CHAPTER FIVE ~ STRANGE ENCOUNTER

1 YEAR AFTER BANISHMENT

Bodies were falling all over the place. The stench of blood filled every nose and the taste was on every tongue. We had surprised the Alerilyans by coming out of the woods on the north side of their camp. They had no understanding that we were there until we were inside their camp and had started the slaughter.

Men went through each tent, systematically killing those that had yet to grab their weapons. I circled around the camp to wait on the south end for those that tried to flee towards safety. The men that stood with me were as eager for blood as I was, and we did not have to wait long. The alarm rose quickly throughout the camp as fires broke out tearing tents down and lighting up the sky. Now, both sides were yelling and the noise and confusion rose. Soon, men started running from the camp and straight towards us. It was totally revolting, some of them didn’t even have their full armor on, others though, had their swords at the ready. They paused briefly when they saw us, but those who were running in a blind panic, just kept on coming. The men with me let out a gleeful yell and charged. I joined in.

The first man I met, was without his armor, and he went down with a quick stroke to the stomach. The next one, had a sword at least and managed to raise it to protect himself. It did him no good, I feigned high and then cut low, my sword slicing into his right thigh. He fell sideward, clutching it and a quick back sweep of my sword discharged his life from him. The third one came at me head on and I welcomed the challenge. Our swords clanged together, I could feel the vibrating in my hand. It was a good feeling. We pulled back and went at it again, this time sweeping down. His sword rose up mine ad I lifted high to counter it. It slipped off my blade and he whipped it around to attack again. I met his blade with my own, relishing the feeling of competitive combat.

We continued our deadly dance for another few minutes, before his sword slipped past mine to cut me on the forearm. I looked at the red slice in surprise, but didn’t have time to ponder the cut as my adversary swung around with a killing sweep. I barley managed to block it, yet I did. The sweep had knocked him off balance and I used his momentum to bring my sword in to his upper arm. It wasn’t his sword arm, but the cut was deep enough that it shed a whole lot of red blood. His face wore a look of horror and surprise. He pulled his sword back up to defend himself, but I didn’t give him the chance, cutting into his throat before he could finish the move. His body fell down, covering another three that were already on the ground.

I breathed heavily, finally taking the time to properly look at my arm. That’s when I noticed her. Zoe stood in front of me, staring at my arm, with her always sad eyes. “Oh, Aiden,” she breathed, but that was all she said, before she shimmered and disappeared. I gritted my teeth and taking my dagger ripped a strip of cloth from the dead soldier’s clothing. Quickly, I tied the strip over the cut. Only then did I step around the dead soldiers to keep going, coldly dispatching those that stood in my way.

The battle continued for the rest of the morning, but by mid afternoon, all was over. The camp lay in a deserted mess. Not a single tent stood, discarded weapons and bodies littered the ground, and the banners that once held a proud rearing unicorn emblem were trampled into the dirt, at least the ones that hadn’t been burned beyond recognition. Elangsian soldier’s picked through the remains. Some came away with pots, weapons, leather, food, rope, bridles, and other miscellaneous items. It seemed this was how the Elangsians got most of their supplies.

I stood watching silently, when the captain came up behind me.

“What happened to you?” he inquired.

“Someone got lucky,” I replied flippantly.

“Obviously. See it doesn’t happen again.” There was a short pause. “I have a mission for you.”

I turned to look at him. He looked like he hadn’t even been in the battle. His armor was spotless, as was the horse he rode “And that would be?”

“There is a village about two leagues from here. Go scout it out. You are looking for a man by the name of Gidryon. If he is there, you are too take him out silently and then report back.”

“Who is he?”

“Does it matter?” Ricald sneered.

I shrugged. “Like to know who I’m killing.”

“That has never come up before. Just see that it gets done.” He kicked his horse and it trotted forward, forcing me to move to the side farther or get trampled. We had just won a battle and I was already going out on a separate mission? I sighed. Good training for staying alert, if nothing else.

***

The village was farther away then two leagues. I took a longer route to enter it from the side opposite the forest line. Danger came from the forest side and I didn’t want the people of the village to be suspicious of me. At least, not yet. I strolled into the village unopposed. A few looked up at me from the field, but continued on with their hoeing and planting. Once inside the village, a few people sat outside their front doors, some were weaving baskets, while others shucked some type of food. I walked over to the closest one. She was a younger girl, maybe around Aquila’s age when we had parted. I couldn’t remember exactly.

“Hey, girl, can you tell me if there is a Gidryon in this village?” I asked, trying to keep a kind tone.

She looked at me her brown eyes wide and startled. Obviously, I was out of practice. How had I talked to my sisters? What type of voice had I used? I remembered being able to calm them when they needed it, but for my life I could not remember how.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you, honey. I was told Gidryon would be kind enough to help me and that he was here.” Honey? Where had that pathetic term come from?

But it seemed to work, because her eyes and shoulders relaxed. “Gidryon is my grandfather. He lives at the other end of the village. Do you want me to take you to him?”

Her grandfather? How did these things happen to me? The last thing I needed was her there.

“No, sweetie, that’s okay. I’m sure I can find it. Is he in the last house?” I waited until she nodded and then asked, “What side of the street?”

“My side,” she answered with a smile.

Right, then. “Thank you.”

When was the last time I had said that? Confused by my odd reaction to the girl, I stepped away and headed towards the other end of the village.

It was a small place. There couldn’t have been more than a dozen and a half houses, if that. All were brown dirt sided with open windows. A few had flowers on the sills, others were bare, but one or two had pies on them. A dog ran across my path with a hissing cat chasing after it. I had taken a few more steps when I heard a child’s voice shrieking behind me, “Eldryn, Eldryn! Stop being a bully! Leave doggie alone! Eldryn!” I shook my head, not sure what to make of the scene.

Ahead of me were the final two houses. The one on the left looked abandoned, but the one the right had an aged man sitting out in front of it. He had a gray beard and was dressed in a brown shirt with dark brown pants. His blue eyes were startling clear for a man that looked like he was older than the trees.

“So you have come,” he said in a humbled voice.

“Excuse me?” I questioned totally confused.

“You have come,” he repeated his words quite calmly.

“I didn’t know you were expecting me,” I finally said.

A very law rumble came from inside him. I can only guess he was laughing.

“I have been waiting for you for a long time,” he replied.

I stared at him not exactly sure what I was supposed to reply to this. I waited silently for a moment, but nothing startling to say came to mind. Mistaken identity was all I could think of, but I should use it to my advantage now.

“Well, I’m here now,” I said with a smile.

The man nodded and laughed again. “Yes, and you have found me.” He stood slowly, somehow making sure that his eyes never left mine. Only when he was standing, did he turn his eyes away. He entered his house saying, “Follow me.”

What other option did I have? I followed quietly, sliding my wrist knife into my hand as I did so. The house was sparkly furnished, yet held all the necessities along with a few extras. But they held little meaning to me. My eyes took in everything with a glance and focused on the man, who pulled out a chair and sat comfortably at the table. He motioned to a second seat, which I declined. I had never been in quite a situation like this before and it made me uneasy.

“I must admit I did not expect you to be so young,” he smiled at me. “But then the good Dues chooses who he will.”

Dues? My grip tightened on the knife. That was the wrong name to mention. The old man didn’t seem to notice, because he kept right on talking as if I was his oldest friend.

“I have lived a very long life, you know, and I am tired now. I have done all I can here and my mission is over. It is well, I shall not miss it here. I have only Travon and Fatima. She will be leaving on the marrow and Travon…” here Gidryon paused and shook his gray head.

“Your granddaughter and…” I waited for him to fill in the space.

Gidryon said nothing for a moment, but his eyes grew thoughtful. “A charge,” but that was all he said. He was quiet and then seemed to suddenly shake himself out of wherever his thoughts had taken him. “Are you ready then?”

“Ready?” I asked, surprised.

“To do your deed? You did come to kill me, did you not?” He said it as if it was the most ordinary thing in the world, but I stared at him in shock. His words only barley registering.

“How…” I tried to ask.

“You don’t believe in Dues do you?” he asked again.

How in the old world did he know that?

“No.”

The man sighed. “I suspected not. You have quite a lot of pain stored inside that hurting heart of yours, young one. It is surpassed only by your anger.”

“How would you know that?” I asked scornfully. This old fossil was making me more nervous by the minute.

“Have you not heard that the eyes reveal all to those that care enough to look? Yours speak of pain, anger, and betrayal. The road you are on now will not lead to redemption, young one. But you will pay no heed to my words spoken on this day about that subject. Still, I would be remiss not to tell you that despite your hatred to him Dues is indeed watching over you,” he held up a hand just as I opened my mouth to let him know what I thought of that comment, “but regardless whether you believe it or not, believe this, you will meet the God Almighty and when you do, you will walk away changed.” He spoke with quite conviction.

My anger simmered to the surface as much over his attitude as his words. What right did he have to tell me what I felt or what my relationship to Dues was? The farther away that god stayed the better off I was. I wanted no part in his so called beloved people.

I raised my knife, so that it was in full view of my victim. “Enough, old man, you said I had come to kill you. It’s time I did just that.”

The man nodded, “Yes, I suppose it is. Dues told me I would not live pass this day, but that all would be taken care of in my absence. I am grateful He used me in so many ways over the years. Now, He will use you.”

“What?”

“He already is, child. It is time for me to go home and you are His instrument. Like it or not. Of course, you may choose not to kill me, and then he will allow my death to come about in some other way, but regardless whether you fulfill your part in my death or not, God’s plan will be accomplished. As will His will after I am gone and you can tell your Captain Ricald that.”

“How do you know Captain Ricald?” I asked, suspiciously. This man knew too much for anyone’s good.

“He is the force behind your visit, is he not? I have been a thorn in his side for years. I help the Hunter to traffic slaves to their freedom. And for this reason, I am well hated by your commander and indeed by all of Elangsia.”

“The Hunter?” I refocused at the name.

The man only nodded, but offered little else. If I wanted information about the reclusive Hunter, I would be hard pressed to get it here. I had the feeling holding the knife would not be enough.

“You are correct,” the man said softly.

This old fossil brought strange to a whole new level. He couldn’t possibly know what I was thinking. “About what?” I had to ask.

“I will give you no information on the Hunter,” his voice was firm. “His is his own story, although I suspect yours will become intertwined.”

“Why do you say that?” Interested in-spite of myself.

“You are under the Captain Ricald. His hatred for the Hunter is legendary. You, too, will be forced to choose what side you are on.”

“I already have,” I stated the obvious.

The old man raised an eyebrow at me. It would have been a comical effect, had I not been so frustrated. “Have you?”

“You have already pointed out that I am under the good captain’s orders. I am here to kill you.”

The old man snorted or at least I think he did. “Good is highly debatable. And yes, you are here to kill me, but have you truly decided? I think you are too caught up in your own hurt and pain to truly focus on anyone else’s problems. But perhaps I am wrong…” the man paused and a slow smile spread over his weather beaten face. “In any case, Dues has a special solution in mind for you.”

“Wrong answer, buddy. That is the quickest way to get your death,” I flipped the knife in my hand and stalked to towards him, seeing only the red that Dues name usually created in me. The man had no right to force his views on the non-excitant or hateful Dues on me. His betrayal was worse than any others, and I would not tolerate His perceived presence anywhere around me.

“Yes, Dues has a special solution in mind for you.” They were the last words that Gidryon spoke.

My hands shook as I pulled the knife away. His soft words haunting me. For the first time, the blood on the knife mocked me. I turned and slipped it into a pail of water, then took a cloth and wiped it as clean as I could. Though, I noticed it didn’t matter at all.

“I think he is right,” Zoe’s voice said from behind me.

“Oh?” I asked, knowing her apparition had appeared again.

“That Dues has a special solution for you,” she repeated his words.

“Go away, Zoe,” I commanded, but there was little bark in my words.

“I’ve been thinking about it,” she answered thoughtfully.

“You are not even real!” This time I was yelling as I swung around to face Firebrand.

“Are you so sure?” She asked, cocking her head at me.

“Yes,” I growled.

“But, Aiden, you’re talking to me,” she responded, her young face showing confusion.

“So I’ve noticed,” I muttered, as I yanked the sheet off the low bed and covered the old man’s body.

“You’ve never done that before,” she commented, obviously not heading my order to leave.

“I know,” I answered, not able to explain it myself.

“You always taught us about the god you didn’t believe in, but what if he does have something special planned for you? I mean, it’s possible, isn’t it?” Zoe’s green eyes held a hopeful question I couldn’t answer, but that didn’t stop me.

“No,” I replied firmly. “I don’t have to lie to some stupid mirage. God doesn’t exist, Zoe, and if he did he abandoned us before we were even born.”

“But, Aiden…” her eyes held tears, ones that I had seen far too often in the past year.

“Oh, go away Zoe, just go away,” I groaned as I headed out the door. Zoe stayed inside the small hut, but her words did not.

Her voice matched Gidryon’s as I made my way back to the camp and it played over and over in my mind.

“Yes, Dues has a special solution in mind for you.”

It couldn’t be true… right?

***