by Riker Kane
“And you?”
“I’ll find a nice place for my sword in its belly.”
The four spread out as the rhino circled back for another charge. It pounded its hooves on the ground before aiming at Clayton. He smiled knowing his armor could take it, though he wasn’t eager to get knocked back so violently.
“Hold on… Hold on…”
The rhino neared, kicking up dirt and pounding holes into the grass as it gained speed.
“Hold on…”
It lowered its head, its horn aimed right at Clayton’s sternum.
“Now!”
Mirella reared back and heaved her trident hard enough to pierce the rhino’s leg. It stumbled to a halt like a car with a flat tire.
Kailani whistled as she leaped into the air and landed on the rhino’s back. It flailed wildly despite its wounded leg.
“Where is it?” Kailani stayed on just long enough to sink her daggers into its neck. The beast let out another roar as warm blood squirted down both sides of its head. Just as she was about to lose her balance, she flipped away from it.
“Jalise!” The sage followed Clayton’s instructions and fired flames at the rhino’s body. The beast rolled over onto its back in an attempt to put it out.
“My turn.” Clayton dashed forward in a blink. Even half of his sword was enough to pierce the soft skin of its belly. He sank his blade down as deep as he could, slicing its insides until the creature laid lifeless.
He bent down to pick up the gold coins appearing next to it, flipping one in his hand and putting it away. “Piece of cake. Is this all the Central Savanna has to offer? How about a challenge—”
Before he could finish, he felt the ground rumbling underneath him. The four looked off and saw a stampede heading in their direction, kicking up so much dust it was difficult to see them clearly.
“You and your big mouth,” Kailani said. “You got all his friends to come after us.”
“I don’t think those are rhinos…” Clayton squinted to get a better look at the group charging at them. “People on horseback.”
The horses rode up to them. Eight of them circling the four, all of them with arrows pointed right at them. They stood ready with their weapons up before the horses finally came to a halt.
One of the men hopped off his horse and walked toward Clayton. He looked like a bandit he’d dealt with before. His brown hooded cloak wasn’t enough to hide how dirty his face was. His shirt. His trousers. The rusty sword on his hip. Everything he owned looked like a mish-mash of things he’d stolen.
The man smiled at Clayton and revealed his dirty teeth. “Would you look at that… What do we got here?” His accent was like nothing Clayton had ever heard before, like his teeth were rotting and he was trying to keep them in. “You don’t see this too often. Travelers in the Central Savanna. Who you with? The Lovets? The Garolds?”
“We’re not with anybody,” Clayton said. “We’re just travelers by ourselves on a long journey.”
“Hmm… Is that right? Where you headed? Maybe I can give you some directions.”
“No thanks. We’re fine on our own.”
Clayton squeezed his hands tight around his hilt. The stranger hadn’t drawn his weapon but tapped his fingers against the pommel at his hip. He narrowed his eyes at Clayton.
“You’ve gotta pay the tribute,” the man said.
“Tribute?”
“There’s a price if you wanna go through the savanna. All the gold you’ve got on you.”
“All the gold I’ve got on me is from this rhino I just killed.”
“Is that so? Then I guess everything else you have will do. I can melt down that broken sword of yours and sell the scrap. I’ll tell you what. Why don’t you let me have some fun with that one over there? She looks like a real party.”
“In your dreams!” Kailani gagged in disgust.
“We’re not giving you anything.” Clayton took a step forward. When he did, the others on their horses pulled the arrows back on their bows.
“That’s not your decision to make.” The stranger locked his eyes on Clayton as if daring him to make a move.
“Let’s see…” Clayton shifted his eyes around. “Eight… Eight of these jerks. But they’ve all got arrows pointed right at us. I could block them all but I’d be out of stamina after that… Take the chance the girls could handle it? No… There’s another way…”
Clayton looked at Jalise. He didn’t say anything. Just a long stare in hopes he’d gotten his point across. He did the same with Mirella and Kailani before turning back to the stranger.
“What’s it gonna be, pal? Your life… or that broken sword of yours?”
“…Your life.”
Clayton quickly raised his weapon up and sliced the man across the throat. His broken sword was just long enough to reach. The man stumbled back with his hand on his neck, the blood gushing through his fingers.
The men circling them fired their arrows. Mirella quickly parried the arrows aimed at her then charged forward. Jalise cast flames large enough to incinerate the other arrows while Kailani leaped into the air to dodge. Clayton turned his back, taking the brunt of the arrows aimed for him with his armor. “Oh, man… This armor is sweet!”
“Clayton!” Jalise shouted as she knocked off two of the horsemen.
“Right, right… I’m on it!”
Clayton channeled his energy and shot forward a gust of water to knock the bows away from the men. They quickly unsheathed their swords and hopped off, surrounding Clayton. He turned back and forth between them. “These guys don’t look like they know how to fight. Better not take any chances.”
“Let’s rock.” Clayton moved forward and swung at one of the bandits. He caught the man in the arm then quickly spun around to swing at the man he sensed behind him. The bandits did everything they could to try and hit Clayton but he deftly dashed away from their blows. Clayton was never able to get a good swing because of his shortened Zeal Blade but his attacks added up. He covered the men with slices and bleeding cuts on their arms and legs to slow them down.
Clayton sensed their weariness. One of the men charged recklessly toward him. Clayton met him with a hard kick to the groin, stunning the bandit more than long enough to let him sink his blade into his stomach.
The other bandit, sensing the battle was lost, quickly got on his horse. He tried galloping away but Clayton dashed forward then leaped into the air. His thrust came down like lightning from the sky, knocking the man off and nailing him to the ground.
Clayton looked up and saw the mess the rest of his party left behind. Nothing was left of the bandits except for a mess of blood and ashes.
He sighed as he walked back up to them. “Say… You think we could use these horses to get to Fortune Forest faster?”
“I have never ridden a land horse before,” Mirella said. “We do not have them in Azure.”
“I prefer walking,” Kailani said.
“Fine, fine! I get the idea. Let’s just loot these guys. Gold. Items. We got a long walk to the mountains. We’ll need all the supplies we can get.”
Chapter 30
The journey through the Central Savanna proved more tiresome because of the distance than the threats. The wild beasts were tamed with skill and teamwork, in part to the women’s willingness to let Clayton lead them. With a pleasant breeze to cool them and the soft grass underneath their feet, they neared the edge of the savanna and closed in on Fortune Forest.
“Looks like we got lucky not to run into any bandits,” Clayton said.
“I wouldn’t count our blessings just yet,” Jalise said. “There could be bandits lurking in the forest just as well.”
“Figures. Scumbags like that are everywhere looking for a chance to ambush people. Well… I’m more than willing to put an end to them. Maybe they’ll have some sweet loot for us.”
“Loot, loot, loot,” Kailani sighed. “Is that all you can talk about?”
“If it’s not about the level
s, it’s all about the loot,” Clayton said. “Most of these guys are just fodder. Check me out.”
Clayton walked next to Kailani and flexed his muscle. She shrugged and kept on walking toward the forest. “I can’t see your muscles through the armor, BB.”
He looked down and sighed. “Maybe I should tell the next blacksmith to make me something that accentuates my physique. I’ve worked hard on this body. Gotta let the bandits know who they’re messing with.”
“You should be proud of what you have gained so far.” Mirella walked next to Clayton and trailed behind Jalise and Kailani. “In Azure, the knights of the queen’s manor are not shy about their bodies.”
“From what I saw, nobody was shy about their bodies.”
“Azurean knights harden their bodies through combat. When we are not training with one another, we are in the sea, hunting the most dangerous predators to test our skills.”
“Is that right? You’re pretty handy with that trident of yours. Probably speared a few sharks in your day. What’s the strongest thing you’ve ever taken down?”
Mirella smiled softly as she thought about it. “I remember the day when my brethren and I fell an Azurean whale.”
“An Azurean whale… Sounds big.”
“It is not as large as the Great Kraken. Nothing is. But a whale stretches more than a kilometer long from one end to the next, so far you cannot see its head and tail simultaneously.”
Clayton couldn’t hide his disbelief. “Are you telling me you killed something that big?”
“It was a grueling effort. Getting close to its mouth, it could have swallowed us whole with little effort. But our tridents are sharp and our stabs were true that day.”
His eyes shifted toward the trident she carried. The tips were stained with the blood of all they’d killed on the savanna. “Good to have you on my side… Let’s hope there’s nothing we can’t handle in the forest.”
As Fortune Forest neared, the trees seemed to stretch higher and higher to the sky. The massive elms were as thick as they were tall. They were so big the path became dark as if it were night already.
“We keep heading east,” Jalise said. “I don’t know how far it will be but we’re headed in the right direction.”
“I can handle a little frolic through the forest.” Clayton inhaled some of the fresh pine air and sighed. “Nothing like some shade from the sun.”
“Just don’t get too comfortable,” Kailani said. “I think I hear something out there.”
“The creatures in the forest don’t seem any more threatening than the ones on the savanna.”
“I did some reading in Shara,” Jalise said. “They mentioned some of the beasts lurking in these woods. Bears. Wild boars. Violent owls in the treetops.”
“Owls,” Clayton scoffed. “That’s a new one.”
“Coyotes…”
“What?” Clayton nearly jumped out of his armor. The three women stopped and looked at him in confusion as he stopped walking forward. “Coyotes? Are you serious?” He eyeballed and watched the smirk slowly form on Jalise’s lips.
“Coyotes?” Mirella said.
“Never mind.” Clayton grumbled to himself and kept marching forward. “Let’s keep going.”
The walk through the trees was pleasant. The party was quiet, listening for any sound of danger and preserving their energy as best they could. It was only a short while after leaving the savanna when Clayton heard something in the distance.
“Hold on.” He put his hand up. “I think I see …” He moved through the brush slowly and saw the light from between the trees. A log cabin stood by itself in the clearing. The wood looked old and splintery like it had been sitting there for ages. “Hmm… Smoke coming from the chimney… Somebody’s inside. What do you guys think?”
“Perhaps it would be appropriate for a brief respite,” Jalise said.
“I could take a load off,” Kailani said.
“If they turn us away, we could simply continue our journey,” Mirella added.
“Looks like we’re all in agreement. Hope there aren’t bandits living in there.”
Clayton stepped into the clearing and noticed the small garden out front. The soil looked fresh compared to the rest of the dirt he’d seen in the forest so far. “I wonder how they do that…” He walked right up to the door, one hand on his pommel, then knocked. “Hello? Anybody home?”
A few seconds passed when the door creaked open. Clayton looked through the crack but only saw darkness. “Yes?” The voice was old and strained.
“Hey. I’m Clayton. My party and I were wondering if we could stop by for a rest. Maybe stock up on some food, if you have it to spare. I’ve got some gold.”
The door opened even wider. Clayton had to turn his head down at the old man who stood in front of him, his back hunched over with age. The wrinkled skin on his face sagged with blemishes. His head was plucked bald except for a few white strands.
The old man peered over the glasses on the tip of his nose and grinned with his broken teeth. “Ah, yes… Travelers?”
“Travelers.” Clayton smiled to assure the old man. “Not bandits.”
The old man looked at the three women standing behind Clayton then nodded. “Come. Come. There is always room for the weary. My name is Banyer. Please…”
“Hmm… That’s suspicious…” Against his better judgment, Clayton stepped inside the log cabin.
The place was a lot neater than he expected it to be. The tables were clean. The seats looked comfortable. An inviting bearskin rug stretched out in front of the fireplace where a cauldron brewed.
“We’re only here for a bit,” Clayton said. “We’d like to make our way through the forest before the sun goes down—”
“You look weary. Perhaps a moment in the rejuvenation pools would do you good.”
“Rejuvenation pool? You have one here?”
“Yes… Yes, I do. This way…”
Clayton’s suspicions only grew. He looked toward his companions but none of them seemed eager to leave.
They walked through the log cabin and to a set of doors. He pushed them open and they led outside. To Clayton’s surprise, there was a pool just like the others he’d seen before.
“I am an old man, always looking to help those in need,” Banyer said. “I have no use for it. Perhaps you could use it.”
“Hmm… Maybe we will…” Clayton tried to hide his enthusiasm. The thought of seeing Jalise, Mirella, and Kailani all undressing turned him on like nothing else. But he didn’t hide his enthusiasm well enough, their empty stares locked right on him.
“What’s with that smile?” Kailani said.
“What? Was I smiling? I… Never mind.”
“You.” The old man grabbed Clayton by the arm. “You can use the other pool. This one is for females only.”
“W-what? But I—”
“You heard him, Clayton.” Jalise couldn’t fight her smile. “Don’t worry. I’m sure the other pool will be just as relaxing.”
“But…”
Clayton watched his party members beginning to undress as Banyer dragged him away and closed the door. He led him to another door that led outside to another pool, a tall wooden wall separating him from the others.
“Thanks,” Clayton sighed. “I don’t have a lot of gold but you can have it—”
“I have no need for gold out here. I enjoy serving the travelers of the forest. You aren’t bandits, are you?”
“You don’t have to worry about that from us.”
“Then feel free to make yourself comfortable. I will return to my stew. Perhaps you’d like to try some when you’re finished.”
“Stew, huh? Maybe I will.”
Clayton removed his armor and the linens underneath before stepping into the rejuvenation pool. A few stones made the water bubble green and steam around him. He sighed in relief, his eyes closed and the stress leaving his body.
“Never realized how heavy that armor was…” The sound of gig
gling on the other side of the wall made him perk his ears. “Just ignore ‘em, Clay… You could have your own fun…”
He sank into the water, letting it cover him just up to his shoulders. He was just beginning to drift off when he heard something moving next to him.
“What…” He turned his head up and looked at the forest next to him. One of the trees began to shake. The bark on it shifted until a small opening appeared. A figure emerged from the tree and walked toward Clayton. “Ixia…”
The dryad queen looked just as he remembered. Skin a light shade of green and eyes glowing yellow. Her body was bare, showing off all the curves he’d enjoyed once before.
“It is good to see you again, Ferrum.” Her voice echoed softly in his ears as she stood next to the pool. He was about to step out of the water but she put her hand up. “Rest. I sense you are weary. You must gather your strength.”
“You’re not just saying that, are you?”
“Ferrums possess great strength. I have no doubt you are on a great journey.” Her eyes narrowed. A frown came across her lips.
“Something’s wrong… What’s wrong, Ixia?”
“That, I can’t tell you. But I am connected to all of the forests throughout Xeylon. I sense something troubling. A darkness.”
“Does it feel like the anomaly from before? Does it feel like… Maledict?”
Ixia looked at Clayton like she was hesitant to say it but slowly nodded. “I did not visit you during your rest to alarm you.”
“It’s okay. You’re not telling me anything I don’t already know. My party and I are heading for the mountains. We have to repair Zeal. If we do that, I know we can stop the Maledict.”
“The dryads and I will do what I can to assist you, Ferrum, though my power is limited in the mountains.”
“That’s all right. I haven’t come across anything I can’t handle. It’s always good to see you. Say… Since you’re already here…”
Ixia smiled and shook her head softly.
“Perhaps another time, Ferrum.”
“Of course,” he sighed.
“I wish you well, Clayton Brooks.”
“Take it easy, Ixia.” He watched the dryad queen step back into the tree and the bark close up.
