The Corin Chronicles Volume I: The Light and the Dark (37 page)

Realizing that Ramon had entered the room, Karimpo quickly stood up and held his hands out. “You must believe me, my lord,” he said. “I had nothing to do with this.”

“LIAR!” shouted Mikael. He edged forward before halting at the raise of Ramon’s right hand.

“What has happened here, Karimpo?” asked Ramon. “You assured me that your guards would protect us. We were only to stay for one night. Was it too difficult to carry out that simple request?”

Karimpo walked a few paces forward, exchanging glances with Ramon, Kasa, and Mikael, before fixing a stare at the elegantly dressed women. Following a nod from one of them, he faced Ramon. “You…you must be…believe me, my lord,” he said. “I did nothing that had not been decided from a higher order. You have my word on that.”

“Why should we take your word on anything you say?” growled Mikael.

“Mikael, please,” said Ramon firmly. He walked closer to the innkeeper, glancing at the senior women, who had not moved an inch. “I came to you in good faith,” he started. “I believed you were a man of your word.” He looked over at the still weeping women behind the bar for a few seconds before returning to Karimpo. “This higher order you speak of. Would that be Lady Xantia?”

Karimpo hesitated, looking around nervously toward the senior women once more. A nod from three of the women made him divert his attention back toward Ramon. “I…I cannot say, my lord,” he said. “It all gets very confusing. Just know that I meant for nobody to get hurt.”

“Well, unfortunately, it did not transpire that way, did it?” Ramon shouted, slamming his hands on the table beside him. A number of the women behind the bar let out loud screams, but the senior women remained unflustered. “There are two young men dead outside,” he continued. They would not be if you had not done what you did.”

“My lord,” interrupted Kasa. “From what he has said, I believe Lady Xantia was complicit with the events that occurred. This constitutes an act of war. Word must be sent to your father at once.”

“No,” shouted Ramon. He paused and took a deep breath. “No, Kasa,” he continued in a calmer voice. “We do not have the time for any of this. We must retrieve that sword at once. Any wounds that must be healed must wait until we complete our mission.” He faced the innkeeper. “I have no doubt that you know who I am. I also have no doubt that the words you said to me, guaranteeing my safety, were lies. Sabudu has never agreed with the policies set by my father, but I am no politician.” He paused when he heard a sigh from one of the senior women. “I merely desire what you stole from me,” he went on. “I will not deliver any such punishment to you or any of your men.” He glanced at the two men who stood behind Karimpo. Both were fairly large men with shaved heads. “All that I ask,” he continued, “is that you ensure that Lady Xantia knows about everything that happened here.”

Abruptly, the elegantly dressed women made their way toward the stairs and disappeared, without even another glance at Ramon or Karimpo. Breathing heavily, Karimpo held on to Ramon’s hand. “Yes, my lord,” he said. “I shall tell Lady Xantia myself. Of that I promise you.”

Ramon exited the inn, quickly followed by Kasa and Mikael. The sight of the two dead men, yards away from the inn’s entrance, unsettled him. They were too young to die, he thought. Quickly mounting their Ikrenums, the three men raced toward the hills of Syracasa.

The wind-swept dust that filled Rumin’s eyes nearly blinded him, but he pushed his Ikrenum harder and harder. Although unable to make out a complete outline of the four riders that had stolen from them, the thought of halting did not cross his mind. He also could no longer hear the occasional, faint calling of his name from Topenga, who had ridden out of the village just behind him.

The unfamiliar, darker skies made it harder for him to navigate his way through the thick dust. He had no real sense of the amount of time that had transpired since he began giving chase. After hearing Prince Ramon divulge the entire conversation with Master Nitiri the previous night, he understood the importance of the sword that had been stolen from them, and he could think only of retrieving it.

Such thoughts immediately left his head, however, when a different kind of force threw him off his Ikrenum. Rolling on the ground, he remained in a state of confusion. Something had hold of him. And it gradually became clear that the firm grip was human. He felt a coarse stubble rubbing against his face as the person pressed against his ribs, crushing the air from his chest.

He punched his assailant repeatedly in the stomach, but the grip did not seem to loosen. He tried reaching for his fork, but the momentum with which he rolled down the hill made it difficult. Glancing up, he saw the frame of three Ikrenums at the foot of the hill, and at that moment he knew that he had to make his move.

With all the power he could muster, he landed a firm blow in the chest of his assailant, causing the man to release his grip. Now free, he grabbed on to the root of a tall plant, hoping it would be strong enough to stop him falling.

As he steadied himself, he wiped the dust from his eyes and glanced ahead, realizing that the other three riders approached. With conviction, he drew his fork and used it to stand himself up. Thrust into the ground, his weapon kept him firmly on his feet, as the winds continued to bellow. He did not think about where Topenga was or whether or not he would arrive before the riders got to him. Retrieving the Sword of Corin remained his only priority. A familiar noise, however, made him turn around. A few yards from him was his own Ikrenum. It shook its head vigorously, flicking clouds of dust away, its human eyes expressionless.

Seeing his transporter, Rumin jumped onto it and reined it in the direction of the approaching riders, who had been joined by the man that had dismounted him. With his fork outstretched, a collision was imminent. The adrenaline continued to flow within him, and he let out a loud cry, quickly mimicked by his Ikrenum. Continuously weaving, he avoided the sword swipes of the two front riders before thrusting his fork into the third man, causing instant death.

Seeing this, the remaining men quickly sheathed their swords and armed themselves with spears instead. Rumin ducked to avoid a spear thrust and almost fell from his transporter. The clash continued in the same manner for many minutes. The dust from the ground continued to impair Rumin’s visibility, but his sharp reactions ensured that the two blades of his fork stopped the tip of a spear that approached his face. The attacker, still on his Ikrenum, pushed harder, but Rumin continued to resist. He feared for flanking, as he could not see where the other two riders were. He also thought he could hear the footsteps of an Ikrenum behind him.

As the footsteps came closer, he turned, parried downward, and quickly released the grip on his fork. The rider was left uncoordinated, his spear dragging the ground and pinned down by the blades of Rumin’s fork. Rumin leapt in the air, knocking the man off his transporter. Sensing the advantage he had gained on his attacker, he quickly pulled a bronze dagger and plunged it into the man’s chest. He looked on as his assailant’s hands slumped.

Catching his breath, he saw the face of an Ikrenum approaching. The rider’s helmet covered most of his face but his bright, golden locks remained visible. And the anger in the man’s eyes could not be mistaken for anything less than bloodlust. He recognized him as one of the men that had guarded Topenga’s room. Beside him was another man. The rough stubble on his face led Rumin to believe that he was the first assailant he had tangled with. The second man held on to a long bag. A sword hung at the edge, through a hole that had recently been made by the blade. His instincts told him that it could only be the Sword of Corin, but his predicament did not favor his retrieving it, for the first rider held a spear aimed directly at his heart. Sparing a glance at his fork, which lay a few yards ahead of him, he embraced what seemed his inevitable death.

Breathing faster and faster, he waited for the flight of the spear in the air, trying to imagine what death would feel like. But then the sight of a spear point emerging from the man’s chest startled him. Looking in the distance, through the fading dust, he saw Topenga charging toward the second man. Slow to react, the final soldier quickly dropped his sword, but he still held on to the bag.

“You are a hard man to find,” said Topenga, smiling.

Rumin got on his feet and walked toward his fork, picking it up while looking at the last standing assailant, who had dismounted from his Ikrenum.

“He carries the Sword of Corin,” Rumin said. “We should strike him down now.”

“Halt, Rumin,” said the voice of Ramon. Rumin looked in the direction of the voice to see his prince galloping toward them, before coming to a halt a short distance away.

With Mikael and Kasa following, Rumin sighed loudly, relieved that all of his comrades remained safe. “My lord,” Rumin said. “This man not only stole from us, but also tried to take my life.”

“I know what has happened here.” Ramon looked around at the three dead bodies. Like the two he had seen in the city, they seemed far too young. “This ends now. There must be no more blood spilled.”

“But, my lord,” snapped Rumin, “they threatened us. They stole from us something sacred and vital to our mission.”

“I know what they have done,” said Ramon. “We have never had a good relationship with Sabudu. A goodwill gesture here might be all that is needed.”

The laughter of the last remaining assailant resulted in all eyes falling on to him. “You think Lady Xantia will see this as a goodwill gesture?” he said. “Five of her men are dead. They were all brave, noble warriors from some of the most important houses in my great city. One of the men you killed in the inn was the concubine of Madam Moyan, one of Lady Xantia’s most trusted advisors. This goodwill gesture you speak of will never be taken into consideration. You might as well strike me down.”

Ramon walked up to the man. “What is your name, soldier?”

The man hesitated.

“When the Prince of Corin speaks, you answer,” growled Topenga.

“Francusis, my lord,” the man answered.

Ramon held out his right hand, never taking his eyes away from the soldier’s trembling feet. As quickly as he could, Francusis passed the bag to the prince. Following a few moments of studying the blade, Ramon walked toward Topenga and placed it in his hands. “You are still the only person I trust to look after this,” he said.

With a nod, Topenga placed it in his pack.

“You will go now, Francusis,” said Ramon. “Tell Lady Xantia everything I have said. She must know nothing less than the truth. It is a tragedy that lives were lost today. We share in the struggles of our great planet. We must not fight among ourselves.” He nodded at Francusis. “Go now.”

Following a quick mount, Francusis tugged on the reins of his Ikrenum and sped back toward Sabudu.

5.6

R
IVER
C
RASUS

T
he winds had lessened significantly, but the skies continued to darken. With no way to measure time, Ramon continued to rely on instinct. The eyes of all five men remained fixed above them, as they tried to spot even the faintest star or the tiniest sliver of the Corin moon. With Sabudu now behind them, they rode in silence, not once discussing the events that had transpired there.

As they rode, Mikael sprang back to life at the sight of something a couple miles ahead. He thought at first it might be only a mirage. Upon closer inspection, it appeared to be waves overflowing from a river. “By the gods!” He tugged against Ramon’s hand.

With a wave of his right hand, the prince halted the party, as he focused on the sight in the distance. He observed that a long stretch of grass and small plants surrounded the area around the river, but there were no trees in sight.

“Could that be it?” asked Kasa. His plump cheeks turned bright red once more.

“I believe we are nearly there,” said Topenga. He reached into his backpack, bringing forth a cloth to wipe beads of sweat from his forehead.

“My comrades,” the prince spoke formally. “From here on in, we need to be on our guard at all times. Do not trust anything you see or hear. Mikael, hand me the torch for the blue flame.”

“Yes, my lord,” replied Mikael. He dismounted his Ikrenum and walked over to the prince, handing him a solid torch made from pure brass.

Looking back at his gallant men, Prince Ramon reached into his armory and pulled out a large piece of metallic cloth, which he draped over the torch. “As the darkness continues to smother our path,” he said, “the light of our fathers will guide us.” He gently placed the torch into his backpack and prompted his Ikrenum to continue toward the river.

His faithful transporter let out a loud scream and set off at a fast and eager pace. The rest of the party followed closely behind, as the five Ikrenums rapidly continued on their journey, leaving the hills of Syracasa as an afterthought. When they had come within a few yards of the river, the winds had completely ceased, and darkness nearly smothered them.