***
The Loki were seated around a fire, the glare of the flames reflected across their half shadowed faces, they spoke in hushed tones so as not to be overheard. They wore not battle dress but clothes more comfortable. Long hooded cloaks, dark almost black breeches that matched their soft fitting tunics, they all had thick leather boots Their leader Rathgar was deep in meditation, though part of him was well aware of his companions conversation. He stirred from the deep recesses that his mind had slunk to, he was brought back by a sudden affliction of reality.
“The Jin asks too much Cynon,” said Rathgar. “He is without mercy; there is something about these lands that reminds me of home.”
“Is that the fact that they’re filled with barbarians,” said Cynon, the only woman among the elementals, she sat cross legged staring into the fire, her face barely visible beneath her hood.
Rathgar grunted before continuing, “Never before have we enslaved an entire people, and for what purpose, because we must secure our borders in the east against the Witch King, or so it is said. Have you ever seen such fury in Jin, I believe he is being pressured by the Merchant Guilds to gain a quick victory, that is why he has brought so many Wrath to these lands, what other use could he have for such a pack of crazed hunting dogs whose only interest are the delights of fresh meat."
"Who in war is not like that?” asked Ragnor.
Cynon started to poke the fire with a stick, turning the burning logs over and bringing greater life back to the sleeping embers. Their glow sharpened a moment in the deepening gloom before easing softly to a relative calm.
“And what would you have us Elementals do?” asked Cynon. “To refuse Jin is certain death even to speak of such things is death. We will do as we are told, summon the light from the skies and burn the Finns in their tall towers. I do not have a problem with that, we do our leaders command that has always been the way of things, he is the one who created the Mandrake Imperium.”
“Yes that he did Cynon,” replied Ragnor hesitantly. “But as we are all aware he is not one of the Mandrake, and as for the Wrath, we all know what he did to them. He has often, in council, turned his eyes westwards as though these lands have some hidden hold over him. I believe our war is motivated not just to safe guard our borders, so we can then turn against our real enemy, the Witch King of Baronia, but by some debt of vengeance he owes to the peoples of these lands, from which it is rumoured he comes from. What do we know of the powerful Jin except that he appeared many, many years ago; to a weak and broken nation and united it, before going on to conquer the Central Kingdoms; but what price unity; look at all the anguish he has brought on the peoples; so many live in fear.”
“Yes Rathgar that they do,” said Cynon. “And a great motivator it is too. But tell me in the lands of Mead how many settlements were despoiled before they came under our banner. Not one. They desired what Jin offered, which was an escape from famine and poverty, they willingly became part of something far greater than their little kingdom could provide them with, and they wanted to have real security and strength. And they have been well rewarded with new cities and homes built of stone, instead of the small little mud huts they used to live in. Only now when we have met an adversary worthy of us, the Finns, do you have your doubts and question his methods. I did not see you question him or protest when you were turned from a minor subject of the House of Chin to this; a powerful Elemental. It's simply too late my friend to mark your life with troublesome questions, we’re in too deep for that; we‘ve killed too many people ourselves to question the rights and wrongs of what we‘re doing. Besides have you seen his personal guard of Mandrake warriors, they don’t even look human anymore, I knew one of them, before he joined Jin‘s elite guard. I tried to speak to him when we first arrived, his eyes held an irrational flame. He didn’t even recognise me: it was as though he was possessed, I fear our great leader has turned them all into Vendigo.”
Ragnor nodded, he had long suspected that Jin was capable of such calculated madness.
“Anyone who can tame the Orochi, catch its soul and lock it away in a small chest kept somewhere in his tent, clearly has abilities beyond our understanding,” Ragnor sighed sadly. “And he is certainly capable of anything. I believe one of the reasons why he does such things is to show the rest of us how truly powerful he really is. I wouldn’t be surprised if he actually believes that he is improving those guards, making them better, more vicious warriors, and if he does believe such a thing, that is a more frightening thought still. I think that he has more than the conquest of lands on his mind, there is some inferno that rages in his heart that has a desire and need to control everything. Before he is done, he will have destroyed us all, and who’s to say that we wouldn‘t have deserved it; for all the crimes we are blindly committing in his service.”
“You call them crimes,” said Cynon. “How can that be if they are in the service of the Empire? What you refer to as crimes, I refer to as loyalty, as obedience to Jin.”
“Isn't obedience an infirmity, and that’s why it’s said to be blind” replied Ragnor his eyes glinting in the fire light.
“To you maybe,” said Cynon. “To me it’s a strength; hush someone comes.”
It was at this point that a broken twig gave notice that a warrior, maybe even of the Wrath, was slowly approaching. He warmed himself by their fire, rubbing his hands over the flames as if to chase away some chill. He looked around the four hooded figures grunted an inaudible acknowledgment to thank them for the use of the fire; then continued on his way. The quiet held a while as they watched the man leave. Cynon edged closer to Ragnor to more easily whisper in his ear.
“Do not worry,” she said eyeing the sombre look on his face. “That Warrior heard nothing, or we would have most likely felt blades between our ribs. You must place steel in your heart Ragnor: these misgivings are but weaknesses of an older self."
Then she spoke in a much louder voice so that all would hear, “When the Great Jin that mighty Emperor commands us we shall bring chaos to these lands, and devour all with his ambitious plans.”
Achil & The Rise Of The Mandrake Page 9
