Richard Tuttle - Winged Warrior

“I have a mug of ale here,” declared Fisher. “It will help you if you can stand to drink it yet. Do you want it?”

Harmagan nodded and bit off a chunk of bread. Fisher helped the Jiadin into a sitting position and handed him the mug of ale. The Jiadin continued to stare at the spy.

“Who are you?” the Jiadin finally asked. “I have never seen you before.”

“No one who seeks to harm you,” Fisher answered mysteriously. “I am just trying to save your life.”

“I would have died?” questioned the Jiadin leader.

“You might have,” nodded Fisher. “Your body started to shut down from the shock. In a few moments you would have lost consciousness. Whether you ever woke up from it or not…”

“I will kill Brakas for this,” snarled the Jiadin.

“I would not advise it,” Fisher shook his head. “At least not alone.”

“Do not insult me,” snapped Harmagan. “He just caught me off guard before. If you say otherwise to anyone, I will kill you, too.”

“You are in no condition to kill anyone right now,” sighed Fisher. “And do not worry about me talking to anyone. Besides, my words were not meant to taunt you. The man that you call Brakas, is not who he claims to be. Brakas is dead.”

Harmagan’s eyes clouded with confusion. He sipped the ale and then nodded.

“I had heard that he died,” Harmagan said, “but Brakas claims that that was an imposter.”

“This Brakas is the imposter,” stated Fisher. “Brakas never knew any magic. How do you explain his attack on you? If that was not magic, what was it?”

“Your words make sense,” nodded Harmagan, “but I don’t know you. You could be a spy for all I know.”

“What or who I am is of little importance to you at the moment,” replied Fisher. “Be thankful that I was here to save your life.”

“Well, be useful,” scowled Harmagan. “Go out and rally my men. I want Brakas dead and his head brought before me.”

“They won’t be able to find him,” replied Fisher, as he finally understood how Clarvoy managed to move at ease on the mainland. He did not use disguises per se. He used illusions to portray others. “The man is a mage, Harmagan. He will change his looks now. He could be anyone. He could be among the very men you order to find Brakas. Do you really want him to attack you again?”

Harmagan shuddered at the thought. He swallowed the last piece of bread and drained the cup of ale. “Help me to my feet,” he ordered.

Fisher complied and helped the Jiadin leader stand up. Harmagan took a couple of cautious steps and nodded triumphantly.

“At least I can still walk,” he sighed. “What am I supposed to do then if I can’t find this wizard?”

“The only thing that you can do is to safeguard Wyant when he arrives,” replied Fisher. “If someone tries to attack Wyant, you will know who it is. Then you can have your men kill him.”

“You are clever,” grinned Harmagan, “but you are not Jiadin, are you?”

“Today, I am Jiadin,” smiled Fisher. “Tomorrow, who knows? What does it matter? You know that I mean you no harm.”

“I guess it doesn’t matter much,” conceded Harmagan. “The Jiadin are no longer what we used to be. That much Brakas had right. We have become clova to be fattened up for slaughter.”

“No, my friend,” smiled Fisher. “The Jiadin will ride again, and soon. The Time of Cleansing is coming, and a million enemies are coming with it.”

“You believe in that nonsense?” frowned Harmagan. “No one can put a million men together.”

“I believe it,” nodded Fisher. “I have seen parts of the armies coming to attack us. The Jiadin’s mettle will be tested. Your men should be making ready. This war will not be for clova.”

“I hope you are right,” grinned Harmagan. “Even if you aren’t right, I like your words. What should I call you?”

“Call me Scarab,” chuckled Fisher, “and I think you truly know that my words are true. You just abhor the waiting like any good warrior does.”

“Well, Scarab,” Harmagan asked, “do you know where Angragar is?”

“I do,” nodded Fisher, “but you know that I will not tell you. Why are you so anxious to know?”

“Why?” frowned Harmagan. “Why do I want to know where the lost city of riches is? You can’t be serious?”

“Oh,” smiled Fisher, “but I am. The riches of Angragar are not the type of riches that would interest you or your men. The riches that are spoken of are spiritual in nature. You cannot spend them. Besides, the Free Tribes inhabit Angragar. Would you truly lead your men against them?”

“No gold?” frowned the Jiadin leader. “You are lying to me.”

“For what purpose?” posed Fisher. “If there was any gold there, would not the Free Tribes have already taken it? The one you call Brakas is interested in Angragar for an entirely different reason. He is part of the evil that is coming to invade this land. He seeks Angragar so that Vand’s armies can plot its destruction. The rumors of gold and treasure that he spreads gains the cooperation of a hundred thousand Jiadin who dream of the spoils. Think about it, Harmagan. Is there any doubt in your mind that Brakas was trying to use you and your men?”

“The Jiadin have been used by everyone,” sighed Harmagan. “We tire of it.”

“Not entirely true,” retorted Fisher. “You have been manipulated by Vand’s people over and over again. It is always the same people pulling your puppet strings. Grulak was the first. Zygor and Brakas were the last. You may think the Khadoran lords used you, but Zygor and Brakas were behind that whole plot.”

“What about Rejji?” asked Harmagan. “Isn’t he using us now?”

“Is he?” asked Fisher. “Look around you. Is Rejji making you stay here? He is trying to rally you to fight the evil, but isn’t that in your own best interests? The Jiadin will be exterminated just as quickly as the Free Tribes when Vand’s armies invade. All he is trying to do is to get you all working together. I don’t categorize that as using you.”

“You make a lot of sense, Scarab,” replied Harmagan. “I just wish that I could believe your words. The Jiadin would join with any tribe that stood for defending Fakara from outsiders. I just can’t believe in this evil army that everyone says is coming.”

“What will it take to get you to believe it?” asked Fisher. “Do you want me to take you to the Island of Darkness and drop you off? That would certainly prove it to you. Unfortunately, you would be dead after just a few moments of belief. That wouldn’t do any of us any good.”

“I just want an enemy for my people to attack,” Harmagan sighed with frustration. “Can you give me that?”

“It won’t be long now,” promised Fisher. “Already the city of Duran has been destroyed.”

“Duran?” asked Harmagan. “Where is that?”

“It is a city in the Sakova,” answered Fisher. “Thousands of people were slaughtered. Every man, woman, and child was killed.”

“Women, too?” frowned Harmagan. “Surely they took them hostage?”

“The Motangans want no hostages,” Fisher shook his head. “They plan to annihilate every living person.”

“The Sakova is far away,” Harmagan shrugged after a few moments of silence. “A war there means nothing to the Jiadin.”

“Really?” retorted Fisher. “Meliban is no farther from the Island of Darkness than Duran. You could be next to be invaded.”

“Who knows about the destruction of Duran?” asked the Jiadin leader.

“I thought everyone knew,” shrugged Fisher. “It happened some time ago. It is thought to have been a trial run to see how our armies react. The real invasion is close at hand.”