“And don’t you be riflin’ through my shit, you hear? I see ya making eyes on my stuff!” Gully snapped off while waving the blunderbuss around like it was a toy.
“Yeah yeah, my son isn’t going to steal your dusty old shit. No way he’s going to sniff around either, it smells like old corn nuts in here. Quit waving your popgun around like you’re the bandit king of yesteryear. Go to bed you damn codger. You get cranky when you miss your bedtime.”
Gully smiled pleasantly, then turned and clomped his way upstairs, followed shortly by a door slamming shut. Naurus followed his father through that same doorway but turned right and away from the stairs. At the end of a short hallway there was a door that led into a square room with wooden floors and plaster walls. Only a desk and a chair adorned this room. On the desk sat a wilted, purple orchid in a small clay pot. A round window stood alone on the far side of the room, vague moonlight creeping in. His father dug through a closet and pulled out two bed rolls, handing one to him and they both proceeded to roll them out and set aside their weapons, boots, and any other burdens. After they got comfortable, Naurus still couldn’t get his brain to shut off. He sat up, staring out the window but not being able to make out much of anything.
“Go to sleep, we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”
“I’m not really that tired. How do you know this guy?”
“We met in the forces a very long time ago and worked together for some time. I haven’t seen him in years though, so count your lucky stars I remembered how to get here.”
“Yeah…well…what happened in the inn…”
His father took a deep breath and rolled over.
“What about it?”
“I didn’t even see you in there, but suddenly you were just there. I don’t know, it’s like you just appeared out of nowhere like some wizard.”
His father softly chuckled. “No son, I’m not some pointy hat wearing bearded old bag of skin and bones. I was in there the whole time, you just didn’t see me somehow. Thank the gods you didn’t actually, I would have lost the element of surprise had you called out to me.”
“I still don’t know how that was. Did you know those guys?”
“What?” His father sneered. “Those bums and pies that thought they had you trapped like fish in a barrel? No, and no we will never know them. This shithole is better off for it. We leave first thing tomorrow morning. We need to leave without drawing any more attention to ourselves.”
“But…I guess I just didn’t know you could fight so well. I wish I could hold my own like you. Were you really just a sapper?”
His father sighed. “Son, if there’s one thing you need to learn then pay attention. It’s fear that gives men wings. I feared for your life more than you probably did back there. I hated them with perfect hatred. Your enemies are my own. I may not approve of the trouble you get into, but wherever you are I won’t let some inbred bums lay a finger on you.”
“Yeah…thanks dad. I owe you one.”
“You owe me more than one, but that’s neither here nor there. Go to sleep, you need it. Goodnight.”
His father cozied up under the wool blanket. Naurus followed suit, staring out the window and hearing the faint sounds of a town that never slept. Cats were fighting, dogs were barking, drunken jeers echoed, horses tore through the streets, and crickets chirped. All the ambiance of a peaceful little shithole indeed.
His eyelids were heavy, his mind was foggy, yet he knew what time it was. He momentarily forgot where he was though. Naurus sat up in the bedroll and looked over, his father wasn’t there. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and heard a soft conversation from somewhere deeper in the house.
“…gotta go out to meet Recht today…”
“Why? That old asshole is still around? I bet…”
“Yes well...just my luck…my kid picked up a curse out there…”
“…how’s business? Good finds...I heard tell that out west…”
He had enough eavesdropping. He got up, stretched, cracked his knuckles, and set about the arduous task of finding the gossips, wherever they may be. It certainly wasn’t long until he found the guilty party hunched over a breakfast bar that sat adjacent to the kitchen.
“Well look who finally woke up!” His father turned around, holding a glazed clay mug.
Naurus didn’t respond, he was still groggy so he beelined for the carafe and a mug and poured himself some coffee too. It was only lukewarm, but it would have to do. It was rather bold tasting, a kick in the teeth he needed to snap out of his torpor.
“Whatcha makin’ that face fer, boy? Can’t handle coffee without milk?” Gully pondered aloud, noticing the face his guest was making at the first sip.
“Quit your shit, Gull. It’s not like this sewage you brewed is the best I’ve ever had either. We will be out of your hair soon enough. Here son, eat this too. Long day ahead.”
His father tossed him a sweet roll which he greedily ate. It wasn’t long before they found themselves gathering up their things and seeing themselves out.
“I hope you ain’t take this the wrong way fellas, but I pray to the old gods I never see ya again around here, both for your sake and mine. This ain’t the town for the likes of ye.” Gully offered as a parting shot.
As they opened the door, a clowder of ferals scattered from the porch. The sun was casting its orange morning glow on the assortment of brick and stone townhouses and terraces lining the street. The architecture was rather gloomy, paint didn’t seem to be terribly popular around here. What little there was on most buildings hung on as flakes and specks. They heard some voices not too far away.
“…these some nice ones.”
“Yeah…what you thinkin’ they worth?”
“I dunno…hurry now!”
It was soon apparent the voices were coming from where their horses were hitched. A pair of dirty men in tattered leather caps and old linen clothes worked diligently with shaking fingers to undo the tethers, but they weren’t fast enough. The approach of the rightful owners, one with a sword drawn and the other clutching a derringer, sent the would-be thieves scampering back down an alley.
“Gods smite me with unequaled fury if I ever come back to this accursed place.” His father lamented, unhitching and mounting his horse.
They both set off, sun warming their backs as the mountains stood ever vigilantly in stony watch over them. When they cleared the town limits, there was a collective sigh of relief as they looked back and saw that nobody was following them either. As they day heated up, they forged on into the basin of the Iron Valley. As it narrowed ever more into a ravine, Naurus wondered what surprise may await them at the border guards post, or in the lands beyond it.
“Well that rickety pile of sticks hasn’t changed much.” His father observed loudly, causing Naurus to snap out of his daydream and realize they were indeed coming up on the border guard post.
“Well son? Is this pile of kindling not even manned now?”
“I think it is dad, at least it was last time!”
And much like last time, they drew closer only to find that the door to the guardhouse flung open to reveal a plastered, potbellied excuse for a border guard.
“Evenin’ sirs…I’ll uh...wait...why’s you ‘ere ‘gain?” The guard slurred and ambulated towards them in the most dignified fashion possible in his heavy intoxication.
His father dismounted his horse without so much as acknowledging the drunken mass shambling towards them. He promptly walked up to the gate and unlatched it, swinging it open just enough to get through.
“Ay! I’ll be ‘avin none ‘o that...*hic*…stop in the name…of…pox!” The guard generated a surprising burst of speed, just enough to put a hand on his father’s shoulder before he could remount his horse.
This was met with a swift about face and a sickening thump as his father’s riding boot collided with the guards’ codpiece at castrating speeds. Naurus had barely registered what just happened before the guard was lit
tle more than a motionless blob of chainmail and tunic curled up on the dirt road. His father looked over and motioned him through, not even bothering to acknowledge the severity of the crime that just occurred. They swiftly rode on and before long Naurus was breaking out in fits of laughter.
“What’s so damn funny?” His father’s voice faintly echoed from the sheer rock walls surround them.
“I never thought I’d see the day when you kicked another man’s balls into his throat!” Naurus wheezed in between laughter.
“Yes well, ain’t nobody got time for that, son. He will be fine. I’m sure a little more booze will fix his sore sack right up.”
They traversed the winding ravine uneventfully, the air become cooler and dryer the farther in they went.
“So, what do you think this is all about anyway? Why did he want you to come?” Naurus blurted out, trying to break the silence.
His father started off with a long sigh, before continuing. “I have a feeling I know at least part of it. No real point in me spoiling the surprise for you. Let’s just say it probably won’t be the friendliest exchange in any case.”
“But Ektor told me he’s not even human, and I’ve never seen his face. Have you?”
“No, nobody has. I just don’t think he has one. That, or he constantly shields it with magical shadow. I stopped losing sleep over that long ago, and I suggest you follow in your old man’s footsteps there.”
“Right, but if you aren’t on good terms what will happen? Will he hurt you?”
“Son, I’m not sure entirely how to explain this. He could hurt me in more ways than I could count. He hasn’t yet though, and I doubt he will.”
“Why not?”
“I couldn’t tell you exactly why. Ask him. Soon enough, you’ll have a front row seat to this shit show for all it’s worth.”
No one else who was so effective as his father at shutting down conversations with non-answers and sarcasm. He knew they were getting close as the terrain began to decline and lead them down into the forested valley ahead. Some spark in his head compelled him to look up, and indeed the same gibbet cage with the same tattered skeleton swung freely above the ravine. However, the sign that hung from the cage looked much newer than before and indeed was perfectly legible now. ‘Welcome back’ was all that was printed on there, giving Naurus a shooting chill running down his spine. He quickly stole a glance over at his father, who seemed oblivious to what hung above them and was preoccupied with munching on the apple he had.
It wasn’t long before the pasture running up to the forest was upon them, and Naurus immediately noticed some movement up ahead. He squinted at the tree line and realized that there was a horse grazing there. It was Muffin, but he had no saddle or other tackle on as it were not long ago.
“Huh, I’ll be damned. Didn’t think anything wild could live out here. Must be losing my mind.” His father mused out loud, not putting two and two together.
Without much warning, his father spurred his horse on to a canter and started veering off to the south side of the pasture.
“Wait! Where are we going?!” Naurus called after him, jabbing his heels into his own steed to try to keep up.
“Just follow me!” His father yelled back without slowing down at all.
They hooked around to the southern edge of the forest and found themselves between the tree line and a babbling brook. Soon his father stopped abruptly and looked sharply to his left. There lay a well-worn trail that was just wide enough for two men to walk abreast. His father dismounted and looked at Naurus impatiently. The realization struck that they couldn’t ride their horses through as there were too many low hanging branches and vines to tarry though. He hopped off and joined his father at the trailhead. The forest seemed a bit more vibrant, less foreboding this time around, but there was still a strange energy in the air as ever.
“How did you know this was here, dad?” Naurus looked around nervously.
“Do you actually think I’ve never been here before? Of course, I have. Back in my day, this area was a thriving retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city. This path has been here for as long as I can remember. I’m quite surprised it hasn’t grown over at all though.”
A silence fell between them on that observation. The forest felt like it was expanding and contracting at will, as if a sentient force was in control of the land and reacting to the visitors therein. Naurus however was still baffled at the complete silence, the utter lack of the usual sounds of a living, breathing woods. Father and son eventually came to the clearing and it didn’t look at all different for the younger of the two. As they crunched and cracked their way into the clearing, he looked up and noticed his father’s face contort and twist as he took in the grim scenery. It seemed to affect him on a personal level and his discomfort was glaringly obvious.
“Winds howling.” His father said gruffly, breaking the stone silence.
Naurus indeed heard a low, hollow rumbling seeming to build up in the distance. Within a few seconds, the sound of the wind whipping through tree tops and roaring through undergrowth filled their ears, but the forest didn’t move an inch. This disconnect between auditory and visual senses was disconcerting, but after tripping on a helmeted skull he looked up and saw the beautiful sword still stuck in the ground there near the center of the clearing. It seemed it hadn’t moved at all, and indeed reset itself back into its starting position. He started off towards it without a second thought, and every step closer made his palm throb and tingle more intensely. As he was standing over it he turned his palm up and the fiery glow coming from the sigil was plain even in the broad daylight. His father stood a few paces away, looking at the sword and shaking his head with his palm on his forehead.
“So, this is what got your goat? You tried to steal this huh?”
“No, I didn’t try to steal it!” Naurus started, “I just wanted to hold it for a little bit. It looks cool, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, sure…it looks that way to entice gullible fools into grabbing it like you did. Well now we are here, and this place gives me the goddamned creeps. Remind me—”
His father suddenly shot straight upright, staring off into nothing and at no one.
“We aren’t alone.” He said, looking at his son with grave concern.
Naurus noticed too the air seemed heavier and there was a strange energy filling the space around them. The hair on the back of his neck stood up.
“Father and son, I’m so glad you two made it safe and sound.” An all too familiar, sagely old voice crackled behind them.
They wheeled about in unison, and Recht stood there in his usual plain robe and hands clasped across his torso. A long silence punctuated the trio, nobody seeming to want to make the first move. He looked at his father, who was rather tensed up and having difficulty controlling his facial tics either from anger or nerves.
“Trevin, my favorite Colonel of Fear, High Sentinel of the Black Door, and Justicar-in-Standing of the Astranian Empire. Pray tell, how have you been?” Recht finally broke the silence.
Naurus looked at his father, who took a deep breath. Seldom did anyone ever call his father by his given name, so it was obvious there was indeed a history between the two. He had never heard any of these titles being applied to his father before just now though.
“I’m alive, thanks for asking.” His father replied coldly.
“Yes, yes you are. And how is Syrah doing these days?”
“My wife has nothing to do with this! Why did you bring me here?” His father snapped back.
“Uh, wait…” Naurus couldn’t take it any longer. “How does he know about her, pops? I thought you were just a sapper and—”
“Shut up! I’ve tried my whole life to protect you from hatred and evil, as so embodied by the wrinkly sack of bones in front of us. But no, I’m not so fortunate and now—”
“Oh, on the contrary.” Recht butted in. “Your son is quite the curious firebrand like yourself. It’s very fortunate he had a s
mall run in with that cursed blade out here. It brought us all back together! I’ve known you didn’t leave this land like you said, Trevin. In fact, I admire the tenacity with which you’ve raised a family all while keeping a low profile. Your assumed identity as Naughto the Acrobat is a clever little ruse. Tell me, has your son ever been to one of your…hmm…shows as you call them?”
Naurus looked over at his father, who was flushed and getting noticeably agitated.
“So, is that what this is about you son of a bitch? Just airing my dirty laundry in front of my son? Even better, why didn’t you make me drag my wife out here?!”
“Oh no, you misunderstand Trevin. Your wife has nothing to do with this. You’ve taken great care of her after her unfortunate little accident. The past is the past, but you see Naurus, you must pay for the sins of your father now. Why are you looking at me like that? I know, you have probably been lied to extensively about the past of your parents. I don’t blame them. Fortune and fate play an interesting hand sometimes, and that’s exactly why you have that curse branded onto your palm. Exactly because of a tragedy that took place here in these woods. By men under your father’s command. You see—”
“Shut your goddamned mouth. You still don’t believe me? Of course not! Get to the point! I’m tired of your shit, Recht. I can’t even raise my family in peace, and now my son is involved with my past?”
“Don’t get lippy with me, Trevin.” Recht sounded much younger and more belligerent now. “I could have ended you long, long ago. But I didn’t. I have a soft spot for those who are born different by no means under their control. That includes you, and now your son to boot.”
“Wait, what do you mean my old man is different? He looks like anyone else to me!” Naurus started getting defensive and could feel Recht gaze piercing through him under his faceless black visage.
“I’ll have to explain later son, now is not the time—”
“Oh, but now is the time!” Recht brusquely cut him off. “You see Naurus, your father isn’t human, and therefore you aren’t either entirely. In fact, you are a half-breed. I’ll allow your father the dignity of explaining this to you later. But this is exactly why the curse you have branded on your palm has not killed you yet. Pull out that pin I told you to bring.”
Shadow Kingdom Page 15
