Aphrodite's Acolyte (18 page)

Fidel and Noxater spent a few more of the daylight hours cooking the hunted buck and packaging it for travels. They packed up the camp and moved further west to avoid detection by the larger than expected silver army. They knew Pravas would send a scout or two to investigate the broken link between the dwarf and the minotaur.

Abby made her way west to find the army of Harlow's Hovel. Cap headed east to the coast then north, circumventing the silver camp to make contact with the Puldechran forces. Fidel knew the goal of the next few evenings was to remain on the move and avoid detection. They were awaiting the Lords of Harlow's Hovel and Puldechra to either dispatch more troops or decide to delay the demise of Pravas Medeis.

Fidel and Noxater decided to use the time to become better acquainted. They shared their stories of their lives. Fidel shared his stories of his childhood. His time spent in Maritera, Marides, and Harlow's Hovel. Noxater showed great interest in Fidel's upbringing as a human but heritage of an elf.

The dwarf shared his stories of Deeder's Pass. Fidel learned the dwarf was just over 180 years old. The first century and a half of his life was in service to the kingdom of Deeder's Pass. His profession was normal for a dwarf. He forged weapons and armor since the first day he was strong enough to lift a hammer.

When explaining the industrious lives of dwarves, Noxater commented, “Such is thee life of Hephaestus' children.” Fidel found great interest in the hardy little peoples lifestyle. An industrious and forever producing race of creatures. He learned of the underground mines the dwarves worked tirelessly. He learned how every piece of rock had a value and every pound of the hammer produced a result. Fidel questioned the dwarf on what he meant when he said he was a knight.

Noxater grinned and stared down his long nose at the elf. “Ah, that, Yes, we were in a cavern about seventy years ago, mining some titanium ore. One of me fellow workers heard a hollow sound when he struck one of thee walls. We all grew curious. We broke through thee wall to find a very large den, couldn't have been less than a hunnere'd feet tall and wide."

Noxater continued his story. "We started to explore thee area and found a very large hoard of treasure. After awhile of packing up thee treasures, our elder dwarf Sniervin, deduced thee cave belonged to a winged lizard of sorts.” Noxater paused and leaned forward. “I believe they're called dragons."

Noxater leaned back. “Anyway, we continued packing up thee cavern when a loud roar was heard up one of thee several large tunnels. A very large red dragon appeared and thee battle was on. Our warriors fought hard against thee lizard and we ultimately felled the beast. More than a dozen of me comrades fell in battle that day. I was knighted for thee event because I was thee one who drove thee killing blow by jumping on thee lizard's head and dropping me axe through its skull.”

Noxater took in a deep breath, reliving his victory but frowning as if something bugged him in the glory. “Let me tell ye this Fidel, killin' a dragon don't feel right. Even when ye win, ye can't help but feel like thee world lost something grand. Bein' knighted in me kingdom is a grand honor. But thee reason for knighthood didn't feel very honorable.”

The dwarf continued on with his tales, explaining why he left Deeder's Pass for a life of freedom away from service to the king. He described how he ended up with the bandits out of need for community.

The dwarf laughed hardily as he realized the irony behind his actions. Fidel asked why he laughed. “I left Deeder's Pass because I didn't like thee responsibility of thee community. While on thee road, I grew lonely an' sought out community without responsibility. I thought I found it with thee group of bandits and never realized that I was still obligated to 'um.” the dwarf chuckled, “Do ye see it? I ran to thee very thing I despised.”

Fidel pondered the dwarf's statements and chuckled himself, “And now you have vowed that same responsibility to myself!” Fidel continued to laugh at his jab to the dwarf. Noxater stopped laughing and looked at Fidel with concern in his eyes. Fidel shook his head in Noxater's direction. “Noxater, you do not have a holding bond to me. You travel with me if you like. When you choose to leave, I hold nothing against your decision. Know that to be true.” Fidel then held up his mug in a toast to the dwarf.

Noxater considered the elf's words. “But I gave ye thee oath, Fidel. An' ye accepted.”

Fidel's eyes went wide in astonishment. “I did no such thing, Noxater! I told you that I accepted your friendship and nothing more. You said I accepted your vow.”

The dwarf considered the elf's words for a minute and raised his mug. “To friendship 'en!”

Their mugs clunked together and they gulped down their drink. Fidel watched the dwarf's newly tanned arm slam the mug on the tree stump they used as a  makeshift table. He then looked in the dwarf's fiery orange eyes and smiled as he slammed down his own mug, wiping his chin to clear the liquid that escaped his lips. They turned in for the evening shortly after.

The past few months have been quite interesting. On my first night of departing my last human home, I caught a thief trying to rob me. She is one of my closest friends. In the Rivolus desert, I faced a dragon killing dwarf. He is my newest found brother. In my birth place of Puldechra, I rejoined with my childhood companion. Our friendship was apparently never lost. In the very desert I met the dwarf, I interrupted a cataclysmic ordeal. I acquired probably the most formidable foe one could obtain. This adventuring life I sought surely is a changing and powerful lifestyle. Every day brings forth new challenges and tests my convictions.

The streets of Marisali reminded me of my nature. A nature I must choose to embrace or refuse. I judged an entire town of people who were different from myself and my upbringing. I treated them as lesser beings. Thankfully, I had a friend who reminded me of this folly. Abby, I would say she is my truest friend today. Being one of the least emotional people I have met so far, she allowed herself to get upset with my apparent slight toward humanity. I appreciate her interjection to my apparently condescending analysis of the people of Marisali. I do not disregard her motivation in that event, her undying passion toward justice, even if she prefers to keep such motivation hidden.

I find my old friend Cap as fun-loving as I remember him when I was a child. I find it rather odd that he, one of such free thought, would join the guard of Puldechra. Of course, I have not grown with Cap over the past eight decades, so I am not privy to his thoughts. I intend to dig deeper into his motivations. His actions during my travels show that he will do anything to save my life and I would save his. Such loyalty is plenty for one such as myself.

That brings me to this dwarf sharing my camp. We met as enemies, polar opposites of justice to each other. We came together on a field of battle due to warrior's pride. Abby ended his life in a non-poetic way and he was refused his peace by a wicked sorceress. The same person that took his life created the concoction that restored it, the paradoxical nature of such leaves me perplexed on how this world functions. Are the gods really out there manipulating our actions?

If I was to believe Aphrodite, the gods cannot provide such interference. Am I to believe these things happen because of the very nature of our desires and decisions? When I consider just the dwarf: A man killed in a desert, raised back by my bitter enemy, then tended to by his original killer...I can only wonder how much coincidence this world can possibly have. There is no direct evidence the gods are playing with us mortals, so I digress. But I cannot let go of the possibility.

I grow concerned over the forthcoming battle. By Noxater's reports, Pravas is at least four times more powerful than I originally thought. She has thousands of silvery minions to do her bidding. I fear the territories of the northern region won't raise up against this foe as she has not taken to directly attacking these realms. The realms would be completely justified in not taking action against this evil. But if they do not take action, it would be a matter of time before she attempts to gain power over these governed lands, and ultimately the entire world of Maserun. She holed herself up because she knows we are coming for her. A battle on her territory would result in many casualties.

Whether or not the realms will be joining the fight will not sway my decision to eliminate this threat from our world. While it would be nice to have support from thousands of troops, I will find another way to infiltrate this devil's lair. I'm certain my friends will be willing to assist in this matter. But even so, it matters not. Pravas Medeis is a threat to our land. I am bound by my conviction to see this vile sorceress to her grave. While I did promise Abby I would be less judgmental of the people of this land, Pravas Medeis has proven her lack of worthiness to continue in this world and so I must see her defeated. I place that judgment on her. Now I just need to figure out how to see it through to an absolute end.

Abby rode hard and had very little trouble finding the army of Harlow's Hovel on the western approach. She reported to Captain Sizod of the estimated size of the silver army. Captain Sizod ordered a small group of scouts to confirm the reports. Abby remained in Sizod's camp, lending her ring for coordination between the distant Lord Ias.

Cap made similar reports to the Puldechran army in the north. The two kingdoms discussed their options and decided on a direction. The decision was to send more reinforcements to help in the destruction of Pravas Medeis. Fidel thanked the two lords for their offer and promised to wait for the reinforcements to arrive. Fidel and Noxater made their way to Captain Sizod's camp on the western front.

For the next few days, both camps were hard at work preparing their own defenses for a possible blitz raid. They built large banks along their perimeters and filled with a fire sustaining oily substance, ready to set ablaze in a moments notice. The soldiers spent their days cutting wood and fitting arrowheads. By the tenth night, the armies were feeling restless of the upcoming campaign.

Cap, contributing to the crusade, was out patrolling the perimeter of the Puldechran camp. The night was late, the moon low in the horizon. His blue eyes scanned the horizon, observing for any threat to the Puldechran camp. The air was cool and the wind was calm. He patted his fellow guardsman on the back then stood tall, spreading his arms wide.

Cap questioned his fellow elf, who stood barely to Cap's chin. “Nights like these don't come by too often, eh?”

The soldier shifted his stance to adjust for the pat on the back. “No Sir, these are very peaceful evenings. You can feel the energy in the air and the joy of the soil beneath your boot.”

Cap smiled as the guard turned back toward the south to continue his duties. Cap perked up as he thought he witnessed a large form in the distance. He tapped the guard on the shoulder and motioned for him to take a look. The guard looked hard into the distance and nodded affirmation back to Cap. Cap signaled for the guard to stay at the post as he headed southeast to get a better view the situation.

A few hundred feet from the outer perimeter, Cap made out the shadows of not one, but hundreds of figures moving stealthily in the night. Humans, elves, dwarves, and a few twins of a bull-headed creature he only met recently were moving swiftly in the darkened shadows of the evening moon.

He moved off to the side of the advancing group, and pulled his bow from his back. He quietly slipped three arrows from his quiver. Cap notched the first arrow to the bow string and took a long draw, aiming the arrow at the oil filled ditch surrounding the Puldechran encampment. He let the arrow loose, sending it short of the oil, the fiery blast failing to ignite the trench but alerting the enemy army. He notched the second arrow and let it fly, perfectly landing in the oil filled ditch and setting the camps perimeter ablaze, an appropriate warning as the camp sprang to life.

Cap notched his third arrow and turned toward the onslaught of the enemy. As he faced the south, a silvery human at least a foot taller than Cap barreled down upon him, leaving him very little time to react. Cap let the arrow loose, knowing it would not land as intended, performing a sidelong roll as the sword slammed down beside him. Cap slid his bow under the large legs of the human and pulled back, tripping the human and hurling him to the ground. He quickly drew an arrow from his quiver and slammed it down into the neck of the silvery adversary.

The human quickly grabbed his neck in an attempt to plug the life draining wound. Cap got to his feet and quickly notched his bow with the same arrow, then let the arrow fly into the group of attackers heading toward the camp. A fiery explosion erupted as the arrow knocked an attacker out of commission. Cap continued lobbing his magically enhanced arrows into the attacking group as he ran along their flank, every magical missile scoring a hit of some sorts among the enemy ranks, the fiery bursts providing small flashes of light to the Puldechran defenders.

The silvery mob reached the perimeter of the camp in no time, apparently stopped by the flames of the fiery embankment. An unusual figure appeared within the ranks of the enemy soldiers, clad in a robe and waving his hands before him. After a few moments, the flames of the embankment subsided as water spewed forth from the wizard's small hands. The perimeter around the wizard was dense, but Cap had to try anyway. He notched one of his fiery arrows and fired, taking out a silver dwarf in the exchange. He continued volleying arrows toward the wizard in an attempt to prevent the fiery moat from being fully extinguished.

The wizard noticed Cap's attempt to prevent the inevitable. The wizard turned his head toward Cap, their blue eyes locking on each other. The wizard grinned widely as Cap let go of his current missile, aimed directly for the spell caster's head. The arrow exploded as it made impact. The wizard, hardly noticing any effect, kept his gaze on Cap and grinned more wickedly as Cap's face showed defeat. Cap reached for another arrow from his quiver, determined to remove this threat from the battlefield. He drew back his bow and took aim.

As he was ready to release, his blue eyes interlocked with the wizard's twin blue orbs, he heard a swooshing sound from behind him. On instinct, he quickly turned as a club slammed into his right shoulder, dropping his bow and sending hundreds of pain impulses up and down his arm. Cap yelled out in agony and fell to the ground, the advancing club-yielding minotaur raising his club for a killing blow.

The minotaur stopped his killing blow in mid-swing, looking out in the distance and nodding his head. The bull-headed beast placed his club on his back and slammed his fist into Cap's face several times, until the elf was unconscious. He picked up the limp body of the elf and rushed off the battlefield, heading to the south.

The elf came to shortly as he felt every stride of the minotaur sending pain throughout his body. He watched in the distance as the army of Lord Fineal was surely advanced upon, the fiery ring extinguished. The elf was able to pull up his left arm, the hand bearing his communication ring. He tapped it on his nose to activate it and spoke quietly.

He labored between strides of the minotaur, “This is Cap...Puldechran...army...massacred...help.”

Abby responded over the magical link, “Cap? Is that you? What happened?”

The minotaur stopped abruptly, realizing his hostage was awake and talking. He tossed Cap hard to the ground.

Cap slammed hard into the ground but retained his determination to continue the conversation. “Yes, Abby. Lord Fineal's army is wiped out. Raided in the night. I'm capti...” Cap's words stopped abruptly as the minotaur slammed a hoof into the elf's face.

Abby ran over to Fidel's tent, the dwarf and elf arriving the day prior, easily tearing through the flimsy door. She shook Fidel violently and he jumped up fully alert, raising his hands ready to defend the camp.

Abby's spoke between shallow breaths, her tone exasperated. “Cap's been taken!  He called over the ring stating Lord Fineal's camp had been sacked. I believe they took him captive.”

Fidel's eyes widened at the news as he did not expect the evil witch to declare war on her hometown. His thoughts turned to anger quickly as his eyes grew dangerously narrow. “Pravas has Cap?!” His tone was threatening, bordering on rage. “Are you sure?!”

Abby nodded her head quickly, “His report was desperate and was cut off abruptly! I believe...”

Abby couldn't finish as Fidel immediately jumped in, “I go tonight, Abby! Will you be joining me?”

Abby shook her head quickly, “You know she took him to get you to come! Don't fall into her trap, Fidel!” Abby finished her sentence as Fidel placed his metalized leather shirt over his head. Fidel fitted his leather greaves and started putting on his cuisse.

Fidel's narrow stare met Abby's concerned gaze. “I go now! You know I cannot and will not stand by when a friend is in need!”

Abby nodded her head, wanting to stop Fidel from his current course of action. She attempted to reason with the angered elf. “What if she attacks this camp next? What then?”

Fidel's voice showed little concern. “Then the folks here will defend it."

Abby's face turned up in disgust, “Dammit Fidel! Damn your pride! This sorceress is powerful, powerful enough to make quick work of a trained Puldechran regiment and capture your friend! Why won't you wait for the help that has been promised?!”

Fidel put his hand up to silence her. “Simple question here Abby, are you joining or am I to enter the lair of the evil sorceress alone?”

Abby's face turned up in contempt. “Of course I am joining you Fidel. But if we die, know that our blood is on your hands!”

It was Fidel's turn to give a look of contempt. “No Abby, you go of your own choosing. Your blood will not be on my hands, your blood will be of your own free will. So I ask you again, will you be joining me?”

Abby exhaled long and hard, then took a deep breath. “Fine!” Her voice over-emphasized to clearly show her disapproval of this course of action. Her voice shifted to one of vehement sarcasm.  “Shall I ask the dwarf if he would like to die this fine evening as well?”

Fidel flippantly responded, “Yes, please do.”

Fidel jogged to Captain Sizod's tent and informed the captain of his departure, also providing warning of a potential oncoming raid.

Captain Sizod attempted to reason with the headstrong elf.   “Fidel, you know you fight the legions of silvery troops with just you and your companions." The captain slammed his fists a couple of times on his map table. "Why would you take such rash action?”

Fidel turned to leave the tent and replied, “My fight is with one. My problem is there are thousands in our way. We will finish this!”

Captain Sizod interjected, “Thousands that can and will kill you and your friends. Do not forget the formidable opponents you face, Fidel. You faced around one hundred on the road and, if not for this regiment and myself, you would have surely lost that battle. You're facing at least twenty times that number. This is suicide and I cannot let you go!” Abby and Noxater strolled up as Fidel turned back to face the captain.

Fidel shouted at the captain, “It is not your decision!”

Captain Sizod shouted back, “Yes, it is! Guards! Detain him!” Fidel's eyes popped open with surprise at the captain's refusal of his freedom.

Fidel raised his hands to put the captain in his spot when he felt a pair of large and muscular arms surround his calves. More slender arms wrapped him tight from behind as Abby slammed Fidel to the floor, preventing him from casting his spell. Abby worked quickly to put Fidel in a half nelson as Noxater kept his feet from gaining any ground. Several guards of the battalion entered the tent with ropes and shackles to detain the stubborn elf. Fidel screamed in protest as the many soldiers made quick work of his detainment.

The elf was about to shoot flames from his hands to vaporize the sinew bonds that held him when he felt a familiar spell take hold of him, a spell that silenced his voice and froze his movements. Captain Sizod stepped aside as the attacker came into view. The camp wizard known as Felius was finishing his holding spell on the elf. Fidel noted the look on Felius' face, a look of apology and pity.

Captain Sizod looked to Felius. “How long can this bond hold?”

Felius replied, making sure Fidel noticed the measure of respect for him in his voice. “Well, the spell holds for about three hours. I will need to recast it again until you have decided what to do with him. I truly hope you do not intend to treat him as a criminal, Captain. He is a valuable asset to the regiment.”

Captain Sizod waved his hand before the mage. “Never. I do not wish ill on Mr. Austempes.” The captain looked to Fidel, also showing respect to the elf. “He is having a trying evening. I cannot allow one of our own to commit suicide by underestimating this wretched witch.” Captain Sizod looked to Abby and Noxater.  “Thank you for your help in detaining him." The captain raised an eyebrow at the human and dwarf duo. "You look as if you were to travel as well?”

Abby brushed the dirt from her backside as she stood before the captain. “Fidel is our friend and we would die for him. It seemed right to detain him until the promised legions arrived.” Noxater nodded his head in agreement.

Captain Sizod nodded. “Again, thank you. I know how hard it is to detain a friend such as he. It really exhausts the mind.”

Abby and Noxater nodded their heads and looked to Fidel. His green eyes flared like emeralds capturing the light from a violent fire. They both bowed their heads low in shame of their betrayal.

Abby's tone was unusually apologetic, “Sorry Fidel.”

Noxater, apparently accustomed to such situations, raised his arm in a fist. “Live to fight on thee right day, elf. On that day, I cannot wait to see those fires unleashed to strike fear into thee fearless. Let it simmer an' use it to take down a dragon!”

Fidel's eyes softened a bit at the mentioning of a dragon, a gentle reminder of the stories the dwarf friend and he shared just a few days prior.

Captain Sizod requested the duo to share watch duties with regards to Fidel's captivity. “I would rather a friend be watching him as he would be less prone to harming such.” Abby and Noxater agreed to the request.

Captain Sizod ordered two scouts to verify the Puldechran camp's destruction and to redirect the forthcoming reinforcements to their western camp. Abby notified Methvas and Lord Fineal of the news, advising the magical link is now compromised with Cap's abduction. The captain doubled the perimeter guards and he remained awake for the rest of evening, checking maps and placing scouts further out with the orders to quickly report any advances on the camp.