PART II - A WAR TINGED WITH BETRAYAL

Lena and Vanis both sighed. The female Elf knelt down and brushed off a bit of floor space, before sitting down and facing Callie, with Vanis quickly doing the same “It’s all about betrayal and is exactly why we are in this wagon right now,” Lena began. “About six years ago, small bands of Demons started striking out at villages in the southeast. They would swoop in, set fire to everything, kill everybody. Men, Women, Children. The old and the young. The rich and the poor. It didn’t matter. Everyone was killed. Afterwards, the Demons would just disappear into the night.”

Vanis picked up the story. “Over time, the Demons got more and more bold, and grew significantly in number. They finally started razing the larger towns and forced the people to unify and take a stand. Soon, the Free Folk, which is us, allied with the Humans in the southwest, intent on a single, decisive campaign to rid the world of the Demon horde for good.”

“I gather it didn’t work?” Callie said, seeing the looks both Elves were wearing.

Lena shook her head sadly. “Thousands of our people marched to battle. It was a mobilization the likes of which had not been seen since the Slaver Wars. We were to meet up with our allies, a Human army of similar size and power. But that didn’t happen.”

“It was the eve of battle,” Vanis sighed. “Our folk, the scores of Elves, Dwarves, Beastkin, Ogres, Fae, and all the rest were on the field. Across the plain were thousands of the Demons charging forward. Yet, still there was no sign of the Human army. Finally, scouts reported their army coming and that they would be there the morning of the next day. The battle would be raging by then, but at least they were coming soon.”

“Did they not come?”

Lena laughed bitterly. “Oh, they came! That next morning they finally rode right up to the top of the ridge overlooking our forces and the army of the Demons killing each other below. Then, they simply turned around and left.”

“What?” Callie said with a gasp.

“Yes, they simply turned around and went home. No reason was given. And the resulting battle was a slaughter. The Demons were absolutely brutal and relentless. Scarcely one-in-fifty of our people survived. And those that did were so traumatized by the betrayal and the demon brutality, that for many, they are still haunted to this day.”

“Why did the Human army leave?”

“Don’t know. Maybe cowards. Maybe traitors,” Tazrok said with an angry growl.

Lena pointed at Tazrok. “Exactly! That’s what’s so frustrating, Callie. We don’t actually know. The Human army returned to their lands and sealed it with high walls and powerful magics. All attempts at diplomacy, or to even get an explanation were rebuffed. For all these years, we’ve heard nothing from the Humans. Not a single word. Nothing is allowed to enter, and nothing ever leaves. The Humans have completely cut themselves off from the rest of the world. Those Humans that were living in our cities and towns simply left and disappeared behind the walls. Even those with non-Human spouses or families just abandoned their lives and retreated behind the walls. Any non-Humans that were trapped inside the walls haven’t been heard from since, and you can imagine the rumors about what could have happened to them.”

“So as you might guess,” Vanis said, “we of the North do not think kindly of Humans. We blame them for the thousands of dead and this damnable, unending war where hundreds more die every week. We think them cowards and traitors. If a Human, any Human, were to enter one of our towns or cities, it is very unlikely they would make it out unscathed.”

“Must keep quiet, Little One. You are Gnome.”

“He’s right, Callie,” Lena said. “It is crucial you tell no one about your belief you are Human, or were, or might be, or whatever this is. If you do, there is a very very good chance you would be harmed. You must be a Gnome.”

Callie blanched. “My God. I didn’t know!”

Lena held up her hand. “Deep down, we all know that all Humans aren’t bad. But there is still so much anger right now among the Free Folk, that it doesn’t matter. We’ll figure out what is going on with you, but we need to do it discreetly, for your own safety.”

“When we get to the training camp, it is imperative we stick to a simple story,” Vanis said. “You are a Gnome. You don’t know how you got here. You have amnesia. You don’t know your class. And you don’t know if you are Conscript.”

“Okay…” Callie said meekly. “I can try to do that.”

“Must more than try. Must do. Or can’t protect,” Tazrok said.

“We’ll be there with you, at least until you figure out what to do next,” Vanis said.

Callie smiled in return. “Thank you. All of you. You’ve been so good to me. Where I come from, people aren’t so nice. Everyone is basically angry and selfish.”

Callie gazed out through the bars at the landscape rolling by. It was all a magnificent green, brighter than she had ever seen before, quickly disappearing into a forest of mixed trees. Her view was abruptly blocked as someone walked by. It was the Lizardkin from earlier, Xin, or possibly another that looked just like her, simply strolling past. This gave Callie a host of new questions to ask.

“Hey Lena? Who are the Free Folk you mentioned? You said it referred to the people here. Free from what? And who all are these Folk?”

“You really don’t remember anything, do you?” Lena said.

“No. I don’t. I have no idea what is going on, so this is all basically new to me.”

“The Free Folk are all the tribes and towns and cities of the North and as far south as the Great Oasis of the desert. Over the years, our leaders have tried to come up with other names. ‘The Alliance’ was one that was popular for a time, for example. But everyone still just calls us The Free Folk.”

“Why? Where does the name come from?”

“Like so many things, Callie,” Vanis began, “it begins with a war.”

“That’s right,” Lena continued. “As I recall the story, two hundred years ago, there was a nation to the south that openly practiced slavery. People were bought and sold like cattle and then subjected to dreadful conditions as laborers or as soldiers. Some were even sold and used as pleasure slaves. Often, the slavers would send raiding parties into other areas to take people for their markets. Over time, the Three Kingdoms joined together and the people of the North went to war with the slavers as a single combined force.”

“All nations go fight slavers,” Tazrok said. “Become Free Folk.”

“That’s right,” Vanis said, nodding at the Ogre. “Calling themselves The Free Folk of the North, for the first time Elves and Dwarves and The Kin and Ogres and all the others, including the Gnomes like you, marched side-by-side for a unified cause. The slaver lands were conquered, and over time everyone simply kept the name becoming The Free Folk. The unity of the races somehow, maybe miraculously, continued. Cities opened, people moved around and in time our lives have all intermingled with each other.”

“Ogres live everywhere now,” Tazrok said proudly.

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“Where were the Ogres originally from?” Callie asked, having no geographical references, but curious nonetheless..

Gesturing towards Tazrok, Vanis said, “The Ogres originally come from the mountains to the north or the great plains of the west, so were always very isolated, but they were there on the field for the Slaver Wars, even though it was far from their homes. Now they are seen throughout the lands doing whatever it is that people do. Many still live in their mountain cities, but some have moved south and east into the other cities or have country farmsteads.”

“Am city Ogre,” Tazrok said, gesturing to himself. “Much good ale there.”

Callie smiled, somehow the idea of inter-racial unity amazing. “That’s so neat that you all are friends! Where I’m from, we have the United Nations, but a lot of the members don’t get along very well. Somebody is always attacking someone else, and then it all gets political. Ugh!”

“Oh, we have plenty of politics here too,” Vanis said. “There’s always someone who is rich or powerful, or maybe one of the Legacy Kings tries to rule outside of their purview, but as a whole, everyone gets along.”

“What is a Legacy King?”

“Royal families of old. Three of them. There are actually two kings and one queen currently, but the name Legacy Kings has stuck around. Up to the uniting of the Free Folk at the time of the Slaver Wars, the land had three nations and three kings. After, when we as a people remained united as the Free Folk, the three Kings had their power stripped from them. Their rule now is all ceremonial and formality. The real power is in a group of representatives, a parliament. Everyone still likes the feeling of royalty, though, even if it doesn’t mean much.”

“We have something like that where I come from, too. Not my country, but one called England. There was Queen Elizabeth, who was the queen for seventy years. She didn’t have much power, but mostly everyone still liked her. She actually died, so her son Charles became the King.”

“The same happens here. The first-born children usually become the new king or queen. Although the current queen has no children, as she is Elven and her husband is a Beastkin, a Wolfkin, so I am unsure what will happen. Maybe they will adopt? Or the throne may pass to the Queen’s brother or his children? Time will tell.”

“The different races can’t have children together?” Callie asked.

“Mostly,” Lena said. “It is said that male Elves are able to sire children with Human females, but not the other way around, and also with some of the Fae. But things can be strange with the Fae. For example, some change their genders from time to time. Gnomes and Goblins can all have children together, too. Otherwise no. Even most of the different Beastkin races can’t reproduce with each other no matter the basis for their form. As a result, mixed families adopt. It’s very common.”

Gnomes and Goblins? They had Goblins here? Like from The Hobbit?

“So what is a class?” Callie asked, her head coming back to Lena’s earlier quest. “Is that like your job or what you got educated in?”

“No,” Lena laughed, “Your class comes to you when …”

Far in the distance, a horn sounded a trio of blasts, quickly followed by a second and a third set.

“No time, Lena. It looks like we’ve arrived.”

“Right,” Lena said, blowing air out through pursed lips and starting to get up. “How do we want to do this? I’m sure the officers at the camp will tell us what to do, but for now I think one of us needs to always be with Callie.”

“Agree,” Tazrok said. “Protect Little One.”

“Callie,” Vanis continued, “it will likely be very chaotic there, and it will be easy to get underfoot at your size. Do your part to make sure to stay with at least one of us, especially if we start to get separated by class or some such. I’ll make an effort to track down a Scryer as quickly as possible.”

A flood of emotions hit Callie and she started to feel weak.

Lena noticed Callie shaking. “Are you ok, Callie?”

“I’m really scared, Lena. None of what has happened is making any sense to me and I apparently don’t know anything about … anything. ”

“We’ll figure it out. Just stay close.”

“Could carry. Ride shoulder.” Tazrok said.

“Good idea,” Lena agreed, “especially if it gets really crowded. Just be careful if you pick her up, you’re very strong and could hurt her.”

“Hey! Have dainty fingers,” Tazrok said as a reminder, grinning as he wiggled his giant hands.

“I’m sure,” Lena responded with a chuckle. “Just be careful.”

The wagon plodded on, Callie watching as the training camp finally came into view. But to call it a camp simply did not do it justice. It was a legitimate fort, with high log walls, even higher watchtowers, and a huge gate as an entrance, opened wide. People could be seen lining the battlements, staying ever alert for anything out of the ordinary.

As the wagon drew close, its angle eventually blocked the view into the fort itself, as the open bars were on its side, but several people walked by; an array of Elves, Dwarves, and animal-like people. More of these ‘Beastkin’ like Xin, most-likely, since Vanis said there were multiple types. She saw a cat person and another lizard person and a dog or wolf person and others too briefly to know for sure. Callie found she had stepped up to the bars, her hands gripped knuckle-white tight as she gaped in awe and wonder at all the strange people, and the strange clothes and the strange everything.

Suddenly there was a streak of light flitting around that stopped in front of Callie, outside the wagon. “Hello!” said a teeny little person cheerily. Callie looked closer and could see it appeared to be a tiny woman with a pair of wings, just hovering there. Her skin was a milky-white with just a hint of green, with bright-red close-cropped hair, and she was wearing minimal clothing, just tiny cloth garments covering her chest and waist. She also wore a little backpack that looked to be made of leather that nestled between her wings. The wings hummed, moving faster than the eye could see, as she zipped to and fro. She couldn’t be more than eight inches tall. Or was that twenty centimeters? Stupid metric! The winged woman giggled again, said ‘Goodbye!’ and zipped out of view.

Callie turned with a look of glee on her face. “What … What was that?”

“That was a Sprite,” Lena said.

Callie got a perplexed look on her face. “So, they fight in the war, too? How?”

“Not usually,” Vanis said, “Sprites tend to be used as couriers since they fly quite fast. They can easily deliver messages or small items, and even larger ones if their backpack is enchanted to hold more. You can imagine how fragile they are, though, being so small, so they don’t see front-line action. Pixies are large enough to fight though, as Wizards or Healers, so you might see them in combat.”

“Wow…” Callie trailed off, again looking out at everything going on. The craziness was somehow acting as a complete distraction for Callie, making her forget for the moment everything that had happened to her, as her attention flitted from one amazing new sight to another. In the back of her head, she knew she needed to focus, but she had just seen a tiny flying person! How was anything supposed to compete with that?

The wagon was slowly pulled through the courtyard for a time and finally stopped. A dark-haired Elf walked up to the side, searching his clothing for something. “Has anyone seen the key?” he called out. Several denials were called back.

“Sorry everyone,” the man said to those in the wagon. “We’re looking for the key to the lock. It’s around here somewhere.”

The sound of collective groans came from everyone, along with a few choice, four-letter words. Lena reached forward, taking Callie’s shoulder, and slowly pulled her away from the bars and to her side. “Tazrok, if you would? I don’t feel like waiting for them.”

Tazrok grunted and pushed on the bars. For a moment the bars resisted, and then the whole lock was ripped open, hinges at the top allowing the entire assembly to flip upwards. Tazrok swung his legs out and stood up, continuing to hold the open side of the wagon. The Elf seeking his key just stood there stunned, staring up at the huge Ogre.

“Everybody out,” Tazrok said loudly. Nobody waited for a second request and over a dozen Elves, Dwarves and one nervous Gnome quickly exited the wagon, Lena lifting Callie to the ground.

“Th-this way, everyone.” the Elf said nervously, gesturing, as Tazrok lowered the steel grate back into place with a light slam. “Just follow the path to the main yard and wait with the rest. The Commandant will be addressing everyone shortly.” Several of the recruits started heading away, but a few stayed behind, looking up wide-eyed at Tazrok.

“You could have opened that any time?” someone asked.

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you?”

Tazrok shrugged. “Not prisoner.”

The stragglers turned and began to follow the rest. Lena took Callie’s hand and started to walk as well, but Callie was just rooted in place, staring up at Tazrok.

“What is it, Callie?” Lena asked.

“He’s so … big!”

Lena looked up at Tazrok. “Yes. He’s an Ogre.”

“He’s huge!” was all Callie could say, having no proper words. She barely came up to the giant’s knees, his huge head at least three meters above her. Tazrok looked down and grinned, taking the observation as a compliment. Turning, he started a slow shuffle down the path.

“Come, Little One,” Vanis said, taking the Gnome's other hand. Callie shook her head in disbelief and followed the lead into the heart of the fort.

As the trio walked off, another Elf ran up to the one with dark hair. “Sir, I found the key. Here you …” and then his voice simply trailed off as he looked at the empty, damaged wagon.