Masahide pried boarded windows and crawled into buildings, but the best weapon he found was a bill. The blade at the end of the pole was flaked with rust, and the edge was dull.
When the healer said the Duke’s men were on the way, he must have meant now because a score of armed soldiers entered on the east side of town and rode down the main street.
He pulled himself up to the thatched roof of a shop and kept low. As they rode past, he heard them mention an inn full of sick.
A man with blue eyes rode forward and turned to the group. “We’re going to search the surrounding town for the sick. Those at the inn aren’t going anywhere.”
They turned their mounts and headed over the bridge. If they followed the road, it wouldn’t be long before they found Ema.
He dropped from the roof and kept to the woods beside them. There were houses along the way, so it let him overtake them quickly.
The three houses were quiet, with thin tendrils of smoke rising from their chimneys. Ema had done an admiral job collecting firewood, but it was far too much for a child.
He found her with dirt streaking her cheeks and her hands around the ankles of the dead, dragging the corpse toward the knoll. When she saw him, her hands slipped, and she fell back. A rock snagged her elbow, and it bled.
Ema rose and dusted herself off. Her mouth was turned down into an ugly grimace. “That’s it, I’m going in the cave.”
Masahide picked up the body and slung it over his shoulder. “Please don’t. You’re tapped in Everywhen. I don’t know if this is your real past, but I know you’ve recovered by the time I meet you. You need to wake up.”
“But they’re all gone.”
“No one’s gone. I’ve talked to those on the other side, and they’re real.”
“Talk to them now.”
Masahide stopped at the foot of the hill and lowered the load to the ground. “I can try, but this isn’t a real place.” He tried to open the conduit to Mount Templar, but it felt infinitely far away. Given up wasn’t an option, so he forced every ounce of his being to establish the link. Finally, a ray of light ripped the air. However, no portal opened beyond a small puncture that let in light. When it vanished, and he wilted.
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She looked at his with half-open, red-rimmed eyes and left, walking toward the cave with her doll. She seemed defeated.
He ran forward and wrenched the doll from under her arm. It was always with her.
“Hey, give it back.”
“No. This is what’s talking to you. It wants you to give up.”
His hand closed on nothing, for the doll suddenly vanished and reappeared under her arm. He looked down to see his feet buried in the dirt and pine needles.
She turned away and started to walk. “Don’t follow me.”
He needed to get through to her but might have already blown it. “Soldiers are coming to kill the sick.”
“No one’s left.”
“I’ve heard of the measures they take. They’ve come to burn everything. They’ll burn the sick at the inn… alive.”
A pine coln struck him in the face. The trees thrashed and snapped all around Ema. “I don’t want to hear any more of your lies.”
The soil took his boot as he tried to step forward. “Come back to us, Ema. You have people who care about you.”
She was gone.
He freed himself and put his boots back on, though they remained full of dirt and pebbles, but just as he was about to pursue, he heard hooves downhill. The soldiers had reached the houses.
“Don’t move,” a voice said.
The sound of a tightening bowstring made Masahide freeze. Hisa had said if he died, he died for real. He raised his hands.
The bowman whistled, and the score rode up. The leader looked at Masahide. “Is he sick?”
The healer came forward and looked him over. His muffled voice said he wasn’t showing any symptoms. “If he’s gone this long, he should be released. There’s no danger.”
The leader looked at him with blue eyes set deep in a stern face. “You carry that bill like a weapon. You should wait until we’re gone before you trim the trees.” He turned to his men. “Burn the houses.”
They marched downhill and lit torches. Why did Masahide care? This wasn’t real. He followed and took out three of them before they could get a word out. The bill in his hands whirled, and the swords that came out never got a chance to come close. With the reach, he could take them all out.
An arrow stuck in the ground next to him. I need speed. Though he couldn’t create a portal, he felt a trickle of Si’s energy flow through him. He moved in a flash and took out four more.
The hand of the leader grabbed the bill. “Why would you throw your life away so carelessly? Don’t you know who I am?”
Masahide gave a punch full of spirit energy, but it hit bedrock.
The man smiled. “I’m the Butcher.”
Masahide
Level: 34
Focus: Conjuring (conduit) +2
Secondary focus: Quake, Firequake tandem attack, spirit punch
Weapons: pure sword - 35% pure
Items: Heart of the Earth