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Authors: Daniel Blackaby
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Ain’t that right, Sheets?”
The red-haired Sheets appeared on Cody’s other side. “We’re nothing if not commendably consistent!” he responded proudly. Wolfrick gurgled as he took a long sip from his flask. Cody didn’t ask what was inside; it was safe to assume it wasn’t water.
“Dace is taking the deaths really hard,” Cody observed, more as a statement than a question.
Wolfrick lobbed the flask over Cody’s head to Sheets. “That he is, indeed. Good men, both of them. When you live as a soldier death always finds you in the same way. We’ve seen many comrades fall, but ol’ Dace has never grown numb to it. It’s what separates men like him from men like Levenworth.”
“Aye, two more ticks for the sword handle,” seconded Sheets.
“Two more ticks?” Cody asked.
“Every warrior slain under his command gets his initials carved into the hilt of Dace’s sword. He remembers every one by name.”
“Symbolic in a way; every enemy life he takes avenges one of his fallen soldiers,” finished Wolfrick.
Cody gazed at Dace who rode alone at the front of the convoy. He felt honored to have the Captain leading the mission.
Cody wiped his glistening forehead. The temperature increased with each step The Company took. He felt like they were plunging deeper and deeper into a blazing furnace.
Chazic had removed his shirt, fully revealing his impressive physique. Sweat shined off his back, highlighting each muscle and revealing an expansive tattoo. The faded ink depicted three equal rectangles, positioned together to form an upside-down arrow. The arrow was surrounded by a runic sun.
Sensing Cody’s stare, Chazic flung his shirt over his shoulders, concealing the image.
“What’s it mean?” Cody asked. When Chazic didn’t respond Cody probed further. “It looks significant….”
“It only has as much significance as it is given,” Chazic responded in his rich voice.
“When did you get it?” Cody persisted.
The Enforcer turned to face him. “I don’t know.”
“How can you not know ? It probably hurt like crazy!”
Chazic shrugged. “I was dedicated to the AREA as an infant. Silkian says it was already present then. That’s sufficient for me.”
“You sure don’t talk much,” Cody observed.
“I speak when something is worth saying,” A sudden snicker drew their attention. Tat had reared to face them. “He prefers speaking with magical orbs.”
Chazic grinned. “If you talked to the holy Orb half as much as you shot your mouth, you might almost be a pious man.”
“Children, stop your bickering,” interrupted Dace. “We’ve arrived at Redtown.”
17
Redtown
THE FIERY PLAINS. A hazy cloud of scorching heat hovered overhead and served as a warning to all unfortunate trespassers to stay away. The barren grounds stretched as far as the eye could see. Resting on the edge of wasteland was a small cluster of buildings.
Who would ever live in such a miserable place? Coming to a stop in the town square, Cody received his answer— absolutely nobody . The doors and windows of the rundown buildings were bolted up; and by the look of it, they had been that way for a long time.
“War doesn’t just stain human life,” Tat explained. “An epic battle during the Great War scorched the land with fire and blood. This crumbled parish was once teeming with vibrant life.”
Dace’s long hair clung to his neck like a wet mop and his face was inflamed. “But now, no one passes through Redtown, which is to our advantage. Night soon will be upon us. Find shelter from the heat. We depart at first light.” The Company dispatched, fervent to escape the unbearable temperature.
Cody found the building farthest from the square. He was eager for a little privacy; not to mention ample distance from Wolfrick’s resounding snoring. The two-story building had once dually functioned as a store below and a living quarter on top.
Finding the bedroom, Cody flopped onto the tattered bed. As
The red-haired Sheets appeared on Cody’s other side. “We’re nothing if not commendably consistent!” he responded proudly. Wolfrick gurgled as he took a long sip from his flask. Cody didn’t ask what was inside; it was safe to assume it wasn’t water.
“Dace is taking the deaths really hard,” Cody observed, more as a statement than a question.
Wolfrick lobbed the flask over Cody’s head to Sheets. “That he is, indeed. Good men, both of them. When you live as a soldier death always finds you in the same way. We’ve seen many comrades fall, but ol’ Dace has never grown numb to it. It’s what separates men like him from men like Levenworth.”
“Aye, two more ticks for the sword handle,” seconded Sheets.
“Two more ticks?” Cody asked.
“Every warrior slain under his command gets his initials carved into the hilt of Dace’s sword. He remembers every one by name.”
“Symbolic in a way; every enemy life he takes avenges one of his fallen soldiers,” finished Wolfrick.
Cody gazed at Dace who rode alone at the front of the convoy. He felt honored to have the Captain leading the mission.
Cody wiped his glistening forehead. The temperature increased with each step The Company took. He felt like they were plunging deeper and deeper into a blazing furnace.
Chazic had removed his shirt, fully revealing his impressive physique. Sweat shined off his back, highlighting each muscle and revealing an expansive tattoo. The faded ink depicted three equal rectangles, positioned together to form an upside-down arrow. The arrow was surrounded by a runic sun.
Sensing Cody’s stare, Chazic flung his shirt over his shoulders, concealing the image.
“What’s it mean?” Cody asked. When Chazic didn’t respond Cody probed further. “It looks significant….”
“It only has as much significance as it is given,” Chazic responded in his rich voice.
“When did you get it?” Cody persisted.
The Enforcer turned to face him. “I don’t know.”
“How can you not know ? It probably hurt like crazy!”
Chazic shrugged. “I was dedicated to the AREA as an infant. Silkian says it was already present then. That’s sufficient for me.”
“You sure don’t talk much,” Cody observed.
“I speak when something is worth saying,” A sudden snicker drew their attention. Tat had reared to face them. “He prefers speaking with magical orbs.”
Chazic grinned. “If you talked to the holy Orb half as much as you shot your mouth, you might almost be a pious man.”
“Children, stop your bickering,” interrupted Dace. “We’ve arrived at Redtown.”
17
Redtown
THE FIERY PLAINS. A hazy cloud of scorching heat hovered overhead and served as a warning to all unfortunate trespassers to stay away. The barren grounds stretched as far as the eye could see. Resting on the edge of wasteland was a small cluster of buildings.
Who would ever live in such a miserable place? Coming to a stop in the town square, Cody received his answer— absolutely nobody . The doors and windows of the rundown buildings were bolted up; and by the look of it, they had been that way for a long time.
“War doesn’t just stain human life,” Tat explained. “An epic battle during the Great War scorched the land with fire and blood. This crumbled parish was once teeming with vibrant life.”
Dace’s long hair clung to his neck like a wet mop and his face was inflamed. “But now, no one passes through Redtown, which is to our advantage. Night soon will be upon us. Find shelter from the heat. We depart at first light.” The Company dispatched, fervent to escape the unbearable temperature.
Cody found the building farthest from the square. He was eager for a little privacy; not to mention ample distance from Wolfrick’s resounding snoring. The two-story building had once dually functioned as a store below and a living quarter on top.
Finding the bedroom, Cody flopped onto the tattered bed. As
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