Chapter 2

Part 1

Chapter 2

“As the leader finished eating he suddenly stops being nice, and he smiled real mean at Father and said that he appreciated Father’s hospitality, and now they were gonna bed our women and help themselves to anything else we had.

“Father had his spare sword clipped to the underside of the table, and he made a faked afraid face as he drew it fast and shoved it all the way through the leader’s neck, but the man grabbed the blade of the sword with his hands as he was dying and held it long enough for another of them to cut Father’s guts open. Mother went for that one with Father’s regular sword but she only hit his armor for two swings, and then he chopped her down. My big sister Madia and I had hunting knives clipped to the underside of our chairs, and Madia stabbed one in the side of his neck really good. The one on my side was already standing up and drawing his sword when I got my knife out, so I cut him pretty good on his sword hand, but he hit me hard with his other hand and the back of my head hit the stone of the floor and it knocked me out.

“When I woke up there was fire everywhere, and there was only one soldier still alive, and he was on top of Madia and he was mating her by force and she was crying really hard. I grabbed the big cast iron pan and hit him in the back of his neck with the edge as hard as I could, and I heard his neck go crack, but I hadn’t realized that he was holding Madia’s knife at her throat to keep her from fighting back, and he killed her with it as he thrashed a second and fell on her when he died. I realized it when I rolled him off.

“I stood there until my shirt and socks were holed from embers, and I got burned here, and here, and here, and here. I said the holy words so my family’s souls would go to the afterlife. Then the fire was so hot that I had to get out. I watched the fire burn until it was done. Then I sat down on this beam, until these other soldiers came along. I’m getting thirsty. I’ll have to go get some water soon.”

She stared at him for a long moment before unslinging a water-skin from beneath her cloak. The tension drained from her as she handed it to him and sat beside him on the beam, suddenly seeming weary.

He drank deep, then handed the skin back. “Thanks.”

She put it away, then they sat in silence for a minute.

“I still don’t understand.” he suddenly stated. “We’re Taldrian. They were Taldrian soldiers. But they looked at us as enemies from the second they saw us.”

“You’re Bhian, and Taldria just fought a vicious war with Bhia.” she told him, then bitterly added; “There’s a lot of hate.”

“No, we’re Taldrian.” he patiently explained a moment later. “We’re two kilometers from the Bhian border, and we’ve lived here all my life.”

“That’s not always where the border was. You look Bhian, the red hair and blue eyes with the up-turned nose is distinct. Your ancestors were from Bhia, as sure as the Source will rise tomorrow morning. For scum like these, that’s enough.” she explained, and spat on the one he’d heart-stabbed.

“Ah.” he nodded. They were silent for another long moment before he spoke again.

“I suppose I should thank you for killing that one.”

“I’m going to kill them all.” she stated with obvious hatred.

“What, all the Taldrian soldiers?”

“All the humans. They’re a blight on the world and they need to be exterminated. But yes, I’ll start with the Taldrian army, and most importantly of all, I’m going to kill Vork the Third, King of Taldria.

“Oh.” he nodded. A moment later he asked; “Are you going to kill me?”

He didn’t seem at all concerned about it.

“You’re already dead.” she stated with a dismissive wave. “You were killed by those soldiers last night, along with your family.”

He pinched himself on his leg, and said; “Actually, I’m pretty sure that I’m still alive.”

“Your body and your mind are still alive, but your soul is dead.” she stated. “Your mind yearns for death so it can join your soul. That’s why you killed this pig, and because he irritated you, but you knew there was little chance you’d survive a fight against the four of them. If I tell you to hold still for a minute so I can kill you, you’d probably let me, and not care a whit about it one way or the other.”

He considered that, then nodded. “You’re right. You can kill me if you want. You seem pretty upset at humans. Maybe it’ll help you feel better.”

She shook her head. “No. There’s no pleasure in killing someone who’s already dead. Besides, I’ve been alone almost all the time for over a year, hunting the Taldrian army, and it’s nice to have someone to talk to for a change, even if I have to use this disharmonious noise to do it.”

“Yeah, Trade Common is pretty ugly, all right.” he agreed. “But people everywhere know it, so it’s useful. That’s what my father said when he made me learn it, anyway.”

She snorted. “You should be thankful your soul is dead. It’s the only thing keeping you from being in a world of horrible pain and sorrow and horror and hatred right now. Your soul might start to come back to life in a while, and if you feel that happening you should stop it. You’re better off this way. Believe me, I know.”

He nodded, then asked; “Why didn’t you shoot those other two soldiers?”

“Because I only had the one arrow left. I don’t have the skill for making any more, so we’ll have to hike to the land of my people to get some more.

“Stay here. I’m going to search the wreckage of your home for anything useful, then we’ll move on.”

“Why?” he asked.

“Because those two soldiers that got away will be back in the morning with a whole lot of their comrades, and they’ll be hunting us.”

“No, I mean, why should I go with you?”

“Because I saved your life, even if you don’t care about it. You owe me a debt of honor and you have to do what I say until I release you.”

“Oh.”

“And check these scum. Take any valuables. The packs will have food and water. Get the belt and scabbard for that short sword too, you’re big enough to be able to use it. Clean it before you sheath it.”

When he was done what she’d asked he sat down on the beam again and trimmed the sword belt to fit, put it on, and waited.

She eventually returned, and handed him his father’s best sword in a half-burned scabbard, and a leather coin pouch. “Sorry, there was really nothing else worth saving. The fire really burned hot, from the wind last night. The sword’s too big for you for now, but I figured you’d want it anyway for when you’re grown. The dead soldiers had coins, they probably had just been paid at the end of the war and hadn’t had a chance to spend it yet. It’s melted, but it’s still gold. Same with your parents’ coins and jewelry. The stones are still good, but the gold’s melted. I saved a few jars of preserves.”

“Thanks.” he said as he handed her five gold coins, and put another five into the pouch with the melted gold and jewels. “Those are from the one you shot. I kept these from the one I stabbed, and both the short swords because they’re too big for you.

“You know, if you really want to kill soldiers, we should stay around here. My family were professional hunters, and my father made sure we were ready in case the war came here. I know the whole area for thirty kilometers in every direction, and I know every meter of it. We have five shelters, twelve caches of supplies and weapons, trap lines that are good for men as well as animals, some drop traps and pit traps and lots of other nasty surprises. And I know how to make arrows.”