The raging river violently carried its unwilling passenger downstream. Cassian’s head momentarily breached the surface and he gasped for air like a fish out of water before he was pulled back under by the powerful current. Who would have thought this would be how I’d die? I always asked myself hypothetically whether being burned alive or drowning would be the worst way to go. As a kid I always thought burning alive would. As of right now, I’m not so sure young me was in his right mind. His shoulder bounced hard off of a protruding rock formation—the impact knocked the wind out of him, and Cassian struggled to keep oxygen in his lungs.
He fought hard to get his head above the water again and tried to fill his lungs, but the water washed over him, and he inhaled more water than oxygen. The freezing liquid was sapping the energy from his body, and his will to live was exhausting rapidly. This is the coldest I’ve ever been. Come on. Not like this. Breaking through the surface Cassian saw his only chance approaching quickly. A sturdy tree branch reached out over the river maybe 25 yards ahead. If he could get a hold of the branch, he might be able to escape the murderous body of water.
Oh no. Another ten yards past the branch it looked to Cassian like the river dropped off the edge of a mountain. The sound of the water plummeting with bone crushing force almost extinguished Cassian’s remaining resolve. I can’t die here. I still need to avenge my mother. I need to fix this broken kingdom! Brought forth by thoughts of promises left unkept, a new surge of determination washed over him. The branch was approaching fast and Cassian needed to make sure he would be close enough to give himself the best chance at grabbing it. The river pushed him into an icy boulder and he managed to get his foot up in time to push off of it with all of his remaining strength.
Cassian propelled himself upwards. His torso shot up and partially out of the water with his arm outstretched. His fate was literally in his own hands. I am my own man and I control my own destiny. His hand made contact and clawed at the rough bark of the branch. He gripped it as tightly as he possibly could. The river hissed as if unwilling to give up its reluctant traveler. The powerful water pulled at Cassian as he held on for dear life. He felt like the force would rip him in half but he tore his other arm free from the water and managed to get both hands wrapped around the thick limb of the immense tree.
Slowly he began pulling himself up out of the water and onto the branch until he was hanging from the tree above the ferocious river. He paused for a moment to rest his burning muscles until the frigid winds clawed at him. It reminded him that death by hypothermia or frostbite was still a very possible outcome. Knowing that time was running out for him, he pulled himself along the sturdy branch until he got to the base of the tree and could climb down onto the shore. A brief surge of accomplishment warmed him but was quickly crushed by a heavy dose of reality. He was soaking wet and it was a snowy night in the mountains. Cassian shivered uncontrollably and his skin felt like it was being poked all over by frozen needles.
He placed a numb hand he could barely feel into his cloak and searched desperately. Maker! He held out his hand and in his palm sat a small charcoal colored piece of stone. Shivering uncontrollably he limped towards a cave on the side of a nearby mountain. If I can start a fire and get these wet clothes off I just might be able to survive the night. A biting breeze nipped at his back and he tried to up the pace of his limping walk to a run. His exhausted, shaking legs couldn’t handle the increased strain and he collapsed into the dirt.
Cassian pulled himself up with hands he could no longer feel and staggered towards the cave. When he reached the cave he gathered some dry brush and sticks to use as kindling in a corner. He removed his wet clothes and noticed he had lost his longsword in the river. Oh well, no time to lament my loss now. He pulled off his necklace, a piece of twine with a steel sigil on it. He struggled to hold the flint and sigil in his stiff, frozen fingers but he did the best he could manage. He struck them against each other over the pile of tinder and wood he had gathered but the damned things refused to spark.
It was as if the items had drawn a line in the sand and decided they were just fine with their master dying. Cassian became delirious, body shaking so hard that he was on the verge of having seizures. His eyelids had become so very heavy. Maybe an eternal slumber wouldn’t be so bad. I just don’t want to feel this bloody cold any longer. I’m coming to see you mother. He felt a sudden warmth and forced his eyes open. He had done it! The flint had done its job and started a fire. Cassian kissed the flint and cuddled up next to the fire. The heat was the best thing he had ever felt, like a guardian embracing him warmly. He closed his eyes and drifted off.
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Sunlight shining through the trees and spilling into the cave woke Cassian. His clothes had been dried overnight by the fire and he took his time getting dressed. I can’t think of a time I’ve ever slept that soundly. Cassian stretched out, arms high above his head, before holding his left hand in front of his face and wiggling his fingers. Sporadic waves of pain rolled from his palm to his fingertips and he winced, shaking his hand.
He brought his right hand down to where his hilt would normally rest and felt as if a piece of him was missing. She was a damn good sword to me. Ever since father gave her to me on my twelfth birthday, she has always been reliable. Cassian had never been religious, but he kneeled down on one knee and closed his eyes muttering a silent prayer for his lost sword. Maker, may she find her way to someone in need, and just as she was always a bastion to me, I hope that she might protect them. Standing up and walking out of the cave, the rising sun bathing him in warmth, a smile formed on his bruised face. I guess I need to find myself a weapon until I can get another sword.
Cassian wandered through the woods until he found a perfect fallen branch. He broke all the smaller limbs off of it and sharpened the end on a large rock until it resembled a crude spear. Well it’s certainly not my beautiful sword but it’ll have to do in a pinch. Reaching into his cloak he pulled out Luna’s mask which had miraculously survived his light swim. He held it up in front of him and then tucked it back away. I’ve got nothing to hide in these mountains. I am who I am.
He set out into the mountains using his new weapon as a walking stick. Time to make my way back to Deadwood and make that crooked auditor pay for his crimes. Now if only I had a clue which direction I needed to go. Hopefully I can find some travelers to ask or perhaps a village. Following the water seemed like the best bet so Cassian stayed near to the bank of the river. After a few hours passed he heard a group of people yelling up ahead of him. Gripping his spear he ran forward and stopped behind a gigantic tree. He peaked out to see what all of the commotion was about.
In a small clearing a group of hunters had caught a strange creature in a trap and they were closing in on it with a wall of spears. The animal was one Cassian had never seen or read about in books. His jaw dropped as he watched the wounded beast. It had the features of a snow leopard but an incredible set of horns protruded from its head like an elk—the horns shimmered incredibly like purple crystal. It’s the most majestic creature I’ve ever laid my eyes on. How have I never heard of this species before?
The huge injured cat whimpered and cried out. Its rear leg was bleeding and ensnared in a brutal iron trap. As it tried to free its injured leg it collapsed back to the ground, growling at the hunters viciously before resting its head in the dirt and whimpering.
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A Chamaroonian hunter with a trio of small hoops hanging from his nostril held his fist up before signaling his group with a pointed finger. His accomplices chuckled and nodded, moving in for the kill.
Cassian ran forward into the clearing placing himself between the hunters and the wounded animal. “Please wait! Don’t kill this creature! I beg you.”
The trappers crouched and pointed their spears at Cassian unsure of what to think of his appearance—both his sudden arrival and unsettling jet black eyes. “What manner of demon are you?” Asked the Chamaroonian with the nose rings through a heavy accent.
Cassian placed his wooden spear down on the ground and put his hands up in a signal that he meant the men no harm. “I am no demon. I am Prince Cassian Brighton of Enthamere.”
The hunters looked Cassian up and down—his clothing was tattered and he was covered in mud. The men glanced back and forth at each other before they began roaring with laughter.
“Sure boy, you are the Prince of Enthamere, and I am the Baron of Chamaroon,” Nose rings said, slapping his knees and cackling like a hyena.
Cassian made a sour face as if he had thrown back a mug full of vinegar, “Laugh all you want, but I truly am the Prince of Enthamere.” He reached into his cloak and held up his sigil necklace. “This is the necklace that bears my family crest, it was given to me by my dear mother, Queen Lilith Brighton. May her soul rest in peace.”
The men considered his words, trading uncertain looks. The wounded creature yelped in pain, and blood was starting to pool around its injured leg. The Chamaroonian stepped forward with his fist resting under his chin. “This monster was going to net us a fortune, am I to just accept the loss because you told me to?” He held his arms abreast with palms raised to the sky. “We all hail from poor villages and need this money to provide for our families.”
Cassian reached into his cloak and retrieved a leather pouch. “I will pay.” He walked slowly to nose rings and poured a handful of gold crowns into his outstretched palm. “Will this payment be satisfactory to cover your losses?”
The Chamaroonian held the palm full of gold crowns up to his face, wearing an expression reminiscent of a man lost at sea looking at a mug of drinkable water. “This is a very generous payment, my lord. The creature is yours.”
Something tells me that was likely more gold crowns than these men have ever seen in their lives. Cassian smiled at the hunters. “Would it be alright if I keep the net as well?”
The hunters looked at the handful of gold crowns and to the old net before cocking their heads and staring wide-eyed at the prince. “Yes, I think that would be quite alright.”
The trappers turned and talked amongst themselves with excitement. They packed up a rickety wooden cart full of felled animals and began to head off.
Cassian ran over to the wounded creature and kneeled down pulling the net off of it. Oh yeah, directions. “Hey, which way is Deadwood?”
Nose rings looked back over his shoulder pointing to the river and yelled back at Cassian, “Follow the river against the current and you should be there in a day or so!”
Cassian smiled and looked back at the wounded animal, moving closer- “Okay friend, let's get this trap off and get you free.”
The animal flashed its impressively sharp teeth at Cassian and growled a warning at him. Okay this might be a little harder than I thought. Cassian put his hands out in front of him to show the giant cat that he meant him no harm. As he extended his hands the beast attempted to gore him with its many pointed horns. The trap restrained the beast and it crashed hard back to the dirt whimpering in pain.
I need to find a way to show this poor cat that I want to help it so it will let me get close enough to free it from the trap. Cassian looked around the clearing and found exactly what he needed. He ran over to a thorny bush full of blackberries and picked a handful of them returning to the trapped creature. Between labored breaths it whined.
Attempting to growl at him, it exhaled heavily, its energy was fading rapidly as it continued to lose blood. Cassian came around to the head of the big cat, careful to avoid the pointed horns. This might be the worst idea I’ve ever had. Cassian closed his eyes, holding his breath and extended his palm full of berries to the animal.
The gigantic cat narrowed its beautiful blue eyes at Cassian as if considering the offering. Cassian felt the rough tongue run over his palm and lap up the fruit. Maker! It actually worked! Just like the feral cats I used to feed at the palace! Well, except bigger than me and way more dangerous. He opened one eye to peek at the creature. The huge cat lowered its head towards him, magnificent amethite antlers coming just inches from his nose. Cassian extended his open hand and ran his palm over the animal's fuzzy brow. The cat’s purr vibrated Cassian’s whole body.
“Okay friend, will you let me try to help you get free now?” Cassian asked, making his way down towards the bleeding hind leg. He grabbed the two halves of the large trap that resembled a set of terrible iron teeth clamped around the creature's leg. It roared loudly when he touched the trap but didn’t make any attempt to lash out. Okay here we go. Cassian pulled as hard as he could to separate the iron jaws but he didn’t have the strength to open the trap. The cat yelped in anguish, warm blood flowed out and stained Cassian’s hands.
Damnit! He might have been able to pull the trap open on his best day, but his body was beaten to hell from recent events. Cassian felt like a shell of himself and he was pretty sure that he had broken some bones in his shoulder when he was battered by boulders in the river. Think, think, think. The cat mewled in misery and the sound pained Cassian far more than his broken bones ever could.
A particular lesson Cassian had with Eldan came to mind. It was a story about a man who needed to move a giant slab of onyx. It would be impossible for him to move it through brute force. The man utilized a long wooden pole and wedged it under the stone. By applying force to the pole he was able to create exponentially greater energy and he utilized the energy to move the onyx. Leverage is what Eldan had called the principle.
“Hold on friend, I’m going to get you free. Trust me.” Cassian ran over and grabbed his wooden spear. Close enough. He jammed the unsharpened end into the rusted jaws of the trap. “This is going to hurt, okay big guy? But it’s going to be over quickly and you won’t be restrained anymore.”
The massive cat grunted as if it understood Cassian somehow. Okay let's do this. Three. Two. One. Cassian pulled on the far end of the spear with every bit of strength he had remaining, putting all of his weight into it. The creature cried out loudly in agony.
The trap sprung open with a piercing metallic scraping sound. Warm blood poured from the wound. “I need to wrap this wound. Will you allow me to?” Cassian said looking up into the cat’s eyes. The creature lay there breathing heavily.
Cassian quickly ripped part of his cloak and wrapped the wounded hind leg delicately with it. The fountain of blood halted and the injured cat let out a deep exhale. The animal didn’t try to get up, just laid there. Cassian ran over and grabbed another handful of blackberries. He came over to the face of the cat and offered it the fruit. Again it's rough tongue scooped up the food and purred in appreciation before it passed out in the clearing.
Cassian grinned while watching the massive cat’s spotted belly rising and falling as it breathed. After some time had passed he grabbed the net and walked down to the river. He could see the swimming trout jumping out of the water. Cassian converted the old net into a makeshift fishing net and he dropped it into the water. Despite the river nearly murdering me last night, I appreciate it today. He looked up to the cloudy sky and a ray of sunlight poked through, warming his face. What a wonderful day to be alive.