Chapter 17
By evening of the next day Cage and the warriors arrived. None were more happy to see them than their loved ones. Cage got off the horse and found himself embraced by Meeka and Brooke together. Elder Shania came forward to break the reunion before anything else got in the way. “Chief, what news do you bring? For you to ride a horse and to push them so hard must be dire indeed.”
Cage looked over to see the four horses quivering from such a difficult run. Two were even bleeding from the nose. He felt no better as his backside hurt and his muscles ached. Even Zanza and the ones who followed were overly exhausted. He looked to the four and said “All of you, go get something to eat and rest. I’ll take care of the rest. You can explain all you witnessed once you recover.” They nodded and moved off into the village. He then looked down at the two beautiful women at his side and smiled “It is good to see you again.”
Meeka pulled on his arm and said “Tell us after you sit and eat yourself.”
Brooke too helped him to their tent.
He and much of the tribe sat down. He first drank five filled cups, after cleaning them. He then tore into the plate laid out for him and ate ravenously since he forced the hunters back home, breaking only once to water the horses and relieve themselves. As he ate he saw many litters that a horse will drag and much of the village packed. No teepees were broke down, but it seemed the village appeared somewhat ready. Between bites he looked to everyone and asked “What have I missed since we left?”
Meeka explained “After the last Olon recovered, he left us to warn others. Also two neighboring tribes came to warn us if we had not heard of the invasion. They tell us they are packing and heading for Castle Emroc to help bolster forces to push the enemy out of the plains. Another herald also visited us saying King Skylar welcomes any tribes people who are willing and able to help.”
“Any conclusions reached?” He asked after swallowing a mouthful.
“No.” Brooke stated. “As chief, it is your decision where to lead your people. But we did as you said and made ideas that our people are comfortable and uncomfortable with. Before we do that though we need you to tell us what you saw.” He nodded and took another drink to clear the passageways.
“We first came upon smoke yesterday and snuck up to find the village north of here towards the end of an attack. Those who resisted too much were killed. The rest were chained together and sent back to the main camp. Most likely they’ll be sent off into slavery up north. None were given an option. Either you were killed or chained, that is all you get. The elders weren’t spared at all and the kids were grouped easily. The warriors with me can attest that if I had not ordered them to stop they would have died. We didn’t leave without shooting at them though. The story about arrows being ineffective were true, but I used magic myself to test out the defenses and learned ways to use arrows and get past their defenses.”
“Then we have a weapon to fight back with.” Someone said in the crowd.
“No, even if I imbued every arrow the Utala possesses we will still be overrun. Brothers, you will do backbreaking labor when captured. Women and teenage girls will be raped repeatedly and you won’t be able to stop them. Children will be slaves also and with they grow up to likely become workers or sold to a brothel. I can tell you right now, each woman is beautiful and will be used and abused if you are captured. And men, you might be strong, but if these slavers are anything like those from my world’s past you might even have your testicles cut off if you are captured and do not bow to them.” The story scared and angered the Utala.
“What’s more, I’ve come to understand when I apply spells to objects they slowly lose their potency. If I spent all day for the next few adding spells to arrows, the first batch won’t have the strength I first applied. I learned this after Meeka and I fought the wyrms. I spelled sticks to break and warn us if it sensed magic or if weight applied itself on the twigs. By morning maybe half retained enough magic to break when I used a simple spell. I don’t know why this is, but it is a fact. Our only option to live more than the next three or so days is to escape. I will not see any of you taken or killed because I found a weakness in their armor. Just because I barely cut them doesn’t make their sword less effective. Do you believe me?”
Brooke laid a hand on his thigh. “Yes, Cage Love, we hear the truth in your words. I too will not allow my people to sit here and be captured and killed. The only way our people can survive is to flee.” She looked to the others who nodded no matter how much it pained them to leave their home.
“Tell me, what are these ideas you came up with?” He leaned back and began to cool off.
Brooke said “First is we accept King Skylar’s offer for acceptance and fight back later. It might take months and years to return here and not all of us will survive the battles. Next we make a new home somewhere else. Our people will adapt and change, it is the only way we’ve survived. We may find a home somewhere in Emroc and start our lives anew. It won’t be easy leaving our home here, after it has been so kind and prosperous for so many generations. We will leave, the only question is where to? Then Meeka brought an idea to me, but I’ve not told our people because unless you tell us, we cannot impede or hope for a topic to like or dislike since it belongs to you.”
Cage looked at Meeka and she answered the unspoken question. “It was just an idea though… but…”
“Spit it out.” Cage calmly prodded.
“Well…” She hesitated, gauging his reactions. “My idea was Cage Island, your island. After we complete our task, we can all live together on the island…”
Cage laughed and slapped his leg. “Those are my girls. I didn’t even think of that. I was too busy working on spells to help the warriors bypass their magic. I’m glad you thought of it. The island is plenty large enough to hold everyone. I’ll have to limit hunting since it is a small ecosystem. Fish though are abundant with all the reefs… Hmm it would really keep us together and out of danger…” He looked up into her blue, hopeful eyes. “Meeka, you are a genius! We won’t need to make a new home because we’ll just use mine.” He looked around. “What do you all think? Do you want to stay and be plains people or an island people? I won’t make a decision that you do not want to take.”
Elder Shania stated “We will follow you, but I for one wouldn’t mind seeing the ocean again. Many of the Utala have never seen the ocean before. My personal preference would be to go to this island of yours. Besides, it is very rare we get to eat fish because our lake isn’t large enough to eat fish all the time. What say you, Sisters and Metak Love?” Every elder smiled. “Seems my lovers are in full agreement.”
Several others voiced they liked the idea. Cage then said “If you do not want to live on my island, raise your hand.” None raised so much as an eyebrow. “That settles it, first thing in the morning we move on. Since it will be slow going and impossible to sail across with everyone we will have to walk the whole way. It will mean we have a good two to three months of traveling ahead. While you get started I’ll finish my business and meet up with everyone as soon as possible. It will be faster if I did it alone while you follow Meeka and Brooke to Kote. From there we’ll head to your new home. Don’t worry, I won’t leave until everyone reaches safety.”
“Forget that.” Meeka said. “We started this journey together and we’ll see it through… It was hard enough for us, seeing you leave and be gone for four days.”
“We can hammer out details later. Right now we need to tear down the village and get it ready for first light.”
She huffed as Brooke intervened. “Cage, you go rest too. Meeka and I will help our people.” She stood and said to everyone else. “Pick the last of the medicinal herbs and vegetables. Unload our food storage and separate it among everyone’s belongings. Children, help in any way you can. We will need wood so I’m ordering enough limbs cut that will not slow us down much till we leave the plains and enter the safety of the woods, three days journey from here. Let us not be here when the enem
y arrives. Rest if you must, but we work through the night.” She finished speaking and followed Cage and Meeka in their tent.
He laid down and rested his heavy eyes as Brooke and Meeka finished packing their meager belongings and left to help others while a group of older children left to cut wood for when they need it. The whole village worked as a cohesive unit to take what they could and burn what couldn’t. They wouldn’t leave anything that could be salvaged or reused. Every last scrap of metal was packed since there wasn’t a large abundance to leave.
Many grumbled about not wanting to go. They also didn’t want to die or be enslaved. There wasn’t any choice that would be considered perfect.
Cage slept through the night. One of the warriors that traveled with him retold all that happened and the anger he felt towards these men coming. Several hunters were sent north to keep watch for any scouts or forward detachments. Cage got up an hour before dawn, feeling much better than earlier though his backside still throbbed dully. He stepped out and found Brooke and Meeka helping others take off the animal hide wall of a nearby teepee with several others. He moved over and kissed each woman on the cheek before helping. Both smiled adoringly. It took only a few minutes to break it down and pull the angled braces from the ground. They laid the hide down and the seven long poles on an edge and rolled it up to make it easier to bring.
They did this to the few remaining tents and the one that belonged to him and his women went down last. Many of the children were too tired and got a few hours rest and got up as morning arrived. The last thing to go was the trees. Nothing would be left as they were set ablaze.
Cage gathered his people together after every horse was loaded and ready. He watched as their sorrowful eyes scanned the barren ground where they called home or to the tower of smoke. “My friends, I know you never wanted to see a day like this where you are forced to leave your home. I know what it is like all too well. I will make you a promise though. If this war ends and you do not like living on my island I will be happy to allow any who wish to return here when it is safe. Until that time, remember that the most important thing in life isn’t the ground where I’m standing or where your ancestors lived, but those next to you. Life is meaningless without others to share it with. Brooke and Meeka made me remember that fact. I don’t care where we are so long as it is together.” The two beautiful women smiled. “Do not be sad for this place for it will be here long after we are all dead. Be sad for those we will lose if we stayed. Keep that in your mind. What means more, the people at your side or land? If you want land you can stay here. But if you do we’ll never speak or remember you from this point on.
“The last thing I must say is that this journey will be long. Because of this I must urge everyone to put on clothes and wear shoes, especially when we reach the woods. If it gets too hot you can remove the clothes, but shoes are a priority because we’ll move faster. We leave in five minutes.”
He turned around and went to his pack and pulled out a pair of rolled pants and a shirt. He put them on and looked around to see people rummaging in their supplies, looking for leather moccasins he had seen some put away earlier.
Meeka and Brooke also moved to him as their packs also sat with his. Meeka put on clothes, put her leather thigh strap away, slid on her boots and slid the knife in its proper place.
Meeka and Cage turned to watch Brooke pull out four pieces of leather. Brooke slid on her moccasins, took off a tomahawk sheathe from either thigh and Cage watched as she slid a leg in a piece of leather and pulled it up. It looked like a leather bikini bottom and had colorful tribal designs of reds browns and white. She reattached her weapons before pulling out a five inch wide piece of leather that she skillfully put behind her shoulder blades and centered it with outstretched arms. She then brought it around under her arms, covered her perfect breasts, crossed the straps over her cleavage and tied the ends behind her neck. The strap had the same design as her bikini bottom. She looked stunning and seductive. Brooke liked how her lovers looked upon her and gave them a smile. “In the summer months we usually don’t wear anything. In the spring and fall most of my sisters wear something similar to this. In the winter we wear clothes that cover much of our body. I made these during the long winter we left behind. Do they look appealing?”
Meeka smiled. “If we weren’t leaving I would show you how much I like it.”
“Ditto.” Cage commented.
“It does feel odd wearing clothes again.”
Meeka nodded. “It has only been a few days since I came here, but it is different to wear garments. I never realized how comfortable it is to be naked all the time. I thought I didn’t believe Cage about not caring about clothes, until coming here that is.”
Rena came trotting up on a horse, wearing exactly what her mother did, just much smaller. “Mother, Meeka Mother and Dad, the elders say everyone is ready.”
Brooke tossed her simple leather pack over her shoulder and jumped up behind Rena and kissed the top of her head. “We too are ready, My Daughter.”
Cage picked up his and Meeka’s pack as they moved over for Meeka to check the saddle on her horse and mount up. He then handed her pack up and she secured it. They moved to where everyone gathered. Most of the horses were loaded with supplies and over a hundred people were forced to walk. Only a dozen horses were spared from carrying supplies and they were for warriors to protect the traveling Utala. Even without explicit orders these people knew what and what not to do when traveling in large numbers.
Cage, Rena, Meeka and Brooke moved to the front of the tribe and began moving southeast, towards the Jamma Ocean. Everyone followed and periodically looked back longingly to their home. Cage walked with everyone and not one person spoke till the pillar of smoke disappeared and no one could see their home.
Everyone’s spirits were so low that Cage needed to make the journey more pleasant. He kept thinking and came upon an idea when he stumbled over a hidden rock and saw his beads, especially the red one. He took out his ocarina and began to play a slow and relaxing tune that made all around listen and enjoy the sounds. Children came to walk beside him and listen. Meeka understood he was trying to cheer these people up and began to sing. Her perfect voice melded with his instrument. Smiles began to form and even the horses seemed to like the melody. When the children began to sing along even the adults found themselves beginning to feel less weight upon their hearts.
All day they moved, breaking a few times for the children and to check the horses and supplies. Cage didn’t like the obvious trail they left, but that is what happens when larger groups travel together and drag equipment behind horses.
That night they made camp, dug into the ground to hide the small cooking fires. Rena sat on Cage’s lap as he told children fables from where he came from. Their favorite was the three little pigs and the big bad wolf. He told it several times. Meeka held Brooke’s back to her chest as they watch him tell stories to entertain everyone. Brooke mostly enjoyed how her child had taken so quickly to her love and listened like a true father and daughter ought. She knew Rena is much better having Cage as a father than the one who made her.
Morning of the third day after leaving, two warriors on horseback came charging in yelling “Chief!” Cage ran out to meet them, hearing their urgency. He stood still, making it clear to the riders where he stood. One woman quickly said “We spotted two hundred men on horses to the east. They are likely cutting us off before we reach the woods. We will not be able to reach the ocean with them in our way.”
“Did they see you?” He asked.
“They did, Chief. The thing is they didn’t attack or try to come after us. We moved and they did. It was very strange.”
“They are trying to box us in.” Cage stated. “The Darshay Mountains lay to the south, they are blocking the east and they will catch us in the attempt to head west.” Others began to stand beside them. “It is a simple and effective tactic. We have children and elderly, they do not. It would mean we have to do so
mething.”
“I may have a suggestion.” Elder Metak put forward and all eyes turned on him standing in leather pants with a bow strapped across his thick chest and a knife tied to an arm. “When I was a boy my grandfather used to tell me many stories. When he was chief, the Utala faced a crisis and many fled. He spoke of a cave in the Darshay Mountains where he and many found safety for a time. As it so happens I remember exactly where it is because he showed me when I became chief.”
“If you believe it’ll save our people, Old Timer, you should lead. Our only other option is to fight those blocking us and if they have a mage with them I might not be as effective this time. We need to reach safety before those men get reinforcements and hunt us down. If our situation degrades any more you must gather all the children and proceed. For right now we need to send hunters in the general direction of this cave and make sure we aren’t running into an ambush.”
“I agree.” The old elder confirmed. His aged brown eyes looked to the south where the mountains were barely visible and pointed. “Six hunters, head straight south and check the trees. It is too far to tell exactly from here. Check the area and have one return while we continue walking.”
Six riders ran south as the tribe began walking again. Cage had three warriors keep an eye on those following to their left, making sure they don’t try anything. He told the three to just watch and not attack unless provoked. One must return if they do attack.
An hour later one hunter returned to say all looked as it should. The only good news today made the rest move faster.
By noon they found their way to the trees. Metak and Cage climbed a tree atop a hill and the elder got an excited look and pointed. “Ah, there is the one. See it looks like a fish head if you cut it off and put it on the ground with the mouth pointed up.” Cage stared and saw the very accurate analogy. There was a landslide long ago and it appeared like an eye and a row of trees looked much like a gill. “The cave is right beneath the eye, hidden by trees.”
Cage used the height to look all over, turned around and paled. “Metak…”
The elder turned and lost much color in his copper skin. “So many…”
“No, this is maybe one of the ten thousand I saw days ago. They are coming after us. I hope this cave of yours is still there. We won’t be able to fight that. They are moving fast too.”
They got down and told everyone the problem. Metak and the elders took the children and young mothers to be ahead while Cage organized the rest. They all pushed hard and moved as fast as possible while Cage and the warriors followed behind, protecting everyone. Before nightfall one of the men spotted a man on horseback, an obvious scout. Cage imbued an arrow with speed and the ability to slip through a barrier, turning it black. He took a bow and fired it, killing the scout who didn’t know the arrow wouldn’t have been stopped.
Nightfall made moving slower, but they knew if they stopped all would be over. Trees thickened the closer they got to the mountains. Cage had to tell everyone to rest for an hour, it was welcomed.
In the morning Cage climbed a tree and quickly looked around. He dropped back and told the gathered “It is good we didn’t stop. They didn’t. Metak says we’ll reach the cave in two hours. We don’t have time to waste. It is about how long we have before they reach us. Hunters and warriors, each give me one arrow. If they reach us before we get to safety you’ll each have just one shot.
Over a hundred of the Utala’s best arrows lay in a row before him. He focused, turning each one black for penetration and adding speed. Tiny black dots swam in his vision upon competition. Meeka thought ahead and gave him some bread and water from her pack. He gladly ate as each archer got a magical arrow. Brooke helped him walk till he could do it on his own. They increased their pace.
Right when they saw the cave came the chilling sound of a blown horn. They turned back to look down an old game trail and found dozens of armored men running up at them with more becoming visible.
Cage yelled “Hunters! Get the children up to the cave and ready your arrows. Warriors! to me and take aim! Meeka go help the children.”
Meeka balked but turned around.
Brooke readied her tomahawks and spun them readily. “And would you have me go to?”
“No, you are ready and able to kill. She still finds it hard. Besides I know you can fight, just like the rest of the warriors.” Cage focused ahead down the hill. “Four archers, take out the lead runners, aim for their necks or armpits. That is where their armor is weakest.” In a second four men running up fell with arrows protruding from their necks by a sure shot archer.
The men behind tripped over the four.
Cage then ordered “We need to find a better position. We’re too exposed.”
The warriors followed their chief up the mountain as fast as their legs can carry them. As they ran they heard a man below yell “They have a mage! Their arrows work! Summon the general!” Cage stopped and looked down in minor trepidation as a fierce, slightly over-muscular man atop a bull came out of the trees and carried a white glowing staff.
“Move! Move! Move!” Cage yelled to the Utala.
The sorcerer below heard the shout and smiled confidently at the fleeing savages and ordered “Allow me to take care of this rubbish. Their petty mage won’t defeat me.”
In a few minutes they caught up to the main group and Cage’s worry for the people he grew to care for had him urging the adults to pick up the kids and run them to the cave two hundred yards away.
He felt the building of magic and looked down to see the bull familiar charging with the rider while the mage created a large ball of white fire.
The grin on Cage’s face grew as he turned fully around and made the ground slip under the bull’s hooves. Behind him he heard his people screaming and running uphill and a dozen twangs from the hunters and warriors all shooting their enchanted weapon. The bull lost its footing for a second and billowed. A white light slammed on the ground, preventing further slippage while the arrows shattered on a barrier stronger than any Cage has faced. He knew the mage coming was much more powerful than the last. Already the large man stopped the land-sliding spell without breaking a sweat.
The bull renewed its charge and those polished horns seemed to glow, wanting to gore whoever stood in its way.
Cage thought fast as the jet of pale fire barreled its way towards them. He took a stance and loosed the magic within, creating a black fire to fight the white. He punched and pumped more magic into his flame. In a second the two blazes met and the villagers looked between the flames and the strange circular mark on their chief’s back growing from two to four links and nearly made six. Cage could feel the two magics warring, but his weren’t half has powerful and started losing ground.
The bull didn’t even think to slow as the sorcerer felt the pathetic excuse for a conjuring weaken.
Losing meant death, something Cage wouldn’t go down till he used everything. He knew this mage would counteract everything he would do because of experience. He needed something non-magical to at least slow him down.
Cage found an abundance of trees and screamed as he sent a wall of magic behind them and knock the enormous trees across the path. A dozen giant pines fell across.
The force required drained Cage of everything as he collapsed.
The black fire from his fist ceased and the tribe looked down at their chief crumpled and unmoving. Brooke rushed to his side and yelled “Help me get him out before…”
A loud snort and billow from the bull gave all the incentive the warriors needed to pick up the unconscious chieftain. A loud bull’s yell made them look back as one of the trees were lifted and thrown by the Familiar. The bull put its horns beneath the tree and with a mighty power, threw them aside. An explosion came next frightening the warriors and sending some off into the safety of the trees. Brooke yelled for them to return, but found her own hearing rang. She looked down and saw Meeka’s blade nearby and picked it up and would scold her later, for losing
a weapon has killed many who couldn’t hold on long enough. Only three warriors remained with her and Cage. They looked back to see a gaping hole where the trees were destroyed. They knew when the dust and debris settled they would have to face a powerful mage who defeated their chief.
Brooke and the nearby three picked Cage up and ran as hard as they could up to the cave. They were met with a hundred drawn arrows. They hurried inside. Brooke could tell they were trying to talk, but the ringing in her ears wouldn’t allow her to hear anything else. The tribe saw Cage’s limp form and fear set in.
Brooke knew time was against them as she yelled “Shoot whatever remains of Cage’s arrows in the roof. Everyone move back! Do it!” She couldn’t even hear herself.
She saw worry in all their eyes, but every remaining black arrow aimed to the ceiling of the cave as everyone ran deeper into the darkness. Brooke looked back as the archers fired and saw the arrows cut through the rock. The number was enough to weaken the entrance and collapse over a hundred feet of the mountain in the mouth. Large, heavy boulders dropped down and began blocking off the entrance. In seconds the cave’s vibrations grew as more and more rock filled in every hole. When the vibrations stopped a minute later every inch of the cave entrance sealed completely shut. No light even peeked through. The worst feeling was the dust as it choked everyone.
Someone smart enough already lit torches and brought it over to check their entrance was no longer an escape route.
Several hurried over and began speaking to the priestess as she checked Cage over, finding a little blood from when the trees exploded from shrapnel caused by the other mage. None were life threatening. She was in a same position. She felt a hand and looked into Elder Shania’s eyes. “What?!” she yelled. “I cannot hear you?”
The elder looked to the others “Her hearing will return in a few minutes. Check for injuries. I didn’t see anyone get trapped in the cave-in. See if we are missing anyone.” She then looked back and had Brooke sit down and lean against the wall. “Rest now.”
Brooke looked at what she gripped in her hand and saw the blade. “Elder! I need Meeka, find her!” The priestess’s voice carried and everyone looked around. The faces told her all she didn’t want to accept. “What?! Where is my woman?!” Rena came running and cried as she embraced her mother. Brooke dug in her ears and slowly began to hear. “Rena, where is your other mother?”
The little girl looked up. “She was worried about you and Dad. She went to help, but didn’t return with you.”
Brooke put her head against the rock as tears formed and dropped down her cheeks. She knew they were separated, but had no choice. “May the spirits protect her.” She cried while holding her daughter. The tribe stopped when they saw their priestess in tears and were also sad. Brooke still had a duty and said “The mage is still out there. We must help our chief and get away.”
Many went to help and continue fleeing while there is still a chance.