Fan Fiction ❯ Gelden ❯ Remnants of the Past ( Chapter 7 )

Chapter 7: Remnants of the Past

"So I told the woman that I didn't care one way from Nazet Gar about her bloody rose garden. She got all huffy as the city girl she was and promptly threw her shovel at me…" Lyle gave a laugh, and Aurora gave a small chuckle. "So I duck and the shovel goes right through the window of her shop. Well of course now she gets even more angry, even though she's the one who threw it!"

They were a two days out a Cerik, in the middle of the mountains, and although Lyle couldn't stop talking about various things' he'd done, Aurora was beginning to realize how entertaining it was to have someone else along. Of course he was still rather annoying to her, but she figured he was better company than no company. After all, she was used to having Lodon around, whose gruff humor she sometimes didn't understand.

"So what did she do?" Aurora asked, in a considerably better mood than yesterday. This story he was telling about the trodden rose garden was quite humorous in her standards. Lyle grinned slightly.

"She turned around and started screeching for the Watch, and right about the time she turned back to yell at me some more, I was up the road. Of course, I'm a fair person and she was a slight bit surprised at what was in the bag I left to compensate for her flowers."

"Let me guess… It was that ruby rose with emerald and gold stem?" Aurora burst out laughing when Lyle nodded. Yes, this really isn't as bad as I thought it would be…

"I have a feeling the woman doesn't need to sell flowers anymore…" Lyle said and leaned back in his saddle. He closed his eyes and sighed. Her horse suddenly neighed and took a nervous step. A shadow fell over them for a moment and Lyle opened his eyes. Aurora watched as his eyes grew large and his mouth fell open. She looked up and nearly fell out of her saddle.

A large dark object was streaking through the sky. Two pairs of large wings we're adjusting to the wind like a giant hawk in flight. The horses began to toss and buck a bit.

"A dragon…?" Aurora asked no one in particular as she tried to calm her horse. Lyle could only gape slightly. It didn't look much like a dragon though. It was sleek and almost glittered when the sun fell on it. The shape was almost like a cross between a bird and a whale. A second went by and suddenly the object blinked out of existence. The two tore their gaze away from where the object had disappeared and stared at each other for a moment.

"What in the names of all the gods was that bloody damned thing?!" Lyle cried. He looked at Aurora shaking his head now. "It wasn't a dragon. I've seen my share of Dragon's and that was definitely not one…"

They were silent and the horses began to calm down a bit.

"I think we should head on… quickly." Aurora said and looked into the mountains ahead. The she muttered to herself, "The Demonic is rising…"

They began to ride quicker now. The road through the mountains was winding but fairly well kept. With luck they may reach the foothills the next day. She hoped they could reach the next town by tomorrow night.

Captain Celiak tsked as the Council began to squabble over the recent and `mysterious' death of the Governor. Two days had gone by and they could only argue. Every member in the room wanted to be Governor and no one trusted each other enough to vote for the job. Sickening politics… Celiak thought and shook his head, No worry, though… soon this corrupt town will be purged by Hardis and then will the honest folk have a say at things. He had better things to do than listen to fools whine and cry over positions. No one in the room noticed as he got up and walked out of the room. The sun glare blinded him momentarily as he stepped outside. He took a look around, looking for someone. A black robed man stood nearby. A large leather poncho hung over his robes matching a large, leather hat dropped over his head and covered his face in shadow. A large curved sword hung on a gold chain belt. Another gold chain held a large amulet around the man's neck.

"Deatrixx…" Celiak nodded to the man. The man's head nodded slightly in return and he pulled a gloved hand from the folds of his robes. The hand made a movement in the air and then grabbed Celiak's hand. Deatrix shook his hand as Celiak stared at him. Celiak didn't understand the concept of shaking hands to greet a person. It seemed pointless. Deatrixx took no notice to this reaction and withdrew his hand back into his robe.

"Have you found the sssecond?" Deatrixx asked in a raspy hissing voice. Celiak shook his head.

"Finding bounty hunters in secret and telling them it's for Hardis isn't easy work. I've had plenty of candidates but none of them want to get tangled with Hardis…" Celiak growled. "To many of them are cowards that should farmers instead of ruthless mercenaries."

"They fear…" Deatrixx said disgustedly. "Fear mussst not be allowed…"

"A shame… But I will find one. I have a good feeling." Celiak smiled. Deatrixx began to walk away. Celiak noticed that the robes moved strangely around his legs and then noted again how tall the man was, and how worn he appeared. The little skin that showed seemed almost like the leather in his poncho and hat. Celiak shook his head. He wasn't sure that this bounty hunter was right for the job.

"I will go for now… And I will return tomorrow." The bounty hunter hissed and tipped his hat. He made that strange movement with his gloved hands again and walked on, the sword clinking against the gold chain. Celiak watched him until he disappeared down a different street. There was a rustle in the air and Celiak noticed a change in the wind for a moment.

It was an odd sensation, as if something had passed him by. He looked into the sky, frowning. It was empty. He looked around once more and started back towards the Council. Five men in strange uniforms suddenly walked around the building and halted in front of Celiak. There was a sixth man, who didn't have a uniform, and looked slightly out of place with them. There was a mess of crazy black hair falling over a headband. There was also a strange scythe strapped to his back.

"You Celiak?" The man asked. He had a strange, white, burning cylinder in his mouth, which he withdrew and blew a puff of smoke. Celiak was intrigued. One of the officers gave the man a look of disgust and stepped forward.

"Captain Celiak, we are the delegation from Hardis." The uniformed man said. "We're here to clear things up. Also, Sir Traque thought you might have had a problem with the bounty hunters so he had us bring you one. It would be a great pleasure if you would take him off our hands."

The strange man took the cylinder from his mouth and stepped up and held out his hand to the Knight Captain. Celiak looked at it and the Hardis members looked confused. The man smiled slightly to himself and laughed.

"That's right. You don't do handshakes…" The man said and continued his smoking. Must be a bounty hunter thing… Celiak thought.

"Well the Council is in shambles." Celiak said to the Hardis and nodded towards the building. "I think you sirs can handle this…"

"Yes sir…" The Hardis officers said and marched up and into the House of Council. The bounty hunter stared lazy eyed at Celiak.

"What is your name?" Celiak asked. The man opened his mouth to answer, and hesitated. A confused look passed over his face for a moment. Then he smiled.

"The call me Grim Reaper. A Man of Nightmares. The name's Poe…" The bounty hunter said and dropped the almost completely burned cylinder and smashed it with his boot. Grim Reaper? Celiak had never heard that before in any language. He wondered what it meant.

"Alright then, Sir Poe… if you would follow me." Celiak said. Poe snickered and pulled out a small box. He withdrew another cylinder and produced a metal object. Fire sprang from it as it clicked in his hand and he lit the cylinder. Celiak watched, amazed. He had never seen such an object before.

"Alright chief, let's go." Poe clucked and put the box and metal thing back into his pocket. The two men walked towards the prison.

The sun shone brightly overhead. Heat rippled the mountains in the distance. Sweat beaded up on Adem's forehead as he headed southwest, towards the village of Messik. He was at least a good two days ahead of Falon and Lodon, and soon he would be off their path of travel. He didn't intend on running into them, at least for awhile. For now he would had head south, then turn west until he was across the desert and catch a ship from the small trade village, Gunen. From there, he would head to wherever in the Six-Kingdom World he pleased. Perhaps even farther. He had heard rumors of lands beyond the six kingdoms, where strange beings ruled and the land was exotic.

He wiped his brow and stopped. He walked off the road and sat down under a tree. The shadow provided a nice change in the heat. The tropical atmosphere of Cerik had quickly turned in to a more desert-like atmosphere, this side of the mountains. He was used to temperature changes after wandering for so many years, but his mind flicked back to the cool forest where he had grown up in. He quickly banished the memory and angrily scold himself. He didn't need reminders of long ago. Those times were gone and he would probably never see the likes of them again.

He looked around and pulled back his hood. He sighed. Falon had never known, and she was the closest person he'd been to in seventeen years of wandering. The sun fell on his face, sprinkling sunlight through the shadows.

Thou art troubled, O young master…

The voice came as a shock to Adem. He spun his head around and stared at the tree in wonder. He ran its hand along its bark and gasped. It was an ancient tree, perhaps as old as the Woodfall itself.

Tis a surprise to thee? Thou art hasn't heard a voice in that long?

Adem smiled. He had heard of Suzen-U trees existing beyond the Woodfall, but never had he expected to meet one. He was surprised, mostly at the fact that he hadn't even noticed it's presence as he had approached.

"It's nice to see a friendly face so far out from Woodfall." Adem said and nodded his head to the tree. The tree gave a rustle of leaves, sounding like a laugh.

And `tis a strange thing to see a young Eyyuve so far from Woodfall, especially as of late. I thought I must have been feeling things when thee did approached. Was a bit of shock, with thou art's raging mind. A speaking in human tongue! The tree gave another rustle.

"Well you pick up a bit when living among them for seventeen years…" Adem said with a sigh. The tree's rustle this time was sudden and surprised.

Seventeen bloody years?! Tis many indeed for an Eyyuve youth to be out of the Woodfall!

"Well I can't really go back either, can I…" Adem said.

Say?

"I was…" but Adem faltered. He couldn't bring himself to say. He had never spoken about his trial, the way his people shied away from him after that incident.

Aye, nevermind, young master. Thou art has a mind which is tormented by a thought I bear not hear. Something horrible comes to mind if I think of it, and my leaves do shake. But I can't say I don't enjoy company after millennia of sleeping. Gets quite boring.

"So it does, I imagine. You don't mind if I rest awhile in your branches?"

It would be an honor, young master. Just mind my owl friend, he has had a rough night and wishes nothing more than a good days rest.

Adem nodded and began to climb up into the ancient tree's high branches. He quickly noted the owl, perched above him, and avoided it so not to disturb it. Then he slept, sheltered from the sun, in the arms of a fragment of the past.

General Kasmyr Artega held up a hand as he approached. Officers quickly noted his distinguished figure and immediately saluted him. Kasmyr nodded and waved his raised hand. Respected, adored, and honored by almost everyone who had ever come I contact with the Hardis Group. Tall but rather thin and youthful, he was often mistaken for a mere soldier by many. Most women called him handsome, but there was a carved look in his features that gave him a more dedicated look. Long hair, dark as midnight outlined his smooth, fair skin and set off a presence of triumph and power. He had gained his glorious reputation through his cool control in a battle, direct negotiations and his generosity with the commoners.

He would help the poor and feed the hungry. Occupants of the Hardis controlled lands often thought of him as a saint, while those who had met him in battle feared him as a demon. Many referred to the General as the Son of Dusk, for half the time his dealings were as opposite as day and night. Many stories followed Kasmyr, but only he now knew which were true or false.

He held the reputation of Hardis in his hand and with a single decision, he could either strengthen or destroy it.

It's better than working for Traque. Juno thought as she watched the General board the sunskiff. That ruthless bastard would end up destroying Hardis with his wily ways.

She watched as the General left the main deck and headed for the cabins below. She fingered her crossbow nervously. He was a great man, but she wasn't sure if she could trust him. She hadn't been able to trust Traque, and she certainly wouldn't trust Kione. She had never trusted anyone completely, usually feared them instead. She held no loyalties and often did what she had to because she never felt there was anything better. She wondered briefly, as she looked at the deck below, if any of the soldiers felt the same way. She was never sure of anything, never had and would never be. But there was something she was unaware of. Deep inside, far from her conscious mind, she would do anything to survive, even if it meant total destruction.

She turned to leave and head for her own cabin, when a gentle hand fell upon her shoulder. She spun around, surprised, hand flicking toward her crossbow again. She found herself face to face with Kasmyr. She gaped.

"I thought you had…" She said. Kasmyr waved a hand to silence her. He had a pleasant smile on his face and he liked mildly amused by something. Maybe even life itself.

"That is the purpose of a decoy. I much prefer to spend the trip in open air, not a stuffy cabin." He said, laughing. Juno stared. He seemed very carefree, completely opposite of what Traque had been.

"Well, it is a nice day for a trip…" Juno said carefully. She didn't want to embarrass herself in front of this man. Kasmyr nodded and took a deep breath.

"The air is sweet, the wind refreshing. The gods must be pumping all their energies into making this world as beautiful as it is today." He leaned against the stream-lined wall that looked glass. It almost appeared that Kasmyr was leaning on nothing.

"Perhaps they are…" Juno said. She still kept her rigidly formal attitude up, even if Kasmyr was acting so casual and cool. "Perhaps nice days are like art to the gods…"

Kasmyr laughed again. It was a deep, rich joyous sound but it made Juno's heart cold. Somehow, it scared her. He's only laughing, you silly twit. Loosen up but don't drop your guard, he's only making conversation! He conscious screamed at her, and she forced a smile to her lips.

"Indeed! As we humans make and create," Kasmyr said, running his fingers on what appeared to be a groove in the glassy wall, "all things must make and create. Humans are art to the gods as machines are art to us humans. This one in particular, is very fine."

Juno looked at the sunskiff's interior and was shocked to realize that it did almost seem like art. "I never realized. I always took the sunskiffs for granted…"

"Sunskiffs are probably one of the greatest works ever created. When Hardis annexed Valgor, they discovered many machines, long forgotten art, buried in a hidden vault beneath the city. The seven Sunskiffs Hardis owns were among them as well as many treasures from times before. It's a wonder, really. Sunskiffs are capable of flying like great birds, but yet, don't require magic." Kasmyr said, his voice filled with a strange compassion. Juno nodded slightly.

"I have heard of other vaults being opened, were objects with strange uses have been found. Those didn't run on magic either." Juno said. She never cared much for magic, not being able to use it herself. She glanced sideways at the General, recalling a wild story she had heard about uncanny magicks he possessed.

"Talents are becoming more scarce. Even pure-blooded Mage families have been turning out Untalented children more and more as of late. No one can tell why, but I have often believed that there was a time when magic didn't exist. Before the War of the Fire King. Perhaps as far back as the Demon Wars." Kasmyr turned and stared out at the water below them.

"A person like yourself actually believes the Demon War Myth?" Juno was suddenly interested. Kasmyr made a noise.

"There are demons and there are gods in this world. There is a possibility that it happened. That `Humans fought to regain the world they loved and bring the dark ones into the light'. Myths and Legends usually have some basis in truth. But just how far from the truth they are, no one can know." Kasmyr went silent, lost in his thoughts.

"I find it unbelievable…" Juno said and turned to leave. "I am tired and I believe I shall take a short nap to refresh. I will see you when we arrive, General."

She saluted and left. Kasmyr watched her and under his breath he recited, "The plague of darkness consumed the world. Battles raged like a fever. Humans fought to regain the world they loved and bring the dark ones into the light. The healer created life, only to be destroyed and created again as the One Who Wears the Sword. He led the new healers to purge and restore. Death is life, life is Death. All was well when the raven consumed the Earth."