Richard Tuttle - Elvangar

Lyra checked the wound in General Didyk’s side. She frowned at the oozing crevice.

“It was a poisoned blade,” Lyra announced. “StarWind, race to the city and fetch LifeTender. Her healing skills are much greater than mine.”

Instead of mounting her horse, StarWind wove an air tunnel to Temiker’s school. HawkShadow ran to help Lyra support the general’s body as he used his knife to cut away the man’s uniform. Imperial Guard’s started to drift closer to the commotion, and two of them knelt on the opposite side of the fallen general and helped HawkShadow disrobe Didyk. Lyra started casting healing spells. During the commotion, almost everyone missed seeing the dead assassin rising to his feet.

“Down,” shouted Goral. “Everyone get down.”

Thousands of soldiers immediately dropped to the ground in confusion. The Sakovan giant thundered across the ground in pursuit of the assassin. Still a couple of paces behind the fleeing man, Goral swung his massive maul as he surged forward. The maul slammed into the man’s head, spraying blood and tissue across the ground. Instantly, all parts of the assassin turned to smoke. The white uniform of the Imperial Guard fell to the ground in a heap. Soldiers who had been sprayed with portions of the exploded head stared as the blood on their uniforms smoked, leaving no stain at all.

“What was that?” asked one of the Imperial Guards as others began quietly moving away from Goral.

Goral turned and strode over to HawkShadow. “I thought you killed him.”

“I did,” frowned HawkShadow as he looked up at the giant. “Trust me. That man was dead. I know dead when I see it.”

“He was a hellsoul,” Lyra announced as she continued to cast healing spells on General Didyk. “There will be more of them soon. Where is LifeTender?”

“She will be here shortly,” promised StarWind.

“Let’s hope that shortly is soon enough to save the general’s life,” frowned the Star of Sakova.

* * *

Rejji and his brother, Bakhai, stood in the square in the center of the city of Taggot. Thousands of tradesmen moved around the city as the sound of hammering echoed from every corner. Horse drawn carts moved logs and loads of stones in every direction.

“Your people can build a city overnight,” commented Bakhai. “It is hard to imagine the small village that existed here not long ago.”

“Overnight is quite an exaggeration,” replied the Astor as he turned to observe the work, “but everyone is working hard to make our dreams come true. Much of the credit must go to Lakado. He drew up the plans for the city. I think he has done a fine job.”

“Are we off to Meliban next?” asked the animal talker. “Is that where we will meet up with Lord Marak?”

“He is Emperor Marak now,” chuckled Rejji. “You must get used to his new title, or you will offend him when he arrives.”

“The Torak is not easily offended,” countered Bakhai. “I do not think he would even notice if I called him Lord Marak.”

“You are probably right,” shrugged Rejji. “You could probably even drop the title of lord, and he would not care. Still, try to be politely proper. There will be others traveling with him, and I do not want the Fakarans to be embarrassed.”

“I will try,” agreed Bakhai.

“I do not think we need to go to Meliban at this time,” Rejji said. “In fact, Marak may not even stop there. We have built inns every half-day’s ride between Ghala and the Fortung Mountains. Depending on when he enters the country, he might bypass the city.”

“I think he will stop even if it is just a half-day’s journey for that day,” Bakhai insisted. “He has a great curiosity, and he will want to see what you have accomplished. He will stop at Meliban.”

Rejji frowned as he saw a man dressed in a dark cloak following Adger, the leader of the Mutang tribe. What caught Rejji’s attention was that the man was walking with his hood concealing his face. Rejji knew of no Mutang tribesman who would dress in such a fashion. He tapped Bakhai on the arm and nodded in the direction of the man. Bakhai turned and stared at the stranger as the hooded man started to close the distance between himself and Adger. Bakhai unsnapped his bow and nocked an arrow.

“Adger,” shouted Rejji. “Come here please.”

The leader of the Mutang tribe turned and smiled at Rejji. He changed direction and started walking towards the square. The hooded man suddenly pulled a knife from beneath his cloak and darted towards Adger. Bakhai aimed and released his arrow without a second thought. The arrow struck the assailant in the chest, and his body tumbled to the ground. Adger turned and stared at the body as Rejji and Bakhai ran towards him.

“Do you know him?” Rejji asked Adger as he used his staff to push back the hood of the assailant.

“I have never seen him before,” Adger shook his head. “What is this all about?”

“He was following you,” answered Bakhai. “When Rejji called to you, this man pulled a knife and ran towards you. He was going to kill you.”

“Why me?” asked Adger. “Do you think he is Jiadin?”

“You are a tribal leader,” answered Rejji as he stared at the assassin’s face. “I think that makes you a target for Vand’s people as well as the remnants of the Jiadin. Emperor Marak warned that hellsouls would be coming to our lands. Perhaps this is one of them.”

“How can we tell for sure?” asked Adger.

Rejji saw the body move, and he forcefully jabbed the dead body with his staff. The body instantly turned to smoke, the cloak collapsing flat on the street.

“He was a hellsoul,” declared Rejji. “The Staff of the Astor banishes them.”

“That is fine if everyone carries a Staff of the Astor,” frowned Adger. “How are the rest of us supposed to deal with creatures that will not die?”

“I do not have an answer for that,” frowned Rejji. “Perhaps I will find one in Angragar.”

“You are going to the lost city?” Adger asked with excitement. “Do you want company?”

“Wyant and Bakhai are going with me,” replied Rejji. “Perhaps I can arrange for more to see the city in the future. Do not spread the word of our trip. Things are still too unsettled in Fakara for my liking.”

“You can trust the secret with me,” Adger readily agreed. “When will you be going?”

“In a few days,” answered Rejji. “We may leave earlier to visit Meliban, but I have not made my mind up yet.”

“I will keep things running smoothly here in your absence,” promised Adger. “Taggot is almost complete. What will we do next?”

“Farm production is at the top of the list,” answered Rejji. “I also want to create towns around the inns we have built across the country. I envision them as centers of commerce for the surrounding farmlands.”

“More likely they will become targets for the remnants of the Jiadin,” frowned Adger.

“I still hope to win over the Jiadin,” replied the Astor. “We have had enough internal strife in this country. It is time to unite and prepare to defend it. You must look at the Jiadin as misguided souls, not as the enemy. We will need their strength to defeat Vand.”

“That is a hard adjustment after the treachery of the Jiadin,” frowned Adger, “but we all believe in you. If that is what you wish, we will follow your commands.”

“That is what I wish,” smiled Rejji.

* * *

The eight travelers descended out of the Fortung Mountains into Fakara. They rode silently along a well-beaten path across the arid wasteland until finally they saw trees in the distance. The hooded rider gazed towards the setting sun to gauge the amount of daylight left.

“Two hours until dark,” Axor stated. “We will reach the forest long before that.”