by Richard Nell
"Until death, Mahala." Cuexta's face lowered in respect as he held the warrior's salute, and Yacat put a hand to his shoulder.
"Then your task is this: collect the remaining women and children from their rooms, and go North East. Their only hope now is to seek refuge in the noble houses of Tlanopan."
With that, Yacat turned, his mind already leaving the palace.
"Will you not come with us, my prince? Let us protect you."
Yacat smiled, gripping the hard pommel of his impossible sword. Even now he felt the eyes of the ancient gods upon him like the golden orbs of their foreign herald, impatient, in judgment. "Prince Yacat is dead," he told them. "He died in the fire with his city and his house. There is an enemy in this land, that is true, but it isn't the tribesmen. While the chiefs and kings of the valley bicker over power, someone must hunt that true enemy down."
The men stared in incomprehension, but it made no difference. Yacat walked over the corpses and back through the halls. He would have liked to see the temples of the gods and paid homage, but he had no wish to see the scene of corruption and slaughter for a second time. Instead he walked to the broken gates and left the palace, no intention of ever returning. He covered his face against the heat and ash and walked North along the main road, empty now save for the leavings of destruction. A few looters and tribesmen yet moved nearby, but none challenged him, so busy with their tasks and largely hidden in the ruin.
At last at the outer gates, a voice and the silhouette of a man in the smoke stopped him. He turned with a hand on his sword, only to see Cuexta emerge with a cloth over his face, weapons and a large pack draped over his shoulders. He caught up, then stooped and coughed several times as he wiped sweat from his brow.
"Long have I served the House of Mar," he said between breaths. "On the battlefield I have killed or captured twenty men, and fought in many battles. Never have I served a greater or more honorable general than you, Mahala. Whatever your path, let me come with you."
Despite the stone he had used to replace his heart, Yacat felt a touch of emotion. He had no desire to lead the man to his death, but nor did he wish to turn him away.
"So be it. Kneel."
The eagle warrior dropped instantly to the road, scarred face squinting against the heat still blowing on the wind. Yacat wasn't sure what he intended. The oaths of loyalty taken by his house were great affairs attended by half the nobility. A man swore his life and the lives of his sons to his lord in a hall surrounded by wealth and tradition. Yet here, amid the destruction of all he had known, Yacat felt it somehow right—the perfect place for new oaths, and unlikely renewal.
"Swear to me now, and be my brother: you will reject Centnaz, the Devourer, and all his teachings. You will reject all kings and city-states, and the authority of other men. You will follow your own heart, wherever it leads, even unto death."
Cuexta blinked in surprise, but nodded. "I so swear."
"Then rise, my friend," Yacat dragged him to his feet. "For we are equals now. And today, like me, you are a knight of the old gods. Come." He turned away and smiled, more pleased than he'd expected to have a companion before the end.
"Where do we go, lord?" Cuexta asked, and Yacat didn't bother to correct him.
"To our doom," he smiled, pleased the other man didn't look the slightest bit surprised or worried. "We hunt living shadows, going amongst one people who will despise us, and another who will call me traitor. If we succeed, and survive the road, we will fight demons that can not die."
Cuexta's face took on the same squint Yacat had thought discomfort, and he adjusted his pack.
"I should have asked before the oath."
Yacat's stone heart cracked, and he nearly laughed as he left the gate of his home for the last time. "That you should have. Now come, my friend, we leave a ruined city. But the worst is yet to come." He looked out at the open road, trying and failing to stop his mind from asking again if his wife and children had escaped the city in time, or wondering at the insanity of his task. He spoke again, whispering this time, perhaps only for own benefit. "The worst is yet to come."
Where to Find More
Where to Find More…
1. Want to learn about Ruka, Eka, and read the original Ash and Sand series? The completed trilogy is available on Amazon, starting with Kings of Paradise.
2. Check out my flintlock fantasy, starting with The God King Chronicles, also available on Amazon.
3. Remember choose your own adventure books? I have a scifi/fantasy 'playbook' story you can check out on your phone or tablet in an app called 'The Living Library' (on Google and Apple).
4. Sign up to my newsletter for news, and the occasional freebie, at www.richardnell.com.
Get in touch…
Email: [email protected]
Locals: https://richardnell.locals.com
Twitter: @rnell2
Goodreads: Link here, or just search for my name
On Reddit: you can usually find me on r/fantasy (as richnell2)
About
About the author
Richard Nell concerned family and friends by quitting his real job in 2014 to 'write full-time'. He is a Canadian author of fantasy, living in one of the flattest, coldest places on earth with his begrudging wife, who makes sure he eats. He's been a dishwasher, brick-layer, bin-sweeper, floor-waxer, factory-worker, government employee, and managed a few teams in the bloody insurance business. He went to school for none of those things. He has one eye, a few useless English degrees, enjoys history and video-games and learning of all kinds, because what he really loves are ideas.
He writes fantasy because the real world can use a little sprucing up. His stories are often intense and complex, just as reality is, plucked believably from the real vagaries of history. But there is always hope, or love, or greatness. Or at least glory. He hopes you like them.
Visit his website here: http://www.richardnell.com
Or contact him at: [email protected]
