CHAPTER SIX
DURADOR
It was a place unlike most of them had ever seen. Jax had been there, and a few of the older members of the party remembered places that were similar to this. Mercius had heard of human cities during his training as a boy, but had never seen one, and was impressed.
There was a high wall of stone, at least twice as tall as the one that had surrounded the village, and it was fronted with a moat that was spanned in several places with narrow draw-bridges. Sentries walked along the top of the wall, keeping a vigilant eye on the forest that was cleared for several hundred yards in all directions. The sun, rising behind the city, cast the turrets and castellations that lined the top of the wall into silhouette. The travelers stood and gaped at the enormous thing that fronted them. They were all filled with a mix of fear and awe and hope and despair. The sight brought home the undeniable knowledge that their lives would never be the same. There were very few people outside of the imposing wall, but each one walked with a sense of purpose through the crops that fronted the wall; it was a drastic difference from the casual and lackadaisical slowness that they had all been used to in the village.
Jax beckoned Mercius to him and together they eyed the place warily. “You and Sophia and I will take the lead and talk to these people. I will have Darius and Peter take up the rear. Be on your guard.”
“Do you fear these people?” Mercius asked slightly bewildered.
“No, but it has been a long time since I was here last, and even then it was a place to tread lightly. Not all here are friendly, and there are some that are spies or worse for the Enemy.” Mercius had heard of human spies, but since being surrounded by people these last days, he had thought it must have been just rumor. To the crowd of villagers at his back, Jax said: “We will approach the gate and speak with these people. Keep in mind that just because there is a wall, we are not entirely safe. There will be enemies searching for us still, and we must do everything to keep them from discovering us. Do not do anything to provoke violence or suspicion, and take your lead from Sophia, or myself.” He quickly gave the two young men, Darius and Peter, a warning to be cautious and take no appearance of safety for granted. With that, they marched onward, slowly approaching one of the long, narrow bridges that spanned the muddy water of the moat.
At the near side of the bridge, they were halted by two guards, who crossed their wicked-looking halberds to block the trio's progress. They were well armored and well armed They had on iron helms that shone dully in the early morning sun, came down to their cheeks, and covered the back of their necks. Their chests and backs were covered with the same metal as their heads, as well as their calves and forearms. They wore kirtles and shirts of heavy-plaited dark leather under the metal of their armor. At the hip, each wore a short, heavy-bladed sword to supplement the halberds they had at the ready. On each guard’s back there hung a small circular shield.
“State your name and business in Drurador,” one of them said. He was curt, but not impolite. The other, meanwhile, was looking inquisitively at the bunch of people grouped behind Jax and Mercius and Sophia. It was obvious to Mercius that such parties were seldom seen trying to enter the city, and he was filled suddenly with an anxiety that they might not be permitted to enter.
“I am Sophia,” the woman said. Her voice was characteristically strong, but now it held a subtle note of lofty superiority. It gave her the quality of speaking from an elevated position while somehow, inexplicably, giving no offense, and, indeed, comforting those who heard it. “This is Jax,” she continued, “and Mercius. Our village, over the mountains, was viciously attacked in the last weeks, and these are all that remain. We seek refuge for as long as possible behind your walls, as well as whatever food and accommodations can be spared.”
The questioning guard peered at each of the three in turn, as if he was going to divine whether they were friend or foe if he but look hard enough into their eyes. After several long moments of his examination, he sighed and seemed to relax, obviously determining that they were not enemies. He then said, “You will be permitted to enter. But, you must go immediately to the Council House. There, you will state your situation again, I’m sure, and those who are in charge there will see to you as best they can. I will send someone ahead to make them aware of your coming, as well as a guide to lead you there.” The other guard turned and walked across the bridge.
Sophia seemed satisfied with this, and said, “What is your name, good sir?”
He bowed slightly, “Franklin, my lady.”
“You have been very kind, Franklin, and it is welcome indeed. Our hardships have been great recently, and seeing courteous folk is a balm to our hurts.”
Franklin blushed behind his helmet. “It has been my pleasure, Lady, as well as my duty. I hope that your stay in Drurador is pleasant, and you may recover from the evil you have endured.”
Just then, a young woman approached them from the other side of the bridge. She was in her late teens, and pretty. She cast a beaming smile at Franklin, then transferred it to Sophia and the men. “Follow me, if you please!” she said, her voice matching her smile. “It’s not far, and I’ll be sure not to lose you in the crowd. Everybody ready?” Sophia smiled a knowing smile and nodded. With that, they were off, Jax and Mercius both giving the guard small nods as they passed. Sophia was soon several paces ahead with the young girl, and they were talking quietly together.
As they neared the end of the bridge, they passed between the open halves of a massive wooden door with studded metal straps. Jax glanced furtively around, seeing everything with his attentive eyes. Mercius, however, was in awe of the construction of the place. He had, of course, heard of such places when he was young, but never did he imagine them as sturdy and powerful as this place seemed to be. It was as if Hell had never risen and conquered the planet. Mercius had never heard of a place called Drurador, and he wondered how many other cities there were that escaped the attention of the demon lords that now ruled the world.
They wound their way slowly through broad avenues and streets, some paved with cobblestones, some just packed earth. There were people everywhere, and nowhere did Mercius see the anxious terror that he had become used to in his travels with his companions. These people seemed as if they had not a care, and were simply living out their lives in peace. He knew that was impossible, however, because the Hell that had swept the planet was everywhere, even if one chose to ignore it. He knew that, with enough digging, you would find terror and pain in the hearts of all these blissful-looking citizens; they understood that their lives were not being led as they were meant, but were constantly under a shadow of evil and horror.
After nearly an hour, they reached their destination. It was a simple stone building of two stories, with lots of windows and a large red door of wood. The girl, whose name was Seana, bade them wait just a moment and entered the building. She emerged moments later and the crowd filed in. They entered into a large room with several braziers set up and burning throughout. It was warm and gave off a feeling of comfort. Immediately a smiling man approached them. He was well-fed and had very red cheeks.
He took the hand of Sophia, either knowing instinctively that she was the leader, or having been informed, and said cheerily, “Welcome to Drurador. I have been informed of your hardships, and, I assure you, we will do everything we can to make you comfortable during your stay here. My name is Gershwinn. I am a member of the council, and have been left here to greet you. I am sure that all of you are weary from your difficult journey, and who could blame you! So we have had rooms set up for your disposal. They should be ready, and Seana can lead you to them. We grown-ups must talk first, however,” he said with a sly wink at Sophia. “My lady, Sophia, is it? Would you terribly mind to stay and speak with the council. I assure you we will be as quick as we may, and then you can go to your rest.”
“And a hot bath, if at all possible,” Sophia
said with a disarming smile. “I will gladly stay, but my two companions, Jax and Mercius, should stay as well. Anything of import I will inevitably convey to them, and I’m too tired to tell stories to men tonight.” Mercius felt a glowing warmth in himself that she should include him as one of her trusted companions, and he couldn't help the boyish smile from creeping to his lips.
Gershwinn laughed heartily, and said, “Very well, as you wish. And a hot bath will absolutely be no problem. No problem at all! Seana, if you will show our guests to their rooms? You know where they are?” Seana merely rolled her eyes and smiled that beaming smile.
Jax quickly strolled up to Darius and quietly said, “Be wary. We are never safe. I do not suspect treachery from the people here, but I’ve been wrong before.” Darius nodded and walked away with the rest of the group.
The remaining trio were led to chairs that flanked a large fireplace in one wall of the room. Mercius tried to relax, but had been on edge for so long that it was difficult for him. Sophia and Gershwinn were engaged in small talk, with an unspoken agreement not to discuss weighty matters without the rest of the council. That time was not long in the coming: after several moments the council entered. They were ordinary-looking folk with compassion in their faces and wisdom in their eyes. They were six in number, Gershwinn making seven, and they took up the remaining chairs in no apparent order. Each was introduced by Gershwinn, and stood and bowed slightly to the newcomers as their names were announced. There were three women and four men, including Gershwinn. They ranged in age from the youngest man who seemed to be just out of his twenties, to the oldest woman who needed assistance walking. All of them had keen, knowing eyes, however, and Mercius judged that they were selected as much for their strength of will as their intelligence.
After the introductions were over, the discussions began. They were first questioned thoroughly and with great interest about their travels and the attacks they had suffered. Mercius' input was slight, as most of the questions were directed at Sophia, and the men only had to put in slight additions to the tale when they were prompted. When the story was finally told in its entirety, and the council was satisfied, they sat for several long moments in contemplative silence. Mercius, during Sophia's tale, had been overcome by a great sense of relief that she left out his own tale of his birth and raising, as well as his exodus from Asgoroth's dungeons.
Finally, a middle-aged man named Argon with strong features and bright blue eyes looked at Sophia and said, “What will you do now?”
Sophia said in response, “To be honest, I don’t know. We truly only planned as far ahead as was necessary to escape the attacks. Now we must discuss amongst ourselves and determine our next course of action.”
With a quick glance at the rest of the council members, Argon said, “Well, Drurador is as safe a place as you are bound to find. We have food and water in plenty, defenses that are stout and adequate, and, always, the need for warm bodies to help in the life of the city. I think I speak for the council as a whole when I say that you and your friends are welcome to stay here, and become part of our community. It may not be as homely and comfortable as you are used to, but it is serviceable at least, and you will be safe from any further attacks.”
Sophia, with a glowing and appreciative smile lighting her face said, “I thank you, Argon. Indeed, thanks to all of you. Your offer, I admit, is an extremely attractive one. We have suffered greatly, and the hearts of us all, I think, are tired and sad. We will almost certainly take you up on your offer. At the very least, we will stay for several days, at your leave, and discuss this matter, and determine what to do.”
Gershwinn stood and smiled a cheery smile. “You will be given as much time as you need, and every comfort we have will be given readily to you at your need. Please, come with me and you shall have your bath and your rest.” The remainder of the council stood as the trio rose to leave, each of them smiling and bowing slightly in farewell.
They were set up in a long wooden building, very similar to the one that Mercius was housed in for his brief stay in the village. It was comfortable enough, and the remainder of the travelers were already cleaned and settled in, the children playing in the common room of the building and the remaining adults sitting around the stone fireplace. Jax cast a questioning look at Darius, who understood and merely nodded: everything was alright so far. Sophia and Jax approached the adults and were given chairs. Mercius strolled over to the children, for some reason drawn more to them than to another discussion between his peers. He knew the outcome already of that conversation: they would all agree unanimously that they should stay and live their lives in Drurador, as it was the only safe and habitated place they were likely to find.
Mercius was uneasy about the idea. He knew that the only reason the attacks on the traveling party had been so relentless was due to his presence among them. Asgoroth wanted him dead, and wouldn’t subside until that goal was reached.
The children were in the center of the large common room, seated in a circle on the wood floor, playing some sort of a game that involved them rolling a ball from one kid to the next. They looked up as Mercius approached, and immediately abandoned the game to surround him and stare silently up at him. Mercius' face was contorted into a bashful grin as he looked down at their fresh, innocent faces. Finally, a young boy broke the building silence: “We spoke to the grown-ups,” he said. “About learning to fight.”
“Oh?” Mercius said, wondering if he had made a promise to these youngsters that he might not be able to keep.
“Yeah!” a girl piped up. Her voice was high and sweet, and she was bouncing on her toes in excitement. “They said that we can learn! That you can teach us!” With that, the majority of the children began dancing around him and laughing and hooting and giggling.
“Okay, okay,” Mercius said, their laughter having affected him, and his face now smiling broadly. “But you must remember, all of you, that it will be difficult, and you must do exactly as I say, when I say. If I am to instruct you, it won’t be fun and games. You will learn to kill demons and defend yourselves, but it will take all the effort you have. Am I clear?”
The children, now subdued and quiet, but still glowing with delight, nodded silently. “Good,” Mercius continued. “I will find out today when we can start, and speak to your…grown-ups… about how much you can train in a day. I will also find out where there is a practice yard in this city, and whether we will be able to use it. Back to your game now. I need to bathe and eat. I will come back when I know more.” The children broke apart with more laughter and hooting, and settled back into their circle as Mercius strode away.
Mercius approached the group of adults that were still sitting around the fireplace. Their discussion was concluding, and Sophia and Jax rose as he approached. “A bath and a bed have been readied for us,” Sophia told Mercius. “If you wish to rest, as I do, then you may feel free.” With that, she left, and Jax began showing Mercius out of the room, to where they could freshen up.
“Am I correct in assuming that they have decided to stay?” Mercius asked as they walked.
“Yes,” Jax replied. “I have no problem with this place, but I warned them all that we may still be hunted, and that we must not put our trust too strongly in the citizens here. Time will tell, I imagine, whether it is the right decision or not.”
After some time, as they navigated their way through the building, Mercius said, “I should not be here. Asgoroth wants me, and will stop at nothing to get me. I put everyone in danger, just being present. I should leave, and go my own way before more life is needlessly lost.”
Jax thought about this for some time before he stopped, and Mercius turned and looked at him. Jax stared deeply into Mercius' eyes, as if trying to divine some truth about the young man that he couldn’t quite grasp. After several moments of this scrutiny, Jax said, “You must understand, Mercius, that these people are
in danger of a demon attack every day of their lives. They have long since come to live with that certainty. I also know that they have done everything in their power to defend themselves against that eventuality. They have scouts roaming far and wide in every direction, and at all times. There will be warning, if and when an attack comes, and they will act with discipline and courage. Your being here does not alter any of that. Besides, I have seen you fight, and know that your presence will be much more help than your absence. You are worth a dozen of their trained soldiers, at least.”
“That may be,” Mercius said, without much conviction. “But nevertheless, I am a cause for danger, and do not feel right putting this city at greater jeopardy than it already is.”
“Nonsense, boy!” Jax barked. “Have you not seen the world we live in? We are in the greatest jeopardy that we can ever be in. Hell has taken over the planet, and it is only a matter of time before the entire race of humans is obliterated or enslaved. There is nothing that you could do to increase such a peril. Each day we live, it is in a struggle for our lives. Man, woman, and child. We are all slaves to fear and terror. Until the demon hordes are destroyed or sent back to the netherworld from which they came, we are never safe. We are never free from attack or destruction. All we can do is try to survive as long as possible, and you are no different anymore. You are one of us now, and you must stay alive.” His voice softened a bit when he said, “Put thoughts of leaving out of your mind. I assure you, it is the right thing to do. Besides,” he said, a grin creeping slowly across his face, “I believe you made a promise to some very eager children. How would they react if their hero abandoned them?”
Mercius grinned as well. “They would probably hunt me down and torture me. Very well, I will stay for the time being. For the children, you understand.” He and Jax both laughed, and Jax slapped him on the back as they continued to their baths.
When he had finished with his bath, Mercius carried out his promise to the children. He found that they would be able to practice in a small lot that had never had anything built on it, for one hour a day. It would do for now.
After Mercius had finished his tasks and told the children, to more laughter and shouting and hooting, Mercius went to his room, laid out on the comfortable cot, and slipped into a deep sleep.
When he awoke the next morning, he, and all of the travelers, were official citizens of Drurador.