by Umut Ersezer
The stench was becoming overwhelming now, the smell of burnt timber and mud mixed in with flesh. Cal found it nauseating. Another platoon had ransacked this village earlier, but Cal found it hard to believe there was anything of worth here. Deeper they marched into the village, approaching the central square where the surviving eshin had been rounded up. Many of them crying and all hugging each other tightly, they were terrified.
“What’s going to happen to them?” Cal asked Lewin.
“No idea mate, just keep your head down and do as your told.”
“This isn’t right, it feels wrong.”
“I know what you mean,” said Lewin with a sigh.
Platoon 7 encircled the eshin in the square, reinforcing platoons 4 and 10. Cal waited with bated breath to see what would happen next. The eshin communicated with each other in rhythmic tones, it was impossible to make out individual phrases and syllables, each sound flowed into the next. It was musical, hypnotic even, Cal hadn’t noticed it during the battle but now couldn’t help but appreciate it.
A man unknown to Cal approached the eshin upon a warhorse wearing black plate.
“Eshin of Dritura, I am High Commander Moikin, I come to you with compromise and offers of peace. You have been defeated today and the rest of you who sprawl this land will be defeated tomorrow and the days beyond. Further bloodshed can be avoided for the forfeit of your lands and your submission to our great King Hastam. How do you respond?” asked Moikin.
Another man stepped up next to him and began to speak in rhythmic tones. He’s translating! Cal realised. But how did he learn the language?
The eshin listened intently until the translator was finished relaying the Moikin’s message. The soldiers shuffled uncomfortably, looking at one another.
From amongst the crowd of eshin, a single rock flew out and hit the Moikin on the armour, bouncing off harmlessly.
Moikin sighed, “I am understanding of the emotion you must be feeling. I would implore you, however, to consider my offer seriously, for the consequences will be dire. I ask again, how do you respond?”
More rocks flew out, the eshin now all finding rocks and pebbles by their feet, picking them up and throwing them at the high commander who didn’t flinch. The soldiers shuffled, unsure of what they should be doing.
“Very well,” Moikin said in a chillingly quiet tone. “Men, those who will not submit, are the enemy of our kingdom…kill them all!”
There was an eruption of musical language as the eshin fell into a panic, looking to run and escape, some just managing to slip through the still reacting soldiers. For most though, it was too late, swords and spears were drawn, and the stabbing and slashing had begun.
Cal could only stand and watch the carnage, he felt like a fool, enlisting himself for war without understanding the death and destruction associated with it.
He fantasised about glorious battles, overcoming a combative enemy, rising in the ranks and providing station and riches for his love. How stupid were those fantasies, in the face of the slaughtering of defenceless innocence that confronted him. He couldn’t do this, he wouldn’t.
He grabbed Lewin’s arm, “we have to do something! We can’t let this happen!”
“What!? What can we do, Cal? You’re going to get us killed as well, do your job!”
Cal didn’t let go of Lewin’s arm, staring at him. Lewin peered back, his face softening, he sighed.
“There! There’s a gap there, where they can run into the forest, I’ll help usher them in your direction,” Lewin said while pointing.
Cal and Lewin did their best to pull the eshin away from the carnage, while themselves trying to pretend and look like they meant them harm. Not an easy act to pull off.
Lewin grabbed eshin, as many as he could and threw them violently to an alley where Cal followed up with a convincing push, even raising his sword and making play-acting swings of it. The eshin looked back at him from the alley, confused.
Cal nodded his head, pointing his sword down the alley, hoping they would understand his gesture to get them running away. An eshin with a deep and fresh cut across his face gave a nod in return and led the others away from the scene. He and Lewin saved tens of eshin from the slaughter, but many more fell to swords and spears, lying in bloodied heaps on the ground.
The chaos of the slaughter settling into an eerie silence as soldiers stood over the consequence of their actions. Lewin and Cal couldn’t help but stare at each other nervously, both equally worried they had been seen helping the enemy.
They both knew their actions were treasonous and would be punished by death. Just when they thought for a moment, they were in the clear, Captain Tremlin stepped beside Cal, his expression a mixture of anger, frustration and sadness.
“You bring me and your platoon dishonour Calidum, I have trained you for this war for two years, you have failed us all.”
Other soldiers from his platoon were now surrounding Cal and Tremlin, unsure what to make of the scene.
“Our actions here are the cause of dishonour Captain,” replied Cal.
“So you do not deny it?”
“I believe you are a good man Captain, we came here to defend our nation, a pre-emptive strike we were told. There was no battle plan for slaughter.” Cal now raising his voice so the other men could hear.
They shuffled restlessly, making side glances at each other. They seemed to agree with the sentiment, but none dared to stand with Cal. His fate was all but sealed now. Lewin made the slightest move towards the two men, but Cal gave him a stern look, warning him to stay away. No point both of the men throwing away their lives.
“Your duty, soldier, is to follow the orders of your superiors,” said Tremlin, in a calm and authoritative voice.
I hereby declare you to be a traitor of Ozos. Seize him!”
**
Cal was tied to a post with his hands behind his back, inside a makeshift prison tent, two guards standing by its entrance. Cal’s wrists were raw from the friction of ropes biting into his skin. His head hung low as he tried to catch sleep. What a fool I am, a fool, fool, fool, fool!
His thoughts lingered over Fidum, she deserved better than him, better than a poor fool. He reminisced the moment he first met her, her blue eyes lighting up the dull of Cal’s world. The thought of not seeing her again was crushing him into despair, but soon enough, it wouldn’t matter anyway. He would be lost to oblivion.
There was a sharp but quiet sound, the cutting of fabric, from across the tent. Cal forced himself to lift his head, maybe they came for him to end it tonight rather than the planned morning hanging. A head full of flowing brown hair poked through.
“Lewin! What are you doing here?” Cal whispered.
“Shut up idiot, you think I was going to let them hang you.”
“You should have, now they’ll hang you too.”
“Not if they don’t catch me,” whispered Lewin with a cheeky grin on his face.
He climbed through the slit in the tent and began cutting at the ropes binding Cal.
“How did you get past the guards?” Cal asked.
“Made up some story about eshin prisoners escaping from down the camp that way.”
“And when they realise it’s not the eshin that escaped but me?”
“Then we’ll be long gone,” Lewin said while maintaining his grin.
“Where to?” asked Cal.
“Damn it, man, I don’t have all the answers, just stay still, and I’ll cut you out,” Lewin replied with a hint of frustration.
He clearly hadn’t thought the plan all the way through. Regardless, Cal was grateful to him. The ropes finally released their grip on Cal as he rubbed his wrists, trying to help blood circulate back into his hands.
“Here, put this on.”
It was a soldiers uniform, no doubt to help conceal their escape, it was a good idea bringing it. Cal obeyed and changed his clothing.
They both crept to the slit in the back of the tent, Lewin poking h
is head out to take a look. All was clear. They both slipped through, Lewin leading the way, trying to appear casual as they passed by tired soldiers.
“I left some supplies for us just by the trees over there, c’mon the coast is clear.”
Dull glows of yellow and orange could be seen from every nook and cranny as fires and torches lit up the makeshift tent city. There must have been hundreds or even thousands of troops making camp here, most of them fast asleep now.
The cover of darkness would help them escape, but escape to where? Cal found it challenging to overcome his worry in the moment. He steeled himself and walked beside Lewin, trying to appear as natural and confident as he was.
“Why are you doing this?” Cal asked.
“What do you mean why? Why wouldn’t I?”
“This can’t end well for us, I wish you didn’t drag yourself into it.”
“Have you always been so gloomy? I don’t remember you being so blasting negative on the voyage man,” Lewin replied.
“That was before I realised I was a fool,” said Cal hanging his head. Lewin looked at him as they walked.
“And why do you get to have the lone rights of being a fool. What if I want to be a fool too?”
Cal looked up at Lewin and couldn’t help but smile. He accepted this reasoning and forced himself to lift his head and walk with confidence. They were nearly to the edge of the tent city.
“Here, this little laneway is free of watch guards, we can slip out and into the bushland there. Then we’ll head for the trees over there where I’ve hidden our packs,” said Lewin while pointing.
“You there! HALT!” came a voice from behind.
Cal and Lewin wheeled around to see two soldiers on watch approach them.
“Blast it! Let me do the talking,” said Lewin.
“Report soldiers. You should be at your stations or sleeping,” the larger of the two guards said.
“We heard a noise from out there so wanted to go take a look,” replied Lewin with an over the top macho voice.
“Procedure is to report it to your platoon guards,” the guard said.
“We did, but uhh, there were reports of eshin escaping over on the other side of the camp. So they went there, and we decided to help by checking this side,” explained Lewin, only half convincingly.
The two guards eyed them, their eyes searching up and down.
“You know we’ve also just heard reports of the traitor disappearing from his tent. That’s who we’re actually looking for. It would make sense he had an accomplice. This guy right here also looks just like the traitor’s description of appearance. Funny coincidence that we ran into the two of you here,” One of the guards said as they both began to unsheathe their swords.
“Come quietly, and no one gets hurt. Don’t give me a reason to gut the two of you bastards,” said the guard through clenched teeth.
“Very well good, sir, we will come quietly,” Lewin said comically while making eye contact with Cal.
They had no choice, they had to fight their way out of this one. The guards positioned themselves behind Lewin and Cal, pointing the tips of the swords into their backs, driving them forward into the tent city.
Lewin once again looked over to Cal and gave the nod. At once, the two men swung around, each catching the guards’ sword arm and thrusting their shoulders into their stomachs. They went down in a heap, dropping their swords as they hit the ground.
“Quick! Grab’em and run!!” Lewin cried out.
So Cal did just that, picked up the short sword and began sprinting towards the tall bushes, hoping to find cover before more guards arrived. The two guards were making their way back onto their feet, shouting alarms of the prisoners’ escape to all that would hear around them.
An arrow sailed past Cal’s head, the whishing sound unmistakable. Their run became frantic, Cal’s lungs were bursting, as he could hear more arrows sail past him. They now desperately needed the cover of the forest. Lewin gave a cry from next to him. Cal stopped and looked behind.
“No! Lewin!?” cried, Cal.
Lewin had taken an arrow to his thigh, only allowing him to limp, until finally collapsing into the bushes.
“Go!!” Lewin urged Cal. But he wouldn’t listen. His friend had come back for him, and Cal wouldn’t leave him now.
“I’m not leaving you damn it!”
“You have to Cal! Listen to me, I’ll hide here, I can sneak past them if it’s just me. I did it before, I can do it again. But you need to go! Here, take this.”
Lewin handed him a bright silver ring with a brilliant circular amethyst. It seemed to glow in the night within Cal’s palm, as he clenched his fist around it.
“Please, keep it safe for me. I’ll need it back for when I propose to Biwen after all this is over,” Lewin said as he wrapped his bloodied hands around Cal’s clenched fist. “Now go!”
Cal forced himself away, he could now hear the guards rustling through the tall bushes towards them. He crouched, keeping low, making his way for the forest. After a tense minute or two, he finally made it to the edge of the forest line.
He spotted the prepared packs behind a tree, he crept over and pushed his back against it. He dared to peek back in Lewin’s direction, barely being able to make out the soldiers in the darkness. Their bodies silhouetted in front of the warm glow of the tent city behind.
They were so close to Lewin now, a few more steps…no! They were on him, three guards seizing his limbs and pinning him down.
“Keep going! The traitor is out there somewhere! Find him!” one of the guards barked.
Cal’s heart skipped a beat as he sheathed his short sword and picked up the two packs, they were heavy, he wouldn’t get far running with them. He needed stealth now. He continued creeping deeper into the forest until the shouts of the guards faded into the distance. It was so dark, he couldn’t see where he was going and neither would the guards in pursuit. Surely they would give up and resume in the morning.
After what seemed hours of fumbling and tripping his way through the forest he gave in to his exhaustion. He slumped the packs down, resting his back against a tree, sliding down to take a seat by its base. His whole body ached, legs feeling like they were full of metal.
From the shadows, a twig broke, movement, the outline of a tall figure approached, Cal’s eyes widened, his sight trying to penetrate through the darkness. He drew his sword, sluggishly pulling himself back onto his feet, sword pointed ahead of him. What’s that blue glow? It was getting closer.
A single eshin approached him, holding a spherical object, glowing blue, illuminating his cosmic black eyes and giving a sparkle to his pale blue skin. The eshin wore a scar across his face.
“It’s you!” cried out, Cal.
More eshin melted out from behind the trees, surrounding him. Not good Cal thought to himself, sword quivering in his hand. He had used such a weapon to kill tens of these lifelings. Would they show him mercy or death? Two of the eshin approached closer, not fearful, Cal not giving them a reason to be. He lowered his sword as he watched the eshin pick up his packs.
The one with the scar across his face, made a musical tone from his mouth as the eshin turned away from Cal and began walking away deeper into the forest, taking his packs with them. Do I follow? Cal wondered to himself.
“What have I got to lose at this point,” he said to himself. So Cal followed the eshin deeper into the forest.
** Chapter 16 **
Ferox, The God Dragon
A cavernous room lay before Volare, its walls covered in blue glowing symbols. The walls and ground were not made of metal, however, but rock. The cavern looked ancient, indicated by the layering of strata that climbed to its top.
Volare gawked at the colossal beast that lay before him. Never in his life had he seen such a beast, it was from only stories told to him at bedtime by his father that he guessed he was staring at a dragon. It appeared to be sleeping, Volare now realising the rush of air he heard while desce
nding the steps was the breath of the dragon exhaling.
Its triangular scales overlapped each other neatly from its head to the tip of its tail, which was curled around its body. Its scales appeared pearlescent, shifting from dark violet to navy as the dragon’s body rose and fell with each breath. Volare also couldn’t help but notice the body length size of its talons, swallowing deeply, now realising he was frozen with fear.
“What have we got ourselves into here Brun?” Volare asked his horse, making sure to keep a tight hold of the reins.
Brun was clearly as nervous as he was, with all the nickering and trotting on the spot. Can’t turn away now, Volare thought, reaching for the glowing artefact, pulling it free from his neck.
It was so hot to the touch, he was barely able to keep it in his hand. He looked down upon it, “I’m here…what now?” he asked the artefact. Nothing.
He looked up at the dragon and considered his next move. He desperately wanted to touch the dragon, maybe that would wake it up.
“Do we even want to wake the dragon, Brun?”
The horse looked blankly at Volare, not revealing its opinion on the matter. With a sigh Volare let go of the reins and took a step toward the dragon, its head alone, dwarfing Volare.
“Easy there dragon, everything is alright, just bringing back this thing,” said Volare referring to the artefact and trying to keep a calm voice. He was close enough to reach out and touch now. The breath rushing out from its nostrils felt like a gust of wind from this close, only much worse smelling.
“Now or never,” Volare said as he stretched his hand out in slow motion.
He reached out with his right hand and placed it on the snout of the dragon while holding the artefact with his left. The scales felt dry, leathery, smooth in the direction of its growth and feeling course when rubbed against its natural grain.
The breathing suddenly stopped, all fell silent, Volare and Brun held their breath too. The dragon’s eyes snapped open, revealing a fiery orange iris with a single slit for a pupil, similar to that of a cat. The pupil dilated, expanding into a full circle as the dragon focused on the intruder. Its lips drew back, revealing frighteningly large and sharp teeth.
