Chapter 11
Wodan and Isaac glided across the inland sea at what Isaac considered to be a dangerously fast rate. Wodan however seemed to be enjoying himself, laughing as the wind whipped through his white hair streaming behind him as he stood on the ski he and Isaac shared. The land appeared a stationary bump on the horizon as the water they rode on rushed past them quicker and quicker as they gained more momentum. Isaac looked over his shoulder and the hulking forms of Minar, Kolin and Arad, followed him, the latter balanced precariously on the ski Wodan provided for the three Aeserians. Isaac felt the contraptions seemed more akin to wind surfing than skiing and the flat form of the inland sea allowed them to move like mercury running off glass.
Each of the skis had its own sail filled to the brim with the warm wind coming from the north and a long pole attached to the centre holding both the sail and the grips for the passengers. The ski housing the others looked to be carved from an entire tree and Isaac smiled at the look of terror on all their faces, even the mighty Kolin. His friend’s discomfort made Isaac feel more relax. As the skis neared each other, Isaac could not help himself. He held the mast with one hand and waved to the others.
‘Hands out of your pockets men. Nothing like the wind in your locks and the briny to stir the adventurous juices,’ he yelled, the wind whipping the words from his mouth and throwing them at the other ski.
‘What did he say?’ asked Minar.
‘Something about his buttocks being shiny,’ said Arad as he looked strangely at his little friend swinging bravely around the mast.
Wodan called angrily over his shoulder. ‘It is actually quite difficult to control one of these and you make it more difficult with your idiotic dancing. Now stop it at once and concentrate, we are coming to the southern shoreline and I would prefer not to crash.’
Isaac had never experienced anything like this world. He sailed on a sea he could best describe as an enormous water bed with viscosity and density enough to be able to carry the weight of a man without him sinking so long as he kept up some momentum. They skidded along the top of the water for nearly five hours and the constant standing and shifting of weight to maintain their balance tired them all, except Wodan who never looked any different from one day to the next.
As Wodan promised, their journey ended quickly as the horizon rapidly became a jutted coastline and soon a small clear bay could be seen. It did not have waves or sand it just seemed the end of the inland sea arrived and they could merely alight from their vessels and walk straight onto soil and rock.
They sat exhausted rubbing tired muscles. They ate a cold meal as none had the strength to light a fire. The wind turned sharply from a northerly to the north east and the most objectionable odour Isaac ever smelt blew into their faces, making them gag. It smelt like rancid and fetid water housing any number of decaying beasts rotting in it.
‘Well Wodan,’ said Isaac. ‘This is a pleasant experience.’ He covered his nose with his hand, fumbling in his pocket for a rag to cover his face. Minar and Arad also began coughing and spluttering..
‘What is it?’ asked Arad. ‘I cannot stand to breath this air.’
‘You are at the edge of the swamp lands to the east of Mesania,’ said Kolin. ‘The smell does not travel as far as the mountain. It affords the people a natural defence from the west, as the swamp is very difficult to pass. The fumes would eventually overcome you and you would add to the decay.’
‘I assume this is not our path then,’ said Arad to Wodan who stood unaffected by the stench.
‘I must admit I forgot how acute your olfactory senses are. It was actually my intention to attempt to cross these marshes and come to Mesania rather quickly. That would seem to be impossible now. We may have to take a more circuitous route and come on the monolith from the south. Gather yourselves men as I think time is of the essence.’
The others stood gingerly, stretching as best as they could. They intended to drag the skis onto the land proper when they turned to the water’s edge and saw them disappear with only their packs left lying on the ground. They turned to a smiling Wodan when suddenly he went rigid and his eyes glazed over. Isaac began to rush over to him when a gentle palm on his chest stopped him as Kolin looked with understanding.
‘Watch Isaac,’ he said. ‘Wodan has a great many powers we know nothing about however I have heard of this before.’
The fit seemed to released its grip on Wodan who jolted forward. ‘Ah very interesting,’ he said regaining his balance and calmly continuing to check his backpack, tightening the straps and slipping it over his shoulders.
‘What is very interesting?’ asked Minar. ‘What have you just seen?’
‘It is very tiring to continually explain myself,’ said Wodan offhandedly.
‘Well it is pretty tiring trying to second guess you too old man. If you would spare us a moment then we can all be more the wiser and not pester you. We are a team after all are we not?’ said Isaac.
‘Yes we are a team Isaac and for the first time I agree with you. It is important we work as one and the easiest way for that to happen is for you to do as I tell you. What just happened is I eavesdropped on a message directed at a fellow named Le Frag. You would never have heard of him so it would be useless to explain the message to you. It was about a woman named Le Carra who you may meet soon and about another called The Encalla and you haven’t heard of him either. Happy? Would you like to know more? Well bad luck. It is not the time to tell you more. Suffice to say we are changing our plans slightly and we will head to a place called Silver City and we need to get there quickly. That is all you need to know for now. I do not need an argument just action. There are some nasty creatures abroad and we need to deal with them for the greater security of the northern realm. Does that sound interesting enough to you all?’ Wodan’s impatience made them prepare to leave in a hurry.
‘Hey Arad,’ called Isaac. ‘Have you got any of that generous spirit left. Wodan needs some. I think he left his in a thimble somewhere. You are undoubtedly the most contrary old fellow I have ever met.’
Rather then get angry Wodan smiled at Isaac and a weight seemed to lift off his tired forehead. ‘Isaac your impudence is your most attractive trait. Which I suppose says much about the rest of you.’
As they prepared to leave, two horses appeared from behind them, one trotting to Wodan and much to Isaac’s delight Snaps bouncing over to him. He immediately began drooling buckets over Issac’s legs and arms. The men did not bother to ask how the horses arrived.
‘You big clumsy sods need to walk. Help you get fit,’ said Wodan while mounting his beast and trotting away quickly followed by Isaac and the others.
‘Where is she?’ asked The Encalla of the tall beast like figure standing as a silhouette against the city lights behind it. ‘She better not be spoiled.’
‘Where is our fee?’ replied the Tusse leader ignoring The Encalla’s threat.
The Encalla searched the mind of the creature in front of him. Although a treacherous animal, on this occasion he read it as being true to its word and would provide Le Carra once he received his fee. He did not want to engage in any small talk with the creature. He gave a low whistle and a dozen nervous men came out of the shadows each dragging a horse and cart.
They dropped the reins in front of the Tusse circled the wagons and lifted back the covers smiling crookedly.
‘They are all here?’ he asked menacingly.
‘Count them if you do not believe me,’ said The Encalla. ’one hundred children, still alive and quite healthy although I have gagged their mouths so they do not cause you trouble. Are you dining here, it could get a little noisy and the guards are out tonight?’
‘No, we will take them to the Niflheim, the months have been cold and our stocks are low and this treat will brighten even the most miserable of my kind .’
‘But my levy first of course,’ said The Encalla, this time as a demand.
The Tusse snapped is gnarled fingers and from the night around them dozens of Tusse emerged and two dragged a prone figure between them and dumped it on the ground. They turned, took the carts and vanished into the night once more.
‘She better not be damaged,’ said the Encalla.
‘She is alive, that is our bargain, we had some fun first but she is not dead.’ He turned and washed away into the darkness as The Encalla bent to look at the face of the unconscious Le Carra. He lifted her onto his shoulder, carrying her to another cart and uncovering a small lantern and shined it on her face. She is very beautiful he thought and watched in amazement as the bruises marking her perfect face turned purple, then brown then yellow and eventually faded completely. The scratches along her arms and legs closed and peeled leaving a soft and smooth visage, weeks worth of natural healing taking seconds.
‘Le Frag will reward me beyond even my dreams when he arrives my darling. Until then you will be my guest.’ The first time he saw Le Carra when she arrived with her companions he sent a psy message to Le Frag and the message he felt in return was one he could only describe as pure joy. Le Frag would journey immediately to Silver City and claim his prize. Once The Encalla sensed the Tusse had secretly arrived, he sent a second message through the psy waves reaching Le Frag almost instantly. He did not mention the fact she was slightly soiled from the rough handling of the Tusse. Le Frag did not need to know and it would be a few days before he arrived and knowing her recuperative powers she should recover sufficiently. Again Le Frag’s psy waves expressed unbelievable happiness although mixed with confusion. Le Frag often told him of his dreams to destroy Mesania and replace its governance with his own and he was incredulous the central figure in his plans, the hidden princess, could be wandering the world without a thousand strong escort and dropped right into The Encalla’s lap. The Encalla immediately sensed Le Frag turning from everything he was doing and heading his way causing The Encalla to smile broadly. He knew significant riches or at the very least a southern dominion or Fiefdom would be his reward when Le Frag came into his own.
As he turned to move secretly back to the city, he felt a huge hand grip the back of his cowl and neck and slowly lift him off the ground. He kicked his legs wildly and directed an ineffectual psy blast at the mind of his assailant as he rose high above the ground.
‘What is it do you think?’ asked Arad to his friends as he studied the shocked face of The Encalla.
‘I don’t know,’ said Minar. ‘It looks quite nasty and it certainly has no respect for this woman.’
‘And this one is a beauty,’ said Isaac as he stared longingly at the still prone body of Le Carra. ‘She is sensational.’
‘She is a princess,’ said Wodan. ‘The most beautiful creature in creation and I am happy to say she is spoken for.’
‘That would be right, the good ones always are,’ said Isaac sulkingly.
The five men chatted to each other oblivious to The Encalla who stared wide eyed at the giants around him until he sputtered some words. ‘How could this be. You do not exist.’
Arad dropped the Encalla who landed painfully on the hard ground and letting out gurgling grunt.
‘Well if I don’t exist I suppose I could not be holding you,’ said Arad. ‘Wodan told us about you and I have to say I took an instant dislike to you and that is very rare as I used to be quite generous to everyone. You seem to be the most abhorrent beast I have seen. The thought of trafficking in young children is offensive and we will deal with those Tusse shortly after Great Kolin has passed a judgement on you.’
Kolin appeared in front of the Encalla who shook so violently Isaac thought he would pass out. The Encalla had heard the myths of Kolin, who escaped the slaughter of Mesania and travelled the world looking for new homes. It was always myth and treated as such by him and here the very creature in the stories, twenty feet tall and towering over even the largest of the giants around him, looked him squarely in the eye.
‘Spare me Kolin, I can help you,’ bleated the Encalla.
‘Why should you be spared? Are you a good man who simply took a wayward path or have you been manipulated into some misdeeds or are your family ransomed so you must kill to free them. All these would allow me to offer you some quarter. Your problem is Wodan has given us some advance warning about you. You steal, coerce minds, kidnap and murder and for treasure only. Your arguments would need to be better.’
At hearing the name of Wodan, the Encalla froze completely. Here was a name all Omarins knew. A name they gave their greatest ever warrior. Their Saviour, the champion of the battle a thousand years ago. His disbelief and confusion number his mind ‘Does this mean the Gathering is nigh?’ He asked.
‘Yes it is,’ said Wodan stepping in front of The Encalla. ‘You however will not see it.’ Wodan walked calmly towards a paralysed Encalla and drove a knife into his belly twisting it and breaking the handle off leaving the man grasping and pulling at the hole.
‘You will die slowly. You have forced me to meddle in domestic affairs, which I am loathe to do however I am afraid on this occasion you are such a repugnant creature I believe the world is better off without you. Make your peace quickly with your gods as you go to meet them shortly.’
They stood silently, watching the man slowly stop grabbing at his stomach and sag to the ground until he stopped moving altogether.
Isaac could not move either. He never saw a man die before and the violence bolted his feet to the ground. He was shocked and stunned at the disregard Wodan showed his enemy and part of him felt he needed to say something.
‘Wasn’t there another way?’
‘You saw for yourself the contents of the carts Isaac. Children. He consigned children to the horrors the Tusse would inflict on them. Cattle to eat and toys for their carnal pleasures. Little children Isaac. He forfeited his one life and I make no apology. Now lets rescue those infants and return them to their parents.’
Isaac could say nothing in reply. Wodan made the decision and on this occasion at least Isaac could not disagree. No one should enslave children. ‘Hadn’t we better hurry then,’ said Isaac as he stared into the dark after the retreating wagons.
‘We can take a little time. There are other meetings needing to happen first and we must tend to this lovely vision called Le Carra.’ He and Isaac lifted her gently and placed her on some softer grass and began to bath her head with a wet cloth. Isaac staring wistfully at her. He thought she must be in her mid twenties and her white and pure skin did not have a blemish or mark on it from her trials with the Tusse. Her long and defined black eye lashes fluttering and the damp wetness of her dress clung seductively to her silky and firm body. Isaac could not take his eyes off her.
‘I think I am in love,’ he said to the others who gathered to look at the woman. Kolin bent on one knee and softly brushes some hair from her face his huge weathered hand having an unexpected dexterity and gentleness.
‘“She is a beautiful as my Rainier,’ he said as his mind drifted back years before, the pain gouged into his face. Le Carra slowly flickered her eyes open and when she saw the enormous face of Kolin she began backing away, mouth open until she backed up against a tree, her horror worsening as she saw the other giants peering at her.
‘Don’t worry about them,’ said Isaac as he moved between Kolin and her. ‘They look much worse than they actually are. In fact they are not too bad at all when you get to know them. A bit clumsy and oafish, and I suppose they are also a bit quick to anger, and pretty noisy and really a bit opinionated however overall, I would say they are not a bad bunch.’
Kolin gave a dismissive huff and turned his back while Minar brushed Isaac away with a slight touch of the back of his sledgehammer hand and bent close to Le Carra.
‘You will have to forgive my little friend here my lady, he is the most disrespectful creature I have ever encountered. He is quite right in one matter though. You have no need to fear the Aeserians, we have come to help
you and your people not to harm you.’
Le Carra looked under creased eyebrows unconvinced she had found friends and she searched for an escape. The horrors of the Tusse still rushed through her mind and she jumped at every shadow. She could still feel their touch and their putrid breath as they pawed and ogled her. Wodan came up next to her and she did not cringe from him, even when he took her hand in his.
‘I know what you have seen,’ he said. ‘You don’t need to know how. Know only child that I can ease your fears.’ He kept talking softly to her while stroking her hand and moved his touch to her temple and she closed her eyes her body sagging as it relaxed. She covered Wodan’s hand with her spare.
After a few minutes she opened her eyes again and touched Wodan’s cheek. ‘Thank you,’ she said as she pierced him with her brilliant blue eyes. Wodan smiled sheepishly and became quite embarrassed as he stood nervously and jumped a few feet back.
‘That is quite all right young lady. My pleasure. Now if you can stand I will make some introductions and then I am afraid we will have to leave. There are some quite interesting events about to unfold that I would like to see before we intrude to rescue those children. We do however need to be cautious. Remember that in this part of the world the Tusse are rarely seen and I can assure you no-one with any sense would ever dream of seeing the legendary Aeserians walking tall and calm amongst the residents. It would be enough to scare more than half the city to death. We will bide our time. The children are relatively safe for the present and we can intercede if my guesses are not awry.’
Wodan introduced himself to the wide eyed Le Carra, and then the Aeserians one by one, Le Carra’s eyes became wider and wider still with wonder, especially when she met the mythical Kolin to whom she stood and bowed. Kolin was visibly moved.
‘There is no need to bow to me lady. It is I who should defer to you for we know who you are.’ To the surprise of everyone, especially Le Carra, Kolin stood straight and bowed low. ‘When this is over we will lead our races to peace and communion with each other.’ He smiled and then quickly removed himself as if he too were embarrassed.
Isaac jumped from foot to foot with impatience, waiting for Wodan to introduce him. Wodan saw him from the corner of his eye and began walking away. He turned finally ‘Oh yeah that one is Isaac. Don’t worry about him.’
Isaac sneered at Wodan. ‘Thanks a lot,’ he said to the departing and laughing old man.
At hearing the name however Le Carra became extremely interested. ‘That is an odd name in these parts and curiously enough my friends and I have been searching for one called Isaac for the last few weeks. I assume you are he. My betrothed will be very happy to see you.’ She walked to Isaac and threw her arms around him. ‘He will be very happy indeed.’
Isaac’s confusion showed on his face, not sure what she meant and enjoying the hug too much to care. Eventually he broke the embrace. ‘And who is your betrothed, I don’t think I know him. These people here are the only ones I have met since I arrived.’
‘Oh you know him and he did warn me about you. A ‘ladies man’ is how he described you and a lady should not trust you too much and now I see why. You are very handsome just as Darion said.’
‘Darion!’ cried Isaac. ‘Where is he?’ He looked behind him expecting to see Darion jump from behind a bush. He turned back to Le Carra, ‘And you are the one Wodan told me about.’
‘I am she, for it is true I love the Rok Darion and I plan to marry him as soon as it is practical. He has become a great man among my people in a very short time. The Jharnell foretold it all and I guess you would be in the book also for I see you being a great man among your people.’
‘Oh he is in the Jharnell,’ said Wodan from afar. ‘There are a couple of paragraphs about a smart arse who will be hanging around annoying everyone.’ Isaac fumed at Wodan for making him look like a fool in front of Le Carra although he could not stay angry long with the rest of his companions laughing so hard even Le Carra chuckled as she took Isaac’s hand in hers and patted it soothingly. ‘You can tell friends immediately Isaac, they are so comfortable in their relationships they can tease with impunity. It is not often so. I think they like you enough to know they cannot give offense.’
‘I’m glad you think so. Tell me all about Darion and what he has been doing.’
The group marched off after the wagons with Isaac taking position next to Le Carra who gave him a complete history of the overthrow of Mara and the return of Mesania to the people and the Great Rok Darion, the uniting force. Isaac could not believe his ears and constantly interjected with plenty of ‘who Darion?’ as Le Carra told her story. Even Kolin, Arad and Minar were locked into the story, enjoying hearing of the battle with the seeress.
‘She sounded like a dangerous creature this Mara. It was right to kill her,’ said Arad flatly. ‘I would like to meet your friend. He is brave and intrepid.’
‘Well the Darion I know isn’t although I have to admit this world of yours brings out the adventurous spirit that is certain.’
They moved at a leisurely pace for an hour the ground becoming cold and hard as the night set with the two moons still trying to break the horizon. They passed through the forest and further south they saw the sky brighten with yellow flames as a portion of the trees in front of them leapt into life and a cacophony of noise rumbling towards them.
‘Ah it has started,’ said Wodan. ‘Quickly I do not want to miss anything.’
What maketh a hero? One who acts out of
instinct rather than consideration. It is one
who places others first and the self last. It is
one who will battle injustice and wallow in
the smiles of the persecuted as they are freed.
Jharnell 38/21-25