Friday, November 16, 2007

• Currently Reading Water Sleeps: A Novel of the Black Company (Chronicles of The Black Company) By Glen Cook see related

  "The New Wall Keeper"
  

  
       I watched the small flame spread to each of my fingertips, eventually finding its resting place in the middle of my palm. I tightened my fist around it, feeling its warmth and destructive power. The flame begged me to free it, to let it cause havoc and to damage its surroundings in a beautiful, yet deadly dance that would consume everything in smoke and ash.
       I shook my head, tightening my fingers around the flame until it was extinguished. My ability--my gift as some people call it--to use and control magic is what sets me apart from my men. Although no official rank has been given to me, I now reside as the third in command under the king. I have had thousands of brave men work for me, and sometimes even die for me, in the many years I have been in the king’s service. My job is to patrol the borders of the kingdom, keeping it safe from the many surrounding nations that might decide to attack at any given time.
       I looked down at my hand, slowly outstretching my fingers until my palm was flat. Tiny blue sparks lifted from my skin where the fire had been, drifting upward into the stale air around me.
       It was at that time when the door flap of my tent was tossed aside, allowing my second in command, Lord Taust, to step through. He saw me sitting at my small table, my wine goblet empty and my cot already made. Fear shot through his eyes as he saluted me. “Master Simeon, I apologize … I did not intend to be late.”
       “Late for what?” I asked him, wiping my palms over the legs of my pants, trying to get the scratchy feeling of spent magic out from under my skin.
       “You instructed me to wake you the moment I saw sunlight appear over the eastern mountains, master.”
       “So I did,” I agreed, the memory coming back to me at once. I looked past the young man, trying to adjust my eyes to the bright morning light. “I have not been able to sleep for quite a while,” I said to him. “My mind is playing tricks on me, disfiguring my sense of time.” I leaned back in my chair, grabbing the empty wine goblet beside my cot, and handed it to Taust. “What hour is it?”
       “It is still in the hour of the fourth watchman. Most of your men are ready to travel, the others will be ready soon.”
       “Good. Have everyone break down the camp and be ready to march within two hours.”
       “Of course, master. Shall I have half of the group carry the bodies, same as yesterday?”
       “The bodies,” I sighed, nodding my head slowly. “The reason for my lack of sleep ...” I looked over at the man, tears starting to swell in my red-rimmed eyes. “Yes. Assign two men per fallen comrade, just as we have been doing for the last few days. I only hope we will reach the castle by sundown,” I said. “Those men deserve proper burials.”
       “Under your command, sir, I’m sure we will reach the castle in notable time.” He switched my empty goblet from his right hand to his left, saluting a second time. “With your leave, master, I will take your cup to be washed and then round up the camp for your announcements. This is the morning you wanted Quinn to show everyone what he caught, correct?”
       I nodded my head. “I’ve waited too long to inform the men as it is.” I waved my hand, ordering Taust away, and soon heard his footsteps fade into the general clamor of my division rising from their tents. I lashed out my foot, toppling my table sidelong. I quickly turned to my cot, covered my face, and wept.
  
  

  ***
  

  
       Thirty-five of the finest soldiers stood at attention before me. Their faces were somber, their shoulders slumped, and their spirits crushed. I must confess I looked and felt the same as they. Their loyalty was the only thing keeping me sane at the time. An overwhelming sense of grief had taken over my mind, driving my judgment farther and father away when I needed it the most.
       There were fifty-four of us, counting Taust and myself, when we started our patrol of the borderlands three weeks ago. Now our numbers are cut by a third, our supplies are gone, and most of our weapons have been lost, spent, or broken.
       “All of you know I bring sad news once again on this morning,” I started off in a quiet tone. I noticed a few of my men lean closer in an attempt to hear me, causing me to raise my voice as I continued. “Most of you were present at the time, fighting alongside Lord Taust, Quinn, and myself. Many who fought are not standing among you today, though.” I glanced over at the small clearing to the right of the camp, focusing my eyes on the eighteen shapes that lay side-by-side on the ground. I swallowed my feelings, trying to find a lost reservoir of strength deep within myself.
       “But I know a few of you were patrolling the lands and missed, what I hope to be, the last time any of you must watch friends being killed. I’m sure most of your questions have already been answered, but now I will try to answer all of them.” I placed my hands behind my back and started pacing in front of the men, not wanting to look at any of them. My shame and grief were too much.
       “At sunset two days ago, our company stumbled into the midst of a beamon--a beast I thought was until I laid eyes upon it.” A gasp rose from the men at the mentioning of the beast’s name. “To dispel some of the rumors I have already heard going around the camp, I will tell you this: the beamon fictionaldid stand at three times a man’s height, it was roughly shaped like a bear, and it did have the color of a fading sun, with a royal hue of purple around its muzzle and paws.”
       “But Master Simeon,” one of the men called out, “I saw the giant bear’s red coat myself. Surely this can’t be the beast you mentioned.” The man let out a nervous laugh. “I mean, I use the story of beamons to scare my children into going to bed early. They’re just old tales.”
       I stopped pacing and faced my party. “And I thought that myself,” I replied. “The red you saw was not its coloring, but blood. The beamon we fought was wounded, soaked in her own blood and close to death.”
       “But it killed so many!” a few of them yelled.
       I closed my eyes, breathing in deep and slow. “After camp had been set up, I was shown something that proves my report to be true.” I held my hand up toward Quinn, turning most of the company’s attention to him. “I think it’s time to show everyone,” I said.
       Quinn walked to the back of the camp and stood beside a tarp-covered shape. He grabbed the edge of the covering and slid it off. Underneath sat one of our supply wagons, modified into a large makeshift cage. A young beamon lay trapped inside its bars. The beast was lying on its side, its light yellow chest rising and falling with every faint snore that escaped its purple nostrils.
       A general murmur spread across the party, their terrified voices blending together to create a mass of clamoring noise.
       “Quiet!” I hissed. “The beamon was given a strong sedative when it was caught, but that was two nights ago. It could wake up at any time.”
       The men fell back into attention, most of them muttering apologetically. They stood looking at me, but were unable to resist an occasional glance back at the sleeping creature.
       “Quinn was able to trap it after we killed, what I believe to be, its mother. I judge that is why we were attacked the other day. As with any bear, a mother separated from her cub becomes berserk, attacking anything in its path. It was a cruel twist that fate placed on us, but at the same time it was nature acting as it always has.
       “There is no need to fear the young beamon as long as it stays sleeping behind those iron bars,” I said to my company. “The creatures do not breathe fire--or use any type of magic for that fact--as I’ve heard some of you saying. Although the mother occasionally raised herself up on her hind paws like a normal bear, she did not run on two legs like a man, but rather on all fours.” I waved a hand in front of my face, clearing my mind. “But everything happened so quickly that my details are limited. I don’t wish to dwell on this subject longer than what is needed, so I will continue ...”
       My soldiers stood at attention, faithfully awaiting the further bad news they knew was at hand. “Most importantly, our food has been ruined. That is why I have been leading us back toward the castle for the past few days. We will return home and report to the king, because I can think of no other alternative. The defeat of the large beamon took a heavy toll on our weapons. A lot of our swords and shields were broken, and most of our arrows spent. Therefore, no hunting is to be held until we get back to the castle, for we still have one final fight.”
       “The Wall Keeper!” a few of the men gasped in slight panic. The others followed suit quickly after.
       I sighed, nodding my head. “I’m afraid so,” I said, not knowing what else to tell them. “We’re not expected back for another two months, so I fear that all four Wall Keepers shall be in place.” I pointed behind me, through the woods in the direction we must take. “We have a hard road to take this day, and an even harder obstacle waiting for us at the eastern wall. But you are brave and fierce men,” I called out. I took a deep breath, readying myself for my next statement. It was the first time I had ever lied to one of my soldiers. “And I have no doubt that we will be successful.”
       A small cheer came from them, their hearts uplifted by my lie. If only they could see the shame I felt within my chest. I motioned for them to stand at attention, and they did so. “Just as before, two men are to be assigned for each fallen comrade,” I said. “This includes myself.”
       I turned and started to walk back toward my tent. “Finish breaking the camp down, and get ready to march. I want to reach the castle by sundown.”
  
  

  ***
  

  
       The setting sun fought to keeps its place in the western sky, causing the distant castle to appear in a pinkish haze. I stood, leaning my weight against a nearby tree, and gazed across the numerous hills that stretched out before me.
       The beautiful castle was finally within eyesight. I sighed, longing to free myself from the hiding place at the edge of the woodlands, and race for the walls of my home. But I knew better than that ... for somewhere out in those grassy plains the Wall Keeper waited.
       Taust came to stand beside me, interrupting my thoughts. “Master Simeon,” he said, “the men have laid the bodies to rest off in the distance, along with the beamon cage.” He looked into the dense forest to my left, nodding his head in the direction of the party. “We are all awaiting your orders, my lord.”
       I looked over at my second in command. “The men have done well today,” I told him with an honest smile. “Tell them to set up camp and to get some rest. Tomorrow is when the real struggle begins. We shall wait until then to finalize any plans.”
       Lord Taust saluted, turned, and disappeared into the shadows the setting sun had started to cast through the trees. I called out to him.
       “Yes, my lord?” he asked, turning back.
       “Warn the men to stay inside the woods.” I stared out across the plains, trying to focus on the distant black image I knew to be the castle. “No one is to wander into the open.”
  
  

  ***
  

  
       Sunlight came from behind me, warming the small patch of open skin on the back of my neck that my armor failed to cover. I awoke to find myself sitting on the ground, still leaning against the tree I had been standing beside last night.
       Taust came and stood behind me, speaking softly in case I was still sleeping. “The men are ready, master.”
       “Good,” I said, the word sounding like a croaking frog. I cleared my throat. “Don’t worry about breaking down camp,” I said. “We can come back for that. In fact, we could even send servants to come get our belongings later tonight,” I said with a smile. “We’re finally home.”
       “I’m afraid we have already taken down the camp, master. We were just about--”
       “What hour is it?” I asked, almost yelling. “And why was I not woken before?”
       “The hours of the watchmen are over, my lord,” he answered quickly. “The sun is just now fully above the horizon.” He stood at attention, even though I could not see him behind me, and went on in an even voice. “I ordered the men to break down camp before you rose, master. I was coming to wake you now.”
       I shook my head. “Do not worry about it, friend. I apologize.” I raised my hand, allowing him to grasp onto it and help me to my feet. “Thank you for you thoughtfulness ... I need it on a day like this.”
       He saluted. “Of course, my lord. What are your orders?”
       I turned to find the camp in neat order, just as I had been told. Taust and I walked back into the woods and joined the waiting men. We all stood close, cramped together by the surrounding trees. “We have two options,” I started, looking around the group so I could see every individual. “We can either try to send a messenger the Wall Keeper, or we can try to go aroundthrough it.” I raised my hand to keep the party silent. “I feel that trying to rush the eastern gate and kill the Wall Keeper is a poor decision. We have very few long-range weapons, and I believe many of us would not make it.”
       “Then let’s send out a messenger,” Quinn called from the middle of the group. “I volunteer to go.”
       A sharp pain shot through my soul. Quinn was one of my best and (if it’s not too unprofessional to say) favorite soldiers. Sending him out to try and reach the castle unnoticed, although safer than charging the Wall Keeper, was still a task that had little hope of success. I looked around at the other men. There was no reason for me to say no, other than favoritism, and I could not make something up and lie to them like I did the day before.
       “So be it,” I sighed. “But you need to take one other with you.”
       “I will go, master.” It was Taust’s voice.
       “No!” I said, yelling it louder than I meant. I thought of something that wouldn’t be a lie, and yet wouldn’t raise questions among my men. “I need your sound judgment here with me,” I finally answered.
       “Then I will go,” one of the other men called out.
       I agreed, taking Quinn and the other soldier away from the main group. “I want you to take a sloping course to the south. Range your path out far enough to avoid the Wall Keeper here on the east side of the castle. But don’t venture too far south either, or you’ll have the southern Wall Keeper to deal with.”
       “Yes, my lord,” they both said, almost at the same time.
       “If you, or any type of message from you, does not return within one full day, I will assume your message was never delivered, and believe you two dead.” I looked at both of them closely. “I have already lost eighteen good men, I do not want to lose two more. Please stay safe.”
       They saluted. “I’ll see you again within a day, my lord,” Quinn said. They turned to leave, soon vanishing from eyesight as they traveled southwest. I guessed they would follow that route for half a day before turning northwest, eventually coming to the southeast corner of the castle, hopefully right in between the southern and eastern Wall Keepers.
       Taust came up beside me, interrupting my thoughts for a second time that morning. “I’m sure they will be fine, master.”
       I nodded my head. “I told them we would wait one full day, Lord Taust. Go tell the others they may rest until tomorrow morning. If they hunt, no one is to use any arrows.” I looked over at my second in command. “We may need the few we have left if Quinn fails.”
  
  

  ***
  

  
       The following morning returned with no sign from Quinn. My men had been able to catch a rabbit and a squirrel by throwing their daggers, but two small rodents were not enough to feed the thirty-four of us that remained in the woods. We were on our fifth day with no food, and some of the men were already starting to show signs of weakness. I had pushed them too hard on the journey two days earlier, and fatigue was spreading through the party faster than I could have imagined. My men needed food, and if we stayed in those woods too much longer, then all hope of ever getting past the Wall Keeper would be lost forever.
       “We’re moving out! Collect your weapons and prepare for war!”
       Surprise was the common look that spread across the men’s faces. Taust came up to me. “Master, surly a message has been delivered to the castle by now. All we have--”
       I pulled Taust to the side, yelling at him through clenched teeth, trying to keep my voice down so my men could not hear. “Quinn is dead! I gave him a day--more than enough time to reach the castle--and he has not returned.” I spun Taust on his heels so he was facing the party. “Look at them,” I hissed. “These men were made to fight ... but they need nutrition to do so. If we do not move now, then we will all die right here in these woods!” I pushed him away, sending him stumbling back toward the group of soldiers. “It is my job to do what I think is best,” I called out for all to hear. “If we must die, then I would rather go down in a fight while trying to reach my home--” I looked around at the pathetic faces of my men. “--than to starve to death in these forsaken woods.” I turned away to signal the meeting over. “Get your things, men. We’re moving out right now!”
  
  

  ***
  

  
       We slowly made our way across the grassy plains, heading in a straight line toward the castle. With a group this large, we would come across the Wall Keeper no matter what path we took. I didn’t see the point of trying to curve around to the south like Quinn had done. If these men must fight, then why exhaust them with a long march beforehand?
       I brought the company to a halt when we reached halfway between the edge of the woodlands and the castle wall. A few of my soldiers came up to stand beside me. “Shall we try firing a message over the wall, my lord?”
       “Having a message reach the castle is worth sacrificing an arrow,” I said. I quickly scribbled our situation down on a piece of parchment and gave it to a soldier. He tied it to an arrow, pulled his bow back as far as it would stretch, and let the message fly.
       The arrow soared into the sky, disappeared from view for a moment as it passed under the high sun, and then fell miserably short of its target. The weight of the parchment set the arrow off balance, causing it to plummet to the ground in an odd and twisting fumble.
       I rubbed my eyes, trying to get rid of the yellow spot in my vision that had been caused by staring up toward the sun. “As I thought. Do not waste another arrow. We will just have to--”
       There was a scream of terror from the men behind us. “The Wall Keeper! It’s coming!”
       In front of us and to the right, a giant beast sprang from its hiding place among the small hills. A gold-green dragon landed before us, its large claws tearing into the earth under its weight. The beast arched its back, revealing the two shackles that were attached to the base of its wings. A large chain trailed down the dragon’s back and lay across the open grasses, fastened to a large post that could not be seen from where we stood.
       The dragon’s jaws opened, displaying hundreds of teeth large enough to penetrate a man’s torso. A high pitched, rumbling roar came from its throat, causing some of the men to drop their swords and cover their ears.
       “Loose all arrows!” I yelled as loud as I could, not sure how many of my soldiers had been deafened by the dragon’s scream. “Aim for the eyes and the soft skin under its jaws.”
       A black swarm flew over my head—twenty or so arrows hitting the dragon all at once. The beast took a step back, but only long enough to realize the arrows had done no serious damage. A single black shaft dangled from the underside of the dragon’s mouth, swaying back and forth every time the beast moved. The dragon lowered its head, starting to mix the deadly chemicals in its throat that enabled it to spit fire, and then charged.
       The creature stopped short, turned sidelong, and flashed its large tail before us. Three soldiers were caught in the whipping furry and plummeted backward into the air like rag dolls.
       I released my sword from its scabbard, holding its long blade before me. “Surround it!” I called out. “Do not let it maneuver!”
       A large ball of flame shot from the dragon’s mouth. Calling upon my magic, I was able to follow the flame with a burst of water. Both the dragon’s fire and my magic collided with a soldier at the same time. He was momentarily covered with flame from the chest up, having an eyebrow and half of his hair scorched down to the skin, but he still had his life.
       The dragon screamed again, disappointed that its flame did not cause the desired effect. It stared at me, its throat muscles convulsing to create another ball of fire.
       “Attack! All of you--now!” We rushed the beast, causing it to lash out with giant claws and flailing tail. Many men fell victim to the creature’s defenses. Soldiers lay about with armor split, swords broken, and their life spilled out on the grass.
       The remaining men pulled back, fear for their lives overpowering their will to fight.
       The dragon turned back toward me, raising its neck to collect the fiery liquid it had been creating. I held out my left hand, feeling the scratching tingle of magic. I commanded the air around me to compact into a thick layer, creating an invisible shield that surrounded half my body.
       The dragon opened it jaws as I rushed forward. The flames struck my magic, reflecting off in all directions. I pushed my blade forward with all of my strength, its tip pressing against the inside of the magic shield in front of me.
       My magic flexed back and forth as flame pressed from one side and my sword pushed from the other. “You must hold for just a moment longer!” I called to the air.
       The flames started to fade. I released the compacted air from my command and rushed forward. My sword broke through the dissipating shield and buried itself deep within the dragon’s chest. The beast’s front claws immediately went limp, but its tail lashed out in one final attack, killing six more of my soldiers.
       Refusing to let go of my sword, I was dragged to the ground as the dragon fell. I lay on the grass in between the forelegs of the dead beast, the smell and sight of death overwhelming my senses. I closed my eyes, trying to catch my breath. After a while, I planted my boots on the chest of the fallen dragon, trying to pull my sword free from its leather-like scales.
       I was eventually able to free my sword, causing a stream of blood to pour from the creature’s wound. I stuck my blade into the ground, using it as a cane to pull myself back onto my feet. The body of the large dragon lay in a curve, encircling all around me.
       A black streak soared overhead, landing far behind me. One of my soldiers ran to retrieve the item, shortly returning with an oversized bolt from a catapult-bow in one hand and a note in the other.
       “Master Simeon,” he said. “It appears to be a letter from the castle. It says to stay where we are and that a beast-mage will be down shortly to call off the dragon.”
       I couldn’t help but laugh at the irony. “So Quinn did make it?” I asked.
       “It appears so, my lord,” he answered.
       I stepped over the dragon’s neck, freeing myself from its presence. Quickly surveying the battleground, I counted thirteen fallen soldiers. “Gather around,” I called to the remaining twenty. I searched their faces, not finding the one man I was looking for. “Where is Lord Taust?” I asked, a nervous smile spreading across my face. “He must be around here somewhere.”
       “He’s beyond that hill,” one of the soldiers said. “His armor, along with his chest, has been split open.” He waited a moment. “I’m sorry, my lord.”
       I took a deep and slow breath, sheathing my sword. After a while I spoke, my words only coming out as a whisper. “Let’s go home.”
  
  

  ***
  

  
       The king, accompanied by a beast-mage and Quinn, waited for us inside the eastern gate. I fell to one knee before the king, awaiting his condemnation for failure.
       “Simeon,” he said slowly, “Quinn has explained what has taken place, so please do not fear me. You have served me well in the past, and I’m sure you did everything you could to preserve your men.” He placed a hand on my arm. “Stand up, my friend. I expect a full report from you in the morning, but for now ...” He looked at the blood-soaked soldiers around me. “... it looks like your boys need some strong ale and a hot meal. I’ve already sent out messages to the local barkeeps to be expecting them.”
       A cheer came from the soldiers. They thanked the king before dispersing to the nearest pub. The king looked at me. “That goes for you as well, Simeon,” he said, turning to leave. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
       I tossed my arm around Quinn’s shoulders. “I thought you were dead,” I told him as we walked toward the tavern with the rest of the men. “Where’s the other soldier I sent with you?”
       “He already went home to be with his family,” Quinn answered. “But as far as being dead ... we came close enough. We had to hide in the grass overnight because the Wall Keeper was in our way. Around noon today, the beast had spotted us, but a wayward arrow stole its attention. It charged off away from the castle, leaving the two of us to run the message to the king.”
       I laughed. “We were trying to reach a note to the castle walls,” I told him. “But our tiny hunting bows weren’t made for such things.” I shook my head. “And to think I almost told the men not to shoot that arrow.”
       I opened the door to the pub. “I think you deserve a free drink, my friend.”
  
  

  ***
  

  
       The king set my report down on the table. “What a tragedy,” he said, more to himself than to me. “You did the right thing, Simeon.”
       “Thank you, my lord.”
       “But I’m troubled by something,” the king said. “Such a small number of you were able to get past our defenses.” He looked over at me. “What if you had been an enemy?”
       “The Wall Keeper made enough noise to alert the guards within the castle walls, did it not?”
       “That is true,” the king agreed. “We would have had that wall swarming with soldiers by the time an enemy showed up.” He nodded, thinking. “So I suppose we need to capture another dragon,” he finally said. “It’s too dangerous to leave the east wall open for attack.”
       “I agree, my lord, but if I may make a suggestion--” I reached into my vest pocket, pulling out the key to the beamon cage. “I think I know one animal that would serve us better than any dragon. If the injured mother could kill so many of our soldiers, just think what a healthy male could do to our enemies.”
       The king smiled. “You have done well, Simeon.” He stood before me, clasping my hand. “I’ll give you a few weeks to recover, but then I want you back out in the lands.”
       A sense of importance swelled up in my soul. “Of course, your majesty. Patrolling the borders, after all, is my job.” I smiled back at the king. “I would be lost if I knew there were no more adventures awaiting me.”
  
  

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