Chapter Eleven
Dry Hearts
To say that the northern plains were dry once you got away from the mountains was an understatement. Desert would have been a better descriptive word for it.
Nothing but desert with some clumps of grass here and there. It was hard to believe that this much natural devastation could occur in just over one hundred years.
I rode Relentless at a steady run across the flat plain kicking up a cloud of dust as I went. I had brought a spear with me and to this I had attached the flag of the Eastern Kingdom in the hopes that it would at least give me a chance to speak my piece instead of being run through on the spot, with questions asked later.
I saw some small wild deer flee from my approach off in the distance, but that was it. It was hot and I was beginning to wonder if just one extra satchel of water would be sufficient for this arid climate.
A shadow fell over me from above and I looked up to see a vulture drifting above me on the hot air currents. The bird’s presence seemed to describe the spirit of the place, dead.
Farther out in the distance I saw a series of projections that stuck out and up from the flatness of the plain and I headed for them, as there were seemingly no other kinds of landmarks to be seen on the flat plain.
Not my kind of land for sure. Give me the cool rainy green mountains any day over this place. Eventually I rode into some irregularities on the flat plain. Diversion ditches.
These must have been fields and pastureland then at one time. As I grew closer I could see that my destination was one of the abandoned cities of the North.
I reached the old riverbed before I did the city. It was empty and barren except for a few shrubs clinging on to life here and there along the sides and bottom of the once powerful Yasana River. I had come to see far too many such desperate and hopeless places like this in my short time on Assoria.
The destruction of what had once been great was evident almost everywhere one looked. The greed of one man comingled with the envy of one kingdom had brought all this bitterness and destruction upon the land and caused the suffering of so many. Assoria was due for a rebirth and with the Creator as my strength I would do what I could to reverse the ravages of the past and usher in a stronger new future.
I skirted the perimeter of the great abandoned city. I had no desire to travel down the lonely forgotten streets of yet one more relic from the past. It was as if the pain and suffering from the past had somehow seeped into the ground and pervaded the very atmosphere of the place.
I followed the old riverbed northward along its old course. Zalisha had said that except for a few isolated springs the northern peoples got most of their water by collecting the morning dew from the northern coastline beaches in a process that I was curious to see for myself.
Most of the remaining population was concentrated in the far north, because that was where the reliable water sources were and it was far away from the casual raiding parties sent out by the Western Kingdom to continually harass and weaken the Northern Kingdom further.
I made camp that night in a stand of scrubby pine trees that sat back off from the old riverbed. When I woke up it was with some regret that I didn’t find an apple laying beside me on the ground.
I rode for days only seeing the occasional scattered wildlife and the annoying presence of my constant companion, the buzzard, who lazily coasted along above marking my progress.
I had thought about putting an arrow through him, but I figured he had as much right to share the space as I did. I just wished he would share someone else’s space and avoid mine.
I could do without the ominous cloud of my own doom flying overhead. I had just come up out of a dip, when I saw the dust cloud of a party of horsemen up ahead. I headed straight for them silently praying that it wasn’t a returning raiding party of Western warriors.
From the raggedy attire of their outfits I figured they had to be Northern. The horsemen fanned out around, encircling me and I stopped Relentless waiting to see what would happen next.
They gave me a thorough looking over and I them. I didn’t like what I saw, but I kept that to myself. It wasn’t their lack of armor or their somewhat gaunt bodies that I didn’t like. It was instead the hard look in their eyes and the bitterness that was etched into their faces like a permanent scowl.
I had been around hard eyed warriors for all of my life, but these warriors looked a little too hardened. I got the distinct impression that they just as a matter of course did not like me.
The feeling was mutual, which was very bad. I needed these warriors to fight with me against the Western kingdom at Kartasa. Without them I didn’t see how we could win without a miracle of the Creator on behalf of our part.
I had to convince them to join in on our side! I just had to!
The ranks of the surrounding warriors parted and made room for another horse. It was Ziya and she looked happy to see me. I felt a rush of relief at the sight of her.
“You have come! It is good to see you! You must come and see my father the king!”
She barked out something to the surrounding warriors in her native tongue and they reluctantly parted giving her spiteful, perhaps even vengeful looks, as they did so.
It was then that I fully realized that the surrounding warriors had intended to kill me, a perfect stranger. Probably for my horse and gear, if Ziya hadn’t been there it would have been a fight to the death for sure. This did not bode well for favorable relations between the two kingdoms.
It was a good thing I hadn’t been expecting much because there wasn’t much to see. Just rows and rows of ratty looking tents.
The Northern Kingdom was now primarily a nomadic culture. The children looked up at us imploringly as we rode by, as if begging for a handout, but I doubted they’d get anything from these warriors other than a swift kick.
Then I saw something that sickened and disgusted me. A half naked woman ran out from a tent screaming even as a naked man chased after her. Catching her he smashed a fist to her face knocking her to the ground and then proceeded to rape her in plain view of everyone, while the woman pleaded and cried out into the dust of the ground.
Feeling bile rise in my throat at what I was witnessing I looked around. Was no one going to stop what was taking place?
Except for a few disinterested looks by some of the warriors, as to what was taking place no one seemed to care about the despicable act of brutality taking place before them. I looked at Ziya and she at least had the grace to look ashamed for what was taking place.
She met my hard stare and lamely said, “She is his wife.”
“So!”
Weakly she responded, “The men are always angry and hungry. They……”
Cutting her off I said, “Stop making excuses for them Ziya!”
Softly she responded while looking down and away from me, “Times are hard.”
No kidding, but that didn’t justify what I was seeing! I had counted on these people to help turn the tide of the war, without their help I saw little chance for victory. But if they wouldn’t come to the aid of one of their own lying in the dust what could inspire them to fight and potentially die in the fight for freedom.
I marveled at the mystery that Assoria’s three kingdoms represented. How could a kingdom such as the Eastern one loose so much and suffer so much physically and emotionally and yet hold on to their basic human decency? While their neighbors to the west had fallen to pieces morally and culturally speaking and the Northern Kingdom after having suffered a similar fate as the East had only become little better than the savage mindless brutes that roamed the Dark Forest.
The Eastern people were the exceptions to the general downturn of the people of this land. In all fairness I had to admit the same problem existed in my homeland with the disparaging differences between the Valley Landers and the Zoarinians.
People just weren’t perfect on their own and could never hope to attain perfection on their own either. That much was clear.
We reached the center of the tent village and I noticed that both the tents and the people were in better condition physically.
There must be a social hierarchy in place among these people. Those that got more food and those that didn’t.
We got down and headed for the open doorway of a tent larger than the rest. We made our way inside and of all the unexpected things to find in a tent sitting on a dusty plain was a gilded and bejeweled thrown complete with elevated dais.
The manpower and horsepower needed to haul the thing around would have had to be extensive. On top of the thrown sat what must be Ziya’s father. He was an unbelievably fat man and it wasn’t hard to see why. The tent was literally full of food, all kinds of it.
Children were begging for crumbs and he was busy in here stuffing himself to excess! I wanted to just turn around and leave so bitter was the disappointment I had for these people.
“Welcome!” Boomed the voice from on top the throne and reluctantly I moved on into the room trying to not step on the food lying around my feet.
“Zevin Ta’lont your fame precedes you. Come! Can I get you something to eat and drink?”
“No thank you your highness I’m quite full.”
I didn’t bother to mention of what I was full of.
The king started laughing uproariously his corpulent form jiggling with the force of his mirth. Out of the corner of my eye I caught sight of Ziya taking advantage of the king’s momentary self distraction by slipping handfuls of food into her baggy pants pockets.
The king’s own daughter had to steal for food!
My dislike for the king intensified even more.
Finally he regained control of himself and sputtered out, “You wouldn’t say that if you spent much time around here! Just looking at the people can make you hungry.”
I didn’t say anything for fear of what might slip out.
“So what pressing matter of business has brought you so far to the north? Have you come to preach to us of your Creator, if so don’t bother! We forsook any belief we had in god’s years ago. Now we only live for ourselves striving to eke out whatever pleasure we can from life before it’s done with us.”
I could see that principle in general display all around me.
“Your highness it’s true that hard times have come upon your people and the Eastern people as well, but now there is an opportunity for freedom for both your peoples.”
“How so?”
“Your highness may have not heard of the East’s great victory over the West and the destruction of an entire Western city?”
“I have and it was with great joy that I relished the hearing of the news, but I fear the East has undone themselves. The West will not rest now until they push the last Easterner into the sea!” The king said with indignation.
I feared that I was embarked on a hopeless cause, but I tried anyway, “Therein lays the opportunity your highness. The might of the Western Kingdom will be gathered together all in one place. If we destroy their army in the battle for Kartasa we destroy their strength and the rest of their cities will fall easily to the combined forces of the East and the North.”
The king looked speculative, “What is it you want of me?”
My mouth dry I responded, “Your highness I ask that you send your entire fighting force in three weeks time down through the mountains and strike the enemy from the rear, even as those in the city will rally and come out to fight the enemy from the front. Together we will crush them!”
He gazed at me for a while before saying, “I need some time to think this over. Come back in two hours.”
I bowed slightly, every groveling inch of it wounding my pride at having to do so before such a pompous individual.
I left the tent then with Ziya.
Pausing outside I glanced at her and saw her expression was troubled.
“What troubles you Ziya?” I asked softly so that no one else would hear.
She looked up at me, “I’m surprised that he didn’t just out rightly tell you no. It is not like my father to even consider such a proposal that would risk our people to an open attack by the enemy. It bothers me greatly. My father is very crafty, you can be sure that anything he agrees to will benefit him greatly.”
I nodded appreciating her advice.
We turned around the corner of a tent to find at least twenty children standing there expectantly. Ziya started digging into her pockets and handing the food out to the grateful children, who devoured it as soon as they got a piece.
My heart bled at the scene before me. When all the food was gone the children one by one touched some part of Ziya with the reverence that a child would show a loving mother or father and then they were all gone.
Ziya looked up at me with uncertainty on her pretty face, “You won’t tell on me will you?”
“Never!” I said emphatically.
Ziya showed me what little of the encampment there was left to be seen. We walked by a group of working women and I smelled something sweetly arresting in aroma.
“What are they doing?” I asked Ziya.
She stopped and smiled, “They are making perfume. We may not have pretty close or jewels to wear, but at least we can smell pretty.”
The perfume had the sweet sensual smell of spring flowers with a stronger undercurrent smell that gave it a hint of spicy muskiness. It smelled really good.
I wasn’t interested in it of course, but on a woman it would smell really good. One of the women must’ve noticed my interest in the perfume, because she quickly stood up holding a little stone jar with a wooden stopper out to me saying something quickly in her native tongue.
I looked at Ziya uncertainly, “How do I pay her? I don’t have any food with me?”
Ziya had blushed slightly, “No need to she is giving it to you freely for saving me and returning me to my people unharmed.”
I took the little bottle thanking the woman graciously even though she couldn’t understand me. She seemed to understand though and smiled before sitting back down to her work.
Two hours later saw us both before the king again, who with a jiggle of his fat rolls began to speak, “I’ve decided that it would not be in our best interest to send our army to aid the East at Kartasa. It would leave our people open to attack and possible annihilation. It’s simply too risky. I know a great victory has been achieved by the East over the West, but it does no one good to get carried away with one victory.”
“Father what do you think will happen to us should the last Eastern city fall without our help? They will come looking for us father like never before!” Burst out Ziya hot temperedly.
“Silence your tongue worthless daughter before I have it cut out for speaking to me so insolently!” The king roared back in reply.
I was going to say something I shouldn’t, but I changed what it was when I felt Ziya tugging on my hand imploring me not to.
“So the message I am to give the East is that they stand alone in their greatest hour of need?” I asked with my tone tinged with bitterness.
“Not at all! I never said that we would not give aid to them in our joint struggle to survive!” Blustered the king.
“What aid other than military might can the king give that would aid the East’s fight for victory at Kartasa?”
The king looked smugly at Ziya and then back to me, “Here in the north we are cursed with an abundance of female offspring that are a heavy yoke upon our people as all they do is give birth to yet more mouths to feed. I am prepared to offer the fighting services of three thousand of our nation’s young women to serve in the defense of Kartasa. They may not be hardened warriors but they are well able to pull back a bowstring or fight limitedly in close combat. What say you to this? Will you take my offer of aid or not?” The king asked slyly.
Hot anger seethed up and down my body and a desire to sink my fist repeatedly into the king’s fat belly was an almost overpowering urge. He was using the East’s struggle for life, as a population control measure for his own people!
A voice of reason echoed in my head relaying through a message that some help was better than no help.
“I accept your offer of support. Can you have them on their way in three weeks time to Kartasa?”
“Certainly, and make sure you take my daughter! I only hope that she will be of more value to you than she has been to me.”He finished with as he gave Ziya a disdainful sneer.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I nodded my head curtly and quickly left the tent needing the freshness of the outside air after the closed in verbal filth of the tent’s atmosphere.
Ziya soon appeared beside me looking out over the tents of her people.
“Ziya?”
She looked up at me and I saw the moisture in the corners of her eyes, “I’m sorry!” I said at a complete lack for better words to say to comfort her.
She held back for a moment, but then she caved in and encircled my middle with her arms hugging me tightly. I tried to return the hug, but it was a little awkward because she was so short.
Eventually I pulled her back, “All right now dry up those tears. This is no way for my second in command to act.” I said the words kiddingly and she stopped crying and tried to smile.
“Yes Sir!”
“That’s better. Now Ziya on the way here I stumbled on a secluded mountain valley in the shape of an L. Do you know where I speak of?”
“Yes, I think so.”
“I want you to gather your girls and be there in one week so that we can have some time drilling and practicing before we head out for Kartasa, where we will slip into the city and join the ranks of the defenders.”
“I will do it!”
And she was on her way, but I stopped her.
“Ziya see if you can get some extra girls to come along as well as some older women, from the sounds of it a few extra shouldn’t be missed.”
She grinned big and then she was gone.
I made my way back to Relentless, who stood alone with his ears laid back. He looked to be in a testy mood. No doubt some of the warriors gathered around had tried to touch him or his master’s stuff and Relentless wasn’t the kind of horse to tolerate that.
No he was the kind of horse that willingly took bribes from glowing eyed self-described demoness’s in the middle of the night, I thought darkly to myself.
“Come on boy let’s get out of here. I think we got the better deal this place has to offer anyway.” I said looking dismissively at the envious looking warriors gathered around, who were no doubt all thinking that they would look better than me on top of the big black stallion.
I let them have a taste of dust as I slung up into the saddle and let Relentless go. As I made my way past the last tent I wondered how many of the gathered warriors would be coming after me tonight to attempt to kill me for my horse and stuff.
Probably several if not all of them, but it didn’t matter because I wasn’t going to give them a chance to catch up to me with their flea bait horses anyway. I let Relentless fly towards the mountains eating away at the stretched out desert as I was eager to get away from these dead plains and back into the presence of my alluring nighttime visitor.
I reached my hand down and felt the contents of my pocket and brought out a big red apple and smiled. I’d snatched it up the second time I’d been in front of the king. I had been planning on giving it to a kid, but now I think I knew what I would do with it.