Death's Warrior Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

“Your Majesty,” the soldier said, bowing breathless to the king. “Word has come from the Brink Wall.” Passing him a sealed letter, the man backed away and straightened his rumpled coat, brushing dust off of his shoulders no doubt collected there from a wild ride. His cropped light brown hair was unkempt and his countenance was strained, as if he wanted to say more but was afraid.

Afraid of what? I wonder. Thought Kastia. Being the heir to the throne she fidgeted in the seat next to the king, doing her best to keep a masked face. However, when her father’s expression darkened as he read the last words of the report, she couldn’t help but let the curiosity show plainly. The soldier fidgeted with the cuffs of his sleeves. One, Kastia noticed, was dripped with red. When the man noticed her stare he quickly crossed his arms, hiding whatever it may have been. She jumped when the king’s voice suddenly filled the throne room.

“Will everyone please excuse us for a moment? I need a private meeting with my advisors,” he said, gesturing towards the doors through which the soldier had only momentarily flown through. Courtiers, ladies, and servants filed through the doors, Only the king’s guards and the soldier remained. He then beckoned the soldier to him, who halted at the foot of the dias. Closer, the man was taller than Kastia had thought, taking away that boyish look she had seen from afar. His arms, forgotten at his sides, drew back Kastia’s attention. It was, in fact, blood on the cuff of his white shirt. Although whether his own or not she couldn’t tell. For his sake she hoped it had not been his. She looked to where his scabbard was and she saw no sword, nor any message satchel with which a dispatched soldier would have rode.

Her attention wandered over the man’s wild look until she realized she had missed part of the conversation that had started. “This,” the king said, lifting up the refolded letter and shaking it. “Could not have come from the Brink Wall.” He steepled his fingers together and looked at the young man with a ferocity Kastia had never seen before.

“Your Majesty, it did. I barely escaped with my life, I had no choice but to flee. When I looked back the wall had been taken and others left the group to pursue me.” The man took a breath, as if trying to steady himself. “My King, those were the last words of my captain written in that letter.” Kastia watched as the man’s hands began to tremble and she suddenly understood whose blood it was on his sleeve. She wanted to embrace him, to let him know that all would be okay in the end, but she could not break the royal bureaucracy and leave her chair, let alone in front of the other advisors, whom she had almost forgotten about.

She glanced down the line to the left of the king. The most elderly, Dhanabir, stared most intently at the man while leaning on his staff which was probably the same age as he. He opened his jaw as if to ask something, then promptly shut it again. He then handed the letter to the advisor next to him having read it already while Kastia was preoccupied in her wandering thoughts. The man who now looked upon the letter was none other than Captain Luke of the King’s Army. His eyes quickly scanned the paper before passing it back to the king who studied its folded edges, pinching it back and forth between his forefinger and thumb.

As the king opened his mouth to speak again, suddenly the throne room doors burst open. The brightness of the outside gardens stunned Kastia and she gripped the edges of her ornate chair.

“Your Highness,” the queen said, hastily bowing before her husband before taking in her surroundings. “I did not receive word of this meeting until now, unfortunately,” she said, the king nodding for her to take her place in Kastia’s chair, who hastily stood to give it over and took a new place slightly behind the king’s shoulder.

As if suddenly remembering she was still there he reached back and patted her hand which rested on his seat. “My dear, I think it best if you leave us for now. These issues should not concern you.”

“Father I--”

“No, do not protest. Please.” He looked up at her, his kingly mask still on, but his eyes told her more and she should have remained quiet but couldn't.

“You always--”

“Silence!” He said harshly. It was enough for her to drop her head in obedience, giving him a short curtsy.

“As you wish, my king,” she said curtly, hastily picking up her skirts and rushing down the aisle. It was as worst an insult as she could’ve said, she had never called him her king. He had never seemed as such to her. He was her father, but it was in these times of desperation that he had always sent her away.

“Kastia!” He called after her, but she simply ducked her head and ran underneath the archway from where guards had opened the doors for her. Blinking in the sudden bright sunlight of the afternoon, she rounded the corner and flew through the garden of roses, the branches reaching out for her skirts. One managed to snag a bit of lace at the fringe of her skirt, but she tugged the dress free and continued to run until she reached the last row of roses and unlocked the wrought iron gate that was even taller than she, connected to a fence that surrounded the gardens. It was more of a delicate wall than a fence in places where jasmine vines had wound themselves up the bars enough to block anyone’s prying gaze.

She shouldered her way through the creaking gate and didn't bother to close it behind her. She ran until the dress shoes she wore rubbed blisters into her feet and then she paused only momentarily to rip them off and tuck them in the roots of a nearby oak tree. She would’ve taken off again but her lungs were aching for air against the corset and so she placed a hand against the tree’s overly large trunk and looked out at the valley below.

There was the busy city, people who looked like ants milled about in the streets and the market as the bells by the sun-god chapel tolled the three-hour. Beyond the city there was the Spiral Forest. It went for leagues to the east, thinning out in the west. However, it was the cliffs just beyond the forest that were still covered in cloaking trees that caught her attention. One could not see what was on the other side, only that it led to a drop off. From Kastia’s vantage she thought she saw a large black horse standing on the very edge of the cliff, his mane possibly blowing in the wind, but she couldn't be sure.

If so, I wonder who’s he is. She thought as she tore her gaze away. Kastia then glanced behind her at the castle and the woods on its other side to ensure she hadn’t been pursued before she continued down the cobblestone walkway to the stables.

Her barefeet enjoyed the touch of the smooth and suntouched rocks and she almost missed the overgrown path that led to the stables and messenger barracks. They were located in a large alcove tucked inside the hill, sheltered from any rain and wind yet still having an amazing view of the valley. The sand and gravels met her toes in a cool embrace and she headed down the winding roadway, intent on her destination.

Rounding the last bend in the pathway that looped into the cave-like structure, Kastia’s ears were met with a loud business that she had not seen down here before. She stood in the mouth of the cave, unsure of what to do. The interesting barracks and stables, made out of the clay of the cave and melding as one to the floors, were no unusual site to Kastia, but the amount of people rushing back and forth inside were. She spotted the captain of this impressive battalion before he passed out several letters to the messengers surrounding him before stepping over to Kastia. “What can I help you with, my lady?” He asked, crossing his arms across his chest.

“A horse, if your please, and preferably one comfortable for bareback,” she said, then quickly added, “if you can spare one, of course. It is looking rather busy in here. Is everyone about to head out?” Over his shoulder were several others who appeared to be waiting on him and even more who rushed around either leading their horses or carrying parcels and tack.

“We are preparing for further instruction from the king. We heard about a messenger from the Brink wall, and those reports are usually never good. If something has happened, any and all messengers will be sent out to the units out on movements and to other messengers to pass along through the other cities as they travel. You can never be too careful these days,” he informed her.

Their conversation was cut short by a high pitched scream. As everyone stopped their work and turned to the source of the noise, a loud booming thunder shook the entire hill side. All at once the horses, following the first one to whom the scream had belonged, stuck their heads out of their stall windows, ears alert and forward. Several became anxious and scraped at the clay walls. The original one who had created the piercing sound paced in his stall, his tail swished out of the window before his face reappeared and he nickered. It was then that his eye caught Kastia’s and he appeared to look straight at her, telling her something, but whatever it was she knew not.

“I believe this storm will be a bad one, my lady,” the captain said, walking past her to the very lip of the cliff. A white flash illuminated the entire cave and the captain turned back to her. “I would advise you to stay, but I know your stubborness and so I will ready your horse,” he said, bowing his head and hurrying off to where the anxious and loud bay paced in his stall. A booming thunder as the one previous followed his footsteps and shook her to her core. She, in turn, shook her head, attempting to rid it of the buzzing but to no avail.

Oh Well. She thought. It is always a good day when one rides.

Stepping out to the lip of the cave she held out her hand and a large raindrop landed in her palm. Especially in the rain. She added, rubbing the pure water in between her fingertips.

At the sound of clip-clopping hooves she turned to find the bay being led to her as promised. “He might be a bit high strung, my lady!” The captain shouted over another clap of thunder at which the horse did a half rear, his eyes white, ears turning to hear the echoing off all of the cave’s crevices.

“I welcome the challenge,” Kastia said, the dryness of the air making her voice sound flat.

“Are you sure you won't be needing a saddle?” He asked apprehensively, handing the reins over. The horse put his head to her shoulder, breathing in the scent of her dress.

“As I said, I welcome the challenge,” she replied, stroking the horse behind the ears, his nervous energy fading away as her touch. “Name?” She asked, glancing at the captain who scratched at the back of his head.

“Tux,” he replied.“I will not be blamed for any injury or death that may occur out there,” he added, raising his voice for others to hear his statement and pointing to the great beyond. Kastia inclined her head to him and then gripped the bay’s neck and swung her leg up over his glossy back, sliding into the comfortable place just behind his withers. Of all of the other horses, he had the best back for riding, albeit, not the greatest energy for it.

“My lady you are wearing no shoes!” the captain exclaimed, wide eyed.

Kastia sighed in return.“Indeed, they grew rather uncomfortable,” she said, looking at and wiggling her freed toes as if for the first time. “However, would you happen to have an extra oilskin coat? I believe it will grow colder once the storm begins,” Kastia said, having had a thought that she might want to take something of protection with her, if it wouldn’t be her shoes. The captain blinked up at her, then shook his head and, with hands on his hips, mumbled something about “pigheaded and foolish” before fetching her a greatcoat with a fur trimmed hood and a leather satchel.

“May as well take some food with you,” he said, indicating the satchel which Kastia deftly swung over her shoulder as she had no saddle to attach it to. “Who knows how bad the storm may be.” He added, patting Tux on the neck before nodding his assent.

“My great appreciations,” Kastia said to him as she nudged the horse to the trail. She would take the one that led to the valley below. A great gust of wind blew her dark hair from her shoulders and she drew the great coat around her. Tux took a hesitant step back but Kastia kicked him forward.

“We are going,” she told him. His ears flicked back and forth, hearing her words, before he picked up her meaning and created a nervous trot down the trail. Kastia glanced back behind her at the shelter of the cave that she was leaving behind and watched as the captain began barking orders at his men once again. She then scratched Tux behind the ears again and fell into a peaceful lull, every so often hearing, more so than feeling, the tap of more and more large raindrops hitting her.

She looked up at the roiling clouds that now blanketed the sky above her. They seemed to boil within themselves and they stretched towards the forest and the mountains beyond. Nearer to the mountaintops, a few rays of sunlight still poked through.

As Kastia and Tux made their way down the last bit of the winding path, the large raindrops ended and a light drizzle began. Once she had angled Tux onto the main traveler’s road she let him have his head and he cantered easily past the many farm homes that lay between her and the city. His seat was smooth and she patted him on the neck.

If he wants me to leave, so I shall leave. Kastia thought, her mind wandering back to where her father sat on his throne. The look in his eyes when he had asked her to leave. Something about it had bothered her, but she did not feel like troubling her mind with it at the moment and so she further loosened her grip on the reins, giving Tux all of his head which he took with glee into a full gallop.

The rain fell harder, became sharper and colder against her face, but she welcomed the pain, the numbness that came with it. As if there were floodgates opening the river of emotions in her mind, the tears she quietly shed were quickly washed away by the rain. The pain of the king’s command, the pain of the merciless court entourage, the decorum, it all bled away with the numbing of the icy rain. Kastia dropped the reins onto Tux’s neck and stretched out her hands like an eagle, gripping hard with her legs and keeping her balance masterfully while embracing the chilling effect of the god-sent-storm. She envisioned that she was flying, high, and away, over the mountaintops and into the sunshine beyond the stormy clouds. But alas! She was not free, nor, she believed, would ever be.

When the horse’s gait began to flag she let him slide by himself into a slower canter and then to an even slower jog which he kept up until they reached the outskirts of the city. Kastia sighed and parted her curly, now wet hair to the front of her shoulders and then drew the hood up over her head. It wouldn’t do to be recognized as the princess and heir to the throne who was riding in the pouring rain.

Tux jogged through a few side streets before Kastia guided him to the main road and around the statue of her father in the center square. She watched as vendors began closing their shops, the fabric of their overhangings dripping water onto a few of their wares. At a fruit vendor, who was just about to pull her overhang down like the others, Kastia halted Tux and slid off of his back, suddenly all too aware of her bare feet as they touched the wet cobblestones.

“Pardon me Miss,” Kastia said, getting the young shopkeeper’s attention while lifting her sodden skirts so she could walk a bit closer. “May I buy a couple of apples?”

The young woman quickly nodded her head. “Take as many as you like,” she said. Then, eyeing Kastia’s bare feet she added. “No need to pay either. If you’re brave enough to be out in this storm then it is most likely no business of mine.” Her eyes trailed up Kastia’s dripping frame to her face, and then with a sharp intake of breath the woman repeated. “Certainly no business of mine,” and hurried to finish putting her other wares inside the building behind her venue while Kastia took three apples and put them in the satchel, noticing a small coin bag, wrapped dried meat and a small chunk of goat cheese within before closing the flap back.

“Thank you for your time. I must be on my way.” Kastia said as she stepped back out from underneath the shelter of the overhang and grabbed the reins of Tux and swung her leg back over his back, this time it was slightly harder with the added weight of the waterlogged dress, but she managed. The young lady waved her goodbye and Kastia turned away, facing into the streaming downpour where sheets of cold water pounded down.

Pulling the hood down further over her head she edged Tux into a soggy jog and kept down the main road for a long time until the cobblestones ended and a muddy wagon-rutted road began. Leading past farms to the Spiral Forest where it cut through the dense woods all the way to the hills and mountains beyond. Kastia had never followed it all of the way through, but she had enjoyed, in times of needing to get away, stopping at a wayfarer’s cabin about a third of the way in. It was easy to find and signs marked the way, but she didn’t feel that that was where her heart was leading her.

To Lake Agir perhaps, it was to the west, placed just where the trees of the Spiral Forest thinned out. It would be a long ride, but if Tux’s spirit was dampened by the downpour he didn’t show it. With a cluck of her tongue and a touch of her wrist, Kastia turned them down a road to the left and he picked up an enjoyable trot. If her memory was correct then it was about five leagues to the lake.

“What do you say Tux?” She asked him. “Think you can make five leagues before night hits?” He bobbed his head in answer and with a small crow hop, quickened his pace into an unflagging canter.