* * *
Muda awoke to a fist in the stomach, knocking the wind from him. He rolled onto his side, then tried to cough. Three boys laughed, and then one of them kicked him. Muda wiped the tears from his eyes and saw them clear. It was Jakta and his lackeys.
Jakta kicked him again, and the other two boys joined in, kicking and laughing as Muda cried. He tried to stand up, tried to fight back, but every time a wave of nausea hit him. He crawled forward, whimpering every time the boys struck him. Finally, he gave up and curled into a ball to protect himself.
Suddenly everything stopped.
"You will leave him alone." Muda heard Sophia speak. He let out one more sob, then uncurled himself and looked up. The three men were completely motionless. Muda saw Sophia standing a few feet away, and rushed behind her.
Sophia stood for a moment, contemplating what to do, then sighed and flicked her wrist.
The three young men followed through with their kicks into a boy who was no longer there. The looked unbalanced for a moment, then gathered themselves and turned to Sophia.
"Can't protect himself, eh? Got to get his girlfriend to come save him?" Jakta said as he took a step closer, followed by the other two.
"You will not touch him again." Sophia commanded. "Your actions help no one, least of all yourselves."
"They help me feel like I done something good today," Trig responded. "Cleaned up a bit of a mess that's wasting our time."
"He is less of a mess than you are." Responded Sophia. "Now leave..." Before she could finish Jakta buried a fist into her stomach and pushed her to the ground.
Muda stepped forward, ready to strike Jakta in the throat, but the moment his foot touched the ground another wave of nausea hit him. He swayed for a moment looking as if he would vomit, then fell to the ground beside Sophia.
"Ha! She fought for you, can't even return the favor? Coward. And you," Jakta kicked Sophia, "You think just because your mother's so important that makes you safe? You ain't nothin'."
The three boys laughed together.
"That's enough of that." A voice slurred from behind them. "You three get out of here."
Yannick stepped towards them and gave them a swaying glare.
"Not worth the effort." Jakta said after a moment, then motioned his friends to follow him. The three boys laughed to themselves as they walked away.
"Stuck with a coward and an idiot." Yannick said to himself as he dropped to the ground.
Sophia and Muda helped each other up, tears in their eyes, then looked down at Yannick.
"Thank you." Muda said quietly.
Yannick didn't respond, so the two of them walked away.
Alkorn
The moon was half way through the sky when their papers had finally been checked and they were allowed to pass through the gates. The soldiers were weary from a month of forced march but excited to see their families again.
Alkorn had no family, he had only his duties. Everything about him showed this dedication. Beneath his armor was a body primed from years of training and covered with scars from dozens of battles. His long, unkempt hair was tied back by a piece of string and he wore a perpetual scowl. His eyes moved constantly as he scanned the surroundings, simultaneously unnerving and reassuring his soldiers.
Alkorn scratched his thick, dark beard. He had only chosen soldiers with loved ones in the capital to accompany him and had taken as few as possible. They were unlikely to face problems here. Thieves and bandits would shy away, his group too well armed and thoroughly battle worn. Danger from other sources...they had come quickly and had not been specific about the details of their arrival. Hero generals also attracted other forms of protection.
As soon as they passed the first pub, the cries came out. Drunks started screaming that the heroes had returned. "Alkorn has come again! Cow-slayer and blood-letter has returned to us!"
"At least we're welcome." Alkorn joked.
Soon the streets were filled with well-wishers. Beautiful women batted their eyes, young boys asked to hold their swords. They were tired but slowed their pace. Alkorn had little patience for worship, but knew that Erik would encourage it.
When they finally arrived at his estate, the crowds had thinned only slightly. He had tried to send a runner ahead, but the woman had returned shortly after, unable to penetrate the crowds. Somehow Erik how was still ready for him. As soon as they passed through the gate Alkorn dismissed his guards, then entered the relative peace of his household.
"You look tired, general. Shall I prepare your chambers?"
"There's no time for that, and you damned well know it. Prepare some coffee, I will must needs meet with the Lady-Regent in the morning, and we have a lot to discuss before then."
He watched Erik walk away, then headed up to his study where a stack of documents was awaiting him. Most of it would be of no use to him, details on how his finances were progressing, new gossip, marriages, deaths, births and other information that Erik could use, but had little relevance to battle. But Erik had also made another, smaller pile detailing the new laws that Debra has instituted, and details of recent criminal activities. He sat down and began to read through these.
When he looked there was a cup beside him, and Erik was sitting across his desk, napping. He took a sip of the coffee and grimaced.
"Cold." He muttered to himself.
"Would you like me to heat it up?" Erik replied, eyes still closed beneath his cap. No matter the time of day that Alkorn found him, Erik was always perfectly put together. Even now, well past the moon's summit, he was clean shaven, his dark skin clearly visible in the flicker of the light. Erik's narrow eyes looked relaxed even in the most stressful situations, and his flat nose was entirely unblemished. He always wore his finest clothes, for reasons Alkorn would never understand. His hat bore a dozen small stones and was covered in frills and feathers. His shirt and pants were loose fitting and bright red, accented with purple throughout.
"I should make you start drinking coffee, if for no other reason than to make you understand what I suffer whenever you brew me a cup." Alkorn replied.
"I am the epitome of empathy, my lord. You itch, and I feel your suffering."
"So you enjoy suffering?"
"It keeps me young." Erik responded, finally opening his eyes.
"Pfah." Alkorn finished the rest of the cup in a single gulp.
"She's getting worse.” He said after a drink of water. “You tried to warn me, but...I couldn't have imagined it was this bad."
"I have done my best to stay on her best side, but you've made it very difficult for me with all of those victories of yours. She doesn't like competition for the people's affections." Erik said.
"I'd bet she would like mass starvation even less. The damned cow-heads are getting bolder. They were preparing for something."
"Not for us, general?"
Alkorn paused. "She's not right very often, but she was here. They were more organized than I've ever seen them. If we had not attacked...Who knows what would have happened to our people."
Alkorn rubbed his eyes, then showed a sheet to Erik.
"What does she charge them with, these criminals?"
"Tax evasion, adultery, corruption. Whatever she feels like, really. She offers little proof. Everyone is afraid of her, and so she holds some sway over us all."
“What has been done to keep her in line?” Alkorn asked.
“What can be done? Any efforts are met with assassination.” Erik responded. “The people need a symbol. They need someone to stand up and...”
"Stop. Stop right there. What you speak is treason."
"If she is not stopped, then she will do the stopping."
“It is hope.”
Alkorn stood up slowly and began to pace the room. He always thought better when he was moving, when the blood was flowing.
"What progress has been made on finding the prince?" He asked.
"The prince is a lost cause, my lord. He could be locked away in t
he dungeons, for all we know. Or dead, his corpse locked in a box under her bed. He will not be found.”
"Goddess be damned! I will not turn traitor. I am meeting with her tomorrow, correct? How can I make her understand that I work for the benefit of Yaloran?" Alkorn raged.
"First, you will need to watch your wording, my lord. One small slip could mean the end of even you, the cow-slayer." Erik smiled. Alkorn did not.
"Then we practice. She will expect me immediately after the morning meal, I expect?"
"I will delay in sending the message of your arrival, if you like."
"A wise decision, we have much to prepare, you and I."