Amendments (16 page)

              “What is your fault, boy?”  Grandel still hadn't faced the boy's voice in the dark.  He kept sitting where he'd settled in to think.

              “Them finding out about you.  I... told some people about you and Luxin Adeel before you told me not to.  Later, I... I told my friends about the hawk that went into your tent at night.”

              “You did, did you?”

              “Yes, but I didn't know it would....”  The boy trailed off.

              Grandel finally turned where he sat to face the boy.  He was sitting by the wooden bars looking in at Grandel, though at that moment the boy had his face down toward his lap.  “Jarek, do not blame yourself.  You did nothing wrong.”

              “But because of me you're in there.  I blew your secret.  I told people because... I thought... people would respect me if I knew stuff about you.  I... I'm never going to be a soldier now, am I?”

              “Son, you were being a boy.  You were being curious.  You couldn't have known.  And I deserve this.  Do you know what I did to your parents?  To the rest of the Returners?”

              Jarek was silent for a moment, then replied, “Yes.  My mom and sister told me while we traveled here.”
              “Then you understand why they hate me and why I have to be in here.”  Grandel turned to sit facing away from the boy again.  He wanted to get back to thinking.

              “No, I don't.  You've helped us out a lot!  We would have all been killed if you didn't train soldiers to fight the straghs.  And you brought Fafnir to help us.  You saved us and are trying to help us now even though we refused your help.  Only an idiot can't see you're a good person and you're just trying to make up for the stuff you did in the past.”

              Grandel was surprised at the insight of this eight-year-old boy.  “The past is a hard thing to forget, Jarek.  They aren't idiots.”

              A long moment of silence passed and Grandel wondered if Jarek had left.  Then, his small voice said, “I still believe in you.”

Chapter 17

The Rebellion

              Two weeks passed and Noir never saw Ratt.  He searched all over Garmak for his friend, but no one had seen any sign of him.  Noir also searched for any signs or rumors of Aimee, but no one had heard of her or seen any Din Mages or din slaves matching her description.

              The oppression of Garmak continued which fueled the passion for the rebellion.  People were tired of random searches and soldiers looking over their shoulders at every corner.  People were also tired of the threat of instant destruction at the hands of the din slaves, so the people came to accept the ideas of the revolution.

              Finn proved to be a good friend.  Even though he was a few years his senior, Noir found himself liking the friendly, outspoken man.  Everyone else's focus was on the revolution in Garmak, but Finn's focus was on sneaking into the Tierian Capital.  He would write plans long into the night, make sketches of the capital building, and ask Noir about the specifics of his powers.

              Lord Murik had made contact with The Savior of Tier on several occasions through letters, but he had never shown himself since that initial meeting.  Through the letters, The Savior of Tier let them know he was ready to fight for the resistance.  They had spent the last two weeks converting the people of Garmak to their side and distributing weapons to those able and willing to fight.

              The plan had been laid out weeks prior.  Finn was to infiltrate the church of the Lumin and ring the bell three times at one o'clock.  Normally the bell only rang once.  Three times signaled to the resistance that the attack was on.  The citizens were to attack immediately on the third bell toll without hesitation.  Any soldier on the streets, inside buildings, or on the city walls would be immediately under attack from several enemies.  The Savior of Tier was to traverse the city walls and fight the din slaves since no one else would stand a chance against them.  Noir was to be on the walls as well to aid Ratt if needed.  If all went according to plan, the people of Garmak would win their freedom within minutes.  Then, they had the supplies and willingness to hold the walls against any retribution from Tier.

              Murik believed the walls would hold.  A good portion of the Tierian din slaves were already in the town and would be disposed of.  Murik had explained that the army's siege equipment might be a setback, but not impossible to overcome.  For the catapults, Noir was pretty certain he could deflect the projectiles with lux.  Murik only knew of a half-dozen catapults in the army's possession, but did not know where they were currently located.

              Noir and Finn planned to stay and help for the initial counterattack from the Tierian army.  However, once the city successfully held its ground, they would sneak off to the Tierian capital and attempt to free Nidhoggr.

              Noir stood in a shadow near one of the stone stair-cases that led to the top of the walls and tried to look nonchalant.  He wore his Luxin armor and cloak and had his sword strapped to his side.  Weapons were not allowed for Tierian citizens or even Luxins, so he stayed out of sight until the attack started.

              Two Tierian guards stood at the base of the stairs and talked idly.  Even though he knew there would be immense bloodshed that day, he wanted to minimize his part in it.  He planned on knocking out the two guards if possible.  Others would tie or lock them up later so he could focus on protecting Ratt.

              The Lumin church bell rang one time and Noir realized his heart was in his throat with nervousness.  If the bell only tolled once, the attack was a bust and they would stealthfully abort.  The moment between bell tolls felt like an eternity, but finally it came.  One of the guards looked toward the sound and questioned, “Two o-clock already?  I didn't hear the--”

              The bell rang out a third time and Noir sprang to action.  He channeled lux to solidify the air around the two men's arms and leaped from the shadows.  They both looked down in confusion and pulled at their invisible restraints.  “What is going on?”

              Noir was upon them before they saw him approach.  He weaved to the side and brought the butt of his sword down on one of the Tierian soldier's heads.  The blow threw him forward and he went to the ground limply.  His arms were held in the air awkwardly from the air restraints.

              The other guard saw what happened and started yelling, “We're under attack!  Help!”  Similar cries were starting to erupt from all over the city, however.  Noir raised his sword to strike with the hilt, but suddenly he was knocked to the ground.  Another guard saw what happened and had jumped down on top of Noir from the stairs.  The man whipped out his sword and Noir barely had time to roll away from the attack.

              Noir sprang to his feet and raised his own sword.  He readied a light barrier as the guard charged forward and thrust with his weapon.  As Noir had planned, the man was startled by his attack rebounding.  Noir crouched low and slashed his sword up into the man's chest as he stumbled over him.  His sword rang against the man's breastplate, but caught him in the thigh.  The man rolled to the ground screaming and clutching his wound.  Noir solidified the air around the man's sword and pulled it roughly from his hand.

              “What's going on?” the man cried out from the ground.  His eyes were full of fear and hatred.

              “The revolution has come, Tierian,” Noir replied and solidified the man's body with lux.  Then Noir kicked the man in the head.  He immediately went limp.

              Noir turned to the other soldier whose arms were still held in place.  The cries of pain, triumph, and sounds of battle grew louder around Noir, though he could see little of it from the alley between the wall and buildings.  Noir walked toward the other man who returned his gaze with absolute terror.  “Sir Luxin!  Please!” he called with a shrill voice.  “I don't want to fight.  I am from Garmak myself!”

              “You are a soldier of Tier!”

              “Only because I had to!  I have a wife and son in town!  Please!”  Noir stopped.  There was genuine fear and pleading in the man's words.  “If you truly are revolting, I will help!  I don't want my son to grow up like I did.  I want a free Tier too!”

              Noir wasn't sure what to do.  The man could be lying, but he should be an award-winning actor if he was.  “If you're telling the truth, swear to me you will fight for the rebellion.”

              “I will!”  Noir released the hold on the man's arms.  He fell to the ground and rubbed them.

              Noir saw a green blur on top of the wall streak by.  He didn't have time to deal with this man any longer.  “Take off your Tierian armor and defend these stairs from any other soldiers who come.”

              The man nodded furiously.  “Yes!  I will!”

              Noir ran to the stairs but turned back before he climbed them.  The soldier was already pulling off pieces of his Tierian soldier armor.  “If you fight for us, you will be among heroes.  You will be making Tier beautiful again.  If not, you will be cut down.”

              The man nodded in response and Noir ran up the stairs two at a time.  He hoped the soldier was telling the truth, but he was needed on the wall and couldn't stay and make sure.

              Noir reached the top and scanned his surroundings.  In several places, he could see Tierian soldiers were being surrounded by regular townsfolk wielding weapons of all kinds.  One battle raged between four Tierian soldiers who had their backs to each other.  They were fighting off a mob of revolutionist men.  A couple wounded townsfolk already writhed on the ground holding sword wounds.  Noir made a quick flow of lux around each of the soldiers' weapons and wrenched them from their hands.  He made the weapons float to the townsfolk who grabbed them from the air.  They were confused but grateful.

              A scream brought Noir's attention down another street to two young men running from another Tierian guard.  Noir made a beam of solidified air in front of the guard's legs.  He suddenly slammed into the ground and rolled two times.  The two young men turned and seized the opportunity to kick off the guard's helmet and attack him.

              A blast of fire brought Noir's attention back to the top of the wall.  The din attack had been a good ways away, but Noir still felt the immense heat.  Once the flames dissipated, Ratt stood with his axe buried in a din handler's chest.  The din handler looked forward with bulging, confused eyes.

              Noir ran toward his friend across the top of the wall.  Two more Tierian guards stood in his way.  They had their backs to Noir and watched the battle in front of them with their swords drawn.  Noir rammed into one sending him tumbling off of the wall onto the street below.  The other spun and squared off against Noir.

              The soldier was fast.  He spun and slashed at Noir's face.  Noir deflected the attack with a light barrier and raised his own sword.  However, by the time his sword was raised, the soldier was already jabbing low at his mid-section.  Noir again deflected the attack but was startled at how skilled this man was.  Three more rapid attacks came that would have downed anyone but the most skilled warrior or Luxin.  Noir opted to surround the entire front of himself with a shield.

              Behind the soldier, Noir saw Ratt standing over the corpse of the din slave.  “No!” Noir thought.  “He's not supposed to kill the slaves, just the handlers!”

              The soldier attacked several more times.  Each time his weapon bounced off of Noir's light shield.  “Luxin scum!” the soldier yelled as he stopped attacking.  “Do you think you can resist the power of the king?!”

              Noir didn't have time to deal with this man, and his skill with combat was sobering.  “I am sorry, but if you support the king, I must destroy you.”

              “Your lux powers are a crutch!  Fight me as an equal, you freak!  Man against man!”

              Noir simply didn't have time to deal with this man.  Ratt was already moving in a blur across the wall toward one of the watchtowers.  Din attacks were raining down, but Ratt dodged and weaved with blinding speed.

              “You are an enemy of the true Tier!” Noir said back with haste.  “I cannot let you live.”  Noir solidified the air around both of the man's arms.  He cursed in response, but Noir moved swiftly forward and plunged his golden hilted sword into the man's side below his arm.

              Surprisingly, Noir felt his feet swept from beneath him.  He was suddenly on the ground looking up at the snarling face of his attacker.  Noir's sword was buried in his side, but the man readied another kick and brought his steel plated foot down into Noir's abdomen beneath his own breastplate.  The blow was so heavy that Noir screamed in pain.  His insides exploded with pain.

              Gasping in shock, Noir just barely pushed himself away from the soldier before another kick crushed him farther.  Noir grasped at his stomach which was in unbelievable pain and looked back up at the solider.  Blood poured from his wound down the length of Noir's sword.  The man coughed a few times, then went limp in his lux restraints.  Noir released the solidified air and the man crumpled to the ground.

              Noir's vision started to go dark in the peripherals.  He knew he had to heal his injuries quickly or he would be out for the rest of the battle.  He created a flow of probing light and pointed it inward to his abdomen.  He felt and sensed the damage.  His body oozed blood inside.  Noir's vision darkened further and he realized he might die if he passed out.  In a moment of distracted thought, Noir recognized that it was a regular man that had been so effective against him.  Years of focused skill and training went a long way.

              Quickly and adeptly, Noir flowed lux into his injuries.  He mended broken tissues and teased out the bruises.  He seemed to naturally understand how to mend the burst and broken veins with lux.

              With another part of his brain, Noir sensed someone approaching.  He had to fight whoever was approaching or he'd be slain easily while he lay on the ground.  However, Noir knew he was useless unless he healed himself first.  Noir reached inside himself and drew upon an immense amount of lux and poured it into his injuries.  His mind worked feverishly to piece the damage back together.  Suddenly, the pain disappeared and Noir jumped up to face the person approaching.

              Ratt stood looking at Noir with wide eyes.  “You healed that injury that quickly!?” Ratt said with surprise.  He was holding Noir's sword out hilt first for him to take.

              “Ratt!” Noir cried with relief.  He took the sword and relaxed slightly.

              “Are you okay, Noir?” Ratt asked with concern.

              “Yeah, I th--” then Noir noticed with shock that Ratt's arm hung limply by his side and his clothing and skin was charred on one side.  “Ratt!  You're hurt!”

              Ratt grunted painfully.  “Yeah, I was hoping you could help with that....”

              Out from watchtower came a massive fireball toward the two friends.  Noir encapsulated the mass of fire in a light barrier and flung it back at the watchtower.  The tower burst into flames.

              “There were
two
more din handlers hidden up there,” Ratt said watching the fire rise into the sky.  “I miscalculated.”