by M. L. Forman
Shahree snorted and reared slightly, shaking Alex from his thoughts. Alex could still see through the eyes of his illusion, but the desire to become part of it was gone. Refocusing his mind, he sent his dragon diving toward the meadow and the unsuspecting goblins.
The dragon breathed out a ball of flame as it dropped toward the gully, and in the firelight Alex could see that his idea was working far better than he’d expected. Goblins ran wildly out of the gully, fighting past the slower goblins in front of them. The dragon flew over the gully before lifting back into the air and turning slowly toward the meadow.
“Now, my friend,” said Alex as he urged his horse forward. “We need to reach the others before any more trouble finds us.”
Shahree whinnied loudly and galloped down the hillside. As they reached the open meadow, Shahree broke into a run.
Alex set his illusion to circling the meadow, allowing the circles to grow larger and larger with each pass, as though the dragon was hunting.
As Alex rode into the gully he called out to Sindar, “Are they all right?”
“They are alive,” said Sindar. “Though they’ve had a rough time of it, and were treated none too gently.”
Alex jumped from his saddle and ran forward to help cut the ropes from the rest of the company. He left the unknown three men tied up for the time being. His friends all looked pale and tired, but unhurt, and that was a huge relief. Alex wanted to cheer, but then he saw the fear in his friends’ eyes. He turned to see what they were looking at and realized that they could see his illusion flying past the gully.
“Didn’t you tell them about the illusion?” Alex asked.
“I tried,” Sindar answered. “But a few of the goblins were still in the gully when I arrived—trying to hide from your creation, I suspect. I dealt with them quickly enough, but there hasn’t been time to explain the mischief of a clever wizard.”
Alex sent his illusion into a wider circle, using it to search the land for any possible enemies while he and Sindar explained things to their friends. It took some time for all the questions to be answered, and while they talked, Alex started a campfire. He knew that it was safe for them to stay here, at least for tonight, and he thought a meal would do everyone some good.
“Our weapons?” Bregnest asked.
“We recovered them before starting after you,” said Sindar, reaching for his magic bag. “We had great hopes of returning them to you.”
“And your hopes have proven true,” said Bregnest, taking his weapons from Sindar. “We are all very much in yours and Alex’s debt.”
“We did what we had to do,” Sindar answered, handing out the rest of the weapons. “But there are other matters we need to discuss.” Sindar’s eyes moved to the three men who were still tied up.
Bregnest turned to look at the men and nodded. Alex saw his friend stiffen in the firelight, and without asking, he knew that Bregnest recognized the uniforms the men were wearing.
“You are a long way from home, brothers,” Bregnest said slowly. “What brings soldiers from the house of Domina to Norsland?”
“Lord Bregnest,” one of the men answered, bowing his head slightly. “Our lives are in your hands, so it would seem an honest answer is the only one that will do. I fear, however, that honesty may cost us what little we still have left.”
“Speak freely,” Bregnest answered calmly. “If there is any way to repay your honesty, I will find it.”
“So be it,” said the man with a sigh. “We were sent by Lord Kappa to follow you and your company. In following you, we ran into a host of goblins. I fear the rest of our men were destroyed, and we three were unlucky enough to be captured by the foul creatures.”
“How many men were with you?” Bregnest questioned. “And what were your orders concerning myself and my friends?”
“There were forty of us—a full company,” the man answered. “Our orders were to follow you at a distance and not interfere or help you in any way. If you and your company appeared to be returning to Alusia before the spring festival, we were to detain you and escort you back to Kappa at a relaxed pace.”
“The spring festival,” Bregnest repeated. “Yes, that makes sense.”
“What is the spring festival?” Alex asked.
“It is the end of the rainy season in Alusia and the start of the planting season,” Bregnest answered as he rubbed his nose.
“And how long before the festival starts?” Sindar asked.
“Almost seven months from now,” said Bregnest. “So it appears we know how much time we have to finish our quest.”
“That’s all fine and well,” said Val, “but there are more important matters to consider. The goblins may have run off, but they’ll be back soon enough. We have a long way to travel and little time to watch after prisoners. It would be foolish to take these three with us, and reckless to simply let them go.”
“You would have us kill defenseless men?” Sindar questioned.
“They’ve told us a bit about why they are here, but I doubt they’ve told us everything,” Val replied. “I think they were sent to waylay us on our journey, like bandits. I think they would have killed us if the chance had appeared.”
“That is not true,” one of the bound men said hotly. “We were ordered to capture you, not to kill you. We are soldiers, not scum.”
“Capture or kill, it comes to the same thing,” Val said coldly. “But there is no need to risk our honor by killing these three. We can simply leave them for the goblins to find. That would be a much more fitting punishment than a quick and simple death.”
Alex was concentrating on his illusion and searching for danger, but when he heard Val’s suggestion, he turned his attention back to his friends. The idea of killing the men turned his blood cold, but the thought of leaving them tied up for the goblins to find was even worse.
“Your words are cold and cruel, Val,” said Bregnest. “I hope it is only your anger talking. There are few enemies I would give willingly to goblins, and these three are not among them.”
“We have to do something with them,” Halfdan commented in an uneasy tone. “And we really can’t take them with us.”
“I will think on it,” said Bregnest. “For now, we should eat and try to rest. Alex, is it safe to camp here for the night?”
“There are no goblins or any other enemies for many miles,” Alex answered as he looked to the sky. “We are safe enough for the time being.”
“Then we will stay here for now,” said Bregnest. “A normal watch will do. These three will remain bound for now. In the morning we will decide what is to be done with them.”
Alex’s friends started setting up camp, and Alex watched his illusion as the dragon made one last large circle around them, and then hovered over the empty meadow. Val was right when he said that they couldn’t take the three men with them on their quest, but Alex felt there had to be some other way to deal with them, a way to free the soldiers without putting the company at risk. If they let the soldiers go, they would return to Alusia and tell their story. The man named Kappa would send more soldiers and that would mean more trouble in the future. There was no simple answer, and Alex stood looking up at the dragon for a long time without seeing it as he tried to think.
“It is amazing, but it is time to let it go,” Sindar commented from Alex’s side.
Alex jumped slightly at the sound of Sindar’s voice.
“Yes,” Alex answered, lifting his hand and moving it back and forth as if erasing something from the sky.
The dragon remained still for a moment before it disappeared into a cloud of red and gold sparks. Alex stared into the darkness, and after a few minutes Sindar spoke again.
“How is your magic holding up? Are you getting close to the bottom of the bowl?”
“No, I don’t think so,” said Alex.
“You are sure that you will know when you are near your limit?”
“I believe I will know. Whalen explained it clearly to me, and
I haven’t seen or felt any of the signs yet.”
“You have done a great deal of magic in a very short time, Alex. I would not press you on this, but I fear we may need more of your magic soon. If you are near your limit, things could become very difficult.”
“Things are already difficult,” said Alex. “Sindar, we can’t kill those soldiers. And we can’t leave them here for the goblins. We have to find something else to do with them.”
“Their fate is not decided,” Sindar said calmly. “If there is a way to set them free, Bregnest will find it.”
“I am tired,” Alex said after a long pause. “Perhaps something to eat and some sleep will help me think.”
“Perhaps,” Sindar agreed. “But Alex, this is not your decision to make. Bregnest has the final word about what we do with those men. You may give your opinion, but you are bound to do as he decides.”
“I know. I just hope the decision is something he can live with.”
Alex turned and walked back to the campfire. Halfdan was already cooking, and the others looked almost too tired to eat. It was only after they had finished eating and Halfdan had taken some food to the three soldiers that anyone said anything.
“I should keep watch tonight,” Sindar said. “The rest of you need to sleep, but I can rest and watch at the same time.”
“A kind offer,” said Halfdan, trying to hold back a yawn.
“Not a bad idea,” said Bregnest. “We have a long walk ahead of us, and a good rest will help us on our way.”
“Not as long a walk as you think,” Sindar replied. “Our horses are tied up about a mile away. Alex was able to round them up the morning after we were attacked, which is why we were able to rescue you as soon as we did.”
“A story I would like to hear, but now is not the time,” said Bregnest. “Sindar, can you get the horses now? I think most of us can stay awake while you are gone.”
“As you wish,” Sindar answered, getting to his feet.
Once Sindar was gone, Alex looked around the campfire. His tired friends looked as if they were about to fall over, and he didn’t believe any of them could stay awake until Sindar returned.
“Why don’t you all lie down,” Alex suggested. “I’ve had more rest over the last few days than you have. I’ll keep watch until Sindar returns.”
Bregnest nodded his agreement with Alex’s suggestion, and Andy, Halfdan, and Val got to their feet without comment and moved off to find their blankets. Bregnest, though, sat with Alex without speaking, his eyes locked on the campfire and his forehead wrinkled in thought. Alex didn’t say anything, not wanting to interrupt Bregnest’s thoughts. Finally, when Alex could hear Halfdan snoring softly, Bregnest spoke.
“Can you magically change what a man believes?”
“I’m not sure I understand what you’re asking,” Alex answered.
“Can you make them believe that they escaped from the goblins themselves?” Bregnest nodded his head toward the three soldiers. “Can you make them forget that we were with them, and that you and Sindar rescued us?”
“It is possible,” Alex answered slowly. “I have never tried to do anything like that, Bregnest. I’m not sure I can. But if that is the only way to save their lives, I will try.”
“There may be another way, but I’m not sure the others will accept it.”
“They will accept your decision, whatever it is,” said Alex. “I would like to set the soldiers free. I do not believe you would leave them here for the goblins to find, and I know you don’t want to kill them. If there is another way, please use it.”
Bregnest didn’t reply, but simply nodded. They sat in silence, watching the fire burn down, until Sindar returned with the horses. Patting Alex on the shoulder, Bregnest thanked him for speaking his mind, and then went to get some sleep.
“He seems less troubled,” Sindar commented as he sat down beside Alex.
“I think he is,” Alex replied.
“Perhaps you should get some sleep as well,” said Sindar.
“Sleep does sound like a good idea,” said Alex as he rubbed one ear. “I don’t sense any danger close to us, but wake me if you need me.”
If Alex had any dreams that night, he couldn’t remember them when he woke. Slowly he rolled out of his blankets and pulled on his boots. Sindar was still sitting next to the campfire. Bregnest was already awake, pacing back and forth beside the fire with a troubled look on his face. Without speaking, Alex took a seat beside Sindar and waited. It wasn’t long before the others started to wake up and gather around the fire as well. No one said anything as they waited to hear what Bregnest would say.
“A decision must be made.” Bregnest stopped pacing and turned to look at the company. “But before that decision is made, I would like each of you to speak your mind concerning our captives. Sindar, your thoughts, please.”
“I will not leave them for the goblins to find,” Sindar answered without hesitating. “I would prefer not to kill them if possible, but if our adventure is in danger from them, then I will do what must be done.”
“Alex?” Bregnest questioned as Sindar fell silent.
“I would like to set them free,” Alex answered. “I will not leave them for the goblins, and I will not kill them. If you decide they must die, I will not stand in your way, but I will not take part in their deaths.”
“Val?”
“I would take back my rash words,” said Val. “I spoke last night without thought, and I can see that my words have troubled you all. I would leave no man for goblins to take, but I cannot see how we can set them free. We are trying to save the kingdom of Athanor from war, and if three men must die for the greater good, then I say let them have a quick and clean death.”
“Andy?”
“Like the others, I would not leave them for goblins,” Andy answered slowly. “But I don’t see how killing them would help us. Yes, they might tell others that we are still alive and searching for the Horn, but I don’t see what harm that can do us. It might make it harder to return to Athanor when we are done, but that’s going to be difficult anyway.”
“Halfdan?”
“I see you’ve left me for last. I’ve had some experience with this kind of thing,” said Halfdan with a sigh. “I was on an adventure once where we faced a similar problem, and I’m not proud of how we solved it. I did not vote to kill our prisoners, but I did not speak up to set them free either. I still see their faces in my nightmares. I would save the rest of you from living with the regrets and doubts that I live with. I say let them go. Let them go; we will face whatever trouble may come of it. If we kill them, we will have to live with it for the rest of our lives.”
“You would risk our adventure and possibly our lives to set these men free?” Val questioned.
“I would,” Halfdan answered firmly. “I know the price that must be paid for killing without cause.”
“Enough,” said Bregnest. “I have heard what you have to say, now I will hear what our captives can say for themselves. Halfdan, Andy, cut them free and bring them here.”
Halfdan and Andy hurried to do as Bregnest said. Alex hoped that Bregnest would choose to set the men free. Bregnest had said something about another way, a way that the other members of the company might not accept. After hearing what his friends had to say, Alex hoped that Bregnest’s other way would work.
“Well,” Bregnest said when the three soldiers were standing next to the fire, “you’ve heard us talking. You know the decision we are trying to make and what your fate might be. Do you have anything to say that might influence our decision?”
“Lord Bregnest,” one of the soldiers said, taking a step forward. “We have also talked. We all know you by name and by reputation. We have heard the stories of your adventures, the tales of what you have done for Athanor, and the rumors of good deeds you have done in secret. We can offer little to convince your friends that we mean you no harm, but we are soldiers of the house of Domina, sworn to protect the people of Athanor.
As men of honor we offer to you, Lord Bregnest, the rowshak el cal.”
“A great offer,” Bregnest replied. “And the only one that could save your lives. As a lord of Athanor, I will accept your oath and call on the members of my company to witness it.”
“What is a rowshak el cal?” Sindar questioned as the three soldiers dropped to one knee in front of Bregnest.
“The words are as old as Alusia,” Bregnest answered. “I’m not sure of the exact translation, but it means a soul oath. They will take an oath on their souls not to betray us and to do as I ask. If any of them break their oath, the other two will hunt him down and kill him in the most painful way possible. If the others fail, then their family will take up the task, hunting the betrayer and his family to extinction.”
