The Crimson Claymore (15 page)

There, sitting on the ledge with legs dangling into the air below, sat Starlyn. Tears seemed to be glazing her face, causing the few dim stars to make her face sparkle with terror. Searon walked slowly now until he noticed Starlyn turning her head back at him. His movements stopped, and he stared at her.

“Are you all right? What are you doing by that ledge?”

“Do not consider me weak, Searon. I am not some mere depressed human with a fancy of ending my life for the pointlessness of it.”

Searon nodded firmly and took cautioned steps forward. He sat on the ledge next to Starlyn and stared down. The height was well over a hundred paces and a nasty fall had he ever seen one. He looked away from the drop and put his hands behind him to stare up at the night sky.

“I’m sorry…I should not have snapped at you.”

Still, her words tore at his heart, for it was not long ago that his mind was mixed up in thoughts of peril. He often bore thoughts of ending his own life to cease the pain. He would not do so on his own accord of course, for he knew if he did that Victoria would never forgive him. Instead, he sought battle; he sought it more than anything else. He could survive without water or food, but without battle he was lost. Without battle to occupy his mind, it became lost in thought and memory of Victoria, and so he kept himself busy. He continued searching for the draeyks in hope that one day he could forget the number that continued rattling around in his head. Forty-one months, six days, and eighteen hours since he’d buried Victoria and Kellen. He did not count, he refused to, yet still he knew the number, and it sickened him.

“It is the deer. The cruel habit of men slaughtering animals is something I cannot get past,” she finally said.

Searon turned to her and noticed her eyes sinking deep into his. “What of the boar? You did not seem as ill when we fed upon it.”

She turned her face from his gaze and muttered lowly, “This is different.”

“How so?”

“You would not understand.”

“Starlyn, I have come here to listen. I have come to understand. Hunger weakens my body right now, and yet even though the food that I know to be awaiting me is grand, it is not worth the tears of my companion.”

She turned back to meet his gaze, and respect filled her eyes. They seemed to gleam bright electric blue for almost a second before returning to their dull state, and yet they did not seem as dull as they once had. Taking a deep breath, she sighed heavily and brushed her blonde hair from her face.

“For me, it is like you slaying a brother of your dear horse, Stripes.”

Searon looked at her puzzled now with an eyebrow raised. She kept his gaze, and his eyes did not stray.

“Kheshlars are friends of the animals of the forest. No matter what animal it be, we are to treasure it. Whether it be a small pestering mouse that steals our bread or a large cat that we praise. Yet, like you, there are some for which we hold in higher respect. You as a human would not let harm fall upon that of a cat or dog, but above all else, a horse. A horse is a companion that you ride and travel with. One that you trust with your life. There are many animals that will come to us when we call, and of those many there are few that will let us ride them to rest our legs. Of those there are, of course, the wild horses, but also deer, antelope, elk, wolfs, tigers, panthers, and other large cats.

Deer has always been my second animal of choice to ride beyond that of a large cat. There was one I grew to love beyond any other. Her name was Moonlight, and for years she was my companion of travels. She was with me during the years I fought against Arria and the shadow of the draeyks. I do not know where she has gone in the years since. Either she has disappeared, or perhaps age has taken her. This deer you felled was not Moonlight, but who knows? It could have been her father, her brother, or even her son.”

The stars above became darker until only a few inches could be seen in the cold night. It almost appeared as if every cloud imaginable covered the sky, and yet above was clear and the stars were dim. They flashed a couple of times above until resting on total darkness. Tears streamed down Starlyn’s face as swiftly as a river rapid, and despite her many attempts to swat her tears away, more still fell.

“We cannot survive as you do. You must know that. If only fruit and vegetables we had, we could not gain the meat we need for muscle. Without muscle, we cannot be strong enough to wield a sword.”

“I know; that is why I said nothing, but I had to come get fresh air.”

“What would you have me do?”

“Nothing. Do not be burdened on my part.”

“That is not a compromise. I am here to compromise. Surely, there is something we could work out together that could make all of us happy. How about if I promise to you that as long as we are in your company, from now on, no harm will befall the animals you named by our hands? Instead, we will hunt the smaller game, or those unworthy of the saddle.”

A faint smile pressed her lips now. “You would do that for me?”

“Aye, I do believe all of us would. We do care for your feelings, Starlyn, despite our lack of showing it.”

“I think a compromise is met; thank you,” she leaned in and kissed his cheek.

He blushed slightly. “What of cattle and bison, surely they are not saddle worthy if we are to come by them by chance.”

“I do think that shall be all right, so long as I am not part of the killing or witness of the eating. We are not shallow to the need of meat eaters. For one of our favorite allies is the large cats, and we know they must eat meat to survive.”

“My body grows weary, and I must go eat now. Do not fear, your friend will not come to waste. Anything we cannot eat will be dried and packed, and the bones we will bury in his honor.”

She nodded, and as he walked away he noticed that the stars were shining brighter. He also noticed what appeared to be a small yet faint smile upon her lips. The stars weren’t as bright as they were before, but the sky was shining once more. As he walked back through the building, he thought he heard her voice, soft yet soothing, sing a song into the night.

“This dark night is haunted no more.

No more tears are needed to fall.

Fire ablaze to light the night.

And feed the stomachs of hungry men.

A kheshlar here sits intrigued in thought.

With berry and fruit to keep me strong.

We need no meat, no friend or foe.

Yet strong forever we shall be.

Others are weak and need the strength.

And we accept the fate they cause.

This night dawns and casts anew.

For no longer will they fall a friend.

This night it is agreed upon,

That those that hold so dear to us,

Are now given leave to roam.

They will be free in both shadow and light,

And I shall rest without a frown,

For I know these words to be honest and true,

And forever on the stars remain bright.”

Chapter 15

S
earon held the final watch into the morning and was relieved when he saw the sun glistening through the few openings of the trees. The eerie, near-silent darkness of the abandoned city was chilling to say the least. He nudged Andron first, who awoke with a stir and a yawn. He rose to his feet and then croaked loudly, covering his mouth. His finger sprang forward to point as his eyes bulged. Searon turned to see what he was pointing at and found the wizard lying on his back. His arms were bent at the elbow with hands by his shoulders folding forward like a dog. He twitched in his sleep slightly, and his mouth was open with hanging tongue, drool pouring from his mouth. However, the oddest thing about it was that his eyes seemed to flutter between half-closed and half-open.

Barely containing laughing for a few seconds, Searon finally gave in and chuckled loudly, which stirred both Karceoles and Starlyn. Andron soon joined in, and both croaked so loud with laughter that tears came to their eyes. Both Starlyn and Karceoles leaped up, fishing for weapons to hold in their hands. The wizard appeared upset at being awoken in such a way, but Starlyn seemed amused.

“What! What is it?” Karceoles asked.

Both laughed harder now, and Searon fought the tears from his eyes with his hand. “Nothing, nothing, my friend.”

“Should we be off then?” Andron asked with laughter still in his voice.

“Yes…yes, I think so,” Searon replied with a more solemn tone.

“Do we dare take a peek inside the palace?”

“I say nay, I have been inside one home already and have not liked what I saw.”

“The spiderwebs?” asked Starlyn.

“No…that was to be expected. It was not the decades of spiderwebs that brought cold bumps to my arms, but what lay within the room itself.”

“What did you see?” she asked.

“I thought kheshlars were to have the fairest eyesight of them all; did you not glance upon the room yourself?”

“My thoughts were clouded, but I should have. I should not have let my emotions get the best of me.” She lowered her head as if in failure.

Searon set his fingers beneath her chin and lifted it up. “You had reason for thoughts to be astray. Do not deem yourself at fault, for I will not have it.”

She nodded, and her appearance seemed to brighten slightly.

“What I saw was that of an abandoned home. Everything in the home seemed to still be in order, paintings and furnishings alike. Also, the kitchen held bowls of a meal that appeared to have only a few bites missing. All the remaining food was crusty and old from centuries. It almost seemed as if they left suddenly, without taking a scrap or moving anything. Either that or…”

“Or what?” asked Andron.

“The only other thing I can think of…is that they simply vanished. I do not like this place; let us be gone swiftly.”

Karceoles stepped forward now with a raised gray eyebrow. His grip on his zylek seemed to tighten, and yet he peered at the buildings and palace.

“I know of that look, Karceoles. No, I will not stay here, and neither will you if you wish to continue on my journey. I know of your curiosity, and we shall not be burdened with it now. If this war comes to an end with us victorious, feel free to travel back here and try to put to rest the questions rolling in your head. For I, I do not care, and I value my life right now too much to chance it here when I can do good elsewhere in a fight.”

The wizard nodded and held his head high with pride. Soon, they were packed and saddled up, and by midmorning they had left the abandoned city. Searon was glad to be away from the cursed place, as were the rest—besides the wizard, who continued to peer back behind his steed to glance upon the city.

They traveled for a few hours in near silence before Searon heard something in the air. At first, the sound of birds calling for each other and singing soothing songs grew louder, but as they approached it became dim. The chirping of crickets seemed to come less only slightly, but it was enough that Searon grew aware. After a few dozen paces, his horse came to a stop, even when he didn’t bid for him to. He turned and noticed the wizard’s horse had as well. Starlyn’s eyes scurried about, and her hands swiftly found their way behind her neck, where they rested. Searon followed suit, felt the hilt of his claymore tightly before setting his hands behind his head to wait.

From behind the thin pine trees appeared six kheshlars, three with bow, two with sword, and one with hammer. Starlyn seemed to look at her own hammer from the corner of her eye. The kheshlars did not seem to embrace their weapons, but instead only stared at the company. One with shining silver hair stepped forward.

“An odd company if I’ve ever seen one. Two humans, a wizard, and a kheshlar kind.” His gray eyes seemed to stare only at Starlyn.

She looked back at him, but she did not speak a word. Her body kept still, and her breathing stayed calm.

“Starlyn I believe it is…Yes, Starlyn. Long ago did I fight alongside you in your claimed war against the draeyks.”

“Vaelmirr.”

“Ah, so you do remember me. Tell me, Nightsky, why do you travel with a company as ill as these?”

“They are not ill, for they seek a common enemy.”

“Are not ill? They are friend killers. Only last night they have slain a friend of ours, a native to our land, and a dear friend of mine.”

“They were unaware of our customs, and yet now they walk in the light of knowledge. No longer will they torment the animals we call our friends.”

“It is too late, as blood has already been spilled on our land.”

“Think them not as humans, but as tigers roaming the land without knowledge of the rules. Were they tigers, no punishment would become of it.”

“Ignorance is not an excuse. They must be set in trial.”

“That is not fair.”

“Be silent.”

Karceoles slid his zylek from his robes and held it high. He chanted words, and soon the silvery haired kheshlar was lifted off the ground. Three arrows loosed in a fraction of a second, but each was blocked with three small orange spheres of light.

“Do not stand in our way!” Karceoles bellowed.

Searon leaped from his saddle now and cast aside Starlyn’s arm as she tried to grab him. He turned to the wizard and shook his head. “Stand down.”

Karceoles looked at him, but the glow of orange around the kheshlar disintegrated into sparks, and he lowered his zylek. He continued to stare with stern expression at the kheshlar as if ready to do it again if any harm were to become of Searon. Searon turned to the kheshlar who was still serene in appearance and knelt to the ground before him.

“I, Searon De’Athaniel, the leader of this party, do beg forgiveness. We did not know what crime we did commit, and once it was explained to us after the fact, we were greatly sorry. We made sure none of the sacred creature went to waste, and we buried the bones in sorrow.”

The kheshlar looked down at the human in bewilderment for a long moment before speaking. “Rise, Searon De’Athaniel.”

Searon rose to his feet and cupped his hand on the hilt of his claymore. Starlyn walked to stand next to him, followed by Andron and Karceoles. The four stood before the six kheshlars, who seemed intrigued by the party.