Ramaeka (The Ramaeka Series Book 1) (23 page)

"Uh oh,”
he muttered before dodging the first two, the third grazed his shoulder
before Amar waved a hand and made the rest swerve away.

"There,”
he called over the roar of battle and storm.  With dragon sharp eyes
Ramaeka picked up the figure of the General from where Amar pointed.
 Taking a chance he dived, racing past cursing men on the wall.  He
banked a few meters above the ground, landing, to his embarrassment, in a
rather ungainly heap.  The General strode towards them sword drawn, his
face black with anger.

"Hold
General,” Amar quickly slid off Ramaeka's back holding his hands up to show the
General that he meant no harm.  The General halted in surprise, his eyes
sliding between Amar's sodden figure and Ramaeka still lying in a heap on the
ground.

"What in
Rama's name...?" he began still holding his sword at the ready.  Amar
stepped up to him talking quietly but rapidly.  Ramaeka ignored them for
the moment searching the faces around them for their former companions.
 He didn't recognise anyone to his disappointment and with a sigh he
turned to check his wounds.  They were faded as if they had been healing
for several days already; he also had far too much energy considering how low
his magic was.

"It will
not last.”  Amar was standing beside him again.  Behind him Ramaeka
could see the General talking with several of his soldiers most of whom were
eyeing him suspiciously.  Join the line he thought wearily.  He
turned his attention back to his friend.

"I'm not
sure I want it,” he admitted.  "It feels strange.”

Amar smiled
crookedly.  “You will need it for the coming battle.  As long as you
do not do anything ridiculous it should last for a while, do not ask for more
as I have none.”

Ramaeka looked
at him worried.  "You're out of magic?  Is that safe?"

He sighed and
rested his forehead against Ramaeka's neck.  "It is complicated,” he
mumbled.  "And there is nothing safe about any of this.”

"You keep
saying things like that,” Ramaeka suddenly felt annoyed.  "Do you not
trust me or don’t you think I would understand?”

After
everything that they had been through since they had met surely he deserved
some kind of an explanation.

Amar looked at
him sideways for a long moment then slid a hand affectionately over his neck
ridges.

"I only
have limited power, not just because of the covenant or because my power is
tied up with my creations, though that is part of it.  This is not my real
body.”

Ramaeka
blinked at him, wondering if his ears were full of moss.

"I'm sorry?"

His friend
grinned mischievously looking like a child of Ramaeka's age suddenly.

"I have
guardians who watch over me, as I said I am still young.  I thought it
would be a good idea at the time, I do not remember my family and I thought it
would be nice.  Unfortunately the people who were appointed to watch over
me and keep me safe were not interested in being my family or even friends;
they just wish to control me.  So I had to find a way to sneak out."

"You
snuck out?” Ramaeka stared at him.  It actually sounded a lot like his own
home.

"Not
exactly.  Have you heard of a simulacrum?”

Ramaeka shook
his head fascinated.

"Well in
the simplest terms, I created a copy of my body and placed a measure of my
power within it.  I then linked it to my consciousness and well,” he
pointed at himself awkwardly.

"Unfortunately
I could only put so much power in without alerting my guardians, if I take
anymore my shackles will alert them.”

He fell
silent, letting Ramaeka chew it over in his head.  He wondered what the
penalties would be for Amar breaking the covenant; could he even do such a
thing with those beautiful, horrible shackles on?

"So
you're two people right now?” he asked curiously.  "What’s the other
you doing? Do you know?”

"Drinking
tea and reading a book on healing herbs,” Amar replied promptly.
 "They like me to try and see things from a human point of view.”
 He smiled and added.  "I am very bored.”
 Ramaeka snorted then nudged him.  The General was approaching and he
wasn't sure whether he knew who Amar was or not.  Best to keep quiet just
in case.

The General
nodded at Ramaeka.

"Good to
have you on our side youngling.  Though it would have suited me better had
you been a little larger.”

"It would
have suited me too,” Ramaeka opened his jaw in a dragon smile ignoring the pale
faces of the guards behind the General.

"He done
as good as any o' the bigguns at the gate,” commented a ratty looking soldier
with red hair.  He saluted Ramaeka casually.  "Won't be gettin
in any time soon.”

"Won't be
gettin out neither,” another soldier put in dryly.

"Sorry, I
lost control a bit,” he admitted sheepishly.

"Ignore
'im,” the first soldier told him with a friendly grin. "Ye did a fine job.”

"We will
be talking about control in the near future,” Amar said sternly.  As
Ramaeka turned to give him his most woebegone look he relented with a smile,
reaching up to scratch him behind an ear to his pleasure.

"I will
say this, you are full of surprises."

Turning he
looked at the General.  "Where would you like us sir?"

The General
glanced up at the storm ridden sky.

"With the
strange weather we're having I doubt Gasha will be attacking anytime soon.
 At least not in force until his reinforcements arrive.”  He switched
his attention back to them.  "If you could head towards the north
east of the city?  There have been reports of a few monsters breaching the
eagle ridge.  You'll find the lad you're after in that direction too,” he
smiled grimly as Ramaeka lit up at the hint of Stripe.  "He's been
fair useful too, very talented for his age and training or lack of.  We'll
call from the wall if we need you back.”

With that he
strode away followed by the other soldiers except for the friendly one.

"Reckon
I'll go with ye; make sure our boys n girls know yer friendly.”

Amar nodded.
 "That would be appreciated thank you.”

He waved off
their thanks and led them east through the city.  As they ran along the
cobbled streets Ramaeka couldn't help but admire the city.  Like his home
it was carved into a sheer mountain range but unlike the grim bleakness of his
father's fortress it was obviously normally a beautiful place. Statues and
gardens centred every street; the houses were all built with the beautiful pink
native rock.  All of the streets were well illuminated by crystal lamps which
Ramaeka was impressed by.

Along the way
several soldiers attempted to stop Ramaeka but each time their soldier guide
glared and sent them away with barked orders.  Ramaeka formed the idea
that he was highly ranked in the General's army.  They met no one other
than soldiers as they went, their guide explaining that the citizens that
couldn't fight were hidden in the caves where they cooked and looked after the
injured. The city itself was only accessible from the south, the rest was
encased in the mountains or ridges as their new friend informed them

"They's
each named after some beastie" he explained in his thick drawl.
 "Me name's Tameri by the by, Tam for shorten’n.”

"I'm
Ramaeka and this is Amar,” Ramaeka supplied keeping a wary eye on the houses
ahead.

"Ra and
Mar it is,” he grinned cheekily, blue eyes dancing.  Abruptly he stopped
holding up his sword.  The air in front of them twisted and Thowra's face
solidified in the whirlwind.

He was
smirking at the fright he had given them.  "I don't believe your
enemy will be attacking again tonight.”

"Thowra!”
Ramaeka sat on his haunches baring his fangs happily.  'You saved my hide
up there.”

Thowra just
laughed.  "That was the most fun I've had in years.”  He floated
upside down over top of Ramaeka.  "We'll have to go now though,
there's a big storm to brew a few worlds over that we're behind schedule on.”

"We
understand,” Amar reassured him.  “We are grateful for all you have done.”
 Thowra shrugged and melted back into the air again.  The wind whipped
away through the city whistling cheerfully across the buildings.

"Strange
friends ye got,” Tam commented eyes wide.  "Though t'would be nice
iffen he coulda stayed 'n helped.”

"He is an
Elementai,” Amar told him.  "It is rare for them to involve
themselves at all, and while Thowra is a good sort his being here will attract
others.  Many of them would make trouble just for the sake of it.
 Trust me you do not want mischief or death here.”

Tam shuddered
in response though Ramaeka wasn't so sure, it all sounded rather interesting to
him. Before he could say so screams reached his ears.  He bound forward,
racing three blocks and sliding around the corner.  He immediately ran
straight into trouble, literally.  He slammed into something big and fuzzy
with far too many limbs.  Fearsome fangs clacked above his left ear as
they tumbled over in a heap.  He yanked himself free, scrambling backwards
as the creature rolled on its back, its many legs waving wildly in the air.
 As he retreated he stumbled against something.  Glancing down he
went cold as he realized it was a woman her face swollen and purple, eyes
bulging.  Horrified he leapt away crouching low to the ground, his skin
tingling with fear.  Behind him Tam swore as he rounded the corner but
Ramaeka kept his eyes on the creature as it found its feet and faced them.
 At first he thought it was a giant spider, bigger than he was but when it
turned he realized it had the head of a boar, its tusks dripping in poison.
 It squealed furiously at them blinking multiple red eyes.  Answering
squeals echoed from above them.  Three more of the monsters were hanging
victims in webs they had created between the buildings.  Now they spun
down on threads of liquid web.  Tam swept past Ramaeka notching a bolt in
his crossbow.  He aimed at the spider-boar on the ground, sending the
bolt through one of its eyes.  Dropping the crossbow he drew his sword as
the thing threw itself forward dodging and hacking at its legs.  The blood
and gore from its eye splattered over one of Ramaeka's claws making him retch
in disgust.

Amar ran over
to the nearest building, magic glowing faintly in his hands.  Gulping
Ramaeka forced himself up; he couldn't stay crouched like a baby when his
friends were fighting.  He hated spiders though and these things were a
hideous mismatch of creatures.  With a snarl he pulled his claws free from
where they had sunk into the cobbled street.  Grabbing the stones that he
had yanked free he hurled them at the closest beast.  It screeched as one
left a gash on its bloated, hairy body and launched itself at him.
 Snarling and spitting he slid out of the way. The spider-boar reared back
and shot a translucent string of vile web at him; he dodged and heard the wet
thump as it hit the building behind him.  He ran forward and rammed his
head into its bulging stomach, driving it backwards and over, too winded to even
squeal.  Ignoring its struggles and venomous tusks, he slid his claws into
its throat and bracing himself with his tail, ripped its head from its body.
 As he dropped the head with a squelch something hit him from behind
slamming his head into the ground.  Struggling dizzily to get up he felt
wet strands of web slap his ribs sticking him to the ground.  The pressure
on his back suddenly disappeared and he struggled to stand, pulling at the
sticky web.

"Easy
mate.”

Tam was at his
side hacking at the web.  As the last one fell free Ramaeka pulled himself
up and looked around.  Amar stood beside the blackened husk of the spider
he had fought looking tired but whole to Ramaeka's relief.  Tam slapped
his side affectionately; he had only a few minor scratches and looked rather
pleased with himself.  Beyond him, hacking the head off the last spider
was Stripe.  Eight other men watched respectfully at a distance, weapons in
hand.  As the head fell free Stripe stepped back and turned to them
panting.

"What are
you doing here?” he demanded.  "Are you helping Gasha?”

Some of the
men growled and stepped forward.  Tam rolled his eyes.

"Yeah
that be exactly what ee's doin.  Him and spidey pig was just dancing yeah.”

Stripe glared
at him.  Tam held up his hands in mock surrender.

"We're
fightin' under General's orders.  Yon dragon’s done more 'n most to save
our hides so if ye don't mind we'll be off ta do some work.”

Stripe ignored
him and walked up to Ramaeka.  "You lied to me, how am, I supposed to
trust you?”

"I don't know,”
Ramaeka replied honestly.  "Maybe the same way I can trust two human
thieves with my life.”

Stripe winced
at that.

"Everything
else I told you was true, I don't eat people, I hate my family and I was
attacked by dragons.  But if you can't believe me despite everything then
so be it, I'm still going to do what’s right and protect this city if I can.
 You'll just have to get over it.”

He glared
right back at Stripe fluffing out his wings in frustration.

Stripe bit his
lip obviously struggling with himself.  Finally he sighed, shoulders slumping
as he sheathed his sword.

"Was it
your family who attacked you?” he asked quietly looking at the scars that stood
out vividly on Ramaeka’s side despite the muck and dirt.  Ramaeka shrugged
his wings settling back into place.

"My
father was going to kill my best friend; it was an easy decision to make.
 He and my family give our people a bad name.”

"We'll
sort them out after Gasha,” Stripe grinned weakly.  Ramaeka snorted taking
the peace offering and nudged him almost pushing him over.  Stripe laughed
and shoved back.

"You're
warm,” he said in surprise.  "I always thought..."