Taken: The Life of Uktesh Book 3 (19 page)

Laurilli said, “Nothing, it’s just that before today I’d never really fought anyone with real weapons.  There was this one time in a tree, but I slipped when I attacked at the guy, and then the guy I had been attacking saved me.  It was only so he and his friends could have their way with me, but I don’t count that one cause Uktesh killed them.  There was an attack on us while we camped and while we were in a tournament barracks, but both those times I was unarmed and didn’t kill anyone.  When I lost my arm it was to the invaders and they hit me before I even had a chance to fight.  Today I saw those bolts that not only took my arm, but nearly my life. And I ran.

Belial said, “You fought in the battle though, I saw you.  You lead the charge on their flank that saved us from having serious casualties.”

Laurilli said, “That’s true, but I really don’t have a problem fighting people with regular weapons, big weapons, I should say.  Swords, axes, maces, spears, and many others, I could fight against them all day.  Knives, bows, throwing daggers, and crossbows I seem to find my courage is weak against.  I got about a hundred yards away and realized I couldn’t leave my men and women, not if I wanted to still be me tomorrow.  So I ran back and that’s when I led the charge.”

Belial said, “So you were terrified because they were using weapons that you feared, weapons that had previously nearly killed you, and you ran through a storm of them, with just a shield for protection?  You know what courage is, right?  It’s not being fearless; fearless people are stupid.  Courage is being piss-in-your-pants scared, but knowing what has to be done and doing it even though you’re terrified.  I don’t think you’re a coward. I think you’re spectacular and now I’m jealous of Uktesh for two reasons!”

They were silent for a while; each wrapped in their own thoughts, until Belial, asked, “So can you really run faster than a horse?”

Laurilli said, “What?  No, I can’t run that fast, but I know if I use Hawk Soars I can get close.”

Belial asked, “Hawk Soars?  The imperfect attack that closes the distance between someone quickly?”

Laurilli said, “Yup, Bull Rushes Down, Hawk Soars, and Uktesh created the Saber Rabbit’s Charge are all sustainable ‘attacks’ meaning that with training, you can run while using Hawk Soars for a major boost in speed.  Horses are faster, but not by much, and if I learn Saber Rabbit’s Charge I’ll be faster than a sprinting horse!”

Belial said, “Wow, it sounds like Uktesh took what we were trained in and just raised them to suit his needs as he needed them.”

Laurilli said, “Maybe it seems like that, but he also nearly killed himself using attacks out of order.  When he was trying to figure out the god form he used the perfect Woodman’s Work, then used it again, as the first attack was still descending!”

Belial said, “And he lived?”

Laurilli said, “It was a close call, but he couldn’t use his hands at all for about two months.  Then there was another month of limited mobility, and probably another two months without a full range of motion.”

Belial said, “A healable injury to his hands?  He’s lucky to be alive.”

Belial looked at her, and Laurilli could tell that he was thinking about how a person, could run as fast as a horse. 

They walked in silence for four more hours. Finally Belial asked, “How long are we going to walk for?”

Laurilli smiled and made sure to dimple at him.  She replied sweetly, “Until I get tired, or we arrive there, whichever comes first.”

Belial said, “It was sundown when you arrived and since then we’ve walked for nearly seven hours. I don’t know about the rest of your troops, but I didn’t get much sleep yesterday.  If my troops and I are going to be of any help to you tomorrow, or whenever we get to Manori, then we’re going to need some sleep, and so will you.”

Laurilli said, “You’re right, we’ll sleep tomorrow. Keep moving.”

Belial stopped and said, “No.  I will not condone having my men and women treated this way.  We’re taking a shortcut that will only take two days at a normal pace. It would take us at the very least a week to get to Manori if we’d taken the regular path. Don’t worry, we have plenty of time.”

Laurilli knew that it was not an idle threat, and that Belial was done walking for the day. She nodded and said, “As long as we get to my mom in time, I won’t care.  But we can’t rest here.  Let’s look for a cavern or open space for at least a some of us to be able to lay down.”

Belial said, “That sounds very reasonable.”

They walked for what felt like a few minutes to Laurilli, though she knew that as tired as she was, it was probably more like another hour or two. Finally they found a huge cavern that would probably fit their whole army!

Laurilli told everyone to pass the word back that there was a cavern ahead and that everyone was going to sleep there.

They broke out the camping equipment and soon enough food was being cooked, mats were laid down, and people were either talking, laughing, or sleeping.  Laurilli was quickly surrounded by Enan, Anan, and her friends from their compound.  Belial said, “I think I’ll take my leave, and I’ll see you in the morning, or since there’s no light here, I’ll see you when I wake up.”

Laurilli ate quickly, lay on her sleeping mat and thought back to when Uktesh had bought these.  She had said, “I don’t see why you’re so excited we have beds.”

Uktesh had woken her up before dawn so that they could ride to White Bridge to purchase some camping equipment.  It had been a pleasant ride, if a dark one, to White Bridge.  The traveling merchant had just set up when they arrived.  Uktesh had practically levitated as he moved from display to display.  He had said, “Lie on it again!”  He glanced at her to see that she was currently lying on in, “Well, roll around, isn’t it comfortable?  That pallet will not only hold in heat in the winter, but hold in cold temperatures during the summer!  It will also negate any twigs, rocks, or roots you may be sleeping on.”

Laurilli said, “It’s nice, but really how often are we going to need to use all this stuff?”

Uktesh said, “Well, for sure, to and from the upcoming tournament.  Other than that who knows!  If I get conscripted into the army like that guy said I would I’ll use it a lot then.  You just need to wake up.”

Laurilli didn’t remember him saying that and asked, “What?”

The dragons voice thundered in her mind,
Wake up!

Laurilli woke up in a panic and fire lanced from her chest,
was it hit by a bolt in the chest again?

The dragons thought,
your Affliction is activating!

What?  Now?
  The pain receded from her chest as she made her way to Basam, “Basam, wake up!”  She shoved his shoulder, but he remained asleep.

Anan said, “What’s up, boss?”

She turned to him and fell to her knees another wave of pain lanced from her chest.
Is this what happened to Uktesh?

No, it just kind of felt like a ball was unraveling and seeping into every part of his body.  The pain came after it had unraveled.
 

She gasped, “Anan, your father is in charge!  Get everyone to Manori, I’ll meet you there.”

Anan nodded, “Sure boss, where are you-”

She Walked home and found herself in her old home as she did feel like something was unwinding inside her.  Like a ball of razors. 
Focus!  You have to start meditating!

It hurts so much!

It’s time!  I can’t help you I have to shield your son!
 
She could feel the dragon’s fear as he thought,
good luck!

The waves of pain were coming in shorter intervals now.  As one subsided another crashed through her.  She fought to achieve a meditative state as her body began to convulse in pain.  She found herself riding over the waves of pain, aware they were happening, but not affected by them.  She didn’t know how long she held her meditative trance, but when it was over she wiped the tears from her eyes, pulled out a handkerchief and blew her nose into it.  She folded it and blew again. 
Did you do it?  Is my son safe?
 

When she did hear back from the dragon she began to worry.
Dragon are you there?
  She checked her arm and saw that the telltale tattoo was gone!  She felt her child kick at that moment and knew he was still alive. 
Where did the dragon go?
  She picked herself up and left the handkerchief on the ground. 

She didn’t know where her troops were, but she knew they were somewhere in the mountains to the west.  She Walked, and felt her world shudder. 
What was that?
 
Damn it!  Without the dragon I don’t know how to Walk!
  She left her old home and walked,
the slow way,
toward the mountains.  The sun was beginning to set in the west, but she didn’t know how long she’d been fighting the change.  She ran into the group as they were coming down the mountain! 

They had with them four puppies that had, what looked like poisonous spikes on their backs.  Laurilli was about to ask a question when Enan said, “From up the hill we saw that your village was on fire.  We need to hurry there, before we talk about where you went.”

Laurilli nodded, and even though she saw that the two armies were missing as many as perhaps a hundred people she turned and hurried toward the compound.  As they passed her house she saw Enan put the spiked dogs inside and came out a moment later. He said, “They’re just puppies, I don’t want to risk them in a fight.”

A group of Beletarians who had been scouting ahead came back and spoke to Belial for a moment.  He walked over to her and said, “Well, I have good news and bad news.  The bad news is that the Imperials seem to have left already.  The good news is they have left behind a small force, about half the size of ours to guard their prisoners.  We’ll attack at midnight, which is in nearly four hours.  Then we will free your people, catch up to the other group, and finish them all off.  Strategically the fact that they split on their own is good news, but I want to end this as quickly as possible. 

We’ll make our way through the burned out town and head toward the compound where they’re holding the prisoners.  You lived there, where’s a good spot to hide from the guard tower, so that we can approach undetected.”

Laurilli said, “If we go through the village and cut through the forest we’ll be closest to the walls.  If we go straight through the town we’ll be closest to the gates, but we’ll be easily seen as we run toward the gate.  If it’s closed we’ll expose ourselves for no reason.  Right now, they probably think they’ve either killed all the defenders or we’re elsewhere.”

Belial said, “The gates are open, but could we not go through the forest and then around the walls to the gate?”

Tylor cut in and said, “Only if we got extremely lucky, and with this many people I doubt we’ll go unnoticed.”

Belial nodded and said, “Then the gate is our only option.”

Suddenly wary, now that they had a plan, but practiced enough to not let it show, Laurilli nodded, and gestured Belial forward.  As they walked through the burning village, she saw dead people, many who’d been stabbed from behind, littering the street.  The wind blew wildly against the fires, and forced them to roar in defiance of the wind that tried to put them out.  Laurilli thought it was appropriate to match her building anger. 

She tried as hard as she could to keep the anger from her face. Even though Belial was in front of her, she didn’t want to show how much the death of her village meant to her. 
Sure they’d ostracized my mom and me, but they were basically good people and they didn’t deserve this.
 

By the time that they’d walked to the edge of the village Laurilli had calmed herself down.  Then she saw the cages.

1.         
   Why would they do that
   

Six months one week and a few days apart from Uktesh

Hot fury rushed into Laurilli.  She trembled all over, although she tried to suppress it. But as they viewed cage after cage through the open gate she could feel her anger building. 
Is my mother in one of those cages! 

Against all her instincts she sat in a shadow and waited for the appointed time to attack.  The last light faded into the mountains and she decided to begin meditating to pass the time.  As she did she felt the dragon stir inside her and though they couldn’t communicate with words anymore she felt him try to reassure her.

She felt someone gently jostle her shoulder and she looked up to see Anan standing before her with a water bottle and some food.  “Thanks Anan. Has everyone been fed?”

He nodded and said, “We knew you’d be distracted.”

She grinned at him and said, “Good thing I have people to help me.”

He nodded and walked back to continue to organize the troops.  Laurilli rose and joined him, only to find that between Enan, Anan, Basam, Larut, and Tylor everyone had been taken care of, and people were even lying down to sleep before the fight. 

She pulled Anan aside and asked, “Ok now that we have some time, explain the spike dogs.”

Anan said, “Well, after you left my dad in charge we continued to head toward the exit.  Enan told everyone, that you were scouting ahead.  Then we walked for about three hours in peace.  As the day dragged on it became necessary for Enan to start assuring the group that we were close to the end, as people had started to feel claustrophobic.  The cave had just started to lighten as we neared the end when they heard a low growl echo from behind them.  Basam asked, ‘Is this cave inhabited?’”