A Promise of Vengeance

8. The First Patrol

The First Patrol

Rahg rose before the morning, worries from the night before tucked away in the recesses of his mind. He heated the water for khaffe and had eggs cooking when Darstan and Magmar entered. Rahg whistled as he placed mugs of khaffe on the table.

"You're up early," Darstan said.

"I was up before the birds. Ready to go on patrol."

"Better set another place, son. I invited Tobias to break fast with us." Magmar peered out the window. "Looks like he's coming now."

Rahg heard Tobias' horse, then the footsteps on the porch. The door opened with a jerk.

"Hope you lads cracked an egg or two for me." Tobias laughed as he pulled up a stout oak chair and took off his hat.

"Don't forget that hat when we leave, Tobias. You don't want your head to burn."

"I may not have much hair, lad, but at least I've got my head. I think you lost yours yesterday dreaming of Kanella."

Magmar laughed as he scraped the plate of the few potatoes that remained then scooped up his eggs with the bread. He nodded at Darstan, still with a half a plate full. "Eat up, Darstan. I need to pack the food, and you boys need to help Tobias."

Tobias gulped down the last of his meal, then stood. "Rahg, help me get the horses ready. Darstan, feed the animals."

Soon, they had the kitchen cleaned and the horses packed. "I see you lads wore your long sleeves and wool cloaks. Good thing. It'll get cold once we leave the valley." Tobias climbed in the saddle and tugged on the reins of his horse. "Let's go, lads. Got a lot of riding to do today."

Half an hour later they were riding on a knoll sprinkled with maples and emeralds. Rahg spotted Tomas and Eru tending sheep in the valley. He felt sure they had scowls painted on their faces after being forced to stay home. "Too young,” Kor had said. Rahg gave a shrill whistle to grab their attention. They signaled back with a sluggish wave. Rahg couldn't blame them, even though fear had tightened his throat, the journey promised excitement.

By late morning they reached the upper rim of the valley, the foothills of the Rainbow Mountains and front door to the Great Whites. The mountains were harsh, untamed, and densely wooded. This was home to the gray wolf and mountain cat, and other things that people only whispered of. Rahg checked his sword and knife. "Did you check everything, Darstan?"

mountains, foothills to the whites

"I packed twenty-five arrows each." Darstan sat tall on his mount, black hair glistening in the morning sun. "Even as bad as you shoot, that's enough for you to hit four or five Victas."

"If we didn't need these arrows, I'd challenge you right now."

Tobias prodded his mount as they climbed to the first plateau, where a break in the tree line opened a view to the ridge. "There's Kor Trasken and his patrol."

Darstan spun in his saddle, squinting at four men on horseback far across the ridge. "You've got keen eyes, Tobias."

"Of course I got keen eyes. That's what smokin' a pipe'll do for you."

"What does smoking a pipe have to do with good eyes?"

Tobias shifted in his saddle and stared at Darstan. "When you've smoked a pipe as long as I have we can continue this discussion. Until then, you’ll have to take my word for it.”

"Where's Kanella?" Rahg asked. "Who's with her?"

"Not to worry, lad. She's at Havril's helping the other women with the children, but we left a score of armed men to guard them." Tobias fought back a smile. "Though with old Mrs. Ardanta, I don't think they'll need any protection."

Rahg relaxed. Twenty men with bows and swords could stand against a large force. No Victa patrol, not even a raiding party, could pose a threat to so many, not with the town offering such a solid defensive position.

"You know, lad, that Trasken girl handles a sword like a soldier. Saw her practicing with Kor one day. She's a good match for most men. If you two do wed, you better be watchin' yourself."

"Real funny, Tobias."

"Valley Falls," Magmar said. He reined in the horse but remained mounted. "Pretty sight, isn't it?"

valley falls

The roar of the falls rose toward Rahg with the spray of mist, falling just short of where they stood on the ledge. The breeze rushing up felt cool. Rahg breathed deep, filling his lungs with mountain air. The smell of pines proved stronger here, perhaps because of the falls, and he could almost taste the berries that hid in little copses where the ground flattened out.

"Let's go," Tobias said. "Can't afford to linger. Have a lot of ground to cover before nightfall."

Rahg almost fell from his saddle. "Nightfall! I thought this was a one day patrol."

"The others will be back before the moons stand tall, but we volunteered for the longest patrol. We'll be traveling to the gorge at Rainbow Falls then circle back by the high bridge. Thought you lads knew. We didn't pack that much food just to feed Rahg."

The trail steepened as they began the ascent and, as the day wore on, the emeralds and oaks disappeared, ceding to squatty pines and scrub brush that clung to rocks like a possum to tree bark. The distinctive croak of a raven brought Rahg's eyes to the sky where two of them romped on the wind, chasing each other like puppies. Rahg took a huge breath of crisp air to calm himself, but he couldn't shake the fear.

He tugged at his cloak, wrapping it around him to keep out the chill, a harsh reminder that winter had not relinquished its hold in the mountains. When the sun disappeared over the ridge, Rahg shivered, and he could not attribute it to the cold. He huddled to his mount to draw warmth, hoping to ease the trembling.

"Pay attention, Rahg. The darkness conceals danger."

Magmar's words fed the flames. Rahg found the courage to straighten, though it didn't help. Nerves jerked his head from side to side, seeking enemies, and all the while he prayed he found none.

"We're almost there," Magmar said. "Won't be long."

"No, not long," Tobias added.

Rahg's shock formed the questions. "Where? Almost where?"

"There's a big cavern a short distance away that has water," Tobias said. "That's where we'll spend the night."

Rahg got more comfortable as they neared the destination. He felt warmer, too, and though the wind increased and the temperature dropped, he no longer shivered. Rahg looked up to Ranal and Ranalla, thankful for the reunion as their bright glow rippled moonlight across the midnight–blue sky and sprinkled it over the forest.

Tobias dismounted and led his horse down a path shadowed in darkness, then signaled for them to follow. Rahg went first. Darstan fell in behind Rahg, and Magmar brought-up the rear. By the time they caught up to Tobias the trail had grown painfully narrow. A tree branch whipped back and caught Rahg's face, stinging like a whip.

"Careful," barked Tobias, an unusual sternness in his voice. "Don't break 'em. Don't want to leave any signs."

They'll be leaving signs on my face, Rahg thought. He looked back at Magmar, covering their tracks. Another branch slapped his face. "God's sake!"

"Quiet, lad. Watch where you're going and you won't get hit. Anyway, not much further now."

They twisted along several more trails, each more narrow than the previous one. A short while later Tobias took a tortuous path that led to higher elevations. Rahg fought with his mount, tugging on the reins while leaning forward to keep from falling. Tobias pulled aside a bush and exposed an entrance to a large cave.

"Calm the horses as you come through, these branches have thorns on them. Hurry, lad. Can't hold this all night."

"Hold it until I get past."

Once inside the cavern Rahg struck a torch. "This is huge!" Rahg said. "Darstan, can you believe this has been here all this time and we never knew. We'll have to bring Eru and Tomas up here."

cave entrance

"They'll never believe us if we don't show them," Darstan said. He sniffed the damp, stale air of the cave while he searched the depths. "I think half of Twin Forks could fit in here."

Magmar lit another torch and wedged it between two rocks near the center of the cave. "Darstan, you and Rahg take care of the horses. Make sure they're fed and watered, then make bed-rolls and light another torch. Tobias and I will gather firewood."

"Yes, Sir," Rahg snapped, pounding his fist to chest three times in the manner of a Sykoran soldier. He and Darstan both laughed.

"Enough!" Tobias almost leapt on top of them. He was only a breath away, and his words were sharp. Not at all like the Tobias they knew.

"I've seen Victa tracks for the last half a league or more. It looks like a small patrol, maybe five or six, but there could be more. So keep still. This is no game." Tobias started to leave, then turned back around.

"Yes, sir," Darstan said.

Rahg remained mute. Tobias' words rang in his ears like thunder. Victas! They came on patrol to find Victas, but he never expected to see them. The laughter he shared with Darstan moments ago disappeared. "I'm sorry, Tobias."

"Don't be sorry, lad. I should have warned you earlier, but I didn't want to drop the shakes on you. Well, now you know. So let's keep quiet. We'll take turns standing watch."

"Yes, sir."

Tobias and Magmar returned, their arms loaded with scraps of deadwood. "There's more outside, Rahg, and a few rabbits and squirrels that Tobias brought for dinner. Darstan, prepare the food. Tobias and I will start the fire."

"We found plenty of wood in the cave," Rahg said.

Tobias nodded his head. "Good. We'll use the dry wood and replace it with what we gathered. Always replace what you use, lads, that way, if a storm catches someone unaware, there'll always be dry wood in the cave."

They soon had a fire going and the food cooked. Rahg didn't realize how hungry he was until the smell of rabbit hit him. He devoured the bread and cheese, and savored his piece of rabbit, but he wouldn't touch the squirrel. The memory of the first one he had ever shot still haunted him, a young one he had no business killing. He didn't know if he could ever bring himself to eat a squirrel.

"What do you think the Victas want?" The question had been tearing at Rahg's gut throughout supper.

Tobias tore a piece of meat from the rabbit's leg, chewing as he answered. "Who knows, lad? Could be they're just hungry, and this is a hunting party. Or they might feel we've wronged them somehow, something we don't even know we've done. Victas are strange like that. Or it might be that the Evil One himself has them stirred up."

"Evil One! What are you talking about? We're not to be scared with those tales." Darstan dislodged a piece of meat from between his teeth and spat. "Evil One. Come on, Tobias."

"So, you don't believe?" There wasn't any laughter in Tobias's voice. "Magmar, didn't you teach these lads anything?"

"I don't raise an alarm over a dead wolf." Despite the words, Magmar's tone hinted at regret.

Tobias spat. "Lukaan's no dead wolf, Magmar. You know that. And you can't leave these lads wandering about empty-headed like Dammie Bulta. What they need to know in Twin Forks is different from what they need travelin' in the world. If they ever take the caravan route to Khatara they better know about Sethia. They better."

"If there's something we should know, we'd just as soon know now," Rahg said.

"Didn't you pay attention to anything I said at Havril's?" Tobias asked.

"We thought you were just telling tales. I mean, we believed about the Victas and the rock dragons, but..."

"The Banished Ones? Go on and say it. They won't bite you; leastwise not here. Not now. But they're real, lads, and don't go thinkin' otherwise. They're as real as snakes and mountain cats and sangra. And they're a whole lot worse."

Magmar shook his head. "I'll take first watch, Tobias. You tell them as you see fit. You have more knowledge of these things anyway." Magmar walked to the entrance of the cave and pulled aside the blanket that Tobias had used for cover.

Tobias stretched his legs, moved close to the fire, and lit his pipe. He seldom told stories without smoke billowing from the sides of his mouth. "Don't think bad about your father, lads. He probably hoped you could live a quiet life in Twin Forks. Hoped you'd never have need to know. I know you lads want to see the world, and there's plenty to see; I won't argue that. But there are also things your eyes should never see and places you dare not go." Tobias scratched the white stubble growth on his chin while he took a deep breath. "Guess you would've found out soon enough."

Rahg put two more logs on the fire and sat as close as he could.

"There's nothin' in here with us, lad. The horses would've known by now."

"I know," Rahg said. "I just wanted it warmer. That's all."

Tobias nodded, then took three long puffs on his pipe. "Hard to say how to tell this, but I guess the best place to start is at the beginning. It's been more than a thousand winters since we came to settle these lands, and they say back then all the world was at peace. Then, Lukaan came." Tobias stopped, and his hands shook when he took a puff from his pipe. "I don't even like to say the name."

This was unlike Tobias. His stories usually flowed like the wine on Feast Day.

"The legends are old, mind you, and not always clear, but they all mention a group of immortals who possessed unimaginable powers. They controlled the winds, commanded fire and lightning, and caused the ground to shake. Some even say they determined the path of the sun and the moons. I've heard bards swear that immortals could talk without moving their lips, and others who whispered that they killed the same way."

Tobias tapped his pipe on the rock he used for a seat and took a long sip of khaffe. "But on one point all the legends agree—all was fine until Lukaan went on his rampage. They say he's the Evil One. I don't know whether he is, but if one of a hundred stories about him is true then he's got to be. If he isn't, I wouldn't want to think of what could be worse."

"This isn't true, is it, Tobias?"

“Listen close, lad. This is one story I won't tell twice." Tobias stared at Rahg and Darstan. "Lukaan wanted everyone to worship him. He tortured and killed anyone who refused until, finally, after too many years and too much suffering, Mikkellana and the other good immortals joined to oppose him; Mikkellana even got the vargels to fight alongside her. But it didn't help much. Some say it even got worse. Then Mikkellana devised a clever trap, a special kind of shield they say. She waited until Lukaan and the other Banished Ones were together in Sethia, then covered the whole land with it."

A cloud of smoke irritated Tobias's eye, and he rubbed it clean. "The stories say Lukaan's scream traveled halfway round the world when he realized what Mikkellana had done. He vowed to take revenge, break out one day and make every man and woman pay. Said he'd make us pay in ways I'm not willin' to talk about."

Tobias sat so still Rahg didn't know whether he had finished or not. "Well, that's what I know about it, lads. I can't say how much is true, but I tend to believe. I've been on the caravan route that goes past Sethia. I've seen shadows that shouldn't have been there and heard cries from the desert that sounded like the bones of the dead. I know I wouldn't wander off that caravan trail, just in case there is a shield with Lukaan behind it." Tobias wiped sweat from his brow, though the cave was anything but hot. "Anyway, the way I figure it, if he does get out he won't be fallin' for any tricks. And far as I can tell there aren't any immortals around to stop him." Tobias stood and stretched. The telling of the story appeared to have unnerved him.

"What about Mikkellana and Aentarra?"

"Mikkellana disappeared after the last wars," Tobias said. "And Aentarra... well, it's best we not see her. Just as soon meet a Banished One." Tobias paced the cavern as he talked. "Better get some sleep, lads. Tomorrow will likely be a long day."

Rahg burned with unanswered questions but he controlled the urge. He had no desire to be frightened further. He edged closer to the fire as he pulled the blanket over himself.

Hours later, he awoke for what must have been the tenth time. The night had been one nightmare after another. Some even overlapped. Sleep finally came again and with it, more battles. He was in the midst of fighting a band of demons when something clamped over his mouth. Rahg gasped for breath then realized it was no dream. He opened his eyes and saw Magmar.

"What's the matter?" Rahg whispered, though he felt like shouting.

"Tobias went to check on a noise. It could be a Victa patrol."

Just then the blanket covering the entrance cracked opened and Tobias sneaked back inside. "It's no patrol," he whispered. "It's a whole strike force!"

Tobias took charge, barking orders like a Sykoran patrol leader. "Got to leave now! Have to get to the village and warn them, then send someone south for help. We'll put the women and children on boats to Sykor. They'll be safe there. If we get back in time to set some defenses, we might hold them until relief arrives."

"How many?" Magmar asked with cool detachment as he mounted his horse.

"I figure two hundred, but could be more. We'll have to move fast if we're to beat 'em to the village. We can't go past 'em, but they're on foot. Not a horse I know of that would let a lizard sit on its back. I figure if we go north, around this mountain, we can take the east road into town. Might cost us half a league, at worst. But if we ride hard, we might make it."

Tobias was already moving when Rahg's right leg slipped over the saddle.

"Let's ride, lads."