fight. Derrick helped her up, and they stumbled together outside. Standing before the tent was the Ulir king, a distressed frown on his wrinkled face. Though it would make her seem even smaller in relation to the huge creature, Rose sat down, giving in to her weakness. Derrick stood over her, putting a hand on his sword hilt as if to protect her.
"What do you want here?" she asked.
"I need your help," Thonng replied.
Derrick looked questioningly at him. "But aren't you on their side?"
Rose touched his hip. "No, his tribe stayed out of the fight—until now, anyway."
Thonng nodded. "My daughter returned here to try and convince the other tribes of the folly of continuing to aid Victor, but was taken prisoner for her words. Please help me rescue her, and I will repay you generously!"
She more than understood how he was feeling. She'd had her children taken from her before, and knew the desperation born of that. But while she sympathized, she didn't think there was anything she could really do. "I'm sorry, but I don't think I can help you. I'm badly wounded, and even if I was healthy, it would be hard to get a prisoner out from the enemy camp... especially one your size."
His eyes clouded further with despair. "You're right, especially as they are keeping her deep inside. But what should I do, then? I can't leave her at their mercy."
"We'll probably have to beat them to take their prisoners away."
"You mean win the war?"
"Or the battle, at the very least. If we make them run, maybe they'll leave their prisoners behind." That was, if they didn't execute them first. Wilner at least was not known for being lenient on his captured enemies. "But we're in a truce right now, and I doubt anyone could convince Baron Nicholas to break it for a single prisoner's sake."
"Is there nothing we can do?"
Rose heard growing anger in his voice, and mentally begged him to keep his temper under control. She'd seen how destructive she herself could be when her children were threatened, and wouldn't want to deal with a giant king in the same kind of rage. She decided to offer him hope. "I doubt the truce will last forever. Victor won't settle for less than all of Kayland, I'm inclined to think."
"So we just wait for them to attack?"
Derrick piped u
p. "You could bring your forces to help us." Rose found herself impressed once again by her scholar friend's boldness. He'd stood up to her, Finn, even Prince Wilner in arguments before, and now showed Thonng himself could not cow him from speaking his mind. "I bet your tribe could play a big part in winning your daughter's freedom."
"Bring my people into this conflict? That's just what I've been trying to avoid, and I fear some might not be able to resist Clearsky's voice. But now that it seems to be weakened, and my daughter is on the line..." Rose felt bad that more of the already few Ulir might die fighting this war which should not have been theirs, but if their aid could save human lives, she could not really object. She waited, and at last Throgg decided, "All right. I'll do whatever it takes to get Thraga back. You will have your allies among the Ulir, as well as enemies."
"Thank you," Derrick said. "I guess I should bring you to meet Baron Nicholas, then. Wouldn't want to surprise everyone with a whole bunch of giants coming to our camp." Somebody might try to shoot them, after all. "You going to be okay by yourself, Rose?"
She nodded, and allowed him to help her back into the tent. Looking at Alicia, she began to cry—not just for the ailing warrioress, but everyone who'd suffered due to Clearsky. If many more Ulir died, it would truly be their genocide. Recalling Kayla's plea, she felt a surge of anger. No matter whose offspring the trident was, it deserved to be destroyed.
#
Arriving at Brandon's manor, Finn dismounted and stretched his muscles wearily. His borrowed horse looked like it was going to drop dead the moment he turned away. He had barely taken a break since leaving camp, only stopping to exchange his exhausted horse for a fresh one a couple times along the way. Even so, he was surprised he had apparently caught up to Brandon before he left his manor. He should have been long gone in his haste to help Rose, but the townspeople said they had seen him come back and not leave again. Finn knocked on the manor's heavy doors. A tall servant opened them. He looked glad to see Finn.
"I'm here for Count Brandon."
"Come inside."
Finn did and noticed how quiet it was. Not that it should be noisy, but a melancholy air seemed to hang over the servants. His guide led Finn to Brandon and Ashleigh's room. Inside he saw the countess sitting on her bed, belly great with child and eyes swollen from a recent cry. He knew then that something was badly amiss. "What's wrong? Where's Brandon?"
