Finally, they turned toKaleos, who cracked a grin, “WhattheCommanderdoesn’t know, can’t hurt them.”Heturned our group westward, away from the castle and back toward the city.Wehad to crest a huge hill before we reached the city, andIlet the fast paceKaleosset drive the thoughts from my mind.
Whenwe reached the top of the hill, the view of the city was spectacular, it sprawled before me like a great, colorful tapestry, woven through with streets and plazas.Icould see the citizens mulling about their day even from this distance.Theweather had been bitterly cold, clouds covering the sky like a storm was rolling in, but still, almost everyone was out and about.Snowlittered the rooftops, and some clung in patches to the grassy land around us.Tothe south,Icould see theVitmosRivercurling across the grassy landscape like a lazy garden snake, unperturbed by the harsh wind that battered it.
Allthis stood in great contrast to the sight in the north.WheretheDragonKingdomwas covered in grass and small expanses of trees, the north of us was a great bare plain.Thevolcanic soil a deep black, as if the earth had been scorched long ago and never recovered.Thegreat wound in the soil extended hundreds of feet in each direction and reached out over the cliff that disappeared beyond my sight.
Myfeet stopped as the wind changed and blew towards me from that wasteland.Itfelt wrong, like a disease that had festered into something putrid.Thewhole company stopped asIstared.IfeltKaleoslay a surprisingly gentle hand on my shoulder.
“That’swhere it happened, whereHadeonslew theDragonMalech.”Thewind whipped around us again, as if summoned, the wrongness of it chaffing my skin.Isaw through that horrid place, a landIwouldn’t have dared touch, a small path that had been carved by hundreds of feet.Atthe edge of the cliff lay a small shrine with flowers and offerings scattered out.
“Peoplewalk across that to leave offerings for the saving of the world?”
Kaleostightened his lips, butRaulaanswered, “Itaffects some more than others.Asan orc, it doesn’t bother me as much as those with fae blood.Humansbarely feel it,Ithink they do most of the tending.”
Myskin was crawling, and suddenly going into the city seemed a pleasant alternative to standing here.Theothers seemed to agree, and we turned away from that place and the saturation of death.Iwas almost relieved enough to forget my anxiety from before.
Wequickly entered the city, the first timeIhad since my arrival.Weentered a neighborhood comprised of brick houses, mostly two stories, that lined clean cobblestone roads.Isaw many children playing in the road and yards, and a few merchants were setting up booths in a small plaza.Thegroup approached, and my palms were sweating asIwaited for the scent of fear.Butinstead, our group was quickly greeted by warm smiles.Kaleoshanded out his signature back slaps to many of the merchants and it seemed many were on a first-name basis as they chatted about everything and nothing.
“Howare the kids,Amalthea?”
“Theloves of my life and the bane of my existence,” a young human woman smiled atNoki, handing him a fresh loaf of bread, which he refused.
“Anythingwe can help with today?”
“Mywagon wheel has been squeaking, can you take a look?”
Isaw then thatKaleoswas already helping set up the awning of one of the merchants, andRaulawas unloading crates for another.Theothers in our group had found similar tasks, all helping and chatting with the locals.Isuddenly felt very out of place.Nokiwaved me over.
“You’refull fae, lift this cart soIcan get this wedged underneath.”Thecart was fully loaded with sacks of flour and other food items, butIwas able to lift it just enough for him to slide an empty crate underneath before he shimmied under it himself.Occasionally, he would ask me to hand him a tool, but mostlyIstood there, transfixed with the scene.
Itwas so comfortable, everyone helping one another, no hierarchy of enforcers and enforced, just a friendly community.
Amaltheacame up to me and smiled, “Wealways love when a cohort wanders in on market day, makes everything so much easier.I’mAmalthea.”Sheextended her hand.Hernails were caked with flour, andIcould smell fresh bread and a wood fire on her.
“I’mTori, a new recruit.”
“Apleasure to meet you,Tori.Wouldyou mind helping me set up my booth?”Shegave me a beautiful smile.
“Ofcourse not.”Nokihad the cart handled, andIfollowedAmaltheaa bit down the road and laced a thick canvas fabric around the posts of her booth with her.
“Whatmade you decide to join the army?”Shemotioned at me to raise my corner a bit higher.Iclimbed up onto the table to get more leverage.Right,Iwas a new recruit.Icouldn’t see him, butIhad a feeling thatKaleoswas listening to my answer from the booth over.
“I’vealways been skilled with a sword.Iwanted to use that skill.”Atrue enough answer.
“Andhere you are helping me set up my booth instead!”HereIwas indeed.Shecontinued, “Well, we appreciate everything you do.Especiallywhat you do to keep my little ones safe.”Shewaved further down the road to a group of children playing some game on the ground. “Evenif all they do is get into trouble.Hey!WhatdidIsay about playing bones in the street!”Notone single head turned around.Shesighed in a wayIhad heard many mothers do, and couldn’t help but laugh.
Butthen the wind whipped up to a harrowing gale.Thesky darkened even more, and the street that had been lively before suddenly transformed into a tempest.Thecanvas roofs we had just tied down whipped free as heads of cabbages and bread loaves were picked up and rolled down the pathway.
Iheard a sickening crunch, and saw the cart slam down to the ground and start rolling down the street.Nokihad been clear of the cart, so no one could stop it as it started accelerating towards the group of youngsters in the street.Icouldn’t reach them in time to stop it, butIcould do something.Somethingstupid.
Ithrew myself in its path and slammed my shoulder into its side as we collided.Ifelt one of my knees pop asItried to stop the cart, butImanaged to keep my feet under me.Ifelt the boards of the cart split, but we slowly came to a halt.Ididn’t dare move, even though my shoulder felt oddly warm, and my knee ached.
Afew moments later,Raulawas pulling me away gently, andIsaw other soldiers grabbing the cart.Raula’shand was red with blood.
“You’rehurt?”Iasked her.Shegave me a worried look.Isaw then that a large piece of wood was sticking out of my left arm.Oh.Peoplewere fluttering around me, butIbarely heard them.Withoutmuch thought,Ireached up and pulled the wood out of my arm.Iflashed back to reality as the pain hit.Myknee was more than aching, and the pain in my shoulder was immense, butIcould see my skin at the edge of the wound already closing.
“I’malright, just need to clean up.”Raulastill held me tight, but my head was already clearing, and the pain had begun to pass.Ishook out my leg and felt my knee pop back into place.
Painlaced my arm again as a small body wrapped itself around me. “Oh, thank you, thank you!Itold them not to play in the road!Ican’t imagine what would have happened.”Amalthea’sface was streaked with tears, and her linen gown was now covered in my blood.
