Chapter 9: Claude's Path
Trotes, and the group had a long journey to make back to the Capital of Calton. Faith and her daughters wanted to see the recently de-throned King of Calton and Love. They traveled slowly on, and that is where we will leave them. Because another character has been active during the detour of his friends and we should not ignore him.
Claude had told the Elder and everyone's family about the decision to go after the Valiants and help them. He also told the Elder of the death of his friend. Elder Sel was sad at this news and was determinded to go find The Mayor's body if Oak had not already picked it up. As far as the chase goes all gave their blessing and gave Claude supplies for getting to Price, Simon and Salte. Claude did not want to rest while he was there, thinking he could get his rest on the way. So he left the night of the day that he arrived. So while his three friends were taking their field trip under the thumb of Trotes, Claude had been traveling to Calton Capital for those nights that Trotes's group made their way into the ravine. Claude had reached the fork in the road at about the time Salte and the group were encamped under the waterfall, but Claude decided to go left because Delos told them the way to the capital was by following the Great Mountain Range. So he did so, not knowing that Trotes had some other idea.
And so he had made his way through the woods where the road was traveled freaquently and it was fairly wide because Rushor and the other city, Iroas, were, of course, major cities, especialy now that war was upon Calton. Claude hurried as best he could, eating only enough to keep himself going. The news of the roads opening back up for normal trade had not reached other towns yet, so the road was empty for now.
His march brought him to a vast ravine that was adjacent to the one Salte, Price and Simon were in at that time. This canyon here twisted and turned and the river in it actually emptied into the Rushor Canyon that his friends were in, hence the great waterfall there.Claude surveyed the big ravine which was a little rockier and less steep than Rushor Canyon. He sighed deeply, walked the winding road down into the canyon and reached the town at the bottom at the same time the others were camping in the first town in Rushor Canyon. The walk took a long time because the road turned this way and that in order to make the decent or acent as gradual as possible. But Claude finally saw a little town after three days and some nights of travel. The town, or village actually, was a small farming village with crops on the mountainsides. The houses looked hastily put together with thatched rooves. He observed the look of the people as he entered from the east side and walked to the west side of town. They were solemn and sad. They looked as if the did not work for better lives, but worked just to work. Their movements were not slow, but no cheerey comments and no hello's between towns folk. Claude wondered how a town that looked so oppressed could survive "What an awful life," he thought to himself. Claude hid his hand from view and walked about town looking for some place to rest briefly. The main road took him into and through town and then along their main water source, which was the main river of the canyon. It was a small river now, but several other rivers flowed into it from other mountains and created the massive waterfall and river of Rushor. The houses of the town were in no real order or configuration. They were just far enough away from each other to allow travel between. Claude saw where some of the houses looked burned. And he saw ashes that looked like they used to be houses before rapid oxidation collapsed them. The town was larger than what Claude was used to. He had to look for quite a while to find a good out-of-the-way place to doze for a few minutes. It was morning time, and the hidden sun left the village in the cool shadow of the mountains for now. Claude tried to avoid places where many people were gathered, like the market that ran perpendicular to the river. He finally found a place next to the town pub. Other travelers and merchants were resting around the establishment. One of them looked up noticing that Claude was not from around there and asked, "Where are you from, traveler?" Claude stopped and looked somewhat nervously at the man who addressed him. Claude did not know how to respond. He knew nothing of merchants or the roads being closed, and he talked funny.
The man spoke again, "Are the roads open for merchants and trade? Come to think of it. You don't seem like your from around here. So that means the roads are open." All of the merchants and travelers stopped and looked at Claude, who was very nervous now. He shook his head and the man snorted in dissappointment.
"Why would Surel close trade along this route of all places?" the merchant said gruffly, "If he wants weapons and taxes, then we've got to earn money and get goods. The good-for-nothing..." Claude slipped away while all the merchants joined in the man's complaint. He shook his head wondering just what the rest of the world was like. He had no desire to listen to such things and eventually found a place a little ways away on the north side of the pub a some ways from the river. An oak tree grew there and Claude took a seat under it and fell asleep almost immediately. No one payed much attention to him. He just looked like a weary traveler and he was left alone in peace and concern.
Claude slept a deep sleep until he was disturbed by something, arguing, going on near the pub. He woke up groggy and sleepy, but the sleep wore off quickly as he realized what was going on. A man dressed in a black sleeved, dark green cloak was talking, or arguing with an old man in front of the pub. Claude sat in his place a little ways away and listened to the arguement with his fine tuned ears.
"You've got five days to come up with the ransom money," the man in black and green said.
"But no one hear has that kind of money," the old man said, "We're already taxed to death by Surel. Why would you think we could afford such a sum?" the old man was dressed in grey garments. He had a white beard and a balding head with white hair on the back of his head. His nose was pointed and his eyes looked straight at the green cloaked man.
"I know you can afford it," the man said, "how much do you love your granddaughter? That's the question."
Everyone in town came to hear the conversation.
"Please," the old man pleaded, "We'll give you what we have, but please just give her back."
The man in black and green looked around at the people around and shouted, "If any of you care about you're own, you'll listen to this man's plea."
"Sir," one of them called, "We have no money! Everything goes to the war."
"Do not raise your voice to him," someone called out hitting the villager that spoke. Claude started at this, but he stopped for just a moment to see what would happen. He forgot momentarily about what he was doing, but then he remembered that he had to catch up with the others. This situation was not easy for him to ignore, though.
"You have the money," the cloaked man said, "Get it to me or that girl will be ours for our pleasure."
Just then the man looked over at Claude, who had a very angry look on his face.
The leader spoke, "You don't look like you're from around here. Who are you?"
Claude did not want to answer for fear of his speech giving him away.
"Yea, you carry yourself differently," he said, "You're too stern to be from this village. You look more like a fighter." Claude just looked at the man waiting for whatever came next. He hoped this would not escilate any furthur and that the man would loose interest and continue with his buisness, sort of. In his mind, Claude did not know whether to continue his journey or offer his help to the villigers when the men left.
"Where are you from?" the green cloaked man asked.
Claude still did not answer, so the man motioned, and two other men dressed in similar garb ran to grab him. Claude let them, and they walked him over to their leader.
"Tough guy huh?" the man said walking up to him with a knife, "You probably better answer me." Claude still did not answer.
The man punched Claude in the stomach.
"You answer me," the man said, "Before I gut you right here in front of all of these people. What are you doing here?" Claude was not expecting the punch and so it angered him a little. The crowd watched wondering what Claude was doing in that little town, and if he was military or a deserter. Claude still did not want to answer, but he decided to go ahead and give the man an answer.
"None of your buisness," he said. The man reared back for another punch, but Claude moved to his side knocking the man to his left down and pulling the other in the way of the punch. Then he then grabbed the leader and spun him around and threw him forward into the dirt. The old man whose granddaughter was kidnapped stepped in.
"Stop!" he said to Claude, "What are you doing? Stop, I beg you."
The two other men ran and tackled Claude while he was distracted and pinned him down. The other man got up, walked over and kicked Claude several times until Claude was coughing.
"I don't know who you think you are, but you are indangering this man's grandaughter," the leader said wipping dirt off of his face, "But I suggest you calm down before you get her killed."
"Don't throw you're guilt on me," Claude said, "I'm not responsible for what you leaf brains do to that innocent girl. Hurting her may be bitting off more than you can chew." The man looked at Claude curiously.
"You don't talk like you're from around this area," the leader said, "maybe I should just kill you. You could be a problem." The man pulled out a knife and went to plung it in Claude's heart, but Claude lifted his own legs as the leader went to stick him and flipped the leader over. Then he flipped over himself out of the grab of the two other men and on top of the leader. The leader tried to stab Claude just as Claude landed, but Claude caught the man's hand. The other two men tackled Claude again and Claude wrestled away since he was obviously stronger and more agile than they were. He went after the main man again who was not ready for the speed and tackled him and sent the green cloaked man down on his face. When Claude got him down Claude took the arm with the knife and bent it backwards until it broke. Just as Claude grabbed the knife, he felt a hard wack to the back of his head that nearly knocked him out, but he was not done.
The people around looked on, anxious and angry, at Claude for risking the old man's grandaughter, but it was too late. Claude pulled his larger dagger from its hold after he managed to get away. The three men were shortly incapacitated either by death or wound, without Claude doing anything special. Claude was always the more athletic of him and his brother. He killed the two underlings and cut the leader in three times in the legs. The man fell down screeming and Claude looked at him breathing hard from the great burst of energy.
"That was pretty hard," Claude said to himself. The people around and the old man looked at him and the men in horror.
"What have you done, stranger?" the old man said. Claude looked up and then realized that the town certainly did not approve of what he had just done. "How are we to answer for this?" the old man continued, "The leader of these men will surely punish us for this." He growled in hatred. Just then it dawned on Claude that maybe he was a little too anxious to put these men in their place, but then again, the man was going to kill Claude. Claude was sorry.
"What are we supposed to do now?" another man said, "What are they going to do to his grandaughter when they find out about this? What are they going to do to us?" Everyone was afraid of Claude after seeing what he could do. The old man's eyes began to tear and some of the towns folk began to weep, and Claude began to feel very, very bad.
"She was do dear to us," the old man said, "How could you just come in and cause such trouble? Are you harcus? Come to destroy our village starting with the most innocent?" Claude stood stunned and guilty for a moment and then spoke, "I . . . can get her," he said. Some looked at him in scorn and others simply turned away.
"Do not try to absolve your guilt with pathetic claims," he said, "you can't and you know it. Turn and leave this town. We will deal with it." Claude knew he could not let it stand. How could they fault him for defending himself?
"I will get her," he said a little more boldly. The old man shook his head.
"You don't even know where to look," he said walking away.
"Do you?" Claude said stepping toward him. Just about everyone had gone back to their huts except a few who looked on.
"What does it matter?" the old man said turning around, "What are you going to do when you get there?"
"Sneak her out," Claude said. The old man turned and walked away.
"We'll find a way to save her," he said, "we don't need you're rash help."
"What do you mean rash help?" Claude said getting irritated.
"What did you think you were doing refusing to answer and trying retain the pride of some warrior? Why didn't you just listen to me and run away. Or sneak away when something that's none of your buisness comes along," the old man said, "Just leave us, traveler. We'll do it somehow." Claude stared at the old man and then looked around at the villagers that were left. Some of them shook their heads with looks of hatred while others just stared. Then everyone began to leave and go back to their buisness. He stood there wondering what he could do next. Soon Claude was standing there by himself, and he began to despair about the situation when he heard a voice behind him.
"Fella," she said, "You look'in for something."
He turned to see a pretty woman with a grey hood and soft brown eyes and black hair studying him.
"Yes," Claude said.
"I can help you find it," she said.
"Do you know what I'm looking for?" Claude asked. She nodded. "And you'll help me?" Claude said. She walked up and put her hand on Claude's chest to stroke it, but Claude grabbed it firmly and gently pushed her back.
"What are you doing?" Claude asked.
"I'm just seeing what you're made of," she said, "if you're going to do what you're saying you want to do, there must be something to you. You sure you're up to this?"
"Yes," he said.
He looked at her suspiciously.
"Why are you wanting to help me?" Claude asked.
"Personall reasons," she said, "But you need my help." Claude thought it through, but he did not have to think for long because she was right. He had no idea where to look and no one in the small village was going to tell him.
Claude said, "How far is it?"
"Pretty far," she said, "It's not on the road."
"I didn't figure so," he said, "When's the best time to get there." The sun was just peaking over over the mountain tops.
"At night, "she said, "If we leave now we should reach it by night time if we use horses."
"You can tell me where it is and I'll find it," Claude said, "You don't have to go with me you know."
"Very funny," she said, "I'll show you. You can't give directions in the forest."
They were now well into the morning. Claude did not want her to go because he did not want to give himself away, and he thought she might slow him down. But, then again, so would getting lost.
"What do you say?" she asked impatiently, "We're burning daylight." Claude remembered his mission now and felt more urgency return, but he did not want to abandon a little girl, especially since he had a part in her danger now. He sighed heavily and said, "Let's go."
The lady smiled and held out her hand.
"I'm Samantha," she said, "I'll take you straight to them."
"You better not betray me," Claude said, "Or you'll regret it....Trust me."
"I saw you take those henchmen down," Samantha replied taking back her hand offended, "I know better." She sighed and shook her head at Claude and turned and walked toward the pub. "Let me get some things first," she said, "Come on in." Claude shook his head.
"No thanks," he said, "I'll just wait here."
"The pub owner here has been all over," she said, "I bet he can identify your dialect."
"Impressive," Claude replied, "But I'll just wait here. I want to get going as soon as we can." Samantha scrunched her face a little in disgust as she walked away.
"Have it your way," she said. She walked into the pub and Claude turned around to look at the town. People were mostly trading foods and animals. Everyonce in a while someone would cast a glance at Claude and then continue with their buisness. The stream on the north side of the village was slow moving at this point and some people were fishing along the banks on the docks near where he was standing. He watched one of the little boys hook a fish and pull it onto shore. The little boy's friends and he gathered around while an older boy helped unhook the fish from the pole. Claude did not have to fish; he was quick enough and stealthy enough to just reach in and grab a fish. He did not understand the excitement, but he watched and was charmed by the joy it brought to the four children who all ran off with their new prize. The older boy watched them, shook his head and then went back to his fishing. Claude shook his head thinking the outsiders a little strange. Samantha called to him as he was pondering.
"Hey, are you ready?" she said.
"Of course," Claude replied not turning around. Samantha watched Claude for a moment.
"What's wrong?" she asked him. Claude shook his head and turned around.
"Nothing," he said, "I'm ready if you are." He fervently hoped that his friends were going to be all right and that they did not need him. But he did feel sorry for the town, and he wanted to rescue the girl. He couldn't just leave knowing that the situation had gotten worse because of him.
Samantha took up a bag on a stick and handed it to Claude.
"Here," she said, "You're the stronger of us. You take this."
"What is this?" Claude said taking it reluctantly.
"Different things that we'll need to get inside the hideout and move around," she replied.
"I see," Claude said, "Whatever you feel we need." Samantha was bewildered at that comment. She looked at him somewhat shocked and annoyed at his arrogance.
"Are we ready?" Claude asked her impatiently.
"Do you want me to help you?" she asked.
"Sorry, yes," he said, "I'm just in a hurry."
"Let's go. We've got to go to the stable and get our horses," she said.
"Horses huh?" Claude said.
"Yea, is that a problem?" Samantha asked.
"You just might need to teach me that's all," Claude said.
"These horses are trained to know the roads," she said, "They won't be difficult." Claude nodded and then said, "Lead on."
She picked up another bag she had brought out and lead the way to the stable in the middle of the village and then to a bridge just a little ways away from the river. Claude followed looking back halfway across the bridge not far from the pub.
The road led straight on through damp woods. Then it lead up the other side of the ravine and up further into where the Great Mountains connected with a mountain range called Backbrace. The road would have been difficult for someone not accustommed to the constant up and down travel. But the people of Calton could travel the roads just fine. These two walked the road for almost the whole day stopping only once for food.
Along the way Samantha could not help trying to get to know her assitant a little better.
"Where did you learn to fight?" she asked him.
"I never learned," he said.
"You must have learned somewhere," she said, "No one takes out three men just out of pure ability."
"No one?" Claude replied. Samantha looked at him briefly.
"Okay, what do you do for a living?" she asked.
"I hunt," Claude replied.
"Is that all?" she said patting her hourse on the neck.
"Yea, so what?" he said.
"You just live on the nessesities huh?" she said.
"Is there anything else you can live on?" Claude asked her. The he asked, "What can you tell me about Calton, aside from the obvious."
Samantha thought this question curious, but she answered it anyway thinking Claude was definatly an outsider.
"We're ruled by a false king right now," she replied, "Almost all of the country is either ravines, forests, or swamp. We're at war with Coastshire and winning for now."
"For now?" Claude said.
"Coast was making blunder after blunder in their battles with us, but as of late their doing better. They are still no match for General Syrathis though."
"Your top man?" Claude asked.
"Actually," she said hanging her head and then looking forward again, "he's my father."
Claude nodded a big nod and replied, "You're father is the top dog."
"Under Surel, yes, but he's nothing like Surel," she replied.
"So tell me," Claude said, "What's the top dog under the top dog's daughter doint this far away from Calton Capital?"
"I told you it's personal," she said, "Perhaps you can tell me why you're so anxious to help a little girl."
"That's not personal," Claude replied, "Because I feel bad for making matters worse." Samantha laughed. "What's so funny?" Claude asked.
"Matters can't get anyworse," she answered, "There's no way they could make the payment in five days, or anydays, not in animals, not in money or land. The sum is outrageous."
"Jerks," Claude said, "I wonder why such an outrageous sum."
"Because they don't plan on giving her back," Samantha told him.
"Do what?" Claude responded.
Samantha then recited some verse,
"'When the sightless recieve what cannot be seen
because the castles of culture refuse their need
then shall the doom of a people be
such is a people who refuse to see."
"Okay," Claude said, "Did you make that up just now?"
"It's a prophecy," Samantha replied, "When doom is upon a people, a child is born blind so that he or she may see the impending doom more clearly." Claude continued to listen.
"The girl we are saving..."
"Was born blind," Claude finished. Samantha nodded. "So she is a potential messenger of doom," Claude asked.
"I don't think she is," Samantha replied, "She can't help it. But most authorities will richly reward anyone who brings them a child born blind. Especially Surel, since he userped the throne."
"Would King Valiant?" Claude said.
"No," Samantha said, "He wouldn't. Children are just born different sometimes. It doesn't mean they are special messengers or anything else. What a stupid prophecy."
"Her grandfather wouldn't turn her in," Claude said.
"I don't know her grandfather or those people that well," Samantha said, "I met the girl while at the village."
"She doesn't seem like a prophet of doom huh?" Claude asked.
"Of course not," Samantha replied.
"So the top dog's top dog is going to save her," Claude stated.
"And you're going to help. Also you can call me Samantha," she said shooting him a look of annoyance.
"What's the fun in that?" Claude said. They kept on moving through the mountains making good time.
Up higher the air was dryer and vegetation was not nearly as prominant. No trees or forest, just shrubs growing out of the multi-shades of grey rock faces on each side of the road. The air was cooler and travel was nice. The scenery was limited though. When the sun began to set wherever it was setting; they couldn't tell, untill they came to a forest that was fairly vast.
The forest was below them and Claude could see where the mountains opened up and ran east and west to escape into the horizon. The sky was pink where the sun began to set and a sheet of trees that spread out to fill in the gap between the mountain sides was a dark green. Stars slowly started coming out. The continued on.
"Are you from Calton?" Samantha asked Claude as they started their way down.
"No," Claude replied.
"Where are you from?" she asked.
"Why do you want to know?" he asked her.
"Touchy," she said riding around some rocks in the road.
"It's not important where I came from," he said.
"It's always important to know where you came from," Samanth replied, "You should cherish your roots."
"Is that so," Claude said chuckling.
"Yea that's so," Samantha said looking at him.
"No matter what?" Claude said. Samantha remained silent looking Claude in the eye. Claude smiled slightly and Samantha turned and kept going. After a moment she spoke again.
"Do you have . . . shady roots?" she said.
"Nothing shady about them," Claude said, "But there are things I'm not proud of, even worried about."
"Well, sometimes we have to face our past," she said.
"If we can find it, we will," Claude replied, "I don't know how much success we'll have." Samantha still could not figure out how to take Claude.
"So I guess you're not going to tell me where you get your dialect," She said.
"Don't worry about it," Claude replied.
"I was just curious," she said.
"I'm curious. What would posses you to help or get help from a perfect stranger?" Claude asked.
"The fact that you're not a threat and the fact that you're strong," Samantha replied.
"So then what is Top Man Syrathis's daughter doing all the way down here," Claude asked, "It wasn't to save a little girl."
Samantha sighed. "I was sent to take a message and get some advice from an older friend of my father. He's the Mayor of Oakshire, a village that boarders Calton and Sholom."
Claude choked a little at the mention of the Mayor. He thought a little on how tell her about his demise. He couldn't think of a way so he just told her.
"Samantha, the Mayor is....dead," Claude said solemly. Samantha turned quickly to Claude.
"Dead!?" she exclaimed, "When? How?"
"He died trying to help the Valiant family escape into Sholom," Claude replied.
"What? The Valiants?" Samantha said very suprised. Claude told her the story of how the Valiants were hiding in that area and how the Mayor tried to help them get out of the way of the soldiers that were coming that way, and how the Mayor and three other men were killed and his friends were in persuite. Samantha began to tear up.
"No one got his body." she said.
"I don't know where he fell. My friends were trying to catch up with the soldiers that took the Valiants, and I'm trying to catch up with them." Samantha thought for a moment.
"Surel wants them alive," Samantha said, "If you want to go help your friends, I don't blame you."
"It's okay," Claude said, "I'll help this girl. My friends can take care of themselves. I hope. I'm sorry about your father's friend. Samantha nodded, and they road furthur in silence.
Claude admired the scene as the sun finished setting. They kept moving down the road. They reached the forest a little later.
"You can find your way at night?" Claude asked her.
"Yes," Samantha said, "It just takes longer." She led the way into the forest which was well lit by moonlight. The trees let patches of light in, but Samantha still had to feel her way through. Claude could see just fine, but he followed silently. As Samantha lead on, she turned around to see if Claude was still behind her. Claude just waited for her to lead on.
"How are you moving so quietly?" she asked.
"Family traits," he said, "It's in our roots." She turned around shaking her head and continued. The trip through the woods was slow and tedious. The patches of light that squeezed into the forest seemed to be what Samantha was using, Claude did not know how she knew the way in the dark. But he followed perfectly quiet hoping to get this over with quickly without any problems. Every once in a while Samantha would look back to see if Claude was actually still there, and he was. And each time he would flash her a slightly mischevious smile as if to say, "wouldn't you like to know."
Then Claude heard something. He silently ran in front of Samantha who started at the sudden movement of Claude. She followed him for a moment wondering what he was doing. When she could hear the noise, she knew they were close. Claude and Samantha stopped in front of a tourch lit house, a huge, tourch-lit house, with many huts and such behind it. The house had walkways going from the middle to four different wings, north, south, east and west. The whole thing was three stories high. Claude was in awe, but Samantha was simply calculating her plan. She looked at Claude.
"Give me your bag," she said. Claude gave her the bag.
"Now what's your plan?" he said.
"Stay here for a second," she said, "I'll be back."
Claude watched her confused as she dissappeared into the forest. Moments later she came dressed in a colourful red, purple and pink skin tight dress.
"Whoa," Claude said.
"You like it?" she asked.
"What excatly are you planning?" Claude asked her.
"There are six entrances to the place. Come with me," she said moving on, "They keep them locked at all times unless someone calls to them. One entrance is a vineyard on the backside where we will go. There I will walk out as a high priced woman and distract the men in the vineyard. There is a vine that goes out of the light and up to the head man's room."
"Right up to his room huh?" Claude said.
"He likes his own grapes I suppose," she replied, "You have to climb up that vine before they take me in and go back to their posts. They'll probably take me to his room."
"What makes you think that?" Claude asked. Samantha was appalled. "So you're sending me straight into the wolves den?"
"No, the head man reviews all the women. He'll leave," she said, "just climb up vines while the men are talking to me and hide in the dark blind spot up there."
"Easy enough," Claude said.
"Just ease you're way up and see if the head guy is gone. Once he's gone put on the clothes in this bag," she said patting the bag she had given him.
"Where did you get all this stuff?" he asked.
"They're the ones you killed," she said, "We took them while you were talking to the villagers."
"We?" Claude asked.
"Me and the pub owner," she said, "he's also a friend of my father."
"You're father has friends around," Claude said turning to study his part. Samantha smiled and asked, "Are you ready?"
Claude nodded, "Let's go."
Claude had told the Elder and everyone's family about the decision to go after the Valiants and help them. He also told the Elder of the death of his friend. Elder Sel was sad at this news and was determinded to go find The Mayor's body if Oak had not already picked it up. As far as the chase goes all gave their blessing and gave Claude supplies for getting to Price, Simon and Salte. Claude did not want to rest while he was there, thinking he could get his rest on the way. So he left the night of the day that he arrived. So while his three friends were taking their field trip under the thumb of Trotes, Claude had been traveling to Calton Capital for those nights that Trotes's group made their way into the ravine. Claude had reached the fork in the road at about the time Salte and the group were encamped under the waterfall, but Claude decided to go left because Delos told them the way to the capital was by following the Great Mountain Range. So he did so, not knowing that Trotes had some other idea.
And so he had made his way through the woods where the road was traveled freaquently and it was fairly wide because Rushor and the other city, Iroas, were, of course, major cities, especialy now that war was upon Calton. Claude hurried as best he could, eating only enough to keep himself going. The news of the roads opening back up for normal trade had not reached other towns yet, so the road was empty for now.
His march brought him to a vast ravine that was adjacent to the one Salte, Price and Simon were in at that time. This canyon here twisted and turned and the river in it actually emptied into the Rushor Canyon that his friends were in, hence the great waterfall there.Claude surveyed the big ravine which was a little rockier and less steep than Rushor Canyon. He sighed deeply, walked the winding road down into the canyon and reached the town at the bottom at the same time the others were camping in the first town in Rushor Canyon. The walk took a long time because the road turned this way and that in order to make the decent or acent as gradual as possible. But Claude finally saw a little town after three days and some nights of travel. The town, or village actually, was a small farming village with crops on the mountainsides. The houses looked hastily put together with thatched rooves. He observed the look of the people as he entered from the east side and walked to the west side of town. They were solemn and sad. They looked as if the did not work for better lives, but worked just to work. Their movements were not slow, but no cheerey comments and no hello's between towns folk. Claude wondered how a town that looked so oppressed could survive "What an awful life," he thought to himself. Claude hid his hand from view and walked about town looking for some place to rest briefly. The main road took him into and through town and then along their main water source, which was the main river of the canyon. It was a small river now, but several other rivers flowed into it from other mountains and created the massive waterfall and river of Rushor. The houses of the town were in no real order or configuration. They were just far enough away from each other to allow travel between. Claude saw where some of the houses looked burned. And he saw ashes that looked like they used to be houses before rapid oxidation collapsed them. The town was larger than what Claude was used to. He had to look for quite a while to find a good out-of-the-way place to doze for a few minutes. It was morning time, and the hidden sun left the village in the cool shadow of the mountains for now. Claude tried to avoid places where many people were gathered, like the market that ran perpendicular to the river. He finally found a place next to the town pub. Other travelers and merchants were resting around the establishment. One of them looked up noticing that Claude was not from around there and asked, "Where are you from, traveler?" Claude stopped and looked somewhat nervously at the man who addressed him. Claude did not know how to respond. He knew nothing of merchants or the roads being closed, and he talked funny.
The man spoke again, "Are the roads open for merchants and trade? Come to think of it. You don't seem like your from around here. So that means the roads are open." All of the merchants and travelers stopped and looked at Claude, who was very nervous now. He shook his head and the man snorted in dissappointment.
"Why would Surel close trade along this route of all places?" the merchant said gruffly, "If he wants weapons and taxes, then we've got to earn money and get goods. The good-for-nothing..." Claude slipped away while all the merchants joined in the man's complaint. He shook his head wondering just what the rest of the world was like. He had no desire to listen to such things and eventually found a place a little ways away on the north side of the pub a some ways from the river. An oak tree grew there and Claude took a seat under it and fell asleep almost immediately. No one payed much attention to him. He just looked like a weary traveler and he was left alone in peace and concern.
Claude slept a deep sleep until he was disturbed by something, arguing, going on near the pub. He woke up groggy and sleepy, but the sleep wore off quickly as he realized what was going on. A man dressed in a black sleeved, dark green cloak was talking, or arguing with an old man in front of the pub. Claude sat in his place a little ways away and listened to the arguement with his fine tuned ears.
"You've got five days to come up with the ransom money," the man in black and green said.
"But no one hear has that kind of money," the old man said, "We're already taxed to death by Surel. Why would you think we could afford such a sum?" the old man was dressed in grey garments. He had a white beard and a balding head with white hair on the back of his head. His nose was pointed and his eyes looked straight at the green cloaked man.
"I know you can afford it," the man said, "how much do you love your granddaughter? That's the question."
Everyone in town came to hear the conversation.
"Please," the old man pleaded, "We'll give you what we have, but please just give her back."
The man in black and green looked around at the people around and shouted, "If any of you care about you're own, you'll listen to this man's plea."
"Sir," one of them called, "We have no money! Everything goes to the war."
"Do not raise your voice to him," someone called out hitting the villager that spoke. Claude started at this, but he stopped for just a moment to see what would happen. He forgot momentarily about what he was doing, but then he remembered that he had to catch up with the others. This situation was not easy for him to ignore, though.
"You have the money," the cloaked man said, "Get it to me or that girl will be ours for our pleasure."
Just then the man looked over at Claude, who had a very angry look on his face.
The leader spoke, "You don't look like you're from around here. Who are you?"
Claude did not want to answer for fear of his speech giving him away.
"Yea, you carry yourself differently," he said, "You're too stern to be from this village. You look more like a fighter." Claude just looked at the man waiting for whatever came next. He hoped this would not escilate any furthur and that the man would loose interest and continue with his buisness, sort of. In his mind, Claude did not know whether to continue his journey or offer his help to the villigers when the men left.
"Where are you from?" the green cloaked man asked.
Claude still did not answer, so the man motioned, and two other men dressed in similar garb ran to grab him. Claude let them, and they walked him over to their leader.
"Tough guy huh?" the man said walking up to him with a knife, "You probably better answer me." Claude still did not answer.
The man punched Claude in the stomach.
"You answer me," the man said, "Before I gut you right here in front of all of these people. What are you doing here?" Claude was not expecting the punch and so it angered him a little. The crowd watched wondering what Claude was doing in that little town, and if he was military or a deserter. Claude still did not want to answer, but he decided to go ahead and give the man an answer.
"None of your buisness," he said. The man reared back for another punch, but Claude moved to his side knocking the man to his left down and pulling the other in the way of the punch. Then he then grabbed the leader and spun him around and threw him forward into the dirt. The old man whose granddaughter was kidnapped stepped in.
"Stop!" he said to Claude, "What are you doing? Stop, I beg you."
The two other men ran and tackled Claude while he was distracted and pinned him down. The other man got up, walked over and kicked Claude several times until Claude was coughing.
"I don't know who you think you are, but you are indangering this man's grandaughter," the leader said wipping dirt off of his face, "But I suggest you calm down before you get her killed."
"Don't throw you're guilt on me," Claude said, "I'm not responsible for what you leaf brains do to that innocent girl. Hurting her may be bitting off more than you can chew." The man looked at Claude curiously.
"You don't talk like you're from around this area," the leader said, "maybe I should just kill you. You could be a problem." The man pulled out a knife and went to plung it in Claude's heart, but Claude lifted his own legs as the leader went to stick him and flipped the leader over. Then he flipped over himself out of the grab of the two other men and on top of the leader. The leader tried to stab Claude just as Claude landed, but Claude caught the man's hand. The other two men tackled Claude again and Claude wrestled away since he was obviously stronger and more agile than they were. He went after the main man again who was not ready for the speed and tackled him and sent the green cloaked man down on his face. When Claude got him down Claude took the arm with the knife and bent it backwards until it broke. Just as Claude grabbed the knife, he felt a hard wack to the back of his head that nearly knocked him out, but he was not done.
The people around looked on, anxious and angry, at Claude for risking the old man's grandaughter, but it was too late. Claude pulled his larger dagger from its hold after he managed to get away. The three men were shortly incapacitated either by death or wound, without Claude doing anything special. Claude was always the more athletic of him and his brother. He killed the two underlings and cut the leader in three times in the legs. The man fell down screeming and Claude looked at him breathing hard from the great burst of energy.
"That was pretty hard," Claude said to himself. The people around and the old man looked at him and the men in horror.
"What have you done, stranger?" the old man said. Claude looked up and then realized that the town certainly did not approve of what he had just done. "How are we to answer for this?" the old man continued, "The leader of these men will surely punish us for this." He growled in hatred. Just then it dawned on Claude that maybe he was a little too anxious to put these men in their place, but then again, the man was going to kill Claude. Claude was sorry.
"What are we supposed to do now?" another man said, "What are they going to do to his grandaughter when they find out about this? What are they going to do to us?" Everyone was afraid of Claude after seeing what he could do. The old man's eyes began to tear and some of the towns folk began to weep, and Claude began to feel very, very bad.
"She was do dear to us," the old man said, "How could you just come in and cause such trouble? Are you harcus? Come to destroy our village starting with the most innocent?" Claude stood stunned and guilty for a moment and then spoke, "I . . . can get her," he said. Some looked at him in scorn and others simply turned away.
"Do not try to absolve your guilt with pathetic claims," he said, "you can't and you know it. Turn and leave this town. We will deal with it." Claude knew he could not let it stand. How could they fault him for defending himself?
"I will get her," he said a little more boldly. The old man shook his head.
"You don't even know where to look," he said walking away.
"Do you?" Claude said stepping toward him. Just about everyone had gone back to their huts except a few who looked on.
"What does it matter?" the old man said turning around, "What are you going to do when you get there?"
"Sneak her out," Claude said. The old man turned and walked away.
"We'll find a way to save her," he said, "we don't need you're rash help."
"What do you mean rash help?" Claude said getting irritated.
"What did you think you were doing refusing to answer and trying retain the pride of some warrior? Why didn't you just listen to me and run away. Or sneak away when something that's none of your buisness comes along," the old man said, "Just leave us, traveler. We'll do it somehow." Claude stared at the old man and then looked around at the villagers that were left. Some of them shook their heads with looks of hatred while others just stared. Then everyone began to leave and go back to their buisness. He stood there wondering what he could do next. Soon Claude was standing there by himself, and he began to despair about the situation when he heard a voice behind him.
"Fella," she said, "You look'in for something."
He turned to see a pretty woman with a grey hood and soft brown eyes and black hair studying him.
"Yes," Claude said.
"I can help you find it," she said.
"Do you know what I'm looking for?" Claude asked. She nodded. "And you'll help me?" Claude said. She walked up and put her hand on Claude's chest to stroke it, but Claude grabbed it firmly and gently pushed her back.
"What are you doing?" Claude asked.
"I'm just seeing what you're made of," she said, "if you're going to do what you're saying you want to do, there must be something to you. You sure you're up to this?"
"Yes," he said.
He looked at her suspiciously.
"Why are you wanting to help me?" Claude asked.
"Personall reasons," she said, "But you need my help." Claude thought it through, but he did not have to think for long because she was right. He had no idea where to look and no one in the small village was going to tell him.
Claude said, "How far is it?"
"Pretty far," she said, "It's not on the road."
"I didn't figure so," he said, "When's the best time to get there." The sun was just peaking over over the mountain tops.
"At night, "she said, "If we leave now we should reach it by night time if we use horses."
"You can tell me where it is and I'll find it," Claude said, "You don't have to go with me you know."
"Very funny," she said, "I'll show you. You can't give directions in the forest."
They were now well into the morning. Claude did not want her to go because he did not want to give himself away, and he thought she might slow him down. But, then again, so would getting lost.
"What do you say?" she asked impatiently, "We're burning daylight." Claude remembered his mission now and felt more urgency return, but he did not want to abandon a little girl, especially since he had a part in her danger now. He sighed heavily and said, "Let's go."
The lady smiled and held out her hand.
"I'm Samantha," she said, "I'll take you straight to them."
"You better not betray me," Claude said, "Or you'll regret it....Trust me."
"I saw you take those henchmen down," Samantha replied taking back her hand offended, "I know better." She sighed and shook her head at Claude and turned and walked toward the pub. "Let me get some things first," she said, "Come on in." Claude shook his head.
"No thanks," he said, "I'll just wait here."
"The pub owner here has been all over," she said, "I bet he can identify your dialect."
"Impressive," Claude replied, "But I'll just wait here. I want to get going as soon as we can." Samantha scrunched her face a little in disgust as she walked away.
"Have it your way," she said. She walked into the pub and Claude turned around to look at the town. People were mostly trading foods and animals. Everyonce in a while someone would cast a glance at Claude and then continue with their buisness. The stream on the north side of the village was slow moving at this point and some people were fishing along the banks on the docks near where he was standing. He watched one of the little boys hook a fish and pull it onto shore. The little boy's friends and he gathered around while an older boy helped unhook the fish from the pole. Claude did not have to fish; he was quick enough and stealthy enough to just reach in and grab a fish. He did not understand the excitement, but he watched and was charmed by the joy it brought to the four children who all ran off with their new prize. The older boy watched them, shook his head and then went back to his fishing. Claude shook his head thinking the outsiders a little strange. Samantha called to him as he was pondering.
"Hey, are you ready?" she said.
"Of course," Claude replied not turning around. Samantha watched Claude for a moment.
"What's wrong?" she asked him. Claude shook his head and turned around.
"Nothing," he said, "I'm ready if you are." He fervently hoped that his friends were going to be all right and that they did not need him. But he did feel sorry for the town, and he wanted to rescue the girl. He couldn't just leave knowing that the situation had gotten worse because of him.
Samantha took up a bag on a stick and handed it to Claude.
"Here," she said, "You're the stronger of us. You take this."
"What is this?" Claude said taking it reluctantly.
"Different things that we'll need to get inside the hideout and move around," she replied.
"I see," Claude said, "Whatever you feel we need." Samantha was bewildered at that comment. She looked at him somewhat shocked and annoyed at his arrogance.
"Are we ready?" Claude asked her impatiently.
"Do you want me to help you?" she asked.
"Sorry, yes," he said, "I'm just in a hurry."
"Let's go. We've got to go to the stable and get our horses," she said.
"Horses huh?" Claude said.
"Yea, is that a problem?" Samantha asked.
"You just might need to teach me that's all," Claude said.
"These horses are trained to know the roads," she said, "They won't be difficult." Claude nodded and then said, "Lead on."
She picked up another bag she had brought out and lead the way to the stable in the middle of the village and then to a bridge just a little ways away from the river. Claude followed looking back halfway across the bridge not far from the pub.
The road led straight on through damp woods. Then it lead up the other side of the ravine and up further into where the Great Mountains connected with a mountain range called Backbrace. The road would have been difficult for someone not accustommed to the constant up and down travel. But the people of Calton could travel the roads just fine. These two walked the road for almost the whole day stopping only once for food.
Along the way Samantha could not help trying to get to know her assitant a little better.
"Where did you learn to fight?" she asked him.
"I never learned," he said.
"You must have learned somewhere," she said, "No one takes out three men just out of pure ability."
"No one?" Claude replied. Samantha looked at him briefly.
"Okay, what do you do for a living?" she asked.
"I hunt," Claude replied.
"Is that all?" she said patting her hourse on the neck.
"Yea, so what?" he said.
"You just live on the nessesities huh?" she said.
"Is there anything else you can live on?" Claude asked her. The he asked, "What can you tell me about Calton, aside from the obvious."
Samantha thought this question curious, but she answered it anyway thinking Claude was definatly an outsider.
"We're ruled by a false king right now," she replied, "Almost all of the country is either ravines, forests, or swamp. We're at war with Coastshire and winning for now."
"For now?" Claude said.
"Coast was making blunder after blunder in their battles with us, but as of late their doing better. They are still no match for General Syrathis though."
"Your top man?" Claude asked.
"Actually," she said hanging her head and then looking forward again, "he's my father."
Claude nodded a big nod and replied, "You're father is the top dog."
"Under Surel, yes, but he's nothing like Surel," she replied.
"So tell me," Claude said, "What's the top dog under the top dog's daughter doint this far away from Calton Capital?"
"I told you it's personal," she said, "Perhaps you can tell me why you're so anxious to help a little girl."
"That's not personal," Claude replied, "Because I feel bad for making matters worse." Samantha laughed. "What's so funny?" Claude asked.
"Matters can't get anyworse," she answered, "There's no way they could make the payment in five days, or anydays, not in animals, not in money or land. The sum is outrageous."
"Jerks," Claude said, "I wonder why such an outrageous sum."
"Because they don't plan on giving her back," Samantha told him.
"Do what?" Claude responded.
Samantha then recited some verse,
"'When the sightless recieve what cannot be seen
because the castles of culture refuse their need
then shall the doom of a people be
such is a people who refuse to see."
"Okay," Claude said, "Did you make that up just now?"
"It's a prophecy," Samantha replied, "When doom is upon a people, a child is born blind so that he or she may see the impending doom more clearly." Claude continued to listen.
"The girl we are saving..."
"Was born blind," Claude finished. Samantha nodded. "So she is a potential messenger of doom," Claude asked.
"I don't think she is," Samantha replied, "She can't help it. But most authorities will richly reward anyone who brings them a child born blind. Especially Surel, since he userped the throne."
"Would King Valiant?" Claude said.
"No," Samantha said, "He wouldn't. Children are just born different sometimes. It doesn't mean they are special messengers or anything else. What a stupid prophecy."
"Her grandfather wouldn't turn her in," Claude said.
"I don't know her grandfather or those people that well," Samantha said, "I met the girl while at the village."
"She doesn't seem like a prophet of doom huh?" Claude asked.
"Of course not," Samantha replied.
"So the top dog's top dog is going to save her," Claude stated.
"And you're going to help. Also you can call me Samantha," she said shooting him a look of annoyance.
"What's the fun in that?" Claude said. They kept on moving through the mountains making good time.
Up higher the air was dryer and vegetation was not nearly as prominant. No trees or forest, just shrubs growing out of the multi-shades of grey rock faces on each side of the road. The air was cooler and travel was nice. The scenery was limited though. When the sun began to set wherever it was setting; they couldn't tell, untill they came to a forest that was fairly vast.
The forest was below them and Claude could see where the mountains opened up and ran east and west to escape into the horizon. The sky was pink where the sun began to set and a sheet of trees that spread out to fill in the gap between the mountain sides was a dark green. Stars slowly started coming out. The continued on.
"Are you from Calton?" Samantha asked Claude as they started their way down.
"No," Claude replied.
"Where are you from?" she asked.
"Why do you want to know?" he asked her.
"Touchy," she said riding around some rocks in the road.
"It's not important where I came from," he said.
"It's always important to know where you came from," Samanth replied, "You should cherish your roots."
"Is that so," Claude said chuckling.
"Yea that's so," Samantha said looking at him.
"No matter what?" Claude said. Samantha remained silent looking Claude in the eye. Claude smiled slightly and Samantha turned and kept going. After a moment she spoke again.
"Do you have . . . shady roots?" she said.
"Nothing shady about them," Claude said, "But there are things I'm not proud of, even worried about."
"Well, sometimes we have to face our past," she said.
"If we can find it, we will," Claude replied, "I don't know how much success we'll have." Samantha still could not figure out how to take Claude.
"So I guess you're not going to tell me where you get your dialect," She said.
"Don't worry about it," Claude replied.
"I was just curious," she said.
"I'm curious. What would posses you to help or get help from a perfect stranger?" Claude asked.
"The fact that you're not a threat and the fact that you're strong," Samantha replied.
"So then what is Top Man Syrathis's daughter doing all the way down here," Claude asked, "It wasn't to save a little girl."
Samantha sighed. "I was sent to take a message and get some advice from an older friend of my father. He's the Mayor of Oakshire, a village that boarders Calton and Sholom."
Claude choked a little at the mention of the Mayor. He thought a little on how tell her about his demise. He couldn't think of a way so he just told her.
"Samantha, the Mayor is....dead," Claude said solemly. Samantha turned quickly to Claude.
"Dead!?" she exclaimed, "When? How?"
"He died trying to help the Valiant family escape into Sholom," Claude replied.
"What? The Valiants?" Samantha said very suprised. Claude told her the story of how the Valiants were hiding in that area and how the Mayor tried to help them get out of the way of the soldiers that were coming that way, and how the Mayor and three other men were killed and his friends were in persuite. Samantha began to tear up.
"No one got his body." she said.
"I don't know where he fell. My friends were trying to catch up with the soldiers that took the Valiants, and I'm trying to catch up with them." Samantha thought for a moment.
"Surel wants them alive," Samantha said, "If you want to go help your friends, I don't blame you."
"It's okay," Claude said, "I'll help this girl. My friends can take care of themselves. I hope. I'm sorry about your father's friend. Samantha nodded, and they road furthur in silence.
Claude admired the scene as the sun finished setting. They kept moving down the road. They reached the forest a little later.
"You can find your way at night?" Claude asked her.
"Yes," Samantha said, "It just takes longer." She led the way into the forest which was well lit by moonlight. The trees let patches of light in, but Samantha still had to feel her way through. Claude could see just fine, but he followed silently. As Samantha lead on, she turned around to see if Claude was still behind her. Claude just waited for her to lead on.
"How are you moving so quietly?" she asked.
"Family traits," he said, "It's in our roots." She turned around shaking her head and continued. The trip through the woods was slow and tedious. The patches of light that squeezed into the forest seemed to be what Samantha was using, Claude did not know how she knew the way in the dark. But he followed perfectly quiet hoping to get this over with quickly without any problems. Every once in a while Samantha would look back to see if Claude was actually still there, and he was. And each time he would flash her a slightly mischevious smile as if to say, "wouldn't you like to know."
Then Claude heard something. He silently ran in front of Samantha who started at the sudden movement of Claude. She followed him for a moment wondering what he was doing. When she could hear the noise, she knew they were close. Claude and Samantha stopped in front of a tourch lit house, a huge, tourch-lit house, with many huts and such behind it. The house had walkways going from the middle to four different wings, north, south, east and west. The whole thing was three stories high. Claude was in awe, but Samantha was simply calculating her plan. She looked at Claude.
"Give me your bag," she said. Claude gave her the bag.
"Now what's your plan?" he said.
"Stay here for a second," she said, "I'll be back."
Claude watched her confused as she dissappeared into the forest. Moments later she came dressed in a colourful red, purple and pink skin tight dress.
"Whoa," Claude said.
"You like it?" she asked.
"What excatly are you planning?" Claude asked her.
"There are six entrances to the place. Come with me," she said moving on, "They keep them locked at all times unless someone calls to them. One entrance is a vineyard on the backside where we will go. There I will walk out as a high priced woman and distract the men in the vineyard. There is a vine that goes out of the light and up to the head man's room."
"Right up to his room huh?" Claude said.
"He likes his own grapes I suppose," she replied, "You have to climb up that vine before they take me in and go back to their posts. They'll probably take me to his room."
"What makes you think that?" Claude asked. Samantha was appalled. "So you're sending me straight into the wolves den?"
"No, the head man reviews all the women. He'll leave," she said, "just climb up vines while the men are talking to me and hide in the dark blind spot up there."
"Easy enough," Claude said.
"Just ease you're way up and see if the head guy is gone. Once he's gone put on the clothes in this bag," she said patting the bag she had given him.
"Where did you get all this stuff?" he asked.
"They're the ones you killed," she said, "We took them while you were talking to the villagers."
"We?" Claude asked.
"Me and the pub owner," she said, "he's also a friend of my father."
"You're father has friends around," Claude said turning to study his part. Samantha smiled and asked, "Are you ready?"
Claude nodded, "Let's go."
posted by Joel Obadiah at 5:01 AM
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