Rescue Preparations

After much discussion, we collectively agreed that it would make far more sense to go after Zac with a small team rather than a full fighting force. A small team could slip in and out quickly. A full fighting force would prove a feast to the monsters in the darkness.

The team was to consist of myself, Benji, Jeseka, Elora, Piers, ten other Tagrosi soldiers, and Eon Maganti himself.

“You’ll need me,” Eon had said. “With all the relics I’m wearing, I’m the most dangerous person you know.”

Each of us had our own Everburn lanterns, supplied by the Tagrosi army. Since the rest of them were staying in Oakbridge, where the town’s Everburn would keep them safe, it seemed reasonable enough for us to take several of the lanterns.

Outside the Chalice Inn, I watched as my friends prepared for the dangerous mission ahead of them.

Benjamin Strato had a sledgehammer slung to his back, and was busy using a whet-stone on the head of a wood-chopping axe. I approached him and said, “Benji… about Zac…”

“You mean about what you hid from me?” Benji said flatly.

“Yeah… about that… I didn’t mean to deceive you, I just…”

Benji’s eyes met mine. There was a deep understanding in those sparkling irises I’d not seen anywhere else. “It doesn’t matter,” he said. “You didn’t hide anything important from me. Where Zac came from… what his destiny might be… it’s all balderdash.”

“Balderdash?”

“It means ‘nonsense.’”

“I know what it means, Benji. Why is all that balderdash?”

The edges of Benji’s curled mustache pressed upward, telling me there was a smile hidden underneath it. “Because any child could grow up to be something evil. If you don’t believe me, just remember that Avery and Mr. Maganti were both children at one point.” He rested his massive hand on my shoulder, which sagged under the weight. “But every child is also hope. Just like Zac, they all judge the world. And when they come of age they each decide what parts of it are worth keeping, and what parts need to come to an end. Zac’s just another boy. What makes him special ain’t his being… some kind of ancient devil or some such. It’s his heart.”

He returned to sharpening his axe. “Only parts I needed to know,” he said, “were the parts you told me ‘bout.”

I moved on from Benji to find Jeseka, who sat patiently on a stump near the town square, a spear in her hand. I noted as I approached that she sneered at every Tagrosi soldier nearby, her jagged, lower teeth jutting forward in a most fearsome expression.

“Ahv,” she said, in a tone that was merely acknowledging.

“Thank you for helping with this,” I said.

“Getting Zac back? Of course! I love that little guy,” she said. Her hand reached out to my shirt and pulled me in closer. In a low voice she said, “But, tell me, you don’t really trust Maganti, do you?”

“I trust him to help me rescue Zac. Nothing more.”

“Good,” she grunted. “Because the second we have the boy back, we need to kill him?”

I stammered unintelligibly for a moment, unsure of why she was suggesting we murder the Tagrosi consul.

“He’ll take Zac away,” she whispered, suspicious eyes darting back and forth. “You heard him in there… saying you’re a bad father because Zac killed one of his soldiers. Rotten bastard! First time I killed a man I was six. You know why? Because I was in danger, that’s why. Just like Zac.”

“If I’d been watching Zac a little better that day, he’d not have gotten himself in trouble. Hell, if I’d been watching him better last night…”

“Kids get into trouble, Ahv,” she snapped. “It’s what they do. And parents get them out of trouble again. You’re not a bad father, Maganti just wants you to think you are so you won’t fight him when he takes Zac away.” Jeseka’s face turned grave. “And he will use that boy as a weapon. Maganti has nothing short of world domination on his mind. What better way to achieve that goal then to have on his side the boy who can end worlds.”

“I… do you know this for a fact, Jeseka? Or are you just guessing?”

Jeseka turned away, casting her glance toward the Tagrosi war camp. “Like I told you, I was a bandit. Bandits sometimes work as mercenaries too. When enough ambitious lords hire you to fight their wars for them you get to know the warning signs that they have plans to conquer the world. Maganti’s one of those folk. He talks about spreading freedom, liberty, and law… but he’s really just a tyrant looking to expand his influence. He will never stop until all the world bows at his feet.”

“You don’t know that,” I said. “It’s only suspicion.”

Jeseka poked me in the chest with her finger. “We will not let him take Zac. After this is over, Maganti needs to die, you understand? It’s the only way to protect the boy.”

“I will never take a life because of what someone might do,” I told her, rubbing the place where she’d poked me. “If he tries to take Zac from me, then I will deal with him as needed. No one takes my boy away.”

Jeseka sighed and hung her head. “I’ll have to be satisfied with that, then.”

I moved on from Jeseka, leaving her to stew in her violent thoughts.

Soon, I came across Elora, who stood in the middle of the bridge, watching the river pass beneath her. Without turning to see me, she said, “You’re aware how bizarre this is, yes?”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“As delvers we learned all about Zahac and what the legends said he did to the Ancients and those who came before them. Those who fought on his side, who supported him and protected him… all the stories speak of them as if they were demons in mortal form.” Elora turned and looked at me. “They will count us among them.”

“Who will?”

“The people of the future,” she said, gesturing off into the distance as if that were where the future could be found. “After the next Apocalypse. They will count our names among Xabier, Uxio, and Ovidia. Rebellious young women will name their children ‘Ahv’ and ‘Elora’ to upset their elders.”

“Well, that’s optimistic,” I said with a chuckle.

“Optimistic?” Elora tilted her head to one side, her long hair falling over her shoulder. “Why do you say that?”

“You’re assuming anyone will remember us at all,” I said. We both laughed, and when we were done I said, “I don’t care what people in some distant future say about me. Who cares if they malign me? I won’t be around to hear it anyway. All that matters is that now--” I pointed at the ground beneath my feet, “--we do the right thing.”

Elora gave an amused smile. “I suppose that’s all anyone can be expected to do.”

Behind me I heard the sound of wheels rolling over the bridge’s boards.

Eon Maganti approached, accompanied by a small entourage of Tagrosi soldiers, including Piers and two masked legionnaires. Eon wore a confident smirk on his lips, his hands rolling the wheels toward me. “My people are ready to move out and rescue Zahac. Are yours?”

Peering over his shoulder I saw Jeseka and Benji approaching. “They are, but I have a question before we do this.”

Eon shrugged. “Ask away.”

“Once we’ve rescued Zac from Mr. Muk, will you leave him in my care?”

Eon’s eyes averted from me. “One thing at a time, my friend. Let’s save the child first, then worry about where he’ll live.”

“I don’t want to go anywhere with you unless I know your intentions,” I said. “I will not hand him from one kidnapper to another.”

Eon chuckled. “You don’t have much of a choice, do you? If you want to survive in those woods you need my help. If I were you I’d take all the help I could get.”

My eyes met Jeseka’s, and I recalled what she said about needing to kill Eon after all this was over. The solution was horrible and barbaric, but it seemed there was little choice. Once we had Zac back in our care, Eon would need to die.

And once he was dead I’d need to flee Oakbridge forever, disappear with Zac far away from that place, for the people of Tagros would surely want their Consul avenged.