Light of Epertase 01: Legends Reborn (36 page)

The men nodded, some more hesitant than others.

“You are dismissed.”

As the men started to leave, Alina pulled Jarrah to the side. “I know you are upset but I thank you for trusting me. We will find Tevin when this ends. I am sure he will be fine. I have an additional task for you that I need accomplished without haste.”

He agreed, as she knew he would. She explained his assignment.

“I will find only the best warriors for Simcane, your highness.”

He bowed and left the room.

Alina looked to Rasi and whispered, “Did you kill Tevin?”

Part of Rasi wished he had, but he shook his head just the same. She sighed a relieved sigh. Rasi’s silence told her where his mind was.

Queen Alina, Masera, Terik and the rest of the Elite Guard arrived at the southern Lowland-Epertase border. The border was mostly desolate, intentionally by the Lowlanders to act as a buffer and prevent any of their people from accidentally bumping into an Epertasian. Or so Alina had been told.

Occasionally, the party encountered a dilapidated stone house in the middle of nowhere. If anyone lived in any of the shacks, they didn’t make themselves known.

Overgrown brush and thorns blocked their way at every turn, which forced the soldiers to take time-consuming whacks at it with their swords. Most of the ground was uneven and slightly graded downward, causing the horses to struggle simply to maintain their footing.

The first signs of Lowlander life came by way of a small farm. Well, Alina assumed it was a farm, though the barren fields indicated no farming had happened lately. An old man sat on the porch of his run-down house at the property’s edge. His porch leaned to the side, threatening to crumble with so much as an ant’s breath. Alina waved but he did not return the gesture. Perhaps he didn’t see her, but more likely he didn’t care.

The houses became more frequent while their conditions improved little. The party approached what was assumed to be the capital of Grande Villa. Lowlanders poured into the streets to have a look at the outsiders. The children pointed and giggled, presumably at the Epertasians’ funny-looking, well kept clothes and majestic horses.

Several children no more than twelve years old puffed on weed-sticks as they stood outside of a wooden shack. The sign on the shack read “Hore Hous” and one of the kids tossed his weed stick, squashed it with his bare foot, and disappeared through the doorway.

Horses seemed in short supply as evidenced by the amount of asses trotting along the dirt streets. If someone had an ox in these parts, they’d likely be considered rich.

As the crowds closed in on the foreign party, Masera placed his hand on the hilt of his sword. “Be ready, men,” he whispered.

The other members of the Elite Guard quickened their pace and surrounded Alina. Masera rode to her side.

“My gods, Masera, these people live in horrendous conditions. How can they live like this so close to the wealth of Epertase? It is not right.”

“Your Highness, these people choose to be segregated from the Kingdom. They chose it a long time ago.”

A little boy, probably five years old, made his way to the front of the crowd. He shoved his finger into his nose, dug around, and then stuck his findings into his mouth. He was parentless as far as she could tell and more dirt than skin showed on his face. He was barefoot and shirtless and his ribs bulged through his gaunt skin. Alina wanted to give him some silver, or even gold, but she feared it would cause a riot.

“And him, Masera? He chose this life?”

“Point taken, your Highness.”

More and more people filled the streets as her party ventured farther into the town center. Her soldiers scanned the crowd. She sensed their nerves building and warned,
React, but do not overreact. We do not want trouble.

Since her ability to communicate with Epertasians without sound had never been tested on Lowlanders, she had concerns whether she was heard by the crowd. Though, even if they did hear, she was unsure if they would understand.

The crowd thickened and the road clogged with people. Peasants blocked the soldiers’ path, bringing them to a halt.

Masera turned to Alina. “Queen,” he whispered. “It is not safe here. This was a bad idea.”

Alina ignored him and motioned to a small girl in the crowd. “Come here, young one,” she said.

The little girl squeezed through the front line of people and scuttled boldly between the horses. She looked up, her clear brown eyes full of innocence. Alina leaned her head closer to the girl and whispered, “Where do the leaders address you?”

The girl stood silent.

Alina tried again, “Where do you listen to the King speak?”

The little girl turned and pointed to an open field. Alina reached down and brushed her dirty cheek and the little girl shied away.

From the distance, several horses approached with tall, lanky riders whose feet dragged the dirt ground. The young girl vanished into the crowd before it parted and residents retreated into their stores and homes.

Masera hollered, “Someone is coming, at least seven, maybe eight strangers.” He moved closer to Alina. “Your Highness,” he whispered into her ear. “Stay behind us, this could get tricky.”

Two of Alina’s Elite Guardsmen made their way to the front.

“Who are these strangers who approach, Masera?”

“I do not know who they are but I can tell you what they are. They’re the legendary race of the Gildonese. And they are fierce.”

“Gildonese? Here? I thought they were of fables.”

“No. There are only a few believed to be alive in the world but they are very real. And very dangerous. Stay close to me and do not stare into their eyes.”

The strangers closed in, appearing more frail than fierce. Their gangly bodies seemed to glide fluidly above their horses.

Alina stared in awe of their hypnotic approach. Thirty horse-lengths away and Alina could not break her gaze.

Twenty lengths and Masera poked her ribs. “Don’t look into their eyes, Queen.”

She shook her fuzzy head.

Within a couple of horse-lengths, the pale strangers stopped. Five of them were shirtless with shield-flat chests and protruding ribs along their sides. The other two wore torn slivers of dull, gray stitching across their chests which partially hid their tiny bumps. None of them wore much armor, only small plates that rested on their backs and shoulders, appearing more suitable for acrobatics than war. From a distance, their height was impressive; up close it was startling. Each of the Gildonese must have been at least a man-and-a-half tall.

They waved their hands gracefully as they swayed on their horses, like ripples on a pond.

Soothing. Hypnotic.

One of the two females, the one with hair the color of fire poking from beneath her helmet, rode past Alina’s horse and grunted. Her eyes were cold, black, and deadly. She didn’t speak. Alina turned away.

The Gildonese surrounded her men and she sensed her soldiers’ growing tension.

Masera whispered, “Remind me again why we came with such small numbers?”

“We couldn’t look threatening. We must gain their trust, which is why I had to come personally.”

The lead stranger’s horse brushed against the lead soldier’s. Alina’s brave guard’s lips curled back, displaying his readiness to fight. Alina felt anxiety creep in, which she was sure was what these strangers wanted.

She opened her mouth to speak but the lead stranger spoke first. “Why are you here?” His voice quivered with a soft, almost feminine pitch.

Alina answered from the center of her guards, “We are here …”

“Epertasians,” he shouted, his voice cracking with excitement before he paused for a calming breath. His voice lowered to its original pitch, only now his tone was more deliberate. “Epertasian colors are not welcome here.” He squeezed his steed between the guards, moving closer to Alina. Her soldiers froze, seemingly powerless to stop him.

She looked up into his dead, black pupils. The whites of his eyes turned blood. She should have been afraid but his gaze calmed her. She heard his voice again but this time his lips did not move.
Look into my eyes. Gaze into the blackness as I speak. Your mind is open to my …

Alina’s head filled with a dull hum – not a hum but more like sandpaper on rough wood. She had one last moment of clarity, jerked her eyes away, and shook away the fuzz. Her senses returned. “Do not try and put me under a spell, stranger. I will not have it.”

He tilted his head to the side, apparently surprised, maybe even a little impressed.

Masera jerked like something had awakened him as well. He gripped his sheathed sword and nudged his steed against the stranger’s. The Gildonese nodded his head toward the rooftops and chuckled.

Alina looked upward. Ten or twelve archers aimed arrows at her and her men. The stranger snickered. “Speak quickly,” he said. “Time is not with you.”

“I’d reconsider your present course,” Masera said as his men drew defiant swords.

The Gildonese’s voice deepened. “Why is that?” he asked, annoyed.

Masera nodded back toward the rooftops. The stranger guided his eyes upward again. His archers stood with their bows at their side. Epertasian soldiers were at their backs with knives against their jugulars.

The Gildonese’s pitch rose again, “What business have you here?” He took a deep breath and then said in painfully slow, poetic speak, “If you are here because of the western invaders, I assure you that you needn’t worry as our King Fice is well aware of the threat and we are quite capable of defending ourselves against any tyranny, including tyranny from our eastern neighbors which you represent.” His words were almost peaceful in their anger.

Masera laughed. “What, your 8,000 or so men?” He turned toward Alina, “This freak is delusional.”

She snapped, “Masera, show respect. We are here uninvited.” She ushered Allusia forward past her guards, all while sensing they weren’t comfortable with her advance. “Sir, I only wish to address the people of the Lowlands. I believe the threat we face together has the potential to end all of our ways of life.”

He sat atop his horse, pondering her words. “Very well,” he answered before turning to one of his comrades. “Announce a town meeting to begin at once in the town square, where we will give these foreigners ample time to say their piece before we escort them back to their privileged lives in Thasula so they do not miss their luxurious and pampered ways.”

“Sir, I want every Lowlander to hear my words, not just the ones in this field.”

“Silly woman, they needn’t be here to hear your words as long as I am near, and I will make certain your words spread like a scaffe infestation. You have my word.” He spun away and trotted toward the field that was filling with subjects. Alina and her men followed close behind.

Alina climbed onto a makeshift stage that wobbled and creaked its age.

As she prepared to speak, the Gildonese motioned to the crowd and like someone blew out a flame, the audience went silent. His voice quivered as he bellowed, “Lowlanders. This so-called Queen of Epertase has words that she would like to present to you for your consideration as the Epertasian kingdom, in its all-knowing and wise ways, would once again like to control your every action, and if this woman’s words are heeded, you will be saying farewell to your freedom.” He bowed his head, shot an anger-inducing smirk toward her, and moved to the side of the stage.

Queen Alina scowled at him before stepping forward. “I am Alina, Queen of Epertase. King Elijah, my father, has passed on. I am here to discuss a very grave matter.” Some of the Lowlanders stood with their mouths drooped open like their brains were mush. She glanced at the Gildonese at the side of the stage. His lips moved as though he spoke to the crowd yet she heard no sound with either her ears or her mind.

She continued, “Neighbors, Lowlanders, Epertasian brothers. A threat has emerged to our west, a threat that has traveled many miles over the vast seas with the sole purpose of our destruction. This invading army seems unstoppable. They kill all in their wake. They are heartless. But I am here to tell you all. They are not invincible. We can defeat them but it will be hard. It will take all of us coming together. We need your soldiers. We need your support. I did not send a messenger to deliver this news, nor did I stand back and allow you to become extinct. I traveled a long distance to demonstrate my dedication to you and my support of everyone who breathes the free air. Not just the people of Thasula, or Epertase, but all of the people across this great land.”