Valor: Chapter 4

            Not long after Elias had woken, they set off. It was somewhat exasperating, but he knew it had been coming. Ildun griped, but so long as Elias’ coin was going to his pocket, he’d go along; at least until anything too violent or unexpected happened. He had some doubts as to how steady Ildun would be under extreme pressure. He was brave, but more acquainted to less dreary places than this, clearly.

            “We don’t even know if this village near Goldbottom is inhabited by friendly people.” Ildun sneered the name the humans had given Tagen Rynns, and honestly Elias didn’t blame him there. Especially as it wasn’t even a good translation.

            “As you’ve shown,” Michael responded, glancing down from his horse, “trying to force our way through this swamp at night would be dangerous.”

            “It’s dark enough as it is,” said the horseman whose name Elias kept losing. He honestly seemed somewhat of a boring sort, looking much like the human guards around Aurosimmar. He’d have to ask if he had family there. Otherwise the resemblance was uncanny.

            “Humans,” Ildun muttered quietly, provoking an amused smirk from Elias. Honestly, he could see in the forest quite fine. He understood humans weren’t quite as geared towards such conditions though.

            Although occasionally the humans got jumpy at some sound or another, especially at first, it began to fade with time. It didn’t hurt that Elias, Gustav, and occasionally even William would cast spells to peer deeper into the swamp around them.

            Of course, Elias didn’t say how much that wouldn’t show them. After all, they could detect beings of evil intent, or magical origin. A hungry animal, however, would count as neither. Nor, necessarily, would territorial orcs register.

            Speaking of, they’d travel not much longer after that particular thought had crossed Elias mind when Michael put up his hand, motioning for everyone to stop. He’d come to the top of a hill, and being on top of a decent-sized horse, he had more perspective than most.

            “Perry, come with me. There’s something on the road I want to make sure is safe.”

            “Are you sure, Michael?” William asked concerned.

            Michael gave little more than a nod before he and the horseman (Perry, if Elias could hold onto it this time) made their way down the road. Elias hastened to the top of the hill to see what they had, and in the dim light, he saw Michael had dismounted and was looking over a body on the road.

            Michael stood straight and, surprisingly, shouted for Elias. That made the hair on the back of Elias’ neck stand-up. He ran down the hill, stopping only to regain his footing on a muddy patch the horses had churned up, before coming to Michael and Perry.

            “Please,” he said before anything else, “be quiet. We’re safer during the day than at night, but-”

            Michael nodded, glancing at Perry, who was barely containing a knowing smirk. “Perry actually just said the same thing. I’ll admit, I forget myself. Still… does this one look familiar to you, Elias?”

            Michael stepped aside so that Elias could see the body. Leaning in, he could see the wounds were vicious and unrestrained. Knicks and cuts along the arms, and many scars the body over, but the killing blows were several deep slashes and stabs in the back, if Elias was to be asked.

            The skin was a grayish-brown, and the blood itself somewhat yellow in tint. Not to mention the rough facial features, pointed ears, and size, there was no doubt to Elias that it was an orc. He glanced around, and saw the faint imprints of skeletal tracks nearby, some mottled with the orc’s blood.

            “I didn’t get a good look at them,” Elias admitted, “but he certainly looks to be in hunting gear,” he said, leaning in tugging at the light leather armor, “and that’s what got caught by the undead last night. A hunting party.”

            Michael frowned, tilting his head to side slightly as he looked at it. Elias stood up straight, brushing his hands off. “Something wrong?”

            “I guess I just pictured them… greener.”

            Elias smiled lightly. “In life, he probably was… as we turn pale, they turn a grayish brown.”

            “I guess the Green Blood tavern is based on fairy tale, hmm Perry?” Michael said, glancing up at the horseman.

            “Quite, sir,” Perry said, though didn’t take his gaze from the forest. He was dedicated to his work, Elias couldn’t doubt that.

            “God on his throne,” came another voice, and Elias turned around. The others had been picking their way down the hill, and now Michael and Ildun had gathered around the body.

            “They got this one good, hmm?” Ildun observed with altogether too much detachment for Elias’ taste. He had no love for the orcs, but he wouldn’t wish this sort of death on anyone.

            Judging from his face, William felt the same, but said nothing, instead looking down at the body. Ildun must have caught that, and after rolling his eyes, said “I wouldn’t worry too much William. I get that you have to save life, but I can almost guarantee this one wouldn’t return the favor.

            “No,” William said sadly, staring down at the body. “The Church only commands I save the lives of those who are good and pure, innocent and honorable… which some claim means only humans.”

            Ildun gave Elias a wary look, but Elias shrugged it away. William seemed a good sort, and it wasn’t as though Elven society didn’t consider elves superior to humans. Or maybe Elias was just more used to it.

            Gustav, thankfully, broke the tension, as he arrived the same time as those with the supplies. Giving the body a look of distaste, he glanced around and threw his hands into the air. “Well? Yes? Let’s move the damned thing if that’s the point.”

            “Not really,” Michael started, “more just trying to-”

            “Then let’s go,” Gustav said, urging his horse over the body and motioning for the workers to follow. They looked to Michael for a moment, who nodded his permission, rolling his eyes.

            Elias grinned. He knew that expression. “Not even death will stop Gus when he sets his mind to something.”

            That provoked a laugh from Michael. “Too true, well, come on. He is right, we can’t spend too long looking after the dead.”

            Elias nodded, and began down the road, rushing to get ahead so to keep pace with the horses better…

            Even though the sun was setting, William’s mind was still a few hours and miles back. Ildun’s comment was ringing in his ears, and the sight of the dead orc burned into his eyes. He kept asking himself the same question.

            Would I have saved it?

Ildun had been right, of course. The orc would most likely, upon being healed, just outright attack them. He’d heard tell that some orc tribes were able to live more or less peacefully with civilized folk, but more often than not, orcs simply raided and plundered when they saw fit. Such savagery certainly fell outside of God’s protection.

            Likewise, while the Asarian Church was fairly welcoming of other races, particularly dwarves, he had read the works of some Triune scholars saying that only humans should be protected by God, being his chosen people.

            Part of him felt his comment on such matters had disturbed their elven companions, but the topic was too distant to breach now. Distant, and buried under his far deeper thoughts of whether a savage life was somehow worth less than a “civilized” one. It was a train of thought he was struggling heavily with.

            “William!” Michael’s voice broke through his stormy thoughts, and William looked to him with a start. He really shouldn’t have allowed himself to be so distracted.

            “There you are, you looked a hundred miles away,” Michael said with an amused smile.

            “Only a few years away,” William responded, and didn’t elaborate further when Michael gave him an inquisitive look. “What is it you need Mike?”

            “We’re getting close to the village’s supposed location, and I was hoping you and Gus could give a quick scan of the area.”

            William frowned slightly, but nodded, and he and Gustav rode to the front of the line. Gustav looked over, cocking an eyebrow. “What’s wrong with you? Look like you just bit into something sour.”

            “I know I offered my magic,” William said quietly, “but the Lord’s magic is meant for more than looking around.”

            “So is mine,” Gustav retorted, “but I’d rather know what I was getting into, so swallow your pride and do it.”

            Discontented, William took a breath and focused, and Gustav did the same. As he’d done the day before, William was able to see the world in terms of aura, though only those of evil purpose and intent would truly stand out. He saw nothing. Still, something pricked at the back of his neck.

            “Well, I see some more magic than the rest of the swamp, but that’s to be expected if elves live here,” Gustav said. “Anything on your end?”

            “No, but-”

            “Well, onward then.”

            How quickly things changed! Although William had just been griping over inaction and using his powers to sense things, he reached out and pulled Gustav back, almost pulling him off his horse. “Still yourself for a moment Gus, I want to see something.”

            Gustav had squawked indignantly, and he urged his horse back slightly, grumbling. “What? You see no evil, I see some magic, and-”

            “Evil and hostile are different things,” William said bluntly. “Besides, I think what I fear would fall under neither term, technically.”

            Gustav asked more, but William ignored him, shutting his eyes and said a quiet prayer. His vision expanded, his spirit pulling from his body slightly (or so it felt) as he saw things he shouldn’t be able to see. Further up the road was a trench, covered with branches. A few boards offered save passage, while the rest of the trench was filled with sharpened wooden spines. There was also a chest-high trip-wire, thin as spider-silk, and his vision saw the wire connected to the trigger of crossbow, firmly tied between into the crook of a tree and its branch.

            “They certainly don’t want visitors,” William said as his eyes opened, and he relayed to Gustav and the others what he’d seen.

            “Are you positive there’s nothing more?” Tresbos asked.

            William shook his head. “I can’t be one hundred percent certain, no, but I wouldn’t expect God to warn me of two to see me slain by the third.”

            William glanced over at Ildun, cocking an eyebrow. The man seemed more focused on the path before them, but William swore he had heard a derisive cough. He sighed, and began forward. “I’ll go through first.”

Urging his horse forward, William lead the way. He moved his horse around the trench, and then when near the trip-wire, he reached out, his mace in hand, and snapped the wire with a quick blow. There was the sharp sound of metal snapping in the woods, and the crossbow bolt flew through the air. William couldn’t see exactly where, but close enough that he felt his breath catch. Bravery and foolishness went hand in hand, he thought with a smile.

He heard another horse behind his, and glanced back. Michael was close on his heels, with Tresbos not far behind Michael. The others were still somewhat hesitant. William smiled, and continued leading them on.

It wasn’t until William, Michael, and Tresbos had progressed a fair distance that the others began to warily follow. William turned his horse slightly, to wait and watch. Despite his faith in God’s protection, he wasn’t one to blindly follow. Just as a stern father may tan a boy’s hide to teach him respect and responsibility, so too may God. Luckily, though, everyone made it past the trench fine, and no other traps revealed themselves. At the very least, if God had a lesson to teach here, it wasn’t a violent one.

The sun was falling fast, and as soon as everyone had made it past the trench, Michael urged them onward. “Come on then, let’s find this village before nightfall.”

No one would argue that, thankfully. Though the sun still had some time yet before it sank beneath the horizon, the thick swamp seemed to swallow much of the light, and it was already far darker than anyone, even the magically inclined seemed a bit more nervous.

Michael wouldn’t blame them. On the contrary, he understood it far too well. There just seemed something deep and primordial about the darkness. Michael wasn’t prone to deep thought, but as he rode on, he glanced to his right, scanning the darkness for unseen threats. He realized the futility of course, and looked forward, only to realize there was no change. They had no torches on the advice of Elias, who claimed the light would only give them away.

He wasn’t used to working in such darkness. He supposed it had been a luxury of his class that he could pick and choose when he helped the guard, and for the first time in many years he wondered if he was cut out for this sort of thing. Shadows of the branches, shifted by the wind, made his eyes dart back and forth.

“The path is more stable here” Tresbos said, and after a moment Michael realized he could feel it too, even if he couldn’t see it.

“We must be getting close,” Michael said, urging Perimor forward slightly.

“Careful, m’lord,” Tresbos hissed after him, and Michael thought he heard protests from further back too.

He didn’t get much of a chance to look back before a shape fell from the trees, knocking him off of Perimor. It was silent, and he felt its weight as they both slammed into the dirt. Perimor’s hooves slammed nearby in panic.

Before Michael could react, he felt a blow against his helm, striking just off from the opening of the eye. It was dizzying, but he shifted his head to the side so the next hit also struck the helmet.

“Blakdad kuul,” the being whispered harshly, before he saw the hand rise again. It looked like a mace or hammer of some kind. “Nu onkuinuu!”

As it fell, Michael’s instincts finally kicked in, and his hand shot up to grab his assailant’s wrist. Then he tried to twist them around so Michael had the leverage. His foe was rather light, so he wasn’t able to hold Michael down, but he did manage to wriggle his way out of Michael’s grasp. Michael grabbed for his sword.

Suddenly light ballooned around them, and Elias yelled out “hid! Hidat! Serica lorn!”

Michael wasn’t sure exactly what was said, but Elias stood between him and his foe, though his cleaving blade was brandished. His foe was now in plain-sight, magical light being generated by Ildun nearby. His foe… was an elf.

The elf said something to Elias, and there was a brief exchange. Michael took a moment to study his foe. A leather cuirass, but no other armor, just normal clothing. In his hand was a hammer, and though it was clearly capable of killing a man, it looked more built for work than war.

“Everyone stay calm,” Elias said, “and put down your weapons. Everyone.”

Michael glanced around, and saw he was far from the only one with his weapon at ready. Tresbos had his bow trained on the elf, while William’s mace was clenched in his hand. Michael grit his teeth, and matched his assailant’s gaze. It was not a look you gave someone you didn’t plan on hurting. Michael was sure his wasn’t much different.

Hesitantly, Michael sheathed his sword and stood up straight. William followed suit. Tresbos…

“At ease Perry,” Michael said, and after another reluctant moment, the cavalryman eased his weapon back. He sent Michael an unimpressed glance that Michael gave no response to.

The newcomer’s gaze shifted from Michael to Perry to William to Elias, and then back to Michael. “Who are you?” he asked briskly.

“My name is Michael Niels. My companions are Willi-”

The elf chopped at the air with his hand. “I don’t care about your names human. What are you doing here?”

Michael felt his face grow hot, but he took a deep breath and continued. “Taskurr Swamp has come back into the possession of the kingdom of Torem under King Peter. I am hoping to be Lord of this land, and protector of those within.”

The elf sneered. “I thought I’d heard the humans were coming back. Not that it seems like you ever left, with your haunted remains still walking the swamps.”

“Do you have a name?” Michael asked evenly.

“I do,” the elf said back… and then gave no more.

Michael gave an exasperated sigh. “Right. We’re looking for a nearby settlement to rest at before we move on to Goldbottom tomorrow. Do you know of it?”

“Goldbottom?”

“No, not that, the settlement.”

“Where in… what’s Goldbottom?” the elf asked, suspicion and irritation flavoring his voice. Michael set a hand on the hilt of his sword, but looked to Elias, nodding.

After a moment, Elias got the picture. “Oh, ah, Tagen Rynns. We’re aiming to clean it out and reclaim it.”

The elf started, his eyes widening at the prospect. He said something in Elven, and then Elias said something else back. He thought he caught his name. Michael didn’t like the language barrier. It left him more out of the loop than he liked…

“Tagen Rynns? You want to cleanse Tagen Rynns?!”

“Yes,” Elias responded back, in Elven. The other elf seemed to hardly believe it. “That’s our goal. Cleanse it, and then Lord Niels will take over…”

“One sort of scum for another, hmm?”

Elias winced, and glanced around. Ildun was smirking, while most of the others were somewhere between confused and irritated. Except Gustav, who was just irritated, as Gustav could speak Elven more or less fluently.

“These ‘scum’ won’t hunt you and kill you for sport,” Elias said bluntly.

Ildun broke in here, saying “although whatever does will notice this light soon enough. Take us to your village, damn it.” For effect, he waved his hand around in the air, the glowing orb on the end of it causing the shadows to shift around them.

The other elf fixed Ildun with a steely glare, but finally gave an exasperated breath, before dropping into Toremen. “Fine. My name is Bisa Banao.”

“Banao?” Ildun repeated.

“Yes, problems?” Banao snapped back, and Ildun shook his head.

“Good. Our village is this way, though I’m afraid we’ve limited lodging. The rest of you will have to sleep outside.”

Michael nodded. “That’s fine. Do you keep watch at your village?”

“Of course” Banao said indignantly. “You have to keep watch constantly in this blasted swamp.”

Michael cleared his throat. “Well, if you’d have it, some of our men could help with the watch, to give some of your people a rest.”

Banao looked Michael over suspiciously. “We’ll see. Come.”

Elias wished he could say he was surprised when Banao moved off the road and into the underbrush, but he wasn’t. “Our horses will have a hard time of this,” William said as they began to pick through the mud.

“You brought horses into a swamp, not me,” Banao said without pity.

Ildun leaned towards Elias and whispered “I like this guy.”

“You would,” Elias said back, and then in a low tone, asked “what did you make of his name? Had you heard of it?”

“No,” Ildun said. Elias gave him a skeptical look, and Ildun sent a confused one back at him before sighing. “I forget, you’re almost human, and young too. Most family names have one of a handful of common roots, and his has none of those.”

“Oh,” Elias said, and though it explained Ildun’s reaction, he seethed at the comment about how human he was. Was this the fate his parents had condemned him too? Too alien for the humans, too foreign for the elves? I suppose Gustav’s plan is a good one then, he thought to himself. A member of a human court for an elven land.

They trudged through the swamp, the humans having to dismount and lead their horses. Elias had fallen back towards Gustav, who was no more pleased at having to get into the mire at much of this trip, as far as Elias could tell.

“Robes were a poor choice,” he said bluntly, yanking on the cloth to untangle it from the swamp’s foliage.

Elias looked down at his own dress, a mix of light, breathing cloth with leather boots, bracers, and a cuirass to match. “Aye, I believe they were.”

Giving another yank as he became entangled in brambles, he shot Elias a glare. Elias shrugged. “What, I’m agreeing with you.”

“Not that,” Gustav hissed, but jerked his head towards the front of the line, where Ildun and Banao were leading them. “Your rather vocal new friend.”

Elias flushed. “He didn’t know you could understand him, Gus.”

“That makes it better?” Gustav grumbled, jerking as his robes became caught once more. This time he reached to his belt, pulled out a small curved dagger, and began to saw away at the affected piece.

Elias waited, glancing around the swamp casually. Unlike most of the humans, Gustav excluded, he could still see somewhat, so the swamps weren’t quite as intimidating. Still, the thought entered his mind that there was something he couldn’t see, so he quietly cast a spell to better see malevolent auras. Nothing around them…

Gustav had noticed the spellcasting, though. “Have you checked Banao?”

“Yes,” Elias lied, glancing towards the front of the line. Luckily, he was still right. Sighing, he said “Gus, you had to expect this. I told you most elves, especially those in the Borderlands, aren’t fond of humans.”

“As much as orcs and undead?” Gustav asked, again proving a point with a question. Elias glanced down at the mud, and then helped Gustav get unstuck once more.

“Give them time,” Elias said after a few minutes had passed. “They probably don’t know much about humans other than stories, and the undead that wander around… or hell, some may be old enough to have fought humans in the last war.”

“Hrrm, I’ll concede that last point,” Gustav grumbled, leaving Elias with what felt like victory, if a slight one.

When they finally reached the village, Elias quickly saw they certainly weren’t dealing with any vestiges of High Elven culture. No, these people were, either by circumstance or by choice, not the sort who needed prestige and fanciful decoration in everything they did.

It was a handful of small huts, suspended above the ground by stilts or bound to nearby trees. There was little ground to walk on in-between them, instead most navigation done by small rafts or rope bridges. An older elf, followed by a pair of others, both wielding axes, met them at the “path” to the village.

“Who and what are these, Bisa?”

“Humans,” Bisa said at once. Ildun and Elias glanced at each other. Bisa rolled his eyes. “For the most part. They’ve come to cleanse Tagen Rynns, amongst other things.”

“Now what the devil are they saying?” Elias heard Michael whisper harshly to William.

The older elf looked at Michael. “Is that one the leader?”

“I…” Banao looked to Elias and Ildun, unsure.

Elias stepped forward, bowing slightly. “Lord Niels is the leader of this expedition, sir. He-”

“He can speak for himself,” the elder said, and motioned to Michael. “You!” he said, switching to Toremen. “Lord Niels, is it? Over here.”

Michael strode forward as confidently as he could, and he perhaps felt he had reason to be. Elias was the tallest elf here, which put him about the same height as Gustav. Michael towered over all of them.

“I am Ormakin Zabrao, Elder of this village. What is your business in Zabraska?”

“My apologies for our intrusion,” Michael said evenly, bowing his head, “and for my ignorance. Is Zabraska the name of your village?”

Ormakin nodded curtly. “Yes, this village is our home amidst hell, but away from the jackals of the Empire.”

Ildun physically jerked at that, and his mouth opened to speak. Elias promptly elbowed him in the gut, and smiled sheepishly at Ormakin’s guards when they looked their way. Still, it put a pit in Elias’ stomach, or rather, made him notice one that had been there.

“I understand your suspicions and security, Elder. I too would not be so trusting of strangers in such a hostile land.”

“Good. Then you understand why I want to tell you take your chances in the swamp and leave us be.”

“I ask for only one night’s rest,” Michael said quickly. “At least until we prove ourselves. Have you heard of the land’s exchange between-”

“Our Empress and your King? This land belongs to no one but the orcs and dead, no matter how much the high and mighty think otherwise.”

“I hope to change that, sir.”

The Elder’s eyes narrowed. “Oh do you?”

Elias fidgeted, and leaned in towards Michael. In as low of tones as he could muster, he said “people living the swamp who call the government jackals-”

“Yes yes,” Michael said dismissively, and then looked at Ormakin straight on. “I don’t intend on changing your lives for the worse, Elder, but I do intend on changing them. The Swamps of Taskurr have spent too long without security, without peace. I hope to cleanse, ah, Tagen Rynns, and from there use it as a stronghold to help the current inhabitants of the swamp live fuller, happier lives.”

“Bold words for one so young,” the Elder said. “Lean down.”

Michael glanced at Elias and Ildun. Ildun merely shrugged. Elias nodded. Michael leaned down, and Ormakin looked directly into his eyes, intensely staring into them.

“… You may enter,” Ormakin said finally, provoking a sigh of relief from Elias. “Secure your horses here. We will make room in one of the huts for you to rest, but it will still only fit half your number.”

“We’ll gladly volunteer some of our men to assist in your watch,” Michael added, “as thanks for your hospitality.”

Ormakin merely nodded, and ordered his guards to follow him. Calling back, he said “Bisa, make sure our guests are comfortable.”

Elias could tell Banao wasn’t too pleased to hear that, but looked to them. “Alright then. Figure out who’ll be helping with the watch, and we’ll get that squared away. They’ll need some time to clear one of the houses anyways.”

Elias sighed in relief. Although the situation had started off rather tense, it appeared that, at least for tonight, they would be safe. He looked over at Michael as he began to work out the watch, speaking with William and Tresbos. Elias took a few strides over to Gustav, who was ‘admiring’ one of the Elven homes.

“Well… one step closer,” Elias said, giving Gustav a small smile.

Gustav nodded. “Mmm… true. But why do I feel like I just stepped in something awful on the way here?”

Elias laughed, and after a moment Gustav chuckled, but Elias could see with a second glance that Gustav wasn’t entirely kidding. Elias’ laugh faded off, though he forced a smile. “Well… I had better help Michael,” he added before turning off. The pit in his stomach seemed that much bigger now.