The sky has not changed its color for quite some. Endless gray. I have traveled quite a lot before, and because of that, I saw many things. I saw castles and strongholds so enormous and ancient that for normal people it would look like creations of gods.
But I have seen these “gods”. Those fueled and corrupted by mana, those who could create and destroy mountains with a mere thought. I have seen them create things which usually would have taken centuries to create in mere hours. I have seen Elven Druids change deserts into endless forest within a week.
But there was only one thing that they could never change. They wouldn't even try to change it, for them it was but a mere roof in the realm they rule. But for me this was something more. Something they can never change.
I have been in regions, where more stars were visible than creatures alive. I have seen the dance of polar spirits in north which would paint the sky in emerald waves.
I always wondered what the sky is or if I can touch the stars. Is it really just a sphere of father's mana that “protects us from the evil”, or maybe it is something more.
Father, huh.
Everyone creates their own “unique” name for him. And they all believe that they speak in his place and for him, that they know all the answers, that they know exactly what is right and what is wrong. But it always ends the same way.
I really miss the sky, the one which changes color form cyan to burning orange and purple. But I am not the only one right now, everyone on ship are as tired of this endless gray mass.
I somehow got close to Rudolf and Tedal during this whole traveling period, so even now, when we are up on the deck eating some ration together, which we bought in the Toaan a day before the departure, we are together.
You can buy food here on the ship too, but the price is even more astronomical than the ticket. Everyone need to eat. And there are always people who will squeeze as much as they can. This cannot be called a business, but a racketeering scheme. And if they pay a part of profit to the captain, they will be the only ones selling food on ship. From that point on they become the only option if you are hungry, and returning to statement before, everyone needs to eat.
The noise of heavy boots stops the discussion I had with Rudolf about easiest way to kill mountain cat. The group of Enforcers walked out around 3 people. Older man in his fifties together with man and woman in their early twenties, all dressed in lavish clothes. They walk up to the bridge and after few words with helmsman young woman started steering the wheel.
Big toys for big girls huh.
Tedal was looking at the Enforcers, then at the nobles with eyes that wanted something, something he never had, and will probably never have. It is hard to explain to children that there are thing that they can't have just because they were not "lucky" enough to be born in the right place. Only one enchantment on an arm bracer cost more than he will able to make in a decade.
Actually it is not that hard to make them. But it is always about 'supply' and 'demand'. And if the demand is high and there is controlled supply...
“Why are they called Enforcers?”
Rudolf looks at his son. By his appearance he must have lived simple hunter life. Not many are brave enough to travel alone so far, even less with children. He must have had a decent reason. The fact that there was never word spoken about Tedal's mother, tells me a lot.
“Well they enforce their weapons with mana, I guess”
After few seconds of thinking over it and trying to puzzle it up in his mind the boy replies.
“But then what is the difference between Enforcers and Mages?”
Rudolf scratches his head, trying to come up with answer, but again, he is but a simple hunter. Additional to that there are not many mages here. The sheer religious and administrative discrimination against any non-human species ensured that no foreign mage would travel in this direction. And the local ones are quickly recruited by the Wizard Tower. And to add the cherry on the top, it is easier to get into a dukes house and fuck his wife than learn anything from the Tower.
“The difference is that Wizards have significantly more mana. Which they use to cast wide range elemental spells. Enforcers have much less mana, but they learn to have solid control over it. By applying a single strong 'will' they can make mana behave in a certain way. They enforce their will onto mana to strengthen armor or sharpen the sword, because of that they are called Enforcers.”
Both of them look at be in silence for few seconds. Each on thinking about their own thoughts.
"Are you an Enforcer?" asks the boy in excitement.
"No. I am not. But I have read about them a bit."
Boy smiles and buries me under non-stop barrage of questions. Everyone dreams to become a Wizard or an Enforcer, slay bad guys and bath in gold and respect.
Many can.
But only selected few will be allowed.
Knowledge is power.
Power is a threat.
[And threats must be neutralized.]
The ship started swinging side to side as Ship captain come out on deck. He looked at the young woman turning the wheel left and right but said nothing. Half of his face is blue and each movement caused pained expression to appear on his face. Everyone felt a bit seasick but none dared to voice their dissatisfaction.
The woman as if tired of playing with the wheel turned to the older lord and thanked him with bright smile. She did not understand what she really was doing and how it was affecting everyone else. Innocent child, is what came to my mind.
After small talk they went down to lower deck. They passed the captain and he bowed slightly with one hand behind his back. I could see his hand gathering into a fist. Several seconds after they disappeared he took something out of his pocket. It was a pocket watch. He opened it and looked at something in it for nearly a minute. He took a deep breath, put the watch back in the pocket and went up to the bridge.
More likely a picture of someone close. Family or loved one. We all bend under, but in most cases it is not for ourselves, but rather for someone we are willing sell our souls for. Anything in order to protect them.
…
It has already been nearly two weeks since we left the port. As expected there were several attacks on the ship. Human ones were brutally repelled by the Enforcers, “wild life” ones were mainly used as a new source of food.
Today we arrived at Saloto, the south most city in Northern Kingdom. Here the river branches. One goes south to Desert Alliance other goes east to Qing.
Tedal and Rudolf left. I didn't ask how far they were going, but it looks like this was it, from here on they are going to Qing on different ship. Even if I think that it is bad decision to go in that direction right now, it is their life, their choices. Maybe I got a bit attached, I didn't think that the interaction would be this short.
But it is not about me.
Sadly the lord didn't leave. We were here only for few hours and left the port not even staying for the night. More likely the wish of that Lord.
More than half of passengers left. Desert Alliance is not a nice place, and not many travel there without a serious reason.
Thankfully the weather got much better, there are not that many clouds in the sky and it is much warmer. My muscles started slowly returning, now I no longer look like a walking undead, and I will be able to squeeze a bit more strength out of this body.
Sitting on the deck under direct sunlight, I am trying to warm my body even further and catch up the time I haven't seen sun. You do not appreciate things until they are lost.
Footstep stop me from what I was doing. And I turned my head to look in the direction sound was coming.
“Hello. If it is possible I wanted to ask few questions.” Said the young woman noble with innocent smile.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
“They do not speak Tasar milady. They barely speak common Malari. I believe that the ship captain would be more suited to answer any question you have.” said one of two enforcers standing behind her.
“Oh. No. Um. He just looked really interesting with his fur armor, but he doesn't look like a northman, so I was curios where he is from. Maybe he has few interesting stories to tell.”
Confusion was creeping on the face of both guards, but they tried their best not to show any emotions. Not many people were left on the ship and it looks like she got really tired of the travel.
“Dear, do not come close to peasants. You don't know what diseases they carry.” Said the older Lord, which just came on the deck. “There is tea with dessert prepared for us. Come sweetheart.”
After looking down at me one last time the woman walked away with nearly the whole group. The lead Enforcer looked down at me with threatening gaze and followed the group.
If the talk would last a bit more, I am not sure if I would be able to hold myself back. People often said that I make my decisions quite recklessly, that I am hotheaded. But it is not true.
There comes a moment where you just stop caring.
And maybe I have seen a bit too much of what people really are on the inside. Maybe if I had not, life would be different, I could trust people, have family with wife and children, be happy.
But it is no longer possible.
…
I am not sure if people would laugh or cry if they were in my place. But I just feel apathetic about the thing people call 'life' and what it throws at me.
A quite big group of bandits attacked. They love to gather around the borders, easy to run on the other side if things go bad, and not many send patrols to the corners of their kingdoms.
Attack by itself is not an issue, but the mines that blew up a third of the ship are. It was strange to look at the ship for a moment and then a part of it disappears in explosion of splinters. Explosion force sent few people directly into river. Bandits were waiting on the shore for anyone coming out. A really interesting strategy, and in most cases it would work.
But not this time.
They were quickly neutralized. I could never understand the bandits, how can they so easily kill, rape, steal without even a hint of remorse, but when it is their life that is being taken, they beg for mercy. How can their mind justify their action, but expect a totally different treatment if the roles reverse.
We gathered on the river side. People tried to salvage whatever they could from the river that didn't flow away. I saved few, who couldn't swim. Thankfully it is still noon and the weather is really warm, so the chances I get sick or catch a disease because of hypothermia are really low. The river is still freezing cold.
The 'noble' group are looking at me suspiciously. It looks like they neither expected nor approved my behavior towards bandits. I killed about half of them personally. The part I am not sure about is whenever they didn't like that I killed the same amount as they all together, or that I didn't stop when bandits kneel and begged for mercy.
But it doesn't matter. Ship is lost, next one will come in about two weeks, there are no horses, and I can't lose any more days. Caravan in Kamalesh will not wait.
My winter wolf armor is soaked and traveling with it becomes a bit of an issue. But I can't leave it just yet. Nights are still cold. Squeezing it as much as I can I prepare to depart checking all my equipment and weapons.
“Hunter.” says the lead Enforcer in common Malari. “You will guide us to the nearest port. There you will be rewarded.”
After few seconds of my silence nobles look at the lead Enforcer.
“Does that peasant even understand you Galor?” said the older lord in Tasar, expecting me not to understand the language of nobles.
Looking at them for few more seconds I think over the current situation. They have too many bags, the group is big and slow. It would cause too many problems, and the reward is not even guaranteed. Add to that that I have limited time.
But in the end it all doesn't matter, I would have helped them just because the silent young lord and chatty lady did not look corrupted, yet. But all the arguments are crossed out by two simple images, the bleeding captain on the floor and the running chubby man who didn't get on the ship.
I breathe out and turn around while walking away.
“You FUCKING rat!” screams the lead enforcer sprints at me. His all enchantments glowing as he is prepared to take my life.
Fucking retard, who screams while attacking from behind, well even if he didn't scream it would be useless, I can still hear his steps. But it is too late, I have already started circulating mana.
When he was 3 meters away from me I turn around and my must faster hands move into action. With my left hand I grab the wrist that holds the sword, instant cracking sound can be hears as his palm turns in very unnatural direction. Before he can howl in pain my right hand as a hook grabs his neck, the chainmail protecting the area around his neck is useless. Many have died underestimating the strength of my hands.
Within few seconds after stopping the air flow, brain stops all non-instinctual actions. And if the brain stop giving orders, all your magics and enchantments are useless. Many fights can be won quite easily if you know what to do.
I wait until I see the white of his eyes and his body limps. With my left hand I plug out the eyeball from the skull of the enforcer. I drop both of them on the ground.
I look at the noble group as they all bundle together and look at me in horror.
“Is this what you wanted?” I say in Tasar.
As if realizing that I am neither a peasant nor an assassin sent after them, but possibly hiding noble, the older lord eyes open wide and he screams.
“My name is Robert Sotozar, Lord of Thean! What family do you belong to?! Do you understand the consequences of attacking us on Baron Katof land?! Do you know what will be happen to you?!”
Oh here we go. Bandits beg for mercy and nobles start listing the names of their friends in hopes to scare. Even though they are the ones that attacked.
Pathetic.
“We are no longer on Baron's territory. And on the territory of Desert Alliance, where we currently are, the punishment for attacking unarmed travelers is death.”
I point with by bloody hand at the lying enforcer and sword near him.
“And as you can see, the law is not on your side. But that is totally different subject. Do you really think that I will allow this offense, just go? This dept must be payed.”
The Enforcers take out their weapon and stand in front of the nobles. Unbelievable, only now do they wake up and stand in front of them to protect. I can feel their fear, the lead enforcer should have been the most skilled one. He made a mistake of coming too close to me. If they attack from afar I am fucked. But they are too stupid to realize that.
“But I will let you live, for now. Remember Robert, one day I shall come and collect the debt.”
I turn around and start walking south.
I specifically addressed him with his name to show that his status holds no importance to me. He will spend years being careful and trying to find out who he offended, looking into the dark corner and fearing that the moment has come.
Was I angry because of their actions with during the departure from Toaan?
Or was it because they looked down at me and called me peasant?
I am not sure anymore.
But it does not matter. I still have too much to do.
And the time is too limited.
Even though time is so limited I would give it all just to spend few moments with the ones that no longer have it.
But it will never happen.
Life can not be stopped.
And new sun will rise.
Again and again.