Chapter 17

Kas

Kas rode into the village, eyes on every rooftop, searching the corners of buildings, looking for any signs of hostility as they rode into town. He’d heard rumors of bear worshippers, their aggression toward outsiders, how those that entered their villages without escort were driven away, often at sword point. Or if you listen to the drunks, by teeth and claw.

Dalpa had given him his word that he would be welcomed into Woplin. Kas had his doubts until Dalpa gave him the medallion the man wore around his neck. A sign of worship that was treasured by the man, Kas knew with that as a token he would have safe conduct. That it would be safe to bring Animus.

He looked over his shoulder at his son. I must show him as much as I can of the world before he’s thrust into it. Kas knew a day would come when Animus crested the hill leading out of Haver, seeking his own path. And that no matter how much he wanted to go with him, Kas could not. Like his wife, he’d heard what the Crone had said. The boy and girl ye birth will save this world. Or destroy it. They’ll do it without either of you, no matter what you do. When the storm rides down the mountain, so will their trials begin.

Kas refused to believe it, that his seed could birth such world changers, yet the Crone’s foretelling’s rarely erred. After all, she’d foreseen the fall of the people of the Vestige. Kas knew that he, Yayisha, and Animus remained of the Vestige culture. After that, the blood was gone, his lineage wiped clean from the world. Much of that is my fault. Yet, Kas saw no other choice, not after the visions she showed him.

“Papa, what’s that?”

Kas realized Animus leveled his horse with Fire on the widened road of Woplin. Animus pointed. “That.”

Boy’s got sharper eyes than me. Near the edge of a two-story building was a cage. Within was a woman and a man. Not close enough to perceive further details, Kas turned to his son. “If I know Dalpa, it’s why we’re here.”

“Why would there be a—.”

A voice cut off Animus, as a huge man exited the building next to where the cage stood. He yelled, “Halt! Speak your name, travelers.”

Ahead of them from the dozen or so one and two-story buildings that made up Woplin, men and women emerged. All appeared husky and broad, each wearing leather armor. They carried a variety of weapons: hammers, picks, small swords or knives.

Kas resisted the carnal urge to charge, the long-forgotten battle spirits within raging to life. They dare challenge me? Without breaking a sweat I could rid them all of their miserable lives. Instead, Kas willed himself to relax. The days of battle were long gone, abandoned when he’d spirited away with Zelicia.

Taking a deep breathe, Kas calmed himself. He whispered, “Stay close. Follow my lead.” Animus nodded, so Kas held up his hands. “I am Kas, armorer and blacksmith from the village of Haver.”

One of the women closest to them climbed atop a wagon and yelled, “We’ve no need of an armorer. Go back.”

Too much like a bear, that one. His treks through the untamed wildernesses of the North taught him all he needed to know of the creatures. The animal were huge, and when spooked, made themselves as tall as they could to scare away any that got too near. Only if truly threatened did most bears attack.

Kas raised Dalpa’s medallion above his head. “I’ve come in Dalpa’s stead. To seek audience with Ralo the Priest.”

“Dalpa should’ve come himself! Treachery!” The woman yelled, brandishing her nicked and rusty short sword as she climbed to the highest point of the wagon.

Kas looked over the rest of the crowd. None so much as moved, but their eyes locked onto him. Waiting to see how I’ll react.

Had Dalpa betrayed him? But Kas knew the man wouldn’t, for if anything were to happen, Zelicia would make him and his family suffer.

“Stay in your saddle,” Kas said to Animus. He handed him Fire’s reigns. “If they approach you, lash Fire’s flank, then let the reigns go.”

“Papa?”

He saw the confusion in Animus’s crunched brow. “I’ll explain later.” Then he turned to face the woman. “You seek to challenge me?”

Whispers were exchanged in the crowd. Kas dismounted and approached the onlookers.

The woman leapt from the wagon, landing in a tumble. She rolled to her feet and charged, sword waving over her head. Kas waited until she was ten feet from him before drawing and whipping a small knife at her.

The blade sunk into her thigh. The woman wailed as she stumbled then pitched forward, falling hard on her chest. Kas closed the few feet between them and stepped on the woman’s hand. She screamed as Kas pulled the blade from her and chucked it into some nearby brush. As she tried to rise, he drove his knee into her neck, forcing her body prone.

The woman cursed. Kas scooped dirt and shoved it in her mouth. Her wails sputtered to mere coughing.

Kas twisted his knee across her back, pressuring her neck just enough to keep her helpless. Facing the crowd, he yelled, “Any more fools among you? I come seeking your priest, bearing the sigil of one of yours, and this is how you treat me?”

Silence greeted him. For a few moments, an uncomfortable silence ensued. Then one man walked toward Animus and the horses.

The boy saw him and yelled, “Stay away!”

The man continued to approach.

Animus slapped Fire’s reigns then released the reigns.

Kas smiled.

Fire whinnied and charged the man. Too late he tried to get out of the angry horse’s way. Fire’s torso caught the man in the chest, throwing him backward. The horse trampled him, a hoof stomping on the man’s back.

Kas whistled and the horse wheeled and trotted toward him. As it arrived next to him he pointed to the place where his knee was. The horse huffed and pressed on of its hooves on the woman’s back.

The woman’s screams became cries. He bent close to her ear. “Move and she’ll snap you in half. Understand?”

She nodded, crying.

Kas stood, once more addressing the crowd. “Anyone else?”

Silence answered. Then a female’s deep voice said, “Clear the streets, brave followers. Dalpa has spoken to me of this man. I shall speak with him. Alone.”

The crowd parted, dissolving into the buildings, the scuffling of their feet their only noise. Until only a lone woman stood on the cobbled road. She walked toward him, her stride easy and confident. Quickly Kas looked back to Animus and motioned to the boy to keep his distance. Then Kas moved toward the woman, meeting her in the middle of the road.

She stood a head taller than Kas, her shoulders just as broad as his. Black curly hair hung to her waist. Two slivers of white locks were tucked behind her ears. Her huge breasts protruded to points, hips well-proportioned with her broad body. A metal-handled throwing axe was tucked in her belt. Around her neck was an amulet that looked exactly like Dalpa’s; an engraving of a bear standing on its hind legs, head raised to the sky with paws extended.

In all my life, I’ve never seen a woman like this one. Then Kas realized what the woman actually was. A familiar tingling would up and down his spine. Sorceress.

Kas was able to shake off her attempts to charm him and look behind the guise. Behind the strong and curvy woman’s image was a young and skinny girl, perhaps a few years older than Yayisha. Her skin was darker than Kas’s beige by several shades, while her eyes were maple brown. Though her hair was coal black, it was short and lacked the white streaks. She’s Southern Born, from the Continent South of the Ocean of the Lost. He had seen other magic-wielders from these lands before, though she was by far the youngest.

She looked around, appearing to making sure everyone was out of earshot. She met Kas’s eyes and asked, “You see the real me, don’t you?”

Kas nodded.

“I know you, too. The beard is a convincing deception, but I recognize you. From your days in the Northern army.”

How does she know? “I’ve always worn a beard.”

“You’ve always been an accomplished liar. I remember the tales you told your men, about having your foes outnumbered in every battle you led.”

She’s right. Our army never had superior numbers.

She continued, “My people see right through lies. Still, your wife has done well to mask your true appearance from people.”

“Quit making up stories. Take me to the priest.”

“I am the priest. You know that though, don’t you? You sense my magic. Like you did my father’s, who was the priest in the army you served. Didn’t like him much, did you?”

“You speak of Talek.”

She shook her head. “That’s smart of you to try to catch me in a lie. His name was Kelo.”

So she did know Kelo, that or she’s had words put into her by someone. “If you were there, where were you?”

“Washing whores between tricks, tending their wounds from the men and women from your army that beat them. Lucky for them, healing is one of my specialties.”

Kas remembered hanging several of his men because they had beaten a few women and men near to death. It stopped the worst of the beatings, or so he was told. He’d had little time to those thousand or so people that supported his army. Especially those that exchanged coin for pleasure. . They kept the morale of the army high on those long periods between battles and always right after. A touch of pleasure eases strain after combat. Pleasurers are necessary parts of the army never talked about in books.

Nalo continued. “You were quite the hero to those that exchanged pleasure for coin. Could’ve had your choice of any of them at any time after that. And never paid a bronze.”

He knew that, but he’d had no need. His men had brought him women, night after night. The best and most beautiful of the towns they liberated. Kas took them within his tents but rarely slept with them. Not that he didn’t have the desire. He’d just never felt right taking a woman’s body as plunder. He knew few came to his tents of their own free will. A few that actually wanted to be there Kas has often kept in his beds for weeks, sometimes months if the women desired travel.

Kas shook his head, refocusing his will. “You speak dangerous words, priest. If my wife was here, she’d—.”

“We’re out of her reach here, Kas. Or should I say—.”

“Don’t say that name. Ever.”

She nodded. “As you wish.”

The woman knew him. And had made no effort to hide it. She was smart. Older than she looked. All of those things were obvious to Kas as he asked, “Why do speak so bluntly, knowing the danger it puts you in?”

“I choose trust my allies.”

“We’re allies?” Kas asked.

“After this day, I’ll owe you a debt of gratitude. Or I’ll be dead, one of the two.”

Here it comes. The reason Dalpa sent me. “Why am I here, priest?”

She pointed behind them. Animus approached with his horse Lillith. Kas whistled, and Fire released the woman still held on the ground and trotted toward him. The woman that had charged him continued to lay there, groaning.

“She’s recently became a worshipper of Karhu. Our great and powerful God.”

Kas scowled. Karhu is nothing but a legend. “Cult worship. A guise you priests use to siege people’s minds until they buckle.”

“Believe what you will. But Karhu’s power is great. Karhu has granted that one his grace. Forgive her. She’s adjusting to the presence within her. Aggression is a common symptom to those newly under Karhu’s protection.

“Hog’s balls. It’s rubbish. You’ve got her ensorcelled.”

Nalo smiled. “A debate for later. Perhaps I should show you the reason you’re here. Would you and your son walk with me?

Animus approached, nodding to Nalo and meeting her gaze. His eyes widened as he looked up at her.

Kas gripped him by the neck and pulled him close. He turned the boy’s head toward him, having to gently slap Animus’s face to get him to meet his gaze. “She’s a sorceress. It’s trickery,” he whispered.

Animus blinked. “Papa?”

Kas let the boy’s face go as he faced Nalo. “Show him who you truly are.”

Nalo nodded. “I shall. Just not here where all eyes can see. On the path up that mountain, once we round the corner.”

I hate priests. “Why should I trust you to lead us there? It could be an ambush.”

Nalo sighed. “I honor Dalpa’s word. You desire to resolve your differences with the man, don’t you?”

“You had that woman attack me.”

Nalo nodded. “It was necessary to show my people your prowess. That you’re capable for this task.”

Kas scowled. “Who do you want me to hurt?”

Animus tore his gaze from the woman and looked to his father. “Hurt, Papa?”

Kas ignored him and asked. “Well?”

“Follow me. See for yourself. I think—I know you’ll do it willingly.”

“You think you know me that well?” Kas asked.

Nalo nodded. “My father did. As I do, even if you don’t remember me .”

For some odd reason, her words made Kas shiver. And that time it wasn’t the magic. Something of her word rung true. A memory nagged at his mind, just out of reach. More riddles. “Let’s get this over with.” He looked at Animus. “Stay close, son.”

The boy nodded, looking once more at Nalo.

With Kas and Animus followed the bear priestess up the hill. Kas kept his hand close to his sword, and his eyes scanned his surroundings.

In a thick copse of bushes that the passed, a black cat watched them, its yellow eyes following them until they were out of site.