Agenda

Agenda

Two men, like magnets.
North meeting north
or south meeting south.
They can't come together to be united
even though they force and fight
and struggle to
tell themselves it's natural.
The flow of life can never pass
Between them, though they try to insist
that the world can function while they ignore
the fact that nothing really gets done.
The god who justifies them is
some foolish parody of a carpenter. It attempts to put two
homoplugs together, male to male, female to female,
in an effort to give current to tool now useless and neglected.
Just as nothing is created from such stupidity, nothing
will be born from their ideas and passions, save the decay
of an unreplinished society and the memory
of a hazy, fleeting dream that rationalized and described
a fruitless ideology.
Oh...yes...how they long to connect two puzzle pieces that
where most certainly not made for each other.
They fight and force them to make them fit, and not only does the picture
of morality become distorted, but their own members are torn
and abused or left unused.
Like celebic, hermit monks, they'll die out because give give nothing to life and they took nothing from life except the arrogant assumption that they are their own carpenters.
Just as the insistance in the deeds of their desires
does not bleed the blood of a birth,
their lust does not concieve life with happiness,
only the bitterness of lust
and life ceasing. They leave a
womb baren to pursue their own
gratification, so their ability to give birth to happiness, though they are happy now,
will never be concieved.

Chapter 7: De-Touring

The Valiants had all fallen asleep and the night finally draped itself over the day. The cave was now full of torch lights. Salte lit his two spear heads and soldiers around marveled at the phenomenon. Salte walked over to the soldiers who were reluctantly getting their things in order.
"This whole ordeal is no good." one soldier stated.
"Why are we doing this? I just want to go home," another stated. Salte interupted the murmuring.
"We are not going to have any problem following this mission through are we?" he said looking at each one in the light of the torches and his spear.
Osis stared and sighed heavily. Salte looked at him. Then he looked at all the soldiers who looked tired of everything. They all looked at him.
"Where exactly does your loyalty lie?" Salte asked them, "For Surel? For yourselves?"
They looked on.
"What exactly do you fight for? You caste off any kind of honor or valour so that you can live? What kind of life is that?" he said, "Such cowardice reduses men to tools to be used by others, if not by Surel, then by people like this man." Salte pointed to Osis, "And men like Trotes. Is that the kind of life you want to live? Have you been so conditioned by Surel as to only fight when there is profit? Do you think he can bring you profit? Definately not the kind you want. Not for good anyway. If you don't like Surel or Trotes, then fight so that this town can be rid of these miscreants. Fight so that Coast doesn't over shadow the Northlands with fear and oppression. That is what Coast does does it not? What is this ambition that Surel has infected you with, except a tool for his facade of strength." Salte walked back and forth as he spoke. "It is not real. Those ends can be undone; the means will always be remembered. Did you create glory for yourselves by saving or by conquering? Do you like living a life created by a king who couldn't care less if you live or die? Trotes will live to take us to Love and you will be loyal to your rightful king and family for this time at least, and you will fight for this town harrassed by these robbers. Why not save a town and a life other than your own for once. And then you can live your pathetic lives to be used by Surel or him (he pointed to Osis again) as you wish."
The men looked on at Salte. They had been hardened to anything that Surel thought might cause rebellion in his army. Surel had trained them to be brutal, but most of all, selfishly ambitious and radically patriotic toward Calton's military campagns so to increase the brutality of their warfare. But they could not help but feel somewhat ashamed at the words of the Outcaste. Though, they were mostly just glad when he finished. Salte walked up to the carrage and the Valiants walked behind him now. He and Simon helped them in the carrage and covered them with cloth that kept cargo from the weather.
"Get yourselves ready!" Salte told them. The soldiers reluctantly got into their positions and twenty or so slipped beneath the hay or cloth of the other three wagons and everyone was ready to go. Salt and Simon each climbed onto their horses and other horses where tied behind the wagons with a man or two outside the wagons to calm them should they get uneasy. Osis took the front wagon and wipped the reigns to get the horse to go. The other wagons followed, and they were off to the first town. Simon rode behind the first wagon and Salte rode infront of the first wagon giving plenty of light for Osis to see the road. Naturally, everyone was nervous about what might happen that night. They did not know when they would be attacked, Trotes never told them. Trotes did not know. Simon looked around sensing every little thing that happened around them. Before long they were traveling through woods again that rose beside them on the left and fell below them on the right. The stars could be seen completely, and the moons were both above next to each other in the sky. Delos rode up beside Simon, but said nothing. Through out the night, only soft clip-claps of horses feet could be heard. Everything was still except for the occasional breeze that rustled the green-leaved, brown-barked trees. Tension hung in the air, however, no matter how the wind blew. The silent potential danger was hidden from eveyone save Simon, who calmly waited for the attack, if one was to happen. But nothing stopped the Valiants from falling to sleep in their place in the first wagon. They were so tired because they had not gotten much sleep since they left the village those few days ago. If not for Salte and Simon, they would have dispaired at their situation, but they felt safe with those two with them. Salte looked around and forward with a slight force barrier around him and the front wagon.
As they continued on Salte's mind began wondering to his tribe's decision concerning their talents. How they had let all their knowlege fade leaving him with no way to fight except with his spear. He only had the ability to protect. The Soul Knights had kept as much of their warfar as possible, as did the Shadow Wisps. He wished he knew how to cultivate his power. He was sure the time would come when he wished he could use such knowlege.
"No sense mulling over that," Salte thought to himself, "I just need to do the best with what I've got like the Elder told me." Then his thoughts drifted to the last experience he had with his brothers sisters and mother and father, who were all so much older than he was. He had only spent twenty years of his life with them. His situation was very similar to Sara's, whom he was missing very much by now. One of his brothers had a wife but they could not have children, and so he was left with his two sons. Their abilities could not fix everything.
Simon thought about similar matters as they traveled along all night. Though he thought mostly about Love and the day they spent together just before they left. He wanted more days like that, but these soldiers where keeping things held up. He wondered if his mother and father were doing well and how Claude was doing. He did not give much thought to Hirst, though, Salte still thought about what they must do about that. Salte wondered if and when they would find him. And could they stop him.
Nothing happened and the night was peacefull around. The soldiers were raked with nervousness though. They stopped once to eat and after the brief meal they continued on. The time for day came, and as the sun just barely began to light the day, they reached the town. Osis led the way as people in the town who were up to their activities looked on at the arriving caravan. They traveled through the town, which had houses built all around and some built up along the side of the mountain above and below them. The main road cut through the town with one road going down to the river. Homes were made of the logs of the forest around and looked very sturdy. They could see layers of farm plots that must have taken years to make carved creating diferent levels on the mountain side. The town was big land wise; they traveled quite a while, but houses simply dotted the akward farm community on the mountain side. Simon wanted to know what they were farming, but they had already harvested their crops. They traveled until they came to what looked like a clearing with a stable carved into the mountain side covered with shrubs that grew out of the rock. They pulled in and stopped their wagons and pulled them into the stable so the men could unload. Simon and Salte recieved disgusted looks by some towns folk and scared looks from others. Then Salte turned to see Trotes apporoaching them. He walked up to Salte.
"I see you actually made it," he said to Salte, "Did Osis try to create trouble?"
"Maybe," Salte replied, "Were's Price?" Trotes turned and walked to the stable where Osis seemed suprised to see him.
"He is such a jerk," Simon said to Salte.
"The men don't leave the stable," Trotes said to him, "If you need supplies then send a couple of men. And set a couple out to keep guard. No one will come near the stable, so no one will find us out." Osis looked at Trotes who could see he was not liking the situation. "Do you have a problem?"
"You're a fool," Osis said to him. Trotes laughed.
"A succesful one, though," Trotes said walking away. Simon and Salte sat on their horses being avoided by every person who walked by. "Your friend is on an errand for me," Trotes said to them as he walked by, "I'm on my way to join him. Expect the attack tonight or the next. It's a nights journey to each town." Trotes then sped on out of town as fast as he could.
"I wonder what he has Price doing," Simon said. Salte adjusted him self on his saddle and petted his horse.
"Most likely snooping," Salte said, "That's what I'd be doing with him." They looked at the stable where two soldiers now stood guard while two went to get supplies. They rode their horses into the stable to the Royal family, who sat in their wagon saying nothing with all of the soldiers around.
"Anything?" Faith asked them.
"We must be careful tonight and the next," Salte told them, "But don't worry, no harm will come to you."
"What makes you so sure of that?" Osis said snickering and walking up to them, "How will you protect them if over a hundred thieves bent on obtaining a silver ore sneak out of the woods and slit each person's throat without the knowlege of another." Simon got up.
"Same way I took care of Trotes and five or six of your buddies," Simon told him.
The other soldiers thought about that reply. Osis walked away smirking and giving Salte a glance out of the corner of his eye.
"What can one do?" Simon said walking next Salte, "What can one do against such reckless stupidity?"
"The odds do seem a little stacked," Salte said, "I hope Trotes has truly got this all planned out." "I'm not worried," Simon replied.
"True we'll be fine," Salte said, "But, does Trotes want it that way."
"To my way of thinking, it doesn't matter what he wants," Simon said, "He just better keep his word and this better go off smoothly."
"True," Salte replied, "True."
"After Love is safe," Simon continued, "He may get what he deserves."
"We have to make sure Love is safe," Salte replied, "If he keeps his word, we'll do nothing." Simon could not keep his eyes open and soon he was giving into sleep. Salte nodded and agreed.
They sat in the first wagon and fell asleep. Faith stayed near to make sure none of the soldiers disturbed the two protectors while they slept. They slumbered peacefully in the trying circumstances. They were too strong to let their concern get the better of them and make them over anxious. Faith woke them to give them some food, and they went back to sleep. The day passed on and night came. They were ready to move, and this time, everyone was very alert. After a quick, meal they started up. This night, however, was suffocated in mist. The men could barely see anything even with their tourches lit. They moved very slowly on the road because they were afraid of dropping off of the edge. The valley folk had a center median rail or wall that allowed travelers in the mist to keep to the road, but the travel was still very slow. The wagons hung on to the median and creaked along. They could only creep in this situation, and the men became frustrated and irritated and began to complain to themselves. Osis was vocal, however.
"This is crazy," he said outloud, "We'll fall down the mountain before we even get to die by the thieves. That Trotes has gone off the cliffhead this time." Simon stayed alert for the potential invasion. Salte kept his spears lit as bright as he could, and men in the group still wondered at Salte and his spear and thought about how useful that must be. They taveled along quietly, and
as they did Simon realized that someone was in the woods, many someones. He rode up to Salte.
"We are being watched," he told him, "Or as watched as we can be tonight."
"Tonight?" Salte replied, "How?"
"I'm sure they can hear us," Simon said, "They're not moving though."
"Yea, I guess they couldn't," Salte replied, "I don't think." Osis heard their mumbling.
"What are you two talking about up there?" he called to them. Simon rode back to him.
"Unless you want to give away exactly where you are I suggest you keep it down," Simon told him quietly.
"What?" Osis said, "How can you move so quickly in this mess?"
"Just keep it down," Simon said riding back to Salte.
"What does he mean give away exactly where we are?" Osis said to himself, "No one's going to attack in a night like this."
"I'll take care of them," Simon told Salte. Salte thought for a second.
"That's fine," Salte told him, "Make it as silent as possible." Simon dismounted his horse, moved out of the caravan's way and silently walked into the woods to their left where some of the watchers where hiding. He slowly walked up to one. Simon could not help but make some noise as he approaced. The man thought it was one of his own men.
"What are you doing," the man Simon approached wispered, "We're supposed to wait here."
Simon said nothing but dispatched the man with his sword, which was so sharp the man did not know Simon had done anything. The robber only felt something wet run down his neck as he slowly lost consciousness.
"What's going on?" another man wispered. Simon carefully took him out too. He moved on to other men. Those who had not been taken out were beginning to get nervous with every "Who is it?" that went unanswered. Fear began to fall on each one as they waited for day light. They were sent to spy out the caravan so that they could attack. Many merchants, families and other travelers were being terrorized by these thieves, who possed as ghosts, harcus to be exact, to keep travelers under paralyzing fear. They would dress in black and attack with piercing screams. Any person who survived was mad after encounters with this group. Before people had discovered the attacks were thieves, many believed this road was haunted. Travel through this road was difficult and hard because of these gangs. However, the Soul Knight took care of each man either hidden in a bunker, in a tree, or just behind a tree. Each one was taken out as quietly as Simon possibly could. He had the patience of a farmer and his sense of duty and his knowlege of these men kept him from hesitating. As far as Simon was concerned, they had forfited their rights to life and deserved to die like thieves. The only noises made as Simon continued sounded as if the ones killed were simply adjusting their own position in the leaves. Silently and suddenly the watchers fell one by one. Simon was left behind by the caravan as he did this, but the fog masked him completely, as he continued his work. As Simon finished with ones on one side of the road he moved quietly to the other. On the last one person, he decided to get some information. He grabbed him by the throat and the man gaged.
"Who are you?" Simon asked.
"Who..are..you?" the man gaged back.
"If you don't want to die then answer my question?" Simon replied. For a twenty-one year old, Simon was very deliberate and ready to do what the situation would require.
"You'll never get out," he replied, "There are fifty of us."
"There were fifty of you," Simon told him, "You're the last one. If you want to stay alive, tell me what you are doing here."
Simon felt a struggle and then he grabbed the man's hand before the man could kill himself with a daggar.
"It's not going to be that easy," Simon said to him.
"I'm not telling you anything," The man said shocked at the whole situation.
"Then I'm taking you with me," Simon told him. Simon picked him up, and the man found himself struggling against someone much stronger than he was.
He wondered if Trotes really knew what he was doing. "He couldn't possibly have been counting on us," Simon thought to himself, "He must have been expecting a battle or a delay. Then again maybe this is a quickly formulated plan."
Simon decided not to mull over it, and he found his horse and instead of riding it, he guided it and his prisoner in the dark. He gently assured his horse, since it was a little edgy because of the night, and he kept a firm hold on his prisoner. This little side track took Simon a good bit of time, and he was now well behind the Caravan. He walked steadliy and speedily making sure his prisoner did not do anything or even feel he could do anything. He was hoping he could reach the town before day light to avoid any problems with townsfolk. Soon he noticed the road was going furthur down into the valley. The fog deepened, if that was possible, and he found himself in the midst of the caravan that left him. They had stopped. Simon was soaked in the dense fog and he felt like he was breathing in water almost. He walked quietly and quickly up to Salte. The men around called to Simon asking who he was, but he did not answer.
"Simon, is that you?" Salte asked.
"Yes," Simon answered, "Why are we stopped?"
"Because we can't see anything," Salte said, "Not even my light helps. And we're all breathing water."
"I can't see either," Simon replied smiling. Of course, Salte couldn't see him smile.
"Yes, but not all of us are as intune with the world around as you," Salte replied. Simon chuckled.
"What of the men watching us?" Salte said in a lower voice.
"They were all thieves," Simon replied, "They all bore weapons and were definately waiting, but I think the fog held them back or something else."
"They could have found us if they really wanted to attack," Salte said, "They were waiting for something else, or doing something else."
"You think they were just checking us out?" Simon asked.
"Not sure," Salte replied, "But I'm sure they'll be missed. We need to be extra careful. Not that you didn't already know that."
"Well," Simon said, "We could know if the guy I captured would say something."
"You captured one?" Salte said interested and somewhat suprised.
"Yea," Simon replied, "But we'll wait to try to get any information out of him."
"Sounds good," Salte said. Simon walked to the first wagon and obtained some rope and tied the man's hands with it. Osis heard it.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"Nothing," Simon told him, "Go back to sleep." Simon tied the prisoner to the wagon and walked back to Salte.
"I feel like I'm going to drown in this fog," Simon said.
They were a little ways away from the group.
Osis tried to listen to the converstation that carried in the fog, but he could not make out what they were saying. He wanted to know what they were talking about and why it was so secretive. Finally, their converstation was all he could bare.
"What are you talking about up there?" he said to them, "It better not be anything funny."
"Trust me," Salte called back, "We're not in funny moods right now, thanks to you and your wonderful captain."
"He's not our captain," Osis replied. Then he muttered to himself, "I don't even know why Surel lets him stay in the military." The Valiants continued to sleep inside their place in the wagon. The group waited and waited for sunlight. Time seemed to stand still in the quiet of the night. The only thing heard was the sound of water running rapidly at the bottom of the valley. They could do nothing until the fog lifted for them to see.
"I guess this puts a cramp in the plans," Simon said.
"I wouldn't think so," Salte said, "Traveling at night was only to give the story of this caravan more credibility." Simon nodded, "Though, now I can see why it would...so-to-speak."
"Yep," Salte added, "Only to protect silver would a caravan try to travel in this mess."
"I just want this to go smoothly," Simon said.
"Right now we'll just have to wait," Salte replied. And they did just that untill the light barely peaked into the valley, and the fog slowly started to thin. Eventually they could move. Simon walked over and lifted the man he caught onto the wagon with Osis.
"What's this?" Osis said in suprise.
"What's it look like?" Simon responed.
"Where did you find him?" Osis asked.
"Where do you think?" Simon replied thoroughly irritated, "We're getting information from him when we reach town."
"You are not in charge of this group, Reject. I say who we need to take, and I'm not going to carry him. Take him off," Osis said. That was the last straw for Simon. Simon reached up and yanked Osis from the wagon, threw him to the ground, drew his sword and stood over him with eyes as black as death.
"If I have to hear your voice again you better make it good because it'll be the last thing you say," Simon said, "You're worthless. You benefit nothing and I'm sick of listening to you." Osis was not that much older than Simon, maybe about six or so years, so you could say Osis gave into peer pressure. When Simon left, Osis climbed silently back on the wagon. Not everyone could see what had happened because the fog had not completely let up, but they gathered a good general idea. The girls saw everything and had watched wondering if any more violence was going to ensue. Faith drew them back in, and they waited to start. Delos had stayed with the first wagon and saw the whole thing. He shuddered at the though of what Simon could do.
"Alright," Salte called, "Let's go."
The travel was much easier because everyone could at least see the road. They moved along at a medium pace down furthur into the valley. The sound of the river below became louder and louder, though they could not see it for the trees and rocks. They came to a bridge that was over a little pool were much of the fog had settled. The water ran out of the pool and disappeared into the rocks, no doubt emptying into the massive river. They crossed the bridge and continued on the road to the city. The road led into a cliff edge with a way cut into it leading into town, which rested higher up on the mountain side.
"Stay on your toes," Delos said to the soldiers as they all crept on.
They entered the road and walked up for several hours until they finally came to the town as the sun was just coming over the mountainside.
"What is this town's name?" Simon asked. Osis rode by and slipped a quick glare to his side at Simon.
"Welcome to Rushor," a soldier said to Simon.
This town was quite a bit more compact than the first town, though just as large and it had many more wood houses and places cut into the mountain. The town had three large, populated levels with a river running through to a crystal clear pool on each level. The top level was stone houses cut into the mountains, while the middle level was very large flat area that had been cut into the mountain side with stone houses and wood houses and shops all over. The bottom level had more farms cut into the mountain side and they could see them all the way to the river, which was a mile away. They were on the middle level. People on the outer part of the town had small gardens and kept animals, but inside was full of weapon and armor shops as well as storage places for food. People were not socializing but were occupied testing out swords, spears and axes seeing which ones would serve them the best. Rushor was a warrior village, as was the town that was their destination. The first town the they had come to was where much of the food of the valley came from. This town was somewhat crowded but not so much that the caravan could not slip through without any trouble. Simon looked at the buildings carved into the mountain side and smiled with a scoff. They were not as good as his ancestors.
"It's the largest town I've ever seen," Salte said.
"It's the only town I've ever seen outside of our village," Simon replied. His eyes turned black as he looked around at the sword fighters and the men testing their strength and skill. He smiled and shook his head. Salte looked at the buildings that were built of hewn stone on the mountain side. Charity was constantly peeking out of the wagon from underneath the cloth cover, and Faith would bring her back in and scold her.
They rode on till they reached the stable set aside for them. The soldiers that were couped up in their places closed the doors and they all unloaded to stretch their legs.
"I hate wagons," one soldier complained.
"It's my turn to walk now," another one said.
"No, you did last time. I'm walking to the last town."
"You just saw me get out, crazy."
Simon and Salte unloaded the prisoner who was tied up and sat him in a corner.
"We'll get the stuff from him in a moment," Salte said.
The Valiants unloaded and walked around a little, Faith was busy getting some vegitibles ready to eat. Simon and Salte layed up in the hay and fell asleep. They were tired and wanted to be at their best if and when the group was attacked. But as they slept Osis and several of the other men held some sort of council. Faith eyed them, wondering if she should wake Salte and Simon. Delos walked over to Faith.
"Excuse me your majesty," Delos said. Faith gave him her attention.
"You can be sure they're up to no good," he said. She turned to wake Salte and Simon while looking for Charity.
Meanwhile, Charity was petting a horse while she waited for her mother to finish getting food ready. She was quick. She went down the line of the tied up horses trying to pet each one. She carried on gleefully straying until she was around Osis and the other men who took council with one another. When Faith looked over, she dropped her untinsils and gasped. Simon and Salte both started, but they could not do anything. Osis had Charity with a knife to her throat.
"Now we have your attention don't we?" Osis said to them.
"What are you doing?" Simon said to him.
"That's none of your buisness," Osis said, "All you have to do is cooperate so she doesn't get hurt." Salte and Simon were both up with weapons drawn, but nothing could be done. Salte thought about blinding them, but he did not want to risk blinding the Valiants by flooding his spear with a lot of light.
"How quick do you think you are, black eyes," Osis said to Simon, "Can your harcery move you fast enough to save her before I slit her throat?"
"Surel wouldn't like that," Salte said.
"Who says we have to go back to that lunatic," Osis replied, "I'd rather live as a renagade than be killed in this foolish quest, and if we have to live as traitors, we will." Delos watched unable to do anything. He had tried to move closer, but one of the men stopped him. Others in the group rallied behind Osis.
"Trotes is insane," Osis said, "He's driven mad by bitterness and dispair, there's no way we're going to follow the orders of a mad man." Simon and Salte looked on in anger and fear. Osis beckoned for Faith and Hope to make their way over to them. They did so slowly and reluctantly, of course. Osis laughed, "Trotes can have his revenge, but not with us. Don't try to follow us. If we even get a hint of being followed or a scent, we'll kill them and just live the rest of our lives as robbers and murders. We've got a nice story waiting for Surel about our deranged captian; he'll arrest Trotes, and you can rest assured he'll get what's coming to him." The soldiers around threw the Valiants onto a wagon and tied them to it with some rope they had. They got their horses together and slipped out one by one. "We'll take him too," Osis said pointing to the prisoner. The soldier went and grabbed the prisoner and sat him on a wagon.
"Remember," Osis said, "Don't follow us or these girls will not come out of this alive."
"Do we have your word?" Simon called.
"Of course," Osis replied flippantly as he rode off away from town. The soldiers had forced Delos to ride with them. Delos looked back with fear and regret at Simon and Salte. He did not know what to do.
Simon watched in dispair as the men rode out of town knocking villagers out of the way as they went. He took a knee and Salte put a hand on Simon's shoulder.
"What do we do now?" Simon asked.

An End

I wrote this poem mainly for ironic entertainment's sake, but the more I read it, the more I realized it contained one of my deeper themes.

An End

A pencil stub is lying on a supportive desk.
This writer, once full of stories and ideas,
is stubby and ground away to a few final words.
It cannot draw breath. It lies
motionless, prepared for its last words.
So I pick up the depleted thinker
and try to commit its thoughts to the listening paper
that will retell the sentence of the pencil.
I begin directing its markings in the proper pattern, and
it slips. So I adjust my fingers to keep controll.
Letter by letter, more lead, its life, is left on the paper,
held firm by the desk.
The lead slowly retreats into the wood while the

pencile writes, as if afraid of this last thought. I sharpen
the pencil, careful not to grind away too much,
or it may not finish.
It is sharpened and still has life, and it continues…unwavering.
Finally…the pencil finishes. I set the pencil down to sleep on the restful desk,
And I lift the paper to see what the dead pencil wanted so badly to say…

“The End”

Chapter 7: De-touring

The next morning came too early for everyone, even though the sky was just turning slightly blue when soldiers woke Salte and the rest. Price was awake already because he took last watch, and he helped everyone get ready. The Outcastes and the Valiants packed what few things they had and Price lifted Hope and Charity onto their horses. Then he waited for Simon to mount before he did. Simon watched Salte mount his beautiful black horse.
"Pretty horse," Simon said to Salte looking at the stout mare. The horse had white spots on its mane and a white chest.
Salte patted the horse gently.
"Yes, she is," Salte said.
"What did you find out about this mission?" Price asked.
"Nothing," Salte said, "We'll find that out soon enough. I asked about other things."
"What about?" Simon asked.
"Our new leader is a sad fellow filled with hatred," Salte replied.
"You walked up there to find that out?" Price said.
"I just chatted as best I could with him," Salte replied, "I didn't find out anything that we didn't know already."
"Why would you even want to chat with him?" Price asked rhetorically.
The line began to move when everyone was ready and they began their slow decent down into the valley. The trail sloped ever so slightly, if at all, but it was wide enough for two carts to travel comfortably. The mist of the night still lingered, but would soon dispel with the light of the sun very slowly intruding into the valley. They could still see stars, many of which were in clusters here and there in their night sky with other stars dotting the space inbetween. Hope and Charity looked up and tried imagine what the clusters looked like. Simon and Price rode silently next to them wondering what they would see on this little de-tour, what was to become of this situation, what Claude could be doing, and how Love was doing, of course. Salte talked with Faith about different things and how they wanted this to work out well, and they continued on. The travel was actually some what pleasant. The trees passed slowly and the mountain sides grew taller as they traveled down. They traveled on attempting to enjoy the pleasantries as best as they could in the current situation. But deep down the hours of travel wore on their care.
Eventually, the trees began to clear, and they could see the waterfall better, though still in the distance. They saw all the way down to the misty bottom. The fall was at the end of the valley and that is where the trail would curve behind the fall around to the other side of the valley. Now they could see that the fall was very big. The approach was ever so slow, but the closer they got, the more they had to look up into the sky to see the top. Simon looked behind him and down into the vally and saw huts far into the distance were the trail ended, but they were not even close to the water fall yet, and so, in turn, where not even close to their first destination. The pool that the waterfall fell into was a large rocky pool that lead by way of a smaller waterfall to another pool were the river began to run. Salte, Simon and Price still could not make out just how big a river it was, but it was becoming evident that none of them could exactly hop across it.
The Outcastes now had nothing to do except travel and wait for Trotes to brief them on what they were going to do, and they hoped they had made a wise choice, mainly because they didn't want to accept the fact that they had been outsmarted with fear. The soldiers all silently followed Trotes now hoping he knew what he was doing. Salte remembered that this was for revenge and hoped that "revenge" wasn't going to be a harming factor for their task of helping the Valiants.
The day waned on and the sun crept over the mountain sides. Hope looked around restlessly somewhat discouraged at the fact that they would spend another day riding. Her buttocks and her legs hurt.
"Are we going to take a break?" Hope asked. Simon sighed knowing that a break would waste precious time.
"I don't know," Simon replied, "We have to try to move as much as we can."
"Why?" She asked somewhat annoyed. Faith turned back to look at Hope.
"This is not a time to be asking for anything," she said, "be still." Hope sat back and the group moved on along the mountain road.
Up front the semi-officers questioned Trotes on the specifics of the mission, hoping maybe to get him to call it off so they could go back or, if nothing else, gain some comfort in the possiblity that their leader had not gone completely insane.
"So what makes you think you can succeed where so many others have failed?" one asked. Trotes sighed rather annoyed.
"You don't have any other choice but to trust me," Trotes replied, "So why bother asking me?"
"Because we don't want to die for some vandetta of yours," the soldier replied, "We know you have something pushing you. We don't know what." The soldier was silent for a moment, and then spoke again.
"Wasn't it you who tried to chide Crusas on pushing the men too hard?" the soldier said.
"Crusas and everyone else who failed before me were arrogant morons," Trotes replied spitefully toward the soldier. "I know something they don't," He continued looking straight forward, "I always know something they don't. I make sure of it." Trotes shot a slight fear into the soldiers around him, like the fear one has when they go into a dark place with little or no light, or the fear of knowing one could be assailed at any time. Sometimes Trotes meticulously cultivated this fear. They never knew exactly what Trotes knew or thought at any given time.
"So how do you plan to take care of this business?" another one asked.
"You're cowardice will be reported after our success, you can be assured of that," Trotes said. That did not reassure them.
"There's no telling how many members are in this gang, but it's estimated to be quite a bit, over a hundred," another man said.
"I know all of that," Trotes replied irritated to his capacity, "If my word that I know what I'm doing is not enough, then maybe a nice honest threat would inspire your cooperation. Surel will not scold me for that and you will not live to see it if he did." The soldiers stopped questioning him and decided to relax, though still quite annoyed, untill he debriefed them. All the soldiers were nervous that they were going on this mission with so few men, but they could not dessert because Trotes was the commanding officer and would brand them all, and the penalty would be very severe. The punishment for mutiny, no matter who was the leading officer, was even worse. Trotes left the group in front and made his way to the back and motioned for Salte to join him in the front. Salte and Trotes rode a good ways ahead of the group. Salte took a good look at the brazen face of Trotes. It looked as if it had seen more in just its life time than all 3000 years of his people's exile. Trotes's almost solid face had scars across the left cheek and one from his temple to the middle of his jaw. He had black hair and brown eyes and tan dark skin, like almost all Northlanders. His nose was pointed and straight but not too narrow and not a defining charateristic. His face was well balanced so that he would blend in a crowd nicely. Considered somwhat handsome, if he wasn't so cold.
"Did you need something," Salte asked. Trotes smiled.
"What can you do?" Trotes asked. Salte looked forward.
"What do you mean?" Salte asked. Trotes scoffed.
"How come a man whose back was broken is riding perfectly healthy in my group?" Trotes asked.
"I suppose a lot of your men are curious about that one," Salte replied.
"Is it really so personal?" Trotes asked.
"Is it?" Salte replied.
"What do you want to know?" Trotes asked.
"I want to know why this little mission is so important. And is it going to be a problem for the Valiants." Salte stated.
"Because innocent villagers are suffering," Trotes replied smiling. Salte nodded.
"Hmmm. Delos's back healed itself," Salte replied. Trotes laughed out loud and shook his head.
"The leader of this gang is a man I hate very much," Trotes said, "I've known about him for some time, but I never told anyone that I knew, and he doesn't know that I know." They were quite a ways in front so that the men behind could not hear. Salte nodded that he understood.
"You knew and let many innocent people die?" Salte said.
"No one is innocent," Trotes replied, "Have you or any one of your clan tried to travel through the Northlands? Your fame is widespread. And even if it isn't, your odd manners and...lookes do not assure you any good treatement, what with the legends and all." Salte could not disagree with this being as how both he and the Elder had traveled some in the Northlands. He changed the subject.
So you're just going to cut off the head?" Salte replied.
"It's not going to be quite so simple, but, yes," Trotes said, "And I know I can use the normal looking one of your group. The one who can...disappear."
"And Simon?" Salte asked.
"I've never seen a man move like he did or fend of my attack as easily as he did," Trotes replied, "Some added fighting prowess is always welcome."
"And me?" Salte said.
"That's what I want to figure out," Trotes said, "If you can contribute to making this a success, everything will happen just the way you planned it, sort of. Once the family is delivered to Surel he'll banish them and then they can just go back to wherever you had them."
"And if Surel doesn't let us go?" Salte asked.
"Can he really keep you?" Trotes replied.
"If he's anything like you I suppose so," Salte replied. Trotes laughed.
"That's a quick give up," Trotes said.
"You put us in quite the bind," Salte said.
"What happens after this is your responsibility and problem," Trotes said, "I'll keep my word for my own sake. But if you have anything useful, by all means let me know."
"Nothing," Salte replied, "Nothing nessecary for you to know right now."
Trotes chuckled.
"Fine," he said, "Have it your way. As long as we get this job done."
"You're bent on this revenge," Salte said.
"I didn't bring you up to lecture me," Trotes replied, "I just wanted to know if I had anything else to consider."
"Then may I go?" Salte said. Trotes nodded and Salte rode to the back. Trotes fell back into line eyeing each of the soldiers as they resentfully eyed him back.
"I thought we were not allowed to talk to them," a soldier asked.
"You're not," Trotes growled harshly.
They continued travel, slowly, of course. But they came to the waterfall at last about mid day. The waterfall was a resting point. When they appoached it, Simon, Price and Salte saw they had to look straight up. It fell from an amazing height and poured an increadible amount of water. It was eight carrage lenghts wide and still pouring a constant stream without misting at the bottom. The noise was very loud. Mist covered the bottom where the water fell on the grey, black and white rocks. It completely covered the rocky bottom so that only glimpses of the bottom could be seen as the mist moved and churned. They looked up and down as the road moved quite a ways away and behind the massive fall. When they rode behind they could see the valley they were to enter, completely green, save for spots of bare rock here and there. They could not see all of it because it ran into a haze far down, even though the sun was shinning as brightly as it could that day. The three Outcastes admired the green valley walled with grey mountain sides.
"Welcome to Iron River Valley," the soldier who had gotten in trouble called back to them.
The falls were so loud that the Outcastes barely heard him. Actually, Salte didn't. When they went behind the waterfall they saw that it had been carved out. People had carved out the whole front so that the cave had no front walls; the trail just led into a slot behind the fall, a vast slot. The cave could have fit at least four hundred men in the back half. Neatly carved pillars with designs carved into them covered the inside ensuring the stability of the area behind the water. The soldiers lit tourches to better illuminate the large cave.
"We rest here until the men return with our materials," Trotes told them, "Relax, but be ready to move." Price looked to Salte.
"What materials?" he asked.
"He hasn't told me," Salte replied, "But he's indicated that he has a use for you."
"Wonderful," Price replied. Delos came up to the Royal family and the three with some food.
"Thankyou," Faith said. Delos nodded and smiled sheepishly. When Delos sat down Salte asked, "Any ideas as to what Trotes means by 'materials'?"
Delos replied, "There's no telling." Simon sat beside the girls and ate with them. Price got up and walked around looking at the surroundings.
"He's bent on this quest that's for sure," Salte remarked.
"He's bent," Delos replied, "He wasn't like this years ago."
"So" Salte asked, "What happened exactly?"
"A series of tradgeties," Delos replied, "I have to admit, if I went through what he's been through I don't know what I would have done. Probably just end it all."
"So he is sad," Salte said looking over to Trotes who was standing far to the other side looking out at the town far at the trail's end.
"Mad, sad, spiteful," Delos said, "Everyone knows to leave him alone. But he's done some amazing things."
"Like what?" Salte inquired.
"He took an entire fortress with only twenty or so men," Delos replied, "A fortress built in mountains that had given Calton many troubles." Salte nodded.
"That sounds like something," Salte remarked, "How did he do it?"
"I dont' know all the details," Delos said, "He somehow spread some kind of rumor and got the fort to all but empty itself for a battle. Once the men were gone to battle he and about twenty men found a way in and tourched everything that was wood or food. There were only a few men left to guard it and Trotes took them out. And then they set about firing the large weapons that were left inside the fort and destroyed much of it. Once destroyed, General Syras sent men who took the fort easily." Salte nodded his head.
"Sounds like a man with different mind set," Salte replied, "A dangerous mindset."
"Surel hates him," Delos said smiling, "Can't stand him hardly."
"So I've heard," Salte replied, "Funny, what's Surel's issue with Trotes."
"He just doesn't like him," Delos said, "He didn't do anything when Trotes's family was murdered or anything, in fact he let the guy off."
"So his family was murdered," Salte muttered to himself, "That is sad."
"He just kind of stopped believing in anything after that event along with others," Delos continued, "Surel keeps him around because he really gets the job done and he knows that Trotes won't betray him."
"The more I hear about Surel the more I dislike him," Salte said, "What's his deal?"
"He's a spoiled brat who never heard 'no'," Delos answered, "Which has come out of Trotes' mouth more than once. No one likes Surel, not even his sister and wife, who is King Valiant's sister."
"I couldn't imagine being hated by my wife like that," Salte replied.
"He wasn't this bad until he found he could be in power," Delos said, "But now that Surel has got what he wanted out of Calton, he wants the whole continent."
"How did he secure his power?" Salte said.
"He won an important battle that has made the people realize we have an extremely good chance to win the war," Delos replied, "Actually, I should say General Syras won it. Surel brought troops home and began to recuruit more soldiers and people have started to rally to the idea of being an empire. Also, an infamous mercenary who was thought to have dissappeared has returned and Surel paid him to take out a few nobles who kept Surel from completely securing his power. No one has proof, but everyone knows that's what happened. The timing is too perfect."
"Sad," Salte said, "The formor king sounded very respectable."
"He was," Delos agreed, "General Syras is the last leader with King Valiant's legacy."
"He's honorable?" Salte said suprised.
"Very," Delos said, "He is the Kings's best friend, and a superb general and warrior."
"Hmmmm," Salte said, "So there is one person there worth meeting after all."
"Looks like you may," Delos said. Salte got up and went to tend his new horse pet her, and Delos stayed and watched the waterfall. Simon sat with Hope and Charity and watched the water fall with them while musing over the situation. The sound of the waterfall was somewhat lessened and allowed some conversation.
"Where are we going, Simon?" Charity asked loudly over the rush of water.
"To a town I hear," Simon answered.
"Why?" she asked.
"Some people need our help," Simon answered again.
"Is anyone else going to get hurt?" she inquired furthur.
"I hope not," he replied. Charity took a bite of a piece of bread given to her by her mother and thought for a minute.
"I"m glad you're hear," she said, "I wish Love was hear." Simon smiled and watched the waterfall. After a few more moments carrages entered the slot.
"All right, everyone up!" Trotes yelled from the entrance leading to the villages, "They're here!" Soon four men each on a wagon rolled under the cave and jumped off. They immediately got clothes and clokes out of the wagons and began distributing them. They were just average clothes, and the men put them on.
"He's dressing us up like average men and merchants," Salte said watching. Trotes walked over with some black clokes.
"You two will dress like deasesed ones," he said to Simon and Salte, "So no one gets too close to you and you don't create some kind of panic or trouble." Salte and Simon took the black clokes given to them and put them on. Price walked up.
"You will get a commoner's clothes," Trotes told him, "But take care who you talk too, your dialect is far too different. You use sounds I don't even understand sometimes."
"How do you know what we're saying then?" Price asked him.
"Context," Trotes replied turning to address everyone. "We travel to the next two towns as merchants," Trotes said, "the soldiers I sent have re-opened the road ways so that merchants can travel again. They've also announced the arrival of a precious cargo to the mines, as well as an ore of silver."
"Don't you think these raiders will be aware of something?" One Soldier asked.
"Possibly," Trotes replied, "But who can pass up just the chance to have silver ore. The rumor is given only to those in charge; it will leak. The hay in the wagon that was with your clothes supposedly covers the precious cargo."
"Surel will be angry with you spreading rumors about silver, Trotes," another man said, "It will cause other caravans to be attacked if it is believed they may be carrying silver." Trotes smiled. "Then after this ordeal we better make sure everyone believes it may be a trick as well," he replied. Soon weapons and armor were concealed under clokes and the men kept their hoods on.
"You will only travel at night," Trotes continued, "That will support the claim that the cargo is important, and it will blind the raiders even more to our true appearance."
"You said 'you', Trotes," a man said, "What do you mean 'you'."
"I have to pay a visit in the main village before you arrive," Trotes replied looking over to Price, "And he's coming with me." Price breathed a heavey breath and looked at Salte. Salte nodded reluctantly and Price got a little food and followed somewhat afraid that he had to ride a horse by himself. Trotes looked around at the men he did not trust as loyal, willing or even all that able. "Osis, you're in charge," Trotes said, "Keep them together and ready when they travel at night. Twenty of them are to hide underneath the hay. Stables have already been prepared for your coming. The men may unload and sneak out while in town but if any are late kill them if you see them again. The Valiants are to be guarded at all times and let them ride on one of the carrages. Is that understood!?" The men all answered "yes" and Trotes continued, "If you fail I will kill you, Osis. You better not provoke an insurrection. That would be fatal to you more than any other." Osis turned in anger and made his way to his own things. Trotes now waited for Price.
Price reluctantly mounted a horse, which immediately began to squirm underneath him.
"Just make sure it knows you're in charge," Trotes said and he rode to the edge of the cave and waited. Price looked at the Simon and Salte and then rode the horse to Trotes.
"Hold on," Trotes told him and wipped Price's horse. Price took off and Trotes behind him. Now was just a time to wait. Simon and Salte stood looking at where Price had left with Trotes wondering what was going to happen.
Once he was sure Trotes was gone, Osis began talking with his men.
"Now that I have you together without Trotes. We can discuss our plans. He's going to get us killed," he said to his fellow officers of which there were five. The other soldiers around listened. An officer shook his head.
"How does he think we can take out over a hundred and fifty armed and fighting thieves?" another soldier asked. None of the soldiers noticed Delos walking up to listen to them.
"He can't," Osis replied, "That's why we are not going."
"What do you mean we're not going," a man said, "Didn't you just hear what Trotes said?"
"We're going to kill him," Osis said, "he can't take all of us."
"He's gone now," another man said, "we don't know what he has planned completely. Let's just finish the mission. We probably won't get a chance to kill him."
"If we see him before we go through with whatever we have to do, we'll never have to know what his plan was," Osis said.
"I thought you were his friend sort of," another soldier said.
"Hmm, only as much of a friend as he is," Osis said, "I'm not getting killed for him. Everyone is expecting something tradgic to happen sooner or later with all the risky things he does. This is our chance to get rid of him." The other soldiers reluctantly agreed. After finishing up with the details Osis looked over to Simon and Salte while they watched the water fall.
"Now we need to make sure our guests go along with the plan," Osis replied.
"Why don't we just ditch them," another soldier replied.
"That might can be arranged," Osis replied.
Overwhere the Outcastes stood Salte walked back to take a nap while Simon continued to watch the falls. Delos walked over to Simon but one of the men stopped him. Salte and Simon watched to make sure nothing was the matter.
"What are you doing here?" he said to Delos. Delos didn't answer.
"You shouldn't even be hear!?" he said startled. Osis walked up to him.
"I saw you down on the battle field," He said to Delos. Delos still did not answer. Salte walked over to the conversation.
"He's with us now," Salte said.
"How? He was dead," Osis said.
"He's fine now, that's all you need to know," Salte said. Osis frowned at the thought of Delos betraying the plan.
"You're a traitor," Osis said to Delos.
"So?" Salte replied.
"They are planning to ditch you and Simon," Delos said eyeing Osis, whom he never liked to begin with.
Osis became wrathful, "You..." Osis said as he lunged, but Salte caught him by the throat.
"Ditch us?" Salte said, "Whatever for?"
Osis struggled for breath, "Trotes is going to get us killed. There's no way we can take on over a hundred theives trained to fight." Salte looked around and looked at Osis and then threw him on the ground.
"Maybe so," Salte replied, "But you're going to continue this mission."
"We're not dying for Trotes," Osis said. Just then Simon's sword was placed on his neck just below the chin.
"Then maybe you'd like to die for nothing at all?" Simon said looking at him darkly. Simon reached down and picked Osis up lifting him in the air, "If I have to choose between Love's life and yours, can you guess who I'm going to choose?"
"I'm not too sure Trotes would mourn your death," Salte said to him. Salte turned to the group. "We continue," he said, "Get some rest. If any of you tries anything, make no mistake, we can and will kill you and finish this deal ourselves."
Simon threw Osis away from him and walked over to the Valiants who were watching the whole deal a little ways away. Salte looked at the officers who looked at him and then he walked away. Osis looked at Delos who followed Salte. The men walked over to Osis who got up still looking at the Outcastes and Delos, who was now an outcaste.
Simon was now standing a little ways off thinking and looking into the water fall. Delos walked up next to him. Simon looked at him and then back to the water fall. Delos sighed heavily.
"I know nothing I say is going to make up for anything," Delos said to him, "But know that I fully realize that I owe you my life. Thankyou for saving me." Simon looked at him for a second and then looked away. Looking at Delos just reminded him of the whole ordeal. He just wanted to get this done and get to her. And he was thankful for Delos's confession, but he was far too frustrated to acknowlege him right at that moment. Simon thought about what might happen and he still couldn't shake some of the guilt he felt for his lack of wisdom, and he felt like a cowardly fool for trusting Trotes a second time. He knew he could not find her in that country with all the winding roads that streamed through and around the mountains. After some time of watching the falls Simon spoke.
"What's your name?" Simon asked.
"Delos," he answered.
"Think nothing of it," Simon replied. Delos nodded and Simon walked to a place next to the Valiants and lay down to sleep.
The day waxed on and the waterfall became imbedded into every person's mind so that they could not forget it for the rest of their lives. Salte and Simon each got their sleep untill some of the soldiers got onto Hope and Charity for playing around, in which case Simon and Salte let them know that talking to the girls would not be good for a soldier's health. Osis scowled at the Outcastes and resented Trotes taking them along. He sat with his fellow officers and stewed about the situation untill night fall when they started to move.

We the Weeds

We the Weeds

We cover the earth, and we want to live, just like you.
You don't want us on your lawns.
So we impose upon your gardens,
Laying siege to your daylilies whose towers are topped
by a yellow blossom with steaks of red inside,
quite a treasure.

You labor to take us out of your neat, orderly garden, why?
Because we are not as beautiful as your lilies?
See my friend’s blossom?
White petals surrounding a coin of pure gold,
That’s not beauty?
Or my other friend with her many morning-sky blue petals
Lit by many yellow lights,
Like a sunrise hundreds of times
All at once.

You still fight to pull us out, why?
Because you did not plant us. I see.
You pull and tug, displacing earth
Just to destroy us, just because we did not ask your permission to grow.
You place suffocating sheets of brown pine straw or
Brown and grey wood chips.
How many trees were chopped up for those chips?

We know how we can earn your favor.
We’ll die if you do not give us the right amount of water,
Wither without the right depth in soil,
Decay at the first sign of disease.
Fall apart if one stem is cut.
We will repent of our desire to live, or not.

You deem us unworthy simply because you are not
In control of our lives.
Does God pull out every person he does not control,
Does he uproot and deprive you of nutrition and land
That was not initially your own?

Were you not ripped from a garden at one time?
In danger of hurting yourself
And the things around you?
You were weeded out just as you weed us out.
Is it in your nature to be what you hate?

Chapter 7: De-Touring

Salte and Delos came to the fork in the road and stopped.
"Which way did they go?" Salte asked.
"East more than likely," Delos replied.
"What do you mean more than likely?" Salte asked anxiously.
"These two roads are traveled much more often than the one to Oak as of late." Delos replied, "And they are packed more tightly. I don't know why you needed to know that. I see horse marks going both ways, but the ones going east look heavier like more horses have traveled that direction more recently. Plus, I'm betting Trotes is going to attempt to take care of some buisness that was assigned to us in this area. And with only fifty or so men, it's going to be an extremely dangerous mission." Salte was now very alarmed at the Valiants being thrown into danger's path.
"Why haven't we come across any of the deserters from the camp?" Salte asked.
"Because they are now criminals," Delos said, "They will be killed for abandoning their post. They are hiding most likely. East?"
Salte nodded. They headed east not thinking about food or the like, though they were both getting hungry. They were pushing hard because they felt they were catching up.
The soldiers rode twenty fewer through the forest now with mountain sides towering over their heads. The soldiers rode by two's in their black armor each one spaced a good ways from the ones in front and behind. The forest trees only went up so high before the mountains on each side took over the view. Price and Simon stared at the new mountains and the area around them. They soaked in every moment, but the two, espescially Simon, could not stop worrying about Love. He was so worried; he loved her ever since he first saw her, even though she cringed at his black eyes and avoided him for so many years. He grew angry with the country of Calton and at Surel, but mostly his anger flushed for Trotes who had broken his word after being defeated. As for Faith, she held her head up, but the worry wore on her face. Hope and Charity looked around at their surroundings wondering where they were going. But Simon began to feel even more guilty, but mostly angry that he had let this happen. He also began to feel guilty because he did not send Price to chase after Love. He didn't, and now he was forced to accompany these soldiers on the word of a liar that Love would be safe. Price sensed his friends heaviness and put his hand on Simon's shoulder.
"She'll be alright," he told him, "he may be a bad guy, but he doesn't seem like a fool. He knew this would happen. He was counting on it."
"I guess it's a good thing I couldn't take that pass because I may have never found them," Simon replied, "Then again, surely it couldn't have been that hard to catch up with Love." Faith sighed.
"Unfortunately, it would have," she answered, "After the fork there are many trails going here and there through the mountains. It's a maze. Unless you've live here getting lost is as easy as breathing. I'm afraid now, because when you defeated him is the only time I've ever hear or seen him break his word. I hope he hasn't become treacherous, his word was the last honorable thing about him."
"Mr. Simon," Charity asked. She had a solem joy in her attitude. Her black hair was frizzled over her face and she squinted because of the sunlight that now shown over head.
"Where is Love?" she asked.
"She's on her way to the capital," Simon answered.
"Do they have her?" She asked. Simon nodded.
"She'll be okay, though," he answered smiling to her. Charity nodded.
"When will we see her again?" she asked.
"Soon I hope," Simon answered. Charity leaned over some toward Simon.
"I'm scared. Why do these men want to hurt us?" She wispered.
"Don't worry. They won't hurt you again," Simon said. Charity sat back and leaned on Hope's back.
Faith looked over to Simon and Price and smiled at them. Simon looked down.
"I"m sorry," he said.
"It's not your fault," Faith replied, "You did the best you could."
"It doesn't feel that way," Simon remarked.
"It never does," she answered tearing, "I feel Love will be alright. Don't be discouraged. Above all Simon, don't be afraid if you fail. Don't be afraid because you can fail."
"I know I could have saved her," Simon said.
"She's not gone," Faith said soothingly emphasizing the word "gone," "Yes, we're scared about what may happen, we know she'll make it." Simon nodded and sighed.
The ride from here was fairly quick paced, long and boring. Little was said by anyone since no one truly wanted to be there, includeing Trotes. They moved through the forest along the road and the scenery changed little, except for an occasional water fall here and there coming out of the mountain. The trees moved slowly and the day krept closer toward the end. The sun was still some ways in the sky, but it was visible just looking straight. About this time, the trees ended ahead and Simon, Price and the Family could see a clearing ahead, but the group stopped moving.
"Why are we stopping?" Hope asked.
"Something in the road is my guess," Price answered. The line began to move again but more slowly, and they progressed to the clearing. When they reached it it was evident why they had to slow down.
They came to a large canyon that sloped very far down very quickly. The canyon was vast. And I mean vast! Both sides were covered with green trees all the way down to a large river at the bottom that only looked like a swirving line from where the group was looking. The valley was misty and the other side looked liked a hazy green wall with bumps in it, and a water fall could be seen far, far north. It was higher up than they were, but from where they were, it looked like it was even with them. Far to the south the valley curved to the east so that they could not see the other end, but all was green in the valley. Their road down the side cut through the sloping forest along the side of the mountain gradually... slightly making its way down to the bottom. Simon and Price looked in amazment at the gigantic valley. One of the soldiers saw their attention and commented, "It's going to take us a day or two just to get to the bottom, and three days to reach the place we are traveling to. Calton is like this just about everywhere. This is one of the smaller ravines." Simon and Price looked at the soldier, who was behind them and then looked around some more.
"Do these ravines make it difficult to get around in Calton?" Simon asked the soldier behind.
"If you are not used to them," he replied, "but they do not bother us, we've been dealing with them for thousands of years."
"Is this why communication takes so long in Calton," Price asked him.
"Yes," he said, "If not for these ravines, travel between Calton and, say, Oak would take only a few weeks."
"Where are you from?" Simon asked. Faith, Hope and Charity and the soldiers around just listened to the conversation. The dialect of Simon fasinated them and they were curious about this Outcaste.
"I'm from this ravine actually," the soldier responded, "This ravine shelters three towns, one near the foot of that tall water fall, one straight below us and one built into the cave were this river enters underground."
"Must be a big cave," Simon surmised.
"It is," the soldier replied, "That's my home town and our destination."
"It's the town being raided?" Simon asked.
"No, one of the roads to it is the place raids take place," the soldier replied, "my town is the third producer of iron and has the best metal smiths in Calton."
"It's important," Simon said.
"Very important." The forest trees began to shield their view down the slopes and they could only look straight ahead or up at the mountain side to their left.
"Where are the thieves?" Simon asked. The soldier chuckled along with other soldiers who heard the question.
"No one knows," the soldier replied, "They hide in public and meet sparatically."
"Why is that funny," Simon asked.
"Because this gang has been a problem for decades," the soldier replied, "it's funny to hear someone ask 'where are they'. No one can find out who they are or where they are."
"And what makes your leader think he's so capable?" Price asked.
"I don't know," the soldier replied, "But Trotes has succeeded many times where others have failed. No one doubts his renown or cunning."
"I do," Simon replied.
"He's got you fairly contained doesn't he?" The soldier replied smirking along with several other soldiers around him. Simon had nothing to say to this. They were silent for some time on the road. Then the soldier spoke again.
"Trotes wasn't always so...harsh," the soldier said. Simon and Price turned their heads to listen to this tidbit. Faith already knew of Trotes' past.
"At one time we was one of the most honored of our soldiers, and he still is, but now in an infamous way."
"What happened?" Price asked. The soldier lowered his volume.
"His wife and daughter were murdered," the soldier said. Hope and Charity listened intently
now as well.
"Sad," Simon replied, "That sent him over the edge?"
"He's not quite that weak," the soldier replied, "The man who murdered them was a man whose life he had spared." Simon and Price nodded that they understood.
"He's carried the bitterness ever since," Price replied. The soldier shook his head.
"Well, that's not all," the solder continued...just then Trotes came riding to them and the soldier quickly stopped talking. Trotes rode back and the line stopped. Trotes rode up to the soldier. "You are not to speak with these men," Trotes growled, "Unless you want your tounge cut out." Trotes rode closer to the man and grabbed his neck. "You had also better mind what you talk about," he said. Trotes looked around at all of his men who were now staring at him and let go of the soldier's throat. "No one communicates with these Outcastes," he said loudly. Soldiers scoffed and agreed with Trotes while Trotes looked at Simon and Price menacingly. "You two had better be up to the task when it comes time to work," Trotes said.
"You might wanna tend to your arm," Simon replied non chelaunt. Trotes smiled somewhat entertained and rode back to the lead. Just then they heard a shout from the back.
"Trotes!" a soldier called, we've got company. Trotes turned around and sped to the back.
"Come with me," he said to Simon and Price as he passed them. They rode to the back of the caravan to where the soldier who shouted the message stood. Salte and Delos progressed steadily, though not speedily toward the group of soldiers. Trotes looked at the two men coming towards them.
"I wonder who this could be," Trotes remarked looking to Simon, "Friends of yours maybe?" Simon only looked on as the two approached, he knew it was Salte and the man he saved.
"Are they going to be trouble?" Trotes asked. Simon did not answer. "Good," Trotes said. They waited until Salte and Delos came into speaking distance and Trotes hailed them.
"Who is approaching this band?" Trotes asked. Salte and Delos continued a little and stopped just a couple of horse gallops away. Salte did not answer. He looked at Simon and Price and then at Trotes.
"Who are you?" Salte asked. Trotes looked at Simon.
"Explain the situation to them and then come to me," he said, "We don't have time for this." Trotes rode to the front as the four came together. Soon the line started to move and everyone was on his and her way.
"Glad you're safe," Salte said coming up to Simon.
"We have a problem," Simon told Salte.
"What problem?" Salte said.
"Love's not with us," Simon told him, "the man who just spoke sent her away before we got here." Salte looked to Delos.
"He must have sent her to the capital for leaverage," Delos said. Simon nodded that that was correct. "That sounds like Trotes," Delos remarked, "You have to be careful of him. He's always thinking ahead."
"What can we do?" Price asked.
"Nothing now that he knows you came after us," Simon told Salte and Delos, "He's got her on the edge in case we try to do anything majestic."
"Hmm, There's no way we could have followed her and found her is there," Salte replied.
"No not really," Delos said, "So many paths cut through Calton."
"We made mistakes by showing ourselves," Simon told them, "Price tried to remain hidden."
"You were discovered?" Salte asked.
"I didn't know I was that tired," Price replied shaking his head and shrugging, "We walked into this one. We did one thing and messed up another."
"Three thousand plus years of exile will put one out of practice I suppose," Salte said.
"So? Now what?" Price asked.
"What does he want with us?" Salte asked.
"Favors," Simon replied.
"In exchange for Love and the Royal family?" Salte asked.
"In exhange for not hurting them," Simon replied. Just then Trotes rode to them and came to where they were speaking and rode with them. He looked long and hard at Delos.
"It's quite evident none of you are average people," Trotes remarked smiling, "Let's make a deal."
"A deal?" Price asked, "With you?"
"Yes," Trotes replied smiling. Price opened his mouth to protest. But Salte quickly spoke.
"What is the matter?" Salte asked.
"You have my word that Love and the Royal family will be unharmed. I have nothing to gain from harming any of them," he said looking forward as the caravan continued, "In return, you give me your full cooperation on this mission."
"Can we trust your word?" Salte asked.
"No," Simon replied. Trotes smiled at Simon and then looked at his own broken arm.
"This mission is part of a quest for revenge," Trotes said, "I will not back down on my word here. Besides, if I back out, there's not much to stop any of you from killing me now is there? I didn't send her by the main road. You don't know the country and you could spend months looking for her in this labrynth land. I know if you decided to fight, we would be done with, so we are on a schedule to meet up with the soldiers I sent with the princess. If we don't meet in time, no happy ending for any of us."
"A schedule?" Price exclaimed, "What if something out of our controll happens?"
"Heh, heh, I guess we're both under pressure to make this all work quickly and smoothly," Trotes replied, "Don't worry. You can trust me." He smiled with squinted eyes at Simon. None of them liked it when Trotes said that.
"How long do we have," Salte asked.
"Just do as I say," Trotes said, "And remeber I'm in danger. This is a good deed we are doing. Be content with that. These raiders have been hurting innocent villagers for years."
"Fine," Salte replied, "Let's get this done. The soldiers aren't going to do anything to her."
"They'll swallow my spear if they do, and they know it. The Royal family is safe," Trotes said, "And Surel has no intention of hurting them, other than banishment. Why not take some time off from your laborous mission and worry and help us free a village from raiders." They four looked at Trotes who smiled maliciously. "Here is some insentive," Trotes said. The caravan stopped and the Royal family was brought to them unbound. "They will be free to move around and will be well taken care of. They are free to speak with whom ever they please, including you." The three Outcastes looked hard at Trotes.
"What about your taking us to your capital?" Price asked.
"It's my head if I don't do that," Trotes replied turning and moving back to the front, "But Surel won't kill you. Not when he finds out what you can do."
The three friends looked at each other.
"We'll go with you to the capital," Salte said, "I would like to meet Surel."
"And so you shall," Trotes replied and he rode back to the front and they all continued.
"Once again, what do we do now?" Price asked Salte.
"We go with him," Salte said. Price looked at Salte. Salte moved to where Faith and the two daughters where riding forward. Faith looked at Salte relieved and happy that she could be sure her daughter would be safe, for now. Simon rode his horse next to Hope and Charity and rode next to them and Delos followed behind.
"I think he'll keep his word," Salte told Faith, "He's no fool I can tell already."
"He's also very dangerous," Faith said. Salte nodded.
"It's going to take us a while to get to where we're going," Delos said, "We might want to relax until we get there."
"Salte, I don't want to cooperate with this guy," Price said..
"We don't have much choice. Don't forget that Claude will be on his way to the capital. I'm willing to bet he'll get her to safety if he finds her. Plus, we're all hungry and tired and I can't heal when I'm dying myself. We're on a small high cliff with lots of wind and no edge rails. We've got to play carefully."
"Nice analogy," Price said looking down into the slopping woods.
"I think Trotes knows by now not to mess with us," Simon continued. Salte moved back and put a hand on Simon.
"Everything's going to be fine," Salte said, "I know you hate that this happened just as she finally warmed up to you."
The group continued untill the sun went down behind the mountains and darkenss crept into the massive valley. The tall water fall far away over the tall trees in front had gotten bigger as they had gotten closer, but it was still quite a ways away. A fog began to quickly settle in the valley as the group continued in the bright moon light. The fog settled and their trail a little ways in front looked as if it led straight into a fluffy blanket made slightly blue by the night light. The night sky was crystal clear and Trotes kept the soldiers walking under the stars that dotted the sky, until they came to where the road led into the fog.
"We camp along the road tonight," Trotes ordered, "No one is coming this way." He looked around. "And if they are, they're not anyone we want to leave alive," he added. Salte and the rest got off their horses and walked around glad to be off and stretching their legs. The girls walked next to the woods and lay down. Trotes walked to the back of the line and looked at Salte.
"You are responsible for your own watch," Trotes told them, "I have a feeling you'll be safer than my men." He walked back, and Simon and Price gathered some wood for fires.
"Simon," Charity called to him.
"What," Simon called back from the woods.
"Will you sleep next to us?" She asked.
"If it'll make you feel better," he answered walking from the forest with some wood.
"It will," Charity said smiling and laying down. Faith placed a clothe over her daughters smiling.
"Lay down and go to sleep," she told her. Simon sat down next to Charity and his eyes turned black.
"Your eyes are so cool," Charity said staring up at him from her laying down position. Simon smiled and caressed her head.
"Get some sleep shorty," he told her. Price walked over and sat next to Simon. Salte, however, walked over to the front to talk to Trotes. He reached the place where Trotes sat keeping watch while his officers rested.
"So you're a leader after all," Salte said to Trotes. Trotes looked up at Salte and then back down at a pot in front of him. He was stirring something in the pot.
"Do you have a reason for coming all the way up here?" Trotes asked.
"Chit-chat," Salte replied. Trotes half scoffed and half laughed, but in his heart he secretly welcomed the company of a genuine person instead of the crusty ignorant soldiers around him.
"So chat," Trotes answered, "What do you want to know?"
"First of all were the food is," Salte asked.
"You can have some from any of the men," Trotes replied, "Is that all?"
"No. Tell me about Surel," Salte said. Trotes looked at the blanket of fog down the road.
"Hmm. You want to know about Surel? Well, Surel wants to make Calton a dominate power. Unlike the late King, we wants to do it with military instead of econimics or education because it's more glorious he thinks. He's a jerk who likes to be entertained, but he's not a complete fool making him very hateble."
"You hate him," Salte said. Trotes nodded and chuckled.
"Why," Salte asked.
"None of your buisness," Trotes replied.
"I just want to know what kind of person we're dealing with," Salte replied.
"Me or Surel?" Trotes asked.
"What do you think?" Salte asked.
"I think I don't care," Trotes said, "If Calton succeeds or fails and if we live or die. All things go their way."
"You don't care," Salte replied.
"To believe in one thing is to be undone by its weakness," Trotes said, "The bleakness is ever so inviting."
"Perhaps," Salte replied, "So is redemption."
"We'll see," Trotes said.
"What kind of person is Surel," Salte asked him, "What do you think about that."
"He is a wise fool," Trotes replied, "He can get things done, but whether they should be done is quite another matter. He's a spoiled brat. What do you think?"
"I think all I care about is making sure that the Valiants come out of this alright," Salte replied. Trotes smiled at the simple honor that he had forsaken years ago.
"You remind me of someone I once knew," Trotes told Salte.
"What happen to him," Salte asked.
"He got his family killed," Trotes said. "He got himself killed," Trotes said softer.
"I'm sorry," Salte replied. Trotes continued to look into the darkness and at the road that led into the fog.
"Surel will try to recrute you instead of kill you," Trotes said, "He'll probably put some political prisoners to death in your stead. So don't worry. He's working hard to get the people to forget about the incident in the south."
"What do the people think?" Salte asked. Salte nodded.
"They think the Great Light is a bad omen," Trotes replied, "Some think it is the Harcus displaying their anger because our country is forgetting them. Some think it was a huge fire."
"How did Surel convince the people it was us?" Salte asked.
"People are easy to fool when they are writhing in hate or fear, desprate for an explination," Trotes replied and then chuckled to himself, "How sad. We desrve what we get." Salte looked curiously at Trotes.
"People?" Salte asked.
"All of us," Trotes replied looking into the fog and then down at his wound. He took some liquid with a wooden spoon from a kettle infront of him and let it dripp down into the splint he made for the broke bone. He squinted at the pain and then continued to look into the darkness. Salte nodded and stood there looking at Trotes pitying the sadness and anger he sensed in him.
"The goodness of people turns very sour when you are....an inconveinence....to them," Trotes said.
"You may get your wish," Salte replied. Salte did not wish to speak any more, so he walked away. Trotes continued to look forward wondering what Salte could have ment. Price looked up at Salte as he approached.
"What were you doing?" Price asked.
"Learning a little more about our situation," Salte replied, "Let's get some food and then get some rest. We're going to need it."