Bathed in sun that was shining over the streets of Urusda, groups of soldiers mixed with refuges were lazily dragging. News were coming that building chain of fortresses on the border with Land of Lorantides has started in order to prevent future attacks. They will make thirty fortresses; each crewed with hundred and fifty soldiers who will be provided by neighboring tribes and settled freed Lumos. That way, even the army stronger than the one that was just defeated wouldn’t be able to easily enter the Land of Moving Hills. Even if they manage to do it seven kingdoms will have a lot more time to gather an army and intercept them before they make any considerable damage. Final victory over Lorantides was close and festal spirit was spreading over the town. Our heroes were sitting in front of new built barracks, enjoying the smell of freshly cut pine tree. They were planning to stay here till border fortresses get finished, and last of freed Lumos are transported on Ulan Isle. They got territory for settling in southeastern part of Ulan Isle that was mainly uninhabited and that will be the new home of Subito and Miratur as newly appointed Lord and Lady. Subito was cleaning his lamellar armor with some bear fat and cloth made out of deer skin. Miratur was next to him focused on observing his work. She scratched her chest, just above her heart. Tatoo was fresh and itchy. She was finally maried. Since the war was all but over and she have killed the enemy they were ready for wedding ceremony. They have done it yesterday, two of them alone tatooed two oak branches conected at the base on eachother. Two branches aren't a tree like old people say. When they go back home, they will make it a tree. One branch for every child, and she will get the family she always wanted. The tree to make a nest on, and find the peace and a place to call home. Travel is nice if you have somwhere to go back to. She felt as she has spent all of her life up untill now on the road with no place to remember and long for. Lillium gracefully crossed her legs, letting her staff lie on them. She felt awkward since Sukenar was away from her. He was with other dogs in stables. She was rarely separated from her dog like most of her people. There was old Ulan saying: “Dog is the wing of a man”, and she felt exactly like a bird with no wings. Schnew was in a special mood. Life in the barracks was not suiting him better than a time he spent as a slave serving his sentence. Now he was playing his flute, sonorous tune awakened some strange sorrow in heart of listeners, sorrow that was painful and sweet at the same time. Occasionally he would interrupt the music and sang in whispering high tones. Song was about green forests dear to the heart, and hart, which is running through the forest free and happy. He runs faster than an arrow, and he is not hart anymore, but a man, which is running to meet his beloved woman, who is waiting for him to come home. Enemy is watching at him hiding in the thicket, but he keeps on running not even suspecting the danger. Arrow is hitting him and he falls, reflecting the blue sky in his eyes. And his woman is waiting for him with tears and same sky reflection in her eyes and her tear. One day they will meet again in those blue skies and be happy again. Till that day comes, only sorrow is left for them. Music had gone away, leaving the three ladies in tears. Seeing effect he had made Schnew started some happy tune, often interrupting it with a long shriek of the flute. Moment she heard this tune Alma trusted spikes of her stone mace in the ground and started to widlly dance around it waving her hands and legs so much in all directions that she looked like a rag doll. It looked like her head will fall off any second. On every shriek from flute she would stand still, not moving even a muscle in a position she would be caught by a shriek, just to continue dancing around when the music would start again. Subito was remembering they used to do this to stop him from crying when he was a child, and it worked again, everybody was laughing forgetting about a sorrow. Then Schnew played some sparkling melody while Alma was swinging around like a monkey she saw in Hull Term and they cried again, this time out of laughter holding their stomachs in their hands. Next one was famous Ulan military march, Miratur jumped up singing “Time has come, army is ready,” others joined her: “glorious army of Ulan and armors are shining, thirsty are swords, in honor of our two kings, we pace boldly on roads of glory, ready to shed our blood in battle for freedom and beauty that rules over world.” Lillium could sense that Schnew can’t stay closed in this barracks for much longer. She wasn’t feeling great either so she was planning to ask Subito to let them go away on a travel. Knowing it is real torture for such vagabond to stay in the same place for such a long time, she planned to give him some excitement in life. With every day he was staying there he was proving how big his love toward her and Subito was. Military atmosphere was choking both of them, they were warriors, not soldiers, and they didn’t really appreciate when someone was commanding to them. They just had difficulties wearing shackles of discipline. Their entire mission here was accomplished after all. “I kill, I live, and wear a scythe in honor of our two kings, and I die and bleed with a smile on my lips expanding the lands of Ulan.” Subito finished with strong hurray. Schnew pulled out the cards made out of bones with beautiful carvings, which he has found on the body of dead Lorantid. They were playing for small wooden figurines that could be bought for cheap from local craftsmen. Those figurines representing animals, plants and humans were usually carried by small tribal girls on the necklaces as decoration. They had no desire to take money from friends. Maybe some of them would do it, but Lillium strictly forbade it. Everybody was playing except Lillium who was practicing funny trick she learned from local shamans. She rubbed small orange stones between her hands and made illusion of white dragon of the size of average lizard and made him fly in circles around gamblers. Suddenly he released the big fireball out of his mouths hitting Schnew in the backs making colorful firework. Dragon disappeared like he was never there. His friends laughed gaily while Schnew was mumbling cleaning his clothes of colorful sparkles. Fun was interrupted when one soldier stepped in front of them saying “Master Schnew you should control the guards tonight, captain Berneik send me to invite you to take over the duty, because he hasn’t slept for two days.” “O, joy!” Schnew shouted and grabbed his weapon walking away not even saying goodbye.

“You are not sleeping on guard don’t you?” Schnew asked the guard at the big gate of Urusda.

“No, sir”

“I really don’t know why would they feel any need to send me to check on you boys. You boys are so good. I would already run away for hundreds of times in your place. Or I would sleep, in war sleeping is a luxury and I haven’t had good uninterrupted sleep for a while.” He turned again to guard “Anything new?” “No just a few soldiers coming back from their villages and delivery of wine to Tayru prince of Beni kingdom.” “Son of late king Kasuy? Wasn’t his name Olki?” “Olki is his older son, now he is the king, and his younger brother, Tayru is still a prince.” “Oh, yes I remember now! Isn’t he the one, who tried to pull some intrigue and take over a crown?” “I am not really allowed to talk about that.” Schnew gave him you can trust me look so he continued “But since I am from Beni and my brother is in the king’s guard and is familiar with the situation. And you are proven friend of our nation…” “Just spit it out, you know you want it.” “Ok, well situation is more complicated than it seems. One of the girls which used to work as a servant to old queen, had accused king Olki for rape and impregnating her during the last year birthday party of king Kasuy. It had almost cost the young king his crown, but some soldier revealed he was with the same girl during that night, all time till the morning. So young king was relieved of guilt, but there were some stories connecting his brother with the girl. Some were even claiming that the girl was his mistress and was carrying his child. These stories couldn’t be checked since the girl was found hanged on the tree branch in the woods near king’s house. I think there is no need to mention stories connecting Tayru with that “suicide”. When the old king was killed in battle Olki inherited the crown, but some chieftains reported they were contacted by an organization, which was striving to make Tayru a king. Two chieftains are already arrested. Later it was uncovered, they had agreed to join the organization in exchange for promised expansion of hunting grounds for their tribes. Tayru was not arrested yet, but he is under a constant surveillance of king Olki’s agents. My brother says they don’t have evidence for his involvement in the planning of coup d’état.” “It seems you almost got yourselves in civil war and no less than right after this big and bloody war, like you haven’t had enough blood already! You should have kept some of that vine for two of us. We are not any worse than that mother fucker is, I tell you. And there he is, drinking wine in his tent, while we are freezing our balls standing out in the snow. I think I have no desire to see snow ever again in my life. And I know the perfect place. There is no snow, never ever, not a single snowflake. And they can have two or more wives and best brothels I have ever seen. And you should be aware I have seen a lot of them in my lifetime. If you get a chance visit Hul Term.” Guard was smiling.

Now when Lorantid attacks were halted only tasks left for army in Urusda was to escort refugees to their homes, help them rebuild their destroyed villages and to perform maneuvers to maintain battle sharpness. Miratur was getting ready for another parade, which was held almost every day in order to boost morale of the army and people. She did on her Ulan pants and tunic painted blue, over that was tribesmen hooded cloak made of snow tiger’s skin, white with black stripes. She put the hood back showing her Ulan iron helmet with pheasant feather, on her right arm were all of her medal bands. Cloak was tightened around her waist with broad leather belt, on belt there was Ulan sword and quiver containing her arrows and composite bow. She purposely dyed feathers on her arrows in blue to match with her pants and tunic. Her hair was released on her backs over the hood and adorned with tiny silver flowers. She was ready, walking in circles nervously waiting for the sun to reach the point on the sky when she should head toward street which stretched in front of the palace. Living in these parts taught her to be able to tell the time just by looking at the sun. Time had slowed his flow, she almost could see him as the surface of wrinkled lake, which moves but is standing still at the same time. Sweating under full equipment she was thinking about Subito, her brown eyes were wondering somewhere over the melted horizon. Another one in line of sweat drops was moving down her cheek tickling her. She wiped it with the sleeve of her cloak and stood up, it was time. Throng of people was boiling on the streets. Numbers of faceless people were moving in the rhythm of the crowd. Crowd was like one giant organism, every one of these people had their movement direction and purpose of the trip, not even being aware that their movement was just a part of the movement of the crowd and nothing more. Now she felt real loneliness, surrounded by this crowd. She was aware of her solitude, swallowed by this giant organism, all she wanted was to get out and for Subito to be here. Looking at the horizon, she was a lot closer to him than she was here, in the crowd. Movement which was breaking the rhythm of the crowd aroused her from the thoughts. Group of Ulan archers was standing on the street and talking. Miratur joined them in small talks. On command from an officer, they fell into lines consisted of five warriors, one behind the other. Miratur lined her hundred archers, checking them several times. Numbers of tribesmen were passing in between the lines straightening their backs by patting them on the back of the head. When she was patted Miratur felt dizzy and that her limbs are becoming numb. But when the army started to move she was moving with them too. Movement calmed her a little bit, but not for long. Archers were moving in rhythm given by dozen drummers that were marching in front of them. King Talkvir of Ang was inspecting the parade, his sturdy figure was high on a balcony, not only his nose anymore - now all of his face was red and shining with a goofy smile proving he really enjoyed alcohol. He even had a glass in his hands and was just about to raise it in a toast for archers, when all of them pulled out their bows and pierced him with over thousand arrows. People around were screaming and running away, but some of the archers gathered them while others were arresting remaining six kings in the palace disposing their guards in the process. Then they set guards all around the palace. One tribesman run in and reported to the commander of archers, informing her that Beni warriors had already captured barracks and all of the soldiers which were resting in them. The commander ordered archers to go and take the walls.

Miratur went with her hundred archers in that direction. Seeing the turmoil around barracks Schnew already organized guards on the main gate and was impatiently waiting for some explanations. Subito arrived from barracks with Lillium, Alma and ten or so other warriors.

Schnew run to meet him “What’s going on?”

“I have no idea. We were having a fun when all of the sudden barracks were surrounded by Beni warriors. They were demanding for us to lay down our weapons, and most of the soldiers did as they were asked to, but not me my friend. Not me!” “In that case all we can do is to wait, and see what will happen. I knew there was something fishy about that Tayru prince. I bet he is behind this strange behavior of Beni warriors.”

“It’s Miratur, she is coming this way. Hi love do you know what is going on?” She wasn’t even looking at him. Her archers surrounded Schnew’s guards commanding them to lay down their weapons.

“No you will not disarm me! I am your mother, not the other way around.” Lillium whispered and threw seed stones under their feet. Using the confusion induced by entangle spell, guards picked up barricades made of boards and pushed archers away, neutralizing their bows. One on one combat developed quickly. Few guards organized to kill archer leader attacking on her. Subito’s cry froze them in place. He stabbed a couple of them running toward Miratur. Grabbing her for the hand he pulled her up the stairs on the walls, moving her away from guards. Confusion among the guards was growing since their own commander was attacking them now. “Who are you?” Lillium pinched Miratur “Don’t you see I am your daughter?” Miratur was looking her right in the eyes. But Lillium saw something in those eyes assuring her this was definitely not her daughter. She threw seed stones entangling young girl “Who are you?” “Your daughter mother, don’t you recognize me?” One of roots twisted around Miratur’s neck. Her face went red while she was crying and repeating: “Help me! Help me!” Subito punched Lillium knocking her down and bleeding her nose. Then he cut off the roots twisting around Miratur and pulled her up the wall. Alma run to Lillium stopping the blood with a piece of cloth she cut of her sleeve and cursing on Utrikat language while hissing like a snake. Subito still couldn’t understand what is happening, he wasn’t even able to comprehend what he had just done. He was aware just of the single fact - that he was protecting his love. Everything else was not important. He placed that thought as a shield in front of waves of doubts that were splashing over him. He asked her why she had attacked on them, quoting it was needed, she pulled him up. Now she was taking him up to the walls. Pale, Subito followed her in silence. “This girl certainly is lucky, look at this sweetie. He will be a perfect addition to our army. And even more perfect host for my brother.” Miratur mumbled. “What are you talking about?” “Nothing, nothing, hurry up we are almost there.” When they were on top of the wall she turned around kissing him. Subito had been already on alert due to this crazy situation, and now he felt she has something in her hand, she put over his shoulder and was moving up his backs. He pushed her away and grabbed her hand opening it. There was slimy Lorantid in it. With every hair on his body erected in terror he yelled “What is this?” and turned her hand around stepping on the creature that has fallen out. She screamed, trying to reach for her sword, but his grip was unbreakable. Not stopping to wiggle she bit his hand. In pain he released grip a little bit and pushed her away with his shoulder, she slipped on ice on the wall and fell off the fortress. Reaching his hands after her he managed just to follow her with his eyes while she was falling.

Miratur

He screamed and with that scream something was broken deep inside his soul. Not moving, he just sat there watching the hole in the snow and fine fog created of ice dust disturbed by the fall. His reason for life was lying there under the snow, everything he had and could have lost any value. Nothing was worth anymore. By that time guards have managed to chase away the archers, after all they were better trained in close combat than their enemy. Searching through bodies Lillium announced “They have Lorantides attached to their skulls.” “We better leave for mountains, who could know how many people in town are already infected. Let me just go get those two on the walls, if they are not infected too.” Schnew had run up the walls, but he came back leading only a shadow of a man that Subito once was. Better to say he was leading a plant. Not having any time to waste, Schnew just tied the belt around his hands and torso and pulled him by the free end of the belt. He was leading him around like a dog on the leash. Lillium whispered with fear stealing her voice “What about Miratur?” “She fell off.” Lillium’s legs gave away and she fell in the snow. Grabbing her by the shoulders Schnew was yelling with tears in his eyes “Don’t leave me alone, I need your help. Be strong for me.” She stood up and was running after him not stopping to wipe her tears, which were constantly running down her cheeks.

And she was still crying three days later, making only short pauses mainly when she was asleep. Sometimes even in the dream she would moan. Schnew was covering their tracks in the mountains, but he felt in his bones they are followed. His instinct never tricked him while he was running from the law in Ulan. He was afraid it isn’t tricking him now either. During same day hell started for our heroes - rats, sneaks and worms varying in size from tiny ones to those several times bigger than a human, covered fields they were walking on. Bloody rain was falling of the skies covering them in red. Lillium recognized it was a work of the skillful illusionist. She tried to protect them, using stones of protection, but her magic was too weak. Manny warriors were crying in fear, some of them even went crazy and run away never to return.

When Lillium sent her crow to scout from the skies, in the stone on her staff, she saw several illusionists in black robes wearing golden helmets. All around them were Lorantid warriors and cages full of entrapped humans. Those were Lorantid slave hunters. She also saw one illusionist who was whistling, and as an answer to his whistle lot of birds were flying down on him, covering his whole body. After that, birds covered the sky, disappearing in different directions. Those wizards were also using birds for scouting. That gave our heroes even more reasons to worry, so they had to act even more cautious. They buried their clothes under some stones, especially Subito’s vulpine fur cloak and red scarf and clad themselves up in typical tribesmen clothing. Also they painted their faces in black same way Masata warriors were doing. Despite the so much caution, they were caught that afternoon. Lorantides used Ulan clan house to throw a big net from above entangling them. Shortly afterwards they were in cages moving toward the Land of Lorantides together with a couple of thousands other humans.

They were in a big cage on wheels pulled by rain deer with around fifty other tribesmen. Wheels were screeching monotonously, from time to time they would stop, doors would open and slave hunters would throw in some food. Mainly it was some mix of minced vegetables and meat. Shackles on their hands and legs were hurting them, leaving deep red marks on skin. Schnew was regretting he couldn’t get his hands on any piece of wire in order to unlock them and the doors too, with a glow in his eyes, he said: “We would be out in less than a quarter of an hour. When you have a life like mine was, most precious thing you own is freedom. Man isn’t aware of worth of freedom before he loses it.” Days were passing in desperation, slave hunters made them to walk in circles around the edges of the cage. They didn’t want them to lose muscle and condition, since they were taking them to work in the mines of btari. Lillium, who had finally stopped crying, was interested in Lorantid behavior. Their religion was really interesting to her, they seemed to worship btaris , they gather as much as they can, feel love for it and ritualistically clean it in round motions several times every day. During night time they would kneel in front of pile of btaris and shaking their heads they would brag to their goddess of death how many fortune they have. She could understand them since they were speaking in Lumos language, which she could understand by virtue of knowing the ancient language from times before the fog. It seems this language was a root language of all known human nations, since she used it to translate Hul Termian language too. Lorantides couldn’t speak unless they were attached to the host, who had vocal cords, since Lorantides didn’t have those, they didn’t had language either. According to religion of Lorantides, they were sentenced to live in this world by evil demon Dark who had created this world for all of the creatures he was envious of, in order to torture them with a life here. To this day he is living in “true world” as they called it, so is the goddess of death who is saving creatures from this world by taking them back in “true world”. “True world” was world of ideas, not a material world, place in which there was no troubles or a pain. They worshiped btaris since they considered them pieces of “true world”. Btaris had no practical use, their value was coming from perception of them as valuable items. Thus material things were exchanged for idea of value, not the real practical value. Lorantides felt only despise for humans, they were considering them filthy beings since humans were celebrating the life. They were especially offended by statues, which were capturing forms of life in stone - forms which should root very quickly and were by Lorantides' opinion just a dungeon for true being. Some of them are priests of death and can be recognized by black robes and golden helmets, Lillium remembered those she saw through the eyes of her crow scout. She also remembered they are skillful in creating illusions, using birds for scouting and mentally burning creatures and objects. At night their behavior was very strange, in fear that Dark could punish them for serving the goddess of death and sentence them to eternal life, they were painting their bodies with lime and drawing red circles over it. This makeup was supposed to protect them and hide them from Dark’s eyes.

Schnew stood in the middle of the cage “Does somebody know what the hell happened in Urusda, and from where all of these Lorantides are coming?” Old woman answered not even picking up her eyes to look at him “This is all work of Tayru, prince of Beni. His ambition destroys everything in his path.” “I heard about him, speak! Don’t let me wait whole day.” “If you heard of him, then you probably know he tried to take the throne?” “Yes, I know everything about his attempt to bribe chieftains.” “Well he had no desire to face the consequences, so he was really happy to accept offers from Lorantides for alliance. In agreement with them, he sneaked bunch of Lorantides in some crates presenting them as the vine.” “Vine crates? They passed through the gates not long before I got there to check on the guards. I would open them and prevent all of this. I was so close, but still so far away from the solution. Sometimes destiny loves the cruelest irony.” “He got Beni crown and whole of Ang kingdom included in his state.” “Well it was a good trade I suppose, but don’t think he will enjoy it long with all of those Lorantides around him.” “Everything bad that happens to him is well deserved I assure you!” One young man joined the conversation, giving some wrinkled paper to Schnew “He even had a nerve to justify his actions spreading these pamphlets all over the Land of Moving Hills. I am saving it for history book I hope I will write if I ever get my freedom back.” “Anything could happen as long as you are alive.” Schnew read pamphlet for everyone to hear “Citizens do not resist Lorantides! We have defeated them this year, but next year they will attack again in even greater numbers. Lorantides reproduce by dividing themselves, every year they can divide. As you can see we could face millions of enemies in just a few years. Lorantides are unstoppable, even all humans united couldn’t do anything against them. Do not think I am less of a patriot than you are. But I am a smart patriot, who wants to evade unnecessary bloodshed. I will not fight battles we can’t win. It is easy for those adventurers and bandits from Ulan to agitate for the fight. Their families are safe, far away from here, while our women and children are dying every day. They should go back home! They don’t belong here! Soon their land will be surrounded and begging for mercy, when the Lorantid army rise in power once again. Listen to the reason, peacefully work in Lorantid mines and save your life. Life is the most important possession of every human being. I vote for life!” Schnew was laughed “He is salting our wounds! I resent this bastard more than any Lorantid. Lorantides fight for their country honorably, while he thinks only about his own interests. I would like to spit him in the face right now.” Lillium was trying to feed Subito but he refused to chew.

Schnew nervously walked to him and picked him up. “You are hanging in my hands like a rag doll. Look at yourself! Nothing is finished yet, we are still alive. There are more battles to fight, now is not the time to surrender!” He was shaking Subito “Listen up, if you surrender who will revenge Miratur? Does she deserve to go without honor?” Subito pushed him away raising his fist to punch him, but he stopped his hand in the last moment. “That’s my boy! Fight, never stop fighting! They can’t defeat you unless you decide to surrender. Take this and eat.” And Subito was eating, now when he had a new reason to live. Revenge! To drink the sweet blood flowing from severed throats of these bastards, that was something worth to live for.

***

Finally their clan house landed. Going out he noticed they were on the meadow, and forest was in front of them. Bright light nearly blinded him. Above them was a vast expanse of blue. This must be skies from old stories, and the big fire shining of it must be Day Star. Look at those big white birds. Why are they descending like that? He saw eagles rushing toward the earth at such speeds when they are hunting. He looked at the direction where they were flying and saw a group of men. Some of them were standing, while others were lying on the grass. Where had he come? Are birds hunting for man in these parts? His heart jumped in fear. Quickly he drew out both of his swords. He was preparing to yell for Bulki to prepare bows and arrows, when he noticed the birds are getting translucent. Something strange is going on here, something which can’t be solved with bows. I mean, how are you going to shoot translucent bird? His surprise was even bigger when birds entered the bodies of lying men. Couple of shakes later, they were up and walking toward him.

“Do not worry my friend. You don’t need swords here. Those birds are our spirits. We use them to control storms.” One of them approached him. When Melessar sheathed his sword, he continued: “My name is Galatu, and we are Wind Wizards.” He pointed at a group of men clad in similar fashion as he was. Maybe clad was overstatement since they were wearing only wigs and loin clothes. “I am the one who took your sword brother and his company to the Land of Moving Hills. I am proud to say I can call him my friend.”

“Every friend of my sword brother is my friend too. I am Melessar.”

“Resemblance is striking. I understand you have discovered some old alphabet?”

“Yes it is based on combination of white and black color.”

“When there was revolution in this town, we Wind Wizards were forced to leave and make new clearing in the fog for us to live in. It was on west from here. Our ancestors found ruins of an old city there. In one of the buildings they found a number of wooden boards with white and black squares depicted on them. It would be reasonable to assume they are chess boards, but squares are too small, and two or more same colored squares are often next to each other. When we heard about your discovery, we were curious could you read our boards.”

“That’s why I came here. How wooden boards were preserved for such a long period?”

“They were dipped in resin.”

“Nice, it is such a smart thing to do. It seems we have a lot to learn from old people.”

“Indeed we do.”

Bulki invited them in: “I will transport you to town, since I have to deliver merchandise there anyway, and pick up a shipment for Ulan. After that I am free to go home. Local merchants will sell goods to the population as our kings have previously agreed.”

Trip to the town was short. They used ropes to descend on one of the platforms, since the clan house couldn’t land because of the trees.

“This is our library. We arranged one room for you inside of building, so you wouldn’t have to trouble yourself with traveling and finding a way through unfamiliar city.”

“It was very kind of you. I am grateful.”

His room was snow white. Furniture and walls were woven out of some strange material. It was cozy. He decided he could like it here. But first he has to introduce his gods and good spirits here. Best way to invite them was by the prayer:

“… Free will

There was never such a thing as free will. To have free will you have to know all consequences of your decisions, before you make any decision. If you don’t know the consequences, you can’t make right decisions. All you have is personal experience (which is built in errors), and tales of others that can be true or false (same as the personal experience). So all we do is just a gamble, not a free will. Our eyes can’t see through the fog.”