Chapter Eight
Freedom Lost
The familiar feel of the saddle was the same, but the horse wasn’t. I’d run the old mare too hard. She’d died sometime in the night and when I’d left the house this morning it had been to find my saddle on this horse. I had felt a moment of remorse for the old girl as she’d given me her all, but this horse was definitely an upgrade.
Would it be fast enough, though, if the abhorrent strain of lion people suddenly came over the plain towards us?
I started to turn to look back, but abruptly stopped as the stitches across my chest pulled painfully. White knuckled, I held onto the saddle horn as I saw stars for a moment. It really didn’t matter how fast the horse could go, because the small caravan of people I was accompanying were slow, painfully slow.
I wasn’t leaving them. I looked ahead to the old Farmer’s wagon only to see the baby that I’d saved happily grabbing at its adoptive mother’s hair. I smiled for a moment as I watched the two.
It was nice to know that I had helped bring about such a moment. It made the pain I felt across my chest every time I took a breath worth it somehow.
I turned the horse sideways in a wiser nod to my limitations in order to look back over the way we had come. A column of smoke was even now rising into the late morning sky.
I glanced to the side at the old farmer who had pulled his mount up as I had done. I saw it all there on his face. The pain and even bitterness caused from suffering great loss.
“It can be rebuilt. Crops can be planted again,” I said in an attempt to lift the despair from the other man’s eyes.
Slowly the old man shook his head, “Not this time I fear. There’s no going back and there’s nothing worth going ahead for. It’s over. I’m done.”
“You’re only done if you quit. You don’t strike me as the type of man to let a plant perish from lack of water.”
The old man’s eyes turned to me and almost angrily he asked, “What’s that got to do with it?”
“Just as you wouldn’t let new transplant seedlings die from the shock of moving, I know also that if you put your will to this that you will survive and prosper even as a plant would have under your care. Consider this day your transplant to a new location. It will only get better from here.”
Ruefully the old man shook his head, “You're strange boy. You’ll go far with confidence like that.”
I shook my head, “I don’t have much confidence sir. I only said what I did to help you feel better.”
The farmer nodded and said, “Well it worked. Now let’s be getting on with making the future a better place.”
We rode on and it wasn’t long before I saw a long line of cavalry headed our way.
I watched the column of soldiers from the Kingdom of Thyana come nearer. They were too little and too late.
Farms all over this southernmost plain of Thyana must be ablaze and only now was the army coming to investigate. It didn’t say much for the management of the kingdom or its love for its people.
The column of riders drew to a halt and the old farmer did most of the talking. I endeavored to keep a low profile, but it was apparent that I was the subject of a lot of speculative interest.
I didn’t want a lot of questions so I drifted away to face back over the way we had just come. I could still hear what was being said though. Apparently we were the last group of survivors that the column had come across.
Farms ahead and behind were ablaze with most of the inhabitants dead or wishing that they were. It was agreed that there was little to be gained by going on, so the military contingent would tag along as an escort with the old farmer and two other farmers that we had met up with this morning.
Fools! Here was a formidable force of soldiers and their commander was turning back to serve as an escort instead of chasing after the demonic individuals responsible for the loss that was everywhere to be seen. Was this the actions of just one captain of a troop or was the whole kingdom like this when faced with a threat?
If so, then the Kingdom of Thyana didn’t have much to look forward to. They would be backed up to their cities before they knew it, with the wealth of their once great nation burnt to ashes all around them.
I fell into the column and headed north. North was where my destiny led, but if I had been a son of this land my place would be back there hunting down the murderers from Itarga.
I’d rather face a pack of Saber Cats any day than being in the presence of just one Lion Man. That didn’t change the fact that I wanted to kill every last one of them.
That desire remained a steady passion that burned brightly on the inside, but meekly I followed along with the column. Perhaps I was learning the art of diplomacy after all.
The capital city of Thyana was far larger than any I had ever encountered. In fact I’d say it was three times the size of the capital of Smirnaz that I had seen only briefly as a boy. It was far wealthier too.
Everyone seemed to be a person of greater means than I. What was I to do in such a place?
I had no money and no clear path as to how to accomplish the mission with which Kuri had tasked me. It had taken us eleven days to reach the capital city of Thyana and, while I was impressed with everything I saw, I also felt a keen yearning to be away from it.
So many people. It was hard to tell in such a pressed throng as to who was friend or enemy.
It seemed there was to be a briefing before a higher court official as to what had happened in the south. I wanted no part of that, but I had no choice in the matter.
We stopped before buildings that had giant columns rising up all around. The building had pretentiousness written all over it. This must be the government then.
I dismounted and headed for the steps of the building only to see the old farmer keep moving on with the column. Hey, what was the deal here?
They were taking my horse with them!
The old farmer saw my look of consternation and shrugged bitterly, “It’s you they want to talk with. As for the horse, it’s mine anyway and I’ll need the money that it will fetch me here at market in order to start over.”
What the old man was failing to state, however, was the fact that he was also cavalierly leading away my saddle, along with what few belongings I had in the world. I made to go after him, but four guardsmen stepped into my path.
Was I supposed to do? Let the old man steal from me?
As I saw it, I had two options before me. Fight my way through the guards and end up in the dungeon, if I proved unsuccessful, or see to whatever they wanted of me first and then track down the ungrateful old man I had helped escort to safety.
I stepped away from the guardsmen and made my way up the steps as I moved with reluctance into the pretentious surroundings of this foreign kingdom. I was led past several grand halls that were filled with people, who appeared to be embroiled in legal work of some kind.
I doubted that Smirnaz had anything like this to boast of, but then again Smirnaz was the poorest of all the Kingdomer Nations.
Just where was I being taken?
The sounds of people and heated conversations grew distant, until they were but a faint murmur in the background. In contrast, the finery of the massive building that I was walking through only grew finer in appearance. The better question might be, who was I to be meeting with?
At last the entourage of guardsmen around me came to a halt. A pair of oaken doors opened to reveal a suite that looked out on a terrace garden overlooking the city. I looked around uncertainly, only to see one of the guards gesture for me to enter into the room.
I went forward, but they stayed where they were. I moved on into a room decked out with vibrant colors and gilded tapestries. A servant girl appeared out of nowhere and gestured for me to follow her.
We moved out onto the terrace that seemed to run the length of this side of the building. I saw an older man standing at the railing that overlooked the city. The girl gestured to him and I got the picture that this man was to be my questioner.
I had no knowledge as to why I was being questioned further like this. I’d had very little to report. I’d come across a caravan and saved a baby. That was all. Why was I here in the presence of someone who was obviously very important?
I drew within six feet of the man before I stopped. Distantly I heard the servant girl leaving. We were now alone on the terrace except for the bees hard at work on the flowers that were in pots and planter beds all about us.
“It would seem, stranger to our lands, that you are quite the hero. I must thank you for that. There are few left in all the world who give a care over whether or not a Thyanian baby lives or not.”
“It was nothing sir. I just did what I could to save a baby’s life.”
The man’s regally held shoulders turned as he faced me and said in a voice that brooked no arguing, “On the contrary it is of great importance, what you have accomplished.”
For a moment I was mesmerized by the sight of the man’s face. The whole right side of the man’s face was marred by the scars of what looked to have been made by the swipe of a big cat. Apparently this man at some point in time must have had his own run-in with a Lion Man.
“The report I received said that you killed one of the cursed beasts.”
I nodded, not sure as to where this was going.
The man’s face broke into a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes as he saw me gazing at the scars on his face, which twisted his smile off to one side. The fingers of his one hand rose to briefly feel along the furrow of the scar only for him to then say as his fingers trailed away, “I killed the beast that did this. I was close enough to smell his rotten lion breath as I drove my blade through him again and again. Looking into his eyes was like receiving a glimpse of Sheol. You and I are the only men I’m aware of who have ever managed to kill one and walk away from the experience. What do you think of that?”
Not having an answer to his question, I just shrugged expressively.
The man looked away, his face appearing pensive as he stared out over the bustling city below us. “I am a prince of this nation. Not a Crown Prince, but rather one of lower birth. I love my country and it saddens me to see it being slowly destroyed by poor leadership. Tell me, what you would have done if you were in charge of the expedition that met up with your caravan of farmers?”
Not wanting to stick my neck out, but also wanting to be truthful I said, “I would have pursued after them. The lion men have no horses as far as I can tell and they could’ve easily been chased down.”
“Then what?” he interjected, as he turned to face me.
“Well then, I would’ve done my best to kill them. Little is to be gained for your kingdom by letting them destroy your outlying countryside without even putting up a fight.”
The Prince nodded. He gazed at me for a moment before saying, “You’re young and not of my people’s birth, but of Kingdomer blood no less I think. I want you to take charge of part of the army that’s under my command and head back down south. In specific, I want you to lead the very regiment that was led so cowardly in the south and which failed to do its task of protecting the nation.”
“Sir, I regret that I must reject your offer. I mean no offense, but I’ve been tasked with a mission and I can’t commit to anything else until that’s done.”
The Prince eyed me up speculatively before saying, “Honesty and loyalty. Those are two more ideals you possess which I very much admire. Tell me Benaiah, what are you going to do in a foreign city without money, with no horse, no sword, and no references by which to gain employment?”
Those were all valid questions, but I didn’t like the way he was forcing me into a corner without choice. An answer came to mind and I confidently responded with, “El Elyon will make a way for me. If my mission is true He cannot fail but to provide to make a way for me.”
I was proud of myself, but also a bit apprehensive as I watched the prince’s smile turn sour. “Faith too, I see. You are a rare man indeed, but I have no need of faith. I’ve found that the proper leverage of both wealth and power can accomplish all that is needed. Outdated beliefs in a Creator are just that, outdated. You will soon learn that for yourself Benaiah. Unfortunately, along with that lesson you will also have to learn that a Prince of Thyana is not to be denied. A couple of weeks in the dungeons of the palace should be a sufficient learning experience for you to come to the realization that my offer is a good one as opposed to the alternative. Take him away!”
Several pairs of hands seized hold of me from behind and began to lead me roughly away.
I had to admit to a certain degree of profound shock as I was being led back down the ornately decorated halls of the palace. I had done the work of a hero and I was being rewarded for it by being thrown into the dungeons. Where was the justice in this?
*****
The stench coming up from the hole in the floor was awful. Hands pushed and I felt myself launched forward into the dark abyss. I screamed as I fell through darkness to only moments later land hard with an ‘umphhh’ as the air was knocked from me.
Hacking on stirred up dust, I tried to recover my breath while at the same time I tried to grapple with my dark surroundings and perhaps the need to defend myself.
I had heard stories of these dungeons. It was said that those thrown into them were often consumed whole by the other residents of the darkness that had been driven mad by hunger deprivation.
I heard the skitter of feet towards me from behind and I reacted by kicking out with both of my feet. My boots connected hard with something and one dungeon resident went wailing backward from me, but there was the sound of more feet coming.
I got to my feet and did my best to take stock of the situation in a hurry. In the dim glow of light given off from the lantern at the top of the dungeon enclosure I could make out at least 20 or more individuals closing in on me.
It was possible that I could fend them all off given their weakened state, but could I stay awake forever in order to avoid being jumped? Would I not become like these crazed creatures if I was to be left down here?
No, I preferred death now, if that was the future I could expect down here.
I ran toward the dungeon wall away from the mob and began to climb. There wasn’t much to grab hold of and from the polished condition of the stones I could tell that the attempt to climb out of this pit of Sheol was an often repeated practice over the years.
Despair filled me at the impossibility of my escape. I’d made it 10 or more feet up from the dungeon floor, but now it was hard to find a purchase by which to climb further.
I could hear those gathered below, who wished to feed on me, cackle with glee. I glanced down only to see that they were making no attempt to follow. And why should they, as no doubt this scenario was an often repeated event, with a likely often repeated outcome.
I clutched onto the slippery rocks with desperation. If I jumped off and fought I might be victorious in the short term, but not in the long run. The longer I spent in this pit the weaker and more delusional I would become.
No, as impossible as it was I had to keep climbing. I rested my head against the cold rocks for a moment and said, “El Elyon…… Kuri…… You told me that you would be here for me! I need you!”
“Do what I taught you.”
“What?” I asked in disbelief.
“You heard me.”
I thought for a moment and then I realized something. Kuri had made me scale far worse cliffs than this, but somehow, in the darkness and the pressure inspired by the hungry watchers below, I had forgotten how well I had been trained for such a challenge as this.
Through force of will and remembered experience I forced my breathing to calm down. My fingers unglued and I began to climb upward again. Growls broke out from below and from the sounds of it a few of them had begun to climb. I didn’t overly care.
My hands were finding rocks not so polished now and with that came more confidence. Every once in a while I allowed myself to look up to the open portal from which the only source of light came. I was getting close, but I’d have to be a spider in order to walk across the ceiling to get to the opening in the floor above.
In the span of a few more minutes I was faced with that very problem. I’d reached the top and I hung there, completely drenched in sweat, as I debated about what to do next.
There was only one thing I could do. I’d have to jump for it.
Slowly I began to turn from hugging the rocky side of the dungeon wall to facing the portal that lay in the floor above. It was at least 8 feet away. If I missed, I’d go plummeting back into the depths and the murderous throng would be on me in seconds, but I was out of options. There was only one path and that was forward.
My leg muscles bunched tight and I sprang outward over the abyss as I let all my nerved up tension loose. One hand slipped off the frame of the trapdoor, but my other caught the side lip of the dungeon portal.
I lifted up at the elbow and got my other hand on the portal ledge and then, to the tune of a collective groan from below, I pulled myself up and out of the dungeon. I lay gasping for air on the floor, grateful that there were no guards present. I could hear voices though.
I’d gotten this far, now what?
I needed a distraction if I was to get out of the palace. With a grin I kicked my foot out and a pile of rope laying near the portal fell into the darkness of the dungeon. There were exclamations from those below and then the rope grew taunt as the dungeon dwellers began to climb free of their prison.
I got shakily to my feet and looked for a suitable place to hide. As I went along the corridor I couldn’t but debate with myself as to what the difference was between that of a Lion Man and that of the cannibalistic dungeon dwellers coming up the rope behind me. They were both the creation of dark actions.
Just who were the good guys anymore?
I ducked into a room and closed the door and barred it. The single lantern within the room revealed that I had struck it rich. I was in an armory.
Quickly I went to the sword racks. Although the swords were roughly made and without much beauty or finesse they were nevertheless fully functional. I grabbed one up, but then put it aside as another idea took hold.
I stripped off my torn clothes and donned the clothes and leather armor of a soldier, complete with helmet. I sorted through some knives and took a few. A war ax struck my fancy and I slipped it into my belt along with some knives. I took up my sword and then grabbed another.
From the sounds of it, all pandemonium was breaking loose outside. I opened the door and began pushing my way through the press of soldiers as if I was one of them.
*****
The freedom of my dungeon companions was short-lived as they were hacked down by panicked guards terror-stricken at the thought of being fed upon. At least in death they were now free from the living torment that had taken over their lives. I could only wonder as to how many of them had been as innocent as I had of any wrongdoing.
I was among the press of court officials that was spilling out onto the street. Nothing like the threat of cannibals on the loose to clear a building. I saw the Prince striding about angrily, calling out orders, and I had to fight against the capricious urge to slip up next to him and bury a dagger in deeply.
He no doubt deserved it, but today was not the day.
I found myself in the palace stable yard quite by accident. It wasn’t in me to be a thief and steal another man’s horse, so I did the only thing I felt comfortable to do.
I strode up to what appeared to be the chief attendant of the stables and barked out, “The Prince requires his horse! Now!”
The stable master fidgeted nervously, as he split his attention between me and the general hubbub taking place in the palace, “Which one?” he asked distractedly.
“The red one,” I said on a hunch.
“But it’s not been properly broke in yet!”
“Bring it now man!” I yelled out forcefully.
The stable master ran off and I waited impatiently for his return. He came back moments later with a beautiful red stallion that pawed aggressively at the ground. Now this was a horse!
Of all the people in this kingdom, the Prince owed me the most and I was willing to call us even, for the most part, in exchange for this horse. I slid into the saddle, chuckling to myself as to how angry the Prince would be when he found out about this.
The Prince would be wise to be grateful that he was still alive, but I doubted that he would be. His kind carried a grudge to the end. With this act I’d made an enemy today.
The stallion did a hop, skip, step in preparation to buck, but I had no time for that. I spurred him out of the stable lot and into the hustle and bustle of the city. I had no wish to ever return here and I doubted that I would be made welcome anyway.
I stopped at a merchant’s business and I traded my second sword for a purplish traveling cloak and some provisions and then I was off again. The stallion seemed as eager as I was to be free of the city. I named him Urgallon on the spot.
I’d had a pig named that as a boy and the horse beneath me reminded me of him. It was a strange name I had to admit, but it was a familiar one and it came from back in my early childhood, when things really hadn’t needed to make much sense.