The Last Heroes Before Judgement (3 page)

Once the guards stepped out of the way, Grandfather kicked the steed into a full gallop. The Sheriff called out loud enough to spur more guards to him, and I saw enough steel glisten in the darkness to be glad that we left without a fight.

No man had to tell me never to return to Ulfbar. The Slorrick sun worshippers were taught to hate Cairan’s from birth. So, it would not be long before Leiza was moved further north- sold into service for the Harlot’s Guild. For all the city had done to us, and all the times we had stolen reparations over the years, it was still a shameful hell to see it die. When the fires started, we were nearly out of sight, yet still close enough to hear the guard rush in on the contested areas. More than one man called for a retreat amongst the screams. His cry reminded me to be thankful for our safety. No matter what happened to us next, we had already survived the worst. And still, we had each other.

Senjay fell asleep on my shoulder, making it hard to stare back east at the shrinking flames. Eventually, I slipped out of wakefulness without meaning to, and found myself in a nightmare. My first night away from the mine in three months and I dreamt of wandering forever through its endless tunnels. I had a brief moment of peace when Senjay complained about my moans and he moved to lay on Lazarus. The wind bit down on me with cold teeth and I was thrown back into the insane dream of having the tunnels turned over- resulting in an endless free fall. Grandmother woke me by accident, as she was covering all of us in the long pelt of a sloth.

“Where am I?”

“We are still on the highway Matthius. Don’t worry, you will all wake up when you hear hooves in the tunnel.”

“What a shame we couldn’t see it in the day.”

“That’s alright dear, everyone needs their rest now- except you. Sit up and let me look at this while we’ve still got the moonlight.”

“Do you have a key for this cuff?”

I held up my hand and shook it. Instead of responding, she used the distraction to quickly rip the rag off my head. From where she separated my long dirty hair, I gathered the wound was centered on the back from where I slammed into the wall. She cut the dirty hairs as best as she could in the low light. Her fingers were unflinching, and she spoke softly to cover the sound of my whining. Her skills as a doula served me well.

“You are lucky to be alive. Can you still see from both eyes? You are lucky to be so young. You had better start being more careful. If you were born to be a hero, you would not be bleeding so much. Do you hear me?”

I thought myself lucky to not end up bald like the others, but, she worked over my scalp without mercy, and then ran stitches through me without warning.

“That hilt is going to burn straight through your hair. I hope you know what you’ve been signed up for. He-olt swears you will just laugh at anything the Lantos throw at you, but…” she dropped her hands and huffed, “peace is so expensive, Matthius. There is just no way the lords will allow it continue for much longer. When the Swillians return, you will be the first men standing in their way. And, you’re naught but boys. It’s not fair.”

“No worries Grandmother, we will fight them off together.”

She wanted to argue more. Instead, she focused on not crying, and went back to ride on the steed. She wrapped herself around Grandfather for warmth, and buried her face into his back. I wiped off the loose hairs and turned towards the rear to let the rushing wind cool my burning scalp.

There was little blood left to wipe away with the stitches pulling the skin tight. When I lifted the rag to dry off in the wind, the shadow of the mountain quickly enveloped the light of the moon. Once the steed crossed through the threshold into the tunnel, the air filled with a thunder from his hooves. The others jumped up, yelling at the sudden eruption of bone shaking echoes. We moved back close to each other and covered our ears against the noise. Omar hid under the sloth pelt completely and curled into a ball. Few caverns branched from the main path and, eventually, we were in complete darkness. They did not slow the beast until a small bit of light crept in from the western opening. By then, I was the only one still fully awake. Grandmother hopped back into the cart to stand up a post. Always the planner, she had smuggled a UNF lighting globe out of the city. Senjay did not have the wherewithal to look away as she pulled the starter cord. In the middle of a lazy yawn, he made the mistake of watching the flash ignite the whale oil inside.

“I’m blind! Help, I’ve been blinded.”

“Well then, you’ll know better next time.”

He continued to stare into the lighting globe as she hung it on the post and crossed his hands over his face to bring his vision back faster. Omar sat up and stretched as though he had fallen back to sleep despite all the noise.

“I say, are we to the bridge already?”

“You weren’t asleep Omar.”

“At least I’m not blind you idiot.”

“That’s enough you two. We only slowed down to keep from waking too many bats. So, shut your mouths because they like their prey alive and kicking.”

“Bats? Yes ma’am. Eek.”

Omar slid back under the sloth pelt and curled into a trembling ball of cowardice. When I poked him, he shook and let out a whine.

“Ha, poor baby. Scared of bats sweetness? And you’re still blind? Oh well, I will have to marvel at the Giant’s Bridge alone.”

“That’s right, and you can even do it with your mouth shut. Bad enough you came out here with fresh blood.”

My face burned red for no one to see. Omar started muttering about blood and monsters, but, he kept very quiet. Senjay turned to whisper with severely crossed eyes.

“Yer a goner anyways matey. Just draw ‘em off like a good lad.”

“Hey! No fair.”

He ducked under the sloth pelt and Lazarus poked him. At least he laughed with me, that is, until the cart slowed to a crawl. The tunnel opened into a wide cavern that ended with a cliff on all sides. The cold air was besmirched by the clicking and squeaking of the bats. I followed it up to their den, hanging from the stalactites some two hundred feet off the ground. Thankfully, I saw only a few small pairs of glowing eyes, and most of them remained asleep. They did not mind us passing through quietly, but the mood changed when the steed’s hooves set down on the smooth limestone bridge. An entire flock dropped and flew out over the chasm. They blocked out the moon more completely than any of the clouds, but they dare not get too close.

The clicking grew louder and they took turns breaking off to smell for fear. They passed by the lighting globe checking for moths- but went hungry. Some made the mistake of latching onto the steed, but, grandfather brandished his long sword and cut them down. When they reappeared on the bridge behind us they were torn apart by their fellow monsters. One flew close enough to swat at. When I did, the chain that I had forgot about bent a finger back. I howled at the pain. The echo blew into the swarm, driving them to hover by the rear of the moving cart.

“Could you not keep quiet for one minute? Even at the expense of your own safety?”

Grandfather bellowed loud over the empty river valley and kicked the steed into a trot. The bridge was spotted with ice and the sliding meant a speedier escape was just as likely to send us over the edge. I had no choice but to stand in between them and the others. The chain swung heavy in one hand and with the other I held out the bloody rag. The bats blended together into a cloud of grey fur and glowing silver platters for eyes. Then the light was covered, and I had to adjust to the few grey rays that managed to penetrate through the cloud cover.

“Sorry boys, I’m not sitting this one out.”

I turned back to see that Grandmother had tossed down the still burning globe and positioned the pole in both hands to deliver blows. The distraction allowed the first bat to suck my hand out of the air like a moth. The two piercing teeth were too far apart to cut me but the thing held on tight and licked at the bloody rag.

“I can see why you’re so afraid Omar- these things are massive.”

They all pulled the cover up to look and Omar fainted immediately.

“Move closer and pull that tight. We need room to step.”

“Wait you’ll miss this. Ugh- fine.”

The weight of the overgrown rat did not impress me, so I tried smashing it on the cart door. I found the bats to be hollow as a songbird- and twice as fragile. The hollow thing collapsed, and the flock consumed it on the road while still alive. We passed the high arch signaling the half way mark and they were joined by another army of bats from under the bridge.

They blocked out all the light beyond five paces and surged in from all sides. The steed slowed to fight them off, so, Grandfather laid prone on its back and calmly swung his sword in wide arcs. Grandmother seemed glad to have an outlet for her frustrations, and the bat army would have avoided her entirely, if she were not standing over the lighting globe. I had it so easy that I was laughing and egging them on using the blood soaked rag as bait.

“Well met, flying rat. I am Matthius the Basher. Observe.”

The heavy cuff moved quickly between targets and the chain allowed it to snap closely around my body. They rushed in clicking at my hand and sucked in air- just in time to eat a death blow.

“Oh, and you too? Is it snack time? No, sorry, it’s bashing time.”

The rag slipped from all the bat slobber and was quickly sucked up like a small bug. They still swarmed at me for the fresh blood, but, their new target was the back of my head. One quickly latched on from above and sunk his teeth in to hold on. I failed to pull him off, and then had to swing at one on my left. His rough tongue scraped over the wound as if he were trying to roll the wings and legs from the thorax of a much smaller kill. I tugged at his ear but he stayed suctioned to my scalp. Before he undid my stitches, he was tackled by an even larger bat. They spilled down into the cart- still fighting each other. Another latched around my right arm but found it too small to properly bite. I left him there, gladly using his body to shield my right side. We were losing to them, and the steed had nearly come to a full stop from the weight. He was covered in the blood sucking monsters, trying and failing to impale them on his horn.

“Tiana, light them up!”

“Boys, stay down. Senjay, don’t look this time.”

Grandmother ducked down and threw the lighting globe high above the bridge. When we passed under it, she threw a knife that shattered the curved glass. The pressurized contents erupted into a massive fireball that burned the swarm from within, and even singed the bat on my arm. He joined the rest of the horde in splitting into smaller swarms. They decided to stop chasing us, as it was much easier to simply eat their freshly cooked cousins. I put my foot up on the cart door and spun the chain around my head in victory.

“That’s right you flying rats! Hey look, a baby one. No don’t- owie!”

A smaller bat bit me just above the knee, but to be fair, I had propped it up there for him. Senjay got out from under the pelt and took a look at the cute little baby, before I popped him off. I showed him mercy, throwing him up in the air to head home. The elders were more concerned with the steed and his many bites. The moment we passed back onto solid ground he took off at a full gallop. Omar was so afraid that he had peed on himself. For the first time in my life, I was too tired to poke fun at him.

The western road was made of dirt. Even covered with a layer of snow, it held the wheels better than the paved bridge had done with a thin sheet of ice. The rush took its toll on my aching head worse than on my tired body- sleep was the remedy for both. The air filled with the smell of cow dung, meaning that we were surrounded by farming peoples on all sides. The established hunting community meant that we would be safe from monsters for the rest of our journey. We took a turn north just before I fell back to sleep, and that was the last bumpy interruption.

I did not wake up until the steed pulled to a stop. Mother Moon had travelled east toward the allFather to delay his coming. The two forces of light battled overhead and formed green lights in the north, though, the sky was a dark purple mix of fire and water. The scene was so captivating that I feigned sleep, allowing the others to speak for a change.

“Well, if that wasn’t the longest night of my life…”

“Senjay, you have no idea.”

“You pushed one over the edge, Lazarus. One and only one. Then you left the rest to that cackling Swillian, and it was his fault we were nearly eaten by those hideous monsters.”

“Well, I had gone blind, but then, all you did was wet yourself.”

I smiled deeply from hearing Omar sing my praises. Finally the butt of a joke, we all laughed at him until we had run out of air. The steed huffed at us for making light of the attack, if only because he had lost the most blood. The cloud layer was blowing away from the approach of morning. We could see the northern mountain line that had been pushed up by the weight of two mile high glaciers. However, the ground was still hidden in a mist. Grandfather hopped off the steed and walked out into the darkness, leaving Grandmother to sew the beast’s many bites.

“So, what do we do now? Will there be breakfast?”

“I’m with the barbarian. Who’s got a rod? Where is the nearest river?”

“More importantly, where are we? And where did Grandfather run off to? Do the Lantos require we meet them in secret? I have been through enough today.”

“Why don’t you all get down and start the blood flowing? You’ll be marching out there yourselves soon enough. Omar, help me with the breech.”

They loosened the straps for the steed and spoke in whispers. When he felt the first stitch slide through his skin, he kicked the cart hard. I saw the wisdom in keeping all his belts loose but still latched. Lazarus followed the tracks in the snow to find some privacy, leaving Senjay and I to talk about our future exploits.

“We’ll have to hunt monsters for some local princess.”

“Ah, but first, we have to save her from a dragon.”

“Oh yea. But, it will take an army to do that.”

“Perhaps we can hire some pirates with fool’s gold. Then, before we get caught, the dragon will them all off.”

“I was thinking some king would be willing to place his own men under our command- if only for the safe return of his daughter.”

Omar interrupted our game by sucking his teeth. We stopped to wait for whatever ridiculous statement he would make. He waited for Lazarus to walk back, as his ego demanded the largest possible audience at all times.

“You lot have no idea. You’re all headed into the badlands wearing a blindfold.”

Senjay tapped me and motioned to where Lazarus was staring. Only the golden hilt implant on the back of Grandfather’s head could be seen a hundred yards into the mist. The upward facing crescent shape smiled at us, willing us to be next. The men he was talking to waived their blades around him. They were only showing off- so he showed no fear. The giant figure they had with them was his primary concern. He could have sat on a horned mega steed and rode it like a pony.

“Who are they?”

“Did they bring a golem?”

“Yea, what is going on out there? In what country did we wake up?”

“Excellent, your ride is here. Right then, line it up.”

Omar seemed happy to be rid of us, but we played toy soldier with him one last time. We lined up beside Lazarus, pretending to be heroes, despite every one of us shaking from the nerves.

“This is a time of peace. Your mission, if you live long enough to complete it, will be paramount. Ride far to the outer territories, and guard our nation’s borders with a wary eye. If, and when the ancient enemy dares to return,-”

“Fight for freedom. Die with honor.”

Senjay, of course, remembered the rhyme his father always shouted. Omar was not one for interruptions. He pushed out his jaw and continued. I could see that he was using the game as a cover to say goodbye without displaying his true emotions.

“You had better stand up straight boy. And square up those shoulders too.”

Lazarus shook Omar’s hand and turned to watch grandfather walk back.

“Little brother, don’t get killed. I don’t want to have to hear that crying fit. And, don’t you find your way back carrying a baby by some obnoxious harlot. Remember to make Mother proud. And stay out of the pits. You are no Stonefist- baby brother.”

Senjay hugged his brother and whispered something in his ear. Then he went to say goodbye to his grandparents alone.

“Swillian, don’t you turn traitor on us. When your cousins come spilling onto our shores, you had better keep Senjay safe.”

“Wait, I thought I would be dead before morning.”

“Sun’s not up yet Matthius, and the UNF don’t take in damaged goods. Bad enough they take in spotted savages.”

Omar dropped the courtesy and leaned in to whisper.

“Don’t forget why you wear that goat hide. You aren’t the only freak they left behind.”

“Ah-ah-ah…”

I threatened to sneeze a plague on him and he shuffled back so quickly he fell into the cart. I put on the widest smile I could and saluted him like the captain he wished to be. It only made him angrier. Then Grandmother moved in between us. Grandfather was close behind, speeding up the goodbyes.

“My turn, my turn. Oh, Matthius, oh. Do be careful out in the wild. And leave all that anger in the ashes of Ulfbar- where it belongs.”

“Then what will I have to keep me warm?”

She struggled with letting us go, throwing herself into Omar for another cry. Grandfather clapped his hand loudly on my shoulder and addressed us all with a serious tone.

“You leave home as boys, with naught but the clothes on your back. If you return, you do so as men. If you fight with honor, the people will remember you as heroes.”

He nodded at us, and threw his hood over his head. We nodded back, all filled up with pride. We nodded to each other, and followed the High-Priest into the mist. We moved in a straight line, placing each step in the existing imprints. The sun had not risen on the first day, and yet, we were already hiding our numbers and marching blindly into the darkness.