The Realms of Animar (32 page)

“Having another lovely day?” Fatalis asked, mocking his prisoner.

The old man turned away from the torch and mumbled something incomprehensible. With his dirty fingers he clawed at the wall as if he could slowly work his way through the rock and be free of his wretched existence.

“My horses are gone!” Fatalis roared. “What happened to them? Tell me now or I promise a fate much worse than death.”

The oracle shook his head and kept his eyes focused on his task. In a weak voice he replied, “I…I don’t know what you…are talking about. I…I have told you everything you asked.”

Fatalis leaned closer, his face now within inches of his captive. He could smell his blood, even through the stench of the old man’s filthy hair. His grip on the torch tightened. Inside a hunger tempted him, yearning to be released.

“Don’t try my patience you foul hen,” Fatalis threatened. “Your value is dwindling with each day that passes.” He then stood up and demanded once more, “Tell me what happened to my horses.”

“I…I cannot see the past.”

“You knew they were coming all along. I’m tired of your games.”

“They?” the prisoner asked, feigning ignorance. “Who…who do you mean?”

Frustration consumed Fatalis and he snapped. Without thought he kicked the old man in the ribs, forgetting to lessen his blow due to the delicate nature of his captive. His neglect was regrettable because he was fairly certain that he felt a bone give way, an assumption that was supported by the high pitched wail from the prisoner as he grabbed his side.

Fatalis ignored the cries and merely shook his head. He then continued, “Three nights ago four of my men, including my cousin, were killed and my horses - all of my horses - were set free. I need to find them. Now!”

The oracle mumbled to himself and then, with desperate eyes that had filled with tears, looked up and said, “I’m sorry…I…I…don’t know who did this. Predators of course…surely.”

Fatalis began to kick his captive once more but then held up. He needed the tough old bird a bit longer.

“Their bodies were left intact you worthless heap and they were killed by someone quite experienced,” Fatalis said. “Mordigal was behind this, I’m sure of it. Now tell me where they are. I’m tired of your games.”

The oracle looked at his grubby palms, as if they might reveal a way out of his unfortunate dilemma. He then glanced at Fatalis and said, “Mordigal is traveling with a number of horses...this much I can see now.”

Fatalis could not believe his ears. He yelled and slammed a fist into the closest wall, sending a cloud of dust billowing into the air. He had suspected Mordigal’s involvement after hearing about the bodies of the stable guards. The assassin’s signature was quite unique. Nonetheless, hearing it confirmed drove the dagger into his back even farther. Mordigal had been his most valued minion.

Fatalis paced the room while he searched his thoughts. The old man’s eyes followed him, frightened and curious as to what his enraged captor might do next. Then, as if stricken by great insight, it hit him.

It wasn’t the grandest of revelations but it was proof of something that Fatalis had suspected for some time. The oracle had been playing him, feeding him enough bits and pieces to keep his aged bones alive, but not enough to endanger the precious herbivore settlement.

“So tell me, how much longer should I wait to march on the village?” Fatalis asked. “Until the last of winter? The next full moon you said?”

“Yes…yes,” the oracle groaned. “The mountains will be impassable then.”

Fatalis nodded. “Interesting. So how then might Mordigal have come back? Did they fly?”

“I…I don’t know,” the old man grumbled.

“I’m sure you do. You misled me all along knowing they needed time to prepare. They know we are coming don’t they?”

The pathetic prisoner said nothing, only tucked his head and shivered with fright, using whatever wasted energy remained within his weakened body.

“As I thought!” Fatalis roared. “Well then, we will just move up our plans and march at once. I would devour you for your treachery but your flesh might sicken my stomach.”

Fatalis turned and left the cell. On his way out he said, “We won’t waste any more food keeping you alive. Enjoy your final days rotting in darkness.”

The cell door slammed shut, sending forth a loud bang that echoed through the cave. They had delayed long enough. It was time.

Chapter 34

D
aylight poured in through the open windows of the planning room atop the Great Hall. The chamber was packed with the greatest warriors and strategists in Avryndale and although it was unknown when the attack might come, they all knew that time was running out.

With space limited, the only furniture that remained in the room was the large table upon which sat the focus of their discussion, the latest map of the perimeter of Avryndale. Every detail was critical. Their lives dangled from a thread.

“The tunnels are ready and the exits are hidden,” Semu said aloud as he leaned in and pointed to a sketch of the rear village wall. “We added the second tunnel as you asked.”

“Good,” Avryn replied from his position at the head of the table. “They may need an alternate escape if one is blocked. Make sure the children and those who won’t be fighting know to stay hidden until we come for them…or they have finished with us and gone.”

Avryn was exhausted. Sleep had eluded him with the lives of so many at stake. His time had been divided between planning their defense and training Thane in swordplay but that left him very little opportunity to rest. He considered turning his son back over to Urso but he feared his influence might turn the boy against him. He had to do it himself. He just needed more time.

He stroked his beard then turned to Guderian who was standing to his right. “The birds Trussil brought back, do they know what to do?”

“I believe so,” Guderian replied. “They asked for some rope to bind spear tips. Joli took care of that this morning. I will review our plan with Airulli in a bit just to be sure.”

“Perhaps he should attend our daily meetings from here on,” Avryn said.

“Are you sure we can trust him?” Guderian asked.

“We have no choice,” Avryn replied. “If we cannot trust our allies we are doomed before this war even begins.”

Guderian concurred with a nod.

“Cerato? The charging lines?” Avryn then asked, turning his attention to a huge rotund man that stood near the back of the room.

“Almost there my liege,” Cerato replied in a deep voice that filled whatever space was left in the room. “Just getting our order set. The elephants are a bit jumpy as usual but we’ll be ready. String us across the front and we’ll clear ‘em out for ya.”

Avryn looked at the map for a moment and reviewed quickly in his mind what they had covered. He then stood up straight and looked around the room.

“Well, I think we have done all we can,” he said. “Talk to your families one last time and spread the word to the rest of the village. If anyone wants to leave they should do so now. We will provide whatever rations we can and welcome them back when this ends.” He paused and looked around the room then continued, “Well then, until tomorrow.”

“I still think what you are doing with Thane is wrong Avryn,” Urso said boldly.

In an instant a deafening stillness engulfed the room. Even the slight breeze that had been meandering through the open windows seemed to die at once as if the elements themselves had been stunned by the impudent statement.

Avryn pinched his eyes closed in disbelief. The room could sense the fury building.

“Get out!” Avryn roared to Urso as he pointed to the door. “He’s my son and I will decide what he does, not you!”

The trainer shook his head, “But—”

“OUT!” Avryn yelled.

All eyes fell upon Urso, shocked by his defiance and for having managed to provoke their normally restrained leader. Shaking his head, Urso turned to the door but before he could reach the handle, it swung open forcefully, sending him stumbling backward.

Trussil hastily entered. She was out of breath and her hair was disheveled but her face was aglow with excitement. She bent over and lowered her hands to her knees while she caught her breath.

“Lady Trussil, an unexpected honor,” Avryn said, surprised.

After a brief pause she stood up and looked around the room. “Sorry…I’m really sorry to burst in here but Mordigal is back.”

The reason for her smile was now obvious.

“He brought back a large herd of horses,” Trussil managed. “I would guess a hundred or more.” She then took a few deep breaths to collect herself and continued, “They are moving fast and have already cleared the mountains. They should be here tonight.”

The room filled with chatter. Her news was welcome and obviously lifted the spirits of those present. They needed reinforcements desperately and horses were some of the finest warriors alive.

“Excellent news Trussil,” Avryn said. “Any sign of the others?”

Her smile faded and she shook her head. “No sign of them. I guess the brothers…” She lowered her eyes and her words trailed off. Remembering a lost thought she added, “The only others I saw were the patrol heading this way from the East.”

“What?” Guderian quickly asked. Something struck him and he rushed to one of the windows.

“I figured it was a scouting party or some soldiers training,” Trussil replied.

Guderian spun toward Avryn, “The Aquans!”

The room quickly emptied as the group rushed to greet their mysterious visitors from the ocean.

***

It was another typical morning in the training grounds. Once shielded from public view by the walls that enclosed it, the arena was now packed with men, women and a handful of older children as they hastily prepared to fight for their lives.

Alia and Thane sat on one of the benches that lined the perimeter of the area. Both were visibly exhausted, having already been hard at work honing their skills. Although they trained apart, at each break they managed to find one another, savoring the occasional precious moments that provided a brief relief from the stress of impending war.

They were unified in their affection toward one another yet they differed in many ways. Alia, like most in Avryndale, feared violence. She had seen enough in her young life already, having witnessed the grim slaughter of her family. Alia lacked any real fighting skills, she was not strong, adept with a bow or tall enough to stand atop the walls and fend off any who might attempt to climb them.

It had therefore been no shock to her that she had been asked to be one of those who took shelter when the army approached, a request she quickly turned down. In reality she wanted to stay by Thane’s side, but of course she wouldn’t tell him such. That would be too forward.

Eager to help in some way, she had been allowed to join a group referred to as ‘Metal Runners’. A dangerous and generally unwanted assignment, the Metal Runners were formed for the sole purpose of scouring the battlefield to aid their animal warriors in the removal of metal that would allow them to shift forms as needed.

If a person was locked in their human or animal forms during combat their options were significantly reduced, thus the value of metal-tipped arrows, darts and other small weaponry. Because Alia was a rabbit, her small yet quick morph lent perfectly to this task although Thane had begged her to take shelter when the war began.

Thane, on the other hand, was eager for battle. Rigorous training had shaped his body, transformed his mind and empowered him with confidence. His abilities had grown more powerful from practice. He could move through the air as fast as he could think and his speed was a blur. An unnatural force had been awakened.

Somehow connected, Thane spent every waking moment with the swords given by the Aquans. They had become a part of him and wherever he went he kept them strapped to his back as if they were an extension of his soul. When he slept, he dreamed of his training, reviewed in his mind what he had learned, always clutching the swords that called to him, begged for his grasp and yearned for blood. He assumed that these were the natural thoughts of warriors. He knew no better.

Thane wiped the sweat from his brow and stared at Alia until she noticed.

“I wish you would just go to the tunnel,” he said above the roar of voices and clashing metal created by those training around them.

“Alright, alright,” she replied with a smile. “You talked me into it. You come with me and I will hide with the others.”

“Very funny.”

“You think? I am being perfectly serious. I promise I will go if you keep me company down there. I’m afraid of the dark.”

Thane filled with frustration. “Alia you know I have to fight. They need me.”

“Need you? When we met you had never even lifted a sword, now you carry them on your back like your married for goodness sake.” Her eyes shifted away and she added, “Sometimes I wonder if they are all you care about.”

“That’s ridiculous!”

“Is it?”

“You know it is. If I didn’t…care…I wouldn’t be so worried about you. How am I going to fight if I am thinking about you out there running around?”

Alia rolled her eyes. “You know your father doesn’t even want you fighting.”

“He will be too busy to worry about me. Besides, how can he stop me?”

Alia looked at him in disbelief then just shook her head. She then asked, “I haven’t seen Javan around lately, did you two have a falling out?”

“His parents won’t let him fight so he is going to the tunnel. I don’t have time for friends, other than you of course.”

She opened her mouth to respond but a yell from somewhere nearby froze her thoughts. It sounded like a young girl, clearly excited.

“Aquans!” the girl yelled. “The water people are here!”

The training grounds immediately filled with chaos as people raced to the exit, anxious to see for themselves. Thane and Alia stood up and looked at one another, their thoughts stuck on the same idea.

“Take me,” Alia said as she grabbed one of his hands.

Then, without another word, they were gone.

Now familiar with the brief effects of his ability, Thane paid no attention to the clenching of his stomach and the shift in balance as gravity once again took control of his body. He opened his eyes and found that, as expected, they had appeared where he had intended, atop one of the wall platforms that encircled Avryndale. Although the wooden walkways had been in place for some time, always intended to serve as a vantage point for the guards, the stone walls were now topped with long wooden stakes that would hopefully slow or prevent invasion. From their elevated position they could look out across the countryside and, because of Avryndale’s placement on a hill, see as far as the horizon stretched.