The rise of a demon chapter 4

4

The smooth, clean hills of central Corsec slowly gave way to the rocky, choppy slopes of the south. It had been three days since the Questioning. Kalo and Vortin made a steady trail to the east of the road, always using it to guide them on their journey. The trip would have taken them only a bit more than a day on the straight, smooth path riding in the wagon, but going over the many hills slowed them. It was late in the afternoon, and after cresting a particularly high hill, they decided to set up camp.

For two days they refused themselves a fire out of fear of getting spotted, sustaining themselves on some wild plants. The day previous they spotted some smoke rising in the distance off the side of the road, and today they finally saw what it was; a smoldering outline of a village lying on the fringes of the South Forest. They were finally close enough that they thought their fire would blend in with the smoke rising from the village.

As Kalo began lighting the fire he noticed the damage. Most of the destruction happened around the outskirts. They were too far to see whether or not there were any people still living there. The flag of Karon rose high above the city.

“So, this is what the army of the Karon has come to,” Kalo said. He never thought he would have to fear his own religion.

“Maybe that havoc will give us a chance to pass unnoticed,” Vortin said. He hadn’t spoken to Kalo for most of the trip. Kalo suspected it had to do partly with the fact that it had been Kalo’s religion that had caused the trouble.

“If we’re lucky,” Kalo said, nodding.

Vortin rubbed his hands together. “Maybe we can find some supplies” he said, with a tint of optimism that Kalo’s had been lacking lately.

“Only if they don’t have guards on everything. Personally I don’t think we should get to close to the city,” Kalo said.

“Well we need food. I can’t survive on water and roots much longer,” Vortin said.

“Ok, but let’s at least wait until night fall,” Kalo said.

“Fine. Do you think they will be suspecting us? You know because of what happened back at the city?” Vortin asked.

“I don’t know. They might be. We’ll just have to be quite and hope none of them have our description if we are spotted,” Kalo replied.

Kalo finished cooking the roots and they ate in silence. Even thought they spoke more in the last few minutes than during most of the trip, there was still a tension. The questioners would have probably left Vortin go just to get their hands on Kalo. Anyone who dreamed of the last battle of Galon was worthy of capture at the expense of a non-believer.

Kalo pushed the thought out of his head. It was things like that that would make the gap between them that much harder to close.

When they finished eating, there was nothing to do but wait for the sun to go down.



Kalo stayed in front as they silently made their way along the fringes of the road. The waning moon provided little light for travel, so following the path was their only option. Vortin made sure he stayed a few paces back and watched the rear.

They were close enough now to see that there were in fact people still living in the village, though Kalo wasn’t sure if there were any civilians. In the center of town there was a group of red clad riders grouped together as if they were holding some sort of a meeting. Kalo could hear voices, but he wasn’t sure what they were saying.

As they reached the fringe of town, Kelo decided to skirt it, looking in the buildings at the perimeter first so they wouldn’t be spotted as easily. Kalo put his back up against the first building and waved for Vortin to join him. The building smelled of dry meats. By Karon’s blessing he had come upon what he needed right away.

“Alright, stay close to me. If we get spotted, split up. They should be looking for me anyway. First, I want to listen to what they’re saying,” Kalo whispered.

Through the darkness he saw Vortin nod, then he turned and crept to the corner of the building and peeked around at the Questioner’s procession.

The red cloaked men sat on their horses in a loose clump. In the center was a large bonfire. Only one man spoke.

“ -our mercy we have cleansed this town of those who did not believe fully the power of Karon. It is a sad thing to cleanse so completely a village, but it was necessary. Tomorrow we shall spread word of our deeds to the Grand Bishop, before returning to our quest. Though it was required to sacrifice many of the civilians in this town, you will find that there are other places in Corsec that still hold true the beliefs of the Karon-Naz. We have done the works of the gods tonight but—“ Kalo turned away disgusted. An army wasn’t supposed to turn its blades on its own people.

Suddenly, he remembered his purpose. Getting into the first building wasn’t going to be easy. Some of the Questioners were facing this way. He thought for a moment before he chose a plan.

“Ok, I’ll sneak around and figure out a way to distract them, you go in and grab the food. Got it? When you’re done I’ll be hiding in the forest. You see that huge tree near the edge? I’ll be there. Ok? Just wait for my signal.” Kalo said.

Vortin looked like he was about to protest, so Kalo took off quickly so he wouldn’t have a chance.

Kalo sped from house to house making sure the Questioners were always in view. His heart raced in his chest. Being spotted preemptively would mean capture and death. Yet it wasn’t without something of a satisfying thrill, even with imminent danger. Once he was between the questioners and the forest he stopped and hid behind a building. He made sure he could see his hiding spot well and then acted.
He pulled out his knife, not sure how well it would work against one highly trained swordsmen, not to mention the eight or ten he was up against. Then he went around gathering up a few large stones and sticks that he could use to distract the questioners with. When he was ready he looked back to the inside of the village.

The questioners were gone.

He looked around but could see no one. Even Vortin had disappeared. Apparently he had taken the questioners disappearance as his signal. Or worse, the questioners had spotted one of them. All of the thrill was gone in a red flash and was instantly replaced by fear. Kalo turned to run and was cut off by one of the red clad riders.

The horse reared up and the rider yelled “I’ve found—!” but he was cut off.

Without thinking Kalo hurled the biggest rock in his hands straight at the man’s head. The rock connected with a muffled thud and the man slid of his horse. A small trickle of blood rolled down his forehead as he fell to the ground.

Kalo didn’t hesitate before sprinting off. He looked over his shoulder to check for Vortin, but instead he saw a Questioner just as he rounded the building that Kalo had been hiding behind just a few moments before. Kalo dropped to the ground to keep from being seen and began to crawl to the forest.

When he got to his tree he raised himself to a knelt position and looked back behind him. The rest of the questioners were gathered around the fallen rider. They looked like they were arguing amongst themselves about something. That’s when he saw Vortin making his way to the edge of the village. Kalo knew Vortin’s only chance would be if Kalo distracted them again. He came out of the forest and shouted at the Questioners “Here I am you bastards!” Then, once he knew they saw him, he turned and ran back into the woods.

He dived into the thick brambles and bushes trying to conceal himself and then crawled in deep. The thorns and twigs cut his arms and ripped his cloths, but it would be worth it if he survived. After a few seconds he heard the sound of horses as they made their way clumsily through the brush and trees. Kalo hunkered down, refusing to make a sound.

Horses walked close enough for Kalo to touch them, but he was well hidden in the brush. He held his breath, but he thought his heart was almost as loud. Slowly they moved deeper and deeper into the forest. Then without warning one of them said “He must be further in. Lark and Erros, patrol the road. No one goes through. Let’s ride!” They took off deeper in the woods.

Kalo looked up for the first time to make sure the coast was clear. He could just make out the two men who were sent to patrol the street. His hands shook from the near miss. His breath was coming in quick gasps, and beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. He was about to kneel down again when a pair of hands grasped him from behind.

Kalo spun around and nearly jammed his knife right into Vortin.

Vortin yelled and jumped back. Kalo quickly grabbed him and clamped his mouth. “Shh... they’ll hear us,” he whispered. From behind he heard one of the two patrolling questioners re-enter the forest. He pulled down Vortin who quickly wriggled away as they both crawled under the thicket.

The questioner jumped off his horse and trudged through the thicket. Every second brought him closer to their hiding place.

Kalo glanced over at Vortin who had gone pale and appeared to be praying to his gods under his breath. A look of deep terror settled on his face.

Kalo looked back up at the questioner who was now just a few feet from Kalo. He stared intensely through the brush as if he could see right through it. “I know you’re there,” he said “I heard you, just come out and I’ll—“ He was cut off as a rock smashed into his head. Vortin stood up and in a flash was on top of him. Stunned, Kalo followed suit and he grabbed his knife and pressed it on the man’s throat.

“Don’t move or we’ll cut you open,” Vortin said to the Questioner. His eyes looked unfocused and Kalo didn’t know how much got through to him, but he seemed to be cooperating.

“Do you still have your pack?” Kalo asked Vortin. He nodded and then pulled it off his back.

“What do you need?” he asked.

“The rope. We’re going to hog tie him and leave him here.” Kalo replied.

“You sure we shouldn’t..you know… kill him in case he tries to identify us?”

“No, I’ve spilled enough blood for tonight, and besides, he was just doing his job.”
Even with what Kalo had seen and been through with the Questioners, he still couldn’t completely hate them, not after being told for his entire lives that they were holy people who only wanted good.

Vortin shrugged and tied the man up. “What about the other one? How are we going to get passed him?” he asked.

Kalo hadn’t thought of that. “I don’t know” he said earnestly.

“What about this?” Vortin asked. He rummaged through the Questioners personal belongings and pulled out a wooden whistle. “They use it to communicate, I think.” he said handing it to Kalo.

Of course, Kalo thought. His father once told him that all Karonian soldiers carried them to communicate. He had even shown him a few of the calls.

“Yah, give it here,” he said, and after a moments apprehension he blew three long notes. “There, I think that means that I want him to come back to me. That should give us the access to the road, Kalo said. Then as an afterthought: “Did you get the meat?”

Vortin opened the pack revealing a heaping pile of dried meats. “enough to last at least a week,” he said grinning.

“Good, Now let’s move” Kalo said, and when the second patrolman came into the forest he led them out.