by Matt Moss
He found his words and his temper shined through. “What would you have me do, Lyla? I can’t just snap my fingers and make the past go away. What happened, happened. And there’s no going back to make it right.”
“You’re right. So quit crying about it and do something! Leave it in the past. What we do here and now—that is all that matters.”
He bit his tongue and his anger quickly faded away. He nodded, knowing she was right. “I’m trying,” he sighed.
“Try harder.” She knew her words were harsh, but also knew that sometimes people need tough love.
He nodded. “Okay, Lyla. I’ll try harder.”
After riding in awkward silence for a moment, she pulled an apple from her pack and began to eat it. She tossed him one. He caught it and grinned before taking a bite. When she was done, she threw the core at him, and he turned away in defense. He threw what was left of his fruit back at her, and she leaned back in the saddle to dodge. They laughed at one another, and the tension melted away.
They rode into the camp to a wondrous greeting from the people. They rejoiced in Lyla’s return, and met Cain with open arms and a flurry of questions.
“Take it easy on the questions. He’s been through a lot,” Lyla told the people.
He waved his hand. “It’s alright. I don’t mind.” He smiled at her and went back to addressing the people, answering all their questions in turn.
“Huh,” Lyla mused to herself, surprised by his sudden change. She walked to her hut, smiling with her head down, thankful to be back. Torin met her after she dropped her things off. “Welcome home, girl.”
“Torin,” she said and hugged the big man. “It’s good to be back. How have things been?”
He looked at Lyla’s guest as he spoke. “Good. Who’d you bring with you? You know this place is supposed to be a secret.”
She laughed. “Why don’t you go find out for yourself.”
They broke through the crowd and Torin’s eyes went wide upon seeing the lost brother. “Cain! I can’t believe it. Where have you been?”
Cain cocked his head. “Funny. I keep getting that same question.” He offered his hand in greeting.
Torin gave a firm shake. “That’s to be expected when someone returns from the dead. At least that’s what we all thought. It’s been months.”
Cain winced and pulled his hand away, shaking away the pain of Torin’s ironclad grip. He looked to Torin and grinned. “I know. Trust me, I know. I should have...”
Lyla interrupted. “He felt ashamed of failing at the Grand Highlands. Wallowed in guilt for months, and was afraid to see everyone again—thinking they would label him a coward.” Her words cut straight to the point and left both men staring at her.
Cain threw a hand towards her. “Yeah, that.”
Everyone around heard Lyla’s words and looked to Cain.
Torin held his arms out, addressing the crowd with a smile. “Been there, done that. Welcome to the guild of failures and cowards. You’re home now.” He shoved Cain’s head. “Come on. We have much to catch up on.” Cain left the admiration of the villagers and followed Torin and Lyla to the command headquarters. Torin pulled the bear hide back, allowing them to enter the hut. “Sorry, it’s not the Lodge.”
“There’s only one Lodge,” Cain noted and walked inside.
Torin pulled out two chairs for his guests and walked to stand behind his desk that was made of stacks of crates and boxes. He pulled out a bottle of mead and poured each of them a cup.
Cain drank and bit back the foul taste of the dark grog. Lyla turned away as she forced it down. Torin drained the cup with ease. “Now, I don’t want to hear about where you’ve been or what you’ve been doing. I’m sure you’ve told that story enough. We need to discuss what we’re going to do in moving forward.”
Cain nodded. “Take back the Grand Highlands.”
Torin shook his head. “Only the Lodge remains. I started to rebuild what I could, but that can wait. I’m talking about Victor. We need to come up with a plan to avenge our brothers and right what’s wrong.”
“We have a plan. Wait on Arkin,” Lyla stated.
Torin gave her a tired look. “What if he fails? What if he’s too late? We need to prepare for that and come up with a back up plan.”
“He’ll make it. And he’ll unite the tribes just as Moses said, you’ll see.” She put the cup to her lips and drank deep.
Cain raised an eyebrow. “Do you think that even with all the tribes united, we will stand a chance against Victor and the rest of the kingdom?”
Torin shrugged. “Who knows? Victor doesn’t have total control of the kingdom yet. There are still those who oppose his will. They wait for someone to take the lead in rising against him. We have to be that someone to spark the fire and rally the troops in defiance to the high priest and his religion,” Torin stated.
Cain drank and wiped his mouth with a sleeve. He looked around the hut. “What about the soul stones? Lyla said you’ve been collecting them from the garden. Surely with the power of so many stones, we can defeat Victor with ease.”
“And who’s going to wield them?” Torin asked in all seriousness. “How many of us can soul tap? Let alone have the power to handle a stone?”
“I don’t know. Not many?”
“Not many,” Torin reiterated.
“Three here, counting myself. If you count Joko and Arkin, that’s five. Moses is six, and Rico is seven. Lucian makes eight,” Lyla noted.
Torin and Cain both turned to her. The big man spoke. “Lucian? Are you crazy?”
Lyla sat the cup down. “No, Torin. You didn’t see him. You didn’t talk to him. He wants Victor dead as much as anyone does.”
“But that doesn’t mean he’s on our side,” Torin added. “He’s unpredictable at best. That makes him even less trustworthy. And who knows where Rico is at. Victor may have swayed him to join the Religion for all we know. Oh, and Moses; don’t even get me started on him. He’ll show up and disappear right when you need him the most.”
“Why are you degrading the situation right now?” Lyla asked. “We need all the help we can get. We need hope.”
“I’m being realistic, Lyla,” Torin replied and poured another cup for himself. “Hope will get you killed.” They stared at each other in frustration as he drank.
Cain broke the tension. “What about The Path of Man?”
Torin sat the empty cup down and placed both hands on a crate to address Cain. “What about it?”
Cain scratched his head. “I don’t know. Maybe we’re missing something. What if there’s a power that can be unlocked and only the book can tell us how?”
Torin eyed Cain, narrowing his gaze. He walked to a chest in the corner and returned to place the book on a crate. “Here. Knock yourself out.”
Cain’s eyes went wide as he stared at the book. Lyla noted his stare too long, and the way he looked at the book made her uncomfortable; like the way she felt when his gaze lingered on her. She grabbed the book. “We’ll look over this tonight. Maybe Cain’s right. There could be some use that comes of this after all.”
Torin shook his head. “Fine. Good luck. But we’re not going to delay our course of action while you two have your heads stuck in that book. There’s nothing in there. There never has been.” He breathed deep and looked away, almost regretting the words. “Let’s not get carried away.” He walked to put his hand on Cain’s shoulder. “Today is a joyous day because we found a brother who we thought was lost. Tomorrow will worry about itself.” He smiled, then left the two of them alone in the hut.
Cain turned to Lyla. “So, what now?”
She pulled a crate between them and opened the book. “We don’t have time to waste. Let’s get started.”
The hours burned deep into the night. Inside the hut, lit by candlelight, Cain and Lyla studied the sacred tome.
Lyla ran a hand through her hair and placed her head in her hands, exhausted. “This page doesn’t make sense.”
“There isn’t much of that book that does make sense,” Cain noted and leaned in close to her as he looked at the page. “Whatcha got?”
She placed a finger, highlighting the text. “This isn’t like anything I’ve ever seen. In school, we learned most of the written languages of different cultures; even the tribal lands and the pictographs that they used to communicate with. But these are just pointless marks on the page, like a child was let loose to just draw whatever.”
“What’s that?” Cain asked, pointing to the top of the page. “It looks like a stone.”
“Yeah. Probably a soul stone. They’re on quite a few pages throughout this book. I assume they’re clues to where the garden is, but we’ve already found it, so there’s that.”
Cain rubbed his chin. He absentmindedly placed a hand on Lyla’s back. “What if…”
She stood up to distance herself from him. “What if, what?” she asked and poured them both a small cup of Torin’s mead.
He took her up on the offer. “Thank you. What if the stones are a clue for something else? We must be overlooking something.”
Lyla drank and leaned on a crate in exhaustion. “Like what? We’ve been at this all night. I’m done…”
“What if,” Cain said, interrupting her, going back behind Torin’s seat. He quickly began opening crates and rummaging through the contents.
“What are you doing?”
“Where does he keep the soul stones—the ones from the garden? Any stone will do.”
“Not here,” she replied with trepidation, unsure of his motives.
He looked at her in desperation. “Where, then? Come on, help me out here.”
She rolled her head and placed the empty cup down. “I’ll be right back. Stay here.” She returned with a stone in hand, its glow softly emanating through her grip.
“Put it to the book,” Cain told her.
She drew the stone near, and a hidden text revealed itself in the light of the stone. Lyla put her free hand to her mouth. “I can’t believe it. Cain, you’re a genius!”
“Yeah, I’m a genius,” he replied, shocked by the outcome. “I mean, I can’t believe it actually worked. Talk about a shot in the dark.”
She hugged his neck in excitement, then turned back to study the text. His eyes remained on her as she focused, and Lyla didn’t even notice. “Look,”” she said. “This part talks about the different levels of soul tapping. According to this, there’s no limit to what mankind can achieve. Flying? Is this for real? Levi’s notes didn’t even mention that.”
Cain poured another drink for them both. “Maybe Levi didn’t know about it. Cheers.”
She saluted him and giggled with excitement at their discovery. “Cheers. I can’t wait to show Torin.”
“We’ll show him tomorrow,” Cain said. “This calls for celebration.”
The cups were emptied quickly and filled again. The hope Lyla had been looking for was finally delivered. “This will change everything,” she told Cain and herself. “This is what will win the war.” Again the cups were filled, and Cain kept the charms, and the drinks, coming. She didn’t mind. It was one of those rare moments where everything felt right in the world. “I’m glad you’re back, Cain.”
“I am, too, Lyla. I am, too.”
She celebrated their achievement and drank deep into the night, all the while wishing Arkin was there to share in the excitement. Cain kept her company and wrapped the blanket around her when she passed out on the floor. He stared at The Path of Man that was tucked tight under Lyla’s arm as he took one last drink.
The night faded away as the sun began to rise.
Lyla awoke to a boot in the ribs. “Lyla, wake up.”
Groggy and hungover, she lifted her head. “Torin.”
“Where’s Cain?” he asked, looking around the room.
Like being stung from a bee, she jumped from the floor. “I don’t know.” She frantically looked for The Path of Man. “Where’s the book? I had it right beside me the whole time,” she asked Torin in desperation, her face wrought with worry.
His face tightened with anger. “Cain,” he growled low and furious. In a fit of rage fueled by betrayal, he tore the room apart with his bare hands, smashing and breaking everything in sight. With the hut left in shambles and Lyla tucked in a corner out of fear, he breathed deep and yelled with everything in him.
He turned to her and she saw the pained look that those eyes held so many times before. “He’s gone Lyla. He tricked us. Cain has sided with Victor. And now he’s got The Path of Man.”
THIRTEEN
The streets of Kingsport were alive with travelers from all over the kingdom, and Victor walked among the people. No longer did he fear of what they might do. Fear did not exist because he was in control of them, and they believed in him. In taking the mark, they were part of him, and he, a part of them. Together, they would bring the Religion to the ends of the world. He walked among them, blessing each as he passed and kindling the fire in each of their spirits.
“Bless you, my child,” the high priest said, placing a hand on a mother, her three kids standing in reverence by her side.
“Thank you, Your Grace. Blessed be the Religion,” she replied with a bow. Victor inclined his head and walked on.
He was pleased to see the people busy. The marketplace was thriving and the ship docks were full. And he was pleased to see drudge plentiful in the capital. Like a plague, the drug had taken over just as he wished, and the people loved it. It kept the people complacent, sheep-like, and willing to do whatever it took to get their hands on the intoxicating substance. The overdose rate took care of itself, killing off most of the gluttons, leaving the rest to use in daily moderation.
Just enough to keep them in line, Victor thought. Months ago, he began giving portions of drudge to everyone that took the King’s Generosity, and that proved to keep the crime rate down, and the overuse limited. With everything that he’d given the people, they worshipped him like a god. Man and woman bowed down before him as he walked the streets, and offered him whatever they had in return for their thanks.
“One family,” he said, blessing a member of the flock with his hand on their head. He walked to another. “One mind.” Another. “One body.” He knelt before a child. “One spirit.”
The townsfolk followed him through the streets and praised his name, surrounding him and creating a path as he walked.
Maximus met him in front of the church. “It’s been too long, old friend,” he greeted the high priest with a smile.
Victor embraced him. “Yes, brother. Far too long. Come, walk with me.” He led Maximus up the palace steps, and the guards stood fast to keep the townsfolk from entering any further.
At the top, Maximus looked upon the ground that lay bare, every stone of the palace removed. “Remodeling?”
“It will become a place of worship. I’m thinking of building an alter in the middle of the chapel, directly in the center of where the palace once was. What do you think?”
Maximus smiled. “Sounds like a good time. And I like the location.”
Victor clapped his friend on the shoulder. “Tell me, Maximus. How fares the independent cities?”
Maximus rubbed his head. “You want the truth?”
“That’s all I ever want.”
“It’s not as good as we hoped. Converts are slow and the people are hesitant to trade the Faith for the Religion. But you knew this would be so, didn’t you?”
Victor nodded and looked at the sea beyond the cliff. “So there are more heretics than believers,” he noted.
“Yes.”
“Then they shall be treated as such.” He looked Maximus in the eye. “The iron is hot and the time is now. There will be no mercy, no sanctuary for these evildoers. They are to be executed swiftly, and their deaths shall be a call to action for every witness in the land. Join the Religion, or die.”
Maximus saluted. “Your Grace.”
“Go now, and do my bid
ding. Do not return until you have complete control of the cities, and surrender them to me for my command. Is that clear?”
Maximus eyed the priest. “Yes… Victor.”
Victor turned to leave, but before doing so, addressed Maximus one more time. “I will be sending two of my best men to Greenehaven. That is where we will start hunting the forsaken ones that do not unite with us. Do not start the killing until they arrive.”
“Understood.” Maximus left the priest to himself and made his way out of the city.
Victor watched him go and pondered the future. His eyes cast towards a rider entering the gates and watched as they rode up to the palace steps. A smile crept along his face as he saw his apprentice. “Cain. Welcome home, my son.”
Cain jumped from the horse, embraced him, then stood back, proud. “I have what you asked for.”
Victor turned his head, curious. “You have the book?” To his surprise, Cain pulled The Path of Man from the horse’s pack and reverently handed it over. A tear welled in Victor’s eyes. “I can’t believe it. You’ve done it. Of the many that have failed, you have now delivered this to me. My son, do you know what this means?”
“I’m glad it pleases you, master.”
“It pleases me more than you know,” Victor stated and pulled Cain close to wrap his arms around him. “Thank you.”
Cain beamed with pride. “What will you have me do now?”
Victor turned his head and saw Rico in the gardens. “Come with me.”
He met Rico in the gardens and walked to meet with his other apprentice. “You’re training is coming along well. That is good because I have a task for you.”
Rico broke his meditation and stood. “What is it? Hello, Cain.”
“Hey, Rico.”
“I want you both to go to Greenehaven. Your orders are to execute every heretic on sight. Anyone who does not pledge their allegiance to the Religion will be put to death. Understood?”
“You want us to slaughter people because they don’t believe as you do?” Rico questioned.
