Chapter 24

“That was brilliantly done,” Ezhno said.

They were camped on the far side of the river. Mato had simply used his shield ability to bring the cohort across in three groups. The pincer monsters in the river didn’t seem to know what to do when his shield repelled their attacks.

Mato glanced downstream, making certain he could see everyone, particularly Poplar and Tupi.

“There was nothing brilliant, Teacher. I just tried to figure out whether you wanted me to win or lose.”

Ezhno laughed and put another slice of claw meat on the fire. “You undervalue yourself, Mato. You did not use my sword techniques to beat Poplar, you used his techniques. You praised his teaching, and then demonstrated that you could do it better than he could.

“Had you used my techniques, they would have accused us of more heresy. We would have been stuck in a downward spiral of recriminations. Instead, you have given us authority on matters of orthodoxy. Not only do we know what the wisdoms know, we know it better than they do.”

Mato glanced downstream again and ate a bite of monster claw meat. “This will not end the problem. They will be more determined to kill us now.”

“That was unavoidable when you received a transcendent mark on a body that should not have lived. We can no longer hide our power, so we must adapt.”

That was a nice idea, but what about Sotsona? Ezhno seemed to think that the king would value having powerful trail masters under his command, but Mato thought it was equally possible that Sotsona would feel threatened and have them executed.

They had argued that point enough. Ezhno was persistent in his hope, and Mato in his doubt. The only way to resolve the conflict was to move forward and find out the truth. Hopefully the truth would not kill them both.

“My thoughts are grim,” Mato said.

Ezhno sighed. “I confess that mine are as well. Think on the problem, and if you have a new idea, we will discuss it.”

That was the nice thing about arguing with Ezhno. He didn’t seem to care who was right, only what was right.

* * *

Mato dreamed of thunder. Then Ezhno shook him awake.

“What?”

“Listen.”

There was a deep thump that he felt in his bones, but barely heard with his ears. The cohort were gathering their gear and calling back and forth to each other.

“What is it?” Mato asked.

“I don’t have time for your games, Mato.”

A giggle forced itself out of his throat. He buckled his sword belt on, tightened his boot laces, and gulped the healing water Ezhno offered.

“Let’s go see,” Ezhno said, and pushed his way through the brush beside the river.

They found the trail a few dozen paces into the forest, where the gloom from the canopy slowed the development of undergrowth.

Fourteen finders ran up the trail and joined them.

Ezhno nodded to them. “I don’t know what this is yet, so stay with us and do what we tell you to do.”

“Yes, Trail Master,” the shortest one said. Mato noted that he had his serpent sword on his belt.

Every few seconds there was a great thump, and the ground would shake as if a massive boulder had fallen. Mato’s mind went back to the earth shaker worm, but unless there was a pack of them this had to be something else.

They jogged up the trail, saving their strength while moving as fast as they could. They climbed a hill for several minutes, and finally came out on a rise that gave them a view for two or three clips.

The creature was massive. It was covered in scales, except where it had a shell that protected the top and bottom of its body. Mato would have called it a turtle, but it was a bit too tall. Despite that, it was a bit too flat to be anything else. It had a massive head, with jaws that snapped the tops off of the huge trees.

“What is that?” Mato asked.

“I told you I didn’t have time for your games,” Ezhno said.

Mato noticed some funny looks from the finders around them.

“How do I kill it?”

Ezhno slapped him on the back of the head. “Find a weakness and exploit it.”

“I don’t remember its weaknesses,” Mato said, pretending either of them had ever seen anything like this. It lifted a massive foot, took a step fifty paces long, and slammed its foot down, shaking the earth and shattering trees. “You’re my teacher. You tell me what it is, and how to kill it. Then I kill it and you tell me how I could have done it in two steps instead of five.”

“Right,” Ezhno said. “That is a, uh, draxotherm. It comes from essence leaking through a chicken and into a turtle. They aren’t very smart, but as you can see, they can get quite large. All you need to do is jump into its mouth and stab your sword up into its brain.”

Another earth shaking footstep rattled them.

“Pretty high jump,” said one of the finders.

“Try cutting its foot. Then it will bite you. Problem solved,” Ezhno said.

Mato cocked his head. Actually, that might be a plan. It probably would notice a spirit blade to the foot, and might very well try to bite you for cutting it. The question was, how long would a blade need to be to cut through the top of its mouth and into its brain?

“Thank you, Teacher,” Mato said, and sprinted away. He pulled through his shield pairing, and with the boost from Ezhno’s water he pulled away from the others before he could understand their shouts.

Even with his extra speed it took him a couple of minutes to reach the creature. A massive, scaled foot slammed into the ground a few paces away, and he sprinted to it and drove his spirit blade deep. Nothing.

An instant of evaluation made him withdraw the blade and stab it into the space between scales. That got a reaction. It went from a step every dozen seconds or so to a step every second as it moved backward. Then its eyes focused on him, and the mouth opened.

Mato pulled through his shield rune, creating a complete sphere around himself. The draxotherm’s beak slammed into the earth around him, and then he was rattled about inside his shield as it raised its head into the air.

The shield began to shift in the creature’s mouth, and Mato pulled harder, expanding the shield. That seemed to work, as the monster swallowed and he remained in its mouth. He formed a little hole in the top of the shield, then leaped upward to stab his blade into the brain. Nothing.

He tried again, and the creature didn’t even notice.

Clearly his sword was not long enough to reach the brain, and it was accustomed to eating abrasive food. The inside of its mouth was covered in cuts he could hide in.

Then it sneezed. Mato hurtled into the outside air and pulled as much strength as possible into his shield. He hit like a stone striking a melon. Earth and rocks went everywhere, but his shield held.

Mato crawled out of the earth and rocks where he had landed, oriented himself, and then ran to Ezhno.

“My sword isn’t long enough to reach the brain. How do we kill it if our weapons cannot reach anything important?”

Ezhno pointed to the finder with the serpent blade. “Take Moki. You keep him alive, and he attacks. Cut each of the monster’s feet, then wait for it to fall. When it is laying on its belly, you can attack the neck and head.”

Mato glanced at Moki. His face was pale, but he nodded.

“Let’s go. You’re on my right, so your sword arm is free.”

“Okay.”

* * *

The beast was clearly a monster. A thema would have been far more intelligent. This thing ignored them until Moki sliced into one of the front feet. Then it lost interest after its first attempt to bite them failed.

They ran to the second front foot, leaping and scrambling over logs and boulders, pushing through bushes. Moki made another cut, and they headed for the back legs.

There was a harrowing bit when it stepped on them, smashing Mato’s shield down into the ground, but the shield held and they waited in darkness for a few seconds. Then it took another step, and they raced after it.

By the time Moki put a cut in all four feet the monster was past the rise where they had first sighted it. Mato wondered how long it would take the poison to work, but after a few minutes it paused to shake one of its feet. Then it shook another.

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His heart went out to the poor thing as it thrashed in its attempts to get rid of whatever was hurting it. Its feet ripped holes and gashes in the earth. Thousand year old trees snapped under its weight. Boulders, logs, and great mounds of earth flew through the air.

It struggled for hours before it finally sank to the earth. It trumpeted a long, mournful cry, and then laid its head on the ground.

“Go,” Ezhno said. “Finish it, so it doesn’t need to suffer further.”

It took several minutes to cross the ruined landscape. Moki sliced into the monster’s neck, and it twitched, but only once. They went around to the other side, and he made another giant cut that was little more than a pin-prick to the giant.

They retreated to the group and ate a little, though no one was really hungry. Ezhno just insisted they keep their strength up.

The wisdoms and the seekers found them while they were taking their break.

“What is this?” Tupi asked.

“It’s called a draxotherm,” Mato said.

“Not the anathema, idiot, why are my finders sitting here lazing around with trail masters when there is an emergency?”

Mato stood up and placed himself in front of Tupi. “I require an apology for that insult, Wisdom Tupi.”

“Ezhno, get your pupil under control, or I will.”

“Apologize to my student, or I will order him to issue you a challenge,” Ezhno said.

“This is beneath you, Trail Master,” Poplar said.

“No, Wisdom Poplar. Mato ran to attack the creature as soon as we sighted it. When he determined that it could not be killed by an ordinary spirit blade, he returned to our group. Then he and Moki went out, and Moki attacked the creature with his serpent blade. It is because of their courage that it has ceased its destruction. I will not have anyone call the intelligence or bravery of these young men into question.”

“Heretic,” Tupi pointed at Ezhno.

“Wisdom Poplar, get your colleague under control, or I will,” Ezhno said.

“Sotsona will hear of your threats and defiance, Ezhno,” Poplar said.

“And he will hear of your cowardice,” Mato said.

Tupi lunged, but Mato knew all of his techniques. He turned out of Tupi’s path, and casually tripped the wisdom, who went sprawling.

Poplar drew his blade and lunged at Mato, who spun around him using Ezhno’s technique from earlier. He dropped Poplar on top of Tupi, and stood beside them holding Poplar’s blade.

“We have tolerated your pretense of skill and knowledge, and instead of gratitude you give us abuse,” Mato said. “The truth is that you hid until the sounds of battle ended. Then you searched for those of us who fought and attempted to take control. You are cowards, and we do not need you. Be grateful we remain willing to escort you home.”

“Sotsona will kill you for attacking his priests,” Tupi said.

“I think Sotsona will not believe you,” Mato said. “If I had attacked you, you would be dead or severely injured.”

Ezhno stood and walked over to the wisdoms. “Give me your sword, Wisdom Tupi.”

“Never.”

“I am the Trail Master, and you have attacked my student. You will turn your blade over to me, or I will take it from you. The difference between those things is that one of them will break your arm.”

“Will you return our blades?” Poplar asked.

“That will depend on your manners,” Ezhno said. “We have been systematically respectful to you, even now when you insult and threaten us. I expect you to respond in kind.”

“Your student called us cowards,” Poplar said. “We remained with the seekers, to make certain they were safe.”

Ezhno nodded. “I see. Mato, please apologize to the wisdoms.”

Mato bowed to them. “I am sorry for my hasty words, Wisdom Poplar and Wisdom Tupi. I misunderstood your motives and spoke unkindly to you.”

Poplar leaned over and whispered in Tupi’s ear. Tupi clenched his fists, then spoke. “I too was uncharitable in my words, Mato Stone Foot. You are not an idiot.”

“Thank you, Wisdom.”

“I still need your sword,” Ezhno said.

Poplar whispered in Tupi’s ear again, and Tupi grudgingly handed the blade to Ezhno.

Ezhno pointed to the monster. “I believe it will die soon, Moki. You should have your blade in contact with its blood when that happens. Mato, go with him, in case it thrashes at the end.”

“Yes, Trail Master,” Moki said. Mato gave Ezhno a sharp nod and followed the finder.

They walked to it, and Mato explained what to do.

“Hang on tight. When its essence flows into your blade, it will feel like a powerful jolt. It isn’t injuring you, so just endure it, and when it is finished, you can withdraw your blade and see how much essence you gained.”

The wounds Moki had inflicted were horrible, surrounded by blisters, and leaking fluid that smelled like death.

Moki pushed his blade into the monster’s neck, and then they waited. Its breath sounded like wind rushing through a cave.

“Why aren’t you doing this too?” Moki asked.

“You killed it. I don’t want to steal power that belongs to you.”

“But you fought it. I would have died if I had tried to do it alone. Remember when it stepped on us?”

Mato laughed. “I’ll never forget. That is a story that will earn us free mead and ale from time to time.”

“It is pretty amazing,” Moki said, then his face turned serious. “Poplar and Tupi will never forgive you for today.”

Mato grimaced. “I know. Ezhno knows what he is doing. We will take the patient path, and things will work out.”

“It must be nice to have a teacher who cares about you,” Moki said.

“Ezhno is a great man. Without him I would be working on a farm. Farming was a good life, and I would be happy, but this is… not better… but so much more. I know people and things, I have seen places I never imagined. Even if I die today, it was a good decision to train with him.”

Moki elbowed him gently. “I hate farming. I have always wanted to be a trail master, but you have to be selected, and getting into the guards is the only way to help me increase my chances.”

“You did very well today,” Mato said. “If I have a chance, I will recommend you next time a new trail master is needed.”

“You won’t forget?”

Mato laughed long and loud. “Forget? This? I doubt it.”

“I like you, Mato Stone Foot. Perhaps we can become friends one day soon.”

“Agreed.”

The creature took a great breath, shuddered, and then exhaled for the final time. Essence rushed into Moki’s blade. Little sparks of lightning danced around it, and his body shook. Mato grabbed his hand and helped him hold onto his sword hilt.

It was not a jolt or a tingle. It was blazing fire. His entire body spasmed, and he almost let go of Moki’s hand. It went on and on, and he had to pull through his shield pairing to keep himself from flopping to the ground.

When the flow finally ended Moki was limp in his arms. Mato laid the finder out on the ground, then turned to call for Ezhno. Thankfully, Ezhno was already on his way.

The trail master slid to a stop beside Moki, then knelt and began dripping the water of life into his mouth.

“Check his sword, Mato.”

Mato pulled the blade free, and it swung hard to the left, nearly pulling him off balance. Cracks ran through the black crystal of the blade.

“Ezhno.”

“Bring it here, carefully.”

Moki coughed and opened his eyes. “I don’t feel good.”

“You’re going to be alright,” Ezhno said. “I need you to sit up and pay attention.”

“Yes, Trail Master.”

They got Moki onto his knees and Mato placed his sword in front of him, scratching his knee in the process.

“Sorry, sorry, it doesn’t want to behave.”

Ezhno dripped healing water on the scratch, and the first few drops sizzled and boiled away. When the drops ran clear, Ezhno began filling a cup with water.

“Mato, I need you to copy the runes into the dirt beside the blade. Do it carefully. Make certain each rune is correct, and that you get them all in the right order.”

“Yes, Teacher.”

Mato cleared a patch of dirt, patted it down, and then copied the runes one by one. There was a tinkling sound from the blade. More and more cracks spread through it.

“Got it,” Mato said after three or four tense minutes.

Ezhno reached down and carefully turned the sword over, then handed his etching stone to Moki.

“Start here.” He used a piece of grass to point to a place on the blade. “We’re going to do them out of order. Please trust me, I will explain later.”

He carved a glyph into the soil next to one of the runes. “Okay, etch that into the blade. Start right here.” He pointed to the exact place with the grass. “Then draw the arc to this spot.”

Patiently, curve by curve, and swirl by swirl, Ezhno coached Moki through the etching process.

“What is this, Ezhno?” Poplar asked.

“This is me saving our lives,” Ezhno said. “Now step back and let me work.”

“Explain this,” Poplar ordered.

Ezhno glanced at Mato. “Do something. I can’t be distracted right now.”

“Yes, Teacher.”

Mato pulled through the shield rune, and a bubble popped up around the three of them. It expanded a little, pushing Poplar back. A little adjustment blocked out the sound of Poplar’s voice, and Ezhno put his head back down.

“Excellent. That is perfect.”

Mato wasn’t feeling charitable, so he walked around the shield and stood in front of Poplar, keeping the wisdom from observing Ezhno’s work.

A dozen new runes, all at once. Moki had gone from a blank sword, to having half as many as Ezhno in a single day. Of course, this couldn’t happen very often. The draxotherm was the size of a small hill. There just wasn’t room in the world for very many monsters of its scale.

Moki completed the first glyph, and brilliant blue light flashed.

“A transcendent pair?” Mato breathed.

“Shhh,” Ezhno said. “Now the next one. Start here…”

It took nearly two hours to complete all twelve runes. By the time they finished the sword looked ready to shatter at the slightest touch.

“Good job, Moki,” Ezhno said, and patted the boy on the shoulder.

“I don’t feel very good,” Moki said.

“You’ve been under tremendous pressure all day, and had far too little to eat or drink. We’ll go back to camp, get some rest and some refreshment, and you’ll begin to feel better.”

Ezhno carefully slid the serpent blade into its sheath, then handed it to Moki. “Be gentle with it. A shock may still break it. If you let it rest, it will repair itself, now that it is balanced.”

“Thank you, Trail Master.”

“You’re welcome, young hero.”

Ezhno pushed himself to his feet and looked out. The wisdoms were watching them, expressions… probably angry. Certainly not happy.

“Mato, I am going to tell them to wait until tomorrow to discuss this. If they will not listen, I will signal you. I want you to put a shield around them, and then we can just walk away and leave them here.”

“Yes, Teacher.”

The shield dropped and Ezhno walked toward the wisdoms. He paused a couple of paces from them and interrupted their first words with a raised hand.

“We are exhausted. I will not discuss this today. We will eat, drink, and rest. Tomorrow we can talk about it.”

“You will not speak to us--”

“Mato?”

A shield popped up around them, already tuned to block out sound. It was amazing how peaceful things were when Tupi couldn’t talk.