“Remember when Rogoth tripped over a branch and fell face-first into horse poop?” Tarmon said and let out a roaring laugh.
“Oh yeah, he said the taste was the worst part,” Arturo said, unable to hold back his laughter. There were parts of Crystal Syndicate that he missed. The bond he had with his squad being one of them. If only things had gone differently. “Do you miss them?”
“Rogoth and the others?” Tarmon asked.
“The Crystal Syndicate,” Arturo said.
“Not really,” Tarmon took out a piece of bread and took a bite. He gulped down some water and wiped his lips. “I never felt part of the Crystal Syndicate. The only reason I stayed was because of you.”
“Me?” Arturo said. “All I did was find out you could use the power.”
“I don’t know—something about you drew me in. Maybe it was the giant sword or the rumors around camp. Perhaps it’s because you know my secret. Whatever the case, you’re the reason I stayed.”
That explained why Tarmon came looking for him. Arturo did like Tarmon. He was a good man and he wouldn’t be alive if not for him. He wished Gosford, Rogoth, Kellan, and even Cevelt were with him. Fenrir had been a good man but he was dead. There was no point in wishing for the dead to return, he learned that when his family had been slaughtered.
Finding good soldiers was going to be hard. Arturo may have some recognition but would it be enough to gather support? He could pay a small group to fight with him but he wouldn’t be able to sustain that cost for long. “What would you have done if I had been dead?”
“Good question,” Tarmon looked up at the sky thoughtfully. “Maybe hide out in a small village. I hadn’t thought about it, maybe I would have joined another mercenary band.”
“I see,” Arturo said. He had left the Whispering Mists three days ago. A small part of him hoped Jen would come after him, while another part was glad she hadn’t. He didn’t want to be the reason his sister had regrets and she would have regretted leaving, even if it would take time. She was probably cursing him out for leaving without saying goodbye. One day, she would have to understand.
“You still haven’t told me where we’re going,” Tarmon said.
Arturo looked forward. He didn’t know where he was going. “What do you think about recruiting in Malvarian?” he asked.
“A fine choice,” Tarmon said. “Where we recruit doesn’t matter to me. It’s a shame we can’t have one united army like the Durmaddon’s. How do you think we’ll fare?”
That was it. A united army. That’s what I have to do. Arturo’s mind was racing with the possibilities. Soldiers from all over Aidris, fighting together and showing the other nations it was possible to fight as one. He needed to recruit soldiers from all over the continent, not just Malvarian or Azzellia but Eshil Domain, Vandalor, Skahad, and the Forest Dwellers.
“Earth to Arturo,” Tarmon snapped his fingers.
“I know where we’re going,” Arturo said with a shake of his head.
“Where?”
“To the Forest Dwellers.”
“What?” Tarmon exclaimed. “Are you insane?”
“Maybe,” The more he thought about it, the more Arturo was convinced this was the right course of action. “I don’t want to lead soldiers from one nation. I want to show the other nations that we can fight as one. If I recruit soldiers from every nation, including the Forest Dwellers, I can prove that we can work together.”
“Or we’ll get our throats slit by them,” Tarmon said.
“No, they aren’t the savages people make them out to be,” Arturo said.
“How do you know?”
“My father,” Arturo felt a lump grow in his throat and he coughed. Thinking about Archard always made him sad. “My father traveled to the Forest Dwellers and told me a bit about them. They are organized and willing to talk, so long as you show respect.”
“I don’t know, what if they’ve changed since your father saw them?”
“I’m willing to risk it,” Arturo said. He didn’t think fate would bring him to the Forest Dwellers to die. This was the right decision; he could feel it in his bones. “You don’t have to come.”
“Hold on a minute,” Tarmon said. “I’m going wherever you go. If you want to get killed—or worse—I’ll be right there with you.”
Arturo chuckled. “You have a vivid imagination. Besides, my father told me the Forest Dwellers are skilled fighters. We’ll need them in the war to come.”
They rode in silence for some time. The wind blew and they passed by some travelers. A family of sixteen was in a wagon and gave them some meat, much to Arturo’s surprise. He pocketed the food for later and kept riding. There weren’t many travelers after an hour and then the road was quiet.
Birds chirped in the distance and Arturo had an urge to stop and swing his sword. He pushed away the impulse, they had a way to go before entering the Forest Dwellers' borders. Despite his assurances to Tarmon, he didn’t know much more than what he told him. Archard hadn’t told him much and he never asked for more details.
If only you were alive. I have so many questions. Arturo thought. The world was more complex than he could have ever imagined. How naïve he had been, thinking he could travel the lands and become a legend. A child’s dream, long dead. Perhaps he would find his answers one day.
“Why a united army?” Tarmon asked, snapping Arturo out of his thoughts.
“Huh?”
“Sorry, I’ve been thinking about it the past couple of hours. Why would getting soldiers from all over Aidris prove we can fight together?”
“There’s more to it than that. If I can bring warriors from the Forest Dwellers and we all fight well together, I prove that can be done. But there is one more reason. I don’t want any of the nations to think I’m taking sides in their conflicts. If I have warriors from all around Aidris, they can’t accuse me of favoring a specific nation. I won’t get involved in any wars between the nations, only against Durmaddon’s army.”
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“What about after? Will you disband the army?”
“I don’t know,” Arturo said. He didn’t expect to survive the war. “Ask me when it’s over.”
“What about rules?”
“We’re fighting for the good of Aidris. I will execute anyone who rapes, murders, or any other serious crime,” Arturo said. Tarmella’s grace if one of his men raped someone, he didn’t know how he would react. The last time that happened all he could recall was his vision going red and then there were two dead bodies.
“Make sure to let any potential recruits know,” Tarmon said.
“You can count on it,” Arturo said. “You gave me the idea—your question about how we would fare against a united enemy. As it stands now, I favor the Durmaddon’s.”
“I hope you-”
Tarmon got cut off as movement came from all directions. Arturo took his sword out and realized they were surrounded. How did he not hear them until now? Each of the ambushers wore silver armor and helmets that covered their faces. There were six of them. He turned to Tarmon and noticed his face was pale.
Arturo didn’t need to ask why. He noticed two mages standing. Both were women. One had dark brown hair and the other blonde. Each wore the same red-colored robe with their insignia of a hand grabbing a half-white and black orb with little dots.
“Well, well, well, look who we found here,” The mage with dark brown hair said. “I’ve been searching for you for months.”
Tarmon gulped. “Elmara, Jamila, it’s been a long time.”
If Tarmon was trying to sound brave, he was failing at it. Arturo could hear the quiver in his voice which had to mean these mages meant him harm. That’s all he needed to know. “What do you want?” Arturo asked.
“Don’t speak,” Elmara said. “We have no business with you fifty-man slayer.”
Am I supposed to be impressed? Arturo got off his horse and kept his sword up. He didn’t want to fight on horseback. “How about you be on your way and we’ll be on ours.”
“Did you not hear me?” Elmara said irritably. “Your companion is coming with us for using the power when he wasn’t supposed to. Nothing you can do to save him now.”
Elmara and Jamila walked towards Tarmon and ignored Arturo. He wasn’t going to have that. Arturo stepped in front and the six knights raised their weapons. Jamila looked at Arturo sternly, “It won’t be pleasant for you if you don’t get out of my way,” she said.
“Try to move again and you’ll regret it,” Arturo said.
“We don’t have time to deal with this fool,” Elmara said.
Arturo felt his armor grow cold as the mage tried to use the power on him. Instead of fear, Elmara’s face filled with bewilderment when nothing happened. This was the first time a mage had tried to use the power on him. Tarmon tried to use the power on him once but this was a full-fledged mage. This was his first time seeing how they reacted when confronted. He didn’t want to kill a mage, that would cause more problems than it would solve but he couldn’t let them take Tarmon.
“Are you not going to do anything? Fine, I will,” Jamila raised her hand and had the same reaction when nothing happened to Arturo.
Despite his better judgment, Arturo stepped forward and gripped Jamila’s robes, lifting her off the ground. The Silver Knights all gasped but didn’t make a move toward him.
“Let go of me you fool!” Jamila said.
Arturo moved his face inches away from her. “This is your final warning. Nobody is touching Tarmon unless they get through me. The next move you make may be your last.” Then he threw Jamila, who rolled on the ground. Her face was full of murderous intent as she glared at him.
Lucky for him, the knights hadn’t attacked. Was that because the mages didn’t order them to or were they shocked to see a mage getting knocked down by someone who couldn’t use the power? Arturo supposed it didn’t matter.
“What do you want us to do?” One of the knights asked.
Elmara glared at Arturo and was visibly shaking with rage. “I want them both taken. Kill the big one if you must.”
Arturo saw no way out of this confrontation. Judging by their armor, he would guess these knights were good fighters. Elmara knew he was the fifty-man slayer and she still told the knights to take them. They had to be skilled or else the mage would have tried something else.
Before the fighting could start, a horse came rushing in and Arturo was surprised to see who it was. Her fiery-red hair and twin swords strapped to her back made her unmistakable. What was his sister doing here?
“Everyone needs to calm down,” Jen said and jumped off her horse. She saw Jamila on the ground, glaring at Arturo and the other mage, who was staring at her with awe. Jen shot Arturo an irritated look.
“The Whispering Mists? What are you doing here?” One of the knights asked.
“I recognize you. Ser Devord Manroot of the Silver Knights, am I right?” Jen said.
“That is my name,” Devord said. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m here to stop all of you from doing something stupid,” Jen shook her head as she looked at Jamila once more. “Anything more stupid.”
“I don’t care who you are, these two are coming with us!” Jamila said.
“No,” Jen said. She sounded so confident. “These men are under my clan’s protection. Or do you want a conflict with the Whispering Mists?”
What’s she doing? The mages don’t care about the Whispering Mists' opinions! Arturo was about to say so when he realized Jen wasn’t talking to the mages. She was talking to Devord.
“Listen here, Tarmon is wanted by Mortham tower. You will let us take him,” Elmara said. “If you wish, we’ll ignore the assault on Jamila in turn for a peaceful resolution.”
“Fat chance-”
“Be quiet,” Jen said to Arturo and turned her attention back to the mages. “As I said, they are both under my clan’s protection. Devord, you do recall our agreement?”
“Agreement? What agreement?” Jamila asked.
“If someone is under the Whispering Mists' protection, we must not attack, imprison or interfere with them,” Devord said. He looked conflicted. “It’s an agreement our clans made a long time ago and one we hold dear.”
“What? I contracted you for this—you can’t go back on your word!” Elmara said.
In response, Devord sheathed his sword and ordered the others. “Sorry, we can’t interfere in Whispering Mists affairs.”
Elmara was shaking with fury and Jamila looked no better. They both looked at Arturo with disdain. “So be it,” Elmara said, focusing her attention on Tarmon. “You may escape us today but you will be brought to Mortham tower.”
Without another word, Elmara created a portal and said something to Devord but Arturo couldn’t hear what was said. Then they were gone, and the portal winked out of existence. He let out a sigh of relief. Life would have been much harder if he had been forced to kill the mages.
“What are you doing here?” Arturo asked and placed his sword on the hooks on his back armor.
“I’m here to help you,” Jen said. “You’re lucky I got here when I did. What were you thinking? Leaving without saying goodbye?”
“I was saving you from leaving your clan. I see you did so regardless,” Arturo said.
“I didn’t leave the Whispering Mists. I’m charged with helping you, for now. I don’t know when I’ll be wanted back,” Jen said. She turned to Tarmon. “What did you do to get on the mage's bad side?”
“I killed someone who got away with murder. They were friends of a powerful lord and I took it upon myself to bring justice. This was when I was in training to become a mage. I barely got away and have been hunted ever since,” Tarmon said.
Arturo said nothing, for he remembered Tarmon telling him this in the Crystal Syndicate. He found it no different than him killing the two men from the Crystal Syndicate who wanted to rape Lily. He shook the thought away.
“That’s not good. I doubt the mages will leave next time,” Jen said and sighed. “That can come later. Arturo, can I talk to you? Alone?”
Arturo nodded and he watched Tarmon walk off. Once he was out of earshot, Jen let him have it. “Do you have any idea how much trouble it was to find you? I’ve been searching for days! If you weren’t so big, I doubt I would have found you!”
“How did you find me?”
“I was asking every traveler I saw if they saw someone fitting your description. One person did and told me which way to go,” Jen said. “That’s beside the point! Next time you plan on leaving, at least say goodbye. Do you understand?”
When did his sister start treating him like a child? Arturo was supposed to be the older sibling, not her. He allowed himself a small smile. This was Jen and she had never been afraid of giving him a piece of her mind before. “I promise, I won’t leave you again without saying goodbye.”
“Good,” Jen said.
“I’m glad you can help me. You’ll be useful,” Arturo said.
Jen narrowed her eyes suspiciously, “useful how?”
“You know about all the nations, their mannerisms and whatnot, right?”
“Yeah,” Jen said.
“Well, I’m putting together an army. I want to gather troops from all the nations and fight.”
“That isn’t why…” Jen stopped for a moment. “I can only do so much.”
He didn’t miss her smile. This would be good. He could spend time with his sister and gather his army. “We should get going. There are a few hours left before dark,” Arturo said.
“Where are we going?” Jen asked.
“We’re going to see the Forest Dwellers.”