by G S Santos
The bandit growled and said something in his tongue, but Magzas did not stop walking toward him. He stretched his hand forward, sword in hand. But Magzas did not flinch.
"Magzas...help me," Adelphine cried.
The bandit pushed Adelphine to the ground and approached Magzas, staring off into the distance, as if looking for something behind her. Magzas extended her hand and placed it on the man's face, who looked at her in shock.
Suddenly, the man's skin turned pale as stone. His fingers fluttered as if he wanted to kill an insect from the air. Soon, his entire body trembled, while the fat on his face seemed to dry and wither like a leaf in the summer.
The man's mouth opened, and he let out a horrid scream. White smoke poured out of his face where Magzas had his hand still held, until the man fell on his back.
Adelphine stared with an open mouth. She took a step forward. She blinked.
What had just happened?
"Magzas… What did you do? Why did not you help us before?"
Magzas stared at the ground. Suddenly she looked at Adelphine and sighed. "Don't tell anyone." Magzas stared at her. Then, she turned abruptly and ran into the forest, between foliage and leaves, as if wanting to escape from the world.
Adelphine looked at the limp body on the floor, the veins standing out in the skin now pale as bone. She knelt beside the body. What had she done? How had she done it?
And why didn’t she help before? Didn’t she know that one of the soldiers had died before, and that all the other people in the expedition were in grave danger? With that power, there was no one to stop her, and yet, she hid her abilities.
That was magic. That was it. She had never seen anything like it. It worked, it was real and more powerful than the swords and the training of the strongest bodyguards. And the worst thing was that Adelphine had no choice but to flee and take refuge behind powerful people like Tristan, or the red cloaks. Was everything Tara said a lie? How could she become the greatest sorceress in the world? Was it a scam or a deception by Tara to bring her some rare grass? Yes, that kind of shady business was common. How had she been so stupid? And now she was on a dangerous journey for no reason.
"Magzas!" she cried with all her strength and stared deep into the forest where Magzas ran to. Soon, she heard footsteps behind her, turned and felt faint when she noticed two bandits among the leaves, muttering and jumping.
And where had Magzas come from? If a bandit was dangerous, now there were two. What to do? Shout for the help of Magzas or hide? She had seen Magzas kill a man just by touching him, so...why not?
"Magzas!" she shouted once more, and this time, the bandits looked at her from behind the bushes and jumped into the clearing.
Adelphine swallowed and walked back. Her feet met the corpse of the other bandit and stumbled. She fell on her back and her head hit a large rock.
"Blast!" she muttered and tried to stand up, but the bandits were already a few meters away.
She took the bandit's dagger and ran with all her strength into the dark forest, her heart galloping, and her mouth panting like a dog.
They were close, on her heels. Adelphine saw a tall stone, and behind it, the glow of the water of the stream. She lifted one leg over the mound of dirt and stretched her body to jump into the water.
But one hand was holding her foot and pulling back.
Adelphine grabbed the dagger and shook it with all her strength against that hand that wounded her. The bandit released her, shouted like a beast, and looked at his hand. Adelphine crawled on her back and gasped for strength. The other bandit threw himself at her. Adelphine took a deep breath and jumped into the stream. Cold water hit her skin while she stretched her arms and legs to swim.
Suddenly, she felt another hand cling to her leg, lost control, and her head sank into the water. The water entered her nose and she began to drown. She struggled to get out of the water, and she succeeded for a moment, but she could barely breathe. Her arms were shaking, and suddenly, she felt an arm grip hold her neck and pull her body back.
Adelphine gasped and reached for air, but a bandit held her with a strong and painful grip, both their bodies moving to the side.
He said something in her ear, she sensed lust. Adelphine closed her eyes and head butted his nose. The man groaned in anger and pulled her hair. Adelphine clenched her teeth and tried to break free with all her strength, but he pressed his arm against her. Adelphine lost control and felt her head sink into the water again. She exhaled bubbles of fear and stirred like a fish.
In a flash of consciousness, she grabbed the bandit's hand, waited for the right moment, and turned the wrist with the same movement she had used against Wil. The man screamed like a pig, and for an instant, he let go. Adelphine inhaled and swam out of his grasp, she felt the hand reach for her heel. He got her.
She twisted her body to the side and kicked his face with the ball of her other foot. She felt as if her feet was about to crack, but the hand released her.
She swam with all the strength of her tired arms, praying deep within.
As the current flowed, the water level dropped to that of the trail, then ended in a wide waterfall. Adelphine pushed herself to the side; she clung to the stones on the shore and climbed with all her strength. She gasped and dropped to her knees as she caught her breath.
She looked from one side to the other, there was nothing but orange-leaved trees and tall tops to the sky in front and that infernal stream behind.
She stood up and ran to hide behind the trunk of a pine tree. She glanced from there, and there was no sign of the bandit. She let out a sigh and looked inside at the forest.
She could not get lost, not in that dark forest. She crouched and walked among the trees and bushes, denser with every step, straining her eyes to see if she could find that path.
Getting stranded. Nothing could be worse. She shook her head and kept running through the woods, listening, according to what Tristan had said, to whistle among the trees. But there was nothing but the usual noise of wind and water flowing.
She could not scream again. This time maybe, she would not be so lucky.
Fear pierced through her. If she was left alone, if they did not find her, it was only a matter of time when the bandits caught her and made her theirs.
She swallowed and knelt. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "Lakmé... Are you there? I had never prayed to you in all my life. I'm sorry if I've been useless. I'm sorry if I've offended you by not believing, it has not been my intention, but please, get me out of here."
Then, she heard quick footsteps behind her.
Chapter XIV:
The Dark Avenger
Wil had put four barrels of freshly brewed beer on his wagon, along with a sack of wheat, courtesy of Mistress Talia. His wagon strode down through the alleys, Perkunas trotted happily in front of him, toward home, looking at the horizon beyond the low, yellowish walls, where the sun hid behind the Iron Hills that divided Ladania with Lecia. He thought about what it would be like to enjoy a sunset with Adelphine.
He only had to cross a couple of blocks to get to his house, but he preferred to take Perkunas out in the wagon before loading the four barrels one by one.
If only he could have Adelphine by his side, things would be perfect. It was the only thing he needed in life. He had a best horse friend, a nice family, and a life in the best city in the world. There was nothing more important than love.
And he was going to show her that it was worth it. Too bad Kaunas had been an idiot. But he did not blame him, he would also have been like that with his sister. He wished Adelphine fixed things. And above all, that someday she would see the effort he made and fall in love with him. On her own, of course.
Anyway, he was already worrying about Kaunas. He did not know if that Van Creuser man, or whatever his name was, was still there, or if he was just passing through. Maybe Kaunas was going hungry and the wheat would help.
Wil grabbed Perkunas’ reins to turn left int
o a corner, when he noticed something odd. There were three men standing by the barn door. One with a beard and black hair to his shoulder. He knew him, he was always at the plays of Siwelzac. He was the captain of his guard.
Wil shook his head. That could not be good. He hesitated a moment, but decided to continue the march without looking to the side and, above all, without looking at that Indaraz in his eyes. Anyway, Wil was not doing anything illegal or had anything to hide.
He moved forward and pulled the reins at the entrance to his barn. The carriage turned awkwardly, and Wil feared the barrels would fall. When he looked back, two men blocked the entrance. They wore tunics of civilians, but they had sheathed swords, which surely were not made of wood.
Sigh.
"All good?" He raised his eyes. "The tavern is in the other entrance."
"No, no, no," a voice echoed behind him. He looked up from the carriage and noticed that Indaraz was approaching him with a smile between his black beard and the sword clinking in his belt.
"We're looking for you, boy."
"What’s wrong? Are you city guards or what?"
"No, not at all, we are citizens. Yes, we have a Lord, which you surely know well for his great deeds."
"Who is your lord, if he is so big and magnanimous?"
"Galiam Siwelzac, the Legislator and Asset Maker. The liberator, the victor of the battle of Vilnas."
"Yeah," Wil interrupted, annoyed at having to listen to those lies over and over again. “I know who he is, I saw the play."
"And Sir Siwelzac has a message for you. You are Wilus Kovalski. It is not true?"
Wil struggled not to swallow, not to show weakness. "What message? Let's see. What does that have to do with me?"
"Boy." Indaraz put his hand on her shoulder. "There are issues that we are fixing, and we do not want interference. Understood?"
"I do not know what you're talking about," Wil said.
"Do you know of a castle on the outskirts, two miles from Vilnas? The one of the old Varunas clan. Do you know him?"
"I…"
"Well, we do not want to see you there. It is understood?"
"I still do not understand what the problem is." Wil lifted his jaw. "The magnanimous Galiam Siwelzac should have no problem with me going where I please, would he?"
Indaraz clicked his teeth. "It does not work like that, boy. You know, so you understand, we have issues with them."
"Do you have business with these people?" asked Wil.
"You do not know it? Everyone knows how that Varunas pig tried to trick Count Siwelzac and kept the money! Did not you know?"
"I did not."
"Well, you should inform yourself more. Well, it seems good to me. Do we have your support?"
"For what?"
"Boy, do you have any brain deficiency?"
"No, sir, I understand perfectly."
"Then we do not want to see you there. And if we see you... I see you have a nice family. It would be sad if something happened to them."
"Who would have thought! What a good man that Siwelzac is, threatening and blackmailing his neighbor!"
Indaraz looked at one of the two men, with narrowed teeth and a smile on his lips. "Look at this brat," Indaraz laughed.
"Listen, boy, whatever you call yourself. This is serious. Did you see that Varunas boy? One leg is missing. Maybe the sister told you how it was. It was not pretty. I know it does not go well. And do not worry, we do not have to do it to you. I know guys like you. If they damage your body, it does not affect you, it makes you feel better, but imagine that something happens to your little sister."
"Don't mess with my sister, idiot, I know people who will shake that Siwelzac up like a rag doll."
Wil kept his brow furrowed and his jaw raised. He wanted to feel intimidating, because from there he was taller than Indaraz, but he was unarmed. Suddenly, even with his heart beating like a war drum, he thought maybe he was going too far with that honor thing. He swallowed. "Listen," he said. "I'm not saying that..."
"It's just a warning, boy." Indaraz put his hand on his head. "If you behave well, there will be no problems. Besides, you will not have much to worry about, because we're going to keep their castle."
"You are going to what...?"
"Yes. That is the next step. Well, boy, we'll see you later."
I hope we never see each other, he thought. "But you know what," Wil said, and Indaraz turned around, as if waiting for him to say another idiocy like a drop that spilled the glass. "I'm not an idiot either, so I'll listen to what you say."
"I knew you were not an idiot." Indaraz smiled. "Now, take good care of yourself, boy."
"Yes, whatever." The two parted and finally he was able to enter his stable with the weary Perkunas. "What a day we had!" he said, stroking his horse, who seemed to notice his altered heart and petrified gaze, and wanting to caress it with his muzzle. “I know, I know. I'll be fine, do not worry."
He smiled and caressed Perkunas.
"My friend. What have we gotten ourselves into?"
He looked at the barrels and the sack of wheat in the middle of them. He thought of Adelphine sacrificing herself for her brother and Kaunas lying on the ground. How would he be doing?
Perkunas...the real Perkunas, the god of thunder, had to be somewhere, ready to favor those who showed courage on the battlefield and in life. He gave him a thought. The gods and Adelphine expected him to be brave, but that was why he could endanger his sister and Kaunas.
What was it to be brave? What was the difference between brave and stupid?
But Kaunas was already in danger.
Wasn’t it courageous to take risks? Like Adelphine, who went out in search of adventure.
He looked at the sack again.
***
The next day, Wil had dressed in black, unhooked the rusty sword of his great uncle Gus, who was said to have been a knight, and galloped away from his sister in a black saddle he had never used because his mother said that it brought bad luck, and with a tablecloth that had cut holes and wrapped around Perkunas’ head. On his face, Wil wore an old carnival mask. It was made of wood, but it was all painted gray, with large holes to represent the eyes and a hollow for the mouth, under a carved beard. The hair of the figure was represented pointy, almost like lightning. Maybe it was the representation of some god, but he had never identified who.
People looked at him with arched brows as they gossiped to each other, as if wanting to know what it was about. Wil caught wind that he was called crazy, and others wondering what new strange sect had arisen in the village.
Suddenly, he saw guards with rusty spears who blocked his way with outstretched hands.
"Stop there!" snapped a guard.
Wil slowed down with a sigh.
"Who are you?" said the guard. "And why are you dressed like that?"
"I?" He thought about the answer.
"Who else? Let's see. Who are you? And what do you think you are doing?"
"I'm just a citizen, sir, the disguise... It's complicated. I just do not want to attract attention."
"It's attracting attention, young man. And what about that sword?"
"The sword?" He unsheathed it. It looked pathetic even to him, with the rust running down both sides of the saber and with less edge than a board. "The sword does not work. Come? It is not sharp."
One of the guards approached the other one’s ear. "I think he's one of the theater guys."
"Yes, I'm from the theater," Wil said.
"What theater?" the first asked.
Wil swallowed and tried to remember the theaters he had gone to with his friends.
"The... The Varvasian Theater. Do you know him?"
"The truth is, I don’t know much about plays and theater and all. How about you, Janusz?"
"Neither," said the other. "But Siwelzac Company sure does put on a good show."
"They do. I like the one with the con man. What’s his name? Varunas. Yeah."
"Excuse
me, gentlemen, but the function is at dusk. I do not want... I cannot be late, because I'm in the first act."
"Good! But be careful. Do not go around scaring people. Why don’t you act like normal person and put on the mask later on?"
"It's...method acting. I have to embody the character."
"And what character are you?"
"Gentlemen, I'm about to be late..."
"It looks like a strange play? Who are you supposed to be?"
"I'm... I'm... The Dark Avenger."
"The Dark Avenger?"
"Yes."
"And what is the play about?"
"It is Galiam against the Avenger."
"Ah, you're in the Siwelzac theater company."
"Of…of course."
"Well, I'd love to see the play. Let's see if you can get me free passes."
"Eh... It's fine. But it will start soon."
"Let the boy go!" said the first.
"Well, go your way." The guards signaled, and Wil rode as fast as he could, without the risk of someone complaining that he was threatening to run someone under Perkunas’ hooves. He rode out of the city, relieved, and with the sunset on his back. Then he pulled the mask back and took a deep breath.
Chapter XV:
Serious Men
Adelphine swallowed and clasped her hands. She shivered. Maybe her time had come, but she knew she had to fight until the end. She did not carry weapons, but she would flee to where her feet would take her and fight for her life.
She jumped up and ran with all her strength.
"Adelphine, it's me!" Magzas' voice was soft and uncertain.
Adelphine stopped and sighed. She turned and found Magzas looking at the ground and with her arms behind her body.
"You almost scared me to death!" Adelphine walked back with a frown and clasped teeth.
"Sorry. I'm sorry about everything."
"What's wrong? Because you left me alone? What do you think you can achieve by hiding? You could save them all, you could kill all the soldiers just by touching them, and yet you hide! How can you be like that?"
