The Legendary Warrior (Book 5) (6 page)

As
Lakrymos’ body was reduced to shreds, he saw that there was no blood, organs or anything else that would prove that he was living, but he
did
sense energy.

His soul.

It didn’t know what to do with itself now that it was naked and alone.

It tried to fight against the elements for a few seconds, struggling to maintain its solidarity as it more than likely searched for a n
ew form to inhabit. But it was fruitless, and when it couldn’t find a home, it shuddered one more time, and then it disintegrated, becoming one with the air as if someone had thrown a handful of sand into the wind.

Bastion watched the empty space for a moment, wobbling and chuckling to himself.

He had done it.

He had defeated the legendary
Lakrymos.

Not with raw strength, but his wits. Something that he had only begun to consider using recently. He only had Daisy, Kent and Catherine to thank for their guidance, and for showing him that there was more than one way to victory.

Oh, and James. He couldn’t forget James—the master of manifesting. Perhaps there was more to his teaching than he realized. Maybe James knew what he was doing after all.

I have no idea what I’m doing,
James thought to himself as he strolled from the meadow’s edge into the village.
I’ve let Bastion down.

The village was in good spirits, as it tended to be ever since Catherine abdicated the throne and
Lakrymos took over. There had been no coronation. No ceremony. Barely even a speech. Lakrymos had strolled through the Kingdom’s private north entrance, proceeded to the castle balcony and without notice—began speaking, before the village had even fully gathered. He had told no one of his arrival.

“I have heard of what has happened here,”
Lakrymos had said. “Of Catherine’s resignation and your election of me. I am honored, but know this. I am not here to continue the age of peace. There is a new enemy on the horizon, greater than that of the Quietus, and more powerful than all of our neighbors combined. They seek to destroy us. But we have always persevered. We have always met the challenge. In his infinite wisdom, the Maker has saw it fit that he send me down in his stead, in order to take you all to victory. Do not fear what is to come. I only tell you of the Yama so that you are not alarmed when they appear. The Sages and I will handle them. We will protect your way of life, and send the enemy back from whence they came. I only ask that you assist me in any way that I ask. Perform your duties in the meantime. Carry out your business, and be ready, for the time in which I will call upon you. From the farmers to the merchants, you are all essential to the victory that we will inevitably achieve.”

Lakrymos
’ words seemed to have inspired the people in a way that was greater than Catherine ever had. They actually put in double the effort into their professions. Merchants created new and innovative devices, small weapons that the villagers could carry that were said to be “blessed by Lakrymos himself.” Culinarians created new exotic dishes that were said to increase lifespans. Farmers received more money since the culinarians required more goods, and the blacksmiths were overrun with orders for weapons. James couldn’t put his finger around it at first. Why were the villagers so excited now? It’s not like Lakrymos actually did anything.

Nine times out of ten, the new King
refused the villagers that came to the castle for answers to their dilemmas. He shut down the castle from tourists and visits. The Sage Academy was cut off from the public, and he was rarely seen talking to the people. His first speech was the one and only, and he had made no attempt to interact with the people in public since. No dinners. No conversations. Not even a word of encouragement, and the villagers acted like it was what they wanted all along.

Who knows? Maybe they did. Perhaps they were used to a distant and silent King and Queen. After all, they had gone for over a decade before Catherine even showed herself to them after the Siege in 88. But why didn’t they want someone to be there for them after Thorn’s defeat?

Maybe because no one is asking them to change,
James thought to himself, while he kept his head down.
When Catherine was in power, she wanted as many people as possible to become Sages since we had been lacking so many before. But that might not be what the people want. Maybe they don’t want to be Sages. They just want to fight the enemies that come our way on their own terms, with the skills that they have honed best. I guess in that sense, Lakrymos has inspired them…sort of.

“Hey! Master James!” a teenage armor smith apprentice
said, waving eagerly at him from the open door of his hut. “What are you so deep in thought about?”

“Everything,” James replied, giving him a quick wave back. He continued walking through the streets, eavesdropping on the conversations as he headed to his destination. They spoke excitedly of how they were going to beat the Yama when they came, or how the Yama deserved to be extinct for how ruthless they were. Some called them savages. Others said that Allay should make the first strike. A few more complained of hunger. A few jokes were told. A groan here and there about sunburn. A couple snoring from their bench. The laughter of children. The banter and sparring of teenagers that weren’t yet ready for the Academy. James was most concerned about those that spoke of the Yama. Where had
they received such information about them? Why were the Yama savages when the Allayans had never even met one?

“Master James,” a woman’s voice cracked, and he recognized it immediately. He cast his concerns aside and walked over to the fruit cart. The woman was in her fifties, but she looked twenty years older. She had lost much in only a few short years, including her husband in Thorn’s attack, and her daughter not too long after.

“How are you, Cheryl?” James asked, taking her fragile and bony hands into his. “Eating well?”

“That’s what we do best here in the village,” she smiled, her eyes listless. “But more importantly, how are you?”

“I’m doing okay.”

“Decided to take a meager stroll through the village?”

“Not exactly. I’m headed to the Order headquarters.”

“There are shorter ways.”

“I know. But I wanted to think about a few things while I was headed there.”

“I’m sorry that I had to burden you further,” she said, bowing her head. “It was my fault.”

“No, no,” James soothed her, giving her a soft hug. “Not at all. She was your daughter, and she was quite strong. How were you to know what would happen?”

“Those
Langorans. I tell you. It was no accident. They leave those traps on purpose.”

“They have the right to leave traps out on their property. They should have been more careful.”

“Still, if I had not sent her…I just wanted to know what the fruit from Languor tasted like. I…I’m a silly woman.”

“Not at all,” James said. “You know, at the least she didn’t suffer. It was quick from what I heard. That’s all we can ask for when we pass.”

“I just wanted to say that I was sorry again. I’m so sorry, Master James.”

“No worries,” James smiled weakly. “Now it’s my turn to apologize. I really have to be going.”

“I’m sorry,” she said, muttering more to herself than James. “I’m sorry.” James nodded toward her and backed away, putting his hood over his head as he continued on. He didn’t want to be disturbed again, and especially not by someone asking if he was okay. He didn’t want to think about death. Not if he could help it. Still, he was unsure if he should have done more for Leidy’s mother when her daughter passed. He wasn’t even sure how to take the news himself, hearing that she and Jennings had been traveling to Languor, and they had stumbled across a few old traps. He wasn’t sure why they didn’t take the normal trade route, and he was so shocked by the strangeness of it all that he was sure that lies were being told. But Zain and the other Langorans were adamant that it was all one big accident, and they had actually removed all of their traps afterwards. They were deeply sorry, and they had lavished the village with gifts and food to try to make amends.

James did a little digging into the matter, but there was no evidence to prove that Leidy and Jennings had fallen victim to foul play.
Still…after they were gone, he sure laughed a lot less in his life. And now he didn’t even have Catherine. It had only been a couple months, but it felt like they had never met, as if their marriage had been a dream that he couldn’t shake. He knew what he was fighting for, but he felt like he was failing Bastion every day. It was obvious that Bastion was becoming more like Lakrymos and less of a child with every passing mission, even when James was the one to—

James shook his head and cleared his throat. No. He couldn’t dwell on their faces. He had to keep moving forward, and he had made a promise to Catherine that he would save Allay. He couldn’t do his job if he started sobbing again.

“May I join you on your walk?” someone asked, and he didn’t turn around. The stranger poked him on the shoulder. “May I accompany you, Master Sage?”

“I’m not—” James stopped once he caught a glimpse of the stranger. It was one of the elders in the Order of the
Langorans.

“I guess you didn’t expect it to be me,” he laughed. It was only then that James noticed how gruff his voice had sounded.

“It’s nothing against you. I would have reacted unpleasant to anyone. I have a lot on my mind.”

“Everyone who heads towar
d the Order of the Allayans do.”

“And not the
Langorans?”

“Oh, our solutions are quite simple and the people catch on quickly. A little bit of entertainment here, and
a bout of laughter there will cure almost any ailment. Of course, your problems might be a little harder to prescribe. I’ve heard that Queen Catherine is in my homeland at the moment.”

“You mean the
former Queen
,” James corrected.

“Ah, she’ll always be the Queen to me. If it wasn’t for her contribution, there is no way that we would have been able to defeat Thorn.”

“Hmm,” James said. They kept walking, past the throngs of the village and out into the forest where the headquarters was located. James turned to his companion.

“So why are you headed to the
Allayan Order headquarters? Business?”

“I’m going to listen to the sermon.”

“Oh, there’s a sermon today? Hmm. If I had known that, I might not have gone.”

“I find it interesting actually,” the
Langoran Elder said. “Sermons and lectures speak volumes about the person whose mouth they are coming from. Lots of insight come from the pulpit, especially since the elders are often under the illusion that’s it just their flock they are speaking to.”

“So you’re not one of the flock?” James teased. “Elder…I’m sorry, I don’t know your name.”

“Shin,” he replied. “Nice to meet you, Master Sage.”

“Just James,” he laughed. “I haven’t been feeling like a Master these days.”

“Is it because of your new King? I hear there was quite a rift between your wife and him. Is that why the two of you parted ways?”

“No, it’s more complicated than that,” James said, remembering that he shouldn’t provide too much information to anyone. Just because Shin was a
Langoran, it didn’t mean he wasn’t one of Lakrymos’ spies. “Let’s say that I’ve sort of lost my way lately. I’m not sure what I believe in anymore.”

“A changing of the guard is hard, especially when you are used to the former regiment. Zain is one of the reasons many of the
Langorans left the homeland and began to branch out to the other Kingdoms.”

“Why? What’s wrong with Zain?”

“It’s not what’s wrong. He likes to handle things differently, that’s all. The former King had a more laid back approach when it came to his subjects, so the people were able to devise their own games, but Zain wants to be in the mix. It’s kind of disconcerting. Can you imagine entering a fighting tournament for money to feed your children and you find out the King is the obstacle in your path? You’re going to lose. There’s no choice in the matter. Just imagine. Even if the King admired you for not taking it easy on him, he could easily see you as a threat the next hour. No thank you, I say.”

“So
you decided to join the Order instead? To preserve your way of life according to the ways of the old King?”

“Not exactly,” he chuckled. “I’m only trying to ensure that the people don’t caught up with the winds of change too quickly. People are swayed by the moment. The Orders are there to remind them to consider their actions before they do something regrettable.”

“When the Orders aren’t fighting among themselves or taking advantage of their position,” James winked to Shin. Shin raised an eyebrow in amusement.

“Speak for your own people, Sage. The
Prattlian and Langoran Orders are quite noble in their intentions. It’s this Seeker of yours that worries us all. He is to take over your Allayan Order soon enough, and from what I’ve heard whispered in gossip, that will spark the beginning of the apocalypse.”

“Oh, I believe that whole heartedly,” James laughed. He suddenly stopped at
the foreign sound coming from his belly. It had been so long since he had been amused. He had forgotten about his troubles for a moment. “Well,” he said, turning to Shin. “Perhaps there is something to your prescriptions after all.”

“You
Allayans never believe me,” he mused as they caught a glimpse of the Allayan Order headquarters in the distance. There was a small group of villagers heading inside. James turned to Shin.

“I would like to talk again at some point, if that’s okay with you.”

“Certainly,” he replied with a small nod in the Sage’s direction. “It was my pleasure.” James let Shin go ahead of him as he decided to stand outside for a little while and let the villagers find their desired seats first. There was no guarantee he could stay long, and he wanted to make sure he could make a quick exit if need be.

“Ah, this is a first,” Seeker said from behind him, placing a clammy hand on his shoulder. “A Sage attending the
Allayan Order’s sermon. My, my. To what do we owe the pleasure?”

“I hope you’re not the one speaking today, Seeker. Because if you are, I’m going to have to leave.”

“Oh, no. It’s not really my thing. Although I guess I’m going to have to get used to it if I plan on taking over in the future.”