Victor Deus (Heritage of the Blood Book 1) (44 page)

Elandria looked down at the boy as if he had just struck her in the face.
Why didn't I think of that?
“Yes, he is. You don't ever really stop being a Warden Victor, it's kind of like being a knight. You may not hold the job anymore, but you never lose the position. You think this is Dunnagan's mount?”

Victor shrugged at her in a non-committal manner, and walked towards the ram. He raised the saddle, and through it onto the creatures back, and began setting the bridle without complaint from the ram. In fact, as she watched, it appeared as if the ram was helping him with the setting of the gear. After he finished cinching the strap, he propelled himself upward into the stirrup, and into the saddle.

“I think we had better take him back to Nim, he will probably know for sure.” Victor said calmly.

With that the ram started at a slow walk towards where the troop had set up a base camp. Elandria only shook her head as she watched Victor continue on. She kept a trot along side the beast, and had trouble watching her surroundings.
Who are you?
She asked silently towards Victor. As if hearing the question Victor looked at her jogging beside him, and smiled softly before looking straight ahead once more.

*****

“Rider coming,” the druid named Warren called back to the camp. It was one of the only things Nim had heard from the man since taking command of McDowell's squad. He went over to the man who stood there with eyes that were an unnatural dark green, and hair as dark as dirt. Try as he might though, Nim couldn't see anyone approaching.

“Um, I don't see anyone Warren.” Nim said cautiously.

“Of course not, they won't be in sight for another minute or so.” The druid said in a tone that might have been condescending.

“Oh, yes of course. How silly of me. Why would I think they were in sight.” Sarcasm dripped from Nim, and his tone expressed that he was not amused.

Letting out a sigh, the man turned to Nim. “The trees told me.” He said flatly.

“Oh, why didn't you just say that to start?” Nim said quite seriously.

Taken aback by Nim's aloof manner Warren just stared at him. Nim knew that the man wasn't used to people accepting the fact that he communed with nature so intimately. In fact, Nim was quite sure that some openly scoffed such attachments. Nim knew however, that like the energies that a Mage, or a Priest might use, and bend to their wills, Druids could do something on that same level. After seeing some of the things that had happened 'naturally,' Nim wasn't sure if this man might harness more power than either the Mages or Priests.

“Do you know who it is?” Nim asked him a few seconds later.

“No Sir,” The man said with a new found respect. “All they say is that a large four legged beast treads upon their roots, and the creatures head, and that of its rider brush their branches. They also say that their may be another pair of feet walking next to the beast, masked by the vibrations of the creatures feet.”

Nim nodded to the man. It was only a few moments after the man had finished talking that Nim was able to see something moving in the distance. Whatever it was, it was large. The first thing he saw come out of brush was the head, quickly followed by the massive horns on the ram's head. The rider on the things back was small, nearly hidden, behind the thing's head, and in its shaggy coat. The person that trod beside the great creature however was unmistakable to Nim, even from this distance, he recognized the lithe figure of Elandria. The massive bow she carried with her also identified her well.

“That is Elandria on the right. So, I'm assuming that Victor is on the ram.” Nim laughed. “How he got up there I couldn't guess. How it didn't kill him when he did it confounds me even more so.” Shaking his head, he walked towards his companions followed closely by Warren.

“Hi Nim! Victor nearly yelled.” He stood up on the ram's back, and waved.

Nim heard Warren chuckle beside him. Everyone in the squad had taken to Victor, and he brought a brightness with him that they hadn't had in these bleak times. The boy had that effect on people. Nim wished he knew how Victor did it, but he had to admit that even he felt more comfortable when his young friend was around. Elandria looked up at Victor and shook her head.

“We came upon this brute when we were on patrol. It was the only thing we found the whole time except a few squirrels. Victor just walked up to the thing, and saddled it.” Elandria said in a tone that said she did not approve.

“Oh, he's nice.” Victor said defensively.

Warren walked past Nim, and went up to the ram. He put his hand on the creatures head, and bowed his own. Victor had to lean to see the man, and Nim nearly leapt to catch Victor. There was no need however. Victor was perfectly balanced in his precarious position.

“What's he doing?” Victor asked Nim. If the boy had noticed Nim's move as anything more than coming beside him, he didn't show it. Elandria however had a small smile on her face, as she stood only inches away, obviously she had thought Victor was bound to plummet also.

“My guess is that he is talking with the ram.” Nim said.

“Oh, ok.” Victor replied simply.

Nim looked at Victor and shook his head. He then looked at the druid, who now stood smiling up at the Victor.

“From all I can gather from Thunder he is Dunnagan's companion. He is also a very smart creature. It appears that whatever ability you have with people also works on animals.” Warren said. “Intelligent ones at least.” He added.

Victor of course just looked at the man confused. Nim knew that Victor had no idea of his effect on people. For now, he thought that was for the best.

“You two must be tired, go get something to eat. Did the ram…”

“Thunder,” Warren said.

“… did Thunder see the terrain where Dunnagan, Ashur, and Shawnrik were captured?” Nim remembered Thunder, and this couldn't be that beast. For one, it was bigger. It also seemed much more intelligent than Nim remembered the ram being. Their were some similarities however, so he conceded that it could be one of the original Thunder's offspring.

“Yes sir, he said that Dunnagan and his companions took a small trail up the side of the ravine west of here. I can take you to it. He also says that the ones who captured Dunnagan took their horses.” Warren stood their looking uncomfortable, and Nim raised an eyebrow giving the signal for him to continue. “From the images I gathered Sir, there are at least two Dracair Assassins in there.”

Nim whistled softly. “Great.” He mumbled under his breath, and turned towards the camp. Warren and Thunder followed him as he walked to the rest of the men who sat around a small campfire. “Put some dirt on that.” Nim said pointing to the fire. “Everyone look sharp.” The camp had all quieted, and now had their attention on Nim. “How many patrols do we have still out?”

“Four” The Dwarf Rundig answered quickly. “The one to the north that Zander took, and the one that is scouting the west.”

Nim swore, and everyone was now on their feet checking their gear.

“What's wrong Sir.” Zan'keth asked.

“We have reason to believe there are at least two Dracair Assassins in the ravine to the west.” Nim said flatly. He had found that keeping information like this from people usually got them killed.

His statement brought even more cursing, and now everyone was pulling their extra weapons they kept in their packs. Soon the camp was bristling with more weapons than an armory. Half of which appeared to be on Rundig, and Corporal Jameson. Like Ashur, these men had only one job, and they did it well. While the rest of the squad had other duties, these two men were pure fighters. Every weapon on them would be used with precision, and they knew that, besides Nim, they would stand the best chance against a Dracairei.

“I want the watch doubled. Four hour shifts. Someone try to contact Zander.” Nim said as he equipped the rest of his weapons.

“Yes Sir.” Jameson said saluting. “Za'kereth…”

“On it.” The Grey Elf Wizard said quickly.

“Sir, may I ask where you are going?” Jameson said cautiously as Nim started at a quick walk out of the camp.

“West,” Nim said quickly. “And put out that damn fire!”

Victor and Elandria started to follow Nim on his way out, and he turned on them quickly. “Where do you think you are going?!”

“With you,” They both intoned at the same time.

“Oh, no you're not. You have both already been out for more than a few hours. I can't have you loosing focus halfway through. Stay here, and rest. You'll need your energy soon enough.” Nim half turned to go, and saw Elandria start to protest. “That's an order Private!”

Elandria stiffened and saluted. “Yes Sir!” One thing they instilled in every recruit was that you saluted your officers. Nim had never expected it of people, and he had always told the soldiers that he was retired when they tried. When he gave orders however it was clear that he was still a soldier. Victor thought about following Nim anyway, after all he wasn't officially in the knights. He realized however, that Nim was right. He was tired from the mornings outing, and he wouldn't be much use anyway.

“Zander said he will meet you near the ridge.“ Za'kereth yelled at Nim as he was nearing the edge of the clearing.

Nim didn't turn around, all he did was wave to convey that he had heard.

The evening light was fading when Nim and Zander came into view, with six bows trained on them.

“I'm glad that you are all paying attention, but the first one that shoots at me loses a leg.” Nim said quite seriously. That would have normally brought a laugh from the men, but they noticed that there were no others with the two, and they knew what that meant. No one wanted to ask, because everyone knew. The question however needed to be voiced.

“What about the patrol?” Elandria asked.

Nim simply shook his head.

“We found Paul, most of him. No sign of Traville though. My guess is they took him back for questioning.” Zander went to his gear and removed the few weapons he carried with him. Victor thought that Traville wouldn't talk. What he didn't realize, and what everyone else did, was that Zander really meant torture, when he said question. The Dracairei were known for their questioning techniques, and they knew that the man wouldn't survive the night. Whether he talked or not.

“We scouted the area however.” Nim stepped into the roll he had left years before. He would mourn the dead when there was time, for now however, there was work to be done. “We will break camp an hour after midnight. That gives us about four hours of rest, I expect you to take it. I know I will.”

Zander took out a roll of parchment from a case he carried on his back, and handed it to Sergeant McDowell. “Here is a map of the ravine. There is a lot of blood orcs down there. I couldn't get a good look in the tunnels they have though, there was a magic ward on them. Do what you can with this, I'm going to take Nim's advice and rest.” With that he went over to his gear and laid down.

Victor had been trying to do as little as possible that evening, but he knew he had to get some sleep. Several others went to their places they had laid out for sleeping, and followed suit. The rest went over the map Zander had given McDowell, or stood watch.

Victor was tired, but he didn't think he would be able to sleep. Only a few minutes after he lay down though, he was out.

“Welcome,” Victor heard, and looked up. He found himself in a room decorated in red murals. Scenes of depravity were depicted all about him. On a dais in front of him stood two men near a large basin. The first thing he noticed about them were their blood red robes.

“Hello Victor.” The other man said. Victor didn't like the fact that the man knew his name. The man who spoke first was an older man, his head was cleanly shaved, and his grin sent a chill through Victor. The second man was much younger, and had more of a trapped dog look, as if any wrong move could mean his death. It was obvious to Victor that the old man was the master, of the younger. He just didn't enjoy the fact of knowing he was a cruel teacher.

“I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage.” Victor said with a wry smile.

“Ah yes, forgive my rudeness.” The older one said with his mordant grin. “My young companion is Temendri, and I am called Yandarian. We are of the order of Relikos.”

“Blood Mages.” Victor snarled.

Yandarian nodded. “Most call us thus. We are glad that you finally chose to fall asleep. If you hadn't, all of your friends would be dead by morning.” He said this with such conviction that Victor knew the man was quite sure what he said was true. Victor's eyes narrowed as he examined these two men.

“What does my falling asleep have to do with anything?”

“Why Victor. It is the only time that we can penetrate the defenses someone has set upon you. They have been upon you since your birth. Now, as to what your falling to sleep has to do with your friends survival, it's very simple. Sometime early this morning, your friends will assault the outpost we have let the Blood Orcs establish. There is, within the caves, a rune of transport. We have a company of Dracani and Magnus Dracani ready for transport to the location. There are also a handful of Dracairei already inside the encampment. Your friends are good, but even they cannot withstand that many Dracair and three hundred orcs.” The old mage spoke of his friends death, as one would speak of the weather over tea.

Victor didn't like where this conversation was going. These were men that belonged to the order that had taken Shaylyn away from him. In fact, from the way these two talked, it was probably one, if not both, of them. He considered all of the possibilities of where this conversation could be going, and one possibility kept coming to the forefront.

“You want me to come to you, or you will kill my friends.” Victor stated. It was not a question, he knew it was the only possible reason why they would be doing this. He just didn't understand why.
What do they want me for?

“You are very astute for one your age. I wish that I could train you myself.” Temendri was visibly shaking now, and Victor knew that the man saw Victor as a threat to his position. Yandarian looked over at his young apprentice and smiled. “I'm afraid however, that is not my job. That… is reserved for another.”