Chapter 28
Dead Marsh
"It should not be much further now," Lot said, looking up at the sun. "We will arrive by midday."
"Me sure hopes so," Red said. "Thar be's too much walkin fur me."
"I could help with the amount of walking you must do," Urganox stated.
"How?" Red asked.
"I can kick you for the rest of the trip," Urganox laughed.
"Juss try it, goat man," Red replied as the entire party, including Azonis and Rasmere, burst into laughter.
We are fortunate to have Red along with us, Lot thought as a big grin grew on his face.
The closer they came to Dead Marsh, the softer the ground became. Water filled their tracks with every step they took. Small streams and rivers were on either side of the road, and an abundance of vegetation grew in the moist fields leading into the marsh.
"Just over this bridge is Dead Marsh," Lot called out. "Follow my lead closely. Do not stray from my path. The Raptilians lay many traps throughout the marsh. I doubt very few of them deadly, but we should try to avoid them all the same."
"If we follow the road we should be safe," Azonis said.
"After last night's rain, the marsh is flooded. I doubt we find the road," Rasmere answered.
"I forgot about that," Azonis replied, stroking his chin. "Lead on then."
Caleb said, "I am ready." He transformed into a squirrel and climbed onto Lot's shoulder.
Lot laughed, "I should have you turn into a large bird and fly me to the village."
The squirrel turned his furry head from side to side, looking at him queerly.
"I should be the one getting help," Oggy called out. "A hand please."
The tiny Dainty wiggled and fought in the chest deep muck, well, chest deep for a Dainty.
"I got ya," King Skullsplitter said, plucking Oggy from the mud and setting him on his shoulder.
"Thank you," Oggy said. "I do not think I would have made it very far."
"How cute," Red laughed.
"Cute, eh?" Oggy said. "You will hold your tongue if you know what is good for you!"
"That is enough, you three. Come on," Lot said as he set off into the marsh.
River, sloshed through the watery mud, hurrying to catch Lot.
"Have you been here before?" she asked.
"A few times," Lot replied. "You?"
"Never," River said. "But I have always wanted to."
"One of your desires will be filled today," Lot said.
"What of my other desires?"
Lot's face flushed red. He trudged on through the marsh choosing not to answer River's question, at least not yet anyway. She followed hot on his heels with an inerasable smile.
Azonis and Rasmere were in the back of the line a few feet apart. The silence between the two of them became more than Azonis could bear.
"What will it take?" Azonis asked.
Rasmere turned to him. Frowning, he asked, "What?"
"What will it take to mend our friendship?" Azonis asked.
He does not understand. It is time to end these talks once and for all. "For a friendship to be mended, there had to be a friendship to begin with," Rasmere said, cold and sharp. "There has never been friendship between the two of us. Only a relationship, that of master and servant."
"Come now, Rasmere," Azonis replied. "Was there not a time when you considered me a friend?"
"No," Rasmere said.
"Remember the times we spent battling the Hoggins," Azonis said. "You cannot tell me we did not share a friendship."
"We did not," Rasmere replied.
"Listen," Azonis said as he took Rasmere by the shoulder. "I know that I have wronged you and your people in many ways. There is no denying that. I am trying very hard to right this wrong. It is difficult for me to admit fault."
"That has always been the problem. You have always thought of the Forest Engeniums as another people, when in fact, we are your people as well. You rule over the High Engeniums with compassion and kindness. If you would ever have shown the same treatment to the Forest Engeniums we would not be having this conversation," Rasmere said, voice quavering, but out of anger rather than nervousness. "There was potential for our people to become one cohesive unit and live peacefully together. The Forest Engeniums do not require the riches or elaborate homes that the High Engeniums do. We do not seek wealth or fame. It would have been easy for us to coexist, but your kind chose not to. All the Forest Engeniums ever wanted was to be treated fairly, a request that your kind would not afford."
Rasmere was taken aback when he saw an expression on Azonis's face he had never seen before. . . regret.
"Rasmere, it's not that simple," Azonis said.
"Actually, it is," Rasmere replied.
"This is the way it has always been. How could I change something that has been taking place for the better part of a millennium?" Azonis asked.
"Easy," Rasmere said. "You could have made a simple decree that would have changed everything. Sure, you would be questioned and scrutinized, but it was not like you would have been dethroned. Within a few hundred years all would have been forgotten."
"I agree," Azonis said without a hint of hesitation. "I could have done these things, but I did not. I am asking you today, Engenium to Engenium, what can I do to right these wrongs?"
"Freeing my people would be a good start," Rasmere blurted out.
"Done," Azonis said. "As soon as we reach Lasticall I will sign the decree to end the unfair treatment of the Forest Engeniums. I will even grant them extra lands and a stake in the gold mine. I will equally employee High Engeniums and Forest Engeniums in the gold mines at a substantial rate of pay if any are willing."
"No!" Rasmere exclaimed. "The mines are the anchor that binds my people to a life of slavery. We want no part of the mines."
"Done," Azonis said. "Anything else?"
"I doubt you intend to follow through with these promises. I will not force you to tell me any more falsehoods," Rasmere replied.
"No one has forced me to make any promises, as you know I cannot be forced into any situation I am not willing to enter," Azonis said. "I am offering this small token as a beginning to mending our people's relationship."
"If these things are true. . . and you genuinely want this. . ." Rasmere stood silent for a moment. "Then this is a good start."
"All I ask is for a chance to make these things right and forge a friendship between the two of us," Azonis said. "And you may not believe it, but I have often considered you a friend."
"The High Engeniums made these promises to my people before. Why should this promise prove any different?" Rasmere asked.
Azonis did not answer at once, and this pleased Rasmere. If Azonis answered promptly, Rasmere would not have believed him.
After a minute, Azonis replied, "There are no words I can say to make you hold faith in what I say. The only thing I can tell you are my actions will speak louder than my words. You will see, Rasmere. I will follow through with my promise."
Rasmere stood motionless, mulling over Azonis's words. He grinned and said, "If this is how you treat your friends, I do not wish to be your enemy. I will hold you to your word. I will also attempt to soften my heart toward you, but do not expect this transformation to happen overnight. A great distance lies between the two of us, and such a gap cannot be crossed in a short amount of time."
"That is all I ask," Azonis said. "Thank you, Rasmere."
"Hey!" Oggy shouted. "You two better catch up before you step somewhere you don't want."
"We are coming," Azonis replied.
As they hurried to catch up with the others, a voice called out to them from within the marsh.
"Halt! What buzinezz do you haz in ze Dead Marzh?"
"Lot," Urganox said. "Let me speak with them. I am on good terms with the Raptilians."
"Very well," Lot replied.
"I am King Urganox Skullsplitter from Morgorath," he called out to the unknown voice. "I a
m traveling with the Sestian of Lasticall, the King of Mt. Pizenchaffe, King Thaddeus Graystone's brother, Lot Caskill, and three of our trusted companions. We seek an audience with Queen Venumroot."
"Ze Brazurkin King iz dead!" the voice replied. "Who iz you, really?"
"It is I, King Urganox Skullsplitter, and I do not have time to play games with you. Take me to see Jeszekia, at once!" he exclaimed.
In the blink of an eye fifty or more camouflaged Raptilians appeared from within the marsh and surrounded them. They wore armor made from bone with bits and pieces of leather bound over their vital organs. Their barbed tails had long, razor sharp, blades bound to them.
A handful of the Raptilians approached Urganox, and the others, carrying barbed tridents, while the other Raptilians stayed at a distance with their blowguns readied.
"Iz zit really you?" one of them asked.
"Yes, it's really me, Frayzur," Urganox replied.
Frayzur was the commander of the Raptilian army and the most respected and feared Raptilian in all of Dead Marsh, next to Queen Venumroot. Frayzur and Urganox were almost always friendly with one another, but at times had not seen eye to eye, mostly over Queen Venumroot.
Frayzur loved Jeszekia, and he made sure that everyone knew it. That love caused harsh feelings toward Urganox, especially since Frayzur knew Jeszekia fancied the Brazurkin King. As bitter as he was, he could never act on his anger. He could never disobey his Queen's orders.
"Queen Venumroot haz been worried zick over you. Zhe waz lead to believe zat you waz dead," Frayzur informed him.
"So, news of Morgorath has traveled this far south. She should know not to worry. A mountain is no match for me," Urganox said standing tall and proud.
"If you iz done gloating, follow me. Jeszekia will want to zee you," Frayzur replied.
Frayzur lead them through the marsh in a most erratic pattern, often times crossing ground they had crossed only moments ago.
Lot's keen eye alerted him as to why. I have never seen so many traps in my entire life.
"If you do not mind me asking, why are there so many traps laid in the marsh? It would be easy for a traveler or merchant to stray from the beaten path and become entangled in one of these elaborate devices, would it not?" Lot asked.
"I will let Jezzekia anzwer theze queztionz, but I can tellz you zat zere iz a bad feeling in ze marzh. Zumzing iz not right," Frayzur replied.
"What do you mean?" Urganox asked.
"Ze air. Zumzing in ze air iz telling uz that dark timez are upon uz," Frayzur replied. "Jezzekia haz ordered extra patrolz in ze marzh and increazed zecurity."
"Well, pick up the pace then," Urganox said. "We should waste no time."
They arrived in Dead Marsh after midday. The sun sparkled off of the high standing water around the village. The entire marsh was flooded, except for the actual village. Inside of the tall wooden walls that surrounded Dead Marsh, it was relatively normal. There were just a few extra inches of water inside of the village. The trenches and dams around Dead Marsh did a splendid job of diverting the water away from the village.
"Open ze gatez," Frayzur called out.
Two, twenty foot high, wooden gates crept open.
Jeszekia heard Frayzur order the gates to be opened. She stood on the porch of her hut awaiting his arrival.
Jeszekia watched Frayzur enter the village. She saw he was not alone. She recognized two of his companions to be Azonis Ferrini, the Sestian of Lasticall, and Rasmere Elmidas, his Sword. The others were unfamiliar to her.
Where iz King Thaddeuz Grayztone.
She watched with great curiosity as they came into her kingdom, single file.
What kind of beazt iz zat? Zurely zat could not be a Hormut. They haz been. . . Urganox? No, it cannot be.
When Urganox entered the village, the first place his eyes fell were upon Jeszekia's hut.
And there she is, he thought.
"Queen Venumroot," he called. "It is good to see you."
Her blood boiled. Even her scales felt hot as a rush of anger swept over her. Her tail beat against the floor of the porch, a nervous habit she had since she was a child. She blinked as tears erupted against the bamboo of her porch. The gills on her neck flared as she struggled to draw breath.
"Jeszekia, is something wrong?" Urganox asked.
"It iz really you," she whispered.
Suddenly her moment of great relief vanished. She leapt from the porch and landed in the soft mud. She dashed toward King Urganox, and he did the same. When they were feet apart, Urganox opened his arms to receive her, instead he received a lash from her powerful tail. She struck him across the face and chest. The sound of her tail colliding with his rock hard physique sounded like the splat one makes when they make one too many rotations after jumping from a cliff and landing belly first in the water.
Urganox did not lose his footing entirely, but he stumbled several times before he could regain his balance.
"What in the world are you doing, Jeszekia?" Urganox asked before she slapped him again with her tail.
"You zelf zentered, carelezz, inconziderate brute. How dare you pretendz to be dead? I waz worried zick!" she exclaimed.
"Jeszekia," Urganox said right before ducked another swing of her tail. "I have not pretended to be dead. What are you talking about?"
"Your kingdom haz fallen, and you did not zend me word zat you were alive!" she cried out as she charged him once more.
"Haha!" Red laughed. "Dis eer be's da most entertainment dat me seen in a long time!"
"Oggy, good thing you climbed off of his back," Lot said, chuckling.
"Should we step in?" River asked.
"Never get in the middle of a lovers' quarrel," Azonis said.
"You do not think this is a lovers' quarrel, do you?" River inquired.
"It does appear that way," Rasmere said. "Right now it looks like she is getting the better of him."
"Would you stop slapping me with your tail!" Urganox yelled, shielding himself with his arms.
"Fine!" Jeszekia said, out of breath.
She turned away, but spun back around and drove her fist into Urganox's nose.
"Would you stop for a moment!" Urganox demanded.
She punched him in the face several more times before he reacted. Urganox ducked one of her blows and tackled her to the ground. As she fell on her back, she put her legs on his hips and flipped him over her head. He slid through the muck and before he made it to his feet, she was atop him. She grabbed him by the face and pressed her lips against his.
Pulling away, she said, "I iz zo glad zat you are alive."
"Well you sure have an unusual way of showing it," Urganox replied.
"Did she just kiss him?" River asked in a hush.
"She did," Lot answered.
Red whispered in Lot's ear. "Looks like love is in da air."
"Shut up, Red," Lot retorted.
Every eye in the marsh was upon them. A few Raptilians, Frayzur in particular, had suspicions there was more to Jeszekia and Urganox's relationship. Their reunion laid those suspicions to rest.
"This may or may not be good," Azonis said in Oggy's ear.
"Why not?" Oggy asked.
"She is Raptilian, and he is Brazurkin," Azonis replied.
"Ohhh," Oggy said. "Is this type of relationship still frowned upon?"
"Much has changed in Calencia, but not everything," Azonis said.
"She is the Raptilian Queen, and he is the Brazurkin King," Rasmere interjected. "Who is there to oppose them?"
With a smile, Azonis said, "Absolutely no one."
Urganox rolled Jeszekia off of him and stood. He held out his hand and pulled her onto her feet.
"It is good to see you, Jeszekia," he said.
"And you," she said. "Are you going to introduze me to your friendz?"
"Certainly," Urganox said.
Urganox introduced his companions, and each of them told Jeszekia how pleased they were to meet her. She ret
urned the pleasantries and offered them food and swamp wine. Frayzur returned to the marshes as they retreated to Jeszekia's hut.
A Human wearing torn rags wandered through the marsh, bare footed. He walked as if being lead on a leash by an invisible force. He navigated his way past the traps laid to protect the marsh, not slowing down to even plan his next step. His milky white skin clashed against the surroundings of the marsh like a black bear in a snow storm.
"Who iz thiz man?" a Raptilian whispered.
"I doez not know, but he zhould not be here," another Raptilian answered. "We'z zhould go and ezcort him out of ze marzh."
The Raptilians came out of hiding and approached the ragged man. He did not acknowledge them when they called out to him. Even when they tapped him on the shoulder, he did not turn.
The Raptilians shared an eerie look of suspicion and confusion.
"Excuze me, but you muzt leavez from here. It iz not zafe," the Raptilian said as he grasped the man's shoulder and turned him around.
The man's onyx colored eyes caused the Raptilians to take a step back. His face was white; his cheek bones protruded through his skin. Black, rotted teeth filled his gaping mouth.
Before the Raptilians could react, the man let out a deep, booming, laugh and raised his arms above his head. The water in the swamp churned, almost boiled, around them. A cold darkness surrounded the man and spread throughout the swamp. Two large hands erupted from the ground and grabbed the unaware Raptilians, dragging them down into the murky depths.