FARHAYVEN: VENGEANCE (120 page)

     Meanwhile, at The Lair, quiet words were being passed around. The original women and children from the Ten Betrayed Villages were secretly asked whether they would stay or join the exodus. Those who agreed were told to pack lightly and be prepared to move at a moment’s notice. Those who did not were threatened with torture and death should they choose to reveal even the very existence of this ‘discussion’. But being assassins and close relatives of assassins, being discreet came naturally and whatever threats they received, although taken seriously, were accepted as a daily aspect of life.

     As it turned out, a large number of the clan members had agreed to leave. Like Rake and Eclipse, they had begun to realise that the clanmaster had deviated from the original cause. They had begun to realise that the clanmaster’s decisions of late were not even for their welfare or benefit. And with the arrival of these ‘outsiders’, these strangers who had contracted themselves to the clan for money, the original clan members felt pushed aside. They had strangers who had lived in The Lair but a few months, bossing them around whereas they had live here for decades
!
They felt as though they were being colonised by these new strangers. Their decision was clear and easy
!
They chose to leave
!

    The following morning saw Clover and her subordinates arriving back at The Spot on horses which Ray and 3
rd
River had rode out on. Ray and 3
rd
River would continue the patrols on foot while Clover and 2
nd
River would rest and recover their lost strength and energy. Although she was tired, Clover chose not to retire to her tent when she saw Rod and Serene having breakfast at the ‘quieter’ part of the base. She dismissed her subordinates, grabbed a plateful of breakfast and walked over to where Rod and Serene were.

     “Nature’s wisdom_ may you have of this, cousin, Rod
!
” greeted Clover.

     “Nature’s wisdom_ may you have of this, cousin
!
” greeted Serene.

     “Nature’s wisdom_ may you have of this, Minvian Genox
!
” replied Rod.

     “Here _ why are you of this
?
” asked Clover curiously.

     “Liberation Raid _ I am here of this and also of the issue of Thorn Sayvion,” answered Rod.

     “Liberation Raid _ yes, my father had mentioned of this; so how does it go
?
” enquired Clover.

     “Liberation Raid _ of this goes as planned except without the participation of Thorn Sayvion,” answered Rod.

     “Participate _ why has he not chosen to do of this
?
” asked Clover, who had never met Thorn, but had heard Serene speak of him before.

     “Reasons _ of these, only he knows,” answered Rod, shaking his head in disappointment.

     Clover could see the sadness written on the faces of these two former defenders of Fort Eastguard. Sensing the awkwardness of the situation, she tried to change the subject.

     “Participate _ of this, who else is
?
” asked Clover.

     “Participate _ of this, besides Orgavian Lidell, are our distant cousins Horizon, Fiery and Tip,” answered Serene.

     “Serving _ they are still doing of this in the Provincial Guards; so how is it possible
?
” asked Clover, surprised.

     “Leave _ of this, they were granted by the king,” answered Serene.

     Clover nodded her head in understanding. She was surprised that the king had granted leave for three of her cousins who were still serving in the Fallsian Military. She had thought that the king would deny such a request, seeing that the Fallsian Military was as short-handed as it was. So this news was a pleasant surprise of sorts
!

     Noon on the
12
th
Day of Fifth Month of Dry Season
found Dawn Breven hidden in a large, leafy tree overlooking the venue where she was supposed to meet her uncle. Her eyes scanned everywhere for signs of movement. She could see none. Her ears strained to listen out for any unusual noises. She could hear none. She sniffed the air around her. She smelt nothing unusual. She had been in this area since the night before, scouting the place to make sure that the meeting was not a trap, or if the meeting was genuine, that no trap could be set by her enemies. Then suddenly, she started to hear soft footsteps of several people approaching her location. She turned her head very slowly to see who they were. There were nine of them. They were clad in black as she was, but with their faces exposed. Dawn recognised her uncle Rake and Eclipse amongst them. As Rake and Eclipse arrived at the boulder, they automatically got into a kneeling position while the others formed a circular perimeter around them, kneeling as well. They had not drawn out their swords but had their hands inside the lapel of their shirts, their fingers holding onto a few Airblades, no doubt. But despite their appearance of skill and caution, they had failed to detect Dawn’s presence.

     Dawn climbed down quietly from the tree she was hiding in. She did not want to trigger a panic attack amongst the new arrivals. She slowly walked out from behind the tree trunk with her hands raised, clutching in one of them the paper that they had ‘shot’ at her with.

     Rake, upon recognising Dawn, told his men to let her approach. He then signalled for Dawn to hurry up. Dawn broke into a light run and kneeled facing her uncle.

     “You were right
!
We should’ve left the clan a long time ago.  We’re leaving it now. Will you join us
?
” asked Rake.

     “Yes, uncle,” replied Dawn.

     “I’m glad you’re joining us. And we do need your help. There’s a question of how we’re going to leave. A significant number of families of the original clansmen will be leaving with us. This makes for a huge bulk of women and children. How do we get them out without raising the suspicion of Venom Collart
?
” said Eclipse.

     “We need some sort of excuse to get everybody out of The Lair. When everyone’s outside, it’ll be easier for the women and children to make an escape while our fighters cover them from Collart’s minions,” suggested Dawn.

     “What about a fire
!?
That’s a good excuse to evacuate everybody from The Lair,” suggested Rake.

     “Not advisable
!
The smoke will reveal our location to the Sollenthars. We’d be attacked or get pinned down by them. Their presence will complicate our escape,” objected Dawn.

     Both Rake and Eclipse were shocked. Dawn was surprised herself. She was surprised that the clan was not aware of the Sollenthars’ presence.   

     “Sollenthars
!?
Here
!?
They’re a long way from Fallsene City
!
” said Eclipse.

     “Yes, they’re here. They’ve somehow managed to track me when I escaped and followed me here. But they don’t know the exact location of The Lair. They’ve taken over The Spot and are using it as their base of operations. I’ve been watching them since,” explained Dawn.

     “Well, you’re right
!
Their presence certainly
does
complicate matters. I had my suspicions when two of Collart’s recruits disappeared recently. They must’ve been caught by these accursed Sollenthars
!
” said Rake.

     “No, uncle
!
I terminated those two, myself. They were about to lead the Sollenthars to The Lair,” corrected Dawn.

     Eclipse cleared her throat. She wanted to get the Brevens’ attention.

     “The problem remains, how do we get everybody out of The Lair
?
” she said.

     “If fire wouldn’t work, perhaps water would
!
What if we crack one of the ceilings that runs underneath the river
?
Not a big rack, just a small one
.
That would cause The Lair to be flooded. Everyone would be forced to evacuate. It’ll not attract the attention of the Sollenthars, and it’ll also distract Collart and his minions by forcing them to either try to repair the crack or search for a new lair; and in this way they’ll neither have the time nor manpower to pursue us” suggested Dawn.

     “I like it
!
” expressed Eclipse.

     “Me, too. It sounds like a good idea
!
” agreed Rake.

     “That’s a fantastic idea
!
” agreed a loud booming voice in the forest.

     Instantly Dawn, Rake and Eclipse started to look around, searching for the source of the booming voice. Clanmaster Venom Collart stood up from behind a thick bush, smiling.

     “Flooding The Lair
!
Destabilising me and my ‘minions’
!
What a fantastic idea
!
” he mocked.

     Dawn, Rake, Eclipse and the others drew out their swords and Airblades.

     “The Lair has been our home for 19 years
!
19 years, Dawn
!
And you were willing to destroy it in a heartbeat
!
Why
!?
For what
!?
For some silly idea of nobility
?
Revenge
?
The cause
?
Can’t you see
?
I’ve provided a means of livelihood for the clan for the past 20 years
!
20 years, Dawn
!
That’s how long I’ve been feeding you and your family. And I’ve been feeding the many mouths at The Lair, keeping them alive, safe and well
!
And you three accuse me of ‘losing my way
!?
’ It’s you who’ve lost sight of reality
!
” accused Venom.

     “Fed us
!?
Yes, you’ve fed us. You’ve fed us with your lies and treachery
!
Embezzlements and abuses
!
Unnecessary handicaps and deaths
!
You’ve fed the widows and orphans well, haven’t you
!?
You’ve murdered their husbands and fathers by sending them on unnecessary missions or worse still, sent your minions to assassinate them when they were away on those missions
!
Yes, you fed them so well that you’ve caused them to be what they are today; you’re the cause of their losses and their sufferings
!
” countered Rake angrily.

     “I’m just trying to make a living, Rake. I’m not a dumb idealist like you. But I see no point in explaining myself further. Don’t take this personally. It’s just business. Good bye, Rake, Eclipse, Dawn,” said Venom Collart.

     Clanmaster Venom Collart raises his right hand and snaps his fingers. Immediately, thirty black-clad figures with drawn swords stand up from the surrounding bushes. Slowly, these black-clad attackers move closer towards them. The clanmaster affords a sinister smile as he turns to walk away. Dawn reacts fast, sending an Airblade towards him. Venom, upon hearing the twirling of the Airblade, dives to the ground. His smile turns to an angry snarl. The attackers charge in. Dawn and her companions, the defenders, instinctively react. And so the battle begins.

     Airblades twirl across the air in all directions. Attackers and defenders alike are busy parrying off each others Airblades while sending out their own. Pretty soon, sword blades meet other sword blades and also human flesh. The screams of pain and agony fill the air.

     Dawn steps forward and parries off an attacker’s blade to her left, then swiftly swings her sword to the right and follows up with a Right Downwards Diagonal Cut. The attacker lets out a scream of pain and falls to the ground. Another attacker, immediately behind him, cuts down vertically. Dawn side-steps to the left and slashes him across the knee, bringing him down to a kneeling position screaming in pain. She then ends his misery with a quick cut across the neck, decapitating him.

     Suddenly, Dawn feels a sharp pain in her left arm. She glances down to see an Airblade embedded there. Crimson fluid oozes out from where the metal has met the flesh. Dawn ignores the pain. She slides backwards just in time to avoid a desperate horizontal slash from a third attacker and then steps forward to end his life with a Vertical Downwards Cut.

     “This way
!
” she yells, as she runs through the opening that she has just created.