Champions of Serenity :Gathering the Circle

Chapter 25

“Fini, how do you know where you are leading us? There aren’t any trail markers that I can see, there isn’t even a trail.” Shrina stopped and took a drink from her water skin. She had never been to this part of Nasinih and now she knew that she didn’t want to return. Even facing her brother and her people would be preferable to spending another day in the relentless heat. The breeze that started this morning was half-hearted at best and gave up trying to cool them before the sun was even over the ridge of hills they had entered a little over a week ago. “Don’t you ever get lost in all this…sameness?”

Fini stopped them at the bottom of a hill, listening. “Hush, Shrina, I don’t think we are alone.”

The three friends had been surprised to find as many patrols in these hills as they had. They had encountered several and had killed those they couldn’t avoid. After questioning one mercenary, they learned this was the main route to get to Greshinea’s stronghold above Klinock Lake.

“Stay here while I look ahead and see what’s over the rise.” Fini’s voice was final and Shrina glared at him as he made his way to the crest of the hill.

“I don’t like how bossy Fini has gotten, Airidon. I mean, he acts as he were the royalty, not I. After all, I am the queen of the Siblen now that my mother is dead, even if I don’t care to claim it. I’m sure that my brother’s wife is doing a fine job of regency.”

Airidon watched Fini’s progress a moment then turned to glare at Shrina. “Will you stop harping about what your position is, Shrina? I’m sick to death of hearing how you narrowly escaped marriage to a Sibish toad and told your mother you would return when it suited you and not before. I don’t give a damn about what you did before and once we find out why we seemed to be drawn together, I don’t give a damn what you do afterwards.” Airidon turned back to watch Fini as he slowly descended the hill back to where they waited for him. If he noticed Shrina’s pout, he didn’t let on.

Fini was troubled, that was clear by the look on his face. In the past month since traveling together, both Airidon and Shrina had learned that this gentle giant was slow to anger but once he was there, you didn’t want to be in his way. “In the next valley is one of the watering spots in the badlands. It’s pear shaped, narrow at one end, wide at the other. The river appears for the length of the valley and the trees are fairly thick.”

“There’s a river here? Where?” Shrina demanded, interrupting.

“Right now, a group of Greshinea’s soldiers are camped there and they have two captives. We have to rescue those two people, we have to.” Fini didn’t bother to answer Shrina’s questions right now; he was too focused on what he saw in the valley below them.

“I’m going to look at this river that doesn’t exist.” Shrina said and before either man could stop her, she scrambled to the top of the hill and looked down. She came back down much more slowly, the same look on Fini’s face on her own. “He’s right, Airidon, we have to rescue those two people.”

Airidon looked from Fini to Shrina. “What am I missing?”

“What Fini failed to tell you was that there are five guards and at least twenty other soldiers that can be seen, all Elite, down there for two caged prisoners; one man and one woman. Neither is armed and both are shackled and look half dead of abuse and starvation. What is so dangerous about these two that it would take over twenty men to guard them?”

Both looked to Airidon for his decision. He had become the defacto leader of this small group by the simple fact that the others didn’t want to make the final decision on anything. Twenty-five to three weren’t the best odds, especially if these were the elite units instead of the regular mercenary bands or foot soldiers.

“I can take about seven, Airidon, if you are worried about numbers.” Fini stated, trying to remove any obstacles to this rescue mission. “How many do you think you can take?”

“I can take about eight, not counting the sentries.” Shrina added helpfully, eagerly taking a dagger from one of the many places she had hidden them on her body.

Airidon took the dagger from Shrina’s hand, ignoring her protest and drew in the dirt at their feet. “Is this about how the valley looks?” When Fini and Shrina nodded, Airidon continued. “We will have to rescue the two captives and hope they have enough strength and will left to help us get out alive. Fini, you will make your way around to the cages, get the two out. If you deem they are unable to help us, then give them mercy and get back to us as soon as you can. Shrina, go to the wide end; take out the guards there any way you want, but make it nasty. I want a distraction for Fini. I will wait at the narrow end and take out any sentries there. If the two are willing and able to help us give your battle cry, Fini, and we will do our best to get out alive.”

“You don’t sound too thrilled with this, Airidon.” Shrina said, taking her dagger back and cleaning it lovingly before putting it away. “I thought you enjoyed saving the helpless.”

“I’m just worried about the odds, Shrina. And I’m wondering what these two have done to deserve such treatment.”

“If they are in His control, Airidon, what makes you think they did anything but exist?” Fini asked reasonably.

“Look, let’s just do this.”

“He wasn’t going to at first, what changed his mind?” Chaos asked as he watched the Second about to join with the heart.

Shægnek shrugged a moment then looked for herself. She then pointed to another image happening at the same time. Tris was holding off a raiding party of Greshinea’s men from the caravan she had recently joined and was far more outnumbered than Airidon felt he and his friends were.

“He’s starting to know more about her now, and he can see the odds she fights. It shames him into proving himself, if only to himself.” Shægnek offered and went back to weaving a rug that would make up part of Chaos’s prophecy concerning the additions to the circle.

Fini waited for the distraction before moving from his hiding place in the trees to the first of the cages. He glanced at the two captives and found they weren’t as bad off as he thought from the distance. Then he froze as had all the men in the valley as an unholy scream filled the air from the narrow end. Fini wondered what Airidon was doing and then sounded an answering scream from the wide end and figured that Airidon had killed a guard as well.

Jehro couldn’t believe it when he saw the leaves of the nearby trees rustle and the figure of a man drop to the ground. The time had arrived; they were going to be rescued. He caught Tyra’s attention by tossing a rancid rind from some meal at her. She looked over at him and he pointed to the shadow of the man lying in wait. Then when the screams sounded, they both knew it was time.

All the soldiers faced the oncoming sound of horse hooves pounding within the valley. No few dropped their weapons from nerveless hands as they saw their companion ride into the camp. He was skinned and his entrails were hanging out, all except his heart, which was gone. His eyes were open and staring at death and his mouth flapped loosely with the motion of the horse’s gait. Rough rope secured him to a branch, which held him upright in his saddle.

The horse ran though the camp unhindered, Greshinea’s men staring in horrified fascination, wondering what could have done that to their comrade in arms. Fini used that moment to cross the distance from the safety of the trees to under the first of the cages. It was the cage of the woman.

Carefully, Fini used his dagger to cut the ropes holding the floor planks together and removed a few of them. Then he slid the blade carefully between the palms of the woman to cut the bindings on her wrists. He still hadn’t really looked at her, keeping his attention on the guards who were supposed to be watching those in the cages.

Tyra felt the cold steel move between her hands and assisted by rubbing the rope against the sharp edges. When she felt the rope snap, she slowly eased her hands in front of her so as not to alert the guard. Then she turned to look at the man when he tapped her on the ankle. It was the first time they had been able to really look at each other and it was as electric as lightening hitting the ground between them.

Another piece of rind hit Fini on the head and he turned and scowled at the man in the other cage. It was only then he realized he had been staring at this most beautiful woman for far too long. Recalled to his duty, he took her hand and guided her through the hole in the bottom of her cage.

Tyra carefully made her way to the supply wagon just a few paces ahead of her cage. The Elite were now talking amongst themselves wondering what was happening and not paying attention to those they thought safely imprisoned. She was able to retrieve her and Jehro’s swords from the back of that wagon and get back to her cage without being caught. The guard by her cage finally turned to take a look and found her outside and right next to him. She thrust her sword up to the hilt into his throat before he had time to give warning and drug his body under her cage.

Jehro watched as Fini had rescued Tyra and saw the sudden star struck reaction both had to each other. He was amused until he realized it was also dangerous to allow them to just stare at each other in the middle of such a gathering. After getting the man’s attention, he kept watch to make sure the rest of the rescue would go as planned.

When Fini’s head came up through the floor of his cage, Jehro risked a whisper and then saw Tyra kill the guard who was close enough to hear. “The name is Jehro, friend, and she’s Tyra. How can we repay you for helping us out?”

“Fini. Just make sure I get out of this alive and that will be thanks enough. My friends and I think we can take about twenty of these guys, do you think you and Tyra can handle the rest?”

“I can guarantee, Fini, that I can do better than that. If you don’t hurry, you won’t get your fair share of these bastards.” Jehro hissed and once free, joined Tyra on the ground and took his own sword back. “You better give whatever signal you have or you will miss the fight!” Jehro shouted as he broke cover of the cages and charged the nearest soldier in black.

Fini stood and gave his battle cry and rushed into the fight as well, noticing Tyra matched him pace for pace. From either end of the valley, Airidon and Shrina rushed to make sure they were able to wet their blades on the blood of the Elite.

“That was quite satisfying. Thank you, Shægnek, for letting me see that as it happened. Now, perhaps, my minion will think better of taking my commands.” Shægnek just nodded as Chaos strode toward the door. Then he paused a moment and half turned. “Oh, I was going to ask you about something, Shægnek. What is happening with those on Earth right now? Weren’t they in some considerable danger?”

“They were, but when they merged, that ended. They already have the gifts from Serenity; they just don’t know it yet. I’ll be sure to let you know when it’s time for them to discover it.” She chuckled then and Chaos left wondering what his sister found so amusing.