The Last Heroes Before Judgement (13 page)

“Bow-bow-bow!”

The noise got louder as we approached the tree line. Tommy, the oldest, stopped in the high grass and raised his head. He mimicked the call and turned a half-left. We ran through the knee deep snow between the shady pines, spilling out on the gravel trail.

“Why did we go this way?”

Kru turned when he heard my voice. The dogs hit the gravel without pause, but I had to stop to catch my breath. I watched them stop again and turn another half-left. While they pushed through the snow, I ran about the long way and just missed Kru. From there, even I could hear the pup’s call bouncing from the high road’s mountain wall. The dogs sprinted the whole way around the bend while I slowed to a trot.

“There’s only one way. No need to run straight into a dead end. It could be an ambush!”

They did not care for my reason. After a few moments, the call went silent and I turned to look back. The road was otherwise empty. It turned out to be another test that only I had passed. I was above the outskirts of the guard outpost before the sun hit the surface of the waterfall. From that angle, I could see its surface was still frozen.

“All those guards down there in reserve and not one chipped away at this ice?”

Not one of them had the awareness to look up at me either. But then, I felt the fool when I saw the eyes watching me from a hidden tower built into the mountain wall. Most of the lines formed by the building blocks blended in with the pattern of the rock. The windows were all cut at angles just like the eyes of Major Swiftblade’s mask. The towers on either side of the falls went up above and beyond the highest peak. They let out no less than a hundred feet above the high road and still some man was insane enough to slide down the frozen falls. When I got to the bridge, the dogs were all watching and howling. The mad man, of course, was Major Bloodaxe. He used an axe to slow his descent and leapt out into the open over our heads.

“Why are you the only one out here? You sleep in your armor again?”

“Yes sir. I was waiting for you to come back. I wanted to apologize for what happened. I didn’t know sir. I am sorry.”

“Of course you didn’t know- you were only just born.”

I nodded and stayed quiet. I knelt to pet Kru, watching the still empty road.

“What, have you gone moody?”

“No sir. I just know that you don’t want to repeat yourself.”

“Well too bad, I don’t feel much like waiting either. I should have known activating the Drakkah would blow a hot wind up from the south. We cracked the ice straight down the middle. Today, you’ll be cutting it into safe bits until the bridge is clear. And it will take you all day, so let’s get a move on already.”

“But sir, it’s still just us.”

“Yea, but they aint like us, are they? We’re on the fast-track, they’ll be begging for stairs. Besides, I can’t wait around any longer. You stink like a dead goat.”

He ran up to the ice and leapt high as he could, sticking his axes in deep where they landed. He climbed up the ice in that way and left handholds for me to follow. Despite the dizzying height of the journey, he had challenged me to win his favor. With only a short sprint up the wall, I reached the first hold and grit my teeth against my better judgement. I refused to take the long and safe route. I would sooner fall then fail his test of my courage.

Once we got high enough, I could hear all the bird calls echo from all over the valley, before my senses were seriously distorted. I started feeling confused by all the noises, and the bright white ice became blinding. The sight of an overhang up ahead scared me to death. My nose burst from having such a rush of adrenaline while at such a high elevation. Major Bloodaxe landed hard on a metal platform above me. Knowing the end was near gave me strength. I failed to wipe my face properly without using my hands. Since my nose was still bleeding anyway, I gave up on appearing clean. The intense focus turned my stomach over and I slowed to a crawl. None of the men on the platform heard me approaching as they had taken to calling over the ledge to those down below. I slid over the side of the ice and landed just as hard as the Bloodaxe- without the same hero’s welcome from those within the guard house.

A Lokah warrior in full battle dress stood beside Major Bloodaxe. I was too focused on the silver implant and the whirling pattern it displayed. They both spun in surprise when I landed, however, they reacted in complete opposites.

“Gojinus!”

The Lokah wore a buoyant armor like mine, just much thicker, expensive, and ornate. The speed of his movements told me it was made from white Orcana whale bones which were lighter and stronger than most inferior forms of iron. I thought it was genius to make weapons from a material that would float, but he did not brandish them with a teaching lesson in mind. He pulled Major Bloodaxe away from the edge and circled around the platform. I threw up my hands only to realize I looked like a mad man covered with snowy blood. He spun his long spear about and laid it to rest on his shield. Before anyone could tell him not to, he kicked the spear at me and instinctively drew his sword. The concave outline of his shield allowed for a guided launch. The spear shot through the gap between my open palms and my face with a practiced kick.

“Frostborn, stop this.”

“I’m unarmed!”

“Since when did that matter to you, Gojinus?”

“Dammit Lieutenant,-”

Just as he stepped in to charge me, Major Bloodaxe grabbed his pale sword’s blade from behind.

“He’s one of ours.”

“Do you hear yourself Carolus? The Emperor is on his death bed. This is not the first of the fallen to rise.”

“No.”

Though I did not want to believe it, I knew the truth from the moment it was uttered. I failed the test of courage then and there. In my shame, I dropped to my knees and begged for my life.

“No, it’s not me. You can ask anybody, I’m not like that.”

“Let go of me so I can end this.”

“No, this one’s different.”

“I am. You can ask Nickolas. We were going to escape, but-but we weren’t letting any of those dirty pirates out with us, honest.”

“What is the difference? Huh? That is Gojinus returned. We have no choice.”

“No, no it’s not me you’re after. I don’t seek vengeance sir, honest. I even served tea for the Lord Tremaine at the horse races every spring. I could have easily poisoned him, yet he still lives. Send a bird, if you must.”

I was sitting on my feet by then, holding out my hands. Major Bloodaxe had to physically turn the man’s head to make him look at me. They saw me at the lowest a man could get. I could only stare at their feet and imagine the shameful sight I had made.

“Oh, that is very different.”

I looked around and saw only the open sky. My body showed no symbol besides the omen of the goat fur. They walked away to leave me confused. While I wiped my face with snow, the situation was explained to the others waiting anxiously inside the guard house. I held back as many tears as I could, smearing blood all over my face from trying to wipe them away. Then I realized that was why they had let me live. No Swillian man would be so weak as to allow himself to cry, especially in front of other men. I was too weak for them to consider a threat.

The uniformed guards went about their business when Major Bloodaxe came back out. None of them looked at me as he approached. He rested his hand on my shoulder and leaned in close to speak at me without any eye contact.

“Many secrets were hidden from the mob that day. Lord Tremaine was never in danger because he’s not the one who killed Emperor Goja’s favorite grandson.”

He patted my shoulder twice and got uncomfortably close to my ear.

“Matthius, I cut down your father myself. And I aint sorry about it neither. You know what kept me at Dante’s Isle all these years? Kings from all around the world showered me in gold to watch Swillians die. I lived for it. I loved every moment of it. And I would have done it for free. After all, they killed my mommy.”

He patted my shoulder once more- much harder. Then he casually walked to the railing and yelled over the ledge. While I still had so few witnesses, I shoved my face into a patch of clean snow. I cried into the cold snow until my nose had frozen solid and finally quit bleeding.

Senjay and Lazarus took the long way up. I had time to clean myself while they ran the stairs. Major Bloodaxe was waiting inside the guard house when Lazarus rounded the last flight and dropped into a chair to catch his breath.

“Yea, the altitude does that. So, at what point did the twig fall out?”

“He. Found. A whole group. Of females. Sir.”

“Dammit lover-boy. Gonna cause an international incident.”

“And that is mine.”

“Yes. Sir.”

Major Bloodaxe shook the ground as he stomped down the stairs. Once the lieutenant holstered his spear, he stretched his arm out to usher Lazarus outside. He appeared with a fat ladle and began scooping up the fresh glacial water.

“I knew the spear was a test.”

“It wasn’t.”

Lazarus jumped back when he saw me next to him. We took turns drinking and I finished cleaning off with the ice cold water.

“Don’t. It’s freezing up here, you’ll get sick.”

“Better get used to it corporal. We’re going in the drink to crack this ice down into small pieces.”

“What? Why?”

“It’s a safety issue. You saw the bridge was frozen solid with all those soldiers down there.”

“Oh. I did see them. There were so many. Embraun truly is the melting pot of the union. You may just find a new girl like Leiza.”

“Oh please. There is no woman on this Earth like Leiza. Not even close.”

“That- was the right answer.”

Lazarus was struck by my words, as if he did not realize I would be so offended. So, he turned and grabbed my shoulder. Even with a wrap on his head and another on his face, I could see the smile in his eyes. The same way Lieutenant Frostborn saw the face of my father, I saw only the eyes of his twin sister. Those rings of hazel, studded with black diamonds. They were rare, and they made my stomach turn to stone whenever I looked at them. Through all the weeks of training, I had done my best to simply look away.

Major Bloodaxe ran just behind Senjay all the way to the top. He was given no time to catch his breath, and, when he made the platform, immediately began doing pushups. The Lokah guards asked for a share of our turtle soup. They rejoiced in finally seeing more Commandoes, and even came out to request their soup be prepared with extra salt.

“Alright, Ulfbar Troupe, here’s the mission for the day.”

Major Bloodaxe patted the ice lovingly and continued with a deep smile.

“Crush the ice, and you get to eat. It’s not quite that simple, but, we’re sure to have a good laugh watching you’s figure out the rest. I can just see it on your face boy-o, go ahead and ask a single question.”

“Sir, how does the ice get cleared in the years between training.”

“Now that was the right question there. The Lokah are so rich they can easily pay grey skin’s to smash it up. Usually, they make the young bucks do it so they… Well, you’ll figure out why soon enough.”

“We’re getting paid for our services?”

“Exactly right lover-boy. Half a silver for each of ya’s if you manage to do it in a day.”

“I find these terms agreeable sir. A very bright idea sir.”

“I didn’t ask you. Is my soup ready?”

Major Bloodaxe leaned over Senjay and wiped his forehead. He was already covered in sweat from taking the stairs. Following the path around the ice, the hidden world of the Lokah opened up before our eyes. Their shoreline was just within sight, with a much smaller harbor and few piers. Beyond that, small patches of forest grew all the way to the first stair. The ice wall glowed bright enough to show the homes cut into its face, and put into perspective the true size of the high altitude plains. The rivers were used in place of roads so that, even though they had mountain ponies readily available, their furs grew in untidy patches and they ran wild with the children. That’s what struck me the hardest.

“There are so many children. Did the Lokah so much as hear a rumor of the plague?”

“No. We keep Swillians out. It is just that easy.”

“Yes sir.”

“Eyes on the ice boy-o. They don’t want none of us in the Holy Land and they won’t hesitate to cut out your tongue for spitting in their rivers.”

“Understood sir.”

“Right then. Loop it ‘round your mids under the arms and tie it off tight. Don’t wanna lose any of my turtles over the falls.”

I was glad to have a rope for emergencies but I saw no place to tie it to. The Orcana passed by in a small heard and I thought perhaps they would play a role. They were pulling cargo boats in place of a steed pulling a cart on land. They took turns tugging the boats along slowly so the Lokah could inspect the crates from high platforms alongside the arching bridges. The black and white whales seemed to treat their job as more of a game, and I seriously doubted they would accept being tied off to aid us without a hard won fight. I was so entranced in their sweet submerged voices that I missed the instructions. I was the last man on the ice and had no idea how to chip away at it. My hilt was vibrating and heating up from the challenge of translating whale-song, but, for all I could hear, they did not speak as humans. The water carried their pure thoughts without the need for words. With the spring melt coming, they repeated their calls over and over until the newest calves properly pronounced the tunes. The water was so pure that I could see the class taking place.

“Excuse me sir, do you hear the Orcana song? I mean, do your people understand it? My hilt is on fire from trying to translate. Does your implant have a similar reaction?”

“Do you hear yourself? What game do you play at? Why does Gojinus ask these questions? What is your true intent?”

“I just meant,-”

“Shut it up Matthius. Pay attention to what you’re doing. Right now, it looks like you’re falling behind.”

We had been uncovering a massive steel arch that spanned the length of the falls, long since hidden under the ice. Lazarus and Senjay were already attached and leaning over the front edge of the ice mass. Once I had the eyelet unburied, I tied myself off and joined them. I moved too quickly and nearly fell over the edge.

“Be careful Matthius, they’re rooting for you to drown.”

“You be careful, Senjay. The current is fastest where you are.”

“Aint no one worried about me?”

“You will be missed corporal. But, I could do with my own tent. The barbarian snores something awful.”

“Ha!”

We tried to laugh away the fear of drowning. That, mixed in with the fear of falling, and all the watching eyes, made it impossible to do with any speed. The Lokah offered us no tools while we offered them entertainment. With so few cargo ships passing by, most of the guards within view were watching us fail with glee. We punched and pounded and stomped and kicked at the ice. Small chips would break off in flat chunks and I wished for a hammer and chisel to break it away by the layer. Some of the children settled down on the far shore to watch. They were not quiet, filling the Holy Land with the sound of their unabashed giggles. By the lunch hour, we were tying off to the next frozen archway. The ships had been stopped while the guards ate chow, expanding our audience to every living thing in the vicinity. Men were betting with each other and the ponies whinnied at us angrily for causing such a scene without first giving them apples.

“Senjay, it’s chipping off in stacked layers.”

“Yea, I know.”

“Well don’t stand on it then.”

“Na, this will work better. And when I’m finished I’ll just stomp on it, like so.”

“No!”

He jumped on the solid layer beneath his feet and it cracked to tiny shards as he had expected. However, he had cleared the ice above his head first and, in so doing, pulled on a rope with several feet of slack. Once he fell in the water, he was at the mercy of the current. The shell kept him afloat, but only so the current could slam his body into the ice.

“I’m fine. No worries.”

The onlookers cheered as their gods punished the foolish outsider. Watching him slip and spin from trying to pull himself up made them howl with laughter. The Orcana suddenly became interested in the goings on and a group of younglings swam into view. I could feel a young male becoming angry at the giant spider that was holding those poor turtles together out of the water. When he decided to save them, everyone yelled for Senjay to run. There was no time to react as we were in their domain. The giant beast surfaced for a better view and then shot water at Senjay with such a force he was knocked off the ice and dropped back into the water.

The whale waived its tongue around like a goat, and was given a rousing cheer. After being slammed into the ice again, Senjay spun and spun, desperately holding on to the rope. When he pushed his feet together and leaned into the current, he was able to stand on the water. A long bout of laughter followed from all around. Lazarus and I both slapped ourselves in the face. Once we had realized our boots allowed us to walk on water, the rest of the ice was chipped off with ease. After clearing away the curved crest of the ice mountain, we tied the ropes around each other, and set to the bottom three quarters.

“At least we know if we both fall you can pull us up.”

“Yea, and if he falls we’re both goners. You had better play it safe for once.”

“Yes corporal.”

Even saluting did not hide my tone. Lazarus tackled me into the ice and pushed a massive chunk out past the bridge. When it landed at the base of the falls, it pushed water up the shorelines by several feet. Several tiny people called up in anger, but, we were untouchable.

“While that was funny, Kru is down there. We should be more careful.”

“Oh my. Who’s the corporal now?”

The rest of the afternoon was slow and fun. We found many whirling pattern shells and some with patterns as perfect as the silver implants worn by the Lokah. The larger ones also made strong tools. We were all using them to pop up the last bits ice from the bridge when Major Bloodaxe resurfaced. He was jovially saying his goodbyes to his many adoring fans on his way out of the door, at the bottom of the easy way down.

“Huh? No wonder I didn’t see it.”

“See what?”

Senjay was confused. I wanted to point at the trail in the ice. Too late, we had already destroyed the evidence of my ridiculous climb.

“Oh nothing. I just didn’t see the door hidden back there. We did not get to take the stairs.”

“What? You’re lying.”

“Ha! You didn’t see him climbing? Too busy watching that women bathe, eh pervert?”

“What? No-”

“Are you lot finished yet? Ah very good.”

“Sir, did we not climb the ice this morning?”

“Yea, and you pissed yourself twice doin’ it.”

He vouched for me, but of course, turned it around to become an insult. During the hard work of the day I had forgotten about nearly losing my life on the platform. It was better that Major Bloodaxe change the subject from the truth. I thought we had finally gained his respect when he had us line up on the bridge.

“Look up gents. Observe what can be accomplished when you work together. Now, look how smooth the river runs.”

We looked up and spun around congratulating each other.

“Well, except for that big splash there.”

Major Bloodaxe pointed down below Lazarus and we leaned in to squint.

“But I don’t see-”

“How’s about a closer look?”

He threw as all in with one long swipe. My best estimate was of a ninety foot drop. When we hit the water I was the only one properly prepared. My experience with the shell took over and I landed head first, looking towards the sky, with my feet tightly together. After a short dive, I popped back up on the surface. I was kicking and laughing before anyone else had so much as taken their first breath. The water was freezing and the walk back to camp was miserable. However, we had made friends again, and we each caught handful of pink pointers. Everyone had their very own fish with dinner. I even caught an extra for Kru.