by Billy Wong
"No, you're nice enough for it." He smiled. "So you want me to show you some of the better eating places around here, now that you're staying?"
"Oh, sure. I haven't had enough to eat since I left this city! By the way, is this your hometown?"
"No, I don't really have a hometown. I was raised by my 'uncle,' a hunter who found me floating down the Hellwhip river in a pretty remote part of the western forests. I only got accustomed to city life after I joined the army."
"What happened to your parents?"
He shrugged, sadness coming into his eyes. "I don't know. Don't even know who they are, or if they're alive. I hope they had a good reason for abandoning me."
Rose realized that under his big beard, he resembled King Gregor a bit—maybe more than his daughter. But of course he was no prince. "I hope you find them someday. But even if you don't, you needn't worry too much. We're what we make ourselves."
"Yeah, I know, miss blacksmith's daughter-turned-legend. You proved it."
She chuckled, and they went to find something nice to eat.
#
Julian tore at his hair as he screamed at his brother. "Regis, you had a good plan! Why in Deathend's name did you decide to put it off until it was too late?!
The emperor answered calmly while he inspected his face in his little mirror. "I wanted to see if I could beat the woman warrior Rose one-on-one, in fair combat. Still do. Now, why did you defy my orders to hold off on the rear attack?"
"I was acting in the interest of our people and our god," he growled.
"Relax, little brother. The battle was not such a complete disaster. We did drive the Terlonians out of their great defensive position, and killed many in the process."
"Yes, when we could have crushed the lot of them then and there. We also lost more men, and good ones. In large part because of the woman you were so busy playing around with, who you sacrificed our elite to so you could study her techniques."
"I wasn't playing with her. It's all the sweeter to beat someone when you know it's because you're better, not because you used some unfair advantage."
Julian sneered. "You didn't beat Danica that way."
"I didn't tell that soldier to spear her, either. I was actually somewhat glad that Rose stopped me from finishing her. I had been hoping we would meet again, until you brought her low. Not really much of a victory, to strike an opponent down while she's reeling from another's mace to the head. It would be rather too hollow for my taste."
"You're an idiot."
Regis actually smiled. "No, I'm a gamer. I wish you'd learn to enjoy life more. Once it's gone, it's gone. There's no point in toiling day in and day out for some cause, if you leave no room for pleasure in your life."
Julian sighed. There was also no point in trying to change his brother. "So, are we going to finish them off soon?"
"Yes. Did you find the axe-boy yet?"
"We're still looking."
"Take your time. He can't be that much of an immediate threat to your all-powerful god."
"Our god!"
"Yes, yes. Would you mind if I gave you my interpretation of the prophecy?"
Julian didn't really want to hear it, but there was the slightest possibility that Regis had some good insight. "Fine, say it."
"Maybe the young man spoken of is me, and the war god who will fall by my hand is not Deathend, but Rose, who is as much a deity of battle as anyone I've had the pleasure of meeting."
That take was worse than Julian had even thought possible. "First of all, you're not that young. Secondly, Rose has a grasp on the land? And you didn't even address the axe on the neck part."
"Maybe I'm wrong. I never said I was infallible, though I'm close."
"Why won't you take anything seriously?"
Regis cocked his head. "I am taking them seriously. But nobody says you can't have fun at the same time. Besides, I'm in a celebratory mood after our hard-won victory."
Technically a win, yes. Inspiring success, no. Squandered potential, definitely. Julian couldn't take any more of his foolishness, and said, "It's about time I spoke with Deathend. So it'd be best if you went. I know how you dislike watching me commune."
His brother began to walk away, turned back as he was about to exit the tent, and smirked. "When you see him, ask him whose view of life he prefers, mine or yours. From the legends I've heard of him, I'd guess mine." And then, he was finally gone.
Julian couldn't help but think he would've made a better, more responsible emperor, and sighed. At least he was the High Cleric; who knew how Regis would mess that up? He'd probably get himself smited fairly quickly. Turning now to the helm which was his channel to the god, he called for Deathend's attention. The eyes of the helmet glowed. "My lord," he said, "we failed. I'm sorry."
"Nonsense, Julian. You did well. Terlon's army is on the run. We are victorious."
"Yes, but it could have been our ultimate victory. If we'd destroyed the army at the pass, the whole kingdom would be ours."
"Worry not, progress comes in steps."
Was even the god less driven than he? It boggled the mind to consider such a possibility, and he decided to ask the question he dreaded. "Lord Deathend, whose worldview do you approve of more, mine or Regis'?"
"Regis is a great warrior and the very picture of an emperor," Deathend began. "He lives the life fate gave him with perfect ease and comfort. His station fits him like a woman's shoe. But you are one who would rise to great success no matter your birth. Were you born a begger instead of the emperor's younger brother, you might now be king. It is you who reminds me of my life as a human. And if Regis is a great king, you are a greater man."
It should have been all Julian needed to hear, except that he suspected a hint of dishonesty in the divine voice. Pretending not to notice, he whispered, "I'll never fail you, my lord. Soon I'll find the man of the axe and kill him. You needn't fear."
"I never do."
"Do you know anything of she called the Iron Flower, who came from abroad to oppose us like I thought no one person could? She is a monster, that butcher of men!"
"She is the mightiest of warriors in this age," Deathend said with... admiration? It wasn't unexpected that a warrior, even a warrior god, would show respect for a fellow fighter's abilities, but Julian just didn't think it beneficial to identify with the people you meant to kill. "If I was still in the mortal realm, I would long to face her in battle. Perhaps she is nearly what I was, as a man. It would be your greatest glory to slay her."
He would be happy if he got the chance to kill Rose, and thus deny Regis another boost to his already overinflated ego. "Just as I killed Danica," he said with a smile.
"Do not dare underestimate your enemies. Rose is even more indestructible than the princess, perhaps by far. She has taken injuries beyond the ability of any other to survive, and still prevailed. Her sword has felled some of the most powerful beings to ever walk the earth. You must treat her with the utmost caution."
Julian bit his lip. No matter how formidable her physical attributes made her, he believed his mind was moreso. "Very well, I won't stop until her body's in pieces!"
"Good... that's the spirit. It'll be interesting to see if it takes as much to stop her, as it did to stop me. Until next time, farewell."
The god's power left the room, but the exhilaration did not leave the cleric. As he exited his tent, images of Rose's lifeless body filled his mind. But when he passed by his brother, the knowing look in his eyes disturbed him. What was Regis up to?
#
"Five armored soldiers! That's a new record, I think," Sean announced as Rose set down the raised platform in the courtyard on which men sat to test one another's lifting capabilities.
She brushed herself off and shrugged. "I might be able to do more, but the hard wood didn't feel good pressing down on my back, especially when I have wounds there besides."
He stared at the implication that she could have moved even more weight. "Are you the strongest perso
n you know?"
"Well, my husband's always matched me pretty much exactly, being about four hundred pounds of muscle, and I've fought a few people who seemed about as strong. One might've been stronger. You wouldn't believe the size of him; the man was eight feet tall and broader than a bear. He grabbed me, in full gear, by the neck and lifted me overhead with one hand and hardly any effort. But I did okay when we matched weapons blow for blow and broke his grip when we were both badly hurt, so I'm not sure if he really was stronger. He might've been, though. He was immense."
Her friend laughed. "So you're evenly matched with the biggest, strongest guys around. Not bad for a little woman."
Knowing she wasn't little at all, she giggled. "You're not allowed to call me that, only the giants are!"
"Are there a lot of people like you where you come from, Rose?"
She thought it over for a moment. "Not exactly like me—I think my vitality would be called everything from monstrous to godlike anywhere. But in terms of overall prowess, no, there still aren't many who can match me. What Regis, Julian, and Danica are to this continent, me and my peers pretty much are to mine. Those three are better than the bulk of warriors where I come from too, save the elite few."
Sean nodded. "You know, the Fanteians worship a god who was once a man, Deathend. You kind of remind me of their legends of his mortal life."
"How's that?"
"He was supposedly the greatest of all warriors, who conquered nearly the entire known world. A fighter and mage without peer, who walked through all opposition he faced with impunity. It took an entire cabal of archmages to bring him down. Even then, the legends say, his spirit battled for and won godhood in the realms beyond death, to guide Fanteia into new glory."
Rose smiled. "I'm not that good. I doubt he was, either. Nobody walks over all their enemies, unless they choose to bully the weak. My foes have given me more trouble and suffering than I care to remember. I do feel proud to beat a difficult opponent, and it can be fun to talk and brag about such hard-fought victories. I just wish less people had to be endangered in the process... which is why I fight, to mitigate such danger to innocents. Though I've had my doubts about the value of my work, sometimes."
"That's silly. There aren't many types of work more worthwhile than yours, I say."
"Thanks. Glad to have you around when I'm missing the rest of my friends."
He patted her back. "I hope someday, my child can come to study at your center. I know it's mainly for people to study magic, but I'd like him or her to learn from you about morality, and fighting, too."
"A child's parents are the ones who should teach them morality. Though so far, I've been one of the worst mothers I ever met. Before you ask why, look—I'm here, aren't I? And in regards to fighting, gosh, I'll be an old woman then, won't I?"
Sean laughed. "You'll be about forty when my kid gets to the proper age. You think forty's that old?"
"Not really, not for normal people. But I don't know how bad things will get when my wounds catch up to me. I've been hurt enough to kill most people a hundred times over, so I don't know if I can look forward to living to a nice old age."
Pity tightened his features. "Rose... You feel fine now, right?"
She was already wracked with tremendous pain due to organs that had been horribly damaged time and again. But she rarely admitted so to anyone, and only conceded, "I've got some aches and pains, but I'm fine at the moment."
"That's good to know. Maybe you'll stay fine."
"Maybe."
His hand came up to caress her left cheek, a soothing gesture though she might have felt it more had there been less scar tissue there. "I hope you will. You're too good a person to die young."
Tears threatened to well forth and embarrass her. "I don't want to die anytime soon either. But even if I did, at least I'd know I've lived enough for ten lifetimes. I'd just be really unhappy that my kids would have to grow up without a mom, even if I'm not that good of one. And I'm not sure Finn could go on without me. So no matter how hurt I get, I just have to live."
Sean's own eyes grew misty, but he blinked back the tears and forced a smile. "Stop being so gloomy, Rose. Let's get back to having fun talk."
She felt bad about upsetting him, and looked down. "Yeah, I guess it's not very inspiring to talk about my body breaking down when I'm supposed to be the backbone of the army or something. Sorry about that. It's doing stuff like this that reminds me I'm just a weak woman sometimes. Anyway, how's Katie?"
"She's well. Not too happy to be displaced from her home, but healthy. The baby's kicking hard, which they say is a good sign."
"Means it's strong. My twins kicked my rear more than most of my enemies have. So what do you suggest I give you for a present?"
Sean slapped her big arm. "You're not supposed to ask! You're supposed to surprise the person you're giving to."
"I know that, but I'm terrible at picking gifts. So give me a hint, will you?"
"I don't want to put too much on your shoulders, but how about... a country to live in?"
She slowly broke out into a grin. "I'll do my best."
#
It didn't take long for discouraging new reports of Fanteian activity to reach Polier. Regis and Julian marched now with an army of forty thousand towards the port. Polier had strong high walls, but there were less than ten thousand soldiers ready to defend the city. As usual, Rose fought for the underdog side in the war, the nation to be conquered. Too bad for the Fanteians, underdogs tended to win when she was around.
Of course, Terlon wasn't about to put its fate entirely in the hands of one foreign woman, legend or not. Gregor fled the city and headed north to Belar, the most fortified city in the country and the second largest after the conquered capital. Sean wanted to stay and fight alongside Rose and his army friends, but Katie insisted he leave with Gregor as she would. Arguing that the king needed guards too, she convinced him to go, but not before shaving and getting a haircut in hopes of making a good impression.
Though a noble by the name of Roland officially commanded the defending force in Polier, most of the soldiers and citizens looked to Rose for leadership after she'd declared herself their champion, and knowing of her great deeds. It worried her to see how much they put their hopes in her. She was here to fight and win, but they'd have to do their part too, and she wished all of them would understand that as well as she did.
Rose sat anxiously on the wall, squinting into the distance for signs of the enemy's approach, when she sensed more than saw a heavy mass plop itself down next to her. She looked over to regard a large middle-aged man with dark eyes resting comfortably beside her. His straw-colored hair and thick beard had some slight grey in them, but Rose could tell his body was still rock-hard underneath a thin outer layer of fat, and his battered plate marked him as a man who'd weathered many a harsh battle.
"Hello," she said. "And you are?"
His voice was low and rough as expected. "Kelvin Glati. You might have heard of me as Sean's uncle."
"He said you were a hunter. You're a soldier, too?"
"I was a soldier for a bit before taking up hunting full time. Now when my country needs me the most, why shouldn't I return?"
She nodded her approval. "So did you train Sean?"
"Aye."
"You did a good job. Though you should've taught him more of the nuances of a wooden shield, as opposed to a metal one."
He chuckled. "I know how to handle a shield, but never thought of it as much more than a tool for defense. Though I'll admit, it's nice when your opponent can't free his weapon from your shield quite fast enough."
Even if Rose used a metal shield now, she had some good memories of wood ones, too. Of course, her current shield was more durable and better as a weapon in its own right, which was what she needed nowadays. Still... "Maybe I could show you some tricks with that big old board of yours. It'll be a better use of our time than waiting around nervously all day."
"What, a girl half
my age teach me how to fight?" Rose stared at him for a moment, then he grinned. "I'm joking! I know who you are. Let's see if an old dog can learn new tricks, after all."
They engaged in a short spar where they tested each other's abilities. "Wow," Rose said afterwards. "Not bad!"
"So you think I could beat you?" Kelvin asked with a wink.
Despite his impressive skill, she'd had him at her mercy several times, and he'd never put her in a similar position. "Not very likely, but you're better than most fighters. Are you sure you don't know the tricks of a wood shield, or are you just playing around with me?"
"I know some of them, or used to. But it's been too long since I fought with one, or fought period. Though that just brought back a lot of memories!"
"Then I don't know if I can really teach you much more. I'm a great warrior, or so everybody tells me, but not too experienced a teacher. And I think there's only so much you can learn outside of real battle."
"I agree with that, but still, let's go over some of those shield tricks. Refresh my memories so I'll be in proper form to take on Regis."
Rose doubted he would have much of a chance one on one, but also sensed an edge of hate in his words that told her he didn't care. "Why do you want him?"
"He killed my wife," Kelvin said slowly, and blinked. "I'd like it if I could avenge her."
"Your wife? Why would he do such a thing?"
He frowned. "It wasn't quite what you might think. My wife was not a helpless victim, but a warrior too, and not bad at it. But she met Regis on the field when she was already badly wounded and weaponless, and begged him to let her go. He just tossed her a sword and told her to defend herself. I later found out she was pregnant when it happened. I couldn't really live for a long time after." By now tears had escaped his eyes, and streamed down his cheeks.
Rose wanted to to cry herself. "I'm so sorry. Regis didn't know, did he?"
"No one did, not even my wife. But that doesn't mean I won't avenge both my most treasured loves."
She understood, but it was more likely Kelvin would die if he challenged Regis. Rose didn't want that, for Sean's sake as well as his own. "I'll take care of the emperor. You just keep fighting for your country, and living. Sean wouldn't want to lose you."
