The Song and the Serpent

As soon as Adan leapt, the guard's head jerked to the side. He must have seen Adan out of the corner of his eye. He swung his spear toward Adan, dropping the helmet he had been holding.

Adan moved with blinding speed, pivoting around the spear head and running in close to the warrior, too close to maneuver a spear. Adan punched the man in the gut. He doubled over in pain and Adan lifted his knee, hitting the man in the head.

“The prisoners are here!” the second warrior shouted.

The first warrior fell backwards and Adan moved on to the second man, who jabbed at Adan with his spear. Adan pocketed to the side again, grabbing the end of the spear and pulling the warrior forward, in an attempt to throw him off balance.

But the second warrior was more skilled, he let go of the spear and drew a short, curved blade from his belt, moving closer to Adan and slashing.

Adan used the wood of the spear to block the slash, and the blade stuck in the wood. Adan stepped sideways and brought his right foot up, kicking the man in his exposed side.

The man grunted and stepped back, yanking the blade free.

Adan heard a scuffle behind him as Kian reached the first warrior.

Adan pressed his advantage and tried to strike the man with the butt of the spear. The man blocked the strike, but Adan spun the spear around, forcing the warrior's blade away and pinning it against the nearby stone wall. Then he jabbed the warrior in the face with the spear butt.

The man staggered backwards, holding his face. Adan dropped the spear, leapt forward and grabbed the warrior’s sword arm. With a twist, he forced him to drop the blade, then he shoved the man to the floor and put his hands around the man’s neck.

The man twisted and bucked, trying to throw Adan off of him, but Adan refused to let go as he choked the life out of his opponent. The man’s face grew pale and Adan watched as his eyes slowly transformed from terrified, to glassy and empty.

Adan grimaced. Come one! he thought. Just die already!

The seconds crawled by. The warrior stopped moving, and his body became limp. Adan relaxed his hands and sighed in relief. He hoped he would never have to do that again.

For Rocco.

Adan heard a loud pop behind him. turned around to see Kian, letting go of the first warrior. He had broken the man’s neck.

They stood still, breathing heavily and listening to hear if anyone had heard the cry for help. The courtyard remained as silent as the two slain warriors.

After waiting for a shout that never came, they pushed the wooden door open to the meeting room. They grabbed the warriors by their feet and dragged them into the small room before closing the door and looking around.

A long table made of grooved planks lay in the center of the room, covered with scraps and scrolls. Maps and charts, scrolls of written word and glyph covered in runes and symbols some of which Adan recognized, some of which he didn’t.

“Look for the map of a maze,” Kian whispered as he walked around the table and began looking through the scraps of parchment.

“There!” Adan pointed at a large scrap that looked undoubtedly like a maze.

Kian snatched it up and they examined it.

At the top of the page, a line of letters spelled one word: “Morkil.” Underneath the name, a roughly circular sprawl of black lines detailed the maze. An endless knot of twists and turns leading to dead ends and stops wound across the page in circular motions. Two bright red lines traced through the maze from one end to the other. One of the red lines branched off from the other and wound deeper into the center of the maze before winding its way to the other end. The original line made a wide arc around the circle and weaved across the maze before eventually leaving the same exit.

“Are there two paths through the maze?” Adan said as he examined the parchment.

“Must be,” Kian replied.

“But Hugo said there was only one. How do we know which one to choose?”

“Perhaps he meant the center one, since it’s the most direct.”

Adan pointed to the center of the maze. “But what does that glyph mean?”

Kian looked where he pointed. A large, red ‘X’ had marked the center of the maze. “I’ve no idea.”

“Do you think it might mean, ‘don’t go this way’?” Adan said.

“Possibly. Or it may mean, take this path.”

Adan shook his head. “Of course it isn’t clear. I should have known there would be some kind of catch.”

Kian began folding the parchment. “We’ll have to cross that bridge when we come to it.”

Adan looked back at the table. A large portion of the wood surface was covered by a giant map of Accenoah. Adan saw the coastline drawn out in great detail, including Enys Island and Farel, their home city, sitting on the coast further south. Whoever had drawn the map had even depicted the three walls of Farel and laid out its position with clear accuracy.

Further south, Allgor, the largest port city, indicated the south of Esta where the Tosken river and the Seervay river met and flowed into the sea. To the east sat Threcalax, the capital of Esta and the seat of King Selwyn. The city sat at the base of a mountain range that ran north, separating Esta from the great desert to the east. The range of white peaks then turned west, covering the northernmost part of the map.

Deep within the mountain range, Adan could see a circular fortress with a black spike rising out of the middle. The city lay north of a river that flowed to the sea. Mountains surrounded the fortress on all sides.

“So that’s where we are,” Kian said, examining the map.

Adan looked closer as well. Beneath Undelma, across the river and through a forest, a line detailed a trail or road that ran south, up into the mountains. A black dot on one of the mountain sides seemed to indicate where the road entered the mountain. The word ‘Morkil’ was inscribed by the entrance.

“That’s where we need to go,” Adan replied, pointing at the track.

“Where will we cross the river?” Kian said. “I don’t think the two of us can row a ship together.”

Adan looked at the river and saw the answer.

“There,” he said, pointing at something that sat in the forest west of the city. “A bridge. We’ll cross it there.”

“Hopefully that forest provides enough cover for us to escape,” Kian said. “But we’ll worry about that when we get there. For now we need to change.”

Adan nodded and they began removing the robes of the dead warriors. Adan paid special attention to how their robes were cinched at the waist so that he could replicate it when he dressed. After removing the sword belts and armor, they removed their robes and boots, undressing them down to their loin cloths.

Then they carefully wrapped the orange robes around themselves, trying to wear them exactly as they had been worn. They strapped the armor to their arms, shoulders, and breasts before finally belting the short, curved swords to their waists. The guards also carried an assortment of necessities; water skins, small knives, lengths of rope and even a tinderbox.

While donning their enemies attire, Adan’s mind whirled.

Hugo seems almost ready to launch an invasion, he thought, but what we did up at the temple might have delayed that. He was waiting on one last revelatory word from Dias which he’ll never get now. Hopefully that will slow him down long enough that we can warn Esta.

Adan was uncertain how long they had traveled in the hull of Hugo’s ship, but he knew that he and Kian would be hard pressed to arrive in Esta before Hugo. He thought of Enys Island, and Layla, and her aunt, and the mayor, and the other people who welcomed them on the island.

Please let Hugo pass by Enys Island and start with the larger cities first, Adan fervently prayed as he slipped a pair of boots over his feet.

“There,” Kian said, striking a pose. “How do I look?”

“Like a murderous lunatic,” Adan replied.

“Perfect.”

Adan gestured to the warriors of the floor. “What do we do with them?”

Kian thought for a moment. “Under the table.”

Adan nodded and and they dragged the dead men under the table, before covering them with the bloody, white robes they had shed.

The warriors had dropped their spears and helmets outside the door, so Adan and Kian retrieved them as they left the room.

“We will probably need some provisions,” Kian said. “Luckily I know a certain food store nearby.”

Adan nodded and they crept back down the hallway they had come from to the larder. They were able to find more bread, and a canister containing two pounds of dried venison. They took all the venison, half a loaf of bread, and a water skin Kian had found hanging on a nearby wall.

“I wish we could bring more food,” Kian said.

“I do as well,” Adan replied. “But we can’t make it obvious that we’re about to go on a long journey.”

Kian nodded.

“Hugo will probably guess what we’ve done as soon as they come back,” Adan said. “So we don’t have much time.”

Kian nodded. “Then ho for the gate.”

They tip-toed back up the hallway and to the corner where the courtyard was visible. They stopped to listen for any disturbance, but all was as still as the stone columns holding the building erect. They left the shelter of the large house and crossed the stone courtyard.

“I don’t know where we are,” Kian said, as they reached a large archway leading into the main road. “Do you?”

Adan shook his head. “I haven’t the faintest notion.”

“Perfect. Well then, we’ll have to guess the way to the gate.”

Adan gestured to the road. “Lead the way,”

Kian turned right and they wandered on.

As they walked down the road, they saw several people coming and going in and out of doors along the way, but no one paid them any mind. Everyone seemed to be in a hurry, and everyone was armed. Black, red, green, and yellow robed warriors would leave a doorway and sprint up the road, or come running down and pass them on some other urgent errand.

As they approached another busy road, Adan glanced left and right before sighing with relief. The main gate sat open to their right, not a hundred paces from where they stood. Kian had chosen the correct path. Warriors passed through the gate in a constant flow, with most of them leaving the city, and a handful entering it and removing their spiked helmets as they entered.

Adan and Kian joined the flow of men leaving the city, walking down the center of the street to avoid the eyes of the five guards standing on either side of the doors.

Every warrior leaving the city donned their helmets as they left, and Adan and Kian followed suit, fitting the spiked headdress over their bare heads. Adan’s helmet had belonged to a man with a larger head and the iron cap rested loosely on his. He prayed that it wouldn’t draw attention.

They passed through the gate, trying to ignore the scrutinizing glare of the guards.

When they left the shadow of the gatehouse, Adan saw again the bare plain stretching out to his right, leading toward a mountain wall. Ahead of them, the village they had passed through when they first arrived sat between them and the vast river that flowed through the valley. Hugo’s great fleet sat docked in the river, an innumerable host of masts and sails rising above long boats lined with shields.

A great host had assembled on the riverbank, surrounding the village and hemming it in on all sides. Adan had never seen a gathering so large in his life. The warriors streaming out of the gate were walking together, joining the multi-colored mustering of Sithril’s followers.

Adan and Kian couldn’t leave the flow of warriors without seeming conspicuous. Adan could see the forest, a dark swath of tall pines to the west of the village, but there was a great deal of open space between the village and the tree line.

They had no choice but to march forward with the rest of the warriors. As they approached, men began splitting off, heading toward whatever section of the army they belonged to. Adan and Kian veered right, trying to get as close to the western edge of the village as they could. The warriors had grouped together in troops and squads, so Adan and Kian walked around these groups as they made their way toward the forest.

“How are we going to break away unnoticed?” Adan whispered when they were some distance from the different gatherings.

“I’m not sure,” Kian said. “We may have to just leave and make up an excuse if someone stops us.”

They reached the western edge of the mass and looked at the forest, less than two-hundred paces away. They looked around at the rest of the warriors, who stood in their groups and seemed to be waiting for something.

“Well, let’s give it a try,” Kian said.

Adan nodded reluctantly.

They began marching away from the collected warriors.

“Where are you going?” a gruff voice shouted behind them.

Adan nearly jumped, but instead he stopped and turned toward the voice, as did Kian.

A red robed warrior had stepped away from his group and now stood looking at them.

“What’s that?” Kian asked again.

“I said, where are you going? They’ll be calling the bands onto their ships soon.”

“Hugo has given us orders,” Kian said. “We’re securing the bridge.”

Several other warriors had taken notice of the interchange and were gazing at them as well. Adan’s heart beat faster, but he held the man’s eyes steadily.

The warrior’s eyes narrowed. “Why?”

“Are you questioning Hugo’s orders?” Kian barked.

The man’s eyes widened slightly and he took a step back. “Not at all. Just curious.”

“Have you heard what happened up at the temple?” Kian asked.

The man nodded. “Something about prisoners letting the drynth loose and escaping. So it’s true then?”

Kian nodded. “And where do you think those prisoners might try to go?”

The warrior nodded. “Of course. Of course.” He took a few more steps back. “I didn’t mean to question the commander. Please proceed.”

Kian turned away and indignantly continued toward the tree line. Adan followed him, breathing a sigh of relief. Within a few moments, they were safely bidding in the needled boughs of the pines.

As soon as they were hidden from view, they began to jog through the trees, eager to put as much distance between them and the army as possible. Their boots crunched in the branches and needles that covered the ground as they passed between the thick trunks.

After a short run, they came to the river, a wide expanse of muddy water, much too large to swim across. To their right they could see a large bridge running across the channel. Four columns rose out of the water and formed five arches underneath the stone edifice, supporting the weight of the immense walkway.

They sprinted down the bank, weaving among the trees as they ran. When they reached the bridge they both stopped and stood still.

Adan froze as he gazed at the bridge.

Blocks had been stacked along both sides of the walkway to form stone walls. On either side of the bridge entrance, facing Adan and Kian, the spiraling shape of a serpent had been carved into the stones at the top of the wall. But it wasn’t this sign that had stopped Adan and Kian in their tracks.

Across the bridge, on the far side of the river, a black figure stood facing them. The distance made it difficult to make out the details, but it looked as if a large, manlike creature, dressed in black, stood staring at them.

Adan felt his heart pounding as an overwhelming fear washed over him. He nearly dropped his spear, and felt the urge to run in terror from the bridge.

Kian seemed similarly transfixed by the specter.

What are you doing? Adan thought. Move! Go! Get across the bridge. There’s an army of enemy warriors behind you.

But Adan couldn’t move. He somehow felt that he’d rather face an army of warriors rather than come an inch closer to the being on the other side of the bridge.

Then, in the blink of an eye, the black shape turned, and ran away from them, disappearing into the trees across the river. In the brief moment before it vanished, Adan saw it hunched over, sometimes running on two feet, sometimes on four.

A shiver ran down Adan’s spine, breaking him free of the paralysis. His heart continued to pound, and he still had no desire to cross the bridge.

He looked at Kian.

“What, in the name of all things good, was that?” Kian breathed.

Adan shook his head. “I don’t… I don’t know. I’ve never heard of anything like that.”

“Well, whatever it is, it’s gone now. And we need to get across. It won’t take Hugo long to figure out where we’ve gone.”

Adan nodded, but he didn’t move. He still felt unwilling to step onto the bridge.

This is ridiculous! He thought. It’s just one man, or creature of some kind, and there are two of us.

But his pounding heart told him otherwise.

Finally, he gritted his teeth and gripped the spear in his hand. With a shiver, he took a step forward.

Kian did the same.

Then he took another step forward.

Don’t think about it, just walk.

They stepped onto the ancient bridge and began walking slowly across. Adan felt his fear fading as he walked and it became easier to keep going, but he never took his eyes off the tree line across the river. Adan’s fear of Hugo and the city of warriors behind them had all but disappeared. The image of the black figure swimmed in his mind, and he watched every dark corner of the pine forest as they walked.

They carefully made their way over the muddy river, which reflected the dark clouds above in their rippling waters.

When they reached the opposite side, Adan felt another shiver run up his spine. He saw nothing out of the ordinary, but he still felt as if they were being watched.

A dirt track, covered in loose stones, led away from the bridge and deeper into the fir trees, winding in and around their thick trunks.

Adan and Kian paused to look back across the bridge and into the forest behind them.

They both froze.

On the other side of the bridge, standing where the two of them had stood only a moment before, was a black figure identical to the last one.