The Crimson Claymore (18 page)

“Victoria, when I found you, I knew that you were the one. I knew that I had to have you as mine, if you dared take me. I asked for your hand and promised I would never again stain my blade with the blood of innocents. Yet still, I gave you time, so we could get to know each other. I deem that time over, and I come to you in confession. I love you. My desire burns for you with every ounce of my soul, and if you would have me as your husband, I would like you to marry me, and then no longer will beds separate us. I want to be with you, mind, body, and soul.”

Crimson stained her cheeks in a blush, and she covered her smile. She spoke no words but instead fell into his arms. With all of her might she hugged him, sucking all the breath from within him until his face turned blue. She released and kissed him with such passion that Noraes averted his eyes.

“I accept.”

Noraes stepped inside and smiled. “I, Noraes, have born witness to the proposal between Searon and Victoria and deem the two shall marry one week from today.”

Searon clasped his brother’s shoulder and murmured a thank you before returning his attention back to his fiancée. He held her in his arms and never wanted to let her go.

* * *

Searon shivered as he remembered the day he proposed to her. It was both a fond and a sad memory for him. The day was grand, and he had been so happy that his brother had given his blessing. It was the start of a perfect life for Searon. Yet it was sad now because his perfect life was over. Victoria was gone, and nothing he could do would ever bring her back. He shivered and cast such thoughts from his mind.

He stirred from his sleep on the night of the fifth day and tried to shut his eyes again to meet Victoria in his dreams once more. Karceoles nudged him, and he growled before reluctantly rising to his feet. It was now time for him to go on watch, which meant it was nearing morning of the sixth day. He stood and yawned before going next to the smokeless fire and warming his hands. The weather wasn’t freezing, but there was a chill in the air at night. It was the middle of day that carried all of the heat, but it began to drop in temperature the farther south they went.

After warming himself for a moment, he got to his feet and unpacked some deer meat that he’d brought to the fire to warm. He kept his rations of deer calculated as not to eat too much. Neither he nor Karceoles wanted to stop during the travel to find food, when they were trying to make haste. From what the wizard said, it was a longer journey south than north, and so their horses made great speed during the day.

Searon was eager to see his brother again, and he often wondered what he was up to. He wondered if his wild nature had finally been tamed by a woman and kids. It was a pleasant thought, but Searon wouldn’t believe it unless he saw it for himself. Noraes was too outspoken and loved the thrill of the chase, whether it be in battle or of women.

Through the rest of the darkness and into the sunrise it was mostly calm besides a few howls of wolves that seemed to be too far north to worry about, and the hooting of owls. The sun came over the mountains to the east, and Searon watched it for a long moment. It was a beautiful sunrise with an orange sky, and glittered light appeared through the clouds that covered the sun. The winding river glittered with the light as it snaked through the thick trees toward the flat plains and mountain. Searon stood on the hill amid the trees for a long moment watching the sunrise and smoking his pipe before turning to wake up the wizard.

Karceoles woke with a yawn and stumbled to grab his zylek to help him rise. His white hair was tangled, and he brushed it, annoyed, with his hands to settle it away from his orange eyes. He grabbed some provisions of food and water from his saddlebags that he finished rapidly before putting the saddle back on horse and securing himself on top. Searon followed his lead and put the saddlebags back on Stripes.

The horses began at a walk, as they were weary as well. Searon had been silent for the past few days while he rode with Karceoles because his mind had been occupied with memories of Noraes. Yet the wizard had still not answered his question.

“How do you know my brother?”

Karceoles’s eyes darkened as he looked back at him. “I am a wizard; I know everything.”

Searon grunted, but he expected such an answer from the wizard. “I haven’t seen him in years; I didn’t know he was still alive. I would have figured he would have ridden himself to battle and death long ago. Either that or pissed off a woman enough for her to kill him.”

Karceoles laughed. “Yes, I could see that from the little I know of him. He is alive and well the last I left.”

The wizard took his pipe from his robes and took a long puff. Honey-cinnamon aroma filled the air surrounding them that mixed with Searon’s delightfully aromatic Cavendish blend. Both sat silent for a minute as their horses walked side by side through the cover of trees.

“You have met him?” Searon asked with blood growing hot.

“No, but I’ve wandered long and far during the years of my travels.”

“Where does he live, what city has he run off to?”

“Run off? You two may be brothers, but he isn’t like you. He likes what is comfortable. There were a few times he tried relocating, but each time he came back to Legain, and there he stays.”

“Legain? I do not know if I’m ready to see all of my old friends. The questions…they will ask of her.”

“Sometimes, the best way to grieve is to face it head on and get it over with. Only then can you continue on in peace.”

“Perhaps you’re right…but don’t expect to hear that much from me. I should be able to hold myself together…but as soon as I meet my brother, I will be in need of a pub with whiskey.”

“As will I, my friend.”

“Hold up…I don’t know if you have earned calling me that yet.”

Karceoles looked back at him with question, but Searon was only smiling with a playful face. Instead of growing heated, the wizard only laughed and clapped Searon’s back. They continued on in mostly silence.

By midafternoon, the horses grew weary of galloping, but neither Searon nor Karceoles let them rest yet. Searon had a feeling, and so he pressed Stripes on. His horse wasn’t nearly as tired as the wizard’s was, and there were many days that Searon had pushed Stripes even harder. It seemed as if ahead of them was a pure bright light, and Searon strived to reach it.

Finally, Stripes burst through it with Karceoles’s horse close behind. Searon’s eyes widened with wonder, and he tugged his stallion’s reins to bring Stripes to a stop. Karceoles stopped quickly after and guided his horse next to Searon. In front of them the forest was gone, to be replaced with a meadow as far as the eye could see. Perfect bright-green grass covered the distance for leagues. A large river could be seen winding south between dozens of villages. Smoke from chimneys could be seen above every village.

“One step closer, yet still many days away from Legain. Still, it is nice to see civilization once more,” Karceoles whispered.

“You’re only excited to have more people to torment,” Searon laughed.

“That may be so, yet I would not mind that whiskey you spoke of either.”

“Then let us be off, slowly this time, for our horses need the rest. The river I see is three leagues south, and we should stop there for drink before we continue the final league into the first village.”

“A sound plan, though I could have come up with a better one myself.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, though you will never hear it now. Your plan it shall be that we follow.”

Searon chuckled and nudged Stripes forward.

Chapter 18

S
tarlyn awoke as the sun edged toward the trees to the west. Twilight covered the ground now, and many of the afternoon hours had passed in rest. No longer was the blazing sun making her weary, but instead the night chill gave her comfort. She did not sweat but a few droplets even during the highest point of the sun, but she noticed Andron drenched in it even when covered in shade. Kheshlars were different from humans and didn’t strain from the temperatures of either hot or cold. When kheshlars would sweat it was because of thought and not heat. Still, she was parched, and she drained the contents of her water skin into her mouth. She walked forward to the pond where she filled it to the top, unaware of how much farther it would be until another fresh water source could be found. The lands before her were strange, and even during her adventures in battle against the draeyks, she had not traveled this far.

Andron still lay peacefully against the tree, snoring lightly with mouth open. She smiled as she nudged him, and his eyes opened slowly with strain to glance at her.

“Has it reached our hour to go already?” he yawned.

“I’m afraid so. Do not fret, for we shall start slow.”

He yawned again and took his water skin to his mouth. It emptied quickly, and he frowned. Walking to the pond, he filled it quickly and stretched lazily.

“Aw, but I wish we did not have to leave so hastily. I would very much like to smoke my pipe once more. I deem we take a fitting rest once we arrive at my city.”

“It shall be. Yet if you wish, you may smoke once more before we travel forth.”

“There shouldn’t be too many enemies about hopefully. Perhaps only a little, though when we reach a city I will be in dire need of an ale.”

Starlyn smiled. “When we reach a city, I will buy you the first ale.”

“My foot will press faster with that news; will you drink with me?”

“Kheshlars do not drink ale or beer.”

Andron frowned with the saddest face he could fathom, and Starlyn laughed.

“Perhaps I will have a glass of wine.”

“That will suit. But we’ve talked too long; let us be off.”

Andron walked alongside Starlyn, and she could smell the rich aroma of pipe weed beside her. Erenuyh hung back ten paces watching them, but he did not speak or make a sound. His eyes seemed ever moving, as if searching the darkness for any friend or foe. Starlyn did not know much about the strange kheshlar other than his skill with a bow. His leader, Vaelmirr, had been a good friend of hers in the war of shadow against the draeyks, and she trusted his counsel of taking this kheshlar with them. As of yet, his usefulness wasn’t known.

The stars above shone brightly as happy thoughts fluttered her mind. Soon, she would travel into a human town and make her presence known. She would be the first kheshlar revealed to the outside world. Fear and pride both overtook her as she thought. The king, Elsargast, would probably greatly disapprove of her quest. She did not seem to mind or care, though, because her focus was blind to those of the kheshlars. All that she wanted was to cause death and destruction to the draeyks. They were despicable creatures that warped the mind of her sister. Beyond all else, all that she wanted was her sister back. Not this new “undead kheshlar” that Karceoles had called her, but the true Arria, with the heart of gold.

The moon was a crescent that night, yet beautiful amid the stars. When all else failed of bringing a smile to her face, the night sky was always there to cheer her up. Every time she would glance upon it, there would be a smile to meet her face. She felt stronger during the night than at day. In that way, she was different from her sister. Her sister had always seemed stronger during the day with the bright sun about her face. Still, many nights they enjoyed watching the stars together.

A sudden howl in the wind caught her attention and shattered her thoughts. She stared to the east toward the mountains, but she could see nothing. Wolves didn’t often howl when there was but a sliver of a moon, unless they were to attack. More howls echoed it, and each came from the east. Erenuyh behind her paced up and withdrew an arrow but did not notch it. He peered around both north and east for a long while. Andron shivered next to her and grasped his sword.

“If battle approaches, I’ll wish I never smoked,” he whispered.

The sun was only minutes from the light being completely extinguished, and Starlyn felt the long handle of her axe. Suddenly, snarls could be heard from the north, and from the hilltops came a force of draeyks sprinting forth with haste. There were a lot of them, much more than the three would be able to handle.

“Erenuyh, how fare your eyes? How many do you see?”

“Fifty dragon creatures. I do not yet know if the wolves will join them.”

Andron’s sword unsheathed, and the blade became transparent with the darkness. He held steady and breathed slowly, casting his eyes from side to front. Starlyn pulled her hammer from her belt and felt at the long spike along the back of it before holding it steady with its face in front. She unclasped the pack at her back and quickly attached her armor in place of her lesser leather. When she let the leather fall to reveal her nearly naked body, she caught a glimpse from Andron for only a second but let it pass.

“A few more paces. Reach the top of the hill, and hold. We must have the high ground against this many,” Starlyn said.

Andron leaped forward and stood atop the hill, ready for the worst to come at him. He seemed focused with more intensity than Starlyn had ever seen him. Time seemed to slow for her as well, and she stood alongside him. Erenuyh stood to their left, still glancing at the mountains to the east as he loosed arrows.

Seven draeyks fell before the party reached the top of the hill thanks to Erenuyh’s arrows. Starlyn hit with the first strike, knocking a creature down the hill to tumble into many foes. Andron brought his sword forward to block incoming axe strikes from the draeyks. He held well, and each of his blocks was met well. Starlyn was thankful for his protection as she hammered foes back with force. She held the offensive while he held her defense. He saved her from many blows, and his speed with a sword impressed her greatly. He was faster with sword than any she had ever seen, even Searon. Yet Searon didn’t rely on speed but strength, and Andron lacked much of that strength.

Soon, they were overwhelmed by foes, and Erenuyh had to toss his bow back over his shoulder to bring forth a kheshlarn short sword. He fought valiantly next to Starlyn, and hope seemed in their favor for a moment.