'That is no one's concern.' Rage swelled within him, but Randur reined back his reactions. Instead he fed them some lines about how he and his companions also hated the Empire, that they had been taxed until they could no longer afford the lease on their lands, and how they now owned nothing, not a Drakar… and finally that the girls were both diseased and really weren't wasting anyone's time over.
'You look like you got cash by your fancy clothes.'
Randur snapped, 'Do you think we'd be all the bloody way out here, in the middle of fuck knows where, if we had any money?'
'Got a point,' the fat man grunted.
Something happened in the glances again.
Randur dived to his right, rolling under the shot of a crossbow, then intentionally spooked one of the horses so it backed into the other, and in the ensuing chaos he pulled both their shouting riders to the ground. One, two, he slashed the men's throats, then plunged behind the caravan, underneath it and through to the other side. There, Randur caught the final horseman by surprise, slammed his head into the wooden side of the carriage twice so hard that it splintered, and shoved his sword through the man's gaping mouth.
Up onto the carriage, then Randur hauled the fat man to the ground – the momentum increased by his target's excessive weight.
Randur aimed his sword point between the man's eyes.
'Don't you kill me!' he spluttered, as a dark stain of urine bloomed at his crotch.
'Right, you fat bastard,' Randur grabbed a clump of greasy hair, 'give me one reason to believe that the world would not be a better place without you.'
'I… I…'
'Sorry. You've failed to impress me.' Randur stood up, and ran the near edge of his blade across the man's throat.
He let him bleed slowly into the snow, lying on his back, his legs quivering. The horses merely stood there, their breath clouding the air.
Randur walked over to Denlin's body, crouched down to cradle the old man's head, staring at the gaping wound in his friend's face. The snow all around was polluted with blood that spread out in vast stains highlighting the carnage.
He then went back to the farmhouse, headed straight across to the far end of one empty room, slumped in the corner, and slung his sword clattering across the floor. 'Well, we've got ourselves some well-behaved horses, some food, and a fat pile of coin,' he announced. 'That's progress.'
He rubbed at his face vigorously, felt an absurd urge to weep – from the continuing pressures, the tension, the relief of not dying, he wasn't sure why.
No glory here, no get-the-girl.
Rika and Eir shuffled out from the dimness of the interior, clearly hesitant as to how to begin a conversation after that display. Randur could see pity in Eir's face. He couldn't be sure if she was appalled at his brutality or not, if she even witnessed it. She should be used to it, though, after seeing the butchery that occurred when he liberated her in Villjamur.
Rika said, 'Did you really have to kill them?'
Closing his eyes, he breathed out slowly, then to Eir he said, 'Not very grateful, this one, is she?'
'Is Denlin…?' Eir began.
'Dead. Very much so.' Randur slid his knees up against his chest, and Eir crouched next to him, her hand resting on his arm, but he looked right past her, out through the open door, and across the scene where his friend had been dispatched so casually. He began to shiver.
*
Under a blood-red sky, Rika offered to perform burial rites for Denlin. Randur didn't know what to say to her offer, and merely grunted some form of approval. Praying was what she did, generally, other than being dull company and seeming ungrateful for her rescue.
Well, not exactly ungrateful, but hoping for everything to be accomplished with religious purity. Saving the day couldn't be achieved so cleanly.
Bugger that. She could freeze her arse off out here on her own, and see how long she'd last. Essentially, it dawned on him, he was here solely for Eir, doing whatever she wanted to do, and he was fine with that. It gave him some direction, a sense of purpose. Being back on Folke for the first time in months, he felt the urge to ride across the island to Ule, where his mother lived, to check if she was all right. He knew that when you couldn't see the future, people tended to gaze longingly towards the past. So he now considered travelling to that town on the south coast where he'd grown up. Learned to dance there, learned to fight under the local skills, Vitassi, an expertise that had given him the advantage so many times.
From hunks of wood wrenched from the farmhouse walls, they constructed a pyre on which to burn Denlin's body, so as to carry his spirit away to the higher realm. Having wrapped him carefully in cloth, the fire was then ignited. The flames burgeoned up the timber pile, and gnawed into the old man's corpse, till the fire spat sparks right across the evening sky.
As he listened to Rika's soothing incantations, they seemed to touch him on some deeper level he was unaware of. Randur hadn't had much time for religion in his past. Too busy chasing girls around the villages, too busy dancing in fire-lit shadows. There were too many pleasures on offer in life, surely, to become occupied with stilling your natural urges, and contemplating what came next. Especially in Vill-jamur, where he'd travelled pretending to be someone he wasn't, there were even more ways to be distracted.
Yet he had to admit that Rika's vaguely melodic prayers were luring him in some ethereal way. 'What are you chanting about? Must admit, I've not much of a clue about your Jorsalir stuff.'
A look of happiness fashioned itself in her face. 'When the two gods, Bohr and Astrid, male and female, created this world, they created other ones too. Different worlds, some parallel, but many on higher and lower plains of existence. Gods and half-gods engaged in petty combats, there at the top of existence. Godhood is a good life, supposedly, but they are never satisfied, and always competing. There are even ghost realms occupying that layer on top of ours, Randur – prisons for those trapped in some harsh memory. Which is why being in this present realm, despite its joys and hardships, because of its joys and hardships, is ideal for spiritual development.'
He grunted at that point, though not exactly disapproving. 'What about Denlin?' Randur asked. 'Where's he going to end up, then? One of these other realms?'
'Yes, and my prayers are intended to help him reach a good realm.'
Did it matter any more? Denlin was dead, just dead.
Eir and Rika stepped back into the farmhouse for the night, leaving Randur alone outside to brood, staring into the flames. Denlin had helped him so much – by selling on the jewels that Randur had seduced from the grasp of rich old ladies, and thus brought in a lot of money for the two of them. They'd become colleagues of sorts, and a firm bond had developed from the need for each other's presence.
Somewhere in the dark distance, a wolf called, the creature heightening Randur's sudden sense of isolation from the world.
Thank you, you old bugger.
TWELVE
'Commander Lathraea, my son, please – come forward.'
Again, there had been that initial reaction he was used to – the realization that he was albino, that he was someone different. White-robed and reeking of musk, the old priest tilted the back of his hand upwards. Brynd removed his wax cape, folded it to one side, walked forward and knelt to kiss the offered hand. There were far too many gold rings on those aged fingers for his liking.
'A Night Guard soldier in my church,' the priest rasped. His face was lightly pockmarked, his eyes sharp. 'That is indeed an honour. And the famed albino, too…'
The church was more like a cathedral, really. It was filled with those ornate decorations that Brynd couldn't stand. Why did Bohr and Astrid, the creator gods, those epitomes male and female… why did they need such excessive finery? It suggested that these priests and priestesses extorted a lot of money from their followers merely to spend on ornate fripperies. Candelabras and crest mirrors and console tables of such craftsmanship. A thick red carpet bisected the cavernous stone-built room
, wooden benches ranged on either side of it, where men and women of the city would come and pray segregated in their allotted areas.
'Priest Pias, the honour is mine,' Brynd lied. He stood up to face the old man directly. Thick wrinkles in the priest's face contradicted the air of a peaceful existence. His nose was bird-like, over lips that were unusually small.
'How can I be of help to you?' Pias's voice was commanding in the stillness of the large chamber. They walked side by side to one of the front benches, where the priest gestured for the commander to sit down.
Light leaked from the hundreds of candles in the vast space, creating a warmth and peace that seemed unnaturally potent. Incense burned at the rear, sandalwood, the flakes of smoke catching the light.
'I'm here to ask a favour,' Brynd said. 'You already know of our current crisis, so I won't bore you with the details.'
'Indeed,' Pias sighed. 'This is a grave matter, isn't it? And how are you coping?'
Brynd related the grim information in its true and honest form. 'I wonder how long we can survive against such a scale of attack. We've decided to request the presence of a lot of cultists to aid us in preparation-'
'That way lies insanity, commander. Cultists are untrustworthy and unsavoury individuals.'
Brynd knew how much the church disapproved of cultists, but he'd not been aware of this degree of vitriol. Saying nothing, he waited for the priest to go on.
'They mess with the universe on unethical levels. Of course, Bohr would not approve of their techniques, but they continually perpetuate lies regarding the functioning of this world, commander. You'd do well not to listen to their seductive suggestions.'
'These are desperate times, I'm afraid. I'm even having to seek the support of some of the street gangs.'
'Really?' The priest licked his fingers to slick down some errant strands of thin grey hair. 'I would not think that such criminals are much use to anyone.'
'Admittedly, but these are unusual times. Those street men are tough, and they might find some way to redeem themselves… in the eyes of Bohr and Astrid.'
'This is true.' Priest Pias gave a philosophical shrug.
'But what I'm after,' Brynd said, 'what I need is some guidance. You deliver some enthusiastic sermons here, so they say.'
'Ah, it has been known, yes. I am passionate about our Jorsalir teachings.' The priest smiled. 'But how could this be of any help to a military man?'
'Inspiration, essentially. I wondered if there are any references in the scriptures to ways of fighting for great causes. Because if the intelligence brought to my attention is correct, we're dealing here with great evil. You might even say something otherworldly.'
'A military man wishes for spiritual guidance against the forces of evil?' Pias could hardly contain his amusement.
Smug fucker, Brynd thought. 'Not precisely, Priest Pias. But are there such references in the scriptures?'
'Yes, of course. Although it is not as black and white as one might think. Well, the teachings of… the Hunter Saint in particular. His sermons suggested that Bohr and Astrid have demanded such action of our citizens in the past. To protect the realms of yore, in our vast, vast history. Many scholars suggest that inactivity on the part of previous civilizations – the Shalafars in particular – in the names of our creators, led to their eradication. "Because of Bohr's great mercy to us I appeal to you: offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to Bohr, dedicated to His service and pleasing to Him. This is the true worship that you should offer." '
'I've no wish for our people to be eradicated.' Brynd's gaze was met by the priest's.
'Nor have I.'
'Here's how things stand,' Brynd continued. 'If our suspicions are correct, this city will most likely fall unless every man and woman wholeheartedly fights for its survival. My soldiers will do all we can to stop them, but I fear the worst. This…' – he sought the word again, for emphasis, no matter how inaccurate it was to how he really felt – '… evil. This evil will stop at nothing, so I want the people to be willing to fight for their homes – for their very survival. If not that, then for some greater spiritual cause. Perhaps for a rebirth in a new realm, something beyond their present everyday existence. They need' – he hated to use the words – 'hope and faith.'
'You refer to the intervention of Bohr and Astrid?' the priest offered.
'I do.' Brynd despised how low he was having to stoop. People did what they did because they believed in it or else, at a very basic level, believed it would make them happier. Motivations were simple affairs, and he needed to rouse the citizens of Villiren to fight for something greater than themselves. 'It might also reduce our reliance on external bodies… such as cultists and the like…'
Priest Pias leaned back on the bench and stretched his arm out to one side. For a moment there was perfect stillness in the room.
'Are you yourself a religious man, commander?' Priest Pias asked.
'I have my moments.' Another lie. How could he connect to a belief system that helped outlaw what he was in secret?
'I shall contemplate your words, commander,' the priest said. 'If some great evil, as you say, is coming to this city then I hear your concerns. I shall talk to some of the other priests, and see what they come up with regarding our scriptures. For a greater good, as you say.'
'For a greater good,' Brynd echoed.
*
A cold night, again, as horses belted through the dark, their hooves slipping on ice. Two fiacres clattered by, the riders barely looking his way. Thugs loitered wherever streets intersected, converging in the language of the streets, that queer Jamur-tribal hybrid. Amongst these nocturnal scenes, he wondered vaguely what had happened to Private Haust, the young blond man who had disappeared.
Brynd was wearing civilian clothing, thick cotton layers, of an earthy brown colour, a hood so that he could hide his face as he walked, so he would blend into Villiren, even, as on the night that saw the underground fights, using a paste to darken his exposed skin, to hide the fact he was albino. Nothing he could do about his red-tinted eyes though, so he had decided to wear a full-face gnaga mask.
Constant stress was crippling him and the logistics of the military operation were overwhelming. Night after night, the other soldiers could unwind in taverns all across the city while he imprisoned himself with charts and reports, saw to the needs of thousands of others who remained ignorant of how he was serving them. He had slept maybe eight hours only over the last three nights.
Well, not this evening. Tonight he sought relief.
After exploring a few tip-offs, he was striding towards a certain featureless building, with a facade that could be found in any city throughout the Boreal Archipelago. Anonymous-looking. There were two men standing behind the door leading to his destination, big guys with daggers ready at hand. Behind them lay a dark corridor. A few discreet words were exchanged, tentative and searching sentences, then they let him in.
The first room was lit by just two cressets, on opposite walls, and a couple of tea-light candles set on each of the tables. Always the same, these places. Dark enough for the hypocrites to escape into their fantasies without ever being caught – which annoyed Brynd, since these might be the very same men ready to label others as being 'abnormal'.
Bender, queer, faggot.
Words loaded with a pain that burned inside his head. In his darker moments he could hardly blame them – there were times he could hardly tolerate himself. But such words were spoken every day with a casual thoughtlessness, often issuing from the mouths of those he worked with and trusted.
How could the world be so consciously loathing of such a natural emotion, merely on the word of some very old text? Other cultures, Brynd was certain, would not forbid such desires.
Shirt-lifter, mincer, fairy.
Was he a weak man? Was he weak for wanting sex, wanting to pay for sex? No. It was safer that way, a transaction which would secure his anonymity.
From behind a doorway, music drifted int
o the main bar. He poked his head in briefly, saw a violin player and a man clutching a small drum belting out a few folk rhythms, could smell the intense aroma of arum weed and spilt vodka. There were a few candles at the far end, nothing in between but shadows gliding through the darkness. His heart rate picked up, matched the intensity of the drumming. Sudden nervousness kicked in, and for a moment he considered walking out again, back to the barracks, ignoring this side of him like he had so often before.
In a fake accent, he asked someone nearby where he could go to pay for it. Directions were issued, gestures barely discernible in the dimness. He felt his way around the corridors until he reached where he hoped to be. A moment later, he'd chosen his man, one with oil glistening on his skin, slightly perfumed with patchouli, a scent aiming to relax him.
'Don't worry if this is your first time.'
'It's not.' Brynd tried not to laugh. How much cock had he sucked by now? He couldn't remember. He threw the man some Sota coins – and didn't even look at how many.
They found a room shrouded in darkness, with a decent enough bed, and everything proceeded by touch. Brynd liked that, his vision removed, it meant his other senses were heightened. Liked the feeling of not having to make decisions, of following someone else's orders. The man tried to remove Brynd's mask but a firm grip on his thick wrist thwarted the gesture. Instead, Brynd tilted it slightly to one side, and kissed him… and his primitive instincts dispelled that inert, empty sensation he felt with a complete stranger, because this was now a body at least, another man, more than he'd known in a while: meat and tongue and cock. This one was thuggish and direct, and Brynd tenderly explored the thick ridges of muscle moving against him, the thick arms around his waist. Fuck, that feels so, so good… Brynd turned, reaching behind his body, and eased the man's dick out of his breeches and wanked him until he was hard.
'You have protection I take it?' Brynd asked. A few movements to one side, and the man-whore was safe. A trustworthy establishment, at least. He made sure some oil from the man's torso acted as lubrication and, as he leant forwards on his knuckles, he purged his mind of thoughts.
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